For years I have been on a quest to find the perfect wireless headset. I have reviewed a number of very good products that came close to my high standards yet none of them have had long-term staying power. Whether it's their weight, battery life, or sound quality, there's always something that falters. So when I receivedJaybird Gear's BlueBuds X Wireless Headphones for review, I had some doubts. How would these compare to past attempts? More importantly, would this be the headset that would finally satisfy my demanding expectations and bring my quest to an end? Read on to find out.

A lot can be said about the quality of a product by its packaging.  BlueBuds X are contained in an attractive, sturdy package that shows the company cares deeply about the product inside. The headphones and accompanying cables are strapped tightly within the plastic molding and it takes a few minutes to cautiously remove all the tape supports. Once free, it is striking is how light these headphones are. Considering that it houses a battery and all the Bluetooth wireless communication electronics within the headset itself (no dangling pendants or attached pack-of-gum-sized controllers here), Jaybird has pulled off an incredible feat of hardware engineering.

With the headset paired and the earbuds attached and positioned in my ears, I cranked up the audio, and listened to everything from podcasts and audio books to rock, classical, and electronic musics. How did the BlueBuds X perform?  In a word, remarkably. I don't know how the Jaybird audio engineers pulled this off, but the BlueBuds X headset doesn't sound like a Bluetooth headset at all. Indeed, they sounded better than many of the premium wired headsets I have tested. This feat has something to do with Jaybird's Shift Premium Bluetooth Audio technology. Combined with the iPhone's equalizer, these headphones are unstoppable.

Do you have an idea for an app but lack the programming knowledge to begin building it? In this weekly blog series, I will take you, the non-programmer, step by step through the process of creating apps for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Join me each week on this adventure, and you will experience how much fun turning your ideas into reality can be! This is Part 21 of the series. If you are just getting started, check out the beginning of the series here.

Now that you have a basic understanding of displaying lists of data under your belt, it's time to talk about passing information between view controllers. This is an extremely important topic because this is something you will need to do many times over in your iOS apps. In this post I'll outline the main steps and teach you best practices. In order to follow along, you can get the most up to date version of the iAppsReview project we will be working with in this post from this link. For the best learning experience, I encourage you to work through the steps on your own. If you run into trouble, you can get the completed project from this link.

Why do you need to pass information from one view controller to another? Figure 1 provides a great example of this. 

Figure 1 - You need to pass the currently selected app category between view controllers.

At run time when a user taps on the App Category table view row on the left, the Write Review view controller needs to pass the currently selected category to the App Category view controller. The App Category view controller needs to know this information so it can display a check mark in the row of the currently selected category. Conversely, when the user selects a different category in the App Category scene at run time, the App Category view controller needs to pass the newly selected category back to the Write Review view controller so the currently selected category can be displayed in its table view.

In the context of this discussion, the source view controller is the controller from which data is being passed and the destination view controller is the controller that is receiving the data.

Passing Data to a View Controller

Let's talk about passing data to a view controller first. This usually requires three steps:

1. Create a property on the destination view controller to hold the data being passed by the source view controller.

2. Configure the segue between the source and destination view controllers.

3. In the source view controller, implement the prepareForSegue: method and add code that stores the data to be passed to the destination view controller's property.

In this example, it makes sense to pass an app category ID between the Write Review scene and the App Category scene.

Step 1: Create a Property on the Destination View Controller

Our first step is an easy one. We need to add an appCategoryID property to the destination view controller so the source view controller has a place to store the ID of the currently selected category.

1. Go to the Project Navigator and select the AppCategoryViewController.h file.

2. Add the property declaration shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 - Add an appCategoryID property to the AppCategoryViewController.h file.

Step 2: Configure the Segue Between the Source and Destination Controllers

This second step is also an easy one. You just need to specify an identifier for the segue between the source and destination view controllers.

1. In the Project Navigator, select the MainStoryboard.storyboard file.

2. Click on the segue between the Write Review and App Category scenes to select it.

3. Go to the Attributes Inspector (the third button from the right in the Inspector toolbar) and set the segue's Identifier attribute to AppCategorySegue. This provides an identifier for the segue that we can use from within our source view controller code file. Be very careful with the spelling and upper and lower case because you need to use the exact same name when you reference it from the code file.

Figure 3 - Set the segue's Identifier to AppCategorySegue.

Enhancing the Write Review Scene

Before we perform the third step of implementing the prepareForSegue: method in the source view controller, there is a bit of housekeeping we need to do in the Write Review scene's view controller.

For starters, we should add a new instance variable to the scene to hold a reference to the currently selected app category ID.

1. In the Project Navigator, select the WriteReviewViewController.m file.

2. At the top of the file, add the import statements shown in Figure 4. These will allow us to reference AppCategoryEntity objects and the AppCategoryViewController. 

Figure 4 - Add import statements to WriteReviewViewController.h.

3. Add the instance variable shown in Figure 5. This provides a place for us to store the current app category ID.

Figure 5 - Add new instance variables.

4. In the WriteReviewViewController.m file scroll to the isReadyToShare method. Since we don't want the user to be able to save a review unless an app category has been selected, we need to add some code to the view controller's isReadyToShare method. You may remember we created this method in a previous post. The Share and Post buttons are enabled or disabled based on whether this method returns YES or NO.

5. If the user hasn't selected an app category, the value of this variable will be zero. So add the check for a zero appCategoryID tas shown in Figure 6. 

Figure 6 - Check if the user has selected an app category.

6. Now let's give the user a visual cue that they need to select an app category. In the Project Navigator, select the MainStoryboard.storyboard file. In the Write Review scene, double-click the right side of the App Category table view row to put the detail label into edit mode. Then enter the text Select as shown in Figure 7 and press return.

Figure 7 - Set the text of the detail label to Select.

Step 3: Implement the prepareForSegue: Method

Now you're ready to implement the prepareForSegue: method in the source view controller, which in this case, is WriteReviewViewController.

The prepareForSegue: method is called automatically on your source view controller whenever a segue is triggered. It allows you to perform custom actions before the segue to the destination controller is executed. In this case, the segue is triggered when the user taps the App Category table view row in the Write Review scene. 

