Posted by shiv | 2 Comments

Things Mac and iPhone Review

Developer: Cultured Code
Price: $49.99 for Mac app, $9.99 for iPhone app. $60 for both.
Versions reviewed 1.2 for iPhone, 1.0RC2 (493) for Mac

iPhone to Mac Integration Rating: 5 stars
User Interface Rating: 5 stars
Re-use/Replay Value Rating: 5 stars
Overall Rating: 5 stars

General:

“Things” is a task manager for the Mac & iPhone. There are several other task managers that I have tried out, but “Things” is special because the application is really focused and really intuitive. For instance, it has a List called “Someday” for to-dos you want to do eventually. I have a lot of invention ideas that I want to make into prototypes, but I don’t have a specific due date for it and I don’t want it clogging up my inbox, so I can put it into the “Someday” list.

iPhone:

The user interface of “Things” on the iPhone is really sophisticated. The icons, labels, and buttons look perfect and are positioned exactly where you want them to be. The layout is so simple, even an idiot can figure out how to use it (that’s right, an idiot!). The bottom bar always has one button in the bottom left hand corner of the screen; the “New [task]” button. The rest of the buttons in the bottom bar change depending on what list you are looking at. Adding a new task is really easy and simple: just click on the “New [task]” button and type in your new to do.

At $10, “Things” for the iPhone is expensive, but with it’s amazing interface and simple but powerful layout, $10 is a bargain for this app, and I definitely recommend that you buy it.

Things (App Store Link)

Mac:

The Mac client is better than the iPhone client if you can believe it. The interface is elegant, and the Mac app is very complete (there isn’t anything left out). The best part is the sync feature which lets you sync your to-dos seamlessly with the iPhone & Mac client. One thing that should be added is an icon in the menu bar on the top right corner (you know, where the date, time, and volume controls are). Then you can quickly add a to-do without having to go the whole application.

Overall:

With a Mac and iPhone client which are both excellent, Cultured Code is not joking around when they say that “Things” offers the perfect balance between ease of use and powerful features. The Mac version costs $49.95, and the iPhone version costs $9.99. At $60 for the whole shebang, it is a little expensive, but it is well worth it. Luckily, since the first non-beta version of “Things” is being released at MacWorld, the developer, Cultured Code, has a sale going on that lowers the price of the mac version to $39.99, making the Mac + iPhone bundle less expensive at $49.95. You must us the code:

THINGSPRESALE20 coupon valid through January 15th, 2009

GET A FREE COPY OF THINGS!!!
If you follow us on Twitter, we will be giving a free copy of Things away on January 6, 2009.

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/teencast
Contact Us at: teencast@me.com
Visit Cultured Code at MacWorld.

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Posted by thinkintel | 2 Comments

Rules for Winning iPhone Apps

We occasionally give out promo codes on our Twitter feed.  These promo codes will let you download an iPhone application from iTunes!  I know you’re excited to get free iPhone apps, so here are the instructions:

1. Go to the Teencast twitter feed.
2. Enter the code into iTunes Click here to try the code ( or click redeem under Quick Links in iTunes)
3. Remember that we only have one code, so the first person the enter it into iTunes wins it.
4. Don’t Cheat (I’m not sure how you would… just don’t)

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Posted by Shiv | 1 Comment

iGraffiti Review

Developer:   Big Stone Phone
Price:  $4.99
Version Reviewed:  1.1

iPod Touch Integration Rating: 4.5
User Interface Rating: 4
Re-use/Replay Value Rating: 3.5
Overall Rating: 4

 

You would think Graffiti is something simple, nothing special, and there isn’t much you could do to make it interesting.  I did too, until I found iGraffiti. iGraffiti uses the touch & multitouch element of the iPhone and allows you to take and draw on either a blank “canvas” or on a photo from your iPhoto library.  You can publish you final creation on a site dedicated to showing off your artwork, and being able look at other people’s artwork as well (known as Art Space).  You can also save your artwork or assign it to a contact (probably most useful on an iPhone).  You can also pinch and zoom in on a photo, if the setting is activated.  

When I first opened the application, I was a little confused at what to do and where to go.  After being asked if I wanted a plank page or picture I just started to push to buttons, attempting to figure out what the symbols were representing.  After navigating my way through the menu’s, I found you can change every detail of the graffiti.  You can choose from shadows to effects, and everything in-between.  Colors were shown in a stack of 6 rows and 48 crayons altogether.  During my testing period, I was not able to locate any glitches in the application, but I would enjoy a feature that allows you to take pictures from you Photo library and change their effects/themes altogether (similar to Photo Booth effects).  

Overall, I had fun with this app and there are many useful features to choose from and use, but at $4.99, I think that the application should have more features and that it should be lowered in price($2.99, max).  If you have the money to spend on it, and are aware you wont use it very often, then go for it.  It is very entertaining at times, and it is a fun time waster.    

 

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Posted by thinkintel | 0 Comments

MotionX GPS Review

Developer:  Fullpower Technologies, Inc.
Price: $2.99
Version reviewed: 2.0

iPhone Integration Rating: 5
User Interface Rating: 3.5
Re-use/Replay Value Rating: 5
Overall Rating: 4.5 

I’ve been hearing about GPS devices and how they work with Google Earth and how fun they are for geocaching or even tracking a bike ride. When I got my iPhone 3G, one of the first apps that I looked for was a good GPS application, but I didn’t find one.
This application emulates a physical GPS unit by using the A-GPS reciever that’s built in to the iPhone 3G. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to test MotionX GPS on the original iPhone or an iPod Touch (Fullpower’s website says that it only works on the iPhone 3G). It’s main features are the ability to give you your location (latitude and longitude) as well as guide you to a location that you specify. It’s also great as a general trip tracker.

The interface is initially confusing, but it gets easier to understand as you use it. I still get lost sometimes, but it’s usually easy to find where the functions you want are. For my test, I tracked a trip in a car. I noticed that the GPS doesn’t get an accurate signal if it doesn’t have a line of sight to the sky, although it’s a hardware issue, not a software one. The application located me accurately within a yard or two. The ‘compass’ in the application requires that you are moving so that it can calculate your direction. If you’re geocaching or using the GPS while walking slowly, you might be frustrated by the inability to see which direction you’re going all the time. Despite the iPhone’s limitations that hindered the accuracy, I really liked the application and I highly suggest it to those who want to track their physical activity (running, biking, etc.), geocachers, and other people who want a GPS with them at all times.

MotionX GPS is an awesome application for those who like GPS units, but don’t want to carry a full size one. At only $2.99 (versus $300 for buying a separate GPS), it’s great for anyone who has travels/hikes a lot. If you try geocaching, definitely get this inexpensive app to help you with your locating.

 

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Posted by thinkintel | 0 Comments

Twitter is Here!

In preparation for MacWorld, we’re trying to get the TeenCast twitter feed displayed right on the main page! We plan to be posting and tweeting from the MacWorld show floor. If you notice any changes in the blog’s design; we’re probably testing Twitter out. Once we get the Twitter feed up and running on the blog, we’ll tell you, so that you will know where to look during MacWorld!

Update:

As you may know already, TeenCast has a Twitter feed. We plan to use Twitter to keep you updated about MacWorld. In preparation for MacWorld, we’re got the TeenCast twitter feed to display right on the main page! We plan to be blogging and tweeting from the MacWorld show floor. If you notice any changes in the blog’s design; we’re probably just tweaking Twitter’s display. We also have a Flickr photostream to show you what’s happening at MacWorld and we might put screenshots of applications on the photostream as well.

Enjoy Twitter and Flickr!

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Posted by shiv | 1 Comment

Twittelator Pro iPhone Review

Developer:  Big Stone Phone
Price: $4.99
Version reviewed 1.6

iPhone Integration Rating: 3 stars
User Interface Rating: 3 stars
Re-use/Replay Value Rating: 5 stars
Overall Rating: 3.5 stars

I have to admit it, I’m a twitterholic.  That’s why I decided to review twittelator Pro which is a twitter client for the iPhone.  The reason I chose to review this application was because it is very feature complete.  Here are some features of Twittelator Pro:

• Tweet themes: Robin, Canary and Martin to match your mood
• As many Twitter accounts as you want
• Switch between accounts fast
• Post pictures, library images and maps of your location
• Post high resolution photos to TwitPic.com
• Full access to complete Twitter Search
• Persistent Searches for “re-searching”
• Copy tweets and paste links and images
• Send links from Safari to new Tweets
• Large font for very readable Tweets
• Explore Public Timeline
• Explore Friends of Friends of Friends…
• Help! button in case of emergency
• Bookmarks for tweets and searches
• Built-in web browser to view links
• Tap top bar to scroll to top of Tweets
• Bottom bar has page down control
• Log file to see Twitter.com server info
• Turn off capitalization and auto correction
• Emoji  Button when adding tweets
• As you can see, the app has a lot of innovative features.  One that I REALLY love is the Copy and Paste feature.  I know what you’re thinking: iPhone doesn’t have copy and paste!  But in Twittelator Pro, you can copy and paste tweets within the application.  This is really useful for re-tweeting  or if you want to paste one message or tweet across many Twitter accounts since you can set up multiple twitter accounts with Twittelator Pro.

The user interface (UI) is mediocre.  There are 5 buttons that are squished along the bottom of the app.  The buttons are:
Refresh
Settings
Tweet button
Scroll Down Button
Server Access Log

I feel that the developer only needs to put two buttons on the bottom bar of the app: The Tweet and Settings button.  The reason I am saying this is because most people don’t really want to see the server access log, and if you really want to see it, it should be in the settings panel or some other preference screen.  The developer should also eliminate the refresh button and instead enable the user to shake the iPhone to refresh your tweets.  But honestly, I think that the most awkward button is the Scroll Down button.  Why?  Because you can already flick your finger to scroll down and it comes so natural to every iPhone user. So why would you need another scroll method to scroll down your tweets?  I been testing this app for a week and a half, and I never needed to use that button.  So just to recap what I’m saying, the developer should remove the Refresh, Scroll Down, and Server Access Log button from the bottom bar.

Overall, Twittelator Pro is the best iPhone twitter client I have used so far, but it badly needs some UI cleaning.  Besides that, Twittelator Pro is a pretty satisfying app.  I wouldn’t recommend buying it at $4.99, but I would definitely recommend buying it if the developer lowers the price to $3.99 or $2.99.

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Posted by shiv | 1 Comment

Teck Deck comes to the iPhone (TouchGrind Review)

Developer:  Illusion Labs
Price: $4.99
Version reviewed 1.0

Graphics: 5 stars
Game Controls: 4 stars
Re-use/Replay Value Rating: 4 stars
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uDKCBiYDOk]
I love skateboarding, so when Illusion Labs released their virtual skateboard game called TouchGrind, I quickly ran for a copy.  After seeing numerous youtube videos and pictures of the game, it looked like it would be fun the second you open it, but my first impression wasn’t what I expected.  I opened the game, and I had to go down this 7 button “how to” tutorial and then try to practice those moves several times in the “warm up” section of the game.  It took a long time to get used to the tricks and moves and it really made we want to delete the game.  It wasn’t because the game was bad, it was just because the tutorial wasn’t interactive enough. (A great example of an interactive tutorial is Super Monkey Ball or Antimatter)
After a week of using the game, I started to get the hang of it, and I got obsessed with the game.  The graphics are stunning and are really crisp.  It has very accurate shadowing, color shades, ramps, and boards.  
The gameplay is pretty awesome, but since the skateboard takes up most of the iPhone’s screen, you have a limited view of  the objects around you, but the markings on the game makes up for that.  Illusion Labs did a great job of creating a lot of boards (you win new boards by doing tricks in front of judges) so the game lasts a while.
Overall, I think that TouchGrind is a very innovative iPhone application.  It is extremely unique and really shows what the iPhone can offer.  It may be a little hard to play at first, and you may have a limited view of the objects around you, but TouchGrind really is an awesome game and I definitely recommend that you buy it. 

Follow our blog on Twitter at www.twitter.com/teencast

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