If you're a fan of the undead then you'll want to check out the three free iOS apps Vern Seward is featurung in this week's Free on iTunes. Call of Mini: Zombies, Zombie HQ, and Into the Dead.

The Crossroads of Sabbath walking tour is an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Ozzy, Geezer, Tony and Bill and learn about the environment that shaped them. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. The route has been programmed to finish at one of the finest pubs in the country where excellent ales and Thai food might tempt you.

I would love to do this.
∞ Read this on The Loop

Combo Crew is an interesting experiment that just showed up this week on iOS. Beat-em-ups and fighting games are great on consoles, where you've got plenty of buttons and d-pads to pull off various moves with. But while they've appeared on iOS a few times (Capcom's Street Fighter 4 has done fairly well on the App Store), usually these games on a touchscreen tend to just fall back on virtual buttons, which are generally way more clunky and less precise than physical moving parts.

Combo Crew, however, is an attempt to make a beat-em-up redesigned from scratch for the iOS touchscreen. It's a game made by the Game Bakers, a really excellent team based in France that's done a great job with the Squids turn-based combat series. Combo Crew has everything you'...

Motorola has given notice to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that it will be contesting the International Trade Commission's dismissal of a case against Apple, the second time the now Google-owned company has filed an appeal tied to that investigation.  ...

Apple is working on an inexpensive iPhone model that will come in multiple colors, according to Japanese site Macotakora. The same story also said that Apple was working on the expected iPhone 5S, and that this device might also be available in different colors. Bryan Chaffin weighs the information.

A little over a week since the previous build, Apple has seeded OS X 10.8.4 beta 12E55 to developers. Once again, the build contains no known issues and Apple asks developers to focus on Safari, Graphics, WiFi, and Windows File Sharing. Thanks, D!

//

From 9to5Toys.com:
A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites or are so popular that they don’t even last 24 hours.  We know you can’t be at your computer every second, so we’re going to roundup the best deals each day to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want.
Be sure to follow Follow 9to5Toys so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook
Today’s Featured deals:

• 4-in-1 USB Cable (Lightning, 30-Pin Apple/Samsung and Micro-...

If you want to share a drive but keep some files on it encrypted, you can easily do so with a couple of approaches in OS X.

Apple has operated almost tax-free in Ireland since 1980, welcomed by a government keen to bring jobs to what was then one of Europe’s poorest countries, former company executives and Irish officials have said.

That’s the opening to a Reuters story where they try to convince people they dug up this dirt on Apple. The only problem is that Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Peter Oppenheimer are the ones that revealed this during the senate hearings earlier this week.

Reuters assholes.
∞ Read this on The Loop

Ninja Theory is an excellent game developer based in the UK that's produced Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and the recent Devil May Cry reboot. Now, Ninja Theory is releasing its first iOS title, Fightback, which EA studio Chillingo will publish. Fightback, as you can see above, looks like a fairly gritty arcade-style beat-em-up, and it boasts some AAA grade production values, as well as some interesting touch-based combat.

Fightback is set for previews at E3, so we'll see more of the game in action then. It's set to launch on iOS later this summer. Chillingo is a very high-quality studio that's been doing plenty of good work lately, and with its ties to EA, it's no surprise that Ninja Theory gave it the go-ahead on publishing duties. Ninja Theory is a great studio, and we'll look forward to seeing how this one turns out.

Show full PR text

Chillingo Partners with Ninja Theory Ltd....

Radio service TuneIn has released a new version of its iOS app, v3.6. The update brings TuneIn Live to the iPhone, it having previously been restricted to the iPad. The Live screen shows album art and show titles that switch each time something new begins. Users can swipe through tiles to find new songs or shows that have started on any station hosted by TuneIn, and add events like concerts, games, or shows to a personal calendar, which triggers notifications whenever something starts....  ...

Apple has further reduced the prices of refurbished iPad minis and 4th generation iPads. The mini is now sporting a 15% discount, while the 4th generation iPad has a 16% discount. You can find the new prices below for each respective model.

iPad mini

• 16 GB Wi-Fi: $279 refurbished $329 brand-new
• 32 GB Wi-Fi: $359 refurbished $429 brand-new
• 64 GB Wi-Fi: $439 refurbished $529 brand-new

• 16 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $389 refurbished $459 brand-new
• 32 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $469 refurbished $559 brand-new
• 64 GB Wi-Fi + Cellular: $549 refurbished $659 brand-new

4th generation iPad

• 16 GB Wi-Fi: $419 refurbished $499 brand-new
• 32 GB Wi-Fi: $499 refurbished $599 brand-new
• 64 GB Wi-Fi: $579 refurbished $699 brand-...

Mobile ad vendor and service provider Skycore has launched the ability for users to receive Passbook data through MMS. Providers of Passbook data can connect to Skycore's SaaS servers to provide secure delivery of passes to a user's phone. The passes then are opened, and stored in the user's Passbook app. Providers can monitor MMS delivery receipts, and verify installations of the provided data....  ...

Being the sucker that I am for well-designed user interfaces, I was immediately intrigued by the new Wake Alarm app (US$1.99 launch price) from Tiny Hearts. For just a couple of bucks, you're going to get an alarm app that is easy to set, lets you snooze with a quick slap of your iPhone, and turns off only if you actually have the energy to turn the iPhone over.

Launching Wake Alarm displays the current time in a light blue ring on a blue and purple gradient. To set the alarm time, spin the ring with a finger to set the minutes or tap on the hour and spin the ring to quickly jump through the hours.

When you're ready to go to sleep, a quick swipe to the right puts Wake Alarm into night mode, which displays the time in a very dim and unobtrusive way. Note that you'll need to leave your iPhone turned on, plugged in, and face up while you sleep.

At the preset time, Wake Alarm greets you with...

The latest edition of iLounge Weekly, our weekly newsletter covering all things iLounge, will be arriving in subscribers’ inboxes early next week. iLounge Weekly is a summary of the week’s best news, reviews, and feature articles we’ve published, and it also features giveaways and accessory discount offers from various companies.…

Type2Phone ($4.99) is one of the most practical tools in my development toolbox. It emulates a Bluetooth keyboard from your Mac. With it, you type to your iOS device using your normal desktop keyboard.

While this may not sound like a big thing for many iOS users -- after all, the onboard keyboards and new dictation features streamline text entry -- it is a huge deal for devs and IT coordinators who have to keep typing similar things into apps and settings, over and over again.

For example, take Game Center development. You usually work with many different accounts, testing to see how access works for new users, for those with a good history of application use, or for those who have unlocked certain achievements. In a normal debug session, you may sign out and sign in with various credentials dozens of times. Type2Phone makes that a practical exercise...

In less than two weeks, Apple will head to trial over allegations that it colluded with five publishing houses in an effort to inflate the price of e-books. Indeed, the Justice Department last week released internal Apple emails which it claims supports the allegation that Apple was a "ringleader" in a price fixing conspiracy.

In one such email, Apple executive Eddy Cue explained to Steve Jobs that he was able to secure a deal with Random House by threatening to block an app of theirs from getting into the App Store.

With a trial on the matter scheduled to kick off on June 3, Bloomberg reports that U.S. District Judge Denise Cote -- who happens to be overseeing the trial -- expressed confidence that the government will be able to prove its case against Apple.

I believe that the government will be able to show at trial direct evidence that Apple...

We’re taking a brief break from building an email issue of TidBITS next week in honor of the Memorial Day holiday in the United States, so look for the next issue in your mailbox on 3 June 2013. Read the full article at TidBITS, the oldest continuously published technology publication on the Internet. To get a full-text RSS feed, help support our work and become a TidBITS member! Members also enjoy an ad-free version of our Web site, email delivery of individual articles, the ability to make long comments with live links, and discounts on Take Control orders and other Apple-related products.

Two readers ask Nancy Carroll Gravley questions about the Dock and Passwords.

Rain is again seeping into the underground store of Apple's iconic Fifth Avenue NYC store, disrupting operations as staff move electronics out of harm's way and move receptacles to catch leaking water coming into the store. Recent heavy rains early in May damaged the store, flooding the below-ground level after a slow leak turned into a full-fledged pouring incursion. The problem is thought to be a drainage issue....  ...

Starting this Sunday, electronics retailer Best Buy will be offering $50 off the purchase of any new iPhone model with a service contract, marking a rare discount opportunity for Apple's smartphone lineup.   ...

Weather woes continue at Apple's flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York City, as rain is once again seeping into the retail location, and now Apple's SoHo location is said to have been suffering from the same problem.   ...

Moshi has announced that it will be releasing a second generation of its Codex MacBook cases later this summer. Designed in variants for the MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro, the updated Codex case features a new binding for added durability and is now fully approved by the TSA. Other features include full access to all ports, a water-resistant coating, and soft interiors for protection from shocks and scratches. Codex will be available in both Steel Black and Brushed Titanium for the 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro for $75. It will be available in Steel Black for the 11-i... ...

