iApps: Instapaper
Instapaper is a free iApp that allows users to view saved websites - “a tivo for the Internet” as one reviewer put it.
Besides the required (but understandable) account registration, Instapaper is a great tool. After signing up, a “read later” button is added to your browser; simply click whenever you want to save a page.
The ability to access web content offline is very useful, especially on the (sleek) iPod Touch. Hopefully someone will expand this idea to existing feed readers (I’m currently a fan of gReader) - hit a button and bam, a cache of all the latest posts from your favorite sites stored on your pod, ready to read after hoping on a plane or going out of service. Apple should take requests!
I think, therefore iFormat
Searching for a cheap (free) and easy (but not necessarily fast) way to create high quality compressed video for your iDevice? Look no further than freeware, HandBrake!
While there are a plethora of competing solutions floating around the interwebs, HandBrake has been the most reliable and worthwhile software that I’ve come across (thanks WE). Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that its open source and available on all systems (Win, Mac, & Linux).
HandBrake offers users a wide variety of compression options, including built-in presets for iPod Touch/iPhone format (among many others). Simply point to your source video file/folder, select your compression mode, and hit start…its that easy.
iApps: Tap-a-Brick
Forget wasting money at the App Store, Tap-a-Brick is a fun, well-executed, and (most importantly) free web app alternative to paid Tetris games.
iPhone 3G in chocolate?
Apple might not have any plans to add a brown model to its impending iPhone 3G lineup (black or white), but you can still get the iPhone 3G in chocolate…literally!
USBfever is now accepting pre-orders for its ‘IPhone Chocolate Style Silicone case.’ This novel case turns big A’s mobile into a bar of chocolate - providing both protection (for the plastic back of the device) and almost certain mockery from any person lucky enough to catch you using this ridiculous tasty accessory.
(via Gearlog)
Apple stuns the world with new iPhone!
BREAKING: Apple releases the next-gen iPhone early!
That’s right! Apple has upped the ante once again. Forget 3G…the newest iPhone comes upgraded with 4G WiMAX connectivity, integrated Adobe Flash support, and what is possibly the most improbable/unforeseen feature of all - holographic messaging!
First there was visual voicemail…now holographic messaging! Send your friends holographic images, texts, and messages all with the upgraded 5mp, 3x OIS zoom, integrated holographic camera!
Last but not least, Apple has capped off this (r)evolutionary update to its flagship device by increasing the on-board memory 8 fold - from a max of 16gb up to a whopping 128gb of flash memory!
Bet you didn’t see that one coming!
(via It Does Grow On Trees!)
Free multi-touch/wireless mouse! (BYOiPhone/Touch)
Another shining example of the amazing free software that is being developed for the iPhone/iPod Touch (and will hopefully be ported to Apple’s official SDK at no cost!).
(via Lifehacker | more info)
It’s time to mobilize
With more and more people accessing the Net via mobile devices, it has become more important than ever to make websites compatible with mobile browsers. Thanks to MoFuse, creating a .mobi site has become a snap.
It’s as simple as signing up for a free account, inputting some info about your site, and pointing readers to your new mobile address. MoFuse generates both generic mobile browser formatting as well as iPhone/iPod Touch friendly versions of your site (i.e. mobile boilr | iboilr).
The free account provides some customization, but limits your mobile URL to their domain: yoursite.mofuse.mobi. However, if you upgrade to their Pro account, you can then specify the domain of your choice.
Ultimately, MoFuse offers an extremely useful and user-friendly service for both amateur and professional web developers alike.
(via TechCrunch)
Inspector Gadget’s iPhone spotted in the wild
Some things just deserve to be posted (and re-posted), regardless of their actual utility. One such gadget is the Conice 6×18 Zoom Attachment for iPhone. Wow, with a name like that…
Anyways, this hilarious Inspector Gadget-like accessory will enable those savvy iPhone detectives to better photograph their unsuspecting targets from unspecified distances. Why didn’t Apple think of this?!
(via Engadget)
Wii like the iPhone
Last night, I was hanging out with some friends, playing Wii sports and conducting some more “testing” on the iPhone. Let me start off by making this proclamation: Wii might be the single greatest video game entertainment system of all time (and I think I want an iPhone - just not yet). Really? you ask yourselves. Yup.
Unlike the “other” new systems, the Wii’s fun to difficultly ratio is fantastic. It takes all of a few minutes to feel comfortable hitting a tennis ball, bowling, batting in a baseball game, exploring Paper Mario’s world, or even participating in a cooking challenge (not to mention the ability to download and play NES, SNES, Genesis, and other classic systems’ games through the virtual console). The actual game play is so easy and enjoyable, you don’t even notice or care about how “cutting-edge” the graphics may (or may not) be. Instead of sitting idly moving your fingers only, the Wii requires you to get out of your seat and actively engage whatever game you happen to be playing. This is both more satisfying for a non-gamer such as myself, and much more of a social activity.
On the flipside, when I was not watching my friends create their own Miis or burn a pasta dish (playing Cooking Mama: Cook Off), I had a solid 30 minutes of time with the iPhone. I am not going to get into any more detail here about specs or features, but I just had to admit (to myself) that the phone (on WiFi) works really well and for a tech-geek such as myself, is really fun. The phone is a hit with all of my friends (Apple luvrs and h8rs alike!).
Thanks AZ!
Temptation
Alright…I tried my best not to mention the phone, but then I found myself next to an AT&T store and couldn’t help myself.
The iPhone is off to a good start. I’ll definitely give them that. The size is very slim and pocketable, not too heavy, and feels solid. The screen is clear and easy to read, with a nice icon interface. During my brief experience “testing” the device, I thought the touch screen controls were mostly easy and accurate, with a few commands taking longer than others.
More technical details here.
Overall, the phone pretty much lives up to much of the crazy hype that came with it’s launch. It is not perfect; EDGE is almost unusable from my 5 minutes on it (EDGE is far below the hardware’s capability; a better service is available from AT&T). It has a definite appeal to a wide audience of users…but then there is the cost.
4GB - $499 + monthly data plan ($60-100/mth); 8GB - $599 + monthly data plan ($60-100/mth)
It’s nice piece of equipment, but condisering big A is making between $300-$379 per unit, depending on GB (see also here), I think I can wait…for v2 or 3+. Not to mention, there are no real options for software or memory expansion at this point.
hardware rating: 4 | 5
service rating: 2 | 5
