Apple

Official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie game arrives

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 25, 2014

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the official mobile game of the upcoming movie, has made its surprise debut on the App Store, well ahead of the movie's August 8 premiere.

Created by the same that which brought you Combo Crew [Universal, $1.99], this movie tie-in classes as a classic beat 'em up where you play as one of the four classic turtles.

You'll have to learn powerful combos and counter-attacks to defeat Shredder's minions, chain multiple attacks to build up your Turtle Power meter combo to unleash your other turtles and much more.

The $3.99 iPhone and iPad game sneakily includes a bunch of In-App Purchases to boost your scores and stats...

Bose sues Beats over noise-cancelling patents

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

As Apple is prepping to shell out $3 billion to buy Beats Music and Beats Electronics' high-end headphone biz, reports are coming in that audio equipment specialist Bose has gone on the offense and is now taking Beats Electronics to court over its noise-cancelling headphone patents.

Bose alleges its patented tech is used in the Beats Pro noise-cancelling headphones and other products like the Beats Studio and Beats Studio Wireless.

Furthermore, Bose is now seeking financial damages and a sales ban on some Beats headphones, claiming patent infringement. Bose develops, markets and sells a vast range of loudspeakers, noise-cancelling headsets, automotive sound systems, amplifiers and headphones.

Needless to say, Bose holds a number of patents in this space. Its QuietComfort line of headphones has in particular proven itself popular with consumers who want to get away from outside noise. And just like Beats, Bose gets frequently criticized as some reviewers slam their high-end products for being overpriced and of average quality...

Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse leaps onto the Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Following its release on the iPhone and iPad last November, Sega's 1991 adorable platformer has at last made its way to the Mac.

Developed by Feral Interactive and published by Disney Interactive, the $14.99 download features eye-candy cartoonish graphics and stars Mickey Mouse who is on the quest to save his lovely Minnie, kidnapped by the jealous witch Mizrabel.

The game involves lots of running and jumping along a side-scrolling landscape, spiced up with attacking enemies, throwing projectiles, solving puzzles and more. The Mac edition has of course been brought to the 21st century with new layouts, updated graphics and silky smooth 60FPS execution...

Select ComiXology titles now available to download without DRM restrictions

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 25, 2014

I downright hate digital-rights management (DRM). No, I'm not a cheapskate who'd rather pirate someone else's hard work rather than support publishers with my wallet - my average monthly spending on iTunes is about $50, for those wondering.

Now, it's perfectly understandable that content owners should be entitled to imposing copy protection on their digital products, but the annoyances to consumers far outweigh the benefits to content owners, methinks.

ComiXology is a typical example. But, but - comics want to be free of the clutches of DRM! Having realized as much, ComiXology on Friday sent out en email informing customers they can now download backup copies of select titles from certain publishers without the dreaded DRM restrictions, using its free iOS app...

Chinese sources: mass production of 4.7″ iPhone 6 begins, 5.5″ and new iPads start in September

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 2, 2017

As the purported parts and cases thought to belong to the iPhone 6 continue leaking out, Apple is now said to have started mass production of a 4.7-inch handset variant. As for a bigger 5.5-inch version, the handset is understood to enter production in September, alongside upcoming new iPads.

If true, there may after all be some truth to the rumors that the two phones won't launch simultaneously in order to avoid cannibalization. Just yesterday, for instance, the hit-and-miss DigiTimes said the 4.7 and 5.5-inch models of the iPhone 6 will launch separately as Apple wants to “avoid competition between the two models”...

Wii-like dance party in the living room via Apple TV? Yes, please!

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Back in June, India-based Rolocule Games teased its upcoming Dance Party game which would supposedly bring multiplayer fun to the living room with a little help from Apple's AirPlay technology and the $99 Apple TV media-streaming box.

At first, I was skeptical. But as Dance Party launched earlier today in the App Store as a free download, I've come to the realization that my fears were unfounded.

Yes, the game indeed works as advertised!

Dance Party really has to be seen live to be fully appreciated. Much like dance games on the Nintendo Wii, users mimic the onscreen dancer to get feedback on how they are doing. The game is basically airplayed from an iPhone to the Apple TV and takes advantage of Rolocule's award-winning motion tracking technology called Rolomotion...

Can’t redeem Yosemite beta code? Here’s a fix.

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Apple today opened the floodgate by posting the public beta of its upcoming OS X 10.10 Yosemite software, which launches officially sometime this Fall, and already a bunch of people took to Twitter over an error message saying the redemption code has already been used.

Each copy of Yosemite beta requires a promotional code which must be redeemed in the Mac App Store to download the installer. Is there anything you can do about this error message?

Yes, there is - and a remedy couldn't be simpler. Read on...

Instagram prematurely leaks its Snapchat rival

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 2, 2016

Facebook-owned Instagram may have unintentionally (or intentionally, perhaps?) leaked an image advertising its rumored Snapchat competitor, indicating the official launch could as well be around the corner. A banner for an app called Bolt was spotted by several online users in Instagram's Android app.

Tapping the banner would yield a dead end in the Google Play Store. Although the banner went away a few minutes later, people have already screenshoted it and the image is now making rounds on Twitter and other social media channels online...

Apple rolls out OS X 10.10 Yosemite public beta – are you in?

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 24, 2014

As promised, Apple today opened up OS X 10.10 Yosemite betas to the first million applicants who've signed up for the OS X Beta Program using their Apple ID. If you haven't yet signed up for the program, better hurry up! Otherwise, be patient as Apple will email you soon (using your Apple ID contact details) to let you know when your OS X Yosemite Beta redemption code is ready.

There's a lot to love about Yosemite - both in terms of the simplified, flattened user interface and new features that take integration between iOS and the Mac to the next level.

It also marks the first time Apple has permitted both its registered Mac developers and the general public to access betas of a work-in-progress Mac operating system update.

Today's poll asks a very simple question: are you, or are you not, going to install the public Yosemite beta on your Mac?

Penultimate episode of Walking Dead: The Game – Season 2 now available

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 24, 2014

It'd be an understatement to say that Telltale’s iPhone and iPad adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s “The Walking Dead” comic book series has a strong following out there.

The incredibly popular episodic game series is comprised of five individual chapters, with Episode 3 of Walking Dead: The Game – Season 2 (the sequel to the original Walking Dead: The Game) having arrived back in May

Today, Episode 4 landed in the App Store as a free update to those who already own the $4.99 graphic adventure game. The penultimate episode is titled “Amid the Ruins” and introduces new twists to the story of Clementine...

Swatch: we’re not working with Apple on iWatch

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 24, 2014

Just as I'd suspected, Apple isn't really partnering with Swiss watchsmiths on developing and producing multiple iWatch devices.

That's according to Swiss watchmaker Swatch which today issued an outright denial of the rumor in the form of a statement issued to Reuters.

In it, a spokesperson categorically states that the Swatch Group is not working with Apple on iWatch devices although the company has supplied components like integrated circuits to certain mobile phone makers...

Apple said to be working with Swatch and others to produce multiple iWatch devices

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

VentureBeat is out with a new report this afternoon, claiming it has learned that Apple has partnered with Swatch to produce an entire line of 'iWatch' devices. Apparently these devices are going to come in multiple styles, and at a variety of price points.

Citing sources familiar with the project, the outlet says that while the current consensus is that Apple is building one or two iWatches by itself, the firm may actually be preparing a variety of smartwatches with several partners from the watch industry...