Category: I-phone

In April, when I stopped publishing Mobile Orchard, I said I’d leave the site up as long as I had the server. I figured the traffic would gradually dissipate and that’d be that.

A few weeks ago I checked the site’s Google Analytics dashboard on a whim and was surprised to see that the site’s traffic is about what it was before I left! More details on this in a minute…

This tells me that the audience of iOS developers has grown, and that the site’s content is still useful. In fact, the site is still the number one Google result — beating even Apple — for iPhone Developer News, iPhone Developer Podcast, iPhone Development News, and iPhone Development Podcast.

I was, and am, proud of the site and enjoyed that it’d earned a respected place in the community. I’d like to see that continue in the hands of the right person or people. So: I’m putting Mobile Orchard up for sale.

In the past, I’ve received unsolicited offers to buy the site from charlatans whose motivation was to abuse the site’s PageRank, to mercilessly flog jeweled iPhone cases, or who would otherwise abuse the community. I’m not interested in offers from folks thusly motivated. On the other hand, if — like I did — you find a way to blend your commercial interest with the community’s interest, then I’m all for it.

What’s You’re Buying

To keep this simple, you’re buying exactly (1) the mobileorchard.com domain, (2) a tar-archive of the site’s WordPress installation, and (3) a database dump. These are the pieces you’ll need to transfer the site to another server.

I’m formally limiting the asset purchase to those items because they’re things I have absolute control over. That said, I’ll make my best effort to transfer the Twitter and Twitter Feed accounts, but obviously those are run by third parties that I don’t control.

As a sweetener, I’ll also include our community-links sister-site iPhone Flow (with its thousand feed subscribers and thousand Twitter followers), a few related domains and the podcast archive.

Google Analytics, Feedburner and Twitter Stats

Here are reports with data from the last month and the last year.

Feedburner is reporting 6818 readers. Twittercounter reports 3077 followers.

How To Make An Offer

If you’d like to make an offer, please email me the amount (for simplicity’s sake: in even thousand dollar amounts), your plans for the site, and details to prove that your offer is credible.

I’ll accept offers through Friday, August 27. If you make an offer I’ll try to keep you informed about other offers that are in contention. I’ll pick a winner and, after we execute the asset transfer agreement and you wire the funds to my account, I’ll transfer the domain and provide the WordPress files and data.

I’ve got a fantastic game for you today from one of our readers, Quantumdoor called Bomb Squad Patrol. I LOVE this game. Bomb Squad Patrol casts players into the role of an Emergency Ordinance Disposal Officer in charge of securing a Nuclear Power Plant that has been booby-trapped and rigged to explode by a group […]

Are you addicted to taking photos with your iPhone? Do you find that the “best camera is the one that’s with you?” Have you purchased more than just a couple photography apps from the App Store?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you’ve come to the right place. On today’s TUAW TV Live, host Steve Sande will be discussing iPhone photography and videography techniques, demonstrating a dozen or more apps for iPhone, iPad and Mac that can be used to “sweeten” your photography, and talking about the best ways of sharing those frozen moments with others.

To join in from your Mac or PC, just go to the next page by clicking the link at the bottom of this post, and you’ll find a live stream viewer and a chat tool. The chat tool allows you to join in on the fun by asking questions or making comments.

If you’re driving somewhere and would like to watch TUAW TV Live while you’re stuck in traffic, please don’t — keep your eyes on the road! However, if someone else is doing the driving, you can watch the show on your iPhone by downloading the free Ustream Viewing Application.

We haven’t forgotten about iPad users, as you can tune in to TUAW TV Live on your iPad! That link will send you to a non-Flash page, although you won’t have access to our chat tool.

Remember, old episodes of TUAW TV Live are always available for your viewing pleasure on Ustream.

TUAWTUAW TV Live: The photography episode originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Our friends at Engadget have heard from a trusted source that Apple is indeed remaking the Apple TV, as was previously guessed based on its past trajectory. But the final product may surprise you: it won’t have 1080p output, according to Engadget (which refutes earlier rumors), but it will keep that US$99 price, and bring apps from the App Store to the table. It’s not yet known whether it will simply use iPhone or iPad apps (or get a brand new entry of its own), but Engadget says some connection to both the App Store and streaming services is going to happen. Internally, the box is supposed to be comparable to the hardware found in an iPhone 4, including one of Apple’s own A4 chips running the show.

