Apple has reversed a change it made to how users quit location-aware apps in iOS 7. In the new OS, Apple changed how location-aware applications work when they are force-quit by users. In iOS 7.0, users who force quit an app -- by double-tapping the home button and swiping up -- also disable all location-aware functions which previously would continue to run in the background.

One app in particular, Life360, uses background location abilities to allow family and friends to locate each other. In iOS 7, when a user force quits the app, all location-aware background services were disabled. This caused the company to have a sudden influx of negative reviews and disappointed customers. Some apps even saw 30-50 percent drops in users following the change, according to Life360 CEO Chris Hulls who spoke to MacRumors yesterday.

Now, in iOS 7.1 beta 5, released a week ago, the change has been reversed and Hulls attributes that to a letter that Life360 and a number of other developers sent to Apple CEO Tim Cook on February 1. In the beta, background location services remain running when an app is force quit, same as in iOS 6.

VentureBeat has the first several paragraphs of the letter:

Dear Apple iOS Development Team,

We are a group of Apple developers who rely on iOS geolocation services for core parts of our businesses. iOS 7 was hugely exciting to us, as new features such as Location Beacons, Background Networking, and Multi-Peer Connectivity give us the ability to do things we never thought were possible.

In previous versions of iOS, if a user killed an application in the app switcher, developers were still able to get geolocation in the background. With iOS 7, once a user kills an application, all processes are terminated until the user manually restarts the app. We appreciate the intent behind this change, which we realize was done to give users more control over what is running on their phones, but it has caused major unintended consequences. … Many developers who rely on background geolocation have seen their app ratings fall by over 3 stars.

Life360 is a free download on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tuesday February 11, 2014 9:57 am PST by Jordan Golson - macrumors.com

Grovemade Introduces Walnut and Maple iPhone Cases and Docks

Portland, Oregon-based Grovemade today launched a pair of new domestically-sourced woods for its line of iPhone cases and docks. New Walnut and Maple options are available, going along with the Bamboo cases that the company has been making for years.

Grovemade also introduced a new iPhone dock with a three-pound steel base to hold the dock in place and allow one-handed removal and docking of phones. The base is available in black or steel, with Maple, Walnut or Bamboo wooden tops. The company also introduced a Walnut edition of its iPad Air and iPad mini cases.

"The addition of these new domestic woods and the debut of our new website underscores Grovemade's commitment to innovation, providing our customers with our signature craftsmanship and belief in superior quality," says Ken Tomita, Grovemade's co-founder. "These new case, dock, and cover options are just the beginning of the new product lines to be released in the coming months."

The Grovemade Walnut and Maple iPhone 5/5s cases are available from the company's website for $99, with the Maple and Walnut iPhone docks also priced at $99. The new Walnut iPad Air and Mini cases are $129 and $109 respectively.

Buyers can use the discount code Walnut+Maple2014 to get 20% off the new collection at Grovemade's online store.

Tuesday February 25, 2014 7:59 am PST by Jordan Golson - macrumors.com

Apple Adds Streaming Television Channel 'TV4 Play' to Apple TV in Sweden

Apple today added a new TV4 Play channel to the Apple TV in Sweden, giving Swedish customers access to the TV 4 Play service that includes live broadcasting, original programming, and full episodes of TV4 Group shows. While content is available for free, premium subscribers have access to additional shows and movies.

With 'TV4 Play 'on Apple TV, full episodes of current TV4 Group shows are available to watch for up to 7 days after their original air date. 'TV4 Play Premium' subscribers in Sweden can access an extensive library of additional content with most current and previously aired episodes available for a longer time period.

Along with access to content, the channel offers a personalized list of favorite shows and a "resume play" option to allow a show to be paused and resumed at any time. While the number of HD shows are currently limited, TV4 Group expects to add additional HD shows in the coming months.

TV4 is a Swedish television network that broadcasts news, sports, sitcoms, films, documentaries, and more. TV4 Play is the video-on-demand service for the network and is also available via an iTunes app. [Direct Link]

In addition to the TV4 Play channel for Swedish users, there are several other country specific Apple TV channels, including Sky Sports in the U.K., Watchever in Germany, and CANALPLAY in France.

Tuesday February 25, 2014 9:25 am PST by Juli Clover - macrumors.com

AT&T Adds Unlimited International Messaging to Mobile Share Plans

AT&T today announced plans to add unlimited international messaging to all of its Mobile Share and Mobile Share Value plans, allowing customers in the United States to send international messages as part of their existing plans, with no additional cost. Text, picture, and video messages are all included.

On Friday, February 28, all AT&T Mobile Share and Mobile Share Value plans will now include unlimited international messaging from the U.S. to the world. AT&T consumer and business Mobile Share customers can send unlimited text, picture and video messages. Current Mobile Share and Mobile Share Value customers will automatically benefit from this offer.

AT&T is also deploying a new World Connect Value international calling package, which offers one cent per minute calls from the United States to more than 35 countries including Canada, Mexico, and several other locations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The add-on, which is available to all AT&T wireless postpaid customers, costs $5 per month.

AT&T's new unlimited international messaging follows Verizon's recent introduction of new More Everything plans that also include unlimited international messaging.

Both the World Connect Value plan and the unlimited international messaging will be available beginning on Friday, February 28.

Tuesday February 25, 2014 1:22 pm PST by Juli Clover - macrumors.com

Oral-B Shows Off iPhone-Compatible Smart Toothbrush at Mobile World Congress

Proctor and Gamble first introduced its smartphone-connected Oral-B toothbrush earlier this month, but the company is on hand at the Mobile World Congress conference in Spain to give attendees a look at the upcoming device.



The Oral-B SmartSeries 7000 connects to the Oral Blue iPhone app using Bluetooth 4.0, allowing the app to provide real-time guidance on brushing habits. It records brushing activity on a chart that can be shared with dental professionals to create personalized brushing routines and because the Bluetooth connectivity works both ways, the app can also be used to program the toothbrush.

Engadget went hands-on with the Oral-B SmartSeries 7000 to show off how the app interacts with the brush itself. While brushing, the iPhone app runs a timer in real-time to keep track of how long a user has brushed and it also includes a stream of news articles to keep users entertained while brushing.

In case the sheer boredom of brushing your teeth for that long is too much to bear, you can also thumb through a stream of news articles or local weather reports (no, really) to help you hang in there. Turns out, just furiously mashing those bristles into your teeth isn’t great either, so the timer will blink red if you're pressing too hard.

In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, the SmartSeries 7000 features oscillating-rotating-pulsating technology, six different cleaning modes (Daily Cleaning, Deep Clean, Whitening, Gum Care, Sensitive, and Tongue Cleaning), a pressure sensor to prevent users from brushing too hard, and several different travel accessories.

Oral B's Bluetooth 4.0 smart toothbrush technology will be available in several of its toothbrushes, beginning with the Oral B SmartSeries 7000, which is expected to launch later this year for $220.

Tuesday February 25, 2014 2:45 pm PST by Juli Clover - macrumors.com

MLB At Bat Updated for 2014 Baseball Season With Full iOS 7 Redesign

In what has become a yearly tradition for late February, Major League Baseball today updated its MLB At Bat app for the 2014 baseball season. The app, perennially one of the most popular -- and highest grossing -- on the App Store, received a top-to-bottom redesign to match iOS 7 and to improve the user experience.

Photos and video are more prevalent in At Bat, running edge-to-edge and inline with other content. For example, video embedded in a news article displays within the article itself, with users able to tap a full-screen button if they wish. The redesign emphasizes MLB's aim to improve the fan experience and help technology augment the game and otherwise get out of the way.

Showing how the design team has embraced subtlety, text and selection highlights in the app change depending on which team a user selects as their "favorite". For example, a Red Sox fan will see red highlights throughout the app, while a Yankees fan would see navy blue. A MLB spokesperson told MacRumors that the app is the mobile focus point for millions of baseball fans and the design teams strive to make the app seem like home, no matter which team they're a fan of.

Long hailed as the standard bearer for introducing features that matter to fans, At Bat this year will report for live Spring Training games with a full app re-design for iOS 7 on iPhone and iPad, among other new enhancements. Fans again will have access to the core functionality At Bat has pioneered over its first five years, including: personalized team experiences to deliver a linear feed of content for a designated favorite team; searchable libraries of tens of thousands of video-on-demand highlight clips; and customizable original news reporting and fantasy baseball analysis from MLB.com club beat reporters and national columnists.

