Take that, you BBC hack. Botched launch my ass.
An incredible WTF from the BBC, claiming Apple botched its latest OS release in an article about Windows 7. Not a shred of context or proof is offered in the article. (Via MacDailyNews)
But with Layar already out, does anyone still care? Admittedly, Wikitude’s comparatively uncluttered interface gives it some usability points over its rival, but the app’s limited data set may have some users opting for Layar’s more varied and open information base.
iPhone OS 3.1.2 update is out. Fixes intermittent connectivity issues, a common ‘wake from sleep’ issue, and crashes when streaming certain videos.
Looks like our american friends have finally caught a break, with AT&T giving the all-clear to the use of VOIP apps like Skype on their 3G network.
What about UK mobile users? O2, the only iPhone carrier currently carrying the iPhone (if not for long), still hasn’t made any announcements on the subject. It’ll be interesting to see just how long they think they can get away with it.
Barcode scanning apps on the iPhone are ten a penny, but £1.99 RedLaser [iTunes link] does something different: in scan mode, it constantly analyses the viewfinder’s video stream until it finds a barcode, without the user having to take a picture.
Big deal right? Well yes, because it’s not supposed to do that. Apple’s latest API’s, released with the iPhone OS 3.1 update, have expanded the use of the video camera to allow Augmented Reality apps to overlay data onto the camera viewfinder’s feed. However, as far as I know, developers weren’t allowed to actually manipulate, or process, said video feed.
How then is the RedLaser processing the viewfinder’s feed? And why isn’t the same technique used by AR apps such as WikiTude, RobotVision and Bionic Eye to process real-world markers? I’d really be interested to see AR applications expand their functionality to real-time processing of real-world markers such as billboards and landmarks. Too early to tell if and when that will become a reality on the humble iPhone.
At last, an App Store cull worthy of its name. Apple has just banned developer Khalid Shaikh and his Pakistani ‘app sweat shop’ for repeated copyright violations.
Incidentally, Shaikh’s 26-strong team of ‘developers’ also released some of the App Store’s most pointless applications (iRihanna, Tupac Quotes, Miley Cirus Updates…) at the rate of 5 a day.
Good riddance to bad rubbish, and may this be the first of many.
Oh, Apple, how low you have stooped. To cast Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt onto the concept of Jailbreaking in order to win an argument with the EFF? Come on Apple, you’re better than that.
“Apple has told the US Copyright Office that jailbroken iPhones could lead to crashed cell phone towers and drug dealers freely making anonymous phone calls.”
Sure, sure. Jailbroken phones also cause anal leakage, social awkwardness, and erectile dysfunction. Whatever you say dear. [Thanks DesignElement]
White iPhones discolouring due to overheating batteries. That was the report doing the rounds for the last two weeks (notably ignored here), and what a pile of bogus it was. Turns out, contrary to the alarmist cries of “OMG my white ifone gon xplode” passed around between blogs like a hot potato, the real truth is a lot less dramatic: colour transfer from a case.
The solution? Rubbing alcohol. Sadly, Palm Pre owners suffering from their devices literally coming apart at the seams are not so lucky. No amount of household products is ever going to fix that particular screwup.
Reviewing technology with an occasional sprinkling of art and humour.
