martes, 30 de octubre de 2012

iPad By Davis: “EE launches the UK's first LTE network” plus 19 more

iPad By Davis: “EE launches the UK's first LTE network” plus 19 more

EE launches the UK's first LTE network

Posted: 30 Oct 2012 01:43 AM PDT

Today, EE (Everything Everywhere) has officially launched the UK's very first LTE network. The service will initially roll out across eleven UK cities with that coverage increasing by 2000 sq miles every month. The first eleven UK cities to receive LTE will be Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Sheffield and Southampton. EE believes that the service will be available in a further five cities before Christmas with more cities and rural locations planned for 2013. By the end of 2014, 98% of the population will also have access to EE's LTE.

Olaf Swantee, CEO at EE, said: "Today is a landmark day for our company, the UK mobile industry and, most importantly, the country's businesses and consumers. "But this is just the start as our 4G network will continue to grow stronger and wider by the day. We're investing £1.5 billion in our network to be the first company to offer mobile 4G in the UK, alongside the biggest 3G network. Combined with our Fibre Broadband and revolutionary service model we have a pioneering and unique offer to customers across the UK – superfast speeds in the home, superfast speeds on the move and expert service on nearly every high street in Britain."

EE has been under a lot of criticism for the poor value plans offered with its LTE network but as it has an exclusive in the UK, it was never going to be great value for money. The iPhone 5 is one of the few phones that is compatible with EE's LTE network; so the day has finally come when UK consumers can grab a taste of some super fast data speeds like those seen across the pond.

The question remains though, does it offer enough of a speed improvement to get you to spend the extra money? I won't be making the switch to EE as I am more than happy with my unlimited "All you can eat data", from Three in the UK. If any of our UK readers make the switch to EE, make sure you let us know what data speeds you experience.

Source: Press Release

EE LAUNCHES SUPERFAST 4G AND FIBRE FOR UK CONSUMERS AND BUSINESSES TODAY

Over 700 EE stores open on high streets across the country

4G mobile services available for British consumers and businesses for the first time ever today Superfast service launches in 11major cities across the UK 4G network rollout to increase to 2,000 sq miles every month Fibre Broadband from EE available to 11 million premises, with superfast speed typically ten times faster than standard broadband New research reveals around three quarters of businesses (74%) are planning to adopt 4G within 12 months

30th October 2012. London. Superfast services are available for consumers and businesses for the first time ever today as EE, the UK's most advanced digital communications company, launches its new 4G service in 11 cities.

The launch is set to offer a timely boost to the UK economy offering firms the opportunity to increase innovation, boost productivity and cut costs, as has been the experience of companies in countries such as the US, Sweden, Japan and Germany since the technology was first introduced[1].

Today also marks the arrival of over 700 EE stores on high streets across the country in one of the biggest and fastest transformations in UK retail history.

Olaf Swantee, CEO at EE, said: "Today is a landmark day for our company, the UK mobile industry and, most importantly, the country's businesses and consumers.

"But this is just the start as our 4G network will continue to grow stronger and wider by the day. We're investing £1.5 billion in our network to be the first company to offer mobile 4G in the UK, alongside the biggest 3G network. Combined with our Fibre Broadband and revolutionary service model we have a pioneering and unique offer to customers across the UK – superfast speeds in the home, superfast speeds on the move and expert service on nearly every high street in Britain."

The delivery of 4G and the company's retail transformation has been underpinned by an intensive employee training programme as well as a comprehensive national IT infrastructure upgrade to ensure that EE customers receive expert service.

In its first phase, the 4G service is going live in Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Sheffield and Southampton. This will allow users to:

Access the web on the go in an instant

Download large email attachments quicker than ever

Watch live TV on the move without buffering

Download high-definition movies in minutes

Play live multiplayer games on the go

Make high quality video calls on the move

And today's launch is just the start as 4G coverage from EE will expand by 2,000 square miles every month, both into new cities as well as providing denser coverage in existing areas. This means the service will be available in a further five cities before Christmas, with more cities and rural locations planned for 2013, and 98% of the population due to be covered by the end of 2014.

On average, 4G mobile coverage will be made available to around two million people in Britain every single month between now and the end of 2014, making this the fastest rollout of any UK network in history.

