Accessory maker iHome announced a new product in its growing line of home audio accessories. The new iP76 is a LED color changing tower stereo speaker system. Audio sources can be provided by an iOS device, other wireless devices with Bluetooth version 1.2 compatibility, or any device with a line out jack.
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The Video Standards Council has become the UK's sole statutory video-games regulator, administering the PEGI rating system. The changes now mean age checking for the sale of any game rated PEGI 12, 16 or 18 would become enforceable under UK law. Previously, the system was in an advisory capacity and not legally enforceable, with PEGI games rated 15 or higher also being rated by the BBFC for content.
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Recosoft has launched the next major version of PDF2OFfice Professional, which now includes support for Windows XPS files and the OmniGraffle v5.x format. PDF3Office allows users to convert PDF and XPS files into editable Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OmniGraffle formats by recreating the intended construction and layout of the document. Version 6.0 introduces a new hybrid 64-bit PDF/XPS conversion core, as well as an option for optimizing files for editing and viewing on iOS devices. Customers who purchased a PDF2Office Professional v5.x license on or after April 1, 2012 are entitled to a free upgrade, while a full license costs $99.
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17 hours ago | Posted in: hacks, Apple
For a brief time on Thursday Apple was censoring appearances of the word "jailbreak" on the iTunes Store, reports note. One example included the Thin Lizzy album and song of the same name, which were suddenly renamed "J*******k." Other instances of the word, though, are said to have remained unaffected. By Thursday afternoon Eastern time, the extra censorship is observed to have disappeared.
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21 hours ago | Posted in iphone apps

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Pocket Universe 4.6 is an updated version of the popular astronomy app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It offers new un-lockable achievements that are available via Game Center support, and an improved “More” menu that's now labelled as “Extras”. Several bug fixes are included as well.
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A new 3D puzzle game is now available for the iPhone/iPad, called Oh! Cube. The object of the game is to remove specific blocks from a cube in order to reveal the hidden object within. Currently, the game features 100 different playable levels, and is available for a special limited time price of $1.
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Pimp Your Screen enables users to customize the look of their device by providing a selection of specially designed backgrounds and skins. The new 1.7 version adds support for the latest iPad's Retina display, as well as multiple stability/performance improvements and new home screens and skins.
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Turner Broadcasting System has unveiled Extinction Squad, a new adventure game where players try to rescue endangered animals from extinction. The game features both an Adventure mode and a Countdown mode to play through, along with leaderboards to compete on via Game Center support.
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Start Walk for iPad 5.7.3 is an upgrade to the interactive astronomy guide with real-motion tracking functionality. The update adds new music by Astropilot, as well as corrected info about the Sun. Multiple bug fixes are also included, and deal with compass orientation and issues involving the HIP catalog.
Viacom and Time Warner Cable have agreed to drop lawsuits against one another over the latter's TWC TV app for iOS, according to a joint statement. "All of Viacom’s programming will now be available to Time Warner Cable subscribers for in-home viewing via internet protocol-enabled devices such as iPads and Time Warner Cable will continue to carry Viacom’s Country Music Television (CMT) programming," the release reads. "In reaching the settlement agreement, Time Warner Cable and Viacom were also able to resolve other unrelated business matters to their mutual satisfaction. Neither side is conceding its original legal position or will have further comment."
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The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) has released its latest findings on the state of US consumer satisfaction in the areas of cellphone manufacturers and wireless carriers. For the former, there was one runaway winner -- Apple. For the latter, Sprint was able to score a win among a tight field. Overall satisfaction was up an incremental 0.1 percent to a 75.9 score out of a possible 100.
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Recently MacNN had a chance to test out the Bamboo Stylus duo, a newer version of Wacom's popular stylus for the iPad -- and by extension, other capacitive touchscreen devices. The duo adds an ink pen into the mix, occupying the tip opposite a rubber one meant for touchscreens. This may make the stylus more practical for some people, since it means always having a pen handy for writing checks or quick notes, or at least one less pen sitting in your bag.
