The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Facebook app developer is through with the iPhone, blames App Store approval processhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/11/facebook-app-developer-is-through-with-the-iphone-blames-app-st/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/11/facebook-app-developer-is-through-with-the-iphone-blames-app-st/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/11/facebook-app-developer-is-through-with-the-iphone-blames-app-st/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It would have been nice for the App Store's public relations team if the biggest news in the past few days was the introduction of a more transparent progress report for applications under review, giving developers some of the feedback they need to see where their apps are in the pathway towards approval and release. Unfortunately, that minor but tangible step toward a more open approval process is overshadowed by a story of frustration and disaffection from one of the platform's rising stars: Joe Hewitt, the man behind Facebook's popular iPhone app, is mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore.

Hewitt's frustration with the app review process isn't new, but in the same August blog post where he called for the elimination of review, he promised "I will not stop developing for Apple's platforms or using Apple's products as long as they continue to produce the best stuff on the market." A few months later, he's announced that he's handing off the Facebook app to another developer, and he's reached the point where his frustration has overcome his willingness to continue working on the iPhone. [Commenter 'Gak' points out that Hewitt's open-sourced Three20 library for iPhone devs has been flagged for use of private frameworks, which may have been one of the final straws.]

Hewitt spoke to TechCrunch earlier today, and his attitude is clear:

"My decision to stop iPhone development has had everything to do with Apple's policies. I respect their right to manage their platform however they want, however I am philosophically opposed to the existence of their review process. I am very concerned that they are setting a horrible precedent for other software platforms, and soon gatekeepers will start infesting the lives of every software developer."

Losing the talent behind the top social networking app in the store is bad for users and bad for the platform, but I don't imagine that Apple is going to give up the lockdown of review anytime soon. Is there a way around this logjam that will let developers innovate at Internet speed while still giving Apple some semblance of control? Here's one idea...

Continue reading Facebook app developer is through with the iPhone, blames App Store approval process

Facebook app developer is through with the iPhone, blames App Store approval process originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Facebook app developer is through with the iPhone, blames App Store approval process originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storeappstoredeveloperdisaffectionfacebookiphonejoe hewittjoe-hewittJoeHewittMichael RoseWed, 11 Nov 2009 23:00:00 ESTFound Footage: TweetDeck for iPhone gets a major makeoverhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/11/found-footage-tweetdeck-for-iphone-gets-a-major-makeover/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/11/found-footage-tweetdeck-for-iphone-gets-a-major-makeover/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/11/found-footage-tweetdeck-for-iphone-gets-a-major-makeover/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The press release I received tonight said it all: "TweetDeck for iPhone -- now with added awesome." I use TweetDeck on my Macs, but had used another competing app for tweeting from my iPhone. After this update, which is the first major upgrade to this free Twitter client, I may have to reconsider!

The features in TweetDeck 1.1.1 [iTunes Link] have been given a squirt of goodness, with these new features added to the mix:
  • Video tweeting via integration with 12seconds (record video and send to Twitter or Facebook using 12seconds platform)
  • Facebook integration (updates, FB columns, wall posts, etc.)
  • Landscape composing (for those with stumbly thumbs)
  • Trending Topics to see what's happening RIGHT NOW
  • Save Draft for later
  • Bit.ly support
  • And some additional goodies...
As with the Mac and Windows versions, the TweetDeck for iPhone user interface makes great use of columns, each of which can show a different feed, direct messages, or mentions for multiple accounts. Be sure to watch the video above, and if you're still looking for an iPhone Twitter client, give this fun freebie a try.

Found Footage: TweetDeck for iPhone gets a major makeover originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Found Footage: TweetDeck for iPhone gets a major makeover originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>freewareiphoneipod touchIpodTouchtweetdecktwitterupdateSteven SandeWed, 11 Nov 2009 11:00:00 ESTC64 emulator back on the App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/10/c64-emulator-back-on-the-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/10/c64-emulator-back-on-the-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/10/c64-emulator-back-on-the-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The C64 emulator that was pulled from the App Store by Apple for leaving a BASIC interpreter intact has now returned, though we presume it's minus the Apple-offending code. But while it will no longer run your own code, it will run some old-school C64 games, including eight for free with the app, and more coming with in-app purchases. It's got everything you'd expect from an emulator, including original sound and graphics, an auto-save, and the option to play in fullscreen portrait or landscape.

