News

On Tuesday Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) announced that it will be joining technology and consulting giant, IBM, in an effort to "transform enterprise mobility." In other words, their goal is to improve and expand upon industry specific iOS applications to help companies "achieve new levels of efficiency, effectiveness and customer satisfaction—faster and easier than ever before." The partnership combines Apple's consumer experience, hardware and software development expertise and developer platform with IBM's big data and analytics capabilities, as well as its huge number of technology consultants and software engineers.

The enterprise will be known as "IBM MobileFirst for iOS" and, as part of the agreement, IBM will begin to sell iPads and iPhones with industry specific solutions. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, "iPhone and iPad are the best mobile devices in the world and have transformed the way people work with over 98 percent of the Fortune 500 and over 92 percent of the Global 500 using iOS devices in their business today... For the first time ever we’re putting IBM’s renowned big data analytics at iOS users’ fingertips, which opens up a large market opportunity

One of the best iOS games of the year is getting released again as a free edition. Adult Swim's Castle Doombad: Free to Slay will be available on the App Store tonight, according to Touch Arcade. The new version will feature all the same trap setting antics as the original, with only a few minor tweaks. The free version of the app will be ad supported and it will feature a few optional in-app purchases such as Doom Shekel packs. Users will also have the option to watch videos to earn additional in-game currency.

In Castle Doombad, players assume the role of Dr. Lord Evilstein, who has recently kidnapped a princess. Players must use various traps and call on their minions to stop the knights, bounty hunters and other heroes from saving her. The game is described as a "reverse spin on tower defense". The game features three different chapters (four if the new Slaycation levels are included), over 45 levels, great cartoon graphics, fun characters and an endless mode.

The popular messaging app Snapchat has added a new location-based feature to enhance users' photography. Known as Geofilters, these custom borders, graphics and text packages can only be added to photos taken in specific locations. Snapchat explains that Geofilters have been developed for neighborhoods in New York and Los Angeles so far.

Snapchat does not store users' locations, but in order for the Geofilters to be available, Location Services must be enabled for the Snapchat app. The early focus on Los Angeles is not surprising, considering that Snapchat headquarters is located in the area. Various businesses and places such as Disneyland and the Venice neighborhood are showcased in the video below.

Shazam has updated its iOS app to version 7.7.0. The update adds the ability to identify and play any track inside the app using Rdio. Previously users could play any song recognized by the Shazam app, but the feature required opening the Rdio music player separately.

You will still need to have the Rdio app installed on your device and an active account for full track playback to work, but now there is no reason to switch apps every time you want to hear a full song. Rdio is free to download from the App Store. It requires iOS 6.0 or later.

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.