Macgasm

Another day, another iPad app preview. Normally we just skip over them, but this one’s so cool we just had to pass it along. Chilli X has sent us some screenshots of their PhotoFramePlus application, and I have to say, they look pretty.

Part of me wonders if photo frame applications are going to be the new flashlight, but if I were a betting man, I’d bet that this frame application is going to do quite well.

If you haven’t heard yet, and you probably should have considering the Apple echo-chamber was in full effect yesterday, developers have decided that HD should be the designation that separates iPhone apps from iPad only apps. If it’s HD, it’s iPad only.

The HD kinda makes sense, if you can resign yourself to believe that 1024×768 is High Definition, unless HD really stands for Higher Definition, which may be an even more appropriate term, but I digress.

Didn’t we just finish fighting a DRM war where we, as a society, determined that forcing consumers to buy a song for my desktop, then buy it again for iPod was garbage? I think we did, and I’m pretty sure we won that battle. Doesn’t HD just mean buy this second version of our game for your iPad?

It kinda looks like it.

I worry that this makes it easier to charge people two, maybe three times for the same software package. How would you feel about that as a user?

Are HD apps differentiated from regular apps?

If developers want to do this right, they need to take a step back for a second and figure out if they want to port their iPhone app to the iPad, or seize the opportunity to add something new to the iPad version. If it’s the previous, some people are going to be awfully pissed, which is nothing new on the internet. But, people can be awfully vocal when they’re passionate about something.

Apple’s taken an interesting approach when it comes to using their software on two of your machines. For instance, you can run Final Cut Express on your iMac, and then use the same serial code for your MacBook. Works fine, but there’s a catch. You can’t use Final Cut Express on both the iMac and the MacBook at the same time. It’s the perfect solution, and a lot of people don’t mind the restrictions because it makes perfect sense.

If you’re trying to use both computers at the same time, there’s probably a good chance a second person is using the application, and if that’s the case, you should probably be paying for another license.

So, if HD apps turn out to be direct ports of iPhone apps, wouldn’t that be a step away from the traditional software license approach of letting a consumer use an app on all their personal machines?

Only time will tell.

The framework exists in the SDK to make universal apps, and support for universal apps is present, despite the “ghetto” approach. So, if developers start releasing ported copies of their app for the iPhone and iPad, don’t believe for a second that a universal application isn’t possible.

There is a financial incentive to release separate iPad and iPhone apps, and better pricing controls remains the key component for most developers. We can’t blame them, alternative revenue streams will certainly help fund the development of their applications, and that’s something we can get behind.

The developer we peppered with questions clearly gets it. He mentioned that there’s an opportunity to use the iPad to provide a different experience for the user, an experience that would be unique on the device, something new, something better. If most developers believe this, most consumers will have no problem paying for an iPad version of their favourite iPhone apps. Give me something new, and I’ll open up my wallet.

What’s better for the consumer?

The developer we interviewed was quick to note that developers developing separate apps for the iPhone and the iPad shouldn’t be directly porting their apps from one device to another. He certainly isn’t, and he hopes his compatriots aren’t either. Apple’s encouraging users to create new versions of their apps, and they’re hoping that developers will help differentiate the iPad from the iPhone. Our interviewee also pointed out that people also expect the first week to be a giant cash grab when the iPad apps are introduced into the AppStore. He warned about not gauging trends in the first week alone, and that we should let the AppStore stabilize itself before we start judging the quality of applications in the AppStore.

Final thoughts

I really hope that the HD editions of the apps that were leaked weren’t just ports of the iPhone versions, because if they were it’s going to set a serious precedent in the AppStore. As consumers, we want innovative, value filled applications and games, not direct ports from other sources, especially if we already paid for that application once on the iPhone. Blow our socks off, give us something new and exciting and we’ll gladly pay the 5, 10, or 15 dollar price tag you slap on the application, but if you give me more of the same, I’ll just keep using my iPhone apps instead.

Voice Changer Plus (link opens iTunes) is a free voice changing app from Arf Software.  It offers twenty-two different voice morphs in addition to your original voice.  When you open the app, you are presented with a simple interface that shows a record button and a scroll wheel for choosing different voices.  Hit the record button and a new screen pops up with an audio window that graphically depicts your volume.  When you are done recording, another screen opens and plays your voice.  You can easily switch between voices by clicking “Change Voice” and choosing a new sound.  Changing voices can take several seconds depending on how long your recording is.

Upgrade Features Screen

That’s pretty much all the app does.  You can’t save recordings or do anything with them unless you purchase an in-app upgrade. For $1.99 you get eighteen more voice changes and the ability to save and organize your recordings.  You can then email your voices and/or create ringtones with them, though the ringtone feature requires a third generation iPod Touch or the iPhone 3GS.

What’s Macgasmic:  If you want a simple voice changing app with which to entertain your kids or your friends, then this free application from Arf will do nicely.  It offers a decent range of morphs and is simple to use.

What’s Not:  Unfortunately, the app offers few features.  I could see little kids playing with it for awhile, but its fun-factor is limited by the fact that you can’t save your recordings or do anything with them unless you pay for the upgrade.  Some of the voices don’t sound anything like what they supposedly imitate.  For example, the chipmunk voice sounds like you’re talking into a tin can (and Alvin is nowhere to be found).  The sound quality in general is mediocre.

A major annoyance is the banner at the bottom of the screen which constantly informs you about the upgrade features available for $1.99.  The reminders go away only if you purchase the upgrade. I realize this is one way the developer can make money off his/her app, but the constant reminders are unnecessary.  A simple information button that sends the user to a screen with the upgrade features would be less invasive.

Voice Changer Plus is a very basic voice morphing app.  Apparently, the “plus” in the name refers to the paid upgrade because the free version offers no real plusses.  The app offers some entertainment value, but, unless you’re willing to shell out $1.99 for the upgrade, it isn’t likely Voice Changer Plus will engage you (or your kids) for very long.

I did an interview with Dr. Memon about his iPhone application called iSignOn. It took place over the phone, and it lasted about 18 minutes. Please take a listen to learn how the technology behind the app works.

[Download - 2.1 MB]

So far we know that the only place to get an iPad on launch day is at the Apple Store, or if you pre-ordered one it will come to the house for delivery.  Not even Amazon will have the iPad available on launch day.  As a matter of fact Amazon had the iPad searchable on their site for a brief moment, but now it is no longer searchable, unless you marked it as “Notify Me When Available, when it was searchable.  So, who would have guessed that Best Buy will have the iPads available on launch day.  If I were you I wouldn’t get too excited about that.

Robin Wauters of Tech Crunch is reporting that Best Buy will have the iPads available on launch day.  However, here’s the kicker,  only Best Buy’s that have Apple Stations with an Apple Solution Consultant will be receiving the iPads.  Plus Best Buy is only going to receive fifteen iPads per store.  Amongst the fifteen iPads, they are evenly distributed between the three storage capacities.  What does this mean for the eager iPad customer, it means that there will only be five iPads per storage capacity.  So, Best Buy will only have five 16GB, five 32GB, and five 64GB iPads to sell to you.  This is only for the initial release.

Tech Crunch goes on to site a TUAW report on how many Best Buy stores will be selling the iPad:

“…only Best Buy stores with badged Apple Solutions Consultants (ASC) and “Apple Shops” will be carrying the iPad devices, which equates to roughly 675 stores total.”

There’s no word if Best Buy is going to have people lining up days before the iPad goes on sale.  However, you will probably see people that missed the pre-order window in line at Best Buy vying for one of five different capacity iPads.

One note I’d like to bring up about purchasing any Apple product including the iPad at Best Buy, do not purchase their store warranty.  It is not an AppleCare warranty.  They will say that they will work on it, or send it out if they can’t fix it.  To be honest I would only want an Apple Genius working on my iPad, and not a member of the Geek Squad.  If you purchase the iPad from an Apple Solutions Consultant, they will more than likely suggest that you purchase the AppleCare warranty.  Where you will get hit up with someone asking you if you want to purchase Best Buy’s warranty is at checkout.  With that said, the decision is up to you.  I have personally never been dissatisfied with an AppleCare’s warranty.

Another thing about getting an iPad on launch day, the Apple Stores will be selling iPads that were reserved but not picked up.  Reservations will be held from 9:00am to 3:00pm.  After that it’s first come, first serve.  So, if someone did not pick up their reserved iPad you’ll be in luck.

Whether you decide to fight the crowds at Best Buy for the only fifteen iPads they have, or you decide to try your luck at an Apple Store after 3:00pm.  Keep in mind that Apple will be selling more iPads as they become available.  Have you pre-ordered, or reserved your iPad at an Apple Store?  Or, are you going to try and get one at Best Buy?.  I’d like to know how you’ll be getting your shinny new iPad.  Leave a comment in the comments section below, and let us know where you’re getting your iPad at.

Photo Credit: best-buy-logo

Article via Tech Crunch & TUAW

Instapaper, by definition, is a tool to save web articles and web content that you want to read later.

Essentially, when you find something while doing your interweb browsing that you’d like to read later, you can use the Instapaper “Read Later” browser bookmarklet, and it will save the content and sync it to your iPhone. Now that is cool.

So, how does this magical trickery work? First and foremost, you’ll need an account at Instapaper.com. Don’t worry, it’s free.

After you set up your account, you’ll need to download the Read Later bookmark plugin for your browser. The plugin is available for Safari, Firefox and IE, but Safari and Firefox are preferred.

Next, you’ll want to go to the iPhone App Store and download the Instapaper app. After you’ve done all that, you’re pretty much ready to go and start reading and syncing your web content offline.

Not only can you grab content from the various websites you visit, you can also send items directly from within Google Reader. Trust me, I practically LIVE in Google Reader and was blown away when I learned of that functionality, but really that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Since the developer, Marco Arment, has graciously released th application API there is a wide ranging list of feed-reading, Twitter and social news apps that support sending pages directly to Instapaper.

Instapaper works on WiFi, Edge, and 3G, which is good for those times when you may not be in the best cellular reception area. Even with those network limitations, Instapaper has you covered. Through your Instapaper.com browser based account settings you’re able to specify precisely how text should be parsed on your mobile device:

• The New Text Parser With Images removes most text from the output that’s unlikely to be the article’s body. Retaining some images
• The Original Text Parser leaves more text, even if it’s not part of the article’s body, and also strips all images

That’s cool and all, and you can probably tell by my tone that I’m a fan of this app, but where I think Instapaper stands out is in its ability to automatically delivery wireless content to the majority of the top tier e-book readers. By providing Kindle-compatible files, users can do one of two things with Instapaper:

• Transfer text files via USB
• Set up wireless delivery to automatically send your most recent Instapaper stories every day or week (Note: Amazon charges for each wireless delivery and there are restrictions depending on what country you live in)

Don’t have a Kindle? No problem. ePub files are provided to support devices such as the Sony Readers and the Barnes & Noble Nook.

Watch this brief video created by the developer as he shows the usability of the app and how it integrates quite nicely with how you read web content on your iPhone. Very slick and makes the Pro upgrade pricing seem worth the $5 price:

For the Pro version visit the App Store here. If you don’t need all of that functionality, the free version is also available in the App Store here.

Are you planning on getting an iPad? Instapaper will be there as well (see the preview image below):

Photo Credit: tjshirey

iSignOn is a $3.99 password management system that has a unique take on a very common problem. Instead of entering all of your passwords over and over each time you visit a different site, iSignOn will keep track of your passwords for sites like GMail, Facebook, and Twitter. Unlike apps like 1Password Pro, you don’t secure your password wallet with another password. Instead, you access your passwords simply with your signature.

After training the application with five attempts of the same signature, it will recognize only the way you draw your name with your finger. If other people try, it is unlikely for them to gain access. Not only does the application gauge the shape of your signature, but it also recognizes the speed and direction of movement. The more similar your signatures are while training, the less likely you are to get false positives. Sadly, that also means that you’re more likely to get false negatives. So, what do you do if the app decides that your signature just doesn’t cut it? You can always fall back to a master password like other applications have.

I wholeheartedly suggest you go from $4 for this application. Not only will you be impressed with the implementation, but you’ll also be supporting small, interesting software. If you want to see a version for the Android platform or your MacBook, you need to go support this version. If the iPhone version doesn’t get enough traction, it is unlikely that we’ll see it ported any time soon.

If you’d like to know a little bit more about the background of the developers, you can visit their About Us page. If you need help with the application itself, head straight for their Help page.

Many thanks go out to Hallie Kapner for sending me the tip about this application, and getting me in contact with one of the creators.

Want to know more? I did an interview with Dr. Nasir Memon from New York University. He helped design the technology behind the application, and he has quite a few insights. Look forward to hearing the interview in the following days.

Want to see the application in full swing? Check out this YouTube video that demos the entire application:

Photo Credit: Hammer51012

People have been reporting that Apple’s begun shipping off pre-ordered iPads to customers around the US. iPad day is quickly approaching, and Apple’s decided that now is the time to release some promotional videos on their website.

If you want to see how Safari, Mail, Pages, or any of the other dedicated Apple apps work on the iPad, you’re in luck. They have a bunch of videos (approx. 2mins each) up on their site. They’re pretty informational, and if you’re still on the fence about whether or not this device can be used in your workflow, I’d recommend giving them all a watch.