Movies on your iPhone embedded in an app

Filed under: Multimedia, Video, Odds and ends, iPhone, iPod touch, App Review

I like a good movie as much as the next person, so it was with some interest I took a look at a movie app a reader suggested to us.

It is a movie called 'The Invaders' and you purchase the app for U.S. $0.99 [iTunes link] and then play it all you want. For a minute I thought it might be the sixties TV series with Roy Thinnes, but no such luck.

In fact, 'The Invaders' is a 1912 public domain silent western about Indians attacking an Army fort. You buy the app, download the 150 MB file to your iPhone or iPod touch, and watch the movie. Then I guess you throw it away, because it is not material that stands up to repeat viewings.

The developers have a bunch of other public domain titles in their Cinema Classics series, like 'Night of The Living Dead', but you can download or view most of these titles for free from the web anytime you want. You can also access them from the Internet Archive and watch them on your iPhone or iPod touch with Safari. At last count Night of The Living Dead was available on DVD from 23 firms, and you could view it for free on Google Video or YouTube. It's one of those films that inadvertently slipped into the public domain, leaving the creators with a lot of remorse and no money.

The same firm, LOL Software has dozens of iPhone apps, many that just collect news feeds from other sources and put them into an iPhone framework. LOL indeed. Yawn.

Movies on your iPhone embedded in an app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Movies on your iPhone embedded in an app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: New iPhone by April

Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, Apple, iPhone

You TUAW readers came up with a long list of features for a possible iPhone 4.0, and now it turns out you might not even have to wait too long for a new revision. A few overseas providers of the iPhone have hinted that a brand new version of the handset could be coming out as soon as April of this year. Possible features this time include a video chat function, a removable battery, dual-core processors, and a better screen and camera (possibly with a flash feature, as we've heard before). That sounds like a lot of wishful thinking to us (I doubt we'll ever see an iPhone with a removable battery -- if Apple wanted to do so, they'd have already done it), but if not, that would be a pretty darn popular smartphone, and it would definitely answer the recent challenge of Google's Nexus One.

But of course as always, rumors are rumors, so we won't believe it until we see Steve Jobs holding it on stage, and you shouldn't either. But sources have long said that 2010 will be a year in which we'll see a new iPhone, and while April (or early May) seems earlier than we thought, you never know.

Rumor: New iPhone by April originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor: New iPhone by April originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google, T-Mobile respond to Nexus One customer complaints

Google and T-Mobile USA responded to hundreds of online complaints about the Nexus One smartphone and confusing customer support for the device.

Ski resorts busted by iPhone app

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

Want to see past a ski resort's lies? There's an app for that. The iPhone's ability to track snowfall at ski resorts has been well publicized (it even showed up in an official Apple commercial), but apparently there's been an unintended consequence: ski resorts are actually losing money. The UK's Globe and Mail reports that before iPhones existed, people would just call up to the slopes to ask them if there was snow on the trails -- and the ski resorts would more often than not reply that there was, in order to pull in some more weekend customers. It was usually just white lies (no pun intended) -- they'd usually say there was about 20% more snow than actually existed. But now that the iPhone provides a much more objective look at exactly how much powder there is up there, resorts are finding that they can't push that weekend boost any more. And that's cutting into their yearly profits as a whole.

Now, you may argue that resorts being held accountable is a good thing, and according to the article, most of the resorts themselves would agree with you: they weren't in it to outright lie to people, because telling people that there was a foot on the ground when you can see grass would have an even worse effect on their business. But hearing from someone on the phone that the slopes are plentiful is a much different experience than seeing a number in an iPhone app, and it's interesting that the difference is directly affecting resort profits in many cases.

Not that resorts have too much to worry about, especially the ones who have plenty of snow anyway. It just shows you how much the iPhone is still changing all kinds of industries in strange ways.

Ski resorts busted by iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ski resorts busted by iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Windows Phone HTC Touch Pro 2, HD2 Hands-on Video — Smartphone Round Robin

Week 4 of the 2009 Smartphone Round Robin brings me face-to-big-glass-face with our most ancient nemesis — Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Phone, this year spawning the killer keyboard of the HTC Touch Pro 2, and the monstrous hardware of the HTC HD2. Yes, that’s 2 times HTC version 2 devices and to help me out, I’ve got the dark lord of WMExperts himself, the one and only WMExperts Phil Nickinson to show me the ropes — and quite honestly to help me lift that ginormous HD2 onto the table!

Remember, every day you post on my WMExperts Forums thread, you’re entered for a chance to win the Windows Phone of your choice. (And there’s a total of 6 smartphones up for grabs — one per SPE site — so check them all out!)

This week also brings the yin to my yang, the productivity to my play, my best frenemy forever, CrackBerry Kevin back to TiPb and the iPhone he claims never to use. Head on over to the TiPb forums and help him out, would you? (i.e. show him some neat new games). And get a chance to win an iPhone 3GS for your troubles.

Video hands-on with the Touch Pro 2 and HD2 after the break!

[YouTube Video link]

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

Microsoft Windows Phone HTC Touch Pro 2, HD2 Hands-on Video — Smartphone Round Robin

Review: Daily Mugshot for iPhone

This app for taking a daily photo of yourself and posting it to the DailyMugshot.com Website suffers from several flaws, not the least of which is that it's difficult to use the iPhone's camera to take a self-portrait.

Dear Facebook — Please Fix Facebook 3.1.1 for iPhone and Soon

Facebook 3.1 brought the much-in-demand push notification service to the iPhone’s most popular social networking app, but no good deed goes unpunished, and along with broken push, it also brought a host of problems. Now, not everyone is having the same problem, but a lot of you have told us about one or more of the following:

• No push notifications: Seriously. Facebook updates their application ito included push notifications and it doesn’t work most of the time.
• No alert sound to push notifications: Is sound turned on? Yes. So where is it?
• Commenting on photos: If you go to post a comment on a picture one of your friend’s posts you are greeted with a nice little “error” on a blank screen.
• Force closes: Now perhaps this is just a issue I am having but it seems as if the application loves to close on it’s own since the last update. Usually this is a sign of poor memory management.

We realize Joe Hewitt leaving left you in the lurch, but come on Facebook, you have Microsoft money and one of the most consistently popular apps in the app store! A 1.0 app from a startup we understand, but 3.1 from the social networking giant? It’s never a wise idea to use the general public as your beta testers. If the application is not ready for prime time, don’t release a sub-par application. Wait. You’ll have more time and we’ll get a better app. Now that you’ve released it, however, we’re all stuck, and you need to get it fixed and yesterday.

Did we miss any other major issues going on within this application? Feel free to vent in the comments below!

Now please excuse me while I go dust off Boxcar and put it back into action…

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

Dear Facebook — Please Fix Facebook 3.1.1 for iPhone and Soon

Apple’s App Approval Process Getting Speedy

TUAW recently remarked that the App Store approval process seemed to be working much faster lately. TiPb has been in contact with numerous application developers and the general overall feel we are getting is the same — Apple is finally coming around when it comes to the app approval process. Much has been said about Apple and their App Store over the past few years but things have seemingly changed for the better.

TiPb sometimes gets access to beta applications for feedback or review anywhere from a month to a week in advance. Generally we’ve seen the same 2 week delay Apple advises before the apps show up in the App Store (though sometimes it’s been up to 4 weeks or more in the past). Lately we have received an app only to find it released only a day later, sometimes hours later depending on the app itself.

What has brought about this speed boost we have no idea but we welcome it regardless and hope it continues.

[Thanks to Chris for the link!]

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

Apple’s App Approval Process Getting Speedy

Korean Newspaper Claims: iPhone 4G Coming in April with OLED Screen, Removable Battery, Video Chat Capability

Korea Gets in on the 4th Gen iPhone Rumors! OLED, iChat Video, Duel-core, More!

Not content to allow France to hog all the 4th generation iPhone rumor attention, Korea Times claims carrier KT reveals (we read that as wishes rather than knows) the following specs:

They said the coming 4G iPhones will be equipped with organic light emitting diode (OLED) screens on surface and live video chat functionalities, while removable battery is highly likely.

The new 4G iPhone is also going to be loaded with dual core processors and higher and powerful graphic chips that can deliver higher video resolutions and better “still” images when taking pictures.

Let’s make this clear again up front (lest we be smited), no one outside of a tiny group at Apple and maybe Foxconn brass know exactly what the 4th gen iPhone is going to be, and even then it’s subject to change (like the iPod touch G3 losing it’s camera at the eleventh hour). So, while OLED and a better camera make sense given the competitive environment, multi-core chips are already on the roadmap, and a chat cam is always rumored for each new device, it’s hard to imagine Apple would make a removable batter now given how much effort they’ve put into making long-life, built in batteries for iPods, iPhones, and now MacBooks as well. Carrying extra batteries isn’t a maintream reality.

Still, let us know what you think. We likely know as much as anyone outside the illuminati at this point!

[Thanks to the Reptile for the tip!]

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

Korea Gets in on the 4th Gen iPhone Rumors! OLED, iChat Video, Duel-core, More!

Taco Loco app helps you chase down your favorite taco truck

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Gourmet food trucks are getting to be "all the rage," particularly in Southern California. Based on the old construction site "roach coaches" that served stale doughnuts, ancient plastic-wrapped sandwiches, and hot, acidic coffee to hungry workers, the taco truck appeared as a way for food vendors to set up shop without the need for expensive real estate. In SoCal, taco trucks have gone mainstream and serve much more than just tacos. You can get not only excellent Mexican cuisine, but barbecue, Asian fusion, and a huge spectrum of other palatable yummies.

Since the taco trucks and trailers are truly mobile (although the vendors often find a location that becomes their "home territory"), it's sometimes difficult to find a specific vendor. Fried Rice House has made the hunt a lot easier with their app Taco Loco [on sale for US$0.99, iTunes Link].

Taking advantage of the iPhone's geolocation capabilities, Taco Loco displays a map of local taco trucks and other wheeled bistros, with a pin denoting the current location of each truck or trailer. A tap on a pin shows the name of the truck, a detailed map of the location, a phone number (if one has been entered), and a rating by other hungry folks who have used the app. If a truck moves its location, there's a "move" button to note that and send the information to other people looking for a fish taco at 1:30 AM.

Of course, no app is worth its seasoned salt if it doesn't let you share the information with your friends. Taco Loco adds the familiar share button for sending tweets and emails to your cohorts who might be craving a movable feast. Although TUAW was unable to try out the app, it should work anywhere there are hungry iPhone owners who are willing to buy Taco Loco and let others know about the best little taco truck they've found.


[via New York Times Gadgetwise Blog]

Taco Loco app helps you chase down your favorite taco truck originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Taco Loco app helps you chase down your favorite taco truck originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Pulls Down FingerWorks.com - Is This An Indication Of Apple Tablet Launch?

Imagination Technologies’ New Mobile GPU Reveals Possible Graphics Support On iPhone 4G

Apple Updates Logic Pro and MainStage, Adds 64-Bit Compatibility

The Loop notes that Apple has released Logic Pro 9.1 and MainStage 2.1, bringing several bug fixes to the company's professional audio applications, as well as 64-bit compatibility for users running Mac OS X 10.6.2 or later.

Adding 64...

TweetDeck for iPhone adds GPS geo-coding, retweets

TweetDeck for iPhone and iPod touch gets a range of new features in a New Year update.

John Gruber: No Camera on Apple Tablet

In a brief comment regarding the Apple tablet, Daring Fireball's John Gruber, notes that his sources have indicated that the device will not include a camera.

And, for what it's worth, I'm hearing there is no camera, webcam or otherwi...

Real Estate Search helps you scope out properties for sale

The new Real Estate Search app from Realtor.com allows you to view properties for sale, find open houses, and even get info on properties near your current location.

Former Apple Executive Avie Tevanian Joins Palm-Linked Elevation Partners

Private equity firm Elevation Partners today announced that former Apple executive Avie Tevanian had joined the company has a Managing Director, joining former Apple Chief Financial Officer Fred Anderson on the team behind Palm's attempt at reinventi...

App Store approvals and the tablet: why it matters

Filed under: iPod Family, Odds and ends, Other Events, Developer, iPhone, App Store, SDK

When iTunes Connect returned after its Christmas break, developers noticed that things had changed quite a bit on the App Store approval front. Applications that had formerly taken ten to fourteen days to work through review were now getting processed in a couple of days or less. The upshot? Happier developers, better bug releases for users, and a healthier App Store ecosystem.

There's another consequence of the new, speedier approvals: the tablet. With the device due to ship March/April (late Q1, early Q2), and no announced 4.0 SDK, developers were left wondering how they'd have the time to bring their software up to date. Under the old review process even a single procedural rejection, which are quite common for small GUI details, would have exhausted nearly all of February in non-productive "wait mode".

With the enhanced review system in place, it's likely that developers will be able to spend those extra weeks refactoring their software, allowing it to ship in a timely fashion once the actual device appears on-scene. Apple is expected to push their SDK to developers within two weeks of their late January product announcement, probably by 15 February. Assuming a 2 April product launch, that leaves nearly six weeks to update and test software.

Not that developers are waiting. Many devs are already working on resolution independent versions of their applications. They are tasking their designers to re-imagine screens, to test hand-held cardboard prototypes, and otherwise start the process of scaling their products to new dimensions.

It should be noted that some of the App Store heavyweights have suddenly become quite tight-lipped in recent days, refusing to talk in any specifics about how their upgrade process is proceeding. The rest of us will have to get by on guess work, at least until the product announcement at the end of this month.

Without specific leaks regarding hardware changes (for example, will there really be a front facing video camera? and if so, will expanded Image Picker/Media Player classes support access?), it's hard to pin down exactly what new features can be leveraged in third party software. But it's a fairly safe bet that nearly all features available on the current iPod touch line will be in play on the new tablet. And that alone is enough to hedge some safe business bets about pushing forward with large screen development.

It's still too early for most of us to start playing -- those tight-lipped folk have a bit of the wild "Apple will kill me if I speak" look around their eyes -- but it's not too early to begin planning and working. Even without specifics, there are ways to move forward on the development front. Carpe diem. There's not much time left before the yet-unannounced tablet ships.

App Store approvals and the tablet: why it matters originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

App Store approvals and the tablet: why it matters originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Guess the News for iPhone

Guess the News, a new puzzle game from Finger Arts, can best be described as Wheel of Fortune for news junkies. Using headlines from continually updated stories, the game tests your vocabulary, spelling, and news savvy all while keeping you up-to-date with current events.