Here’s how to enable WhatsApp voice calling (VoIP) on iPhone right away without much hassle. More details can be found right after the jump.

With more than a few companies vying to become the de facto standard for instant messaging and VoIP calling on mobile, WhatsApp arguably has the messaging part sewn up, especially in Europe. But lately, the company has submerged its feet in the voice calling arena, with Android users being the first one to receive said feature.

2:47 PM

Amazon may have its own app store and even its own smartphone and a bunch of tablets, but that apparently isn’t enough for the company that already accounts for a huge percentage of our online purchases via Amazon Prime. According to a new report based on leaked documents, Amazon is also working to bring its Amazon Prime business model to the digital world.

The story goes that Amazon is working on a subscription service that would see people able to pay a fee to receive a range of apps and associated in-app purchases free of any additional charge. The service would be similar to the Amazon Prime subscription service that gives customers access to online video streaming and expedited shipping on products. This new Amazon ‘Unlocked’ subscription would apply to Android apps instead, though.

2:40 PM

Want to downgrade iOS 8.2 back to more stable iOS 8.1.3? The following step by step tutorial will help you do just that on iPhone or iPad.

iOS 8.2, the latest edition of Apple’s mobile software, has brought forth quite a few new features, but unfortunately, also includes its fair share of bugs. If you’ve been using the latest firmware and encountered issues relating to battery, Safari and whatnot, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel, because since Apple is still signing iOS 8.1.3, you can downgrade with relative ease. Find out how, after the break.

The first think to note about this downgrade is that it won’t allow you to achieve a jailbreak of any kind. Like iOS 8.2, iOS 8.1.3 is not yet jailbreakable, and thus, by reverting to iOS 8.1.3, you are doing so mainly to avoid the performance issues associated with iOS 8.2.

So if you are still on IOS 8.1.2 and below, DO NOT update to iOS 8.2 or iOS 8.1.3. This guide is useful for only those who have updated to iOS 8.2 and want to downgrade back to more stable iOS 8.1.3.

2:36 PM

The passcode lock is a key security measure protecting the personal and security-related data of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users far and wide. But recently, it emerged that a hardware-based hack in the form of a little black box could bypass this measure on iOS 8.1 and below, including non-jailbroken devices, using a brute-force tactic, and following on from that, one developer has created a software based utility now that can do likewise without the need for additional hardware, but it works on jailbroken devices only.

After the black box attack revealed last week, which essentially bypasses the limit on passcode retries, Majd Alfhaily has come up with TransLock, a tool that uses the same tactic but is purely software-based. Since a jailbreak offers very few limits on what kinds of code can be executed, TransLock overrides the retry limit, and can punch in a new passcode attempt every five seconds.

2:27 PM

It seems that Apple could be releasing a refreshed wireless keyboard very soon, as an updated model with backlit keys has just been spotted on the online Apple Store for the Czech Republic. Read on for more information on this intriguing piece of development.

The last time Apple updated its wireless keyboard for Mac was back in 2011, and that simply included an addition / update of keys to stay relevant to the new OS X features that the company had introduced, such as Launchpad and Mission Control. But, by large, the keyboard has remained the same since being introduced and bundled alongside the new iMacs in 2009.

2:22 PM

Apple Watch will have plenty of competition when it hits the market next month, and as is the case in the smartphone market, Apple’s major adversary is Google. Android Wear, which rolled out last year to notably less fanfare than Apple Watch, has been adopted by a number of vendors including Samsung and LG, but even at this early stage, one suspects that the Cupertino company firmly has the momentum. Here, we highlight twelve features of Apple Watch that Android Wear lacks, and that might go some way to explaining why the former will likely be the company to beat in this emerging product group.

4:45 AM

Apple’s iOS is considerably more interactive than it used to be thanks to the introduction of Today view widgets, the Control Center, and other such effects. But minor adjustments, like the active icon of the Clock app showing the actual time, also make use of otherwise static, unspectacular necessities. The jailbreak scene is always looking for ways to improve and modify things, though, and if you’d like to replace the default analog clock with a digital one, then, well.. there’s a tweak for that!

The appropriately-named Digital Clock Icon does exactly what it says on the tin, changing up the stock Clock icon with a digital alternative. Notably, it’ll also give you details of the current date and altitude, which is a nice touch, and if you’re looking for something new to grace your home screen, then this is one tweak that you’ll definitely want to try out.

