Review: Are You Alright? for iPhone

Are You Alright? is a medical-themed time-management game. Unfortunately, bugs and long load times distract from an otherwise enjoyable experience.

Apple Features iWork Applications for iPad

As information on the iPad continues to spill out from Apple in the wake of the launch of pre-orders in the U.S., more screenshots and feature information on iWork applications for the iPad have surfaced on Apple's site. Announced alongside the iPad...

Apple Rolls Out iBooks Feature Page

iBooks Application in Landscape Orientation
Apple has augmented its iPad "Features" section with a new page devoted to its iBooks application. Initially available only in the U.S., the iBooks application will be available in the App S...

Goodbye iPad Mute Switch, Hello iPad Orientation Lock Switch

Something has changed on Apple.com’s revamped iPad specs page — the mute switch is gone and in its place, a physical hardware button for “screen orientation lock”. That’s right, now you can sit or lounge without fear of the iPad spinning around willy-nilly every time you shift one way or ‘tother. However, you can’t quickly turn the sound off. (We’re guessing you’re supposed to hold down the volume rocker for that function now).

We’ve long hoped for a Settings option for that, but hardware is certainly more convenient to rapidly turn it on and off at whim. Sacrificing the mute button though? Couldn’t it be (will it be?) user assignable like the home button? And what’s with the last minute change? Focus groups give feedback, or did Steve Jobs get tired of his screen flipping around, stormed down to the underground lab, and demand the change? Will it be confusing to have orientation lock on the iPad where mute is on the iPhone? Or will the 4th generation iPhone get the same change?

Are we reading too much into this, or is Apple not reading enough into what’s being hailed as the next great leap forward in personal computing?

[via the Loop]

Goodbye iPad Mute Switch, Hello iPad Orientation Lock Switch is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Aliph Jawbone Icon

Jawbone's Icon Bluetooth headset look great, provides a comfortable fit, and includes unique downloadable apps. Unfortunately, the call quality isn't as impressive.

iPad’s ‘Mute’ Switch Replaced With Screen Rotation Lock

9 to 5 Mac notes that Apple appears to have made a minor last-minute hardware change to the iPad, replacing what was previously described as a mute switch just above the volume rocker on the side of the device with a "screen rotation lock".
<b...

Apple dishes new iPad details on 3G, iBooks, more

Apple didn't just put the iPad up for pre-order this morning, it also added some new information on a handful of iPad features, such as 3G plans, iBooks, and more.

Apple.com Adds iPad to Menu, iPod and iTunes Now Separate

iPod + iTunes is dead on the Apple.com menu, long live iPod | iPhone | iPad | iTunes. (And yes, Mac is still there too).

The all new iPad section coincides with the launch of pre-orders and pickups today, and links to all the content previously available at apple.com/ipad via the homepage. The broken out iPod and iTunes section lets Apple focus on the devices (with the iPod touch front and center) on the former, and the iTunes software and store on the latter.

So what do you think of the new navigation, cheers or jeers? And is iPhone, iPad, iPod, and iTunes taking the place over?

Apple.com Adds iPad to Menu, iPod and iTunes Now Separate is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

International and Want an iPad on April 3? Reserve for Pickup and Get Traveling!

Not in the US, can’t pre-order an iPad via store.apple.com/us, willing to travel by plane, train, or automobile to the closest Apple Retail Store on April 3? Then reserve your iPad for pick-up now and be sure get one when you get there!

You’ll need an Apple Online Store ID to reserve one, but my Canadian Apple Online Store ID worked just fine. If yours works too, let us know in the comments!

Note: If you buy an iPad from the US, you’ll likely need to have to go back to the US for any warranties or repairs. Keep that in mind.

International and Want an iPad on April 3? Reserve for Pickup and Get Traveling! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Apple Details iPad 3G Service Sign-Up and Management

With today's launch of iPad pre-orders in the U.S., Apple has also released additional information about the device and associated services. While 3G-capable models of the iPad will not be available until late April, Apple has provided an overview o...

Study: iPhone app use peaks on nights, weekends

New research conducted by app-tracking firm Localytics over the past two months shows that Apple iPhone users mainly use their apps at night and on weekends.

Apple Begins iPad Pre-Orders in U.S.

As reported, Apple has begun accepting pre-orders for the Apple iPad in the U.S. Apple Store. While U.S. customers can pre-order any of Apple's six iPad models (three Wi-Fi and three Wi-Fi + 3G) beginning today, only the Wi-Fi models will be ...

Review: Shazam Encore for iPhone

This paid version of the music-identification app delivers a number of features -- chiefly unlimited tagging of songs. It's a solid app, but unless you find yourself using it a lot or find the other features particularly appealing, the free version of Shazam will probably meet your needs.

iPad now available for pre-order

All iPad models are now available for pre-order from the online Apple Store.

Apple iPad Wi-Fi + 3G Now Available for Pre-Order in the US

Attention US shoppers, the iPad in both Wi-Fi and 3G flavors are now available for pre-order. Just head on over to the Apple Online Store and you can arrange to have your very own iPad Wi-Fi in 16GB, 32GB, and/or 64GB shipped to you or made ready for pickup at your local Apple Retail Store on April 3. iPad 3G 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB are also available for pre-order but won’t ship until late April.

Did you pre-order? If so, which one did you get?

Which iPad Wi-Fi did you pre-order?polling

Apple iPad Wi-Fi + 3G Now Available for Pre-Order in the US is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

AT&T CEO’s pay jumps 35 percent to $20.3 million in 2009

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson's stock awards fell 8 percent in 2009, but he earned a cash bonus of $5.85 million that helped increase his total compensation by 35 percent.

GDC 2010: Hands-on with Faraway

Filed under: Gaming, Software, Developer, iPhone, App Store, iPad

Steph Thirion's first iPhone game was Eliss, a touchscreen-based arcade game that had you combining and maneuvering planets around one another, and trying to size-match them up with black holes to earn points. As he told us (stay tuned for an exclusive interview with the indie developer), it was pretty hard -- even more so than he actually intended it to be. So, for his second iPhone game, Faraway, he's gone much simpler. Inspired by the iPhone game Canabalt, Thirion has created a one-button game in which the goal is nothing less than to explore the universe. He has it running on a Mac at the show (so he can project the video onto a bigger screen), and we got to have some hands-on time with the new game.

You control a comet that flies around an inky black void speckled with dots and circles; the pixelated space aesthetic from Eliss is back. This time, however, there's only one control, and it's a tap anywhere on the screen. Doing so will cause your comet to gravitate towards the nearest static dot, which will then slingshot you around the star until you let go, and the comet flings off in a new direction. There's an arrow pointing off of the screen, and by timing slingshots correctly, you will face the comet in the direction of the arrow.

Continue reading GDC 2010: Hands-on with Faraway

GDC 2010: Hands-on with Faraway originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

GDC 2010: Hands-on with Faraway originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Apple Online Store Down! US iPad Pre-Orders Imminent! International… iWhat Now?

The US Apple Online Store is down in advance today’s US iPad pre-order kick off. It should be back up by 5:30am Pacific, 8:30am Eastern so shoppers around the country can nab themselves a magical new iPad for delivery or pick-up on April 3. We’ll post the direct link as soon as it’s live.

Now Apple Online Stores in other countries like Canada and the UK… well we’re not sure why they’re down since they’re not getting iPad pre-orders (or iPads until “late April”) so keep your eyes peeled and let us know what they come back with… if anything.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Apple Online Store Down! US iPad Pre-Orders Imminent! International… iWhat Now? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

TiPb Apps 4.5: Pool Pro Online 3 for iPhone (GDC 2010)

Live from GDC 2010, Rene talks with Jonathan Kromrey, General Manager of Apple Games at Namco about Pool Pro Online 3 [$4.99 - iTunes link] for iPhone and iPod touch… and coming to the iPad as well!

Namco’s Apple group, known as Order of Magnitude, started with the iPhone version but since much of the game runs server side, and they’ve got high resolution art for the PC and Mac versions, moving it over to the iPad is something they can do very quickly. (It will also allow them to bring it to Android — already in beta — and other platforms). Due to the server-side nature of the game, you can also play it across platforms with your settings and customizations linked to your username. That means if you play on the iPhone now, when you get the iPad you can log in and just keep playing.

Multiplayer is supported over Wi-Fi and bluetooth and you can chat (i.e. trash-talk) in any language supported by the iPhone via their Unite SDK, the same system that allows cross-platform challenges to be sent and received. (And you can wager with virtual cash to make it a little more interesting).

We’ve been promised this kind of multi-player, multi-platform gaming for a long time now but Namco looks like they’re delivering. The performance and real-time rendering are slick and swift and the controls and customization are precise and robust.

Check out the video below, and if you’re playing Pool Pro Online 3 let us know how you’re liking it!

YouTube link

TiPb Apps 4.5: Pool Pro Online 3 for iPhone (GDC 2010) is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog