Apps

Adobe Launches Photoshop Extension Apps for the iPad

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 18, 2018

Adobe revealed their new Creative Suite 5.5 last week alongside their Photoshop Touch SDK. This was significant because with the new SDK, came a scripting engine that allows developers to make their own applications to interact with Photoshop. While the platform also supports Android and Blackberry Tablet OS, Adobe has chosen the iPad to debut their own Photoshop apps.

These 3 software titles are an extension of Adobe Photoshop, and not intended for stand alone use. The prices range from $2 to $5 and require Adobe PhotoShop CS5, version 12.0.4. Here is a brief breakdown of the 3 apps, courtesy of AppleInsider:

Adobe Eazel - This $4.99 app allows you to create your own masterpieces with Apple's tablet, and lets you quickly share your creation with Photoshop for further editing.

Adobe Color Lava - For $2.99, you can download this app that lets you use your fingertips to mix your own colors on the iPad, creating custom color swatches and themes for use in Photoshop.

Adobe Nav - At $1.99 this might actually be worth the price. This neat little app gives you intuitive controls of Photoshop tools on your iPad. Quickly switch between projects, zoom in, and adjust all kinds of Photoshop settings, right from your tablet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h5cKOccvpY

I don't use Photoshop frequently enough to justify purchasing any of these applications, but for someone who uses it on a daily basis, they could be lifesavers. I really like the idea of being able to adjust Photoshop settings quickly from the iPad, maybe we'll see this in other software suites like MS Office.

What do you think? Have you downloaded any of the Photoshop apps?

Droplist is a Fantastic List Maker with DropBox Support

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 18, 2018

There are 2 reasons why I like using a list maker on my iPhone. The first is because I am notoriously forgetful. Sometimes I have so much going on that I forget to do things if I don't have them written down, or set in a reminder in my calendar.

The second reason is that I like to stay organized. While most list makers are kind of overkill for me, I was persistent on finding one that met my needs functionality wise, with a sharp user interface. After loads of searching, I finally came across Droplist...

doubleTwist Invites Android Devices to AirPlay

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Typically, Apple's AirPlay function is exclusive to iDevices. Since the release of the inexpensive Apple TV2 last fall, Apple's AirPlay feature has really garnered some attention, both good and bad.

Good, because iDevice users can sling media content from their handheld devices, to their HDTV, without any kind of setup. Bad, because you must be using an iDevice with your Apple TV2, since the functionality is exclusive to the Cupertino company's products. Until now.

This is where doubleTwist comes in. The developers of the infamous "iTunes for Android" software just updated their already popular application in a big way. The new technology will allow users to wirelessly stream their media from their Android devices to Apple TVs and other DLNA-compatible products.

"doubleTwist now supports AirPlay for users who have upgraded to AirSync. When a supported device such as the Apple TV is recognized on the same WiFi network as your Android device, you can start streaming to it from the doubleTwist playback controls"

I would recommend grabbing this product while you can. I was surprised that Apple hadn't taken legal action against doubleTwist before, when they just allowed you to sync a non-Apple device with iTunes. Now that they have implemented AirPlay technology, I can't imagine Steve Jobs and company keeping silent.

Remember they're dispute with Palm? The original Palm Pre was able to sync natively with iTunes until Apple disabled the functionality via a software update. Maybe the folks at doubleTwist have all their bases covered. At any rate, the doubleTwist software is free in the Android market, but to get the new AirPlay compatibility you must purchase the AirSync feature for $5.

Has anyone tried this out yet?

[9to5Mac]

iRemoco, the Remote Control Helicopter for Your iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 26, 2016

Since Apple opened up the ability for developers to control attached accessories, I have been waiting for products like this to start pouring into the market. iRemoco is a mini helicopter that comes with an attachment for your iPhone or iPod.

An iOS application gives you full control of the iRemoco helicopter, using the dock connector attachment to transmit the signal. Andrew Ayres and Tom Sisterson have been working on this project for 18 months and it's finally ready for the masses...

Just When you Thought the iPhone Wasn’t Capable of Serious Gaming

Cody Lee ∙ May 4, 2011

This one definitely belongs in the 'cool concepts' category. We've seen a lot of neat ideas involving the use of the iPhone outside its normal spectrum of capabilities. We've seen iPhones used in invisible instruments and 3D modeling, but we've yet to see something like this.

Rockmoon Singapore is a serious mobile game development company based out of... Singapore. While they develop for all major mobile platforms, they have a preference for iOS. What have they been working on lately?

