iPad By Davis: “Apple set to include Bluetooth keyboard support in the next Apple TV iOS update” plus 9 more

Apple set to include Bluetooth keyboard support in the next Apple TV iOS update
Behind the bits of Twitterrific 5
DataVault for iPhone and iPad now supports automatic iCloud backup
iPad Insight: Get Some More
iMore Editors' Choice: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Into the Dead, Weather 2x, and more
Best Free iPad App of the Week: Snapseed
Contest: One Free BookBook Case for iPad mini To Be Won
Price Drops: A Charlie Brown Christmas for iPad on Sale at 40% Off
Sponsor Thanks – Mobile Cloth
Cards vs. Ink Cards vs. Go Cards: Greeting card apps for iPhone shootout!

Apple set to include Bluetooth keyboard support in the next Apple TV iOS update

Posted: 09 Dec 2012 12:20 AM PST

Apple set to include Bluetooth keyboard support in the next Apple TV iOS update Apple may well be planning on offering support for Bluetooth keyboards at long last when the next software update arrives for the Apple TV. A new Bluetooth menu has been found in the latest beta that allows you to pair Bluetooth keyboards to both the second and third generation Apple TV. The news comes from 9to5 Mac who have been poking around in the beta.

Once connected, you can use a wireless keyboard to completely control the Apple TV without using the included remote. The arrow keys function for navigation, the Return key is the play/pause, and the Escape key maps to 'menu' or up 'one level' functionality. More importantly, searching for content becomes a thousand times easier when you can enter search terms with a hard keyboard.

Offering this type of Bluetooth support could open the door for third-party manufacturers to start offering their own remote controllers for the Apple TV. We could start to see some innovation like we already do from the likes of Logitech who offer sophisticated remote controllers with inbuilt keyboards for other bits of A/V kit. Of course think of the way that Apple could use the additional Bluetooth functionality, a remote controller with an in-built microphone for a Siri controlled Apple TV maybe. Yep adding this type of Bluetooth support for the Apple TV makes a lot of sense.

Source: 9to5 Mac

Behind the bits of Twitterrific 5

Posted: 08 Dec 2012 03:09 PM PST

Behind the bits of Twitterrific 5

The bits of Twitterrific 5 were programed by Sean Heber and Craig Hockenberry, and Hockenberry has now shared the details of that work, and a behind-the-scenes look at the project in general, on his blog, Furbo.org. Hockenberry talks about the process, and the reason they chose to leave certain features out, like push notifications, trends, and streaming:

We believe in building opinionated software.

The product you have in your hands is what we wanted and needed it to be. As the tagline on the website says, "A simply beautiful way to tweet." We achieved that goal.

I like opinionated software. There are different ways to use Twitter and different apps better suit those different use cases. Twitterrific has and does serve Twitter as a reading experience, and the closer they keep to that, the better it seems to get. I also like DVD extras and director's commentaries, and I like reading about the choices and processes involved in creating great apps every bit as much. Hockenberry's are a great read.

Source: Furbo.org

DataVault for iPhone and iPad now supports automatic iCloud backup

Posted: 08 Dec 2012 02:01 PM PST

DataVault for iPhone and iPad now supports automatic iCloud backup

DataVault for iPhone was updated a little while back with quite a few new features, most notably automatic iCloud sync. While you can still sync with Dropbox, DataVault Desktops, over Wi-Fi, and via iOS file sharing, iCloud is great addition.

If you're already a DataVault user, none of the new features or enhancements will change how you use the app or what you're used to. You're basically going to notice little refinements throughout the app that make the experience better overall. DataVault's main focus was iCloud sync and making it seamless which leaves the user less to worry about.

Backup has been a challenge for iOS developers for some time. Most developers relied on Wi-Fi sync to desktop versions, desktop utilities or email backups but those aren't elegant solutions. We were the first to implement Apple file sharing to backup but that wasn't a robust solution because Apple's implementation deleted files along with apps!

In this version, we've implemented automatic iCloud backup that saves the complete database for the last 7 times the user makes an edit. We also offer backup to Dropbox and various sync methods to use DataVault for Mac or DataVault for Windows as the main backup destination but we feel automatic iCloud sync is a big step forward.

DataVault has also been updated for iOS 6 and the iPhone 5, and received other performance enhancements.

$9.99 - Download Now

iPad Insight: Get Some More

Posted: 08 Dec 2012 11:25 AM PST

If you're a new or newish visitor here, I hope you are liking what you see and getting some good use out of our iPad app and accessory reviews, iPad tips and tricks, and insight on all things iPad related. If you're a veteran reader, then thanks and I hope you tell all of your iPad owner friends about us. :)

Either way, I hope if you enjoy the site then you may decide to follow us and even engage socially a bit with us. Here are the best ways to do that:

Subscribe to our RSS feed:

– Our RSS feed is:http://feeds.feedblitz.com/ipadinsight. You can just click on the handsome little button for it at the top of our right sidebar and add it to your favorite RSS reader app so you never miss any of our great app reviews, iPad tips, or iPad accessory reviews.

Check out (and Like) our Facebook page:

– Our Facebook page is here: http://on.fb.me/jtjHbX. We post article links there as well, along with photos and screencaps of latest apps and accessories reviewed. We also run some spur-of-moment giveaway contests on the Facebook page. Tap or click the button for it at the top of our right sidebar.

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Weather 2x - Ally Kazmucha

I've always been weird with two kinds of apps, Twitter and Weather apps. I'm always divided between whether I want to use something more visually appealing or the one that provides me the most information. This tends to lead to me flipping between apps quite often. Weather 2x has been on my Home screen for over 2 months now and I've yet to grow bored of it. It provides stunning graphics that appeal when opening the app but also gives you detailed forecasts when you swipe up or over.

To me this is more than enough information about the weather. Now if you live in an area where weather tends to change quickly or become severe, it may not be feature rich enough but that's okay. Weather 2x meant for people that just want to casually view the forecast or current conditions in preparation for dressing and going out. If that sounds like you, make sure you give it a try!

$0.99 - Download Now

Webcam Settings - Rene Ritchie

I use a Logitech HD webcam for video podcasting and this week, the focus started to get a little wonky. Right away, my co-host on MacBreak Weekly, the uber-experience Alex Lindsay, told me to go buy Webcam Settings from the Mac App Store. I did. I launched it. And golden light started pouring from my display like Indiana Jones' ark or Marcellus Wallace's briefcase, or something.

Okay, not really. But what did pop up was an amazingly useful app that not only let me take control of the focus, but zoom, white balance, and countless other controls.

If you use a webcam on your Mac, and it's supported by Webcam Settings, go buy Webcam Settings now. You'll be glad you did (though not as glad as the people watching your finally-in focus and correctly framed and colored face.)

$7.99 - Download now

Into the Dead - Simon Sage

Okay, so zombies aren't exactly the most holiday-themed thing to be going with this time of year, but this thriller game is extremely well done. Into the Dead takes the first-person endless runner theme that was established awhile back by Dead Runner and throws in zombies, guns, and power-ups. You tilt or tap (as per your preference) to evade throngs of undead and various obstacles. Your character keeps running faster and faster on his own, moving through different areas as he progresses. If you're lucky, you can snag a weapon from a supply crate, but there are only a few rounds loaded, so count your shots. When you inevitably get mauled by a zombie, you're scored based on distance and awarded coins which can be spent on new unlocks and one-time power-ups. Into the Dead is brand spanking new, so new content updates shortly; there are already placeholders for "Massacre" and "Hardcore" game modes. Although the concept is simple, Into the Dead has great graphics, with lots of great subtle touches, like stray splatter on the lens, lifelike camera bob when tripping over fences or bumping into trees, and a genuinely creepy atmosphere. In-app purchases are employed tastefully, and reasonably - for about $10 you can unlock all the weapons, if you don't want to go through the trouble of unlocking them individually.

Free - Download now

Soundcloud - Chris Parsons

If you're on the hunt for some new music, Soundcloud is an app that may be able to take you out of your Taylor Swift on repeat rut. It's home to many great artists looking to be discovered as well as artists you already know and love. You can search for new music, follow your favorites and if you're an artist yourself, even upload your own music all from right within their newly redesigned app. The app is available for free and includes plenty of social integration as well as having AirPlay support, for those times you need to really rock out.

