As a developer for iOS, Mac OS, Android, Amazon Fire, Windows Phone, and even Samsung Bada, I have enough platforms to support. Apple makes it relatively easy and even though the next iPhone is likely to have a new screen resolution, it should be straightforward to accommodate. Android, however, is another story. This chart from Open Signal, via Gizmodo shows just how fragmented the Android market is.

To be fair, a lot of those phones are running Android 2.x which is almost a completely different beast. The screen sizes and processors of phones running 2.x are only a step above flip phones. Still, they count toward Android's market share, which is ahead of Apple. But when you consider those phones have no chance of running today's apps, they might as well be flip phones. Indeed, the low cost of Android phones make them the default phone for folks just looking for a text messaging capable phone. At various trade shows and festivals, I continue to run into a lot of Android users who don't know how to download apps and don't have any installed besides the default apps.

The other story here is just how dominant Samsung is within the Android marketplace. That's why it's significant that Samsung has two other operating systems in their bag of tricks. Samsung's Bada is popular in Asia, and after first shipping Android-based watches, their proprietary Tizen operating system is used in their newer Samsung Gear smart watches. Understandably, Samsung doesn't want to let Google dictate their product line. Tizen, like Bada, gives them a chance to control their destiny.

As Apple moves to iOS 8 within a month, it's reassuring to see how well iOS 7 has been adopted. Apple moved to automatic updates a few years ago, which made it almost trivial to stay up-to-date, as long as your iOS device is supported, and many are. While Android manufacturers can decide whether to enable Android updates on older phones (and they often don't) Apple has made new versions of iOS work on equipment that is one, two, or even three years old. This also allows older iOS devices to retain their value on the open market and at trade-in time, which is something to keep in mind as the new iPhone comes out next month!

I travel a lot, and depend on my iOS devices during those travels. That makes a reliable extra battery pack an extremely important part of my travel gear. Recently I've been using a UNU battery case ($99.95), but that's specifically for my iPhone 5s. It doesn't have a USB port to power my iPad Air, and when the next iPhone comes out, it won't be compatible.

Fortunately, UNU has not one, but two external battery packs ($59.99-99.99)that offer plenty of power on the go. The Ultrapak Tour Portable Battery Pack offers what UNU calls "Ultra-X Fast Charging Technology." This sounds like something out of a superhero movie, but it's quite real. UNU is doing something revolutionary that no other battery pack I've seen does. Instead of charging the pack using USB, they charge it with the included A/C power plug. This enables them to charge the pack itself up to eight times faster than USB charged packs. They claim it only takes 15 minutes to charge the 2-USB-port model to 2,000 mAh (more than an iPhone's full charge) and 95 minutes for a full charge of a whopping 10,000 mAh. Perhaps the best part is the LCD screen that tells you how much power you have left. Too many chargers require memorizing colors or light patterns to know if you have power so this is appreciated.

This is great, because a quick stop at Starbucks would enable enough power to charge an iPhone for an entire day. You just have to remember to bring the A/C "Wall Wart" with you... but that's a small price to pay. Speaking of small prices to pay, the Ultrapak chargers are on sale now for just under $60 to $100 for the higher end model with two USB ports. There's even a flashlight, since the gadget has so much power to spare!

After much anticipation, Spring (free) has finally arrived. The first of its kind, Spring is a fashion app that actually streamlines the online shopping process by allowing you to shop from the comfort of your iPhone. You can view products, “heart” them to save and browse later, or add them to your cart for instant buying gratification. The beauty of Spring is that it includes a marketplace of all your favorite high-end brands and designers in one place (think everything from Joie and Clare Vivier to Oscar de la Renta). 

Spring is appropriately named after popular NYC shopping destination, Spring Street. CEO Alan Tisch said one of the goals behind the app was to channel the experience of walking around SoHo and being inspired by the storefronts of familiar and fresh designers. And for that reason exactly, Spring does a killer job of incorporating innovative fashion labels that are fresh to the scene. Not solely limited to women’s fashion, the app also includes shops for men’s fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. Updated daily with new arrivals and “Spring Exclusives,” you’ll undoubtedly have a reason to routinely check back.  

