Not content with any of the existing Siri parodies on the web, TiPb contributor George Lim and the guys from TEChBrits decided to have some fun of their own. It’s a shot-for-shot remake of Apple’s own intro video, only… with not so happy results. For them.
There are a couple of adult-ish references, so if you’re super-easily offended, steer clear. Otherwise, enjoy!
Source: YouTube
Not thrilled with the idea of people getting stranded without a working iPhone if they use the current, tethered, iOS 5 Jailbreak, Big Boss has come up with an intermediary solution — and iOS 5 semi-tethered Jailbreak.
The semi-tethered jailbreak will allow you to reboot on the road, but with limited functionality. It is enough that you are no longer stranded, and you can use your phone, text, and many other features. This is just until you get home and can use redsn0w again to “just boot tethered”. Once you do that, you’re back to fully functional state.
Or as Miracle Max might put it: “It just so happens your Jailbreak here is only semi-tethered. There’s a big difference between semi-tethered and all-tethered. Semi-tethered is slightly untethered. Now all-tethered, well with all-tethered there’s usually only one thing you can do — Go through your clothes and look for loose dock cables.”
In short, you get Phone, Messages, many of the built in apps, no Safari or Mail, but if you have App Store browsers or Gmail apps, you can use those. There are some other trade-offs as well, so hit the source link below and read carefully before deciding to pull the trigger.
“Have fun storming the kernel!”
Source: Big Boss
“I will spend my last dying breath if I need to, and I will spend every penny of Apple’s $40 billion in the bank, to right this wrong. I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this.” – Steve Jobs from “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson
On Tuesday, Google announced their new operating system Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), and its flagship phone the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Motorola also announced its “impossibly” thin Droid RAZR earlier the same day. These are the biggest and baddest smartphones Android has to offer this year, and Android’s best chance at competing with the iPhone. So how do they compare to the iPhone 4S?
On paper the iPhone 4S, Galaxy Nexus and Droid RAZR match up pretty evenly. The RAZR’s claim to fame is how thin it’s measuring in at 7.1 millimeters. The Galaxy Nexus boasts the biggest display (4.65 inches) and highest pixel resolution (1280 x 720) of all three phones, but the iPhone 4S edges it out (316 ppi) in pixel density with 330 ppi. The RAZR is in the middle with its Super AMOLED 4.3 inch display. I guess it all depends on how big you like your screen, or how thin you prefer your phone. Both the iPhone 4S and Galaxy Nexus cross the “Retina Display” threshold, so it seems like splitting hairs at this stage of the game.
Under the hood the RAZR and Nexus both feature powerful 1.2GHz dual-core processors, and double the iPhone 4S in RAM. Based on specs alone the Nexus and RAZR should beat the iPhone 4S in speed, but specs can be misleading. Lets just say all three phones won’t disappoint you in this category, but Android might have the edge. We will have to wait until they’re officially released to really know. The Galaxy Nexus and RAZR also offer fast download speeds on Verizon’s fast LTE network.
All three phones come with 16GB of built in memory. The iPhone 4S and Galaxy Nexus offer 32GB models and the RAZR includes a 16GB MicroSD card. The iPhone 4S is the only device that offers a 64GB model.
The iPhone 4S and RAZR both have 8-megapixel cameras with 1080p video support. The Nexus only features a 5-megapixel camera with 1080p video support. The iPhone 4S offers autofocus, face detection, and image stabilization. The Nexus promises Panorama photos and zero shutter lag.
So which is the better phone? Unfortunately the specs don’t really tell. I guess it comes down to same tired old debate. Apple fanatics will say the iPhone 4S is better, and Apple haters will tell you Android blows Apple away.
If you were considering switching from Apple to Android, Samsung and Motorola have delivered two great alternatives to the iPhone 4S. But based on the specs I would stick with the phone I’m used to using. You should also consider carrier options, extras like Siri and compare iOS 5 to Android 4.0 before you really make a decision.
