Crytek shows off iOS tactical action game ‘The Collectibles’, coming later this year with MFi controller support

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Crytek, the company behind CryEngine and the popular Crysis series, is planning to release a new tactical action game later this year for iOS called ‘The Collectibles’.  We’re told the company implemented support for Apple’s new MFi gaming controller framework just in time to give developers a preview of the game and new controls during a session last week at WWDC.

Developers tell us team members from Crytek’s Budapest studio demoed the game on stage, which has the player command a squad of five through your typical war-torn environment. It isn’t the first time Crytek has released a game for iOS devices, but it is the first time it’s bringing a shooter of sorts– the genre its best known for– to the platform. There doesn’t, however, seem to be any first-person shooter elements, as the title looks to be an overhead, tactical action game from the screenshots below. Read more

This could be one of the first Apple authorized iPhone gaming controllers

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We already know that Apple has added support for game controllers in iOS7, but it appears that these plans are further along than first thought.  According to Kotaku, the above image shows an early  iOS gaming controller prototype made specifically for the iPhone 5 by gaming giant Logitech. While they weren’t forthcoming with details of where the device was seen or who showed it to them, Kotaku is standing firm that they believe this photo to be absolutely authentic.  The decision to support integrated gaming accessories is in stark contrast to Steve Jobs’ stance that such products would ruin the “elegance” of Apple devices (even though he got his start at Atari).

A reader reached out with this image from one of Apple’s WWDC sessions, which appears to show the same Logitech controller.

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Bluetooth gaming devices have existed for iOS devices for quite some time but most have had limited compatibility and fragmented compatibility.  An integrated, Apple authorized (MFi) gaming controller is going to be a welcomed addition for the iOS gaming community.

Screen Shot 2013-06-17 at 8.13.24 AM3rd party gaming accessories like the iCade Mobile (Above) have existed for years

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A fresh look at iOS 7 on the iPad [Gallery]

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Control Center iPad iOS 7, Game Center and Notification Center below

It appears that some developers have been posting iOS 7 on iPad (emulator) usage shots on the web. Aside from Apple’s somewhat hidden official images, there aren’t any other official images of the iPad running iOS 7 that are public. We’d heard even before the keynote that Apple was behind in releasing iOS 7 for iPad and as such initial iOS 7 betas are only for iPhones and iPod touches.

You’ll note the flashlight option on the Control Center which is probably just a leftover since the iPad doesn’t yet have a Flash.

Reader Phillip describes how to get iOS 7 iPad emulator running in Xcode 5: Read more

Apple website mistake reveals alternative iOS 7 icons, with tweaks to Weather, Passbook, and more (Update: removed)

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Icons

UPDATE: Apple’s site has reverted to the current icons present in iOS 7 beta. 

Apple has quietly changed some of the icons on its official iOS 7 website, making notable changes to the Weather, Passbook, and Reminders apps. iOS 7′s icons, which have been subject to much scrutiny and disapproval from various designers, have been one of the largest complaints about iOS 7 so far.

The icons, which can currently only be viewed on Apple’s site using a mobile device, most notably show a completely redesigned weather app icon, ditching the clouds and sun found in the current iOS 7 beta, in favor of the live temperature, something users have been waiting for for years.

Phil Schiller previously noted on Twitter that showing live weather on the iOS home screen would “waste battery,” but this is an improvement Apple has been working on for some time.

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MTV revamps iOS app with full episodes, on-demand video, & second screen experience

MTV is rolling out a huge update to its iOS app today that brings a ton of new content to both the iPhone and iPad. The previous MTV WatchWith app appears to be rebranded to simply “MTV” and now offers a ton of full episodes from the network’s most popular series, on-demand video, & a brand new second screen experience.

As for full episodes, MTV has signed up nine cable providers so far: AT&T U-verse, Bright House Networks, Cablevision (Optimum), DIRECTV, Hawaiian Telecom, RCN, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS. Subscribing to one of these cable providers will be necessary to access the full episodes, but MTV notes it is “working hard to get all TV providers to participate.”

Other content, such as on-demand video, won’t require you to sign in. Available through on-demand is sneak peeks, after shows, bonus clips and exclusive, original content for MTV series, but also great content from MTV News, MTV Style, MTV Geek, HTV Hive, HTV Other, and live coverage of the MTV Video Music Awards and MTV Video Awards: Read more