4:34 PM

Whenever a new flagship smartphone is announced the inevitable questions start to crop up about how fast it is, especially when compared with existing hardware from the competition. Now that Samsung’s Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are well and truly out of the bag, don’t you find yourself wondering just a little bit about how it compares with, say, an iPhone 6?

The guys at Phone Arena wondered exactly that, so while they were at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this week they decided to put together a video that shows a Galaxy S6 Edge and an iPhone 6 being put through their respective paces side-by-side. While not quite scientific and far from definitive, the tests do show both phones launching their built-in apps that cover things like contacts and photo management.

4:22 PM

TaiG iOS 8.2 jailbreak has been released for beta 1 and beta 2. Here’s a complete tutorial on how to jailbreak any iPhone or iPad on iOS 8.2.

Apple recently dropped iOS 8.1.3, and with it, temporarily killed the idea of achieving a jailbreak for those who updated. However, there is a way for those of you running the latest public release of Apple’s software to jailbreak, and although it’ll probably take you slightly longer than usual, it’s nonetheless a straightforward process.

iOS 8.1.2 is the latest jailbreakable public release, but while downgrading is not a possibility, TaiG does have some joy on iOS 8.2 beta 1 and 2, meaning that you can update to the first or second beta of the upcoming build and utilize the fruits of Cydia once more.

12:44 PM

Lenovo is in the middle of a storm right now surrounding its inclusion of the Superfish software in all of its consumer oriented computers. The software injects ads into things like search results, but in doing this it effectively breaks all secure connections over the Internet by installing its own certificates. The ins and outs of why that is very bad indeed have been covered to death both here and by security researchers across the Internet. What’s important now is how to get rid of Superfish for once and for all.

The steps for removing Superfish from your Lenovo computer are rather easy, actually. It’s a simple case of uninstalling a piece of software and removing a certificate, but for the sake of complete clarification, we’ve broken down the whole process into a step-by-step guide so you don’t get lost in the process.

2:03 PM

Modifying iOS can feel like an uphill battle most of the time, unless, of course, you happen to be jailbroken. For various reasons, many don’t like to jailbreak their devices, but every so often, the App Store comes up trumps with an app that feels a bit like a jailbreak tweak. The utility we’re featuring here today falls right into this category, allowing you to create some very cool home screens without consulting the likes of Pangu or TaiG, and if you’re interested, you can check the details after the jump!

The app itself isn’t an App Store entry, rather a Web app that gives you license to get a bit creative with the layout of your home screen. It’s quite a novel idea, to be honest, using faux icons which can mock up your own home screen as it will appear once you’ve downloaded it.

1:45 PM

Facebook Stickers are all the rage these days, and the available options keep on getting better and better with passing time. If you’re an iPhone user, and happen to be jailbroken, then you can use those very same Stickers in the Messages app. Head past the jump to see how you can achieve this awesome feat.

Facebook Stickers might not be everyone’s cup of tea, as some users prefer to label them as pointless. Honestly, I was no fan of Stickers myself when they were introduced, but I have to say, the feature has grown on me since probably because of the plethora of options that are now available in the Sticker store. If you’re a fan and wish to use them in your everyday iMessage conversation, this jailbreak tweak is exactly what you are looking for.

1:40 PM

We love the Instant Hotspot feature, and if you have a Mac or iPad that needs to share an iPhone’s Internet connection, then it can be a lifesaver. We really do think being able to share one connection across multiple devices with zero configuration is brilliant.

Apple’s addition of Instant Hotspot in iOS 8.1 is one of the biggest features that just doesn’t get the attention that it deservers. Being able to activate Personal Hotspot on an iPhone remotely using an iPad or a Mac is just magical when you’re used to having to turn options on and enter passwords.

1:32 PM

The Samsung Galaxy S6 is almost here. Set to be announced at the confirmed Unpacked event in advance of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, it’ll be quite a departure from its predecessors in terms of profile and form factor. As is often the case with Samsung, the promotion has begun way ahead of launch, and the latest sneak peek from the Korean company offers yet another look at the sleek outer shell that will envelop the device.

The Galaxy Note 4’s arrival late last year was accompanied by the Note Edge, which features a curved display that paves the way for additional functionality. Although neither Note sold in particularly impressive numbers – the presence of the enlarged iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus soon saw to that – the Edge was the subject of positive reviews, and as such, it makes sense got Sammy to repeat the trend with its flagship range.

