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Filed under: Software, Cool tools

MacUpdate Desktop version 5.0.2 released, win a membership from TUAW

by Casey Johnston (RSS feed) on Nov 20th, 2009

MacUpdate announced today the release of version 5.0.2 of the MacUpdate Desktop utility, which allows users to manage application and widget software updates on their Mac OS X machines. The new version of the application adds some features and bug fixes as well as support for more languages.

MacUpdate Desktop can track software updates for 30,000 Mac applications, and it also provides update support for applications on the iPhone, although iTunes handles that pretty well. Updates can be triggered manually and individually, or set to install automatically when MacUpdate Desktop is open. It also provides support for updating screen savers and allows users to sort applications into "watch lists," so they can keep track of programs that are more important to keep current than others.

The update includes improved handling of the software it tracks, such as version and application matching, as well as French, German, and Italian localization. Some of the bugs it fixes are community preferences, registration problems, and issues with extracting tar bzip2 and dmg.zip downloads.

There are several update managers out there for Mac OS X (including AppFresh, LogicielMac, VersionTracker Pro, etc.) with fans and detractors of their own. If you've had great or not-so-great experiences with any of the updater tools, let us know in the comments.

Want to win one of two subscriptions to MacUpdate Desktop, courtesy of MU and TUAW? Read on for details!

Continue reading “MacUpdate Desktop version 5.0.2 released, win a membership from TUAW”

Tags: Application, giveaway, macupdate, macupdatedesktop, MacupdatePromo, SoftwareUpdate, ThirdParty

Filed under: App Review

Volkswagen launches free version of Real Racing to promote 2010 GTI

by Casey Johnston (RSS feed) on Oct 22nd, 2009


Volkswagen knows something other car manufacturers don't: they needn't spend millions of dollars on commercials, billboards, and product placement to launch a new car. They just need to make an iPhone application, like Volkswagen has for their latest model, the 2010 GTI, and the money will follow. OK, so the commercials and stuff will probably come later, but for now, the VW GTI is taking off through a free version of Real Racing, called Real Racing GTI [App Store link], available as of today.

Real Racing GTI is a pared-down version of Firemint's Real Racing that Firemint itself has altered: the GTI version of the game has only GTIs to drive and fewer available tracks, but the game mechanics remain the same. There is a heavy social media aspect to the game with the integration of Cloudcell profiles (the same ones used for other regular versions of Firemint games) that allow you to trumpet your GTI-racing abilities on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. All I've been able to glean from the game so far is that GTIs are fast, but will cause you to run into walls a lot, and other GTI drivers are jerks who will ram into you if you try to pass them. No, I'm not just a bad driver. OK, maybe I am, a little.

Along with the launch of the app, Volkswagen is giving away 6 "ultra-special edition" 2010 GTIs, which have special embroidery and carbon fiber accents on the doors and interior, every week for the next 6 weeks. Winning the giveaway has nothing to do with being good at Real Racing (phew!). You can enter via the "Winner's Circle" section on the app, or on Volkswagen's website here. Happy driving!

Tags: application, firemint, gti, iphone, iphoneapplication, realracing, realracinggti, volkswagen

Filed under: Software, iPhone, iPod nano, App Review

New 'Pub Finder' app helps you find a Guinness

by Chris Ullrich (RSS feed) on Sep 16th, 2009

Some of us here at TUAW have been known to hoist a pint or two of a frosty beverage now and again. When doing so there's quite a few selections from which to choose to satisfy that urge for something cold and refreshing. One choice often made by me personally is Guinness. But what if I want a Guinness after a long day but can't figure out where to go and get one? Fortunately, there's an app for that: the Guinness Pub Finder.

To commemorate the 250th anniversary of Guinness on September 24th they have created a new iPhone and iPod Touch app that will, according to the company, allow "consumers of legal drinking age across the US (to) join the celebration and more easily raise a toast with friends in the future." Which, of course, sounds great unless you happen to live in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas or West Virginia where the app is forbidden by law from working. Yeah, I don't get it either.

Even if you can use this app for its intended purpose, it actually isn't just about helping you find a drink, although it does do that pretty well. Here's a breakdown of its main features:

• Locate a Pint - uses GPS to locate the consumer and the pubs serving Guinness nearest to their current location. It then provides name, address and telephone number of the pub chosen, access to directions, and an email setup to invite friends to join.

• Know Your Pint - provides a tutorial on the 6 Steps to Creating the Perfect Pint, and also includes a ruler that can be used to measure your pint's head.

