Category: I-phone

On today’s portable Macs, especially those packing SSDs, storage space can be somewhat limited. It can be pretty easy to fill up all available space with a few large downloads, rendering your computer starved of space and creaking under the strain. Problem is, unless you watch your HDD space like a hawk, there aren’t many visual cues as to when you’re running low on space, and that’s what Disk Alarm aims to put right.

Disk Alarm does one thing; it checks the amount of free space you have on your main drive and alerts you when you get below a user-definable threshold. It’s nice and simple — you adjust one slider to set the threshold and one to set the check interval.

You can get Disk Alarm to play an audible alert along with a warning when your disk gets low, but it’ll also show how much free space you have in your menu bar for at-a-glance reassurance. The application used to be able to hide up into the menu bar when you closed the settings window, but as of a recent update, Apple blocked the version that had that ability. Hopefully the developer can find some way around Apple’s odd blockade, but in the meantime, Cmd+W will close just the window and leave the menu bar icon.

Disk Alarm is available for US$3.99 from the Mac App Store, and should save you time and heartache the next time you run out of space. If you’ve got any good experiences or favorite alternatives to Disk Alarm, sound off in the comments.

TUAW’s Daily Mac App: Disk Alarm originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

It’s no surprise, as the iPad is gradually subbing in for print media such as books, magazines and newspapers, to see it filling another paper-centric role: the mail bin full of glossy catalogs from mail-order retail operations. Shoppers who love the experience of viewing products page by page will be happy with both Catalog Spree and The Find’s app Catalogue.

These iPad apps may fulfill one of my lifelong desires — to open my mailbox and not find a stack of printed catalogs in it that are bound for the recycling pile. Catalogue (the app) is an attractive and easy to use compendium of many major mail order catalogs in digital form. If you’re on the mailing list for Williams-Sonoma, Crate & Barrel, Sephora, Sur La Table, Gander Mountain, Sierra Trading Post, Saks Fifth Avenue, eBags, Urban Outfitters, and about 25 more stores, you’re going to love Catalogue.

Catalog Spree has a smaller selection of retailers (Nordstrom is the big kahuna, with Artful Home, NapaStyle, SeaBear, Made in Washington & several others lined up), but it has some features that Catalogue doesn’t offer yet (Facebook/email sharing, per-catalog favorites, catalog subscriptions); from a UI perspective, it hews more closely to the style of the source catalogs (including the copy and page layouts) vs. Catalogue’s Flipboard-esque product scroll. It is missing one big feature of Catalogue, which I’ll get to in a moment.

Let’s hope that these retailers offer a way to stop getting their printed catalogs and save a few trees in the process. Read on for more details and check out the galleries below for some images of Catalogue and Catalog Spree in action.

Continue reading Catalog Spree and Catalogue for iPad: Shopping at your fingertips

Catalog Spree and Catalogue for iPad: Shopping at your fingertips originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

For many tech startups, Kickstarter is a great way to raise funding to get a new company off the ground. Each week, TUAW takes a close look at recent Apple-related Kickstarter projects for those of you interested in supporting one of the many entrepreneurs who are waiting to bring the next big thing to market. Send us information about your Kickstarter project by using the tips and feedback link at the top of this page, and include the word “Kickstarter” in the subject line.

Trubador: Hands-free iPad case

I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel like everyone in the world has an iPad case project going on. However, there are some good ones out there, like the Trubador. It’s primarily targeted at musicians who need a way to hold an iPad as if it were a musical instrument. There’s a shoulder strap that works to keep your iPad positioned so that you can concentrate on playing GarageBand or other instruments with both hands.

Trubador could be helpful in other markets as well; the entrepreneurs behind the project cite salespeople, convention workers and reporters as potential buyers. The project is relatively new, with 67 days to go to raise $15,000. At this time, the project has a good start with 28 backers and $1,032 pledged.

Check out the video demo of the Trubador in action below, and read more to see what other projects are hot or not this week.

Continue reading Roundup of Kickstarter Apple-related projects for 5/25

Roundup of Kickstarter Apple-related projects for 5/25 originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Twelve South, proud maker of nifty Apple-only accessories, has added the MacBook Air to its BookBook line up of vintage-looking protective cases, alongside the BookBook for MacBook Pro and iPad.

The BookBook for Air is designed to fit your MacBook Air perfectly. While transforming your laptop into the guise of an old, hand distressed, genuine-leather bound book that not many would think was worth stealing, the BookBook offers formidable protection from the surrounding environment, too. Your MacBook Air is surrounded by two hardback covers, reinforced corners and a sturdy spine as well as padded protection on the interior. The BookBook for Air isn’t all that much thicker than the device itself, so it won’t bloat the ultra-thin profile you’ve come to love about your MacBook Air. Weighing only 13.5 ounces, it won’t add to your burden.

The BookBook for Air is available to order now for US$79.99

We’ve previously covered some of Twelve South’s other accessories (MagicWand, BookBook for iPad and MacBook Pro, Compass, BookArc, SurfacePad and BassJump subwoofer), and we’ve been delighted with what we’ve seen. We’re sure to expect the same from the BookBook for Air.

If you pick one up, let us know what you think.

Twelve South introduces BookBook for Macbook Air originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Today on TUAW TV Live, I’m going to do something a little different. While I’ll still have some demos and new products to go over at the beginning of the show, I’m going to open TUAW TV Live up for some of our viewers to join in and talk about anything Apple.

All you need is Skype on a Mac or PC, or FaceTime on a Mac, iPad, iPod touch or iPhone. Why? You’re going to be on-screen during the show (makeup is not required).

If you’re interested in joining in on the show, send an email to tuawsteve at gmail dot com with the following information:
o. Your name
o. Your Skype handle or FaceTime contact information
o. The topic you’d like to discuss on-air

I’ll contact you if you’re going to be one of the participants. You’ll need to be available between 5 and 6 PM EDT today.

I’ll pick a handful of viewers from the submissions for today’s show, but don’t worry if you’re not chosen — there are plenty of opportunities for you to be on the show in the future. As usual, I’ll be starting the show at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT / 10 PM BST) sharp.

To join in on the chat and watch the live streaming video, drop by TUAW about five minutes before the start time to get your instructions on how to participate. If you’re unable to join us for the show, remember that you can always subscribe to the video podcast and watch the show at your leisure in iTunes or another favorite podcatching app.

TUAW TV Live at 5 PM EDT: Audience participation day originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

It’s been another rough week for Foxconn, Apple’s biggest manufacturing partner. After an explosion at a Foxconn factory killed three workers last Friday, the Chinese government urged the manufacturer and other Taiwanese companies to better ensure the safety of their employees.

“We hope Foxconn and other Taiwanese firms can learn lessons from this, carry out safety responsibilities, step up internal oversight, stamp out potential safety risks in a timely manner, and ensure safe production,” Fan Liqing, a spokeswoman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday.

Friday’s deadly explosion rocked a Foxconn polishing workshop in Chengdu, a city in southwest China, where workers put the finishing touches on electronic products for many of the world’s largest brands, including Apple. Immediately after the blast, the local government began rescue efforts and an investigation into its cause. So far, investigators believe the explosion was the result of a “production safety accident,” according to Fan, who didn’t go into further details about the cause of the incident. Previous reports suggest that combustible dust in the polishing workshop ignited to fuel the blast.

In response to the incident, Foxconn has temporarily suspended operations at all of its workshops that polish electronics in China and, according to Fan, the manufacturer pledged to “make an all out effort” to treat the injured workers, reassure the families of their employees, and remove hidden safety risks “in accordance with relevant requirements.”

Continue reading China urges Foxconn to ensure worker safety

China urges Foxconn to ensure worker safety originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Update 6:45 PM EST: Version 1.2 of Sparrow is now available in the Mac App Store. Full list of what’s new is here.

Moments ago, Dom Leca of Sparrow took the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt in New York and announced a few new features for Sparrow — a powerful and elegant email client. They also gave us a few details on the financials for the company.

Starting with a team of 4, the company raised $250,000 and as of today have made $500,000 in revenue. Not bad!

New features for Sparrow include some Tumblr integration, but most interesting to me is the Facebook messaging integration. If you are using your @facebook email, you will be able to access profile images in Sparrow using Facebook Connect. Further, emails from Facebook will show the profile pic for that contact. Very nice.

Sparrow promises some future Twitter and LinkedIn integration. Clearly, Sparrow isn’t just a Gmail client, it is becoming a powerful messaging and context platform in itself.

A Sparrow update should be available tonight or tomorrow on the Mac App Store, Leca said. Check our Facebook page tomorrow for some free copies of Sparrow courtesy of AppSumo.

Update: Dom didn’t mention it onstage, but told me on Monday that the new Sparrow introduces a Unified Inbox as well as some features detailed on this TechCrunch post. Hurray!

Update 2: Corrected a mistake regarding @facebook emails. It does NOT support this, but allows you to use Facebook Connect instead. Sorry for the error.

Sparrow announces new features at TechCrunch Disrupt originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

China Unicom is trying to grab additional customers before its exclusivity with the iPhone ends. The wireless carrier is kicking off a new promotion that drops the price on its lowest iPhone plan to a rock bottom 66 yuan (US$10) a month.

Right now, its larger rivals China Mobile and China Telecom do not sell the iPhone with a service contract, but may do so in the near future. Both carriers are rumored to be in talks with Apple to bring the iPhone to their respective networks.

There is little doubt that Apple would like to get the iPhone into the hands of as many people as possible, especially in China where over 900 million people use a mobile phone. Quarterly results also show iPhone sales are exploding in this Asian-Pacific region, and Apple surely wants to capitalize on its early success.

China Unicom offers $10 monthly iPhone plan amid stiff competition originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Australia may be home to several new Apple retail stores this year. The latest Apple retail store was spotted in Melbourne’s Westfield Southland Mall. According to Macworld Australia, construction is beginning on the retail storefront, and the store will be ready for sales later this year. Apple has not commented on this expansion, but a Westfield employee confirmed off the record that Apple is behind these renovations.

Apple is also opening a larger, flagship store in the Crown Casino area of Melbourne and is hiring staff to fill new retail positions in or around Melbourne. Apple already operates 10 retail stores in Australia and may be adding additional stores in cities of Brisbane and Sydney as well.

Macworld Australia confirms future Apple Store originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

TUAW readers in India waiting for the iPhone 4 to show up only need to wait two more days. Indian mobile carrier Airtel has been taking pre-registrations for the iPhone 4 since earlier this month, but now competitor Aircel is going to hit the market first.

Aircel is launching the iPhone 4 on Friday for both pre-and-postpaid plans. The retail price isn’t cheap — you can expect to pay Rs 34,500 (about US$763) for the 16 GB iPhone 4 or a whopping Rs 40,900 (about $905) for the 32 GB model.

There’s something that should make the sting of paying for the iPhone price up front a bit less painful. Aircel is using a reverse-subsidy program, and you can recover the full cost of the iPhone 4 in monthly credits over the next two years.

Details of the plans Aircel is offering are here.

iPhone 4 to arrive in India on May 27 originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Retro 2D top-down racing is enjoying somewhat of a comeback thanks to the iPad. The large screen and adaptable control schemes mean that games like Micro Machines are once again fun to play on a portable screen.

PadRacer is one such top-down racing game that takes retro to a whole new level and attempts to leverage the power of the iPad and iPhone to bring an enjoyable social gaming experience.

Continue reading PadRacer lets you draw your own track, join two iPads together and steer with iPhones

PadRacer lets you draw your own track, join two iPads together and steer with iPhones originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

There are plenty of alarm clock apps and plenty of docking stations available for iPhones, but the Alarm Dock from Jonas Damon is a cut above the rest — it looks, quite simply, gorgeously retro.

Reminiscent of those GE alarm clocks your parents had on their bedside table, your iPhone slides into a cutout in the front of the beechwood dock. Together with the (included) flip-clock app, it gives a great old-school look to your bedroom.

It fits the iPhone 3G, 3GS and 4 and iPod touches, but note that the dock is effectively just a holder for your i-Device — you thread your regular charging cable through the back to charge your phone and the speaker grill on the top is just that, it doesn’t include a speaker.

But for just $39.50, it might be just what you need to set off your waterbed. Cool, daddio.

[Via Swiss Miss]

Alarm Dock gives your iPhone retro cred originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Castle Runner is a running title that’s more hardcore than Canabalt. The pressure to run and avoid objects is increased by a ceiling slowly coming down on top of your head. As you run along, you’ll pick up power-ups that will usually help (either raise the ceiling or allow you more time playing), but sometimes hurt (speeding you up or even darkening the screen so that you have to memorize the obstacles as they come at you).

There are pillars to slide under and bumps to go over, making Castle Runner really tough. Plus, the grayscale color scheme doesn’t exactly scream fun and friendly. But for running game fans looking for a challenge, you’ll find one here. It’s too bad the title doesn’t have social networking or Game Center integration (yet?), because a high score in this one is something to brag about. Castle Runner is available for US$0.99 on the App Store for iPhone, and I believe an iPad native version is coming soon.

TUAW’s Daily iOS App: Castle Runner originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

According to The Loop, Consumer Reports has rated Apple’s MacBook line as the top computer in every laptop category. The 11-inch MacBook Air took the top score for small laptops, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro dominated its category, taking the top five of seven spots. Apple’s 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros took top honors in their categories as well.

If you’re keeping score at home, this means that, according to Consumer Reports, not only does Apple have the top-rated notebook computers in every category, Apple also sells the top-rated tablet and the top-rated smartphone. Although Consumer Reports doesn’t give the iPhone a “recommended” rating because of its widely publicized signal attenuation issues (an assessment that independent research doesn’t always back up), the iPhone still has the magazine’s top score among smartphones.

Whether you put much stock in Consumer Reports’ rating system or not, it’s still quite an accomplishment to see Apple’s products getting top marks across the board. Apple’s products certainly don’t have a 100 percent reliability rating — I can attest to that — but the company definitely doesn’t make bargain bin junk in any product category.

MacBooks get highest score in all Consumer Reports categories originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ever have an awesome idea for an iPhone app but don’t have the graphic design skills to build a good mockup to show off to potential partners? Well, put away your pencils and napkins and go check out Keynotopia.com. The site offers users templates consisting of thousands of vector user interface components that allow app developers to simply drag and drop components to form a mockup of their app.

The templates are in Keynote and PowerPoint format and allow you to easily create user interfaces. They also allow you to add user interactions and animations by adding hyperlinks or slide animations to various UI elements. What’s more, after you’ve designed your app in Keynote or PowerPoint, you can export the file as a clickable PDF document and load it onto your iPhone or iPad to see how it would work as a real app.

Multiple templates are available across different platforms, and all templates sell for US$9, although you get discounts if you buy them in bundles. Besides iPhone and iPad templates, Keynotopia also makes templates for Windows, Mac OS X, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 7 and Facebook apps.

[via Swiss-Miss]

Keynotopia templates for rapid iPhone app prototyping originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 25 May 2011 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments