Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Luke Wilson Joins the AT&T and Verizon Ad Fray]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/atandt-fights-back-at-verizons-ad-campaign-with-actor-luke-wilson/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/atandt-fights-back-at-verizons-ad-campaign-with-actor-luke-wilson/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/atandt-fights-back-at-verizons-ad-campaign-with-actor-luke-wilson/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In case you haven't noticed, the two major cell phone service providers have spent the past few weeks trying to prove their mettle in a 3G network-wagging contest. It started with Verizon's "There's a Map For That" commercial, which debuted in October and was a direct dig at the iPhone (which just so happens to be carried exclusively by AT&T). The latter company filed a lawsuit against Verizon Wireless, claiming that the commercial led consumers to believe AT&T doesn't offer any wireless service outside a 3G network.

After losing a request for an injunction this week, AT&T decided to fire back with an advertisement of its own. According to Engadget, AT&T's new 30-second spot, which features actor Luke Wilson, makes the Great Smartphone War official (video after the break). In the commercial, Wilson places magnets on a board according to which company offers a certain feature. To no surprise, Wilson and his magnets claim that AT&T kicks Verizon's butt when it comes to the fastest 3G network, and that it has the most popular smartphones as well.

Let's assume that AT&T thought some star power would make people forget about Verizon's witty spot. Well, it didn't. This is an epic fail, folks. If AT&T had to go this route, couldn't it at least have snagged the funny Wilson brother? [From: Engadget]

Continue reading Luke Wilson Joins the AT&T and Verizon Ad Fray

SwitchedLuke Wilson Joins the AT&T and Verizon Ad Fray originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3gadvertisingattcellphonedroidfailfeudiphonelawsuitluke wilsonLukeWilsonsmartphonetopverizonThu, 19 Nov 2009 14:48:00 EST<![CDATA['Fit or Fugly?' Apps Uses Golden Ratio to Determine Your Beauty]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/fit-or-fugly-apps-uses-golden-ratio-to-determine-your-beauty/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/fit-or-fugly-apps-uses-golden-ratio-to-determine-your-beauty/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/fit-or-fugly-apps-uses-golden-ratio-to-determine-your-beauty/#commentsFiled under:

How is beauty truly measured? That's been a much-debated question for quite some time. But the creators of a new iPhone application have the answer: symmetry. According to the Huffington Post, 'Fit or Fugly' uses Fibonacci's Golden Ratio to determine your face's degree of symmetry, which apparently correlates to how good looking you are. For just $0.99, you can download the app, upload a photo of yourself (or maybe a thick-skinned friend), place anchor pins on the eyes, ears, chin, mouth, and nose, and you'll instantly find out if you're hot or not. Unfortunately, 'Fit or Fugly' isn't even the most superficial app we've seen.

Of course, it's a big hit with consumers, earning rave reviews and such incisive testimonials as: "This is a very cool app...simple and fun...I tried the app with a pic of a hobo and a baby and they were both fugly!!!" We don't condone judging the beauty of either hobos or babies, but whatever you do, avoid using this app on your mom or girlfriend. Thank us later, when you're not homeless and single. [From: Huffington Post]

Switched'Fit or Fugly?' Apps Uses Golden Ratio to Determine Your Beauty originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeappleAppStorebeautyfit or fuglyFitOrFuglyhggiphonephotostopweirdWed, 18 Nov 2009 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Elaborate Heist Nets Thieves 3,000 Unusable iPhones]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/elaborate-heist-nets-thieves-3-000-unusable-iphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/elaborate-heist-nets-thieves-3-000-unusable-iphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/elaborate-heist-nets-thieves-3-000-unusable-iphones/#commentsFiled under: ,

We can only assume this is an issue with the limitations of Google Translate, otherwise we'd have to say that the description of CEVA Logistics as "annoyed" with the theft of €2 million (roughly $3 million) worth of iPhones from its warehouse in Belgium is the understatement of the year.

The firm was the victim, in what appears to be an inside job, of an elaborate heist that resulted in the loss of at least 3,000 iPhones. The phones, which retail for between €575 and €675, were snatched by thieves who scaled the wall of the warehouse with a ladder then cut a whole in the roof directly above where the iPhones were being stored.

