iDownloadBlog.com

Apple to appeal U.S. import ban on older iPhones and iPads

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2013

Apple's legal fight against Samsung yesterday took a turn for the worse with the United States International Trade Comission (ITC) rather surprisingly having found the iPhone maker guilty of infringing on a 3G cellular patent asserted by Samsung. This means Apple is now facing a U.S. import ban on older iPhone and iPad models, including the iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS and 3G iPads.

The ban should go into effect within 60 days unless vetoed by the White House during a Presidential Review period. In light of the development, Apple of course plans on appealing the ruling because Samsung's invention is basically a standards-essential patent and as such shouldn't be asserted against rivals to seek import bans...

New hack allows you to run Plex on Apple TV without jailbreaking

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Good news third-gen Apple TV owners! A new hack has surfaced for the popular set-top box that doesn't require a jailbreak. As most of you know, the ATV3 hasn't been jailbroken since its release last year, and there's no word on when or if it will happen.

The hack, referred to as 'PlexConnect,' essentially allows you to run Plex media center software on your Apple TV, enabling you to playback various types of content from your local network on your big screen. And all it takes is a single settings change...

Muzzy puts an iTunes companion in your menu bar

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

I’m always looking for fun new features that will make my music listening experience better. Music apps are a dime-a-dozen for iOS, but there are not a whole lot of good music apps for the Mac. There are even fewer good free music apps.

Muzzy is a music-related iTunes companion for the Mac that puts an icon in your menu bar so you can see what album you are listening to without having to call up your whole iTunes window…

Apple looking to settle THX patent suit out of court

Cody Lee ∙ June 5, 2013

Earlier this year, sound engineering company THX filed a lawsuit against Apple alleging patent infringement. The studio, which was founded by Star Wars creator George Lucas, claims Apple is using its speaker technology in its iOS and Mac products without a license.

The iPad maker is, of course, no stranger to patent litigation. It just suffered a huge blow yesterday in its ongoing battle with Samsung, and it's involved in countless other frivolous suits. So it's no surprise that reports claim it's trying to settle this complaint out of court...

Apple’s iTunes Festival app gains Passbook tickets

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

As we count the remaining days until Apple's summer developers conference, British Airways has eventually seen fit to add Passbook support to its iOS client. And now Apple is following suit.

Nearly a year following the introduction of the Passbook app that was unveiled alongside iOS 6 at WWDC 2012, the company has finally update its iTunes Festival London 2013 iPhone app with Passbook integration.

The updated software arrives as Apple last week confirmed its September music festival in London will be headlined by such acts as Jack Johnson, Justin Timberlake and Thirty Seconds to Mars...

iRadio tidbits: audio ads, iTunes Match syncing, no search/song skipping

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2013

As you may have heard, Apple is now rushing to close music licensing deals for iRadio. And with Warner Music apparently finally on board, the company should formally take the wraps off its Pandora-killer at the WWDC keynote next Monday.

Bloomberg yesterday explained Apple's ad team is prepping to sell in-app iAds to major brands, which apparently can’t wait to advertise on iRadio. And now a new report by a major advertising trade publication claims Apple is also keen on monetizing the free service by injecting traditional audio ads...

Kindle app updated with line spacing options, multipage highlights and more

Cody Lee ∙ June 5, 2013

Amazon has today released an update for its native Kindle iOS app, bringing the e-reader client to version 3.8. The update includes a mix of a handful of new features and numerous bug fixes and improvements.

Perhaps the most prominent enhancement in today's release is the new line spacing options. You can now adjust the page layout to display text in one of three different spacing settings: normal, loose and tight...

FreedomPop unveils free voice/text/data wireless service

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

FreedomPop previously caught our attention with its no-commit 1GB of free home Internet each month and an iPad sleeve with Sprint 4G LTE data. But the upstart mobile company isn't resting on its laurels and is pushing ahead by adding free VoIP calling and texting to its data service.

With 500MB of data on top of unlimited texting and 200 minutes of call time, you can now basically turn your iPod touch into an iPhone and pay nothing for calls. Who said that freemium model doesn't work for a wireless service? Jump past the fold for additional highlights and a promo clip...

Stargazing apps to check out tonight’s sky events

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 14, 2018

As the weather gets warmer and the days grow longer, the night sky becomes a new and exciting place to explore. We may not be able to hop on our bikes and ride around the Milky Way, but we can find a dark place out of the city to go on a visual hike.

If you find yourself wondering what is above your head when you look into the starry night, we’ve got a list of apps that will turn the sky into a whole new universe…

Analog for Mac gains Analog Camera’s filters, now half price

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

I recently reviewed Realmac Software's Analog Camera for the iPhone and iPod touch. With its minimalistic user interface, this app from the makers of the Clear to-do app is probably the fastest and easiest way to take and process images on your iPhone.

Although it crops images for the square format, Analog Camera ships with eight Instagram-like filters and quick sharing options, which is ideal for impulse sharers.

Keeping true to its promise, Realmac today updated its Analog for Mac app with Analog Camera filters. And to celebrate the move, they've shaved 50 percent off its asking price in a time-limited promotion...

Apple and others face questioning over stolen smartphone ‘epidemic’

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

First Apple and Samsung were sent an angry letter by New York's Attorney General over efforts to curb growing thefts of smartphones.

Now the state's top prosecutor wants a face-to-face meeting next week with representatives from Apple, Samsung, Google and Microsoft, saying they must find a way to solve what's being described as an "epidemic".

"It's time for manufacturers to be as innovative in solving this problem as they have been in designing devices that have reshaped how we live," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday. But can handset makers really create such an effective kill-switch that would disable phones and cut thefts?

Apple allegedly files for iWatch trademark in Russia

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple reportedly has filed in Russia to trademark 'iWatch', the supposed name of the rumored wearable computing device. However, some in the tech media are skeptical, suggesting the report in a Russian newspaper follows none of Apple's usual steps preceding a product launch, such as in the case of the iPad.

The newspaper Izvestia this week reported Apple filed for the trademark under the 9th and 14th classes of the International Classification of Goods and Services. The report asserts Apple could face competition from similar local products. However, one Apple blogs has failed to find the trademark registered with the official Russian Federal Services for Intellectual Property...