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- First Look: Freeform vector drawing app for iPad
Filed under: iPad
The interesting part of being a software reviewer in the early days of the iPad platform is that sometimes you test applications that show a lot of promise and are among the first of their genre in the App Store. Freeform (US$4.99), a vector drawing app for the iPad platform from Stunt Software, falls into this class of app. It's probably the best app of its type right now, and the developer is working on making changes to the app to make it even more useful to iPad users.
For those of you who aren't familiar with vector drawing applications, they are used to place and color shapes on a background, and usually provide a way to add text labels. In other words, for creating a diagram of some sort, they work well -- but they aren't the type of app that you'd want to use for freehand sketching.
I had the opportunity to try out Freeform, and while it's a good start at a powerful iPad drawing app, it still has some shortcomings that the developer is aware of and is planning on resolving. If this review piques your interest, you may wish to purchase the app soon, as the app price is currently listed as an "introductory price." Read on for more comments and screenshots of Freeform in action.TUAWFirst Look: Freeform vector drawing app for iPad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 01 May 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Driving around with Navigon Panorama View 3D for iPhone
Filed under: iPhone
It's been a month now since Navigon offered what they call Panorama View 3D for MobileNavigator for the iPhone. Essentially, Navigon has taken NASA terrain and elevation data and added it to the map display. If you are driving in the mountains, you see the mountains on screen.
How does it work? Quite well actually. Here in Southern Arizona there is a lot of eye candy to see as we are surrounded by mountain ranges. I like Panorama View 3D better than flat maps and even the 3D view which most nav apps provide.
Of course, when you're driving, you shouldn't be staring at the pretty maps, but keeping your eyes on the road instead. At least the passengers can get entertained by Panorama View 3D.
Panorama View 3D is a U.S. $9.99 update to the Navigon app you already have. It currently works on the USA and Canada versions of Navigon MobileNavigator. It also reportedly works on the less expensive regional versions, but I was not able to test this. You purchase the Panorama View 3D module from the 'Extras' menu in the app.
I did notice that the map display seemed noticeably slower to respond, likely because of the greatly increased number of data points that have to be calculated and redrawn. I think it's a good trade-off though, for a spiffier map and an almost real-world view of your surroundings.
Ultimately, buying this add-on depends on where you live and where you travel. If you're mostly hanging around places like Omaha it doesn't have much use. If, however, your traveling takes you to hill and dale, the Navigon Panorama view is a hot ticket.TUAWDriving around with Navigon Panorama View 3D for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 01 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Hands-on with Max Adventure from Imangi Studios
Filed under: Gaming
Keith Shepherd and Natalia Luckynova are the husband-and-wife team that make up iPhone developer Imangi Studios, creators of the popular Harbor Master iPhone game and its iPad cousin. I got to meet them both at the 360iDev conference a few weeks ago, and they kindly showed me an as-yet-unnamed game that was still in the early stages of development. They said it would be a little while until they unveiled a trailer for it, and then this week they sent out the trailer above. The game has been named Max Adventure, and Imangi Studios tells us they hope to release it a few more months from now.
The version I played at 360iDev was very early -- the menus were still in bits and pieces, and there were no real missions or text yet implemented. But the story was told to me: the protagonist (Max, apparently) is a kid who lives in the suburbs, and when all of the parents get ported off of the planet, it's up to him to save his friends (and eventually, you'd assume, the world).TUAWHands-on with Max Adventure from Imangi Studios originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 01 May 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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IPhone - Unofficial Apple Weblog - Apple - IPad - Imangi Studios
Переслать - Was the Siri purchase about search?
Filed under: Software
Here's an interesting take from Searchblog's John Battelle about the Siri purchase by Apple yesterday: he believes that it's the first step towards the eventual Apple goal of conquering search for the app world. Google is, of course, the king of search on the Internet, but as the iPad 3G releases today, we're spending less and less of our time on these devices actually browsing the web, and more and more of it inside of apps. That's where search needs to go, says Battelle, and Siri could help exactly that happen for Apple.
In other words, he gives the example of searching for a phrase like "Chicago rental car" in Siri, and properly configured, Apple's Siri could say back to the user, says Battelle, "Hey, you know what? You don't need to rent a car. You can use the Chicago Transit. Here's an app for it. You can get from the airport to everywhere you want to go without having to rent a car. Plus, you'll save $150 which we know is a goal of yours because you've been interacting with the Mint application," and so on. Siri would become a voice-activated search assistant, not for the Internet at large necessarily, but for all of the apps and functionality on your iPhone or iPad.
It's certainly possible, although Apple has so much cash saved up right now that they don't really need good, focused reasons like that to pick up a strong piece of tech like Siri. But yes, Battelle's guess makes sense, especially considering the increased amount of time that people are spending in apps versus the browser on the iPad.TUAWWas the Siri purchase about search? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 01 May 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Gameloft brings Iron Man 2 to the iPad and iPhone
Filed under: iPad
Gameloft has done a Q&A over on Marvel's official blog about their iPhone and iPad versions of the upcoming Iron Man 2 game, and there are some interesting tidbits in there. Gameloft is traditionally a mobile company, and as they say, they've worked on "small to very small" devices, so the iPad is a new trick for them. They say that developing for the iPad allowed them to ramp up the graphics, and helped to make the new game that much more immersive. In my few experiences with the iPad, I've found that very true -- the bigger screen definitely makes a difference in terms of focusing on the game.
Gameloft also promotes the game's multiple suits (including a stealth suit, that sounds interesting), and some big bosses to fight against. They say the release is scheduled for next week, so we'll look for it then.TUAWGameloft brings Iron Man 2 to the iPad and iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 01 May 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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