Continue reading Elaborate Heist Nets Thieves 3,000 Unusable iPhones

SwitchedElaborate Heist Nets Thieves 3,000 Unusable iPhones originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimeiphonethefttopWed, 18 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Load Your iPhone With Your Favorite Files]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/load-your-iphone-with-your-favorite-files/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/load-your-iphone-with-your-favorite-files/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/load-your-iphone-with-your-favorite-files/#commentsFiled under: ,


Other than jailbreaking it or using e-mail, the iPhone offers no built-in way to accept non-media files, even ones that it's able to display (like PDFs and Office files, among others). There are a few iPhone apps, however, that help. AirSharing is a nifty app that lets you wirelessly mount your iPhone on your computer (Mac, PC, or Linux) like a network drive. From there, you simply drag and drop files from a shared Public folder -- either from the PC to your iPhone, or vice versa. You can then view the files on the go, or tote them to another computer to upload them without having to install software.

SwitchedLoad Your iPhone With Your Favorite Files originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airsharingapp storeAppStoreiphonejailbreaktechtiptopwireless file sharingWirelessFileSharingThu, 12 Nov 2009 06:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Phoneride the Whip: Drive Your Car With Your iPhone]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/phoneride-the-whip-drive-your-car-with-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/phoneride-the-whip-drive-your-car-with-your-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/phoneride-the-whip-drive-your-car-with-your-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,

Anybody who's anybody familiar with Bay Area rap or viral video has long known about ghost-riding the whip. If you aren't among those music or Internet dorks, though, the idea of prancing around on the hood of an unmanned car, with the shifter in drive and brakes disengaged, might strike you as dangerous, or just dumb. We know. It's because it has nothing to do with your radical new iPhone, right?

Well, lucky for you, the team at National Instruments' Waterloo Labs can show you how to whip that ghost-ride into submission, smartphone-style. In the amazingly brief video (after the break), these fine young engineers explain how to transform your hooptie into a wirelessly controlled awesome-mobile. With little more than National Instruments' LabVIEW software, a Compact RIO, a couple small motors, one wireless router, and two open-end wrenches, these young Texans cruise Austin's roadways from the roof of their Oldsmobile Delta 88 -- accelerating, braking, and steering via an iPhone.

Continue reading Phoneride the Whip: Drive Your Car With Your iPhone

SwitchedPhoneride the Whip: Drive Your Car With Your iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cardiyfunnyiphonetopwaterloo labsWaterlooLabswirelessWed, 11 Nov 2009 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Kick Your Friends in the Face With 'FaceFighter' iPhone App]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/kick-your-friends-in-the-face-with-facefighter-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/kick-your-friends-in-the-face-with-facefighter-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/10/kick-your-friends-in-the-face-with-facefighter-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Don't even attempt to lie. We know you've daydreamed about how great it would feel to haul off and punch one of your friends in the face or plant a foot right in his or her kisser. Now it may be hard to get away with doing that while hanging out at the bar or at a party -- and still keep them as friends afterwards. But iPhone game developer, Appy Entertainment, understands your desire to commit acts of physical violence against loved ones and has created 'FaceFighter,' which lets you paste the face of friends, family... really just about anyone, on a computerized foe and beat the hell out of them.

Get started by choosing images from your camera roll or taking a new snapshot, then line up your eyes and mouth with the game's guidelines. Zoom in and out to fit the image into a cutout, and you're ready to go. The game is pretty simple -- basically a button masher that lets you kick, block, and throw a right or left punch, leaving your custom opponent bruised, bandaged, and missing teeth. It doesn't actually offer much in the way of strategy or depth, so we're thankful you can try the game for free with 'FaceFighter Lite.' If the Lite version isn't enough for you, the full game is available for only $0.99 (for a limited time), and lets you battle friends head-to-head, so you can beat on each other's virtual mugs.

Continue reading Kick Your Friends in the Face With 'FaceFighter' iPhone App

SwitchedKick Your Friends in the Face With 'FaceFighter' iPhone App originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facefighteriphone appIphoneApptopTue, 10 Nov 2009 08:28:00 EST<![CDATA[App Developer Sued for Stealing Customers' iPhone Numbers]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/app-developer-sued-for-stealing-customers-iphone-numbers/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/app-developer-sued-for-stealing-customers-iphone-numbers/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/07/app-developer-sued-for-stealing-customers-iphone-numbers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

iPhone Game Developer Sued for Secretly Collecting Customer Phone NumbersStorm8, the developer of popular (but terrible) iPhone games like 'Vampires Live' and 'iMobsters,' has found itself on the wrong end of a potential class-action lawsuit.

