Apple rolls out 5.0.2 update for Apple TV

It looks like Apple has just pushed out an update for its Apple TV, bringing the software to version 5.0.2. No details have been posted yet about the new build, numbered 9B830, but we expect Apple's site to be updated shortly.

Owners of second and third generation Apple TVs can download the update over the air by opening up the device's Settings menu and selecting General > Software Update. Full changelog, once Apple posts it, after the break...

MountainLionCenter now available on Cydia

[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZZ8tS2cfIk[/tube]

MountainLionCenter — the jailbreak tweak that adds an OS X Mountain Lion inspired Notification Center panel to your iPad, was just released on Cydia's BigBoss repo as a free download.

As noted yesterday, this is a feature that's been long overdue; in my opinion, it makes Notification Center a lot less intrusive feeling on the iPad. Couple it with IntelliScreen X, and it's even better.

It should be noted, that despite my ability to get it working on my iPhone, the tweak has been released as iPad only, at least for the time being. Be sure to check out our full walkthrough of MountainLionCenter, and let me know what you think about it in the comments below.

Apple granted patent for magical television remote

An interesting patent grant surfaced in the United States Patent and Trademark Office's database this morning. Building upon a number of previously patented inventions, this latest filing describes an enhanced remote control that could include a touch-sensitive surface to control one or more on-screen objects...

We are giving away $1,400 worth of iPhone and iPad accessories

Summer isn't going to to be here for another couple of weeks but the the folks at ZAGG and iDB have decided to kick off the season early with an awesome giveaway that you won't forget anytime soon.

Our good friends at ZAGG have been generous enough to offer iDB readers $1,400 worth of iPhone and iPad accessories, so we have decided to put up a simple contest to give those accessories away...

Drop test: Samsung Galaxy S III vs. iPhone 4S

Ever since Apple unveiled the original iPhone, the handset has been a point of reference for the rest of the industry. It seems like every new device is pitted against the latest iteration of Apple's smartphone to test its caliber.

The latest notable handset to play this game is Samsung's new Galaxy S III. And while we've seen the device's voice assistant take on Siri, and other comparisons, we've yet to see the two smartphones in a drop test. Until now...

Nuance launches Dragon ID: phone unlock using your larynx

Nuance, the natural voice processing engine that powers voice recognition in Apple's Siri digital assistant, recently announced the Drive! platform, basically the Siri for cars.

Today, the company announced another natural-language solution, one that lets you unlock your phone just by using your voice. Introducing Dragon ID, a brand new technology tapping your voiceprint to let the device know who you are by the sound of your voice.

Count us excited! We're totally big on Nuance's voice unlock possibly debuting on the next iPhone so we can all finally kiss cryptic passwords goodbye. Here's a video of Nuance Dragon ID in action...

SkateBack: an iPhone case made from recycled skateboard materials

MacRumors spotlights an interesting new iPhone accessory from Grove, a well-known iDevice case-maker, called the SkateBack. As the name implies, the SkateBack is an iPhone case made from recycled skateboard scraps.

The company has teamed up with MapleXO — an outfit known for its recycled skateboard jewelry — to produce the covers, which work with both iPhone 4 and 4S models, and are constructed of 100% waste materials...

Sprint to launch prepaid iPhones on Virgin Mobile by July 1

MarketWatch reports (via MacRumors) that Sprint will launch own prepaid iPhone offering through its Virgin Mobile arm.

The move follows last week's unconfirmed news that Boost Mobile, another Sprint property, will be getting prepaid iPhones on June 22.

As you know, Cricket became the first carrier in the United States to announce plans to begin offering the iPhone on a prepaid basis in early September...

And just like that, Google snaps up mobile productivity suite Quickoffice

Whoa, looks like another iOS app developer (not exclusive, though) just ended up engulfed in the Google ecosystem as the search giant announced its acquisition of the popular mobile app productivity maker Quickoffice for an undisclosed sum.

The news arrives just as we learned yesterday of Google's intentions to snap up popular instant messaging maker Meebo for a rumored hundred million dollars...

Jailbreak developer Chpwn now interning at Facebook

Is jailbreak developer extraordinaire Chpwn looking for a new challenge? After releasing some of my favorite jailbreak tweaks such as Zephyr, Grant 'Chpwn' Paul has accepted an intern position at Facebook.

So what is Chpwn going to do at Facebook? Work on the mystery Facebook phone? Bring some Apple sauce to the company? Fix the plumbing? We have absolutely no idea what he's up to but we sure wish him well in his new endeavors...

Poll: do you get all worked up over iOS exclusives going Android?

When social network Path released its Android app following the successful debut on the iPhone, barely anyone paid notice. But when Instagram went Android, it spurred lots of controversy. Even Apple’s marketing boss Phil Schiller stopped using the app because it “jumped the shark” when it went to Android.

The debate over iPhone exclusives going Android really heated up with yesterday’s announcement of Instapaper of Android, Marco Arment’s read-later program which became a huge success on the iOS platform.

Should Apple work harder to secure iOS exclusives, which have been around in the console business for ages? Or perhaps this is nothing to get worked up about? Cast your vote now...

Really awesome Facebook phone mockup surfaces, our jaws drop

You must have heard rumors of Facebook poaching former and current Apple hardware and software engineers to work on its not-so-secret phone project. So, a Facebook phone.

We're still scratching our head over this rumored device. Why on Earth Facebook won't Facebook focus on perfecting its subpar mobile apps rather than waste its energies cracking the hardware biz it literally knows nothing about?

Regardless of the hearsay, here's a really interesting mockup which depicts perfectly what a Facebook phone might look like...