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Apple reveals iOS 8: Interactive notifications, Messages improvements, and more

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 8 wwdc

During it's WWDC 2014 keynote, Apple has announced iOS 8, the next major update for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. New features abound in iOS 8 that refine some things, and make others even better. One major feature is the interactive notifications. You know how you might get a text message or calendar invite when using your iPhone? You might be right in the middle of something and don't want to tap on the notification to go over to the Messages app--and in iOS 8, you don't have to. Instead, you can reply right from the notification. You can respond to calendar invites in the same way.

Apple also announced OS X during the keynote as well, which features a new visual overhaul, which was leaked prior to the event.

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Apple releases major iOS 7.1 update, here’s what’s new!

iOS 7.1 new features

Earlier today Apple released iOS 7.1, an update for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch that brings with it several major features and improvements. Some of the more notable additions include CarPlay, Siri enhancements, iTunes Radio improvements, and overall stability improvements for iOS 7 on the iPhone 4. If you're unfamiliar, CarPlay was unveiled last week at the Geneva Motor Show, and will be available in some 2014 model vehicles, bringing iOS 7-style functionality to the center console dashboard, allowing users to control things like Maps, Music, Messages, and other apps.

You can download iOS 7.1 now, and we've got the full list of all the changes, according to Apple, after the jump.

Click to continue reading Apple releases major iOS 7.1 update, here’s what’s new!


Apple now giving away iPhoto, iMovie, and iWork iOS apps for free with iOS device purchase

Free iWork and iLife apps

Apple has announced that it's iWork suite for iOS devices will be free with the purchase of a new device going forward as announced at this morning's iPhone 5S event. This means that Pages, Keynote, Numbers, iPhoto, and iMovie will all be downloadable for free to those who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. To give you an idea of what you are saving, that is $39.95 worth of apps that Apple now gives new buyers for free to all iOS 7-compatible devices activated after September 1, 2013, including current devices, as well as the new iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S.


Bleeding Edge TV 488: Poppy turns your iPhone into a 3D camera

We give you a behind-the-scenes look at Poppy, a device that turns your iPhone into a 3D video camera, 3D image taker, and 3D viewer. We chat with the co-creators, Joe Heitzberg and Ethan Lowry about what it took to make Poppy, the inspiration behind it, how it works, and how you can get your hands on one through Kickstarter in this episode!

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AT&T enabling FaceTime over cellular for unlimited data customers beginning next month

Facetime over cellular unlimited data

AT&T will finally be lifting its almost 3-year ban on FaceTime (and other pre-installed video chat services like Google Hangouts on ANdroid) for its customers on grandfathered unlimited data plans. Over time, AT&T has made stock video chat apps available on its cellular network only to customers on tiered data plans, or its newer Mobile Share plans, while unlimited users looked on in disappointment. That all changes starting next month, when customers with LTE devices get access to pre-installed video chat services:

For video chat apps that come pre-loaded on devices, we currently give all OS and device makers the ability for those apps to work over cellular for our customers who are on Mobile Share or Tiered plans. Apple, Samsung and BlackBerry have chosen to enable this for their pre-loaded video chat apps. And by mid-June, we’ll have enabled those apps over cellular for our unlimited plan customers who have LTE devices from those three manufacturers.

So if you've got an iPhone 5, you're in luck. If you are on an older iPhone 4S or iPhone 4, you have a bit more of a wait ahead of you. In fact, it appears that even if you have a current LTE device that isn't made by Apple, BlackBerry, or Samsung, you've got a wait ahead of you. Recent buyer of the awesome HTC One? Sorry:

Throughout the second half of this year, we plan to enable pre-loaded video chat apps over cellular for all our customers, regardless of data plan or device; that work is expected to be complete by year end.

We've been getting reports that some AT&T customers with unlimited plans and LTE devices are already seeing FaceTime over Cellular enabled.

Read More | The Verge

T-Mobile offering free iPhone 5 to users who trade in iPhone 4, 4S

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Hot Deals,

T-Mobile free iPhone 5

T-Mobile USA is set to launch the iPhone 5 this Friday, and in anticipation of the long-awaited event, it's offering current iPhone owners a free iPhone 5 if they switch from another carrier. Here's how it works: you bring in your iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S between April 12 and June 16, and you get a T-Mobile iPhone 5 at no cost up front, and a $120 credit that you can choose to apply towards your bill, extra accessories, or even an outstanding bill. The iPhone 5 would typically cost $100 up front, and an additional $20 per month over 2 years, so you are basically getting it with no up-front cost, and then a six month break on the monthly fee.

Of course, if you are mid-contract elsewhere, you have your early termination fee to worry about, which might put the kibosh on this one for you. However, if you have a spare iPhone 4 laying around, this could be an easy way to try T-Mobile's new smartphone plans out.

Read More | T-Mobile

T-Mobile USA to launch iPhone 5 on April 12, LTE in 7 cities

T-Mobile officially launches iPhone

T-Mobile, the fourth largest US carrier, has officially announced that it will carry Apple's iPhone, beginning on April 12 with the iPhone 5, 4S, and 4. T-Mobile was the the last remaining holdout of the the big four, that includes Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, to sell the iconic smartphone. The delay was due to a variety of reasons, one being the economic ramification of the iPhone potentially outselling other handsets that are heavily branded by T-Mobile, which the carrier heavily relies on. The iPhone 5 will be able to run T-Mobile's LTE which, coincidentally, finally went live today in 7 cities: Washington DC, San Jose, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Houston, and Baltimore.

The unique twist is how T-Mobile will manage to sell both the iPhone and the other handsets it carries. T-mobile will allow customers to pay the full price or pay $20 installments over 24 months with a down payment of $99 and will not be requiring a two year contract. Along with this announcement, T-Mobile will also sell the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S in certain markets with HSPA+. Despite its small LTE markets, T-Mobile boasts very competitive service plans that might entice new customers to defect from other carriers. Example, $70 for unlimited calling, data and text. One perk for the switch is that T-mobile is marketing that it will be the only carrier with HD Voice deployment on the iPhone 5. Now the iPhone 5 will officially sell on an equal playing field in the US. Pre-order starts now.

Read More | T-Mobile

Apple releases iOS 6.1.2, fixes Exchange calendar sync bug

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 6.1.2

iOS 6.1 introduced an odd Exchange calendar syncing bug, and today Apple released iOS 6.1.2 to fix it. The issue resulted in heightened network usage that would significantly reduce the battery life of affected devices. If you use an Exchange account with your iPhone, you'll wanna grab this over-the-air update now. No word yet on if iOS 6.1.2 also fixes the lock screen bypass bug that was discovered last week as well, but we'll check on that as soon as we're updated.


iOS 6.1 is now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Software,

iOS 6.1

After a longer than normal beta period, Apple has finally released iOS 6.1. You can download it now and update your device over the air, or by using iTunes, and can expect various bug fixes and improvements, including:

  • LTE support for more carriers
  • The ability to purchase movie tickets with Siri
  • iTunes Match users can now download individual songs from iCloud
  • New button to reset the Advertising Identifier

Let us know if you find any other hidden goodness in this release!


Canopy Sensus Touch Case makes your iPhone touch-sensitive on back and sides

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Apple, CES, CES 2013, Videos,

Canopy Sensus Touch Case

We got a look at the Canopy Sensus Touch Case at CES 2013, and walked away impressed. The Sensus Touch Case gives iPhone users 10-point touch input along the back and sides of the device, which means you can do things like play games by swiping along the back of the iPhone, leaving the display free and clear of your fingers. You can also do things like snap images by tapping the side of the phone, or zoom in and out of objects with a slide of your finger. Expect to see the case launch later this summer, priced somewhere between $59 and $99.

Click to continue reading Canopy Sensus Touch Case makes your iPhone touch-sensitive on back and sides

Read More | Canopy

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