Let's make no bones about it - the iOS app badge icons are fairly ugly. When they start to build up, they leave unsightly blemishes that distract the pleasant aesthetic tweaks that Apple made with iOS 7, and in all honesty, the Cupertino company really ought to have replaced them with something a tad more forward-thinking by now. A new tweak offers a quite sublime alternative to badges, replacing them with a simple, unassuming glow that tells you when a notification has arrived or when an app is running, and it's easily one of our favorite tweaks on iOS 7 so far.
With every spare moment we get, we like to indulge in a little mobile gaming, and when the weekend comes around, we've perhaps even more time to twiddle our thumbs and get stuck into some virtual challenges. If you're looking for a graphically-intensive MMORPG title on iOS, then you'll be pleased to know that one of the very best ones has just gone free, and considering how it would usually set you back $6.99, is definitely worth a look.
Codemasters has many a Formula 1 game under its belt, and as a long time fan of both the company and the sport, I can vouch for the fact that most of them have been pretty darned awesome. But having churned out so many titles boasting cutting-edge graphics, realistic game play and very plausible simulation of the many great tracks across the world, the game maker has now come through with a spot of arcade fare in the image of SEGA All-Star Racing and Mario Kart. The animated experience is all about non-stop, unadulterated fun, and if you're a sucker for this kind of thing, then check the details after the break!
In a world where we carry around smartphones and tablets as a matter of routine, it's true that an unfortunate outcome of that is that we seem to be constantly charging things. if we're not charging our smartphones, then we're charging that tablet that we've been playing that hot new game on. In our houses here at least, there's always something on-charge.
Facebook has been actively upping its game in the mobile stakes in recent times, and alongside the announcement of the big Facebook Home launcher for Android last year, the Menlo Park company also introduced a neat little feature by the name of Chat Heads. Simply put, this feature brought universal chat bubbles that could be accessed from any aspect of Android and moved around the interface at will. Due to limitations with iOS, it wasn't possible for Facebook to replicate the feature on Apple's mobile OS, but thanks to a new jailbreak tweak, one can enjoy similar functionality on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Another leak out of China adds a tad more credibility to the notion of a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 by depicting what is claimed to be the backlight component that will sit behind the device's display. Although, given that it has trickled into the wild via a social networking site, it cannot be verified, it ties in nicely with the consensus that we'll be getting at least one larger iPhone later on this year, and you can check out the leaked photos after the jump.
If there's one thing that the App Store has done, it's own the door to all kinds of strange apps and games. Some have turned out to be real jewels, while others have simply fallen by the wayside after being found out to be a little too odd for their own good. We've not at all sure which side of that very thin fence this game will fall, but we think we might have an idea.
With Apple's addition of Multipeer Connectivity Framework to the fray with iOS 7, apps like FireChat - which offer nearby chat services in a peer-to-peer-like infrastructure - have continued to thrive. An interesting new app, which works in a similar way to FireChat, offers a little twist in that you can also check in on the conversations of others and, as the name suggests, also use it to trash-talk anonymously.
Last week, we reported on the culture of fake iOS device chargers, along with the potential perils of using them. As some folks have learned, saving a few bucks can often cost hundreds in repairs for broken devices and also damage caused by subsequent fires and minor explosions as the shoddy build quality shows its true colors. Here, we show you how to spot a phony, and also, what you should do next if your charger is a potentially dangerous copy.
If you're trying to find some decent apps, the chances are you're looking for both quality and value. Many apps out there are available for free, but by and large, the very best ones are paid, and so almost by default, those that temporarily ditch their price tag are often worth considering. Here, we run through a list of some of our favorite apps gone free for free on iOS, and if you like a freebie, be sure to join us after the leap.
