iOS9 Worldwide Release Time Table

What time will Apple release iOS 9 in my nearby time-zone? As you may know, Apple is good to go to discharge iOS 9 on Wednesday, September 16, in a few places, that will be Thursday, September 17. Beneath we take a glance at what time will Apple make iOS 9 accessible in your general vicinity.

While Apple has declared the discharge date for iOS 9, they haven't reported any particular time for it yet in the event that past major and minor arrivals of iOS are anything to pass by, Apple will probably flip the switch on iOS 9 at 10:00am Pacific/1:00pm Eastern time.

Apple's official presentation of iOS 9 amid the current year's WWDC not just figured out how to realize energy from the overall population hoping to play with new features, additionally from engineers why should energized work with the most current changes and API upgrades. As opposed to being a whole upgrade of the stage, iOS 9 speaks to what can be classed as a developmental movement of the stage, concentrating on various center feature augmentations and for the most part settling the stage to expand user-experience and execution over every single compatible device.

An incredible aspect concerning Apple is the organization's readiness to push limits and stay puzzling, while additionally adhering to custom and staying steady and unsurprising in specific ranges. As said before, in spite of the fact that we don't have official affirmation from Apple on time, we can by and large expect that iOS 9 will be made freely accessible at 10am PDT (Pacific Time). That is 1pm for all you ET (Eastern Time) people on the east drift. 6pm for those in UK.

Taking into account this, we can give what we accept are genuinely exact times in different domains around the globe that you can check in the graph beneath:

As usual, it's advantageous get ready yourself and your hardware for the adventure ahead. At whatever point you're going to update to another firmware it's generally judicious to make a full nearby or iCloud backup. There's likewise the mental readiness needed to do fight with Apple's verification servers that will without a doubt be taking a pounding from everywhere throughout the globe.

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Siri causes laughter In White House

We've all inadvertently activated Siri at one time or other, yet one writer figured out how to do as such at an especially humiliating time: while an inquiry was being asked amid a White House press instructions.
Siri did, however, deal with a fairly able reaction to the inquiry, which spoke the truth President Obama's inability to influence Republicans in Congress to consent to an arrangement about Iran.

I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you want me to change.

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Angry Birds 2 for iOS and Android Released

After initially teasing the latest offering in the extremely popular franchise via its social media accounts, Rovio has now officially launched Angry Birds 2 for the iOS and Android platforms. Mobile owners may have seen a number of Angry Birds incarnations over the years, such as the Star Wars spin-off and the Transformers collaboration, but Angry Birds 2 is the official sequel to the biggest mobile game of all time, and promises to be “bigger, badder and birdier”.

Those devious Angry Birds are back, with Rovio attempting to reinvent the world of mobile gaming once again by bringing yet another addictive, slingshot-physics based game to the relevant app stores. As you would expect from a gaming house like Rovio, the official Angry Birds sequel brings a huge emphasis on stunning aesthetics, challenging multi-stage levels, and an improvement in the intelligence of those pesky piggies who manage to cause the tempestuous birds so much trouble. It’s basically the original Angry Birds game, but on steroids.

In addition to building on the gameplay and visual appeal of the original release the sequel brings with it the ability to actually choose the type of bird that can be flung at those naughty little pigs. It actually makes all of the difference with being able to choose the abilities of the birds for your next shot, rather than being limited to what the game provides.

The new multi-stage levels are also designed to test the gaming abilities of users. Stunning graphics are mixed with exotic plants, beautiful animations and plenty of hidden peril that will test gamers to the max.

Angry Birds 2 also introduces the ability to challenge players all across the world in the ‘Arena’ to a battle of bird flinging abilities. Facebook based tournaments allow for the collection of feathers which can be then used to level-up the flock and advance even further. There are also some big, bad boss piggies to tackle on the journey. Foreman Pig, Chef Pig, and King Pig will present plenty of peril through the game. Are you capable of overcoming all of the environmental obstacles to defeat the boss piggies?

Angry Birds 2 is bigger, badder and birdier, and will surely test you to the max. Grab it now for free from the download links below.

(Download: Angry Birds 2 for iPhone and iPad from App Store).
(Download: Angry Birds 2 for Android devices from Google Play).

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Apple Watch Sport Extreme Torture And Drop Test [Video]

With the Apple Watch finally going on sale, videos of durability and torture tests of the device have started dropping in as has become the latest Internet trend with every new popular gadget launched these days. Today, we see the Apple Watch being put through some likely kitchen accidents, followed by a drop test.
Apple Watch Sport is apparently the top contender when conducting these tests, and it’s hardly surprising given the relatively lower price point compared to other models, such as the steel-cladded Apple Watch and the exquisitely-priced Apple Watch Edition.



