Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) (23 сообщения)

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  • WeatherCal adds weather forecasts to iCal

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    WeatherCal is a nifty Preference Pane app from Bare Bones (of BBEdit and Yojimbo fame) that adds the ability to get weather forecasts in iCal by creating all-day events for each day with the relevant information (forecast plus high and low temperatures).

    You can add different cities, each of which gets its own iCal calendar and you get forecasts up to 4 days in advance. And since iCal events obviously sync to the iPhone, you can take the forecast with you.

    WeatherCal is $10 from Bare Bones Software; a demo version is available for download.

    [via Macworld]

    TUAWWeatherCal adds weather forecasts to iCal originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Jurors addicted to iPhones and Google causing mistrials

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    I admit it. I check Google out all the time when I need some information. It's a good habit, and I feel better informed.

    If you are a juror, however, you can be a wee bit too informed. The New York Times is reporting jurors with web enabled cell phones are doing their own research, Googling lawyers names, more information on defendants and even research into claims made by witnesses. Recently in a Florida case, such misbehavior resulted in a costly mistrial after 8 weeks of work by prosecutors and defense attorneys.

    In an Arkansas case, a juror used Twitter to send updates to friends during a civil trial.Jurors are instructed to not do any outside research or communications, but some find the temptation just too great.

    In some states, cellphones are not allowed in the courtrooms, but are allowed in the jury rooms. Most of these rules were designed to keep distracting noises out of the courtroom, and later the rules were trying to deter cameras built into phones. Many judges didn't give a thought about jurors using their phones to do research until recently, but our do-it-all phones are likely going to force a complete rewriting of the rules. How can you learn more about this issue? Google it on your iPhone, of course.

    TUAWJurors addicted to iPhones and Google causing mistrials originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Dancing Woz cries foul, then backs down

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    He was resplendent in a pink satin shirt and geek glasses, but based on his comments earlier one might have thought he should dress in "anger-management purple" instead.

    Steve Wozniak, Apple's co-founder and current Dancing With The Stars contestant, picked a fight yesterday with the show's producers as he claimed they were faking results to engineer better ratings. His presence in the bottom two pairings, who had to dance for their lives (and no, I won't spoil it for the TiVo crowd by telling you which one -- Woz or Belinda Carlisle -- is foxtrotting home), was cited as prima facie evidence of a rigged count.

    After a cooling-off period, as CNET reports, Woz has updated his Facebook notes on the show to say that the production team has given him a detailed briefing and tour of the vote count configuration, and he now understands the integrity of the process -- he's apologized for his freak-out and he's promised to be a model citizen from now on. Nothing like giving a geek a tour of the server room to smooth ruffled feathers, even if those feathers are on a boa and accessorizing a lovely pair of patent leather tap shoes.

    [via MacDailyNews]

    TUAWDancing Woz cries foul, then backs down originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Apple to Pivotal: Take the 'pod' out of Podium

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    Apple has issued a cease and desist letter to Pivotal, creators of Podium, a hands-free iPhone stand - namely over the use of the word "Pod" in Podium.

    An excerpt from the cease and desist letter provided to TUAW states that "The term POD has also been adopted and used extensively in the marketplace by consumers as an abbreviation to refer to Apple's IPOD player. The IPOD and POD marks indicate to consumers that a broad range of products, including portable electronic devices, computer software, and related goods and services bearing those marks and marks similar thereto originate from or are sponsored or endorsed by Apple."

    "If you look at our product and then look up the word Podium in the dictionary, I think it becomes pretty clear where our branding inspiration came from" said Scott Baumann, president of Pivotal.

