iOS
The budget iPhone: rumormongers have obsessed out the possibility for years. Though Apple hasn't – and likely never will – manufacture a new iPhone just to tackle the economy market, the company has covered that segment nonetheless. The recipe is simple: continue selling previous years' iPhones in decreasing increments of $100. So, on store shelves this year, the iPhone 5 is joined by its previous two ancestors. There's no question which phone is the best – the iPhone 5 is a phenomenal smartphone – but is it worth saving a few bucks on one of the older models? Read More
You have to love the evolution of technology. You can call it Moore's Law, returns on investments, or simply progress … but the pace of consumer tech's maturation is breathtaking. This change happens on a hardware level (just look at 2005's smartphones compared to today's), but just as exciting is the progress of software. iOS is a prime example. In 2007 it was essentially a slick, polished way to do about ten things. Today iOS – along with Android and Windows Phone – is narrowing the gap between mobile and the desktop. Now that iOS 6 is here, we're left wondering where Apple's mobile operating system is headed? As the laundry list of obvious upgrades (multitasking, folders, notifications …) has been exhausted over the last few years, the next steps aren't so clear. Read More
The release of a new iPhone means two things. The first is obviously the new phone; but that hardware is also accompanied by a new version of iOS. Apple's mobile operating system has evolved from a relatively simple interface for using a few stock Apple apps (on 2007's debut iPhone) to an advanced system that is creeping ever closer to OS X. The annual iOS refresh is now an event in itself. Let's take a look at the decisions – and execution – that Apple ultimately took with this year's update. Read More
When Apple launched Siri with the iPhone 4S, "she" instantly became a household name. The internet buzzed, casual consumers took notice, and Apple used it to market the incrementally-upgraded handset for nearly a year. But those who have spent time with it know that Siri is still a beta product. One of the biggest omissions is an API to connect to third-party apps. There are, however, roundabout ways for third-party apps to play nicely with Siri. Starting in iOS 6, App Store apps can access Reminders (with user permission). This opens a variety of doors, including this nifty trick for creating shared shopping lists. Read More
There's nothing like a good rivalry. Whether it's Ali vs. Frazier, FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, or Magic vs. Bird, gritty duels have a way of getting people pumped. In this Digital Age, consumer tech has its own sets of sworn opponents: in the 80s it was Apple vs. IBM, later we saw Windows vs. OS X, and gamers have Playstation vs. Xbox. In 2012, however, the biggest tech rivalry is the match between the two biggest players in mobile: Apple and Samsung. This one has gotten nasty, extending into international courts. Things only get more interesting with the release of Apple's iPhone 5. Read More
Last time we heard fom ZAGG, the company had partnered with Logitech to distribute a case for the iPad 2 that functioned as a keyboard. This time, ZAGG is branching out on its own and has revealed its latest, much thinner keyboard cases, the ZAGGkeys PRO and ZAGGkeys PRO Plus, one of which provides a color-changing backlight. Read More
Get your Cob Cannon locked and loaded, because the sequel to cross-platform zombie defense oddity Plants vs. Zombies is due to launch in the first half of 2013, with "late Spring [Northern Hemisphere]" cited as the likely release window. While details on the game are still rather thin on the ground at present, Plants vs. Zombies creator PopCap Games teased that the title will feature "Hordes of New Plant and Zombie Types and Mulch More" – all of which should suffice to whet the appetite of horticultural zombie slayers. Read More
If the idea of your mobile gadget running out of juice leaving you incommunicado (or, heaven forbid, bored) fills you with fear, then a battery pack is the obvious solution. But what if your power needs vary from day to day? Exogear has developed a battery pack that it touts as the world’s first stackable battery pack that is designed to adapt to suit your battery needs, no matter how small or how great. Read More
Dedicated wrist-worn timepieces can be unquestionably beautiful (the Blue Ocean Watch or Zenith's Defy Xtreme, for example) but today's discerning gadget-lover requires much more from their wrist candy. The iPod Nano can already be made into a pretty decent digital watch but it doesn't (yet) have built-in Bluetooth connectivity so can't connect with the ever-present smartphone like the various flavors of the I'm Watch can. Smartwatch veterans Bill Geiser and David Rosales have just launched a consumer version of their open source, developer-focused, Bluetooth-connected watches. The STRATA is being billed as the first iOS 6-compatible smartwatch on the market and has already more than doubled its funding target on Kickstarter just a few days after its campaign launch. Read More
The Spotify app for mobile devices is free, but to get any usability from it beyond the trial period it requires the paying of a monthly subscription fee. While those using the desktop app can make do with adverts and playback limitations, there is no other option for mobile users besides paying the aforementioned fee. However, one feature of the Spotify app has been made available to U.S. users completely free, with the radio function now available to both iOS and Android users. Read More
