Spotify is a new music service, in beta, that gives you access to a HUGE music database. In a sentence, you to play/stream any song in the world as if they were on your computer. Imagine searching on iTunes and hearing a preview of a few songs. Spotify is essentially the same, but faster, and full length songs.
You ask, “How is that possible.” Well, Spotify has cut deals with EMI, Warner Music, Sony BMG and three other major labels, which all responded positively to the new concept. Spotify also uses a new kind of P2P technology that allows you to double click a song and have in playing as if it was right on your computer.
There are only a few downsides to Spotify. You cannot download the songs and therefor cannot put the songs on your iPhone or iPod. This is obvious because if you were allowed to do this, lets just say musicians wouldn’t be making nearly as much money as they do now.
Spotify is also in beta. US residents cannot signup for the service due to some legal problems. So, if you’re not in UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Spain or France, send me a shout out and ill be sure to give you an invitation.
]]>TouchArcade gives a good summary of the gameplay in Kroll:
In Kroll you play the hero in a side-scrolling 3D environment. The objective of the game is to defeat your enemies across 3 stages to “learn the secret behind the legend of Kroll”. The gameplay, however, is quite simple. Virtual buttons on to the left and right of the screen allow you to move forward, quick swing and hard swing in either direction. There is no jumping. You are either moving your character forward/backward or swinging at your enemies. There is a special attack that can be invoked at times by shaking your iPhone.
Kroll does not feel like a mobile game to me. The real time strategy really is what makes the game amazing. I have to figure out exactly how to kill a certain guy and come up with a strategy that works best. This is what good games do. Good games make you think, they have good graphics, and they are challenging. Kroll meets all of these necessities.
Kroll is unbelievable. Buy it.
A lot of companies make mistakes, but it are the good companies that recognize their mistakes and makes up for them. V-moda is one of those companies. After my buyer beware post, a very nice fellow by the name of Grant Marek contacted me. He was from a company called FormulaPR, which is the PR company for V-moda. He told me that V-moda understood that there was a mechanical flaw in the Vibe Duos and were re-moddling them. About a month later, I got a package from Grant with the new Vibe Duos in it.
As you can see from the pictures, the new version has a bigger and more stable jack. Obviously, the short came from a problem in the jack and not in the headphones themselves. I assume this new jack is much more sturdy and will satisfy customers who had past problems with the Vibe Duos. Grant gave me some specs about the jack, “It has a 45-degree flexible design and a sleek, sturdy core fused w/ a 35-corrot gold plated plug.” Sounds pretty nice to me 
So, that buyer beware is gone. Go buy your Vibe Duos!
I recently learned about an application and service called GrabUp. GrabUp is amazing. With GrabUp, there are 2 steps to have a screenshot of your own online available for you to share with anyone.
Step 1. Take the screen shot with Apple’s built in service, (Apple+Shift+4).
Step 2. Paste.
Yep, that’s all it takes. GrabUp will automatically take the screenshot that you took, upload it to their server and put the link on your clipboard. This process will take literately a second at most. GrapUp runs all the time, in the background, whenever you need up.
So, now lets get to the point of this post. I already have a great free app that does this for me. Skitch allows me to take a screenshot, crop, resize and edit the image in many ways along with posting it to web. I have always loved Skitch and it has always does exactly what I needed. I even thought it was extremely fast…until I found GrabUp.With GrabUp, I can get a screenshot of something and share it within a few seconds. GrabUp runs all the time in the background, so I do not need to wait for any app to start up like I have to do with Skitch. At the same time, I cannot edit these pictures I take with GrabUp like I can with Skitch. Skitch is a wonderful image editor and lets me make tons of modifications to all images, not only screenshots. Skitch also keeps all my images on my Skitch profile. These are the things about Skitch that I love.
I will use both GrabUp and Skitch at the same time for different reasons. GrabUp is what I will use for quick screenshot to share with friends. A lot of people on AIM ask me for screenshots. This is where GrabUp comes in. Skitch will come in when I need some sort of editing. Sometimes I need a fast crop or resize of an image. Skitch does this job beautifully.
So in conclusion, GrabUp is for quick sharing of screenshots and Skitch is for quick editing and sharing of all images and screenshots. They are both great products and I am happy to use both.
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I love watching the Olympics. Wether it’s watching US crush everyone is swimming, or watching them come so close to gold in gymnastics. Unfortunately, we don’t have TV’s everywhere! If you have an iPhone, your in luck. You can get updates on the Bejing Olympics in many ways and here I will show you 5.
To start, there is a great web app called iOlympics. I know most people are getting used to native apps, but this one is actually almost as good as the native ones. It has a great news section which collaborates all the news from the different broadcasters and stations.
Now lets get on to the native apps. The best one, in my opinion is the Lenovo Summer Olympics 2008 App. It is free and gives you almost everything you could want to know about the Olympics. It has a nice UI for Olympic news, athletes, photos and blogs.
Debatably, the second best way to get the Olympics on your iPhone is an app called Sports Tap. Sports Tap gives you information about all sports, but it also has the Olympics as one of the icons you can tap. Sports Tap give you a nice, clean interface with basic information. It is a very good app for quick news, results and medal counts. It is also good because it it’s not a waste after the Olympics are over, like some other applications are. It also does not cost a cent.
Another good app is Fandora’s Box Summer Olympics 2008 App. This app costs $0.99 and tracks news and results of the whole Olympic games. If you really care about the olympics or are some how a part of it, it’s a good buy. Otherwise, do not waste your money.
Even though this one had the same name as the web at, iOlympics is totally different. It also costs $0.99 and it’s not quite the app worth purchasing. While the icon sure looks promising, the app does not do much. All it will really let you do is select a competition (there are hundreds) and see the results. Again, don’t waste your money.
There is one more way to get the Olympics on your iPhone, but I am not counting it because it is so bad. It is called Bejing2008. This app is horrible… It is $1.99 and looks like it was created with crayons. Do not buy it…
Well, it looks you should either use Sports Tap, iOlympics (the web app) or the Lenovo Summer Olympics 2008 app. You can also use all three! Thats only if you are an Olympics addict like me
When I think of a product worth every penny, I think of the iSkin Revo. I had the old version with my old iPhone and I loved it. The iSkin Revo gives you everything you could ever want from a case. It has great protection, feel and design. It’s a little bit hard to get on and off the iPhone, but that is actually exactly how every silicone case is supposed to be. This way, the iPhone is nice and fit in the case instead of having room to move around. The case comes with a visor which may seem like burden at first, but once you get used to it, you will start to love it. It fits easily on the front and back of the case so it does not take time to take it on and off. You will never again be afraid to put your iPhone and your keys in your pocket. The Revo2 is the case to go if you get an iPhone 3G or already have one. I found a great review of the case by Omar C. from buymeaniphone.com so I urge you to check that out.
A screen protector is necessary in many ways. You need it for protection and feel. This Power Support Crystal Film protects the iPhone from scratches, but also gives the touch screen a better feel. It makes it less sticky and easier to make gestures. It is almost impossible to notice it is on the screen unless you are really up close. It is easy to put on and comes with a pre-installation film which helps get all the dirt and lint off your screen before you put the film on. It is simply the best screen protector out there.
3) Kensington Mini Battery Pack
The Kensington Mini Battery Pack is an on the go charger for your iPhone 3G. With 3G speeds taking up so much battery life, you are going to find yourself running out of battery at the worst times. That’s why you have to carry around little rechargeable battery. It’s easy and convenient and a must have for people always needing more battery life.
The Etymotic HF2 Headphones are by far the best in-ear headphones you can buy. They provide you with the most accurate and flat audio reproduction in earphones. It has an excellent frequency response and is the ideal stereo headset. The bass is nice and perfectly balanced. The ear buds look uncomfortable, but when they fell great when you actually put them in. They headphones also have a microphone and music control button just like the iPhone stereo headphones. They are expensive at $179, but if you want good headphones, you won’t mind the price.
5) Altec Lansing T612 Digital Speaker System
The Altec Lansing T612 Digital Speaker System is an amazing speaker system. It has great, clear sound and has very satisfying bass. It provides powerful neodymium speakers and XdB bass-enhancement technology. The T612 comes equipped with a wireless remote for maximum convenience and control. It offers power on/off, volume up/down, track back/forward, play/pause, and separate bass and treble controls. This is a beautiful speaker system that is exactly what you will need if you are thinking of purchasing a iPhone speaker.
]]>If Apple does not consider this… I may just have to blow them up.
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My Top 20 Best iPhone Applications has been getting a ton of traffic ever since the app store came out. I like this, but at the same time, I am not giving readers what they are exactly looking for. My post was specifically for apps in installer.app, not for the App Store. The majority of this traffic is coming looking for the best app store apps, not for installer apps. Since I hate having traffic not be satisfied with my content, I am almost forced to do this post. Remember a few thinks, I cannot test all the apps since I do not feel like downloading them all and I am not willing to spend hundreds of dollars on iPhone apps. At the same time, I like to download a lot of iPhone apps, so don’t worry about my lack of testing… Here are my Top 20 Best APP STORE iPhone Applications:
I did a mini demo/review of this app a few weeks ago and it blew my mind. The graphics are stunning and the gameplay is just what you are expecting. I have never seen such quality of a game on a mobile device. Since this is a poker game, it has a ton of depth. If you like playing poker, this game can last you years. This game is not worth $10, it is worth $20.
This is a pretty obvious one. Super Monkey Ball brings the best out of the iPhone’s accelerometer. The tilting takes a little to get used to, but once you do, it is easy and fun. A little secret is to realize that when you tilt your iPhone, you are not physically moving the ball, but more the level itself. Pretend the whole level is on a fulcrum and you are simply putting more weight on the side you tilt. That should help you a lot when first trying to play. The levels start from stupidly easy to annoyingly hard. At first it seems like you will finish the game in no time, but then you realize that no only is there a TON of levels, but as levels get harder, it takes more and more time to finish a world. This was definitely a great buy, but I would suggest it more if you have not played Super Monkey Ball much before. It may feel a bit repetitive if you have played the levels before.
Pandora Radio is amazing! If you have not used Pandora before today, you will start using it now. Pandora is a service that analyzes artist and songs that you like and creates “radio stations” that play full songs that are musically similar to those artists are songs that you like. This is a great way to find new music that you can buy and download on iTunes. Pandora has brought Pandora mobile and man did they do it well. Pandora Radio is fully featured and works just like it would on your computer. This is a must have for music lovers.
4. Remote
Remote does exactly what you need it to do, perfectly. Even though I myself do not use it much, if I did, it would suit my needs perfectly. Lets put it this way, it is almost like opening up your iPod and having it play on external speakers. I say this because it you have so much control. It is not a simple remote with a pause/play, next/back, it is much more. This “remote” app is like wireless iTunes.
5. Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D
Out of all the racing games out, Crash Bandicoot is the best. The controls are dead on, the graphics are great and there are a ton of options. This game is a mix of Mario Kart (one of my favorite games ever) and Crash Bandicoot (also on of my favorite games). This game is challenging and a ton of fun, buy it.
6. Enigmo
Enigmo is a great game mostly because of the concept. The simple task on getting bouncing droplets of water into a bowl seems so simple, but it Enigmo makes is as intricate as it can be. After the 10th level, this puzzle game gets HARD. I am totally stuck on the 11th level and I love it since I know it is possible. Oh and I almost forgot, this game is stunning and the controls are perfectly fit for the iPhone. There are about 8 apps (as of now) I think are really worth buying. This is one of them.
7. BoxOffice
I love this app! I could not imagine a better app for getting movie show times, theater locations and movie reviews. It gives you the most information you could want before seeing a movie with an incredibly simple UI. One thing I love about it is the integration with Rotten Tomatoes. On the left side of every movie, it will show the Rotten Tomato score. This is great because you can list the movies by rating, something the other movie apps lack. Oh, and guess what… it doesn’t cost a penny.
