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/Bitlbee and Rooms: Accessing AIM Chat Rooms from your iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/bitlbee-and-rooms-accessing-aim-chat-rooms-from-your-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/bitlbee-and-rooms-accessing-aim-chat-rooms-from-your-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/30/bitlbee-and-rooms-accessing-aim-chat-rooms-from-your-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We're a pretty AIM-based blog around these parts. The fact that Weblogs, Inc. is owned by AOL may or may not play a role in that. Regardless, we TUAWians spend a lot of time in AIM chat rooms. The App Store's lack of AOL chat room support has been a real burden when we're out on the road with iPhones.

I was delighted when a recent tweet put me in contact with Björn Teichmann, author of the iPhone IRC application Rooms [iTunes link]. Rooms, claimed Teichmann, could bring AOL chat rooms to our iPhones.

Teichmann sent over a promo code for his app, which normally retails for $1.99, and spent a few hours getting me up to speed on AOL chat rooms using his software. Let me explain: It's not that setting things up ended up being difficult to accomplish, but rather there weren't a lot of clear and available instructions for doing so. What Teichmann worked out over those hours was a somewhat reliable way to access AOL chat rooms via IRC.

Read on to learn more about his solution...

Continue reading Bitlbee and Rooms: Accessing AIM Chat Rooms from your iPhone

Bitlbee and Rooms: Accessing AIM Chat Rooms from your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Bitlbee and Rooms: Accessing AIM Chat Rooms from your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>AIMAIM ChatAIM Chat RoomsAimChatAimChatRoomsAOLircIRC ClientsIrcClientsRoomsErica SadunFri, 30 Oct 2009 19:00:00 ESTMonoprice iPhone/iPod Battery Backup: Such a dealhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/monoprice-iphone-ipod-battery-backup-such-a-deal/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/monoprice-iphone-ipod-battery-backup-such-a-deal/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/26/monoprice-iphone-ipod-battery-backup-such-a-deal/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In a previous post about offshore iPhone chargers, a few astute TUAW readers mentioned Monoprice.com as a good source for chargers, connectors, and computer, TV and audio cables. In searching their site, I found a real deal.

The Monoprice Backup battery pack is the simplest of devices. When your iPhone or iPod is running low on juice, just plug this battery pack into the 30 pin connector. You can then either keep running with a fairly large dongle hanging off the bottom of your device, or wait and the battery pack will charge your device in 3.5 hours according to Monoprice (or about 2.5 hours according to my tests).

Yes, there are a lot of battery backups that do this, but how many are sold at US$14.50? You read that right, only US$14.50, and for that you get pack with a capacity of 2200 mAh.

For comparison, the capacity of the iPhone battery is 1150 mAh, so this battery should be able to charge your device twice. Due to my ignorance of the vagaries of electricity, mine winds up charging the iPhone about 1.75 times, which isn't bad at all.

Continue reading Monoprice iPhone/iPod Battery Backup: Such a deal

Monoprice iPhone/iPod Battery Backup: Such a deal originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Monoprice iPhone/iPod Battery Backup: Such a deal originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessoriesbatteryBatteryPackiphoneiPodiPod accessoryIpodAccessoryDavid WinogradMon, 26 Oct 2009 16:30:00 ESTOffshore iPhone/iPod USB power adapters: Caveat Emptorhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/14/offshore-iphone-ipod-usb-power-adapters-caveat-emptor/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/14/offshore-iphone-ipod-usb-power-adapters-caveat-emptor/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/14/offshore-iphone-ipod-usb-power-adapters-caveat-emptor/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When I opened my iPhone 3GS, I was surprised to find that the power adapter was nothing but a little 2-prong AC plug (I live in the US) that allowed you to plug in the standard USB to 30-pin connector to charge the phone.

I wanted to get a spare; checking online told me that the Apple Store wanted US$29 for the little plug, which just seemed like too much for too little, so I went shopping.

On eBay I found a bunch of auctions based in Hong Kong selling what looked like the exact same thing for anywhere from under around $2-4, and they often included the USB cable to boot.

I ordered four from a vendor and after a few weeks received them. They looked perfect, right down to the little green dot -- but none of them worked. They might start charging, but after a few minutes the iPhone would beep a few times and I would be informed that "this accessory is not compatible." And so it went for all four pieces. After sending some pictures back and forth and reading a few emails containing a combination of surprise and amazement from the vendor, my money was refunded.

Undaunted, or maybe just dumb, I went back to eBay and found another vendor that claimed to be selling, "100% Brand New Original OEM Charger and Original OEM USB Cable for iPhone/iPod" for around US$4. I just checked eBay and found this same vendor raising the price to US$10 in one auction and lowering it to $US.01 in another.

Continue reading Offshore iPhone/iPod USB power adapters: Caveat Emptor

Offshore iPhone/iPod USB power adapters: Caveat Emptor originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Offshore iPhone/iPod USB power adapters: Caveat Emptor originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>accessoriesaccessoryamazon.comchargerebayhong kongHongKongiphone 3giphone 3gsIphone3gIphone3gsDavid WinogradWed, 14 Oct 2009 18:30:00 ESTTUAW Live Chat with App Store developershttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/09/tuaw-live-chat-with-app-store-developers/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/09/tuaw-live-chat-with-app-store-developers/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/09/tuaw-live-chat-with-app-store-developers/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

How hard is it to make a living at App Store? Are the naysayers right? Do you need a full-fledged business plan and established company even to step through the door? Or can you make it as an independent, finding your own fortune and success. Today, TUAW talks to a handful of App Store developers to hear their stories and discuss their experience.

Today's scheduled panelists include Bryan Mitchell, author of the extremely successful Geared game for iPhone, Scott Lawrence, developer of LlamaSlate, LlamaClock, among others, Darrel Plant, creator of Bedeviled, a puzzle game, Youssef Francis of Brancipater, developers of FlowChat (an iPhone IRC client), and Jonathan Zdziarski, author of the best Nintendo emulator that never made it to App Store, plus an Amber Alert app that did. Jonathan is also the author of several iPhone books.

We'll be chatting about the challenges and rewards of App Store: how the little guy can make it big, and how the little guy can get beat down. Join us for this live chat and bring your questions.

Read on for the chat

Continue reading TUAW Live Chat with App Store developers

TUAW Live Chat with App Store developers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW Live Chat with App Store developers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>App StoreAppStoreBryan MitchellBryanMitchellDarrel PlantDarrelPlantDevelopersLivechatLlamasReal storiesRealStoriesScott LawrenceScottLawrenceZdziarskiErica SadunFri, 09 Oct 2009 11:50:00 ESTAnnouncement: App Store Livechat, Friday @ 12PMhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/announcement-app-store-livechat-friday-12pm/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/announcement-app-store-livechat-friday-12pm/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/announcement-app-store-livechat-friday-12pm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Is the App Store working just right? That's what Mike Schramm wondered the other day after this Newsweek article appeared, discussing the state of publishing apps on App Store. Tomorrow, we'll be hosting a live chat with real App Store developers, both successful and struggling. Please join us. You'll have a chance to hear about the current state of iPhone development and ask your questions about whether App Store is a gold rush, a business opportunity, or a disappointment.

(Full disclosure, I was interviewed for the Newsweek article, although I do not appear in the article itself.)

Announcement: App Store Livechat, Friday @ 12PM originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Announcement: App Store Livechat, Friday @ 12PM originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>announcementsErica SadunThu, 08 Oct 2009 17:00:00 ESTBuzzVoice reads aloud to you almost anywherehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/01/buzzvoice-reads-aloud-to-you-almost-anywhere/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/01/buzzvoice-reads-aloud-to-you-almost-anywhere/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/01/buzzvoice-reads-aloud-to-you-almost-anywhere/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


BuzzVoice can most simply be described as a talking reader for over 1400 blogs, but saying that doesn't begin to do it justice. It's not just an iPhone/iPod touch app, although BuzzVoice provides one [iTunes Link]. It's a platform that can be enjoyed on a variety of devices including any iPod or mp3 player, your computer, Blackberry (upcoming) or with added functionality on the iPhone/iPod touch running OS 2.0 to use the basics, or OS 3.0 or better, to use in-app email.

BuzzVoice is the butterfly that emerged from chrysalis of the now defunct PimpMyNews app, a talking reader with far less functionality. What it grew into is a full system that starts on your computer at the BuzzVoice site. There you can sign up for a free account and explore the 1400 different blogs that BuzzVoice can read to you. The site allows you to listen to individual stories and to email a story that, when received, contains an audio file of the story, as well as the ability to visually read the story either on the site or by being transferred to the originating blog.

The BuzzVoice site lets you create a list of MyFeeds in where you build a list of the blogs you are interested in hearing by either searching, browsing or picking a ready made playlist based on specific interests. This is handy and becomes quite important when we get to the iPhone app.

The site also lets you put together a Buzzcast, which is a grouping of blogs that you like, and have that grouping transform into a 10 minute (for the free version) or 30 minute (for the pro version) personal podcast that, after a click, will be added to iTunes and update daily, so it can be heard throughout the iPod line. A feed is also displayed for use with a non-iTunes powered device.

How does it sound? I was expecting to be disappointed since I have had enough of the 'take-me-to-your-leader' type vocal stylings of many talking apps, but I'm very happy to report that the voice implementation is nearly perfect. It sounds quite natural with great attention paid to punctuation. You can choose a male voice or female voice or have BuzzVoice mix it up, using the pro version. For free you get one voice. The sound was good enough to allow me to stop paying attention to the player and start giving my full attention to the story being read. This is not a small thing if you're going to listen to more than a story or two.

The iPhone app (selling now for $US1.99) ties in nicely to the site and provides additional goodies. On the bottom of the screen are four buttons. MyPlaylist displays all the blogs that you put into MyFeeds on the site. Tap one and you'll see the current story list, tap a story and it will be read to you. If you tap the blue arrow to the right of each story a second screen lets you share a story via Facebook to Reddit (plus 4 others) or email. You can tap Listen to hear the story, or tap Source to read the story in BuzzVoice, which doesn't present in landscape mode, or Safari, which does. Tapping My Buzzcast will play the Buzzcast that you created on the site without having to go to iTunes.

The third button, BuzzRadio, is interesting. Tapping it brings up a listing of topics ranging from Apple Radio to Politics Radio to Sports Radio. There are currently eight stations to choose from. When you pick one, a grouping of top stories from various subject-specific blogs gets built, which BuzzVoice then reads; perfect for any time your hands should be somewhere else (driving, running or whatever). You don't get this on the site.

I'd like to see a non-variable, or user designated playing time for the stations. As it is now, I've found that playing time can vary from 4 minutes to 30 minutes. I can see that being a problem when driving and expecting a longer read. Once that is fixed, I'd like to be able to stack stations so if I know that I'll be in the car for 90 minutes and I know that each station plays for 30 minutes, I would be able to stack 3 topic-oriented stations which would then be sequentially read to me, filling up my 90 minute drive. The fourth button is 'Info' which doesn't really provide any. Instead, it opens up an email where you can report mispronunciations, suggest blogs or ask for help. It would be nice to see a little tutorial on this page.

In the iPhone app, when you receive mail sent from BuzzVoice, either from the site or from another iPhone, you get a link bringing you to a BuzzVoice-formatted Safari page with a big Listen to this story button on top and the full story with graphics displayed below. This is a very nice feature.

Continue reading BuzzVoice reads aloud to you almost anywhere

BuzzVoice reads aloud to you almost anywhere originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)BuzzVoice reads aloud to you almost anywhere originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>audiogiveawayiphoneipodipod touchIpodTouchnews readernews readersNewsReaderNewsReadersreaderreadingservicevoiceDavid WinogradThu, 01 Oct 2009 13:00:00 ESTFound Footage: Sesame Street does the iPod dancehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/01/found-footage-sesame-street-does-the-ipod-dance/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/01/found-footage-sesame-street-does-the-ipod-dance/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/01/found-footage-sesame-street-does-the-ipod-dance/#commentsFiled under: ,


Big Bird, Grover Elmo, Cookie Monster, Snuffy (my bad) and the Sesame Street gang have been cool since I left my crib for the big-boy bed. Here they give some love to their favorite music player. Not too shabby for a bunch of 40-year-old dudes (except Elmo, who is young enough to be hip to the iPod). Snuffy isn't in this one as they couldn't find earbuds to fit. My mistake, I guess they could.

Honestly, I surprised that Apple hasn't used this.

Sunny days to all.

Thanks to Chris Hollomon for the tip!

Found Footage: Sesame Street does the iPod dance originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Found Footage: Sesame Street does the iPod dance originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>big birdBigBirdcookie monsterCookieMonsterfound footage festivalFoundFootageFestivalgroverjoan ganz cooneyJoanGanzCooneysesame streetSesameStreetslow FridaySlowFridayDavid WinogradThu, 01 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESTDropbox the iPhone app has droppedhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/29/dropbox-the-iphone-app-has-dropped/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/29/dropbox-the-iphone-app-has-dropped/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/29/dropbox-the-iphone-app-has-dropped/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you've been waiting patiently for the Dropbox app [iTunes link] to hit the App Store, your wait is over. The app has arrived, and brings with it the simplicity that Dropbox users have come to know and love.

Since Dropbox itself is a free service, it's a pleasant surprise to see a simple, easy method for creating a new Dropbox account right off the bat if you don't happen to already have one. The app just asks for a name, e-mail address and password, prompts you to accept the terms of service, and creates the account. During my testing, I did encounter a problem where I would receive a nondescript "Account creation failed (null). Please try again." message, which I'm guessing may be due to high load on their servers. Still, this is not an encouraging encounter for new users.

Once logged in, everything worked pretty smoothly. On first login, You are presented with a brief welcome document that highlights some of the features of the app. Backing out of the document will take you to your Dropbox, which quickly lists any of the files and folders you may have in there. The app features built-in document preview for several types of files, including PDFs, text documents, spreadsheets, pictures and videos. You can also tag files as a favorite by tapping the star at the bottom of the file viewer, which adds the item to the favorites panel and caches a copy locally on the device so that it's immediately available.

An unexpected feature is the ability to take pictures, video, or use existing media and upload them directly to the Dropbox. This could definitely be handy if you need to take a quick video and have it available on another machine without having to plug in your phone and wait for it to sync. Also unexpected, but incredibly welcome, is the massive amount of documentation that is available from inside the app's settings panel. In addition to giving you general details about your account, the settings panel offers a link to watch a video about how Dropbox works, take a tour of the features, or browse their complete online help library, without having to leave the app. As many apps fall short in this area, it's refreshing to see such detailed documention available, let alone right from the app.

A couple of side notes: As I mentioned above, the new user signup does not appear to work properly sometimes. I'm guessing this will be fixed in short order, though. You can log out of your Dropbox account by tapping the Unlink iPhone from Dropbox button on the settings panel, but beware that you will loose any favorites you have stored (the app does warn you of this). And finally, when you do logout of your account, the app just disappears from the screen, as if it crashed, although you are successfully logged out. In my eyes, these are minor issues (well, aside from the signup problem), and will likely be addressed with future updates, but still good to watch out for.

All in all, this is a very well done, simple app that connects you with an already great (and free) service. It's available now in the App Store for free.

Gallery: Dropbox for iPhone

Splash ScreenWelcome ScreenLogin PanelSignup FormTerms of Service


Dropbox the iPhone app has dropped originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Dropbox the iPhone app has dropped originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app storeAppStoredropboxMichael JonesTue, 29 Sep 2009 21:30:00 ESTIt's a bird! No, it's an app! No, it's Tweetie 2 for iPhone!http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/29/its-a-bird-no-its-an-app-no-its-tweetie-2-for-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/29/its-a-bird-no-its-an-app-no-its-tweetie-2-for-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/29/its-a-bird-no-its-an-app-no-its-tweetie-2-for-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Users of Tweetie, the popular Twitter client for both Mac and iPhone, have reason to be excited: a new version of the iPhone app, Tweetie 2 (aptly codenamed "Bigbird"), is confirmed to be on the way.

In a preview of the new version, Scott Kleinberg of ChicagoNow detailed his experiences with beta builds of the upcoming release. From the screenshots provided, it's clear that several interface improvements have been made, including a quick menu that provides easy access to several new features while posting a tweet. Other improvements include the ability to send video tweets, persistent session handling that restores the app to its previous state, conversation threading, draft management, and geotagging.

While Scott's review suggests that the changes and improvements make Tweetie 2 feel like a whole new app, Tweetie developer Loren Brichter indicates that it really is -- it's a complete rewrite from the original app. In addition to the major features, the new version also boasts integration with several 3rd party services, and a host of configuration options, from new gesture options to custom Twitter API settings.

Of course, not everyone will be happy with the update. There is already a stir among beta testers over the app's use of pinstripe backgrounds on the profile and single tweet views. Also, there is the issue of cost: Tweetie 2 will set you back $2.99, as it is being offered as a new app instead of a free upgrade to existing users. When it comes to upgrades, most desktop applications follow a pattern where minor updates (such as upgrading from version 1.0 to 1.1 or 1.1.2 -- often refered to as "point releases") are provided free of charge, and major updates (from version 1.0 to 2.0) usually require the user to purchase the new version of the software.

With iPhone apps, however, Apple does not provide a system to allow developers to do this. Developers can release upgrades and bug fixes as free updates to their applications, but if they invest a lot of time into a major update to their app, they have to submit it as a new, different version of the application rather than an upgrade to the old version, and there is no option to allow users who have perviously purchased the original app to receive a discount on the new version. So users are faced with having to pay full price for the upgrade, which in this case, is another $2.99.

In my opinion, this is not an unreasonable amount to pay for a major upgrade to an already great application, but there are users who feel they shouldn't have to pay for the upgrade. My advice to them? If you can't spare $3 for the amount of time and effort that was put into making a decent, feature-rich upgrade, don't bother using it. Stick with the original Tweetie or find another app that you're willing to pay for.

So, controversy aside, Tweetie 2 looks very promising. The latest beta build that was provided to developers is expected to be the final build, and if things go well, we should see it hit the App Store in the coming weeks. An update to the desktop version of Tweetie is also in the works, and will probably surface after the iPhone app is released.

Update: TUAW reader Ahmed drew our attention to this tweet, indicating that Tweetie 2 has been submitted to Apple! Assuming there are no hold-ups, we can probably expect to see it hit the App Store in a few weeks.

What do you think of the new version? Will you be upgrading when it's released? Let us know in the comments!

It's a bird! No, it's an app! No, it's Tweetie 2 for iPhone! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)It's a bird! No, it's an app! No, it's Tweetie 2 for iPhone! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appapp storeAppStoreiphoneTweetietwitterupgradeupgradesMichael JonesTue, 29 Sep 2009 08:00:00 ESTSaurik live chat: Learn about Apple's new signature serverhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/24/saurik-live-chat-learn-about-apples-new-signature-server/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/24/saurik-live-chat-learn-about-apples-new-signature-server/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/24/saurik-live-chat-learn-about-apples-new-signature-server/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Something new, unexpected, and possibly worrying has popped up in iTunes. iTunes now "calls home" to the Apple mothership whenever you restore an iPhone or iPod touch. It tells you that it's "Verifying restore with Apple...", checking your device identifier and the firmware with Apple's new signature server.

Today, TUAW has the pleasure of talking with Jay Freeman, otherwise known as "Saurik", the developer of Cydia. Saurik has constructed a server that duplicates Apple's functionality, ensuring that you'll be able to downgrade your iPhone or iPod in the future, even if you have not jailbroken your device. This topic is for all iPhone users, regardless of whether they use jailbreaking. Please join us with your questions and comments as we hear from Freeman about why this move matters to you. Read on to see the full live chat transcript.

Continue reading Saurik live chat: Learn about Apple's new signature server

Saurik live chat: Learn about Apple's new signature server originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Saurik live chat: Learn about Apple's new signature server originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Big brotherBigBrotherCydiaJay FreemanJayFreemanLive chatLiveChatSaurikSignature ServerSignatureServerErica SadunThu, 24 Sep 2009 16:00:00 ESTFound Footage: The reality distortion field, caught on videohttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/the-reality-distortion-field-caught-on-video/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/the-reality-distortion-field-caught-on-video/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/17/the-reality-distortion-field-caught-on-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Think Apple's products are "really great," "incredible," "amazing," "really easy" to use, "awesome," "terrific," "incredible," "great," and "amazing"? If so, it's probably because Apple told you that's what they were in last week's presentation. The above video's been making the rounds -- it's all of the adjectives cut out of the recent Apple event, and compiled together into a machine-gun lineup of just how Apple sets up their products.

Now, just because these words kept showing up and being used doesn't mean there's some malicious brainwashing going on here -- it's probably true that Apple really does think that their products are "incredible," and "amazing," and "really great." And let's face it, they've never really been real up-to-date on the language anyway. They probably could use a thesaurus: maybe at the next event, the new MacBooks could be "marvelous," "extraordinary," or "glorious."

But it does show you just how much we're shaped by what we see at these events -- Steve's and Apple's enthusiasm for these things is infectious. Apple's products really are amazing, but it doesn't hurt that most of us sit down to watch, read, or listen to an hour or two of them telling us just how "amazing," "incredible," and "really great" they are.

Found Footage: The reality distortion field, caught on video originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Found Footage: The reality distortion field, caught on video originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>amazingapple-corporatecult-of-maccultureenthusiasmeventgreatincrediblerdfreality-distortion-fieldsteve-jobssupercutthesarusvideoMike SchrammThu, 17 Sep 2009 18:30:00 ESTHands-on with the new iPod nano, part 2http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/15/hands-on-with-the-new-ipod-nano-part-2/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/15/hands-on-with-the-new-ipod-nano-part-2/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/15/hands-on-with-the-new-ipod-nano-part-2/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Our planned look at the camera feature on the iPod nano got delayed by a household medical emergency, as described in one of our nano example videos above. It did give me a bit more time to go a little more hands on with the nano video camera, and the end result is satisfactory. You're not going to buy this nano for the camera; it's just a bonus feature. Will it be the deal breaker over buying a nano versus another iPod, an iPhone or even a Flip? It all depends what you want out of it.

The video above was shot indoors using the nano. It was actually my fourth attempt at taking an indoor video because if you want any luck with the nano's camera, you've got to have decent lighting. This shot was my first attempt with the camera, and you can see the difference the lighting made.

As mentioned during the keynote, Apple is looking to take on Flip mino with the new nano. As such, we decided to see not only how the nano compares to the Flip, but also to an iPhone 3GS. Continue on reading to see how these shots turned out.

Continue reading Hands-on with the new iPod nano, part 2

Hands-on with the new iPod nano, part 2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Hands-on with the new iPod nano, part 2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>flip minoflip mino hdFlipMinoFlipMinoHdiphoneiphone 3gsIphone3gsipod nanoIpodNanovideovideo cameraVideoCameraMegan LaveyTue, 15 Sep 2009 16:30:00 ESTDesert showdown: the Vegas Mate app vs. Frommer's paper guidehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/12/the-vegas-mate-app-vs-the-frommers-las-vegas-2009-book/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/12/the-vegas-mate-app-vs-the-frommers-las-vegas-2009-book/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/12/the-vegas-mate-app-vs-the-frommers-las-vegas-2009-book/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A number of weeks ago we went on a vacation to Las Vegas, and I was curious to see if an app can replace a traditional tour book. I picked the most respected tour book I knew, Frommer's Las Vegas 2009 by Mary Herczog; and an iPhone/iPod touch app called Vegas Mate [iTunes Link] which trucks on years of experience and data from an established Las Vegas review site.

The Vegas Mate app sells for $4.99 and is almost wonderful. It provides a wealth of immediate information. From the Concierge button you can get current Las Vegas news. It's always interesting to read what's going on behind the glitz. There's a listing of all the events and shows, along with where and when they are playing.

The Nearby button uses the GPS function to give you a listing of the hotels, restaurants and activities with the closest ones displayed first.

Tapping the Hotels button gives you a list of hotels on or off the Strip or a full listing. Tapping on a hotel brings up a screen with information including basic cost, the nearest Monorail station and a fairly useless map with stick pins representing what's around, but no walking directions. Squeeze the screen and you'll get a lot of real estate on the map, but the unmarked stick pins didn't seem remotely useful.

What was useful was a history of each hotel, a live phone number, and a listing of all the restaurants in the hotel. Tap on one and it'll tell you if the place is open, a few paragraphs about each, a phone number and sometimes even a menu (which can take quite awhile to load using 3G). The most valuable part to me was user ratings of just about everything.

Since Ratevegas.com has been around for years, users post reviews and those show up in the app. This was useful since we found that the Criss Angel show was rated poorly by most all reviewers. We had advance tickets and the consensus was right on the money. We also found that the new house show at the Mirage, Terry Fator, who won the TV show 'America's Got Talent,' was terrific; although we had never heard of him, we bit, and it was one of the best shows we saw all week. This is very very good stuff.

Tapping on the Restaurant button delivers an alphabetical listing with a useful red or green symbol telling you whether the place is open or closed in real time. You can filter restaurants by cost from $ to $$$$$ which is just a rough indication, since there is no legend accompanying the dollar signs. Other information includes listings of shows and nightlife.

Update: An earlier version of this post noted that the app states that "most of the MGM/Mirage board are about to be indicted for insider trading." Further research pointed out that the information contained in the statement is three years out of date, so we have removed the offending statement. Our apologies to the MGM Mirage hotel and casino for this error.

Continue reading Desert showdown: the Vegas Mate app vs. Frommer's paper guide

Desert showdown: the Vegas Mate app vs. Frommer's paper guide originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Desert showdown: the Vegas Mate app vs. Frommer's paper guide originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>app reviewAppReviewbookcriss angelcriss angel mindfreakCrissAngelCrissAngelMindfreakfrommerslas vegasLasVegasmirageterry fatorTerryFatortravelDavid WinogradSat, 12 Sep 2009 08:00:00 ESTHands-on with the new iPod nano, part 1http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/11/hands-on-with-the-new-ipod-nano-part-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/11/hands-on-with-the-new-ipod-nano-part-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/11/hands-on-with-the-new-ipod-nano-part-1/#commentsFiled under: , ,


While people were still reeling from the fact that the iPod nano, and not the iPod touch, gained a video camera, my trusty 5.5G 30 GB iPod video decided to die a slow, painful death. Over the past few weeks, I'd been hearing the hard drive click of doom, having the iPod randomly reboot while listening to an audiobook, and then had the entire system lock up on me and not unfreeze until the battery had worn completely down. When the last symptom occurred a second time yesterday during the iPod event, I decided it was time for a new iPod and ordered my first nano.

For years, the nano seemed like a good idea, but it wasn't something that fit my needs. My music collection clocks in at a respectable 8GB, and it is growing. I have another 6GB of audiobooks, also growing, and at the time I purchased my iPod video I had another 8GB of TV shows and movies ripped from my DVDs. In the days before the iPhone and iPod touch, the iPod video was just a more practical device for those of us who weren't quite so new to the whole idea of a portable music player. Apple initially targeted the noobs with the iPod mini, and then followed with the iPod nano.

Now that's changed. If you really want to play video on a portable device, the iPhone or the iPod touch is the way to go. If you primarily want to listen to music, the nano is an excellent choice for an everyday iPod. 16GB is more than enough to cover many music collections, and if you need more capacity there is still the iPod classic or the larger iPod touch models. The current nano can fit my entire library of music and audiobooks, and leave some room for videos if I choose -- except I really don't want to squint at subtitles on a nano.

Meanwhile, Apple is also realizing that they need to change their marketing strategy for the nano. With more than 220 million iPods sold to date and a 73.8% marketshare, the general public is fully aware of the brand and most likely has an iPod. So, Apple is changing tactics and has decided to take on the Flip, a popular and inexpensive handheld video camera that is roughly the size, although thicker, of a nano. New ads promote the "fun" factor of the nano, but overall it's just a solid iPod.

We're splitting our look at the new nano into two parts. Today, we're taking a look at the device itself and a vast chunk of the new features. Tomorrow, we take an in-depth look at the iPod nano's flagship feature -- the video camera -- and see how well it holds up to both a Flip and an iPhone 3GS.

Continue reading Hands-on with the new iPod nano, part 1

Hands-on with the new iPod nano, part 1 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Hands-on with the new iPod nano, part 1 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ipod nanoIpodNanoitunes 9Itunes9Megan LaveyFri, 11 Sep 2009 09:00:00 ESTApple's 9/9 event: the TUAW Livebloghttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/apples-9-9-event-the-tuaw-liveblog/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/apples-9-9-event-the-tuaw-liveblog/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/apples-9-9-event-the-tuaw-liveblog/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Update: That's all folks! We've got iTunes 9 and iPhone OS 3.1, with scads of new features (app arrangement! Home sharing! iTunes LP!); also new capacities on the iPod touch, new iPod shuffle models, and the camera-equipped iPod nano.

Join us at 1pm ET/10am PT for our liveblog of the Apple 9/9 event. We're joined by our onsite special correspondents, Daniel Brusilovsky and Sam Levin.

Apple's 9/9 event: the TUAW Liveblog originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple's 9/9 event: the TUAW Liveblog originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>99eventipodliveblogMichael RoseWed, 09 Sep 2009 12:50:00 ESTStay tuned for the TUAW liveblog of today's Apple music eventhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/stay-tuned-for-the-tuaw-liveblog-of-todays-apple-music-event/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/stay-tuned-for-the-tuaw-liveblog-of-todays-apple-music-event/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/stay-tuned-for-the-tuaw-liveblog-of-todays-apple-music-event/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

It's 09/09/09 -- finally!

Apple events are always a lot of fun, and the speculation leading up to today's press event has been incredible. Will Steve Jobs appear at the event? Are we going to see a new version of iTunes and some new iPods? We're always wondering if there will be "one more thing."

Join us today at 10 AM PDT / 1 PM EDT for the TUAW liveblog of this event. As usual, you can add your questions to the mix, and a full complement of TUAW bloggers will be on hand. We will have our buddies Daniel Brusilovsky (of Teens In Tech) and Sam Levin onsite to give us the minute-by-minute update of what's transpiring. We'll also keep one eye on the other liveblog coverage from Engadget, Ars Technica, gdgt, Gizmodo, Macworld & elsewhere.

You can keep an eye on our main Twitter feed for the headline announcements, and our Ask TUAW account is always there for your questions and inquiries. You can also join the fun over on our Facebook page during and after the event.

Here's a link to the liveblog page, for you early birds.

Stay tuned for the TUAW liveblog of today's Apple music event originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Stay tuned for the TUAW liveblog of today's Apple music event originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apple eventAppleEventipod nanoipod touchIpodNanoIpodTouchliveblogsteve jobsSteveJobstuawSteven SandeWed, 09 Sep 2009 11:00:00 ESTApple quietly cutting iPod prices ahead of eventhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/apple-quietly-cutting-ipod-prices-ahead-of-event/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/apple-quietly-cutting-ipod-prices-ahead-of-event/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/apple-quietly-cutting-ipod-prices-ahead-of-event/#commentsFiled under:

We've just started receiving tips that Apple is quietly cutting the price of existing iPods ahead of its planned event later today. Thus far, we've seen the following price cuts. All prices given are in USD:
  • iPod nano is now $129 for 8GB and $149 for 16GB.
  • iPod classic is now $229.
  • iPod touch is now $189 for 8GB, $249 for 16GB and $279 for 32GB.
There is no change to the price of the iPod shuffle.

These changes haven't completely gone through the site yet. As seen in the screen capture, some parts of the site still list the iPods at their old price.

Thanks to Scott and Max for the tip!

Apple quietly cutting iPod prices ahead of event originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple quietly cutting iPod prices ahead of event originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ipodipod classicipod nanoipod touchIpodClassicIpodNanoIpodTouchpriceMegan LaveyWed, 09 Sep 2009 05:30:00 ESTNike+ iPod equals a weight loss success formulahttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/06/nike-ipod-equals-a-weight-loss-success-formula/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/06/nike-ipod-equals-a-weight-loss-success-formula/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/06/nike-ipod-equals-a-weight-loss-success-formula/#commentsFiled under: ,

(As a follow up to Tim Wasson's 'An Apple a Day' fitness plan, I thought I'd share my experience on how the Nike+ iPod kit helped me lose weight.)

It's high noon in Los Angeles on a late May Sunday. But this isn't your typical Sunday. You see, I'm about to finish my first ever marathon. As I make my way toward the finish line, I hear the roar of thousands of spectators cheering me on. For those who have yet to experience this, I tell them that there's no other feeling like it -- one where thousands of people, who know nothing about you, are willing you to finish the final meters of a 26.2 mile race. As I make my way toward finish line, I think of everything that led up to this moment, and how much running has changed my life.

But I don't think I'd have made it this far had it not been for the Nike+ iPod kit; for by changing the running experience, it's also changed my feelings about running.

Continue reading Nike+ iPod equals a weight loss success formula

Nike+ iPod equals a weight loss success formula originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Nike+ iPod equals a weight loss success formula originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>freshman 15Freshman15ipod nanoIpodNanomarathonmarathon trainingMarathonTrainingnike ipodNikeIpodrunningweight lossWeightLossSang TangSun, 06 Sep 2009 13:00:00 ESTRumor: Steve Jobs will appear at Sept. 9 eventhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/01/rumor-steve-jobs-will-appear-at-sept-9-event/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/01/rumor-steve-jobs-will-appear-at-sept-9-event/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/01/rumor-steve-jobs-will-appear-at-sept-9-event/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster is having a busy week. First, he predicted that the iPhone will go non-exclusive in the US by next year, and today he's suggesting that Steve Jobs will appear at Apple's September 9th press event.

We fully expect new iPods and iTunes next Wednesday, but Steve would be a surprise. We know that he's returned to work, but this would be his first public appearance as Apple's head since he took medical leave back in January. Depending on how he looks, a visit from Steve could nudge the stock up a notch or two.

It sure would be fun to see Steve, but we hope he's happy and healthy more than anything. In any case, we've got just over a week to wait. Keep your fingers crossed.

[Via AppleInsider]

Rumor: Steve Jobs will appear at Sept. 9 event originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rumor: Steve Jobs will appear at Sept. 9 event originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ipodsitunesmedia eventMediaEventrumorsseptember 9September9steve jobsSteveJobsDave CaoloTue, 01 Sep 2009 09:30:00 ESTApple confirms Sept. 9 press eventhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/31/apple-confirms-sept-9-press-event/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/31/apple-confirms-sept-9-press-event/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/31/apple-confirms-sept-9-press-event/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

At last Apple has begun distributing invitations to a press event scheduled for September 9th. The image on the invitation, which features a classic silhouette dancer, pretty much confirms our suspicion that this particular dog-and-pony show feature the iPod (now with cameras! ...maybe). Apple typically introduces new iPods in September.

This year's event will take place at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco on September 9th at 10:00 a.m Pacific time. Perhaps then we'll see that secret television ad. In any case, we think it's safe for the pro-tablet theorists sit this one out. Maybe next time, folks.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Apple confirms Sept. 9 press event originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple confirms Sept. 9 press event originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ipodipod familyipod touchIpodFamilyIpodTouchpress eventPressEventseptember 9September9Dave CaoloMon, 31 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST