Apple

Torture tests expectedly find iPhone SE less durable than iPhone 6s

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 4, 2016

Extended warranty provider SquareTrade has put the new iPhone SE through its paces in terms of durability. After pitting the device against the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models in bend, drop and water tests, the firm has found the iPhone SE to be less durable than the iPhone 6s series, made from a strengthened aluminum alloy.

“While it holds its own against the much bigger iPhone 6s Plus, the new iPhone SE still has some growing up to do before it can compete with the durable iPhone 6s,” concluded SquareTrade. A video of the tests shows the four-inch iPhone SE being submerged in water, dropped on its corner and bending under pressure.

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KGI: dual cameras to be exclusive to 5.5″ iPhone 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 4, 2016

Apple's upcoming iPhone 7 will feature dual cameras for improved photography features, but only on the flagship 5.5-inch model, according to an investment note by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider this morning.

The analyst, who has a strong track record in predicting Apple's future product plans, thinks that iPhone shipments will fall below 200 million units this year due to a soft iPhone SE launch and weakening demand for the current flagship iPhone model, the iPhone 6s.

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Top 3D Touch shortcuts in Apple’s Podcasts app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 14, 2019

Podcasts, previously an optional download from the App Store and now a stock application in iOS 9, may not be the most elegant software to enjoy your favorite podcasts, such as iDownloadBlog's Let's Talk iOS series.

That being said, the app is adequate enough for basic use: with it, you can easily browse, subscribe to and play your favorite audio or video shows on your iOS devices.

And if you own an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, you can take advantage of 3D Touch to start listening to the next unplayed episode of your favorite show right from the Home screen, use Peek and Pop gestures in the app to preview shows, see unplayed station episodes and more.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits iTunes as HD download ahead of physical release next Tuesday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 7, 2016

Apple has been accepting pre-orders for J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the iTunes Store for a few weeks now.

Today, April 1 (not a joke), the movie released on the iTunes Store. The $19.99 high-definition download includes iTunes Extras like deleted scenes and interviews with the cast and filmmakers.

The movie is not yet available for renting. The SD version will follow on April 5 for $14.99, when Star Wars: The Force Awakens is scheduled to launch at physical retailers.

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Taylor Swift wipes out on the treadmill in latest commercial for Apple Music

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 17, 2017

Pop artist Taylor Swift, whose public critique of Apple Music not originally paying out royalties to artists for free trials did force Apple to change its stance, is now the star of the latest commercial for the subscription streaming-music service.

In a comical 60-second video, published this morning on Beats 1's YouTube channel and aptly titled “Taylor vs. Treadmill”, the singer preps for a cardio workout.

She browses workout playlists on Apple Music and then sings along to a track by Drake and Future for a while before falling off the treadmill while still continuing to rap along, with the tagline describing Apple Music as “distractingly good”.

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Sprint to fix an issue preventing iPhone users from connecting to LTE cellular data

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 1, 2016

Sprint customers took to Reddit to complain about the inability to connect to Sprint's LTE cellular data network after upgrading to Apple's iOS 9.3 software update last week. The most recent iOS 9.3.1 update does not appear to have fixed the issue.

Sprint has acknowledged the issue in a text message to affected users and promised a fix, which will likely be delivered in the form of an over-the-air carrier settings update. “Your iPhone may be having data connection issues with the recent software update,” reads Sprint's message. “We're working quickly to fix. We apologize for the inconvenience”.

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Believe it or not, Apple just turned 40!

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 1, 2016

Forty years ago today, Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne to develop and sell personal computers. Yes, Apple Computer Company was started on April Fool’s Day back in 1976. And now, on the company’s 40th anniversary on April 1, 2016, a familiar piece of folklore has returned to Apple's campus at 1 Infinite Loop: a pirate flag with a big skull and crossbones in white at the center, in a cheeky nod to Apple's past.

Back in the early 80s, Steve Jobs assembled a rebellious team to work on a skunkworks project: the original Macintosh. Referring to themselves as the pirates of the company, they hoisted a “jolly roger” pirate flag above 1 Infinite Loop.

“It’s better to be a pirate than join the navy,” Steve Jobs famously told the Mac team.

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iFixit tears down iPhone SE, reveals some interchangeable 5s parts

Anthony Bouchard ∙ March 31, 2016

Following the first day of availability of the iPhone SE, iFixit has gotten their hands on their own unit and has started their ritualistic practice of disconnecting every little screw, cable, and hinge that comes on it.

The iFixit teardown comes a day after Chipworks' version, which revealed a lot of familiar parts in the iPhone SE that could be found in previous iPhone models, such as the 5s, 6, and 6s.

iFixit has not only confirmed these findings from Chipworks, but also provides some new insight about the iPhone SE's parts that is sure to interest its consumers.

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