iPod posts

Off the Clock: RealPlayer SP downloads and converts web videos (even SFW ones!)

by Lee Mathews Sep 20th 2009

Believe me, I'm as shocked as anyone to be writing this post, but RealPlayer SP ships with a substantially reduced amount of suck compared to previous versions. Yes, the new version sucks so much less that I'm actually ok with using it to download and convert web video.

There are still glimpses of the past, of course. The installer does offer a toolbar (at least it's Google and not Ass...er, Ask). It also offers the pro version and a 14 day trial of something, but I can't tell you specifically what it was. Instead of reading, I quickly located the "leave me the hell alone" button and closed the screen.

Tags: convert, converter, downloader, ipod, off-the-clock, realplayer, video, video-conversion, youtube

Filed under: Apple, Mobile

Updating your iPod Touch to OS 3.1 - now 50% cheaper!

by Paul O'Brien Sep 11th 2009

It might not have been worthy of a mention at Apple's iPod extravaganza, but owners of existing iPod Touch models running 2.x software will be pleased to hear that the update to OS version 3.1 has been slashed in price by 50%!

The update previously retailed at $9.95 and can now be purchased for $4.95 - UK users now pay £2.99 instead of £6.99.

Version 3.1 includes genius mixes, genius recommendations for apps, peer-to-peer gaming, spotlight search, A2DP Bluetooth stereo and a whole bunch of fixes. Of course, if you haven't made the jump to a 3.x release at all yet there has never been a better time to do so - the major 3.0 update added copy and paste, a landscape keyboard and much more.

You can read more about the update at the Apple site and purchase the update itself from within iTunes.

Now, while the price drop is undoubtedly a good thing, many Apple critics argue (quite rightly in my opinion) that the update should not be chargeable in the first place. A number of the features in the new release actually have the potential to increase Apple's revenue from the device (such as genius recommendations for apps), so arguably it would be in Apple's interest to make the update completely free.

If you've not made the jump yet, does the new price point of the update tempt you?

Tags: apple, ipod, ipod touch, IpodTouch

Filed under: Fun, Windows, Macintosh, Apple, Freeware, Social Software, iPhone, Windows x64

iTunes 9: The Download Squad Review

by Nik Fletcher Sep 9th 2009

Hot on the heels of today's iTunes 9 announcement, I've been busy at Download Squad's international outpost to take a look at some of the newer features in this update to one of the most well-known apps around.

It maybe be at version 9 - and Apple's hype machine is running at full-pelt - but is it any good? Join me as I run through an evening with the latest version of iTunes.

Gallery: iTunes 9 Tour

Tags: Digital Media, DigitalMedia, iPhone, iPod, iTunes, Movies, Music

Filed under: Audio, Utilities, Windows

Meta-iPod cleans up your iTunes with tons of features

by Jay Hathaway Jun 13th 2009

Meta-iPod is a Windows app that can clean up and repair the metadata on your iTunes songs - stuff like star ratings and album artwork - with a whole bunch of useful automated features. It can find and delete duplicates and locate tracks on your computer that aren't in your iTunes library. It can also fix files that have been moved from their original location and thus unlinked from iTunes (the ones iTunes marks with a (!)).

Additionally, meta-iPod can transfer music from an iPod to iTunes, and it can transfer star ratings and play counts from an iPod too. This is really useful if you're rebuilding your music library from scratch for some reason. You might think your iTunes metadata is gone, but it's right there on your iPod, waiting to be collected with meta-iPod. Unfortunately, for Mac users, this is one instance where Windows has an iTunes-related tool the Mac doesn't: meta-iPod is Windows-only.

Tags: ipod, itunes, meta-ipod, metadata

Filed under: Internet, Apple, iPhone

Apple's double standards keep "too sexy" app out of iTunes store

by Lee Mathews Apr 14th 2009

It's fine for Apple to have policies about what kind of apps they will and won't approve for sale on iTunes. It's their platform, after all, so they've got every right to decide what gets put on the store's virtual shelves.

But I need some help with this one.

You've seen those pens with the sex kitten in the barrel? Tip the pen and giggle like a schoolboy as her clothes go floating away. They're harmless, and hardly what most people would classify "excessively sexual content."

So if you were to, say, turn that concept into an iPhone app it would be equally harmless, right? Apparently not.

Peekababe, we're told, was rejected on precisely those grounds. Check it out for yourself on YouTube. Now convince me that the images presented are in any way more lewd than, say, the lyrics of 2 Live Crew. Seriously.

If I can buy Me So Horny or any of their other tracks with less publishable titles in the iTunes store, how can Apple justify banning an app for images that you can find in any Sears catalog or plastered in the front window of a Victoria's Secret?

It's time for some consistency, Apple. If you allow audio tracks laden with lyrics that compete with scenes from a Vivid Video release in the iTunes store, it doesn't make sense to block an app that amounts to a slightly rude bachelor party favor.

Thanks for the tip, Tom!

Tags: apple, ipod, itunes

Filed under: Audio, Fun, iPhone

RjDj Shake and RjDj Album: mind-bending iPhone apps, free for a limited time

by Jay Hathaway Apr 12th 2009

I've felt left out of the whole RjDj craze for a while now. Everyone I know who's tried it has raved about how fun it is to listen to music that adapts to the noise around you. I haven't been able to enjoy RjDj, though, because I have a first-gen iPod Touch. It's not much good to incorporate your surroundings into a song when you don't have a microphone to pick up sounds around you. Fortunately, I do have an accelerometer, which means I can rock out to RjDj Shake.

RjDj Shake matches its seven different tracks -- "scenes" in the RjDj parlance -- to the movement of your iPhone or iPod, so the music is always in sync with the way you're shaking it. The different musical offerings that come pre-loaded with the app range from the slow and dreamlike to intense uptempo numbers. It's highly addictive to play with, and right now you can get RjDj Shake and RjDj Album free. The offer is "for a limited time, but I'm not sure how limited, so it's best to just head over to the App Store now if you're interested.

Tags: iphone, ipod, music, rjdj, rjdj-shake

Filed under: E-mail, Web services, Google, iPhone, web 2.0, Mobile, Android

Google turbo-charges mobile GMail engine, updates interface

by Lee Mathews Apr 7th 2009

Road warriors rejoice, Google has beefed up the engine that powers the mobile version of GMail. The rollout begins today, though only for users of the English version. If that includes you, make sure your iPod Touch or iPhone is running firmware version 2.2.1 or later or you'll still see the old version. Android users won't have any such concerns.

A number of slick new features have been added, including the "floaty bar" which follows you as you scroll through your inbox and provides quick access to archiving, deleting, and marking options. Say goodbye to repetitive scrolling when applying actions to multiple messages! The search bar has also been moved to the top of the interface to provide easier access.

Message display has been cleaned up a bit and the improved back end will help make coping with crummy network connections a bit less bothersome. The new engine - which leverages HTML5, Gears, and more aggressive cahcing - will also make it easier for Google to deploy new features and provide further performance increases in the future.

[via Google Mobile Blog]

Tags: android, g1, gmail, google-mobile, iphone, ipod

Filed under: Audio, Utilities, Macintosh

Transfer files from your iPod with Pod to Mac

by Jay Hathaway Apr 3rd 2009

Getting songs from your computer to your iPod is a pretty simple affair. After all, that's what iTunes is for. When you want to go the other way, though, and get the songs back from your iPod to your hard drive, Pod to Mac is one option. And, with features like search and video preview, and compatibility with iPod Touches and iPhones, it looks like a pretty good one.

Pod to Mac is still in the early stages of its development, but it supports stuff like transferring playlists, previewing tracks and videos, and showing track ratings from within the app. It's not just for music, either: you can also use it to transfer images from your iPod. I know it's called Pod to Mac, but Windows users shouldn't despair: there's also a Pod to PC from the same developer.

Tags: iPod, iTunes, mac, music, pod-to-mac

Filed under: Internet, Features, Productivity, Apple, iPhone, Search, Lists

5 iPhone apps that will make you a hero

by Jay Hathaway Feb 24th 2009

You don't need to be super-strong, invulnerable or able to fly to be a hero. Sure, that worked for Superman, but don't forget that Batman got out of all kinds of tough situations just using his gadgets. Maybe you don't have a tricked-out car or a utility belt, but if you have an iPhone, you can be a hero, too. Here are some iPhone apps that might help out:

1) Urbanspoon

Superpower: Settling arguments about where to eat

When you're out with a date (or a group of friends) and nobody can decide where you're going to eat, Urbanspoon's iPhone app can come to the rescue. Just put in some search terms (or don't, whatever) and shake it. It'll give you a restaurant that will hopefully settle your argument without any hurt feelings over who got to choose. If you end with a place that nobody likes, just shake again. It's also handy when you're by yourself in a new neighborhood and want to sample the local eateries, so you can use it to be your own hero, too!

2) HopStop

Superpower: Getting anywhere fast in some big cities.

Before you complain: yes, I know this only works in a handful of cities, particularly New York, Chicago, Boston and DC. The thing is, it works so well you might as well have superpowers. I can't count the number of times I've overheard someone on the phone in Manhattan saying, "Why don't you just HopStop it?" HopStop is well known for giving some of the best point-to-point directions via subway or cab, and telling you how much it'll cost to get there. Plus, it's expanding to new cities all the time.

Tags: app-store, apps, hopstop, iphone, ipod, urbanspoon

Filed under: Internet, Office, Google, iPhone, web 2.0, Browsers

Edit Google Docs Spreadsheets on your iPhone

by Lee Mathews Feb 13th 2009

Running a mobile handset with a Webkit-based browser? If so, Google has added some functionality to the Google Docs mobile view just for you.

Up until now, the interface has really only be a handy way to view your files on the go. Now, however, you'll be able to perform simple edits on your spreadsheets right from your handset. iPhone, iPod Touch, G1, and Nokia S60 users can all get in on the action.

You won't have access to the same breadth of options as you do in the desktop version, but that's to be expected. It's still incredibly useful for doing quick edits on the go or maintaining simple lists directly in your gDocs from your mobile.

While other document types still can't be edited yet, they may not be far behind.

[ via Google OS ]

Tags: google-docs, iphone, ipod, spreadsheets

Filed under: Audio, Internet, Video, Mobile

Flycast upgrades mobile streaming media app, adds Android support

by Lee Mathews Jan 8th 2009

Flycast has announced major upgrades to their mobile media streaming application. T-Mobile users will be excited to learn that it's now available for the G1 Android handset. The desktop application (built on the Adobe Air platform) has also been enhanced.

Flycast now features 1,000 channels and 300 additional "personalized" channels. For a full listing, check the Flycast guide. A new partnership with AccuWeather brings enhanced weather reports, and you can now log in using your Facebook credentials if you don't want to sign up for a Flycast account.

"Streamshifting" has also been added, a feature which allows users to tune in to a full broadcast at any point - ensuring that you don't miss any of the good parts.

I was particularly thrilled to find out that, yes, the Flycast service works in Canada. With all the content available, George Carlin would probably say "It's bad for ya."

Tags: android, iphone, ipod, mobile-media, streaming

Filed under: Photo, Macintosh, How-Tos, iPhone

How-To: Take iPhone or iPod Touch screenshots!

by Jay Hathaway Jul 16th 2008

If you've been following the new iTunes app store, you might be wondering how all those screenshots got there. Some people seem to think you need to run an iPhone simulator or install an app to create them, but there's actually a built-in way to do it right on your phone or pod. We thought this would be a good time to go over it.

