News

A report in today's Economic Daily out of Taiwan (spotted by G4Games) claims that Apple's highly anticipated iWatch will launch with three models. The models will vary by size and shielding. The report also claims that the rumored iPad Pro is still in the works and may be official by the end of the year.

According to the publication, one model will sport a 1.6" touchscreen panel while the other two will have larger 1.8" screens. Earlier rumors have claimed sizes ranging from 1.3" up to 2.5". The two larger sizes will differ by their screen material - one will employ sapphire glass, which is a super hard material that is scratch resistant.

After updating the Steam version of Kingdom Rush with The Curse of Castle Blackburn campaign, Ironhide Game Studio announced both Kingdom Rush and its sequel Kingdom Rush: Frontiers will be getting "Endless Modes". It has been over seven months since the last update was rolled out to Frontiers.

While this is good news, "endless modes" are normally the last and final update developers add to their games. However, Ironhide has been supplying Kingdom Rush fans with new content since it was originally released in 2011, so it is hard to believe this is the end of the franchise.

This was a big week for iOS app updates, MInecraft received its largest upgrade since it was released to iOS devices. Version 0.9.0 of the Minecraft Pocket Edition adds a host of new features including infinite worlds, new blocks like Monster Eggs, new biomes from the PC version and a new interaction button to solve an issue that caused players to accidentally dig or punch. Google Play Music was updated with gapless playback and the ability to download subscribed playlist, and the Broadway theater tickets app,TodayTix added personalized codes so users can earn $10 credit towards future purchases by referring their family friends

In iOS gaming news, Gameloft finally announced a release date for Modern Combat 5: Blackout. The first person shooter will be available for both iOS and Android devices on July 24, 2014. Q*bert made a comeback this week. Q*bert Rebooted is now available on Mac, Windows and Linux and it is headed to mobile devices later this year.

Most of the major league sports apps are confusing messes bogged down with too much useless content and a heavy focus on social media, but MLB is working hard to deliver baseball fans a great experience by taking advantage of the iPhone's many features. The MLB not only outfitted twenty major ballparks with iBeacons this year, but it has also partnered with Apple to bring live games to users who utilize the iOS 7 CarPlay feature. And now the MLB is offering additional content and interactive features using iBeacon technology at this year's 2014 All-Star Game in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The MLB.com At Bat app has been updated All-Star Week 2014 support, and MLB.TV Premium subscribers will be able to live stream the 85th All-Star Game on July 15. Major League Baseball also plans to add more iBeacons to additional ballparks throughout the year.

While many analysts have pointed to September as the start of mass production of the highly anticipated iWatch and a launch date some time in October, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a reputation for accurate predictions regarding Apple products, sees things differently.

In a recent research note, Ming-Chi Kuo wrote, "We have pushed back our estimated time of iWatch mass production from late-September to mid-/ late- November. We also lower our forecast of iWatch 2014 shipments by 40% to 3mn units." The delay is largely due to complexities/difficulties that the iWatch is presenting in both