Mobility Digest » iPhone

Madden 12 for iPhone and Android on sale $0.99

Doug Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:15:50 +0000

Looking to get yourself ready for football this weekend with the Super Bowl on Sunday? There is only one way to get ready for football and that is to play football on your iPhone or Android device! And you are in luck because Madden 12 by EA Sports is on sale now for only $.99! And if you are an iPad owner, don’t worry, EA has got you covered with the Madden 12 iPad app for 55% off and priced at $2.99.

Check out the iPad version at the App Store here.

Check out the iPhone version at the App Store here.

And check out the Android version right here.

Hey, how about a little comment spam, who’s going to win the Super Bowl? Leave your comment below!

Infinity Blade for iOS gets updated Content Pack #4

Doug Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:06:08 +0000

Easily my favorite game for the iPad is Infinity Blade. Even though I hadn’t played it much since Infinity Blade II came out, Chair Entertainment isn’t slacking a bit, because they just released an update with Content Pack #4. I gotta say, it is very rare that older games see updates, but with Infinity Blade, it has been really cool with all the updates. Here’s what you get in Content Pack #4:

NEW! CONTENT PACK #4
ChAIR loves you, so we are giving you EVEN MORE awesome content – for free!
- New magic rings, swords, shields, and helmets! Collect and Master them all!
- New Enemy: The fierce and deadly RookBane!
- Sneak peek at Infinity Blade 2, and Infinity Blade: Awakening, the new iBook by #1 New York Times selling author Brandon Sanderson!
Infinity Blade is now better than ever!

This is still a great game and worth every penny of the $5.99 they are charging for it. Head on over to the App Store and purchase it or if you already have, hit the App Store updates and get your Content Pack #4 and roll into the weekend with something more to look forward to than just the Super Bowl!

Follow the Money: Microsoft vs Apple vs Google

David K — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:13:08 +0000

Ed Bott from ZDNet put together pie charts that show where each Microsoft, Apple and Google make their money based on their latest filings. This is amazing stuff:

Microsoft:

Apple:

Google:

So Microsoft actually has a somewhat balance offering with business, server, Windows and Entertainment each taking large chunks of the company. Apple is iPhone and iPad at their heart – not bad considering how crazy their sales have been. And then there’s Google – 96% of their revenue comes from ads.

Cue the Gmail Man:

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But really this does go to the heart of how these companies operate. Microsoft tries to be everywhere at once and may finally in 2012 have a core experience across them all (to be seen). Apple has had a ton of success selling two products but they sell the crap out of them and that’s now allowing them to get into more and more markets. And then there’s Google who wants your info and is giving away all of their services to get to your valuable data. Buyer beware…especially when the sales price is $0.

Gorilla Gondola Available for Windows Phone and iPhone–Xbox Live Quality Game

David K — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:58:06 +0000

A video is worth a billion words:

Nice right? It seems to have all of the elements you’d expect from a full studio game. And before I go further, here’s the link in iTunes and here’s the Windows Phone link. It’s $2 for iPhone and $3 for Windows Phones and sadly there’s no trial (and a whopping 113mb download).

Here’s the description (which is the same for both platforms except as I’ll note at the end):

Join the unlikely pair of a Gorilla on a Gondola as they embark on an entirely original quest through mountains, deserts and space! Navigate both the silverback and the ski lift through danger and collect as many of Gorilla’s favourite snacks as possible.
Jump, stomp and tilt your way through a variety of ever-changing action packed levels, collect powerups and use your skill to get high scores in this high energy, action-packed, bouncy adventure. You’ve never played anything quite like it!
Highlights:
* 8 Stunning levels that will never play the same thanks to a dynamic level generator! Take Gorilla & Gondola to places they have never been before: Alpine meadows, caverns, snow-capped mountains, big city lights, underwater, scorching deserts, a high-tech factory and even space. Each level offers unique gameplay and challenges.
* Fluid controls. Gorilla Gondola makes full use of your device’s sensors. Swipe to control Gorilla, tap to interact with items and tilt to sway the gondola.
* Beautiful hand painted art. Gorilla Gondola delights the eyes with colourful, detailed sprites and multi-layered backdrops.
* High energy soundtrack. Every level has its own theme tune to tap your foot to.
* Huge high score grabbing potential! Skilled play is rewarded with massive bonus multipliers.
* Full Game Center support including high scores for each level, overall stats and 24 achievements to bolster your gamerscore! Are you skilled enough to reach the top?
Gorilla Gondola is great fun for all ages, simple enough to be played on a short break, and deep enough to reward those that master it.