Like last year, there are two main subscription packages for the iPhone and iPad -- a $130/season MLB.tv Premium offering that includes live home-and-away television broadcasts for out-of-market games, as well as live home-and-away radio broadcasts. It also includes the ability to watch on any device regardless of how the viewer purchases the package -- users can buy MLB.tv Premium via a $130 in-app purchase can watch live games within the app, as well as on the Apple TV, Xbox, PlayStation or any number of other connected devices.

The cheaper At Bat 2014 product, available as a $20/season in-app purchase, offers home-and-away radio broadcasts with no blackout restrictions. Both the Premium and At Bat services are also available as month-to-month subscriptions, though the whole-season package is quite a bit cheaper than buying month-to-month.



MLB Advanced Media told MacRumors that the company is aware that customers would very much like to stream local games without blackout restrictions, but that the content deals to allow that are extremely complex and difficult to negotiate. It also is well into its iBeacon rollout and expects to have twenty ballparks outfitted with the devices by Opening Day. The At The Ballpark app will see an update before then to support the new iBeacons.

MLB At Bat is a free download from the App Store for iPhone and iPad. [Direct Link]

Tuesday February 25, 2014 4:22 pm PST by Jordan Golson - macrumors.com

Square Testing 'Pickup' App to Speed Up Ordering of Takeout

Square is testing a new app called Square Pickup that allows users to order and pay for takeout food. The app is currently in beta testing with select San Francisco restaurants, according to Priceonomics.

Instead of calling a restaurant to place a pickup order, users can just make the purchase with the Square Pickup App. The app is loaded with the restaurant’s menu. Just choose what you want, pay with Square, and then pick up your food when it’s ready. The app is currently in beta testing for both iOS and Android.

Square is not the only big company innovating with restaurants and in-app purchasing -- earlier this month, OpenTable began testing a feature that would have guests paying for restaurant checks in the OpenTable app.

Square is processing billions of dollars worth of credit card transactions annually and has an extensive point-of-sale system aimed at restaurants and other small businesses.

Tuesday February 25, 2014 4:44 pm PST by Jordan Golson - macrumors.com

FCC Launches 'FCC Speed Test' iPhone App to Measure Mobile Broadband Performance

The FCC today launched a new ad-free FCC Speed Test app for iOS devices, designed to measure mobile broadband performance. The app is an expansion of the Measuring Broadband America program, which aims to measure both fixed and mobile broadband to “bring greater clarity and competition to the broadband service marketplace.”

Like other mobile speed testing apps, the FCC's app analyzes mobile broadband performance (both Wi-Fi and cellular) and displays a breakdown of download and upload speed, latency, and packet loss. It also keeps a historical record of mobile speeds for comparison of performance over time.


The FCC is using data collected from the app to build an aggregated map of mobile broadband performance across the country, but it does not collect personally identifying information aside from carrier, country code, and GPS location.

Privacy is paramount. The FCC has taken significant measures to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of volunteers for this program. Using privacy measures developed and reviewed by a diverse team of privacy experts, any data that could potentially identify specific smartphones is analyzed and processed to ensure privacy protection.

The FCC previously launched an FCC Speed Test app for Android back in November and has published multiple reports on broadband performance as part of Measuring Broadband America.

FCC Speed Test can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tuesday February 25, 2014 5:48 pm PST by Juli Clover - macrumors.com

Apple Becomes China's Fifth-Largest Smartphone Vendor in Q4 2013

According to a new report from market research firm IDC (via The Wall Street Journal), Apple became China's fifth largest smartphone manufacturer during the fourth quarter of 2013, taking 7% of total market share in the country. Notably, the report does not include iPhone sales numbers from the region's largest carrier China Mobile, which began selling the iPhone through a partnership with Apple last month.

According to research firm IDC, Apple’s market share in mainland China rose to 7% in the quarter from 6% in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was the first full quarter after Apple launched its iPhone 5S and 5C in China in late September, on the same day the new phones came out in the U.S. and a host of other markets. In the past, iPhones went on sale in China months after they were launched in the U.S.

Apple is still behind other smartphone vendors in the country including Samsung, Lenovo, and Huawei, with those companies coming in at first, second, and fourth place, respectively. Apple also remained slightly ahead of newcomer Xiaomi, which notably hired former Google vice president of product management Hugo Barra in August 2013.

Apple has made strides towards improving its presence in China over the past few years, opening new Apple Stores in populated regions and establishing an official store on Chinese e-commerce site Tmall in addition to partnering with China Mobile. CEO Tim Cook has also visited the country numerous times throughout the past few years to meet with both China Mobile executives and government officials to discuss market growth.

Related roundups: iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6

Wednesday February 19, 2014 3:05 am PST by Richard Padilla - macrumors.com

'Loop Fob' Allows Swipeless Credit Card Purchases at Any Traditional Swipe Terminal

While Apple is reportedly working hard on its own mobile payment service, Boston-based startup Loop has just released its own mobile payments device -- one that works at most traditional U.S. retail outlets. The Loop Fob is a small device that allows users to store credit card information on the iPhone, and then wirelessly pay at any traditional magnetic stripe reader.



It uses "Magnetic Secure Transmission" to create a small magnetic field via an inductive loop. That magnetic field is detected by the read head of a traditional swipe credit card reader, fooling the device into thinking a normal credit card has been swiped. As a result, the device allows any credit card to be digitally stored in an iPhone and used as needed. It's a direct competitor to the Coin prototype electronic credit card that attracted attention last year, only it's been released to the world already. Loop recently took a $10 million funding round based on the success of its Loop Fob Kickstarter campaign.

The Loop Fob can be used while attached to the iPhone, or it can store a single card and be used separately at restaurants and bars. The company says payment data is encrypted and stored on the Loop Fob device, and no credit card info is ever stored on the iPhone.



Loop also has a dedicated $99 iPhone case in the works which will be released later this year. It will allow Loop owners to make touchless credit card payments without needing a separate hardware device. All the necessary technology will be built into the iPhone case. The fob will still be used to read credit cards for storage, however.

With its patented technology, payment card data is encrypted and stored in dedicated hardware secure memory, within the Loop Fob or any Loop enabled device. Partnering with payment card issuers, Loop’s technology can also generate dynamic card data every time a payment is made, making such data unusable for those trying to clone a card. Its contactless chip does not wear out and fits into virtually any form factor that consumers want to carry – from smartphones to fobs, to charge cases, to smart watches, the possibilities are limitless.

The LoopWallet app can be downloaded from the App Store, while the Loop Fob adapter can be purchased for $39. The $99 Loop iPhone case will be released later this year.

Wednesday February 19, 2014 9:34 am PST by Jordan Golson - macrumors.com

Square Teams Up With Product (RED) for Special Edition Reader to Fight AIDS

Mobile payments company Square has partnered with AIDS charity Product (RED) to introduce a new special edition "SQUA(RED)" card reader. The reader, which is bright red, is available for a $10 donation with 97.25 percent of that cost going directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.

Along with donating funds to charity, Square's new reader allows customers who swipe their cards to learn more about the project and donate to Product (RED) directly from their emailed receipts.

"Square already helps millions of local sellers run and grow their business, and now with SQUA(RED) Reader, we're empowering them to raise awareness for an important cause and help save lives in the process," said Jack Dorsey, CEO of Square.

Apple has a long history with Product (RED) and has sold red-themed devices and accessories in support of the charity for many years. Most recently, Apple's senior vice president of design Jony Ive teamed up with designer Marc Newson to create a range of products to benefit Product (RED), including a one-of-a-kind red Mac Pro. The duo raised over $13 million, adding to the $65 million Apple has raised for Product (RED) over the last several years.

Wednesday February 19, 2014 10:08 am PST by Juli Clover - macrumors.com

Camera+ Updated With Photo Editing Improvements, Widescreen Shooting Mode

Popular photography app Camera+ was today updated to version 5.1, adding several refinements to The Lab, which is the photo editing section of the app. It’s now possible to tap and hold on adjustments to reset them and there’s a new boost feature that increases the intensity of filters to 200 percent.

The app also includes a new setting to allow users to select which section to use first when editing photos and Camera+ now supports widescreen photos with a new 16x9 shooting mode.

Several bugs have been fixed in the new version of the app, including an API bug that prevented apps like Day One from working with Camera+.

Camera+ is an all-in-one camera app that’s been a popular choice for iPhone photography since 2011. It supports both in-app shooting and editing and includes a rich feature set for manipulating photos. The app can be downloaded from the App Store for $1.99. [Direct Link]

Thursday February 20, 2014 1:55 pm PST by Juli Clover - macrumors.com

Fitbit Issues Recall for Fitbit Force Over Skin Irritation Reports

Fitbit today stopped sales of its Fitbit Force and issued a voluntary recall of the product following multiple consumer complaints of skin irritation.

