iPhone

Stay up-to-date on the latest iPhone news and learn new tips and tricks with our comprehensive tutorials. From software updates to new features, we’ve got you covered.

Apple working with cell providers on eSIM

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 16, 2017

The wireless industry's biggest fear—that mobile customers could one day switch service on a whim without changing their SIM card—is coming true. Following years of opposition to technologies that would allow people to easily change carrier on the fly, the likes of Apple, Samsung and others are now working with the mobile standards organization GSMA on electronic SIM cards for consumer devices.

The Financial Times newspaper reported Thursday that Apple and Samsung are “in advanced talks” with mobile telecom groups on a standardized embedded SIM card for consumer devices, the so-called e-SIM.

Volume production of Apple’s next-generation ‘A9’ processor for new iPhones has kicked off

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 16, 2015

Volume production of an Apple-designed next-generation “A9” chip, the engine that will power the next iPhone and iPad, has begun at facilities operated by Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest independent semiconductor foundry.

According to a report published Friday by DigiTimes, a semi-accurate Taiwanese trade publication, the two rivals get to share orders and both have now started volume production of the chips.

Supply chain sources interviewed by The Wall Street Journal estimate Apple's ordered a record 80 million units of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus units by the end of 2015.

Angry Birds 2 coming July 30, Rovio confirms

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 16, 2015

There's still life left in the Angry Birds franchise as developer Rovio today announced that the official sequel to the original bird-flinging game that started it all will be releasing across mobile platforms in a fortnight, on Thursday, July 30.

A promotional artwork teases a “bigger, badder, birdier” Angry Birds than the original.

Here are some interesting tidbits about Apple’s ‘best iPod touch yet’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Apple yesterday refreshed its aging lineup of iPod-branded music players. By and large, the iPod touch has received its most substantial upgrade yet as Apple really went all out with upgrades on the hardware front.

Not only does the new iPod touch run the latest Apple-designed “A8” processor as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but includes the M8 motion coprocessor, a much-improved eight-megapixel camera on the back, three times faster Wi-Fi and the latest in Bluetooth networking.

Here are some interesting tidbits related to the iPod touch's hardware surprises.

Google Play Newsstand now supports magazines, adds improvements to Highlights and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2015

Google has updated it Newsstand iOS client (formerly Google Currents) in the App Store with much-needed support for digital magazines available on the Play Store.

The new version has arrived shortly after Apple released the iOS 8.4 software update for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad which, among other perks, brings out support for Made for iBooks content on the iPhone and iPod touch.

Google Play Newsstand 3.2 also includes improvements to the Highlights feature and the usual performance and bug fixes.

Rovio puts a bunch of Angry Birds games on sale

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2015

Do you still care about Angry Birds? I myself think the series has run its course but am nonetheless eager to fling a few birds every now and then as I continue to find these physics-based games pretty darn addictive and charming. Developer Rovio has now put a number of Angry Birds titles on sale in the App Store and some of them have gone free for the first time in a long time.

Grab them all now and your kids will thank you later!

Pixelmator for iPhone and iPad discounted to just 99 cents

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 15, 2015

Pixelmator, a powerful image editing software for the Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch has received a substantial price cut in the App Store in a limited-time promotion following yesterday's update which brought out the new Dynamic Touch feature, a much improved and 5x faster Repair tool and more.

Going from $4.99 to just 99 cents, Pixelmator for iPhone and iPad is now a steal.

Keep in mind that's 99 cents to download the universal Pixelmator app to all your iOS devices. I wholeheartedly recommend you pick up this awesome app right now, especially if you've been holding out for a sale. By the way, this is the first Pixelmator's iOS edition has received such a deep price cut following its October 2014 App Store debut.

Apple releases iOS 8.4.1 beta 1 to developers

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated May 7, 2018

Apple just seeded iOS 8.4.1 beta 1 to members of its developer program. Seeing that this release is a minor version release, there's a good chance that it contains bug fixes, and perhaps even a fix for the exploits used in the iOS 8.3 and iOS 8.4 jailbreaks.

While details are currently scarce about what the update contains—there are no release notes at this time—we'll be sure to update you once we gather more info.

The iOS 8.4.1 beta 1 release comes in with a build number of 12H304, and is available for all devices capable of running iOS 8.4.

Pixelmator for iOS updated with 5x faster Repair tool, new Dynamic Touch feature and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 14, 2015

Pixelmator for iOS, which almost two months ago became a universal app with native iPhone support, was refreshed in the App Store this morning with a few new features and dozens of improvements, performance improvements and stability fixes.

The Repair tool, which debuted on Pixelmator for Mac, is now up to five times faster on iPhone and iPad, and even more precise.

And the all-new Dynamic Touch tool intelligently changes the stroke size of all Retouch tools based on your finger input: use the tip of your finger and you'll create thin strokes; press harder, or use a larger surface area of your finger, and you'll produce thicker lines.

Moreover, Pixelmator's Photo Editing extension has been improved to make it easier to apply Pixelmator's effects within the context of iOS's stock Photos app.

TiVo updates iOS app with AirPlay streaming of recorded content to Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

TiVo on Tuesday refreshed its iOS app in the App Store with the ability to stream content to the Apple TV via AirPlay. The development marks a major U-degree turn for TiVo, which for a long time has deliberately blocked AirPlay to prevent users from streaming video content to Apple's $69 box.

With support for the AirPlay mirroring feature now official, users of TiVo's iOS app can use AirPlay to stream content recorded on a TiVo box using the iPhone and iPad application to a user's Apple TV.

The refreshed app with the new AirPlay functionality is rolling out later today.

How to disable Apple Music Connect

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 1, 2017

If you choose to hide Apple Music on an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, the Music app gains a new Connect tab.

Described by Apple as a place where “musicians give their fans a closer look at their work, their inspirations, and their world,”Apple Music Connect permits music lovers to view and follow an artist's stream, like and comment on their posts and more.

Apple Music Connect is basically Ping 2.0. The feature is a tad crude in appearance and feels rough around the edges so little wonder that some folks don't view Connect as valuable enough for it to deserve its own tab.

Wouldn't it be great if you could get rid of the Connect tab? Thankfully, there is.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that the Connect feature couldn't be disabled: Apple has made sure to burry and hide it in an obscure place. In this post, I'm going to explain precisely how you can disconnect from Connect in Apple Music on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Mac.

Google releases Ivy, an experimental big number calculator for iPhone and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 10, 2015

Google on Friday released a brand new iOS application in the App Store. Called Ivy and available free of charge, the app is being described as an experimental big number calculator for the iPhone and iPad.

Dedicated calculator apps are a dime a dozen these days so what's so special about Ivy, you might ask?

According to Google, Ivy takes advantage of what's referred to as exact rational arithmetic, basically a precision math technique which lets the app handle arbitrary precision with ease.