Grackl released for iPhone

Barton Springs has released Grackl, a new instant messaging application for the iPhone. The app aims to combine social networking and personal messaging, with functions that allow the creation and control of groups, and the management of group members. The application supports images within conversations, and also includes an automatic archiving feature that allows users to look at previous conversations.

Grackl is immediately available from the App Store for free. Sometime this summer, the company expects to add a "Presences" feature which will enable users to post their location for specific groups to view.

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DLO Jam Jacket Game

DLO has announced the immediate availability of the Jam Jacket Game, a silicone case for the second-generation iPod touch. The case is designed specifically for gaming, and adds both grip as well as protection. The Game also features a removable wrist strap, and a clear surface shield, protecting the screen from bumps and scratches. Openings allow access to all necessary controls, as well as the dock connector. The case is currently selling for $20.

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App Store limits to loosen

Content restrictions at the App Store may lower significantly with the advent of iPhone 3.0, reports say. In tandem with iTunes 8.2, the next iPhone firmware is said to offer the choice of limiting app access by age. Parental controls divide access into 4+, 9+, 12+ and 17+ categories, suggesting that games with violence and some other forms of "adult" content may be allowed to go on sale.

Bolstering evidence is a recent rejection of the Newspaper(s) app by Makayama, which allows people to read several dozen newspapers from the US and the rest of the world. Although now available, the app was initially blocked from sale due to the Page 3 section of the UK's Sun newspaper, which features topless women. The published Newspaper(s) software excludes The Sun as an option.

In denying Makayama its initial access, an Apple representative wrote that due to the upcoming parental controls, it "would be appropriate to resubmit your application for review once this feature is available." Should Apple indeed introduce freedom of speech to the App Store, it may be able to deflect a constant stream of criticism from developers, who have noted that many apps are rejected for seemingly arbitrary offenses. The most recent incident affected the band Nine Inch Nails, whose NIN Access app was rejected due to a single song found in a podcast.

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iPhone bicycle mount, film

USBfever has launched the latest in its line of iPhone and iPod accessories, the Bicycle Handlebar Mount & Holder and the 4-direction Privacy Film/Screen Protector. The handlebar mount is designed for the iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod touch, and allows users to keep a device accessible while riding. It is build of hard plastic, and described as suitable for handlebars measuring 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Two cushioned inserts are supplied.

The 4-direction Privacy Film/Screen Protector works with the iPhone 3G, and provides protection against scrapes and scratching, while also obscuring the vision of other people. Clear viewing is limited to 120 degrees horizontally, and 30 degrees when tilting in any given direction. The film also guards against dust and fingerprints, and can be washed and re-used.

Both the handlebar mount and the protective film are being sold through the USBfever website. The former is $12, while the film is $13.

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Epson iPhone support

Epson has announced that its printers are now supported by EuroSmartz's Print the printer itself must be connected to a computer via networking or USB. Some supported document types include photos, PDF files and general business documents.

Compatible printers include Epson's Artisan 800 and 700 models. The Print & Share software is available from the App Store at a cost of $7.

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Get Framed, Sales Tracker

* FitnessTrack ($4) allows users to keep a log of their weight and cardio workouts. The application includes a database of more than 60 exercises and allows users to enter their own. Exercises can then be organized into workouts which can be saved for quick access later. FitnessTrack also includes functions for tracking weight and measurements allowing users to view their progress against a personal goal.

* G ($5) is an arcade/puzzle game set in a futuristic Earth. Players try and hit targets with their rockets but must also take into account the gravitational pull that other objects will have on the trajectory. Players can increase their score by collecting powerups and taking advantage of bonuses that are awarded for destroying multiple targets with a single rocket.

* Pianofly ($2) is a music synthesizer and piano keyboard application for the iPhone and iPod touch. The application features a full 88 key piano that can be scrolled along for playing melodies that span across multiple octaves. Pianofly includes several different instrument sounds to choose from and also lets users modify the settings of these to create up to 80 of their own tones.

* Get Framed ($1) is a tool for adding frames to images stored on an iPhone or iPod touch. Users can import their photos then crop, rotate, enhance, and add one of the 96 included frames. The frames have been broken down into 12 different categories that include kids, travel, pets, romance and more. Finished images can then be saved to the users Photo Library or emailed to friends and family.

* Sales Tracker ($19) allows users to download the daily and weekly sales reports from iTunes Connect and view them in a structured format. Users can view the total number of sales, upgrades, free downloads and returns for each application along with daily revenue and revenues per application. Information is displayed sing both pie and line chards for showing the distribution of sales and trends over a period of time.

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CDM-100 with iPod dock

GEAR4 has introduced the CDM-100, a CD micro system with dock for the iPod and FM/AM radio. The CDM-100 mixes a top-loading CD player, a universal dock for the iPod and a clock with an alarm and sleep mode. The built-in AM/FM radio provides 30 programmable preset stations, and 5 preset EQ settings such as flat, classic, rock, pop and jazz. The device also offers a line-in port for use with other music players, and a remote control.

The CDM-100 charges the iPod while it's docked and supports any click wheel iPod from the iPod mini, the fourth generation iPod, or newer. GEAR4's system has an official price of $120 and should be available today online or at stores.

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First Look: Bento iPhone

With its tiny keyboard, the iPhone might not seem like the best platform for building a database. But FileMaker says it has found a way to exploit the iPhone's interface, multi-touch gestures and Wi-Fi capabilities to make Bento for the iPhone as useful as its desktop counterpart. The result is an app that has many, but not all of the capabilities of its full-sized sibling.

Users of Bento 2 for Mac will recognize the basic elements of the database, which was first introduced last year as a consumer-level alternative to FileMaker Pro. The iPhone app comes with the same 25 templates as the desktop version, including ones for event planning, time billing, recipes and home inventory. iPhone contacts are loaded into the app automatically, but unlike the Bento 2 desktop client, iCal events and tasks are not supported.



Since FileMaker is owned by Apple, it's no surprise that the mobile Bento interface borrows from other apps included by default on an iPhone. Users will recognize several multi-touch tropes, such as the slot machine-style scroll wheels from Calendar, used to select dates. There is a touch of iTunes as well, in the form of Cover Flow-style menus. The app also makes use of touch-dialing commands.



Bento for the iPhone works with or without the desktop version, but the ability to sync with Bento 2 allows users to enter long strings of data on their Macs instead of using the more cumbersome iPhone keypad. Syncing also extends the reach of the desktop software, since iPhones can be used to take pictures or enter data in the field.

Some data can be synced to the iPhone to view, but not edited. This includes calculation fields, certain related records fields, and movie or sound files under 10MB in size. Some types of Bento content do not work at all with the app, including iCal material, file list fields, automatic counter fields, message list fields and smart collections. FileMaker mentions that the app includes an "iTunes-style search field," but it does not sport an Advanced Find feature, like the desktop version.



The company has

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Twittelator Pro 2.2

Stone Design has released an update to its higher-end Twitter client, Twittelator Pro 2.2. The newest version offers offline tweeting features, with the automatic queuing and sending of tweets and the ability to auto-save and restore any number of drafts. Users now have the option to disable landscape mode when tweeting, and to double-tap the shrink button to undo shortening. With the automatic send function, any unsent messages will be automatically delivered when a connection is restored or the app is restarted.

Users can further swap accounts in the middle of creating a message, and choose between five image-hosting services: YFrog, Pikchur, TwitPic, Moby and TwitGoo. Each photo in a reply also shows the conversation thread.

The update is free to download for current Twittelator Pro users. People new to the software can buy it at the App Store for $5.

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Alarm System, PS Tips+

* TopGun ($2) is a flight combat game that puts players in the cockpit of either a F-22 Raptor or a B-2 Spirt Stealth Bomber. The game includes 10 different levels that span across varying environments including an ocean, a desert and a city. The game features some of the original tracks form the movie including the hit "Danger Zone" and includes several medals and achievements to be won.

* Land of the Lost: Crystal Adventure (free) is an action/puzzle game where players have to help Rick Marshall escape the Sleestak temple. In order to progress through the 25 levels players must push blocks, build bridges and avoid obstacles including the Sleestaks. To gain higher scores players have to plan their moves carefully so that they can collect more of the crystals hidden around the levels. The game also includes photos, videos and sound bytes from the upcoming Land of the Lost movie starring Wil Ferrell.

* Bloons ($1) is a port of the popular web browser game for the iPhone and iPod touch. Players take on the role of a dart throwing monkey whose goal is to pop as many balloons as possible. The game features all of the bloons featured in the original game including ice bloons, bomb bloons, and tack bloons along with all of the original levels. Players will also find some bonus content that can be unlocking by mastering 50 brand new levels.

* Alarm System ($2) uses the accelerometer in the iPhone and iPod touch to detect movement and trigger an alarm. Users can set the sensitivity of the alarm which can help prevent the alarm triggering from a minor movement. Users can also select the sound the alarm will make when triggered and set it to play once or loop until deactivated. The application can also be set to call a specified number when the alarm is triggered.

* PS Tips+ ($2) is a tool for learning all of the shortcuts offered in Adobe Photoshop CS4. The application contains shortcuts for both the Mac and Windows version and includes a search function for finding specific shortcuts. PS Tips+ also has a random function that displays a random shortcut and an index that can be used for scrolling though a list of all shortcuts within the database.

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Art.Suono dock introduced

David Wiener Ventures has, as part of its David Weiner Collection, introduced on Wednesday the Art.Suono. The iPod speaker dock and its transmitter are made of machined aircraft-grade aluminum and feature carbon fiber accents as well as fine detailing and finishes that gives it an industrial look. The transmitter can also accommodate a computer source, CD player, satellite radio or any other MP3 player via its auxiliary input jack. It uses 2.4GHz wireless technology to then send the signal to compatible wireless speakers, while also utilizing the Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum technique for a strong, drop-out-free connection that aims to maintain signal quality.

Art.Suono is comprised of a 5lb transmitter and a compact receiver that can be hidden out of sight which houses proprietary DWC-APHEX circuitry that restores the depth of compressed music files and improves bass. The transmitter can be hooked up to two receivers so it could send signals to more than one music system in a home or office.

The receiver has a large Engine Start power button, Shift input switch, a concealed input jack and LED indicators in addition to the large, machined aluminum volume dial.

David Wiener Ventures has not announced a price or release date for the Art.Suono.

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iTunes kiosks coming?

iPod and iPhone owners may eventually be able to fill up their players using dedicated iTunes kiosks, a recent patent application hints. A traditional problem with Apple handhelds has been the limited means of loading new media; even following the advent of the mobile iTunes Store, the main method of adding music and video remains syncing at home. Using a kiosk, Apple notes, people could rapidly load players without a conventional network connection, in places such as airports, malls or hotels, or even within trains and jets.

Apple's proposal involves a hybrid kiosk, which could provide both local and remote media hosting. The local server would supply the media mostly likely to be bought, such as new releases. Shoppers could thus simply swipe a credit card and immediately fill their handhelds. To gain access to the complete iTunes library, users could login with their account information and download files through a dedicated Internet connection.

A dilemma with most media kiosks, Apple remarks, is that they rely on physical device connectors, which can not only wear out but experience deliberate tampering. Creating a Wi-Fi hotspot is an option, but brings with it new problems such as hacking and user overloads. The patent filing instead suggests the idea of a "virtual physical connection," in which the kiosk would somehow detect the presence of a nearby device and only then open up a wireless link.

Beyond iPods and iPhones, the technology could theoretically be extended to support computers and tablets.

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Terminator, Rockstar

* inTouch ($3) is a tool that allows users to categorize their contacts by time zone and create custom timelines of a contacts availability. Users can enter a contacts information including name, phone number, address, etc. and also add information on the contacts time zone and hours of availability. Contacts will then be tagged with icons that indicate if the contact is available (green), about to become unavailable (yellow), or unavailable (red). This allows users to quickly see which of their contacts are currently available based on their daily schedule.

* Holiday Countdown ($1) allows users to see the next 25 upcoming US holidays and how long until each. The application also includes additional information on each holiday such as the day of the week it will occur, a description, a brief history and future dates of the holiday. Users can also add up to 200 of their own custom events such as birthdays and anniversaries. Custom events can also be set to recur weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or yearly, meaning users only have to enter an event once.

* Mercury ($3) is capable of displaying up to the minute temperature and conditions, forecasted temperatures, and precise sunrise and sunset information for any location in the world. The application uses a circular interface that layers the current temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, a colored representation, and atmospheric conditions. More detailed forecasts can also be obtained by bringing up the details page which gathers information from WeatherBug.

* Terminator: Salvation ($10) puts players in the role of John Conner, the leader of the Resistance, in a post-apocalyptic 2018. The game is a third person shooter that has been based on the upcoming Terminator movie. Players can choose from four different control layouts, each which takes advantage of the iPhone and iPod touches capabilities. Players will find 6 different weapons to use in the game to help fend of the 11 different enemies they will face across the games 8 levels.

* Rockstar ($2) lets users take a portrait picture from their photo album or with their iPhone camera and dress someone up like a rockstar with a variety of wigs, facial hair, jewelry and other accessories. There are also a selection of locals that players can use for the background of their image. The finished images can then be saved to the photo album, mailed to friends or posted on Twitter.

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Apple approves NIN app

Apple has reversed course on the approval of the NIN Access 1.0.3 update, says Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor. Initially rejected, the revised iPhone app is now freely available through the iTunes Store. Users gain streamlined access to content from the NIN homepage, including music, images, video and the site's forums.

The audio content is believed to be the source of the rejection, as when initially denying the attempted update, Apple cited only "objectionable content" in the form of the "The Downward Spiral." Reznor has explained however that since his Downward Spiral album is not available directly through NIN Access, Apple could only mean the record's title song, which plays during a streaming podcast. The published v1.0.3 app remains unchanged, in spite of the company's concerns.

Reznor and others have accused Apple approval policies of being arbitrary, sometimes varying from app to app or unfairly concentrating on tangential content, such as user-submitted categories on Twitter. It is believed that Apple may be willing to loosen restrictions thanks to the advent of parental controls in iPhone 3.0. Such a policy would not only lift negative publicity from the company, but likely increase App Store profits through the sale of previously banned titles.

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Dexim DWP005 dock

Dexim has added the DWP005 MHub Dock Station to its lineup of iPod and iPhone accessories. The DWP005 is meant to reduce desktop clutter, providing a main dock, three USB ports and an SDHC-compatible card reader. The unit is able to sync with all iPods and iPhones, as well as BlackBerry, G1 and HTC phones by way of included micro- and mini-USB cables. Dexim is selling the DWP005 for $70.

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The Sims 3 screenshots

EA Games has released new screenshots from its upcoming iPhone adaptation of The Sims 3, due out in June. The title lets players create simulated people and control their lives, for better or worse. Features of the game include new 3D visuals and open-world gameplay. Touch and accelerometer controls, meanwhile, should accommodate the iPhone's limited screen space.

The first glimpse of the game came as part of Apple's early iPhone 3.0 presentation in March. The event included a short demonstration of Sims 3, which had only just begun production at the time. A final release is expected on June 2nd.

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USBfever Shuffle cases

USBfever is shipping two additions to its line of iPod shuffle 3G accessories: a dual-pack of silicone cases, and a triple-pack of metal cases. The silicone package includes "frost white" and "smoke black" options, which guard Shuffles against bumps and scratches, along with moisture and dust. Access remains open to a player's ports and buttons.

The metal cases combine high-grade aluminum exteriors with neoprene lining to help prevent shock damage. The cases are also supplied with a 360-degree swiveling belt clip, which can be removed whenever necessary. Colors options in the bundle include black, silver and pink.

The silicone case set is priced at $6, while the metal package is tagged at $7.

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NASCAR Ultimate for iPhone

220 Software has launched NASCAR Ultimate for the iPhone and iPod touch. The app features the latest schedules, standings, and race results from all three NASCAR series: Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Trucks. A context-sensitive search function works with YouTube, and allows people to view race previews, reviews from other fans, and pre- and post-race commentary from professional broadcasters or the drivers themselves.

Other aspects of the app include a news section that collects feeds from ESPN, Fox, Yahoo and NASCAR.com, plus a separate section that details individual statistics on each driver in a series. A podcast and custom video directory contains material such as crash compilations and commentary.

NASCAR Ultimate is a $4 download from the App Store.

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Twitterrific 2.0 released

Iconfactory has released a major update to its iPhone Twitter client, Twitterrific. The v2.0 release has a redesigned user interface aimed at being more customizable, with new themes and timeline layouts. The timeline now also includes filtering, enabling users to more rapidly sort through updates.

Other key upgrades include extended author information, support for multiple Twitter accounts and conversation threads, which place tweets shared between people into a single list. Twitterrific 2.0 comes in standard and Premium versions, the latter of which removes the burden of advertising. The standard edition is free, while the Premium one costs $4.

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Star Trek game for iPhone

Electronic Arts has debuted a new Star Trek game for the iPhone and iPod touch, designed to capitalize on the latest movie. The action game has players captain the USS Enterprise on a host of missions, during which Kirk and Spock make appearances and help gamers along. Players also fight against and alongside ships from series fiction, such as the Keldon, Valdore and K�tinga.

In order to maneuver the Enterprise, players can either tilt the accelerometer or touch on-screen controls. To destroy enemy ships, players simply tap to use the phaser, or select one of a collection of unlockable superweapons. Additional characters players encounter include Chekhov, Sulu, Scotty and Uhura, along with the Klingon, Romulan and Cardassian races.

Star Trek is currently on sale via the App Store and priced at $5.

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