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I was just reminiscing about the many great games Ive thoroughly enjoyed playing on iOS, which collectively have turned Apples platform into one that somehow (and surprisingly) managed to surpass the venerable Commodore 64, much-missed Dreamcast and rather wonderful Nintendo DS in my affections.


Of late, youd be forgiven for thinking that iOS has no good games at all. On reading opinion pieces online, youre probably now imagining iOS as some kind of post-apocalyptic gaming wasteland, where the slowly rotting form of Sonic the Hedgehog begs passers-by for money, before being crushed to death by the dual horrors of EAs in-app-purchase juggernaut and a tsunami of mediocrity.

This time round, Dungeon Keeper and Flappy Bird are at the forefront of everyones minds. The former is apparently EA seeing just how far it can push the concept of freemium gaming before angry gamers snap and march on EA HQ, in order to batter the companys accountants to death with obsolete (but now suddenly rather usefully heavy) original iPads.

The line of thinking was apparently this: take a much-loved classic game, add as many timers and hateful roadblocks as possible, then send out lots of press releases saying how AMAZING and FREE and AMAZING it is, carefully avoiding highlighting the broken gameplay and hateful in-app purchase system.

Flappy Bird?

And then theres Flappy Bird, a one-thumb survival game that appears to have time-travelled from the early days of the App Store when most games were rubbish. If youve not yet played Flappy Bird, the aim is to... Actually, forget about it; just dont play the game, because its awful.

And given its maker is even threatening to pull Flappy Bird from stores, you wont actually be able to play the game soon even if you wanted to.

Flappy Bird stormed the App Store as the equivalent of a novelty summer pop-chart single. Its Mr. Blobby in app form.

So what went wrong? This: Mutant Mudds. Death Ray Manta. Contre Jour. Monsters Ate My Condo. Forget Me Not. Pivvot. QatQi. Slingshot Racing. Dark Nebula 2. Super Hexagon. Beat Sneak Bandit. Mos Speedrun. Device 6. World Of Goo. Zen Bound 2. Blackbar. Stickets. Beyond Ynth. Edge. HungryMaster. Monsters Valley…

All great games, but youve probably barely heard of any of them. Thats because most - SHOCK! - require up-front payment (albeit only an amount akin to buying an 8-bit game. On cassette. In 1985), rather than pretending to be free and then throwing up roadblocks that you can skip by buying a Stupidful of Gems.

Also, many of these titles are by indies, who lack the resources of an EA, and so their amazing efforts often go unnoticed. And then Apple merrily bleats about the latest freemium tat, giving it an Editors Choice, while the cream of iOS gaming goes largely unnoticed.

Fundamentally, though, this is all YOUR fault. Yes, YOU. The iOS app ecosystem has gotten to the point where too many people want something for nothing. They expected games to be cheap, and now they expect them to be free and updated forever, because developers can apparently survive on a diet of air.
Furthermore, people are suckers when hooked, meaning theyll abruptly forget about their miserly nature and happily shovel money into a game putting up roadblocks, like a crazed gambler laughing like a maniac at a casino slot machine.

So, how to fix things. First, Apples probably not going to do anything. The company has never had a clue about gaming, and its not about to find one down the back of the sofa.

Secondly, hideous exploitative freemium titles arent going anywhere, especially when companies are making money hand over fist, bank accounts swelling as countless gamers try to eke some enjoyment from the trudgefest theyve invested so heavily in.

The only solution is to start shouting louder about genuinely great games, and recognising that paying a few quid upfront for a title beats paying nothing initially and then getting mugged shortly afterwards.

Alongside, punish the bad games by ignoring them; if a game erects arbitrary barriers because a publisher decided the best way to make money was to literally stop people playing it, then play something else. Invest in developers who care about you having a great user experience and an entertaining time, not those who merely see you as a wallet on legs.

Naturally, that all sounds a bit grass-roots, and it could amount to a drop in the ocean; but that might just be enough to stop iOS gaming sliding into a cesspit that it cannot escape from. And if you want a starting point, check out the dozens of games already mentioned on this page.

Apple’s next major smartphone revision, the iPhone 6, could keep the same megapixel count as its predecessors according to a recent report from China.

Apple is looking increasingly more likely to employ sapphire crystal screen technology on the rumoured iPhone 6, and that appears to be rubbing the current leader in mobile glass up the wrong way.


Tony Tripeny, executive at Corning (maker of the popular Gorilla Glass which adorns many smartphones), wasted no time highlighting sapphires disadvantages during a Morgan Stanley Technology conference.

Tripeny raised several points surrounding the negative aspect of sapphire technology, "its about 10 times more expensive [than Gorilla Glass]. Its about 1.6 times heavier. Its environmentally unfriendly."

There are also concerns about sapphires opacity, which could potentially make the screen harder to view and Tripeny noted "it transmits less light which... means either dimmer devices or shorter battery life."

Not so tough

Coring reckons that its Gorilla Glass offering can also withstand more pressure than the sapphire equivalent - "about 2.5 times more pressure" in fact, although we cant put this claim to the test at the moment.

Apple will be aware of the issues surrounding sapphire glass as its already used it to cover the TouchID sensor on the iPhone 5S and protect the lens on the iPhone 5, 5C and 5S.

The iPhone 6 is expected to arrive later this year so well have to wait and see if sapphire is the screen of choice for the Cupertino firm and whether itll push the price of the handset up.

Are you obsessed with trying to make it to “inbox zero?” Are you tired of using the standard Mail app on iOS? Heres a list of email apps found on the app store that could satisfy your inbox OCD.

1. Mailbox

Since its beta release, Mailbox has been the most popular third-party email client on the iOS App Store.

Users can add up to five Gmail or Google app accounts to their Mailbox account. Swipe messages and them to archive or trash. Scan entire conversations, snooze emails, and get push notifications for new messages.

You can download Mailbox from the App Store here.

2. Boxer

Boxer is an email client developed by Taskbox. Similar to Mailbox, users can use swipe gestures to read through new messages. See who your emails are from with profile pictures shown in your inbox. Use “like” to acknowledge a friends message, and use "quick" replies to send common responses while on the go.

Boxer supports Exchange, Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud.

You can purchase Boxer from the App Store here.

3. Gmail

With Googles official Gmail app, users can easily manage and organize their Gmail inbox. Get notified of new mail, see profile pictures as part of the conversation, and read email with threaded conversations.

Organize your mail by archiving, labeling, starring, delete, or report as spam. The new tab system has 5 different categories including primary, social, promotions, updates, and forums. Easily switch between 5 email account. If you dont like the new version, you can always switch back to the classic inbox.

You can download Gmail from the App Store here.

4. Yahoo Mail

Yahoo! Email is an email app developed by Yahoo! Instantly receive notifications for new messages. Scan messages in your inbox and swipe to delete, flag, move, mark as read and more. Attach photos while composing a new message, and preview photos at the top of the message. Auto complete email addresses when you type.

You can download Yahoo! Email from the App Store here.

5. Triage

If youre struggling to keep up with your email accounts inbox, you may want to check out Triage by Southgate Labs. When you login to your email account, new messages will appear as a stack of cards. Flick messages down to keep them in your inbox, or flick messages up to archive. Triage supports Gmail, iCloud Mail accounts, and Yahoo! Mail.

You can purchase Triage from the App Store here.

6. Dispatch

Dispatch is an email client app for iOS that makes it easy to organize, delegate, and archive your email.

Being a Mailbox competitor, Dispatch has its own unique benefits for those with inbox OCD. The app allows snippets, allows users to respond to emails with common responses, and even customize settings based on the account being used. There is great integration with other third-party apps 1Password, Due, Omifocus, Evernote, and more. For now, the app doesn’t feature push notifications or a unified inbox, which may be a dealbreaker for some.

