Mobile Apple Me

Section: Software + Apps, Miscellaneous, Third-Party, iPod + iTunes, iPod touch, iPhone, iPhone, iPhone SDK & Apps, Mac + Computers, Software

Macintosh and iPhone/iPod updates and announcements for December 24, 2009:

Macintosh

• Digital Rebellion LLC has announced FCP Versioner, a utility to automatically back up Final Cut Pro projects in XML format and generate changelogs to show modifications between revisions. FCP Versioner is an essential tool in managing Final Cut Pro projects, providing feedback to producers and ensuring that projects are safely backed up in case of disaster. Versioner also offers a wealth of options for managing backups to ensure they don’t consume too much disk space.
• Playrix Entertainment has made its first published title—Elementals: The Magic Key—available for the Apple Macintosh line of personal computers. In Elementals: The Magic Key, players plunge into the world of magic and mystery inhabited by elementals. Their mission is to help Albert, a young magician, restore the Key of Eiron and save the unique world of elementals by solving puzzles, hunting for hidden items and winning board battles.
• Opcoders has released GraphicDesignerToolbox 1.3.0, a free update to their powerful Mac OS X graphics editor. It provides adjustable building blocks which allows for extensive tweaking and re-use. Perfect for web designers that need to compose seamless tiling textures, trim pixels, prepare thumbnails and add shadows, plus much more. The big task of adding help to all building blocks is now completed, more than 120 pages with illustrations have been written.
• MacFriendly has announced their Bundle of 12 applications for Mac users will end this December 29, 2009. Available for only a limited time, the bundle represents a savings of over 85% off the list prices. The bundle includes the latest version of each application. Additionally, one bonus applications will be added to the bundle for all customers when 750 bundles have been sold. The MacFriendly Bundle provides an unprecedented selection of high quality software at unprecedented low prices.

iPhone/iPod

• Australian application developer Syncode has released Syncopy—a productivity application for the Mac, iPhone and iPod touch, created to help users unify their clipboard. Syncopy securely transmits your clipboard between the Mac, iPhone and iPod touch.
• Musician’s Little Helper is a little application that allows the user to create a random set of notes in various scales and play and edit them. Useful if you need a little inspiration.
• Suponix has announced iRoach 2.0, an arcade game for iPhone and iPod Touch. iRoach is a funny game with superior graphics of cockroaches and other insects. When you squash them, see them torn into pieces with insides flowing out. Besides new insects to hunt for, the game has brand new Christmas interface and game graphics. The game utilizes the iPhone’s touch screen interface and brings excellent gaming experience. A new version of the game is rated highly by players.
• SeeItWithUs has announced Video Zoom 1.0 for iPhone 3GS devices. Digital zoom for iPhone 3GS Camcorder is a feature requested by millions of 3GS users is finally on the App Store. It’s the first digital zoom solution for iPhone’s camcorder. While there have been several apps on the app store which enabled digital zoom functionality on the iPhone’s still camera, a similar feature for the 3GS video camera was much awaited.
• App Cubby and Honeywell Consumer Products Group have announced the release of Gas Cubby by FRAM, a free, sponsored version of App Cubby’s critically acclaimed iPhone app Gas Cubby. All iPhone and iPod Touch owners can download the app and use it to optimize fuel economy and better maintain their vehicle. With a focus on ease-of-use, Gas Cubby by FRAM supports multiple vehicles, and offers excellent charts for miles-per-gallon, gas price, gas expenses, as well as service expenses.
• IK Multimedia has announced the release of a new application for the iPhone/iPod Touch: GrooveMaker Reggae. This new style-based app allows anyone to create and share non-stop reggae tracks for remixing, multimedia and movie soundtrack compositions on the go, in real-time, just like a professional DJ or music producer.
• Daze End Software has announced Listmaker 1.2, a new version of their list manager for the iPhone and iPod touch. Listmaker is a simple tool for storing and organizing user-created lists. Major features include support for nested sublists and web synchronization. This new version adds often requested features such as searching, and the ability to create lists from the contents of the iPhone’s clipboard.
• Daze End Software has released Action Lists 2.2, a new version of their task manager for the iPhone and iPod touch. Action Lists is designed specifically for the popular Getting Things Done methodology created by David Allen. Action Lists has many GTD-specific features. Version 2.2 adds user requested features like searching and the ability to create tasks from the contents of the iPhone’s clipboard.
• The Sherlock Holmes Quiz app is now on the App Store. This is a quiz of your detective knowledge. The game has four challenging levels and each level covers questions on Sherlock Holmes’ day to day life, mysteries, villains, and all those wonderful films with the great duo. The aim is to finish the final level and become an all-knowing fan.
• The Movie Buff app is now on the App Store. Who stared in Sherlock Holmes, Who directed Star Wars? Too easy for you? Not to worry, Movie Buff will test you to the limit…was it Eva Gardner or Susan Hayward in Mogambo? Movie Buff is a fun Movie quiz and with over 2,000 questions it promises hours of entertainment. This is a race against time to get those tricky questions right. The more you answer correctly, the more time you get. So, if you were really good, you will get the longest quiz. Not only that, Movie Buff figures out what is your favourite movie genre, as well. You might be surprised!
• Sulaba, Inc. has announced Journal Diary 1.1.4 for iPhone and iPod touch. Journal Diary lets you record your memories, thoughts, ideas and special events with not just written words but with voice recordings, pictures, and emotions as well. Journal Diary can also be customized for password protection with its handy Vault. Keep discreet information like bank account numbers, logins etc in a safe. The main features are divided into 5 modules and the help section provides tips for their usage.
• Sulaba, Inc. has announced PMP Cheat Sheet 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch. The PMP Cheat Sheet features a concise set of project management processes, formulas, terminologies and notes used for quick reference. It can be used as a memory refreshing tool by a seasoned Project management professional or as a simple, basic and brief instruction set for accomplishing a specific task by a novice Project manager.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: iPhone, iPhone

It isn’t too often you hear Microsoft praising Apple, or their iPhone. Few may remember this, but the CEO of Microsoft Steve Balmer said in 2007 that, “There’s no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share,” in an interview with USA Today. In many parts of the world, the iPhone has captured significant marketshare. Especially Japan, where the iPhone has 46% of the Japan smartphone market.

Recently Windows Mobile was compared to the iPhone at the Connect! tech summit in London and much praise was made to the iPhone OS, by Microsoft UK’s Head of Mobility, Phil Moore.

Here’s what he had to say:

“We’re still playing catch-up. When Apple came on to the scene a couple of years ago, it threw away the rulebook and reinvented it. We unfortunately don’t have that luxury. It’s true, Apple caught us all napping. It launched something that was very iconic, new and unseen with a very good user interface.”

Hearing the quote at first made me wonder why a company with so many resources couldn’t keep up with Apple. Thinking over it, Microsoft has many enterprise users who rely on certain products, and having them reinvented is not something Microsoft can afford to do. Apple started fresh with a brand new, ahead-of-the-times mobile OS, while Microsoft already had an outdated mobile operating system. If they were to just trash it, that would force companies using it to retrain employees, spend more money and create a new infrastructure.

I’ve heard it said many times that small start-ups can innovate more easily when compared to big companies like Google and Microsoft. If YouTube were to roll out a new feature for chatting, for example, it could put a larger load on servers, annoy users, and then hurt YouTube’s brand.

Going back to Phil Moore’s comment; He didn’t go without mentioning that Windows Mobile 7 will promise more usability. However, we’ll be waiting a bit longer as it has been pushed to 2010.

Via Cult of Mac

Full Story » | Written by Nicholas Montgomery for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Software + Apps, Home and Personal, Music, Video, iPod + iTunes, iPod touch, iTunes, iPhone, iPhone, iPhone SDK & Apps, Mac + Computers, Software, Features, How-To, Originals

Being the go-to Mac guy amongst my family and some friends, I’m no longer surprised by the questions I’m asked. Or how many times I’m asked. This is the case with iTunes gift cards. They’re becoming more and more common as the popularity of the Mac and iPhone/iPod continues to grow, but the giver doesn’t always understand that the recipient may be new to these devices and is unaware of how they work. Thankfully, it’s actually quite basic once you know where to go.

iTunes

If you’re downloading music/videos for your Mac, or the same plus games for your iPhone or iPod touch, you can easily handle all of this through iTunes. iPhone and iPod touch owners will already have an account. If you’re a Mac user checking out iTunes for the first time, you’ll need to create your account. Apple has basic instructions on this at their support site.

Okay, now that we’re all past that, let’s hit the iTunes App Store. Log in, if you haven’t already. You do that by clicking on “Sign In” in the upper right of the window and filling in your information. If you’re already logged in, you’ll see your account name here instead of “Sign In.”

With this done, on the left hand side, you’ll see the little green shopping bag icon next to “iTunes Store.” Click on that.

After a loading period, you’ll see the welcome screen of the store hawking the latest releases. Ignore all of that and look up at the upper right of the window. Just under “Quick Links” you’ll see “Redeem.” Click on that.

You’re then presented with the iTunes gift card/certificate redemption screen. Depending upon the card you got, the graphic may look familiar.

Enter the code on your card here. The amount of the card will be applied to your account, and you’re set to start shopping.

iPhone / iPod touch

Suppose you’re not near your computer, though. Maybe you’re trapped at a gathering and you really need some distraction. Apple feels your pain, and they’ve made it possible to get your credit applied to your account directly with the iPhone and iPod touch.

The first thing you’ll want to do is launch the App Store app (likely on your home screen, unless you moved it). Once you’re in, tap the “Featured” button on the bottom left of the screen.

After this, you have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the list to find the “Redeem” icon (with thick sarcasm, I would like to thank Apple for making this so easy to find).

Tap this, and you’ll see the blank field for entering your code. If you’re not logged in, you’ll be asked to do so. Then, the money will be in your account. Feel free to start downloading. Looking for some ideas? Katie Gatto has offered some recommendations for both $25 and $50 budgets.

• What to do with that iTunes gift card you got for Christmas: $25 Edition
• What to do with that iTunes gift card you got for Christmas: $50 Edition

Enjoy!

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: iPod + iTunes, iPod touch, iPhone, iPhone, iPhone SDK & Apps, Originals

Happy Holidays to all. It seems that developers and the App Store are in the mood for giving the good stuff as you’ll see below.

• Qik Live - First came Ustream, now we have Qik. It’s very similar to Ustream in allowing you to stream video from your iPhone to the web with much simplicity. It works over WiFi and 3G and will integrate well with Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
• CoPilot Live Directions - Likely too late for your trip to wherever the holidays may have taken you, but it might be soon enough for the venture back. This is an over-the-air GPS guidance app that’s totally free for the first 30 days. Actually, it’s free forever, but you won’t get voice guidance, nor 3D maps. Still, it’s a step in the right direction for those of you who, for some reason, rely on Maps.app for guidance.
• Glow Hockey FREE - What’s better than air hockey? Air Hockey that glows like only radio-activity and LCD screens can. Kind of reminds me of the Wii air hockey game I played for a few minutes a year ago…
• 3D Cell Breaker - More glowing, gaming fun. Just another brick breaking game with a 3D perspective. This will probably be more interesting if you haven’t already exhausted all of the other brick breaking games on the App Store.
• Chalk Fighter - It’s sort of like Space Invaders…in chalk.  It’s not free for long, so you’d better download this one before you have to pay to defend your chalkboard.
• pushme.to - It’s possible that your relatives are pushing you to do any number of things, but I’ll keep the obvious jokes to myself because this limited time freebie is refering to something else. This app provides a way for non-iphone users, non-texters and anyone else who you don’t want to see with your phone number a way to push a message to your iPhone’s screen. Widgets can be added to your site, and messages are sent just like SMS as a pushed message. After signing up, you’ll have a pushme.to/yournamehere link for your friends to bother you constantly without charge. Grab it now!

Full Story » | Written by Jake Gaecke for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »