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The legendary carnage racing game Carmageddon hits iOS, free today only

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 17, 2012

Carmageddon, a classic arcade racing game inspired by the 1975 cult classic movie Death Race 2000, won many recognition and awards, earning its notoriety for graphical violence stemming from the carnage concept: the locals stay out on the streets at their peril and you run over or smash into them with your automotive killing machine.

As you could imagine, Carmageddon was banned around the world, which only helped fuel its popularity. I was a little bit taken aback that Apple actually allowed such a title into its puritanic App Store environment (maybe because the concept calls for borderline comedy violence?). I've included a trailer, a video interview with developers and some screenies right after the break...

Foxconn’s comment on iPhone 5 production woes: “practice makes perfect”

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 17, 2012

Media reports about Scuffgate related to the widely reported quality-control issues with iPhone 5 manufacturing have subdued a bit as we head into the iPad mini press conference next Tuesday. That said, it's a tad surprising Apple's favorite contract manufacturer Foxconn would agitate spirits by explaining to The Wall Street Journal why the iPhone 5 is so difficult to manufacture.

Apple's phone, in Foxconn's words, is "the most difficult device that Foxconn has ever assembled". Workers are assembling iPhones in two new plants they are not familiar enough with, using brand new production processes that take time to perfect. Build quality will improve over time as workers advance their skills, but only to the extent of the limitations regarding the handset's anodized coating...

Apple to convene Lightning developer pow-wow in November

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 17, 2012

Apple is expected in early November to lay down the law to its developers on producing Lightning connectors. Among the Apple edicts: Lightning pins will be strictly controlled by the iPhone maker, which will provide them to "approved [developers] with production quantities of the pin once their product is determined to have met its standards and specifications," according to TechCrunch.

As for potential knock-offs, the blog cites a source who warns lawsuits and import confiscations could be in their future. Without providing details, the source described as being "close to the program," suggests the Cupertino, Calif. company will provide "additional security against low-quality copies" of the new iDevice connector...

Rovio teases Angry Birds Star Wars

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 17, 2012

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

Angry Birds Star Wars the game is landing on November 8 for iOS and Android and Rovio just posted a nice-looking new trailer to promote the software. It doesn't reveal much in way of details, but sure as hell appeals to fans of Star Wars.

And as part of its broader partnership with toy and board game company Hasbro, Rovio and Hasbro pledged to release Star Wars and Angry Birds-themed merchandise and various mashups, including board games, costumes, plush toys and much more...

The iPad mini doesn’t have a widescreen display?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

A pair of OEM leaks thought to depict the same display appear to strongly suggests that, despite the skinnier side bezels and a smaller form-factor, the iPad mini might still incorporate the display which has an aspect ratio of 4:3, just like prior iPads and iPhones (except for the iPhone 5, of course).

This means videos played on the smaller iPad will continue to be letterboxed, at least until an iPad mini with a taller display arrives (you heard that here first!). I guess Apple had to save something for future iterations. Also leaked today: another image of a battery said to belong to the iPad mini, with the label rating it at 16.7Whr and 3.72V...

Rumor: the iPad 4 coming in mid-2013 with simpler manufacturing design

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 17, 2012

Next Tuesday will hopefully bring us a small form-factor iPad (affectionately called by the press the iPad mini), perhaps some refreshed Macs and possibly a tweaked iPad 3 with support for UK's upcoming 4G LTE network in the 1,800MHz band from carrier Everything Everywhere (currently, the iPad 3 uses the 700 and 2100MHz band). It's all part of Apple's aggressive roll out planned for 2012, but that doesn't mean the rumor-mill is standing still.

Quite the contrary, a new rumor out of Asia is claiming the company's already warned its supply chain to prepare for a fourth-generation iPad in mid-2013. Perhaps learning from the ongoing manufacturing woes plaguing the iPhone 5 and reportedly affecting the iPad mini launch volume, Apple is thought to be switching to "a simpler manufacturing design"...

iPad mini release date allegedly pegged at November 2

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 17, 2012

As Apple gets to show us "a little more" next Tuesday, and taking into account that Microsoft's Surface tablet will hit store shelves next Friday, watchers have been wondering whether the iPad mini will be immediately available following the introduction, on the Friday following the event or the following week. The iPhone 5, for example, was unveiled on Wednesday, September 12 and hit store shelves the following week on Friday, September 21. According to a new report citing a source close to a major UK retailer, the iPad mini will hit retail stores on November 2 (that's a Friday)...

There are now more than a billion smartphones in use

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

With smartphone penetration rate in the United States and in various other markets recently passing the 50 percent milestone, the number of active smartphones in use globally has hit a major milestone of more than one billion units. So-called feature and dumb phones just a couple years back used to dominate the landscape and sales. It all changed with the January 2007 introduction of the iPhone, which renewed interest in smartphones and fueled demand that hasn't slowed since. And according to a Strategy Analytics forecast, the number of smartphones in active use could double by 2015...

Apple wins important patent for the original iPad design

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

We know Apple often patents stuff just so rivals couldn't patent the same invention. That's what other companies are doing as well. But Apple, more than any other company, depends on being able to protect its ideas and leverage patents to prevent copycat products from eating into its sales. The iPhone maker has been on somewhat of a patent spree lately and today has been granted a key patent for design of the original iPad tablet computer...

iMpulse: an iOS gamepad that fits on your keychain

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 8, 2016

It seems like iOS game controllers are a dime a dozen these days. There's the iControlPad 2, the iCade 8-Bitty and the Bladepad, to name a few. But we still haven't seen a single controller pull ahead of the pack.

And that's a good thing — at least for accessory-makers anyway. It means that the controller market is still anyone's game. That being said, we've got another one to show you today, and it's called the iMpulse...

Infographic shows a timeline of this year’s iPad mini rumors

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Rumors that Apple had plans for a smaller version of its popular iPad tablet go back at least two years. Our earliest report on the topic dates all the way back to August 2010.

But the gossip has gotten a lot more serious over the past 9 months or so, and the iPad mini is widely expected to debut at Apple's recently announced October 23 event.

It's actually been interesting to watch this story unfold this year. And if you missed any of it, never fear, the folks over at GimmeTech put together this infographic timeline...

Apple reportedly acquires web app firm Particle

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 8, 2016

It's been a busy year for Apple acquisitions. The company has picked up Chomp, an app discovery startup, AuthenTec, who makes NFC chips and smart sensors, and there was even talk of it buying The Fancy.

Well it looks like we might be able to add another one to that list. Reports are coming in tonight that Apple has acquired Particle, a San Francisco-based creative consulting firm that specializes in HTML5 web apps...