iPhone
Seamless for Mac and iPhone
1 year ago
Staying up late has its benefits as I discovered last night when I came across Seamless, a magical app that quite seamlessly lets you transition from playing music on your Mac (free app) to playing music on your iPhone or iPod touch (59p app) with a single tap – without missing a beat. Seamless, simply put, is your music to go.
My good friend Chris over at techese has written a nice little review explaining exactly what Seamless does. Head over and take a look and be sure to watch the video.
Seamless for Mac [direct link to Mac App Store]
Seamless for iPhone [direct link to iTunes App Store]
Tweetbot for iPhone
41 year ago
Looking at the Social folder on my iPhone, it’s safe to say I’ve tried just about every twitter app going from Echofon, to Twitterrific, to Weet. Even though I was perfectly happy with Tweetie back in the day, I couldn’t resist downloading the newest additions to see how they compared and whether they could lure me. Nothing ever could.
When Tweetie was bought by Twitter, things changed and not just the icon. More recently the addition of the #dickbar showing the latest trending topics at the top of the timeline outraged users and Twitter eventually accepted defeat and removed it. I tried moving to other apps during the #dickbar debacle, but still couldn’t switch away from Twitter for iPhone. Twitterrific was the second nicest app and I’d have probably switched fully to it, but lack of ability to post mine/see others location and save drafts was a huge miss that I couldn’t live without in the end.
Shortly after midnight on Thursday 14th April, Tweetbot for iPhone appeared in the App Store, created by tapbots. I’d heard rumblings about them working on a twitter app for months and being an owner of the gorgeous Convertbot I was very excited knowing the attention to detail they pay to their creations. Tweetbot also, in this case, didn’t fail in that department.
This app is polished to the hilt, it’s gorgeous. The sounds, the gestures, everything. Within minutes, Twitter.app was banished to a folder that resides on my second screen, named ‘Social’. That’s where all the other Twitter apps sit, having been tried and tested but not quite making Home Screen grade. Tweebot then proudly taking up home screen status next to my other most loved and used apps.
You can see the full list of features at the Tweetbot site, aswell as view the demo video which is much encouraged as it helped me understand what gestures do what. For an even more indepth look at the app, head over to macstories, who have written a mammoth review.
All I will say in ending is that this app costs just £1.19 for a limited time – you can’t go wrong. If it lured me away from being a loyal Tweetie/Twitter for iPhone users after all these years then that’s testament to a really great app. And I even gifted the app to my friend who is celebrating his birthday today, confident that he would use the app after a longtime Osfoora user. I think it’s safe to say he will be 
Tweetbot for iPhone [iTunes App Store link]
[rating: 5/5]
iPhone is all good in the Hood
6I like unusual things that make people smile. One of those was the Apple Logo Lamp I bought last week. Today it’s a Hoodie…for my iPhone.
Flicking through a magazine article recently, I spotted an iPhone wearing a hoodie. It was just too cute to ignore. The website advertised as carrying the hoodies in the article didn’t actually have any available, so after a quick Google search I found Amazon had them for £8.95. It fits iPod Classic, iPod touch and iPhone. Not knowing the specific dimensions of the Classic and iPod touch I wasn’t sure how fitting this would be for iPhone 4 – but it’s absolutely perfect. The back of the box it came in also says it will fit many other kinds of MP3 players and phones.
This might not be the kind of cover I’d feel too comfortable about carrying my iPhone around in outside, but it sure does stop the smooth back of the iPhone sliding around on my bed. But hey, more importantly than that it just looks so cool, to heck with it being practical!
[rating: 5/5]
FELTU sleeve for iPhone 4
0A couple of weeks ago I ordered a ‘Jeans Lovers’ iPhone 4 sleeve ($18.90) from FELTU.com after a friend mentioned it on Twitter. I’d already bought the Noir Luxe case some months ago, but have been looking for something a little more stylish and FELTU seemed to fit that bill.
The sleeve arrived yesterday and my first impressions were a little disappointing. It didn’t feel as well made as I anticipated and the ‘jeans’ material isn’t really denim at all – just a material that looks like it. I could get past this little cosmetic issue if it felt more protective than it does and had adequate velcro fastening. But really, that part is pretty much useless and barely fastens at all. I’m not confident that if I pulled it out of my pocket upside down that the velcro fastener would keep the phone from sliding out of the sleeve and crashing to the floor.
While it looks quite nice as you can see above, I just feel let down by the quality of it. The sleeve does appear quite a bit wider than the iPhone 4, so it’s definitely not snug and could easily slip out if that velcro isn’t secure. At the moment I am using it in the house only and feel that I will be popping it back into my Noir Luxe sleeve when I go out, for that added protection and the magnetic fastening which holds it in place.
So, my search for a both stylish and secure sleeve for iPhone 4 continues.
[rating:2/5]
The Allure of Instagram
1 year ago
Just finished reading a very interesting article named The Addictive Allure of Instagram by Faruk Ate in which I found myself agreeing with many of his points.
One of the things Instagram does very well is making the process of sharing a cool photo you just took to multiple sites really easy. After you’ve authenticated to them once initially, it is but a single tap (for each) to share your photo to Flickr, Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook.
And my feelings on Flickr and it’s community today are very much echoed by the author.
…more than anything else, for me personally Flickr has lost its sense of being a community site.
That is one of the saddest realisations I’ve had this year – the dying Flickr community. I am a member of quite a number of groups but have noticed photo views and comments dropping off in the last 12 months alone. This meant my interest in taking photos and in particular sharing them suffered until Instagram and it’s friendly community came along. It’s unlikely that I will now renew my Flickr Pro account next month.
Read The Addictive Allure of Instagram by Faruk Ate in full.
Thanks to Glyn from iPhoneography for tweeting the article.
Angry Bird Plush Toys
2Earlier this year I downloaded Angry Birds for iPhone and promptly kissed goodbye to all my free time. It’s the most fun, addictive, infuriating and frustrating game I have ever played – yes, THAT good! Since Angry Birds Halloween was released last week I spent hours a day trying to total all the grinning pigs with the cute Angry Bird characters and realised they hold a special place in my heart!
I went in search of merchandise and to my delight noticed that plush toys were being made and reportedly coming soon. Then tonight one of my Twitter friends tweeted that the Angry Bird Plush Toys were available for pre-order at $14.99 each.
I wanted the blue bird originally, okay so I wanted them ALL, but it showed as Out of Stock so I settled on the yellow one. After numerous attempts at completing the transaction via PayPal I kept getting errors which weren’t very specific. I have funds in my bank account so there was no problem with that, but PayPal wasn’t playing ball and kept returning me to the merchant. My friend Stephen kindly offered to purchase it on my behalf and it looks like it’s been confirmed now that the order was a success.
I decided to go for the blue bird in the end, which on a second check was showing as In Stock. The Angry Bird Plush toys will start shipping in December. If you know anyone who has wasted hours, days, weeks or even months on Angry Birds then this is the perfect Christmas gift for them.
Uface for iPhone
21 year ago
Occasionally I like to let the App Store Genius recommend apps to me, based on my past purchases. Some recommendations are very hit and miss, but it can uncover some gems at times. I quite like apps that let you create yourself in cartoon form. These can be useful for using on forums as avatars, or using as Contacts pics on the iPhone.
A few nights ago Uface was recommended to me, based on my WeeMee app purchase. With one touch, Uface Unique Face Maker can make professional looking sketched faces. The interface is very nicely designed and easy to use, with 240 male/female character items, backgrounds, facial expressions and more. Here’s just a few I created of myself…
You can also see one of them that I created in action on my About page. Perfect for people who perhaps don’t want to upload their photo to social networking sites but want to create a profile pic that gives a rough idea of what they look like. You can upload your finished sketched mugshots to Twitter or Facebook, or alternatively save them to your iPhone photo album, assign to a contact or email them.
Uface is a great app – and an absolute steal at just 59p/$0.99 for a limited time only. Grab it on the App Store.
[rating:5/5]
Noir Luxe case for iPhone 4
2A few weeks ago my Apple Bumper arrived as part of the free Case Program from Apple for iPhone 4 customers. I chose the Bumper as I didn’t want my iPhone completely covered by a case. However, I wasn’t impressed with the way it made my iPhone look – bulky and very un-iPhone-like.
Up until today I had been using my old Proporta Maya sleeve from my iPhone 3G. Because iPhone 4 is slimmer, the sleeve was very sloppy on it and easily slid out. But, it was enough to protect it in my pocket for the short term while I shopped around for replacement sleeves specifically for iPhone 4.
A few days ago I was browsing AmazonUK and found a Noir Luxe leather sleeve for less than £12. Here are some photos…
It’s hand stiched fine quality leather and has a soft protective interior – and a pull tab to get the iPhone in and out easily.
If, like me, you prefer your tech naked in your hand but fully protected when it’s in your bag and pocket then I’d recommend the Noir Luxe leather sleeve for iPhone 4.
[rating:5/5]
2 Weeks with iPhone 4
11Little over two weeks ago I took delivery of a 32GB iPhone 4, having ordered the SIM free version direct from Apple. I was out of contract, making me fully available for an upgrade from o2, but the lure of my current £15 o2 iPhone Simplicity tariff with 300 mins and unlimited texts was too much to ignore and I decided to buy the handset outright and stay on the Simplicity plan with a 12 month contract.
I have been totally blown away by the speed and beauty of iPhone 4. The screen is just beautiful – turn it to any angle and it just stands out, looking like the icons are painted ON the screen. That’s the first thing you notice. The second thing is the speed. Coming from a laggy iPhone 3G, it is a real treat to use something that loads games much easier and switches between apps that much quicker.
The 5MP camera on the iPhone is wonderful. I am truly stunned at the beautiful shots it produces and the tap to focus is a dream. Coming from a 2MP on my 3G is a huge upgrade and I think it’s safe to say that I won’t be needing a separate digital camera for my photography needs anymore. The iPhone 4 camera has taken it’s place. Here’s a photo straight from the iPhone, no editing…
One question I have been asked the most over the past two weeks is what my signal strength and reception is like, given that many are experiencing issues due to the antenna placement. I have not experienced a single dropped call. I know many people personally who have the iPhone 4 and none of them have experienced any significant issues with regards to signal, nor are they regretting their upgrade in any way. There’s now a rumour of an iPhone 4 recall. It’s interesting to note that of the people I follow on Twitter, those who appear gleeful of a possible (though unlikely) recall are the ones that don’t have an iPhone 4 or any interest in Apple. Make of that what you will.
I have made several phone calls and all of them have been clear and constant, no dropouts. Infact recently I was on a call and not paying attention to how I was holding the phone. When I looked, one of my fingers was near the ‘death grip’ corner and yet my bars were full. I’m pleased to say that the signal issue isn’t affecting me to the extent that it’s reportedly affecting others. However, talk to my Brother and he will tell you a different story with his handset – but then again he’s using a Nokia and gets repeated drops with every call he makes 
Have you bought iPhone 4? What are your thoughts and experiences thus far?
[rating:5/5]
Switching to o2 iPhone Simplicity
112 years ago
Today my 18 month iPhone 3G contract with o2 came to an end. For a few months I’ve heard some fellow o2-iPhone friends talk about moving to an iPhone Simplicity tariff with a 30-day rolling contract, leaving them free and single to sign a new contract when the newest and shiniest iPhone hits the streets, possibly in the summer.
So, looking to save myself £10 a month, I called o2 today and switched from iPhone 30 (£30 per month) which gave me 75 mins/125 texts, to iPhone Simplicity 20 (£20 per month) which gives you…
- 300 mins
- Unlimited texts
- Unlimited data and wifi
- Visual Voicemail
The phonecall to 2302 from my iPhone took just a few minutes. Shortly after making the switch I checked Visual Voicemail on my iPhone which was showing as ‘Currently Unavailable’. I assumed that this feature wasn’t available on iPhone Simplicity until a few friends confirmed that it was. 3G was also failing on my iPhone, so I called o2 again and spoke with a girl who really confused matters.
I was told to change the network settings on my iPhone so that I could get 3G and MMS. She also repeatedly insisted that Visual Voicemail does not come with the iPhone Simplicity tariffs. However, it appears she was confusing regular Simplicity with iPhone Simplicity, so there was no need to alter any settings on my phone. I can confirm that you DO get Visual Voicemail on iPhone Simplicity and there is no need to manually change any network settings. Simply reboot your iPhone once you’ve moved to iPhone Simplicity which will bring back 3G and all your current data settings will work correctly without any amendment.
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