Design

Spotted iPhone 5 Prototype With Metal Back Suggests a More Durable Design

Alex Heath ∙ March 18, 2011

A report claims that iPhone 5 prototypes have been spotted at Foxconn, and new intel confirms that the device will have a very similar design to the iPhone 4. Although the form between the two devices will remain similar, there should be two major design changes to set the iPhone 5 apart from its predecessor.

We've already heard that there will be a larger display, and a new rumor claims that the iPhone will have a metal back. This isn't the first time we've heard about Apple ditching the easily-breakable glass of the iPhone 4 for something more durable...

Alleged iPhone 5 Cases Point to iPhone 4 Design With Larger Screen

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Some new cases have surfaced on Alibaba that claim to be designed for Apple's unreleased and unannounced iPhone 5. These iPhone 5 case listings, alongside similar designs from Hard Mac, point to an iPhone 5 design that is very similar to the iPhone 4's.

If these cases are legitimate, the iPhone 5 will not be as significant of a redesign as speculation assumed. However, it is also noted that these cases lend credence to a slightly larger screen...

20+ Beautiful Wallpapers for the iPhone

Alex Heath ∙ March 13, 2011

The iPhone 4's stunning retina display is perfect for a pretty wallpaper. Designers aren't necessarily cranking out beautiful wallpapers for the iPhone, and truly superb iOS wallpapers can be hard to come by.

If you don't know where to look, you may miss many of the best wallpapers available for the iPhone. Luckily, the folks at Beautiful Pixels have collected some awesome iPhone wallpapers for you to use on your home screen...

Everything You Need to Know About the iPad 2

Alex Heath ∙ Updated November 12, 2019

Today, Apple announced the next generation of the iPad. The iPad 2 is the next stage in Apple's tablet evolution, and the device boasts a significant redesign from its predecessor.

There's a lot that's new about the iPad 2. It's thinner, lighter, and 2x faster than the original iPad. It also borrows elements from the iPhone 4, including dual cameras for FaceTime.

Let's take a closer look...

Tiny Wings: A New Charming and Addictive Game for the iPhone

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

There's something delightful about an iOS game that get's it right. Angry Birds did it, and countless other games have risen above the noise in the App Store to become staple games for the iPhone.

Tiny Wings, by Andreas Illiger, is a wonderful little game that features simple gameplay and subtle charm. As the perfect impulse buy that will keep you coming back for more, Tiny Wings is one of the best games to hit the App Store since Angry Birds.

Consumer Reports Doesn’t Recommend the Verizon iPhone Due to Antenna Issues

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Proving that they do have something against Apple, the fine folks at Consumer Reports have refused to give the Verizon iPhone their official recommendation. After testing the Verizon iPhone for antenna issues, Consumer Reports determined that the same "antennagate" issue that plagued the original iPhone 4 on AT&T also plagues the CDMA version of the iPhone.

Despite the Verizon iPhone being generally well received by the public and press, the stubbornness of Consumer Reports prevails with their verdict of judgement.

Patent News: A Peek At E-Wallet Icon and Photo Booth for the iPhone

Alex Heath ∙ February 24, 2011

In the latest Apple patent news, two recently awarded patents have revealed future plans for the iPhone. Apple appears to be working on some sort of "e-Wallet" application. It also seems that the "Photo Booth" application from Mac OS X will be coming to iOS.

Some type of Apple-designed mobile payment app corroborates the rumors that NFC technology will be implemented into the iPhone 5. When the iOS 4.3 beta was released, 9to5 Mac found two Photo Booth-related frameworks in the firmware. This new Photo Booth patent only affirms that we will in fact be able to use the dorky filters that Photo Booth has to offer on our iPhones.

Make Your iPhone’s iPod Look Just Like Windows Phone 7 with Muzik

Alex Heath ∙ Updated February 17, 2018

Awhile back, we showed you a jailbreak theme called "OS7" that replicated Windows Phone 7's interface on the iPhone. Some of you installed the theme and played around with it. The theme's attention to detail and resemblance to Windows Phone 7 was striking.

An app called Muzik, by Dr. Wilson Gaming, allows you to play your iPod music in the style of Windows Phone 7 and the Zune. Muzik recently received some major updates to make it a more formidable clone of the Zune experience.

If, for some reason, you want the ability to replicate the Zune interface on your iPhone, Muzik is about as good as it gets.

Manage Your Medication with ‘Pillboxie’ for iPhone [Review and Giveaway]

Alex Heath ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

If you take a lot of meds, you know how much of a pain it can be to manage all of your prescriptions. Unless you've got a steel trap for a memory, it can be difficult to remember when to take all of the different pills in your medical arsenal.

Wouldn't it be nice if there was an easy to use, pretty app for managing your meds on the iPhone? The developer and designer of Pillboxie (who is also a registered nurse) thought so too. If you're a pill popper, this one's for you...

iPhone Nano Concept – “Squeeze” to Close Apps

Alex Heath ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

There have been multiple rumors surfacing lately that Apple is working on a smaller iPhone "Nano." The device is rumored to have a smaller form factor and use cloud-based storage (possibly in accordance with a revamp of MobileMe).

iPhone Nano concepts have been floating around since the rumors gained traction, and a design concept by Max Rudberg stands out from the rest. Max runs Max Themes, and has developed popular jailbreak themes (such as Glasklart and Serious SBSettings).

Max came up with a very interesting concept for how a smaller iPhone Nano could operate without a home button...

Try a New Kind of Task Management With ‘Time Flies’ for iPhone

Alex Heath ∙ Updated February 17, 2018

Creating a good task manager app is not an easy feat. I'm fascinated by innovative productivity apps (check out our roundup of 5 awesome task managers for the iPhone), and I get excited when I hear about a new, unique task management app.

99% of task managers serve the purpose of either the present or the future. Some apps go super minimal and only let you create tasks for a single, non-time specific list. Other more robust apps allow you to queue and delegate your tasks into time frames such as due dates.

But what about the past? When a task is done, it is usually archived into a logbook, never to be seen again. "Time Flies," by Absent Design, demonstrates that there is value to be gleamed from our completed tasks...

Attention to Detail: How the iPhone’s Mail App Decides to Show New Email

Alex Heath ∙ January 29, 2011

This one can be filed under "incredibly specific." The question is simple: What happens when a new email arrives in the iPhone's Mail app?

That question may sound ridiculous at first. You may immediately say, "Of course I know what happens! I get a new email! Isn't it that simple?" But do know what really happens? How does Mail.app decide to deliver email?

The design of Apple's Mail app is proof that it's all about the details...