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Get email design chores under control with equinux Mail Designer
If you've ever had to code together a complex HTML email then you know how painful it usually is. It's like taking a trip back to 1999 before the web discovered standards and everyone was still doing table-based design -- only with the addition of cumbersome inline CSS, and the challenge of dealing with scores of different mail clients and their divergent HTML rendering. Unless you do this every day the process can be unwieldy at best and a downright nightmare otherwise. For most of us, learning to code our own email is way more work then it's worth. That's where Mail Designer, a new application from equinux, comes in; it provides a rich graphical email composer that goes far beyond what you'll be able to do in your preferred email client's editor. Mail Designer takes an iWork approach, focusing on a balanced feature set that makes it easy to use and hides all the technical bits in the background before sending your email to Apple Mail for delivery.
iRobot debuts 'throwable' 110 FirstLook robot
Sure, just about any iRobot bot is technically "throwable," but the company's new iRobot 110 FirstLook robot is guaranteed to survive that throw and keep rolling, and even stand up to 15-foot drops onto concrete. As you may be able to tell from appearances, this one's also primarily a military bot, and iRobot says it's ideal for "hasty situational awareness," as well as for investigating tunnels and other confined spaces (it measures just nine inches by twelve inches and weighs only five pounds). What's more, it also promises to continue operating for more than six hours at a time, and it can be controlled using a nifty wrist-mounted touchscreen controller. Head on past the break for a video.
HotelPal 2.0: A first look at the updated lodging reservation app
Business and personal travelers with iPads and iPhones are familiar with Mobiata's travel apps already. The company's FlightTrack (US$4.99) and FlightTrack Pro ($9.99) apps are often listed as "must-have" tools for travelers, and the fun FlightBoard ($3.99) turns your iPhone or iPad into a live flight departure and arrival board for any airport. Mobiata rolled out the free HotelPal app for iPhone in 2010, and now there's an iPad-optimized version that has shipped along with the updated 2.0 version. What's the app for? Looking at hotel listings for almost any destination, and then actually making reservations from the app. Think of it this way; you're stuck at an airport in a strange city because of a blizzard, and you'd like to find a hotel that isn't too expensive, yet still comfortable and clean. Launching HotelPal on your iPhone or iPad (I looked at the iPad app), the app determines where you are and then immediately populates a map with little price tags indicating the nightly rate. You can also type in a location or tap on a map to drop a location pin, after which HotelPal populates the map with hotel pins and prices. %Gallery-115673%
First Look: Ninja Steve for iOS
CEO. Industry Mogul. Superhero. That's the idea behind the upcoming Ninja Steve app. Inspired by the fake story about Steve Jobs being denied the chance to take shuriken onto his private plane, Ninja Steve transforms an urban legend into a deliciously silly idea for a game. It features a CEO hero named Steve, who leads a secret double life as a Ninja. The developers assure us that "[o]ur character share the name with Steve Jobs, but is a fictional character, he and his fictional company has no relation to Steve Jobs or Apple." Here at TUAW, we haven't had a chance to play the game -- and honestly, we have no idea whether it's awesome or awful -- but we were tickled by the marketing graphics and the developer was kind enough to give us an exclusive first peek at the game promo video, which appears after the jump. This is not the first time we've covered the Ninja Steve meme, here on TUAW. Previously, we saw the fake "iPod ninja" concept ad, which we thought was hilarious. Got any more Apple Ninja spoofs, games, or tributes to share? Let us know in the comments.
First Look: Boinx PhotoBox app for iPad
The guys at Boinx Software have done it again, this time with a product for the iPad. PhotoBox, a free app, is the first iPad app for the company, which is primarily known for its Boinx TV and FotoMagico applications for Mac OS X and the You Gotta See This iPhone photo collage app. What's PhotoBox all about? The idea is that it's an on-site photographer's assistant, allowing you to analyze photos that have been moved to the iPad through the Camera Connection Kit or a wireless connection. The analysis can consist of checking the exposure of a photo against defined limits, allowing digital photographers to make sure that parts of a picture aren't over- or under-exposed. It's also useful for checking out the focus on an image, and can even do video-out to a projector for a much larger view of the image. Boinx is soliciting feedback as well as ideas for what the app should contain in the future. Boinx wants to turn PhotoBox into a much more complete photographer's tool and then charge for it in the App Store. As-is, the app has limited functionality. You can add photos to the app's browser from the Photo Library, and then view them in full-screen and 1:1 modes to check overall composition and focus. With the exposure mask tools, underexposed portions of a photo are highlighted in blue, while overexposed bits show up in red. While that's useful for checking exposure in the field, it's not enough to make this an app you'd want to buy. If you're a professional digital photographer or dedicated amateur, download a copy of PhotoBox and give it a try, and then tell Boinx what you'd like to have added to the app. Several screen shots are available in the gallery below. %Gallery-106209%
First Look: Scosche sneakPEEK II audio-video output solution for iOS
Doing a lot of presentations from an iPad or other iOS device can be problematic if you work with a lot of different video devices. One time you might be hooking your iPad up to a HDTV with a composite connection, the next to a standard definition projector using component video. Buying Apple's Component AV Cable ($49) and Composite AV Cable (also $49) can be a pricey proposition, and you have to carry around two sets of cables. Now Scosche has come out with the sneakPEEK II ($60) switchable video output solution for iPad, iPhone, and iPods with a Dock Connector. The cable provides both component and composite video connections, so it's possible to work with almost any TV or display. The sneakPEEK II comes with a USB-to-micro USB cable so you can charge your device while it's showing your Keynote presentation or blasting your Netflix rental to an HDTV. Remember, though -- the app you're using must support video out. While you may still need the Apple iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter ($29) on occasion while performing your road warrior duties, the sneakPEEK II looks like a good all-in-one solution for those other audiovisual situations you may encounter.
TUAW first look: JEOPARDY! for iOS
I'm not one to give up on hope. I've been trying out various incarnations of branded Jeopardy games since dinosaurs roamed the earth (I believe that T. Rex used an early version of Microsoft Windows before going extinct). The latest version to grace us is a US $1.99 mobile app, now available from App Store for iPhone and other iOS devices. Duly licensed from Sony, this JEOPARDY! game (with mandatory caps and exclamation point, of course) brings the same branded detail as many of the previous versions while completely missing the point of what makes Jeopardy fun. It's multiple choice.
Dropbox + text editing = Droptext
Most of the bloggers here at TUAW are huge fans of Dropbox, the free cloud storage service. Since you can share documents with all of your iDevices, wouldn't it be nice to be able to edit your files from any of them as well? There are actually several solutions for cross-platform on-the-go Dropbox file editing, like Documents To Go Premium (US$14.99) for both iPhone and iPad. However, if your need is just for plain vanilla text file editing for iOS, you might want to take a look at Droptext ($0.99) from developer Kevin Smith. Any type of file with a MIME type of TEXT can be opened from Dropbox and edited in Droptext. Those files types include .txt, .php, HTML, CSS, and many source code types. Smith promises to add the ability to add your own file extensions in a future version of Droptext. Editable file types appear with a text file icon when you browse your Dropbox, and they're opened immediately with a tap. When you're done editing, tap Save, and the file is saved back on Dropbox in its revised form. It's not a fancy app, but Droptext does what it is supposed to do -- bring Dropbox text editing to iOS. [via Wired Gadget Lab]
First Look: Little Mermaid for iPad
Due to appear in App Store this Friday, Juraj Hlavac's "The Little Mermaid" does for Hans Christian Andersen what "Alice for iPad" did for Lewis Carroll. Namely, it transforms the book to a highly interactive, graphically-rich experience for reading. Watching this trailer, I can't help but wish that there were a little more novelty in this app, or something that differentiated it from the "Alice" experience. There's only so much you can get from "let's shake the iPad" with flickable, tiltable animated elements before it's time to move on to more individualized expression.
First Look: Twitter for iPhone
It took a little longer than expected, but Twitter for iPhone (née Tweetie) is now available. Mostly it looks exactly the same as Tweetie 2, with the exception of a new icon (shown here). I was surprised to see that Twitter for iPhone doesn't use OAuth, meaning that we'll be seeing another version before the end of June. (Note: they may be using xAuth instead, which would not necessitate an update.) The "Services" menu still shows support for Favrd, which has been gone for months, but it also includes several other useful services like Tweet Blocker, Follow Cost, Favstar.fm, Overlapr, and Tweeteorites. A few noticeable changes in your timeline include inline retweets and location information (where available). If you are not logged in you can see trending topics (although why you would want to see trending topics is another question entirely) and search. There is also support for "Top Tweets" and "Suggested Users," two more features of little practical value. Read on for more features and tips.
