Apple

iPhone 5c is narrowing on iPhone 5s lead, according to analytics firm

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 21, 2013

The popularity of Apple's iPhone 5c is increasing. After a string of reports suggesting more iPhone 5s handsets were being sold, new numbers shop the sales gap shrinking. In a curious move for a smartphone first thought to attract mainly emerging markets, the iPhone 5c popularity in the U.S. is higher than overall global demand.

According to researchers at Localytics, the ration of iPhone to iPhone 5s sales is 1.9, much smaller than the 3.4 ratio reported during the first week of sales for Apple's two new iPhones...

Poll: which new iPad are you looking forward to?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

We're less than 24 hours away from tomorrow's big reveal at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT so all eyes are on Apple's next-generation iPads.

By all accounts, Tim Cook & his sidekicks should unveil a fifth-generation full-size model featuring bumped up specs and a thinner and lighter iPad mini-style appearance. A second-generation iPad mini with the sought-after Retina display treatment should be on tap as well.

Even though it's customary for major Apple media events that some of the predictions pan out while others never come to be, these new iPads should be a no-brainer and we'll find out soon enough for sure.

Until then, iDB invites you to participate in a non-scientific poll and tell us which iPad you are looking forward to the most...

BlackBerry Messenger for iPhone is here, get downloading

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2013

After months-long back and forth, the horribly embattled Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry, formerly Research In Motion, has announced that its BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) software has finally rolled out to iOS and Android devices today.

Announced as a staggered roll-out for Apple's App Store and Google's Play store, the secure instant messaging software employs a reservation system.

That's bad news for those who haven't signed up early at BBM.com as they will be forced to wait in line before they can use the app. On September 22, BlackBerry was forced to halt the planned roll-out of BBM for iOS after a leaked Android build had caused its servers to fold...

iPhone 6 may adopt IGZO screens as Sharp finally commercializes tech

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2013

Apple has long wanted to make a switch from the traditional LCD IPS display technology utilized on iOS devices to Sharp's cutting-edge IGZO technology.

Unfortunately, Apple's been unable to offer an IGZO iPhone because the struggling Japanese giant had been facing tremendous technical hurdles preventing mass production of these sophisticated panels.

According to the latest supply chain chatter, Sharp has now successfully commercialized production of IGZO panels for smartphones and will begin manufacturing them at its Kameyama Plant Number 2 before the end of 2013...

From the makers of Paper: the Pencil stylus

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

A stylus has always been handy for artists needing to work on a design using the iPad. For the rest of us, a pen-based tablet has been more of a pain.

Now comes a new stylus that just might be both attractive and useful. The accessory, dubbed Pencil, comes from the folks who introduced us to the Paper iPad app.

First, Pencil from FifthyThree is flat - like a carpenter's - so no more chasing a rolling stylus. Secondly, the stylus includes a USB port, making the tool practical beyond simply jotting down a note on your iPad...

Remastered Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and Sega’s 2013 winter iOS lineup announced

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Sega's Sonic games for the iPhone and iPad are as popular as on any other platform and the games maker has certainly given its best issuing updates with new levels and discounting the Sonic games on the App Store.

In addition to Sonic, Sega is one of the most prolific game developers whose varied releases for Apple's platform include Crazy Taxi, After Burner Climax, Jet Set Radio and lots of other iOS titles, even including exclusives such as Sonic Jump.

Sega of America on Monday announced its 2013 winter iOS lineup, including a remastered version of Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and a brand new game called Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing: Transformed. I've included detailed information above the fold...

MG Siegler: major Apple TV hardware has been ‘delayed a bit’

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2013

MG Siegler, a well-known (and certainly well-connected) TechCrunch columnist, blogger, Google Ventures partner and Apple pundit, has gotten us pretty excited by tweeting a month ago that a new Apple TV hardware might be on tap for tomorrow's iPad event.

Although the $99 set-top box is ripe for refresh - the current third-generation 1080p model was introduced 593 days ago - we have literally seen no components leaking out of Apple's supply chain to suggest an imminent update, which had prompted us to take the columnist's claim with a few pinches of salt.

Changing his tune, he now claims a major hardware revamp "has been delayed a bit," which however doesn't mean we won’t see an Apple TV update tomorrow...

Boost Mobile getting iPhone 5s/5c on November 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2013

EV Leaks, the credible source of carrier and device rumors, recently claimed that prepaid U.S. telco Boost Mobile would soon start offering the new iPhones with its Shrinking Payments plan. Sure enough, the Sprint-owned prepaid carrier on Monday announced that it will start carrying both the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c on Friday, November 8. The full reveal is right after the break...

Apple could announce Surface style iPad keyboard cover tomorrow

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 30, 2016

A sketchy video recently asserted Apple's Smart Cover for iPad has undergone a redesign that may launch Tuesday alongside new iPads. Suspiciously, we've seen no credible leak whatsoever to support the thesis. Though Apple's filed for a number of iPad keyboard cover patents, it's unclear in what direction it might take the Smart Cover come tomorrow.

If you ask a former Apple engineer, however, the company is seeking to address the success Microsoft has seen with Touch Type covers for the Surface by releasing its own Surface-inspired keyboard case for the new iPads that will incorporate a physical QWERTY keyboard and a bunch of other functions...

WSJ: Apple will launch Retina iPad mini and thinner iPad 5 tomorrow

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 22, 2017

Joining the guessing game ahead of Apple's iPad event tomorrow, The Wall Street Journal in a story yesterday evening has corroborated the rumor-mill reporting by throwing its credibility behind the reports calling for a fifth-generation 9.7-inch iPad with a thinner and lighter appearance, as well as a second-generation iPad mini with the Retina display.

The iPad 5, the report states, will adopt a new kind of display technology which allows for a much thinner display assembly. Go past the fold for the full reveal...

Apple reveals full set of new icons for iLife and iWork apps

Cody Lee ∙ October 21, 2013

Following last week's iCloud unveiling of new iPhoto and GarageBand icons, Apple has revised its built-in apps page for the iPhone 5s to reveal several new icons that are believed to belong to upcoming app updates.

Oddly enough, the revamped page also offers up some details about the new apps. And one of the tidbits we found particularly interesting was that the new GarageBand will be a free download with in-app purchases...

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo posts last-minute iPad event predictions

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Typically, when you see the words 'analyst' and 'predictions' in the same sentence on a tech site, you get a free pass to roll your eyes. Let's face it, the credibility for the majority of analysts is pretty low, thanks to crazy predictions like the iRing.

But there's one man who seemingly stands out among the crowd: Ming-Chi Kuo. The KGI Securities analyst is right more often than not, so when he speaks, people listen. And he just seeded some last-minute forecasts for this week's iPad event...