8. Twinkle (vs. Twitteriffic)
In my opinion, Twinkle is a better, more richly featured version of the popular Twitteriffic. Twitteriffic is defiantly good, but Twinkle offers so much more that are essential to big twitter users. Twinkle offer the ability to view public tweets, view nearby tweets and tweets from people you are not subscribed to. These are 3 features Twitteriffic lacks. Also, don’t forget, they are both free, but Twitteriffic has small ads that can get a bit annoying. Twinkle is free, ad-free and absolutely beautiful.
MotionX Poker utilizes a new amazing motion technology that is the powerhouse of the app. When shaking the iPhone, your dice roll as if they were actually thrown. You will be stunned the first time you roll. The game is a little bit repetitive, but since the rolling is just so cool, you will find yourself rolling, and rolling, and rolling. Yes, this game is very very addicting. At first, 10,000 coins seems impossible, but with a little bit of work you will find that nothing is impossible.
10. Units
At first look, Units seems like a simple calculator, but with just a few clicks, you realize that it is much more. Units allows you to convert just about anything to anything. This conversion app has on of the cleanest, simplest UI I have ever seen. For only $.99 this is a steal. If you travel a lot, this app is essential.
11. Labyrinth
Labyrinth is a game that shows the full potential of the iPhone. Just like Super Monkey Ball, it uses the iPhone accelerometer to its fullest. If you wanted to show anyone how cool the iPhone is, this is the app to show. Labyrinth’s controls are so perfect, it actually feels like you are using a real labyrinth table. With over 500 levels, Labyrinth almost never gets old and is definitely worth the $7.
Midiomi and Shazam both help you find songs that you do not know the name of, or who it is by. If there was a mix of the two apps, it would definitely be worth money. The reason is that they both have features that the other lacks. Shazam is a little more reliable than Midomi and also has a better “results” interface than Midomi. At the same time, Shazam lacks the ability to sing or hum a song, which Midomi supports. This is HUGE because this app’s purpose is almost always when you do not have the song playing. This is why I suggest Midomi. It almost never fails when I sing a song to it and will work just perfectly when in need.
13. Tips
I have tested almost 15 different Tip apps and this one is my number one. A Tip app needs to be simple, easy and fast. Tips looks good, gets the job done and has a nice, easy UI. It is as simple as that.
14. Tap Tap Revenge
The reason Tap Tap Revenge is on this list is because it is free and has a ton of potential. It’s concept came from a game called Tap Tap Revolution and in my opinion, Tap Tap Revolution was a lot better. This is because anyone could make tap playlists for any song and you could tap to your own music library. Nevertheless, this is a very fun game as it is and since it is free…download it.
15. FaceBook
Almost everyone now of days has a FaceBook. Everyone changes their status, uploads pictures, comments on people’s walls, etc. With a new update that just came out, FaceBook.app has become the only thing you will ever need for FaceBook on your iPhone. Even your friend list looks just like your contact list. Trust me, this app is great and if you use FaceBook, DOWNLOAD IT.
16. WordPress
Wordpress is a must have app for everyone who owns a Wordpress blog. This app works very smoothly and has the key features that are needed when posting to your blog. You can have as many blogs as you want and save posts as pending for review so you can check it when you get home. This is a perfect app for your “on the go” post that you just need to get out there.
17. NetSketch
NetSketch is a wonderful application for people who love to draw. One of the coolest things about NetSketch is the ability to draw as big as a picture as you want. It is as simple as zooming out. Your original drawing will get smaller, as if you have unlimited paper space. Once you are done with your drawing, you can share it and upload it to your NetSketch account. If you have two iPhones on the same wifi network, you can both simultaneously draw on the same piece of paper, in realtime! I could play with this app all day.
18. Garf
Ok, I know what your thinking…”how could a Simon game be on a Top 20 Best App Store iPhone Applications list.” Well, I will tell you. Have you ever wondered why Simon was so popular back in the day? It is because it was simple, but brilliant. That is exactly what Garf is. Garf is a simple memory game, but since it is so brilliant, it is very…. Addicting. This game is well done, has tons of levels and will keep you wanting to come back to get higher scores. Hey, if you don’t believe me, read some of the reviews.
19. Versus Chess
Here is the reason this game is worth buying: You can play a simple, but elegant game of chess with a real human being anywhere around the world as long as you have an edge or wifi connection. Are you sold?
20. Trism
My last app is a one of my favorite games on my iPhone. Trism uses all of iPhones technologies to create a bejeweled like game that will blow your mind away. The graphics are amazing, the gameplay is very original and it is a hell lot of fun. You use the iPhone accelerometer to choose which way the rows and column will fall. This type of control is very unique and fun to use. I find this game to be flawless and deserves every penny. Buy it.
If I had the time, I would add 40 more apps to this list. Hopefully you found this useful, whether you were trying to find some apps to download or just wanted small reviews of them. Thanks for reading
I did a sparkling review of the V-Moda Vibe Duo iPhone Headphones a while ago. For the past four months they have delivered great sound, great feel and great look. A few days ago, all of that went away.
After not using the headphones for about a week, I picked them up and put them onto my iPhone. About 3 seconds later I noticed that sound was not coming out of 1 ear. I then tried moving around the wire going into the iPhone and noticed the sound coming in and out of the right ear. IN FOUR MONTHS, MY $100 HEADPHONES HAVE A SHORT! You do not expect $100 items to last only 2 months…
At first I thought I just had a defective product, but then I went online to look at some customer reviews. The best place for this is Amazon. Check these screenshots out:
You think thats it?
Quick tip, check Amazon reviews before you buy! Do not buy these headphones, it is a complete waste on money. There is a return policy, but it takes up to 30 days. Plus, this does not mean they will not break again. I am thinking about getting the Bose® in-ear headphones. Maybe these aren’t cheap pieces of garbage like the V-Moda Vibes are.
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Today I am reviewing an excellent plugin for Wordpress called Seo Sniper. SEO is a huge deal for people who need a good amount of traffic. This could be if they are selling something, want to spread a message, or if they just like getting their website in from of as many people possible. SEO stands for search engine optimization. Every Wordpress theme comes with a small about of SEO so that google and other search engines can crawl and find content on your blog. This SEO is not very good and limits your blog in many ways. There are many different tools out there to help you get the highest Google page rank as possible and allow you customize exactly how you want your blog to look on search engines. Seo Sniper is you all in one tool.
I have used many SEO tools in the past because I care about driving as much traffic to my blog as I can. Some of the plugins I have used include All-in-one SEO, Headspace, Robots Meta, Simple Tags and SEO Title Tag. All of these plugins are great and get the job done, but not nearly as well or efficiently as Seo Sniper. Seo Sniper puts all of these plugins together in a nice, simple fashion.
Seo Sniper allows you to customize anything you desire when it comes down to SEO. One thing I love using Seo Sniper for is changing my site listing. It allows you to shows exactly what you want when your page is listed on a search engine, which is very important because this is what everyone sees when searching on Google. I change this a lot depending on what I think is most enticing and will generate the most clicks.
The best thing about Seo Sniper is that it will direct search engines to your most important and popular content so that the page rank is use and directed to these pages. This is allowed is a check of a box. Make sure you understand simple SEO terms such as “noindex,” “noarchive,” “META” and “nofollow.”
Seo Sniper is a great product if you really want to get the best page rank possible. There is no other solution that give your the elegance of the all-in-one package than Seo Sniper. I highly recommend it.
Seo Sniper is made by Dewald Pretorius, a highly qualified coder. Watch this video to get a sense of what Seo Sniper can do. Seo Sniper is $97 and I think it is well worth the price only if you are really serious about SEO. Otherwise I suggest sticking with the free plugins and using all of their potential.
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