Is your iPhone your wingman for Black Friday?
Filed under: Cool tools, Deals, iPhone, App Store
Happy Turkey Hangover Day — or, as it’s otherwise known, shopping chaos day 2009. As Mike S. noted earlier, Business Week is calling this season “mobile shopping’s first Christmas,” and indeed there are plenty of shopper-assist apps in the App Store to help you plot, plan and navigate your gift-grabbing course:
- Apple’s collection of essential Black Friday apps
- The full suite of apps in the store tagged ‘Black Friday’
- ReadWriteWeb’s shopper hints and app list
- CNET’s list of Black Friday apps
- The BF app from our deal partners at dealnews [iTunes link]
- The $2.99 MallMaps [iTunes link], which has been featured in scores of breathless news reports and is now the #1 reference app in the US store
Meanwhile, the App Store itself isn’t immune to sales fever: plenty of games and other apps have reduced or free prices for the weekend. There are also plenty of discounts on Mac apps as well.
What we’d like to know is this: Did any of this advanced technology improve your experience out in the field today? Did you use Twitter to share bargains or Loopt to track your buddies down? Did MMS give you the power to send pictures of presents to your spouse, or did RedLaser [iTunes link] help you find a better price at the next destination? Give us the scoop in the comments below; we’ll highlight the most intriguing shopping stories in future posts.
Photo via Flickr / plain_jane53177 http://www.flickr.com/photos/10558398@N02/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
Is your iPhone your wingman for Black Friday? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Is your iPhone your wingman for Black Friday? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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ReelDirector can spiff up your holiday iPhone videos
Filed under: Multimedia, Video, iPhone, App Review
A few years ago getting video on a cellphone would have seemed out of the question. Now you can not only shoot passable videos with your iPhone 3GS, you can even edit them in style. What better way to capture those holiday moments without dragging around a lot of equipment?
ReelDirector [iTunes link] has updated the popular iPhone editor to version 2. The U.S. $7.99 app from Nexvio now allows you to do multi-track sound editing and mixing, use stills in addition to video and do a Ken Burns effect. You can also trim and split imported clips. Owners of the older version can update to version 2 for free.
Other features include the ability to change the length of opening and closing titles, and automatic flip of clips that came in upside down.
I kind of marvel that you can do this all in a phone, but you can and it works pretty well. When you are done you can email your finished video (there are limits to the size of videos you can mail) or just put in in your camera roll and export it later.
There are still some weaknesses to the app. The biggest is an inability to use iTunes music for background sound. Apple does not allow this on the iPhone, but they do allow it in iMovie on the Mac. Go figure. You can record sounds live of course, and always hold the iPhone up to a speaker to get some music, but that is a pretty low-tech way to get that done. The Ken Burns effect is limited to one simple zoom-in. You also can’t title projects in the middle, only at the beginning and the end. Documentation is pretty slim, and the linked video of instructions is for version 1, not version 2.
Having said all that, ReelDirector is a remarkable app. No, it’s not Final Cut Pro, but it runs on a dang phone! The developers are very responsive to customer suggestions, and this update added a lot of asked-for features. If you want to get those pictures of Uncle George eating his turkey dinner edited and sent out before dessert is served — and without leaving the table — you can do it.
What a world.
ReelDirector can spiff up your holiday iPhone videos originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
ReelDirector can spiff up your holiday iPhone videos originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iPhone worm author really goes to work
Filed under: iPhone, Jailbreak/pwnage
While you have to go to quite some lengths to be vulnerable to it, jailbroken iPhones have been under fire for susceptibility to a particular SSH-based type of worm that has seen a lot of press lately. One of the developers, Ashley Towns, who helped to get the “rick” rolling, as it were, has just announced his employment at an iPhone game firm.
Sophos is reporting that he’ll be taking up shop at mogeneration, the developer responsible for such hits as Xumii [iTunes link], a cross-social networking communication app, and Moo Shake! [iTunes link], a farm-based activity game for kids. It is an interesting turn of events given that mogeneration even reported on the topic of Ashley’s now-infamous rickrolling iPhone worm.
I personally think that there is a lot of potential for coders of malware to embark on legitimate careers as developers coding for good. However, I don’t favor the thought that malware developers are essentially getting ‘rewarded’ for their dangerous work. There is nothing from mogeneration to imply that Towns was hired based on the notoriety of his SSH-based worm, but I can’t help thinking that there are other, more talented iPhone developers who have stayed below the radar by not writing malware.
I want to know what you think. Should developers of intentionally malicious software be given a clean slate and a new life? Or perhaps should they be feeling the effects of the law’s very long arms?