Free - Download Now

Photoset - Joseph Keller

Photoset is a new app from Tumblr that allows you to arrange and upload groups of photos to either Tumblr or Photoset website. With a simple, easy-to-use interface, you can upload existing photos, or else take pictures with the app, uploading new material on the go. Photosets are one of Tumblr's major features, and the Photoset app makes creating them on either your iPhone or iPad simple and easy. Even if you don't use Tumblr, the Photoset website lets you tweet out a link to share your pictures with your friends. Photoset is a free and universal app, so go ahead and give it a spin.

Free - Download now

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City - Chris Oldroyd

Ah, ten years ago I was sitting with my PS2 excitedly waiting for Rockstar's latest and arguably greatest Grand Theft Auto game to load up. Ten years on and I am sitting on my sofa with a small mobile phone in my hand experiencing the exact same feelings of excitement; welcome to the just released Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

This game really needs no introduction so I won't bother with one but I will say that the port over to iOS has been done extremely well; Rockstar has another sure fire winner on its hands. Crisp graphics, easily mastered and customized controls make this an easy game to pick up and play. Where this game shines though is the storyline and mission style gameplay. You can pick it up, play for a few minutes or a few hours and it's still amazing fun mixed in with some risqué on the edge badness.

If you have never played a Grand Theft Auto game before, you either don't know what you're missing or you do know what you're missing and it's not for you. Either way, I still urge everyone to give this game a try and if you can get over the mindless violence and take it as a bit of fun, then this game is utterly brilliant!

$4.99 - Download now

Doodle Jump Christmas Special - Leanna Lofte

I've always been a big fan of Holiday themed popular games and Doodle Jump Christmas Special is no exception. Doodle Jump has been a huge hit on the iPhone and iPad for a very long time and is great on its own, but there's something about the Christmas Special that makes it even better.

The goal in Doodle Jump is help Doodle jump all the up to the North Pole. The higher you get, the greater your score. It's not all about jumping, though. You must also avoid monsters and shoot them down with your snowball gun. There's even a super cool rocket power-up.

Doodle Jump Christmas Special is universal for the iPhone and iPad and has been updated for the iPhone 5's larger screen.

$0.99 - Download now

Your choice?

Now that we've chosen our favorites for the week, we want to hear yours! Did you pick up a killer app, accessory, or game this week? Let us know in the comments below!

Best Free iPad App of the Week: Snapseed

Posted: 08 Dec 2012 11:02 AM PST

One of the best things about using an iPad is all the great apps that we can run on it. There are excellent apps for just about any purpose you can think of. Better still, there are lots of great free apps for the iPad. Our Best Free iPad App of the Week posts highlight these apps.

This week's pick is Snapseed, the excellent and award-winning photo editing app. The app was chosen by Apple last year as the 2011 iPad App of the Year, and it just became a free app this week.

The developers of the app say this about it:

It makes any photograph extraordinary with a fun, high-quality photo experience right at your fingertips.
Anyone can enhance, transform, and share their photos with ease using incredibly advanced features from the leader in digital photography software. Built-in Google+ capabilities make it even more powerful to share your images with your friends and family.

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Post tags: best free iPad app of the week, best free iPad apps

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Definitely the disguise factor for me. I won't be nearly so ... by Chris
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Cards vs. Ink Cards vs. Go Cards: User interface & design

Cards only uses landscape orientation and allows you to swipe through cards in gallery form. If you've ever used the Cover Flow feature in your Music app, it's very similar. The default section aggregates all the cards from the entire app. Directly below the gallery you have a menu that allows you to choose between different categories. Based on the season and upcoming holidays, these may change. For example, Mother's Day is currently listed but will probably be swapped out for Father's Day when appropriate.

Since the winter holiday season is right around the corner, the first tab you'll find are cards for Christmas, Hanukkah, and other winter celebrations. Tapping on that section allows you to start browsing through the selection that Cards has to offer. While the Cover Flow like view is visually enjoyable, it isn't very practical for scrolling through cards quickly. This is one issue I have with the overall layout of Cards. When you're inside sections that have quite a few options, it becomes annoying rather quickly.

Once you've found the card you'd like to edit, tapping into it will give you an overview and allow you to customize. There isn't too much more to the process than skimming through cards and customizing them. After you've tweaked the card to your exact liking you can simply tab the Buy button in the upper right hand corner to purchase the card and enter shipping information.

Ink Cards lays out cards across a white bookshelf which allows you to easily thumb through them quickly. I much prefer this over the way Cards forces you to use a landscape orientation and browse through one at a time. From the main menu you can utilize the top most menu to access feature cards, cards by categories, and saved cards that you've already started customizing.

Once you've opened a category you'll see the shelf of cards showing you what Ink Cards has available for that occasion. Once you find a card that looks interesting to you, you can tap on it to preview it. Since most of Ink Cards' selection is one sided, there isn't a ridiculous amount to customize. Any images that you can customize will show up as a plus sign where you can tap to drop in photos.

After you've finished updating and editing a card you can save it for later or purchase it. The purchase will simply come off your already purchased credits on your account so there is not individual charge per card. The only other part of Ink Cards that you have to explore is the settings panel. This is where you can access your address book, birthday reminders, buy credits, and edit push notification settings.

Go Cards by Hallmark works in a similar way to Cards when it comes to user interface. The main screen is a little different but you'll basically start off by selecting your occasion. After you've selected that you'll be presented with a gallery view of all the cards Go Cards has available for that particular occasion. In order to view more cards you can swipe left and right across the screen. If you find one you like you can tap it in order to view the inside and back.

Along the bottom you've got a menu outside of the main screen menu that gives you quick access to creating cards, viewing cards you have saved in Go Cards already, and your profile. If you've saved cards from a previous session you can easily pull them up via the saved tab. Tapping on them allows you to go back to editing or purchasing them.

Out of all three choices, Ink Cards has the best user interface. It's not only easy to navigate but doesn't force you to thumb through cards one at a time. It's also the only app that allows you to easily send the same card to more than one recipient without having to retrieve saved cards over and over again.

Cards vs. Ink Cards vs. Go Cards: Creating & customizing cards

After launching Cards you'll instantly see a ton of them. Once you've chosen your category from the bottom menu and found the card you like, just tap it in order to start editing and customizing it. The first thing you'll most likely want to do is add your own photos to the empty frames. Tap on any frame for a picture in order to add or change what's already there. You'll be taken to your Photos app in order to pick them out. You can browse through your camera roll, Photo Stream, or any other album on your iPhone. Find the one you want and tap on it and it'll automatically be inserted. Once you've inserted a photo you can move it around and pinch or pull to center and size it the way you'd like.

After you've chosen photos and have edited any front text you can open up the card and insert photos and text where appropriate. The last step is to put information on the envelope for sender and receiver. After filling out all the fields you can use the three tabs along the top for outside, inside, and envelope in order to check your card for errors and make sure it's just the way you like.

The last step is to click the Buy button in the upper right hand corner in order to buy the card as an in-app purchase. If you aren't ready to buy yet, you can save the card for access later. After launching the app again you'll see a Saved Cards button in the upper left hand corner. Tapping on it will retrieve all your saved cards.

Ink Cards allows you to choose from a variety of different kinds of cards and categories. The bookshelf layout makes it a lot easier to quickly browse through cards instead of tabbing through them one by one, which is what Cards and Go Cards both require. After you've found your card you can tap on it and start editing.

Not only does Ink Cards allow you to add photos and change text but in most cases, you can even change the theme colors and add filters to photos such as black and white or sepia. While you could always use another photo editing app to edit the photo you'd like to use before hand, it's nice that Ink Cards gives you the option to do so inside the app.

As you're creating and editing your card inside Ink Cards you can tap the Fullscreen button in the upper right hand corner in order to view a larger preview of what your card will look like.

After adding photos where applicable you can go ahead and start filling in text blocks. Ink Cards will show you all the pages that have text with add boxes underneath the card preview. Tapping on them allows you to instantly change or add text. Once you're done you can click continue one more time in order to choose a recipient.

Go Cards begins the process by allowing you to choose a card template just like the others. Once you've decided which one you want you can tap into it and begin instantly editing. One thing I've notice about Go Cards is that the cards are actual opening cards where Cards and Ink Cards tend to be just front and back templates. If you're looking for standard greeting cards instead of just 2-sided inserts, Go Cards is probably going to be your best bet.

After adding any images you'd like to add you can edit text. Go Cards allows you to edit mostly all the text within any card to fit whatever you'd like to say. After you're done you can also personally sign your name. This is a nice touch and something that both Cards and Ink Cards don't currently offer. If you don't want to sign your name and prefer a text signature, you can, of course, use that as well.

Once you're done editing your card you'll have the option to purchase it and choose the recipient you'd like to send it to. A virtual envelope will pop up asking you to fill out the send and receive information. After you're done you can simply tap the Buy button in the lower right hand corner in order to purchase it.

When it comes to creating and editing cards, Hallmark's Go Cards gives you the most options edit wise. The written signature is also a nice touch that neither Cards or Ink Cards offers.

Cards vs. Ink Cards vs. Go Cards: Card selection

When it comes to card selection, neither Cards nor Go Cards have a wide array. This will be important to a lot of people considering you don't want to be sending and receiving the same cards with your friends each and every year. I remember going through Cards' selection last holiday season and the selection they have this year isn't too different.

Ink Cards has a pretty robust selection that they seem to be adding to rather regularly. If selection is important to you, and it should be, Ink Cards will offer you the most options template wise.

Cards vs. Ink Cards vs. Go Cards: Print quality

Obviously when ordering greeting cards online, you'd naturally be concerned with the print quality the other party will see when they receive your card.

I have personally ordered many items from Apple in the past including photo albums and greeting cards. The print quality is better than most other services I've used for greeting cards. It may seem a little pricey but the card stock and ink used are higher quality than the cheaper services you find online.

Our samples from Ink Cards and Go Cards have not come in yet so we have no way to personally gauge but we did, of course, dig through reviews of both apps both within the App Store and elsewhere on the web. Ink Cards seemed to received good reviews when it came to print quality and the actual output.

We couldn't find too much on Hallmark Go Cards in terms of print quality but we'll update as soon as we get our sample cards in the mail. If any of you have used the service previously, please let us know about your experiences in the comments.

Undecided.

Cards vs. Ink Cards vs. Go Cards: Pricing

When it comes to price, all three services will charge you a different price per card. The way they charge also differs slightly. Cards, Ink Cards, and Go Cards are all free downloads from the App Store but that's about their only similarity when it comes to pricing.

Cards will charge you a $2.99 in-app purchase fee for each card you buy. If you only buy one card, that's all you're charged.

Ink Cards works a little differently and operates off of credits. The most expensive card is $1.98 if you're only buying 50 credits at a time. That's the lowest package Ink Cards offers which means you have to spend almost $10 up front. If you're only planning on sending one card, it isn't the best option. If you need to send multiple cards though, Ink Cards' pricing is a lot more reasonable than both Cards and Go Cards.

Go Cards' pricing is flat rate just like Cards. For each card you buy through the app you'll be charged $3.49. After you've finished creating the card you'll be asked to create a Hallmark account and to enter your credit card information.

Ink Cards is the best deal cost wise but you have to keep in mind that with both Cards and Ink Cards you are getting a 2-sided insert as opposed to a full card, which is what Hallmark Go Cards offers. It'll really come down to whether a full card or an insert is what you want and whether or not you're willing to pay the extra money for full size cards.

Cards vs. Ink Cards vs. Go Cards: The bottom line

Cards, Ink Cards, and Go Cards are all acceptable solutions for sending cards on the go. When it comes to actually creating the cards, there aren't too many differences between them. That leaves price and selection.

Ink Cards is the best when it comes to selection, and if you're ordering many cards. It has the most templates and is the cheapest option.

Hallmark Go is the best option if you're ordering single cards at a time. For 49 cents more you are getting a full size card instead of the standard 2-sided insert you'll get from Cards and Ink Cards. You also have the ability to customize your signature and more of the actual content than what the others allow.

iPad by Davis

domingo, 9 de diciembre de 2012