iPhone

Game Centered features roundups and in-depth reports of the best in iOS games and related news. Among the App Store's myriad games, it's all too easy to overlook some of the greats. Each installment of Game Centered will take a close look at a select few worthy of special recognition.

A slew of rumors circulated last week, the most notable of which said the iPhone 5S will launch June 20 and be available early July. According to CNET, the provenance of that rumor is the Japanese website MacFan. 

I almost always prefer a good indie game over franchise games from a big publisher. I like to see the little guy win (in and outside of games), so any news forwarding that agenda is worthy in my book.

Chunky Pig, a marketing company for mobile game development (started by games industry veteran Nick Malaperiman), kicked off a contest at GDC to give game developers a chance to get their iOS game ideas noticed by premier publishers in the business (and even win an iPad mini). Enter the contest at Chunky Pig, or read below for the full press info on the event.

Batter up, and it's about time! With the end of the cold comes the promise of freshly mown grass and the sweet ping of a bat cracking against a hardball! It's been a long, cold blizzard of a winter, and it’s time to shake it off and get back in the game with new and updated Major League Baseball apps for Opening Day. Read on for a list of the best apps to add to your iOS bullpen! Swing batter, ssssuwing!

New apps and updates are coming out all the time, and this week there are some especially exciting developments. The must-have social news app Flipboard received its most significant update ever, allowing users to create and share their own magazines. Rap/Reggae icon Snoop Lion launched his new app, Snoop Lion's Reincarnated. There's also big news for gamers — The Walking Dead is on sale!

T-Mobile, the only of the four major carriers not to offer the iPhone, has finally joined the club. At a media event today in New York City, the company announced it will begin selling the iPhone April 12 — but with a difference. Unlike the other carriers, which sell the iPhone for a subsidized price of $199 if one signs a two-year contract, T-Mobile is switching to only selling unsubsidized, contract-free phones. You make a $99.99 downpayment, and then pay $20 per month for two years to pay for your phone. That works out to a total cost of $580.

I love nothing more than iDevice products constructed of natural and organic materials. The feel and durability of accessories made from natural materials is comforting to the touch and a welcome modification to our otherwise cold, hard, metal and glass iDevices. So if you're looking to add an element of natural elegance to your iPad, I have a couple of great products to share with you. 

When choosing an iPhone case, you usually have to make the tradeoff between a soft or hard design. Soft, rubberized cases allow you to get a good grip and have your phone stay in place on your desk or dash.