Apple

Leaked vid purports to show iPad 5 Smart Covers

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 22, 2017

It's been a while since we heard anything newsworthy concerning Apple's upcoming fifth-generation iPad, apart from a supposed Space Grey backplate from yesterday. YouTube user Unbox Therapy today posted a video which allegedly shows off Smart Covers for the iPad 5 in a bunch of vivid colors.

It looks pretty legit and while I can't vouch for its veracity, I've decided to post it here for the sake of discussion. There are a few noteworthy observations to be gleaned from watching the clip so check it out after the break and meet us in comments...

Google Search app gaining Reminders, ‘OK Google’ activation, push notifications and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2013

Google today invited a bunch of reporters to a garage where the Internet giant started it all, a convenient setting given Google Search turns fifteen tomorrow.

The company's SVP of Search Amit Singhal let us in on some notable updates concerning the mobile Search app for iOS and Android. For starters, the new version sports a refreshed user interface and such enhancements like new comparison filters.

More importantly, the iOS app will gain push notifications for reminders that will pop up on your screen when due. You'll be also able to use the 'OK Google' phrase for hands-free Google Search access on your iOS devices, the company said, and more...

Japan court rules Apple’s click wheel infringes patent

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Apple must pay a Japanese inventor Y300 million (about $3 million USD) for patent infringement involving the iPod's Click Wheel, a court ordered Thursday. The inventor had asked for Y10 billion, but received far less from the court. The provisional ruling, based on sales dating back to 2004, ends a legal dispute which began in 2007...

Apple releases iOS 7.0.2 fixing Lock screen security vulnerability

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2013

Apple has just released iOS 7.0.2 (build 11A501) as an over-the-air update for the supported iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices.

Release notes for the software indicate the firmware update fixed bugs that could let nefarious users bypass your Lock screen passcode.

As recently detailed by YouTube user Jose Rodriguez, the security vulnerability involves a series of complex taps on the iOS Lock screen to gain access to a bunch of stock apps containing personal data like photos, email, text messages, Facebook and Twitter accounts and much more...

Apple TV updated with Major League Soccer and Disney Junior channels

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

It's incredible how different the Apple TV's main menu looks compared to a year ago. There's so many more channels. Just in the last 6 months Apple has added a ton of content including WatchESPN, SkyNews, and more.

And it's not showing any signs of slowing down. Earlier this morning the Cupertino company added two new content channels to the popular set-top box in an over-the-air update: Major League Soccer and Disney Junior...

iOS 7 motion sickness is real. What’s Apple going to do about it?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

In pitching iOS 7, Apple makes note of the fact that the revamped mobile operating system relies on "cinematic animations" and "new approaches to animation and motion to make even the simplest tasks more engaging". Most would agree with the sentiment, but not a number of people with certain conditions who've flocked to Apple's Support forums to complain how iOS 7 makes their life difficult.

Motion sickness stems from iOS 7's heavy focus on parallax and zooming effects. Regardless of where you stand, it's a very real problem. Now, Apple does provide a very limited control in Settings to somewhat reduce motion in iOS 7, but people demand the firm take a more proactive approach and design granular controls to help alleviate motion sickness...

Chitika: iOS 7 responsible for over half of iOS web traffic in just first week

Ed Sutherland ∙ September 26, 2013

The beat goes on for Apple's iOS 7. The latest: in just a week the new mobile operating system now represents 52 percent of all online iDevice traffic, according to one Internet measurement firm. Indeed, in just 24 hours following its September 18 release, the new software for the iPhone, iPad and some iPods accounted for just over 18 percent of Apple's web traffic, reports ad network Chitika.

By comparison, Apple's previous iOS 6 required three days to top thirty percent of web traffic and not until February of 2013 did it attain 83 percent of online activity. Why has iOS 7 taken the tech world by storm, just yesterday being crowned the most user friendly mobile operating system?...

Cut the Rope 2 coming this holiday season

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2013

Cut the Rope series won over fans of physic-based puzzlers with its amusing concept of feeding candy to a little green monster named Om Nom while collecting stars. Who knew, right? Last month, Apple featured Cut the Rope as its Free App of the Week (it's never been free on the App Store before).

Today, Russia-based developer ZeptoLab confirmed that a sequel is coming this holiday season.

Cut the Rope 2 will bring new amusing characters, interactive backgrounds and physics-based challenges while retaining the familiar candy-dropping gameplay mechanics. I've include more information after the break...

Google outs Shopping Express same-day delivery

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2013

Yes, Google is now in the package delivery business, sort of. The New York Times last October reported that the Internet giant was testing a new service that had been more than a year in the making.

In partnership with select few San Francisco retailers, Google was reportedly testing its own same-day delivery service akin to the likes of Wal-Mart, Amazon.com, eBay and the United States Postal Service.

Yesterday, the search monster announced that Shopping Express is now open to people living in the Bay Area delivery zones, from San Francisco to San Jose. Marking the launch, Google also posted an iOS and Android app which lets you buy stuff from participating retailers with same-day express shipping...

How to set up your Apple TV using an iOS device

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 23, 2017

Yesterday, I let you in on a trick to selectively show or hide unwanted app icons from your Apple TV's Home screen. Today, I want to talk about another great Apple TV enhancement, one just implemented as part of the newly-released Apple TV 6.0 software update: tap-to-setup. In a nutshell, you can now use an iOS device to quickly set up your $99 hockey puck.

Sure, the third-generation Apple TV does allow for greater flexibility by letting folks pair a Bluetooth keyboard in order to quickly type in any pertinent information during the setup procedure (or afterwards). Tap-to-setup, however, takes easy to the next level by automatically transferring common settings from your iOS device...

Apple posts iOS 7 Tech Talks schedule, agenda

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Back in April, Apple announced it will be holding a series of Tech Talks focused on iOS 7 some time this Fall. With the software now out in the wild and the iPhone 5s/5c officially released, the company today moved to announce a tour schedule for a bunch of technical sessions which are set to take place across major cities the world over.

It's a unique opportunity for developers to convene with Apple engineers and evangelists outside the jam-packed WWDC and discuss developing for iOS 7 in a more personal setting and with hands-on labs targeting both iOS 7 app and game developers...

Apple launches internal website to showcase iTunes content by employees

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 25, 2013

Since Apple's inception, Steve Jobs very intentionally positioned his baby as the underdog, one that builds the ultimate tools for the creative types. These days, Apple is powerfully corporate and anything but the underdog of the pre-2000 era. One thing hasn't changed: the tools Apple builds nowadays are still aimed at creatives, with a heavy focus on prosumers.

It takes talented engineers to come up with such sticky devices and Apple happens to hire some of the brightest minds in the industry.

And guess what?

Like us regular fans, Apple's employees rely on company products to create interesting videos, compose music, write electronic books and so forth so Apple though it'd be cool to highlight their work via a private website...