Sunday, September 30, 2012

Skitch Updated With Features Restored; Version 1.0 Made Available Again [Mac Blog]

Screen shot sharing app Skitch was recently updated to version 2.0, but without a number of features that were frequently used by a number of its users.

It received a lot of criticism from for removing features like the ability to minimize the app to the menu bar or to resize images by grabbing the corner of a window. Also, users were no longer able to choose the file format of their screenshots; it could only export .PNG files.

However, Evernote, the company that owns Skitch, has heard the uproar and responded. The company is releasing an updated version of Skitch with a number of changes -- and made Skitch 1.0 available for download again.
Here's a quick overview of the changes:

- Choose your file type: there's now a filetype selector in the Drag Me tab, where you can choose between PNG, JPG, GIF, TIFF, BMP
- Smarter screen snap: you can modify selected area or change it to specific dimensions
- Improved sync options: it gives you control over how/when you save notes to Evernote (Always, Ask, Never ask)
- Flip and rotate: new Image menu options that also get keyboard shortcuts
- Multi-select in the Library: to easily delete unwanted images
- New keyboard shortcuts
- Change arrow directions
- And the old version of Skitch is available for those who still want it
The update has been sent to Apple and should be pushed to the Mac App Store soon. It is a free download. [Direct Link]

The U.S.A.’s most inspiring company: Apple Inc.


“We've known for a while that consumers are infatuated with Apple and its products. That was confirmed Monday when the company announced that it sold more than 5 million units of its new iPhone 5 since the product launched three days earlier,” Jacquelyn Smith reports for Forbes. “And on Tuesday a Georgia-based brand consulting firm dubbed the technology giant America's most inspiring company.”



“Performance Inspired, Inc., an Atlanta consulting and training firm that helps organizations elevate performance through the science of inspiration, surveyed 2,175 consumers to identify America's 25 most inspiring companies,” Smith reports. “Conducted online, the survey asked respondents which five companies they find most inspirational, and why. It also asked them to describe their most recent encounter with each company.”



Smith reports, “For the second consecutive year, Apple is at the top of the heap.”



Read more in the full article here.


Flurry for Twitter for iPhone review




Flurry for Twitter is a new iPhone twitter app in the App Store that is just absolutely stunning in design. It features gorgeous animations, intuitive gestures, great sounds, and more. Flurry for Twitter is by no means "fully featured", and although I'm always one to argue that less is more, Ash Apps may have left out a little too much to justify Flurry's price.






Flurry for iPhone isn't your average Twitter app. Sure, it offers the basic functions of any Twitter app, but Flurry presents them in a unique and artistic way. Every swipe and tap offers a subtle sound that you actually want to hear and actions like refreshing your timeline and posting a tweet include animations that are almost addicting to watch. For example, tweets will load by flipping up your screen and your timeline with give the illusion of backing up when your create a tweet.






Unfortunately, the fancy gestures, sounds, and animations, aren't quite enough to make Flurry a compelling buy. One of the features I was most surprised to find missing from Flurry is auto-refresh. If you want to see if any new tweets have come in, even when you first open the app, you are required to pull down to refresh. Flurry also doesn't include little thumbnails of photos in your timeline even though this feature has become the norm in other Twitter apps. And one of the biggest deal-breakers off all -- no push notifications.


The good

  • Easy access to tweet actions by swiping on tweets
  • Fast, beautiful, and non-intrusive animations
  • Innovative Swipe-Back navigation system
  • Conversation include in Tweet details
  • Fun sounds
  • Multiple Accounts and Lists support
  • Instapaper, Pocket, and Readability support

The bad

  • Crashes at during the second screen of the tutorial at initial launch
  • No auto refresh
  • No thumbnail previews of images
  • No push notifications

The bottom line


Flurry for Twitter is a gorgeous Twitter app for the iPhone that has a lot of potential. But with highly important and valued features like auto refresh and push notifications missing, I can't recommend Flurry for anything more than eye candy -- and at $4.99, that's pretty expensive, especially when full-featured apps like Tweetbot, Twitterrific, and Twittelator Neue are available for less. However, if you have faith that developers will continue to add features to Flurry, you may want to grab it now since Twitter limits the number of tokens available to each 3rd party Twitter developer.


$4.99 - Download Now

Thursday, September 27, 2012

iOS 6 causing WiFi problems for some users


Ever since the release of iOS 6, there have been reports of problems with WiFi. At first it was thought to be limited to the iPhone 5, but then there were reports of problems among users of earlier iPhones as well as iPads. According to CNET, the reports of problems have filled up 93 pages on Apple's discussion forums. And while that sounds like a lot, the article acknowledges that there's not yet any indication of how widespread the issue is, and many users aren't having any problem at all. I upgraded my iPad to iOS 6 and haven't had any problem at home. (I have had problems with the campus WiFi, but I think the culprit in that case is more likely the campus network.) The article notes that when an issue affects some people but not others, that makes it a lot harder to pin down. These sorts of glitches seem to be typical early on, and usually get quickly resolved.


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Barnes & Noble unveils new 7-inch Nook HD, 9-inch Nook HD+ tablets


“Barnes & Noble Inc took a shot at archrival Amazon.com on Wednesday, unveiling its own lighter and thinner hi-definition tablets that can accommodate multiple users in a bid to win a bigger share of the exploding tablet market,” Phil Wahba reports for Reuters.



“The largest U.S. bookstore chain introduced the new devices with price tags ranging from $199 for a 7-inch Nook HD tablet with 8 gigabytes of memory, to $299 for a 9-inch Nook HD+ tablet, similar in size to Apple Inc’s market-leading iPad, with 32 GB of memory,” Wahba reports. ” Barnes & Noble added innovative features that would allow each a family to share a Nook tablet, with each user able to create a home page and customize preferences, the first table to do so. There are also parental controls that can prevent kids from reading “Fifty Shades of Grey” or go shopping on the digital store.”



Wahba reports, “The 7-inch tablet weighs 11.1 ounces. Its larger sibling is 18.2 ounces, making it lighter than the iPad and making them both more appropriate for reading, he added. The iPad weighs about 23 ounces.”



Read more in the full article here.



MacDailyNews Note: Barnes & Noble Nook HD+ specs:
9.46 x 6.41 x 0.45 (240.3 x 162.8 x 11.4 mm)
18.17 oz (515 g)
9-inch diagonal, 1920 x 1280 pixels, 256 ppi IPS LCD
Capacitive, Multi-touch
1024 MB RAM
Built-in storage: 16 GB, Maximum User Storage: 13 GB
microSD, microSDHC up to 32 GB



Accelerometer
802.11 b, g, n
USB 2.0
microUSB
HDMI


Want Secure, Fast Site Logins on the iPad? Use 1Password’s Inline Browser


1Passord Inline Login




If you're a frequent to heavy user of the iPad then you're very likely to have at least some occasions where you need to login to an online site. Sometimes this may happen when you're connecting via a public WiFi network. It's never a great feeling to be entering login information to a bank site or somewhere like Paypal or Amazon or similar sites when you know you're on an insecure connection.



1Password, the superb password manager app for the iPad, iPhone, and Mac and Windows PCs, has a great solution for these situations - and any others where you want a secure, fast way to login to an important site.



You can use their inline browser to visit the site you need to login to and have your login details autofilled for you - with no typing required. Here's how:



– You need to have the 1Password app installed for starters of course. You can purchase 1Password for iPad for $9.99, or 1Password Pro, which will run on both iPad and iPhone, for $14.99. 1Password was one of our picks for Best iPad Apps of 2011 and you won't find a better or more secure password app for the iPad.



(...)
Read the rest of Want Secure, Fast Site Logins on the iPad? Use 1Password’s Inline Browser (422 words)


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

BlackBerry 10 adds so many features that so few people want


“RIM CEO and possible Bond villain Thorstein Heins gave the world its best look at BlackBerry 10 today; while previous demos had focused on the camera and keyboard, this morning focused on even more everyday features,” Brian Barrett reports for Gizmodo. “It looks like it does some things very well-and that they’re not the things you’d care about.”



“This new peek, combined with what we saw earlier this year, gives the impression of a very competent mobile operating system. But it’s also one that we’re still months and months away from, during which time more and more companies will switch on over to iPhones and Androids and, with Windows 8 synergies kicking in just next month, WP8,” Barrett writes. “And more than that, even if it were to arrive today - even if it had arrived last fall - BB10 seems to serve very few masters. It’s a great OS for browbeaten, unorganized, over-caffeinated, multilingual business persons sure. But how many of us does that really describe? Outside, that is, of RIM’s own CEO.”



Read more in the full article here.



MacDailyNews Take: There will be no BlackBerry 11.



[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "John" for the heads up.]


Apple to meet Swiss Federal Railways over iPad iOS 6 Clock app icon


“Swiss national train operator SBB said Friday it is to meet Apple representatives after the tech giant used without agreement its famous clock design on a new application for iPad and iPhone,” AFP reports. “The clock was designed in 1944 by Swiss engineer Hans Hilfiker and remains the property of SBB. It is still used in SBB’s stations.”



“‘There’s been no agreement so far, we’re going to talk about it,’ SBB press spokeswoman Patricia Claivaz told AFP, adding that the rail firm’s lawyers had requested the meeting,” AFP reports. “Claivaz dismissed reports that the rail company was intent on demanding financial compensation from Apple as ‘speculation,’ adding that SBB did not intend to ‘upset them by asking for money.’”



AFP reports, “Instead, the railway spokeswoman said, SBB was proud that its Swiss-designed station clock face had been chosen ‘for 80 million iPads’ after realising that the iPad apparently reproduced the SBB clock design on one of its new apps iOS 6. ‘We’re rather proud that a brand as important as Apple is using our design, it’s already on show in exhibitions in places like New York,’ said Claivaz.”



Read more in the full article here.



Related article:
Swiss Federal Railways accuses Apple of copying its iconic railway clock – September 21, 2012


Pinterest for iPad Updated – Adds Ability to Pin from Camera & Photo Library


Pinterest iPad app




Pinterest's iPad app was updated late last week, to Version 2.0.3.



The big new addition is one of the notable missing features when the app first came to the iPad - the ability to Pin from the iPad's camera and photo library. I've tested out this new feature and it works well. One quirk I noticed (and this may be true in a browser too and I just never noticed it): when you select a photo and a board to pin it to you need to write something (anything) in the description field. If you don't then the Pin It button won't be active.



Here's the only other items on the change list for this update:



- Performance & stability improvements
- Support for iPhone 5



Pinterest was a recent selection as Best Free iPad App of the Week - and now the app feels more complete with the ability to pin photos from your iPad library.

Here's an App Store link for Pinterest; it's still a free app and a universal app designed for both iPad and iPhone.


Monday, September 24, 2012

Best apps to show off your new iPhone 5


Best apps to show off your new iPhone 5




After picking up your brand new iPhone 5, you probably immediately noticed that many of your favorite apps didn't take advantage of the iPhone 5's nice big screen. While this is a disappointment, don't fret, because a countless number of apps are being updated daily with optimizations for the new screen. But in the meantime, take a look at some of our favorite iPhone apps that have offered support for the new iPhone 5 since its release.


Tweetbot





Tweetbot has been one of our favorite Twitter apps since its release, and the already awesome experience is better than ever on the iPhone 5's bigger screen. Since the iPhone 5 has a taller screen, you are able to see at least one additional tweet making the entire Twitter experience with Tweetbot extra enjoyable and inviting.


  • $2.99 - Download Now

Pinterest





Pinterest is a gorgeous app, but on the smaller screen of the previous iPhone models, the UI felt a little cramped. Well, Pinterest has definitely benefited from a taller, vs wider, screen. It's a joy to scroll though all the pins and view the gorgeous photos on the iPhone 5's vibrant display. You can also quickly scroll down your feeds without a single hiccup. If you're a recovering Pinterest addict, you may just have a relapse once you experience the Pinterest app on your new iPhone 5.


  • Free - Download Now

Flipboard





Flipboard for iPhone is your own personal magazine featuring the articles and social feeds you care about most. On the iPhone 5, this magazine is just stunning. First of all, each page now displays six full squares, and second -- they're gorgeous. Since Flipboard is a very image-heavy app, the extra vibrance and contrast in the iPhone 5's screen really makes Flipboard look amazing. Your friends will be in total awe when they see Flipboard on your new iPhone 5.


  • Free - Download Now

Weather 2x





Any app that provides information will definitely benefit from the iPhone 5's larger screen and Weather 2x is no exception, especially since it's paired with beautiful imagery. Weather 2x is seriously one of the most beautiful weather apps I've ever laid my eyes on. It displays basic weather information over a beautiful photograph and with a simple tap, you can see even more. Sliding the screen up will reveal a 5 day forecast, sliding to the left will reveal an hourly forecast, and sliding to the right will let you choose the location. Beautiful app -- for real.


  • $0.99 - Download Now

Pocket





Pocket is a very popular "read later" service that lets you save articles that you find on the web, social networks, apps, and more. On the iPhone, Pocket displays your available articles in a list with a thumbnail featuring the articles' main image. Everything about Pocket benefits from the iPhone 5' taller screen. The list is longer, the photos are more beautiful, and more of each article can be read at once.


  • Free - Download Now

Agenda Calendar





Agenda Calendar has been my favorite calendar app on the iPhone for quite some time now and my love for it has only grown with the iPhone 5. With the taller screen, I can now see my entire work week at once when in the week view. When adding an event with the keyboard in use, I can still see plenty information on the the remaining portion of the screen. If you've ever considered ditching Apple's built-in Calendar app, definitely take a look at Agenda.


  • $0.99 - Download Now

iBooks





iBooks is a great app for showing off your new iPhone 5 not only because you can read more of your books at once, but because iBooks has always been notorious for being a bit laggy and lacking in the performance department. On the iPhone 5, iBooks shows off the speed of the new A6 chip. Your books load onto your bookshelf must quicker and you can quickly flip through pages without skipping a beat.


  • Free - Download now

Byword




  • $2.99 - Download now

I've never been a big fan of writing apps on the iPhone simply because of the cramped feeling on the small screen. The keyboard would take up so much of the screen that I would only be able to see a sentence or two at a time while I typed. Well, now that the iPhone 5 has a taller display, they keyboard takes up a smaller percentage of the screen allowing me to see more of what I've written. And what's the best writing app for iPhone? Well that's easy -- Byword!


iPhoto





We've already mentioned several times that the iPhone 5's display is phenomenal for photos, but it doesn't hurt to say it again. When you take photos with your iPhone 5, you will be dying to edit them to perfection to share them with the world -- that's where iPhoto comes in. iPhoto is an excellent photo editing app for the iPhone that is robust, yet easy to use. And since it's optimized for the iPhone 5's larger screen, you'll be able to see more of your photo at once while you edit. This is always a plus.


  • $4.99 - Download now

iMovie





The iPhone 5 has a larger display, a display with a 16:9 aspect ratio to be exact. What a coincidence, that's the standard ratio for HD movies! Not only is watching videos on your iPhone a wonderful experience, but so is editing them. Since Apple optimized iMovie for the iPhone 5's larger screen, the editing tools take up a smaller percentage of the screen letting you see more of the movie you're creating.


  • $4.99 - Download Now

Launch Center Pro





The Home screen isn't the only thing that benefits from the iPhone 5's extra row of icons -- Launch Center Pro does as well. While the Home screen lets add another 4 apps, Launch Center Pro lets you add an extra row of actions. That means everything from launching your password manager right into a search for the oft-used login, or adding something right into your favorite task manager, or texting that someone special, or just toggling your screen brightness no longer have to fight as viciously as they used to for screen real-estate. Now 15 of them can get along just fine, all at once, all on the same screen. It's 1/5th more action for your iPhone 5.


  • $2.99 - Download now

Your favorite iPhone 5 apps?


There's just a small list of some our favorite lists on the iPhone 5, now tell us yours!


Saturday, September 22, 2012

How to wait in online for Apple’s iPhone 5


“Want to get an iPhone 5 on Friday? You’ll probably need to wait in line. Or pay someone to do it for you,” John D. Sutter reports for CNN.



“Hipster-looking shoppers already have plopped down in folding chairs outside Apple’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York,” Sutter reports. “And in San Francisco, a man working through a micro-tasking company (more on what that means in a second has been diligently waiting in line, for a price, since Monday.”



“TaskRabbit nabbed the first-in-line spot to try to promote its online service that allows people to pay someone else to do a menial task for them,” Sutter reports. “In this case, according to CNET, you can find people online who for about $40 to $150 will stand in line to purchase the iPhone 5 on your behalf.”



