New app uses iPhone’s vibrate motor to take hands-free 360-degree video

Up until now, if you wanted to shoot 360-degree video with your iPhone, you’d either need a snap-on accessory, like the GoPano, or a pair of steady hands and some patience. But a clever new app is looking to change that.

Introducing Cycloramic, an iPhone app that uses the handset’s built-in vibrate motor to spin it around in a circle, allowing you to capture 360-degree video, completely hands free. Hard to believe? Check out the video demo…

The concept here is pretty simple. After loading up the app on your iPhone, you must balance the handset upright on a flat surface — as you can imagine, it has to be really flat for this to work — and press the “GO” button.

Cycloramic works its magic by making the phone vibrate at just the right frequencies to force it into a steady a twirl. And the handset will continue to spin in a circle, while recording video, until you press the “STOP” button.

Your phone must be set to vibrate, on both Silent and Ring profiles, for the app to function properly. And while the app is compatible with the iPhone 4 and 4S, they don’t tend to spin as well as the iPhone 5 due to their sizes.

If you want to check out Cycloramic for yourself, you can find it in the App Store for $0.99.

What do you think of Cycloramic? Ingenious idea, or just a gimmick?

Massive open-world RPG 'Ravensword: Shadowlands' Hits the App Store

Crescent Moon Games' much anticipated RPG, Ravensword: Shadowlands was released tonight, after years of development. Shadowlands is the followup to the original 2009 Ravensword game and it features the same open-world gameplay of the first title.

EA Asia Web Site Listing 'Real Racing 3' as "Out Now" - Nope.

Gentlemen, start your speculation. As of this writing, the EA Asia web site for Real Racing 3 is listing the game as "OUT NOW." Now, who knows if this is just a simple error on EA's part or if they're gearing up for some sort of launch this week, but we're so hungry for this game that I'm totally willing to get excited about random text on a web site.

Tim Cook makes short list of TIME's 2012 person of the year

TIME today unveiled its shortlist of people who are being considered for TIME's annual Person of the Year Award. Apple CEO Tim Cook is on the list, as well as Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer.

Google Music rolls out iTunes Match-like scan and match feature to US

Google has updated its Google Play music service with an iTunes Match-like song matching service. This means users won't have to spend hours or days uploading gigabytes of music, as they had to previously.

Instagram responds: ‘Your photos are your photos’

There has been a whole lot of hoopla surrounding Instagram’s newly updated terms of services, with commenters warning the new rules might give the popular Facebook-owned photography service the right to share your data with third-parties and – worse – sell your Instagram photos without compensating you. Does Facebook really intend to turn Instagram into a stock photo service that doesn’t pay a dime to photographers?

Apple now tracking working hours for more than a million supply chain employees

It seems like for every report we hear that conditions are getting better in Apple’s supply chain factories, there’s another one that dispels the notion. Last week, French reporters snuck inside Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant, and things still looked pretty grim.

Apple fixes iPad mini, iPhone 5 Wi-Fi bug with iOS 6.0.2 software update

Apple has just released an incremental iOS 6.0.2 update fixing issues with wireless network connections on the iPad mini and iPhone 5. According to Apple, the software “fixes a bug that could impact Wi-Fi”. Previous reports have suggested that these devices suffer from a carrier-agnostic Wi-Fi issue that could result in unwarranted cellular data usage while on a Wi-Fi network. Unfortunately, Apple does not name the exact Wi-Fi bug that has been fixed with this update…

Fruit Ninja and other Halfbrick games free for 24hours

So this is pretty cool. Australia-based app-maker Halfbrick Studios just announced a massive end-of-the-year celebration sale. For the next 24 hours, every single one of their games, on both the iPhone and iPad, is completely free. This includes hit titles like Jetpack Joyride, and Fruit Ninja — which has never been free before. More details after the break…

Apple shifts a record breaking 2 million iPhone 5's in china launch

Apple’s stock price fell to a 10-month low on Friday on the back of analysts’ reports that Apple has been cutting supply orders to balance out excess inventory, and a reportedly quiet iPhone 5 launch in mainland China.

Three to cover 50% of UK with Ultrafast Internet by Christmas 2012

Whilst EE are steaming ahead with the LTE rollout, Three are beginning to rollout DC-HSDPA and LTE and aim to have 50% of the UK covered by Christmas 2012.

Into the Dead [Review]

In a world overrun with the Dead, you have survived... but for how long?

Into the Dead throws you into the gruesome world of the zombie apocalypse where there are no second chances. Do what you have to in order to stay alive, keep moving as fast as you can, and protect yourself by any means necessary. When the Dead are rising, run!

'MapsOpener' makes Google Maps the default Maps app on iOS [Jailbreak]

So your excited that Google Maps has returned to iPhone, but there is one problem Apple Maps app still remains default, so all your maps links will open in Apple's maps instead of Google.

Pixplit One of the Better Social Photo Apps [App Store]

Pixplit is an iPhone app that helps users build photo montages together. Basically, the first person contributes a photo and a caption, and the next person (or people) adds their own take.

Dropbox Updated With 'Shiny New Design' [Update]

Some great app updates in the past few days, we had Flickr which was revamped and received new photo filters, 1Password, which had a complete makeover, Google+, this morning was updated with a complete new interface and many new feature.

Apple Launches New System Status Pages For iTunes, iCloud And More [Update]

In addition to its iTunes update, Apple has rolled out a new version of its iCloud system status page today. The portal, which once only showed the operating status of iCloud services now offers a comprehensive look at several of Apple’s online assets including the App Store, Apple’s Online Store, and more…

Next iPad Mini to Have Retina Display? [Rumor]

While almost everybody loved the iPad mini, the biggest complaint was about the device's screen, which does not have a Retina resolution like Apple's larger iPad.

