IOS

Yahoo Weather rains down gorgeous pics on iPad

The larger display of Apple’s iPad is the perfect palette for Yahoo Weather. The new app makes its way from iPhone to iPad today and provides stunning photos relevant to your location. Oh, and it’s pretty good at weather forecasts too.

5 things Apple should copy from Samsung

Apple may have defeated Samsung in its recent patent case, but that doesn’t mean Samsung doesn’t have some good ideas of its own. Here are 5 ways Apple could benefit from borrowing some new ideas.

Can an app help you be a better person?

Using encouragement from friends and strangers alike in a social platform focused on the future, it’s what the founder of an iOS app called Everest is trying to prove.

China may have most active iOS, Android devices by early 2013

The only thing preventing this from happening sooner is the upcoming gift-giving frenzy of iPad minis, Nexus 7 and Kindle Fires in the U.S. China still doesn’t have the iPhone 5 or new iPad mini, but some carriers will start carrying the new iPhone next month.

Apple is all aboard with licensing the Swiss clock icon

Apple is paying for the familiar looking clock icon on its iPad, having come to licensing terms with the Swiss Federal Railways, which has used the clock since 1944 as a defining icon for its transportation business. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed

China’s iOS, Android growth up more than 400% in last year

The rate at which Android and iOS-powered mobile devices are being adopted worldwide is far outpacing that of any other technology. That growth is being driven by purchases outside of early-adopting markets. The most dramatic growth is in Asia, South America and the Middle East.

Facebook finally fixes its freakishly slow iOS app

Facebook says the app has been rewritten so it’ll not only open and scroll faster, but news feeds and notifications will load right away. To do that, Facebook rewrote it as a native iOS app, doing away with HTML5.

The Apple Roundup: Why Apple & Samsung will still be best frenemies forever

Here’s our daily pick of stories about Apple from around the web that you shouldn’t miss. Today’s installment: Apple and Samsung’s mutually beneficial partnership, the history of Apple’s branding, the next phase of iPhone, Google adds more features to iOS apps, and Apple still dominates mobile profits.

Yes, YouTube is gone from iOS 6. So what?

So long YouTube; Apple has pulled the app from the latest iOS 6 beta. Of course, you can still watch YouTube in Safari and Google is reportedly writing a YouTube app for the iTunes App Store. Maybe we see a better YouTube experience as a result.

Speech-impaired kids get a voice with Proloquo2go iOS app

Proloquo2go, a communication assistance app for those who have difficulty speaking, is getting an important update Wednesday. Thanks to a major undertaking in text-to-speech, the iOS app now has real children’s voices that will play when a picture, phrase or word is tapped on screen.

How Apple is fighting iOS in-app purchase hack

Apple is investigating a workaround that lets iOS users get in-app purchase content for free. This weekend it used a variety of legal channels to try to resolve the security breach, including taking down the demonstration video on YouTube and getting PayPal to block donations.

Google+ app for iPad hits the iTunes store

Google just released a native Google+ app for the iPad, which includes support for Google’s Hangouts group video chats. The video chat service is also coming to the iPhone, and both devices are getting limited support for Google+ Events.

Listen up: Podcasts now a standalone iOS app

No longer buried under menus in the Music app, Apple has created a standalone place to keep your podcasts: in an iOS app called, you guessed it, Podcasts. It’s free and is available now. It adds its own Top Stations, Top Charts and a sleep timer.

Why a 4-inch iPhone makes sense (Hint: not due to Android)

Apple’s next iPhone model will have at least a 4-inch display according to sources “familiar with the matter” says the Wall Street Journal. A larger iPhone simply makes sense at this point in time due to increased consumption of the mobile web, video and apps.

Report: two-thirds of the phones sold in Q1 were iPhones

During the first three months of 2012, Verizon, AT&T and Sprint collectively sold 9 million iPhones. Altogether, those same three carriers sold 13.5 million smartphones, which means that for every three smartphones they sold, two of them were iPhones.

Yapp lets anyone create a mobile app for events

Most mobile apps take a lot of time and development hours — but what if someone came out with a WYSIWYG-type editor that would allow anyone to easily create customizable apps for the iPhone? That’s what New York City-based startup Yapp hopes to do.

Finding the iPad’s 7 missing apps

If you own an iPhone, you probably noticed there are a fewer apps installed on the new iPad than on your iPhone. Some of the missing apps are more obvious, like the Phone app. But others are oddly omitted, despite their utility on a tablet.

