OmniFocus 1.8 for iPhone Adds Background Sync Completion, Improved Due Reminders, Lots of Fixes

Following the 1.2 update for iPad, the OmniGroup today released OmniFocus 1.8 for iPhone, an updated aimed at improving performance of the app on iOS 4.2 (still in GM version for developers) and the behavior of due reminders.

On iOS 4.2, OmniFocus 1.8 takes advantage of the sync completion API to complete in-progress sync even if put in the background. The app can now also perform automatic sync as it enters the background. This is something OmniFocus users have been requesting since the first betas of iOS 4.2. As for due reminders, they are now presented when the app is active, not just when OF isn’t the active app. The developers also implemented a custom sound to differentiate OmniFocus’ alerts from system and other 3rd party apps alerts.

OmniFocus for iPhone is available at $19.99 here. You can check out the full (and huge) changelog below. Read more

Facebook Neue Safari & Chrome Extension Removes Ads, Makes Facebook Twitter-like

Developed by Milind Alvares of Smoking Apples (and Beautiful Pixels) Facebook Neue is an extension for Chrome and Safari 5 that does one thing very well: it makes Facebook simpler. The extension removes the ugly ads from Facebook (sorry Mark, I’m tired of Coca Cola ads) and resizes the main container to two columns, making it more Twitter-like. As Milind says it’s far from feeling exactly like Twitter, but I like this new layout. It makes everything readable and elegant.

Also in the extension:

I also selectively hid some of the settings in the sidebars, such as application links, or that language settings button next to the chat toolbar. I was happily using this until I realised I could very well just convert this into an extension and share it with everyone. Some more bug fixes, and a redesigned login page later, version 1.0 was ready.

I’m sure some of the changes, like the fixed masthead or the rounding of image avatars, are not going to be universally appreciated, and I’m okay with that.

I love it. Go download it here.

Google Docs Editing Finally Comes to iPhone and iPad

Finally, Google has announced that they’ll roll out Docs editing for mobile devices in the next few days. The feature, first announced several weeks ago but never actually deployed, is now ready to go for Android and iOS devices. All you have to do to edit a document on a mobile browser (including the iPad) is pressing the Edit button in Google Docs. That’s it.

In the next few days, we’re rolling this out to English-language users around the world on Android with Froyo (version 2.2) and on iOS devices (version 3.0+) including the iPad. We’ll be adding support for other languages soon. And as before, we also support editing of spreadsheets from your mobile device’s browser.

Well done, Google. A simple implementation we were all waiting for. Check out the promo video below. Read more

Steve Ballmer On “Various Tablets”→

Steve Ballmer On “Various Tablets”

From Ars Technica’s interview with Steve Ballmer:

I won’t give you an answer, because it will all depend on what you want, and we’re going to have various things coming at various times coming over the next months and years, and some things, I think you will see things that you will fall [in love with]—I know I’m seeing things that I’ll fall in love with, and I know there will be more things that I desire.

Here’s the difference between Apple and Microsoft. Apple knows what you want, or at least leads you to think you want what they’re offering. It’s a rather simple strategy. Microsoft, or the current Microsoft in the Ballmer-era, is going to have “various things” coming at “various times”. The HP Slate demand provides a good example.

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Wired iPad App Stable at 32,000 Copies Sold Per Issue

I’m no big fan of the official Wired app for iPad, mainly because I can’t stand all these similar magazine applications based on the same engine that doesn’t let you select and copy text and basically doesn’t let you get information out of the app. Sharing options are limited, scrolling feels weird sometimes – or at least not native – and, overall, they all feel the same. I recognize that the Wired iPad app, though, is one of the most successful magazine apps in the App Store.

As The Next Web reports, the app is now selling 32,000 copies per issues on average:

Wired’s iPad sales figures have remained almost secret since launch, only coming to light at certain times of the year. Last month we reported that the Wired app sold 31,000 and 28,000 copies in July and August respectively, a significant dip since launch. Wired isn’t worried though, sales have progressively increased as iPad penetration grows, meaning that the Wired iPad app has levelled off to a figure of about 32,000 per issue, around 39% of print sales.

Read more

Angry Birds Sequel To Feature Pigs “Point of View”, Multiplayer Version Coming

At the Virtual Goods Summit in London Rovio CEO Peter Vesterbacka had a lot to say about the future of the Angry Birds franchise. The game, as you may have noticed, had an enormous success on the iPhone, expanded to the iPad with Angry Birds HD and tripled its dominance in the App Store with a Halloween themed version three weeks ago.

A multiplayer player version of the original Angry Birds is coming, and it “will be like old school Worms games”. Vesterbacka also added: “multiplayer is a priority, but we have not determined the best way for our players to experience it yet.” As this wasn’t, the game will soon make its way to PS3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii. A TV show and a Facebook game set in the same universe are also in the works. Read more

Developers Can Now Submit Apps With Identical Names in the iOS and Mac App Store

Two weeks ago we reported several developers were facing issues with Mac App Store submissions, as they weren’t able to register their app’s name in iTunes Connect. At that time it looked like “name squatters” were sitting on popular app names to force developers to pick different ones, but it turned out that a major issue was lying in Apple’s system itself.

Two weeks ago, in fact, developers who had already submitted an app to the iOS App Store with a certain name weren’t able to use that same name in the Mac App Store registering process. Imagine the frustration of developers who already had iPhone apps in the App Store and wanted to submit Mac counterparts to the upcoming store. Read more

Id Software’s Mutant Bash TV a.k.a. “Rage Mobile” Approved, Coming Tomorrow

John Carmack’s latest creation for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is something I’ve been looking forward since the first video demo in August. The guy co-founded id Software and programmed true masterpieces such as Wolfestein 3D, Doom and Quake. You don’t mess with id Software, and each project form Carmack is something you should keep an eye on.

Previously known as “Rage Mobile” then re-announced as Mutant Bash TV, the upcoming game from id Sofwtare is a first person shooter “on rails” set in the Rage universe. Unlike many other similar portings from consoles and PCs to mobile devices, though, MBT has been completely rewritten to take advantage of the iPhone’s unique features, namely a large button-free device where the only input system is your finger. Read more

Former CEO of Northrop Grumman Ron Sugar Joins Apple’s Board of Directors

Today Apple appointed a new member of the Board of Directors: Ron Sugar, former CEO of Northrop Grumman Corp. “Dr. Sugar will serve as the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee”, the press release reports. He takes the spot left by Jerry York, who passed away in March.

Steve Jobs is very happy about the decisions, as “Ron is an engineer at heart, who then became a very successful business leader” that has been involved in the development “of some very sophisticated technology.” Being Apple an engineering-driven company, it’s no surprise Ron Sugar is a new member of the Board of Directors. Press release follows below. Read more