Download Squad http://www.downloadsquad.com Download Squad http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Download Squad http://www.downloadsquad.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[iPhone Rickroll exploit gets nasty, can now steal personal data]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/11/iphone-rickroll-exploit-gets-nasty-can-now-steal-personal-data/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/11/iphone-rickroll-exploit-gets-nasty-can-now-steal-personal-data/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/11/iphone-rickroll-exploit-gets-nasty-can-now-steal-personal-data/#commentsFiled under: ,

What started out as a mostly harmless annoyance coded by a young Australian lad to mess with his friends has turned ugly [Insert your own Rick Astley joke here].

Intego reports that the exploit used by the ikee worm - which only swapped out users' iPhone wallpaper for a mugshot of the ginger king of the 80s - is being used to steal personal data from affected devices.

The worms are only a concern for those running jailbroken iPhone and iPod touches, of course. Still, even at Intego's estimate of 6-8% of those devices being jailbroken that puts the number at risk at well over 2 million.

It's simple enough to protect yourself - all you have to do is change your root password to something other than the default 'alpine.' Our friends at TUAW posted the following instructions:
Type: ssh root@(iPhone IP address)
When prompted for the password type: alpine
Now you're connected the phone...
type: passwd
It should then prompt your for a new password -- type one that you'll remember. There's no easy way to reset it if you forget it.
Turning off SSH is an option, too, but you should still change the password as well.

iPhone Rickroll exploit gets nasty, can now steal personal data originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tweetdeck back in the iPhone app store with new features, fewer bugs]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/11/tweetdeck-back-in-the-iphone-app-store-with-new-features-fewer/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/11/tweetdeck-back-in-the-iphone-app-store-with-new-features-fewer/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/11/tweetdeck-back-in-the-iphone-app-store-with-new-features-fewer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Twitter fanatics were disappointed when the hotly-anticipated update to Tweetdeck's iPhone app was pulled from the app store due to bugs, but it's available again today. The upgrade is a big one, including some of the most important features of the Tweetdeck desktop version. The biggest deal might be Facebook integration, a feature that keeps Tweetdeck competitive with its main desktop rival, Seesmic (which has Facebook support, but has yet to launch an iPhone app).

In addition, Tweetdeck for iPhone now has video uploading via 12Seconds.tv, taking advantage of the video capabilities of the iPhone 3GS. It also uses the device's GPS for a "nearby" feature that lets you read tweets from folks in your vicinity. Although I take every opportunity to bash Twitter's trending topics, fans of that aspect of the service will now find it in Tweetdeck. One feature I won't bash, though, is the address picker, which lets you choose a contact from list so your @replies are without typos.

Combine all those features with details like a landscape keyboard mode and the ability to save drafts, and you've got a pretty solid version 1.1. If you've been using and enjoying Tweetdeck, this update should be some sweet icing on the cake.

Tweetdeck back in the iPhone app store with new features, fewer bugs originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12secondsfacebookiphonetweetdecktwitterWed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Reeder for iPhone lets you read your Google Reader feeds in style]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/10/iphone-google-reader-app-reeder/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/10/iphone-google-reader-app-reeder/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/10/iphone-google-reader-app-reeder/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For the last few weeks I've been looking for a suitable RSS reader application for my iPhone. I've found myself frustrated with long-time favourite NetNewsWire (which currently lacks any of the Google Reader sharing options) and the Google Reader web UI. Much like every Twitter client out there, I've bought my fair share of RSS readers for the iPhone and after much testing I have finally found a new favourite: Reeder.

Reeder [iTunes Link] has all the relevant sharing options I've craved in one place - and best of all is stylish as hell. There's plenty of applications with custom user interfaces on the iPhone - some more successful than others - but Reeder balances the familiar with custom elements, and as a result the interface looks great when browsing (and reading) content.

If I had any complaints about Reeder, it's that the application lacks the ability to view your friends' shared items within the application, but given the sheer style and speed of the application it's a small oversight. If you're looking to pick up a copy of Reeder, the developer has dropped the price to $0.99 until version 1.1 ships - and available now on the App Store.