In fact, the only thing it doesn't have is an interpreter, but of course you know why that is by now: Apple doesn't want anyone running code on their devices that they haven't approved through the App Store. The app sells for $4.99 right now, and they expect to release the in-app purchases sometime this December, with no price announced yet.

C64 emulator back on the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)C64 emulator back on the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appapp storeapp-storeAppStorebasic interpreterBasicInterpreterc64c64emulatordecemberin-app purchasesin-app-purchasesIn-appPurchasesiphonereleaseMike SchrammTue, 10 Nov 2009 22:30:00 ESTCongressional caricatures on the App Store: The nays have ithttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/10/congressional-caricatures-on-the-app-store-the-nays-have-it/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/10/congressional-caricatures-on-the-app-store-the-nays-have-it/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/10/congressional-caricatures-on-the-app-store-the-nays-have-it/#commentsFiled under: ,

Let's face it, America: if you're looking for "obscene, pornographic or defamatory" content, you can pretty much count on the US Congress to satisfy your jones. Put those representatives into cartoon bobble-head form, however, and stack them up with contact and district info in a handy-dandy iPhone app... well, that's just not cricket, according to the App Store review team.

Cartoonist & MAD magazine contributor Tom Richmond was commissioned to produce said caricatures for the iPhone app in question, and unfortunately they've run afoul of clause 3.3.14 of the developer agreement, the 'Apple's reasonable judgment' rule regarding potentially objectionable content. Richmond is scratching his head trying to figure out what about his caricatures could possibly be considered reasonably offensive, compared to some of the other fine entertainment apps already gracing iPhones worldwide. Still, it's at least consistent with Apple's previous rejections of things that are funny.

On some level it's unsurprising that an app filled with congressional bobbleheads is finding it a bit of a slog getting through review; that's a lot of potential angry phone calls for Apple to take.

[That's Dennis Kucinich over there.]

Congressional caricatures on the App Store: The nays have it originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Congressional caricatures on the App Store: The nays have it originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeAppStorecartooniphonepoliticalrejectionMichael RoseTue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:00 ESTSquarespace hosting/CMS service launches iPhone apphttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/squarespace-hosting-cms-service-launches-iphone-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/squarespace-hosting-cms-service-launches-iphone-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/squarespace-hosting-cms-service-launches-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

After a long wait, Squarespace customers finally have an iPhone app of their own. Squarespace is a hosted blogging/CMS service that competes with the likes of WordPress.com and Typepad. Having used all three, I can say that interacting with Squarespace (posting, changing your site's look and feel, etc.) is unlike the others. Instead of a separate control panel/dashboard, Squarespace previews changes in real time on the same screen. It's really nice.

The iPhone app [iTunes link] seems to be an extension of its browser-based sibling. For example, check out the live preview mode pictured at right. You can also manage multiple accounts, post, upload multiple images at once (awesome) view stats and more. The UI looks nice as well.

While bloggers on other platforms have had compatible apps in the App Store for a while now, this is Squarespace's first solution. We're eager to play around with it. Squarespace for iPhone is free and requires a paid Squarespace account.

Squarespace hosting/CMS service launches iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Squarespace hosting/CMS service launches iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeAppStoreblogbloggingcmsiphonesquarespaceDave CaoloFri, 06 Nov 2009 20:00:00 ESTApple adds submission histories to iTunes Connecthttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/apple-adds-submission-histories-to-itunes-connect/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/apple-adds-submission-histories-to-itunes-connect/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/apple-adds-submission-histories-to-itunes-connect/#commentsFiled under: ,

iPhone developer Brian Stormont pinged us this morning to share the news that Apple has quietly updated iTunes Connect with a great new feature: Status History. Appearing near recently reviewed items, this option opens a detail table showing how your application has worked its way through the App Store review process, and on to the shelf. Stormont details this update on his site.

This option does not, at this time, appear to be universally available. When I checked my personal apps this morning in the iTunes Connect "Manage Your Applications" screen, I was unable to find any Status History links on any of my application listings. However, I was able to confirm this feature with other iPhone developers.

Another new feature appears to be that the amber-bubbled status messages have been extended. In addition to the standard "In Review," iTunes Connect now offers a "Waiting for Review" status for newly uploaded material. If you see any further interface changes or new status messages, drop us a comment and let us know.

