2009 ~ Today Technology Issue

Minggu, 17 Mei 2009

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.

DLO Jam Jacket Game

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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.

App Store limits to loosen

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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.

iPhone bicycle mount, film

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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.

Epson iPhone support

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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.

Get Framed, Sales Tracker

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* 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.

CDM-100 with iPod dock

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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.

First Look: Bento iPhone

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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

Twittelator Pro 2.2

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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.

Alarm System, PS Tips+

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* 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.

Art.Suono dock introduced

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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.

iTunes kiosks coming?

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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.

Terminator, Rockstar

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* 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.

Apple approves NIN app

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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.

Dexim DWP005 dock

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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.

The Sims 3 screenshots

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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.

USBfever Shuffle cases

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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.

NASCAR Ultimate for iPhone

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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.

Twitterrific 2.0 released

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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.

Star Trek game for iPhone

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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.

Kindle Store for iPhone

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Amazon has introduced a new variation of the Kindle Store, optimized for the iPhone and iPod touch. The website is tied to the Kindle for iPhone app, in which users tap the Get Books button to launch the Kindle Store link in Safari. The formatting of the website has been specially tailored to the size and dimensions of Apple handhelds.

Kindle for iPhone is described mainly as a companion to the dedicated Kindle hardware, allowing users to continue reading e-books when switching between mobile formats. The feat is accomplished in part through Whispersync, which records bookmarks from Kindles, iPhones and Touches and ensures that a person can continue reading from a given point when loading the same file on a different device. Amazon may theoretically integrate book purchases directly once the option becomes available through the iPhone 3.0 firmware.

Digits, Flick NBA

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* Brain Fit ($1) is a puzzle game where players must rearrange a group of pieces to form one rectangle. The game includes 90 different puzzles that have been broken down into three different difficulties. Brain Fit also includes simple and colorful graphics and its own playlist of relaxing music.

* inFact Hoops ($3) includes hundreds of trivia questions pertaining to current NBA players. The questions cover topics such as hight, position, picture, college, hometown, and teams played for. inFact includes both a practice mode and a scoring mode, where players are rewarded with points for answering questions in a defined period of time which slowly decreases as players progress through the quiz.

* PimpMyNews ($4) lets users create playlists of their favorite blogs or news stories from more than 1,200 sources and can read them aloud using text-to-speech. Users can create a list of their ten favorite new sources such as TechCrunch or the New York Times and the application automatically pulls stories from these sites, coverts them to audio and displays them in the news feed. Stores can then be read or listened to and also include all the media included in the original article such as pictures, audio clips, and video clips.

* Digits ($2) is a tool for quickly adding a phone number to the iPhone's contact list. On launch the application prompts the user for a phone number and then a first and last name. After this information is gathered the contact is saved to the address book and users can go their to add more detailed information if necessary.

* Flick NBA Basketball ($3) features several basketball inspired mini games such as: 3 Point Shootout, Hotshot Arcade, Long Shot, H.O.R.S.E. and the Ball Spin. Players can choose to play as one of 30 real world NBA players that represent every team in the league. Players have the option to play any of the game types solo against the computer or against another player via a WiFi connection.

Dubious app rejections

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Apple has made a controversial rejection of two more iPhone apps, say parties involved. The first is Maza Digital's Drivetrain, a remote control program for the Transmission BitTorrent client. Initially met with an Apple message that the app would demand "unexpected additional time for review," Maza later received a notice saying that "this category of applications is often used for the purpose of infringing third party rights. We have chosen to not publish this type of application to the App Store."

Maza has expressed anger at the decision, calling it "ridiculous." The company notes that, despite its frequent association with piracy, neither the BitTorrent protocol nor any supporting clients for it are illegal. Drivetrain is in fact further detached from any possible piracy, only being able to stop, start and delete torrents on a Mac. Apple appears to be rejecting all BitTorrent apps wholesale, without any thought to their actual use, Maza alleges.

