Oliver Haslam

Thieving Christmas Scrooge Gets Caught By Stealing Neighbor’s iPad

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated March 18, 2019

This isn't the first time that Apple's Find my iPhone service has helped to recover a lost device, but with Christmas involved in this particular story (as well as a resoundingly happy ending) we thought we would share it.

At around 3:30am on Christmas morning, a Westlake Village man was awoken by the noise of a burglar stealing Christmas gifts from his house. Amongst them was an iPad, which had, thankfully, already been activated and set up with an Apple ID. After a short foot chase the thief got away, but not for long.

The next morning, the owner of the iPad set about tracking the device and discovered that it was only a few doors away...

iPhone 4S Causes 83% Surge in November App Store Downloads

Oliver Haslam ∙ December 28, 2011

When Apple launches a new iPhone or iPad, it invariably has an affect on the rest of its business.

The number of downloaded apps is one metric that will always see an increase when Apple brings a shiny new iOS device to market, simply because of all the new customers want to get some apps! Whether they are paid or free apps, Apple benefits in the long run.

The release of the iPhone 4S was no different, with new numbers showing just what a jump it caused in those all-important download figures. The iPhone 4S helped the App Store see an 83% increase in app downloads for November when compared to the same month last year...

Beware! Fake Apple Billing Information Emails Circulating

Oliver Haslam ∙ December 28, 2011

When you are as big as Apple, bad guys will always seek to use you as a means to take people's money, and unfortunately there is a new scam making the rounds.

According to The Mac Security Blog, the latest method of stealing people's money comes courtesy of fake emails which purport to be from the iPhone maker, claiming that the user's billing information is out of date. Obviously, the "helpful" email offers a link that gives the lucky recipient an easy way to make things right.

Of course, that link doesn't take you to Apple's billing pages, but rather a third party who wishes to steal your information...

Create Picture Storyboards With Diptic for iPhone and iPad

Oliver Haslam ∙ December 28, 2011

If you're an Instagram fan then you've probably seen the recent influx of images that are made up of multiple photographs, kind of like a storyboard or collage. They are a great way of showing off a group of photos that are of the same object or of the same theme.

Our favorite iPhone and iPad app for creating such an affect is Diptic, a $0.99 app which comes as two apps for your iPhone and iPad rolled into one.

Where Diptic excels is in its collection of options. Users are not simply left to add photos to a predefined template, but rather have complete control over every aspect of the final product. You don't need to be a creative genius to get great results, either...

Cregle iPen is the Only iPad Stylus You’ll Ever Want

Oliver Haslam ∙ December 28, 2011

The humble stylus is something of a polarising accessory for iPad fans. With Steve Jobs famously being very anti-stylus, many Apple devotees look down on the pen-like writing device. But should they?

With the iPad proving so popular in many business situations, being able to write – and draw – precisely is a feature that many of us would love. Yes, there are styluses (or is it styli?) already out for for iPad owners, but if you've ever used one you will know that they have two major drawbacks: an unusually large nib, and their inability to work when your hand is resting on the screen.

Now a Kickstarter project is aiming to fix both problems, and if the videos are anything to go by, Cregle's iPen may well be the solution we have been looking for...

Use Siri to Dictate Text to your Mac with Air Dictate

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Everyone loves Siri, or at least everyone that can actually make it work with their less-than-perfect accent does. It may be great to be able to ask your iPhone to do things and dictate messages to it, but you know what would be insanely great?

Yep. Using Siri to dictate content on your Mac.

That's where Air Dictate comes into play, giving iPhone 4S owners a way to harness the power of Siri's dictation feature and have it send the resultant text over to a designated Mac.

Apple Takes Another Shot at Explaining iTunes Match With New Video and Webpage

Oliver Haslam ∙ December 27, 2011

Apple's launch of iTunes Match has been uncharacteristically vague. From the moment the service was announced to the recent clarification of just who can and cannot receive it, Apple has been less than clear on just what iTunes Match is, how it works, and why you would want to pay $25 for it.

Apple has attempted to clear things up by launching a dedicated iTunes Match page on its website. Previously, iTunes Match was deemed only to be worthy of a sub-section inside the iTunes are of the site. It seems someone at Apple decided to give iTunes Match a promotion.

Along with plenty of description and explanation, Apple has also put together a new video which shows off its latest service, including offering more information about how it works...

Tizi Turns an iPhone into a Siri-Powered iPad Remote

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated May 30, 2017

Some things still blow our minds, even with so much great technology and gadgetry being released every day. It takes a lot, but sometimes we just can't help bit sit there and say "wow, that's pretty cool." Tizi and the Tizi Remote app is one such situation.

Tizi is Germany's answer to Slingbox, allowing over-the-air content to be streamed to just about anything, including an iPad using the Tizi accessory. As if that wasn't cool enough, the company has now also released an app that allows an iPhone to act as a remote control for the iPad app, complete with Siri-powered voice control.

Stuck on Gift Ideas? Give the Gift of Apps

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

We are so close to Christmas day now that we can almost smell the ham, but that isn't always good news. What if you haven't yet managed to pick up the perfect gift for that Apple-lovin' family member?

If you're all out of ideas, then how about giving the gift of apps?

If you know someone who is getting an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad this Christmas, then they will just love anything app related. You can pick up iTunes gift cards almost anywhere these days, and here is a quick reminder of how you can gift the perfect app, right from inside iTunes...

LogMeIn Remote Desktop App for iOS Goes Free

Oliver Haslam ∙ December 24, 2011

If you are the kind of person that finds yourself needing to access your computers from obscure, remote locations, then you are in for a spot of pre-Christmas luck. Especially if you like to be able to access said computers from your iOS devices.

LogMeIn Ignition, the beloved remote desktop app for the iPhone and iPad, has been released as a free app, now simply called LogMeIn. The app works as expected, and offers remote desktop functionality for those that need it.

But how will LogMeIn generate money, we hear you cry. Well, it's technically gone freemium ...

CopyTrans Manager: iTunes for People Who Don’t Like iTunes [Sponsored]

Oliver Haslam ∙ December 24, 2011

Let's face it, iTunes is a bit of a bloated mess. What started out as a handy jukebox has somehow turned into the music-selling, app-syncing behemoth that we are all so beholden to if we want to own an iOS device.

That means iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches all rely on iTunes as their way of keeping things in check – syncing songs, videos, apps, and playlists is all done via iTunes and one of those white USB sync cables. It's how we've always done it, and it is how Apple wants you to do it.

Now yes, Apple has been keen to bring its 'PC-free' world to the iOS devices we all carry around. But what if you want to keep all your media on a computer and then sync it across to an iOS device without having to deal with all this cloud stuff? If iTunes is not your bag, then you might want to give CopyTrans Manager a try.