Apple

Capcom’s Monster Hunter Freedom Unite hitting iOS soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 6, 2014

Japanese games maker and publisher Capcom has confirmed that it's in the process of porting Monster Hunter Freedom Unite to Apple's iOS platform. Monster what? For those unfamiliar with it, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite debuted on the PSP handheld back in 2009, to great reception.

Basically an action title with some RPG elements, the game has a rich multiplayer mode where players form teams to hunt down the ferocious beasts and loot their carcasses. As you might imagine, the franchise has a huge following in Japan.

The iPhone and iPad edition is optimized for touch controls, supports 'Made for iPhone' gamepads and allows up to three players to hunt together over the Internet...

Two more Android keyboards in the works for iOS 8: Adaptxt and Minuum

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

In addition to the makers of some of the most popular Android soft-keyboards like Swype, Fleksy and SwiftKey - which have all confirmed building downloadable keyboards for iOS 8 - two more companies have now jumped on the bandwagon: KeyPoint and Whirlscape, the respective makers of the Adaptxt and Minuum Android keyboards.

As a result, users will be able to pick among at least five different keyboards in the App Store when iOS 8 launches this Fall, in addition to Apple's normal stock keyboard and the new and much improved QuickType one with adaptive suggestions...

FIFA updates official iOS app for the 2014 World Cup Brazil, another refresh due soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 6, 2014

The official FIFA app for iOS has been updated ahead of the upcoming 2014 World Cup, which kicks off with a match between the Brazilian host team and Croatia (my home country) next Tuesday, June 12.

In addition to keeping you in the loop on the latest news concerning the upcoming matches, the free iPhone and iPod touch application, now bumped to version 2.0, offers detailed information about players and coaches from all 32 competing teams, a schedule of all 64 games, trivia about the stadiums and cities and much more...

Beats buy and iTunes Radio limitations blamed on Apple’s ‘arrogance’ and incompetent managers

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 6, 2014

According to two Apple sources familiar with the development of iTunes Radio, current limitations of the free service and the $3 billion acquisition of Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre's Beats talent, brand, headphone business and streaming service is all the result of the firm's "arrogance" and shortsightedness of its managers.

Worse, some high-ranked members of Apple's music teams reportedly didn’t even know that Spotify was an on-demand streaming service and not an Internet radio service akin to Pandora and iTunes Radio...

iWatch with curved OLED screen rumored to launch in October

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 6, 2014

A new report by the Japanese business newspaper Nikkei alleges that Apple's rumored wearable project, the iWatch, will be ready for launch in October.

The device will be reportedly outfitted with a curved display which uses power-efficient OLED screen technology, as opposed to the traditional LCD panels utilized on Apple's existing devices family.

According to an unnamed parts manufacturer, Apple anticipates strong demand and is therefore planning to produce between three and five million iWatch units per month - a figure that would potentially exceed combined sales of all the various smartwatches floating around, by a large margin...

Apple, Google and others pledge $2M to hold Super Bowl 50 in Bay Area

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

According to a new report from the San Jose Mercury News, Apple has joined Google and other tech companies who have pledged $2 million in cash and services to help offset taxpayer costs of hosting Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco.

The Bay Area Super Bowl Host committee announced that is has raised $40 million for the event, which will be held at the 49ers' newly-built Levi's Stadium in 2016. The venue is less than 15 miles away from Apple's Cupertino campus...

Tim Cook and Eddy Cue visit Apple’s new Austin campus

Cody Lee ∙ June 5, 2014

In late 2012, Apple began work on a major 39-acre campus in Austin, Texas. According to its development agreement, the grounds will house more than 1 million square feet of office space for various operations including human resources, finance and the like.

After completing phase one of the construction earlier this year, the campus held its opening celebration today. CEO Tim Cook was on hand for the event, offering up a recap of WWDC announcements and teasing that "exciting" new products are on the way...

Apple said to be working on master list of games that support MFi controllers

Cody Lee ∙ June 5, 2014

Apple is reportedly working on a way for its users to view a master list of games that support MFi (made for iPhone) controllers in the App Store. The feature works a lot like App Match, which can point users to compatible apps of recently attached accessories.

The company first introduced the MFi controller specification in iOS 7 last summer, and a number of third-party accessory makers have since created gamepads. The new platform, however, has been hobbled by the lack of user knowledge of compatible iOS titles...

New Pebble firmware enables music volume control, Launcher item ordering and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2014

Pebble released a new firmware for its smartwatch line that enables two new features dealing with the App Menu and music playback controls, alongside a few other minor improvements.

The new 2.2 firmware finally enables the volume control for music playback, something the company first demoed in the Pebble Music app months ago.

In addition to music controls, the software makes it easy to rearrange the items in the Launcher Menu.

The refreshed firmware is available through Pebble's companion iPhone app, available free in the App Store and updated to the latest version last week...

Apple offering limited time pricing on refurbished iPads

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Folks in the market for an iPad may want to check out the refurbished section of Apple's online store. The company is currently hosting some sort of sale on its tablets, with several models showing 'Special Limited Time' pricing.

The deals start with the first generation iPad mini (16GB, Wi-Fi only), which has been discounted down to $219, and go all the way up to the iPad Air. You can get a refurbished 64GB Air, with built-in cellular support, for $699...

PayPal integrating Touch ID into its iOS app

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 5, 2014

A year ago, PayPal CISO Michael Barrett spelled doom for existing verification methods based on passwords and expressed hope that the then unreleased iPhone 5s would kill the password once and for all. As it turned out, Apple limited the handset's fingerprint scanner to iTunes purchases and user authentication on the Lock screen.

But with the iOS 8 SDK now official, Apple has opened up Touch ID to developers and PayPal is first out of the gate with the official confirmation that it is working on integrating Touch ID authentication into its mobile apps...

iWatch components said to be going into production this month

Cody Lee ∙ June 5, 2014

Cantor Fitzgerald's Brian White reports that several components for the so-called iWatch are going into mass production this month. The analyst believes that Apple is planning to unveil the long-rumored smartwatch in September, perhaps alongside the iPhone 6.

White bases his report on his recent tour of Computex, Asia's largest technology show, where wearables were by far the most talked-about products. There, sources from supply chain companies told him iWatch component production would soon begin ramping up...