Is the iPod touch 2.0 update worth $10?

iPod touch users can download the iPhonde 2.0 software for $10. Christopher Breen contemplates whether this update is worth your hard-earned sawbuck.

Macintosh/iPhone software update round-up - July 11, 2008

Section: Software + Apps, Miscellaneous, Third-Party, Mac + Computers, SoftwareMacintosh and iPhone software updates and announcements for July 11, 2008: Marware, Inc., designer and manufacturer of innovative products for the Apple market, is pleased to announce six new iPhone cases that are shipping prior to the July 11 launch date for the iphone 3G. The C.E.O. Glide strikes an uncompromising balance between slim profile, great protection and quick access. Coinciding with the opening of Apple’s App Store for iPhone applications, Black Pixel Luminance is proud to announce Aria Touch to the public. Aria Touch turns your iPhone or iPod Touch into a standalone task management system. Gotow.net is pleased to announce the immediate availability of NetSketch 1.0. NetSketch brings full featured collaborative drawing to the iPhone and iPod Touch, and is available today through the App Store. Protopage Mobile has gone live. Protopage is a highly customizable cross between a start page, an online notebook, a news reader and a bookmarks page that you can share or keep private. tap tap tap, a new venture from John Casasanta, veteran Mac developer and creator of MacHeist, and Sophia Teutschler, creator of premier iTunes extender CoverSutra, launched today. The company brings stylish, fun apps to the iPhone through Apple’s new App Store. tap tap tap’s goal is to bring high quality apps to the market at “impulse buy” pricing. All of tap tap tap’s apps retail for under $5 US. Designed to provide low-priced international calls for Apple iPhone users, Truphone for the iPhone hit Apple’s new App Store yesterday. Stunt Software has announced the immediate release of 4 in a Row, a new game for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The application is available today on Apple’s App store. This release brings the classic game to the iPhone that’s easy to understand, but difficult to master. Your goal is to connect a line of four horizontal, vertical, or diagonal chips before your opponent. But watch out, it can be trickier than it sounds! Marware Inc. announced Project X 1.5 for Mac OSX. Project X 1.5 allows quick and easy organization of projects into tasks, subprojects, and defined milestones to track your progress. Add media (like images, sound and video) to your tasks with Project X’s unique, patent-pending technology. Adding media means that your projects are more than just schedules and timelines - they are informative, interactive documents designed to bring your project team together and working more effectively. Add resources for your project straight from your Mac Address Book and integrate the assignments into iCal. Chromatic Bytes, LLC, has announced the release of Orfeo 1.0, a four octave chromatic tuner and metronome for the iPhone and the iPod Touch. Orfeo’s tuner plays four octaves of pitches from C2 to C6 and gives you a choice of sounds. Orfeo’s metronome gives the standard range of metronome marks from 40 bps to 208 bps. Goya Pty Ltd has announced the release of BaseElements 2. BaseElements is a FileMaker developer tool to analyze and document FileMaker database solutions. BaseElements provides a cross reference of every element in a solution and helps developers find and fix errors, track issues, document changes, and plan future development.  Featuring the most comprehensive reporting functionality ever to be released in a FileMaker developer tool, every FMP developer will find something to use in the new release. Fidelity Media, makers of MegaSeg, the Mac DJ mixer and radio automation system, released MegaSeg 4.5.1. The free update has over 25 improvements, bug fixes, and optimizations in various areas of the program including Event Lists, MIDI control, preview/cue, library display, importing, logging, playlists, sound effects, as well as an updated PDF manual. The recently released MegaSeg 4.5 added support for the latest Mac OS X versions, compatibility with multiple-output devices, new MIDI presets, drag-n-drop from iTunes, AppleScript support, Apple Remote compatibility, and a day view for events. QuickerTek, the leader in wireless Apple products, has announced the Apple Juicz—a new way to power the Apple MacBook Air using solar power. Three models are priced from $500 to $1,000 USD and fold to a convenient 10.5 size and come with a cool Element messenger bag. These solar panels charge the MacBook Air while in use. Red Mercury, LLC announced that AcidSolitaire Collection is now available for sale on the App Store. The most popular computer card games, Solitaire, Freecell and Spider, are brought together in the AcidSolitaire Collection. With easy touch screen play, and incredible attention to detail, the AcidSolitaire Collection is a fundamental necessity for all iPhone and iPod touch owners. Magnetism Studios has announced four apps for the iPhone App Store: FileMagnet, a file copying and viewing utility; CityTransit, a guide to the New York City Subway; TileSudoku, a touchscreen version of the classic game; and Mr. Shuffle, the interactive face making toy. All applications are available for sale immediately. Berlin based nova media released Fone2Phone today. Fone2Phone is a sleek migration utility for the iPhone and compatible to many cell phones from Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson. Contacts, events, tasks, notes, bookmarks, photos, music and movies are copied in one streamlined operation to the appropriate places on the Mac. Afterwards, iTunes can be used to synchronize the data with the iPhone 3G. Destineer’s MacSoft unit announced today a new update designed to further enhance the gameplay of Age of Empires II for Macintosh. This update smoothes out several minor issues that have affected gameplay for a small number of players. Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Will the iPhone kill iPod Click Wheel gaming?

Section: iPod + iTunes, iPod touch, iPod Family, iTunes, iPod, iPod nano, iPhone + Communications, iPhone, iPhone SDK & Apps, OriginalsYes, and it’s about time we put it out of its misery. Even before the iPhone, the iPod never stood a chance as a legitimate gaming device. This saddens me somewhat, too, because I really wanted it to be. I viewed gaming on the iPod much as I do on my Macintosh, in that I didn’t buy a Mac to play games, but if there are games available, I’ll certainly play them. Unfortunately, developers just never put much thought into iPod games, and Apple didn’t seem interested in helping out. The main problem, of course, is the scroll wheel. There are very few games that can be effectively controlled with a wheel, and developers just haven’t been able to work around that. Games such as Mini Golf, Vortex and Peggle are workable, but only because of the simple control schemes that mainly involve spinning in a circle. Okay. But why is Sonic the Hedgehog on the iPod? Bomberman? Pac Man? These are big name titles, sure, but trying to control them with a click wheel is an exercise in frustration and futility that only turns gamers away from the iPod. Games for the iPhone are being developed specifically for the iPhone. Developers are excited about the touch screen and accelerometer, and are already putting them to good use. Obviously, developers didn’t have that excitement about the iPod’s click wheel. As a result, we got a mess of games with titles we recognize—Scrabble, Yahtzee, Pole Position, Pirates of the Caribberan(?!)—because that’s the only way people would buy them. Even EA, apparently recognizing no one wants to play pool on an iPod, threw their popular Sims franchise label on top of it in an effort to move some copies. They did the same with The Sims Bowling and The Sims DJ. Actually, The Sims DJ goes in a direction that more games should have, in that it puts your music collection into the game. It’s not just background music while you play; rather, the gameplay is built around your music. It’s an original concept that could only work on the iPod. The same goes for iQuiz, which creates trivia games based on your own music. This is what more developers needed to do, instead of just throwing unplayable ports of cell phone games at us. Or, someone could’ve given us an iPod game pad. I imagine if the market had been there, someone would have. I’m not a developer and know little of design, but I can’t imagine it would’ve been hard to put together a cradle in which the iPod classic and 3G nano would sit, placing a D-pad to the left of the click wheel and a few buttons to the right. The D-pad would take over the touch commands of the click wheel, and the buttons would take over the wheel and center button clicking functions. With that device, the games would be able to be played as they’re meant to, and the entire catalog would open to all iPod owners on a device combo no larger than a Nintendo DS. Of course, the problem with such a device is that Apple updates the form factor of the iPod so frequently that it would have to be a wide open design to avoid becoming obsolete within a year or two. Plus, as I mentioned at the top of the article, people aren’t buying iPods for the games. The Nintendo DS and Sony PSP have that market covered, so it’s unlikely the type of person looking to play Sonic the Hedgehog would look to do so on an iPod. And so, we’re back to game design. Developers need to put games on the iPod that work on the iPod, which is why I’m thrilled to see a company as huge as Square Enix getting into the mix with Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes. Here’s a game that not only works with the click wheel (it’s not a perfect fit, but the turn-based strategy gameplay doesn’t require quick, precise control, and is therefore more forgiving), but that takes full advantage of the your music collection; the songs on your iPod actually become ”Tune Troopers.” How cool is that...building an army based on your music. I just added this game to my collection, and can’t wait to see what type of soldiers songs such as Queen’s “Ogre Battle” and “Vultan’s Theme (Attack of the Hawk Men)” give me. Or, for that matter, “Particle Man” from They Might Be Giants. So, is there hope for iPod gaming, or is this too little, too late? I fear it’s the latter, but I hope Song Summoner does well enough to convince Square Enix to embrace the iPhone and iPod touch platforms. Support from big name developers and publishers will improve public perception within the gaming community, and that can only be good for sales. After all, showing friends Vortex on the iPod never convinced anyone to run out and buy one, but Super Monkey Ball could certainly have that effect. Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

iPod Touch 2.0 Firmware Update (Almost) Live

Apple has updated their iPod Touch App Store page with a link to the iTunes Stores for iPod Touch owners to upgrade to the 2.0 Firmware. The $9.95 upgrade brings all of the 2.0 Firmware features to the iPod Touch. For iPod Touch own...

Review: Remote for iPhone and iPod touch

If you've been frustrated by Apple TV’s painfully-slow menu navigation, Apple’s new Remote program for the iPhone and iPod touch may be the answer.

Macintosh software update round-up - July 10, 2008

Section: Software + Apps, Miscellaneous, Third-Party, iPhone + Communications, iPhone, iPhone SDK & Apps, Mac + Computers, Software Macintosh and iPhone software updates and announcements for July 10, 2008: Agile Web Solutions today announced the release of 1Password 2.7, which introduces a completely new feature that allows you to instantly log in to web sites. With one key combination or mouse click you can navigate to a web site, fill in the login details, and submit the form. This is accomplished using a new Bookmarks window that is integrated into the web browser, providing quick and easy access to all your 1Password logins. This update is free to all paid 1Password customers. Cynical Peak Software has announced the update of Scorecard 1.4, their golf scorecard and statistics application for Mac OS X and Windows XP and Vista. Scorecard allows golf enthusiasts to track statistics on Mac and Windows systems. The application offers comprehensive statistics, helping users discover trends and explore aspects of their gameplay that might otherwise go unnoticed. Statistics are viewable over a period of time, offering users an idea about whether they are improving or need to work on areas of play. Greenwave Software LLC has announced TalkBubbles 1.0, their fun-to-use photo sharing utility for iPhone and iPod Touch. TalkBubbles can add comic-like speech and thought bubbles to a picture from either the image library or photos taken with the iPhone’s camera. Easily manipulate, position, and change the bubbles with the iPhone’s touch interface. Images can be saved back to the devices library to share with friends. Big Stone Phone has announced the release of three brand new applications for the iPhone. All three applications make use of the iPhone’s built in camera, but with differing intentions. One app, TalkingPics, has many practical applications, while another, called iGraffiti, is just pure fun. The third application, Twittelator, is a full-featured Twitter client for the iPhone with the ability to send a map of the user’s location with one click and automatically upload snapshots to TwitPics.com. PDO has announced CarFM for iPods and iPhones, a combination FM transmitter, car charger, and hands-free talking device. CarFM allows you to play your iPod or iPhone music through your car stereo system. CarFM has a full range of FM frequencies between 88.1 and 107.9 MHz, making it easier to find a locally unused FM station for a clear signal. For iPhone users, CarFM can serve as a hands-free talking device. When you receive a call, CarFM will automatically switch between playing music to hands-free talking through the car stereo. FlipSide5, Inc., makers of the already popular iPhone games Tic-Tac-Touch and 4InARow touch, is expanding its native iPhone game product line with Touch Tennis and Touch Hockey. Touch Tennis will be available on July 11, 2008 when the iTunes App Store is launched. Touch Hockey will be released in August 2008. Houdah Software has released its first 3 applications for iPhone and iPod Touch: ACTSudoku, ACTCurrency and ACTGratuity. With ACTSudoku, Houdah Software brings the popular Sudoku game to the iPhone and the iPod Touch. ACTCurrency is a universal currency converter. It is your ultimate travel companion. ACTGratuity makes appropriate tipping at restaurants a breeze. uLocate Communications, Inc. today announced its award-winning, location-based application, WHERE, will be available from Apple’s new App Store. iPhone and iPod Touch users can leverage WHERE’s library of location-enabled widgets to easily discover nearby places and things of interest. These users will also be able to share their location and status with friends via Buddy Beacon, North America’s leading friend finding network. Each of WHERE’s widgets delivers content based on the user’s current location and provides the ability to show this content on a map, get directions and easily share the location with friends. Synium Software’s StuffRadar organizes your Music CDs, Movies, Books and Games. StufRadar finds the titles you own, and those you still want to buy. Everything, detailed information, personal rating and price is neatly presented in an attractive and intuitive user interface. And for the true cinema lovers, StuffRadar beams you up to IMDB, right into the movie context you are searching for. An addictive new iPhone Game is available today from Fullpower Technology—MotionX-Poker. Poker Dice has never been more exciting as you shake and roll your way to fun. This is just the beginning of the innovation you will see from Fullpower. Outer Level has announced the release of their first iPhone game, Bullfrog Touch. Classic arcade action comes to iPhone and iPod Touch, but with a twist. Tilt, flick, and touch your way through 50 challenging levels to earn your spot atop the online global rankings. Race against the clock to eat six unique bugs on 13 beautiful maps featuring animated water, lily pads, plants, and other obstacles. In Lieu of Tomorrow’s release of the Apple iPhone 3G, TimeCode Mechanics has dropped their original 3G version of the DIY micro-budget action film “Wages of Sin” from their website. They are now selling what they’re calling an “iHub” version. Masters is also embracing the DIY community with two new how-to books and pushing for Mac integration at new wave DVD duplication service Kunaki. FMWebschool, Inc., announces a new webinar ”Create a FileMaker Shopping Cart for the iPhone.” This webinar will teach you how to create a FileMaker powered shopping cart system for the Apple iPhone. Visitors to your site will be able to browse and make purchases with their mobile phones, and all of the transaction details will be written directly to your FileMaker database. This is a free webinar, and sample files will be available to everyone that attends. Faber Acoustical announced the immediate availability of mobile versions of SignalScope and SignalSuite for iPhone OS. SignalScope turns the iPhone into a powerful real-time spectrum analyzer and oscilloscope, utilizing the iPhone’s audio input or internal accelerometer. SignalSuite adds precision signal generator capabilities to the iPhone or iPod touch. Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »