One of the first concerns facing businesses — and many consumers — when choosing a new mobile platform is how it will enable them to get work done. To answer the question, AppleInsider went hands-on to compare the top three iOS contenders: Apple's iWork, Microsoft's Office 365, and Google Docs.

What's included and how much does it cost?

While each suite's ancillary services — like hosted e-mail and file storage — differ slightly, all three platforms offer some variation on the age-old trio of word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. For the purposes of this review, we will look only at those features available on iOS — iWork for iCloud's web-based document editing, for instance, is not included. 

Apple's iWork suite counts three native apps, iOS versions of the company's Pages word processor,Numbers spreadsheet, and Keynote presentation creation application. Each app is free with the purchase of a new iOS device, but users who need to get up and running on their current handset or tablet will still need to purchase them in the App Store for $9.99 each.

Microsoft Office 365 is available from the software giant on a subscription basis, with varying costs and differing packages for home users and business users. We chose the $12.50-per-month Office 365 Small Business Premium plan, which is the least-costly option that grants access to the company's Office Mobile for iOS app. Unlike Apple's native app strategy, Microsoft has chosen to integrate its entire suite in to a single application, Office Mobile, though that strategy may soon change as rumors indicate an iOS version of the company's Word, Excel, and Powerpoint applications is on the way.

Google Docs is famously free for anyone with a Google account — which is now a large swath of internet users — though we chose to work with the company's Google Apps for Business platform at $50-per-user-per-year. Upgrading to Google Apps for Business does not add any additional features within the scope of this review, and the accompanying Google Drive iOS app is available free of charge to all users. 

Each year Apple refreshes its flagship iPad and iPhone devices, and they attract thousands of shoppers queueing at its stores around the world on release day. For those not wishing to brave the cold, alternatives include ordering online or checking back regularly at stores after stocks deplete. However, one talented web developer created an Apple tracking site this year to help consumers locate new iPhone 5S and iPad Air devices. Similar sites, including Apple's own version, have appeared over the years, but Apple isn’t happy about this one.

In a DMCA takedown notice issued to Apple-tracker.com, an Apple representative notes that the site “scrapes and collects data from apple.com in violation of the apple.com Internet Service Terms of Use.” The site owner, known simply as Mordy, has decided to shut the site down immediately as per Apple’s request. “I'm not really interested in picking a fight with apple so... I guess it time to just say goodbye,” says the site owner. When it was up and running, the site allowed consumers to search for iPad or iPhone stock using a ZIP code, with filters for a particular model and carrier selection. Apple’s refreshed iPad mini is set to go on sale later this month with almost guaranteed stock shortages, but shoppers will have to resort to less automated, more traditional, methods of locating stock for that particular device.

Source: The Verge

Instagram has just got an update that puts it in the design guidelines for iOS 7. The developers have got rid of every shadow and gradient, going for a much flatter style.

The elements mainly stay the same, just the colours and buttons have been flattened and given solid colours instead of gradients.

There has been some minor changes to the main feed – now avatars are circular and the photos span the width of the device.

It’s great to see the developers change the app to fit the style of iOS but what puzzles me is why they can’t do the same for Android. The Android design guidelines are just as simple and it would fit much better into the style Google has given to Android.

Source: The Ultralinx

Apple has just announced that its iOS App Store now houses more than 1 million apps — putting it right on pace with Google’s Play store.  

Apple CEO Tim Cook made the announcement at the company’s Oct. 22 event, adding that the store has seen more than 60 billion app downloads to date. Developers also garnered more than 13 million in revenue from the  iOS App Store. Comparatively, Google’s Play store announced that its selection of Android apps had reached more than 1 million apps at its July event, where it unveiled the new Nexus 7 tablet and updates to the Android platform.

Cook also revealed that 64 percent of Apple mobile devices are now running on iOS 7, which launched a little over one month ago. According to Cook, it only took five days for iOS 7 to land on more than 200 million devices.

“It’s the biggest change to iOS since the original iPhone,” the Apple CEO said on stage.

Apple is expected to unveil two new iPads at today’s event– a new iPad Mini with Retina display and a fifth-generation 9.7-inch iPad. Stay tuned for more updates. 

Source: LaptopMAG

iOS 7, the next generation iPhone platform from Apple, will include support for third-party game controllers, the company announced on Monday.

Showcasing its new mobile operating system at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, Apple claimed that iPhones which carry iOS 7 will include support for controllers.

Specific details on third-party controller support - such as what devices will sync with iPhone and how - were not immediately offered.

iOS 7 represents the biggest change to Apple's mobile operating system since it debuted back in 2007, the company's chief executive Tim Cook said.

A slideshow of the new operating system can be found below.

Source: Computer and Video Games

Heads up: Bad Piggies' latest update is a big, free content drop for veteran players of the colorful, gadget-y sandbox building game.

At the top, it ushers in 15 levels and polishes off the "Rise and Swine" episode. Also, it introduces two new gadgets: the suction cup grappling hook and the boxing glove. The former allows your vehicle to climb up walls, which should come in handy, while the latter gives you the ability to punch through stuff. A new sandbox has also been added in addition to a Road Hog speed challenge. Here's a peek of this stuff:

Looking for more stuff to do in Bad Piggies? Well, here you go, right? Piggies, by the way, is a pretty rad game.

Source: TouchArcade