iPhone

Stay up-to-date on the latest iPhone news and learn new tips and tricks with our comprehensive tutorials. From software updates to new features, we’ve got you covered.

YouText lets you colorize the text and background of the Notes app

Despite all of the new features the Notes app keeps getting in Apple’s iOS updates, one of the most basic things you still can’t do is change the text color.

A new free jailbreak tweak in Cydia called YouText gives you the ability to change both the text and background color of the Notes app, giving jailbreakers an added layer of customization in the Notes app they didn’t have before.

FlixEnhancer adds handy new features to the Netflix app

Netflix is one of the world’s most popular media streaming services in terms of movies and TV shows, and their mobile app is no exception to the service’s popularity.

On the other hand, that doesn’t mean the app is perfect, and that’s why a developer has made a new jailbreak tweak called FlixEnhancer, which brings a slew of new features and improvements to the native Netflix app for iOS.

QuickDial Pro brings 3D Touch-based speed dial to your iPhone

we recently showed you a jailbreak tweak called QuickDial Lite, which allowed you to add speed dial-like features to the iPhone’s Phone app. The same developer has now just launched QuickDial Pro, which takes advantage of new features in the latest iPhones to make the tweak even cooler.

There are some notable differences between the free and paid versions of this jailbreak tweak, and we’ll show you everything you need to know to decide which one is the best fit for you.

Darkr, Bookout, PRIMO, and other apps to check out this weekend

It's the weekend again, and once you get tired of playing Super Mario Run, you're going to be looking for other new apps and games to try. Never fear, iDB is here to help. In this week's Apps of the Week roundup, we have an awesome new black and white photo editor, a book-reading tracker, an app for buying things on-the-fly, and of course two new games for you to check out.

10 great gift ideas for iPhone-controlled fun

Welcome to the latest edition of iDB’s ongoing Gift Ideas series, where we provide curated roundups of some of our favorite products. Throughout the year we cover and test a number of devices and accessories, so we decided to use that experience to help those searching for the perfect present. Today’s roundup is focused on RC (remote control) vehicles that can be controlled via iPhone.

LG’s display division to start volume production of foldable displays for 2018 iPhones

LG's display-making arm is said to be gearing up to kick off volume production of foldable displays for future iPhones, said Korean news outlet ETNews. In addition to Apple, LG Display should supply foldable displays to Google and Microsoft in 2018. LG-developed foldable display prototypes were of sufficient quality for the company to secure global manufacturers as its partners.

When is Apple going to pay FaceTime the attention it deserves?

The other day I overheard a woman at the coffee shop spiritedly conversing on FaceTime with what I can only presume was her mother. The topic of discussion had been the daughter’s holiday trip, and her mom said something that struck a chord with me: why can’t you show me the photos on here? This got me thinking (at which point I stopped listening in, promised). Since its inception, FaceTime has received dreadfully little attention from Apple. The introduction of FaceTime Audio aside, the service practically makes for an absolute freeze-up in an otherwise constantly forward moving software environment.

As consumers, we have become used to companies spending more resources and time on pet projects of theirs and conversely less on comparably idle services, but what is astonishing is that this analogy does not explain the ongoing neglect of FaceTime. Because for all its faults and plainness, FaceTime is tremendously popular. For reasons only known to the Cupertino giant however, it does barely show in the application’s development. To add insult to injury, the lackluster state is likely to persist for yet another year until the next big software update for iOS rolls in. Never mind the fact this means forever in industry years, but it’s even worse because FaceTime is already adrift of the competition.

With that said, it is time for Apple to start play catch-up and resuscitate the service. Since the coffee shop encounter, I have been mulling over how Apple could ramp up the offering realistically in the near future. Here is what I believe is feasible and crucial for FaceTime to implement within the next year:

Download Super Mario Run in the App Store right now

As promised, Super Mario Run, Nintendo's first real smartphone game, launched on the App Store today, December 15. The side-scrolling, auto-runner platformer is available free of charge with a non-compulsory $9.99 upgrade to unlock the game's three modes completely.

If you don't see the GET button quite yet, force refresh the App Store app, then simply tap on the Notify button in the App Store description of the game. Enter your password or use Touch ID when prompted, and the game will begin downloading. If that doesn't work, iDB editor Jim Gresham suggests force-quitting the App Store app, rebooting the device, launching the App Store app, and then download the game.

The anticipated title is optimized for one-handed play: as Mario automatically runs from left to right, you just tap the screen to make him jump. The longer you touch the screen, the higher he jumps. As with other Mario games, you'll be avoiding various obstacles and collecting coins along the way whilst attempting to get our hero safely through the level in the fastest time possible.

10 great gift ideas for a smarter home

Welcome to the latest edition of iDB’s ongoing Gift Ideas series, where we provide curated roundups of some of our favorite products. Throughout the year we cover and test a number of devices and accessories, so we decided to use that experience to help those searching for the perfect present. Today’s roundup is focused on gift ideas that help make homes smarter.

How to bypass jailbreak detection in Super Mario Run

The highly anticipated Super Mario Run platformer game from Nintendo launched on the App Store Thursday afternoon, but anyone who has a jailbroken device is in for a surprise when they try to play, as it appears Nintendo built jailbreak detection into the game.

This is particularly common among a number of hit games from the App Store, including Pokémon GO, and causes the app in question to do nothing but crash whenever you attempt to launch it, but there is a way around it if you still want to play Super Mario Run on your jailbroken iOS devices, and we’ll show you how.