Pocket Gamer reports today on a mysterious new teaser tweet that has just been posted by Gameloft on its Twitter page, which is basically just a picture of two very Iron-Man-looking eye slits, with no words other than the date, 27.03. 13. As Pocket Gamer points out, you don’t have to be as clever or as rich as Tony Stark to work out that this is most likely Gameloft’s not-so-subtle way of saying that it will be releasing a new Iron Man 3 game for iOS tomorrow. There is no other information to be had at the moment about the game, but Pocket Gamer notes that Gameloft’s previous Iron Man games have been third-person fighter games, so is that what we can expect this time around? We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. The Iron Man 3 movie will hit movie theatres on May 3, starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, and Rebecca Hall.


Source: Is Gameloft preparing to release Iron Man 3 tie-in tomorrow? | Iron Man 3 news | Android | Pocket Gamer

Well it certainly has been a long time coming, but today T-Mobile in the US finally announced that it will be offering Apple’s iPhone 5 to its customers from April 12. AppleInsider reports that T-Mobile made the long-awaited announcement today as part of its “Uncarrier” campaign, whereby it is trying to set itself aside from rival carriers such as AT&T and Verizon. What makes T-Mobile different from the other carriers that have the iPhone appears to be its package, as it will be offering a 16GB iPhone 5 for just $99 upfront, provided that you sign up for 20 more months for $20. As AppleInsider notes, the reason it has taken so long for T-Mobile to get the iPhone, despite the fact that it has two million plus iPhone customers on its network, is because it uses the 1700MHz frequency for its 3G HSPA+ service, which gives the iPhone only a slow 2G connection. This has led to T-Mobile switching a good deal of its network to 1900MHz in order to support the iPhone, with that hard work now paying off with today’s announcement. Welcome to the family, T-Mobile!


Source: Apple's iPhone 5 debuts on T-Mobile April 12 with $99 upfront payment plan

The incredibly popular XCOM: Enemy Unknown is on its way to iOS devices this summer, according to a report on iDownload Blog today, which says that developer Firaxis and publisher 2K Games made the announcement this past weekend at PAX East in Boston, during a panel presentation. The turn-based tactical RPG already has a Mac version due for release on April 24, so an iOS-specific version is no surprise, and will doubtless delight the game’s many ardent fans. iDownload Blog reports that the game’s Lead Designer, Jake Solomon, told Joystiq that the iOS version of the popular game will not be freemium, unlike EA’s Real Racing 3, saying, “It’s going to be priced appropriately for what it is. It’s going to be a premium price point. It is the game. It is the full game.” Joystiq goes on to say that it thinks the XCOM iOS game could be priced similarly to The Walking Dead, which costs $15. They also have details of what DLC from the console versions will be included, stating that the Slingshot pack will not be available in the iOS version, but Elite Soldier DLC will be included.

Source: XCOM: Enemy Unknown iOS port due this summer, Mac build launches April 24

AppleInsider has today posted pictures that are said to be of the iPhone 5S’s home button flex and vibrator and flex. The pictures, which were posted on a Japanese forum and picked up by NWE, show simply the various parts, set against a plain white background. As AppleInsider says, the supposed home button looks similar to that of the iPhone 5, although its connectors and circuitry are very different. Each of the home button parts also bears a serial number, which AppleInsider says is another possible indication that the pictures are genuine. As far as the vibrational unit pictures are concerned, they do not have any serial numbers, or any other obvious means of identification, but they may also be genuine as they appeared on the same site as the home button pictures. There is no other information available about the supposed vibrational units, and the site has previously posted other pictures of supposed iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 parts.


Source: Purported Apple 'iPhone 5S' parts show home button, vibration

The US Department of Defense is one of the latest Government Establishments to make a transition in the tech gear sector. Reportedly, the UDD has a plan to shun the long time partner – BlackBerry – and take on one of its sleekest competitors - the Apple device.

Electronista brings news that the Department is currently in the testing phase, but even that chapter is close to completion. This will soon be followed by the Department purchasing 650,000 iOS devices which are meant to replace all the BlackBerry ones that can’t support the new BlackBerry 10. This is an attempt to rejuvenate the Department’s mobile ecosystem which has been stuck with using old BlackBerry models for too long.

Broken down, the 650,000 devices are 120,000 iPads, 100,000 iPad Minis, 200,000 iPods touches and 230,000 of the latest generation iPhones. The gear acquired by the Department of Defense wouldn’t all stay in America but ​​would be sent to various places of the world, even battlefields or ships on the mission. Last but not least, Pentagon employees would be getting some Apple technology, as well.

By the look of things, even if with the BlackBerry Z10 coming out, the company’s prospects aren’t still very bright. Rumors of BlackBerry’s latest operating system being denied the testing list have also appeared online. A while ago, a report surfaced that stated the 10 OS couldn’t manage to get the green light in the security department from the British Government. Is there a possibility the same has happened on US territory?

Source: Zdnet

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When we buy an expensive device like the iPhone, we tend to operate it with the utmost of care. Dropping it on hard surfaces, or worst, in water, might prove detrimental to our efforts and expenses. But Apple is trying to come up with a solution to fix these issues and help even its more clumsy users.

With this intent in mind, the company has published with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office a filing dubbed “Protective Mechanism for an Electronic Device”. The technology is based on a sensor which will detect the moment when the iPhone is in a state of falling. The sensors Apple is probably going use are the GPS and imaging sensors. These li​​ttle sensing machines will have to work in concert with a processor. The processor will be implemented in order to calculate the speed at which the object is falling and the approximate time it will hit the ground.

The complex engineering comes into place in the next step. Apple teams working on the project have to figure out how the device can be reoriented while still being in free fall, as to shield the important components. The patent lists some solutions – a thrust mechanism which they compare to a can of gas, for example.

Other possible solutions to the equation are also brought into question in the patent. The filing details a technology that would imply the existence of internal motors clutching on cables in order to cushion the fall.

Source: AppleInsider

We have something quick and cool for you guys this afternoon! It's a Speed Giveaway for a Spigen Steinheil Ultra Crystal Clear & Hard Surface Screen Protector for your iPhone 5! So, what is a Speed Giveaway you ask? It's quite simple really, we had an extra set of these awesome screen protectors brand-new in a box and we wanted to share them with you guys just for fun! One of our editors chose a number randomly between 1 and 20. The first person to guess the correct number and post it in the thread wins the prize! Of course, you can't guess more than once with more than one answer, that would be silly, and will disqualify you.

Get ready! ONETWOTHREEGO!!!

We have a winner!

Good morning folks! Thanks for entering our silly little Speed Giveaway. OUr lucky number was chosen randomly ahead of time by one of our editors. It was number 14, so our lucky winner is stanjhall! Congratulations stanjhall!

You should receive a PM soon from our editorial staff.

Thanks for playing everyone!

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Are you looking to improve the quality of your indoor environment? Well, good news! Slovenian company CubeSensor has created these wonderful sensor packing cubes that detect almost everything from noise, temperature, humidity, light variation, air quality and so on. This way you can take the necessary steps in improving the condition of the space you’re inhabiting.

CubeSensor represents tiny gadgets that pack even tinier sensor of just 2-inches under their hood. They draw their power from rechargeable batteries and also sport a Wi-Fi connection. The CubeSensor can connect to your iPhone, as well, in orde​​r to transmit all the information which is picked up in real-time.

The CubeSensor starter kit includes two or three little cubes and a device that helps to link them to the home network. When information is collected, it can be registered and then viewed on the user’s smartphone via an app. The cubes can be set up to send alerts when different conditions are met. For example, you are coming home to an empty cold house you have left deserted for more than two weeks. While waiting in the kitchen with your heat turned on, set the alarm to be informed when the temperature has reached normal levels in the bedroom.

If you decide you want some CubeSensors in your life, you will first have to make a down payment of $10 before. The two cubes pack costs $249 while the four cubes pack costs $349.

