The Google Now voice assistant that Google introduced on Android almost a year ago is now available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Like the Android version, this Siri competitor hope to make your life easier by predicting your searches, providing excellent voice recognition, and presenting you with cards which show you information you need “Now.” (more…)
With design minimalism gaining ground every day (this weekend’s Ludum Dare competition has even named “minimalism” as its theme), those of us with an iOS device might want to modify its interface a little to follow suit with this movement. It just so happens that Android 4.2 Jellybean has a minimilistic clock, and it just so happens that a tweak developer has ported it to iOS. It’s appropriately named JellyLockClock. (more…)
You have undoubtedly heard of the Harlem Shake, a song and meme that spread across the internet like wildfire more than a month ago. Today, Filippo Bigarella, the person behind LastPic, has released a YouTube video demoing a tweak that beings the Harlem Shake to iOS.
The video was not actually intended to mean the release of an independent “Harlem Shake” tweak, but Bigarella has said in a Reddit discussion of the video that he may release it as an Activator action.
If many people are interested, I’ll probably release it as an activator action. I know, it’s actually silly, but as I said, someone had to do it.
Feel free to leave your groaning distaste for the above video in the comments.
Last week we took a look at LivePapers, a tweak aiming to let you use a more dynamic and interesting backgrounds on your iOS device. Today’s tweak (which we also look at three years ago) has a similar goal, but it provides it in a slightly different way.
Parallax has been around a while, and it is now compatible with iOS 6.1+ and the latest devices. The functionality that Parallax feels undoubtedly similar, as an identical concept has been possible natively on various Android devices for a long time. Do you like having a background that scrolls as you flip your pages of apps? This tweak brings that concept to iOS. (more…)
Without a doubt, Pod2g is a pretty busy man. He is known for having developed the iOS 5.1.1 untethered jailbreak and was also the one to bring attention to how closed iOS is. That said, these projects are not the only thing keeping Pod2g busy as he has finally finished his first application submitted for App Store approval.
My first AppStore application will be available the 12th of january. Almost there!
— pod2g (@pod2g) January 10, 2013
Since the release of Apple’s own mapping solution found on iOS 6, the app has received generally unfavorable reviews. Most critics have described Apple Maps as inaccurate and lacking in features compared to Google Maps. But after Apple ditched Google Maps as the native mapping app for iOS after around five years, users had little choice for the past several months.
However, it was said that Google was working on a brand new mapping application for iOS that would soon be released into the App Store. Google has since fulfilled that promise, as users saw the return of Google Maps as a third-party app. Response to the app has been phenomenal, with over 10,000,000 downloads already. But, unfortunately, the app is not completely native on iOS devices.
Predictably, iOS 6 still redirects users to Apple’s own map application, even though Google’s fresh — and arguably better — intake of maps is now available. Thankfully, that’s where a new jailbreak tweak called MapsOpener from developer HASHBANG Productions comes in, setting the new map application as the default app on your iPhone or iPod touch.
MapsOpener is a “simple tweak [that] makes Google Maps links open in the new App Store app rather than the built in iOS app on iOS 5 and earlier.” It seems to permanently make Google’s new app the default application across the whole iOS ecosystem. For example, entering or clicking this link in Safari will direct you to Apple Maps on iOS 6, but with the tweak installed, the link will then direct you to Google’s new app. One thing to note about this tweak is that lifehacker “had mixed results getting MapsOpener to open the location in Google Maps,” but with few updates, that should be resolved. MapsOpener is a free jailbreak tweak found on the BigBoss repository in Cydia.
Shortly after the public release of iOS 6.0.1 this morning, Apple has provided developers with access to an early build of its forthcoming iOS 6.1 software update, featuring improvements to the Maps framework, minor changes to Passbook boarding passes, and Mobile Safari tweaks. Also released this afternoon is a developer preview version of the upcoming XCode 4.6.
Apple has detailed the changes to iOS 6.1 Map Kit:
The Map Kit framework now lets you programmatically search for map-based addresses and points of interest. The
MKLocalSearchclass initiates a search for map-based content using a natural language string. In other words, you can enter placename information or portions of an address and have Map Kit return search results that match the information you provide. For example, searching for the string “coffee” would return the location of local coffee bars along with information about each one.
The update is compatible with all devices that currently run iOS 6, and while the fourth-generation iPad and iPad mini are not mentioned in the list of software available for download, I wouldn’t be surprised if those versions are coming soon — probably after those devices have officially launched. As is the case with any software releases from Apple, feel free to leave a comment if you find something interesting.
[9to5Mac]
Late this afternoon, Apple updated their AirPort Utility application for Mac with a beautiful new redesign that much resembles their iOS app for managing AirPort devices. The application now has a much more minimal and visual design for simpler navigation and enhanced network analysis. It looks like a map — as you can see in the image above — and should prove to be very useful if you’re a basic network user who is new to AirPort and need to set up your device. Read on for more info on today’s update … (more…)
With the new year dawning before us, Tkf1, the poster behind all of the Weekly Rewinds has come out and found each of the staff’s favorite apps of 2011. Take a look below for our favorites of 2011: (more…)
Today Microsoft is expanding their boundaries a bit with today’s release of “My Xbox Live” for iOS. The app allows for you to manage your Xbox Live profile on your Apple smartphone or tablet. Sadly, there’s no gaming included, so if you came seeking this then you’ll have to continue to wait.
Major Nelson, the Director of Programming for Microsoft’s Xbox Live division, has outlined the current features within their new iOS app:
- Read and send messages to friends
- Manage your friends list, invite new friends
- Read and Edit your full LIVE profile (name, bio, motto)
- Change your avatar features/items with the avatar closet
- View and compare your achievement progress with friends
If the app appeals to you, then go grab it for free in the App Store here. It weighs in at 17.4 MB and is fully universal, meaning you can use it on all your iOS devices.
[Major Nelson via 9to5Mac]