Concept ideas help us to visualize a specific new feature or piece of software or hardware, rather than just imagining, and with the faults of iOS 6 having been well-documented of late, it's no surprise that we've seen a slew of concepts purporting to improve elements of Apple's mobile OS. One area which has seen a lot of attention - particularly in the jailbreak scene - is the app switcher, and Sentry, the designer behind Auxo tweak, has come through with another alternative take on how the Cupertino company could reinvent the multitasking bar.
Soon after the release of iOS 6.1, it came to the attention of the tech world that a major security flaw allowed basically anybody with a spare couple of moments to slip through the passcode system and access a device's confidential, and supposedly secure data. The release of iOS 6.1.1 a couple of days back, which fixed lingering cellular and battery issues with the iPhone 4S, is also susceptible, and an urgent update is required on all fronts to sort this mess out. According to iFun, a German blog which accurately pinpointed the aforementioned 6.1.1 release, reckons that will likely be "early next week", meaning those conscious as to the security of their iPhone will only have to wait a couple more days.
Apple has just seeded iOS 6.1.1 beta 1 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. It is available for download now for developers registered on the iOS Dev Center.
The Evasi0n untethered jailbreak for iOS 6 / iOS 6.1 is tantalizingly close now, and with Sunday's almost certain release date fast approaching, the Evasi0n website has been updated once more. Touting the process of preparing the jailbreak tools for public consumption as 75% complete, the Evad3ers team has now begun rolling the Windows and Mac tools to a private pool of beta testers.
If you happen to be the type of iOS device user who loves nothing more than adorning your outgoing digital messages with smiley faces and little Emoji characters, then this little accessibility nugget in the operating system is definitely set to bring some amusing times.
G-Form, case maker famed for putting some of the market's most sought-after gadgets under extreme tests is back with yet another such clip. A couple of months after Austrian Felix Baumgartner famously skydived from space, breaking all sorts of records including the sound barrier, G-Form has done likewise, only instead of sending a human down from over 100,000 feet, the company chose the slightly less-exciting iPod touch from Apple.
The fact that the Google Maps app is sitting at the top of the iOS download charts, it shows that iOS users definitely have a need for a fully-functional maps app that is built on top of extensive and accurate location data. Despite its somewhat insane popularity, iOS still uses the stock Apple Maps app for all direction requirements that are passed through to it via Siri.
The iPhone, iPod touch and iPad are fantastic and powerful devices. We get that, we really do. However, we should all know by now that smartphones like the iPhone have transcended from just being a typical mobile phone, and act more as portable mini computers when we can't be near our laptop or desktop computer. Having that power with us all the time to be able to browse the web, play games or instantly check email is fantastic, but unfortunately, it also brings computer-related issues like locking up, becoming unresponsiveness or getting stuck with a troublesome app on the screen.
Apple's iOS 6 may have been adopted in record numbers initially, but the release of the latest and greatest mobile software has been far from a smooth ride. Maps, which was meant to replace Google Maps at stock level, turned out to be as much use as a chocolate fire shield for many, and after a fair amount of controversy including a complaint from Australian Police suggesting its frailties potentially endanger lives, Maps has somewhat re-replaced Apple Maps following its App Store release last week. Meanwhile, iOS SVP Scott Forstall has gone the way of MobileMe, and with Apple is looking to turn a corner with its iOS software by bringing the updates at frequent intervals, iOS 6.1 Beta 4 is now available to developers.
Keeping up with the latest and greatest releases in the mobile industry can be a very expensive pastime. With each year comes a handful of new releases from each of the biggest tech companies, and if your favorite device happens to be of the Apple persuasion, your costings are as high as they get in the market. So while lots of consumers can count themselves as iPhone users, the vast majority will be in ownership of the older devices - running all the way back to the first couple of generations. Whited00r has long since given these older devices a freshen up, by offering a utility which makes them appear as though they're running on newer firmware and today, said utility has been updated for iOS 6.