Full FeedData loss from App Store updates
Apple supplied developers with a mechanism for developers to update their apps with through the App Store on the iPhone/iPod Touch. When an update is available, users can either download them through the mobile App Store on their iPhone, or will be prompted to download it in the iTunes Store. One thing they didn’t test is the save data created by the apps.
For example, saved data in games, log-in information in web applications and other data created or stored in the app is lost when updated. This “feature” of updating becomes a major annoyance; especially for those not wanting to start games over again. All that’s needed is for the saved data to be stored in a location away from the app file itself. Currently, the app gets overwritten with the updated app and all personal data within the app is lost (see Is there an iPhone app update bug?). I’m sure Apple are working on a solution for this (possible in the forthcoming iPhone 2.1 update). If not, they need to start now.
Via [TUAW]
RelatedRumor: Orange to offer iPhone in UK?
Orange is one of the UK’s leading networks, along with O2—who are currently supplying iPhones to customers in the UK. A report from this morning reveals that Orange may join O2 in providing the UK with iPhones; perhaps as soon as October this year. If this were to go ahead, it would be the first country where more than one network carried the iPhone.
Electric Pig, a fairly reputable tech news website in the UK, published the claims of the website Omio who have spoken with a “very, very credible source on the inside that the iPhone 3G will be available on Orange in the UK, possibly as soon as October.”
Orange is already the selected carrier for the iPhone in France, Austria, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland and Africa.
Adding an extra network carrying the iPhone in the UK could boost sales of the device, especially if Orange were to bring more competitive pricing plans than O2. It will be interesting to see what happens as Apple increases their demand for a secure market share everywhere in the world.
Via [Macworld UK]
RelatedKavaSoft releases KavaTunes 3.2, the web jukebox for iTunes
KavaSoft have just released the latest version of their web jukebox for iTunes: KavaTunes 3.2. KavaTunes is essentially a web app that looks and works just like iTunes, meaning that you can browse, search and play your iTunes library from any web browser, anywhere in the world. KavaTunes also features continuous playback, which means songs will play one after another in a playlist automatically—without any gaps. If you want album artwork added to your library, KavaTunes can do that too. Web catalogs that resemble the iPod’s interface can be created; visitors can play music via this interface. Your personalised home page shows your music taste through several different categories: most played artists, recently added albums, recently played songs and top rated albums. If visitors like what they’re hearing, they can click a link to buy it from the iTunes Store.
KavaTunes 3.2 brings a re-designed music preference pane, which gives the option of whether vistiors can download music from the site. The volume of playback can also be customised. KavaTunes costs £35, and can be purchased from their website.
Via [MacMegaSite]
RelatedRulers for everyone
IconFactory makes a great universal tool for designers called xScope — for people who constantly use this kind of tool, it’s a worthwhile investment. But, a new app now gives you similar functionality — for free. Rulers provides a subset of xScopes useful features in an easy-to-read format. Photoshop-style rulers appear at the side and top of your screen for accurate positioning, and the HUD gives precise cursor coordinates with a magnifying glass option.
Rulers also has the capability to take screenshots and auto-measure — similar to the “Dimensions” mode on xScope. You can quickly determine the size of anything on-screen by using this. When Rulers is the active application, holding Command+A will bring up the cross-hairs and measurement for the area surrounding the cursor.
This useful app, that delivers almost all the features and functionality of xScope is completely free. An excellent tool for those wanting to get into web design on a low budget. You can download it from Omnidea.
RelatedO2 offering iPhone pre-registration from 1 July
A recent report has said that O2 will be offering iPhone pre-registration from 1st July, letting UK customers have their contract set-up and be given a unique registration code. Customers won’t be paying for the contract until they return to an O2 Store on July 11th to receive their iPhone 3G handset. O2 stores are expected to be open at 7AM on the iPhone 3G’s launch day, according to the MacRumors report—the source reportedly being an O2 employee.
O2’s Ireland website also shows the following message:
iPhone 3G will be available exclusively from O2 Retail, O2.ie and Carphone Warehouse stores. It will be available to pre-order from 1 July.
This adds some more legitimacy to the report. UK customers finally seem to be getting a good deal from O2, with reduced price plans, a pay-as-you-go option, and free Cloud and BT Openzone access.
Via [Macworld UK]
RelatedApimac Compress Files now uses AES-256 encryption for zip files
Apimac has just released new versions of its Compress Files utility, which allows compressing, archiving, and encryption of files. Along with some of the other features, a notable addition is support for AES-256 encryption for zip files.
