News

Recap: the top stories of the week on iDB

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated October 17, 2018

Like every Sunday, we get to take a look at some of the most popular posts that were published on iDB during the week that just ended. Whether it is a news item, a new jailbreak tweak, a tutorial, or an app review, we sum it all up in one convenient place for you.

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KGI: no iPhone SE refresh in Spring 2017

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2016

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is predicting iPhone sales will drop in the first quarter of 2017 because he is not expecting a refreshed iPhone SE model that could perhaps reinvigorate demand during the slow post-holiday quarter.

Kuo's note to investors Friday says Apple's been putting pressure on component makers to reduce prices in order to protect its high gross margins that are the envy of the industry.

Indian government to purchase Cellebrite tech to bypass locked iPhones

Cody Lee ∙ November 4, 2016

India’s premier forensic institute The Forensic Science Laboratory is buying Cellebrite's tech that enables it to bypass locked iPhones, reports The Economic Times. The Israeli company made headlines earlier this year when it was reportedly sought out by the FBI to help it access the locked San Bernardino iPhone.

It's unclear how much the FSL is paying for the technology, or what the deal will mean for other countries and organizations. The Times, however, has a quote from an FSL source saying they believe the move will make it the global go-to place for law enforcement agencies seeking to unlock highsecurity devices.

Neil Young music returns to Apple Music and other streaming services

Cody Lee ∙ November 4, 2016

Neil Young's full back catalogue has returned to Apple Music, Spotify and other streaming services, reports Music Ally. Young had removed his music from all streaming services back in July of 2015, telling fans it wasn't about the money, but rather the sound quality. "I don’t need my music to be devalued by the worst quality in the history of broadcasting or any other form of distribution."

Samsung issues another massive recall: this time it’s washing machines

Cody Lee ∙ November 4, 2016

Samsung on Friday announced that it is recalling 2.8 million top-loading washing machines, reports The Wall Street Journal. The move affects 34 top-loading models sold at various stores dating all the way back to 2011.

The company has received more than 700 reports of incidents and 9 reports of injuries, including a broken jaw. Apparently unbalanced drums can cause parts of the washer to detach and, in some cases, launch out of the machine.

Microsoft was working on its own Touch Bar

Cody Lee ∙ November 4, 2016

As you know, Apple recently unveiled its new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar touch display. What you may not know, is that Microsoft was at one point working on a Touch Bar-esque keyboard feature of its own.

The Verge points to a website for Microsoft's applied sciences group, which highlights concepts revolving around keyboard innovation. The group rounded out the initiative in 2009 with an "Adaptive Keyboard."

iOS 10.1 jailbreak on iPhone 7 demoed in video

Anthony Bouchard ∙ November 4, 2016

There's really been a lack of news about an iOS 10 jailbreak recently, but despite any updates, we've been able to count on iOS hacker Luca Todesco to show off his personal jailbreaks running on iOS 10.

Now, another iOS hacker that goes by the handle @ijapija00 is demoing his jailbreak, only this time, the spotlight is on an iPhone 7 Plus running iOS 10.1. He claims it works on iOS 10.1.1 as well.

Gameloft’s Asphalt Xtreme screeches its way into App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 3, 2016

French games developer and publisher Gameloft today released Asphalt Xtreme, the latest installment in its popular Asphalt mobile racing franchise. If Asphalt 8: Airborne was too boring for your tastes, this new racer should get your adrenaline going and juices flowing.

In Asphalt Xtreme you'll be ripping around dunes, charging through canyons, drifting across the mud and flying past your opponents to reach the finish line.

Like many, many, many premium games on the App Store, Asphalt Xtreme is a freemium download with extra features, in-game currency, optional upgrades and other items available optionally via the In-App Purchase mechanism.

Vimeo to rival Netflix, Amazon, YouTube & others with its own user-faced subscription service

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 17, 2018

Video wars are heating up with news that Vimeo is readying a consumer-facing subscription video service (not to be confused with its Plus, Pro and Business tiers for content creators). The firm prepared for the move months ago by buying VHX, a platform for over-the-top subscription video.

Vimeo, owned by IAC, broke news of its upcoming service on Wednesday as part of its earnings report.

Broadcast live interactive video to the world with Hype for iPhone from Vine creators

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Just a few short days ago, Twitter announced plans to phase out Vine, a shortform video-sharing service it acquired nearly three years ago.

Vine's discontinuation's prompted its creators Colin Kroll and Rus Yusupov to pursue new projects and yesterday they unveiled a live interactive video app, Hype for iPhone.

Does the world really need another video-streaming service?

Only time will tell. For the time being, Kroll and Yusupov are hoping that Hype's rich feature set will help set the app apart from Twitter-owned Periscope, Facebook Live and similar video broadcasting services.

Strategy role-playing game DC Legends launches globally on App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 3, 2016

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that their new mobile game called DC Legends is now available worldwide on the App Store following a recent soft-launch in select markets. A strategy role-playing game for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, DC Legends has you forming unlikely alliances of Super Heroes and Super-Villains from across the DC universe. The game is available for free from the App Store.

Password manager LastPass makes multi-device sync a free option for all users

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 3, 2016

LastPass, a free of charge password manager for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and the web, announced yesterday that all customers can now synchronize passwords across multiple devices at no additional charge.

Previously, the app required buying a $1 per month subscription to take advantage of multi-device sync. If you manage your passwords and logins in LastPass, this should be music to your ears as most people use multiple devices.