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[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.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStorebejeweled blitzBejeweledBlitzfacebookiphoneiphone appIphoneApptopFri, 06 Nov 2009 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: Blue Microphones Mikey]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-blue-microphones-mikey/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-blue-microphones-mikey/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-blue-microphones-mikey/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


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<![CDATA['Scanner 911' Brings Live Police Feeds to iPhones]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/27/scanner-911-brings-live-police-feeds-to-iphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/27/scanner-911-brings-live-police-feeds-to-iphones/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/27/scanner-911-brings-live-police-feeds-to-iphones/#commentsFiled under: ,

Next time you're sitting on the couch and thinking about what you can do to be a better citizen, just take a little stroll through the iPhone App Store and dive right into the lurid world of real-time crime fighting.

For both the vigilante and the voyeuristic, Scanner 911, a recent addition to the iPhone app megalopolis, provides dutiful citizens with live feeds of police radio from around the country. For more local fare, users can use a special "Near Me" button on the app display to get radio directly from their county (or parish, Louisiana) precinct. Listeners can even record those especially salacious or memorable feeds that stick out from the less scintillating reports of fender benders and cats stuck in trees. It may seem a little weird, but a lot of people are actually crimo-philic enough to buy the app. It's currently holding strong at number 19 in the App Store's most popular list, and its cousin app Police Radio is number 7.

Continue reading 'Scanner 911' Brings Live Police Feeds to iPhones

Switched'Scanner 911' Brings Live Police Feeds to iPhones originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStorecrimeiphonepolicescanner 911Scanner911topTue, 27 Oct 2009 18:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Access Files From Anywhere -- Even Your iPhone -- With Dropbox]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/27/access-files-from-anywhere-even-your-iphone-with-dropbox/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/27/access-files-from-anywhere-even-your-iphone-with-dropbox/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/27/access-files-from-anywhere-even-your-iphone-with-dropbox/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

What it is: Dropbox is an online storage service that holds your files (up to 2 gigabytes) for free, and automatically syncs them between several PCs. It also allows you to access your files from any Web-connected computer. Dropbox offers 2 free gigabytes of storage to all users, but you can upgrade that to 50GB for $9.99 a month, or 100GB for $19.99 a month. If you want a slight boost in storage, but don't want to cough up for it, you can gain an extra 250 megabytes of free storage for each new user you refer -- up to a 3GB limit.

What we like: Dropbox is dead simple to use. Simply download the application from GetDropbox.com and then install it. The installer automatically creates a Dropbox folder where you can save any files you want to sync and share. Whether you run Windows or have a Mac, or even if you're a Linux, you'll find a version of Dropbox that will work. There is also a newly released iPhone app that will let you access files from your phone, and a Web interface that lets you pull them up from any device (computer or smartphone) with Internet access.

Continue reading Access Files From Anywhere -- Even Your iPhone -- With Dropbox

SwitchedAccess Files From Anywhere -- Even Your iPhone -- With Dropbox originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloud computingCloudComputingdropboxfeaturesswitcheddownloadtopTue, 27 Oct 2009 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Human-Size iPhones Guaranteed to Be Halloween Hit]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/26/human-size-iphones-guaranteed-to-be-halloween-hit/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/26/human-size-iphones-guaranteed-to-be-halloween-hit/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/26/human-size-iphones-guaranteed-to-be-halloween-hit/#commentsFiled under:

Halloween's just days away. If you still haven't found the creative yet snarky costume of your dreams, then you'd better get busy, because the witching hour is fast approaching. If you're completely stumped, you'll either be inspired or totally devastated by a few guys whose iPhone costumes have upped the ante on ridiculous get-ups.

Four geeks from Tampa -- John Savio, John Matthews, Reko Rivera, and Bobby Hartman -- recently teamed up to create human-sized and, most impressively, functional iPhone costumes. Each costume weighs around 85 pounds, and is powered by a car battery worn, we're told, between the trick-or-treater's legs. Hooking up an iPhone 3GS to a 42-inch LCD screen effectively turns your average Halloweener into a bona fide human iPhone (see video, above). The two costumes took about three weeks to assemble, and cost the guys a handsome sum of $2,000. Still, they claim to have absolutely "no regrets."

Continue reading Human-Size iPhones Guaranteed to Be Halloween Hit

SwitchedHuman-Size iPhones Guaranteed to Be Halloween Hit originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funnygeek chicGeekChichalloweenhalloween costumesHalloweenCostumesiphonelcdsmartphonetopMon, 26 Oct 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Comedian Frank Caliendo Does 'Street Fighter' Impressions]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/comedian-frank-caliendo-does-street-fighter-impressions/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/comedian-frank-caliendo-does-street-fighter-impressions/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/23/comedian-frank-caliendo-does-street-fighter-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

You may know him primarily for his work as John Madden, Andy Rooney, or one of a hundred other well-known celebrities, but master impressionist and comedian Frank Caliendo recently shed those facades for a rare moment of (somewhat) serious gadget and video games talk. The man of infinite voices told us (in more than one voice, including those of 'Street Fighter' characters) that he juggles his gadgets and games as easily as he does his multiple personalities. In an ironic iTunes twist, he tells us that even he is not immune to being duped by impostors -- well, imposter downloads, at least. Caliendo will be performing his live show in Las Vegas through December 1, but if you happen to see the act and run into him afterward, you might want to think twice before asking him to leave you a funny outgoing voicemail message. We had to learn the hard way.

SwitchedComedian Frank Caliendo Does 'Street Fighter' Impressions originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comedyfeaturesfunnyswitchedquestionnairetopFri, 23 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[VW Launches 2010 GTI Exclusively Via Mobile Phone Game]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/10/22/vw-launches-2010-gti-exclusively-on-a-mobile-phone-game/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/22/vw-launches-2010-gti-exclusively-on-a-mobile-phone-game/http://www.switched.com/2009/10/22/vw-launches-2010-gti-exclusively-on-a-mobile-phone-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


In an atmosphere of disappearing print magazines, increased TV viewing on the Web, and a tough market for both car buyers and dealers, one of the few successful car companies alive today needs to change the game a bit. So with the introduction of a niche-y hot hatch that isn't even that cheap, Volkswagen hits hard with quick and dirty campaign on everyone's favorite toy -- the iPhone. This morning, Volkswagen became the first auto manufacturer to launch (by launch, we mean advertise) a car solely on the Apple phone. No, it's not an app, but rather, an exclusive, playable, and independent level of iPhone racing game Firement Real Racing, which has already received 70-million downloads since launching back in June.

Available on the iTunes App Store for free, the 'Real Racing GTI' level lets you choose from six different 2010 GTIs and race them on a track laden with VW logos. Unfortunately, it doesn't integrate with the rest of the game, but it does have one killer feature: Players can compete to win one of six limited-edition black GTI MkVI cars, which have special stitching on the floor mats and head rests, carbon-fiber finishes on the doors and mirrors, red calipers on the wheels, and special logos on the front and on the steering wheel (see close-ups of the cars in the slideshow below). In addition, the 2010 GTI's sound system has been upgraded to include full iPod integration (so you can access your full music library on the car's dashboard versus a simple auxiliary connection).

Continue reading VW Launches 2010 GTI Exclusively Via Mobile Phone Game

SwitchedVW Launches 2010 GTI Exclusively Via Mobile Phone Game originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingfreegtiiphone appsiphoneappsmarketingtopvolkswagenVolkwagenvwThu, 22 Oct 2009 17:39:00 EST