Review: Third-party browsers for the iPhone

We take a look at eight third-party iPhone browsers (all based on WebKit) to see what they have to offer, and how they stack up against the mobile version of Safari.

Second look: Public Radio Tuner for iPhone

Filed under: Audio, Multimedia, Freeware, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

American Public Radio has updated and improved its free app for listening to public radio streams on the iPhone/iPod touch. We had a look at the first version in early December, and the criticisms Megan Lavey noted in her review have been addressed.

Public Radio Tuner [app store link] has access to more than 200 streams from stations around the country. With this 1.1 update, this version starts up faster, works better over the slower EDGE network, and you can now search for your favorite station by call letters, frequency, city, region or format.

The app now uses location services to find stations that are near you, which is great if you are traveling.

Here are some things I'd like to see in the next version. Most important would be to have stations grouped by category. As it is now you can use the search tool and input a keyword like 'jazz' to get a list of stations with that format. I'd rather see some buttons that let me get this information without typing.

Another welcome fix would be web links. Each station page has the web URL to the station, but it is not click-able. I know you'd lose the stream if you bring up Safari, but the developers could have browser access from within the app as some others have done. Even better, Apple should fix the restriction in the iPhone OS that won't allow multitasking for 3rd party programs.

A spokesperson for the Public Radio Exchange, which is behind the app, tells me a May update will include program guide information. It will also allow listeners to get on-demand content, which is a big plus. And they say they are working on integrating a web browser. Yippee!

Not all Public Radio Stations are going to be found with this app. All stations were asked to contribute, but some don't stream, and others didn't want to participate.

The new features in Public Radio Tuner are most welcome, and I expect to be using it quite a bit. Give it a try and see if it fits your needs for music and talk that goes beyond the usual commercial radio fare.

Second look: Public Radio Tuner for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Second look: Public Radio Tuner for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone apps round-up: Another Craigslist offering

CraigsPal joins the growing ranks of apps that offer you access to the popular online classifieds site.

Emoji Emoticons Enabled for All by frostyplace App!

The inimitable iJustine has tastily blog snacked about an App Store goodie named frostyplace (iTunes / $0.99), a Japanese RSS reader that by-the-way works around the iPhone’s limitation of only allowing Emoji (the massive emoticon collection used in Japan that adds to smiley face things like panda bear, train station, and mountain) on it’s official Japanese carrier.

Basically, you download and install the app, use it to browse some Japanese RSS feeds (i had to do it for a couple minutes, exiting and re-doing it 3 times), and then the Emoji option will miraculously appear in your settings and you’re golden.

Check out her site for the details and instructions, but I tried it and it worked for me. Let us know how you do!

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

Emoji Emoticons Enabled for All by frostyplace App!

4 Pencils and Rubber Bands? Got iPhone Stand!

Roland dropped us a note about this improvised iPhone stand he whipped together with nothing but several pencils, rubber bands, and a needful dream. He put it together so he could enjoy a little landscape video.

Check out his site, geeky-gadgets.com, for more pics and instructions.

Anyone going to try Macgyver’ing this one up at home?

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

4 Pencils and Rubber Bands? Got iPhone Stand!

Review: I Love Katamari for the iPhone

While the iPhone version of I Love Katamari is a fun way to kill some time and the learning curve isn’t particularly steep, the final product feels more like a technical demo than a finished game.

[Sponsored Post: Body Glove Silicone Case for iPhone 3G]

Sponsored Post: Body Glove Silicone Case for iPhone 3G

The Body Glove Silicone protective case offers great protection for your iPhone 3G.  This slim case features a durable, translucent material that is easy to grip and shields your phone from bumps and scratches. An adjustable stand is built into the belt clip, allowing for multiple viewing possibilities.     

• Strong, tear-resistant case
• Soft, rubberized material
• Removable knob for sleek design
• Adjustable kickstand built into belt clip
• Kickstand allows for multiple viewing angles

Body Glove Silicone Case for iPhone 3G is available from TiPb’s iPhone store…

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

[Sponsored Post: Body Glove Silicone Case for iPhone 3G]

Macworld 2009: Spawn 2 and the economics of the App Store

Filed under: Macworld, iPhone, App Store

Spawn Illuminati version 2 just hit the App Store (iTunes link). If you haven't seen it, it's an amazing time-killer which allows user interaction with something akin to a screensaver on your iPhone. It's a little hard to explain, which is why we have video. You can also check out some user-contributed screenshots on the developer's Flickr page.

An interesting aspect of the Spawn story is the author's success with pricing it above the .99 "sweet spot" after mediocre success at that standard price. The second video is a snippet of Spawn's developer Nikolai riffing about App Store economics. Spawn is currently back to .99USD in the App Store, but only for a limited time. Read on for a demo and some pricing opinions from an experienced App Store developer.

Continue reading Macworld 2009: Spawn 2 and the economics of the App Store

Macworld 2009: Spawn 2 and the economics of the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Macworld 2009: Spawn 2 and the economics of the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Touch Physics Review

As the AppStore matures and developers get familiar with the SDK, the quality of the games available have just been improving by leaps and bounds. Like some of the other games I've been reviewing as of late, Touch Physics is a well-polished game that has a simple concept: move/nudge the ...

