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.

The state of the iOS 7.1 jailbreak

If you are a frequent reader of iDB, or simply an avid jailbreaker, you probably already know that there is not currently a public jailbreak for iOS 7.1. But since we still get dozens of questions on this per day, we figured it was time to do a post on the topic to help clear the air.

For a little background, the evad3rs released evasi0n7 late last year to jailbreak devices running iOS 7. It had a pretty good run, lasting through 6 updates, but it was finally patched by Apple in March with iOS 7.1. So those who have updated to 7.1 have begun asking: now what?

Google Maps 3.0: offline mode, lane guidance, Voice Search, pins and much more

The Internet giant Google today refreshed its native Maps iOS app with a handful of stuff, including lane guidance in turn-by-turn navigation, Uber integration, Voice Search and more.

A major update, Google Maps 3.0 - available free of charge in the App Store - now allows you to save maps so you can access them without an Internet connection, a major advantage over Apple's built-in Maps.

While you could previously save maps by typing 'ok maps' into the search field, version 3.0 takes this further by providing a proper menu item for the feature and syncing your saved maps across devices. There's lots more to get excited about this Google Maps release so jump past the fold and have a look yourself...

OS Experience is now available on Cydia

OS Experience, the jailbreak tweak that brings desktop multitasking feel to the iPad, is now available for download on Cydia. We previewed the tweak a few weeks ago, and were pretty impressed by the ambition behind the tweak.

With OS Experience installed, you can interface with multiple applications side-by-side at the same time. It's a huge departure from the norm that is stock iOS, as it feels similar to OS X's Mission Control feature. If you want to give it a try, head over to Cydia right now to download it for $9.99. Be sure to check out our hands-on video after the break.

Rovio soft-launches Flappy Bird-inspired ‘Retry’ in Canada, Finland and Poland

Flappy Bird by Vietnamese developer Dong Nguyen, I'm sure you'll agree, has set the gaming world on fire with its addictive concept, simple mechanics and charming characters.

Realizing it's been high time to think beyond bird-slinging - and not being content with independent developers like Nguyen stealing its thunder - Finish mobile games maker Rovio has reckoned to branch out into this territory with a brand new iOS game, Retry.

Unlike Nguyen's game that has you controlling a bird, Retry challenges you to guide a loop-de-loop plane through a bunch of levels without crashing into anything. Now, the suggestive name could have you thinking that Retry has been designed to bank on the Flappy Bird success, but you'd be making a mistake to dismiss it as a blatant Flappy Bird rip-off.

Created by the guys "sitting in the room next to the guys who made Angry Birds", the old-school Retry is apparently so hard and addictive that you'll think "you've stepped into an 8-bit time machine and gone back to 1986".

A freemium release with optional in-app purchases, Retry is available early on the iPhone and iPad to players in Finland, Canada and Poland. The game should launch in other markets sooner than later so keep your eyes peeled. In the meantime, go past the jump to check out the in-game video and a few screenshots...

Tumblr’s iOS app now supports theming

Yahoo-owned Tumblr has an excellent iOS app available in the App Store and they have been consistently adding new features to it.

In today's update, Tumblr for iOS has picked up long-expected support for blog themes so you can now easily change the look and feel of your posts right from your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

The new Tumblr version 3.6, a 16.4MB download in the App Store, supports themes on both the iPhone and iPad.

Of course, you've had the ability to customize your Tumblr blogs with themes for quite some time, but on desktop only - this is the first time that theme customization has been implemented in Thumblr's mobile apps...

ESPN releases official 2014 Soccer World Cup app

If you're looking to follow the 2014 Soccer World Cup on your iPhone, there's now an app for that. The U.S.-based global cable and satellite television channel, ESPN, has released an iPhone application called ESPN FC Soccer & World Cup that wants to be your one-stop shop for everything related to the upcoming games.

Available free in the App Store, it allows soccer fans to follow full-time and exclusive in-game highlights, breaking news and analysis, as well as ESPN's comprehensive coverage of all the major club leagues with videos, highlights, news, opinion and personalized reports...

Warner Bros releases Godzilla: Strike Zone for iOS

Warner Bros has unleashed its Godzilla movie tie-in unto the App Store. Titled Godzilla: Strike Zone, this iOS game invites you to join a squadron of military heroes who must face the mighty Godzilla, a kaiju-class monster that has become something of an international pop culture icon starring in nearly three dozen feature films.

The game implements a few memorable scenes from the upcoming movie that premiers in theaters on May 16, like a high-altitude sky jump where you air-drop into a devastated San Francisco.

The iPhone and iPad title is available free of charge in the App Store, no in-app purchases required whatsoever...

Twelve South Compass 2 review: this ultra-portable stand takes your iPad places

In my final preparations for moving to the seacoast this coming weekend, it's dawned on me how my workflow will be a lot different, whether I like it or not.

For the next six months, I'll be living and working in a myriad of places, spending most of my blogging time at the picturesque beaches at the beautiful Mediterranean city of Rovinj, situated on the north Adriatic Sea in Croatia.

Thanks to its all-day battery, a 13-inch 2013 MacBook Air will be the cornerstone of my mobile office, with a little help from my 128GB iPad Air doubling as a cellular hotspot and a second screen device for social media interactions.

I'm also adamant to have a flexible iPad stand wherever I go, one that would prop up my device for easier reading and at the same time provide the flexibility of prolonged typing at slightly slanted angles.

Desktop iPad stands such as the recently reviewed Slope by Dekke are out of the question - they're bulky and too impractical for outdoor use. Luckily, there's no shortage of mobile stands that are a joy to carry around.

The second-generation Compass for iPad by premium accessory maker Twelve South is a dream come true for all you road warriors out there who strive as much for portable nirvana solutions as yours truly.

After spending nearly a month with the Compass 2, I'm happy to report that it's one of the best portable tablets stands around. It's so compact it fits in your pocket (or a purse/handbag) and versatile enough to support slanted typing or prop up the device...

Apogee MiC review: the mic for people serious about audio on the go

Have you ever tried to record audio from your MacBook on your iPhone or iPad's built-in microphone? The result is audio that's serviceable—you can hear it—but the sound is pitiful. Built-in microphones on pretty much every hardware device, whether it be computers, tablets, or even cameras, are sorely lacking from a sound quality perspective. With a minimal investment, you can significantly upgrade the quality of your sound with a decent external microphone.

There are some awesome external microphones for a variety of applications out there, but if you're primarily concerned with recording on your Mac or iOS device while on the go, there is one mic that should be squarely at the top of your consideration list.

The Apogee MiC is an extremely minuscule external microphone that can make your recordings sound great while traveling. Have a look at our Apogee MiC review and video walkthrough + sound test.

IGN names ‘The Wolf Among Us′ its Free Game of the Month

Great news gamers, IGN has named Telltale Game's 'The Wolf Among Us' its Free Game of the Month. We named the game one of our 'Apps of the Week' for the iPhone and iPad back in February, and it normally retails for $4.99.

For those unfamiliar with the title, The Wolf Among Us is a violent, mature thriller based on the award-winning Fables comic books. It's made by the same team behind The Walking Dead, and features similar gameplay mechanics...

Sunrise Calendar updated with Interesting Calendars, improved Exchange support

Sunrise Calendar, which made our list of best calendar apps for iOS back in March, was updated today. The new release brings the app to version 2.3, and includes a handful of improvements as well as a new feature called 'Interesting Calendars.'

As the name suggests, Interesting Calendars allows you to add various types of pre-made calendars with a few simple taps. Sunrise now offers over 25,000 calendars to help you keep track of holidays, sport team schedules and more within the app...

Beats Music updated with native iPad support, adds Find Your Friends feature

As teased yesterday, the new streaming music startup from music mogul Jimmy Lovine and musician and producer Dr. Dre, called Beats Music, has been updated with support for the iPad. The 17.1MB download is now live in the App Store and universal so a single binary now supports all your form-factor iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices. As a bonus, regardless of the device you can now easily add Beats Music users from your Twitter friends...