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Apple posts iOS 6.1 Beta 2, new Apple TV beta

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Apple just seeded its registered developers with the second beta of iOS 6.1. The software follows November 1 release of the first iOS 6.1 beta which brought out MapsKit improvements and other tidbits.

Beta 2 has a build number of 10B5105c versus 10B5095f for Beta 1. Apple says iOS 6 Beta 2 contains bug fixes and improvements over iOS 6.0.1, in addition to tweaks like a new information card in the Passbook app.

A new beta of the Apple TV software is also available. The new iOS 6.1 beta is available for the various iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Apple TV devices. Apple's registered developers can download them via the company's developer portal.

The iPhone maker also released Xcode 4.6 Developer Preview 2 today (build 4H95e), its preferred development environment for third-parties that write Mac and iOS apps. Your release notes and additional info are right below...

In Italy, AppleCare products removed over warranty policy shenanigans

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Bloomberg in October reported of Justice Minister Viviane Reding pushing EU regulators into probing Apple over its ambiguous warranty advertising in the European Union. And earlier in the year, consumer groups demanded that eleven EU countries pressure Apple into complying with EU's consumer laws. As a result, Apple's warranty plans with extended device coverage are about to be pulled from retail channels in Italy. Better still, Apple is finally informing buyers that EU law entitles them to a minimum two-year seller guarantee, free of charge...

Scuffed iPhone 5? Make it unique by scuffing it even more

Oliver Haslam ∙ November 12, 2012

As always seems to be the case when Apple launches a new smartphone, the iPhone 5 has suffered something of a dent to its reputation, at least in its early weeks post-launch. We are of course talking about scuffgate, the claimed issue of handsets suffering from paint chips around the phone's antenna, especially on the black and slate version.

Some noticed the issue right out of the box, while others have found paint missing after days and weeks of ownership. While many have succeeded in getting Apple to swap out handsets with just this issue, one forum-goer decided to take a different route, and we have to say it's pretty awesome.

Faced with a prematurely paint-less iPhone 5, MacRumors forum member travis.hansen decided to take matters into his own hands by actually polishing the remaining paint off, leaving a funky shiny metal finish that looks absolutely terrific...

Firing Forstall was a mistake, says former engineer

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Apple CEO Tim Cook's decision to fire the architect of Apple's mobile and desktop operating systems was a mistake, according to former senior Apple manager Michael Lopp. He is calling for a downturn for the company and predicting that "Apple’s doom will start quietly".

You may have noticed trending Apple doomsday scenarios as haters are having a field day painting the company's recent moves in negative light. Forstall, Lopp says, "was old school", the closest thing the company had to Steve Jobs. Lopp goes as far to claim Forstall was the only legit successor to Jobs "because he displayed a variety of Jobsian characteristics"...

Ad assault: Windows Phone commercials are heavy on celebs and great overall

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y29tpFjWyUE

Microsoft is sparing no expense in promoting its freshly updated Windows Phone software platform. The massive advertising blitz that will end up costing billions over the next twelve months kicked off during NFL games on Sunday with a series of effective commercials. They're all heavy on celebs who explain how Windows Phone makes their lives more personal.

The basic message the campaign wants to instill in the mind of the consumer is that Windows Phone is "reinvented around you" (it reminds a bit of the "inspired by nature, designed by humans" tagline for Samsung's Galaxy S III, doesn't it?). "When we set out to make a smartphone, we didn't make one for all of us", the ad above proclaims. "We made one for each of us".

Right below the fold: more ads showing Gwen Stefani arranging Live Tiles, Jessica Alba using Kid's Corner parental controls and even Microsoft's boss Steve Ballmer messing with the Live Apps on the Start screen...

Apple’s Android settlement with HTC could be worth at least $3 billion

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2012

Apple and HTC last Saturday announced a global settlement in their long-standing Android dispute. The agreement dismissed all patent-related lawsuits between the two firms and put forth a 10 year cross-licensing deal for all current and future patents. While the terms of the settlement are confidential, one analyst thinks that Apple gets up to eight bucks per every Android-based HTC phone sold. With 30-35 million Android-based HTC smartphones sold annually, Apple could pocket a cool $280 million annually on this patenting pact...

Samsung allegedly ups Apple chip prices by 20 percent

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2012

Samsung Electronics, which manufactures Apple-designed chips for iPads and iPhones exclusively at its Austin, Texas facility, has reportedly hit the iPhone maker with a material 20 percent price hike. Unsurprisingly, per an unnamed person allegedly familiar with negotiations between the two companies, this price increase is only aimed at Apple and not other Samsung clients. Apple up until recently used to account for as much as 8.8 percent of Samsung's revenue. It's been estimated that Apple ordered 130 million iPhone and iPad chips from Samsung Electronics in 2011 and more than 200 million units this year. The two frenemies have allegedly started to reflect the new supply price recently...

Rumor: the iPhone 5S entering trial production in December

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 12, 2012

And you thought your iPhone 5 would keep you on the bleeding edge of technology. A new report out of Asia this morning claims that Apple plans to begin trial production of a next iPhone, the iPhone 5S, in December. The reason for such a hasty production schedule? Low yields that continue to affect availability of the current iPhone 5.

In order to avoid similar problems with the next iPhone, the story goes, Apple wants to start trial production of the iPhone 5S as early as possible so the company could work out any kinks ahead of volume production, which is apparently slated to begin in the first quarter of 2013...

Grab yourself a MOBiLE CLOTH, the king of cleaning cloths [giveaway]

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

We at iDB are big MOBiLE CLOTH fans as you can see from our previous review and multiple giveaways. "Who would get excited about a cleaning cloth," you may be asking yourself. Well, after testing the cloth, we were pretty blown away. I recently tried my hand with a MOBiLE CLOTH and it certainly lived up to expectation. Without any additional cleaning agents or sprays, the dry cloth effortlessly destroyed all of the finger prints and smudges I accumulated while killing baddies playing one of my new favorite apps, ARC Squadron during my review. What impressed me the most is the effortless cleaning process.

To celebrate the launch of the iPad (4th gen) and iPad mini, we teamed up with MOBiLE CLOTH to also giveaway a 24 cleaning cloth gift set...

Movember moustache app that gives back

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

In an effort to make the world aware of men's health, November is "Movember" to concerned individuals. Each Movember, men around the globe unite in their passion for masculine facial hair as a way to spread the word about men's health issues, particularly prostate and testicular cancers. Once registered on the official Movember website, gentlemen begin Movember 1st clean shaven and grow their way to victory while collecting supportive donations for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG Foundation. The Movember program raised $126.2 million in 2011 with the help of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas.

In 2012, to help support Mo's everywhere, the foundation published the Movember Mobile app to keep everyone informed and ensure the donation campaign is easier for all Mo's. Come take a look at the iOS app inspiring a mustached revolution from a participant's perspective. Maybe it will grow on you...

How to jailbreak iOS 6 and iOS 6.0.1 with Sn0wBreeze 2.9.7

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

If you're a Windows user, and you've been dying for an update to Sn0wBreeze, then your wait is over. As we posted earlier, Sn0wBreeze was updated to 2.9.7, and with it comes tethered support for pre-A5 devices running iOS 6 and iOS 6.0.1

For those of you who've been holding off until a Sn0wBreeze update, we've created a handy tutorial for you to follow, which shows you how to jailbreak iOS 6 and iOS 6.1 using Sn0wBreeze on Windows. Take a look inside for the full details...

Sn0wBreeze 2.9.7 updated with iOS 6.0 and iOS 6.0.1 jailbreak support

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 27, 2017

iH8sn0w just updated his popular Windows jailbreak tool, Sn0wBreeze, to support the latest public firmware for pre-A5 iOS devices. The update brings support to iOS 6.0 and iOS 6.0.1 tethered jailbreaks for those devices.

Eligible hardware includes the iPhone 4, and the iPhone 3GS. Sn0wBreeze does not work with A5 devices like the iPad 2, or A6 devices like the iPhone 5. This update lends support for the newest public firmware on older devices only. Take a look inside for a taste of what's new with Sn0wBreeze 2.9.7...