Apple announced during its WWDC keynote that iOS 7 will finally bring support for third-party game controllers, and the Cupertino company has followed that up with a new set of guidelines which detail a standard for iOS and OS X game controllers.
The document is designed to ensure all game developers are working with the same specifications, so no matter who your favorite title was built by, it should be compatible with your controller.
If you thought the new icons in iOS 7 were nauseating, then try this one on for size: It’s the RoboRoach, a kit that turns any cockroach into a cyborg you can control from your iPhone. Ugh.
Don’t have enough time to sit at your computer and watch all two hours of the WWDC keynote? Well you can take it with you on your iPhone or iPad now.
The WWDC 2013 keynote was just made available in iTunes. You can download the video straight to your device as a podcast, but with a run-time of 1 hour and 58minutes, the file is pretty big, so make sure you’re on a Wifi connection. Here’s the download link.
Source: iTunes
This time ’round on CultCast: iOS 7 debuts to a standing ovation, but some aren’t in love; OS X 10.9 Mavericks will have you rewatching Top Gun, we’ll highlight the new features; new MacBook Airs get insanely long battery life and more power; and Apple resurrects the rumored Mac Pro to uproarious applause—it’s our complete WWDC coverage on this very special episode of the CultCast.
Join us as we review all the great stuff Apple announced in the glorious 90-minute event know as WWDC. Stream or download new and past episodes on your Mac or iDevice by subscribing now on iTunes, or hit play below and let the good times roll.
Show notes up next.
Apple finally announced its long-rumored iTunes Radio service yesterday at WWDC, and even though it doesn’t officially launch until this fall, we’ve been taking it for a spin in the iOS 7 beta. Initially, iTunes Radio has left us fairly impressed, except for one huge omission: all the curse words are missing.
When you stream music via iTunes Radio stations, all songs with profane lyrics are streamed in an edited edition, even on user-created stations. We’re not just talking about radio edits where more family appropriate lyrics are dubbed in. Nope, iTunes Radio just strips out the whole word so you’re left with awkward gaps in the song as your favorite artist chokes out a horrific blast of profanity.
During our time playing with iTunes Radio we haven’t come across a single explicit track that isn’t censored, so if you love to bath in the crass lyrics of hiphop’s greatest living legends, you’re out of luck.
iOS 7 is full of huge UI changes and we’re just starting to scratch the surface on all the big changes, but here’s one new little feature that shows Apple hasn’t lost its touch with the little things.
The Phone app for iOS 7 got a big makeover that tossed out the old keypad buttons for a minimalist keypad adorned in white space and large helvetica numbers. The new Phone app UI is pretty plain and boring until you touch a button and watch it quickly morph into the homescreen background before its opacity pops back to white.
The new animation helps users see where they’re pressing, but you can waste tons of time with it playing Bingo or Connect Four too if you’re into that thing. Here’s what it looks like in action:
I’ve given iOS 7 a lot of hate this morning — just because I hate its icons — so I thought it was about time I showed it some love. It may not look the best, but the next-generation of iOS is packed full of awesome new features that should greatly improve the user experience.
A lot of those were detailed during Apple’s keynote at WWDC yesterday, but some got left out. So here’s ten awesome features in iOS 7 that didn’t get a mention at the event.
You know what I’m hearing a lot of today? “Whine whine whine. Don’t like the icons. This really is kind of a mess.” And this, from our very own chatroom: “It hurts the eyes,” and “The hideousness of this is blowing my mind.”
It seems that a lot of people don’t like the look of iOS 7. But you know what? I love it. Sure, some of those icons are a little garish, but in iOS 6, all of the native Apple icons were hideous. And whatever you want to say about the new look, you have to admit that it is now way more consistent.
It’s our own fault. We all asked Apple to dramatically change the look and feel of the iOS operating system, which, until yesterday, remained largely unchanged since the introduction of the original iPhone back in 2007. And we all complained when it didn’t do that with iOS 6 this time last year.
But I can’t help but feel the Cupertino company is now punishing us for all those requests, and all that complaining we did before about its skeuomorphic designs.
When it comes to design, iOS 7 is vastly different to its predecessors. It still functions in much the same way — though there are some new features you’ll need to get used to — but it looks completely different. As soon as you power it up for the first time the minimalistic feel is staring back at you, but it isn’t until you’ve completed the setup process and arrived at your home screen that you want to vomit in your own lap.
Every time Apple releases new versions of iOS and OS X, you can guarantee Apple will take aim to destroy some popular third-party apps by aping their most popular features into Apple’s core services.
With iOS 7 and OS X Mavericks, Apple has its sights on some really strong competition. 1Password is in danger of becoming obsolete, along with a number of other notable powerhouses. Here’s who Apple aimed in its sights today:
It’s not very often you find a contest where everyone wins, but that’s exactly what we have in store for you here at Cult of Mac Deals with this offer!
Artist Corner is the revolutionary new drawing and coloring app made specifically for the iPad. Download this iPad app for free and you’ll have endless hours of entertainment for your children, nephews, nieces, or any other child who wants to let their inner artist shine. And you can use the app to create a drawing to enter for a chance to win a $100 Apple gift card. (Note: Five drawings will be selected for a total of five $100 gift card giveaways.)
IOS 7 looks fantastic, and the good news is that photographers haven’t been left out of the updates. There’s new stuff in both the Camera app as well as Photos: a neat combination of flashy new features and great little fixes that will make both apps what they probably should have been to begin with.
Some iOS 7 features Apple didn’t have time to talk about:
• FaceTime audio – you can now make high-quality audio-only calls over FaceTime.
• Activation lock – If a thief wipes a stolen device, guess what? They can’t reactivate that iPhone without the original Apple ID that was used to remotely wipe it.
• Phone, Message and FaceTime blocking – You can block people who just won’t let go. Fantastic!
• Notification Sync – Your notifications now sync across all devices! Yes!
We’re less than 90 minutes away from Apple’s first keynote of the year. If you’re already salivating with excitement and anticipation about all the goodies that are about to come out then here’s a little iOS 7 wallpaper (based on the WWDC banners on display) that should hold you over until Tim Cook officially unveils the new look of iOS.
Source: Reddit
Today’s the day, folks! In just a few hours, Apple will kick off WWDC 2013 with a first look at its next-generation iOS 7 operating system. We’re expecting big changes with this update, and according to sources for The Wall Street Journal, those will include a brand new look, new ways to share your photos and videos, and a new music streaming service.
You can also expect to see a glimpse of OS X 10.9 and new notebooks at the event.
Are you a designer? Do you want to become a designer? Have you ever thought about bringing out the creative in you? Now is a great opportunity for you to stack up on some high quality design resources so you can tackle any design wishes you may have thanks to The Mega Design Bundle and Cult of Mac Deals!
This bundle contains more than 2.5 GB of smooth icons, flashy vector elements, intuitive Photoshop templates, and other essential designer assets for literally pennies on the dollar. Valued at over $1000, you can get it for just $49.99!
Functional iPhone cases are a dime a dozen, but the latest Cult of Mac Deals offer features the Leverage case – a case that is so much more than functional. Sporting a clasp locking system, it not only looks great but it can survive even the clumsiest iPhone owner.
With its understated yet elegant design, this case will make your phone pop. And right now Cult of Mac Deals has it for just $39.99.
Battery life! It’s a thing!
To get the most time out of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch battery, you have to manage it. There’s no substitute for figuring gout how your iPhone uses power, and then optimizing your usage and the enabled services and features on your iPhone to make sure you get the most life out of your battery.
Here are five ways you can stay firmly in charge of your battery.
Let’s be honest about what we really want from Apple this week. We all want to know if Apple can still blow us away, or if they’re just a boring company now.
There are two schools of thought.
In today’s world, most people have more than just one device to charge. But this poses a problem in that cords get tangled, power strips get overcrowded, and USB ports get used up quickly. This Cult of Mac Deals offer aims to solve that problem by streamlining your charging with the 3-in–1 Lightning/30-Pin/Micro USB to USB Charging Cable for the low price of $19 for a limited time.
This handy cable can charge 3 devices simultaneously. Whether you need to juice up an iPhone 5, iPhone 4/4S, 3G/3GS, iPad, iPod, Android, HTC, Samsung, and more – this cable has you covered!
Look, all these great tips for saving your iPhone battery are not very useful if they don’t apply to you. Your iPhone use is uniquely your own, and you really ought to get a handle on how your battery is affected as you apply the various strategies to help conserve power when you need it.
Otherwise, why bother, right? Here’s how to check your battery usage stats right on your iPhone, as recommended by Apple.
Bluelounge’s new MiniDock really is mini. It’s a tiny little dock which perfectly matches the cuboid charger that came with your iPhone or iPad mini, and turns it into a wall-mounted dock. The device is as portable and effective as it is handy, especially if you never use a case. I have one here in Cult of Mac’s Spanish HQ, and I have been putting it through its paces in our Extreme Test Lab.
The finishing touches are being added to Moscone West as WWDC 2013 draws closer. In just three short days Tim Cook and company will take stage at Moscone West to reveal a redesigned iOS, new MacBooks, and possibly a new iPad.
Apple’s WWDC keynote is slated to start Monday, June 10th at 10AM PST. Don’t want to miss all the juicy details as they’re unveiled? Well, here’s a handy infographic so you know what time to hop on and check the Cult of Mac liveblog for the full scoop on everything that goes down at WWDC 2013.
Image: Twitter
If you’ve been looking for a bundle of UI assets that will empower designers at any level to create professional looking sites with a world-class interface, then this offer from Cult of Mac Deals will do the trick. From frequently used UI elements to iPhone App templates & email newsletter templates, The UI Design Bundle has it all – and for just $39!
Whether you’re an established designer or just starting out this is the perfect addition to any design resource toolbox.
LEGOs and Apple products go together like celery and peanut butter. Tons of LEGO/Apple hybrid creations have graced the front page of Cult of Mac, but now there’s a small Taiwanese design group that created an iPhone 5 LEGO adapter that will allow you to morph you iPhone into a new LEGO creation.
The adapter plugs into your iPhone 5’s Lightning port and allows you to link your own LEGO bricks together with your iPhone or iPad, perfect for building your own LEGO iPhone case.
Here are some of the creations you can create with the LEGO adapter: