CNN: Our iPhone app is “not a hobby”

Filed under: Multimedia, Software, iPhone, App Store

CNN chatted with our good friends at DLS about the news network's iPhone app (scheduled to hit an App Store near you very soon), and it actually sounds pretty premium: in-app video, breaking news live video streaming, a Coverflow-style way to browse news information, the ability to store news to read later, and social sharing through Facebook, Twitter, and the usual suspects. CNN even says they want to add more to the app in the future, including some iReport-style news delivery functions, so people with iPhones out in the world can send news in as quickly as possible.

Ok, CNN, we get it -- you care about this one. It does sound like they're making a major push in terms of making their content interactive on the iPhone, but on the other hand, maybe they're just trying to sell you on the "premium" price: $1.99, with (we're told) non-intrusive advertising included. Obviously, $2 is cheap, but on the other hand, especially with advertising both from the network itself and outside clients, the crankiest of App Store browsers will probably flinch at it a little bit. If you are interested, however, CNN would love to take your money: their app should be available in the App Store as soon as Apple lets it through.

CNN: Our iPhone app is "not a hobby" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CNN: Our iPhone app is "not a hobby" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atebits Speaks: Tweetie 2.0 for iPhone Coming Soon

Tweetie 2.0 is one hotly anticipated Twitter client update, and developer Atebits has finally let the lid off just what features users can expect:

• iPhone 3.x only
• Full persistence
• Full offline mode
• Drafts manager
• Send drafts to Birdhouse
• Link Twitter contacts to Address Book
• Threaded conversations
• Nearby integrated with imbedded maps
• Geotagging support
• Saved searches to sync with Twitter.com and Tweetie Mac
• @people picker
• Recent hashtags
• Multiple attachments manager
• Peek gesture for replies
• Landscape support
• Profile editing
• Improved gesture shortcuts
• imbedded email
• New-style re-tweet support
• Refresh all on launch
• TextExpander support
• Read it Longer and Instapaper integration
• Go-to-User, searches autocomplete
• In reply TwitLonger
• Reply chain list view
• Short URL preview
• Tweet translation
• Block/follow from multiple accounts

And — wait for it — Atebits claims it’s kept Tweetie’s trademark iPhone-like UI concept:

Every single one of these features fits naturally into the user interface, none adds unnecessary complexity. It’s arguably even simpler than Tweetie 1, all while being vastly more powerful.

While Tweetie 2 for Mac will be a free upgrade, Tweetie 2 for iPhone will be offered as a new app for $2.99. It’s been submitted to Apple, so all that’s left is the approval process.

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

Atebits Speaks: Tweetie 2.0 for iPhone Coming Soon

Palm NOT Re-hacking iTunes Sync, but ARE Alienating Developers?

According to PreCentral.net, the upcoming Palm webOS 1.2 update will NOT be re-hacking iTunes 9 sync. In other words, the cat and mouse game between Apple and Palm may soon be missing it’s mouse. We’d heard Palm was in this for the long haul, even though we thought it was more ego than good sense, and at the expense of their own customers, so if true — huge kudos to Palm (even if it took a little help from the USB-IF). And to Palm Pre users, our sibling site is:

suggesting people at least dip their toes into the non-iTunes-direct-sync waters. DoubleTwist, Salling Sync, Drag ‘n Drop, The Missing Sync: learn them, love them, switch to them.

In the opposite of kudos department, it looks like Palm may be cloning one of least popular aspects of Apple 2-Billion download iTunes App Store — developer alienation. According to JWZ, he’s gone through dozens of emails, jumped through countless hoops, bended but refused to break, and now has faced an Apple-esque 2 weeks of silence.

Could it be that introducing, setting up, and running an app store is difficult, and until a few years from now, when all the bugs have been worked out, Apple, Palm, and almost every company will have their share of stumbles, falls, and face-plants?

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

Palm NOT Re-hacking iTunes Sync, but ARE Alienating Developers?

Scanning your way to a healthier diet with FoodScanner

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, App Review

Calories do count, and if you are among those who keep track of your daily intake and want an easy way to log what you eat, FoodScanner [iTunes link] may be just the iPhone app for you.

On a trip to the grocery store or just your fridge, FoodScanner reads the bar code and matches it to a large database of food items. If the app is successful in finding a match, you'll get the product name, amount of calories in a single serving, fat, carbohydrates, and protein content. You can that information to a daily list to keep track of what you are eating, without the pain of doing it all on pencil and paper.

While on a trip to my local Safeway, the bar code recognition worked really well. It just took a second or so to capture the info, and then match it to a database claiming to list over 200,000 food items.

In many cases, the scan returned several items, but it was a simple task to select the correct item by name.

Continue reading Scanning your way to a healthier diet with FoodScanner

Scanning your way to a healthier diet with FoodScanner originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Scanning your way to a healthier diet with FoodScanner originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Rehires Newton Developer Michael Tchao

The New York Times reports that Apple has rehired Michael Tchao, one of the developers of the Newton, Apple's personal digital assistant platform that launched in 1993. Tchao, who returned to Apple today after a 15-year absence, serves as vice presi...

Review: Real Soccer 2010 for iPhone

Graphically impressive, easy to pick up, loaded with features, and offering some of the deepest gameplay on the iPhone, Real Soccer 2010 isn't just an upgrade over the previous edition of the soccer franchise, but one of the best games to come to the iPhone this year.

TextExpander touch on sale to celebrate WriteRoom for iPhone integration

Filed under: Cool tools, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

When TextExpander touch for the iPhone was announced, one of the exciting aspects was the SDK to allow other developers to integrate TextExpander's technology into their iPhone apps.

The new version of WriteRoom for iPhone now includes TextExpander support. With this announcement, SmileOnMyMac has announced that they will be selling TextExpander touch for $1.99 until September 30 at 12 noon Pacific Time, a 60% discount off the regular price of $4.99.

WriteRoom for iPhone 2.1 includes other updates as well, as noted on the development blog:

• TextExpander support.
• Optional startup password.
• Settings are now accessed within app.
• New option to lock screen orientation.
• Sync service is out of beta and is open sourced.

If you purchase WriteRoom for iPhone ($4.99 on the App Store), you'll get a $5 off coupon that can be used to purchase either WriteRoom ($24.95) or TaskPaper ($29.95) for Mac.

TextExpander touch on sale to celebrate WriteRoom for iPhone integration originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TextExpander touch on sale to celebrate WriteRoom for iPhone integration originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pre firmware update fixes many flaws

While playing the cat and mouse game with Apple and iTunes syncing, Palm has prepared a bunch of improvements for its Pre firmware that will be soon implemented as WebOS 1.2.1.

Apple Announces Two Billion iPhone Apps Downloaded from the App Store

Apple Signs Agreement With Orange To Sell iPhones in UK - End Of O2 Exclusivity

Review: Pocket Piano Plus for iPhone

Both Pocket Piano and Pocket Piano Plus (which features eight sounds in addition to a standard piano) aren't bad if you're just looking for a music app to fiddle around with. But interface issues and artificial sounds on the non-piano instruments keep either version from making the grade.

TUAW and Mophie team up for a great giveaway

Filed under: Accessories, Peripherals, Odds and ends, iPhone

You remember Mophie's Juice Pack Air, don't you? It's a cool little "backpack" battery for the iPhone 3G and 3GS that adds life to your talking, texting, gaming, video, music, or surfing fun. We gave one away back in June, and it was a very popular giveaway.

Now Mophie has added a new product line, the Hip Holster series. These are padded premium leather holsters just the size to hold an iPhone dressed in a Juice Pack or Juice Pack Air. Each Hip Holster is priced at US$29.95, and they're available now through Mophie's website.

Mophie and TUAW would like to give away a matched set -- one Juice Pack Air and one Hip Holster -- to one lucky reader. You can enter the drawing by leaving us a single comment below; tell us what will you do with the extra battery power you'll get from the Mophie Juice Pack Air.

Here are the rules and a link to the obligatory legal statement:

• Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
• To enter leave a comment telling us how you'll use the extra power you get from a Mophie Juice Pack Air.
• The comment must be left before Friday, October 2, 2009, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time.
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
• Prize: One Mophie Juice Pack Air valued at US$79.95 and one Mophie Hip Holster valued at US$29.95.
• Click Here for complete Official Rules.

Good luck!

TUAW and Mophie team up for a great giveaway originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW and Mophie team up for a great giveaway originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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App Store officially reaches 2 Billion downloads, celebrated with a press release

It’s hard to believe, but the App Store has recorded over 2 billion downloads as of today. It’s amazing to think about… The release claims 50 million+ iPhone users, and 85,000+ apps are currently available on the platform, which is pretty mind-boggling in and of itself. To commemorate the occasion, Apple issued this press release: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/09/28appstore.html CEO Steve [...]

Official China iPhone street Date: October 1st

Reuters is making it official via their recently published report: China Unicom will launch the iPhone in the country on October 1st. It’s a great day indeed for the Apple smartphone, as it will now reach hundreds of millions of users who have been waiting for legitimate ways to get ahold of an iPhone for [...]

Orange wants in on the iPhone action

UK Wireless provider Orange issued a statement today stating that the carrier will begin offering the iPhone in the UK and related territories. This effectively ends the exclusivity agreement that O2 has held for awhile now on the iPhone. Part of the statement is here from the site: “Orange, which has the largest 3G network covering more [...]

iPhone Declared UK’s Coolest Brand

TomTom car kit for iPhone will run $120

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Peripherals

TomTom car kit for iPhone will run $120 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Releases iWork ‘09 9.0.3, Updates iWork.com

Apple today released iWork '09 9.0.3, bringing fixes for several minor issues as well as general improvements in a number of areas.

This update addresses general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, updates the help, and ...

Geology app puts mountains of info in the palm of your hand

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

I always loved geology and geography when I was in school and have kept up my interest over the years. Living in Arizona, we've got plenty of interesting geography, from mountains and deserts to fascinating road cuts and huge canyons that reveal geologic ages gone by.

Now, someone has created what I would say is the ultimate app for Geography/Geology amateurs and professionals.

I've been using Geology AZ, [iTunes link] which for US$4.99 overlays a whole lot of information on a basic map of the state. You can add town and cities, roads, counties; you know, the usual stuff you find on maps. Then you can dive much, much deeper, with maps of new and old fault areas, earthquake sites, old and current mines, public lands, fire history, and nicely rendered terrain elevation maps. I'm just scratching the surface here, so to speak. You can go to the developer web site and get a lot more information about what is available.

You use standard finger gestures to zoom in and out, and the level of detail is amazing. The items on the map are color coded, so you can tap something and get a lot more detail. You can use the iPhone's built-in GPS to plot your position on the map, and find out all sorts of interesting features that are near you. Thankfully, I'm not living on a fault line.

You can also capture one of your custom maps and output it in high resolution to your computer. If you're not interested in Arizona there are currently maps of Oregon/Washington, California, Texas, Florida and New York, with other states on the way. You can check them out here.

This is a great tool for education, enjoyment, or a heads-up about what geological formations or geographical highlights are near you. You can change the transparency of each layer, superimposing data across several layers of the map.

I can't say enough about how clever this app is, and the price is very reasonable considering the mountains (pun intended) of data it contains.

The Arizona map data is about 42MB, and using the app does not require any data from your cell provider. It runs on either the iPhone or the iPod touch, but getting a GPS fix is only possible on the iPhone.

Check the gallery for some screen shots and click here to see a video of this app in action.:

Geology app puts mountains of info in the palm of your hand originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Geology app puts mountains of info in the palm of your hand originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From the Forums: AT&T MMS, Perfect iPhone, Why the iPhone, Tips & Tricks

It’s time for some good old forum action. From the Forums is a great way to see what all of the current hot topics are on the TiPb forums. In order to create any new threads of your own or reply to any of the existing threads, you must be a registered member. Becoming a member is a simple process that will only take a few minutes out of your day, so if you have not already already done so, head on over and register now.

If you are a AT&T customer, we are pretty sure you are well aware that MMS has finally been activated on our IPhones. Well… for most of us that is. Some of you are still having issues getting it working. Stop by the official AT&T MMS threadand let us know how your experience has been so far.

This next thread was started by DBlanco and he thinks the iPhone is a perfect device. While many of you would agree with this there’s an equal amount of you who would disagree. Stop by the thread for yourself and speak your mind. My feeling is, yes the iPhone is a great device but no single device is 100% perfect. There is always room for improvement.

This thread was a started a while back by Erika78 and she wants to know why you decided to leave your previous phone and make the jump to iPhone? With our forums growing by the day this is one of those threads that will never die. Join in on the conversation and let us know why you left your old device.

Have some iPhone tips and tricks that you’d like to share? Perhaps you are in need of some general help? This is the forum you need to visit. That is the place to find answers to your iPhone questions along with all the tips and tricks you can imagine.

See you on the forums!

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

From the Forums: AT&T MMS, Perfect iPhone, Why the iPhone, Tips & Tricks