‘IconRotator’ rotates your iPhone’s app icons based on orientation

They say the simple things in life are some of the best things in life. They also say the best things in life are free.

IconRotator is both.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a simple tweak that was this cool, but then again it was created by developer extraordinaire Ryan Petrich — I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised
IconRotator rotates your app icons depending on your device’s orientation, so that they always face upright. It doesn’t change your swipe orientation, just the way the app icons are oriented in relation to the way you hold your iPhone.

You won’t find this tweak on Cydia’s default repos, but you will find it for free on Petrich’s beta repo located here: http://rpetri.ch/repo/

Let me know what you think about IconRotator in the comments section. Do you think it’s as cool as we make it out to be?

How to use GPS navigation with Siri

Earlier today we brought you a report on AssistantLove — the new jailbreak tweak that allows you to play Spotify songs via Siri.

The tweak also has the ability to search and get directions and routes for 3rd party GPS apps, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to get that working in my initial demo.

Now, with the help of the excellent free GPS app Waze, I can demo the integrated GPS navigation using Siri.
To get Siri working with a 3rd party GPS app, all you have to do is configure one of the currently supported apps in the settings panel for AssistantLove.

Navigon, TomTom, Waze, and MotionX-GPS are the apps supported thus far, so you should be able to find one that works for you, though, I was unable to get Navigon or Motion-X working. I haven’t tested TomTom, but have heard it works well from YouTube’s comments.

Again, AssistantLove is available for $1.99 on Cydia’s BigBoss repo, and it is compatible with all devices running Siri.

How do you think the Siri GPS navigation performs?

Service adds ‘sent from my iPhone’ to your messages for $1 a month

I’ve heard the expression, “fake it ’til you make it” but this is a bit ridiculous. The Financial Times is reporting that a new trend is starting to catch among China’s mobile users — fake iPhone signatures.

I know, an Apple-related knock off in China, big surprise. But this might actually be taking things too far. Apparently users are willing to pay money for services to auto-add ‘sent from my iPhone’ to all of their messages…
As you might have guessed, these users don’t have iPhones. But they sure want other folks to believe they do. So much in fact that they’re willing to pay $1 a month to fund the charade.

Sure, $1 is peanuts compared to the actual cost of an iPhone. But it’s still weird. Here’s an advertisement from one of the vendors: “The iPhone is too expensive. If you don’t want to spend that money, then fake it!”

But weird or not, there’s obviously a market for this kind of service. We’re just not sure why.

What do you think of the fake ‘sent from my iPhone’ service?

Tim Cook says Apple’s working on new products that “will blow our minds”

Apple hosted its annual shareholder’s meeting yesterday in Cupertino, California. This marked the first time that Tim Cook addressed the company’s board and its investors as Apple’s CEO.

Topics of the meeting ranged anywhere from Apple’s record-breaking quarter last year, to its relationship with Facebook. Those who attended the affair described Cook as witty, knowledgeable, and passionate as he talked about Apple’s future…
“You can be assured we are working as hard as ever this year to deliver an incredible year and some products that will blow your mind.”

“Products that will blow your mind.” At first glance, this obviously sounds like a CEO selling his company. But if we take it at face value, the phrase has far more meaning.

When was the last time Apple unveiled something that blew your mind? I mean really blew your mind. Was it last year, with the iPhone 4S? No. Don’t get me wrong, Siri is cool and all. But it’s not mind-blowing. So the iPad 2 then? No. It was essentially the same thing as the original iPad, but thinner.

No, the last time that an Apple product really blew our minds (and this is clearly debatable) was the iPad — back in 2010. With its 10″ multitouch display, 10 hour battery life and seemingly endless array of possible uses, the iPad was definitely a game-changer.

With that in mind, the fact that Tim Cook says that Apple has products coming out this year that will blow our minds has us salivating. Is he talking about the iPad 3? Is the next iPhone really going to be that awesome? Will we finally see the rumored Apple television?

The world has been waiting to see if Apple can continue to churn out hit products now that Steve Jobs is no longer at the helm. Perhaps this is the year we start finding that out.

How to get the iOS ’86 theme on your iPhone now

Remember that awesome iOS ’86 theme concept we showed you last week? The one that looked like it came straight off an old Mac Plus computer? Well it’s now available in Cydia for your downloading pleasure.

Conceptualized by designer Anton Repponen, and created by an author named AR7, iOS ’86 gives your new school device, an old school feel. And here’s how you can install it on your jailbroken iPhone or iPod touch.
The theme isn’t available in the default repos, and doesn’t come with its own wallpaper. So we’ve put together this quick tutorial to make sure your iOS device is looking right.

Step 1. Open Cydia, and add http://repo.ithemes.it/ to your list of sources (you’ll notice that Cydia warns you that the repo has been reported for redistributing copyrighted works. iDB doesn’t normally recommend installing these kinds of repos, but this was the only place we could find the theme).

Step 2. Once the repo is installed, do a search in Cydia for ‘iOS 86′ and install it.

Step 3. Now you’ll need to activate the theme in Winterboard (If you don’t have it, you’ll need to install it), and re-spring your device.

Step 4. And finally, it’s not mandatory, but we recommend you download and apply this white wallpaper to complete the look.

That’s all there is to it! It’s worth noting that the theme isn’t very extensive. It doesn’t seem to support many (if any) icons outside of the native set, and it doesn’t change the look of any other UI elements.

But we have to admit, it still looks good. Here’s hoping that its creator plans to add new icons and other elements in the future.

What do you think of iOS ’86?

OnLive Desktop brings Flash to your iPad

In January, OnLive introduced a new app called OnLive Desktop, which brings a full version of Windows 7 and Home Office to the iPad for free. OnLive Desktop beams the full version of Windows 7 to the iPad from their gigabit connected servers, and actually works quite well.

Tonight, the OnLive crew has announced a new premium version of the app, called OnLive Desktop Plus, that brings Adobe’s Flash technology to the iPad…
Apple has always resented Flash, leaving it out of both of its iPhone and iPad since conception. There is always a work around by using apps like VNC to view your desktop to access Flash, but since OnLive Desktop Plus is beaming Windows 7 from a server, they’re able to bring Flash on the iPad without using a desktop intermediary.

OnLive’s founder Steve Perlman was the founder of Quicktime at Apple. Perlman told Wired he agreed with Apple’s move not to use Flash on their mobile products, but he said, “when you can run [Flash] on a full-powered computer, that equation is very different.”

OnLive Desktop is available for free, while the Plus version is available for $4.99 a month. Today’s update also brings Adobe Reader onto the platform.

Perlman told Wired that OnLive’s browser is “the fastest mobile browser ever.”

As MacRumors points out, OnLive does have a small lag, so interacting with flash-based games is difficult. However, the publication said viewing flash-based video works fine.

Free and Plus users get 2 GB in total storage on OnLive’s servers. The company says they’re rolling out a Pro tier soon that will bring 50GB of storage for $9.99.

Doctors to ‘prescribe’ smartphone apps to their patients

We’ve mentioned a few health related apps and peripherals in the past such as an ECG and a blood pressure monitor for your iDevice, but according to the Daily Telegraph, doctors in the UK are now being urged to prescribe smartphone apps to their patients in an attempt to reduce visits to health centers, ultimately putting the power of knowledge in the hands of the patient.

Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, has compiled a dossier of approximately 500 tools and apps which will be recommended by the National Health Service…
Mr Lansley goes on to say:

So many people use apps every day to keep up with their friends, with the news, find out when the next bus will turn up or which train to catch. I want to make using apps to track blood pressure, to find the nearest source of support when you need it and to get practical help in staying healthy the norm. With more information at their fingertips, patients can truly be in the driving seat.

Doctors will be asked by the NHS to recommend apps to their patients that are relatively cheap or free and that can assist in the well-being of the patient. Just a few of the apps that have made it into the list include one for food allergy sufferers that scan bar codes and warn of any potentially harmful ingredients and a new diabetes app that gives people reminders of when to check blood sugar levels and take medication.

Although the apps are not disclosed in the article, a quick look in the App Store for the search terms “food allergy bar code” and “Diabetes” comes up with quite a comprehensive list of apps that would certainly accomplish the goals outlined.

Do you currently use any apps that assist you where your health is concerned?

iSteve Job’s life documented in a fascinating Facebook timeline [updated]

Since the passing of the late Steve Jobs, we’ve seen many tributes relating to the man behind Apple. Cult Of Mac have come across an extraordinary rendition of such a tribute.

It’s a fascinating look into Job’s life in none less than a Facebook timeline, documenting his life since the day he was born. As Killian Bell points out, the people behind this tribute must have put a heck of a lot of work into this.
The timeline features literally hundreds of photographs and videos that feature Steve throughout his life, from the Electronics Club at Homestead High School back in 1969, to the day he stepped down from the role of CEO at Apple, and everything in between. It’s just like a wonderfully interactive biography that you can immerse yourself in for hours.

I’ve just taken a look and there is a huge amount of information to divulge but it certainly is an interesting look into his life. I could sit and watch those videos all night long.

Be sure to check out the Facebook page if your a fan of the great Steve Jobs.

UPDATE: The Facebook page has been taken down, presumably by Apple’s demand. So move along, there ain’t nothing to see here anymore. Too bad because that was a beautiful project.

How to get a refund from the App Store

The App Store has over 500,000 applications available for download. That means that your iOS device has access to some of the best mobile software money can buy — and, unfortunately, some of the crappiest.

Here at iDB, we’ve seen a number of examples of bad software. And no, we’re not talking about the 300+ fart apps out there. We’re talking about apps that you download expecting one thing, and then get another.