And with all of these other changes, the device is reportedly getting a new name, the iTV. That makes a lot of sense, actually — not only does it distinguish this new unit from the “AppleTV” hobby, but it brings the device in line with the iPhone, iPad, and Apple’s other iOS devices. Engadget also notes that the iTV isn’t a new name so much as it is a return to the old one, so if all of this turns out to be true, it would seem like Apple has a much more directed strategy for its set-top box this time around.

Engadget says we’ll see all revealed by sometime this Fall. It all sounds very interesting — if Apple can squeeze all of that into a box that costs only $99, who wouldn’t plug that into their television?

TUAWEngadget: Apple TV gets apps, new name in iTV originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been pretty big fans of Cha-Ching, both the OS X app and the iOS version, over the years. Turns out Intuit liked the app a lot, too — the financial juggernaut has acquired Cha-Ching and its code after hiring the app’s developers a little while back. The website currently points to both Quicken for Mac and Mint.com, so presumably this is the end of the app — its functionality will be brought into Intuit’s other properties, used to smooth out Quicken for Windows, while Cha-Ching Touch’s functionality will eventually show up in the Mint.com iPhone app.

Too bad for users of the app currently — I know the app was sold in at least one MacHeist sale, so it’s definitely out there and fairly popular. There’s no word on any upgrades at all. The Mint.com app is great (and free), but of course Quicken is $50 just to get started. Looks like if you depend on Cha-Ching for your financial planning but want upgrades in the future, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

TUAWIntuit buys Cha-Ching after hiring developers originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From the “It Was Only a Matter of Time Department” comes news that Camera+, the top-rated photography app from developer tap tap tap, has been pulled from the App Store, most likely for violating Apple’s developer agreement. Apple previously rejected an update to the Camera+ app which would have allowed users to use one of the iPhone’s volume buttons as a mechanical shutter button while using Camera+. This is a feature many iPhone photographers have wished for — tapping the screen to take a picture is far less stable than pressing a physical button — but Apple cited “user confusion” in rejecting the Camera+ update which included the feature.

tap tap tap posted (and later deleted) instructions on Twitter that allowed users to enable the “volume button as shutter” functionality via a back door workaround. This is most likely what got Camera+ kicked off the App Store; other apps with “hidden features” or “easter eggs” like this have been banished from the App Store before, like a flashlight app that allowed users to stealthily enable internet tethering.

Apple’s well within its rights to react in this manner when developers put “hidden” features in their apps. On the other side of the mobile pond, Android users are currently getting hit by a trojan posing as a media player app which then sends unauthorized SMS messages to premium-rate numbers. While Apple’s “user confusion” excuse for not letting Camera+ use the volume buttons as a shutter doesn’t necessarily fly (how often are you going to mess with the iPhone’s volume while taking a picture?), tap tap tap’s “workaround” was out of line, at least in principle — if Apple’s not going to let a flashlight app secretly enable internet tethering or allow apps with blatant malware on the App Store, then it shouldn’t come as a surprise that “hidden” functionality, however innocuous, will get your app banished.

Hopefully this ban is only temporary until Camera+ gets updated without the “workaround” in place — or, better still, Apple could recognize that many users have triple-digit IQs and stop citing “user confusion” as an excuse for denying useful functionality. Either way, I hope Camera+ comes back eventually.

TUAWCamera+ pulled from App Store for ‘volume button as camera shutter’ workaround originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I’ve been a huge fan of social dating site OkCupid’s OkTrends blog for a while now. They’re constantly sharing data (anonymized, of course) from their social site about what people find attractive and interesting in each other. The latest post has some fun information about cameras — specifically, the perceived link between what type of camera OkCupid’s patrons use and successful relationships. All of the data is fascinating (as usual), but there’s one little note of potential interest to iPhone fans.

Apparently, when compared to users who post pictures from other smartphone brands, users who reported using iPhones for their profile pictures tend to identify more sexual partners over all. As you can see in the chart above, male and female iPhone users (at age 30) report higher numbers of sexual partners to OkCupid.

In fact, across all ages, iPhone users reported having more sexual partners than those who used Android or Blackberry smartphones to take their profile pictures. Of course, OkCupid is just having fun here. Maybe iPhone users are actually more inclined to lie about their amorous conquests, or maybe there’s a higher likelihood that Android or Blackberry users have reason to report a lower number.

