For the first couple of months of this year and some time prior, Flappy Bird had taken a stronghold on many iOS and Android users looking for a casual game to keep them entertained. Consumed by the tricky physics involved, the title was both challenging and frustrating in equal measure, but with the game seeming to leave players reeling in anger rather than feeling any kind of accomplishment, developer Dong Nguyen took the decision to remove it from the iOS App Store, as well as Google Play. After recently hinting that Flappy Bird might make a dramatic return, though, he has now confirmed that it will be re-entering the fold at some point in the future, although "not soon," according to his Twitter feed.
With so many innovative products out there intended to help you keep your treasured devices free from the scrapes, scratches and bumps that they may encounter on a daily basis, it's little wonder that the makers of these cases and covers are short on ideas for unique sales pitches. A company by the name of Sir Lancelot's Armor launched an interesting product this week in the form of the Holy Grail - an iPhone case comprised of bulletproof glass - and although it was never stipulated that the film would itself be bulletproof, the guys over at Ars Technica couldn't resist putting it to the test.
In the run-up to the release of any high-end device, there's always a certain level of excitement and anticipation, and with speculation having suggested that the iPhone 6 will be notably larger than any previous Apple smartphone, it's no wonder that analysts are already projecting a spike in upgrades and Android switchers. The iPhone 6 concepts have been arriving thick and fast, but today's effort from the folks of ConceptsiPhone has simply blown us away, packing a 5.5-inch edge-to-edge display into an undeniably beautiful form factor.
Since the past few days, we've been hearing about Apple's supposed iOS 8 Healthbook app endeavors, and today, a new screenshot released into the wild via China's Twitter-like service Weibo offers what appears to be a legitimate glimpse of the app running on iOS 8.
Apple and Game Center has long since facilitated multiplayer gaming for those running iOS devices, and thanks to a recent update, Google Play Game Services will offer something similar to those rocking iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. What's more, as well as allowing gamers to compete against each other on iOS, developers integrating Google Play Game Services into their titles will enable players to compete cross-platform with users on Android, outlining the search giant's intention to expand and improve the online capabilities of the Play Store.
When it comes to success stories, they don't come much bigger than Rovio and its Angry Birds franchise. Since its initial release back in 2009, the world has gone Angry Birds crazy, with merchandise ranging from lunch boxes to food and beyond. It's fair to say that Rovio has done OK for itself, and as a result it's found itself confident enough to branch out from the tried and tested formula of flinging birds at pigs. Relatively hot on the heals of Angry Birds Go, a kart racer, Rovio earlier this month teased Angry Birds Epic, and now it's ready for prime time. At least, partly.
A security researcher has discovered major a flaw in the iOS 7 security system, apparently brought about by a botched attempt by Apple to patch an issue specific to iOS 6. The kernel exploit, if anything, has only been aggravated by the Cupertino's intervention, and as such, Azimuth Security researcher Tarjei Mandt believes that iOS 7 is "much worse" than its predecessor with regards security.
One new feature that Apple added with iOS 7 was the ability to enjoy dynamic wallpapers, yet like all previously-unseen implementations, Apple held back on a few experimental features when it came down to the final, end-user release. It's often the case that, rather than remove features entirely, Apple simply hides them, before phasing them out at a later date, but if you want to enjoy some of the wallpaper animations and effects that didn't quite make the cut, then HiddenWallpapers is the tweak for you. Check it out after the fold!
The first big Xbox One system update, which arrived earlier this month, was released in order to prepare gamers for the release of Titanfall, but there were other key implementations besides. Twitch, the streaming service that allows gamers to capture and share their progress with the rest of the world, also rolled out onto the latest and greatest Microsoft console, and with the Game Developers Conference having just kicked off in San Francisco, Twitch has outlined its plans to hit the mobile gaming world - beginning with Asphalt 8 on iOS.
The colorful iPhone 5c is widely regarded as a flop, and the fact that Apple remains tight-lipped about sales of its polycarbonate-clad handset speaks volumes. But while many are tipping it for the axe later on this year by the time the iPhone 6 comes around, there may still be life left in the handset yet, with leaked documents from O2 Germany appearing to suggest that an 8GB model is in the offing; and at a cheaper price point.
