iPhone News Blog

iON Universal Mobile Power Bank

2009-11-10T19:24:33Z

iON - Universal Mobile Power Bank

We've all be told at "great things come in small packages", but upon receiving this particular power bank from iON from FSP Direct, the package itself was the object of admiration!

Roughly the size of a 5 stacked credit cards, the iON charger has a tacky, soft-silicon type cover for easy grip. There is a single pin hole for the ipod or USB connector and a hidden USB charger cord imbedded in the body.

The cords are all flexible so your iPhone, iPod, PDA, or even perhaps your digital camera can be attached and laid on top of the device while it charges.

Additionally, the charger itself has a LED indicator that quickly and easily informs you of the remaining charge.

The power bank comes with a small velveteen pouch with inner pockets to hold your adapters.

The timing couldn't have been better for this product's arrival. I was just getting ready to head out on a trip and couldn't pass up the opportunity to put this power bank to the test.

After draining my ipod during the flight, I immediately charged it back at the hotel. Within a few hours, it was ready to go. Likewise, during a long 7-hour drive, we found our iPhones precariously close to dead and the charger came in handy to keep one phone alive to get us to our destination.

Small, discreet and unassuming, this credit card sized power bank will quickly and quietly power any 5V or less device. For $29.99 at the FSP Direct shop, this is a great deal for an easy-to-use, and easy-to-carry device!

Chillingo's Horror Racing Review

2009-10-20T19:28:20Z

When I was growing up, I played A LOT of video games. Needless to say, one of my favorite video games of all time, was a game called Rock 'N' Roll Racing by Blizzard, Horror Racing is just like Rock 'N' Roll racing.

In an nutshell, this is a top down racing game where you can blast your opponents with weapons that you find along the racetrack. I guess its sorta like Super Mario Kart, but from a top-down perspective. Can you tell that I really enjoyed this game, maybe I'm a little biased but I think that this game just nails the gameplay head-on.

You can create profiles to accommodate more than one player and each player can upgrade their cars depending on how much they win from the races they play. There is a great help option and the controls are marked clearly.

Now on to the gameplay: the car is controlled by a virtual steering wheel and there are various obstacles as well as weapons littered around the course for you to pick up as you and three other cars race around the track. Sometimes I found it a little frustrating to use the virtual steering wheel but after a while it became more intuitive...If I could suggest anything, I think that perhaps the developer could add in some options for other control schemes in the future but it's not necessary...

At the time of this writing, the game is 20% off and is selling in the AppStore for $2.99. Have a look, it'll be well worth your time.

The IconFactory & DS MediaLabs Ramp Champ Review

2009-10-19T19:16:47Z

I have been eagerly awaiting this game. I've heard and read all about Ramp Champ before it was published to the AppStore and when it came out I eagerly watched to see how people reacted to it. All the reviewers had very good things to say about it and all cited the high quality graphics and playability.

With that in mind, I'd like to say that Ramp Camp lives up to all the hype and is well worth the wait. After the initial purchase, users are greeted with four different "ramps." The four ramps are: Clown Town, Breakwater Bay, Icon Garden & Space Swarm.

As you play each level, there are specific goals you can strive for and points to earn. Every 500 points earn you a ticket and tickets can be used to earn virtual prizes. After you've finished the four ramps and completed all the goals, you can purchase two more ramps for $.99...there are about 4 theme packs available for download.

In any case, before I go on any further, I'd like to show you a video on how the game is played..it's really simple, challenging and fun at the same time and at $1.99 in the AppStore you can't go wrong.

YACA: Yet Another Camera App: Snapture

2009-10-14T20:00:57Z

There are a ton of apps that take advantage of the iPhone's built-in camera. There was a lot of hype surrounding the release of Snapture so we decided to take a look and see how this camera app compared to the standard camera app that already comes with the iPhone. We gave a demo copy to our good friend Mr. Lee who did a lot of testing and had this to say: In reviewing and critiquing Snapture I needed to realize a few things. First, I needed to understand that a cell phone camera was not meant to be a replacement or the equal to a digital cameral. Second, I'm an old guy and don't like taking pictures of myself by holding the camera a foot away from my face. Okay, with those caveats, here goes: The good:

Zoom capacity: terrific. It is very convenient and useful to be able to zoom by finger tips. No more walking a bit closer or post pix cropping.
Thumbnail on screen: extremely great idea. No more switching camera function.
Level Aid: I like it. Okay, it may not be for everybody, but I found it to be very useful. Heh, nothing like a level sunset, or a proportioned group shot.

Mixed:

Touch screen shutter: maybe it is a learning curve, but I took a ton of accidental shots. Nothing like getting three pictures of your feet.
One touch email: convenient feature, but a little limited. "Camera" allows for email, MMS, Assign to Contact, and Use as Wallpaper options.
Multi-shot: why? maybe it is just me, but multi-shots are primarily for sporting events and other action type moments. These type of moments require a fast shutter speed and a high quality lens. Not the real forte of Snapture.

Not so good: Saving shots: your shots (4) stay on the screen as thumbnails. If you take more shots, the pixs either get automatically or manually saved. Guess where they get saved to? The Camera roll in Camera. So how do you review pre-4 shot photos? Yep, open Camera and review the Camera Roll. You be the judge: Side by side photos: attached are side by side photos taken close in time with similar lighting and distance. Photo from the built-in camera app. Photo via snapture. Overall: C+. Remember the caveats. Snapture is ON SALE NOW (75% off) in the iTunes App Store for a limited time. Get Snapture NOW!

Gamevil's Hybrid: Eternal Whisper RPG Review

2009-10-14T19:29:04Z

Gamevil is quickly becoming one of MY favorite game publishers. I feel they are off to a great start with their porting of RPGs to the iPhone...originally, they arrived on the scene with Zenonia, the awesome RPG i reviewed here. But, this review isn't about Zenonia, but rather an action/adventure RPG called Hybrid: Eternal Whisper . I think that for the most part, Hybrid can be classified as an sort of a side scroller with RPG elements (weapon/armor/skill upgradeability.)

If i'm not mistaken Hybrid: Eternal Whisper was created the ground up for the iphone OS and it's amazing multi-touch capabilities. Not only do you slash at enemies using special button combinations, you can also "draw" spells on the screen to activate powers such as fire, wind and gravity to name a few.

Another fun aspect of this game is that you can "link" both physical and magical attacks for an insane amount of damage....Then at the end of the stage, you will get a letter ranking a la "Devil May Cry." Most of the times, I'd get a B or C, but I've earned an A in one level...this alone may keep the game fresh for some perfectionist gamers.

Other than that, I really enjoyed the excellent graphics and the wonderful soundtrack...While I was doing this review, I heard that more RPGs are coming our way in the future...I have to say Gamevil is the company to watch..I'd even liken it to the SQUARE/ENIX for the iPhone platform, these guys are THAT good...

Anyway, have a look at my two part vid review, I'm very proud of it..Enjoy and when you've had enough, buy it now in the AppStore, it's only $5.99.

Whatsapp Inc. Whatsapp Messenger

2009-10-13T16:58:54Z

For some time now, I've been looking for an app to be written that was similar to the BlackBerry messenger but for the iPhone. In fact, it was one of my project ideas when I was starting to learn Objective-C. In any case, Whatsapp has provided iPhone users with an app that provides just that; a direct messaging network that is exclusive to iPhone users.

Whatsapp makes use of the iPhone's built in Addressbook as a cross-reference to see if any of your contacts are using whatsapp. If they are, the people are instantly added to your whatsapp contact list. There is an upside and downside to this as 1) you need to know your contact's phone number BUT the feature comes in VERY handy because there is almost ZERO configuration when it comes to finding your friends.

In my vid review, I mentioned that whatsapp messenger is going to be integrated into this app...shortly after I published the review, the developer contacted me and told me that although this feature is coming in the future, it may be arriving in the form of a separate application.

Another thing that the developer mentioned was that intention of the application was to duplicate the SMS functionality without incurring costly charges. I'm happy to say that if that was their goal, then they have achieved that goal and more. Not only can you direct push a message to another iPhone user, you can also update your status in your address book and on Facebook...this is a very interesting and amazing capability for anyone that is socially connected.

Anyway, without further delay, here's my vid review, Enjoy and if you like it have a look in the AppStore, at $1.99 it's a deal

Chillingo's Defender Chronicles - Legend of the Desert King

2009-10-07T16:15:25Z

Review note: At the time of this review, Defender Chronicles is on sale in the iTunes AppStore for $3.99; that's a 20% discount from the normal price.

Defender Chronicles is, in it's most basic gameplay design a tower defense game...However, where it differentiates itself is in the fact that it allows you to upgrade your hero character and give him/her more armor/weapons/abilities.

If you've been watching the AppStore, you'll notice that Defender Chronicles has been amongst the top games and with good reason...the graphics are top notch and the gameplay is easy to pick up and put down in a pinch.

Other features include an epic storyline with over 20 different types of units, abilities and upgradability. There are 5 difficulty levels and 5 modes and Chillingo's even included the ability to email your friends for a challenge.

The latest release, includes tons of features, some of which are:

OpenFeint integration
New map - Helegom
New enemies and new bosses
Option for Vibration & HQ Graphics
and many more...

So, instead of writing more about what the game is like, I'd like to show you my vid review...it exemplifies the gameplay of this amazing app...for $3.99 in the AppStore, you can't go wrong.

Lingopal Holdings Lingopal - Fun Multilingual Phrasebook Review

2009-10-05T15:59:08Z

Lingopal's Fun Multilingual Phrasebook is a fun little app that will give you access to commonly used phrases in over 44 languages. It is however not meant to be used as a comprehensive dictionary by any means.

The application takes into account your native language and the language that you want to hear the phrase in. That's right, you read that right, the application will "speak" your phrase for you with the correct foreign inflection and pronunciation. No more bungled pronunciations and taking a chance that you might be saying something sillier than you originally meant...that alone is worth the $10 in my book.

I'm not sure if I'd rely on this application if I didn't know how to speak a foreign language at all, but it does come in handy for a quick reference and it does include over 900 phrases.

In any case, there's not much more that needs to be explained, I'd rather you watch the application in action...Here's my vid review, Enjoy and if this app is something you're interested in, please check it out in the iTunes AppStore, for $10, you can't go wrong.

Shape Services IM+ Review

2009-09-30T05:52:10Z

One of the most comprehensive all in one instant messenger apps for the iphone is the IM+ from Shape Services. In a nutshell, this little program can login to these following services:

Twitter
Skype
Facebook
MySpace
GoogleTalk
Yahoo
MSN
AIM
ICQ
and Jabber

Overall, this program is pretty straightforward and if you have accounts is more than one of these services, an application like this one makes a LOT of sense. Additionally, this app features in-app purchasing with speech recognition available as a download.

All of the basics are here: push notifications, the ability to send photos, voice and video over chat...And, much much more.

I really enjoyed this program and if you're like me and have tons of instant messenger accounts, IM+ is for you, at $9.99 its a deal. Watch my video review for some other details and enjoy! Thanks for watching.

Gamevil's Zenonia RPG Review

2009-09-28T16:28:31Z

In my opinion, Zenonia by Gamevil has to be one of the BEST action RPG games in the iTunes AppStore to date. At $2.99 this game has amazing replay value and longevity. You can play as up to three different character classes and choose between good and evil.

So far I've played about 50 hours and I think the closest game that describes the gameplay is Zelda or Secret of Mana. I know what you're thinking, it's a tall order and yes it is. I have to say in my opinion, Zenonia delivers on all fronts.

Zenonia is complete with a free-ranging surface world as well as dungeons. Of course, monsters are easily found throughout the world and are more than happy to provide you with equipment (potions, weapons, etc.).

One of the initial problems that I had involved not having a physical D-pad control, but that is not the fault of Gamevil and rather just an issue involving virtual controls. In any case, as I put in more hours, my fingers seemed to find the area where they were supposed to go....maybe I'm just imagining it, but I didn't seem to get as much finger drift in later parts of the game.

Anyway, I just wanted to get right into the videos because there are two of them...It's a two part series, try to sit through them because I feel that they're worth watching. Enjoy

Zenonia Part I

Zenonia Part II

If you enjoyed my review, head on over the AppStore, Zenonia is available NOW on sale for $2.99.

Apple's Annual iPod Event - "It's Only Rock And Roll"

2009-09-09T06:42:41Z

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2009, Apple is holding their media event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. The California-based company is expected to refresh their iPod lineup as they have done each year. The most talked about new feature of the iPod is the inclusion of a video camera on the iPod nano and the iPod touch.

We will be watching Apple's announcements live and will be trying to followup with a summary of what was announced either later Wednesday or Thursday.

FolderBuddy Review

2009-08-28T19:17:50Z

If you've ever wanted to add, edit or delete folders on your IMAP email account, FolderBuddy is the application for you. FolderBuddy is an invaluable too for folder editing of MobileMe, Gmail, Yahoo and AIM accounts.

The other interesting aspect of FolderBuddy is that it has a clean, easy to use AND understand interface along with iPhone-specific functions (like shake to refresh & swipe to delete).

Overall features include:

Support for other IMAP providers
Add/Rename/Delete folders
Support for nested folders
Multiple accounts support
SSL support

After going through the program and testing it out for about two weeks, I wholeheartedly recommend FolderBuddy for any road warrior. Especially at $1.99 in the AppStore now, it's a steal. Enjoy my vid review:

iPwr SuperPack Follow-up Review

2009-08-21T16:57:07Z

The iPhone is a terrific device, when it was introduced two years ago, it brought desktop internet browsing experience to a "phone-sized" device. Additionally, it could also check mail, tell you where you were (via GPS) and even watch YouTube videos. Ah, yes who could forget the ability to make and take phone calls.

However, the one of the major problems the device had was a terrible battery life. What you really come to learn quickly is that the problem with good all-in-one devices is that if you don't manage your power consumption correctly, you'll find phone/device out of power in no time...Play a game here, there, check email, surf a few sites and Voila you're down to 20% battery remaining and it's only 10:30 a.m.

Well, since the iPhone's launch a LOT of third-party manufacturers have manufactured their own external batteries. One of the best batteries I have seen is the iPwr Superpack external battery. Aside from it's sleek black and chrome styling, this battery packs a whole lot of power in a tiny enclosure...the battery is about the same width and thickness of an iphone but surprisingly, it is only 2.3" long and packs 1800 mAh into it's tiny physical dimensions.

In my tests/long-term evaluation, this battery held it's charge well and is always welcome in an emergency. It has an on and off switch that helps the unit conserve batteries when not in use AND will charge a fully drained iPhone 3G in less than two and a half hours.

I really enjoyed using the external battery pack and will do so for as long as I can, for me, it has proved itself time and time again. Watch my video review and visit the folks at iPwr to purchase your unit for $59.95. Enjoy

Qik Finally Available in the iTunes AppStore - Albeit Crippled

2009-08-14T17:32:43Z

Qik has unofficially been available on the iPhone since the 1st generation iPhone debuted in July 2007. Fast forward two years and the app is now "official," but crippled in the sense that live streaming has been disabled.

One of the reasons live streaming has been disabled is because AT&T's Terms of Service (TOS), especially when it comes to the iPhone prohibits the uploading of live video. The other reason was, prior to the 3GS, the iPhone didn't have the video recording capability...the only way versions prior to the 3GS were able to do it was via a hack made possible by Jailbreaking.

In any case, the application is now available for free in the AppStore with the following restrictions:

You have to own an iPhone 3GS
Live uploading is disabled

So, with these limitations, I'm not exactly sure what advantages this app offers over the built in Apple application other than uploading directly to twitter, facebook and of course, qik.com. What's more, reading the application description, it looks like, users will be able to post to their blogs built on Blogger, WordPress and so on.

I would really like to do a video review on the app, but unfortunately since I ONLY have a 3G, I can't. Oh, well, maybe I'll do a review in the future, IF the iPhone makes its way to other carriers AND IF live streaming is enabled.

Aliph's Jawbone Prime Unboxing

2009-08-13T16:30:12Z

Although the first generation iPhone supported Bluetooth headsets in 2007, I feel that the technology is only now making its way into the mainstream market.

A lot of factors have contributed to the acceptance of these hands-free devices, among the reasons, the most probably are: 1) it's against the law to talk on your cellphone/mobile device directly and 2) the earpieces have gotten smaller more stylish.

Now fast forward to 2009. With the release of iPhone OS 3, Bluetooth support on the iPhone is better than ever (namely Stereo Bluetooth) and there is a whole slew of devices available to the consumer.

Today's unboxing will focus on a product which I've been watching for a long time. I didn't originally take the plunge because of the product's high entry point ($130), but looking back, spending money on cheaper headsets was just frustrating and a wast of time.

In any case, here's my unboxing video of Aliph's Jawbone Prime with NoiseAssassin 2.0 - that's marketing speak for Aliph's noise reduction technology which is supposed to let listeners on the other end of the call hear you and not the background noise.

Watch and enjoy the unboxing and be sure to watch this space for the follow-up review.