Snaptell Explorer retrives product listings from the iPhone’s camera

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Cool tools, Odds and ends, Freeware, iPhone

Oh man -- finally, we're getting an app that fulfills the promise of the iPhone. Ever since we knew the iPhone would have a camera and an internet connection, we've been waiting for SnapTell Explorer, and now it's here and free. Download and install it on the iPhone, and then snap a picture of any book, CD, movie, or videogame, and bingo, you've got links to listings for it (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Wikipedia, Google, etc.) around the Internet. I have no idea how it works (some type of picture comparison script hooked up to a database, surely, though it's amazing that it works that well with just the iPhone's camera), but that's fine, because it makes it all the more indistinguishable from magic.

The main drawback is that it takes a bit to search their database -- while wifi or 3G are much faster (obviously), Edge will have you waiting a few minutes for a find. And at this point, all they have are links to pages -- it would be nice to see a price comparison right away and/or a quick rating (to see instantly what people think of a movie if you happen to be standing in a video store making your choice). Finally, it would be nice to see this extended to all sorts of items -- I tried scanning a few groceries that I might be price shopping, but for now it's just books, movies, and music.

But otherwise, it's awesome -- even in low light/bad light situations, as long as you can get a recognizable picture of the case, it works. This is exactly the kind of thing the iPhone is made for, very cool to finally see it in action.

[via Waxy]

Snaptell Explorer retrives product listings from the iPhone's camera originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Snaptell Explorer retrives product listings from the iPhone's camera originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 3G Unlock Watch: Another Step Closer!

I have a funny feeling that sometime shortly after the 2.2 firmware drops, we will see the iPhone 3G software unlock in the next version of the ever so popular PWNage tools from the Dev Team.

They just updated their blog with more good news, the ability to spawn background tasks. Which is great and means they have everything they need for the unlock except for the implementation. Watch the video above for more details.

Keep up the good work guys. Everyone here at TiPb appreciate your work!

[Via blog.iPhone-dev.org]

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

iPhone 3G Unlock Watch: Another Step Closer!

Nokia N96 Gets Bruce Lee Edition… iPhone Could Still Take It!

Gotta admit, this Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Edition is pretty cool. Bruce Lee put Kung Fu on the map, and while I’m not sure the current generation of tiny Skidoosh’ers would know him over the Panda, it hits all my nostalgia strings. (I’m sure Jeremy is waiting impatiently for the other Bruce — Campbell, that is — to show up, while Brian may, just may, be holding out for the King himself! Of course, Sam Jackson will probably be ****ing next…)

Of course, even with Saint Bruce’s way of the intercepting phone, the N96 would still eat a whole heaping, hurting, helping of Jobs Sifu’s Dim Mak — that’s the death touch fellas — were it to even try and enter that iPhone dragon’s lair.

But yeah, I’m jealous.

And iPhone do hit back…

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

Nokia N96 Gets Bruce Lee Edition… iPhone Could Still Take It!

Dev Team Publish Video to Demonstrate Ability to Run BackGround Tasks; Even Closer to Unlocking iPhone 3G

iPhone 101: Protect your device with a passcode

Filed under: iPhone, iPhone 101, iPod touch

Are you worried that your iPhone or its data might get stolen? If you are, then this post is for you! Let's take a look at the iPhone's security options, starting in Settings > General > Passcode Lock.

If this is your first time visiting the Passcode Lock settings, then you will be prompted to create a 4-digit passcode -- this can be anything, just make it memorable. Once you've entered and confirmed your passcode, you will see a couple options. The first two buttons let you turn the passcode lock off, or change your passcode.

The next option, called "Require Passcode," allows you to set the interval between which your iPhone will require you to enter your passcode. For instance, if you set this interval for 5 minutes and you "sleep" your iPhone, you will be able to wake it and start using it again (without entering your passcode) for up-to five minutes after you put it to sleep. After the 5-minute time period has passed, your iPhone will require the passcode upon waking.

You also have the ability to turn SMS Preview on/off. By showing the SMS preview, the sender's name (or number) and a few lines of the message will be displayed. If you have this option turned off, you will only see the generic "1 New Text Message" on the wake screen.

For more protection, enable the "Erase Data" option. This erases all data from the device if someone tries to enter the wrong passcode more than 10 times.

