Archive for August, 2008

Tennis Slam v1.0 | Published by Finblade | Via App Store | $4.99 | Released: 8-26-08

Overview

Serve and volley to victory with a flick of the wrist or a tap on the screen in this Wii-like tennis time killer. While it has several limitations, Tennis Slam’s graphics and simplicity make it fun for quick down-time relief.

Gameplay

By either tilting the iPhone or tapping on its screen, users control a doubles team of bouncing, bean-like characters who react simultaneously to controls.

To volley with the net player, users can swing early, or swing later when the ball is closer to the other pill-shaped drone for a baseline return.

Controlling gameplay with motion can be a little challenging, especially since you’re trying to employ a pseudo-hand-eye coordination to time your movements, but then are suddenly moving the device that you’re basing the timing on. Tricky indeed (although not impossible).

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LinkedIn v1.0 | Published by LinkedIn Corp. | Via App Store | Free | Released: 8-20-08

Overview

LinkedIn is the app for the massive business networking website of the same name. In many ways, it’s the Facebook of the business world, seeking to help you make connections with others in your field and at work. You’ll be amazed how quickly your network increases.

It is one of the best examples of the “six degrees of separation” theory (which was recently “proven” by Microsoft research, Read.)

Functionality

First of all, you’re going to want to use LinkedIn’s website to get things setup. It’s so much easier and faster that way. The app is really designed to take advantage of your existing online account there - much like the Ebay app. After setting up an account at their website, you link your app to your account, and you’re ready to keep up with your expanding network.

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The WinPwn site has updated with the release of the much-anticipated version 2.5. Not only will this copy of WinPwn successfully jailbreak Apple’s new 2.0.2 firmware, but includes a “wizard mode” — a graphical user interface, much like that employed in PwnageTool, that makes the install process a cinch.

You can download it HERE.

Developer cmw notes that this version is in beta, meaning “use at your own risk.” The latest version of iTunes (7.7) and a complete uninstall of previous WinPwn versions is also necessary before you get started.

Here’s a list of features for Winpwn v2.5:

- QuickPwn Support for 2.0/2.0.1/2.0.2

- Root partition resize support

- Installer support

- Basic / Expert modes

- Wizard style interface

- Automatic updater

- Support for WinXP and Vista 32/64bit.

IntelliScreen v2.02 | Published by Intelliborn | Via Cydia | $4.99-$49.99 | Released: 8-19-08

Update

9/04/08 - IntelliScreen v2.1 released.

Overview

At first glance you might wonder why IntelliScreen even exists. After using it for a while, you’ll discover you can’t live without it. It puts everything from your calendar, new mail, news feeds, and weather on your iPhone home screen for quick viewing.

Functionality

IntelliScreen installs from Cydia (yes, you’ll need a jailbroken iPhone) and just its name makes me feel smarter. I’m an IntelliScreen user… Oooo. Say it again. However, its name perhaps understates all that it does for the iPhone user. It is such a full-featured app that I think it could be customized to any desired user experience.

What it does is place what you want on your homescreen for quick glance viewing. No longer do you have to wake up your iPhone with a swipe, exit whatever program you left running and launch another app to get your information.

You wake up your iPhone - either with the home button or the power button, and IntelliScreen is just there. Ready to serve.

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Remember NetShare, the tethering app that somehow made its way into the App Store, only to be removed, only to be relisted, only to be banned again? Well, it appears a more official, more permanent solution, may just be in the works.

While jailbreak users can get relief from our own Tethering Tutorial , an Apple / AT&T fix would help usher in the same functionality to loyal users that adhere to the iPhone’s authorized use policies.

Apparently, Steve Jobs responded to the email of a Gizmodo reader that had inquired about a tethering plan. The email reads:

AT&T offers data plans for BlackBerry that include tethering for an additional $30 per month (a total of $60 per month for the BlackBerry+tethering plan).

It seems ludicrous that the same thing is not offered with the iPhone. I understand the desire to prevent tethering with the current data plan, but I am willing to pay more money to allow tethering! With such an advanced device, why can I not do so?

To which Steve (”Steve?”) responded: “We agree, and are discussing it with ATT. Steve Sent from my iPhone.”

Even though following the BlackBerry’s paradigm (paying $30 a month for tethering) is mildly obscene, it would at least give users an official option, for which there is currently none.

Way to go Stevie — even from the grave you’re thinking about the little people!

Endless Walls v1.0.4 | Published by Motacore, LLC | Via App Store | $1.99 | Released: 8-26-08

Overview

Want a new wallpaper image, but feel too lazy to search the web? Endless Walls offers a random slideshow of thousands of good-quality photos that can be set as your iPhone’s background image. It can be convenient, but it’s limiting, unresponsive and should not cost $1.99.

Functionality

Endless Walls will stream a slideshow of photos to your phone that can be downloaded and used as your wallpaper image.

There is no order to this random assortment of photos and no way of narrowing down the category or type of image displayed, other than adjusting an option for NSFW (not safe for work) photos that can be changed in your iPhone’s settings.

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Quordy v1.1 | Published by Lonely Star Software | Via App Store | $2.99 | Released: 8-9-08

Overview

Drag a finger to string together jumbled letters and form words in this refreshing Boggle variation. Quordy is a relief to those word-game junkies confused by a weak and overpriced App Store market. It’s a solid and fun app.

Gameplay

In Quordy, users string together words in a four-by-four letter grid. It’s simple and works by dragging and releasing a finger.

Each word must be at least three letters long and at the end of each game a list of all word possibilities can be displayed, just in case you were wondering how many lame “oot” and “foh” words you missed out on (which can be pretty frustrating).
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