Sep 03
Normally I read hardbacks, and have been telling myself I need to start to use the iBooks application, or the Kindle application on my iPad & iPhone.
So, with that in mind, I thought to myself, the iPad would be the best suited. But, if I’m going to use that, I’m going to need something to carry it in to take it to work. I tend to read during my lunch period, it helps me to segregate from work, and get a true break from it all.
Anyway, yesterday, I headed off to Best Buy. Why? Well, I had a $30 coupon, which I got from aquiring points from buying things at Best Buy. At my Best Buy location though, they don’t sell the iPad, thus the section for accessories is VERY small, something like a quarter of an aisle.
I looked at the selection of items, and thought, I must get something with a handle. With that in mind, I set my sights on a Targus Slipcase. Read on for my review and some pictures!
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Sep 03
Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware. Along with announcements of a new Apple TV and new iPods, Apple has unveiled their new music-based social network, Ping, which allows users to follow music artists and friends and integrates with iTunes so that a customized top 10 list of music will be created based on what those artists and friends are downloading. Ping also provides information about local concerts and will let your friends know if you are attending. I suppose there’s still room in the world for yet another social network, right?
So why do I issue a warning at the beginning of this post? Apparently Ping, even in its infancy, is already heavy-laden with spammers offering up all kinds of promised goodies and scams, with most of the spam focused on providing links claiming to offer up free iPhones and iPads and other Apple products in exchange for filling out surveys. According to Sophos security expert, Chester Wisniewski:
If half as many free iPads, iPhones and iPods were being given away as Ping comments might lead you to believe, there will be no reason to bother with going to an Apple Store. But if you actually want an Apple device, my advice is to go out and buy one, as filling out surveys will likely only end in tears.
Once again, there’s no free lunch. So why is all this spam saturating Ping already? There are a couple reasons why spammers are liking Ping. First of all, Ping does not feature any spam or URL filtering, so currently it’s a spamming paradise. Also, over 160 million iTunes account owners can access Ping — and these owners have active iTunes accounts and credit card numbers associated with these accounts. Ergo, they have buying power. If you decide to use Ping, just keep in mind you’ll have to do your own spam and scam filtering.
[AppleInsider]
Sep 01
In case you missed Apple’s Fall Event today, here’s a quick recap of what Apple is bringing to the media-hungry consumer market:
- iOS 4.1 for iPhone and iPod touch coming next week (including bug fixes, HD YouTube uploads, TV rentals and Game Center), and iOS 4.2 for iPad coming in November with goodies like wireless printing (yay!) and AirPlay (replaces airtunes and adds pictures and streaming video).
- A new multi-touch iPod nano available in different colors for $149 (8GB) and $179 (16GB).
- Revamped iPod touch that’s thinner and sports a Retina display like the iPhone 4, HD video recording, FaceTime video calling, 3-axis gyro, and iOS 4.1 with Game Center.
- New iTunes 10 with a better UI, new icon, and Ping social networking.
- New Apple TV that’s a lot smaller, incorporates Netflix, $4.99 HD Hollywood movies, TV shows from ABC and FOX for 99-cents, and a $99 price tag for the whole kit and kaboodle.
What do you think about Apple’s new product announcements today? What about having to wait until November for iOS 4.2 for iPad?? And with the new iOS 4.1 coming next week, will you be tempted to lose your jailbreak if your iPhone 4 is jailbroken?
Sep 01
Apple is holding an event today where they are expected to announce a new higher-resolution iPod touch, possibly a new Apple TV (rumors have circulated that an iOS-based Apple TV was in the works), and new 99-cent TV show rentals in iTunes for Fox and ABC. It’s likely that those of us who have been waiting for iOS 4 to come to the iPad will have to wait a while longer.
Could there also be some news of a 7-inch iPad or is the smaller iPad just speculation? We will all know soon enough – today, actually.
[engadget]
Aug 31
Be sure to take this rumor with a heavy does of tablesalt, but word on the street is that Marco Quatorze, director of value added services at Mexico-based Telcel, speculates that his company and country will receive the current iPhone 4 version and then will receive an improved antenna design iPhone 4 after September 30th. September 30th also happens to be the deadline for Apple’s iPhone 4 Case Program, but this may merely be coincidence.
As you may recall, Apple had to deal with a lot of pressure from critics regarding the infamous “antenna-gate” controversy — so much so that they cranked up their iPhone 4 Case Program, allowing iPhone 4 owners to request a free case on Apple’s site in order to insulate the iPhone’s external antenna band and help prevent reception issues and dropped calls.
If this rumor gains substance and becomes fact, how will you feel if you picked up an iPhone 4 already and learn that a “new, improved” iPhone 4 is coming so quickly after buying your “old” one? I have an iPhone 4 and I haven’t experienced antenna issues because I keep my iPhones in cases anyway. As for the rest of you iPhone 4 owners out there, what do you think about his rumor?
[AppleInsider]
Aug 31
Agent18 was kind of enough to provide us with one of their new stylish FlowerVest cases ($39.99), available in both purple and blue, which offer durable silicone shock-absorption protection for the iPad as well as a no-slip grip while you’re holding your precious Apple tablet. Since I’m already coping with carrying my iPad around in a murse satchel, I decided to involve my mother-in-law, who happens to have her own iPad, to model this FlowerVest beauty. Read on after the break for a quick review and several pictures!
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Aug 30
Are you up for a little mindless zombie fun on your iPhone? Although the zombie genre, both in movies and in video games, has become a bit redundant (but then again, aren’t zombies redundant?), Zombie Highway for the iPhone and iPod touch is a lot of fun and is a no-brainer (pun intended) for only $.99 cents.
Zombie Highway is simple, fun and addicting. The goal is to see how far you can travel down the road before the zombies either flip your car over or you drive smack dab into one of the wrecked vehicles on the post-apocalyptic highway. Several different types of zombies will jump onto the side of your car and you can either shoot them off using one of many assorted weapons you acquire along the way *or* you can scrape them off with the assistance of the wreckage along the road. Either way, be prepared for a little carnage (NOT entirely kid-friendly).
You don’t have to worry about controlling the speed of your vehicle because you are kept at a constant speed during the game. Just tilt your device left or right to steer your car and tap the sides of the screen where the corresponding red triangles are to indicate where you need to aim to blast the zombies off of your car. The game even lets you log in to Facebook so you can share your best score — in this case, your distance — and your rank among other Zombie Highway players.
Try Zombie Highway today — it’s only a buck — and see how long you survive!
Aug 27
I’ve been a fan of Power Support products since my very first iPhone 2G, and now I’ve had a chance to try their latest and greatest on my iPhone 4 when I installed their 2-piece Anti-Glare Front and Crystal Back Film Set ($19.95). Once again, Power Support does not disappoint.
Since the iPhone 4′s design is flat glass, front and back, it makes it easier for accessory providers like Power Support to offer up simple self-installed protection for the front and back of the iPhone 4. The price (around $25 after shipping) may seem a little steep for one set of protection, but I can assure you that it should be the only screen and back protection you’ll ever need for your iPhone 4.
Installation was really a breeze — you just need to make sure that the front and back of your iPhone 4 is as clean as possible. Using a micro-fiber cloth is ideal for removing dust and fingerprints, and it’s best to apply the film set in an environment that is as dust-free as possible. Since a majority of us don’t have “clean rooms” in our homes, Power Support has provided a pre-installation film for removing any residual dust before you actually apply the film set. Just use the pre-install film first, then carefully apply the film set, one side at a time, starting at one end and carefully peeling away the backing as you work your way down to the other end.
I chose the anti-glare film because it does, in fact, reduce glare and it does an excellent job warding off unsightly fingerprints and smudges. I was able to apply the film on my first attempt, smoothed out any little bubbles, and I can gladly say that I managed to install the film set without trapping any dust between the film and the screen. One helpful tip — I recommend starting the installation from the top and working down.
My conclusion — a big thumbs-up for the Power Support 2-piece Anti-Glare Front and Crystal Back Film Set. It’s about the best film set I’ve found for protecting your iPhone 4 and it’s quite a bit easier to intall when compared to my experience installing their film on my iPad!
Aug 26
We just got a heads-up from FDG Entertainment that their epic-adventure Across Age is now on sale in the Apple App Store for only $2.99 for a limited time. This app is very reminiscent of the legendary Zelda series and should provide hours of gameplay on your iOS device. Although it is specifically designed for the iPhone and iPod touch, it will also work on your iPad.
Given that this game is usually $5.99, it’s a great time to save $3.00 and the current version has a 4-star rating — not too shabby. If you decide to take the plunge and download Across Age, let us know in the Comments what you think of the game on either your iPhone or iPad.
[photo courtesy of IGN]
