Category: I-phone

If you own a Macintosh and an Apple TV, I have created a new tool that allows you to stream data outside of iTunes. It’s called AirFlick, and it’s now available in alpha form for download and testing.

Last week, I put together a related application called AirPlayer that allows you to stream video from your iPad using Apple’s built in AirPlay services and demonstrated it on TUAW. AirPlayer works by emulating an Apple TV using your Mac’s built in Bonjour networking capabilities. Below is a description and brief video explaining how it works.

Update: TUAW reader BC adds:

How to Add Live Conversion to Erica Sadun's AirFlick App

Ok, by doing this hack, you can stream ANY video format sitting on your Mac to your AppleTV. I'm testing out an mkv file right now, and it works like a charm!

Continue reading AirFlick turns Macintosh into an AirPlay data server

AirFlick turns Macintosh into an AirPlay data server originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

I spend a lot of time trying to keep my cats off my iPad, but thanks to the The Daily What, we got wind of a game specifically designed to have your frisky felines play with your iPad.

iPad Game for Cats is a free download through the App Store, but the “free” part is very misleading. Even though the game’s web site and the app store page say that it’s gratis, you actually can’t get anywhere unless you make a 99-cent, in-app purchase.

Edit (12 a.m. 12/21): The developer got in touch with me regarding this via Twitter and has since updated the app descripttion to clarify that the mouse game is an in-app purchase. Thank you so much!

But, you do get a little time with the game and there’s only one way to test it and that’s with a cat … or in my case, three cats.

Continue reading Game for Cats does what it says, but it isn’t truly free

Game for Cats does what it says, but it isn’t truly free originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

If you’re going to grab a look at the total lunar eclipse tonight (actually early tomorrow morning U.S. Eastern Standard Time) we’ve got just the app for you.

The developers who brought you the excellent SkySafari astronomy app are offering SkySafari Lite for free today to help you track the eclipse and learn a little more about it.

What makes the early morning show unique is that it comes at the same time as the Winter Solstice. The last time that happened was 1638, and it won’t happen again until 2094. Expect the Moon to turn reddish in color, and depending on conditions it might completely vanish for at least part of the 72 minutes that it is within the shadow of the Earth.

The eclipse begins at 1:32 AM EST. The entire disc of the Moon will be covered at 2:41 AM and totality, as it is called, ends at 3:53 AM. The Moon will move completely out of the shadow of the Earth by 5:00 AM. If you’re in other time zones, just subtract the correct number of hours for your location.

Continue reading Lunar eclipse viewing made easier with free SkySafari Lite

Lunar eclipse viewing made easier with free SkySafari Lite originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

A free update to Infinity Blade for IPhone and iPad (our review) is due tomorrow, according to a tweet from the official Infinity Blade account. We’ve been anticipating this update since last week, when Chair Entertainment (the subsidiary of Epic Games who developed Infinity Blade), told Joystiq that development of additional content began as soon as the app was released. Expect to see new armor and weapons in the update, as well as dungeons and a higher level cap (45).

The eye-popping game has experienced an incredible reception, as would-be epic heroes snatched up at least 270,000 copies in five days. We’ll keep our eyes open tomorrow and let you know when it’s out.

[Via MacStories]

Infinity Blade update due tomorrow, adds content and ups level cap originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Don’t let Apple’s lack of USB 3.0 support get you down. LaCie has you covered with the 2big USB 3.0 RAID drive, and Engadget has run benchmarks on it.

The gang used a “relatively new” Mac Pro with the following specs:

• Apple Mac Pro (2009)
• 2.66GHz quad-core Intel Xeon ‘Nehalem’ CPU
• 6GB (2 x 3GB) DDR3-1066 ECC memory
• NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 (512MB) GPU
• 18x SuperDrive
• Mac OS X 10.6.5
• Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
• LaCie USB 3.0 PCIe expansion card

USB 3.0 for Mac benchmarks and review originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Just to get us all in the Christmas mood, the clever folks at Torchbox have come up with a video greeting card titled “A Starry Night” that is all done with iPads and iPhones.

Torchbox is a Oxfordshire, England-based web development and design firm, and it looks like they’re all a bunch of Apple fanbois / fangurls. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

Enjoy the video after the break.

Continue reading Collaborative Christmas greeting video done with iPads, iPhones

Collaborative Christmas greeting video done with iPads, iPhones originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

If you are experiencing problems with streaming video on your Apple TV, you may want to take a closer look at your DNS settings, according to Mac developer Joe Maller. Maller recently rented an HD video via iTunes and was astonished to discover it would take two hours to download over a reasonably fast 15-20 MBps Internet connection. Maller searched for an explanation and stumbled upon other users who were reporting the same problem while streaming rentals. According to Maller, the problem occurs when you change your DNS settings from your ISP to a third-party like OpenDNS or GoogleDNS. When you revert your DNS setting to your ISP’s servers, the problem disappears.

According to Maller’s theory, Akamai is able to obtain the correct geography information and accurately route you through the closest server when you use your ISP’s DNS settings. If you subvert this process using a third-party DNS service, then the routing from Akamai may be less than optimal. It may even route everyone through the same pipes which causes congestion and slows down streaming. While this intuitively makes sense, Maller only provides anecdotal evidence to support this theory. Until more evidence surfaces, I would not go around telling everyone they need to ditch OpenDNS or GoogleDNS. Nonetheless, this possible DNS effect is something to store in the back of your mind as changing your DNS is potentially a quick and easy solution if you are having difficulties while streaming Apple TV rentals.

[Via ZDNet]

Apple TV streaming can be hindered by Google DNS originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

It’s not unusual to see large things in London. The London Eye (AKA Millennium Wheel) was the largest Ferris Wheel in the world for a time and still looms over the London skyline, and a large inflatable pig was buoyed over the Battersea Power Station in 1976 for an album cover shoot for Pink Floyd. The tradition continued this week, when visitors to the St. Pancras International Train Station in London were greeted by a huge iPhone.

The iPhone was created as a way to advertise the launch of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, a new US$6.99 ($9.99 for the iPad edition) game app. The über-iPhone was created from 56 iPads, and people in the first crowd to see the advertisement got to depart with iPads that were given away.

Considering that a good number of our friends in the U.K. are currently stuck at train stations, airports, or home due to snowy winter weather, we’re hoping that they spend their time reading TUAW and playing with their iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

World’s largest iPhone appears in London with Lara Croft originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Remember that Radio Shack sale that offered the iPhone 4 for $149 and caused a nationwide shortage in the Shack’s retail stores? Well, Sam’s Club is about to one-up Radio Shack with a Member-only promotion that drops the price of the iPhone 4 to $147 with a two-year customer agreement. The leaked internal communication suggests the promotion is available now and extends until Christmas day. If you missed the Radio Shack sale, then should definitely jump on the Sams’ Club promotion as this is likely to be the cheapest you will see the iPhone 4 until the iPhone 5 is announced. [Update — Radio Shack actually operates the wireless kiosks at Sam’s Club stores. Ed.]

For those looking to spend even less money on an iPhone, Sam’s Club is also reportedly discounting the iPhone 3GS to a lowly $47 with a two-year customer agreement. At these prices, there is little reason not to grab an iPhone or two for your friends or family. While you are at it, you can also grab an iPad as a companion device for your shiny, new iPhone. Remember, this is a rumor so call ahead before you trek down to your local store. This promotion is also limited by supply, so don’t wait until Christmas eve to take advantage of this discount.

[Via Macgasm]

Sam’s Club to sell iPhone 4 for $147 until Dec. 25 originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

A team of researchers from the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Bern in Switzerland has developed a Kinect-based system for the touch-free control of medical imaging software. The group filmed an impressive proof-of-concept video showcasing their hands-free medical imaging system. It uses the Kinect to control OsiriX, OS X image software used to view MRI, CT, PET and other DICOM images generated from medical imaging equipment.

The system would let doctors and other medical professional scan through a series of medical images as well as zoom and rotate individual images using only their hands or voice commands. One major advantage to this hands-free system is sterility. Because the system is touch-free, a doctor would not have to worry about contaminating his hands during surgery by tapping on a keyboard. While we have seen the Kinect used in a variety of clever Minority-report style hacks and even one OS X hack, this is one of the first Kinect hacks to have real-world application. Check out the video after the break and let us know what you think of Virtopsy’s system.

Continue reading Mac OS X, Microsoft Kinect create gesture-based MRI demo

Mac OS X, Microsoft Kinect create gesture-based MRI demo originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Best Buy is offering a sweet bundle on the WiFi-based iPad which includes your choice of a free companion AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint mobile hotspot. 9to5Mac reports that the available mobile hotspots include the WiMAX-enabled Sprint Overdrive, the Global-ready, 3G Verizon Wireless Fivespot and the 3G AT&T MiFi 2372.

iPad plus free mobile hot spot at Best Buy originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Verizon Wireless launched its 4G LTE network across the United States on December 5, 2010 and left many Mac users unhappy when they found that the two 4G USB modems that are currently available, the Pantech UML290 and LG VL600, were both listed as compatible only with Windows XP, Vista and 7.

Fortunately, there are people who are willing to try to overcome hurdles that are unintentionally put in the way of Mac users, so there are now instructions on how to set up your Mac to work properly with the Pantech modem.

Note that you’ll still need to have access to a Windows machine in order to run the VZAccess Manager software, which is required to do the initial activation of the Pantech modem. If you have Boot Camp, Parallels Desktop for Mac, or VMWare Fusion installed on your Mac with a Windows virtual machine, then you should have no issues performing the activation.

The instructions are actually quite easy for Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6 users. Plug the modem into an available USB 2.0 port, then launch System Preferences. Go into the Network settings, and the device will show up in the left sidebar as a connection.

Continue reading How to get Verizon’s UML290 4G USB modem to work on the Mac

How to get Verizon’s UML290 4G USB modem to work on the Mac originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Before you rip into that bottle of eggnog stashed under your desk, please check out the following deals from dealnews.com. Supplies are limited in many cases, offers expire soon, etc. In other words: the early click gets the deal. One note: Justin Bieber Revenge does not allow you to exact revenge on Justin Bieber. It’s another game in the Tap Tap Revenge series. If you want some sort of “revenge” check out this clip from South Park.

• Best Buy: Apple iTunes $50 Gift Card for $40 + free shipping
• iTunes Music Store: iPhone App Price Drops: Where’s Waldo?, Justin Bieber Revenge, more
• Apple Store: Refurbished Unibody Apple MacBook Pro Laptops from $1,019 + free shipping
• CowBoom: Refurbished Apple iPod classic 80GB for $100 + $5 s&h
• eBay: Sony BRAVIA EX400 46″ 1080p LCD HDTV for $648 + free shipping
• InvisibleShield: ZAGG coupon: 20% off sitewide
• Sony Style: Refurb Sony Speaker Dock / Clock Radio for iPod for $50 + free shipping
• Office Depot: Realspace Mezza L-Shaped Glass Computer Desk for $120 + free shipping
• OfficeMax: Samsung CLP-315W Wireless Color Laser Printer for $150 + free shipping
• JR: Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex HD Media Player for $79 + free shipping
• Best Buy: Logitech M305 Cordless Optical Mouse for $13 + free shipping

Daily Deals for December 20, 2010 originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Keeping track of all the holiday shopping and the various recipients of gifts among family and friends is a chore that’s just crying out for an app. There are plenty of gift organizers on the App Store, but one of the newest and slickest is Glasshouse Apps’ new release Gift Plan. This US$1.99 app gives you all the tools you’ll need to manage your holiday, birthday or other occasion gift-giving.

Gift Plan lets you organize by date, shopping list or by recipient/occasion. Once you’ve added your likely gift recipients (from your contact list, Facebook birthday sync or manually), you can file away ideas for the next gift, likes/dislikes, and clothing sizes. You can also keep track of what you’ve already gotten for each person, to avoid repeat gifts.

You can filter your upcoming occasions by birthday, anniversary or holiday giving, just to keep from being overwhelmed by the prospect of all those presents. All this is wrapped up in a graceful and straightforward interface, which is just what you’d expect from the team that brought us The Early Edition, Barista and Cellar.

Happy holidays, and happy shopping!

Get your giving sorted out with Gift Plan originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The popularity of Canabalt seems to have spawned a whole genre of games on the App Store. I remain a fan of Monster Dash, and Tomena Sanner is another fascinating spin on the very basic one-button gameplay. Now here comes I Must Run, another running-style game that has you as a character running on a 2D field, trying to avoid gaps and obstacles by jumping and punching your way through.

Despite the fact that this borrows a lot (if not actually everything) from Canabalt and its followers, there’s no denying that “IMR” (as developer Gamelion Studios calls it in a teasing FAQ on the app’s description) has its own verve as well. The style is very well done. You play a prisoner running from a prison, and there’s a little more story here (some of it in the form of a motion comic) than the other games that tend to go more arcade-style. Gamelion promises there’s an end to this one, though good luck trying to get to it.

There are also a few gameplay tweaks. You can punch through obstacles and duck under overhangs, so if you want to beat the whole thing, you’ll really have to stay on your toes (or fingers, as the case may be). I Must Run is only US$0.99 on the App Store right now, and it’s earning some nice buzz around the gaming community. Looks like there might be room for a few more running titles on the App Store yet.

TUAW’s Daily App: I Must Run originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments