Real Racing 2 Gets Multi-Screen Update

Apple Insider is reporting that the Real Racing 2 franchise on the iPhone and iPad is getting a major update next week as iOS 5 is released.  You will be able to play with one to three other players in a multi-screen mode:



So what do you need to make this happen?

• You need an Apple TV to wirelessly stream your devices through AirPlay.
• You need an iOS device with an A5 processor.  Right now, that would be the iPad 2 with iOS 5 or the iPhone 4S.  That device needs to host the multi-player, multi-screen game.  All other devices just need to have iOS 5.
• The latest version of Real Racing 2/Real Racing 2 HD coming out next Wednesday.
• A big screen HDTV.  I have a 46" Sony.  I think any smaller than 40" will feel cramped, especially in four-player mode.

I'm REALLY looking forward to this.  I just need to find another person who has Real Racing 2 on iOS.

Steve Jobs (2/24/1955 - 10/5/2011)

This was the final image of Steve Jobs that some of us will remember.  His final appearance at an Apple keynote at the Worldwide Developer's Conference 2011.

He was given a rousing standing ovation.  None of us knew back on June 6 that this would be one of his last public appearances.

Today, Steve Jobs said goodbye to the world.

Even if you never bought an Apple product, your life has been somehow affected by his presence on Earth.  A computer with a mouse and "windows."  Mp3 players.  Your touchscreen phone.  Tablet computing.  Jobs did not invent any of this.  But he took each computing paradigm to the next level.  We all thought he was crazy most of the time.  And then amazed when he was right.

LIVEBLOG: Apple's iPhone Announcement

There is no livestream of today's Apple event.  I'm not at the iPhone announcement.  So why am I doing a liveblog?  To basically record my personal reactions to the information about the iPhone, iCloud and iOS 5 as it happens.  Keep in mind, some of today's event may deviate to other topics like iPods and the Mac.  But, it is called "Let's Talk iPhone."  I will try to answer as many questions as possible.

The iPhone 4S It Is

It looks like an iPhone 4. It feels like an iPhone 4. For most anticipating the iPhone 5, it might as well be an iPhone 4. But it is the iPhone 4S.

Was there ever an iPhone 5? If there was, it hardly matters now. People are disappointed they didn't get their mythical iPhone 5. That teardrop shape is now in the shape of a real teardrop falling from their eyes.

Really, all of this grumbling is mostly over a cosmetic difference. A larger 4" screen and a slimmer, sexy exterior. I have to admit, I kind of bought into it myself. But, in the past month, I knew it was going to be the iPhone 4S alone because that rumor was the one that wouldn't go away. Plus, iPhone form factors usually survive for a full two years.

So what do I think about the iPhone 4S?

Crazy Sprint, iPhone News

Don't you love wireless companies who do anti-iPhone ads and then clamor for the iPhone?  Verizon did it first with its "iDon't" campaign and then with its "Pretty" commercial.  Then Verizon finally made the deal with Apple to get the iPhone and iPad and now they brag about their shiny, new Apple products.

T-Mobile has taken shots at the iPhone.  And now that it is on the verge of a merger with AT&T, T-Mobile is practically begging Apple for an iPhone.

And then we have Sprint.  Sprint hasn't been as vocal against the iPhone, but its commercials are laced with subtle jabs.  In one instance,  a review liked the HTC EVO 4G more than the iPhone.

And it looks like a Sprint iPhone is a done deal.  In fact, it looks like Sprint will be spending $20 billion over the next four years buying iPhones.  It's a desperate move for a company desperate to compete.

And that's not even the craziest news about Sprint.  There's a rumor that we should all take with a grain of salt that the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S will be unveiled tomorrow but the iPhone 5 will be exclusive to Sprint with WiMax 4G capability.  The iPhone 5 will then be available in the first quarter of 2012 to Verizon and AT&T customers with LTE 4G capability.  I have a hard time seeing that kind of favoritism, but it is $20 billion in the bank for Apple.  This could piss off a lot of people wanting to upgrade to the iPhone 5 but don't want to leave Verizon or AT&T.

We'll see tomorrow.  If I feel up to it, I'll be liveblogging my comments during the event tomorrow that starts at 10 a.m. PST.

New iPhone Announcement: October 4

How about we all stop the iPhone rumors and wait until next week Tuesday to see what the latest iPhone announcement will bring us?

Yes, this morning Apple started sending out the invitations.

The graphic is not so subtle: "Let's talk iPhone" is the caption; there is a notification on the phone icon; the calendar icon simply shows the date of the event; the clock icon shows the time; and the map icon shows Apple's Cupertino campus (as the iPhone/iPad icon always does).

Since I'm not getting the next iPhone, I'm mostly waiting to see when iOS 5 will be released.

But for many, especially those with the iPhone 3GS who patiently passed by the popular iPhone 4 for this latest model, it is time to upgrade.

Although at one time it was believed that two iPhones would be released and the iPhone 5 would get a larger screen and a slimmer body, the consensus now is that there will be one new iPhone release (as usual) and it will not be a major redesign.  This would be a big win for iPhone accessory makers who spent countless time and money to get products on the market.  This would also be in line with iPhone history as major redesigns are usually every other year since the iPhone 3G was released.

Here's more interesting iPhone news as it relates to the new iPhone:

• October 14th Launch for iPhone 5/4S in US, UK, France, Germany, Japan?
• Facebook iPad app may launch at Apple's Oct. iPhone 5 event - report
• Apple Rushing Retail Store Renovations Ahead of iPhone 5 Launch
• Rumor: Next iPhone to feature powerful Assistant, 1 GB of RAM
• iPhone Not Coming To T-Mobile This Year, Exec Says
• Sprint To Get iPhone 5
• iPhone prototype N94 leaked, possibly to be an iPhone 4S
• Exclusive: 4G LTE iPhone currently in carrier testing

Leaked iPhone 5 Design?

I've been following iPhone rumors since I decided in May of 2008 that the smartphone I wanted was an iPhone.  At that time, the iPhone was in the $399-$499 price range; there was no App Store; pictures were 2MP with no autofocus, flash or HDR; there was no GPS; there was no gyroscope; there was no multitasking (some say there still is none); there were no push notifications - well, you get the picture.  The iPhone was in its infancy and although it gained a lot of notoriety, only those with deep pockets could afford one.

But, in those days, iPhone rumors were, more or less, spot on.  I even told an AT&T employee that the iPhone's price would drop into the $199-$299 range and he said, "No way!"

In my pre-iPhone 3G posts, I already knew the features of the next iPhone.  Since then, iPhone rumors have taken a life of its own.  These days, I take each rumor with a grain of salt.  But this morning, there may have been a leak of the real iPhone 5 design that we will eventually see when the product is unveiled in the coming weeks.

Hurricane HD for the iPad

If you're even the least bit worried about the storms in your area and an iPad, you should get Hurricane HD [iTunes link].

It's $3.99 right now but how you can put a price on peace of mind?  I have to admit, I did get it while it was on sale for $2.99 and when Fernanda started off in the Eastern Pacific.

Now, I am a former weather producer and I know a little something about weather.  Although I'm not a meteorologist, I've used the tools they use to bring you latest about the weather and storm tracking.

I am very impressed with Hurricane HD.  Once you enter the app, you see right away the current storms by name at the top of the screen.  You see a storm track and the areas that might be affected.  While this will not replace what a meteorologist uses, this is more than capable for the layperson who just needs to know how the storm is tracking.

R.I.P. webOS (For Now)

Okay, webOS isn't dead yet.  But, it was barely alive anyway.  Although webOS is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, operating system in the smartphone market neither Palm nor Hewlett-Packard could get traction in an industry already crowded by iOS, Android, BlackBerry and, most recently, Windows Phone 7.

In today's HP earnings call, the company revealed it is spinning off its PC division and no longer making hardware for webOS.  Although it is no surprise that the TouchPad was selling so poorly, it is surprising that HP is giving up so early in the game.  The Pre3 hadn't even been released in the U.S. yet.  Anybody admit to buying the Veer?  Even with this dismal news, webOS could rise from the ashes yet a third time.

