Filed under: Video, Internet, iPhone
Qik launches on Installer.app
A while back, Qik announced that they would be creating a video broadcast client for the iPhone. When they first announced it, Qik was only available in a limited beta to jailbroken phones. However, Qik has announced that all jailbroken 1.1.4 iPhones will be able to get the client through Installer.app. Since Apple hasn't yet allowed streaming video using the iPhone's camera, jailbreaking is the only way to use Qik.Qik, as you may already know, is a way to broadcast live, streaming video from a mobile device. While they are not offering an App Store version of their client, you can download it via Installer.app by adding "http://qik.com/iphone1" to your sources list. If you are using iPhone 2.0 software, you might be able to downgrade to 1.1.4, however, the risks outweigh any advantages you might get.
There seems to be a growing field of jailbreak applications as Apple continues to disallow some SDK-built apps. Even though we have the official SDK, there are still too many limitations for some apps and their users.
[via TechCrunch]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Levi Figueira said 10:09PM on 8-05-2008
This one actually has me considering jailbreaking... If only they had it working on the jailbroken 2.0...........
I *WANT* to run Installer.app *AND* AppStore side-by-side... That'd be "iPhone-bliss" :D
I can haz Qik?
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Dan S. said 11:16PM on 8-05-2008
So why Installer.app and not Cydia, since it's doubtful that NullRiver, officially an iPhone developer, will ever touch Installer.app again?
Levi Figueira said 11:25PM on 8-05-2008
Good point! I guess I just said Installer.app because that's what I'm familiar with from my jailbroken days... Never got around to try Cydia (even though I'm a *nix guy, used to stuff like Aptitude and Portegé, so I guess I'd be "all over" Cydia, uh? ;))
Another point is that Qik is only available on Installer.app and at this point it's the only app I'd like to have that is unavailable from the AppStore! (well, that and a SSHd :/)
Rob Robson said 3:30AM on 8-06-2008
Keep in mind it does not stay live the whole time it's on and recording. You are also not sent a password to sign into your profile.
The trick is your username is your phone number and then hit 'forgot password' - they send you a tempt one that you can then sign in and change everything
Not perfect yet but it shows promise and the quality is great with the little iPhone camera - a lot better then with other phones.
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Eckofish said 2:59AM on 8-06-2008
Now that the iTunes App store is alive and kicking, why would people want to use, unchecked, unverfied and potentially harmful application on their devices.
I've always used iTunes to buy all of my music and I pay for all of my software, I guess there is a big enough market out there 'free'. Even if that means taking a few risks.
Co-founder of http://www.jon4lakers.com/
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James said 11:37AM on 8-06-2008
"Unchecked, unverified, and potentially harmful"
They're checked by the developer.
Verified by the repository.
And no more potentially harmful than an App Store app. There's all kinds of potentially malicious behavior that Apple can't catch.
If there's anything I don't trust, it's these weak little utilities that have flooded the App Store. I don't download those on my desktop and I won't download them on my iPod.
Don't overestimate Apple's ability to test apps before they're released. As a third party, there's many things that Apple can't do to make sure the app works and is not malicious. When I say "can't do", I mean they range from impractical in a reasonable time frame to technically impossible.
Eckofish said 11:56AM on 8-06-2008
Well kept point James. Although I think I may have explained myself badly.
What I meant to point out was the fact that I feel there is less accountability for an app that isn't signed. It's probably just being over protective.
But you're right, Apple's signed apps have just as much a chance of messing up the iPhone as Installer.app apps do.
James said 2:01PM on 8-06-2008
I believe the signing in the App Store is used as a method of checking integrity (or rather making sure application bundles don't modify themselves; a restriction imposed by Apple), rather than establishing trust. Cydia has signatures and they're also used for ensuring the integrity of packages at install, though apps can modify things after the install. So the only difference in accountability between the two is that Apple requires signatures to ensure the app follows their own restriction.
Ryan said 8:07AM on 8-06-2008
Thats pretty pathetic that they release it for a firmware hardly anyone is using (except ipod touch users without cameras).
They should get their act together and get the 2.0 frameworks and really make this something people will use. Cydia already has the 2.0 toolchain and whatnots for developers to write their applications.
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michael @ qik said 10:48AM on 8-06-2008
The app was created and in limited release before iPhone OS 2.0 was out; this is just an update -- and we've removed the signup restrictions now so anyone who hasn't already upgraded can get it.
The 2.0 version is in progress. We'll take a look at Cydia as well.
michael @ qik said 10:48AM on 8-06-2008
Btw guys (iPhone 1.x users), please sign up first at http://qik.com/sign_up -- that will send you an SMS and activate your Qik account. Once you create your first live stream, your username and login will also be SMSd to you.
Let us know if you have any comments or suggestions :) my email address is easy to guess...
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Bryan Payne said 2:24PM on 8-06-2008
Why would you not release this via Cydia?
Flixwagon said 8:48AM on 8-14-2008
The Flixwagon iPhone 1.1.X app has been available since early last week, feel free to check it out. No need to sign-up in advance, simply add m.flixwagon.com/iphone as a new source on installer and you can setup everything from the device within seconds.
Features include editing titles, tags, and sharing settings directly from the device before or while broadcasting, and 10 frames per second frame rate for smoother broadcasts.
iPhone 2.0 version coming soon.
http://blog.flixwagon.com/2008/07/flixwagon-iphone-alpha-is-now.html
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Rob Robson said 1:35PM on 8-07-2008
Out of those I have had live chats with on Qik.
The majority of the broadcasters are using a the original iPhone on 1.1.4 not the 3G unit.
Upgrading to 2.0 to gain a app store where you can PAY for things that are FREE? - A lot of people are still taking a pass on that one.
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