Leander Kahney's Blog, page 1443

Grand Theft Auto III Is On Sale On The App Store For $2.99

We looooove Rockstar Games's new iOS port of their seminal classic Grand Theft Auto III. Heck, here's the proof. It was already worth at least ten times each penny that was being asked of it's initial $4.99 asking price. Now though? It's just a little under three bucks. That makes you a downright idiot if you don't start downloading right this second. Do it!

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Published on December 22, 2011 12:26

Why iOS 5 Apps Sometimes Say They Are "Cleaning" Themselves

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With iOS 5, iPhone and iPad users started noticing a new curious behavior: app icons that suddenly started "Cleaning…" themselves. Facebook does it. Instapaper does it. Even Twitter does it. But what the heck does it mean?

I'd long wondered about that myself, but as it turns out, it has to do with iOS 5 deleting cache and temporary files to make the backup as small as possible… perfect for shooting up to the iCloud or to your Mac through iTunes WiFI sync.

TiPB has the details, which I really enjoyed:

Since adding iCloud and Wi-Fi sync options, it's become important to keep app data as clean as possible, so backups are as efficient as possible, so we're not left waiting around for minutes or hours getting as frustrated as possible.

And yes, this is the same reason that, under the original iOS 5.0, apps like Instapaper would sometimes lose all your locally cached articles. (Since fixed with the addition of a third storage option between documents and cache, one that's not cleaned but also not backed up.)

There you have it! It's nothing to worry about, it's all part of iOS 5 purging itself of toxins from time to time.

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Published on December 22, 2011 11:22

Steve Jobs On Gaming: It's The Future Of Learning [Video]

This video of Steve Jobs from 1990 is an interesting artifact for a couple of reasons.

For one thing, it's the clip in which Steve pioneered his famous "bicycle for the mind" analogy, which I've always felt is one of the most beautiful things ever said about computers.

What is also interesting, though, is how gung ho Steve Jobs is about video games in this clip, even going as far as to suggest that video games are the future of learning, and even the future of the Library of Congress.

What's odd about this is that both Steve Jobs and Apple were fairly hostile to gaming on the Mac and even iOS until the iPod touch and the App Store showed them how lucrative it could be. Now iOS is the biggest handheld gaming platform in the world, but it wasn't always that way, and Apple for years could literally have not given two figs for gaming.

In light of this, Steve Jobs's perspective on gaming makes a lot more sense after watching this clip. He sees interactive simulation to be a key to learning, but not shooting aliens on Strogos. As such, the iPad is really the complete fulfillment of his dream for the computer as a gaming platform, isn't it?

[via Mactrast]

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Published on December 22, 2011 10:46

Kindle Fire, Nook Fueling Orders For 7-Inch Displays As iPad 2 Production Slows

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Photo by Gadgetmac - http://flic.kr/p/aGaiSV

Remember the infamous Steve Jobs put-down of 7-inch tablet screens, telling reporters buyers would need to file down their fingertips in order to use the darn thing? Although we don't see tinier fingers becoming the in-style for Christmas, suppliers are pumping out more 7-inch screens for the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet and fewer 9.7-inch displays for the iPad 2.

In reality, we are seeing a slowdown in Apple orders as the company slows down iPad 2 production in preparation for the iPad 3, expected in early 2012. Because of pause, more smaller screens are being produced, according to industry publication DigiTimes.

Citing "sources from panel players," the Taiwan-based publication reports shipment of display panels rose 17 percent in November, temporarily overtaking demand for larger displays. This shouldn't be too surprising, given Amazon was prepping its 7-inch Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble increased production of its Nook Tablet.

But that state of affairs likely won't last too long. Apple's iPad 3, which some believe could include a Retina display, could arrive as soon as February. Others have forecast a March or April arrival. Talk of Apple winding down the iPad 2 as its premiere tablet caused some Wall Street analysts to revise their sales expectations for the December quarter. Analysts settled on 13 million iPads sold for the Christmas period.

