Cody Fink

1547 posts on MacStories since January 2010

Former MacStories contributor.

[email protected]

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Create 8-Bit Masterpieces with Sprite Something for iPad

If you’ve ever wanted to create those perfect 8-Bit sprites on your iPad, there’s an app for that. Ars Technica reviewed Sprite Something for the iPad, which allows young pixel lovers such as yourself to square off with your magical handheld. Apple and retro were practically made for each other, and Ars Technica agrees.

Pixel art is a finicky mistress: it’s difficult, time-consuming, and can be highly frustrating. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if it’s your thing, taking work along with you on an iPad is pretty awesome.

You can check out the full review here, but don’t forget to visit the iTunes App Store and grab your own copy of Sprite Something for only $2.99. A bargain for pixel pushers if you ask me.

Google Dumping Windows Systems, Integrating Own Technologies

Google has had their fair share of press between Apple bashing, Android yapping, and TV flapping antics. While they’ve made great strides in web and mobile technologies, that doesn’t mean they’re still reeling from other, recent events. Remember when Google’s Chinese operations were hacked? Google blames the insecurities of Microsoft’s Windows as part of the problem.

As Google builds their own operating systems, they’ll slowly be phasing out Windows as they implement their own technologies. In the meantime, some employees are reportedly touting MacBooks due to the safety of the OS X platform.

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Design your Next iPhone Application with Dapp

A lot of people have great ideas in mind, but visualizing such opportune designs involves a lot of guess work, sketching, wire framing, and a bit of code. Imagine if you had an application that could not only help you mockup your next application, but provide you with the ability to export your product into native SDK Objective-C source code? Dapp for the iPhone allows developers to do just that.

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Apple Sued Over iAd Name

Apple certainly isn’t making any friends lately, as there are lawsuits galore. The latest corporate battle flag to be raised comes from Innovative Media, who trademarked the term iAds in 2006; I’m not sure if the trademark was filed in 2006 then approved in 2008 - the source, The Loop, recognizes both dates.

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Apple to Increase Foxconn Wages

In response to the dramatic situation over at Foxconn’s industrial factories, Engadget reports that Apple will begin to pay employees directly (assumably on only their product lines - but I could be wrong), increasing their monthly wages (by what amount isn’t currently specified). While it’s a step in the right direction, I feel that a simple pay-raise isn’t enough. Much regulation is needed to ensure fair & reasonable work (and employment) within Foxconn hell, as employees will still be subject to the intolerable, slave-like conditions they face on the assembly lines. Currently, Apple’s solution is a doable, temporary betterment while they and other companies are hopefully discussing with Foxconn on how to treat people like human beings instead of dogs.

Flash Content Arriving on iPad via Smokescreen?

Yesterday, Engadget reported that Flash content may be playable on the iPad via a project called Smokescreen from developer Chris Smoak. While we don’t know if Chris has the beard to back up his badass monicker, we do know that Smokescreen somewhat works. Simple Flash animations like Flash ads run fine, but if you’re going to stream Hulu - good luck. Read more