Hacker for hire: pod2g offers his services in development and research security

Well-known member of the jailbreak community pod2g has been grabbing a lot of headlines lately, but not for his usual iOS exploiting efforts. The 30-something French hacker recently released his first iOS app: podDJ.

Now that the app's complete, pod2g is looking to tackle his next project. And if you happen to have something that you're working on that you think could benefit from his special skill sets, he's offering up his services...

Flex developer answers questions and explains how Flex patches work

Yesterday iDownloadBlog reported on Flex, an upcoming jailbreak app that allows users to create their own tweaks on the fly. We had reason to be excited, as Flex can create custom patches for the Springboard or almost any app, all without requiring programming knowledge from users.

While we were optimistic about Flex, some of our readers were curious about how Flex works, and others raised concerns about the unreleased app. Because we felt these concerns deserved addressing, we got in touch with Flex's developer, John Coates, who was kind enough to answer our questions and provide more screenshots for our readers...

Want buttons for gaming in iOS? Here are your options so far

While there are certain video games that work well with touchscreen controls, if you're playing retro action games on an iPhone or an iPad, you're likely to find yourself craving the precise click of real buttons.

There are a few options for physical controls on non-jailbroken iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, but if you want to use classic controls for more than a handful of games, you will need to turn to tweaks. Luckily, we have you covered...

Poll: will impending jailbreak renew your interest in the iPhone?

It's open season for Apple doomsayers: the swirling supply cuts rumor has given stock manipulators ammunition to punish AAPL ahead of the earnings calls. But regardless of whether this nonsensical talk stems from a new iPhone model entering production, IGZO display technology being adopted or crazypants analysts having a field day, if you turn to consumers and ask them about their spending plans, you get a different story. None of this brouhaha matters to jailbreak fans eager to explore a bunch of innovative tweaks to personalize their iThings with whatever their heart desires.

There's no way telling when an untethered jailbreak might arrive, but rest assured that the best iOS hackers are working on it. That's bad news for owners of newer devices like the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S who must be patient and endure Apple's static experience, until the jailbreak finally arrives. But let's pretend for a second that it's here.

Would that reinvigorate your interest in Apple's handset?

‘StatusTab’ lets you access the status bar from within full screen apps

If you play a lot of games on your iPhone, then you're probably used to the idea of full screen apps negating the presence of the status bar. If you find that to be annoying, then a new jailbreak tweak entitled StatusTab may interest you. It allows you to sneak a quick peek at the status bar by swiping on the area where the status bar normally resides.

Needless to say, StatusTab is a simple tweak, but the simple tweaks usually end up being some of the best tweaks. Take a look inside, and judge for yourselves.

ChangeWave destroys all blabbering of supposedly weak iPhone 5 demand

If you've been watching Apple's stock price rise and fall as analysts debate whether it's the end of the world or simply a bad day for the iPhone 5, you're forgiven for feeling like a a yo-yo. However, to add to your confusion comes another set of charts illustrating everything's fine with iPhone 5 demand.

Indeed, according to a new ChangeWave survey based on a poll of 4,061 consumers in North America, demand for Apple's handset is as strong as ever. Specifically, 50 percent of respondents said they are planning to buy the iPhone 5 in the next 90 days, which jives well with Apple's previous iPhone launches. In fact, the iPhone 5 interest was higher than the iPhone 4S peak.

A series of charts also prove that iPhone interest, though flattening six months following the launch, remains high and even above rival Samsung. It all comes down to whether your cup is half-empty or half full...

Supply cuts a result of Apple’s adoption of IGZO screens for upcoming iDevices?

The reduction in orders of iPhone 5 displays and other components isn't a sign of weak demand as sober analysts paint demand as robust. Nevertheless, the rumor has opened door for more speculation that the Cupertino, California company is winding down production of the iPhone 5 ahead of the iPhone 5S release in June or July.

Be that as it may, it would be very atypical of Apple to pull the current-generation model from shelves after just six months. Even as the company switches to a bi-annual refresh cycle, it will still want to continue offering the iPhone 5 at a reduced price after the next-gen model becomes available. According to a new report, these supply cuts are actually the result of Apple considering IGZO displays for upcoming iOS devices...

Is Samsung copying Apple’s paranoid secrecy?

First, South Korean smartphone maker Samsung tries to steal Apple's coolness, now the company is trying to mimic the California firm's penchant for secrecy. Samsung reportedly is now asking suppliers to sign non-disclosure agreements with penalties of up to $1 billion (you read that right).

The push for an NDA comes as Samsung Electronics is reportedly developing a next-generation Galaxy smartphone. At the heart of the secrecy agreements is preventing disclosure of product information, which has become an industry all of its own as Apple and its rivals alternately build hype while suppliers leak product details...

Facebook to take on Google with new search tool

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSji6Y66aKo

Facebook has just kicked off its highly anticipated "come and see what we’re building" event, and it's first big announcement of the day is its new search tool. It's not necessarily a web search per se, but a graph search, capable of crawling all of Facebook's data.

It will help you answer questions like: what are some things my friends like, what kind of music are they listening to, what about places my friends have been to or liked and much more more. We have more details on Facebook's new search tool after the fold...

Former Apple CEO says Apple must rethink its supply chain to build less-pricey iPhone

Former Pepsico and Apple CEO John Sculley has issued some advice to Apple's current boss Tim Cook on the matter of a so-called budget iPhone, Phil Schiller be damned. He told Bloomberg television today that Apple should take into account the realities of today's cut-throat smartphone business.

He's all for a more affordable Apple handset, but opines it won't happen unless Apple's boss Tim Cook, who under the Steve Jobs regime ran Apple's manufacturing and supply chain, is willing to "dramatically rethink the supply chain" and give up on some of Apple's industry-leading margins...

New Game Center concept looks sharp without the textures

During its big executive shuffle last fall, Apple put expert designer Jony Ive in charge of all HI (Human Interface). And since then, there has been non-stop speculation regarding what kind of changes might be made to the ever-aging iOS.

And a lot of folks are wondering what the operating system would look like without all of the skeuomorphism — the leather, etc. textures. Well designer Adrian Maciburko might be on the right track with his “Crystal Interface” concept...

Apple looking to establish research and development center in Beijing

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently visited China, his second trip to the 1.33 billion people country in past twelve months. He met with China Mobile, the world's largest carrier with 700 million subscribers, to discuss that long-sought iPhone deal, visited Apple stores and attended meetings in Beijing with officials.

But there was one more thing on Cook's agenda as a new report out Tuesday has it that Cook told government officials that his company plans to establish a research and development center in Beijing, home to Asia's largest Apple Store...