    Podium (noun)
    Etmyology: Latin
    Date originally used: 1743 (a good 243 years before Apple was founded)
    1: a low wall serving as a foundation or terrace wall: as a: one around the arena of an ancient amphitheater serving as a base for the tiers of seats b: the masonry under the stylobate of a temple
    2:
    a dais especially for an orchestral conductor
    Source: Merriam-Webster

    The letter also alleges that Podium infringes on Apple's trademark because the stand mimics recent iMac models and that Pivotal's site for the product is also ripping off Apple's brand stylization. The cease and desist also covers Pivotal's currently in-development product, FlyPod. Pivotal states that the company will be seeking legal advice on the matter.

    TUAWApple to Pivotal: Take the 'pod' out of Podium originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Ask TUAW: home routers, S-video on the unibody MacBooks, a Mac as monitor, setting up a headless Mac mini and more

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    In this edition of Ask TUAW we've got questions about routers, S-Video / composite out from a new unibody MacBook Pro, using a second Mac as a second monitor, setting up a Mac mini without a display 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: home routers, S-video on the unibody MacBooks, a Mac as monitor, setting up a headless Mac mini and more

    TUAWAsk TUAW: home routers, S-video on the unibody MacBooks, a Mac as monitor, setting up a headless Mac mini and more originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPhone 3.0 feature predictions: TUAW report card

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    As is our wont, we predicated today's iPhone press event with our own predictions and wishes for what would be released. Let's look back and see how we did.

    Copy and paste


    As the event wore on, and everything but copy and paste was being announced, I started to worry. "Someday," I thought, "This event will be known as The Great Copy And Paste Debacle." The attending geek corps were about to slip into Angry Mob Mode, replacing their laptops with torches and pitchforks, when Scott Forstall gave them what they wanted. Crisis averted.

    How did TUAW score? Quite well. Mike Rose, Cory, Steve and Aron all called for copy and paste.

    Push

    Remember Apple's promise of push notification for developers? We nearly forgot, too. It was finally announced today, and Aron was the only TUAW blogger to call it. Incidentally, we shudder to think of how fart apps will make use of push notification.

    Landscape keyboard in Mail

    Once again, Aron comes through and calls for a landscape keyboard in Mail. I would have done the same, but I've found that my muscle memory has acclimated itself to the portrait keyboard, and I now make more mistakes when it's in landscape mode.

    Notes sync


    While Aron was the only TUAW blogger to wish for notes synchronization, he wasn't really alone. Fortunately, he got his wish. Score: we're at 4 out of 4.

    Lock screen changes


    This would have been a good one. Both Aron and I have wished for a customizable lock screen. Instead of the time and date, I might like to see the weather, number of waiting emails, calendar appointments for the day and so on. Apple let us down.

    Tethering

    We've been hearing rumors about this for quite a while now. Steve, Cory and Mike Rose all called for it this time around, and their wishes were granted. Thanks, Apple! Score: 4 out of 6.

    Wireless keyboard


    While we saw a slew of cool accessories today (I'm not even a doctor and I want the blood pressure cuff), there was no official keyboard from Apple. While hackers have paired a Bluetooth keyboard to a jailbroken phone, blogger Steve saw his wish for the real deal fall flat. Sorry, Steve.

    Springboard changes


    This could use some work. Not because it's bad, but because five screens of apps quickly become disorganized and cluttered. Plus, jumping from a collection of games to a collection of utilities is a real swipe-tastic pain in the butt.

    There's a concept video floating around that demonstrates how this could work via iTunes. It's neat, but I'd rather see something on the iPhone itself. Similar to how Dash Board enhances the experience on a Newton. Mike Rose, Cory, Aron and I all called for this change. It's due.

    Enhanced search


    Cory and Mike Rose both asked for greater search capabilities, and Apple delivered. The other features we were after, namely greater call reliability, MMS and calendar enhancement, received one vote each. The enhanced calendar and MMS (for 3G owners at least) are coming for sure; we'll have to wait and see about greater call reliability.

    As for the final tally, we went 7 out of 12, or 58%. Not too shabby. What did you miss?

