Verizon Cloud, a new backup service that first came to Android last month, is now available on iOS. The app allows you to backup your photos and videos to the cloud, and access contacts, documents, and music that you’ve stored in the cloud using your PC.

Verizon Cloud is a free service that backs up your contacts, photos and videos to secure cloud storage, so you don’t need to lose your important content if you lose your phone. Your iPhone puts your digital life in your pocket… until the day that it slips out of your pocket!

As well as backing up your photos and videos, Verizon Cloud lets you share content with friends and family, stream music and access your documents, and backup other content from your computer’s hard drive. It also gives existing user’s of Verizon’s Backup Assistant and Backup Assistant Plus services access to the data they’re already stored.

Verizon Cloud free up to a point — as the app’s description notes above — but if you need more than 500MB of space you’ll need to upgrade. Verizon also offers 25GB of space for $2.99 per month, or 125GB for $9.99 per month.

The Verizon Cloud app for iOS isn’t quite as useful as the Android version, because Apple’s restrictions prevent certain features. For example, the Android version also backs up text messages, call logs, and contacts, while the iOS version does not.

You can download Verizon Cloud now from the App Store.

Source: App Store

Via: The Verge

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Best Buy is set to knock $50 off the iPhone for a four-week promotion that starts this Sunday, AllThingsD reports. The discount will apply to the iPhone 4, the iPhone 4S, and the iPhone 5 when bought with a two-year contract on AT&T, Sprint, or Verizon.

The retailer is also expected to hold a number of “shorter-term promotions” over Memorial Day, which will see reductions on several popular, but older, Android-powered smartphones.

Best Buy’s iPhone reduction comes at a time when a number of carriers have been slashing the price of the device ahead of the iPhone 5S launch this fall. Verizon began offering the iPhone 5 for just $99 earlier this month, while AT&T was happy to give you one for free if you traded in your old iPhone 4S.

With Apple’s latest smartphone now more than halfway through its lifespan, reductions like these will likely become a more frequent occurrence as retailers and providers look to boost sales.

Source: AllThingsD

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If you drop your iPhone and you don’t have it covered by AppleCare or another insurance plan, it’s almost always cheaper to have it repaired by a third-party than it is to have Apple do it. Unless you have an iPhone 5.

Apple’s tight control over iPhone 5 components means that they’re so hard to get hold of, repair costs remain high — even with third-party services. Some have even been unable to offer iPhone 5 repairs because they cannot obtain the parts.

Apple charges up to $229 to replace a broken iPhone 5 display, which is $29 more than the price of a new device with a two-year contract. It’s also more than a third of the iPhone 5′s $650 price tag without a contract. But using third-party repair services won’t save you much. In fact, in some cases, they’re more expensive.

According to a new report from MarketWatch, some charge as much as $250 for a new iPhone 5 display. Others just won’t repair Apple’s latest smartphone at all.

“Due to the high cost of replacement parts, we are not yet offering iPhone 5 repairs,” reads an online statement on ComputerOverhauls.com. “Currently, the Apple Store is the least expensive option for repairing damaged iPhone 5s.”

If the components were cheaper and easier to obtain, repairing an iPhone 5 display would be super cheap, because it’s an easy job. AJ Forsythe, the founder of iCracked, a repair service for iOS devices, says that it takes between five and ten minutes to replace and iPhone 5 screen, because there are only five screws that keep it in place.

In comparison, an iPhone 4 display takes a lot longer, because it’s held in place by 27 screws and a whole host of tiny components. And yet the iPhone 4 costs significantly less to repair at $79 to $99.

“Market forces determine the price,” Forsythe says. “Apple sells about 300,000 iPhones a day and, as the repair market grows, prices will get lower.”

But that can only happen if Apple loosens its control on iPhone 5 components.

“Apple controls everything from the manufacturing to the gear for the iPhone 5,” says Jeff Haynes, editor at deal site TechBargains.com. “Apple is trying to get people to sign up for Apple Care for $99 and to rely on their services at the Apple store. If you don’t, that cracked screen could cost you at least $230.”

If you have butter fingers and you frequently drop your smartphone, then, an iPhone 4 or 4S is likely to be a much better option than an iPhone 5. Unless you’re willing to spend $99 on AppleCare, in which case iPhone 5 repairs aren’t anywhere near as expensive.

Source: MarketWatch

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Shazam has today launched a universal app offering iPad support for the very first time. The release boasts a number of nifty new features, including auto tagging, a dynamic home screen, the ability to flip through recent matches, and more.

Shazam’s new auto tagging feature is great. Turn it on and your iPad will automatically listen out for music, TV shows, and TV ads that are playing around you. The feature also works in the background, so even after you’ve closed the Shazam app and started using something else, it’ll continue listening.

When you open Shazam up again, you’ll be able to flick through all of the matches it has made and add the ones you like to your list of favorites.

In addition to this, Shazam for iPad has a new dynamic home screen that allows you to browse through the music and media being tagged around you in real-time (only available in the U.S. for now). You can also see the hottest tracks globally, view tags by city, and find out what your friends are tagging.

Check out the new Shazam for iPad video below:

The new Shazam app for iPad is free, and available to download now from the App Store.

Source: App Store

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Evernote has today rolled out a new Reminders service to its clients on the Mac, iOS, and the web. The new service rolls three of Evernote’s most-requested features into one, delivering in-app and email alarms, quick note-based to-do lists, and the ability to pin notes to the top of your note list.

You can use Reminders by clicking on the alarm icon located at the top of a note on Mac and the web, or at the bottom of a note on your iPhone or iPad. You can then set a time and date for when you’d like to complete the note, or when you’d just like to be reminded of it.

When the time comes, Evernote will present you with an in-app alarm, as well as an optional email the day the Reminder is due. You’ll also be able to see all of your Reminders together within the new Reminders section at the top of your notes list.

You can change the order of Reminders in this section simply by dragging them up and down the list. When they’re complete, simply tap the check box, or, on iOS, swipe the Reminder away. Completed Reminders are removed from the list automatically.

To make Reminders even more powerful, and to keep them neatly organized, Evernote has made them notebook-specific. So when you add a Reminder inside one notebook, you’ll only see it inside of that notebook — not inside others.

You can see them all together inside the “All Notes” view, however.

Just like notes, Evernote syncs Reminders across all of your devices — though initially Reminders will only sync to other devices that support the new feature. Those created on your iPad won’t show up in the Windows app, or on an Android-powered device, then.

Evernote encourages you to use Reminders for remembering birthday gifts, project planning, vacation packing, and for remembering appointments.

To find out more about Evernote Reminders, click the source link below, or check out the trailer at the bottom of this post. And if you don’t already have Evernote, you can download it now — for free — from the App Store and the Mac App Store.

Source: Evernote Blog

The post Evernote Reminders Now Available On Mac, iOS & The Web appeared first on Cult of Mac.

Mailbox, the hugely popular third-party Gmail client for iOS that has changed the way we manage our emails, is now available on the iPad. The update comes just over three months after Mailbox made its debut on the iPhone, and you’ll be pleased to know that you no longer have to wait in line to use it.

Mailbox for iPad looks a lot like Apple’s built-in Mail app in landscape mode; it displays a list of emails on the left side of the page, then gives you a window in which to read them on the right. You can use the buttons at the top of the page to switch between your inbox, your archive, and your “later” list.

Tap the menu button and the messages list will slide over to reveal the rest of your folders, including trash and sent, as well as the settings and help buttons. Mailbox is designed to work in landscape mode only, so you cannot use it in portrait.

If you’re a Mailbox user on iPhone, then the rest of the app and its features will already be familiar to you. All of Mailbox’s unique features are there, including the ability to save emails to a special list for actioning later. You can even specify when you’d like to action them and Mailbox will make sure you don’t forget.

Mailbox for iPad is pretty terrific from what I’ve experienced so far, but I do have one gripe with it: When composing a new email, or replying to one, it presents you with a tiny little window in the middle of the display. Why doesn’t the app take advantage of the iPad’s big screen?

As always, Mailbox is completely free, and it supports up to five Gmail accounts. The team behind it, which is now owned by Dropbox, promises that support for other email services will come later on, as will Mailbox clients for other platforms, including Android.

Source: App Store

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Clear, the popular list-making client for iPhone and Mac from Realmac Software, now allows you to email your lists thanks to a new update that’s available to download from the App Store today. The release also brings some new themes, and teases upcoming support for the iPad.

“One of the biggest feature requests we’ve had has been the ability to email lists,” Realmac says, “so we have added it to our Clear list, and here it is!”

To email a list, simply shake your iPhone and you’ll be presented with an “all-new-super-handy email option” containing your lists (obviously) and a file that’ll allow recipients to open them within the Clear app on their own iPhones.

The feature can also be accessed on the Mac by selecting the “Email list” option from the “Actions” menu.

There are also some new themes in this release, but as always, they’re a secret, and you’ll have to work out how to unlock them yourself.

The most exciting thing about this update is the news that Clear is coming to iPad. We don’t yet know when, but Realmac promises to bring us more news “soon,” so keep your eyes peeled for that.

Source: App Store

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The BookBook from Twelve South has long been the best and most luxurious leather wallet case for iPhone, but it has a new contender from Acase that wants to steal its crown. It’s called the Collatio, and in many ways, it’s very similar to the BookBook.

As well as holding your iPhone 5, the Collatio holds up to three credit cards, and features a larger pocket for bills, receipts, and anything else you’d like to stuff in there. It provides access to all of your iPhone’s buttons and ports — though you will need to open it up to use the volume buttons and mute switch — plus its front- and rear-facing cameras.

The biggest difference between the Collatio and the BookBook, however, is the price. While Twelve South’s offering will cost you $60, the Collatio is just $40. But is it as good?

The Good

The Collatio is certainly just as pretty — if not prettier — than the BookBook. I’m actually a big fan of the BookBook’s vintage book look, but if you’re not, then that’s one point to the Collatio. It comes in brown and it’s made entirely from genuine leather.

The Collatio looks good from every angle.

The front and back covers are shiny, while the spine is a softer chamois-like leather. It looks smart and sophisticated and exactly how you’d like a leather wallet case to look. There’s a small Acase emblem on the bottom corner that I wish wasn’t there, but it doesn’t look too bad.

The Collatio feels comfortable in your pocket, and even more comfortable in your hand. It’s soft and smooth, and its spine provides plenty of grip. It’s also very flexible, so you can fold the front cover around to the back when typing or taking a call, and when you close the Collatio’s front cover it stays closed — it doesn’t stick up like the BookBook tends to.