First Look: Avatron Air Display for iPad extends your Mac screen
Avatron Software already has an iPad hit on their hands with AirSharing (US$2.99, $9.99 for Pro edition). Now they're on the verge of releasing a new and useful app that could change the way that you use your iPad and Mac together. We've got an exclusive pre-release look at this intriguing app, called Air Display. The concept behind Air Display is cool -- use your iPad as a small extension to your Mac's display. For example, let's say that you're working on a project and you want to use your entire screen, but you'd also like to be able to check your email in Mail.app. You fire up Air Display on your iPad, move the Mail window to your iPad, and now you have a small portable workspace that's not interrupting what you're doing on your Mac. Apps like this are nothing new; just before iPad launch day, Shape Services released iDisplay ($4.99) which does the same thing. However, reviews of that app have been poor and it's pricey for what it does. Our very own Erica Sadun noted another solution in a post about a week later. Her post mentioned ScreenRecycler ($29.90), which uses a second computer (Windows, Mac, etc...) as an additional monitor for your Mac.
First Look: Byline 3.0 for iPhone
The folks over at Phantom Fish software have released version 3 of their popular Byline feed reader app for the iPhone. The update brings with it several new features, including integration with Instapaper, gesture-based navigation, and improved performance. Byline works by fetching a list of feeds from your Google Reader subscriptions, and caching a copy of the articles on your iPhone for easy reading or viewing while offline. Now I'll admit, while Google Reader does simplify feed management by keeping all of your subscriptions and updates in one place, it's not my cup of tea. Personally, I prefer to manage feeds directly from my reader app, rather than having to go somewhere else to do it. That aside, Byline 3 keeps the process simple by asking for your Google login, and then quickly going straight to your list of feeds without requiring any additional steps or setup. Each item is displayed right in the app, allowing quick navigation between stories and feeds. Want to view the link in Mobile Safari or send it to Instapaper? That can be done by tapping the forward menu icon on any item. Starring an item or adding notes is also simple and intuitive. Since I'm a big fan of flexibility when it comes to iPhone apps, I was pleased to see the number of options offered in the settings panel. Viewing thresholds for several of the feed lists are easily configurable, so you can choose to limit or hide things like starred items or notes if you don't use those features. Other options include manual sync, portrait orientation locking and a few options to fine-tune the caching of stories. Overall, the app is well done and easy to use. Ironically, the only complaint I really have had with it is sync speed, which is one of the things that were said to be improved in the new version. It's not unreasonably slow, but still slower than I'd have liked. In all fairness, though, I'm pretty sure my less-than-stellar internet connection was a contributing factor. A few posts on the developer's twitter feed suggest that a few minor bugs are already known, and will be fixed in an upcoming update. Byline 3 is US$3.99 in the App Store, and is available now. Head on over and check it out! %Gallery-92705%
First look: New IUGO iPad games
The video you see here was in my inbox this morning and I really liked what what I saw. IUGO, a long time player in the mobile entertainment arena, is in the process of releasing four new games for the iPad platform. What made these games stand out for me was how well they leveraged the iPad hardware realities for both cooperative and competitive game play. Several of these games highlight multi-handed multi-player interaction on the same device. That's a feature that's specific to the iPad. The iPhone's size doesn't allow that kind of two player interaction, except through online game play with virtual opponents. What IUGO's games are doing is expanding play from an iPhone-style one user at a time paradigm into a two-users-at-once iPad experience. Read on for an exclusive discussion with IUGO Mobile Entertainment.
TUAW First Look and Giveaway: Twelve South BookArc for iPad
There are a lot of Twelve South fans here at TUAW. The company makes nothing but Apple accessories, and they do it with a flair and panache that most other accessory makers seem to lack. We've reviewed or introduced a number of their products -- the BackPack shelves for iMac and Cinema Displays, the BookBook cases, BookArc desktop stand, and BassJump subwoofer for MacBooks -- and now we have another lovely aluminum arc to add to the list. The BookArc for iPad is a tabletop stand for the iPad. While we've seen everything from empty tape rolls and carry-out trays used as stands for the iPad, the BookArc is definitely one of the more stylish stands. The US$39.99 BookArc for iPad is a sleek arc of aluminum, outfitted with silicone rubber inserts to keep your iPad from getting scratched while it's sitting in the stand. Depending on which insert you use, you can orient the iPad in portrait or landscape mode, and either upright or tilted. In the tilted mode, the BookArc makes a wonderful dock for using the iPad with an external wireless keyboard. SInce the BookArc is open on the bottom, you can even use the standard Apple Dock Connector to USB cable to sync and charge your iPad while it's lookin' good.
Found Footage: iPad Alice comes to life
I'm not a huge Alice in Wonderland fan but I've got to give props to the developers behind this iPad realization of the book. They've taken Alice to a new place with their interactive graphics that simulate the kind of reader engagement you'd normally find in a pop-up book. Ben Roberts and Chris Stevens, the people behind the app, seem to have done a lovely job putting this together. We at TUAW haven't had a chance to actually try the application out yet. And, yes, we know that the book won't have that great soundtrack but we thought we'd share this first peek at what might be the next, great trend on App Store: interactive book illustrations.
First look: Camera for iPad
No, it's not a hardware device, but Camera for iPad (US$0.99) can help out those frantic iPad users who are wondering how the heck they're going to survive without a by-God camera built into their latest Apple toy. The app is universal and runs on both iPad and iPhone. In fact, the camera in the iPhone is what ends up being the real "Camera for iPad." Installing the app on your iPhone and iPad allows the two devices to find each other via Bluetooth. When they're linked, everything that the iPhone camera is seeing is transmitted to a window on the iPad. Press a button on the iPad, the iPhone snaps the photo, and then the photo is transferred -- slowly -- to the iPad. The idea is pretty cool, and it does provide a way to get photos into your iPad until that Apple Camera Connection Kit actually hits the stores. The slowness I'm talking about in the previous paragraph is not a fault of the app, but the fact that Bluetooth is being used for the file transfers. It doesn't have anywhere near the speed of Wi-Fi, but you will be able to shoot and transfer photos anywhere; there's no need for the two devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Possible uses for this could include the ability to set up a local webcam, a clever way to catch an iPhone thief in the act, or it could be used just for fun; the kids would likely enjoy being sent out around the house to act as remote cameramen. When you see something you like, you take the photo. It's a lot of fun, and inexpensive as well (provided you've already spent the $1,000 or so dollars for your iPhone and iPad).
iPad launch first look: Things for iPad
Cultured Code has released the iPad version of their classic iPhone task list app, Things. The new Things for iPad (US$19.99), as you can see in the video above, is absolutely gorgeous on the new Apple platform, and benefits greatly from the larger layout. I've personally downloaded the iPad version, synced my tasks, and the app seems like it's a natural part of the iPad. We'll be publishing a full review of Things for iPad soon. In the meanwhile, feast your eyes on this 34 second video showing everything you'll be doing to keep yourself up to date on your work and personal tasks.
First Look: Accordéon for the iPad
Here, at TUAW, we are all about the cool, the awesome, and the amazing, as well as the surreal. Accordéon for the iPad, a new App Store application, falls solidly into the latter category. Alex Komarov was kind enough to send over this video, showing the $3.99 app in action, complete with a text-to-speech voice over monkey. As fellow TUAW blogger Steve Sande put it, this video is "a really weird dream that you keep hoping you'll wake up from." This application offers a virtual accordion playing experience, as its name implies. It has buttons, it has keys, and it leverages multitouch technology so you can press buttons and keys at the same time. No word on how you can "pump" the app, like you would a real accordion though. For everyone who has held off on deciding to buy, waiting until an accordion app finally debuted, well -- you can rest easy now. The squeezebox has landed. On the iPad. With Accordéon, you'll be able to Weird Al yourself to new levels, both in major and minor keys. I wonder if we can rent that monkey for some TUAW videos...
First Look: Air Hockey for iPad
I started watching this video on YouTube and, within seconds, my son was almost magically drawn into my office, staring transfixed at the screen. "This is air hockey?" he asked. "Yes," I replied. "I want it," he said. "It looks fun." My enthusiasm is slightly more tempered, but I think that this is a brilliant choice for an iPad game. I'm hoping that the game will properly use portrait mode for all uses, regardless of what the video looks like, and that there will be, both, two-player on one device, and the over-the-air Bluetooth support shown on the iTunes description page. For that matter, it would be great to be able to play against a fake opponent, although that is not listed as part of the product description. According to Bryan Duke of Acceleroto, Air Hockey will sell for $0.99 on the iTunes Store. There's a free "Gold" version as well.
First Look: Weather HD for iPad
VIMOV's Weather HD combines standard weather forecasting with video backdrops. Although I doubt the application comes with the new age music track, you can tell from this preview that it focuses on looks. I was a little surprised to see the floaty utility-style palette. You'd think that new weather applications would provide some kind of "Find Me" Core Location-powered feature, but I guess people do want to check on places they're about to visit or are away from as well. Weather HD is availablel for US$0.99 on the App Store.
