Unique Dribbble Design: Fold to Unlock

Apple’s patented slide to unlock method for unlocking an iOS device has received a decent revamp via a designer on Dribbble.
While AppAdvice did beat me to the punch in terms of posting this wonderful piece of art, I was looking through Dribbble’s featured section yesterday to come across the following item posted by Austin Kudin.
The method would work like this: instead of sliding to unlock, the user would simply slide their finger from left to right anywhere on the screen to have their lock screen fold away to reveal their homescreen.
The creator, Austin Kudin, does admit that he was inspired by another mockup for Android designed again by a Dribbble user.
Of course, there are some qualms people would inevitably have with such a method. It would allow you to see the homescreen, which could potentially be a problem if you have a passcode – however, there’s really no confidential information on anyone’s homescreen.


Though we probably won’t see such a method to be implemented into iOS by Apple, a jailbreak tweak is imminent.

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Absurd Rumor? Bendable iPhone to Come Soon from Apple

We’ve previously heard about the Liquidmetal iPhone – now, another rumor that you should questionably take with or without a pinch of salt: a bendable iPhone.
Future iterations of the iPhone could incorporated Samsung’s OLED display, which is flexible. According to a report by The Korean Times, Samsung has reportedly received a “huge” number of orders for the company’s flexible display.
Industry sources have agreed:

“Apple is likely to be one of the handset makers asking Samsung to provide them flexible screens.”

Apple has yet to confirm such speculation and knowing their past record, they definitely won’t. Thus far, there’s been no confirmation from Samsung’s spokespersons either – they’ve declined to talk about the order and how Apple fits into the whole scheme of things. Another industry official said Samsung “wouldn’t be this bullish about flexible OLED screens if Apple wasn’t sharing its enthusiasm.”
The report noted that Apple (if the company purchasing the screens is in fact the Cupertino-based tech giant) would buy $11 billion worth of the OLED displays and memory screens from Samsung in 2012. Samsung’s line of Galaxy smartphones and tablets is expected to make the switch from LCD to OLED displays later this year; a move that could support that Apple would eventually make the switch for both the next-generation iPhone and potentially the next iPad.
How would you like to see a bendable iPhone?

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Siri Claims Nokia Lumia 900 is ‘Best Smartphone Ever’

Since the time of her (its?) existence, the iPhone 4S’ virtual assistant, Siri, has gained a reputation for the quirky answers she delivers to some questions.
These kinds of answers have already earned the assistant her own blog for crazy remarks she makes entitled Shit Siri Says. For example, asking Siri where you can hide a body will turn you up with local places among the lines of dumps, reservoirs, and others of the same nature.
Yesterday, though, Siri breached the line of simply crazy remarks and crossed into insane remarks. In a report published by TheNextWeb, Siri has supposedly claimed that the new Nokia Lumia 900 is the best smartphone ever.
Has Siri suddenly gained a mind of her own and she’s beginning to resent her creators? Most likely not – the answer behind this whole affair lies within the method Siri uses to attain her answers: Wolfram Alpha’s database.
Wolfram Alpha’s service gets its answers, in this department, from the collection of user reviews and such. Since the Nokia Lumia 900 is fairly new, the database of reviews must have been limited and once user probably used the term “best smartphone ever” in his/her review of the handset.
While simply asking Siri, “what is the best smartphone ever?” doesn’t return with the pictured result, you can add an additional term to the beginning. Stating, “Wolfram Alpha what is the best smartphone ever,” prompts Siri to resort to Wolfram’s database and will return with the Nokia Lumia 900 as the answer.

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Review: ZOMM Wireless Leash Plus

Thanks to the folks over at ZOMM, the painful ordeals of leaving your iPhone behind somewhere are imminent. Catering to users who are overly forgetful, the Wireless Leash Plus ($89.99) boasts a method that is mutually clever and helpful and ever so satisfying.

Overview

Without the slightest doubt, it’s painful realizing that you’ve forgotten your device once you’ve loaded up and are heading out. It’s even worse when you’re far away from the place where you’ve left it. Although it may seem like the end, ZOMM have successfully endeavored to create the Wireless Leash Plus – an invisible leash for any bluetooth-enabled phone or device that will ensure you never again leave your phone behind.
The amount of things that the Wireless Leash Plus is capable of doing is in no way indicated by its size. About as thick as an iPhone and a bit taller/wider than inch, the key fob will pair to your device via bluetooth and ensure both your device’s ultimate safety as well as your own. When the leash and the paired device are separated past a distance defined by the user, the leash will emit a subtle, but distinct, alarm to alert you. Similarly, walking off without the leash will result in a handy little notification on your phone.

Design/Packaging

From the point of unboxing the product, ZOMM’s attention to detail is immediately evident. The packaging sports a modern, clean look and everything within the box is neatly arranged in cutouts sized accordingly. The leash has been dedicated the spotlight right in the middle of the initial layer; underneath, you’ll have the manual, a simplified ZOMM keychain, an AC adapter and also a USB charging cable. Upon charging the leash up to the optimal level, indicated by the LED light that will steadily glow, you’ll be able to use all of its functions.
The actual leash boasts a cool, slick aesthetic with measures used to make the actual design as simplistic as possible. The leash comes equipped with a speaker, an LED light, a vibrator, a microphone and one center button. Although the design is minimal, the actual functionality has been executed flawlessly.

Features

Setup requires almost no time at all. The manual details the process. For the iPhone, you simply must toggle bluetooth on via the Settings app (general—>bluetooth) and can thereon pair the two devices. There are two ways to configure the ZOMM to your preference. Without using the free desktop software, you can use the myZOMM app when on the go.

Above product is the Wireless Leash that doesn't work with myZOMM app

The application allows you to control the volume level of the leash. It also allows you to tweak your preferences and activate its “Call Notification” feature to find your ZOMM – this will send a signal to the leash making it emit a loud beep; perfect for situations when you can’t find your keys.
Within the application’s confines, you can also supply the Wireless Leash Plus with an emergency number to call. Set as 911 as default, you can change the number – when this feature is put to use, you can either use the leash or your phone to listen/talk to the receiving party. A simple push of the Z button puts the call through.
The leash radius can be specified in the app as either “short” or “long”. Once you’ve breached this distance, the leash will vibrate, blink and beep.
As an added feature, you can define custom presets. Allowing for an unlimited number, each of the above can be tweaked individually and can also be titled individually. This especially helps.
The amount of features doesn’t end there. As we’ve said above, the ZOMM can be used in lieu of a bluetooth handset. You can switch between the iPhone’s speaker or the leash’s. Additionally, the application offers geo-tagging – utilizing the iPhone’s GPS features, you can take pictures of images and later return to see where they were taken thanks to a map that will be supplied upon clicking on specific images. This can help with finding your car.

Verdict

While it may be an investment, the Wireless Leash Plus is worthy of your $89.99 no matter what angle you consider. For such a small device, the results are incredibly satisfying. With so many capabilities, the ZOMM Leash Plus is an endeavor that has sufficiently augmented the market for iPhone accessories, and we wholeheartedly recommend it.

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Our Favorite Magical Puzzle Game ‘Potions!” Receives a Major Update

We were enchanted by dDurian’s debut puzzle game ‘Potions!’ (yes, the ! at the end of the title makes it that much cooler) to the point we awarded the game four out of five stars and kept in touch with the developer about a major update set to change the game’s very landscape. Thus, are happy to report that the game has gone far in improving itself from a polished conglomeration of beautiful artwork with tepid gameplay into a work of fun and addiction.
Today, version 2.0 of ‘Potions!’ was released, bringing with it a whole new game mode. Endless Mode is not a tacked-together merging of Stages into a simple continuous string of alchemy, but rather a full-fledged mode that practically feels like a total contrast to the game’s previous content that greatly expands upon the formula that was already in play. Mixing potions becomes a challenge amidst a speeding “magical” conveyor belt and an innate risk of putting together an incorrect ingredient combination. Potion ingredient difficulty increases as does multiplier, making leaderboard dominance a top priority and one that carries a certain enjoyment.
Once the basics of alchemy are down and potion-mixing becomes natural (through a help dialog that we found to be quite memorable and charming, a huge step-up from writing typically found in games of this nature), we found it easy to get enthralled into the new mode. The timer ticks down fast enough to make you press yourself against the clock to successfully mix each new potion that appears, transpiring gameplay to be fast-paced with multiple layers of challenge requiring a cunning skill set of memorization, speed, and let’s not forget flicking.
Smart, addicting puzzle games with artwork that showcases the Retina Display seem to come along rarely in these copycat days of the App Store. ‘Potions!’ is a compelling treat that is best enjoyed through the new Endless Mode included in the latest update. If you have been looking for a new addiction or are trying to curb your Angry Birds in favor of something with a little more sorcery, give ‘Potions!’ a mixing.

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Quick Review: Drive and Jump

With a learning cover easy to master by all ages, retro artwork and a whole ton of enticing gameplay obstacles, Drive and Jump ($0.99) is your typical top-down racer with a serious, addictive spin.
As an endless racer, you’ll take control of a stubby little, pixelated car with hopes of traveling as far from your pursuers (the police) and to rack up the most amount of points possible. You’ll tilt to control the car back and forth as it drives forwards automatically and progressively accelerates faster and faster as your gaming session extends.
Your job is to achieve the highest score while avoiding all of the obstacles that are intermittently thrown at you. Whether it’s a moose sitting dead in the middle of the street, something simple like an oncoming car, a police roadblock or a helicopter, there’s no doubt that the game is extremely varied – as you progress, you’ll travel to new worlds that are populated with different enemies and sport environments that vary between one another.
Tapping the screen is your secret weapon: this will launch your car soaring into the air to avoid obstacles on the ground. This also opens the possibility for enemies to roam the skies; if you run into an enemy, you’ll lose one of your three lives. Some even result in an insta-game over.
Though in their current state the controls are flawless, the option for additional methods aren’t existent. You certainly can’t play while in bed nor can you play without eventually madly twisting your hands around. Other ways to play are on their way.
The artwork shows the indie developer’s fondness of games of yesteryear. If you’re a pixel junkie, you’ll adore the retro elements at every corner of the game. The included chiptunes keep your feet tapping along.
Game Center integration with achievements are nice little touch to an already amazing, varied game – it deserves your attention and your $0.99 without the slightest doubt.

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You Still Have a Chance to Get Tickets to WWDC 2012

A newly launched site by a seasoned app developer aims to allow a redemption those who didn’t get a chance to purchase tickets for this year’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference.
Even though each ticket was listed at $1599, each and every one of the available tickets to Apple’s anticipated, annual Worldwide Developers Conference sold out within two meager hours after the event was even announced. The growing demand for the tickets was probably the effect of the late announcement made by the Cupertino-based company, which will be taking place on June 11 – June 15.
www.wwdcwaitlist.org/ puts you on sort of a waiting list. For those who want to sell their tickets to the event, the site is a great place to do so. Those who are desperately wanting to get their hands on tickets should be able to given a large amount of people have now decided not to go afterwards purchasing a ticket on the day of the announcement.
The site states:
We believe there are people who purchased WWDC tickets that do not plan to actually attend. There are various reasons for doing so and we understand but it has created three problems:
The tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable, which has caused purchasers to experience a financial loss.
Many developers (like us) won’t be able to attend WWDC.
WWDC turnout may be lower than expected.
This website is meant to help track the scale of this issue and provide a potential solution to Apple dev community. If there is evidence that the problem is widespread enough we will potentially catch Apple’s attention. We hope Apple will then refund people who have entered their Apple IDs here and ultimately utilize the returned tickets to satisfy those developers genuinely interested in WWDC. For more information email: contact@wwdcwaitlist.org.
Currently, Apple doesn’t provide the slightest method for customers to get a refund for tickets that have previously been purchased. The site aims to open Apple’s eyes while also securing people who initially wanted to go, a chance to.
Were you planning on attending? Let us know if you have success. Visit Apple’s dedicated web page here for more information on the event – it’s rumored iOS 6 will be announced, among other things.

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iPhone 4S for $50 Off Original Price at Target

Those who were holding back to buy Apple’s popular iPhone are now in luck. Originally spotted by 9to5Mac, Target has slashed $50 off each model of both the iPhone 4S as well as the iPhone 4.
The entry-level iPhone 4S (16GB) can be in your grubby hands for a meager $149.99 thanks to Target. Further, the entry-level iPhone 4 from 2010 can be had for only $49.99 – said prices are quoted from the above, featured image and require a minimum 2-year contract with the desired carrier.
These prices could very well end soon – they’re available only in store so make sure to check them out as soon as possible if you’ve been scanning the market for good deals on Apple’s prized handset.
Apple’s sixth-generation iPhone model is expected to launch later this year keeping up the fall tradition after the 4S was launched last October. However, this could be an indication that all previous speculation is wrong and that Apple could unveil the next iteration in their ever-expanding lineup sooner than later. Then again, the wheels and cogs on the Rumor Mill are always turning in full gear.

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New iPad Launches in 9 Additional Countries

Apple’s newest device has received universal praise from the iOS community as a whole. All across the board, it’s known as a revolutionary tablet with the much-anticipated features it boasts over its predecessor, the iPad 2. With the success the Cupertino-based company have seen in the initial months of sale for the device, they’ve released the tablet in an additional nine more countries.
The new iPad, though in huge demand, has remained to be available when walking into Apple Stores. Obviously, Apple are cranking out the device in their multiple production facilities both day and night to meet the demand.
First released in the U.S., the tablet brings some notable features to the table including a new A5X chip with quad-core graphics, an improved 5 megapixel rear camera, the stunning retina display that boasts a whopping resolution of 2048-by-1536-pixel resolution at 264 pixels per inch (ppi), and 1080p HD video recording.
Apple has released the new iPad in nine more countries, bringing up the total to a cumulative 57 countries worldwide. Countries added today include Colombia, Estonia, India, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, South Africa, and Thailand.
The same models as sold in the U.S. will be available in the aforementioned countries. However, remember that the new iPad doesn’t support any 4G LTE networks located outside the United States and Canada.
Let us know if you manage to get your hands on the device; it’s absolutely wonderful.

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Urbanista Copenhagen Headphones Review – Squares the Rest

At times, differing from the norm is a great thing – especially in the iOS market with tons and tons of competitive accessories available without substantial perks over one another. The Urbanista Copenhagen headphones have taken creativity to another level; how do they fair?
If there’s one thing you can gleam about Urbanista when you open the packaging for the first time upon receiving a pair of Copenhagen headphones, it’s the evident fact that they’ve invested time and money in perfecting their product’s design. The svelte packaging itself is enough to reflect this. Checking out the headphones further confirms the notion. Polished to the ultimate extent, the pair of over-ear headphones will undoubtedly stand out in comparison to others of comparable breed.
Rather than circular audio outputs, the headphones boast two square shaped pieces that will fit over your ears. Due to the design, though, you have to find the perfect fit by adjusting the top part of the headset to avoid having the headphones slip off every few seconds. However, the square headpieces aren’t too large and attempting to have them cover your areas completely results in the headphones being incredibly loose. The padding is incredibly comfortable.
Visually stunning design in headphones is sometimes short-lived with horrible sound quality. On the contrary, with the Copenhagens, you’ll be presented with crisp mids and extraordinary bass reproduction. The headphones have the potential to surpass the volume level of the natural iPhone speakers as well, which is an obvious advantage.
The headphones come along with a slick carrying case to keep the beats rolling when you’re on the go as well. The two sides of the headphones will fold inwards resulting in a shape slightly resembling a construed semi-circle. Though the headphones, in their respective case, still won’t be compressed enough to be carried around in your pocket, they can very easily be stowed in some sort of baggage.
An aesthetic marvel, the Copenhagens are truly a top contender for your money if you’re looking for some good headphones worthy of showcasing your tunes. If you’re interested, Urbanista sells the Copenhagen headphones online for $99.

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