iPod Touch

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...

Apple posts iOS 6.1 Beta 2, new Apple TV beta

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Apple just seeded its registered developers with the second beta of iOS 6.1. The software follows November 1 release of the first iOS 6.1 beta which brought out MapsKit improvements and other tidbits.

Beta 2 has a build number of 10B5105c versus 10B5095f for Beta 1. Apple says iOS 6 Beta 2 contains bug fixes and improvements over iOS 6.0.1, in addition to tweaks like a new information card in the Passbook app.

A new beta of the Apple TV software is also available. The new iOS 6.1 beta is available for the various iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Apple TV devices. Apple's registered developers can download them via the company's developer portal.

The iPhone maker also released Xcode 4.6 Developer Preview 2 today (build 4H95e), its preferred development environment for third-parties that write Mac and iOS apps. Your release notes and additional info are right below...

How to jailbreak iOS 6 and iOS 6.0.1 with Sn0wBreeze 2.9.7

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 11, 2018

If you're a Windows user, and you've been dying for an update to Sn0wBreeze, then your wait is over. As we posted earlier, Sn0wBreeze was updated to 2.9.7, and with it comes tethered support for pre-A5 devices running iOS 6 and iOS 6.0.1

For those of you who've been holding off until a Sn0wBreeze update, we've created a handy tutorial for you to follow, which shows you how to jailbreak iOS 6 and iOS 6.1 using Sn0wBreeze on Windows. Take a look inside for the full details...

Sn0wBreeze 2.9.7 updated with iOS 6.0 and iOS 6.0.1 jailbreak support

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 27, 2017

iH8sn0w just updated his popular Windows jailbreak tool, Sn0wBreeze, to support the latest public firmware for pre-A5 iOS devices. The update brings support to iOS 6.0 and iOS 6.0.1 tethered jailbreaks for those devices.

Eligible hardware includes the iPhone 4, and the iPhone 3GS. Sn0wBreeze does not work with A5 devices like the iPad 2, or A6 devices like the iPhone 5. This update lends support for the newest public firmware on older devices only. Take a look inside for a taste of what's new with Sn0wBreeze 2.9.7...

Apple patents cooling fans for iPhones, iPads

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Is there a fan in the future for the iPad or iPhone? That question is front-and-center following word Apple has filed to patent a fan to cool its popular mobile devices. The measure is seen as a response to criticisms that the iPad grows hot due to powerful processors and CPU-intensive tasks.

The patent application, entitled "Cooling system for mobile devices", indicates a mechanical system comprised of fan, motor and an alert which potentially would vibrate the device. Because of the tight quarters, the motor would do double duty, driving both the fan and the alert, when required. Air intake and exhaust would likely employ an existing outlet in the devices, such as a headphone jack or the new Lightning connector port...