Studies show the iPhone is twice as reliable as Blackberry

Apple sure is taking the high road with the success of the iPhone. Once again Apple has beaten RIM and their Blackberry line in terms of reliability.  Apple has managed to come out on top with two models when RIM has an entire collection of handsets. In a study done by ...

Quick App: Truco for the iPhone

Developer Gonzalo Oxenford wrote in to let us know the story behind Truco, a South American card game for the iPhone. These are the types of developers that make us so excited about the future of the platform!

Since we decided to start making iPhone Apps, we realized that we had to take a lot of care in the interface design, and graphic arts. We think this new platform is an amazing approach to virtual reality, and that’s what we’ve been doing while designing Truco.

If you take a look at the card games now at the App store, you will see that not even the one made by Apple takes care of that. The wood textures, the card size, the beauty of the cards. All other card games have so small cards, that makes you think you are playing an 8 bit game. And you are not supposed to, since these games are running inside of one of the most advanced mobile OS on Earth.

It’s very important for the user to feel the cards, to move them. Cards must be big enough so you can appreciate the beautiful illustrations on them. And this is what the real Truco player loves.

Other interesting aspect of the game is the AI (artificial intelligence) it has. The game of Truco is actually played by tricking your opponent. The AI we developed can make things like raising the stakes and bluffing which can put pressure on you, and might cause you to fold. So we let the user to choose the computer skill level, making it easier or harder to play…

Truco can also be played in multiplayer mode via Wi-Fi. It takes advantage of Bonjour, Apple’s technology that lets two devices communicate in a local network with zero configuration. Truco just sees other Truco installed in your friend’s iPhone and they arrange a multiplayer game automatically, it’s so beautiful how it works.

Odasoft is a 3 people company. Tons of years playing video games have help us a lot. We work at our homes during our free time. We are Mac users and nerds. And we just invested our small tiny savings on this project. We love what we do, and that’s the key that let us wake up sunday mornings at 7 AM to start working on this, while most people keep sleeping…

Thanks Gonzalo!

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

Quick App: Truco for the iPhone

New Results Pages makes Google Search Even Easier to Use on the iPhone

iPhone Backup Extractor Helps iPhone Developers Debug Bugs

TouchOSC and Logic: look mom, no cables!

Filed under: Audio, Multimedia, Features, iPhone, iPod touch

The App Store is somewhat deluged with music-related applications. While I find many of the instruments to be novelties, the iPhone-based remote controls available for various Digital Audio Workstations have really caught my attention.

I've been playing around with the various musical remote controllers available for a while now. When the various iTouchMidi controllers were released, I got pretty excited. Problematically, I'm a fan of Logic Pro, and these intriguing but mostly Logic-incompatible controllers weren't up to snuff for my personal needs. It was a few weeks before I discovered the available OpenSound Control (OSC) apps in the App Store.

I've played with the lineup of controllers such as OSCemote and Mrmr (iTunes link), and both of those are a lot of fun with a good amount of potential. One stood out for me, though, and TouchOSC has officially become part of my home studio setup.

TouchOSC provides an array of control screens consisting of faders, rotary controls, buttons, toggles, XY pads, multi-faders/toggles and LEDs in various configurations. It communicates wirelessly with software and hardware which can receive and send the OSC protocol. I thought I'd offer a quick rundown of the steps I used to get from TouchOSC to Logic. I'm sure the same methods can be applied to other software, with a little variation.

An overview of the controller configurations in TouchOSC can be found in the gallery below. Read on for the lowdown.

Continue reading TouchOSC and Logic: look mom, no cables!

TouchOSC and Logic: look mom, no cables! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TouchOSC and Logic: look mom, no cables! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Releases Safari 3.2 with Improved Security, Anti-Phishing

Apple has released a new version of Safari 3.2 through the Mac OS X Software Update. The latest version of Safari provides improved security as well as protection from phishing websites:

This update is recommended for all Safari user...

iPhone game release roundup: Spoilage, Crystal Quest, Ben Stein and more

There are a whole bunch of new distractions on the App Store. Here are a few of them.

Apple’s New In-Ear Headphones to Begin Shipping Soon

It looks like Apple’s new in-ear headset will begin shipping any day now, according to what Macrumors is reporting. Yesterday Apple end-of-life’d the old headphones which simply means they will no longer be shipping them to resellers and when that happens, it generally means the new product is on it’s way.

In case you missed the announcement of these new headphones, here’s the deal:

The new Apple In-Ear Headphones with Remote and Mic are engineered for superior acoustic accuracy, balance, and clarity. So you hear details you’ve been missing with other, lesser headphones. And the biggest breakthrough? They’re just $79.

Are you willing to drop $79 for these bad boys?

[Via Macrumors]

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

Apple’s New In-Ear Headphones to Begin Shipping Soon

First Look: Tweetsville brings pro features to Twitter on iPhone

Filed under: Internet Tools, Reviews, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

There are a number of Twitter apps available for the iPhone and iPod Touch -- and why not? Much like peanut butter and jelly, Twitter and the iPhone are a classic combination. Tweetsville [iTunes Link] from Tapulous is the newest Twitter client available from the App Store, and it offers up an interface and feature set that really gives the competition a run for its money.

But wait, doesn't Tapulous already make a Twitter application? They do, and Twinkle [iTunes Link] is a neat app. Although the two applications share some interface similarities, the scope and focus are actually very different. Twinkle's real user hook is in its geo-location features, whereas Tweetsville is a full-fledged Twitter application.

I'm a pretty addicted to Twitter, and have been searching for an app for my iPod touch that could help me monitor and manage my stream with ease. Tweetsville appears to be that app. I follow a lot of users and my biggest problem with some of the other Twitter applications (and with the m.twitter.com interface) is that I can't view a large number of tweets at one time. With Tweetsville, not only does it grab the last 200 tweets for me, if I leave the application and come back an hour later, it will pull up what I've missed. That means I can access 532 tweets at once, rather than just the last ten minutes or so. That's extremely handy.

Read on for more...

Continue reading First Look: Tweetsville brings pro features to Twitter on iPhone

First Look: Tweetsville brings pro features to Twitter on iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Look: Tweetsville brings pro features to Twitter on iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burning Monkey Casino released for iPhone

Burning Monkey Casino provides seven different casino-style games for your iPhone or iPod touch.

TiPb Presents: iPhone Live Podcast #2

• Our podcast feed
• Download Directly
• Subscribe via iTunes

App Store, iPhone gaming, Apple in the enterprise, power saving pointers, ultimate accessories, and more. With Dieter, Chad, Brian, Rene, and special guest Box.net’s Sean Lindo. Listen in!

Background Reading

• Box.net… for your iPhone!!!
• Jobs Speaks! Joz Speaks! iPhone and iPod Touch to Bring the Game!
• http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/11/11/att-tethering-to-cost-30-per-month/
• Motorola RAZR Takes Back Seat to the New #1: iPhone 3G!
• Question: Which Mobile Device is the Most Reliable? Answer: iPhone!

Ultimate iPhone Accessory Pack Contest

• This week’s way to enter? Post something awesome in our forum!

Credits

Thanks to the the iPhone Blog Store for sponsoring the podcast.

Our music comes from the following sources:

• I Called You — iPhone Remix by Pete Leidy
via Sneakmove iPhone Ringtone Challenge

And special thanks to editor emeritus Mike Overbo for the killer intro!

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

TiPb Presents: iPhone Live Podcast #2

Mac Pro Suitable Nehalem (Core i7) Processors Due in 1st Quarter 2009

Digitimes reports that Intel is planning on launching the Xeon 5500 and Xeon 3500 series of server CPUs in the first quarter of 2009. These new processors are based on the Nehalem architecture which has been officially branded as Core i7.
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i. TV and Netflix buddy up for mobile queue management

Filed under: Video, iPhone, App Store

iPhone media guides may be a dime a dozen (or, in the specific case of What's On TV, $0.99), but the free i.TV listings and lookup tool is starting to follow through on some of the promises for future feature development we heard when it was launched.

The new version, on the App Store now, includes third-party partnership integration with Netflix. You can manage your DVD rental queue and your instant-viewing list (if you have a supported target -- Mac streaming is "still in the works" but as we know you can sneak your way in), search the Netflix catalog, or check for DVD availability from any TV schedule listing or movie details screen.

Other new features include the addition of Wikipedia links from most movie, show and actor listings; new TV channel listings, along with an option to only show new/unaired episodes; and location-based searching for movie theaters.

i.TV says that the Netflix integration is the first of several third-party ties for the app, with more announcements coming through the end of 2008 and into 2009. Can't wait!

i. TV and Netflix buddy up for mobile queue management originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

i. TV and Netflix buddy up for mobile queue management originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIY: Wooden iPhone 3G Dock - Neat and Green

Review: Cooliris for iPhone

The pictorial browser Cooliris believe there’s still benefit to the image as a means for relaying information. That benefit comes in the form of Cooliris’ 3D Wall—a three-high, ever-expanding string of related images and videos that link to locations around the Web.

Apple reaches iPhone deal with Thai mobile operator, in talks with competitors

Thai mobile provider True Move has reportedly struck an iPhone 3G distribution with Apple, though its competitors are also in negotiations.

Jobs Speaks! Joz Speaks! iPhone and iPod Touch to Bring the Game!

Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs, is quoted in the WSJ as being bullish on iPhone and iPod Touch gaming:

“I think the iPhone and iPod touch may emerge as really viable devices in the mobile games market this holiday season.”

His VP of iPhone and iPod marketing, Greg “Joz” Joswiak, meanwhile, spoke with T3 recently about his views on the iPhone and iPod Touch in the gaming space, wrapping up strongly with:

“if you squint your eyes you can see a future where you say it’s amazing the things you’ll see as far as gameplay, and we know from working with these developers and the things they tell us they’re working on, especially original content ideas, I think they’re going to blow everyone away. Because again the computer power and the 3D graphic power here [iPod Touch] is significantly greater than what you have here [picks up Nintendo DS]. So this allows people to do significantly higher quality games. And the Touch is always in your pocket, whereas you can’t always carry some other games consoles.”

So while cut and paste and turn-by-turn may still be complicated, Apple may actually be putting some muscle behind gaming this time — something they’ve never historically done well on the Mac.

Still at issue, however, is whether low price points and an unwillingness among some consumers to pay for premium apps will drive the bigger developers away. Dieter and I would happily pay $20 for Jobs of War or Grand Theft Auto: Cupertino Vice, but with people complaining about $1.99 puzzlers, we may never see the Mario or Halo of the iPhone. (You get what you pay for is a cliche for a reason?)

What do you think? Does iPhone gaming have a bright future? Would you pay for premium play? And are you ready to ditch your Nintendo DS or Sony PSP yet?

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

Jobs Speaks! Joz Speaks! iPhone and iPod Touch to Bring the Game!

Google webpage search results now optimized for iPhone!

Google’s Mobile Blog is telling us that they have updated their search results from the Google mobile webpage . The main benefits I have discovered with this update is that there is no longer a need to scroll left and right and that business have easy to touch numbers and addresses that launch the phone and map apps.

Here is the exciting part:

“Over time, we intend to make the newly formatted results pages available through other search entry points on the iPhone.”

This is really great news! I think we have all been wanting that dastardly Google Search box to present optimized iPhone results. I guess it is try that Google really “hearts” the iPhone In the meantime, enjoy the gallery and video after the jump!

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

Google webpage search results now optimized for iPhone!

Armado 3D platformer comes to iPhone

Armado, a 3D platform action game originally developed for the Mac, is making its debut on the iPhone and iPod touch.

Quick App: Juxtaposer for the iPhone

I will admit I am not the biggest fan of Photoshop but I am into all of these compositing apps in the App Store and this new application, Juxtaposer, [iTunes link] is one you can really have some fun with, especially if you like taking pictures of your friends and family and making them look ridiculous.

Along with all of that fun comes ease of use as well:

First, load in any two pictures - perhaps one of your dad, and one of your dog. Next, use your finger to erase around your dog’s head. Quickly zoom in and out or move around using two finger pinching gestures. To cut out your dog’s head exactly, first zoom out and make a rough outline, then zoom in, and erase or un-erase with pixel-accuracy. Switch to move mode and use two fingers to move, re-size and rotate your dog’s head into place over dad’s. It’s easy, intuitive and fun, and you’ll have a great new Dog-Dad in about a minute.

The app will run you $2.99 but for that price you are getting the best compositing application in the App Store. Period.

[Via TUAW]

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

Quick App: Juxtaposer for the iPhone