Sunday, October 17, 2010

TUAW (40 сообщений)

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  • Life Browser adds sideswiping, improved page queue

    Building a better browser for iOS devices is a bit of a Sisyphean task. When you're pitching your product against one of the most successful mobile browsers of all time -- in fact, when you and everyone else trying to hike the trail are simply staging your product atop the underlying WebKit engine shared with Mobile Safari -- it's not easy. The best approach may be to identify the pain points Apple isn't addressing in designing Safari for 80% of the users, and hit hard on the convenience and features demanded by the other 20% who might be shopping for a new deal.

    Looking at Life Browser, the latest project from the team at It's About Time, brings home the concept of power features for the rest of us. This snappy browser, available in a $2.99 universal build and an $0.99 iPhone-only version, is evolving pretty quickly as user feedback translates directly into new features and bug fixes. Life Browser first appeared on the iPad back in June of this year, at which time TUAW provided a first look at the app.

    The three big features that recently joined the list for Life Browser are sideswiping to navigate from open page to page, an 'Open Sites' popup at the bottom of the screen to assist navigation, and the seemingly-omnipresent 'pull to refresh' pioneered by Tweetie/Twitter on the iPhone. Life Browser also tweaks and improves the Queue feature, which is handy for preloading links off of a page you're browsing (think Reddit or Twitter, where you might want to see several outgoing links without jumping forward and back repeatedly).

    All in all, Life Browser provides quite a bit of value for your app dollar, and the rapid iteration of features and fixes is good to see. It's a shame that there isn't a way to do a trial version of the app, because it's hard to know if you're really in the 20% of high-needs users who will really take advantage of the power it brings.

    Life Browser adds sideswiping, improved page queue originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Raptr releases free iPhone app

    Raptr is one of the gaming social networks that seems to have some staying power -- the idea is that you can broadcast and track what and when you're playing, and the network will share all of that information with your friends as it happens. Raptr has just introduced an iPhone app that allows you to check in on all your friends and their gaming habits from anywhere, and even send messages across to Xbox Live with just one inbox.

    The app is free on the App Store, but if you're brand new to Raptr, you'll want to head over to their site and create an account first (and probably pick up the desktop client, too, although it's Windows-only at the moment). If you're already a Raptr user, then there's no reason not to have this app.

    That said, a few recent App Store reviews say the app has a problem with friends list loading. I didn't see any issues, but be warned. I'm sure the Raptr team is hard at work on fixing any issues that come up.

    Raptr releases free iPhone app originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Swearch brings style to the iPhone web app

    I guess you could say that it finally happened: Someone built a web app for the iPhone so beautiful that it's nearly indistinguishable from something natively run. That person is Steve Streza, and that app is Swearch.

    Swearch does one thing, and it does it very well. It allows you to search Google, Twitter, Wikipedia, and Flickr quickly. Thanks to resource caching, Swearch is lightning fast once you add it to your homescreen (with a spiffy retina-ready icon, to boot!).

    Navigation is done through a card-like interface that allows you to swipe through the selection of search engines much like one would swipe through pictures in the Photos app. Once you type in your search, the results are displayed inside the app and are cleared automatically to keep Swearch ready at all times.

    I've been beta testing Swearch for quite a while now, and let me tell you this: If they'd let me pay for this web app, I would. It's really that good. Try it out for yourself over at Swearch.me.

    And one last thing: The clouds on the Twitter search page move! How freakin' neat is that? I'm giddy over it. The polish on this app is incredible.

    Swearch brings style to the iPhone web app originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • New MacBook Air has many batteries, few hard drives

    An anonymous tipster has sent an image to our friends across the hall at the Engadget HQ and what a treat it is. The image appears to be of the upcoming MacBook Air that is likely to be announced at Wednesdays "Back to the Mac" event.

    Features include a re-designed case, more internal room for battery packs, and a 0GB hard drive. Wait, what? In this particular example, there doesn't appear to be a hard drive. This leaves us to speculate that there must be multiple models of the Air and this particular SKU is probably making use of some sort of flash-based storage device.

    The MacBook Air hasn't received a substantial hardware upgrade in quite some time and the newer Unibody MacBooks have many features not found in the MacBook Air. Whether this is the new MacBook Air or not, this Wednesday cannot arrive quickly enough.

    New MacBook Air has many batteries, few hard drives originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • iPad app helps you understand US health care reform

    In the US, Election Day is just over two weeks away. While there are many issues people will be turning up to vote their conscience on, one of the biggest issues will be health care reform. While the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 was signed into law back in March of this year, come November 2nd some will be voting their approval or disapproval of the bill by casting ballots for Democrats, Republicans, or other parties.

    Health care reform has remained contentious even after the legislation was passed, and there's a lot of misinformation (formerly known as "lying") and just plain lunacy out there about what it actually entails. To that end, the developers at Redf have put together an iPad app that shows you what's really changing, when it's happening, and how it benefits you.

    The app is called Health Care Reform and when you launch it you are presented with a simple timeline of the bill's new laws and regulations. It shows you in a very easy to follow manner what changes go into effect and when. All of the app's facts and information are taken directly from healthcare.gov.

    iPad app + civic education + progress = a good thing. Health Care Reform is available on the App Store as a free download.

