Simplify Media update, take 2

Filed under: Software Update, iPhone, App Store

Earlier today we reported on an update to the media sharing tool from Simplify Media. It added some nice features, but it also installed a demo share on home machines that was not appreciated by many. It set off a mini-firestorm on the company blog, and we received plenty of negative comments as well.

Tonight, wasting no time, the folks at Simplify Media have pushed out another update for Macs, as well as Windows and Linux boxes. It defaults with the demo/test share turned off, but allows you to turn it on if you want to test to see if your system is working.

Paul Joyce of Simplify Media had some comments tonight on his blog:

Today I've been trading emails and comments with a few of you around a feature in Simplify 2.0 -- the Simplify Demo. The exchange has re-enforced one thing I already knew -- we have great, passionate users -- and one thing I know now -- I made a mistake in communicating this new capability.

Such candor is refreshing in a software company. This would be a minor issue, but the iPhone app that allowed users to have access to their large music collections from anywhere was a major hit at the App Store, and one of the most downloaded utilities, so a lot of people had a chance to be pretty angry about the installation of test content on their machine without permission.

Anyway, it's solved now, and it's a really positive outcome. I downloaded and tried the update, and indeed the test share is gone by default. A new version of the iPhone app will also be submitted this week. If all software developers were this responsive, it would be a better world.

Torches and pitchforks can now be stowed. A link to the new updates is on this page, about halfway down.

Simplify Media update, take 2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Simplify Media update, take 2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LTE iPhone hitting Verizon in 2010?

According to the latest leaks, Verizon and Apple are in discussions regarding a new iPhone for the carrier, which would be launched in 2010.  USA Today quote "people familiar with the situation" who claim discussions between Steve Jobs and Verizon began a few months ago. While USA Today suggest a CDMA ...

World of Warcraft coming to the iPhone?

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Review: HeavyMach for iPhone

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iPhone Live! — BIG Announcement! Tonight 8pm EDT/5pm PDT

iPhone Live! comes to you tonight (Wednesday, April 29) at 8pm EDT/5pm PDT.

Pre-show will start about 10 min. before if you want to drop by early. With iPhone 3.0 Beta 4 released like clockwork, we’ll likely have a few things to talk about but more importantly, we’ll have the live chat going to take your questions. You can also leave us questions in the comments below, or send them to @theiphoneblog on Twitter.

Oh, and we may just have a BIG announcement to make…

Join in via http://www.tipb.com/live

Chat with you soon!

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

iPhone Live! — BIG Announcement! Tonight 8pm EDT/5pm PDT

Review: Groupie for iPhone

This app, which tells you when and where your favorite musicians are performing, has a clean, simple, and effective interface. But it has some annoyances, too, like not always having the most complete information.

Remote media sharing tool Simplify Media updated

Filed under: Internet, iTunes, Software Update, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

The Simplify Media app for sharing your music libraries across the net or to your iPhone has been updated to version 2.0 (previous coverage here). If you have the app installed on your Mac, PC or Linux computer, you'll see an update notice real soon now. The update includes stability improvements, the ability to share only selected playlists, and a much-desired feature that lets you send your shares to Sonos, Roku or XBox 360 devices. The app now supports FLAC, in addition to the usual MP3, AAC, WMA and Apple Lossless codecs.

Simplify has also added a version 2.0 for the iPhone. The original app will continue to work fine, and it's free. The new version, Simplify Music 2.0 [App Store link], is $2.99US and adds the ability to search your music library from afar, tag tracks as favorites, create on-the-fly playlists and a 'scrub bar' so you have more playback control in podcasts and audio books.

I had no issues with the install on my desktop Mac, but the software irritatingly and without warning put a new share in iTunes called 'Simplify Demo' with an album by Brad Turcotte. I could have lived without it, and can't figure out how to send it back to the netherworld from which it came.

Remote media sharing tool Simplify Media updated originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Remote media sharing tool Simplify Media updated originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Getting Another AMD/ATI Graphics Guru in Raja Koduri?

Something seriously smoking be going on round Apple way if the latest story from The Inquirer (via MacRumors) is to be believed:

We’ve just heard from sources deep inside 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, California that [Raja Koduri, AMD/ATI Chief Technology Officer, Graphics Product Group] is heading there.

So for those keeping score at home, this adds to:

• PA Semi lower-power PPC chipset designer: bought
• ARM cpu: licensed
• PowerVR GPU graphics core: licensed
• Mark Papermaster, IBM chip guru: hired
• Bob Drebin, AMD/ATI graphics guru: hired

Steve Jobs has said Apple is working on their own systems-on-chip for future iPhones and iPod touches. Looks like that work has got some serious hardware, and talent behind it.

Our only question is, what’s going to melt the universe first, the Hadron Collider, or whatever Apple’s got cooking up in their basement?

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

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Apple Releases 4th Beta of iPhone OS 3.0 and Pre-release version of iTunes 8.2: Reveals More Details

Google has a sense of humor perhaps?

We don’t have an explanation for this, but the new version of the Google Mobile App for iPhone/iPod Touch lists some pretty humorous improvements, notably “Longer Version Number” and “Ninja.” Hmm..what could that mean? Perhaps some hidden special feature that searches a 10-square mile radius for Japanese assassins? This screen can be seen in the “Update [...]

Microsoft to launch iPhone competing device - with Verizon?

Microsoft Corp. plans to take aim at Apple’s iPhone with its own version of a touch-screen handset that could launch on Verizon’s network sometime early in 2010, according to a report published just minutes ago by the Wall Street Journal. Citing people familiar with the matter, the financial publication said the two companies are currently discussing [...]

iPhone OS 3 Beta 4 early release notes

The iPhone OS 3.0 Beta 4 arrived just a little later than expected – but it’s still good to see it, and nice to see that the pattern of a new beta release every two weeks is continuing at a steady pace. This has been reported by several sites now. Some have only had the new [...]

Simplify Music 2.0 for iPhone adds search

Simplify Media released the second version of their Simplify Music iPhone app, which allows you to stream music over the network from your computer's iTunes library.

Bump, the App Store’s billionth download

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Crabble: the iPhone, iPod touch stand that fits in a wallet

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Review: Krusell Classic Case for iPhone 3G

The Krusell Classic Case for iPhone 3G is available from The iPhone Blog Store for $24.95. If you are looking for a stylish case that zips closed and has a protective clear cover, this case might be for you!. Let’s see how it measures up after the break!

Design

The Krusell Classic Case is form-fitted for the iPhone 3G. The case comes with a removable multidapt clip that can adhere to any multidapt accessory. The clear protective screen allows you to still touch the iPhone touchscreen while protecting it. You also have openings for all of the standard accessible areas such as the sleep button, vibrate, camera, volume and 30-pin connector.

Daily Use

I was excited to get my hands on the Krusell Classic Case for iPhone 3G. Stylish cases are sometimes hard to come by as they are often stripped of their “coolness” for usability and functionality. The Classic Case fits very snugly in the zipped enclosure of the case. So snug, it was a little challenging to zip closed. Once my iPhone was inside, I inspected all of the openings to see exactly how accessible everything was. I have to say, everything was accessible… but… I feel the holes were cut poorly; they did not align properly and headphone jack did not have a sewn seam unlike the other openings on the case. This would lend me to believe that over time, the headphone opening might tear, or become larger than intended.

The clear protective screen was a nice addition. It allows you to use the capacitive iPhone screen to enter text, select apps, etc. I did run into two distinct issues: 1) the clear cover is not flush against the touchscreen, so sometimes I would have to “press” the screen in order for anything to work and 2) there is a distinct opening directly above the 30-pin connector on the bottom of the case. Depending on where you keep your iPhone (I tend to carry mine in my jean pocket) you can accrue unwanted lint and dust between the cover and the touchscreen.

Speaking of 30-pin connector, this case is not dockable unless you unzip the bottom of the case and slide it out, you can however, plug in your standard cable for charging and syncing. The included multidapt clip works… like a clip. If I had more multidapt accessories, it might be a little more exciting. To be honest, I left the clip off about 90% of the time.

Conclusion

While this case does have a few shortcomings in my opinion, it does look cool. The multidapt accessory is a definite bonus if you can take advantage of it and the Euro-styling is catchy. One of the big advantages of this case is that it protects it without adding a real bulk. The screen

Pros:

• Stylish
• Case is compact
• Openings for accessing everything you need on your phone

Cons:

• Not all openings are stitched
• Dust and lint can easily get between the screen and protective cover
• Not dockable

TiPb’s Rating:

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

Review: Krusell Classic Case for iPhone 3G

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TUAW Review: Quickoffice for iPhone

Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review

Having worked with Quickoffice on both the Palm and Windows Mobile platforms in the past, I was eagerly anticipating the release of the iPhone version. Quickoffice gives you the power to view, edit, and create Microsoft Office documents. The new Quickoffice for iPhone "only" works with Word and Excel files (no PowerPoint -- yet), and also provides a way to link to a desktop or MobileMe iDisk.

iPhone owners who have used Quickoffice on other platforms may miss the lack of PowerPoint compatibility. Another professional trainer I know actually used a Palm device with Quickoffice and a video-out cable to teach her business analysis courses. She's now an iPhone owner, but there's no way she's going to be able to leave her laptop at home until Quickoffice supports PowerPoint. On the other hand, this is the initial version of Quickoffice for iPhone, so there's nothing saying that the PowerPoint capabilities won't be built into a future version.

Continue reading TUAW Review: Quickoffice for iPhone

TUAW Review: Quickoffice for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Review: Quickoffice for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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