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What if iWatch isn’t actually an Apple smart watch, but an aptly named TV?

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 18, 2013

As we entered 2013, the rumor mill has been increasingly churning out speculative reports regarding Apple's rumored TV set and smart watch projects, almost on a daily basis. Even Bloomberg joined the frenzy with claims that Apple has as many as a hundred product designers working on a wearable smart watch-like computer that "may perform some of the tasks now handled by the iPhone and iPad." But here's the kicker: what if this group is instead working on a television set - fittingly referred to as an iWatch?

MuteIcon: know when your iPhone’s mute switch is enabled

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

MuteIcon is a jailbreak tweak that adds an icon to your status bar when your iPhone is placed into silent mode. The purpose of this is to let you know visually when your iPhone's mute switch is enabled.

The tweak contains a few settings within the Settings panel for adjusting its properties, but overall, it's an extremely simple affair. Notice our brief overview inside.

Illinois school buys 7,000 iPads for students

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 18, 2013

The Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 in Illinois is going to put a cool seven thousand iPad 4 units into the hands of its students this Fall, another major win for Apple's iPad in education initiative. An extension of the district's experimental 2011 one-on-one program that put the iPad 2 in the hands of 1,500 students last fall, the decision highlights the growing importance of Apple's tablet on instructors and students...

‘HighlightGeneral’ is a bit goofy, but I kind of like it

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

If you read our post that shows how to create the perfect jailbroken iPhone, then it's pretty obvious that I have a ton of jailbroken apps and tweaks running on my iPhone. Sometimes, that can cause things to become a little foggy as far as the Settings app is concerned. Eventually, it'll be filled to the brim with preference panels for all of the stuff you've installed from Cydia.

As a result, that can often make it a little difficult to quickly locate key sections within the Settings app. The General section is arguably the most popular portion of the Settings app. HighlightGeneral is a jailbreak tweak that makes this section stand out by changing its text label color from black to blue.

Is it a bit silly? Yes. Is it useful? That's highly debatable. But I will say that I kind of like it.

Poll: which would you rather wear, an Apple iWatch or Google’s Glasses

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 18, 2013

Silicon Valley giant Google rightfully trusts tech enthusiasts will be falling over themselves to adopt its Android-driven Glasses, going as far to commission a pro to take a series of fashion photographs featuring beautiful, smiling models. Apple, on the other hand (pun intended), is said to be entering the wearable computing space with a smart watch-like gizmo believed to be conceptualized as your most intimate computer yet.

Google's bet is that advanced augmented reality features are enough to talk people into putting up with the unusual glasses dancing on their nose. And if iWatch talk is for real, then Apple must be thinking its users won't have a problem wearing a curved-glass watch around their wrist like some Dict Tracy copycat.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle: some folks will readily adopt these wearable devices and others will wave them off as a function over form. Which brings me to today's poll: if you were forced to choose between the two, which one would you rather wear in public - Google's Glasses or Apple's iWatch?

Is Apple putting Podcast out to pasture?

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 18, 2013

Apple’s Podcast app was released alongside iOS 6 in September 2012 and soon after drew the ire of design conscious users who saw it as a prime example of how skeumorphism devalues usability. That was only tip of the iceberg because users kept on hammering the software in iTunes ratings over its user unfriendliness, slow performance, lack of basic features and a whole host of other issues that go far beyond just teething problems.

And with just 1.5 stars based on nearly 6,000 ratings in the App Store, Podcast is the worst iOS app Apple has ever made, period. Venting his frustration with Apple's seemingly ignorant handling of the app, John Herrman in an article on BuzzFeed titled “Apple’s Podcast Disaster” raises some valid concerns regarding Apple and the future of podcasting...

How to enable still captures while shooting video on the iPod touch 5th generation

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

If you own both an iPhone 5 and an iPod touch 5th generation, you might find it strange that you can capture still photos while shooting video on the iPhone 5, but not on the iPod touch. Regardless as to why Apple made such a decision, it doesn't really matter if you're jailbroken. That's because a new jailbreak tweak recently appeared on Cydia enabling the function.

Still Capture Enabler is the tweak that allows your iPod touch 5th generation the ability to take still capture photos in the midst of a video shoot. Does it work as you would expect? Have a look at our video walkthrough inside for all of the pertinent details.

Despite financial roller-coaster, Apple brand value tops Samsung

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

It's hard to describe a company worth billions as 'scrappy,' but that's the image Apple has gained recently. To emphasize the point, a brand rating service Monday announced the iPad and iPhone maker was able to top rival Samsung despite a string of financial and competitive reversals. Apple's brand value rose to $87 billion, up from $70 billion.

And according to Brand Finance, the Cupertino, California company also saw its brand rating slip from AAA+ to AAA. In addition, Ferrari - not Apple - was named the word's most powerful brand...

China now largest global market for smart devices

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

It wasn't long ago we were writing that China was on the verge of passing the United States as the largest market for mobile devices, namely smartphones. That time apparently is now. By the end of February, China will have 246 million active smart devices, just ahead of the U.S., which will have 230 million installed Android and iOS devices, one analytics firm announced Monday.

That ranking is unlikely to change, according to Flurry, which tracks mobile devices sessions around the world. Why? Simple math: China has 1.3 billion residents, while the U.S. population is around 310 million. The U.S. smart device base is still five times that of the United Kingdom, according new data points...

Star Wars Pinball landing late-February

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 8, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOajo2uBvbE

If you can't get enough of Star Wars and have been yearning for something a bit more challenging and entertaining than Rovio's Star Wars-themed Angry Birds, here's some good news. Zen Studios Games has been hard at work putting finishing touches on their officially licensed pinball game dubbed Star Wars Pinball.

The trailer above highlights the Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back table which takes place - you guessed right - on the main deck of a Star Destroyer. Clearly inspired by the events of the film, it includes such memorable characters as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, plus the inevitable battles with AT-AT Walkers and Tie Fighters...

How hi-tech curved glass could be used for an iWatch

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 18, 2013

Even though there certainly is no shortage of iWatch rumors these days, we're kinda short on new mockups. Thanks to the United Kingdom's The Guardian newspaper which yesterday published this detailed mockup, there's something to chew on on this slow news Monday (it's Presidential's Day holiday in the United States).

We already reported on how former Apple exec Jean-Louis Gassée thinks the iWatch is an intimate computer rather than a smart watch with a twist. We also know from Bloomberg that Apple reportedly has a 100-engineer strong team working on the project. Taking it all in, The Guardian newspaper thinks Apple's take on the Dick Tracy watch takes advantage of recent developments in hi-tech curved glass, cheaper sensors and better voice recognition software...

Apple’s iPad in vogue with fashion industry

Ed Sutherland ∙ February 18, 2013

Apple has always produced fashionable devices, its sleek iMacs making multiple television appearances, for instance. Now comes word iDevices such as the iPhone and iPad are revolutionizing the fashion industry itself, altering how designers, publications and catwalk producers operate.

According to fashionistas, the iPad and iPhone screen are rapidly replacing the desktop computer display as how fashion is viewed. Additionally, iPad apps are all the rage for fashion designers and editors of industry publications...