    Let's keep the comments constructive, civil and non-partisan, please.

    iPad app helps you understand US health care reform originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Toys R Us offering iPod trade-in

    We here at TUAW aren't quite sure how great a deal this is, but just in case you want to take advantage, Toys R Us is apparently offering trade-ins on old iPods. From October 17 to the 23rd, the toy chain will take old iPods (no model is specified, but I'd assume older won't get you as much money) at the customer counter, paying out up to $100 in gift cards, just to buy a new version of the device.

    Unfortunately, the deal's not available online, and not all stores are participating in the promotion, so the old "Your mileage may vary" adage very much applies here. Definitely call before you go, and if you do bring an iPod in, you probably shouldn't expect to get any extra money for that full catalog of Aerosmith CDs you've got saved on there.

    Who knows, though -- if your household happens to have a few old nanos sitting in a drawer somewhere and you want a quick and easy way to turn them into a new device, this might be worth trying out. If it works for you, be sure to let us know.

    Toys R Us offering iPod trade-in originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Steve Jobs friends Mark Zuckerberg to talk about Ping

    The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Steve Jobs invited Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to his house for dinner a few weeks ago. The dinner is presumed to have been a meeting about Ping and Facebook integration. Despite getting over one million users in 48 hours, Ping has yet to gain much traction in the social networking world.

    Ping is designed to follow your friends and find what music they like. Right now, finding your friends is a bit of a pain, but if Ping users could find their friends via Facebook Connect it would do much to increase Ping membership and use.

    When Ping first launched, Facebook Connect access was briefly implemented before being quickly blocked by Facebook. A few days later Steve Jobs told All Things Digital that Facebook had "onerous terms that we could not agree to" regarding Facebook friends connecting on Ping. But just two weeks ago Facebook CTO Bret Taylor told Silicon Alley Insider that he's "very confident" that the two companies could find common ground to work together.

    The Times article interestingly points out that years ago Apple was Facebook's first big commercial sponsor through its Apple Students group. But, as we've learned from a certain movie, many of Facebook's original friends have become enemies. Let's hope the dinner has brought two of the biggest names in tech closer together (and come up with a Facebook iPad app in the process).

    Steve Jobs friends Mark Zuckerberg to talk about Ping originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Mac 101: Making a fancy signature in Mail.app

    I was leafing through some emails this afternoon and came upon one with an extremely attractive signature block. So attractive, in fact, that I promptly stopped doing the writing I was working on and decided to create my own new signature to replace the ugly one I had been using.

    I wanted to have three major components to the signature: my name in color so that it stood out, links to the websites that describe my work (TUAW being one of those sites), and the ever-popular links to my Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages. The final product looks like this:

    It's nothing too fancy, but it provides links to the locations that are important to me and also to the social networking sites I use. So what's the secret to doing this? Easy - use a blank new message as your canvas for creating the signature you want, and then copy and paste it into a new signature block in Mail preferences. Follow along as I create this signature block.

    Continue reading Mac 101: Making a fancy signature in Mail.app

    Mac 101: Making a fancy signature in Mail.app originally appeared on TUAW on Sat, 16 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Found Footage: iPhone concert on the B train

    It's time for another installment of our favorite viral program, "Bands You've Never Heard Of Play A Song On Their iPhones." In this case, the band is Brooklyn's Atomic Tom, the song is the decidedly catchy Take Me Out, and the performance is live on the 6th Avenue line of the New York City subways, crossing the Manhattan Bridge on the B train.

    Add the degree of difficulty of shooting the video on iPhones, the noise and lighting challenges of the train, and the likelihood of an overeager "see something, say something" New Yorker getting the boys into trouble with the transit cops -- all in all, an impressive effort.

    Thanks Howdy!

    [via NYT Bits, Daily What and The Loop]

    Found Footage: iPhone concert on the B train originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Bloomberg Game Changers Steve Jobs documentary online and on TV tonight
    Last night, Bloomberg TV presented an episode of the Bloomberg Game Changers documentary series highlighting the life and career of Steve Jobs. The show included interviews with Jobs' friends, former colleagues, and business associates, and detailed his styles of leadership, management, and creative process.

    The show is now available for viewing online, or you can watch it tonight (October 15) at 9 PM and 11 PM EDT on Bloomberg TV. Selected highlights from the show are also available on YouTube:

    Bloomberg Game Changers Steve Jobs documentary online and on TV tonight originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • River of News' real money returns
    Developer Dylan Ginsburg has noticed that a lot of iPhone companies (including most of the folks I spoke with at GDC last week) don't like to talk about exactly how much money they've made on the App Store. But he has no such compunctions, so he's written up a nice post on his blog about how much his River of News RSS app for the iPad has made so far. The short answer? About $20,600 since the app was released on August 19th. The app, which peaked in the top 30 (good, but not outstanding), has sold about 9,500 copies so far, and has made about $5500 of that total in the past month, which Ginsburg says seems like a pretty standard period.

    I can tell you from my own knowledge that Ginsburg could be making more -- it sounds like he hasn't even started exploring advertising or in-app purchases in his app, and I've heard from many developers that those can be very helpful in the right places. But more important, Ginsburg says the satisfaction he's getting from working on the App Store is better than any monetary gain -- he just recently stepped away from a corporate job, and plans to make a go at creating apps for a full-time living.

