Apple releases iOS 6.1.4 for iPhone 5 with updated audio profile

Apple has, unexpectedly, released a new version of iOS this morning. The update brings the firmware to 6.1.4, and doesn't appear to include any new features or changes other than an 'updated audio profile.'

The new software is currently only available via OTA (over the air update), but it should be posted online shortly. As usual, jailbreakers will want to stay away from the update, as it will not work with evasi0n...

Is Apple doing enough to help prevent iPhone thefts?

Last fall, the U.S. national database for stolen cell phones went live. The goal of the database, which was a joint venture between several carriers, was to make it harder for stolen handsets to be activated on US networks.

But according to a new report, the database is having little effect on the growing rate of cell phone thefts. And law enforcement officials are starting to look at handset makers to come up with a technological solution...

TinyUmbrella updated with support for iOS 6.1.4

Earlier today, Apple unexpectedly released a new version of iOS. The update brought the firmware to version 6.1.4, and only included a single item in its change log: an updated audio profile for the iPhone 5.

Folks who are currently jailbroken on iOS 6.1.2 or lower should obviously stay away from the evasi0n-killing software. But for those of you who already updated, there's a new version of TinyUmbrella out...

Google Now doesn’t tax your battery, says Google, but users beg to differ

As we told you yesterday, a growing number of users report problems with the Google Now feature depleting their iPhone's battery fast due to its reliance on iOS location capabilities. On Monday, the Internet giant finally brought Google Now capabilities to iDevices via an update to its native Search iOS app.

Responding to the battery life concerns, Google on Thursday issued a statement denying any problems with the app draining your iPhone's battery...

Apple starts countdown to 50B app downloads

Apple on Thursday started a countdown to fifty billion app downloads. The promotions is available via a dedicated iTunes page. Like the previous countdowns, Apple will award the lucky person who downloads the fifty billionth app with a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card. iTunes Gift Cards can be used against any content purchase, including mobile and desktop applications, music, television shows, movies, etc.

In an interesting tweak to this year's countdown, the company will also give away a $500 App Store gift card to each of the next 50 people who download an app...

As seen on TV: Heads Up! arrives on iPhone

If you're a fan of the Ellen DeGeneres Show, you must be aware of an amusing party game Impending created specifically for the show. Hellen can be seen using the app to challenge her guests to name celebrities, sing, decipher silly accents, guess words written on the card on the guest's head and much more.

Guess what? Now everyone can become Ellen by downloading the Heads Up! to their iPhone.

Just invite your smartypants friends and let the party begin. The game is getting some surprisingly good reviews, it's backed by the Ellen brand and created by the same guys who brought you popular to-do list app Clear. What more could you want?

Blockbuster finally brings its On Demand streaming app to iOS

You really have to feel for Blockbuster. After filing for bankruptcy in 2010, the one-time video rental giant has struggled to make any sort of comeback in a market now dominated by digital services like Netflix. But that doesn't mean it's going to stop trying.

Today, the company announced that it has launched a new iOS application for its On Demand streaming service. The app will allow you to rent and watch movies from Blockbuster's library of over 100,000 titles (across all genres) from your iPhone or iPad...

LockscreenToggles updated with new dropdown toggles, icons, and more

LockscreenToggles is a very interesting tweak that we reviewed earlier in the week. An update to the tweak was just published on Cydia, which brings a variety of new options to the fore.

The biggest update to LockscreenToggles is the new dropdown toggle functionality. This new type of toggle, aimed at improving compatibility with other tweaks such as Forecast, Pluck, and others, provides you with a row of toggles under the stock Lock screen clock.

YouTube Capture gets updated with ‘Wi-fi only’ upload option and more

It looks like it's 'release your updates' day today for iOS developers. Earlier this morning we saw software updates seeded by Apple and Instagram, and now we have one from Google for its popular YouTube Capture app.

Today's update brings the app to version 1.3, and it includes a handful of new features and improvements. For starters, it features a new 'only upload on Wi-Fi' option, and there's also HD and speed enhancements on board...

Instagram rolls out Photos of You

Good news, iPhone photography lovers! Facebook-owned Instagram has issued an update to its iOS and Android client today, introducing a new Photos of You feature - another way to share and discover stories on Instagram, basically a dedicated profile section which collects photos you’ve been tagged in.

As part of the roll-out, Instagram said users can now tag people as easily as you add hashtags. What's more, you can even tag any account on Instagram, "whether it’s your best friend, favorite coffee shop or even that adorable dog you follow". They also created a nice promo video to promote the feature, jump past the fold to watch it...

The 16GB version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 only has 8GB of usable storage

In their review of the new Samsung Galaxy S4, CNET found out the following:

Nearly half of the S4's storage space (after a factory reset, our 16GB Galaxy S4 showed 8.49GB of available room) is taken up with the phone's operating system and built-in apps, limiting the amount of data you can store on the company's quad-core monster.

Now the question is, should Samsung sell it as an 8GB phone?