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Wed May 16, 2012 | Posted in: iPhone, industry
Sprint's deal with Apple for the iPhone will ultimately prove "quite profitable" for the carrier, said CEO Dan Hesse during a company shareholder meeting on Tuesday. The pact will end up costing $15.5 billion by the end of 2015, which has prompted some worried shareholders to challenge it. Hesse in fact recently returned $3.25 million in personal compensation back to Sprint when it was pointed out that the company hadn't factored in the impact of the iPhone before tallying worker bonuses.
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The latest version of Flipboard, 1.9, now includes an Audio category, its developer has announced. The content is available through the Content Guide, and includes clips from NPR and PRI shows, as well as recommendations from SoundCloud. This includes access to lists and followed users, as well as highlighted content. Once audio is playing a person can continue reading other sections of Flipboard without it being interrupted; a menu option lets users control playback.
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Wed May 16, 2012 | Posted in iphone apps

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AVStreamer enables users to remotely control and access their PC or Mac using an iOS-based mobile device. The new program features a built-in multimedia player which can be used to stream video at up to 30 frames-per-second with audio, or to view any media files that iOS supports.
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A new updated 1.2 version of Monster Wars, the side-scrolling, tower-defense style game, is now available for download. The update features 11 new Tier 4 monster armors, 2 additional Soulstone challenges for the Monster Arena, more achievements, and a new level to play through.
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WhitePages.com has announced a new version of its popular phone number directory for iOS devices, WhitePages 2.2. The update includes several new features, such as the ability to view nearby people and stores, support for reverse address look-up, and a new option to share info via Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail.
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Rocket Fox is a new action puzzle-game for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, complete with over 60 stages to play through and multiple environments to explore. The game offers a character customization feature for altering the look of the player's Fox, and includes Game Center support for unlocking achievements.
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LaLa Lunchbox provides kids with an easy way to plan and pack lunches with their parents. The app allows kids to personalize and design their own lunch boxes, as well as plan their lunches for one week at a time. Additionally, the program also turns all the choices made by children into a grocery list for parents.
A new line of iPhone-controlled RC Cars has been launched by iHelicopters.net. Models include a range of popular Audi and BMW cars such as the Audi Q7, Audi R8, BMW X6, and BMW 5 Series. Each car includes a RF transmitter that connects to an iOS device via the headphone jack and allows users to control the car from up to 20 meters away. The new BMW and Audi models are set at $60 each including free worldwide shipping.
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App developers got a brief glimpse into the workings of the review process yesterday when photos emerged of what appeared to be the work desk of an App Store reviewer. As ReadWriteWeb discovered, the photos -- posted on a test Facebook account -- showed an iMac, several Apple products, and what appeared to be app review guidelines.
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Today's deals from DealNN include discounted keyboards, headphones, and more. Newegg.com has recently lowered the cost of the SteelSeries Shift Gaming Keyboard with eight programmable hotkeys, two USB 2.0 ports, multiple media controls, and on-the-fly macro recording. Currently featured at DealNN, the gaming keyboard is now available for the discounted price of $34.99 and offers savings of up to $55.
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Tue May 15, 2012 | Posted in iphone apps

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Fandango Movies can be used to browse and purchase movie tickets online, as well as view high quality trailers, clips and interviews. The latest 4.7 version of the app enables users see all of the amenities of a theater, such as reserved seating, in a single view. It also includes enhanced graphics for use on the new iPad's high-resolution Retina display, and provides a wide range of bug fixes and usability improvements.
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Inkflow is a new word-processor for the iPhone/iPad where users can draw or write their ideas down, then arrange and reorganize them with their fingers. Support is offered for scaling or moving anything drawn on the virtual piece of paper, and for creating books 20 pages long. A Plus Edition of this tool is also available for download, and includes a customizable color palette, paint brush tools, and notebooks with unlimited pages.