Compress Files allows users to create a compressed file in any of the following formats: Zip, TAR, Gzip, Bzip2, Xar, 7zip and Compressed Disk Image (DMG). The encrypted formats are: Zip, DMG and 7zip. Version ‘08 release 2 brings:
- Xar version 1.5.2.
- Crypted Zip files now use AES-256
- Improved AppleScript dictionary for automated e-mail and archive actions
- Customisation in contextual menus
- And, of course, bug fixes
Since 1996, Apimac has been developing award-winning software for the Mac platform. Some of their best software includes Mac Notepad, Clean Text, Apimac Slideshow and Secret Folder. Compress FIles costs around $27 for a single user license from their website. They also have a free trial version available.
Product [Compress Files]
RelatedMicrosoft Messenger 7 released
Mac users have always been a step behind in Microsoft’s Windows Live Messenger service software; I was hoping Messenger 7 would bring us up-to-date with the Windows users, but it seems this is just a minor update. Users are presented with the familiar Microsoft Messenger interface, which now has a new icon and a search bar at the top of the contact list, along with a better notifications dialog box, but these are the only noticeable changes.
Messenger now includes Bonjour support, so you can chat over your local network without needing an internet connection. There is also now the option to give your contacts a nickname. I find this especially useful, because a lot of Windows Live users don’t use their real names as display names; this lets you add the real name.
This isn’t an impressive update to Microsoft Messenger, but it’s definitely a lot better than the previous version. If you’re a current user of it, there is no auto-update, so you’ll have to download it here.
RelatedATI Radeon HD 3870 for Mac Pro ships late June
Mac Pro users will be able to upgrade to ATI’s Radeon HD 3870 in June, one of their flagship graphics cards ideal for gaming and high-definition video editing. The card will be optimised for use with a Mac Pro, featuring 256-bit 512MB GDDR4 memory, and 320 stream processors, which bring maximum performance for graphics-intensive software such as 3D design, games and animation. The card also features a dual-link DVI port, which allows you to connect two displays—up to a resolution of 2650x1600 on each screen (that’s two 30-inch Apple Cinema Displays).
The forthcoming card also features ATI’s Unified Shader Architecture with PCI Express 2.0 support. Both of these will extend the gaming capabilities of a Mac Pro, enabling higher resolutions and more textures to be rendered in less time. ATI claims the card is outstandingly efficient, with “twice the processing performance-per-watt compared to previous generations of high-end AMD graphics processors.” It will cost $219 in the US, and ships worldwide in late June.
Via [Macworld UK]
RelatedWatch Steve Jobs unveil iPhone 3G in HD
Haven’t watched Monday’s WWDC keynote yet? You may want to check it out now—in glorious high-definition QuickTime video and audio. Apple has quietly added an option to stream the WWDC 2008 keynote in HD to the existing page. I’m not sure why this has been added two days later; perhaps it took more time to encode, or perhaps Apple just didn’t feel like serving HD video on the day they were receiving millions of consecutive hits.
Nonetheless, you can check out both the standard and high-definition streams here. Alternatively, you can download both versions in a video podcast format for those that don’t have a fast enough connection for streaming, or who would like to watch it on their iPod or iPhone. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy watching Steve unveil Apple’s plans for the next year.
Via [MacUser]
RelatedO2 iPhone Wi-Fi includes BT OpenZone, The Cloud
O2 has done a great job of bringing the iPhone’s monthly tarriffs down in price, and now they’re about to give iPhone users free access to BT OpenZone and The Cloud. For those of you outside the UK, or who don’t know, BT Openzone and The Cloud are the two major Wi-Fi hotspot providers in the UK. Almost every restaurant, Starbucks, train station and airport has access to either one of these networks, and iPhone users will have the privilege of accessing them for free.
This addition from O2 brings the number of Wi-Fi hotspots available to UK iPhone users to 9,500. All of these hotspots will be usable by July 11th, when the iPhone 3G is launched worldwide. UK customers can find out more information about the iPhone 3G at O2’s website.
Via [Macworld]
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Black Friday 2009
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iPhone App Reviews
iPhone Apps. They were great when the App Store was first announced and we could all pick and chose what we wanted, but the number is now overwhelming. Here at Appletell, we'll detail the great iPhone apps we find, and steer you clear from those that aren't worth it even if they're free.
iPhone Game Reviews
As Apple turns the iPhone into one of the most popular gaming devices, the staff of Appletell--gamers and Apple fans alike--are here to help you get the most entertainment value out of your app store purchases.