A lawsuit has been filed, on behalf of Washington resident Michael Turner, that alleges Storm8 built its games with a "feature" that automatically sends the phone number of each host iPhone to the developer. Turner is suing on the grounds that this practice is in violation of both the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and California state law, and is pushing to turn it into a class-action suit, on behalf of all Storm8 customers.

Storm8 has admitted to collecting the phone numbers, but denies any real responsibility, attributing the "phone home" function to a simple bug in the code. The company maintains that the glitch has been fixed. Turner countered that a "glitch" could not lead to the collection of phone numbers and that specialized code would have to be purposely placed within the games to have that effect. Not being programmers,we can't say for certain whether or not the collecting of phone numbers was intentional, but it doesn't sound like the sort of feature that could be accidentally implemented.

Continue reading App Developer Sued for Stealing Customers' iPhone Numbers

SwitchedApp Developer Sued for Stealing Customers' iPhone Numbers originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class actionClassActioncomputer crimes and abuse actComputerCrimesAndAbuseActlawsuitprivacysecuritystorm8topSat, 07 Nov 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Hit 'Bejeweled Blitz' Goes Mobile With iPhone App]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/facebook-hit-bejeweled-blitz-goes-mobile-with-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/facebook-hit-bejeweled-blitz-goes-mobile-with-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/facebook-hit-bejeweled-blitz-goes-mobile-with-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fans of the Facebook game 'Bejeweled Blitz' will be able to hone their gem-matching skills on the move when the free 'Bejeweled 2' iPhone add-on hits the App Store next week.

As with previous 'Bejeweled' games, the goal is to swap gems vertically and horizontally to match three or more. (A satisfying cacophony of explosions concludes the round if you've done your job.) But this streamlined edition gives you only one minute to do it, a boon for mobile users with some time, though not too much time, to kill. Best of all, 'Blitz' syncs automatically to Facebook, uploading high scores to a leaderboard in real time.

If users really feel the need to brag, they can post their scores to their Facebook profiles, reminding their family and friends who's the boss -- at least where puzzle games are concerned. [From: Games.com]

SwitchedFacebook Hit 'Bejeweled Blitz' Goes Mobile With iPhone App originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blue Microphones Mikey (Creative, Under $100)

For those who like to get creative with sound, Blue Mikey ($79.99) is an excellent addition to your potable digital tool belt. Essentially a mic that plugs into the bottom of your iPhone or iPod, Mikey lets you capture anything from live music to lectures. You interface with the hardware as you would the iPhone's built-in mic; you can either use Apple's own voice recorder, or download some more feature-packed options as Fire and FourTrack. Since it uses your iPhone as its "computer," the Blue Mikey is infinitely smaller than most digital recorders out there (for better or worse, it's also very light). The mic is directional, and a switch on the back lets you choose between different gain levels, depending on the sound source. Field recording has never been so convenient.

SwitchedGift Guide: Blue Microphones Mikey originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessorieshgghgg-100hgg-creativemicrophonesmicsFri, 06 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[9 Banned Apps You'll Never See on the iPhone]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/9-banned-apps-youll-never-see-on-the-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/9-banned-apps-youll-never-see-on-the-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/9-banned-apps-youll-never-see-on-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

There's no denying the runaway success of Apple's App Store: to date, iPhone and iPod touch users have downloaded some 2 billion applications from its ever-expanding library of 100,000. But there's also no escaping the rumblings of discontent from many consumers and developers who feel that Apple is unfairly acting as judge, jury, and executioner by censoring apps and exiling them from the App Store.

Much of the consternation stems from the fact that Apple has never published hard and fast guidelines for what determines whether an app will be allowed through Apple's gatekeepers. To make matters worse for frustrated developers, Apple frequently contradicts itself in its judgments. So, say, while porn stars are free to peddle T and A to consenting adults, e-book packages that include the "Kama Sutra" are apparently too risqué for Apple. In the hopes of discovering a method to this maddening process, we've looked at nine high-profile iPhone apps that were found guilty of transgressing Apple's (unwritten) approval terms, and weigh in on the fairness of Apple's judgment and the likelihood an app will have it overturned on appeal in the future.