Photovine Goes Public!

Google has officially entered itself into the iOS photo sharing race.  That's right.  Google.  The company that owns the mobile operating system called Android that's going head-to-head against iOS in the mobile phone universe. An app called Photovine is out of beta and now available to the general public.  Interestingly, the app is NOT available for the Android OS.  Only for iOS (for now).

So, that means Photovine is not trying to compete against multiplatform apps like picplz or even Flickr.  Google is looking straight at Instagram.

Wolverine Invaded My iPhone 4 Case!

I ordered a new iPhone case from Performance Designed Products which is part of a line of Marvel Comics-themed cases.

The $29.99 cases are 20% off for the month of August if you use the code "comiccon2011."  I thought, "Hey, they're cool!" so I bought one.  I originally wanted the Captain America shield case but it was sold out.  So, I got the next best thing - The Wolverine Red Rage case.

While this is a very nice case, there is a HUGE problem with these hard cases.  I'll explain after I give some thoughts about the case itself.

Google Buys Motorola Mobility

The story sending shockwaves throughout the tech industry today is Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility to strengthen the Android ecosystem.

Now, for the record, although I am an iOS user I support anyone who wishes to use the Android ecosystem.  I always tell people that I feel iOS works best for me and it may not work well for everyone.  I don't feel there is a mobile operating system that is better than all other operating systems, although some may disagree with that statement.

I applaud Google shoring up 17,000 patents with Motorola Mobility to defend itself from other companies like Microsoft and Apple.  That is smart.

After reading the news, I thought the take on all of this would be that Google is standing up to the tech giants like Apple and Microsoft and becoming a bigger player in the world tech market.  Sure, I found some of that take.  But, I was surprised that people are now worried that the Android ecosystem will be drastically changed.  And some of that is from the Android community itself.  Articles like this one could be spreading the panic amongst dedicated Android users.  I've even seen some Android users say that the reactions from the different Android vendors are so alike that it's obvious that Google gave them a cut-and-paste reaction.

I really don't want to buy into the panic.  I think what Android has done is good for the marketplace.  And this is from an iOS user.  What do you think?

What To Expect From iOS 5

It's been more than a year since a major revision of iOS has been released.  We're ALL waiting for iOS 5.  We're also ALL waiting for the announcement of the next iPhone.

Those who saw the iOS 5 announcement at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June can't wait until it arrives.

And to this day, my most popular post is "What To Expect From iOS 4."  It's probably not because everyone wants to read about an operating system that's more than a year old.  It's because people are searching for hints about the NEXT operating system.  I've held off going over all of the features of iOS 5 because we've been bombarded by them in the mainstream tech websites.  So, now that all the hoopla is over and we're just waiting until Apple sets a date for its Fall Apple Event I guess it's time for me to remind you what we're all waiting for.

Level HD for the iPad

I was able to hook up with one of my Instagram friends and try out a new iPad app called Level HD [iTunes link].

It's basically a trio of levels, inclinometer and rulers.  It's really that simple.  On one hand, it's really precise.  If you have an iPad 2, it appears to make full use of the accelerometer and gyroscope.  On the other hand, it's $4.99.

Talking with one of my woodworking friends, he said at the $4.99 price point it's a little too expensive for something you'd use only around the house.  Unless you like to take chances and are willing to use your iPad in your wood shop.

UPDATE 8/13/2011:  The app is now 60% off at $1.99!  If you want this app, NOW is the time to get it!

If you are willing to spend $5 and don't want to go to the store for levels and an inclinometer to use around the house, then this is the app for you.

Google+ Took A Leap In Usability For iOS

This morning, the big news about the Google+ [iTunes link] iOS app is that it gained support for the iPad and iPod Touch.  Like everyone else, I thought it was going to be an iPad-specific app.  But, no.  It's just the iPhone app on the iPad.  Strangely enough, the first two revisions of Google+ could not be installed on the iPad without some hacking.

Here's the list of features added with today's update:

• Huddle settings
• Aggregated circle add notifications
• iPod Touch & iPad support
• Performance and stability improvements

All of that sounds good, but I found a game-changing feature that will help me to use Google+ on the iPhone and iPad a lot more.

Skype for iPad Released! (Then Pulled, and Back Again)

Skype for iPad has been released in the U.S.!

I tested the mic using the iPad 2's mic and it sounded super clear.

My co-worker tested the video calling with her sister who is in New York and it worked well!  She was on it for 15 to 30 minutes.  Her sister has a Verizon iPhone so it was a solid signal but Verizon's 3G is slower so it looked more pixelated when there was a lot of motion.  But, it's a good alternative to FaceTime!

iCloud Webapp Goes Live

iCloud.com is now live.  This is where your can get your .me email account, your contacts, your iCal calendar, Find My iPhone and your iWork documents on the web - no matter what type of computer you're using.

Only developers have full access to the iCloud now.  But, if you have an Apple ID, you can still browse around.

I don't have a .me email account so I can't go into the Mail app.  Although my contacts are not backed up with Apple's MobileMe, I can still go into the Contacts app.  It looks just like the Contacts app for the iPad.  I don't have a Mac so I don't have iCal.  Still, you can go into the Calendar app and check it out.  This also looks just like the Calendar app for the iPad.

Find My iPhone has been available on the web for a while even without a MobileMe account.  This is just put in a better place with all of the other apps.  And then there's the iWork app.  Even though I do have Pages on the iPad and iPhone, this feature does not work for non-developers.  Can't wait until this goes live with iOS 5.  I won't have to use Dropbox anymore.

iCloud.com is a bit buggy.  Even if you check the box that says "Keep Me Signed In For 2 Weeks" it won't keep you signed in.  At least not from my experience.

I also noticed for some reason I kept typing in my password and it wouldn't accept it.  I eventually got it to work, though.  I also found this cute response if you don't type in your password correctly:

UPDATE:  The day after I was able to get in, Apple locked it down for only developers.  I didn't think I was going where I'm not supposed to go but I guess the whole shebang was only for developers.  Since many websites got screenshots, I never thought to take my own since I didn't think I'd lose access to it.  Anyway, iCloud.com isn't really "magic" unless you have iOS 5.

I Have My Olloclip!

I have had a wonderful experience so far at the Kickstarter website.  Obviously, all of the products I'm interested in are iOS-related.

The first product I got from Kickstarter was the Glif.  Great product.  It's probably not something you'll use everyday (unless you shoot videos everyday), but it's highly useful when you need it and at $20 it's relatively inexpensive.

The second product I decided to invest in was the olloclip.  Since getting the iPhone nearly three years ago, I have become somewhat of a smartphone photography geek.  Just about every photo I have posted on Flickr is from an iPhone.  I started out with the 3MP iPhone 3G for two years.  Then, I got the 5MP iPhone 4.  Three months later, the camera app got a highly useful HDR function.  Now, the olloclip is the next step in iPhoneography.

The olloclip gives your pictures a more photographic look by using actual lenses to create the effects.

First Look: Spotify For iOS

You know how much of a geek I am?  I got my Spotify invite last night when I was waiting in line to see the midnight showing of "Harry Potter And The Death Hallows Part 2."  I had my Spotify account up and running and I was listening to music before I got into the theater.

You can go ahead and download the Spotify iOS app [iTunes link] and request an invite on the website.

So far, I like what I hear.

Steadicam Smoothee: The First Test

I love to take pictures and record videos on my iPhone 4.  And since iMovie for iPhone launched simultaneously with the iPhone 4 last year, I've been making videos and editing them on my iPhone and iPad.

The one thing I always run into when shooting videos is the ability to take smooth videos when walking.  Because the smartphone is so light it's hard to keep it steady when you're taking steps.

There have been some solutions over the years and even a do-it-yourself solution.  But this is the first one that I really like.  It's called the Steadicam Smoothee.  It's not cheap, though.  It retails for $199.99 but I got a pretty good deal on Amazon.com.  Plus, I had some Amazon.com Rewards that really brought the price down for me.

The Steadicam Smoothee came in today and I tested it.