MacRumors

News of Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition for the iPad first hit in March of 2012 and was followed by a December 2012 release.

After being in the App Store for six months, the game was pulled over a contractual dispute between Overhaul Games (a division of Beamdog), and Atari, who had requested the game’s removal from the App Store.

Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition can be downloaded from the App Store for $9.99. [Direct Link]

Finish, the Apple Design Award-winning to-do app created by a pair of 16-year-old developers, has today received a significant update that adds a host of new features that were requested by users, including a much desired Task-by-Task time setting option that allows users to set times for tasks.

In addition, version 2.0 of the app allows users to add notes to tasks, activate a "Bother Me" reminder function, quick-add tasks, and share tasks via email. It also includes a "Rewards" function that allows users to earn real life rewards for completed tasks.

REWARDS: As you complete your tasks, you’ll have the option to earn free, real-life rewards. You’ll never know for sure when you’ll receive rewards–though let’s just say, the earlier you finish your stuff, the better ;). Rewards are constantly changing. They could be anything from productivity tools, coupons,yummy snacks, gift cards, discounts, and more. Keep an eye out for stuff from your favorite brands, and enjoy another huge weapon against procrastination.

The app has been redesigned with both visual and interface enhancements and other new features include task restore abilities and data export options.

Finish can be downloaded from the App Store for $0.99. [Direct Link]

ESPN has updated its WatchESPN app with new support for split-screen viewing of content. For example, users could watch a live stream of one of ESPN's many channels while simultaneously pulling up some on-demand video content or live sports scores.

The feature is exclusive to newer iPads and the iPad mini currently, but will be coming to other devices like the Apple TV and Xbox in the future.

AllThingsD has more on how the feature works:

The key here is something ESPN is calling a “live toolbar.” It’s a widget that runs across the bottom of the video screen and lets you pull up data like scores and stats for other games you’re not watching. And, if your attention span can handle it, you can also use it to pull up on-demand video clips, like highlight reels, that you can watch side-by-side with a live feed.

What's new

Introducing the WatchESPN Live Toolbar on iPad! Now you can keep up with news, scores and on-demand video from your favorite sporting events while watching live programming on ESPN.

The live toolbar includes:
- Live TV Lineup: See what's on ESPN's networks and switch to additional ESPN programming without exiting the video.
- Scores: Follow additional games while watching your game on ESPN. Launch video highlights at the conclusion of an event (where available).
- Top Videos: Watch multiple things at once! Keep up with the latest news and highlights right alongside the live ESPN programming you're watching. Rotate your device while watching two videos.

*The Live Toolbar is available on iPad and iPad Mini only.

Also new in 1.7:
- Users connecting from a college or military network now get access to ESPN3 events automatically!
- WatchESPN is now compatible with iOS7.
- "ESPN on ABC" events will now appear in the WatchESPN app. Selecting these events will bring you into the WatchABC app.

As with many of these apps, live streaming is U.S. only and requires authentication through one of these paid television providers: AT&T U-verse, Bright House Networks, Charter, Comcast XFINITY, Cox, Midcontinent Communications, Optimum, Time Warner Cable, or Verizon FiOS TV.

WatchESPN is a free download from the App Store. [Direct Link]

A newly-published patent application from Apple (via AppleInsider) describes a method to allow users to "gift" media content purchased via iTunes and from their own libraries to other users through near-field communication (NFC), suggesting that the technology may eventually find a way onto iOS devices in the near future. The patent, which was filed back in March of this year and stretches over a lengthy 63 pages, describes a system whereby:

...an offer and acceptance of a selected gift file is accomplished between a gifter device and a receiving giftee device using a near-field communication (NFC) connection.

The filing shows a picture of a generic iPhone with an additional chip (labeled 50 in the above diagram) on both the front and rear of the device which may potentially allow users to exchange content through NFC. The patent describes two methods of "gifting" – either by purchasing the media directly from the iTunes Store and sending to another user's Apple ID or by sending a copy of already-owned media to another device, which is currently unavailable on all iOS devices.

The patented method involves digital media protection keys, such as a DRM key, that allows the "gifted" file to be only played on one device in accordance with copyright regulations. This is similar to the existing method of gifting through the iTunes Store, however the transfer would be over NFC, not the Internet or 3G. The NFC chip may allow for data transfer speeds of up to 560 Mbps, according to the filing, and may be compatible with the new TransferJet protocol, first developed by Sony, which allows for faster transfer speeds between devices. The new chips will have a range of 2–4 cm, so users do not physically have to touch phones.

Apple has so far shied away from NFC technology, instead stepping gingerly into scannable digital tickets, coupons, gift cards and loyalty cards with its own Passbook service introduced with iOS 6. This patent suggests, however, that the company is seriously considering NFC as a feature in upcoming devices. NFC is already available on several other devices, including those running Android, BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile, and it allows users to achieve much more with their smartphones, including paying for goods and services (examples include Visa's payWave and Mastercard's PayPass) and using their smartphones on public transport, which is already being tested in several U.S. cities, including New York and Los Angeles.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published an Apple patent application (via AppleInsider) covering an idea for flexible headphone connectors to avoid plug breakage and accidental equipment damage – a common complaint of many users. The patent application, which was first filed back in June 2011 and lists Albert Golko, an iPhone and iPad product development engineering manager at Apple, as its inventor, describes a system whereby:

…a portion or all of the plug connector may comprise a flexible material that allows the connector to bend with respect to an insertion axis and prevent the connector from breaking when inserted or extracted improperly.

The patent describes an audio connector (i.e. a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack) that is manufactured from a flexible material that allows it to bend slightly during use. The audio connectors currently in use on most devices are inflexible and offer no strain relief, meaning that any sudden force to the headphone jack risks damaging the port, which often warrants an expensive repair.

A further addition to the patent is a certain level of flexibility along the connector's length, which allows for more strain in areas that are prone to breakage, such as the tip or base of the plug. Many smartphone users are accustomed to wrapping headphones around the device, which causes an enormous amount of strain to the base of the plug. It is envisioned that Apple's patent will help reduce this slightly by providing more relief to both the headphone jack and the connector.

Although the intentions of the patent application are as of yet unclear, Apple has in the past expressed interest in improving and shrinking headphone plugs and jacks. A patent application published in 2010 outlined a headphone jack design using pogo pins rather than cantilevered metal strips for electrical contacts within the jack, a design which could allow for thinner headphone jacks. Existing audio connectors, both in the standard 3.5 mm and smaller 2.5 mm sizes, remain limiting factors in making smartphones and other devices smaller and thinner, but Apple's work toward thinner jacks and more flexible plugs could help the company achieve smaller and thinner device designs in the future.

Augmented reality service Layar has released an update for its iOS app today, bringing a complete redesign to the app as well as the ability to archive AR content for later viewing. The app also includes an integrated QR code scanner and a refined Geo Layer interface that allows the user to find points of interest within a physical location.

Scan print materials enhanced with Layar to view rich digital experiences right on top! Then be amazed as extra digital content appears, allowing you to interact with your world in a whole new way!

Layar was one of the most prominent early apps to take advantage of support for augmented reality features enabled by Apple in iPhone OS 3.1 back in 2009. Layar is a free download in the App Store. [Direct Link]

According to market research firm IHS iSuppli (via CNET), production levels for displays destined for this year’s upcoming iPad mini are set to be on par with those of last year’s model. The firm also believes that this year’s iPad mini will feature a high-resolution Retina display, something that has been highly rumored for the upcoming device.

"Based [what] we are seeing in the [production] pipeline...The volumes are similar to the iPad Mini that we saw in Q4 of last year," said Vinita Jakhanwal, director of mobile & emerging displays at IHS iSuppli, referring to display production. [...]

LG Display is expected to be the main supplier initially for the Mini Retina, though Sharp is also expected to participate in production, Jakhanwal said. Other reports have also cited Samsung as a supplier as various manufacturers struggle to reach high-volume production of the pixel-dense yet thin display.

Jakhanwal also notes that AU Optronics is currently supplying a small share of iPad mini displays but that it would need to "scale up" before it could begin supplying Retina display panels. Reports have indicated that Apple is likely to dump AU Optronics as an iPad mini display supplier as it moves to Retina panels.

Earlier this week, a report from Bloomberg claimed that Apple will indeed release a thinner full-sized iPad and a Retina-equipped iPad mini within the last three months of 2013. This would mean that the upcoming September 10 media event for the iPhone would be completely separate from that of an iPad announcement. The new full-sized iPad is expected to have a narrower bezel like the existing iPad mini, while the new iPad mini is not expected to have any significant design changes.

Ginger Labs launched a major update to its iOS note-taking app Notability today that includes universal compatibility with both the iPhone and iPad, as well as iCloud support for syncing and viewing between devices. The update also adds features such as cosmetic user interface changes and a new scissor tool for scaling and rotating.

Welcome to Notability, the best-selling note-taking app on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Notability is so powerful that it will transform how you work: sketch ideas, annotate documents, sign contracts, complete worksheets, keep a journal, jot travel notes, teach a class, make a presentation and much more. With iCloud support, your notes stay up to date on all your iOS devices!

Last year as the App Store reached the 25 billion download milestone, Notability was recognized by Apple as one of the "Top 25 All-Time Paid Apps" for iPad. Notability is $2.99 for the iPhone and iPad and can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]

News aggregator Digg has launched an update to its iOS app, bringing new features such as a “Popular” section that sorts feeds by popularity, as well as a setting to see only unread items in feed views. The update also adds integration with article formatting service Readability, as well as the ability to delete feeds and folders directly from the app.

From Digg's official blog:

Our new iOS app is going live in the Apple App Store today. Here’s what’s new:
- We’ve added the “Popular” section to Digg Reader, enabling you to sort any of your feeds in order of their popularity across the social web.
- You can now choose to see only unread items in any Digg Reader feed. All feeds have a simple pull-down menu where you can toggle between All and Unread-only views.
- You can also turn on a new setting to show only folders and feeds with unread items.
- You can now delete feeds and folders directly in the app.
- We’ve improved scrolling performance, and added support for Readability.

The website launched its RSS reader service in June, and its iOS app currently holds a four-star rating across all versions. Digg is a free download in the App Store. [Direct Link]

Photos from the winners of the sixth annual iPhone Photography Awards have been posted on the IPPA website, displaying some of the best pictures taken with an iPhone over the course of the past year.

The photo subjects range from portraits of animals and people to landscapes, with the first place photo depicting a close-up shot of a horse. The second and third place photos were taken during a Holi festival of colors and a snowstorm, respectively.

In addition to the top three photos of the year, the website also displays the winners from a number of categories, including architecture, nature, seasons, and food.

According to the rules of the contest, all photos were taken with an iPhone. No external manipulation was permitted, though photo editing apps such as Instagram and Snapseed were allowed to be used.

Apple's iPhone remains the most popular camera choice on photo sharing website Flickr, a title that it has held since 2009. As the iPhone has grown in popularity as a point-and-shoot camera replacement, Apple has worked hard to improve its photo taking capabilities. The iPhone 5 introduced an impressive 8-megapixel camera with enhanced HDR and low-light capabilities and the iPhone 5S, coming in September, is expected to offer further camera improvements.

Streaming media device use has doubled since 2011, with 14% of U.S. broadband households using products like the Apple TV or the Roku in 2013, reports Parks Associates (via CNET).

While the Apple TV has increased in popularity over the last several years, it falls short of competing product Roku. A survey of 10,000 U.S. broadband households revealed that 37% used a Roku device while 24% used an Apple TV, making Roku the most used streaming set-top box in the U.S.

Parks Associates predicts that worldwide connected TV device sales will double to reach 330 million annually by 2017, with annual sales revenue increasing almost 100%.

"Innovations such as next-gen game consoles and 4K or ultra-HD TVs will boost unit sales for these devices, but overall, consumers are reluctant to replace these big-ticket items solely for smart upgrades," said Barbara Kraus, director, research, Parks Associates. "As a result, streaming video media devices will have a thriving market because they can offer innovations such as streaming video at low prices. Devices such as Roku’s streaming players and Google's Chromecast will benefit from these market conditions."

Despite the fact that Apple has long referred to the Apple TV as a "hobby project," the company has been working on beefing up its content offerings in recent months, most recently debuting new channels for HBO GO, WatchESPN, and more. Apple is also said to have upcoming deals in the works with Time Warner Cable and music video company VEVO.

Apple has just announced via its App Store Facebook page that PopCap’s much-anticipated Plants vs. Zombies 2 app for iOS will be released on Thursday, August 15.

"It's about time," reads the announcement above a photo of a PvZ-style zombie hand reaching out of the dirt. "Guess what game is coming tomorrow?"

Plants vs. Zombies 2 will feature the same lane defense gameplay that made the original game a hit, but it also includes time travel to all new locations. Unlike the first game, PvZ 2 will be available as a freemium title. PopCap has stated that players will be able to access “the vast majority of the game” without paying money.

The announcement does not specify the time that the game will be made available, but Thursday releases can often be downloaded on Wednesday night, at 11 p.m ET.

Update: Plants vs. Zombies 2 can now be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]