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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!TUAWFree 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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Переслать - Oh no! Laptop Hunter ads return
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Cult of Mac
Microsoft keeps trying, and trying, and trying. The new Laptop Hunter ad [YouTube link] features Sheila, who wants to do some video editing. She has $2000US to spend. Sounds like a natural for a MacBook Pro, eh? Nope. She settles for an HP HDX 16t.
She passes on the Mac because it has only 2 GB of RAM, while the HP has 4 GB of DDR2 (slower) RAM. She gets a screen that maxes out with a video resolution of 1366x768, while the MacBook Pro has 1440x900. Worse yet, she will get Windows Movie Maker instead of iMovie, and she can never run Final Cut Pro or Express, which she may want if she goes professional or semi-professional.
Of course, the Microsoft ads are pushing price, not features and quality, and there is some talk that Apple, seeing the recession take hold, is increasingly interested in some lower priced -- but hopefully not lower quality -- products to sell.
While there are certainly millions of buyers for whom a Windows PC would be a reasonable choice of computer, it's worth noting the long-standing mild irony that Crispin Porter & Bogusky, the ad agency that created this campaign for Microsoft, is (like the majority of advertising agencies) pretty heavily invested in Macs. Chances are, for this ad, the video editing that Sheila aspires to do was completed on a Mac. If you have an idle moment, check out this profile of the agency on the web and click on the office shots. I especially like the shot of Alex Bogusky's desk with two MacBook Pros sitting there. Different strokes for different folks.TUAWOh no! Laptop Hunter ads return originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 01 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple's affectionate, slightly starstruck Twitter HQ profile
Filed under: Cult of Mac, Internet Tools, Apple
What's the microblogging trend that pits Ashton against CNN? Yes, it's Twitter -- you can dig it, and apparently so can Apple. The social-media darling is the subject of a glowing profile on Apple's Business site, bearing the humble and understated headline "Twitter. Triumph of humanity." Mmm-kay.
Aside from the slightly over-reverent "here's to the crazy ones" tone, the profile is quite interesting; it points out that Twitter's development team overwhelmingly prefers the Mac, and that the baked-in Ruby on Rails support in Mac OS X is vital. Several team members use the MacBook Air as their primary development machine (many running the so-good-it-hurts editor TextMate), and the overall theme of 'minimalist elegance' is cited as a common philosophical thread for both companies. Twitter founder Biz Stone even admits that, while other handset vendors have offered the Twitter team free phones, the staff remains fiercely loyal to their iPhones.
While we do love Twitter around here, and you can't blame Apple for wanting to highlight the Mac brand in the light of the blue birdie's buzz, I have to wonder if the linkage between these two companies -- both touted by critics as promoting style over substance, and both slagged for being 'cool' at the expense of actually being useful -- is strategically advantageous to Apple.
[via Techmeme]
TUAWApple's affectionate, slightly starstruck Twitter HQ profile originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 01 May 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - First Look: Flick NBA Basketball brings shootaround fun to the iPhone
Filed under: Gaming, iPhone, App Store
Since my team isn't in the playoffs this year (next season, Knicks fans!), I've had to sate my basketball jones by watching some of the sworn enemies of NYC... shame, too, as this Boston-Chicago series is unbelievable. Four out of six games going to OT? I mean, c'mon. Anyway, just in time for the race to the championship, Freeverse's Flick NBA Basketball is shipping for the iPhone and iPod touch.
The game combines several "All-Star Saturday Night" staples, including a 3-point shootout, H.O.R.S.E, and a long shot competition, along with a pop-a-shot machine and a finger spin mini-game. While the 1.0 build currently on the store is marred by some crashing bugs and overly challenging (at least, to my middle-aged fingers) shooting mechanics, the submitted & soon-to-arrive 1.1 version improves stability and gameplay. There's also a big additional feature coming in the 1.2 update, date TBA: dunking! We've got an exclusive video demo of the dunk UI in the 2nd half of this post.
Of course, the big thrill of Flick NBA is the NBA part -- Freeverse has licensed pro player likenesses and team uniforms, giving players the choice of competing as Chris Paul, Shaquille O'Neal or other pros from all the NBA teams, 30 in total. If you've ever wanted to try your skills on the court as Yao Ming or Dirk Nowitzki, here's your chance. It's not clear if the individual players have unique skill levels, but it's still a thrill to pick your pro and hit the court. The 3D quality, audio and arena graphics are all excellent; it's still a pleasant surprise to see playable 3D on the iPhone screen.
The individual game modes vary in challenge level and enjoyability; in my play testing, I enjoyed the 3-point shooting contest the most, as you can start to get into a 'zone' as you round the ball racks. The 1.0 implementation of H.O.R.S.E. was too difficult to be much fun, but the 1.1 update ratcheted down the shot control speeds a bit and I felt more competitive with my computer opponent (you can also play against a human in Vs. mode). Surprisingly, the pop-a-shot minigame is actually a lot of fun, and the 1.1 update improves the ability to grab balls at the bottom of the ramp without having them collide with other ones rolling back from the basket. The long shot and ball spin minigames were less sticky for me -- the long shot contest is still tough enough to make it frustrating even after a few practice rounds.
For $4.99 in the App Store, Flick NBA Basketball provides a good mix of playability and 'wow, check it out' value. While it's not the head-to-head game sim you might wish for in an NBA title, it's still fun (and more stable with the forthcoming 1.1 update, live in the store as soon as Apple clears it). With the 1.2 and future updates adding dunks and more modes, you'll be getting even more b-ball value for your purchase.
See our screenshot gallery below, and the dunk UI video in the 2nd half of the post.
Continue reading First Look: Flick NBA Basketball brings shootaround fun to the iPhone
TUAWFirst Look: Flick NBA Basketball brings shootaround fun to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 01 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple art redux: David Hockney paints on an iPhone
Filed under: Odds and ends, iPhone, iPod touch
This seems to be the week for that magical intersection of Apple and art.
On Wednesday TUAW highlighted a Warhol serigraph that's up for auction at a gallery in Portland, Oregon; now TUAW reader Tristan tipped us off to a post on the Daily Mail website about renowned British artist David Hockney using an iPhone to create mini paintings.
The 71-year-old Hockney has had his iPhone for 4 months and is cranking out small paintings which he sends to friends. Among his favorite subjects for "finger painting" on his iPhone are landscapes and flowers. The flower paintings are sent to friends as "fresh flowers" that last a long time.
Hockney likes to use his iPhone in bed to send out illustrated art lectures, and has a tiny easel on which the iPhone sits when he's working on his little masterpieces. There's no word on whether or not Apple will begin selling the easels as an iPhone accessory in their retail stores.TUAWApple art redux: David Hockney paints on an iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 01 May 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Former Blizzard devs at Booyah plan iPhone app
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, Developer, iPhone
Booyah is a company put together by former Blizzard devs (makers of classic games like World of Warcraft and Diablo) and funded by the iFund, and they've been keeping fairly mum on what they've been up to. Until now, that is -- they've updated their website and dropped a press release, and it looks like they're working on some iPhone software. What kind of software, exactly? Well, we're not quite sure -- it sounds like a game, because there's playing involved, but they're also using phrases like "life companion" and "social experiment," which makes it sound like a social networking app with some sort of game or virtual pet mechanics involved. And they are also hinting at a larger pattern of charity or cause-based action -- they told Kotaku that they want to tap into people's "life passions," and Gamasutra was told that the app itself is a "kernel miniproduct" that they plan to expand into a larger movement.
Blizzard's own Rob Pardo is an advisor to the team (and the product was originally pitched to Blizzard), but really that's the only clue here that this is anything more than startup hype -- we've seen social networks flash and fizzle already on the iPhone, and even game-based social networking tools like Foursquare haven't really found their tipping point yet.
But we won't judge fully before we've seen it -- Booyah says they'll be showing their cards "this spring" (so before June 21st?). We'll be watching.TUAWFormer Blizzard devs at Booyah plan iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 01 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Peggle on iPhone delayed to May 12th
Filed under: Gaming, Software, Developer, iPhone, App Store
Bad news for those of you who've been drooling to play Peggle on the iPhone. As you may have noticed, it didn't come out in March as we were originally told. The good news is that our friends at Joystiq have gotten a new date for the addictive PopCap game's release on the App Store, and it's close. The game will be out, we're being told, on May 12th. There's no price given yet, but we're with Joystiq on this one too: it probably won't be as low at 99 cents. At $9.99, it would probably be worth it (Peggle is awesome) but pricey -- we're guessing the price will end up right around $4.99.
Joystiq's been playing the game too (lucky peg-hitters), and while they are saving their full impressions for an upcoming review, they hint that the game won't disappoint. We can't wait -- even though Peggle is pretty much everywhere already, from the Mac to Xbox Live to the classic iPod and even in World of Warcraft, there's still room for a little portable Peggle in our lives.TUAWPeggle on iPhone delayed to May 12th originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Frozen iPod returns from the grave
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Multimedia, Odds and ends, iPod classic
Andrew sent us this great story -- he found an iPod classic in the melting snow of Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. It had apparently been there "since early winter," and was frozen solid... as is the case, we'd imagine, with most things left outside there between September and April.
Incredibly, though, once taken home, cleaned up, and given a warm cup of tomato soup and a grilled cheese, it started right back up again. Everything was completely intact -- he says it even displayed the correct date. Pretty impressive for Apple's little music player (and mine's even stuffed in a Vaja case, so I know it'll always run for me -- assuming I don't drop it in a pile of snow somewhere).
He says there is a name on the iPod, so if you've been around the Whitehorse area and have recently dropped your iPod near a place called Takhini School, leave him a note and he will probably be able to get it back to you. But do it quick -- he's giving things about a week, and then it's finder's keepers. We don't blame him: who wouldn't want an indestructible iPod?TUAWFrozen iPod returns from the grave originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Amazon has acquired Stanza
Filed under: Software, iPhone, iPod touch
Last month Amazon released the free Kindle application for the iPhone in the US [App Store link], shortly after the Kindle 2 hit the market. If you haven't used it yet, it works quite well. Users can buy books (but not subscriptions) from the Kindle Store via Mobile Safari for reading on their iPhones, although the purchasing process is easier from a desktop browser. Unlike the Kindle, the iPhone app is able to display color images, but it lacks text-to-speech as well as a direct connection to the Kindle Store. Whispersync, which synchronizes ebooks between the iPhone app and Kindle, works as advertised.
A few weeks ago, we posted a comparison of ebook readers featuring, among others, the iPhone app Stanza [App Store link]. As Steve mentioned, Stanza works with nearly every ebook format, even Project Gutenberg etexts. I only used Stanza briefly to check it out and I can say that the UI was very nice. Additionally, the folks who created Stanza have an existing relationship with ebook seller Fictionwise. In fact, Fictionwise created an ebook store just for Stanza users.
This week, we've learned that Amazon has acquired the company behind Stanza. We can only assume that aspects of Stanza will make it into a future release of Kindle for the iPhone.TUAWAmazon has acquired Stanza originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - J.D. Power says iPhone tops smartphone ratings
Filed under: Odds and ends, Surveys and Polls, iPhone
Given all the other good publicity the iPhone has been getting, it won't come as any great surprise that the J.D. Power survey released today says:
Apple ranks highest among smartphone manufacturers with a score of 791, performing particularly well in ease of operation, operating system, features and physical design. LG (772) and Samsung (759) follow Apple in the rankings.
Other interesting findings are that smartphone users send an average of 17 emails a day, and 82 percent report that they use things like address books and to-do lists to stay better organized.
The survey included 2,648 smartphone users who owned their phone for less than 2 years. In general, smartphone users are increasingly satisfied with their purchase, compared to prior surveys. Users queried listed these attributes they wanted in a smartphone, in order of desirability: ease of operation, operating system, features, physical design and battery function.TUAWJ.D. Power says iPhone tops smartphone ratings originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - More App Store controversy from Pocket God
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, iPhone, iPod touch
Last week the Baby Shaker app received a lot of negative attention and was subsequently pulled from the App Store. Deservedly so; that game was tasteless.
This week, Elaine Howard of the International Pacific Women's Information Network called Bolt's popular Pocket God an "...arrogant slap in the face to our people," referring to Pacific Islanders. If you're unfamiliar, the object of Pocket God (it's really more of a toy than a game) is to torment and kill island-bound characters in a variety of ways. I've always thought of the characters as pre-historic "cave men," not belonging to any specific culture. However, if I were of Pacific Island descent and saw someone playing this game on the subway, it'd bother me.
iPhone Saviour quotes Bolt representatives as saying "The fictional characters in Pocket God do not directly or indirectly represent any human nationality, race or cultural people ... Bolt Creative does not intend and has never intended to offend or marginalize any nationality, race or culture in any of its video games, including Pocket God." I believe that the game was in fact created without malicious intent.
Perhaps a solution would be to use culturally neutral characters like astronauts or LOLcats (see above)? For more on Apple's questionable approval process (not to mention the tastes of some customers), check out this horrifying list of The Ultimate Tasteless iPhone Apps.TUAWMore App Store controversy from Pocket God originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Simplify Media update, take 2
Filed under: Software Update, iPhone, App Store
Earlier today we reported on an update to the media sharing tool from Simplify Media. It added some nice features, but it also installed a demo share on home machines that was not appreciated by many. It set off a mini-firestorm on the company blog, and we received plenty of negative comments as well.
Tonight, wasting no time, the folks at Simplify Media have pushed out another update for Macs, as well as Windows and Linux boxes. It defaults with the demo/test share turned off, but allows you to turn it on if you want to test to see if your system is working.
Paul Joyce of Simplify Media had some comments tonight on his blog:
Today I've been trading emails and comments with a few of you around a feature in Simplify 2.0 -- the Simplify Demo. The exchange has re-enforced one thing I already knew -- we have great, passionate users -- and one thing I know now -- I made a mistake in communicating this new capability.
Such candor is refreshing in a software company. This would be a minor issue, but the iPhone app that allowed users to have access to their large music collections from anywhere was a major hit at the App Store, and one of the most downloaded utilities, so a lot of people had a chance to be pretty angry about the installation of test content on their machine without permission.
Anyway, it's solved now, and it's a really positive outcome. I downloaded and tried the update, and indeed the test share is gone by default. A new version of the iPhone app will also be submitted this week. If all software developers were this responsive, it would be a better world.
Torches and pitchforks can now be stowed. A link to the new updates is on this page, about halfway down.TUAWSimplify Media update, take 2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - WSJ: Apple moving into chip design
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Hardware
Papermaster. Drebin. Koduri. A law firm specializing in intellectual property? The backcourt starters for the Toronto Raptors? Three key graphics-chip experts now all on the Apple payroll? If you had option C on your answer card, congratulations: now you get to join the WSJ and Forbes in reading the tea leaves about what Apple's dream team of silicon-savvy engineering talent will be building in the secure labs deep in the dwarven mines under 1 Infinite Loop.
Apple's body-snatching spree, particularly focused on veterans of the GPU team at processor maker AMD, aligns with the purchase of PA Semi last year in expanding the company's hardware design capabilities. While there's no Apple product yet on the market featuring chips designed by the new squadron, the expectation is that future iPhones and mobile devices will benefit from Apple-only silicon; graphics capabilities built into these new and exclusive chips would be, presumably, unmatchable by competitors in the mobile space.
The WSJ notes that over 100 LinkedIn profiles for chip engineers who recently worked at Samsung, Intel or other hardware companies now indicate they are sporting Apple employee badges (yay for transparency!). With the current economic climate triggering layoffs and shrinkage at many high-tech enterprises, Apple's combination of marketplace strength and Scrooge McDuck-esque giant pile of cash is allowing it to build a brain trust in hardware that rivals its legendary software expertise.
What kind of super iPhone or magic Mac do you think will be built around these chips and this team?TUAWWSJ: Apple moving into chip design originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Bid on this Andy Warhol Apple logo serigraph
Filed under: Odds and ends, Apple, Apple History
I love art. I love Apple products. When the two intersect, I get very interested. For example, I have an original Nitrozac oil painting hanging on my office wall depicting Steve Jobs announcing the iPhone at Macworld Expo 2007.
TUAW reader Ramy sent us a tip about an Andy Warhol serigraph that is currently up for auction at O'Gallerie in Portland, Oregon. The silkscreen color print (photo at right) was commissioned by Del Yocam, who was Apple's first COO and head of the Apple II division during the 1980s. Yocam is now on the Board of Directors of Adobe Systems.
While we'll never know why this iconic Warhol is up for grabs, if you have $20-30K just burning a hole in your pocket, now you have something to spend it on.
Peter O'Grady of O'Gallerie was kind enough to give us permission to reproduce the image of the Warhol serigraph, and noted that Portland readers can attend the auction on May 6th at 7 PM PDT.
(Don't worry. I won't be bidding against you.)TUAWBid on this Andy Warhol Apple logo serigraph originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Remote media sharing tool Simplify Media updated
Filed under: Internet, iTunes, Software Update, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
The Simplify Media app for sharing your music libraries across the net or to your iPhone has been updated to version 2.0 (previous coverage here). If you have the app installed on your Mac, PC or Linux computer, you'll see an update notice real soon now. The update includes stability improvements, the ability to share only selected playlists, and a much-desired feature that lets you send your shares to Sonos, Roku or XBox 360 devices. The app now supports FLAC, in addition to the usual MP3, AAC, WMA and Apple Lossless codecs.
Simplify has also added a version 2.0 for the iPhone. The original app will continue to work fine, and it's free. The new version, Simplify Music 2.0 [App Store link], is $2.99US and adds the ability to search your music library from afar, tag tracks as favorites, create on-the-fly playlists and a 'scrub bar' so you have more playback control in podcasts and audio books.
I had no issues with the install on my desktop Mac, but the software irritatingly and without warning put a new share in iTunes called 'Simplify Demo' with an album by Brad Turcotte. I could have lived without it, and can't figure out how to send it back to the netherworld from which it came.
Update: I wasn't the only person ticked off about the demo share the software installed. Check the comments at the bottom of this page on the Simplify Media site. What were these guys thinking? What a creative way to ruin a good reputation. Also, a couple of our readers correctly point out that version one of the iPhone app was free, but is now $3.99.
A further update: Paul Joyce of Simplify Media tells me they will release a new build with an 'off' switch to get rid of the demo share. Good move. It's nice to see a company acknowledge a mistake and move quickly to fix it.TUAWRemote media sharing tool Simplify Media updated originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Ask TUAW: Syncing folders, hard drive problems, reinstalling OS X, and more
Filed under: Features, Troubleshooting, Ask TUAW
For this go-around of Ask TUAW we're taking questions about moving an iTunes library between user accounts, dealing with a misbehaving Western Digital external hard drive, syncing folders containing sensitive information, reinstalling OS X without losing iLife, and more.
As always, your suggestions are welcome. Questions for next week should be left in the comments. When asking a question please include which machine you're running and which version of Mac OS X (we'll assume you're running Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify). And now, on to the questions!Continue reading Ask TUAW: Syncing folders, hard drive problems, reinstalling OS X, and more
TUAWAsk TUAW: Syncing folders, hard drive problems, reinstalling OS X, and more originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Sting, Sarah McLachlan are hiding in your Garage(band)
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Humor, iLife, Multimedia, Software, Odds and ends
Apple has added new "Learn to Play" lessons to the latest version of GarageBand, including two lessons by Sting and the first one by Sarah McLachlan. Gordon Sumner (a.k.a. Sting, so named by his friends when he wore a shirt with black and yellow stripes) will teach you how to play "Message in a Bottle" and "Fragile" (in my humble opinion, one of the lesser-known but more amazing Sting songs), and Sarah McLachlan, who really likes ice cream, will teach you how to play her "Angel." I miss Sarah McLachlan -- it's hard to believe we had someone that was even more bland than Norah Jones.
But excuse my musical snobbery -- all three lessons are now available in the GarageBand Lesson Store for the low low price of $4.99. And lest you think I am anti-McLachlan in any way, think again: I too owned a copy of Surfacing. If you wanted to hang out with girls in my high school, you pretty much had to have a copy around at any given time. That, and Crash. Ah, how young we were.TUAWSting, Sarah McLachlan are hiding in your Garage(band) originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW Review: Quickoffice for iPhone
Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review
Having worked with Quickoffice on both the Palm and Windows Mobile platforms in the past, I was eagerly anticipating the release of the iPhone version. Quickoffice gives you the power to view, edit, and create Microsoft Office documents. The new Quickoffice for iPhone "only" works with Word and Excel files (no PowerPoint -- yet), and also provides a way to link to a desktop or MobileMe iDisk.
iPhone owners who have used Quickoffice on other platforms may miss the lack of PowerPoint compatibility. Another professional trainer I know actually used a Palm device with Quickoffice and a video-out cable to teach her business analysis courses. She's now an iPhone owner, but there's no way she's going to be able to leave her laptop at home until Quickoffice supports PowerPoint. On the other hand, this is the initial version of Quickoffice for iPhone, so there's nothing saying that the PowerPoint capabilities won't be built into a future version.Continue reading TUAW Review: Quickoffice for iPhone
TUAWTUAW Review: Quickoffice for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Found Footage: Captain iPod T. Shuffle takes on Kindle Noonien Singh
Filed under: Humor, Found Footage, ipod shuffle
When it comes to screen pathos, nobody does it better than Shatner and Montelban in the classic confrontation Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan. Now the twisted minds at the SciFi Network's Dvice blog have taken a wonderful cinematic moment, full of overwrought line readings, and handed it over to the voice-synthesis capabilities of the Amazon Kindle 2 and the iPod shuffle via Talking Gadget Theater. "Buried alive... buried alive..."
This isn't the first screen collaboration for the two gadgets; they also did a rendition of the interrogation scene from Blade Runner -- clip in the 2nd half of this post.
Now, if we can get the iPod shuffle to convincingly say "I'd like to thank the members of the Academy," we'll be on to something.Continue reading Found Footage: Captain iPod T. Shuffle takes on Kindle Noonien Singh
TUAWFound Footage: Captain iPod T. Shuffle takes on Kindle Noonien Singh originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - MacGourmet improves upon a winner
Filed under: Software
Let me tell you about the fly paper storage method. I spent my youth in a shoebox-shaped house in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It had vinyl siding, cracked slate sidewalks and an under-performing rose bush in the front yard. Inside you'd find my family: happy enough, God-fearing and terribly disorganized.
The kitchen was a narrow galley with pink laminate counter tops and linoleum floors. A row of cabinets ran along the wall opposite the appliances, and inside the door on the far right was my mother's recipes. Unlike your mom's collection, Carol's never saw the inside of a cookbook. Instead, they clung to the back of the door from yellowing strips of tape.
A Hellman's mayonnaise label dangled next to pages ripped from Family Circle magazine, supermarket hand-outs, index cards, torn envelopes with their stamps intact ... anything flat enough to write on and light enough to stick to the door was used.
While the fly paper storage method keeps recipes accessible, it's a poor filing system. Anchovy paste mingles with blueberry cheesecake, which should never happen, not even in print. What all this means is that I've got chaos in my blood. I'm not a fly stripper, but a stacker. Piles of this and that are everywhere.
I'm also a geek who wants a flying car, a lightsaber and a robotic sous chef. Instead, I've got a Saturn Vue, an iPhone App and MacGourmet. While the latter isn't Rosie, it's pretty darn close.
We've written about MacGourmet before, so I'll give you a brief recap. It's extremely useful for storing and sharing recipies and creating shopping lists. You can create smart lists, add a wine library and more. In fact, it's a part of my Dream Kitchen Mac setup (I'll have to write about that someday).
Earlier this week, Mariner Software introduced MacGourmet Deluxe 1.2, which adds unique features of its own. It includes a USDA nutritional database, letting you calculate the nutritional value of nearly anything you want to eat. You can also view the nutritional values of your own recipe collection and the individual servings.
The coolest feature for me is the meal planner. Plan what you'll make on any given day of any given week and sync the results with iCal. As a father of two toddlers, I love this feature. It's a real treat to eliminate the whole "What are we doing about dinner?" question. You can even order a hard-bound cookbook of your favorites. For Mac-toting foodies, MacGourmet is a must-have (not as cool as Scotch Tape, but what can you do?).
New customers can purchase MacGourmet Deluxe for $44.95US, while registered MacGourmet customers can upgrade for only $24.95.
TUAWMacGourmet improves upon a winner originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Beta 4 of iPhone SDK 3 is out
Filed under: SDK
Just a quick heads-up on the flood of tips in our inbox this morning: Beta 4 of the iPhone 3.0 SDK is available now, along with a preliminary build of iTunes 8.2.
New features noted by readers include support for additional over-the-air PIM synchronization sources (including Google and Yahoo in iTunes, per Joachim), copy and paste in Calculator, continued tethering support, and a basic UI for managing an iTunes store account. Update: reports coming in that Notes syncing requires Mac OS X 10.5.7, yet another broad hint that the OS revision is due momentarily.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.TUAWBeta 4 of iPhone SDK 3 is out originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Pack like a pro with your iPhone
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review
I'm never very organized when I travel. I usually pay the price too, with panicked runs to the store when I reach my destination. Toothpaste, ties, batteries, you name it, I've had to buy it on the road. I've never been one for making huge lists, but Packing Pro [App Store link] may just change that.
This $3.99US app runs on the iPhone and the iPod Touch. It forces you to organize BEFORE you leave, and will certainly cut down on trip related disasters brought about by little or poor planning. The app starts you out with either a way to create your own lists, or better still, gives you some templates to add to or delete from. They are incredibly detailed, (i.e. sewing kit, set email auto-responder) and there are templates for out of country travel, or just quick trips. If you are not traveling alone, you can specify how many are going, their gender and whether they are adults or children. You can specify expected weather, to help you select clothing and accessories. The templates really reduce the typing, and the information is very, very detailed.
I'd like to see some additions to this app. The free Travelocity TravelTools [App Store link] app includes flight schedules, wait times and airport delays, gate information etc. It would be great to see that all integrated into this app. And Tripit, [App Store link] which my colleague Steven Sande reviewed earlier this month is a very innovative travel organizer, but it doesn't really do the packing part. An app with all these features combined would be the ultimate travel app, but it might be pretty large. Blue sky request. Get destination weather and flight schedules, and adjust my packed items depending on weather forecasts. I know that these changes would take this app out of the 'packing' realm, but it would be a really cool app I'd want.
If your packing is not so ambitious, take a look at Packing [App Store link], a cut down version of the app for $0.99US which has less depth but still lots options that will satisfy many travelers.
Packing Pro fills a unique niche and it's another one of those apps that continues to make the iPhone so different from the rest. If you travel, and always wind up on a mad dash to the pharmacy, or convenience store, this app is for you.
Here are some screen shots:
TUAWPack like a pro with your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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