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.

MapQuest gains enhanced navigation, picks up a host of other improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 20, 2015

AOL today refreshed its MapQuest mapping and GPS navigation app for iOS with several new features that elevate the experience, including in-route navigation improvements, tighter integration with Yelp data, the ability to buy tickets and send feedback in the app and more.

A clearer on-map directive will give you a heads-up on your next turn while the improved list view for your route now automatically scrolls turn-by-turn statements with your progress “so the next maneuver is always easy to see.”

This iPhone Lightning cable claims to cut charging time in half for $27

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

SONICable is claiming it's the world's most advanced charging cable for the Lightning-supporting iPhones, able to charge your device in half the time as a normal Apple charger.

It offers an off and on switch that is behind the magic. When the switch is OFF: Its like a normal USB cable, charge and sync. When the switch is ON: All of the power is focused on charging, sync/data is disabled, which the Fort Lauderdale-based company says helps increase speed significantly.

Meet Coolors for iOS, a simple and free color palette generator

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 20, 2015

No matter if you're designing a website, creating a brochure, writing a game or just messing around in creative apps like Adobe Illustrator or Pixelmator, the key to attracting your audience's imagination is choosing the right set of colors.

While mobile and desktop applications aimed at artists and designers allow you to experiment with varied color palettes, setting RGB values manually can be a tedious task that gets old fast. What if there was a simpler way of generating endless color palettes on the go?

Coolors by Fabrizio Bianchi does just that!

Poll: should the next iPhone implement Apple Watch’s Force Touch pressure sensing?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

If you believe recent reporting by Tech News Taiwan and UDN, Force Touch, one of the technologies behind the Apple Watch, could make its way into this year's refresh of the iPhone 6, likely to be referred to as an ‘iPhone 6s’.

To get you quickly up to speed on Force Touch, it's a handy feature that relies on a bunch of tiny electrodes around the Watch's display that recognize the difference between a tap and a press, thereby providing the user with quick access to contextually specific controls.

But would Force Touch make sense on the iPhone, do you think?

Leaked images show upcoming Google Calendar iOS app with embedded photos and maps

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 19, 2015

Monday has brought us our first glimpses into Google's standalone Calendar app for the iPhone, courtesy of leaked screenshots via The Next Web.

Featuring Material Design, Google's design language applied across mobile, desktop and the web, the forthcoming application puts photos and map information straight into your calendar, and more.

Chinese thieves tunnel their way into a Beijing warehouse, stealing 240 iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Nearly $230,000 worth of iPhones have disappeared through a 20-inch hole after a trio of daring thieves tunneled their way into a warehouse, Xinhua News Agency reported earlier in the month.

Three Chinese nationals were arrested on charges of stealing 240 iPhone 6 units, valued at 1.4 million yuan, or approximately $230,000. The suspects were arrested in late December after the police successfully tracked the phones’ serial numbers.

Snowden docs give new insight into how GCHQ tracked iPhone users

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 19, 2015

New documents by NSA leaker Edward Snowden were published this weekend by German newspaper Der Spiegel, giving us new insight into how the GCHQ tracked iPhone users without their consent.

Rather than tap specific exploits that GCHQ's U.S. counterpart, NSA, relied on in order to compromise the iPhone's software, GCHQ surveilled targets by following a device's UDID across different services.

They were even able to pull data from the device itself when syncing with a compromised computer took place.

Facebook testing voice transcription feature in Messenger ahead of official rollout

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 18, 2015

Facebook has begun testing a new feature in its mobile Messenger software that can read transcripts of received voice messages in case you don't want to listen to them.

The company is currently testing the feature with a tiny subset of Messenger's more than 500 million users ahead of a forthcoming launch in the near future.

In addition to Messenger's voice transcription capability, the firm announced buying a successful boutique design firm which has created popular mobile applications and online services, including the read-later app Readability and the rising blogging platform Medium.

Bowling Central teams up with your Apple TV for Wii-like bowling action

Cody Lee ∙ January 16, 2015

Rolocule, the veteran developers behind games like Motion Tennis and Dance Party, is back with perhaps its most ambitious title ever called Bowling Central. At its core, the game offers a stellar mobile bowling experience, with state-of-the-art physics, stunning 3D graphics and over 30 unique challenges. But things get really interesting when you turn on your Apple TV.

Utilizing Apple's AirPlay Mirroring technology, Bowling Central can stream gameplay footage from your iOS device to your television set by way of Apple TV. This not only gives you a much better view of the game, but it also frees up your iPhone or iPod touch to be used as a controller for what is best described as a Wii-like gaming experience. Here, check out the demo:

Kickstarter revamps iOS app, adds iPad UI, iPhone 6 support and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

The official Kickstarter app is now available on the iPad, nearly two years following its iPhone debut in February of 2013. Not only does the software sport native tablet interface, it's been thoroughly redesigned as well and now looks way more in line with iOS 8's design aesthetics.

Those who have purchased an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus will be happy to know that Kickstarter will now take full advantage of the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen resolutions rather than look like a ridiculously blown up version of its former self.

One-stop shop for your entertainment needs: Time Inc. releases new iOS video streaming app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Publishing company Time Inc. has released a new application that acts as a one-stop shop for video content from its many properties.

The Daily Cut, now available free in the App Store, lets you stream videos produced by Time, Sports Illustrated, People, Instyle, Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple, Golf, Cooking Light, Southern Living, Fortune, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, Essence and a plethora of other brands and channels.

Though basically an iOS version of Time Inc.'s newly launched website of the same name, available at dailycut.com, the app is pretty nicely done and has some compelling features you should know about.

Microsoft’s OneNote for iPhone picks up Today widget and Recent Notes feature

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 16, 2015

Slowly but surely, Microsoft's Evernote killer, OneNote, has been picking up major iOS 8-specific features.

The app already boasts Touch ID verification and native Share sheet functionality, has its own Document Storage extension, syncs data in the background and has native display support for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus resolutions.

Friday, the software giant pushed a new update giving the iPhone edition of OneNote a much-needed Today widget and another new feature listing your recently accessed notes, no matter which device they're on.