Filed under: Odds and ends, Podcasts, HolidaysHere it is, T-7 days until Black Friday, and you don't have any gift ideas? I joined MacJury podcaster Chuck Joiner earlier this week to provide my ideas for gifting. This was part two of a holiday gift ideas episode on the popular podcast. Joining me on the podcast were MacMouseCalls support genius (and grandmother) Pat Fauquet, Julio Ojeda-Zapata from the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and The Mac Observer's Jeff Gamet. Storage seemed to be a popular gift idea from the panelists, along with iPhone / Mac jewelry, video tools, and even some freebies. I…
Selected by tuaw
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The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
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TUAW's Steve Sande provides gift ideas on the latest MacJury podcast
20 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pm -
MacUpdate Desktop version 5.0.2 released, win a membership from TUAW
20 Nov 2009 | 11:15 amFiled under: Software, Cool toolsMacUpdate announced today the release of version 5.0.2 of the MacUpdate Desktop utility, which allows users to manage application and widget software updates on their Mac OS X machines. The new version of the application adds some features and bug fixes as well as support for more languages. MacUpdate Desktop can track software updates for 30,000 Mac applications, and it also provides update support for applications on the iPhone, although iTunes handles that pretty well. Updates can be triggered manually and individually, or set to install automatically when… -
Geotagged tweets now alive in Stone Design's Twittelator Pro 3.3.1
20 Nov 2009 | 10:30 amFiled under: iPhone, App Store Twitter has flipped the switch on some new features, including geotagging of tweets and automatic retweeting. As a happy user of Stone Design's Twittelator Pro 3.3.1 [iTunes link], I was even more giddy when I found out that my favorite Twitter app already supports both of these features. The geotagging feature lets you optionally attach a latitude and longitude to your tweets. If you receive the tweet in Twittelator, you can tap on the sender's avatar icon to see the geotag and pull up a Google map of the location near where the tweet was sent. The app lets you… -
Navigon briefly cutting price on its popular Nav app
20 Nov 2009 | 9:30 amFiled under: Odds and ends, iPhoneGee, we were just saying how competitive it is getting in the iPhone nav department, and Navigon has gone and cut prices for holiday travelers. For 10 days only, beginning today (November 20-30) Navigon's iPhone app, Mobile Navigator [iTunes link]will be on sale for U.S. $69.99 instead of $89.99 providing a $20.00 savings. In addition, Navigon's Traffic Live feature is also on sale for $14.99 instead of $24.99. Traffic Live is a one time charge, not a continuing cost. That's a significant saving for this very popular app, and puts it under similar featured… -
CrossOver Games releases version 8.1.0
20 Nov 2009 | 8:30 amFiled under: Gaming, Software, Odds and ends, Developer, Snow Leopard The folks behind CrossOver Games sent us a note that version 8.1.0 of their software has come out, and it's got some nice upgrades for Mac and Linux folks who prefer to run their games in Windows almost-emulators (it's based on Wine, and as we all know, Wine Is Not an Emulator) rather than Boot Camping over to the real thing. We tried out CrossOver Games a while back, and found it lacking in almost everything but Steam games, but actually that's OK, because lately Steam has a lot of games going on. Accordingly, this new…
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Download Squad
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Acrobat.com gets revamped and gets a mobile app
20 Nov 2009 | 11:00 amFiled under: Office, Web services, Adobe, BlackBerry, iPhone, MobileAdobe's Acrobat.com service is getting a big update tonight, followed closely by a new mobile app for iPhone and BlackBerry. The name "Acrobat" goes hand-in-hand with the PDF file format, and Acrobat.com allows you to convert documents to PDF and save, store and view PDF files. It also features some other applications, including the Adobe BuzzWord word processor, a web meeting service called ConnectNow, and storage space for docs, spreadsheets and images. The new features include searching by filename (I'm still wrapping my… -
Trillian brings impressive multi-network chat to the iPhone
20 Nov 2009 | 7:30 amFiled under: Social Software, iPhoneTrillian, the excellent all-purpose chat app we've loved for years on the PC, just made the leap to the iPhone. There are a lot of things to love about this pocket-sized version of Trillian, including its great-looking interface and its support for several different chat services. You'll need to sign up for a free Astra account if you don't already have one, but it's nice that Trilian's existing desktop users can just plug and play with no account setup required. Little perks of Trillian on the iPhone include push notifications (yay!) and the ability to… -
Minim (now on iPhone): the game so nice we've reviewed it thrice
19 Nov 2009 | 12:00 pmFiled under: Fun, Games, iPhone If you've been a Download Squad reader for a while, you've probably heard about the 3-D molecular puzzle game, Minim. I reviewed it back in May, and Jason reviewed it again in July (oops!). However, I've got my hands on the iPhone version now, and it's worlds better than the Flash one we played before. The object of Minim is to match up various numbered molecules until you clear the board. When you combine two of the same number, they form a single molecule that's one number greater. Eventually, you'll wind up with just one left, and you've won the level. The… -
Google Earth for iPhone gets an update to 2.0
18 Nov 2009 | 1:30 pmFiled under: Utilities, Google, iPhoneWhen Google brought its amazing global map application, Google Earth, to the iPhone, it was a match made in heaven. (Okay, it was match made on Earth, but bear with with me, here.) The pinching and rotating gestures on the iPhone made exploring the globe on a handheld device fun and easy. Well, now Google Earth is back with version 2.0, which introduces some of the useful features you've come to expect from Earth's sister project, Google Maps. You can grab it from the app store now. Although it's nothing earth-shattering (ha!), Google Earth can now access… -
Bump for Android: slick contact-sharing app not iPhone-only anymore
12 Nov 2009 | 6:00 amFiled under: Social Software, iPhone, Mobile, AndroidBump, the impressive iPhone app that lets you trade contact info and other data by physically bumping two phones together, isn't just an iPhone app anymore. Bump for Android has arrived (so sayeth TechCrunch, at any rate), and it covers Bump's biggest weakness: you had to have an iPhone to use it. Between iPhones and Android devices, Bump now has the potential to become a common way of swapping contact info. In addition to the Android launch, Bump also polished up its iPhone app. The new version, which is in the app store now, taps into…
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Engadget
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Finland unleashes Blobo, the squeezable, all-too-cheerful game controller, on an unsuspecting world
20 Nov 2009 | 3:26 pmWhat's a matter, guy? Wiimote seem "old hat?" Looks like a start-up in Finland has just what you need. Containing "industry-leading" sensors for keeping track of "movement, rotation, magnetic fields and pressure," Blobo is a squeezable game controller roughly the size and shape of a golf ball that communicates with your PC or phone via Bluetooth. Currently available in a package with "six sporty fun and fit" games, it'll keep tabs on you as you run, jump, dribble, or karate chop your lonely nights away -- in the comfort of your own living room or wood panel rec room. In addition, the company… -
Samsung unleashes two Diva-branded phones, divas everywhere faint
20 Nov 2009 | 2:49 pmSamsung's been showing off two new handsets of late. The S5150 Olivia is a clamshell affair with a mirrored body, an external LED, and we know that it will boast a 3 megapixel camera and a 2.2-inch QVGA display. The other - the S7070 - is an iPhone-esque job, with a crazy diamond-shaped button at the bottom, and a quilted-style back cover, with a 3-inch WQVGA display with resistive touchscreen, Bluetooth, and microSD slot. Samsung hasn't formally announced these ladies yet, but they are expected in the first quarter of 2010. One more photo after the break.Continue reading Samsung unleashes… -
Archerfish Quattro video monitoring and recording system now available at Amazon
20 Nov 2009 | 2:14 pmCernium's just announced something that should really please the 'I know the cat is putting my stuff on Ebay while I'm at church' crowd. The Archerfish Quattro is a full scale, no messing aroung video monitoring and recording system that pays attention to the little details while you're not around. Analyzing info in real time, if the Archerfish Quattro spies something funky, it'll send a message to your mobile phone or email. The system is expandable so that you can have as many cameras in the setup as you want, and best of all? It's available at Amazon now, so you can order it without having… -
The Engadget Podcast, live at 6:15PM EST!
