iPad

From the latest news to the most comprehensive tutorials, learn how to get the most out of your iPad with our step-by-step guides and expert tips.

Google updates Gmail app for the iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Google's been on a roll these days. They brought as the official YouTube app and the awesome Chrome browser, have improved Google Contacts sync in iOS, are working on a standalone Maps app and Street View on the web and will soon launch an interesting traveling companion app called Field Trip. Plus, Google's nice Gmail app for the iPhone and iPad is getting better with each iteration.

And earlier this morning, a minor update went live bringing support for the iPhone 5's taller four-inch dispay, so you can see more of your messages in the list view and more content in the message view without needing to scroll quite as much. Another benefit of the taller display: typing gets easier as the virtual keyboard in landscape mode is a bit wider.

Also, this...

Google enables better iOS contact sync via CardDAV protocol

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 27, 2012

If you wanted to sync your iOS Contacts with Google with changes instantly reflected across devices, Microsoft's Exchange ActiveSync used to be your only option. As of today, Google announced that “we’re adding CardDAV to that list”, allowing for seamless contact syncing between your Google Account and third-party apps, including iOS devices running iOS 5 or later...

AquaBoard brings water inspired effects to the Home screen and Lock screen

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

AquaBoard is a new tweak that allows you to add water effects to your iPad or iPhone. The effects can take place on your Home screen or Lock screen, or can be relegated to just one of the two.

Included with AquaBoard are numerous animations, tweaks, and settings to fully customize the effect to your liking. It looks good on the iPhone, but as you'll see in our video walkthrough, it looks really good on the iPad...

Schmidt on patent wars: Google is friends with both Apple and Samsung

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 27, 2012

Google chairman Eric Schmidt is in South Korea to help with the launch of Nexus 7 in the country. As always, the outspoken executive defended Google's position on patents and addressed Apple's legal victory in the high-profile patent infringement case against South Korea-based Samsung.

Long story short, Schmidt is dissatisfied with Apple's efforts to fight Android backers in the courtroom, insisting that companies should compete with products. Of course patent disputes are hurting consumer choice and preventing innovation, Schmidt underscored. According to one patent expert, Android has infringed upon a total of 17 valid Apple and Microsoft patents. Plus, don't miss out on Schmidt dancing in Korea, Gangnam style...

Google Play Store: 675,000 apps, 25 billion downloads

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 26, 2012

Google is creeping up on Apple, announcing yesterday on its Android blog that its Play Store now has 675,000 apps which have been downloaded 25 billion times. It was just recently that Google bragged about half a billion cumulative Android activations and on September 5 the search Goliath announced it was activating 70,000 tablets and 1.3 million Android devices each day.

At this rate, Google should have no trouble surpassing Apple's platform by year's end. By comparison, Apple's App Store carried over 750,000 apps and the company sold a total of 425 million iOS devices, as of September 12. The iPhone maker said earlier at WWDC that customers downloaded over 30 billion apps as of June...

AuthenTec tells clients to buy fingerprint sensors elsewhere in 2013

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Earlier in the summer, smart sensor maker AuthenTec agreed to be bought by Apple for $356 million. Still pending approval, the transactions left even the seasoned watchers scratching their head.

People began wondering whether Cupertino might leverage AuthenTec's fingerprint sensors to bolster enterprise security in iOS devices. Or, perhaps, Apple was keen on tapping AuthenTec's sensors to add consumer features to iPhones, iPods and iPads, the stuff like finger-based unlock or a secure e-wallet service.

The deal remains shrouded in a veil of secrecy because Apple isn't talking much and neither is AuthenTec. A report out this morning claims that AuthenTec's current clients are "in a state of panic" as the company is telling them it will stop offering its technology and NFC/fingerprint sensors as of next year...

Swiss Federal Railways to meet with Apple to talk iPad clock design

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 24, 2012

That beautiful clock design in Apple's new iPad Clock app in iOS 6 has evidently been copied from the Swiss Federal Railway service as they are the sole owner of the trademark and copyright of the railway clock. The Swiss firm, as previously reported, got in contact with Apple to talk the trademark dispute. According to a new report, its lawyers might be looking to eventually strike a licensing agreement of sorts with the Cupertino-based iPhone maker...

Apple beats Aston Martin, Google, Bang & Olufsen to rise as UK’s coolest brand

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 20, 2017

CoolBrands, an annual initiative to identify the UK's coolest brands annually since 2001, has published the official results for the calendar year 2012. Based on responses from 3,000 consumers and a panel of 39 experts, Apple was voted UK's number one brand. In fact, the Apple brand beat second-ranked YouTube, Aston Martin (#3), Twitter (#4) and Google (#5). Last year, the iPhone and iPod brands were ranked second and third, respectively, as Aston Martin took the leading spot...

Facebook app updated for iOS 6 and iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

After literally years of waiting, Facebook's iOS app was recently re-written from scratch with performance in mind. That said, it goes without saying that we're positively shocked to see Zuck & Co. just push out a timely update to Facebook's official iOS client.

It adds full support for iOS 6, just 24 hours following its public release. The new version also mentions iPhone 5 support, but Facebook stopped short of detailing what that means. We have a huch it's got to do something with taking advantage of that taller display. Here's your changelog...

LG Display shuns Samsung, becomes prime supplier of Retina iPad panels

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 20, 2012

More cracks are beginning to show in the Apple-Samsung partnership as the South Korean conglomerate's component arm lost a significant amount of orders to rival LG Display. Coincidentally or not, the news arrives in the aftermath of the $1 billion ruling in the Apple v. Samsung trial. Samsung used to be the prime supplier of high-resolution Retina panels for Apple's third-generation iPad, but no longer.

Seeking ways to reduce its dependency on Samsung, Apple reportedly shifted panel orders to LG Display. It's not just a minor re-shuffling: Samsung last month saw iPad panel orders reduced to just 28 percent of its July output. We've seen what order stoppage rumors can do to market cap. I'd watch Samsung's share price closely these days...

Swiss Federal Railways says Apple copied its iconic clock in iOS 6

Cody Lee ∙ September 20, 2012

The latest iteration of Apple's mobile OS, iOS 6, has barely been out for 24 hours, but it's already causing quite a commotion. First, people seem to be really upset over the new Maps application. And now this.

According to a new report, Switzerland's Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, or the Swiss Federal Railway service, is accusing Apple of using their iconic clock in the new iPad Clock app in iOS 6 without permission...

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...