The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/The loot from the recent MacHeisthttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/free-mac-software-loot-macheist-bundle/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/free-mac-software-loot-macheist-bundle/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/06/free-mac-software-loot-macheist-bundle/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As Kevin pointed out on Wednesday, MacHeist has a new bundle for us at the moment -- but this one is what they consider a "nanoBundle" and it's free. I can't speak for everyone here at TUAW, but when I see the word "free" next to software, I horde it.

They've decided to just give away this bundle of apps in what appears to be a move to encourage their users to come back for more. 6 great mac apps for zero dollars. That's my kind of deal. There are only 6 more days to download this bundle, so go grab it after checking out the loot:
  • Shove Box -- An awesome reminder, organization, gotta-get-it-done application that sits in your menu bar. You can then drag things like text, URLs, images... possibly anything to the menu bar app and it'll save it for later. When you get some free time, you can go back through and see what you have. There's an iPhone companion app as well.
  • WriteRoom -- A simple writing application that removes all of the typical distractions from your writing sessions. It makes the text window full screen, completely cutting off the rest of the world from your mind -- if you so choose. It still has simple tools like word count, background/text color adjustments... but definitely keeps you focused. We've covered it quite a bit.
  • Twitterrific -- One of my favorite apps on my iPhone as of late. The desktop version is similarly simple. Set up your Twitter account and tweet away with the easiest solution imaginable.
  • TinyGrab -- Is a screen capture maniac's dream. It allows you to use the standard command-shift-4 and select part of your screen or hit spacebar to capture a specific window. The kicker: it uploads it directly to your own FTP server and puts the URL in your clipboard so you can paste it in Facebook, Twitter, email, IM... whatever your pleasure.
  • Hordes of Orcs -- I'll admit, this is the real reason I'm downloading the bundle. I've heard nothing but great reviews about this game even from our own Mike Schramm. It's one of the most innovative desktop tower defense games I've seen. Everything is in 3D, there are 6 different game variations and let's not forget tower defense.
  • Mariner Write -- This is a word processor with features you need but none of the "bloat" found in other applications *cough* Microsoft *cough.* Of course, it will open and save Word documents, as well as other formats.
While I was writing this, the download total went up 5,000 downloads but it'll take 500,000 for all of us to get the full benefit. MacHeist says that Mariner Write is the unlockable application, so I'm hoping to get a serial and really try it out. Head over to Macheist, and download your nanoBundle. For the first time, I'll be using all of the apps in it -- and it's free!

The loot from the recent MacHeist originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)The loot from the recent MacHeist originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>hgghordes of orcsHordesOfOrcsmacheistmariner writeMarinerWriteshove boxShoveBoxtinygrabtwitterrificwriteroomJosh CarrFri, 06 Nov 2009 09:30:00 ESTEliminate now available on the App Storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/eliminate-now-available-on-the-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/eliminate-now-available-on-the-app-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/11/03/eliminate-now-available-on-the-app-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Ngmoco's Eliminate has been building up buzz ever since it was announced, and now the first-person shooter is out on the App Store to try for yourself. As you can see above, it offers some relatively basic FPS gameplay when compared to shooters on other platforms (I've been having a lot of fun with Borderlands lately), but given that this is the iPhone we're talking about, this kind of twitch 3D gameplay is actually pretty impressive. You can play online over 3G or Wi-Fi, and as you play, you can earn credits and level up, which gives you access to more weapons and better gear. The game itself is free, but it's all based around a microtransaction system where you buy "energy" which allows you to earn those aforementioned resources. You get a certain amount of energy per day on your own, and if you use it up, you can't progress any further unless you get out the wallet or wait another day. And the game uses ngmoco's own Plus+ social interface to track leaderboards and accounts. Interesting plan, and we'll have to see if players vibe with it or not. Some have already voiced strong concerns about the in-game pay-to-play microtransaction system.

If that doesn't vibe with you, and you'd rather play some old-school (and old business model) FPS gameplay instead, id's Doom Classic also got released on the App Store last weekend. That game comes at a cost of $6.99, but then again, with old-school Doom, you know exactly what you're getting into. And you won't have to buy any extra energy to charge your BFG and slay any demons you happen to come across.

Eliminate now available on the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Eliminate now available on the App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>3gapp-storecostdoomdoom-classiceliminatefirst-person-shooterfpsgamesgamingidmicrotransactionsngmocoold-schoolplussocial-interfacewifiMike SchrammTue, 03 Nov 2009 00:30:00 ESTFree music and a chance to win more from Tap Tap Revenge 3http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/free-music-and-a-chance-to-win-more-from-tap-tap-revenge-3/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/free-music-and-a-chance-to-win-more-from-tap-tap-revenge-3/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/22/free-music-and-a-chance-to-win-more-from-tap-tap-revenge-3/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Tap Tap Revenge 3 is apparently going gangbusters over on the App Store -- Tapulous has gotten in touch with us to let us know about two different free promotions they're doing lately, as well as give you readers a chance to win their entire catalog for free.

First up, the free stuff for everybody. Today, October 22, they're giving away the great song "Fireflies" by one of my favorite new music acts, Owl City. It just happens to also be the number one song in iTunes today as well, which is a pretty big deal for Tapulous -- it's the first time they've been able to pair up a TTR track release with a #1 on the download charts.

To get that free song, just sign in to the application and pick it up. Additionally, if you don't have the app yet, buying the app before this Friday can get you a free premium two-pack -- all you have to do for that is email your iTunes reciept (or a screenshot of it) to "freemusic AT tapulous DOT com" and put your TTR3 username (and only your username) in the email subject line.

And hey, if that's not enough free stuff, keep reading -- here at TUAW, we're giving away licenses to TTR3's entire premium catalog (the whole thing, from A Perfect Circle to Robbie Williams) to three lucky commenters.

Continue reading Free music and a chance to win more from Tap Tap Revenge 3

Free music and a chance to win more from Tap Tap Revenge 3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Free music and a chance to win more from Tap Tap Revenge 3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>contentcontestdlcdownloadable-contentfirefliesgiveawayiphoneowl-cityprizestap-tap-revenge-3usMike SchrammThu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 ESTTUAW exclusive: Makers of Aurora Feint unveil new game, codenamed "VSL"http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/tuaw-exclusive-makers-of-aurora-feint-unveil-new-game-codename/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/tuaw-exclusive-makers-of-aurora-feint-unveil-new-game-codename/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/20/tuaw-exclusive-makers-of-aurora-feint-unveil-new-game-codename/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Aurora Feint was one of the iPhone's first big games, way back in the early days of the App Store. Since then, the company behind that first hit has added on a few different games in the same universe, each with their own separate features and focus, but all in the same vein of puzzle-based RPG. Today, Aurora Feint, Inc. has pulled back the curtain just slightly to reveal their very first original effort since that initial App Store release. The game is only codenamed so far -- they're calling it "VSL" -- but the developers at Aurora Feint plan to turn it into a "showcase" of what's possible with Apple's new policy of allowing free apps to provide content on demand.

Above is the very first screenshot of the yet-to-be revealed game, and TUAW got a chance to talk exclusively with both Peter Relan and Jason Citron of Aurora Feint about the new game, what it'll be like, and how it'll integrate with their growing social gaming platform, OpenFeint. Click the link below to read on.

Continue reading TUAW exclusive: Makers of Aurora Feint unveil new game, codenamed "VSL"

TUAW exclusive: Makers of Aurora Feint unveil new game, codenamed "VSL" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW exclusive: Makers of Aurora Feint unveil new game, codenamed "VSL" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleaurora-feintchatcodenamecontentexclusivegamingin-app-purchasesinterviewiphoneipod-touchjason-citronmicrotransactionsopenfeintpeter-relanpuzzle-based-rpgsocial-gamingtuawvirtual-goodsvslMike SchrammTue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:00 ESTDevs quickly move to new models after in-app purchase changehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/devs-quickly-move-to-new-models-after-in-app-purchase-change/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/devs-quickly-move-to-new-models-after-in-app-purchase-change/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/17/devs-quickly-move-to-new-models-after-in-app-purchase-change/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

It was just yesterday that Apple announced they would allow free apps to enable in-app purchases, and developers are already jumping on the "get the app for free, buy the content later" business model as quickly as they can. ngmoco came out swinging, as Touch Arcade reports, with both a free intro version of Rolando 2 out for purchase, with later chapters of the game as add-ons. They've also been working on a shooter called Eliminate, and we're now told that title will be free as well, with extra content to buy later.

