Yes, yes, we know the latest iOS splits up the iPod into Music and Video apps, but it’ll always be the iPod to us! Of course, even though we have a default app for it, a few developers stepped up to create some iPod alternative apps for taming that wild beast of a music collection of yours. Here’s a handful we found that are going for a cut rate. Grab ‘em all and see which suits your fancy as today’s apps are going for free.
We can’t vouch for the claims of the name, but developer Akhil Tolani must feel pretty confident he’s got your go-to iPod replacement. Save yourself a buck with this currently free app that lets you SMS, tweet, or notify your Facebook friends what you’re listening to, in-app song lyrics, fade in/fade out, and custom playlists. You can even use your music as your alarm clock.
Mic Pringle made a beautiful and simple music player with Audium which is also swinging down one whole buck to free. Scrobble with last.fm is just one of the killer features in this stripped down app. The biggie is, of course, that Audium is entirely gresture driven. So you’ll swipe to scroll through your music, double tap for playback or pause, and swipe to navigate through tracks. You’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself.
Another freebie, the strangely spelled Lasy Player from Agility Concepts boasts skins and quick access to your music library. Also you’ll find that they’ve also pursued the route of simplicity by putting big old controls right up front. A song list below lets you flip through your tracks. The one screen route makes jumping into music faster than you can say, uhhh, is this free?
Still in a mad scramble to finish your holiday gift buying? The clock is ticking if you want to buy online, but many retailers such as Apple are offering free next-day shipping relief for the procrastinators among us. So just take a deep breath, count to 10 and then hit the ground running — but not before you’ve had a chance to catch up on all the news for Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
The verdict actually came in on Monday night, with the United States International Trade Commission ruling in Apple’s favor in its case against HTC. According to The Verge, the ITC has “banned the importation and sale of HTC Android devices including the Sprint Evo 4G, Verizon Droid Incredible, AT&T Aria and T-Mobile G2.” The victory is a bit of a shallow one, however, with the ITC ruling that HTC infringed on only one patent issued in 1999 which “covers a device that scans computer text for data, like a phone number, and turns that number into a link that the user can then select to perform an act, like calling the number.” Patent #5,946,647 may ultimately affect other Android devices as well, although HTC issued a statement that somehow twists the whole thing into victory, claiming that “the ‘647 patent is a small UI experience and HTC will completely remove it from all of our phones soon.”
Apple has long allowed iTunes users to buy a song or two from their favorite album and then go back and buy the rest at a discounted price thanks to the “Complete My Album” feature. According to MacRumors, the company may be expanding the service to television shows with a new feature that’s popped up this week called “Complete My Season Pass.” If you have TV shows where you’ve purchased select episodes, you’ll now have the option to buy the rest of the season without having to purchase those episodes again. There doesn’t seem to be a deal here like the one offered by Complete My Album, but it’s still a nice addition for those who missed an episode or two during the season and then decide to go back and buy the rest to get ready for next year’s season.
Engadget is reporting that iPhone and iPod touch users still stuck on iOS 3.1.3 have been unable to download new apps directly from the App Store since an update around December 16. According to reports on Apple’s support boards, these old-school users can still sync apps via iTunes just fine — “they just can’t buy or install new ones directly from the device.” More of an inconvenience than the end of the world, but it’s a bummer for those still rocking an original iPhone, for example. It smells like a glitch on Apple’s end, but we’re all waiting to hear the word direct from Cupertino before ringing the chimes of doom.
MacRumors is reporting that first-generation iPod nano owners who took Apple up on last month’s replacement program may be getting a special treat in the form of a current sixth-generation iPod nano instead. As you may recall, Apple announced the worldwide replacement program “due to continuing issues with overheating related to defective batteries from one of Apple’s suppliers,” with those signing up early receiving “like-new refurbished first-generation units, almost immediately.” Apparently, Apple has blown through any remaining stock on those units and are now using current iPod nano models as replacements instead, which we’re sure few would complain about. The website is quick to note, however, that affected users haven’t confirmed receipt of such new iPod nanos as yet — but checking the shipped unit against Apple’s support site pegs them as sixth-generation models, which is probably all the confirmation one might need.
It may only be Tuesday, but it’s down to the wire when it comes to ordering online and receiving your package in time for this weekend’s gift giving. Thankfully, a number of retailers are now offering free next-day shipping for last-minute shoppers, and Apple is among them. According to 9to5Mac, Cupertino is now offering free next-day shipping for non-engraved iPads, iPods and iPhones as well as standard configuration Macs. Other Apple products may or may not apply; Apple recommends checking your cart for expected delivery dates when ordering. Of course, many retailers are also offering online ordering with free in-store pickup, which includes Best Buy and Walmart. The point being, if you haven’t finished yet, time to get a move on, folks…
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iFixit has released the official tear down of the brand new, recently announced 7th generation iPod nano.
The nano looks exactly like its predecessor and features a 1.54-inch multi-touch display, a 240 x 240 pixel resolution, a built-in accelerometer and stock Nike+ package.
There are also no screws. To take apart the tiny device, you’ll have to take a heat gun to open it up.
The new iPod nano is available now, starting at 9.
A no-frills look at all 16 watch faces for the iPod nano. The last four might surprise you.
iPhone and iPod touch users without an iPad have been watching enviously from the sidelines as tablet users have the fun of using Apple’s iWork apps — until now. Apple has announced new updates to Pages, Numbers and Keynote for iOS that make them universal at last.
Apple has announced the immediate availability of a 1.4 update for Pages, Numbers and Keynote for iOS — collectively known as iWork. Each of the .99 apps are now available to iPhone and iPod touch owners as well as those already running the iPad version, thanks to native universal support introduced with the new versions.
“Now you can use Keynote, Pages and Numbers on iPhone and iPod touch to create amazing presentations, documents and spreadsheets right in the palm of your hand,” explains Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The incredible Retina display, revolutionary Multi-Touch interface and our powerful software make it easy to create, edit, organize and share all of your documents from iPhone 4 or iPod touch.”
Supporting any iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, third or fouth generation iPod touch or iPad running iOS 4.2.8 or later, the updated versions now offer a new document manager to easily sort your documents and organize them into folders.
Pages and Numbers also get improved usability, including Smart Zoom for viewing and editing data, while Pages alone adds the ability to change font style and size directly from the ruler when editing text. Finally, Keynote adds the ability to be controlled from the separate 99-cent Keynote Remote app.
Of course, these new features are on top of the existing feature set, which includes importing and exporting documents from iWork for Mac and Microsoft Office, wireless printing via AirPrint and beautiful Apple-designed themes and templates.
Pages, Numbers and Keynote version 1.4 are all available now from the App Store for .99 each; if you already own one or more of them, the universal update is free as usual. Now, Apple… how about a universal update to that Apple Store app to give the iPad some love, hmmm…?
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