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- Three iOS apps to automatically track your location
My friend Mike wrote to ask:
"A year or so ago you posted updates about your location during a trip from New England to home. Do you remember which tracking tool or website you used? A friend of mine is planning to bike across the country next summer and something like that would make his wife feel a lot better."
First I'm going to answer the question that he asked, and then I'm going to give some "better" answers.
Each year on Christmas Eve, I drive overnight for about 12 hours to my mother's house. I wanted to give people some way to track my progress so that they'd know where I was without me having to call (which would either wake up my family and/or require me to talk on the phone while driving) or text (even worse while driving).
Last year I used GPS Tracker by InstaMapper, which is completely free; you can setup a website that will show people your progress. It's a great solution, and the app worked really well, but there were just a few shortcomings. First, due to limitations of iOS at the time, the app had to be running in the foreground for it to work. Also, the process of setting it up was a little convoluted. If you look at the reviews on iTunes, you'll also see a whole lot of iPod touch users who don't seem to understand that location detection works much better on iPhones and 3G iPads than it does on the iPod touch.
Sadly, the app has not been updated since November 2008, meaning that there is no iOS 4 compatibility to use the background API for GPS updates, and there's also no iPad app.
The good news is that there are at least two other options, and both are free. Click "Read More" to check them out.
Continue reading Three iOS apps to automatically track your location
Three iOS apps to automatically track your location originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Additional sources suggest cameras on iPad 2
Another rumor from Asian sources suggests the iPad 2 will ship with front- and rear-facing cameras, a thinner design, and possibly a retina display.* According to the report from supply chain sources, Asian component suppliers are ramping up for an early 2011 production run. This date jives with a rumor out of Digitimes that suggested the iPad 2 would ship within the next 100 days. Component suppliers involved in this upcoming manufacturing effort are thought to include Chinese touchscreen supplier Wintex, battery manufacturer Simplo Technology, digital camera chassis maker AVY Precision, and an unlisted manufacturer that supplies covers for electronic devices.
The details leaked from these manufacturers match anaylsts' expectations and previous rumors. One manufacturer that claimed to be working on the iPad 2 suggests it would have dual cameras, while the other hinted at a higher resolution display (retina?) and thinner design. The sources also claim that two camera module suppliers, Genius Electronic Optical and Largan Precision, have recently received new supply orders from Apple. Thought to be for the rumored iPad 2, the source could not confirm the iPad was the intended device. These rumors come hot on the heels of leaked iPad cases from two seperate sources, both of which include cut-outs for a rear-facing camera.
*We'll be interested to see what is meant by "retina display" here. Matching the iPhone 4's 326 PPI would require a screen resolution at or around 2560 x 1920 - nearly 5,000,000 pixels. Just powering such a thing would be difficult to say the least.
[Via Engadget and AppleInsider]Additional sources suggest cameras on iPad 2 originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Tascam introduces Portastudio, 4-track recording on your iPad
It was about 30 years ago that Tascam introduced the first 4-track cassette recorder -- the Portastudio 144. In 1984, Tascam introduced the Porta One, a revolutionary product that many would argue kick-started the home recording studio as we know it today. Many artists demoed their music on the Portastudio, and some even released records recorded entirely on a Portastudio.
Now, Tascam has released Portastudio for the iPad. Faithfully modeled after the Tascam Porta One, the Portastudio app has four tracks to record onto (one at a time), VU metering, high and low EQ, panning and a vintage vibe cassette transport and counter to track your position. It does look remarkably like the original Porta One.
Once you've finished your production, you can mix down your recordings to a CD quality WAV file that will land in your iTunes library.
The Portastudio will use the iPad's built-in mic or a mic plugged into the tablet's headphone jack. Tascam says that Portastudio for iPad doesn't officially support class-compliant audio interfaces, but they do acknowledge that some have worked in testing when plugged in through Apple's Camera Connection Kit. It's also been reported that some USB microphones will work with the iPad through Apple's Camera Connection Kit, too. Naturally, It goes with out saying that the better the mic, the better the quality of your recording.
Portastudio is available on the App Store for US$9.99.
[via Engadget]Tascam introduces Portastudio, 4-track recording on your iPad originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Desktop version of Google Docs now on iPad, but still disappoints
9to5Mac brought us the news that the desktop version of Google Docs is now available on the iPad, coming just a few weeks after the mobile version debuted.