OK so that Game Center element is misssing in Windows Phones (obviously) and isntead you get “High scores for each level, overall stats recording and 24 achievements to unlock! Are you skilled enough to reach the top? “

Looks awesome and if you give it a go share your findings with the rest of us please.

No, Your [Insert Device Here] Is Not a Kindle E-Reader

David K — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:39:32 +0000

I recently splurged and bought myself a Kindle, in part because on Craigslist you can nab one for about $65 NIB and at that price I was able to justify it and hopefully motivate myself to read a little more. After spending a little time with it I’m shocked at how great a device it is, even though it’s a single-tasking device. It’s an e-reader and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. Super light with a two month battery and it’s better than reading a book because of it’s size, ease and the fact that you don’t have to deal with traditional page turning (and the ‘green’ element is nice too). But it doesn’t just best traditional books – it’s a far better experience than reading books on other electronic devices (well excluding other similar e-ink readers). The screen, size and weight simply set it apart. With a 6” screen it wouldn’t make a good phone and phones with smaller screens suffer from excessive page turns. What about tablets? You have weight and size issues but more important than anything, you get back to traditional backlit displays. I don’t want to hear about how you don’t mind reading off a backlight display and how it’s better for nighttime reading. That’s all an excuse. E-ink displays are by far the best for reading text and I don’t think there’s much debate there, except by people who have never used one. Even the display and thinness of the iPad makes a mediocre e-reader. An iPad is a bit big and heavy if you’re a serious reader and even the display on that is not as good for reading, And you can’t leave that thing in your jacket pocket the same way you can a Kindle.

And the Fire? Garbage screen, limited battery life and nothing against it, it’s a passable device, but if you’re into reading the display and nearly limitless battery of the Kindle set it apart.

I didn’t realize how much I missed reading and I’m happy I went for it. And I’m still checking prices on Craigslist and I’m tempted to grab another one to give as a gift to spread the love.

Why did Tim Cook mention Windows Phone?

Doug Smith — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:49:22 +0000

So I’m finishing up writing rumors and speculation on Apple putting a 4 inch screen in the next iPhone which may or may not be called the iPhone 5, but who really cares right? The fact of the matter is that Apple devices are highly regarded by the public and they sell a massive amount of them. Fresh out of thinking about Apple and I check out Paul Thurrott’ s site, which is totally geared towards the Microsoft experience, PC, Phone, and Web.

Paul says that during the Apple quarterly earnings conference call yesterday, the one where Apple sold more devices than anyone else and made more profit than anyone else in history except Exxon in 2008. Wow. But during the question and answer session Tim Cook, Apple CEO, was “asked about Android and whether the smartphone market was a “two-horse race””. This all happening at “the 57:18 mark of the conference call that you can listen over at the Apple Investor Relations page. Here is what Tim has to say:

“I wouldn’t say it’s a two-horse race. There’s a horse in Redmond that always suits up and always runs, and will keep running. And there’s other players that we can never count out. And so what we focus on is innovating and making the world’s best products. And we’ll just keep on doing that and in some part just ignore how many horses there are. And we just want stay ahead and be the lead one.”

Paul goes on to explain the Windows Phone market share currently at 1.5% and that mentioning Windows Phone when your company just sold 37 million devices is either Respect or Subterfuge. Paul actually titles his post “Tim Cook’s Windows Phone Mention: Respect Or Subterfuge?” Paul ends his article with a question: “So. why did Tim Cook even mention that Microsoft was a competitor in this market?”

Well, maybe I can shed some light on it from a current iPhone daily driver’s point of view who just starting off using a Windows Phone. I really like my iPhone 4S. It never bogs down, it never fails, I don’t have the dropped calls issue, and the apps. The iPhone has tons of them. But when I first got the Titan, the speed was actually faster than the iPhone. It is amazingly fast and smooth. Opening and closing apps, making calls, it just works. Reading email on a Windows Phone is so much better than the iPhone and Android. Windows Phone keeps you connected with a people hub that is just fantastic. I get a complete story on the person I want to follow which includes phone calls, texts, Facebook, and Twitter entries from them all listed in order. No more app jumping. Live tiles is so refreshing as well. I really like weather, news, people, and email updates on the today screen. You can pin most anything there. At first, I was not a fan of Metro, Microsoft’s now universal approach to viewing your PC, XBOX, and Phone. (PC is coming in Win 8). Metro is clean, almost surgical precision and not just a cluttered up mess that is hard to read.

Windows Phone can also bet on quality device manufacturer support from the likes of red hot Samsung, HTC, and now Nokia. You get a solid hardware experience. No, it is not a dual core processor. It’s a single core 1.5GHz that powers my Titan and if never told me it was a Single core and that it was a Dual Core, the same as in every Android device, I would believe you. The Camera on the Titan is excellent. I would say almost as good as the iPhone 4S, but better than anything I have used on an Android device. It is not just with these high end devices that Microsoft hopes to cash in. With the release of Tango, the next Windows Phone operating system after Mango (I didn’t make that up, that’s what they called them!), Windows Phone will be able to perform on lower end hardware specs, something Android could never hope to do. What this will do is give Microsoft a product they can put a 1GHz processor in and market off contract for $200.00. You can’t touch a decent smartphone these days off contract for less than $500.00. We have already seen Apple offer different price points for their phones, like the 3GS for free with 2 year contract and the iPhone 4 for $99. Can you imagine a $200.00 off contract smartphone that actually will perform well?

So why did Tim say that you can’t count out Windows Phone and Microsoft? I think it is because that he has most likely picked up a Windows Phone and thought the same thing as I did. This thing is for real. But is a solid device, with a fresh new operating system enough? Microsoft knew better. They started out with a full on assault to get developers excited and developing for Windows Phone. And it appears that Microsoft is also going to be willing to put it’s money where it’s apps are. Specifically, they will be investing 10′s of millions of dollars over the next three years. Microsoft has also said it will release the top 25 apps from both iPhone and Android by the end of the first half of 2012. Could this finally mean Zynga games? Then, there is the XBOX integration into Windows Phone. XBOX, who as everyone knows, enjoys tremendous success, has also adopted the Metro UI similar to that of the Windows Phone. So what’s left? How about Windows 8? Microsoft, after a very successful Windows 7 release, is set to follow up with Windows 8 which will be yet another Metro inspired experience that will take PC users in a whole new direction and user experience. So what we have is three stars converging to a single point all integrating a single user experience. Sounds impressive right? Yeah, I thought so too. More so, I think Tim Cook thinks so.

1.5% market share is not a lot to get up and sing about. However, analysts are saying that by the end of 2012 Microsoft potentially could exit with a 10% market share. But then Microsoft has the time, money, and experience to know this is not an over night race. My guess is that Microsoft knew that the three stars I mentioned above would converge to a single point and that’s when they will really start caring and marketing their product. I think that’s why Tim Cook said “that Horse always suits up and always runs”. Tim has certainly got his hands full trying to fill the shoes of his predecessor Steve Jobs, but making comments like that makes me think he’s got a lot on the ball, and knows that he has to stay vigilant against Titans that many think are only resting.

Foxconn employee leaks iPhone 5 will have 4 inch screen

Doug Smith — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:56:05 +0000

Loving these rumors coming out! It’s now getting more and more believable that Apple will make another iPhone. Just kidding, of course we all know there will be another iPhone but what I am waiting for is what screen size the next flagship Apple iPhone will have. There has been a lot of speculation that the next iPhone will have a new design and a 4 inch screen size. Matter of fact, just 5 days ago an Analyst confirmed that he had information accurate enough to pass on to his investors that there would be a larger screen in the iPhone 5. However, no sources were cited.

Today, we have a Foxconn, the makers of the iPhone, employee leak that states that there are several sample devices floating around Foxconn, but that all of them had a larger 4 inch screen. One of them in fact had an LG screen on it. Also stating that the iPhone 5, as they seem to be calling it around Foxconn, would not have a teardrop shape but would be symmetrical in thickness and be wider and longer. The leak also said that none of these were final production. (that’s kind of a buzz killer)

Some other good news from the leak is that it looks like Apple is gearing up for production which could mean a summer time release and back on the Apple summer release schedule. The source for this leak was also responsible for leaking that the iPhone 5 was not happening last year and that an iPhone 4S would be launched. True dat. So whether or not you believe any of these rumors or not, the continued reporting and media pressure will have to at some point register with Apple and perhaps help them to decide to build a bigger screened device.

[source: Cult of Mac]

New Untethered Jailbreak Downloaded a Million Times First Day!

Doug Smith — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:46:53 +0000

As many of you already know, more than a million of you to be exact, the wait for an untethered jailbreak for the iPhone 4S running iOS 5.0.0 or 5.0.1 as well as the iPad 2 on iOS 5.0.1 is now over. And if you had any illusion that the iPhone Jailbreak community was small, think again. In the first day, the iPhone was jailbroken using the Absinthe Jailbreak tool over a million times! If you think that a million times on the first day is impressive, that amount could have been much much higher had the Absinthe tool been available for Windows and not just Mac on the first day! That’s right, Mac users got the the Absinthe Jailbreak tool first and the the rest of us Windows shlubs came after.

Jailbreaking your A5 equipped iPhone 4S could no be any easier than just the long wait it takes to let the process run while you wait. All you need to do is make sure you sync your iPhone to your computer and do a backup (right click on your iPhone listed on the left column), after that download the Absinthe Jailbreak tool to your desktop, unpack, and run it! That’s it really. The process takes forever to complete, more than 10 minutes so make sure you leave yourself plenty time to wait. Do not touch the device. Sit there and start thinking about what you are going to download first from Cydia. After the process is done, you will have an Absinthe icon on your iPhone screen (somewhere, scroll a few pages and find it). Click the cool Absinthe tool logo (Greenpois0n) and it will install Cydia for you.

Make sure you follow the onscreen directions. It is seriously that easy. Even still, you do this at your own risk and Mobility Digest and anyone else for that matter isn’t responsible. Then open Cydia and start shopping.

Huge thanks to the Chronic Development Team and all those involved!

[CultOfMac via Redmond Pie]

10 Apps to Help Reaffirm Your New Year’s Resolutions

Reader Submitted — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:17:10 +0000

Thinning crowds at the gym paired with advertising pushes from Weight Watchers can only mean one thing: well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions are rapidly falling by the wayside. Whether you’ve been led astray by an impending sense of doom due to Mayan-calendar conspiracies or simply haven’t had the time to follow through, there’s lots of opportunity to get back on course.

Getting any job done properly requires the right tools, so why wouldn’t the same apply to bettering yourself? It’s very possible your resolution resolve is waning because you’re not equipped with the necessary resources. If you need some assistance sticking to your plans for 2012, try a few of these apps designed to keep you on task.

1. LoseIt – Android Marketplace
Year after year, weight loss tops the chart of New Year’s resolutions. There are several ways to accomplish this tough task, and LoseIt incorporates as many as possible. The app combines calorie counting and meal planning with daily exercise goals to help you stay on the path to a healthier lifestyle. You’re even able to share your results with your friends for additional encouragement and motivation.

2. Fooducate – iOS App Store
Perhaps weight loss isn’t your primary concern. Instead you’d rather cut down on your Taco Bell intake and find a few healthier alternatives. With the Fooducate app you can scan product barcodes and see how that item was graded for its nutritional value. Of course, you are what you eat, so the app also provides information about ingredients and calories so you always know exactly what you’re putting in your body.

3. Gift Card Granny – Android Marketplace
To save or not to save, that is the question. Spending money is much more fun, but starting next year with a positive balance in your bank account is smarter. If coupon clipping isn’t for you, give the Gift Card Granny app a shot. It provides an innovative way to save money by offering a huge inventory of discount gift cards available for purchase from your phone. A $50 Kohl’s gift card purchased for $44 is still worth $50, so you can consider it an extra six bucks in your pocket.

4. Aherk – Facebook
If progress on your goals is easily disrupted by status updates and photo albums, Aherk will help you turn the tables on Facebook. Instead of being an endless source of entertainment, the social-media site becomes a potential source of embarrassment. This app posts a compromising photo of you on your wall if you don’t meet your predetermined goals in a timely manner. Just hope you have compassionate friends as they’re the ones who vote on your success.

5. Penultimate iOS App Store
Are your creative, innovative ideas continually slipping through the cracks? Have you recently been struck by a stroke of genius, only to forget your brilliance mere moments later? If this is the year you finally cash in on your million-dollar idea, the Penultimate iPad app is perfect for gathering your thoughts on-the-go. It works just like a notebook so you can jot down notes or sketch pictures and easily email them to anyone you’d like.

6. AccelaStudy – iOS App Store
Learning a new language is a great way to expand your horizons, but it’s also quite a commitment. When working under a time crunch, consider springing for the AccelaStudy app. Though each language costs around $10, this is a much cheaper alternative to expensive language-learning software. Instead of skimming last month’s People magazine while you wait at the doctors’ office, you can master verb conjugation with one of AccellaStudy’s interactive quizzes.

7. Quitter – iOS App Store
Quitting cigarettes is no easy feat. There’s no app that will slap that cancer stick out of your mouth, but the Quitter app can at least provide some added motivation. It tracks details like how much money you’ve saved by not smoking and how long it has been since your last cigarette. The app also allows you to share your progress with friends and family through social media outlets for extra support.

8. Green Genie – iOS App Store
If the phrase “going green” only reminds you of Kermit the Frog, you’ve got some serious catching up to do. Luckily, Green Genie has tons of easy-to-use tips and suggestions for living a more sustainable lifestyle. Though saving the planet seems like motivation enough, this app also shows you how much money you’ve saved thanks to your eco-friendly actions.

9. TripIt – Android Marketplace
While travel has never been more accessible, it has also never been more complicated. Yet, with a growing global society, broadening your cultural understanding is increasingly important. If globetrotting is at the top of your list of resolutions, avoid getting overwhelmed with confirmation numbers, flight times and hotel checkouts by using the TripIt app. The app gathers all of your trip details and puts them together in one easy-to-read itinerary.

10. Snooze – iOS App Store
The holiday season reminds us of the benefits of generosity and compassion, but that spirit quickly slips away as the year wears on. Before your goodwill disappears entirely, set up an account with Snooze. This alarm-clock app donates $0.25 to a charity of your choice each time you hit the snooze button. It’s the best of both worlds as you get precious extra minutes of sleep while helping to improve the lives of others.

By Andrea Woroch

More Speculation the next iPhone will have a Larger Display

Doug Smith — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:33:43 +0000

With the release of an untethered jailbreak for iOS 5.0.1 released today for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2, why not start the rumor wheels-a-turning with some more speculation from an Analyst from Susquehanna Financial, Chris Caso. The real shocker is that Chris does not let slide how he came by this information, but he claims that the next iPhone flagship, the iPhone 5 will have a larger screen either a 3.7 or 4 inch to be exact. There has been no real proof and plenty of Nay Sayers that it would be tough to get a 4 inch screen in the current styling of the iPhone. We also have been hearing that the iPhone will get a make over this next time around to more resemble the iPad 2. Throw in that the beloved single button on the iPhone may also be nixed to make room. There have been studies indicating that screen size is not all that it’s cracked up to be, and where I agree that Apple’s simplicity rules methodology is pretty swift, the iPhone with it’s awesome camera and multimedia capabilities would only be enhanced by a larger screen. Keeping with the same confines of the current day iPhone specs, it would be impossible to get to now standard 4.3 inch screen we see on many Android devices and some others that have 4.7 inch screens like the HTC Inspire, Samsung Galaxy S II Rocket, and even the Windows Phone HTC Titan. But an edge to edge screen and losing the single button would make plenty of room for a 4 inch screen. So can we expect a: “3.7 to 4.0 inches Quantum Dot LED curved glass edge-to-edge display with features like scratch-resistant glass, aluminum plate casing, oleophobic coating, accelerometer, gyro and proximity sensor?” It seems like a sure bet that we can at least look for a design change and 3.7 inch screen with the single return button being left in tact, at least for now.

[IBTIMES via Cult of Mac]