The creators of Urban Rivals, an app that is based on a virtual trading card game, have let us know that they too plan to go the free-with-microtransactions model as soon as their app is released, and though we haven't actually heard from Tapulous, Andrew Lacy told us outright that the only reason Tap Tap Revenge 3 had a 99 cent price tag on it was because of Apple's limitation, so we'll expect that app to go free as soon as it can.

Clearly, there's a drive for this model on the developer side, but the question will be just how much this echoes with consumers -- certainly the "download a trial, buy more later" model has worked well on other platforms, so we can expect it to work here on the App Store as well. But on the other hand, just as when the App Store first opened for business, it's a very "wild west" moment -- everybody and their brother is offering up in-app transactions, and they're all of varying prices and quality.

My guess is that we'll see a few "hits" -- a few free apps that everybody buys content for (Tap Tap Revenge 3 is a good guess; considering that because you know most of those songs, there's much less guessing on what the quality of the transactions will give you). At the same time, there will likely be apps that everyone agrees aren't worth the in-app purchase (it's the old story of "horse armor" when Xbox Live started doing microtransactions). Until we find a good balance, where quality meets price, odds are that it'll be tough for consumers to know just what's worth it, and thus tough for developers to convince them that their content is.

Devs quickly move to new models after in-app purchase change originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Devs quickly move to new models after in-app purchase change originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>andrew-lacydeveloperseliminatefreefreewarehorse-armorin-app-purchasesiphoneipod-touchngmocorolando-2tapulousurban-rivalsMike SchrammSat, 17 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESTBlog Action Day: Five apps to help save the worldhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-five-apps-to-help-save-the-world/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-five-apps-to-help-save-the-world/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/15/blog-action-day-five-apps-to-help-save-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

TUAW is participating in this year's Blog Action Day on 10/15, an annual event in which bloggers around the world aim to spark discussion and awareness of serious and important issues. This year's topic is climate change, and fortunately, just like last year, we in the Apple community are in a pretty good place -- the company makes it a point to stay as green as possible, they have Al Gore on their board, and they make it safe and easy to dispose of their products in an environmentally friendly way. But there's always more we can do, from person to person -- making the earth a better place to live is going to take all of us working together.

And so, here's five iPhone and iPod touch apps you can use to find out what you can do to take action on climate change. Some are paid, some are free, but all of them will give you fun and useful ways to help find approaches to dealing with climate change in your own behavior and life.

Continue reading Blog Action Day: Five apps to help save the world

Blog Action Day: Five apps to help save the world originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Blog Action Day: Five apps to help save the world originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>al-goreapp-storeappleblog-action-dayblog-action-day-2009carbon-calcclimate changeclimate-changeClimateChangeenvironmentalgas-cubby-litegoodguidegreeniphoneipod-touchpocket-gardenpollutionproductstuawMike SchrammThu, 15 Oct 2009 15:00:00 ESTPepsi apologizes for sexist iPhone app, inadvertently fans the flameshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/pepsi-apologizes-for-sexist-iphone-app-inadvertently-fans-the-f/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/pepsi-apologizes-for-sexist-iphone-app-inadvertently-fans-the-f/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/13/pepsi-apologizes-for-sexist-iphone-app-inadvertently-fans-the-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

PepsiCo's Amp Energy brand stirred up a lot of hatred in the last couple of months when the "AMP UP Before You Score" app [iTunes Link] was released. This app, branded as sexist and inappropriate by a lot of people who rated it in the App Store, provides guys with cards to "identify her type," pickup lines that are useful with a particular "type" of woman, and ways of keeping track and spreading the news via social networking if you "get lucky."

