Apple

Super Stickman Golf 2 goes free today only

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 9, 2014

Super Stickman Golf 2 by Noodlecake Games, the sequel to the award-winning Super Stickman Gold, arrived in the App Store back in March of last year and quickly rose up the charts due to its addictiveness, entertainment value and novel concepts.

It sports a ton of different modes and levels, characters that can be customized, varied courses to choose from, two multiplayer modes, all spiced up with compelling puzzles and nicely done crisp Retina graphics.

Super Stickman Golf 2 combines the best of golf games and puzzlers into one sweet package and it's now free, but only for today so grab it now while it's hot for a cool $3 saving...

Apple discounts iPhones, iPads and more in Lunar New Year Sale

Cody Lee ∙ January 9, 2014

As promised, Apple kicked its 'Red Friday' sales event off today in several Asian countries to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Unlike the recent Black Friday event it held here in the US, Apple is offering cash discounts on its products—not gift cards.

Also different is the fact that the Red Friday promotion includes price cuts on all current iPhone models and the new Retina iPad mini. Apple doesn't usually discount its handsets, as they are extremely popular and provide (by far) the largest margins...

Vine updated with focus and exposure lock

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Twitter's Vine is on an update spree. Earlier in the week the company rolled out two new features specifically covering Vine's web interface, one allowing users to browse, like share and comment on Vines on the web, bypassing the mobile apps, and the other called TV mode that lets you play all of the videos from your home feed, or from any given profile, in sequence.

Twitter has now turned its attention back to Vine's iPhone app which has been bumped up to version 1.4.7. In addition to bug fixes and performance improvements, this Vine edition allows you to capture sharper videos and achieve better effects by locking your focus and exposure with the focus tool, here's how it works...

‘7 Minute Workout Challenge’ goes free in the Apple Store app

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

A lot of folks were unhappy with the free download items Apple offered during its 12 Days of Gifts event. Many felt that the company, which is worth some $140 billion, was a little cheap with the giveaway. But the good news is, it's not done giving.

Last fall, Apple started offering free content in its Apple Store app in an effort to drive more traffic to its online storefront. And today, it's posted a new free item: the popular '7 Minute Workout Challenge' fitness app for iPhone by Fitness Guide Inc...

Galaxy S5 confirmed: due late-April, iris scanner a possibility, beast specs rumored

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 15, 2017

Yesterday, I told you that Dennis Miloseski, head of studio for Samsung Design America, basically confirmed that the Galaxy maker will be adding new wearable devices to its Galaxy Gear smartwatch lineup in 2014. He also noted that the South Korean company tends to have two major launches.

One is for its Galaxy S flagship handset in the Spring and the other tends to be for the Note phablet in the Fall. Speaking to Bloomberg today, a Samsung executive vice president has now officially confirmed that the Galaxy S5, a successor to the current S4, is coming by the end of April.

It will feature a brand new design and may or may not take on Apple's Touch ID with an iris scanning technology. Hardware-wise, Samsung shouldn't disappoint as the S5 is shaping up to be quite a beast of the phone.

With the upcoming iPhone 6 in the pipeline, I thought we should compile everything we "know" about Samsung's next big thing that'll take on the iPhone in a few months time, all over again...

Snapchat is ‘sorry’ for data breach, strengthens mobile app security

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

Snapchat has found itself in some pretty hot water after a group of anonymous hackers on New Year's Eve breached its database and leaked 4.6 million usernames and phone numbers on the web. The controversy wasn't necessarily about the security breach itself, but over Snapchat's stubborn refusal to publicly acknowledge the situation, apologize for the inconvenience and update customers on steps taken, if any, to rectify the situation.

It's mind-boggling that Snapchat was aware of a security hole in its API for several weeks yet did absolutely nothing to plug it, an inexplicable move that has in turn allowed the hackers to successfully exploit Snapchat's shortcomings and steal user data.

Today, the company has finally gone on the record to confirm that a new update to its Android and iOS apps improves security by letting folks opt out of the Find Friends feature which has, partially, allowed for the hack.

And although the company has yet to formally apologize for the messy handling of the situation, it now says it's "sorry" for any problems this issue may have caused its users...

Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project hits iOS, total mutant mayhem guaranteed

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 9, 2014

If you're in your 30s, surely you must remember an action videogame franchise that set the genre on fire. Starring a larger-than-life character called Duke, itt was originally created by Apogee Software and 3D Realms, with the voice actor Jon St. John borrowing Duke his distinct voice.

The long-standing Duke Nukem series has since seen numerous releases and the last installment was published back in 2011 by Gearbox Software, which acquired the rights of the franchise the year prior.

Duke Nukem II was ported to iOS last year and now the original king of action is making a comeback in Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project, now available for the iPhone and iPad for $1.99...

Apple, Samsung CEOs agree to mediation ahead of patent trial

Cody Lee ∙ January 8, 2014

According to new paperwork filed earlier this afternoon, Apple and Samsung have agreed to attend a mediation session next month ahead of their second major US patent trial, which is slated to begin on March 31.

The meeting is to take place on or before February 19, and is to be attended by Tim Cook, Samsung's Oh-Hyun Kwon and their respective in-house lawyers. And they will attempt to discuss settlement opportunities...

CES 2014: introducing Voyce, health and activity tracking collar for dogs

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 4, 2017

We've seen all sorts of crazy stuff coming out of CES 2014 (the hype machine is strong) and I'm guessing half of the announced, shown off and written about whiz-bang gadgets will get forgotten as soon as the last drunken journalist checks out of an overpriced Las Vegas hotel.

The Voyce isn't one of such easily forgettable products. If you love dogs and own one, I'm guessing your four-legged pet friend would love to wear this app-enabled collar that can track his activity, measure heart and respiratory rates and record other data pertaining to his wellbeing..

Supposed iPhone 6 frame leaks: it’s ultra-thin and not very Apple-like

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 8, 2014

The notoriously unreliable Digitimes last month called for a larger size iPhone in May and today Chinese website Huanqiu reiterated that an iPhablet would arrive in time for the next Galaxy S smartphone confirmed for May 2014.

The next iPhone - let's call it the iPhone 6 for the convenience sake - is generally thought to come in two sizes, one 4.7-inch and the larger one with a phablet-grade screen measuring a whopping 5.7 inches diagonally.

And now, images of an alleged frame have appeared online to suggest a notably thinner appearance compared to the current-generation iPhone 5s. Could this part be genuine? My two cents are right below...

CES 2014: how about MFi air conditioner?

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 8, 2014

This year's Consumer Electronics Show is currently underway in Las Vegas and even though Apple isn't an exhibitor, its influence can be felt in so many ways. If anything, the show appears to have ushered in an era of iPhone-controlled everything, from Parrot's latest drones (and other iOS-enabled toys) and the world’s first app-connected toothbrush to a smart sleep tracking system by Withings, to name a few.

A Chinese manufacturer called Haier has now announced it's become the world's first appliance vendor to have been labeled with Apple's Made for iPhone (MFi) certification logo, which ensures its accessories meet Apple's exacting standards in terms of quality and performance.

Haier's first product to bear the MFi logo is a smart air conditioner dubbed Tianzun controllable from an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad device...

iRing lets you control music and apps with air gestures

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

IK Multimedia, the maker of iOS apps and accessories for musicians, has announced a Kinect-like controller which promises to bring air gestures to your music creation applications. Dubbed the iRing (not to be confused with a rumored Apple TV motion controller), it rests in your hands and uses an iOS device's front camera to detect mid-air gestures.

Hand movements are then translated into commands which get passed to supported apps. There's something inherently fun and sci-fi about creating music just by moving your hands in front of your iPhone, iPod touch and iPad and we have a video of iRing in action right after the break...