Apple

RunKeeper is now optimized for Apple’s M7 motion-tracking chip

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 7, 2013

RunKeeper, a personal trainer in your pocket, has been updated today and among a pair of AirDrop-related enhancements is a little gem which particularly stands out: support for Apple's M7 motion coprocessor.

As a long time user of fitness-related apps such as Pedometer++, Argus and Strava Run, I can't tell you how many times I wished these GPS-enabled apps were not power hogs.

The M7 is easily one of the most overlooked iPhone 5s features. The aforementioned fitness apps as of recently have M7 motion tracking and you can just immediately tell how the chip improves the experience by not forcing you to keep an app open at all.

The M7 works independently of the main A7 processor, dutifully recording and storing up to a week's worth of motion data. This allows an app to load up your motion history as if it were active all along. Without a doubt, M7 support is a major power-friendly enhancement. So, how does the newly-implemented M7 integration make RunKeeper better?

Apple Stores to start replacing screens and other parts on iPhone 5c, 5s

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple will soon begin conducting in-store hardware repairs for both the iPhone 5s and 5c, according to a new report by 9to5Mac. The company will be able to replace displays and other components on the new handsets, on-site.

This means that Apple Stores will no longer have to replace an entire device due to a cracked screen, or a bad button. The initiative will not only help Apple save money, but will also keep users from having to setup new devices...

Amazon (again) takes potshots at iPad in Kindle Paperwhite ad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

On the surface, Amazon is seemingly supportive of Apple's iOS platform as the company updates its various iOS applications on a regular basis - even if it's just a courtesy to its iOS-loving users who want to enjoy Amazon services on their iPhone and iPad.

Scratch a little deeper and all hell breaks loose.

For starters, the online retailing giant is waging legal battle against Apple over e-book price fixing. And given the two tech titans increasingly compete on hardware, software and services, it's really no surprise Amazon's marketing department is taking direct jabs at Apple users every now and then.

This February, for example, the company aired a much-flawed screen comparison video pitting its 1080p Kindle tablet against Apple's better-than-1080p iPad with Retina display. This time around, an Amazon ad is challenging the e-reading experience on a tablet such as the iPad, versus that on the Kindle Paperwhite.

Have a look right below...

Samsung talks future: folding screens and 4K smartphones coming in 2015

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 23, 2017

One of the thrills of writing about technology is that more often than not one gets to blog about the next big thing always lurking just around the corner. Fans of technology have been living in the future forever and today Samsung spoke to the technophiles, sharing some of the upcoming technologies its mobile display unit is aiming to bring to market in 2014 and 2015.

We'll be living in the post-Retina world next year as Samsung preps to double the pixel count on smartphone and tablet screens, we're being told. And by 2015, your mobile devices will have full 4K resolution displays - that's a whopping 3,840-by-2,160 pixels normally found on Ultra HD TV sets, or four times the pixels of the full HD (1,920-by-1,080) Blu-ray movies.

By comparison, the iPad's Retina display maxes out at 2,048-by-1,536 pixels. But that's just scratching the surface...

IFTTT can now add photos to iOS Camera roll, create new to-dos in Reminders

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2013

If you're not familiar with IFTTT (an acronym for 'IF This Then That'), this tremendously powerful app permits you to create time-saving service meshups to automate common tasks.

For example, you could tell IFTTT to update your all social media profile photos when your Facebook profile pic changes. Or, you can even create a Recipe to receive SMS notifications when iDownloadBlog publishes an article, for example.

IFTTT has been around since 2010, but only released an iPhone app back in July. The software has since seen several maintenance updates and today the team issued a new version which brings the ability to add photos directly to your iPhone Camera roll, create new to-dos in the stock Reminders app and more...

LastPass password manager gets some iOS 7 love

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Though I've been syncing my Safari web passwords lately using the new iOS 7 password-syncing feature called iCloud Keychain, I'm still a 1Password type of guy, mainly as iCloud Keychain doesn't support secure notes, tagging, folders and what not.

That said, I understand AgileBit's password manager may not be everyone's cup of tea due to its high asking price ($17.99 for the iPhone/iPad app, plus an additional $49.99 for 1Password for Mac).

But there are other password managers out there and one of them called LastPass is free and has just received a nice little makeover for iOS 7...

Apple serves iPad/iPhone inventory tracking website with a takedown notice

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 29, 2016

The tremendously useful iPhone and iPad inventory tracking tool is no more as Apple's legal sharks have served its owner with a DMCA takedown notice. The website would give you estimates on iPad Air and iPhone 5s availability, particularly handy for early adopters as Apple struggles to keep up with demand for these products.

Apple objected to how Apple-Tracker.com pulled data from its web store and took issue with its use of deeplinks, arguing the tool violates its Terms of Service by re-using content from the online Apple Store. Complying with Apple's request, the guy who runs the website has now taken his baby down..

This is why Apple is winning…

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 14, 2016

This is gold. Arden Hayes, a famous Trivia expert from southern California, may not be your typical example of an Apple buyer because he doesn't have income coming in.

And who could blame him: Arden is just a five-year-old who previously appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

There, the youngster has demonstrated his amazing knowledge of U.S. presidents, earning himself a nickname of the 'little genius'.

In another Jimmy Kimmel appearance, Hayes flatly refuses to take a free Sony Xperia tablet because “we’re just planning to get an iPad for Christmas”.

Apple sure knows how to get them while they’re young, doesn't it?

Your video is right after the jump...

Yahoo Finance gets push notifications and all-new iOS 7 look

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Since the iPhone's inception, Yahoo has been Apple's exclusive provider of weather and stock market data in iOS. While I've never been a big fan of Yahoo's Finance app for the iPhone and iPad, I prefer to keep tabs on stocks on the Yahoo Finance website, as opposed to Google Finance.

I'll be changing my mind, however, as the Internet giant has at last given the iOS app a thorough overhaul while adding new features such as notifications for stock price changes, so it now feels right at home in iOS 7...

Samsung beating budget phone vendors in China, Apple losing ground

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2013

Apple may be winning in the United States, the world's top market for smartphones, but in the 1.33 billion people market of China - which is Apple's second most-important territory revenue-wise - Samsung is beating local vendors of cheap handsets to the punch.

According to data from research firm Canalys, Samsung has overpowered rivals in China.

The company has grown its September quarter share to 21 percent, a notable jump from just fourteen percent a year earlier. The Galaxy maker was estimated to have shipped nineteen million smartphones during the third quarter ended September 30. It's worth underscoring Samsung does not disclose unit sales like Apple does, citing competitive reasons.

For the most part, Samsung's growth came at the expense of local vendors who build dirt-cheap handsets. But what about Apple?

WSJ: Apple contracts two new manufacturers to build iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 23, 2017

Apple has long relied on Foxconn, the world's top manufacturer, to assemble its gadgets. In small part, Apple also taps Foxconn's rival, Taiwan-based Pegatron, on a regular basis for some orders. According to a new Wall Street Journal report Wednesday, Tim Cook & Co. have now contracted an additional two companies to help assemble iPhones and iPads amid growing demand for the products.

Mind you, it's not like Apple suddenly stopped loving Foxconn - the company will continue to build the iPhone 5s - but the report makes a passing mention of Apple apparently being dissatisfied with the high repair costs over defective iPhone 5 units and ongoing labor controversies surrounding Foxconn...

Apple hits 40.6 percent share of US smartphone subscribers

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2013

Research firm comScore is out with its new report measuring the state of the United States smartphone market for a three-month period ended September 30 and Apple's iPhone grew its share to comprise a healthy 40.6 percent of the nation's smartphone units. In other words, four out of each ten smartphones in the country were iPhones.

Samsung also gained share, LG stayed flat while HTC and Motorola both lost ground amid strong competition from Apple and Samsung devices. All told, iOS seems to be gaining ground overall, adding 0.7 percentage points to its share versus 0.2 percentage points for Android. The full reveal and charts can be found after the break...