Jan 24, 2008

Apple Touch Icons

Drew McLellan at All in the <Head> has posted a bookmarklet to assist in creating custom Web Clip icons for the iPhone and iPod Touch. See instructions here. Since lots of sites don't have icons up yet, it's nice to be able to create pretty, easily-identifiable graphics for the foot-draggers.

Update: Here's a bookmarklet to add these: Web Clip Icon (inPhoe).

  1. Sync it to your iPhone through Safari
  2. Invoke the bookmarklet while you're on the page you want to add
  3. Append the filename (filename.png) of the icon to the path in the dialog that pops up
  4. Add the bookmark as usual

Here are a few I've created. Feel free to copy, use, distribute.

AmazonBackpack-1TadaJetFlight-2FandangoMoviesNetflixRssVoxStella01StellaspeedWikipediaGame

I read somewhere that 158 x 158 pixels may give a sharper final image, so I'm switching to that format:

FlickrAllmusic

Posted at 08:50 PM in Apple, Interface, Web Apps | | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Speed Dial on your home screen

Create a speed-dial icon on your iPhone's home page:

iPhone 1.1.3 WebClip hack - Speed Dial on your home screen

Posted at 09:12 AM in Interface | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Jan 22, 2008

Apple Touch Icons

Drew McLellan at All in the <Head> has posted a bookmarklet to assist in creating custom Web Clip icons for the iPhone and iPod Touch. See instructions here. Since lots of sites don't have icons up yet, it's nice to be able to create pretty, easily-identifiable graphics for the foot-draggers.

Update: Here's a bookmarklet to add these: Web Clip Icon (inPhoe).

  1. Sync it to your iPhone through Safari
  2. Invoke the bookmarklet while you're on the page you want to add
  3. Append the filename (filename.png) of the icon to the path in the dialog that pops up
  4. Add the bookmark as usual

Here are a few I've created. Feel free to copy, use, distribute.

AmazonBackpack-1TadaJetFlight-2FandangoMoviesNetflixRssVoxStella01StellaspeedWikipediaGame

I read somewhere that 158 x 158 pixels may give a sharper final image, so I'm switching to that format:

Flickr

Posted at 10:09 PM in Apple, Interface, Web Apps | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Oct 03, 2007

Brucked

Let me get this straight: You...

  • hacked your iPhone
  • voided the warranty
  • violated the terms of use
  • replaced system files
  • installed unauthorized applications that Apple never reviewed or vouched for
  • ignored a clear warning from the manufacturer that the above actions could result in complete loss of function
  • didn't restore your phone to its original condition
  • downloaded the update you'd been warned against, and
  • installed it

...and that's how Apple bricked your iPhone.

Posted at 10:13 AM in Apple | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Sep 07, 2007

Lower Prices Hurt Consumers' Feelings

Wow, am I tired of the whole price drop kerfluffle. Suck it up, early adopters. This is what happens in the technology world. Things get better. Prices get lower. By the logic of the whiners, no company should ever pass along the savings of economy of scale to consumers. Because it's not FAAAAIR! It's called supply and demand. You should look into it.

Apple is selling this thing like gangbusters. And all the drooling, glassy eyed gotta-have-its (myself included) already have it. If Apple wants to maintain their lead, if they want to stay ahead of the copiers, they need to reach the next tier down. The only ways to open up large new markets are to (1) open the iPhone to more carriers (which they can't right now, due to their deal with AT&T) or (2) drop the price to make the Jesus phone tempting to the guy who is comparison shopping the iPhone versus a free Motorola RAZR.

Apple has driven a harpoon into the stupid, false practice of subsidizing phones with a long-term contract. If we as consumers can buy the phone we want and pair it with the carrier and plan we need, we'll all be winners in the long run. And make no mistake, that is where this is headed if the iPhone can gain enough traction. All the mobile makers would love to charge a fair price for their handsets, and eff the carriers and their bullshit.

I don't feel entitled to anything, but I'll happily take my $100 (Thank you, Steve. How very nice of you.) Free Apple stuff? Brother, you just said three of my favorite words.

Posted at 10:01 AM in Apple | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Microsoft's Response

Added to the infamous brown Zune is now a pink one. It appears that Microsoft's intention is to gradually build a United Nations of crappy mp3 players.

Posted at 05:33 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

For the Whiners, a Rebate

10902804 400

Posted at 05:28 AM in Apple | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Sep 05, 2007

Ringtones: an attractive nuisance

Link: The Shape of Days: The scourge of that damn frog song.

Posted at 08:24 PM in Music | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Aug 30, 2007

Shameless

I'm assuming this is real. If so, then it's a pretty shameless move from Nokia.

Posted at 05:18 AM in Interface | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Aug 24, 2007

Fandango Mobile

On my recent trip to NYC, I used my iPhone constantly. It's a great tool for a pedestrian: In your hand are maps, addresses, subway stops and schedules, admission prices and hours of operation. You've got music while on public transportation, and a hands-free phone. Plus the location of 17,000 Starbucks (read: public restrooms). Plus, since you don't have a laminated map in front of your face, you don't look like such a freakin' tourist.

We also found another useful mobile-optimized site while looking for things to do. Fandango's regular site is a real drag over EDGE, but this loads quickly and easily: Fandango Mobile.

Posted at 05:26 PM in Web Apps | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Aug 20, 2007

Kidrobot Mobile

I've always thought that the iPhone's lack of ringtone customization was no problem. A feature, even. All it takes is one jackass with a 50 Cent song as his ringtone to ruin the whole world for everyone else. (Obviously I am exaggerating for humorous effect. No one would ever actually do that.)

But the ringtones on KidRobot are so cool, I actually wish I could download a few.

Not hacking my iPhone, though.

Link: Kidrobot Mobile.

Posted at 10:55 PM in Music | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Why Cell Phones are Still Grounded

Link: Why cell phones are still grounded.

Posted at 09:53 PM in Connect | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Aug 14, 2007

iSkype

Like Skype? Shape Services has provided a web client for Skype services.

Link: Skype Comes to the iPhone.

Posted at 08:39 PM in Connect | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Aug 10, 2007

Game On

I've never purchased a game for my iPod, but I'll definitely be buying a few for my iPhone, if what the Download Squad discovered on the iPhone comes to fruition. I'm keen to see what can be done with the touch interface and the accelerometer.

I hope we're not waiting for Leopard for the big update.

Posted at 06:47 AM in Games | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Aug 09, 2007

Photos to Go

If you've visited Apple's new .Mac photo gallery in a desktop browser, you'll have seen that it's pretty incredible for a web app. Hell, it's pretty sweet for any app; it blows away everything else I've seen. But with all those images and javascript, it is a bandwidth-hungry sucker.

However, if you point mobile Safari to the same URL, you're automatically redirected to an iPhone-friendly version of the page, with a nicely scrollable interface and less of the pretty-but-EDGE-taxing stuff.

Nice.

Posted at 07:19 AM in Interface | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Aug 08, 2007

Send Yourself a Voicemail

Mac OS X Hints has a little tip on how to set up a special number in the iPhone's contacts so that you can voicemail yourself. I've tried it, and it's pretty handy for recording memos. I'd bet that Apple will make this obsolete soon by adding a memo recorder, but until then it's a good solution. Visual voicemail makes it particularly easy to access, because the message shows up as coming from you.

Posted at 04:47 PM in Productivity | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Aug 03, 2007

iGem

This is great. Apple sends back a guy's repaired iPhone and includes...well read his post.

Link: Insanely Great News.

Posted at 10:14 PM in Apple | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Aug 02, 2007

When I Think About You, iTouch Myself

From Infinite Loop, a little analysis of an Apple patent with additional touch gestures.

Link: Apple patent on multi-touch gestures.

Posted at 09:24 PM in Interface | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Macworld Wants More

Macworld has a few requests of Apple for the iPhone. Our recent update gave some improvements to Mail and overall crash-resistance, but for 1.02 they have a few suggestions.

Link: Macworld: First Look: iPhone fixes we want to see.

Posted at 09:18 PM in Interface | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Update on...the Update

Link: iPhone Atlas has a rundown of the fixes incorporated into the latest iPhone update. Nothing too sexy, but it should improve the user experience overall.

I noticed a weird little thing after the update. Safari did its Tiny Black Screen of Death (TBSOD) move on me, and then immediately came back up (no return to the Home screen) right where I'd left off.

It was a crashless crash.

Posted at 06:54 AM in Apple | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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