Entries from March 2009 ↓
View original post found on ReadWriteWeb authored by Marshall Kirkpatrick
March 26th, 2009 — openSocial
Google has announced that the company now offers a secure way for third party websites to access any user’s list of friends, with their permission, and based on a proposed new industry standard. No more giving away your GMail password and then having random services you want to try go into your account and scrape the information there.
Called Portable Contacts, the technical spec offers a standard, interoperable way for social networks to serve up your friends lists to anyone you give permission to access them. This should allow application developers to innovate on top of your social connections much more efficiently.
Sponsor
According to the Portable Contacts website:
we’re seeing major Internet companies making contacts APIs available, such as Google’s GData Contacts API, Yahoo’s Address Book API, and Microsoft’s Live Contacts API (with more to come). Not surprisingly though, each of these APIs is unique and proprietary. We believe this creates the ideal conditions for developing a common, open spec that everyone can benefit from.
Why is This Important?
The social web works best when it’s truly social. New applications that use social sharing can be much more useful when new users can port in their existing network of friends and see who they know is already using a site. That’s much better than starting cold.
These types of standardized approaches to passing that data are secure (that’s good) and allow developers to write code once to use all the supporting sources of data. You’ve heard the old illustration about railroads? When all the railroads in the US accepted a standard size of rail, all the trains were able to travel much farther than ever before. That’s where we’re headed with all this information on the web. When we give it standard methods of transport, it can go further and do more than ever before.
That’s a pretty big deal and it’s fantastic that Google has moved to support the Portable Contacts standard. Hopefully sometime soon everyone will and then we’ll wonder what took the web so long to enable social interoperability.
Discuss
View original post found on Gizmodo authored by Jason Chen
March 24th, 2009 — iPhone
Ripdev’s InstallerApp makes installing third-party jailbreak applications on your iPhone slightly easier, by eliminating the need to jailbreak your iPhone at all. You just need to pay $7 for the privilege.
The process works by installing an app onto your iPhone that's not quite jailbreaking, but is enough to allow those not-quite-official applications to get on there. If you gave us the choice of paying $7 or running jailbreak on our phones—which is fairly easy as long as you have some tech knowledge—we'd choose real jailbreak. [Ripdev via 9 to 5 Mac]
View original post found on KillerStartups.com - all authored by (author unknown)
March 23rd, 2009 — consulting
What it does
We all are becoming more and more accustomed to turning to Twitter when we have to look up information. It is only fit, then, that different directories will crop up, giving us a good overview on any concept that we may be interested in. That is exactly what this website does – it collects information on different Twitter businesses, many of which include promotions.
This database can be browsed both alphabetically and by number of followers – the latter will give you something of an idea of the standing of each business. Moreover, the homepage highlights these businesses that have attracted the biggest numbers of followers so far, so that you can always see who are making waves online in a more or less immediate fashion.
Appropriately enough, you can tweet every featured company as links for doing so are provided.
On the other hand, if you want to have your business featured on the site you can do so effortlessly. This process involves setting down tags and so on. Furthermore, you can let twitterers know about any promotions through the site, and draw more attention to your business this way.
In their own words
“Twibs was created by a small group of people with one purpose: Give twitter users a place to find businesses on twitter. We are big believers in the power of twitter to connect customers with businesses. We’re working on making it easy for consumers to find businesses, both local and national. Keep in mind, we’re just getting started, so there may be small glitches and features missing, but don’t worry, we’re working hard for you to keep helping consumers find your business on twitter!”
Why it might be a killer
It is a direct way of knowing which businesses you can count on when it comes to the famed micro-sharing platform.
Some questions
How many businesses are already featured on the site?
Link: http://www.twibs.com
Our Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/Web20/twibs-com-twitter-business-directory
View original post found on iPhoneKicks.com authored by (author unknown)
March 23rd, 2009 — openSocial
Sharing with Friends, Now Even Easier
Earlier this week Facebook released Facebook Connect for iPhone, which allows us to connect iPhone apps to the Facebook web site. Facebook Connect for iPhone is a set of classes that can be added to your xCode project and used to ease the process of logging into the site, granting extended permissions and posting status updates to the feed.
The documentation and the video provided by Facebook assume a certain level of experience creating Facebook apps. The process of creating an App, and creating Template Data for Feed stories was only briefly covered and not explained in their documentation. I’ll provide a little more background on those tasks here in part one.
View original post found on iPhoneKicks.com authored by (author unknown)
March 23rd, 2009 — openSocial
Clearing Up UI Confusion:
In part one, I describe using the Facebook Connect for iPhone SDK. In the sample application provided by Facebook, a Get Permission button checks to see if the user has granted the appropriate extended permission to the application. It is a permission to post status updates. The permission needs to be granted only once. If the user clicks the button after permission is granted, they see this message: You have already granted this permission to the application. This begs the question, why display the button after permission is granted?
View original post found on Gizmodo authored by Mark Wilson
March 19th, 2009 — gear
This AC adapter from Brando is pretty nifty. Not only can it power five USB devices, the adapter can also be used worldwide.
With internal voltage regulation (100-240V) and a number of travel plug adapters, the $22 “AC to 5-USB Power Adapter” should keep your USB devices fully charged through the US, Europe and Asia. It also looks a lot like a MacBook charger, which you may or may not love. [Brando]
View original post found on Boing Boing authored by David Pescovitz
March 18th, 2009 — amazing
These dolphins have a lot of fun blowing bubble rings from their blowholes and popping them. (Thanks, Bruce Stewart!)
authored by Zee
March 17th, 2009 — iPhone
With 30 million individual iPhone’s sold, 25000 applications available for download and with over 50,000 developers – Apple have created an incredible platform in record time.
Apple’s latest round of updates have seen an immense number of notable improvements and features.
Let’s go through the new features, grab a coffee…this may take a while.
Cut, Copy and Paste
You can also copy and paste web content as well as regular text you might be typing. If you didn’t mean to paste something, shake your phone in order to Undo (or Redo) your paste.
MMS
You can send and receive Photos right over the network. Contacts (VCard). Audio files. Or your location. No word about video yet though.
Mail Search
You can now search inside all of the major default iPhone applications, including Mail. In Mail you can also search email now downloaded, i.e. still on your server!
Email Multiple Photos
You can now send multiple photos by tapping the action button, selecting a bunch of photos, copying, and then pasting it into Mail.
Landscape
You can now you can use landscape mode in “all key applications” including Mail.
App Subscriptions
Applications will now be able to charge on a subscription basis.
Text Message Forwarding and Deleting
You can forward and delete messages–individual messages or multiple messages.
Spotlight for iPhone!
Instead of having to slide between screens you can now simply flick your finger left from your home screen and start typing whatever application you’re looking for. Superb. It essentially becomes your new home screen.
Calendar Updates
CalDAV has been added, particularly useful for shared calendars.
Notes Sync
You can now sync your notes between the iPhone and Desktop
Voice memo application.
Allows you to record audio.
Stereo Bluetooth A2DP support
High quality audio can now be streamed from your iphone to another device via Bluetooth.
Peer to Peer Connectivity
Two iPhones or Touch’s and any other supported device will be able to connect directly —peer-to-peer—via Wi-Fi, without needing any Wi-Fi network. They can discover each other initially using Bluetooth, and then start a Wi-Fi connection automatically. You can send files via both devices.
Accessories SDK
You can now communicate directly with other accessories. So you’ll be able to control your TV’s volume for example.
Maps API in Apps
Notice how in some applications your directed over to Google Maps whenever the application needs to show you a map? Well no more, maps can be integrated into applications.
Turn by Turn
iPhone app developers can now create applications that perform turn by turn functionality as you have become familiar with on its google maps application.
Push Notifications
So no background apps but Apple have introduced “push notifications” which will mean you can still receive notifications from applications even if they aren’t actually running – particularly useful for instant messaging clients.
Voice Communication within Applications
So say your playing a shoot em’ up on the iPhone. With this update you’ll be able to talk against your competitor from within the app. Just like you would do with a headset on your desktop.
Update apps from within apps
So games can “sell” you new levels for example.
…When and How Much??
iPhone OS 3.0 will be a free upgrade to all iPhone users, including the first generation iPhones. iPod touch users will be able to buy it for $9.95. The beta version is available to developers now but the final release won’t be until the summer.
With great thanks to Gizmodo for their awesome live coverage of the event!
View original post found on TheAppleBlog authored by Matthew Bookspan
March 13th, 2009 — consulting
If you haven’t noticed, the writers here at TAB like to write about invoicing applications. Some of our recent reviews include Billings, OnTheJob and Involer. But forget all of those other invoicing applications. I just found the one true ring of invoicing and time management: GrandTotal + TimeLog from Media Atelier.
I have been testing this application bundle for the past two weeks ,and I am very impressed with the quality and overall user experience. Because of its integration with Address Book, iCal, MobileMe, and iWork, it really feels like it’s a native app.
GrandTotal
As an invoicing application, GrandTotal has an impressive feature set. Here is a short list of the many things GrandTotal can do:
- The ability to create recurring invoices
- An invoice editor that lets you customize your own layout (using existing templates or creating your own)
- Quotes & account statements
- Flexible tax settings & multiple currency support
- Integration with Address Book and TimeLog
- Catalog for recurring and fixed amount items
- Reminders for due & overdue invoice
- Many export options, including PD
Version 1.2 was released this week and with it came the following new features:
- iPhone application (more below)
- All-new UI for the Preferences dialog box
- Ability to create an invoice with just the Gross total
- Addition of a Recent list to the Overview
As I mentioned, the application is very easy to use. Let’s take a look at the main UI (items are intentionally blurred to protect the innocent):
GrandTotal Overview Tab – Recent/Open Invoices
GrandTotal Preferences – TimeLog Integration
TimeLog
As a time-tracking application, TimeLog’s feature set is also very impressive. Here is a short list:
- Uses iCal calendars and calculates the time spent on projects. You can assign clients to your projects from the Address Book. Your timesheets are then synced with MobileMe, ensuring they are current no matter which Mac you use.
- There is a menu item that lets you manage your time easily. You can start and stop the Timer with just one click.
- TimeLog can track the applications you use and then display the usage in the TimeLine. One caveat here is that it tracks everything you do. The developer does not have blacklist functionality yet, but he is working on it.
- Export your timesheet to Pages or Numbers — this is great for sharing your data with others prior to sending out an invoice.
- Integrates with GrandTotal — all of your timesheet data is easily available in GrandTotal for quick processing of invoices.
TimeLog Main Window
iPhone App
New to version 1.2 of GrandTotal is an iPhone app that lets you review your invoices while on-the-go. The best part? It’s free.
In the app, you can view Overdue, Due and Open invoices. You then click the invoices to see the full details as well as the contact information of the client. The client information is “hot” in that it will take you to your address book contact entry so that you can call/email/text them. A nice feature to have would be to re-send any outstanding invoices via the iPhone app.
The one requirement in using the iPhone app is that you must have a MobileMe account to sync your GrandTotal data. Otherwise, the app doesn’t work (which will be a deal breaker for some).
GrandTotal iPhone App Main Screen
GrandTotal iPhone App Invoice Detail Screen
Conclusion
The tag-team of these two products provides a pretty powerful punch in managing your time as well as your billing. The user interface for both GrandTotal and TimeLog is exceptional and makes it pretty easy to get set up for your small business.
Further, you now have iPhone integration so that you can review your invoices and their current standing with your customers. This way, it’s just a quick call away for asking the question: “Is the payment on it’s way out?”
However, are these two apps the best out there? Have we reached invoicing nirvana? Well, I would say it’s pretty close — if you don’t mind a few items:
- The price. Compared to the competition, which averages about $40, to purchase both GrandTotal and TimeLog be prepared to spend about $75.
- iCal integration is excellent, although there is a big caveat. I would discourage you from using any existing calendars as TimeLog changes the data to existing iCal meeting entries.
- Application management. In the competitive space, both Billings and OnTheJob contain the majority of features in one, rather than two applications.
At the end of the day, you can overcome these issues if you want to have the most full-featured time management and invoicing products on the market.
The developer says that more is on the horizon. Maybe an iPhone app for TimeLog? Possible integration with accounting applications? Stay tuned. One thing is for sure, based upon what we have with GrandTotal and TimeLog, we can only continue to expect great things in the future from Media Atelier.
View original post found on KillerStartups.com - all authored by (author unknown)
March 12th, 2009 — music
In their own words
“Stop listening to only the songs you own or listening to 30-second samples on iTunes before you download. VastFM allows you to listen to full versions of any song imaginable.”
What it does
VastFM allows you to stream every song by every artist, for free. Simply furnish the name of the artist to see his entire discography, and listen to any song you’d like. This solution uses open music directories and audio from YouTube videos to deliver every song you can think of. Links to concert tickets in your area for artists you might like are also provided.
The site claims to have the largest music directory on the Internet, and to have all your favorite unsigned artists. If you just look at the cloud of keywords on the opening screen you will see that is quite accurate – at a single glance I spotted Americana artists like Explosions In The Sky, representative figures from the 60s like Leonard Cohen and also bands like The Jam and Franz Ferdinand. Of course, hip hop artists and contemporary rockers like Kaiser Chiefs were prominently featured.
At the end of the day, the site is a true platform of discovery. You can find new music on the spot, and also listen to brand new albums to decide if you like them before parting with your cash.
Why it might be a killer
Finding new music through the Internet has never been easier.
Some questions
Can you create playlists and share them with your friends?
Link: http://www.vastfm.com
Our Review: http://www.killerstartups.com/Video-Music-Photo/vastfm-com-stream-every-song-by-every-artist-for-free
