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Sega’s Go Dance goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

It's Thursday and those who frequent iDownloadBlog know what that means as the App Store editors get to chose a new app to go free for the next seven days.

After slashing Tiny Firefighters to zero bucks last Thursday, that interactive app/book/game for kids has now gone back up to its regular asking price of $2.99. Not to worry - Apple's already named Sega's Go Dance the App Store's new App of the Week.

Launched last September and normally selling for $1.99, Go Dance was named one of the App Store's Best Of 2013 games and it's easy to see why: the game uses advanced motion-capture tech to turn your device's FaceTime camera into a motion sensor of sorts that picks up your movements while imitating avatars dance on screen.

Movements are recognized and scored in real-time and you really have to see it for yourself to fully appreciate the effect. What are you waiting for? Hit the App Store and grab your free copy of Go Dance now, go, go, go!

Apple updates iTunes Festival app with SXSW content and new iOS 7 design

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 1, 2018

Apple has released version 5.0 of its iTunes Festival app this afternoon, updating the app with information pertaining to next week's Festival at SXSW and an all new iOS 7 design. The Festival takes place March 11-15 at ACL Live at the Moody Theater in Austin, TX.

This will be the first time Apple has hosted one of its iTunes Festivals within the United States, and the lineup we've seen so far has been star-studded with musical acts like Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, Pitbull, ZEDD, Kendrick Lamar, Soundgarden and several others...

LG’s bizarre G Flex ad is disturbing, infographic pretends the iPhone never existed

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 6, 2014

Titled 'The Most Human Phone Ever', LG's newest commercial for its curved G Flex handset must be one of the weirdest, most bizarre smartphone commercials we've seen to date. Trust me, it's really disturbing and will give you nightmares. The video is airing to viewers in The Netherlands.

The firm also posted a cool infographic with a visual timeline depicting the history of the smartphone.

In another 'what were they thinking' moment, the illustration makes absolutely no mention of the original iPhone's release back in 2007 - it's as if Apple's handset never existed...

New ‘Wello’ iPhone case measures blood pressure, temperature and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 27, 2017

Rumor has it that Apple's so-called iWatch will be capable of reading your blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs. But you may not have to wait until its release to purchase such a device. Meet the 'Wello,' the all-in-one health-tracking iPhone case.

The Wello has built-in sensors that can give you a picture of your overall health after holding it for just a few seconds. It measures heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and blood oxygen levels—and can even test your lung function via a small attachment...

Paypal updated with new security features, Smart Connect support and more

Cody Lee ∙ March 6, 2014

Folks who use eBay's PayPal payment service will be happy to hear that the company updated its iOS client this morning, bringing the app to version 5.4. The update brings about an important new security feature as well as various other improvements.

The new security feature allows you to attach your mobile phone to your PayPal account so that they can be sure it's you authorizing activity. It does this by linking the phone number(s) of the device(s) you use PayPal on to your 4-digit security PIN code...

Oscar Mayer’s new iPhone alarm clock wakes you up to the smell of bacon

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

Of all the smells you can wake up to in the morning, I would have to say that Bacon is perhaps the most alluring. Obviously, that's not the case for everyone, but if I could, I would create an automatic bacon-cooker that I could program to start cooking bacon at 9am every morning.

Fortunately, thanks to Oscar Mayer, all of that may not be necessary. The company has created a new device, aptly-named 'Wake Up & Smell the Bacon,' which pairs with your iPhone to create an alarm clock of sorts that can wake you up to the sound and smell of sizzling bacon...

Apple to bring full-screen video iAds to iOS apps this year

Cody Lee ∙ March 5, 2014

AdAge is reporting this afternoon that Apple is looking to roll out new video iAds for iPhone and iPad later this year. Citing people with knowledge of the company's plans, the outlet says that these 'interstitial' ads will automatically play in full-screen on iOS devices.

The way it works currently, iAds are much less obtrusive: a user must click on a mobile banner for a brand's ad video to play. Under the new format, developers could opt to display TV commercial-like ads during moments of transition, like in between game levels...

TSMC allegedly started producing A8 processor for iPhone 6 last month

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

A new story published by Taiwan's Commercial Times (Google translate) and relayed by Agence France Presse has it that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world's largest independent foundry, has begun churning out A8 chips that will likely serve as the engine for the coming wave of iOS devices, namely the iPhone 6 and the next iPad.

TSMC also builds Touch ID sensors for the iPhone 5s. The firm is understood to account for the bulk of A8 chip manufacture as Apple's been attempting to decrease its reliance on Samsung, which up until recently used to exclusively build mobile processors for iOS devices based on Apple's blueprints...

Vertex is now available on Cydia

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Vertex, the awesome jailbreak tweak that combines app switcher and control center into one convenient page, is now available for download on Cydia's BigBoss repo. The tweak, developed by Ian Burns and Timon Olsthoorn, and is based on Bill Labus’ popular Mission Control concept.

The team bills Vertex as a sort of one-stop-shop for all of your app-switching, music-controlling and Settings-toggling needs. The tweak is well-designed with customizable aesthetics, and in our initial walkthrough, Jeff said it's 'definitely worth trying.' Check out our hands-on video below...

Apple’s M7 motion coprocessor caught tracking movement after battery dies

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 5, 2014

Apple's M7 motion tracking chip found inside the iPhone 5s, iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display is apparently able to track a user's motion activity even after the battery dies. According to a post by Reddit user Glarznak, his iPhone 5s was able to track his every movement even after the battery died on him. He was able to confirm this by using the Argus fitness app which showed a number of steps for the four days that his phone was dead...

Users complain of Lightning cable issues due to corrosion

Cody Lee ∙ March 5, 2014

Apple has been taking criticism for its new Lightning connector since it was introduced alongside the iPhone 5 in 2012. The change instantly made millions of cases and other accessories incompatible, forcing users to either buy updated products or do without.

Those complaints have since spilled over into the Lightning cable's durability, with the Apple Store showing a 1.5 star rating of the cable on over 1,200 reviews. Apparently the cable is vulnerable to breakage, fraying, and according to a new report, corrosion as well...

Encrypted chat app ‘Cryptocat’ now available on iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Popular encrypted chat app Cryptocat has launched this week for iOS. Originally available as a desktop app and a browser plugin, the app offers strong encryption and secrecy for text conversations, as well as protection from government intrusion thanks to its Swedish nuclear bunker headquarters.

This week's iOS launch comes after an initial rejection by Apple's app review team in December. Cryptocat's founder Nadim Kobeissi called Apple's reason for rejection 'illegitimate,' but it's obvious someone or something had to give because the app is now available for download in the App Store...