1:20 PM

The jury is out, and the royally premium Apple Watch Edition is today proving its weight in gold, literally. The gold plated watch has been touted to be one of the most expensive consumer devices from Apple, and as such there were questions about how much gold the wearable would actually be carrying.

Apple Watch will finally go on sale in April, but following that, the Cupertino company has started employing jewelry store styled security measures in all of its retail outlets that will be carrying the more expensive Apple Watch Edition. This obviously hinted at just how expensive the 18-karat gold plated watch could be, and to push things forward, Apple is going to employ a policy of weighing all consumer returned Apple Watch Edition devices before accepting them, leading us to believe that there is enough gold in there to be scratched off.

4:15 AM

As mobile consumers, we’re always wary of malicious intrusion, and as time progresses, those behind these hacks and exploits are getting even more cunning with their methods. Case in point, a new strain of Android malware that essentially spoofs a device’s shut-down process, meaning that while you may think your tablet or handset has been switched off, the intruder is working overtime to make calls, take photos, and generally pry into your sensitive data.

Malware is never a good thing, but sometimes, one has to appreciate the astute nature of a hack, and this one is certainly among the most tenacious we’ve ever seen. It hijacks the shut-down process, so while it may appear as though your device is being powered down, the malware – identified by security firm AVG as “Android/PowerOffHijack.A” – is actually keeping things very much alive, obscured by the veil of a blank screen.

4:10 AM

Pebble must be credited with forging the smartwatch market as we know it. What started out as a Kickstarter project turned into something of a phenomenon, and since its initial arrival, many of the bigger names in tech have joined the party. With Android Wear establishing itself and Apple Watch en route to market, Pebble is in grave danger of being crowded out, and as such, a new model is on the horizon. A new teaser has been released, as well as a countdown, and we’ve got all of the relevant details below.

As per the timer, we should know everything there is to know about this new arrival by 10am on Tuesday, and 9to5Mac has shared some intriguing inside info on what we can expect.

4:03 AM

Back before Apple brought widgets to Notification Center via the Today screen, one of the more popular widget requests was for something that showed the most recent tweets in a user’s timeline. There were plenty of options for just that in Cydia, the jailbreak store, and it was expected that such things would be equally popular once iOS 8 and its widgets shipped back in September.

Oddly though, since then, the first real offering we’ve come across that brings Twitter to Notification Center is NC – Twitter Widget. Thankfully, it works well and we’re quite fond of it. NC – Twitter Widget costs $1.99 and you can get it from the App Store now.

4:01 AM

Looking to grab hold of a chunky 100GB of OneDrive cloud storage space? Microsoft is now letting anyone across the globe get access to all that space for free, so head on after the jump for more details.

Around a week ago, Microsoft, in another round of spreading some freebie love over the Web, introduced a promotional push which allowed users to grab 100GB of OneDrive cloud storage space for free, but disappointingly, this offer was limited to U.S. based users only. Luckily, this solid deal from the software giant has now been extended to any user, free of any region restrictions, but there is a small catch to the whole offer, like before; after a 2-year lifespan, your free 100GB of space will expire and you’ll be back to your standard storage option.

3:40 AM

LG has teamed up with Google to offer future buyers of the G3 a free VR headset. This is based on Google’s Cardboard contraption unveiled last year at the search giant’s developer conference. However, LG has tweaked things a bit.

First off, this iteration seems to be made out of plastic, and not actual cardboard. Next up, it features cutouts for the G3′s rear-facing power and volume buttons, as well as its 1W speaker.

3:29 AM

We’ve been hit by a ton of leaks about HTC’s next flagship smartphone lately, but so far official-looking press renders have not surfaced. Fret not, though, for that doesn’t mean we have nothing to look at. On the contrary. Thankfully someone decided to take all the recent leaks and rumors about the One (M9) and use that information to create some very nice looking renders of what could end up being the successor to the One (M8) from last year.

3:19 AM

LG has announced a new smartwatch that it hopes will prove more popular as a fashion accessory during day-to-day activities rather than being something that customers see as a tech gadget.

Called the LG Watch Urban, the innards are essentially the same as the current LG G Watch R, but it’s the outside where things start to get interesting. Looking at the press pictures provided by LG, it’s clear that the Korean company has made a conscious decision to aim for the more style-oriented market this time around.

12:28 PM

Not impressed with your iPhone or iPad’s battery life? Then you should try out this app that has just gone free for a limited time – $0.99 value – and is available to download right away. Head over the jump for further details.

As our phones and tablets grow smarter, so does the draw on that sacred battery juice keeping our devices ticking over. Though bigger batteries and power packs do help us out in time of need, these solutions don’t really go that far at a very critical moment. With a plethora of guides out there on some of the dos and do nots of charging your device’s battery, including tinkering with some vital system settings on iOS, the right battery assistant app on your phone or tablet can go a long way. Battery Life Magic Pro: The Battery Saver is one such app for the iPhone and iPad.

12:20 PM

Fitbit, the maker of wearable fitness trackers, has acknowledged that its latest device, the Surge, can cause a rash for some users.

It told news website TechCrunch that a "limited percentage" of users reported skin irritation and advised users to take a break from the device.

Fitbit was forced to recall its older Force wristband when a large number of users claimed it had caused skin rashs

It comes as a report compares the accuracy of fitness trackers.

"The reactions we are seeing with new products are not uncommon with jewellery or wearable devices that stay in contact with the skin for extended periods," Fitbit said in a statement.

"According to our consulting dermatologists, they are likely from wearing the band too tight, sweat, water, or soap behind held against the skin under the device: or from pressure or friction against the skin and should resolve quickly when users take a break from the device, usually within hours or days."

11:53 AM

Samsung’s Galaxy S6 will be unveiled in the run-up the Mobile World Congress next month, and as per a very recent report, the device could hit retail chains on March 22nd. With the apparent release drawing ever closer, Samsung is looking to crank up the hype machine, and in the first of what will surely be many promotional steps to ensure every consumer knows that the S6 is incoming, we have our very first teaser of the handset.

The snippet takes the form of a very short clip, featuring a little commentary, some flashes of light, and not a lot else. Notably, the 17-second short ends with the words “I am #TheNextGalaxy” alongside what appears to be the outline of a rear-facing camera, which indicates that Sammy will be delivering the goods when it comes to that point-and-shoot experience.

4:21 PM

Updated: You can now download the latest version 5.2.13 of Google Play Store APK which brings with it a bunch of changes and bug fixes that users have been facing for quite a while. This release also adds more Material Design, Details Page, Wearable sensors/activity data, Enterprise apps support, among other things. The download link below has been updated with latest version.

Google Play Store APK version 5.2.13 is now available to download. The all new Google Play Store 5 carries more elements of Material Design as has been seen earlier in the Android L Developer Preview releases. Google Play Newsstand was also updated with a complete Material Design overhaul, and a day later, Google+ was updated with additional Material Design elements. So what does the new Play Store 5 make its play on? Read on after the jump to find out!

Straight away, you will notice that the app icon for the new Play Store carrier the new, flatter look, keeping itself in line with Material Design’s new aesthetics.

4:14 PM

Windows 10 for phones is a big step for Microsoft, and one that it needs to make stick. After years of trying to battle the Apple and Google monster, Windows Phone has been left with more than a bloody nose. Even with some excellent hardware from the likes of Nokia, phones running Microsoft’s mobile version of Windows just haven’t sold like either the software maker or its OEM partners would have liked.

So it’s time for a reboot, and that reboot is coming in the guise of Windows 10 for phones.

Not quite a complete overhaul in the same way iOS 7 or iOS 8 were when compared with what came before them, Windows 10 for phones brings with it a slew of new features and an altogether tighter experience while also blurring the lines between desktop and mobile Windows even further.

4:07 PM

Google and Apple are considered by most not only as the market leaders, but the workhorses pushing the limits in terms of innovation and broadening the digital arena’s horizons. With the Big G working to bring self-driving Google Car to the masses – an endeavor that could apparently give Uber a run for its money – we now have more information on Apple’s purported electric car effort, which, as well as commanding a vast research and development team, may also embrace the idea of cars that mobilize almost completely independently of human interaction.

It was back in May of last year that the world first caught wind of Google’s self-driving car, and while the search giant’s broad research team means that we regularly catch glimpses of potential game-changers, there was a real feeling that the Android maker had struck gold with this one.

4:02 PM

The jailbreak scene is currently thriving thanks to the three major exploits that have arisen since the launch of iOS 8 back in September. Pangu, TaiG, and PP have all catered to the tweak-loving masses, and while Apple’s iOS 8.1.3 may have halted proceedings for now, authors of tweaks old and new have continued to churn out the updates. If you’re jailbroken and looking for a way to boost the interactivity of your lock screen, a new tweak has just appeared that is being touted as the spiritual successor to the famed JellyLock. Full details, as well as info on where you can download said tweak, can be seen after the break.

Once you’ve configured the tweak, called BerryC8, in the Settings app, you can select up to eight different apps to reside on your home screen. When you wish to launch an app from behind the lock screen, you drag it towards the Touch ID sensor, and the unlock / launch process takes place in one fell swoop.

3:57 PM

8K displays could be headed to laptops and all-in-one PCs in a very uncompromising manner, thanks to a new video standard. Thought your 4K laptop and 5K iMac were as revolutionary as they come? This new piece of tech breakthrough is here to change all of that.

These brilliantly pixel-packed 4K and 5K displays are truly amazing given the PPI density and lavish desktop space one gets as a result of the mammoth resolution, and one would think to leave it at that till someone out there finds a way to make batteries that can cope up with the power hungry panels. Currently, the video standard for displays hangs at 1.4, but with Video Electronics Standards Association’s Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) 1.4a coming in, VESA says 1.4a will allow for "higher video data transfer rate for increased panel resolution, greater color depth and higher refresh rates … These and other refinements were made to the eDP 1.4a standard to take advantage of higher GPU video performance and newer display technologies, while also enabling reduced system power and form factor."

4:24 PM

Google’s Chromecast took the entertainment market by storm when it launched all the way back in 2013. The HDMI dongle mightn’t have been a set-top in the traditional sense, but it did prompt vendors of set-top boxes (read: Apple) into concerted expansion of services. One of the most enticing aspects of the Chromecast, besides the fact that it integrates with mobile devices and brought on-demand streaming services like Netflix to non-smart TV sets, is the price. At $35, it has been something of a revelation, but as if that price point wasn’t reasonable enough, the Big G is now throwing in a digital gift to the value of six bucks to its highly valued army of Chromecast users. Check below for details on how you can claim yours!

Getting a hold of your Chromecast gift isn’t particularly difficult. If you have a Chromecast hooked up to your network, all you need to do is point your browser over to the Chromecast offers page, and you can snap up your Valentine’s Day gift.

8:05 PM

If you happen to be a long-time jailbreaker, there’s a strong chance that, over the years, you’ve encountered the odd hiccup or two. Jailbreaking is, like all software hacks, still a calculated risk in many respects, and so while the numerous tweaks and apps can richly enhance the overall iOS experience, unforeseen issues may arise that users of stock iOS won’t have to deal with. Case in point, iTunes 12.1 doesn’t play nicely with TaiG, the jailbreak tool, nor when downgrading back to iOS 8.1.2, the last jailbreakable version of Apple’s mobile software, and as such, downgrading to iTunes 12.0.1 is the only viable option. Here, we guide you through the steps you must take to achieve this.

The process, thankfully, isn’t difficult to follow, nor is it particularly lengthy, but as always, follow closely, and in no time, you should be running the more jailbreak-friendly iTunes 12.0.1.

7:59 PM

Microsoft Office 2016 Touch Preview apps for Windows 10 are now available to download, complete with touch optimized functions and the ability to work across tablets and phones. Word, PowerPoint and Excel apps are included as part of this Preview.

Windows 10 is Microsoft’s effort at bringing in a harmonious or universal OS for all its range of devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones of all shapes and sizes. This of course called for a similar take on apps for the OS as well, and in that bid the Windows maker has released Word, Excel, and PowerPoint which are “available for technical preview on PCs, laptops and tablets running the Windows 10 Technical Preview.”

3:32 AM

Google has released the Android 5.1 Lollipop update for Android One smartphones. More details on the release can be found right here after the break.

Android One is Google’s initiative to bring budget smartphones to developing markets that run stock Android, giving users the chance to experience the Big G’s mobile OS the way it was originally intended without any sort of bloatware or performance hindering elements. And today, Google has pushed out a new version of Android for its aforementioned initiative, which is a slight bump to Android 5.0 Lollipop, bringing with it a few minor changes on top of what’s being offered right now with the 5.0.2 release.

3:21 AM

There’s no question that the rear-facing camera of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is spectacular, and as well as being capable snappers at stock level, benefits from a flurry of third-party offerings housed over at the App Store. For a limited time, five great iPhone camera apps have gone completely free, and if you regularly utilize your handset for its point-and-shoot capabilities, then check the details below.

3:18 AM

I really, really like Android 5.0 (or “Lollipop” as it’s known by those of us who probably care too much about these things). It cemented my preference for Android, and has earned the Nexus 5 another few months as my go-to phone.
Alas, most Android devices still aren’t running 5.0. In the grand scheme, really, hardly any are.
Google has just updated its official version-by-version usage chart, which breaks down what share of the Android market each release has.

1:30 PM

Since the 64-bit Apple A7 processor came into play with the iPhone 5s, users have found instances of lag and disruption to be few and far between. But whereas software updates have still offered performance boosts for these newer devices, those in ownership of the iPhone 5 or earlier must dredge every little bit of extra speed they can get from continually improved editions of Apple’s iOS. With iOS 8.1.3 having been closely followed by iOS 8.2 beta 5 download during the past week or so, we can now take a look at how these new builds compare with one another on two less recent handsets: the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4s.

The iPhone 4s’s performance on iOS 8 has been under the spotlight constantly, with many users complaining of issues ranging from crashes to general slowness. This is, in a way, to be expected of a device that is coming up for its fourth birthday this year, but having given the 4s the green light to run iOS 8, the Cupertino must continue optimizing the latest software for those on the less-able hardware.

1:24 PM

Looking for a solution to help you manage and clean up your iPhone or iPad and dig up more storage space? Enter – Phone Expander, a Mac app to aid you in the quest of cleaning up your iPhone or iPad of all the unwanted files, right from your desktop.

iOS 8’s rollout stirred up a web of complaints from iPhone users – largely those with 16GB ones – on the sheer size of the new OS which left many seriously short of storage capacity. It was indeed the biggest iOS release in all aspects. Later this issue carried onto becoming a class action lawsuit against Apple.

1:19 PM

After a stuttering start alongside Windows 8, Microsoft’s Surface line-up finally seems to be making strides. The big, bad Surface Pro 3 has certainly piqued the interest of the power user with its large display and robust interior hardware, and for a very limited time, some configurations of the slate-notebook hybrid can be purchased with a saving of $100. The deal is only active for the next few days, and only pertains to certain Surface Pro 3 models, but if you’re interested in picking up a Surface Pro 3, check the full details below.

The entry-level edition of the Surface Pro 3 is not a part of this promotion, presumably because it’s cheap enough already, but the rest of the family is subject to $100 off until Saturday. As a further sweetener, all variants of the slab will come with a free protective sleeve, and this particularly offer not only encompasses the very cheapest Intel Core i3 model, but will also run through until April 5th 2015.

1:15 PM

Sodium acetate, otherwise known as ‘hot ice’, is a pretty awesome solution since, when disrupted by a cool object, it quickly morphs from a liquid to a crystallized, ice-like composition. The reason for this little bit of background information is because one YouTuber has decided to see what happens to one of tech’s most sought-after devices when submerged in hot ice, and as you’ve probably guessed from the title, the "cool object" in this instance is none other than the Apple iPhone 6. As you may also have gleaned from past experiments of this nature, the results are pretty darned epic.

From iPads dropped in molten lava to the gazillion drop tests, folk have found plenty of ways to gauge the ruggedness of our mobile devices, destroying plenty of them in the process. This latest clip falls somewhere in between destructive and useful, for while the heat of the sodium acetate could do serious harm to the innards of the device and cause it to overheat, we can vaguely assess the iPhone 6’s merits in protecting itself against the elements.

1:10 PM

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo has launched a new global mobile photography contest that gives participants a chance to share their stories with photographs. Dubbed It’s Your Turn, the three-week contest centers on three themes: “Selfie Showdown”, “Our World”, and “Inspiring Moments”, and will see winners getting the company’s N3 smartphone.

4:05 AM

It has long since been known that Apple Watch will communicate with traditional iOS devices by means of a companion app, and now, for the first time, we can take a look at said app’s icon. It’s bold, dark, and fairly simple, and if you want to check it out, then join us after the leap!

Apple prides itself on an effortless, “it just works” motif in everything it does, and so even before the reports began to arise, we suspected that the company would be building a centralized, one-stop portal for all Apple Watch-related communications. Now, as per a tweet by 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman, we can feast our eyes on the app’s icon, and while it’s nothing particularly exciting, it does make Tim Cook’s April launch suggestion for the wearable seem a little more real.

3:57 AM

WhatsApp, now owned by Facebook, is the most-used cross-platform IM app going, and since the acquisition last year, has been the subject to a number of changes and improvements. Towards to the tail-end of last month, for example, a WhatsApp Web Client was launched, and although it could do with a few feature enhancements, is pretty functional for a version 1.0. Now, though, it has emerged that the WhatsApp Web Client has brought a new privacy concern, with syncing issues between the app and the Web Client seemingly exposing users’ personal pictures.

After the major iCloud hack that occurred in the run-up to last September, users are more wary of where they store their photos, but while companies dealing with such software have been quick to shore up security, one researcher has found a potentially significant oversight in WhatsApp’s infrastructure. 

3:23 PM

With Apple looking to take some serious security measures in order to protect the soon-to-be-released Apple Watch Edition, there is little doubt that the wearable from the company could well be the most expensive mobile gadget it has ever sold. More details to follow, right after the jump.

Apple Watch is the Cupertino-based company’s first ever endeavor into the wearable market, and as is the case with all Apple devices, this little hand-worn gadget will not settle for being just another trendy smartwatch, with the company looking to create a new luxury niche for its loyal, or potentially new line of wealthy consumers. To be launched in three variants; Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition, it is the third variant that happens to be expensive enough for the company to consider employing jewelry store-styled security protocols to protect it.

3:20 PM

iOS 8.1.3 Pangu, TaiG and PP jailbreak exploits for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch has been patched by Apple with the release of this new firmware today. More details can be found right here past the jump.

If you’ve been jailbreaking for a while now, you already know the drill, which involves completely swerving any new build of iOS until they’re deemed safe by an established, knowledgeable member of the jailbreaking fold. But for the benefit of those less familiar jailbreakers, you must not update to iOS 8.1.3.

3:15 PM

Apple has released new iOS 8.2 beta 5 download for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch to developers. More on the update can be found right here after the break.

Having pushed out the fourth beta of the upcoming iOS 8.2 software back in mid-January, Apple has kicked off the first working day of this month with yet another installment. We already know, from previous iOS 8.2 betas before now, that the update will bring Apple Watch support to the masses, and with CEO Tim Cook having last week indicated that the wearable is on track for an April launch, it’s no surprise to see such a swift release of yet another beta.

3:07 PM

Looking for a way to wirelessly transfer files from your Mac or PC to your iOS device the easy way? One such solution has just gone free on the App Store, so head on after the jump to find out more about it.

If there’s one win point for Android over iOS, it would be the hassle-free USB connection for the former with a PC or Mac to serve as removable storage device. Apple’s mobile devices have the whole iTunes routine to play with, or you can get similar functionality by jailbreaking the device, but out-of-the-box, iOS devices lag behind in this arena.

3:02 PM

If you’re a fan of portable gaming and have been craving to play some classic PlayStation Portable (PSP) titles on your smartphone or tablet, you’ve come to the right place. The famous PSP emulator, titled PPSSPP, has been released as v 1.0 for Android devices over at the Google Play Store, and brings almost all the goodness of its iOS counterpart to the mix.

The PlayStation Portable emulator – PPSSPP – has been available for quite a while for jailbroken, non-jailbroken iOS devices, including Android hardware, but today marks a significant milestone, as the software is now available to download directly from the Play Store.

2:56 PM

If you’ve found yourself missing The Pirate Bay over the last few weeks then you’ll be pleased to know that the site is now back online. For the time being at least.

When The Pirate Bay had its servers raised at the Nacka station, which is a nuclear bunker that happens to house a data center, it looked like curtains for the infamous torrent site. All the pessimism wasn’t needed though because TPB is now back online.

4:25 AM

Back in December, we got our first proper look at iMods, an alternative to the long-standing jailbreak portal that is Cydia, and with its enticing, modern layout and App Store-like graphics, it has left more than a few jailbreakers eager for the release. Now, it has emerged that Comex, former wizkid and author of JailbreakMe, is creating a new alternative to Cydia Substrate called Substitute from the ground up, and notably, iMods will be using it.

Cydia Substrate, simply put, is a platform created by Saurik, author of Cydia, WinterBoard, and many other long-standing or otherwise integral components of the jailbreak arena. Cydia is the portal, but Substrate is the underbelly, providing an infrastructure for developers to create add-ons that can modify the iOS experience without access to the source code.

3:37 AM