• Fun Extras – includes animated screensavers, a countdown clock to the "Arthur's Day" celebrations and a live feed of the latest news regarding the Guinness 250th Anniversary celebration

• Responsible Drinking – Provides consumers with the DRINKiQ resource which shares important facts about alcohol to aid responsible choices.

The app is US$1.99 in the iTunes store and its available now.

Tags: Application, GPS, Guinness, iPhone, iPod Touch, IpodTouch, Pub

Filed under: Humor, Software, Odds and ends, Freeware, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review

Ralph Lauren launches Make Your Own Rugby app

by Casey Johnston (RSS feed) on Sep 10th, 2009

During the existence of the iPhone, shopping has always been the domain of Safari. Browsing web-based stores could be extremely awkward, thanks to bitty drop-down menus and inadvertent "quick views" of garments that you can't seem to click out of. No longer, my fellow clotheshorses. Today, Ralph Lauren launched a unique iPhone application integrating social media with fashion design and online shopping, called Make Your Own Rugby [iTunes link].

The app centers around Ralph Lauren's Rugby line, launched in 2004, that is inspired by the Ivy League atmosphere circa 1940 and that targets preppy college students. The company describes Rugby as "preppy meets urban," though you will only qualify for street cred through a few light touches such as embroidered skulls. The fact that the skull is embroidered on a varsity sweater probably won't do you much good in the back alleys, but you can hope.

The MYO Rugby app allows the user to select a blank rugby shirt, polo, sweater, or jacket from a set of stock designs and customize it with as many distinguished crests, football-themed patches and letters as they want. You can use it to design and purchase clothing for yourself, or you can be a little more creative (and financially devil-may-care) and make designs to be displayed for browsing in the application or to share with friends.

Continue reading “Ralph Lauren launches Make Your Own Rugby app”

Tags: application, design, designer, fashion, fashion design, FashionDesign, iphone, ralph lauren, RalphLauren, rugby

Filed under: Deals, Snow Leopard

Several ways to get Snow Leopard for free (plus a Freeway Express giveaway)

by Steven Sande (RSS feed) on Aug 27th, 2009

Softpress, developer of the popular Freeway Pro and Freeway Express web development applications, wants you to get Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard for free.

Now through September 30, 2009, they're offering a free copy of Snow Leopard with every full-priced retail copy of Freeway Pro or Express purchased at the Apple Store, PowerMax, or The Mac Store. If you buy your copy of Freeway at the Apple Store (either the physical or online version), just fill out this online rebate form [link to form] by October 31, 2009 and Softpress will send you Snow Leopard for free. Purchases made through PowerMax or The Mac Store also qualify for the free Snow Leopard disk.

For anyone who has been considering purchasing Freeway Pro or Freeway Express, this is a nice incentive to act now. PowerMax sells Freeway Pro for US$215.22 (MSRP US$249.00), so you're not only getting the application for almost US$35 off of the retail price, but also saving an additional US$29 on Snow Leopard.

Softpress isn't the only company that wants you to upgrade to Snow Leopard for free. MyService will install a free retail copy of Snow Leopard with any MacBook, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air hard drive upgrade. You simply enter a special promo code when ordering your upgrade, and MyService installs Snow Leopard for free, migrates all of your data to the new drive, and sends you the retail copy.

Softpress has graciously offered us two licenses for Freeway Express to give away. These licenses do not come with the free Snow Leopard deal, but with the money you save you'll be able to afford to purchase your own copy. Just leave a comment about Snow Leopard, the universe, or anything else (keep it clean...) to enter. Good luck!

Here's the obligatory rules review to keep our lawyers happy:
  • Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and to legal residents of Canada (excluding Quebec), who are 18 and older.
  • To enter leave a comment below listing your favorite freeway, parkway or other stretch of road.
  • The comment must be left before August 28, 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time.
  • You may enter only once.
  • Two winners will be selected in a random drawing.
  • Prize: License code for one copy of Freeway Express (Value: US$79.00)
  • Click Here for complete Official Rules.
Be sure to keep reading TUAW during the Snow Leopard launch, as we're also planning on giving away some more goodies. You may already be a winner!

Tags: application, deal, free software, FreeSoftware, freeway, mac, os x 10.6, OsX10.6, snow leopard, SnowLeopard, web design, WebDesign

Filed under: Software, Freeware, First Look

Notify keeps an eye on your Gmail inbox

by John Burke (RSS feed) on Aug 22nd, 2009


I, like many people, am constantly checking my email. No matter where I am, I'm either getting messages pushed to my iPhone or Mail is checking for new ones every minute. A new app is promising to make using Gmail and checking for messages much, much easier.

Notify, a new free application by Vibealicious Apps, puts a small button in your menubar of your Mac that keeps track of unread messages. The app, which was released less than 24 hours ago has already received over 3200 downloads and is quickly making a name for itself. Notify's developers consider it "like a menubar app, but better" explaining that the application boasts a much better user interface and much more functionality than traditionally found in menubar apps and buttons.

The application has a lot of cool features including:
  • Support for multiple accounts
  • Tabbed interface
  • Growl integration
  • Sleek, simple UI
The developer promises that Notify will continue to evolve, adding that the next major release of the app will support any IMAP email client as opposed to just Gmail. They're also working on support for Google Apps, in-app replies and the ability to create and send new messages directly from your menubar.

The app is also promised to be "freeware forever", according to the developer's twitter.

Some shots of Notify in action:

Gallery: Notify

View new messages easilyManage multiple accountsGrowl supportTabbed interface



Tags: application, freeware, gmail, growl, menubar, notify, vibealicious

Filed under: iPhone

CourseSmart brings textbooks to an iPhone near you

by Casey Johnston (RSS feed) on Aug 14th, 2009


The electronic textbooks pandemic, er, market, continues to spread its influence to handheld gadgets: PC World reports that CourseSmart, an e-textbook publisher, has created an iPhone application, eTextbooks for the iPhone [iTunes link], to make its entire 7,000+ title catalog available on your index card of a screen.

CourseSmart, which does not publish books itself, sells downloadable electronic versions of textbooks through its website that can also be viewed online once they're purchased. The free iPhone application just adds an extra point of access, and falls on the "internet" side of the fence-you can't actually download the whole textbook to your phone, so the experience may be a bit shoddy when you're trying to flip through the pages during an exam in a basement classroom.

The application is also continually advertised as allowing access to 7,000 titles, but it is important to note that you only have access to titles you have already paid for through their site (pedantic, I know, but I found myself wondering about this point after reading the announcement). A tiny LCD screen has little value for long library sessions, but the teeny version of your book should work in a pinch when you forget Gauss' Law right before your physics exam. Just hope that your classroom isn't underground.

[PC World via Engadget]

Tags: application, coursesmart, etextbooks, iphone, itunesstore, textbooks

Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review

Create unique avatars and contact pics with Persona

by Kevin Harter (RSS feed) on Jun 26th, 2009

Some people like to have unique avatars for forums and instant messaging clients. I don't. My avatars usually end up being silly pictures of myself because I'm a shallow narcissist...and a bit lazy.

However, for those more creative than I, Persona [iTunes link] is a nice iPhone app in which to invest the price of a quarter-pounder. It allows the user to create a cartoon face by choosing from a variety of facial features. Hair style, eyes, nose, beard, and more are all up for grabs.

When you're done creating a mini-you (remember my personality issue described above), you can set it as the contact picture for any of your iPhone's contacts. You can also save your creation to the Camera Roll where you'll be able to export it via email or MMS (assuming you have the new 3.0 firmware and don't have AT&T), publish it to MobileMe, or use it as your wallpaper if you did a particularly good job. Once on your computer, you'll be able to use it as the avatar for that cute-cat-picture forum you visit eight times each day.

Persona is simple enough; in fact, perhaps too simple. The faces tend to look very similar as the options are quite limited for a dedicated app such as this. Also, what's going on behind my left shoulder? Every avatar I create is staring in that same direction!

Choosing from the available options isn't very intuitive. You choose the "parts" category and then pick the individual attribute, but no moving or resizing of the facial features is allowed. And very few accessories are presented, other than odd inclusion of a plethora of choices for nicotine deployment. (Note to self: see if the folks at Persona are sponsored in any way by Philip Morris.)

Overall, it's a nice idea for an app that will have moderate appeal to the forum crowds. I doubt you'll be using it again and again, though, because the app just doesn't offer much depth. But it's the user interface and lack of extensive options that tend to make the $2.99 $.99 a bit hard to swallow.

[NOTE: Thanks to those readers that pointed out the incorrect price. The developer's web site showed $2.99 when I wrote this, however the iTunes store had it at $.99. I have talked with Alfonso Bozzelli, the app's author, and he is changing the site to reflect the correct price -- $.99.]

Tags: app, app store, application, AppStore, avatar, avatars, instant messaging, InstantMessaging, iphone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, persona, review, software

Filed under: Software, Mac 101

Mac 101: Getting the most out of Dictionary.app

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Jun 25th, 2009

Welcome back to Mac 101, our series of posts aimed at novice Mac users and veterans who like the occasional refresher.

Mac OS X is equipped with a dictionary application that does pretty much what you'd expect, and a few things you might not. Here's how you can get the most out of Dictionary.

Most people use a dictionary to look up a word's definition. Doing so in Dictionary is pretty straightforward: Just launch the app, type your target term into the search field and hit return. That's all well and good, but not very interesting.

Here's what is. Click any word in the definition to find the meaning of that word. Do this just once, and an orange "Snap Back" icon appears in the search field. When clicked, it brings you back to your original search term.

Here's another cool trick. Let's say you looked up "Surname." Dictionary displays it broken up by syllable: "sur•name." If you highlight and copy it, it will paste as it should be written: "surname."

But wait, there's more! Highlight or position the cursor over a word in any Cocoa application (Safari, for example) and hit Control-Command-D. A small window appears that displays that word's definition and thesaurus alternative(s). If the term in question is the name of an Apple product, you'll see that product's official description from Apple. Clicking "More" at the bottom of this tiny window launches Dictionary.

Let's say you typically misspell a word that you have to type often (my Achilles' heel is "Twitterrific"). Simply right- or Control-click that word and select "Learn Spelling" to add it to Dictionary.

Dictionary is also more than a collection of definitions. You can quickly switch between a thesaurus, official descriptions of Apple products and Wikipedia. Additionally, select "Font/Back Matter" from the Go menu to access a slew of great information, like
  • Proofreader's Marks
  • The History of English
  • Countries of the World
  • Chemical Elements
Of course, every single word you find there can be clicked to reveal its definition. Finally, here's a bit of eye candy that isn't useful but still fun. You can browse every photo in Dictionary by navigating to
/Library/Dictionaries/New Oxford American Dictionary.dictionary/Contents/Images

and switching to Cover Flow view.

Tags: application, dictionary, mac 101, Mac101, software, tips and tricks, TipsAndTricks

Filed under: Software, WWDC

Devs at WWDC: Show us your apps!

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (RSS feed) on Jun 10th, 2009

Are you attending WWDC? Do you have a Mac desktop or iPhone app you'd like to show the world? Well join TUAW on June 11 at the Metreon (the big silver building right next door to the Moscone, where Jillian's is housed), where we'll have a camera ready for your close-up. We'll have a small table near the movie theater, next to the sunglasses shop -- look for this guy (me). I'll be there from 10am to 2pm PST.

So far we've seen some really good stuff here at WWDC, although we can't talk about some of it just yet. But if you show us your app, we'll put it on TUAW over the coming weeks.

Don't forget to follow tuaw_wwdc on Twitter for the latest on where we'll be, just in case you miss us tomorrow.

Tags: application, demo, iphone, software, tuaw, wwdc, wwdc09

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Odds and ends, Apple, iPhone

Starmap up for Arthur Clarke award

by Mike Schramm (RSS feed) on Apr 1st, 2009

We've posted about Starmap before -- it's a full-featured map of the sky on your iPhone that will let you find stars, constellations, and "deep sky" objects in the blanket overhead. Despite a few glitches and slowdowns, the app is pretty popular, and now it could be the only iPhone app nominated for a Sir Arthur Clarke Award. The yearly awards ceremony recognizes notable contributions to space exploration, and this year's list of nominees includes Frederic Descamps, creator of Starmap, for Best Individual Achievement. He's got some rough competition: Richard Garriott, creator of videogames like Ultima Online and Tabula Rasa, is also in that category, presumably for his recent trip into space. But Garriott's in quite a few other categories, so the iPhone developer has at least a fighting chance.

But we're sure that, as the creator of an iPhone app, it's an honor just to be nominated. It's doubtful this is the last non-software award something released for the iPhone will be winning.

Thanks, Howard B!

Tags: app-store, application, arthur-clarke, award, frederic-descamps, iphone, nomination, richard-garriott, starmap

Filed under: Software, iPhone, First Look

First Look: Word Flow

by Megan Lavey (RSS feed) on Dec 18th, 2008


I'm always on the lookout for applications to keep me entertained when I have little snatches of time that need filling: Waiting in a long line at the post office or for a movie to start, or being caught out at lunch without a book to read while eating.

Word Flow is an interesting puzzle game that allows you to slide letters around a board to create words. Once your word is ready, tap the beginning and last letter of the word you've created. It's like Boggle with the ability to control where letters go. You have three timed versions you can play: One minute, three minutes and 10 minutes. Three minutes is the sweet spot for me. With the one minute version, you barely have time to string some words together before time is up. With the 10-minute version, I lost interest after about five minutes.

Overall, Word Flow is a fairly decent game, but definitely not my favorite of available word games on the iPhone. The graphic response is not as smooth as other programs, and two versions of the game are either too short or too long.

Word Flow (link opens iTunes) is currently available for $.99USD.

Tags: application, first look, FirstLook, games, iphone

Filed under: Gaming, iPhone

SimCity comes to the iPhone

by Megan Lavey (RSS feed) on Dec 17th, 2008


Electronic Arts has released a version of its famous SimCity game for the iPhone. SimCity now joins other EA-released games such as Spore, Scrabble, Monopoly and Tetris.

SimCity is the gateway drug into the Sims universe. Created by Will Wright and originally released for the Mac and Amiga in 1989, the game gives you the ability to create your own city. You're suddenly the mayor, City Council, zoning commission, public works department and school board all at the same time. You can craft a small town with a bunch of farms surrounding it, or your own Metropolis or Gotham City (sadly without associated super heroes). You also have the power to destroy your creations through UFO attack, tornado, fire, earthquake or toxic cloud.

SimCity (link opens iTunes) is now available for $9.99USD through the App Store. A full review of this game is forthcoming!

Thanks to all those who submitted this tip!

Tags: application, games, iphone, simcity

Filed under: Software, Internet, iPhone, App Store

PromoAppCode hopes to be one-stop shop for iPhone promo codes

by Megan Lavey (RSS feed) on Dec 9th, 2008

It's no secret that the current methods of trying out iPhone applications before purchase is very cumbersome. While Apple has bestowed the ability for developers to issue promo codes, there is still the matter of taking the time to actually track down those codes for applications that you want to try.

The folks at TickleSpace Inc. hope to make this process a bit easier by providing a place where developers can directly connect with potential customers and give them those promo codes. PromoAppCode.com recently opened its doors to developers, and TickleSpace hopes that the site will be an easier way for people to try out apps.

"With 10k+ apps in the store now, developers want more ways to get noticed and power users want more ways to find and get great apps," said TickleSpace's Amanuel Tewolde.

When you sign up for the forum, users can peruse the list of applications available in the forums and add the apps they want to try to a wish list. Developers can view user wish lists and send them the promo code directly, Tewolde said. Developers will also be able to keep track of the codes they've issued and who has listed their apps on their wish list. They would also be able to communicate directly with those users for feedback, an incentive for developers to try the site, Tewolde said

As of Monday night, there was several pages of applications available. I added one to my wish list and we'll see what happens in the next few days. It's an interesting idea, and definitely one method of getting promo codes out to a willing group of testers. However, there's still some limitations - mainly the Apple-imposed ones. Developers only give away 50 codes per application version, and demand can quickly exceed available codes. What do you think of this method of distributing promo codes? What other methods do you think would work? Let us know in the comments!

Tags: application, iphone, promo code, PromoCode, web site, WebSite

Filed under: Software, Productivity, Beta Beat

LaunchBar 5 beta available now

by Megan Lavey (RSS feed) on Dec 7th, 2008

File launchers -- programs that make it easy to launch applications or utilities from a few clicks on the keyboard -- are increasingly common Mac utilities. Although I don't personally use a separate launch utility (I use OS X's Spotlight), others here at TUAW have expressed their devotion to Quicksilver in the past. TUAW readers and bloggers have also expressed their love for Objective Development's LaunchBar. The company is furthering development of that application, and has recently announced the release of the beta version of LaunchBar 5.

This version of LaunchBar boasts a number of improvements, including a new application icon designed by Bonsai Studio, which is known for designing themes for RealMac Software's RapidWeaver.

Some of the featured improvements to LaunchBar 5 include:

• Clipboard: A clipboard history has been added, as well as adding items onto the clipboard without overwriting what is already on there.
• Quick Look and iCal support
• An improved calculator based on the Unix 'bc' tool, with the ability to be assigned to a keyboard shortcut.
• LaunchBar is now scriptable via AppleScript.
• Firefox 3 support, German localization, automatic software, and more.

LaunchBar 5 is not available for purchase yet, but you can download and enjoy and the beta until January 15, 2009. Single seat licenses will be available for € 24 (around $30), € 39 (around $50) and upgrades from previous versions will be available starting at € 9 (around $11). A license key for those who want to try out LaunchBar 4 during this beta period is also available. You need to be running OS X 10.4 or higher to use LaunchBar 5.

[via Macworld]

Tags: application, LaunchBar, launchers, quicksilver, software

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