20 Nov 2009 | 2:13 pmHey, it's Friday, and the Engadget Podcast crew is ready to blow out the week in news live -- and not only is there tech news to talk about, but we've got a hot new site to call home. It's all going down at 6:15PM EST, but the chat below is open, so settle in and we'll see you soon.Continue reading The Engadget Podcast, live at 6:15PM EST!The Engadget Podcast, live at 6:15PM EST! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments -
Mangrove WinMo tablet rough-handled, teased for being 'tubby'
20 Nov 2009 | 1:46 pmNot too long ago C-motech popped up on our radar with Mangrove, the 7-inch touchscreen tablet that's been tragically saddled with Windows Mobile 6.5. The kids at SlashGear have just had a chance to play with the device, and to be honest they don't seem too terribly impressed. When stacked up against the Quanta Android Smartbook, for instance, the form factor was deemed unimpressive and "tubby," while the 1GHz Snapdragon seemed lackluster compared to the similarly powered HTC HD2. And it doesn't seem that the 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen has won many fans. But who knows? Maybe at the right…
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Cult of Mac
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Okay, Now Jump Up And Down On Them And Play “Chopsticks” Like In That Scene From “Big”
20 Nov 2009 | 2:54 pmMaybe you’re a budding musician working at a nightclub and don’t know what to do with all the misplaced iPhones left behind. Or maybe you’re just brilliant and a wee bit inebriated. Either way, we figure this is how you might be spending your time (uh, just don’t forget to activate “Airplane Mode” on ALL the [...] -
Butt Making Embarrassing Bathroom Noises? There’s An App For That
20 Nov 2009 | 11:54 amCover Up is a new $0.99 iPhone app that masks embarrassing bathroom noises with other bathroom sounds, like running water, a hand dryer or blow dryer. Trying to mask the sound of a giant anal raspberry is like spraying deodorant to mask a pooey smell: it never really works. But it may be useful if you’re [...] -
Five Fun Games: Arcade Classics Redux, The Ultimate Illusion, Underworld Warriors and More
20 Nov 2009 | 10:35 amHappy Friday! Mac Games and More has again picked out a collection of casual games you might not have heard of, to play into the weekend. Games include a hack and slash fighting elves, a logic puzzle mining for treasure, an addictive arcade classic and more. Deluxe Poc Mon – As the name suggests, this game [...] -
Review: Simple, Sorta-Augmented Reality Planetarium App Has Me Seeing Stars
20 Nov 2009 | 10:23 amThere’s nothing better than gazing up at the stars on a night out. For $3, Pocket Universe: Virtual Sky Astronomy, using sorta-augmented reality, lets the astronomically impaired among us impress our dates. The app uses the iPhone’s accelerometer, compass and level — just not the camera (which means it works on an iPod Touch too) — [...] -
Daily Deals: In-Ear Headphones, $50 iWork ‘09, App Store Freebies
20 Nov 2009 | 9:57 amWe close out the week and prepare for the long flights, long waits and long lines as Thanksgiving rears its head. To get you ready (maybe even point out a stocking-stuffer or two), we offer our top trio of deals. First up, nothing beats a good set of in-ear “headphones.” This deal features ‘phones from [...]
