iPhone Firmware » iPhone News http://www.iphonefirmware.com Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:30:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Epic’s Mike Capps talks about Epic Citadel and the future of iOS gaming http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/epics-mike-capps-talks-about-epic-citadel-and-the-future-of-ios-gaming/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/epics-mike-capps-talks-about-epic-citadel-and-the-future-of-ios-gaming/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:30:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/02/epics-mike-capps-talks-about-epic-citadel-and-the-future-of-ios/
Gamasutra cornered Epic Games' Mike Capps (he of the very impressive Epic Citadel demo yesterday at the Apple special event), and Capps confirms that what you see running on your iPhone is the real deal -- Unreal Engine 3, with all of the bells and whistles that it has on the major HD consoles. The actual game that Project Sword will become is being designed by Chair (which is the same group that did the popular Shadow Complex game for Xbox 360), and we'll see the full project soon.

Capps also confirms that UE 3 needs at least an iPhone 3GS to run, but he says that in terms of hardware, Apple's devices are right where they need to be. High-resolution textures are an issue (you can't install a 15gb game on an 16gb portable device), but the memory and speed are actually there, says Capps. "You've got 16 gigs of flash memory," he says, "which is way better, faster memory than what most people have generally on a home PC. So that stuff works really well."

The biggest issue holding handheld gaming back is larger environments, but game developers are getting better and better at designing worlds that render quickly and well to all kinds of platforms. And Capps looks into the future, and sees even more possibilities for Apple and their product lines. "It doesn't take a whole lot of leaps of faith to say, 'Right now, I can display from my iPad to my Apple TV on a big screen TV.' How far away are we from 'that's my game console, and it's displaying wirelessly to my television set?' It's not far away."

That's kind of a trippy thought -- that Apple had to finally move away from the Mac to earn a larger foothold in gaming. It's very heartening, as a gamer and an Apple fan, to hear Capps as excited as he is about the possibilities for iOS and the App Store.

[via Joystiq[

Epic's Mike Capps talks about Epic Citadel and the future of iOS gaming originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Epic's Mike Capps talks about Epic Citadel and the future of iOS gaming originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/epics-mike-capps-talks-about-epic-citadel-and-the-future-of-ios-gaming/feed/ 0 OpenFeint announces PlayTime, real-time multiplayer with voice chat for iOS and Android http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/openfeint-announces-playtime-real-time-multiplayer-with-voice-chat-for-ios-and-android/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/openfeint-announces-playtime-real-time-multiplayer-with-voice-chat-for-ios-and-android/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/02/openfeint-announces-playtime-real-time-multiplayer-with-voice-c/ Game Center is almost out in consumers' hands, but that hasn't stopped the folks at OpenFeint from pushing forward on their unofficial social network for gamers. PlayTime is a newly-announced feature of the third-party social networking software that will allow players on both iOS and Android to play in real-time with each other, and even use voice chat while doing that. OpenFeint is splitting its multiplayer services into two different paths: "Casual" games will use highscores to offer up multiplayer and even co-op challenges, while "Core" games will actually run real-time multiplayer, in conjunction with a system from a company called Exit Games.

Sounds interesting -- the new features are being tested by developers right now, and will be available in OpenFeint sometime later on this year. Game Center will definitely make a big splash in iPhone gaming when it gets released next week, but OpenFeint is still planning on sticking around and innovating where even Apple hasn't yet dared to go. iOS game players will be glad to have both around when all is said and done.

OpenFeint announces PlayTime, real-time multiplayer with voice chat for iOS and Android originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)OpenFeint announces PlayTime, real-time multiplayer with voice chat for iOS and Android originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/openfeint-announces-playtime-real-time-multiplayer-with-voice-chat-for-ios-and-android/feed/ 0 Twitterrific 3 for the iPad: change, tough love, and better http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/twitterrific-3-for-the-ipad-change-tough-love-and-better/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/twitterrific-3-for-the-ipad-change-tough-love-and-better/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:00:00 +0000 TJ Luoma http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/02/twitterrific-3-for-the-ipad-change-tough-love-and-better/ Here's a good sign that you've made some pretty significant changes to your application: three different people from the company write three different posts about the new design. That's what the folks from Iconfactory did about Twitterrific 3. David Lanham wrote about Redesigning Twitterrific, not just the timeline, but also the settings, contacts, filtering, and more to "optimize the user experience." Gedeon Maheux wrote about Twitterrific's Tough Love, and realizing that Twitterrific had gotten out of hand, along with the steps they took to make it better rather than just pile more on top of it. Craig Hockenberry wrote about not designing for early adopters, whose expectations may limit making something better by expecting you to simply build on what you had before.

I was an early adopter of Twitterrific on the Mac, and still compare all other applications to Twitterrific when I am using them. When I first heard about the changes in Twitterrific 3, I was sure I was going to hate them. After having used it for awhile, I still think Twitterrific is my favorite iPad app. I've been using it since I bought my iPad back in mid-June, and although I've tried some of the others, I keep coming back to Twitterrific. Many others have just started using Twitterrific 3 for the iPhone or iPad because Twitter turned off "basic authorization" logins. All Twitter applications now must use Twitter's (severely, thoroughly flawed) OAuth system for logging in.

Read on for my thoughts on the app, as well as what TUAW heard directly from Iconfactory about the future of the app.

Continue reading Twitterrific 3 for the iPad: change, tough love, and better

Twitterrific 3 for the iPad: change, tough love, and better originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Twitterrific 3 for the iPad: change, tough love, and better originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/twitterrific-3-for-the-ipad-change-tough-love-and-better/feed/ 0 iOS 4.1 with HDR built-in comes as a shock to HDR app developers http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/ios-4-1-with-hdr-built-in-comes-as-a-shock-to-hdr-app-developers/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/ios-4-1-with-hdr-built-in-comes-as-a-shock-to-hdr-app-developers/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:00:00 +0000 Mel Martin http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/02/ios-4-1-with-hdr-built-in-comes-as-a-shock-to-hdr-app-developers/ If I had to make a list of the top ten features I thought would be included in the iOS 4.1 update, HDR photography would not have been on it. HDR really came out of the blue, and one developer told me he was 'shocked' to hear that the feature was included in the next iPhone update.

Let's back up a minute. HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography is a method where pictures are taken at different exposures and combined into one image. Since the iPhone and most monitors can't really display the full light to dark range of the image, the HDR software tone maps the picture, so you see details in the shadows and don't blow out the highlights, such as a bright sky. HDR images are controversial. Some people hate them, and think it produces garish pictures. Others love the flexibility to shoot pictures in challenging lighting conditions.

I like to use HDR at times when shooting landscapes, and recently documented a photo trek where I was able to use HDR apps on the iPhone.

Continue reading iOS 4.1 with HDR built-in comes as a shock to HDR app developers

iOS 4.1 with HDR built-in comes as a shock to HDR app developers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iOS 4.1 with HDR built-in comes as a shock to HDR app developers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/ios-4-1-with-hdr-built-in-comes-as-a-shock-to-hdr-app-developers/feed/ 0 Official Twitter app updated for iPad http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/official-twitter-app-updated-for-ipad/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/official-twitter-app-updated-for-ipad/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:00:00 +0000 TJ Luoma http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/02/official-twitter-app-updated-for-ipad/

A few months ago, Twitter announced that they had acquired Tweetie and the web (I refuse to use the word "blogosphere" because it is a stupid word) exploded with predictions that they had effectively killed off the market for 3rd party Twitter applications.

With the release of Twitter as a universal app that now includes iPad support (read the official announcement here) I feel confident to say that the reports of the death of 3rd party Twitter applications has been greatly exaggerated.

The UI for Twitter for iPad is, without question, unlike any other Twitter application that we've seen. Opinions around the TUAW offices on whether this difference is "awesome" or "an abomination." I definitely range towards the latter end of the scale, and judging by most of the comments of people that I follow on Twitter, the initial reaction is definitely one of "too busy" and "over designed."

This is in sharp contrast to Twitterrific which just released a major update for the iPad and iPhone where they made dramatic simplifications to the app, while retaining the most important features for the most users. (Craig Hockenberry talked about those changes here.)

Continue reading Official Twitter app updated for iPad

Official Twitter app updated for iPad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Official Twitter app updated for iPad originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/02/official-twitter-app-updated-for-ipad/feed/ 0 Booyah releases InCrowd for iPhone and iPod touch http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/booyah-releases-incrowd-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/booyah-releases-incrowd-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/01/booyah-releases-incrowd-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/ Booyah has released an iPhone and iPod touch version of its Facebook game, InCrowd, and it's now available on the App Store. The app, like the very popular MyTown, uses location check-ins to create a game around social networking. But unlike MyTown, this app was originally released as a Facebook game. Booyah originally started InCrowd as its first Facebook venture, but it's now bringing the game back to the iPhone, where it's presumably more comfortable at development. But the Facebook and iPhone versions work together (in fact, you need a Facebook account to play it), so check-ins on either platform can be seen in the app.

As for the game itself, it's exactly the kind of thing that's very popular among the huge tween audience for Facebook games -- there's a cartoonish avatar that can interact with friends socially, and checking-in to certain places earns the avatars popularity and status. There's a microtransaction element as well -- interacting uses energy, and if you don't want to wait for a refresh, you can spend 99 cents to get more. Standard social gaming stuff, although Booyah is pretty good at putting it together by now.

Booyah remains a company to watch in the social gaming space -- it doesn't seem to have had quite the success it wanted on Facebook, but the company is flexible enough to switch a game like this over to Apple's platform without skipping a beat. We'll have to wait and see whether or not the free app gains MyTown's level of adoption, however.

Booyah releases InCrowd for iPhone and iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Booyah releases InCrowd for iPhone and iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/booyah-releases-incrowd-for-iphone-and-ipod-touch/feed/ 0 iPod touch outselling PSP and DS in games, not systems http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/ipod-touch-outselling-psp-and-ds-in-games-not-systems/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/ipod-touch-outselling-psp-and-ds-in-games-not-systems/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:05:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/01/ipod-touch-outselling-psp-and-ds-in-games-not-systems/ During this morning's event, Steve Jobs tossed out the factoid that the iPod touch was trouncing traditional handheld gaming, claiming that the system had sold more than Nintendo and Sony's portables combined. If, like us, you thought that meant Apple had sold more devices than traditional game makers, then Steve was wrong -- he mentioned in the same event that Apple has shipped 120 million iOS devices, and while that's very impressive, it's not quite as big as the 125 million Nintendo DS systems the Japanese company had sold around the world as of January. That doesn't even count the 62 million PSP units Sony has sold worldwide. In terms of gaming devices sold, Apple has a long ways to go.

But Steve can't have been that wrong -- he said that the iPod touch had sold more than Nintendo or Sony combined. He can't be off by over 60 million, right? It's more likely that he meant software sales. There have been about 718 million DS games sold in the system's history, and about 252 million games sold on the PSP. And there have been 6.5 billion downloads of iOS apps so far (with 1.5 billion of those being game and entertainment apps). When you compare the numbers that way, yes, Apple is far outselling Nintendo and Sony in terms of game sales. But of course, iOS apps tend to be much cheaper than Sony and Nintendo's software (if not free), and gamers could probably argue all day about the difference in average quality of the two platforms.

Either way, Steve was stretching the truth a little bit on that stat. Apple has done a terrific job making inroads on portable gaming (some of it even without planning to do so), but the Cupertino company has a little way to go yet before it starts really competing with the established console manufacturers.

iPod touch outselling PSP and DS in games, not systems originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iPod touch outselling PSP and DS in games, not systems originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/ipod-touch-outselling-psp-and-ds-in-games-not-systems/feed/ 0 Game Center coming in iOS 4.1, Epic Games working on Project Sword http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/game-center-coming-in-ios-4-1-epic-games-working-on-project-sword/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/game-center-coming-in-ios-4-1-epic-games-working-on-project-sword/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/01/game-center-coming-in-ios-4-1-epic-games-working-on-project-swo/ Steve Jobs just showed off some screenshots and functionality for Game Center, which will be officially releasing with iOS 4.1 next week. The official app will provide social networking features for App Store games, including friends lists, achievements, "auto matching" (the rest of the world calls that matchmaking), challenges and a host of other cross-platform features for gamers on Apple's mobile platform.

Jobs also invited a few gentlemen from Epic Games onstage to show off "Project Sword," a gorgeous title running in the Unreal Engine inside iOS. It's an action RPG title that's coming soon with full Game Center integration, and the demo featured practically instant multiplayer fighting from a third-person perspective, as well as first-person world exploration. Seriously, this thing looked great, but you don't have to take my word for it -- Epic has already uploaded the very same environment shown in the demo as a free app, so go download and check it out now. It does require an iPhone 3GS or better, but man that's a good looking game.

Game Center is finally coming out with iOS 4.1, which Jobs said would be available next week. Looking forward to it!

Game Center coming in iOS 4.1, Epic Games working on Project Sword originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Game Center coming in iOS 4.1, Epic Games working on Project Sword originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/game-center-coming-in-ios-4-1-epic-games-working-on-project-sword/feed/ 0 CoPilot GPS nav app adds ActiveTraffic http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/copilot-gps-nav-app-adds-activetraffic/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/copilot-gps-nav-app-adds-activetraffic/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:00:00 +0000 Mel Martin http://www.tuaw.com/2010/09/01/copilot-gps-nav-app-adds-activetraffic/ ALK Technologies today is releasing a new version of the CoPilot Live app with a feature called ActiveTraffic. It uses real time traffic flow information that mates with dynamic routing technology to get you to your destination by selecting alternate routes, then accurately estimating your new arrival time.

The traffic information comes from INRIX, which is a leading provider of traffic data. I tried the new app, and it certainly showed some traffic snarls. But here in southern Arizona, things don't get too dicey even at rush hour, so there wasn't any need to select a new route. I could see very detailed information in Phoenix, where traffic can be downright hellish.

The ActiveTraffic feature is US$9.99 for a 12 month subscription. Current owners of CoPilot Live v8 US Traffic subscribers will get upgraded to TrafficLive for free.

Gallery: CoPilot Live screen shots

Continue reading CoPilot GPS nav app adds ActiveTraffic

CoPilot GPS nav app adds ActiveTraffic originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)CoPilot GPS nav app adds ActiveTraffic originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/09/01/copilot-gps-nav-app-adds-activetraffic/feed/ 0 Rumor: New iPhone 4 handset at the end of September http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/rumor-new-iphone-4-handset-at-the-end-of-september/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/rumor-new-iphone-4-handset-at-the-end-of-september/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:30:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/31/rumor-new-iphone-4-handset-at-the-end-of-september/ Honestly, I don't even believe this one, but it's our responsibility as an Apple news site to keep you updated on the latest rumors, so here you go: A Mexican tech site is reporting that a Telcel executive says there will be a new version of the iPhone 4's handset released as soon as the end of September.

Marco Quatorze, Telcel's Director of Value Added Services, says that the iPhone 4 will soon go on sale in Mexico with the same hardware as everywhere else, but that as of September 30th (which is purportedly when the free case deal ends), Apple will be releasing brand new hardware for the phone that will fix the seam in the outer band that causes reception issues.

