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Speed-Up Gives you an iTunes Playback Throttle

Audiobook and podcast listeners might be a little more impatient than most. Occasionally we come across that news podcast or something that doesn’t require our full attention. When time is of the essence, why not speed things up a little bit? Speed-Up by WetFish Software is an incredibly simple application that sits in your menubar and allows you to adjust the playback speed of currently playing items in iTunes. While speeding through some of the blogger podcasts just to get the gist, I got thinking, “What would a Molly Rant sound like at .25x the speed?” You’ll just have to download the application and a BOL podcast to find out.

Simple utility status: Not for everyone, but it works like a charm. Licenses come at $5 a pop.

[Speed-up]

Flickpad: Facebook & Flickr Photos On Your iPad [10 Codes Up for Grabs]

Two weeks ago I wrote that the iPad is not only a great consumption device but, at least for me, an amazing gadget for content creation. Others seem to think the same, too. For as much as I stand up and say that I create content on my iPad, I’m not saying I don’t use it for consumption at all: consuming content (the 2010 way of saying “checking out photos, videos and read articles or books”) on the iPad is a beautiful and immersive experience.

If 2 years ago someone told me in a matter of 24 months I would check out Facebook and Flickr photos on a tablet the way I can with Flickpad I wouldn’t have believed him. Flickpad has been out in the App Store for quite a while, it was even featured by Apple in the New & Noteworthy section, but with the latest updated the Shacked Apps guys stepped up their game and released the best Flickr and Facebook photo browser for iPad.

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The iPod touch 4 Exposed?

Hardmac has come up with a snapshot of the next generation iPod touch in an acrylic case, claiming they’ve got an unnamed reliable source. Having a pretty good track record after exposing last year’s iPod nano cam, I’m crossing my fingers that this is the actual iPod touch we’ll be seeing in the not-too-distant future.

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Evidence of iPad Retina Display?

Earlier today iLounge reported that, according to their source, a 7-inch iPad is in the works and that will be announced later this year. 9to5mac also speculated that they’ve been hearing rumors of a smaller tablet, equipped with a Retina Display - “something like an insane 1500x1920 type pixel display”.

Now, we’ve got some interesting findings to share and speculate with you.

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MiTube: Free and Simple Youtube Downloader for iPhone & iPad [Update: Removed]

Update: We knew this was going to happen. Apple removed the app.

Of all the apps in the App Store, I haven’t seen really great Youtube apps. Maybe because Apple’s one is installed by default and Youtube’s mobile website is even better than Apple’s app? Who knows. Anyway, here comes a new one: MiTube, formerly known as MxTube and sold on Cydia, is now available as a universal app for free in the App Store.

The app is very simple, but useful: you search for a video on Youtube, then you decided if you want to stream it or download it. You can choose to download low-quality or high-quality versions, and HD when available.

MiTube is available for free in the App Store here.

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European Union Commission Ousts BlackBerry in Favor of iPhone, HTC

Reuters reports that the European Union Commission have canned the idea of toting BlackBerries upon security concerns that governments can’t monitor the traffic: RIM deploys their own servers which handle encrypted messages that keep communications secured. The strongest selling point of the BlackBerry is starting to become a major problem.

British bank Standard Chartered said earlier this year it was giving its staff the option to replace the BlackBerry with the iPhone, a move that could eventually result in thousands of bankers switching.

And many top French government ministers have been issued specially encrypted smartphones after a French security agency recommended that cabinet ministers and President Nicolas Sarkozy stop using BlackBerries due to security concerns.

RIM’s Chief Technology Officer David Yach retorted that the importance of the BlackBerry via the use from state officials would keep their mobile phone in the hands of the government, though I imagine RIM is particularly beside themselves as corporations begin adopting and deploying other devices such as the iPhone.

[via Reuters]