Ever since a number of recent updates to the mobile iOS Skype application, it has been widely regarded as, "unstable" and, "unusable." This was due to the applications extremely slow response speeds and buggy interface. For many, the application would simply crash upon startup or loading would be so slow the user would rather hop on their computer to use Skype. Today, a new version of Skype for iOS (4.0) comes to the plate to try and make the application better. With improved stability, an enhanced user interface (UI), and some more awesome features added, Skype for iOS may finally be tolerable for its users. One of the main new features, however, is the ability to move around your own video preview while you are in the middle of a Skype video call with someone, similarly to how you can move your FaceTime video preview while in a FaceTime call. The new enhancements to the Skype User Interface are pretty neat as well; it includes a brand new icon and a brand new sign-in screen, as well as a softer color texture all-around the application: For the most part, the mobile Skype application for iOS is starting to adopt a more Skype-like user interface and less of an iOS-like user interface. Just a few updates in the past, back buttons and other controls would have the iOS appearance, but now they are made with Skypes own design. It also appears that most of the new user interface changes affect iPhone and iPod touch users, but many parts of the iPad's user interface remain untouched. To help combat any instability problems that the Skype development team may have missed, the Skype application will now automatically restart if it crashes. This will make the lazier people happy, as they wont have to go Read More
Rockstar is running a holiday promotion through December 29th that cuts the price of GTA III by 40% to $2.99. But, that isnt the only deal going on, a ton of developers are running sales through the holiday inlcuding the previously reported EA-catalogue $.99 sale. Notable Deals: And the list goes on and on. Check to see if your favorite developers their apps on sale before the App Store freeze today and report your findings in the comments and we'll update the list accordingly. Looks like those iTunes gift cards stuffed in everyones stockings could go a long way this holiday season. Read More
Data caps are the bane of every power internet user's existence. Every mobile telecom provider, sans Sprint, has instituted caps marking the death of the "Unlimited" data plan. Even T-Mobile's "Unlimited" plan throttles down your connection after you exceed 5GB in downloads for the month. Onavo, an application for iPhone and iPad users, stiff drink users need to numb the data cap pain. Onavo claims it can double or triple your data plan by compressing the data you use while perusing the web or using apps. What the app does is rather simple. Once the app is installed downloads are automatically rerouted through Onavo's cloud-based servers, and then compressed before sending it to your device. The app does not compress video or any data originating on your device (aka uploads). The obvious concession to this system is the rerouting of information through Onavo's servers does add a little time to your downloads. However, for viewing pictures and other media-laden websites the compressing of data decreases file size and thereby download times, especially for users in 2G or low coverage areas. The app adds a few utilities to the mix as well, allowing users to see how much data they use and even breaks it down app by app, allowing users to see which apps are data hungry. Privacy concerned users may be wary of this service though. While Onavo claims it does not touch information sent through HTTPS, or that they don't hold on information longer than necessary, all non-encrypted data is visible to Onavo. But, this information is visible to your mobile provider too. Download here. How the hell did that make it through the App Store gauntlet? The technology sounded similar to how Opera made their browser end up on the iPhone when it came to compressing content before Read More
Not quite sure how this one slipped through the cracks, but Splashtop's amazing Remote Desktop for iPhone and iPod touch app is free for three more hours at the App Store! Splashtop's remote desktop app, which I've been using for a while now, allows users to access and manipulate their desktop computer(s) from their iPhone or iPod Touch. You can use your desktop's web browser, including flash, to watch any format video, and stream your entire music library. The only caveat is that the program only operates over wifi (there is a workaround for this on their website). Other programs like iTeleport: Jaadu VNC, allow users to work over 3G, but also cost $24.99 and don't allow streaming audio and video via your desktops web browser. Oh, and Splashtop allows you to play PC and Mac games remotely as well...awesome. Get the app here or hit up the App Store on your iDevice. The iPad version is only $.99 for a limited time as well. *Update* App is still free as of 12:20 a.m. eastern standard time. I'm not sure if the deal will expire at midnight pacific time or when Splashtop decides to end the deal. Anyway, buy for free ASAP! I got it to work immediately after downloading the server on my Mac, via WiFi. Since this article indicated there was a way to make it work over 3G on their site, I did a little investigating and finally found the info. A few modifications to my router later, and now it works great over 3G as well! For those who have an Airport Extreme Base Station as their router, just follow the instructions in this link: Connect from Outside - Airport Extreme : Splashtop Remote - Support Originally Posted by There is no F1,F2,F3,etc keys would be great Read More
Apple today released iAd Gallery, and iOS app that Apple calls "a celebration of advertising." To call this app ad supported would be quite an understatement. iAd Gallery's sole purpose is to showcase Apple's struggling iAd advertising service and act as a creative launching point for potential clients. Although the iAd Gallery app is nothing more than a revolving door of ad campaigns, it is still full-featured app, nonetheless. A few of the key features include, regular updates featuring the latest ads from the iAd network, a slick "spinning wheel of iAd banners," a section for your favorite or "Loved" ads, and of course, the usual interactive ad campaigns that are at the heart of iAds to begin with. Apple describes iAd Gallery as having "Great ads. On-demand. In your pocket." Given the merits of the app itself, it's not a bad app, just a self-serving one. The app is informative, easy to use and accomplishes what it sets out to do. However, the App Store is hardly lacking when it comes to advertising. With advertising just about everywhere these days, most of us spend a great deal of time simply ignoring ads or trying to avoid them altogether. However, if any of the ads do catch your eye, then iAds are a great way to learn more about products and services being advertised. Let's just hope this doesn't become a dedicated category in App Store. Read More
