Fring brings one-way video calling to the iPhone

Continue reading Fring brings one-way video calling to the iPhone

Fring brings one-way video calling to the iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On the first night of Christmas, my true love game to me - free game apps

Filed under: Software, Freeware, Deals, iPhone, Holidays, iPod touch

On the first night of Christmas, my true love game to me - free game apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

On the first night of Christmas, my true love game to me - free game apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the world’s most expensive iPhone

Designer Stuart Hughes, from Liverpool has created an iPhone costing a cool £1.92 million (US$3.2 million).

Quick App for Xbox 360 Owners: 360 Live

If you are a big online gamer and own a Xbox, 360 Live [$1.99 - iTunes Link] is the app for you. There are many apps within the App Store that perform many of the same functions as 360 Live but none of them are this well integrated.

• Sign in securely using your Xbox Live credentials. 360 Live automatically retrieves your friends.
• Complete Gamertags management. Add, remove, accept or reject pending requests.
• An organized Friends List. Grouped by status (Online, Offline, etc.)
• Gamer Profile and details including gamerscore, bio, location, country, gamercard, avatar, etc.
• Check your friends complete games history.
• Compare locked and unlocked achievements per game and gamertag.
• Send and receive messages. You can even send messages to multiple recipients!
• Gamercard coverflow style carrousel on landscape mode!

The only negative that I’ve seen testing this app out is that at times, it can take some time to load. Hopefully that is cleared up with an update or two and if it is, this will be hands down the best Xbox Live companion piece.

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

Quick App for Xbox 360 Owners: 360 Live

Google Looking to Offer Paid Streaming TV Shows?

MediaMemo reports that Google is looking to enter the business of offering paid television content, a move which would add a new competitor to Apple's iTunes Store TV offerings. Google's service, however, is reportedly planned to utilize a streaming...

iLife 2010’s New iDVD to Include iTunes LP, iTunes Extra Creation?

Boy Genius has an unconfirmed source claiming that, as part of Apple’s rumored iLife 2010, long-ignored iDVD will finally see an update — and that update will be support for iTunes LP (and we’re assuming iTunes Extras) creation/authoring.

It certainly makes sense, not only to keep iDVD relevant (though would it need a name refresh as well?), but also since Apple recently made iTunes LP and iTunes Extra (and TuneKit) resources available to developers. A consumer/prosumer-friendly development environment, similar to GarageBand or iMovie, makes the kind of sense that does.

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

iLife 2010’s New iDVD to Include iTunes LP, iTunes Extra Creation?

Psystar to Change Tactics and Sell Mac OS X-Ready Computers?

Computerworld reports on a motion filed in federal court yesterday by unauthorized Mac clone maker Psystar noting that it has reached a partial settlement with Apple over the company's copyright infringement case filed against Psystar in 2008.<p clas...

iPhone APInsanity: Unity Updates to Avoid Rejections, Compatibility Causing False Positive Dejection

9to5Mac brings word of Unity’s latest update:

Unity iPhone 1.5.1 includes improved XCode support and improved AssetBundle support, but more importantly Native APIs (NSGetEnviron and exc_server functions) have been removed to comply with new Apple requirements.

“The main reason for this is to avoid problems with applications breaking when Apple releases new versions of the iPhone OS,” the company explains.

In case you hadn’t been following the story, Apple is using a new static analysis tool to find and reject apps using private APIs, and in so doing flagged a bunch of them caused by some calls inside the Unity game development engine (and the Three20 framework, perhaps among others).

On the flip side, it’s possible the same static analysis tool is also generating false positives when it comes to apps using Apple’s own recommended backward compatibility guidelines.

According to Apple’s Dev Center:

By using “weak linking” in your Xcode project, you can include frameworks you’ll need for the newer features, and check for API availability when your application is running. This technique provides you with the broadest possible audience for your application.

Yet developer Juicy Bits Software speculates that:

we’ve been bitten yet again by the static analysis tool. 3D Camera Lite runs on iPhone OS 3.0 or later, and we check the OS version before calling any of the new 3.1 APIs…

So, basically, Apple’s not acknowledging the OS check, and rejecting based on 3.1 APIs being used for apps that run on earlier versions of the iPhone OS that don’t include those APIs as public.

If correct, that’s certainly “frustrating” as they put it, and yet another sore point Apple will need to address and quickly.

[Thanks to Jordan for the Juicy Bits tip!]

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

iPhone APInsanity: Unity Updates to Avoid Rejections, Compatibility Causing False Positive Dejection

Review: Harry Potter Spells for iPhone

The first official Harry Potter game for the iPhone spares no expense where graphics are concerned. Unfortunately, the game's atmosphere doesn't make up for the fact that it's just plain frustrating to play.

Samurai Puzzle Battle getting GotY edition

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

I hadn't even thought about it, but sure enough, we're coming up on the end of the year, and there'll be quite a few iPhone titles in the running for best mobile game of the year. This certainly isn't the first year we've seen a nice crop of App Store picks coming out, but it's the best so far. One of my favorites, Samurai Puzzle Battle, isn't even waiting for the choices -- they've announced that they'll be releasing a Game of the Year edition very soon, with improved graphics and better online features.

The game itself is a Puzzle Quest-style mix of RPG and gem matching gameplay, with extra modes that allow you to play a full campaign, or just jump in and match some gems. It's a lot of fun, and I can't wait to see what the new version looks like. The update will be a free upgrade for current owners, and we haven't yet seen a price to buy outright (though it probably will be less than the original $4.99 price, probably closer to $1.99). I don't know that I'd choose the game for Game of the Year quite yet, but it's great to hear that a good game is getting better.

Samurai Puzzle Battle getting GotY edition originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Samurai Puzzle Battle getting GotY edition originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fring Brings Video Calls to iPhone

Fring [Free - iTunes link] dropped us a note to let us know that with version 3.0.0.4 — now in the App Store — they’ve delivered on their promise of video calls for the iPhone.

Now, since the iPhone doesn’t (yet?) have a front-facing camera, you’re limited to seeing the other person on a Skype or Fring Video call using their PC webcam (or Nokia phone — sigh, jealousy), but it’s still a wondrous step towards the future.

If you give it a try, let us know how it works for you.

[Thanks to Icebike for the link!]

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

Fring Brings Video Calls to iPhone

Xbox Live app for iPhone

Filed under: Gaming, Software, iPhone, App Review

360 Live [App Store link] certainly isn't the first Xbox 360 app to hit the iPhone, but it's definitely one of the most full-featured, offering gamertag management, complete friends list access, messaging capability, games library browsing (with achievements and all), and even a CoverFlow-style friend browser just for good measure. It is pretty darn impressive -- if there's anything you need to do with your Xbox Live account (Gold account required for messaging) while away from your actual 360, this app will let you do it.

There is one issue: it's $1.99. Technically, that's not bad -- an app like this is probably worth the $2 especially if browsing your friends' games is something you do often. But the catch is that Microsoft recently stated that all apps that tag in to Xbox 360's online service must be sold for the low, low price of free. So one of two things will probably happen here -- either the app will drop down to free (in which case, you might as well save your $2), or Microsoft might end up blocking it, either on the App Store or in the actual Xbox Live connection. Hopefully, whatever happens, we'll end up with a solution

Xbox Live app for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Xbox Live app for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iDroid Can’t - Apple Rejects iPhone App Promoting Motorola Droid