Cellphones

Sparrow updated with iPhone 5 & Passbook Support

21 November 2012 10:10 PM

After Apple rejected Sparrow’s iPhone 5 update earlier in the month, critics cried foul and commentators happily pointed out Apple was attempting to derail the popular email client for iOS devices and Macs. There was little hope left for new features after Google acquired Sparrow in June. Plus, the search giant acknowledged as much when it said the Sparrow team would move to Google’s Mountain View offices to work on new Gmail features. It’s a welcome sign, then, that a new version of Sparrow just surfaced on the App Store. Though short of features, it does bring out two major nice-to-haves: support for the iPhone 5′s taller display and Passbook integration

Support for Passbook, a new stock app in iOS 6, allows Sparrow to send .pkpass files to the Passbook app. These small files are embedded in confirmation email messages when buying tickets, boarding passes, loyalty cards and other items Passbook understands.

Apart from the iPhone 5 and Passbook support, changelog makes no mention of other tweaks.

If you don’t have it, Sparrow will run you £1.99 (three bucks) on the App Store.

Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 5.0 or later. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

Apple unveils iPad mini + Shocks everyone with iPad 4

23 October 2012 7:33 PM

Apple has unexpectedly revealed a fourth generation iPad, called, well the iPad 4.

Featuring an upgraded A6X CPU, Apple claims the iPad 4’s new processor will double both the CPU performance and the graphics performance of the previous A5X CPU used in the third generation new iPad.

Though the shell is the same size as its predecessor, the iPad 4 is more energy efficient, boasting 10 hours of continuous battery life.

Apple has also included its new Lightning port, a Retina Display and two times as fast Wi-Fi as previous iPad models, while the camera has also been tweaked for a better performance.

Apple has also announced the iPad 4 will be LTE compatible, and noticeably in the background of Apple’s San Jose presentation was the Everything Everywhere logo, suggesting the UK will be able to enjoy faster network speeds when the iPad 4 arrives here in Blighty.

A Wi-Fi only 16GB version of the iPad 4 will cost you $499 (£313), while a Wi-Fi and cellular version 16GB version will set you back $629 (£395). Both variants are available in black and white.

Apple has introduced an iPad Mini. The new pencil-thin (7.2mm) iPad mini comes a mere half-year after the third generation iPad was introduced. Apple says it is as light as a pad of paper.

All software that runs on iPad runs on Mini, though it is borne of a separate design, said Apple’s Phil Schiller.

Display area on the iPad Mini is a third larger than that on its Android competitors, Schiller said, and 50 percent larger than Android for surfing Web. With Wi-Fi configuration, It will be priced at £269. ($329)

Pre-order yours starting October 26. Or buy the Wi-Fi model at your favourite Apple Retail Store starting at 8:00 a.m. on November 2. Wi-Fi + Cellular models available late November.

Will the iPad 3 drop in price now they showed off the 4th Gen? Who knows.

What do you think of the iPad Mini and the iPad 4? Will you be buying the Mini or the 4th gen or both? Let us know in the comments below!

Put Newsstand In A Folder On Any iOS Device, No Jailbreak Required

11 October 2012 6:33 PM

StifleStand is a simple Windows program to move the Newsstand icon into a folder but what makes StifleStand special is that it doesn’t require a jailbreak in order to use it, which means that it even works with the new iPhone 5. No doubt, hundreds of users who despise Newsstand flocked to the app, but Windows users were sadly left in the cold.. until now the developer (Filippo Bigarella) has released a version for Windows (v1.1)

Here’s how to do it

  • Download and run StifleStand as administrator
      • Mac OSX / Windows OS
  • Connect your IOS device
  • Swipe to the page where your Newsstand app is located.
  • Click Hide Newsstand on StifleStand, and watch the Newsstand app be whisked away into a folder called “Magic”.

    • However here are some points to note

  • You will not be able to use Newsstand while inside a folder, attempting to launch it will send your back to your Lock screen if not jailbroken, or kick you into safe mode if jailbroken.
  • To regain your Newsstand app, simple drag it out of the folder.
  • You can add additional apps to the Magic folder, and use them as usual.
  • You can rename the Magic folder
  • If you have problems getting StifleStand to work, it may be because you have too many apps installed on your device (See Filippo Bigarella’s tweet)

    • What do you think of StifleStand? Is it smart, clever or just pointless? Let us know in the comments below personally the app doesn’t bother me.

    Photo via Tysihelp

    Google has an iOS 6 Maps app – awaiting approval.

    21 September 2012 5:27 PM


    If you are missing Google Maps after updating to iOS 6 over the past 24 hours, good news may be just around the corner. As previously rumored, The Guardian suggested this afternoon that the folks at Google built a separate Maps app for iOS 6. The report further added that it will “appear in time,” to which well-known developer Steve Stroughton-Smith seemingly confirmed with a “Yep.”

    “The same sources say that Google is preparing a Google Maps app for iOS6, which will appear in time. No official statement has been made and there will inevitably be questions over whether Apple will approve it in the App Store. (Apple might not, on the basis that it “competes with existing functionality”, but would invite a further backlash if it did.)”

    Separately, we’ve heard Google has been building separate versions of a iOS Google Maps app for quite a while that goes back years. Additionally, we’ve learned an updated iOS 6 version of the Google Maps.app has been submitted to Apple. It is awaiting approval, however, and that could take some time. It took a year for Apple to approve Google Voice, for instance, and Apple could technically likewise claim Google Maps “duplicates a native service” even though there are quite a few mapping apps already in the App Store (like Google Earth). Last month, it looked as if Apple were putting an update to Google Voice that featured Siri-like functionality through purgatory.

    Over the past 24 hours, Apple’s Maps application has received a ton of negative feed back from the press and some users. Sure, Apple’s Maps has great functionality like turn-by-turn navigation, Siri integration, and more, but many have found Apple Maps to be sub-par without key mapping data (that Google once brought to iOS). The Guardian claimed the folks at Google are enjoying the bad press thrown at Apple:

    Google, I hear from roundabout sources, is enjoying the bad press Apple is suffering. It would be surprising if its mappers could resist some schadenfreude, since they are very proud of their work; having it rejected wholesale must be galling.

    TechCrunch says that Google hopes to have the app approved in the next few months:
    “Debunking the diabolical theory that Google will take as long as it likes to release its Maps App, in an effort to convert people to Android, I’ve got a source telling me that the Google Maps team is taking this as a crisitunity, doubling down on staff, lining up the team and resources to have a standalone iOS app in the App store “before Christmas.””

    via, 9to5mac.com

    Apple’s iOS6: 5 New Features You Should Know

    19 September 2012 8:36 PM

    Apple is starting to roll out iOS 6 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

    The new version of the OS brings lots of new features — including Apple’s brand new Maps app, deep integration with Facebook and enhancements to Siri. As of iOS 5, Apple is making the the update available as an over-the-air (Settings > General > Software Update) download. If you don’t have access to the download now, check again in a few minutes. You will also have the option of upgrading from within iTunes, if you prefer.

    1. Apple’s Very Own Maps App (RIP, Google Maps)
    Getting around with your iPhone will be an experience by itself now, with spoken directions and turn-by-turn navigation, real-time crowdsourced traffic updates, Quick routes and re-routing options, Yelp-powered details on nearby businesses and more. One of the highlights of this feature would be Flyover, a 3D rendition of buildings and major landmarks for a close-up interactive 3D view of cities around the world.

    2. Facebook Integration
    It’s easier than ever to share on Facebook with the new iOS6. Share photos and locations straight from your device and get your updates about what’s happening on Facebook in your contact and Calendar. Profile information will be integrated into Calendar so you won’t get to miss a thing, especially since you now get notifications for both Facebook and Twitter updates from the notification centre. The App Store is now Like-friendly.

    3. Siri’s Smarter
    Siri is now savvy in sports stats, restaurant reviews and rotten tomatoes (imdb movie ratings). You can make reservations with Siri through the OpenTable app, and check out movie schedules and ratings. Have a lot of apps to sift through, look up and launch? Launch it the new way by asking Siri to launch the app for you. With the iOS6, you can even dictate your posts for release on Facebook and Twitter.


    4. Photo Stream Over ICloud
    Share photos with the people you want to share with via the iCloud on an iOS 6 device or Mountain Lion OS. Photos will sync in real-time via iPhoto or the Photos app and are also available on the Web. Commenting is enabled on the albums and you can share as much as you want with no effect on your iCloud storage.


    5. Passbook App
    Tickets, boarding passes, movie tickets and store cards are things of the pass. Scan in your details to get on that plane, into that cinema or that concert and keep constant tabs on your store card balance all from your iOS devices.

    Updates are in real-time so that when flight details have been changed, you get informed of the latest updates straight on your device. This app can turn your iPhone into a GPS-enabled virtual wallet, keeping your cards, coupons and tickets safe, convenient, handy and fuss-free.

    What do you think of iOS 6? Let us know in the comments down below!

    Pssst! Don’t forget YouTube is no longer part of iOS remember to download the new YouTube app from the Apple App Store.

    YouTube for iOS is Compatible with; iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation) and iPad. Requires iOS 4.3 or later.