The stock Messages.app on the Apple iPhone is undoubtedly one of the most used apps that exists on the device. Sending and receiving text messages as well as multi-media communications and iMessages are all handed through Apple's native Messages app, and although it hasn't changed a great deal in the last six years, it still remains extremely functional. It's usually been left up to the jailbreak community to bring additions to this application in the past, and now is no different with the new MessageSwiper package that brings additional power to the app that is likely to be extremely well received.
We are fast approaching that time of the year again when the general public starts to wonder when Apple will release the new iPhone, and the industry analysts begin sharing their predictions on what the new iOS based hardware will actually look like when it is released. Over the last few months, we've heard murmurings about the potential of an iPhone 5S being announced during this year's Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco. We have also heard speculation suggesting that the new iPhone could come in two different screen sizes to appease those consumers looking to get their hands on a 4.5-inch device.
I cannot recall seeing a wider variety of concept ideas for a piece of software than I have recently for iOS 7, and with the tech community anticipating some big changes thanks to the increased influence of one Jony Ive, it's hardly surprising to see designers tripping over themselves to bring forth their ideas and coming up with all sorts of iOS 7 concepts. One in particular from YouTuber iamthe6ixth offers a somewhat alternative take on the vast majority of those we've looked at hitherto, and instead of playing on the idea of a dramatically altered user interface, this concept presents changes pertaining to the functionality and behavior of iOS.
Yesterday saw the conclusion of the Hack In The Box conference over in Amsterdam, an annual event where some of the most talented hackers and security experts gather to share insights, knowledge, and discoveries. The event saw some very interesting talks, particularly one in which pilot-turned-security-guru Hugo Teso showed how he could commandeer a Boeing jet remotely using an Android smartphone, but one which will certainly pique the interests of some Redmond Pie readers was that of the Evad3rs jailbreak team.
As much as we love the iPhone, and iOS in general for that matter, we are perfectly able to concede that it has some pretty basic flaws that wouldn't take Apple long to resolve if they saw fit. There are certain aspects of interacting with native apps that often leave us feel infuriated, with the Camera app and the way Apple has chosen to handle the LED flash being a prime example of this frustration.
Passcode lock feature on iOS, which is found in Settings.app, is definitely one of the most used preferences for the security conscious, but in certain situations it can become cumbersome and a bit of a bore to activate or deactivate. TapTapPass for iPhone essentially allows users to assign a different action to toggle the passcode feature on and off from anywhere on the OS.
There's been a lot of chatter in the dev community over the last few weeks regarding the complexities which iOS developers face in integrating iCloud sync functionality into third-party apps. A lot of big name dev studios have controversially taken the decision to shy away from adding iCloud sync in their apps and games, with the general consensus being that the iCloud APIs are overly complex and are nothing short of black magic. Still, it seems that we can always rely on Cydia to pump out some iCloud based goodness for those iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users who have the luxury of being jailbroken.
iOS 5 brought native Twitter integration to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and this was followed up nicely with a deal to bring a similar offering to iOS 6 with Facebook. But while this deep affiliation has done wonders for seamless sharing of various content, the Notes app is missing this ability to share a note via Facebook or The Twitters. Thanks to a nifty little tweak called ShareNotes, this restriction needn't stop you sharing your notes with your followers and friends, and although Twitter's 140 character restriction will also apply to your notes as well, at least you won't have to be cutting and pasting anymore.
Apple is largely expected to release a Retina-displaying version of its iPad mini this year, along with an incrementally-improved iPhone dubbed the "iPhone 5S". According to a research note from Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities, both have hit delays, and with the iPhone 5S release date initially being touted for announcement in June in preparation for a July release, it now appears as though neither will be hitting the market anytime soon.
The existence of an entry-level iPhone, at least in concept, has been a matter of fierce debate over the past couple of months. It is widely thought Apple could use such a device as bait in a push to increase its presence in developing markets, but with the Cupertino company ever reluctant to sell less-capable devices to meet that low price point, there have been quite a few naysayers. Today, however, the guys over at Japanese blog Macotakara have gotten their hands on a previously-unseen dual-head vibration motor, which, due to its low-end nature, is not the kind of thing you'd expect Apple to be packing into the eventual successor to the iPhone 5.
