DXG docks with cameras in them are of limited use

While making our rounds on the show floor at CES, we came across the DXG booth, which displayed an interesting piece of hardware: An iPhone dock.

No really! In what we originally thought was an interesting twist, DXG has some iPhone docks with cameras in them. Well that is certainly something we haven't seen before, it doesn't seem like anybody has done a dock with a camera in it. Let's find out more!

Well, we tried. We kept asking about how the camera worked, and they said it worked with an iPhone. Then we asked what apps you could use it with (thinking Skype and FaceTime would be nice with a dock that might have a nicer camera than the iPhone front cam), and they said they have their own app that uses the camera. As far as we could tell, you can't use these with anything but their own custom app.

After a variety of attempts to break through the language barrier failed, we took their sheet of product information and moved on. The only problem is that the models with cameras aren't mentioned on the DXG site, nor in any printed materials. So we're going off of the image you see below, which discusses the IVB-300.

DXG is also clumsily touting "dock+Peek" but we've no idea what that means. It could be referring to their app, which we never saw. But in the end the primary utility here appears to be motion detection, which will then trigger the camera to snap a pic or video, which can then be sent elsewhere via email or FTP. Useful? Perhaps. It's too bad they spent all that money on a booth just to flub basic communications, however. It's also entirely possible these will never make it to market, but we'll keep an eye out for them.

DXG docks with cameras in them are of limited use originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

DXG docks with cameras in them are of limited use originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matias Slim One keyboard at CES

Yesterday I got a chance to chat with Steve McGowan of the Matias Corporation about one of their new products, the Slim One Keyboard. It's a fabulous idea, really: Take the form factor of the Apple Wireless Keyboard, and give it a button in the top right that says "iPhone". You've got your iPhone on a dock or syncing, and you get a text message. Hit that magical little iPhone button, and boom! Your keyboard is now bluetoothed up to your iPhone so you can reply to that text, then a second press of the iPhone button disconnects from your iPhone and your typing goes back to your computer.

If the name sounds familiar, Matias has previously made waves with their Tactile One keyboard, which uses switches like the Apple Extended Keyboard II used, so it is a very responsive (and clacky) keyboard.

You can see a demo of the Slim One Keyboard in the video below. It is available in Mac and Windows flavors for the iPhone.

Matias Slim One keyboard at CES originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Matias Slim One keyboard at CES originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spotted at CES: Skech Trax iPhone 4 case

Today, while checking out the variety of iPhone case options available in the iLounge Pavilion at CES, I saw a display that caught my eye: iPhone 4 cases made from recycled bicycle tires. As a Portlander, I am legally obligated* to follow up on any product that is recycled or bike-related, so I went over and checked them out.

They are made by a company called Skech, and I actually got my hands on the Skech Trax case. This is a flip style case (like a steno pad, not like a book) with a nice soft interior and the exterior is made of the aforementioned used tires. This is cool because all the cases are a little different and have some cool texture to them.

I also liked that the inside material is available in a variety of colors, and the flap that covers the screen also includes a couple of card sleeves for business cards or ID and a credit card if you need to travel light. It has a hole for the camera, and the top is open for access to power or the headphone jack. There is a magnetic clasp to hold it shut the rest of the time, and the whole thing feels really well put together.

Be aware that it is not the most protectionary of cases, but it will keep your keys off the screen while your phone is in your bag, and look reasonably nice outside your bag too.

Skech makes a variety of other iPhone cases, but this one stood out and I wanted to show it to all of you.

*There was an ordinance passed in 1998.**

**Yes, I am kidding.

Spotted at CES: Skech Trax iPhone 4 case originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Spotted at CES: Skech Trax iPhone 4 case originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Third Rail Mobility announces new cases, battery at CES

Third Rail Mobility, a case/battery system that our own Mike Rose reviewed (and liked), announced revisions to their iPhone 4/4S case and battery systems at CES 2012. Now they are available in colors aside from black, allowing you to customize your iPhone and keep it charged. Soon their line will include green, red, pink, white, purple, and blue.

On the off chance you want to keep your black case but add an extra layer of protection or just accessorize a bit based on whatever outfit you're wearing today, you're also in luck: Third Rail has also announced a line of silicone "bumpers" that slip around your existing Third Rail case in assorted colors, letting you choose a color and yet still use your battery. And while they were at it, Third Rail Mobility also announced a new battery for their cases, a 2000 mAh capacity battery which will more than double the life of your iPhone 4 (1420 mAh) or iPhone 4S (1432 mAh).

Their cases are a twist on the battery case style we're all used to seeing: the battery snaps into the back of the case, so when you don't need a battery you have a nice trim case, but when you do need one, you just pop it on the back and you're ready to go. Another nice feature: You can attach multiple batteries together, so when one runs out, stack another one on top and keep going. Third Rail cases also have a power switch, so if you want to charge up at strategic intervals you have that option as well.

These updated versions of the Third Rail Case will be available in the spring.

Third Rail Mobility announces new cases, battery at CES originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Third Rail Mobility announces new cases, battery at CES originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Instagram 2.0 now available for iOS

Instagram announced on their blog today that version 2.0 of their popular iOS photography app is now available. Their post outlines a number of additions and changes in the new version, including "live view" of the filters, so you can see the filter applied before you even take the photo. My personal favorite is the higher photo resolution which takes the resolution of the saved photo up to 1936x1936 on the iPhone4 and 1536x1536 on the iPhone3GS. There is a catch here though: You only get the high-res versions saved to your camera roll IF you have the setting on to save them. What goes out to Instagram is still a 612x612 image.

There are also improved controls for sideways photos and options on every filter to enable/disable the borders. Generally in my brief time playing with the update, I've found that the app is overall a little perkier. I did like playing around with the live view filters, even though I don't think I'll spend a lot of time with that function in day-to-day use. I think the revamp of the picture taking interface is nice too; I like the ease of controls and how you don't have to shuffle off to another screen to get the results when you take a photo. (See image.)

This is a free update to the free app available in the App Store.

Instagram 2.0 now available for iOS originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Instagram 2.0 now available for iOS originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best apps for tracking Hurricane Irene

If you're in the path of Hurricane Irene and you haven't gone through the App Store already looking for the best sources of info on the storm, there are others who have done it for you. Information Week, Appolicious, and MSNBC's Technolog have all made lists of apps for various flavors of smartphones.

Virtually all the lists of apps include the free Weather Channel App for iOS, Android, Windows Phone 7, and Blackberry*. The application description doesn't clearly state if the free app (there's a paid version) has push notification for weather alerts, but the $3.99 Weather Channel Max app does include them.

Aside from TWC's contributions, there's also the paid Hurricane for iPhone or Hurricane HD for iPad which shows up in multiple lists of suggested apps. You may want to try searching for an app for a TV station in your area; a lot of them have notifications for breaking news or weather alerts which you can set up.

CNN has a few apps listed alongside Twitter feeds to watch and things like a multipurpose radio which includes weather band information, a flashlight, a USB port for charging, and a hand crank to make the whole thing go.

Google has set up a crisis response map with a wide variety of layers including power outages, shelters, forecasts and loads more.

Here are some basic tips for maximizing battery life on your smartphone/tablet/laptop/e-reader in case of power outages: Turn the screen brightness down as low as you can, turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and if you can run multiple apps at once, quit anything extraneous. That way you'll get the most out of your battery before you have to hook it to that Axis radio and work the hand crank till your arm gives out.

If you do need this list of apps because you're in Irene's path, all of us at TUAW (who aren't battening down our own hatches) are thinking of you and wishing you well.

*Irene doesn't care what smartphone you use.

Best apps for tracking Hurricane Irene originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Best apps for tracking Hurricane Irene originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 27 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia CEO points to iPhone, Android as sparks in company’s ‘burning platform’

According to our friends over at Engadget, Nokia CEO Stephen Elop sent a memo to his employees which is a pretty interesting read. He not only acknowledges there are other companies making mobile phones, but that said phones are leaving Finland's biggest export in the dust.

Elop spends a bit of time talking about the burning platform story and goes on to say a few things I found startling coming from a CEO. Can you imagine Steve Ballmer ever saying, "There is intense heat coming from our competitors, more rapidly than we ever expected"? That's the least direct thing in the memo. Elop goes on to say that Apple is creaming Nokia in the high end market, Android has some real innovation happening and is starting to firmly establish themselves in the midrange, and on the low end, China is cranking out phones faster than Nokia can decide on a color for a new model.

Where is he going with this? Two places. First, Elop says, "Our competitors aren't taking our market share with devices; they are taking our market share with an entire ecosystem. This means we're going to have to decide how we either build, catalyse or join an ecosystem."

Then, he says Nokia is going to share its new strategy on February 11. Remember, Stephen Elop did time at Microsoft before he went to Nokia. Also keep in mind that I run a House of Crackpot Theories. Sounds to me like he's on the verge of trying to sell Nokia on making mobiles with Windows Phone 7 as an OS. Will this lead to true innovation from a (formerly) huge force in the mobile market? Will Nokia use its history as a hardware powerhouse to finally keep the carriers from crippling customizing Android devices? Will Nokia reveal it's purchased some other company with great mobile development chops to build great software for its handsets?

It looks like we don't have much longer to wait to find out what this new strategy is going to be, but until then, feel free to speculate. My House is open to all crackpot theories!

Nokia CEO points to iPhone, Android as sparks in company's 'burning platform' originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nokia CEO points to iPhone, Android as sparks in company's 'burning platform' originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Early access to Verizon iPhone: One guy got his already

9 to 5 Mac has linked to video of someone who managed to finagle his package out of the local UPS distribution center and get ahold of his Verizon iPhone on Saturday. This guy's camera operator flipped between portrait and landscape orientation, so if you want to get a really good look at all of it, do a bit of stretching first.

I'm surprised we only have one report of this, honestly. With as long as people have waited, I figured we would see a lot more video and reports like this.

The image 9 to 5 Mac posted shows the iPhone in a case, the iPhone 4 box, and a Getting Started guide. It appears the case is an Otterbox of some sort; the same user posted a brief video tour of his iPhone titled Verizon iPhone in Otterbox Defender Case, but the Otterbox site says all the Verizon cases are forthcoming, not actually out yet. I also checked the Verizon site, and it didn't show any either.

Most people who have tipped us to their shipping status have said their Verizon iPhones are scheduled for delivery on Monday. Hopefully the crazy weather won't delay too many of those packages and we'll get to see more of these videos. According to its website, new Verizon customers can go online first thing Wednesday (12:01 am PST/3:01 am EST) -- or late Tuesday, depending how you look at it -- and order their own. Verizon iPhones will show up in stores Thursday morning at 7:00 am local time.

Early access to Verizon iPhone: One guy got his already originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Early access to Verizon iPhone: One guy got his already originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple begins bumper refund program and free orders

Filed under: iPhone

In last week's press conference held about iPhone 4 reception issues*, Apple made mention of distributing not only bumpers for iPhones going forward, but refunds to those who had already purchased bumpers or other iPhone 4 cases. So if you didn't get one before they were pulled from Apple stores, progress is being made.

A number of tipsters have written in to let us know they received email from Apple this evening about their refunds being processed. Read the whole thing after the break. We've heard of the "Cash For Clunkers" program, but what would you call this one? "Bucks for Bumpers"? "Ante For Antennagate"? Leave your best answer in the comments.

Update: the page on Apple.com is now available. To claim your free case, you will need to download an app.

Continue reading Apple begins bumper refund program and free orders

Apple begins bumper refund program and free orders originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple begins bumper refund program and free orders originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 4: Kelly’s first 24 hours

Filed under: iPhone

I was one of those who had a new iPhone 4 magically appear yesterday, so I've had over 24 hours with mine to touch it and love it and name it George. Here are my first impressions:

New screen: The slightly slimmer case is nice. I really thought I'd dislike the square edges, but they aren't bothering me at all. I promise, nobody is more surprised than I am. It's slick. I know people say that as a colorful expression, but I mean the textbook definition of slick. If I'm using my laptop and sitting on the couch, I generally connect my phone and set it on the arm of the couch. I won't be doing that anymore! All it did last night was slide off into my lap.

New camera: I came from a 3G, so I just got the (official) ability to shoot video on my phone, not to mention the zoom and focus options. Getting the light will probably turn out to be awesome as well, but suddenly the sun decided to make an appearance in Oregon, so I haven't had a chance to really try it out.

(Did I mention the screen? I hope so. It's a beaut!)

Continue reading iPhone 4: Kelly's first 24 hours

iPhone 4: Kelly's first 24 hours originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 4: Kelly's first 24 hours originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: iPhone 3GS more reliable than 3G

Filed under: iPhone

Poor little iPhone 3G. You are my first iPhone, my first smartphone, my first "I got it the day Apple released it" device. I love you so, and yes, I will miss you when you are gone, replaced by the shiny iPhone 4.

Apparently, I was one of the lucky ones.

First off, the iPhone 3G is forsaken by several of iOS 4's new features (wallpaper, multitasking, etc.). As an added bonus, warranty provider SquareTrade has released a report showing their repair rates on the iPhone 3G and how it compares to the 3GS. In short: the iPhone 3GS is more reliable than the 3G across the board. I'm guessing this is because the 3GS was an evolution of hardware, so they had a second "model year" to make refinements and changes.

However, the 3GS had more power and battery related issues in the first year than the 3G did, so it wasn't flat-out superior hardware. But the 3GS did have less overall trouble in year one the the same period in the 3G's history.

[via Macsimum News]

Continue reading Study: iPhone 3GS more reliable than 3G

Study: iPhone 3GS more reliable than 3G originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Study: iPhone 3GS more reliable than 3G originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone sync problems after iTunes update traced to leftover plugin

Filed under: Troubleshooting, iPhone

In case you are on the road to an iOS 4 update (and be careful), you might want to double check your work. Remember, first you have to update iTunes to 9.2, which will then allow you to download the iOS 4 update.

After I updated iTunes, I went in to make some changes to what I had synced and take off some podcasts that I don't listen to and video I don't really watch. After making changes and clicking apply, I got this error:

"iPhone cannot be synced. A duplicate filename was specified."

A bit of searching found other people having this issue, and the clear explanation at Apple Toolbox saved the day. As it turns out, the culprit is iToner from Ambrosia Software. I used it once a long time ago, and then I deleted the application without using my handy dandy AppZapper. As a result, it left behind a little file in my iTunes Plug-ins folder that I didn't realize was there.

I removed the file, and as if by magic, everything started working again. However, if FedEx isn't lying and my iPhone actually does show up tomorrow, it was a bit silly of me to jump through all of these hoops to run iOS 4 on my 3G ... for one day.

iPhone sync problems after iTunes update traced to leftover plugin originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone sync problems after iTunes update traced to leftover plugin originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WWDC 2010: Apple announces iMovie for iPhone 4

Filed under: WWDC, iPhone

Today at WWDC, during the keynote address, one of the things Steve dropped upon us is the new camera in iPhone 4: Yeah, the 3G S did video, but the new camera does "full HD," at a sparkly 720p and 30fps. This means that little handheld video camera that's been on my Christmas list the last three years is now gone. Why get one when my new iPhone will do it?

So you fill your phone full of video. What to do with it? If it was your Mac, you'd be flexing your iMovie muscles, wouldn't you? Now you can do the same on your iPhone: Steve showed some demos of iMovie for iPhone today, including one-click sharing, and the tap to focus that works in photos. Even the new LED flash gets in on it: You can leave it on the whole time you're shooting. Export options are 360p, 540p, and the original 720p resolution.

And of course, the app also lets you run transitions, titles, and anything else the full version of iMovie will let you do. There are even themes and theme music to choose from -- Apple's video engineer says it's the best way to edit video on a mobile device he's ever seen.

So now you can record beautiful video, edit down to the good bits, and email that video off to any of the tubes. As long as it goes through the app review process, that is -- according to Steve, "You'll be able to buy this for $4.99 ... if we approve it." Funny. When it appears on the App Store, we'll let you know.

WWDC 2010: Apple announces iMovie for iPhone 4 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

WWDC 2010: Apple announces iMovie for iPhone 4 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 4.0 OS: Now with iAds

Filed under: iPhone, SDK

Today at the iPhone 4.0 preview event, Apple announced that one of the new features coming in 4.0 is the iAd network. According to Steve, an average iPhone user is on their phone using apps about half an hour a day. So at one ad every three minutes, that's 10 ads on each device each day, and with almost ten million devices out there, Apple claims they'll be serving a billion ad opportunities every day.

And yet this isn't the huge news about iAds. Here is what makes it a big deal: Apple built the network and is offering it up to developers to use how they'd like, with 60% of the revenue made on those ads going to developers themselves. That's up a bit from the standard "Apple gets a 30% cut" rule of thumb, but more than half seems more than fair. Apple hosts and sells the ads, and developers take home over half the revenue.

The ad demonstrated live actually looked cool: they showed off little Toy Story 3 ad at the bottom of a news app. Tap the ad, and it comes up with some options (a character list, sounds from each character, etc) and even a game to play, including an option to buy a game from right within the ad. Steve even asked if anyone had seen anything like this before, and among the gathered press, he got silence in response.

Currently, the most educated of guesses is that the AdKit API will be a developer source as well as an iTunes source (iTunes sources are where the App Store and Music Store get their content.)

After the event in the Q&A session, Steve said they attempted to buy AdMob and got sniped by Google, so they bought Quattro and are trying very hard to come up to speed on what web advertising is like, presumably so they can change it. As long as they aren't trying to get me to refinance my mortgage or whiten my teeth, I'm looking forward to the future of advertising on the iPhone.

iPhone 4.0 OS: Now with iAds originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 4.0 OS: Now with iAds originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hack: The iPod serial library enables homebrew remote controls

Filed under: Hardware, iPod Family, Hacks, iPhone

Warning: If you are baffled by people who think dismantling technology is fun, and completely fail to understand the excitement of building robots to battle other robots, this post may not be for you. Just so you know.

On the Make: magazine blog, they recently posted a piece about the evolution of a project. It was an iPod remote from last year that has gone from a "start and stop" only device to a full featured remote. It is a lovely piece of tech, powered by Arduino hardware. Arduinos are open-source circuit boards and software you can use to develop interfaces with all sorts of electronics.

I remember reading the first post about this remote last fall and being interested in where he would take this project, mostly because I love seeing what people do with Altoids tins. I have to admit hooking one up to a giant "Easy" button for my car never really occurred to me, though.

I really like the idea of building my own remote; partly so I can say I did it, but also because it would be a nicer way to get my iPod or iPhone (depending) working nicely with my car stereo.

Honestly I only understand about half of what he's talking about in this article, but I'm good at following instructions and I am reasonably handy with a soldering iron, so this doesn't look completely unreasonable. If I do end up building one I'll be sure to post all about it for you. In the meantime, have you built an unholy alliance between your Roomba and your iMac, or any other variety of Mac Tech Mashup? Tell me about it, I'd love to see what you all can do!

Hack: The iPod serial library enables homebrew remote controls originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hack: The iPod serial library enables homebrew remote controls originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NES emulator on the App Store? Not anymore.

Filed under: Gaming, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, Jailbreak/pwnage

Tonight I settled in to write a post about how exciting it was that you could play old school public-domain and freeware Nintendo games on your iPhone now, thanks to Jonathan Zdziarski and Nescaline, the app he built to do just that. Ah, Kid Icarus and Ninja Gaiden and Zelda and Mario, all my old friends back again (if I had legal licenses to the ROM images, of course). I was excited to relive my pixelated past, but it was not to be. Jason updated his site this evening saying Nescaline had been pulled:

Nescaline was removed from the AppStore by Apple at 22:19 PST tonight. I haven't received anything from Apple as to why. I predict they've either proven to be a pushover to Nintendo, who has no valid claim against Nescaline, or decided they really didn't want the ability to play NES games in the AppStore. NESv3 continues to be available in Cydia. Apple's draconian and anti-competitive AppStore practices is [sic] sadly why jailbreaking will always remain a necessity.

I was all set to be indignant about this, but then I read the update again. Is it possible that Apple yanked it simply for being available on Cydia? Not being the person at my house who runs a jailbroken iPhone, I don't have any experience with anything being available through Cydia that is also available on the App Store. I know there are those who have been pulled from the App Store for one reason or another and made their way to Cydia, but I can't find any apps that seem to be available in both places.

I would like to think this is the issue Apple saw with Nescaline and that's why it vanished, since the "Nintendo's knickers are in a twist" reason seems more heavy-handed. Then again, there's also the "no un-vetted code running in emulation" rule that the C64 emulator ran afoul of previously, which might well be the issue.

Either way I'm disappointed: since my phone is not jailbroken I can't just get it from Cydia now that it's gone from the App Store. I do have a couple of long weekends coming though, and Google says it's pretty easy...

NES emulator on the App Store? Not anymore. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NES emulator on the App Store? Not anymore. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Disney.com iPhone App: The Happiest Place on my iPhone

Filed under: iPhone, App Review

I admit, I am a fan of Disney and Disney-related paraphernalia. Theme parks, figurines, movies, all of them are popular at my house. Our honeymoon was to Walt Disney World, and in general we take vacations to go to Disneyland. Oh, I could go on, but I'll save it for anther post.

Yesterday the Disney.com iPhone app [iTunes link] was released. It's free, and it's pretty snazzy. When you first launch, you're given a ring of apps to scroll around in a nice 3D setup. You can take pictures and place them in character themed photo frames, play "name that tune" with Disney music, and get the latest news from Disney. There's also a section where you are shown an image from Disney's site and if you find that image and snap it with your iPhone camera, you get a little bonus animation. If I were a kid I would play with that all the livelong day. (I'm not kid-aged and I still had fun with it!)

Where it really gets fun though, is the games you can play. I went through all of them: A couple of personality quizzes, a matching up jewels that disappear game, and a trivia game are all included, with the option to buy or download further games. Yes, Dear Reader, in the name of a thorough review, I took the Jonas Brothers Rock Fashion Quiz.

Then there's Tigger Bounce. Tigger, perched on his tail, waits for you to tap the screen in conjunction with a power meter on the side of the screen. Then you tilt him side to side, bouncing off clouds and getting boosts from friends he goes by in the air. Once he runs out of momentum, Tigger falls back to the ground, the whole endeavor measured in "hang time". You are scored based on how long you were in the air. I found myself playing this over and over again to get just a little higher.

Overall what I liked best was that it had a nice mix of older and newer Disney properties. I cannot tell you how refreshing this is. As someone who has braved Disney Stores at the height of the High School Musical craze, seeing that Disney added content older than I am was a breath of fresh air. Bonus points for not using this as another angle to foist more princess or fairy stuff upon me!

My complaints are minor: navigation is super sensitive so the slightest touch sends the ring spinning pretty fast, the "interact" section is not as interactive as I'd like (quite a few characters are limited to photo-frames only), and it's called the Disney.com Mobile App but it isn't really a portal or interface to interact with Disney.com. Like I said, minor.

Even if this weren't free, I'd recommend it for Tigger Bounce alone. There is a lot of variety here, and if you have any young'uns around who like to play a game on your iPhone every now and then, this is a really good option. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to see a tiger about some hang time...

Disney.com iPhone App: The Happiest Place on my iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Disney.com iPhone App: The Happiest Place on my iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walt Disney World Notescast for iPhone: one Disnerd’s review

Filed under: Software, iPhone

To start with: I am a Disney fan -- to be precise, it's a lot like the way Jack Nicholson is a Laker fan -- so on my very nearly annual expeditions to a Disney park, I don't really need the map. I have memorized shortcuts and low-traffic restrooms, how to get all the good stuff done in one day, and loads more random bits (look closely in the Hall Of Presidents; molds for their faces are used on other animatronics around the park), mostly because carrying them around in my head was the easiest way to carry them.

Then I got my iPhone (my first smartphone) and was able to put data on my phone (which I always carry with me). Enter the Walt Disney World Notescast. This $0.99 app is a handy planning/informational tool that can guide your entire Walt Disney World trip, from vacation packages to tips on annual events and park history. I tested the iPhone version of this app, but TimeStream Software also sells a $1.99 version for notes-capable classic iPods and nanos. It doesn't rely on a data connection and you can carry all this info with you easily.

When you first launch the application, you get a list of options to choose from. I liked the variety of options, but I wish I could customize or at least re-order it so I could get at a few of the options more quickly. There is a bookmark system available, but I ended up bookmarking a lot of things so that list went non-functional pretty quickly. And while I understand not having a ton of information on one page, I had a hard time figuring out why there were breaks between, for example, "Tours of EPCOT I" and "Tours of EPCOT II". I love the list of phone numbers, especially since I can tap the number to make the call. In the now cutthroat world of Disney Dining, having that number handy -- as well as the ticket line and even the camping and Magical Express numbers, not usually easy to find on the WDW site -- is a huge convenience.

Continue reading Walt Disney World Notescast for iPhone: one Disnerd's review

Walt Disney World Notescast for iPhone: one Disnerd's review originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Walt Disney World Notescast for iPhone: one Disnerd's review originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twitterrific 2.0: It’s real, and it’s SPECTACULAR.

Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch, App Review

I'll be honest, I adore Twitter. I don't mean "Oh it's so cute and Oprah's on it," I mean in a way that is likely unhealthy. It was just another technology I had an account for but only sort of used until I found out that the Iconfactory created an application for my desktop called Twitterrific that allowed me to have a little corner of my desktop devoted to microblogging. So then I used it a little more.

Then I got my iPhone 3G and the Iconfactory made a version of Twitterrific for that, too. Today, here I sit more than sixteen thousand updates later. Twitterrific was among the first desktop and mobile Twitter apps and terribly exciting. Then some other folks came on the scene, having re-imagined what an iPhone Twitter app could look like. We got Twitterfon and Tweetie, and I found myself very disappointed to have bumped Twitterrific from my home screen.

All of that has changed. Twitterrific 2.0 is out and once again I have an Iconfactory app on my home screen. There are loads of changes, but the standout feature is the option to turn some of these off and on as you desire.

Multiple account support was the revolutionary feature of other clients, and it has now been added to Twitterrific. Adding more is a piece of cake, and the nice thing about it is that your account(s) live on a "Sources" page with the public timeline, saved searches and a list of the current trending topics. I really like this view and it makes things very convenient, especially if you want to check the trending topics on the go.

You'll notice you get three views of your timeline: A "mini" view with just a name and a tweet, the "standard" Twitterrific view of an avatar and bold name with a tweet, and an additional "mega" view, with a larger picture and the text a bit bigger as well (including the client). So far I am loving the mini view, since I can scan easily.

In case a black background with lighter text isn't your thing, you also have the option of three different color schemes, Raven (the classic black), Snowy (lighter, with some 3D elements for selected tweets), and Basic (a black and white option). Right now Snowy is the one that's working for me. I really like the way selected tweets stand out.

Now you can also pick your reply method which is one of the most impressive features. If you have a tweet selected when the entry window comes up, you get your pick of whether or not to tweet, tweet a public @ reply, or DM the author of that tweet based on which tab you choose at the bottom of the window. You can also hide the keyboard to peek back at the timeline in case you want another look at the tweet. This is a really elegant method for entry since a lot of times I want to reply via DM to someone who sent me something publicly, or inadvertently have a tweet selected but I don't want to reply to it. Every time I use this interface I am happier with it in a new way.

To keep from using a lot of screen for the buttons for different views (one each for your timeline, replies, and DMs) there's a little funnel you tap that pops up a bar with those view options in it. As a fan of the mini view this helps me pack even more information on the screen and I like how it's implemented. Next to this icon is a little snowflake/asterisk icon you can tap to get buttons for a link to a selected tweet, retweet, reply to the author, the author's info page, see the conversation thread, email it, or favorite it. You also get a button to mark a tweet. Marking a tweet is like a favorite, but currently those marks are only saved on your phone (it has been mentioned that this will sync with the desktop version eventually).

Other features I really like: the left-handed option made it forward from the previous version, configurable options for tapping an avatar (1, 2, or 3 taps can be set to different actions like show the author or the conversation, add it as a favorite), and there is a notes field on authors so if you are out and about and add someone you can take note of where you met them or how you know them or whatever else you can sometimes want to keep track of.

I love the new version, and I like to think it came about because others came along and innovated which made the Iconfactory step up THEIR game, so now there are a variety of easy to use and nice looking Twitter clients for the iPhone. Now, on to the desktop!

Twitterrific 2.0: It's real, and it's SPECTACULAR. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 08 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Twitterrific 2.0: It's real, and it's SPECTACULAR. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 08 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free Comic Book Day is coming: how your iPhone can help

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

Tomorrow, as Naven Johnson might say, "The free comics are here! The free comics are here!" Because tomorrow is Free Comic Book Day, one glorious Saturday when comic shops are filled with titles specifically for giving away to just anyone in order to perhaps lure in some brand new folks and maybe get back some fans who have lost touch over time. Either way it's a prime opportunity for you to let your Geek Flag fly.

I assure you, there's nothing like a personal Stormtrooper escort walking you to your car and one of the few opportunities you have for that (locally) is tomorrow. There are a fair number of comic book stores around here, not to mention Dark Horse Comics World Headquarters, the source of All Star Wars Comics Including Those Manga Ones (or as I like to call it, One Reason Kelly Will Never Leave Portland).

What's that you say? You don't know where your local comic book stores are? Have no fear! Today iVerse Media (creators of those Star Trek Comics in the App Store) released the free iPhone app Comic Shop Locator [iTunes] for just this purpose! You can enter your zip code or let the app use your location and it will give you the three closest shops (in the USA). Tap one and you can either see it in Maps, or give them a call. Not only is this handy if you don't spend a lot of time in comic shops, but if you happen to be in an unfamiliar city you can still find out where to pick up the new Aliens/Predator or that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 25th Anniversary Reprint you've been looking for.

A list of events for tomorrow is also online for your perusal. I hope there's something awesome happening near you!

Free Comic Book Day is coming: how your iPhone can help originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 01 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Free Comic Book Day is coming: how your iPhone can help originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 01 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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