R.P.A. Tech

Update: At the end of the original post, Erica mused about a single-purpose iPhone 4S dictation app; turns out, of course, that there already is one. The $0.99 Remote Dictate, from the makers of Mobile Mouse Pro, works with the same Mac-side server and offers only dictation with no remote mouse/keyboard. We'll grab it and test it out shortly. –Ed. Recently, TUAW posted about how Mobile Mouse could be used with Siri for iPhone-to-Mac remote dictation. While trying it out, I grew annoyed by transposition errors at the start of my text. So I decided to put several similar solutions to the test. What Mobile Mouse Pro ($1.99), RowMote Pro ($4.99), Edovia's TouchPad ($4.99), and Splashtop Touchpad (Free, normally $4.99) have in common is that each app provides a way to send mouse events and key strokes to your Mac. For this post, we decided not to test full screen sharing apps like iTeleport and LogMeIn due to the more extensive set-up involved. (iTeleport offers a similar $0.99 Touchpad Elite app, but we were unable to get a copy in time for this write-up.) To test them, I dictated the same text sample into TextEdit, courtesy of the iTunes Terms and Conditions. To do this, I connected each app to my Mac, opened a standard keyboard, and used the Siri dictation mic to speak this sentence: "You agree not to use or attempt to use the iTunes Store from outside of the available territory." I ran each app three times, and categorized the errors each app made. How did they stack up? Here are the results. Setup: Very easy. Install and run the Mobile Mouse Server app, run Mobile Mouse from your iPhone 4S. App detects and announces active app. Dictate at will. Performance: Transcription transposition errors, no default uppercase entry at the start of each sentence. Setup: Easy. Enable screen sharing on your Mac. Launch app, and set up VNC-style. Tap pad button, then tap keyboard button, and start dictating. Performance: No default uppercase entry at the start of each sentence. Other than that, it showed no errors with transposition through these tests. Setup: Overly difficult. First I had to google my way to find about the Splashtop Streaming app for Mac. That information should have been in the iTunes marketing text. Then I had to authenticate to install what should have been a simple tweak. After that, once I Read More

By Lisa Caplan on November 30th, 2011 A look at our favorite four classic iPhone utilities for everyday use. It’s surprising sometimes, after accumulating so many apps, to see what we actually use on a regular basis. While setting up so many new iPhones recently, we really had to think – in a post iOS 5 world that rendered many staples obsolete – which of the dozens of utility apps we’ve stockpiled we still actually use. Here are our favorite four “classics” that we can’t get through most days without. Flashlight If you have an iPhone or iPod touch with a front-facing camera, no flashlight app we have seen is better or simpler than this one. The app uses the LED camera flash and a simple slider as a switch to provide bright reliable illumination in dark parking lots, while stumbling for door keys after a late night, or when trying to make a quiet escape from a dark room. $0.99 iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad Released: 2010-07-07 :: Category: Utilities Mobile Mouse Pro Many people use larger widescreen iMacs as TVs, alarm clocks or to manage urgent morning reminders. We’ve tried pricey wireless controllers that work with no flat surface, say from a bed, but none are more comfortable, much less so affordable – particularly for browsing and playing media – than Mobile Mouse Pro. Setup is so simple and the interface so intuitive, using it feels like something Apple would, or more aptly should, have made. The shake-to-toggle keyboard feature is wonderful, particularly when a locked screensaver kicks in after a period of inactivity. An iPad version is sold separately. $1.99 Released: 2008-09-14 :: Category: Utilities $2.99 iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad Released: 2010-04-01 :: Category: Utilities Pastebot While not iPad native, we use Pastebot on all our Apple gear, and can’t imagine getting much done at all with out it. Aside from being a robust iOS clipboard manager, it integrates seamlessly with Macs so users can instantly send copied links, text or anything else including images, back and forth from pad to phone to ‘puter with no effort after simple set-up. $3.99 Released: 2009-12-15 :: Category: Productivity Evernote We’ve all set up iCloud and like what we’ve seen, but when it comes to simple file sharing there is still no better app around than Evernote. The cloud storage app Read More

By now just about everyone knows that you can use Siri to take dictation on an iPhone 4S, but what you may not know is that you can also use it on a Mac. If you have an app on your iPhone that allows you to access your Mac's keyboard functions remotely, you can use Siri's dictation feature on the iPhone 4S to dictate text to your Mac. One example of an iPhone app that you can use to dictate to your Mac is Mobile Mouse. The app already allows you to control your keyboard and mouse from your iPhone, but using the new dictation button on the keyboard, you can also dictate text to your Mac. (Reader Amalesh Panse pointed out, via Twitter, that Magic Mouse works fine with Windows too.) So long as you have a cursor inserted into a text field, you can use the dictation button on your iPhone's keyboard to use Siri to dictate texts directly to your Mac using Mobile Mouse or a similar app. Conversion into text happens rather quickly, almost as quickly as it does on the iPhone's native interface. In practice the dictation is actually quite accurate; it does make mistakes, but I managed to dictate almost all of this post using Siri via Mobile Mouse with only a few adjustments. Apart from being an extremely cool trick, this feature could also allow you to bypass paying upwards of $50 for a product like Dragon Express, which does essentially the same thing (perhaps better). The best part is, there are no settings that you need to tweak in order to get this to work. If you already have Mobile Mouse installed on your iPhone (and Mobile Mouse Server on your Mac), you're already able to use Siri to dictate text to your computer. Seeing words I've spoken into my phone appear on my Mac's screen as if by magic is one of those whiz-bang things that totally reminds me we're living in the future. Thanks for the tip Rohan! Read More

Welcome to our weekly installment of Picks of the Week at iSource where we provide our expanded coverage of Apple accessories and applications  Here we will promote our favorite iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac and Apple TV related items, as well as bring you occasional tips and tricks.  Hopefully many of our favorite items will also be of interest to you. Please feel free to comment on our selections, and suggest picks of your own.  Check out this week’s picks after the break Picked by: Jay My pick this week isn’t a new app, but it has a shiny new place for me in my iPhone/iPad life. Why you may ask? Well, yes I read the Lifehacker review comparing Shazam vs. SoundHound (also making its way on to our own site here) where they gave a slight nod to SoundHound for its overall accuracy. However, the hidden gem in my opinion is how this universal app can integrate with your iPod (through the icon at bottom right corner). You might think it odd to consider using a song-identifying appwith your own library. At first I did too. Then I noticed the “lyrics” portion of SoundHound seemed to be more frequently available than Shazam’s. So one time I fired up SoundHound while my iPod was playing and to my delight, the lyrics appeared overlaying the album art! Now you might think of this as no big deal, but for someone who is notoriously inaccurate with lyrics (think Jessie Eisenberg on SNL… “I love rock ‘n roll! So come and kiss a lime you dance machine!” – more transcripts here), this is an exciting way to sing along without the karaoke machine. On a side note, unlike Shazam, did you know you could sing or hum into your iPhone’s mic (or type a title) and have SoundHound search? Hearing that my wife successfully searched for a song by testing that feature shows that the algorithm SoundHound uses is far superior than even the human ear. (Good thing my wife never reads what I write.) My pick of the week, TextExpander ($4.99), can take a little while to get a hang of, but it’s a great little tool for setting up text macros on your iOS device. The macros can range from basic text replacement (typing “iS” to write “iSource”) to more dynamic text (“%’dd” to write today’s date out instantly). The only real catch Read More

Are you running your Mac as a media center? Do you have an iPhone or iPod touch? If you answered yes to both of these questions, then there are a few apps you absolutely need to have to get set up in comfort and style. Wow your friends and mimic setups with dedicated hardware that cost up to three or four times as much. And take your media with you on the go, too. Now, obviously, getting this app requires you to have Boxee set up on your Mac as a pre-requisite, but that’s a step you definitely should take if you’re going to be using your Mac as a media center machine. Boxee automatically organizes your existing media library and gives you convenient, TV-optimized navigation of not only your own files but also of web content from sites like YouTube, CollegeHumor, U.S. television network sites and Hulu. The official remote app for the iPhone is free, and it works better than any other general use remote software I’ve come across. You get to choose between standard and gesture control modes, depending on your preference, and it automatically detects and connects to any Boxee installation running in your house without any issue. And using the iPhone’s keyboard to perform text entry commands means you can shelve the Bluetooth keyboard, too. There are countless remote control applications for use with your Mac on your iPhone, but I still prefer Air Mouse Pro above all others. Recently introduced features like a battery indicator prove that the developers behind it are committed to offering continued support, and the list of extras you get beyond basic control functions is long indeed. For instance, at any time shaking the iPhone will provide a full screen trackpad, either in profile or landscape mode. There’s a keyboard for data entry, and also a variety of other screens to make sure you’re never wanting for a button to press. It requires a server, but it sits innocuously in your menu bar, and doesn’t use almost any system resources. Apple’s original iTunes remote application is still the best way to manage your music collection when you’re listening by yourself or hosting a party. If you haven’t used the iTunes DJ functionality yet, invite a bunch of friends over for a music party just to test it out. If you use your Mac for playing games like me, particularly classic emulated Read More

16 Feb 2010 Fabiano Confuorto Eccoci con un nuovo appuntamento dell’, la rubrica in cui vi elenchiamo le migliori applicazioni dell’AppStore che vengono scontate per un periodo di tempo limitato. Oggi ci sono molte offerte interessanti, comprese quelle della promozione FunTouch e Free App A Day! . Un gioco retrò in cui dovremo riuscire ad infiltrarci in un sistema informatico. Passa da 0,79€ a Gratis [Link iTunes] . La reinvenzione del Tris con la possibilità di giocare anche in 4 su vari tavoli 3D. Passa da 0,79€ a Gratis [Link iTunes] . Un’ottima applicazione che trasforma il proprio iPhone in un mouse oppure un trackpad per il computer. Passa da 1,59€ a 0,79€ [Link iTunes] . Ottima applicazione con tantissime funzioni aggiuntive rispetto a quella standard. Recensione iSpazio. Passa da 0,79€ a Gratis [Link iTunes]. . Una raccolta di 12.000 aforismi da leggere sul proprio iPhone. Recensione iSpazio. Passa da 3,99€ a 1,59€ [Link iTunes] . Un bel giochino in cui dovremo fare pizze agli zombie per evitare di farci mangiare. Ognuno avrà delle preferenze e chiederà pizze con ingredienti diversi. Passa da 1,59€ a 0,79€ [Link iTunes] . Il gioco gratuito del giorno della promozione FunTouch. E’ un bel gioco in cui dovremo ricomporre le immagini sfiorando i tasselli con le nostre dita. Passa da 0,79€ a Gratis. [Link iTunes] . Il gioco gratuito del Free App A Day. Amiamo viaggiare e da ogni città dovremo scovare una lettera nascosta al fine di comporre la parola finale. Passa da 1,59€ a Gratis [Link iTunes]. . Un bel giochino in cui dovremo uccidere gli zombie e sopravvivere. Passa da 2,39€ a Gratis. [Link iTunes] Read More

9 Feb 2010 alle 11:16 E’ stato rilasciato un nuovo aggiornamento per quest’ottima applicazione in grado di trasformare il nostro iPhone/iPod Touch in un Mouse per il nostro computer, “catturando” i movimenti dell’accelerometro e riuscendo, di conseguenza, a muovere il cursore nella nostra macchina. Ricordiamo che Air Mouse può essere utilizzata anche come trackpad. Tra le novità troviamo: Read More

We live in an era of multi-functional devices. Our phones aren't just phones—they're internet-connected computers, GPS devices, cameras, and more. So before you go buying new gear to fill a need, take blogger Fred Wilson's advice: Look for an app. Wilson explains how he attempted to find a better solution for entering text into and controlling his home theater PCs, having been dissatisfied with his current setup. His first instinct was to buy some new gear—specifically an Apple Wireless Keyboard and a Gyration Air Mouse, both of which set him back around $160 total. What he got was more frustration. Then he went with a friend Andy's advice, who suggested a $2 iPhone/iPod touch app: So in frustration, I pulled out the iPod touch we use as a Sonos and Boxee remote in our family room and downloaded the Mobile Air Mouse app from the iTunes store for $1.99. You have to download free "server software" for the device from the Mobile Air Mouse website as well. Guess what? Andrew was right. It works very well. And you get a trackpad and a keyboard (iPhone style keyboard) all for $1.99. The Apple keyboard was roughly $80 and the Gyration Air Mouse was about the same. $160 down the drain. The $2 solution was better. As Wilson is quick to point out, you would need an iPhone or iPod touch on hand—and those do cost good money—but assuming you already have a multifunctional device, Wilson had one takeaway: "Bottom line for me: apps beat devices. Lesson learned. Relatively cheaply." Have you had similar experiences? What apps have you used that've taken the place of buying new gear? Let's hear about it in the comments. Read More

When R.P.A Tech’s Air Mouse Pro was released over a year ago, it held the distinction as the first and only app to turn your iPhone/iPod Touch into a, well, air mouse. Improvements were made with each update and now that version 2.0 has finally been released, Air Mouse Pro has become the undisputed heavyweight champ of all iDevice mouse/trackpads. Not only will the app serve as a simple wireless mouse, AMP essentially transforms your iPhone into an all-in-one universal remote for your for your PC/Mac. R.P.A. Tech, – $1.99 The biggest addition comes in the form of the new Application launcher/switcher. Whether you’re on your PC or Mac, all your running programs (as well as favorited ones) will appear inside the app window for seamless nagivation.  From my experience so far on both my desktop (XP) and macbook, AMP works like a charm. The best part is that you can configure just about any program to work with the app and even create your own hotkeys for functions you use most of. Oh and Custom scripting is supported. Now you can write scripts – Applescript on the Mac, or VBScript on the PC - for any of the custom buttons. The other great feature is the use of an innovative application notification system. As such, your iPhone and iPod Touch will always “know” which applications are running on your PC/Mac and display the appropriate keys for that application. So if you were to open iTunes on your desktop (with actual mouse and not iPhone), Air Mouse Pro will immediately display the media remote interface along with some of the most used functions. There are so many things you can do with AMP that it will take some time to unearth all the little neat features it is capable of. While it may not completely replace the traditional mouse, this amazing app can work wonders as a companion for all your websurfing and multimedia needs. The price tag of $1.99 is an absolute steal for turning your iDevice into a highly versatile and robust remote/trackpad. The video below will give you a good run through of the app in action (note: the version in video is pre-2.0 release). App Description ** MAJOR UPDATE! ** What’s new ** Major update! ** Mobile Air Mouse instantly transforms your iPhone or iPod touch into an in air, wireless remote for your computer! Sit back and Read More

AppAdvice’s Applists are back by popular demand!  Well, they never really were gone, but we will be launching brand new ones every Tuesday and Thursday, so keep your eyes peeled because we will be announcing them on the homepage as well.  We wouldn’t want you to miss out on any of these must-have apps. Today’s Applist features apps that wirelessly control your device.  Thanks to advancements in wireless technology and some intelligent app developers, your iPhone or iPod touch can now be the center of your digital life. So head on over to the Apps That Put You In Control Applist and see why these are must-have remote control apps.  Don’t forget to check out our wide variety of other Applists while you are there. Read More