EE's Fibre Broadband, typically ten times faster[2] in homes and offices, is available to 11 million premises from today as well. Ideal for households or small businesses with multiple devices, EE Fibre Broadband offers maximum download speeds of up to 76Mbps – allowing customers to stream HDTV, play online games, watch films on demand or quickly upload or download large files.

EE, T-Mobile and Orange customers will benefit from a new level of customer service, with 10,000 EE experts trained to serve and sell to customers in a new way, designed around specific handset types. These experts can be contacted over the phone, online, or in one of the 700 newly branded EE stores on the high street and in shopping centres.

4GEE plans come with unlimited minutes and texts as well as revolutionary and exciting new services, including EE Film, Clone Phone[3] and inclusive nationwide BT Wi-Fi.

4G and the benefits to business

The world's first global study into 4G business benefits has been released today to mark EE's UK launch.

The study reveals that:

74% of UK businesses intend to adopt 4G within 12 months Newcastle's business community is showing the strongest demand for 4G, with eight out of 10 Newcastle-based firms (85%) intending to roll out the superfast mobile service within 12 months 78% in London plan to do the same CEOs and sales staff will be first in the business to use the new technology. The study noted a similar trend occurring in America.

British businesses expect 4G to help increase productivity (58%) and boost employee well-being and motivation (38%). The technology will also help firms compete through innovation - 50% want 4G so they can set up an internet connection quickly without having to wait for a fixed line to be installed. This is a boon for retailers wanting to set up a pop-up shop, or builders looking to set up a temporary office onsite.

Iterate 32: The future of Apple design

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 08:57 PM PDT

Iterate 32: The future of Apple design

Marc, Dave, and Rene talk Scott Forstall's departure from Apple and Jonathan Ive's new roll as head of Human Interface, and what it means for OS X and iOS, and for Apple's influence on interface design in general. Also, some talk on Apple TV, iPad 4, and what comes next.

Show notes

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Pandora 4.0 for iPhone and iPad gets complete redesign and goes social

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 08:17 PM PDT

Pandora 4.0 for iPhone and iPad gets complete redesign and goes social

Pandora for iPhone and iPad received a huge update that includes a complete redesign and tight social integration. It still includes the same great ability to create personal stations of music that include your favorite artists and songs and similar music , but now you can share your latest discoveries to Facebook and Twitter, follow your friends, re-discover your favorite music on your profile page, get full lyrics, and more.

Pandora 4.0 features 4 main tabs: Stations, Feed, Profile, and Settings. From any of the tabs, you can quickly and easily get to the Now Playing screen where you can mark the song you're listening to with the thumbs up/down, pause, skip, and more. Tapping the button in the top right corner will you take you the current artist's page where you can explore and learn about the artist and track including biographies, album discographies, lyrics, and more.

New to Pandora 4.0 are the Feed and Profile tabs. In the feed, you'll see what your Pandora and Facebook friends are listening to, what they like and dislike, and listen to their stations. From your Profile, you'll basically see what information is being pushed out to your friends' feeds including what you're listening to, stations you've created, and who you've started following. You can also leave comments on profile pages.

Some of the other new features in Pandora 4.0 include a timer to the track progress indicator, support for the iPhone 5's larger display, support for BMW vehicles, and several stability and performance enhancements. It's also important to note that the iPad version has a bug that prevents iOS 6 users from using landscape mode. Pandora says they will release a fix shortly.

Pandora is is a free ad-supported music service. To drop the ads, you can subscribe to Pandora One for $3.99 per month and also enjoy higher quality audio, a desktop application, custom skins, and fewer interruptions.

So what do you think of the new Pandora? Personally, I find the new features and social integration to be a great addition, but I'm not a huge fan of the new look as it seems very basic and boring. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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Forums: Hurricane tracking, Apple maps showing improvements

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 07:59 PM PDT

From the iMore Forums

Found an interesting article you want to share with iMore? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or lend your expertise to other members of our community. You check out some of the threads below:

If you're not already a member of the iMore Forums, register now!

Multitude of reports allege SVP of iOS, Scott Forstall, was asked to leave Apple

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 05:55 PM PDT

More details reportedly emerge on SVP of iOS, Scott Forstall, leaving Apple

Now that Apple has announced that senior-vice-president of iOS, Scott Forstall was leaving the company, amid storms and market-closings, various additional information is surfacing on the story, at least from Apple's perspective. Namely, it's now being claimed that Forstall was fired.

First up, Mark Gurman from 9to5Mac got his hands on the memo Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, sent to employees following the news, which unlike the press release, takes the time to thank Forstall.

I am also announcing that Scott Forstall will be leaving Apple next year and will serve as an advisor to me during the interim. I want to thank Scott for all of his many contributions to Apple over his career.

However, Adam Lashinsky from Fortune is being told that things weren't so happy behind Apple's famously closed doors.

It is being said that Forstall didn't get along with Jony Ive. The knighted designer won that battle. Apple named him the chief of all "human interface" on Monday. Reading between the lines, that means software in addition to hardware. Design lovers hated the paper "shredder" that Apple introduced with its Passbook product. Ive, a fan of minimalism, must have hated it too. Watch for Apple to kill it.

Lashinsky also says Forstall refused to sign the iOS 6 Maps apology letter, something echoed by Nick Wingfield of the New York Times:

While tensions between Mr. Forstall and other executives had been mounting for some time, a recent incident appeared to play a major role in his dismissal. After an outcry among iPhone customers about bugs in the company's new mobile maps service, Mr. Forstall refused to sign a public apology over the matter, dismissing the problems as exaggerated, according to people with knowledge of the situation who declined to be named discussing confidential matters.

Instead, Timothy D. Cook, Apple's chief executive, in September signed the apology letter to Apple customers over maps.

Chris Ziegler of The Verge has heard likewise.

Sources tell us that Forstall has a reputation for deflecting blame, and with fallout intensifying over the Maps situation, now may have seemed like a good time for Apple to part ways with a man who'd done a good job making enemies over the years: Hurricane Sandy has given the company two days of market close to let investor reaction stabilize. Amazingly, it's said that Forstall's coworkers were so excited to show him the door that they volunteered to split up his workload.

Again, all this reads like Apple's perspective on the matter. Jessica E. Lessin of The Wall Street Journal also repeats the maps and apology letter story, but then offers some perspective from whats seems like Forstall's perspective. First, that he believed Apple could handle maps without apologizing, but also:

Mr. Forstall recently told people that there is no "decider" now that Mr. Jobs is gone, according to a person briefed on the conversation.

Mr. Forstall also recently sent some members of Apple's iOS software team an email saying that he felt the group wasn't working on enough big ideas in mobile software, according to a person briefed on the email.

If there was indeed a power struggle or a contention as to who would guide Apple's products going forward, however, it seems inarguable that Forstall lost. It also seems like Apple was willing to make hard decisions and to sacrifice even extremely talented, long tenured individuals for what they felt was the good of the company moving forward.

If it came down to a choice between Jony Ive (and Bob Mansfield) and Scott Forstall, or of Tim Cook's leadership and Scott Forstall's ambitions, it's tough to argue the call. It's not so tough to see the faith and trust being put into Jony Ive and his design sensibilities, which have so far been manifested more in hardware than software, and Craig Federighi's engineering skills, which have only recently earned him the top spot in OS X, never mind iOS.

This is either an Apple -- and more specifically a Tim Cook -- as rightly confident in their ability to manage people as they are in their ability to project product, or an Apple already fraying at the seams about to experience another serious escalation in load and stress.

I'm very much hoping it's the former.

Source: 9to5Mac, Fortune, New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Verge

Pentagon opening door to the iPhone, challenging BlackBerry dominance

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:01 AM PDT

Pentagon opening door to the iPhone, challenging BlackBerry dominance

The Pentagon will start issuing iPhones and Android devices, in addition to BlackBerrys, to its employees and military personnel. The Department of Defense will build out their system to prepare for 162,000 devices with the ability to accommodate up to 8 million phones and tablets should the need arise. RIM's BlackBerry devices have long been used by the federal government, but as the use of iOS and Android devices rise, the Pentagon is looking to diversify, though they have no plans of dropping BlackBerry device support. The Washington Post reports:

The Pentagon wants to allow employees to access its network with a broader range of mobile devices so it can "take advantage of the increasing wireless capabilities that exist and that are developing in the marketplace," according to the contracting document.

While the Defense Department is not insisting that contractors propose systems that can manage RIM devices, it "desires" a system that can also handle BlackBerrys, the document stated.

RIM claims that its devices were left off of the requirements list because a BlackBerry system is already in place to manage those devices, and therefore a new system is not needed for BlackBerrys. However, there is no question that this move is not good for RIM. Given a capacity for 8 million devices, the Pentagon will be prepared for its employees to switch to iOS and Android from BlackBerry when the system comes online. While RIM claims that its share among federal employees is growing, this is probably due more to the shrinking number of employees in the federal government than higher adoption rates of BlackBerrys. After all, the BlackBerry has been the dominant device family in government for a long time, and employees might not wish to switch to a new device after using the same one for so long. We will get a better picture of RIM's place in government as agencies open up device use. The Pentagon's program will begin sometime after the contract is awarded in April 2013.

Source: The Washington Post

Rovio releases Angry Birds Star Wars gameplay trailer

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 03:48 PM PDT

We're only about a week and a half away from the November 8 release of Angry Bird Star Wars and Rovio has released a video teaser that shows some actual gameplay footage. This video reveals that the red bird will be like Luke Skywalker and be able to tear down structures by whirling his lightsaber while colliding with them, and the pink bird will be playing the roll as Princess Leah and have the ability to call down laser fire during her descent.

Does this video make you more excited than you already were for Angry Birds Star Wars?

Rovio releases Angry Birds Star Wars gameplay trailer

The Nexus 4 doesn't have LTE because, unlike the iPhone 5, it's not a flagship phone, and was never intended to be

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 03:28 PM PDT

The Nexus 4 doesn't have LTE because it's not a flagship phone, and was never intended to be

There's quite a bit of schadenfreude ricochetting through the Apple community (and grumbling in the Android camp) today after Google's latest phone, the Nexus 4, was announced without support for fast LTE 4G networking. That's because the iPhone 5 has support not only for LTE, but for international LTE, all wrapped up in an incredible thin, decently long-lifed package. And Android certainly is no stranger to LTE. If Apple can add it for its flagship phone, and many an Android manufacturer has LTE (like, all of them), why can't Google? It's actually more a matter of "won't," not "can't." Simply put, the Nexus 4 isn't, was never intended to be, and could never be a flagship phone.

Arguably no Nexus phone has been a "flagship" since the first one, the HTC Nexus One. The Nexus One was an Android phone from the future, with features we wouldn't see in the rest of the line, much less other platforms, for months to come. It was aspirational, as compelling in hardware as software. And Google couldn't sell it. Not to customers via its web store, and not to carriers, which already had to deal with an uncontrollable Apple and weren't about to let Google secure that kind of power.

So, instead of a Nexus Two, Google teamed with Samsung to ship the Nexus S. It wasn't an Android phone from the future by any stretch of the imagination, it was a summation of what had gone on with Android the year before. It still satisfied the demands of geeks and developers for an unlocked phone with the latest, greatest version of the Android software, but it did so safely, leaving plenty of room at the top of the hardware food chain for the next generation of carrier and manufacturer phones.

The also-by-Samsung Galaxy Nexus did likewise. It had the very best and most up-to-date version of Android software, but Its camera sucked, a GSM/LTE version never shipped, and it compromised the very nature of Nexus to get on Verizon.

The point of Nexus, at least to me, at least originally, was Android as Google intended, not only free from carrier and manufacturer shenanigans, but showing those ne'er-do-wells a better, brighter path forward. And the carriers and manufacturers killed it for that very reason.

I don't think there's an Android geek on the planet who wouldn't have rather had a fantastic camera in the Galaxy Nexus, along with every other cutting-edge bell and whistle imaginable, even if it drove up the price to something comparable with flagship phones. I don't think there's anyone reading a Mobile Nations site who wouldn't prefer a Nexus 4 with LTE. Conversely, any developer in charge of a test bed with 37 existing Android phones on it probably prays every night the next one is as cheap and dirty as possible, just to keep costs down and their business in business.

If you're walking into an Apple Store, carrier store, or electronics retailer with your eyes set on an iPhone 5, the Nexus 4 isn't meant to be on your radar. The Nexus 4 isn't aimed at the masses and isn't intended to sell in the tens of millions. It isn't allowed to be, not in scope or in strategy, much as Google might wish it. The Nexus 4, in the current incarnation of the Google Play Store, is aimed at geeks and developers as a non-flagship phone that does its best to meet both their diverging needs, while leaving plenty of room at the top for their carrier and manufacturing partners that do intend to compete with the iPhone 5.

If anyone is looking for an alternative to Apple, for an Android flagship phone with LTE and all sorts of other amenities, Samsung, HTC, LG, and their ilk will more than happily sell them, and everyone else one, by the millions, or tens of millions.

That's what the Samsung Galaxy S 3 and HTC One X and other, carrier flagships are for.

It's not, nor was it ever intended to be, what the Nexus 4 is for.

Apple announces departure of SVP of iOS, Scott Forstall and SVP of retail, John Browett

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 02:17 PM PDT

Apple announces departure of SVP of iOS, Scott Forstall and SVP of retail, John Browett

Apple announced today that Scott Forstall, senior vice-president of iOS, and John Browett, recent SVP of retail, are leaving the company. Forstall, who came to Apple from NeXT when Steve Jobs returned to the company, will stay on until next year as an advisor to Tim Cook. John Browett sounds like he's leaving far more immediately. Jony Ive, Eddy Cue, Craig Federighi, and Bob Manfield will be divvying up a lot of their duties. Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, said in the press release:

We are in one of the most prolific periods of innovation and new products in Apple's history. The amazing products that we've introduced in September and October, iPhone 5, iOS 6, iPad mini, iPad, iMac, MacBook Pro, iPod touch, iPod nano and many of our applications, could only have been created at Apple and are the direct result of our relentless focus on tightly integrating world-class hardware, software and services.

While it's impossible to separate fact from fiction from simple politicking, Forstall had reportedly been a strong personality at Apple, and was rumored to have been butting heads with Jony Ive, among others, over the direction of Apple design. He was also in charge of the troubled launches of both Siri, which suffered repeated network and reliability problems, and iOS 6 maps, whose geographical data issues turned into a public relations problem for Apple. The press release certainly reads more as a welcome for Ive in his new roll than anything resembling a grateful farewell to Forstall for his work to date.

Jony Ive, longtime SVP of Industrial Design, will take over Human Interface across Apple.

His incredible design aesthetic has been the driving force behind the look and feel of Apple's products for more than a decade.

Eddy Cue, promoted to SVP of Internet and Services following the ill-fated MobileMe launch, which take on Siri and Maps.

This organization has overseen major successes such as the iTunes Store, the App Store, the iBookstore and iCloud. This group has an excellent track record of building and strengthening Apple's online services to meet and exceed the high expectations of our customers.

Craig Federighi, who took over OS X following the departure of Bertrand Serlet, will also take on iOS.

Apple has the most advanced mobile and desktop operating systems, and this move brings together the OS teams to make it even easier to deliver the best technology and user experience innovations to both platforms.

Bob Mansfield, who left his post as SVP of Hardware Engineering, only to return as SVP of [nothing specified] will now lead a new group called Technologies.

[Technologies combines] all of Apple's wireless teams across the company in one organization, fostering innovation in this area at an even higher level. This organization will also include the semiconductor teams, who have ambitious plans for the future.

Apple will conduct a search to replace Browett as the head of retail. Browett was the subject of controversy recently when cuts to Apple store staff and rumored shifts in priority led to some embarrassing publicity and backpedaling.

[In] the interim, the Retail team will report directly to Tim Cook. Apple's Retail organization has an incredibly strong network of leaders at the store and regional level who will continue the excellent work that has been done over the past decade to revolutionize retailing with unique, innovative services for customers.

Source: Apple PR

Microsoft launches Windows Phone 8, but is it enough to compete with the iPhone?

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 12:06 PM PDT

After an innumerable amount of teases, both from Microsoft and their manufacturing partners, Windows Phone 8 has finally, officially, been launched at a special event today and our Mobile Nations sibling site WPCentral is all over all it.

Daniel Rubino has a full Windows Phone 8 review up for your comparative pleasure, and he's unsurprisingly positive about Microsoft's latest smartphone OS:

For current Windows Phone users, Windows Phone 8 is a major step in the right direction. It continues to fill in gaps, expand functionality and create some new areas. The new hardware abilities make what was already a fast OS even more horsepower and you can feel it when doing everyday tasks. Combined with the new bold phones designed by HTC and Nokia, Windows Phone 8 has the best chance ever to succeed. Let's see what happens.

And Alex Dobie has an HTC 8X review up, at least in preliminary hardware form, to round things out.

By any standard, HTC's Windows Phone 8X is a stunning piece of technology. There's no shortage of plastic smartphones out there, but this is plastic done right. HTC's combined leading smartphone internals with a minimalist design and triple-A build quality, and it should come as no surprise that the result is a worthy signature handset for Windows Phone 8.

My own opinions of Windows Phone haven't changed much if at all with the new version. Microsoft's Windows Phone team deserves an incredible amount of credit for making a modern, elegant, beautiful new mobile operating system -- one that's since dragged the entire, entrenched company into the future with it. But Microsoft's management has stuck so solidly, stupidly, to Windows that they've cut the legs out from under it at every turn.

Again, call it Xphone, put Halo on it alongside Office, and it's got an incredible shot at success. Leave it as it is, stuck with the Windows brand, caught be carrier must-carry iOS and carrier want-to-carry Android, and it'll be an incredible battle to even get to 3rd place, despite BlackBerry remaining in free fall.

Check out WPCentral's complete coverage for more videos and analysis.

iPad 4 vs. Nexus 10: Spec shoot out

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 11:16 AM PDT

In addition to the new Nexus 4 smartphone, which we've already put up against the iPhone 5, Google and Samsung have announced the brand new Nexus 10 big boy tablet now as well. So experience vs. ecosystem, integrated vs. licenses, yadda vs. yadda, we're stacking that up against Apple's just-announced iPad 4 to get a sense of where exactly the different platforms are going, and what they're needing, hardware-wise.

And, of course, we brought the Microsoft Surface and BlackBerry Playbook along for the ride.

Check the specs up top, then hit the link below for our Mobile Nations sibling site, Android Central's, complete Nexus 10 coverage.

iPhone 5 vs. Nexus 4: Spec shoot out

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 10:38 AM PDT

Google and LG have just announced their all-new Android 4.2 flagship phone, the Nexus 4 and it's a doozy. We all know Apple and the iPhone 5 are more about experience and ecosystem than speeds and feeds, but that doesn't mean we're not still curious how exactly those specs stack up. After all, specs are the engine that drive the experience, and while Apple's end-to-end integration lets them get better results with less horsepower, it's still fun to see what Android manufacturers are able to cram into their devices.

We also tossed in a couple other Android flagship devices, including the ubiquitous Samsung Galaxy S3 and stellar HTC One X as well as the also upcoming Windows 8 Phone, the Nokia Lumia 920.

So check out the chart up top, and if you want to know more about the Nexus 4, our Mobile Nations sibling site, Android Central, has you coved:

Weather HD for iPad Updated – Adds Halloween Theme

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:56 AM PDT

Weather HD iPad Halloween Theme

Weather HD, the simple and gorgeous weather app for the iPad, was updated over the weekend – to Version 2.1.0.

The update's only purpose on the iPad is to add a new, free Halloween theme. It provides some spooky and seasonal images to the weather screen if you choose to enable it within the Themes section of the app's settings.

Weather HD has been offering seasonal themes for a while now. I think they're fun – especially as this app is all about its interesting and striking background imagery.

Here's an App Store link for Weather HD; it's priced at $0.99 and is a universal app designed to run on both iPad and iPhone.

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Quick Look: Talking T-Rex Dinosaur for iPad

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 09:22 AM PDT

Talking T-Rex for iPad

Talking T-Rex Dinosaur for iPad is pretty much just what the name says. As in, it's an animated Tyrannosaurus Rex who talks to you. Actually he's not much of a conversationalist and won't speak until he's spoken to – he just mimics anything that you say.

Way back in the very early days of the iPhone App Store, my daughter and I loved an app called SmackTalk. It is a very simple app where three adorable little animals – a guinea pig, a cat, and a dog – hilariously imitate everything you say or every noise you make. We quickly discovered that one of the things that cracked us up most was when the animals mimicked my daughter's laughter.

Well, Talking T-Rex is just the same sort of app – except with the cuddly little creatures replaced by the big, scary dinosaur, who also does a bit more than just mimic you. You can throw him a bone or a chunk of meat and he'll scarf it up. Poke him and he'll get mad and maybe even get right up in our face and roar at you.

(...)
Read the rest of Quick Look: Talking T-Rex Dinosaur for iPad (171 words)

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Push notifications, search come to Netbot for app.net

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 08:39 AM PDT

Push notifications, search come to Netbot for app.net

Both push notifications and search have come to Tapbots' popular app.net (ADN) client, Netbot, thanks to today's version 1.1. Update. While push notifications was likely the last big missing piece on many people's ADN puzzles -- our own Netbot review included -- both new features nicely round out what was already one of the best clients on any platform.

For any Tweetbot user, the push notification implementation will be immediately familiar. Simply tap the account button at the top left, tap Accounts & Settings, tap Settings at the bottom of the screen, tap your username under Account Settings, tap Notifications, and then you can toggle on or off Mentions, Reposts, Stars, and Follows, as well as test the system.

According to Netbot developer Paul Haddad, Tapbots didn't include the same Sleep Options found in Tweetbot because iOS 6's new Do Not Disturb mode handles that at the system level now. Also, there's no way to restrict Mentions to just those from people you follow, since ADN doesn't offer that option yet.

Search also functions exactly as any Tweetbot user would expect, with the ability to find posts with, users with, or go to a specific username.

Great additions to a great client. If you like Tweetbot, you'll like Netbot, so whether you're migrating to ADN or just doubling up on your micro-posts, there's no longer any reason not to check it out.

Netbot 1.1 is a free update for existing users.

Cool Things: Banned iPad mini Promo

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 08:36 AM PDT

 

Jonny Five and his pals are back at it with a Banned iPad mini promo video. Written by John Elerick, who also plays Jonny Five, it's another fun spoof of Apple's promo videos generally shown at their special events announcing new products.

I love the sad, frustrated Senior VP of Cameras.

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iMore show 322: Apple iPad and Mac event breakdown

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 08:02 AM PDT

Rene Ritchie and special guest Jim Dalrymple of The Loop talk Apple's October event, including the new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, iPad 4, and iPad mini. This is the iMore show.

Guests

Hosts

Credits

You can reach all of us on Twitter @iMore, or you can email us at podcast@imore.com or just leave us a comment below.

For all our podcasts -- audio and video -- including the iMore show, ZEN and TECH, Iterate, and more, see MobileNations.com/shows




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Price Drops: Camera Boost for iPad Free for Today Only

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 07:58 AM PDT

Camera Boost for iPad

Camera Boost is an app with a simple, single purpose – improving the iPad camera.It shows you photo effects and enhancements live – and you can adjust the levels pretty easily on the fly while the camera view remains constantly on the screen.

It's available for free today only – down from its standard $0.99. I took a look at it back in 2011 with the iPad 2, and was impressed. I don't do an awful lot of photography on my iPad but when I do this app still comes in handy.

Here are some of its key features:

  • Simply better: Camera Boost photos and videos are sharper, more detailed and more colorful.
  • Super simple to use: Built for natural 2-handed use with everything just a tap away.
  • Live preview: Filters and effects are shown in realtime at full quality.
  • Wide range of filters to give your shots a unique look. No buy-later "Lens Packs", everything is included!
  • Ultra fast: All filters work in realtime. That means Zero processing time, zero delays.
  • Ultra powerful: Create your own filters, and combine many effects for truly unlimited styles.
  • Ultra flexible Even adjust filters while recording HD video. Correct, enhance and remix on the fly!
  • Ultra quality: Full resolution photos, HD video (1080p on new iPad, 720p on iPad 2).
  • Pro features: HDR, noise reduction, real (long exposure) night mode, exposure / focus / white balance locks.
  • All features work in both Photo and Video mode.

Here's an App Store link for Camera Boost.

© patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
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Initial iPad mini pre-order stock sold out, new orders shipping in 2 weeks

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 07:43 AM PDT

Initial iPad mini pre-order stock sold out, new orders shipping in 2 weeks

Apple appears to have sold out of their initial iPad mini pre-order stock, with their latest, smallest tablet no longer available with immediate shipping from Apple.com. The iPad mini W-Fii became available for pre-order on Friday, October 26, and while the white version seemed almost immediately supply constrained, the black version seemed in plentiful supply until today.

No press release from Apple yet, and while 3 days may not be iPhone instant-fast, or even traditionally iPad fast, but for the small tablet category, on the heels of 2 other major tablet releases from Apple this year -- iPad 3 and iPad 4 -- it's still impressive.

iPad orders are now shipping in 1 week. So, if you absolutely want either of Apple's latest tablets this Friday, you'll now have to brave the lineups.

See ya there.

Monday Brief: Apple's iPad mini, the Microsoft Surface Launch, a webOS TV, and more!

Posted: 29 Oct 2012 06:30 AM PDT

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