Google+ iPhone App

The Google Plus iPhone app became available today. Of course, you need to be a Google Plus user to take advantage of it.

I haven't had a chance to do much with the app yet other than download it and log in, but I'm hoping to try it out tonight. Certainly looks promising. I couldn't find it in the app store (perhaps it hasn't been indexed yet), and ended up having to follow a link from a webpage. Just in case you have the same problem, here's the link:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google/id447119634?mt=8

What the heck is Fring?

Well, I'm glad you asked. Fring is an app for iPhone and Android that allows you to make phone calls, video calls, and text message. Um ok? I already have Skype, right? What's the deal? There is a new feature with Fring that supports group video chats! So now you and three friends can all video chat at the same time. Check out this Youtube promo video (sorry the song is a little annoying).

3D Images on the iPhone

We discovered (actually it was featured on Make:Blog and CNN) a really fun and groundbreaking app today for the iPhone. It is called Trimensional and it allows you to make a low quality 3d image using just the camera on your iPhone or iPad. This file can then be emailed as an actual 3d model file (which you could then print on a 3d printer) or as an animated gif. These are examples of images we took in the lab.

Here is a link to the app in the iTunes store and a video from the creator if you'd like some more details about the app. Feel free to try out the app on our iPad2 in the lab.

Capcom, Zynga, Sega Donate Game Profits to Japan Aid

Gaming companies Capcom, Sega, and Zynga have announced that they're donating the profits from games like Streetfighter IV, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and Cityville to relief efforts for victims of the Japanese tsunami for the next week.

See details and links:
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/03/street-fighter-japan-donation/

When should I buy a new computer?

Did you finally decide you're going to buy a Mac
With every possible add-on?
Did you save up for a very long time?
Did you agonize over parting with all of these dollars at the store?

Did you then read that Apple announces it's new line of Mac Book Pros? Coming out next month?
Doh.

Here's a handy site that keeps tabs on when you should buy and when you should wait. It covers most Mac products including iPhones, iPods, and computers.

New Apple Stuff

Holy cow. I don't even know where to begin to talk about all of Apple's announcements today, but to get an idea of how cool they are, take a look at the photo of the new iPod Nano over at the left side of this post. Must...resist...purchase...

Other announcements include:

• New Apple TV
• iOS 4.1 release
• iOS 4.2 Preview (now for iPad!)
  
• New iPod Touch with retina display and 2 cameras
• iPod Shuffle update (the buttons are back!)
• iTunes 10

Check out all the details at http://www.engadget.com/

Apple announces details of Free iPhone Case program

Full details at http://www.apple.com/iphone/case-program/

Follow these steps to apply for a Bumper or case.

1. Download the iPhone 4 Case Program app from the App Store.
2. Launch the app on your iPhone 4 and sign in using your iTunes Store account or Apple ID.
3. Select your Bumper or case.

For iPhone 4 purchases made before July 23, 2010, you must apply no later than August 22, 2010; otherwise, you must apply within 30 days of your iPhone 4 purchase. To qualify for this program, you must purchase your iPhone 4 by September 30, 2010.

Apple to give away free cases to iPhone 4 users

So, Apple is going to do what everyone has been saying they should do all along: give away free cases for your iPhone 4 (or refund the cost of your existing case). Obviously, the antenna problem has been way overblown, but I'm glad Apple is doing the right thing.

The iPhone 4 Antenna Song

As we wait to hear what Apple's big announcement is today about the iPhone 4 antenna, here's a song to keep you occupied.

Cheap fix for the iPhone 4 Antenna Problem

Engadget has a post today about that nasty iPhone 4 antenna problem which is serious enough to drive me to switch to Android if they don't fix it by year's end) and a cheap and easy way to fix it. No need to spend $30 on those bumpers that Apple sells. Apparently those silicone awareness bracelets that are so popuar are a perfect fit on the new phone. Just a small slit for the speakers and data port, and you're ready to make phone calls again!

Former lab consultants create iPhone game!

Former lab consultants Michael Highland and Keith McKnight are working on an iPhone game called Hipster City Cycle, to be released later this year.

They were featured this week in the Daily Pennsylvanian ("Alumni's iPhone game explores the Phila. streets") and in Philly tech blog Technically Philly ("Shop Talk: The DIY game-makers of Port127")

Here's a screenshot of the game (I love Keith's pixel art. You may have noticed we have a cover of 34th Street magazine he created hanging on the bulletin board in the lab):


Most importantly (I'm totally burying the lead here, I know), they're having a contest where you can submit your photo and they'll turn you into a pixel person (see below for examples) and you could end up in the game itself! (I already submitted my photo. Wish me luck!) Check out the details at http://www.hipstercitycycle.com/pixelateme/ And most importantly, make sure you buy the game when it comes out. You can be sure we'll announce it here when the game hits the app store in the Fall.

Come try our iPad!

Yes, we've got an iPad. Just ask the lab consultant on duty if you'd like to try it out.

I'll have a short review of it sometime in the coming week, which I'll post here, and I hope we'll be offering a lunchtime session to anybody who'd like to come by, ask questions, and try it out!

iPad

Ok, so who's getting one?







Links:

• The official iPad site
• Watch the entire Apple Keynote
• 11 things that suck about the apple iPad
• Adobe responds to the lack of Flash
• The Gadget we never knew we needed
• iLounge's iPad photo set on Flickr

Google Voice comes to iPhone and Palm WebOS

It's about time. Apple previously denied Google's application for a Google Voice iPhone app, so this is a web-app. See video and web link below for details.



http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/01/google-voice-comes-to-iphone-and-palm.html

Of course you know, this means war...

Oh i just love this. Adobe has apparently decided to let iPhone users where the real blame lies in the fact that they can't run Flash apps on their device:

My guess is that most disgruntled iPhone users (such as myself) were already aware that the fault lies with Apple, but Adobe is now clarifying for the masses. Adobe is clearly champing at the bit to make Flash available for iPhone users like you and me, so why won't Apple allow it?

(diatribe begins here.)

Easy: Money. SURPRISE! Flash opens up a whole new way for application developers to get their software onto your iPhone--without having to go through the iPhone App Store. Combine that with Apple's unwillingness to loosen its iron grip on control of everything that goes onto your phone, and you end up with the current situation.

To be fair, the iPhone wouldn't be anywhere near as popular as it is now without the app store, and the App Store wouldn't be as popular as it is now if Apple let every Tom, Dick, and Harry upload their crappy, bug-ridden software for you to download and crash your phone with.

Still, it all seems a little too parental to me. It's MY phone. Let me put what I want on it, and given the number of Flash-dependent websites out there (after all, 98 plus percent of desktops already have Flash installed. Apple actually had to stop airing an ad in the UK claiming “All the parts of the internet are on the iPhone=” because the lack of Flash and Java support were enough to get the ad yanked), it shouldn't be too surprising that I want Flash! So open up your email client and let Apple know they should get on the ball on this one. Or maybe better yet, write to Adobe and tell them you love their new error message!

iPhone OS 3.1 update

From ISC on iPhone OS 3.1:

As many of you are already aware, Apple has released OS 3.1 for the iPhone and the iPod Touch. This release has a few new features and bug fixes, but most relevant here at Penn is that OS 3.1 addresses the problem where 3.0 devices would constantly disassociate from AirPennNet.

Information Systems and Computing has tested this release thoroughly and generally found it to be a stable release, well-worth the download. However, please keep in mind that if previous releases are any indicator, the download servers will be swamped and activations may take a while. For users who are not in desperate need of the AirPennNet fix, it may be best to wait a couple of days before upgrading to 3.1

iPhone Art

I rather enjoyed these iPhone sketches Jorge Colombo did for the New Yorker:



He used an app called Brushes. There's also a Flickr group devoted to drawings created with the same app.