iPod Touch

Rumor: next iPhone to include 1GB of RAM, tweaked CPU

Jeff Benjamin ∙ April 9, 2012

According to a new report by 9to5Mac, a new iPhone and a new iPod touch is in the works.

Should this even be labeled as a rumor considering the absolute inevitability of these hardware updates? I don't know, but the wait, speculation, and anticipation is always amusing.

According to their sources, a variant of the A5X chip will power the next generation iPhone, and it will include 1GB of RAM. To me, a varient suggests it's probably not an "A5X" per-se, but an entirely new processor dedicated to the device's smaller form factor, and less visually intensive needs.

Their source also indicates that the next generation iPhone has been seeded internally, yet it is being housed in ho-hum iPhone 4/4S casing to throw off any potential leaks.

Sounds about par for course. I guess the only thing left to make this 100% legit is for the new iPhone tester to head to his or her favorite bar, am I right?

RIM posts BlackBerry Mobile Fusion server with enterprise support for iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 3, 2012

The ailing BlackBerry maker Research In Motion today released the BlackBerry Mobile Fusion enterprise server software, first announced last November.

Among the features is built-in support for tablets and smartphones running Apple's iOS and Google's Android software.

This is the first time RIM comprehensively supported iOS mobile devices in a major corporate enterprise server software.

Is Apple developing a physical gaming controller for iOS devices?

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 2, 2012

That Apple is toying with a bunch of varied gaming controller concepts is anything but unknown. Two years ago, an interesting Apple patent detailing an accessory for playing games with portable devices surfaced in the United States Patents & Trademark Office's database.

It was originally filed back in September of 2008, meaning the company had likely begun researching the invention ahead of the original iPhone debut five years ago. The patent outlines a few exciting gaming accessories for portable devices, such as a receptacle system of sorts that could let your iPod be inserted to play games.

Another highlight worth mentioning is a gaming controller featuring cameras, motion sensing, a dual-display configuration and physical buttons on the back coupling a multitouch surface on the front.

And now, AnandTech drops a little nugget with claims that yes, Apple is in fact working on a gaming controller for iPads and other iOS devices...

iOS earns Google four times the revenue of Android

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

Though Google does not profit directly by giving away Android software to phone vendors, they do take 30 percent cut on app sales, just like Apple. This is peanuts compared to Google's indirect, mobile advertising-based revenues. Understandably, of course, as Google's ad-based business model benefits from people using their many services on the go, such as maps and search.

The more people use Google on their handsets, the higher advertising revenues the company pulls. At Android's scale, it's easy to think that Google gets more revenue from Android phones and tablets than Apple's iPhones, iPads and iPod touches.

According to a newspaper article today, based on court documents, Android’s total revenue from the launch of handsets at the end of 2008 through to the end of 2011 was $543 million. Still, Google made four times as much revenue during the same period on iOS devices.

Apple dispatches VP of iPad marketing to set the record straight on Batterygate

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

In what could be described as a timely (and prudent) move to prevent the perceived battery issues with the new iPad from getting overblown, California-based Apple has dispatched its vice president of iPad marketing Michael Tchao, who went on the record to indicate that overcharging your iOS device won't harm its battery.

According to a statement provided to the AllThingsD blog, run by the Wall Street Journal network, this is by design and there's nothing wrong with the iOS battery gauge. It says 100 percent just before your device reaches a completely charged state, continuing charging to 100 percent. Then, it discharges a bit and charges back up to 100 percent...

Jony Ive explains some of the secrets to Apple’s sauce

Cody Lee ∙ March 12, 2012

Jonathan Ive has made quite a name for himself over the past few years. And for good reason too. Apple's SVP of industrial design is largely responsible for creating the look and feel of several popular products, including the iPod and the iPhone.

The London-born designer has a reputation for being fairly quiet, and rarely does media interviews. So you can imagine our surprise when we found out that Mr. Ive recently opened up to the London Evening Standard about a broad range of topics...

‘FastCam’ lets you quickly access your iPhone’s camera interface

Jeff Benjamin ∙ March 12, 2012

And you thought iOS 5.1's new Lock screen camera was fast? FastCam is an upcoming jailbreak tweak that allows you to access your iPhone's camera API using a simple Activator action.

The nice thing about FastCam is that it works anywhere, even at the Lock screen. In fact, it's faster than the Lock screen camera feature found on iOS 5, and still faster after the improvements made with iOS 5.1.

Check out our video preview of FastCam straight ahead...

Access your SpringBoard from anywhere using ‘Springround’

Jeff Benjamin ∙ March 11, 2012

Springround is an upcoming jailbreak tweak that will allow you to access your iPhone's Home screen app icons from anywhere.

In order to accomplish this feat, the developers of Springround employed the trusty Activator, which allows it to be invoked inside any app.

Springround is the perfect mix of function and simplicity as you'll see from our hands-on video inside...

How to jailbreak iOS 5.1 with Sn0wBreeze v2.9.2

Jeff Benjamin ∙ March 10, 2012

Earlier today we brought you details on ih8sn0w's 2.9.2 release of Sn0wBreeze for Windows.

Now we've put together a written tutorial along with a video tutorial that guides you through the entire tethered jailbreak process for iOS 5.1 on Windows.

This is a tethered jailbreak for non-A5 devices only, so it won't work with the iPhone 4S, and iPad 2. If you have an eligible device like the iPhone 4, or iPad 1, then step right inside...

Sn0wBreeze v2.9.2 released to jailbreak iOS 5.1 on Windows

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 26, 2017

Hot off the heels of Thursday's RedSn0w iOS 5.1 compatibility update comes Sn0wBreeze v2.9.2, which makes the popular Windows jailbreak tool compatible with iOS 5.1.

If you're familiar with previous iterations of Sn0wBreeze, then you're not going to find any surprises here. It's still about creating a custom IPSW and restoring via iTunes to accomplish the jailbreak.

One of the advantages that you have with Sn0wBreeze is that it will preserve your baseband for those interested in maintaining an existing unlock.

This updated for Sn0wBreeze is compatible with A4 devices and below, and is of course, a tethered jailbreak. Check out more details inside...

Heed the warnings from the iPhone Dev Team regarding jailbreaking

Jeff Benjamin ∙ March 8, 2012

We've heard so many sad stories in the past about ones who accidentally lost their jailbreak, or thought they could go back to a previous firmware when they couldn't.

As jailbreak aficionados that truly saddens us. Hence, whenever we can help get out a warning, we're all about it.

The iPhone Dev Team, the folks responsible for tools like RedSn0w, PwnageTool and more, have sounded a loud warning about the iOS 5.1 firmware, and its implications on jailbreaking.

If you're at all concerned with jailbreaking, we highly recommend you listen up...

‘MusicGestures’ adds customized gestures to the stock Music app

Jeff Benjamin ∙ February 26, 2012

MusicGestures is a jailbreak tweak that lends the ability to control the stock Music app with gestures instead of button presses. There are a total of 6 actions (7 if you count disabled as an action) that you can assign to any number of gestures.

The gestures can be used to skip, play, pause, and gather info on both the album cover view, and the individual track view.

It's not the deepest tweak in the shed, but the simplicity of MusicGestures makes it worth a look...