Apple

Minecraft: Pocket Edition introduces skinning feature, adds fishing, chicken jockeys and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 4, 2015

Originally announced back in March, a substantial update to Minecraft: Pocket Edition 0.11.1 has finally landed on the App Store today bringing loads of new features such as skins, chicken jockeys, fishing and much more.

Yes, you can now stuff wolves in boats and go fishing in Minecraft, isn't that wonderful? All joking aside, you can now customize the appearance of your Minecraft characters with skins.

Skins are sold through the In-App Purchase mechanism, and some don't cost a dime. In addition, players can easily upload custom skins to the game and even create their own ones using the Minecraft: Skin Studio app or any image editing software for that matter.

Samsung takes jabs at iPhone 6 in latest ad salvo

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 4, 2015

In a pair of new television commercials, Samsung is back at what it does best: bashing Apple's iPhone. Promoted under the tagline “six is greater than six,” the 30-second videos highlight three features of Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge: wireless charging, a wider-angle lens on the selfie camera out the front and a curved screen which displays tidbits of information across the edges of Samsung phones.

I've included both ads for your viewing pleasure.

Sunrise Calendar hits Apple Watch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

Sunrise Calendar, a cross-platform calendar application that Microsoft bought four months ago, just announced immediate availability of its Apple Watch app. With Sunrise for Apple Watch, you can see all of your upcoming events, get custom notifications and check all the details for your next meeting at a glance.

In addition to supporting Microsoft Exchange and iCloud, Sunrise is the only iOS calendar alternative that does push for Google Calendar.

And yes, that feature is now available on your wrist, too!

Designer Marc Newson responds to Apple Watch criticism, talks fashion and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 4, 2015

Marc Newson, a reputable industrial designer whom Apple hired last September to help shape future products, recently sat down with the London Evening Standard newspaper in his first print interview since formally starting his new role at Apple.

In the article that the paper published Thursday, Newson offers his view of the design world, comments on Apple's newly found focus on fashion and touches briefly on the subject of a rumored Apple car project.

The Sydney-born designer, 51, whose part-time role at Apple is taking up 60 percent of his time, also responds to the criticism coming from the fashion industry regarding the Apple Watch being too mass market for it to be a true luxury item and becoming outdated.

Hitman: Sniper now available in App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Building on the success of Hitman Go, a $4.99 turn-based stealth strategy game which made its App Store debut in April 2014, developer Square Enix Montréal on Thursday released another iOS game focused on Agent 47.

Called Hitman: Sniper, the assassination game puts you in the shoes of a contract killer. It's set in Montenegro, a country in Southeastern Europe with a coast on the Adriatic Sea and bordered by my home country: Croatia.

Hitman: Sniper challenges you with multiple scenario-driven contracts on a hugely varied map that contains many targets and assignments.

Apple Watch availability expanding to seven more countries on June 26

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 4, 2015

The Apple Watch will be arriving to an additional seven countries beginning Friday, June 26, the company confirmed Thursday in a media release.

Customers in Italy, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and Taiwan will be able to buy the device beginning June 26 from the Apple Online Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

In addition, the Cupertino firm has announced limited in-store availability of the wearable device.

Pebble Time smartwatch begins shipping, but iOS app remains in limbo

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Pebble's new 'Time' smartwatch has begun shipping to early Kickstarter backers, but the iOS companion app that allows users to connect the device to an iPhone is no where to be found. It appears the app is stuck in limbo in Apple's review process.

In an update posted to their Kickstarter page today, Pebble said that its Pebble Time app has been showing a status of 'In Review' since May 22nd and it's given no indication on what is taking so long. The typical review process lasts around 7-10 days.

NYT: no new Apple TV at WWDC

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple has apparently decided to postpone the announcement of a new Apple TV at WWDC next week, according to The New York Times. In a sweeping report on what to expect from the annual developer's conference, the publication says the highly anticipated refresh of Apple's set-top box is no longer in the cards for Monday's keynote.

Camera+ for iPhone unveils Apple Watch remote app and selfie widget button

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 18, 2023

If Camera+ by Taptaptap is your daily driver when it comes to iPhone photography, you must have been yearning for a companion Apple Watch app, right? I know I have. Tankfully, today's update saw to that.

Camera+ 6.3 for iPhone adds a pair of interesting improvements. The first, as I mentioned, is a companion app for your Apple Watch for controlling Camera+ on your iPhone remotely, similar to the device's built-in Camera Remote application.

The other addition enhances the app's widget, injecting a handy selfie widget button into iOS 8's Notification Center.

Google Drive receives Material Design overhaul with faster scrolling, syncing and image viewing

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 3, 2015

Google on Wednesday issued a version 4.0 update to its free of charge Google Drive for iOS application in the App Store. The first thing you'll notice is a brand new design which follows Material Design guidelines set forth by Google itself.

In addition to a cleaned-up interface, other changes in Google Drive 4.0 for iPhone and iPad include much faster syncing of your files, as well as image viewing.

Scrolling performance has been improved, too, and they've finally implemented iOS's standard swipe gesture to go back.

Showtime confirms online-only streaming service, launching next month on iOS and Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 3, 2015

Showtime, a CBS-owned premium cable television service, has taken the plunge and will offer a standalone video-streaming service over the Internet with Apple as its first partner, the company confirmed Wednesday.

Simply called Showtime, the service will cost $10.99 per month and will be hitting the Apple TV, iPhone, iPod touch and iPad on July 12 ahead of season premier of several shows such as Ray Donovan and Masters of Sex.

A free 30-day trial will be available to new customers who sign up through Apple in July. Like HBO Now, Showtime's new service will be an Apple exclusive at launch.

Rumor roundup: 4″ iPhone in 2016, Apple Watch in-store availability at WWDC and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

A trio of supply chain reports out of Asia are making the rounds this morning. The first rumor suggests that one of a future-generation iPhones is a four-inch handset that should be released in Q1 2016.

The second report claims that Apple will formally announce walk-in purchases for its wearable device at its Worldwide Developers Conference next week.

And the third story informs us that an Apple and Samsung supplier is investing $260 million in a production facility to churn out 3D curved glass, suggesting the faint possibility of sapphire-protected screens on some iOS devices.