Reeder for iPhone lets you read your Google Reader feeds in style originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Google ReaderGoogleReaderiPhone RSSIphoneRssRSSTue, 10 Nov 2009 10:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Jailbroken iPhones in Australia getting Rickrolled by a worm]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/08/jailbroken-iphones-in-australia-getting-rickrolled-by-a-worm/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/08/jailbroken-iphones-in-australia-getting-rickrolled-by-a-worm/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/08/jailbroken-iphones-in-australia-getting-rickrolled-by-a-worm/#commentsFiled under: ,

If the possibility of having your jailbroken iPod Touch or iPhone held ransom for 5 Euros wasn't enough of a scare to make you change your root password, maybe this will. Users on an Australian forum site are reporting a new attack - one that's no stranger to love.

You guessed it, the newest attack on jailbroken devices is a wallpaper Rickroll. Along with Rick Astley's devilishly handsome headshot, the image also includes the message "ikee is never gonna give you up."

It's actually a pretty tame attack. There are no reports in the forum of sounds being replaced with that all-to-familiar opening verse or repeated, mind-numbing video assaults.

At least one variation has also popped up. In addition to Astley, one user commented that his image had been changed to a New England Patriots logo.

The moral of the story?

If you jailbreak your iPhone or iPod Touch, make sure you change the root password to something other than alpine so you can avoid the shenanigans.

Jailbroken iPhones in Australia getting Rickrolled by a worm originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneipod touchIpodTouchjailbreakjailbrokenrickrollwormSun, 08 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Balloons: launch a balloon from your iPhone, see who finds it]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/06/balloons-launch-a-balloon-from-your-iphone-see-who-finds-it/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/06/balloons-launch-a-balloon-from-your-iphone-see-who-finds-it/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/06/balloons-launch-a-balloon-from-your-iphone-see-who-finds-it/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you ever let a helium balloon float away when you were a kid and wondered where it eventually ended up, you already know what Balloons for the iPhone is all about. This cute little app lets you launch a virtual balloon with a message and a photo attached. Anyone with the app installed call pull down balloons near them -- Balloons uses the iPhone's location services -- and read messages.

I grabbed a few balloons to see what it was all about, and it was more addictive than I expected. My first balloon was an ad, launched by some marketer near my city (Boo! Hiss!), but then things started getting interesting. I caught a balloon that had drifted from London to Texas to Arizona, picking up new notes along the way. Balloons reminds me of the message-in-a-bottle feeling of the early days of the Internet -- "Hey, who else is out there?"

I tested the Lite version of Balloons, which is free. There's also a $2.99 version that adds the ability to track your balloons, in case you get really serious. TUAW interviewed the developer at this year's WWDC.

Balloons: launch a balloon from your iPhone, see who finds it originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balloonshggiphonemessagesSocialNetworkingFri, 06 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BeeJive iPhone app gets AIM chatroom support, sort of]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/06/beejive-iphone-app-gets-aim-chatroom-support-sort-of/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/06/beejive-iphone-app-gets-aim-chatroom-support-sort-of/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/06/beejive-iphone-app-gets-aim-chatroom-support-sort-of/#commentsFiled under: ,

I once called BeeJive the best chat client for the iPhone, and for good reason: it supports several different chat services, offers push notifications, and has a user interface that makes chatting on the iPhone about as easy as it can feasibly be. BeeJIve just keeps getting better, too. The latest version, 3.1, now supports group chats in AIM ... almost.

Group chats are a great feature that I'm sure Beejive will fully implement soon, but I'm not a fan of the way they work now. To start a group chat, just click the plus button and add multiple contacts. So far, so good, but here's where things get sticky: the only option is a private chatroom. You have to invite contacts to allow them in.

There's also no control over the name of the room. It's just Beejive plus a random string. Also, you'll want to turn notifications off if your room is very active, because having your phone beep or buzz for every message in a fast and furious chat is a wee bit obnoxious.

I know these are all minor quibbles, but it would be great to have a separate "start group chat" button, with the ability to create and name a public room. For now, though, I'm not complaining too much when an already-excellent chat client adds a useful feature it didn't have before.

