iPod Touch

How to embed Vine clips in web pages

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Twitter's Vine is fine for random sharing of six-second videos and today they issued an interesting new update promising to make embedding own or someone else's clips easy as a pie. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

The new version won't let you just grab an embed code in-app. For reasons beyond our comprehension, the software sends you to a special web page where the embed code can be created.

It's not the end of the world, but the solution is cumbersome and inelegant, though it works. To start injecting those beautiful Vines into your blog posts, web pages, email newsletters or pretty much into any other other type of HTML content, just follow our quick guide and you should be fine...

Final Fantasy V hits the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 28, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XO9N_18mE4

Twenty years following its original release on SNES, Square Enix's Final Fantasy V has landed on the iPhone and iPad. The game invites you travel the lands commanding a band of four in search for the mysterious crystals that control the four elements - earth, water, fire and wind - thereby bringing peace and prosperity to the world.

These things have lost their power and are on the verge of destruction so you must find a way to restore their power. The iOS version also includes The Sealed Temple from the 2006 release, the Tetsuya Nomura-designed optional boss Enuo and an all-new soundtrack...

Twitterrific iOS app finally gains push alerts, but…

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

...but you probably won't be able to take advantage of them because native Push Notifications are still in beta so developer Iconofactory had to limit the much-needed feature to the first thousand users, as determined on a first-come, first-served basis.

The system is very similar to the reservation tickets in the Mailbox app. Luckily, I was able to reserve my spot on time so my copy of Twitterrific version 5.2 has native push alerts turned on.

Tucked away under the app's settings, push alerts can be turned on and off individually for direct messages, replies, mentions, favorites, retweets and follows.

Another handy treat: each of these can be color-coded so you get a better idea of a particular notification's importance after it appears on your screen, especially handy when these alerts start cropping up on your Lock screen...

Quick review: Handy Photo for iPhone and iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNx7rUjOdeM

Sebastien and I share a passion for iPhone photography so when he asked me to take a look at Handy Photo the other day, I was overly excited. So what does this new photography app does that your favorite software can't? How about AntiCrop and TouchRetouch, two interesting features that work a lot like content-aware fill in Photoshop?

Or, perhaps you'll be impressed by the ability to perform complex touch ups and work with 36-megapixel images (not a typo)? The promo video is a bit cheesy and heavy on superlatives, but it does a nice job highlighting key features of this handy program. I've included more info and a few screenies after the break...

Bluelounge releases Mika, one stand to rule them all

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated September 30, 2013

It is almost redundant for me to begin another article expressing my love affair with quality iOS device stands, but, for the sake of tradition, allow my introduction sentence to lend credence to my lust. Bluelounge announced today, their newest product, the Mika, which is a simple stand for iPad, but strong enough to hold a full size MacBook. Thanks to a buddy at Bluelounge, I was able to get my hands on one for review prior to the announcement...

Apple envisions multitouch gestures on blank screens

Ed Sutherland ∙ March 26, 2013

Apple Tuesday was granted an intriguing multitouch patent with a wrinkle: no screen display necessary. Instead of glancing down at your iPod during a workout to adjust the volume or skip past an annoying track, you simply touch the screen. The patent, first filed in 2009, opens up a number of potential benefits, including extending battery life.

Rather than your iPod nano's screen displaying controls such as sliders, Apple envisions devices accepting multitouch user input even when a screen itself is blank. Not only would this open the potential for eliminating hardware controls, but the technology may also become part of everyday devices ranging from your iPhone, iWatch or even iGlasses, should Apple decide to compete with Google...

MechWarrior explodes onto iPhone

Jim Gresham ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Growing up in the 90's provided the extreme advantage of spending late nights in front of Mech Warrior 2. Aside from King's Quest V, Mech Warrior 2 is one of the few PC games I ever completed from start to finish. When we were contacted by Personae Studios to review their newest build of MechWarrior: Tactical Command, I had no hesitations to agree. Moving from a FPS console and desktop option to RTS, the iOS Mech Warrior experience will be appreciated by MechWarrior fans, old and new...

XCOM: Enemy Unknown iOS port due this summer, Mac build launches April 24

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 25, 2013

If you're fond of complex strategy games that go past the Command & Conquer series (which, in my personal opinion, doesn't look and play well on iPhones and iPads), you should jump with joy on news that developer Firaxis and publisher 2K Games are porting XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the popular turn-based tactical role-playing strategy, to Apple's platform.

The game has some pretty ardent following and a port for iOS was officially announced at a PAX East panel on this past Saturday. What's in it for you and why should you care? Go past the fold more some more tidbits...

US Department of Defense said to be ordering 650,000 iOS devices

Cody Lee ∙ Updated July 12, 2017

The United States Department of Defense has a pending purchase order for more than half a million iOS devices, according to a new report. 'Well-placed sources' say the government plans to purchase in upwards of 650,000 iPhones, iPads and iPod touches as part of an ongoing effort to update and mobilize its technologies...

Walmart expands iPhone scan-and-checkout option to 200+ more stores

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

It is an idea that was just waiting to be implemented: using your iPhone to scan product barcodes at retailers. Apparently, the world's largest chain of retail stores agrees. Walmart announced Wednesday it will offer the feature across more than 200 stores in twelve additional U.S. markets, stretching from Seattle to Oklahoma.

Although the move triples the size of the retail chain's Scan & Go program, Walmart said it still wants to get customer feedback before rolling out iPhone-based price checks in all stores...

iOS 6.1.3 is out with fixes for Lock screen vulnerability, Japan Maps improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 19, 2013

Apple has just issued iOS 6.1.3 (build 10B329), an incremental update to its mobile operating system powering iPhones, iPads and iPods. This particular update brings fixes to the widely reported Lock screen vulnerability, first discovered a month ago, which lets people with access to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to easily bypass your passcode and get to your personal information on the device.

Today's firmware also contains Maps improvements for Japan. If you're jailbroken, you'll want to stay away from this update until we collect more information...

BatteryDoctorPro: power management, NC settings toggles, app switcher and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 31, 2013

Every once in a while, a good jailbreak app or tweak sneaks past our radar. We feel we do a pretty good job of covering most new notable Cydia packages, but every now and then, one slips through the cracks. And that's exactly what's happened with BatteryDoctorPro.

For those who aren't familiar with it, BatteryDoctorPro is a jailbreak app that monitors your iPhone or iPod touch usage to essentially lengthen your battery life. But it also has Notification Center settings toggles, a multitasking bar and several other handy features...