iOS

The Mac App Store Has Opened, Brings Popular iOS Games to the Mac

Alex Heath ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

The Mac App Store has opened. If you go to Software Update on your Mac, you can download the latest version of OS X. This update includes a shiny new app on your dock called the "App Store." Don't get confused, this isn't the iOS App Store on your iPhone; all of these apps are Mac-specific apps.

While the Mac App Store does bring many great new apps for the Mac, many iOS apps that we all know are also available through the Mac App Store. Specifically, there are many popular games from the iOS App Store now available on the Mac. The new Mac releases of these games are basically fullscreen versions with some added features and content.

And yes, you can now play Angry Birds in full, HD resolution on your 27-inch iMac...

A Strange New iOS Alert References The Mac App Store

Alex Heath ∙ Updated March 18, 2019

Here's a new anomaly from Apple's App Store. This image is courtesy of Francis, an iPhoneItalia reader. Francis was casually looking through the reviews of an iPhone app called "iAddebito." He tried to post his own review, but was alerted with this warning message.

If your Italian is a little rusty, we understand. The message reads, “You must own this product to write a review. To write a review on this app, you must have bought it from the Mac App Store."

The Mac App Store is opening tomorrow, but it seems that Apple may have already been secretly testing it with certain iOS apps. Who knows, perhaps there will be iOS apps that can run cross-platform (iOS and OS X) when the Mac App Store opens...

The iPhone is Leading the American Smartphone Race

Alex Heath ∙ Updated November 12, 2019

Apple and Android always duke it out in smartphone statistics. The latest Nielsen market share data says no differently.

From a poll conducted in November of 2010, U.S. smartphone market share is dominated by iOS at 28.6%. iOS is followed by Blackberry at 26.1%, and Android at 25.8%. These numbers are U.S. only, but it is interesting to see how iOS and Android are battling for smartphone dominance.

Depending on how you look at things, the iPhone retains the lead in smartphone market share. However, Android is having greater growth with new smartphone adopters. This means that more people are buying an Android for their next smartphone, and not the iPhone...

Comex is Most Likely Saving His Next iPhone Jailbreak for iOS 4.3

Alex Heath ∙ Updated October 23, 2016

So far, RedSn0w has been the only publicly released tool that can jailbreak iOS 4.2.1. The Dev Team warned users about the dangers of updating their iOS firmware to 4.2.1 before the RedSn0w beta was released. Around that time, the iPhone hacker, P0sixNinja, said that the GreenPois0n jailbreak would be ready for 4.2.1 around the same time as RedSn0w.

The GreenPois0n jailbreak has still not come out for 4.2.1, a LimeRa1n update is nowhere to be found, and all we have had is a somewhat unstable RedSn0w beta. Luckily, PosixNinja has recently said that the GreenPois0n (most likely tethered) jailbreak will actually be ready very soon. And Geohot could always come out of the woodwork and surprise us like he did with LimeRa1n.

After some drama about a leaked SHAtter exploit in mid-December, the jailbreak developer community has seemed to be a little more divided. Comex, a prominent personality in the jailbreak community, was supposed to be working on an untethered jailbreak tool for 4.2.1. However, it seems he might be saving his hack for iOS 4.3...

Easily Switch Springboard Configurations with BackBoard for iPhone

Alex Heath ∙ January 4, 2011

One of the biggest cons of jailbreaking has always been how difficult it is to restore a jailbroken iPhone's settings and configuration. If you ever need to restore iOS or upgrade/downgrade to a different iOS version, there is no clear way to easily restore your iPhone's (both jailbreak and general) configuration.

BackBoard is a new jailbreak app that aims to help you save your iPhone's springboard/home screen configuration. There are other apps, like PkgBackup, that help you back up your jailbreak apps and settings; but BackBoard has some different features that make it appealing...

Apple Patent Indicates Plans For A Social Network iPhone App, With A Focus On Shopping

Alex Heath ∙ January 3, 2011

More and more shopping is happening online these days, but plenty of people still prefer brick and mortar stores to buy their jeggings in. On December 30th, 2010, Apple's latest patent was published. This patent hints at a native social networking app that Apple may implement in a future version of iOS. Such an app would merge social networking into a shopping experience.

