You may or may not have been aware, but since the introduction of iOS 7, users have been able to control certain aspects of the mobile OS using only head gestures. The implementation is designed to make the iOS device range more accessible for those who mightn't be able to interact with the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch in a more traditional manner, but is also, as I think you will agree, a pretty cool little feature.
As well as bringing forth some exciting new changes and features, including the likes of CarPlay and the enhancement of Siri in some markets, iOS 7.1 has also ironed out and refined a few gripes and snags of iOS 7.0.x. Having made some big changes with the seventh version of its mobile OS released back in September, there were always going to be a few issues to work on in the first major update, and with iOS 7 offering many of the UI elements a translucent finish, iOS 7.1 also allows you to reduce the transparency, or depth, of the interface to better suit your tastes.
The iPhone 5s, Apple's current flagship, is scarcely six months old, but in smartphone terms, it's an old-timer. In a day when our supposedly beloved handsets have a shelf-life of around one year before we dispose of them and look for something else, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that talk of the iPhone 6 has been prevalent for a good few months already. And now, an interesting concept of the next-gen Apple smartphone, which packs a sumptuous, iPad Air-like design, has been showcased by perpetual designer Ran Avni, and in combining the most popular iOS device with best-designed gadget on the Cupertino company's roster, there was only going to be one outcome..
Apple made a lot of aesthetic changes with iOS 7, but even though - after a notable initial resistance - most folks seem to have warmed to the flatter, tidier new look, this hasn't stopped the Cydia community from coming through with a host of great themes. And recently, a new skin by the name of Elegance has dropped over at the MacCiti repository, and uses some very washy shades of color to create a dry, understated look that we believe works very well.
Shortly after the release of iOS 7 back in September, it became apparent that some users were experiencing motion sickness and nausea, attributable to the various new animations Apple had applied with its largely-altered software. Supposed to give the revamped iOS 7 a touch of finesse, it proved, quite literally, to be a headache for some, but with the update to iOS 7.1 earlier on this week, the issues related to parallax and zooming animations appear to have been addressed.
Even though numerous reports have given us a vague idea of what Apple may have in store for the iPhone 6, most of the details remain a mystery, and since it's going to be quite a few months before the company's next big thing manifests itself, anything that Apple has decided on could be subject to change. Amid the leaks and speculation, concept makers have been teasing some spectacular ideas, and while some, such as Sam Beckett's earlier design, try to be indicative of what we'll actually be seeing, others simply dare to dream. The following concept, which features a holographic display, does exactly this, and while Tim Cook's men probably don't plan on adding such a feature to the next iPhone, we can't help but fall in love with this little effort from SET Solution.
There's no denying that the public launch of iOS 7.1 brings with it a number of positives for users. However, to go with those positives, it also seems like there could be a substantial negative attached to iOS 7.1, with many users reporting significant battery drain after updating to the latest firmware.
The act of taking a selfie and sharing it with the world may be thought of as a flash-in-the-pan phenomenon by most of us, but it looks like Apple could be on a mission to give it some credibility and longevity.
Back in December, we got word that FOX would be teaming up with TinyCo to develop the very first official mobile game for the long-running series Family Guy. Having been on our screens for so many years, it would seem strange that an animation of Family Guy's stature hasn't been handed its very own title before now, but for fans of Seth MacFarlane's iconic comedy show, the teasing screen captures released on Thursday are sure to whet the appetite.
CarPlay, a term Apple uses to describe its all-new, in-car operating system, was showcased heavily last week at the Geneva Motor Show by the likes of Volvo and Ferrari. Since then, we've seen the Cupertino company drop iOS 7.1, bringing official CarPlay support to the iPhone, and with most of the pieces now seemingly in place, we're just waiting on the manufacturers to come through with the release of compatible automobiles. But while it has seemed, hitherto, like users would probably have to buy a new car in order to take advantage of CarPlay, Pioneer may be poised to develop CarPlay integration for upcoming systems, as well as those already installed.
