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TUAWxperts: September event predictions

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:30:00 +0000

With the September 2010 Apple media event just days away, here’s a quick team round-up of our takes on the likely product introductions. Victor Agreda : I’m betting on an iPod nano with touchscreen (because flicking is the new scrolling), and an iPod touch with a camera and retina screen. As for the “One More Thing?” How about a digital shelf in iTunes for your music for MobileMe subscribers? I’m expecting a new iTunes supporting this feature (and more) later this year. Megan Lavey: I’m with the crowd on the iPod nano and iPod touch rumors, but I think if the smaller-form nano is true then the shuffle will be quietly retired. I will go out on a limb and say that if there is no iTV/Apple TV mention this time, it’ll be there in January. I think “One More Thing” will be a cloud-based subscription to iTunes, of which the seeds are already there. Erica Sadun : My money rests on a 4th generation iPod touch and a new nano. I’m expecting the touch to introduce a camera (with FaceTime), retina display, and A4 chip. I’d also like to see iTunes get updated, possibly centered around features arising from the Lala streaming music acquisition. My outlier is an iPad refresh, shipping around November with device options that leverage a newly seeded 4.2 iOS beta. Steve Sande : We’ve seen images of a new iPod nano case and heard rumors of a touchscreen model, so I’m going with that. The iPod touch needs a Retina Display and two cameras for Facetime chats, so that’ll be the second announcement. Third announcement will be a new version of iLife (iLife ’11) for both Mac and iOS

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TUAWxperts: September event predictions

iPort: In-wall Home Automation for iPad

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:17:11 +0000

The iPad is definitely making an impact on people’s lives and as a result there are numerous examples of the device being used in new and innovative ways every day. iPads are cropping up everywhere — inside of old Macs, inside of cars and just about everywhere in this unique video about iPads and velcro.

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iPort: In-wall Home Automation for iPad

Rumor: Patents Hint at iMac Touch

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:16:17 +0000

Anyone who’s ever followed the emotional roller coaster of Apple’s patents knows that sometimes the Apple Patent falls far from the tree. And sometimes, it hints at completely awesome technology we could never have dreamed possible. Take, for instance, the lofty claims that Apple has been prepping a touch Mac of sorts. And yet, only two days after Patently Apple dug up a patent for a touchscreen MacBook , they’ve found a patent for a touchscreen iMac . Whether these Macs will come to fruition or not may be a discussion worth having, but what’s indisputable is that the minds at Cupertino are clearly thinking about touchscreen technology. While MacBooks could feasibly make sense as touch-enabled computers, iMacs have always been more difficult to imagine. Alas, with the new patent findings it seems our concerns have been addressed, and rather brilliantly. The idea behind the iMac patents (lovingly dubbed the “iMac Touch”) revolves around a dual-OS device that transitions from mouse and keyboard input to touch-based depending on which position the screen is in. That screen would be able to be pulled down to an angle that would lend itself to less exhausting arm movements. Pulling said screen past a certain angle would activate a rotation sensor mounted on the adjustable stand of the display. And voila , you’ve got a touchscreen iMac. Though we’ve been skeptical whether such a technology would be practical or ultimately beneficial, the more we see the less we doubt. We’re going crazy dreaming about crazy gorgeous games and drawing straight into Photoshop from an iMac.

Video: First Flight with the iPhone-controlled Parrot AR.Drone

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:50:43 +0000

Last week, we got a chance to control the high-flying Parrot AR Drone. Senior Editor, Susie Ochs’s first time flying the helicopter might seem a little shakey, but she still managed to get some awesome air. Check out the video after the cut for a first look at the Parrot AR Drone. And check out Online Editor, Robbie Baldwin’s play time with the device. The Parrot AR Drone caused a stir earlier this year at CES, and at Macworld, too. The ability to control a quadricopter with your iPhone is most definitely a selling point for this nerd toy. There are also two cameras tacked on to either end of the copter that show you what the flying device is looking at. Also, when the AR drone goes on sale, it’ll recognize tag sheets you can place on the wall and use augmented reality to make things fly at you. And, if you find another friend with a Parrot AR Drone, you can have copter fights! If you’ve got a second, check out our full fledged review of the Parrot AR.Drone. Follow this article’s author, Florence Ion, on Twitter .

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Video: First Flight with the iPhone-controlled Parrot AR.Drone

In Case You Missed It: Aug. 15 – Aug 21

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:52:35 +0000

There were light fingers this week; there was at least one snowy white iPhone 4 in the Great White North; there were apps galore; emails from Steve; more incredible impossible hard-to-credit stuff from Piper Jaffray, which seems to specialize in pixie dust and random guessing; and there was Google and Verizon, trying to make us hate them more than we hate AT&T. Oh yeah, there was also Mac|Life, where all of this makes sense. Features: – The Google / Verizon Net Neutrality Pact – 10 Years in the Future – We’re big fans of an open Internet and the freeflow of information and entertainment. There are parties, media conglorporations mostly, who aren’t quite so thrilled and who would like to see limitations on the other guy’s traffic and a zippier download time for their content. We peered into our crystal ball to see what the Intertubez might — just might — look like circa 2020 if Google and Verizon get their way. – 10 Useful Resources for Every iOS Developer – While it’s getting easier and easier for developers to put together iOS apps, it’s still a wild world of unfamiliar, complex coding that might be holding back the next great iteration of mobile awesome sauce. Luckily, there are sources out there that can make getting your name in lights in the App Store a relative breeze, and you know our picks are winners — we make apps ourselves after all.

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In Case You Missed It: Aug. 15 – Aug 21

Appletell reviews Agent 18 FlowerVest for iPhone 4 and iPad

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:11:15 +0000

Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad , iPad , iPhone , iDevice Accessories , Reviews Provides: iDevice protection Developer: Agent18 Minimum Requirements: iPhone 4 or iPad Price: $29.95 (iPhone 4) $39.95 (iPad) Availability: Now Looking for something a bit less nondescript when it comes to a case for your iPad or iPhone 4? Agent 18 may have just the thing…if you dig some flower power. Agent 18 makes the FlowerVest case for both iPad and iPhone, but it’s essentially the same thing. Both are made from a thick antistatic silicone material. The most noticeable thing concerning both cases is the large, raised flower on the back. I’m guessing they aren’t marketing these cases to manly men, but you just never know. The silicone has an interesting feel to it. It’s both slippery and grippy, which unfortunately doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s smooth and your fingers glide across it relatively easily, but at the same time you can hold it firmly in your hands without worrying about dropping it. It also is said to repel dirt, and in practice, it does a pretty good job of staying clean. It’s also thick enough to absorb some bumps that your iDevice may encounter. I wouldn’t get in the habit of dropping it on purpose, but this should definitely help at least a bit. Both cases fit their respective devices quite nicely. I had no issues with the cases being too tight or loose anywhere. There are cutouts for every port, while all buttons are covered by thinner silicone. Basically, you won’t be sacrificing any functionality with these cases other than the ability to use most docks. I was very happy with the build quality of these cases, especially when I’m so used to seeing cheap, flimsy silicone cases. These are definitely much nicer. One interesting design element is a slight cutout near the top of the iPad case. It took me a while to figure out what this was, and then it hit me. This is where the ambient light sensor is on the iPad. So it looks a little strange to see a cutout where there doesn’t appear to be anything, but in fact, it is necessary. Good job Agent18, a lesser company probably would have just covered it. And that’s really all there is to say about the Agent 18 cases. These cases rate highly in terms of quality, so if you dig the flowery design, you’ll be happy with either. The antistatic silicone is the best silicone material I’ve seen for cases. It doesn’t attract dirt, like many do, and it’s thick enough to hold a shape. It’s grippy, yet slick, and full of flower power. Appletell Rating: Buy the iPhone 4 FlowerVest or iPad FlowerVest Full Story » | Written by Jake Gaecke for Appletell . | Comment on this Article »

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Appletell reviews Agent 18 FlowerVest for iPhone 4 and iPad

iPhone, iPod and iPad product news – August 20, 2010

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 06:19:05 +0000

Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad , iPad , iPhone , iPod touch , iDevice Apps iPhone, iPod and iPad product updates and announcements for August 20, 2010: Apps Accessories Apps Danger! Dodgeball HD is now available for iPad. The HD version adds new features based on user feedback from the iPhone version that hit the #1 game and app slot last month on 4th of July weekend. Sigma3 Games has released Enigma Balls 1.1 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. The game app provides arcade style fun and all of the challenge that even hardcore gamers could ask for. Offering more than one hundred levels of gameplay, players must create dividing lines between moving ion balls with their fingers. Using only touchscreen controls, each stage increases the level of difficulty as a player works at capturing 75% of the screen. Sauce Digital’s renowned Killer Pool has reached the App Store in three new versions today: Killer Pool HD for iPad, Killer Pool 1.2 for iPhone and Killer Pool Lite 1.2 for iPhone. Olson Applications has announced 5 Minute Fat Loss 1.0 , its new health and fitness application for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. 5 Minute Fat Loss was specifically designed to help users lose weight and get into shape using 5 minute daily exercise routines. It consists of over 200 simple exercise routines that can be completed in a home environment. A timer function means users exercise and rest for the correct length of time to ensure each workout is as short as possible.

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iPhone, iPod and iPad product news – August 20, 2010

10 Useful Resources for Every iOS Developer

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:59:37 +0000

Whether you’re just getting into iOS development, or you’re a seasoned pro coding away since 2008, sometimes you need a few resources to pull off a successful application. Otherwise, your apps could get lost in the dark corners of the App Store. To help you build the best app you can, we’ve gathered our ten favorite resources for iOS developers. These tools can help you throughout planning, developing, and managing your applications in the App Store. Planning Your Applications Ahhh… the planning stage. It’s where the spark of an idea is placed on a whiteboard, paper, or wireframe sketch. This part of the development process is like magic, and here are a few applications that can make it even more magical. Mockingbird (gomockingbird.com, free) Mockingbird is a bare-bones, web-based wireframing application for those times when you need to simply get the visual idea out of your head and onto a piece of paper somewhere–in this case, the paper is digital. The application works like a program on your Mac, with the ability to create multiple pages to hound out your idea

Free App Friday: Staying On Top Of Things

Sat, 21 Aug 2010 02:42:52 +0000

Staying organized is difficult when life gives you lemons. Fortunately, there are a whirlwind of applications that can help you keep tabs of all that is going on around you. If you’re prone to doing more than three things at once, it’s also nice to have your computer or mobile device keep you on top of everything. Read on for a list of the best free apps that will help you keep all of your eggs in one basket. It’s better late than never. Mac Dateline No, it’s not the campy news show, but actually a nifty Mac OS X application that shows the date in place of your dock (you have to hide the dock for this to work). Dateline gives you a linear calendar so you can see the weeks ahead without having to sift through iCal. Best of all, you don’t have to deal with widgets. We should note that DateLine is free, but if you want the added benefits of pop up iCal events or a vertical orientation, you’ll have to fork over the $5 for the full version. iPad Computer List You are the demographic for this app, stop kidding yourself.

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Free App Friday: Staying On Top Of Things

In Case You Missed It: Aug.8 – Aug. 14

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:51:38 +0000

We’re pretty certain this week you rushed to iTunes to download the security-patch-update-only for iOS 4, you know, the one that renders jailbreak.me unworkable. Sure you did. Since Mobile Safari handles PDF files so wonderfully in the first place (cough cough, GoodReader), you open them up all the time and needed to be safe against bad script action. Right? Right? Are those crickets or did someone switch our ringtone again? Features: – 25 Awesome Safari Extensions – We must admit: we have loved Firefox since the days even before it was called Mozilla. Everything about it was better than Internet Explorer from the get-go. By the time Safari showed up, we were pretty locked in with our extensions on Firefox, and Safari’s lack was a dealbreaker. Well, Apple noticed this and finally came around to the idea of extensions. Like everyone else’s user-created content, 25% is garbage, 50% duplicate ideas, and 25% are sheer genius. Care to guess which ones we highlighted

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In Case You Missed It: Aug.8 – Aug. 14

Free App Fridays: Show What Your Mac is Made Of

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:22:03 +0000

Cue up the Rocky montage music and get ready for your Apple devices to strut their stuff. It’s hard enough being in a competitive market with PC evangelists and Android users, so why not download a couple of apps that could really showcase your Mac and iOS device’s true capabilities? Your technology has fast processors, video games and multitasking, too (the iPad is getting there…hold your horses!). Here are a couple of apps that can really show what your Mac, iPhone and iPad are made of. Mac Geek Tools We know you’re not a huge fan of widgets, but we promise that these are actually helpful. GeekTool 3.0 is a glorified preferences pane/system preferences module for Leopard and up that allows you display all sorts of nifty info on your desktop. For one, you could pin pictures of your beloved all over your desktop (we’re incredibly smitten with the electronic duo Daft Punk, in case you couldn’t tell), or tack on some of that important CSS code you need for stylizing your website. Or, keep track of computer logs and even add in custom scripts that you can instantly launch from your desktop. GeekTools is pretty rad, and another great way to show how user friendly the Mac really is. iPad RJ Voyager This is a seriously cool app that you can utilize to show off the music making power of your iPad

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Free App Fridays: Show What Your Mac is Made Of

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty Review

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 01:44:28 +0000

It’s worth the 12-year wait, as crazy as that sounds A child born on the day the original StarCraft was released is now a gawky, braces-wearin’, growth-spurtin’ 12-year-old. While that’s a sobering thought for us older gamers, and a ridiculous time to wait for a sequel, the fact remains that StarCraft and its Brood War expansion pack helped define the real-time strategy genre, and the long-anticipated StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is absolutely worth the wait. The battles look almost as great as the cinematic cut-scenes. Set four years after the events of Brood War, Wings of Liberty follows Jim Raynor as he leads an insurgency against the oppressive Terran Dominion and wrestles his own guilt over former ally Sarah Kerrigan’s transformation into the Zerg’s Queen of Blades. A combination of a space western and galactic opera, the game introduces new characters, story arcs, and goals. The original StarCraft’s story unfolded in between-mission cut scenes, but StarCraft II raises the bar with top-notch graphics, incredible modeling and textures, and spot-on voice acting that delivers a story you can’t help but become involved in. Occasionally having to choose the next step in the plotline just adds to the impact. A wretched hive of scum and villany. And the gameplay has only gotten better, too. Blizzard pulls in new and veteran players alike with a variety of upgradeable units to choose from; active tutorial movies that show you how to best use them; terrific pathfinding (your units cleverly nudge each other out of the way to get where they need to go); and custom difficulty settings for each mission

iPhone 4 App Uses Front Camera To Catch Snoopers

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:51:46 +0000

One of the first — if not the first — apps to take advantage of the iPhone 4′s forward-facing camera for security purposes should appeal to users with nosey coworkers and paranoid types alike. Free app Big Brother keeps grubby mitts (that aren’t yours) from defiling your iPhone 4 by launching the passcode screen if

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iPhone 4 App Uses Front Camera To Catch Snoopers

Apple’s Battery Recharger Uses Sanyo Eneloops Cells

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:03:15 +0000

Monday’s rumor that Apple would throw its annual iPod event next week has been flatly contradicted by Cupertino’s failure to send out press invites, but don’t worry: according to AllThingsD, it’s definitely happening this year. The rub? It’ll be later than usual, not earlier: Kara Swisher’s floating a mid-September date as the most likely bet

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Apple’s Battery Recharger Uses Sanyo Eneloops Cells

Samsung PL90 Digicam Lets You Leave Your USB Cables Behind

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:50:10 +0000

Digicams, like Darwinism, tend to exhibit certain mutations that define their species from the rest of the genus. In other words, it’s common for digicams to have a gimmick. The Samsung PL90 point-and-shoot’s gimmick is pretty neat, though: a built-in USB connector eliminating the need for an external cable to sync and charge. That makes

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Samsung PL90 Digicam Lets You Leave Your USB Cables Behind

Scanning, Captain: Star Trek Tricorder App for iPhone and iPod Touch

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 18:00:47 +0000

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9oNDbm9GXo What good is an iPhone if you can’t run a tricorder on it? Hiding out in the app store is this little gem called Tricorder TR-580, with realistic sound effects and a hidden trove of data. Somewhat of a cross-series hybrid, it’s not an official Star Trek studio release but definitely worth 99 cents. You

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Scanning, Captain: Star Trek Tricorder App for iPhone and iPod Touch

MintyBoost unlocks the secret of Apple’s chargers

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Apple , iPhone The folks at Minty Boost have unveiled a rather interesting Apple secret : just how the company charges its devices. In the video on the next page, you can see the whole process reverse-engineered. It’s rather technical, but as long as you make sure all the wires go where they need to go (you need to lay out a certain series of resistors on the USB data lines, so that the device thinks it’s hooked up to an official charger), you can actually build your own iPhone or iPod charger. In fact, there’s a new Minty Boost kit which comes with prebuilt circuitry that you can use (inside an Altoids tin or whatever you want to use) to create your own iPhone USB charger. You can read about the whole process of reverse engineering Apple’s process over on the official blog — it’s fascinating both how Apple implemented this process of “verifying” a certain USB charger, and also how Minty Boost eventually figured it out. It’s definitely very technical, especially when you get into some of the final steps of amps and volts, but the bottom line is that by lining up those resistor levels, almost anyone can put together a working charger for any Apple device. Keep in mind that if you aren’t familiar with basic electronics safety , these are not the projects for you. Continue reading MintyBoost unlocks the secret of Apple’s chargers MintyBoost unlocks the secret of Apple’s chargers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . MintyBoost unlocks the secret of Apple’s chargers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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MintyBoost unlocks the secret of Apple’s chargers

Browser-Based iOS Device Jailbreaking is Go!

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 07:14:47 +0000

My oh my, it’s been a huge week for iPhone and iPad jailbreaking, hasn’t it? On Monday, word came down from the Library of Congress that Jailbreaking your iPhone (or any mobile handset) for the purpose of providing a carrier unlock or to purchase software from any App Store you darn well please has become 100% no grey-area legal. Today, those inclined to tinker with their iPhones and iPads were provided with another gift: a browser-based hack that will jailbreak just about any hardware rocking iOS. According to Gizmodo , Jailbreakme 2.0 enables anyone running an Apple device loaded up with iOS 3.2.1, 4.0 or 4.0.1 to jailbreak their handset or tablet. The Jailbreaking process for this one is as simple as it gets: direct your browser to the project’s website and follow the instructions you find there. Yes: It’s that simple. A word to the wise: As the jailbreak will work on anything from an iPhone 3G right up to and including the iPhone 4 and iPad, there’s a lot of demand on the Jailbreakme server’s right now. Getting through to run the jailbreak could take you some time–if you’re patient, however, you will be rewarded with a jailbroken piece of hardware and access to the Cydia store and all the unauthorized treasures it holds. As always, jailbreak at your own risk! There is always the chance that you’ll brick your device and you’ll definitely void your warranty.

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Browser-Based iOS Device Jailbreaking is Go!

Pocket Metaverse iPad App Improves Life In Second Life [Review]

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:00:23 +0000

Unfortunately, Second Life definitely ain’t what she used to be. There have been more than a few headline-grabbing scandals in recent years, user numbers have fallen off a bit and the newest official Linden Labs viewer software hasn’t exactly gotten rave reviews. However, there is still a very large and very loyal SL contingent that is

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Pocket Metaverse iPad App Improves Life In Second Life [Review]

Apple’s Shanghai shirt: "Made for China"

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Filed under: Retail , Apple We’ve heard great things already about the brand new Apple Store in Shanghai, but this one’s interesting: on the back of employees’ t-shirts there (which are red, apparently, rather than the usual black found in North America), Apple has printed “Designed in California, Made for China” in Chinese. That’s obviously a play on the “Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China” that you’ll find on the back of your iPhone and many of Apple’s other products. Cult of Mac checked in with Chinese gadget blogger Chris Chang , and he says that the reference does play in Shanghai. He was at the store when it opened, and says that Apple is definitely pushing to do better in China , and create more of a presence there. That’s really interesting — Apple’s not only trying to simply sell its products over there, but it’s actually localizing the brand a bit to do so. Apple’s Shanghai shirt: “Made for China” originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Apple’s Shanghai shirt: “Made for China” originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Apple’s Shanghai shirt: "Made for China"

Apple Wants to Change the Way Augmented Reality is Used

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:01:36 +0000

Apple is in ur life, augmentin’ ur realities! Well, not yet, but Patently Apple has discovered some evidence that suggests that the Cupertino-based company may want to head in that direction–and make plenty of dough doing it. According to sources, Apple has been tinkering with NFC ( Near Field Communications ) for quite some time now. NFC is the technology that allows for two signal pieces of equipment–for example, an iPhone and an RFID card–to exchange information over short distances. Patently Apple speculates that Apple will be releasing NFC-enabled iPhones capable of interacting with other NFC-enabled equipment sometime next year. Now, what does this have to do with Augmented Reality? According to the folks over at 9to5Mac , quite a bit. The release of a patent for a “Products” app could very well be the force that pulls together Apple’s years-long research into NFC technology, the company’s iAd platform and the world around you. Think of it: you’re walking down the street and you pass by a clothing store. You decide to stop in and browse.

Hot Future Tech Coming to Your Mac, iPhone and iPad

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 01:52:32 +0000

Some seriously cutting-edge tech is cresting the horizon, ready to take your Apple devices and other gear to the next level of awesome. We’ve searched out the breakthroughs on the verge of becoming reality to discover how Macs, iDevices, and other tech are about to become even more impressive. Illustrations by ArtBombers If you’re a regular reader of Mac|Life , you know that every January we look at the fanciful future of Apple, ranging from the prototype cars to the VR goggles that might emerge from Cupertino one not-so-soon day. This is not that story. This story is about real tech that genuinely works–it’s visible on the horizon, and it could be in your Apple gear in a year or three. Think of this story as a preview of the near future. Of course, we can’t say for sure that all this technology will end up in future products (we’re good, but we’re not psychic). Some of it may never leave the lab. What you can rely on is that old standards will hit their technical limits, and progress will march on. But for a reasonable-guess preview of how Macs, iPhones, iPads, iPods, and other tech will grow, evolve, and improve in the coming years, continue reading. The Display’s the Thing Since the original Macintosh, our screens have been passive windodws into Apple’s machines. That’s about to change

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Hot Future Tech Coming to Your Mac, iPhone and iPad

App Developers Hunker Down In Las Vegas For Inaugural App Convention

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:15:22 +0000

The flow of apps through the App Store is thicker than a swarm of locusts in a Biblical plague these days (though somewhat less icky, and considerably more beneficial). So on August 24-26, a bunch of app developers and the sort will gather in the desert at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino for the

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App Developers Hunker Down In Las Vegas For Inaugural App Convention

The 13 Best Nintendo DS Titles Now Available in the App Store

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:07:35 +0000

With this week’s E3 news about Nintendo’s new offerings–like the 3DS and the rejuvenation of a plethora of popular titles from the Nintendo 64–iPhone and iPod touch users might be asking themselves if it’s time to go back to console gaming. And while most mobile iDevice users probably have an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 collecting dust somewhere in the house, it’s not guaranteed that all of them have had a chance to play with the Nintendo DS. With the knowledge that Nintendo may never bring their popular Mario and Zelda titles to the App Store, we scoped out 13 Nintendo DS games that have equal or better equivalents in the App Store to squelch some of your handheld envy. Plus, games sold in the App Store are so much more affordable. Read on for a list of wonderful game titles that will surely fill up your iPhone or iPod touch with plenty of fun. We should add that some of these apps even have Lite versions, which means you can try them out before you buy them–you can’t do that with a Nintendo DS, now can you? Final Fantasy 2 – $8.99 Square Enix fans, cherish the fact that this gigantic game company has decided to release their classic RPG titles in the App Store. Fan favorites like Final Fantasy are available to iDevice holders, and we can expect to see Final Fantasy tactics coming soon . DS equivalent : Final Fantasy III Final Fantasy Tactics Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – $5.99 Inevitably, Sega became one of those companies that had their games ported over to other consoles, rather than having their titles locked into their own proprietary–now defunct–gaming platform. With that said, the advent of the classic Sonic the Hedgehog franchise making its way over to the App Store has been pretty great. And, we can expect a brand new iteration of the Sonic franchise in the App Store real soon . DS equivalent : Sonic Classic Connection Super Monkey Ball 2 – $5.99 The insanely addictive Super Monkey Ball was a starter game for the first generation Nintendo DS, and one of the better game titles offered at the grand opening of the App Store. DS equivalent : Super Monkey Ball DS The Sims 3 – $4.99 There’s nothing better than simulated living. When The Sims 3 game came out for both Mac and Windows platforms, the App Store also got its own version of the game

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The 13 Best Nintendo DS Titles Now Available in the App Store

Appletell reviews Topaz Labs DeNoise 4 Photoshop plug-in

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:54:33 +0000

Section: Mac Software , Graphics / Design , Reviews Format: Download Developer: Topaz Labs System Requirements: Intel Mac, Mac OS X v10.4 or later, Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, or iPhoto/Aperture/Lightroom through FusionExpress (free download) Review Computer: 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook, 4GB DDR2 RAM Price: $79.99 standalone, $179.99 as part of the Topaz Photoshop Plug-In Bundle Availability: Out now Demo: Download Night photographers and iPhone shutterbugs take notice: Topaz Labs DeNoise could easily become the single most important tool for cleaning up your images. Photographers who shoot nighttime images are familiar with the tradeoff between brighter images and noisier (grainier) pictures. Point-and-shoot photographers, and those using their iPhones in low light situations, may simply realize that the pictures they are taking are not quite as clear as they would like (in case you were wondering why that is, DPReview has a great article here ). In film photography, film grain could be used to add mood, ambiance, or distinction to a shot. In digital terms, it is unwanted noise that can ruin an otherwise great image. The DeNoise plug-in provides several easy ways to remove this noise and restore your images. Clean up image noise from high ISO settings Sometimes, it is not possible to shoot with sufficient lighting, nor desirable to use a flash. Although camera sensors have come a long way in recent years, it is still possible to end up with more noise than is desirable in an image, especially if using a camera with limited settings. Topaz Labs’ DeNoise is available either as a standalone Photoshop/PS Elements plug-in, or as part of a bundle; iPhoto, Aperture, and Lightroom users can take advantage of the plug-ins through the use of the free Topaz FusionExpress bridge. iPhone users will especially benefit from DeNoise’s abilities, as the automatic ISO on the iPhone makes it a very flexible-but-flawed low light camera. Take this iPhone photo example from a Lady Gaga concert: The power of all Topaz Labs software lies in their simplicity Each program comes with several simply-labelled presets and a quick preview pane to show the outcome of each preset. DeNoise 4 comes with presets for both JPEG and RAW formats, with handy labels from “light” to “strongest” to indicate the amount of noise reduction applied. A variety of preview modes is also available to help determine which preset will yield the best results, with full RGB, luminance, color, red, or blue channels available for independent display. Manual control over all options For images not instantly fixed by a preset (and these are few and far between, and likely the result of an obsessive photographer), DeNoise also allows manual control over all options. These are carefully grouped into two categories for Noise Reduction and Detail Recovery, and all the sliders are labelled with tool tips indicating what effect each slider has on the image: This image of Cinderella’s castle in Disneyworld was shot just after dusk with Auto ISO. The “JPEG – strong” preset was almost enough, but the “JPEG – strongest” blurred too much of the castle. Luckily, the “Clean Color” and “Recover Detail” sliders were available, and the end result was postcard perfect.

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Appletell reviews Topaz Labs DeNoise 4 Photoshop plug-in