iDevice

Apple to add iOS sync hubs to Genius Bars for iDevice replacements

Though iPads, iPhones, and iPod Touches are becoming less and less dependent on being connected to a computer, one important part of owning an iOS device still requires a Mac or PC -- backup.

The piece of mind that comes along with having an accessible backup for all your contacts, calendar events, texts, apps, and photos goes a long way. For users who experience a malfunction of their device that requires it to be replaced, they must have a current backup of their information or be subject to losing it when Apple replaces their unit.

The wireless sync hubs that … Read more

iMessages aren't secure when you lose your iOS device

When iOS 5 was released alongside the iPhone 4S earlier this fall, iMessage was introduced as a new, all-encompassing messaging service that would connect all iOS device users for free using their unique Apple IDs. iMessage, however, may have a critical downfall when it comes to securely erasing access if you lose your device.

Since Apple released the Find My iPhone app, users cruising out and about have had a backup plan to keep their minds at ease should they accidentally leave their iPhone at a bar or come across the misfortune of being robbed.

Find My iPhone allows you … Read more

iOS 5.0.1 untethered jailbreak confirmed, safe to update

The jailbreak community has completed a safe, untethered jailbreak update for iOS 5.0.1, according to community hacker pod2g, who confirmed the process on his iPhone 4.

While the jailbreak for iOS 5.0.1 was available last week, the untethered version had just been confirmed Sunday by pod2g. As with most jailbreaks, when Apple releases an update to iOS, those who have hacked their phones must wait for the jailbreak community to engineer a suitable upgrade.

If users update their iPhones or iPads before the jailbreak update is ready, they will lose their hacked systems, reverting back to … Read more

Apple patent applications detail noise-cancellation tech using voice recognition

In a series of patent applications, Apple has outlined how it plans to combat noisy environments by using voice recognition to activate and control noise-cancellation technologies.

By changing the noise-cancellation process to fit specific voices, Apple thinks it can better manage noise-ridden spaces, especially for mobile devices while making calls or recording voice memos.

Four patent applications relating to this technology were uncovered by AppleInsider at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office:

User-Specific Noise Suppression for Voice Quality Improvements Active Noise Cancellation Decisions in a Portable Audio Device User Interface Tone Echo Cancellation System and Method for Removing TDMA Audio Noise … Read more

Apple wins patent for intelligent dock connector

Your power management could be getting a whole lot smarter. Apple has just been granted a patent that details an intelligent dock connector able to properly adjust power levels for multiple connected devices from a single outlet source.

As with other power-related patents that Apple has applied for in the past, the technology involved here seems to be exactly the kind of thing people, including myself, have been waiting for. In a time when everything needs to be charged, be it a MacBook Pro, an iPad 2, or an iPhone 4S, having a one-and-done solution is certainly the solution many … Read more

Five ways to snap a photo with your iPhone

One of the major improvements for both iOS 5 and the iPhone 4S was made in the area of photography. Upgraded camera specs on the new iPhone 4S and improved software in iOS 5 make taking pictures much more appealing from your phone. These tips can help even further, giving users greater options when producing photos.

1. Use your software shutter-release button. This is the basic iOS function that has been included since the very beginning. Open the camera app, adjust your frame and zoom level, then press the camera icon. For better shake control, try pressing and holding the … Read more

Apple applies for antenna technology patent

It has been over a year since the iPhone 4 Antennagate debacle filled the pages of most tech blogs. In that time, everyone from random people on the street to Consumer Reports criticized the iPhone antenna issues, problems that a new patent application from Apple seeks to solve.

Sniffed out by Patently Apple, this application for a window that acts as an antenna may end up being one of the more important filings you'll see this year. In a nutshell, Apple is developing a composite that contains foam cells and could house the iPhone's (or other iDevice's) … Read more

Quick tip: iPhone, iPad, iPod photo syncing could be filling your hard drive

Many users, especially those with notebooks, are at a constant battle to maintain decent onboard hard drive space without having to sacrifice too much content on their machine. Syncing the photos on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod could be costing you some of that valuable space.

When you are using iTunes to sync your photos to iPhone, iPad, or your iPod, iTunes automatically creates a folder on your machine called iPod Photo Cache. This folder contains a backup copy of the photos currently synced to your device.

If you change the folder that is syncing to your Apple device, the … Read more