Skype app updated to include iPod multitasking
by Justin Horn on Aug 16th, 2010 @ 3:56 pmSkype finally released their 2.1 update, with multitasking, after only a month of coming soon (short for them) on July 21st. There was one oddity that I missed in this update, but Seth Weintraub of 9to5Mac pointed out in this follow up tweet to me:
What’s New In This Version: “… Multitasking is available only with iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.”
That’s right, Skype thought it would be a good idea to not allow the 3rd gen iPod, which can run the new iOS 4 without issue, to run in the background.
Skype has seen the error of their ways with update 2.1.1:
- You can now disable IM alerts.
- The dialpad is now more responsive.
- The behavior of the volume, when Skype interacts with other Apps, is now much better.
- When your status is set to Do Not Disturb, notifications are not shown when Skype is in the background.Multitasking is available only with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod 3rd Generation running iOS 4.
Thanks Skype, now how about some video calls?
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Nike+ heart rate monitor to support iPhone and iPod touch this fall
by Justin Horn on Aug 13th, 2010 @ 4:31 pmUPDATE Didn’t make it in iOS 4.1, but hoping to see it soon in iOS 4.2 betas, slated for a public release this November
Little birdie just let us know we should see Nike+ heart rate monitor support coming to the iPhone and iPod touch this fall. Currently, it only supports the 5th generation iPod nano and Nike+ SportBand. Many Nike+ users, myself included, were disappointed after waiting (…and waiting) for the rumored feature, only to find out it wasn’t compatible with Apple’s top products. No surprise, there has been no official word from Apple or Nike on when we should expect support.
This time frame lines up nicely with the iOS 4.1 public release, which should happen after the annual fall iPod event in September. iOS 4.1 is the next logical time for inclusion of a new feature, but so far there have been no signs of HRM support in the iOS 4.1 betas. There are at least a couple more betas to go, but if it doesn’t make it into the final release I’m thinking we’ll be out of luck till iOS 5. I just don’t see an update like this, especially with all the Nike+ issues on iOS 4, coming in a small 4.1.1 update. There is a small chance it could be added later in a iOS 4.2 update, although there wasn’t an iOS 3.2 update last year (iOS 3.2 was an iPad only, stop gap measure until iOS 4.1). Hopefully next Tuesday’s beta 4 brings us a Nike+ HRM surprise!
This info is from a reliable source and I believe it to be true, but there is always the chance for delays with any software or hardware release. For example, the HRM hardware was delayed a week from the rumored release date of June 1st. You’ll also remember we were all expecting over the air syncing with iOS 4 when it appeared in the betas, only to disappear before the final release (it’s back and working on iOS 4.1 beta).
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Hope you updated to iOS 4.0.2, jailbreakme.com exploit released to public (Updated)
by Justin Horn on Aug 12th, 2010 @ 1:14 pmDev-Team member @comdex:
Source now available for anyone interested:http://github.com/comex/star
What sucks is, for it seems Apple has dropped all support for first gen iPhones and iPod touches. So they are left vulnerable unless they jailbreak and install the community created fix.
UPDATE Here is the security fix for first gen iPhone and iPod jailbreak community.
(via modmyi)
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Oops… Dropped my iPhone in the water, now what?
by Justin Horn on Aug 6th, 2010 @ 5:32 pmLuckily that is just a post title, I have yet to do this to my iPhone. If you aren’t so lucky then here are some steps to save your iPhone.
iFixYouri has posted a YouTube clip showing the correct procedure after dropping your phone in the water. I’ve been giving similar advice on this issue, on a person by person basis, but thought it might be a good idea to post it up for all to see. iFixYoui gives the same advice I’ve been giving for the last couple years and just recently in this tweet:
@skeetobite Ouch! Leave it off for 24 hours. Throw it in a ziplock back with some dry white rice and stick it in the fridge.
One thing they don’t mention is sticking it in the fridge. I know someone that did rice + fridge trick with the iPhone 3G and it solved the issue, although the camera was a bit flaky after that. The fridge makes sense as it acts as a dehumidifier, although a dehumidifier in a small area with the phone would be even better I assume.
(via 9to5Mac)
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MonoPrice stops selling iAccessories, Apple to blame? (Updated)
by Justin Horn on Aug 3rd, 2010 @ 7:02 pmLooking at MonoPrice’s FaceBook page you can see that they have stopped selling Apple accessories.
Kyler Pace What happened to your iPod accessories, and earphones w/ built-in mic!!??
Monoprice We have decided to suspend offering these products as part of our business plan. We will let you know if and when we resume selling these products
Brian Klug suggest that it has to do with an Apple crack down on 3rd party accessories:
Wow, Apple cracked down on 3rd party accessories and @monoprice removed their whole section.
UPDATE Brian tweeted a link to a Bloomberg article on the crackdown:
The suit is an example of the tight grip Apple keeps on its products, including approval of accessories and applications. Apple has a program called “Made for iPod” under which manufacturers get a license to sell accessories for devices. Apple collects a royalty of 20 percent to 25 percent from each sale of a licensed accessory, according to Shaw Wu, an analyst with Kaufman Bros. LP in San Francisco.
UPDATE 2 MonoPrice just posted to their Facebook:
Good news! Cases and protective films for iPhones & iPads are back on the site.
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Comments Off
Apple vs ?, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Speculation
Average user’s expectations for iOS 4 multitasking might be too high
by Justin Horn on Jun 10th, 2010 @ 4:58 pmBy naming these features “multitasking”, Apple has set customers’ expectations to include what apps can do in a traditional computer multitasking environment.
It’s going to mislead people into expecting such behavior from apps, but we can’t actually deliver most of it.
Some people will notice that no apps can do these things and properly focus their disappointment on Apple. But many others will only notice the shortcomings in one particular app that they need to do the “impossible” and blame that application, leading to dissatisfaction and negative thoughts about the app.
Marco uses his app, InstaPaper, as an example of these high expectations. He’s already received several request from users expecting the app to download articles in the background, without them having to open the app after the initial launch. It’s understandable for users expect this, but this is not how it works. Most apps will only be able to freeze their state so that you can resume right where you left off, but don’t actually function in the background. There are only specific task, like VoIP, that can actually work in the background and do “true multitasking”.
A couple months ago I wrote an article explaining in painful detail how the new multitasking features of iOS 4 will work (if you have 10 minutes to kill you should read the whole article). In it I highlight the same issue Marco brings ups:
For example, after leaving a Twitter app, it’s no longer updating your stream. When returning to the app, all the latest tweets will need to be downloaded. As most OS 4 compatible apps will fall into this category, it means push notifications are still going to play an important role in iPhone multitasking.
Macro proposes a solution to that would open up multitasking to many more apps:
The addition of one more multitasking service would solve this issue for a lot of application types: a periodic network request.
Basically allowing the system to manage requesting data for the app whenever it makes sense (depending on local resources, battery, etc.) and handing this data back to the app the next time it launches. I don’t believe Apple is done expanding on multitasking, but I have a feeling this is something Apple will relegate to push notifications.
I purpose a more hands on approach that can work within the current iOS 4 multitasking confines. The app would use local notifications to remind the user at a set interval to refresh their app’s data. The user then clicks ok on the notification and enters the app to begin downloading updates. They can immediately switch back to what they were doing while allowing the app to use task completion to finish up in the background. If the user is not concerned with updating the app they can ignore the notification and carry on with what they are doing. This way the user knows exactly what is being processed in the background and can keep better tabs on their usage and battery consumption. If you didn’t follow what I just said, you need to read my article on multitasking.
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