Meet Mailbox A Stylish Gesture Controlled Mail Client [App Store]

Since word got out that Google bought Sparrow, people were crying out for a new iOS mail client, as the Sparrow team have confirmed due to the current circumstances it will not receive anymore updates... This is where Mailbox comes in...

UK's EE Everything Everywhere Announces LTE Expansion in 17 New Cities by March

UKs first 4G LTE network run by EE (Everything Everywhere) have announced that by march 2013 they will have enabled LTE in 17 more cities added on the 18 they already have.

Apple Launches Best of iTunes 2012

Apple today released the top seller of iTunes 2012, the charts representing the best seller of 2012 in their respective category, whether its free apps, podcasts to e-books. See past the break to see if your favourites made the list.

Google Chairman States Google Is "Clearly Winning" The War Against Apple

In another wide-ranging interview with Bloomberg, Google Executive Chairman and former CEO Eric Schmidt says that Google is winning the war against Apple in the mobile space.

Google Maps Finally Available For iPhone/iPod [App Store]

The long-awaited Google Maps for iOS is finally back. The app offers alternative for iOS 6 users who are unhappy with Apple's current Maps app. The new app includes turn-by-turn navigation, public transit directions, Google local search and more.

DreamJB Was Indeed Just Another Fake [Jailbreak]

With the release of DreamJB's video yesterday, there were just too many responses to the many flaws that consisted in the video, that he changed the release date from the 22nd to the 12th.

Shazam Update Now Automatically Matches When You Next Connect [App Update]

As well as sporting a new icon, the app has a few new features. Including an all new tagging screen that responds to sounds around you.

'Find My iPhone' Now Updated With Driving Directions To Device Location [App Update]

Apple has updated their Find My iPhone app which now gives driving directions to the lost or stolen device's location.

Pokemon Releases First iOS App - Pokedex For iOS [App Store]

Last year, Nintendo's president Satoru Iwata went on to say that the company will not be porting any of its games to iOS despite the fact users and investors were calling for it. He said by doing so would mean "Nintendo would cease to be Nintendo."

Strong iPhone 5 Sales Give Apple 27% LTE Market Share But Samsung Still King [Report]

Strong iPhone 5 sales are proving prominent as Apples LTE market share has increase to just over a quarter at 26.7%. While Samsung still remain in the top spot for the seventh consecutive quarter with 40%.

Iris 9000 Voice Control Module For iPhone & Siri [Gadget]

This new device enables you to not only hook your iPhone 4S/5 onto a dock but also let's you control Siri at the click of a button.

Twitter Takes On Instagram With It's Own Image Filters Available Now [App Store]

Twitters photo filters has officially been released for the Android app and is hitting iOS App Store later today. The App offers eight filters which include, Vignette, Black & White, Warm, Cool, Vintage, Cinematic, Happy and Gritty. It allows you to preview your image in a tile format and also includes basic image editing tools such as cropping, zooming and auto-image enhancement.

NASA Launches New App Called Worldview [App Store]

Some of you might recognise this image, it's one of NASA's "black marble" image, showing the lights on earth glowing into space. Apparently, the images were so popular NASA decided to add some interactivity.

Bose's SoundDock Series III with Lightening Connector [Gadget]

At long last, Bose finally has a speaker dock with a Lightning connector for the iPhone 5, It's called the SoundDock Series III. Priced at $249.99 your free from the 30 pin to Lightening adaptorand no more Airplay!

Instagram Gets Enhanced Camera, Tweaks And A New Filter [App Update]

iOS app Instagram today pushed an update which contains several improvements to the camera and a brand new filter. The camera interface has been revamped with a nice themed shutter button, it also displays the most recent photo on your camera roll and has the option to have grid on either the camera or scale & crop screen. The iPhone 5 gains the enhanced camera roll picker which enables you to quickly access your last photo. This update should be live any minute now. 

Simple Concept Tidies Up Notification Center [Concept]

This neat concept clears everything thats wrong with the iOS notification center and makes it right. It gives it a clean, professional look all whilst being organised in categories. It's a simple design and makes you wonder... This is what Apple should of made in the first place.

Creator Alex Saretzky writes: The iOS Human Interface Guidelines Specify a tap area of 44 pixels2, these are clearly in violation. Tap above or below the x and you'll hit the notification banner. This needs to be painless and really should be a delightful experience.

The problem can be solved using a simple gesture, "To dismiss a block of notifications, just swipe to the right and drag them off the screen", he writes. 

Make sure you head over to Alex's blog and check out the video of the concept in action.

iPhone 6 with NFC, stronger battery, super HD camera, 4.8-inch screen [Rumor]

Rumors are already hitting peoples ears about the next iPhone, the current rumor has it that the next iPhone 5S or 6, will be shipping next June or July. According to a Wall Street observer, the next iPhone will include "super HD camera and screen, stronger battery and NFC", and will even arrive in a range of 6-8 of colours, according to analyst Peter Misek.

Dream JB Claims Untethered iPhone 5 Jailbreak [Jailbreak]

A guy outside of the Dev Team claims to have the first untethered iOS 6 Jailbreak, and will be releasing it on 22nd December 2012 "and will not delay". He says his jailbreak will work on the following devices running iOS 6.0 and 6.0.1:-

Apple Now Shipping 27-inch iMacs to Early Birds

Were you one of the many people who purchased the 27-inch iMac as soon as pre-order was available?  Then you should be expect your brand new desktop pretty soon as Apple has notified customers that the first 27-inch iMac orders are now shipping.