So what does this all mean? In my opinion, this is all great stuff, helping move Apple towards greater developer feedback. No, it's still not the full ticketing system that a lot of us are hoping for but it's definitely a step in the right direction.

Thanks, Maior

Apple adds submission histories to iTunes Connect originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple adds submission histories to iTunes Connect originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>App Store ReviewAppStoreReviewGood AppleGoodAppleMoving forwardMovingForwardProgressErica SadunFri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 ESTLogos brings free Bible study tools to the iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/05/logos-brings-free-bible-study-tools-to-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/05/logos-brings-free-bible-study-tools-to-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/05/logos-brings-free-bible-study-tools-to-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've mentioned Logos for Mac before, but now there is Logos Bible Software for iPhone (iTunes link), a free app providing access to several translations of the Bible and other Bible study books (most of the ones available at http://bible.logos.com). That's pretty good.

If you create a free account at Logos.com, you gain access to even more free resources. That's even better.

The app also lets you set up reading lists, which is an excellent idea. I've read through the Bible twice in the past few years, and used Mobile Safari on my iPhone to keep up with online lists. This app would have been much easier to use.

Many of the free resources are older, but the English Standard Version (ESV) is a good and fairly modern translation. There are also comparison tools available, as well as dictionaries. (UPDATE: Ryan Burns from Logos.com added a complete list in the comments.)

I'm almost hesitant to mention this next feature. Here's the good news: the new Logos version 4 will work with the iPhone app, giving you access over the Internet to books that you have purchased. That's a pretty killer feature.

Here's the bad news: the Mac version of Logos 4 is not finished. (That sound you just heard was an angry mob of Mac users grabbing their pitchforks off the wall and looking for the kerosene to light their torches.) Logos is developed both for Windows and Mac, and the Windows version beat the Mac version out the door.

The developers explain that the underlying "core" works on both Windows and Mac, and that the pre-release version "reads and indexes the exact same resources and data files as the Windows version. It synchronizes with the server and even uploads and downloads notes, settings, and other data. It can automatically update itself over the Internet. It just needs work at the user interface level, and we're doing that as fast as we can."

They go on to explain that the Windows and iPhone versions are both ready, and delaying "wouldn't speed up the Mac product, it would just delay access for the larger group of users." They describe version 4 as "a completely new product." All of which is fairly reasonable, but unlikely to soothe the nerves of some Mac users who will no doubt feel like second-class citizens.

The iPhone app still offers a lot of functionality, even without Logos 4 integration, and it is completely free.

Do you have a favorite iPhone Bible study app? If so, please let us know in the comments. I realize a lot of you are not religious and may not have any use or affinity for this particular app, but it would be appreciated if you'd let others have a chance to discuss this.

Logos brings free Bible study tools to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Logos brings free Bible study tools to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>biblebible studyBibleStudyiPhonelogosTJ LuomaThu, 05 Nov 2009 08:00:00 ESTDevelopers report a moment of upside-down app rankings, now returning to normalhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/developers-report-a-moment-of-upside-down-app-rankings-now-retu/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/developers-report-a-moment-of-upside-down-app-rankings-now-retu/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/04/developers-report-a-moment-of-upside-down-app-rankings-now-retu/#commentsFiled under:

It seems to be back to status quo ante now, and we're not sure exactly what was going on, but something apparently slipped off the crazy shelf and whacked the App Store firmly in the noggin. Multiple users and developers emailed to let us know that the Top Paid rankings in the store were completely jumbled up, with unfamiliar apps taking over the rankings from long-standing champs. iGlowStickPro? 301+ Short Stories? That ain't right.

The US store was definitely fritzy, but other tipsters report that the Australian store was affected as well. Now that things seem to be returning to normal, it's interesting to note how quickly everyone reacted to send a heads-up about the problem... when your monthly revenues depend on that Top Paid ranking slot, even a few minutes of confusion will get your attention in a hurry.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

Developers report a moment of upside-down app rankings, now returning to normal originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Developers report a moment of upside-down app rankings, now returning to normal originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeAppStorerankingssalesMichael RoseWed, 04 Nov 2009 20:00:00 ESTDo you fear when you fly? There's an app to help that.http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/do-you-fear-when-you-fly-theres-an-app-to-help-that/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/do-you-fear-when-you-fly-theres-an-app-to-help-that/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/do-you-fear-when-you-fly-theres-an-app-to-help-that/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Fear of flying is nothing to laugh about. Having a panic attack while on an airplane, or not being able to even board a commercial flight because of fear, are both more common than most people would imagine. One solution is to learn how to relax, and to become knowledgeable about the sights, sounds, and feelings of flying.

Virgin Atlantic has had an amazing 98% success rate in curing fear of flying though its Flying Without Fear classes. These are seminars held throughout the UK that provide flight knowledge through a Q&A session with Virgin Atlantic flight crews, followed by a psychology session to make attendees aware of what makes them afraid and provide techniques to combat the fear. At the end of the day, attendees are taken on a short flight to try out their new knowledge and prove to themselves that they can fly without becoming paralyzed with panic.

To reach a much larger audience, Virgin Atlantic has just released the Flying Without Fear app [US$4.99, iTunes Link]. While the app doesn't include a visit from a flight crew or a psychologist, it's designed to make the techniques that have been so successful in Virgin Atlantic's in-person classes available to owners of the iPhone and iPod touch.

Virgin Atlantic President Sir Richard Branson provides a video introduction, followed by video-based explanations of what's going on at every phase of your flight. There's a built-in FAQ section with answers to questions such as "What if all the engines fail?", a set of relaxation exercises, and even a fear attack button (at right) for those scary situations that can occur in flight.

Of course, the app can't be run during takeoff and landing when you're asked to "turn off all electronic devices," but hopefully you'll gain enough confidence through using the app prior to your flight that you'll be able to stay calm.

[via CNET]

Do you fear when you fly? There's an app to help that. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Do you fear when you fly? There's an app to help that. originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appfear of flyingFearOfFlyingflyingiphoneipod touchIpodTouchSteven SandeTue, 03 Nov 2009 19:00:00 ESTEliminate now available on the App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/eliminate-now-available-on-the-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/eliminate-now-available-on-the-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/eliminate-now-available-on-the-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Ngmoco's Eliminate has been building up buzz ever since it was announced, and now the first-person shooter is out on the App Store to try for yourself. As you can see above, it offers some relatively basic FPS gameplay when compared to shooters on other platforms (I've been having a lot of fun with Borderlands lately), but given that this is the iPhone we're talking about, this kind of twitch 3D gameplay is actually pretty impressive. You can play online over 3G or Wi-Fi, and as you play, you can earn credits and level up, which gives you access to more weapons and better gear. The game itself is free, but it's all based around a microtransaction system where you buy "energy" which allows you to earn those aforementioned resources. You get a certain amount of energy per day on your own, and if you use it up, you can't progress any further unless you get out the wallet or wait another day. And the game uses ngmoco's own Plus+ social interface to track leaderboards and accounts. Interesting plan, and we'll have to see if players vibe with it or not. Some have already voiced strong concerns about the in-game pay-to-play microtransaction system.

If that doesn't vibe with you, and you'd rather play some old-school (and old business model) FPS gameplay instead, id's Doom Classic also got released on the App Store last weekend. That game comes at a cost of $6.99, but then again, with old-school Doom, you know exactly what you're getting into. And you won't have to buy any extra energy to charge your BFG and slay any demons you happen to come across.

Eliminate now available on the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Eliminate now available on the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>3gapp-storecostdoomdoom-classiceliminatefirst-person-shooterfpsgamesgamingidmicrotransactionsngmocoold-schoolplussocial-interfacewifiMike SchrammTue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:00 ESTGamesalad offers $99 iPhone game publishinghttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/02/gamesalad-offers-99-iphone-game-publishing/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/02/gamesalad-offers-99-iphone-game-publishing/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/02/gamesalad-offers-99-iphone-game-publishing/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We mentioned Gamesalad's plans to bring their publishing system to the iPhone earlier this year, and now they've done it: for $99 a year, they say that you'll be able to design games on their game creator development tool, and then publish them straight out to the iPhone's App Store. If you don't want to bother publishing the games yourself, you can create them and have them "viewed" through the Gamesalad Viewer (which we couldn't find on the App Store quite yet), or you can export them out as full applications and publish them as your own iPhone apps (Flutterby is in the store right now as an example of a Gamesalad Creator game).

