Apple

Sketchy rumor calls for 256GB iPhone 7 Plus with 3,100 mAh battery

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 2, 2017

According to a sketchy rumor published yesterday by Chinese-language Mydrivers, Apple's forthcoming 5.5-inch 'iPhone 7 Plus' will come with a pair of exclusive features versus its 4.7-inch 'iPhone 7' sibling: a new 256-gigabyte storage option and a larger 3,100 mAh battery.

By comparison, the current-generation iPhone 6s Plus has a 2,750 mAh battery inside. The publication did not specify whether the inclusion of the 256GB option will result in the removal of the oft-critized sixteen-gigabyte option from the iPhone lineup.

iPhone and iPad prices increase slightly in Germany to comply with new private copyright levies

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 2, 2016

Apple has slightly raised prices of select iPhone and iPad models sold through its webstore in Germany in order to comply with new private copyright levies, as first reported by Apfelpage.de.

The iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone 5s now each cost 5 euros more versus their December 31, 2015, prices on the Apple Online Store. iPad models such as the iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 4 and iPad mini 2 have increased in price by 8 euros for each model.

Original Fantastical for Mac is now officially over, Fantastical 2 is 20% off until January 10

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

The original Fantastical, the popular calendar and reminders app which basically launched developer Flexibits back in 2011, has received its final update in the Mac App Store. While support for Fantastical 1 is now officially over, Fantastical 2 for iPhone, iPad and Mac will of course continue to be updated, maintained and supported for the time being.

“After more than four years of free updates and support, it’s time to focus our efforts, energy and resources on Fantastical 2,” Flexibits said.

Pixite’s Union photo app is free right now within the Apple Store app

Cody Lee ∙ December 31, 2015

Heads up folks, Apple is giving away free copies of the popular Union photo app by Pixite right now. You can find promo codes for the app, which normally retails for $1.99, within the 'Stores' section of the Apple Store app on iOS.

For those who aren't familiar with it, Union is an elegant image blending tool that allows you to create superimposed, silhouetted, and double-exposed photos. It comes from the same team that created Fragment, Shift and Pigment.

Some AT&T customers can now make VoLTE calls to people on other carrier networks

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 31, 2015

United States carrier AT&T said yesterday that some of its customers in select areas can now make Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) calls to users on other carrier networks. Cross-network VoLTE calls are currently supported for just one unnamed carrier, but AT&T will eventually implement support for multiple carriers.

Unlike traditional calls that use a carrier's voice network (which is separate from a 3G/4G data network), VoLTE calls use a 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, resulting in crisp sound quality and optimized bandwidth use.

Apple’s Kevin Lynch talks Apple Watch timekeeping, says it’s far more accurate than iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ December 30, 2015

Apple VP of Technology Kevin Lynch spoke with Mashable on Wednesday, touting the Apple Watch's ability to keep precise time. Lynch told the publication that the Watch is far more accurate as a timekeeping device than the iPhone—four times better to be exact.

"With New Year’s coming, those who have the Apple Watch will be the most accurate watch in the room... There will be no question about when New Year's Eve actually is now." The VP went on to explain the various features in the Watch that help make it so accurate.

The best and worst of Apple in 2015

Sébastien Page ∙ December 30, 2015

This has been a busy year for Apple from a product release standpoint. The company launched the Apple Watch in April, the first entry in a new product category for CEO Tim Cook. Then it released a new MacBook, a new iPhone, a whole new Apple TV, and the iPad Pro. And of course there was Apple Music, iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan. Busy year indeed!

As 2015 draws to an end, the iDB team takes a look back at the last twelve months. From software to hardware, to services, each Editor shares what he/she feels is the best and worst of Apple this year.

Twitter for Mac revamped, gains dark theme, inline video and GIF support, group DMs and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 1, 2018

Twitter today at last issued a long-expected update to its free of charge OS X desktop client in the Mac App Store. The new Twitter 4.0 experience starts with a brand new dark theme for those who prefer the Finder's optional dark appearance in OS X Yosemite and El Capitan.

Other enhancements in this edition of Twitter for Mac include the ability to mute accounts, use a new Today widget to see Twitter Highlights in the Notification Center, group chats with up to 50 people and support for Twitter's new quotation format, animated GIFs and inline video playback.

Apple Stores to offer iPhone photography and iPad illustration workshops next year

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 11, 2016

As part of a major retail streamlining under the watchful eye of Apple's head of online and brick-and-mortar stores, Angela Ahrendts, the company will be hosting a number of workshops next year at its stores that will take its existing and basic photography workshops to the next level.

The new workshops were designed to teach customers about the tips and tricks concerning iPhone photography, as well as drawing, painting and sketching on an iPad, with the promise of giving customers “at all skill levels” a chance to learn about more advanced image-capturing techniques, CNET said today.

Apple on the hook for $5+ million over hindered performance of older iPhones with iOS 9

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 30, 2015

Apple is under fire over planned obsolescence concerning the iOS 9 software update, with a new class-action lawsuit accusing the company of intentionally slowing older iPhone models with the update, AppleInsider reported Wednesday.

Filed with a New York district court on Tuesday, the lawsuit also accuses Apple of deceptive trade practices and false advertising which assured customers that iOS 9 would run fine on older handsets dating back to four-year-old iPhone 4s models without stating that the upgrade would cripple legacy handsets severely.

Apple said to be close to signing OLED deal with Samsung and LG Display for future iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 30, 2015

A report Wednesday by ET News contends that Apple is “close” to signing a definitive supply agreement with both Samsung Display and LG Display concerning OLED screens for future iPhones.

Although iOS devices have used ubiquitous liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels since their inception, organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology features deeper blacks and requires less power because it doesn't need a power-hungry backlight module to illuminate the pixels.

Twitter hires Apple’s Director of Worldwide Inclusion & Diversity, Jeffrey Siminoff

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

Twitter has hired Jeffrey Siminoff away from Apple, TechCrunch discovered on Tuesday. Twitter's human resources chief Brian Schipper has since confirmed the hire on Twitter, saying that Siminoff will serve as the micro-blogging startup's new Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, replacing its departing director Janet Van Buysse who spent six years at the company.