Remix David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” on your iPhone

Filed under: Multimedia, iPhone, First Look

I'm a big David Bowie fan, regardless of the era. From Ziggy Stardust to Tin Machine, I'm a just a fan. Bowie's first big UK hit, "Space Oddity," was originally released on July 11, 1969. It was released in conjunction with the Apollo 11 mission and became a smash in the UK, though it wouldn't break through to US audiences until 1973.

Coinciding with yesterday's Apollo 11 anniversary iKlax Media and EMI have come together to release Remix David Bowie - Space Oddity [iTunes link] for the iPhone and iPod touch. Essentially Remix David Bowie is the Space Oddity 40th Anniversary EP [iTunes link], but it lets you create your own "mix" of the track.

iKlax's Remix app has a pretty neat interface that separates the original track into various stem-specific elements. You can control the volume for each of these stems (for things like the lead vocal, the vocal dub, the electric string guitar, orchestra, mellotron and others).

In addition to letting you control what elements you want to adjust, you can also listen to some of the pre-arranged samples, like "acoustic," "a cappella" and "instrument only." This actually coincides with the versions and stems on the Digital EP release that is available as a music download.

You can make track adjustments on the fly, but you can't alternate levels in various parts of the track. That would be expecting a bit much from a $1.99 app, but I thought I should point it out.

After you create your custom mix, you can name it and save it. Unfortunately, you can't share that mix with others, which I imagine is a licensing issue, but it's too bad. Sharing custom remixes, even if it was through a web player, would be really cool.

At $1.99US, Remix David Bowie is a pretty fun app for the would-be DJ/Bowie-fan.

Remix David Bowie's "Space Oddity" on your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Remix David Bowie's "Space Oddity" on your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Look: Postman 2.0

Filed under: iPhone, First Look, App Review

I hadn't really noticed, but it turns out there are lots and lots of postcard apps in the App Store. It makes sense, the iPhone (and to an extent, the iPod touch) is a great virtual postcard device. Snap a photo while on vacation, add a quick message and send it off via e-mail, all from within the iPhone itself. It's actually a neat example of old and new communication methods fusing together.

Yesterday, Steve looked at Postcard Express and today I'm looking at Freeverse's Postman 2.0 (iTunes link). Released just a few weeks ago, Postman was one of first applications to take advantage of some of iPhone OS 3.0's capabilities, Google Maps integration and mail sheets.

With Postman 2.0, Freeverse has redesigned the interface (using the talents of the Iconfactory's David Lanham), added themes, made it easier to position text and improved stability with other services.

The Basics

Like most other postcard apps, Postman 2.0 lets you take an image from your iPhone's camera, a stored image on your iPhone or iPod touch or use a pre-loaded professional image as the basis for the "front" of your card. Postman also integrates with Google's Location API and can use your current location to get a Google Map that can then be uses as your image.

Themes and Text Effects

Postman 2.0 now includes a bunch of pre-configured themes that you can apply to your image.

The themes are pretty nice, adding a bit of kitsch and polish to the digital postcard experience. My favorite was the retro TV set that frames your location. Clicking on the theme applies it to your photograph instantly.

You also have access to various text styles using a variety of fonts, including MarketFelt, Helvetica and Times New Roman. You can adjust the size of the text, as well as the color. You can then move the text around the front of your postcard to position at will. If you don't want any text, just clear the text form.

When it comes to the back of your postcard, you can adjust the font and sizing there as well. You can also change the weather indicator, depending on conditions or your mood.

You can disable the front or the back of the virtual postcard, which is nice if you just want to send a little stylized note, or you just want to share a quick vacation picture.

Continue reading First Look: Postman 2.0

First Look: Postman 2.0 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Look: Postman 2.0 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone dominates Boingo airport access study

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, iPod touch

It's hard to believe that we're approaching the two-year anniversary of the original iPhone. I don't think it is hyperbole to say that the iPhone has completely transformed the mobile computing space. This is especially clear when evaluating mobile Wi-Fi usage data.

Today, Boingo Wireless released a data snapshot of mobile device access on its airport network of Wi-Fi hotspots. According to Boingo, airports are the number one venue for Wi-Fi access worldwide, so they make for a good data point when evaluating Wi-Fi usage.

For the past 24-months, Boingo has tracked its airport Wi-Fi data and the increase in mobile device uptake is astonishing. It's also driven almost entirely by the iPhone and the iPod touch.