There's also a $1999 membership service that lets you customize every aspect of your games, and provides you with direct customer support, which is supposed to be for "elite users" (like, we guess, actual game companies). And truthfully, I've developed a few apps using just Xcode, and it's not too big a deal (though I've never had to go through an actual release or worked with end users, which I'm sure is most of the battle anyway). But if the thought of using professional coding tools to develop your little game idea sends you into panic attacks, and the Gamesalad creator seems more your speed, this might be a nice viable way for you to turn your gaming idea into App Store gold.

It costs nothing to download and try out the creator, so if the idea interests you, you can work on putting a game together, and then pay later when you decide you've got something you want published on the iPhone. And hey, if you do put a game up, be sure to send a tip and let us know -- we'd love to see the end products of this process.

Gamesalad offers $99 iPhone game publishing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Gamesalad offers $99 iPhone game publishing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>creatordevelopmentgamesgamesaladgamesalad-vieweriphonepublishingtiptuawviewedxcodeMike SchrammMon, 02 Nov 2009 23:30:00 ESTHunting down 10 iPhone apps for the outdoorsmanhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/01/hunting-down-10-iphone-apps-for-the-outdoorsman/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/01/hunting-down-10-iphone-apps-for-the-outdoorsman/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/01/hunting-down-10-iphone-apps-for-the-outdoorsman/#commentsFiled under: , ,

At least here in Colorado, the big game hunting season is mostly over for another year, except for a few late-season licenses. While many hunters may be nursing deer camp hangovers, maintaining their firearms, or telling yarns about the ones that got away, those who own an iPhone or iPod touch can still be blasting away at Bambi.

There are a huge number of hunting-related apps in the App Store, ranging from various deer and duck hunting simulations to duck and deer calls. Let's take a look at a ten-pack of apps:

Go out and blast at virtual deer, elk, caribou, grizzly bears, and black bears with 3D Hunting Trophy Whitetail [US$0.99, iTunes Link]. Four weapon types (Lever-Action Rifle, Bolt-Action Rifle, Scoped Bolt-Action Rifle, or Bow & Arrow) are available for your shooting enjoyment, and you get to use calls and scents to attract your prey.

Continue reading Hunting down 10 iPhone apps for the outdoorsman

Hunting down 10 iPhone apps for the outdoorsman originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Hunting down 10 iPhone apps for the outdoorsman originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeappsAppStorehuntershuntingiphoneipod touchIpodTouchSteven SandeSun, 01 Nov 2009 17:30:00 ESTiPhone apps that bloggers will lovehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/01/iphone-apps-that-bloggers-will-love/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/01/iphone-apps-that-bloggers-will-love/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/01/iphone-apps-that-bloggers-will-love/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

wpbeginner has posted a terrific list of 10 iPhone apps that every blogger will love. The first item on the list is, as you'd expect, WordPress for iPhone. Version 2.0 was released earlier this week and it's a huge improvement over its predecessor. It supports blogs powered by both WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress.org. WordPress 2.0 for iPhone is free.

Add as many blogs as you like and manage comments, posts and pages all from the app. Adding new pages and posts is as easy as editing existing ones. Best of all, you can delete, edit approve/unapprove and spam comments with a few taps.

Of course, not every blogger uses WordPress, and the other apps on the list acknowledge this. Shape Writer aims to make it easier to enter text by letting you trace the "shape" of a word rather than type its letters. Proper names and acronyms can be "taught" to the app by typing them once. They'll be traceable from that point on. Shape Writer costs $3.99US.

Also on the list is Jott, a voice-to-text app that records your voice, converts it to text and lets you send the result nearly anywhere, including a WordPress or Blogger blog (as well as Twitter, Facebook and more). I haven't tested it, so I can't speak for how well it works. If it does what it claims (speak up if you've used it), Jott for iPhone will make it much easier to publish long posts from your iPhone (provided that it supports your preferred platform). Jott for iPhone is free and requires a Jott Assist Plan, which starts at $3.95/mo. Mel reviewed the similar Voice on the Go service last week.

Visit wpbeginner for the rest of the list. As for me, I get a lot of use out of Instapaper (for reading reference articles when I'm away from my computer) and Evernote (pretty much the same reason) among others. If you want the simplest blog-from-your-iPhone solution, check out Posterous. All you need to do to set up and maintain a Posterous blog is send an email to post@posterous.com. It doesn't get simpler than that.

[Via Wired]

iPhone apps that bloggers will love originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iPhone apps that bloggers will love originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeappsAppStoreblogginginternet toolsInternetToolsiphoneDave CaoloSun, 01 Nov 2009 08:00:00 ESTWatch live NBA games with League Pass Mobile for iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/watch-live-nba-games-with-league-pass-mobile-for-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/watch-live-nba-games-with-league-pass-mobile-for-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/watch-live-nba-games-with-league-pass-mobile-for-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,

The NBA, via MobiTV, has made available its "League Pass" service to the iPhone via the League Pass Mobile app [iTunes link]. Like the MLB At Bat app [iTunes link], League Pass Mobile allows you to stream live NBA games onto your iPhone -- over 40 live NBA games per week. There's also the ability to view stats from the current game, and look at scores from games across the league. Subscribers can also replay full games up to 48 hours after the game has been played.

I'm a basketball junkie, and a former subscriber of NBA League Pass Broadband, the NBA's desktop version of the service -- former, because I actually just canceled my subscription yesterday. I found the service subjected too many games to blackouts, which often prevented me from watching many games of my beloved world champion Los Angeles Lakers. As a result, I'd often hop on over to my local sports bar to watch the game, which set me back at least US $12 with beer factored in. This year, instead, I'll be sacrificing the comfort of watching games in front of my desktop (and now the potential of watching it on my iPhone) for the peace of mind that the game I want to watch will be available at my local sports bar.

NBA League Pass Mobile is available for US $39.99 in the App Store.

Watch live NBA games with League Pass Mobile for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Watch live NBA games with League Pass Mobile for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>league passLeaguePasslive streamingLiveStreamingMobiTVNBAwatchSang TangFri, 30 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESTOfficial Settlers of Catan out now on App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/official-settlers-of-catan-out-now-on-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/official-settlers-of-catan-out-now-on-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/official-settlers-of-catan-out-now-on-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Just in case you missed it, I got my wish from a while back: there is an official version of the classic board game Settlers of Catan, called just Catan, on the App Store right now. I'm still playing Kolonists, the unofficial knockoff that got kicked off of the store for infringement, but if you've got wood for sheep, this official version should get you your portable fix. If you're unfamiliar with the Catan juggernaut, check out this thorough piece from Wired.com.

There's hot seat multiplayer gameplay (I assume you just can't cheat by looking at what resources other people have), or a few AIs to tangle with if you don't have friends at hand, and the game includes a scrollable board to play on, game stats to track, and a tutorial for those of you who haven't rolled the dice and tried to build the Longest Road yet.

The game is created by United Soft Media, a German company that's also ported the game to the DS, and while it's not quite as shiny as the Xbox Live port (my personal favorite version of the game, outside of the real thing, of course), the reviews on iTunes say it gets the job done, at least while you're waiting for the next board game night (and while we're talking about board games, can I recommend Dominion? Best table game I've played in years). The game is $4.99 and available right now. Anyone have any ore?

Official Settlers of Catan out now on App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Official Settlers of Catan out now on App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storeboard-gamedominiongamegermaniphoneipod-touchkolonistslongest-roadsettlers-of-catanunited-soft-mediawood-for-sheepMike SchrammFri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 ESTHappy puzzling holidays! Triazzle Holiday Edition is in the App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/happy-puzzling-holidays-triazzle-holiday-edition-is-in-the-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/happy-puzzling-holidays-triazzle-holiday-edition-is-in-the-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/happy-puzzling-holidays-triazzle-holiday-edition-is-in-the-app/#commentsFiled under: , , ,




We loved Triazzle 3.0 [iTunes Link] when it came out in July, but with winter nearly upon us it's time to dust off the sleigh bells and dreidels because Triazzle Holiday [iTunes Link] is here in a new seasonally-inspired version. This slightly cut-down version of the US$2.99 app sells for US$0.99, and runs on any iPhone or iPod touch running OS 2.2.1 or higher.

Triazzle is a puzzle game where you are given a sectioned triangle board and 9 (down from 16 in the full app) smaller triangle pieces that fit in the larger triangle like a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces are moved to the board and rotated to get the proper orientation, when all nine are in place, you have won. The rub is that many pieces can look maddeningly similar and there is only correct solution to each puzzle. So even if it looks right, you can be wrong. When you are right, you are rewarded with an animation and the match counter increments.

This version of Triazzle is chock-full of holiday lights, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, Dreidels, Nutcrackers, and a litany of other things to make you think of the holidays. The game has 4 difficulty levels ranging from one for kids to level 3, which is really quite difficult. Animated hints are available along with an option invoking the Triazzle Tiki Gods to solve the puzzle for you.

What sets Triazzle Holiday apart from just about anything else is its craftsmanship. Every screen is more gorgeous than the next, and the level of detail of the graphics can leave you breathless. If the visuals get too complex you can choose to display simpler backgrounds to make things easier to see. You can also adjust whether or not snow will fall, and you can set the volume level of music, ambient sounds, and game sounds.

Music is a large part of the game. Right after the splash screen you are advised to use headphones. Drag them out of the closet for this one -- it's worth it. The music is wonderfully recorded and reproduced using such favorites as Jingle Bells and the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies from The Nutcracker Suite. In addition there is a lot of original music, including a spirited Klezmer number backing up a game full of Dreidels.

Triazzle Holiday will only be available through the holiday season, so get your copy now, put on your headphones, and immerse yourself in this impressive game.

Happy puzzling holidays! Triazzle Holiday Edition is in the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Happy puzzling holidays! Triazzle Holiday Edition is in the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app reviewAppReviewchristmasgameshanukahhanukkahholidayholidayspuzzletriazzleDavid WinogradThu, 29 Oct 2009 19:00:00 ESTTrillian's 75-day limbo: the App Store, Freewill, and the pocket vetohttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/trillian-75-day-limbo-pocket-veto/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/trillian-75-day-limbo-pocket-veto/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/29/trillian-75-day-limbo-pocket-veto/#commentsFiled under: ,

What do United States politics, a Canadian rock song, and a California computer company have in common? Here are some hints: the Pocket Veto, Freewill, and the App Store.

When the President of the United States is presented with a bill, she or he has 10 days to sign it, or veto it. If the President does not want to be seen as having acted in favor of or against some particular piece of legislation, he or she can simply put it in a pocket and wait for the clock to expire.

Or, as the Canadian rock band Rush once said: "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice."

Back in late August, Apple claimed not to have rejected the official Google Voice iPhone application. The company claimed it was still "studying" it.

Around that same time, Cerulean Studios submitted the amazing-looking Trillian for iPhone instant messaging application.

Over two months later, Apple has not taken action on either app. Neither app has (officially) been rejected, but they have not been accepted, either. In the case of the official Google Voice app, it feels very much like Apple has simply "pocketed" the application.

Continue reading Trillian's 75-day limbo: the App Store, Freewill, and the pocket veto

Trillian's 75-day limbo: the App Store, Freewill, and the pocket veto originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Trillian's 75-day limbo: the App Store, Freewill, and the pocket veto originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storegoogle voiceiPhoneMailWranglerrejectiontrillianTJ LuomaThu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESTiPhone app claims 95% piracy ratehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/iphone-app-claims-95-piracy-rate/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/iphone-app-claims-95-piracy-rate/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/iphone-app-claims-95-piracy-rate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

With all of the success stories coming out of the App Store, it's been pretty easy to forget the problem of piracy for most developers. Not so for Fishlabs, who've posted over on the Touch Arcade forums that their latest game, Rally Master Pro 3D, is experiencing a 95% piracy rate. You read that right: supposedly 95% of the people playing the game on the iPhone haven't paid for it.

There's probably a multitude of reasons why that is -- the app is $7 with no trial version, it's not a super-popular app quite yet (so one pirated copy on a popular message board is probably traveling farther than the copies coming off of the official App Store), and there are probably at least a few other factors in the mix that we don't know yet. Still, 95% is obviously pretty darn high for a platform that's supposed to only deliver software through Apple's official store.

Now, fortunately Fishlabs doesn't sound litigious -- they're not pulling the old "piracy = lost sales" fallacy that many companies in this situation would do. They are lowering the price on the app -- they expected it to be worth more, but apparently their consumer base seems to disagree. They tell Mobile Entertainment that they'd entertain the idea of providing content only through Apple's in-app purchasing service (presumably, that would prevent piracy by locking down the extra content), but they also say that's a gamble they've tried and missed on other platforms before.

Of course, it'll take more than one post on one message board to make hay out of the problem of app piracy -- it definitely happens, but on the other hand, there certainly are apps selling well, and there are also apps not selling well that don't have this level of piracy going on. Apple already has lots of authentication and validation processes in place, but if app piracy is this big a problem for everyone, they may need to look at more.

iPhone app claims 95% piracy rate originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iPhone app claims 95% piracy rate originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app-storeapp-store-piracyforumsiphonelost-salesmobile-entertainmentpiracyrally-master-pro-3dtouch-arcadeMike SchrammWed, 28 Oct 2009 15:00:00 ESTUh oh! Google releasing free turn by turn GPS app for Androidhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/uh-oh-google-releasing-free-turn-by-turn-gps-app-for-android/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/uh-oh-google-releasing-free-turn-by-turn-gps-app-for-android/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/uh-oh-google-releasing-free-turn-by-turn-gps-app-for-android/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Just when you thought it was safe to buy a nav app for the iPhone, Google goes and announces a free app for Android, and says it's going to be available for the iPhone if Apple will let it into the App Store.

The app, called Google Maps Navigation, will ship with phones running the Android OS 2.0 and includes search by voice, search for points of interest by voice while in route, satellite and street view, and support for a hardware dock for 'certain devices.'

This won't be great news for TomTom, Navigon, or any of the rest. Google says the app is U.S. only for now, and will be seen first on the Verizon Droid which will appear in November.

Talk about disruption! With the FCC watching it will be most interesting to see if Apple allows the app onto the iPhone and, whether yes or no, the effect on Android sales.

I can't wait for all the fur to fly. You can watch a video of the app in action in this YouTube clip. Admit it. You want this!

Uh oh! Google releasing free turn by turn GPS app for Android originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Uh oh! Google releasing free turn by turn GPS app for Android originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>androiddroidGoogle Maps NavigationgpsiPhonenavigationturn by turnvoice recognitionVoiceRecognitionMel MartinWed, 28 Oct 2009 14:00:00 ESTGet your social notifications on the cheap with Boxcarhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/get-your-social-notifications-on-the-cheap-with-boxcar/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/get-your-social-notifications-on-the-cheap-with-boxcar/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/28/get-your-social-notifications-on-the-cheap-with-boxcar/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Since the arrival of the Push Notifications feature in iPhone OS 3.0, all manner of apps have added support for it. Games, task management applications, you name it -- they're all more than happy to make your phone beep at you in the middle of the night and prompt your spouse to kindly insist that you silence that infernal device. Or so I've heard.

It seems like a no-brainer to me that this type of functionality would exist among the throngs of social networking applications. If the game where you flick the thing while the music is playing can tell me when I've got a new challenger from the Far East, why can't my favorite Twitter client let me know when I've got a new direct message? Sadly, most of the apps in the store (as far as I know) haven't implemented this functionality yet. I realize that it has some sporadic adoption, but certainly not the universal support that I personally expected.

Enter Boxcar [iTunes Link]. This little free app has existed in the store for months now and has received some very nice reviews, and for good reason. I've been a faithful user of this app for many moons and I find it pretty indispensable. Here's how it works:

When you install the app (which is free at the time of this writing), you can choose to enable a single service for notification -- Twitter, Facebook or an email account. It will poll the selected service at a short interval and send you a standard push notification message if there are any updates. In the case of Twitter, you can configure it to open one of several supported Twitter client apps. If you want to enable additional services, you can do so through the in-app purchase mechanism, and most options cost $.99US.

I'm a big fan of Boxcar and use it for Twitter and Facebook. It's one of those free applications that's actually worth more than what you're paying for it -- a quality that's becoming increasingly rare among free iPhone apps these days! Version 2.1 was just released a few days ago and includes several new features like support for Facebook Mail and better accessibility.

Pick up Boxcar now for free from the App Store.

Get your social notifications on the cheap with Boxcar originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Get your social notifications on the cheap with Boxcar originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appapp storeAppStoreBoxCarfacebookiphonepushtwitterBrett KellyWed, 28 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST