Apple

Deus Ex: The Fall doesn’t let jailbreakers fire guns, but there’s a tweak for that

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Publisher Square Enix yesterday released its hotly anticipated Deus Ex: The Fall onto the App Store. Soon after, it was discovered the premium game unfortunately employs a little unusual Easter egg of sorts: if you're jailbroken, The Fall won't let you fire guns.

Developer Eidos Montreal is obviously a little concerned about piracy because last time I checked jailbreaking was still legal, even if it voids your warranty.

The Fall isn't the first app to hobble gameplay on jailbroken devices. Just two quick examples: DirectTV and Game Dev Tycoon. If you're jailbroken and bought the game, don't despair as there's a jailbreak tweak to remove the pesky limitation...

T-Mobile reportedly sold about 900,000 iPhones in June quarter

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

T-Mobile USA, the nation's fourth-largest wireless carrier, started taking pre-orders for Apple's iPhone on April 5, a week ahead of April 12 availability.

Following the strong advertising push, the carrier then boasted about 'gangbuster' opening for the iconic smartphone, leaving us scratching our head as the headline-grabbing phrase left room for various interpretations in terms of hard data.

The exact sales figure came to light during T-Mobile's earnings call when we learned the Deutsche Telekom-owned telco sold half a million iPhones during its first month of availability, between April 5 and May 8.

Though T-Mobile won't report June quarter earnings until August 8, the company reportedly confirmed selling about 900,000 iPhones during the three-month period ended June 30. If true, the data point suggests the carrier has moved an additional 400,000 units between May 8 and June 30, but also that sales have slowed following the initial push...

Apple and Google are no longer America’s hottest brands

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 11, 2013

Quick, name the two hottest brands in the United States. If you picked Apple and Google you'd be wrong.

Although the iPhone maker and Android creator dominate the smartphone industry, the companies have dropped from the list of hot brand names.

By contrast, Amazon and YouTube made the current list of the top 10 hottest US brands for mid-year 2013. In another surprise, basement-dwelling BlackBerry was named the most-improved technology brand - thanks to the new Z10...

Verizon may owe Apple $14B for unsold iPhones

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 11, 2013

Amid cooling iPhone demand, some carriers are having trouble meeting its sales commitments to Apple - and the smartphone maker is in no mood to ignore the issue. One carrier, Verizon Wireless, could be on the hook for up to $14 billion worth of unsold iPhones, one analyst told investors Thursday.

Although Verizon pledged in a 2010 agreement to buy $23.5 billion worth of Apple handsets in 2013, meeting the commitment would demand the U.S. carrier sell more than twice as many iPhones this year as in 2012...

Tiny Thief by Rovio Stars arrives

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

True to its promise, Rovio's third-party publishing arm Rovio Stars released Tiny Thief on the App Store, a medieval adventure game developed by Barcelona-based 5 Ants Studio. In Tiny Thief, you're tasked with solving thirty stealth-based puzzles. The game includes five distinct chapters, over 85 hidden items and a host of colorful characters, including The Pastry Chef and Ferret (your most loyal companion). Go past the fold for a gameplay video and additional tidbits...

Pacific Rim breaks into the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

I've been on the edge of my seat ever since the first Pacific Rim trailer hit theaters. For those not in the know, Pacific Rim is an upcoming sci-fi monster flick directed and co-written by Guillermo del Toro. There's something inherently appealing about the movie's premise: colossal monsters suddenly emerge from a portal on the ocean floor, crushing skyscrapers, obliterating entire cities and threatening the mankind's very existence.

Since it's 2020s, we were able to engineer gigantic humanoid mechas controlled by two pilots whose minds are joined by a neural bridge. The movie premiers tomorrow and Reliance Games has just released the official tie-in game for the iPhone and iPad. We have a trailer and a few additional details right below the fold...

Apple could face triple damages in ebook verdict

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Although Apple said Wednesday it would appeal its loss in the Department of Justice's ebook pricing conspiracy case, the consensus among legal eagles is: good luck, but bring your check book. In her ruling yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote described the iBooks maker as the ringleader in a conspiracy to undercut Amazon's choke hold on the market for electronic books.

Apple's loss yesterday means the company faces triple damages. Despite Cote's wishes to assess damages soon, that phase could be delayed for months more as Apple asks an appeals court to overturn the ruling. But reversing the judge is likely an uphill battle as Apple seeks to do some PR damage control...

Infographic: four days without apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 28, 2017

Mobile apps have in no time become a true addiction in our smartphone-obssesed society. We use them day in and day out - to the point where we can't imagine our lives without those lickable Home screen icons. As Apple gave each user five premium apps and games for free as part of the App Store's fifth anniversary, eBay too celebrated the occasion by conducting an informal survey that challenged 200 iPhone owners with surviving four days without their favorite apps...

MLB.com At Bat iOS app refreshed ahead of All-Star Week

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 11, 2013

As New York preps to take the center stage for the upcoming All-Star Week, the Major League Baseball has released a timely update to its official iPhone and iPad app, MLB.com at Bat, which streams free and paid-for games, highlights and backgrounders while providing rich and detailed statistics like standings, schedules and rosters.

The All-Star Week update allows fans to follow All-Star Week live from New York, including the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, and watch in-progress video highlights within the Gameday Plays interface. The iPhone interface has been revamped and both smartphone and tablet editions have received other changes, listed right after the jump...

Apple researching combining mouse and trackpad into one ‘motion touch’ control device

Ed Sutherland ∙ July 11, 2013

How do you get the speed of a computer mouse and the fine control of a trackpad? Apple's answer is to combine the two motion sensors into one device and wrap it all into a patent filed and published Thursday.

The patent application, published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, is entitled 'Hybrid Inertial and Touch Sensing Input Device'. The 2012 filing outlines a type of motion-sensing traffic cop which determines whether inertia (mouse) or touch (trackpad) should control your iDevice's cursor...

Disney to honor Steve Jobs with prestigious ‘Legends’ award

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Disney announced its 2013 Disney Legends Award honorees today. The awards will be presented next month at Disney's D23 expo, a 3-day event held for fans, giving them a rare opportunity to be a part of the always touching and memorable presentation.

The Legends award is the media conglomerate's highest and most coveted honor, and is reserved for extraordinary visionaries and artists behind the "Disney magic." This year's honorees include the likes of Dick Clark, John Goodman, and yes, Steve Jobs...

T-Mobile unveils Jump, ‘the best upgrade program in America’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2018

So, both AT&T and Verizon are now making you wait longer to upgrade to a brand spanking new smartphone, going from 20 to 24 months?

That's exactly where T-Mobile is hoping to leapfrog the nation's leading telcos with its new upgrade initiative called Jump.

As reported earlier today, Jump basically lets you upgrade when you want, not when you're told ("two years is too tong to wait" to upgrade your phone").

More precisely, you can upgrade up to twice a year as soon as six months from enrollment. So welcome to the Jump upgrade club my friend and don't forget to jump past the fold (pun intended) for the full breakdown...