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Forum Review: Camera Bag for the iPhone

Forum Review by msbaylor (Visit the thread for video, more pics, and a bonus Forum Review by cjvitek!) For more Forum Reviews, see the TiPb iPhone App Store Forum!

Camera bag is a simple and creative application.

It allows you to apply several different filters to a picture you have already taken our one that you can take within the application itself.

Besides the filters themselves, you have the option to choose which resolution you wish to use. The higher the resolution the longer the app will take in saving your new photo, but the better the quality the picture will be. Personally I want the highest quality possible and it didn’t seem to take an unnecessary amount of time to save (the save time is shown in there video below.)

The app has 8 filters total that you can apply to a photo:

1. Helga: this desaturates and adds a vignett border as well as crops the photo.
2. Lolo: crops the photo to a square, adds a white border and increases situation and contrast.
3. Cinema: desaturates photo and adds a blue tone to the photo.
4. Ansel: Adds white border and converts picture to Black & White (grayscale).
5. 1962: converts to black & white (grayscale) and increases contrast.
6. 1974s: adds sepia tone to photo, adds white border and crops photo.
7. Fisheye: Creates a bubble type of effect with your photo. (not really fisheye).
8. Infrared: Converts the photo to black & white (grayscale) then Inverts the colors.

To get started, you just have to tap the camera icon to take a photo of tap the “group” icon – right-most icon of the 3-group of icons, to select a previously taken photo. The photo will load with the first filter applied (Helga). You can then select from the list at the top by tapping the name of the filter to drop down the list and selecting another filter. You can also “flip” through the filters, as you would do in your photo album. Once you find the filter you like, you just click the save button (middle of the 3 keys) and it automatically saves to you camera roll.

This application only applies coloration filter, in other words there is not mosaic or of-the-like-type filter, which for me, I enjoy. I tend not to like the mosaic and “fun” filters, but more of the black & white, color variation filters. The app developer says they will include more filters in the following updates. I’d like to see a variable filter of some type (contrast for example), in which you can control the variables (sliders) of the filter. I’d also like to see the ability to apply multiple filters before saving.

At first I was a bit hesitant on purchasing this application as I didn’t want to pay $2.99 for applying filters on my iphone (I thought “that’s something I can do on my computer”) but it is a nice application to have and it creates nice photos overall. The application is currently on sale for $3. Its orginal price is $5. Personally I am not sure I don’t recommend paying $5 for this app until they add more filters, maybe $4, and I defiantly recommend buying it for $3.

Recommendations & Tips: although you have the ability to take the photo in the application, I’d recommend taking the photo with the standard camera application then apply the filter in the app. You can also add multiple filters by applying a filter, then saving it, then reopening your newly created photo and apply another filter. You may encounter small artifacts in the photo due to multiple conversions/savings in doing this though.

Pros:

• Simple & easy to use
• Application of filters to taken photos within the app or previous ones.
• Good quality filters

Cons:

• Only 8 filters
• Can’t apply multiple filters before saving.
• Filters are arbitrary (you can’t change the variables in the filter)

Forum Review Rating

[Camera Bag is available from the iTunes App Store for $2.99]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Forum Review: Camera Bag for the iPhone

Xbox 360 Chatpad Hacked to Work As iPhone Keyboard

Quick App: You Shake iLaugh — Free for a Limited Time

Developer Roman Reyhani let us know his app, You Shake iLaugh, is currently free in the App Store for a limited time. If you’re not familiar with the app, Roman says:

This app was inspired largely out of a feeling that we need more laughter in our lives, instead of the gloomy outlook we’re often fed. So this app hopes to achieve that - it’s a little silly but when you’re really in the funk, and need to hear some outrageous laughter, the You Shake iLaugh will do the trick. The app works by using the accelerometer to detect motion. When you shake the phone, it gently it laughs. The harder you shake it, the harder it laughs - until it reaches an eye-watering hysterical laugh. It’s really quite fun!

If you want it, get it while it’s free and let us know what you think!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Quick App: You Shake iLaugh — Free for a Limited Time

Quick App: PocketMac Entourage, Lotus Notes, and Meeting Maker Sync for iPhone

I’m so boring. I don’t use Entourage, Lotus Notes, or Meeting Maker. However, for those of you Mac users who do, and are looking for some help syncing things over to your iPhone, PocketMac may be worth a look. As a bonus, it will also sync your SMS messages and call logs.

If you give it a try, let us know what you think!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Quick App: PocketMac Entourage, Lotus Notes, and Meeting Maker Sync for iPhone

Arbitrary Code on iPhone?

According to TechCrunch, it is possible for an existing iPhone App Store developer to put a hack that will allow the application to run arbitrary code that the user doesn’t want to…

It is a massive hole in the security system of the iPhone, I hope it will be fixed in the 2.2 firmware release.

V-Moda’s Vibe II, platform shoes not included

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

There must be a fashion-forward young man or woman out there brave enough to sport V-Moda's new Vibe II with Microphone. These stainless steel alloy headphones follow in the footsteps of the popular (and much better looking) Vibe Duo and feature the noise-isolation, in-line handsfree microphone, call and music controls that we expect from the line. In addition, the 'phones possess "solid and tactual sensation comparable to the finest jewelry and watches." Right. If you'd like to see for yourself, these beauts are available for $128, exclusively at the Apple Store.

V-Moda's Vibe II, platform shoes not included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

More accolades for the iPhone

Juxtaposer: Fun with photos on iPhone / iPod touch

Filed under: Humor, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

• Unlimited undo, so no mistake or accidental brushstroke is permanent.
• Hard or soft brushes to create sharp or blurred edges.
• Smooth blends between images with transparent brushes.
• Red mask mode lets you accurately isolate part of one image without being distracted by the second image in the background.
• Translucent mode makes it easy to align your images precisely.
• The stamp tool lets you add multiple copies of your cut-out to your composite.
• Work in portrait or landscape orientation; optionally have images auto-rotate.

Juxtaposer: Fun with photos on iPhone / iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Juxtaposer: Fun with photos on iPhone / iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple to Adopt Carbon Fiber for Lighter MacBook Air?

Apple enthusiastically claimed ownership to the world's thinnest...

AT&T Tethering to Cost $30 per Month?

When AT&T CEO Ralph de la Vega dropped word that they have official iPhone tethering for data access in our future, we only had one question: how much?

Well, MacBlogz [via Giz] brings word that they expect it will be $30 a month. This certainly seems reasonable (the rumor, not necessarily the rate) as Giz notes that it matches the current tethering plan made available for BlackBerrys. It looks as though iTunes will further recede from being ‘just a music player’ as it will also handle your tethering setup.

As you might expect, it will be capped at 5gigs a month, which seems pretty anemic for $30 bucks to us. On the bright side, PdaNet has sent in word that they’re still hard at work on their excellent tethering application — we suspect that translates into “make it even tougher for carriers to detect that you’re tethering.”

So basically: AT&T wants to charge you $30 per month for a plan that can only be used for occasional tethering. It’s what we expected, sure, but it’s not what we’d hoped.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

AT&T Tethering to Cost $30 per Month?

First Look: Gas Cubby for iPhone

Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look

In August, TUAW provided you with a first look at an iPhone trip expense tracking app called Trip Cubby. Now developer David Barnard and his company App Cubby have released Gas Cubby (click opens iTunes).

Gas Cubby is an automobile maintenance manager. If you can't remember the last time you changed the oil, checked tire pressure, or performed other preventative maintenance, this may be the app for you.

Gas Cubby tracks gas mileage and vehicle maintenance, and creates charts of mileage, gas price, and gas and service expenses. All of the data can be emailed in Excel .csv (comma-delimited) text files for further analysis on your Mac or PC. You can set Gas Cubby to remind you to schedule service appointments based on mileage or date, and the app can track multiple vehicles.

If your car was stolen, would you know your VIN (vehicle identification number)? Probably not, so Gas Cubby can also store your VIN, license plate, and insurance policy info. Just don't leave your iPhone in the glove compartment.

The $4.99 app is full-featured, and App Cubby is getting a good reputation as a development firm that listens to customer needs. Check out the Gas Cubby website for more info and screenshots than you can shake a dipstick at.

First Look: Gas Cubby for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Look: Gas Cubby for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone Backup Extractor for Mac

Furbo.org brings word of the iPhone/iPod Touch Backup Extractor. What is it?

This application converts the iPhone / iPod Touch backups that are created by iTunes into readily usable Mac OS X files. It is designed to run on Mac OS X Leopard only.

Twitterrific creator Craig Hockenberry, among others, claim this tool is invaluable for debugging and decoding.

Freeware, but donations appreciated.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone Backup Extractor for Mac

iPhone Firmware 2.2 Could Be Released in 10 Days (November 21st)

i. TV adds Netflix integration on the iPhone

iPhone Backup Extractor helps kill bugs dead

Filed under: Developer, iPhone

iPhone developer Pádraig Kennedy sent us news of this jewel of a tool: iPhone Backup Extractor, a way to read the backups that iTunes automatically makes for your iPhone or iPod touch using the Finder.

Kennedy already had a command-line tool to do this, but he wrapped an easy-to-use GUI around the whole process. Just select a backup, select an application, and away you go.

What makes this useful, writes ADC award-winning iPhone developer Craig Hockenberry, is that it allows developers to track down customer bugs that they can't reproduce themselves.

"You can instruct your customer to download the application, sync their device with iTunes and then have them select the latest backup and your application within that backup. ... Getting this information into your development environment is then just a matter of hacking around with the Simulator folder structure."

"The bug won't stand a chance at this point."

iPhone Backup Extractor is donationware, Leopard-only, and available directly from Kennedy's site (which has the best URL ever, incidentally).

iPhone Backup Extractor helps kill bugs dead originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone Backup Extractor helps kill bugs dead originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: iPhone OS 2.2 Only 10 Days Away? Nov 21 Release?

iPhonehellas.gr (via Macrumors) is claiming their sources are claiming that iPhone OS 2.2 is a mere 10 days away, set to drop on November 21st. Nobody outside a very few at Apple — and maybe the carriers — know for certain, however, so take this news with a Jobsian-sized grain of salt.

To round up the 2.2 beta features so far (which may or may not make it into the final release, along with whatever secret surprises Apple may have in store):

• Direct OTA Podcast Downloads and App Store UI tweaks
• App Store ratings upon deletion
• Google Transit, Walking directions, Street-view, and Share Location
• Line-in Audio access for the SDK

Still no word on Push Notification Services (which were dropped from 2.1 and are reportedly still not ready for prime-time), cut and paste, video, turn-by-turn GPS, MMS, Flash, or any of the other hundred or so things people are desperate to see added. Seems Apple is still focusing on what others can add (i.e. Google), and what they can get the most out of in the shortest release cycles. (Joz’s famous “priorities”).

Think this info is legit? Are we getting 2.2 in 10 days? Any secret features we don’t know about yet? What do you think?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Rumor: iPhone OS 2.2 Only 10 Days Away? Nov 21 Release?