Mark Gurman

Apple has informed their paid iOS developers that they now have the ability to create the necessary metadata for Game Center leaderboards and achievements. This allows game developers, wishing to take part in Game Center, to create player rewards/achievements and leaderboards for all Game Center users to see. 

This seems like a big step in the process of setting up Apple’s interactive gaming network, and we feel that Game Center’s public release is imminent. It’s probably safe to say that we’ll get a bunch of Game Center details at Apple’s upcoming September keynote. Do we want iPad Game Center compatibility? Heck yeah!

Game Center metadata screenshots are after the break!

There have been rumblings of an 11.6 inch MacBook Air launching soon, so a photoshopping Apple fan put together a comparison of the current 13.3 inch model and the unicorn 11.6 inch model: 

It looks pretty sweet and we hope Apple’s next MacBook Air is something like it. We like the glass trackpad and hope Apple could throw in that black bezel with the glass overlay, a super high-res display, and maybe more than 1 USB port. Could they also make it like 500 bucks?

This morning a White iPhone 4 was supposedly leaked into the wild in China. It gained buzz on some major websites but we still had a hunch this had to be a fake. Our biggest reason has to be that it was found in a black iPhone 4 box. Think about that for a second… It sort of makes you think of a DIY black to white conversion kit as the black iPhone obviously comes in that black box. 

But that’s hardly it. Our good friend Ryan Bates from Mobiture pointed out to us that the black to white DIY kits leave out the diffuser from the LED flash, as well as the silver lining. So we had a look. We first headed to Apple.com to get a genuine picture of the white iPhone 4s camera flash:

We then compared that to the LED camera flash from the leaked pictures of this morning. We then realized that the picture from Apple.com has the silver lining around the flash, and the picture from this morning does not. We then went a step forward and found a picture of a user’s DIY kit. This kit does not include that official silver lining either, therefore the “leak” from this morning is likely fake, most likely the product of a DIY kit. 

And hey, if you don’t like black you can always pick up one of these sweet-looking skins. 

Apple has just updated their app sales agreements with developers, and have included something new to target educational institutions. Developers now have the choice to offer their apps at 50% discounts when multiple copies are bought by schools. This is great for schools who buy up iOS devices to let the students explore educational apps. Developers simply need to agree to the new paperwork, then check a box to get the discount system running for their apps. 

The new developer agreement reportedly does not include any other significant changes or enhancements. 

Update: Apple has announced that the 50% off discount will apply to bulk downloads of 20 or more. 

So about 20 days ago we told you that Apple had removed a Chatroulette-like app from the App Store called iChatr. iChatr was exclusive to iPhone 4 owners who happened to have earphones. Earlier this week an app called Chatisfaction hit the App Store and this promises randomized video chats on iPhone 4s and Evos. These video chats between strangers are setup based on similar likes, location, and gender. 

The app even promises to push out random video chats based on no similarities, FUN!. Also, Evo and iPhone 4 owners can now video chat, randomly, making Fring a thing of the past. So the moral of this story is that we’ll most likely have another post up in about a week telling you that Chatisfaction was yanked from the App Store. 

You can get Chatisfaction here for $4.99, (Pricey?!) if you dare. 

via App Advice

Griffin Technology is a company that has been in the accessory business for a long time. They can even be considered one of the pioneers of iPod cases, releasing a case soon after the first iPod’s launch. Since then everything followed logically with their popular iTrip, and now cases for the iPhone and iPad. In this review we will be covering five of Griffin’s most popular cases for iPhone 4 and iPad. For the iPad we review the Elan Passport, Elan Sleeve, and the Jumper. For iPhone 4 we cover the Outfit Ice and Elan Passport Wallet case.

Griffin’s Elan Passport is a fantastic iPad case which leverages the Folio style. The case opens just like book, as you can see above, and features a microsuede interior. This interior is soft, and ensures protection from scratches for the iPad. The iPad clips in via 4 strong high-quality straps. These straps keep the iPad in place, and do a phenomenal job at it. We took the the case, and shook it all we could and the iPad didn’t even seem to move at all. If you drop you iPad in this case you are completely covered. The edges of the iPad do not creep out of the case at all which means they won’t touch what they are impacted against.

