Apple

Baldurs Gate II: Enhanced Edition arrives on iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 16, 2014

The official sequel to BioWare’s classic role-playing game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, Baldur's Gate, has just launched for the iPad and is now available to download from the App Store, priced at $14.99.

Basically a 21st century version of the original 2000 release, Baldurs Gate II: Enhanced Edition includes new party members, a seamless multiplayer mode, a bunch of expansions packs such as the Throne of Bhaal and Shadows of Amn, a new combat mission titled The Black Pits 2: Gladiators of Thay as well as a host of other goodies...

Skype gains push notifications for chats, two-way video calling in HD on A7 devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 27, 2016

Skype for iPhone rolled out the ability to conduct two-way video chatting back in December 2010, but the quality of these video calls left a lot to be desired. Back then, the iPhone 4's back camera could only capture video in 720p and the front-facing camera was good only for VGA-grade video chatting.

Besides, the handset lacked the processing power to make two-way video calling in high-definition a reality.

Today's update to Skype's free iPhone and iPad client brings HD video calling to the iPhone 5s, iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display, along with an improved chatting experience and more...

Google Play Movies and TV app hits iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2017

After Google Play Books and Google Play Music, the Internet giant Google on Wednesday has finally released the official Google Play Movies and TV application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices.

A free download from the App Store, the software allows you to access those purchased or rented movies and television shows you bought in Google's Play Store.

With this move, Google has completed a trio of software offerings that make it easier for people on the Apple platform to enjoy media bought from Google's content store. Die-hard Apple fans may not care much, but those who happen to use both iOS and Android will appreciate that Google is catering to Apple users with these apps...

New display panels in development could hint at larger iPhone, iPad and iWatch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

If you've been watching the rumor mill over the last 6 months or so, you know that 2014 is expected to be huge for Apple. It's believed that both the iPhone and iPad will receive larger displays this year, and the highly anticipated iWatch could drop as early as this fall.

The highly-regarded NPD DisplaySearch added to the speculation this morning, issuing a new research note saying that its supply chain sources are tracking new display sizes with various resolutions in development that could be used in some of Apple's new devices...

LA school district approves $115M initiative to bring iPads to 38 campuses

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 15, 2014

The Los Angeles Board of Education has approved a plan to deploy Apple's iPad tablets to 38 campuses ahead of state tests in the spring, which is part of the school district's effort to equip additional classrooms with tablets and computers to "revolutionize instruction", The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

The proposal is worth an estimated $115 million - enough to purchase between 40,000 and 70,000 tablets for deployment across 38 campuses, as well as a bunch of laptops for seven high schools...

Judge approves anti-poaching agreement suit against Apple, Google and others

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

A few years ago, if you were a Silicon Valley engineer in high demand, landing a job at Apple, Google, Intel or other technology titans likely meant your career was stalling as a result of these companies conspiring to fix wages by not hiring each others’ employees. A probe by the Justice Department into these 'no solicitation' agreements led to a class-action lawsuit.

And after a federal appeals court refused to let the defendants appeal a class certification order, the affected Silicon Valley software and hardware engineers, programmers, animators, digital artists, web developers and other technical professionals have won clearance to pursue the collusion case as group, Reuters reported Wednesday...

Apple agrees to refund users in FTC settlement over unwanted in-app purchases

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 16, 2022

Parents whose kids were tricked into obtaining virtual items in iPhone and iPad games by way of the iOS In-App Purchase mechanism will get refunded over unwanted spending, according to Apple's settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The penalty dwarfs Google's $22.5 million fine in the Safari website tracking scandal.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was not pleased with the outcome, but acknowledged in a letter to employees that the company "has entered into a consent decree" over long-standing complaints over inappropriate charges in the App Store, alluding his company may have exhausted its legal options and didn't want to risk an enduring legal battle with the government...

Apple Maps 3D Flyover coverage expanded in Marseille, Cape Town and Helsinki

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 15, 2014

Apple has already boosted 3D Flyover coverage of its Maps service in the United States, France and a bunch of other key markets around the world and today the company has expanded three-dimensional Flyover views in France, South Africa and Finland.

Customers residing in the cities of Marseille (France), Cape Town (South Africa) and Helsinki (Finland) can now take advantage of 3D Flyover maps, which Apple creates by crunching data obtained by sending a fleet of planes that capture high-resolution terrain imagery at multiple angles...

If Apple.com is up for flattening, please make it look like this

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 15, 2014

Milano, Italy-based user interface designer Sebastiano Guerriero has envisioned this great looking full-on Apple.com redesign which has left me speechless this morning.

I'm especially digging the uniformity, focus on large images with less text and single-colored buttons that much resemble the design language of iOS 7.

But what's really floored me is his awesomely flattened navigation bar at the top. I know Apple has removed some of the shine and depth to it over the years.

But - but - Guerriero's version is so much better! I'm not exaggerating, his mockup is an eye-candy and puts Apple's current website design to shame, hands down. But don't take my word for it, jump past the fold and have a look yourself...

Black Sabbath’s early albums finally selling on iTunes with limited exclusivity

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

iTunes has scored another interesting win as the English rock band Black Sabbath and its publisher have finally relented and agreed to make the band's 1970s albums available on iTunes.

Although Black Sabbath's later material was available on Apple's online content store, this is the first time their 1970s work came to iTunes, including Paranoid and Masters of Reality albums.

Apple was also able to secure limited exclusivity as iTunes will get to sell the band's first eight studio albums, along with three compilations, during a short window of time before the albums hit other streaming services...

Tim Cook goes on television to hype ‘watershed’ iPhone deal with China Mobile

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 15, 2014

Adamant to tell the world about his company's landmark iPhone deal with the world's top carrier, China Mobile, Apple CEO Tim Cook did a rare move Wednesday by sitting down with CNBC to talk the specifics of the agreement in a high-profile television appearance.

Even better, Cook shared the spotlight with China Mobile Chairman Xi Guohua, who revealed that the carrier had netted 1.2 million total preorders for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c as of January 13, ahead of the impending launch this coming Friday. That's 60,000 iPhones per day on average since December 25, 2013.

Your video follows right after the jump...

Tim Cook ‘incredibly optimistic’ about China Mobile deal

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 22, 2017

Hot on the heels of a report claiming that Apple had shipped 1.4 million iPhone 5s units to China Mobile for its big launch this Friday comes word from the carrier's Chairman Xi Guohua that the total number of iPhone orders is in the 'multi-millions.'

After years of negotiations, Apple finally inked a deal with China Mobile last month and is set to begin offering iPhones through the provider this weekend for the first time ever. But according to Tim Cook, this is just the beginning of things to come...