Apple has meanwhile rejected Lil' Shark's Me So Holy, a simpler app which lets people substitute a photo for the face of Jesus. The software was banned under Section 3.3.12 of the iPhone developer agreement, which blocks "obscene, pornographic, offensive or defamatory content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, etc.), or other content or materials that in Apple�s reasonable judgement may be found objectionable by iPhone or iPod touch users." Such rules are not normally used to address perceived blasphemy.

The approval process at Apple is often seen as arbitrary, most recently because of Nine Inch Nails' NIN Access 1.0.3, which was initially rejected because of song lyrics in a podcast but later approved without any changes. Parental controls in iPhone 3.0 may allow formerly "offensive" apps to reach the App Store.

Denon 2009 Lineup

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Denon's American branch this afternoon bowed its core lineup for 2009 and headlined it with both Blu-ray players as well as network-aware iPod docks. The DBP-2010CI and DBP-1610CI both bring Blu-ray Profile 2.0 support for Internet-based special features and will play both AVC (H.264) and DivX video in HD. The higher-end 2010CI touts a higher-grade Anchor Bay digital imaging processor and a serial port for home automation. Both ship in July with the 1610CI costing $499 and the 2010CI asking a premium at $699.

The ASD-51N and ASD-51W in turn are companion pieces meant to bring iPod audio across a network; attaching to a home theater receiver, they not only supply music to the local receiver but to as many as five other Denon receivers. The new models can also be automated through IP-based control units, allow WPA encryption (on Wi-Fi) and tune into Internet subscription music services like Napster and Rhapsody. These ship in August, with the 51N using Ethernet-only at a $250 price and the 51W gaining Wi-Fi for $300.

Nine new home theater receivers are joining Denon's line and gain a new on-screen interface for HDMI as well as HDMI 1.3a (including Deep Color) support on all models. Prices will range from $349 to $1,999 and add newer features at the high end, including Ethernet-based media sharing and HD Radio from the $1,499 AVR-990 and AVR-3310CI upwards. The $1,999 AVR-4310CI has these plus Denon Link 4, which lets the HDMI-connected receiver steer clock and anti-jitter functions on newer Denon movie players. Shipments start this month and end in July for some models.

Rounding out the introductions are three in-ear headphone launches, including the AH-C360 ($49), AH-C710 ($149) and AH-NC600 ($199). While quality scales upwards through the line, the NC600 is unique in adding active noise cancellation beyond the passive effect from the earbuds themselves. Denon ships these by July.

DBP-2010CI

AVR-990

AH-NC600

MS targets iPod in Zune ad

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In airing a new video, Microsoft has expanded its ad competition with Apple to encompass music support. The ad specifically targets the iTunes Store, and relies on a financial speaker named Wes Moss to criticize the value of buying tracks outright instead of subscribing to a service like the Zune Pass. At 120GB, claims Moss, the full-sized version of the iPod classic would cost roughly $30,000 to fill when using the iTunes Store.

The Zune Pass, by contrast, costs $15 a month, and lets users download an unlimited number of tracks. The ad does not mention however that subscribers can only permanently keep 10 tracks a month, and that any track not chosen to keep is lost should a person unsubscribe. The latter music can also be synced only to Zune players.

Microsoft advertising has become intensely focused on Apple in recent months, a delayed response to Apple's long history of anti-Windows campaigning. The spearhead in Microsoft efforts has been the Laptop Hunters series of TV spots, which observe that comparatively-equipped PC notebooks are frequently cheaper than MacBooks. The company has been slowly eroding computer marketshare to Apple during the past several years.

Live iPhone band show

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In brief: The advanced calculator iPhone application, PCalc, is now on sale for $5. This is a 50% discount from the applications usual price and will only last for a limited time. Macminicolo has announced that it will be updating its Mac Server Series. The new series will include video guides that can help set up a Mac server using a Mac Mini and OS X Leopard. Meanwhile, the band FeelAbout recently performed one of their original tracks live at a concert in Israel using iPhones and iPod touch devices as the instruments. The group used guitar, piano, drum and bass applications that are available in the App Store to recreate their song Follow Me Down.

TLA Systems, developers of the PCalc iPhone application, have announced that their application is currently on sale for $5, half of its usual price. PCalc is an advanced calculator that includes additional features not found in the iPhone's default calculator. It includes an RPN mode, an extensive set of unit conversions, a paper tape, engineering and scientific notation, as well as support for hexadecimal, octal and binary calculations.

Macminicolo has announced that it is starting a new Mac Server Series on building up a Mac server. The guides will cover topics such as setting up a server, running a website or multiple websites, and running a file server. The series is a follow up to one that was done a few years ago and includes new information on using more recent hardware and software. The series shows how to set up a Mac mini running OS X Leopard and includes links to free and inexpensive software that can be used. The first video should be posted soon and anyone interested can sign up to receive email notifications, subscribe to the Far Away RSS Feed or follow Macminicolo on Twitter to see when videos are posted.

A YouTube video has recently been posted that shows the band FeelAbout performing their song Follow Me Down using only iPhones and iPod touch devices. The band consisted of four instrumentalists running applications that are available in the App Store along with a vocalist. The guitarist was using iShred ($5), the pianist was using Mini Piano (free) and the drummer and bass player were both using Band ($4). This is a small example of the capabilities that the App Store has provided for iPhone users and developers.

Resident Evil for iPhone

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Developer Capcom has released Resident Evil: Degeneration for the iPhone and iPod touch, extending its survival horror series to smaller handhelds. The title is based on the CG movie of the same name, and has players explore Harvardville Airport as they solve puzzles, rescue other humans and gun down zombies. Environments are rendered in real-time 3D, and viewed from a mix of third- and first-person perspectives.

To control a character, players rely mostly on the combination of an on-screen direction pad and context-sensitive action buttons. Among these are ones for zoom, laser targeting and melee combat, as well as accessing objectives and inventory. Also present in the game are motion controls, which can be used to reload a weapon or shake off zombies.

Degeneration is a 9.5MB download, and costs $7. The iPhone 2.1 firmware is required.

SlingPlayer app without 3G

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Apple will publish the SlingPlayer iPhone app within the next 24 hours, but without any form of 3G support, developer Sling Media is said to have confirmed. The software is designed as extension of the company's Slingbox hardware, which broadcasts TV from a person's home to a remote Internet destination. Using SlingPlayer, people should be able to view streams, change channels and control DVR units.

The finished app can connect only over Wi-Fi however, in what is believed to be a concession to iPhone carrier AT&T. Through its terms of service the company has effectively banned redirecting TV over 3G, a strategy deemed necessary to prevent oversaturing bandwidth. As a consequence however, the range and usefulness of the iPhone app has been substantially diminished.

SlingPlayer Mobile will sell for $30 at the App Store, and officially support the Slingbox PRO, SOLO and PRO-HD. Older hardware is also said to be compatible, but not officially supported.

GEAR4 intros CRG-60 clock

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UK-based GEAR4 has recently added to its comprehensive lineup of iPod accessories with its CRG-60 alarm clock and iPod dock. There are two alarms, with each giving users the option of waking up to music from the docked iPod, any FM radio station or a buzzer. The alarm clocks have snooze, sleep and nap functions, while the large LCD screen can be dimmed at night.

When plugged into a wall, the CRG-60 will charge connected iPods. Users can also power the dock with six AA batteries, though doing so will not charge the connected iPod. The CRG-60 will be available in the UK this June for the equivalent of nearly $54. [via Pocket-lint]

News Pro, Postage

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* RunningTotal ($2) allows users to track their finances directly on an iPhone or iPod touch. Multiple accounts can be set up such as debit card accounts, checking accounts, and credit cards, and can all be tracked simultaneously. Whenever a transaction occurs a user can add the amount to the proper account and include a brief description. Users can then view the summary of an account from the home screen and compare credit card usage to its limit.

* Face Fun ($3) features a face detection feature that can automatically recognize faces in an image. Once a face has been detected users can select from one of the included images to place the face in. This allows users to place their face or the face of a friend into an image that depicts an artist painting it or an image that makes the face look like a puzzle.

* German Course ($5) is designed to help people learn German by using a series short lessons created by Judith Mayer, the host of GermanPod101. The application currently includes 25 short lessons that use a combination of both audio and visuals to help the learning process but the developers plan to expand this to 50 lessons soon. The lessons are designed for people with no knowledge of German and cover basics such as numbers, greetings and pronunciation.

* News Pro (free) lets iPhone and iPod touch users access content from Thomson Reuters including the latest news, an updated stream of photographs, video coverage, financial charting, customized market data and company profiles. The application can locate a user and then present news that is relevant to that area of the world and includes a customizable watch list that can be used to monitor stocks.

* Postage ($3) is a tool for creating electronic postcards on the iPhone and iPod touch. Users can import their own photos and add them to the included postcard designs along with personalized messages. The application includes more than 50 different postcard layouts and allows users to pan, zoom, rotate and add effects to their photos.

Apple refurbs: iPod nano

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Currently Apple's online store is offering a wide selection of refurbished iPods including special limited time pricing on the current-generation 8GB iPod nanos of $99. Also available are 16GB models for $149. Both configurations come in black, blue, purple, orange, green, silver, yellow, and pink. One and two gigabyte iPod shuffles are priced at $39 and

Leaf Trombone Lite & Free

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Smule has released a simplified version of its Leaf Trombone World Stage app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Leaf Trombone Lite & Free provides a brief sample of the full game, including only one default track. Similarly to the full version, gamers are able to observe the judging of performances by a live panel, and compose their own songs at smule.com. Lite players cannot, however, participate in live judging.

Leaf Trombone is a massively multiplayer musical game which has players compose and publish their own songs. The trombone is played by blowing air into an iPhone's microphone, or using various slide commands on an iPod touch. Lite & Free is currently available at the App Store, alongside the full version of Leaf Trombone, which costs $1.

Peggle for iPhone released

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Overcoming a small but significant delay, PopCap has at last launched the iPhone version of Peggle, its well-known puzzle game. Players fire a metal ball from the top of the screen, with the goal of knocking out as many blocks as possible before it reaches the bottom. Special bonuses are awarded for unique combos and trick shots.

The iPhone game includes 55 regular levels and 40 Grand Master challenges, which can be chosen individually through the Quick Play or Challenge modes. Gamers can additionally play against others in the Duel mode, and record unusual shots for later playback. Separating the port is a new Extreme Precision wheel, meant increased accuracy, and a series of new style bonuses, such as Off the Wall and Double Long Shot. A Trophy Room now displays unusual achievements in the game.

Peggle is a $5 download from the App Store, and requires iPhone 2.1 firmware.

Agile Messenger, Elvis

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* PhotoList ($2) is a tool for organizing and locating photos on the iPhone and iPod touch. Users can organize photos into an unlimited number of folders and add titles and ratings. Photos can be moved between different folders allowing users to adjust the file structure as needed. A recent update has also added the ability to upload and download images from Facebook.

* SWIRL ($3) is a game where players must dodge obstacles and collect starts while falling downwards. The game is controlled by tilting the iPhone or iPod touch and includes five different worlds each with its own original soundtrack and an unlimited number of levels of increasing difficulty. The game also features global hi-scores, an in-game chat and integration with Twitter and Facebook via OpenFeint.

* Domino Domino ($1) allows users to create lines of dominos and then knock them over. Players can draw a line on the screen with their finger and dominos will then automatically be placed along that path. Users can also include objects like stairs, bridges and slides to make their domino course more interesting. Once the course is finished a user can choose to manually fly through the environment as the dominos fall or have the camera automatically follow the path.

* Agile Messenger ($10) is a multi-protocol instant messaging client that can access several instant messaging networks including, ICQ, AOL, Yahoo!, MSN, and GoogleTalk. The application allows users to send text, voice and picture messages to any contact and uses IM to Email forwarding to let a user know if they have received a message while using another application. Agile Messenger also includes support for typing in the landscape orientation and allows users to move between chat windows by swiping left and right.

* Elvis Mobile (free) provides users with access news, images, videos, and more that is related to Elvis Presley. The application also provides users with access to a Graceland Livecam that gives fans a live view of the mansion in Memphis. Another features is the ability to report Elvis sightings around the world. When users spot an Elvis lookalike they can snap a picture with their iPhone camera and submit it to Elvis.com or Facebook.

TruTune Fine Color Series

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Radius Products has launched its TruTune Fine Color Series, a new set of colourful earphones that match Apple�s iPod nano 4G. The TruTune earphones are made from lightweight aluminum and feature a gold-plated stereo mini-plug. Each earphone offers small, medium or large silicone caps to help ensure they fit in the user�s ear. Colors which are currently available are designed to match the nine iPod nano 4G colors and include silver, black, violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, red and pink.

The TruTune Fine Color earphones can be purchased from the Radius website and are priced at $20 a pair.

App Store profits minor?

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The App Store has not been as profitable for Apple as one might expect, claims the venture capital firm Lightspeed. The company recently achieved the goal of over 1 billion app downloads, but of these, the ratio of paid apps is said to be anywhere between 1:15 and 1:40, according to people involved in the industry. This translates into just 25 to 60 million downloads which could generate income for Apple.

An O'Reilly survey is said to show that the mean price for paid apps is $2.65, which if multiplied by 25 to 50 million, results in cumulative revenue of $70 to $160 million. Subtracting the 70 percent owed to developers, Apple may have only earned $20 to $45 million from a billion apps. Such a figure is moreover believed to be optimistic, given that a weighted average app price of $1.50 would cut Apple revenue down to between $12 to $27 million.

Lightspeed suggests that like the music and video sections at iTunes, the true purpose of the App Store is to encourage people to buy iPhones and iPod touches; some 13.7 million iPhones alone were sold in 2008, each being far more profitable than an app. The rate of app sales is said to be increasing however, as while it took six months to reach 500 million downloads, only half that time was required to add another 500 million. A third-generation iPhone and the iPhone 3.0 firmware could accelerate sales further.

Merlin software updates

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ProjectsWizards has released an update to its Merlin project management application for both the iPhone/iPod touch and Mac, along with a new version of its Merlin Server bringing it to 2.7. The upgrade to Merlin 2.7 allows users to share projects with the iPhone and iPod touch and adds support for the Merlin Server. By enabling the three applications to work together users can access and share their Merlin projects from any iPhone, Mac, or supported web browser.

In addition to the extra support, Merlin 2.7 also includes enhancements to help simplify use, to increase stability, and improve overall performance. Also the new Merlin iPhone and iPod touch version 1.0.1 resolves a connectivity issue that occurred via Bonjour, as well as provides a fix that prevented projects from being synchronized if it contained special characters in the project title.

Both Merlin and Merlin Server are compatible with Mac OS X 10.4.9 or higher, and available for purchase at $200 for Merlin 2 and $995 for a single user licence of Merlin Server. The iPhone and iPod touch version is free to download from the App Store but priced at $65 per-user license.

FreeBit ServersMan

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Japanese developer FreeBit has released an English version of

Fuel case protects, charges iPhone

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case-mate has released the Fuel, a new protective phone case. Models exist for both the iPhone 3G and the BlackBerry Bold. A soft-grip holster design is used, built around a rechargeable lithium polymer battery.