BeeJive iPhone app gets AIM chatroom support, sort of originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aimbeejivechatchatroomgroup chatGroupChatIMiphoneFri, 06 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Now finally available - ubiquitous media sharing with Orb for Mac]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/05/now-finally-available-media-sharing-with-orb-for-mac/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/05/now-finally-available-media-sharing-with-orb-for-mac/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/05/now-finally-available-media-sharing-with-orb-for-mac/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


It was pretty exciting news at Download Squad to hear Orb, the "sort of software version of Slingbox," was available for Mac. Orb allows you to broadcast your media to any device that has a web browser. After downloading Orb to your "always on" Mac with a high speed internet connection, you can access all your photos, songs, TV shows, and videos from any device with a browser and media player.

After downloading the app, Orb indexes your media and then prompts you to either log in to mycast.orb.com, or create a log in if you don't have an account. After you log in you can see your dashboard and all your media goodies.



Though my songs appeared immediately, my photos did not. There are various feed settings you can play with and channels to explore. Also, with a simple drag drop interface you can share your media with your friends via email, SMS, widget on your blog, or a public URL.



Checking it out from my home computer is one thing, but would it work on other devices? Success! I was able to access my media from my Dell PC.

A note for iPhone owners: The esteemed and indefatigable Jay Hathaway noted that he received errors when he tried to download the free version of OrbLive for the iPhone, which he tried from both his iPhone and his iTunes account on his Mac. There are 3 flavors of Orb available for the iPhone: OrbLive free, OrbMedia ($4.99) and OrbLive ($9.99)

Note to Orb: Please update your landing page to include PC and Mac, ok?

Now finally available - ubiquitous media sharing with Orb for Mac originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphoneMacmedia sharingmedia streamerMediaSharingMediaStreamermobileOrbThu, 05 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Waveboard: Google Wave client now available for iPhone]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/04/waveboard-google-wave-client-now-available-for-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/04/waveboard-google-wave-client-now-available-for-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/04/waveboard-google-wave-client-now-available-for-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,

You may have already figured out that you can use Google Wave in Safari on the iPhone, but now there's a better alternative. Waveboard, one of the early attempts at a desktop Wave client, now has an iPhone app. The Waveboard app will run you 99 cents, but it's a much faster way to check your Waves than loading them up in the built-in browser.

Waveboard basically gives you the same thing you get on the mobile web version of Wave, but also adds some additional features. You can shake your device to logout and reload your Waves, and push notifications are apparently coming soon. It sounds like right now is the time to jump on Waveboard, in case future features come with a higher price.

If you have 40 seconds to kill, and you want to see Waveboard in action, check out the demo video after the jump.

[via TechCrunch]

Continue reading Waveboard: Google Wave client now available for iPhone

Waveboard: Google Wave client now available for iPhone originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>google waveGoogleWaveiphonewavewaveboardWed, 04 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't forget to feed your kids during the economic downturn -- use this iPhone app!!]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/03/dont-forget-to-feed-your-kids-during-the-economic-downturn-u/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/03/dont-forget-to-feed-your-kids-during-the-economic-downturn-u/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/03/dont-forget-to-feed-your-kids-during-the-economic-downturn-u/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I'm not a parent, nor am I kid -- but that doesn't prevent me from appreciating a totally neat iPhone app called 'Kids Eat For' (I guess the domain with 'free' on the end was already taken?)

Basically -- and this is about as basic as apps get -- this app just shows you where the nearest restaurant with a kids-eat-for-free deal. The developers say that the database is kept up to date, with new deals added daily and expired deals removed -- so you don't have to have one of those embarrassing moments when it comes to paying the bill... and you actually have to pay for your kids. Oops.

I guess you'd be able to trade in your iPhone to pay the bill, if it came to that.

Or, wait a second... if you didn't splurge and buy an iPhone in the first place, maybe you could afford to feed your kids proper home-cooked food instead, rather than going out and gorging on crappy ribs and all-you-can-eat wings at the local Armadillo Willy's (what on earth is that?)

At just $3 -- and yes, this is sadly only for restaurants in the USA (at the moment!) -- Kids Eat For must surely be a must-have for all parents. Well, parents with iPhones.