A public apology was made by Amp on its Twitter feed (@ampwhatsnext) which introduced the app and its questionable content to a larger audience. Even worse is that the apology included a new Twitter hashtag, #pepsifail, and was retweeted on several other Pepsi feeds. That had the effect of not only causing more people to become aware of the app, but also increased the furor towards it and towards PepsiCo.

A post on Advertising Age noted that Pepsi's strategy seems to be somewhat confused, as they haven't pulled the app, and by linking the Amp Energy app to the Pepsi brand they're beginning to get heat for the entire brand -- not just the app.

An App Store review by iPhone developer Raven Zachary said it best: "Dear Pepsico, your iPhone app, AMP UP before you score, is offensive and is a great new case study for branded apps gone wrong." You have to wonder, though, if this is actually working to introduce many more people to the Amp Energy brand.

[via AdAge]

Pepsi apologizes for sexist iPhone app, inadvertently fans the flames originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Pepsi apologizes for sexist iPhone app, inadvertently fans the flames originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appapp storeAppStorebranded appBrandedAppcrudeidiotsiphonepepsirudesocially irresponsibleSociallyIrresponsibleSteven SandeTue, 13 Oct 2009 18:30:00 ESTSportacular updated for (fantasy) footballhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/10/sportacular-updated-for-fantasy-football/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/10/sportacular-updated-for-fantasy-football/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/10/sportacular-updated-for-fantasy-football/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I only follow a few sports teams, but for the teams I do follow, Sportacular (that's the iTunes link for the free version, and here's the paid version, sans ads) is definitely my app of choice. For nearly every professional sport you can think of, the app will track scores, plays, schedules, standings, and anything else you need to know about everything from NFL to college football to the English Premier League and the PGA.

Right after iPhone OS 3.0 came out, the developer added in push notifications, and now I've got push updates coming whenever the Cubs have a game starting and ending (or at least, when they did -- there's always next year) and whenever a Bears quarter ends. Sportacular even has a few social features happening -- you can make picks and discuss each game with other fans using your Facebook login, as well as read news and updates about each team in the games you check out.

The app was updated to version 1.6 last night, and the new features include better game pages for NFL and NCAA football, and option to manage and track your fantasy football team in conjunction with their fantasy football app on Facebook. The one bummer I have is that they don't have actual media of the games -- for that, you'll probably have to go for an official app. But especially as a free download (the ads are definitely non-intrusive), Sportacular is really impressive with everything it does to help you track your favorite sports and teams.

Sportacular updated for (fantasy) football originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Sportacular updated for (fantasy) football originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>adsappcitizen-sportsdownloadfacebookfantasy-footballfootballfreencaanflsport-trackingsportacularstatstrackingupdateMike SchrammSat, 10 Oct 2009 17:00:00 ESTDoubletwist introduces in-app music store powered by Amazonhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/doubletwist-introduces-in-app-music-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/doubletwist-introduces-in-app-music-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/08/doubletwist-introduces-in-app-music-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We posted about Doubletwist earlier this year -- it's a pretty innovative music app (developed in part by Jon Lech Johansen, otherwise known as DVD Jon) that not only plays you play whatever you like, obviously, but even lets you share and send music off to anyone, even other people who don't have the app itself. Now Doubletwist is stepping up even more closely to becoming an iTunes competitor: they've announced a partnership with the Amazon music store to sell music directly from within the app. No TVs or movies -- just music, purchased directly within the app, and then able to be sent out to any devices or social networks as usual.

TechCrunch says the store's simplicity is actually a selling point -- iTunes has ballooned up to do way more than just sell music, and in Doubletwist it's much more straightforward. Here's the other bonus for Mac users: while we originally had to wait for an app release, the music store is currently only available on the Mac version of the software. A PC version is coming soon.

It's doubtful Doubletwist will replace iTunes for many people, given all of the various things iTunes does for a Mac user. But then again, if you are using the Amazon MP3 store with any frequency, Doubletwist is probably worth a look: it's a free download on the website.

