Dropkick is a simple, elegant to do list for your iPad that wirelessly syncs to your Mac and iPhone with its companion apps. The beauty in Dropkick is the simplicity and strait forward design.
If you pick this one up, let us know what you think! Trailer and screenshots after the break.
[Free for iPad - iTunes link] [Free for iPhone - iTunes link]
Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.
When Apple next announces their financial results, they should have close to $70 billion in the bank, which according to Asymco will be enough to buy all their manufacturing competitors with the exception of Samsung. That includes HTC, Nokia, RIM, LG, Motorola, and Sony Ericsson. (Google and Microsoft aren’t manufacturers, they’re platform vendors.)
The more remarkable thing is that as market values of phone vendors continue to decline, Apple’s cash will continue to grow dramatically. Indeed, a time may soon come when Apple’s cash will be worth more than the entire phone industry.
I’ll say it again — North Carolina isn’t a data center, it’s a money bin.
[Asymco]
Wikibot — A Wikipedia Articles Reader brings a beautiful UI, tabbed browsing, and customization to reading Wikipedia on your iPhone and iPad. Additionally, you can save articles to read offline.
If you pick this one up, let us know what you think! Screenshots after the break.
[$0.99 - iTunes link]
Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.
Having second thoughts about iTunes 10.5 beat and wondering how to downgrade back to 10.3 on Windows? If you decided to take the plunge and try out the beta of iOS 5, you must also have upgraded your iTunes software to 10.5 beta. We have already covered how to downgrade your iPhone from iOS 5 to iOS 4.3.3 but what if you want to downgrade iTunes too? Well below is a guide to help you do just that.
A word of warning; before you start. This worked for me and should work for you too however there is always an element of risk, especially if you have a lot of content stored in iTunes. If you still want to go ahead and try it, read on after the break!
If any of our readers take the plunge and try this out, let us know how you get on in the comments. If you know of an easier method, again please let us know!
Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to news@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)
The incredible Square credit card reader has taken America by storm, allowing anyone, anywhere to take credit cart payments — just last week I was at an Etsy-laden craftfair, and just about every seller had one attached to an iPhone or iPad. However, one downside of the system is that it’s USA only, even though there are plans to expand into other nations.
A Canadian company has beaten Mr Dorsey to the punch, and Payfirma is producing a very familiar looking dongle for our Northern friends. The associated app looks heavily influenced by Square too.
Despite my last name, I’m not a Canuck, so I have no idea if these Payfirma cats are decent or not. Do we have any Canadian readers who care to weigh in on what they’re like for customer service, charges, and all sorts of other things?
Full press release after the jump:
Payfirma Launches iPhone Mobile Payment App
Canada’s first iPhone & iPad Credit Card Terminal Available on iTunes
VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In response to the growing consumer and merchant demand for mobile payment technologies in Canada, Payfirma Corporation has launched its proprietary iPhone Mobile Payment app, also compatible with iPod Touch and iPad.
“While there are other apps similar to Payfirma’s out there, none are designed with the needs and culture of Canadian merchants or consumers in mind.”
Developed in Vancouver by the Company’s Fintech Innovation Team, the app is available as a free download from Apple’s iTunes App Store. It can be activated remotely by any merchant account customer of Payfirma’s, and the optional card swiper can be purchased directly from the Company.
“Canadian consumers and businesses are extremely technology literate and savvy,” says Michael Gokturk, Founder & CEO of Payfirma, Canada’s leading innovator of payment processing technologies & services. “They are always seeking efficient and secure means of transacting financially with one another, and our mobile payment app enables them to do just that.”
Payfirma’s proprietary app lets any business or consumer accept all major credit cards securely on an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. Users can swipe or manually input a credit card, capture a digital signature on the screen, and authorize the transaction within 10 seconds. A customizable receipt can then be emailed directly to the customer from within the app.
“We developed the this product with Canadians in mind,” continues Gokturk. “While there are other apps similar to Payfirma’s out there, none are designed with the needs and culture of Canadian merchants or consumers in mind.”
The app is offered for free, but users must have a valid Canadian merchant account to process live transactions. Opening a merchant account with Payfirma is easy, and can be opened directly within the app itself, or on the Company’s website.
To learn more about Payfirma’s low-cost and highly-customizable payment processing solutions, visit their website or call (800) 747-6883 to speak to a dedicated Payment Advisor.
ABOUT PAYFIRMA
Payfirma is Canada’s true all-inclusive payment processor, providing merchants and businesses with the latest and best-in-class technology. Built around the needs of the market and customers, it fundamentally understand that only when you succeed does Payfirma succeed. And, that saving time and money is vital. Their full-range of Credit Card, Mobile Payment, eCommerce and Integrated Point-Of-Sale solutions are designed to do exactly that. Merchants and businesses will operate more efficiently and maximize their profit in no time!
The Summer season is in full swing! It’s no secret, the second I leave the iPhone Alley office I’m headed straight to the pool. If I wasn’t so landlocked in Oklahoma, I know that I’d be at the beach or lake instead. But, as long as I’m near some water, I’m good. But, my love for the sun and water does not mesh well with the love for my iPhone. I rarely throw my iPhone in my swim bag. What if it gets wet? Too hot? Banged around? Sand in it?
The Amphibian Waterproof Hard Case by Proporta is the solution I’ve been looking for. If you are a beach bum or lake goer, then you must check this product out.
The case consists of a few different parts. There is a hard plastic shell that fits on the front and back of the phone. Then a clear thick waterproof silicon skin goes over the top of the hard case. Finally, and the most important part, is the back which screws into the hard case. It has a seal on it designed to keep any water or weather out.
I know you are probably thinking that your Otterbox does all this, right? Wrong, this case makes your iPhone waterproof. That means, if you want to take some underwater pictures….no problem! Want to put it in your swim trunks pocket while you surf….no problem!
I always like to test out the product fully to make sure it really does what it says. So, I took an old damaged iPhone 4 and put the case on it and took it for a swim. When i took the case off, not even a bit of moisture was on it. This product is the real deal. If you love the water like I do, you no longer have to choose between it and your iPhone. With the Amphibian Waterproof Hard Case, your iPhone is safe!
Even the biggest Angry Birds fan will want to stay away from this blinged out iPhone case. Not only does the bedazzled exterior look uncomfortable to hold to your ear, but the HUGE 3D Angry Bird protruding out the back has me at a loss for words. It looks like something Elle Woods would carry in a Legally Blonde sequel. Okay, maybe not the best reference for an iPhone site, but even the biggest Apple fanatic will want to take gander at this hideous accessory. It’s kind of like looking at a car wreck. You won’t be able to take your eyes off of it. 
If gaudy, unpractical Angry Bird bling is your thing then head on over to Etsy to place an order. The Swarovski diamond hard back iPhone 4 case will only set you back $200! Now that is enough to make any flightless bird angry!
When some people want to create awesome interactive books, they go the route of a standalone app — but it turns out that many of the awesome features you can pack into an app can also be used within iBooks by using a combination of HTML5, CSS3 and Javascript. The demo above is for “KADATH, the guide of the unknown city” an ebook based on the city mentioned in HP Lovecraft’s work, and it has some very cool ideas — including losing your sanity the more you read, which turns the text blurrier and harder to distinguish — a very Lovecraftian concept.
This probably won’t work too well on your e-ink reader, but for something like the iPad? It’s very cool, but without feeling too flashy or distracting.
[via Cult of Mac]
Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!
Zombie Ball: Zombies have invaded a quiet suburban neighborhood and the only thing that can stop them is a giant metal ball, the latest invention from the crazy professor’s garage! [$1.99 - iTunes link]
Speech2Tweet: Tweet just by talking! [$1.99 - iTunes link]
HitIt: Hit the creatures back in their hole when they come out, use a mallet or other things provided in the game. [$0.99 - iTunes link]
iWatermark: Put a watermark on your photos! [Free - iTunes link]
Milo: Local Shopping Search the shelves of local stores both at home and on-the-go. [Free - iTunes link]
Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!
Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.
According to a poster Hacker News, the Nitro JavaScript engine brought to iOS 4.3′s Safari browser, is now available to embedded UIWebViews and home screen WebClips in iOS 5. Apple originally claimed the Nitro engine, ported from desktop Safari, would make iOS Safari 2x faster, but due to restrictions on code interpretation (Nitro uses JIT, or Just-in-Time compilation), it was only available in the Safari sandbox. This effectively made web pages embed in apps and saved to the home screen feel twice as slow. No longer, according to this thread:
Q: Did they fix the bug from 4.3 where home screen web apps don’t use Nitro?
A: This is probably breaking my NDA to say this, but yes, they did. Web.app now has the “dynamic-codesigning” entitlement, which enables Nitro.
In other words, embed webpages and home screen web apps just became first class citizens, and should have the speed to prove it.
[Hacker News via CNET]
Join your hosts Marianne Schultz and myself for The Show: 27 – “Whilly-Nilly”. You can subscribe to our show on iTunes, grab our RSS feed, listen now or download directly. We broadcast our iPad and iPhone podcast live each week. If you missed the live show, we hope you’ll join us next week for live chat and more. Our next show will be June 2nd at 7pm EST. If you’d like to be included on a future broadcast, please call 646-820-3431 and leave your name along with your question. If you’d like to provide us with feedback, we’ve set up a topic in our forums.
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Hosts:
Christopher Meinck @meinck
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Topics:
iPad 3 graphics hidden in iOS 5
iPhone 4S In Final Stages Of Testing, To Be Hybrid GSM/CDMA Version?
iPhone 4 Goes Unlocked From $649
Apple Changes Tune On In-App Subscriptions
Apple Launches “Back To School” Deal With $100 Mac App Store Giftcard
Relevant Links:
WeightMeter boasts of being most helpful and time saving iPhone weight tracking app available. It will even remind you to track your weight with notifications.
If you pick this one up, let us know what you think! Trailer and screenshots after the break.
[$0.99 - iTunes link]
Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.
iPhone4 is available in black and white. Both look stunning and very attractive. Starting from the exterior, the new iPhone 4 is the most attractive looking piece of phone available. The glass used in the exterior of the iPhone 4 is known as aluminosilicate glass, which is used in the making of the screen of helicopters. The glass is altered chemically so that it is stronger therefore it is strengthened and is 20 times more stiff and is 30 times more hard than plastic; These qualities makes the glass extra durable and more scratch resisting. The best part is that it is recyclable. The stainless steel band around the phone is made out of a unique alloy, which is stronger than the regular steel. The band provides the phone with an impressive structure which is very rigid and strong. The rigidity is what enables the phone to be so thin. The phone is 9.3 mm this and making iPhone 4 the thinnest smart phone in the world.
The chip used in the iPhone 4 is known as Apple A4 chip which superior to the other chips. It is very powerful and allows the users to perform complicated tasks like making FaceTime calls, editing videos and much more. These tasks can be performed all at once as well which makes the iPhone 4 the coolest phone ever!
iPhones have been known for their best camera results, but iPhone 4’s camera reaches a whole new level of good results. The camera is capable of capturing ravishingly beautiful 5 megapixel photos. The camera is also able to capture HD video as well. The camera is able to capture great pictures in dim light as well which is due to the advanced backside illuminating sensor. The phone also has an inbuilt LED which performs two tasks. It can work as a flash when taking pictures and when shooting a video it can illuminate the scene by staying on and working as a light. The front of the iPhone 4 also has a camera on the front which is perfect for making FaceTime calls and taking amazingly detailed self portraits.
iPhone 4 comes with the Dual Mic Noise Suppression System. This system helps in turning every phone conversation quiet because it blocks out the background noise. How it works is that there are two mics. The main mic is near the dock connector at the bottom. This mic is supposed to be used for making phone calls, giving commands and much more. The second mic is located at the top where the headphones jack. This mic can be used to make FaceTime calls and also it helps in reducing noise when making phone calls. It cuts down the sounds in the backgrounds drastically making the conversation easier and noise free.
The graphics of this new iPhone 4 are very impressive as well. The LCD is backlit. The display has a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch making the phone the highest resolution phone available in the market. In order to achieve this high resolution, Apple engineers have developed pixel of about 78 micrometers, i.e. they are so small that the human eye can’t make a distinction between individual pixels. All this and the experience of using iPhone 4 is enough to make a person a fan of this technology. With excellent colors and design this piece of technology is a must have!
If you love reading books and follow the best sellers all year long, they are now only a tap away. iPhone brings you iBooks, which is a great place for you to browse through thousands of books and to give you a satisfactory reading experience. You can now browse through books any time of the day and buy or download for free and many ebooks as you want. The retina screen provides you with amazing looking illustrations and brilliant colors which make the reading experience a delight. The sharp text is very pleasing to the eyes and you may find yourself lost in the world of books and lose track of time. When you tap the iBooks icon, a book shelf appears which becomes full as you download ebooks and, sooner than you think, it fills up with your favorite books. You can browse according to the title, genre and even according to the author. Not only that, the application allows you to check the New York Best Seller list as well. It also allows you to find your favorite book and do sample readings before you buy the ebook or download it free.
Unlike other phones, which force you to change you reading habits, iBooks allows you to change the look of the ebook according to your habits so that you don’t have to change. To suit your needs, iBooks is programmed so that you can adjust the brightness of the book according to your need. If you have any font preferences, that is not a problem too, because this application allows you to adjust the font size. The text adjusts itself to fit to the screen and it can also switch between portrait and landscape. If you don’t understand a work you don’t have to run and get a dictionary, because iBooks comes with an inbuilt dictionary. Also it has a feature called VoiceOver which can read to you the content of the page if you are not in the mood of reading.
iBooks allows you to visit iBookStore which has over 200,000 books available and this number increases every day. The publishers are able to create ebook versions easily because iBooks uses the popular format called ePub. Free ePub titles can be found on web by using your Mac and your PC. The books in iBooks are illustrated as well which unbelievable yet realistic colors that just pleasure the eyes and makes the reading an experience in itself. The best feature is that when you want to take a break iBooks saves the page and the line you left, and you don’t need to scroll down and flip through pages to find what you were reading. Also, if you find a piece of inspiration in the text you can highlight it bookmark it for future reference. This feature is particularly good for students. A variety of genres are available including cookbooks, baby books, art books etc, filled with gorgeous looking illustrations and pictures, making the reading very interesting. In addition to that there are many unpublished pieces that one can find and read.
Apple seemed to carry out a pretty good business when it launched its touch system cell phones by the name of iPhones. The first to hit the market was 2gs that slowly made its way to the solid iPhone 4gs. Now after selling like hot cakes the new item is in town. Yes! You have guessed it right. The iPhone 5 is now going to make a bang in the market very soon. Rumours have been circulating regarding its release and design but recently Apple itself has confirmed its launch this year.
This version is compatible with all the latest apple products like iPad 1 and 2, iPods and all series of iPhones. The notifications feature in this cell phone helps you keep updated all the time. There is small folder on the desktop on which you have to manage all notifications you want to receive. As soon as you receive one a small notice comes on top of the screen. This dynamic touch phone has also introduced the feature of iMessaging via which you can send unlimited texts, photos, contacts and every possible thing through text messages for free if a Wi-Fi service is available. The person receiving the messages should also have an iPhone at the other end. This facility is compatible with 3gs.
If you are a twitter fan the phone will provide you with your twitter world any time. All your contacts can be stored with their profiles and contacts. Managing photos and editing them was never as easy as it is in the iPhone 5 technology world. You can edit photos manage them and even command them to automatically shift into your iPad. How cool is that! This device comes with no strings attached if you do not have the pc or iPad currently with you it will transfer all the data wirelessly. If you have a joint Wi-Fi connection then the device even synchronizes your data in the iTunes of your pc and phone. Giving you all the songs, videos and photos you want.
You can even create and send mail messages with this phone. With just a swish of your finger you can add indents, do the editing, change the receipts, send and receive mail messages. You can sort and delete folders by simply dragging them on the screen. Some of the new and exciting features that this phone holds for everyone in this world are The LED flash and custom vibration settings. People with disabilities can easily operate this device due to these facilities.
If we talk about iPhones and games are not mentioned then the major part of the discussion has been missed out. With the new iPhone 5 you can create a gaming zone by creating a profile and adding friends to it. This phone brings with it new opportunities and applications for gaming so you are a part of the gaming world at all times. With its amazing features this new cell phone is for sure going to do really well in the market and bring about a change in the regular series of iPhones.
Air Guitar Move is an accessory that plugs into the dock connector of your iPhone or iPod touch and allows you to play air guitar — for real. You know when that superb guitar solo hits your ears and you can’t stop yourself from half closing your eyes, leaning back and pretending it’s you pumping out the notes? Well, with this accessory that may soon become a little bit closer to reality.
Air Guitar Move needs funding pledges of $25000 or more to start production. It currently has over $4,300 with 21 days remaining.
Take a look at the video of it in action after the break; unfortunately its a Flash video, not our fault! Then head back here and let us know what you think, is it a hit or a miss?
Apple has upped the stakes in their look-and-feel “copy cat” lawsuit against Samsung, taking the complaint from 38 to 63 pages, and now accusing Samsung of “products that blatantly imitate the appearance of Apple’s products to capitalize on Apple’s success.” According to FOSS Patents, Apple goes so far as to quote the media to help set up its case:
The copying has been widely observed in the industry and has been mentioned in multiple articles reviewing Samsung products. For example, a writer for Wired wrote that Samsung’s “Vibrant’s industrial design is shockingly similar to the iPhone 3G.” [...] “First Look: Samsung Vibrant Rips Off iPhone 3G Design.” Another Wired writer wrote, “[L]et’s settle one of the biggest arguments surrounding this phone. Yes, the Vibrant closely resembles a certain best-selling smartphone.” [...] “Samsung Vibrant Looks Like an iPhone, Has Battery Life to Match.” [...]
[A] Business Insider review of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 stated that, “[f]rom the front, it looks like an iPad.” [...]
A recent CNET reviewer remarked: “Taking another page from the iPad 2′s school of sexy tablet building, the 10.1 has one of the cleanest designs we’ve seen on a tablet. [...]“
[Fast Company:] “Samsung’s Anti-iPad 2 Policy” – “[To] Clone the Heck Out of It”
While the original complaint listed the the Samsung Captivate, Continuum, Vibrant, Galaxy S 4G, Epic 4G, Indulge, Mesmerize, Showcase, Fascinate, Nexus S, Gem, Transform, Intercept, and Acclaim smart phones and the Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet, the amended complaint adds Droid Charge, Exhibit 4G, Galaxy Ace, Galaxy Prevail, Galaxy S (i9000), Gravity, Infuse 4G, Nexus S 4G, Replenish, Sidekick, Galaxy Tab 10.1, and Galaxy S II (aka Galaxy S 2), Showcase i500 and Showcase Galaxy S. (For more on those devices, see our sibling site Android Central)
Says Florian Mueller:
In the very near term, Apple will have to decide on whether to request a preliminary injunction. Like I said further above, that’s reasonably likely. If the court appeared to give serious consideration to this measure, it could put enormous pressure on Samsung and greatly increase the likelihood of a near-term settlement in Apple’s favor. But this can also become another epic battle like the one between Apple and Nokia…
Samsung remains the manufacturer of many key components for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
Even though Apple has now filed a motion to intervene, Patrick T. Igoe, Esq., writing for Groklaw, gives his opinion on how developers should deal with a lodsys patent claim made against the iPhone or iPad app (or Android, or other platform).
However, if transaction costs rise through legitimate defenses or declaratory judgment actions, the business model is strained. Lodsys needs developers to think it is cheaper to settle than it is to fight. Developers should consider, however, whether filing a declaratory judgment action in their own district might have the possibility of creating a less costly and more satisfying resolution. With a declaratory judgment action, it is Lodsys that is faced with a dilemma. For a small or medium sized target, it may be more economically sensible for Lodsys to drop the demand for the small licensing fee even if they somehow feel they could win. It may be especially compelling if major weaknesses are identified in the infringement case, as I believe they could be here.
He also stresses you should talk to an attorney. (Of course.)
The Facebook situation on the iPad is pretty sad. You can use the HTML5 version in-browser, but it’s not as snappy as a native app; upscaling the iPhone one is simply hideous; and third party apps like Friendly are often buggy and feature poor. Relief may finally be in sight, as the NYT is reporting that Facebook is finally set to release an iPad app.
People briefed on Facebook’s plans say that in coming weeks the company plans to introduce a free iPad application that has been carefully designed and optimized for the tablet.
According to their sources, it has been in the works for about a year and has a slick design.
About damn time!
Chicago based Indie Soul label Numero Group has come out publicly saying that it will not get on board with Apple’s iTunes Match due to issues they have with payment to the artists and issues with breaking copyrights:
In the coming weeks, many customers and friends will ask us this question: why am I not able to automatically access Numero in my iCloud? The simple reason is that Apple and their major label “partners” have created a reward system that is both incomprehensible in scope and totally out of sync with iCloud’s streaming peers’ (Rdio, Spotify, et al) financial mechanics. As we have been entrusted with an incredible wealth of creative assets, and our primary responsibility is to our partners; the artists, producers, and songwriters that make up the Numero catalog, we feel that Apple’s pittance is an insult not only to them, but every other musician, living or dead, and, if the latter is the case, their heirs.
Ars Technica has talked with one of the company’s higher ups who feels as though iTunes Match is legitimizing piracy — and that pirates could use the service to replace the low quality MP3s they downloaded.
We are primarily a physical goods company,” co-owner Rob Sevier said. “Because of that, we don’t get too bogged down in bootlegging; we just can’t stay up all night and worry about it. But for Apple to say that all your bootlegs are welcome, it just bothers us.”
Which completely ignores those of us who converted our CD collections to MP3, bought digital downloads through BandCamp, directly from artists, or through other digital distribution paths like Amazon and non-American stores.
That said, I can see where Sevier is coming from with regards to the money that would actually make it to the artists from your $25 a year being an utter pittance.
This little suction cup joystick will work with any came with an on-screen d-pad, allowing you to actually get some physical interaction and feedback when trying to steer your character around a screen. At $17.99 a pop the JOYSTICK-IT is a bit pricey, especially when compared to other similar devices (where you can score two for $25) — but you get that awesome retro look of having a little joystick sticking out from the face of your iPhone.
If you’re looking for something for your iPad instead, you can pick up a larger version for $24.99 or two for $34.99
[via CultofMac]
After being glaringly absent from the App Store since the original iPad was released last year, The New York Times reports that Facebook is finally readying an official app for the iPad
The app has been in production at Facebook for almost a year, going through several design iterations, and is now in the final stages of testing, according to these people, who declined to be named because they were discussing confidential product plans.
An official Facebook for iPhone app has been available since Apple launched the App Store back in 2008. The iPad app, now rumored to be on the verge of release, should deliver a photo and video experience that’s “amazing, offering full resolution and full-screen images”. It’s said to be a much better experience than browsing Facebook from iPad Safari and other, 3rd party iPad Facebook apps. According to the report, Facebook has put a lot of work towards overhauling and integrating Facebook’s Chat and Groups features, and they’re also said to be working on a unique iPad-specific version of the website.
Previously, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had gone on the record stating he didn’t believe they should put efforts into making an official iPad app because the iPad “wasn’t a mobile device”. We wonder what could possibly have changed his mind? helped changed his mind
[NYT]