Ladies and gentlemen...Today I say goodbye to a place I have called my online home for quite a few years. It's a bittersweet day. I'm moving on to another adventure, but I will always have fond memories of my time at iDB...
As most of you all know, I’m a huge fan of Final Cut Pro X. It’s my video editing app of choice, and has been since it launched back in 2011.
Recently, I’ve been looking for ways to be more efficient with my video workflow. Some of this can be done in post during the edit, but a large part of that is done before and during the actual shoot.
Just recently, I added a new piece of equipment to my workflow—the Atomos Ninja Assassin. After using it, I can say that it is by far one of the best investments that one who’s serious about video can make. It also pairs nicely with my Final Cut Pro workflow...
Meteor is an upcoming jailbreak tweak that brings weather conditions and temperature to your Home screen Weather app icon. Along with the enhancements to the Weather app icon, Meteor lends weather information to the iOS status bar.
If you have a jailbroken iPhone, Then Meteor should certainly be on your Radar. Check out our hands-on video walkthrough of the upcoming tweak for more details.
It seems like every time there's a new tvOS beta, an interesting new feature is included for us to talk about. With tvOS 9.2 beta 3, that new feature is the ability to use Dictation on text input fields. It also includes the ability to dictate—character by character—usernames and passwords.
Along with the new Dictation feature, comes support for searching the App Store using voice input from the Siri Remote. Have a look at our video preview that showcases each new feature in action.
Two weeks after it seeded tvOS 9.2 beta 2 to registered developers, the third tvOS 9.2 beta has been released, bringing with it Dictation support for onscreen text entry, as well as Siri support for App Store search.
The tvOS 9.2 update is notable for adding several improvements to the Apple TV. These improvements include a native Podcasts app, Bluetooth keyboard support, an improved App Switcher, iCloud Photo Library, Conference Room Display Mode, and more.
If you're a developer, you can find details about the tvOS beta on Apple's tvOS developer page. The tvOS 9.2 beta 3 release comes with a build number of 13Y5198c. We'll be downloading and installing it to provide an update on what new features this latest beta update might include.
Gravitation is a brand new tweak that adds gravity to your Home screen app icons. If you've been around jailbreaking for some time, then it may remind you of 2010's Graviboard, by Conrad Kramer, now of Workflow fame. Activated by means of an Activator gesture or a shake of your iPhone, Gravitation adds fun to an otherwise mundane and regular iOS Home screen experience.
As expected, Gravitation, a $1.99 jailbreak tweak available on Cydia's BigBoss repo, features several settings for adjusting the way the tweak looks and behaves. Watch our video demonstration to see how it works in action.
In addition to the iPad Pro support brought forth in the GarageBand 2.1 update, the app comes with a new killer feature called Live Loops. Live Loops makes music creation accessible to anyone. Creating songs using Live Loops features a low barrier to entry, but a high ceiling and virtually endless possibilities.
In this video walkthrough, I'm going to share with you 20 basic GarageBand Live Loops tips for getting started with this awesome new feature. I'll even make a song, and rap to it on the fly! If GarageBand has always seemed intimidating to you, then I guarantee that after watching this video, you'll be ready to roll your sleeves up and start creating your own musical masterpieces.
If you want to watch live TV on your Apple TV with an HDHomeRun, you can go the free route by using Kodi, but Channels is by far the best live TV watching experience to be had on Apple TV. Not only does Fancy Bits' Channels app allow you to watch live TV, but you can also pause and rewind local or cable TV directly from your Apple TV when paired together with an HDHomeRun.
If you're unsure what an HDHomeRun is, or how it can help you, then be sure to check out our post on the device. In a nutshell, the HDHomeRun allows you to stream free (or paid) television over your home network. The Channels app can then acquire the stream made available by the HDHomeRun, and display it on your television.
At $14.99 for a limited time (normally $24.99), Channels isn't cheap, but it's a great-looking and overall solid experience for cord cutters. Have a look at our full video walkthrough for more details.
The Spigen Style Ring ($12.99 on Amazon) is an interesting accessory from Spigen, a company best known for producing smartphone cases. It's a platform-agnostic accessory that attaches to any case or smartphone using an easily-removable, non-residue-leaving, adhesive gel pad.
Once the Style Ring is attached to your case or smartphone, you can use it to assist with grip or let it function as a kickstand. You can also use the Style Ring to mount your smartphone to your car's dash using the included car mount adapter.
If you have problems gripping larger phones, then have a look and see what the Spigen Style Ring might do for you. Watch our video review for all the details.
If you're a developer, there are two ways to update to the latest tvOS beta on the Apple TV. Both methods require a USB-C cable, so be sure to have one of those at your disposal.
The first method, and perhaps the way the general public is more familiar with, requires downloading the full tvOS beta software and restoring using iTunes. This method works, but it also means that everything that's on the Apple TV, from settings to apps, will be wiped. You're essentially setting the Apple TV back to factory defaults when using iTunes to update to the tvOS beta.
The more sensible approach is to use Apple Configurator 2, a Mac App Store app that can be used together with Configuration Profiles, to update to the latest tvOS beta.
The advantage of using the Configuration Profiles method is that all of your data, apps, and settings stay put. That way, you can enjoy all of the latest features of the tvOS beta, without having to go through the tedious initial setup process.
The Aukey Optic Pro is a wide-angle lens attachment that works with the iPhone. Thanks to its clip that can accommodate a wide variety of devices, it also works with many other tablet or phone form factors.
The main benefit to using an attachment like the Optic Pro is that you can gain a wider field of view while shooting photos or videos. This means that you don't have to move further away from your subject to capture more scenery in frame.
If you're an avid iPhone photographer, you can immediately see the benefits that a device like this can bring to the table. Not only does it quickly lend a wider field of view, but it's portable, and can be added and removed in mere seconds.
But the Aukey Optic Pro isn't without its shortcomings. Is the $44.99 device worth it? Check out our full video walkthrough for the answer.
We've created a new video highlighting the major new features found in iOS 9.3 beta 2. This video covers the new Night Shift Control Center toggle and settings, new Music app settings, and more. Have a look and tell us what you think about iOS 9.3 beta 2's new features.