Doubletwist introduces in-app music store powered by Amazon originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Doubletwist introduces in-app music store powered by Amazon originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>amazon-music-storedoubletwistmoviessimplicitytechcrunchtvsMike SchrammThu, 08 Oct 2009 10:30:00 ESTBlackBerry alert! BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac arriveshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/blackberry-alert-blackberry-desktop-software-for-mac-arrives/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/blackberry-alert-blackberry-desktop-software-for-mac-arrives/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/10/02/blackberry-alert-blackberry-desktop-software-for-mac-arrives/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A TUAW reader zapped us a note with his BlackBerry device to tell us that as of today, BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac is available (we first noted it as "coming in September" back in July).

It's a free download [link], and requires Mac OS X 10.5.5 or better, BlackBerry device software version 4.2 or higher, and iTunes 7.2 or newer. Key features of the software include the ability to synchronize your iTunes library with your CrackBerry, sync calendars, contacts, and appointments, & add or delete apps and files.

This is the first time that Research In Motion (RIM) has developed their own solution for syncing Macs and BlackBerry handhelds. In the past, the company made a version of PocketMac for BlackBerry available at no cost to Mac-owning customers, and other third-party developers such as Mark/Space have had BlackBerry solutions available for many years.

Thanks to Storry for the tip!

BlackBerry alert! BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac arrives originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)BlackBerry alert! BlackBerry Desktop Software for Mac arrives originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>blackberrydesktopmacsoftwareSteven SandeFri, 02 Oct 2009 14:00:00 ESTRalph Lauren launches Make Your Own Rugby apphttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/10/ralph-lauren-launches-make-your-own-rugby-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/10/ralph-lauren-launches-make-your-own-rugby-app/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/10/ralph-lauren-launches-make-your-own-rugby-app/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

During the existence of the iPhone, shopping has always been the domain of Safari. Browsing web-based stores could be extremely awkward, thanks to bitty drop-down menus and inadvertent "quick views" of garments that you can't seem to click out of. No longer, my fellow clotheshorses. Today, Ralph Lauren launched a unique iPhone application integrating social media with fashion design and online shopping, called Make Your Own Rugby [iTunes link].

The app centers around Ralph Lauren's Rugby line, launched in 2004, that is inspired by the Ivy League atmosphere circa 1940 and that targets preppy college students. The company describes Rugby as "preppy meets urban," though you will only qualify for street cred through a few light touches such as embroidered skulls. The fact that the skull is embroidered on a varsity sweater probably won't do you much good in the back alleys, but you can hope.

The MYO Rugby app allows the user to select a blank rugby shirt, polo, sweater, or jacket from a set of stock designs and customize it with as many distinguished crests, football-themed patches and letters as they want. You can use it to design and purchase clothing for yourself, or you can be a little more creative (and financially devil-may-care) and make designs to be displayed for browsing in the application or to share with friends.

Continue reading Ralph Lauren launches Make Your Own Rugby app

Ralph Lauren launches Make Your Own Rugby app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Ralph Lauren launches Make Your Own Rugby app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applicationdesigndesignerfashionfashion designFashionDesigniphoneralph laurenRalphLaurenrugbyCasey JohnstonThu, 10 Sep 2009 17:30:00 ESTiTunes 9 revealedhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/itunes-9-revealed/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/itunes-9-revealed/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/09/itunes-9-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Apple's event is starting up right now, but in the meantime, they've (inadvertently) revealed iTunes 9 via a page over in iTunes. The new version of Apple's software will include quicker and easier navigation options (you can see the new top menu in the pic above), easy-to-access preview buttons, and new ways to experience media purchased in the store. iTunes LPs will let you have the full album experience with lyrics, liner notes, and band photos and videos, and iTunes Extras will allow you to experience DVD-style extras with movies you buy from the iTunes store.

Expect an announcement at the event in a few minutes -- there is a download link on the page, so we'll also expect to have the software up and running by the end of the day. Sounds exciting!

Update: More info coming out of the keynote right now: Genius mixes are a new way to hear Genius picks, mixed by a virtual DJ. Improved playlist syncing options, and a way to arrange your apps from directly within iTunes.

iTunes 9 revealed originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iTunes 9 revealed originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>9-9-09appleeventitunesitunes-9itunes-extrasitunes-lpnavigationMike SchrammWed, 09 Sep 2009 12:48:00 ESTSurvey: Average iPhone user has spent $80 on appshttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/08/survey-average-iphone-user-has-spent-80-on-apps/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/08/survey-average-iphone-user-has-spent-80-on-apps/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/08/survey-average-iphone-user-has-spent-80-on-apps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

$80 on apps? I didn't think it was that much, but after going over estimates in my head, that sounds about right, actually. A survey of 1200 App Store customers estimates that we've spent about $80 on applications so far, with an average of about 65 applications per customer. There's a little weirdness in those figures though: they also say that 65% of the apps downloaded were free, and that the average app price was $1.56. There's some extra information hidden in there: if 65% of the apps are $0, and the average price is still up above $1, that means people are spending way more than $1 on the apps that they do buy. More research seems needed there.

There's another surprising figure as well: of all the 1200 customers surveyed, altogether they only had about 15,000 unique apps on their iPhones. When you compare that to the latest figures of about 65,000 apps, that means you've got about 50,000 apps (definitely the majority) that are completely untouched by these customers. Of course, 1200 is a tiny sample when you're talking about the millions of iPhones sold overall, but if that is in fact a representative sample, that means that there are many, many more apps than people have actually downloaded and tried in iTunes.

Not hard to believe -- with iPhone developer numbers in the hundreds of thousands, tons of trashware on the store, and the relative ease it takes to crank out an app, it's no surprise that you've got way more apps than people interested in trying them. But then again, isn't that the way we want it?

Survey: Average iPhone user has spent $80 on apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Survey: Average iPhone user has spent $80 on apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>analysisapp-storeappleappschoicecustomersdevelopersiphonemoneyspendingsurveyMike SchrammTue, 08 Sep 2009 07:00:00 ESTHow to set up Ubuntu Linux on a Mac -- it's easy and freehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/07/how-to-set-up-ubuntu-linux-on-a-mac-its-easy-and-free/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/07/how-to-set-up-ubuntu-linux-on-a-mac-its-easy-and-free/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/07/how-to-set-up-ubuntu-linux-on-a-mac-its-easy-and-free/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I received a private tweet from a reader the other day, who asked a question about a previous post in which I had installed Windows 7 RC1 on a Mac using Sun's VirtualBox. The tweet asked, "You did a post about installing Win 7 on the Mac for free. How about Linux?," which set up a challenge. Not only can you install Linux distributions on a Mac using VirtualBox, but it's extremely easy to do.

Why would you want to run Linux on a Mac? There are probably a few good reasons -- learning about a different OS, using software that's not available on the Mac platform, or for a Linux class in school. While you can create a bootable partition on your Mac and boot Linux from it, I prefer to do things the lazy way. In this short how-to post, I'll demonstrate how I installed Ubuntu Linux 9.04, also known as "Jaunty Jackalope."

Continue reading How to set up Ubuntu Linux on a Mac -- it's easy and free

How to set up Ubuntu Linux on a Mac -- it's easy and free originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)How to set up Ubuntu Linux on a Mac -- it's easy and free originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>linuxmac os xMacOsXtutorialubuntuvirtual machinevirtualboxVirtualMachineSteven SandeMon, 07 Sep 2009 13:00:00 ESTGamesalad aiming to bring their development system to the iPhonehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/03/gamesalad-aiming-to-bring-their-development-system-to-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/03/gamesalad-aiming-to-bring-their-development-system-to-the-iphone/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/03/gamesalad-aiming-to-bring-their-development-system-to-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Here's yet another interesting take on the burgeoning App Store environment. A company called Gendai Games has a game creator IDE/app called Gamesalad, designed to let you put together rapid prototype-style games for the Mac. They've been doing this for a while, and they even let you export your games out to the 'net using an online portal. But here's the kicker: they're also planning to let you take those games right out to the iPhone.

Their roadmap page talks about downloading to a test iPhone straight from a Mac, but presumably, they'd either have their own app on the App Store in which you could play your games, or even output it to some sort of wrapper app that you could then release on the App Store yourself. Their press release says they will allow for games "to be sold and marketed on the App Store," and that seems to us like there's compensation involved somehow, either through their portal, or through Apple's setup.

Very interesting. Unfortunately, most of this is forthcoming -- their development environment is available for a free download right now, so you could start working on creating your masterpiece right away if you want, but you'd have to wait until sometime "in the next few weeks" to see what iPhone features they have planned. Part of the iPhone's draw as a programmer's platform is that it's relatively easy to develop for, and an environment like this promises to make it even easier and more accessible. Whenever you have a low barrier of entry to development, release, and sales, you end up with two things: a market possibly flooded with junk, but on the other end, lots and lots of creativity.

Gamesalad aiming to bring their development system to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Gamesalad aiming to bring their development system to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appapp-storecommunitydevelopmentfreewaregamesgamesaladgendai-gamesideindependent-gamingmarketingsalesMike SchrammThu, 03 Sep 2009 15:00:00 ESTOpenFeint introduces multiplayer, Flick Fishing goes Plus+http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/03/openfeint-introduces-multiplayer-flick-fishing-goes-plus/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/03/openfeint-introduces-multiplayer-flick-fishing-goes-plus/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/03/openfeint-introduces-multiplayer-flick-fishing-goes-plus/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The battle of the social gaming services on the iPhone continues. OpenFeint's latest weapon is multiplayer -- they're working on a way for games developers on the iPhone to quickly include multiplayer (it doesn't actually say real-time, so we'll assume it's the mix of ghosting and turn-based multiplayer that they talked about in their interview with us) in their games. They're asking interested developers to sign up to the open beta program, and they'll start rolling out the functionality soon. Even though it seems early in the process, it's a pretty cool idea, and it could definitely serve to set OpenFeint apart even more from the other services trying to attract developers to their social and multiplayer features.

Speaking of social features, Freeverse told us a little while ago that they were going to use ngmoco's Plus+ for their games, and apparently they've now integrated the popular Flick Fishing with the service. The additions allow for leaderboards, in-game achievements, and multiple profiles and saves on one iPhone, so you can compete with your friends on other iPhones or right there on your own. Flick Fishing was already an excellent game, and with the added social functionality of Plus+, it's worth heading back out onto the water to compete and compare your games with your friends.

As I've said before, having multiple companies competing for these social functions is turning out to be a real boon for consumers and developers alike. All of these services are able to bring out a lot of cross-game features that developers by themselves would have taken much longer to put together on their own.

OpenFeint introduces multiplayer, Flick Fishing goes Plus+ originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)OpenFeint introduces multiplayer, Flick Fishing goes Plus+ originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>achievementsfeaturesflick-fishingfreeversegamingiphoneleaderboardsngmocoopenfeintplussocialMike SchrammThu, 03 Sep 2009 13:30:00 ESTTweetMyMac: Remote control of your Mac via Twitterhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/02/tweetmymac-remote-control-of-your-mac-via-twitter/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/02/tweetmymac-remote-control-of-your-mac-via-twitter/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/09/02/tweetmymac-remote-control-of-your-mac-via-twitter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Important safety tip: Please read the instructions for TweetMyMac carefully, especially the part about creating a separate Twitter account for your Mac -- do not use your regular Twitter account, or anyone you follow will be able to control your machine.

We have previously covered some of the ways in which it is possible to remotely control a Mac at home or in the office. Most of our suggestions have required the use of Mail in order to process some rule and kick off a script or Automator action.

Alex P over at TheMacBox aims to change all of that. Enter TweetMyMac, the little program that lets you get screenshots, iSight snapshots, or launch a program through the use of Twitter. While the list of commands available is not currently as comprehensive as what your imagination can create with a little AppleScript or Automator whizzbangery, it is a good list and growing as well.

An obvious benefit of this approach is the ease of getting everything set up. In the past it took an AppleScript to call another Automator action or some other kludgey-at-best method to get things working. With TweetMyMac there is very little effort required for setup.

Another neat feature is that TweetMyMac will run a shell command. With a little scripting you can create your own custom commands. And using the previously-covered technique of sending tweets via the command line you can have your custom commands send information back to you as well.

Continue reading TweetMyMac: Remote control of your Mac via Twitter

TweetMyMac: Remote control of your Mac via Twitter originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TweetMyMac: Remote control of your Mac via Twitter originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>automationremote controlRemoteControltweetmymactwitterAron TrimbleWed, 02 Sep 2009 15:00:00 ESTNotify keeps an eye on your Gmail inboxhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/22/notify-keeps-an-eye-on-your-gmail-inbox/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/22/notify-keeps-an-eye-on-your-gmail-inbox/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/22/notify-keeps-an-eye-on-your-gmail-inbox/#commentsFiled under: , ,


I, like many people, am constantly checking my email. No matter where I am, I'm either getting messages pushed to my iPhone or Mail is checking for new ones every minute. A new app is promising to make using Gmail and checking for messages much, much easier.

Notify, a new free application by Vibealicious Apps, puts a small button in your menubar of your Mac that keeps track of unread messages. The app, which was released less than 24 hours ago has already received over 3200 downloads and is quickly making a name for itself. Notify's developers consider it "like a menubar app, but better" explaining that the application boasts a much better user interface and much more functionality than traditionally found in menubar apps and buttons.

The application has a lot of cool features including:
  • Support for multiple accounts
  • Tabbed interface
  • Growl integration
  • Sleek, simple UI
The developer promises that Notify will continue to evolve, adding that the next major release of the app will support any IMAP email client as opposed to just Gmail. They're also working on support for Google Apps, in-app replies and the ability to create and send new messages directly from your menubar.

The app is also promised to be "freeware forever", according to the developer's twitter.

Some shots of Notify in action:

Gallery: Notify

View new messages easilyManage multiple accountsGrowl supportTabbed interface



Notify keeps an eye on your Gmail inbox originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Notify keeps an eye on your Gmail inbox originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 22 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applicationfreewaregmailgrowlmenubarnotifyvibealiciousJohn BurkeSat, 22 Aug 2009 16:00:00 ESTFriday Favorite: Mactrackerhttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/07/friday-favorite-mactracker/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/07/friday-favorite-mactracker/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/07/friday-favorite-mactracker/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Another Friday Favorite, our weekly opportunity to gush over one of our favorite apps.

This week's favorite is a must-have reference for all Apple fans. Mactracker has been around for as long as I can remember and is indispensable. It provides exhaustive information on every Apple product, from the latest Xserve to the QuickTake 100.

The iTunes-like UI keeps machines in categories like desktops, notebooks, devices, etc. Click any to reveal a chronological listing of hardware, sorted by folder. Finally, select any piece of hardware (or software) to receive a tremendous amount of information. Processor, RAM, release date, benchmarks and on and on. You can even listen to the startup chime where applicable.

You can make smart folders and even keep track of the hardware you own. I love the built-in timeline, which lets you browse hardware by year of introduction. Best of all, as new hardware is added, Mactracker is updated.

This great piece of freewawre is availabe for the Mac and iPhone/iPod touch [App Store link]. For me, it's indispensable.

Friday Favorite: Mactracker originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Friday Favorite: Mactracker originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>freewarehardwaremac referenceMacReferencemactrackertoolsDave CaoloFri, 07 Aug 2009 12:00:00 ESTFive...no, Six useful Mac apps from Thoughtful Treehttp://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/07/five-no-six-useful-mac-apps-from-thoughtful-tree/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/07/five-no-six-useful-mac-apps-from-thoughtful-tree/http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/07/five-no-six-useful-mac-apps-from-thoughtful-tree/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

TUAW receives a lot of app submissions for review, both for Mac and iPhone. But it's unusual when a developer sends us individual press releases for a relatively large number of apps.

Steven Degutis is the brain behind a company called Thoughtful Tree. In his words, "I'm an indie Mac developer who writes apps that make my job easier and smoother, and then if I think they're useful enough, I share them with everyone via my company Thoughtful Tree Software. That's just how I roll."

Continue reading Five...no, Six useful Mac apps from Thoughtful Tree

Five...no, Six useful Mac apps from Thoughtful Tree originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Five...no, Six useful Mac apps from Thoughtful Tree originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>dockFinderfiveappsMacmac os xMacOsXsoftwaretimerutilitiesSteven SandeFri, 07 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST