Every now and then an app comes out that just makes sense. Most apps have their quirks, but few are able to, in the words of Steve Jobs, “just work.”
We told you about Instacast when it originally launched on the iPhone, and Instacast HD has just been released for the iPad. If you like to listen to podcasts, Instacast is the app you’ve been waiting for. Read More
We’ve back after a hiatus with our app picks of the week!
This week, we’ve got an awesome iOS game, unique Twitter app, and innovative podcast app that works with iCloud. We hope you enjoy this week’s picks! Read More
The iTunes directory is a great way to browse, discover, and download podcasts. But, as of now, there is no way to subscribe to the podcast’s feed directly from your iDevice. However, as always, there is an app for that.
iCatcher! by Joeisanerd, is a magnificent solution for downloading, streaming, subscribing to, and managing podcasts on iOS. If there is a specific feature that you are looking for in a podcast app, there is a good chance that it is already in iCatcher… Read More
Do you like to listen to podcasts? Do you subscribe to multiple podcasts in iTunes? If so, you realize how much of a pain it can be to manually transfer your podcasts from iTunes to your iPhone. Perhaps you don’t even sync podcasts to your iPhone to conserve disk space.
Podcasts can take a considerable amount of memory on a device with limited storage, not to mention the time and hardrive space it takes to download each episode in iTunes. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a robust streaming solution for podcasts?
Instacast can best be described as Netflix for podcasts. As a cloud-based podcast streaming solution, Instacast is a fantastic stand-alone app for any podcast enthusiast… Read More
Annoyed by text appearing over your album artwork in your iPod app? What about all that description junk that usually appears over podcasts? Whenever you tap on your song/podcast’s album cover, the time “scrubber” drops down with other settings like shuffle and repeat.
Depending on your song/podcast’s metadata, tapping the album artwork could also result in text being displayed over the artwork. You can download songs with lyric or credit info in the description. Lots of podcasts use this window to display episode descriptions and show notes.
Some people really like this feature of the iPod app. It does have its positives. However, if you find it annoying, we’ll show you how to easily hide text from appearing over your album artwork…
I sat down and recorded episode #22 of TwiiPhone (This Week In iPhone) yesterday with Mathew and Matt. We talked about many things including the release of JailbreakMe, UltraSn0w and several other topics.
You can download the MP3 from here, or view directly in iTunes where you’ll also be able to subscribe to the podcast.
It was my first time recording a show and I really enjoyed it. Hopefully the guys at TwiiPhone will let me in again.
The rumor was right… Apple did release firmware 2.2 last night and for once, it seems that we have some useful features added:
Enhancements to Maps:
Enhancements to Mail
Other Enhancements
Apparently, iPod Touch users don’t get the Google Maps upgrade that includes the addition of Street View as well as public transit and walking directions.
Like they did earlier this week, the Dev Team warns us about updating the iPhone using iTunes.
So, as anticipated our friends the misfits have recently released the long awaited 2.2 update. We can confirm that this update SHOULD NOT be applied using iTunes if you want the chance of a soft-unlock in the near future.
If you want to keep that option of a ‘soft-unlock in the near future’ available but you want the new features of 2.2, you will be able to update to 2.2 using a PwnageTool created custom ipsw file that disables the baseband update. You will be able to do this using an updated version of PwnageTool that will be released sometime soon.
Some facts -
- The 2.2 firmware for 3G contains a baseband update for the 3G iPhone
- The 2.2 firmware for 2G (1st gen iPhones) doesn’t contain a baseband update and the baseband is still at 04.05.04
- We believe that our Pwnage technique (and therefore the Jailbreak) isn’t affected, but PwnageTool and QuickPwn do not support this release as yet, so DO NOT install 2.2 using iTunes as you will lose your jailbreak
- If you apply this update and you previously relied on PwnageTool or QuickPwn to activate your phone, it may become temporarily deactivated and unusable (until we release the new version of PwnageTool or QuickPwn).
- PwnageTool and QuickPwn updates will be released as soon as possible that will allow a safe update path to 2.2 the release of these updates is inevitable but not imminent, we are creating the modifications right now and we need to put the new software through the usual testing process.
- If you apply this update and you have third-party (non AppStore) applications that you rely on they will stop working.
- 2G (1st gen) iPhone users who cannot wait for the new PwnageTool or QuickPwn can safely “Update” to 2.2 using iTunes, this will preserve the existing activation. However “restoring” to 2.2 using iTunes will return the iPhone to the unactivated state. If you are in any doubt just wait. NB: This works for 2G ONLY.
- The use of SIM-Proxies (small circuit boards/chips that sit underneath the SIM card) to provide GSM/UMTS service on your locked iPhone 3G is a method that we have always advised against. Early reports suggest that the 2.2 update disables the functionality of these devices. The techniques used were always unreliable and we are surprised that they have lasted this long.
- We are not working on the 2nd generation iPod touch at the moment, so we cannot comment on what the the 2.2 software update may do to this specific model
So, as always, if you are in any doubt whatsoever please delay the install of this firmware on any of your devices until we have investigated the release in more detail. Watch this space
Also, iTunes 8.0.2 is out now. I doubt this will make much difference either way, but ask yourself, why bother. Just because a new version is out doesn’t mean you want it. I would hold off on this also.
iPhone Firmware 2.2 and iTunes 8.0.2 are both available from the downloads section of our blog.
We all know how the rejection of Podcaster (an application enabling direct download of podcasts onto the iPhone) by Apple created outrage in blogging circles. Apple justified the move by telling “Since Podcaster assists in the distribution of podcasts, it duplicates the functionality of the Podcast section of iTunes.” The excuse was rather lame given that there are loads of applications which easily fall under the “duplicate” category and yet have been approved by Apple. Developers were rather flustered about the weird Apple policies which saw their hard work go down the dumps for no valid reason.
Now to add insult to injury to the Podcaster developers, Apple is coming up with its very own Podcaster like feature in the upcoming iPhone 2.2 firmware. Take a look at this screenshot of iPhone 2.2 firmware (BETA version) from Schimanke.com.
Once you click on the App Store button on your iPhone. You will be taken to a screen which will have the “podcast” option at the bottom apart from other typical options. You can click on the podcasts button to search for your favorite podcasts and download them right onto your iPhone. One can use either WIFI or their cellular data connection (3G, Edge). A provision for Video Podcast Downloads has also been made. However, the user will require WIFI connection as the 10 MB download limit per file applies even on the new firmware.
All in all, even if it stings the Podcaster developer, one has to agree that a good functionality has been included by Apple. So thanks to Apple’s very own Podcaster, we have one more reason to wait for the new 2.2 firmware.
I just installed a plugin on the blog that transcribes every post into a podcast. The plugin converts textual content into a high-fidelity, automatically-produced voice podcasts.
The straightforward way to subscribe to our podcasts is through programs such as iTunes or Juice-Podcast receiver. These programs will manage the whole podcast process including the download of new articles, removal of old files and synchronization to your device. You can also listen the files on your PC either through these programs or through voice-supporting RSS readers. Personalized homepage RSS readers such as www.netvibes.com or www.pageflakes.com can also play the audio files.
You may want to subscribe to our podcast or just give it a try to see how well it works. If you use an iPod or an iPhone, you can subscribe to the podcasts via iTunes, listen to them AND even be able to read them. How cool is that?
When Steve Jobs delivers a keynote, Apple usually posts the video of the event on the apple.com and in iTunes. Well, Apple finally made these keynote presentations available for download in the iTunes Store. They are in the form of a video podcast in titled “Apple Keynotes”, which you can subscribe here to to get it automatically downloaded into your iTunes library. The Apple Keynotes Podcast features 3 videos so far, the MWSF ’07 and ’08 keynotes and the March 6th introduction of the iPhone SDK.
Stay put on Tuesday to get your podcast of the WWDC ’08!
