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- Boxee alpha boasts API, Hulu-stomping browser and Pandora
Filed under: Software, Apple TV
Boxee is having a massive meet-up in NYC tonight and is unveiling a new version of the alpha that brings more features, some Hulu manageability, and a new API. Fire up the update function in your Apple TV or OS X copies of boxee and get in on the fun!
Tonight's new release brings in some new features and workarounds to existing services:
- The excellent music service, Pandora, is now built-into boxee, using the new boxee API
- Speaking of the API, it should now be easier than ever for users to contribute add-ons to the project to integrate new service
- BoxeeHQ has launched its PBS App Box app. It's pretty solid and provides access to many of public broadcasting's best content
- A new XUL-based browser for Hulu and other content. This is big, because XUL is the framework that Mozilla uses for Firefox, meaning, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to restrict access to RSS streams accessed by boxee.
- RadioTime support for over 100,000 terrestrial radio stations that can be streamed worldwide.
And of course, controlling boxee is now even easier using the free remote for the iPhone and iPod touch.TUAWBoxee alpha boasts API, Hulu-stomping browser and Pandora originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Scrabble for iPhone gets a Facebook boost
Filed under: Gaming, iPhone, App Store
Say the words 'Facebook' and 'Scrabble' in the same breath and you're likely to get the evil eye from fans of the lamented Scrabulous application that formerly called the social network its wordy home, even though the official game has made its way back onto Facebook. Despite the stomp job on the unofficial version from Hasbro The Hardnosed Holder of the copyright, the game is still addictive in analog, online and iPhone formats.
Now a new version of the iPhone Scrabble game, which previously permitted networked head-to-head play over WiFi, is giving players the option of using the Facebook Connect tools to play against friends far and wide. Announced today at the Game Developers Conference, the FBC-friendly build of the app requires you to add the Scrabble application on Facebook, then log in from the iPhone to connect the two. If you don't already own the iPhone app, it's $4.99US. Play can cross over between the web and iPhone versions of the game with no difficulty -- I'm loading it up as we speak and challenging my Facebook buddies (who are, without exception, better at Scrabble than I am) to a match or two.
We'll have a full rundown of GDC opening day iPhone news later on tonight.TUAWScrabble for iPhone gets a Facebook boost originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - iPhone continues to build momentum
Filed under: iPhone
In a new study released by AdMob, the iPhone is rolling over many of the other smart phones in the US and the world in terms of data traffic. You can download the complete study in PDF form here. Highlights of the research include:
- Worldwide, the iPhone makes up 33% of all smart phone traffic
- In the U.S., the iPhone accounts for 49.5 % of all tracked requests
- Against all phones, including non-smart phones, Apple had 11.2 % of mobile online traffic. The iPod Touch was getting 6.7% and the Motorola RAZR has dropped to 2.9% of traffic
Other items of note: the iPhone of had 10 percent of traffic in the U.S. in August of 2008, now jumping to 49.5 percent in less than a year.
AdMob notes that the traffic share is not the same as phone sales. The data reflects a combination of market share and data use. It is likely that the ease of use that Safari offers is helping to drive internet data usage, while other browsers may be painful to use and not nearly as inviting.
It's good news for Apple, and it's likely that excitement about the iPhone will increase with OS 3.0 being released this summer, along with the likely debut of new iPhone hardware.
AdMob specializes in working with advertisers to get their ads on mobile phones. They also are heavily involved in research to track trends in the mobile space.TUAWiPhone continues to build momentum originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - ngmoco's Neil Young speaks at GDC keynote
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Hardware, Developer, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Neil Young (not that Neil Young, the other one), former EA exec and head of ngmoco, fresh from his appearance at the Apple iPhone 3.0 event the other day, showed up on a keynote stage at the Game Developers' Conference in San Francisco to talk about the big, wrapped present that the iPhone and the App Store are to game developers. The platform is "better than the DS, better than the PSP," he said, referring to Nintendo and Sony's handheld gaming devices, because not only is tops in terms of usability (it's "always on, always with you"), and not only is it easier than any other platform to develop for, but the market is gigantic and growing -- unlike Sony and Nintendo's markets, there are no first party titles to compete with.
Which makes a lot of sense (and Young should know -- his company is poised to become one of the platform's early big developers). Other game developers agree, too -- according to a survey at Games Beat 2009, the iPhone has beaten out social networks, web-based content and even consoles as the area that has the most potential for gaming. There's no question at all: the future is extremely bright for gamers on the iPhone.TUAWngmoco's Neil Young speaks at GDC keynote originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Vuze allows remote playback support to Apple devices
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Multimedia, Software, iTunes, Apple TV
Update: Original version of this post contained some accidental misinformation. Errors have been corrected.
Azureus was my Bittorrent client of choice back in the day -- it used to be open source and easy to use and install, and served up any torrents you'd like. Eventually, however, the app was turned into Vuze, got put under a much more restrictive license and added a bunch of extra content bloat, and I abandoned it in favor of the much simpler µTorrent (unfortunately, it's not open source either, but you can't win them all). Now, however, it sounds like Vuze is trying to make things a little easier on their customers -- the restrictions are still there, but you can now watch any or all of their content on any or all of your devices, including the iPhone and iPod touch, the Apple TV, and even consoles like the PS3 and the Xbox 360.
It's only slightly easier -- everything still has to be downloaded under the Vuze umbrella, but with just an option, you can drag and drop into iTunes or onto any of your other devices and then sync things out from there. If you do choose to access content through their application, at least you'll be able to bring what you download out onto the other devices you own.
You can download Vuze over on their site. Downloading content from their network can be done with just the app, though using their comments and Friends system will require a free onsite registration. The device integration currently only works in OS 10.5, though they're working hard to make it possible in 10.4 as well.TUAWVuze allows remote playback support to Apple devices originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Just announced: La Cie blue eye pro Monitor Calibrator Proof Edition
Filed under: Hardware, Peripherals, Odds and ends, Graphic Design
A lot of us might not care that the color on our screens doesn't precisely match reality, but for most designers color matching is a crucial part of their work. That's why they use monitor calibration systems like the new La Cie blue eye pro Proof Edition (US$429.99) to make sure that what they see on the screen is exactly what they'll see on a finished product.
The blue eye pro Proof Edition is the blue puck that you see on the left side of the photo illustration at right. It supports monitor calibration and profiling and can provide UGRA (Swiss Center of Competence for Media and Printing Technology) soft proof testing and reporting.
La Cie has announced immediate availability of the blue eye pro Proof Edition, which is compatible with the Adobe Creative Suite, QuarkXPress, Aperture and other design and photography applications. it requires Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later on Intel Macs, as well as a USB port for connectivity.TUAWJust announced: La Cie blue eye pro Monitor Calibrator Proof Edition originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - iPhone stickers to stroke your ego
Filed under: Accessories, Humor, Odds and ends
iPhone users have been called vain, and perhaps that's justified. Not all users, of course, but definitely those who apply text-style stickies to their screens. Stickies with messages like, "You are right. As usual."
Actually, we think these are pretty cute. Created by artist Fiona Carswell, I think they'd be a clever gift for the iPhone-addicted teen or technology-fearing curmudgeon. There's no info on whether you can buy them, but perhaps if you ask Fiona very nicely ....
Of course, this isn't the oddest iPhone accessory we've found. That honor goes to the Danglet. Because who doesn't want to swing their iPhone above their head on the end of a string?
[Via iPhone Savior]TUAWiPhone stickers to stroke your ego originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Cha-Ching Touch now available
Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Last month, we got a sneak peek at Cha-Ching Touch, the finance app for the iPhone and iPod touch from Midnight Apps. Now, it's ready to go. We haven't played with it yet (a full review is coming), but I definitely see the appeal of a quick and easy mobile finance tracker (which is a long-winded way to say "money app").
Years ago, I had a great check register application on my Palm and I loved it. It simply monitored money in and out with some basic categorization. That's what we're after, and Cha-Ching sounds like it's going in the right direction.
You can monitor your budget and enter location-aware transactions. There's good news for owners of the desktop version, too. Namely, transaction histories will sync to the iPhone client via WiFi. Neat.
There's a demo video here. It's a nice looking app, that's for sure. You can currently pick it up from The App Store for an introductory price of $2.99US. Again, we'll let you know what we think after we've put it through its paces.TUAWCha-Ching Touch now available originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - iPhone external keyboard without jailbreaking
Filed under: Accessories, Hacks, iPhone
Check this out, folks. Some enterprising young hackers have got an IR keyboard working with a non-jailbroken iPhone. With nothing more than $20US worth of parts and the iPhone 2.0 SDK, they built an adapter for the headphone port that talks with a modified version of the audio port modem microcontroller firmware.
Of course, this isn't a rig that my Aunt Ethel is going to run out and buy for her own iPhone, but it's the first time we've seen an external keyboard working with an intact iPhone. Back in the day, my Stowaway keyboard brought my Palm ///e to unknown heights of usefulness. I'd like to experience the same glee with my iPhone.TUAWiPhone external keyboard without jailbreaking originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - TUAW @SXSW: The "comics on handhelds" panel
Filed under: Multimedia, iPhone, iPod touch, SXSW
Chances are, if you're reading TUAW, you most likely love all things Apple and Mac. You may also be an iPhone or iPod touch user. And, like many Apple lovers (including myself), you may also be a fan of comic books. If so, what if you want to take your comics on the road with you and don't want to lug around a huge stack of titles? Instead of having to take paper comics, what if you could digitize them and read them on your handheld?
Well, those are just the type of questions I hoped to have answered by attending the Comics on Handhelds panel at South by Southwest Interactive last week. On the panel were Douglas Edwards, CEO of UCLICK, Molly Crabapple of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, Dave Bort, a Google/Android Engineer, Rantz Hoseley, CEO of the LongBox Group and Richard Stevens of "Diesel Sweeties" fame. The panel was moderated by comics creator and mobile comics proponent Dan Goldman.
First off, Goldman started with a definition of what comics are: stories told with words and pictures. He explained that comics can be in any form and do not have to be on paper in order to be considered "comics."
With that out of the way and hoping to provide a "common starting place," Goldman next went into a discussion of formatting comics for mobile devices and alternative delivery methods, using Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield's "FreakAngels" as an example; it works well on a mobile device despite being made originally for the printed page.
"Change in platform demands change in format," Goldman said.Continue reading TUAW @SXSW: The "comics on handhelds" panel
TUAWTUAW @SXSW: The "comics on handhelds" panel originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Apple's Bluetooth headset gets the axe
Filed under: Accessories, Hardware, iPhone, Apple History
I'll admit it: I loathe Bluetooth headsets. It's impossible to walk around with one of those things protruding from your head without looking like a total tool. No one's impressed, Lieutenant Uhura.
I'd like to think it was that reason that prompted Apple to stop selling the iPhone Bluetooth headsets, but it was probably poor sales. We don't have sales figures, of course, but I've never seen one in the wild.*
It's also possible that Apple is up to something else. You'll remember that iPhone OS 3.0 touts support for A2DP Stereo Bluetooth connectivity among its features. The headset which shipped with the 1st generation iPhone had a built-in switch, similar to the one included with the current iPod shuffle. Perhaps a future model will control the iPod and answer calls over Bluetooth? If so, it had better be pretty cool.
*Out of fairness, I'll state that I live in a town of 4,000. Not exactly a hive of early adopters.TUAWApple's Bluetooth headset gets the axe originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Vonage Companion now available for Mac users
Filed under: Software, Internet
Vonage, the international VoIP provider, has just released its Vonage Companion software for OS X. Vonage Companion is available to users who subscribe the the Vonage Pro plan and it basically allows users to use their laptops or desktops to make or receive phone calls. Think of it as Skype but for your Vonage account.
You can use Vonage Companion to record calls, set-up conference calls (or separate conference calls into separate phone calls), selective call block, call transfers and more.
I don't have a Vonage Pro account, so I wasn't able to check out the features firsthand, but flipping through the manual (PDF link) it looks pretty powerful. The biggest benefit to a service like this is the ability to make and receive calls from the road, using your Vonage number and account credentials.
Vonage Companion is free for Vonage Pro customers (existing Vonage users will need to upgrade to a Vonage Pro account) and it works with OS X 10.4.11 Tiger and OS X 10.5 Leopard, though Vonage strongly recommends having the latest security updates and latest OS updates installed. You can download Vonage Companion here (direct .DMG link)TUAWVonage Companion now available for Mac users originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Take a shot of Espresso 1.0
Filed under: Software, Developer
We first started hearing about MacRabbit's Espresso back in September; six months, a public beta and countless cups of coffee later, Espresso 1.0 is finally ready for sipping!
MacRabbit, makers of the award-winning CSSEdit, parlayed the idea of an HTMLEdit companion app into an all around web development app. Right now, Espresso supports HTML, CSS, XML, JavaScript and PHP -- but utilizing plugins (Sugars), Espresso can support more languages and platforms.
Similar to Panic's Coda (another TUAW favorite), you can also directly publish from the app, using FTP, SFTP, FTP/SSL and Amazon S3.
Espresso shares many interface similarities with CSSEdit and the presentation is very, very polished. If you're comfortable with CSSEdit, Espresso will likely fit comfortably into your workflow.
We'll be reviewing Espresso in-depth soon and doing some head-to-head action to see how it stacks up against Coda and TextMate.
Espresso is 59.95€ (about $80 US) and 49.95€ ($68 US) for existing CSSEdit 2 customers. You can try Espresso without limitations for 15 days. Espresso requires OS X 10.5 Leopard or higher.
Thanks Nik!TUAWTake a shot of Espresso 1.0 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Create a clutter-free writing environment for free
Filed under: Software, How-tos, Odds and ends
When WriteRoom debuted, many of us were impressed with the software and the idea of a focused interface that just lets you write. WriteRoom allows you to write on a screen of nothing but text, and the default view mimics the way many of us used with our first word processor (myself included): green text on a black screen. Still, if all you want is a screen of text with very little interface, here's a free and quick solution.
Start with Backdrop, a simple application for obfuscating your desktop or other applications. You can get fancy and include something like Spirited Away for auto-hiding applications you aren't using, but that's not the point here (and I don't think that app works in Leopard). I am assuming you're settling in to "just write." I find the default gray works fine, but you can customize the color and make it black if you are ready to zone out on your text.
Next, fire up TextEdit. While you can zoom the TextEdit window, I find the wide view of your text is distracting. WriteRoom is nice because you have big margins on a wider screen, making it easier to read what you write. To simulate this, just resize your text edit window to mimic a page of paper in front of you. Go to Preferences in TextEdit and alter the default font settings (for rich or plain text, depending on what you prefer). You can also change the default window size, or text area. I found a height of 45 with rulers turned off went from the top of the screen to the bottom on my 15" MacBook Pro. I use 18-pt Helvetica, but if you prefer Marker Felt, go for it.
That's it! You can't customize TextEdit as much as you can Terminal, but if you want a universal text tool that can serve as a distraction-free environment, this works in a pinch. You could just as easily pare down your browser view and pop Google or Zoho Docs over Backdrop -- or for collaborative editing, open a free Etherpad page. If you do a lot of writing, you may want to look into WriteRoom. There's also an iPhone app for WriteRoom, which includes a mechanism for editing docs on your Mac (sort of).TUAWCreate a clutter-free writing environment for free originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Retrospect 8 for Mac ships, backup admins do dance of joy
Filed under: Enterprise, Software
You can find Mac applications that have been around longer than Retrospect, but not many that have the same ratio of copies installed to jobs/sanity saved. The venerable backup tool, now in its third decade and published by EMC Insignia (original developer Dantz was acquired a few years back) has been revitalized in version 8, now shipping, with scores of features that bring it to reasonable parity with the Windows version of the app.The new Retrospect, which EMC previewed at Macworld Expo, breaks the administrative UI away from the underlying backup engine and allows backup managers to control multiple instances of the tool from one console. Simultaneous execution is supported now, along with advanced disk-to-disk backups, faster catalog rebuilds, single-write/multi-read operation, improved networking and tape drive support, and media & catalog cross-platform compatibility with the Windows 7.6 version. Video tutorials for the new v8 are here.
Retrospect 8, for the moment, only runs on Intel machines but can be used to back up PowerPC clients (PPC support is coming in a near-term update, the company says). Pricing starts at $129US for the Desktop edition with support for 3 client machines (a maintenance plan adds $120), and ranges up to $1700 for the Multi-Server, Unlimited Client version; there are also Single Server 20-client and unlimited client licenses available at intervening price points. Upgrade pricing is available through the EMC site.
TUAWRetrospect 8 for Mac ships, backup admins do dance of joy originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Apple scammed out of 9,000 shuffles
Filed under: Odds and ends, Apple
Looks like Mike Teevee kept busy after visiting Mr. Wonka's factory. Somehow a guy in Kalamazoo, Michigan figured out a sequence of 9,000 iPod shuffle serial numbers, rang up Apple and promptly requested 9,000 "replacements." Apple shipped him the units, and he promptly sold them below MSRP to a bunch of very happy and blissfully ignorant customers. Needless to say, Mr. Teevee (real name Nicholas Arthur Woodhams) will be visiting Mr. Wonka's prison next.
The scam worked for long enough to acquire over 9,000 shuffles, Macworld reports, because of Apple's return policy. Woodhams also used a prepaid VISA gift card and a UPS store mailbox to work his magic. Clever, but how long did he think this would last?
[Via Engadget and Macworld]
Special note for purists: I spelled Teevee without the "a" as I am referencing Mike's numerical prowess in the 2005 movie adaptation, not the original character from the Dahl novel or 1971 film. Thanks for noticing.TUAWApple scammed out of 9,000 shuffles originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Win a copy of iPhone In Action and start making iPhone apps
Filed under: Books, iPhone, iPod touch
Last month I reviewed iPhone in Action for our TUAW Bookshelf series. Since then iPhone OS 3.0 has been unveiled, and developers have access, but the basics haven't changed. iPhone in Action covers more than the SDK, with the first half of the book dedicated to creating iPhone-tuned websites and web apps. We're giving away two fresh copies of the book this week, and all you have to do is tell us what category of app you'd create: Books, Business, Education, Entertainment, Finance, Games, Healthcare & Fitness, Lifestyle, Medical, Music, Navigation, News, Photography, Productivity, Reference, Social Networking, Sports, Travel, Utilities or Weather.
- Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
- To enter leave a comment telling us what category of iPhone app you'd like to make.
- The comment must be left before March 27, 11:59PM Eastern Time.
- You may enter only once.
- Two winners will be selected in a random drawing.
- Prize: one copy of iPhone in Action printed book ($39.99).
- Click Here for complete Official Rules.
TUAWWin a copy of iPhone In Action and start making iPhone apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - 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.TUAWiPhone 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.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Turbo.264 HD adds AVCHD transcoding savvy
Filed under: Accessories, Video
When first we met the Turbo.264 hardware compression accelerator, it did a great job of speeding up video exports on older CPUs but didn't offer a tremendous boost on modern Intel hardware. True, it worked well with Elgato's EyeTV software to transcode TV recordings overnight for iPod or iPhone use, but not everyone needed to spend the money to recover that time.
Elgato's got an upgrade to the Turbo hardware now, the Turbo.264 HD. On the one hand, the new unit is limited to Intel Mac owners running Leopard -- leaving out the G4 and G5 users who benefited most from the speed boost of the older unit.
On the other hand, the widget has the ability to export in HD resolutions; you can do basic trim edits on clips and handle almost any input format under the sun. More importantly, the new stick brings a vital feature to HD camcorder users: on-the-fly transcoding of AVCHD video.
Mac users who have AVCHD camcorders have suffered long and loudly with the format, even though native editors like NeoScene and batch converters like VoltaicHD have simplified things a bit. While iMovie '09 and Final Cut/FCE can handle AVCHD, importing is a slow slog. The Turbo.264 HD promises to dramatically reduce importation time for AVCHD clips and offload the work of transcoding them from the computer's processor. If it works as advertised, it's going to be very popular with HD camcorder users.
The new unit is $150US and shipping now.TUAWTurbo.264 HD adds AVCHD transcoding savvy originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Win a MovieWedge for your iPhone or iPod touch
Filed under: Accessories, iPhone, iPod touch
Tired of holding your iPhone at just the right angle while on a cross-country trip? Need an easy way to mount the iPhone for casual viewing? We pitted the MovieWedge against the MiniRizer and wound up preferring the MovieWedge for the screen-cleaning surface, portability and design. Now win one of two MovieWedge's this weekend. To enter, just tell us the last video you watched on your iPod touch or iPhone (or anything, really).
- Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. (Sorry, we know our international readers want to participate, but promo codes don't transfer outside the US.)
- To enter leave a comment telling us the title of the last movie you watched.
- The comment must be left before March 22, 11:59PM Eastern Time.
- You may enter only once.
- Two winners will be selected in a random drawing.
- Prize: one MovieWedge bean bag for iPhone/iPod touch ($9.95).
- Click Here for complete Official Rules.
TUAWWin a MovieWedge for your iPhone or iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать - Dept. of "That Was Awfully Quick": eager devs enable tethering on iPhone 3.0
Filed under: Hacks, Developer, iPhone
Update: We've heard from two separate developers (Ari Weinstein and Jake Marsh) that they've put together quick and easy methods for enabling tethering on 3.0 iPhones (an all-in-one tool and a full user guide, respectively). Check out the links for details.
When something so appealing as the possibility of wireless Internet access anywhere you go is dangled in front of you, is it any surprise when you reflexively reach for it? After developer Steven Troughton-Smith inadvertently turned on the tethering controls on his upgraded-to-3.0 iPhone, several people made a deliberate effort to enable the feature. Posts on personal blogs and at the MacRumors forums testify to the successful quest, and there's a specific walkthrough posted and a UK-specific IPCC file kicking around.
Of course, it goes without saying that tethering your phone, in the absence of a carrier contract that permits such connectivity, is the sort of thing that may get you in a spot of trouble. Examples of such potential hazards include extremely large data bills, summary termination of your account, or hair on your palms. While jailbroken phones have been tethering for some time with few issues, past performance is no guarantee of future outcomes.TUAWDept. of "That Was Awfully Quick": eager devs enable tethering on iPhone 3.0 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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