The battery adds up to seven hours of life to the Bold, and up to nine hours to the iPhone. If the phones are kept on standby, the battery provides up to 480 hours of power for the Bold and 250 hours for the iPhone. An on/off button can be used to control draw, and three color LED lights indicate the amount of power left. Users need only connect the case through mini USB to charge it.

Both Fuel models can be purchased from the case-mate website for $80.

Apple execs detail plans to expand iPhone share

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Apple executives have disclosed several strategies aimed at expanding the company's market share with the iPhone and Mac products. In comments made to Oppenheimer analysts, company officials noted the potential for significant growth of the Mac brand in international markets, which have shown a five-percent revenue growth in Europe while domestic shipments slid by eight percent.

To company considers the iPhone to be "still in its early days and could gain share by: providing more functionality; lowering prices; growing geographically; or segmenting the market with different models," wrote Yair Reiner, an Oppenheimer analyst.

Reiner confirmed that the comments originated with Apple's employees "[T]hey are not saying they will necessarily do all of these," the analyst told AppleInsider. "This is basically the menu of options."

A number of analysts have expected the company to introduce a lower-priced iPhone alongside the flagship device. Mark Abramsky of RBC suggests the new model could omit 3G and GPS functions, along with limit on data usage, but with a $100 price tag and a cheaper data plan.

"Apple said that one thing would be a constant: iPhone will remain a software centric device," Reiner noted. The company appeared to be "particularly excited" about prospects in China, a market that would clearly benefit from a lower entry price.

Many predict Apple will launch an updated iPhone or new models sometime in June or July. Although several reports suggest the announcement will occur during the WWDC keynote, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster expects the company to hold a surprise media event sometime later.

iPhone apps: PhotoList, SWIRL, Domino Domino

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iPhone app prepares students for SAT exam words

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The Princeton Review and Modality Inc. have released The Princeton Review's Vocab Challenge for the iPhone and the iPod touch. The application measures a user's knowledge of 250 words which are frequently included in SAT examinations. The app features four types of timed challenges with questions relating to positive or negative connotations, synonyms, antonyms and definitions.

The application utilizes the Multi-Touch interface, enabling users to quickly select answers by swiping the screen or shaking the device. Performance is tracked, with a display of showing mastered terms. An index of the words is also included, with definitions, audio pronunciations and a section of speech that includes the word.

The Princeton Review's Vocab Challenge is available through the App Store for $5.

Peggle for iPhone hits App Store

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Apple Online Store now ships iPhone 3G

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Apple has begun shipping iPhone orders placed on its online store. The company previously required customers to finalize the sale at a brick-and-mortar Apple Store. The eligibility checks, plan selection and add-on options can now be configured online for new customers, although existing AT&T customers still need to stop in at a retail store location.

The shipping option is now available and can be selected for free.

iPhone SlingPlayer hurt to help U-verse app?

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AT&T's decision to disallow 3G for the iPhone edition of SlingPlayer may have been motivated as much by desires to quash a competitor as it is to avoid congestion, a claim suggests. Although AT&T's official explanation is that streaming TV consumes too much bandwidth, a tip from Gizmodo purports that the carrier has the ulterior motive of crippling SlingPlayer to protect a future U-verse app. Supposedly called i-Verse, it would let subscribers to AT&T's IPTV service either stream live TV over the 3G network or else play shows already recorded on the DVR.

The move would push users to sign up for U-verse rather than use AT&T only for the iPhone service. SlingPlayer technically allows any compatible set-top box to stream its output through a Slingbox and so can work with rival TV providers or third-party DVRs, such as TiVo's devices.

Whether or not this is the motive isn't clear and is potentially controversial as it may run afoul of competition laws. However, AT&T has publicly acknowledge that it wants to tie the iPhone to U-verse and has mentioned moving DVR recordings to iPhones as one of its long-term goals. The source for the new rumor says that i-Verse has been in full development since a private preview earned a favorable reaction last year.

AT&T hasn't yet been available for comment but is expected to deny the allegations.

