Gee's Blog World: 2012

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Follow iMore on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Google... and WIN fantastic prizes!

Here's the deal -- you follow iMore on your favorite social networks, and we give you awesome accessory prizes... EVERY WEEK!

We know our loyal readers already visit iMore.com daily, subscribe to our RSS feeds and get the iMore Podcast on iTunes, but we wanted to do something a little extra to reward our loyal fans and grow our audience in some of the off-iMore social networking and content sharing sites that iPhone owners hang out and visit.

It's easy! All you have to do is follow iMore on Youtube, Twitter, Google+ and Facebook and as a thank you for doing so we're going to pick a lucky winner each month from among our iMore followers / subscribers / fans on each of these sites to win some great iPhone prizes! That's four winners each month - one picked at random from each site. All you need to do is click the links below to follow us on each site, and just keep following us! We'll pick our four winners on the last day of each month and announce them around the first day of the new month along with the prizes to be won for the new month. You can subscribe to all of Youtube, Twitter, Google+ and Facebook to maximize your chances of winning.

This month we're going to help you keep rocking til the end of summer with awesome Bluetooth speakers! See the list below for links to the sites and the prize you could win on each one.

On Youtube - You could win Qmadix iharmonix Q-i-sound Stereo Bluetooth Speakers!
On Twitter - You could win a Mr Handsfree Blue Beat Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Speaker!
On Google+ - You could win a Jawbone JAMBOX!
On Facebook - You could win a SuperTooth DISCO Bluetooth speaker system!

And don't forget to follow our sensational staff -- they often have extra accessories and apps so you never know when they'll surprise you with something special -- @imore, @reneritchie, @GeorgiaTiPb, @llofte, @iMuggle, @chrisoldroyd, @bla1ze, @phishgirl3!

We'll send out a reminder each week with ways to earn extra entries, so make sure to watch the blogs! Thanks for following, spread the word and good luck!!

Follow iMore and Win Contest FAQ/Details

Eligibility - Open worldwide. In order to participate as a follower /subscriber / fan of the iMore accounts in this contest you must have an account with Youtube, Twitter, Google+ and Facebook. We'd love you to follow on us in all four locations (that maximizes your chances of winning) but it's not required. One, two or all four is fine. If you're already following us when this contest starts, don't worry, you're entered automatically!! You must also be a registered member of iMore to be eligible.

Announcing Winners - Winners will be chosen randomly each month. Winning usernames will be posted to the iMore blogs within the first few days of each new month. Winners will be contacted via the respective sites (Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Youtube) and once initially contacted the follow-up will be conducted via email to work out details (address for shipping, etc.) on getting the prize. There is no rule against being able to win more than once.

There you have it! Be sure to tune into the blogs around the first day of each month for the winners' announcement and to see what can be won next month. If you have any questions, you can email me at michelle @ iMore.com - be sure to make the subject Follow iMore and Win Contest!

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/Pm918cKs0MY/story01.htm

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Display Icons on SpringBoard using IconsSB Jailbreak Tweak

I stumbled upon this jailbreak called “IconsSB” that is quite similar with IconsLock. This tweak authored by M_Vincent_M enables the user to access easily the Respring/SafeMode/Reboot/Power button on springboard. Let’s see what this tweak can offer on our iOS device. While browsing through the Changes on Cydia, I got curious when I saw the name [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SimonBlog/~3/gHTJFMbacR4/

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Netflix and CBS sign deal for more streaming shows

Netflix has just signed a deal to add CBS shows to its streaming library. The two-year agreement means Netflix subscribers can watch Medium, Frasier, Cheers, Star Trek, Twin Peaks and more via the Watch Instantly feature. Unfortunately for viewers, CBS is still wary of putting recent or currently-running shows on Netflix, because they want to keep the reruns (and the ad revenue) for themselves.

The deal is non-exclusive, so these shows could also be licensed by Hulu or any other Netflix competitor. On the plus side for Netflix, this deal makes it the first streaming video service to have content from all four broadcast networks.

Netflix and CBS sign deal for more streaming shows originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/23/netflix-and-cbs-sign-deal-for-more-streaming-shows/

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Acer Liquid Glow released in UK for £148 SIM free

Android Central

Acer's latest budget offering, the Liquid Glow, has gone up for sale in the UK. Priced at £147.99 SIM free at Expansys in black or white, the Liquid Glow is aimed squarely at the lower end of the market, and will go toe-to-toe with devices such as the HTC Desire C and Huawei G300.

The Liquid Glow was first seen back in February at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Despite being six months further on, the Liquid Glow still offers some pretty decent specs for the price point.

It's a pretty nice looking thing, in a similar vein to its bigger brother, the Cloudmobile. The good news is that despite the four capacitive buttons seen on the front, the Liquid Glow comes with Ice Cream Sandwich. Not just that, but it's a pretty stock looking ICS experience too.

Hardware wise you're looking at a 3.7-inch display at 480x800, 5MP rear camera with LED flash, NFC, 1GHz single-core processor, 512MB RAM and while onboard storage is a pretty lousy 1GB, there is a microSD card slot on board too. If you're thinking of shelling out for one, be sure to check out our hands on from MWC.

Source: Expansys

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/NEge1XzLzpI/story01.htm

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Rdio for Mac brings streaming music to your desktop

Rdio, a streaming music subscription service, has just added a native Mac app to its web-based and iPhone-based players. Both web and mobile subscribers will be able to use the new Mac version of Rdio.

The app offers easy access to your Rdio stations, top artists, queue and listening history. It's also slicker and faster than the existing Adobe Air app for Rdio, with none of the Flash issues Mac users experience on the web or in the Air app. You can even use the media keys on your Mac to play, pause and skip in Rdio. It also supports Growl notifications, for those OS X users who are addicted to the popular systemwide alert app.

Rdio for Mac brings streaming music to your desktop originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/07/rdio-for-mac-brings-streaming-music-to-your-desktop/

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iOS 6 preview: Siri shares to Facebook and Twitter, launches apps for everyone

Siri was a bit of a tease on iOS 5 and the iPhone 4S -- while it could send Messages and Mails, it couldn't send status updates to Twitter or Facebook, and it couldn't even open an app. With iOS 6, however, Siri is not only launching on the iPad, but it's launching you into any app on your device, and posting tweets and updates like a social champ.

Here's how Apple share's Siri's new status:

Siri makes social networking that much more fun — and easy. Update your Facebook status, post a comment on your Wall, or send a tweet using just the sound of your voice. You can get the word out faster — all without having to type a single word.

With iOS 6, you can ask Siri to open apps for you. If you arrive early at the cafe Siri helped you find, just ask to play Where's My Water so you can kill time while you wait. Or ask Siri to launch Facebook and see what your friends are up to, or take a look at the latest posts on your Wall.

Siri's newfound social acumen and app access are only available to beta testers right now, but Apple did show it off during WWDC 2012, so we have some idea of how it works.

Create, take dictation for, and post tweet to Twitter
Create, take dictation for, and post status to Facebook
Launch an app or game

Here are some examples of how it works:

Say "play Temple Run" and Siri will launch the Temple Run game, just as if you'd tapped the app icon on the Home screen.
Say "Post to Twitter: Shopping on Robertson... just saw whatshisname from the doctor show."

Say "Post to Facebook: I like pina coladas. But I really hate getting caught in the rain."

Siri's an assistant who already took your Messages and Mail, so updating your Facebook and Twitter is both familiar and a great extension to functionality. Being able to launch apps is okay too, though in situations where your hands are too busy to tap an icon, they're probably too busy to tap through an app once Siri's done launching it.

iOS 6 is scheduled for release this fall, perhaps as soon as September 19.

For more on iOS 6 and Siri, check out:

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/KKPUtNOLK80/story01.htm

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Instagram releases real-time updates API

Popular iPhone photo-sharing app Instagram has just released a real-time updates API that allows developers to use Instagram photos, tags, and locations in their own apps. The announcement wasn't all theoretical either: you can already see the new API in action with apps including Foodspotting, Dropbox and Momento. Other trendy apps will be launching Instagram integration soon, Flipboard and About.me among them. The API is read-only for the moment, so these apps are just pulling data from Instagram, not allowing you to post to it.

With a reported 2,000(!) developers already signed up for the API, third-party apps on other platforms (hello, Android!) probably aren't too far off. All it will take is for the API to go read-write and allow third-party apps to post photos and comments to your account. Instagram competitor Picplz already has an Android app, so it would behoove Instagram to get up and running on that platform ASAP.

If you don't have an iPhone, but you still want to see the new API in action, check out the official API demo or visit Instagre.at, a web gallery of Instagram photos.

Instagram releases real-time updates API originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/25/instagram-releases-real-time-updates-api/

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iSites overhauled, now lets you publish cloud-based HTML5 iPhone apps in minutes

iSites -- a zero-code cloud-based 'app creator' -- can now generate HTML5 apps that work on iOS devices. With this new feature, dubbed 'InstantApp', you can now design a single app in your browser and publish it natively on Android and iOS, and as an HTML5 iPhone app.

We haven't looked at iSites before, but it shot to fame last year when it launched with native iOS and Android support. Self-publishing Android apps wasn't a problem because Google does very little moderation of the Market, but iSites ran into trouble with its iOS apps. Thousands of people signed up for the service after it was featured on Mashable and TechCrunch, and you can imagine Apple's chagrin as thousands of cookie cutter apps flooded its approval queue.

Genwi, the developer behind iSites, realized something had to be done -- it had to circumvent the App Store approval process. Genwi, of course, turned to HTML5 Web apps -- which can be pinned to the iPhone home screen and which can be shoehorned into almost behaving like native apps.

Read on for our experiences with iSites' new InstantApp HTML5 iOS app creator.

Gallery: iSites InstantApp HTML5 iPhone app creation

Continue reading iSites overhauled, now lets you publish cloud-based HTML5 iPhone apps in minutes

iSites overhauled, now lets you publish cloud-based HTML5 iPhone apps in minutes originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/30/isites-overhauled-now-lets-you-publish-cloud-based-html5-iphone/

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Ask DLS: Cross-platform multiplayer games that work on Android and iOS

Here's one for our knowledgeable commenters: I recently bought my girlfriend an iPad. I, on the other hand, own an Android device. And now we're looking for games we can play using both devices.

There's no dearth of multiplayer games either for Android or for iOS. But finding multiplayer games that can cross the platform boundary is an entirely different matter.

Jay recently posted Words with Friends which is one such game. It's actually an ideal example, because it's turn-based so you don't necessarily both have to be next to your device at the same time (great for long-distance gaming).

But what other examples are there? What multiplayer games are there that let iOS users play with Android users?

[Why am I now humming 'Ebony and Ivory'? -Ed]

Ask DLS: Cross-platform multiplayer games that work on Android and iOS originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/02/ask-dls-cross-platform-multiplayer-games-that-work-on-android-and-ios/

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Evernote Chrome extension gets quick clipping and snippets

Evernote's Chrome extension might not be quite as powerful a tool as Evernote's Mac and PC apps, but it does make a great addition to any note-capturing addict's browser toolbox. The latest update adds common Evernote actions to Chrome's right-click menu, making grabbing a clipping or starting a new note even more convenient. "Clip this page," "clip selection" and "clip image" are now just a right-click away.

Evernote for Chrome has also gained the familiar "snippet view" from Evernote's desktop and mobile apps. To browse the compact snippet versions of all your notes, click the Evernote icon in the toolbar. For extra note-browsing efficiency, there's even a tab that shows your saved notes from the site you're currently viewing.

