Amazon has Acquired Touchco - A Multi-Touch Company

NY Times reports that Amazon has acquired the multi-touch company Touchco. Touchco is a startup company that was recently profiled in the New York Times for producing cheap, pressure sensitive, multi-touch panels:

In contras...

Tricking your iPhone to play TV shows and movies in portrait view

Filed under: How-tos, iTunes, iPhone, iPod touch

By default, movies and TV shows in the iPod portion of the iPhone and iPod touch play in landscape view. The biggest change with respect to video orientation came about with iPhone OS 2.0, which provided the option for landscape-right viewing (that is, with the volume and silent/vibrate buttons facing up). While most videos could, and should, be viewed in landscape, there are times that call for a portrait perspective -- for example, when placing your iPhone into a dock, which is what I do when working out.

Getting your iPhone to play a movie or TV show in portrait mode requires a simple change in the video's tag, from TV Show or Movie to Podcast. Simply right-click on the file and select "get info "(or you could use the Command-I shortcut). Then, in the "Media Kind" section within the "Options" tab of the video, select Podcast. Now, the videos will show up in both the Podcasts and Videos section of the iPod portion on your iPhone.

Obviously, this isn't something you'd want to do with every movie or TV show in your library. So, to revert the file back to its old self, you'd want to follow the same process and change the video back to a TV show or movie.

Tricking your iPhone to play TV shows and movies in portrait view originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tricking your iPhone to play TV shows and movies in portrait view originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iPhone OS 3.2 SDK: Fourth Gen iPhone Might do 720p HD Video Recording

iPad devsugar: Three lessons from the iPhone

Filed under: Apple, Developer, iPhone, SDK

In pixel-terms, the iPad offers a much larger workspace to develop on than the iPhone but in terms of the human experience, it's not that very far away from iPhone programming. The two share an underlying operating system and a large overlap in human interaction realities. Here are just three of those overlapping iPhone development realities. Consider taking these ideas into account as you're building your new and updated applications for the iPad.

Human fingers are big. Although the iPhone has a much smaller screen than the iPad, the size and shape of the typical human finger does not change between the two devices. Do not design interaction elements for the iPad smaller than, say 40-by-40 pixels in size.

When in doubt, design larger rather than smaller. The iPad with its larger screen is more likely to be held further away during use than the iPhone, which is often raised fairly close in during use. Build your on-screen objects accordingly. With its 1024x768-pixel screen, the iPad has the room for clean, large interaction elements. Use that space to better compliment the human finger.

Attention spans are short. Like the iPhone, expect your users to approach the iPad in a sporadic netbook-style fashion. Design your applications around short interaction periods and prepare for your application to be cut off as a user stands up to grab his next Orange-Cranberry Frapaccino.

Always save your application state between sessions, as much as you possibly can. A well designed app should relaunch quickly and, upon relaunching, approximate the same task your user was performing the last time the program was run. This can demand diligence on the part of the programmer, but is worth the time investment due to the payoff in user satisfaction.

One more tip after the break!

Thanks Scott Lawrence, |Agent

Continue reading iPad devsugar: Three lessons from the iPhone

iPad devsugar: Three lessons from the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPad devsugar: Three lessons from the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Homerun Battle 3D features cross-platform iPhone, Android gaming

Com2us's Homerun Battle 3D has the unique ability to play games between Android phones, iPhones and iPod Touches via Wi-Fi and 3G.

iPhone Live! Tonight at 8pm ET/5pm PT (1am GMT)

Join Chad, Mickey, and Rene for all of this week’s iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad news! If you have any questions, leave a comment below, hit us up on Twitter @theiphoneblog, or better still — join us live in the chat room via http://www.tipb.com/live

REMINDER: You can watch us live on your iPhone with the Ustream Viewer app [Free - iTunes link]. Just wait until the show starts (8pm ET) and search for iPhone. We’ll pop up. Literally.

Chat with you soon!

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

iPhone Live! Tonight at 8pm ET/5pm PT (1am GMT)

Does Apple Intend to Turn Missing iPad Apps Into Dashboard Widgets?

CDMA iPad Still A Possibility - Claims Verizon Source

Pegatron on board to make next iPhone, might do 720p video recording?

The silly little sensor in the latest-gen iPod nano might have you thinking that high-quality video recording isn't anywhere on Apple's radar, but if you look in the smartphone space, HD video is shaping up to be the next gotta-have-it feature among the world's most buzzworthy handsets -- and sure enough, we're getting some hints here that it'll be on board the next iPhone. Remember that mysterious "N89" device in the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK? We've been tipped off that a gander at the MediaValidator.plist file reveals a few telling stats: the maximum video width is up from 768 pixels to 1280, and the maximum number of pixels per frame is up to 921,600, which just happens to work out to 1280 x 720. The device's AVC profile has been bumped from 3.0 to 3.1, too, which adds in support for 720p -- so yeah, all the signs are there, and industry trends pretty much require that we expect it at this point.

On a related note, DigiTimes notes that ASUS spin-off Pegatron has allegedly been picked up as an OEM for the N89 (or whatever the new iPhone's internal code happens to be) -- but it won't be alone. The indication seems to be that Foxconn will continue churning out phones for Cupertino, too, perhaps a sign that these guys are expecting the need for more capacity than the old OEM alone can deliver, or that there could be multiple generations in the retail channel (a la 3G / 3GS) at the same time. Given Apple's typical iPhone cycle, it could be a few months before we know for certain -- so go ahead and take your sweet time speculating on this round.

[Thanks, Dan L.]

Pegatron on board to make next iPhone, might do 720p video recording? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Review: Song Sift for iPhone

This single-funciton app allows you to streamline your music by filtering out artists and albums with a limited number of songs. Song Sift isn't a powerful app, but it's good at what it does.

Stanza iPhone App Updated to Remove USB Syncing Feature

Adobe updates Photoshop Mobile app for iPhone

Filed under: iPhone, App Store

If you're one of the people who has, according to Adobe's John Nack, run the total number of downloads of the Photoshop.com Mobile [free, iTunes Link] app to 6.5 million, then we have information you need to know. Of course, you may have already checked the App Store app to find the update to version 1.1.021 of Photoshop Mobile for iPhone, but if you haven't then you should mosey on over to the App Store Updates and it should magically appear for you.

The new version of the Photoshop.com Mobile app adds a new sharpen tool, more photo borders, and (for U.S. users only) playback of videos hosted on Photoshop.com.

You'll need to be running iPhone 3.0 or later on your device to enjoy using Photoshop.com Mobile.

Adobe updates Photoshop Mobile app for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Adobe updates Photoshop Mobile app for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fox News: AT&T Outbid Everyone on iPad, Verizon Still in Talks over iPhone, iPad

Fox News is reporting that AT&T outbid all other GSM providers in offering those reasonable $14.99 and $29.99 data plans for the iPad, and while Verizon and Apple are still discussing both the iPhone and iPad, there’s still nothing approaching an agreement in place.

What about all those rumors of Verizon getting the iPhone like, now?

the two companies are still “very much talking and plan to bring an iPhone and an iPad” to the CDMA network this year, following the expiration of AT&T’s exclusive agreement with Apple.

Still talking? These guys have been talking since 2006 before the launch of the first iPhone! Stop talking already and consummate the darn relationship — or walk away. When asked for comment about these on-going talks, Verizon spokesman Jeff Nelson said, “no comment,” so officially the company isn’t talking about the talks.

Bottom line then, it still could be later in the year, could be as far away as LTE next year or the year after.

[Fox News via Apple Insider]

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

Fox News: AT&T Outbid Everyone on iPad, Verizon Still in Talks over iPhone, iPad

Google building phone support for Nexus One

A Google job advertisement indicates that the search giant is planning to build a telephone customer support operation for Nexus One users.

iPhone loses market share, but the devil is in the details

An ABI Research report claims that the Apple has lost ground smartphone market share despite strong sales, but appearances can be deceiving.

Last-Minute iPad Photo Reveals Next Gen iPhone Prototype?

Audio Processing Causing Heat and Performance Issues for Nehalem Mac Pros

Ars Technica reports on growing complaints from users of Apple's Nehalem ("Early 2009") Mac Pro models regarding heat and performance issues when performing audio processing tasks.

The problem manifests as what has been described as e...

iPhone developer creating app live over one week

An iPhone developer plans to code an entire iPhone app in full public view over seven days later this month.

Skype 3G update coming ’soon’

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

As most of you know already, Apple has lifted the restrictions against making VoIP calls over a 3G connection, and a handful of apps have already "flipped a switch" behind the scenes to enable such calls. However, the most high-profile VoIP app on the App Store, Skype, has yet to follow suit.

Skype has posted an update on their blog regarding their progress on enabling VoIP over 3G. According to the company, 3G calling is coming "soon" along with a few other updates that will ensure that both the app itself and the calls it makes remain high-quality. The next Skype update will include a call quality indicator for the 3G network similar to the one they already have for Wi-Fi connections -- depending on the strength of your network connection, the indicator will show green, yellow, or red, giving you a rough idea of what quality to expect out of calls on your current network. Skype is also working on implementing a "wideband audio" codec for calls, which the company says will allow for "CD quality sound" on Skype-to-Skype calls. From the sounds of the video below, however, this feature will only be coming to the iPhone 3GS and iPod touch; it's probable that the iPhone 3G and original iPhone lack the processing power necessary to drive Skype's wideband audio codec.

Since the announcement of the lifting of VoIP over 3G restrictions, much speculation has surrounded the possible implementation of VoIP calls on the iPad. The iPad has a microphone, speaker, and Bluetooth, all of which, when paired with a very competitively priced pay-as-you-go and contract-free 3G data plan, make the iPad a very compelling alternative to the iPhone. Skype says it is indeed investigating a Skype for iPad app, but at this very early stage, no further details are available.

We'll keep you posted on the Skype app and let you know when it's updated as soon as we find out. In the meantime, you can watch this brief video from the guys at Skype, where they discuss their progress on the app.

Continue reading Skype 3G update coming 'soon'

Skype 3G update coming 'soon' originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Skype 3G update coming 'soon' originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

TUAW at Big Nerd Ranch: now taking (app) requests!

Filed under: Developer, iPhone

More coverage of TUAW's inside look at developer boot camp. See below for notes & disclaimer.

It's Wednesday at Big Nerd Ranch. I'll get to meet a few of the personalities behind the ranch today, as well as meet up with some blogger friends from Atlanta. Victor is even going to stop by ... it's like visitor's day, except without the rehab or prison part.

We're well into learning to make use of the unique features of the iPhone SDK now. Yesterday we covered CoreLocation, the accelerometer, more Interface Builder and programmatically creating interface elements. I've done a little of this before, but I'm also learning solid memory management techniques, coding conventions and other areas that I definitely needed work on. My classmates are really starting to dig into their own projects, and I've put together a couple small ones of my own. I haven't come up with a great idea for a larger project yet, though, and I'd like your help with that.

My only request is that it make use of at least one special hardware feature of the iPhone (compass, accelerometer, etc.). Beyond that, I'm just looking for unique ideas from our readers for an app that would be useful to as large an audience as possible. If this app makes it to the App Store, it will be given away for free, so leave me some suggestions in the comments and I'll get working on something we can all share!

In order to give our readers the first-hand account of what it's like to experience developer boot camp, Big Nerd Ranch has permitted Brett to attend complimentary classes and has provided transportation/lodging assistance. Other than those considerations, no sponsorship or advertising relationship exists between BNR and TUAW. This series is not an endorsement of BNR's programs or teaching methodology.

TUAW at Big Nerd Ranch: now taking (app) requests! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW at Big Nerd Ranch: now taking (app) requests! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments