Gizmodo: iphone applications

Sirius XM iPhone App Available Tomorrow

Andi Wang — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:00:00 EDT

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.Starting tomorrow, subscribers to Sirius XM radio will be able to download the application on their iPhones for free.

As we previously speculated, others who don't already have a subscription will have to pay $3 a month, which isn't so bad considering the original subscription is around 20 bucks. [Yahoo]

Swine Flu Tracker iPhone App Allows You to Panic Anywhere

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EDT

As if you didn't have enough with the Google case map and CDC's Twitter, here you have the Swine Flu Tracker for your iPhone or touch. Unfortunately, it may not reach your hands soon enough.

The reason: It still has to go through the authorization process. If it goes through before everyone dies in California, then you will be able to get it for free. If you are alive yourself. [TechCrunch]

Learn How to Build iPhone Apps from Stanford University

Andi Wang — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:40:00 EDT

If you've ever had an idea for an iPhone application but you've never known how to begin creating it, Stanford will be offering how-to-build-iphone-apps computer science courses via free video podcasts through iTunes U.

Later this week, you'll be able to get a Stanford-level education without the stress of ~~having to apply to the prestigious school and especially without having to pay tuition~~ being a huge dbag. [Ed. note: Ed went to Cal.] [TechCrunch]

LCD Clock iPhone App Makes Your Real Clock Seem Pitiful and Sad

Erica Ho — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:40:00 EST

The iPhone already has its own clock and alarm built into it, but what about cheapos who need a real, manly clock? You can get a dedicated "clock" for only $1, you late people!

LCD Clock will display the time and calendar while you are charging your iPhone or even enjoying your music with a dock speaker. It can switch back to 12-hour or 24-hour mode easily, just by tapping the screen. There is an alarm function too, but it won't work if your iPhone is in silent mode. There's no guarantee it will work when your iPhone is asleep or locked either-fortunately, there is an option to disable auto-locking.

With the calendar, you can flick up to see the next six months, with Japanese or U.S. holidays highlighted. If you're in Japan, you can also display the Japanese "Rokuyou" calendar. The calender will also remind you of birthdays and anniversaries. With multiple date and time display options, LCD Clock also gives you the ability to change the display color. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a purchase to make (Jason, I promise you I can wake up!). [LCD Clock]

OrbLive 2.0 iPhone App Keeps Your Devices File- and Embarrasment-Free

Erica Ho — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:15:00 EST

Today, the media streaming service Orb announced their official iPhone application, OrbLive 2.0, allowing you to stream your media files across multiple devices via 3G, EDGE or Wi-Fi. The last incarnation of OrbLive was launched before the App Store was introduced; thus requiring a jailbroken iPhone. The official application allows for a more intuitive and streamlined experience instead of the traditional browser interface. It'll save you time from syncing all of those files that you claim don't exist buried in the dim recesses of your hard drive, giving you just a lil' more "special time." Eh, let's try not to forget special time doesn't mean it's "share-with-everyone-around-me" time, shall we? Not unless it involves physical interaction. [MarketWatch]

The iPhone Ocarina: Link Never Would Have Allowed This

John Herrman — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:12:07 EST

Until this week, tapping and shaking accounted for the whole of the questionable "iPhone as an instrument" experience. Now it's gone too far. The SMule Ocarina app recognizes the roar of you blowing into the iPhone's mic and converts it to the moderately mellifluous sounds of a digital Ocarina. It comes with presets, exhibited here on video. The above preset: Zelda's Overland Theme. Below: Robert Plant's and Jimmy Page's Greatest Indignity. [SMule via BBG]

Facebook 2.0 Now Available on iTunes

Elaine Chow — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:55:20 EDT

Hey social networking fans, Facebook 2.0 for the iPhone has been released and is now up for download at the iTunes app store. With the newest version, you can get notifications, friend requests, full news feeds, news feed comments, your entire inbox, and photo capabilities. Now you can check up on how all your Finance major friends are doing from on the road. Status Update: Not very well. [iPhone Savior]

Nine Inch Nails Version of Tap Tap Revenge Coming to iTunes

Elaine Chow — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:40:00 EDT

Tapulous—the creators of that Perfect Drug of an app, Tap Tap Revenge—is partnering up with Nine Inch Nails to put over a dozen of the band's songs in the game. The alliance will be one of the first to bring licensed content to iPhone apps and, depending on how successful it is, could mark a surge of similar musician/application deals. Considering how addictive the game (with a Capital G) is, this NIN-bundle could be the thing that'll suck you Into The Tap Tap Revenge Void. [TechCrunch]

Guy Buys $999 I'm Rich App, Discovers He's Just Dumb

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:30:00 EDT

While this image may be doctored, I want to believe it's real. What really wins this for me is the desperate tone in the review from the guy who actually bought the $999 I'm Rich iPhone application, saying the application is a scam:

THIS IS NO JOKE...DO NOT BUY THIS APP AND APPLE PLEASE REMOVE THIS FROM THE APP STORE....APPLE MUST MUST MUST START TO SCREEN THESE FAKE APPS AND RIDICULOUS SCAMS.

Dear Lee5279xx,

No, Lee, this is not a scam. The application clearly said what it did and—if you are telling the truth—you went ahead and clicked on "BUY." That's not a scam. That's you being a moron.

Still, you've got a point. After all the fuss about only allowing good quality developers into the iPhone application store, the whole thing is loaded with crap. Crap with no real functionality, crap with bad design, crap with horrible icons. Except a few quality applications, the screening process is obviously useless. The I'm Rich application is just an extreme example that highlights what's wrong with the store, no matter how good it is in other aspects.

Still, dear Lee5279xx, we hope you can cancel that charge. Dummy.

Lots of love,
j.

[Digg, Thanks Marius]

Apple App Store Developers Furious Over Crafty "Line Jumping" Application Names

Jack Loftus — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:23:00 EDT

A few Apple App Store developers have apparently taken a page from the line cutting Steve Wozniak today, and are using a loophole in the service's naming conventions to shoot their apps to the top of the list. The story goes that certain developers are cutting to the head of the class with sneakily inserted spaces and quotation marks. One "offender" is Jirbo, Inc., which put a space in front of all of its games’ titles. All Jirbo games now appear at the top of the alphabetical App Store games list.

Said one anonymous, and pissed-off App Store developer:

“As a developer myself with my own game on this list, I am extremely disappointed that these companies have essentially tried to step all over everyone else in order to promote their products, particularly Jirbo, Inc. who decided to put a space in front of all of their games’ titles. I would imagine that as a consumer, these tactics would be equally perturbing as they screw up the integrity of the store.”

Crafty, cheating or just plain smart? What say you?[Macenstein]