You can purchase Dispatch from the App Store here.

7. Mail Pilot

Mail Pilot is an app that turns your inbox into a to-do-list. With Mail Pilot, new messages arrive in your inbox as incomplete. When you finish a task, mark the message as complete, and it will automatically be archived by Mail Pilot. Easily collect messages from multiple accounts at once, and manage newsletters, social media notifications, and upcoming events. Mail Pilot works with Gmail, iCloud, AOL, Yahoo, and other email service providers.

You can purchase Mail Pilot from the App Store here.

8. Group Email

Group Email is for users who frequently send...wait for it... group emails! This app makes it very simple to create distribution lists from your contacts, create and send email templates, and easily add photos, videos, and other files from cloud storage services such as Dropbox and SkyDrive.

You can purchase Group Email from the App Store here.

9. FindIt

Findit is a very simple file and email searching app that integrates with Gmail, Dropbox, and Google Drive.

Findit uses a very visual and minimal interface to search for items through filters. It can even search through several unique Gmail, Dropbox, and Drive accounts. Hopefully the developer will integrate with more services in future updates.

You can download FindIt from the App Store here.

10. OWA

If you have an MS Office 365 subscription, you have the benefit of downloading and using Microsoft’s OWA app, which brings all of the live panel goodness of Outlook on Windows Phone 8 to the iPhone. OWA for iPhone has all of the inbox and calendar features that are expected from Outlook. If you are an Outlook power user and an Office 365 subscriber, you can download OWA from the App Store here.

Not long ago, a number of iPhone 5S users were complaining of a "fade" issue with the iPhone 5S Touch ID scanner, causing it to forget your fingerprints over time.


Now a source "familiar with Apples development plans" has said that the company is preparing to release a software update that could fix the problem.

The source, speaking to Appleinsider, said that Apple is aware of the problem experienced by early adopters of the 5S, and will release a free software update "relatively soon".

Give it the finger

Its unclear whether this will be part of iOS 7.1, which is expected to arrive mid-March, or its own standalone update.

Users who have experienced "fade" have temporary fixed the problem by reconfiguring their prints, however its only taken weeks for the problem to appear again.

Amid a mass of budget iPhone rumours, claimed images of Apple’s upcoming cut-price handset have leaked online, showing off the phone’s colourful body.



















A device expected to sit under the upcoming iPhone 5S as a more wallet-friendly offering, the mooted budget iPhone is expected to target the mass of mid-market Android handsets which have given Google the smartphone edge over Apple.

Although far from official, the latest claimed budget iPhone images show a plastic rear shell that looks set to sport a similarly elongated design to the current iPhone 5. Unlike the monochrome high-end iPhone, the budget handset has leaked in vibrant green hue, one of ‘6-8 colours’ the device is expected to ship in.

While the components which are set to make up the plastic clad iPhone have not been made clear by the latest images, the pictures have suggested the budget smartphone will sport a rear-mounted camera with an integrated LED flash and microphone hole for improved video recording capabilities.

With past budget iPhone rumours offering contrasting views on whether the cheap Apple handset would feature a plastic or brushed aluminium body, the latest leaks have hinted that the device could feature a cheaper material akin to that used on the Samsung Galaxy S4.

Budget iPhone Rumours

A product that has been shrouded in much rumour and speculation for a number of months, the budget iPhone is believed to be heading for launch later this year and could even to make it to retail ahead of the flagship iPhone 5S.

According Topeka Capital analyst Brian White, a man renowned for being an Apple tipster, the budget iPhone will precede the iPhone 5S. In a note to investors earlier this month he suggested the budget iPhone will land under the heading of the iPhone mini and will sport a 4-inch display.

With the budget iPhone expected to go on sale in September, it has been suggested that, like the latest iPod touch iteration, the handset will land in a variety of colours. Said to run iOS 7, the budget iPhone will reportedly touch down in “white, pink, green, blue and yellow” hues.

A 30-year-old man in China has reportedly become the second person in a matter of days to have been severely electrocuted by a charging iPhone.


Said to have been in a coma for 10 days, the man is reported to have been charging his iPhone 4 with a third-party charger earlier this month when he received a serious electric shock. Earlier this week it was announced that a Chinese woman had died after been electrocuted by a charging iPhone 5.

According to reports from the Beijing Evening News, a Mr Wu Jian Tong was “suddenly shocked” by his iPhone 4 when attempting to plug it in to charge using a “counterfeit” charger. The Chinese government recently warned residents over the risks of a recent raft of potentially questionable third-party smartphone accessories that have been doing the rounds in the country.

A translation of reports has suggested that Mr Wu shouted “I’m getting shocked” as he connected his phone and was round unresponsive and not breathing when attended to by medical teams at the scene. Having required CPR, Wu is said to have been in a coma for ten days.

With the man’s doctor quoted as stating: “It was no doubt an electric shock,” Wu’s sister has relayed the events to reporters in China.

Describing how she attempted to unplug the device, she said: "I then felt needle-like pains on my fingertips. The current was running from my finger, through to my arm and body, and to the foot."

On Monday it emerged a 23-year-old woman had died last month after trying to make a call using her charging iPhone 5.

In an official statement earlier this week, Apple confirmed that it would fully cooperate and work with authorities to help investigate the claims of the iPhone electrocutions.

"We are deeply saddened to learn of this tragic incident and offer our condolences to the Ma family,” an official spokesperson for the iPad mini manufacturer stated. “We will fully investigate and cooperate with authorities in this matter."

The next generation iPhone 5S handset could arrive packing a new-and-improved slow motion video camera, according to reports on Tuesday evening.

The company is working on a new killed video capture feature thatll debut on the new handset, facilitated by the final version of iOS 7, according to one developer who studied the operating systems beta code and passed on his findings to the 9to5Mac blog.

The new feature is called Mogul, according to Hazma Sood, and would allow video to be captured at an impressive 120-frames-per-second. This could crisp and clear slow-motion video mode being added to the devices camera functionality.

Heres what 9to5Mac had to say: "According to our analysis and testing of the code, “Mogul” is a feature in development that allows the iPhone to capture video at an exceptionally fast and precise rate. Specifically, our testing indicates that the feature can allow the iPhone to record video at a rate of 120 frames-per-second (FPS). The resolution at which this 120FPS video could be recorded at, however, is currently unclear."

Of course, Apple wouldnt be first smartphone manufacturer to bring this feature to market. Samsungs flagship Galaxy S4 also offers 120fps, slow motion video.

The iPhone 5S is rumoured to be Apples bi-annual soft update and is expected to retain the iPhone 5s form factor.

It is expected to debut a new, faster and more powerful processor and perhaps a 13-megapixel camera too. Other rumours have suggested a fingerprint sensor could be introduced for the first time, although thats probably an outside bet at this stage.

Could a high-resolution, high-speed video feature be the killer feature to half Samsungs rise when the iPhone 5S arrives this autumn?

The iPhone 5S home button has leaked, with the prematurely unveiled component suggesting Apple’s next flagship phone could add a fingerprint reader.


With the biometric security measure one of a number of frequently touted iPhone 5S features expected to be included, the newly leaked iPhone 5S home button shows a number of differences over its predecessor, hinting that the fingerprint scanner could be set for inclusion.

Hitting the web courtesy of repeated Apple tipster Sonny Dickson, the iPhone 5S home button has been caught in a range of high resolution images.

The clear shots back up grainy, blurred images that appeared earlier in the week claiming to show the iPhone 5S home button with an integrated fingerprint reader in tow.

Describing the leaked component, the newly emerged reports state that “the sensors and flex cable bear a remarkably different design when compared to the iPhone 5 home button.”

Earlier this week Apple issued invites to its upcoming iPhone 5S launch event, with the new flagship phone expected to be formally unveiled alongside the heavily rumoured budget iPhone 5C this coming Tuesday, September 10.

Expected to hit retailers shortly after next week’s unveiling, the iPhone 5S release date has been tipped as the following Friday, September 20, with Chinese networks having already accidentally leaked the imminent arrival.

Far from the first time the iPhone 5S has been mooted to incorporate a fingerprint reader, the technology has been an expected inclusion since Apple’s acquisition of smart sensor specialist AuthenTec last year. Reports in recent months have claimed the fingerprint features will work alongside new NFC connectivity options to offer more secure mobile payment options.

Motorola CEO Dennis Woodside has criticised Apple over the high pricing of the iPhone, despite claiming this premium fee could help his company regain ground in the smartphone race.

Google launched its much awaited its latest flagship smartphone, the Nexus 5.
The Nexus 5 comes with a 5-inch full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels display with a pixel density of 445 ppi, an 8MP rear-facing camera with Optical Image Stabilisation, and Android 4.4 KitKat, the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system.

So how does it stack up against the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c? Here’s a detailed comparison table where we have compared the tech specs of the LG Nexus 5, iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c.

So going purely by the tech specs and reviews, iPhone 5s includes features such as the Touch ID that is not available in the Nexus 5 or iPhone 5c, comes with a much better camera and is available in 64GB storage option. On the other hand, the Nexus 5 comes with a bigger 4.95-inch screen with significantly higher pixel density of 445 ppi, double the RAM, NFC, support for 802.11 ac, and more importantly is available for almost half the cost of the iPhone 5s.

If budget is a constraint then there is no debate about which smartphone you should buy. The same is true if you’re looking for a smartphone with a bigger screen. When it comes to Android vs iOS, it boils down to user preference. The tech specs don’t usually give you the complete story, so it may be a good idea to visit a local store and get a first hand experience.

It has long been suggested that Apples so-called budget iPhone will arrive in a range of colours and a number of purported leaked photos have emerged in the last week to back that up.


Those leaks were supplemented on Wednesday by Apple enthusiast SonyDickson on Twitter, who posted a photo showcasing the purported plastic device in various colours.

The post follows multiple reports and leaks that have showcased the rear casing of the device. Each time the snaps have depicted the device in shades of yellow, pink, green and blue as well as white.

Although theres little to corroborate the authenticity of the photos, the appearance of different snaps from different sources, should be noted.

Previous leaks from, the NowhereElse blog and the Taiwanese Apple Daily site over the last week all showcase the same colours, while the Apple logo and iPhone name tag appears in the same position, helping to lessen the possibility of fakes.

Apple is certainly no stranger to livening up the look of its devices with a bright splash of colour. Most of its recent iPod lines have been available in a range of vibrant hues.

It has also been suggested by some observers that the multiple bright colours reflect the new design aesthetic of the new, Jony Ive-influenced iOS 7 design.

Confirmation one way or the other is likely to come before the year is out, probably at a special Apple event in around September or early October where we expect to see the iPhone 5S/iPhone 6 revealed.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 could feature a Swipe fingerprint scanner made by Samsung itself.


According to a new Korean report, Samsung is producing its own fingerprint scanner to rival, and potentially better, Apple’s Touch ID technology introduced with the iPhone 5S.

Samsung’s own Swipe fingerprint sensor will be seemingly introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S5 when it launches at MWC 2014 later this month.

Unlike the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, Samsung’s fingerprint tech will require swipe recognition rather than touch and hold.

This could potentially make it more efficient than the Apple technology and cut the recognition time by a few milliseconds.

It will also be embedded within the display of the S5, rather than in a home button like the 5S.

Samsung’s decision to reportedly take fingerprint sensor production in-house is to enable the company to easily manufacture the technology, control yield and avoid any shortages that could cause Galaxy S5 stock issues at launch.

The latest news follows a 7-zip file named FingerprintService.apk allegedly from the Samsung Galaxy S5 discovered by notorious tipster @evleaks.

Previous rumours have provided conflicting statements on the presence of a fingerprint scanner in the Samsung Galaxy S5, but this could be one of the defining features of Samsung’s first 2014 flagship.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is hotly tipped to launch at the Samsung Unpacked 5 event on Monday February 24 at MWC 2014.

It is expected to feature a 5.25-inch 2,560 x 1440p 2K resolution display running on a Samsung Exynos 6 processor and 3GB of RAM.

The S5 is also tipped to have a 16-megapixel camera and run Android 4.4 KitKat overlaid with the latest Samsung Touchwiz UI.

More pictures of the glossy colourful cases of the rumoured budget iPhone have leaked online.


The rear shells of the budget iPhone, tipped to be called the iPhone mini, have been snapped online again showing off the array of five colours.

As seen here, the budget iPhone is tipped to come in five shades – green, blue, white, yellow and red – and seems to feature a gloss hard plastic casing rather than the brushed aluminium of the latest iPhone 5 handset.

Tying in nicely with the colour scheme of the recently unveiled iOS 7 mobile operating system, the budget iPhone may well more closely resemble the 5th generation iPod touch range.

These aren’t the first budget iPhone images to do the rounds either, seemingly cementing the iPhone mini rumours further.

The latest rumours showed an apparent budget iPhone hands-on video leak online, showing the supposed handset’s plastic body and rounded corners.

Budget iPhone rumours

Expected to be formally unveiled later this year, perhaps in line with the iOS 7 release in the autumn, the budget iPhone will be a mid-range handset to be a more affordable option alongside the iPhone 5S.

Tipped to launch in September, the budget iPhone is said to have the same 4-inch display as the iPhone 5 but will offer reduced top-end specs in an attempt to keep the price low.

That’s also the reason Apple has supposedly opted for a plastic casing rather than the brushed aluminium too. This plastic body could add a few millimetres to the thickness of the iPhone mini in comparison to the iPhone 5, but we doubt this will be a hugely noticeable difference.

The budget iPhone could even touch down alongside the next-generation of the iPad mini. However, if the latest rumours are to be believed, the iPad mini 2 release date may be pushed back due to Retina display issues.

Apple’s investment in sapphire glass is well documented, but now leaked patents have suggested that the Cupertino-based company could be about to bestow the iPhone 6 with a sapphire glass display.

Although an iPhone 6 release date is still months away, a raft of iPhone 6 rumours have already started circling the web.

iPhone 6 News

iPhone 6 Release Date

iPhone 6 Rumours

iPhone 6 Specs

iPhone 6 Price

The first images of the iPhone 6 appear to have leaked online, confirming a refreshed design and a significantly larger display.


There have been numerous reports and rumours surrounding Apple’s next smartphone, but we haven’t seen any convincing physical evidence of these claims up to this point.

Arriving via Sonny Dickson, a reliable Apple tipster who posted images of a number of iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C components prior to their release, these images appear to show the outer shell of the iPhone 6.

The images show a larger iPhone with a design that’s more akin to the iPod touch 5th generation or even the iPad mini 2 than the iPhone 5S. It’s got a single metallic rear shell (which is shown in both gold and silver) that curves around to form the sides of the device, just like those aforementioned handsets.

We can also see a long gap for the rear camera flash, which tallies with the shape of the iPhone 5S’s dual-flash set-up.

The front of the device is also noteworthy, with an edge to edge display that features only tiny side bezels. Meanwhile, the top and bottom bezels have also been significantly reduced. This would evidently (if accurate) be a bid to accommodate that 4.7-inch display that’s been tipped for the iPhone 6 without significantly increasing the iPhone footprint.

All of this would be terribly convincing but for two points. The first is that the originator of these images is an anonymous Twitter users called mornray886 - Sonny simply forwarded them.

Secondly, as pointed out by 9to5Mac, one eagle-eyed Imgur user has pointed out some suspicious patterns that suggest the pictures may have been faked.
























We may have to wait a little longer for that first genuine leaked glimpse at iPhone 6 hardware.

The iPhone 5S is easy to use. However, it has bags more features than the early iPhones. To keep it as simple for technophobes, Apple has had to carefully hide away a few of the things it can do.


We’ve uncovered a few of the extras we think you should know about.

Using universal search

A great but little-used feature of the iPhone 5S is universal search (aka Spotlight). Tap a term into the universal search bar and the iPhone 5S will search through your apps, emails, contacts, calendar entries and your media library – more or less everything on your phone.

To bring up the search bar, just drag downwards on a home screen – but not the very top of the screen, as that brings up the notifications bar. Then just tap in your search term and you’re away. We find it the perfect antidote to a packed, not-entirely-organised app collection.

Use the volume up key as a shutter button

Most people use the iPhone 5S’s touchscreen as the way to take photos. But there is another way.

As standard, you can use the iPhone 5S’s ‘up’ volume key as a shutter button when in the camera app. It makes using the iPhone as a photographic tool feel a lot more like using a compact camera.

Recording slo-mo videos

Our favourite video feature of the iPhone 5S is the slo-mo mode. It records footage at 120fps in 720p resolution.

Finding it is very easy – just flick right to left on the screen of the video part of the camera app until you hit the slow motion mode. However, we find it’s a mode few people make much use of. It’s the best way to capture fast action, or just toddlers tearing around the house, so try it out. The limitation is that no audio is captured in slo-mo mode.

Adding emoticons to your keyboard

One of the odd things left out of the iPhone 5S is the emoticon menu in the keyboard. Perhaps Apple just wanted to keep things simple and stylish-looking, but we think it’s something the majority of iPhone users would find useful.

You can easily bung it into the standard iPhone keyboard from within the Settings menu. Just go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard > Emoji to get your iPhone 5S rammed full of cute keyboard characters. You don’t just get smileys either, but all sorts of little graphics including animals, symbols, flags and numbers.

Correcting Siri’s pronunciation

If Siri mis-pronounces a name, you can correct it. You do so by literally telling Siri “that’s not how you pronounce [name]”. Siri will then give you a bunch of different ways it can say the name, letting you choose the closest to the real thing.

Of course, Siri is still a virtual being whose voice synthesiser doesn’t have the sophistication of a human voice box. But at least it tries.

Using the LED flash for notifications

If you’ve come to an iPhone 5S from an Android phone, one thing you might miss is a notification light. The iPhone 5S has no front LED light.

However, you can use the camera LED as a notification tool, making it flash when you get a new text message, email and so on. To switch this on, go to Settings > General > Accessibility, then scroll down to the Hearing header, under which you’ll find an ‘LED flash for alerts’ mode slider.

Best iPhone 5S cases

The best type of iPhone 5S case to use is one that covers just about every part of the phone, apart from the screen. We find this more in the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5 than previous versions, because of what these phones are made of.

They have aluminium bodies – aluminium isn’t a particularly hard metal, and is therefore quite prone to scratches. If you don’t want to hide the look of the phone, and don’t want to spend a load of cash, we recommend a simple polycarbonate (plastic) crystal case that covers the back and sides of your iPhone 5S, and will absorb any impact damage - and avoid cracked screens.

Making the perfect iPhone 5S wallpaper

iOS 7 can use parallax wallpapers, images that scroll a little as you flick between home screens. However, this also means that you can’t simply make an image the size of the iPhone 5S’s screen and expect it to work well as a wallpaper.

The resolution to use for your iPhone 5S wallpapers is 1,536 x 1,040 pixels, in order to get the full parallax effect. Use wallpapers the same size as the phone’s screen and there will be no parallax effect at all.

Using multitasking

To use the iPhone 5S’s quick app switching mode, quickly double-tap the home button to bring up the multitasking menu. This shows a scrollable row of all the apps currently ‘parked’ in stasis on your phone. To close one down, just flick up on the preview display that shows what the app is currently up to.

To head into an app, just tap on one of these preview displays.

Use the feature toggles to save battery

A software feature Apple has seemingly nicked from Android for the iPhone 5S is a set of features toggles that let you quickly turn things like Bluetooth and the airplane mode on and off.

You’ll find these toggles in the menu that pops-up when you flick from the bottom of the screen upwards. They include airplane mode, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Do Not Disturb and rotation lock. This menu also lets you change screen brightness. These controls are the key to getting more battery life out of your phone.

How to hack an iPhone 5S

A full ‘jailbreak’ hack has been released for the iPhone 5S. It is called Evasi0n, and its main aim is to let you run unsigned code on the phone. For the average person, the main benefit is getting the Cydia app store installed. This is an ‘alternative’ app store that offers apps that let you do things like customise to the way iOS looks and feels. Apple doesn’t allow anything like this with ‘normal’ apps.

We don’t recommend doing so yourself – it invalidates your warranty (as it’s contrary to the terms of use) and may brick your phone – however, it is very easy. It’s now just a case of downloading Evasi0n, plugging in your phone, then following some on-screen prompts. However, make sure you only download it from the official Evasi0n site. Unscrupulous types may try to charge you for jailbreaking code – and then heaven knows what you’ll actually be downloading.

You can use the Touch ID with things other than your fingers

One of the best hardware improvements in the iPhone 5S is the new Touch ID sensor – marked by the silver ring around the Home button. This is a fingerprint scanner that lets you unlock your phone without using an annoying passcode.

As convenient as a fingerprint is, it’s not the only surface you can use. The Touch ID sensor is a capacitive scanner, and can recognise just about any suitable surface. A nipple, a dog’s nose, a nose and all sorts of body parts have been used with the sensor – you just have to teach the phone how. Up to five different ‘fingers’ can be recognised the Touch ID panel. To teach it a new one, go to Settings > General > Touch ID & Passcode > Touch ID.

New budget iPhone leaks have claimed to show the much mooted mid-range Apple handset in a selection of pictures and a hands-on video.


Questionably appearing courtesy of a peddler of knockoff Android handsets, the latest claimed budget iPhone leaks, which should be taken somewhat lightly, follow a number of teases over the past couple of weeks which have suggested to show the plastic rear panel of the upcoming phone.

A phone which fits with past leaks, the latest claimed budget iPhone images show a 4-inch device with a plastic body and slightly rounded corners.

According to a blog post which accompanies the latest round of leaks, the premature outings have suggested the mooted device “will be made substantially from plastic (we can feel it’s actually polycarbonate materials). It will have a 4-inch screen, like the iPhone 5, and interestingly, the budget iPhone actually has a shape that’s similar to Apple’s original iPod.”

Techdy, source of the latest round of budget iPhone leaks, has failed to state how it managed to get its hands on what it is claiming is the currently unannounced budget iPhone.

Budget iPhone Rumours

Expected to be formally unveiled later this year, the budget iPhone has been tipped to land alongside the high-end iPhone 5S and iPad mini 2, with a September arrival for the trio of portable products widely anticipated.

With the budget iPhone rumoured to be heading to market in “6-8 colours”, recent leaks have seen green, yellow, red and blue iterations of the device make premature appearances alongside the standard black and white models.

The phone will reportedly run the latest iOS 7 operating system alongside a reduced array of specs over the iPhone 5, including a smaller camera sensor, slower processor and no Retina display.