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Carcassonne for iOS getting Traders and Builders expansion, Lost Cities on sale
TheCodingMonkeys' Carcassonne is one of the most popular board game adaptations on the App Store. The company has carefully recreated the German classic with care and love. Two expansions have been released, The River and Inns and Cathedrals, and now TheCodingMonkeys have another ready to go, pending Apple's review. The Traders and Builders expansion will add trade goods to the game, which reward players who complete a building, even if someone else has started it. Also, special pig and builder followers will provide additional bonuses to completed structures. The Traders and Builders expansion will be available as an in-app purchase for US$1.99. While we're waiting for approval on that one (which should be quick -- Apple's app review times are dropping in advance of the holiday rush), TheCodingMonkeys has placed their other big board game adaptation, Lost Cities, on sale for just $1.99. It's not quite as great a game as Carcassonne (which is still priced up at $9.99), but still enjoyable, more than good for a few rounds of entertainment against the AI or another player. The company says it's only on sale until the expansion is released, so grab it quick if you want it at that price.
BoinxTV 1.0 released today
We had a little teaser for BoinxTV during WWDC this summer. If you missed it, it's a joint project between Boinx Software and The Coding Monkeys, aimed at smaller producers of video (video podcasters, school TV shows, anyone who doesn't have their own production studio ... ), with the goal of improving presentation and removing the need for any post-production. BoinxTV 1.0 was released today after months of beta testing and nightly builds. It's stable, powerful and, most of all, fun. The easy-to-use system of layers, (which can consist of on-screen graphics, video sources, lower thirds, etc.) allows for simple setup and easy, live production of professional-quality video presentations. There are over 30 available layer types, all customizable, and custom layers can be created with Apple's Quartz Composer software (free with OS X). BoinxTV includes professional-grade chroma-keying which, with a decent green screen and lighting setup, makes transporting yourself or your cast to exotic locations a breeze. The software is targeted at video producers who could benefit from losing the tedium of post-production. If you have an existing production setup and demand finite control, you'll probably want to stick with what you have. For educational institutions, video podcasters and anyone who needs a rapid transition from recording to publication, though, it's an ideal solution. BoinxTV retails at $499. If your needs don't justify that kind of hefty price tag, a "sponsored" version is available for $199. The only requirement for using that version is that every production must credit BoinxTV. Not a bad tradeoff, really. A free demo is available, and the software is available for purchase today. Visit the BoinxTV page for more information.
Circulator: iPhone loan tracking
When we talked to TheCodingMonkeys at WWDC, they made a cryptic reference to an iPhone application they had in the works. They've finally revealed what they've been diligently preparing: Circulator, an iPhone application to help you track everything you lend and borrow. TheCodingMonkeys are the brains behind SubEthaEdit and the open source utility, Port Map (TUAW coverage here). Most recently, they've been working with Boinx Software on the upcoming BoinxTV. They've found the time, somehow, to create what looks like a very useful addition to the growing collection of iPhone productivity applications. Circulator lets you track the things you lend and borrow to and from your friends. It's not specific to any type of item; you can track everything from dollars and cents to DVDs and power tools. You can add images with the iPhone's camera or from your photo library and keep a history of transactions for repeat use. The portability of the application is what will make it the most useful; you'll be able to record that $20 you handed to your buddy right there in front of him, mercilessly crushing any hopes he had that you'd forget in a week. What good would such an application be without the ability to automate the act of reminding your friends of such debts? Circulator can send an "overdue" SMS or email to debtors, with templates available for the tone of the reminder: nice, neutral or angry. Nothing says "I want my orbital sander back" like frequent, angry, software-generated emails. Of course, this kind of record keeping could also help friends stay friends by avoiding misunderstandings and unfounded accusations. Circulator will cost $5.99 at the App Store. If you've lost track of more than six dollars worth of loaned items in your life, you might want to check it out. For more information and a video overview, visit the Circulator page at TheCodingMonkeys' website.
WWDC '08: Boinx + TheCodingMonkeys = BoinxTV
We heard from TheCodingMonkeys last week, and there was mention of a joint project with Boinx Software. Being a big fan of Boinx software (iStopMotion, Mousepose, Fotomagico), I couldn't wait to see what they had up their sleeves. The project is called BoinxTV, and it's going to be an invaluable tool for a wide range of video production applications. It allows for on-the-fly camera switching, transitions, lower thirds, graphics, logos, crawlers, graphs, title, you name it. And when you finish a run, you've got a QuickTime movie that requires no post production (unless you really want to). Oliver and Dominik share more about its audience and development in the video after the jump. If you're interested in hearing more about the beta and staying up-to-date on the current status, check out http://www.boinx.com/boinxtv. I've been asked to emphasize that BoinxTV is pre-release. Many aspects of it, including the UI pictured above, are constantly changing and improving. [Viddler link|QuickTime format]
