• android,  apple,  appletv,  google,  ipad,  itunes,  podcast

    SPF360 Podcast Show 2

    December 22, 2010 /

    For the second SPF360 podcast, I discuss:

    • Google Nexus S smartphone
    • “Price Wars” in the iTunes App Store
    • Apple sells 1 million second generation Apple TVs
    • Angry Birds HD 1.5.0 for iPad
    • In-App purchases and how to protect yourself from unexpected charges

     Listening Options
     
    I have submitted the SPF360 .m4a podcast feed to Apple for review, and with any luck, publication.  In the meantime, please use the following listening choices.

    SmartphoneFanatics.com RSS feed (for use in your favorite podcast catcher)
    Direct .m4a Download
    Direct .mp3 Download

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    • apple,  appletv,  itunes

      Briefly Noted: 1 Million Apple TVs Sold

      December 21, 2010 /

      By way of a brief Apple press release, we have learned that sales of Apple’s second generation Apple TV have crossed the 1 million mark.

      Long considered a “hobby” by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, the Apple TV has not been met by the same commercial success as iTunes and the iPod.

      “Apple® today announced that it expects sales of its new Apple TV® to top one million units later this week. The new Apple TV offers the simplest way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows, stream content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe℠, all on your HD TV for the breakthrough price of just $99. iTunes® users are now renting and purchasing over 400,000 TV episodes and over 150,000 movies per day.

      Now with AirPlay®, recently available in iOS 4.2, users can wirelessly stream their music, video and photos from iPad™, iPhone® and iPod touch® to their new Apple TV, making it the perfect iOS accessory. Users can also control Apple TV with their iPad, iPhone or iPod touch using the Remote app, available as a free app on the App Store℠.”

      The second generation Apple TV is available now from Apple’s online store, Apple retail stores, and authorized resellers for $99.
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    • games,  ios,  ipad

      Angry Birds HD 1.5.0 Update Released [UPDATED]

      December 20, 2010 /

      Rovio Mobile, the makers of the insanely popular bird launching game, Angry Birds, has released Angry Birds HD 1.5.0 for the Apple iPad last night.

      This update includes:

      • A new theme in the Frontier Badlands
      • 15 new levels and one new golden egg
      • Game Center support
      • Introduces the Mighty Eagle

      [Update] The Mighty Eagle feature is a $0.99 in app purchase.

      My kids have been watching the trailer for the Mighty Eagle for weeks now and can’t wait for this update.

      For current owners, this is a free update.  If you haven’t yet gotten in to an avian flinging addiction yet, you can purchase Angry Birds HD from the iTunes Store (link) for $4.99.

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    • apple,  facebook,  ios,  iphone,  itunes,  lifestyle,  touch

      Facebook for iOS Updated to Version 3.3.3

      December 19, 2010 /

      Today, Facebook for iPhone and iPod touch has been updated to version 3.3.3.

      Included in this maintenance release of Facebook for iOS are the following enhancements:

      • Improved reliability in chat and messages
      • Improved notifications interface
      • Fixed a memory usage bug
      • Fixed some conditions which cause the application to crash
      • Removed the text field for walls you can not post to
      • Restored the ability to post on a Page where you are an admin
      • Fixed a group photos bug
      • Improvements to the Places feature

      You can download the update directly to your iPhone or iPod touch by using the App Store icon, or you can dowload the application to our Mac or Windows PC (link) and iTunes sync it to your iDevice.

      You can use the Facebook application on your iPad, however, this it is not a “Plus” application which means the app will not take advantage of the large display and the text and photos will look a little bit fuzzy when you use the 2x zoom feature of iOS on the iPad.

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    • games,  ipad,  iphone,  touch

      Rage HD Updated to 1.11

      December 18, 2010 /

      id Software has updated their first person shooter (FPS), Rage HD for the iPad, iPhone 4 and 3GS, and iPod touch 4G and 3G.

      This update adds some new features to the game that will enhance the game for players that enjoy fragging muties in this rails based shooter.

      Rage HD 1.11 adds the following new features:

      • Game Center support fro Leaderboards and Achievements
      • Gyroscope support for the iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G
      • Explore all 3 levels in “Museum Mode” before the shooting starts
      • Mirror Mode allows you to play the original three levels backwards
      • Second display support so you can play Rage HD on your TV with Apple’s video out solutions
      • Control Rage HD from your iPhone or iPod touch
      • Language localization for French, Italian, German, and Spanish
      Rage HD is a universal binary game that works on both the iPad and current model iPhones and iPod touch models.  You can buy Rage HD for $1.99 and version 1.11 is a free upgrade to current game owners.
      For more details, check out Rage HD in the App Store (link).
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    • apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  itunes,  touch

      iBooks 1.2 Released

      December 16, 2010 /

      Today, Apple released a new version of their iBooks application for iPad and iPhone.

      The iBooks 1.2 update brings the following features:

      • Experience fully illustrated books, from children’s picture books to beautifully designed art books, available for download in the iBookstore.
      • Organize your books and PDFs into personal Collections. Swipe left or right to jump between Collections.
      • Print PDF documents and notes you’ve written in iBooks using AirPrint.
      • iBooks now fits more words per page by automatically hyphenating text, available only on iOS 4.2 or later.

      iBooks is a free application and is available now from the iTunes Store (Link).  iBooks requires iOS 3.2 or later on the iPad or 4.0 or later on current model iPhone and iPod touch devices.

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    • android,  best buy,  google,  nexus,  samsung,  tmobile

      Samsung Nexus S Unveiled

      December 7, 2010 /

      The new Nexus smartphone is being launched by Samsung and is headed for T-Mobile here in the United States.

      Samsung and Google deliver Nexus S, the world’s first handset to feature the latest version of Google’s Android™ platform. Powered by Android 2.3, Gingerbread, this smartphone is packed with powerful technology and the latest in hardware features.

      Form Meets Functionality

      Featuring both superior functionality and a stunning user-experience, the Nexus S has a brilliant Super AMOLED touch screen that provides a premium viewing experience. The 4-inch Contour Display has a curved design for a more ergonomic style and feel when held to the user’s face.

      Powered by a 1 GHz Hummingbird processor, Nexus S produces rich 3D graphics, faster upload and download times and supports HD-like multimedia content. In addition, Nexus S features a gyroscope sensor to provide a smooth, fluid gaming experience when the user is tilting the device up or down or panning the phone to the left or right. It also comes with 16 GB of internal memory.

      Impressive Features

      Nexus S features Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which allows users to read information off of everyday objects like stickers and posters that are embedded with NFC chips. It’s also equipped with a 5 megapixel rear facing camera and camcorder, as well as a VGA front facing camera, and features a new and improved keyboard with multi-touch support, Internet calling (VoIP/SIP support) and a clean new user interface.

      Get Access to Apps

      This powerful smartphone also includes popular Android features such as portable Wi-Fi hotspot, true multitasking and access to Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Voice Actions, Google Voice™ and YouTube™, and access to over 100,000 apps and widgets on Android Market™.

      Pricing and Availability

      The Samsung Nexus S will be going on sale at T-Mobile on December 16 for $199 with a new 2-year service agreement.  You can also purchase the Nexus S from Best Buy as an unlocked phone for $529 according to AndroidCentral.com.

      To learn more about the Nexus S, visit the Samsung or Google Nexus S websites.

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    • apple,  iphone,  rumors

      Rumor: White iPhone 4 On Track for Spring 2011

      December 5, 2010 /

      Apple has missed the target date for the white iPhone 4 twice now, so you’ll forgive me it I’m a bit skeptical of the newest target date of “spring 2011.”  This information isn’t new.  An Apple spokesperson also reported that the white iPhone 4 launch was rescheduled to spring 2011.

      The unofficial reasons that I’ve seen around the Internet range from the white parts of the phone not staying white and yellowing to there being problems to the cameras to an antenna redesign.  Whatever the reason, the end result is the same – customers still can’t buy a legit white iPhone 4.

      [Via 9To5Mac.com…]

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