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.

Twitter to remove 140 character limit in Direct Messages

Twitter on Thursday announced that it will be removing the 140-character limit in Direct Messages. Starting in July, DMs will have a new limit of 10,000 characters, bringing it in line with other instant messaging services.

The move makes sense, given that the nature of a DM is typically more private and intimate than that of a Tweet, thus requiring more typing space. Twitter says the character limit for public-facing Tweets will remain at 140.

Action RPG ‘Slayin’ goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Apple has just named “Slayin” its App of the Week for this week. This means that from now through next Thursday, you’ll be able to download the endless action RPG for both iPhone and iPad for free—a respectable savings of a buck.

In Slayin, players are asked to choose from one of six heroes, including a knight and ninja, and use them to slay as many monsters as possible. They'll also be tasked with leveling up and acquiring equipment and spells along the way.

Twitter expands beta testing program to iOS

Twitter has expanded its beta testing program to iOS, according to TechCrunch. The social network confirmed to the publication that it recently launched a new "Twitter for iOS Experiments Program," which will allow some users to test experimental features ahead of public release.

The new program works very similar to its Android sibling, which launched in 2013. Select users will receive a pop-up notification at the top of their Twitter feed in the iPhone app that asks if they would like to participate in "Experiments" to help test out bug fixes and new features.

Foxconn looking to open first iPhone manufacturing plant in India

Foxconn

Apple's high profile manufacturing partner Foxconn Technology is in talks with government officials to build iPhones in India, reports Reuters. An Industries Minister told the publication that "Foxconn is sending a delegation of their officers to scout for locations in a month's time."

Altogether the Taiwanese-based tech giant, which is the world's larger contract maker of electronics, is aiming to develop 10-12 facilities in India, including factories and data centers. No additional details regarding the plans were given, but Reuters says the goal is to be done by 2020.

Twitterrific adds support for Quoted Tweets, emoji and quick replies on Apple Watch and more

Twitterrific 5 for iOS now supports Twitter's Quoted Tweets format which was announced two months ago. Additionally, The Iconfactory's freemium Twitter client for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple Watch has picked up half a dozen improvements and feature additions in the latest update, including settings options to display the tab bar at the bottom of the screen instead top of screen.

You can now display a timeline of your own recent tweets, marvel at revamped in-app alerts and—crucially—reply with emoji and canned responses right from your wrist.

iMessage crashing bug fixed in iOS 8.4 beta 4

An annoying bug that crashes your iPhone after a specific string of symbols and Arabic characters is received through iMessage or SMS from another party has been fixed in iOS 8.4 beta 4, as first reported by Italian blog HDBlog.it. The beta software was seeded to registered Apple developers two days ago. The iMessage crashing bug is tied to how iOS banner notifications process Unicode text.

Apple has offered a temporary bandaid solution of sorts until a proper fix is delivered. iDownloadBlog has posted a few potential fixes of its own, too. That being said, the iOS 8.4 software update will squash this pesky bug for everyone when it arrives on June 30.

Creators of Bastion release Transistor for iOS, a premium sci-fi action RPG like no other

Every once in a while, a high-quality role-playing game which appeals to the masses comes along. This time around, the name of such a game is Transistor, a premium science fiction action RPG for the iPhone and iPad created by Supergiant Games, the team behind Bastion.

Featuring the vibrant presentation and deep combat system it's known for, Transistor utilizes an isometric point of view where you control the character Red as she travels through a series of locations, battling enemies in both real-time combat and a frozen turn-based planning mode.

Angry Birds Fight! arrives worldwide: challenge others to real-time puzzle battles

For those wondering, Rovio Mobile isn't done with its Angry Birds franchise yet. Quite the contrary, the Espoo, Finland headquartered developer, publisher and distributor of video games is now known as Rovio Entertainment Ltd. to reflect its broadened scope on entertainment in general.

Thursday, Rovio added another Angry Birds game to its roster. Called Angry Birds Fight! and releasing worldwide today following a recent soft-launch in Japan, it's basically a match-3 frenzy that challenges you to join some pretty crazy real-time battles of strategic, bird swapping agility with other players.

djay 2 introduces Force Touch trackpad support, automatic transitions on Apple Watch and more

German developer Algoriddim has refreshed its award-winning mixing and scratching application for DJs with support for force-sensing technology on Mac notebooks outfitted with Force Touch trackpad, tighter Apple Watch integration and many other perks mentioned below. In addition, djay 2 for iPhone and djay 2 for Mac both received support for the Reloop Beatpad 2 MIDI controller.

iOS 9 code hints at iPhones with a supercharged FaceTime camera

Developer Hamza Sood has discovered some rather interesting code strings in the iOS 9 software development kit (SDK) potentially pointing to an impressive front-facing camera upgrade on future iPhone models.

While the iPhone has become the de facto the most popular camera in the world, many Android handsets have far better cameras out the front for taking selfies. But that could change soon as code strings point to a future FaceTime camera upgrade delivering video-shooting capabilities in full HD 1080p resolution, Slow-Mo video capture at 240 frames per second and more.

Flaw in Mail for iPhone and iPad can be used to hijack your iCloud password

A serious bug in Apple's stock Mail application for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad permits attackers to fool users into providing their iCloud credentials.

Such phishing attacks can be devastating as iCloud increasingly becomes home for our digital life in the Apple universe, including our photo libraries, notes, contacts and other personal data.

The scam takes advantage of an exploit in the Mail application that makes it easy to deliver convincing-looking pop-ups resembling iCloud password prompts through a simple email message, The Register reported Wednesday.

While such emails look like they're coming from a real company, they're spoofed and once an unsuspecting user opens them on their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad running iOS 8.3, the operating system will execute malicious HTML content embedded inside.

GM announces CarPlay support for 2016 Cadillac models

General Motors announced today that 2016 model year products from its luxury car division Cadillac will feature enhanced connectivity and control thanks to the addition of CarPlay and Android Auto. The move is part of a broader enhancement to CUE, Cadillac's infotainment/user experience portal.

GM says that CarPlay will debut in all 2016 Cadillac models that feature CUE's 8-in multitouch screen expect the SRX Crossover vehicle. Production on 2016 models will begin this summer, except for the SRX, which is moving to an all-new generation in early 2016. Android Auto will debut in late 2016.