Paul
E-Mail: paul@altgn.com
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Web Page: http://www.altgn.com
Registered Since: 2007-09-24 19:49:33
Profile: Paul is Altgn's token Canadian. When he's not oogling over electronics and Apple he's probably out drinking beer, eating beaver tails, riding moose, watching the leaf game or all the above.
Posts by Jangles:
TGIAF - Top 8 iPhone Apps
April 11th, 2008The last week has been pretty lack luster when it comes to Apple news or announcements. I tried to find something to bitch about, or embrace as the best ever…but I can’t. So I decided to list off the top 8 applications (not in any particular order) for your hacked iPhone/iTouch. The list seems to grow everyday; but these are the top applications which I find myself using regularly or to be most useful to us hackers.
1) MobileScrobbler: This is simply a last.FM plugin for your iPhone. Stream music from the web site, share your music tastes, tag songs, and upload your personal charts. Think of it as Last.FM lite. It has essentially the same features which the site offers. Simply log in and listen. All your stats will be uploaded to the site instantly. Now everyone can see that you played Celine Dion on your way to work in the morning.
2) MobileCast: A podcatcher…mobile! If you are traveling or not near a computer and are on the go, MobileCast allows you to download your favorite podcasts without connecting to iTunes. All you need to do is point the app in the right direction, and it will allow you to download podcasts on the go. It would be nice if the app automatically downloaded them for you. Currently you have to initiate the actual download. While it may be a bit buggy in some areas the latest release cleared up many issues people were having with the UI.
3) Apollo: A simple IM client for your iPhone. Supports AIM, ICQ, MSN and .Mac. Not really sure who uses ICQ still, but AIM and MSN are there which are what most of us use I would assume. The UI is surprisingly simple and clean. It definitely has the Apple look to it.
4) Sudoku: The name is self explanatory. A touch version of the popular math game. Simply touch each square as many times as you would like the number to be. For example hitting a blank square five times would make a five pop up. Simple, fun and it serves its purpose. Good for killing time.
5) FireflyMediaServer: This is one of the coolest plugins for the iPhone. It allows you to broadcast the music on your iPhone to any computer with iTunes that is connected to the same network. No more wires or cords. You can stream music from your iPhone to your computer wirelessly.
6) SMBPrefs: Allows users to update the UI on their iPhone. Change the wallpaper, icon layout and placement, dock, icon labels and more. Take back control of you iPhones interface!
7) Gas: Allows users to check and compare gas prices nearest to you, as well as use google maps to quickly locate where the gas stations are. I don’t own a car but I could imagine this being useful for smart shoppers sick of gas prices.
8) Telekinesis: This app allows you to remotely access your Mac from your iPhone. You can literally get a desktop view and practically do any function normally possibly. It is a bit slow, but if you forgot to set a download for example and you are stuck at work this would do the trick. You can also control some aspects of iTunes such as track number and volume. The one catch is that you must download software onto your mac for this to work correctly. Which can be found here.
Well there you have it. My top 8 apps for the iPhone and iTouch. I am sure there are others out there that you may find more useful, so feel free to post them in the comments section and let us all give it a try.
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TGIAF - How Mobile Is Mobile?
April 4th, 2008I was reading an article the other day by John Dvorak about how mobile devices will not or should not replace our desktops. He naturally points to devices like the iPhone. He mentions that these devices could be left on a desk, stolen, dropped into the toilet, etc.
These are all very valid points, but maybe the article is ahead of its time? Perhaps in the near future mobile devices will allow us to back up our data, encrypt it and be secure? Maybe data would not be stored on the phone itself, but on a server which you need to connect to, in order to view it. Personally I never think a mobile device will replace a desktop, but what about the laptop?
Wires are not in style. With wireless devices becoming so popular and wifi spots opening up all over the country, the popularity of mobile devices like the iPhone as well as laptops seem to be at an all time high. No matter where you are, you can send an IM, check your e-mail or even book a table for two at your favorite restaurant.
What is the possibility that in the next 10 years carrying a clunky 3 pound MacBook Air becomes ‘lame’? Would people not rather carry around a device the size of their palm which could essentially perform the same functions?
