Currently Browsing
Opinion
Earlier today Apple kicked off their annual Worldwide Developer’s Conference with a keynote speech that was chock full of new goodies for virtually everyone who uses their software regularly.
Mac.AppStorm has all the info on what’s coming with Lion and iCloud and we’ve got the lowdown on outstanding new features of iOS. Let’s take a look!
The web is buzzing with news that Apple is cracking down on companies that are giving away free iPhones and iPads on the ground that such practices are against their policies.
Can Apple really do anything about these giveaways? Can a company dictate what you do with their products after you purchase them? Let’s discuss.
Find My iPhone is an awesome free feature that allows any iPhone or iPad owner to track down their device in the event that it gets stolen or lost. From any Mac or iOS device, you can log into MobileMe and instantly see a map containing the locations of your iOS devices. From here you can lock them, reset them or even send a message and set off an alarm.
This feature is great in theory, but does it work in the real world? Today we’ve got three “Find my iPhone” stories that recently made headlines, each with interestingly unique outcomes.
Apple tech blogs have been talking almost ceaselessly about Apple launching a cloud-based music streaming service. Given that they’re the top seller of music on the planet and largely responsible for the digital music revolution, you’d think that Apple would be the company most suited to take on such an endeavor.
So where is it? Is this another mini-iPhone incident where rumor sites are just leading us along without any solid leads that it’s actually going to find out? Let’s explore.
(more…)
As we all know, when Microsoft jumps off on its own on some endeavor, the results are uncertain at best. The software giant is definitely no stranger to success, but you have to admit, doomed projects like the Zune and Kin aren’t exactly rare (Microsoft fans, feel free to rant about the Netwon and G4 Power Cube).
What Microsoft is good at is using its mountains of capital to acquire companies that are successfully innovative and this week they reached a deal with Skype for their biggest acquisition yet at $8.5 billion. This is an interesting move that has everyone speculating on just what Microsoft plans to do with everyone’s favorite chat client. Following is a brief discussion on what you can expect both as a Skype user and a Mac/iPhone owner.
Have you ever seen a plant or animal in your area and wondered what it was or wanted to share it with other interested people? It turns out your iPhone provides the perfect companion for a hike into nature.
Today we’ve got a few apps to check out the next time you decide to take a break from civilization and explore the great outdoors.
Several reports and rumors have speculated that Apple is looking to dramatically revamp the default maps app. When the iPhone first launched, this app was perhaps the single best mode of finding where you were going on any device. It looked great, was extremely intuitive and had plenty of features. Unfortunately, though it has made a little progress in years since, it is definitely no longer the mapping pinnacle that it once was.
Today we’re going to toss around some ideas and suggestions for potential areas of weakness that Apple could benefit from updating.
(more…)
Countless entrepreneurs have set out to make their fortunes with the same idea: social media aggregation. The basic idea behind this movement is that you, the user, are overwhelmed by all of your social information. Every day you have to go through the hassle of checking your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Foursquare, Gowalla and other accounts and would like nothing better than to save yourself the trouble of app-hopping and get it all in one convenient place.
The argument seems sound doesn’t it? So why don’t we use these tools? Sure, we try them all and briefly maintain patronage, but in the end most of us end up using separate methods to access our various social networks. I believe there are several reasons for this phenomenon, the first of which is a modified version of an effect that has been present in technology for decades.
As rumors abound that Apple is moving towards an inevitable removal of the beloved home button, a second possibility crops up in the form of a capacitive sensor that replaces the woes of a physical button.
Today we’ll discuss why the home button is a central element of the iOS experience and whether or not it can be replaced with something such as a gesture or touch-sensitive switch without a dramatic reduction in usability.
(more…)
The apps that we’ll discuss today are a hot topic. People on both sides of the argument have strong, outspoken opinions and each make good points.
Ultimately, the question boils down to whether or not it’s acceptable for people to build and distribute iPhone apps that are meant to facilitate the breaking of a law without getting caught by the police. Intrigued? Read on!
