All Posts Tagged ‘Apple’
Editor’s Note on 7/29/2010: PlanHawk was not available on the iTunes App Store for a short while, but it’s back and better than ever according to the developers at Kidoc.
On Thursday, July 22, Kidoc LLC announced an exciting new product for iPhone iOS4 users: PlanHawk.
This mobile app fixes a serious problem many iPhone users face on a monthly basis: Exceeding their data plan coverage.
With the new AT&T capped data plans, users face the problem of going over their limit, and being charged excessive fees. PlanHawk’s $.99 application monitors the phone’s data usage, allowing people to avoid steep charges.
This application is especially useful to iPhone 4 users, who now can use HD video and stream rich media. These new features eat up data at an alarming rate, and could force you way over your limit very quickly without you knowing.
And honestly, do you really know how much data certain applications and functions take up? There is no sign that says, “HD video will use 25 MB in 30 minutes.”
This is where PlanHawk can help you start to understand what takes up data. (more…)
Tags: Apple, AT&T, capped data plan, Company News, Company Profiles, data plan, data usage, iOS4, iPhone, iphone 4, iPhone3, iPhone4, Kidoc LLC, new AT&T data plan, PlanHawk
Posted in Mobile | View Comments
Local devs from Appearian showcase a new app
Last night saw the fifth stallment of the always-fun DrinksOnTap, organized by our friends at Brookline-based RaizLabs. Held at its regular home at the Asgard in Cambridge, the event brought together local developers, entrepreneurs, and mobile enthusiasts.
The topic of the night was Apple’s new operating system, iOS4, and all the new capabilities developers can tap into for both iPhone and iPad. Tons of local devs came prepared to share their newest creations.
DrinksOnTap happens every few months, and the event draws some serious pros from the local mobile development scene, and it’s super casual and laid back. If you like beer and are into learning about the cutting edge of iPhone and iPad Apps, it’s definitely an event worth attending.
On to the demos and presentations! (more…)
Tags: Apple, drinksontap, Edu, iAd, iPad, iPhone, photos, Raizlabs, Skyhook Wireless
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iPhone 4 lands Thursday. Here's how to afford it:
Hey, Boston Apple Fans: You’ve already ordered the iPhone 4, dropping on Thursday, so what are you going to do with your current iPhone 3G?
(The new iPhone operating system, iOS4, launches today so you can check it out on your current iPhone, but you’ll surely be left wanting more…)
Why not sell it?
While this sounds like the ideal option, it isn’t easy if you don’t have an existing account on eBay, a desperate little brother, or some other go-to way of exchanging your iPhone for cash.
That is, unless you know about Gazelle and NextWorth — Two local companies looking to buy your iPhone 3G, clean it up, and re-sell it to an audience of buyers aching to get their hands on your ostensibly outdated hardware. These companies both fall under the online sales tagline of “reCommerce,” or eCommerce for the reselling crowd, and they’re both offering a considerable amount of money in exchange for iPhone 3G. (more…)
Tags: Apple, Company Profiles, Gazelle, iPhone, iphone 3G, iphone 4, new iphone, NextWorth, Op-Ed, recycle, trade in iphone, Upgrade iPhone
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There’s been a lot of heated talk brewing recently in the business and developer communities around Apple’s decision to ban all non-approved tools and technologies from iPhone/iPad development. On April 8th, the latest version of the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement was altered right before the announcement of the new iPhone OS 4 SDK, forbidding developers to use or call any non-Apple APIs, development tools, or languages – the most notable being Adobe’s Flash.
Apple argues that the changes to the terms are necessary to ensure that sub-standard technologies aren’t used to create apps for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, but Adobe and others feel that Apple’s claims aren’t wholly justified and that they’re unnecessarily stifling innovation and limiting options for developers for the sake of gaining more control over their various mobile platforms.
Scott Janousek, Founder of Hooken Mobile
In an effort to better pin down this debate, we spoke with Scott Janousek, a leading figure in the local mobile and Flash community, about these latest developments. His company, Hooken Mobile, focuses on mobile and device development across a number of platforms, including Flash. Since Janousek’s a frequent speaker at conferences and events focused on both Flash and mobile, and since he’s authored numerous articles and books on the topic, including his latest text, AdvancED Flash on Devices: Mobile Development with Flash Lite and Flash 10, we were eager to get his opinion. Here’s what he had to say:
BostInnovation: When you first learned of the Apple’s changes to their license agreement, what was your initial response?
Scott Janousek: I wasn’t entirely surprised by the change in Terms of Service. I had been to a local Boston Mobile developer’s event the week before the news hit the developer blogosphere. It was after talking with some iPhone developers that I reasoned that Apple would wait to the very last moment to reveal their new ToS and potentially torpedo the Adobe iPhone Packager. It was far too close to the release of Adobe CS5, to be a coincidental move, in my opinion. (more…)
Tags: Adobe, Apple, Edu, Hooken Mobile, Scott Janousek
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While the title of the event was ambitious: Everything You Need to Know About iPad Advertising, the experts were able to live up to it as much as possible, mainly because there is so much mystery surrounding about this exciting new device. The event, held Wednesday night, was hosted by the Massachusetts Information & Technology Exchange (MITX) and a sub-organization of MITX, the Boston Interactive Media Association (BIMA).
With so little data available on ad effectiveness — Apple’s iPad has only been around for two months, after all — the talk of metrics was light and mostly forward-looking. However, one major insight was addressed by all of the panelists: Forget ROI, and focus on branding and innovation.
If advertisers and brands are looking for a consistent sales return from the iPad apps and ads, they won’t get it yet. What they can do, though, is make a name for themselves with an immersive and unique experience on a thrilling new device.
iPad Apps are currently about being hot and cutting edge, not about finding reliable returns. That’s still coming.
Along this same idea, the other major touch point all of the panelists agreed on was not rushing to get your brand onto the iPad. It is not yet important enough that you can’t afford to not be there. If you rush to get a presence on the iPad you will only hurt yourself because your product will not be up to the incredibly high standards of most applications to date. (more…)
Tags: Apple, BIMA, iPad, MITX
Posted in Around the Hub, Mobile | View Comments
The Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange (MITX) seems to have a lot of love for the iPad. Tuesday’s “iPad App Strategies” panel discussion was one of two great iPad-themed events they’ve thrown in just the past couple of days. (These were just the first of many more mobile events and discussions to hit the Boston area over the next few weeks). As usual, MITX gathered a lively panel of mobile entrepreneurs, app developers, and experts on all things iPad on Tuesday.
Discussions centered around best practices for creating great apps for the new platform, pricing models, working within Apple’s walled garden, and more. The panel of four included our friends Greg Raiz of Raizlabs and Aaron White of DoInk and also featured Brett Martin of AppFund and Brad Rosen of Drync. Each of them shared unique insights around their experiences with creating content for the iPad and why the device truly is a game-changer.
Moderator Gene Landley, Chair of the Technology Business Group at the law firm of Ruberto, Israel & Weiner, kicked things off by providing some interesting statistics and recent developments regarding Apple, iPad, and the mobile industry in general. To begin with, iPads are selling like hotcakes – it’s projected that 8 million will be purchased within the first year and current sales of the device are beating out Macs by an impressive 70%. Also, he mentioned some recent industry shakeups such as high-profile exec exits within Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division and also HP’s acquisition of Palm. Oh, and iPads are now banned from Yankee Stadium – which I couldn’t care less about unless that trend spreads to Fenway. (But, c’mon, would you really want an iPad at a ballgame anyway?) (more…)
Tags: AppFund, Apple, DoInk, Drync, iPad, iPad app, MITX, Raizlabs
Posted in Around the Hub, Mobile | View Comments
This Locally-produced Indie Game Rocks!
The video game industry is a serious business. Locked away in bunker-like buildings and watched over by anxious executives, developers sit in silence working at their craft, shaping and honing their visions of the future, the past, or ensuring that at the very least it is possible to score a goal in a soccer simulation.
Enjoyment in building something creative has been replaced by the desire to ensure that the average gamer will spend all of his or her free time battling the forces of evil and then play it again on a higher difficulty setting.
This is not the way at Dejobaan Games. This is a games development company that believes that the gaming experience is about fun, from the start of game development to when the gamer finishes the last level.
“We just love having fun writing games, games are just all about fun,” enthuses Ichiro Lambe, founder and president of a company that has received a significant amount of publicity in recent months when they debuted the irreverent base jumping game AAaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! — A Reckless Disregard for Gravity, or “Aaaaa!” for short. The game was nominated for Excellence in Design in the 2010 Independent Games Festival and although they didn’t win, the name is enough to grab the attention even if the full death-defying experience of a controlled descent is only available in virtual form. (more…)
Tags: Aaaaa!, Apple, base-jumping, Company Profiles, Dejobaan Games, Doom, Edu, harmonix, Ichiro Lambe, iPad, Rock Band, Turbine
Posted in Edu, Gaming | View Comments
Editor’s Note: For more great early iPad apps developed in Boston, see the comments section.
Boston developers take on the iPad
All the iPad apps currently available were developed for a product designers had never seen before. Labor and time was poured into app development for something companies didn’t know would resonate with consumers.
On April 3, 2010, Boston iPad developers experienced the tablet for the first time along with everyone else, but compared to the average customer they had more at stake in betting on iPad– investment in a mobile application that will either sink or swim.
Since Boston has some of the best mobile talent in the country (and arguably, the world) Boston developers have already created an impactful list of iPad applications despite the risk. We’ve rounded up all of those. Here they are, in no particular order — plus one BONUS app by a company whose U.S. headquarters is in the area:
SketchPad HD- The most famous iPad application from Boston is SketchPad HD; developed by Raizlabs, SketchPad HD has gotten press mentions from The Boston Globe, Engadget, and PC World. SketchPad HD is a note taking app that also lets you draw and doodle. Price: $0.99 (more…)
Tags: Apple, iPad, Lists, Mobile, Raizlabs
Posted in Around the Hub, Mobile | View Comments
Fans rep'd BostInnovation!
They started queuing at midnight on Boylston Street — those who pre-ordered the iPad (along with many who did not) were committed to getting this sweet new accessory the second it was available. The chance to be the first in Boston to be ushered into the Apple Store and presented with the opportunity to purchase the latest piece of must-have gadgetry was enough to ensure that sleep could be missed for one night.
For those that have been hiding under a rock since January, today, April 3rd 2010, was the day that the iPad was introduced to the consumer. Many in line believe the iPad to be the future of media consumption. Of course, it was only introduced in the USA today. The Rest of the World must wait for their chance to lovingly scroll through its bright, shiny applications and for those who need a 3G version….well, it’s on the way. (more…)
Tags: Apple, Company News, iPad
Posted in Around the Hub, Mobile | View Comments
Red Sox News and Rumors iPhone Application
The countdown has begun: Red Sox Opening Day is April 4th. That means the Red Sox are returning to Fenway Park, television sets, and iPhones across the country.
That’s right, iPhones.
Opening Day is so close, we can taste it. So to celebrate the return of the Red Sox we’re giving you the lowdown on all of the Red Sox applications available in Apple’s App Store.
Can’t make it to Fenway Park? ESPN just not cutting it? Bring the Red Sox to your iPhone this season.
1) MLB.com At Bat 2010 - For the hardcore baseball fans out there, this application we’ll keep you informed and interacting with all MLB games in realtime. The only problem is you have to be an MLB.tv subscriber to get the full experience. If you’ve got that subscription, we advise snapping this download up now. MLB at Bat 2010 includes live video, scores, game highlights, breaking news, schedules, rosters, player stats, favorite players, and pitch-by-pitch coverage. Price: $14.99 (more…)
Tags: Apple, Boston, iPhone, Lists, Opening Day, red sox
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David Bolton wonders: How far has recording come, and where is it going?
When we think of music, what comes to mind? Are we Gaga for the latest pop hit or is music more than a feeling?
Superstars with inflated egos or earnest young men making sounds that capture the mood and emotion of the moment? Do we think iTunes, downloads or MySpace? Or can we still remember vinyl and eight tracks, a time before CDs and Mp3s? Do we ever think of the session musician, seeking not for fame and fortune but a regular paycheck?
Music and technology have enjoyed a very special relationship over the years. The basics of sound reproduction have been known since the 9th Century, but the invention of the phonograph cylinder in 1877 by Thomas Edison, a true East Coaster, allowed for the recordings to be played back aurally at an individuals’ convenience. Groundbreaking experiments in electricity in the 1920’s further enhanced the technology and radio transmissions ensured that mass consumption of recorded and live sound recordings could be heard. (more…)
Tags: Apple, Berklee College of Music, Daddy's Junky Music, Dropkick Murphys, Edu, Garageband, iZotope, music, Op-Ed, Pro-Tools
Posted in Digital, Edu | View Comments
Bring on the dev talent, Boston!
Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s latest creation – the iPad – a month ago to mixed reviews from the public.
There was much excitement and speculation leading up to the launch. Would it feature multitasking? A crazy, new UI? Perhaps something magical?
It’s safe to say that many of the folks (including me) expecting something radically different were disappointed to find the iPad to essentially be a 9.7inch iPod Touch. Why would I want that? Well, the answer is simple: New Apps.
Apple made their big pitch already. Now they’re looking for developers to close the sale by showing us what they’re capable of… How will Boston answer? Time will tell. (more…)
Tags: Apple, iPad, Op-Ed
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On Thursday, July 22, Kidoc LLC announced an exciting new product for iPhone iOS4 users: PlanHawk.