In the last 10 years cell phone usage in the United States jumped from 30 million to 200 million. Worldwide there are over 2 billion cell phones, and these numbers are growing every year. The reason why cell phones haven’t replaced the notebook market are because of power and UI. Most of these phones are slow, clunky and hard to use. However with the increase in popularity of smartphones (iPhone, Windows Mobile and Blackberry) usability of these devices has steadily increased. What is to say that in another ten years your average phone will not have the basic functionality found in today’s laptops, and the worldwide number of users jumps to 4 billion?
You even have Google entering the market with their own OS. Android. They obviously see the potential to establish themselves in this market. Last year over 77 million Symbian smartphones were shipped making it one of the most popular operating systems on a mobile device. Last year over 1.1 billion cell phones were sold, followed by 160 million desktops and 110 million laptops sold.
Let me take it a step further and say that perhaps people will be able to dock their phones to a monitor and keyboard. What kind of impact would that have on the way we use computers? There already are phones with built in projectors, so I don’t think being able to hook your phone up to a monitor would be too difficult.
The future is exciting indeed. It’s no wonder Apple decided to get their hands dirty in an otherwise underachieving cell phone market. What does everybody think? Do you see phones ever taking over the function of laptops in the next 10, 20 years?
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Apple Now #1 Music Retailer
April 3rd, 2008According to an NPD MusicWatch Survey conducted last January; the Apple Music Store has overtaken Walmart as the number one music retailer in the US. Apparently Ars Technica received a leaked e-mail giving the nod to the online music giant; however there has been no official word on this.
I find it pretty amazing that an online only retailer has taken the top spot from the largest brick and mortar stores in the world, and it makes me wonder how long it will take for video to follow.
So Skedoozy (Scott) what was that about online distribution? :p
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iPhone Dev Team Releases Pwnage Tool!
April 3rd, 2008For anyone that missed it last week the iPhone Dev Team (a group of hackers not affiliated with Apple) announced that they will be releasing a tool which will allow you to hack your iPhone and run custom firmware. There is a story on Engadget which can give you some greater detail about the tool.
Well today is the day that it is actually released. Currently it only supports Mac OSX with a Windows version soon to follow. You can grab the app here. Long live Russia and Communism.
Here is a video of it in action.
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TGIAF: Apple Reality Distortion Field
March 28th, 2008
Last week I talked about how at times it can be very hard to be an Apple fanboy…or consumer. Their push to gain market share recently has clouded their judgment on many occasions. This week I want to take a different approach. What makes Apple products so good? Why do we want them so much? Is the Apple reality distortion field true?
This whole week I have been trying to grasp this concept. The distortion field. I have heard it referred to in the past but never really understood it. Is it true? Does it even makes sense? From my experience it has it’s greatest effect upon current Apple users. When the Air was announced my friends thought it was cool, but I actually wanted to own one. Badly. I could not explain what it was, but I felt that somehow I could use a product like that. I now know better, but it is that spur of the moment where you feel like you want that product. The same for the iTouch. I am under contract for the next year with another cell carrier so I was only interested in an iPod. Once the Ipod Touch was announced I bought it that day with no hesitation. I live in Canada so the iPhone has yet to launch here, however I will buy on the day my contract expires. I already know this as fact. I don’t regret any of my purchases, but I wonder what motivates it. My obsession for gadgets or Apple’s superb brainwashing ability.
I also think Apple’s marketing department is at fault here. Apple has one of the best marketing teams on the planet. Their ads and commercials are generally witty, funny, “cool” and controversial. There is something about owning an Apple product that goes beyond the fact that it is a piece of electronic, it’s a style. I am sure PC users see this banter as madness, but it is true. Many Apple users are more connected to their products than PC users; which is part of the appeal to being an Apple fan.
Walking into an Apple store I feel like a kid in a candy shop. Often times I walk in with my girlfriend. To me she is my reality buffer; ensuring I don’t go blow a whole paycheck on something I don’t need. Besides the fact that I have a gadget and spending problem, I think that Apple fans (at least the hardcore ones) can relate to this. Apple has a magical way of pulling us in, and in turn our wallets.
So Apple fans, do you agree? Disagree? I want to pinpoint whether or not the distortion field exists. PC users and some Apple users will agree that it does in fact exist; while some think it is not true. What do you think? Lack of self control or brilliant marketing?
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Fix Your Mighty Mouse!
March 27th, 2008The mighty mouse has always drawn a lot of debate. From it’s price, to the lack of a “true” second button, and even it’s infamous scroll ball. Well recently my scroll ball stopped working. The problem began to crop up slowly, however this morning it all but worked. I stumbled upon an in depth guide to opening up your might mouse. I tried it, cleaned up my scroll ball and now the mouse works like new.
So if you have one of these things collecting dust, or are struggling with a janky scroll ball, head on over here. I am sure if you are experiencing other issues you may be able to solve it this way as well. Check it out!
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T.G.I.A.F. - What’s The Problem Apple?
March 21st, 2008
So what’s the deal with Apple lately? This is a question that has haunted me for the last few weeks.
Make no mistake the company is a public one. What does that mean? It means that they are constantly searching for the highest profit margins, and their stockholders are constantly looking for growth. It doesn’t matter what kind of growth, as long as the company is growing they will be happy and no one will ask any questions. Capitalism 101.
The thing that bothers me however is Apple’s treatment towards its customers. Apple has hovered around the 3-5% market share for years now. They have prided themselves on having a strong cult following for their products, and their motto seems to be quality over quantity. However these same 3-5% have been getting the shaft lately.
It started with the iPhone. Two months after its release Apple dropped the price by a whopping $200. Leaving a very bad taste in peoples mouths. Now there is always a risk being an early adopter; but a $200 price drop in two months is almost unheard of. Apple did try to remedy this by offering a credit to its customers to be used in the Apple store. Fine, great, grand.
After that was another iPhone debacle; the bricking of iPhone’s. To date there are an estimated 250, 000 hacked iPhones. Apple’s response to this? They bricked any hacked iPhone which installed the latest software update. Why would Apple want to brick people’s $599 phone? I realize they need to protect their own interests as well as AT&T’s; however I don’t think this is a good business practice. Hopefully Apple will learn from this and offer an unlocked version of the iPhone in the future.
While most of my issues are with the iPhone; Apple has also pissed off many iPod Touch users. For those who are not aware; the iPod Touch originally did not ship with some apps which were found on the iPhone. This include Stocks, Weather, Google Maps, and E-mail. Many argued that this was to differentiate the two products. Well Apple offered these apps for us iTouch users, whose only option until recently was to hack the device in order to use them. The cost? $20. Really Apple? You are going to charge me on something which I should have had from day one? My touch costs just as much as an iPhone, so why should I shell out an additional $20. Apple’s reason? “Accounting purposes”.
Fast forward to the last few weeks. The iPhone SDK was recently launched. That is awesome right? Well, besides the fact that we will not see any apps until June, it is pretty great. My issue is with their strategy. Apps will have to be downloaded via iTunes. Not a big deal; their music store is currently the second largest music retailer in the U.S., So why mess with a good thing right? Well, the bad thing here is that they are charging developers 30% of their sales for each app. 30%!? I find that unreal. Generally developers like these are by a small team, or single person. 30% can be a lot, perhaps too much to be sustainable. There is one loop hole to avoid this; the developer can simply not charge for their app, offer it for free and skip any levy handed down by Apple; but where is the money in that? My second issue with the SDK is that any App will have to go through Apple quality control and be approved. Sure this may be in place to prevent malicious code and viruses, however what else will they block? What apps that we have grown to love on our hacked iPhones will they not allow in iTunes? I think they will need to offer more in order to persuade people to no longer hack their iPhones.
I also have an issue with the recent update to the MacBook (Pro) line. Now this may seem small, but it still bothers me. The remote will no longer be offered with Apple’s laptops. For those who do not know, Apple in the past has offered a small remote that lets you control your media on your Mac without moving a muscle. Listen to your music, or jump into Front Row (an interface that lets you enjoy your media like movies, music and photos). Well they no longer offer this; instead you will have to shell out $19 for one at the apple store. It’s not the $19 which bothers me, it’s Apple’s current attitude towards it’s loyal customers. Why get rid of this great feature? There was no price drop to include the removal of this remote; so Apple is pocketing the extra cash obviously. The reason why I am so worried is because the iPod went through something very similar. When I got my first iPod in 2001; the box was larger and came with things like a wall adapter and firewire cable which since has been removed. I am worried that Apple will begin to nickel and dime us on items that used to come standard with our products.
The reason why I decided to write this article is to allow me to vent. I like Apple a lot. I write about them on this web site. I buy their products. I even defend them on an internet message board; which deep down inside me I know is absurd. I just want Apple to cut the sketchy shit out. Remember that while you are growing; this small 3-5% has kept you afloat in the rough times; so perhaps you can throw us a bone once and a while?