The back and front of the folio-case is tough, so you should not have any issues such as dents or nicks occur. To keep the case closed, a big strap is present. The strap won’t become undone by itself and is fairly easy to remove and put back into place. The case even has spots to store business and credit cards. This case can make your iPad a great organizer. If you like folio-style cases that offer great protection for a great price, this is the case for you. You can get one here in black or in beige for under $50.

The Jumper is Griffin’s take on a quick and easy iPad sleeve case. The case is thin, yet offers full protection from scratches, dents, nicks, and the other usual suspects. It’s compact enough to throw in a backpack, and the iPad easily slips in and out with force by a human hand. You can put the iPad in the case and no matter how hard you shake it, it won’t fall out. Unless you’re Mike Tyson or Shaq that is. The interior is made from a ridiculously soft, “furry” material that surely prevents scratches, it may even clean your screen when you take the iPad in and out.

We recommend the Jumper iPad case for anyone who likes the sleeve style. Griffin’s take on this style is one of the best on the market and you can get one here over 40% off for under $18. — This is the best deal we found.

Griffin’s Elan Sleeve is similar to the Jumper as they are both sleeves, but the design is drastically different. The Elan Sleeve is made from synthetic leather and has a very soft, suede interior. The case has a strap latch on top that you can easily pull in and out. The case offers great protection all around the device, and the only features accessible when closed are the sleep/wake/power button and earphone jack.

We recommend this case for those who like leather-designs and sleeve cases. This is the perfect case to put in your backpack, as well as a good iPad protector. You can get one here for over 50% off at under $25. — That’s the best deal we could find.

The Outfit Ice case for iPhone 4 offers great protection in a great amount of colors. The case ships in red, blue, black, and pink, and they each look uniquely “cool as ice.” The case covers all aspects of the iPhone 4, and anywhere the phone is hit, there is protection. The case goes beyond the edges, top, and bottom of the iPhone which means the case will be hit on impact, not the phone. The case provides easy access to the all the ports and buttons including the volume rocker, silent switch, power button, earphone jack, both microphones, the speaker, and dock connection port.

The case is fairly thin and is no bother to have in your bag or your pocket. The case is two parts and they easily snap together and won’t easily come apart if dropped. There is a hole for the camera and LED flash, and the case will not distort the flash like some other cases on the market. We highly recommend this case for it’s versatility, design, thinness, protection, and choice of colors. You can get one here for under $30.

The Griffin Elan Wallet case saves your pockets or bags some room, as it combines an iPhone case and a card holder. I’m not one to review wallets, but the case only has room for a few cards. You can try to squeeze in some more by stacking and there’s a little fold under to keep some cash. As a case it offers great protection for the front of the iPhone, and even protects the home button. Although this is true, some users may have a difficult time typing in some orientation. — Overall this is a “non-issue”

The ringer controls are only accessible when the wallet flap is open, but the other controls are always accessible, besides the screen of course.  The overall protection is substantial and we recommend this for anyone who is interested in the interesting concept of having a wallet/iPhone case hybrid.

You can get one here for 46% off at under $19. — That is the best deal we could find.

The New York Times reports that Apple’s Senior Vice President of Device Hardware Engineering has left Apple after the iPhone 4 antenna saga. Apple did not indicate whether he left on his own or if he was asked to leave but Apple spokesperson, Steven Dowling did confirm the depature. Dowling states Papermaster “is leaving the company and Bob Mansfield, senior vice president of Macintosh hardware engineering, is assuming his responsibilities”.

Mark Papermaster declined to comment by phone on the incident, and it’s also noteworthy that he worked to oversee the iPhone 4s new antenna design. We’ll update if we hear more. 

As a 9to5Mac commenter points out, Papermaster’s executive profile has already been pulled from Apple’s website. 

Update: The well-informed John Gruber claims he heard that Papermaster was asked to leave the company, but this is still not confirmed. 

Remember those rumors of iWork coming to iPhone a couple months ago here and here?  We remembered that hackers were able to get the iPad Netflix app running on an iPhone, and their result looks just like the production version later announced at WWDC 2010.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYJc4isiXZU&w=640&h=385]

So we put Pages to the test, we installed the iPad version on an iPhone 4 and it does not look too bad for being unofficial.

This is no concrete indication that Pages for iPhone is indeed coming, but it looks good and runs okay on a device it’s *not made for*. Could this story have the same outcome as the Netflix story? Maybe.

Apple quietly added the Genius tab to the App Store on iPad this morning. The App Store will prompt you to agree to a new set of terms and conditions and then you will be able to find new apps that are similar to apps you have already downloaded. The concept is the same as on iTunes and iPhone/iPod touch App Store but the interface is slick and fits the iPad’s screen-real estate very well. 

Apple also added a section within Genius called iPad Upgrades. This essential finds iPad versions of iPhone apps that you previously downloaded. These new additions on top of the “Try Before You Buy” section yesterday show Apple’s commitment to improving their App Store experience. 

It is always sad to report news like this, but it appears that a 22-year old female Foxconn worker is confirmed to have passed away yesterday. The worker apparently “fell from a dormitory.” It is yet to be confirmed whether this is a suicide or not, but Foxconn went on record to say the previous (and this one) deaths were “not work related.” 13 Foxconn workers have committed suicide so far and this is yet another sad piece of the story. 

What may intrigue some readers is the specific factory of which this worker comes from. She supposedly worked in the packaging department of the Kunshan factory in Jiangsu, China. Kunshan is known to some as the iPod touch factory as they are known to be packaged and initially shipped from there. There is no evidence that the worker worked with Apple’s product lines or not, and in respect for the worker and her family, we don’t feel it would be right to speculate. 

We figured it would be time for Apple to finally stop their iOS devices from being Jailbroken on their own turf, so we did a quick Twitter search. It appears that when JailBreakMe.com is accessed on any device at an Apple Store, the DNS forward users back to Apple.com’s IP address. 

It still works on 3G for those wondering :)

Here are four examples of Twitter users claiming this to be true:

It makes sense as it is a pain in the a$$ to re-image those devices all the time. The joke was instantly old anyway.

Apple seems to be adding to and changing up their App Store’s featured sections quite frequently. Today Apple added a new section dedicated to promoting free applications on the App Store. One of the subsections of this new feature is “Try Before You Buy.” This section features many of the popular “free” or “lite” editions of apps, but the section title is what makes this all interesting. 

There is a common phrase going around when it comes to app piracy, and that is “trying before buying.” Many people claim they pirate apps to do just that and claim Apple does not offer app trials. Well, Apple and others feel that’s false due to the multitude of “lite” editions on the App Store. Apple pushes that belief with this new section as they are promoting “trying before buying” without pirating. 

As a person who goes through plenty of iPhone 4 cases, I’ve become pretty picky. I review many cases, as readers know, and I usually have plenty good things to say about them. Just because the cases may be great and do what they say they do, doesn’t mean I can stand wearing them after the usual review period. This has nothing to do with the case’s abilities and design, but just personal preference. Vaja’s iVolution Top is very different, I can’t seem to want to take this off my iPhone 4.

First of all, the case is very convenient. It’s thin, and it offers protection that many cases don’t. That flap you see above that covers the screen is the best way to protect the screen while not in use. Simply flip it up, throw it in your pocket or bag and done. Screen protected. There is also open access to the speaker, microphones, volume rocker, silent switch, earphone jack, and power/sleep/wake button. The bottom is fully protected for drops but the top is a different story.

Depending on the angle of the fall, the top edges of the phone will either receive impact on the stainless steel antenna band or on the edge of the case. It seems to be a 50/50 shot at this point. The camera and flash are completely open so you won’t need to worry about that. To be honest the openness at the top is a bit of a protection issue, but in the long run a Vaja case is for style and is built for design, not mainly for protection. If you want the best protection on the planet go for the Otterbox Defender.

The case has incredible design. The leather it’s made out of is 100% genuine and is manufactured in Argentina. The materials are strong, long lasting, and it does not seem like a case that will ever rip. Flipping the flap is easy to do, and it easily stations to the top of the iPhone 4 when closed. When in use, it’s no bother to have the flip down.

We recommend this case to anyone who enjoys premium-build quality, excellent design, and the function of having the flip to cover the screen while not in use. You can find one here for around $80-$85. Also be sure to check out the iPad version here.

Patently Apple does a great job explaining Apple’s latest interesting patents and today the “Smart Bike” and Mall app have come upon us. The Smart Bike seems like the most interesting bicycle ever, a techie-bicyclist’s dream. It will use the various sensors in the bike and iPhone to measure things like altitude, speed, power, heart rate, path distances, and several more.

It gets even cooler with multi-cyclist integration: riders can communicate with each other to inform of traffic and other obstacles. Too bad they’re not calling this thing the “Magic Bicycle.”

Apple has also patented a mobile application which helps navigate customers through malls. The app will show where the stores are, show them how to get their, and even unlock private bathrooms! You’ll also be able to make dinner and movie reservations, pretty neat. 

Check out Patently Apple for all the details. 

The Marware C.E.O. Premiere and SportGrip are two completely different types of cases, but when put together they offer great protection. The C.E.O. Premiere is a folio style case while the SportGrip is a thin and well-designed silicon sleeve type accessory.

Marware C.E.O Premiere:

Pictured above is the case and it is made out of premium genuine-leather and is a great offering for anyone who enjoys the versatility of having a folio iPhone case. You slide your phone into the pouch compartment and then pull the leather top over which sticks via velcro. The velcro is made from a special material so it won’t rip and it’s also sewed into the case so it won’t come apart like some other products. The case is very-well stitched and this creates a very durable and long lasting design. The speaker, microphone, headset jack, and sleep/wake/power buttons are all accessible from the top or bottom of the case.

The dock connector and volume keys are not accessible and this seems obvious as there are straps to prevent the case from falling out. The case’s design prevents dents and nicks as there is room between all sides of the phone and the tip of the case. The sides of the case are open for access to the aforementioned buttons but there are straps to prevent the iPhone 4 from falling. The bottom of the case has a small opening where the micro-sim slot is, but the hole is not large enough for the phone to fall through.

Continue reading the review…

I’ve personally ran while using this case clipped to my shorts and I had absolutely no issues. There was not even a sense of the iPhone 4 falling out of the case. The clip is well built and clips to your clothes in a way that it won’t fall off.

We highly recommend the Marware C.E.O Premiere as it is one of the best designed and protective folio-cases on the market currently. It comes in either black or brown, both with a white stripe, and they are both very stylish The case has a suggested retail price of $34.99 and you find one here.

Marware SportGrip:

The Marware SportGrip for iPhone 4 is a good silicon sleeve that offers decent protection. The back is a fairly thin silicon layer while the sides are made out of thick silicon. There are holes for the camera, LED flash, speaker, dock connection port, both microphones, and the headset jack. When the case is out by itself without a phone in place don’t be fooled by it’s weak appearance. When you place the iPhone 4 in the SportGrip you immediately get the well-protected feeling.

The case will prevent scuffs, and light to fairly medium dents on the sides. The case is taller than the top of the screen which helps to prevent screen shatters. This goes for the front and the back. The back’s thin silicon layer will prevent scratches more than damage but that is where the thick sides come into play. This case is not perfect on its own but it’s a fantastic compliment to the C.E.O. Premiere Folio cases. It’s the perfect case to put your iPhone 4 in then put in the folio. It fits perfectly and is easy enough to take in and out with no worries.

The SportGrip ships in six colors: black, blue, white, pink, red, and frosted. You can get one here for a suggested retail price of $19.99.

