Tag: iPhone

Xbox Live Finally Comes To The iPad

The coolest concept that Microsoft showed off at E3 2012 this year was SmartGlass, a technology that connects a mobile device to an Xbox 360. It offers extra content that can’t be shown on the television such as a map of Westeros when watching Game of Thrones on HBO Go. Microsoft will be supporting all tablets and operating systems with SmartGlass so it only makes sense to start getting everything compatible now.

The first step to our Xbox SmartGlass future is the My Xbox Live app for smartphones. It connects with your Xbox Live account to display all your account information such as achievements, messages and recent activity. The app was first built for iPhone, Android and Windows Phones, but now it’s getting a native iPad app.

Now users can control media on their Xbox 360 with their iPad. Users can now play, pause, fast forward and rewind videos on Netflix and other media that’s available on the console. It’s also far more friendly to changing up how your avatar looks then on the tiny screen of the iPhone.

Users of the iPhone version will just get a few bug fixes. There are some complaints via the reviews that say the newest update breaks messaging on the iPhone version, but it seems to be a limited occurrence. You should be fine if you have iOS 4.3 or later.

You can grab My Xbox Live for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch at the App Store. It’s free so you have no reason not to.

July 17, 2012
iPhone 5 Rumor: White Front Panel Spotted In The Wild

Apple has done a bad job of containing all the leaks concerning the iPhone 5. Sure, it might be a well-played campaign to drum up hype, but there has been an abnormally large amount of leaks. Interestingly enough, all of the leaks so far have been of the black iPhone with none ever surfacing in the traditional Apple white… until today.

A photobucket account belonging to user meme_168 has just posted what he claims to be a picture of the front panel for the new iPhone 5. He couples it with a shot of the back of the panel. It seemingly confirms what we’ve known for a while now about what the new iPhone.

The new iPhone will still continue to play host to the singular button on the bottom. It will also feature the larger 5-inch screen with the FaceTime camera directly above the speaker instead of to the side.

The new front panel design was seemingly confirmed back in June after a patent drawing from Apple surfaced showing off the elongated screen. Every leak of the front panel so far seems to confirm this so it’s safe to assume that the new iPhone will definitely be getting a size upgrade. Other fun rumors include the iPhone 5 getting a quad core processor which may be contributing to device’s reported battery problems.

[h/t: Mac Rumors]

July 16, 2012
Russian Developer Hacks iOS To Get Free In-App Content

Piracy isn’t that big of a problem on iOS. The amount of work required to circumvent the App Store and get free stuff just doesn’t seem worth it when most apps give you a way of obtaining in-game content through regular gameplay instead of buying it. Would you use software to get free in-app content if you didn’t have to jailbreak your phone?

A Russian developer going by the handle of ZonD80 has effectively hacked iOS to allow him free access to in-app purchases. The hack works on all devices running iOS 3.0 all the way to the newest version, 6.0. What’s even more fascinating (or worse depending on your definition) is this particular hack doesn’t require jailbreaking on the user’s part to access.

The developer has started up a Web site (we obviously won’t link to it) that provide users with all the tools necessary to get free in-app purchases. According to 9to5Mac, the developer is currently accepting donations to continue the project and keep the server that’s hosting the hack active.

Arguments for or against such a hack aside, the actual methodology behind it is fascinating. Users need only install two small programs from the developer’s site and then connect via Wi-Fi. After changing the phone’s DNS, a user just needs to hit like and enter their Apple ID. It’s stupid simple and something that Apple will want to stop immediately.

Fortunately for some developers, the method employed by those using this hack doesn’t work on all apps. Developers that use Apple’s method of validating receipts for in-app purchases will find that their app can not be affected by this hack. Developers will probably want to start implementing that into their apps right now.

Here’s a video from ZonD80 that shows how simple it is to use the hack. We here at WebProNews do not condone the theft of digital content. This is good code at work, however, and Apple would be wise to hire this guy for future security.

July 13, 2012
Otterbox Launches The Opposite Of The iPhone Stun Gun Case

We just wrote about a new iPhone case from Yellow Jacket, which doubles as a stun gun, in order to help you avoid being burglarized, raped or murdered. Otterbox also just released some new cases for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, which may not be as useful in an attack situation, but at least conjure up more pleasant imagery.

The company has unveiled its new Studio Collection, featuring designs from artists Monique Maloney and Evan Mann (via 9to5Mac). Maloney’s can be seen above. Here’s a look at Mann’s designs:

“The Eternality designs were inspired by my fondness for the flowers, flourishes and repeating patterns that I see in daily life,” says Maloney. “Whether in textiles, nature or other artists’ illustrations, the beauty in small details brightens my day.”

“The work on the Surreal OtterBox cases are my imaginings of metaphysical spaces – the imagery depicts the manifestation of invisible worlds and phenomena beyond the limitations of our physical senses,” Mann says. “My hope is for these spatial landscapes to act as imaginative nourishment that feed the mystery of reality.”

Here are the artists’ stories:

July 12, 2012
This Case Lets You Hurt People With Your iPhone (And Soon Android)

Yellow Jacket has created an iPhone case that doubles as a stun gun. According to a promo video for the product, you may use this to avoid: robbery, assault, rape and murder.

Sounds like a solid idea.

“Here at Yellow Jacket, we know from first-hand experience what is needed in a violent situation to escape danger,” the company says on its site. “We have designed our iPhone 4 stun gun case to be easily deployable with one hand. In less than two seconds, both safety mechanisms can be deactivated and the Yellow Jacket stun gun is ready for action. Compare this to a regular stun gun which can take five to ten seconds to find and deploy.”

“Our iPhone stun gun case is capable of stopping an aggressive attacker,” Yellow Jacket says. “The 650K volt of electricity flows from the electrodes and into the assailant upon contact providing a potential victim with the opportunity to escape danger. Unlike other phone cases, the Yellow Jacket iPhone 4 case gives you the ability to defend yourself.”

“The effects of Yellow Jacket are loud, painful and disorienting,” says co-founder Seth Froom. “We developed the Yellow Jacket to be able to take down a fully grown, aggressive, adult male.”

For now, it’s just available for the iPhone 4 and 4S, but Android versions are on the way.

Here are a few more angles:

Via Cult of Mac/The Red Ferret

July 12, 2012
The Authentic Poker Experience Comes To iOS

Zynga has become somewhat of a leader in the virtual Poker world with Zynga Poker for iOS. It’s still their most popular game on mobile devices so it makes sense that developers would want to replicate that success. They all have come up short, but EA might be able to give them a run for their money.

EA announced that they have secured the license and branding for World Series of Poker to release a game based on the property for iOS devices. The game is being designed with both novice and hardcore players in mind. That’s a good idea as the game will replicate the actual World Series of Poker and those guys can get pretty aggressive.

“EA and Caesars have teamed up to bring the most authentic poker game to the App Store,” said Bernard Kim, Senior Vice President of Social and Mobile Publishing at EA. “We’ve taken the adrenaline rush of playing at the table and combined it with stats to help you anticipate your opponents’ moves for a truly fun and competitive game that fans can play anytime. No other app captures the true poker experience like World Series of Poker.”

As for features, players can expect two styles of poker – Texas Hold’em and Omaha Poker. It will use Facebook log-in to connect players with friends and people around the world as they compete to become king of the table. To replicate the World Series of Poker experience, players will win rings and bracelets just like their favorite players.

Of interest to hardcore players, there will be exclusive high-stakes tables for players who reach pro-status. If you find yourself losing money, EA will allow you the opportunity to spend real money to buy more chip stacks and gold. It’s like a real casino without the real money.

“We are excited to partner with EA and bring a fun and authentic poker experience to your phone or tablet,” said CIE Chief Financial Officer Craig Abrahams. “The WSOP defines the ultimate poker experience and now EA is helping bring the virtual Vegas experience to our customers across multiple mobile devices worldwide.”

The game is available on the App Store for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. It’s free, but don’t make that an excuse to blow all your money on virtual chips. You’re better off wasting your money at a real casino.

July 11, 2012
Is Putting Windows 8 On The iPhone A Capital Offense?

Windows and Mac OS X are two sides of the same coin. Just because they’re both similar in many instances does not mean that they should ever meet though. Some intrepid, and possibly insane, designer has taken it upon himself to create the Windows 8 Metro UI for the iPhone.

Before you get out your pitchforks and whatever else Apple fans use to maim the non-believers, know that today’s unholy experiment comes from a Jailbroken theme. If somebody wants to add a little bit of Windows 8 to their iPhone, they will have already committed the unthinkable crime of going against Apple’s wishes by jailbreaking their iPhone.

Regardless, it’s a pretty sweet reskin and it looks just like the Metro UI that we’ve come to either love or hate. Seeing it on the iPhone just makes my week. I’m sure Apple fans will have something to say about it, but I think it’s a nice fit for the iPhone. I’ve always thought that Metro looked great on phones and the iPhone UI does need some sprucing up in the design department.

Check out the video below from Jailbreak Nation to get a close look at how Windows 8 would translate to the iPhone.

To get more information on the skin and where to download it, hit up Jailbreak Nations’s tutorial on how to install it. It’s only a paltry $1.50 to get the magic and wonder of Windows 8 onto an Apple device. That’s a small price to pay for the tech equivalent of crossing the streams.

[Lead Image: JBN]

July 10, 2012
Twitter Updates Its Mobile Apps With More Desktop Features

The problem with developing mobile apps is that you have to add all the great features from the desktop version while preserving the mobile nature of said app. Various developers have tried and failed when adding new features to their mobile apps, but the latest update to Twitter’s mobile app seems to get it right.

Twitter has been upgraded to version 4.3 on iOS and 3.3 on Android to bring you, the Tweeters, the latest and greatest innovations in mobile tweet technology. What you will see on display here are the efforts of Twitter’s development team bringing more of the desktop experience to the mobile handsets that dominate more and more of our lives.

First up is an addition that I personally have been wanting for a while now – expanded Tweets. You may have noticed that the desktop version of Twitter allows you to watch YouTube videos linked within Tweets inside the tweet itself. That feature is now available on the mobile app so you don’t have to open a separate app to get to the video, article or image that get Tweeted out.

Search autocomplete has received a revamp that sees more results displayed while you’re searching for that special somebody on Twitter. Search still supports real names and @usernames so you never have to use one or the other to get the results you want.

Humorously enough, Twitter has added a feature that I never knew I wanted until now. The app will now push notifications to your phone whenever somebody in particular Tweets. If you must get every Tweet from your favorite Twitter personality delivered straight to your phone, this is the place to do it. Just turn on push notifications for Tweets on any user profile’s action button and you’re good to go.

As a little added bonus, Twitter for iPhone is getting access to Twitter Events. It’s a super cool feature that allows you to search for something, like say #NASCAR, during an event and you will receive all the major updates live from the event. Considering that Twitter users break the news more often mainstream media, it would be a great idea to use it for events like the Olympics this summer.

You can grab the new Twitter app from both the App Store and Google Play.

July 10, 2012
Amazon Smartphone is Currently in the Works

An Amazon smartphone is rumored to be in the works, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. If these hushed whispers and nameless tips are to be believed, the device in-question would be powered by Google’s Android operating system. The company is looking to give Apple and the iPhone a run for its money, though industry insiders seem to feel that, while a smartphone from the likes of Amazon is certainly intriguing, it will have a long, hard road ahead if it plans to compete directly with the almighty Apple.

Anonymous sources close to the project told the SFC that Foxconn International Holdings Ltd, a mobile phone manufacturer based out of China, will assist Amazon with the project. If the company’s name sounds vaguely familiar, you may recall the riot that took place at one of the factories back in June, an event which saw over 1,000 employees clash with security over poor working conditions. The manufacturer is also responsible for making iPhones.

The introduction of an Amazon smartphone would certainly give the company more avenues for its digital distribution system, which allows users to download an endless stream of movies, music, games, and books to a large number of mobile devices. Although Amazon has certainly enjoyed success with the Kindle Fire, adding an affordable smartphone to their stable of gadgets would allow it to compete in the ever-growing mobile market.

Currently, Amazon is acquiring a number of patents in order to protect itself from allegations of infringement, a matter that has caused some trouble for the Google Tab in the United Kingdom. Sources indicate that these patents cover a wide variety of wireless technology.

A release date for the Amazon smartphone has not yet been set.

July 10, 2012
If You Own an iPhone or Android, Chances Are Obama’s Your Guy

Although the national race for the White House seems to stand at a virtual dead heat according to many polls, when it comes to smartphone owners it’s really not even close.

Mobile advertising technology company Velti, with the help of Harris Interactive, conducted a survey of 800 iPhone/Android users and found that they currently swing heavily for President Obama. When asked who they would vote for if the election were held today, 49% said Obama. Only 31% said that they support Mitt Romney.

And among those iPhone/Android users that say they support the President, there was a few key discrepancies. First, the males who support Obama are more likely to be young (18-34), as opposed to middle aged (35-44). Obama looks to have the young female iPhone/Android users even more on lockdown, with 60% of those aged 18-34 giving him their support.

“The results of this survey demonstrate that the smartphone market is becoming a whole new demographic that candidates must take into consideration when building a comprehensive campaign strategy,” said Krishna Subramanian, CMO, Velti. “Clearly, mobile advertising is emerging as an influential medium and a distinct audience. We are just beginning to see a more strategic use of this platform, such as Mitt Romney’s iAd campaign, and believe that others will follow suit. More importantly, the survey results reveal that greater intelligence in understanding the behavior of this emerging demographic can be a critical differentiator in brand awareness and consumer behavior across any number of markets and applications.”

I guess the takeaway for the Romney campaign is that they need to do some work among these smartphone owners. The only group of iPhone/Android users that supported Romney over Obama were retirees.

Check out some more interesting results from the study below:

July 10, 2012
Live a Wild Night and Capture It All on Your iPhone in Awesome Interactive Music Video

Considering you’re cool with allowing third party apps access to your Facebook data, interactive experiences can be a lot of fun. Social media sites (but especially Facebook) have such a massive trove of data about everything you do, that these apps are able to give you a truly personalized experience – photos, friend interactions, check-ins are all fair game.

Sometimes it can be a little creepy, I’ll admit it. But if you’re looking for a cool interactive experience that won’t lead to all of your friends getting spammed to all hell, this new interactive music video from electronic duo MNDR is a great four minute ride.

The video is seen entirely through the lens of an iPhone, and the story plays out through text messages, maps app, Foursquare, Facebook, and a few more surprises. The “video” part of the music video is shown as if you’re recording the whole thing through the camera app.

Quick, Amanda from MNDR texts you and wants you to come to a show. But you have to work early the next morning. What do you do?

Say screw it and have a memorable night, of course.

(image)

Click the link above to authorize Facebook access and have a personalized video experience. Or just watch a generic version of the video below:

[via PSFK]

July 9, 2012
Pro-Tip For Guys: Never Give Your Girlfriend A Fake iPhone

Is it weird that all the Apple news comes out of China? It seems that Chinese manufacturers have more to say about Apple products than the California-based company does itself. It also seems that Chinese citizens are far more rabid for Apple products than their U.S. counterparts could ever be. Case in point: some people are willing to die over them.

Kotaku reports that a young couple in China’s Sichuan province had been in a few fights recently. The most recent fight was over the boyfriend’s inability to buy his girlfriend an iPhone. She reportedly said, “All the other girls had one, I deserve one too.” That kind of behavior can never be healthy for a relationship, but the young man bit the bullet for the one he loved.

After work the next day, he went out and bought her a brand new iPhone. Obviously, she was delighted until she realized that she lived in China and half of the electronics are fake knockoffs. The iPhone she was holding was indeed fake and the boyfriend was probably stupid enough to think she would fall for it.

This is where things get weird and dangerous. Upon learning that the iPhone was fake, she took to the top of the building to commit suicide. She reportedly screamed that her boyfriend was a liar and that a combination of deceit and fake Apple products made her life not worth living.

Fortunately, the young woman didn’t die. She did, however, attempt to murder her boyfriend. Upon hearing that his girlfriend was going to jump, he ran to the roof to save her. She returned his worry with attempted murder by grabbing a brick to hopefully crush his head to a pulp. The police stopped her before any of the potential events could transpire, but it must have been a crummy day for all.

This is a story that reminds you that electronics and shiny toys are just that – toys. They are not worth dying over and they are definitely not worth killing somebody over. Sure, it was a crummy move by the boyfriend to buy her a fake iPhone, but she is equally at fault for losing her mind over a phone.

In short, guys shouldn’t buy their girlfriends fake products as presents. People can generally tell the fakes apart from the real ones. People in general, and the woman in this case, should just be happy they have someone to share time together with. A relationship defined by an iPhone is not going to last.

July 9, 2012
Samsung Galaxy S III Availability From Verizon Moved Back To July 12

For those of you who are ready to chuck your allegiance to Apple to the wind and join the Samsung/Android revolution after seeing those Galaxy S III sheep commercials, your wait is just about over–provided Verizon is your carrier of choice. Samsung’s flagship smartphone hit Verizon shelfs on July 12, and they’ve updated their site to indicate as much.

If you’re an AT&T customer, the S III is already available. Of course, Verizon has a broader 4G (LTE) network, giving them the advantage in that arena:

For those of you who don’t want to wait until July 12 to spend your money, Verizon’s Galaxy S III is now available via pre-order at the official site. The Galaxy S III has a starting price of $199.99 from both Verizon and AT&T, provided you sign up for the two-year commitment. If you have ideas of buying the S III without the contract, at $549.99, you’d be better off buying a laptop because you’ll get more for your money.

While the “iPhone killer” talk is in very overblown, the Galaxy S III does represent an alternate choice for those who don’t want to be apart of Apple’s family; a perfectly reasonable point of view. With that in mind, there’s a great comparison video from PhoneArena, and it takes an honest look at both the S III and the iPhone 4S. It points out the positives and negatives of both devices before rendering a well thought out, honest verdict. Bonus, the verdict almost goes out of its way to not be biased towards either device. The result is a solid review that inform the viewer quite well:

July 9, 2012
Pole Dancer App Will Turn Your 12-Year-Old Into “A Lap Dancing Sexpot”

Last week we brought you a story that offered a little insight into the process of how Apple reviews and approves apps for the iOS App Store. It turns out that the App Store review team is a drastically understaffed group of people who sit in an office in Cupertino and are forced to spend a startling amount of time looking at pictures of penises. That, it seems, is part of the reason that the occasional app slips through the cracks – whether it’s a good app that gets rejected, or a bad app that gets let through. The fact is, sometimes these people make decisions that make you wonder just what the hell they were thinking.

Case in point: Pole Dancer Pro. Pole Dancer Pro is a universal iOS app in the App Store’s health and fitness category. As you might expect from the name, the app is designed to teach the basics of pole dancing. Specifically, the description of the app says that the goal is “to help you enjoy getting into shape” while “transforming you into a lap dancing sexpot.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the app is generating a bit of controversy. Now, I’m not one to judge. If somebody wants to learn pole dancing, they’re welcome to it. And if they want to use an app so they can do it in the privacy of their own home, that’s fine too. What’s raising eyebrows, though, is the app’s age limit. Ordinarily you’d expect an app like this to be rated 17+. In this case, you’d be wrong:

Yep, you read that right. An app that teaches people to pole dance is rated 12+. Now, I’m the dad of a young daughter, and I get that there’s a tendency to be a bit overprotective. All the same, I like to think that when she starts dating, I’ll be pretty cool about the whole thing. I mean really, she’ll be 30, so who am I to interfere? Seriously, though, the fact that Apple rated this 12+ is a little creepy. Call me a prude if you want, but I maintain that a 12-year-old has no business learning to be a “lap dancing sexpot.”

Fortunately for dads like me, though, there’s good news. The app itself is clearly aimed at adults, not pre-teens, so this is almost certainly a screw-up on Apple’s part, rather than a deliberate marketing decision by the app’s developer. Which means that you can bet that Apple will be changing the rating before the day is out.

July 9, 2012
Concept Video Shows How A Wearable iPhone Could Look

If Google is to be believed, wearable devices are the future of mobile technology. Their Project Glass has caused quite a stir in recent months. While Apple doesn’t have anything like that themselves at present (apart from the iPod Nano), there’s a decent chance they’re working on it. Whether it’s their own version of Project Glass, or a wrist-mounted iPhone, Apple probably has something wearable in the works.

While a wrist-mounted iPhone may seem unlikely (and probably is), concept artist Federico Ciccarese has published some concept images that show what it might look like if it were real. It looks pretty cool, for all that it also looks uncomfortable and bears a slightly disturbing resemblance to a head crab.

But resemblance to evil zombie-making alien parasites aside, this is a pretty neat concept. You can check out the full set of images at Ciccarese’s website. Ciccarese has also put together a video showing the wearable iPhone from multiple angles. It’s embedded below for your viewing pleasure:

July 6, 2012
Apple Does Devs A Favor, Removes Negative Reviews After Crash Bug

Earlier this morning we told you that Apple had fixed the bug in the App Store that caused several recently-updated apps to crash on launch. The problem apparently originated with an Apple server responsible for adding DRM code to apps. The code that was getting added was corrupt, causing the apps to crash on launch – in fact, if you tapped the icon for an affected app, it would crash before the home screen had completely disappeared.

As you might expect, users were not at all happy about the problems. What’s more, many – probably most – didn’t realize that the problem was Apple’s fault and not the developers. And so, of course, these users did what users do when they’re upset about something: they left nasty reviews. Several of the affected apps received numerous negative reviews before Apple got their fix in place.

Fortunately, Apple recognizes the amount of harm a whole bunch of negative reviews in a short time can cause, especially to an app that’s struggling to gain popularity in the App Store. With that in mind, Apple extended the affected apps a peace offering. They removed all of the negative reviews left during the period the bug was in effect. In some cases, they even appeared to have removed all reviews, not just the negative ones.

With the bug fixed and most users having installed the new, corrected versions of the apps, removing the negative reviews is pretty much the last step toward fixing the problem. Kudos to Apple for making the situation right.

July 6, 2012
iPhone 5 Rumor: New iPhone Getting A Quad Core Processor?

Before the release of the new iPad back in March there were widespread rumors that the tablet would be getting a quad-core A6 processor. Then, shortly before the launch event, rumors began to surface that the production of the A6 couldn’t be ramped up quickly enough, and so Apple had decided to use an enhanced version of the dual-core A5 processor found in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. Whether Apple actually had a quad-core A6 in the works or not is unclear, but they did put the A5X in the new iPad. Since then the question has been whether the new iPhone, likely set for an autumn release, would have the A5X as well.

According to recent news from DigiTimes, the answer to that question appears to be no. Citing “industry sources,” they’re reporting that the new iPhone will be getting a quad-core processor, specifically the Samsung Exynos 4 processor.

Of course, this is DigiTimes, so you definitely want to take it with a sizable helping of salt. Even so, Samsung’s processor may be as good a candidate as any for the new iPhone. Despite the two companies’ rivalry at the consumer level, Samsung is one of the main suppliers of Apple’s components, and Apple in turn is one of Samsung’s biggest component customers. In other words, this may be one of DigiTimes’s “stopped clock” moments. Or maybe not. With the iPhone not likely to release before October, we’ve still got a bit of waiting to do before we know for sure.

July 6, 2012
Russian Malware Sneaks Into App Store, Google Play

While critics often complain about the “walled garden” ecosystem of the iOS platform and its App Store, there’s one thing that’s hard to deny: iOS is about as secure as you could want it to be. While malware on the Android platform is an ever-increasing threat, iOS users generally don’t have to worry much about it. After all, all iOS apps are checked by Apple’s own reviewers, so a malware app could never make it to the App Store to be downloaded by users.

Well, almost never.

It seems a Russian malware app made it to the iOS App Store and Google Play recently. The app is called Find and Call. Once you download and open it it uploads your address book to a server, then spams all your contacts with texts prompting them to go download the app.

Both Apple and Google have, not surprisingly, pulled the app from their respective markets. It is no longer available for download from either the App Store or from Google Play. The app was originally identified by Kapersky Lab, who discovered what the app did and notified both Google and Apple of the problem.

Of course, it should go without saying that if you downloaded the app, you should go ahead and delete that as soon as possible. Without opening it.

July 6, 2012
Amazon Planning To Build An iPhone Competitor?

Remember when Amazon was just an online bookstore? Man, those were the days. Palm and Handspring were making PDAs, email was finally catching on, and most of us still had to call the internet from our home phone lines. A lot has changed since then, and Amazon is a whole lot more than “the world’s largest bookstore” these days. They basically invented the e-reader market a few years back, and when Apple tried to take it away from them with the iPad, they responded with the Kindle Fire. Though the Kindle Fire hasn’t made much progress toward knocking the iPad from it’s lofty perch at the head of the tablet market, it’s done pretty well for itself.

Now, however, it looks like Amazon may not be content with gaining a foothold in the tablet market. According to a report this morning from Bloomberg, they may be going after the smartphone market, too. Citing “two people with knowledge of the matter,” Bloomberg says that Amazon is working with Foxconn to create their own smartphone, which, for the sake of convenience, we’ll call the Kindle Phone until Amazon tells us otherwise. They also say that Amazon is in the process of acquiring patents to insulate itself from charges of infringement down the line.

