What CTA’s iPhone steering wheel lacks in style, it also lacks in convenience

Continue reading What CTA's iPhone steering wheel lacks in style, it also lacks in convenience

Filed under: Gaming

What CTA's iPhone steering wheel lacks in style, it also lacks in convenience originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple responds to Ninjawords Dictionary iPhone App Rejection

Distant Suns for iPhone update. Sky no longer the limit

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

In this International Year of Astronomy we're seeing a small explosion of astronomy apps updated both for the Mac and the iPhone.

One of my favorites, Distant Suns [App Store] has updated the build that runs on the 3GS iPhone to include some augmented reality features. This means that if you point the phone up to the sky, the program figures out the direction you are pointing and your elevation and slews to the proper view of the star map, giving you a view that should match what you are seeing in the sky.

This greatly enhances the usefulness of this program, especially for novices who want to get outside under the summer stars and quickly figure out 'what's up?'.

This new version is only for 3GS iPhones, and an update with some additional features for all the earlier models is on the way. Of course older phones won't have the compass feature. Other changes include some UI tweaks, and setting the sound effects default to 'off.'

Pocket Universe [App Store], which I reviewed last month, has a similar feature and also works very well. Pocket Universe sells for US$2.99 and Distant Suns is $5.99. Check reader reactions to both and go into details on the features to decide which one is right for you.

Distant Suns has a long pedigree in the star mapping world. It first ran on the Commodore Amiga in 1987, then was ported to the PC, the Mac, and now your favorite cell phone.

When you look up at the moon this summer to celebrate the Apollo 11 landing 40 years ago, be sure to investigate the thousands of other points of light with a software app that will literally point you in the right direction.

Note: Distant Suns runs on the iPod touch as well, but the software will not have the augmentation/orientation feature because the magnetometer isn't present in the iPod touch hardware.

Distant Suns for iPhone update. Sky no longer the limit originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Distant Suns for iPhone update. Sky no longer the limit originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: To-Do List for iPhone

This basic task manager won't set the world ablaze with its innovative interface or hard-to-live without features. But for keeping tabs on your to-dos, it handles the job well.

Phil Schiller says Apple didn’t censor a dictionary

Yesterday's story about Apple censoring the Ninjawords dictionary seems to have made some waves in Cupertino -- none other than Phil Schiller followed up with Daring Fireball's John Gruber to provide Apple's perspective on the situation. According to Phil, Apple's objection to Ninjawords was that by using the free Wiktionary.org dictionary, it "provided access to other more vulgar terms than those found in traditional and common dictionaries," and that the App Store reviewer initially suggested the developer resubmit when iPhone OS 3.0 was launched with parental controls. Since 3.0 hadn't been released yet, the developer censored some of the words in an effort to get onto the store early, and that's how Ninjawords ended up both censored and rated 17+. Sure, okay, except that Gruber points out that the App Store reviewer flagged some pretty generic swear words, not the smack-your-momma vulgarities Phil claims are the issue. Still, the larger message remains the same -- the App Store review process is maddeningly inconsistent and in dire need of reform -- and on that note Phil says Apple intends to "learn and quickly improve," so it sounds like there's hope yet. Check the read link for more of Phil's response, it's an interesting read.

Filed under: Cellphones

Phil Schiller says Apple didn't censor a dictionary originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple’s Schiller responds to dictionary app controversy

Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, Phil Schiller, responded to Daring Fireball's John Gruber about the controversy over the Ninjawords dictionary iPhone app.

Daring Fireball: Apple VP Phil Schiller Responds to Ninjawords iPhone App Store Incident

Daring Fireball received a response from Apple Senior VP of Marketing, Phil Schiller, regarding the App Store incident involving the Ninjawords iPhone dictionary app.

Gruber quotes “the salient parts” of the email in full, but the gist seems to be that, unlike other dictionaries approved for the App Store, Ninjawords drew from Wiktionary and thus the App Store suggested they wait until iPhone 3.0 was released with parental controls before re-submitting it. Not knowing the release date of 3.0 and not wanting to wait, the Ninjawords developers went ahead and filtered it themselves, thus ending up with a filtered app that took long enough to approve it timed itself into the 17+ rating anyway.

However, that other dictionaries with the same “objectionable content” haven’t been flagged as 17+, so the capricious nature of the App Store — the very thing developers fear most — remains. Check out the above link to Daring Fireball for more on

Schiller closes his response as follows:

Apple’s goals remain aligned with customers and developers — to create an innovative applications platform on the iPhone and iPod touch and to assist many developers in making as much great software as possible for the iPhone App Store. While we may not always be perfect in our execution of that goal, our efforts are always made with the best intentions, and if we err we intend to learn and quickly improve.

That, on the heels Tim Cook’s comments about improvements needed to the App Store, if observable actions follow the sentiments, perhaps developers and users alike will begin to regain some faith in the approval process. Until then, it remains an unsightly blemish on Apple’s otherwise brilliant mobile platform.

(No word yet on whether Gruber asked him about Google Voice…)

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

Daring Fireball: Apple VP Phil Schiller Responds to Ninjawords iPhone App Store Incident

Google Wave dev preview hands-on and impressions

Continue reading Google Wave dev preview hands-on and impressions

Filed under: Software

Google Wave dev preview hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phil Schiller Comments on ‘Ninjawords Dictionary’ iPhone App Rejection

Yesterday, we reported on Daring Fireball's coverage of Apple's lengthy approval process for the Ninjawords Dictionary iPhone application that ultimately resulted in the application not only receiving a "17+" age rating but also having removed a numb...

In Stock: Blueant Q1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset for iPhone

In Stock: Blueant Q1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset for iPhone

The revolutionary BlueAnt Q1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset with Multipoint takes Bluetooth headsets to the next level of comfort and handsfree experience.

The BlueAnt Q1 uses advanced Voice Recognition software to allow you to easily control the headset and many phone functions just by using your voice.

That’s right: talk to it and it will talk to you.

To hear a list of the available commands just click the BlueAnt button and say “What Can I Say?”.

The BlueAnt Q1 incorporates dual microphones and BlueAnt’s superior Voice Isolation Technology - an advanced software solution that separates the user’s voice from all other sounds resulting in outstanding call quality, no matter where you are.

The Blueant Q1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset for iPhone is in stock and available now from TiPb’s iPhone store…

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

In Stock: Blueant Q1 Voice Controlled Bluetooth Headset for iPhone

Report: O2 iPhone deal to end in October in UK

O2 could lose its exclusive deal to stock Apple's iPhone in the UK on October 9 this year.

Review: Zenonia for iPhone

With more than 40 hours of gameplay, hundreds of unique items per character, tons of quests, a complex story line, and weapon upgrades, the role-playing game Zenonia has few rivals when it comes to depth.

Review: Zenonia for iPhone

With more than 40 hours of gameplay, hundreds of unique items per character, tons of quests, a complex story line, and weapon upgrades, the role-playing game Zenonia has few rivals when it comes to depth.

CoPilot Live United Kingdom Navigation iPhone App released

CoPilot Live is the award-winning GPS Sat Nav system that runs on your iPhone, with complete street maps of UK and Ireland and full 7 digit UK postcodes. It’s your personal traveling assistant that’s always at your side, ready to guide you with turn-by-turn directions and keep you better informed with useful live information about [...]

TomTom iPhone kit listed for £99.00 for pre-order

A U.K Web site has made the TomTom cradle available for pre-order at a cost of 99 pounds excluding VAT, or about $168.50 U.S., though a company spokesman would not confirm that price. The price on handtec.co.uk, discovered by Daniweb.com, is the first possible glimpse at the anticipated product’s retail cost. TomTom spokesman Kevin Carter said the [...]

iPhone Rakes in 8% of Cellphone Market Revenue, 32% of Profit

All Things Digital reports that, based on Bernstein Research analyst Toni Sacconaghi’s estimates, that while Apple takes in only 8% of cellphone industry revenue, they rake in a bind boggling 32% of the profit. This is similar to their share of desktop computing revenue and profits.

“With the iPhone and its Apps Store, Apple has established a formidable smartphone ecosystem, which history suggests is very difficult to overcome,” the analyst explains. “In fact, Apple has the potential to become a de-facto standard of sorts in the consumer smartphone market, much like it became in the portable media player market with iPods, due in large part to its first mover advantage and tight software and hardware integration.

Indeed. Applying the Mac and iPod business model, especially as convergent, mobile devices begin to outpace traditional players and platforms, was said by Apple to be their strategy from the get go.

Looks like it just might work out for them…

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

iPhone Rakes in 8% of Cellphone Market Revenue, 32% of Profit

New 8GB 3GS model to replace existing $99 iPhone 3G?

Alleged internal information from Rogers Wireless in Canada suggest that an 8GB model of the iPhone 3GS will launch soon, perhaps replacing the current $99 iPhone 3G offering. In pictures sent to The Boy Genius Report,, it appears that the new 8GB iPhone 3GS will be sold in place of the existing iPhone 3G model. The [...]

Booyah starts off slow, offers $1000 in contest

Filed under: Gaming, Freeware, iPhone, App Store, App Review

I've been playing with the hyped-up Booyah Society app for about a week or so now, and I don't think my reaction is too singular: it's not all that great. The idea is certainly a good one: take your real-life achievements and turn them into a game, complete with points and an avatar, but in practice, it's not quite there yet. Achievements are honor-based, which means you can make as many or as few points as you want just by punching anything in, and while the avatar is pretty nifty, it doesn't seem like there's that much to do with the little guy besides spin him around until he gets sick. That's not to say that the potential isn't still there -- the app's "Booyah" recommendations can give you some interesting things to do if you need them, and if they ever get the app using some actual iPhone mechanics (how about traveling a certain distance according to the GPS or playing a certain song or sound into the microphone?), it could be really addictive. But they're not quite there yet, and while we don't have any info on how many downloads they've gotten, the App Store rating is less than impressive at two-and-a-half stars.

And they're not giving up yet -- they just announced a giveaway of up to $1000 over on Facebook. You'll have to log in to see it, but if you become a fan of their service and fill out a quick sweepstakes form, you're entered in to win a $500 Apple gift card for yourself, as well as a chance to give $500 to five more friends.

Sure, the contest is blatant promotion (and it might even just be a shot in the dark to try and grab a Facebook audience). But what will be interesting here is to watch and see what happens with the app -- these guys have a legendary game development background (coming from Blizzard Entertainment), and at least $4.5 million in VC financing already. Whether they sink or swim, they're making for a very interesting case study of big-time development on the iPhone.

Booyah starts off slow, offers $1000 in contest originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Booyah starts off slow, offers $1000 in contest originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Researching Methods to Detect ‘Consumer Abuse’ in Portable Devices

New Scientist points out an Apple patent application published today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that discloses techniques for digitally "detecting whether consumer abuse has occurred in an electronic device." The application cites as ex...

Google Voice Bookmarklet Updated to Convert Address Book

David from ironicsans sent word that his genius Google Voice bookmarklet for iPhone Safari has been given a fairly awesome update:

Now there’s a script people can run (with instructions) that will convert your entire Address Book into Google Voice Speed Dial bookmarklets. It saves them to an html file that can be imported into Safari Bookmarks, rearranged or edited however you like, and then synced with the iPhone. Easy.

Check it out and let us know how it works for you!

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

Google Voice Bookmarklet Updated to Convert Address Book