iOS

The Beatles arrive on iTunes Radio

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 16, 2013

Just two days ahead of general availability of Apple's iOS 7 mobile operating system that includes the company's free, ad-supported iTunes Radio service, it would appear Apple has worked out all the kinks with Apple Corps and has finally managed to bring The Beatles music to iTunes Radio. Remember, Apple struck a landmark agreement with Apple Corps to bring The Beatles music downloads to the iTunes Store back in 2010, following a period of legal wrangling between the two companies over licensing and trademark disputes...

Apple removes iCloud Keychain from iOS 7 GM, here’s why

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Yesterday, Apple seeded its registered iOS developers with a so-called Gold Master version of iOS 7, which is essentially the same version owners of iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices will be getting come September 18.

Unfortunately, it seems the company has quietly pulled the useful iCloud Keychain feature from the GM build. The company did not provide an explanation as to why exactly the feature got yanked.

For what it's worth, it's entirely possible the company leadership didn't feel confident enough to declare iCloud Keychain ready for prime time. We have another theory...

iOS 7 will be available on September 18

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2013

Apple's keynote is underway at the Town Hall campus in Cupertino, California and the company has just confirmed the software will be released for public consumption next wednesday, September 18, 2013. There are over two hundred new features in iOS 7, including Control Center, better multitasking, improved notifications, iTunes Radio and of course a brand new flattened interface. Apple also surprised journalists by playing a few new ringtones and alert tones that are not present in Beta builds...

40 percent of online ads delivered via iDevices

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Another sign appeared Friday further suggesting Android's 'build it and they will use it' mantra just isn't working. Apple's family of iDevices - ranging from the iPod touch to the iPhone and iPad - represent 40 percent of online ads delivered. Despite Android's numerical advantage, Samsung placed second with 26 percent, per ad network Millennial Media...

IK Multimedia unveils compact audio interface for Macs and iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 5, 2013

IK Multimedia is behind some of the best apps for musicians carried on Apple's App Store, like the excellent AmpliTube Slash which has a digital effects processor based on the former Guns ‘N Roses guitarist’s favorite amps.

The company is however primarily known for its nice gear that includes a whole bunch of different effects processors, amps, mics, controllers and other gadgets tailored to musicians and music studios.

The Modena, Italy-based firm today announced a new portable audio interface, the iRig Pro, appealing to aspiring musicians who want to connect microphones, guitars or MIDI devices to their Mac, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch devices...

IDC: in Asia, phablets now outselling both PCs and tablets

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

If a camel is a horse created by committee, then a phablet is a device built by indecision between a smartphone and tablet. Whatever the definition, popularity of the product with a screen between five and seven inches diagonally is skyrocketing in much of Asia. According to IDC, sales of phablets led tablets and portable PCs, up 620 percent in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2012...

Apple’s iPhone grows to 43 percent of US smartphones

Ed Sutherland ∙ September 4, 2013

Continued good news for Apple in the United States. The iPhone has more than 43 percent of the domestic market, marking a 7.8 percent jump over the July quarter of 2012. The increase appears to be largely at the expense of Android, which saw its share of the U.S. market fall during the period.

Additionally, although the market share of iOS declined throughout much of Europe, the iPhone in Great Britain saw a 7.8 percent jump between the three-month period of 2012 and 2013, according to an analytics firm...

Apple patent taps gesture input for multi-user iOS Lock screen access

Ed Sutherland ∙ September 3, 2013

Many iOS devices, particularly the iPad, are often shared among family and friends. For example, wouldn't it be great if you could unlock just your Games folders for the kids, but give yourself and your spouse access to more applications?

Apple may have heard your thoughts, because a new patent outlines ways to offer limited access to select sets of iOS apps, straight from the Lock screen. The technology could supplant the one-size-fits-all nature of a passcode, with proposed 'access inputs' featuring gestures ranging from letters, shapes and more...

August was a bad month for Apple’s mobile web usage share

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

New data from web analytics firm NetApplicatons shows a significant decline in Apple's share of the mobile web, with iOS devices falling to 54.9 percent in August, a 16.7 percent drop from the 65.9 percent reported during the same month in 2012. While still less than a third of the web usage, Android experienced an increase, rising eleven percent to 28.1 percent from 21 percent in 2012...

iOS remains developers’ first choice, report shows

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 29, 2013

Despite all the chatter about Android and other smartphone platforms trying to entice developer, when it comes to picking their first choice, developers opt for iOS. In addition, 27 percent of developers chose the iPad as their second priority compared to a fifth for Android tablets. The survey by researcher Forrester shows that while Android has the numerical lead, when it comes to developer unveiling a mobile product, iOS is considered first...

Apple patent turns iPhone into smart home remote

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 27, 2013

The introduction of numerous media devices - from your television to DVD player and stereo - coupled with the growth of smart homes would seem to cry out for Apple-like simplification. It just so happens, there is a patent for that. Apple has patented a way to control your home media collection right from your iPhone.

The patent, filed a half-decade ago by the creator of the iTunes Remote app, uses "scenes" to adjust your home multimedia to fit settings like "Romantic Movie Night", "Dinner," or simply "Relax."...

iOS 7 general availability pegged for September 10

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 26, 2013

We've suspected for some time Apple will be holding its big iPhone event on September 10, with sources claiming a Gold Master iOS 7 build for developers will get released that same day. That's Apple's standard modus operandi as past Gold Master (GM) builds were seeded to the company's registered developers either at WWDC or at iPhone press conferences.

Alleged email communication Siri partner Nuance sent to devs now indicates iOS 7 GA will also be released the same day, on September 10. GA? GM?

There are some caveats here...