Filed under: iPhone, MobileMe

We've been waiting and waiting for the official iDisk app for iPhone 3.0 devices -- since WWDC, in fact, when the capability for the Apple-branded file sharing solution was first announced. Now there are hints that the app may actually be on the way. Yesterday, the tech note above briefly appeared on Apple's technical support site before disappearing again into 404-land (full-size screenshot here).

Sure, the note doesn't say much about the functionality or options for the iDisk app... actually, it doesn't say anything at all besides the fact that deleting the as-yet-unreleased app would also delete the data associated with the app (and the note manages to use the wrong "its" in the process). Even so, the appearance of support content for the iDisk app does suggest that the app itself cannot be too far behind.

In the meantime, if you're looking for a handy way to access iDisk and other remote files from your phone, the $4.99 Readdle Docs app was recently enhanced to allow email forwarding of attachments directly to the company's storage solution. Check it out.

Thanks to Kevin for sending in the tip.

iDisk for iPhone release hinted at via phantom tech note originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iDisk for iPhone release hinted at via phantom tech note originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wired.com claims that the next generation iPod touch will contain both a video camera as well as a built-in microphone:

A well-connected source tells us those rumors are on the money, and that Apple's factories in China are already ma...

Barnes & Noble made a two-pronged announcement Monday: unveiling an e-bookstore along with plans for an e-book reader.

The Modem Mate is designed to work with modems that lack external antenna connectors. Meanwhile, the updated Combine PDFs adds a preference window that lets users set whether PDF files should open with Acrobat Reader or Preview.

Filed under: Multimedia, iPhone, App Review

The very talented Ben Gotow has just released a brand new iPhone app called Layers, his third now after Mathomatic and NetSketch (iTunes links). Layers, not to be confused with the innovative screen capture application on the Mac desktop, is a natural media painting app for the iPhone. Stating the obvious, it incorporates Photoshop-like layers, as well as a variety of brush and color selection options, panning, zooming and the ability to export your masterpieces as JPG or Photoshop PSD files (layers included).

I gave it a run-through and am extremely impressed with the implementation. I am no painter, a fact hinted at by my not posting any screenshots of my own work. However, I'm adept enough with digital art to recognize that this is a very intuitive interface. Manipulating layers is done in a side view with layer previews, allowing a tap-and-drag re-ordering and one-tap addition and subtraction of layers. I especially appreciate the 30 levels of undo history, making it simple to backtrack errant swipes. The application allows for sophisticated artistic expression beyond mere "finger painting," and, with a little practice, you can create some complex imagery. The layering functionality even allows for photo compositing, using multiple layers with photos and the eraser tool to remove portions of the top layers. This is more in line with my personal skill set, so I had some fun with this. Tight erasing can be a little tricky when you have big fingers which are hard to see around, but the undo functionality and some dedication make it perfectly feasible.

Continue reading First Look: Layers for iPhone, natural media painting app

First Look: Layers for iPhone, natural media painting app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Look: Layers for iPhone, natural media painting app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Google added panoramic pictures of the moon, video and stories to its Google Earth application.

OfficeTime, the time tracking software, now features iCal synchronization, customizable invoices and other changes.

TechCrunch reports on a pretty serious issue that has been affecting iPhone users in a wide range of locations, apparently for no reason. Users report Visual Voicemail being essentially broken, with unheard messages suddenly appearing on their devices from as long as two weeks ago. So far they say AT&T has yet to respond to the situation.

Filed under: Freeware, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review

Regular readers will know I'm hooked on astronomy programs, and we've reviewed quite a few in this International Year of Astronomy.

Today only, Carina Software, one of the premier publishers in the field, is giving away Mac, PC, and iPhone versions of their software for next to nothing. It's in honor of today's 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. On the iPhone, they are free, for the PC and Mac version, US$00.01. Note: Due to server overload the Mac and PC versions have been pulled for now. Here is the latest from the Carina website:

"First, our iPhone apps SkyVoyager and SkyGazer will continue to be free downloads from the iTunes app store all day long. No changes there!

At approximately 6:20 AM PDT this morning, we recieved a call from our web-hosting provider, bluehost.com, asking us to suspend the one-cent download offer for our Voyager and SkyGazer desktop software. Demand was so high that our automated serial-number generator, which emails serial numbers to customers, was sending out several thousand emails per hour - putting us in violation of our Terms of Service (TOS) agreement, and causing our email service to be suspended.

Our email has been restored, and we are catching up on our backlog of missing-serial-number emails manually. All customers who have purchased one-cent downloadable copies of SkyGazer and Voyager should recieve their serial numbers from us by the close of business today, Monday, July 20th, 2009.

After continued discussion with our web-hosting provider, it is unlikely that we will be able to continue providing our desktop software as one-cent downloads for the remainder of the day."

I'll focus on the iPhone offerings, in particular the more advanced SkyVoyager [App Store link]. Carina is also offering SkyGazer for free, which is slightly less advanced and has fewer features. I'd go for SkyVoyager at these prices.

OK, what can you do with this software? Well, just about anything to help you under the stars or to plan a night of observing. The software picks up your location from the GPS, and of course the date and time. It will display more than 300,000 stars and 30,000 deep sky objects (clusters, nebula, galaxies). You can see the night sky from any location on earth, and on any date you choose, even going back or forward centuries.

The software also contains NASA images, and work from other astrophotographers. Amazingly, if you have a computer controlled telescope, like a Meade, Celestron, and some other less well known brands, SkyVoyager will soon be able to wirelessly connect to it and steer to objects you select on the iPhone. You can get a complete list of supported scopes here. Note: To make the connection to your scope you'll need a piece of hardware, the Sky-Fi connector, not available until late September. Go to this page for more info.

There are a lot of iPhone/iPod touch astronomy apps out there. SkyVoyager is full featured, and has very deep and complete data bases, especially considering it is running on a phone or iPod touch. It updates comet positions, along with asteroid and satellite orbital data. It requires a WiFi network for these downloads.

The only thing I'd like to see is the ability to use the iPhone tilt/tip sensors and compass to match your sky chart to where it is pointing in the sky. That works really well on Pocket Universe, which I reviewed recently.

SkyVoyager normally sells for $14.95, so free is pretty compelling. Remember, it's today only. My fellow amateur astronomer colleague Steve Sande is reviewing the desktop versions of this powerful software today as well, so be sure to check out his thoughts. They are selling for only a penny, so it's truly an 'astronomical' saving.

Check these screen shots to see SkyVoyager in action:

iPhone astronomy app, SkyVoyager, free today originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone astronomy app, SkyVoyager, free today originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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