MacRumors iPhone and iPad Blog: Apps, News, and Rumors

Late last week, Daring Fireball's John Gruber helped draw some attention to that fact that Apple had yet to release the source code for components of its iOS 4.3 WebKit implementation as required under the Lesser GNU Public License (LGPL) due to Apple's use of LGPL code in the project. Apple initially released iOS 4.3 on March 10th, and LGPL licensing requires that the source code be released...

As noted by Business Insider, Microsoft earlier this week quietly introduced a new Bing Maps Control for iOS software development kit, making it easier for developers to integrate Bing maps directly into their applications. The Bing Maps iOS Control is an Objective-C control for embedding maps directly into native iOS apps. With a rich, gesture-based UI provided by Seadragon, the Bing Maps iOS...

Last month, word surfaced that Apple's manufacturing partner Foxconn was seeking to invest as much as $12 billion in Brazil, setting up new manufacturing plants in that country to expand capacity and avoid hefty import taxes for electronics brought into the country for sale. At the time, it was noted that Foxconn was planning to manufacture iPads in Brazil, with a goal of beginning production...

Media research firm Nielsen today announced the results of its Mobile Connected Device Report survey for the first quarter of 2011, determining that Apple held a dominating 82% of the installed base for tablets in the United States during the quarter. The survey found 3G-capable iPads slightly more popular than non-3G models, 43% to 39%, with the Samsung Galaxy Tab proving the most popular...

NYTimes' Nick Bilton compares one of the original white iPhones that never made it to mass production to the official production run, and detailed the slight differences. - Yellowing discoleration on the original - Deeper proximity sensor in new model - Camera sticks out slightly in new model The original comparison model came from an individual who reportedly purchased the first run...

Reuters reports that South Korean carriers SK Telecom and KT have ceased taking online orders for the new iPad 2 as they struggle to meet high demand for the popular new tablet device. The move comes less than a week after the device went on sale in that country. "Our iPad 2 inventory has been depleted and we apologize for failing to provide enough supplies due to the product's global supply...

Electronic Arts today announced that it has agreed to purchase Australian iOS gaming firm Firemint, the developers behind the popular Flight Control and Real Racing games. Electronic Arts Inc. today announced an agreement to acquire Firemint Pty Ltd., the leading independent mobile development studio. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Firemint brings a proven powerhouse of creative talent to EAi,...

In the wake of a highly-publicized disclosure last week regarding iOS location tracking and discussion of similar activity found on Android-based devices, All Things Digital has gone back and cut together a video clip of comments from Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Google mobile boss Andy Rubin on privacy to remind readers what key executives have said about the issue in the recent past. Jobs'...

GPS navigation firm TomTom today announced that it has brought its Homer Simpson celebrity voice for turn-by-turn directions to its U.S. iPhone applications, appearing as a $5.99 in-app purchase. Developed in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products (FCP), The Gracie Films Worldwide Brand Division and Locutio Voice Technologies, the original Homer Simpson voice (recorded by Dan...

Dow Jones Newswires reports on claims from Japanese newspaper Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun that Apple has committed to invest in a Toshiba factory for iPhone LCD production, a report that also claims that Apple has abandoned a similar deal with Sharp for the displays. The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun reported that Apple now plans to invest only in Toshiba's new LCD panel plant currently under construction in...

Algoriddim has reduced the price of its djay app for the iPhone and iPod touch from $4.99 down to $.99 for a limited time. djay for the iPhone and iPod touch debuted in the App Store last month and was preceded by a version for the iPad released in December. djay provides a virtual turntable interface for music mixing and scratching as well as beat-matching, EQ controls and more. The app...

Tapbots, developer of several Mac and iOS apps including Calcbot, Convertbot and others, has released Tweetbot, a new Twitter client for the iPhone. Tweetbot debuted in the App Store yesterday and features customizable navigation and gestures, the ability to view lists as separate timelines as well as features also found in other iOS Twitter clients like URL shortening support, translations, and...

While there have been some MIDI solutions out there for the iPad and other iOS devices, Yamaha has introduced (PDF) its first MIDI interface for iOS at the Frankfurt Musicfair. In a small, black device the i-MX1 carries the needed electronics and two connectors for the included adapter cables which represent the MIDI input and ouput (with the well known 16 MIDI channels each). It does not just...

Popular video sharing site Vimeo today released a new iPhone application offering a number of features including relatively advanced video editing features including focus control, trimming and combining tools, transitions and effects, and music/audio tools. The application of course also offers more standard features for Vimeo users, including support for viewing and uploading of Vimeo...

Just a day after debuting a new Game Center commercial for the iPhone 4, Apple has rolled out its fifth ad in the "If You Don't Have an iPhone" series since its debut last week. The new ad, entitled "Retina", focuses on the high-resolution Retina display found in the iPhone 4. If you don't have an iPhone, you don't have the Retina display, the highest resolution screen on any phone. So movies...

Following up on last week's debut of three new iPhone 4 commercials using a new "If You Don't Have an iPhone" theme, Apple has begun airing a fourth ad in the series focusing on Game Center. If you don't have an iPhone, you don't have the largest selection of games on any phone...from your favorite classics to the latest and greatest. And you don't have Game Center, where you can find your...

ModMyI and our forums have reported that some users are receiving notices from AT&T about unauthorized tethering. Tethering is the act of sharing your iPhone's 3G connection with another device. AT&T charges an additional fee for this activity. Some users received the above SMS message with a followup email explaining tethering and warning them that tethering will be enabled if they...

Steven let us know about his unique use for the iPad 2 Smart Cover. Try at your own...