iOS

Apple introduces new app pricing tiers

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 28, 2013

As you know, Apple gives its iOS developers the freedom to choose pricing of their wares on the App Store, keeping 30 percent of the proceeds to itself. But rather than let a developer price an app at fifteen cents, for example, Apple offers a bunch of tiers. This also means localized versions of apps carried on international App Stores are priced differently to reflect a rough conversion of the U.S. prices.

Seeking to better align with the pricing structure in the U.S. App Store, Apple has now introduced alternate tiers for international App Stores so developers can price their software in .99 increments in the country’s native currency...

Read More

A closer look at iOS 7 parallax effect

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 26, 2016

Apple's iOS 7 aims to delight through subtle use of lively user interface animations and effects, employing physics, translucency, smoked panels and other visual tricks to achieve its multi-layered appearance. Among them is the so-called parallax effect that creates a sense of dimension by putting your Home screen icons onto a layer separate from your background image.

It comes to life when moving your device around, which tilts the wallpaper behind the icons slightly. The effect is also observable in a few other places throughout the system and is coming to your favorite apps via new APIs in iOS 7. If you've ever wondered about the science behind the magic, here's your answer...

Read More

iOS 7 Beta 3 could drop on July 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 2, 2023

On Monday, Apple seeded iOS 7 Beta 2 to its registered iOS developers. The second beta arrived precisely two weeks after the launch of iOS 7 Beta 1, which was made available right following the June 10 WWDC 2013 keynote.

Now, you might recall that an hour before Beta 2 hit Apple's servers we ran an article saying the software could drop that day. The same source that called for it is at it again, now claiming the third beta of iOS 7 will see release on Monday, July 8.

It's kinda bad news for developers who must be looking to some time off for Independence Day. If true, July 8 would make iOS 7 Beta 3 available exactly two weeks following the launch of the current iteration of the software. Starting to notice a pattern here?

Read More

BlackBerry Messenger launching on iOS ‘before the end of summer’, CEO confirms

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

First, it was going to be available "this summer". Now, it is coming "before the end of this summer". I'm referring to BlackBerry's way overdue iOS and Android edition of the Messenger software which once used to be the primary reason teenagers in emerging markets opted for BlackBery handsets.

Company CEO Thorsten Heins made the new timeframe official during a quarterly earnings call this morning, while revealing disappointing results...

Read More

Apple highlights iOS 7 benefits in Business and Education

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 26, 2013

Apple last night started targeting big business and education with a pair of new promotional web page highlighting the benefits of iOS 7 in Enterprise and Education. For businesses of all sizes, the web page reads, "iOS 7 offers more advanced ways to deploy devices and deliver a great user experience for your employees".

And even though iOS already is by far the most popular enterprise mobile platform, the company isn't resting on its laurels and is now promoting new iOS 7 capabilities that it hopes will make the mobile operating system even more appealing to businesses big and small alike...

Read More

Apple enables direct Google Contacts sync in iOS 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2013

Google last September killed native sync for Contacts and Calendars on iOS devices. The announcement was part of Google's phasing out of Microsoft’s Exchange ActiveSync protocol in favor of CardDAV and CalDAV, which represent HTTP-based WebDAV client/server protocols for contact and calendar items, respectively.

Now, Apple actually adopted CalDAV and CardDAV with the release of iOS 4 nearly three years ago, but setting up Google Contacts sync on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices via CardDAV was anything but hassle-free.

With iOS 7, Apple appears to have implemented native Google Contacts sync. I'm guessing the feature works behind-the-scenes via CardDAV because it requires no setup and acts as a true two-way sync. It works like a charm, really, let me show you how...

Read More

HipChat iOS app revamped as Mac client exits beta

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2013

Atlassian's cross-platform group messaging HipChat app launched in January 2010 following a one-month beta period. The Mac app, originally developed using Adobe AIR and in beta since Valentine's Day, is now finally ready for prime time.

If you hate AIR as much as I do, you'll be delighted that the team has now dropped Adobe's sluggish technology (good riddance) in favor of the native OS X experience.

And in addition to the rebuilt HipChat 2.0 for Mac, the company has also given its iOS client some much-needed love, pushing a major 2.0 update that's leaner, faster and includes many new features. Here's what's new in both HipChat for Mac and iOS...

Read More

BlackBerry rolls out Secure Work Space to iOS and Android

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry today announced Secure Work Space, a new option for increased enterprise security on iOS and Android devices. Part of BlackBerry Enterprise Services 10, Secure Work Space extends BlackBerry security for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets without the need for a VPN infrastructure. Specifically, the option provides secure email, calendar, contacts and browser, as well as secure document management and work app deployment...

Read More

iOS 7 Beta 2 enables HDR photography on iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2013

As Cody mentioned yesterday, iPad support is among the headline changes the newly-released iOS 7 Beta 2 has brought to the table. Jeff did a nice video tour of iOS 7 running on an iPad, highlighting key features such as Control Center, Notification Center, App Switcher, Photo Booth and more. In addition to these, the iPad versions of iOS 7 also enables High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography, an advanced imaging technique previously available only on iPhones and iPod touches...

Read More

If history is any indication, iOS 7 Beta 2 could drop today

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 24, 2013

It's been two weeks since Apple released the first beta of iOS 7 to its registered developers. A lot has been written about it and way more ink will be spent as subsequent betas get released and thoroughly tested before iOS 7 is eventually ready for prime time this Fall. If history is anything to go by and if you trust reliable sources in the know, today is the day iOS 7 Beta 2 arrives.

If iDB is part of your daily routine, you should be among the first to know when a new beta hits Apple's servers. Also, count on our resident team to take a closer look at the new beta and report back about everything there is to know about  feature changes.

Stay tuned...

Read More

Imgur coming to iOS soon, hits Android

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

When Alan Schaaf’s free image sharing service dubbed Imgur went online on February 23, 2009, it was met with genuinely positive feedback from users who'd been longing for an image hosting service that didn't suck.

Though no one expected the San Francisco-based startup to compete with the likes of Flickr, Instagram or other established photo sharing services, it did start picking up considerable steam after users on Reddit and Digg began sharing viral images on Imgur. In response to its rising popularity, the startup has just issued the official Android client and confirmed that iOS version is coming along soon...

Read More