Apple

F1 Challenge races its way into App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Fans of Formula 1 racing, rejoice! Games maker Codemasters today released F1 Challenge (a $2.99 download) on the App Store with more than 90 racing events. This is a licensed videogame so you're getting the officially licensed cars from manufacturers such as Ferrari and McLaren, in addition to the drivers and teams from the 2012 season.

F1 Challenge lets you race against such names as Scuderia Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, Red Bull Racing’s Sebastian Vettel, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ Jenson Button and Lotus F1 Team’s Kimi Räikkönen. Graphics look top-notch and I've included a few screenshots and some video evidence right after the break...

Chrome’s share of total iOS web traffic doubles since last year

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 11, 2013

Google's Chrome went from zero market share to becoming the world's most popular desktop web browser in just five years. And since its release on Apple's iOS platform in June 2012, Chrome's been consistently the top third-party browser on the App Store (free download), making its way on a lot of people's Home screens. Research firm Chitika estimates that Chrome's share of web traffic coming from the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices has doubled since June 2012 launch.

Just 24 hours into its launch Chrome became the App Store's most popular free app and grabbed an estimated 1.5 percent share of total iOS web traffic. Today, Google's iOS browser accounts for three percent of total iOS web traffic...

Apps on iPhone 5s twice as likely to crash than iPhone 5/5c, study finds

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Along with the iPhone 5s being a big seller, the new Apple handset has another not so welcome feature: its apps crash twice as much those on the iPhone 5c or iPhone 5.

The likely culprit: the iPhone 5s's 64-bit A7 processor coupled with the 64-bit iOS 7 operating software and existing 32-bit apps. Apps running on the 64-bit iPhone 5s have a two percent crash rate.

That's compared to just one percent for apps running on the iPhone 5c or iPhone 5, which use the previous-generation A6 chip and a 32-bit version of iOS 7...

Missing Doctor Who episodes found and digitally remastered, available exclusively on iTunes

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 11, 2013

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced on Friday that nine long-missing episodes of Doctor Who have been discovered. All of the episodes date back to the Patrick Troughton years and include two stories from the Second Doctor’s era – The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear.

Nearly five decades after they were last seen, these episodes have been digitally remastered and made available for rent exclusively through iTunes...

Analyst believes iWatch will be much more than an iPhone companion

Cody Lee ∙ October 11, 2013

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Brian White issued an interesting research note late yesterday, offering up insight on Apple's future product plans. White claims that after meeting with a component supplier, he has a much better idea of what to expect out of Cupertino.

On the iPhone front, the analyst echoes his colleagues, saying that he is 'very confident' that 2014 will be the year of the larger iPhone—and for what it's worth, he's saying 5-inches. But his most interesting comments are in regards to the oft-rumored iWatch project...

Jony Ive on designing the one-off Leica M for (RED) camera

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 10, 2013

Apple's SVP of Design Jony Ive recently teamed up with Australia-born Marc Newson (another influential industrial designer who conceives designs for aircraft, furniture, jewelry and clothing) to create a one-of-a-kind, aluminum-clad Leica Rangefinder for Product (RED).

Vanity Fair sat with the two men to discuss various topics ranging from design in general to collaborating on the special-edition Leica camera to how it felt creating a product that'll ultimately be enjoyed by just one user...

Apple reportedly cutting iPhone 5c production in half

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

When Apple announced that the pricing for the plastic iPhone 5c would only come in $100 less than its flagship 5s, the entire tech world let out a harmonious gasp. The handset, which we had all known about for months prior, was supposed to retail in the $300 range.

A lot of folks predicted that the higher pricing would lead to the device's downfall. And it may have. Apple didn't announce any sales numbers after the 5c's opening weekend, and today, a new report is out claiming that the company is cutting production in half...

Apple seen poaching BlackBerry employees in Ontario

Cody Lee ∙ October 10, 2013

With the future of BlackBerry up in the air, it's no surprise that the company's more talented employees have begun looking for a new home. And apparently, Apple is hoping that at least some of them find their new home in Cupertino.

According to a new report, the iPad-maker has begun poaching BlackBerry talent via a recruitment drive near the BlackBerry offices in Ontario. And it's offering up both relocation and immigration assistance to hirable candidates...

Fitbit launches Force fitness tracker with Bluetooth 4.0 and call notifications

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

Fitbit's health and fitness trackers are well regarded by fans of wearables. The San Francisco startup has managed to win over the active types with its Flex wristband, Zip and Fitbit One activity trackers and today they're adding another gadget to its lineup: the Force fitness tracker.

Slap it on your wrist and the Force will dutifully record the steps taken, distance traveled, stairs climbed, calories burned and active minutes. It also measures the quality of your sleep (how many times you wake up) and has a nice built-in OLED display to show time and, soon, incoming call notifications...

Apple gains approval to sell iPhone 5s/5c in Brazil

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple has gained approval to sell its iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c in Brazil. That country's National Telecommunications Agency granted the tech giant the right to use the 4G-ready 2600 Mhz band, an upgrade from the previous 700 Mhz.

The new handsets are being produced at Foxconn's Brazil factories. The government's approval follows Apple winning the right to use the iPhone trademark. The only question remaining: when will the new smartphones appear on shelves in Brazil...

As it passes 90M users, Flipboard details its surprisingly affluent audience

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 10, 2013

I'm a regular Flipboard users - have been since its inception in December 2010 - and am glad to see this unique social news reader service thriving. It was just two weeks ago that Flipboard announced a $50 million dollar round of funding and less than a month since it signed up its 85 millionth user and now the company has confirmed it's passed 90 million users.

By any measure, that's a significant milestone.

Any service that can claim nearly a hundred million users is clearly doing something right and deserves our attention. Turns out Flipboard is doing a lot of things right and I've included the most interesting factoids after the break...

Final Fantasy VI arriving this winter, FF VII being considered

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 10, 2013

It has never been a better time to be both a Final Fantasy and an Apple fan. Square Enix released Final Fantasy V for the iPhone and iPad back in March (and Final Fantasy IV hit iOS last December), however the publisher isn't resting on its laurels.

According to Square Enix director Takashi Tokita, the next chapter in the Final Fantasy saga is set to unfold in the coming weeks as the firm, formed as the result of a merger between Square and Enix, gears up to release Final Fantasy VI on iOS and Android this winter. More information follows right below...