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Daring Fireball
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Yours Truly on iPhone OS Private API Usage
20 Nov 2009 | 2:34 pmApologies for the self-link, but I’ve gotten a few questions today from readers asking, honestly, just what the problem is with private APIs. This piece I wrote last year addresses it. As an addendum, I think there are many developers, especially those who aren’t coming to the iPhone from the Mac, who don’t understand how seriously Apple takes its public APIs. When Apple publishes an official API, it’s a serious commitment that says how something works and will continue to work in the future. Private APIs are subject to change or go away. The idea that something marked… -
Amazon.com Has the Droid for $150
20 Nov 2009 | 1:36 pmRequires a two-year service contract with Verizon, of course, but that’s $50 lower than Verizon’s price. Even cheaper: Dell is selling it for just $120 (again, with a contract), at least in certain areas. ★ -
The Geography of the U.S. Recession
20 Nov 2009 | 1:35 pmAnimated time-lapse map of county-by-county unemployment rates in the U.S. since January 2007. Jarring. ★ -
Juicy Bits App Incorrectly Flagged as Using Private APIs
20 Nov 2009 | 1:04 pmThis one seems to be a genuine incorrect rejection for private API use: Juicy Bits has a camera-based app that uses OS 3.1-only camera features, but still runs on OS 3.0 by disabling those features when the app runs on OS 3.0. This particular feature — customizing UIImagePickerController — was frequently abused by private API users in the past, prior to Apple’s introduction of official support for this stuff in OS 3.1. According to Juicy Bits, they’re not doing that, but their app was rejected anyway: We’re now wondering if the static analysis tool sees the 3.1.x API… -
Gdgt’s Downloadable Chrome OS VMware Image
20 Nov 2009 | 12:23 pmGdgt has a VMware image of the open source Chrome OS version that Google released yesterday. Engadget put together a video showing how to install and use it. If you’re curious to see it in action (as I was), this is far easier than compiling it from source. Hooray for VMware. But be warned — this release is far behind the version of Chrome that Google actually demoed during their event yesterday. This open source release is missing much of the cool stuff shown yesterday, and only fully works if you have a special google.com account — presumably only available right now to…
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The iPhone Blog
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On Google ChromeOS, VoIP-only gPhones, and How the iPhone Benefits
20 Nov 2009 | 11:20 amWhen Google first mentioned ChromeOS, we figured it was their reaction to launching Android, then seeing Palm come out with webOS, and smacking their heads — they could have done that with V8! (What, too nerdy?) Lame JavaScript rendering engine jokes aside, the very traditional Android never really seemed like the OS Google should, or even wanted, to give to the world. ChromeOS does. (For those unfamiliar, when I guessed what it would be before the unveiling yesterday — Brin and Page booting Linux which then auto-started the WebKit-based Chrome browser — that wasn’t a… -
Three20 Framework and More on App Store Screening for Private APIs
20 Nov 2009 | 10:46 amA little while ago we posted about Apple’s new use of a static analysis tool to find private API calls and reject the apps that make them. Rather than Storm8 or Unity this time, however, it’s former Facebook developer Joe Hewitt’s pioneering Three20 framework that’s getting caught. Daring Fireball has some details: One popular open source framework, Joe Hewitt’s Three20 (linked here on DF back in March), played a bit fast and loose with private APIs, and so now there are numerous developers with apps getting flagged for private API calls made from the Three20… -
Magellan GPS Car Kit for iPhone/iPod touch Coming Soon
20 Nov 2009 | 8:23 amMagellan recently announced they are releasing a GPS car kit of their own and it already has hit the FCC. Like the much anticipated TomTom car kit, the Magellan will give the iPod touch and first generation iPhone GPS capabilities as long as you are using the Magellan GPS application. [iTunes Link] This particular car kit is crammed with some nice features: Fully adjustable mount that works with any skin or case Rotates for both portrait and landscape use Enhances signal with built-in GPS receiver Noise-canceling speakerphone Bluetooth hands-free calling Amplified speaker for clear, powerful… -
Steve Jobs Tells iPodRip to Change the Name — Not a Big Deal
20 Nov 2009 | 7:42 amSteve Jobs sent a curt reply to The Little App Factory, telling them it was not a big deal for them to change their Apple trademark-infringing, iPodRip product name. Rewind: iPodRip was software designed to pull media off an iPod (no, not for piracy, but to recover files in the event you lost them on the host machine). Apple’s lawyers complained. The Little App Factory’s John Devor wrote a plea for help. Jobs responded in typical fashion. Long story shorter: iPodRip has been renamed iRip. Bigger picture: Yes. Steve’s back, baby! The curt reply has returned! Our only question… -
Sony Online Service to Take on iTunes
20 Nov 2009 | 7:30 amSony is planning to launch their answer to iTunes, offering music, movies, books, mobile apps, and more… sometime in the future. No, they haven’t announced a date yet, but given their portfolio of PS3, PSP, Sony Reader, and how more and more is being integrated into their Bravia televisions, while the MP3 player market is dwindling, convergent devices are on the rise. (Of course, they’ll need to fix their smartphone offerings and get them integrated into their own platform as well –hello PSPhone, can you get to that already?) It sounds like a great idea, and makes…
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Pogue's Posts
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A $25 App Phone? That's Crazy Talk.
19 Nov 2009 | 10:16 amThis week, Palm released a follow up to the Pre, a cheaper, thinner, lesser phone called the Pixi. The official price is $100 with a two-year Sprint contract, but Amazon is selling the thing for - are you sitting down? - $25. -
Crowdsourcing Comedy on Amazon Reviews
17 Nov 2009 | 8:07 amSome unexpected humor can be found in the reviews of the world's largest online retailer. -
It's Q & A With DP!
13 Nov 2009 | 11:14 amWhy I use URL shorteners-even when not on Twitter. -
Verizon: How Much Do You Charge Now?
12 Nov 2009 | 9:29 amVerizon's cellphones are designed in such a way that you can almost never avoid getting $1.99 charge on the bill for its mobile Web services, even if you immediately cancel the action. -
Fun With Google's Auto-Suggestion Feature
12 Nov 2009 | 8:06 amStart a phrase in a Google and who knows how the search engine will complete it?
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The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
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Geotagged tweets now alive in Stone Design's Twittelator Pro 3.3.1
20 Nov 2009 | 10:30 amFiled under: iPhone, App Store Twitter has flipped the switch on some new features, including geotagging of tweets and automatic retweeting. As a happy user of Stone Design's Twittelator Pro 3.3.1 [iTunes link], I was even more giddy when I found out that my favorite Twitter app already supports both of these features. The geotagging feature lets you optionally attach a latitude and longitude to your tweets. If you receive the tweet in Twittelator, you can tap on the sender's avatar icon to see the geotag and pull up a Google map of the location near where the tweet was sent. The app lets you… -
Navigon briefly cutting price on its popular Nav app
20 Nov 2009 | 9:30 amFiled under: Odds and ends, iPhoneGee, we were just saying how competitive it is getting in the iPhone nav department, and Navigon has gone and cut prices for holiday travelers. For 10 days only, beginning today (November 20-30) Navigon's iPhone app, Mobile Navigator [iTunes link]will be on sale for U.S. $69.99 instead of $89.99 providing a $20.00 savings. In addition, Navigon's Traffic Live feature is also on sale for $14.99 instead of $24.99. Traffic Live is a one time charge, not a continuing cost. That's a significant saving for this very popular app, and puts it under similar featured… -
Virgin Mobile Canada: Fifth Canadian outlet for iPhone
20 Nov 2009 | 7:30 amFiled under: iPhoneThe iPhone is getting yet another carrier in the great white north. Virgin Mobile Canada has announced that it'll start selling the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in the coming months. When exactly? How much? Can I get a Richard Branson ringtone? Actually, I can make my own ringtones, but what about the rest of it? We'll have to wait to find out. All the company said in its incredibly short notice was that it'll sell the phones online and in its brick-and-mortar stores at some point. Well, that and that its gotten some love from J.D. Power and Associates for its prepaid and… -
FunMail adds instant images to Facebook status & MMS
20 Nov 2009 | 6:45 amFiled under: iPhone, App ReviewAt the risk of invoking a round of reader rage, I'll admit that I've never really been that hyped on the idea of MMS on the iPhone (and, by the way, get off my lawn). If I want to send someone a picture, I've got their email address; I'll just send them a picture. No big whoop. I do have some friends and colleagues who 'came up' on mainline camera phones and they gleefully pop pics back and forth via MMS. I also appreciate the ability to decode the snapshots my wife sends from her Motorola RAZR, but overall I wouldn't rate it among the top iPhone features I was… -
Google revamps mobile Google News format
19 Nov 2009 | 7:00 pmFiled under: Internet, iPhone, iPod touchLike most "mobile versions" of websites, Google News was simplified for use on devices featuring what Steve Jobs once called "the baby Internet." Sadly, this simplified version also showed up by default on the iPhone, leading to an experience that was, to put it charitably, subpar. That's all changed now that Google has redesigned the mobile version of Google News for iPhone, Android, and Palm Pre users. The new mobile version is far more feature-rich than the old one and is more consistent in its appearance (i.e., it's almost indistinguishable from…
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Holy Kaw!
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Capturing water in sloooow mooootion
20 Nov 2009 | 3:12 pmSome things just look cooler in slow motion. Jell-O? Totally better. A punch to the face? Way more awesome. Photographer Martin Waugh spends his day watching single droplets of water, capturing the tiny and beautiful splashes with super slo-mo video. Check out the video from Discovery and you’ll definitely never look at a leaky sink the same way again. Science geekiness galore. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Netherlands to charge drivers by the kilometer
20 Nov 2009 | 2:31 pmThe Netherlands is proposing charging drivers by the kilometer. Other taxes would be eliminated. Vehicles would be tracked by GPS. Doesn’t this make sense? Get rid of all the other taxes and tolls and simply pay-as-you-go. Or is it even simpler to use only the fuel tax to pay for roads? Think any of this could ever happen in the U.S.? Netherlanders are very practical people. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Rosetta Project stores 13,000 pages and 1,500 languages on 2.8" analog disk
20 Nov 2009 | 1:50 pmThere’s little doubt that 100’s of languages will disappear in the next hundred years. The loss of these languages is a loss of human history and cultural diversity. That’s where the Rosetta Project comes in. As part of the Long Now Foundation, the Rosetta Project plans to archive thousand’s of languages for millennia. A first step is the creation of a durable storage medium that can easily be deciphered in the future—just like the Rosetta Stone. The prototype Rosetta Disk is a 2.8” (7.1cm) disk made of nickel. The disk is housed in a stainless steel… -
Tech nerds take it all off
20 Nov 2009 | 12:28 pmA techie strip club would probably feature plenty of outlets, free wi-fi and dancers flinging off Geekologie-brand undies to a song of remixed iPhone ringtones. Calm down, pervs, there’s no plans in the works for nekkid techie discotheque (that I know of), but, in the meantime, get your dweeb kicks with the Nude Tech Calendar 2010. London’s top new media entrepreneurs stepped out from behind their computers and stripped down for the 24 picture, limited edition calendar. Proceeds go to Take Heart India, a charity that raises funds for IT education programs for blind and disabled… -
6 principles of simple agile
20 Nov 2009 | 12:06 pmWhen it comes to agile software development, simplicity is key. To help you stay focused, here are the six principles of simple agile. 1. Collaborate. And what I really mean is - communicate effectively with each other. There’s no place in agile for a lack of clear communication, since the point is to work in a team. Try to keep conversations as close to real-time as possible and hopefully as high bandwidth as possible. 3. Honour priorities. Always, always work from a ranked product blog. Your team should follow the rule, “the next thing you do should be a task in the highest…
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Building iPhone Apps
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Question for the experts
20 Nov 2009 | 10:25 amHow can we put a UIBarButtonItem with a previous & next button on the top rigth corner like in Apple Mail ? Visit my blog for more ! -
One promo code for one review of uP@ssw0rdz! (3)
20 Nov 2009 | 9:56 amAnother promo code in exchange for a review of the application uP@ssw0rdz!: X9NYWM34E7H3. So far three promo codes as been given for an application that I think I've been working hard (and I'm... Visit my blog for more ! -
One promo code for one review of uP@ssw0rdz! (2)
19 Nov 2009 | 5:03 amYou think you can write honest application reviews on the App Store ? You think you need a password manager for your iPhone ? Then, why not try uP@ssw0rdz! and write a review for it. Free promo... Visit my blog for more ! -
Promoting my application - where (Updated)
18 Nov 2009 | 5:59 pmWith version 2.0 out, I must now spend time to promote it (and trust me, it takes time!). Where should I begin ? What are my goals ? How much can I spend on this ? First, here is a list of... Visit my blog for more ! -
Apple, I'm ready to be promoted!
18 Nov 2009 | 5:27 pmFollowing this insightful blog article, I decided to spend a few moments to design what Apple might ask me in order to be promoted on the App Store. The tool used was PixelMator. Tell me what you... Visit my blog for more !
