iDownloadBlog.com

Budget iPhone could be $350 mid-range device

Ed Sutherland ∙ May 3, 2013

Android is gaining ground largely by offering a cheaper alternative to Apple's higher-priced iPhone and iPad. Case in point: Acer's just announced $169 Iconia A1 Jelly Bean tablet. Now, for some time there's been a drumbeat for Apple to respond with a cheap smartphone of its own, one sold unsubsidized and off-contract to cash-strapped buyers in emerging markets.

However, now comes a voice suggesting Apple doesn't have to slash prices to improve its market standing. Instead, it could offer a mid-priced iPhone and in the process could cut rival Samsung's U.S. operations off at the knees.

There's no need for hokey plastic fake prototypes or leaks from "insiders." Apple needs only to repeat what its done numerous times in the past, opine two Wall Street Apple observers at J.P. Morgan...

Confirmed: U.S. Cellular will be selling iPhones later this year

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

U.S. Cellular is the nation's sixth-largest wireless carrier, behind Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS. Although Apple's iPhone is now available on all four major U.S. telcos and a number of regional carriers, U.S. Cellular doesn't offer the iconic smartphone.

It was reported last November that U.S. Cellular actually turned down the iPhone due to Apple's terms described as “unacceptable from a risk and profitability standpoint.” In a seeming change of heart, the company in a Friday news release announcing first-quarter earnings confirmed it will start carrying unspecified Apple products later this year.

UPDATE: a company spokesperson confirmed to Engadget that by "Apple products" they meant iPhones...

Galaxy S4 cleared for government use, iPhone and iPad to gain approval ‘in the next few weeks’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

As Samsung and Apple are bringing the smartphone wars to the Pentagon, the Galaxy maker has drawn first blood as its Galaxy S4 flagship smartphone gets cleared for government use ahead of the iPhone. A security approval from the US Department of Defense (DoD) is a major recognition for Samsung and its new Knox security software as the S4 becomes the first Android smartphone to win a DoD approval.

It wasn't immediately clear what's up with the holdup concerning Apple, but the iPhone and iPad devices should get cleared later this month...

Samsung: injunction for Apple makes no sense, infringed products are outdated

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 3, 2013

Although a jury in August 2012 awarded the California firm $1 billion in damages after finding Samsung guilty of violating utility Apple patents related to the iPhone and iPad, Judge Lucy Koh is still unimpressed. Having determined in January that the Galaxy maker did not "willfully" infringe on Apple’s patents, two months later she announced a decrease of the $1.05 billion verdict by $450 million.

Friday came word that Samsung argued in court documents that any permanent injunction in the United States against the infringing products "would not stop any ongoing infringement." And why's that? Because the Galaxy maker has either "discontinued the accused products or designed around any infringing features in the ones it still sells"...

Initial budget iPhone volumes could be modest

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 3, 2013

Look, DigiTimes is far from being accurate, but this Asian trade publication is nevertheless well-connected and occasionally accurate. According to its Friday report, Apple could initially launch a rumored less-pricey iPhone in small volumes, pegged at no more than three million units during its first quarter of availability. The publication speculates Apple could release the budget iPhone in small volumes in order to "test market response"...

Sorcery! brings gamebook magic to life on iOS

Lory Gil ∙ May 3, 2013

When I was a kid, choose-your-own adventure books were all the rage. You didn’t have to be an antisocial geek to enjoy them, either. There were fantasy adventures, horror stories, detective mysteries, and more. All you needed was a love of books and a few dollars for a paperback.

When I first saw the game trailer for Sorcery!, I was elated to see that the gamebooks of my childhood were experiencing a revival on iOS. Not only is this a fantastic story, but the app’s developers have worked hard to bring the pages to life in an interactive and exciting way.

Sorcery! is a gamebook adventure that first launched in 1983 as part of the Fighting Fantasy series of books. Today’s universal iOS launch is not the first Fantasy Fighting gamebook to hit the App Store, but it certainly has revolutionized the choose-your-own-adventure story as a digital medium...

Code your robot to life with Hakitzu: Code of the Warrior

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

I like to pretend that I know a thing or two about computers. When I’m around my mom or friends that don’t play around with tech stuff too much, I always sound like a real pro. However, when I’m around my IT buddies, I tend to clam up. Throw around the word JavaScript and you have me running for the hills.

When I first discovered the universal app Hakitzu: Code of the Warrior, I was already excited about building giant fighting robots before I even found out that I’d be writing their movements in JavaScript.

If it sounds intimidating, don’t worry. Hakitzu was created for the purpose of teaching code. Everything you need to know to make your robot move, attack, and destroy is available as a learning tool in this game…

Apple releases iOS 6.1.4 for iPhone 5 with updated audio profile

Cody Lee ∙ May 2, 2013

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?

Cody Lee ∙ May 2, 2013

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

Cody Lee ∙ May 2, 2013

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

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 2, 2013

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

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

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...