Bloomberg’s report doesn’t say anything about potential carriers of the software platform for this Kindle Phone. The carrier question will be difficult to speculate on until an actual announcement is made. As far as the operating system goes, though, the answer is pretty clear. The Kindle Fire runs on a modified version of the Android operating system. It makes the most sense to use the same software on Amazon’s smartphone as well, especially if the phone shares the Kindle branding. To do otherwise is to run into potential compatibility problems between two members of the Kindle family.

Of course, this Kindle Phone is all just a rumor at this point. Nevertheless it’s a logical move for Amazon. The mammoth online retailer has a thriving content ecosystem already in place. That ecosystem has been a major contributing factor to the success of the Kindle Fire, and would give any Amazon smartphone a definite boost.

July 6, 2012
Apple Resolves App Store Update Problem

Apple has fixed a bug that was causing certain updates to crash on launch. Yesterday we told you that many users were experiencing a bug that caused recently updated apps to crash on launch. The update affected over three dozen apps, including Instapaper, the free version of Angry Birds Space HD, GoodReader, Readdle Scanner Pro, and many more.

According to a statement released to AllThingsD, Apple says they have now fixed the problem. According to the statement, the problem stemmed from a server that generated the DRM code for the affected apps. Instead of unlocking the apps for their users, the faulty DRM code caused the apps to crash.

The problem was first brought to light by Instapaper developer Marco Arment, who posted to his blog that he had received a “deluge” of message complaining that the recent update to Instagram crashed on launch. A little digging revealed that the problem was on the App Store side, and that somehow Apple was releasing apps that had been corrupted.

According to Apple, the situation has been resolved. If you had one of the affected apps, you’ll have to delete it and re-download it from the App Store in order to get it to work.

July 6, 2012
iPhone 5 Rumor: Leaked Image Of New iPhone Display Looks Familiar

It’s been a little while since we got our hands on a nice, juicy iPhone rumor. Last week there was a bit about NFC finally coming to the iPhone. Before that it was the mini dock connector. Before that, Apple apparently let details about the new iPhone’s redesign slip in some patent drawings.

But it’s been awhile since we had something more concrete than drawings or rumors. The last time we had anything like that was when the new iPhone’s metal rear panel apparently leaked.

Unfortunately, the drought continues, despite what you may have read elsewhere. If you’ve been paying much attention to tech news today, you’ve probably seen references to a leaked front panel for the new iPhone. This leak supposedly confirms the new iPhone’s larger display. The story comes originally from a Chinese news site called MyDrivers.com (Google Translation), who posted the following picture yesterday:

Unfortunately, the image is almost certainly a fake. Well, that’s not strictly accurate. It probably is an iPhone front panel, just not from the new iPhone. If you’re familiar with the information that’s already been out there about the new iPhone, then there are a few obvious clues. First, there’s the camera. Everything we’ve seen so far says that the FaceTime camera on the new iPhone will be centered above the earpiece, not offset like it is on the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. Second, there’s the size. The new iPhone is almost universally believed to have a larger screen, but all that extra real estate will be added in height – the new iPhone’s display won’t be any wider. It’s hard to tell for sure from the photo, but the aspect ratio on this image looks pretty much the same as on previous iPhones. So if this panel is 4 inches on the diagonal, then it would have to be both wider and taller than previous iPhones.

So what it is, then? Well, the good folks over at Cult of Mac did a little digging of their own and found that the image provided by MyDrivers looks suspiciously like iFixit’s photo of the iPhone 4S’s front panel:

So again, the image MyDrivers gives is almost certainly not the new iPhone’s front panel. Nevertheless, there are a few interesting tidbits in their article. For one thing, they affirm the rumors about the new iPhone’s display, saying that the screen will get a 30% increase in viewing area and be 4 inches on the diagonal. They also repeat several other rumors that we’ve heard, including the use of an in-cell touchscreen and NFC.

They also suggest that the new iPhone will be releasing next month, rather than widely expected September-October release date. On the one hand, that seems unlikely, given that it’s less than 12 months since the iPhone 4S released. On the other, nearly every rumor concerning the iPad Mini has pegged it for an October launch. Launching the iPhone a bit early would avoid having the two devices trample on each other’s markets, and edge the iPhone back to the original summer release schedule it was on until the iPhone 4S was delayed last year. All things considered, though, it’s likelier that the new iPhone won’t be coming until October. Either way, we’ve still got some waiting left to do.

July 5, 2012