smartech

This is a guest post by Israeli blogger Yarin Hochman, who has apparently spent a significant amount of time testing every single iPhone app, ever released. In this post he shares his experiences with Snapture’s newly born PiP camera app. You can read more from Yarin on his Hebrew tech blog, TechVibe.

I don’t know about you but for me, one of the biggest pains with my iphone machine is the camera. Now, I haven’t upgraded to the 3GS version yet, I personally don’t see any substantial reason to, but still, even the iphone 3GS camera itself, is apparently provided with tiny lens, very basic features and low quality images, when it comes to comparison with average Nokia\Blackberry cameras.

Today, Snapture, which previously released a camera app for jailbroken iPhones, seems to turn “legit”, by introducing an official version that is now available on Apple’s formal app store, under Snapture app (1.99$), and has made me like it from first impression, but not without a few reservations attached.

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AT&T has finally released a turn-by turn iPhone navigator app which can be downloaded through Apple’s App Store for a monthly fee of $9.99 or somewhere around $240 for a perpetual l subscription [iTunes link].The new application, that was developed by Telenav, offers traffic alerts and full 3D mapping, both verbal and on-screen guided, with Yellow Pages access, online trip planning capabilities and automatic map updates, supporting street names and business listings. Full press release is after the break.

[via Slashgear]

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At last, after tons of expectations and millions, who’ve been anxiously waiting for this one to come out,  Skype officially releases an iPhone app, to enable worldwide VoIP calls over WiFi (not over EDGE or 3G ) without any extra charge. According to CrunchGear, the desirable application should be available for downloading from Apple’s App Store, somewhere in Tuesday – for free. You will also be able to collaborate with your contact lists, to make calls via Skype and chat with your friends and family, as long as you want. To make it even better, users with Skype accounts will have the ability to make SkypeOut calls, once they travel around hotspots. And last but not least, all your avatars will be automatically imported directly to your iPhone device, so no need to create new ones. Stay tuned !

Update1: In case you haven’t noticed, the iPhone 3G is now available – contract free – in AT&T and Apple stores, priced at $599 for the 8GB version or $699 for 16GB lovers.

Update 2: It is now available in iTunes store, free of charge. You can get it from here.

Update 3: Looks like you’ll be able to dial up via 3G data connection after all, so no need to stay around WiFi spots in order to use skype – COOL !!!

Update4: Apparently, dialing over 3G connection will only work if you have OS 3.0 beta. Having said that, doesn’t mean you won’t have any crashes or audio malfunctions at all. The only way to make it work properly is to have the skype run over WiFi with a non-beta firmware installed.

[via CrunchGear]

It was back in March, when we first reported that Sling wants to have an iphone application, and we’re glad to relize it’s actually happening, as the company announces that the long awaited app is ready to be released and will be demonstrated in San Francisco moments before the software will get to Apple app Store. Still no pricing info, but the full press release is after the break.

Update1: Regretfully, older SlingBox devices won’t be able to stream any TV content directly to iPhone machines (except Slingbox PRO). That means, if you happen to have one of those first editions, you’ll have to shell out extra money and upgrade to Slingbox SOLO or Slingbox PRO-HD in order to enjoy a complete mobility via handhelds, and not just because of technical issues, but more of a greediness from the company itself. We do hope this weird desicion will eventually end up somewhere in the history pages of “failed-to-be-executed”.

Update2: May 12th 2009 – Regretfully, AT&T has issued an official statement, claiming it’d pull the plug out of Sling’s 3G streaming capability, which was integrated into the iPhone with the SlingPlayer. According to the company, this application -

“which would use large amounts of wireless network capacity, could create congestion and potentially prevent other customers from using the network. The application does not run on our 3G wireless network. Applications like this, which redirect a TV signal to a personal computer, are specifically prohibited under our terms of service. We consider smartphones like the iPhone to be personal computers in that they have the same hardware and software attributes as PCs.”

That said, users will be able to use WiFi connectivity in order to log into any web site that lets them view videos. In simple words, 3G – Out, WiFi – In. Now, it’s up to you to search one of the 20,000 hotspots AT&T has deployed across the US, in places like Starbucks, McDonalds, airports, etc.

[via engadget]

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Apple has finally released firmware update 2.2, available for downloading via your iTunes software, right away. The new 246MB update brings some neat stuff to your iphone/ipod devices, including Google Street View, over-the-air podcast downloads (which lets you listen to podcast, either through wifi connection or 3G network), public transit and walking directions, more stabilized Safari browser and even the ability to share your location via email. In addition, you get some Bug fixes, together with toggling auto-text correction function, better sound quality in Visual Voicemail messages and a new App rating feature, that allows you to rank any Apple’s App Store application, once you delete it.  Stay tuned !

Apple should officially put an end to the iPhone’s Copy & Paste saga (They’ve said they don;t care). Meanwhile, we get a chance to see the MagicPad app, a rich-text editor, coming up to App Store very soon, allowing users to write their personal notes, create text documents and change fonts, text sizes, colors, mark them as bold, italic, underline and of course, copy & paste them in order to send through emails. It works really well and looks promising, so checkout the video after the break.

Update: the MagicPad is now available at the App Store and can be downloaded from here.

[via Gizmodo]

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Apple should officially put an end to the iPhone’s Copy & Paste saga (They’ve said they don;t care). Meanwhile, we get a chance to see the MagicPad app, a rich-text editor, coming up to App Store very soon, allowing users to write their personal notes, create text documents and change fonts, text sizes, colors, mark them as bold, italic, underline and of course, copy & paste them in order to send through emails. It works really well and looks promising, so checkout the video after the break.

Update: the MagicPad is now available at the App Store and can be downloaded from here.

[via Gizmodo]

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iPhone and iPod Touch owners, this is your moment, as Apple has officially released the latest firmware 2.0 version, available for download via iTunes. Mind you, there’s a load on the servers and it might be slow, but if you’re determined to get one, in order to access the new App Store, i guess nothing will stop you from upgrading your devices. Don’t forget, ipod touch users have to pay $9.95 to get firmware 2.0 update.

iPhone firmware 2.0 update is available in here.

ipod touch firmware 2.0 update is available via iTunes Store, in here.

As you probably know, Apple has launched its new App Store with over 500 applications for your iphone and ipod touch devices, some are free some are priced. We’ve already posted a preliminary list of cool applications to download and i guess you’d like to see some new available games, so here’s a quick look at some of them, just hit the jump for more:

Aqua Forest

Fantastic game that uses both touchscreen and accelerometer capabilities to play with realistic water via ‘OctaveEngine’, a new generation physics simulation software that controls the five categories, including Tilting, Touch, Drawing, Warm and Cold in 50 different puzzles (reminds “Physics”).

Please enable Javascript and Flash to view this Flash video.

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I bet you all been waiting for the official Apple App Store to make a debut and today it is finally available in both iPhone 2.0 and iTunes, running smooth, offering many applications to download, some are free some are priced. Among the assortment you can find applications like:

• eBay – cool application that lets you use the service from your iPhone device, search items, watch favorite stuff, place a bid and follow auctions, all for free.
• Loopt – a nice location-based application that lets you discover who’s hanging within your location range (don’t try to hide with this service ON).
• TypePad – one of the most popular blogging services, now available from your iPhone, allowing users to upload real time photos, straight from their handset, directly to their blogs.
• Associated Press – another free application, allowing users to upload their media stuff to AP service and contribute to the content.
• Band – a cool feature, developed by an independent insurance developer, allowing users to create their own music and play it from their own iPhone device, with the ability to choose from a various of instruments.
• MLB.com – a nice application, designated for baseball fans, allowing them to receive real time results and watch highlighted moments.
• MySpace – iPhone app that allows you to manage their MySpace social network account, including add friends, exchange messages, upload photos,and more, all for free.
• Kyte Mobile Producer – a great application that lets you upload images you take with your iphone, directly to your Kyte account or the available channels, including blogs, social networks (Facebook, MySpace) etc. You can make slides, conduct polls and add captions.
• AIM – Finally an instant-messaging application on your iphone, lets you interact with your friends and chat online via Wi-Fi. In additio, you can mark contacts as your favorites and can even send away messages.
• Twitterrific – The official twitter client to send your messages via twitter.
• Facebook - Manage your Facebook account from your iphone device. The application lets you view messages, search friends and even chat with them whenever you want.
• Pandora – The cool online radio service comes to your iphone, allowing you to play your favorite music while recommending similar bands and artists.
• Remote Control - Lets you control your iTunes or your Apple TV with your iphone device. You can play, pause, skip, and even search in libraries.

Some additional Apple App lists:

Engadget – preliminary list.

Gizmodo – variety of applications list.

TechCrunch -  Great applications list (with video).

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So, it is finally here. iTunes version 7.7 goes live with the promised App store assimilated inside, and Remote control functionality as a bonus. The official release says:

“Use iTunes 7.7 to sync music, video, and more with iPhone 3G, and download applications from the iTunes Store exclusively designed for iPhone and iPod touch with software version 2.0 or later. Also use the new Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch to control iTunes playback from anywhere in your home – a free download from the App Store.”

The new Remote application for the iPhone and iPod touch devices controls your Apple TV and iTunes via the Wi-Fi connection. You can literally use it to play, stop, pause, skip or shuffle your songs and videos, you can even search the entire libraries through your handheld device.

Sling Media, the company that turns any Internet-connected PC, Mac, or smartphone into a home television, wants a foothold in the iPhone application festival. The company has downloaded the SDK package (along with other 100,000 people) and started developing a designated Sling app. (hypothetically) which means, by the time Apple officially releases the new firmware version 2.0, around June, and launches the App store, you could watch TV virtually anywhere in the world through the iPhone, and although EDGE streaming is pretty lousy, it can really work great via WiFi connection. Stay tuned !

[via slashgear]