iPod Touch

Apple Stores reportedly readying local iCloud backups for iOS devices requiring replacement

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 19, 2012

A new report out yesterday alleges that Apple is working on an interesting new solution for Geniuses at its retail stores that would bypass the need for tethered desktop iTunes or wireless iCloud backups for people seeking iOS device replacements.

The solution would let Geniuses to quickly and effortlessly backup your entire iPad, iPhone or iPod touch prior to the device exchange process. Likewise, Geniuses would later on be able to easily move that data back onto the replacement devices.

The solution is reportedly being prototyped at Apple’s top-secret Apple Store labs near the company’s Cupertino, California headquarters...

SliderWidth: adjust the width of your Lock screen slider

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 17, 2012

SliderWidth is a jailbreak tweak that does exactly what its name states — allows you to adjust the width of your iDevice's "Slide to Unlock" bar.

But that's not the only trick in this tweak's bag; it also allows you to use custom slider text, remove the Lock camera button or photo frame button, along with being compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Take a look at our video walkthrough for more information...

Walmart adopts Apple’s boutique store concept with stylish displays carrying iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Walmart has been selling the new iPad in select stores since the device launched last month. They've also had other Apple products on offer for some time.

Realizing it leaves a lot to be desired, the world's largest retailer is apparently ready to take the shopping experience for its demanding Apple customers to the next level.

Nice-looking photos of stylish Apple displays inside Walmart's store in Arkansas depict a radical departure from the retailer's otherwise dull and poorly maintained shelves carrying electronics.

Akin to a store-within-a-store idea seen at other retailers, the redesigned Apple section would suggest that the mega-retailer is keen on exploring Apple's boutique store concept...

Apple working on high quality “unibody” earbuds

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Imagine that, another patent application has popped up in the United States Patent and Trademark Office database this week with Apple's name on it. The filing is entitled Ultrasonically Welded Structures and Methods for Making the Same.

But don't let the ridiculously long name scare you. The patent is part of a group of cross-referenced filings that all make up different parts of a pair of high quality unibody headphones that it seems Apple is working on in its labs...

Rumor: next iPhone to include 1GB of RAM, tweaked CPU

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 9, 2012

According to a new report by 9to5Mac, a new iPhone and a new iPod touch is in the works.

Should this even be labeled as a rumor considering the absolute inevitability of these hardware updates? I don't know, but the wait, speculation, and anticipation is always amusing.

According to their sources, a variant of the A5X chip will power the next generation iPhone, and it will include 1GB of RAM. To me, a varient suggests it's probably not an "A5X" per-se, but an entirely new processor dedicated to the device's smaller form factor, and less visually intensive needs.

Their source also indicates that the next generation iPhone has been seeded internally, yet it is being housed in ho-hum iPhone 4/4S casing to throw off any potential leaks.

Sounds about par for course. I guess the only thing left to make this 100% legit is for the new iPhone tester to head to his or her favorite bar, am I right?

RIM posts BlackBerry Mobile Fusion server with enterprise support for iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 3, 2012

The ailing BlackBerry maker Research In Motion today released the BlackBerry Mobile Fusion enterprise server software, first announced last November.

Among the features is built-in support for tablets and smartphones running Apple's iOS and Google's Android software.

This is the first time RIM comprehensively supported iOS mobile devices in a major corporate enterprise server software.

Is Apple developing a physical gaming controller for iOS devices?

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 2, 2012

That Apple is toying with a bunch of varied gaming controller concepts is anything but unknown. Two years ago, an interesting Apple patent detailing an accessory for playing games with portable devices surfaced in the United States Patents & Trademark Office's database.

It was originally filed back in September of 2008, meaning the company had likely begun researching the invention ahead of the original iPhone debut five years ago. The patent outlines a few exciting gaming accessories for portable devices, such as a receptacle system of sorts that could let your iPod be inserted to play games.

Another highlight worth mentioning is a gaming controller featuring cameras, motion sensing, a dual-display configuration and physical buttons on the back coupling a multitouch surface on the front.

And now, AnandTech drops a little nugget with claims that yes, Apple is in fact working on a gaming controller for iPads and other iOS devices...

iOS earns Google four times the revenue of Android

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

Though Google does not profit directly by giving away Android software to phone vendors, they do take 30 percent cut on app sales, just like Apple. This is peanuts compared to Google's indirect, mobile advertising-based revenues. Understandably, of course, as Google's ad-based business model benefits from people using their many services on the go, such as maps and search.

The more people use Google on their handsets, the higher advertising revenues the company pulls. At Android's scale, it's easy to think that Google gets more revenue from Android phones and tablets than Apple's iPhones, iPads and iPod touches.

According to a newspaper article today, based on court documents, Android’s total revenue from the launch of handsets at the end of 2008 through to the end of 2011 was $543 million. Still, Google made four times as much revenue during the same period on iOS devices.

Apple dispatches VP of iPad marketing to set the record straight on Batterygate

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

In what could be described as a timely (and prudent) move to prevent the perceived battery issues with the new iPad from getting overblown, California-based Apple has dispatched its vice president of iPad marketing Michael Tchao, who went on the record to indicate that overcharging your iOS device won't harm its battery.

According to a statement provided to the AllThingsD blog, run by the Wall Street Journal network, this is by design and there's nothing wrong with the iOS battery gauge. It says 100 percent just before your device reaches a completely charged state, continuing charging to 100 percent. Then, it discharges a bit and charges back up to 100 percent...

Jony Ive explains some of the secrets to Apple’s sauce

Cody Lee ∙ March 12, 2012

Jonathan Ive has made quite a name for himself over the past few years. And for good reason too. Apple's SVP of industrial design is largely responsible for creating the look and feel of several popular products, including the iPod and the iPhone.

The London-born designer has a reputation for being fairly quiet, and rarely does media interviews. So you can imagine our surprise when we found out that Mr. Ive recently opened up to the London Evening Standard about a broad range of topics...

‘FastCam’ lets you quickly access your iPhone’s camera interface

Jeff Benjamin ∙ March 12, 2012

And you thought iOS 5.1's new Lock screen camera was fast? FastCam is an upcoming jailbreak tweak that allows you to access your iPhone's camera API using a simple Activator action.

The nice thing about FastCam is that it works anywhere, even at the Lock screen. In fact, it's faster than the Lock screen camera feature found on iOS 5, and still faster after the improvements made with iOS 5.1.

Check out our video preview of FastCam straight ahead...

Access your SpringBoard from anywhere using ‘Springround’

Jeff Benjamin ∙ March 11, 2012

Springround is an upcoming jailbreak tweak that will allow you to access your iPhone's Home screen app icons from anywhere.

In order to accomplish this feat, the developers of Springround employed the trusty Activator, which allows it to be invoked inside any app.

Springround is the perfect mix of function and simplicity as you'll see from our hands-on video inside...