Luckily, there is a way to get your money back on these applications…
We touched on this process a few years back, but given all of the recent talk about counterfeit apps surfacing in the App Store, we figured it was time to cover it again.

Step 1. Launch iTunes on your computer, and login to your account.

Step 2. Once in your account, scroll down to your Purchase History and click ‘See All.’

Step 3. You should now be looking at a list of all of your iTunes purchases. Go down to the bottom of the list, and select ‘Report a Problem.’

Step 4. Now select the app that you would like to request a refund on, and again click ‘Report a Problem.’

Step 5. Choose a problem from the drop-down menu (hint: there’s 6 options), give a detailed explanation for why you are seeking a refund in the Comment box, and click ‘Submit.’

That’s all there is to it! Don’t expect a refund or response right away. Apple has been known to take weeks to refund customers for app costs — if at all. Keep in mind that the standard policy for iTunes purchases is ‘All Sales Final.’

It’s also worth noting that if Apple does refund your money, they expect the developer to refund them. And they still keep their 30% take. So make sure the app is really worth a refund, because the developer looses $0.30 on the dollar.

Of course, we could avoid all of this nonsense if Apple would just incorporate a trial period for app purchases. Even something short — say 15 minutes — would be enough time to determine if the app worked as advertised.

The difference between an Apple TV and an Apple Television

All the talk these days – at least before all the iPad 3 rumors took over – has been about the much anticipated Apple Television. Apple has certainly not announced anything, and some of us still are not convinced that Apple needs to enter a crowded market, but those rumors just keep on coming.

I’m one of those that just doesn’t see why Apple needs to bring a television to market, especially considering there are already hundreds of TV manufacturers in the space that are all scrambling for market share. If Apple is to make an impact, then it needs to offer something that nobody else can. Something that differentiates.

The Apple TV that we currently know and love is a sign that Apple doesn’t yet take the home entertainment business seriously. Famously called a “hobby,” the Apple TV is a box that is full of potential yet seems almost held back. Almost neutered…
But what if the Apple Television is the next step? For Apple to really make a go of the television game, then it needs to offer something that not only cannot be found in the TV market, but also something that cannot be achieved by simply hooking a $99 box up to an existing TV set. Something that goes beyond the Apple TV.

All that setup has us here, the point at which I sit back and contemplate just what Apple could have up its sleeve that couldn’t simply be rolled into an Apple TV3.

The obvious thing is Siri. While software, Siri obviously needs a microphone in order to work, something that the Apple TV currently lacks. While it is indeed possible to add a mic to a set-top box and release an Apple TV3, the thing will have to be small and with boxes like that usually tucked away in cabinets the chances of the whole thing working are minimal.

Jailbreak Dream Team to present at Hack In The Box conference in May

The Dream Team, consisting of p0sixninja, MuscleNerd, planetbeing, and pod2g, were the key developers among others who worked to release the A5 ‘Absinthe’ jailbreak last month. All of these developers work hard to find exploits in Apple’s devices to give us the necessary goods.

According to a tweet from p0sixninja, the Dream Team will be presenting at the Hack In The Box security conference, to be recognized for their jailbreaking efforts…

The Hack In The Box conference is taking place from May 21st – 25th in Amsterdam. The conference focuses on attack and defense security methods used. The event is officially described as…

The main aim of our conferences has always been to enable the dissemination, discussion and sharing of deep knowledge network security information. Our main focus is on new and groundbreaking attack and defense methods that have not been seen or discussed in public before. HITBSecConf events bring together a unique mix of security professionals, researchers, law enforcement and members of the hacker underground under one roof and our flagship event in Malaysia sees over 1000 attendees.

It’s great seeing hackers in the jailbreak community being recognized for their hard work. Hopefully, for those who can’t make the conference, the Dream Team’s presentation will be live streamed.

Will you be attending Hack In The Box in May?

Pictures of iPad 3 leaked: more tapered edges and upgraded camera?

There have been plenty of rumors surrounding iPad 3 specs and launch date. The iPad 3 is rumored to have a Retina display, upgraded cameras, LTE, possibility of Siri, and a quad-core processor. Apple is rumored to announce the iPad 3 on March 7th, and ship it a few days later.

Tonight, Apple Daily has leaked some pretty interesting pictures of what they say is the iPad 3. They have posted a supposed over-head image of the iPad 3, revealing slightly more tapered edges and redesigned camera…
Apply Daily has also posted a picture of the first-gen iPad, iPad 2, and supposed iPad 3 side-by-side. You can tell the slight difference between the iPad 3 and iPad 2, specifically around the edges and camera.

What’s interesting about the leaked photos is there is no Apple markings besides the Apple logo itself. The images do look to match up with already leaked cases, however.

Apple has also reportedly been pushing select developers to finish their iOS apps, so Apple can demo them on stage during the iPad 3 announcement and in iPad 3 commercials.

At any rate, the iPad 3 announcement doesn’t appear to be that far off.

What do you think of tonight’s leaked images?