Warner Bros. today launched what its calling App Editions of a couple its highest grossing movies with the release of The Dark Knight and Inception. The app versions of these movies are free to download and give you a brief idea of what youll get with the paid versions. Currently, the in-app price of Inception is $11.99 and The Dark Knight will set you back $9.99. iTunes is selling the standard version of The Dark Knight for the same price, but the App Edition of Inception is $2 more. Of course you get much more content with these new versions than with the standard movie download. These App Editions are available for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. According to the Warner Brothers press release, App Editions provide a fully-loaded, connected viewing experience that gives consumers the first five minutes of a feature film and a portion of bonus content that can include games, trivia, soundtracks and soundboards. The entire feature film can be unlocked via an in-app purchase, which enables downloading and unlimited streaming, as well as access to the entire array of bonus content available within the App. These new App Editions are available in 30 territories, some of which dont currently have access to the iTunes movie section, including China, Brazil and the Netherlands. These films are also available in more than 16 different languages and come with subtitles for 34 languages as well. Warner Brothers also includes support for popular social networking sites. While watching the film, fans can also connect with friends by sharing their favorite movie quotes through Facebook and Twitter and watch a feed of social networking chatter directly related to the movie in real-time. The app versions of these films also have another nice feature, they dont take up much room on your Read More
Have you ever had a movie on your iPhone, but wanted to watch it on your iPad’s larger screen? Then AirView is just what you’ve been waiting for. AirView is a free app that has just been approved for the App Store. It only does one thing, but what it does, it does well. AirView allows you to stream video from one iOS device to another, that’s it. By using Apple’s AirPlay technology and a local Wi-Fi signal, you can stream video, for example, from an iPhone to an iPad or vise versa. There are no settings to fiddle with, or any preferences to set. Just launch the app and wait for the other device to start streaming video. AirView works like a receiver. Once activated, AirView simply plays a video file as soon as it’s received. It is compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad running iOS 4.2. I’ve tested this app by streaming a movie from my iPhone 4 to an iPad and it worked flawlessly. I’m honestly surprised that Apple didn’t include this function when it originally released Airplay as part of the iOS 4.2 update. Hopefully, AirPlay’s streaming capabilities will be expanded with the next update and include AirView’s streaming capability. For now though, enjoy a little more freedom when streaming. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwy9omdxsPg&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Airview for iOS[/ame] Originally Posted by Im still on 4.0.1 with my phone.... Bummer. Does anyone know if this works with mywi? setup iPhone 4 running iOS 4.2.1\ MyWi & AirVideo Enabler iPhone 3gs running iOS 4.2.1 w/ Air View installed. Started a WI-FI connection my iPhone 4, and had my 3gs connected to it and running Air View. Tested by air playing youtube from my iPhone 4 to 3gs. Worked great. Read More
With all the hype surrounding Apple TV and Google TV, Netflix has released a surprise of its own today. The Netflix app has been updated to include video out for the iPhone 4 and 4th generation iPod Touch. To watch Netflix streaming on any TV all you need to do is hook up an Apple AV cable to your compatible iOS device and youre good to go. Apples forthcoming Airplay technology will accomplish the same thing, provided that you have an Apple TV and Wi-Fi set up in your home. But what about when youre traveling? Thats where the beauty of this update comes in. Imagine being on vacation with your family and you all want to watch a movie together. Before this update you wouldnt be able to hook up an iPhone to a TV and watch a movie together. You and your family would have to huddle around a little 3.5-inch screen. Not very fun, to say the least. Apps are updated regularly, but occasionally minor additions like these can make all the difference in the world, given the right conditions. Its nice to know the next time I travel, Ill be able to stream Futurama to the nearest TV. Of course Ill need the right cables and a good Wi-Fi signal to do it. Originally Posted by Of course I’ll need the right cables and a good Wi-Fi signal to do it. I just signed up for a NetFlix account and was planning on hooking up my familiy's iPhone 3Gs and 2nd gen iPod to our TVs and watch NetFlix. I haven't got the AV cables yet, but if NetFlix to a TV is limited to only later iDevices, then the cable won't do me any good. What are the chances that NetFlix will release an update that Read More
Jack Torrents, an app for managing downloads on the torrent service of ImageShack.com, is now available on the App Store under the name "IS Drive." Either as part of the recent liberalization of the approval process, or because reviewers genuinely missed the fact that it could be used for BitTorrent downloads, this is the first torrent-related app to make it to the App Store. Apps with similar functionality - such as Drivetrain and µTorrent - have been rejected in the past by Apple. "Because this category of applications is often used for the purpose of infringing third party rights," read an email to the developers of µTorrent, "we have chosen to not publish this type of application to the App Store." As a result, both apps ended up on Cydia, as did TorrentTRAK, a remote control app for the desktop Transmission BitTorrent client. Derek Kepner's Jack Torrents app has also been available on Cydia for some time. In addition to controlling file transfers on the ImageShack Torrent Drive service, the app can also be adapted to manage downloads on torrent sites like IsoHunt and Mininova (though this functionality has been hidden on IS Drive), and can be used to add .torrent links found on the Web to the ImageShack download queue. Derek decided to submit Jack Torrents to the App Store after reading the updated approval guidelines. "I always had the thought that if I didn't call the app a 'torrent client', Apple would probably let it through the review process," he said in an interview with TorrentFreak. "After all, there is no real torrenting happening on the client side. It's not a torrent client. It's an ImageShack Drive client." IS Drive is $4.99 on the App Store. Subscribers to any ImageShack package, including the $8 month-by-month one, are not subject Read More