    TUAWiPhone 3.0 feature predictions: TUAW report card originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Some thoughts on iPhone OS 3.0

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    I was a bit taken aback and pleasantly surprised by all the features crammed into the 'coming by summer' update. Stereo Bluetooth on 3G and iPod touch, a hint of tethering support if cell providers provision it, and turn by turn navigation, which I think surprised many. Apple had signaled last year that there were lots of problems in providing this feature.

    MMS and copy and paste were big features on many users lists, and some had predicted MMS would not make it.

    And then there are little surprises, like in-app purchasing. Take a wild guess on how fast Amazon will add this to their Kindle app. Peer to peer communication between iPhones will open up a whole new world of unexpected and leading edge apps and games.

    Of course 'push' capability made it in, finally, and developers will have fun exploiting all the possibilities.

    It's a good bet that Apple is responding to competition, especially from the upcoming Palm Pre. There was a perception that Apple had fallen behind in the feature wars, and this update will quench a lot of that chatter. Even with this massive update, people will still want to use their phone as a camcorder, and voice dial didn't make it into the mix, at least so far. Apple has said they may have more to announce.

    I can't remember any software update for a phone that added so many features. When I had a Windows Mobile phone, updates were seldom seen and were generally not very exciting. Mostly, I remember a few bug fixes, but not many new features.

    Apple is to be congratulated for doing so much with the existing iPhone 3G and iPod touch, but I can also sympathize with owners of the first generation iPhone that will get some, but not all of the new features due to limitations in the original hardware.

    On balance it is nice to see two trends that I hope continue. First, Apple is responding to user feedback, and also responding to the market in ways that the old Apple did not.

    I think a day like today makes most people happy they have an iPhone, as it is proving to be an investment that keeps renewing itself. Certainly, there is a good chance that Apple will release new hardware this year, with even more features, more memory, and likely a faster processor.

    Still, this is a rather mammoth update and pretty much like getting a whole new phone. It speaks directly to those who say 'I'd buy an iPhone if it had cut and paste, or MMS, but otherwise no sale'.

    Sure, it would be nice if the original iPhone shipped with all those features, but Apple has continued to invest in and enhance this platform, doing things their own way and on their own schedule.

    All in all, I feel pretty good about Apple today. How about you? Let the flames begin.

    TUAWSome thoughts on iPhone OS 3.0 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Apple posts iPhone event video

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    As the day is slowly drawing to a close (quite literally for iPhone developers who are downloading the SDK), Apple has finally put up the video from the iPhone 3.0 event today. You can watch Greg, Scott, Phil, and others as they discuss Apple's plans for the new iPhone OS and SDK. Be sure to check out our coverage of the event, and our roundup of all the new iPhone OS features.

    You can watch the QuickTime stream here.

    TUAWApple posts iPhone event video originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • TUAW @SXSW: Christina talks to Guy Kawasaki

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    Former Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki was at SXSW Interactive this week and I had the chance to catch-up with him and talk about the announcement of My.Alltop, a customizable version of Alltop.com. Alltop is a really good way to quickly catch up on a lot of news about a specific topic. NetNewsWire is another app that's great for that, but I don't always have the time to space-bar my way through the latest news and events.

    Alltop started out small, with only a few categories and niche areas. Now it's huge, and it indexes and large number of topics and sites. This is great, but can lead to information overload. With My.Alltop, you can customize a personal page with your favorite links in one place from all across Allto.. As someone who is frustrated by trying to manage RSS feeds on my iPod touch, I prefer the iPhone optimized Alltop interface for getting information quickly.

    My.Alltop just launched and it doesn't look like the mobile stylesheets have been rolled out yet. But I'm sure just a matter of time. Guy also said that an iPhone application is in the works so you can add, edit or access your feeds more quickly.

    Also, be sure to check out the TUAW MyAlltop page. We've started to load it with some of our favorite Mac, iPhone and general tech links and I know this is what I'll be rocking when I want to read news on the run.

