Won’t Publish My App? Tawkon Goes Cydia!

tawkon

Tawkon, an application – the only one for now – monitors real-time radiation levels (caused by iPhones) to give users simple prompts to lower their exposure got rejected from the Apple App Store.   The makers of tawkon even got praises from Apple senior executives about functionality and graphical appeal.  Despite praises from some in Apple, we all know who carries the big stick in that company.

Steve Jobs personally emailed tawkon co-founder & CEO Gil Friedlander with a curt two-word response stating: “No Interest”, tawkon was left with no alternative but to climb through the Cydia window to let iPhone users see and lower their exposure to cell phone radiation.

Ow.  That’s harsh.  More than harsh I find it offensive.  To work so hard and not see your product go to market.  Good thing there is Cydia.

tawkon_iPhone_CallMode_With_Frametawkon_iPhone_LastCall_With_Frame-153x300

To find out more about how tawkon measures radiation or for directions on how to get your copy of Tawkon via Cydia, check out the Twakon.com Website.

iOS 4.3 Arrives; Apple TV Updated to 4.2

idevice

Available for  iPad, iPhone (GSM), and iPod Touch, this update provides AirPlay and Home Sharing Enhancements for better streaming as well as a faster web browsing experience with a Safari capable of running javascript more efficiently.   The iPad switch which I was upset that they changed the function from screen rotation lock to mute switch is now customizable where the user can choose which function they would like.  (Why did they not think of that before?)  In any case, I’m glad it’s back.  Finally, with the new Personal Hotspot feature, you’ll be able to connect up to five devices over Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB.  Just be sure to mind your data limits or suffer an extended bill.  I still look forward to the day where data limits are removed once again and not just for promotional periods.  Let’s face it…data is a necessity but can easily still break the bank when flurries of email come in and woah..this one came with a 3MB attachment?  Ow.  There goes a chunk of my allotted bandwidth.

Updating should be easy, you’ll first update your iTunes software.  After plugging in your iDevice, it will ask if you’d like to update.  It’ll take a bit of time to download but with the great new features it will be worth the time.

As to AppleTV, with 4.2 comes the ability to:

  • AirPlay for apps and websites—Wirelessly stream video from AirPlay-enabled iOS apps and websites on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (running iOS 4.3).
  • MLB.TV—Watch live and on-demand Major League Baseball games, access stats, scores, and standings.*
  • NBA Game Time—Watch live and on-demand National Basketball Association games, access stats, scores, standings, and video highlights.**
  • Netflix Dolby Digital 5.1—Enjoy Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound when watching Netflix movies and TV shows.***
  • New slideshow themes—View photos with the new Scrapbook, Photo Mobile, and Holiday Mobile slideshow themes.
  • Improved on-screen keyboard—Enter search terms, user names, and passwords more easily with the redesigned on-screen keyboard.

I’ve had only the oppurtunity to set up AppleTV for customers and have not had the time to extensively try it out.  I’m interested about the improved on-screen keyboard as it took some tap dancing to properly setup accounts for HomeSharing as well as NetFlix – so that’s something I’d like to check out.

Keep up with the cool new features Apple….and yes, I still want Flash…can’t you make a Safari that’s Flash enabled but still sandboxed?

Apple Store Down in Advance of Press Event
2011-03-02 10.05.01 am
Apple Store is down as of 10am Central…

In a not so surprising move, Apple’s online store is down in advance of today’s press release. Aside from a revamped (and perhaps free..?) MobileMe, everyone is anticipating a refreshed iPad 2 announcement, availability..?  Today?  Tomorrow?  June..?  Who knows.  We’ll have to wait and see what Santa Jobs brings us.

Keep your eyes open, as I’m certain JAMM and iTechGear as well as other sites, will have news, analysis, as well as other articles pour over everything shortly after the Event concludes.

Apple Discontinuing Mobile Me (Retail Boxes)

mobile me

Yes, you read that right.  Apple is discontinuing Mobile Me retail boxes.  No, Apple is not discontinuing the Mobile Me service.  Beginning today, Apple stopped manufacturing the physical edition of Mobile Me.  Once stores sell out of the physical product, the only way is to go to www.apple.com/mobileme.  What does that mean for Apple?  1) Greater profit for not having to have a physical product or the need to store it.  2) Yet evening more earnings as now, all of it goes to Apple.  None of it goes to the retailers.

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iTunes & the Oscars–Why this Digital Delivery Works

I saw an interesting article over at Apple Insider that said that some of the movie studios were considering an iTunes release for all of the Oscar Best Picture nominated movies this year. Honestly, I really like this idea.  It’s the best I’ve heard in a while.  Here’s why.

I love things like Netflix.  Being able to get the movies I like anywhere I want is really cool. I can sit in the family room with my family and they can watch whatever they want on the big screen TV (except when my Steelers play football!!).  I can grab my iPad, my MacBook (or any other Netflix compatible computing device), plug in a set of headphones and watch MY stuff whenever I want.  I’m still "with" the fam, even though we’re watching different programming. 

2011-01-31 03.01.02 pm
Is iTunes the digital media answer?

 

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