Apple pulls Print to PDF from the App Store

Apple has removed Print to PDF, a great little app that allowed you to ‘print’ documents as a PDF with Apple’s AirPrint feature in iOS, from the App Store. TiPb featured Print to PDF in a recent App for That post, so we’re sad to see it go.

Enrique Rodriquez from the Print to PDF team has released the following statement:

We regret to inform you that as of August 26th, ‘Print to PDF’ is no longer available on the Apple App Store. On August 24th, we received a call from Apple Developer Relations telling us that we are not allowed to use AirPrint as a way to print documents to PDF and that for this reason the app could no longer be available on the App Store.

He goes on to express his surprise because Apple had approved many different versions of the app – so why did they suddenly change their mind?

Only Apple knows that answer to that question, but I’m hoping this means that Apple is planning to include this functionality in a future version of iOS. What’s your theory?

If you currently have Print to PDF installed on your iPhone or iPad, it will continue to run just fine (don’t delete it!), but, unfortunately, you will not be seeing any future updates for it.

[printtopdfapp.com]

Apple releases iTunes 10.5 beta 8, iWork for iOS beta 3

No new iOS for iPhone or iPad beta yet, but Apple has dropped iTunes 10.5 beta 8 and iWork for iOS beta 3 on developers today. Could most of the iOS 5 beta heavy lifting have been done, and now the focus switched to iCloud? Just might be.

For would be iTunes Match testers, this time Apple reminds that:

iTunes Match beta is currently available to developers in the United States.

No word yet on what if any changes might have crept in.

[developer.apple.com]

Apple tells developers to get their apps ready for iCloud Backup and Restore

Apple has put up a post on their Developer News page tellings devs to start getting their apps ready for iCloud Backup and Restore:

iCloud introduces a smarter way for users to back up their info. It’s important to read the new iCloud Data Storage Guidelines to ensure that your app works best with iCloud Backup and Restore, available on iOS 5.

We’re getting closer.

[Apple Developer News]

Garmin Street Pilot now includes transit information

Garmin has already developed a high-end navigation app called the StreetPilot OnBoard, the only issue is that it is rather expensive. For those who use navigational systems only sparingly, then the StreetPilot OnDemand is the best option. The app is available for $0.99 to download and the services are provided “on demand”. The app also comes with a 30-day free trial of the premium features, which include, turn-by-turn guidance with street names, traffic information, Google Local Search and visual aid through 3D buildings and landmarks. To subscribe for these features you will need to spend $2.99 per month. However, one of the latest features to be added to the suite is the local transit information feature.

 
The feature is very innovative because it seamlessly integrates the information that you put in to create an impressively efficient travel plan. It works by loadeing all the major bus and train transit schedules in many of the world’s major cities (at-least in cities that feature buses and trains that run according to a schedule) and then presents that information based on your requirements. As you set up a travel route, you will be able to add a variety of transit options including buses and trains. There will be additional information to help you get around on foot. Moreover, the information can be customized to fit your itinerary.
 
You can even use that app confidently in places that do not have stable internet connections because the maps are stored on the cloud. Hence, before you set out to a certain city, you can select the maps you will most likely use and then store the rest on the cloud (saving up space on the iPhone). The app can be downloaded from the Garmin website or the iTunes store.  

Found Footage: Conan On The Lost iPhone 5

style="height: 390px; width: 640px;" width="640" height="390" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0">name="allowFullScreen" value="true" />name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" />name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n8riJCf-qvM?version=3" />name="allowfullscreen" value="true" />name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" />style="height: 390px; width: 640px;" width="640" height="390" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n8riJCf-qvM?version=3" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" />

[via href="http://www.cultofmac.com/apples-new-stolen-iphone-5-ad-what-well-do-to-you-when-we-find-you-humor/113013">Cult of Mac]

Radio Shack To Finally Score Verizon iPhone 4

style="text-align: left;">href="http://cdn.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/radioshackiphoneverizon.png">class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23561" title="radioshackiphoneverizon" src="http://cdn.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/radioshackiphoneverizon.png" alt="" width="591" height="296" />On September 15th, just days/weeks/whatever before the iPhone 5 is pegged to launch, href="http://9to5mac.com/2011/09/08/radio-shack-lands-the-verizon-iphone-4-on-september-15th-just-ahead-of-iphone-5">Radio Shack will finally get the Verizon iPhone 4. After all this time, they’ll finally get the 16GB and 32GB Verizon iPhone 4, and some will even get the Verizon iPad 2. This mid-September launch date only makes sense when you realize that Radio Shack has never stocked Verizon goods before, and this marks a new partnership between the two companies.

style="text-align: left;">It’s still worryingly close to the proposed iPhone 5 launch date, which most of us are guessing will be in the first half of October. Either Radio Shack doesn’t plan for these to be on their shelves for long, or else they’re not getting the Verizon iPhone 5 at launch.

Adobe Figures Out How To Live Stream To iOS

Adobe hasn’t quite figured out how to get Flash onto iOS, but what they have done is put out a new way of offering streaming media on Apple’s products. href="http://www.tuaw.com/2011/09/09/adobes-flash-media-server-4-5-will-stream-video-to-ios-devices/">The newly announced Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 will enable content creators not just to stream video over Flash to users, but will also use HTTP Live Streaming to users whose devices can’t handle Flash — namely iOS.

href="http://www.adobe.com/products/flashmediaserver/">Flash Media Server is an expensive piece of technology, and can cost up to $4,500 to purchase, so this isn’t something you snap up so you can livestream your Lets Play of Deus Ex from your living room. It’s a piece of software designed so major producers can stream their content out live to every device under the sun, and now that means you can potentially watch concerts live from your iPhone.

App Giveaway: MadPad by Smule

Smule has released a new music app for iOS, MadPad. It’s a video soundboard – of your life. After using the camera on your iPhone or iPad 2 to record 12 tiny clips of video and sound, your soundboard is created and you’re ready to start remixing.

I cannot justly describe the awesomeness of this app, so please watch the video below. And because we know that our readers are much more creative than us, TiPb is gifting 5 copies of MadPad for iPhone and 5 copies MadPad HD for iPad!

Remix your life with MadPad, Apple’s official iPhone and iPad App of the Week. Turn everyday sights and sounds like your car, an empty soda can, or your friends into the ultimate percussive instrument. Who would have thought everyday life could be so musical?

Create video soundboards from your life

Oh the possibilities! Just aim and shoot to capture sounds all around you – your local café, car, kitchen, kids, cat, friends – MadPad magic will take care of the rest.

Simply tap to play

Tap to play video sets just like a drum. Have fun creating your own rhythms, beats and loops.

Share with the world

Record and share music videos for the world to enjoy! Or see how your friends remix your life.

For a chance to win a copy of MadPad for iPhone or iPad, let us know which version you would prefer and give us a little hint on what type of soundboard you plan to create! (Must have a US or Canadian iTunes account to win. Apple’s rule, not ours!)

MadPad is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99 and $2.99 respectively.

[iPhone App Store link] [iPad App Store 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.

Win a FREE Naztech N15 3.5mm Mini Boom Speaker!

Friday Freebie time again, and since the TiPb iPhone Accessory Store now has the Naztech N15 3.5mm Mini Boom Speaker in stock and ready to move, we figured we’d move one of each color right on to the TiPb Nation… for FREE!

Black, pink, or blue, you can attach this speaker to your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or other mobile device, or you can pop in a Micro SD card and play your favorite music any time, any where. And all you have to do to win is head on over to our iPod touch Accessory Forum and tell us which color you want, and the name of your favorite song!

Giveaway starts now and ends Sunday at 12pm PDT. Ready… set… ENTER NOW!

Adobe announces Flash Media Server 4.5, will deliver video to iPhone, iPad

Adobe has finally announced support for simultaneous Flash and HTTP video streaming from the Flash Media Server product. This means that devices that don’t support Adobe’s Flash player or plugin, like iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, will instead get HTTP streaming videos. Same content, same server, easier for broadcasters, easier for users. And it only took years. (Microsoft announced something similar for Silverlight back in November of 2009.)

Adobe has created consistency with Adobe Flash and Adobe AIR running on more devices than any other platform. With Flash, publishers are assured that protection, transport and quality is consistent across MAC, PC, Linux, Android and Blackberry Tablet OS. Apple iPhone and iPad have had a significant impact how consumers experience and engage with video and have changed the industry. Publishers are now faced with a challenge and forced to prepare content for delivery through HTML5 to play in the Apple Safari browser or native Apps. Now publishers can simplify their video publishing and protection workflows with Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 with protected HLS support, audio channel extraction, DVR/PVR live, on demand and variant playlists. One set of content without any preparation or additional storage and deliver safely to both Adobe Flash with HDS and to Apple devices using HLS.

Yes, you can use the same assets (if they are encoded to Apple Specs) and the same server to prepare, protect and deliver both to HLS to Apple devices and HDS (HTTP Dynamic Streaming) to Adobe Flash Player.

Welcome, Adobe.

[Adobe Blog, [Adobe PR] (http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20110907007466/en/Adobe/IBC/Flash-Media-Server)]

Missing iPhone 5 Spoofed by Conan O’Brien

Not only is it amazing that Apple managed to loose two iPhone prototypes in the last two years, but some are wondering if the onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.ibtimes.com/articles/208283/20110904/iphone-5-prototype-hunt-apple-police-san-francisco-sfpd.htm');" target="_blank" href="http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/208283/20110904/iphone-5-prototype-hunt-apple-police-san-francisco-sfpd.htm">entire thing was staged for free publicity. Then there is the question of how Apple security and onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971519');" target="_blank" href="http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/971519">San Francisco police handled the search of one man’s home. The staged raid and fake lost iPhone theory seems a littler far fetched, but the circus surrounding the missing device has gotten so out of hand, that it has become pop culture fodder, and even made an appearance as a fake commercial on the Conan O’Brien Show.

If you don’t know the story here is a quick recap. Two men were charged with misdemeanors after selling an iPhone 4 prototype that was left in a Redwood City, Calif. bar by an Apple employee in 2010. The phone was sold to onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20002999-261.html?tag=mncol;txt');" target="_blank" href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20002999-261.html?tag=mncol;txt">the tech blog Gizmodo for $5,000 and eventually recovered.

On August 31, 2011 onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20099899-37/apple-loses-another-unreleased-iphone-exclusive/#ixzz1WdxCNhAI');" target="_blank" href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-20099899-37/apple-loses-another-unreleased-iphone-exclusive/#ixzz1WdxCNhAI">CNET revealed that a possible iPhone 5 prototype was left in another California bar. People were originally skeptical of the CNET story since no police report was filed, but an interview conducted by onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2011/09/lost_iphone_5_apple.php');" target="_blank" href="http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2011/09/lost_iphone_5_apple.php">SF Weekly revealed that Apple security and San Francisco police did investigate the disappearance of an iPhone prototype. Apple used GPS to track the phone to a man’s home in Bernal Heights, but the device was never found. Police are now investigating what took place at the man’s home

On Thursday Conan O’Brien aired a onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=n8riJCf-qvM');" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=n8riJCf-qvM">fake Apple commercial mocking the situation. The missing iPhone has yet to be found.

Google Blogger Finally Gets An iPhone App

href="http://cdn.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mzl.zilvynse.320x480-75.jpg">class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23564" title="mzl.zilvynse.320x480-75" src="http://cdn.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mzl.zilvynse.320x480-75.jpg" alt="" width="334" height="480" />

Google Blogger is still one of the most popular blogging platforms on the planet, and while WordPress and Tumblr have embraced iOS, it took until yesterday href="http://appshopper.com/social-networking/blogger-2">for an official Blogger app to land. The app allows you to run multiple blogs, post to them directly, upload photos from saved images or take one then and there, and embed labels and location data.

Here’s the official description:

Start blogging on the go with the official Blogger app!

With Blogger app for iPhone and iPod touch, you can easily publish posts with pictures, labels and location information. Also, you can view the list of posts and if you have multiple accounts or blogs, you can easily switch between them.

Blogger app will allow you to:/> * Select account/blog if you have more than 1./> * Include pictures from the gallery or by taking a picture directly from the app/> * Add labels/> * Add location information/> * Save as draft or immediately publish/> * View list of saved/published posts

Now why did it take them so incredibly long to push this application out the door?

Apple Introduces New iPad Shopping Tool

style="text-align: left;">href="http://cdn.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Screen-Shot-2011-09-09-at-09.55.00.png">class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23567" title="Screen-Shot-2011-09-09-at-09.55.00" src="http://cdn.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Screen-Shot-2011-09-09-at-09.55.00.png" alt="" width="597" height="401" />Apple has href="http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_ipad/family/ipad/select">overhauled the way you choose which iPad 2 you want on their webstore, introducing a new and elegant way of deciding the particulars of your device. For each step of the process you’re now offered a series of buttons, and can select whichever options you want. First color, then model (size and connectivity) and finally, if appropriate, which carrier you want to join.

style="text-align: left;">Once you’re happy with the iPad 2 you’ve selected, it’s simply a matter of hitting the big green “continue” button on the right of the screen.

style="text-align: left;">I wouldn’t be surprised if this change made its way through to other areas of the Apple Store before long, especially in items like computers which have far more variability and choices than the iPad.

style="text-align: left;">[via href="http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/09/09/apple-website-gets-a-revamp-new-ipad-shopping-wizard/">TNW]

style="text-align: center;">

Sprint iPhone 5 Plans To Offer Unlimited Data

While other carriers have started to move away from unlimited data plans, Sprint will continue to offer unlimited plans when they start selling the iPhone 5. This according to a report this morning from Bloomberg. They also reconfirm previous stories that Sprint will indeed offer the iPhone 5 and will start doing so in mid-October.

All things being equal, will unlimited data tip the scales in favor of a move to Sprint? Anyone plan on jumping from either AT&T or Verizon?

Source: href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-09/sprint-is-said-to-plan-unlimited-data-with-iphone-5-to-stand-out-from-pack.html">Bloomberg, via href="http://www.loopinsight.com/2011/09/09/sprint-will-have-the-iphone-5-with-unlimited-data-in-oct/">LoopInsight

Sprint getting iPhone 5 in October, offering unlimited data plan

Bloomberg is backing up the Wall Street Journal‘s story about Sprint getting iPhone 5 this October, but adds that Sprint will be offering an unlimited data plan to go with it.

Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) will offer Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s iPhone next month with unlimited data service plans to distinguish itself from rivals AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Wireless, according to people familiar with the matter.

Both AT&T and Verizon offered unlimited data plans for iPhone at launch, but have since switched to tiered pricing (though some users remain “grandfathered in” to the older, unlimited plans). Whether Sprint means to keep offering unlimited data going forward, or like Verizon will use the appeal of unlimited data as way to encourage adoption before switching to tiers is unknown.

Being #3 and being so late to the iPhone game comes with some advantages — to customers. Were you contemplating making the switch, and does unlimited EVDO rev-A data on Sprint entice you?

[Bloomberg]

Apple Online makes it easier to order an iPad 2

The Apple Online Store was down earlier today, and while we didn’t get any red iPhone 5s, we did get some feature improvements, including an easier way to order just the iPad 2 you want.

As you choose, your order is summarized and you can tap to continue on and place it. It’s definitely an easier way to order, especially on an iPad.

The only real surprise is why it’s taken Apple so long to make their site more intuitive and friendly.

[Apple Online]

Daily Deal: OtterBox Defender Series for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G starting at $9.95

For **today only, the TiPb Store has the OtterBox Defender Series for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G starting at $9.95 for yellow and white, and $14.95 for black (quantities limited!) — Get it before it’s gone!

Shop OtterBox Defender Series for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G now!

Apple injunction against Galaxy Tab upheld in Germany

As part of the ongoing Apple vs Samsung litigation, German courts have once again upheld the preliminary injunction granted Apple which prohibits Samsung from selling the Galaxy Tab 10.1 — perhaps all Galaxy Tab products — in Germany. Samsung can appeal the decision, and Apple could owe them damages for lost sales if it’s eventually overturned. Otherwise, according to FOSS Patents it looks like Apple competitors are going to need to visually differentiate their tablets from the iPad if they want to sell them in Germany, and perhaps elsewhere.

Only Samsung is bound by today’s decision. However, the asserted Community design has a rather broad scope, a fact that the judge also confirmed at the August 25 hearing. Unless and until someone achieves its invalidation (Samsung is trying, and so is a small German company named Jay-tech), this intellectual property right (IPR) is deemed valid by the Düsseldorf Regional Court and Apple could easily obtain preliminary injunctions against other products infringing that design right, provided that Apple discovers new products and files a complaint within a few weeks of becoming aware of them.

Maybe those handles from back in the Tablet PC days could come back into fashion?

[FOSS Patents]

Radio Shack preparing to offer Verizon iPhone 4

New internal documents and screenshots seem to indicate that Radio Shack will soon be adding the Verizon iPhone 4 to their lineup. They recently announced that they would be carrying Verizon devices starting in December so it doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

What is interesting is the timing. With all these iPhone 5 rumors and 8GB iPhone 4 rumors, does it really make much sense that they’ll start receiving the 16 and 32GB versions? They could always lower the price (as Apple usually does) when the iPhone 5 launches and just add the 8GB version to the current lineup at a lower price point.

Either way it’s nice to see Radio Shack adding iPhones for Verizon users as well. They typically have some pretty good discounts and trade-in programs when new iPhones roll out. At least Verizon users will be able to take advantage of those this time around.

9to5Mac

Lowe’s equipping its staff with 42,000 iPhones to improve customer service

Lowe’s, the second largest U.S. home improvement retailer is equipping its staff with iPhones to improve customer service. It will distribute 42,000 iPhone 4s across its branches and these will enable staff to access information on the go.

The  iPhones will replace scanner guns based on technology dating back to the early 1990s. Employees who previously jotted down item numbers and logged into computer terminals can now check product information, view how-to plumbing videos and connect to lowes.com as they help shoppers, said Brown, who was named chief information officer in January.

Each store will get approximately 25 iPhone 4s which will also provide mobile calling, email, sms messaging and the processing of credit and debit card transactions. The iPhone roll out is part of a bigger IT infrastructure investment aimed at bringing it more market share from its nearest competitor.

[Bloomberg]

 

Google Music now available for iPhone and iPad as an HTML 5 web app

Google has announced via twitter that it now has an HTML 5 iOS optimized web app for its Google Music service. Google Music is currently a beta only service available solely in the U.S. If you already have an account, you can try it out and get access to all your content in this well designed web app. The web app works on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch running iOS 4.

Music Beta users – try the new mobile web app for iOS4 and listen to your music on the go: http://music.google.com

The web app is solely a music consumption interface and does not offer any uploading or managing of your content. You can browse songs by artist, album, genre or playlist. The app plays in the background while you do other tasks too.

Do any of our readers use Google Music? Have you tried out the HTML 5 web app? Let us know what you think!

[The Next Web]