Pebble 2.0 Firmware, Appstore And New iPhone App Goes Live!

Pebble took the start-up world by storm with its introduction of the first contemporary smartwatch as we know it. Having already pushed over 300,000 units, the company has faced pressure from the likes of Sony and Samsung, but so far – and largely due to the ineptness of the aforementioned – Pebble has weathered the storm. Today, as promised, the company has rolled out its tailored Pebble appstore as part of its version 2.0 firmware and iPhone app to reinforce its position in the smartwatch market.

Firmware 2.0 for Pebble, which includes built-in support for the new appstore and Notification center, has just rolled out immediately. The new firmware can be downloaded on the smartwatch from the Pebble iOS app 2.0 for iPhone. Unfortunately, Android users will have to wait for the updated Pebble app, since the new update requires some fine tuning, but the Pebble team promises that it will hit the Google Play Store very soon.

The Pebble appstore provides a one-stop for users of the Pebble to easily locate content in an organized manner. As previously announced, popular apps such as Yelp, ESPN, GoPro, Pandora and Foursquare have been readied for this official launch, and with a total in excess of 1,000 apps and watchfaces, it makes a very strong statement of intent.

New Pebble iOS app running Pebble appstore.

There are numerous sections within the new appstore making, it very easy to source fresh content, with categories such as Daily, Tools & Utilities, Notifications, Remotes, Fitness, and Games.

It is worth noting, however, that while this portal makes it a great deal easier to find new apps and watchfaces, you can still download them through other means, so if we’re thinking in terms of the two current market leaders in mobile app distribution, this isn’t so much a PebbleApp Store as a Pebble Play Store.

Foursquare app for Pebble 2.0

Along with these significant software updates, Pebble also recently launched Pebble Steel of its wrist-worn gadget, which has been retailing since the tail end of January. Having followed the start-up through the Kickstarter days, it’s great to see the success continuing a couple of years on, and even though this year could see the likes of Google and Apple join the smartwatch fray, this resilient little startup company definitely has something of its own to bring to the table.

So, if you’re a Pebbler, grab the iOS software below, and we’ll be sure to let you know just as soon as the corresponding update arrives for Android.

(Download: Pebble Smartwatch for iPhone on App Store)

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News Beat 12:11  No comment

How To Rename Messages Thread In Stock iOS 7 App

Instant messaging apps are ubiquitous, but although we all have our favorite third-party utilities such as WhatsApp, Skype, and others, the stock Messages app for iOS still gets plenty of use. This goes a long way to explaining why we have currently such a large count of tweaks being made specifically for Messages, and while there are swathes of great, powerful, and robust tweaks for this very purpose within Cydia, sometimes, we only want to make a subtle alteration here and there. MessageRenamer7 falls squarely within this category, allowing you to tidy up your list of messages by renaming them to whatever you like.

One of the great features of iMessage, which first came about with iOS 5, is the fact that you can have group conversations going, and you’ll find that if you have several going at any one time, it can be rather tedious trying to discern between them. This is where a tweak like MessageRenamer7 could come in particularly handy, allowing you to easily apply a different label depending on the group of people (perhaps a nickname related to the friends therein), and keep things looking relatively organized.

The tweak has long since been around from iOS 6, and has just been updated for iOS 7. The tweak has been re-written from the ground up for the new firmware according to the release notes, and also features 64-bit support.

While the old version was, and still remains free of charge, the developer is asking for 99 cents from those on iOS 7. If your Messages app is looking a bit unkempt and you’d like a way to establish a degree of order, this tweak offers a perfect solution, and having been optimized for the wave of new devices, should offer a slick, stock-like experience from the onset.

MessageRenamer7 can be picked up from the BigBoss repository in Cydia, and as aforementioned, costs one cent shy of a dollar. To locate it, simply open up the Cydia app on your home screen, tap on search, and type in MessageRenamer7.

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News Beat 12:09  No comment

New Report Says iPhone 6 Will Pack 10MP Camera With F/1.8 Aperture, Better Filter And More

When it comes to rumors pertaining a new iPhone, we seldom pay more than fleeting attention to what kind of camera updates may be in the pipeline. This is mainly because through the generations, the iPhone camera always gets better, and in many respects, this fact is taken for granted. The iPhone 5s was very much in-keeping with tradition thanks to its dual-LED flash and faster aperture – amid other enhancements – and now, we’re hearing that the rear snapper of the iPhone 6 will benefit from similarly great gains, including improved filter and sensor of at least 10-megapixels.

The current 8-megapixel offering is still regarded as a solid smartphone camera, but with the likes of the Galaxy S5 from Samsung and HTC’s One (2) both on the horizon and each set to push the boundaries for mobile photography, Apple will be aware that the next iPhone will have to hit the new levels for 2014.

According to Chinese blog GforGames, which cites industry sources in Taiwan in its report, the upcoming iPhone, known unofficially as the ‘iPhone 6,’ will sport a rear camera of at least 10-megapixels – something which steps away from a previous report that stated that iPhone 6 will have an 8MP camera - while boasting an improved aperture of f/1.8. The 5s’s shooter’s f/2.2 aperture is certainly more capable in lower lit conditions than ever before, and allied to the so-called ‘True Tone’ flash, those looking to take snaps after hours have had a much more joy with the latest and greatest. But the f/1.8 aperture would be wider, letting more light in, and naturally, improve the output of photos and videos.

The filter is also set for an upgrade, continues the article, with Japanese outfit JSR apparently behind the new resin lens filter. The company is renowned for its ability to create lighter, thinner filters for camera manufacturers, and since Apple’s long-standing philosophy is based upon making things as compact as possible, one suspects this partnership could be a lasting and fruitful one.

Whether there’s any truth in the report remains to be seen. We’ve heard umpteen reports of Apple releasing two new and larger handsets later this year, with one even reckoned to be hitting or even exceeding the 5-inch mark in terms of display size, so it seems there are plenty of pieces of this jigsaw still to be discovered.

We’ll keep you firmly in the loop with regards to the next-gen iPhone news and leaks, so stay tuned!

(Source: GforGames [Google Translate])

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News Beat 12:04  No comment

iOS 7.1 Beta 5 Download Released

Apple has just rolled out iOS 7.1 beta 5 download, which carries the build number 5B103i. Details on how to update / download iOS 7.1 beta 5 on your iPhone or iPad are given below. As ever, it contains a number of fixes and general enhancements, and we’ve got all of the info right here.

According to the official release notes, Beta 5 of iOS 7.1 brings usual bug fixes for Safari, some sync issues with iTunes and Bluetooth connectivity, adds “new natural-sounding Siri voices for English (Australia), English (United Kingdom), Japanese, and Chinese (Mandarin – China).”

This seed adds new natural-sounding Siri voices for English (Australia), English (United Kingdom), Japanese, and Chinese (Mandarin – China).
The iOS device initially uses a compact voice for Siri. After you have configured a Wi-Fi network and have the device connected to a power source, iOS will automatically download and install a higher quality version.

The fifth beta is, as ever, currently available only to those tethered to Apple’s Developer Program, so if you wish to try it out, then you can do through the usual methods – either updating OTA right from the device, or updating/restoring IPSW from iTunes. Download links of iOS 7.1 beta 5 can be found over at iOS Dev Center.

iOS 7.1 Beta 5 OTA update.

iOS 7.1 Beta 5 developer downloads. 

With this being pre-release number five, one would hazard that the iOS 7.1 GM is not too far away. Most major iOS releases clock up 5-8 betas before arriving in a blaze of glory, and with new releases dropping every other week from the Developer mill, it’s safe to assume that we’re on the home stretch.

So, as we remain on the lookout for any developments, be sure to give iOS 7.1 beta a whirl on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Oh, and if you do spot anything unusual or noteworthy, be sure to share it with us in the comments section!

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News Beat 12:02  No comment

Daily App: Flappy Bird (iOS, Android): Simple, Yet Addictive

IIt happens as regularly as the seasons do every year. Even as most people talk about how games on mobile devices are approaching console quality in graphics and gameplay, along comes a game that seems shockingly simple. But still becomes a rage. It happened with the likes of Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Temple Run and Candy Crush Saga, and the latest to join the “simple, but spectacularly popular” game brigade is the quaintly named Flappy Bird, which actually was released last year (for iOS, that is; it came on Android a few days ago) but has suddenly become a phenomenon, much to the bemusement of many.

It may be free and a mere 894 KB download on our Nexus 4 (when was the last time we downloaded a mobile game THAT light?) and a 2.4 MB one on our iPad mini, but we are going to put it on record – Flappy Bird is one of the most difficult and infuriating games we have played. And this, when on the surface, it is shockingly simple – you have to keep tapping the screen to keep a small bird in the air and help it get through a tricky path, between some obstacles, and the further you get, the better your score. The graphics are those of a super basic 2D sidescroller.

It is incredibly tough – none of my friends who have been playing it for close to a week have got past ten obstacles and I know just two have got past five. And yet, it is so easy to play that people go back to it again and again.Seems simple enough? Hah! Wait until you actually try doing it. The first attempt of six of our friends – and our own, we must admit – ended within a couple of seconds, literally with our first tap. The faster you tap the display, the higher the bird flies, slow down the tapping and it flies lower, pause or hit a barrier, and it sinks beak-first into the ground and it’s game over. There are no second tries, no special boosters, no potions, no option to start from where you left (or rather, fell) off. It all boils down to the intensity with which you tap the display – and as the gaps through which you have to maneuver the bird are at different heights, the intensity of your tapping the screen has to keep changing.

And lurking in there is perhaps some sort of lesson for us all – that gameplay and ease of use will time and again stump “cutting edge graphics and effects.” There is a lot wrong with Flappy Bird – it is difficult, repetitive, it has ads on the screen (no in-app purchases) and its graphics and sound effects are from another century. Yet, there are thousands of people tapping away on their Android and iOS devices, trying to keep that bird going past yet another barrier. Because well, it is so simple and yet so challenging. Worth a thought, wethinks.

Now, if you will excuse us, we have a bird to save. And a screen to tap.

Download from: iTunes App Store, Google Play
Price: Free

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News Beat 12:24  No comment

iPhone 4s, iPad 2 / 3, iPad mini, iPod touch 5 Jailbroken For Life!

iOS hacker iH8sn0w has discovered a way to untether jailbreak devices powered by the Apple A5(X) processor for life, which includes the iPhone 4s, iPod touch 5, the iPad 2 / 3 and iPad mini. Details are relatively scarce at this moment regarding the iBoot exploit, although if the exploits were ever bound together and released in the form of a jailbreak utility, those in ownership of either device would be able to enjoy an potentially indefinite, untethered jailbreak.

Even though the jailbreak scene is very much a here-and-now kind of pastime in that most enthusiasts are keen to find way to breach the latest versions, it’s always nice to see progress of any kind. And by the sounds of things, this is a pretty significant inroad. Taking to his Twitter feed, iH8sn0w posted A5 AES keys:

So looks like all my A5(X) devices are fully untethered and jailbroken for life now.
A5 AES Keys anyone? 4S 7.0.4 iBSS -iv 3a0fc879691a5a359973792bcd367277 -k 371e3aea9121d90b8106228bf2b5ee4c638a0b4837fefbd87a3c0aca646e5996
All A5(X) AES Keys will be posted on @icj_’s icj.me/ios/keys as soon as I clean this up a bit more 

Then, in speaking to fellow hacker Winocm, one of the guys behind p0sixspwn, iH8sn0w offered something of an insight into how exactly he managed to work the magic:

This isn’t a bootrom exploit. Still a very powerful iBoot exploit though (when exploited properly ;P /cc @winocm).

One follower also noted that iBoot jailbreaks can be patched by Apple on the fly. iH8sn0w responded to this by noting that they can be patched provided that they are released publicly.

Also, to further add fuel to this argument, Saurik took to a thread on Reddit to shed some light on the situation:

For informational purposes (as many people reading might not appreciate the difference), to get the encryption keys you only need an "iBoot exploit", not a "bootrom exploit". It is easier to find iBoot exploits (being later in the boot sequence, it has a larger attack surface: it has to be able to parse filesystems, for example), and they do afford more power over the device than an untethered userland exploit (in addition to letting you derive firmware encryption keys, you can boot custom kernels, and you might be able to dump the bootrom itself), but they are software updatable as part of new firmware releases from Apple and may have "insane setup requirements" (like, you might pretty much need an already-jailbroken device to actually setup the exploit). You thereby wouldn’t see an iBoot exploit used for a jailbreak (unless everyone is out of ideas for a very long time): instead, you’d see it hoarded away as a "secret weapon" used by jailbreakers to derive these encryption keys, making it easier to find and implement exploits on newer firmware updates for the same device (especially kernel exploits, where even if you have an arbitrary write vulnerability you are "flying blind" and thinking "ok, now where should I write? I can’t see anything… :’(").

But the big question is: will the exploit ever go public? Sadly, it won’t, according to a tweet byWinocm.

There’s no doubt that this is very exciting news, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on what remains a developing sequence of events, so stay tuned!

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News Beat 12:01  No comment

How To Add Live Weather Widget On iOS 7 Lock Screen

The Cydget tweak, released by Cydia creator Saurik, has long since offered a novel way for jailbreakers to widgetize their iOS lock screens, and with support for iOS 7, other developers have been hard at work updating and creating widgets for the masses. iOS 7 LockScreen Weather is one such Cydget theme, and although there are no prizes on offer for those managing to guess what it does, you may instead be surprised by how elegant it appears when installed.

Like all good tweaks, it aims to look as though it were a native implementation, nonchalantly slotting into the interface as part of the furniture. The developer behind it has obviously taken the time to consider the aesthetic changes made with iOS 7, and I think you’ll agree, it looks both slick and elegant.

The theme consists of a live weather widget, updating as changes occur. According to the release notes, it has been optimized for the iPhone 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, although support for other devices is forthcoming.

As you will see from the screenshot above, it looks marvelous in full flow, but it does have one or two issues. For example, the process of entering your local weather code is a bit of a pain, requiring that you pick up an SSH app (like iFile), navigate to a specific folder, and edit a certain config.js file in order to set the preferences as you would like.

Of course, in the early days of jailbreaking, users didn’t mind jumping through these minor hoops, as it offered at least a rudimentary understanding of how things come to be, but with so many new jailbreakers now on the scene and everyone looking for seamless, Settings-centric tweaks, this one’s definitely going to need a couple of minutes of your time.

If you’re looking to tie your weather updates on the native Weather app’s icon then be sure to check out LiveWeatherIcon for iPhone. You can even get live weather updates on your device’s status bar using the StatusWeather for iPhone tweak.

You can download iOS 7 LockScreen Weather right now from the MacCiti repo, which is among the defaults in your Cydia source list.

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News Beat 11:58  No comment

Apple CEO Tim Cook Visits UAE, Are We Finally Getting An Apple Retail Store In Dubai?

Apple, like most companies at the top of their game, is always seeking ways to expand its business. Recently, we’ve seen a concerted effort from the Cupertino-based outfit to capitalize on emerging markets like China and India, and just this week, CEO Tim Cook has been spotted sizing up some of the major shopping malls in the United Arab Emirates. As well as checking out authorized resellers such as the Virgin Megastore at Al Wahda Mall, Ciij also took a mosey on down to Jacky’s electronics store at the Dubai Mall, which has naturally fuelled speculation that the company plans to build a retail store of its own in the notably affluent region.

Although Apple does have an online store in the UAE, there aren’t, as yet, any physical retail outlets. With so much money changing hands on luxury goods in the likes of Abu Dhabi and Dubai – two of the seven states that comprise the United Arab Emirates – it seems only natural for Cook to be making enquiries, and if the motive behind the trip far East is as we suspect, the UAE could be getting its first official Apple Store before long.

There are one or two other reasons why Cook could be poking around in the Emirates, such as his company’s sponsorship of the Gulf Photo Plus photo festival, but when somebody as significant as the Apple CEO is in town, there’s usually a good reason for it.

Although Apple Stores are prevalent in nations such as the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany, the company is still only just starting to build bases in other nations, and a store or two in the UAE certainly wouldn’t do the company’s booming revenue figures any harm.

In October, it was announced that Turkey was finally getting its own Apple Retail Store, and with reports suggesting that Cook will be making the trip to Istanbul this month for the opening, it makes sense to assume that his current trip in the UAE ties in with the same theme of expansion.

Here are the photos from the trip for your viewing pleasure:

We’ll be keeping an eye out for any further news on the matter, so stay tuned!

(Sources: 7DAYSUAE [Twitter], plugins [Twitter], Anayahiam [Twitter], Jacky’s Electronics [Twitter])

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News Beat 11:55  No comment

iPhone 5c Catches Fire In 14-year Old Girl’s Pocket, Receives 2nd Degree Burns

We hear of many unfortunate incidents where people come to harm or property is damaged when tech products spontaneously combust, but very rarely does it happen to Apple gadgets. Unfortunately, one 14-year-old girl discovered that the perceived safety and quality assurance that comes with the bitten-apple logo isn’t an exact science, as the loud pop of her pocketediPhone 5c, followed by smoke billowing from her trousers, dramatically proved. Luckily, the student was unharmed.

With enough initiative to stop, drop and roll, she suffered only minor injuries, but there are many situations where this could have been a lot worse. Had it happened while she was asleep, for example, then her life may well have been in danger, and even though she was left with slight burns, she was still feeling well enough to request that she returned to school – something the medical officials duly declined.

It’s extremely uncommon for this to happen to a product from Apple, or indeed, any of the major companies that have rigorous safety checks. Often, a knock-off charger or battery is to blame for these incidents, but as noted by Andrew Rosenstein, a repair store owner close-by the girl’s school in Kennebunk, Maine, these things can still happen in any device where lithium-ion batteries are concerned.

He did go on to stress that such incidents are incredibly rare, and that the batteries installed within Apple products in particular are “extremely safe.”

It’s also worth noting that the device was in the girl’s back pocket, and the popping noise only occurred when she sat down. Thus, she may well have inadvertently shorted the device and caused the smoke and searing heat.

This doesn’t make the situation any better, of course, but in a sense, it should encourage those following the story to avoid sitting on their devices by placing them in the back pocket. Because if your device isn’t the one-off that will go up in flames, there’s certainly a good chance that you’ll pierce the LCD, rupture the display, or cause some other lasting damage.

On an ending note, regardless of any device you’re using, it’s better to take necessary precautions when handling gadgets. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

(Source: USAToday)

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News Beat 11:52  No comment

Apple Posts New Mac Tribute Video Shot Entirely Using iPhone 5s

Last week, it was revealed that the Apple Mac had turned thirty. Apple executive Phil Schiller was clearly buoyed by the news after tweeting about the milestone, and the celebratory mood spilled over across the company as a video was released to mark the third decade of one of the digital industry’s most iconic products. Not content with that, Apple has now rolled out a video showing the magic of the Mac when combined with its partner-in-crime – the iPhone 5s. The clip is filmed on the handset, edited on the Mac, and the result – a truly organic, Apple-made movie. Check it out after the jump!

Although the iPhone range’s cameras are not the very best on the market – especially with the likes of the Lumia 1020 in town – it can still churn out a pretty decent performance, as the video embedded below demonstrates. Sure, it has been the subject of some heavy editing, but nonetheless, the result is still impressive.

The theme of the clip, which was actually filmed on January 24th – the day of the birthday – focuses around putting technology “in the hands of the people,” one of the mantras of the Mac when it originally released. We then see just how those utterances reached fruition with some of the ways we utilize the technology nowadays, add although the video is only one-and-a-half minutes long, it tells a pretty good story.

Incidentally, the video itself was directed by one Jake Scott, son of Ridley Scott – the guy behind the original Mac ad back in ’84. His method for filming the whole piece, set in 15 different locations, incorporated members of the wider Apple product community, with iPads, Mac Pros and iMacs all contributing to the finished article. Directing remotely using FaceTime, the whole thing was pieced together in one studio in LA, and while the video itself is, on first impression, well put-together, it’s pretty darned awesome when you take into account the techniques used.

The 90-second clip can be watched below, and with the immediate birthday celebrations likely to die down as of now, let’s hope that the current Mac range – such clear beneficiaries of that early innovation – are treated to some solid upgrades this year.

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News Beat 11:49  No comment

Facebook Paper For iPhone Now Available [Download Link]

Facebook’s Flipboard-incarnate Paper was teased during the latter stages of last week, and now, the social company’s iPhone app is now officially available for download.

Having observed the App Store and Google Play over the past couple of years with a vested interest, I have seen quite a few start-iups try and emulate the success of Flipboard. Harboring that rarest of qualities of being efficient, functional and beautiful all at the same time, the so-called ‘social magazine’ is used by millions, but while competition has been rather easy to brush aside, Facebook Paper poses a real threat to Flipboard’s dominance.

Mark Zuckerberg’s team has toiled over the project for a number of months, and besides the fact that, because it’s from Facebook, it has a massive jump-start, the app is actually pretty beautiful. As we saw in the preview video, it’s nicely interactive, heavily gesture-based, and content seems to just flow, irrespective of whether its a news report, shared photo or Internet meme.

As you’d expect, everything is closely tied with your Facebook profile, so while this helps you find the content you want to see, it also greatly benefits Facebook in that it can gather even more information on your habits which can be then used for strategic advertising.

Nevertheless, for the newsy, the inquisitive, or just fans of great user interfaces, Paper has quite a bit to offer, and if you want to check it out for yourself, it’s now available over at the App Store. Please note, however, that this app is currently only optimized for the iPhone, and although we’d expect an iPad version to follow at some stage in the future, it is, at the moment, only designed for the smaller display.

The app is absolutely free to download, and we’ve got the direct link just below. So grab it, give it a try on your iPhone / iPod touch, and be sure to leave your thoughts and critiques via the usual channels.

Also, it’s worth noting that the app is currently only available in the US App Store. For those living in other regions are out of luck for now, but we expect a full rollout to happen soon in the coming weeks.

(Download: Facebook Paper for iPhone on the App Store)

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News Beat 11:47  1 comment