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I’ve been a big fan of Sparrow since I tried the free version when it first came out. Since those days it has made an appearance on the Mac App Store and in those four months there have been over 300,000 downloads of the app. It has also raised around $250K in funding from people like Tweetie creator Loren Brichter as well as Kima Ventures and Dave Morin. Now there is some exciting news from the CEO Dom Leca: Sparrow is bringing social layers to email.

CEO Dom Leca said:

“We’re not adding social layers to mail for the sake of it.”

What Sparrow is doing is basically feeding contextual information from your social network, and they are working on also pulling in data from LinkedIn and Twitter.

Leca hopes that Sparrow will be the email client we all turn to because of this social integration. The update is now available and currently has a Facebook option to show your contacts’ Facebook profile pictures as well as the ability to add them to Facebook if you’re not currently friends with them on there.

This is the opening screen when you launch the application after the update:

I like Sparrow anyway, so this isn’t going to personally change my opinion, but it may sway others to take the plunge and change their current email client. Maybe grab yourself a copy of the free version, folks.

Article Via TechCrunch

Macgasm - Apple Tips, Apple News, Apple Everything.

The current method of deleting apps on our iOS devices is to press and hold them until the shaking ‘x’ appears. This feature has made an appearance in the latest build of Mac OS X Lion. In this build, it introduces that iOS-like method of removing applications for those that have been installed using the Mac App Store.

This is all done through the new Launchpad application, meaning that users can click and hold on an app’s icon which starts the app icon moving (the same as with iOS), and then you would only need to click the ‘x’ to uninstall the application. Also like iOS, it will ask for confirmation — ”Are you sure you want to delete the application…?” — before getting rid of it, so you won’t accidentally remove your applications. Clicking the ‘x’ will put your application in the Trash.

Folks who were familiar with the Lion developer builds did note that the feature was coming, so it’s great to see it is functional in the latest build.

These changes to the OS make iOS and Lion a little more consistent, allowing a more intuitive way for Apple users to use all Apple products. I personally can’t wait for the final release of Lion. Are you looking forward to this release or are you wanting features they haven’t yet included?

Article Via Cult of Mac

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Instagram has been a pretty big hit, and with their constant updates that provide new filters and other useful features, it seems that more apps want a piece of their pie. Viddy is being pitched by their developers as “Instagram for video,” but will it be as popular?

Instagram is a pretty solid app, allowing users to share photos (that have almost all been highly edited with filters) through Twitter and other networks, including Instagram itself. The service is quick and easy to use, and in all honesty, seems to make most users’ boring photos (including my own!) look slick and amazing.

What Viddy does is pretty similar. You can shoot a video, apply any number of “cinematic production packs” — the equivalent of the filters in Instagram —  to stylize your footage, which you can then share on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Of course, in addition to being a basic video sharing app, it too has its own network. You can follow friends and view activity and trends all across the network. So, whereas before we were looking at all those cute cat photos, now we can see those adorable cats running around too. So far the app seems to be kicking around the 3 star review area.

One thing that does seem pretty amazing about this app, and of course Instagram and similar apps, is that we’re no longer seeing programs or services that rely on or need the desktop in any way. These are purely smartphone reliant applications and services, so all you need is a mobile device and you have an entire network and social structure in your pocket. It’ll be interesting to see if this app catches on as much as the photo service has.

Viddy does have plans to expand to the iPad, Android, and other platforms, and there will be in-app purchase features for premium production packs.

Have you been waiting for Viddy all along? Did you hope that Instagram would introduce video or a video-based app? Do you prefer a video or photo based service or will you stick with photos only?

Article Via Macworld

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This is a seriously amazing concept. Black Design Associates have announced the Leica i9 Concept Camera for Apple iPhone 4. Rather than do what we have already seen, by adding a little lens attachment to your device, the Leica i9 Concept Camera pretty has pretty much created a version of a Leica camera with a space to put your phone in it.

On their site they say:

The Leica i9 Concept is a dream project that addresses a desire to combine two great products, while considering both the consumer’s and company’s needs.

This camera comes with its own lens and CMOS sensor for taking photographs, it also has internal storage that you can expand with an SD card to store the photos. Apparently you don’t actually need your iPhone to get this to work, but when your iPhone 4 is attached to it, the photos you take can be transferred to the phone and shared online (using your phone’s connection and apps of course). So currently the camera is mostly about sharing pictures, but it sounds like more features are in the pipeline.

The i9 has an estimated cost of around $900—$1200, and it has a 12.1 megapixel lens with 8x optical zoom and 35mm equivalent focal length. It does use an independent battery, and this battery can be shared with the iPhone 4 if you need to (or you can use your iPhone battery for the camera too).

Below are some of the concept drawings for the camera.

Article Via ubergizmo

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OpenFeint is an open source mobile social gaming network with millions of players, and it has recently been acquired by GREE, Japan’s leading social gaming platform, for $104 million. GREE and OpenFeint are uniting forces to build an ecosystem for 100 million users, but they say that both powerhouses will still maintain their individual focus. From their site:

GREE will continue to grow its network in Japan and develop great games that showcase their platform’s capabilities. OpenFeint will continue to grow our network, accelerating planned upgrades with GREE’s backing.

In addition to the $104 million, there will be additional capital put towards the accelerated growth of OpenFeint. GREE is quoted as the largest social network in Japan with over 25 million users of the service and a market cap of $3 billion. This acquisition will add to that successful network an additional 75 million users, all with an iOS and Android base.

A bit of a back story on OpenFeint is that it began as a two-person iOS gaming company called Aurora Feint. Aurora Feint was launched on the first day of the App Store’s release with a free game called Aurora Feint: The Beginning. Although the game did well, it soon became more of a social gaming network to provide high scores (and achievements), since at that time Apple didn’t yet provide such a system for the games on the App Store.

I’m curious about the number of players who use OpenFeint versus those that now use Apple’s own Game Center. Do people use both systems? Have you changed to Game Center only? Do you think one system is better than the other?

Macgasm - Apple Tips, Apple News, Apple Everything.

How can you keep up to date with all the F1 races, timings, practices and tracks? The F1™ Timing App CP for iPhone and iPad is a massively feature packed app that will keep you speeding ahead of your friends with all your new found knowledge.

With the second race of the season just passed, I had a chance to test this app while watching the race / practice / qualifying sessions. Actually, for the early morning practice sessions, I was almost late for work because I couldn’t stop watching the app and how it interacts live with the races.

This is primarily a timing app so it has everything to do with all the timing aspects of Formula 1 racing from individual lap times, sector times, speeds, and fastest laps to a variety of other similar stats. It is a Universal app, but I would highly recommend that you use this on the iPad — that’s where it excels.

I didn’t get this app last year to accompany the races, but I had heard great things about it so I was really debating if I could justify the price, knowing that it’s a yearly app purchase. Is it worth the price to have an app like this for the races? Let’s see.

What’s Macgasmic?

The app opens with a demo race, which I think is a good idea, so you know right away what you’re getting. More apps should take a page out of the F1™ 2011 Timing App CP playbook, and present users with information upon first launch.

Real time track positions and Live Pause & replay

The real time track positions is the most notable feature of the app. You can watch the races (or practices and qualifying rounds) as they happen, but you can also pause it. This is actually a pretty cool feature and one that really lets you watch these races on your own terms. You can completely manipulate the track as it’s a proper 3D simulated interactive map. You can zoom right in, or rotate it in any direction or angle. Importantly for this feature, it reacts fast. Overall, this is a pretty cool feature, and really a main selling point of the app.

The map also has another great feature: if you click the driver’s name, you’ll follow them around the track. This is great, and I would love it if they put a bit of Google magic into the app and placed a satellite image over the 3D model so it was even more realistic.

This feature is one of the amazing things about the app. I felt like I was actually watching the race. When the practice was on, and I was watching it on the app, I was able to totally get into it, so much so that I suddenly found myself thinking — oh ya, I should put it on the TV too, to actually see it. If you aren’t able to watch a race then this is a fantastic substitute.

Live Timing & Live Leader board

You can compress the main map area (using the hand symbol in the middle on the left) so you can view all of the race information without scrolling. You can see track positions live, the car position in terms of where they were at starting on the grid, the lap they are on, lap time, the gap between cars, sectors, speed — and it is all updated in real time.

Infobase – event countdown, driver info, stats

Within the Infobase section you can access a lot more information than just race timing. There is a screen that has a choice of results, standings, drivers, teams and races. If you’re interested in F1 in any capacity, this application will keep you updated on any statistical information that you might want to know.

News, latest and live

There is also a news feed included in the F1™ 2011 Timing App that has the latest news as well as a live feed. The live feed was operating around 15 minutes behind the race. These link straight through to the F1 site for full details on the news that’s filtering out from the race.

The app also has a help system that you can disable, and when it launches, it tells you of races that are going to start, and asks if you want to download previous race information.

What’s Not?

The app is actually pretty much all I would ask for in an F1 app. I found the 3D map had a few slight issues. As impressive as this feature is, it’s also one minor annoyance. This is because it reminds me of looking in a mirror while trying to move something. It reacts the opposite to what you want, so it’s quite difficult to get the map into the actual position that you are trying to see.

Also, as a little extra, I would actually love to have some audio feeds available in the app. It’s such a brilliant app that I just wanted more. So if it was possible to choose a feed for audio, that would be icing on the cake.

Conclusion

I think that the price may scare off a few folks, but realistically, I used to buy magazine subscriptions of F1 and this is live up to the minute info and I think it is worth shelling out for. Being universal means you can keep it with you on all your devices. You should get it as soon into the season as possible to get the most out of it of course, but I think it provides so much information and news that it really is the ultimate companion for the F1 fan.

Macgasm - Apple Tips, Apple News, Apple Everything.

Some of Apple’s iPad component makers claim that there is a plan by the company for “higher-resolution” touchscreens, but they also say it’s just in its early phases. They claim it’s unlikely to happen in 2011, but 2012 may be the lucky year. Some suggest that Apple may go for AMOLED technology or a similar high-resolution standard in order to make an upgrade on the image quality on these devices. This was reported but the DigiTimes on Monday this week.

The report says:

“Sources from touch panel makers pointed out that Apple recently released its latest tablet PC plan and is asking the panel makers to provide products that are capable to support higher image quality than the current iPad 2…”

“…Apple may even choose AMOLED panel or panel that support Full HD standard to accomplish the plan. However, since the project is still at the initial planning stage, the actual products are unlikely to appear in 2011.”

Currently, rival company Samsung mostly controls the AMOLED technology, and so it may be unlikely that Apple would want anything to do with a technology that another company controls. There were also claims that the iPad 3 would possibly be released in 2011 as well, but this seems highly unlikely as they would be biting into their own profits by limiting the number of iPad2s being purchased.

Steve Jobs did declare 2011 “the year of iPad 2,” so this could indicate that only the second version will be released this year.

I personally can’t see another upgrade happening this year, but I also would have never thought they could have made the iPad 2 so thin. It is really an amazing device to hold. The weight of it and thinness make it a sure winner compared with other similar technology that is currently available, and I still can’t see any clear competition. Also, from a developer point of view, creating several sets of graphic assets for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 (at twice the size) and iPad is already a challenge. Adding yet another resolution for developers to work with is going to be a giant pain.

Do you think the current screen resolution on the iPad is good enough? Would you like to see Retina resolution on the iPad? Would it make any difference to you?

Article Via AppleInsider

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VirtualDJ looks like a pretty substantial Mac application, and at the wonderful price of free, it’s worth snapping up. They have other versions of this software for professionals and commercial use, but this version is for non-commercial mixes—think home parties & barbecues—so it’s a great way to sample the product before you buy it.

VirtualDJ was the winner of the “Best DJ Software” at WMC 2010, and the creators of the app, Atomix Productions, say there have been more than a million new downloads every month, leading them to claim that it’s the most widely used DJ software and the uncontested leader of non-timecode digital DJing. Sounds like a winner…

Features of the software include a cutting-edge beatlock engine, an automatic seamless loop engine and a synchronized sampler, allowing you to keep your songs on beat, mix your songs incredibly fast, and do remixes at a moment’s notice.

Additionally, their site describes other features, such as:

• The video engine lets you mix and scratch music videos or karaoke as easily as audio.
• With NetSearch and MusicGroups, you will stay on the edge of the musical trends.
• And with the versatile VDJScript language and hundreds of downloadable skins, you can tailor your software to your exact needs.

I am not a DJ (yet!), so I can’t validate things like speed, but I’ve looked for a similar style application before when I needed to mix some music for a party, and it was pretty hard to find one that looked as genius as this that didn’t cost a fortune. Plus if you grow out of it and need that little bit more, you can buy their other versions.

Atomix Productions also offers an iOS app that allows you to control VirtualDJ over Wi-Fi, known as VirtualDJ Remote. With this app, you can roam around the room and still spin cool tunes. The iOS app isn’t a standalone app though; it requires VirtualDJ Home installed on a PC or Mac in order to work.

Looks like you and your mac can now be the life of the party!

Article Via MacLife

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This is a stand that you will not forget. It looks like Meccano gone crazy, and I love it. Yes, I understand that Apple is all about ‘the minimal’ but sometimes you just need a good chunk of metal to satisfy your needs, and this sure solves that one.

This is a $169 “mechanical piece of art” (as it’s called) that looks very high-tech, and the materials, which consist of CNC machined from aluminum with an anodized finish, mean it really is the business. It features six angles of adjustment with “precision high speed bearing and cam adjustment” to rigorously provide any slight adjustments that we may have. Each stand is hand assembled and inspected and also serial numbered as an authentic one of a kind Rokform.

I like that it also says it has a set of sound enhancing speaker ports so the video or music you’re enjoying is naturally boosted.

Oh, and here’s the best bit, which I was saving for last: it comes in pink too!

Specifications taken from the Rokstand website:
• 6 angles of adjustment
• Precision High speed bearing and cam adjustment.
• All CNC machined from Billet 6061 T-6 Aluminum with Anodized finish.
• Soft rubber Contact surface rings provide a soft feel and non slip performance.
• Holds iPhone in landscape or Portrait
• Built in Sound enhancing speaker ports.
• Works with Standard iPhone 4 charger plug.
• Charges while on the stand in portrait.
• Comes in a variety of colors to compliment any taste.
• Designed, manufactured and assembled in Orange County, California USA.

Article Via OhGizmo!

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A new app developed by Nathan Parks shows us that creativity is still alive in the app world.

He has released a unique app called Kick to Pick, which essentially is a baby-naming application for iOS devices — that also let’s the baby have a say. The app allows the whole family to help decide on the baby’s name, and it’s a good thing you can dismiss that unborn tike’s suggestions so you aren’t lumbered with a crazy named kid forever.

There is a huge list of thousands of baby names for boys and girls included, or you can also create your own list of favorites that you’d like everyone to choose from. Then all you need to do is select the list of names you’d like to use, put the device into Airplane mode (to prevent any false positives) and place your device against mom’s bump.

The app will cycle through the list of baby names until it detects movement on the device, allowing the baby to “choose” a name. Parents then have the choice to accept that name or to restart the process .

I really like apps that do something alternative; this concept is very clever to take this motion activation and use it in a fun family way. I also really like their icon and the theme of the baby monitor running throughout because that is a sight that most parents will be getting used to if they aren’t already.

Currently the app is priced at $0.99 for an introductory period.

Article Via MacNN

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The official Vimeo iPhone app made its way to the App Store on the 29th of March, which is a late, but great move! It has all the expected features to view and upload videos but also a video editor!

The folks at Vimeo have said that the app will enable you to upload, edit, manage and watch your videos all with your iPhone. It will also be an easier way to watch videos, or recommended videos wherever you are.

Millions of users are already devoted to Vimeo and this will be a great additional tool to them. You need to be aware though that this does require a 3GS / 4 iPhone and iOS 4.0 or higher.

Features listed in the app description include a video editor in app with these features:

• Capture video with focus control and grid alignment
• Combine, edit, and trim your videos
• Add transitions, titles, and effects
• Add music and recordings
• Control volume levels
• Save edited videos to your camera roll or upload directly to Vimeo

Also, other features that are part of the generic experience are:

• Watch and manage all your existing Vimeo videos and download them to your camera roll
• Easily upload your raw footage or edited creations in HD or SD
• Pause and resume uploads
• Replace existing videos
• Edit title, description, tags, privacy and credits
• Share with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, WordPress, Email or SMS
• Add your clips to your Groups, Channels and Albums
• Stats on daily plays, likes and comments

You can also

• Watch videos from your Vimeo inbox, Watch Later queue, or videos you have liked
• Easily like, comment and add videos to your Watch Later queue
• Discover new and interesting videos in the Browse tab

They also seem keen to get suggestions for features or things you would like to see, and they offer the email addy iphone@vimeo.com so you can contact them.

This is a free app and it is around 20mb of goodness on your phone. It is a first generation app, so it may have a few bumpy bits, but I think it will get better and better and encourage more users to sign up for their service. Good move Vimeo!

Article Via The Next Web

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Most of us have Doodle Jump on our device, so the latest update is a real treat.

Yes, Doodle Jump’s latest update brings us multiplayer, so now we can compete against our friends!

In two-player mode you can challenge other Doodle Jumpers through Game Center. The two-player mode has a finish line, and the first player to reach it is the winner. Simple and addictive.

The power-ups are shared between the two players though so be warned: if you jump higher and faster, you will get them first. So if I lose, I will claim unfair advantage of course.

Oh, Lima Sky also say there is an iPad version with this feature on its way too.

Article Via Cult of Mac

Macgasm - Apple Tips, Apple News, Apple Everything.

Apple started an innovative program called One to One ten years ago, which consists of using the original iBook laptops in schools. Countless schools around the country have been using laptops since to supplement normal classroom materials.

Now, the next technology step for Henrico County Public Schools is implementing electronic textbooks, and use of tablets like the iPad to replace traditional printed textbooks. Currently, the county already uses around 26,000 laptops for middle and high school students (and their teachers).

This program means that the district will be phasing out buying any more textbooks, buying them digitally instead. The programme costs around $8 million a year. The district commented that they are also using technologies such as the Kindle and iPods. Patrick Russo, the new superintendent said that they will start the shift with next year’s science classes.

Some of the reasons Russo gave for making the move were things like the portability of tablets compared with the weight of laptops, and also that he hopes it will encourage classroom engagement with the use of learner-response software.

Russo argues, “…providing technology to all students (regardless of income level or background) has proven to be beneficial for preparing them for real-world situations such as gainful employment and interacting with the high level of technology found in everyday activities.”

“Henrico County led the digital innovations in high school technology by adopting and supporting for 10 years now a laptop initiative, and we want to be on that cusp again,” Russo said. “One of my frustrations is not being further along, especially 10 years into the laptop initiative.”

I think this is a really interesting move and I can see the benefit of being able to download up-to-date information in text books.

I wonder if Angry Birds will find their way next to these science textbooks.

Article Via Electronista

Image Credit corpus-delicti

Macgasm - Apple Tips, Apple News, Apple Everything.

Macgasm would love to help you see how you’re wasting your life. This may be the most depressing app I have, but I love it. Wasted Life lets you put in the number of hours you spend doing things, and it calculates how much of your life you will waste doing them.

This app is a really simple yet effective concept. Are you doing a daily commute? Do you always have to go to boring meetings? Do you wonder just how much time you spend on things that may not be all that important to you?

The app lets you add all those things that you do regularly, and actually, it might be a nice idea if on the support site or somewhere in the app they had suggestions of the types of activities you can add. Once you do type something in, you can see just how much of your entire life it consumes.

Of course the app does have the share feature, through Twitter and Facebook integration, but I won’t be using it — I don’t really want my friends and family to know just how much time I do spend tweeting.

There are also chart indicators if you touch the chunks of time to see what exactly is using your life up. There is a bit of science behind it all, taking into account things like the country you live in and life expectancy.

The creator of the app has given Macgasm 4 promocodes to grab this app for free, so be sure to follow the @macgasm twitter account for tweets with codes. The official Macgasm Twitter account will be tweeting the codes at 15:30 EST.

Image Credit: Jack Amick (via iDesk)

Macgasm - Apple Tips, Apple News, Apple Everything.

This product looks amazing! This is a Telephoto Zoom Lens that is for the iPhone 3 and (soon) 4. It is essentially a pairing of a case/lens combo, which the makers say will give your iPhone “… uber zoom-tastic telephoto powers (8x the powers to be exact).”

What this product contains is a matte black iPhone case which you then twist the lens onto. The lens has a manual focus ring, which you twist, same as other lenses, to sharpen your shot and then snap away.

If you then don’t need the lens, you can just leave the case on it and remove the lens. By keeping the case on it, you are ready when you need it. The lens also comes with a collapsible table tripod so you will get those perfect shots when you zoom or when there’s a low light condition. I think it helps because it probably makes your phone a bit heavier!

Currently the iPhone 3 version is available to buy, and the iPHone 4 version is said to ship as of February 28th. You can have a look at the details at the Photojojo site. Costs are listed as $35.00, with free shipping for orders over $50.

Each telephoto lens comes with a phone case, a mini-tripod and a cleaning cloth.

I haven’t tried this but think it looks like an interesting idea — I would love to hear if any of you have bought this and how well it works.

Article Via appletell

Macgasm - Apple Tips, Apple News, Apple Everything.

Today the BBC’s popular online service iPlayer comes to the iPad — but is it as exciting as we are all hoping?

Well, sorta. I’m excited that they have a dedicated iPad app, but isn’t the website shortcut good enough? Here is a quick run down of what you’ll get…

Featured TV shows

This main screen has as a default the TV shows selected, but you can also look at the radio selections or your favourites. In this area you can also have a look at the most popular and it give you three screens of each to navigate through. The visual aspect of this is really good because they have more shows than I remember!

Channels tab with listings

This is good but not as good as I’d want. Within this section some of the programmes are in white text and these are selectable and watchable. The others are greyed out and not selectable, so for whatever reason, you can’t choose them. (Not available to stream?) Once you do click on a show, you also have the ability to add it to favourites or click it directly to view it. It doesn’t play full screen and leaves a small BBC logo on around an inch or so of width on the left hand side. This may be related to certain shows because another one I was watching had the logo in the same position but the show was almost full screen.

This view will show information up to 9 days in advance.

Search & Categories

Here you can look through the variety of shows, sporting events, films etc. This is really easy to look through and when you click through a search area or category you get a large enough picture of the show to recognise it as well as the title. If you do click through to this program you then are also shown related programmes or more show information or again that option to favorite it. You can favourite a show these two ways:

I have to say that when looking through the app and viewing the scrollable (horizontally) area that shows you the TV or radio selections, I really wanted to watch more TV. It’s very crisp and clear, and when I tested it, I had a connection that made the streaming seamless. I was totally impressed.

The Bottom Line

So, who cares that they have a dedicated app when the website has a pretty great iPad friendly site, right? Well, actually, I was totally won over when I wasn’t expecting to be. It makes the website look clunky and awkward, like it’s ugly sister, and I will be removing that homescreen link in favour of this app — no question.

I hope other TV companies / services do the same. It has totally changed my viewing knowing that I can have something so easy to navigate, crisp to watch and easy to mark my favourites. Well done, BBC! I just hope all the other TV license payers are just as happy as I am.

Here is the view of the BBC iPlayer website for your own comparison:

Macgasm - Apple Tips, Apple News, Apple Everything.

Saving a link to a website on your iOS device is a great way to get to your favourite sites fast. Unfortunately most of those icons are just nasty and don’t do anything for me. Now you can at least change this for your own sites!

The default of the iOS device is to just save a small thumbnail of the site and use that as the icon. So here is the process, step by step, to make yours look super awesome:

• Start by creating the icon. It needs to be square and I’m going to start with a 120 x 120 size canvas in Photoshop. You can choose a different size, but it may be easier to edit if its smaller so it won’t look too different when its shrunk as an icon.

• Make it look amazing so that when someone saves your site it looks great on their device.
• Next you need to save  the icon as a .png file. Call it: apple-touch-icon.png

• Once you have saved it as the .png file, you need to upload this file to your server where your site is hosted. It needs to be in the default directory so that it can be accessed. For our site, it is at macgasm.net/apple-touch-icon.png, for example.
• Test this little beauty! Using your iOS device, go to your site URL in Safari and then select the “add to homescreen” option. This will make a little icon on your homescreen for your site — and instead of it being a very ugly thumbnail, it should now be your wonderful piece of icon art.

Magic.

One thing to make a note of is that the iOS device will add the gloss to it so take that into account when you are creating the icon. Have fun!

Article Via OS X Daily

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A mansion owned by Steve jobs in the hamlet of Woodside, California, is to be demolished soon. Steve Jobs has been after a permit for demolition of his empty 17,000 square-foot house for over a decade now, and it has been a subject of great debate in the area. MarketWatch reported,

“This small town, one of Silicon Valley’s wealthiest enclaves, is giving the Apple Inc. executive his long sought-after permit to raze his Spanish Colonial revival mansion”

The home is dilapidated, and some claim it’s in this state in the hopes that the neglect would have eventually demolished it anyway. Jobs initially purchased the home back in 1983, and he lived in it for around ten years. Since that time it’s been empty almost all of the time.

In a public statement about the house made at a meeting of the Woodside Town Council back in 2005, Jobs said that his intention was to tear down the house, and he also cited that the house was poorly built.

‘It was never really a very interesting house to start with,’ he told the council. ‘I think I could build something far, far nicer and far more historically interesting down the road.’

A permit was issued in 2009, but preservationists have tried to fight it. It’s thought Jobs will build a smaller property at the end of the private drive.

Article Via MacDailyNews

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Apple is tightening the App Store just a little bit more with today’s story surfacing. The New York Times has reported that Sony’s Reader app has been rejected by Apple, so it will not appear in the App Store. They write:

The company has told some applications developers, including Sony, that they can no longer sell content, like e-books, within their apps, or let customers have access to purchases they have made outside the App Store.

If this is the reason, then will we see similar apps such as Kindle getting pulled? The article says that not only Sony, but several developers have been told that apps can no longer sell content, including e-books, within their apps. So, customers can not have access to purchases made that fall outside of the App Store. The Sony application would have enabled customers to buy books through the Sony store, like the Kindle app currently does. The article says that Apple told Sony that all in app purchases have to go through Apple. This information comes straight from Steve Haber, president of the digital reading division within Sony.

Currently with apps like Kindle allowed on the iPad / iPhone, users don’t need to buy the Kindle hardware to be able to read the books sold through the service. That fact may have swung purchases towards the iPad, but if this decision means that the Kindle app could be pulled, it may mean that they will push sales for the Kindle market.

Apple and Amazon are currently declining to comment on this issue.

“This sudden shift perhaps tells you something about Apple’s understanding of the value of its platform,” said James L. McQuivey, a consumer electronics analyst at Forrester Research. “Apple started making money with devices. Maybe the new thing that everyone recognizes is the unit of economic value is the platform, not the device.”

There are rumors circulating that Apple may be launching it’s own subscription based service, and it could be that this is in preparation for that.

I think it’s a bit ridiculous to sell books that will only be read on one device when there really is no need for it. Not to mention that if it wasn’t for the Kindle app initially then I would probably have read very little books on the iPad because when the Apple book store was launched they had so few books on it that it was a waste of my time even searching. It might mean that current collaborations with magazine publishers get a bit strained if they too start to wonder what limits will be imposed. I worry about my current purchase though the Kindle app, which has been my preference over Apple’s book store. (iBooks app shown right)

Do you use the Kindle app? Would you be happy to have no external content or do you think this is a huge step backwards?

Update: Apple has commented on the Sony complaints.

Article Via TUAW

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This is a really cool effect for your homescreen—but only if you’re a jailbreaker. A hacker has created a program to provide your homescreen with a 3D-like representation of your app icons. What’s really ultra cool is that this tweak doesn’t require 3D glasses. Have a look at this macgasmic video!

The app is called 3DBoard and is available soon on a jailbroken iOS 4 device via the Cydia App Store for $4.

Article Via 9to5Mac

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I am really hoping this rumor proves to be true, because I have always wanted the white iPhone. There have been sightings of the white iPhone 4 in inventory systems which could suggest that the release of the elusive handset may be imminent.

There is a report from Japanese blog Macotakara that says their leaks are true and claims that the issues of the white paint for this device have been solved. They say that a new process has been developed that has to do with the thickness of the paint layer applied. If this breakthrough proves true then we may finally get those white handsets.

The report claims that the issues may have been fixed by a small company in Japan that has developed a new type of paint which enables it to be applied in a more uniform way than was possible before. This would mean more even, intense colors, which would fix the previous printing of the white color which resulted in a huge number of defective products.

Apple had announced the white handset back in June and for a while people debated wether to get the black one or wait for the white—it seems the wait for the white one was far longer than any of us could have imagined. The actual reasons behind the problem was only ever stated officially by Apple to be due to a ‘manufacturing problem,’ but the rumors were explicit in saying that it was actually the paint, and that the thickness and opacity of it distorted the colour.

I really want to see this handset but I’m not sure Apple will launch the white iPhone when it is predicted they will have a new handset in June anyway. It might make more sense for them  to wait until the new handset is out and then release them together (if the rumor is true).

Will you sell your iPhone to get the new handset if it’s true? Are you past caring and are happy with your device? Have you been waiting for the white device all this time?

Article Via TUAW

Photo Credit: redmondpie

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There are various reports surfacing about the iPad 2 coming soon. The latest news states that there will be limited manufacturing starting in February. This comes from AppleInsider who says that China Commercial Times has reported that the iPad production will start at the beginning of February for small numbers initially, and then expand afterwards.

It’s predicted that this would give Apple adequate time to prepare enough iPads for launch. Current estimates for the official iPad 2 launch are for April. At the same time, it has also been reported that production of the iPhone 5 would begin in May, and if it followed Apple’s typical product release cycle, this would mean it could be an official June launch again—maybe we’ll see those mythical white iPhones by then too.

Manufacturing early, before launch, has positive and negative issues surrounding it. If they make a lot early, it will mean many customers will be satisfied since they will get the latest device and more of the demand will be met. Of course, it also means potential leaks of the device and the specs before Apple is ready to launch. Leaks of unannounced Apple products are hot news for us, but devastating to the way Apple likes to announce their products.

The details of the iPad 2′s specs are flying around, and it seems to be a mix of rumor and news, but the display being “Retina” I think is the least likely to happen anytime soon—if ever.

More realistic reports of FaceTime and video capabilities seem part of the Apple plan because the more devices that are capable of using FaceTime, the more likely people will be to use it.

Are you planning on getting the new iPad when it’s available? Do you currently have the first generation and are keen to sell to finance the next Apple purchase? Are you happy with the iPad and are not really bothered about getting the next one?

Article Via applegazette

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Trapster is an online service that warns iPhone users (and Android & Blackberry) of speed traps. They have recently started warning users that the service has been compromised and potentially millions of email addresses and passwords have been stolen.

The company has published an FAQ about this breach saying, “If you’ve registered your account with Trapster, then it’s best to assume that your e-mail address and password were included among the compromised data.” The way it’s worded makes it seem like they are just being cautious as they go on to add, “While we know that we experienced a security incident, it is not clear that the hackers successfully captured any e-mail addresses or passwords, and we have nothing to suggest that this information has been used.” It could be that they are trying to ensure that users don’t just panic and abandon the service.

The Trapster service is available as an iPhone app, but you do not actually need to register to be able to use the service. The company says that in reality, very few of their users do actually register with email, so although there are reports surfacing about many of their 10 million users possibly being affected, Trapster says that it definitely won’t affect all the users. Users do have to register in order to submit new speed traps.

This security alert is being compared to what we saw with the Gawker hack where 400,000 account details were stolen, so even if not all users were registered, it will still most likely end up to be a way larger number. Although there is no real danger from any information used on the account with that email and password combo, the issue will be if someone has used that same combination on other sites or services.

Advice given has always been to not use the same email / password combination on other sites, but many people do, and it may be that if these hacks get more regular and more data is compromised, people will have to take more precautions.

One security firm advises that, “People really should be changing their passwords twice a year,” said Andrew Storms, the director of security operations for nCircle Security. “Not because someone could have compromised it, but because someone has compromised it. Maybe we should all just assume all public site passwords will be compromised and accept it as a new fact of life.” It may be something to consider now that we all seem to be living more and more of our lives online.

Have you had one of your accounts hacked? Were you affected by this or the Gawker hack? Do you use iPhone apps that ask you to log in so that you can use them? Is this something that makes you not want to use the service?

Article Via Macworld

Header Photo Credit: kreg.steppe

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Verizon has their first iPhone commercial, announcing that on 2/10/11 the iPhone will finally be available on their network. Check out the other Mac products 6 seconds in. Apple and Verizon must be best buddies now.

“To our millions of customers, who never stopped believing this day would come… Thank you.”

Article Via Cult of Mac

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Starbucks are real stars in the app world. They are now accepting payments at outlets in the U.S. through their free iPhone app.

About eight months back, Starbucks had a pilot program that was expanded from Seattle and Silicon Valley to all of their caffeine dispensing outlets. With this app, you can pay for your coffee addiction just by using the app. Check out the video below to watch the magic happen.

The app is actually linked to your Starbucks account card which will display a unique barcode just for your account. You only need to point this barcode at the scanner and it will take out the funds. This is a pretty great idea because it means that it won’t be waving your payment details around via WiFi or Bluetooth. Because of that, I think it will mean more people will take it up for a try because often it is security issues or payment transactions where people get nervous.

If this all does work as seamless as it appears to, I’m sure that it will actually increase their customer base a fair bit. I know I would feel more likely to have loyalty to a company that has made it so easy to pay. Please roll this out to other countries!

Article Via TUAW

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Good news for Playstation3 users who just can’t get enough. There is now an official app (also available on Android) where you can receive gaming information 24/7.

Logging in to MyPSN allows you to follow your friends, see the games they own, read their status updates, monitor all those trophies and of course read the latest Playstation news. The app is free, so there is nothing stopping you from checking it out. It’s pretty fun being able to check your profile on the go.

There are similar style apps that offer you access to your online gaming accounts — the wow armoury for example — and these types of apps seem like a great move to keep us all addicted to our games.

I wonder if Sony will add to the Playstation app in the future in order to integrate gaming itself. Will they offer a way to actually play games in some form or to connect up?

Details of the countries that can use the app show that it is available in the US, France, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands (including language support of course). Because the app is actually published from the European section of Sony, it is unclear if this is coming to other countries or if they will get a different app altogether. For all the information you can check the Playstation site.

Article Via Cult of Mac

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A major Chinese website has listed thousands of iTunes accounts for sale. It is believed that these are all hacked accounts.

There are around 50,000 accounts, all linked to stolen credit cards, that are listed on the Chinese equivalent to eBay site called TaoBao. The listing has promises of granting you temporary access to unlimited downloads costing as little as 1 yuan (about $0.06 / 10p) per use. So far Apple has not issued any comment about the situation.

The site goes on to describe that you will have unlimited access for around 12 hours, and you can use it for movies, software, games, music… and after the 12hours the account will probably be shut down. Details of these auctions were brought to light in China’s Global Times, which had a report saying that a seller had admitted they were hacked. “Of course these accounts are hacked, otherwise how could they be so cheap?” they told the newspaper. It is against iTunes terms and conditions to use accounts with false information or of course any stolen accounts.

There have been a few stories emerging about the safety of iTunes accounts in the past and we even saw reports of one man who used stolen credit cards to buy £500,000 worth of music. It was actually his own music he was buying to get the royalties from the songs.

TaoBao has commented about this issue, saying they are not required to remove these listings because there are currently no direct complaints about the sales.

“We take all reasonable and necessary measures to protect the rights of consumers who use Taobao, of our sellers and of third-parties,” the company said in a statement. “Until we receive a valid takedown request, we cannot take action.”

Article Via Slashgear

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Put down that cocktail — Handbrake 0.9.5 was released on Monday! This new release adds presets for iPhone 4, iPad, and second generation Apple TV. It also adds the ability to edit queued jobs, support for SSA subtitles and some other goodies. Check out the presets below:

I couldn’t get the update just by using the Handbreak > Check for updates menu, so I think you’ll have to go to their site and download the files directly.

It is available as both 32-bit and 64-bit for OSX 10.5  and 10.6 on Intel Macs but the PPC support isn’t included with this newer version. You can still get and keep the PPC version though.

The release notes include the following information:

Core Library

• BluRay disc structure support (No decryption support)
• Updated Libraries (x264, ffmpeg)
• SSA Subtitle support (Including burn-in)
• MP3 audio now supported in MP4 files (Note: Limited Player compatibility)
• VOBSUB subtitle now supported in MP4 files (Note: Limited Player compatibility)
• Updated Presets for newer devices and better quality
• AC3 encoding support
• Many Bug Fixes and other small improvements
• Improved DVD Main Feature detection (when using dvdnav)
• Universal audio downmix support (all audio types can be downmixed)
• Poin-to-Point encoding (second or frame start and end times)
• Peak framerate option (Capped VFR)

All GUIs

• Updated x264 Advanced Panel
• Video Quality Slider drops % value and only shows RF for x264
• Batch Scan (Scan Multiple files at once. N.B: Does not include multiple VIDEO_TS folders / Image files)
• Many Bug fixes
• Many Tweaks to improve usability
• Ability to edit queue jobs

Mac GUI

• New Audio Panel supporting >4 Audio Tracks
• VLC detection in /Applications and ~/Applications
• Multiple instance support

Looks like an already impressive application just got even better!

Article Via Macworld

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Manchester City is is planning on launching an iPhone app in the New Year which is co-created by fans. It will offer exclusive content from the football club.

The app for Man City is being made by London-based agency Aqueduct, and it will feature stats, scores, commentary and videos, perfect for fans. It’s also planed that it will have features enabled so that fans can also share the information in it on Facebook and Twitter.

Ian Cafferky, Manchester City’s chief of brand and commercial officer, said:

“When designing the app we knew it not only needed to look slick and be extremely useful, but most importantly fun to use, be it down the pub with friends or in the stands with your family.

The app is only the beginning and will constantly evolve and get better with time, that’s why we created a blog for fans to leave their feedback and ideas.”

The app won’t be free, but there is currently no price confirmation.

They have been posting videos of the app’s progress so fans can see what they have designed and how it works. It seems a pretty amazing way to get folks involved, and I’m sure that it’s a great way to market an app too. They also announced in their laest blog post that fans can test the app over the holiday period, just follow the Man City blog for more details.

Article Via The Next Web

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This looks fantastic! LoL Software has released the official Polaroid Digital Camera App for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Some of the features listed are 30 different official filters and colored borders so you can create a Polaroid effect. Within the app you can also upload images instantly to Facebook if you like that type of thing.

The app also supports the iOS 4.2 wireless AirPrint capability if you have a compatible printer. I think it would be pretty cool if the PoGo instant Photo Printer that fits into your pocket (a Polaroid product) was made compatible with the iPhone because that would be a total win-win situation!

The app also allows full resolution images to be stored to the photo library, and you can also share by e-mail.

The developers have also stated that you can suggest filters you’d like, and they will try to make a selection of them to include in future updates of the app. All you need to do is write your filter ideas in a review.

I haven’t had a chance to use this app yet, and there are already so many brilliant photography apps out there, but it looks like it is worth a try, and hopefully it will be worthy of that Polaroid label.

Article Via ipodnn

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A security researcher, Dan Kaminsky, has created a mobile app that processes images for users who suffer from red-green color blindness.

It’s worth heading over to his blog to have a read about how the idea for this app came about.

The app is called DanKam, and it is available on both iOS and Android systems. It attempts to process the way the colors are seen by someone with color blindness by altering images through several color-shifting schemes. Images can be taken in real-time from the device’s camera. Essentially, through its various modes, the app attempts to make hues easier to detect and differentiate.

DanKam is presently optimized for the most common form of color blindness, Anomalous Trichromancy, where you are not actually blind to any particular color, but you have a lessened ability to differentiate certain reds from certain greens.

There are a few apps out there like this one that alter colors to make websites easier to read. They are also useful for designers to see how the images may look to someone who is color blind. This app in particular is a nice attempt with an interesting story behind it, and apps that make things accessible to more people are always a great idea.

Article Via Electronista

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MacUpdate and a collection of indie developers are each offering a hugely discounted software bundles for the holiday season. They’re both only available for a limited time, so don’t wait around too long before you check them out. Software bundles do seem a great idea because even if you already own one or two of the software packages in the bundle, you can always pass on the authorization code to a friend or family member. It’s a win-win situation!

The Indie Mac Gift Pack has been put together by six indie developers. Software included with the bundle include:

Delicious Library 2 – Track your collections
Acorn 2 – Image editor
MarsEdit 3 – Write, preview, publish your blog
Radioshift – Listen and record radio stations
SousChef – Search over 195,000 recipes
Sound Studio 4 – Record, edit and produce audio

The Indie Mac Gift Pack has six different software packages, all for $60 down from $272. The software have no limitations, are the latest versions, and they are all for sale from the developers, not some huge corporation, which means there’s a feel-good factor when you buy this bundle.

The second bundle I’m excited about is brought to us by MacUpdate, and there are 12 programs available for $49 regular $534. There are only just over 8 days left (at the time of writing) to pick this bundle up.

MacUpdate offers you a variety of different types of software, from FTP to publisher programs. It also includes 1Password, which is totally worth the cash!

Software included:

1Password – Password Manager
MacFamilyTree – Geneology app
DEVONthink – Organization software
Flux – XHTML and CSS web design
Default Folder X – Enhances open/save dialogs
Art Text + Fonts – Create high quality logos, headings, banners.
Swift Publisher – Make cards, certificates, letterheads, and more
Chronories – Diary app
Interarchy – FTP/SFTP client
Typinator – Auto-completes text as you type

There is also a little bonus of 2 free apps if you are within the first 10,00o to order. The first is Mail Stationary which adds 300 templates to the Apple Mail app, and the second is Star Wars Jedi Knight 2 game from Aspyr Media.

The MacUpdate software bundle is available here: mupromo

Indie mac gift pack is available here: indiemacgiftpack

Article Via Macrumors

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More Christmas treats for you… Gorillaz’s have had some busy little elves at work to bring you an online calendar full of  holiday goodies for Gorillaz’s fans. The final square on the calendar, released on December 25th will be the album that was made using the iPad. They have been giving away videos, masks you can make, games and wallpapers.

Damon Albarn from Gorillaz talked about making the album that they are giving away as a gift to their fans:  “I’ve made it on an iPad – I hope I’ll be making the first record on an iPad,” Albarn told NME. “I fell in love with my iPad as soon as I got it, so I’ve made a completely different kind of record.”

I haven’t heard what software / app they are using, so I hope they post details about exactly how they did it when they album is released.

Article Via Cult of Mac

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Sentinel 3: Homeworld is the third in the Sentinel series and I also think it’s the best. The game is a sci-fi tower defence style game. All maps have fixed paths, so it’s up to you to place the towers on the available areas. You click and hold on a tower on the bottom left of your screen, and drag it into position. If it is highlighted by a green area, it means it can be placed there; otherwise it is red.

If you aren’t familiar with this series, the first Sentinel had four maps with Assault and Endurance modes only. With Sentinel 2 came the addition of two extra Campaign maps (in-app purchase) and another fifteen missions. This time, Sentinel 3: Homeworld has fourteen maps, which include twenty levels in Campaign mode, fourteen maps in Endless mode, and six in Classic mode. That’s a lot of gameplay!

Because this is the third game in the series, I can imagine that Origin8 would have a huge pressure on them to create a new game that was just as good as the others and would not disappoint loyal players of their series, as well as trying to attract new fans. I think they have accomplished their mission. Check out this bad boy in the video below…

I have found that a lot of games try to cash in on a best seller and produce a substandard second version, which is obviously made just to reap cash benefits, but that is clearly not the case with this game. The game has been well considered, planned, designed and loved. They have packed in all the best bits and added more to it. This does mean a slightly steeper learning curve if you have never played the game, but it is worth it and it goes through the stages to teach you.

Some of the features of the game as listed on their site include:

• A completely new campaign featuring 20 levels
• A powerful new commander unit which can level up and gain new abilities as you play
• Over 20 unlockable turrets, orbital ship weapons, automated drones and abilities at your disposal
• Customize your weapon loadout in the Armory to match the demands of the mission
• Stunning graphics & fx, with full high-resolution Retina display support
• Endless modes for all maps with online highscores
• Classic mode allows you to compete for scores in a pure skill-based game mode
• Support for social gaming networks for achievements, global scores, friends and more using OpenFeint and GameCenter
• View strategic layouts from the leaderboards – see how the best players think (OpenFeint required)
• New exclusive music by the creators of the Sentinel 2 music – Specimen A
• Completely reworked and revamped game engine

That all looks impressive, but what does it all mean in terms of game play? Let’s have a look…

There are 20 new levels in the game. These are not all unique, but there is enough variety to keep you busy for a long time. Some levels have a really simple path and others have four areas where the aliens can attack from, so the difficulty has a wide scope within the game. I was very impressed with how many varied levels they did include in this version. Within these levels you can play on easy, medium, hard or psycho. Good luck with psycho by the way.

New commander unit. This is fantastic and one of my favourite things about this version. You now have a commander unit that will help you protect your gates and kill your enemies. He can be levelled up and you can buy upgrades for him such as the ability to move to other gates (he jumps to them really quickly if you need help) and he can even help to repair gates. This is a great addition to the game and gives you an additional strategy factor as you can decide where the commander unit is best placed to help with the killing.

Over 20 unlockable turrets, orbital ship weapons, automated drones and abilities at your disposal. This is changed in version 3 of the game. You now customise which weapons that you will equip in the armory. You have a management screen so you use credits (which you get once you complete levels) to buy weapon slots. You then equip a weapon in the slot. You need to have a bit of forward thinking here, because initially you won’t have enough credits to just go grab every empty slot / weapon as it comes out, so choose carefully.

This version also brings us full retina support so it is crisp and clear and the graphics are stunning. There are nice little animations throughout the levels, which means you can really get into the game. All the maps have unlockable endless mode as well, so once you have mastered the level, you can just go crazy!

Another thing that wasn’t in past versions of the game is that there are special gates on some levels that are “stores,” so if these gates remain standing you get additional money generated from it. This is a good idea, and you really work hard to protect that gate as long as possible. Also, as with previous versions, the less money you spend, the more money you make because you get interest on the money you have left at the end of each round. This is a great way to be sure that what you place is absolutely necessary and does require tactics. This always adds an interesting dimension to the game.

Overall, I think this is easily the best in the series and worth the cash. They have added some amazing features — the commander for a start is a lot of fun — as well as terrific graphics and sounds. I have already easily spent hours playing the game, and it is no where near the end of the campaigns or levelling everything up. It has a lot of scope, a lot of game play, and it will keep us occupied and wanting more. Macgasmic!

You can buy Sentinel 3 : Homeworld for $2.99 from the App store.

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There are so many cases available for the iPad that it is getting harder and harder to choose. I have been using the ZooGue case for a few weeks now, and I really like it. Where this case excels and is unique is that the stand can be put into any angle.

This case has two small velcro areas on the legs of the stand, this means you can adjust it to be put into any position along the base. It is a great idea and offers you total control of the angle of your device.

Although it’s pretty unique, it has some good points and a few things to be aware of, but ultimately all cases will depend on your needs and how you will use the case. For me, I use my iPad mostly at night to watch tv, or read a PDF, and also during the day I like to have it up to see my calendar and tasks. Oh, and a fair bit of game time too, if I’m honest.

With that in mind, this case really works well for me. Being able to adjust it to watch movies or tv makes the case perfect for its function, and the case also folds completely flat.

Other great things about this case are the quality and sturdiness of it. The case feels very secure around my iPad and it made the iPad feel solid and invincible. You could probably play catch with the iPad while it is in this case and it would be safe, though I didn’t try it.

However, because of this sturdiness, it does add a fair bit of bulk, so where I was using my slim Apple case before, this case made my iPad a lot larger to fit into my bag. Previously my iPad was almost the exact size of a moleskine notebook, but now it is twice that size. It wasn’t a problem for me, but it is something to be aware of.

Also, the case is perfect for using in a horizontal position but it’s not ideal for portrait use. You can just tip case and iPad up on its side, but then it is just one angle. However, ZooGue has addressed this issue; they do offer a free portrait mount – just pay shipping and handling. I personally didn’t go for that because I didn’t find it a problem.

Another great point is that there’s an elastic and velcro strap attached to the case so that you can secure it to the back of a car seat (or other similar spots), which is a great addition. I also used the strap over the case when transporting the iPad so that it stays closed, which worked well.

The only slightly negative thing I found with the case was that those small velcro tabs, which make it such a great product, are also a bit annoying as they are exposed. Because of this, several times when I carried the case, it latched on to clothes or scarves, which I found a bit annoying. This was particularly bad in the winter when it hooked into my scarf if I carried it, which I didn’t like. Maybe they could put a small flap of material over these pieces of velcro to protect it in future. Still, it wasn’t a huge problem, just more of an annoyance.

Overall this is a tough case that will support and protect your iPad as well as let you view the screen at any angle. It feels like it will last a long time and if the small annoyance with the velcro tabs can be fixed then it’s a real winner.

You can get the ZooGue case for $49.99

Photo Credits: ZooGue

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PadWorx Digital Media Inc has brought to the iPad the Charles Dickens classic holiday story, A Christmas Carol, with an amazing ‘steampunk’ look.

The app has 130 pages of the abridged text, and includes immersive graphics, music, and sound. The developers also say there are ‘hidden easter eggs’ with bonus content, which sound like s a great idea. Also, the app has been directly endorsed by the Dickens family, which must mean it totally rocks!

I’m not big into interactive books on my iPad, but this seems to be such a Christmas delight. You should note though that there are some reviews on the App Store saying that they have maybe focused too much on the steampunk and not enough on the story. Some reviewers commented that there are no spirits or scary animations and were disappointed after having high hopes.

A Christmas Carol for the iPad is available on the App Store for $4.99.

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Aqueduct 101 is a new free version of the fabulous game Aqueduct by Kieffer Bros. The game is essentially jumbled up waterways with mixed up pipelines.

You have to arrange these tracks to restore the flow. This free version is an introduction into the game, but it may be worth picking up even if you have the paid for app because it has 48 new puzzles which are not found in the full version.

Some of the exciting pitfalls in the game include locked gates, shifty conveyor belts, floor switches, gates and floating bridges, which all makes for a lot of fun.

What I really love about it is not only that it is a beautiful stylish game, but you can spend as long as you like on each puzzle. This is great because you know you can figure it out in your own time, so you really can pick up and play. Did I mention how beautiful and stylish it is? It really isn’t a typical water pipes game and has so much more scope in playtime and challenge, with levels not only getting progressively harder and harder, but also more creative. Plus, you can skip a level and go back if you have to.

Both versions are on Game Center, so you can compete with your friends.

You can grab Aqueduct 101 for free from the App store or jump straight in with Aqueduct for $2.99.

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SpeedClock By Sten Kaiser is a $0.99 app that will turn your iPhone into a radar gun.

This is an interesting app idea, if you want to know the speed of things. You can measure the speed of cars, boats, footballs, kids, anything really using motion detection. You have to hold up the iPhone, aim it at the moving object, and it will use the camera to detect the motion. One slight flaw is that you have to set the distance to the object that you want to measure, making it not as instant as some would probably like.

Basically, it uses the angle of the iPhone to estimate the distance to a point on the ground. You then hold the iPhone in front of you, align the point in the camera and get a reading of the distance. The distance can then be used in the speed tool. You can also the motion detection feature to start and stop a timer, which looks an interesting use of the app.

Information from their site:

“Employing the device’s three-axis gyro and basic trigonometry establishes distance. Speed and laps are measured using the motion sensing of the video camera, timing the interval between the object entering and leaving the frame. The app is compatible with iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4, and iPod Touch 4.”

This app requires iOS4 and because of the use of  a video camera on the device it will need the iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4 or iPod touch 4. SpeedClock is available on the App Store.

Article Via Cult of Mac

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Waiting time will now seem much quicker for those without personal iPads, if they are lucky enough to be one of the 135 people to get access to the free use iPads that Delta is offering when flying through JFK.

Delta has just installed 135 iPads near restaurants at three of the airport’s gates. These include Croque Madame, a French restaurant at Gates 21 and 22 in Terminal 2, and Bar Brace, an Italian restaurant at Gate 15 in Terminal 3.

The iPads are there to encourage you to order food from the restaurants, made easier because the iPads have menu apps installed. I know it will be seen as a gimmick,  but it would be fun to just order food at the airport using the iPad and have a server bring it to you. The management at these establishments do say that you do not need to make a purchase to be able to use the iPad, but hey, food and iPad while waiting for a flight sounds pretty perfect. They all have wireless internet as well, totally free of charge.

Article Via Cult of Mac

Photo Credit: abir82

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iDygest is a free app that will provide a summary of mac news stories. It finds articles that have the most sources, and you get a sentence or two from each site. All sources are referenced, so it is a great way to find current hot topics.

The version I used is 1.5, and it is for iPhone and iPod touch. There are some great things about this app if you’re looking for the most talked about news relating to Apple. When you launch the app, you get a view of the stories that were already downloaded, so that way you can read it offline if you need to. If you want the newest entries, there is a refresh button at the top, though some folks are asking for a pull-down to refresh option.

What it presents to you initially are the top 10 stories. It pulls in the news from the sources that have covered it, and then gives you the information from the sources in one post.

You can tweet the story out, email it or open it in safari for wider reading. This works really well if you are someone who wants the Apple news, but you find that your RSS feeds are getting a bit full of the same news.

The app has five tabs on the bottom, but all you need are the first three actually. The ‘Top 10′ and ‘Latest’ of course are what the app is all about, but there is also a ‘Luminaries’ tab. This you may want to check out, because it has posts from Ihnatko, LaMarche, Gemmell and McAllister to name a few. It was the most interesting part of the app for me. The other twotabs are just for the app really: ‘About’ and ‘More Apps.’

You can also search within the app to find particular stories. This is a great way to see a lot of interesting articles, and doing generic searches like iPhone or apps gives you tons to read.

Unfortunately, because of the way the stories are pulled together, the news feels a bit disjointed. It isn’t like reading an article someone wrote; it is literally one or two sentences from each source (proper footnotes referenced). Because of this, it feels like you are skimming the news, and you most likely will want to click through to one of the stories it links to if you want the full story or more complete details.

I think if you are someone who has Apple news RSS feeds set up and are an avid reader of Mac news, then you will know all this stuff already, and you will most likely know it before the app tells you.

However, for folks who just want the news about Apple and don’t want to mess around with tons of duplicate stories, it really is a great idea. In a way, it feels like someone has taken the effort to go through your feeds for you, mash the story together and then present it for reading. This could prove to be a big time saver for the enthusiast. Also because it is all referenced so well, you can then take the story further if you want to by clicking on the links they provide.

Overall I will be keeping this on my iPhone and will look at it when I haven’t had a chance to check Apple news in my feeds. It’s a great way to keep up to date on the most important stories surfacing and will provide you with hours of interesting reading.

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Adobe’s Flash seems to still be fighting the ban on iOS devices. Even though Apple CEO Steve Jobs has enforced this ban, people in the community have continued to fight for it to be allowed. Apple did update its iPhone Developer Program License Agreement in March 2010 so that it no longer is restricted in the way you can develop apps for iOS devices (allowing Flash to be used this way), but there are still some who want the Flash Player allowed.

However, with the increasing number of Andorid-powered devices, which do allow Flash, it is suggested this may become an issue.

According to data from Ovum’s Smartphone Capability Analyzer Update 3Q10, Apple will come under increasing pressure to reverse its Adobe Flash ban as support for the technology grows among other smartphone platforms. Their findings show that the first six devices which support Flash 10.1 arrived in Q3 and the analyst expects this number to grow rapidly in the future. The idea behind their research is to monitor the evolving capabilities of smartphones due to this being such a fast-moving market.

The research gathered shows that Flash 10.1 support will grow across the smartphone market, which could lead to pressure from developers and users for Apple to support the technology on its iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices.

Nick Dillon, Ovum analyst, said: “With support for Flash 10.1 growing, users will become accustomed to a similar web browsing experience on both mobile and desktop devices; this will ultimately impact the attractiveness of Apple’s proposition.”

“Flash certainly looks to be gaining ground with device vendors and Apple may need to re-evaluate its position if its dominance is threatened as a result.”

He added: “In addition to garnering support for Flash 10, Adobe has launched its own app distribution service for Flash and AIR applications. InMarket will help developers to sell their apps across various devices. This is clearly a big draw for developers and will threaten the dominance of platform vendors in the mobile apps market.”

I can understand what they are saying, but I don’t have Flash on my devices and haven’t had it for 2 years now, and I really don’t want it. I don’t miss it and I don’t care if  I ever get it on my device. After all the news surfacing about the security issues and the zap of battery life, I just don’t want it. Sorry Adobe.

Article Via Muktware

Android Image Via lwallenstein

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Firemint seems determined to take the world by storm with their Flight Control game. This is a highly popular and well-loved game in which you have to safely pilot airplanes (by drawing a path) to the correct landing strips. Check out our review of the game for more details.

Flight Control first made its appearance on our iPhones, then iPads, and now Firemint is announcing that it will come to the Mac via Steam, which delivers a range of games straight to computer desktops. We are expecting this to happen by the end of the month.

Steam is a luxury that PC users had for ages, The Mac community finally got in on Steam, and they are adding titles for the Mac all the time.

From Firemint’s blog:

“The Steam version of Flight Control HD will feature a brand-new, exclusive map. The new “Stunt Flying” map will introduce an exciting new gameplay element, where you can score extra points for flying through a course of stunt cones before landing. This adds a new challenge to the much-loved and insanely addictive gameplay first made famous by the worldwide iPhone hit that has now been downloaded more than 3 million times.

Flight Control HD for Steam will also feature Steam achievements and leaderboards, and will be available world-wide.”

No pricing or system requirements have been released yet. Firemint is adding more to the game and the stunt flying looks like an interesting addition. I have been using Steam for the Civilisation style games, and other games that I don’t find very playable on the iPad, where my Mac screen and mouse makes a real difference to my gaming experience. Personally, I am really happy with the way Flight Control plays on the iPhone and iPad, and I’m not sure I will add this to my arsenal of games, but if you go for it, we’d love to hear what you think. Having said that, Stunt flying looks pretty sweet.

Article Via MacStories

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Hard Candy’s iPad stylus, which sells for $34.95, goes in my “I-want-one-of-those” category, which does seem to be growing. This iPad accessory is said to be selling at a rate of 6,000 to 7,000 units a week on Amazon (reports the Hard Candy Cases CEO Tim Hickman).

The iPad stylus is stylish. It looks like a fashion accessory, and because it is also a pen, you will definitely get some use out of it. This stylus/pen has a chrome finish and has two functional ends to it. One end is a refillable ink pen, and the other is the stylus that you can use on the iPad, iPhone and the iPod touch.

The stylus is a beautiful looking item and would make a great Christmas present for that person who has everything. Some reviews are saying that it would be great if this pen had a clip so they could carry it easier. Also some find that having two lids is a bit of a nightmare, especially as they only fit the one end so you have to replace it correctly.

“We’re a fashion company,” Hickman went on to say regarding the aesthetics of the stylus. “Like a shoe company making 6-inch-high heels: it doesn’t always make sense. We just went with it. We made it big and shiny because its fashion.”

In addition to the above criticisms, there are far more positive reviews, reporting that the stylus really glides across the screen amazingly, and has a really nice weight to it, making it easy to use.

I did purchase a generic stylus, when they first came out, to try with some of the iPad drawing/writing apps, and for me the results just look far too thick. I can’t seem to be able to get any detail, so it won’t replace my paper notebooks just yet. I’m not sure how much refining they can do to get it far more detailed as the styluses all seem to have to be quite thick in order to make the right amount of contact.

There are a few areas where I can see this item really bringing added functionality. In addition to the touch screens on iOS devices, you can also use the stylus on the trackpad on your MacBook or with the Magic Trackpad that Apple brought out a short while ago. There are programs out there, such as Autograph, where this would come in handy to add a signature to documents, emails, etc. You could take that one step further still by using the stylus for something like Inklet, which enables you to create drawings.

Hard Candy’s iPad stylus is available from Amazon for $34.95.

Article Via Cult of Mac

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I’m not sure if this is totally awesome or totally hideous, but if you’ve ever run out of power, you might find yourself considering this PowerStrap. The Orca PowerStrap is a battery pack in the form of a watchband. The wristband has a USB plug that will let you charge your devices should you need the extra power. The USB power port lets you connect it to a wide range of gadgets, and the four LED indicators let you know just how much battery capacity is left. The Orca PowerStrip costs around £40 UK Pounds (about $64).

I currently carry around a ‘Power Monkey’ charging device, but the let down with the Power Monkey is that I usually end up holding my device in one hand while I use my other hand to hold the charger. It can be pretty awkward. The PowerStrap is appealing to me because  I wouldn’t have to hold it as it charges my iPhone.

But, there’s nothing elegant about this strap. It’s clunky looking.

The Orca PowerStrap will charge more than your iOS devices.  The PowerStrap supports:

• iPod/iPhone
• Nintendo DS/DS Lite/DSi
• Sony PSP
• Nokia (mini)
• Samsung mobile phone
• Female USB devices
• Sony Ericsson mobile phone
• Nokia mobile phone
• Blackberry
• LG mobile phone
• Male USB (for charging the strap itself)

It does have an adjustable strap, so it should be one size fits all. If you can get over the bulky look of it, then this could be a great addition to your mobile arsenal.

Slight warning: I couldn’t find any information about how much power you actually have access to with the PowerStrap. My Power Monkey has a 2200mAh charge, which works out to being around 40 hours on an iPod. Hopefully the PowerStrap offers up a similar charge.

Article Via Oh Gizmo
Photo credit: Zoutedrop

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Twitter has updated their iOS app. The biggest change is the addition of push notifications, so anyone who wasn’t using the Twitter app because of the lack of push support now has no excuse. Version 3.2.1 has push notifications for @ mentions and direct messages (which they seem to just call messages).

Will push notifications bring more people to the app? Some people are already using a third party app such as Boxcar to get those notifications.

From the Twitter blog:

“When you’re out and about, your phone probably isn’t always in front of you. It might be in your pocket or purse or on a table – perhaps with the screen off. We want to make sure you see important Tweets even when you’re not looking at Twitter at the moment. To help with that, today we’re launching push notifications for @mentions.”

Now, when you launch the iPhone app and click on the settings icon, there is an area below your username that lets you customize your push notifications on an account by account basis.

You can select if you want notifications from anyone, or just from people you follow, which may help with spam accounts sending @ replies to you.

I am hoping that they tie in Mac integration and work on an app for OS X. It would be great if we could sync our accounts across all of our devices while we use the official Twitter applications.

Article Via Twitter

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Well, the iPad is getting used in all sorts of ways. This was spotted at a recent Lithuanian protest. Catch the video below.

This person was filmed holding up their iPad as a protest sign, and it is a pretty good — although expensive — idea. This is just another reason why I love the iPad so much. It really is a device that you can use in a lot of interesting situations.

Just today I was approached by someone who wanted me to take a survey on one, doing away with the old paper clipboard and pen. I actually did the survey as it somehow seemed a little more interesting on an iPad! Another very popular use for the iPad is cooking applications, or as movie players attached to the back of car seats so kids can watch movies on long journeys.

How do you use yours? What other ways can we make this device even more interesting? Have you seen an iPad ‘in the wild’ being used for an alternative or creative purpose?

Article Via TUAW

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This ‘virtual clay’ app reminds me of Adobe’s presentation at MAX 2010, which showed us a demo of a companion app to work alongside Photoshop. Here, the iPad itself is the controller and displays only five dots, which represent your fingertips. The companion app runs on a Mac on the same WiFi network, which shows the actual model you are creating on-screen.

What the app does is it lets you sculpt virtual modeling clay with your fingers. It uses the iPad’s multi-touch capabilities. This is a really exciting application idea, because clay traditionally is a very hands on experience, and although this isn’t going to be exactly the same, it does give you more control on the iPad than on a Mac.

Just by using your fingers, you squish and shape the chunk of virtual clay in real time. You only have to push and pull it to get the shape you want.  Another amazing thing is that it reacts to you turning and moving the iPad. It makes great use of the built in accelerometers.

It could be that these types of programs are going to lead the way, and we have more exciting things to come.

The bad news, though, is that the only way currently to have this is to download the source code from the project page and compile it yourself. You will need an iOS developer account to load it onto your iPad. More information and other photos can be seen at the Beautiful Modeler site.

The video below is worth a watch, so you can see how easy it could be used by so many people who work with these types of programs. It shows us the process of making a lamp, and being able to use the iPad in this way does seem a step in the future.

The output from the app is STL, standard template library, which can be sent to a 3D printer directly — meaning you can print out your handiwork and have it as a solid object. You will need to find someone with a 3D printer, and these are pretty pricy, but your local college /  university may have one, and they might let you ‘demo’ this iPad app for them and net yourself a freebie print out too.

Article Via cgarchitect

Tip Via @dancole

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News is circulating of reports that the iOS 4.2 update (scheduled for today, alledgedly) could be delayed because of a bug found in the gold master (GM) build.

Some are reporting that Apple feel the bug is significant enough to hold off the main release a little longer while they fix it. The bug involves WiFi connection issues that have been found by developers who are currently running iOS 4.2 GM on the iPad.

“Basically, even if the iPad manages to successfully connect to a local network, the connection is lost after a few minutes,” MacStories states. “This seems to be the most common problem among users, although some can’t simply use Safari at all.”

Some developers are reporting the same issue affecting their iPhones with the GM version. Below is a video showing the bug.

Many are hoping that because these reports started appearing on the Apple developer forums early after the GM release that they may be close to a fix already and this won’t affect how long it is until we see 4.2 released. Also, many tweets have appeared highlighting this issue. However, even if they have fixed it, it is expected there will be a week or so of testing it before we do get our hands on it. Some have estimated it may be another two weeks before we see a final version.

I checked the developer site early this morning, and it is still the initial release from November 1st.

I have had this issue with my iPad, and because I only have the WiFi version, it means my iPad isn’t as useful as it usually is. This is something that all developers will be aware of. When we download and install these builds, there are always potential issues that surface.

A few sites are reporting that the delay could be as short as a release on November 16th.

Article Via TUAW

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Munch 5-a-Day is an iPhone app designed to help you eat more fruits and vegetables. You can track the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat, as well as set daily goals, which hopefully will improve your diet.

From the app’s site, advice is offered about why it is important to eat your fruits and veggies, namely that the WHO (World Health Organisation) recommends eating a minimum of 400 g, or 5 standard portions of fruits and vegetables a day to promote good health and prevent disease.

What is nice about this app is that you really do make an effort to make sure you enter in all the fruits and veggies you eat. You almost begin to compete with yourself to make sure you eat at least as much — or more — compared to the day before. The app has some handy features to be sure you record it all, namely:

• Fruit and veg consumption can be recorded by simply tapping fruit and veg icons on the app’s home screen each time the user eats a portion of fruit or veg.
• Each ‘munch’ is recorded in the goal bar on the home screen, showing the user’s progress over that day.
• The remaining munches needed to meet the daily target are also displayed on the app icon on the springboard.

You can set your own personal munch amount too, which is handy. When you rotate your phone, there is a graph of your fruit and veg consumption over the past 7 or 30 days, which will help you keep track of how good you are!

Also, of course, the now obligatory “social networking” is added, so you can share with friends by posting colourful messages and graphs on Twitter and Facebook, but personally, I don’t want to know how much broccoli you’ve eaten.

There are some really nice touches with this app, from the tiny detail of the little moving sheep in the fields to hot air balloons slightly drifting across the sky. The overall styling of the app makes me think of a cleaner, simpler time, with maybe a 50s look to it. I really like it.

When you click the fruit or vegetable, it animates a little transition of the item being ‘munched,’ which is fun. They also have considered the sound of this app, which is great as they have integrated pleasant farm noises with those little sheep baaing and little birds twittering. Note that you can turn off the sounds, if you don’t want to hear the farm noises.

You can collect badges as rewards for meeting targets. All of this encourages you to go back into the app and be sure to enter your progress. I’m not sure sharing should be included as a badge though. It is a feature that I just won’t be using.

This is a nice app for families too. My son got an iPod touch for his birthday, and this is an app that he wants and uses on his device. He has a great sense of achievement when he puts in that he has eaten fruits or vegetables, and it really makes him feel healthier and proud to be eating the recommended amount. I love that about the app — it isn’t scary like a lot of the calorie counter apps.

Where the app really excels is in its perceived simplicity. In order to get people to use the app regularly, you need to see what the user will do the most often, and what information they need. They have considered this carefully and the result is that you open the app and tap the fruit or veggie to input. It’s quick and won’t disturb your day at all. It is focused and a real winner.

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Skyfire announced via Twitter that they are working on and will soon release an iPad version of their app.

Keep in mind the app can only do Flash video and not flash games or ads. Skyfire is a proxy browser like Opera Mini and other browsers that have made it onto the App Store.

A bit of history about this app: The current app (that was pulled after a short release time due to their servers being overloaded), which is for the iPhone, costs $2.99 and is available in the US App Store. When Skyfire first announced that they were submitting this app to the App Store, many didn’t think it would be approved.

It was approved and quickly became hugely popular — said to have had $1 million pulled in during the first weekend of sale (minus Apple’s 30% cut). Due to these high download numbers though, their servers did struggle and it was pulled from the store so they could let users get the app in batches. The video below shows the current 2.0 version in action.

For me personally, Flash on mobile devices isn’t anything I feel I am missing. On my desktop, I have flash blocker enabled and I don’t feel I have been to any sites and thought — “oh gee, I wish I had Flash” — so I didn’t get the app. I maybe would have tried it, but at that price I didn’t feel it was something I needed. The sites I go to for video (Tvcatchup.com / iPlayer / filmon.com …) on my iPad don’t use flash anymore either, so there really is no motivator for me to get it.

When it comes to having it on my iPad, I can imagine, as with most iPad apps, it will be even more expensive, so I don’t think I will try it there either — but you may find it useful and want to add that ability to your iPad sooner rather than later in case Apple does pull the app. Also it will be interesting to see how many people do continue to use the app once the hype has died down. Will this prove that people really do miss Flash not being on iOS devices?

Because Skyfire uses cloud-computing, it translates the flash video into the HTML5 format on its servers. This means that initial reasons for not running flash on these devices, such as draining battery life and general performance, are eliminated.

Some current Skyfire features in the 2.0 version for the iPhone that we will surely see in the iPad version:

· Flash Video –The “Video” icon enables users to play millions of Flash videos around the web that otherwise do not play on mobile. This unlocks content trapped behind those error messages with question marks and blue Legos by transcoding the Flash content into HTML5 on Skyfire’s servers.

· Related Content – The “Explore” icon brings the most relevant content on the Internet to a user’s fingertips based on what they are viewing at the time. The Explore button pulls video, buzz, news, images and other sites from the web based on what is on the current page.

Could this mean that with Flash video accessible on both the iPhone and iPad there will be a bit of a ceasefire between Apple and Adobe? Will it compound the idea that Flash on devices isn’t a great idea and that HTML5 is the way to go? Have you already got the iPhone version? Will you also purchase the iPad version?

Article Via 9to5mac

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