Critics have noted that, while AT&T claims its terms of service bar streaming live TV over a network, other smartphones like the BlackBerry Bold, Nokia 6650 and multiple Windows Mobile devices can all download SlingPlayer versions that specifically allow streaming over AT&T. The provider has argued that the iPhone is more powerful, though the Bold is theoretically faster and supports more software features, like multitasking.

Briefly: My New iPhone book, ReaddleDocs 50% discount

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In brief: My New iPhone, a guide to using the iPhone, will be updated in July following the release of the new iPhone operating system. The current edition can be purchased as a PDF at a reduced price and anyone who pre-orders the new edition will receive this PDF edition for free. Readdle has also announced a sale that offers its ReaddleDocs iPhone application for $5. The application allows users to store files and documents on the iPhone and view them with a built-in document viewer. Meanwhile, Gameloft has released several new screenshots and a trailer for its upcoming game, New York Nights: Success in the City. The game is a life simulation and starts with players arriving in New York trying to start a new and successful life.

No Starch Press is now offering several deals on the current edition of My New iPhone to coincide with the upcoming release of the next edition. The new edition is set to release this July and will add extra information pertaining to the iPhone OS 3.0 release. Anyone interested in the new release can per-order it now and will receive a free electronic copy of the current edition. The electronic version of the current edition is also currently being sold for at a reduced price of $10 and a large portion of the book has been posted on Scribd for free access.

Readdle has announced that it is currently holding a sale on its document and file management application for the iPhone, ReaddleDocs. The application is currently available for $5 representing a 50% price reduction from its usual price and will be available at this price until Sunday, May.17th. Readdle has also announced that it has submitted version 1.5 of ReaddleDocs to the App Store for review. The new version will be able to properly display iWork '09 documents and upload files to WebDAV enabled online file storage systems such as Apple's MobileMe iDisk.

Gameloft recently released several screenshots and a trailer for its upcoming iPhone game, New York Nights: Success in the City. Players start the game by arriving in New York City where the main character is hoping to find success. The game then plays out as a simulation providing players with life choices that affect the outcome of the game. New York Nights includes six famous neighborhoods including Times Square, Chinatown, and Central Park and a number of NPC's that can be interacted with.

OXtender server apps ship for Mac, iPhone

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Open-Xchange has released its latest server applications, OXteder Mac OS X and OXtender Mobile Web. Both forms of the software enable users to access and edit information and documents stored on the Open-Xchange Server through its native Mac or iPhone applications. Each functions both online and offline, with the server sync updated every time the program is online.

Both forms of OXtender can sync contacts between Open-Xchange and Address Book, as well as appointments and tasks between Open-Xchange and iCal. The Mac version is capable of automatic synchronization with all connected services and devices such as MobileMe, iPhones, iPods, or any other handsets with iSync support.

OXtender is only available to Open-Xchange users. The standard Open-Xchange software costs $675, while OXtender is free for both new and existing users.

ProPrompter offers teleprompter tools for iPhone

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Bodelin Technologies has released ProPrompter, a teleprompter application for use with the iPhone or iPod touch. The application enables each mobile device to be used as a teleprompter, with options for screen scrolling, several speed presets, both landscape and portrait modes, and on-screen help. ProPrompter can also be adjusted for improved readability in brighter settings by changing background and text colors.

Users also have free access to the ProPrompter Producer script management website where they can host their text files. The iPhone can access each script instantly by refreshing the script list in the application.

To hold the iPhone while viewing the prompts, Bodelin has released the ProPrompter Wing and the ProMag. Using the application's mirror feature, the ProMag projects a magnified text from the iPhone screen onto a mirror in front of the camera lens. This makes the text twice the size of the iPhone screen. Alternatively, The ProPrompter Wing attaches the iPhone to an adjustable arm next to the camera, which holds the iPhone in landscape mode.

The ProPrompter application is available from the App Store for $10. The ProPrompter Wing and the ProMag are both available from the Bodelin website for $130 and $1000, respectively.