Smaller tweaks include speed improvements and background clipping. Yep, clipping now happens in the background, so you don't have to wait til your clip is saved before you leave a page.

Serious Evernote junkies will probably still want to feed their addiction with a desktop app, but the Chrome extension is great for work computers and other situations where it's not practical to install desktop software. It's also just plain convenient, especially now that you can save a clip with one click!

Evernote Chrome extension gets quick clipping and snippets originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/evernote-chrome-extension-gets-quick-clipping-and-snippets/

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webOS 3.0 beta now available to developers

With the webOS 3.0 SDK available for almost two months, HP has now given developers access to a beta download of webOS 3.0 -- which powers the upcoming TouchPad and will likely ride along on HP desktops and laptops in the form of an emulator.

Right now, the webOS 3.0 beta is only available to Early Access developers. The crew at PreCentral states that HP appears to have eased up on access restrictions, however, so hopefully more devs will get on board and those of you who are planning to buy a TouchPad in the next couple months will have plenty of slick webOS 3.0 apps to install on your new tablet.

webOS 3.0 beta now available to developers originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/31/webos-3-0-beta-now-available-to-developers/

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New Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switching

Later today, Firefox will undergo its biggest developmental upheaval ever. Mozilla-central, the source of nightly builds, will be renumbered to version 5 -- and at long last, after years of wallowing around version 1, Mozilla's rendering and layout engine, Gecko, will also have its version number updated to match Firefox.

Shortly thereafter, Firefox's new channel system will be implemented. Firefox 5a2 will be introduced as the first Aurora build, and we should also see a Firefox 6 Nightly build. While we we're not sure where they came from, one Sören Hentzschel seems to have unearthed the new Nightly and Aurora logos (see above), along with new About Firefox dialogs (after the break).

In other news, if you want to take a sneak peek at the new 'channel changing' technology that will be introduced in upcoming Firefox builds, head to about:config and create a new string called app.update.desiredChannel -- the value doesn't matter. Then open Help > About Firefox and you'll be able to switch channel, but it doesn't do anything just yet (image after the break). Here's hoping that Firefox channel switching is smoother than Chrome.

Continue reading New Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switching

New Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switching originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/11/new-firefox-nightly-and-aurora-logos-unearthed-and-how-to-enabl/

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Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication

Mozilla Messaging, citing Mozilla's increased focus on Web-borne communications, will be reintegrating with Mozilla Labs.

The Messaging subsidiary was formed in 2008 to focus on Thunderbird, but given Mozilla Labs' current focus on identity and contact management, it now makes sense for the groups to be merged. Thunderbird will be unaffected by the change -- some URLs might change, but that's it -- and presumably Messaging's F1 and Raindrop will thrive in the Labs playground.

What this means for the end user -- for the hundreds of millions of Firefox users -- is that the next big additions will be communication- and messaging-oriented. Contacts and F1 will be almost certainly be baked into Firefox 5 or 6, both of which will be released this year -- and, who knows, there might be something else even more exciting up Mozilla Labs' sleeve!

Mozilla Messaging reintegrates with Labs, unifies focus on Web-based communication originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/mozilla-messaging-reintegrates-with-labs-unifies-focus-on-web-b/

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Tiny Wings for iOS is a simple, beautiful flying game

Tiny Wings is an iOS game from Andreas Illiger starring a bird, but it doesn't have much else in common with Angry Birds. For one thing, it's a lot prettier. For another, gameplay is less destructive and more relaxed. You control a bird with tiny wings who dreams of flying. All you have to do is put your finger on the screen to gather speed on the downhills, and then let go to watch your bird fly up the other side and catch air.

Aside from the very satisfying game mechanics -- who doesn't love hitting ramps over and over? -- the graphics and details in Tiny Birds alone would be worth the 99-cent price of admission. The levels are colorful, and the setting sun that serves as the game's timer is a very nice touch.

While it might not fuel your destructive id the way Angry Birds does, Tiny Wings is an addictive little game in its own right.

Gallery: Tiny Wings

Continue reading Tiny Wings for iOS is a simple, beautiful flying game

Tiny Wings for iOS is a simple, beautiful flying game originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/02/28/tiny-wings-for-ios-is-a-simple-beautiful-flying-game/

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How to send an iMessage

How to send an iMessage from your iPad

If you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 5 or higher, or OS X Mountain Lion, you can cut out the carrier cash grab and use iMessage to send absolutely free text (SMS), picture and video (MMS), location, and contact messages to anyone else who's also using similar Apple devices.

While it sounds simple, and it is, there are a few important things to pay attention to.

Identity crisis

Right now Apple uses two different systems for linking you to your iMessages. If you have an iPod touch, iPad, or Mac, your Apple ID email address will how you send and receive iMessages. If you have more than one Apple ID, iMessage will use whichever one you log into in Settings. Anyone you send an iMessage to will see it coming from that Apple ID, and anyone who wants to send you an iMessage will need to send it to that Apple ID.

If you have an iPhone, your iPhone telephone number will be used to identify use for sending and receiving iMessages, just like SMS and MMS messages on a regular phone. However, your Apple ID email address can be used as well, but will currently be treated separately.

What that means is, if someone iMessages your telephone number, it will only show up on your iPhone. If someone iMessages your Apple ID, it will show up on any iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Mac logged into that Apple ID.

If that sounds confusing, don't worry. With iOS 6, set for release this September, Apple will allow you to "merge" your iPhone phone number and Apple ID so all your iMessages will go to all your devices, regardless of whether or not they're sent to your phone number or email address.

Color conflict

If you're using an iPod touch, iPad, or Mac, you can only ever send iMessages. If you're using an iPhone, however, you can send both iMessages and standard SMS/MMS messages as well. (You need that in order to contact people who don't use Apple phones, including people on regular feature phones.)

To make it easier to tell the difference, Apple color codes all iMessages with blue bubbles, and all SMS/MMS messages with green bubbles. If you send a message and the bubble around it is blue, you're using iMessage. If the bubble is green, you're using SMS/MMS. If iMessage is offline, your iPhone may try to send over SMS/MMS, so keep an eye on it if you want to avoid charges, especially international charges outside of any texting plan you might have.

How to set up iMessage

Prior to being able to send iMessages, you'll need to set it up.

How to send an iMessage on iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad

Once you're set up, you're ready to go. If you've ever sent a text message with your iPhone, you already know how to send an iMessage -- it uses the same Messages app. If you're brand new to the iPhone, or to iPod or iPad, here's how it's done.

Launch the Messages app from the Home screen
Tap the new message button in the top right.

Tap the blue "+" buttonin the upper right hand corner to choose which contact you want to iMessage.
Scroll through your contacts and tap on the phone numberor Apple ID email addressyou'd like to send an iMessage to.

If your contact is using an iMessage-enabled device, the send button will turn blue**. You may also notice that you can start typing someone's name in the 'to' field and a blue bubble will auto-populate next to addresses or phone numbers that are iMessage ready.

If your contact isn't using iMessage, but you're using their phone number, the send button will turn green**. You can still seen the message, but it will use SMS/MMS instead of iMessage
If your contact isn't using iMessage and you're sending to their Apple ID email address, you'll see a redbubble around their name with an "X" next to it indicating that it's not a valid iMessage address.

Type in your message and tap send.

That's it! You've just sent an iMessage from iOS!

How to send an iMessage on Mac OS X

Open up iMessage in your dock.

Click the new message button to the right of the search field.
Start typing the name of the person in your address book that you'd like to iMessage. You'll notice that some names have blue bubbles next to them and some won't. The ones that do are addresses that you can send iMessages to because they are either Apple ID's or phone numbers associated with an iPhone with iMessage enabled.