First released in October of 2013, the Fitbit Force is the company's latest wearable activity tracker, monitoring sleep, steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and stairs climbed.

Reports of skin irritation from the Fitbit Force began gaining traction in January after a report from The Consumerist pointed to multiple users experiencing contact dermatitis after prolonged use of the band.


Fitbit quickly began offering refunds or product replacements to affected customers and suggested the problems could be caused by a nickel allergy, as nickel is an element of the stainless steel used in the band. Fitbit's full recall letter is below, courtesy of TechCrunch:

We wanted to provide an update on our investigation into reports we have received about Force users experiencing skin irritation.

From the beginning, we've taken this matter very seriously. We hired independent labs and medical experts to conduct a thorough investigation, and have now learned enough to take further action. The materials used in Force are commonly found in many consumer products, and affected users are likely experiencing an allergic reaction to these materials.

While only a small percentage of Force users have reported any issue, we care about every one of our customers. We have stopped selling Force and are in the process of conducting a voluntary recall, out of an abundance of caution. We are also offering a refund directly to consumers for full retail price. We want to thank each and every member of the Fitbit community for their continued loyalty and support. We are working on our next-generation tracker and will announce news about it soon.

For additional information, please contact our support line at: 888–656–6381, or visit http://www.fitbit.com/forcesupport.

According to Fitbit co-founder and CEO James Park, only 1.7 percent of Fitbit users have reported skin irritation issues. An independent study did, however, determine the Fitbit is causing allergic contact dermatitis in some users, likely as a result of nickel contact or from the strap materials/glue used in the device's construction.

Fitbit Force owners can request a refund for their devices from the Fitbit website, with the company promising to send a reimbursement check within two to six weeks after a returned device is received. Fitbit is also working on an updated hypoallergenic version of the Force to be released sometime in the near future.

Friday February 21, 2014 12:10 pm PST by Juli Clover - macrumors.com

Apple Looks to Improve Displays with Research on Quantum Dot Technology

Apple has filed for a United States patent detailing a quantum dot-enhanced liquid crystal display with a dichroic filter that can provide a greater accuracy of colors over traditional displays, reports AppleInsider. Similar technology is currently being used by Amazon in the Kindle Fire HDX 7, which significantly outperforms that of the Retina iPad mini with regard to color gamut and accuracy.



The patent describes quantum dots as being similar in shape to traditional nanocrystals found in regular displays, but can also change sizes in order to emit light of different colors more effectively. For instance, bigger quantum dots can emit a longer wavelength light color such as red, while small quantum dots can emit shorter wavelength light should as blue light or violet light. This results in the quantum dots being able to cover a wider and more varied color spectrum compared to current LEDs, which can only emit light in a fixed spectrum.

As one example, Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconductors in the form of nanocrystals that provide an alternative display. The electronic characteristics of the QDs are generally governed by the size and shape of the nanocrystals. Quantum dots of the same material, but with different sizes, can emit light of different colors when excited. More specifically, the emission wavelength of the QDs varies with a size and shape of the quantum dots. As one example, larger dots may emit longer wavelength light, such as red light while smaller QDs may emit shorter wavelength light, such as blue light or violet light.

Apple goes on to note that one of the issues with quantum dots is the toxic nature of their contents, going on to suggest that cadmium-free quantum dots or heavy metal-free quantum dots could be used in order to alleviate the problem. The patent also suggests that there "remains a need" for designing the quantum-dot enhanced display to achieve more breakthroughs before it becomes ready for general use, including reduced toxicity, improved performance, and lower cost in fabrication.

Meanwhile, the dichroic filter that would be deployed on the quantum dot display would help reduce the density and toxic content of the quantum dots, and would also improve color and luminance levels, resulting in a more vibrant and accurate display. The filter itself would help in transmitting red light and a green light while reflecting most of a blue light, so that white light can be produced and ultimately benefit color accuracy as a whole.

It is not known exactly if or when Apple plans to integrate quantum dot enhanced displays in its products, but the company would have incentive to do so given criticisms of the Retina iPad mini display compared to Google's and Amazon's 7-inch tablets. Beyond mobile devices, quantum dot displays may also make their way to notebook computers, televisions and other consumer electronics over time.

