Jibbigo iPhone app translates from English to Spanish and back again

Jibbigo is a recently released iPhone app which promises to help you out the next time you're desperately trying to make yourself understood by your Spanish-speaking compadres. The app is capable of recording a sentence and translating it -- essentially in real time -- back to you. As you can see in the screencap above, you can speak either Spanish or English, and the translator will do its work, displaying both your original and a translation into the other language. The dictionary contains about 40,000 words, and the app is aimed at travelers. Jibbigo also requires the iPhone 3GS to make use of the bi-directional translation tools, and the app also reportedly functions a heck of a lot slower on anything other than the 3G. The app is available now for $24.99.

[Via, iPodnn]

Filed under: Software

Jibbigo iPhone app translates from English to Spanish and back again originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst: Apple Executives Share Thoughts on e-Book Market, iPhone Profits

RBC Capital analyst Mike Abramsky published a research note today regarding a meeting with several Apple executives, including Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer, iTunes VP Eddy Cue, and Mac Marketing VP David Moody, covering a number of topic...

Hands on with Google Maps Navigation on Android

An impressive feature of Google's new Android 2.0 mobile device operating system is Google Maps Navigation, a that's not only free to use, but is fairly easy to...

Official Settlers of Catan out now on App Store

Filed under: Gaming, Software, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Just in case you missed it, I got my wish from a while back: there is an official version of the classic board game Settlers of Catan, called just Catan, on the App Store right now. I'm still playing Kolonists, the unofficial knockoff that got kicked off of the store for infringement, but if you've got wood for sheep, this official version should get you your portable fix. If you're unfamiliar with the Catan juggernaut, check out this thorough piece from Wired.com.

There's hot seat multiplayer gameplay (I assume you just can't cheat by looking at what resources other people have), or a few AIs to tangle with if you don't have friends at hand, and the game includes a scrollable board to play on, game stats to track, and a tutorial for those of you who haven't rolled the dice and tried to build the Longest Road yet.

The game is created by United Soft Media, a German company that's also ported the game to the DS, and while it's not quite as shiny as the Xbox Live port (my personal favorite version of the game, outside of the real thing, of course), the reviews on iTunes say it gets the job done, at least while you're waiting for the next board game night (and while we're talking about board games, can I recommend Dominion? Best table game I've played in years). The game is $4.99 and available right now. Anyone have any ore?

Official Settlers of Catan out now on App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Official Settlers of Catan out now on App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Telmap taps NAVTEQ for iPhone GPS solution, understands the inevitable

Man, talk about awful timing. At least TomTom and Navigon were able to sell a few rounds of their pricey iPhone GPS application before Google went and ruined everyone's day (at least in the GPS biz), and now that Google Maps Navigation is but an approval away from hitting iPhone users for free, we've got serious doubts about Telmap's ability to market its newest product. Utilizing NAVTEQ maps and familiar shells like MapQuest Navigation (in the US) and Orange Maps (in France), the company seems quite proud of its newest routing solutions. Oh sure -- there's live traffic, turn-by-turn guidance, in-car and pedestrian modes, etc., but is anyone really doling out cash for a phone-based routing system right now with Google at the wheel? Exactly.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Software

Telmap taps NAVTEQ for iPhone GPS solution, understands the inevitable originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone Launches Today in China

The Associated Press reports on today's launch of the iPhone in China, noting several hurdles faced by the Apple as it attempts to tap into the world's largest market.

Among those hurdles is a lack of Wi-Fi functionality, a restriction...

Media Manager for Mac enables iPhone / iTunes media streaming to FiOS TV DVR (video)

We're hearing that the PC version of this here software still beats out the Mac counterpart, but equality is slowly but surely becoming a reality. The main new feature over on the OS X side, however, is a good one: the ability to stream iPhone and iTunes media directly to your TV via your FiOS TV DVR. Fire up an iTunes playlist and watch the fun roll by on your home TV, and there's even support for photo slideshows and the like. It's available to download right now from the read link, and those still skeptical can catch a demonstration vid just past the break.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

Continue reading Media Manager for Mac enables iPhone / iTunes media streaming to FiOS TV DVR (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Software

Media Manager for Mac enables iPhone / iTunes media streaming to FiOS TV DVR (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone Launches (Officially) in China!

Today’s the day — the iPhone officially launches in China on China Unicom. We say officially because it’s been available unofficially, in gray market form, since the original iPhone 2G was launched, and with winks and nudges via Apple’s unlocked sales in Taiwan and Hong Kong. So will international sales tumble as the world’s biggest market [...]

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

iPhone Launches (Officially) in China!

Review: Toy Bot games for iPhone

The Toy Bot Diaries series improves sequel-by-sequel, but Iugo Mobile Entertainment really gets the gameplay right with Spy Bot Chronicles, a spinoff from the physics-based platform game.

Why Nokia is Suing Apple Over the iPhone

Engadget’s resident legal gadget eagle, Nilay Patel, has put together a great, depth analysis of Nokia’s recent lawsuit against Apple and the iPhone over patent infringement. As usual, the race to hype this dispute as a bitter standoff between two tech giants desperate to destroy one another has all but ignored the reality [...]

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

Why Nokia is Suing Apple Over the iPhone

Apple Frequent Flying to China Means… iTablet Imminent?

According to Business Insider, the mythical iTablet is imminent due to the unnamed, unverified, unspecified travel of someone at Apple who does… something: a source tells us a system integration engineer friend of his at Apple has been ramping up his travels back and forth between China lately, broadcasting word of his travels over [...]

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

Apple Frequent Flying to China Means… iTablet Imminent?

Marvel Comics come to iPhone

Several Marvel Comics are now for sale on the iPhone via the free Comics app.

Apple iPhone/iPod touch Remote App Updated to Support iTunes 9.0.2 and Apple TV 3.0

To go along with the shiny new iTunes 9.0.2 and Apple TV 3.0 software released today, Apple has also bumped their Remote app [Free - iTunes link] to version 1.3.2, which: “provides bug fixes and compatibility with iTunes 9 and Apple TV 3″ If you have an Apple TV and haven’t tried the latest version [...]

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

Apple iPhone/iPod touch Remote App Updated to Support iTunes 9.0.2 and Apple TV 3.0

TomTom Car Kit Not Compatible with iPod touch and First-Gen iPhone

AppleInsider is reporting that the car kit will not be compatible with the iPod Touch and first-generation iPhone. This is a complete turn around from early reports from TomTom claiming since the car kit contained it’s own GPS, you could indeed use the TomTom App Store software/car kit combo with an iPod Touch and first-generation [...]

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TomTom Car Kit Not Compatible with iPod touch and First-Gen iPhone

Happy puzzling holidays! Triazzle Holiday Edition is in the App Store

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

We loved Triazzle 3.0 [iTunes Link] when it came out in July, but with winter nearly upon us it's time to dust off the sleigh bells and dreidels because Triazzle Holiday [iTunes Link] is here in a new seasonally-inspired version. This slightly cut-down version of the US$2.99 app sells for US$0.99, and runs on any iPhone or iPod touch running OS 2.2.1 or higher.

Triazzle is a puzzle game where you are given a sectioned triangle board and 9 (down from 16 in the full app) smaller triangle pieces that fit in the larger triangle like a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces are moved to the board and rotated to get the proper orientation, when all nine are in place, you have won. The rub is that many pieces can look maddeningly similar and there is only correct solution to each puzzle. So even if it looks right, you can be wrong. When you are right, you are rewarded with an animation and the match counter increments.

This version of Triazzle is chock-full of holiday lights, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, Dreidels, Nutcrackers, and a litany of other things to make you think of the holidays. The game has 4 difficulty levels ranging from one for kids to level 3, which is really quite difficult. Animated hints are available along with an option invoking the Triazzle Tiki Gods to solve the puzzle for you.

What sets Triazzle Holiday apart from just about anything else is its craftsmanship. Every screen is more gorgeous than the next, and the level of detail of the graphics can leave you breathless. If the visuals get too complex you can choose to display simpler backgrounds to make things easier to see. You can also adjust whether or not snow will fall, and you can set the volume level of music, ambient sounds, and game sounds.

Music is a large part of the game. Right after the splash screen you are advised to use headphones. Drag them out of the closet for this one -- it's worth it. The music is wonderfully recorded and reproduced using such favorites as Jingle Bells and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies from The Nutcracker Suite. In addition there is a lot of original music, including a spirited Klezmer number backing up a game full of Dreidels.

Triazzle Holiday will only be available through the holiday season, so get your copy now, put on your headphones, and immerse yourself in this impressive game.

Happy puzzling holidays! Triazzle Holiday Edition is in the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Happy puzzling holidays! Triazzle Holiday Edition is in the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Motorola Droid smartphone

The Droid certainly lives up to its promises and does a lot of things the iPhone doesn’t. The iPhone will probably keep its smartphone throne for now, but it will have to deal with a powerful new competitor.

TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review

Boy, TomTom sure has chosen the worst possible time to release their Car Kit for iPhone, and to make matters worse, their decision to not include the iPhone app is now set in stone. That's right, the hardware alone will set you back the cost of a TomTom ONE nowadays, and the $99.95 app works on the iPhone 3G and 3GS without it. So here's the question: is the car kit worth the extra $119.95? To find out, we got hold of a review unit for a sunny road trip around London. Surprisingly, the car kit uses Bluetooth to connect the GPS receiver to the iPhone, even though there's a dock connector for charging. Bluetooth connectivity does have its advantages: according to TomTom it can work as a generic Bluetooth GPS receiver for any satellite navigation app on the iPhone, or any smartphones at all for that matter. They even confirmed that the car kit could potentially compensate for the first-generation iPhone's lack of built-in GPS, but since TomTom's app won't run on anything but a 3G or 3GS we'll have to wait and see if that's actually useful. Meanwhile, TomTom is cooking up a compatible app for the original iPhone and the iPod Touch, which could make the car kit more worthwhile. Read on for our hands-on impression and test videos.

[Thanks for being our driver, Sam]

Continue reading TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

TomTom Car Kit for iPhone review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon-Apple Partnership - Could End of Carrier Exclusivity Shoot iPhone Sale Price Up?

Apple TV 3.0 is Here!

As rumored, Apple just announced Apple TV 3.0, with an all new interface and support for iTunes LP and iTunes Extras. “The new software for Apple TV features a simpler and faster interface that gives you instant access to your favorite content,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services. “HD [...]

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Apple TV 3.0 is Here!

Apple Releases iTunes 9.0.2 (Yes, it Kills Palm Pre Sync Again)

Apple this afternoon released a point update to iTunes, bringing the latest version to 9.0.2. iTunes 9.0.2 adds support for Apple TV software version 3.0, adds an option for a dark background for Grid View, and improves support for accessibility. Needless to say, according to our friends at PreCentral.net, it also kills Palm Pre [...]

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

Apple Releases iTunes 9.0.2 (Yes, it Kills Palm Pre Sync Again)