But then again, we already know that iPhone owners tend to be rich, engage in vigorous activity, and like to be outspoken about their buying choices and preferences. And aren’t those the kind of people who end up going home with the girl (or guy) from the bar anyway?

TUAWOkCupid: iPhone users have more sex originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Speaking of iPhone cases that look … different, here’s an interesting metal case for everybody’s favorite smartphone. A company called Ltd Tools has created a metal, cage-style case that adds a flip cover to the phone and gives it a pretty distinctive look. I don’t think it will be for everybody; it actually makes the iPhone 4 look kind of like a big RAZR, but I like it. What it lacks in actual protection, it makes up for in some interesting functionality, which includes unimpeded access to the charging port and a cool little rubber band that can hold business or credit cards.

There is a warning that a metal case can “affect reception,” but it can’t be that much worse than what you’re getting already. And OK, sure, the case is US$95, which is a bit much to pay for a case like this (although it does look pretty well-machined). But I just like the look of it anyway. A great many cases tend to make the phone look like a colored lump, so it’s neat to see a case that adds a little something to the iPhone’s design.

[via iPhone Savior]

TUAWiPhone body armor case looks cool originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With the addition of the Safari Extensions Gallery to Apple’s website, TUAW will be highlighting extensions that we think are special, useful, or just plain fun.

Many of Google’s Web apps have been long on functionality but short on looks. Google Reader, the Web-based RSS reader, is a good example of this. Fortunately, Google Reader Mac OS X Snow Leopard + Delicious is a Safari extension that makes Reader look good.

Once installed, this extension makes Google Reader resemble a Snow Leopard application (like iTunes). The sidebar is that same faint blue, and the rest is white and gray. Additionally, dialog boxes are the same nearly-transparent black that we’ve come to expect from Snow Leopard.

This extension is simply a new set of clothes for Google Reader, so its functioning is unchanged. There, now doesn’t that look better?

TUAWSafari extensions highlight: A good-looking Google Reader originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All over the Northern Hemisphere, a lot of people are taking advantage of the warm weather and longer days, and they’re getting out of the office to take some vacation. Using a camera to capture vacation memories is great, but using your iPhone to nab those snapshots is even better.

On today’s episode of TUAW TV Live, host Steve Sande will demonstrate and discuss more than a dozen photography apps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Find out how to take better photos with the iPhone, apply effects or retouch those shots, and share them with your friends and relatives.

The fun starts at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT, 11 AM HDT) right here at TUAW.com. Drop by a few minutes before the show starts for instructions on how to watch the live show and participate in the chat.

TUAWThe Photography app smackdown on TUAW TV Live today originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back in 2008, the Japanese Trade Ministry identified 3 reports of fires that were caused by overheating iPod nanos. An investigation followed and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry found a total of 34 incidents of overheating that could be attributed to the lithium-ion battery used in those nanos. Issues ranged from discoloration to, in rare instances, fires. As a result, Apple agreed to replace defective units in Japan. That program went into effect this week.

Anyone who bought a first-generation iPod nano between September 2005 and September 2006 in Japan can get it replaced if it overheats. Note that only the original nano was affected. If you’ve got one of these units, head on down to an Apple Store or follow the instructions here. Good luck.

[Via iPodNN]

TUAWApple starts iPod nano swap program in Japan originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here’s a useful tool for developers who want to sketch out UI ideas for iPhone apps. These clever Post-It Notes from Apps-on and 3M have a 20 pixel grid on the drawing surface, and feature the exact dimensions of the iPhone 4. So, you can draw your ideas in a perfect 1:1 scale. There are 50 sheets per pad, so don’t be afraid to toss bad ideas into the trash.

They’re available in three packs: the Starter offers 5 pads for US$20, the Pro offers 10 for $35 and finally you can get 20 pads for $59 by choosing the Master pack. Heck, I’m not a developer but I’d use them as plain old Post-Its!

This isn’t the first example of this type of thing that we’ve seen. Notepod+ is a similar sketchpad aimed at iPad developers, and the folks at Design Commission have produced a stencil that lets you add all sorts of UI elements to your sketches. If any of these suit your fancy, have at it and get sketching!

[Via Total Apps]

TUAWiPhone Post It Notes take your Apple love analog originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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