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Lockitron lets you lock and unlock your door with your iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ October 4, 2012

Shortly after introducing the App Store in 2008, Apple started running an ad campaign with the tag line "there's an app for that." It produced a series of TV commercials that highlighted iPhone apps that made otherwise arduous tasks, like counting calories and apartment hunting, a lot easier.

But in 2012, apps are doing a lot more than diet tracking and crawling rental property listings. Now they're parking cars, making coffee, and thanks to Apigy's new Lockitron deadbolt cover, they're locking and unlocking doors...

Elevation Dock hacked to support new Lightning connector

Cody Lee ∙ October 3, 2012

Since the iPhone 5 launched two weeks ago with its new Lightning port, accessories have been extremely scarce. Lightning to USB cables alone have been hard to find, never mind docks and other add-ons.

Thus, we imagine we'll be seeing a slew of do-it-yourself solutions pop up over the next few months. In fact, one has already surfaced involving an Elevation Dock, some hacking and a Lightning USB cable...

Infographic shows true cost of an iPhone 5

Cody Lee ∙ October 3, 2012

Like its predecessor, the iPhone 5 starts at $650 here in the US. That's the full retail cost for the entry-level 16GB model, which is pretty expensive by most standards.

Luckily, many carriers will pay for $450 of that, knocking the price down to $199, if you're willing to sign a two year contract with them. How can they afford to do that?

Oh don't worry, they make their money back and then some...

Apple seeking silicon wizards as it preps to fully customize A7 chip for 2013 iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Speedier, smaller and even more power-efficient mobile chip designs are already in the works for future iOS devices so it comes as little surprise that Apple remains on a hiring spree, seeking talented semiconductor experts left and right.

As you know, Apple's current system-on-a-chip (SoC) modules found inside iPhones, iPods and iPads typically pack in several processing and graphic cores, in addition to the memory controller, RAM and the essential control logic - all onto a single piece of silicon die.

A new job posting reveals Apple is looking for an "SoC Modelling Architect / Lead" who will be tasked with managing its in-house team which designs next-generation processors for iOS devices...

Microlatch developing fingerprint tech for Apple to use in NFC apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 3, 2012

There has been a whole lot of hoopla concerning Apple deploying NFC technology on iOS devices, especially prior to the iPhone 5's release last month. NFC, or Near-Field Communication, facilitates close-proximity wireless payments on mobile devices.

Marketing boss Phil Schiller explained Apple passed on NFC with this year's iOS devices lineup because "Passbook does the kinds of things customers need today", noting that "it’s not clear that NFC is the solution to any current problem".

In the reality, Apple is working behind the scenes, taking its time to put the pieces of the NFC puzzle together until an NFC-equipped iPhone and the associated service is fully baked and ready for public consumption. It doesn't come as a surprise then that Apple is working with Sydney-based Microlatch to develop fingerprint technology for NFC apps...

Most iPhones not sold by Apple Stores

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

When it comes to sales of Apple products, the much-publicized Apple Stores are like a cruise ship captain: lots of glitz and glamour, but having little connection to the mostly-hidden work which keeps the boat steaming along. That's the view of new research finding Apple's retail partners sold more iPhones than Apple's physical stores...

Nokia ad slams the iPhone over lack of color

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 3, 2012

Nokia took issue with Apple's black and white iPhone color options in an interesting new commercial for its Lumia range of smartphones. The ad, included right after the break, sets the tone by depicting a gloomy world where mindless drones come to Apple Stores to buy iPhones. When a customer suggest color other than standard black and white iPhone options, hell breaks loose. The clip then switches to Nokia's recently refreshed Lumia lineup, available in a bunch of colors...

T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS to become one

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Following its failed acquisition with AT&T, T-Mobile USA's parent company Deutsche Telekom just announced that it has reached a deal to combine its U.S. operations with MetroPCS, the nation's fifth-largest carrier. What's in it for you?

For starters, T-Mobile gets to finally jump on the 4G LTE bandwagon as MetroPCS has been deploying this technology over the past two years. This could be a bargaining chip the merged carriers may just need to finally land the iPhone...

Things updated with iPhone 5, iOS 6, Siri support

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

One of the best task management apps available on iOS or the Mac, just received a fairly substantial update.

Things, a darling app among many Apple enthusiasts and the Getting Things Done crowd, receives support for the iPhone 5's larger display, support for iOS 6, and the ability to create new inbox items using Siri.

iPhone share rising, everyone else looks flat or down

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 2, 2012

Analytics firm comScore is out with new research data concerning the mobile landscape in the United States during August. Good news for Apple: the iOS is on the rise among smartphones, going from 31.9 percent during the three-month period ending in May 2012 to 34.3 percent in June, July and August.

During the same timeframe, Google's Android went from 50.9 percent to 52.6 percent smartphone market share. Better still, Apple grew at a faster clip than Google. Microsoft's Windows Phone, Research In Motion's BlackBerry and Symbian? All losing ground...

Consumer Reports says nice things of Apple Maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

Consumer Reports, an influential U.S. magazine published monthly since 1936 by Consumers Union, gave Apple's iPhone 5 a thumbs-up recently but initially slammed iOS 6 Maps navigation ("we were disappointed"). Melted bridges aside, the publication known for its reviews and comparisons of popular products took both Apple Maps and Google Maps for a spin, concluding that Apple's offering is "certainly more favorable than comments and articles that we've been reading online"...

Nest launches sleeker thermostat, CEO says he’d never compete with Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

We covered the sexy Nest Learning Thermostat before , with Jeff saying calling it "the thermostat that Cupertino would have created if they were into that sort of thing". Today, the company took the wraps off a new version of the Nest thermostat which has been re-engineered for smaller footprint and now looks even more futuristic. Also, company founder Tony Fadell, a former Apple engineer who worked on the iPhone and iPod projects, explains why he doesn't plan on competing with Apple, despite hiring former Apple engineers on his 130-people team...