    TUAWTUAW @SXSW: Christina talks to Guy Kawasaki originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPhone Dev Center is back, get your beta now

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    Just as developers around the world are hearing about the new iPhone features, Apple has updated their Dev Center. With the new site, existing developers will get immediate access to the new iPhone 3.0 SDK. That is if you are able to login. Currently the Dev Center is experiencing extremely slow load times, and kicking some users off when they try to login.

    It will be interesting to see if non-developers will register for the $99/year program, just to get access to the beta of iPhone 3.0. Be sure to take part in our poll below.

    View Poll

    TUAWiPhone Dev Center is back, get your beta now originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPhone 3.0 feature roundup

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    If you've been listening to all the clamoring on Twitter, or perhaps have seen the updated Apple page, then you know there was an iPhone event today to discuss a new version of the iPhone OS, version 3.0. While you will have to wait until the summer to get the new version (unless you join the developer program), Apple showed off over 100 new features that we're all excited about. iPhone developers are also getting some love from Apple with over 1,000 new APIs.

    Some of the biggest updates include:
    • Push notifications will be standard in iPhone 3.0. Apple claims that there was a scaling issue when they first announced this feature last year, with thousands of developers clamoring to use it, so it had to be delayed. Developers will be able to build message, sound, and badge alerts into their applications.
    • iPhone will support cut, copy and paste -- copy text and pictures, then paste them in any application on the device. If you change your mind about the newly pasted data, just shake to display a menu asking if you wish to undo the paste.
    • In-App purchasing -- developers will have the ability to charge a fee from within the application for more levels in a game, magazine subscriptions, eBooks, etc. This solves the problem of the 20 ebook readers that only allow you to read one book each.
    • MMS -- you'll be able to use MMS on your iPhone 3G (yes, 1st gen iPhones will not get the fortune of using MMS due to the use of a different cell radio). The new Messages application will be taking the place of the SMS app and will allow you to send voice memos and pictures to your friends.
    • Peer-to-Peer connectivity -- allows iPhone apps the ability to find other iPhone users over WiFi or Bluetooth. This can be using for anything from gaming to sharing data.
    • Third-party Accessories -- app developers can now access third-party accessories attached to the iPhone. This could allow for developers to interface with their own accessories to create a truly unique experience on the device. One of the demonstrated uses was a prototype blood glucose meter for the iPhone, from a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, which is already getting attention from our readers; it's not for sale yet!
    • Apple will now be allowing applications the ability to get GPS coordinates from Core Location and turn that into software that provides Turn-by-Turn directions for iPhone users. However, due to the terms of use with Google maps, developers will be required to license their own maps for this use (meaning that Turn-by-Turn GPS applications will almost certainly be paid apps). This isn't a problem for vendors like TomTom or Telenav, who already have licenses for their map data.
    • A landscape keyboard option is now available in all iPhone applications, including the infamous Mail.app.
    • Voice memos will allow iPhone users the ability to capture audio and then email it, or send it through the Messages application as a multimedia message.
    • System-wide Spotlight searching is built right into the home screen. To the left of the first home screen, there is a magnifying glass, so by flicking to the left of the first home screen will show this search app. You can search for anything, including mail, music, and notes. There is no word yet on how this will interface with third-party applications.
    • Stereo Bluetooth audio devices are now supported through the use of A2DP technology.
    iPhone owners should note that A2DP technology and the use of MMS will not be available on 1st generation iPhones. This is probably due to the iPhone Bluetooth spec used, and Apple has confirmed (during the Q&A session after the keynote) that MMS is not available because of the cell radio used.

    iPhone OS 3.0 will be available for regular users "this summer." iPhone developers will be able to get the beta of OS 3.0 sometime today -- Apple is still busy updating their iPhone Dev Center, but we'll let you know when it is available.

    TUAWiPhone 3.0 feature roundup originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPhone OS 3.0 live chat

    Filed under: , ,

    Update: Well, if what you wanted wasn't in that laundry list, you may just have unrealistic expectations. MMS, copy and paste, downloadable paid content, turn-by-turn, A2DP... the list goes on! We'll have detailed reports momentarily.

    The bad news is, we don't have anyone on the inside of today's press event; the good news is, we've got all of you. Join us for a live chat right here as we meta-liveblog the updates from all across the web during today's iPhone 3.0 announcements.

    TUAWiPhone OS 3.0 live chat originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Found Footage: iPhone prototype

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    Remember the ebay auction of an iPhone prototype? Well here's a video of another prototype from Germany -- although it looks very different from the one in the auction. The UI, still very rough, at least looks more "Apple"-ish in the German video.

    There are a few interesting moments too, like seeing a Terminal button (makes sense) and a little demo of the iPhone trying to track a finger as it moves across the screen. While we wait for iPhone OS 3.0 it's interesting to see the pre-1.0 release and realize how much has changed in such a short time.

    [thanks to Timothy for sending this in]

    TUAWFound Footage: iPhone prototype originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPhone OS 3.0: Dreams really could come true

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    In case you haven't checked iCal lately, the iPhone OS event is only hours away! What that means (aside from all of the tubes being clogged with rumors on what the new OS version will feature) is that it's time for another TUAW wishlist! Please know that while these are all going to be the best guesses on the whole wide web, they are still in fact just that, guesses.

    Many of the staff are visiting SXSW and having the grandest of times; the rest of us are working from our satellite office (on the moon, actually). However, we thought it would be a great disservice to not begin the discussion on what you will definitely probably hopefully see in Apple's latest release of the iPhone OS.

    Now, sit back and let the reality distortion field wash over you as we wax philosophically about today's press event. Don't forget to come back at 1pm ET/10am PT for our live chat during the preview session.

    Continue reading iPhone OS 3.0: Dreams really could come true

    TUAWiPhone OS 3.0: Dreams really could come true originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • New mini owners stung with display incompatibilities, update on the way

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    It seems like just yesterday we heard from David Thomas that his Samsung Syncmaster 910 MP display wasn't working with his shiny new 2009 Mac mini. Oh, wait, it was yesterday -- and David's not alone, judging by the traffic on Apple's support boards. VGA display owners who are using a Mini DisplayPort-VGA adapter should be aware that older displays seem to be having some trouble with the newfangled setup; in fact, Apple's troubleshooting steps for lack of video on the mini suggest replacing your display if it's not lighting up with the mini, even though it may still work with other machines. If your existing display is a Samsung or is more than four years old, you may want to cross-check with Apple before trying to use it with a new mini.

    There's some light at the end of the tunnel, however. While it hasn't appeared on Apple's download page for the mini yet, reader Nikolay sent in word that the Mini DisplayPort to VGA Firmware Update is showing up for him in Software Update on his MacBook Pro. Since one of the listed fixes is "no video on some external displays," if you've got the VGA adapter in use and are having video troubles you may want to borrow a monitor long enough to run the update and see if that clears the issue for you.

    Thanks David & Nikolay

    TUAWNew mini owners stung with display incompatibilities, update on the way originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Foursquare tries the Dodgeball concept again on the iPhone

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    We're right in the middle of convention season and as I noted last night on the Talkcast, I'm here in Chicago (at least the weather's nice) instead of down in Austin with the rest of the gang. But there is a little consolation: I've had a chance to try out SXSW's newest software darling, Foursquare. It's an app (and a social networking site, and a service, and a game) from the guys who made Dodgeball, that social network that just recently got shut down by Google, who bought it out a while ago.

    The basic premise is very close to Dodgeball, in that the system basically revolves around "checking in" -- whenever you go out to a bar, you hit a button in the app that says something like "Hey, I'm at Tin Lizzie," and then everyone in your friends list (and your Twitter followers, if you have that option set) sees where you are.

    In addition, however, they've added some new features into the mix: you get "scored" on how many times you go out and when you go out to different places. And there are even "achievements" you can earn (eventually user created) for trying a hot dog at everyone's favorite stand, or drinking x number of beers at a popular bar. In fact, there's even awards for going to bars where less-than-fashionable people appear, so watch where you decide to spend your Saturday night, lest you pick up the d-bag award.

    Continue reading Foursquare tries the Dodgeball concept again on the iPhone

    TUAWFoursquare tries the Dodgeball concept again on the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Fandango finally on the iPhone

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    They've gone and done it. Fandango [App Store link] is out for the iPhone/iPod touch as a free download. There are a lot of movie apps for the iPhone with showtimes and trailers -- Now Playing, Hot Popcorn, and i.TV also link to the MovieTickets.com site for ticket buying -- but Fandango is the 800 pound gorilla for the US market's online movie info and ticket purchasing. It links to more than 16,000 domestic screens.

    Now, right from the comfort of wherever you and your iPhone are, you can find the nearest theater, get showtimes, see a trailer, and buy a ticket. You can also get an idea what others thought of the movies that are playing.

    I use the web version of Fandango a lot, just because I hate to stand in line letting sticky candy and soft drink residue cover my shoes. But now, you can shorten your time in the lobby and maximize your time in the theater, while still getting candy and soft drinks on your shoes.

    To make purchasing easy, you can enter your credit card details in the app. Fandango says it is securely stored, and it hides all but the last 4 digits of your credit card. On the other hand, if your iPhone is stolen somebody can see a lot of movies, as there is no password protection on the 'buy' button.

    Still, it's a very good way to get tickets in a hurry if you are out and about. Fandango usually charges about a buck for each ticket, but when the lines are long it's worth it. Note: According to the Fandango site: "Convenience charges currently range from $0.75 to $1.50 per ticket depending on geographic location. IMAX screening and some special events have a $2.00 convenience charge."

    Since you can't print your ticket from the iPhone, Fandango sends you a pick up code in an email, or you can show your credit card at the theater, and in some cases you can go to an automated kiosk at the theater. Fandango knows what redemption method is used at the theater you're attending, so the email will advise you.

    For a lot of iPhone owners, getting this app is huge. For others, it may just be a yawn. If you're into movies, however, the Fandango app is literally, the ticket.

    TUAWFandango finally on the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • TUAW Tip: Going to sleep with the iPhone

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    Since I often listen to music while falling asleep (especially on trips -- maybe it makes me feel more at home), I was happy to see this tip, sent to us by reader Mark S. He points out that there is a sleep timer on the iPhone, but it's not in the iPod app. It's hidden over in the Clock app -- once you've got your music playing, you can then exit out and go over to the Timer app in there, and under the "when timer ends" option (where you usually choose a ringtone), you can choose the "Sleep iPod" choice.

    Then, when your timer stops (and you're off into dreamland), it'll stop the iPod for you. Very nice. Of course, there's still the issue of headphones, if you're wearing them, but I usually am able to push those off in a fit of dreamless sleep (or, of course, you could just use the external speaker on the iPhone).

    All of the sleep tunes, much less worry. This tip's been going around for a while, but it's the first I'd heard of it. Thanks, Mark!

    TUAWTUAW Tip: Going to sleep with the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • TUAW reader livestreaming Tokyo Marathon from head-mounted iPhone

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    If you were looking for a challenge, you might consider running a marathon with an iPhone 3G strapped to your head. That's exactly what TUAW reader Joseph Tame of iPhoning Japan will be doing next Sunday, March 22nd (Saturday night for those of us in the US).

    Joseph was one of the 5,000 lucky people who were selected to run in the Tokyo Marathon, and he decided to livestream his experience to all of the people who weren't so lucky as well as the rest of the world.

    How's he going to do this? Using a jailbroken iPhone 3G running Qik, software that gives the iPhone livestreaming capabilities. His "modified hat" uses the strap and the "sponge of speed" to hold the iPhone screen-first against his forehead.

    Qik.com will be showing the race from Joseph's head on Sunday / Saturday, and you can leave comments on iPhoning Japan to make his iPhone vibrate and let him know you're sending along your best wishes.

    Joseph has a fun, tongue-in-cheek introductory video on his blog that explains it all in more detail. All of us here at TUAW will be watching and urging Joseph along to a fast finish in the Tokyo Marathon.

    TUAWTUAW reader livestreaming Tokyo Marathon from head-mounted iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • TUAW ebook reader smackdown: Kindle 2 vs. iPhone

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    Before the release of the original Amazon Kindle a little over a year ago, there were a number of electronic book readers that tried to create and capture the market for a replacement to traditional "dead tree" books. There have been readers for just about every handheld unit since the Newton, as well as a series of devices that all required would-be readers to hook their book to a PC or Mac to transfer the content.

    Amazon changed all that with the Kindle by creating a device with built-in 3G networking that delivers books to you the minute you buy them. I was one of the people who purchased the first-generation Kindle, and though it delivered on wireless purchase of books, it was a clunky, poorly designed device.

    In the meantime, Apple introduced the iPhone 3G and the App Store, and several ebook reader apps have worked their way onto the home screens of millions of iPhone owners. So, is Steve Jobs right? Is there no need for a dedicated electronic book device like Kindle?

    I've used both the original Kindle and the new Kindle 2, and I've also read my share of electronic books on the iPhone. Which of the reigning champions of the ebook world is the winner? Read on to find out.

    Continue reading TUAW ebook reader smackdown: Kindle 2 vs. iPhone

    TUAWTUAW ebook reader smackdown: Kindle 2 vs. iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • First Look: Ustream for jailbroken iPhones

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    Since the initial launch of the iPhone in 2007, people have wanted some type of video recording or streaming application. Of course, the iPhone SDK agreement doesn't allow this type of integration with the iPhone, but some developers have already gone ahead with creating these applications, and releasing them to iPhone owners with jailbroken devices. One such company is Ustream, who released their broadcasting application for the iPhone just a few weeks ago.

    With a jailbroken iPhone and the Ustream Broadcaster, you have the same options as if you were sitting in front of your computer logged into Ustream broadcasting. Once you enter your Ustream credentials, the application will automatically log you in each time you open it. Once it determines you have a sustainable Internet connection, you will get a split pane view: the upper pane will show your live video, while the lower pane will show the live chat. Across the bottom you have a broadcast button, which will set your video live online, a record button, and a mute button. There is also an "ask viewers yes/no" button; tapping this button will pop-up yes and no buttons on your viewers screen where you can poll them for a specific question.

    You have a myriad of options in the Broadcaster preferences. You can choose the video quality by selecting either High (auto) or low quality. You can also choose whether or not to broadcast audio, auto record, or send location. At the bottom of the preferences section you have the ability to send a Twitter message letting viewers know when you go online.

    In all, I found this application to be extremely useful for broadcasting to Ustream while mobile. The frame rate and quality is also high enough that your viewers won't be bored to tears waiting for the next frame -- I was actually surprised at how good the quality for the viewer was. I only had one major complaint with the application: when you are connected via the cell tower, the application doesn't automatically switch you to low quality for EDGE; instead you get a message saying that frames are being dropped and you might want to switch to low quality. Other than that, this app is stellar and well worth jailbreaking your phone if you must have it. You can find the download instructions for Ustream Broadcaster on the Ustream website.

    TUAWFirst Look: Ustream for jailbroken iPhones originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • First Look: Video Monkey swings in to save the day

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    When Techspansion closed its doors in October of last year, there were hordes of individuals clamoring for a slice of easy video-conversion pie to fill the void in their now-empty hearts. Many did not find consolation in the fact that Handbrake supported universal input within a scant two months.