[via Techmeme]
iPhone worm author really goes to work originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
iPhone worm author really goes to work originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Pie Guy: A web game for the iPhone
Filed under: Gaming, Freeware, iPhone, iPod touch
Back when the iPhone was first announced, there was no SDK, you’ll remember. Jobs said that developers could just make web apps, and that they would be good enough. Of course, he was wrong — given what you can do with your iPhone now compared to what you could do with your iPhone then, even Steve would be happy to say that yes, there is a native app for that. But let’s not toss the projects out with the development platform, so to speak. Neven Mrgan, one of the devs over at Panic, has released Pie Guy, a free and surprisingly full-featured game for the iPhone that exists only as a Javascript web app. To play it, just point your iPhone 3GS (the page says you need one of those, and while I was able to play it on my 1G, it was too clunky to enjoy) to mrgan.com/pieguy, add that page to your homescreen, and there you go.
In case you haven’t guessed from the pic above (or the name), the game itself is a straightforward Pac-Man clone. But what’s most interesting here is the example this game sets. Think about it: a full featured, automatically updated game release, delivered straight to the iPhone without any approval required by Apple. The revenue model might need some work, but maybe we dismissed this whole “web app” idea a little too quickly. For devs looking to go around the App Store’s process, maybe there’s a solution here. Boy, Flash sure would help with that, wouldn’t it?
Pie Guy: A web game for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Pie Guy: A web game for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Lose It! app for iPhone updated to 2.0, introduces online sync service
Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch, App Review
As you prepare to feast, it’s not too soon to consider the impact of all that turkey and stuffing. The free Lose It! [iTunes Link] has been out for a long while now, and it’s an app that people nearly always bring up when the conversation turns to good exercise/calorie tracker apps. With good reason: at one point I managed to lose over 15 pounds, and it was at least partly thanks to Lose It! on the iPhone. Its extremely intuitive interface and vast database of foods and exercises made it incredibly easy for me to track my progress and restrict my caloric intake.
The one thing I always thought was missing from Lose It! was the ability to sync information back to the Mac. The app itself had limited ability to track trends over time, so I always wished Lose It! had some way of getting that info off my iPhone and onto my computer so I could at least make a spreadsheet out of it.
Lose It! has gone one step farther than that — they’ve created their own website, loseit.com, that allows you to view all sorts of information, synced directly from the 2.0 version of Lose It! on the iPhone. Not only are there heaps of information about your own weight loss, calorie consumption, and exercise trends, Lose It’s website also allows you to view your friends’ information and watch each others’ progress, assuming you all have the Lose It! app.
Continue reading Lose It! app for iPhone updated to 2.0, introduces online sync service
Lose It! app for iPhone updated to 2.0, introduces online sync service originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Lose It! app for iPhone updated to 2.0, introduces online sync service originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Magellan has worthy contender in the GPS sweepstakes
Filed under: iPhone, iPod touch, App Review
Just in time for the holidays! I was excited when Magellan announced a new iPhone GPS software product, and was eager to get it downloaded to test. I spent two days driving around (well, not the whole 2 days) and generally had a positive experience.
Magellan has been around the GPS business for a long time, delivering the first GPS handheld unit back in 1989. They also pioneered the Neverlost system in Hertz rental cars. The company has a lot of experience getting travelers to their destinations on vacations, business trips, and for the holidays.
They’ve put quite a lot in this first version for the iPhone which they call the Magellan Roadmate 2010. It sells for US $79.99 [iTunes link] for a ‘limited time’, then it goes back to $99.99, and it’s a 1.36GB download. The app has text to speech, lane assist, iPod control, and a pedestrian mode, which is a nice touch.
The maps, which are sourced from NAVTEQ, include the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.
As a bonus, iPod touch users can use this app with the optional Magellan Premium Car Kit with a built-in GPS receiver. The car kit hasn’t been released yet, but it’s imminent.
Driving around using it was a pleasant experience. The maps are clear and easy to read, and work in portrait or landscape mode. The maps change colors for a night view automatically. If you like the look of the dedicated Magellan units you’ll certainly like it on the iPhone.
Text to speech is clear, and you can have the unit talk to you in a male or female voice. You can get a list of all the turns you will make on your trip, and you can turn on a feature that auto zooms the display as you approach a turn so you can get more detail at intersections.
Gallery: Magellan Roadmate 2010 screen images
Read on for more impressions…
Continue reading Magellan has worthy contender in the GPS sweepstakes
Magellan has worthy contender in the GPS sweepstakes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Magellan has worthy contender in the GPS sweepstakes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Cook that turkey, drink that wine! Five cooking apps for Thanksgiving
Filed under: iPhone, Holidays, App Store, iPod touch
Are you ready for the Thanksgiving Day feast tomorrow? If you’re a typical American, the day will go something like this — wake up, watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, watch some football, eat some snacks, cook and eat a huge feast, watch some more football while dozing, eat some dessert, take some Maalox, and go to bed with visions of Black Friday in your mind.
To help with the cooking chores, we offer the following five apps to make your turkey day a bit less hectic and a lot more fun.
#1 — iCooking American Celebrations
While this app features only 56 recipes, many of which are for other American holidays, the recipes that are included are the classic ones you always wanted to steal from Grandma. iCooking American Celebrations [US$0.99, iTunes Link] is a handy app for iPhone or iPod touch to help you make a memorable feast.
#2 — Thanksgiving Dinner
Do you just need an app that will give you recipes for the classic Thanksgiving dinner? The aptly-named Thanksgiving Dinner [US$0.99, iTunes Link] has basic recipes for turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, an orange dessert, and apple crumb pie. If it’s your first time cooking the feast for an extended family, you’ll love these features: an overall schedule telling you when to start prepping the food and a shopping list.
Continue reading Cook that turkey, drink that wine! Five cooking apps for Thanksgiving
Cook that turkey, drink that wine! Five cooking apps for Thanksgiving originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Cook that turkey, drink that wine! Five cooking apps for Thanksgiving originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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iPhone 3GS Supreme is diamond encrusted, spectacularly expensive
Seeing as how the iPhone’s exclusivity status has been slipping, it was inevitable that the bourgeoisie would invent a new way to distinguish themselves from the lowly masses. Enter a designer by the name of Stuart Hughes, already expertly familiar with slapping precious metals onto slightly less precious mobile phones. He classes up a 3GS handset with a 22 carat solid gold body, which he then sprinkles with no less than 190 diamonds. And just to make sure none of the riff raff can get their hands on it, this creation is priced at £1.92 million ($3.2 million), which places it precisely £1.92 million outside our budget. Completing the, erm, value proposition is a storage chest cut from a single block of granite, which you may peep after the break.
Continue reading iPhone 3GS Supreme is diamond encrusted, spectacularly expensive
iPhone 3GS Supreme is diamond encrusted, spectacularly expensive originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Cignias NAO Symphony iPod speaker enables WiFi control with iPhone and BlackBerry
You know what’s annoying? Having to get up and walk all the way to your iPod dock to pick a song. Sure, there’s the good old remote control these days, but you’d still need to squint at the tiny screen from afar if you want any modicum of song control. The couch potatoes at Cignias probably felt the same pain and thus came up with the free MusicNAO app for the iPhone, iPod Touch and BlackBerry, allowing you to control and browse content over WiFi on the iPod docked on NAO Symphony speakers. It doesn’t end there: you can also stream music from the latest iPhone OS devices over Bluetooth, and the same goes for BlackBerry phones but with the addition of WiFi streaming. There’s no word on the sound quality yet, but the adventurous among you can pre-order a NAO Symphony for $249 ahead of its December 1st launch.
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Cignias NAO Symphony iPod speaker enables WiFi control with iPhone and BlackBerry originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Do Android & WebOS need iPod touch clones?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Dan Frommer’s post this morning over at Silicon Alley Insider suggests that one of the missing pieces from the competitive pie, as far as Google and Palm’s mobile OS offerings are concerned, is a 3G-free & contractless device. Something, perhaps, like the iPod touch. Absent a way for consumers and developers to buy into the platform without the burden of a monthly cellphone contract, he argues, the two players are unlikely to build the critical mass of apps and app purchasers that would grant vitality and staying power in the face of the Apple/App Store ecosystem.
It’s easy to see that the touch provides a great boost to the App Store juggernaut; about one-third of the 50 million-plus iPhone OS devices are estimated to be iPod touch units, and all those owners are potential app and music customers. Certainly there’s an audience for Android (if not WebOS, which is more telephony-centric to my mind) on a disconnected gadget?
Unfortunately, Frommer’s analysis is missing two key pieces of market data. Number one, as was adroitly pointed out by Joachim on Sunday’s talkcast, there already is a contract-free developer handheld for Android, available for $399 from the Android Market… exactly what he proposes in the last paragraph of his story. There’s also the new Archos 5 Internet Tablet, a consumer-grade, contract-free and phoneless Android tablet, ready for the eager Android personal media player buyers to snap up. (The equivalent contract-free Pre is a stark $899, and there is no 3G-less WebOS device that I can find.) Update: A commenter notes the Creative Zii Egg, another impending Android PMP that looks astonishingly like an Apple product.
That’s where we come to the second market truth that Frommer missed, and it’s a harsh one: Nobody knows, and nobody cares. Even a guy writing about this precise topic had no idea — and apparently couldn’t quickly discover from a casual search — that these devices were already out in the field, despite frequent coverage of the Archos device on Engadget and elsewhere over the past few months. If there’s any starker evidence that the market for non-phone Android and WebOS devices simply doesn’t exist yet, I can’t imagine what it would be.
Part of the reason for the iPod touch’s success is that it clearly combined two already-successful products: the iPhone and the iPod. The ‘elevator pitch’ for the device (”It’s an iPhone but with Wi-Fi instead of the phone”) is simple and straightforward. Unfortunately for Android, there really isn’t a dynamic personal media player market anymore that supports a phoneless entrant… it got eaten by the iPod.
I do think it would be healthy for the iPhone and for the portable OS market in general if developers and customers had more contract-free options on the other platforms. Still, the retroactive wish-fulfillment of Frommer’s post doesn’t bode well. “Oh, they already have that? Gosh.”
Do Android & WebOS need iPod touch clones? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Do Android & WebOS need iPod touch clones? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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