App Reviews

Talking to Siri, by Erica Sadun (@ericasadun) and Steven Sande (@stevensande), introduces you to Apple's Intelligent Assistant for the recently released iPhone 4S. The voice-operated assistant answers your questions, sets up meetings, takes notes, composes your text messages and a whole lot more. ...

BigBoss has released a Cydia tweak called SemiTether that will allow your iOS 5 tethered device to boot into a semi-usable state when you cannot access a computer to boot with redsn0w. This can be used when your device accidentally is turned off so that you are not completely without your device. Once you get to your computer, you can use redsn0w to "just boot tethered" again to restore complete usability to your device. ...

Facebook has released a stand-alone messenger app for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The new Facebook Messenger app is a lot faster to use when messaging friends than the Facebook app. If you enter in a telephone number you can even get mobile notifications so that you don't miss a message. Best of all, the app is free at the AppStore. ...

Apple has approved the Google+ app in the App Store. It is available immediately for download for free for your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad (same version). Up until now, users have had to "make do" with a web app that, although it got the job done, is just not as smooth as an actual app installed on your device. ...

The iOS port of the Swype app has by Andrew Liu has been improved since its initial release. It now boasts better accuracy and has the popular blue trace-line that makes it easier for you to keep track of the word you are typing. ...

If you have avoided using the iOS version of PayPal because of it's limited functionality, you're in for a big surprise. PayPal has just released an update to the app that just about gives you all the fuctionality of the website. And all of the app features are displayed prominently on one screen. ...

Comex has released his second version of the PDF patcher for jailbroken iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads. PDF Patcher 2 closes the same exploit that made the JailbreakMe 3.0 userland jailbreak possible. Ironically for Apple, the only "secure" devices from this exploit are jailbroken devices. ...

The popular jailbreaker's app iBye is upgrading to version 3 for use with iOS 5, which is set to be released sometime in the fall. This new version of iBye will offer iCloud-like functionality to it's popular backup options. The best part about it is that you can use whatever server you want. ...

Recently, the popular site TechCrunch leaked information about a Facebook Photo Sharing App for the iPhone. Going by the name "Hovertown" or "WithPeople" the app looks to be a stand-alone app but could later be integrated right into Facebook. ...

RecognizeMe is a new Cydia tweak that will allow you to use biometric facial recognition to unlock your iPhone. There are two different algorithms being used for verification to help avoid false positives. RecognizeMe is an alternative unlock method, not a replacement.
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Ryan Petrich has released 'Rich Text for Mail' which is his latest tweak availabe from Cydia. With this tweak, you can now send email from your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad using rich text. The tweak adds the options bold, italic, strickthrough, underline and image items. It also gives you text color and font options.
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Don't you love the way most digital cameras add the date and time to your photos automatically? Wouldn't it be great if your cell phone did the same thing? Well if you have an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, now you can add date and time to your pictures using a new Cydia tweak called Stampr.
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There is a new Cydia tweak that allows user to upload images to their Facebook pages using the native Camera app on their iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. There is no need to leave the photo viewer to upload your images. The option will be located together with email, MMS, use as wallpaper, etc. FBUploader is available from the BigBoss repo for $1.99.
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Here is a very neat concept for notifications in iOS. It's already known that Apple will be upgrading the notification system in the next iOS version which should be unveiled at WWDC 2011.
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CocoaNuts has released their long anticipated Cydia Store app that integrates Bluetooth file sharing into iOS. Now, you will have the ability to send and receive pictures, songs, contacts and more using the bluetooth feature of your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad.
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Google has release their Google Translate app for iOS. Not only can it translate written words but it can also translate spoken words with the ability to translate words and phrases out loud!
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VoiceActivator, by chpwn, is set to be released soon in the Cydia Store. It allows the user to have customer voice control commands utilizing the onboard voice control functions of the iPhone. You can customize it to launch apps, open a specific URL and use Activator actions, too.
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There is a new tweak available in the Cydia Store for your iPhone or iPad Touch that gives your springboard a 3D effect without the need of 3D glasses. It's only $2.99 for the tweak, which is a small price to pay seeing how they charge you up to $5 at the movies for the 3D glasses!
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When you opened up Cydia today, you probably noticed a bright new feature staring at you on your screen. Jay Freeman (Saurik) has launched a new feature to Cydia called "Manage Account" which gives you the ability to browse apps that you have purchased from the Cydia Store. If you've lost track of your purchases, as I have over time, this will help you remember what you've purchased.
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