New iPhone Apps for Friday, January 16, 2009

Where To Golf ($.99) by Carpe Diem Ventures. Where To Golf shows information on golf courses and how to get there. An extensive collection of over 19,000 golf courses in the United States provides info about a particular golf course. I believe Ryan will be doing a review on this one ...

Apple Settles iPod Nano Scratch Lawsuit with $25 Refund

CNBC reports that Apple is in the process of settling a class-action lawsuit against the company filed in 2005. The lawsuit charged that the first generation iPod nano's screen scratched "excessively during normal usage".

According ...

DIY: iPhone Stand using Pencils and Rubber Bands

iPhone at CES 2010 Update — What About Macworld?

With Apple announcing that Macworld 2009 would be its last, rumors began to fly that maybe CES 2010 would get Steve Jobs’ attention instead. TiPb still isn’t buying that — given Apple’s stated reasons, it makes no more sense for them than Macworld.

However, now word comes that iLounge has begun working with the CEA (the organization behind CES) to create an iPhone (and iPod) “iLounge Pavilion” at CES as a rallying and gathering point for exhibitors — perhaps in lieu of Macworld 2010.

iLounge seems to feel this is necessary to help proactively preserve and project forward the iPhone and iPod community given the perhaps uncertain future of Macworld.

Macworld (the magazine, not expo, though they share the same parent company) editor Jason Snell, however, on Twitter expressed concern that iLounge might have crossed a line beyond merely being proactive.

Hearts and souls are likely still hoping for a strong and vibrant Macworld next year, but are pragmatic minds and wallets turning more towards CES? And what lines should — or shouldn’t — be crossed when it comes to media (new or old) covering events, or each other, while having or making alliances with competitive events?

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

iPhone at CES 2010 Update — What About Macworld?

Mili Phonesuit Power Pack for iPhone adds some style, weight to your device

Filed under: Cellphones

Mili Phonesuit Power Pack for iPhone adds some style, weight to your device originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pencils down, iPhones up

Filed under: Accessories, iPhone

The next time someone calls you a pencil-necked geek, take comfort in the knowledge that the humble pencil can be used to do wonderful things, especially if you happen to have a few of them lying around plus some heavy-duty rubber bands. In fact, with the kind of ingenuity displayed by the Geeky Gadgets team, you can whip up one delightful iPhone or iPod touch stand. The same design could work with sturdy twigs and twine, if your office supply oversight is too strict to allow the pencil version -- impress your cubicle-mates with your Adirondack outdoorsy style.

In a similar vein to the binder-clip stands featured on Cult of Mac and Instructables, this stand does a nice job of reusing found materials. If you've got a favorite iPhone stand made from atypical structural items, throw it into the TUAW Flickr feed.

Thanks Ged!

Pencils down, iPhones up originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pencils down, iPhones up originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Touch Physics Review

As the AppStore matures and developers get familiar with the SDK, the quality of the games available have just been improving by leaps and bounds. Like some of the other games I've been reviewing as of late, Touch Physics is a well-polished game that has a simple concept: move/nudge the ...

New iPhone Apps for Friday, January 16, 2009

Where To Golf ($.99) by Carpe Diem Ventures. Where To Golf shows information on golf courses and how to get there. An extensive collection of over 19,000 golf courses in the United States provides info about a particular golf course. I believe Ryan will be doing a review on this one ...

Quick App: Get iJiggles-y with the iPhone

It seems the iPhone, with its OpenGL and CoreGraphics/CoreAnimation is just begging for some body distortion. We’ve seen it before (and seen it get rejected before), and it just keeps getting more fully featured. Says the developer, Smells Like Donkey:

everyone assumes that iJiggles is strictly a boob app. It is of course the first thing everyone does with it and it does it well, but it’s designed so you can have fun with it on any picture.

Indeed, version 1.1 will include: Smoother and Faster Animations, new “Inflate” feature to further enhance parts of your photos, multitouch interactivity, saving and loading.

Gallery after the break.

(And BTW- TiPb is still waiting for the ladies to get a little pay back with these apps. Maybe in our Forums?)

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

Quick App: Get iJiggles-y with the iPhone

Lights Off returns to the iPhone

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, iPhone, iPod touch

Hey, remember Lights Off? We first posted about it in the relative Stone Age of iPhone development, when the only SDK we had was writing web pages and when you had to actually jailbreak your iPhone to do anything cool with it. Nowadays, of course, we live in storied times, and so Lights Off has returned, this time on the App Store as a $1.99 app. It does look a little different, but the new version has been redone from scratch, and has added in some sound effects (even though you can't hear them in the video above). If you liked the game then, you'll probably like it now, too.

And yes, we have now come full circle -- developers have recreated, with Apple's official SDK, a program that was originally created without an official SDK, so people who jailbroke their iPhone back then to play the game can now do so without jailbreaking their iPhone. Got all that? We know -- it hurts our head, too.

Lights Off returns to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lights Off returns to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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