This is one of those apps that might not be in the App Store tomorrow.  MiTube lets you download MP4s(iTunes link) of YouTube videos to save on your iOS device. 

MxTube has been a Cydia app for awhile but for whatever reason Apple approved it.  Get it while you can.

via Mobiture

Update: Apple called the developer, the app will be down momentarily so get it while you can (No excuses)!

Update 2x: The app has been completely pulled from the App Store. Sorry to those who missed it as the app’s awesome. 

How can a simple stand for the iPad be so great? Well it all comes down to Just Mobile’s company motto, “form and function.” It’s almost like Apple’s take on product creation, and Just Mobile nearly seems like the Apple of accessories. To start off, the packaging. Apple is known for their stunning packaging that is well-designed and provides protection for the product it’s shipping. Apple stays away from the poorly designed cardboard boxes other companies use, and so does Just Mobile.

Getting to the actual UpStand, it’s one gorgeous and “super-precise” accessory. It’s crafted from high-grade aluminum to create its very solid construction. It ships put together so all you have to do is find where you want to put it, and set your iPad down. The place where you set the iPad down is bolted to two super-strong aluminum poles that are fused to the stand’s base. The base is in the shape of a circle so no matter what it will not tip. The stand has non-slip rubber lining along the sides so the back of the iPad does not scratch as well as to prevent the iPad from slipping.

Continue reading:

The base of the stand is also non-slip to provide the same security for your device. You can see in the photographs how nice of an addition the stand really is. It also fits the industrial-design of Apple’s products. If Apple were to make an iPad stand it would surely look like this. Furthermore, it all fits together when setup with an Apple wireless keyboard. It makes an awesome stand when you want to do typing with they keyboard. This experience can get even cooler if you setup a mouse for your iPad via some sort of jailbreak-only application.

We highly recommend Just Mobile’s UpStand iPad stand for anyone looking for the best designed and constructed stand on the market. It helps with typing, watching videos, and just about anything. You can even put the iPad in portrait to use the photo-frame functions. The stand sells for $49.99 and you can purchase one here.

The very much anticipated Ultrasn0w carrier unlock is now available for the iPhone 4. Simply search for it in Cydia and get going!

We’ve heard that 3G is still not supported on T-Mobile USA so be sure to disable 3G in the network settings of your iPhone. If you don’t see it in Cydia try adding the repo: http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com. 

Chpwn, the developer of popular jailbreak-only apps such as ProSwitcher and Infinidock is back with another soon-to-be hit with “Infinifolders.” This tweak for jailbroken iOS devices takes Apple’s iOS 4 folders system and breaks the 12-app barrier to allow the placement of an unlimited amount of apps in a folder.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlrOOpPeoVE&w=480&h=385]

As you can see in the promotional video above, the user simply needs to flick up and down (like a list) to reveal more apps. Chpwn simply says the tweak will be available soon and we’ll be sure to let you know when it’s on Cydia. 

Update: The tweak is now available on Cydia for $1.99. 

The good old Walt Mosspuppet recently submitted his soundboard app, “Mossboard” to the App Store. Mossboard includes his usual kind words involving Ballmer, Jobs, Arrington, and the guy he’s mocking, Walt Mossberg. Mosspuppet claims on his Twitter profile that it was rejected due to references to Walt Mossberg and other figures. Check out the video below of the app in action, it’s quite funny.  

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JWZX-0bTQI&w=640&h=385]

Yesterday we reported that Jailbreakme.com works because a of major PDF-based bug in iOS. This bug potentially allows hackers of all kinds to access your personal information stored on your iOS device. We also reported that a temporary solution is available via terminal command lines and working with your iOS device’s internal file system. This solution is not a fix, just a way to warn you every time Mobile Safari attempts to download a PDF file. 

Today, Will Strafach has released the same solution via a Cydia-based package called “PDF Loading Warner.” Simply download and install the package and the solution will be installed. Every time Mobile Safari attempts to download a PDF you will get the following message: 

This tweet may put it all in perspective for you.