Step 1: Briefly hold down the power button on the top of your device. While it's down, press the ... uhh, well, the only other button these things have. The one on the front. And that's all! Your screen should flash momentarily, and your screenshot should be saved in a new folder under Photos.

Appropriately, it's called Saved Photos. When you want to get your photos from your iPhone/iPod to your Mac, without having to mess around with syncing in iTunes, you can just pop open Image Capture -- it comes standard with OS X -- and pick the ones you want.

Tags: camera, iPhone, iPod, photo, screenshot

Filed under: Audio, Fun, Utilities, Apple, Freeware, iPhone

iPhone App Review: Apple's Remote works, and it's free

by Jay Hathaway Jul 11th 2008

If you've been looking for a reliable way to make your iPod or iPhone work as a remote for iTunes, look no further than Apple's Remote application. Just when you thought there was no way to tie the iPod and iTunes closer together, Apple's found another way for them to intereract. And It's free!

Just pop open remote, click to add a new library, and then enter the resulting 4 digit code in iTunes to give your iPhone access to your library. Now you've got an interface that looks just like the one you use to play music on your iPod. This'll work with any iTunes equipped computer on your network, and once you've set them up, you can switch between them easily. We even set up a little ad-hoc network with just a Mac and an iPod Touch, and Remote's performance was excellent. Did we mention it's free?

Tags: Apple, iphone applications, iphone apps, IphoneApplications, IphoneApps, iPod, iTunes, Remote

Filed under: Audio, Features, Linux, Open Source, Beta

Flipping the Linux switch: Banshee learns to sing

by Kristin Shoemaker May 28th 2008

We've always been fond of Amarok. It has some good features, nice add-ons, and felt just a little friendlier than some other Linux media players. We recently discovered a contender to the title of most loved Linux media player, the ominously named Banshee. Fortunately, Banshee doesn't involve listening to shrieking demons, unless that's your genre of choice.

It's an application that has been increasingly packaged with distributions that include GNOME as the default desktop. For those distributions that don't include it on a standard install, it's almost always available from a repository. Many of those repositories include, at present, Banshee's 0.13.3 version. This is the stable version of Banshee and shows loads of promise, but it isn't quite Amarok.

We recommend, if possible, hunting down packages for your distro of choice of the latest version of Banshee (0.99.2). If there are no packages available, try installing the newer version via Subversion. It takes a bit more time, but it is well worth the effort.

Why? Because Banshee 0.99.2 (or alternately, Banshee 1.0 Beta 2) is an almost completely different screamin' demon. It may be a beta version, and not without its bugs, but it works much more smoothly than the 0.13.3 install we were using previously on Hardy Heron.

Tags: Audio, Banshee, GNOME, ipod, Linux, linux-switch, media, mp3, player, podcast, video

Filed under: Utilities, Video, Windows, Freeware

MediaCoder for Devices: Video conversion for your phone, PSP, iPod

by Brad Linder Apr 4th 2008

MediaCoder has been one of our favorite video conversion tools for a long time. The free Windows utility can convert pretty much any audio or video file from one format to another. Want to shrink the file size and pixel dimensions of a video so you can upload it to YouTube or fit it on your iPod? MediaCoder will do the trick.

But if you don't have the patience to wade through dozens of menus adjusting all the settings manually, you might want to check out MediaCoder for Devices. The MediaCoder team offers up four different versions. One is optimized for creating PSP-compatible videos, another creates 3gp videos for mobile phones, a third does H.264 files for the iPhone or iPod Touch, while a fourth version can create a variety of MP3/MP4 files.

There's also an audio version of MediaCoder if you just want a good utility for converting WAV files to FLAC or MP3s to OGG files.

[via Life Rocks 2.0]

Tags: 3gp, converstion, iphone, ipod, mediacoder, mediacoder-for-devices, mobile, mp3, mp4, psp

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

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iPod posts

Off the Clock: RealPlayer SP downloads and converts web videos (even SFW ones!)

Updating your iPod Touch to OS 3.1 - now 50% cheaper!