As ever, we're back with a fistful of great apps just gone free on the App Store, and if your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch is notably bereft just now, then this would be an ideal moment to stock up. There are three in total, and given that they would ordinarily set you back a total of $9, this is definitely a freebie bundle you won't want to be missing out on!
Although, as a male, I don't frequently encounter the issue of missing an important call because my phone is lost inside my handbag or purse, I do know that this is an issue affecting a large portion of the female population. To combat this, start-up Ringly has developed a nifty smart ring that offers customizable Bluetooth notifications, flashing different color LED lights and vibration patterns dependent on the nature of the alert. Not only is it highly functional, but it's a very stylish, inconspicuous gadget, and with a flexible, color-coded notification system, it looks a very well thought-out product.
For all of the great strengths associated with the Apple iPhone - from the seamless operating system to the regularly solid camera - the Cupertino's most prized asset does have its fair share of faults. The battery, for one, is regularly highlighted as a weakness, and of all the features that users would like to see greatly improved, the battery retention tends to be right up there. Although we expect the next batch of iOS devices to offer larger battery capacity from a hardware standpoint, software optimization also plays a pivotal role, and as per new findings from one iOS 8 beta user, Apple will be introducing a multitude of new features to help users conserve those precious droplets of juice.
Late last week, we heard that Apple was internally testing a Control Center feature that enabled users to customize the experience similarly to the manner in which iOS 8 would enable share sheets to be tweaked at the discretion of the individual. That tidbit was based on information found in the first beta build of iOS 8 available to developers, and now, the same source has indicated - with evidence - that Apple is working on a notably funkier alternative UI, complete with alternate font and an undercurrent of orange and purple.
Apple prides itself on its relatively good record of preserving security, but despite ongoing efforts to ensure that public releases of iOS and OS X are as stable and water-tight as possible, we're often reminded that software, inherently, is not infallible and that inevitable, faults will arise. The headlines have, for the past week, been largely dominated by talk of the upcoming iOS 8, but as Apple looks to pipe on the improvements, a new flaw within the current iOS 7 has just been unearthed.
With iOS 8, Apple has introduced quite a few good new features to the table. Some are related to functionality, like the third-party keyboard support, while others, such as those we outlined in a detail article, are less obvious but nonetheless important. One particular quirk, as just discovered by one eagle-eyed beta user, definitely advocates user privacy in that in randomizes your device's MAC address before you connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot, which also serves as a kick in the teeth for companies whose entire business is based on logging and tracking this information.
At last week's Worldwide Developers Conference, we half expected Apple to take the wraps off a fourth-gen Apple TV device. It would, according to reports and rumors, pack improved hardware and gaming support, but like the teased prospect of other new hardware being announced at WWDC, it did not materialize.
We're still a good few months from finding out precisely what Apple has planned for the iPhone 6, but with such a high volume of leaks and reports having surfaced over the past couple of months, we have a fairly good idea of its form factor and features. As well as once again underlining the notion that the device will be considerably larger than any smartphone Apple has released until now, a new report notes that the handset will finally delve into the uncharted realms of NFC, as well as offering wireless charging and improved LTE.
Now that WWDC is over, we can get back to wondering what hardware Apple will announce this year. It's a given than the iPhone 6 will be brought to market towards the last quarter of 2014, but what it will contain and how it will look is still up for debate.
The weekend is officially here, and many of us like to take this opportunity to unwind, relax, and more importantly, stock up on new apps and games. This process is made a lot easier when great, paid apps are offered for free, of course, and if you're looking for something to keep you entertained, then this great, usually-$4.99 game offers an all-action experience worthy of a spot on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch's home screen.
