Apple updates iCloud Beta website with Notes, Reminders and more

Apple rolled out a significant update to its iCloud Beta website last night. The page, which only appears to be accessible by registered developers, now features web versions of Reminders and Notes.

As you may recall, these two new web apps were leaked back in May, as Apple was caught testing the iCloud Beta website a month ahead of WWDC. But now it's live, and available for all developers...

Judge rejects Samsung’s motion to stay Galaxy Tab injunction

U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh has rejected Samsung's motion to stay the Galaxy Tab ban this evening. Koh handed down the injunction ruling last week, citing "clear patent infringement."

Apple has already posted a $2.6 million bond to push the ban into effect. So as it stands right now, it looks like Samsung will soon have to stop selling its marquee tablet in the United States...

Octopus Keyboard now available on Cydia

Ladies and gentlemen, it's here. After much anticipation, Octopus Keyboard is now available on Cydia.

As we first previewed a couple of months ago, Octopus Keyboard imitates the BlackBerry 10 keyboard on iOS. Be sure to check out our video walkthrough for a high level synopsis of how it works.

Once you've done that, head over to Cydia, and add the necessary repo to download Octopus Keyboard now. Or you can wait a while for it to appear on Cydia's default BigBoss repo.

Check inside for our hands-on video walkthrough of the final version of Octopus Keyboard...

Amazon takes on Apple and Google, snaps up 3D mapping startup UpNext

While you were away: not to be outclassed by Apple or Google, online retailer Amazon has just entered the mapping business by allegedly acquiring a mapping startup UpNext, according to an exclusive GigaOM report. The New York-based company is behind an interesting three-dimensional mapping app for iOS devices, UpNext Maps for iPhone and UpNext HD Maps for iPad (Android and Kindle versions are also available).

Both free downloads, these programs offer both the traditional map view, but also have built-in deals and social features and offline mode. There's also a three-dimensional view with models of more than 50 cities in the United States. Something tells me the apps will soon be gone from the App Store as Amazon makes these exclusive to its own tablet...

Apple to announce Q3 2012 earnings on July 24th

As noted by multiple tech sites, Apple has updated its Investor Relations page this afternoon to announce that it will be holding its Q3 2012 earnings call on Tuesday, July 24th.

This will cover the performance of the company during its third fiscal quarter of 2012, April - June, and will run down iOS device and Mac sales, stock performance, and other metrics...

Google re-brands Places app as Google+ Local, adds features

Google's been streamlining their confusing set of web services and mobile apps since Larry Page took over the reigns as CEO from Eric Schmidt last year. As part of this simplification of Google, the company just updated its Places app for iOS. It's now re-christened as Google+ Local and comes with a few new interesting features, including voice search and Zagat reviews...

Food & Drink section coming to App Store on July 8

According to several iOS developers who've received an official word from Apple, the App Store will soon add a new section dedicated to apps related to food and drink. The change takes effect this coming Sunday, July 8, and will affect all existing apps that are food- or drink-related, including apps that manage recipes or help find restaurants....

iPhone’s share in US nearing 1 in every 3 smartphones

Research firm comScore is out with a new survey of the United States smartphone market and the numbers paint dire picture for everyone but Apple and Samsung. More importantly, data shows that the iPhone's growth during the three month average period ending May 2012 outpaced Android, with Cupertino's market share approaching 1 in every 3 smartphone subscribers...

iCade Mobile game controller now available

Still looking for a decent handheld gaming accessory for your iPhone? You might try looking at the new iCade Mobile. ION unveiled the controller earlier this year at CES, and now it's finally available for purchase.

ION has seen a lot of success with its original iCade, and is hoping that it can translate that success into the mobile market. But will users take to the Mobile the way they've taken to ION's mini-arcade?

The 11 patents that are getting Android partners in trouble

The Android platform is under attack from a number of companies — not just Apple. Microsoft, for example, has forced several Android partners into licensing agreements due to patent infringements.

And between these settlements, and Apple's recent legal hot streak against Samsung, there's no denying that Google is guilty of illegally copying something from somewhere. But the question is, what?

Nokia has a plan B if Windows Phone bet fails. Android or BlackBerry?

Nokia thus far has seen little commercial success with first devices born out of their Windows Phone partnership with Microsoft, such as the hyped Lumia lineup. Apparently some Nokia executives are beginning to question the decision to hedge their bets on Microsoft's otherwise cool and smooth Windows Phone operating system and the forthcoming Windows 8.

But what if Windows 8 - the first major release to scale from smartphones to tablets to big screens - doesn't live up to high expectations? Where does that leave Nokia, the once leading cell phone vendor now on the increasingly similar downward spiral like Canada-based Research In Motion, another telecom on its way to the technology graveyard?

Safari Download Manager finally updated for iOS 5

iOS power-users rejoice, the popular jailbreak utility Safari Download Manager is finally compatible with iOS 5. The tweak, developed by Dustin Howett, gives you a large amount of control over your mobile downloads.

SDM has long-since been a favorite in the jailbreak community, but has recently been all-but-forgotten due to its lack of iOS 5 support. But now it's back, and better than ever. Here's our rundown of SDM part deux...