1. In the Project Navigator, select the WriteReviewViewController.m file.

2. Add the method shown in Figure 8 directly below the viewDidLoad method.

Figure 8 - The prepareForSegue: method code

As you can see, the prepareForSegue: method is passed a reference to the segue that was triggered. The code in this method performs the following steps, which are very typical for methods of this type:

• The first line of code checks the segue's identifier property to make sure the segue we are interested in was the one that was triggered (you can have multiple segues for a view controller). 

• The second line of code gets a reference to the destination controller from the segue's destinationViewController property.

• The third line of code stores the current app category ID on the destination view controller's appCategoryID property.

After this method executes, the segue to the destination controller is automatically executed.

Enhancing the App Category View Controller

Now that the Write Review view controller is passing the currently selected app category ID to the App Category view controller, let's add some code to the App Category view controller that places a check mark next to the currently selected category in the table view.

1. In the Project Navigator, select the AppCategoryViewController.m file.

2. Add the oldIndexPath instance variable shown in Figure 9. This variable allows us to keep track of the item that was last selected (you will see why we need this in just a bit).

Figure 9 - Create an oldIndexPath instance variable.

2. Now add the code shown in Figure 10 to the tableView:cellForRowAtIndexPath: method.

Figure 10 - Code that sets a check mark on the currently selected app category

Remember that the tableView:cellForRowAtIndexPath: method gets called once for each cell in a table view. The code you just added checks if the ID of the AppCategoryEntity associated with the current cell is the same as the currently selected category ID. If it is, a check mark is added to the cell and the index path of the cell is stored in the oldIndexPath instance variable for later use. If it isn't the same, the accessoryType of the cell is set to "None." You need this else statement so that the previously selected category is unchecked.

Returning Data From a View Controller

In order to complete the functionality for selecting an app category, we now need to pass back the currently selected category from the App Category scene to the Write Review scene, so it can display the newly selected category in the detail label of the App Category table view (Figure 11).

The best way to pass back this information is to create a method on the WriteReviewViewController that can be called by the AppCategoryViewController. However, before creating this method, we need to be a little forward thinking. As shown in Figure 11, there are two different scenes in the app that segue to the App Category scene—the Write Review scene and the Online Reviews scene.

Figure 11 - The Write Review and Online Reviews scenes both segue to the App Category scene.

This means we need to come up with a scheme for returning the currently selected category that works well for both the Write Review and Online Reviews scene. This is where an Objective-C protocol can come to the rescue!

Outside the realm of software, the word protocol is defined as:

The established code of behavior in any group, organization, or situation. 

This definition isn't far off the mark when it comes to protocols in Objective-C. Protocols are used to define a standard set of behavior. In our situation, we need the Write Review and Online Reviews view controllers to possess a standard callback method that can be used by the App Category view controller to pass back the currently selected AppCategoryEntity. To do this, we can have the App Category view controller declare a protocol that can be adopted by the Write Review and Online Reviews view controllers.

Figure 11 provides an overview of the five main steps that you need to perform whenever you need to pass information back from one view controller to another. In this context, the Write Review and Online Reviews view controllers are referred to as the presenting view controller, and the App Category view controller is referred to as the presented view controller.

Figure 12 - Creating a callback method for passing data back from a view controller

Here are the details for these steps:

1. Declare a protocol in the presented view controller that specifies a method that can be implemented by the presenting view controller. The presented view controller will use this method at run time to pass data back to the presenting view controller.

2. Declare a delegate property on the presented view controller that will hold a reference to the presenting view controller. The presented view controller will use this reference to the presenting view controller when it calls the protocol method on that view controller.

3. Add code to the presented view controller that calls the protocol method, passing data to the presenting view controller.

4. Adopt the protocol of the presenting view controller and implement the method with code that does something with the data that is passed back to it.

5. In the presenting view controller's prepareForSegue: method, have the presenting view controller store a reference to itself in the presented view controller's delegate property.

Now you're ready to implement these steps to refresh the App Category table view row in the Write Review scene.

Step 1: Declare a Protocol in the Presented View Controller

1. In the Project Navigator, select the AppCategoryViewController.h file.

2. Add the import statement and AppCategoryDelegate protocol declaration shown in Figure 13.

Figure 13 - The AppCategoryDelegate protocol declaration

This protocol declares a single method, updateAppCategory: that accepts a reference to an AppCategoryEntity object. This is the method that the Write Review and Online Reviews view controllers must implement so that the App Category view controller can pass back the currently selected AppCategoryEntity.

Step 2: Declare a Delegate Property on the Presented View Controller

Further down in the AppCategoryViewController.h file, declare the delegate property shown in Figure 14.

Figure 14 - Add a delegate property to the AppCategoryViewController.h file.

This property will be used to hold a reference to the presenting view controller.

Step 3: Call the Protocol Method on the Delegate

Now we need to add code to the App Category view controller that calls the protocol method on the delegate (the presenting view controller) when the user selects a new app category.

1. In the Project Navigator, select the AppCategoryViewController.m file. 

2. Scroll to the bottom of the file and you will see the tableView:didSelectRowAtIndexPath: method. This method is automatically called when the user taps a row in the table view at run time.

3. Remove all the existing code and comments in this method and replace it with the code shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15 - Add code to the tableView:didSelectRowAtIndexPath method.

Here is the breakdown of what the code in this method does:

• The first line of code deselects the current selected row. If you don't do this, the row remains highlighted in blue after the user taps it.

• The cell that was previously checked is unchecked. The value in the oldIndexPath variable is used to determine the previously selected cell. 

• A check mark is added to the currently selected cell.

• The currently selected cell's indexPath is saved for later use.

• An updateAppCategory: message is sent to the delegate object (the presenting view controller), passing a reference to the AppCategoryEntity object associated with the currently selected cell.

Step 4: Adopt the Protocol in the Presenting View Controller

Now that you have set up the presented view controller, it's time to implement the protocol in the presenting view controller.

1. In the Project Navigator, select the WriteReviewViewController.h file.

2. Add the import statement at the top of the file and adopt the AppCategoryDelegate protocol as shown in Figure 16. As you can see, a single class can adopt many different protocols.

