Macgasm

During his WWDC 2010 keynote, Steve Jobs himself broke down what the App Store approval process entails. If I recall correctly, he mentioned that 95 percent of all apps submitted get approved within the first seven days.

That being said, let’s hope that the latest submission by the folks at Mozilla gets pushed through soon. According to the Mozilla project’s blog, Firefox Home was submitted to the Apple App Store today.

The promise of Firefox Home is to provide you access to your Firefox desktop history, bookmarks and even open tabs directly on your iPhone.

Firefox Home uses your browser data, securely synced from Firefox on your desktop to those big computers in the sky, allowing you the ability to “search and browse quickly and efficiently…”

The interesting and obvious paradox here is that there is no Firefox browser for the iPhone, so all this browsing and syncing happens in the Firefox Home app, but launches Mobile Safari when you want to access the internet.

Check the video below to see an example of the app in use.

If you’re considering using this app, you may want to get th Firefox Sync extension loaded into your desktop browser since the sync capabilities are tied to that tool.

When approved, this app will be free and be available to iPhone and iPod Touch users.

In a tweet on the official Telltale Games twitter account, it is made clear that Nelson Tethers: Puzzle Agent is on the brink of release. Also, the International House of Mojo blog has a running list of reviews that started coming out today. Apparently, the embargo is over for reviewers that got the game ahead of time. Telltale still refuses to contact us despite our incessant coverage of their games on OS X and iOS. Why buy the cow, right?

In any case, I’m still excited for this game to be released if for no other reason than it’s potential success could lead to even more quirky games being made. You can purchase the game now for only $9.95 at Telltale’s store. If you’re a fan of the puzzle genre, you need to jump on this ASAP.

What do you think of the screenshots, trailers, and reviews we’ve seen so far? Does any of it intrigue you? Let us know by leaving a comment on this post, or you can tweet me your thoughts.

The update for Wired is here! That basically means the July edition of the magazine. It’s now a free app, and within it you can purchase the magazines. If you already had the June issue it is there as a free download for you. But you have to re-download it.

I’m glad they’re making future magazine editions as in app purchases. With some magazines (Time) you have to buy each magazine as an individual app. I won’t do that because it’s just to messy on my device so I don’t buy them. The only slight problem with this is that Wired seem to have mega sized downloads, this latest one clocking in at 337MB so at some point I’m sure the device will start to heave under the strain of all these Wired magazines.

Also, I’m not sure how they are going to handle the problem of updating their information on the app store. As it stands, the app description has generic app details, then current issue details, then the details of the last edition. This clearly needs a rethink.

When you launch the app after the update, you have 3 panels. The first is ‘iPad Edition Free Preview’. This has a download link with it so you can nab it if you like. It’s 51MBs. The second panel is the June issue, that I had initially bought, and the third panel is the next issue with the option to purchase at $3.99. They haven’t yet integrated a subscription option so this may feature in a new update at some point.

Current comments on the App Store suggest that the downloading of the June edition is causing people problems. Having to re download the initial 500MB magazine is also another reason people aren’t happy with it. Or – like me, I had to delete the first one. At 500MBs it was just too large too keep.

There are also a lot of comments about the number of ads in it. Many customers wondering with far less overheads if we should get a larger price cut or a reduction in ads. We don’t accept ads in our apps once we pay for them so there seems to be a number of disgruntled users.

Although I liked the first issue, and had to have it too see what the fuss was about, I find myself spending a lot of time tapping everything, or pressing and holding or pinching and zooming just to see if it “does” anything. I guess I’m wondering if I am expecting it to be all singing all dancing, and if it isn’t, I am left underwhelmed. Should I treat it like a paper based magazine or is this the start of a new wave of publishing?

How do you read these magazines? Are you wanting more interaction or do you just like to read all the information? Should they change the way digital magazines are published? Are they just glorified PDFs?

via/ justanotheripadblog.com

When you follow a niche like Italian cars, international cricket, or Apple news, you’re going to find yourself in the middle of a lot of nonsense. You subscribe to a handful of “News sources,” and they are tasked with feeding a lot of “News” without much to actually talk about. Sure, there will be a new car, a controversial call from a referee, or a Stevenote a couple of times a year. Outside of that, the sources are left scrambling for things to discuss. The consumer demands content, but there is no actual content to be provided. That’s when the sources manufacture things to write about.

Forty-some weeks out of the year, we’re left dangling in the wind without any worthwhile news. We react by finding a rumor, reporting it, and then spewing it all through the echo chamber that is Apple news. The readers react to it because they are like junkies that have gone a couple hours without a hit from the pipe. They like Apple news, and they’ll take fake Apple news when the real McCoy isn’t available. It is a nauseous cycle of ferocious demand with very little supply to speak of.

I try to provide content that is actually interesting. I don’t always succeed, but I believe I am ahead of the game. I’m ahead because I recognize and acknowledge the bullshit that goes along with my job. I’m in doubt that the majority of Apple writers can say this about themselves.

I respect you, and I try to respect myself. I promise that I will work my hardest to give you quality articles with the absolute barest minimum of bullshit.

Photo Credit: dynamosquito

Big changes in Apple corporate partnerships are not a usual occurrence. You never expect to see a MacBook Pro show up on your door step with a DELL logo on it instead of the old glowing fruit. But in the case of the iPhone, a big change is highly anticipated. For months now there have been rumors of an addition to Apple’s cell phone providers. While the majority of iPhone users are with AT&T, some are patiently awaiting the release of the iPhone with Verizon.

The months of rumors have baited, excited, tormented, and exhausted Apple nerds who refuse to stay on the AT&T network. After a report from Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner, the figures show some 12 million customers eagerly awaiting the iPhone on their precious Verizon network. With an expected release in 2011 (rumor), the anticipation can only continue to grow until it’s confirmed.

This massive number of people could possibly generate an additional $7 billion in revenue for Verizon. And, in addition to the 12 million who are waiting, I’d expect some AT&T users to jump ship as well and add to that massive number. Will it put AT&T out of business? Not likely.

Some believe this move will help combat the Android-growing dominance.  With Apple’s continuing “antenna” problems for new iPhone 4 users, it’s possible this help needs to be released sooner rather than later.

With half of 2010 over already, 2011 lurks right around the corner. I can’t help but wonder if this is already under production for an early release in 2011, possibly even early Spring 2011.

Also worth noting are several analysts’ warnings. With any device, it’s not 100% tested until it gets in to the hands of the consumer. With that in mind, they warn (heavily) of issues that will arise for the iPhone with the new technology and components that are needed for the Verizon network. So does this mean that our perfect iPhone will be ready at Verizon in seven to eight months, or is it further off than expected?

Article Via 9to5Mac.

What kind of video have you recorded with your new iPhone 4?  Have you recorded your kids playing in the backyard, or maybe a breaking news event?  Whatever you record is special to you.  You are your own mobile videographer and editor.  How about video recording a music video?  Well, what might be the first music video recorded on an iPhone 4 was done by a band called The Anix.

They recorded the entire music video for their song “Enemy Eyes” on their iPhone 4; however, they did all the editing on their MacBook Pro i7.  Brandon Smith the lead singer of Anix explains the process they went through to film and edit this music video:

“We filmed this entire video using only one iphone 4, literally minutes after taking it out of the box. All we had were tri-pods that we would tape the phone to or anything we could use to keep the phone steady. The song was recorded using Logic 9, on a MacBook Pro i7. As a disclaimer, this was my first attempt at editing/shooting a video, so if it looks like I have no clue what I am doing, you are right.”

It would have been great if they had also edited the video on the iPhone.  But, iMovie might have been too limiting for them.  Below is the video they shot. Enjoy:

This past Sunday my family and I went to Disneyland, and I tried out the video recording capabilities on my new iPhone 4, and I have to say I am really impressed with the video quality that the iPhone 4 outputs.  I filmed and edited the below 32 second clip on my iPhone 4 using iMovie for the iPhone:

This clip was not uploaded from my iPhone to YouTube.  The clip that was seemed to be grainy and hazy.  Even though I exported the video in 720p from iMovie, it didn’t seem to look as good.  I’m guessing it was using compression and that’s what gave it the grainy look. So, I uploaded it from my Mac to YouTube and the results were better.

Photo Credit: overview-hd

Article Via macenstein

Boy Genius Report is claiming that they have received the leaked orders from Apple about the iPhone 4′s reported reception issues. If you were hoping to get a free bumper out of this, you’re pretty much screwed.

Here is the text:

1. Keep all of the positioning statements in the BN handy – your tone when delivering this information is important.
a. The iPhone 4’s wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. Our testing shows that iPhone 4’s overall antenna performance is better than iPhone 3GS.
b. Gripping almost any mobile phone in certain places will reduce its reception. This is true of the iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS, and many other phones we have tested. It is a fact of life in the wireless world.
c. If you are experiencing this on your iPhone 3GS, avoid covering the bottom-right side with your hand.
d. If you are experiencing this on your iPhone 4, avoid covering the black strip in the lower-left corner of the metal band.
e. The use of a case or Bumper that is made out of rubber or plastic may improve wireless performance by keeping your hand from directly covering these areas.

2. Do not perform warranty service. Use the positioning above for any customer questions or concerns.

3. Don’t forget YOU STILL NEED to probe and troubleshoot. If a customer calls about their reception while the phone is sitting on a table (not being held) it is not the metal band.

4. ONLY escalate if the issue exists when the phone is not held AND you cannot resolve it.

5. We ARE NOT appeasing customers with free bumpers – DON’T promise a free bumper to customers.

This is pretty much instructing the Apple employees to kindly tell the whiners to piss off. I can’t say I blame them. “Wah wah! Physical realities limit how I can hold my phone!” Give me a break.

Article Via Boy Genius Report

Delivery Status Touch by Junecloud is a helpful utility to keep track of the shipping of all your packages. Costing $4.99, Delivery Status Touch is a universal app, so it will run on both your iPhone and iPad and you only have to purchase it once. This review will focus on the iPad, but the controls and features are the same on both devices.

Delivery Status Touch is a simple application that delivers big on user interface. When you initially open the application, there isn’t much to see (other than an icon that looks like a package) until you add some deliveries. The app will ask you for your current location and then show it on a map.  The map view takes up most of the screen.  To add a delivery, simply tap on the plus button.  The left column will slide in with a place to enter the shipping company, the name of your item, and the tracking number.

Add Delivery Dialog

Carrier Options

Delivery Status Touch offers a comprehensive list of shipping companies, so you should be able to find yours.  If not, simply choose “other” and provide the relevant information. As soon as you finish entering the information, the app searches for the tracking information. It displays the most up-to-date whereabouts of your package, including the number of days until delivery in the left hand column. On the map, the package’s current location is shown with a green pin as well as the delivery location. On a third pane, located below the map, more information is listed, including the name of the item, the tracking number, when the location was updated, etc.

Tracking Details View

If you tap the button that says “View details online,” the map is replaced with all the tracking information from your carrier’s website. If you wish to email this information, simply tap on the “Share this delivery” button. This is a nice feature if you want to send tracking information to another person who owns Delivery Status Touch. He/she can simply press the button in the email message “Add to Delivery Status” in order to load the information onto his/her iPad or iPhone.

On the upper right hand of the screen is a settings button. Here you have the option to sync your deliveries via Junecloud. What’s nice about this option is that all your deliveries are kept up-to-date across your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. You must create an account with Junecloud in order to use this sync service.

Selecting Push Notifications

Delivery Status Touch can send push notifications to your iPad/iPhone if you sync through Junecloud and have the Mac widget installed on your dashboard. Simply click on the information button on the widget, decide how often you want notifications sent, and check “send notifications to Delivery Status Touch.”

What’s Macgasmic: Delivery Status Touch is a beautifully-conceived application that serves one purpose:  to help you keep track of your packages. If you obsess over when your treasures are going to arrive (I do), this app makes the obsessive process that much more fun.  You can actually watch your package come closer and closer in real time (or at least in carrier update time).  It’s like watching Santa’s journey via Norad, only you don’t have to wait for Christmas Eve! If you own a small business and ship and/or receive multiple items each day, this is a must-have application.

Page Animation

What’s Not: Obviously, having to type a long tracking number into Delivery Status Touch is a pain if you do it by hand. There are, however, a couple of ways around this. You can simply copy the tracking number from the shipping notice email you received when your package is shipped. Or, Junecloud offers a handy bookmarklet you can drag to your bookmarks bar (on your Mac or PC) or add to your bookmarks on your iPad or iPhone. The bookmarklet grabs the necessary information from the carrier’s website once you navigate to the page via your tracking number. It then adds the information to your Junecloud account which then can be synced to your iPad or iPhone.

Delivery Status Touch is a truly useful application for anyone who ships and/or receives lots of packages. I’ve used it on my Mac and iPhone for quite some time now, and I’ve always found it to work flawlessly. On the iPad it’s even better because all the information is displayed on one screen. Delivery Status Touch is available on the App Store for $4.99.