With the passcode lock turned on, you have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your device, and data is safe. When you wake your iPhone by sliding a finger to unlock it, you will be presented with a number pad to enter your 4-digit code on. Upon successfully entering your code, the home screen will be displayed. Note that this works for the iPod touch as well.



Want more tips and tricks like this? Visit TUAW's iPhone 101 section today!

iPhone 101: Protect your device with a passcode originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 101: Protect your device with a passcode originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple posts ‘iPhone Your Life’ Web pages

Apple posted some new Web pages dedicated to helping people get the most from their iPhone 3G.

Review: Classics for iPhone

Think print will always win out over pixels when it comes to settling down with a good book? Classics for the iPhone and iPod touch may cause you to re-examine your thoughts on e-book readers.

Round Robin: Questions About the Google Android G1?

[This is an official Smartphone Experts Round Robin post! Every day you reply here, you're automatically entered for a chance to win an iPhone 3G, Case-Mate Naked Case, and Motorola H9 Bluetooth Headset! Full contest rules here!]

We come to it at last. My time with the Android draws to a close. I have but my final review to write and then I ship it off to the next lucky SME editor for him or her to take their turn. Before I let it go, however, Android Casey had the brilliant idea of asking our loyal iPhone readers for questions!

Anything you want to know about the Google Android G1? Anything you want to see? Anything you’re even a tad curious about? Anything you want to see compared to the iPhone?

Let me know in the comments and not only will you get another change to win our awesome prize pack, I’ll do my darndest to get you the info you not only need, but so richly deserve.

(Also remember to head on over to our sibling sites for more chances to win a Blackberry Bold, Palm Treo Pro, WinMo HTC FUZE, and Android G1!)

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

Round Robin: Questions About the Google Android G1?

Iconfactory debuts Frenzic for iPhone

Filed under: Gaming, iPhone

Iconfactory and ARTIS Software have released Frenzic for iPhone, a fast-paced puzzle game that matches the piece and color combination skills of Bejeweled with a series of pie-shaped game boards.

The game is an ideal timewaster -- my favorite kind of game -- perfect for waiting in line or on the subway.

Frenzic starts off easy enough: you're presented with a colored pie slice, and you must move it from the center of the game board to one of six other pies. Simply complete each pie with six pieces of any color, though matching colors wins extra points and bonuses. A video showing how the game is played is available here.

As you progress, the time you have available to park the current pie slice decreases. Gameplay gets challenging when you are given a piece for a position you already have six of: then you lose a life.

Continue reading Iconfactory debuts Frenzic for iPhone

Iconfactory debuts Frenzic for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Iconfactory debuts Frenzic for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More on iPhone MMS: Got Mobispine?

Remember that rumor from MacWorld Sweden about iPhone MMS? That Telia was going to launch their own App for the iPhone? Turns out there is an MMS App launching and Telia will offer it, though it actually originates with Mobispine.

Mobispine AB (MOBS) the market leader in delivering mobile solutions to operators announced the availability of the world’s first true Multimedia Messaging (MMS) for iPhone. Mobispine is now offering a “white label” MMS service for iPhone to global operators. This new and innovative service will increase revenue per user (ARPU) and generate profits for operators.

So will there be an AT&T branded MMS App in the US? Rogers in Canada? O2 in the UK? Etc.? Will some carriers opt not to get involved? If so, do we then hate on them rather than Apple? Or should things like MMS not depend on carriers or 3rd parties, but be baked right into the OS? (Or should MMS just be left to die so Email can inherit the mobile future as well?)

(Thanks to Tobbe for the tip!)

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

More on iPhone MMS: Got Mobispine?

Google Using Private API’s For Advanced Voice Search?

Is Google using private (i.e., not publicly available via the official iPhone SDK) APIs to create the silky-smooth “raise the phone and talk” activation for their new Advanced Voice Search feature in the update Google Mobile App? That’s the latest question Daring Fireball’s been looking into, and here’s what they’ve found so far:

If you use something like the command-line strings utility to examine the UIKit framework, you can see that there’s an undocumented (and therefore private to Apple) method named proximityStateChanged. And if one were to strip the FairPlay DRM from the current Google Mobile application binary — which, of course, you wouldn’t do, because you’re not supposed to strip FairPlay DRM, but I’m just saying if one were to do this — a class dump of the application binary would show that Google Mobile does in fact implement proximityStateChanged.

DF posits three possible explinations: 1) No one at Apple noticed the private API usage, 2) Apple noticed but turned a blind-eye, or 3) Apple approved the use of a private API. Citing sources, DF claims #3 to not be the case, and perhaps that’s why Google promoted the feature to heavily — and stirred up interest so high Apple would feel pressure to approve it (though we wonder if Steve Jobs’ Apple ever feels that type of pressure?)

By contrast, DF states #1 is not without precedence, while #2 would be grossly unfair to other developers, and either way, users may suffer if Apple makes changes to their private APIs (which is one of the reasons to keep them private after all).

So what do you think? Which scenario is most likely? And what would you rather, that developers (Google or not) use officially unsupported features if it means better apps but also apps that might just break when the next firmware drops?

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

Google Using Private API’s For Advanced Voice Search?

First Look: FlightTrack real-time flight tracker

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

Have you ever had one of those "damn, I wish I had waited a couple of weeks" moments? They usually happen when you buy an iPhone app you're not really thrilled about, but it's the only one of its type. About two weeks later, you're slapping your forehead when the app you really wanted ships.

It happened to me this month. When I travel, I like to make sure my flights are on time, so I like to use FlightView's Flight Tracker. About two weeks ago I purchased another flight status app, and I've been underwhelmed with it ever since.

Now Mac and iPhone Developer Ben Kazez has created FlightTrack, a real-time flight tracker for iPhone and iPod touch. The US$4.99 FlightTrack app (click opens iTunes) uses the same great FlightView data and maps, so it looks and works a lot like the online tracker.

Not only do you get the cool real-time location of each flight, but weather is overlaid on the maps (see screenshot at right). You can track multiple flights, look at details, and search by a number of criteria.

Thanks, Ben. Now I have to spend another $4.99 to replace that other app I'm using....

First Look: FlightTrack real-time flight tracker originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Look: FlightTrack real-time flight tracker originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW Review: Geocaching iPhone app

Filed under: Software, Reviews, iPhone, App Store

I first mentioned this app at the end of September when word leaked out that GroundSpeak, the keepers of the Geocaching.com Web site, was working on an iPhone app.

If you're not familiar with the hobby/sport/addiction that is geocaching, the concept is very simple -- people go out and hide caches in the great outdoors, use a GPS receiver to find the coordinates of the hide, then post the cache on the Geocaching.com Web site. Cachers go to the Web site, search for caches that are near their present location, and then use their GPS receivers to find the approximate location of the cache. Once they're done bushwhacking and find the cache, they sign the logbook, take and place trade items, and then log the find on the Web site.

A week after I acquired my iPhone 3G, I wrote a post talking about how to use the built-in GPS receiver and Mobile Safari to "do" geocaching. While the method works well, I was waiting and hoping for a much better way to geocache with the iPhone 3G. With the recent release of Geocaching for iPhone, it's time to see if that better way is finally here. Read on for more details!

Continue reading TUAW Review: Geocaching iPhone app

TUAW Review: Geocaching iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Review: Geocaching iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creator of Flick Fishing interviewed

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, Odds and ends, Freeware, iPhone

Freeverse's Flick Fishing, which we took a look at last week, has shot to the top of the charts in the App Store, and OSX Reality sent us a note about an interview with the game's designer, Aaron Fothergill. His brother Adam put together the graphics and sound, and Aaron did the actual coding and design. Aaron says it's a tough racket putting iPhone games together -- you've got to balance quality (especially production values, something that we could probably use way more of on the App Store) with time and cost. Since iPhone games sell cheap, it's not an easy job making sure you don't go overboard investing way more than you'll get back on return. But of course, if you put in too little time and charge too much, users will call you out for selling high-priced junk.

He also talks about Mac gaming in general, and immersion on the iPhone specifically -- casual games are doing well on the App Store, and some developers are saying that you just can't make an extremely immersive game on a platform where people are constantly being called, texting, and on the move. I have to agree with Aaron -- it's not that you can't be immersive, it's that you have to do it the right way. There's nothing wrong with short bursts of gameplay, but you have to realize from the beginning that that's what your users will be doing.

And finally, he gives out some information about a Flick Fishing update that's incoming: the recently released 1.1 patch consisted of bug fixes, but the upcoming 1.2 update will add some new features, maybe even 8 player networked play.

Creator of Flick Fishing interviewed originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Creator of Flick Fishing interviewed originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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