Figure 16 - Adopting the AppCategoryDelegate protocol

3. Now we need to implement the updateAppCategory: method that is declared in the AppCategoryDelegate protocol. But before we do this, we need a way to get a reference to the App Category table view cell in the Write Review scene. The most bulletproof way to do this is to create an outlet for the cell. 

To do this, first select the MainStoryboard.storyboard file in the Project Navigator, and then display the Assistant Editor by clicking the center button in the Editor button group in the toolbar at the top of the Xcode window.

4. Click on the status bar at the top of the Write Review scene to select the view controller. This should automatically display the WriteReviewViewController.h file in the Assistant Editor. If it doesn't, click the Manual button in the jump bar at the top of the Assistant Editor and select Automatic > WriteReviewViewController.h from the popup menu.

5. Hold the Control key down, click on the App Category cell and drag your mouse pointer down to the end of the property list in the Assistant Editor. When the Insert Outlet or Outlet Collection popup appears (Figure 17) let go of the Control key and mouse button.

Figure 17 - Create an outlet for the table view cell.

6. In the Create Connection popup, set the Name to appCategoryCell, and then click the Connect button. This adds a new outlet property to the header file.

Figure 18 - Name the outlet appCategoryCell.

7. You can close the Assistant Editor now by clicking the button on the left in the Editor button group at the top of the Xcode window.

8. Now you're ready to implement the protocol method in the presenting view controller. To do this, first select the WriteReviewViewController.m file in the Project Navigator. Afterwards, add the new updateAppCategory method shown in Figure 19 just below the prepareForSegue: method.

Figure 19 - Add the updateAppCategory protocol method to the WriteReviewViewController.m file.

Here's the breakdown on this code:

• This method accepts an AppCategoryEntity object that is passed from the presented view controller. 

• It takes the value in the entity's categoryID property and stores it in the appCategoryID instance variable. 

• It also gets the name of the category from the name property of the entity and updates the detail text label of the App Category table view cell. 

• The last line of code tells the table view to reload its data, which refreshes the display of the table view cell to reflect the new category.

Step 5: Store a Reference to the Presenting View Controller in the Delegate Property

Now you're ready for the final step. We need to store a reference to the presenting view controller (the Write Review view controller) in the presented view controller's delegate property. A great place to do this is in the prepareForSegue: method.

1. In the prepareForSegue: method of the WriteReviewViewController.m file, add the code shown in Figure 20. 

Figure 20 - Store a reference to the presenting view controller in the delegate property of the presented view controller.

2. While we're here, we should also change the postReview: method to save the selected app category. Scroll down to the postReview: method and change the second line of code as shown in Figure 20.

Figure 20 - Store the selected app category ID on the ReviewEntity object.

Testing the New Code

Now you're ready to take the code for a test drive!

1. Click Xcode's Run button. When the app appears in the Simulator, select the Write a Review option. You should see the App Category row's detail text is set to Select (Figure 21).

Figure 21 - The App Category row's detail text is set to Select.

2. Click the App Category row to navigate to the App Category scene. There should be no categories with a check mark next to them. Click one of the categories and you should see a check mark next to it. If you click on another row, the check mark should disappear from the previous row and appear on the newly selected row as shown in Figure 22. This is caused by the code that is executing in the view controller's tableView:didSelectRowAtIndexPath: method.

Figure 22 - A check mark should appear in the selected row.

3. Now click the back button (labeled Write Review) in the upper-left corner of the view to navigate back to the Write Review scene. You should see the category that you last selected in the App Category detail label as shown in Figure 23!

Figure 23 - The newly selected category displayed in the App Category row

Conclusion

We covered a lot of territory here, but I wanted to present all of this information in a single post so you could see the entire process of passing information to and from view controllers. In the process you learned a pratical application for Objective-C protocols as well as how to display a check mark in a table view row. I recommend going through these steps a few times to make sure you understand the important iOS concepts outlined here.

Two weeks ago, I took over the job of web editor of iPhone Life magazine, replacing Donna Schill Cleveland, who has moved on to a new and exciting project with the magazine. (Stay tuned!) Since then, I have immersed myself in the site, exploring what kind of content is relevant and exciting to our loyal readers.

The world of mobile technology is rapidly growing and changing, continually transforming the way we interact with information and each other. The way we work, learn, take and share photos, enjoy music, travel, track our finances and our fitness, watch TV, and play will never be the same. At times it seems like it doesn't stay the same for even five minutes. Someday when we tell our grandkids about all the world-changing technology we are currently privileged to enjoy, they will look at us the way that our kids did when we told them how exciting it was to get our first VCR or cordless phone.

With the iPhone and iPad, Apple is at the forefront of all this technological change. My goal is to keep our readers up to date on all the latest changes in the world of Apple's mobile technology. Stay tuned for more great roundups of the best gear for your iDevices, insightful reviews of the best apps and games, tips and tricks that help you maximize the utility of your iPhone or iPad, and lots of up-to-date news and opinion pieces—in particular, make sure you don't miss our coverage on September 10th of Apple's highly anticipated announcement, when you will finally find out if all those rumors are true!

Happy reading.

As new iOS apps flood the App Store every day—recently topping 900,000—we know it’s tough to tell which ones are worth their salt. But thanks to our Weekly Scoop, you can have the best for free! Here you’ll find a weekly roundup of the coolest apps free or at a discount for a limited-time only. Each week features the best and brightest from websites like Free App Report, AppsGoneFree, appsfire, and more.

Hurry! Get 'em while they’re hot!

1. The Human Body by Tinybop ($2.99)

This app is not currently being offered at a discounted price, but it is an “app we love” over at appsfire, and I can see why! Kids can learn basic anatomy with this animated and interactive model of the human body. See how the heart beats, the lungs breathe, and the skin feels. Kids love learning about what they’re made of and how it all works. This one is sure to be a favorite.

2. Workout Hero ($0.99 from $2.99)

Army Special Forces, Rangers, and Navy Seals can’t be wrong! This advanced fitness app is used by many folks in the military to help them keep up their training routines whether at home or on deployment. But it’s also for the rest of us bad a**es who are serious about being in shape and pushing ourselves to be as fit as a superheroes.

3. Audubon Mammals ($2.99)

Offered at a back-to-school discount, this app is an essential guide to 272 species of mammals in both the US and Canada. It has photos, maps, and authoritative, thorough descriptions of each animal. Everything you need to know can be found quickly and easily with fast and simple navigation.

Virtualization software from Parallels has done a remarkable job of letting Mac users run Windows software on their Mac right alongside their Mac programs. Windows programs simply appear as Mac programs. Now they've done something similar for the iPad. Their new app and service, called Parallels Access ($79.99/year), lets you run Windows and Mac software programs on your iPad. Your computer needs to be on and accessible via remote connection, but the genius of the Parallels app is that these programs act like iPad apps, such that you can control all of the functions in the same way you would any other app using all the gestures that are so familiar to you.

In some ways, Parallels Access is similar to remote access services and apps that are already available to let you access your computer remotely via your iPad, such as GoToMyPC and LogMeIn. But what makes Parallels Access different is that instead of your iPad being a window onto your desktop computer, the programs on your computer simply appear as apps on you iPad. By default, the app automatically adds apps for those programs that you use the most.

According to the press release, which you can view on MacDailyNews, key features and capabilities of Parallels Access include:

• App Launcher: Start any desktop application, Windows or Mac, as if it were made for an iPad
• App Switcher: Switch between desktop applications with ease, literally going from app-to-app in a tap
• iPad native select and drag: Select words and graphics with one finger, on Mac or Windows applications, then drag, drop, and go
• iPad native copy and paste: Select and copy from your desktop and paste it anywhere—between iPad apps, or even from desktop to desktop
• SmartTap and magnifying glass: Tap with precision inside your desktop applications, so you never miss a thing
• iPad native scroll for desktop applications: It’s scrolling that just works
• Desktop keyboard on iPad: Shows up just when you need it, contains Windows and Command keys too
• Full screen for desktop applications: Maximize your screen real estate on the iPad, use every inch of your Retina® display
• Unmatched access: Even with low bandwidth, Parallels Access makes it work

In addition to downloading the Parallels Access app, you'll also need to download an app to your desktop computer.

The app/service is pricey, but if you need the functionality, it's well worth the price. Especially if you need to get work done while traveling.

You can read a hands-on review on Macworld. 

IFrogz, which is owned by Zagg, recently released a new Bluetooth headphone called the Coda Forte ($99.99). I have been enjoying the review pair sent to me by Zagg. Full disclosure: I am not a true audiophile. If it sounds good to me I like it. So this is a review about Bluetooth headphones from an average guy, who likes to listen to music and podcasts at home, walking the dog, and while mowing the lawn.

The Coda Forte works on multiple systems. I tested it on our iPod Touch and Android devices. The cross compatibility increases the headphones' value for the user. The package contained the headset, carrying case, charging cable (USB to micro USB) and a wired headset accessory. The wired accessory can be used if you run out of juice or don’t have Bluetooth built in.

There are only a few buttons and ports: Ports for the wired headset, the charger, and a status indicator; and power/play and up/down rocker buttons. I was disturbed initially because I did not see a volume button, something that I consider a necessity. After reading the manual, I realized that all of the different functions are built into these two buttons. 

Pairing the headset is nothing out of the ordinary. I tested it on multiple devices and was successful each time with no dropped connections, and it re-paired without a problem every time.

As for sound, I could hear my audio beautifully and comfortably. I experienced no choppiness or distortions from lack of Bluetooth connectivity. Even though this is not a noise-filtering unit, I was not distracted by any external sounds while I listened.

You can also use the Coda Forte to answer your phone. When your device rings, hit the power/play button once and you have an instant headset. The built in microphone comes in handy for this purpose.

Overall, the headset performs well and the solid design stands up to regular use. Zagg has done it again with another great product.

Pros:

• Light
• Solid Quality
• Mulitpurpose

Cons:

• None yet (I will update post should I find any)

  Specs and Features:

• Wireless or wired
• Lasts up to 12 hours per charge
• Comes in a variety of bright colors
• Adjust your volume with a quick button tap.
• Change songs quickly and conveniently.
• Pause your music and take calls with a single button.
• Talk hands-free with the built-in mic

Sept. 10 promises to be a very interesting day for those of us who love our Apple products, as well as for the company itself. Lately, consumer confidence in the innovative tech company has been fluctuating, and despite record-setting sales of its iDevices, Apple is still being lambasted for an apparent lack of innovation and an inability to keep up with the changing times in the smartphone market that it revolutionized. All eyes are on Apple, with both consumer and investor confidence hanging in the balance.

As a journalist who watches Apple closely and follows industry trends, I would have to say that Apple could certainly use a PR boost, and hopefully this upcoming event will provide just that. Will it hit one out of the park with the introduction of the highly anticipated iWatch, or will it disrupt the entire television paradigm with the long-rumored Apple TV? Unfortunately, I doubt it. I welcome surprises, but I suspect that while the Cupertino tech giant may indeed be developing such exciting products behind closed doors, we as consumers won't be seeing them this year.

How about new iPads? That would be exciting right? I've seen leaked images of the purported, new large iPad design, with its iPad mini form factor, and who wouldn't be stoked about the prospect of an iPad mini with Retina display? However, I would be surprised if we see that at the Sept. 10th event. My ever-reliable source, the good Mr. Jim Dalrymple says nope, and he is very often spot on about such things.

OK, so how about a new iPhone option featuring a larger screen? One needn't look far in today's tech-savvy world to observe the truth of the matter—that smartphones with screen sizes considerably larger than the iPhone 5 (and even the still popular iPhone 4/4S) are simply more popular than ever. Obviously, the public wants such an option. Will we finally see the rumored 5- to 6-inch iPhone make its way to market? Again, I suspect not, at least not this year. Do I hope I am wrong? Yes! Do I believe I am wrong? Nope, not based on my research and the abundance of leaked product information and images I've come across. Like the other items mentioned above, from the iWatch to a larger-screened iPhone, I certainly expect these things down the line, but I wouldn't hold my breath for a trade-in opportunity any time soon.

