Apple, like most companies at the top of their game, is always seeking ways to expand its business. Recently, we've seen a concerted effort from the Cupertino-based outfit to capitalize on emerging markets like China and India, and just this week, CEO Tim Cook has been spotted sizing up some of the major shopping malls in the United Arab Emirates. As well as checking out authorized resellers such as the Virgin Megastore at Al Wahda Mall, Ciij also took a mosey on down to Jacky’s electronics store at the Dubai Mall, which has naturally fuelled speculation that the company plans to build a retail store of its own in the notably affluent region.
Apple has teamed up with the Bank of America to help boost donations to its RED campaign in the fight against AIDS. The collaborative effort, which has also drafted in the musical tones of Irish rock band U2, sees the Bank of America pledging one dollar for every download of U2's new song "Invisible" on iTunes, and since the song is free from Apple's online music store, it should help the charity pick up some much-needed capital in the fight against one of the world's deadliest diseases.
There are plenty of tweaks out there that offer automated / schedule-based controls over the silencing of your iOS device, but a new offering called iSilent-ios7 brings its own unique, ingenious twist. See, instead of requiring you to input your meetings times manually, iSilent-ios7 collects its date straight from the Calendar app - picking up when your meetings have been scheduled for and silencing your device accordingly.
In what will likely be toasted in tech circles a victory for users, it looks like a forthcoming Windows 8.1 update could boot to the traditional desktop by default, skipping (although not removing) the tiled interface that many have begrudgingly become accustomed to. According to The Verge, which cites sources familiar with Microsoft's OS plans moving forward, the "Metro" (or Modern) landing screen will not greet users upon booting, but can be reinstated within the settings for those who require it.
The recently released StatusWeather tweak for jailbroken iPhones and iPod touches is the definition of simplicity. There are times when an in-depth, complicated package is required to provided intricate functionality to jailbroken users. There are also times when keeping it simple is definitely the best approach. StatusWeather definitely falls under the latter category and exists to capture the current weather details and make them visible at all times by placing them in the status bar.
Choosing to free an iOS device from Apple's walled garden means that users are able to extend the capabilities of an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch beyond what first-party and approved third-party apps can provide. The Speak Notification package, is a powerful tweak that allows jailbroken users to heavily customize how incoming notifications are handled.
They may have slipped quietly under most people's radar, but Sony's odd little QX lens cameras for smartphones and tablets have received a firmware update that promises to bring some nice new features to the table. The cameras may not be as good as a traditional point-and-shoot solution, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve firmware updates!
While Apple is still very much trying to stabilize iOS 7 into a platform on which it can build, attention is already turning towards what could be part of the iOS 8 experience that is due to land later this year. With the iOS 7 redesign being somewhat on the radical side, all eyes are one where Apple takes its mobile operating system during the next few months.
Even if you're not a fan of the NFL, the build up, advertisements and general buzz around the Super Bowl is pretty difficult to ignore, and this Sunday's Super Bowl XLVIII showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos is expected to attract a worldwide audience well into the hundreds of millions. It's going to be, as ever, quite the exhibition, and if you're still undecided as to where or how you're tuning in, the FOX Sports GO app will be streaming the event for free for those in ownership of the Apple iPad. It's a special, one-off promotional deal to get sports fans downloading the app, but hey, since it's free, why not?
Gestures, when applied correctly, can make a great deal of difference to functionality. Not only do they make the process of switching between menus, apps, or certain features a lot more seamless, but there's a certain air of finesse about doing things this way. Gesture Music Controls, a new tweak that has just hit Cydia, makes using the Music app - as well as the controls on the lock screen and within the Control Center, just that little bit more pleasurable, and if you're an avid music listener on iOS, then Gesture Music Controls may well pique your interest.
