Song Summoner and sequel coming to iPhone

Filed under: Gaming, Software, iPhone, App Store

I actually did buy Song Summoner, the strange, out-of-nowhere tactics RPG from Square Enix that was made for the iPod last year. Yes, that's right it was made for the iPod -- at a time when everyone was waiting to see pro apps on the iPhone and the iPod touch, Square released a game controlled with a click wheel that used your iPod's songs as characters in a tactical RPG. And now, we've heard that Song Summoner is returning -- this time as a touchscreen based iPhone app.

I have to say -- especially if you like Square Enix RPGs in the style of Final Fantasy Tactics, and you're intrigued by the "song conversion" engine (you choose a song in your mp3 playlists to import into the game, and then it becomes a character with specific stats), it's definitely worth a look. And for Song Summoner completists, the game comes with a sequel as well, unreleased due to Apple's dropping support of clickwheel games (which makes sense, given the App Store's popularity). It'll be in the App Store on December 3rd. No price listed yet, but there will be a lite version to try as well.

Song Summoner and sequel coming to iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Song Summoner and sequel coming to iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phone-O-Scope brings SLR lenses to the iPhone the hard way

Continue reading Phone-O-Scope brings SLR lenses to the iPhone the hard way

Phone-O-Scope brings SLR lenses to the iPhone the hard way originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Psystar Halts Sales of Mac Clones, Plans Legal Appeal

Computerworld notes that unauthorized Mac clone manufacturer Psystar has stopped offering its line of PC hardware with Mac OS X preinstalled in the wake of a settlement agreement with Apple. All models are currently listed as "Out of Stock" on the c...

Can Your iPhone Flag You From Your Favorite Bar?

When the holiday season rolls around, people that rarely have a beverage start throwing down the spiked eggnog like it is water. Perhaps this is why the NHS has released the FREE app called Drinks Tracker for your iPhone. Whether we want to admit it or not, we have all been guilty of having a [...]

iPhone Flexed Its Muscle in South Korea

The much anticipated debut of the iPhone in South Korea finally took place on Saturday and it was a huge hit. The actual “opening day” had been delayed on several occasions, but once KT Corp starting taking pre-sale orders, it looked as though the day was finally here. With about 60,000 units flying out of [...]

Apple Considering Commercializing New iPod Touch EasyPay System?

ifoAppleStore reports that Apple is considering commercializing its new iPod touch-based EasyPay retail store checkout system. The move comes as the company, which had intended for the system to remain proprietary, has been "deluged" with inquiries ...

Twitter 360 Augmented Reality app for Twitter

Filed under: iPhone, App Store

As far as AR (augmented reality) Twitter apps go, Twitter 360 [iTunes Link] looks like the best of the bunch... so far. In what will no doubt become the top term of 2010, this augmented reality app allows you to track your friends via geolocation of their tweets. If you're into that sort of thing (or have an iPhone 3GS, since AR apps use the compass to position their markers). If the thought of strangers tracking you while you tweet creeps you out (and frankly, it should), rest assured that tracking is opt-in in that you can turn off geotagging for your tweets.

As Fast Company points out, a neat feature is setting your "limit" or range of detection for tracking tweets. You can set this to World and see just how far away everyone is from wherever you happen to be standing. So yeah, pretty soon we'll all be tracking each other all over the place. What could go wrong?

Twitter 360 is currently $2.99US and is from Presselite, the folks who snuck in the first AR app without Apple's detection. Thanks for opening the floodgates! Check out the video of the app in action, below.

Twitter 360 Augmented Reality app for Twitter originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Twitter 360 Augmented Reality app for Twitter originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve Jobs Personally Approves Knocking Live Video Sharing Application

Pointy Heads Software’s Knocking Live Video [Free -iTunes link] is the first official iPhone app capable of streaming live video over 3G and WiFi connections. But getting it approved for the App Store was no easy task as the app was first rejected. Then Brian Meehan, lead developer, plead his case to Mr. Steve Jobs. According to Ars Technica, Meehan sent a very convincing letter that caught the CEO’s attention.

Meehan even “humbly” requested that Jobs himself review a demo of the app and reconsider it for approval. He then fired off the e-mail to Jobs at 11pm on Saturday, November 21. An Apple executive, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted Meehan at 8:30am the following Monday morning to discuss the app and its rejection. He revealed that the order to reverse the app’s rejection came “directly from the top.” Within three hours of the phone call, Knocking Live Video was approved for sale via the App Store.

Many other developers have had difficulties with the inconsistencies involved with the App Store review process, seeing their apps rejected. Perhaps now we will start to see Apple loosen their grip a bit more when it comes to App Store approvals. At least all the developers hope this turns out to be the case…

[Via Ars Technica]

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

Steve Jobs Personally Approves Knocking Live Video Sharing Application

Fring update brings one-way video chat to iPhone

A recent update to VoIP software Fring has made it the first iPhone app to allow video-chatting, but it's not without limitations.