As reported by Cult of Mac, during a recent interview with Reuters, Apple’s original co-founder Steve Wozniak said he'd like to see "Apple make an iWatch that is as complete in functionality as the current iPhone. The wishlist also includes larger screens on the iPhone, more customizations, and a happy room full of Dreamers thinking up how to change the world with a product that you wouldn’t call a phone." Check ou the embedded video below for more of what Wozniak had to share, and if you can't see the video, just click HERE.

While I'm with Woz—I'd love to see Apple blow our minds, like it did back in 2007 when Jobs unveiled the original iPhone—it is seeming less and less likely that this will be the case come Sept. 10th.

Instead, what I'm expecting to see is the new and revamped iDevice operating system, iOS 7, as well as a new iPhone "5S" which will likely be a slightly souped-up version of the current model on the market, the iPhone 5. I am also expecting to see an iPhone 5C—which supposedly stands for "color," as the 5C is rumored to be coming in a veritable Skittles rainbow of brilliant color options. The "C" could just as easily stand for "cheap" though, as the 5C is also said the be constructed out of much less expensive materials and will possibly arrive without certain features, the most notable absence being Siri, or so I've heard. Both iPhone versions that we are likely to see unveiled Sept. 10 will sport a screen size equal to that of the current iPhone 5, at 4 inches diagonally.

In a nutshell, while I realize that Apple isn't done introducing new and innovative products to the market, not by a long shot, I'm not expecting to be overly wowed by the upcoming Apple event. Perhaps the pressure is too great for Apple to outdo themselves. In a smartphone market that has become increasingly more and more saturated with great options, just being the first one to revolutionize the industry is no longer enough. We want to be blown away, we want to be surprised, we want the "next big thing" to genuinely and truly BE"the next big thing", as opposed to a relatively minor, incremental upgrade to the current iPhone model.

Nothing would make me happier than Apple coming out with its proverbial guns a’blazing Sept.10 and showing us all what new gizmos it made that none of us saw coming. Dare I hold my breath? I think not, but a boy can still dream. And who knows, maybe we'll see a repeat of last year, and get treated to a "bonus" Apple event in October, like last year's wildly successful iPad mini introduction. Anything is possible. And I like to believe that Apple is aware that it needs to hit one out of the park so to speak, and soon, or risk loosing its dominance over the highly competitive industry, which it helped create. It is said that success is fleeting, and this couldn't be more true. So will you surprise me Apple? I sure hope so!

Stay tuned to iPhone Life for all the coverage of news and rumors leading up to the September event and we will of course, have the detailed scoop for you as things unfold  on the day.

This is the official announcement of the iPhone life Biweekly Giveaway! Be sure to enter the giveaway at iphoneLife.com/giveaways to win prizes, which we'll announce August 26th! We are raffling off tons of great apps and accessories for FREE.

Here's how it works: Every other Friday we will announce the prizes we're giving away through iphonelife.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. To enter the giveaway, go to iphoneLife.com/giveaways. On the following Monday morning, we will randomly select the winners. If you win an app, we will email you the promo code to redeem the app for free. If you win an accessory, send us your address we will mail it to you.

This week's featured items are:

1. Speck's SmartFlex CARD: Retail Price $34.95.

The SmartFlex Card case is a slick, supple choice for your on-the-go lifestyle. When carrying a wallet is too much, our SmartFlex Card iPhone 5 case makes a clever companion.

• SmartFlex case fits iPhone 5
• Cool card carrier. Securely hold up to 3 cards (or folded bills) in this iPhone 5 cover's side-loading slot.
• Easy on, easy off. Flexible construction provides protection that’s durable, yet pops on and off in a snap.
• Snappy thumb release. Easily push cards out from the slot when you need them.
• All-around protection. Raised bezel keeps screen safe and rubberized covers shield buttons.

2. Speck ToughSkin Duo: Retail Price $39.95

ToughSkin Duo is tougher than ever, providing maximum protection against fumbles, tumbles and never-saw-it-coming stumbles. This dynamic duo of defense combines two iPhone 5 cases in one – all with sharp color options and a super-functional holster that make safety look smart.

• ToughSkin Duo case fits iPhone 5!
• Relentless protection. Slim inner case and rubbery outer layer give your iPhone full-on coverage
• Ultra-rugged exterior. Rubbery, notched surface provides a no-slip grip and full-on shock absorption.
• Flexible inner case. Use the slim inner shell on its own when you need to keep a low profile
• Handy detachable holster. Get quick-draw access to your iPhone with a rugged rotating belt clip that does double duty as a viewing stand.

3. square jellyfish 3 piece combo set (tripod, ball head, and spring mount): Combined Retail Price $30.00.

The Jelly Legs micro tripod gives digital camera and smartphone users the ability to stabilize their cameras and phones, while offering flexibility with regard to angle or location. This tripod, ball head, and spring mount are all small, lightweight, and easy to use, making it a handy tool for any traveler or picture-taker who wants to enhance the next photo-op. Designed to hold smartphones and similar flat and thin devices weighing up to 9 ounces Jelly Legs is pocket size and weighs less than half an ounce. When the tripod legs are folded down they form a handle for secure video taking, self-portraits and iPhone 5 panoramic photos.

Questions or comments? Email Brian@iphonelife.com. Good Luck and remember to visit iphonelife.com/giveaways to enter! Also check out our other contests at iphonelife.com/contests. The next contest drawing is September 9th!

Dulcia in-ear headphones by Moshi ($64.95) are satisfying to the ears and designed for style-conscious music lovers.

They come in white, black, and a special Pink Edition with Swarovski Crystal if you want to add a little bling.

The Dulcia earbuds feature DR6 Neodymium drivers in anodized aluminum casing. This means that they deliver rich, full sound with some punchy bass. 

There are three sizes of hybrid-injection silicone ear tips to provide the right fit and seal for ideal noise isolation.

I love the flat tangle-free cord. I hate spending time untying jumbled headphone cords before I can start listening to my tunes.

You can also take phone calls with the iPhone-compatible integrated microphone with click button controls. In fact, certain functions, such as Pause/Playback, are supported by Apple iOS devices only.

The package also includes a custom carrying pouch for storing the Dulcia headphones when not in use. 

Asian Cuisines ($3.99) features a wonderful look, plenty of delicious recipes, and step-by-step instructions to help anyone, novice or pro, cook some very appetizing dishes. 

Easily navigate Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Thai menu options; browse for low-sodium, high-fiber, low-fat, or vegetarian dishes; star your favorites; and make a shopping list inside the app. There’s even a quick calendar-reminder and kitchen-timer tool.  

The real beauty of the app becomes most apparent, however, when the actual cooking begins. If you’ve ever grabbed an authentic ethnic cookbook, you’ve undoubtedly run into something ambiguous that stressed you out, like advising you to add [insert spice you’ve never used before here] “to taste.”  That’s fine and dandy for something that doesn’t change its flavor during the cooking process, but if you’ve never cooked with it, how would you know? 

Asian Cuisines is quite the opposite, however. Ingredients are precisely measured and instructions are clear. Sometimes there are issues with translation, but the accompanying photos assure you that you’ve succeeded in creating the very thing you aimed for.

That’s not to say Asian Cuisines is absolutely perfect: An option to convert the metric measurements to more common ones would be a stellar improvement. There’s also some dodgy grammar and vocabulary here and there (though nothing that is unclear in its intent). The only real “problem” with Asian Cuisines is that you’ll really want even more recipes and menus to choose from. There’s a fantastic variety, but they all look so good (and turn out so well), that you’ll be sad when you come to the end of a list. Of course, we will just have to fervently hope for updates.

In the meantime, content yourself with impressive options like Steamed Clams with White Wine or Spicy Stewed tofu; surprise your friends with Thai-Style Coconut Cake for a change; or even serve party guests a homemade Spicy Peanut Snack. There are choices for every type of occasion and every palate. 

Asian Cuisines is your passport to a whole new delicious cultural experience. The app is optimized for iPhone 5, but compatible with a very broad range of devices, including many previous generation iPhones, iPod Touches, and iPads.  Bon appetit!

Zazzle, an online custom-products retailer, has paired up with CaseMate to offer their Vibe iPhone cases in both custom and pre-designed options, designed to protect your phone while allowing you to have the custom phone case you want. 

The Vibe case comes in two pieces, a silicone inner bumper and a plastic outer protective case. Inside the plastic case is a piece of rubber to assist in shock absorption. This model's inner case is slightly different from Zazzle's last model's. The previous CaseMate Vibe came with a full rubber case to line the plastic outer case and I was disappointed to see it go. I am liking this update, though—I still feel that my phone is being protected. 

There are over 4,000 pre-designed CaseMate Vibe cases to choose from on Zazzle, or you can easily make your own. By uploading a photo and adding optional text or stock images you can create the perfect case for your personality without compromising quality. My previous CaseMate Vibe lasted for over two years with only slight wear on the outer plastic case. Here are some of Zazzle's fun pre-designed case options:

What does your perfect iPhone case look like?

I recently reviewed a set of Bluetooth headphones by CoolStream that I liked a lot. In that review, I talked about how much I hated fumbling with tangled headphone wires and earpieces that don’t stay in your ears. Well, the EDM Universe In-Ear Headphones($49.99) are the exception to all of that. Plus, they sound fantastic! 

Let’s take a look at the specs:

• Inspired by and designed for Electronic Dance Music
• Tuned for EDM with enhanced bass, spacious sound, and excellent dynamics
• Inline microphone, remote, and universal volume control for headset use
• Noise-isolating in-ear fit with angled nozzle for long term comfort
• Features two-tone tangle-resistant flat cable, color-matched carrying case, and EDM wristband

These aren’t just any old set of headphones. They’re specifically designed for use while listening to Electronic Dance Music, or EDM. I have to say they’re pretty darn incredible!  You can actually feel the deep bass!  But they also have excellent clarity and great dynamics. I was blown away when I switched from a generic pair I found laying around the office to these. I heard bass I didn’t even know existed with the other ones!

To get the opinion of someone who truly does have dance music in her DNA, I had our teenaged intern give them a try. After spending a few minutes with them on, she returned to my desk beaming. She loved the EDM Universe headphones and compared them to her favorite Beats by Dre ones.

Testing out the inline microphone, I found the controls to be intuitive with a simple sliding switch for volume control and a button to allow you to take calls and switch songs on your phone, tablet, iPod or computer. I called my wife to test out the microphone and she couldn’t even tell I was using one.

Once you find the right sized earpiece for you, the in-ear fit is very snug so you really can’t hear much of the outside world. This is awesome because you really get to hear the music and not the music plus background noise. You also don’t have to crank your volume up to block out other sounds, so it protects your hearing quite a bit too. However, I would caution you that when jogging or biking with these bad boys on, you need to keep the volume down so you have a shot at hearing traffic around you. We don’t want anything bad happening to you while you’re rocking out!  Bad stuff would totally go against the ideals of peace, love, unity, and respect that the EDM lifestyle embodies.

The tangle resistant cord is a little bit thick and cumbersome because it’s flat. I still managed to tangle the thing, but it was much easier to get it undone than it is with traditional cords. I can live with the thicker cord if it means I can untangle it easily.

In all, I think the EDM Universe in-ear headphones are pretty great, so I give them 5 out of 5 stars.

You’re going to love feeling that bass thumping through you! 

If you happened to catch my review of Twin Moons HD, another G5 adventure game release, this one might sound similar in a lot of ways. Part of me wishes I could try more of the G5 releases as they come out, but the positive tradeoff seems to be that when I do finally get to play one, it usually turns out to be a good one. Of course there are still “levels of goodness” even among the really good games, and in that regard I’d say Dreamscapes: The Sandman Collector’s Edition HD(Free; $6.99 IAP to unlock full game) easily ranks in the top five and maybe even the top three games that I’ve played from G5. I just wish they’d stop writing these games with sequels in mind, because now I might just lose a little sleep waiting to find out what happens next.

The story in Dreamscapes is of particular interest to me because I've always thought it was fascinating to read about people entering someone else’s dreams. I do wish there had been more back and forth between the dream and real worlds instead of an almost complete focus on the dreams, but it was still quite intriguing. As you traipse through the dreamscape of the main character, Laura, you are presented with some nice cut scenes that show parts of her real life; and much like Twin Moons, while there are diary pages that you can read, you can also get the majority of what is going on from the audio and visuals that are presented to you. There is also a bonus story once you’ve completed the main game, though I’ll leave it to you to get there and find out whether it’s a prequel or continuation.

