Mobile menu toggle

News - page 1114

Jailbreak tweak brings 3D Touch to older iPhones. Kind of.

By

iphone-6s-3d-touch
3D Touch is Apple's big new feature for the iPhone 6s.
Photo: Apple

3D Touch has been the most widely-praised feature of the iPhone 6s in its advance reviews, so it’s no great surprise that savvy jailbreakers would attempt to replicate the technology in older iPhones.

One attempt at this is a new free tweak called ForceTouchActivator, which tries to impersonate 3D Touch by using long presses to expand the functionality of your iPhone.

And as far as free tweaks go, it’s not a bad effort. Sort of.

In-app purchases flaw exposes developers to costly hacks

By

App Store icon
Business is booming for the App Store.
Photo: PhotoAtelier/Flickr

Sloppy coding in some popular iOS games allows hackers to give themselves and others thousands of dollars’ worth of in-app purchases for free.

The hole was discovered by developers at DigiDNA, creator of a backup tool called iMazing that allows iPhone and iPad users to access their devices’ hidden file systems. The developers found that the app backup/restore feature in iMazing 1.3 exposes weaknesses in the way games like Angry Birds 2 and Tetris Free handle in-app purchases.

To demonstrate how easy it is to hack in-app purchases using this method, the DigiDNA team tweaked Angry Birds 2 to start the game with 999,999,999 gems — the equivalent of $10,000 of in-game credits.

iOS 9 ad blockers could ruin your online shopping experience

By

unnamed-2
Before and after adblockers. Notice any difference?
Photo: Sears

One of the big innovations of iOS 9 was the ability for Safari users to download and take advantage of content blockers.

According to a new report, however, ads may not be the only content that is blocked by apps like Crystal. Online retailers such as Walmart, Sears and Lululemon are also seeing their e-commerce sites negatively affected by adblockers — with some crucial features failing to work as before.

A savvy Apple fan has sent a robot to queue for her iPhone 6s

By

lucy3
It certainly beats sitting out in the cold.
Photo: Atomic 212

People are already camping out for the iPhone 6s, but one smart would-be customer from Australia has decided to dodge the queues — by sending a robot on her behalf.

Lucy Kelly dispatched the robot — a remote-controlled tablet attached to a Segway — to wait in line at the flagship Apple Store in Sydney, where the iPhone 6s will go on sale ahead of the rest of the world. It gives her the ability to join in the fun of waiting alongside eager Apple fans, without the negative part of standing around for hours in the cold.

Now why didn’t we think of that?

HTC’s iPhone clone leaks out again with giant bezels, six color options

By

htcs-iphone-clone-leaks-out-again-with-giant-bezels-six-color-options-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509HTC-One-A9-colors-jpg
One A9's six color options.
Photo: Evan Blass
One A9's six color options. Photo: Evan Blass
One A9’s six color options. Photo: Evan Blass

HTC’s upcoming iPhone clone, the One A9, has leaked out again ahead of its official unveiling.

A new press image confirms the device will be available in six colors, with gigantic bezels above and beneath its display that somewhat spoil its otherwise attractive look.

Take Facebook’s 360-degree tour of Star Wars’ new desert planet

By

Facebook now supports 360 video.
Facebook now supports 360 video.
Photo: Facebook

Facebook is bringing 360-degree video to news feeds starting today, showcasing the immersive format with a speeder tour of Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ desert planet Jaku.

The tech makes viewing 360 videos on mobile devices simpler than ever, allowing users to select a viewing angle just by turning their devices. You can also watch the videos on the web, clicking around to change the camera’s perspective.

Pebble’s new smartwatch is Round and super-slim

By

pebbles-new-smartwatch-is-round-and-super-slim-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509D4qaIa3-png
Pebble Time Round is the thinnest smartwatch so far. Photo: Pebble
Pebble Time Round is the thinnest smartwatch so far. Photo: Pebble

Pebble’s latest smartwatch forgot it’s hip to be square.

The Pebble Time Round has a circular display that hopes to appeal to traditional watch wearers, and compete round rivals like the Moto 360 and Samsung’s upcoming Gear S2. Its all-metal design is also the thinnest and lightest Pebble has crafted to date.

iOS 9.1 beta 2 brings new fixes to developers (and the public)

By

iOS 9.3 beta 6 is here!
iOS 9.3 beta 6 is here!
Photo: Apple

Developers can add the latest iOS 9.1 beta to their iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches starting today.

Exactly two weeks after releasing the first beta, Apple has started seeding iOS 9.1 beta 2, build 13B5119e, to developers via an over-the-air update and in the Apple Dev Center.

Update: As of Thursday this week, public beta users can also update to the latest iOS 9.1 public beta 2, as well.

Apple Watch app warns when you’re nearing data limit

By

The DataMan complication, as seen in the upper left of these Apple Watches, monitors your data usage.
The DataMan complication, as seen in the upper left of these Apple Watches, monitors your data usage.
Photo: DataMan

DataMan could be the name of a superhero, but it is instead an app that saves you from the dangers of going over your data limit. Now it has a sidekick for the Apple Watch that lets you be vigilant with a flick of the wrist.

The DataMan app for the watch lets you easily view your usage, but if you don’t need to know in detail, simply raise your wrist and an icon will appear in the upper left corner of your watch face that gives an idea. A green check means your safe, a blue exclamation point is for caution and a red X means you are in danger of going past your limit and paying nasty overage fees.

Lensbaby your way to dreamy iPhone photos

By

One of the lenses in the Creative Mobile Kit by Lensbaby.
One of the lenses in the Creative Mobile Kit by Lensbaby.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

We love our iPhone cameras because it takes away the need for technical know-how and leaves us with nothing but fun for our photography. But sometimes fun needs to be turned up a notch.

Enter the Creative Mobile Kit from Lensbaby, a two-lens package that turns any scene into a dreamy state of smeary colors and blurred shapes that surround the focus of a subject. Just clip on the kit’s magnetic mount bracket, select a lens and go play.

Apple Car could save drivers 400 billion hours per year

By

Apple car concept art shows what Cupertino might put on the road.
An Apple Car has the potential to save lives. In all sorts of ways.
Photo: Aristomenis Tsirbas/Freelancer

Morgan Stanley analysts Adam Jonas and Katy Huberty — who regularly follow Tesla and Apple — claim an autonomous Apple Car could save drivers a collective 400 billion hours of “non-productive” time each year.

“What is the value of 400 billion hours a year?” they write in a note to clients. “How much value could Apple create from this time or said another way how much are consumers willing to pay to recoup this time? It’s time to start thinking about… time.”

And we thought the Apple Watch was Apple’s attempt to focus on timekeeping!

Meet the messaging app that will save your ass

By

meet-the-messaging-app-that-will-save-your-ass-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201508retxt-3-jpg
reTXT lets you edit messages or photos after you've already sent them.
Photo: reTXT
reTXT lets you edit messages or photos after you've already sent them.
reTXT lets you edit messages or photos after you’ve already sent them. Photo: reTXT

reTXT is a radical new messaging app that wants to fix everything wrong with online communication as it exists now. It landed back in April and includes a number of unique features — like being able to edit a message you already sent — all of which are currently patent pending. The app just updated today for iOS and Android with support for voice calling with end-to-end encryption as well.

Sticking out from the crowd of third-party messaging apps, I decided to take a closer look.

Awesome infographic connects the dots of Steve Jobs’ life

By

How-Steve-Jobs-Started
Jobs' life gets graphical.
Photo: Visualistan

Steve Jobs’ life has been immortalized in the form of numerous biographies, three movies, multiple documentaries, several operas, and a handful of graphic novels — but now it’s been turned into an infographic, too.

Created by the folks at Visualistan, this neat creation takes you through Steve’s most significant moments in one easy-to-read pictogram, based on the same Walter Isaacson biography that forms the basis for the forthcoming Steve Jobs movie.

Check it out:

Apple takes steps to avoid a repeat of XcodeGhost debacle

By

Double-check that you're using the right version of Xcode to build apps.
Apple will provide Chinese users with a local official version of Xcode to download.
Photo: Johan Larrson/Flickr

Apple is taking steps to avoid a repeat of this week’s serious XcodeGhost incident — in which hundreds of App Store apps were discovered to include malware in the form of a counterfeit version of Xcode, the platform used by developers to build their apps.

Tim Cook offers fan an internship after Apple Watch saved his life

By

Apple's back on top again.
An internship worth celebrating!
Photo: Apple

The teen who had his life saved thanks to his Apple Watch heart monitor has received a brand new iPhone 6s and — more importantly — an internship with Apple next summer.

17-year-old football player Paul Houle says he was recovering from his recent medical emergency when he received a very special call from Cupertino.

“I got a phone call from a California number, and [the person on the other end of the line] said ‘Hello, my name is Tim Cook, CEO of Apple,'” Houle says.

Apple rejects controversial Ferguson Firsthand app

By

Ferguson Firsthand was intended as an
Ferguson Firsthand was intended as an "educational app."
Photo: Dan Archer

In the latest controversy over Apple’s stringent App Store guidelines, the company has rejected an “educational app” about the August 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

The reason? Apple objects to “the subject matter” of the game, which deals with the impact of the real-life shooting that sparked rioting and a continuing conversation about race and police brutality.

Photo app lets you send the party snaps when you’re sober

By

Flashgap lets you take pictures at the party, but then makes you wait a day before you can share them.
Flashgap lets you take pictures at the party, but then makes you wait a day before you can share them.
Photo: Flashgap

There is a growing category of apps that fall under the heading, Apps to save us from ourselves. There are messaging apps that delay the sending of text messages and apps and hardware that measure the amount of alcohol on your breath.

Flashgap enters this category – probably in time for some – to stop embarrassing party photos from making the rounds before you’ve had a chance to sober up and consider who will get to see your fun and foolishness.

3D Touch turns iPhone 6s keyboard into a touchpad

By

Selecting text on the iPhone 6s is ridiculously easy.
Selecting text on the iPhone 6s is ridiculously easy.
Photo: Matthew Panzarino/Twitter

Selecting text on the iPhone 6s will be a whole lot easier thanks to the introduction of 3D Touch, which can quickly change your iOS 9 keyboard into a trackpad.

iPhone 6s owners will be able to use two levels of touch to activate the trackpad, and then a deeper push to highlight text. The trick was first discovered by Apple analyst Ben Bajarin while reviewing the upcoming smartphone. TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino uploaded a video this afternoon showing off the new feature and it might be the best reason yet to upgrade to the new 3D Touch iPhones.

Check it out in action:

10 native apps that give Apple Watch some independence

By

Native apps, like Dark Sky, take advantage of the new OS for Apple Watch.
Native apps, like Dark Sky, take advantage of the new OS for Apple Watch.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The future of computing may be sitting on your wrist, but it’s still tethered to something a little old-fashioned. But as of Monday, the Apple Watch’s new operating system allows it to cut a few of the cords that connect it to the iPhone.

Apple’s watchOS 2 debuted, giving the watch new superpowers but also allowing native apps to run independently of the iPhone.

Get lost in Lifeline 2’s fantasy world on Apple Watch

By

Help Arika avoid mortal danger while she wisecracks at you.
Help Arika avoid mortal danger while she wisecracks at you.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Dave Justus is no stranger to writing video games, having written both Telltale’s The Wolf Among Us adventure game for Mac, PC and console, as well as the original Lifeline, a text-based story game that brought the epic struggles of an astronaut named Taylor to our wrists.

With the help of 3 Minute Games’ lead game designer Mars Jokela, Justus has created another massive adventure that still fits inside your Apple Watch. This time, however, you’ll have a conversation with Arika, a young woman with magical powers who needs your help to escape mortal danger.

Lifeline 2: Bloodline is a funny, moving, and above all human story that really plays to the strengths of the Apple Watch; it’s like having a text conversation (with a cheeky magician) from your wrist.

“We’ve built Lifeline 2 to be a bigger and richer experience,” says Jokela via email, “[but] the story is still focused on a likable, relatable character who desperately needs your help.”

Apple is aiming for 6 cores in A10 processor

By

If you think the A9 processor is fast, wait 'til you see the A10.
If you think the A9 processor is fast, wait 'til you see the A10.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 6s is the fastest smartphone on the planet, but according to a new rumor, Apple is planning to make a huge leap with its A10 processor in the iPhone 7 that will turn the device into an unbelievable speed machine.

It seems a bit early to start talking about the iPhone 7’s processor when the 6s hasn’t even gone on sale yet, however, the Apple rumor mill has spit out a rumor claiming Apple’s A10 processor will boast 6 cores.