Macgasm

Airfoil Speakers is an app from Rogue Amoeba that lets you turn your device into an AirPlay receiver. The iOS version has been in the app store since 2009, but unfortunately that has changed as of today.

Paul Kafasis, Rogue Amoeba:

This highlights one of the biggest issues for developers on the app store. Even if you follow all of Apple’s written guidelines, they still have ultimate say on your fate. Sadly, they have shown that they aren’t worried about removing apps for seemingly arbitrary reasons or no reason at all. Apple controls the vertical and the horizontal, and sometimes that means developers (and users) get the short end of the stick. Let’s hope that Apple reverses their decision here so we can get back to rocking out using AirPlay.

The iPhone 4 and, to a greater extent, the iPhone 4S are excellent point and shoot cameras. For most cases, they are exactly what you want in a camera. Your phone is always with you, it is easy to go from 0 to record, and the clarity is acceptable in pretty much all situations. But what about some edge cases? Should you really buy a whole other camera when you’re mostly content with your iPhone? Well, consider the Olloclip.

Originally a Kickstarter project, the Olloclip is now available at good ol’ Thinkgeek for only $69.99 USD. This quick-connect lens system that attaches to your phone comes with three different lenses for your photographic fringe cases. Wide-angle, fisheye, and macro lenses can easily be attached to your iPhone in a snap, and you’re good to go. When you just can’t get that small knick-knack in focus, switch to the macro lens, and the problem is solved. When you need to take a group shot, switch to the wide-angle lens, and your iPhone becomes the best consumer camera you’ve ever owned.

If you like the Olloclip, or any other product we cover, please take a moment to hit us up on Twitter. When you take the time to give us feedback, our coverage will get even better, so don’t hesitate. We love to hear from readers.

Today Bump has announced that it will begin letting its customers Bump photos directly from a mobile handset (iPhone, Android) to a computer. You can now head to their website http://bu.mp, select the photos you want to send in the Bump application on your iPhone, and then tap the spacebar with your phone, or finger.

From The Bump Blog:

It’s pretty snazzy, and it looks like it’s going to be a great way to share your photos with friends and family without having to send an iMessage or email. It’s pretty damn cool. Just make sure you don’t deny the bu.mp website access to your currently location in Safari. The app won’t work without access to your location. Learnt that one the hard way.

The Malkovich gets his very own Siri advertisements. They’re pretty hilarious in a Malkovich kind of way. And no, the title isn’t a typo.

Check out the videos

Traditional means of communicating on mobile devices and computers have often followed very distinctive paths historically. Until recently, the mobile phone was based around text messages and voice chats; however, on the computer it’s been video chats and instant messaging for quite some time now. Now that we have personal computers as our telephones, why hasn’t anyone come along and merged all of these communication methods into an easy to use application, one mobile communications app to rule them all?

I’ve been saying for over a year now that Messages and FaceTime needed to be integrated, then technologies like iMessage/SMS need to find their way into iChat as well. We don’t need one application for each communication medium. What we need is one communication medium that wraps all of the other mediums into one all powerful communicating application. We’re almost there, with iMessages heading to OS X, and FaceTime getting integrated into the Contacts app in iOS. It’s time we merge these beasts entirely, once and for all.

John Herman over at Buzzfeed has put together an interesting concept that places text messages, FaceTime and file transfers directly into one application. Alongside the FaceTime video is a button for the telephone, access to contacts, and a history of previous SMS/iMessages messages sent between contacts. It certainly makes sense.

Shut up and take my money already. I’d pay for that app.

If Apple’s serious about bringing iOS back to the Mac, and a little more OS X to iOS, they’d be smart to reevaluate how we communicate in 2012 and then rebuild the tools we have to make those kinds of connections with friends and family a whole lot better. One app to rule them all, one app to find them.

If you need to keep track of your environment from afar, your options aren’t great. Multiple devices would need to be purchased, assembled, and a workflow would need to be thought out on how to combine all of the data and send it to you. Knut is looking to make it simpler.

Knut is a tiny little sensor hub that operates on two AAA batteries, connects to your Wi-Fi network, and sends you the data it collects. A thermometer and battery level sensor are built into the device, and then additional sensors can be attached.

Here are the additional sensors they’re currently making available for Knut:

• Waterproof thermometer
• Humidity sensor
• 3-Axis Accelerometer
• Door switch sensor
• Water pressure sensor
• A breakout board (A device that allows you to attach your own sensors to the Knut)

Once it collects enough data, it then sends it as a CSV file to a designated email address over your local Wi-Fi network. Sadly, the device is 802.11b-only, but should spend most of its time sleeping, so it shouldn’t drag down your G or N networks too much. Then, you can view and manipulate the data using the Knut app on Windows, OS X, iOS, and Android.

If you want a Knut of your own, you need to pledge $95 or more on Kickstarter. Shipping is free in the US, $10 USD for Candian shipping, and $15 USD for shipping elsewhere. As of writing, they have raised just under $10,000 of their $25,000 USD minimum funding goal. The project ends on July 5th, so don’t wait too long to order yours. [...]

If you like the idea of a kind-of steampunk iPhone, this case will tickle your fancy. Available from Zazzle, this Rotary Dial iPhone Case brings the ascetic appeal of an old-fashioned rotary telephone to the back of your iPhone. Combined with the Rotary Dialer app for only $0.99 USD, you’re in good shape in the retro department.

If you want your very own Rotary iPhone case, you’re going to need to drop $51.40 on Zazzle.com. Shipping and handling prices will vary, and don’t expect international shipping to be cheap. That said, you can almost always find a decent deal for Zazzle on RetailMeNot.com.

Is this the iPhone case of your dreams, or are you much too hip and modern? Maybe you prefer something else? If you think you’ve found a case that we should know about, don’t hesitate to drop us a tip. We love to hear from readers, and we’ll certainly credit you if you spur us to write an article about something.

Flipboard is a fantastic interface to your world online. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Reader, and anything else you’re into can be tossed into Flipboard and made into a glossy magazine. The one aspect of social media that it was missing was audio. As of today, Flipboard now integrates with Soundcloud so you can listen to the jams and podcasts that your friends and favorite artists create right inside of Flipboard. Never before has there been such a wonderful app to experience your favorite media in one place. Included with the Soundcloud integration are dozens of recommended audio feeds for your listening pleasure right in the content guide.

Worth noting is the addition of VoiceOver support in this version of Flipboard. Now visually impaired iOS users can more easily navigate Flipboard so they enjoy great content right alongside of people with normal vision. It’s nice to see an effort to serve the disabled, and we certainly would like to see more like this in all applications across the board.

Also in this update is Readability support, Japanese localization, and the ability to drill down into separate sections of social networks on the iPhone version of Flipboard. As always, Flipboard is completely free, and there is no indication of how they ever plan to make money.