Samsung is hoping to score some sort of victory against Apple and this time it has taken the fight to Korean courtrooms. It is already pretty well established that Apple and Samsung have been battling it out for supremacy and currently Samsung’s Galaxy S2 and Apple’s iPhone 4S are the chief rivals of the smart phone industry. Another area of friction between the two is the tablet PC market, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab is trying to grab market share from Apple’s iPad 2. However, the twist in this saga is that Apple and Samsung have a deep relationship and Apple is one of Samsung’s biggest clients, while the latter is Apple’s biggest component supplier, (Apple designs the iPhone and then sub-contracts the production).
The war between these two tech rivals/partners was sparked when Apple accused Samsung of “slavishly copying” key design features and infringing its patents while producing the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S2. Samsung has also fired back at Apple accusing it of infringing some of it’s patents and sought to impose injunctions on the iPhone 4S in France, Italy, Australia and the Netherlands. So far, Apple has won the majority of the legal battles and successfully blocked Samsung from selling its latest products in Germany, Netherlands and Australia. More courtroom drama is expected in various countries including the US and a variety of European countries.
Obviously attacking Apple in South Korea means that Samsung can depend on home ground advantage. However, the company has taken care to emphasize the importance of its wider relationship with Apple. The iPhone is quite popular in South Korea so even if Samsung succeeds it could end up being portrayed as the villain because Apple spin machines have been working wonders at the PR side of things. Now that the battle is intensifying, many are wondering where it would ultimately lead. Many think that ultimately Samsung and Apple will come to an amicable agreement that might almost certainly be in Apple’s favour.
It has been more than a week and those who placed their pre-orders with BestBuy have yet to get their hands on the iPhone 4S. The wait is proving too frustrating for many users who are desperately waiting to get their hands on the latest technological marvel courtesy of Apple. Now it seems like they will have to wait even longer as the company has claimed that inventory delays have forced it to slow down the deliveries of the iPhone 4S. The reason for this is that the iPhone 4S is selling far better than expected and already certain distributors like BestBuy are being overwhelmed by demand that they cannot meet in the short term.
BestBuy is not making it easier for customers because the store’s policy allows customers to purchase their goods only at the store at which they placed their pre-order. This means simply running to the next closest BestBuy store is not an option. In order to get a grip on things, the company has even halted pre-order for now so that supply could finally catch up with demand. Most analysts predict that the shortage will only ease within the next few weeks at the least.
According to Apple, more than 4 million iPhone 4S units have been sold thus far and the numbers are expected to rise in the coming weeks. Now the question is not so much pushing demand but finding ways to actually satisfy that demand. This also seems to be a powerful signal that both critics and investors will take note. As many remember, the initial launch of the iPhone 4S was met with somewhat of a negative response because all that people saw initially was revamped hardware encased in the same design. Now, however, after getting to test the amazing combinations of hardware and software (e.g. Siri, iOS 5), millions are falling in line for the latest generation of the iPhone.
Wondering how to save video attachments you get in Email to your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad camera roll? In previous versions of iOS, while you could easily tap-and-hold to save pictures in Mail, Safari, Messages and other built-in-apps, trying to do the same with movies — movies mailed or messaged from other iPhones and iPads! — did nothing. (Except frustrate me. Seriously. I almost dented my iPhone trying!)
iOS 5 changes that. Now, just like with pictures, all you have to do to save a video is:
That’s it. The video will now be saved to your Camera Roll for you to use as you so wish.
For more on iOS 5, check out our massive iOS 5 walkthrough. Have any other great tips for sharing or saving video on your iPhone or iPad? Let us know!
CNN‘s Brandon Griggs wrote a column speculating as to why most computer generated voices, including Apple’s Siri, are made to sound female.
Research suggests this preference starts as early as the womb, Nass said. He cites a study in which fetuses were found to react to the sound of their mother’s voice but not to other female voices. The fetuses showed no distinct reaction to their father’s voice, however.
Another answer lies in history. According to some sources, the use of female voices in navigation devices dates back to World War II, when women’s voices were employed in airplane cockpits because they stood out among the male pilots. And telephone operators have traditionally been female, making people accustomed to getting assistance from a disembodied woman’s voice.”
Griggs suggests HAL — and I’d add Vader, Cylons, CARR, WOPR, MCP, Agent Smith, and others — have led North Americans to become more than a little leery of computers with boy parts. My take is that North American gadget users are a nerdy computer society, and we nerds prefer a sexy female voices telling us what to do. Economics 101.
Note: In the U.K Siri’s voice is male. Read into that whatever you will.
Update: CNN also took issue with the synthetic sound of Siri’s voice.
“What’s interesting to me is how they seem to intentionally make her speech sound artificial — they could choose to make her speech more seamless and human-like, but they choose instead to highlight the technology,” she said. “That makes you aware of how high-tech your gadget is.”
David Barnard of Tweet Speaker points out one of the more obvious explanations:
Not without dramatically increasing file size!
It’s safe to say that without Steve Jobs, TiPb wouldn’t be here, and many others may not be enjoying the careers or hobbies they enjoy today, at least not in the same way. So, in honor of the upcoming release of the authorized biography of Steve Jobs, TiPb is going to give away five (5) copies, on us.
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below sharing your favorite story about Steve Jobs — your favorite quote, your favorite keynote moment, your greatest inspiration, your fondest memory.
Winners will be picked and announced, and gifts sent out for the US iBookstore edition, on Monday, October 24.
Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they’re fair game.
To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!
This week’s pick was an easy one. Instapaper has long been one of my favorite apps, and I’ve been using it for years. Developer Marco Arment has released an incredible update to the app this week, one of the biggest (if not the biggest) in the lifespan of the app. Instapaper 4.0 has so many new features, I’m not even going to list them here (plus, if my geek-Cylon intuition is right, a certain other TiPb editor is likely to be talking about them somewhere in this very post – if he doesn’t though, you can read about them here in depth). I will, however, tell you that my favorite part of the new update to Instapaper is without a doubt its interface changes.
Marco has made subtle changes to the UI that improve both readability and function without sacrificing anything. I am completely smitten with the extra screen space at the top of saved articles now, as well as the clean, dark theme and the new icon on my home screen. And I haven’t even touched on the incredible changes to the iPad version! (Again, I’m banking on that other editor to go into it.)
If you’ve never tried Instapaper, or perhaps tried it in the past and haven’t seen it in a while, check out the update. It’s substantial, and a great new take on an old favorite of mine. Plus, Marco is a super nice guy and I’m sure he’d appreciate it. Just don’t email him…
[$4.99 - App Store link]
This weeks pick is iTunes Movie Trailers by Apple. By rights I shouldn’t have this as its only available in the United States and I am in the UK; it is not available outside of the US for whatever reason the movie studios thought of at that particular time. Did I tell you how much I hate the movie studios and how they fail to apply any common sense to the decisions they make?
Anyway back to my pick, this app looks simple but it looks beautiful too. It’s a grid of the latest movies, you click them and watch the trailer. That’s it basically, the trailers look great on the iPad screen and whet your appetite for the full movie. You can also view trailers in a calendar view; which shows you when the movies will be released as well as a top 25 view of what is currently playing in theaters too. The theaters tab uses your location using GPS or you can manually input a ZIP Code. You can then go and purchase theater tickets which is obviously US only.
Trailers is a universal binary so works on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch!
[Free - App Store link]
Another online storage solution, box.net offers the same kind of features you get everywhere else. Unlike the others, box.net is currently giving away 50GB of storage absolutely free, just for installing and using the iOS box.net app.
Access all the files you have stored in your box.net account easily with the iOS app. Upload photos directly from the camera, of browse your library.
I see no reason to limit yourself to a single online storage solution, so I recommend grabbing this while you can get the 50GB. Who can’t use an extra 50GB of storage?!
[Free - App Store link]
My Secret Folder is a great way to make sure all your hidden photos and documents stay hidden. The app locks down any important or sensitive items with a passcode, preventing unauthorized users from accessing your important documents, photos and more. The great thing about My Secret Folder is when someone tries to get access but enters an incorrect passcode, the app will quietly snap a photo of the perpetrator with location information so you know who’s tried to break in.
My Secret Folder also camouflages the app icon to look like a regular folder on the homescreen so nobody will even know it’s an app. What’s more is that My Secret Folder was recently updated to version 1.5, letting you add things like secrete notes, private contacts and bookmarks. There’s even a porn mode browser for those other sites you like to visit, and you can snap photos from directly within the app to help save time. If you’re looking for an effective way to lock down your sensitive documents and photos, this is the app you’ve been looking for.
[$0.99 - App Store Link]
The Early Edition was the original newspaper that launched alongside the iPad and in my opinion, it was “meh”. However, Glasshouse Apps did a fabulous job with The Early Edition 2 and I think it’s great!
The Early Edition isn’t your typical newspaper of popular news – it’s of news that’s important to you. Basically, it’s an RSS reader that pulls all your feeds together and displays them in the format of a newspaper, but it does it so beautifully.
I’ve said this a million times on TiPb, but I’m a sucker for a good UI, and The Early Edition is some great eye candy. On the iPad 2, it runs butter smooth and it’s all the little details that make it great. For example, if you turn the pages slowly enough, you can see the print on the back of each page. Little things like this make me smile.
Seriously, I’m loving this app.
[$4.99 - App Store link]
I was originally going to pick Instapaper 4 or The Early Edition 2 and was having a really hard time choosing between them, but now that Seth and Leanna have removed that dilemma by neatly, preemptively picking both, I can move on to something lamer yet simultaneously even more genuine.
I haven’t used anything on my iPhone 4S more this week than the built-in, artificially intelligent voice control system with the Pixar personality Apple wisely kept calling Siri.
If you’ve tried Dragon Dictate, if you’ve tried Vlingo, you’ve only tried 25% of Siri. It understands relationships. It understands context. It ties into location and the other built-in apps. It doesn’t just listen, it converses.
It doesn’t nail every word or action every time, but it’s not much worse than human generated typos and wrong button/icon presses either. In fact, for most of what I do when I’m on the go Siri is not only fine, it’s extra ordinary.
I use Siri to set location based reminders so I really will call my friend back when I get home (and Siri helpfully pops up the number, ready to call, to make it even more exceptionally convenient.) I use it to send emails and messages while I’m driving and couldn’t safely or legally type them out. I use it to dictate Tweets and quick replies while I’m working on my Mac and don’t want to interrupt the flow by jumping between apps.
The original Mac wasn’t to GUI-based computing what OS X Lion is, and Siri probably isn’t to whatever the mature natural voice interface ultimately ends up becoming, but like the original Mac, it’s finally off to one hell of a mainstream start.
I even used Siri to dictate and mail this Pick of the Week…
You’re part of the team as well, so we will be choosing one reader to make a submission each week! Just look for the announcement on twitter or our Facebook page each weekend for a chance to be picked! In the meantime, jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!
A band claims to be the first to have shot a music video using just a couple of iPhone 4S’s. With every release of a new iPhone, someone claims to be the first to have shot something in its entirety using the phones video camera. This time we have a band called Turnback who managed to get hold of a couple of iPhone 4S’s on launch day and set about shooting a music video.
On October 14th, 2011 we received 2 brand new iPhone 4S smart phones. On Sunday October 16th we shot the video at the famous NYC nightclub Webster Hall. Over the next several days, with little sleep and lots of coffee, the final video was finished.
Source: Razorianfly
Whale Trail is a new iPhone and iPad game where you help Willow the Whale flight through a colorful rainbow world collecting bubbles, dodging angry thunderclouds along the way.
This game is great! It has a very simple controls and is fun to play. Kids and adults alike have the potential of getting hooked to this little gem.
Help Willow the Whale fly high through a magical rainbow world, dodge the angry Thunder Bros and escape the clutches of the evil Baron Von Barry.
Whale Trail is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99.
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.