Continue reading 9 Banned Apps You'll Never See on the iPhone

Switched9 Banned Apps You'll Never See on the iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleappstorebannedbanscensorshipfeaturestopFri, 06 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Grado iGi Earphones]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/gift-guide-grado-igi-earphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/gift-guide-grado-igi-earphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/gift-guide-grado-igi-earphones/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Grado iGi Earphones (Media Hound, Under $100)

To the audio obsessives who consider the quality of their sound gear a way of life, the mere mention of the name Grado elicits the kind of response usually reserved for Santa or, well, Steve Jobs . Since most Grado headphones are priced in the relative stratosphere, its new iGi model ($89) is a welcome entry-level sampler for the iPod generation. As with all in-ear models, they offer the side benefit of blocking out virtually all outside noise mostly because they're inserted deep into your ear canal -- like you-better-pay-for-dinner-and-a-movie-first type of intimacy. The iGi's don't compare with some of Grado's more legendary over-the-ear models, but you'd be hard-pressed to find better quality sound from such a reliable brand at anywhere near the cost.

SwitchedGift Guide: Grado iGi Earphones originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earbudsgradohgghgg-100hgg-mediahoundIEMigiigi earphoneIgiEarphoneWed, 04 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone App, Where's My Car?]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-wheres-my-car/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-wheres-my-car/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/iphone-app-wheres-my-car/#commentsFiled under: ,

We love holiday shopping as much as the next person, but we could do without the mammoth parking lots (and our embarrassing inability to navigate them). Honestly, is there anything more demoralizing, after a successful raid on Walmart, than not being able to find your own car when you get outside? We think not.

Thankfully, there is hope for the parking-lot challenged, and it comes in the form of 'Car Finder' [App Store link]. Using augmented reality (real-time video overlaid with computer-generated graphics), this marvel is available from Apple's App Store for $0.99. It sounds cool, and it is. Simply use the app to mark your car's location, and walk away. On your way back, Car Finder, in conjunction with the iPhone's built-in GPS, lets you view your surroundings in on the iPhone's screen. Simply rotate your body until the screen displays the general direction of your wayward automobile, and a big red arrow will guide you to the icon that represents your car's location. Neat, huh?

Continue reading iPhone App, Where's My Car?

SwitchediPhone App, Where's My Car? originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStoreiphoneiphone appiphone3gsIphoneAppsmartphonetopWed, 04 Nov 2009 08:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Joby Gorillamobile for iPhone]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/gift-guide-joby-gorillamobile-for-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/gift-guide-joby-gorillamobile-for-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/gift-guide-joby-gorillamobile-for-iphone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Joby Gorillamobile for iPhone (Media Hound, Under $50)
Joby first earned fans several years ago when it essentially invented its own market: low-cost, flexible but durable mini tripods for cameras. And Joby's done it again by extending into the iPhone accessory market with the $40 Gorillamobile. Put any iPhone 3G or 3GS (sorry first genners) into the included soft case and then snap it into the tripod and you're good to go -- use it to keep your iPhone within easy viewing when you're on a bike, or while you're driving (for hands-free calling and GPS functions only!), or on a plane (to watch movies), or in the kitchen, or wherever else you are that requires you to go handsfree. Nicely, it also comes with a standard 1/4-inch adapter for attaching a camera as well. Oh, and just to be clear, no gorillas were harmed in the manufacture of this product.

SwitchedGift Guide: Joby Gorillamobile for iPhone originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesgorillamobilehgghgg-50hgg-mediahoundiphoneiphoneaccessoriesjobytravelTue, 03 Nov 2009 18:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Passengers 'Flying Without Fear' Thanks to Virgin iPhone App]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/passengers-flying-without-fear-thanks-to-virgin-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/passengers-flying-without-fear-thanks-to-virgin-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/passengers-flying-without-fear-thanks-to-virgin-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under:

Most people suffer from a little bit of unease prior to takeoff, but a fear of flying can be a debilitating and crippling affliction. Severe cases can force people to seek alternate modes of transportation, or to even ingest illicit drugs.

Virgin Atlantic has been attempting to quell those flight concerns through its 'Flying Without Fear' program that, according to the company, enjoys a 98-percent success rate. The one-day program costs over $300 and offers various courses and relaxation methods, as well as a brief flight to practice the new techniques. Virgin, which famously provides quirky and fun methods of keeping customers happy, is now personalizing that course by offering a new app version for the iPhone.

Continue reading Passengers 'Flying Without Fear' Thanks to Virgin iPhone App

SwitchedPassengers 'Flying Without Fear' Thanks to Virgin iPhone App originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlinesairplaneapp storeAppStoreflyingflying without fearFlyingWithoutFeariphonetopvirginTue, 03 Nov 2009 16:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Preview Your Plastic Surgery With iSurgeon]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/preview-your-plastic-surgery-with-isurgeon/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/preview-your-plastic-surgery-with-isurgeon/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/03/preview-your-plastic-surgery-with-isurgeon/#commentsFiled under: ,

Thinking about a nip here, or a tuck there? If you're not certain that a face lift or lipo is right for you, you might want to test the waters with an iPhone application. According to Reuters, two plastic surgery apps, both aiming to inform surgical candidates about different procedures, have been released in the past month.

The first, the Shafer Plastic Surgery App, was launched in October. It hosts a database of more than 1,000 questions and answers that people interested in surgery might ask. If you choose to pay $2.99 for the full version, you can also send the creator, Dr. David Shafer, direct questions about procedures. The second, iSurgeon, is a little creepier. This app, free to download this month, alters photos according to the plastic surgery procedure you select. For example, if you'd like to know what that breast enhancement would look like, simply snap a pic of yourself, select that procedure on the app, and bam. The digital version appears right before your eyes. Creepily easy, sure, but if just one less person ends up looking like Michael Jackson, these apps are successes in our minds. [From: Reuters, via DVICE]

SwitchedPreview Your Plastic Surgery With iSurgeon originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeapplicationAppStorebeautybodycellphoneiphoneiphone appIphoneAppplastic surgeryPlasticSurgerytopTue, 03 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[New iPhone Apps Translate Text in Photos -- and Live Speech]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/31/using-voice-and-photos-to-translate-language-with-the-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/31/using-voice-and-photos-to-translate-language-with-the-iphone/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/31/using-voice-and-photos-to-translate-language-with-the-iphone/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you aren't well-versed in a native language, traveling to another country can be intimidating. But two new iPhone applications seek to remedy that anxiety by translating foreign languages on the fly. More interesting, the apps use two different methods -- audio or images.

PicTranslator, which supports more than 10 languages, can translate text that appears in a picture you've taken with the iPhone's camera. If you're at a fancy French restaurant and don't want to seem uninformed about the cuisine, just snap a pic of the menu, crop the image so it only includes the words you want, and the app gives you a translation (video after the break). According to Lifehacker, the app, which costs $1 for each language you want included, even includes audio that helps with pronunciation.

Continue reading New iPhone Apps Translate Text in Photos -- and Live Speech

SwitchedNew iPhone Apps Translate Text in Photos -- and Live Speech originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapplicationaudioimagesiphonelanguagetoptranslationtravelSat, 31 Oct 2009 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Wadia i70i High-End iPod Dock]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/gift-guide-wadia-i70i-high-end-ipod-dock/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/gift-guide-wadia-i70i-high-end-ipod-dock/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/30/gift-guide-wadia-i70i-high-end-ipod-dock/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


"High-end" and "iPod dock" are seldom combined, but Wadia Digital has made it so with its 170iTransport, a squat little component that can turn Apple's portable audio and video capabilities into a stellar home media server. The first product to offer iPod's native digital audio output--over SP/DIF coaxial cable, included--the 170i enables your compressed music collection sound purer than it ever has, enjoyed over a home stereo/home theater rig. Boasting component video, the i170 delivers your movie files to the TV or HDTV with exceptional clarity, too. In black or silver, with remote control and assorted docking inserts.

$379.99

wadia.com

SwitchedGift Guide: Wadia i70i High-End iPod Dock originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hgghgg-500hgg-mediahoundFri, 30 Oct 2009 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA['Firepower' iPhone App Lets You Vent Your Frustration]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/29/firepower-iphone-app-lets-you-vent-your-frustration/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/29/firepower-iphone-app-lets-you-vent-your-frustration/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/29/firepower-iphone-app-lets-you-vent-your-frustration/#commentsFiled under: ,

Do you ever have "one of those days?" You know, some jerk in an SUV cuts you off on the highway, or your co-worker's incessant chatter gets on your last nerve? For most of us, going postal just isn't an option, so we're left to stew with our frustrations. But now, a new iPhone app is giving you an outlet for all that built-up rage. According to Wired, 'Firepower' is like a real-life, first-person shooter. The app, which was developed by Magnificent Library, uses the iPhone's camera, and overlays a Gatling gun, target, and two "fire" buttons on the live view screen to make you feel like Duke Nukem (check out the video after the break). After paying $.99, just simply fire up the app, point, and shoot at whatever you'd like -- your desk, a boss, or, like the guy in the video below, your kids.

We don't want to stir the pot here, ourselves, but the idea behind 'Firepower,' not to mention its use of blood (albeit cartoony blood), will probably inspire some controversy. Then again, everyone knows that Internet addiction, not video games, breeds violence. [From: Wired]

Continue reading 'Firepower' iPhone App Lets You Vent Your Frustration

Switched'Firepower' iPhone App Lets You Vent Your Frustration originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleappstoreaugmented realityAugmentedRealitycellphonefirepowerfunnyiphonetopThu, 29 Oct 2009 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[David Hasselhoff iPhone App Gives Bad Advice]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/28/david-hasselhoff-gives-bad-advice-with-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/28/david-hasselhoff-gives-bad-advice-with-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/28/david-hasselhoff-gives-bad-advice-with-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: ,

For the promotion of his new British-only TV show 'Meet the Hasselhoffs' (Maybe VH1 is all reality-showed out.), ex-'Baywatch' and -'Knight Rider' hunk (or, maybe 'Baywatch' and 'Knight Rider' ex-hunk) David Hasselhoff has put out his own iPhone app. "Ask the Hoff" is a bit like a Magic Eight-ball, but instead of mystically revealed, one-word answers in blue goo, Hoff's mug stares back at you to give snide answers. Typically, they're of the 'Yes' or 'No' variety, although we did get these gems: "If I told you, I'd have to kill you," and "That is a disgusting question. What are you, a pervert?" Not very helpful advice, say, for aspiring lifeguards.

The Big D has always been known for his feeble stabs at legitimacy -- so much so that he's now a parody of himself. Still, we can't help but root for him. The Switched Team pooled together the $0.99 fee and downloaded "Ask The Hoff" to see if his sunburned brain could answer a couple of questions. We queried: "Did you get the alcohol?" He responded: "Of course, the answer was yes." We didn't really have doubts, Hoff-man. [From: Textually]

SwitchedDavid Hasselhoff iPhone App Gives Bad Advice originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStoredavid hasselhoffDavidHasselhoffiphoneiphone appIphoneApptopweirdWed, 28 Oct 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Your New BMW? There's an App Store for That]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/28/your-new-bmw-theres-an-app-store-for-that/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/28/your-new-bmw-theres-an-app-store-for-that/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/28/your-new-bmw-theres-an-app-store-for-that/#commentsFiled under: ,


iPhone apps have permeated nearly every crevice of our daily lives. From the beach to the bar to the bathroom, there's an app for nearly every basic human activity. The only frontier left for Apple to conquer, it seems, is the daily commute. That, though, may soon change.

BMW has announced plans for a new BMW App Store, which would allow Beamer drivers to buy apps specially catered to their luxury cars. If it comes to fruition, drivers would be able to download apps directly to their cars' iDrive systems, either from their iPhones or directly from their PCs. Apps under consideration for inclusion into the BMW buffet include travel guides, geowikis, games, podcasts, Facebook, Xing, and Twitter. Perhaps most innovative, though, is a potential GPS-meets-iPhone experimental app that would sync your location to a site like Facebook or Twitter, then track your location, recommend great restaurants, and -- most importantly -- display fluid traffic routes as you cruise. More basically, the store would also likely include apps that keep track of gas consumption, and recommend braking and acceleration patterns to help conserve it.

Continue reading Your New BMW? There's an App Store for That

SwitchedYour New BMW? There's an App Store for That originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwcariphoneiphone apptopWed, 28 Oct 2009 08:15:00 EST