The appearance of Spring is just as impeccable as the concept behind the app itself. The interface is aesthetically pleasing and its maneuverability can’t be beat. Upon downloading the app, little to no instruction will be needed to understand how it works—it’s that intuitive. Begin by following your favorite brands and let the magic happen! Because no fashion app, let alone a shopping app, is complete without stunning visuals, each brand displays an applaudable selection of photos for each product. Simply swipe to see additional angles, close-ups, or even outfit snapshots of your favorite bloggers modeling the said dress, pair of shoes, or whatever it is that you’re eyeing. 

Pros:

• The network of luxury brands and up-and-coming designers included in the Spring network is already well over 200 and counting, as new ones are added each week.
• Serious online shoppers will love not having to type in their credit card and shipping information for each transaction—all of that info is stored in the app.
• Spring is marketed as a shopping app and that’s exactly the niche it fulfills. No frills, no gimmicks. With so many social media apps, the fact that Spring is strictly a shopping app is a breath of fresh air.
• The app flaunts a visually pleasing interface that is clean, minimalist, and reminiscent of the pages of Vogue.  
• The “Discover” tab is an absolute gem, as it’s chock full of curated collections by industry insiders like Who What Wear, Lucky, and CFDA.                                            

Cons:

• While Spring flaunts an extremely well cultivated database of luxury brands and designers, it could possibly benefit from enlisting moderately priced, yet still very on-trend retailers (think J.Crew, Madewell, and Club Monaco) into the mix. Budget-friendly brand Joe Fresh is notably included in the mix, though, so perhaps it’s only a matter of time before they join. 
• For better or worse, it almost might be a little too easy to purchase a product. With your credit card information stored in the app, it takes one swipe and the transaction is done.
• At this point in time, only select products from each retailer are made available through the app. For a full selection of inventory, one must visit the retailer’s e-commerce site, which may be a drawback to some users.

Verdict

Whether you are an online shopping aficionado or not, rest assured that Spring is worth the download. Whether you use it to shop ‘til you drop or to peruse new game-changers in the fashion industry, Spring delivers on all fronts. I happily give this app five out of five stars as I am confident it will only get more innovative over time.

I love to add my photos to Facebook and Twitter, especially when I am on vacation. Even though I may get sarcastic, jealous replies regarding my getaway photos, I still love to share them. I also upload pictures of my kids for distant family members to see. Sometimes, I just like to share cute photos of my pets. 

If you have an account on Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr there is an easy way to upload your photos from your iDevice to your choice of the social media sites.

Here's how:

1. Go to your Camera Roll and select the photo(s) you'd like to share, then tap on the box with the up arrow in the lower left corner of your device. 

2. Tap Next in the upper right corner.

3. You will be given several icons (slide right to left to see all of them) and choose where you would like to upload your photo. Besides the social media sites, you can also share via email or Messages. Tap on the icon where you want to share the photo. 

From this menu, you can also assign a photo to a contact, use the photo as wallpaper on your iDevice, print the photo if you're connected to a wireless printer, share with another iDevice user with AirPlay, start a slideshow, or copy and paste your photo to another app, such as Pages. 

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That charging cube we've all come to know and love might be getting some "love handles."A photo out of China shows a wider charging brick with indentations on the side to make it easier to grip. This could all be speculation, but it would make sense. Apple already has a different charging adapter for the iPad, because it uses more power, and the expectation is that the upcoming larger iPhone will use a battery that is almost 50 percent bigger than the iPhone 5s. It's understandable that it might need a more powerful charger than the current model.

This could render older chargers somewhat obsolete, if the new iPhone can't be charged by them, or if it takes forever to trickle charge. Speaking of obsolete, the same website showed off a reversible USB Lightning cable. The Lightning end has always been reversible, which was a nice touch. It made the expensive switch from 30-pin a lot more attractive. But we still had to plug the USB side in the correct way. There is an effort for the next USB standard to be reversible, but that will require new ports on the next generation of computers and chargers. This effort by Apple makes existing ports compatible with the new reversible cable. It breaks the USB standard but that might not be a big deal to Apple!

As soon as smartphones came out, case retailers quickly learned that smartphone owners were eager to customize their cases by uploading their own images and logos to display proudly. The technology has only improved as the years have gone on, and some retailers are even offering customizable portable chargers and Bluetooth speakers. 

1. SkinIt Inkfusion Cases ($29.99-34.99)

SkinIt features some of the sharpest colors I've seen on a custom case. I love that their Inkfusion Pro cases come with an impact-absorbing silicone liner that provides a lip of protection against drops to the screen of your device, and the custom design is printed on all sides of a tough polymer case. I've been using my SkinIt Inkfusion Pro case for over a month now and the colors are still as crisp and bright as the day I opened the box. SkinIt allows you to upload a custom image or logo or use one of their many licensed images including those from NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, collegiate, military, DC Comics, Harry Potter, and Hello Kitty. 

2. Cellairis Shout Custom Cases (starting at $39.99)

Great for predesigned monograms or easy-to-create collages, the Cellairis Shout cases have taken custom to the next level. Easily upload your photos from Instagram or Facebook to easily create a one of a kind collage for your phone, or choose one of the several monogram styles to put on any of the custom cases Cellairis offers for personalization. You choose the protection level, Cellairis does the rest. 

3. Powerstick.com Custom Portable Charger($99.99)

Powerstick.com is branching out and customizing Bluetooth speakers and portable chargers! The 5,700mAh PowerTrip charger can be powered by the solar panel on the back or by plugging it into a wall outlet. The PowerTrip is also available with 8 or 16GB of memory, and has an auto shut-off feature. 

Have you ever tried to listen to music or watch a movie with a pair of headphones that only work on one side? It's pretty miserable, isn't it? (Every parent who has ever made the mistake of sharing his headphones with his kids is nodding sadly right now.) Obviously it's time for you to order a new, higher quality pair of headphones and hide them from your destructive offspring. In the meantime, you can enjoy the full audio experience by switching your iPhone or iPad's audio settings to mono.

Go to Settings>General>Accessibility and toggle Mono Audio on. Now sound will travel from your device to your headphones through a single channel.

This is also great for those times when you're out and about and you want to listen to music while keeping one ear open to your surroundings.

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Top image credit: Lichtmeister/Shutterstock.com

"Patience, my son." That's the best advice for Apple watchers. Earlier this weekend I noticed a posting on another site raising a panic about iPhone delays due to display issues. It didn't seem worthy of coverage. Today, that same site carried a post saying not to worry and that even those delays are "baked in" and won't effect availability.

Every year there are Apple watchers who proclaim that Apple is done, finished, kaput. That they can't innovate and it was nice while it lasted. Yet every year, Apple introduces (and more importantly, ships) the next "world's most popular smartphone." And they do it like clockwork. September 9 will be here soon enough and we'll see what expected features made it (larger screen, for sure) and what didn't (Near Field Communication, waterproofing?) and what features we weren't expecting (reversible USB Lightning cable?)

Samsung recently took on the ALs Ice Bucket Challenge, by showing their latest smartphone getting dunked, and still working. It's a nice trick. But while I would love an iPhone that was waterproof, had NFC, and wireless charging, I don't expect Apple to be at the forefront of these technologies. Apple didn't introduce the touchscreen, the tablet, MP3 players, or even the personal computer. They improved them and became the market leader.

Apple, and Apple observers don't need to panic as competitors introduce new technologies. Apple will continue to watch, observer, learn, and improve. And that's why Apple stock is at an all-time high. 

The latest crop of rugged, adventure ready gear is out, and there are some great new gadgets and accessories you'll want to take a look at. All of the gear featured here is built tough, with the shared focus of being able to survive extreme stresses and perform well under exceptional circumstances. From waterproof headphones and speakers, to the best new iPhone protective cases, we've got some unique rugged products that are made to live up to the challenge of an active and daring lifestyle. You'll notice as you read on, that many rugged products refer to IP and MIL-STD-810 ratings. For more on those designations and what they mean, you can click HERE to read my article discussing that topic.

Heavy-Duty iPhone 5/5s Cases

MountCASE with ARMORGuard ($79.95)

The MountCASE is technically a full-time use iPhone case, meaning that you don't have to take it off to charge it or access any of the iPhone's features or controls. That said, I think the case is a little bulky for most people to want to use it full time, even though it's possible and the level of protection you gain may be worth the trade off of having a slimmer profile case. Fortunately the MountCASE is a breeze to put on and take off so its no big deal to swap it out for a lighter case when you don't need its higher level of ARMORGuard protection. This IP-68 waterproof case is specially designed to be attached most any type of handlebar via a special mounting apparatus (sold seperately).