CNet’s guinea pig of an Apple Watch Sport is treated with some of the sharpest tools you would find in a kitchen, such as knives and well, a grater as well with the focus being on the glass display. The ‘Ion-X’ glass on the Apple Watch Sport is pretty resistant to sharp objects scratching at it, as opposed to some reports we’ve heard before. It’s worth mentioning here that the rest of the Apple Watch models are given the much tougher sapphire glass treatment. Perhaps the most interesting bit is how the watch survived being submerged in a pot full of water for over 10 minutes, and was even subjected to being drowned in ketchup, Nutella, peanut butter etc. The watch was rinsed with water, and voila, not an edible speck left.
The video ends with a drop test, or rather, tests, as it was dropped plenty of times without the band to cushion the impact. When that didn’t break it, it was stepped on, and when that proved futile, it was down to a 7-pound skillet. Yes, the skillet did the trick, and why would you think otherwise?

However, in contrast to the results CNet saw, TechRax’s drop test sees the Apple Watch Sport succumbing to a facedown impact as the screen shatters from a height of almost 3 feet – with the band attached. Well, Apple has pitched the Ion-X panel as scratch resistant after all, but for a ‘Sport’ model, Apple could’ve done better. As for the video, you can watch TechRax lose his cool at the results in the end.

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How to Jailbreak iOS 5.1.1 Untethered On iPhone 4S, iPad 3, iPod touch And More Using Absinthe 2.0 [Tutorial]

We are formerly again sitting honourable in the midsection of that beautiful time period when updated jailbreaking tools are available, which appropriate us to free our iOS devices from their foul shackles. For those who hold been motility with an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad gushing Apple's iOS 5.1.1 firmware, you leave no doubt be knowing that after weeks of severe acquisition and investigate, Pod2g and his aggroup bang released an untethered jailbreak for all existing iOS devices, excluding the third-generation Apple TV

Full list of compatible devices for 5.1.1 untethered jailbreak are as follows:

• iPhone 4S
• iPhone 4
• iPhone 3GS
• iPad (3rd gen)
• iPad 2
• iPad 1
• iPod touch 3G
• iPod touch 4G
• Apple TV 2G

As a split of that hard work, the Chronic Dev Team hit provided the indispensable updates to their Absinthe tool, which was originally released hinder in Jan, and was the slave down jailbreaking the iPhone 4S and the iPad 2 (on iOS 5.x) for the first time. Absinthe is an extremely simple GUI tool which allows users to shoot the necessary files into their device so that they can goodness from the untethered jailbreak. If you happen to be sitting with an iOS 5.1.1 device in your hand, then read on for full details on how to use the Absinthe app to achieve an untether.

Important Note:

• Make a complete backup of your device using iTunes or iCloud before jailbreaking your device.
• If your iPhone relies on an unlock, do not update to stock iOS 5.1.1 firmware and for the time being stay away from Absinthe.
• If you have a passcode set on your device, make sure you disable it before following the instructions below.

How To Use Absinthe iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Jailbreak

Step 1: Download Absinthe 2.0 from Links Below.

Absinthe v2.0.1 MacOSX (10.5, 10.6, 10.7)

Absinthe v2.0.1 Windows (XP/Vista/Win7)

Absinthe v2.0.1 Linux (x86/x86_64)

Step 2: Once the tool has been downloaded, find the compressed file and extract all of the contents like you would with any standard zip file. Place the files on your desktop for easy and quick access.

Step 3: Using a standard 30-pin connector cable, connect the device to be jailbroken with your computer.

Step 4: Launch the Absinthe tool through the executable file which you downloaded in step 1. When launched, the program will show an initial interface that will have some text-based information on it, and a “Jailbreak” button.

Step 5: If the device is connected properly as per step 3 then the Jailbreak button should be available. Press the button to begin the jailbreak process.

The initial Absinthe tool for iOS 5.0.1 accompanied with it a new method for jailbreaking iOS devices, so with that in mind, don't be alarmed if the device looks like if it is going through a restore process. The Progress bar on the Absinthe GUI will furnish user feedback, please don't touch the device at this period.

Step 6: When the payload process is complete and you’re confronted with your device’s lock screen, the ever familiar Cydia icon will be present on the home screen. The device is now successfully jailbroken untethered and you can now install any extensions or packages via Cydia, provided that your device is supported by them.

One of the eager things about Absinthe and something which users - and us – love is the naivete of the tool. Tho' the creation and deed of a jailbreak is extremely rocky and requires a very unequalled skill set, the dev teams feature managed to exhibit a way that is extremely user-friendly and panduriform to use.

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circle on Google+ or or like my Facebook Page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

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Encyclopedia Britannica For iPhone And iPad–Download Now!

If you can assemblage your knowledge sustain to before Wikipedia rosaceous to prominence, you may recall a second when the Encyclopedia Britannica was one of the most favorite sources of recommendation to those with a knifelike hunger for knowledge.

Patch the reliability of Wikipedia's collection is oftentimes the subject of vehement moot, there's no question that it has eclipsed flatbottomed the most honourable of fact-bibles such as Britannica and of series, Microsoft's Encarta. Some with a literary, geographical or historical percentage were in a advise of fighting sunset month when it was announced that Britannica would no long be printed. Others weren't so shocked, and as the class begins to stand the digital tidal wave sweeping everybody ashore, the end of our treasured Encyclopedias honourable serves as a reminder that in the Digital Age, no one has minute for practice or view.

Britannica's passage from an iconic collection to a simple port app among billions doesn't at all detract from its significance, but represents a sincere marking in the long-standing history of common noesis among humans. Nearly all noesis increased is through so in a digital property, and flat books - the fashionable citadel of the analog era - are now beingness joint and feature digitally.

The Reference Britannica app has now reached Apple's App Store, and although it's liberated to download, you'll have to pay $1.99 for a orotund monthly subscription. When you prehend the disentangled app, you get to record the original snippet of an article, and there are also numerous free-to-access articles acquirable.

It has a vast catalog of over 80,000 entries, and has a clean, well-functioning interface. Everything you explore for or search finished is preserved in Recents, so you can chit them again at a later date, and you can add favorites as wellspring as reserve pages for offline reading.

It also offers many refined accessibility and distribution features as substantially. If you perceive the text is too small or large, you can modify to accommodate the experience accordingly, and if you do misstep crosswise something you experience may be of share, you can e-mail a link to somebody else.

Spell it doesn't overcome Wikipedia for symbol of articles, you can bet your bout note that everything within the Britannica app is 100% existent.

Download Encyclopedia Britannica for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch [iTunes link]

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circle on Google+ or or like my Facebook Page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

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Here’s How To Get iOS Screenshots Onto A Mac

We take a lot of iOS screenshots here at SanjeevRules. Whether we are reviewing an app or we just want a unique image to accompany a post, we are constantly taking screenshots.

What that also means is we are also on the lookout for better ways to get those screenshots off of our iPhones and iPads, and right onto our computers. Yes we can email them to ourselves, and yes we could use Dropbox if we absolutely must, but if you’ve ever tried either of those solutions for any length of time then you’ll no doubt agree that there has to be a better way.

App developer John Marshall thought the same, and having the same issue as we do he set about finding a more reasonable way of getting iOS screenshots off of devices, and onto his Mac. Thankfully, he’s come up with an absolute beauty.

A word of warning first. You’ll need to have a Mac, and have iPhoto installed. Photo Stream will need to be set up on both the Mac and the iOS device in question, but you’ve already done that, right?

The method Marshall has come up with involves searching your Mac for those telltale .PNG files that are created when you take a screenshot on an iOS device. With Photo Stream turned on, those images are automatically beamed to the cloud and in turn, get sent to your Mac. The beauty of this is that iPhoto does not need to be running for the images to be received which also means that there is a folder somewhere on your Mac that houses all of your Photo Stream images.

Head on over to IconMaster for the full skinny, but the gist of it is this: you’ll need to find your Photo Stream folder and then search it for PNG files. Save that search and voila, you’ve got a constantly updating collection of iOS screenshots that takes no effort on your part, beyond the initial set up. John explains all that in his blog post, and it takes just a couple of minutes to get up and running.

There’s not many things in life more awesome than watching images pop up in a folder when you take screenshots on your iPhone. The transfer takes a few seconds whilst the image is sent to Apple’s servers and then back down, but it sure beats emailing them!.

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circle on Google+ or or like my Facebook Page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

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Max Payne Mobile For iPhone And iPad – Download Now!

Last week, we informed you that the PC, and subsequent console smash-hit ‘Max Payne,’ was finally being ported through to the mobile platforms. Well, as promised, the iOS version has been released today, download details of which are available at the bottom of this post!

With so many new and innovative games and amusing apps being released on a daily basis, many of them slip under the radar, reappearing in many a “hidden gems” list. When such a popular, nostalgia-inducing title such as Max Payne bursts into the scene, however, there’s bound to be an assembly of avid gamers keeping a vigil until the release date.

Published by Rockstar Games, if it manages to cause as much of a commotion as last year’s release of Grand Theft Auto III for a tenth anniversary run out, then it will certainly have been a success. Rockstar, EA, and all the major publishers are recognizing just how influential (and monetarily beneficial) it can be to bring classic titles to the App and Google Play Stores, with ardent and casual gamers both keen to join with the fun.

With such games as Max Payne and GTA, the main concern is always how the game will handle with touch controls. Initially, the gaming world took a little convincing, but it does now seem as though the developers have gotten everything right, allowing the smooth gameplay to commence.

As is often the case, the Android version will make a belated entry (like it always does for some reason), and is scheduled for release on the 26th of this month. Despite Android boasting more total devices, developers still tend to favor iOS, and since there are so many different devices from different vendors running Google’s mobile operating system, ensuring compatibility can often take longer than on the platform of its Cupertino-based rival.

Since it’s already the 12th in New Zealand, its App Store is already retailing Max Payne Mobile, and the release in other areas and continents is set to commence once the clock strikes twelve.

Meanwhile, those in New Zealand can download by following this link.

Update: Max Payne Mobile is now available worldwide, you can download it from this link.

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circle on Google+ or or like my Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest.

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Push Notifications For Cydia Apps/Packages Updates

Over the last few years, Cydia has gone from strength to strength to become a very formidable alternative to the official App Store experience that Apple provides on their iOS devices. The official repositories that power Cydia is literally packed to the rafters with packages, tweaks and extensions that have been released for users of jailbroken Apple devices. It may not seem like it on the face of things, but Cydia is actually extremely similar to Apple’s store in the fact that packages are regularly updated and require users to physically download the new version of the software to the device when a developer pushes it out.

It seems quite common that users regularly launch the official App Store to see what is currently in the top 25 free and paid apps list and to also see whether any of the installed applications have a more recent version available. However, for those who are running jailbroken devices and have their favorite tweaks installed, Cydia sometimes gets tucked away in a folder and can go weeks without being launched, potentially meaning that important or essential package and security updates are being missed. Not so long ago we were treated to some murmurings from Ryan Petrich, who happens to be one of the busiest developers on the scene, about a package that would alert users through a push notification whenever a Cydia based notification or update was made available.

After going quiet for some time, Petrich announced this morning that the project has received the backing of the repository owners as well as Cydia creator Saurik. The tweak has been given the name ‘Curiosa’ and is currently available through Ryan’s own repository for users to download and test. Curiosa essentially sniffs the installed Cydia packages and provides an on device notification when a new update is available.

The tweak itself has a number of configurable options such as specifying how often it should refresh and whether or not it requires a wireless connection. As you might expect, Curiosa is also compatible with Activator based gestures in case users wish to perform a manual refresh as well as having the ability to specify certain keywords meaning an alert will be provided if a tweak is added to Cydia that matches those specified words.

At present, Curiosa is only available to download through Ryan’s own repository which can be accessed by adding a new source to Cydia and entering the repo address of http://rpetri.ch/repo. Curiosa is then a free of charge download onto the device.

You will obviously need to jailbreak your iPhone to install this tweak.For jailbreaking iPhone 4S and iPad 2, you can simply follow our step by step guide posted here to jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 using Absinthe on Windows or Mac.

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circle on Google+ or or like my Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest.

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Swordigo For iPhone And iPad – Download Now!

While there have been some fantastic classics-in-the-making since Apple opened its iTunes App Store nearly five years ago, the app devs have made a mint from recreating and rethinking the old classics – capturing the nostalgic imagination of casual gamers far and wide.

Those who used to rock the Nintendo 64 – the very last of the ‘large’ cartridge-based units, will remember some of the classics that came with it. Since Nintendo has defiantly refused to release the likes of Mario Kart and Goldeneye to the App Store,  users have been burdened with some pretty poor rip-off attempts.

Every once in a while, though, a title comes along and reminds us of an old favorite, but still manages to keep us interested in its own right. Bearing a striking resemblance to Zelda, Swordigo is one of those RPG’s you’ll find pretty hard to put down.

It’s nice and easy to pick up and play, but doesn’t become a victim of complacency. You can utilize your sword, mace, or magic in order to successfully deter an enemy, and there are plenty of surprises along the way to keep things interesting.

It doesn’t slow down at any point, aided by the ever-changing level of difficulty throughout. No sooner are you coasting along collecting magic spells, than does a boss pop of a cave, ready to defend the the next surprise to the death.

There’s a shop, which allows you to purchase healing potions, trinkets of fire, swords and the like, in exchange for the game’s currency – soul shards.

Visually, it’s nicely varied, and provides an elegant, intricate aesthetic experience to match the captivating gameplay.

As I say, Swordigo is its own title in its own way, but is rather shamelessly littered with traces of the great Nintendo. From the heroic outfit, and certain sounds and quips in dialogue, this game has Zelda fingerprints all over it. That said, it’s a good game, and as a fan of good games, I am more than happy to enjoy it at every viable opportunity – whether it’s a blatant copy or not.

The game requires iOS 4.1 or higher, and can be downloaded via the link below. It costs $1.99, but it’s worth every cent, and will keep you addicted for hours on end!

Download Swordigo for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch [iTunes Link]

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circle on Google+ or or like my Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest.

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PowerSaver For iOS Kills Off Certain System Tasks When Battery Drains To A Certain Level

Over the course of the iPhone’s life, it had to undergo quite a bit of scrutiny in regards to its battery life, with a lot of analysts claiming that it often falls way too short of the estimated life which Apple claims in their literature, and seem quite proud about it in their keynotes.

This scrutiny has somewhat intensified since the launch of iOS 5.0, with many people feeling that it has significantly decreased the performance of their batteries on their iDevice. For the lucky few who are jailbroken, the PowerSaver tweak from Akhil Tolani could provide some comfort to the users who constantly find themselves without a functioning device thanks to severe battery drainage.

PowerSaver is a tweak that allows certain pre-defined user actions to be carried out when certain battery percentage levels are triggered. With a fresh installation of iOS, the system produces an on-screen alert when the battery drains down to the 20% mark and then again at 10%, but even then, all that it is does is; serve the user with what they probably already knew, their iOS device is about to hit the can. PowerSaver extends that functionality by allowing certain power hungry processes and system settings to be turned off at a certain percentage.

The tweak has support for up to fourteen unique alarms, each of which can be triggered when the battery reaches a certain level. An example of this could be setting an alarm to deactivate the Wi-Fi on the device when the battery level reaches 30%. Working out the key levels and switching off the right functions could be the key to prolonging the battery life when out and about.

You will obviously need to jailbreak your iPhone to install this tweak.For jailbreaking iPhone 4S and iPad 2, you can simply follow our step by step guide posted here to jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 using Absinthe on Windows or Mac.

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circle on Google+ or or like my Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest.

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Max Payne Mobile Is Coming To iOS And Android This Month

Although many of those downloading games from the App and Google Play Stores are considered to be “casual games,” there still remains a considerable number of “hardcore gamers,” constantly seeking remakes of the classic beat-em-up’s, RPG’s and first-person shooters seen throughout many generations of console gaming.

Max Payne, which initially made a name for itself on the PC some ten years ago, is finally being ported through to the two most popular mobile platforms, and as usually tends to be the case, the iOS iteration will land slightly before its Android counterpart.

The announcement was made today in a post by Rockstar Games, which has seen another port – the tenth anniversary edition of Grand Theft Auto III – make waves amongst nostalgic gamers since dropping last year for iOS.

The iOS edition of Max Payne will drop next week on Thursday, April 12th, and the Android version will follow nearer the end of the month, landing in Google’s recently-renamed Play Store on April 26th.

Much like the GTA release, this version seems to be a like-for-like release of the original hit, and as we already know, these vigilante-mayhem types handle pretty well on touchscreen devices, so expect an equally impressive affair this time around. It has been been optimized fully for both iOS and Android devices, featuring HD graphics, high-res textures, Social Club connectivity and customizable controls, for those – like me – with fat thumbs.

Max Payne Mobile will support most modern iOS devices, including the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod Touch 4, iPad 1, iPad 2 and of course, the new third-generation iPad. There’s no such list yet regarding Android device compatibility, but Rockstar assures fans that a full list will be published in the weeks prior to release.

Although, not every remake/port of a classic title has managed to recapture the imagination, I suspect this one will. With Grand Theft Auto even managing to garner a new audience on iOS, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the same sequence of events emerges once Max Payne is released to the masses.

We’ll publish a reminder for you guys on the day when each respective version releases for iOS and Android, so stay tuned for more.

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circle on Google+ or or like my Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest.

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Launch A Pre-Defined App Of Your Choice When You Plug In Your Headphones

The most popular extensions and tweaks that can be found within the Cydia store are generally the ones which add some kind of functionality to iOS which the developer and users believe that Apple should have included in iOS as a standard implementation. Each individual user has their own taste and desire, and therefore expects different things from his/her device, but a lot of times, the majority agree that certain things should have been a native part of the operating system.

The developer of the newly launched HeadphoneLauncher tweak is billing the package as introducing a feature which should have been included in iOS by Apple. The tweak has recently hit Cydia and reacts to the user when inserting a pair of headphones into the 3.5mm jack of their iPhone and iPod touch, doing so brings up a list of apps on the lock screen, which can be launched with a single tap. The ability to launch installed apps directly from the lock screen may prove to be a desirable feature for some jailbroken users, but I can’t imagine that plugging in a pair of headphones would be the desired method of launching apps for the majority of users out there, since the process is somewhat hectic.

HeadphoneLauncher comes with its own configurable options within the native iOS Settings app which allows the user to choose which apps they want present on the lock screen as part of the quick launch experience. Both the user’s apps and system apps can be chosen and can be rearranged in a specific order if desired. Apart from bringing up the quick launcher, plugging the headphones into the jack will also bring up the media controls as well, allowing control of music playback without the need to double tap the Home button.

HeadphoneLaunch undoubtedly brings a few benefits to users, but if a person very rarely uses his iPhone with headphones; it would seem like a tweak which would mainly benefit iPod touch owners and those who regularly listen to music whilst browsing the web or flicking through apps. The tweak is available from the BigBoss repository at a cost of $0.99 and requires a device running iOS 5.0 or above.

You will obviously need to jailbreak your iPhone to install this tweak.For jailbreaking iPhone 4S and iPad 2, you can simply follow our step by step guide posted here to jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 using Absinthe on Windows or Mac.

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circle on Google+ or or like my Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest.

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Threat To Stolen Rooted Android And Jailbroken iOS Devices from Facebook

A certain amount of hysteria has arisen today after a report suggested that a security vulnerability in Facebook’s mobile apps could lead potentially to identity theft.

Having carried out a series of tests, developer Gareth Wright reported that since many app developers save values in plain text plists as opposed to binaries, sensitive information could easily be compromised if fallen into the wrong hands.

He looked at the immensely popular Draw Something app, and noticed a plain text Facebook access token, copied the hash, and tested a few FQL queries. He then discovered he could pull essentially any information from his Facebook account. After sending the plist around to a few trusted associates, he was pretty awestruck to notice they could easily update his status, send messages, and essentially use his account.

aving contacted Facebook about the issues, he noted:

Facebook are aware and working on closing the hole, but unless app developers follow suit and start encrypting the 60 day access token Facebook supplies, it’s only a matter of time before someone starts using the info for ill purpose…if they aren’t already.

As TechCrunch correctly points out, though, the threat is only prevalent if a device is actually stolen, and even if it were, it would need to be jailbroken – or rooted, if you’re an Android user – in order for any serious damage to occur. If your jailbroken/rooted device was to be snatched, however, an unscrupulous individual could have a field day with your contacts, cookies, as well as access to app and account information.

Truthfully speaking, the key is not to get your device snatched, and Wright’s findings also reiterate the importance of having some form of remote wipe implementation in place to at least rescue the data from your doomed device.

Facebook has tried to calm the situation by releasing a clarifying statement:

"Access tokens are only vulnerable if they have modified their mobile OS [jailbroken or rooted] or have granted  a malicious actor access to the physical device. We develop and test our application on an unmodified version of mobile operating systems and rely on the native protections as a foundation for development, deployment and security, all of which is compromised on a jailbroken device."

Facebook then goes on to recommend users stay away from jailbreaking / modding in any way that could increase the security risk. Since we’re strong advocates of the freedom of jailbreaking, we’d simply add that as long as you have a remote wipe system in place, you should be absolutely fine.

You can follow me on Twitter, add me to your circle on Google+ or or like my Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest.

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Set Video Ringtones On Your iPhone [DEB]

What could be better than taking your iPhone out of your pocket and seeing that one of your loved ones (or friends) is calling you for a friendly chat? Well, instead of seeing just their name and boring static picture showing up when the call comes through, how about making the whole incoming call process more fun and engaging by adding a song and a music video from your favorite artist or band?

That is exactly what the new VUZIQ app does that has just landed on the Cydia store. When this free of charge package is installed upon a jailbroken iPhone, users can search for and download music videos of their choice and set them to play when an incoming call is received. VUZIQ makes use of both the audio and video of the downloaded and selected file, meaning that the ringtone of the handset is altered to suit the video audio.

VUZIQ is extremely simple to use and operates as a fully, self-contained app on the device that requires an initial but seamless registration process. Once registered, the polished user interface offers a main home screen as well as additional video calls, download, contacts and settings views that are all selectable via a dedicated button at the bottom of the app. The setup of the app is pretty self explanatory with users being able to search for a video of their choice, download it to the device and then select it to play for every incoming call or set specific videos on a per contact basis.

The settings option of the app allows users to opt-in to social sharing services like Twitter and Facebook as well as a few configurable settings like setting videos to hook into FaceTime calls as well as making them full-screen. The initial home view offers a display split into two halves with the top section containing a horizontal scrolling bar with the latest news from the music industry and the bottom half showing your downloaded videos.

So there you have it ladies and gentleman. VUZIQ, a Cydia app that actually brings very fun to use and attractive video ringtones to your iPhone. The app itself is very good and is definitely highly recommended considering it is free. I found two issues while using it, firstly, that when answering a call, there was a small but noticeable delay between the accept button being pressed and the actual call coming through over the top of the playing video. Also, if you are using the popular CallBar tweak it renders the VUZIQ video ringtone service useless.

VUZIQ is available as a free of charge download from the BigBoss repository with no specific iOS requirements being mentioned.

Or you can download it offline from here

You will obviously need to jailbreak your iPhone to install this tweak.For jailbreaking iPhone 4S and iPad 2, you can simply follow our step by step guide posted here to jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 using Absinthe on Windows or Mac.

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A Simple Note-Taking App With Note Revisions Support, Dropbox Integration And More

Despite boasting several hundred thousand apps, there are still a few areas within Apple’s App Store that one could point to as lacking somewhat in really groundbreaking apps.

One area not bereft, however, is the note-taking section. There are dozens – maybe even hundreds – of great apps with the sole aim of helping iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users jot down whatever may be on their mind.

Since there are so many, when I discover a new one, I’m automatically looking for that cutting-edge – that feeling one gets when they feel as though they’ve discovered a ‘complete’ app. Whilst I have still yet to source perfection in this category, I stumbled across WriteUp earlier today, and having spent the best part of an afternoon tinkering about with it, I’d say it comes pretty darn close.

I’m a pretty partisan Evernote user, mainly because of how easily everything syncs without me having to really put in any effort. I’m a firm believer that my smartphone should perform tasks with as little input from myself as possible – leaving me to get on with being extremely lazy.

WriteUp doesn’t fall short on any of the basic tasks, and is a worthy addition to anybody’s inventory of productivity-related apps. Like most note-takers of today, it provides extensive Dropbox support, and the numerous color styles give the app a touch of class. I did find that a few of the colors clashed a little, but if enough tinkering is done, I reckon there’s a combination in there to suit all.

I really like how WriteUp allows me to essentially time travel between revisions of the note and, if I wish, restore to any point. This is a great feature for those who, like me, are constantly wanting to revert and edit whole paragraphs at a time.

All in all, WriteUp is a fantastic text editor, and despite heavy competition, this particular app will be sitting on my SpringBoard quite self-righteously for the for the time being. Please note, the app requires iOS 5, so if you’re still running the older firmware, you will not be able to enjoy this app

It will set you back £2.49 if you reside in the UK, or a cent under four bucks if you live in the US.

Download WriteUp for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch [App Store Link]

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Rise Of iOS And Android [INFOGRAPHIC]

Most of you following the news here at SanjeevRules will own a smartphone. In fact, I’d guess that all of you own a device boasting features qualifying your cell for the "smart" moniker.

Apple is credited with shaping the market to its current state, and if one takes a look at all smartphones post-2007 – when the fruit company first introduced the original iPhone to the world – it’s not difficult to see the huge impact and influence of the game-changing product. Google hopped aboard the gravy train back in 2009, and hasn’t really looked back. With several hundred thousand daily activations of its mobile OS (as counted by Google Android Chief Andy Rubin), it has become the most widely-used software on the mobile platform – even leaving Apple’s iOS in its wake.

