ipod touch

Camera compromise makes Apple's new 16GB iPod Touch a mixed bag

If your kid's been begging for an iPod Touch, I've got some bad news. Apple has quietly discontinued the most affordable entry point into the world of iOS, the $199 16GB 4th-generation iPod Touch, an update of the 2011 model with a 3.5-inch screen. It's just as well since little Junior would have suffered some peer humiliation for not sporting one of the latest, greatest 5th-gen iPod models -- clearly distinguished by their bigger screens and candy-colored aluminum casing. Those models start at $299 for 32GB, or $399 for double the storage.

Until now, anyway. Apple … Read more

Windows 8 update includes Start button (sort of)

CNET Update is high in fiber:

In this episode of Update:

- See what changes Microsoft has in store for Windows 8.1 coming later this year.

- Give your pockets some breathing room with the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone.

- Save $70 and become a selfie master with the cheaper iPod Touch.

- Count calories with Google's new nutrition search feature.

- Share safe-for-work photos with new status updates on LinkedIn.

- Find your way to the Facebook event with Waze's latest feature.

CNET Update delivers the tech news you need in under three minutes. Watch … Read more

iOS 7: What it needs, and what it won't be getting (video)

The next major update of Apple's iOS software is almost upon us! But which features does Apple's grid-based operating system desperately need to add, and which ones will Tim Cook and pals probably ignore completely?

That's what we're asking in this video, so hit play on the clip above as we rattle through the apps and tweaks that we want to see in iOS 7, as well as the things we probably won't. A fresh, "flat" redesign? How about some kind of "kids" mode' to stop pesky kids spending your cash … Read more

What my disabled iPod Touch says about the state of Apple's customer service

First, a bit of history:

Back in August of last year, I wrote an article titled, "Why I regret buying an iMac." The hard drive in my $2,000 iMac had died after 22 months and when I went into an Apple store to see if Apple would help me out, particularly after the company had already recalled the drives in 2011 iMacs (I had a 2010 model), I was told by the geniuses in the Apple Store that since I hadn't bought Apple Care there was nothing they could do for me except replace the drive … Read more

iBowl for iPhone 7.0.8 Review

The iPhone is a perfect device for a wide range of games, bowling first and foremost among them. With a touch interface, realistic physics, and plenty of engaging features, a game like iBowl for iPhone is immediately addictive for many of its players. But with a handful of drawbacks, trial restrictions, and limited interaction beyond the core game, is it worth a download? Here is a closer look to help you decide.

The iBowl for iPhone app has been around for quite some time, so it has been refined several times over to work more or less flawlessly on newer … Read more

Block ads automatically with this fresh, speedy new browser

Apple's built-in browser, Safari, is not very friendly to outside plug-ins or services. For them to work, often a proxy or invasive app is needed that can access your data. It's not an ideal solution. So, AdBlock for iPhone, iPad, and iTouch, produced as a hobby by developer Benjamin Loewe, is a fantastic solution. Designed and implemented as a standalone Web browser, AdBlock promises to stop pop-ups, layer ads, blinking banner ads, and subscription traps from appearing on screen -- an increasingly common problem in the age of smartphone Web browsing. The browser starts up immediately, much like … Read more

Apple releases iOS 6.1.3 beta with passcode bug fix in tow

Apple has released a new beta of iOS 6.1.3 for developers.

Dubbed iOS 6.1.3 beta 2, the update is supposed to fix a hole that can let someone gain access to your iPhone by sneaking past the lock screen. Through a small series of steps, including making an emergency call, a person could bypass the passcode in order to make phone calls, listen to voice mail, and check contact photos.

Apple acknowledged the bug last week. promised to squash it in a future iOS release. iOS 6.1.3 will fix that problem, the company said, … Read more

Use Find My Friends to alert anyone of your location

Find My Friends is a handy app for families who want to keep tabs on each other. Of course it has a downside for couples who aren't always honest with each other, but that's to be expected.

Previously, I had shown you how to set up alerts for your Find My Friends contacts. Once set up, you'd receive an alert on your iOS device when they either arrived or left a location. But I neglected to show you how to send alerts to a Find My Friends contact, or to anyone else, regardless of if they have … Read more

Get a 5th-gen iPod Touch for $249 shipped

First it was an unusually cheap deal on MacBook Airs (since expired, alas). Now there's a solid savings to be had on the new iPod Touch.

And I mean new, not refurbished. For a limited time, you can get the 5th-gen iPod Touch (32GB) for $249 shipped. Just click on over to your local ShopRite.

Wait, what? ShopRite? The East Coast grocery-store chain? Oooookay.

I have no idea why ShopRite has the single best price on iPod Touches anywhere on the planet, but I'm not complaining. And I don't think it's a price mistake, as this … Read more

How to purchase movie tickets using Siri

Apple has released iOS 6.1 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users. Among other fixes and new additions is the ability to purchase movie tickets using Siri, as originally reported back in November.

Siri's new capability requires iOS 6.1, the Fandango app to be installed on the iOS device, and you'll also need to be in the U.S. to purchase tickets.

Once you have updated your device and have Fandango installed, buying tickets is as simple as launching Siri and asking for tickets to a specific movie time, or asking for a list of movies … Read more