Why tablet makers need to make iPad events matter

Only if Apple unveils a total lemon tomorrow at its iPad launch event in San Francisco will it dent its tablet momentum. Demand for this new style of computing is simply too strong, and Apple’s competitors are too inept to derail the iPad train.

iPhone app lets visually impaired type and text

While Siri and VoiceOver can assist visually impaired iPhone users, new software out of Georgia Tech looks to supplement these accessibility options. BrailleTouch uses traditional Braille input on the iPhone’s touchscreen, allowing people to type up to 32 words per minute with 92 percent accuracy.

2011 smartphones by the numbers: Samsung vs. Apple

Samsung ended 2011 with a bang: its best quarterly profit ever. Now that we have an idea of how Samsung did in mobile sales this year, it’s time to see how it did going head-to-head with Apple and the iPhone this year.

Here are some of our favorite apps of 2011

Apps are, at the end of the day, very personal pieces of software. And your favorite mobile app isn’t mine. So we decided to poll the staff here at GigaOM to see what apps changed our lives in 2011.

Games for the weekend: Dragons Rage

For the last two weeks, the game that has captured my attention the most is Prativo Group’s Dragons Rage. For just $0.99 (iPad and iPhone), you can submerge yourself into a world where dragons are feared and fought by peasants branding pitchforks.

Veterans Day: 5 apps for 11/11

Today is Veterans Day, a day meant for appreciating the hard work and sacrifice of our men and women in the military, past and present. This week’s highlight of mobile apps we like includes iOS apps that help us remember and appreciate those who have fought.

6 things every new iPhone user should know

As Tim Cook pointed out in the latest Apple media event just last week, Apple still has 95 percent of the overall cellular market to win over with the iPhone. Here are some things new users coming to iPhone from that group may need to know.

MobileTechRoundup podcast episode 247

T-Mobile’s HTC Amaze 4G and Samsung Galaxy S II have arrived; hear Matt and Kevin’s hands-on thoughts in this week’s mobile tech podcast. Plus a recap of the iPhone 4S and iOS 5 news; who’s buying an iPhone and who’s waiting for a Nexus Prime?

Android gains momentum as iPhone showdown approaches

The Android smartphone juggernaut continues to gain momentum, according to Nielsen. Android smartphones account for 43 percent of all smartphones in the U.S. as of August, up from 40 percent in July. And among recent purchases, 56 percent of them have been Android devices.

Tips for working through a power outage in the iPad era

I live in Massachusetts, an area barely hit by Hurricane Irene, yet we endured the longest power outage I can remember since the big blizzard of ’78. The outage reminded me that having contingencies in place in the era of mobile devices is crucial.

4 in 10 U.S. phones are now smartphones

Last year Nielsen predicted that by the end of 2011, smartphones will overtake feature phones in market share in the U.S. That may be optimistic, but the advance of smartphones continues unabated, with smartphones now representing 40 percent of all mobile phones in the U.S.

Quick look: Document scanning in an iPad world

As I try to carry my iPad more and my MacBook less, one of the key reasons I still needed a portable computer was scanning. I’ve tested many portable scanners that still needed a computer, but now Visoneer offers a cross-platform, device-independent mobile scanning solution.

Before iPhone war, Samsung sells 5M GS2s in 85 days

Just before the Galaxy S2 goes head-to-head with Apple’s next iPhone model in the U.S., Samsung announced global sales of 5 million units in only 55 days. The smartphones are actually accelerating, making it the fastest-selling smartphone yet for Samsung. Who will win the war?

Cell phone market bigger than we thought

Deutsche Bank is increasing its 2011 forecast of the worldwide market for cell phones to 1.68 billion, up from 1.57 billion. The reasons? They’re still trying to grasp how many cell phones are made and sold in China.

IPhone rides Verizon to gain preference edge over Android

A new consumer survey found that Apple has slightly widened its preference lead among smartphone owners preparing to buy a handset in the next three months. It shows that expanded distribution is helping the iPhone sell and become more of an option for more consumers.

If Apple won’t bring multiple user profiles to iPads, iUsers will

Unlike a traditional computer, Apple’s iPad doesn’t natively support multiple user accounts, which can cause issues for shared iPads. Since Apple won’t add this function, the jailbreaking community is taking it upon themselves. IUsers is a work in progress, but shows polish and promise so far.

iOS 101: Using your iPad for on-the-go entertainment

It’s travel season. Here are apps in case you have a cross-atlantic flight planned, a long drive ahead and need to keep the kids occupied, your secluded getaway has a TV made during the Kennedy administration, or you just have a long train ride to work.

RIM on the brink of losing its last asset: its people

An open letter by a RIM executive describes the problems the company is facing and what it needs to do to come back. But it also highlights how precarious the situation is for RIM, which can’t afford to lose the trust of its employees.

The iPhone Effect: How Apple’s phone changed everything

Apple’s iPhone debuted four years ago today. The phone has altered the smartphone landscape and ushered in the modern era of intelligent, connected devices. And it’s forced the industry to react. Here’s a look at the effect the iPhone has had.

IPhone gains eat into Android dominance. Can it last?

The Android smartphone onslaught may have hit its peak, at least in the U.S., according to an analyst who thinks that the expanded rollout of the iPhone to other carriers will check the rise of Google’s OS. Cheaper iPhones will also help eat into Android’s lead.

RIM pleads for more patience as transition takes its toll

Research In Motion, already struggling to keep up with nimble competitors, signaled that its attempts to catch up are falling behind. The company reported first quarter fiscal 2012 earnings, coming in below expectations for handsets sold and revenue with lowered guidance for the year.

Apple gives Twitter a big boost with iOS integration

Apple, which at one time was hot and heavy with Facebook, is embracing Twitter and has integrated the San Francisco-based Twitter’s service into its iOS 5 mobile operating system. It has also built Twitter into some of its key applications such as Camera.

Feedly Update Makes Cross-Platform Feed Reading Awesome

Feedly, an RSS reader for iOS and Android devices is attracting lots of positive attention thanks to a new update. Originally introduced as an iPhone app in January, Tuesday Feedly got a major overhaul with the introduction of Feedly Mobile 2.0 for iPhone, iPad and Android.

How Cheap Tablets Could Be the iPod Touch for Android

Android is still trailing iOS’ larger ecosystem when you count the installed base of iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches. But the rise of cheap ebook readers turned tablets from could help Google close that gap by serving a role similar to the iPod Touch.

FTC Eyes Apple In-App Purchases By Children

The FTC is reviewing Apple’s in-app purchase system because of concerns about the ease with which children are buying virtual goods without realizing the actual cost. FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz said in a letter the commission would examine the way Apple markets its apps to children.

iOS 101: How to Use Multitasking on Your iPhone or iPad

Since iOS 4.0, the iPhone’s been able to allow multitasking — the ability to run more than one application at a time. Even though the feature’s been there, that doesn’t mean every user knows how to take advantage of it. Here’s a quick primer.

Apple Faces Scrutiny Over In-App Purchases By Kids

Parents and one lawmaker are raising questions about the way Apple handles in-app payments for children. Rep. Edward J. Markey on Tuesday urged the FTC to review the way Apple markets its apps because of questions about the ease with which children are buying in-app items.

iPhones 180x More Likely to Be Current Than Androids. Not.

MG Siegler notes that few Android handsets run version 2.3, the most current version of Google’s mobile platform, but the argument is disingenuous when he says that nearly 90 percent of iPhones are current. You can’t count minor versions for one platform and not the other.

Apps That Bring Apple and Android Together

Maybe you, like me, crossed over to the dark side this holiday season and picked up an Android device. I found that one of the first things I wanted to do with my new Galaxy Tab was to enable as much cross-platform communication as possible.

How Much Did You Spend on Apps This Year?

With apps being sold at an average price of less then $2.50 each, what could possibly be driving speculation that app sales could be a $35 billion industry by 2014? If you have an iOS device, then the answer is you.

Hands-On With Apple’s New iAd Producer

Apple wants everyone to get in on the iAd game, so today it launched iAd Producer. The Mac app is available as a free download for iOS developers through Apple’s website. iAd Producer allows you to design and prepare interactive iAd advertisements using a visual editor.

Take the Setup Out of iOS Device Holiday Gifting

When I was a kid, and even as an adult, the phrase “some assembly required” turned the excitement of ripping the wrapping paper off a gift into an unappreciated lesson in delayed gratification. Help make that gratification instant by setting up your iDevice gifts in advance.

iPad 2: The Android Challenge

Despite mixed reviews and a version of Android “not optimized” for tablets, Samsung sold 600,000 Galaxy Tabs in its first month, and recently claimed to have sold a million. If Steve Jobs isn’t concerned by those numbers, he should be.

The Right Way to Market Your iPhone App

Ben the Bodyguard is an upcoming app whose developers have exactly the right idea about how to promote your product before it actually gets in to the hands of actual users. It manages to set itself apart without actual previews or screenshots. Here’s how.

Quick Fix: Get Your Music Back After the iOS 4.2 Update

The update to iOS 4.2 that rolled out last Monday went pretty smoothly, but there were many cases of people who updated to 4.2, then seemingly lost all their music. My own iPod touch was affected, but luckily there’s a quick fix available.

Quick Fix: Reset Your iPhone’s Voicemail Password

After upgrading to iOS 4.2.1, I noticed my visual voicemail wasn’t working. The phone app kept asking for my password. Well, I don’t know my voicemail password anymore, and I suspect I’m not alone. Here’s how to fix it if you’re in the same boat.

Wozniak: Android Will Dominate iOS [Updated]

Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder and worldwide technology celebrity, predicts that Android will dominate iOS before long. Wozniak, speaking to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, shared his thoughts on various topics in his usual candid manner, but the Android/iOS war was front and center throughout.

Majek’s Goldilocks: A Sign of Things to Come

At a time when the world is wondering if Apple will do to the video industry what it did to the music industry, and if the iPad will save print news from online obsolescence, independent startups like Majek Pictures are challenging the status quo for TV.

Motorola Demos MotoPrint for Printing from Android Devices

Motorola is the latest company to tackle one of the thornier issues for mobile devices: how do you print documents from your mobile gadget? Motorola is showing off a new application called MotoPrint that allows Android users to print documents from their phone on any PostScript printer.

iLife ’11: Coming to All Your Apple Devices?

A leak just ahead of Apple’s September music event had people thinking that the next version of iLife might appear there. It didn’t, but a new leak adds to the mounting evidence that it’s just around the corner, and details some potentially interesting changes.

Devs Show Growing Interest in Android’s Versatility

New data from Appcelerator and IDC suggests that with the coming rollout of new Android tablets and the launch of Google TV, combined with the strong momentum of Android on smartphones, developers are getting closer to switching their allegiance and throwing more support behind Google’s operating system.

iPad Roundup: Religious Studies

If Apple isn’t enough of a religion for you, there are plenty of iPad apps out there to cover most other religions to which you may subscribe. The iPad’s versatility — coupled with developer ingenuity — means there are many different ways to engage.

Apple Snags 48% of Mobile Profit Pie

Apple raked in 48 percent of the worldwide mobile market’s earnings before interest and taxes in the second quarter of 2010. Reliance on Google Android may be a temporary lift for others as a solid proprietary platform and ecosystem offers more control over offering high-profit devices.

Android Sales Overtake iPhone in the U.S.

Android devices have outsold that of Apple iOS4 handsets for the first time on record in the U.S., according to a Nielson survey. Worldwide, Android is a force too — up 886 percent from a year ago. Nokia is still the king, but for how long?

iOS 4.0.1 Available Now

Apple released the much anticipated iOS 4.0.1. iPhone users have been eagerly awaiting the update ever since Apple revealed there was a problem with strength of cellular signals from ATT incorrectly displaying more bars than appropriate.

iOS 4 On iPhone 3G: Much Ado About Nothing

Don’t panic, your update to iOS 4 most likely worked. You just may have to look a little deeper. After restoring and upgrading my iPhone 3G to iOS 4 late last night, I could not help but feel that the upgrade did not even happen.

3 Reasons Tablets Will Take 1 in 4 PC Sales By 2015

Forrester expects that 1 in 4 PC sales will be tablets by 2015. I agree for three reasons, but sales numbers could be even higher for tablets. The time of all-day computing in just a few apps is over. Welcome to the days of task-based tablets.

Should There Be iOS Support for the Mac?

My daughter loves her iPhone, and recently observed that the iPhone OS reminds her a lot of Mac OS Classic System 6 — the operating system on which we both cut our computing teeth some 18 years ago. I think she has a valid point.

Report: Facebook to Get iPhone Video Exporting

It looks like Facebook might get even more mobile videos uploaded, thanks to an upcoming tweak to Apple’s new mobile operating system. A piece of code in iOS 4 will add direct uploading to Facebook as one option when exporting a video from the iPhone.