Anyone who's been paying attention to the issue knows that story's full of holes -- not only does Apple already consider the whole "Antennagate" issue solved, but it's extremely improbable that they'll update the hardware so soon and for that reason. It's much more likely that the company would just extend the free case program rather than update the hardware before the planned cycle. Plus, as we heard from Apple specificially, "Apple has not made an announcement regarding iPhone 4 pricing or availability in Mexico." Let's get the phone on sale before we start talking about updates.*

It's possible that this is just an error in translation. If you want to get a little paranoid, we might even guess that Mr. Quatorze is trying to keep Mexican customers from buying another cellphone, hinting that there are better phones coming just around the corner. Either way, we're only posting this rumor here for due diligence -- it's extremely unlikely we'll see a new iPhone 4 in just over a month.

*As noted in the comments here, on the iPhone 4 Mexico post and on Apple's own site, the iPhone 4 is available in Mexico, but Apple has yet to provide us with an actual statement to that effect.

[via MacRumors]

Rumor: New iPhone 4 handset at the end of September originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rumor: New iPhone 4 handset at the end of September originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/rumor-new-iphone-4-handset-at-the-end-of-september/feed/ 0 In Brief: Hurricane for iPhone on sale http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/in-brief-hurricane-for-iphone-on-sale/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/in-brief-hurricane-for-iphone-on-sale/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:00:00 +0000 Michael Rose http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/31/in-brief-hurricane-for-iphone-on-sale/ As the Atlantic storm season heats up and US East Coast residents warily eye Hurricane Earl's projected path, the team at Kitty Code has put their flagship iPhone app -- Hurricane 3.3 -- on sale for US$1.99 through September 5. The separate iPad version, Hurricane HD, remains priced at $3.99. We've checked out both the mini and mega versions previously.

There are scores of hurricane-related apps on the store, so if the Big Kahuna isn't to your liking you have some other options too. Stay safe!

In Brief: Hurricane for iPhone on sale originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)In Brief: Hurricane for iPhone on sale originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/in-brief-hurricane-for-iphone-on-sale/feed/ 0 Mooncharge solar charger for iPhone 4 won’t charge via moonlight http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/mooncharge-solar-charger-for-iphone-4-wont-charge-via-moonlight/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/mooncharge-solar-charger-for-iphone-4-wont-charge-via-moonlight/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:00:00 +0000 Keith M http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/31/mooncharge-solar-charger-for-iphone-4-wont-charge-via-moonbeams/ For many people on the go, a full charge on their iPhone just isn't enough to get them by. Oh sure, they could hunt around for a standard wall outlet or plug into their laptop, but that's not always possible. So, they might carry a portable battery pack, like the splash Intense. But for green-minded folks, maybe something more sustainable?

The Frostfire Mooncharge is a solar-powered, portable charger for your iPhone 4 that attaches directly to the back of your device. Fully loaded up with the power of the sun (or via USB), it will power your iPhone for an extra 315 hours on standby and provide up to 27 additional hours of music, 10 hours of video, and five hours of talk time. From no charge at all, 20 minutes of sunlight will fill its battery pack to provide five extra minutes of calling or 50 minutes of standby power.

A few negatives for this device, right from the start, are: 1) it appears extremely bulky, and there's no reported weight for the device, 2) its name is sadly misleading, and therefore 3) we have to leave our caves and brave daytime sunlight to take advantage of its full potential.

[via MacStories]

Mooncharge solar charger for iPhone 4 won't charge via moonlight originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Mooncharge solar charger for iPhone 4 won't charge via moonlight originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/mooncharge-solar-charger-for-iphone-4-wont-charge-via-moonlight/feed/ 0 The silly season: No Comment on The iBottleopener http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/the-silly-season-no-comment-on-the-ibottleopener/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/the-silly-season-no-comment-on-the-ibottleopener/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:00:00 +0000 David Winograd http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/31/the-silly-season-the-ibottleopener/


Now I've seen everything. To give lie to the meme that there's an app for that, perhaps a new and upcoming meme will be that there's a case for that.

The iBottleopener (US $19.99) is a case for an iPhone 3G or 3GS that has a bottle opener on the back. The video, that you've probably just seen, sets a new standard for cheesy adverts. The tagline of the ad campaign is "a party in your pocket." At least they didn't use "a party in your pants," which shows that the manufacturers do have a modicum of restraint.

I'm sure that The iBottleopener is the perfect back to school gift for any college student. And iPhone 4 owners won't be left out of the party, or the pants for that matter, since a case to fit the newest iPhone is on its way.

For adding a beery note to your iDevice lifestyle, this case deserves a hearty No Comment.

Thanks Zack (I think) for sending this in.

The silly season: No Comment on The iBottleopener originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)The silly season: No Comment on The iBottleopener originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/the-silly-season-no-comment-on-the-ibottleopener/feed/ 0 Daily App: Plex http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/tuaws-daily-app-plex/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/tuaws-daily-app-plex/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/31/tuaws-daily-app-plex/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/31/tuaws-daily-app-plex/feed/ 0 Researchers create pixels eight times smaller than the Retina Display http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/researchers-create-pixels-eight-times-smaller-than-the-retina-display/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/researchers-create-pixels-eight-times-smaller-than-the-retina-display/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/30/researchers-create-pixels-eight-times-smaller-than-the-retina-di/ You might be pretty proud of your iPhone 4's Retina Display, and those teensy pixels 4x smaller than the already good-looking usual Apple displays. Or maybe you're looking forward to seeing the Retina installed in some of Apple's other products at the event later this week. But like most consumer electronics these days, that display isn't quite state-of-the-art. Researchers at the University of Michigan have created a display with nanometer-thin sheets of metal (called nanoresonators) that use slits to create pixels eight times smaller than the pixels currently on the iPhone 4. To show off their work, the University of Michigan researchers created their school's logo on a display only 9 microns tall (a strand of human hair is about 100 microns wide, so the display itself could fit inside the period at the end of this sentence).