    It's cool to hear a straight story from one developer on the App Store about just how viable creating apps is. Of course, one thing Ginsburg doesn't talk about is how much work and training went into making his app -- that $20k in sales didn't just appear out of thin air. And not all developers see even his level of modest success, since there are so many apps on the store that don't even make it into the top lists. But Ginsburg is as good an example as any of the kinds of opportunities Apple has created with its App Store platform.

    River of News' real money returns originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • TomTom for iPhone now lets your photo gallery be your address book

    This is a feature in that "gee, I wish I'd of thought of that" category. The latest update to the TomTom app (version 1.5) lets you select any photo that has been geo-tagged and navigate to that location. It's great for finding that favorite picnic spot, or that great photo location.

    I tried the feature out today, navigating to 2 locations I had in my iPhone photo roll. In each case, the app showed a map of the location, and with a couple of clicks I was on my way.

    The app also now supports the iPhone 4 Retina display and the speed of the app is supposed to be faster but I didn't see anything dramatic. TomTom U.S.A and U.S. & Canada apps are currently available for $49.99 and $59.99, respectively. It's a really full featured way to navigate. Navigating to a photo is a really great idea, and I'd like to see some of the other nav apps add this feature as well.

    Continue reading TomTom for iPhone now lets your photo gallery be your address book

    TomTom for iPhone now lets your photo gallery be your address book originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • AutoCAD for Mac 2011 now available for purchase

    Mac-loving engineers, drafters, designers, and students have been waiting for a Mac-native version of AutoCAD to reappear on the platform for many years, so when Apple and Autodesk announced AutoCAD for Mac 2011 in late August, there was a lot of excitement.

    Autodesk reported today that AutoCAD for Mac 2011 is available for purchase. The application isn't cheap -- the MSRP for the software is US$3,995, although one online retailer is offering $500 off that price. Upgrades from previous versions of AutoCAD on other platforms are $1,995. There's a free trial available, and students and educators can get a free copy of the application.

    Several designers I have talked to are thrilled about the availability of the Mac edition of AutoCAD, as it takes advantage of the features of Mac OS X and the Mac hardware, but uses the native DWG file format for cross-platform compatibility. AutoCAD for Mac also features integration with the free AutoCAD WS app for the iPhone and iPad.

    Full system requirements are listed here, and include both minimum and recommended Mac systems.

    AutoCAD for Mac 2011 now available for purchase originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Foxconn parent company raising prices for Apple, others
    This is the downside of being Apple -- just as they get prices and costs to where they want them, those same prices and costs tend to go up again. Foxconn's parent company Hon Hai has reported that it will raise its manufacturing prices in China, directly affecting Apple's and other companies' costs over there. The company is reportedly trying to push profits up for the last quarter of this year, and aims to raise sales by as much as 30% next year.

    Of course, this probably isn't a surprise for Apple -- given how closely the company researches and follows component costs, this is likely something already baked in to their strategy (and even if it's not, $40 billion in cash tends to help out with unseen charges). But it's a clear reminder that costs aren't fixed for these devices at all -- just because Apple secures pricing on one processor or screen doesn't mean they'll have that same opportunity next year. It shows you a little bit of just how difficult it is to do what Apple has done, and coordinate all of these parts and companies to make a great product at a salable price.

    Foxconn parent company raising prices for Apple, others originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Report: six percent of Americans have made a video call
    A recent Pew Research study found that 6% of Americans have participated in a video call with a mobile phone. That number has risen since the iPhone 4's introduction, and is now comparable to the 19% of Americans who have used video conferencing in one way or another.

    The study was conducted in mid-August and mid-September, just two months after the iPhone 4 was released in the US, UK, Germany, France and Japan. Pew Research found that wealthy users (those making above US$75,000 per year) under 50 years of age were most likely to have made a video call with a mobile phone.

    While new to the US, video phone calling has existed in other countries for some time. However, poor display resolution and call quality has prevented it from catching on in any significant way.

    Meanwhile, some iPhone 4 users are unable to place a FaceTime call due to restrictions placed by their carriers. Apple has released a list of iPhone 4 carriers from around the world, with a footnote identifying those that do not officially support FaceTime, including:
    • Jordan
    • Qatar
    • Saudi Arabia
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Egypt
    We received tips about FaceTime not working in UAE recently, but this is the first official confirmation from Apple that we've found. Apple's language says that FaceTime is not available "From this carrier." We're sure Apple would have FaceTime working everywhere. One wonders why these individual carriers have said no.

    Report: six percent of Americans have made a video call originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Are higher iPhone 4 accident rates really something to worry about?

    A report that surfaced from SquareTrade a couple days ago claims that accident rates are higher on the iPhone 4 than its 3GS sibling.

    SquareTrade says that in the first four months of the iPhone 4 being out in the wild, there is an 82 6 percent increase in reported broken screens over the rate on the 3GS. Thing is, SquareTrade counts the back of the iPhone as a screen, not just the front display, and reports that broken glass on the back of the iPhone accounts for 25 percent of the issues they've run into.

    One thing to take with a large grain of salt -- SquareTrade makes its living by selling warranties. It culled its numbers not from AppleCare, but the company's own warranties that it sells. Far more iPhone 4 users most likely have AppleCare or no extended warranty at all on their iPhone and this study, which has grabbed a good bit of media coverage, seems to have been created to sell more of SquareTrade's warranties.

    There was also a pent-up demand for the iPhone 4 as evidenced by the numbers sold compared to those for the 3GS. Many people, myself included, waited to upgrade from the original iPhone or iPhone 3G and never got a 3GS. The phones are also constructed differently. So, take double the amount of glass in a phone, add the fact that there are more phones out there, and you're going to have more accidents. Read through the report and make your own decision. If you're still worried, slap a good case on your iPhone and don't use it as a hockey puck or bottle opener.

    [Via MacObserver]

    Are higher iPhone 4 accident rates really something to worry about? originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Cannon Cadets now includes level builder, scoring, and a TUAW level
    Back in August, XMG Studio released a fun game called Cannon Cadets (US$0.99), and it quickly became popular with those of us who love games where we shoot or fling things at targets. I enjoyed Cannon Cadets, although lack of a cohesive scoring mechanism made it difficult to measure my progress, and the sound effects -- which consisted mainly of farts and burps -- were annoying.

    XMG listened to feedback from the many people who purchased the game, and it's now out with even more special features, cool sounds, and an updated soundtrack. The updated version is universal, so you can now kill robots on your iPad as well. If you have an iPhone 4, you'll be thrilled to see that Retina Display support is included. A scoring mechanism has been built into Cannon Cadets, but even better, you can now build your own levels and share them with other players.

    XMG Studio reported that in less than a week, over 500 user-generated levels have been developed. All are available for gameplay from within Cannon Cadets, and we're happy to say that Brandon at XMG created a difficult level for TUAW (see screenshot above). If you have Cannon Cadets, go to "Download User Made Levels", search for tuaw by brandonmat, download it, and enjoy. It should keep you busy over the weekend!

    Cannon Cadets now includes level builder, scoring, and a TUAW level originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • In advance of Q4 earnings call: AAPL hits $310, 45m iPads expected to sell in 2011
    All of us at TUAW are looking forward to the Apple 4th Quarter earnings call on Monday afternoon, which we will be liveblogging right here on the site. With some of the wonderful news coming out from Wall Street and financial analysts today, our very own Mike Rose says that the earnings call should "have a mariachi band and a fire-eater." We're expecting it will be quite entertaining.

    First, we've been watching the share price of AAPL, which is flirting with $310 today. But there's even better news from analyst Brian White with Ticonderoga Securities: Apple could sell as many as 45 million iPads in 2011.

    White's research note to clients was covered by eWeek, and he talked to suppliers this week in Taiwan and China who support unit sales of 45 million of Apple's tablets. Coupled with Apple's announcements of aggressive retail expansion of sales of the device at Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Verizon, and AT&T, he expects the iPad to be one of the most coveted gifts for the 2010 holiday season, which should make the Apple execs on Monday happy enough to dance around a sombrero.

    Be sure to join us on Monday, October 18th at 5 PM EDT for our liveblog of the earnings call.

    [via MacObserver]

    In advance of Q4 earnings call: AAPL hits $310, 45m iPads expected to sell in 2011 originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • The Incident update includes iPhone as iPad controller
    The Incident as iPad controllerI'm a sucker for retro 8-bit games, and the addicting iPhone/iPad game The Incident is no exception. Its interface is simplistic, but gameplay is fast and fun. What's more, it's a universal app that costs only $1.99 -- a bargain!

    The app has just recently undergone a significant update, including a new "Endless Night" mode, additional objects and music, and new balloon power-ups/downs. But the neatest addition to the app is the ability to use your iPad as the gameplay screen and an iPhone as the controller!

    I gave the game a go in controller-mode, and it was surprisingly responsive. Tilt the phone to move Mr. Soloway to the left and right, tap the screen to jump -- that's all the controls you need, and they work flawlessly. Thankfully they made it difficult to accidentally tap out of controller mode, requiring you to use a slider to deactivate.

    Of course, you need both an iPad and iPhone to try the new controller feature. If you have both, definitely give it a try. Hopefully we'll see a lot more games give this feature a go in the future.

    The Incident update includes iPhone as iPad controller originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Report: iPhone, iPad glass crawling with bacteria and viruses

    During the winter months in most of the world, you can see pump bottles of antibacterial gel scattered around most businesses as workers and visitors try to keep their hands free of pathogens. Now, a spate of suspiciously similar news items today are warning that the glass screens on iPhones, iPads, and iPods can harbor bacteria.

    While that's kind of a big "Duh!" moment -- after all, who hasn't looked at a smeary iPad screen and wondered what kind of bugs are multiplying on the glass -- British researchers in one study found that mobile phones carry 18 times more bacteria than a flush handle in a men's room. Ewwwww. For viruses that have taken up residence on iPhone screens, a single touch can easily transfer them to your fingertips, which then pass the viruses to your eyes, mouth, or nose. Hello, flu!

    This isn't something new; the New York Daily News swabbed four iPads in NYC Apple Stores in June, and lab results found Staphylococcus aureus (a common source of staph infections), Candida parapsilosis (a yeast), and Corynebacterium minutissimum (a common source of skin rashes). There are just so many people handing Apple devices at the stores in a typical day that it's almost impossible for them to not pick up bacteria of some sort.

    How can you keep yourself from being overrun by disease vectors while using mobile electronics? There are a couple of ways. First, don't share your phone or iPad with others. That's more easily said than done in households with small children, for who Mom and Dad's phones and iPads are just another toy. Second, try to keep the screen clean by using approved cleaning sprays and wipes on a regular basis. For example, I use the Apple-approved iKlear spray and wipes on my iPad and iPhone. Finally, if you do touch a device that has been used by many other people, wash your hands thoroughly after use or use a sanitizing gel.

    The reports coming out today might give you pause about handling your iToys, but using a little common sense and regular hygiene practices should keep you from contracting an infection from your devices.

    [via Macworld.co.uk]

    Report: iPhone, iPad glass crawling with bacteria and viruses originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Tiki Toss 3D is pick up and play fun with an island theme
    OK, so there's not a lot to Tiki Toss 3D, but it's one of those enjoyable little games you can flip on while you wait in line (much to the bemusement of Windows Phone 7 friends). If you've ever played Bimini ring toss, where you try to get a ring suspended by a string onto a hook mounted on a wall (or small board), then you will be familiar with Tiki Toss.

    Interface

    The interface is simple enough. After choosing the type of game you want (Best of 10, Session or Arcade) and level of difficulty (Amateur or Pro) you hit Play to begin. You'll start with the screen shown to the right, a ring suspended in air, waiting to be thrown.

    The game does a great job of simulating an island feel, complete with animated surfers in the background. The bar at the bottom is activated when you tap the boom box, and the game features several songs to choose from while you play. It's a nice feature that adds to the ambiance.

    I found the buttons on the main menu a little small, perhaps, and the "music off" indicator reset itself when I entered the list of music available, but other than the OpenFeint screens everything is consistent within the game.

    Gallery: Tiki Toss 3D

    Continue reading Tiki Toss 3D is pick up and play fun with an island theme

    Tiki Toss 3D is pick up and play fun with an island theme originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Count The Beats: Filtatron by Moog Music to be released Monday
    This is just a heads-up to let you know that Moog Music is releasing their own iPhone / iPod touch music app on the App Store on Monday.

    From the PR, we can glean that Filtatron is a real-time audio effects engine and studio tool that has a finely-modeled Moog Ladder Filter at its core. Yes, it's the same filter that gives Moog instruments their warm, thick character and tone. Now, in the palm of your hand (and at a mere fraction of the cost), you can make your own deliciously eerie, yet oh-so-creamy Moog tones.

    Mike Adams, president of Moog Music had this to say.
    "Filtatron represents the first time that the signature Moog sound is available outside of a high-end, hand-made Moog synthesizer. This powerful app extends the studio capabilities of traditional Moog users, and also provides music enthusiasts and Moog fans a fantastic way to create and share their personalized presets. All for a price that makes the Moog sound accessible to a wide audience."
    With loads of presets and samples, it looks like Filtatron will have plenty to get your creative Moog tunes flowing. What's quite exciting is that you can use the Filtatron sampler to record your own unique sounds, and then you can mash them up with the Moog Ladder Filter as well as the built-in effects module, including delay. It seems that the overall sound is controlled with a virtual amp, which provides tones that range from warm analog overdrive to extreme distortion.

    Filtatron will be available from Monday on the iTunes Store for US$4.99.

    We're certainly looking forward to having a play with this one. Check out the demo video after the break, and let us know what you think in the comments.

    For all the Filtatron details, click here.

    Continue reading Count The Beats: Filtatron by Moog Music to be released Monday

    Count The Beats: Filtatron by Moog Music to be released Monday originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • New York Times replaces Editor's Choice app with full content

    The New York Times has replaced its limited "Editor's Choice" iPad app with a new version that provides the newspaper's full content, pending the user's (free) registration. The app will be free for users until "early 2011."

    Unlike Editor's Choice, the new version (simply called NYTimes for iPad) includes articles from every section of the publication. You can navigate each via a pop-up list. Select any one to read the related articles.

    You'll notice that a banner pops up prompting you to register. The process is as simple as entering a username and a password, and will push you out of the app and into Safari to finish the process. Once complete, you must click a ink in a confirmation email. The next time you launch the app, the banners will be gone.

    I spent a short amount of time testing it this morning, and found it to hang up quite a bit when selecting an article to read from the grid. Other than that, it was what I expected. The UI will be familiar to anyone who used the Editor's Choice app.

    Whiel access to the full content will be free for 2010, that will change next year when the paper's new paywall will go up. Those who pay or subscribe to the paper will enjoy full access, while others will have limited access. The website paywall is intended to allow infrequent visitors free reading access to the Times' content.

    It was reported that Steve Jobs himself disliked the initial NYT iPad app because the content was limited. Now that that problem has been eliminated, and rumors of App Store subscriptions circulate, we'll see what's to come of the Times on the iPad.

    New York Times replaces Editor's Choice app with full content originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule comes to iOS for kids
    Oceanhouse Media has done it again with The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule by Stan and Jan Berenstain with Mike Berenstain (US$2.99). It's another in their line of popular storybooks for children, and it tells the tale of Sister Bear being given a locket containing the Golden Rule. The story goes on to explain the Golden Rule through Sister Bear's meeting with a new kid at school, Lizzie McGrizzie. I used to read the Berenstain Bears books to my (now-grown) children countless times, so I look at them quite nostalgically now. As in all the Berenstain books, The Golden Rule teaches a moral and explains it through the narrative in a way that even the smallest of children can understand and take to heart.

    Oceanhouse Media has done something brilliant and can capitalize on it forever. In April, they released The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss, which I reviewed quite highly. It introduced an e-book engine that any picture-oriented book can be plugged into. Currently they sell 12 Dr. Seuss books, with two soon to be released, and three Berenstain Bear books, with three more upcoming.

    Continue reading The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule comes to iOS for kids

    The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule comes to iOS for kids originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Immerse yourself in TED on the iPad

    Do you need a dose of inspiration, or want your mind stretched? Attending a TED talk is the answer, but now TED has come to the iPad.

    TED
    is a nonprofit group that is dedicated to spreading good and interesting ideas through a series of talks. TED means Technology, Entertainment, Design, and most of the talks fall within those categories.

    There is a great TED website that gives you access to the myriad talks, but the free iPad app is a portable, take anywhere, use anywhere, be inspired anywhere app that gets you access to the best of TED.

    To get started, you can get featured talks from the home page, or you can explore by themes or tags. Themes include things like "Ocean Stories" or "The Power of Cities." Click on a theme, and the related TED talks appear. You can also click on tags, like "Cancer," "Evolution," or "Space" and see the related talks. There's also a nifty feature called "inspire me" where you can find talks that are under topics like "jaw-dropping," "funny," or ''courageous." Once you select a topic, you're asked how much time you have, and the talk that fits your requirements will start playing. You can also download talks to watch offline.

    Gallery: TED for iPad

    Continue reading Immerse yourself in TED on the iPad

    Immerse yourself in TED on the iPad originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Limera1n jailbreak tool now available for Mac

    When we originally mentioned jailbreak tool limera1n we also lamented the fact that Geohot had only released a version for Windows users. Now, the weeping and gnashing of teeth may come to an end. The limera1n homepage has been updated with a version for Mac OS X users.

    Both Windows and Mac users can now get in on the cat-and-mouse game and free their iPhones, iPod touches, and iPads from their shackles. Notable tricks your jailbroken iDevice can do include bypassing 3G restrictions on apps (such as with FaceTime) as well as setting up your own portable Wi-Fi hotspot.

    If you give the Mac version of Limera1n a try, let us know how it goes.

    [via Download Squad]

    Limera1n jailbreak tool now available for Mac originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Lost in translation: HDMI adapter for iPhone 4 and iPad
    Today seems to be a day for news from China, the birthplace of most Apple hardware. This little tidbit of info comes courtesy of Noosy, AKA Shenzhen North Technology Co., Ltd.

    The company has developed an HDMI adapter for the iPhone 4, fourth-generation iPod touch, and iPad, so you can now pop the little adapter onto your iDevice and blast video from apps that support video-out to your HDTV.

    Details on the adapter are sketchy; the page for the device appears to have been run through Google Translate, with the predictable result of some unintentionally humorous gaffes. There's no price, but at least we can be assured that it supports 720p output, is "easily plus&play," and can display "the MTV."

    Unfortunately, there is no pricing information and no clear sign of when this may make it to worldwide distribution. We'll keep an eye open and see what happens, as we too would like to "have so fabulous screen to instead of the 10" iPad screen." As they say, "you never see a HDMI adapter can be elegant like this!!"

    Lost in translation: HDMI adapter for iPhone 4 and iPad originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • TUAW's Daily App: Game Dev Story
    Man, I love everything about Game Dev Story -- from the excellent premise to the cute, pixelated aesthetic to the great simulation gameplay. The idea is that you run your own game studio, and that idea is executed flawlessly. You hire your staff, choose a game genre (or do some contract work if you need extra cash), and then build up your game in terms of fun, graphics, sound, and gameplay, all while trying to keep your staff paid and avoid bugs when possible. Finally, you ship out your game and hope the reviews come back well, even while you're planning out your next title.

    It's incredible fun, and the great chiptunes and graphics bring a lot to the table. There's a wild sense of humor in the mix here, too. New consoles are released into the market, a video game magazine comes every month, and you slowly build up your own studio's fanbase.

    Game Dev Story is a ton of fun! It's somewhat pricey at US$3.99, but honestly, if you're a fan of the game industry at all (there's even a fake E3 where you can promote your games!), you'll find a lot of joy in this one. It's a very, very cool title.

    TUAW's Daily App: Game Dev Story originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Updated Skype for Mac "coming soon"
    On Thursday, Skype unveiled Skype 5.0 for Windows. Among some pretty cool new features are group video calling and Facebook integration. The Facebook integration lets you view your Facebook news feed, sync your Skype mood messages and Facebook status, and call friends from your Facebook phone book. They're all cool features, and they're all for Windows, ... but not for long.

    The official Skype for Mac blog says that the next version of Skype for Mac is "coming soon" and will deliver group video calling to the Mac. While they don't specifically mention Facebook integration, the Skype blog does note that the next iteration of Skype for Mac will be a "complete overhaul, both in terms of the way it looks, and in terms of functionality." That sounds pretty cool -- now, how about a Skype iPad app?

    Updated Skype for Mac "coming soon" originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Use Quix to make advanced searches easier

    Google may be the best search engine available today, but it has several frustrations to me. One of the biggest is that it routinely forgets my preferred search settings. At best, Google only remembers your preferences when you are logged in, but personally i find that Google forgets my preferences all of the time, even when logged in.

    I finally figured out a way to avoid that frustration plus limit my Google searches to recent pages, regardless of whether I am logged in. The key was to use Quix.

    I've written about Quix before but as a quick recap: Quix is a bookmarklet that lets you easily add/change shortcuts by editing a plain text file. I host my plain text file in my public Dropbox folder, so I can edit the file on any of my computers and know that it will be instantly updated on all my computers (including my iPhone and iPad) in minutes.

    Read on for the specifics...

    Continue reading Use Quix to make advanced searches easier

    Use Quix to make advanced searches easier originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Remote Pallette lets you paint on your iPad with colors from your iPhone
    The story a while back about connecting an iPhone to an iPad for a game of darts was pretty interesting, and here's another one in that vein: a new app called Remote Palette is universal for both devices, and will let you "paint" on the iPad, while controlling the colors used with the iPhone. "Dip" your finger into a certain color of paint on your iPhone, and then when you go to touch the iPad, that color will show up as you draw. Very cool idea, and while the reviews on the app say it's not quite as great an art app as Brushes or Sketches, the wireless palette idea seems like a lot of fun.

    Remote Palette also has a Finger Paint mode you can use to put some outlines on the screen for kids, or you can just open up a blank canvas and paint away. The universal app is only US 99 cents, and is available right now.

    Remote Pallette lets you paint on your iPad with colors from your iPhone originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • TUAW review: Billings Pro
    Billings Pro builds upon the award-winning (2009 Apple Design Award) client-tracking and invoicing software, Billings, by Marketcircle. This major release introduces support for multiple users, server software, and new client side applications for both the desktop and iPhone. While many independent workers have enjoyed Billings and Billings Touch for years (myself included), small business owners with several employees have been left out. Billings Pro fixes that.

    We were able to spend some time with Billings Pro, and we're happy to offer our review. Click the link below to read the full report and see additional galleries of screenshots from Billings Pro Touch and Billings Pro for the Mac.

    Continue reading TUAW review: Billings Pro

    TUAW review: Billings Pro originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • No Comment: A diamond-encrusted iPhone 4
    So, Apple's free bumper case wasn't enough for you? Do you want to encase your iPhone in something a little more ... erm, maybe "classy" isn't necessarily the word for this one. At any rate, as you can see above, customizer Stuart Hughes has enwrapped this iPhone 4 in over 500 diamonds (totaling over 100 karats), which are placed around the outside (that antenna gap has never looked so sparkly), on the Apple logo, and on the Home button. The back of the phone is plated in gold, and the unit comes in its own custom-made granite box. Total price: US$8 million.

    Apparently, two were made, and both were for an Australian businessman who wanted a little more bling on his iOS device. Was it worth it? No comment.

    [via Engadget]

    No Comment: A diamond-encrusted iPhone 4 originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • SwirlySMS brings free SMS app to iPad 3G
    Released today, "SwirlySMS free for iPad 3G" offers a free SMS solution that allows you to send and receive messages from your iPad 3G. This is a jailbreak-only solution. Available from the Cydia store, the new app uses your iPad's SIM to introduce native texting without having to hack your way into command-line solutions.

    The application should work with any supported SIM that offers SMS features. You will be charged for SMS text messages according to the plan associated with your SIM card. I do not believe it's possible to add SMS packages to the native plan, so if the app works at all, you'll likely be charged $0.25/text at the standard US AT&T a la carte rate.

    The app has been tested primarily in Sweden on the Telia network, but its developers have been doing SMS apps for three years now -- so it's a good bet that things should work out of the box with standard AT&T SIMs for United States users. Given that the app is free, if you have any problems, I'm sure the devs will offer a full money-back guarantee.

    After thoroughly testing the software with your equipment, you can upgrade to a no-ad version for five bucks, or a full-featured MMS/SMS app (SwirlyMMS) for twelve.

    Gallery: Swirly SMS

    SwirlySMS brings free SMS app to iPad 3G originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • MobileMe Calendar web app out of beta
    Apple has announced that the MobileMe Calendar web app is now officially out, leaving beta and becoming available to all MobileMe customers. The service allows you to check or update your MobileMe calendar from any computer or iOS device, share or publish calendars out to friends, family, or coworkers, and even send invitations straight from the calendar for upcoming events.

    If you're already using the beta, of course, you don't have to do anything at all, but other MobileMe members can sign in to me.com/calendar, and click "Upgrade Now" in the lower left. There's nothing super new here (there are certainly lots of other ways to do these kinds of things using MobileMe and other free services), but having what was previously in beta open to all customers is a nice benefit.

    [via MacRumors]

    MobileMe Calendar web app out of beta originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • John Sculley on Steve Jobs' guiding principles
    In an unprecedented interview, former Apple CEO John Sculley discusses his relationship, past and present, with Steve Jobs. Initially pulled from Pepsi Co. by Steve Jobs in 1983, Sculley ran Apple with Jobs until Jobs was ousted in 1985. Sculley then ran Apple as the sole CEO until 1993.

    In the interview with Cult of Mac, Sculley notes that he isn't in contact with Jobs anymore, and he considers his time at Apple "ancient history." Still, Sculley went on to describe what he called Steve's methodology for building great products, which includes:
    • Beautiful design (no surprises there)
    • Customer experience
    • Perfectionism
    • Minimalism
    Again, there's not a surprise among the bunch, and John elaborates on these and other aspects of Steve's drive in the full interview. Sculley also goes on to note that it was "...a mistake" to make him CEO: "Looking back, it was a big mistake that I was ever hired as CEO. I was not the first choice that Steve wanted to be the CEO. He was the first choice, but the board wasn't prepared to make him CEO when he was 25, 26 years old."

    The whole interview is broken into several parts, starting here. It's candid and, as we said, unprecedented. Go and read it for a unique look at a significant figure in Apple history.

    John Sculley on Steve Jobs' guiding principles originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • A helmsman's chair that would make James T. Kirk green with envy
    NorSap is a Norwegian firm that manufactures those impressive chairs for the helmsmen and pilots on sea-going vessels. These chairs are extremely rugged, as they need to be able to stand up to rough conditions, but they also need to be adjustable to fit a variety of body sizes and comfortable enough to sit in during a long watch.

    The company recently developed a concept chair, which they refer to as the iChair, that includes not one, but two iPads mounted for easy visibility. The custom docks that hold the iPads have ergonomic padding installed to cushion the forearms of the lucky soul who gets to command the Enterprise ship from the iChair.

    The iChair was built specially by NorSap for the ONS 2010 and SMM 2010 exhibitions, and although our tipster, Kenneth, isn't sure they'll sell any of these, I have to agree with his assertion that "it looks cool." One of the closeup shots in the gallery below shows a navigational chart on the iPad, so the iPads may have some practical use other than distracting the crew.

    A few more shots of the iChair are in the gallery below.

    A helmsman's chair that would make James T. Kirk green with envy originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Pocket Frogs hits 2m downloads, adds social features, raises money for real-life frogs
    I continue to enjoy NimbleBit's Pocket Frogs title -- it's a free download on the App Store (supported by in-app purchases of convenience items) that has you collecting, breeding, and selling little frogs in thousands of combinations of colors, patterns, and types.

    I'm not the only one enjoying the game, either. NimbleBit tells TUAW that after a month of availability on the App Store, the game has 300,000 daily active users, and it has been downloaded over two million times. That's quite impressive. And NimbleBit is far from done with the game. Ian Marsh has been sharing "frogsaics" on his twitter account, and just yesterday he was apparently testing a social feature to share pictures of frogs over Twitter. David Marsh tells us that, yes, the company is working on an update to "show off your frogs on various social networks." There's one more big feature in the pipeline, too, but he couldn't tell us about that one just yet.

    The game has been raising money for charity as well. NimbleBit was contacted by a charity called Amphibian Rescue, and they've just recently added a little popup in the game offering a 1,000 in-game coin bonus for checking out information on how to donate to the cause. Over the week of the promotion, there were over 600 donations (totaling over $3,000), which are all going to equipment costs to keep frogs in Panama from extinction. That's awesome! Not only is NimbleBit producing a great game, but they're also using the audience that they've earned to make a change for real frogs in Panama.

    Pocket Frogs hits 2m downloads, adds social features, raises money for real-life frogs originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Next Apple gift to the Chilean miners should be...

    As the world watched rapt and astonished, the emergence of the 33 Chilean mine workers from their subterranean refuge made for dramatic stories and oddly compelling TV.

    Along with the wraparound sunglasses (for eye protection) and other gifts that the miners and their families received, each man is getting a new iPod courtesy of Apple. While the French newspaper Le Figaro describes the media players as "personal gifts" from El Steve, likely as not, they were procured and delivered by Apple's Chile offices without direct executive involvement.

    The iPod gifts are a thoughtful gesture, and we're sure the miners will enjoy them -- but what else could Apple have included in the gift basket? iPads, to share movies and photos on the job? A MacBook, to document the experience and field movie-of-the-week offers? Licenses for Final Cut Studio, in case the miners want to take creative control of said MOW? Give us your suggestions below.

    Next Apple gift to the Chilean miners should be... originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Found Footage: Chinese Steve Jobs clone intros new iPhone app
    The amazing presentation skills of Steve Jobs have been the topic of many articles, but it's downright rare to see an entire press event done by a Steve Jobs clone -- especially one who is speaking in Chinese.

    The press conference in question was held yesterday in Hong Kong to celebrate the launch of the MTR Mobile subway app. This is an impressive app, using augmented reality to show the location of stations, displaying schedules and maps, and including a helpful route planner. It's also incredible for finding local goods and services.

    The clone at the conference was local celebrity Law Kar-ying, who has obviously watched enough Stevenotes to pick up a lot of the mannerisms of His Steveness, including "One More Thing," gulping bottled water, and plucking an iDevice from his jeans pocket. He's even wearing a close facsimile of the Jobsian wardrobe of a black St. Croix mock turtleneck, Levi's 501 jeans, and New Balance 991 shoes.

    As Winandmac.com reports, the Steve clone did something that Jobs never does at press events -- he gave away four iPhone 4's to audience members. Perhaps the real Jobs can learn a lesson here...

    Check out the video (in Chinese) after the break.

    [via Engadget]

    Continue reading Found Footage: Chinese Steve Jobs clone intros new iPhone app

    Found Footage: Chinese Steve Jobs clone intros new iPhone app originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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