TiPb Top 5 Must-Have iPhone Accessories for New Users

The following Top 5 Must-Have iPhone Accessories for New Users guide is sponsored by the TiPb iPhone Accessory Store

Just got a new iPhone? Congratulations! Now it’s time to decide if you need a little something extra to go along with it — a case to protect your investment, Bluetooth for wireless phone calls or music, headsets for wired, batteries and chargers to get you powered, and cables to keep you connected.

There are lots to choose from, enough to personalize your iPhone just the way you want, but if you’re having trouble deciding, we asked TiPb’s editorial staff to pick some of their favorites. Check them out, after the jump!

Cases

Cases come in all shapes and sizes, from the full-on armor of Matt’s favorite, the Otterbox Defender to the barely-there BodyGuardz skin. If leather is your thing, check out Jeremy’s pick, the Sena Elega Pouch, or if your prefer silicon like Leanna, try the iSkin SoloFX. And if you want to combine a charger into your case, James still loves him his mophie Juice Pack air.

Bluetooth

If you just want a Bluetooth headset to use while you drive, or for some walk-and-talk, Dieter is currently going gaga over the Motorola H17. Jeremy is likewise enthralled with the Blueant Q1. If you’d rather have it on your visor than in your ear, Chad likes the Blueant S1 while Rene has been driving with the frenemy, BlackBerry VM605-style. Now if you want to rock stereo music with Bluetooth, the Motorola S9-HD is still turning heads.

Headsets

The iPhone and iPod touch come with Apple’s trademark earbuds but for those with ears that like to listen different(ly), or just better, Rene likes the iharmonix Platinum i-Series, and Dieter’s given the thumbs up to the v-moda vibe duo. If all you need is an expensive backup or replacement buds, however, Smartphone Experts has you covered.

Sync’ers and Chargers

Everyone, and we mean everyone, Griffin Power Duo charger. And again, if you just want a second sync/charge cable, Smartphone Experts has one that’s perfect, and perfectly inexpensive.

Mounts and Cradles

Still not enough? Well, if you want to mount your iPhone in the car (for turn-by-turn navigation, or to use with a Bluetooth Stereo device perhaps?), the iGrip Custom Fit is always popular. If the desk is where you dwell, then the Seidio Inno Dock is Rene’s pick — and it’s friendly to most cases!

Your Recommendations?

What did we miss? Any must-have accessories? Check out the TiPb iPhone Accessory store and drop some ideas in the comments, would ya? Make sure we get this right!

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

TiPb Top 5 Must-Have iPhone Accessories for New Users

Review: Tweetie 2 for iPhone

This sequel to the already outstanding Tweetie isn't just the best Twitter app for the iPhone -- it's the best Twitter app on any platform.

DIY DSLR iPhone

Filed under: Hacks, Odds and ends, iPhone

Sure, you can take the commercial approach and just buy a telephoto lens for your iPhone, or hack together a macro lens, but if you're looking to combine the two into a hacked-up telephoto lens held together with a heaping of duct tape, look no further. Bhautik Joshi created the Phone-O-Scope as an experiment "to transmit light from one optical device to another to make an image". The result is an iPhone with duct-tape, cardboard, putty, PVC pipe and an SLR lens attached. It certainly won't win any design awards, but it does produce some very unique imagery.

Check out the tutorial for instructions on how to create your own, as well as side-by-side comparisons of a standard iPhone's pictures compared to the hacked-up iPhone shots.

If you're not a tinkerer at heart, you'll probably wonder why he bothered to produce an item as large as a standard DSLR but took worse photos. However, if you were one of those kids who quickly took apart your new toys just to see how they worked, this may be a little experiment you could appreciate.

[via Hack-a-Day]

DIY DSLR iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

DIY DSLR iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPB Wallet for iPhone, Mac, Windows on Sale for 10 Days

SPB Software is putting SPB Wallet for iPhone on sale for $4.95 until Dec. 10 [iTunes link], in all it’s card coverflow, Safari autofill, and Google sync glory. And what’s more, they’re putting both the Windows and Mac desktop software on sale for under $5 as well via their website.

If you’ve been looking for a cross-platform, cross-mobile solution, check out SPB and let us know what you think!

[Video via Matt Miller]

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

SPB Wallet for iPhone, Mac, Windows on Sale for 10 Days

Quick App: Super Monkey Ball 2 for iPhone

The widely popular Super Monkey Ball for iPhone and iPod touch now has a sequel, Super Monkey Ball 2 [$9.99 - iTunes link] – featuring multiplayer!

In the short time I’ve spent playing, I am very impressed by the graphics, butter-smooth controls, and fun music. Super Monkey Ball 2 includes 115 tracks and one mini-game, Monkey Bowling, with promise of Monkey Golf and Monkey Target in a future upgrade.

One of the most exciting new features of Super Monkey Ball 2 is multiplayer mode. Just hop onto a local wifi network and play against as many as 3 friends. Unfortunately, this is only available for racing tracks. The mini-games must be played with one device in a pass-along style for multiplayer.

If you pick this one up, be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!

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

Quick App: Super Monkey Ball 2 for iPhone

BlueAnt Q1 Receives Firmware Update Which Enables A2DP Audio Streaming

One of our favorite Bluetooth headsets, the BlueAnt Q1, has just gotten an major firmware update that enables A2DP audio streaming along with some other fixes and small functions.

• The Q1 now includes A2DP audio streaming, so you can listen to music, podcasts, and hear turn-by-turn direction information from a phone GPS application. If your phone or GPS application supports A2DP simply start playing music or launch the GPS application and the audio will automatically transfer to the Q1.
• In response to customer feedback BlueAnt made it even easier to end a call: now you end calls with a single click of the BlueAnt button.
• Double-clicking the BlueAnt button during a call now switches between Voice Isolation Standard and Max.

The update process for your Q1 headset to firmware version 8.19 is a quick and painless. Simply head on over to BlueAnt’s website, download the updater tool, and following the directions. The update currently can only be done on Windows machines with an Mac update tool coming soon.

[Via WMExperts]

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

BlueAnt Q1 Receives Firmware Update Which Enables A2DP Audio Streaming

NOVA First-Person Shooter for iPhone Gameplay Footage

I know many of you have been eager to see some footage of NOVA after our preview the other day. Touch Arcade got some hands-on playtime with NOVA and all I can say in a word is: AWESOME. The gameplay is described to be very similar to Modern Combat: Sandstorm (which was listed in TiPb’s Top 5 First-Person Shooters). Controls and even difficulty will be similar except this will be a much more run n’ gun style of game over Sandstorm’s more realistic and strategic approach. NOVA will also sport Online 4 player matches too. I sure hope this plays well, the jury is out at this time.

The game is supposed to launch before holiday 2009, so we should see it very shortly. One can only hope it has been submitted to the App Store and is awaiting approval.

[via Touch Arcade]

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

NOVA First-Person Shooter for iPhone Gameplay Footage

The Competition: Can Nokia Get it Together and Challenge the iPhone?

Interesting and contrasting set of blog opinions, as Engadget columnist and analyst Michael Gartenberg asks the difficult question “What’s the future of Nokia?” and SPE’s own Matt Miller of NokiaExperts responds with “Nokia’s future is under their control and I believe it will be very bright“.

First up Gartenberg says:

Nokia failed to lead a changed market and has been forced into reacting to competitors instead of driving its own vision of the future. As smartphones left the realm of the enthusiast and became mass-market in terms of adoption and feature use, Nokia fell behind.

Now, I don’t think that’s fatal or long term, and I don’t believe Nokia is going out of business. But I do question the company’s position in the market and ability to lead without a major change in direction and strategy — especially in the US and North America. Truth be told, Nokia now reminds me a lot of Apple back in 1996, losing relevance and market share in places that matter but with huge potential to leverage core assets and a terrific brand with millions of loyal fans. And as Apple did in its day, Nokia must now either try to decisively seize back its leadership position — or lose it entirely.

Miller argues:

I too have some frustration with Nokia because I KNOW they have the capability to lead with devices and an operating system that excites consumers and we just haven’t seen much from them in interface changes or a clear strategy the past year or two. They need to show us that they are in control and will be blowing our socks off with products and services in the future that have no direct relation to what Apple or Google have already done. I have met some extremely talented and smart people at Nokia and they have obviously seen the success of the iPhone and the excitement surrounding Android so I have to believe they have some very exciting projects in the works to challenge both of these platforms in the next year or two.

The iPhone clearly shook up the mobile space, first in terms of user interface with iPhone OS 1.0, second in terms of application delivery with the App Store and iPhone OS 2.0, and thirdly with the price-drop to $99 for the iPhone 3G at the release of iPhone OS 3.0. Those kind of repetitive, rapid fire hits to a market can really disrupt established players, especially when done by a company as secretive as Apple. Add on Google’s Android, webOS, and other platform advances, and it takes considerable will and agility to respond in a concise and timely manner. Nokia has shown the ability to do neither so far, but their size gives them one incredible buffer against the upstart smartphone platforms. The only question remains — can and will they do it before the buffer (and profitability) runs out?

Give both Gartenberg and Miller a read, and let us know if Apple and the iPhone have anything to be worried about…

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

The Competition: Can Nokia Get it Together and Challenge the iPhone?