iPod Touch

Kids want an iPad for Christmas – and nothing else

Ed Sutherland ∙ November 20, 2012

Listen up, parents. Your kids want an iPad. Don't be swayed by the Microsoft Surface commercials or the Nintendo Wii U chatter. No matter whether your child is 6 or 16, the iPad is at the top of Christmas wish lists for 2012, a new survey has it. According to Nielsen Wire, the top four out of five most-wanted gifts for children and teens bear an Apple logo.

Even more intriguing are the changes in what Apple products are wanted this holiday season versus last year. If anything, the trend can be summed-up in one word: tablet...

The iPhone 5 Lightning Dock review

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

As most of you probably know by now, Apple has no plans to create a first party dock like it has for previous versions of the iPhone. That's unfortunate, since I rely on a dock for doing videos and such, and I know plenty of others miss it as well.

The only recourse us iPhone 5 owners have, is to opt for a third party product. One such product is The Lightning Dock, a dock comprised of a solid piece of aluminum, which can be ordered in one of four configurations.

After ordering my Lightning Dock back on October 5th, I finally received it in the mail yesterday via USPS. Needless to say, I was stoked to finally have a dock that could function with new Lightning enabled devices like the iPhone 5, iPod touch 5th gen, and even the iPad mini.

Take a look inside for our hands-on video walkthrough and review...

Apple embedding the exploding iPod ad online

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 8, 2016

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgfJn8FsSKg

This reminds us of Apple's famously interactive version of the Mac vs. PC campaign spotted at the top of NYTimes.com and other big media web properties. This time around, Apple has taken its nicely done dancing commercial for the new iPods and embedded it on various places online, like the indie music review site Pitchfork that in the past ran Apple's custom iPod touch page-topper ad.

It's interesting because the publication draws hipster audience so it's clear who Apple's target is. By the way, turn down the volume before hitting the Play button. Don't you just live how the little things 'explode' out of the box?

The SlingBox is worth a look for cable TV or satellite subscribers

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

I give up. Actually, I gave up. At least temporarily that is.

I tried to be a responsible cable cutter. I ditched cable TV years ago, but I've admittedly let it back into my life. I've been a Netflix advocate, a Hulu user, and I love my Apple TV. Still, I've failed.

I've used a Boxee Box. I've gone as far as to build a dedicated HTPC running Windows Media Center. Now If that doesn't tell you how far I went to kick cable TV out of my life permanently, I don't know what will.

How did this happen, you may ask? How did someone who fought tooth and nail to maintain their status as a permanent cable cutter let the "enemy" back into the household? One word. Sports.

Apple researching facial-zooming and quieter iPhone vibration

Ed Sutherland ∙ November 15, 2012

Apple has applied to patent new technology designed to solve two annoying problems. One filing addresses that "silent" iPhone which you set to "vibrate" but instead noisily dances across tables and other hard surfaces. The other patent application could come in handy for iPhone and iPad mini owners constantly resizing their screens for a better view. However, the most intriguing invention Apple seeks to patent measures the distance of an iDevice owner's face from a screen, using a combination of the camera or other proximity sensor. Differing modes would then automatically adjust the size of content being viewed...

Flipboard iOS app now lists curated iBookstore content

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 15, 2012

Flipboard, the popular social news reader platform, has partnered with Apple to launch a new section in iOS apps called Books which, surprisingly, highlights select books the iPhone maker sells on its own iBookstore. The new Books section is now live in Flipboard iOS apps in ten countries. It's customized with 25 new sections containing the most popular books from Apple’s iBookstore. "It’s like browsing in a bookstore, right from your Flipboard", the company says. The new section is localized for the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy and Spain...

Djay for iPhone goes temporarily free (was $9.99)

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PY57HszOzY8

Djay for iPhone (and iPod touch), a remarkable app for pro and would-be DJs and winner of the 2011 Apple Design Award, is now totally free, but for a limited time only. Mind you, this app previously sold for ten bucks a pop. You're advised to take this opportunity and download djay for iPhone right now.

And if you're really serious about throwing really cool parties, you'd want to consider djay Remote, a $4.99 remote control companion for the Mac version of djay (free trial available here). Developer Algoriddim is running this promotion to celebrate the iPhone launch of their another fine offering, a video mashup app aptly named Vjay which launched in the summer as a $5 iPad-only download...

Camera+ receives a massive update

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Tap tap tap's Camera+, my favorite go-to iPhone photography app which in September finally got a dedicated iPad version, today received a massive update, bringing a number of new features. Version 3.6, for starters, brings accurate framing on the iPhone 5 for capturing snaps exactly as you see them - no more viewfinder cropping. Advanced users will love the new Live Exposure feature which displays ISO and shutter speed change in real-time.

You also get flash of sorts when using the front-facing camera. It's a trick akin to PhotoBooth on the Mac as the screen goes white for a moment to light up your face in darkness before the shutter-release. Another welcome addition: the horizon level feature for those who have trouble taking a straight photo. As you'd expect, the updated app also brings the obligatory bug fixes, minor improvements and a dozen tweaks that lead to a much better overall experience. Go past the fold for the full release notes...

iHelicopters release a new iDevice-controlled toy: the iUFO

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98p_epP0TRQ

iHelicopters, the makers of iPhone-controlled vehicles are on a roll again. After creating a lineup of iPhone-controlled helicopters, RC cars and the rocket-launching Cobra copter, their latest offering is the iUFO. As the name suggests, it's a flying device that resembles an unidentified flying object. Its rotor system is maneuverable via your iPhone, iPad or iPod using a free app that talks to the unit via the transmitter which plugs in the headphone jack .

Its spherical design is aimed at protecting the rotors from hitting nearby objects and breaking. The manufacturer says the system even allows iUFOs to roll over the ground without crashing the rotors and says you don't have to worry about crashing the unit against the walls or ceiling...

Romo the robot is back and better than ever

Cody Lee ∙ November 12, 2012

Romo the robot first appeared last November as a Kickstarter project. It was essentially a fully motorized, acrylic robot that was both controlled and powered by an iOS device. And despite looking like a build-it-yourself hobby-bot, it collected well over $100,000 in pledges.

Well this year, Romo is back and better than ever. The robot has been redesigned from the circuit board up, and has been improved in almost every way imaginable. It looks better, goes faster, thinks smarter and is much easier to use...

How to jailbreak iOS 6.1 beta 2 with RedSn0w 0.9.15b3

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

If you're a developer, then you might be interested in jailbreaking the latest beta version of iOS — iOS 6.1 beta 2. The beta was just released today, and like we always do, we've created a video tutorial that shows how to successfully jailbreak it if you happen to be a developer.

Take a look inside as we walk you through the iOS 6.1 beta 2 jailbreak process step-by-step.

New iOS-friendly Fender guitar spotted in Apple’s web store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

With the holidays just around the corner, Apple has been seen stocking up on app-enabled accessories. A few weeks ago we noted that the iPad-maker had started selling iPhone-controlled lightbulbs, and now it's added an iOS-friendly guitar to its inventory.

Fender, a long-time legend in the guitar business, has created a custom version of its popular Squier Stratocaster guitar with built-in USB and iOS connectivity. This means that you can plug into anything from a complex digital studio, to your iPad, and rock out...