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Sparrow 1.2 is an updated version of the fully-featured mail client for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. With this release comes the ability to navigate between messages by swiping up and down, as well as support for editing and creating different labels/folders. Additionally, the app now offers localization in nine languages including French, German, Spanish, Italian, English, Japanese, Russian, and Chinese.
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Bulkypix has introduced The Sandbox, a new iPhone/iPad game that provides users with their won “physics sandbox” where they can create a universe and compose their own music. The game offers 24 challenging missions that help players master the elements, and enable them to earn Mana from their actions to unlock lots of new elements and achievements. Users also have the ability to share their creation via the game's online gallery.
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Gogobot for the iPhone and iPad provides users with tools for planning and organizing vacations. Features of the new 1.5 version include the ability to comment on postcards, and to search for restaurants by cruise type. An improved search now makes it possible to find spots nearby or in a desired location, and new search filters enable users to find places based on rating or distance.
Apple will announce several new iCloud feature upgrades at June's WWDC, claim sources for the Wall Street Journal. One of the highlights is expected to be photo sharing. While users can currently sync photos via Photo Stream, these are only accessible under the same Apple ID. The sharing feature would not only allow people to make photosets public, but to make comments on others' collections.
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Sparrow has released a new version of its iPhone email client, bringing it up to 1.2. The release makes several important changes, for instance allowing landscape composition for the first time, and navigating between messages by swiping up or down. Users can now edit or create labels and folders, and the app has been localized for nine languages in total: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Russian, and Chinese.
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The unofficial iPhone Dev Team has released a new version of redsn0w, its jailbreaking utility for iOS devices. The v0.9.11b4 update lets users restore old IPSW files to A5-based Apple devices, including the iPhone 4S, third-generation iPad, and iPad 2; previously, only devices prior to the iPad 2 could be downgraded, thanks to the limera1n exploit. The update means that A5 devices can now be downgraded from iOS 5.1.1 or 5.1 to 5.0.1.
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Mon May 14, 2012 | Posted in iphone apps

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SketchBook Pro for iPad is a professional-grade paint and drawing application with multi-touch interface. The latest 2.5 version provides users quicker access to the Color Editor and Color Picker, an improved color palette, and the ability to independently control hue, saturation, and brightness. The upgrade also includes bug fixes and performance enhancements, as well as a new palm rest.
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A new 2.0 version of Adobe Ideas, the digital sketchbook for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices, is now available for download from the App Store. Features of the upgrade include a free membership to Creative Cloud with 2GB of cloud storage, and support for working with synced artwork using Illustrator CS5 or CS6, obtained after downloading the necessary plug-in for Illustrator.
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Idea Shower has launched Pocket 4.1, an updated version of iPhone/iPad app that enables users to save article and videos for offline viewing. The new version provides additional article view features such as an increased maximum font size, and a new Sepia theme with a focus on contrast and readability. Support has also been added for more video sites including TED and Devour.
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Adobe Proto allows users to create wireframes of websites and apps right on the iPad. Through the program users can sketch website and mobile app wireframe layouts with simple finger strokes, insert interactive wireframe components from the component toolbox, and build wireframes using CSS grid systems. Additionally, users can sync their wireframe to Adobe Creative Cloud to access it using Adobe Dreamweaver CS6.
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China Taxi is a new adventure game for the iPhone/iPad where players must help Johnny and Burger succeed with their new taxi business by getting passengers quickly and safely to town. While trying to complete the 30 total levels, players can expect to run into dangerous rocks, zombies, and bulls that hinder their progress. Players can also collect gold coins in order to upgrade the capabilities of the taxi.
A third Apple patent suit versus Samsung was stayed today pending the resolution of a separate required proceeding before Germany's Federal Patent Court. The stayed patent in question is a general patent that covers, amongst other things, the basic pinch to zoom interface action as found in OS X and iOS. The court that stayed the trial today is the first of two courts that operate in parallel, but on different timetables. One court is responsible for the scope of the infringement, and the other court is responsible for the validity of the patent.
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