This Ping-like, social-shopping network would allow users to have an enhanced shopping experience with participating merchants. Apple's patent is titled "Social Networking in Shopping Environments."

Warning: You May Want to Set a Second Alarm for Tomorrow Morning

Alex Heath ∙ Updated December 1, 2022

There have been reports of outrage from iPhone users who weren't woken up by their iPhone alarm on New Year's Day morning. There is still mystery surrounding why this problem has occurred, but it seems to be widespread enough to raise concern.

As of 1/1/2011, users began complaining on Twitter that their alarm in the iPhone's clock app didn't wake them up like normal. After the clock struck midnight to usher in the new year, all non-repeating alarms in the clock app failed to sound. This problem sounds like the Daylight Savings Time issue that the iPhone had back in November.

The point is, you if set your alarm clock on your iPhone to be woken up tomorrow, you'll be getting more sleep than you intended...

Sophone is the Best iPhone 4 Knockoff of 2010

Alex Heath ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

There are plenty of fake iPhone knockoffs, like the HiPhone 4G. Apple has sued many manufacturers around the world for clearly cloning the iPhone or stealing some of its key features.

China has always been the largest hub of fake, knockoff gadgets. If you visit China, chances are you will find all the recent models of mobile phones cloned and selling at less than half their original prices. Because the iPhone's appeal is at a global level, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Apple to crack down on all of these little companies overseas that are creating knockoff iPhone models.

The Sophone is by far the best iPhone 4 knockoff of 2010. It didn't receive American coverage until late December, but the device has been a huge hit in China. It copies the iPhone 4 in almost every way imaginable. The way that the Sophone identically mirrors the iPhone 4 is unbelievable. You really have to see it to believe it...

The 10 Best App Store Apps of 2010

Alex Heath ∙ Updated February 21, 2018

The App Store has never been a very quiet place. 2010 was no exception; thousands upon thousands of new apps were submitted to the App Store. Most of them aren't worth mentioning, but there have been some exceptional apps that have risen to the forefront of what the App Store has had to offer throughout the year 2010.

We've covered a lot of App Store apps this year on iDB, with the goal of keeping our readers in the know.

Now, we’d like to take some time to reflect on our favorite App Store apps of 2010. Being included on this list doesn’t necessarily mean the app was released in 2010, it just means that it was amongst our most utilized of this year. Drumroll, please…

There Were Huge Spikes in App Store Downloads Over the Holidays

Alex Heath ∙ Updated February 16, 2018

I'm sure it comes as no surprise that there were plenty of iOS devices under the tree this Christmas season. Most of you either gave, or saw a loved one receive a new iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone. Two very prominent applications in the App Store, Facebook and Tap Tap Revenge, have shared their download numbers from the holidays. The results are very impressive.

Both Facebook and Tap Tap Revenge 4 have sat comfortably near the top of the App Store charts for quite some time, and TTR4 has been the number one app for several days. Both of the apps had huge download spikes this past weekend, giving us a good idea of how many iOS devices were opened for Christmas...

Apple Sued Amidst Privacy Concerns Regarding App Tracking

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

A little over a week ago, we reported on a Wall Street Journal article that revealed an eye-opening investigation into how apps share your personal data; without your consent.

Needless to say it was bit shocking to us, our readers, and apparently a lot of other people concerned over their personal privacy, or lack thereof.

Now the fallout from the privacy scandal is beginning to rear its head, and it ain't pretty...

Browse Mobile Safari Using the iPhone 4’s Gyroscope

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated November 12, 2018

The iPhone 4's gyroscope is one of the more underused features of Apple's flagship iOS device, so it's nice to see developers like Occipital -- creator of the iPhone app 360 Panorama -- put the technology to good use.

During the development of 360 Panorama, the crew uncovered the ability to control Mobile Safari using nothing more than the iPhone's gyroscope. Want to give it a test spin? Check out the link inside...