Iphone Tutorial: 09/20/11

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

MyWi updated with support for iOS 5 [jailbreak]

MyWi

Popular tethering app MyWi recently received an update that adds compatibility for iOS 5. f you don’t currently own MyWi you can install a trial via Cydia. You’ll have 3 days to test it out in demo mode. After that you can purchase MyWi for a one time purchase of $19.99 when the trial expires.

It’s worth noting that carriers typically frown upon the use of unauthorized tethering apps. Some have even taken matters into their own hands. So if you’re an extremely heavy data user, you’d probably be better off just adding a tethering plan through your carrier.

We just saw BiteSMS receive a beta update adding iOS 5 compatibility as well. As we see the official iOS 5 launch get closer we will start to see even more jailbreak apps receive updates.

Intelliborn

Marvel starts offering trade paperback-style collections for iPad

Marvel is starting to offer Digital Comics Cllections for iPad, the digital equivalent of the traditional trade paperback, which combines together the single issues of a story line into one volume. Only 10 titles will be available at first, focused around the Ultimate Universe and current movie properties. Hopefully more will be available soon, and hopefully DC will jump on this bandwagon as well.

If you’re in the mood to try it out, head on over to the Marvel Comics app [App Store link and pick up Astonishing X-Men (by Joss Whedon) and Ultimates (by Mark Millar) now.

[[Marvel](http://marvel.com/news/story/16657/digitalcomicscollectionsonthemarvelcomics_app]

Developers use LEGO robot to take 10,000 test photos

The Developers over at Pheromone Labs are working on a photography app for a client and one of their duties is to take ten to fifteen thousand test photos with the app. This is a time-consuming and daunting to task, so the developers came up with a creative solution: a picture-taking LEGO robot!

The idea was simple: build a set of arms driven by a motor. The arms would then simulate a user taking photos with the iPad. After discussing the idea with our resident rock star and creative genius Mathieu Savage, we located a Lego Mindstorm set belonging to our champion story teller and master of analytics Tom Boutet.

I love the creativity of this idea! However, I can’t help but wonder how much time was spent designing and assembling the robot. Regardless, even if it was equal to the amount of time it’d take to manually snap 10,000 photos, this was much cooler.

Check out the video of the robot in action, below!

[Pheromone Lab via TUAW]

The Robot (English version) from Pheromone Lab on Vimeo.

T-Mobile exec tells employees they aren’t getting the iPhone 5 this year

T-Mobile Chief Marketing Officer Cole Brodman held a townhall meeting today where he told employee that the company would unfortunately not be included among the carriers getting the iPhone 5 when it launches later this year.

We are not going to get the iPhone 5 this year.

TiPb previously heard that the T-Mobile iPhone 5 launch was already being prepped, so either that information was inaccurate, something has changed, or iPhone 5 isn’t the iPhone T-Mobile is getting (budget iPhone?, iPhone 4S? Who can keep track at this point?)

Could T-Mobile be the only major US carrier without an iPhone in its stocking this holiday season, or could they still have an iPhone party before the end of 2011?

[TmoNews]

New iPhone to Be Announced This Weekend?

As the days of September dwindle down and fall begins taking grasp, we cannot help but wonder one thing we have been speculating about for months: when is the announcement of the new iPhone(s) going to be? Well, we still do not know for certain. However, the best speculation pointed towards a specific date would have to be the September 22-25 timeframe set by Macworld Asia.

Case-Mate is making headlines once href="http://www.iphonealley.com/image/case-mate-advertises-iphone-5-cases-with-revealing-photos">again by stating that we now have a solid countdown for the new iPhone release. They go on to tell consumers that Apple is expected to announce in conjunction with the Macworld Asia conference, implying that the introduction would indeed be held in the United States while the event is ongoing.

Held in Beijing, Macworld Asia 2011 will bring together developers, accessory manufacturers, and enthusiasts alike with events and exhibitions akin to the annual Macworld convention in San Francisco.

Despite past participation in Macworld, Apple decided to drop out of the event in 2009. Thus it is unlikely that the company would return for such a major reason. If the Macworld conference and iPhone 4S/5 announcement do coincide, then it would be coincidental.

Once again, we have to question Case-Mate’s sources. If leaked information could be found, we do not doubt that they would attempt to be on top of things with vicious bidding for the much-anticipated details. That alone makes this a little more credible than a typical rumor report. Either way, we will find out as the weekend comes and goes whether we can begin planning line-standing parties with a clear “when.”

Since Case-Mate has pulled the potential insider information from its, we have copied it in its entirety:/> />

“Days away from Macworld Asia, the countdown to the iPhone 5 announcement and launch is officially on. More and more reports have surfaced reporting that Apple is expected to reveal the long awaited iPhone 5 coinciding with the conference in Beijing. As Apple fans around the globe patiently wait out the final days, our inside resources have the sought-after details on the iPhone 5 features, including the form factor and launch date.
The new iPhone 5 will feature a completely different form factor than its predecessor. Wider and thinner, the redesigned device features an extended home button. The screen size could see an increase to 4 inches.
Also included in the iPhone 5 will be an A5 dual-core processor, similar to the one used in the onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.ipadngravy.com');" target="_blank" title="iPad" href="http://www.ipadngravy.com">iPad 2. It will also be equipped with an 8 mega-pixel camera, wireless charging and iOS 5, which features iCloud portable storage capabilities…
The debate continues on whether the new iPhone will be an iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S. From our inside resources, it appears that Apple will be indeed launching both an iPhone 5 and an iPhone 4S in early October. The iPhone 4S will feature the same form factor as the iPhone 4 but will be upgraded with the latest technology, including the A5 dual-core processor and 8 mega-pixel camera.”

The new iPhone 5 will feature a completely different form factor than its predecessor. Wider and thinner, the redesigned device features an extended home button. The screen size could see an increase to 4 inches.

Also included in the iPhone 5 will be an A5 dual-core processor, similar to the one used in the onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.ipadngravy.com');" target="_blank" title="iPad" href="http://www.ipadngravy.com">iPad 2. It will also be equipped with an 8 mega-pixel camera, wireless charging and iOS 5, which features iCloud portable storage capabilities…

The debate continues on whether the new iPhone will be an iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S. From our inside resources, it appears that Apple will be indeed launching both an iPhone 5 and an iPhone 4S in early October. The iPhone 4S will feature the same form factor as the iPhone 4 but will be upgraded with the latest technology, including the A5 dual-core processor and 8 mega-pixel camera.”

[quote via onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.tipb.com/2011/09/15/casemates-sources-iphone-5-complete-redesign/');" target="_blank" href="http://www.tipb.com/2011/09/15/casemates-sources-iphone-5-complete-redesign/">TiPb]

BinaryLabs releases universal version of Dexteria for iDevices

Following the enthusiastic response it received on the iPad, BinaryLabs has decided to release Dexteria for all iOS devices including the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The app was especially praised by therapists and parents of children with special needs. The company claims that the major challenge it faced with creating an app for the iPhone and iPod touch was the size of the screen. Therefore, it had to completely redesign the app to specifically suit the features of the iPhone and iPod touch, while retaining the same level of functionality that made it popular with iPad users.

Despite being only launched in March, the app managed to reach #1 in the iTunes App Store in June. There are overwhelmingly positive reviews of the app. It has been particularly noted for helping children with poor motor skills to improve their coordination and strength. The experience is different because manages to engage people at a higher level with all the fun and excitement that an iPhone is best known for. It is also a great alternative to exercises that are traditionally based on pencil and paper.

The universal app, as its name suggests, can be installed on any iOS device. Existing customers can purchase it free. Basically, the app comes with a variety of specific finger and hand movements that have been designed by professional therapists. They also incorporate principles of game design and occupational therapy to create a fun and interactive experience.

The app is available for download (App Store, $4.99) in English, French, Spanish and Chinese. Overall, it allows parents and doctors to engage children with special needs and help them improve their skills while also monitoring their long-term rehabilitation and progress. As noted earlier, the app was originally designed for the iPad, but its creators assure users that it is just as effective on the iPhone and iPod Touch.

HoodieBuddy Review – One of the Best Companions for an iOS Device

So what would be your first reaction, or rather what is your first reaction, after you hear the following: a sweater that you can physically wear, that has a pair of headphones in place of the hoodie srawstrings already built in to allow easy music listening. That’s exactly what the vast line of HoodieBuddys do.

Really, what truly is your reaction or the first of the following thoughts that came into your mind?/>id="polls-11" class="wp-polls">id="polls_form_11" class="wp-polls-form" action="/blog/hoodiebuddy-review-one-of-the-best-companions-for-an-ios-device" method="post">style="display: none;">type="hidden" name="poll_id" value="11" />

style="text-align: center;">What was your first reaction/thought?

id="polls-11-ans" class="wp-polls-ans">class="wp-polls-ul">

type="radio" id="poll-answer-38" name="poll_11" value="38" /> for="poll-answer-38">Woah! That's epic.

type="radio" id="poll-answer-39" name="poll_11" value="39" /> for="poll-answer-39">Meh, seen it before

type="radio" id="poll-answer-40" name="poll_11" value="40" /> for="poll-answer-40">Haven't ever heard of it before, but it sounds pretty cool

style="text-align: center;">type="button" name="vote" value=" Vote " class="Buttons" onclick="poll_vote(11);" />

style="text-align: center;">href="#ViewPollResults" onclick="poll_result(11); return false;" title="View Results Of This Poll">View Results

id="polls-11-loading" class="wp-polls-loading">src="http://www.iphonealley.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-polls/images/loading.gif" width="16" height="16" alt="Loading ..." title="Loading ..." class="wp-polls-image" /> Loading ...

style="display: none;">type="hidden" name="poll_id" value="11" />

style="text-align: center;">What was your first reaction/thought?

style="text-align: center;">type="button" name="vote" value=" Vote " class="Buttons" onclick="poll_vote(11);" />

style="text-align: center;">href="#ViewPollResults" onclick="poll_result(11); return false;" title="View Results Of This Poll">View Results

If your head was in any way tingling like mine was when I first happened to come across the onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.hoodiebuddie.com/index.php');" target="_blank" href="http://www.hoodiebuddie.com/index.php">HoodieBuddy website, then you’re probably pretty excited for the following review.

The name, HoodieBuddy isn’t exactly completely reflective of what the product is. Imagine your everyday hoodie and then imagine the hoodie drawstring replaced with a pair of headphones, which are able to play music from your MP3 player or more specifically, for this website, your iPhone or iPod Touch (technically you could plug in your onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.ipadngravy.com');" target="_blank" title="iPad" href="http://www.ipadngravy.com">iPad as well, but I don’t know how an iPad could possibly fit into a pocket)./> onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/downloads/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/20110920-060912.jpg');" href="http://www.iphonealley.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/20110920-060912.jpg">src="http://www.iphonealley.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/20110920-060912.jpg" alt="20110920-060912.jpg" class="aligncenter size-full" />

The hoodie can supposedly be washed even with the headphones/drawstrings. It would definitely be a pain if you had to take out the headphones and then route them back in every single time you got a stain on the sweater itself, especially if you have a white hoodie like me. I haven’t yet washed the sweater (not bad hygiene, just haven’t had the need to) so can’t really confirm that the headphones will come out unharmed. But either way, it’s convenient and certainly a selling point for the genius people behind the HoodieBuddy.

The main reason I envision using the HoodieBuddy for would be for class or school purposes. Whenever your teacher is absolutely boring you, you could just pop the headphones in with a relatively good chance of your teacher not finding out. Although it will most undoubtedly aid for situations as mentioned, it won’t really benefit when something like so is actually needed for learning purposes; the lack of a microphone built into one of the two earbuds eliminates the possible use of the HoodieBuddy for taking audio notes – just a simple addition, maybe raise the price a few cents, and you’ve got a real handy companion for your class/school purposes.

So what does a hoodie have to do with iPhones?!? Well, the iPhone can be used with the HoodieBuddy. By plugging an iPod Touch of iPhone into the cable protruding into the pocket, you can enjoy your tunes with the headphones. And you’d think headphones with a product wouldn’t be so desirable, but it’s the exact opposite: the headphones definitely do provide clear music, even though they’re not too aesthetically-pleasing. They come along with multiple silicone caps of different sizes to fulfill the needs of people with all sizes of ears. Make sure to check the inside the hoodie before complaining that they’re not accompanied with different caps – don’t be like me!

I’m pretty sure that the headphone chord itself won’t ware out too quickly. Rather than an actual cable, the wire is concealed within the kind of fabric that would usually make the drawstrings of a normal hoodie. Plus, the headphones not-extremely-long design prevents them from getting tangled./>id="attachment_22046" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px">href="http://www.iphonealley.com/blog/hoodiebuddy-review-one-of-the-best-companions-for-an-ios-device/attachment/megan-fox-and-brian-austin-green-get-carried-away" rel="attachment wp-att-22046">src="http://www.iphonealley.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mfox-in-hb-e1316474662351.jpg" alt="" title="Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green get Carried Away" width="300" height="448" class="size-full wp-image-22046" />class="wp-caption-text">If it entices you more, here is Megan Fox in a HoodieBuddy

/> This whole idea, though very much innovative as well as useful, isn’t anything new. I onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/www.gamblingiq.com');" target="_blank" title="bet" href="http://www.gamblingiq.com">bet that you could find something like so at your local mall. But if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, then I suggest the HoodyBuddy; I saw a similar hoodie at a JCPenny for $50 while the HB’s sell from $20-$40 price range depending on the design. You can check out the whole inventory, including onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/shop.hoodiebuddie.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=20');" target="_blank" href="http://shop.hoodiebuddie.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=20">men’s and onclick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/shop.hoodiebuddie.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=101');" target="_blank" href="http://shop.hoodiebuddie.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=101">women’s sizes/designs. Each hoodie is priced accordingly, and there are also plad shirts and jackets available for purchase.

class="wp-caption-text">If it entices you more, here is Megan Fox in a HoodieBuddy

The only reason I’d hold back on purchasing the HoodieBuddy at this point, which you’ve probably already figured out, is that it’s still not yet Winter or, in Georgia anyway, the time to wear the hoodie comfortably. But by all means, when the holiday season rolls around, this would be the perfect gift to give someone.

No T-Mobile iPhone 5 in 2011, But What About the iPhone 4?

Did T-Mobile Chief Marketing Officer Cole Brodman deliver devastating news about the rumored T-Mobile iPhone, or did he just state something we kind of already knew? Brodman told T-Mobile employees “we are not going to get the iPhone 5 this year,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean T-Mobile customers who were dreaming of an iPhone are out of luck. A Sprint employee basically told href="http://www.iphonealley.com/news/sprint-ipad-and-iphone-ready-for-october-launch">TUAW the same thing a week ago. The sales associate said that Sprint would be carrying the iPhone 4 in October, not the iPhone 5. I originally thought he was wrong, but now I’m beginning to wonder.

There was a href="http://www.iphonealley.com/news/apple-set-to-explode-with-two-new-iphones">rumor on Monday that Apple was experiencing production problems with the iPhone 5, which could cause shortages of the device in 2011. If true, maybe Apple is worried that they won’t have enough iPhones to spread around to all four carriers next month, and they are limiting Sprint and T-Mobile to just the iPhone 4. Brodman said no iPhone 5 “this year,” but he didn’t say no iPhone at all. It may be wishful thinking, but I wouldn’t count T-Mobile totally out until we get an official announcement from Apple.

However, if I were a T-Mobile customer who was hoping for an iPhone this year, I might start considering switching to one of the other 3 major U.S. carriers.

Best apps for freelancers

Freelance writers and journalists have one major advantage: good work flexibility. However, freelance writers also need to keep costs down and be as productive as possible because most of them lack the traditional office environment. Fortunately, as of late, tons of gadgets and applications have been created to help us achieve just that. Combine these apps with the most popular gadget (i.e.: the iPhone) and you could have a very productive work secession.

If you are a freelance writer or journalist who uses a multiple platforms, make sure that you look out for apps that support easy data transfer and compatibility with multiple devices.

The following are some of the best apps for freelancers.

Analytics Pro ($5.99): This allows users to track the volume of traffic to their websites through Google Analytic. The viewing can be customized to for hourly or daily updates. In addition, you can even choose a custom date range, popular keywords and other site information.

Reeder ($2.99): Staying informed is essential, especially if you are freelance journalist. This app lets you view all the important stories from different sites and even syncs the data to your Google Reader.

Notesy ($4.99): This handy app allows you to instantly sync your notes with your iPhone via Dropbox. This works both ways, so if you create and edit notes with a particular desktop app, and then sync it with your iPhone.

Time Scroller ($1.99): In a globalized world, it is not surprising to work for an international clientele. Time is always of the essence and to maintain good relationships with your clients, you need to know their time accurately. This is where Time Scroller comes in. It allows users to easily view the local time in different cities all around the world. The unique feature of this app is that it allows you to scroll ahead in time to view the relevant time in a city your international client is based.

Instagram 2.0 brings live filters, live tilt-shift, and 4 new filters

Instagram has gone 2.0 and brings with it 4 new filters as well as the ability to view filters and tilt-shift effects live while using the camera.

Instagram is my favorite photography app available on the iPhone! The filters are great, but I absolutely love the social-ness (yes, I made that up) of Instagram. This update makes a fantastic app even better. I look forward to what they do next.

Pick from one of several gorgeous filtered effects or tilt-shift blur to breathe a new life into your mobile photos. Transform everyday moments into works of art you’ll want to share with friends and family.

The update includes:

Instagram is available on the iPhone for free.

[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.

Wheel steering gadget for the iPhone

We have already reviewed plenty of gaming accessories for the iPhone but this time we are looking at something that in our opinion has been a long time coming: appWheel. As the name suggests, this is a steering wheel gadget for the iPhone.

Naturally, this is an amazing accessory for every user out there is who hardcore enthusiast of racing games. This provides a completely new level of realism and really enhances the gaming experience with the iPhone. It also makes the iPhone a more viable rival to other gaming products like the Nintendo. At this rate, the iPhone may become a genuine replacement for your average standalone portable gaming console.

The appWheel is compatible with the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4. There is no overwhelming set up involved either. All that is necessary is to attach the iPhone into the appWheel and let the iPhone accelerometer begin creating the realistic driving set-up. Users will have full access to the display screen and menu button. The gadget is designed to work with any racing game that uses the accelerometer. The beauty of such a gadget is that it makes racing games so much more fun since your movements become more coordinated since you are using a wheel. Moreover, without the wheel, the game wheel quite unrealistic even with amazing graphics onboard.

