Admit it: you’ve always wondered what your portrait would look like as a Wall Street Journal hedcut. A new iPhone app called SnapDot will help give you an idea in far less time than the five hours it can take WSJ artists to draw one. Read more »
Since the iPhone’s debut five years ago the mobile industry has been completely transformed: Virtual keyboards are standard; wireless operators changed the way they do business; and an iPhone app sold for a billion dollars. Nothing, however, has changed more in five years than Apple itself. Read more »
The arrival of the iPhone five years ago changed many things, but one of the most fundamental was the way that news and journalism are delivered and consumed — and at the same time, it also revolutionized the way that news content is created. Read more »
A new report shows Sprint customers are less likely to stay with the carrier when looking for an iPhone than customers who subscribe to AT&T or Verizon Wireless. However, Sprint does better a lot better in attracting new iPhone customers from prepaid or regional carriers. Read more »
Foap is a Swedish company started by travel industry veterans disappointed in the availability of stock photo art. Their elegant and easy app lets anyone upload and sell iPhone photos. It also lets stock art shoppers request specific photos through a concept called “missions.” Read more »
Here’s our daily pick of stories about Apple from around the web you shouldn’t miss. Today’s installment: the young, spendy Apple demographic, how design patents have become essential, Sprint’s curious sales woes at Apple stores, Airplay as Trojan horse, and conflicting reports of Verizon iPhone sales. Read more »
If you’ve ever lost or misplaced your keys, your iPhone or your iPad, the Zomm Wireless Leash Plus can help remind you where you left them. This little multi-function device can also act as a wireless speakerphone. We tried it out, here’s what we found. Read more »
Near field communication, the wireless technology that’s forever been poised to break out, may finally get the big push it needs. Code pulled from two iPhone prototypes suggest that upcoming iPhones will have NFC controllers connected to the power management unit, according to a new report. Read more »
The reasons cited by games factory Wooga when it pulled out of developing mobile browser-based games for Facebook’s platform are not going to be fixed anytime soon – and that fact should be cause for concern in the social network’s quest to conquer mobile. Read more »
Tumblr’s iPhone app has gotten a major redesign that introduces more robust blogging features and new speed enhancements. Tumblr still doesn’t have a dedicated iPad app but the new 3.0 update should provide a lot of improved functionality for fans of the mobile app. Read more »
Igor Zhadanov, 27, is CEO of Ukraine-based Readdle, known for iPad and iPhone apps like PDF Expert and Scanner Pro. As Readdle is about to open its first U.S. office, we talked about staying independent, competing with larger companies, and the challenges of today’s App Store. Read more »
On this week’s audio podcast, Matt and Kevin offer early hands-on impressions of iOS 6 and a discuss the pros and cons of Verizon’s new Share Everything plans. Matt’s Kobo Vox turns into a full Android tablet this week while Kevin is loving his new ChromeBook. Read more »
Has one single Android phone outsold the iPhone 4S? Apparently so, at least at Verizon, where the Motorola Razr and its 4G LTE radio is tops. Acer is taking on Apple’s iPad with a $449 tablet while an Intel phone — yes, Intel — gets a nice review. Read more »
As a small business owner, I’m delighted the field of mobile credit card processing is opening up. I compared Verifone’s Sail and Square’s services while processing payments for my business via my iPhone and iPad. Here’s what I found. Read more »
Here’s our daily pick of stories about Apple from around the web that you shouldn’t miss. Today’s installment: Steve Jobs’ gives Obama’s campaign social media advice, Apple’s new “free” websites, updated security permissions in iOS 6 and slightly creepy geo-fencing features in Find My Friends. Read more »
Since coming out of beta last year, Swedish payments service iZettle has been very careful about how it has grown. The company — which, like Square, lets people take card payments through their iPhone — first launched in its home market, then the rest of the […] Read more »
Here’s our daily pick of stories about Apple from around the web you shouldn’t miss. Today’s installment: Apple location tracking suit moves forward, Baidu to share iPhone search profits, the secret of Apple’s success, Time and Apple play nice, and GameCenter on the Mac. Read more »
To deal with the BYOD wave, Gartner recommends that companies roll out mobile data protection, mobile device management and fund special mobility strategy teams within IT to handle the issue. IT folks would likely welcome that, but won’t hold their breath. Read more »
Apple’s announced iOS 6 update is set to bring a lot of changes to its mobile platform, and after using it for a day, I’ve found plenty of new features Apple didn’t mention in the keynote: mostly design changes, and even a subtle dig at Google. Read more »
Once a Google Android exclusive, Amazon released an iOS version of its Cloud Player app for iPhone and iPod touch devices. The free software provides streaming and download access to audio files on Amazon servers either purchased from Amazon’s music store or later uploaded by customers. Read more »
A lot of automakers are lining up to support Apple’s new Siri Eyes Free technology, but Ford, the most aggressive company in the connected-car space, isn’t joining the queue. A platform war over the connected-car interface might be in the making. Read more »
On stage Monday at its WWDC developer event, Apple introduced iOS 6, the next platform upgrade for its iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. Here’s a look at some of the 200 new features for iOS device owners in the next iteration of Apple’s mobile platform. Read more »
IT professionals besieged by demands to support all manner of non-corporate tablets and smartphones in the workplace really want users to know that there’s a reason for their reluctance: BYOD, they say, isn’t easy in an era of cut-rate IT budgets. Read more »
Enterprises unnerved by the bring-your-own-device movement that many had promoted are now trying to lock down employees’ own devices for security purposes. The unintended consequence is that many of those employees, frustrated by these restrictions, just use unsanctioned devices instead. Read more »
It was rumored before and now it looks like it’s happening: Apple is going to offer China’s leading search engine, Baidu, as an option on iPhones sold in China. On Thursday, Bloomberg reported that the deal was done, and that Apple could announce it at WWDC in San Francisco next week. Read more »
Confirming earlier reports that Virgin Mobile would be the next pre-paid seller of iPhones in the U.S., Sprint announced it would begin doing so on June 29. The iPhone 4 and 4S arrive that day with a unique twist: A low monthly rate starting at $30. Read more »
Since I only have two arms, capturing myself on video with an iPhone is basically a non-event. It’s not that I’m narcissistic; I often do reviews on camera or interview folks at trade shows. With Swivl, an intelligent, swiveling tripod base I can use my iPhone. Read more »
Microsoft unlocked an new achievement this month, surpassing 100,000 apps for its Windows Phone mobile platform. But there are several reasons why this number isn’t equating into sales of Windows Phones. There’s a still a key question Microsoft hasn’t answered about its mobile platform. Read more »
Apple’s iPhone will soon arrive on Virgin Mobile, and the announcement should come sometime later this week, The Wall Street Journal is reporting. The plan will be pre-paid, and should be available “as soon as July 1,” though no pricing details were avialable. Read more »
It’s not often you hear this, but: One of the most elegant apps for Android is now available on iOS. The software is called Any.DO and it’s one of the best looking task managers I’ve used on any platform. It also arrives as a Chrome extension. Read more »
Cricket Wireless will offer two Apple iPhone handset models with monthly pre-paid plans beginning on June 22. The iPhone 4 and 4S will cost $399 and $499 respectively, without a contract, using Cricket’s $55 plan, advertised as unlimited voice minutes, text messages and data usage. Read more »
The adoption of tablets, social media and new interfaces and the changing nature of the TV itself mean the digital living room will continue on its path of rapid change, thanks to new ways of creating, viewing, bundling, distributing and selling content. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
In a huge win for startup Nest, which makes a connected learning thermostat, Apple has now started selling the Nest thermostat through its online store. It could end up being the most important move ever for a next-generation digital thermostat. Read more »
Here’s our daily pick of stories about Apple from around the web that you shouldn’t miss. Today’s installment: How Facebook is reminiscent of Palm, phones shipped versus phones sold, how doctors are using the iPad, and another clue that Apple is redesigning its mobile maps. Read more »
I’m starting to use iPhoto for iOS more often in my photography workflow. While it’s unlikely it’ll ever fully replace a true post-processing program like Aperture or Lightroom, for shots that don’t require that high degree of editing I find iPhoto for iOS to be suitable. Read more »
If your family owns multiple Apple devices and has many Apple IDs, it can be overwhelming or even maddening figuring out where your content is. It doesn’t have to be that way: Here’s a guide to finding the best Apple account management solution for you. Read more »
I used to use Bump, the mobile app that wirelessly transfers data between two smartphones, but over time, I uninstalled it. Now it’s not only back on my phones, but has a coveted home screen spot thanks to the latest share-to-desktop feature. Read more »
I’m now using Straight Talk, a Tracfone-owned cellular provider that resells service on both AT&T and T-Mobile in the U.S. After a few weeks of testing and some questions posed to the company, here’s the skinny: Depending on your data needs, this plan can save money. Read more »
9to5Mac’s report on Tuesday seems to support some developers’ hopes that the next iPhone would have a taller screen without an altered resolution. Though the report concerns a test device, the scenario laid out should be amenable to developers and iPhone buyers. Read more »
It’s been reported the next iPhone will have a larger screen. We talked to iOS app makers about the implications that move would have on future iOS development. Many are not convinced Apple would complicate the current development process intentionally by adding additional screen sizes. Read more »
