Mobile Apple Me

Section: Apple News, Conferences, Press Events, iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, iPhone OS, SDK and hacks

At their extravagant, live-streamed event yesterday, Apple showed a pre-release version of iOS 4.2. The biggest feature of this update is that it provides the iPad with all the features the iPhone and iPod touch have had for several months now: multi-tasking, app folders and the like. Multi-tasking alone is sure to make the iPad much more useful and help it be more of a tablet computer rather than a large iPod touch of sorts.

iOS 4.2 will also add two new features to the iDevices’ repertoires: AirPlay and Print Center.  Simply put, AirPlay is a rebranded version of Apple’s AirTunes—software that allows iTunes to be streamed over a local network.  The key difference between the two is that AirPlay can stream music, video and photos.  AirPlay is also integrated into certain third party speakers and receivers, meaning users do not have to sacrifice quality sound for the freedom of a wireless setup. The iPad can also act as a host for the AppleTV, meaning you can watch something on your iPad and shift the stream over to your AppleTV—a nifty feature.

The second major feature in iOS 4.2 is support for wireless printing.  A few simple taps send documents to wireless printers on local networks, and the status of the print job can be seen by tapping on the Print Center icon that appears in the multi-tasking dock.

iOS version 4.2 will be released to iPads, iPhones, iPod touches in November of this year.

Full Story » | Written by Indraneel Purohit for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: Apple News, Conferences, Press Events, iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, iDevice Apps, iPhone OS, SDK and hacks

When Apple first previewed iOS 4 back in April, one of the many features touted was Game Center, a social gaming network akin to Xbox Live. Game Center is a standalone app, but Apple also provides APIs so developers can hook their apps into the service. The release of iOS 4 came and went, and there was no sign of Game Center. But in their press event yesterday, Apple announced that Game Center will be available when iOS 4.1 is available sometime next week. Users will be able to keep track of high scores and challenge their friends in games that have multiplayer functionality.

Representatives from Epic games were given the opportunity to demo their upcoming game, tentatively titled “Project Sword.”  In its current state, the game is sort of a one-on-one sword fighting game.  Gameplay wasn’t the focus here, however, because the game was made using the Unreal 3 engine, and the graphics looked sinfully gorgeous for a device that is supposed to be used for making phone calls. There is a demo version of the app available that lets the player walk around an empty level, with no actual swordplay. It is available as a free download.

With a polished game management hub on the way, as well as robust games that push the limits of the iOS platform, the landscape for games on iOS certainly looks incredibly exciting.

Also see:

• Apple announces new iPod Touch, Game Center, available next week
• More on Apple’s Game Center for iPhone, iPod Touch

Full Story » | Written by Indraneel Purohit for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, iDevice Apps

iPhone, iPod and iPad product updates and announcements for September 2, 2010:

• Apps
• Accessories

Apps

• Telltale Games has announced that Puzzle Agent is now available for download for the iPhone and iPad. The widely popular “puzzling adventure with a twist” has captivated players since its June release on PC and Mac, and it’s now bringing its challenging brand of fun to mobile gamers. Optimized for iPhone and iPad mobile platforms, Puzzle Agent was created in collaboration with Graham Annable and is based on his indie comic work, Grickle. The game combines accessible Professor Layton-inspired puzzling, generous doses of Nordic folklore and enigmatic gnomes, with dark David Lynch and Coen brothers inspired sensibilities.
• Experience a world where dreams come true and magic is at every corner with Lamp of Aladdin. Exclusively available for iPad, the new game immerses players into the fairytale adventures of Aladdin and his faithful genie as they challenge players to test their wits in this new, puzzle adventure game. Prepare to embark on an unforgettable adventure with the magic lamp and see how it provides our hero everything (wealth, power, glory) except the affection and heart of his beloved Princess Boudour.
• No Tie’s AutoRingtone app and service empowers users to create custom Talking Ringtones using Text-To-Speech. Now, fans of Fulton Read’s music can combine their favorite songs with the new free Fultones app. Instead of relying on stock ringtones, users can create their own talking “Caller ID” ringtones. Fans of Fulton Read can combine several music clips with the AutoRingtone TTS service to create custom ringtones.
• Hairy Monster Studios has announced Roll Em Hoops HD 1.0, their latest game made exclusively for the iPad. Roll Em Hoops HD combines Skee-Ball like play with the classic basketball shooting games. Flick your finger to roll the ball up the alley into one of five hoops racking up points and unlocking unique and humorous bonus levels such as Rainbow Jumpers, COW, We’ve Got Spirit and Bombs Away. Made exclusively for the iPad, Roll Em Hoops HD features gorgeous graphics and the Ageia PhysX Engine.
• Miniclip is broadening its business to support the mobile gaming platform. With a dedicated audience of more than 57 million casual gamers worldwide and a library of more than 600 online games. Miniclip’s newly formed mobile games division, led by former Skype manager Antonio Sergio Varanda, will develop, publish and distribute its most popular online casual games for mobile operating systems.
• KeitaiArts has announced GameQuartet 1.0, its first game for iPhone and iPod touch. GameQuartet packages four newly created, casual games in a single app: Peg Solitaire, Boule, Sliding Tiles, and Word Squares. Boule is an unusual version of roulette, while the other three games are unique puzzles. The games were designed to be challenging, yet easy to learn. Scrolling text messages provide clear instructions for each stage, while full online help is available for those who want the details.
• Hashsoft has announced myPill 1.0, their first app for iOS. Featuring a friendly intuitive UI and high quality graphics, myPill is an app that helps women who’s taking birth control pills to track their pills pack, remember to take daily pill and plan future events, track history and more. myPill’s icon badge indicates how many pills are left at the pack, or alternatively how many days left until the period start. Users are able to customize the message of alerts, password protect data and more.
• The hardworking developers behind the popular mobile social game, Office Heroes, have cracked the employee suggestion box, going live with two hot updates in one week: push notifications and friend codes. Let the employee appreciation begin! Next up: free pizza and Hawaiian shirt Fridays. Or Vampire Fridays, if that’s your thing.
• Frimby Limited has released SongStumblr 2.0, an update to its music discovery and sharing app for iOS. SongStumblr brings a new form of musical interaction to the App Store, allowing users to share and discover music with people across the globe. Users can listen to discovered songs for free, purchase songs, or find information about songs via online databases. SongStumblr’s new servers bring the world’s music to your device.
• AssistiveWare has announced Proloquo2Go 1.4 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Version 1.4 is a major update to the premier consumer device-based augmentative and alternative communication solution for people who cannot speak. Costing a fraction of the dedicated devices it rivals in power, portability and easy of use, Proloquo2Go 1.4 has been optimized for the gorgeous retina display of the iPhone 4 and brand new iPod touch and includes updated higher quality voices.
• CR Digital Design, Inc. has announced the launch of AppDictions. AppDictions brings you all the information you need about new and existing applications for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. AppDictions filters through the 350,000+ apps in the App Store to bring you up-to-date on relevant news regarding apps, as well as providing detailed app reviews. The website gives developers the resource to advertise their app, gain useful review information for future updates, and much more.
• ComboApp has announced a discount of its 3D Coloring Book for Kids app for the iPad that is effective immediately. Created specifically for the iPad and designed to encourage children’s artistic development, 3D Coloring Book for Kids will be on sale until September 7th. True to its namesake, 3D Coloring Book for Kids offers users the ability to draw in three dimensions rather than two, allowing them to rotate and move original content around within the app.
• Appmania has announced Farm it! 1.0, their new game for iPad devices. Farm it is an enthralling and colorful arcade about the passionate rooster’s escapades whose aim is to procreate as many offsprings as possible. All farms around the world are in a big trouble, all of their chicks have disappeared. The last hope of the chicken population lies with the Young Rooster, a real hero. Offering fun and exciting game play, Farm it! features charming characters and more.
• Mindwarm Incorporated has released Swami Roberts 1.0 for iPhone, Android, iPad and iPod touch. Swami Roberts can answer your most secret questions. This universal app for iPad and iPhone is available in the Entertainment category of the iTunes App Store. The Android version is in the Google Market. Swami Roberts will give you a yes or no answer to your secret question. No one has updated the Magic 8 ball for smartphone technology - until now. Swami Roberts knows your answer.

Accessories

• The first generation of Speck’s exclusive Fitted Artsprojekt cases for the iPhone 4 are now available, bringing artist-inspired visual stimulation and trusty device protection to a lucky limited number. Available for the first time at select Best Buy stores, these four all-new releases were designed by members of the groundbreaking international Artsprojekt syndicate for a totally original, inspired look.
• Small businesses can now get everything they need in one package to quickly start processing credit cards on their iPhone. Intuit Inc. and mophie have announced the availability of the Complete Credit Card Solution, an all-in-one product that enables small businesses to easily process credit card payments via the Apple iPhone. It integrates Intuit’s GoPayment credit card processing app and quick-to-activate merchant account with the mophie marketplace iPhone credit card reader. This package is now available in Apple Retail Stores and soon on Apple.com
• AG Findings has announced the availability of the Beetle case in its much-anticipated iPhone 4 case collection, at AT&T retail stores nationwide. The Beetle cases are crafted to be slim and light-weight for ultimate comfort, and are available in a broad range of bold colors. The design allows access to the device’s camera and controls. Each case is also engineered with a shock absorbing liner to provide superior impact protection.

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

Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPod touch, iDevice Accessories, iPod, iPod Accessories, iPod Cases, iPod shuffle, iPod nano, Originals

At their September 1st media event, Apple updated every iPod in the product line (save for the lonely, forgotten classic). That, of course, means new cases. Plenty of them. And the developers have been quick to issue press releases about that they’ll be making available, and when. As they come in, we’ll round them all up here so you can be ready to go when your new iPods touch, nano and/or shuffle arrive.

Scosche - iPod touch and iPod nano

Scosche Industries has announced six stylish new case designs for the new iPod touch (kickBACK t4, switchKASE t4, metalliKASE t4, beefKASE t4) and two for the new nano (tightGRIP, soundKASE n6).  The uniquely designed cases offer a variety of added functionality and superior protection. The new additions to the Scosche Protect line will range in price from $14.99 to $39.99 MSRP.

iLuv - iPod touch and iPod nano

iLuv has announced a new line of stylish cases and a screen protectors for Apple’s new iPod Touch and nano. Ranging from colorful and graphic designed silicone and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) rugged cases to clear and glare-free screen protectors, this series of new iPod Touch and nano inspired cases present a great protective solution for any new iPod owner. The entire line of new Apple iPod Touch and nano accessories will be available in September for prices ranging from $14.99 to $34.99.

Griffin Technology - iPod touch and iPod nano

Griffin Technology, Inc., debuted their first accessories for Apple’s new iPod nano and iPod touch. The selection of devices includes the new Wristlet for iPod nano and FormFit for iPod touch, as well as updates to Griffin’s Outfit, Elan Form, FlexGrip, and Motif case lines.

Waterfield Design - iPod touch

WaterField Designs has announced Suede Jacket cases to clothe Apple’s latest iPod touch. Each is custom-fitted to the iPod touch dimensions and is available in Black, Cheetah or Zebra Ultrasuede. The iPod Suede Jacket is a minimalist case offering elegant scratch protection without adding bulk. WaterField also offers the Travel Case to keep the iPod touch and its cords and accessories organized and tangle free. Available for pre-order now; ships September 15.

XtremeMac - iPod touch and iPod nano

XtremeMac has announced its stylish and protective cases for the 4th generation iPod touch and 6th generation nano: Tuffwrap, Tuffwrap Tatu, Microshield Basic, Microshield Accent, Microshield View, XtremeMac Hybrid, XtremeMac Sportwrap, and the Tuffshield screen protector. These new case lines allow access to all the ports, jacks and new features for the recently announced iPod models.

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