Apple

Sony readying interchangeable E-Mount lenses for pro mobile photography

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 2, 2014

The Japanese giant Sony is gearing up to unveil a number of new gadgets at the IFA press conference which kicks off tomorrow in Berlin. And with 24 hours until the presser, an ILCE-QX1 E-mount camera has conveniently leaked out.

The latest addition to its QX-branded smartphone and tablet camera accessory lineup, the forthcoming ILCE-QX1 E-mount camera reportedly won’t have a fixed lens and instead will let you use any of Sony's E-Mount lenses, the oft-reliable SonyAlphaRumors blog reported Tuesday.

As if that wasn't enough, the ILCE-QX1 is said to feature a 24-megapixel APS-C sensor and a built-in flash. That being said, compatibility with the E-Mount lenses is bound to strike a chord with iPhone photography fans.

Sony overhauls Music Unlimited for iOS 7, adds speed enhancements and new features

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Music Unlimited, the PlayStation music app from Sony optimized for the iPhone, at last has received its long-overdue iOS 7 refresh bringing it in line with Apple's design language for iOS.

Nearly two and a half years following its debut, the app now finally sits at version 2.0 with half a dozen new features and a fresh new look owing to the use of iOS 7 styling and a flattened Home screen icon.

If you have the PlayStation console and use the Music Unlimited service, you're going to be appreciative not only of its crisp typography and user interface, but also of a lot faster and more reliable performance. Jump past the fold for a quick highlight of the most important new features.

eBay gains Now feature, in-app alerts, better search, bonus offers, charity donations and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 2, 2014

eBay, an e-commerce website, has a nice iPhone and iPad app which has just gotten a whole lot more useful. Now available as an iOS 7.0-only download from the App Store, the new eBay version 3.4 offers a plethora of new features, refinements and improvements that advance the experience.

For starters, the software now delivers important alerts inside itself when using the app.

Moreover, the eBay Now feature for finding and buying products from local stores is now integrated and you can check a buyer's location when reviewing a Best Offer. You can also explore bonus offers from eBay sellers, donate a percentage of your sales toward charity purposes and more.

Amazon updates Cloud Drive Photos with AirPlay, photo/video metadata, cache settings and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 2, 2014

The online retail giant Amazon on Tuesday refreshed its Cloud Drive Photos application for the iPhone and iPad with some much-needed new features.

Used to synchronize and protect your photos and personal videos on your iOS device with Amazon's cloud-based storage dubbed Cloud Drive, the free application now supports AirPlay, a media-streaming technology from Apple, so you can stream your photos and videos wirelessly to the big screen TV through the Apple TV box.

Also, you can finally rename albums and easily change an album's cover photo by swiping left/right on the album artwork. Most importantly, the app finally applies proper metadata to your photos and videos, including date taken, resolution, image type and file name.

Microsoft updates Office for iPad apps with more affordable monthly subscriptions

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 2, 2014

Windows maker Microsoft has just refreshed its Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps for iPad with support for month-to-month Office 365 subscriptions, the team announced today in a blog post.

Before, users were only able to buy a yearly Office 365 subscription within the Office for iPad apps.

Starting today, the refreshed Word, Excel and PowerPoint applications allow you to take advantage of Apple's In-App Subscription feature to buy recurring monthly subscriptions for Office 365 Personal and Office 365 Home.

Beamdog announces Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition coming to mobile and desktop soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Developer and publisher Beamdog is soon going to unleash an enhanced edition of its classic role-playing game (RPG), Icewind Dale, on mobile and desktop.

Originally developed for Windows by Black Isle Studios and published by Interplay Entertainment in the summer of 2000, Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition will be hitting the iPhone and iPad soon, Canada-based Beamdog confirmed on its website Tuesday.

Set in Wizards of the Coast’s Forgotten Realms campaign in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the game includes almost 40 new kits and classes and features cross-platform multiplayer games, an overhauled interface, remastered quests from the original game and more.

Netflix Recommend with Facebook-enabled private video sharing now available

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Netflix for the iPhone and iPad now allows you to privately recommend movies and television shows to a cherry-picked selection of Facebook friends who have connected their Facebook account with Netflix, but fortunately without spamming their News Feed, wrote the firm Tuesday in a post over at the official blog.

The social recommendation feature is available to Netflix users in the United States and Canada starting today.

Dubbed Netflix Recommend, it's “another great way to discover your next favorite show,” as the popular on-demand streaming service put it.

Two times stronger iPhone 6 battery makes another appearance on photos

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 2, 2014

We've already seen alleged 1,810mAh, 2,100mAh, and 2,915mAh batteries bound for Apple's upcoming handsets and now the strongest 2,915mAh module has been showed off on a set of new photos posted Tuesday morning by the French publication NowhereElse.fr [Google Translate].

Featuring a capacity of 2,915mAh versus the iPhone 5s's 1,560mAh package, this prototype battery should theoretically allow the iPhone 6 to last longer on a single charge and get your through the day without recharging.

On the other hand, it's entirely possible that Apple will advertise the iPhone 6 as having the same battery life as the iPhone 5s. That's because an increase in the battery capacity could be offset by a bigger screen which draws more power. Same could be said for other rumored new components such as an NXP-made NFC chip for mobile payments, faster graphics and more.

New video compares nearly-assembled 4.7″ iPhone 6 to iPhone 5s

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 2, 2014

Yesterday evening, a new video surfaced on the web providing yet another glimpse at Apple's upcoming iPhone 6, which will be officially announced at a media event next Tuesday.

The three and a half minute hands-on clip posted to the Russian YouTube channel Rozetked seemingly compares the current-generation four-inch iPhone 5s to an iPhone 6 assembled from leaked components.

Featuring some rather dramatic closeups, it gives a good look at a 4.7-inch edition of the iPhone 6 and its design aesthetics while depicting a Space Gray variant with both a black and white front plate.

Microsoft shows off HTC One M8 features in new Cortana vs. Siri ad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Microsoft on Tuesday started airing a new Windows Phone commercial that takes another jab at Apple's Siri. The 30-second commercial titled 'Mirror, Mirror' has been posted on the official Windows Phone channel on YouTube this morning.

The video depicts Cortana, Microsoft's personal digital assistant for Windows Phone devices, performing a series of tasks that Siri on the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad can't do, starting with deeper integration with core Windows Phone apps like calendar and Maps.

One scene depicts Cortana tapping information stored in a user's calendar to provide accurate route and mapping information. Another scene highlights dual front-facing speakers on the HTC One M8, to which Siri responds that she has but a single speaker and that she's “sitting on it”.

Apple ‘actively investigating’ alleged iCloud hack that led to celeb photo leak

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

After nearly 24 hours of silence, Apple has finally commented on the alleged iCloud hack that led to a massive leak yesterday of nude celebrity photos. The Cupertino-based company says that it is aware of the reports and is "actively investigating" the claim.

"We take user privacy very seriously and are actively investigating this report," Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris told Recode in a statement. She did not, however, provide any additional details on the attack, or if iCloud was even the source of the photos.

Check out cheeky newspaper ad by British carrier O2 that hints at iPhone 6

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 1, 2014

Cat humor is making the jump from the Internet to print in a cheeky new newspaper advertisement by Telefónica-owned British carrier O2. The ad amusingly teases the next iPhone, which will be announced next Tuesday.

A quick photo of the advertisement has been shared on Twitter Monday morning by Tom Warren, Senior Reporter for the technology website The Verge.

“Our O2 Gurus can help you master your smart devices,” reads the ad's copy. “Unless it's the new ... as it's not out until ... / .... / ...”.

Jump past the fold for the full scan of the advertisement.