Nerval's Lobster writes "Apple could face a difficult time winning its court case against the U.S. Department of Justice over e-book pricing, according to the federal judge overseeing the trial. 'I believe that the government will be able to show at trial direct evidence that Apple knowingly participated in and facilitated a conspiracy to raise prices of e-books,' U.S. District Judge Denise Cote said during a May 23 pretrial hearing, according to Reuters, 'and that the circumstantial evidence in this case, including the terms of the agreements, will confirm that.' Apple's legal counsel is a bit perturbed over her comments. 'We strongly disagree with the court's preliminary statements about the case today,' Apple lawyer Orin Snyder wrote in a statement also reprinted by Reuters. The Justice Department has asserted that Apple, along with those publishers, conspired to raise retail e-book prices in tandem 'and eliminate price competition, substantially increasing prices paid by...

Logitech has announced a new iPad keyboard designed specifically for classroom use. Featuring a spill-resistant design and full sized keys, the Wired Keyboard for iPad requires users to simply plug in either the Lighting or 30-pin connector to begin typing. In addition to the standard QWERTY keys, the keyboard also offers several shortcuts for quick access to function such as copy and paste, Siri, and app switching. The Logitech Wired Keyboard for iPad with the Lightning Connector is expected to be available in the US in August 2013, while the 30-pin model is planned to launch in October 2013.... ...

AllThingsD is reporting that Best Buy plans to begin a monthlong iPhone sale on Sunday. iPhone prices will drop by US$50 when bought in conjunction with a two-year contract from AT&T, Sprint or Verizon. All current models of the iPhone -- iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 -- are included.

This coming Monday in the United States is Memorial Day, and the weekend prior is a big shoppers' weekend. Best Buy is also offering discounts on several popular Android handsets, but those discounts are expected to expire on June 1. There's no word on why Best Buy's iPhone sale will carry on for an entire month, but it could be that the company is trying to move inventory before any potential iPhone announcements this summer.Best Buy to begin month-long iPhone sale on Sunday...

Apple has dropped its prices on refurbished fourth-generation iPads and iPad minis in its online store. Refurbished fourth-generation iPads are now $419, $499, and $579 for Wi-Fi 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB models, and $529, $609, and $689 for corresponding Wi-Fi + Cellular models. Refurbished iPad…

Here’s an amusing little image for your Friday: the screenshot above is a clip from Apple’s newest “Music Every Day” ad, which was posted on their YouTube channel last night.
If you pay attention at around 0:30 in the commercial, you’ll see what would almost appear to be someone wearing a large, wrist-device while listening to music on their iPhone.
While obviously Apple wouldn’t leak a real product through their advertisements, we can’t help but think that this is perhaps a subtle troll on Apple’s part.

//

Like music? Like making it? Discovering new artists? Figuring out who the heck is singing that song on the TV commercial? We’ve got you covered in this week’s roundup of new and updated iOS apps.

The Doors

Father! Yes son? I want to buy the $5 The Doors app for iPad, which features more than 700 images and over 100 music and sound clips featuring Oliver Stone’s favorite band. There are also a half-dozen short films—we call them videos now—featuring some of the band’s most beloved songs. C’mon baby, take a chance with us.

Guitar! by Smule

To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

A report in The New York Times on Steve Jobs' widow and anonymous charitable giving in Silicon Valley has revealed that Steve Jobs was more involved in philanthropic causes than previously believed. Mostly through the efforts of his wife, Laureen Powell-Jobs, Jobs funneled money through her charitable LLC in order to give money to causes selectively and anonymously. Powell-Jobs is well-known for her involvement in various causes....  ...

Smule may be only 5 years old, but the California development firm started in part by Jeff Smith and Stanford Assistant Professor Dr. Ge Wang has had an amazing impact on the world. The company shared some stats with Evolver.fm that are incredible -- Smule's apps have been downloaded over 100 million times, are used by 15 million people a month and that audience has recorded over 1 billion songs.

Sure, those songs may be amateur auto-tuned, auto-rapped or karaoke trash, but the statistics -- and Smule's bottom line -- prove that the company is on to something. While such venerable music gaming titles as Rock Band and Guitar Hero have seen better days, Smule's apps are all about actually making music, and that seems to make a difference to app consumers.

Smule pulled in US$12.6 million in revenues last year, and is expected to...

Marvel Unlimited promises to be the Netflix of comics, but does its app live up to its promise? Read the full article at TidBITS, the oldest continuously published technology publication on the Internet. To get a full-text RSS feed, help support our work and become a TidBITS member! Members also enjoy an ad-free version of our Web site, email delivery of individual articles, the ability to make long comments with live links, and discounts on Take Control orders and other Apple-related products.

Verizon this week launched a new iPhone application for its subscribers that gives access to the carrier's cloud-based syncing and backup service.   ...

From 9to5Toys.com:

Apple this morning dropped prices across the board on iPads in its refurbished section of the online Apple Store as noted by MacRumors. We’ve recently seen quite a bit of iPad price reductions at 9to5Toys, some even steeper than this. For instance, Walmart has a new iPad mini for $80 off and refurb iPad Mini 16GB for $250. The new Apple Store prices:
iPad mini
- 16 GB Wi-Fi: $279, down from $299 previously and $...

Currently WalMart.com has the refurbished 7th generation 16GB iPod nano for only $89.99 with $3.97 for shipping. That's $50 less than the MSRP, and $35 less than the lowest price we've seen on this iPod anywhere else. Sales tax applies for residents of most states. The iPod nano features 16GB of storage space, 2.5-inch Multi-Touch display, Bluetooth, built-in Nike+ support, and built-in battery that provides up to 30 hours of music playback....  ...

Following up on an announcement made at the end of April, Verizon has begun rolling out its Verizon Cloud storage solution to iOS devices today. Verizon Cloud offers Verizon users a free 500 MB of cloud storage to backup their photos, videos, contacts, music, call logs and text messages. Users who want more storage can buy it at a monthly fee of US$2.99/month for 25 GB, $5.99/month for 75 GB, and $9.99/month for 125 GB.

The Verizon Cloud service lets users stream music and sync data between devices, including photos, videos and documents. Users can also access their files via the web and desktop applications. On the iPhone users can manage their Verizon Cloud account through the free Verizon Cloud app....

It’s a slow process, but it’s hopefully getting better and more accurate.
Per 9to5Mac, Apple’s iOS 6 Maps application apparently now offers improved support for San Bernardino, Riverside, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario and Moreno Valley and other areas in California. With the additions, Maps offers nearly unbroken Flyover coverage of cities from San Bernardino to the Pacific Ocean…
As with the previous expansion of the flyover feature in Paris and surrounding...

A rear-facing mic might be in the next-gen iPad’s future.
Per Macotakara and AppleInsider, the fifth-generation iPad is expected to ship after Apple’s anticipated “iPhone 5S.” Reports have pegged Apple’s next iPhone for launch around September, which would be around a year after the iPhone 5 went on sale.
According to author Danbo’s sources, the next 9.7-inch iPad will gain a rear microphone next to the camera, much like Apple added to the iPhone 5 in...

Never doubt a steadily-updated program.
On Friday, Dropbox released version 2.0.21 of its cloud-based storage client for Mac OS X. The new version, a 29.3 megabyte download (via MacUpdate), which adds the following fixes and changes:
Fixed:
- Fix Windows installer sometimes failing to install properly.
New:
- A new tray popup that combines the old tray menu features with a timeline of the most important sharing events in your Dropbox.
- Notifications menu is only enabled on OSX 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) and above, and on Windows XP and above....

The new iOS 7 is reportedly dropping heavy textures and adding black and white elements, with sources calling the new iOS “black, white, and flat all over.” A new report from 9to5Mac offers more details about iOS 7, about a month after a previous report noted the new…

Earlier this month we heard that Apple submitted to the courts that it engaged in “contentious negotiations”– and not a pricing conspiracy– at a time when publishers were already considering methods of getting Amazon to increase pricing. According to the latest comments from a judge in the high-profile eBook pricing case, Apple might not be able to prove its case when it goes to trial early next month.
U.S. District Judge Denise Cote believes that the U.S Justice Department will indeed be able to prove a pricing conspiracy took place (via Bloomberg):
“I believe that the government will be able to show at trial direct evidence that Apple knowingly participated in and facilitated a conspiracy to raise prices of e-books, and that...

A 73-year-old Japanese artist uses Excel to produce beautiful traditional artwork.
∞ Read this on The Loop

Apple on Thursday evening began running a new iPhone 5 ad titled "Music Every Day." The ad shows iPhone users in a variety of environments using music on the iPhone for inspiration, fun, work, and as a means to bond with friends.

"Every day," the narration reads, "more people enjoy their music on the iPhone than any other phone."

The ad is a cousin of sorts to Apple's most recent ad, appropriately dubbed "Photos Every Day."Apple runs new iPhone ad, dubbed "Music Every Day" originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 24 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds....

Digg will not be releasing a separate app for its Google Reader replacement, instead rolling it into the existing Digg app for iOS. Development of the Digg Reader, which would offer much of Google Reader's functionality along with an API, has also shifted onto production servers, and is said to be close to its goal of launching by the end of June....  ...

Harry McCracken tries to explain a bit about the mobile market for people who think this is a repeat of the PC business in the 90s.
∞ Read this on The Loop

From 9to5Toys.com:

Beginning this Sunday, Best Buy will be extending a $50 discount on every current iPhone offering when purchased with a 2 year contract, reports AllThingsD.  This promotion is said to make a 4 week run and will drop the price of...