GPS Bookmarker Allows You to Save Locations on Your iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

We've reported in the past that Apple is looking to update the Maps app in iOS. Outside of turn-by-turn directions and Street View, the application is fairly limited in its current form. This has allowed other companies like Navigon and TomTom to compete in the App Store with their GPS applications, derived from years of navigation experience.

If Apple is looking to compete with the heavyweights, they really need to beef up the Maps app's feature set. Obviously we all hope to see spoken turn-by-turn directions added, but what other functions would you want in an iOS navigation app?

Physwitch Allows You to Switch Apps with Your iPhone Volume Keys

Cody Lee ∙ May 3, 2011

When Apple unveiled their multitasking bar in iOS 4.0, they were fairly late to the party. As with multiple features, the jailbreak scene had already had multitasking apps like Backgrounder out for a while. Although it was belated, a lot of people really took a liking to Apple's new multitasking support.

Then there are people like me, who are constantly searching for a better alternative for switching between applications. Sure, there are apps like Stacks and Dock that make multitasking easier, but is there anything else available?

DataDeposit Let’s You Wirelessly Backup Your Saved iOS Data with DropBox

Cody Lee ∙ May 3, 2011

If you haven't discovered how awesome DropBox is just yet, I highly recommend checking it out. The ability to sync content from your iPhone to your computer without wires or multiple steps makes transferring photos and other media a snap.

Not only is the service free, but you constantly have folks in the jailbreak community developing neat extensions for it. FullDrop is a nice one that allows you to use DropBox to transfer files between your iDevice and your computer outside the scope of the App Store's app. Today, another app for the popular sync service has surfaced in Cydia...

Plex Streams Your Mac Media to Your Apple TV2

Cody Lee ∙ May 1, 2011

If you have a 2nd generation Apple TV and have been looking for a way to stream content to it from your Mac computer, you should check out Plex. For users who want to share videos with their Apple TV, outside of their iTunes library, there many not be a better option.

Plex is a popular media server for streaming audio and video files to iOS devices. While it has been in the App Store for quite some time, it hasn't become available for Apple TV owners until the last 6 months.

A developer by the name of Quiqueck made a plugin to work with jailbroken Apple TV2s. This means that you are able to stream media from your Mac, right to your HDTV. The plugin is still very primitive but if you are the adventurous type, you can try out The Tech Journal's tutorial.

It's important to note that Plex is for Macs only. If you are using a Windows machine, you'll have to go with the alternative XBMC plugin. If you have the option, I think the user interface of Plex makes it the better option of the two.

For folks who are still running stock Apple TVs, don't feel left out. The Plex iOS app has been confirmed to have AirPlay support on the way, which would allow you to stream content from your iDevice to your Apple TV.

Of course the real solution to this mess would be for Apple to just open up an App Store for the Apple TV. Then Plex and other media server software companies could just build client apps strictly for the ATV2.

What do you think? Do you use Plex or another jailbroken app to stream content to your ATV2?

xBackup Allows You to Completely Backup Cydia with One Tap

Cody Lee ∙ May 1, 2011

Apple has been dropping firmware updates like they were going out of style lately. Just 2 months after iOS 4.3 was released, a third update is on the horizon. Luckily, the jailbreaks are keeping up with the releases, but are you?

While most folks don't appreciate rebuilding their iPhone, I relish it. I love starting with a clean slate and making my iPhone look completely different than it did before. If you haven't upgraded to a recent firmware in fear of losing all of your stuff in Cydia, check this out...

Cydia Creator Explains Why You Should Jailbreak the iPhone

Alex Heath ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

Why should you jailbreak the iPhone? That's a question that gets asked here at iDB all the time. If you consider yourself a jailbreak expert, you've most likely been asked the same question once or twice.

There's perhaps no one man more qualified to answer that question than Jay Freeman, a.k.a. "saurik." Saurik created Cydia- the hub of the jailbreak world. He is the man responsible for what the jailbreak community has become today.

Apple Working on Fitness Center App for iPhone

Guest Author ∙ April 28, 2011

Apple is taking fitness to a whole new level. The folks over at Patently Apple have come across a new patent Apple filed back in October of 2009.

The patent for a Fitness Center app that Apple seems to have been working on for a while now was published today by the U.S Patent & Trademark Office. The Fitness Center app includes various capabilities such as social networking features, giving users the ability to find a workout buddy. The app also seems to include Nike integration, illustrating a list with "The Nike Club Training Club Class."