Apple

How to pre-order your iPhone 6s contract-free from Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2015

If you're thinking about pre-ordering a new iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, purchasing the device outright is a viable option. I always buy my iPhones outright because I don't want to be tied to lengthy carrier contracts.

In the past, Apple wouldn't sell you the latest iPhones contract-free (at its full, non-subsidized price) unless at least a few months have passed following their introduction. As it turns out, you can now pre-order an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus contract-free, straight from Apple—here's how.

Infinity Blade III goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Heads up gamers, Apple has just named "Infinity Blade III" its App of the Week for this week. This means that from now through next Thursday, you'll be able to download Chair's epic blockbuster slasher for free on both iPhone and iPad—saving you $6.99.

As the third and final installment in the brilliant Infinity Blade franchise, this game really needs no introduction. Playing as either Siris or Isa, you are tasked with exploring beautiful dynamic 3D worlds, picking up items and slashing enemies along the way.

10 things to know about iPad mini 4

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2015

You're excused for not caring much about the iPad mini 4, which Apple unveiled yesterday alongside other new gadgets. Phil Schiller, Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, literally spent a few seconds talking about the new mini.

But there's more to the iPad mini 4 than meets the eye. I've combed through Apple's press releases, read every word about it on their website and watched the entire presentation twice to bring you this handy listicle of ten things you may not have known about the fourth-generation iPad mini.

Apple seeds iOS 9.1 beta 1 to public testers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Following the release of iOS 9.1 beta 1 to developers, Apple on Thursday seeded the first beta of iOS 9.1 to public testers. The software is available either over-the-air, for those running the latest iOS 9 beta, or via Apple's Beta Software Program website.

As announced yesterday, iOS 9.1 will bring about new features for the just-announced iPad Pro, such as support for Apple's new Smart Keyboard and Pencil accessories. The update also includes support for Unicode 8, which will add several new emoji.

Charging the iPad Pro…

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2015

Apple spent little to no time during yesterday's keynote presentation. discussing charging its new iPad Pro. Following the press conference, the company has refreshed related product pages with new information and we've been able to glean some rather interesting insights on charging the iPad Pro.

For starters, the device will ship with Apple’s 12W USB Power Adapter and work with existing 'Made for iPad' chargers from third-parties. But what about charging times?

Apple’s iPhone 6/6 Plus cases will fit the new iPhone 6s/6s Plus models

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2015

Considering the amount of people who have asked us if their cases will be compatible with the new phones, it's worth underscoring that Apple's own case lineup for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will indeed fit the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, and vice versa.

As iDownloadBlog reader Adam Baligian observed on Twitter, Apple's own iPhone 6s Accessories webpage states that existing cases “fit snugly and your iPhone 6s or iPhone 6 still feels incredibly slim,” even with the case on.

New Apple TV lacks optical audio port but makes it up with Dolby Digital Plus 7.1

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2015

If you rely on the optical audio jack to enjoy crystal-clear sound on your home stereo system, you're in for a major disappointment as the new Apple TV no longer features an optical audio port on its back.

As evidenced on Apple's Tech Specs webpage for the new Apple TV, both audio and video are now sent over the HDMI cable exclusively.

You can at last download excellent Camera+ for iPhone at no charge

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Camera+, a $2.99 download, is my favorite all-in-one iPhone photography solution that I highly recommend to anyone interested in getting the most out of their iPhone's camera.

The gorgeously done app isn't exactly an insta-purchase and went free just once since its October 2012 App Store debut. For many casual photography fans, burning their hard earned cash on Camera+ isn't justifiable.

Indeed, some rather capable photography apps are available at no charge.

Taptaptap, the developers behind Camera+, at long last on Thursday released the free edition of Camera+ so the “I don’t pay for apps” response no longer applies. In addition, they've outlined several new features coming to future releases.

iPhone 6s achieves same run time with a smaller 1,715 mAh battery

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 3, 2016

Despite having a smaller battery capacity, the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus achieve the same battery life as their predecessors, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. PhoneArena spotted a scene in Apple's promotional video showing a 1,715 mAh lithium-ion battery, a reduction from the 1,810 mAh package inside the iPhone 6.

But as per Apple's Tech Specs webpage, the iPhone 6s provides the same ten hours of 3G or 4G data use, eleven hours of video playback and fourteen hours of talk time on 3G as its predecessor, the iPhone 6.

Periscope for iPhone refreshed with landscape video and more ahead of Apple TV app

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2015

Twitter-owned Periscope is secretly building an app for the new Apple TV and now the company has issued a telling update to its iPhone application in the App Store. The biggest newsworthy addition in Periscope 1.2 is landscape mode for shooting video.

Ever since its debut, Periscope has only supported portrait video. Video streams in portrait orientation look good on smartphones, but no so much on widescreen television sets so today's update could be viewed as a prelude to Periscope's rumored Apple TV app.

Samsung and Sony take swipes at Apple’s ‘Hey Siri’ event announcements

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Following Apple's action-packed media event yesterday which saw introductions of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus smartphones with 3D Display technology, the new iPad Pro with Apple Pencil, the much improved Apple TV and more, both Sony and Samsung took to social media to poke fun of Apple's latest innovation.

As you may have guessed, Samsung especially took swipes at Apple's stylus, which isn't surprising given Steve Jobs' famous “If you see a stylus, they blew it” quote and the fact the Galaxy maker pioneered stylus-enhanced phablets with its Note lineup.

Adobe inadvertently leaks iPad Pro has 4GB of RAM

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2015

In addition to our discovery yesterday that the new Apple TV has 2GB of RAM, Adobe has inadvertently leaked that the iPad Pro has twice the RAM of the iPad Air 2, which has 2GB of RAM.

A press release published yesterday, which highlights its new Creative Cloud mobile apps, specifically mentions four gigabytes of RAM on the iPad Pro.

“iPad Pro is great for creative workflows with a high res 12.9″ touch screen display at 2732 x 2048 pixels, A9X chip, and 4GB RAM,” reads the press release. Soon thereafter, Adobe has updated the press release to no no longer mention 4GB of RAM.