Sutter reports, “That sort of idea isn’t all that new, and line-standers also are offering their services on craigslist... Unless you hopped online within the first hour or so last Friday, pre-ordered iPhones aren’t expected to arrive for weeks.”



Read more in the full article here.



[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Edward W." for the heads up.]


Best iPhone 5 PAYG nano-SIM options for traveling to the UK


Best iPhone 5 PAYG nano-SIM options for traveling to the UK




If you're visiting the United Kingdom with a GSM unlocked iPhone 5, your main options for Pay As You Go SIMs are limited to just two of the five major networks. At the time of writing, only T-Mobile and O2 offer nano-SIMs on Pay As You Go (pre-paid) deals. Three will sell you a nano-SIM on a one-month rolling contract, but that's not much use for travelers, as it's subject to all the usual credit requirements. Vodafone and Orange have yet to announce any PAYG nano-SIM options, nor has the community-oriented GiffGaff network.


T-Mobile UK Pay As You Go nano-SIM for iPhone 5


T-Mobile UK's PAYG nano-SIM works just the same as any of the carrier's other PAYG SIMs. After topping up at least 10 of credit, you can choose between three price plans for your iPhone 5 --


  • Text Plan - Unlimited UK texts, in addition to your data allowance and calling UK credit.
  • Talk Plan - 100 UK minutes, in addition to your data allowance and UK calling credit.
  • International Plan - 70 international minutes, in addition to your data allowance and UK calling credit

All of T-Mobile UK's PAYG plans come with unlimited mobile data for browsing and email for the following month, plus a 500MB data allowance for media streaming, which should be more than enough for most travelers. In particular, that 70 minutes of international calls may be ideal for visitors to the UK who want an convenient way to call home without breaking the bank.


O2 UK Pay & Go nano-SIM for iPhone 5


O2's pre-paid nano-SIM option is well hidden, but it does indeed offer them. O2 has a wide range of PAYG plans, each with varying benefits --


  • Pay and Go Go Go - 75 minutes, 500 texts and 100MB for a month, for 10. Allowances double after three months. Unlimited texts are added after nine months.
  • O2 Unlimited - Unlimited O2 to O2 (UK) calls and texts with a 15 top-up. UK web browsing charged at 1 per day.
  • Text and Web - 500MB data allowance for a month, plus a varying text allowanced based on how much you top up. 10-14 gets you 300, 15 to 29 gets you 500, and after 30 texts are unlimited.
  • Simplicity - Starts at 7.50 per month, which gets you unlimited texts. 10.50 will get you 100 minutes and 500 texts, and 15.50 for 300 minutes and unlimited texts. Then add one of three data allowances -- 3 for 100MB, 6 for 500MB or 10 for 1GB.

Other options


It's also worth mentioning that nano-SIM "cutters" are available online to enable brave users to trim down micro-SIMs to nano-SIM size. If the gold contacts are the right size, you should be able to use one of these hole punch-like devices to cut down the plastic around your micro-SIM so that it's the correct size for iPhone 5. You can also attempt this manually using a good old-fashioned pair of scissors, if you're feeling adventurous.



Cutting down SIM cards can be hit and miss, though, so proceed at your own risk if you decide to go ahead with this. However, if successful, you'd be able to slice down any micro-SIM and use Three, Vodafone and Orange PAYG SIMs in your iPhone 5.



If you do decide to cut a larger SIM down to size, you may want to consider a micro-SIM from Three, which in our opinion offers by the most attractive PAYG plans for heavy data users. You can top up 15 and get unlimited data, 300 minutes and 3000 texts, or top up 10 for 500MB, 100 minutes and 3000 texts.



We've reached out to the other major mobile networks to see if they plan on offering PAYG nano-SIMs anytime soon. We'll update this article with any new information they provide.


  • See all international pre-paid/PAYG options

Friday, September 21, 2012

15 first impressions of the Apple iPhone 5


“The wait is over. The iPhone 5 is on the loose. Those who have the new phone in their hands have already been voicing their thoughts about the device,” MarketWatch reports.



“Although there are many grumbles about its inaccurate maps app, Apple customers still remain excited about the iPhone 5,” MarketWatch reports. “The new and improved camera that allows users to take panoramic pictures is a big hit, along with the faster cellular network. "LTE screams on the iPhone 5. I am blown away. Way faster than my home wifi," tweeted one iPhone 5 user.”



MarketWatch reports, “Unfortunately for some customers who pre-ordered the phone, shipping is going to be delayed three to four weeks due to high demand and less availability.”



Read more in the full article here.


iPad 2 Plays Minecraft! Bulletstorm Gets Reviewed! And 3DS Launch Titles Revealed! – Destructoid





We’re back to our normal, newsy format today, and not a moment too soon. Today we learned that the iPad 2 announcement is nigh (hooray!) and that it’s happening RIGHT in the middle of GDC next week (Booo!). We’ll be sure to give you the full update as soon as we know. We also got the full breakdown of the 3DS’ American launch lineup, which includes some favorites, but mostly leaves out our favorites. Finally, Bulletstorm is out, and it’s reviewed. It’s good. Plus, Happy Birthday Zelda!

Thursday, September 20, 2012

iOS 6 will be good for Apple... eventually





Apple's iOS 6 is now out, and if you've read iMore's detailed iOS 6 review you've already seen people complaining about the new Maps app. Whether it be incorrect data or simply a slew of features that are missing compared to the old, Google-powered Maps app.



iMore has written plenty about how iOS 6 is more about Apple than new user features, which do include deeper Facebook integration, panoramic photos and shared photo streaming. But most industry pundits agree that the big changes Apple made signify a move away from Google and towards even more of a complete hardware, software and services ecosystem.



At least that's the idea. But the consumer outcry due to a bug-ridden maps app has people wondering if Apple has taken the idea of removing Google's hooks to such an extreme that it compromises the user experience. Has Apple lost one of its core values?



We've seen Apple make mistakes before. MobileMe was a disaster at first, and it eventually improved. Then we all witnessed the Antennagate fiasco, which was yet another bad news story that resulted in a temporary assault of negative headlines. Of course it all blew over, and none of it had any real, lasting effect on Apple.



How will this play out? A few customers are bound to be upset. But I don't think it will last. Before too long I expect Google will have an approved maps app in the App Store, and customers will get back the choice they want. Some people suggest that Apple will delay the approval of Google Maps. I don't see it happening. Apple knows this is a longer term battle, and they want to kill the negative press fast. If you're Apple, the answer is to give people choice, and then to improve your own product such that, in time, people don't bother installing your competitor's app anymore.



I think it's a smart strategy. Sure, Apple was a bit premature in launching its own mapping app. But I doubt we'll be talking about this little snafu in a couple of months - especially considering Google may have already submitted an iOS mapping app to the App Store. But if Apple can iron out the wrinkles, people will stick with the easier approach of using the built-in app. Then, after a few years, Apple will have significant control over local search data.



Google makes pretty much all their profits from Adwords today. And those profits come primarily from desktop and laptop use - not mobile. Yet most industry observers agree that mobile advertising is eventually going to eclipse ad revenue from desktop users. It will be more location-aware and intelligent.



It is in Apple's best interests (and those of shareholders) for Apple to control as much user data as possible in order to monetize it through advertising. From that perspective, Google is a dangerous competitor with far more experience. As an Adwords advertiser, I can attest to the quality, depth and sophistication of Google's advertising system.



Google already has complete control over the ability to advertise within Android, so why should Apple help them out (and sacrifice their own potential profitability) by continuing to hand them such important data, coming from iOS users? The answer is obvious. They shouldn't.



I'm both an Apple and a Google shareholder. I'm not worried that desktop use of Google's advertising platform will go away anytime soon. But what if it's not Google who figures out how to truly monetize mobile? What if it ends up being Apple, Amazon, or Facebook? Then Google revenue flattens out or perhaps even shrinks, as more advertising dollars move to mobile.



The stakes are high in this game. Apple may have been early, risking some consumer upset. But they're doing what is inevitably best for profitability in a highly competitive market.


The Vintage Beer Bottle And Iron Pipe Lamp





If you are looking for something completely different for your office, den or man cave, then look no further than these cool looking lamps! They have been made by using vintage beer bottles that date back to the 19th century and re-worked classic iron pipes, the result is the coolest looking lamp that gives off a fantastic light that just sets the scene for a romantic evening maybe!






These are the features for the vintage bottle and black iron piping lamp;



This lamp is constructed from American-made black iron piping. The vintage bottle is firmly secured by custom rubber gaskets that grasp the bottle without causing damage. A low wattage bulb is used to illuminate the vintage amber bottle producing a warm ambient light. A rotating faucet handle serves as a switch to turn the light on and off – a new feature we are excited about! Power is supplied by a retro style cloth covered lamp cord and plug.






The beer bottle and iron pipe lamp is priced at $130 in the US and 83 in the UK.



Source [Cool Material]




Monday, September 17, 2012

Forums: Waiting in line, Still flabbergasted that they called it the iPhone 5


From the iMore Forums




Found an interesting article you want to share with iMore? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or lend your expertise to other members of our community. You check out some of the threads below:


  • It Doesn't Take A Genius...
  • When should I get in line?
  • What is that one accessory that almost makes you want to hold off?
  • Canadians, will you choose your iPhone 5 carrier based on HD Voice?
  • Does Applecare + cover theft?
  • Still flabbergasted that they called it the iPhone 5

If you're not already a member of the iMore Forums, register now!


Sunday, September 16, 2012

iPhone 5 Benchmarks Appear in Geekbench Showing a Dual Core, 1GHz A6 CPU

John Poole of PrimateLabs let us know that the first iPhone 5 benchmark has hit Geekbench.


The results show an iPhone5,2 device running iOS 6 with a Dual-Core 1.02GHz ARMv7 processor and 1GB of RAM.

The total Geekbench 2 score comes in at 1601. Poole notes that the average score for the iPhone 4S is 629 and the average score for the iPad 3 is 766. A comparison chart of previous iOS devices can be viewed at Geekbench. The numbers seem to validate Apple's claim that the A6 processor is twice as fast as the A5 and any previous iOS device. This one score also places the iPhone 5 ahead of the average scores of all Android phones on Geekbench. The full Geekbench results further breakdown processor, memory and bandwidth performance.




The A6 also appears to be clocked higher than the A5 at 1GHz (the iPhone 4S A5 ran at 800Mhz). The 1GB of RAM was previously confirmed by part number markings on the A6 processor itself.


Poole acknowledges that any pre-release results on Geekbench have a chance of being faked, but he seems to believe that these results are legitimate. The iPhone 5 will be available to the general public on September 21st.

Iterate 29: Esmaeili


Iterate Podcast




Marc and Rene talk about the Amazon Kindle and Nokia Lumia events, 4Cast.me, and Retinizer, and interview M.Saleh Esmaeili of Carbon for webOS, Windows Phone, and Android fame. This is Iterate!




  • Our podcast feed
  • Download Directly
  • Subscribe via iTunes

Iterations

  • Amazon Kindle Fire event
  • Nokia Lumia event
  • 4Cast.me
  • Retinizer

Hosts

  • Marc Edwards (@marcedwards) of Bjango
  • Seth Clifford (@sethclifford) of Nickelfish
  • Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie) of iMore.com

Guest

  • M.Saleh Esmaeili (@dot1ne) of CarbonWP.

Feedback

  • Email: podcast@iterate.tv
  • Twitter: @iteratetv
  • Facebook: Iterate page

If you're one of the best-of-the-best-of-the-best in mobile design for Android, BlackBerry, iOS, webOS, or Windows Phone, we'd love to get you on the show, or if you've found a drop-dead gorgeous app on any platform and really want us to talk about it, contact us and let us know.


Saturday, September 15, 2012

Copper River Bags. Handcrafted leather iBags, guaranteed to last a lifetime.





That which makes something a "great deal" is very relative and subjective.



 



For instance, for the unrivaled security they provide, I would call the Lifeproof line of iDevice products a "deal", even though they might be some of the pricier iDevice cases on the market. With regards to quality and protection, the old adage "You get what you pay for." is often true, especially when it comes to products that claim to be durable and built to last.



 



When it comes to a quality manufacturer of iPad and laptop bags, you'd be hard pressed to find a better deal than a Copper River Bag. First of all, Copper River Bags come with a 100-year warranty! I guarantee you, not many companies would say such a thing about their product. This puts them in league with such reputable, top companies as Eddie Bauer, L.L. Bean, Leatherman and the handful of other manufacturers whose warranties extend throughout the life of their product.



 



Copper River Bags are nothing short of works of art. Practical, durable works of art mind you, but art nonetheless. Each bag is hand crafted here in America in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. Using rugged, full grain leather, each Copper River Bag is built to carry your devices and gadgets, now and for generations to come. Truly, if you decide to invest in a Copper River Bag, it is something that, barring any unforeseen natural disaster, you will likely find yourself leaving to a loved one in your will.








Copper River Bags: Slim iPad Messenger



 



Copper River Bags is a family run business with a tradition of excellence, and indeed, they make an excellent product! The levels of craftsmanship and attention to detail that are evident in these bags is on par with what you might see in the most elegant of storefronts in a fancy, swanky Southwest town, like Santa Fe, Sedona or Taos. And while their bags are indeed stylish, Copper River Bags are also some of the most durable, well-made and sturdy iDevice carriers on the market! Of course they make several other types of carry bags along with their iPad bags, including camera bags and laptop bags, all of which are available in many styles and in many sizes.



 



Siva's Reviews: Copper River Bags




Copper River Bags: Safari



 



I was fortunate to get some hands on with the Safari iPad Messenger Bag and if you think it looks enticing in the pictures here... Oh my, what a special bag this is to behold in person. This is one classy bag, that would look good on anybody, cowboy or cowgirl, city folk or island folk, republican or democrat, student or professor, "gay" or "straight"... You name it, this bag is one of the few bags that seems like it could fit anyone's and everyone's style. The price ($126.50) is well worth it, in fact, Copper River Bags offer some of the lowest priced, high-quality leather bags that I've been able to find. Its even more of a deal, when you consider that it will last you for many, many years, guaranteed. Think of it like this: most folks spend between $75 and $100 on laptop/iPad carriers every two or three years. When you do the math, you see how fast the Copper River Bag pays for itself, many times over in fact. I have seen other bags that are very similar to the Copper River Bags in terms of quality and craftsmanship, retail for upwards of $300.00 -$400.00!



 






 



The Safari:



The Safari, over-the-shoulder messenger style bag is very functional and very fashionable at the same time. First of all, it is water-resistant, which is a plus when talking leather bags since water can be damaging to leather if not cared for properly after exposure. It is constructed from 100% full-grain, stone oiled leather. The Safari has a dedicated rear sleeve inside to carry your iPad (without a case or with a minimalistic shell or folio) and ample room forward to carry a light jacket, a drink, a snack, keys, flashlight and your iPhone. Or, if you happen to use a more rugged iPad case, such as the Lifeproof, Otterbox or Griffin, then you can fit your iPad into the front, larger stowage area. There's also a small leather pocket on the side in which you can tote your iPhone, keys, or some other small items. The Safari is roomy, but still compact, designed for someone who wants to carry their iPad and only few other important items. It's not a large bag, though Copper River does make many larger bags to fit whatever your need may be.



 



The bag has bold buckles and rings accentuating the beautiful tan leather, and snap buttons and straps serve to close the bag. Overall, the Safari is a simple and well-executed design. This bag will age well, only looking better the longer you use it, and I doubt it could ever go out of style.



 






 



Quality leather is one of the most durable natural materials we have, and the Copper River Bags are made with high-quality leather. The bags have a distinct aesthetic charm to them, as each is unique, with the leather showing its ruggedly perfect imperfections. Each piece of leather is meticulously selected and hand-sewn together giving the Copper River Safari its totally authentic feel of quality craftsmanship.



 



Siva's Reviews: Copper River Bags




Copper River Bags: Safari



 



Siva's Reviews: Copper River Bags




Copper River Bags: Midtown Bag



 



Siva's Reviews: Copper River Bags




Copper River Bags: Journeyman



 



Siva's Reviews: Copper River Bags




Copper River Bags: Voyager



 



Copper River Bags is a homegrown, small business, with a great reputation. They offer quality service and have a refreshing "spirit of pride" for their stellar line of iPad and laptop carriers. I highly recommend that anyone in the market for a top-notch bag, especially if you've ever flirted with the idea of a getting a good leather bag but have shied away due to their typically high prices, check this company's products out. I think you too, will be very impressed and as enthusiastic about what Copper River Bags has to offer.



 



Thank you again for reading, and stay tuned for more from my review series, here at iPhone Life...


GTMax Premium Folio Wallet Leather Cover Case for Apple iPod Touch 4/4G 4th Generation – 8GB,32GB and 64GB – Green



  • Brand new GTMax Stylish and sturdy Case
  • High quality soft leather material
  • Leather case features smooth synthetic leather and heavy duty stitching.
  • Plug your charger, headset or cable without removing the case
  • Material: Synthetic Leather.

GTMax Premium Folio Wallet Leather Cover Case for Apple iPod Touch 4/4G 4th Generation – 8GB,32GB and 64GB – Green

Friday, September 14, 2012

Game Play Trailer For F1 2012 Released





The games developer Codemaster has released a game play video for the F1 2012 game due out in a couple of weeks time. The demo shows just how cool and realistic the game is when compared to watching the actual races on TV. The good thing about a game play video is that you see what you are getting and it looks good!







According to the text provided with the video, this is what we can expect from F1 2012 game;






In the demo, players will sample two of the game’s new features, Young Driver Test and Season Challenge. In the Young Driver Test, which takes inspiration from the real-life event held at Abu Dhabi, players will learn how to handle and get the most out of motorsport’s most exciting and responsive racing cars with a series of tests and videos.






This game will be officially launched on the 21st September on the PS3, Xbox 360 and for PC.



Source [Geeky Gadgets]




Wednesday, September 12, 2012

PadGadget Daily App Deal – 10 iPad Apps on Sale







For today’s Daily Deal we’ve found 10 great apps to add to your iPad collection. We have 5 productivity / entertainment apps and 5 game apps in today’s bundle.



We used our PadGadget Apps Tracker to find these great deals and we’ll continue to look for the best app deals as they pop-up. Some of these apps are up to 83% off, a couple are even free, so be sure to check them out because they are on sale for a limited time.



Game Apps


  1. Albert HD – This popular game has a 5 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $2.99.
  2. COMMAND & CONQUER RED ALERT for iPad – This very popular strategy game from EA is now on sale for $2.99 instead of $4.99.
  3. Gem King () – This fun puzzle game has a 4 star App Store rating and is now available for Free instead of $2.99.
  4. Jack of All Tribes HD Deluxe – This cool strategy game has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $2.99 instead of $4.99.
  5. Tesla Wars HD – This very popular tower defense game is now available for Free instead of $1.99.

Productivity and Entertainment Apps


  1. 100 Cameras in 1 HD – This great photo app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99.
  2. CalPad – Organizer for iPad – This organizational iPad app is now available for $1.99. That’s a savings of 83% off the apps’ normal price of $11.99.
  3. Kung Fu Panda 2 Storybook () – Bring Po to life in this fun Kung Fu Panda storybook app. The app has a 4 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $2.99.
  4. Runner’s Log () – This simple running log app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $1.99.
  5. Weather Live () – This extremely popular weather app has a 4.5 star App Store rating and is now on sale for $0.99 instead of $1.99.

Also be sure to check out yesterday’s Daily Deal to find more great savings.





= Indicates app is Universal and will run on an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.



We use our PadGadget Apps Tracker to constantly monitor the App Store to find the biggest price changes on iPad apps. Our editorial team goes through the data, picks the best deals on the most interesting apps and then brings them to you on a regular basis. All app prices are checked at the time of posting but prices are subject to change without notice. When developers put their apps on sale it’s usually for a very limited time, often 24 hours or less, so be sure to check pricing on iTunes before making a purchase.



Is this Apple’s official iPhone 5 promotional video?


YouTuber “tony stew” has posted a video entitled, “Official iPhone 5 Promo Video September 12 2012.”



We’ve embedded it below.



The video claims certain design characteristics (unibody construction, glass cutouts, etc.), device measurements (4.6 ounces, 7.6 mm, etc.), specs (A6 processor, 1GB RAM, etc.) and often does so in Apple-esque ways note how the width animates down to 7.6mm – it seems like something Apple would produce). In other places, however, the video doesn’t seem as kosher (The text “Antenna at top and bottom with glass cutout RF windows,” for one example, seems too wordy and clunky for Apple to have produced).



What do you think?





MacDailyNews Take: One glaring issue, among others, that we have with it is the music, it just doesn’t seem like a piece that Apple would use.



[Thanks to MacDailyNews readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]


New iPod touch (N78) once again rumored to be widescreen, not as powerful as iPhone 5





As tomorrow's September 12 iPhone event draws closer, more information is also being rumored about the new iPod touch as well. That includes its codename, N78, another source saying it'll be 1136x640 just like the new iPhone, but also a rumor saying it won't be as fast. Both Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac and developer Will Strafach peg the codenam as N78. Strafach also offers the following on the screen and the processor:



the new iPod5,1 is code name N78AP, and sports a 1136x640 display.



the new iPod touch / N78AP runs on an S5L8942X, NOT an S5L8950X.



Gurman also adds the following concerning the other iPods:



We also understand that the iPod nano is codenamed N31 and that the iPod shuffle is codenamed N12B. Like we posted last week, the new Shuffle and Nano will ship in 8 colors. We also understand that the new iPod touch will come in several variations, which we speculate points to colors other than black and white.



$200 is the starting price Gurman is hearing for the previous generation iPod touch, even with the iPod mini rumored to be coming in at $200-$250. Would a 16GB iPod touch 4 be able to hold roughly the same value as an 8GB iPad mini?



iMore previously learned the new iPod touch would be widescreen, but these new details help set the stage, and expectations, before the event.



24 hours and counting...



Source: 9to5Mac, Will Strafach


Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Find great, affordable apps with AppTerrier for iPhone


Find great, affordable apps with AppTerrier for iPhone




There are hundreds of thousands of apps in the App Store and many of them go on sale every day; AppTerrier is here to help you find the best apps and great deals on those apps. With the focus of finding you quality apps at an affordable price (often times free!), you can't really go wrong with downloading AppTerrier to your iPhone.






There are three main tabs in AppTerrier: Featured, Free, and On Sale. The featured tab will display apps that have been handpicked by the AppTerrier crew. They are displayed somewhat awkwardly as icons on a big canvas. I think a banner-look would be much more appealing, but this approach does get the job done.






The Free and On Sale tabs in AppTerrier do display the apps in a list, but if you prefer, you can have them displayed in a cover flow style. As with the Featured tab, the cover flow view has a bit too much empty space for my taste.



Both Free and On Sale have sub-tabs for Today, Best in Show, Rising Stars, and More. Each section is organized into categories, making it easy to search for specific types of apps.



It's important to note that the Free tab isn't displaying apps that are simply free, but apps that are normal not free, but currently on sale for free. The regular price will be displayed with each app so that you know how big a bargain you're getting. The On Sale tab displays apps that are not free, but on sale.






When you tap on an app, you'll be taken to a screen that displays all the app's details such as the price, it's star rating, the developer name, it's size and age category, a description, screenshots, and options to share to Facebook Twitter, or Email. If you tap on the price button, you'll be taken to the App Store to download.



Most of the graphics are surprising not Retina-ready (even though the description in the App Store says it features Retina Support), but it's something I'm willing to get over it since AppTerrier does do a great job of finding apps. Also, even though AppTerrier lets you browse through iPhone and iPad apps, it's not a universal app for both the iPhone and iPad. If you use AppTerrier on your iPad, you'll have to use it in 2x mode. It's a shame that the developers of AppTerrier have such a lazy approach to its design -- the content is great, but the presentation is terrible.


The good

  • Free apps presented daily (These are apps that are normally paid)
  • No ads
  • View both iPhone and iPad apps
  • Full App Store search
  • Share apps via Facebook, Twitter, and Email
  • Community News
  • Full Screen screenshots
  • Push Notifications for daily apps
  • App Channels
  • View free apps in list view or scrollable icons

The bad

  • No Retina support
  • Not universal for iPhone and iPad
  • Overall look and feel of the app isn't very good; gives the impression of being thrown together.

The bottom line


It's no secret that the App Store is horrible for actually discovering all the great apps that are out there, so using apps like AppTerrier is almost a must. What sets AppTerrier apart from some of the other similar apps out there is that it focuses on getting you a great deal. There are no ads, surveys, or spam, just quality apps at affordable prices. If you can get over some of its design flaw, AppTerrier is a great app to help you find apps.


Free - Download Now

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Get A Feel Of The 80′s With The Drinkman Hip Flask





Some folks might feel that you have been caught up in retro hell when you pull out this Walkman! However, this is no music player because this is a Drinkman and it will carry 150 mils of liquid, what liquid is entirely down to the user! Nevertheless, is this not the coolest hip flask around?






These are the features for the brilliant Drinkman hip flask;



The Colonel has always liked music. Indeed, he was delighted when the MP3 was invented and he no longer had to employ a military band to follow him on quiet country walks. That only left one problem – the issue of on-the-road refreshment. This inspired the Colonel to invent Swing Your Hips, looking for all the world like an old-style personal music player. It doesn't hold songs, just your favourite tipple. Stroll on.






Priced at $16 in the US and 10 in the UK



Source [Just Mustard]




Thursday, September 6, 2012

Judge rubber-stamps U.S. e-books settlement


“In a move that could reshape the publishing industry, a federal judge [U.S. District Judge Denise Cote] has approved a settlement with three of the nation’s largest book publishers over alleged collusion in the pricing of e-books,” Chad Bray and Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg report for The Wall Street Journal. “The approval comes as Apple Inc. and two other publishers are preparing to defend themselves next June over antitrust allegations by the U.S. Department of Justice that they agreed to keep e-book prices artificially high in response to steep discounting by Amazon.com Inc.”



“Lagard re SCA’s Hachette Book Group, CBS Corp.’s Simon & Schuster Inc. and News Corp.’s HarperCollins Publishers LLC all agreed in April as part of the settlement to terminate their agreements with Apple and refrain from limiting any retailer’s ability to set e-book prices for two years,” Bray and Trachtenberg report. “Apple had hoped to stave off final approval, and termination of the agreements, until after next year’s trial. The approval opens the door for Amazon and other retailers to steeply discount e-book titles.”



Bray and Trachtenberg report, “Bob Kohn, an antitrust lawyer who has filed objections to the settlement, on Thursday said that ‘it appears that the District Court deferred to the Justice Department in its analysis. It’s very disappointing that the court has rendered a judgment that will cause great harm to consumers of e-books because the judgment reverses the pro-competitive effects of the agency pricing model.’ Mr. Kohn suggested that the decision will eventually be appealed. ‘It’s devastating to bookstores,’ said Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild. ‘For two years the settling publishers must allow vendors to discount e-books at any price they want. The court acknowledges that this restores the status quo conditions before 2010, when Amazon was able capture 90% of the e-book market. The Justice Department is reshaping the literary marketplace without submitting a single economic study to the court to justify its actions.’”



Read more in the full article here.



MacDailyNews Take: Hachette, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins are weak-kneed pushovers, as U.S. District Judge Denise Cote, and the U.S. DOJ is plainly inept. For this fiasco alone, they ought to rename it the Department of Injustice.