Since May 2007, mobile device usage has gone from accounting for 0.1% of Boingo's airport Wi-Fi connections to 26.1%. In two years, the smartphone has gone from a non-entity to accounting for 1/4 of all of Boingo's connections.

Boingo has also tracked what type of devices associate with Boingo operated airport Wi-Fi hotspots. In 2007, the first year the iPhone was available, the iPhone only accounted for 1% of all mobile devices. Windows CE (Windows Mobile), was the leader in 2007, with 66% of mobile device connections. In 2008, the iPhone accounted for 51.7% of all mobile devices, with the iPod touch coming in second with 42.4%. For the first five months of 2009, the iPhone has taken an astounding 89.2% of all mobile devices accessing Boingo's airport hotspots. The iPod touch has dipped to 4.7%. I talked to Jeremy Pepper from Boingo PR and he said that they think the drop in the price of the iPhone is the reason iPod touch access figures have dipped, with the iPhone taking its place.

Although these figures are only from one Wi-Fi access source, the number of users that access Wi-Fi at the airport provides what I consider a good sample for data collection. In two years, not only has the mobile access space increased 261x, the iPhone OS accounts for nearly 94% of all mobile connections.

No wonder every other phone manufacturer is desperately trying to play catch-up!

iPhone dominates Boingo airport access study originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone dominates Boingo airport access study originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iFixit publishes iPhone 3G S teardown

Filed under: Hardware, iPhone

Our screwdriver-happy pals over at iFixit have taken on the iPhone 3G S and the results do not disappoint!

The iPhone 3G S doesn't just look like its predecessor externally, the internal physical design is also nearly identical. The location of the components on the main PCB has changed, but the actual physical design is the same,

A few highlights:

• The battery is only 6% larger than that of the iPhone 3G, so increased battery performance probably comes from better hardware and software efficiency.
• There is an additional antenna connection near the dock connector. iFixit isn't sure what that's for right now, but they'll continue to investigate.
• According to the iFixit guys, the new screen does seem slightly easier to clean, thanks to its oleophobic technology.

Even cooler, Richard Lai (one of our Talkcast regulars, hi Richard!) recorded video of much of the process with an iPhone 3G S! You can check out all the YouTube clips here or view one of the clips by continuing on!

Continue reading iFixit publishes iPhone 3G S teardown

iFixit publishes iPhone 3G S teardown originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iFixit publishes iPhone 3G S teardown originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Even at WWDC, developers can’t get straight answers about App Store rejections

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Bad Apple, iPhone, App Store

This is just becoming stupid. For the past year, we've heard from developers who have had their apps rejected from the App Store for the silliest of reasons. You know, the app might allow someone to access content that could also be accessed through Mobile Safari, it might display an Old-English translation of the Kama Sutra, or include potentially adult language; but this rejection wins the "most asinine rejection ever" award: Because we said so.

Meet Craig Robinson. Craig is an artist and illustrator. For the last ten years, he's been creating these extremely cool Minipops, tiny pixelated renditions of celebrities and musicians. Check out Radiohead and The Office (UK). These creations have built up a nice fanbase, and Craig even published a book, aptly titled Minipops, in several countries. When Yahoo! Music launched a few years ago, Minipops were featured.

So Craig and his friend Matt decided to create a Minipops iPhone app -- essentially a portable version of the Minipops collection, along with some clever commentary for each illustration and the chance to "guess" what each image represents. The app was rejected from the store under the guise of being potentially offensive. This was shocking, but the guys persevered and resubmitted the app. Once again, rejected. Originally, Craig thought it might have been his sometimes sarcastic commentary that was the offensive part, but the second e-mail made it clear that they found the pixelated illustrations themselves offensive.

Keep in mind, these illustrations are very, very cute -- and if anything, flatter the people they represent more than anything else. Plus, these illustrations have been published not only in Craig's own Minipops book, but used in various other media as well. A book about Michelle Obama will even feature the Minipops of the Obama family.

Continue reading Even at WWDC, developers can't get straight answers about App Store rejections

Even at WWDC, developers can't get straight answers about App Store rejections originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Even at WWDC, developers can't get straight answers about App Store rejections originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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O2 announces iPhone 3G S pricing

Filed under: iPhone

OK, UK iPhone fans, O2 has released its iPhone 3G S pricing plans for monthly and Pay & Go customers. Depending on your plan, your 16GB or 32GB iPhone 3G S could be free (but you'll be paying a healthy monthly tab).

The full details for monthly and Pay & Go plans are on O2's site, but here's the rundown:

The 16GB iPhone 3G S will cost you anywhere from £184.23 (about $300US) to £0 on an 18-month contract. If you are willing to sign a 24-month contract, you'll pay either £87.11 (about $141US) for the 16GB iPhone 3G S or get it for free.

The 32GB iPhone 3G S will range between £274.23 (~$444US) and £96.89 (~$158US) for an 18-month contract and £175.19 (~$283) and £0 for a 24-month contract. Contract prices range between £29.38 (~$48US) and £73.41 (~$120US) for 18-month terms and £34.26 (~$55US) and £73.41 (~$120US) for 24-month terms. All plans include unlimited UK data and WiFi.

UK Pay & Go customers can get the 16GB iPhone 3G S for £440.40 (~$715) and the 32GB iPhone 3G S for £538.30 (~$874). If you purchase an iPhone 3G S with Pay & Go, you'll get a year of unlimited web and Wi-Fi for free.

As in the US, your upgrade options will depend on when your contract is up, though the O2 site says that you can usually upgrade during the last month of your term.

So UK readers, will you be getting an iPhone 3G S on June 19th? Let us know in the comments!

O2 announces iPhone 3G S pricing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

O2 announces iPhone 3G S pricing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday morning App Store shenanigans, NIN: Access edition

Filed under: Bad Apple, iPhone, App Store

Another week, another App Store scandal. Over the weekend, Apple rejected an update to the NIN: Access app (reviewed here) because of "objectionable content." The objectionable content? 1994's The Downward Spiral (iTunes link, also available in a deluxe edition here). Needless to say, Trent Reznor is a little upset (TUAW disclaimer, Reznor uses adult language, if this bothers you, avert your eyes or don't click the link).

This latest incident allows us to revisit other incidents of non-sensical approval decisions. In the case of Tweetie, Apple backed off the potential objectionable content claim and let the update through. In the case of craigsphone, the developer re-routed potentially "adult" content to Mobile Safari. As for South Park, well, it's still not in the App Store.

With a tour in progress, the developer of the NIN app has removed what he believes to be the objectionable file, but we'll need to wait to see if this (or the ensuing outrage over this stupid decision) will change Apple's mind.

As it stands, I can't help but be flumuxxed by the seemingly arbitrary nature of the App Store review process. When I reviewed NIN: Access, it was readily apparent that users had access to podcasts, remixes and music videos for the Nine Inch Nails catalog. I even thought to myself, "Well, I guess Apple got over the Craigslist-aphobia" and accepted that users who download the NIN: Access app know what they are getting into. Clearly, I was wrong.

So while apps that simulate killing an infant can actually make it into the store (and the PR nightmare is what ends up gettting it removed), apps that provide access to online content -- content that is available for sale via iTunes -- remains off-limits. Way to go!

[via TechCrunch]

Monday morning App Store shenanigans, NIN: Access edition originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 May 2009 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Monday morning App Store shenanigans, NIN: Access edition originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 May 2009 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Look: NIN: Access for iPhone

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, First Look, App Review

Earlier this week Nine Inch Nails released NIN: Access [iTunes link], an official iPhone app for the band's website. Although releasing an official band-branded mobile application isn't an entirely new idea -- Death Cab for Cutie [iTunes link] released an app earlier this year and Snow Patrol [iTunes link] released an interactive booklet for their latest album back in October -- NIN: Access goes a step further by bringing the community experience of the nin.com website into the mobile app.

A few weeks ago, Wired previewed the app and interviewed Trent Reznor and his long-time collaborator Rob Sheridan about its development.

Playing with the app (check out our gallery), it's clear how much focus was put into not only integrating the app with the existing nin.com site, but also enhancing and building features that make for a satisfying mobile experience.

Users (you can either sign-in with an existing account or create an account directly from the app) can access music, videos, wallpaper and images from the vast official archives or fan-uploaded content. Thanks to a GPS and Wi-Fi locating tool, fans can communicate with other fans using Nearby, which is like Twitter but localized to the Nine Inch Nails network. Think of it like Twinkle but for NIN fans.

Uses can also access the forums and read the latest news of of the official NIN news channel.

Although I had a few instances where the app crashed on me (and I'm using an iPod touch 2G 32 GB, I'd imagine crashing is even more common for iPhone and iPhone 3G users), the overall feel was solid and the interface was top notch.

Videos load in the external YouTube app, while songs and fan and official remixes play within the app itself. Playback was just fine over WiFi, but support over 3G may vary.

All in all, Trent Reznor and Co. have really gone the extra mile in creating a community-branded official application. If you're a fan of NIN, this free app is most definitely worth checking out.

NIN: Access is free and available in the App Store.

First Look: NIN: Access for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Look: NIN: Access for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW Exclusive: Darkness 2.0 First Look

Filed under: iPhone, First Look

Bjango, developer of the awesome iStat for iPhone, is readying the next version of one of its most successful iPhone apps, Darkness (iTunes link). TUAW got a chance to play with Darkness 2.0, which should be hitting the App Store in the next couple of days, and we explored what is new and improved.

Darkness is a world clock on steroids. Not only does it give you the current time for pretty much any city in the world, it also lets you know what time the sun rises and sets, alongside other specific information such as the the phase of the moon.

Darkness 2.0 is a complete rewrite, sporting a new interface and some enhanced features. For photographers, Darkness is a really, really useful tool because it tells you where the sun or moon will be at any given time. you can also find out the exact time that solar noon (the time of day when the sun appears its highest) will occur in your location, so you can help plan for the best time to take certain shots.

World Clock

Darkness offers up a nice way to quickly glance at what time it is in various places all over the world. Sure, the built in World Clock can do the same thing, but Darkness gives you more accessible information (the day for instance) and can access your current location, which is great if you happen to be traveling across timezones.

You can also easily choose to view the time in military or 12-hour intervals, and tell at a glance at what time sunrise and sunset is in any given city. You can add your own city from Bjango's large database (more than 8500 cities) or you can enter in your exact coordinates if you live off the grid or something.

Continue reading TUAW Exclusive: Darkness 2.0 First Look

TUAW Exclusive: Darkness 2.0 First Look originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Exclusive: Darkness 2.0 First Look originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wired dives into App Store piracy

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, App Store, Jailbreak/pwnage

App Store piracy is a growing concern for more and more developers, thanks to tools like Crackulous and various BitTorrent trackers. Although developers are fighting back, this is a problem that really isn't going away.

So how widespread is App Store piracy? Earlier this week, Wired's Brian X. Chen spoke with a number of developers and analysts about the issue, and right now, it looks like piracy is still relatively self-contained. According to Medialets, a mobile analytics and advertising company, approximately 5,000 of the 25,000 paid apps in the App Store have been cracked. The company also reports that some programs have as high as a 100-1 pirate-pay ratio -- dramatic, but not necessarily catastrophic.

It isn't all doom and gloom, however. As the Wired piece points out, some developers see the level of piracy as completely inconsequential. Others, like BeeJive have had to fight back against cracking, but have also used it as an indicator that the price of an app needs to decrease.

I take issue with Chen's citation of a 2008 Business Software Alliance study that claimed that the economic impact of software piracy is in the tens of billions of dollars each year. While software piracy undoubtedly has an economic impact, the figures that the BSA claims are just insane. Each pirated copy of a piece of software does not necessarily equal a lost sale and while software piracy, in any form, is certainly bad for the overall software ecosystem, distorting the truth doesn't help the situation.

Our own Michael Rose talked about App Store piracy with the CEO from Medialets on TechVi this morning and the conversation is pretty interesting.



Of course, the crackers may end up bringing themselves down, which is kind of cute.

[hat-tip Apple 2.0]

Wired dives into App Store piracy originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wired dives into App Store piracy originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 3.0 Friday roundup

Filed under: iPhone, SDK, iPod touch

Tuesday's iPhone OS 3.0 announcement has left the interwebs even more iPhone-obsessed than usual. If you find digging through all this information overwhelming (or, if like me you were out of town when OS 3.0 was announced), check out this round-up of news, opinions and videos. The only thing missing is a beta copy of OS 3.0 and that's already floating around various torrent sites.

If that's not enough, be sure to check out our continuing iPhone OS 3.0 coverage.

Watch the OS 3.0 presentation -- Were you left off the invite list too? Check out the video in HD or SD at the link above or in iTunes [iTunes link] as a video podcast.

Engadget's iPhone OS 3.0 Hub -- Engadget has a whole page dedicated to their furious and hands-on iPhone OS 3.0 coverage, including this video walkthrough.

What Apple Didn't Announce -- Apple's iPhone OS 3.0 presentation didn't answer every question or address every iPhone issue. Our old friend David Chartier tackles what was left out.

SDK 3.0 brings more NDA fun -- Much to the chagrin of many iPhone devlopers, the NDA is back for SDK 3.0. At Arstechnica, our pal Erica takes on what this means for developers. Let's just hope the NDA is lifted as soon as 3.0 is officially released.

OS 3.0 Screenshot Pr0n -- Pfft, what NDA? iLounge has put together a great gallery of iPhone OS 3.0 screenshots, showing off what's new and improved. Love it.

iPhone OS 3.0 vs. Android -- Lifehacker has a pretty neat comparison of features that are currently avaialable in the iPhone 2.21, stuff that's coming in OS 3.0 and what's available and coming for Android. As someone who has spent a LOT of time using both the iPhone OS and the T-Mobile G1, I'd just add that hardware and UI is actually just as important as "features" when comparing the two platforms. Right now, the iPhone absolutely cleans Android's clock -- despite having fewer "features" -- because the hardware is better (that G1 keyboard is terrible), the UI is more thought-out and the third-party software is better by leaps and bounds. (hat tip, Gruber)

Future iPod/iPhone models referenced in latest betas -- The latest iPhone OS 3.0 SDK includes references to future iPhone and iPod models (3,1) and two other unknown devices.

iPhone 3.0 Friday roundup originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 3.0 Friday roundup originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Emoji on its way out of the App Store

Filed under: Open Source, iPhone, App Store, SDK

Unfortunately, the Emoji free for all may be over. Gary, from Typing Genius, e-mailed us this morning and he let us know that Apple is cracking down on Emoji activation outside of Japan. According to Gary, Apple is forbidding Emoji-only apps (Emotifun and iEmoji have both been removed from the App Store) and requiring developers for apps that do more than just Emoji (like Typing Genius -- iTunes link) to provide an Emoji-free update immediately.

In regards to Typing Genius, Gary says that:

* Existing Typing Genius users who have already unlocked emoji will not be affected when Apple remove apps from the App Store
* Emoji unlock will remain intact for users who upgrade to a newer version of Typing Genius (without the unlock) later on

Emoji on its way out of the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Emoji on its way out of the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ripdev launches anti-piracy service for iPhone developers

Filed under: Software, Developer, iPhone, App Store, SDK, iPod touch, Jailbreak/pwnage

Last week, the iPhone cracking app-cracking tool, Crackulous, was released, igniting discussions amongst developers and users over App Store security, piracy and how to combat these threats within the confines of Apple's walled-garden. Because of the iPhone SDK, and Apple's Terms of Service for letting apps into the App Store, individual developers are severely limited in what they can actually do, code-wise, to address the issue.

This doesn't mean developers are completely helpless; indeed, as the comments pointed out, there is stuff that can be done to thwart IPA cracking and even the use of Crackulous itself. But what if you are just struggling to find time to code your current iPhone projects and don't have the time or necessary skill-level to address iPhone piracy?

Enter Ripdev's new Kali Anti-Piracy service. I talked to Slava from Ripdev last week, and they really seem to be onto something. Essentially, Ripdev has figured out how to put an extra wrapper around iPhone apps, which not only prevents the app from launching or functioning properly if it has been cracked, but also prevents the current cracking tools from working on the app at all. Even better, this process only uses documented and allowed calls, making it SDK compliant. Oh -- and if the app is legitimately purchased, it can run on a jailbroken iPhone without a problem.

Continue reading Ripdev launches anti-piracy service for iPhone developers

Ripdev launches anti-piracy service for iPhone developers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ripdev launches anti-piracy service for iPhone developers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crackulous is released, chaos imminent

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, App Store, Jailbreak/pwnage

iPhone developers who already have to fight for app approval, exposure and marketing techniques now have a new hurdle to overcome: instantaneous app-cracking. Although cracking iPhone applications for use on a jailbroken iPhone or iPod touch is not new, the method has never been so easy or so accessible.

Crackulous, an application developed on the Hackulous forums (Hackulous is a community dedicated to cracking iPhone apps; back in my day we called these warez boards), makes it possible to "crack" any purchased App Store application. That app can then be transferred for use on other devices.

Although the larger discussion of intellectual property, DRM, peer-to-peer transfers and what constitutes "piracy" is filled with large gray areas, Crackulous strikes me as about as black and white as you can get. Any way you slice it, this is piracy. This isn't about fighting DRM or fighting what some see as a draconian application platform, this is theft.

Continue reading Crackulous is released, chaos imminent

Crackulous is released, chaos imminent originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Crackulous is released, chaos imminent originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone/iPod touch 2.2.1 update available

Filed under: Software Update, iPhone, iPod touch

Apple has just updated the firmware for the iPhone and the iPod touch to 2.2.1. The list (at least for the iPod touch) looks like it is mostly bug fixes and stability improvements, but we're still searching for a full list of all the changes.

You can upgrade your phone or iPod's firmware by selecting, "check for updates" in iTunes.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

iPhone/iPod touch 2.2.1 update available originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone/iPod touch 2.2.1 update available originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tune into iPhone radio apps

Filed under: iTS, Multimedia, iPhone, App Store

Streaming radio apps for the iPhone/iPod touch are exploding in 2009. TUAW favorite Pandora was updated to 2.0 a couple of weeks ago, but it's hardly the only game in town. Back at Macworld, Chris Pirillo showed me StarPlayr for the iPhone, which lets Sirius and XM Radio subscribers access stations via the iPhone. The app isn't available right now, but it'll hopefully be in the App Store soon.

Chris demoed the app extensively on his own site and having seen it in person, it is really impressive. Even with the crappy 3G signal we had on our trip to Cupertino, the stations streamed in at nice quality and there was an option to buy a track or album directly from iTunes. XM and Sirius both offer some great stations for talk radio and sports fans, and to me, that's where these types of streaming apps really shine.

Pandora and Last.fm aren't the only streaming radio services around, AOL's SHOUTcast Radio [iTunes link] app debuted in the App Store a few weeks ago and it'll stream your favorite SHOUTcast stations in up to 128k streams (go to Settings on your iPhone, select SHOUTcast and select "allow high-bit streams"), favorite radio stations, search for artists (though the currently-playing artists is a bit delayed) and peruse the extensive SHOUTcast index.

More below...

Continue reading Tune into iPhone radio apps

Tune into iPhone radio apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tune into iPhone radio apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tweetie 1.2 for iPhone adds Instapaper, enhanced functionality and some hilarity

Filed under: Humor, iPhone, App Store

Tweetie, my current favorite Twitter client for the iPhone, has just been updated to version 1.2 [iTunes link]. While the update offers a slew of enhancements, new features and improved functionality, what makes this release memorable and unique is the sly dose of humor developer Loren Brichter inserted in the latest version of the app.

Updates and Improvements

Because Loren was nice enough to let me into the Tweetie beta, I've had the opportunity to watch some of the new features evolve and improve over the last month or so. What was already a great app is now even better, thanks to new additions and refinements to existing features.

• Instapaper support. Now if you see a link in a tweet that you want to save for later, you have the option to save it to Instapaper, in addition to e-mailing, tweeting or opening the link in Safari.
  
• Block/unblock from the app
• Remember scroll position on relaunch and refresh
• Twitpic linking for photos
• Optional landscape keyboard (note: if you choose this option you will have landscape mode regardless of how your device is held.)
• Switch account from the "compose" menu (super helpful if you manage accounts that have some overlap in followers)
• A new "Swipe to reply" shortcut
• Drafts persist after relaunch
• Nearby radius control

There are even more features and enhancements, and you can see the whole list at the developer's blog.
(A note: To access some of these new features, you'll need to go to the Tweetie pane in "Settings" on your iPhone or iPod touch and then select or change your preference.)

Popularity EnhancEr = Hilarity

We love it when developers have a sense of humor. Not content with having Tweetie become popular just because it is a quality app, Loren Brichter decided to bring a taste of the more popular -- if inane -- App Store apps: farts and flashlights.

Enable the Popularity Enhancer and not only do you get a nifty flashlight, the new swipe to reply feature will make a hilarious wet fart sound.

Brilliant.

Tweetie 1.2 [iTunes link] is availalbe in the App Store for $2.99 US and of course, existing users can download the update directly from the device or from iTunes.

Tweetie 1.2 for iPhone adds Instapaper, enhanced functionality and some hilarity originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tweetie 1.2 for iPhone adds Instapaper, enhanced functionality and some hilarity originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Look: iStat for the iPhone

Filed under: Internet Tools, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look

My very favorite Dashboard widget is iSlayer's iStat Pro. It is invaluable for figuring out how fast Internet connection is moving, tracking down what processes are hanging up the system and monitoring CPU usage.

But what if you want to monitor your systems performance remotely? What if you have a Mac server and you want to keep track of the memory and network usage? This is exactly what iStat for the iPhone was designed to address. Bjango (the new venture from part of the iSlayer team) was nice enough to let me try the app before it hits the App Store, and put it through the paces.

This is how it works:

You install the lightweight iStat Server deskop app (you need to be running Mac OS X 10.4 or higher) and then you run the iStat app for the iPhone to connect it to your Mac.

If you are on the same local network, Bonjour will take care of everything, you'll see your computer name on a list and you just need to enter in the passcode displayed in the iStat Server app to access your data.

If you are connecting to a remote server, just enter in the IP address and port number (the default is port 5109) and your passcode and you're good to go.

The iStat program will show you information on your iPhone or iPod touch and any computers or servers that you've configured with your device.

Take a look at the gallery and read on (the next page) for more details.

Continue reading First Look: iStat for the iPhone

First Look: iStat for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Look: iStat for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wazabee brings glass-free 3D to the iPhone

Filed under: Macworld, Multimedia, Odds and ends, iPhone, iPod touch

At Macworld 2009, I've seen some cool stuff, but Wazabee's 3DeeShell for the iPhone wins my show pick for most unexpected cool product. The pitch sounds cheesy; it's an iPhone case that lets you view stuff in 3D, no glasses required. This is why it isn't cheesy: it works.

We're working on getting the video edited and working properly (because seeing really is believing), but I was most impressed with this technology. The 3DeeShell consists of an iPhone case (and it's actually a nice case) with a removable screen. The screen, when viewed at the right angle (and I found it very easy to get on the right angle) will show movies, pictures or games that support its 3D processing technology in 3D.

Right now, Wazabee has several apps in the App Store: 3DeeCamera [iTunes link], 3Dee!oader [iTunes link] and 3DeeVUsion [iTunes link] that allow you to view and encode your images so that they are viewable in 3D. These apps support 3D glasses right now, but they'll work with the 3DeeShell when it launches in March.

Additionally, developers can contact Wazabee to get access to the SDK, so that apps and other games can be built with support for 3D viewing.

The 3DeeShell is scheduled for release in March 2009 for $50 US. This summer, Wazabee will be introducing a screen attachment for the 13" MacBooks (larger series to follow) that will allow for viewing of 3D content on your MacBook screen. It utilizes the Eye-Sight cam to make sure the screen is always aligned for the best 3D view.

Video is on the way, but this was too cool not to share now.

Wazabee brings glass-free 3D to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wazabee brings glass-free 3D to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tweetie: Twitter client with “oomph”

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look

Yesterday, Dave published an awesome gift guide for the Twitter addict. It wasn't meant to be an all-encompassing list, nonetheless, the omission of Tweetie [iTunes link] -- one of the newest Twitter clients to hit the iPhone -- generated a ton of response via the comments, our inbox and of course, via Twitter. Because Twitter is my crack, I decided to take Tweetie out for a spin. Developer Loren Brichter was even nice enough to get me in on the Tweetie beta so I could take a sneak peek at some of the features coming in future releases.

My initial thoughts are very, very positive; I now know why so many of you were so vocal about your Tweetie love. No sooner did I crown Tweetsville the current champion in the Twitter for iPhone Battle Royale, Tweetie shows up with some serious moves. At this point, I don't even know if I can adequately name a "champion."

Another Twitter client?

As I've said before, Twitter and the iPhone are a perfect combination -- they just go together. That said, Dave makes a solid point: the number of available Twitter clients for the iPhone is getting a tad ridiculous. I have tried almost every Twitter application available for the iPhone/iPod touch (see below) and they can tend to blur together.

Continue reading Tweetie: Twitter client with "oomph"

Tweetie: Twitter client with "oomph" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tweetie: Twitter client with "oomph" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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