Navigation is pretty standard: tap to pick up items, tap where you want to go, and tap on areas of interest to take a closer look. You can pinch to zoom in and out of the current scene to see details better, but it appears that a simple double tap to accomplish the same was not implemented. To use items in your inventory, you tap on them and then tap in the scene where you wish to use them. Once again there were no inter-inventory interactions, but in the end, you get to the same place. There was a decent selection of mini-games, though thankfully not nearly as many as in Twin Moons. And while you have the option to skip them after a period of time, I never actually had to. The only real problem I had with the interface was that sometimes I’d tap in an area that would be an exit to another room, and then when I’d tap what I felt was a far enough distance away to look at something else, the game thought I was executing a second tap to move to the other room. Not a big deal, but it took a few extras seconds to move back to the original room.

In addition to the puzzles you must solve, most of the rooms have one or more beholders in them. These little critters can be hiding anywhere, and you must tap them once to reveal them and then again to collect them. Sadly I fell two short of collecting them all in the main game and one short in the bonus adventure. And with no way to go back to certain rooms, I couldn’t correct my mistake; so I’m not sure what you get besides possibly an achievement for collecting them all. Speaking of which, the game does have 14 achievements you can earn, and there is even a little mini-game where you can place figures in a picture, colorform style, for each of the achievements you’ve earned. There are also some extras like a gallery of concept art and a place where you can listen to all the music apart from the game itself.

The visuals are excellent, and while I realize the games that G5 publishes come from different developers, that’s still something I’ve come to expect from a G5-branded title. The backgrounds are highly detailed and it’s cool to see each part of the dream world transition from dark to light as you free it. The characters are well designed, and I’m particularly fond of the furry creature called Benny. The sound effects are decent enough, while the voices make an already vivid world even more dynamic. I do find the voice of the Sandman a bit grating, though. (No pun intended!) The music is top notch and does a good job bolstering the almost horror-like theme of the game.

When I first started to play this game I was impressed but not entranced. After I decided to start over and really focus on it, I couldn’t tear myself away from it. While there’s still something about the current generation of adventure games that doesn’t feel quite like what I was hooked on as a kid, the quality of what we are being offered is growing by leaps and bounds from the “make everything a hidden object game” mindset. I miss the third-person King’s Quest-style format, but as long as this sort of storytelling keeps up, I’ll take it from whatever perspective I can get it.

Overall Score: 9/10

Humans use only 10 percent of their brains. Actually, that's a myth, but it's probably not a myth that many of us utilize only about 10 percent of our iPhone's capabilities. In this weekly column I will share tips and tricks for beginners, or anyone who wants to make use of the other 90 percent of their iPhone's abilities.

This week I will cover formatting text in emails, using emoji characters, personalizing Siri, and changing your wallpaper. 

1. Format Emails

While writing emails on your iPhone, you have the choice of different formats. Highlight the text and then select B I U to make the text bold, add italics, or underline words.

2. Add Emoji Characters

When my kids and I text each other, one of our favorite things to do is add emoji characters. We add smiles, hearts, flowers, animals, even a steaming cup of coffee to our messages. Sometimes for fun we don't even use words, just the characters. My kids' favorite is to text me a toilet bowl.

Whether you use them for entertainment or for a quick substitute for word text, getting the characters is easy. Go to Settings>General>Keyboard>Keyboards, and choose Emoji. It will look like an international symbol in your keyboard while typing a text. To go back to letters, tap the symbol again.

3. Change Siri's Accent

If you're getting bored with Siri's American accent (automatically set for those who buy an iPhone in the United States), she can speak to you in a foreign accent. Go to Settings>General>Siri. Make sure Siri is on and then tap Language. You will see a list of all the different languages she can speak (including Mandarin, French, Spanish, and Japanese), along with a variety of accents. Pick from an Australian, Canadian, or British accent. It's something to liven up your good ol' Siri.

4. Choose Your Own Wallpaper

I like to change the backgrounds on my iPhone's lock and home screens to match the season. The iPhone comes with several wallpapers to use, but I get bored with them. To use a photo from a website as your background just press and hold the image and save to camera roll. Go to Brightness & Wallpaper in Settings and select Camera Roll. Find the image you want, and after moving and scaling to the section you want on your screen, choose Set. You will be given the option to show the image on your lock screen, home screen, or both. You can also use any photo in your camera roll that you've taken of a person or object. 

It seems pretty certain that Apple will host an event September 10 to announce new iPhones. And now new evidence suggests that those iPhones will go on sale Friday, September 20. The evidence? Both AT&T and T-Mobile have told their employees that nobody can take vacation time the weekend of September 20. This usually happens when a new iPhone launches: All hands are needed on deck because of the huge crowds.

Meanwhile, more images and videos are appearing online of the casings of the new phones. The first video below shows the casing for the champagne-colored iPhone 5S, and gives an in-depth comparison with the iPhone 5. A helpful article on CNET gives an overview of the features expected in the iPhone 5S, including a fingerprint sensor, 30-percent faster processor, new camera, and new flash.

The second video shows the casing from the graphite and black-colored iPhone 5S, as well as a casing from the forthcoming iPad mini, which many expect to arrive in October. It helpfully compares side by side the new graphite/black iPhone with a slate/black iPhone 5 so you can see the difference in shade.

The champagne iPhone:

Apple sent out invitations today for an event next Tuesday, Sept. 10. The colorful invitation reads, "This should brighten everyone's day." The announcement appears to confirm two rumors: that the next iPhone will launch on that date, and that Apple will launch a low-cost iPhone 5C that will come in multiple colors. Plus, the top-of-the-line iPhone 5S is expected to come in a gold or champagne color as well as white and slate.

 The event will be held at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino and will start at 9 a.m. Pacific Time. It's not yet known whether the event will be live streamed. In the past, Apple has generally not live streamed events, but did stream the introduction of the iPad mini last November and the Worldwide Developers Conference this past June. If it's not live streamed, you can follow along via live blogs on many of the major iPhone websites.

To summarize: everyone is expecting Apple to announce an iPhone 5S, though that name is a guess. The phone will have the same form factor as the current iPhone 5, but with significant upgrades to the processor and camera (including a dual LED flash), as well as an innovative fingerprint sensor in the Home button for security.

The iPhone 5C is expected to have a polycarbonate body rather than aluminum, and will be just slightly thicker and larger than the iPhone 5. It will be sold at a lower cost, and will come in an assortment of five colors. Apparently, one impetus for this phone is the inability of people in emerging markets to afford the higher cost iPhone. This phone is expected to replace the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4. There were rumors that its price would be in the mid-range and that the iPhone 4S would continue to be sold as the lowest-cost iPhone.

The arrival of the new iPhones also means the arrival of iOS 7. So even if you aren't in the market for a new phone, you can share in the joy of getting a new look for your iPhone or iPad. Some rumors have said that iOS 7 will be available starting Sept. 10. I hope that's accurate. Likely, iOS 7 will also be demonstrated at the event.

The word from those with connections inside Apple is that no new iPads will be introduced next week. Instead, many are expecting the new models to be announced at a separate event in October.

iMore has posted a great article on how to get the most money for your old iPhone. The site gives tips for preparing it for sale, including unlocking it. The article also gives an overview of services that buy your old phone. Plus, it notes that last Friday, Apple began offering its own in-store trade-in program. You can read more on InformationWeek. It doesn't pay quite as much as other services, but you get the convenience of simply trading in your old phone when you go to buy a new one. The iMore article says a typical price for a used 16GB iPhone 5 is $250.

Apple also offers a recycling program on the Apple website. If your iPhone, iPad, or iPad is reusable, they'll give you an Apple gift card in exchange. If it's not resellable, they'll recycle it responsibly.

The iMore article says Amazon's trade-in store is offering a much better deal for a 16GB iPhone 5: $400. You'll receive payment in the form of an Amazon gift card.

Image: flickr, MattsMacintosh

With the release of Apple's next iPhone just around the corner, it's safe to say that you'll be looking for a case to protect that shiny new iPhone. If history has taught us anything, the next iPhone should look identical to the iPhone 5 (despite a third color option). The good news here is that any cases currently available for the iPhone 5 should fit the iPhone "5S," including the Saturn Case by Spigen SGP($24.99).

As a huge fan of the iPhone 5's design, I avoid cases that add any visible bulk to my iPhone. Spigen SGP has been offering some top-notch iPhone accessories lately, and their Saturn Case may be my favorite iPhone case to date.

Design
The Saturn Case mirrors the two-tone design of the iPhone 5. A piece of diamond-cut aluminum covers the anodized back of the iPhone, while polycarbonate covers the phone's back glass and sides. The top and bottom of the iPhone are left unprotected. A pill shaped cutout reveals the iPhone's rear camera and there are two cutouts for the mute switch and volume buttons.

The Good
Despite being nothing more than a snap-on case, the aluminum and finish of the polycarbonate offer a surprisingly premium feel to the case. The case feels great in the hand and you'll hardly notice it's there after a few minutes of use.

Depending on which color combination you get, some people may not even notice you have a case! (That's the point of a minimalist case, right?)

The headphone jack and Lightning port are left uncovered, so any third-party chargers will still fit without a problem.

The Bad
The Saturn Case fits so well that it offers no protection to the front glass if you decide to lay your iPhone flat. Fortunately, most (if not all) of Spigen's iPhone cases include screen protectors.

This may be a personal issue, but the cutouts for the volume buttons are somewhat awkward, making volume changes more difficult than they need to be.

The Verdict
Spigen SGP's Saturn case is an amazing case for someone looking to protect their iPhone 5 without the added bulk that comes with other cases. It's sleek, simple, and does what it's supposed to without changing the look of your phone, or how you use it.

This summer, Apple added eight content providers to their Apple TV set-top box, including Disney, ESPN, HBO Go, and Smithsonian, indicating that this product is getting increased attention. Not only that, but some evidence suggests that Apple may be working on a software developer's kit that will let content providers create their own apps for the device. That would hugely increase its appeal.

Now it's been discovered that Apple has received three shipments from China labeled "set-top boxes." Those three shipments total 40 metric tons. That's a lot of product. You can read more details on AppleInsider. Clearly something is going on, and the speculation is that Apple may announce a new set-top box at their event on September 10.

Should they release an enhanced version of their Apple TV set-top box, and should they announce a developer's kit, this will be unexpected—and big news.

Apple had sold 13 million Apple TVs as of last May—many more than any other similar device, such as Roku. And it's long been rumored that Apple wants to get more deeply into the TV market. Steve Jobs is quoted in the Isaacson biography as saying, "I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. It would be seamlessly synched with all of your devices and with iCloud. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it."

Jobs hated the current interface common on TVs and the lack of integration of broadcast TV with Internet content. And apparently he felt he'd figured out a better way. Perhaps we'll finally learn on September 10 what Apple has going.

Over the past year Apple has worked hard to make deals with content providers, and clearly wants to provide a cable-like TV service that differs from current cable TV in one big way: you only pay for the channels that you want to watch, rather than paying for a large bundle of channels that includes many that don't interest you. This is more than rumor: The companies themselves have leaked to the media that they were in discussions with Apple. But in every case they shot down Apple's proposal, not wanting to change their current model—and not wanting Apple to disrupt yet another industry.

It was also reported that Apple was working on partnerships with cable companies to provide them with a better set-top box. In this case, Apple themselves wouldn't be providing cable channels; rather, they'd simply be making available an Apple-branded device that would give a better interface for the TV service that the cable companies are currently offering. So another option, I suppose, is that Apple could announce a new version of Apple TV that people would buy and use with their current cable provider and that would also integrate with Apple's library of online content.

The possibilities are exciting to think of. But at this point, it's all speculation. Still, Apple received 40 metric tons of something they're intending to sell, and the shipment was marked set-top boxes.

I'm a fan of the Apple TV, and I've got my fingers crossed that Apple will be announcing a new version of the device.