    An application that offers every configuration option available is all well and good for many fine folks; but there are some of us that want this type of thing to be simple. What I and others desired so greatly was a video-conversion app for the rest of us -- and that application was VisualHub.

    Enter Video Monkey. Following the release of Tyler's source code for VisualHub as the TranscoderRedux project, one lone soul, named Chris, decided to brave the trepid waters and save all of us from drowning in a sea of videos awaiting conversion for our iPhones and AppleTVs.

    Chris makes it perfectly clear that Video Monkey's mission is inspired by, and borrowed from, Visual Hub. However, while Visual Hub relied heavily on AppleScript, Video Monkey is written exclusively in Cocoa. After Chris got in touch with TUAW, I got right to work checking out this holy grail of simple video-conversion applications. Read on for my first impressions and initial thoughts or just check out the gallery.

    Continue reading First Look: Video Monkey swings in to save the day

    TUAWFirst Look: Video Monkey swings in to save the day originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Six fun and useful iPhone apps

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    Some iPhone apps are fun, some are useful (and some are neither). In this set of iPhone app reviews, we've got a mixture of each. In this batch of mini-reviews: iShred, Quik, Pro Basketball, Silly Songz, Wordology, and Silver Revolver.

    iShred ($4.99US)
    If you like playing the guitar or other musical instruments, then you might want to consider this app -- it could be one of the most full-featured guitar apps on the iPhone. From the ability to create and record your own songs, to the ability to listen to others play songs around the world -- iShred [iTunes link] has it all. There are over 2,000 built-in chords, scales, and fret positions that get assigned to the two fret rows at the top of the screen. When you tap a fret and strum the strings, a sound will be played.

    When you set up the frets for a certain song, you have the ability to save this setup for later. You can also save your songs or transfer them to another iPhone anytime you have a wireless connection. The application includes other effects including several virtual stomp boxes, like:
    • Adrenaline: A treble booster
    • HK-2000 Delay: Echo
    • Hot Fuzz: Distortion
    • Kömpressör: Power chords
    • Sybil: Dual chorus pedal
    • Trembler: Tremolo
    • Wahsabi: Tilt control for wah pedal
    You can use up to four of these effects on a song. Getting to play your own songs is a cool feature of this app, but something just as cool is the ability to listen to others playing their iPhone guitars. AirPlay, a built-in feature, allows you to do this. Just open the AirPlay feature and watch as other users from around the world rock out. Overall, this application is great for guitar aficionados or people who just want to be able to play guitar anywhere. You can pick up iShred in the iTunes App Store for just $4.99US.




    Quik Search (free, pro version available)
    Searching different sites on the iPhone can be a kludge, especially if you don't like having only two search engines available natively with Mobile Safari. Quik Search [iTunes link] hopes to solve this by adding different sites and engines. Quik allows you to customize your search experience by adding a list of sites that you wish to search to the main screen of the application. You can choose from over 50 pre-designed search engines/sites (including Google, Amazon, Twitter, and of course, TUAW). Just enter your search term in the application and press the blue arrow ... your search query will be sent away to the site of your choice and you can view your results in the Safari-like browser built into Quik Search.

    You might ask "What if they don't have my favorite site/search engine?" Well in that case, you can create your own "search plugin" by entering the name, adding an icon, and entering the template search string. The application helps you to understand what a template search string is, and how to format it for Quik. You can also enable/disable "Launch Safari" when searching (if you don't like the built-in browser).

    If you are looking for a better search solution on the iPhone, then this application could definitely save you some time and energy. You can get Quik search for free on the App Store, although it is ad supported. If you wish to get rid of the ads, you can purchase a pro version [iTunes link] for $1.99US.

    Continue reading Six fun and useful iPhone apps

    TUAWSix fun and useful iPhone apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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