Although the iPad breather can explain the slowdown in Apple display orders, Amazon hinted at the need for more displays. Last week the online retailer announced it sold "millions of units" of the Kindle Fire, the device spending weeks on Amazon's best-selling product list. Researcher IDC also provided some explanation for the increased orders for smaller displays, noting the two 7-inch tablets will likely spearhead Android's charge against the iPad. The two tablets could increase the mobile operating system's marketshare by 8 percent.

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Published on December 22, 2011 10:26

Get This Awesome 8-Bit Interactive Fireplace For Your Mac, It's Perfect For Christmas!

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Sitting in front of the tree on Christmas morning with a DVD of a roaring fireplace looping on your television? Tacky!

Sitting in front of the tree on Christmas morning with an 8-bit interactive fireplace roaring on your Mac? Awesome!

What a great Christmas gift: Ted Marten's incredible Fireplace app has finally come to OS X, allowing Mac users to bask in the retro, pixelated glow of an NES fireplace just in time for the Holidays. It's even interactive, so you can roast marshmallows on it.

Download it right now!

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Published on December 22, 2011 10:24

Evernote Brings Skitch To The iPad For Free!

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We've long loved Skitch, the screenshot and image editor that we've been using on our Macs in one way or another since 2007. A few months back, the guys behind Evernote bought out Skitch, which raised some questions about its future as a stand-alone app, but we needn't have worried: not only is Skitch its own Mac app, but it's now become a shiny iPad one as well.

Skitch launched on the App Store yesterday, and like the Mac version, users can use the program to add shapes, arrows and text to images on their iPad's camera roll, or simply do some playing around with images on the web using Skitch's internal browser.

Once you're done fiddling with an image, you can then share it via email, Facebook, Twitter or (surprise!) Evernote. They can even be beamed to a connected Apple TB using AirPlay.

The best part? Skitch, like Evernote, is free to download. Get grabbing!

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Published on December 22, 2011 10:02

The iPhone Is Killing Point-and-Shoot Cameras

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The quality evolution of iPhone photography.

Remember how digital cameras did in film? That progression appears now to be in its second-generation as the iPhone and other smartphones seem destined to do away with the ubiquitous point-and-shoot digital camera. A new report finds phones take a third of all photos as phone-based photo quality dramatically increases.

According to the NPD Group, the percent of photos taken by a smartphone jumped to 27 percent, up from 17 percent in 2010. Likewise, The number of point-and-shoot cameras fell 17 percent this year with consumer spending down 18 percent in November. A key factor is quality of cameras available to phone owners. In 2007, when the first iPhone launched, a 2-megapixel camera was on board. The iPhone 4S, launched in October, has an 8-megapixel camera.

Acceptance of smartphone camera photos has also increased. Gone are the days when you apologetically explained the blurry photo with 'I only had my phone with me.' Instagram, a service providing a way to share your camera photos, says users upload 26 photos each second. The iPhone 4 is credited with posting more photos on Flickr, than any other camera.

How can camera makers compete? One answer is to sell devices that accept detachable lenses. The number of such devices sold in November jumped by 12 percent compared to the same time in 2010, according to NPD. Another tactic, say researchers is to ensure point-and-shoot camera offer optical zoom greater than 10x. Point-and-shoot camera that did so saw sales increased 16 percent.

I'm not sure how long detachable lenses will allow point-and-shoots to survive. My daughter just told me she bought some nifty zoom lenses that magnetically attach to her iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 will never replace a professional digital camera, such as the Nikon D series or Cannon's Mark IV, but smartphone cameras are quickly making point-and-shoots, well, pointless.

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Published on December 22, 2011 09:47

Europe's Financial Mess Means Slumping Overseas iPhone Market

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Photo by monty.metzger - http://flic.kr/p/6aioW2

Does talk of the Euro economic crisis make your eyes glaze over? Perhaps this will get your attention: The down European economy is costing the iPhone marketshare as consumers keep a tight hold on their cash. The bright side: the U.S. and U.K. love of everything Apple has become stronger.

According to London-based research firm the Kanter Group, the iPhone 4S is showing signs of consumer resistance in Europe, with the low-priced Android growing at the expense of Apple. In France, Apple's share of the smartphone market dropped to 20 percent, down from 29 percent. In another instance, Apple's share of the German market dropped to 22 percent, down from 27 percent.

The Kanter Group also found Google's Android still dominates much of Europe, where the mobile operating system comprises between 46 and 61 percent of European smartphone sales. An economic crisis fueled by worries over government debt is prompting Europeans to keep "a lid on their expenses," notes the report.

The figures appear to echo a similar study released last week by consumer research firm the NPD Group. The company said the iPhone and Android account for 82 percent of all smartphones sold. In October, Android-powered smartphones held 52 percent of U.S. smartphone sales while Apple controlled 29 percent of domestic sales.

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Published on December 22, 2011 08:37

Only 12 Hours Left to Learn How To Make the World's Next Great Website with Cult of Mac's Latest Video Course [Deals]

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So you wanna be the next Zuckerberg, eh? But, let me guess, you're a "business guy" who doesn't know how to program? You've thought about it, but you don't even know where to start, or you just "don't have time". Stay on this path and you may end up finding yourself seeking out a code monkey! Trust us, nobody wants that.

Here's what we're gonna do. We're going to help you out by introducing you to the HTML/CSS guru himself, Mark Lassoff. The man is energetic, skilled, and a dynamic online presenter; plus, he's provided programming instruction to some of America's largest corporations.

This course is a stellar opportunity to learn the fundamentals of HTML and CSS you need in order to whip up that creative, high-quality website you've been mulling over for years! Normally this course costs $49, but we negotiated a sweet deal with Mark. For only $29, you'll get Mark's HTML and CSS expertise jam-packed into nearly 4 hours of video instruction that includes highlighted lab exercises, so you can apply the very skills taught from the course.

Here's what you'll learn:

The HTML Document Structure For HTML 4.01, XHTML and HTML 5 Text Markup CSS Typography HTML Lists Internal, External and Anchor Links Displaying and Styling Images HTML Forms CSS Box Model and Layout And much more…

Who should attend this course?

People who want to better manage their web site People who want to become web designers and developers Designers who want to expand their skill sets Business owners who want to be more efficient with WordPress, Joomla or other CMS systems Students

About your instructor:

Mark Lassoff is the founder of LearnToProgram.tv – a leading corporate technical training firm. LearnToProgram.tv provides training for software, web and mobile developers worldwide. Their courses have taken place at Fortune 500 companies, training centers and Federal Government organizations. Now – here, you can experience the same great instruction that you get in one of Lassoff's classroom sessions, at a small fraction of the price.

How long can you access your online lectures?

INDEFINITELY! As long as you have online access, you'll be able to access them from anywhere. You can also download the videos to your computer to access them offline

There's only 16 hours left on this deal so head over to Deals.CultofMac.com to learn more about the course, or make a purchase before this deal expires.

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Published on December 22, 2011 07:56

Gannett To Provide Journos 'Thousands' of iPhone 4S Handsets and iPad 2s

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Photo by SimonQ錫濛譙 - http://flic.kr/p/afHK8d

Can Apple save print journalism? That's the question in our minds upon learning the parent company of USA Today has hoarded thousands of iPhones and iPods to provide newsrooms in January. The aim is to help journalists focus on a faster news cycle, including increased use of video to tell stories.

The report comes from Gannett Blog, which obtained a memo saying Gannett will distribute the iPhone 4Ss, iPad 2s, as well as netbooks and MiFi hotspots to newsrooms in January 2012. Training for the devices is expected early next year.

"These new tools will help our journalists meet the demands of the new news cycle, one that requires agility in real-time reporting, social media and greater emphasis on video storytelling, further increasing our competitive advantage," the memo from Gannett President Bob Dickey reads.

The Gannett Blog is an unauthorized peek into the newschain written by a USA Today editor and read by staffers and executives. In anonymous comments, the report drew skepticism that the company's roll-out of Apple technology could help the overall newspaper industry. Gannett has recently put greater emphasis on the digital side of publishing. A Gannett Digital official recently said the company earns advertising buck by placing ads in videos.

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Published on December 22, 2011 07:39