Inside the Collatio you’ll find three credit card pockets, plus a larger pocket for cash. You could probably cram more cards into those pockets if you want to, but it makes them harder to remove, so it’s easier to just stick one in each.

Your iPhone is held inside a leather frame that covers the sides of your devices, plus the bezels above and below the display — though the home button, speaker, and front-facing camera are left exposed. Nothing secures the iPhone in place, but the leather is tight enough to stop it slipping out.

The Collatio’s build quality is fantastic… a lot of care has clearly gone into its production.

On the back of the case, you’ll find one cutout for your rear-facing camera. It’s just about big enough, and I didn’t notice any reflection issues when taking pictures with the flash.

The Collatio’s build quality is fantastic. It’s made from high-quality leathers and a lot of care has clearly gone into its production. The sticking looks clean and tidy, and it’s super strong. The Collatio isn’t immune to a few scratches, but they add life to the case, and you’ll find a used Collatio looks better than a brand new one.

The Bad

Although the Callatio stays closed on your desk, the front cover isn’t fixed down, so if you drop your iPhone there’s a chance it’ll flap open and leave your display exposed.

The cutout for the mute switch is nowhere near big enough — my mute switch is mostly covered up.

This wasn’t a major issue for me. Having magnets inside the case to keep it closed, or some kind of fastener, only adds bulk and weight and makes it harder to get to your device. But it’s something to bear in mind.

One thing that did bother me was the leather frame that holds the iPhone inside the case. It works well for the most part, but the cutout for the mute switch is nowhere near big enough — my mute switch is mostly covered up, and it’s really difficult to use.

The back.

In fact, I’ve gotten used to just folding the leather back at the side to get to the switch, but over time that’s caused it to stretch and go a little slack, as you’ll see from some of the pictures showing the inside of the case.

The other issue I had with this leather frame is that it’s not easy to get your iPhone out once it’s in there. There’s no pull tab like the original BookBook had, so you have to put your iPhone up from its base… only there isn’t really enough room to get your thumbs in there.

Removing your iPhone from the Collatio once it’s in there, then, is a bit of a struggle. I would have much preferred it if Acase used the same plastic housing that Twelve South used in its latest BookBook case. Not only is it easier, but it’s not as bulky, either.

The Verdict

I’ve mentioned before that I like iPhone wallet cases, and the Collatio is one of my favorites. It looks terrific, its build quality is great, and it does everything you want a wallet case to do.

I’d much prefer a plastic iPhone holder rather than a leather one, but then again, I think I’d happily live with the leather for the $20 saving the Collatio brings.

If you’re looking for a great leather wallet case for your iPhone 5, definitely check out the Collatio.

Product Name: Collatio The Good: Looks great, feels great, and is very nicely priced. The Bad: Leather iPhone holder is a little fiddly. The Verdict: At $20 cheaper than the BookBook, the Collatio will be a better buy for many. It’s one of the best wallet cases I’ve tested to date. Buy from: Acase



Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 

The post Acase Collatio For iPhone 5: A Great Wallet Case At A Great Price [Review] appeared first on Cult of Mac.

Google has brought the new voice search features announced at Google I/O last week to its Google Chrome web browser for desktops. The latest version of the app (version 27) puts a little microphone icon alongside the search bar on Google.com which lets you find the things you’re looking for without touching your keyboard.

When you click the microphone icon, you’ll be taken to a dedicated search page that’ll listen to your voice commands. It works just like the voice searching feature inside Google’s search apps for Android and iOS, and it’s just as quick and as accurate.

Chrome usually installs its updates automatically when you’re not using it, but if you haven’t closed it in a while, you can install it manually by opening up the “About Google Chrome” page from within the settings menu and clicking the restart button. If the update wasn’t already waiting for you, you may have to search for it.

Once you have the latest Chrome release, visit Google.com and try out voice search for yourself.

Via: Android Central

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During his appearance before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on Tuesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed that Apple’s “Made-in-USA” Macs will be manufactured in Texas. The Cupertino company announced its plans to produce one of its Mac lines on U.S. soil last December, but until now, it was unclear where the process would take place.

“We’re investing $100 million to build a Mac product line here in the U.S.,” Cook said. “The product will be assembled in Texas, include components made in Illinois and Florida, and rely on equipment produced in Kentucky and Michigan.”

The machine won’t just be assembled on in the United States, then — many of its components will be manufactured here, too. But this doesn’t mean Apple will set up its own manufacturing facilities. Cook has previously stated that the company will worth with manufacturing partners instead.

And that manufacturing partner is likely to be one that Apple already has a good relationship with. AllThingsD notes that Foxconn, Apple’s biggest manufacturing partner, which handles the majority of its assembly, recently opened a plant in Texas to “meet the needs of certain unnamed customers.”

Now it all makes sense.

Via: AllThingsD

The post Tim Cook Confirms Apple Will Build Its Made-In-USA Macs In Texas appeared first on Cult of Mac.

You may assume that there’s little use for a fragile smartphone on the battlefield, but you’d be completely wrong. The Inteliscope is a new iPhone accessory unlike anything you’ve ever seen before that turns your device into an intelligent scope for your rifle.

No, not a toy rifle. A real rifle.

The Inteliscope is “the premier tactical rifle adapter,” according to its makers. It combines a tactical rail mount that sits on top of your rifle with an iOS app that delivers “critical ballistics and environmental insight to the shooter in real time.”

It’s compatible with any firearm that uses a Picatinny (Mil-STD-1913) or Weaver tactical rail, and some of its features include a ruggedized tactile rubber finish, adjustable mount position, support for both portrait and landscape orientations, and a protective case for portability.

But it’s in the app where the Inteliscope really shines. It lets you pick custom crosshairs, offers 5x digital zoom, records video from the shooter’s perspective, and provides ballistics and firearm data. It also utilizes the iPhone’s built-in compass, GPS, and LED to provide a flashlight.

The Inteliscope, along with your iPhone, really is the ultimate rifle scope. I mean, I’m no expert on rifle scopes, but I’m guessing there aren’t many that record video and provide all the information the InteliScope does while you’re on the battlefield.

The Inteliscope is priced at $69.99, and it comes in three models — one for the iPod touch, another for the iPhone 5, and one for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. It’s scheduled to launch next month, and you can pre-order yours now from Inteliscopes.com.

Source: InteliScopes

Via: iDownloadBlog

The post Inteliscope Turns Your iPhone Into The World’s Most Useful Rifle Scope appeared first on Cult of Mac.

The Apple online store went down for just over four hours earlier today, and it came back with Apple’s new Father’s Day promotion and a few noticeable design changes.

The Cupertino company is again heavily promoting the iPad and the iPad mini, but the iPhone 5 also gets a lot of room on the store’s homepage.

Previously, the Apple online store had navigation menus down both the left and right sides, which let visitors quickly find the products they were looking for. Those are now gone, and the only way to get around the store now is to click the “Shop Mac,” “Shop iPad,” “Shop iPhone,” “Shop iPod” and other buttons buttons across the top of the page.

This is fine if you’re looking for those items specifically, but if you want accessories, software, or other things related to those items, it seems like a slower approach. It’s unclear whether the design changes are permanent or just there temporarily for the Father’s Day promotion, but it certainly seems like they’re here to stay.

Apple is promoting a range of products and accessories for Father’s Day, including iPads, iPhones, iPhone cases, the GoPro HD HERO3 video camera, the Nest home thermostat, and the Nike FuelBand. The company is also advertising its engraving service for iPads and iPods.

There’s also a handy page that’ll give you Father’s Day shipping deadlines for all kinds of products.

Source: Apple Store

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Despite increasing competition from the likes of Samsung and Google, Apple continues to be the world’s most valuable brand, according to the latest annual BrandZ report from Millward Brown.

The Cupertino company was one of three technology firms in the top five, with Google and IBM placed in second and third respectively.

Apple’s brand value in 2013 was rated at $185 billion, which is a 1% increase over its 2012 value. Google saw a larger 5% increase, but its $113 billion brand value only secured second-place.

IBM’s brand value actually fell 3% to $112 billion, while fourth-place McDonald’s fell 5% to $90 billion. Coca-Cola took fifth place with a 6% value increase to $78 billion.

“Despite a more competitive marketplace and other challengers nipping at its heels, Apple’s ability to maintain its no.1 position demonstrates the value that having a strong brand brings to business,” Millward Brown managing director Nick Cooper said. “People still love the brand regardless of its stock price.”

Millward Brown noted that Apple’s falling stock price hasn’t been its only setback, and that the company has also received bad press for its new Maps app, which replaced Google Maps on the iPhone last fall and actually boosted the brand value of Google and Samsung.

However, Samsung does not appear in the list of top ten brands in 2013 at all.

Source: Millward Brown

Via: TechnoBuffalo

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Google Chrome’s app launcher, which lets Chrome users quickly find and launch their favorite web-based applications, is coming to Google Chrome for Mac OS X. Google has already begun work on porting the feature to Windows, but it’s also been found in the latest Chromium build for OS X.

The Chrome app launcher was designed for Google’s Chrome OS, which runs nothing but web-based applications. It gives users a feeling of a more traditional operating system by placing the apps all in one place and making them easy to access.

But it’s a lot of use on a traditional desktop, too. If you use Chrome on your Mac, you probably already use web-based apps for YouTube, Gmail, Google Docs, Google Maps, Google Calendar, and possibly some games as well.

Having them inside an app launcher will make them even quicker and even easier to access. But it’s not available just yet.

You can try it by downloading the latest Chromium build and fiddling around with its switches, as documented by Google’s François Beaufort on Google+. But if you’re not comfortable with that, you’ll need to wait for it to come to Chrome.

Source: Google+

Via: iMore

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Given that Google shows a lot of support for iOS with a number of popular apps, it’s quite a surprise that its new All Access music streaming service is only available on Android. That may change in the future, but for now, there is a third-party app that’ll let you use your All Access subscription on your iPhone.

It’s called gMusic, and it’s actually been around for just under 18 months. Until now, the app allowed users to access all the music they had uploaded to Google Music on their iPhone, but the app’s developer just submitted an update that’ll let you enjoy All Access, too.

Wired reports:

The gMusic app already plays the songs you’ve uploaded to Google Music. But after hearing Google announce All Access last week at I/O, developer James Clancey spent the weekend banging out an update to support the subscription service. Clancey submitted the app to the iTunes App Store this morning.

Clancey says he had streaming music playing in gMusic within an hour after Google announced its new service, but the difficult bit was putting together a new interface for the app. I’m sure the effort will pay off when Clancey has the only app with support for All Access in the App Store — providing Apple gives the update a thumbs-up, of course.

There’s a good chance Google will make All Access available on iOS devices in the future; it already shows a lot of love to Apple’s platform, and it will surely want to put its new service in front of as many potential customers as it can.

But until then, gMusic is the way to go. If you don’t already have the app, it’s priced at $1.99, and it’s available to download from the App Store now. Just remember, the latest update was only submitted today, so it could be a little while yet before it shows up.

Source: App Store

Via: Wired

Image: Wired

The post Third-Party App Brings Google’s All Access Music Streaming Service To iPhone appeared first on Cult of Mac.

Scanner Pro from Readdle is a super useful app which allows you to scan documents, receipts, and more and then store them digitally on your iOS devices. With its latest update, Scanner Pro got even easier with real-time border detection technology, which automatically finds page borders for you.

Prior to this update, you had to select your page borders manually after taking a picture of your document. It worked pretty well, but it was a little fiddly, and it was often the longest part of the scanning process. But that’s no longer the case.

“The latest update adds tremendous power to the app, and it is an inevitable step in its evolution,” Readdle says. “Real-time border detection technology works perfectly and makes it very easy for the user to see which part of the document will be scanned.”

I’ve been trying the new feature out myself this morning, and I’ve found it works well. I scanned a handful of receipts on my desk and Scanner Pro found the borders correctly every time. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by it so far. Check out the demo video below.

If you’re unfamiliar with Scanner Pro, it’s a terrific little app which lets you scan all kinds of documents onto your iPhone or iPad. You can then keep a record of them digitally, store them in the cloud, print them, or send them.

Here are a few reasons why Scanner Pro is better than other scanner apps, according to Readdle:

- it automatically crops the document and makes the scan more readable
- it removes shadows and corrects perspective
- it can save scans as b/w document
- it scans multipage documents and saves them as a single PDF file
- it allows you to share your scans: automatically unload to Dropbox, Evernote, etc.

Scanner Pro is priced at $6.99, and you can find the latest version in the App Store now. Existing users get it free, of course.

Source: App Store

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Developers have been slowly ditching support for PowerPC processors since Apple made the switch to Intel, so if you still have an old PowerPC Mac lying around, it probably doesn’t get a lot of use. But if it’s a Power Mac G5, then there us one way you could put it to work.

Pull out its insides and set it alight and you have a gorgeous aluminum BBQ grill.

Admittedly it’s not quite as simple as that; the case does require a little bit of modding, and you will need some additional aluminum. But based on the step-by-step guide posted to Imgur, it doesn’t look all that difficult.

Once you have your empty Power Mac case, you’ll need to cut open the front to provide easy access to the coal that’ll fuel your grill. Then you need to take your scrap aluminum and fit it to the side of the Power Mac case — preferably using hinges so that it’s easy to open up.

Once that’s done, add a wooden base, stick some sand and some coals inside, and then set it alight. Now all you need is some chicken, some burgers, and some sausages.

Presumably this will work just as well with an old Mac Pro case, too. Check out the guide by clicking the source link below.

Source: Imgur

Via: Macgasm

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If you jailbreak your iOS devices, there usually comes a point where you get stuck on an older firmware because the latest one hasn’t yet been hacked by the jailbreak community. When this time comes, it’s almost impossible to restore your device and start with a clean OS without losing your jailbreak.

But not anymore. A new app called Semi-Restore provides you with a clean install of your current firmware without updating your device and killing your jailbreak.

Semi-Restore is in beta testing at the moment, and it’s not yet clear when it’ll be officially available to the public. However, to quash doubts that the Semi-Restore was a fake, Dom over at AppAdvice decided to put it through its paces.

“As of today, I’m happy to report that Semi-Restore is definitely legitimate and we’ve got a video walk-through to prove it,” he writes. You can watch the walkthrough below to find out how to use Semi-Restore yourself.

If you prefer to follow written instructions, you can check out a rather lengthy step-by-step guide over at AppAdvice.

Semi-Restore doesn’t strictly restore your iOS device, but it’s the closest you’ll get to a clean install without updating your device. With that being the case, it’s going to be hugely popular among jailbreakers. I just wish it had arrived sooner.

A couple of weeks ago, my iPhone 5 started seeing a few performance issues, and I wanted to restore it and start with a fresh OS. The problem was, I didn’t want to update and lose my jailbreak. I was pretty much stuck.

In the end, I decided that I would just bite the bullet and give up my jailbreak for a clean and smooth OS install. Had Semi-Restore arrived a few weeks earlier, I wouldn’t have had to do that.

Once again, Semi-Restore is in beta testing at the moment, and there’s currently no word on when it’ll be made available to the public, so for now we’ll just have to wait. But as soon as it’s ready, we’ll let you know.

Source: Semi-Restore

The post Get A Clean iOS Install Without Losing Your Jailbreak With Semi-Restore [Jailbreak] appeared first on Cult of Mac.

Apple’s fifth-generation iPad, which is set to feature an all-new design much like the iPad mini’s, will enter production in July ahead of its September release, according to supply chain sources. Trial production of the device will reportedly begin soon and will ramp up to 2-3 million units this fall.

That’s according to sources for the not-so-reliable DigiTimes, who say the fifth-generation iPad will boast the same 2048×1536 Retina resolution as its predecessor. That display is expected to be packed into an all-new aluminum shell, however, which will look much like the iPad mini’s, only larger.

In an effort to make it thinner, Apple is expected to use new manufacturing methods for the display:

The touch panel solution for 5th-generation iPad is GF2 (1 layer of glass and two layers of ITO film) instead of G/G bonding used in 4th-generation iPad, the sources added.

The new iPad will use one LED light bar for backlighting, compared to two LED light bars used in 4th-generation iPad, the sources noted.

This will lead to a device around 25-33% thinner than the fourth-generation iPad, the sources claim.

LG Display, Sharp, and Samsung — despite rumors claiming Apple is moving away from Samsung’s components — will reportedly supply LCD panels for the new iPad, while Taiwan Surface Mounting Technology will supply its LED light bars.

Source: DigiTimes

The post 5th Gen iPad To Enter Production In July Ahead Of September Release [Rumor] appeared first on Cult of Mac.

Earlier this month, a hacked carrier update for the T-Mobile iPhone 5 that brought increased data speeds was released by Joe Brown and Sky Zangas, two developers behind iTweakiOS. Now the duo have released a similar hack for AT&T devices, only this time, it’s not just for the iPhone.

The hacked carrier update also supports the iPad and promises to improve data performance on both LTE and HSPA+.

“Just like with the T-Mobile hack, this hack does the same,” Brown writes. “Band preferences were set to limit you to a certain band rather than the band giving off the strongest signal, when available, both with LTE and HSPA+.”

“This hack enables Release 9 DC-HSPA+ on the iPhone 5 and iPad 3, 4, and mini as well as enhancing LTE data and signal. Though AT&T is limited to HSPA+ 21, the device itself becomes more open to an increased amount of bandwidth thus allowing for better throughput of data and data connection. This is very convinient [sic] for users in areas that don’t yet have LTE coverage.”

Brown has put together a quick step-by-step guide on installing the update on the iPhone 5, the third- and fourth-generation iPads, and the iPad mini. You don’t need to have a jailbroken device for this to work — it all happens through iTunes.

If you’re an iPhone 5 user, faster data speeds aren’t the only reason to get this update:

This hack also includes a fix to any and all iPhone 5 users who have experienced degraded/weakened signal over the past couple to few months on the PCS 1900MHz and/or CLR 850MHz bands for HSPA+ as well as the APT 700MHz and/or AWS 1700MHz band for LTE.

To download the hacked update and follow Brown’s installation guide, click the source link below.

Source: iTweakiOS

The post Hacked AT&T Carrier Update Promises Faster Data Speeds On iOS appeared first on Cult of Mac.

When you’re watching the game, wouldn’t it be awesome if you could replay key moments from any camera angle you choose?

With the latest Sky Sports update for iPad, you can. Launching just in time for the upcoming UEFA Champions League final, Sky Sports 360 is a brand new feature that lets viewers select and replay exciting moments from over 20 different camera angles.

With Sky Sports 360, you can replay amazing saves, crunching tackles, spectacular goals, and more. You can even use it to see whether the ball really did cross the line, or whether that controversial offside decision was correct.

The new feature is found within the Champions League Events Center in the Sky Sports app for iPad. It makes the live, multi-action camera technology around the pitch available to fans during the game, allowing them to pick their own highlights and camera angles.

It even lets you choose your own slow-motion replays.

The Champions League Events Center is the first of many second screen experiences available to Sky Sports subscribers; the technology is also available for Formula 1, Barclays Premier League games, and major golf tournaments.

“This is great news for the Sky Sports for iPad app, which keeps getting better and better,” said David Gibbs, Director of Sky Sports Digital Media.

“This is about putting the technology into the hands of the viewer and allowing them to recapture the big moments in the final. It’s the first time we’ve offered this through our app and it’s another example of our investment in the Sky Sports viewer’s experience.”

Sky Sports for iPad is available at no extra cost to Sky Sports subscribers in the United Kingdom, while non-Sky customers can get it for £4.99 per month. Find the latest version of the app in the App Store now.

Source: App Store

The post Sky Sports For iPad Now Lets You Choose Your Own Camera Angles During Replays appeared first on Cult of Mac.

Filippo Bigarella is best known for being the developer of some of the most popular jailbreak tweaks for iOS, including Springtomize, LivelyIcons, and PasswordPilot Pro. But he’s just launched his first official iPhone app through the App Store.

It’s called Balances, and it’s a wonderfully simply finance app with a gorgeous interface that’ll help you keep track of the money you owe and the money owed to you.

When you leave your wallet at home and you have to borrow money from friends to pay for your movie ticket, take a couple of seconds — that’s literally all it takes — to enter it into Balances and you’ll remember to pay it back when you get home.

Do the same for money you lend out and you won’t forget who owes you cash.

When you’ve paid back the money you owe, or received money owed to you, simply swipe the balance off of your list and it’ll be added to your “completed balances” list, where you can keep track of all the money you’ve paid and received.

That’s pretty much all there is to Balances, which is why it’s super simply and easy to use. It also looks great — as you can see from the screenshots above — and it’s completely free. Check it out for yourself by downloading it from the App Store.

Source: App Store

The post Springtomize Dev Releases Exquisitely Beautiful Non-Jailbreak Finance App For iPhone appeared first on Cult of Mac.

QuickLock is a terrific little tool from ThinkDev that makes it quick and convenient to lock your Mac when you leave your desk. It sits in your menubar out of your way, and a click (or a keyboard shortcut) is all it takes to keep your Mac safe.

With the latest version of QuickLock, users can enjoy a brand new interface and a number of new features. Best of all, it’s completely free.

QuickLock is a must-have if you use your Mac in an office, a classroom, a library, or another public place where you might leave it unattended for a while. You probably already use a password to ensure no one can gain access to your computer while you’re away from it, and the quickest and easiest way to activate that password and lock your Mac is with QuickLock.

“QuickLock is the absolute best way to lock your Mac,” ThinkDev says. “Unlike OSX’s hot corners, QuickLock works with a simple keyboard shortcut or menubar click, and never gets in the way of your workflow.”

And here’s what’s new in its latest update:

- Completely redesigned user interface
- Revamped user experience
- New icon
- Great new animations for locking/unlocking
- An awesome screen bounce or lock animation when typing
- Upgraded security features
- New display features
- Major bug fixes and improvements

Because QuickLock’s new features are currently in beta testing, you can get a copy of the app and try them out completely free. Just visit the QuickLock website and download it to get started.

ThinkDev has another awesome app that called QuickRes, which has been developed to make it super simply to switch between display resolutions on a Retina MacBook Pro. Like QuickLock, it sits in your menubar.

QuickRes is the best way to switch between screen resolutions on your Mac. With the MacBook Pro with Retina Display, you can set your resolution all the way up to an extreme 3840 x 2400! With other Macs, you can set your resolutions to things you’ve never seen before, including a HiDPI mode, which is as close as you can get to a Retina Display on a standard display.

A free version of QuickRes can be downloaded from the Mac App Store, but due to Apple’s restrictions, it only allows you to switch to one resolution — and you have to go into System Preferences to switch back. The paid version, however, let’s you switch between resolution as much as you like.

It’s just $1.99, but Cult of Mac readers can get 50% off for a limited time.

The post QuickLock Is The Quickest & Most Convenient Way To Lock Your Mac appeared first on Cult of Mac.

Apple’s iOS devices have today been cleared for use on United States military networks by the Defense Department, Bloomberg reports. The move comes after Samsung’s new Galaxy S4 and the latest devices from BlackBerry gained government clearance earlier this month.

The Defense Department said in a statement today that it has approved iOS devices — including the iPhone and the iPad — running Apple’s latest iOS 6 operating system. These will join the 41,000 Apple products already in use by the Defense Department.

The Pentagon has traditionally relied on BlackBerry devices, which are famous for their security, and it has more than 470,000 of them in its network. But BlackBerry’s latest smartphones will now face competition from the Galaxy S4 and the iPhone when it comes to government use.

The military wants its employees to have the freedom to use commercial products on its networks, and it even plans to create its own mobile app store by hiring contractors to build a system capable of handling as many as 8 million devices.

Source: Bloomberg

The post Apple’s iOS Devices Receive Pentagon Approval appeared first on Cult of Mac.

AU Optronics, one of Apple’s display manufacturers for the iPad mini, is set to decrease its shipments from 4 million units in the first quarter of 2013 to between 2.5 and 2.8 million units in the second quarter, according to sources in the supply chain.

The move comes as we enter a traditionally quiet period for consumer spending.

Overall iPad mini shipments are expected to drop around 20% to 30% to around 10 million units in the second quarter, according to a new report from DigiTimes. In addition to the panels from AU Optronics, Apple will reportedly source the remaining 7 million from LG Display.

As always, we advise you to take DigiTimes reports with a pinch of salt given the publication’s poor track record with Apple rumors. But this one appears to make a lot of sense.

With holiday and New Year shopping now out of the way, we’re entering a somewhat quiet retail period that will see demand for most products falling. In addition to this, rumors regarding a second generation iPad mini this fall may encourage some fans to wait for the newer model.

AU Optronics is expecting Apple to cut iPad mini display orders again in the third quarter as it prepares for that second-generation model.

It’s also thought that the Cupertino company may decide to cut AUO out of its supply chain altogether following previous production issues. Although AUO has submitted panels for use in the iPad mini 2, only LG Display and Sharp have been selected as suppliers so far, according to DigiTimes.

Source: DigiTimes

The post iPad Mini Suppliers Reduce Shipments As Quiet Period Approaches [Rumor] appeared first on Cult of Mac.

The winner of Apple’s $10,000 App Store gift card has revealed how he saved up apps to download to his iPhone in an a bit to become the 50 billionth downloader. Brandon Ashmore, 21, from Mentor, Ohio, held his downloads until Wednesday night to try to give himself a better chance of winning the contest.

He still thought it was a joke when Apple called to tell him he had won, though.

Ashmore told NewsChannel5 that “he saved up about five apps to download on his iPhone 5 Wednesday night to try to win the contest.” Say the Same Thing, a word game by from Space Inch, became the App Store’s 50 billionth download.

But despite going out of his way to give himself the best chance of winning the $10,000 gift card, Ashmore still thought it was a prank when an Apple representative called to tell him he’d won the prize. He then decided the caller had too much information about him to not be genuine.

Ashmore, who’s currently studying computer science at Lakeland Community College, told NewsChannel5 that he hasn’t decided how he’s going to spend the credit yet.

Source: NewsChannel5

The post 50 Billionth App Winner “Saved Up Apps” To Win Contest appeared first on Cult of Mac.

Virgin Mobile has slashed 15% off both the 8GB iPhone 4 and the 16GB iPhone 4S on one of its prepaid Beyond Talk Unlimited data plans. The deal will get you a new iPhone — without a contract commitment — for less than $300.

That’s for the 8GB iPhone 4, of course, which is priced at $297.49 after the 15%. That’s not a bad price for a very capable smartphone — you would typically pay that for some midrange Android-powered devices.

If you’re happy to spend a little more for a newer model, then the 16GB iPhone 4S is $382.49 with the 15% discount.

Virgin isn’t the only provider offering some great iPhone deals at the moment. If you don’t mind signing a contract, then you can currently get an iPhone 5 for just $99 on Verizon (if you currently own an old feature-phone), and AT&T will give you one for free if you trade in your old iPhone 4S.

These deals come just months before Apple is expected to launch its next-generation iPhone 5S, which, according to recent rumors, could bring a better camera, a faster processor, and fingerprint scanning technology.

Source: Virgin Mobile

The post Virgin Mobile Slashes 15% Off Prepaid iPhone 4 & iPhone 4S appeared first on Cult of Mac.

Gameloft has made Gangstar Rio: City of Saints and N.O.V.A. 3, two of its high-end mobile games, free for a limited time on iOS. Both titles are universal releases that can be played on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, and they’re usually priced at $4.99 and $6.99 respectively — saving you $11.98.

Gangstar Rio: City of Saints is the latest title in the Gangstar series, which is Gameloft’s answer to Grand Theft Auto. Set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it boasts over 60 varied missions in five 3D environments, including the favelas, business district, beaches, and jungle.

You’ll be tasked with killing corrupt politicians, protecting witnesses, delivering special packages, stealing cars, and trying to find out who tried to kill you. You’ll get the chance to play with a ton of weapons, including handguns, rifles, bazookas, and grenades, and you’ll drive dozens of high-speed vehicles, including planes, helicopters, and tanks.

N.O.V.A. 3 is the closest you’ll get to Halo on your iOS device, and it promises to be the “most immersive and impressive sci-fi FPS franchise on smartphones.” It’s also one of my favorite first-person shooters on iOS.

N.O.V.A. 3 offers great graphics optimized for Retina displays, an exciting storyline across ten levels, and dozens of weapons and power-ups. It also has a great online multiplayer option with seven different game modes for up to 12 players, and you can take advantage of the Voice Chat feature to talk to friends in real-time.

Both Gangstar Rio and N.O.V.A. 3 are available for free in the App Store now. Gameloft says the deal is only valid this weekend, so don’t miss out.

Source: Twitter

The post Gameloft Makes Gangstar Rio, N.O.V.A. 3 Free For A Limited Time On iOS appeared first on Cult of Mac.

We’re big fans of Pixelmator here at Cult of Mac — it’s one of the finest image editors you can buy for your Mac, and it’s just $14.99. And it appears we’re not the only ones who love it. Pixelmator just announced that its latest 2.2 Blueberry update has seen over 500,000 downloads in just one week, becoming its most successful release to date.

“A whopping total of 500,000 downloads in just a single week have made Pixelmator 2.2 Blueberry our most successful release ever. Again,” Pixelmator said on its blog.

“And as if that wasn’t enough already, you surprised us yet again. Thanks to you, Pixelmator is now the highest rated app on the Mac App Store—a complete five-star app. Thank you so much for all of this!”

500,000 downloads in one week is twice the number of downloads that Pixelmator 2.1 Cherry saw in two weeks following its release last August. But we’re hardly surprised, because it’s a great application.

We told you all about the 2.2 update last week, which adds more than 100 new features including smart shape tools, a custom shapes palette, and a shape style palette. We also gushed about it on the CultCast and suggested it was a better — and considerably cheaper — alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

If you don’t already have Pixelmator 2.2 and you do image editing on your Mac, then we urge you to check it out. It’s just $14.99, and it’s available to download from the Mac App Store now.

Source: Pixelmator

The post Pixelmator 2.2 Blueberry Sees Half A Million Downloads In Just One Week appeared first on Cult of Mac.

iOS is a fantastic platform, but as it approaches its sixth birthday, it’s in desperate need of a lick of paint. If you jailbreak your devices, then you don’t need to sit and wait for Apple to administer that, because you can take the design refresh into your own hands by theming.

The only issue with that is finding a theme that’s as beautiful as the hardware it’s running on. There aren’t many out there that fit this description, but iMIUI from Xiaomi is one of them.

Xiaomi isn’t normally a company famous for its iOS themes; it actually develops a popular custom ROM for Android-powered devices called MIUI. But iMIUI is a Winterboard theme that aims to bring the MIUI look to your iPhone.

Xiaomi believes iMIUI could be the next Ayecon, a hugely popular theme for jailbroken iOS devices, and I’m inclined to agree. I don’t think it’s better than Ayecon, but it’s as good as.

As you can see from the screenshots below, iMIUI isn’t just a bunch of icons; it skins your lock screen, a number of your apps — including Phone, Messages, and Clock — as well as system menus, like those within the Settings app pictured below.

iDownloadBlog has been testing iMIUI and they say “the level of detail here is striking.” iMIUI is certainly worth checking out, then. To download it, you’ll need to add a new repository to Cydia. That repository is: http://cydia.myrepospace.com/imiui/.

Once you’ve downloaded the theme, you’ll be able to apply it using Winterboard. It’s iPhone only at the moment — there’s no iPad version — but it is completely free.

Via: DownloadBlog

The post This Gorgeous Theme Gives Your iPhone A Much-Needed Lick Of Paint [Jailbreak] appeared first on Cult of Mac.