But, like the screencap above warns, not all features are available through the iPad and the clunky interface is disappointing. Viewing the desktop version of Google Docs is slow and a bit cumbersome as the screen reloads each time you tap on a different area. You are able to navigate menus and do things you can't do on the mobile version such as edit spreadsheets and add comments to documents, but the ability to use these features are overshadowed by the lack of basic tasks.
You're unable to select text, which means no copy or pasting. If you double-tap at the end of a sentence to get a period, you won't be rewarded with that particular mobile shortcut. There is no shift key; if you capitalize a word, all the text will be capitalized until you toggle the button off. Backspacing is equally slow, especially if you need to edit a large area of text.
For editing, I'd head for specific apps that can link to your Google Docs such as Documents 2 Go or Quickoffice. Otherwise, unless you're doing basic notating or spreadsheet editing, viewing the desktop version of Google Docs on the iPad is more trouble than the feature is worth.Desktop version of Google Docs now on iPad, but still disappoints originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Not-for-profits decry App Store block on tap-to-donate apps
Want to donate to a non-profit? There's no app for that. You'll have to go to a website and fill out the information there. This has led to some wailing and gnashing of teeth from non-profits who know that if they could reduce the "friction," more people would donate. It's the same reason that Amazon has an iPhone and iPad app plus another app especially designed just for the iPad, rather than requiring you to use their website: the easier it is for you to spend your money, the more are to do so.
So far the only app that was able to do this, for a time, was PayPal, but Apple eventually required that they remove that feature according to a recent New York Times article. Some have speculated that Apple may want to take their usual 30 percent cut, but realize that would be a bad PR move. That doesn't make much sense to me. After all, Apple is happy to let you shop at Amazon through Amazon's various apps without getting a 30 percent cut. An Apple spokesperson declined to explain the reasons for the ban, saying that "We are proud to have many applications on our App Store which accept charitable donations via their Web sites," which is only a little better than if they had said, "Hey! It's a phone, you could just call up and make a donation!"
I realize that Apple is a business, and they aren't under compulsion to support anybody, non-profit or otherwise. I think signing a petition to get Apple to change their minds will have all the effect of spitting into the ocean: it probably won't hurt, but I doubt it will help. Go ahead and sign it if you agree. Truthfully, I suspect this is one of those details of the App Store that just hasn't been solved yet (much like demos for apps - yes I'm mentioning that again). Given time, I expect Apple will find a way to make donations work, and yes, I wish that would be sooner rather than later. In the meantime, those who are threatening to switch to Android (which makes it easier for these kinds of donations to be made) have my admiration. Wait, what's the word for when you roll your eyes at something?
I'm not anti-non-profit (heck, I work for one). I just think that such threats (or mocked up images casting Steve Jobs as the Grinch) carry little weight and probably end up making people who use them seem a little more desperate for attention and a little less sympathetic. That's just my opinion; your opinion may differ. I'm reminded of an old Saturday Night Live skit where someone overturned the dinner table and stormed out of the room ... again, and again, and again. There are only so many times you can use that much drama. Make your voices heard, but be reasonable about it.
Not-for-profits decry App Store block on tap-to-donate apps originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Cut the Rope holiday version now available
Chillingo has joined the holiday fun with Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift edition. The holiday version of Cut the Rope is a universal app, separate from the regular app, and offered free of charge.
If you have somehow missed Cut the Rope, do yourself a favor and check it out. In addition to the holiday edition, there are both free "lite" versions and regular versions ($1 for the iPhone version, $2 for the HD iPad version). It's a lot of fun and offers plenty of challenges. "Om Nom" might be the cutest cartoon character since Little Cindy Lou Who (who was no more than two).
I keep hoping for a holiday version of Plants vs Zombies, but I guess I'll have to hope for "maybe next year."
[via Touch Arcade]
Cut the Rope holiday version now available originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple engineer re-creates Greek computer with LEGOs
It's fitting that an Apple software engineer would re-create what's possibly the world's oldest-known computer ... by using LEGOs.
Andrew Carol used around 1,500 LEGOs to re-create the Antikythera mechanism, a machine that ancient Greeks used to foretell celestial events. He made four gearboxes with 110 gears total, and when fed data, the machine will tell you when the next solar eclipse will occur. It's a beautiful and ingenious machine, and worth checking out the YouTube video. Maybe Carol's next project will be taking on the Mayans. You can watch a video of the device in action after the break.
[Via Engadget]
Continue reading Apple engineer re-creates Greek computer with LEGOs
Apple engineer re-creates Greek computer with LEGOs originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW's Daily App: inClass
With all of the great games that have come out this week, you probably have enough to play already, so let's spotlight an app that can actually help you get some work done. inClass is just such an app. Now's probably not the best time to talk about it, as we spin down towards finals and holiday break in school. However, if you make a note of this one, maybe install it on that new iPad you get over the holidays, then bring it back to class with you in January, it might help your grades jump up a bit. inClass is a free app that lets you deal with all kinds of schoolwork, from taking notes in class and sharing files around to tracking class schedules and test taking.
inClass was just updated to add some features for high resolution photos and notifications, and the authors of the app are listening closely to feedback and adjusting it as needed. inClass is free with ads for both iPhone and iPad, and getting rid of the ads costs just US$2.99. Again, taking and tracking notes is probably the last thing you want to think about right now as most students head into finals, but don't forget, even as all of these games come out, just how useful an iOS device can be in the classroom, too.TUAW's Daily App: inClass originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple drops appeal of $21.7 million patent suit against OPTi
Another great day for the patent trolls: Apple has decided to stop throwing good money after bad in its case against OPTi, which has been awarded a US$21.7 million settlement, according to AppleInsider.
AppleInsider explains that the patent was for "predictive snooping" of "memory caches that speed the flow of data between a system's memory and processor." I have only a vague idea of what that even means, but apparently OPTi has decided that suing people is better than actually working for a living. AppleInsider says OPTi stopped being a manufacturing business and became a "full time patent-suing operation in 2003." OPTi's found a court that is happy to award patent trolls; Apple seems to have decided that enough is enough, and it will be cheaper to just pay OPTi rather than risk additional financial penalties.
It seems like each week we hear of another company that has decided to roll the dice in court to try to make a profit off of an idea, regardless of how obvious an idea it might be, because "they had it first." I'm no lawyer, and I don't even play one on TV, but it seems like this sort of thing was almost unheard of even a few years ago. Now it's commonplace. AppleInsider also noted "Apple has been the most-sued technology company since 2008." A decade ago you couldn't read an article about Apple without the word "beleaguered," but since they've turned things around and started to make significant profits, I guess they have a target on their backs.
Apple drops appeal of $21.7 million patent suit against OPTi originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Comic Life 2 for Mac delivers more thought-balloon fun
From time to time, I'm asked to name my favorite Mac app -- as if such a designation was even possible (I love you all equally, kids, don't worry). If you pushed me and narrowed the question a bit to, "Is there a Mac app that you keep coming back to when you have to create something cool in a very short period of time?" the answer is easy. Plasq's Comic Life is my favorite quick turnaround tool, smile inducer and fun photo mauler.
The $30 app, from the incubator firm of Skitch, is a delightful (if at times a bit busy) way to take your favorite pictures, add quick captions and layouts, and immediately print or share them with a click. I've used it for refrigerator magnets, party invites, birth announcements, process documentation and more over the years.
Yesterday Plasq released version 2.0 of Comic Life, which adds template support, Facebook integration, advanced word-balloon controls and more. It's a $9.95 upgrade for existing users and $19.95 to move to a five-machine family pack. (Note that Comic Life Magiq is $20 more costly; it adds image edit/warp controls and other high-end features, but it isn't file-compatible with CL2 yet.)
This is the biggest revamp for the core Comic Life product in its five-year history, and it's fantastic to see one of our favorite indie studios putting out refreshed products right before the Mac App Store hits. There's a free 30-day trial, so check it out!
Continue reading Comic Life 2 for Mac delivers more thought-balloon fun
Comic Life 2 for Mac delivers more thought-balloon fun originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple lists top iPhone, iPad apps of 2010
As we reported earlier, Apple has highlighted the best of iTunes from 2010. Their showcase reveals their picks for the best movies, music, podcasts, audio books and apps for the last 12 months.
For those of you who don't want to scroll through iTunes' rather cumbersome app navigation system, BoyGeniusReports has compiled easy to read lists of the top ten iPhone/iPod touch apps in the "free," "paid" and "grossing" categories, as well as the top ten iPad apps in the same categories. Unsurprisingly, some version of Angry Birds showed up in all but one of the six categories.
Catch the full lists after the break and, once you've seen them, tell us in the comments how you think they match your top apps. Did Apple leave any stellar apps out?Continue reading Apple lists top iPhone, iPad apps of 2010
Apple lists top iPhone, iPad apps of 2010 originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Tips for protecting your iPhone from loss
Worried about losing your iPhone? You aren't alone. While many people lose their phones, there are a few precautions you can take in advance before it happens to you. Luckily for us, Jason D. O'Grady over at ZDNet recently lost (and found) his iPhone after it went missing for a few days, and he decided to share some of his tips on how to protect your iPhone from loss -- and how to get it back if you ever lose yours.
Some of O'Grady's suggestions are obvious, like enabling Find My iPhone (which we have talked about here before), but there are a few more ideas on his list that may surprise you which you should check out. In addition, our very own TJ Luoma has a few more suggestions to maximize your chances of recovering your iPhone, and Steve Sande learned a few things after losing his iPhone a while back. The important thing is to take these steps before you lose your phone so that in the event of loss you are already prepared to try to get it back.
While I don't do a ton to protect my own iPhone, I do use passcode lock, and I do a backup of it each and every day, just in case. Losing my phone would be bad, but losing the data on it would be even worse.
Tips for protecting your iPhone from loss originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Patent application suggests contextual voice commands for iPhone
A patent application filed by Apple in 2009 but just released to the public last week shows that they want to improve on the voice command abilities of the iPhone. As reported by AppleInsider, the patent looks as though it would make voice commands available in individual applications rather than system-wide, narrowing down the possibilities to a chosen few commands and drastically reducing the chances of the iPhone making a mistake.
The patent also mentions allowing third-party apps to make use of voice commands, and that users could be audibly notified of what app they had selected along with a list of corresponding voice commands. This could come in really handy when driving the car or riding a bicycle, when one's eyes should be on the road and not staring at an iPhone screen.
Now I don't know about you, but I have never been able to reliably use the voice command feature on my iPhone. The few times I've tried to use it, I ended up calling an ex-girlfriend when I meant to call the current one, or I called my grandmother instead of my brother. So any improvements Apple could make to voice command would be more than welcome. I have used other voice command apps like Dragon Dictation and Apple's recent acquisition Siri, but a context-based voice command system would be a great addition to the iPhone's abilities.Patent application suggests contextual voice commands for iPhone originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPad Wi-Fi issue with iOS 4.2.1 frustrating some, nonexistent for many
We've received a blitz of emails from TUAW readers who have been pulling their hair out about an issue that appeared after they upgraded their iPads to iOS 4.2.1.
As described by lots of users in the Apple support forums, Wi-Fi connectivity slowed dramatically after the upgrade. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the slowdown, as it is affecting new and older iPads, people using Apple or third-party Wi-Fi routers, and a number of other variables.
Apple doesn't appear to be acknowledging the problem, much to the extreme frustration of iPad users who are having the problem. On the other hand, it may not necessarily be a widespread problem. A quick survey of TUAW bloggers showed that none of them are seeing the issue, and none of my iPad-toting clients are having the problem (trust me, I'd hear from them).
We're curious to see what percentage of our readers have seen this problem with their iPads after the late November OS upgrade. Please take our (unscientific) poll and let us know.
iPad Wi-Fi issue with iOS 4.2.1 frustrating some, nonexistent for many originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Bejeweled 3 out now for Mac
Billed as the world's #1 puzzle game, PopCap's Bejeweled 3 for Mac is out and ready for download. This new version has 8 different game modes, including Classic Bejeweled, non-stop Lightning, and Zen mode, and it also allows players to collect up to 65 achievement badges and unlock 4 new games as they play. Available for Mac OS X 10.5-10.6.x and later, Bejeweled 3 is priced at US$19.99. A free 60-minute trial of the game is also available for those looking to check it out before buying.
After Angry Birds, Bejeweled 2 is my second favoritetime wastergame on my iPhone. While the release of Bejeweled 3 for Mac is notable, I myself will be waiting for the iOS release as that's where I do most of my gaming.
Click Read More to check out a video of Bejeweled 3.
[via Steam]Continue reading Bejeweled 3 out now for Mac
Bejeweled 3 out now for Mac originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Apple releases Aperture 3.1.1 update
Apple has released an update to Aperture, its popular photo management and editing software. The 3.1.1 update addresses overall stability and performance issues and includes fixes for over 20 bugs, including the following:
- Addresses compatibility with the iLife Media Browser
- Improves reliability when upgrading existing Aperture libraries
- Addresses issues with publishing photos to MobileMe, Facebook and Flickr
Apple releases Aperture 3.1.1 update originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Yet another "iPad 2" case surfaces
Hot on the heels of today's first leaked iPad 2 case comes the second leaked iPad 2 case (which I'm sure will be followed by a number of "leaked iPad 2 cases" over the next few months). Like the earlier case, this second case features a hole in the upper-left (when viewed from the back) corner. Presumably this hole is where the rear-facing camera will be located.
This second case also features a much larger speaker slot. Of course, that larger speaker slot could turn out to be a combined SD card/speaker slot, or some other type of interface. Chinese manufacturers have a pretty good track record for building cases early, so while, of course, this should all be taken with a grain of salt, it's just more evidence that we'll see another iPad soon.Yet another "iPad 2" case surfaces originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - 3D printing provider Sculpteo and TUAW want to give you... yourself
Remember that cool little avatar (picture at right) that I had made by Sculpteo? It's a great example of the work that the 3D printing service provider is doing for people around the world. Sculpteo is using the avatars as a unique way to get the word out about 3D printing, and they'd like one lucky TUAW reader to get the chance to make an avatar of his- or herself, or to give the Christmas gift of an avatar to a friend.
Mac users can create 3D creations either using standard CAD software such as AutoCAD for Mac or free solutions like Google Sketchup, and then upload the files to Sculpteo for printing. Whether you're planning on creating art, a mockup of a new product, or just fascinated with the concept of 3D printing, the service is worth looking into.
To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment telling us who you'd like to make an avatar of -- yourself, a relative, or friend. If you're the winner, we'll get you in touch with the right people so you can send the necessary photos for that extra touch of realism. Here are the rules:
- Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
- To enter, leave a comment telling us who you'd like to 'avatarize.'
- The comment must be left before midnight on Sunday, December 12, 2010, 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time.
- You may enter only once.
- One winner will be selected at random from the entries and will receive a customized avatar from Sculpteo valued at US$74.90.
- Click Here for complete Official Rules.
3D printing provider Sculpteo and TUAW want to give you... yourself originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Ben & Jerry's stores in Singapore giving away free iPhone cases
Popular ice cream chain Ben & Jerry's is giving away a set of pretty awesome iPhone cases -- but only in Singapore. Customers in that country will be able to trade in four carton tops to stores there and pick up one of 5,000 completely free iPhone covers. You can see what the covers look like above -- there are twelve shops involved in the promotion, and each one of those shops also has one limited edition cover each to give away to an extra lucky customer.
As for why this is only available in Singapore, you can probably guess -- Ben & Jerry's could probably use the exposure there, and of course, the iPhone is hotter than ever in Asian markets at the moment. A similar promotion here in the US would cost a lot more and be a lot more trouble to carry out. But that is a nice-looking case. Hopefully we'll see someone give away some nice cases here in the West as well.Ben & Jerry's stores in Singapore giving away free iPhone cases originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iAmiga Amiga 500 emulation system coming to iPhone
Pay attention, nostalgia fans. iAmiga is a soon-to-be-released Amiga 500 emulator for the iPhone. It's from Manomio, the same group that released the C64 emulator that was pulled from the App Store, only to return minus a pesky BASIC interpreter.
Way back in April, we saw a tech demo of the iOS Amiga emulator, and now Touch Arcade has a first look at the real deal. From what they've seen (you can watch a demo video after the break), it looks great. They report dead-on graphics and sound, smooth gameplay and faithful interpretation of several titles.
Manomio has pulled it off by using tuned ARM assembly language. Note that the app will only support the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, or the iPod touch 3rd generation and up, so those with older devices are out of luck.
The folks at Manomio say that they're working with several developers to secure licenses for their emulator. In the demo video, you'll see Defender of the Crown, Battle Squadron, International Karate +, R-Type, R-Type II, Speedball, Stunt Car Racer, Shadow of the Beast, Virus and Xenon 2: Megablast. Of course, there's no assurance that any of those titles will make it into the final product.
Right now there's no solid release date or similar information, so we'll keep you posted. This one looks like a lot of fun.Continue reading iAmiga Amiga 500 emulation system coming to iPhone
iAmiga Amiga 500 emulation system coming to iPhone originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Lots of big iOS releases today: Dungeon Hunter 2, Eternal Legacy, more
Ah, the holidays. December brings snow, hot chocolate, lights and mistletoe, and oh yeah -- lots and lots (and lots) of App Store releases. You may have already heard about (and bought) the great Infinity Blade, which has quickly moved into the running for iOS game of the year. But there were a ton of other high profile releases on the App Store today as well:
- Gameloft released Eternal Legacy (US$6.99), a Final Fantasy-style RPG with a nice long storyline and an excellent battle system.
- The long-awaited Dungeon Hunter 2 also arrived on the App Store for $6.99. This sequel to the terrific hack-and-slash title updates the game world and even provides multiplayer via Game Center integration.
- Gameevil released Illusia for $4.99, another great casual action RPG.
- Puzzle Quest 2 has finally arrived in a universal build for $9.99.
- EA has released Monopoly for iPad (also $9.99), featuring multiplayer play on the one surface, a teaching mode, and enhanced HD graphics.
- Natural Motion, the company that built their own physics engine for the iPhone, has released a version of Jenga that's $4.99 on the iPad and $2.99 for the iPhone. It's pretty impressive.
- And Namco has dropped Bit.Trip Beat Blitz, a free version of the popular Bit Trip game. This version doesn't have all of the levels, but it does have powerups, which offer a new twist on the gameplay.
Whew! That's a lot of incredible new games. I doubt we're anywhere near done for the holidays, either -- I'm sure we'll see another flood of big releases next week as developers rush to get their big holiday titles out in time for Apple's annual holiday lockdown and the big Christmas bump.
Lots of big iOS releases today: Dungeon Hunter 2, Eternal Legacy, more originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPad deals: Apple Store refurbs drop prices
Dealmac pointed out yesterday that Apple has cut the prices on several refurbished models of the iPad. The Apple Store warns in red print that this is a Special Limited Time Price, which means now is the time to spread the news among your friends. There's no catch in this bargain; the shipping on these refurbished iPads is free, so you won't find yourself losing out on delivery cost.
The new prices are available for the Wi-Fi only version of the iPad; the price cuts don't extend to refurbished iPad 3Gs. The 16GB version is now $429, down $20 from the original $449. The 32GB and 64GB versions each have a $50 dollar additional discount, however, going from $549 and $649 down to $499 and $599 respectively.
These prices make the refurbished iPad an even better deal for people who haven't been sure whether to commit to the device. If you've been waiting for a sign to buy-in and go iPad, this is probably the best cue you can find.iPad deals: Apple Store refurbs drop prices originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - Parallels weirds us out with this Eminem/Avatar Mac parody
A warning: The video after the break is one of the weirdest things we've ever seen promoting the Mac OS. Sure, it's from Parallels, and sure, the virtualization software guys know how to sell a switch over to the Mac. But here they've chosen to do it in an extremely weird way, by creating a parody version of an Eminem song (that's still SFW, as far as we can tell), and combining it with some strange references to the movie Avatar.
We don't really get it (eventually, Steve Ballmer and Steve Jobs fight it out, and then there's some explosions?), but some of you might find it funny. Next time, Parallels, maybe choose just one parody and stick to that. This one is well done, but man it is just ... strange.Continue reading Parallels weirds us out with this Eminem/Avatar Mac parody
Parallels weirds us out with this Eminem/Avatar Mac parody originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - TUAW's Holiday Gift Guide: Should I buy an Apple TV?
Welcome to the TUAW Holiday Gift Guide! We've sorted the treasure from the junk and are serving up suggestions to make your holiday gift-giving a little easier.
The second-generation Apple TV might just be on a lot of Christmas lists this year. The new Apple TV is inexpensive at US$99, now allows streaming of photos and some video (YouTube and Netflix, for example) from iOS devices, and isn't plagued with hot operation, large size or slow response like the original one.
Long-time TUAW readers may remember that I really hated the first-generation Apple TV. It just didn't seem like something that came out of Cupertino, and I enjoyed gutting my old Apple TV as an experiment to extract some photos that I had saved on it. Well, the second-generation device is small, fast and easy to use, and the remote control app that is available for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad make it even more enticing. But do you really want to get one for Christmas?
Let's talk about what you need in order to be able to use an Apple TV. First, you should have an HDTV with a free HDMI port. The Apple TV uses HDMI output, and you frankly don't want to try to use an HDMI to Composite, HDMI to DVI or HDMI to Component adapter. It's designed for ease of use, and Apple wants you to be able to take a standard HDMI cable and connect your Apple TV to your HDTV in seconds.
Continue reading TUAW's Holiday Gift Guide: Should I buy an Apple TV?
TUAW's Holiday Gift Guide: Should I buy an Apple TV? originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPad deals: QVC offers iPad bundle at a nice price
Shopping channel QVC, of all places, has a pretty good iPad deal going on right now. It's offering up Apple's magical and revolutionary device (in a 16GB Wi-Fi version) along with a ton of accessories for US $749. In that price, you get the dock connector cable, a silicon sleeve and stand, a clear case to put it in, a headphone splitter cable, two different screen protectors, and another case/stand to use. If you were planning to buy an iPad and all of these accessories anyway, that's as good a deal as you'll find.
No indication on how long the deal's going on, so you should probably get to buying if it's something you want to take advantage of. They don't specifically mention the quality of the cases and stands included, but the pictures make them look pretty sturdy. I'd say go for it, and enjoy your new iPad!
Update: Folks in the comments are saying this deal is nothing special. Your mileage may vary -- if you don't need all the accessories and the cables, then feel free to buy the iPad at its normal price.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.iPad deals: QVC offers iPad bundle at a nice price originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - iPad already matches Linux in web market share; will represent 2.3% of total net traffic in 2011
In an interesting Chitika research note, the internet advertising firm says the iPad is currently making up 0.83% of all internet traffic. When Chitika says "all internet traffic" they mean the 100,000+ sites they serve ads to. Still, if we can extrapoloate those numbers to the entire Internet, a 0.83% share of web traffic on a device that is less than a year old is nothing short of amazing -- especially when you consider that the iPad is going head to head with every other smart phone, laptop, and desktop on the planet in these numbers.
Perhaps what is even more amazing is that at current growth rates, Chitika says the iPad will account for 2.3% of all web traffic by the end of 2011. As AllThingsDigital points out, Chitika did take some flak earlier this year when it ran a counter of the total number of iPads sold, which turned out to be off the mark, but Chitika's research director Daniel Ruby says he's confident of this prediction since it's a metric Chitika can directly measure.
So just how impressive are those 0.83% and 2.3% web traffic numbers? Pretty damn impressive. Ruby points out that at even the its current 0.83% web traffic share, the iPad already matches the total North American web market share of Linux -- an OS that is having its 20th birthday next year. Not too bad for a device you never knew you needed until it came into existence nine months ago.iPad already matches Linux in web market share; will represent 2.3% of total net traffic in 2011 originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Переслать - MacBook Air versus PowerBook 145B video smackdown
The oldsters at TUAW (yeah, I'm one of 'em) just love it when someone does a comparison of some nice new shiny Apple technology with Michael Spindler-era Apple products.
Today's example comes from TUAW reader and Duke University sociology professor Kieran Healy, who kept the PowerBook 145B that helped him throughout grad school. As he says in the blog post accompanying the video (after the break), "despite being such a seemingly underpowered dinosaur, it (the Powerbook) nevertheless cold-booted faster than any computer I've owned since." That "dinosaur" had a 25 MHz 68030 processor, 4MB of RAM, and a huge (for the time) 40MB hard disk drive.
Healy recent purchased an 11" MacBook Air, which he put to the test versus the aging speedster. The Air won handily in the bootup race, loading OS X and even a few applications (I saw 1Password appearing on the Air's screen) before the PowerBook finished loading all of those extensions. Enjoy the video, and especially the final shot comparing the size of the two laptops.
Continue reading MacBook Air versus PowerBook 145B video smackdown
MacBook Air versus PowerBook 145B video smackdown originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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