Spotify’s iOS app gets equalizer feature with custom settings and 22 presets
Spotify’s latest iOS app update rolls out today and adds a new equalizer to playback functionality. “A lot of our users have been asking for a built-in equalizer for a while now and it’s currently one of our most requested features on iOS,” says Sten Garmark, VP for Product at Spotify. The update also folds the Discover function into the Browse tab on iPhones and adds a redesigned Artist page to the iPad iteration, featuring musicians’ latest releases and… merchandise. Android users have been able to add third-party equalizers to music playback on dedicated music apps for years, although there’s no word from Spotify as to when these new feature will hit Google’s mobile OS. We’re hoping that equalizer will help even out music playback — even if you’re only packing underwhelming in-box buds.
Source: Spotify (iTunes)
Homer for iPhone lets you peek at the apps your friends use
Ever had the urge to peek at your friends’ phone screens, whether it’s to learn about their favorite apps or simply pry into their digital lives? Well, you can now do that without having to either strike up an awkward conversation or get overly nosy. PayPal co-founder Max Levchin and the HVF crew have launched Homer, an iPhone app that lets you share your app picks with fellow users. All you do is take screenshots of your home screens and submit them; Homer scans the pictures and identifies the apps, making it easy to compare them with pals in your contacts or on social networks.
As you’d hope, there’s some privacy features baked in. Besides the voluntary nature of screen captures, you can hide individual apps you’d rather keep a secret — you don’t have to share your Tinder addiction with the rest of the world. There’s no mention of Homer versions for other platforms (or people outside the US, for that matter), but you can try it today if you have both an iPhone and an unquenchable curiosity about your buddies’ mobile habits.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile
Via: GigaOM
Apple Launching 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 After 4.7-Inch Version to Avoid Competition Between Two Models
Apple will launch the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 several months after the 4.7-inch version to avoid competition between the two models, according to a new report from DigiTimes citing supply chain sources.
The different timetables have been set as Apple does not want to repeat the mistake it made in 2013 when it launched the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c simultaneously, said the sources.
Prior rumors have pointed out that production issues with the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 would cause Apple to delay its release a few months after 4.7-inch version, however this newest report claims that isn’t the case for the launch delay. A report from Bloomberg last month suggested that Apple would be launching both versions of the iPhone 6 simultaneously, noting that the company had begun preparing the 4.7-inch model and 5.5-inch for manufacturing.
4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 mockups compared to iPhone 5s
Apple is expected to unveil the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 at a September event, although a report yesterday noted that the company is unsure as to whether it will show off the 5.5-inch version at the same time. The company is said to be preparing between 70 and 80 million iPhone 6 units to meet anticipated customer demand, as the larger screen could cause a massive spike in upgrades from both iPhone upgraders and those switching from Android.
In addition to a larger screen, the iPhone 6 is expected to feature a faster A8 processor, a thinner profile, an improved camera, and Apple’s new iOS 8 mobile operating system.
KeyPoint wants you to try its multilingual smart keyboard for iOS 8
There’s soon going to be a glut of custom keyboards for iOS 8, many of which will have word suggestions in multiple languages. However, they might not be as well-versed as KeyPoint Technologies’ upcoming Adaptxt for iOS. Besides supporting over 100 languages, the keyboard touts 30 dictionaries targeted at specific industries; it shouldn’t be flummoxed when you’re chatting with your accountant or lawyer. It will also be aware of both your location and the apps you’re running, so word predictions should change when you go on vacation or check out a favorite social network. KeyPoint is only taking sign-ups for a beta test at this stage — not surprising, since iOS 8 isn’t out yet — but it’s already promising that Adaptxt will be free on iPads and iPhones alike.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Adaptxt
4.7-Inch iPhone 6 Set to Begin Mass Production This Month, 5.5-Inch in August
Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn is set to begin mass production on the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 this month, according to local media cited by Reuters. The larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 will begin production a month later, in August.
Mass production of a 4.7-inch successor to the wildly popular iPhone 5 series of smartphones will begin during the third week of July, Taiwan’s Economic Daily News said, without citing sources. Production of a 5.5-inch version will begin during the second week of August, it said.
Foxconn is also set to hire around 100,000 additional workers to help meet future demand for the device, according to a Chinese state-run news agency. Fellow Apple manufacturing partner Pegatron is also ramping up hiring, recruiting over 10,000 for its own facilities to help manufacture the iPhone. Additionally, it was reported last week that Foxconn was planning on deploying 10,000 robots to help employees with less intensive tasks like tightening screws.
Apple is widely expected to announce the iPhone 6 in early September, with a release coming a couple weeks later in late September. While it’s unclear whether both the 4.7- and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 models will launch at the same time, the one-month delay in mass production could mean that the 5.5-inch is either available in lower quantities at first or will be announced at the same time as the 4.7-inch model and launch shortly after. Previously, it’s been rumored the 5.5-inch model had been experiencing production issues.
Other than larger displays, the iPhone 6 is expected to include a thinner, iPod touch-like design, an A8 processor, and an improved camera, potentially measuring 13 megapixels. The larger model is expected to come with a $100 price increase, optical image stabilization and greater storage capability.
Wico and Goophone Beat Apple to Market with Android-Based iPhone 6 Clones
Months before Apple is expected to release its next-generation iPhone, functional iPhone 6 clones already are starting to appear in China’s mobile phone marketplace. One of the first clones, the Wico i6, is profiled by 86DIGI (via Nowhereelse.fr) in a two-part hands-on video.
(Note: Contains fairly loud soundtrack of The Carpenters’ “Top of the World”)
Like most clones, the Wico i6 is quite detailed for a fake, with authentic-looking FCC labeling and the characteristic Apple branding. The phone also closely mimics the rumored styling of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 with a thin chassis that houses a side-mounted power button and elongated volume buttons.
Wico isn’t the only clone maker ready to enter the mobile phone black market, however. Chinese clone maker Goophone has also announced (via GizChina.com) that it is preparing the Goophone i6 for release in August, ahead of Apple’s expected September iPhone launch.
The GooPhone also borrows its styling from the rumored schematics of the iPhone 6 and pairs it with a quad-core Mediatek MT6582 chipset, 1GB RAM and 13 megapixel rear camera. Similar to previous Goophone clones, the i6 model is powered by the Android operating system.
Logitech Unveils New Protection+ Case and +Trip Car Mount for iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 [iOS Blog]
Back in May, Logitech announced its new Case+ product for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5, which contained a metal case and multiple magnetic attachments for different uses. Today, the company unveiled two new products inspired by the line: the new Protection+ case for iPhone 5s/5 and the +Trip accessory for mounting an iPhone to a car’s air vents for easy viewing.
Logitech’s Protection+ case
The Protection+ case for the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5 features a slim design with a protective outer shell and internal impact-resistant materials. The case’s corners each hold impact resistant polymers to minimize forces of impact, while the accessory’s insides feature a thermoplastic rubber (TPR) layer to absorb energy from drops. Logitech’s Protection+ case also comes with a raised bezel edge to protect the iPhone’s touch screen and is tested for drops from up to 1.8 meters (about 6 feet) in height.
Logitech’s +Trip car mount
Logitech’s +Trip car mount is also being sold alongside the original +Drive accessory that attaches to a car’s dashboard or windshield and came with the original Case+ system. The Protection+ case as well as the +Trip and +Drive mounts also all contain magnetic mounts to support the other Case+ attachments.
The Protection+ case will launch next month for $34.99, and will come in colors of Winter White, Gunmetal Black, Scarlett Plum, and Pacific Blue. The +Trip and +Drive accessories will also be released next month and sell for $29.99 and $49.99, respectively. Interested customers can pre-order all three now on Logitech’s official website.
Apple and IBM team up to put more iOS devices in the workplace
If you had any lingering notions that Apple and IBM were still bitter arch-rivals, they just got swept away. The two companies have just launched a partnership that could give iPads and iPhones a much larger presence in the workaday world. IBM has agreed to develop over 100 enterprise-grade apps solely for iOS, along with iOS-focused cloud services; it will also sell Apple’s mobile gear as part of its larger solutions, and it’s even handling on-site support. Apple, meanwhile, is offering a special business-friendly support plan.
IBM doesn’t have as much clout as it did when it was a direct competitor to Apple in 1984, or even as much as when it was putting PowerPC chips in computers like the Power Mac G5. However, this deal is still huge. While Apple has been spending a lot of energy making iOS suitable for work, it’s still primarily focused on personal devices — the IBM pact gives it an important ally who can court the less exciting (but clearly important) corporate crowd. Google is making big strides toward improving Android’s business credentials, and Microsoft has a longstanding advantage of its own, but the new agreement could give them significantly tougher competition. Don’t be surprised if you end up getting a company-issued iOS device where you didn’t have one before, or suddenly get the all-clear to bring one into the office.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Apple
Google Search Results Now Notifying iPhone Users When Websites Use Flash [iOS Blog]
Google recently implemented a feature that warns iPhone users when search results include websites that use Adobe Flash, as Flash is not supported by the iPhone.
When searching for a site, pages that primarily use Flash are clearly marked by Google with a warning that the site may not work on a particular device.
A common annoyance for web users is when websites require browser technologies that are not supported by their device. When users access such pages, they may see nothing but a blank space or miss out a large portion of the page’s contents.
Starting today, we will indicate to searchers when our algorithms detect pages that may not work on their devices.
Google goes on to recommend that websites use the universally supported HTML5 and provides both Web Fundamentals and a Web Starter Kit for website developers.
Apple received a good bit of criticism when the iPhone was first released for not supporting Flash as it was used often back then, but interest in Flash has since been dying out in favor of mobile-friendly solutions.
Week Calendar for iPhone now for free!
The most downloaded calendar app, Week Calendar for iPhone will be totally free for two days! This will be between July 15, 2014 and July 16, 2014. Why? As a Dutch company we are very proud our Dutch national team reached the third place at the Football World Cup 2014 and we want to celebrate this with the entire world!
“As a Company based in the Netherlands, we are very proud of what our guys achieved in Brazil. With their courage, strength and cleverness they strive to reach their goal just like us, to be the best! They fought like lions and never gave up. We want to celebrate this extraordinary achievement not only in the Netherlands, but with the entire world!” says David van Brakel, CEO Week Calendar.
| Default price | New Price |
| USD 1.99 | Free |
Download
Week Calendar for iPhone is available for download in the App Store. Requires iOS 4.3 or later.
https://itunes.apple.com/app/id381059732?mt=8
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