Look at the mess you've made

If you’ve been looking for the perfect iPhone virus to infect the mobile device of that special someone, then iVirus might be just the app you’ve been seeking. The application, sent over to me and created by Core Information Technology, Inc, attempts to make a royal quagmire of the iPhone’s home screen. While iVirus certainly achieves this goal, the length of time users find the app entertaining (along with the $1.99 price point) just might determine its success.

So fresh and so clean

Getting Started

The first thing that needs to be done is to take a screen shot of your iPhone’s home screen (see photo above). This, of course, stores the image in your Photos App on the device. From there, open the iVirus application and tap the bottom right-hand corner of the screen to bring up and select the “i” icon. After you tap “Select Theme,” you will see 8 premade layouts that come with the app. To be honest, I didn’t find much value in these layouts. I think the enjoyment factor of this app will come from playing with the iPhone’s existing icons. To do this, simply tap “Custom” in the bottom right-hand corner. This takes you to your “Camera Roll” where you can select the screen shot of your iPhone’s home screen. Press “Done” when you’re finished.

Choose Custom to retrieve screenshot of home page

Flick It

Once you’ve returned to your “home screen,” start flicking away. The icons have now become floating tiles that bounce off the “walls” of your iPhone and collide into one another (although icons on the very bottom row remain stationary which I thought was rather odd). To reset the tiles to their original position, just give the phone a good shake.

Bottom row doesn't wish to partake

Options

There are a few minor tweaks you can make to iVirus, although I found a few of them to be a bit confusing or lacking:

• Sound Effects: I’d recommend having it turned off since the only sound made is that of two tiles smacking into one another. Certainly there must be at least one additional sound that can be added to the app.
• Shake to Reset: I thought this was a great way to reset the tiles. A simple shake and you’re back where you began. What I couldn’t understand was how to reset the tiles when I turned this function off.  Seems to me a tile reset button of some kind is needed on-screen.
• Free Float: The tiles either float around the screen or, with this function off, move only as far as your fingers move them.
• Frequency, Gravity, and Fluidity: When Free Float is turned on, these functions determine the manner in which the icons dance around the screen depending on how you flick them and utilize the iPhone’s accelerometer.

Option screen

Conclusion

iVirus is an app that “infects”  your iPhone by distorting the icons. Is it worth $1.99? I personally can’t say I’d spend that kind of money on this app.  While it wa entertaining, I found myself rather bored with it after only a few minutes. Then again, with the success of apps that don’t even reach the limited depths of iVirus, this may be something consumers find appealing.

I got a sad e-mail yesterday from a person I’ve never met: it wasn’t overly dramatic, but it did make me cry just a little bit. The e-mail was from Syncplicity staff and it told me about how Syncplicity beta for Mac — the awesome cloud syncing software that keeps my desktop PC and Macbook in touch — was going to be pulled back for further development. Apparently there were some issues that need to be fixed with major changes, but they don’t have the time to do that right now. What does that mean for Mac users? It means the beta is going to be pulled as of July 31, so it’s time to abandon ship for Dropbox or maybe Sugarsync.

Aww well, it was a good beta. I really liked Syncplicity for the way it let me work from anywhere by syncing all of my relevant work folders. I could have all of my review pictures no matter which computer I was on, and it made working on my desktop and my macbook a seamless experience.

That’s all for now, folks — full e-mail after the jump.

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Just when I had all but made up my mind that the Palm Pre was going to be my next phone, Sprint had to go and confuse the issue.  If these reports are to be believed (and I have not confirmed them) then not only is the Touch Pro 2 coming to Sprint, but it could arrive as early as the next 10 days.  WOW!

If you are having a hard time understanding why this is such big news, check out this review of the Touch Pro 2 over at Gear Diary, and this video, which feature a fantastic comparison of the Touch Pro 2 and its major competitor, the Nokia N97.

This is potentially great news for the network which was recently rated the most reliable network in the United States.  Stay tuned.  We will keep on top of this rumor and bring you any developments as we learn them.

I just got an email from our friends over at Skooba Design, and boy do they have a deal for you.  For one day only (the sale ends at 11:59 PM on July 17) you can get 50% off of your entire order.  Which begs the question…what the heck are you still doing here.  What better time to go invest in one of their fantastic check through bags.  So, hit the link and get your shopping on…oh, but before you do, a little fine print from Skooba is below.

ANY ONE ORDER, HALF PRICE (WITH CODE BELOW)

One day only—Valid only until 11:59 PM tomorrow, July 17th 2009
We want to end the week with a bang, and/or we’re also a little nuts,
so we’re throwing in a last-minute, grab-it-while-you-can big deal.
Just place any single order* at www.skoobadesign.com by tomorrow
night, use discount code HALFCRAZY, and you’ll get yourself a steal!

*Small print:

• Limit one order per customer, valid only through 11:59 PM, July 17th
  2009
• You may put as many items in your cart as you want (even if already
  on sale!) as long as it is one order. EXCLUSION: Buy one/get one free
  RAPS offer is excluded—half-price code will not work if you have RAPS
  in your cart
• Not eligible for free shipping
• Subject to availability (in-stock items only)
• May not be combined with any other discount codes
• Prior sales excluded

OK.  Fine print done.  Head on over to www.skoobadesign.com.  Half off their fantastic bags and accessories does not happen every day!

Looking to keep tabs of your stocks as they continue to free-fall during The Great Recession? kaChing has recently released a free iPhone App that will enable you to follow real-time stock quotes, create your own portfolio, and check out advice directly from the company’s investors. You can also take part in a stock portfolio game to match your wits against other users in a simulated investment world.

Keep checking back for my complete, in-depth review of kaChing.