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Most Influential Designer Of Our Time??
March 4th, 2008When you think of Apple what do many of you think? I would put my money on form over function. It’s design. The hardware seems to be an afterthought much of the time. That is not to say it does not matter, and as an avid Apple junkie I need great performance as much as design but it leads me to think. Who is more important? Apple’s designers or it’s engineers? As Apple gets bigger and this trend of it being the “cool” company to get behind continues, will the designer be more important?
Searching the tubes today I stumbled upon a cool video about Jonathan Ives, Vice-President Design for Apple Inc. He has been behind many different projects, even outside of Apple, which have given him industry acclaim, however I am sure the average consumer has no idea who he is. It’s a neat little video that I am sure most of you will enjoy.
Ives is best known for designing the iMac, iPod and iPhone. If you would like to know more about Jonathan take a look here.
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I Love Geeks?
March 3rd, 2008If I was a girl, and I am not *double checks* yup I’m not, where would I go to pick up some hot studs? Well according to Cosmopolitan magazine the Apple Store is one of the best places to meet men. Read the rest of this entry “
Slight Delay For SDK
February 28th, 2008Many of us were expecting the iPhone SDK to be out by now. Many reports have stated that the SDK would be pushed back a few weeks. Well it seems the date chosen by Apple is March 6th. Read the rest of this entry “
iTunes is Number 2!
February 27th, 2008Apple has gone on the record and stated that according to the latest NDP numbers, iTunes is the number 2 music retailer in the US! Overtaking Best Buy of the rank. Read the rest of this entry “
Apple’s MacBook Line Gets a Refresh
February 26th, 2008Today Apple has announced that there will be a refresh to both the MacBook as well as Macbook Pro. I think most of us thought that we may get a redesigned form factor, however that is not the case. Read the rest of this entry “
RUMOR: Possible Leaked RockBand DLC
February 13th, 2008An interesting thread has popped up on the score hero forums. It seems user laconic, has stumbled upon a juicy tidbit which may in fact clue us into the future of Rockband DLC. Apparently within the recently released “Arguably Punk Pack” there was a list of songs buried into one of the files, many of which are not found in the game, or at least currently.
After some more digging, laconic found a small list of yet to be announced songs.
I was poking around in my DLC (dirty little secret to be exact), and I found a song list. After removing all currently known songs, here’s what’s left.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Star - oasis
Hysteria - muse or def leppard
Through the Monsoon - tokio hotel
Beetlebum - blur
Why Do You Love Me? - garbage
Sex Type Thing - stone temple pilots
El Scorcho - weezer
Casey Jones - grateful dead
Alabama Getaway - grateful dead
Sugar Magnolia - grateful dead
Truckin’ - grateful dead
I Need A Miracle - grateful dead
China Cat Sunflower - grateful dead
Franklin’s Tower - grateful dead
Still Alive - ?? PORTAL ??
D.O.A. - foo fightersTake this info how you will. Some of the songs released after I downloaded this are not in the list, some are. I’ll check one of the newer DLC songs soon, and update this list if needed.
Portal?? I think the tubes just blew up. There has been a stir on NeoGAF as well as the official RockBand Forum itself. As expected Harmonix flat out denies any truth to these claims. Sean, a developer working for Harmonix writes:
Hey all,
Just to clarify I am going to post the following which is an official message regarding this leak
“This list of Rock Band DLC that was discovered within the files of a recent DLC pack is unconfirmed and subject to change. Please stay tuned for confirmation of Rock Band DLC closer to their release.”
Essentially until I post here and say something is imminent it isn’t.
Thanks!
Sean
We realize that this is blantant speculation, however why would there be a list of songs which have yet to be announced on recently released DLC? It does raise a lot of suspicion. If half of these songs made it I would be very excited. Here’s to hoping there is more truth to this rumor than Harmonix wants us to believe.
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Leopard And Apple TV Update!
February 12th, 2008Apple has been busy churning out some key updates to both Leopard as well as Apple TV. Read the rest of this entry “
BlackBerry Outage
February 11th, 2008A member of the boards, who also happens to be a sales rep for Verizon Wireless, has given us a heads up on a BlackBerry outage that has started at roughly 3:30 pm EST today. Read the rest of this entry “
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