The appWheel comes with the dock adaptors for the iPhone 3G, iPhone3GS, iPhone 4 and the 4th generation iPod Touch. The systems works measures around 18.5cm in diameter x 4cm. The gadget is small enough to be easily taken around and will fit in your backpack or suitcase. It is also features quite an elegant design; it feels sturdy in your hands.

The appWheel is now available for purchase via RED5.co.uk for £9.95. It is certainly worth the price.

Another Day, Another iPhone 5 Case Leak

href="http://www.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/iPhone-5-hard-case-1-e1316508574883.jpg">class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23709" title="iPhone-5-hard-case-1-e1316508574883" src="http://www.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/iPhone-5-hard-case-1-e1316508574883.jpg" alt="" width="639" height="477" />Are we really at all surprised by these things anymore? This one href="http://gdgt.com/discuss/i-received-an-iphone-5-case-who-wants-pictures-g4v/">comes to us from a GDGT user, by way of href="http://www.cultofmac.com/114686/another-iphone-5-case-emerges-reinforcing-rumors-of-a-thinner-larger-tapered-device">Cult of Mac, yet another iPhone 5 case leak. It has a clear back but matte sides, and that thin, large and tapered design that we’ve come to expect. More and more, the iPhone 5 is looking like an iPad 2 shrunk down substantially. You can also see the lock switch and volume controls have now been shifted to opposite sides from one another.

Interestingly, href="http://www.everythingicafe.com/case-mate-accidentally-leaks-iphone-5-product-line/2011/09/15/">you can compare this to the Case-Mate leak from last week, where those cases had a hole in the side for what we can only guess is a SIM slot.

For more cases, see href="http://www.dealextreme.com/p/protective-silicone-frame-pc-back-case-for-iphone-5g-transparent-blue-100663?r=80777846#open">this and href="http://www.iphone5casestore.com/338-tpu-skin-case-by-roocase.htm">this.

TiPb Asks: How do you watch TV shows on your iPhone or iPad?

I have to admit I’m still using Netflix to watch TV shows and movies on my iPhone, iPad and Apple TV, though the recent news has gotten me looking into alternatives. I just finished the first season of Damages and really liked it, and Sherlock was cool, but there’s a lot of choices out there now. Both Netflix and Crackle have a few old Anime shows I like, and several TV stations and cable and satellite companies have apps so if I miss an episode of the new fall premiers I can probably — hopefully — catch it later on my mobile device. But not always. For example, the HBO stuff is awesome and I loved Game of Thrones but it’s not available in my area… so what do I do? There’s always iTunes but buying is too expensive when I’m only ever going to watch something once. Which brings me to my main point.

Why is this still so hard? I have money. I want to give a reasonable amount of this money to Hollywood so I can watch their TV shows. They’ve pretty much figured this out for cable and satellite, but I don’t have either of those anymore. Why can’t they figure out the same type of thing for internet TV? Just let me pay a few dozen dollars a month and give me all the same TV everyone else gets in the old traditional way, along with the commercials if they really have to, and the goofy catalog channels that go with him. Just let me do it on demand.

But they won’t, so like I said I’m still with Netflix and all the other apps right now, scattered and fragmented across my poor iPhone and iPod. Unless anyone has any better ideas on how to watch TV shows on iPhone or iPad these days? Any apps you prefer? Anything besides bootleg internet downloads streamed from a PC via AirPlay…?

GetGlue update brings new UI and better social check-in integration

GetGlue, the social network for checking into your favorite TV shows, movies and music, has just been updated their iPhone and iPad app to version 2.5.2 bringing all new features and a revamped UI to let users check-in to their favorite TV shows just in time for the Fall TV season!

Check-in to what you are watching, reading and listening to. Connect with friends, discover new favorites, and unlock FREE stickers and discounts. Join more than 1.5 million other users who are sharing 9 million check-ins per month.

GetGlue is available for free for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

[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.

British App Will Lead You To £2000 Of Buried Treasure

width="640" height="434" 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/QwzvlN_jcj8?version=3&hl=en_US" />name="allowfullscreen" value="true" />width="640" height="434" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QwzvlN_jcj8?version=3&hl=en_US" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" />/> In the wake of Talk Like A Pirate Day, a British company has announced that they’re releasing a puzzle app which could lead a lucky user to href="http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/42149/iphone-app-treasure-hunt-gold"> £2,000 worth of gold sovereigns buried somewhere in the UK. href="http://www.candidinnovations.com/">Candid Innovations haven’t even announced the name of the planned app yet, and we’re not even sure how it’ll work, except that some eagle eyed purchaser might be on the lucky end of a treasure hunt.

This move is mirroring a mammoth treasure hunt that was sparked by the book href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masquerade_(book)">Masquerade in the early 80s, as the clues to a hidden golden hare were buried in the illustrations of the book itself.

Let’s see…£2000 of treasure. To get that much back, you’d only need to sell 3,000 copies at £0.99 a pop. I think given what a great idea this is, that’d be pretty doable. Strikes me as some pretty canny marketing.

Leaked iPhone 5 and iPhone 4S Internals May Be Early Prototype

style="text-align: center;">href="http://www.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/iPhone4S.jpg">class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-23715" title="iPhone4S" src="http://www.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/iPhone4S-764x1024.jpg" alt="" width="458" height="614" />

Man, this gets confusing right quick. Hold on to your horses, ladies and gentlemen. Yesterday, a bunch of internals claiming to be from a future iPhone href="http://www.everythingicafe.com/more-iphone-5-and-iphone-4s-internals-spotted/2011/09/19/">started to do the rounds, showing off an A5 processor and some circuitry. Soon after MacPost href="http://www.macpost.net/1441/leaked-iphone-photo-with-a5-chip-is-iphone-4s-not-iphone-5/#more-1441">posted a similar image, but this time within the shell of an iPhone 4/4S, saying that it wasn’t for the iPhone 5, but for an overhauled iPhone 4S. You following me so far?

It’s thought all the images come from a single source.

Now it gets interesting.

href="http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/09/19/why-this-image-is-most-likely-a-retooled-iphone-4-prototype-not-the-iphone-5/">TNW thinks that this is an iPhone 4S prototype, but 9to5 Mac has other ideas — they think the entire thing is a hack. Talking to their friends at iFixyouri, they pointed out that href="http://9to5mac.com/2011/09/19/iphone-4s-is-likely-an-early-prototype/">part of the front plate of the image above doesn’t match Apple’s manufactured components. There’s a grill on the white frontplate which isn’t there in the iPhone 4. Now, theoretically, this could appear in the iPhone 4S, but they think it’s a non-OEM part, and either an extremely early prototype, or else something hacked together, and not a legitimate piece.

Interesting, huh?

Instagram 2.0 Offers A Major Speed Boost and Big Images

href="http://www.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mzl.vzojlcia.320x480-75.jpg">class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23721" title="mzl.vzojlcia.320x480-75" src="http://www.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/mzl.vzojlcia.320x480-75.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="480" />

Just less than a year old, Instagram has rapidly become the most popular photography filter app on iOS, and a new update to href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instagram/id389801252?mt=8">version 2.0 has overhauled the app significantly. href="http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/20/instagram-version-2/">TechCrunch has a bit of an interview looking at the new features, but the big ones are obvious: filters can now be applied live while taking photos (including tiltshift); images are saved locally at a much higher size; and you can add borders to your shots.

Here’s the changelog:

Completely revamped Camera experience (iOS 4.2.1+):/> - Instant live filters & live tilt-shift/> - 4 new filters/> - Turn borders on & off/> - Rotate photo after taking/> - Filtered photos save in high-resolution to photo library

Other improvements:/> - Better support for viewing feeds with many comments/> - Faster load times for feeds/> - New icon

I’m kind of sad they killed off the classic sneaker pair from the filter icons.

Google+ Enters Open Beta, Adds Hangouts To Mobile Apps

href="http://www.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Screen-shot-2011-09-20-at-9.28.02-AM.png">class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23725" title="Screen shot 2011-09-20 at 9.28.02 AM" src="http://www.everythingicafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Screen-shot-2011-09-20-at-9.28.02-AM.png" alt="" width="628" height="333" />Google+ has been a ghost town for months. After the mad rush to get in, everyone who really wanted to was, and then the flow of new users stopped dead, leaving it mostly abandoned. Google has just href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/google-92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-100.html">opened the floodgates, and set Google+ into open beta for all and sundry.

They’ve also added some new features for href="http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2011/09/google-101-102-103-104-105-106-107.html">their mobile apps, like Hangouts (video group chat), improved SMS support, improved +1ing, edit your profile photo, and customize notifications.

So where’s that iPad app, guys?

From what we can tell, the new version hasn’t quite hit the app store yet, but it should be ready to download in short order.

[via href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/20/google-moves-from-field-trial-to-beta-adds-hangouts-on-phones/">Engadget]

New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Tuesday, September 20

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!

FullControl: Store all your favorite shortcuts and use them remotely from your iPhone or iPodTouch! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

NAVIGON Pro Paste ‘n Go System: Simplifies address entry for NAVIGON™ GPS App. [$1.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

PhotoExpress by RnB Express: Allows you to order photos and send postcards direct from your iPod/iPhone. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

Climate Wiz Pro: The most comprehensive U.S. climate app on the App Store! It is the only app that provides both monthly climate averages and extremes for thousands of locations throughout all 50 U.S. States. [$3.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Bizango Blast: Stop the invasion from a mysterious enemy and save the eggs. The bad guys are stealing your magic and taking your future by capturing the eggs, its time to defend your world! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

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.

Caillou’s World now available for iPhone and iPad [Kids Corner]

Based off the popular PBS kids show, Caillou, Night & Day Studios has released Caillou’s World, an iPhone and iPad app intended to help children ages 2-5 with with reading, spelling and phonics.

In Caillou’s World choose one of the familiar scenes from Caillou’s life (such as his playground, playschool, or attic). At first the scene will be drawn in black outlines just like a coloring book. As you look around, an element of the scene–a toy, animal, tool, or object–will light up for a moment. Touch it and try to figure out which letter its name begins with. Is it A for airplane? What letter does dragonfly start with? Get it right and the item will be filled with color and the scene will begin to be filled in.

Caillou’s Word is available on the iPhone and iPad for $2.99 each.

[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.

Daily Deal: Case-Mate Ivy Case for iPhone 4 only $9.95

For today only, the TiPb Store has the Case-Mate Ivy Case for iPhone 4 on sale for only $9.95. The Case-Mate Ivy Case for iPhone 4 is a soft-touch, embossed layer over an impact resistant shell available in white with pink or black highlights — Get it before it’s gone!

Shop Case-Mate Ivy Case for iPhone 4 now!

App Giveaway: iMovie for iPhone and iPad

In celebration of our new Photography and Video forum, TiPb is gifting 5 copies of Apple’s iMovie for iPhone and iPad!

For a chance to win, head on over the forums and leave a comment telling us why you want to win a copy. Do you want to be able to quickly create home videos of your family? Or do you have an epic movie planned out? Let us know and…

ENTER NOW!

[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.

Apple Up 10% Since Jobs Retirement

For people who have been keeping an eye on Apple’s stock for a long time, there was a widespread fear that when Steve Jobs retired that AAPL would plummet. Given his charismatic leadership, him leaving could do some serious damage. However, when Jobs did finally step down, Apple’s stock stayed stable, and Tim Cook looked to be an excellent replacement.

Now, even in the face of a Wall Street loaded with stocks falling, AAPL has reached an all time high, hitting more than $411 per share, href="http://thenextweb.com/apple/2011/09/20/apple-closes-trading-at-all-time-high-of-411-63-up-10-1-since-jobs-stepped-down/">up 10% since Steve Jobs retired.

Don’t get too complacent, though. We’re still under Jobs inertia at this point, and probably will remain so for the rest of the year. 2012 will prove to be the real test for Cook and Apple under his leadership.

It’s Playing 2.0 for iPhone, iPad looks to fill the gap left by VLC

It’s Playing is a universal iPhone, iPod touch and iPad app that looks to fill the “I will play any video file type” space left when VLC was pulled from the App Store. It’s Playing uses its own soon to be patented engine which it claims will play back most 720p content.

What differentiates It’s playing, apart from pricing and the quality of the user interface, is the engine that takes advantage of the outstanding hardware and operating system it runs on.

AdditionFlow© is our optimized process for making sure that you get more video frames more synchronized with the audio, ensuring the best viewing experience.

It’s Playing is available as a universal binary for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch for $1.99.

[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.

Find your car with myPark for iPhone

mPark is an iPhone app that not only saves the location at which you parked your car and warns you when your meter is running out of time, but it keeps track of how long it will take you to walk back to your car and takes that into consideration when sending you alerts.

Simply start myPark, tap the car icon and start walking. The app will track your movements from your car to work, you next appointment or in an unfamiliar suburb AND tell you how long it will take you to walk back to you car. All this for the price of a cup of coffee

Not only will the app track your movements and walking time, you can also add any of the following reminders to help you find your car again and avoid those expensive parking tickets:

myPark is available on the iPhone for $0.99.

[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.

TiPb TV 21: The 2011 Comicon mobile survey

TiPb Nation, Comicon finally hit Montreal so Rene and I hit Comicon to find out just which mobile device — iPhone, BlackBerry or Android reigns supreme with geeks and nerds, cosplayers and booth babes alike! From Batman to Electra, Greedo to Garfield, I asked them all which cell phone they used, and the answers may surprise you! (Especially how many didn’t use one at all — what’s up with that, data rates on Krypton just to high?)

So sit back, grab your popcorn, hit play, and see if the iPhone is strong at Comicon!

TiPb TV 21: The 2011 Comicon mobile survey

Samsung waiting on iPhone 5, has finger on lawsuit launch button

According the Korea Times, rival smartphone maker Samsung is eagerly anticipating the Korean launch of Apple’s next generation iPhone 5 handset — so Samsung can try and sue it off the shelves.

`Just after the arrival of the iPhone 5 here, Samsung plans to take Apple to court here for its violation of Samsung’s wireless technology related patents,’’ said a senior executive from Samsung Electronics, asking not to be identified.

“For as long as Apple does not drop mobile telecommunications functions, it would be impossible for it to sell its i-branded products without using our patents. We will stick to a strong stance against Apple during the lingering legal fights.’’

While almost two dozen lawsuits are already pending between Apple and Samsung, Samsung remains a major manufacturing partner of Apple, though there are signs Apple is moving to diversify and diminish that dependence as well.

“Apple is Samsung’s biggest customer. Hewlett-Packard (HP), Nokia and Sony were Samsung’s previous big clients, however, Apple is now a primary one. From our perspective, we are not entirely happy (about the litigations),’’ Samsung CEO Choi Gee-sung said.

Apple originally took issue with Samsung, whom they dubbed a “copyist”, over perceived similarities between Samsung Android phones and tablets and the iPhone and iPad. Unlike other Android manufacturers who established their own looks, Apple contends Samsung deliberately copies Apple to confuse customers and unfairly benefit from Apple’s brand and marketing. Apple has already succeeded, at least temporarily, to get Galaxy Tabs banned from sale in German and parts of the EU.

While Microsoft, who is also going after Samsung, seems content on getting licensing fees to make Android more expensive to manufacture, Apple’s appears to want to make Android less friendly to use, demanding removal of features, not licensing deals.

Patent portfolios are often compared to nuclear arsenals, held as deterrents. Of course, if everyone ever lets them all fly, everyone loses.

[Korea Times]

Logitech announce the Harmony Link universal remote for iPhone and iPad [video]

Logitech is well known for its range of Harmony universal remote controls and now it has announced one which will give you all the control you need; using your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. Instead of using an ugly dongle or case, this uses a WiFi enabled receiver which converts the input received from your iOS device into an infrared output to you home theater kit. The companion iPhone and iPad apps will be available as free downloads from the App Store.

The Logitech Harmony Link connects to your existing home wireless network to receive Wi-Fi signals from the Harmony Link App and turns them into IR commands that home-entertainment devices can understand. Harmony Link can control up to eight devices, is compact (about the size of a hockey puck) and was designed to integrate neatly and discreetly with your home entertainment system. Harmony Link can even connect with more than one iPad at a time, letting multiple family members use their own iPad – with their own set of favorite channels – rather than fighting over a single remote.

Logitech has also teamed up with Rovi Corporation to provide detailed program information within its app. This will deliver show synopses, movie information and images as you navigate available TV channels.

The Harmony Link should be available in October for around $99.99. The price does seem reasonable when compared to stand alone universal remote controllers. The apps will be available as a free download from the App Store when the Harmony Link is launched.

[Logitech via Engadget]

It’s Playing 2.0 looks to fill the gap left by VLC

It’s Playing is an app that looks to fill the “I will play any video file type” space left when VLC was pulled from the App Store. It’s Playing uses its own soon to be patented engine which it claims will play back most 720p content.

What differentiates It’s playing, apart from pricing and the quality of the user interface, is the engine that takes advantage of the outstanding hardware and operating system it runs on.
AdditionFlow© is our optimized process for making sure that you get more video frames more synchronized with the audio, ensuring the best viewing experience.

Play all video and audio formats commonly available on the web — including AVI, RMVB, MKV and FLV (Flash Video)

Image and sound precision controls

File and folder management

Improved privacy management

Dynamic video quality monitoring and diagnostic

It’s Playing is available as a universal binary for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch for $1.99.

[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.

Google Music app for iOS

Cloud computing seems to dominate the focus of major firms like Google and Apple. Intense competition is not usually based on the product itself (if space is the issue, then it is not much of a problem) but methods of delivering cloud based services to a variety of different users. However, until recently most of the cloud based services have been targeted at traditional PC users. Now, the focus is shifting more towards mobile users because mobile devices like smartphones have less space and depend more on the internet. This is where there is tremendous potential for cloud-based services and tech firms are already paying attention.

Google, which was the first to challenge traditional firms like Microsoft with cloud-based services has now launched yet another cloud-based service called Google Music. The service is supposed to allow users to store up to 20,000 songs on Google’s cloud database and then stream the music to a variety of devices. Right now, the service is free while in Beta but it does require an invitation to join (remember Google+). This altogether marks yet another milestone in Google’s aggressive expansion. Earlier this year it made a number of acquisitions to bolster its already impressive portfolio and it launched entire new product lines like Google Plus.

Now that Google has launched an iOS app, Google Music is no longer exclusive to Android alone. The music can easily be accessed on Safari. Moreover, the app allows users to easily stream their music and navigate through the app with a variety of swiping motions. Amongst the interesting features in the app is a universal search option that is specifically designed to help users find their music amongst thousands of tracks. However, keep in mind that Apple also has plans to launch its version of an online cloud-based music service.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Comment