What’s On My iPhone 4S? Gaming Edition

If you’re a gamer, then the iPhone 4S upgrade is worth it for that reason alone. Games run much smoother, and in some cases they’ve been upgraded to take advantage of the new hardware.
The iOS platform is ridiculously good for games, but an iPhone 4S makes playing them even sweeter. Inside, I’ll share some of the games I’m playing right now on my iPhone 4S…

I used to be a big console gamer about 15-20 years ago, but recently I fell out of the hobby. Games were much better back then, get off my lawn, yadda, yadda, yadda.
I don’t own a console anymore, so the iPhone has become my main gaming platform. Thankfully, it’s been blessed with some wonderful games over the years and it will only get better.
Nintendo? I suggest you get on board now before the train permanently leaves the station.
The games featured in this video are as follows: 1-bit Ninja ($1.99), Eden – World Builder ($0.99), Blueprint3D ($0.99), Slam Dunk King (Free), and Asphalt 6 ($0.99).
All of the aforementioned games are a lot of fun, but out of all them the most unique is Blueprint3D. It’s a wonderfully calming game with excellent music and a never tackled before premise. Check it out.
What do you think about my selection of games, and what are you currently playing on your iPhone; 4S or otherwise?
View the original article here

iPhone 4S Moves One Step Closer to Mainland China

Apple’s latest smartphone, the iPhone 4S, is arguably the year’s hottest handset. Not only did the company sell 4 million 4S’ during the device’s opening weekend, but the smartphone is still flying off of retailer’s shelves a month later.
The handset is so popular, in fact, that carriers are having trouble keeping up with consumer demand — Apple can’t make them quick enough. And the phone hasn’t even found its way into mainland China yet, but it’s getting closer…
Sina, a Chinese tech publication, is reporting that the iPhone 4S has just been approved by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. MIIT is a state agency in China that oversees the regulation and development of the internet and wireless networks.
This is kind of a big deal because it means that Apple’s new smartphone is getting closer to launching in mainland China. Although the handset is already available in Hong Kong, major carriers like China Unicom and China Mobile have yet to offer the device.
The word on the street is that China Mobile and Apple haven’t finalized a deal just yet, but China Unicom is said to be chomping at the bit to carry the phone. The two carriers combine for nearly a billion subscribers, so needless to say they’re very important.
After a disappointing third quarter, Apple told investors that they expect $37 billion dollars in revenue in Q4. Getting the iPhone 4S going in China would certainly help with that, but it would also add to the handset’s growing supply problems.
[M.I.C. Gadget]
View the original article here

Amazon’s Kindle Fire All Set to be 2nd Only to the iPad

The iPad may have had it all its own way since its initial inception last year, but if a new survey is to be believed, then it may finally have some real competition in the form of Amazon’s Kindle Fire.
New data from ChangeWave Research points to Amazon’s first entry into the tablet market being the second most popular tablet on the market, behind, you guessed it, Apple’s iPad.
A November survey of 3,043 people yielded the insight which shows that 22% of those questioned planned on picking up the 7? Kindle Fire, with 65% aiming to pick up an iPad. Third choice, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, could only garner 4% of the interest…

As is always the case with these kinds of surveys, people saying they plan to buy a particular product doesn’t always translate into actual purchases. The fact that an iPad competitor is now potentially getting itself into the double figures territory for first time ever may signal a change in the marketplace.
Amazon’s Kindle Fire is the first low-cost tablet to reach US shores from a brand that customers will flock to, and Amazon is undoubtedly a brand that people trust. With all of Amazon’s accompanying stores and online services, the Kindle Fire potentially offers the closest experience to Apple’s ecosystem that we’ve seen yet.
At $200, the Kindle Fire also provides a solution for the more frugal amongst us, costing less than half that of Apple’s iPad.

View the original article here

Apple Airs New iPad 2 “Love” Commercial

Last night, Apple aired a new TV ad for its iPad 2. The commercial is fairly similar to previous adverts, showing people from all walks of life using the tablet in different ways.
The ads are actually an accurate reflection of how the slate has made its way into several industries. We’ve seen the iPad replace everything from voters ballads to NFL play books…

Apple has dominated the tablet market with its iPad line since it unveiled the original last year. It’ll be interesting to see if it can maintain that dominance in the face of stiff competition like the cheaper Kindle Fire.
What do you think of Apple’s new “Love” TV ad?
View the original article here

Google’s Search App for the iPad Gets a Facelift

Google has had a rough time with its iOS software over the past few weeks. The search company released a [disappointing] native Gmail app for the iPhone earlier this month, but immediately pulled it due to problems with push notifications.
The app was resurrected in the App Store recently, but many of its problems were not resolved. Today, however, Google has redeemed itself a bit with an update to its Search application, as it brings several welcome changes to the iPad version…
The new UI in the iPad edition of Google’s Search app is actually a joy to use. The main screen features a large search field, and four grey icons. One takes you to your search history, one enables a voice search, one launches Google Goggles, and the other opens the app menu.
The search function works well, as expected, and uses Google Instant to show you live results as you type. The Voice Search feature also works well. The app menu can either mean the world to you, or nothing to you, depending on how many of Google’s services you use.

Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, and other Google apps are built right into Google Search. You can login to and use the services without needing to switch out of the application — very handy. Google+, Google Maps, and Google Offers are also integrated.
The bottom line is that the new Google Search update makes a good app great, especially for iPad users. If you want to check it out for yourself, you can download the new software [for the iPad] from the App Store.
What do you think of the new Google Search for iPad?
[9to5Mac]
View the original article here

Banners Appear on Apple.com for Black Friday Sales

If you haven’t quite finished your holiday shopping yet, you’ll be happy to know that Apple has announced that it will be hosting a Black Friday sale this week. “Black Friday” is the Friday after Thanksgiving and is generally the busiest shopping day of the year.
On this day, retailers offer [substantial] discounts on their products to attract customers into their stores. Apple participated in the festivities last year by knocking up to $100 off its Macs and iOS devices, and it looks like its gearing up for another sale this year…
Banners have started appearing on Apple’s online store in the UK, Italy and other countries (at the time of this writing, they haven’t appeared on the US site) indicating that the Mac-makers will be holding some kind of sale this Friday.
The text on the banners reads:

“The special one-day Apple shopping event. This Friday, November 25. Mark your calendar now, and come back to the Apple Online Store for the special one-day event. You’ll discover amazing iPad, iPod and Mac gifts for everyone on your list.”

As aforementioned, Apple’s Black Friday sales are generally lackluster in comparison with other retailers. But given that Apple is shooting for its biggest quarter ever, there’s a small chance that we could see it offer some decent discounts online this Friday.
[MacStories]
View the original article here

90% of the Money Spent on Mobile Apps Comes From the App Store

With the iPad coming under scrutiny as the competition begins its latest assault on Apple’s tablet dominance, new figures suggest that the iPad may still be the best bet for those looking to make a living out of making tablet-based apps.
Piper Jaffray Senior Research Analyst Gene Munster has written in a research note released Monday that Apple’s iPad still accounts for between 85% and 90% of the money spent on mobile applications.
The news comes as Android moves into a new era thanks to the release of Ice Cream Sandwich, the release which Google hopes will combine the tablet and smartphone software in a way similar to the iPad and iPhone. Munster’s claims show that Android may still be suffering from an old issue: Android users just don’t seem to buy apps as much as iOS users…
Munster goes on to say that he believes around 1.3% of Android apps downloaded are of the paid-for variety, while that statistic jumps to a comparatively massive 14% for the iPad and iPhone’s App Store.
With buyers seemingly unwilling to spend money on their Android applications, developers of the Google persuasion are left with an ad-based model as their only source of income. Whether that will be enough to pull the very best iOS developers over to Android remains to be seen, but it isn’t quite happening just yet.
View the original article here

Hidden Code in iOS 5 Contains Interesting iPad 3 References

They’ve done it again. The folks over at 9to5Mac have uncovered some interesting information hidden deep within the code of iOS 5. The site has exposed several secret features in the new software by code-digging over the last few months — including Siri.
Its recent find pertains to an unreleased Apple product, codenamed J2. The site believes that this could actually be the next version of the iPad. Not only that, but it thinks that this could be the Retina display-equipped tablet everyone has been talking about…
Apparently, the J2 codename matches up with a recent report from Digitimes, which also names a J2 device as Apple’s next tablet.

“Since Apple demands that the new iPad model will need to be thinner than the iPad 2, while raising the machine’s screen resolution to 2048 by 1536, upstream component makers have been working aggressively to adjust the device’s LED and panel module designs to satisfy these demands, but the work has affected the launch schedule fo the new tablet PC. Apple is currently giving two tablet PC projects codenamed J1 and J2 to its upstream partners for development. The sources revealed that the major differences of the new tablet PCs compared to the previous model are their size, specifications and technologies.”

9to5Mac believes that J1 and J2 are similar tablets, with the latter being the 3G model. It also thinks that Apple is already testing the device, as it has been referenced in iOS 5 since the early betas.
We’ve heard rumors that Apple was working on an iPad with a Retina-like quality screen before, but this is the first time we’ve seen any kind of evidence. However, it still sounds like Apple and its supply partners are struggling to produce the hi-res displays.
Due to manufacturing limitations, it’s possible that Apple could have to choose between an iPad with a Retina display that is slightly thicker than its predecessor, or a thinner tablet with a lower screen resolution. Which one would you rather see next year?
View the original article here

Fruit Ninja: The Movie Trailer

You’re most likely familiar with the iOS hit game Fruit Ninja, in which your goal is to cut in half a variety of fruits that are being thrown at you while avoiding bombs.
But did you know that a movie is being made about the game? Well, that’s not actually true. As far as I know, no one is planning to make a movie out of it, but that didn’t prevent SAX Jewell and his friends from creating a Fruit Ninja trailer, and it is hilarious…

Funny, isn’t it?
[Thanks for the tip, Domo!]
View the original article here

SemiTether Jailbreak Updated For Stability

The popular SemiTether jailbreak was updated to v0.9.1 this morning, and it’s quite the update.
Working with Saurik, the team was able to fully incorporate the new mobile substrate, which allowed them to get rid of the daemon patching and restarting.
Mobile substrate now does all of the heavy lifting when it comes to the SemiTether. There’s even an option to patch Safari to work in non-jailbreak mode now.
Perhaps most importantly, the new version of SemiTether will protect your iOS 5 Notification Center plugins…
Along with that much needed feature, the team also says that they are looking into patching Mail, and working with the developers of MyWi and AppSync.
Per BigBoss here are is the summary of changes:

1) Much more stable with new mobile substrate
2) Can patch safari so it works in the non-jailbreak reboot mode
3) App to monitor the status of your semitether and reapply. Check after Cydia installs.

The team states that this update will certainly address the “flakiness” of the previous versions of SemiTether, but to keep in mind that this is still a beta package, and a complete rewrite of mobile substrate.
If you haven’t seen the video that we created that shows how to SemiTether jailbreak your device, then check it out below:

Remember, the source for the SemiTether package is as follows: http://thebigboss.org/semitether
Have you used SemiTether? What do you think about it?
[BigBoss]
View the original article here

Apple Airs Commercials Featuring iCloud, Siri, iPhone 4S Camera

With each new product release, Apple launches a whole new advertising campaign around whatever fancy new features have been added, and the iPhone 4S is no exception.
Starting today, Apple is airing three new ads to help spread the word about the “most amazing iPhone yet.” The 30-second spots feature iCloud, Siri, and the supercharged 8 megapixel camera packed into the iPhone 4S. And in typical Apple fashion, we’re not sure where real products end and the hype machine begins…
The iCloud ad revolves around syncing and downloading, with the ad showing off iTunes in the iCloud as well as iWork syncing across iPhones and iPads. Apple is also keen to show off Photo Stream, too, with photos being taken of adorable kids and being instantly beamed back to an iMac.
Magical, indeed.

The second of the three ads shows off Siri, in an unusually muted video. That is, you don’t hear the ad’s voice-over guy until right at the end, with Apple seemingly happy to let Siri do the talking for itself.
All the usual demo material is present: checking a calendar, reading a text message, and asking what the weather will be doing at a random point in time. We’ve all seen it before, but it is the exact kind of thing that will get people interested.

The final ad covers the iPhone 4S’ new 8 megapixel camera, with red-eye reduction and cropping also shown off for good measure.
Apple also points out that perhaps you don’t need a separate camera if you own a 4S. A point that many have made since getting their hands on Apple’s latest iPhone.

Apple’s ads always attract —not that the iPhone 4S has been struggling—and showing Siri off to people that might not already understand it is probably a very good idea.
Now we just wait for the next quarter’s earnings call to see how well these ads have payed off!
View the original article here

Top 10 iPhone & iPad News You Might Have Missed This Week

This is a summary of the most popular news stories published on iDB this past week.
Please make sure to spread our iPhone, iPad and iOS wisdom by sharing our posts on Twitter and Facebook…
View the original article here

Apple Stores Looking to Enable Self-Checkouts Via iOS App

Apple Stores are already considered trendsetters in the retail space. From their awe-inspiring architecture to their product-focused environments, the Cupertino company’s world-wide chain has other retailers turning green with envy.
Now it seems like the Mac-makers are looking to start another fad: self-checkout. No, we’re not talking about those big machines at your local Walmart. We’re talking about customers paying for items using their iPhones without the help of a sales clerk…
MacRumors is reporting that Apple is planning on releasing an update to its Apple Store application that will allow users to purchase accessories in-store without needing to flag down an Apple employee. Here’s how it will work:

“According to our source, self-checkout purchases will be charged via the Apple Store app to the customer’s iTunes Store account. It is not entirely clear what will happen once a user has checked out via the app, although store employees will of course be on the lookout for store visitors walking out with merchandise in hand, as they are already. Customers who have made a purchase through self-checkout will be able to show an emailed receipt to any employee, confirming their purchase.”

Obviously, Apple’s higher-end products won’t be eligible for the service due to being tucked away in the stock room, but accessories and other small purchases will be fair game.
Even current NFC-enabled checkouts generally require the presence of a store employee, so it’ll be interesting to see what Apple’s experience will be like. And with a predicted start date of November 3rd, we may not have to wait long to find out.
Theft concerns aside, Apple’s self-checkout project could be a big hit if it’s successful. The Cupertino company could potentially open the service up to other retailers or even convenience stores, allowing customers to make purchases through their iTunes accounts.
What’s your take on Apple’s self-checkout project?
View the original article here

Apple Purchases Another 3D Mapping Company

Aside from small additions like displaying alternate routes and the Show Traffic option, the Maps application received little attention from Apple during the recent iOS update. Some pundits expected the app to at least receive turn-by-turn directions.
But a revamped Maps app might still be in Apple’s plans. 9to5Mac is reporting that Apple has just quietly acquired “mind-blowing 3D mapping company” C3 Technologies, and that the Cupertino company is looking to take iOS maps to the next level…
The news comes shortly after the company’s website went down in July of this year, spawning tons of speculation. An announcement was made that C3 had indeed been bought-out by a Western-world company, but nothing more was ever revealed.
You might recall that Apple has made similar purchases in the past. Last year the company acquired Poly9, another 3D mapping startup team. And the year before it scooped up Placebase, a firm known for its mapping software.
Just as Apple did with Siri, you can bet that we’ll see the work of these companies eventually make their way into iOS — which is exciting considering some of their talents. Here’s a video of C3 Technologies rendering New York City:

If you recognize C3's work, it’s because it powers Nokia’s popular Ovi Maps. The Finnish handset maker has been praised for its high-powered 3D mapping software. It’ll be interesting to see how their relationship continues post-Apple acquisition.
With three strong mapping firms now in its stable, Apple is definitely setting the stage for something major. As 9to5Mac points out, Apple doesn’t scoop up companies nearly as often as its competitors. But when it does, it has a specific goal for them in mind.
View the original article here

Sync Photos and Video Between iDevices With PhotoSync

While Apple’s Photo Stream is a great way of getting photos to sync across multiple devices, there’s one glaring problem. Photo Stream doesn’t support video, presumably because Apple doesn’t want its servers full of hours and hours of 1080p videos showing cats sleeping.
It makes sense from a technical standpoint, but that doesn’t help you if you need to get a video from one device to another. There’s syncing with iTunes, and doing the iPhoto jig in the hope that everything works as planned, but it’s a pain, and not always practical.
That’s where PhotoSync comes in…
Priced at a reasonable $1.99, PhotoSync fills in the gaps left by Photo Stream by allowing the sharing of video and photos between iOS devices, and even Macs and PCs, wirelessly.

Operation is about as easy as it gets. Set the receiving devices up to be able to accept connections via the app’s settings, and it will show up as a potential destination for others. You can even have PhotoSync send content to web-based services like Flickr and SmugMug, should you wish.
All transfers are done over your Wi-Fi connection, so keep that in mind when moving huge video files between iDevices. If you’re happy with Wi-Fi iTunes syncing, chances are you’ll be fine with this, too. Once you’ve initiated the transfer you can even close the app, with the files continuing to copy in the background.

This is a great little app for getting photos and videos from one iDevice to another. It’s perfect for sharing baby photos and similar memories between iPhones and iPads.
Do you use another app to serve the purpose of Photo Stream on your iPhone?
View the original article here