News

Fall can't come soon enough for Apple fans looking to upgrade to the iPhone 5S. Evidence continues to mount that Apple's budget iPhone, the iPhone 5C will launch alongside the 5S with a plastic back and different features. iPhone 5C accessories have already been spotted, as well as some questionable photos of iPhone 5C packaging.

It's these packaging photos that inspired Ferry Passchier to devise the iPhone 5C concept above: C Stands for Chunky. Although it's unlikely Apple would channel the 30-ounce Motorola DynaTAC in a next generation iOS device, the rendering is good for a laugh.

A group of researchers has demonstrated how to compromise an iOS device with a malicious charger at this year's Black Hat convention in Las Vegas. The malware injection is effortless and hides itself in the same way that Apple hides stock apps. According to Reuters, there is no need to worry since the threat will be neutralized by Apple in iOS 7.

Spokesman Tom Neumayr said the problem was fixed in the upcoming release of iOS 7 and Apple "would like to thank the researchers for their valuable input." The update will warn users with a pop up message whenever the iOS device is connected to a computer. This is important, because in the demo an innocent-looking USB charger was actually a small linux computer in disguise, loaded with malware.

There's been a lot of talk about how Apple can improve the iPhone display. Ultimately, the goal is a lighter, brighter, thinner screen that extents battery life. Rumors have been floating around for some time surrounding Sharp's IGZO, however the technology has failed to surface on an Apple product to date. Now thanks to a new patent filing the possibility of an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display has resurfaced.

Although Samsung, among others, has already embraced the OLED thanks to its thin profile and power-sipping nature, it seems Apple plans to customize and improve on the technology before adding OLED to the iPhone. In the patent, Apple describes photodiode sensors embedded throughout the OLED display, which would serve to improve its function dynamically.

Kingdom Rush: Frontiers version 1.2 is now available. The update brings the Rising Tides campaign, which includes three new levels, six new enemies, a new boss called Leviathan, five new achievements and new Easter eggs. The update is free for users who already own the game. Others can download it now from the App Store for $2.99. Version 1.2 also adds two new heroes Kutsao and Karkinos, who can be unlocked as in-app purchases for $4.99.

In Rising Tides, you must take your army to investigate the mysterious disappearances of ships and people in the waters near Port Tortuga. You will have to defeat an army of evil sea creatures to advance to the final stage to challenge the boss Leviathan. Your army is aided by bomb dropping parrots, and new "Boatswain" guards along the way.

Google has been prolific with its apps, cranking out mobile tools for a variety of its services. Now the company has announced it will retire four of its iOS apps in the coming month. Fans of Google+ Local (formerly Google Places) will be the first to lose a standalone app. Many Google+ Local features are now available in Google Maps instead.

Ratings and reviews created by users will continue to be available via the Google Maps app and on Google+ profiles. Even though Google announced plans to remove Google+ Local from the App Store on August 7 it appears as though the app is already unavailable. So what other iOS apps is Google pulling from the App Store forever?