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SwiftKey maker hopes iOS 7 will allow third-party keyboards

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

Unlike iOS, Android from its beginning has had the ability to install third-party keyboard software for on-screen touch typing.

It's actually one of Android's major advantages over iOS: third-party keyboard apps greatly improve upon stock experience with helpful features such as gestures, better voice control, enhanced predictions and even specialized input rules.

There's no other way around the fact that stock iOS keyboard experience hasn’t kept pace with Android in terms of recognition, predictive typing and other capabilities. As much as we'd love Tim Cook & Co. to open up iOS, we'll have to do with the limited stock experience for the time being (unless you're jailbroken, of course).

But that's not stopping folks like TouchType from keeping their fingers crossed. For those unfamiliar with TouchType, they are behind the popular SwiftKey software keyboard for Android phones. Speaking out publicly about the issue, one of TouchType execs clearly has his hopes high on an Apple-sanctioned third-party keyboard development...

Samsung’s Galaxy S4 dead in the water

Ed Sutherland ∙ June 7, 2013

Following clickbait dead-in-the-water headlines which spelled doom for Apple on overzealous analysts projecting overly optimistic iPhone sales, it's now Samsung's turn to feel Wall Street's wrath. So, is Samsung's smartphone business running out of steam?

That's the question Wall Street is pondering as investors punish the South Korean firm after orders for its flagship Galaxy S4 had supposedly dropped by as much as thirty percent.

Friday, Samsung shares slid by more than six percent after more than $12 billion was sliced from the Android maker's market capitalization. Can Samsung stop the downward spiral, perhaps offering a stock buyback as Apple did? Or are we seeing only the latest signs of an industry-wide slowdown in demand?

Either way, the old saying about people living in glass houses seems all the more pertinent...

Apple updates WWDC app with improved video playback and more

Cody Lee ∙ June 7, 2013

Earlier this week, Apple released an iOS app for its upcoming WWDC. The app will help attendees stay on top of the latest news and events going on at the conference, and allow registered developers to watch daily session videos.

Those that have downloaded the app will be happy to hear that Apple has updated it for the second time this week. This time around, it has received a number of improvements, including several bug fixes for video playback...

Advertising legend Lee Clow on Steve Jobs and brainstorming Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 7, 2013

Lee Clow, the Chairman and Global Director of one of the world's leading ad agencies, TBWA\Worldwide (and also its former Chief Creative Officer) is something of a living legend in advertising circles.

Advertising Age likened him to "advertising's art director guru" and he was a personal friend of Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs. This is the guy who co-created Apple's 'Think Different' slogan, the iPod silhouettes ad series and the company's famous '1984' ad.

The '1984', as you know, is now widely regarded as one of the most memorable and successful American television commercials of all time.

In this video captured at the PTTOW! summit, Clow talks the challenges of branding Apple and reveals interesting tidbits about his productive 30-year relationship with Steve Jobs...

American Airlines enhances Passbook support with Lock screen features

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 7, 2013

Having previously implemented basic Passbook support for boarding passes, American Airlins has today issued an update to its iOS software which enables advanced Lock screen and time and location-based features for Passbook boarding passes. Specifically, travellers now get alerts when their flight is due and see gate and seat changes right on their device's Lock screen...

Apple’s Siri Eyes Free mode coming to 2014 BMWs

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 7, 2013

The German maker of luxurious cars BMW back in March added four new apps to its BMW Apps platform: Amazon’s Audible, Glympse, Rhapsody and TuneIn app.

As one of Apple's early launch partners, BMW previously featured Siri's Eyes Free mode on select vehicles. The latest update to BMW's iDrive platform expands Eyes Free support with new Siri features, including Bluetooth access to on-device music.

And finally, the car maker has announced that the new iDrive 4.2 firmware doesn't just bring Siri on its 2014 model cars, it also enables S Voice, Samsung's own voice thing found on newer Galaxy devices...

Sony reportedly joins iRadio for WWDC unveiling

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 7, 2013

The New York Times on Monday reported that Apple was rushing to close iRadio deals so it could announce the service during the WWDC 2013 keynote next Monday. The iPhone maker had previously signed the necessary music licensing agreements with the Warner Music Group in June and with Universal Music Group last weekend.

Notably absent from iRadio lineup: Sony Music Entertainment. CNET asserted that rough licensing negotiations between Apple and Sony Music have been stalling iRadio talks as a song skipping feature reportedly posed a major stumbling block for the record label. Fortunately, per a new report Friday, having resolved their differences the two parties have now found the middle ground...

Gameloft releases Gangstar Vegas on App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 7, 2013

Your wild trip through Las Vegas starts today: French games maker Gameloft has just released the latest Grand Theft-inspired open world action game on the App Store. Gangstar Vegas has you rolling up on a new trip through the City of Sin, the outrageous Las Vegas.

There are 80 missions in the initial release and maps are nine times the size of previous Gangstars. You can play either in a story mode, with challenges like races, fights, carnage missions and breaking the bank in casino games. Oh, and you get to play as a mixed martial arts fighter...

Warner Bros posts trailer for upcoming Man of Steel game

Cody Lee ∙ June 7, 2013

Folks looking forward to the upcoming 'Man of Steel' Superman flick will be happy to hear that Warner Bros has just posted the "official mobile game trailer" for its iOS/Android game of the same name.

The trailer is very entertaining, but it doesn't offer up much in terms of details. At a high level, it looks like your typical big budget super hero movie game, with high flying action and a good-vs-bad storyline...

Comedy Central releases Stand-Up app with over 6,000 videos

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Though they didn't like it at first, TV networks seem like they're finally coming around to the idea of taking their content mobile. Most major networks now have at least part of their programming lineup available, on demand, in their mobile apps.

But the folks over at Comedy Central have taken things to another level. The Viacom-owned station just released an app called CC: Stand-Up, and it includes over 6,000 videos from its vault of both amateur and high-profile stand-up comedy footage...

SolePower brings USB power to anyone that walks

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Determined to provide renewable power for all USB powered devices, SolePower transfers walking energy to a wearable storage unit for on-demand charging. While away from AC outlets, charging becomes increasingly difficult, even when toting around large solar panels. Similarly, battery backup cases only provide a specific amount of renewed life for a smartphone. The team of young engineers with SolePower insists on carrying a charging station all the time, in a shoe!

Walking motion capacitors are not new to the gadget scene, but an interchangeable sole is the new attraction. Adding SolePower is simple, just pull out the existing shoe insert and replace with a new iPhone charging version. Once the conversion is complete, walk between 2.5 and 5 miles to fully charge an iPhone...

It turns out Apple isn’t throttling data speeds on iPhones and iPads

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Yesterday, a report surfaced claiming that Apple was intentionally throttling data speeds on iOS devices. It was written by the developer behind the recent flurry of hacked carrier updates, with plenty of evidence, so it's not surprising that it gained some traction.

But the folks over at AnandTech have done some further investigating, and according to their findings, neither Apple nor the accused carriers are arbitrarily capping the data speed of iPhones and cellular-capable iPads...