Joe Rossignol

Joe Rossignol is a former iDB editor.

How to turn an iPod touch into an iPhone

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

While the iPod touch might be dwindling in sales, it remains one of the best and cheapest portable media players on the market. I like to think of it as a gateway product to the iPhone nowadays, which is exactly what it was for me. I received the original iPod touch as a Christmas gift over six years ago, upgraded to the second- and fourth-generation models, and eventually moved on to an iPhone.

I haven't looked back since, but I know there are quite a few users that rely on the iPod touch as their day-to-day device. That inspired me to write this guide on how to turn an iPod touch into an iPhone, something that is more possible than you might think. For the purposes of this article, I am assuming that you have at least a fourth-generation iPod touch running iOS 6 or later. Some of the apps and accessories listed work with older devices and iOS versions…

How to get more matches on Tinder

Joe Rossignol ∙ May 2, 2014

Let's face it. Life is busy these days, to the point that most of us don't even have time to focus on meeting a significant other. The struggle is real. And while there still might be a negative stigma surrounding online dating platforms, Tinder has quickly emerged as one of the most popular platforms for meeting someone outside of a bar or club. The startup app has received numerous awards since launching over 18 months ago, helping to connect everyone from busy university undergraduate students to single adults for dates and casual encounters.

Tinder is essentially an anonymous "hot or not" app for iPhone and Android smartphones. If you find someone physically attractive, swipe right. If you don't, swipe left. It is made to be incredibly simple — and shallow — in nature, yet you probably wouldn't be reading this article if Tinder was as easy as it sounds. If you are not on the top of your game, don't expect to be getting too many right swipes on Tinder. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes and a little bit of effort to improve your results. Read ahead for tips and tricks on how to get more matches on Tinder…

Quickdraw is a sturdy, magnetic Lightning cable alternative

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated May 19, 2014

I recently went on a road trip to Montréal, only realizing upon arrival that I had forgotten my official Lightning cable back home. With my iPhone running out of battery and no Apple Store within a short distance, I reluctantly purchased a third-party knockoff cable from a local electronics shop. In hindsight, it was a terrible decision. The cable barely worked and my iPhone constantly prompted me with compatibility warnings. It was a waste of both $20 and my time.

For that reason, I am enthusiastic about a new Kickstarter campaign for an upcoming product called the Quickdraw Cable by Woodford Design. It is hard to get excited over a simple cable accessory, but the Quickdraw has several advantages over a traditional Lightning connector and most third-party knockoffs. For starters, the one-meter cable is crafted with anodized aluminum plugs that are high quality and sturdy. That includes both strong cable strain relief and a waterproof design…

Reddit to develop official apps for iOS and Android

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

Reddit has long been one of the most popular websites on the Internet, serving as an online discussion board for users to discuss a wide variety of topics. But one thing it has always lacked is an official mobile app — fortunately, that's about to change. The San Francisco-based company has posted an official job listing within the /r/forhire subreddit, looking for mobile app developers to help create official apps for Reddit…

How to stop your iPhone from beeping twice when you get a message

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated November 5, 2024

Learn how to turn off repeat alerts for Message notifications to stop your iPhone and iPad from notifying you twice for the same text.

Theme Thursday: Gleam, Axle and Simplump

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Theme Thursday is back for the eleventh consecutive week, continuing to promote some of the best Winterboard theme releases for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. This week, we are proud to present you with Gleam, Axle and Simplump.

Each theme is quite different from the next, which should provide everyone with something to choose from. If there is nothing you see here that you like, consider checking out previous editions of this roundup. We've covered almost 50 themes to date. Here are three more…

Theme Thursday: Looka, Elza, Comic7 and Caramelo

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

It has now been over three calendar months since Theme Thursday began as a weekly column that promotes some of the best Winterboard theme releases for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. While this week was somewhat slower in terms of quality themes, we are still excited to share three well-designed releases alongside a preview of a fourth one that remains a work in progress. Join us ahead for a look at Looka, Elza, Comic7 and Caramelo…

Theme Thursday: Aromy, RipMe HD, Patience and more

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The ninth edition of Theme Thursday, a weekly column that promotes some of the best Winterboard themes, features four releases with noticeably different designs. Aromy has a playful color scheme with drop shadows, RipMe HD has a nature-based design, px.theme is a pixel theme and Patience is just beautiful. Take a look at each ahead and keep your recommendations coming in the comments for next week…

iPhone 5c outsold all Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone devices in winter quarter

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

While the iPhone 5c has failed to live up to internal expectations set by Apple, the smartphone certainly hasn't been moving off the shelves as badly as some people might think. According to an AppleInsider report by Daniel Eran Dilger, the mid-tier handset actually outsold every BlackBerry, Windows Phone and flagship Android device in the United States during the winter quarter. Take a look…

Apple rumored to launch 12-inch MacBook alongside MacBook Air refresh

Joe Rossignol ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

According to a forum post made by a reputable user on the Chinese website WeiPhone, Apple could release a new 12-inch MacBook in the near future. The slim notebook is expected to be released without a fan, and will feature a redesigned trackpad and Retina display. The all-new trackpad will lack a mechanical button for tactile clicking, leaving multi-touch gestures as the sole method of input.

This is the same user that leaked the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display in the past, making this rumor slightly more credible. It also helps that well-connected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo already predicted last October that Apple will be launching a 12-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display at some point this year. The notebook will combine portability and productivity into one…

How to place folders within folders on iOS 7.1

Joe Rossignol ∙ March 21, 2014

Just when the ability to create nested folders appeared to be removed from iOS 7.1, iPhone enthusiast Jose Rodriguez has revealed a simple new trick that allows you to once again place folders within folders on the latest software version. iDownloadBlog and multiple users confirm that this quick hack works as advertised on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch running iOS 7.1. Instructions are outlined ahead…