News

There have been many reports claiming that Apple has been working on a smaller port to replace the 30-pin connector currently used with the iPhone. TechCrunch claims that they have independently verified that the next generation iPhone will feature a 19-pin port. Several purported parts and case leaks have already shown the smaller slot, which TechCrunch describes as "similar in size to the Thunderbolt port available on many MacBook devices." This is bad news for independent manufacturers since it will make millions of iPhone accessories obsolete.

The change is most likely due to size constraints from the iPhone's new design. The new iPhone is expected to be thinner, and feature a larger screen leaving less real estate for Apple to work with. Apple has been using the 30-pin port since the release of the third generation iPod.

AlKal Media has released the Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter game for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The free app is based on the Tim Burton produced movie opening in theaters on June 22nd. The game pits you against terrifying creatures of the night as you battle through multiple vampire laden levels including Bart’s Dock, the Oval Office and the Plantation Ballroom.

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter the movie is based on the best-selling book by Seth Grahame-Smith. It follows Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States as he tries to stop vampires from taking over the country. The film stars Benjamin Walker as Lincoln and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Mary Todd Lincoln.

Apple has added a new security feature in iOS 6 to put an end to apps accessing personal data without permission. The new privacy settings come after it was discovered that the Path app was collecting and transmitting users' contact info without their knowledge. Users will have the option of giving an app permission each time it wants to access their contacts, calendars, or any other data. Users will also be able to specify which apps can access which data via the Settings app. This sounds like a great feature for iPhone owners who are concerned about keeping their personal data private. However, Andrew Storms, director of security operations for nCircle thinks differently.

"Instead doing the difficult work of putting together a privacy policy that has some teeth or going after app developers already violating policies, Apple has basically decided to annoy their users by requiring them click through a dialog box for just about every app on their phone. These dialog boxes are going to be like one of those whack-a-mole games - exactly the kind of thing users despise and ignore completely. This approach adds no value to Apple users, it's nothing but a CYA for Apple lawyers. "

Storms believes users will either turn off the permissions dialog box, or just flat out ignore it by blindly clicking "OK". Just like we all do with those long terms and conditions that we always accept without reading. Storms says Apple's new dialog boxes should look more like the mockups posted above.

Google launched its own deal-of-the-day website entitled Google Offers after it failed to acquire Groupon for $6 billion last year. Today Google announced that it's bringing its deal hunting service to iOS devices with the official launch of the Google Offers app.

The free app allows users to search for instant savings in map view, and redeem most offers without having to print a voucher. It also sends notifications when new deals are available or saved deals are about to expire.

Google’s Vice President of Product Management Bradley Horowitz announced that Google has partnered with Flipboard to integrate Google+ into the news reader. Flipboard is a popular mobile news magazine for Android and iOS devices. It already features Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram feeds. Google plans to add even more content to Flipboard via its new Google+ APIs.

Google recently redesigned its Google+ app after it was poorly received. Horowitz told LeWeb founder Loic Le Meur that the revamped iOS and Android applications have boosted interaction and have been well received by users. However, Google partnering with Flipboard suggests all is not well for Google in the social news reader world.