Thursday December 19, 2013 7:17 am PST by Richard Padilla - macrumors.com

Cut The Rope 2 Swings Onto the iPhone and iPad

ZeptoLab has released Cut The Rope 2, the latest installment in the company's wildly popular franchise. Cut The Rope: Time Travel was released earlier this year, while Cut The Rope: Experiments came out in mid-2011. The original Cut The Rope won a 2011 Apple Design Award.

The new game follows the familiar theme set by the prior games, Om, the candy-loving creature, sees spiders trying to steal his candy, though there is a new cast of characters and gameplay elements. The game is $0.99, though there are in-app purchases, mostly focused on special power-ups and cosmetic changes. The game itself is fully unlocked with purchase.

Like most level-based puzzle games and its predecessor, Cut the Rope 2 starts off slow to give the player a chance to learn its most basic functions and controls as ropes are sliced in perfect time to toss the candy into Om Nom's infectious grin. Things like air cushions and balloons help keep the candy from falling off of a cliff and turning Om Non's adorable grin into an "awww" producing frown but a bunch new characters add a ton of creative new elements to an already creative game.

What appears to be hedgehogs crossed with aardvarks can spit out their tongues across a chasm creating a bridge to stop or roll the candy towards its final destination. Baby elephant looking creatures turn their long noses into springs to bounce Om Nom or the candy closer together and in the path of stars that can add to the game's longevity. These whimsical characters add a fun new dimension to what could have been an otherwise dull experience if the developers had just created new levels under the game's already brilliant design. They expand on a simple concept and give the puzzle creators more possibilities and challenges to throw in front of their players, which gives the players ample opportunities to replay it as they try to capture those elusive stars.

Cut The Rope 2 is available for $0.99 for the iPhone and iPad. [App Store]

Thursday December 19, 2013 10:09 am PST by Jordan Golson - macrumors.com

Weak iPhone 5c Demand May Be Slowing China Mobile iPhone Deal

With China Mobile, the world's largest carrier, having launched its new 4G LTE network without announcing an iPhone deal, questions have arisen about why an agreement has not yet been reached after many years of negotiations and evidence indicating that the necessary hardware is available and approved for sale.

According to a new report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the deal may have been slowed by the unexpectedly weak demand for the iPhone 5c relative to the iPhone 5s among China Mobile customers. According to Kuo's survey numbers, interest in the iPhone 5c from China Mobile customers has fallen precipitously from earlier expectations while iPhone 5s interest has remained high, and that unexpected mix of customer preference may be leading China Mobile and Apple to a renegotiation of an agreement that was nearly settled.

While previously we estimated that Apple originally planned the TD-LTE version would account for 30% of total iPhone 5C shipments, our latest survey indicates that demand for the TD-LTE iPhone 5C has declined dramatically due to 5S being far more popular than 5C among China Mobile subscribers. As such, we estimate iPhone 5C shipments of the TD-LTE version for China Mobile at 1.0-1.5mn units in 4Q13 and under 1.0mn units in 1Q14, well below Apple’s original production plan.

We believe this would necessitate a re-negotiation of the Apple-China Mobile deal and therefore defer its finalization.

Kuo also remains conservative in his predictions of the impact of a China Mobile deal on Apple's iPhone shipment numbers for the first quarter of 2014, believing that the launch of the new TD-LTE model for China Mobile will be offset by falling sales in other markets around the world as momentum slows in the months following the iPhone 5s and 5c launches in those countries.

Related roundups: iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6

Thursday December 19, 2013 8:15 pm PST by Eric Slivka - macrumors.com

'App Santa' Brings Discounts of Up to 60% on 15 Top iOS Apps

Heading into the holidays, many app developers will be moving to offer discounts to encourage both new and existing device owners to adopt their apps, but the new App Santa promotion launching today involves an organized effort by a number of particularly high-profile iOS app developers to offer discounts of up to 60 percent.



Apps involved in the App Santa promotion include:

- Day One ($2.99, down from $4.99): Journal/diary app [Direct Link]

- Launch Center Pro ($2.99, down from $4.99): App and action launcher [Direct Link]

- Mileage Log+ ($4.99, down from $9.99): Mileage tracker useful for tax deductions or reimbursement [Direct Link]

- Scanner Pro ($2.99, down from $6.99): Scan documents using iOS device camera [Direct Link]

- PCalc ($6.99, down from $9.99): Scientific calculator [Direct Link]

- Screens VNC ($14.99, down from $19.99): Remote desktop access [Direct Link]

- Clear+ ($1.99, down from $4.99): Clean and simple to-do lists [Direct Link]

- Calendars 5 ($2.99, down from $6.99): Calendar app with natural language input [Direct Link]

- 1Password ($9.99, down from $17.99): Secure password management [Direct Link]

- Perfect Weather ($1.99, down from $2.99): Colorful and clean weather app with maps and forecasts [Direct Link]

- Printer Pro ($2.99, down from $6.99): iPad app for wireless printing [Direct Link]

- Delivery Status ($2.99, down from $4.99): Track packages from over 30 services [Direct Link]

- Vesper ($2.99, down from $4.99): Note-taking, to-dos, and more [Direct Link]

- Tweetbot ($1.99, down from $4.99): Popular Twitter client for iPhone [Direct Link]

- PDF Converter ($2.99, down from $6.99): iPad app converts various file types to PDF [Direct Link]

Friday December 20, 2013 7:35 am PST by Eric Slivka - macrumors.com

Apple Posts iOS 7 'Tech Talk' Videos and Slides to Developer Site

Apple has posted the slides and videos from its iOS 7 Tech Talks tour to its Developer web site.

The talks took place this fall at a variety of locations around the world and were geared to both general app developers and those focused specifically on games.

Get in-depth guidance about developing for iOS 7, learn practical coding tips and tricks, and obtain valuable one-on-one programming and design assistance in our lab. Choose which day is best for you — app developer day or game developer day.

The sixteen talks cover a variety of topics including App Store Distribution and Marketing, Integrating iOS 7 Technologies, User Interface Design, Security and Privacy, and more. They are open to all registered developers, even those that don't pay a yearly subscription fee.

Monday December 23, 2013 1:32 pm PST by Jordan Golson - macrumors.com

Apple/Microsoft 'Rockstar Consortium' Considering Patent Sale

In 2011, Apple teamed up with companies like Microsoft, Ericsson BlackBerry, and Sony to form a consortium to purchase a collection of 4,000 patents and patent applications for $4.5 billion from Nortel, a communications company that went bankrupt in 2009.


The team of companies, called the "Rockstar Consortium," is now holding discussions on a potential sale of a portion of those patents, reports Bloomberg, after attempts to land large licensing deals for the patents have failed.

The group, called Rockstar Consortium, has recently been in conversations with possible buyers about the patents, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. Rockstar, which also includes BlackBerry Ltd. (BBRY), Ericsson AB and Sony Corp., has had little success in landing large licensing deals for the patents, three of the people said.

Back in 2012, Nortel’s portfolio of patents was highly sought after, with the Rockstar Consortium entering into an ongoing bidding war with Google, another technology company that was also after the patents.

A buyer, or several buyers, could acquire Rockstar’s patent portfolio excluding those involved in the lawsuits, two people said. Because Rockstar bought the Nortel patents at a high price and doesn’t want to sell them at a loss, the deals could be structured to take advantage of any future financial gain enjoyed by the buyer, the people said.

Another scenario would involve a third party joining the consortium to dilute existing investors, without involving a sale of particular patents, said one of the people.

According to Bloomberg, several of the patents have already been sold and earlier this year, reports indicated that the consortium filed suit against Google, Samsung, HTC, Huawei, and others for patent infringement on the Nortel portfolio. Apple and other Rockstar Consortium shareholders were reportedly not involved in the decision to sue.

The patents currently for sale are not the patents involved in the October lawsuit.

Monday December 23, 2013 2:42 pm PST by Juli Clover - macrumors.com

Apple's '12 Days of Gifts' App Delivers Early Bonus Song and Video from Lorde

Last week, Apple released its 12 Days of Gifts app, expanding the annual content giveaway to include the United States for the first time. While the giveaway runs from December 26 through January 6, Apple today is offering an additional bonus giveaway of "No Better" [iTunes Store], the new single from Lorde. The iTunes single includes both the song itself and a video for her hit song "Royals".



Apple's "12 Days of Gifts" giveaway will offer users samples of a variety of content, including songs, apps, books, movies from across Apple's digital stores.

Monday December 16, 2013 9:20 am PST by Eric Slivka - macrumors.com