iOS

Apple Maps and Passbook could push 2012 App Store revenue to $4.9 billion

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 20, 2012

An interesting unintended consequence of a downgrade that is Apple Maps in iOS 6: people will grow to rely on transit apps and other third-party software to help get back some of the Google Maps functionality (until Google releases a widely rumored standalone iOS Google Maps app).

And with Passbook debuting in iOS 6, we should increasingly download and use shopping programs (like the Target app) that produce Passbook-compatible coupons, invoices, loyalty points, tickets and other digital items.

As a result of the new Passbook functionality and lacking Maps experience in iOS 6, cumulative App Store revenue for the calendar year 2012 could top nearly five billion dollars, a research firm has forecast...

Passbook apps now showing up in App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

iOS 6 went live today and with it a new feature called Passbook, basically a central repository for coupons, airplane tickets, loyalty cards and other types of digital coupons. Now, Passbook can detect and automatically import these digital items from your email messages and on the web sites you visit.

All web developers need to do is implement support for Apple’s new “.pkpass” mime type, like airlines did. Supporting the new feature, Apple added a new dedicated App Store section that lists third-party programs which support Passbook...

Apple updates iLife, iWork and other iOS utils

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

With today's release of iOS 6 and OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.2, Apple has updated its Podcasts app with support for iCloud subscription syncing. Just a few minutes later, updates to Apple's other apps went live in iTunes, including iLife and iWork apps and utils like Find My Friends, Remote, AirPort Utility and more. With so many third-party apps being updated for iOS 6 support as we speak, you may want to prioritize your downloads. Here's what's new in Apple's own updated apps for your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad...

Net neutrality complaint over AT&T FaceTime blocking looms

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 18, 2012

AT&T's initial decision to charge for FaceTime video calls made over its cellular network and the subsequently tweaked rules mandating that FaceTime over cellular users sign up for AT&T's Mobile Share plans both provoked a public outrage which almost snowballed into a PR catastrophe.

Deciding someone should take the nation's biggest carrier to task for taking advantage of its unsuspecting customers, advocacy group Public Knowledge (PG) figured that AT&T's policy violates net neutrality rules by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The group is mulling an investigation into AT&T's practices as Public Knowledge, Free Press and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute all plan to file a complaint with the FCC for AT&T's violation of network neutrality rules...

Concept video shows how Spotlight in iOS should work

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Apple added the Spotlight search tool to iOS back in 2009, with version 3.0. The page, which can be accessed by swiping to the left of the Home screen, allows you to search through the content on your device.

While it's a nice idea, the feature itself has long been criticized for its limited functionality. Compared to its counterpart in Mac OS X, Spotlight for iOS is pretty hindered. Perhaps this is how it should work...

Exclusive: Apple’s iPhone 5 and iOS 6 training docs

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 17, 2012

We’re counting down the remaining days until the official iPhone 5 launch and if analysts' estimates and pre-orders are anything to go by, we’re looking to a massive release that should/will easily dwarf any other consumer electronics announcement in 2012.

As part of its preparations for the D-day, the company has provided its retailers with training materials in order to get sales reps up to speed ahead of Friday's launch of the "boring" handset.

A pair of documents iDB has exclusively obtained communicate eight key messages: thinnest and lightest iPhone, four-inch Retina display, ultrafast wireless, the A6 chip, an eight-megapixel iSight camera on the back, all-new EarPods and improved audio, the new Lightning connector and of course iOS 6 and iCloud....

Check out first Bad Piggies gameplay footage

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Angry Birds spinoff called Bad Piggies is slated to arrive on September 27 for iOS, Android and the Mac, but Rovio still wouldn't reveal gameplay video. Luckily, an exclusive hands-on by Yahoo! Games shows us the game's mechanics which takes cues from Amazing Alex, another physics-based game from Rovio.

This means Bad Piggies tasks you with building all sorts of funny vehicles and flying aircraft so that the pigs can steal more eggs. Contrast this to smashing things up in the Angry Birds series. That being said, the safest way to think about Bad Piggies is as the sibling of Angry Birds rather than its sequel. Check out exclusive gameplay footage right below...

Apple invites devs to update their apps for iOS 6

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 12, 2012

Following up on a series of product introductions from this morning, Apple is now emailing its registered developers to download the GM seed of the Xcode 4.5 developer tools and test their warez against the final iOS 6 code, which have both been released as part of today's announcement bonanza.

The company is putting emphasis on its own mapping solution and is asking programmers to enhance their iOS apps with the new vector based engine in MapKit. Other areas of interest to developers: new camera APIs, tickets, loyalty cards, and other passes with Passbook, integrated Facebook sharing capabilities and more...

iOS 6 launches on September 19

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Apple just finished introducing its next iPhone (yeah, they went with the iPhone 5 moniker) by saying that iOS 6 will be released for public consumption on September 19, a week from now and three days before the iPhone 5 is due to hit store shelves. The sixth major revision to Apple's mobile operating system is a free upgrade to owners of the iPhone 3GS/4/4S, fourth-generation iPod touch and iPad 2 and 3. Not all features are supported on all devices so you'll want to check out our handy compatibility matrix..

This is the iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Apple's kicked off its high-profile media event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco and. Just as Tim Cook blurbed out some interesting biz stats, he handed it over to worldwide marketing chief Phil Schiller who just announced the iPhone 5, Apple's sixth-generation iPhone. Developing...

WSJ claims iOS 6 can block unwanted calls

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 12, 2012

As you know, iOS 6 comes with an improved stock Phone app which enables some interesting new call management features. For example, you can choose to reply to an incoming calls with a message or be reminded about it later.

When a call comes in that you can’t answer right away, users can just swipe up to reveal options. Surprisingly, the Wall Street Journal claimed yesterday that iOS 6 also, among other things, includes new features that allow people to block unwanted calls...

Report: iPod touch upgrade to include new colors, GPS and enhanced camera

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Not all of today's news centers on Apple's much-awaited next-gen iPhone. The iPod touch, seen as the 'gateway drug' for the iPhone, is also expected to debut with a wider palette of colors, global positioning and a better camera. Indeed, one analyst is calling the 2012 iPod touch the "biggest upgrade ever."

According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the most noticeable change will be an expanded choice of colors beyond the current black or white.