Catalyst Waterproof Case for iPhone 5/5s ($64.99)

This IP-68 waterproof case is one of my favorites of the current crop of iPhone 5/5s full-time use waterproof cases. Its sleek and slim profile add little in the way of extra bulk to the iPhone. The way it fully reveals the iPhone's front and back sides lets the inherent elegance and beauty of the iPhone shine through. I have personally beat the heck out of my iPhone with it in this case and I am happy to say both iPhone and case are still in excellent condition.

iBattz Refuel Aqua ($129.95 at Amazon)

This battery case is a first of its kind. The Refuel Aqua is in fact the only waterproof iPhone 5/5s battery case to make its way to market. It is waterproof up to 9-feet (deeper than most other competitive waterproof cases can go) for half an hour, and drop-proof against drops of over 6-feet. Its 2,200 mAh battery not only provides you with a full iPhone recharge, it is also replaceable. This means that after a battery's average (300-500 cycles) lifespan, you can swap it out for a new one, or just keep a spare one around for extra back-up. The full-time use Refuel Aqua iPhone 5S case has an IP-X8 protection rating.

Otterbox Resurgence($99.95)

Otterbox's rugged Resurgence battery case is designed to withstand some pretty extreme treatment, it's high level of drop/impact protection has received a MIL-STD 810 rating. The Resurgence is designed to keep your iPhone safe even if you drop it from as high as 6-feet. The case's 2,000mAh battery provides a full charge to a dead iPhone battery, and Otterbox's Auto-Stop charge technology means that you choose when your iPhone is being charged by the case's battery. The external battery automatically powers off once your iPhone's battery reaches full charge, insuring that you'll have back-up power when you need it most.

Rugged Headphones for Adventure and Fitness

SMS BioSport (Release date and price to be announced)

SMS Audio and computer chip maker Intel have joined forces to bring to market this IP-X4 fitness headphone. The BioSport allows you to conveniently and accurately monitor your training performance and progress. SMS Audio has already garnered a reputation for making headphones that bring premier sound quality, and now they also offer the latest in fitness-tracking biometrics technology. When used in conjunction with the RunKeeper app, the headphones can effectively chart heart rate, pace, distance, elevation, and calories burned. The BioSports require power to work, so it's a good thing they've been specially designed to charge themselves from your iDevice.

Blue Ant PUMP($129.95)

The PUMP waterproof (IP-67) Bluetooth earphones are perfect for anyone who anticipates getting wet while wearing them. The PUMP are actually completely submersible, so you don't have to worry about taking a dive with them in your pocket, much less exposing them to a little rain or perspiration from a great work out. The headphones are ergonomically designed to stay in place in your ears, even under extreme circumstances and they allow you to control song selection and volume as well as phone calls via buttons embedded in the right earpiece.

Portable Bluetooth Speakers

Grace Digital Ecostone($149.99)

This powerful indoor/outdoor Bluetooth speaker doesn't just meet MIL-STD 810 standards and have a high IP-68 rating, it even floats; so if it ever falls overboard while jet skiing or kayaking, it's unlikely to get lost. The Ecostone shows off Grace Digital's skill and proficiency at designing durable, rugged, waterproof gear. This speaker has great sound, with large drivers in front and a powerful passive bass radiator on the back. It delivers 12 hours of playback time, and also lets you charge your iPhone from the speaker's internal battery. And as icing on the cake, it has a convenient built-in LED flashlight on its top side.  

Scosche boomBOTTLE Realtree ($109.99)

Scosche has a great reputation for making high quality audio equipment. The boomBOTTLE H2O RealTree edition is the latest in the award-winning boomBOTTLE series of Bluetooth speakers from Scosche. This miniature speaker is smaller than a can of soda and built to fit into most water bottle holders, whether on bikes or in backpacks. The speaker sounds exceptional for its size. It has one 50mm up-facing speaker and a passive radiator subwoofer for a solid base response. The RealTree boomBOTTLE is IP-67 rated and ideal for any activities and sports that take you near dirt, water, and mud, or even just have you chilling by the pool or soaking in the tub.

Divoom Ongo($69.99)

This Bluetooth speaker from Divoom is weather resistant, lightweight, and geared for adventure. The mounting point on its underside allows you to attach the ONGO to anything that has a standard camera-size screw mount, from a tripod to a specialized bike mount. As with all of Divoom's rugged speakers, the ONGO has great battery life, and some of the loudest and best sounding audio of a portable speaker this size. The ONGO also has a convenient point of attachment for hooking it to whatever you want with a small carabiner, making it easy to carry around in numerous different ways.

There have been many conflicting rumors about whether the iPhone 6 will have a sapphire screen or not, but if you want a smartphone with a sapphire screen, you don't have to wait for Apple. I attended the Huawei press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, and their CEO made no secret that they were trying to distinguish themselves among the Android vendors. Huawai is trying to go big in the smartphone market, and snow, they have joined the sapphire craze.

A limited edition of the Huawei Ascend P7, arriving in September, will have a sapphire screen instead of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 the regular model has. The limited quantities point to sapphire's (only?) weakness: It's expensive and difficult to build in quantity. That could be the reason for Apple's rumored delay in their own sapphire screens. Unlike Huawei, Apple will ship hundreds of millions of the next generation iPhone and they have to be able to meet the demand. A second- or third-tier phone manufacturer can offer a more costly, limited edition with hard-to-build features and not lose their shirt.

When the weather is warm, an outdoor movie night is a great way to spend time together as a family and get some fresh air. We often throw dive-in movie parties in our backyard, and there are several great gadgets that make these nights a little easier.

Projectors

While there are several iPhone projectors on the market right now, none have been approved to show licensed movies. They are great for home movies and Keynote addresses, though. Since we show movies during our outdoor movie nights, we use our Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 500 ($379) movie projector. Another option is the Epson MegaPlex 850HD projector that iPhone Life blogger Todd Bernhard reviewed here. If a movie projector isn't in your budget just yet, you might want to check out one of the many iPhone projector hacks available online.

Movie Screen

We use this Gemmy Airblown Inflatable movie screen and love it. It stands up against the evening breeze we often have and provides a crisp picture. If you don't have a movie screen, a white sheet will also do the trick!

Sound

You'll need powerful sound that allows your movie to be heard outdoors. Alto makes Bluetooth-enabled DJ speakers that are large enough to provide crisp and clear audio for your movies, while making it easy to adjust the volume on your phone without leaving your front row seat.

We recently tried using Tego Audio's CERA wireless speakers ($89.99), since they daisy chain together and provide 360-degree sound, and this was a fun way to watch the movie. It reminded us a little of the drive-in movie days, where each car had their own speaker outside the windows. The illuminated touch control panel on the top of the speaker makes it easy to adjust the volume in the dark, and one full charge will last you longer than you'll need for one movie—about 5 to 7 hours. 

If you forget to charge your CERA speakers or other devices, you can use the PowerGrid portable charger ($59) from Tego Power to keep you powered during the movie. This 4,200mAh battery charger will provide more than enough juice to recharge your portable devices during outdoor movie night. 

Those are the basics! Now all you need are a few chairs and maybe a blanket or outdoor heater to be the most popular person in your neighborhood! Enjoy your movie. 

Thanks to everyone who entered the August 25 iPhone Life Biweekly Giveaway! Every other week we give away three amazing prizes, so if you didn't win this time, make sure you enter the September 8 giveaway and tell your friends to enter too!

And the winners are... (drum roll please):

Barbara Bankard, Richard Todd, and Laura Ari.

Didn't Win This Week? No worries! Visit iphonelife.com/giveaways for the chance to win in the next giveaway round. If you see your name but didn't receive an email, please check your spam folder.

This week's featured items are:

1. Trident Kraken AMS iPhone 5s Case: Retail Price $49.95

Kraken A.M.S. Series cases are the absolute strongest, most durable cases we make. Kraken A.M.S. features three layers of protection, including over-molded shock-absorbing TPE and hardened polycarbonate in the interior and exterior of the case. The detachable aluminum media stand provides the option to attach a variety of interchangeable accessories, allowing you to use your device to its full potential. Kraken A.M.S. cases allow you to adapt your case to fit your lifestyle.

2. Toddy Smart Cloth: Retail Price $9.99

Toddy Gear was nice enough to send us these customized iPhone Life Toddy Smart Clothes and we want to share the love. These handy little clothes are great for cleaning your iPad, iPhone, or just about anything else!

3. Duracell PowerCase & PowerMat for iPhone 5 & 5s: Retail Price $119.95

Designed by world-renowned Yves Behar, this battery case for an iPhone 5 or 5s prepares your iPhone to receive on-the-go power from a wireless charging Duracell Powermat (included).

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 8!

The default signature in iOS Mail is "Sent from my iPad" or "Sent from my iPhone." But while some people may be happy to declare what device they are using at the bottom of every email they send, others prefer to provide more relevant information, such as the name of the sender and additional contact information.

To edit your iPhone's default email signature, go to Settings>Mail, Contacts, Calendars>Signature. Tapping on All Accounts will allow you to set one signature for all your email accounts. Tapping on Per Accounts will allow you to set different signatures for each individual account—which is handy if you use your iDevice for work and personal emails. Tap on the default signature to edit it, and then delete the default text and type in the information you want to appear at the bottom of your emails instead.

Friday, August 29, is the last day to enter our iPhone Photography Contest! Submit your best iPhone photograph(s) now   at iphonelife.com/enterphoto for a chance to win awesome prizes and a spot in our magazine! You must take and edit all photos with an iOS device, using only iOS apps.

Our first, second, and third place entries will win an olloclip quick-connect lens set ($70 value) and an olloclip Quick-Flip Case ($50 value).

We’ll also feature the 10 top-voted photos on our Facebook page in the upcoming issue of iPhone Life magazine and give them a one-year digital subscription to iPhone Life magazine. Get your friends to vote through Facebook and increase your chances of being featured! (Voting ends Monday, September 8, and is limited to one vote per image per day.) 

Deadline to submit photos is August 29. You still have time to create a winning masterpiece, so get out there and do it!

Check out some of the entries we've already received at the top of this post by  Katelyn G. and below by Amber L.:

Apple software still has an old school feel with its clear connection to object oriented programming with properties for everything and the seeming tension between menus and ribbons on the desktop implementations. But Apple misses some of the most important programming features, particularly with Keynote. 

First, Apple has to realize that Keynote is essentially a compiler of XML with multiple target platforms. They recognize this to some degree when the app boots to a warning that some fonts are missing, but unfortunately, Apple offers no tools for authors to rectify the incompatible fonts.

So the first new thing Apple needs to add to Keynote is the ability to specify the target platform of the app. Either that, or offer an adaptive capability much like many website tools now to transform the incompatible into something compatible. But in the case of the iPad, the issue is really a limitation on fonts and a few effects. If the author specifies that this particular file will be delivered on an iPad, then Keynote should not permit, without warning as they are added, fonts or effects that simply won’t work on the iPad. This holds true as well for any web-based app limitations. For older files, they need to provide tools to addressing the warnings. (Note that Keynote supports movie optimization for iOS, and if you think about it, the main reason to reduce file size is to reduce iCloud space and download speed for iOS presentations—so why not address optimization for all features of the file as it moves to a target platform. In other words, "compile" a presentation to run on an iOS device.)

Apple could also do things with fonts, like bitmap fonts that don’t appear on the target platform, something I am often forced to do manually using screen captures (if I use a font not supported by the iPad, and really think it is the right font, I blow up the portion of the slide as big as I can on the screen and then capture it to the clipboard and paste it over the font, leaving the existing font there, and obscuring the resulting warning. Here’s another hint, use a complex background when doing this and it becomes easier to line up the clip so it integrates seamlessly.)

To continue with fonts, it would also be great to permit a search for formats or fonts, something which has been a rather uncelebrated feature in Microsoft’s Office products for years and is absolutely necessary for a program that warns you of incompatibilities. It could also pop up with a font substitution selection, but it would also need to be very specific and have a way to reference where the changes occurred, because font substitution can often mess with alignment on particularly tight-fitting text in text blocks (which is another major issue I find with Keynote—that text blocks on the iPad, even with the same fonts, don’t necessarily always come over correctly, leaving text annoyingly hidden behind a small “+” sign at the bottom of the block.)

Finally, I would suggest that, in light of reusable code, Apple consider a slide library and slide browser that would permit presentation creators to select from their previous slides and create a narrative flow without opening dozens of decks and cutting and pasting among them. It has been said lately that Apple, with it stock at an all time high, could be even more valuable once they move beyond movies and music in the cloud. A feature like this could significantly improve productivity while offering an entirely new approach to sharing slides that would challenge sites like SlideShare. People could share individual slides, entire libraries, or compiled decks.

A new way to create presentations that recognize how real people, who spend hours every day with a tool (not just once every few months to make a product announcement), would be welcomed by the key customer and, at least for a while, differentiate the product from all others.

Apple, I look forward to the conversation.

The larger iPad could fit well with Apple's new partnership with IBM, as iPhones and iPads increasingly make their way into the enterprise. One could imagine the larger size being pitched as a business solution. The new Apple/IBM program is expected to be rolled out later this year.

Sales of tablets have been flagging, iPads in particular, with Apple's last two quarters showing a year-over-year decline in sales. Apple CEO Tim Cook isn't concerned, though. According to a report on AppleInsider, he said that the recent slowdown is a temporary "speed bump" and that he expects future growth. 

You know when you're entering a long number in your iPhone's Calculator app and you mistype a digit or two? You don't actually have to hit clear and start over.

Delete individual digits by swiping over the numbers (left or right, it doesn't matter which direction.)

Each swipe will delete another digit until your reach zero. (In which case, you probably should have skipped all that swiping and just hit clear.)

Am I the only person who wonders why Apple didn't just include a backspace button?

Bonus Tip: Need a scientific calculator? Turn your iPhone to landscape mode, making sure orientation lock is off, and watch your calculator's abilities magically expand!

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Top image credit: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.com

Life can get a little boring if we're serious all the time. That's why it's important to have some fun once in a while, even if it's at the expense of your friends. Hopefully you will still have friends after having fun with them with these five iPhone pranks.

1. Change Contact Name

Wouldn't it be fun if, instead of calling you, your friends ended up dialing Pizza Hut instead? Or, how about changing their mom's name to your local police department, so when she calls they might think she's been in trouble with the law. To do this, first go into your friend's Contact app and find the name you want to change. Tap Edit in the top right corner and tap on the name to change it.

2. Change What Siri Calls Them

Once, somebody thought it would be funny to change what Siri calls me. When I asked Siri to complete a task for me she replied, "Ok, Sex Panther." It's easy to change and payback's a you-know-what. Just press the home button and tell Siri, "From now on, call me Sex Panther," or, any other creative name you come up with.

3. Shortcuts

On your friend's phone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Add New Shortcut. Type in a phrase such as, "I'm in love with Justin Bieber," and then a shortcut like "yes." Now whenever they type the word "yes", it will automatically change it to "I'm in love with Justin Bieber."

4. Invert Screen Colors

A lot of people don't know this feature exists. It's purpose is to make the screen easier on your eyes when reading in the dark, but it can make your friends freak out to see their screen this way. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility, then toggle Invert Colors to On. Exit out of Settings and innocently walk away.

5. Screen Shot

To make your friend super frustrated you can make them think their screen is frozen. No matter what they do it will stay that way. First, take a screen shot of the iPhone's home screen by pressing the home button and power button at the same time. Then, move all the home screen apps to another screen by pressing on an app icon until it jiggles and swiping them one by one onto the next screen. Do this with all the apps except for the one on the top left. Then set the screenshot as their wallpaper. After a good laugh, you can tell them how to fix it.

Game Centered features roundups and in-depth reviews of the best in iOS games and related gaming news. This week we have some awesome news on the mobile gaming front. First, popular game streaming site, Twitch TV, was bought out by Amazon. Hot on the heels of that development is news that we are going to be treated to a first of its kind, Twitch supported iOS game from mobile game developer Gameloft. Finally, if you've embraced the mobile gaming platform and are wondering when it's really going to take off as a competitive level eSport platform, take heart! Reputable research firm, Juniper, just released a report projecting absolutely amazing growth for the mobile gaming industry, and predicts that mobile games, more than ever, are the games of the future.

Amazon buys Twitch's Game Streaming Service for $970 Million

If you are not a gamer, you may not know this, but video games have become a wildly popular spectator sport with a professional level competitive circuit. As testament to this fact, Amazon has seen fit to throw some big money down to acquire the video game streaming network, Twitch TV. Twitch allows players to broadcast their games and observe others' games and live tournaments. There's even a great iOS app that lets gamers access their Twitch user accounts and watch eSport competitions right on their iDevices. As Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos said, regarding the announcement of the multi-million dollar deal, "Broadcasting and watching gameplay is a global phenomenon, and Twitch has built a platform that brings together tens of millions of people who watch billions of minutes of games each month."

While you may not be familiar with Twitch if you live outside of the realm of the gaming community, it's a service that is growing at a rapid pace, and already generates internet traffic that surpasses the likes of Facebook and HBO GO. Taken with the rest of the news in this week's Game Centered, Amazon's buyout of Twitch promises nothing but good tidings for the online retail giant.

Gameloft is First to Twitch Stream Their Games

Heroes of Order and Chaos gameplay

Speaking of Twitch, their streaming service is about to start playing host to more iOS games. Mobile gaming's powerhouse development company, Gameloft, has with their latest update, brought Twitch streaming integration to yet another of their most popular multiplayer games. As of now both Asphalt 8: Airborne (the first ever mobile game to integrate Twitch streaming) and the MOBA game, Heroes of Order and Chaos will support Twitch streaming.

This is a wise move on both Gameloft's and Twitch's parts. Considering the way mobile gaming is exploding on the gaming scene, it definitely seems like it will be a win-win arrangement. I suspect these wiil be the first of many multiplayer iOS games that embrace Twitch as a way to increase a game's popularity and profits. For mobile games, integrating Twitch streaming will also be appealing to game enthusiasts, as well as professional level eSports players who are used to making between $20,000 to $100,000 (if not more) at annual eSport competitions world wide.

Juniper Research Forecasts $28.9 Billion in Mobile Game Revenue by 2016

Speaking of the rise in popularity and profitability of mobile gaming, credible analytics firm Juniper Research, is anticipating a 38 percemt increase in annual mobile game revenue. The firm expects that within only two years, money generated from mobile games will approach 29 billion dollars, up from 2014's estimated $20.9 billion in revenues.

The firm credits the tablet's enhanced performance and graphic capabilities -which put them on par with consoles, along with the willingness of mobile gamers to spend more money over a longer time, for the huge increase in revenue that mobile games are on trajectory to bring in. It's an exciting time in the gaming world, and especially for the mobile gaming world. Stay tuned, because the future of iOS gaming looks bright indeed.

What do you think iPhone Lifers? Should the console and PC game developers feel threatened by this new renaissance in mobile gaming? You're welcome to sound off in the comments section below.

Apple sent out invitations today to an event to be held September 9, as was rumored. Not only is everyone expecting Apple to announce the iPhone 6, but also, according to the well-connected website Re/code, they will be introducing a wearable device. The invitation simply gives the date and, as usual, is very cryptic, saying only "Wish we could say more." If Apple follows their typical schedule, the new iPhone 6 will go on sale September 19. The event will be held at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts in Cupertino, which is three times larger and closer to Apple's headquarters than the usual venue at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco. Not only that, but according to iMore, Apple is constructing a large, three-storey building next the Flint Center in advance of the event. And everyone is tight-lipped about what purpose it will serve.

All of this is exciting — that the date is finally official, and that Apple seems to be planning something big.

Apple's invitations to their events are always vague, but this one is especially so. Often the invitation has included hints, such as last year when it said, "This should brighten everyone's day," apparently hinting at the colorful iPhone 5c that was announced. But it's hard to find any hint in "Wish we could say more," other than perhaps its being deliberately open-ended. If Apple does plan to introduce both a larger iPhone and a wearable, hinting at one might overshadow the other, since both will make a big splash.

Sometimes, too, the design gives hints. But in this case, it's simply the top portion of the familiar Apple logo. To me, the graceful soft curves hint at a wearable device much more than the sharp angles of a phone. And if Apple does introduce a wearable product or products, there would obviously be a lot of interest among the press attending the event to try it out. That could be the reason for the extra space that Apple is building.

In addition, if the event serves to also introduce products related to their new HomeKit platform, that would require a lot of space for demonstration.

Overall, the invitation and venue suggest to me something big is coming — a lot more than just a larger iPhone. It won't be long until we find out.