Crazy. You have to wonder what an iPhone-sized display would look like with a resolution like that (or if we'd even tell the difference, given that our eyes have a limit on the amount of detail they can discern). Obviously, this is strictly a research project at this point -- creating all of the "nanoresonators" required to make a fullsize display would probably cost a lot more than the iPhone 4 actually does. Maybe it's something to look forward to for the iPhone 5, 6 or 7.

Researchers create pixels eight times smaller than the Retina Display originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Researchers create pixels eight times smaller than the Retina Display originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/researchers-create-pixels-eight-times-smaller-than-the-retina-display/feed/ 1 China Unicom offering in-store jailbreaking http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/china-unicom-offering-in-store-jailbreaking/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/china-unicom-offering-in-store-jailbreaking/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:00:00 +0000 Dave Caolo http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/30/china-unicom-offering-in-store-jailbreaking/ Chinese customers who want a jailbroken iPhone but lack the nerve or time to do it now have a reliable option, as distributor China Unicom (CU) is offering jailbreaking as a service in their retail stores.

Chinese language site WeiPhone notes (here's the English translation) that customers can have their iPhones jailbroken by the store's staff, who will also trim SIM cards to fit the iPhone 4's micro-SIM tray. Additionally, some are even advertising that they'll install apps for their customers after the jailbreak is complete.

Note that the iPhone 4 is not yet officially available for sale in China, so we assume that CU staff are jailbreaking older models.

As The Mac Observer notes, Apple has not yet commented on the practice. Any comment from the company should be a good one.

[Via The Mac Observer]

China Unicom offering in-store jailbreaking originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)China Unicom offering in-store jailbreaking originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/china-unicom-offering-in-store-jailbreaking/feed/ 0 Show Time may be the mother of all alarm clock apps http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/show-time-may-be-the-mother-of-all-alarm-clock-apps/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/show-time-may-be-the-mother-of-all-alarm-clock-apps/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000 Mel Martin http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/30/show-time-may-be-the-mother-of-all-alarm-clock-apps/ There's no shortage of apps to wake you up in the morning. Show Time may be the most extensive, and it has a wicked sense of humor as well.

The app handles multiple alarms and has 25 ambient noise selections to put you to sleep, or you can choose something from your iTunes collection. There are 58 versions of clock faces, all in horizontal or vertical layouts. The alarm clock goes off even if your phone is set to silent, and you can shake the clock to change the color of the display or to snooze the alarm.

Some of the sound choices are a bit weird, like a dishwasher, a hair dryer, or a prison(!). One weak point is that you can't easily preview the sounds before you choose them. Other than that, I like Show Time. It's US$0.99 on the App Store. If you want to give it a test drive, there is a lite version, but the selection of sounds is limited, and there aren't nearly as many clock styles.There isn't an iPad version, but there should be. Check out the gallery for a peek under the hood.

Gallery: Show Time screen grabs

Show Time may be the mother of all alarm clock apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Show Time may be the mother of all alarm clock apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/show-time-may-be-the-mother-of-all-alarm-clock-apps/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: No, Human http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/tuaws-daily-app-no-human/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/tuaws-daily-app-no-human/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/30/tuaws-daily-app-no-human/
No, Human is an intriguing little morsel of gameplay for both the iPhone and the iPad. The clever premise is that humans are planning to go out and explore the Universe, and the Universe, in turn, has decided that's not a good idea. So, you're actually playing against humans (who are lobbing fiery meteors out into space) and human-created objects like space stations and rockets.

The gameplay is simple but fun, and the graphics are minimalistic but quite stylish. There are 50 levels to go through, and while they're pretty quick plays, there is a high score board element. The developer also promises that there are more levels on the way. (Knowing humans as I do, I'm guessing that they won't get the lesson.) All in all, No, Human is an inventive title that's worth the US$1.99 on the App Store. It's not really innovative in any specific way, but as a whole package, it's a pleasure to play through and figure out.

TUAW's Daily App: No, Human originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: No, Human originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/30/tuaws-daily-app-no-human/feed/ 0 App Review: Eat brains or get shotgunned in Zombie Dice http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/#comments Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000 Sebastian Blanco http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/
Zombie Dice is one of a new breed of board games that was released almost simultaneously in real life and in digital form as an app for the iPhone/iPod touch. It wasn't supposed to be that way, but the popularity of the free Flash demo that Steve Jackson Games developed for its website made someone realize an iPhone app might not be a bad idea. Fast forward a little while and we can now download - for free*, yay! - a slick version of Zombie Dice from the App Store.

Featuring zombies that are actually kind of ripped and who have a serious love of braaaaaains, Zombie Dice will instantly appeal to the Steve Jackson gamer crowd. Of course, if you're in that group, you most likely already have this app installed, so we'll have to explain what all the fuss is about. Read on and we'll do just that.

*You can get the basic game for free, but not everything. Read the review for details.

Gallery: Zombie Dice




Continue reading App Review: Eat brains or get shotgunned in Zombie Dice

App Review: Eat brains or get shotgunned in Zombie Dice originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)App Review: Eat brains or get shotgunned in Zombie Dice originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 29 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/29/app-review-eat-brains-or-get-shotgunned-in-zombie-dice/feed/ 0 Watch a Max Adventure level get created in three minutes http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/28/watch-a-max-adventure-level-get-created-in-three-minutes/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/28/watch-a-max-adventure-level-get-created-in-three-minutes/#comments Sat, 28 Aug 2010 20:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/28/watch-a-max-adventure-level-get-created-in-three-minutes/
The good folks at Imangi Studios (husband-and-wife team Natalia and Keith) are hard at work on their latest iPhone game Max Adventure, and they've been sharing updates from the trials and tribulations of making a big iPhone game via their twitter accounts. Among those updates today was this little gem above -- Keith Shepherd hammering out a Max Adventure level over a time-lapse video.

It's pretty cool to see, not only for how he builds the level block-by-block, but to see what changes as he goes along versus what apparently was the original plan. The whole time lapse plays out from a four hour period of real time, and considering how big the game will eventually be, this is probably a drop in the bucket.

Shepherd also says the level editor is one that Imangi actually built for themselves, alongside Max Adventure (though presumably they'd be able to use it for other apps as well). Fun little behind-the-scenes of an iPhone game on this Saturday afternoon.

Watch a Max Adventure level get created in three minutes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Watch a Max Adventure level get created in three minutes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/28/watch-a-max-adventure-level-get-created-in-three-minutes/feed/ 0 iPhone 4 available in Mexico http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/iphone-4-available-in-mexico/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/iphone-4-available-in-mexico/#comments Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:00:00 +0000 Victor Agreda, Jr. http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/27/iphone-4-available-in-mexico/

South of the border, down Mexico way, that's where you can now purchase an iPhone 4 from Mexico's Apple Store online. Oh, and just to make the North American AT&T customers envious, the phone is unlocked. You know, just like in Canada.

iPhone 4 is available via Telcel and Movistar, but I was unable to find pricing on Apple's site, and both sellers were not forthcoming. Apple has not responded to a request for the price (if you know, please tell us in the comments). Still, the iPhone 3GS is now available for 8,199 pesos (which turns out to be around $650), so expect iPhone 4 to cost a bit more than that.

iPhone 4 available in Mexico originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iPhone 4 available in Mexico originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/iphone-4-available-in-mexico/feed/ 1 Angry Birds fever continues http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/angry-birds-fever-continues/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/angry-birds-fever-continues/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:00:00 +0000 Keith M http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/27/angry-birds-fever-continues/ Angry Birds Here's one Angry Birds fan who took things to a whole new level. An industrious fan decided to recreate one of her favorite iPhone games using balls, clay, eggs, slingshots and cardboard boxes for a sort of "live" version of the popular iPhone/iPad game. I sure hope that's not a wick on the top of the big black bird ... or do I?

Meanwhile, everyone's talking about the previously-reported rumors of an Angry Birds movie. Variety recently spoke with Mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio, creator of Angry Birds, where he talked about the success of the game and a short word on a probable sequel.

Add to all of this that Angry Birds is slated to hit the Sony PSP, PS3 and the Nintendo DS. Is it possible we'll get sick of all this Angry Birds-ness before it's allowed to become as big as Hed hopes? The title is certainly primes for moving in more directions, so long as Hed gets the ball rolling quickly.

Angry Birds fever continues originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Angry Birds fever continues originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/angry-birds-fever-continues/feed/ 0 Remember the Milk for iPhone now free — with a catch http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/remember-the-milk-for-iphone-now-free-with-a-catch/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/remember-the-milk-for-iphone-now-free-with-a-catch/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:30:00 +0000 Dave Caolo http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/27/remember-the-milk-for-iphone-now-free-with-a-catch/ Remember the Milk (RTM) is a popular Web-based to-do list manager with an equally popular iOS app (here's our review). This week, the app's developers have announced that it's now free for the iPhone... with a few caveats.

Until now, the iPhone app was only available to those who paid US$25 a year or $2.99/month for an RTM pro account. The free version includes everything in the full version with the following exceptions: It only syncs manually (and once every 24 hours at most) and it doesn't support push notifications. If you depend on the app to nag you into action, you might want to move on or consider the pro upgrade. However, those comfortable with referring to the app as the day progresses are in for a treat. RTM for iPhone is a solid app that you're sure to enjoy.

Those who've been putting off trying RTM for iPhone now have the perfect opportunity. Download and enjoy!

[Via Lifehacker]

Remember the Milk for iPhone now free -- with a catch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Remember the Milk for iPhone now free -- with a catch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/remember-the-milk-for-iphone-now-free-with-a-catch/feed/ 0 Sega puts titles on sale for back-to-school, releases Phantasy Star II on iOS http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/sega-puts-titles-on-sale-for-back-to-school-releases-phantasy-star-ii-on-ios/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/sega-puts-titles-on-sale-for-back-to-school-releases-phantasy-star-ii-on-ios/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/27/sega-puts-titles-on-sale-for-back-to-school-releases-phantasy-s/ Just in time for the days of, well, skipping out on video games and getting back to the books, Sega has decided to try and tempt you away from that schoolwork by dropping prices across the board on its iOS games. Golden Axe, Shining Force, Streets of Rage and Ecco the Dolphin are all on sale for just US$0.99, and the Super Monkey Ball and Sonic the Hedgehog games are on sale for just a few bucks as well.

Phantasy Star II is worth mentioning on its own. Sega just released the game on iOS today, and for my money (only $2.99 during this sale!), there's no better Genesis-era RPG. Seriously, if you are a fan of the console RPG genre at all, this one's a must buy. The story's fun, the gameplay is excellent, and having the title on the App Store is a real treat. Shining Force is a great game, and Streets of Rage is a fun title to have around for just a buck, but if you buy one game during this sale (which lasts through September 1st -- thanks, Sega!), I'd recommend Phantasy Star II.

Sega puts titles on sale for back-to-school, releases Phantasy Star II on iOS originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Sega puts titles on sale for back-to-school, releases Phantasy Star II on iOS originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/sega-puts-titles-on-sale-for-back-to-school-releases-phantasy-star-ii-on-ios/feed/ 0 TUAW’s Daily App: Zentomino HD http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/tuaws-daily-app-zentomino-hd/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/tuaws-daily-app-zentomino-hd/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/27/tuaws-daily-app-zentomino-hd/
There are lots of frantic action games available on the App Store, but sometimes all you want to do is get home, sit down with your iPad, and relax with a fun puzzle. Zentomino is a game that lets you do exactly that. It's a very zen take on the "pentomino" puzzle game, requiring you to fit a certain set of shapes into a specific outline. The game's about as relaxing as it gets. While the music is somewhat repetitive, you're free to move as many pieces around as much as you want, and just pushing the big, colorful shapes around can be almost as entertaining as actually completing the puzzle. There's not a lot of flair, but what's there is intuitive and fun, and when you just want to sit on the couch and relax, that's what you need.

Zentomino HD is the brand new iPad version of the game, and it's available as an ad-supported app. The first set of puzzles is completely free, with others available through in-app purchase. The game's also available for iPhone (either as a US$1.99 paid version, or a lite version with ads).

TUAW's Daily App: Zentomino HD originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW's Daily App: Zentomino HD originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/27/tuaws-daily-app-zentomino-hd/feed/ 1 Mophie and Intuit release Complete Card Solution payment system for iPhone http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/mophie-and-intuit-release-complete-card-solution-payment-system-for-iphone/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/mophie-and-intuit-release-complete-card-solution-payment-system-for-iphone/#comments Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/26/mophie-and-intuit-release-complete-card-solution-payment-system/
Square has made quite a few headlines with its in-progress payment system for the iPhone, but here's that reader developed by Mophie (known for their battery pack add-ons) and serviced by Intuit. It's called the Complete Card Solution for iPhone, and it's costlier than Square's extremely low cost of entry where all you need to start taking payments is a free account, free app and free card reader. This one runs $179 from the get-go; there's also a $12.95 charge per month, on top of the per-payment fees that Intuit will take out. But Intuit's reader is a little more friendly for big sales teams (allowing for 50 users on one account), and the transaction charge runs only about 1.7 percent as compared to Square's 2.75 percent.

So if Intuit has a target, it's probably larger businesses -- Square's reader is much more ad-hoc and easier for the smaller companies and individuals to use. There is one other issue, however -- while Square's reader just plugs into the headphone jack (meaning it can be used by any iPhone, and even some other smartphones), Mophie's clearly fits all the way around the phone, which means it's currently available only for iPhone 3G and 3GS. Still, if you don't need one set up for the iPhone 4 right away, the Mophie reader is reportedly on Apple store shelves now.

Mophie and Intuit release Complete Card Solution payment system for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Mophie and Intuit release Complete Card Solution payment system for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/mophie-and-intuit-release-complete-card-solution-payment-system-for-iphone/feed/ 0 Movies rented with iPhone 4 won’t transfer to iTunes http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/movies-rented-with-iphone-4-wont-transfer-to-itunes/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/movies-rented-with-iphone-4-wont-transfer-to-itunes/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:00:00 +0000 Dave Caolo http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/26/movies-rented-with-iphone-4-wont-transfer-to-itunes/ iLounge is reporing this week that movies rented from the iTunes Store with an iPhone 4 cannot be transferred to iTunes for viewing on other Apple devices. Which means you can only watch that movie on the iPhone 4 used to rent it.

This has been the case with the iPad and the Apple TV. As the iTunes Store terms and conditions points out, movies rented "using the Apple TV or iPad may not be moved." So this isn't unprecedented, and it is mentioned on page 99 of Apple's iPhone User Guide for iOS 4 Software (PDF link): "On iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, you can transfer rented movies between iPhone and your computer. On iPhone 4, you can transfer rented movies between iPhone and your computer only if they were rented in iTunes on your computer. Movies rented on iPhone 4 cannot be transferred to a computer."

This must be due to a resolution issue, iLounge points out, as the iPhone 4's retina display at 960 x 640 falls short of full 720p, and barely beyond standard resolution of 854 x 480.

Movies rented with iPhone 4 won't transfer to iTunes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Movies rented with iPhone 4 won't transfer to iTunes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/movies-rented-with-iphone-4-wont-transfer-to-itunes/feed/ 0 TeleNav releases free OnMyWay notification app for iPhone http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/telenav-releases-free-onmyway-notification-app-for-iphone/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/telenav-releases-free-onmyway-notification-app-for-iphone/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:00:00 +0000 Steven Sande http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/26/telenav-releases-free-onmyway-notification-app-for-iphone/ TeleNav is the developer of a lot of mobile navigation applications, including AT&T Navigator for the iPhone. Now the company has come out with an iPhone version of a popular app that originally launched for the BlackBerry platform -- OnMyWay.

OnMyWay has a simple goal -- it tells another person or group of people that you are currently "on your way" and sends them the estimated time of your arrival. The app sends new alerts to your contacts if your ETA changes (if you're stuck in traffic, for instance), so that you can safely continue driving and not have to call or text someone else if you're running late.

To set up a notification, the iPhone owner inputs a destination, an appointment time, and one or more phone numbers or email addresses to send alerts to, then taps the start button. iPhone contacts are integrated into the app to make setting up the notifications a snap.

OnMyWay takes care of the rest of the trip. It starts by sending an initial notification to the recipients telling them that the driver has started his trip, and then includes an estimated time of arrival. Up to three additional status messages might be sent, depending on how the driver has set up the app; if the sender is going to be late, if the person is within a pre-set number of minutes away from the destination, and when the driver is one minute from arriving.

Where I could see this app being a real boon is in letting my wife know when I'll be getting back from an appointment. If I'm running a little late, she usually pings me via text, and I have to pull over and send her a response. With OnMyWay, she'd be getting updates and would hopefully leave me to my driving... Some screenshots are in the gallery below.

TeleNav releases free OnMyWay notification app for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TeleNav releases free OnMyWay notification app for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/telenav-releases-free-onmyway-notification-app-for-iphone/feed/ 0 Rolling shutter effect can make stunning iPhone photos http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/rolling-shutter-effect-can-make-stunning-iphone-photos/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/rolling-shutter-effect-can-make-stunning-iphone-photos/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:00:00 +0000 Richard Gaywood http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/26/rolling-shutter-effect-can-make-stunning-iphone-photos/

The image above was shot by Jason Mullins with his iPhone 4 on a flight from London to Guernsey. The weird black lines you can see are actually distorted, disconnected copies of the propeller blades, but this isn't a Photoshop hack; this was how the image came out of the phone.

Virtually all consumer grade digital cameras, including cell phones, do not take the picture instantly when you push the shutter button. Instead, they quickly scan over the CCD sensor from the top left to the bottom right, like the electron beam in an old CRT television. This is called rolling shutter capture. This scanning process is fast, but sometimes it's not fast enough. If you angle the device just right and take pictures of fast moving or rotating objects, you can create all sorts of weird and funky distortion effects. You can see more like this in the rolling shutter Flickr group.

(Thanks to Jason for letting us reproduce his shot; he's put a few more pictures on Flickr from the same flight.)

Rolling shutter effect can make stunning iPhone photos originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rolling shutter effect can make stunning iPhone photos originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]> http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/rolling-shutter-effect-can-make-stunning-iphone-photos/feed/ 0 (i)Pawn is an iPhone game with screen-reactive pieces http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/ipawn-is-an-iphone-game-with-screen-reactive-pieces/ http://www.iphonefirmware.com/2010/08/26/ipawn-is-an-iphone-game-with-screen-reactive-pieces/#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:00:00 +0000 Mike Schramm http://www.tuaw.com/2010/08/26/i-pawn-is-an-iphone-game-with-screen-reactive-pieces/ This is one of the cooler things I've seen done with the iPhone's capacitive touchscreen. (i)Pawn is a game of sorts that works with a series of little figures on tokens that actually interact with the touchscreen itself. Most of the time, you need actual flesh to interact with the iPhone's screen, but these figures are also capacitive, so the app running on the device not only knows when and where you've placed these figures down but also which figures are touching, and so on.

Unfortunately, it's all in French, so I'm not completely sure what the "game" is. It appears to be a relationship game that has something to do with various personalities passing messages and interacting. And it could just be a demo of some kind, with a video running underneath those figures rather than actually interacting with the pieces themselves.

But it's not hard to think of other applications of a system like this (D&D on a touchscreen, anyone?), and a bigger screen like the iPad would come in handy, too. (i)Pawn is scheduled to be for sale in November of this year, so we'll keep an eye out for it and try to find out more about what it is and exactly how it works. Meanwhile, you can watch the videos of the figures in action and dream of all the various ways to use accessories like this.

[via TDW]

(i)Pawn is an iPhone game with screen-reactive pieces originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)(i)Pawn is an iPhone game with screen-reactive pieces originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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