automating the world, one script at a time
Posts tagged Apple
In-house Radio.app in the works for iPhone and iPod touch
Oct 13th
Someone at Apple and myself are clearly on the same wavelength.
This afternoon while I was driving home and listening to a podcast on my iPhone 3GS, I mused about how awesome it would be if the 3GS had a built in FM radio, just like the new iPod Nano’s. I conceded that it wouldn’t be possibly as the required hardware doesn’t exist in the device.
Tonight, I see this article not only claiming that Apple are already developing the app, but the device has had the hardware in it for some time to enable the Nike+ functionality.
When this app is released it will truly make the iPhone the most versatile mobile device I’ve ever owned.
- Mobile phone
- Mobile computer
- iPod
- GPS
- Compass
- FM Radio
- Camera
- Video Camera
- Voice recorder
I know there are other devices out there that have all these functions, but not of them do it as well as the iPhone and none of them are nearly as sexy.
Awesome x Rad !
In-house Radio.app in the works for iPhone and iPod touch: “
Weve just received a tip that an iPhone radio.app is being developed in-house by Apple for use on the iPhone and iPod touch. From what we know, the app will be allowed to operate in the background like iPod.app and will offer the same functionality as the FM radio in the new iPod Nanos. The source mentioned that this application could also be incorporated into the iPod.app before release.
The holdup on this app is that Apple is trying to integrate the Mobile iTunes Store purchases into the functionality of the program. For instance, if you like a song you are listening to on the radio (and that station supports tagging and you are in the US), you will be able to push a button and see the song (and all of the information around it) in the iTunes Mobile store. With another click, youll be able to make a purchase. This is an extension of the Song Tagging feature used in the iPod Nanos. Perhaps they could even add some Shazam technology to help with those stations that don’t support tagging.
Though it wasn’t specified, the app will likely have the same Live Pause functionality that the Nanos currently enjoy.
Apple’s iPods and iPhones have been able to receive FM radio signals for some time now. The latest generation of iPhone and iPod touch can even broadcast FM signal, for instance to a car stereo. The ability of the iPhone and iPod touch to receive FM signals has been used solely in the implementation of the Nike+ ecosystem to this point.
This wouldnt be the first time Apple awoke sleeping hardware functionality from its mobile products. Apple sometimes chooses to leave hardware features dormant in their products until they feel the time is right. For instance, Apple didnt enable Bluetooth in its 2nd generation iPod touch until 9 months after it was released. Apple also hasnt enabled the 802.11N +5GHZ wireless networking (which we also hope to see updated shortly) in its latest iPhone and iPods.
The addition of an FM radio would eliminate that advantage from the ZuneHD over Apple’s line of Touch OSX products.
EA launches EA Comics, plans comic books for iTunes…
Oct 7th
When it was released a few weeks ago I bought and downloaded the Mayhem (iTunes link) comic and I really enjoyed the way in which the content was delivered. The images are really high quality and you can choose to have it read to you or to read it yourself. The Mayhem comic came with an exclusive Tyrese track as well which was specifically written for the launch of the comic.
EA don’t really have a large library of comics that I am interested in, but I’m sure that if they make a success of it, or maybe even they don’t, that DC and Marvel will jump on the bandwagon as well.
I stopped reading comics when CNA started charging R50 for a new release and stopped have the bargain bins where you could pick up an older edition for under a Rand.
If I could start getting my content online at a decent price and possibly even have the option to take it with me on my iPhone or on my Apple netbook/tablet, I’ll definitely get back into it.
EA launches EA Comics, plans comic books for iTunes…: “
We know Apple enjoys a better relationship with games industry chiefs than it ever has before, on strength of its iPhone and iPod touch. Now it looks like a key gaming partner is laying the ground to make a little comic book push when Apple launches its first tablet device early next year.
Electronic Arts has announced a new brand, EA Comics. This company will license comic book brands and franchises for publication both in print and through iTunes.
EA, in collaboration with iDW Publishing, will pick and choose titles from among big names which include Transformers, Star Trek, Doctor Who and more.
The first two EA Comics comics will be Army Of Two and Dragon Age, and will be penned by established writers Peter Milligan and Orson Scott Card.
We’re pushing the boat out on speculation here, but somehow expect these releases will be similar to that of the Mayhem comic most recently released in the iTunes Extras format, aiming to produce deeper multimedia experiences than you presently find inside print titles, and using EA’s games and graphics development expertise. But that’s just a notion at the moment.
(Via 9 to 5 Mac – Apple Intelligence.)
Apple, AT&T, the FCC, Google and Skype remark on AT&T opening VoIP over 3G
Oct 7th
I wonder if this will spill over to our local networks.
Well done AT&T. Along with MMS and tethering, we can finally welcome you into the 21st century !
Apple, AT&T, the FCC, Google and Skype remark on AT&T opening VoIP over 3G: “
AT&T said late Tuesday that it has informed Apple and the FCC that ‘it has taken the steps necessary’ to enable Voice over Internet Protocol — or VOIP — services on the iPhone over its 3G wireless network. AT&T said it made the decision ‘after evaluating our customers expectations and use of the device compared to dozens of others we offer.’ The company already allows subscribers to make Internet calls using its 3G network over other wireless devices.
Apple: Spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said Apple welcomed the the announcement. ‘We are very happy that AT&T is now supporting VOIP applications. We will be amending our developer agreements to get VOIP apps on the App Store and in customers hands as soon as possible.’
Skype President Josh Silverman said: ‘Since launching our iPhone application six months ago, people have downloaded and installed Skype on 10% of all iPhone and iPod touch devices sold – making it clear that people are extremely interested in taking Skype conversations with them on the go. All of us at Skype applaud todays announcement by AT&T (in an FCC filing here in PDF format) that itll open up its 3G network to Internet calling applications such as Skype. Its the right step for AT&T, Apple, millions of mobile Skype users and the Internet itself. Nonetheless, the positive actions of one company are no substitute for a government policy that protects openness and benefits consumers. Were all looking forward to further developments that will let people use Skype on any device, on any network.’
Update:
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said: ‘When AT&T indicated, in response to the FCC’s inquiry, that it would take another look at permitting VoIP on its 3G network I was encouraged,’ Genachowski said in a statement. ‘I commend AT&T’s decision to open its network to VoIP. Opening wireless services to greater consumer choice will drive investment and innovation in the mobile marketplace.’
A Google representative said Apple hadn’t informed it of any change in the status of its application.
There was no word yet from Vonage who just got their application into the App Store yesterday.
The FCC
was also silent this evening, but theyprobably played the biggest role in getting AT&T to allow VoIP traffic. Theyve been pushing their Net Neutrality stance on the wireless carriers since this administration took over a year ago. While it was a long time coming, the move was inevitable as both 4G standards, WiMAX and LTE both only support only VoIP, and not the traditional wireless voice product, for telephone calls.
(Via 9 to 5 Mac – Apple Intelligence.)
Automate getting your RSS fix
Sep 30th
4/5
Over time I’ve messed around with a number of OS X applications that automate the finding and downloading of content that I subscribe to with RSS.
Some of the applications that I have been using have not been updated in a long time and they have begun to become more and more unreliable.
Fortunately I recently came across “Automatic”:
The answer to your RSS prayers
Automatic allows you to set up subscriptions for virtually any content linked in RSS feeds: podcasts, videocasts, torrentcasts… Rule of thumb: if it ends in ‘-cast’, you can get it with Automatic.
Once set up, there’s nothing else to do but sit back and wait. Automatic will fetch and deliver the latest content for your subscriptions right to your download folder*, so all that’s left for you is to find some time to enjoy it!
For example, just imagine you wanted to ensure that you were always up to date with your favorite TV show. For this example, we’ll assume that “The Big Bang Theory”is the show in question.
Hit the best TV Show RSS feed, select “The Big Bang Theory” from the drop down list, click the “Get public feed” button and copy the URL that it spits back at you.
Show RSS
Open up Automatic (it lives in your System Preferences).
System Preferences
Click on the “Subscriptions” tab at the top and the on the “+” button to add a new subscription.
Add a feed
Click the “+” button again on the next screen to add a feed. Paste the URL into the top field and Automatic does the rest.
Automatic feed
In this case I’ve made use of a feed that will only return episodes for this show. You can obviously use a general feed and then use the filter function to view only the items you want.
Play with it for a few minutes and you’ll get the idea. Pretty simple stuff really.
Note: This show used as an example only. Make sure you only use this only to download content that you have rights to. Otherwise you will probably get into trouble.
The Core Group continues to screw South Africa
Sep 25th
I wanted to post this a week ago, but as I had bought the new iPod nano as a gift for a loved one, I didn’t want to spoil the surprise.
About two weeks ago I started hunting for a way to get the new iPod nano delivered to my door before the 23rd of September. I tried to convince Amazon to deliver to SA, I tried BH photovideo as well as local some local stores like wantitall and have2have. Although wantitall and have2have could get them for me, they couldn’t guarantee that it would arrive in time. They also weren’t exactly cheap.
The bad boy in question
Then I saw an article on mybroadband that mentioned that the iStore in Sandton had them in stock. I thought I’d take a chance and give the iStore in the V&A Waterfront a call to see if they had any demo models. If they did have I’d see if I could convince them to sell me one. I gave them a call and they informed that they in fact had a few in stock and that I could come and pick one up immediately. No coercion required.
I asked them to keep me one and said I’d be there before closing to come and pick it up. As soon as I was off the phone with them I gave Digicape a call to see if they also had any in stock. Whenever possible I try not to support The Core Group directly, so if I was able to give the business to Digicape I would.
I chatted the sales guy at Digicape and he informed that they would only have stock in about 6 weeks and insisted that no-one in South Africa had any stock yet. I informed him that I was on my way to fetch one at the iStore. After we tussled on whether or not it was in fact the 5th generation iPod nano he conceded and informed me that he was about to go and kick up a real stink within Digicape and The Core Group.
In this case I was grateful that the iStore had them in stock, but I am total agreement that it is total bulls@$%t that the iStore has them and no-one else has them.
I’m still feeling a little nauseous about spending money at the iStore, but I’m sure the Apple gods will forgive me.
Click-to-dial from the Apple address book
Sep 9th
I’ve been using an IP softphone on my Mac for some time, but there has been no integration between the softphone and the Apple address book. It wasn’t the biggest issue for me, but I became really tired of copying the numbers I looked up and pasting them into the softphone to be able to dial.
After trolling the interweb yesterday and finding a few address book plug-in scripts (that no longer work with Snow Leopard), I came across Dialectic from JN Software.
It works with pretty much every softphone and web-based VoIP service I’ve come across. You can customize dialing rules based on the type of call (local, long distance, international etc etc) as well as your location.
There is actually a lot more power under the hood when you consider that it can hook into Apple Scripts as well.
While I was playing with the preferences, one setup that I thought would be particularly useful was to have all my in country calls route via my softphone and all my international calls route out via Skype, which is easily done with Dialectic. Nice work.
It looks slick and will only cost you $25 if you decide to keep using it after your trial period expires.
Get it.
