BIGGEST LIST OF THE WEEK: 10 awesome paid iPhone apps that are all free right now

We've shown you plenty of great paid iPhone and iPad apps on sale for free this week, and now it's time for our biggest list yet. Thursday's post includes 10 great paid iOS apps that are all on sale for free, but only for a limited time. There are also still a few paid apps on sale for free in yesterday's post, so be sure to hurry up and check those out as well.

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Posted in 2015 at 03:09PM, April 09

Tim Cook dispels one of the biggest myths about working with Steve Jobs

One of the more persistent myths about Apple cofounder Steve Jobs was that he was a maniacal cult leader whose sole management tactic was mentally bludgeoning employees into producing good work. Jobs certainly had that side of him, as numerous anecdotes had shown us. However, what made Jobs really effective was his recognition and cultivation of talent, which is something that Apple CEO Tim Cook makes a point of emphasizing in an interview with Fast Company .

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Posted in 2015 at 03:09PM, March 18

iOS 8.2 to Launch Next Week as Final Beta Seeded to Employees and Carrier Partners

After initially reporting that iOS 8.2 would be released to the public this week, BGR now claims that the upcoming software update will arrive next week as Apple decided to seed one last beta to employees and carrier partners for testing. The final GM carries a build number of 12D508 and includes Health app improvements, stability enhancements and bug fixes.



While the initial report was incorrect, this new timeframe appears more plausible given Apple's upcoming "Spring Forward" media event for the Apple Watch on March 9. Apple also promised that a fix would be coming soon for the recently discovered "FREAK" security vulnerability affecting devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Mac. The security flaw was disclosed to Apple well in advance of the public.



The release notes for iOS 8.2 outline several improvements to Apple's stock Health app, including the ability to select units of measurement for body temperature, weight, height, distance and blood glucose. The software update also delivers stability enhancements for Mail, Flyover in Maps, Music, VoiceOver and Made for iPhone hearing aids.

Health App improvements

• Adds the ability to select the unit of measurement for body temperature, weight, height, distance, and blood glucose
  


• Improves stability when dealing with large amounts of data
  


• Includes the ability to add and visualise workout sessions from 3rd-party apps
  


• Addresses an issue that may have prevented users from adding a photo in Medical ID
  


• Fixes units for vitamins and minerals
  


• Fixes an issue where Health data wouldn’t refresh after changes data source order
  


• Fixes an issue where some graphics showed no data values
  


• Adds a privacy setting that enables turning off tracking of steps, distance, and flights climbed

A number of bug fixes have been made in iOS 8.2, including a long-awaited fix for the so-called "GMT bug" causing calendar syncing issues for several iPhone and iPad users. Google quietly fixed the GMT bug on their backend early last month, but Microsoft Exchange calendar users have still been experiencing syncing issues. Other bug fixes are outlined in the full release notes shared in the MacRumors discussion forums.



iOS 8.2 will also include support for the Apple Watch ahead of its launch in April.

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Posted in 2015 at 03:09PM, March 05

Apple to Launch Public Beta Testing Programs for iOS 8.3 and iOS 9

Following up on the public beta program used for OS X Yosemite that allowed non-developers to try out and offer feedback on the operating system before its release, Apple will be launching similar programs for iOS 8.3 next month and iOS 9 later this year, reports 9to5Mac .

...Apple intends to release the upcoming iOS 8.3 as a public beta via the company’s existing AppleSeed program in mid-March, according to the sources. This release will match the third iOS 8.3 beta for developers, which is planned for release the same week. Apple then expects to debut iOS 9 at its June Worldwide Developer Conference, with a public beta release during the summer, and final release in the fall.

iOS 8.2 is still in developer testing as Apple gears up for an April launch of the Apple Watch, but the company has also begun seeding iOS 8.3 to developers. The update includes a number of tweaks including support for wireless CarPlay, two-step verification on Google accounts, a new emoji picker, and Apple Pay through China UnionPay.



After a dramatic visual overhaul with iOS 7 in 2013 and a number of new features such as Continuity in iOS 8 last year, iOS 9 will reportedly focus on stability and optimization, although some new features are likely to be included.

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Posted in 2015 at 03:09PM, February 20

CES 2015: Kensington Announces 'KeyFolio Thin X3 Plus' Battery Case for iPad Air 2 [iOS Blog]

Following on the heels of a recent announcement for its next-generation mobile security lock, security-focused accessory manufacturer Kensington also announced a new line of iPad cases for the iPad Air 2, called the KeyFolio Thin X3 Plus.





Building on Kensington's similarly-titled products for the original iPad Air and iPad Air 2, the X3 Plus features a larger 4,500 mAh battery inside of its attached Bluetooth keyboard, alongside an integrated USB port that allows users to fully charge an iPhone up to three times or a 50 percent charge to an iPad. A free-to-download app lets users monitor how much battery the keyboard has left to charge their devices.

"Today's iPad and iPhone users don't want to risk running out of battery life. They want to know that they have the power they need to get the job done, regardless of where they are," said Jim Murakami, Global Product Marketing Manager, Kensington. "With the new KeyFolio Thin X3 Plus, we're taking power to the next level while also giving users the high-performance keyboard they want to be more productive. It's the perfect mix of function, style and efficiency."

The keyboard features six rows of scissor-switch mechanical keys, including a row of dedicated shortcut keys for improved productivity. The company promises secure protection as well, with "a sleek and form-fitting, hard-shell exterior" that's also not bulky.





Kensington has not given a specific launch window for the KeyFolio Thin X3 Plus for iPad Air 2, but did confirm the new case will cost $119.99.

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Posted in 2015 at 03:09PM, January 08