Nowadays, a massive fifty percent of U.S. mobile consumers own smartphones, so the competition for supremacy is fiercer than it’s ever been. Although Microsoft is preparing to make its mark sometime later this year with the mobile version of its eagerly-awaited Windows 8, the Redmond-based software maker has struggled to make any sort of significant impact since overhauling Windows Mobile, regrouping with Windows Phone 7.

Heavy collaboration with Finnish outfit Nokia, as well as the speculation of Windows 8 tablets manufactured by ASUS render Windows 8 an exciting prospect for both smartphone and tablet. For the time being, though, the focus remains firmly on Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS – both of whom are proving to be catalysts in the ever-increasing reliance on digital products.

Mobile security firm Lookout have created a rather interesting infographic documenting the entire story of how iOS and Android came to be the forces of today – leaving scarcely a stone unturned:

Perhaps the most interesting nugget of information is the sheer number of projected iOS and Android activations (cumulatively) by the end of this year. With both camps boasting tens of billions of app downloads, expect the figures to continue growing exponentially – particularly with Apple appearing to have moved its iPhone launch period in line with the holiday season.

Will Android – by offering a variety of devices – always remain on top? Leave your thoughts on our Facebook and Google+ pages

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The Best Cydia Apps For iOS 5

As you may know, I am a huge proponent of jailbreaking. I have jailbroken every iOS device I have ever owned and I can guarantee you that will never change. The freedom of being able to tweak your device to make it your own is so awesome. Of course, if you are using your jailbreak to do illegal things, that is a problem, but as long as you are using it ethically, than there is nothing wrong with having a little fun with your device.

Since iOS 5 launched, developers have been hard at work coming up with creative ways to get their jailbreak applications to work with it, and even finding new ways to make use of the features added by Apple. It took a while for a proper untethered jailbreak to come along for iOS 5, but now that it is here, it is great to see how the jailbreak community has come out in full force, bringing some of the best jailbreak stuff we have seen. These apps will work with your iOS 5 device, and they are some of the coolest jailbreak stuff I have ever seen.

Downloading The Apps

To download any of these applications and tweaks, all you need to do is search for the name in Cydia. It does not get much easier than that!

 

Zephyr ($3.00)

This cool tweak adds gestures to iOS multitasking. You can swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the multitasking drawer. When in an app, you can also pull from the left or right to switch seamlessly between other applications that are running in the background. It is the quickest and easiest way I have seen to make use of iOS 5’s multitasking feature, and it makes me wonder why it was not included out of the box.

 

StatusGoogle (Free)

This is a simple tweak, but one that is very useful. It simply adds a Google search box to the notification center, allowing you to search the web quickly and easily at any time. You will need to enable the tweak from the notification settings screen, and you will also want to move it to the top, otherwise the keyboard will not line up properly when it pops out.

 

AnyLockApp (Free)

One of the coolest features of iOS 5 is the ability to double tap your home button and quickly bring up your camera without having to unlock your device and find the icon. However, what if you do not use your camera and you want quick access to another app from your lock screen? Well if that is the case, you should check out AnyLockApp. It allows you to choose almost any app installed on your device. This is especially useful for people who use an app like Camera Awesome or Camera+ instead of the default camera application.

 

Music Controls Pro (Free 5 day trial, $6.00 after trail)

This neat tweak allows you to control your music right from notification center. It shows you the album art, controls volume and even sends a song via AirPlay. For music lovers, this is an awesome tweak. It hides in the notification center until you need it.

 

BiteSMS (Free with ads, $10 premium license)

BiteSMS is my favorite jailbreak tweak ever made. It takes everything about texting on the iPhone and makes it better. You get quick reply, quick compose, contact pictures in the message list, the ability to send messages on a schedule, timestamps on all messages and so much more. It integrates nicely with iOS 5, as tapping a message in the notification center opens quick reply, instead of closing your current app to launch messages.

 

SBSettings

I have spoken about how amazing SBSettings is, and I stand by that claim. Now, with iOS 5, you can integrate SBSettings toggles directly into the notification center, if you do not want a separate pop out. Being able to get access to key settings right from your notification center is a huge time saver. If you have a jailbroken Apple device, you should have SBSettings installed.

 

Conclusion

Ever since the launch of iOS 5, developers are getting creative and finding their own ways to take the awesome features of the OS and make it their own. If you own a jailbroken iPhone, you should check out these apps, as they will make your life better.

What are your favorite iOS 5 compatible jailbreak apps? Let us know in the comments!

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