Don't forget to feed your kids during the economic downturn -- use this iPhone app!! originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appfoodiphonekidsTue, 03 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ibis eBook reader aims to get around iPhone app store]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/ibis-ebook-reader-aims-to-get-around-iphone-app-store/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/ibis-ebook-reader-aims-to-get-around-iphone-app-store/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/02/ibis-ebook-reader-aims-to-get-around-iphone-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

By now, iPhone users who haven't jailbroken their devices have learned that they can't get an app unless it goes through Apple's approval process and reaches the iTunes App Store. A new eBook reader called Ibis, planned for iPhone, Android and Palm's WebOS, plans to get around Apple's restrictions. How? Simple: it's a web app. You can access the reader from your browser, and your books are stored offline using HTML5.

It doesn't seem like there's much Apple can do about that, unless they want to start blocking web apps on their device. Unlikely. So, you can enjoy your DRM-free books in ePub format to your heart's content, and even buy new ones from Ibis' bookstore. You'll be able to sync books and bookmarks across devices via the cloud, too. Ibis isn't launching for "several months," but it could be a real winner if it looks as good as it sounds.

[via Daring Fireball]

Ibis eBook reader aims to get around iPhone app store originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidbooksebookepubibisiphonemobilereaderwebosMon, 02 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[NewsGator gives full control of FeedDemon back to developer]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/01/feeddemon-no-longer-owned-by-newsgator/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/01/feeddemon-no-longer-owned-by-newsgator/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/11/01/feeddemon-no-longer-owned-by-newsgator/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Nick Bradbury InterviewThe story of how NewsGator attempted to corner the market on consumer RSS has taken another strange turn. In an interview with Steven Hodson published on Hodson's Shooting at Bubbles site, Bradbury admits that he is no longer employed by NewsGator, but has retained the full rights to his popular FeedDemon RSS reader. NewsGator continues to offer FeedDemon, and the application is still NewsGator-branded, but the clear implication here is that NewsGator no longer owns the rights to the most popular native Windows RSS feed reader.

It's no secret that NewsGator almost single-minded focus on capturing the lucrative enterprise market allowed its efforts in the consumer space to falter, ultimately leading to NewsGator shutting down their once-popular NewsGator Online feed reader, having conceded the online feed reader battle to Google's upstart Google Reader, which has iterated faster, and performing better than NewsGator's online reader for a few years.

It's unfortunate that NewsGator has given up on this market. While it's certainly true that Google has a powerful and successful product on its hands, there is certainly room in the RSS space for more than one dedicated company. What this means for FeedDemon's Mac equivalent, NetNewsWire remains to be seen, but since NewsGator's current push for more enterprise business relies on the talents of Brent Simmons, NetNewsWire will likely remain a NewsGator property for the foreseeable future.

Whether that is good news or not is anyone's guess.

UPDATE: The previous headline of this post turned out to be incorrect, as Nick Bradbury points out in the comments. The relationship between FeedDemon, NewsGator and Bradbury is a bit confusing, but what he said in the interview was this: "I'm no longer employed by NewsGator. FeedDemon remains a NewsGator-branded product, but I'm 100% in charge of it now, and I'm once again an indie developer. FeedDemon is my sole focus - and my sole source of income." So, NewsGator owns FeedDemon, Bradbury works on FeedDemon, but Bradbury does not work FOR NewsGator any longer.

Bradbury also pointed us to a post by NewsGator's Greg Reinacker, explaining more about where things stand.

NewsGator gives full control of FeedDemon back to developer originally appeared on Download Squad on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bradburybrent simmonsbrent-simmonsBrentSimmonsfeeddemonnewsgatorrssrss readerRssReaderSun, 01 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Learn to take better photos with Nikon's iPhone app]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/31/learn-to-take-better-photos-pictures-with-iphone-app/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/31/learn-to-take-better-photos-pictures-with-iphone-app/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/31/learn-to-take-better-photos-pictures-with-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Nikon App for the iPhone. Via CNET.Nikon, never satisfied with merely standing still, have brought out a lovely new iPhone app that acts as an always-there photography guide. If you're an amateur, semi-pro, or even a professional wondering how certain effects or styles are pulled off -- this app would make a great addition to your iPhone's arsenal.

This new app, Learn And Explore, allows you to hunt for professional examples to show you what's possible in a given situation. There are guides that will show you how to take photos in tricky conditions -- indors, outdoors, low-light, long-exposure -- it's al lhere.

They're promising continuos updates and access to their Nikon World magazine through the app.

No reason this would only be of use to a Nikon user either -- though if there's any kind of Nikon branding on the software, I'm not sure a Canon user would be seen dead with it...

[via CNET]

Learn to take better photos with Nikon's iPhone app originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStorecameraiphonephotographySat, 31 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tiltshift Generator brings easy toy camera effects to the iPhone]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/31/tiltshift-generator-brings-easy-toy-camera-effects-to-the-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/31/tiltshift-generator-brings-easy-toy-camera-effects-to-the-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/31/tiltshift-generator-brings-easy-toy-camera-effects-to-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I'm not a photographer by any means (although I hear Download Squad's newest blogger, Sebastian, is!), and the iPhone's built-in camera isn't exactly the greatest piece of photography equipment around, but the TiltShift Generator iPhone app doesn't really care!

This neat little 99-cent app applies cool toy-camera (think 'dollhouse miniatures') effects and vignetting to any photo, and makes even the crummiest iPhone photographers look good. It can apply two styles of adjustable blur, some color controls and, of course, those hot-looking dark edges.

We've covered ways to fake a tilt-shift effect before on Download Squad - yes, you could just buy a special lens, but software can provide a cheaper approximation - but this is the first on-the-go option I've tried. iPhone features include applying effects to photos you've already taken, saving new photos you take with the app, and sharing via email or Twitter.

If you're not sure where to start with tiltshift photos, try shooting a cluster of objects from above - the creator of the app has done some great-looking stuff with houses and parking lots. Even if you're not too confident in your photographic abilities, shell out a dollar for this app and see what you can do. You might be surprised!

Tiltshift Generator brings easy toy camera effects to the iPhone originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iPhonephotophoto effectsPhotoEffectstilt-shifttiltshiftSat, 31 Oct 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wordpress for iPhone 2 is actually usable!]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/29/wordpress-for-iphone-2-is-actually-usable/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/29/wordpress-for-iphone-2-is-actually-usable/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/29/wordpress-for-iphone-2-is-actually-usable/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The first version of the Wordpress iPhone app showed a lot of promise as mobile blogging tool, but it was too slow and too buggy to use. It didn't know what to do with dropped connections -- all too common, when you're blogging from an AT&T iPhone -- and the UI was clunky and unintuitive. Round 2! Wordpress is back for another try at the iPhone thing, and this time they're far closer to doing it right: bug fixes, persistence, auto-saving and a better UI make Wordpress 2 a viable option for blogging on the go.

The single most important new feature in Wordpress 2 is persistence. That means you can close the app, and reopening it will take you back to the post or comment you were working on. In the old version, it was nearly impossible to finish a long post without being interrupted by a crash or a phone call, or without needing to pop into Safari to grab some text from a webpage. Speaking of those crashes, they're nowhere near as frequent as they were in Wordpress 1, and the new autosave feature makes them less damaging.

Photo uploading is smoother, too, and you can also preview a post while you're editing it. Aside from all the improvements to posting, comments now have their own tab, so you can moderate your site with ease. I'd still love to see liveblogging support in the iPhone app, though, because it seems like such an ideal use of a mobile blog client. All in all, Wordpress 2 is a workable solution for mobile blogging.

Wordpress for iPhone 2 is actually usable! originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automatticbloggingiPhonewordpresswordpress 2Wordpress2Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stalqer iPhone app finds people, whether they sign up or not]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/28/stalqer-iphone-app-finds-people-whether-they-sign-up-or-not/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/28/stalqer-iphone-app-finds-people-whether-they-sign-up-or-not/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/28/stalqer-iphone-app-finds-people-whether-they-sign-up-or-not/#commentsFiled under: ,

Well, at least they're honest about what they do. A new iPhone app called Stalqer helps you locate your friends, even if they're not signed up for your favorite location-based service - like Google Latitude, Foursquare or Loopt. Users who opt-in to Stalqer ping the service with their location every time their phones check for email, which gives nearly real-time updates on the iPhone (which can't keep an application like FourSquare open in the background). That part is only slightly creepy. The creepier part is that Stalqer tracks friends who aren't even using the service.

By pulling info from friends' Facebook locations, the app can give you a general idea of where people are. It can't yet read status messages and wall posts to look for location info, but it reported does a fair good job of finding people without that capability. The app does have SOME privacy features: it won't let you track people who you haven't added as contacts in your phone's address book. That's pretty easy to get around, though: just add the person you're looking for.

As far as what information you share through Stalqer, you can control how precisely you're located and also turn reporting on and off. If you only want to show some friends which city you're in, and not the street address, you can create a group and change your privacy settings to allow for that. It sounds like Stalqer is trying to build the kind of app that everyone wishes exists, but nobody admits they want. Where do I sign up?

[via CNET]

UPDATE: To clarify, following someone on Stalqer requires you to be Facebook friends with that person, which is something they'd have to approve.

Stalqer iPhone app finds people, whether they sign up or not originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookfriend finderFriendFinderfriendsiphonelocation-basedstalqerWed, 28 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mill Colour is an unbelievable free photo effects app for iPhone]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/24/mill-colour-is-an-unbelievable-free-photo-effects-app-for-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/24/mill-colour-is-an-unbelievable-free-photo-effects-app-for-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/24/mill-colour-is-an-unbelievable-free-photo-effects-app-for-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Mill is an award-winning visual effects studio with offices in London and New York. It should go without saying that these guys know a thing or two about color. What's surprising, though, is that they're giving away a small chunk of that expertise for absolutely free in the form of an iPhone app. Mill Colour [iTunes link] can customize the colors of your photos using a bunch of tried-and-true preset effects, and it also has powerful manual color controls.

Even if you don't go beyond the prepackaged effects in Mill Colour, it's well worth checking out. I recommend the "bleached" and "noir" looks, especially. If you start to mess around with the manual side of Mill Colour, though, you'll quickly discover how powerful it is. You can fine-tune the saturation, gamma, gain and lift of each individual RGB channel, making sure your image looks precisely the way you want it to. Did I mention it's a free download?

Mill Colour is an unbelievable free photo effects app for iPhone originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coloreffectsiphonemillmill colourMillColourphotoSat, 24 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Weird Wednesday: what does an iPhone know about making love?]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/21/weird-wednesday-what-does-an-iphone-know-about-making-love/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/21/weird-wednesday-what-does-an-iphone-know-about-making-love/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/21/weird-wednesday-what-does-an-iphone-know-about-making-love/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Welcome to a special "hump day" edition of Weird Wednesday (pun very much intended). An iPhone can do a lot of things, but can it make you better in bed? A new app called Love Vibes says it can. It works like this: Install Love Vibes on your iPhone, set the firmness of your mattress, and then, ummm, engage in activities. The app uses the iPhone's accelerometer to measure vertical and horizontal movement, and somehow manages to convert that into a score that indicates your prowess at making love.

On top of the obvious challenges of getting a partner to let you bring your iPhone to bed, it's not really clear how Love Vibes determines your score. The "duration" rating is obvious enough: how long did your session last? Stamina, variety and passion are a little more dicey. Although the science behind the app is based on surveys that indicate these are all desirable qualities, it's not clear how Love Vibes gets scores out of your accelerometer data.

I tried faking it out by moving the phone around wildly for a bit, hoping this would provide enough passion and variety to rate an impressive score. "Shaking the phone won't get you a high score," it told me. Huh. Well, what if I just move the phone rhythmically back and forth for a while as I do the exact opposite of making love - eating Doritos? SPOILER: just as in romantic encounters that don't involve an iPhone or anything Cooler Ranch flavored, rhythm is the ticket to a good review. You didn't need an app to tell you that, right?

Weird Wednesday: what does an iPhone know about making love? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iphonelove vibesLoveVibesmaking loveMakingLovesexWed, 21 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Breaking: iPhone users 300% more likely to Tweet after sexy parties]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/21/breaking-iphone-users-300-more-likely-to-tweet-after-sexy-part/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/21/breaking-iphone-users-300-more-likely-to-tweet-after-sexy-part/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/21/breaking-iphone-users-300-more-likely-to-tweet-after-sexy-part/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

News just in: iPhone users are three times more likely to Tweet or Facebook their sexual antics than BlackBerry users.

I'll just put into words what you're all thinking: what a big frackin' surprise. Apple users more vapid and self-centered than other-brand gadgeteers? Say it ain't so!

In fact, stereotypical Apple users are a classic example of modern-day 'Napoleon complex' (or 'short man syndrome' as you might know it by). Their gadgets -- their white, creamy, curvy, brushed-aluminium gadgets -- are compensating for something else. In this case, a lackluster sex life: 'Yeh, totally jst gve her some juice, lol.'

Anyway, moving on, back to the news rather than what we already know. This new report from Retrevo finds that 36% of all under-35 year olds update their Facebook wall or Twitter accounts post-coitally. Perhaps unsurprisingly, men are twice as likely as women to take part in this godawful practice.

I guess we should just be grateful that the report focused on what happens after rather than during... After all, we know someone paid to have the Passion app rate their performance between the sheets.

[via CNet]

Breaking: iPhone users 300% more likely to Tweet after sexy parties originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookiphonepost-coitalsexsurveytwitterWed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Take a sneak peek at the new Tumblr iPhone app]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/19/take-a-sneak-peek-at-the-new-tumblr-iphone-app/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/19/take-a-sneak-peek-at-the-new-tumblr-iphone-app/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/19/take-a-sneak-peek-at-the-new-tumblr-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tumblr is a quick and flexible blogging platform, which makes it well-suited to the iPhone. The Tumblr iPhone app has been in need of an update for some time now, though, so avid tumbloggers will be happy to hear that version 1.1 of the app has been submitted to the App Store and should be available soon. One of the developers of Tumblr for iPhone has posted a sneak preview of the new features in 1.1 on (what else?) his tumblr.

Although the flashiest new feature is video uploading, this update also addresses a lot of the gripes I have with the current version of the Tumblr app. There's finally a built-in web browser, so you don't have to go to Safari and lose your place in the dashboard every time you click a link. There's also a bookmarklet for easier tumbling, although the developer hasn't revealed how it works. Even basic posting is better, with a native editor and access to advanced options.

If you've been reluctant to use Tumblr on your iPhone because the app wasn't up to par, this update makes it look like a good time to reconsider.

Take a sneak peek at the new Tumblr iPhone app originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bloggingiphonepreviewtumblrvideoMon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mozilla getting ready to roll the dice on Weave for the iPhone?]]>http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/19/mozilla-getting-ready-to-roll-the-dice-on-weave-for-the-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/19/mozilla-getting-ready-to-roll-the-dice-on-weave-for-the-iphone/http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/19/mozilla-getting-ready-to-roll-the-dice-on-weave-for-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Om Malik waxed poetic over the weekend about a chat he had with Mozilla CEO John Lilly. Among the topics that came up: a Mozilla submission to Apple's App Store.

Don't go getting all excited about a Fennec port for the iPhone. We're all well aware of Apple's stance on apps that compete with duplicate functionality of their own apps or offer choice "potential confusion for users." Fennec most certainly would stomp all over Safari's toes, so that's pretty well out.

Malik mentioned something based on Weave as a possibility, and he received a Nudge-Nudge style knowing grin from the Mozilla crew. Could it be true? Is Weave about to run the gauntlet that is Apple's approval process?

While it's a sync app and might step on MobileMe's toes ever so slightly, Weave for the iPhone should be able to wrangle an approval. After all, the only functionality they would likely share is bookmark syncing.

And what about Apple preferring not to let app out of the sandbox? Vic and I kicked this around, and a simple Safari-based front end to your Weave data in the cloud could very well be a workable solution. Mozilla's actual plan remains a mystery for now.

While I'm sure all Firefox fanatics with an iPhone are pulling for Mozilla, we probably shouldn't hold our breath. Apple's rejected plenty of apps on fairly tenuous grounds before, after all.

Mozilla getting ready to roll the dice on Weave for the iPhone? originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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