• android,  google,  hp,  touchpad,  web os

    Refurbished HP TouchPad 32GB on Sale at Walmart

    June 28, 2012 /

    Legacy Palm junkies (and I’m a card carrying member of that club) will be glad to hear that Walmart.com is carrying refurbished 32GB HP TouchPads via their online store.

    As you can see from the graphic above, the 32GB TouchPad debuted back in July 2011 at $600…wow…seems crazy now, right?  The TouchPad was a spectacular flame out going on sale for a brief six weeks before disappearing from store shelfs.

    The TouchPad ships with Palm HP webOS 3.0.x, and can be upgraded OTA to webOS 3.0.5.  However, if you are the adventurous type, Liliputing.com has an article about how to load Google’s Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.  A hack to be sure, and some things like the camera and built-in microphone may not work 100% reliably, but still cool none the less.

    I ordered my TouchPad today and should have it next week.  I was running the original Sprint edition Palm Pre all the way to the very end of webOS and HP’s Palm division.  It will be nice to have a webOS device that is functional again.  HP webOS 2.0 on the Palm Pre is just way too slow.

    Thanks to Mark for sharing the TouchPad on Walmart.com link!

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  • Uncategorized

    iOS: Working With AssistiveTouch

    June 16, 2012 /

    Meghan came home the other day asking me how to get rid of “the little circle” on the screen of her iPod Touch.  Now Meghan has started playing with the settings on her iPod learning about what it can do so I wasn’t too worried about it, until I couldn’t figure out how to turn of Assistive Touch.

    What is AssistiveTouch?
    According to the iPod touch iOS 5.1 manual, Assistive Touch is described this way:

    “AssistiveTouch helps you use iPod touch if you have difficulty touching the screen or pressing the buttons. You can use a compatible adaptive accessory (such as a joystick) together with AssistiveTouch to control iPod touch. You can also use AssistiveTouch without an accessory to perform gestures that are difficult for you.”

    So it gives you an alternative way of manipulating your iOS 5 device if you have trouble working with the buttons or on screen controls.  OK, that’s cool.

    Turning AssistiveTouch On and Off
    To turn AssistiveTouch on, head over to:
    Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > AssistiveTouch > ON or OFF

    This was the part that threw me for a loop.  On Meghan’s iPod touch, the AssistiveTouch was set to OFF, however, the “ball” at the bottom right of the screen was still there.  I got rid of it by toggling the open ON than OFF again.
    Once you turn on AssistiveTouch you can manipulate various functions of your iOS 5 device.

    You can download the iPod touch iOS 5 manual in PDF format from the Apple website.

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  • hp,  palm os,  pre,  sprint,  web os

    webOS’ Final Years Chronicled

    June 16, 2012 /

    As many of you know, I’ve always had a soft spot for Palm, Palm OS and even webOS.

    Last week, The Verge has posted a very good article on the final three years of Palm and webOS.  The article covers the period of time from the 2009 CES webOS and Pre introduction to the present as HP shuts down the webOS hardware division and pushes the webOS software out to the open source pasture.

    As a follow up to The Verge’s article, former webOS software engineer Josh Marinacci, now working for Nokia, chimes in with his observations and insider perspectives.

    If you are a webOS user or fan of Palm, you will definitely want to read both article.

    Pre to postmortem: the inside story of the death of Palm and webOS – The Verge

    webOS on The Verge – Josh on Design

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  • apple,  ios,  mac os x

    AppleSeed: Apple’s Customer Software Testing Program

    May 20, 2012 /

    Earlier today, I learned of “AppleSeed,” Apple’s customer software testing program from 9To5Mac.com.

    AppleSeed is an invitation only program where customers are selected by Apple to participate in voluntary testing of new software.  So, no, you can’t register or submit your name into a pool of applicants.  (I’ve checked the FAQs just to be sure.)

    “Apple Software Customer Seeding is a program where customers are invited to test pre-release software products in order to provide Apple Software Engineering with real-world quality and usability feedback.”

    Once you have been accepted into the software testing program, you are “strongly [urged] to test the software and [we] require your feedback. A variety of reporting tools are offered providing engineering with functional data. Failure to actively participate may disqualify you from future seeding programs.”  In other words, Apple expects you to work hard for your exclusive access to software that is still under development.

    Back in the heady days of Palm, in all of it’s variations, I was a vocal advocate in both public and private forms to urge Palm to setup such a program as a means to help squash software bugs in the Palm OS, and later, webOS software.  I’m glad to see that Apple has setup a program like AppleSeed, even if I’m not contributing to it.

    To learn more about AppleSeed, check out the Apple website.

    [Via 9To5Mac.com…]

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  • apple,  ipad,  iphone,  ipod touch

    Surprise! Apple Releases iOS 5.1.1!

    May 8, 2012 /

    I was completely unprepared for what I will call today’s surprise arrival of iOS 5.1.1.

    Available for the iPhone 4S, 4, 3GS, iPod touch 4th and 3rd generation, and all three generations of the insanely popular iPad, iOS 5.1.1 addresses the following five areas:

    • Improves the reliability of HDR photos taken from the Lock Screen shortcut
    • Addresses a bug with the new iPad (3rd generation) switching between 2G and 3G networks
    • Corrects bugs in AirPlay
    • Improves the reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List items
    • Resolves an issue where an “Unable to purchase” alert is displayed after a successful purchase

    You can install the update in one of two ways: directly from your iOS 5.x device or by syncing your iDevice with a Mac or PC running the latest version of iTunes.

    To perform the quicker “delta” update over the air right from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, do the following:

    1. Tap the Settings icon.
    2. Tap General.
    3. Tap Software Update.
    4. Tap Download and Install.
    5. Follow the on screen directions.

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  • apple,  apple store,  genius bar,  iphone,  retail

    Genius Bars Upgrading Select White iPhone 4 Models

    April 14, 2012 /

    I just read over at 9To5Mac.com that Apple has instructed employees working the Genius Bar to upgrade select 16GB white iPhone 4 models to the newer iPhone 4S due to limited parts availability.

    “According to multiple sources, Apple has notified Apple Store Genius Bars that inventory of white iPhone 4 16GB replacements units is heavily constrained, and until further notice, stores lacking white iPhone 4 16GB replacements units should upgrade customers seeking a replacement phone to an iPhone 4S.”

    Sounds like a good deal for Apple customers who need to get their 16GB white iPhone 4 repaired.  Apple’s always been pretty good to their customers in this regard.  I had what I believed to be a battery problem with a 17-inch MacBook Pro and the good folks at a local Apple Store swapped out the battery and my T-style power brick at no cost.
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  • app store,  games,  ios,  iphone,  ipod touch

    Infinity Blade II Gets Bumped to 1.1

    April 12, 2012 /

    This morning, I woke to find that Chair has bumped Infinity Blade II to version 1.1.   Whoo-hoo!!

    NEW CONTENT PACK! Infinity Blade II: ClashMob™!

    • Jump into the all-new, globally social battle mode: ClashMob, featuring dynamic challenges that will test your strategic mettle.

    • Recruit friends and team up together in MyMob and earn special perks as well as unlock new achievements & rewards!

    • Upgrade your weapons by crafting the most powerful gems available in the all-new Gem Forge.

    • More than two dozen new weapons, magic rings, gems and equipment to collect, wield and master.
    • Fully supporting iOS 5.1, with gameplay enhancements and updates for overall optimized gameplay.

    • All for free! Infinity Blade II is now better than ever!
    For a limited time, you an buy Infinity Blade II for $4.99 from the App Store.  If you have perviously purchased Infinity Blade II, the update, as always, is free.

    Infinity Blade II is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad.Requires iOS 4.0 or later.
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  • app store,  games,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  ipod touch

    Max Payne Mobile “Hits” iOS

    April 12, 2012 /

    Just a short while ago, Max Payne Mobile just “hit” in the US iTunes App Store for iOS devices.

    [Parental Warning: Parents, you’ll want to check out this game before you outright buy it for your kids.  It’s a violent game.]

    For those who may not remember Max Payne on the PC platform, here’s a brief summary from the App Store.

    “A fugitive undercover cop framed for murder, hunted by cops and the mob, Max is a man with his back against the wall, fighting a battle he cannot hope to win. Max Payne is a relentless story-driven game about a man on the edge, fighting to clear his name while struggling to uncover the truth about his slain family amongst a myriad of plot-twists.”

    I remember Max Payne for it’s famous “Bullet Time” gimmick.  Bullet Time became a popular game mechanic because it was similar to the slow motion bullets whizzing by Neo in “The Matrix” films.

    Max Payne Mobile is available now in the US iTunes App Store for $2.99 (App Store Link).  This universal app runs on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod Touch 4, iPad 1, iPad 2, the new iPad.

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  • android,  google,  motorola

    Verizon Pushes DROID Pro Update Out

    March 24, 2012 /

    The Motorola Droid Pro isn’t exactly the most sexy or coolest member of the DROID product family, but it does get the job done. So I was surprised yesterday when I pulled out my Pro to see that there was a software update available from Verizon.

    The update, who’s official name is 4.7.3XT610.Verizon.enUS, is only a minor maintenance update rather than a full Google Android software upgrade.

    This update addresses:

    • Improved security with DigiNotar security patch.
    • Device is enabled with the Wireless Alerting System. 
    • Device will no longer lockup or reset after an Over the Air update. 
    • Device will no longer automatically power on after it has been powered off. 
    • Pressing the spacebar key will no longer cause the device to lockup. 
    • Improvements to keyboard backlighting. 
    • Smart Forwarding will no longer cause forwarded messages to remain in the Outbox.

    I’m glad that Verizon and Motorola have figured out a fix for OTA updates, because, well, 4.7.3XT610 is kinda an OTA update, so that’s progress, right?  I’m also glad to see Verizon and Motorola pushing out an update that improves the performance of the Pro’s keyboard.  Pressing the spacebar key should not hang up your phone, it’s never happened to me, but the backlighting on my phone was always a bit schizophrenic.

    And, any software update from Verizon wouldn’t be complete without some new bloatware, so Big Red has thrown in new versions of their V CAST and VZ Navigator apps.  I’m not sure why anyone is still using Verizon’s GPS navigation software when Google Maps and Google Navigation work well and don’t require the extra cost of an additional service on your monthly bill.

    Anyway, you can read the official change log and directions on how to upgrade your Droid Pro on the Verizon website.

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