Source: CultOfMac

According to a new story on Ars Technica, no sooner has iOS 6.1.3 been released, largely to correct a lock-screen vulnerability, a new such vulnerability has been found. The bug was found by a YouTuber, videosdebarraquito, who detailed his findings in the video that heads this post. Basically, what he has discovered is that in order to bypass the password lock, and potentially gain access to a person’s private data on their iPhone, a person with malicious intent can simply eject the iPhone SIM card when using the voice control to make a call. The phone used in the video is an iPhone 4, which of course does not have Siri, but as Ars Technica explains, the bug does not actually work with Siri: it in fact uses the older Voice Control feature that was available prior to Siri. Various websites have tested the bug to see what phones are vulnerable, and it appears that The Next Web was able to get it to work on an iPhone 4S, but not an iPhone 5, although Ars Technica says that German website iPhoneblog.de did manage to get it to work on an iPhone 5. Doubtless Apple is busy reading a new fix for this bug too!

Source: One day after iOS 6.1.3, a new iPhone lock screen bug emerges | Ars Technica

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Apple fans probably know that June 29th is a very special date for the company. It marks the moment, when 6 years ago, Steve Jobs presented the iPhone for the first time in history. That’s where it all started – the ground zero of smartphones.

And this year, according to Gizmorati’s journalist, Matthew Lucas, Apple is planning something big to celebrate 6 years of innovation and dedication. He reportedly stated that on June 29th, Cupertino is going to hold a very special event dubbed “Original Passion, New Ideas”, during which, the iPhone 5S and iPad 5 will be unraveled to the world.

So, should we expect some ground breaking features to be added to the upcoming devices, in the honor of this celebration? If Apple has some aces up its sleeves, it is keeping them under lock down, for now.

The next generation iPad will probably come sporting a new aluminum case and featuring more consistent and advanced hardware. Whereas the iPhone 5S is concerned, things are a little foggy. Considering that when Apple launched the iPhone 4S, it introduced it with the intelligent virtual assistant – Siri – which was a major attraction factor for most of the purchasers, could we expect something similar from the follow up? We don’t know. So far, the rumors are a bit mixed up. We have heard talk about a cheaper iPhone version or on the contrary, a new super iPhone packing an extended Super HD screen, a wireless charger and a powerful 13-megapixel camera.

Whatever it turns out to be, we’re very excited in the anticipation of the important event.

Source: Gizmorati

AppleInsider has fresh news today about the possible release time-frame for the iPhone 5S, based on a new report in DigiTimes, which says that according to sources in Apple’s supply chain, Apple’s suppliers will start shipping parts for the next iPhone by the end of May, ready for release in Q3. As AppleInsider notes, this is actually a little later than some other reports have suggested, with the June/July time-frame being a popular prediction lately for the release period for the iPhone 5S. The sources of today’s report also said that previous rumours to the effect that the iPhone 5S will have a very similar design to the iPhone 5 are accurate, and the sources also reiterate other reports that stated that the iPhone 5S would have an improved camera, with more megapixels, and a faster processor. As AppleInsider also notes, this latest rumour also ties in with predictions made in January by the usually very accurate analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said that Apple would launch both the iPhone 5S and a cheaper phone, in the third quarter.


Source: Rumor: 'iPhone 5S' components to ship in May ahead of 3Q launch

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A new patent has been awarded to the tech giant Apple, one that describes an augmented reality technology of some sorts. The patent has been published by the US Patent and Trademark office, bearing the number 8,400,548.

The filing, called “Synchronized, interactive augmented reality displays for multifunction devices” outlines a system that utilizes different parts of an iOS device such as a touch screen display or camera in order to “scan” the environment. The scanning produces a replica of the real-time picture, where different objects are being labeled and tagged. Once an object is identified by the system, information related to the object in question can be displayed in a live video stream. Imagine scanning a Muse member and getting to watch the “Bliss” video by doing so.

What’s more important is that users can connect and help improve the system. For example, if the technology failed to identify an object accordingly or display the relevant information, the human user can step in to correct and edit things.

Apple’s technology would allow the person to view the environment upfront like an image or a 3D model with information present as an overlay. Both options can be displayed side by side. When describing the patent, Apple provided the example of a real-world view of San Francisco and the computer generated version of it. The user can then interact with various points and walk about the streets. He or she can then share the views with another iOS device. It sounds remotely similar to what Apple Maps is supposed to achieve. Might it be that Apple is planning to somehow extend its Map agenda?

Source: AppleInsider