iOS

After a lengthier than usual wait, tomorrow we get the next iPhone.

The burning question, of course, is how much of an update it will be. The iPhone 4 was a big step up from its predecessor, the 3GS, which itself was basically the iPhone 3G with a better camera and speedier insides. The iPhone 4 did the camera and speed tricks again, while changing up the outside and adding a considerably sharper screen.

Will the iPhone 5 represent a tuning of an already tried-and-true device? Or will the longer wait result in something that's noticeably new? Those questions … Read more

Unless you've been living under a rock (or maybe just don't read tech news) you probably already know that next Tuesday, October 4, is when Apple makes its next major announcement. While the company is tight-lipped as usual, we know that it will probably announce at least one new iPhone and when it plans to launch iOS 5, the operating system that powers the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

One of the big known features of the new iOS is Twitter integration. Apple generally does a great job of creating intuitive interfaces for just about everything and what we've learned of Twitter on the iPhone sounds great, as you'll be able to tweet directly from Safari, Photos, YouTube, and Camera. But if you're a serious Twitter user, you're still going to need a third-party app to get all that Twitter has to offer.… Read more

Move over, Skype. Watch your back, Line2. Good news, iPad and iPod Touch users. The new MagicJack app lets you make unlimited free calls to the U.S. and Canada, no strings attached, no credit card required. 

That means if you're a heavy gabber, you could theoretically drop to the cheapest available iPhone voice plan--and keep on gabbing. Of course, it also gives iPad and fourth-generation iPod Touch users an option for totally free phone service.

The first time you run the app, you get three choices. If you already have one of the famed MagicJack voice-over-IP gizmos, you can sign into your account, use your existing number, and access all of your associated contacts. That effectively gives you a second phone line for your iPhone--complete with its own voice mailbox.

If you're not already a MagicJack customer, you can quickly sign up for an account, and get a new phone number (sort of) in the process. That "number" is actually a 10-digit code that callers need to punch in after calling a main MagicJack number--a fairly major hassle, and a fact that's not explained anywhere within the app. (Nor is the number listed; it's 305-848-TALK.)

Alternately, you can skip both options and just start making calls. That's how I started my MagicJack testing, though later I linked the app to an inactive (but still operational) MagicJack account.… Read more

Nuance has beefed up its Dragon Go iPhone app to let you search for information across a wider array of Web sites and services.

Available for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch since July, this free search-by-voice app is unique compared with the Google and Bing iOS apps. Dragon Go can find results and run commands across dozens of different Web sites, including Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, Craiglist, Amazon, eBay, CNN, Reuters, and even CNET.

The latest update adds even more sites to the mix, notably Netflix, Spotify, Wolfram Alpha, Ask.com, and Google+. And when you tap the app's … Read more

The long-awaited new iPhone has reportedly popped up in Apple's inventory with signs indicating that it will be a major upgrade over the current iPhone 4.

As described by 9to5Mac and SlashGear, the phone uncovered in the inventory list is code-named N94, the same name hidden in code for Apple's iOS earlier this year. That code name was found to point to a device with a dual-core A5 processor, the same chip that's been expected to appear in the iPhone 5.

Citing information from its anonymous but apparently reliable Mr. X source, who is known for leaking … Read more

We may not see a single NBA game being played this year, but gamers won't be left out with the release of NBA 2K12 on iOS devices for the first time.

The NBA 2K series has been the top-rated basketball simulation 11 years running, and it makes perfect sense to bring the high-flying action to the iPad ($9.99), and to the iPhone and iPod Touch ($4.99). The games will be released October 4.

The game's maker, 2K Sports, takes a unique approach to the touch-screen interface by offering two ways to control the game. Classic Control … Read more

For Lego, it was a question that clearly needed an answer: how to build an interactive iPhone app that involves playing with real Lego bricks?

With "Life of George," the iconic Danish toy company on Thursday unveiled its solution: an iPhone app that challenges users to quickly build small models using real bricks and then take pictures of them using the device's camera.

The game features 12 levels, during each of which players will be tasked with building a series of models based on images provided within the app. Each time they finish a model, they will … Read more

An update is on the way to repair serious shortcomings with the iOS version of Madden 12, EA Sports says.

Earlier this week, we reported that reviews in the iTunes store were brutal for the iPod, iPad, and iPhone versions of the massively popular National Football League game. Our hands-on play only verified the problems.

Initially, our attempts to get an explanation from EA were met with silence. But, according to EA Mobile representative Michelle Jacob, the Madden 12 iOS team gathered its details together and wanted to update fans with the latest news.

"The Madden development team closely monitors customer feedback in the App Store and is focusing on these concerns," Jacob told CNET yesterday. "We are currently working on an update that is due out shortly and will address the following..." … Read more

Four months after it was releaed in June at Apple's WWDC, iOS 5, the next major version of the software that powers Apple's iPods, iPhones, and iPads, will release today. By now, you're probably ready for the handy new features, tweaked UI, new Twitter integration, and everything else (read what we've learned so far of iOS 5), but is your iOS device ready?

To make sure your iPhone is set up for the launch of the latest iOS, we've put together a step-by-step guide for making sure it is primed for the update.

Editors' note: … Read more