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Uzu is a kinetic particle visualizer powered by multi-touch technology. Sounds interesting? Actually, it doesn’t sound as good as it’s great when you’re using it. It’s one of those apps you have to try, and that’s why I decided to not write a review, but to shoot a video with my iPhone 4 - showing two friends of mine “playing” Uzu.
They never touched an iPad before, and were immediately attracted by the app. Check out the video after the break (Vimeo link), or go download the app here.
My iPhone 4 speculation seems to have been correct; the white iPhone 4 is proving troublesome when it comes to its color. Engadget reported on it earlier this weekend:
Specifically, the factory’s still working out the perfect combination of paint thickness and opacity – the former to ensure the next sub-contractor has enough clearance for the digitizer overlay, and the latter for the absolute whiteness that Jony Ive and co. strive for. As we pointed out before, the prototype white covers we acquired appeared a touch darker than the iPhone 4 dock, so here’s hoping that we’ll see a better result when the official white phone comes out later this month.
We wish Apple would have had this figured out before launch, but at least those holding out for the white iPhone will rest easy knowing it’ll be available in limited quantities by the end of the month. And just imagine: it’ll be the perfect shade of white.
I keep switching back and forth on the antenna debate. Other phones have the issue, but are they as serious as the iPhone 4? As Apple has called out numerous manufacturers and popular phones, even John Gruber has been linking to preexisting issues which have received little press in light of the massive ‘popularity’ of the iPhone 4. With something as curious as an outside antenna, people want to touch it. With other phones, people don’t even think about antenna placement. So let’s take a trip back to 2006 before the iPhone even existed.
The Loop reports,
In fact, Samsung was putting warning labels on some of its phones as far back as 2006. The label, which was on the back of the phone, told customers they shouldn’t obstruct the bottom of the phone during a phone call.
I was able to find the label on two models of phones dating back to 2006, although it’s certainly possible that the labels could have been on earlier models.
The Samsung SYNC and the Samsung Blackjack both came with these labels on the back of the devices, according to reviews in 2006 on Phone Scoop and MSNBC respectively.
Perhaps the iPhone 4 should come with a sticker.
[via The Loop]
This isn’t really Apple news per se asides from a few iPad users, but we thought it was interesting none-the-less. The Times is experimenting with their infamous paywall, a model where you’ll need to pay a subscription fee for online content. I personally don’t care for blocking access to written material, but we have some (unofficial) numbers on how successful The Times actually was. It boils down to this: 150,000 registered during the trial period during the first month of implementation. That’s not too shabby, but only 15,000 paid (of which there are 12,500 are iPad consumers). Unsurprisingly, site visits have declined by 67 percent during the time the paywall has been implemented. The Times hasn’t officially responded, though we imagine if they’re still racking in a good dime off of their few loyal customers, they certainly won’t be changing how they distribute content any time soon.
Personally I’m in favor of optional membership you’ll see on Daring Fireball, or even pay-to-comment models that the Sun Chronicle implements.
[via PaidContent.org]
Remember Apple’s mosaic wall of apps at WWDC? You too can replicate that on your iPad through discovery service Appsfire. No more messing with categories and top apps on Apple’s App Store – give yourself something interesting to browse through.
Appstream allows you to discover what applications are being found through Appsfire’s service. It’s interesting for sure, though like others, I occasionally have problems trying to download things I find. What’s also strange is that my taps on an app don’t always register – it seems I always pull up an app next to the one I’ve intended to look at. Exiting popups is also odd since you have to tap a back button. Still, it’s a neat visualization I’d encourage you to check out, especially since it’s free, and really: you got nothing better to do on a Monday.
[via TechCrunch]
We like to stay civil when it comes to Microsoft and Android fanboy’s trying to tell us what’s what, and while we poke fun back, nothing is more satisfying than smoking the competition in a friendly game of Skies of Glory. Sure you could troll Engadget or start flame wars on Gizmodo, but we like to settle or differences man to man. Or in this case, plane to plane. Get your iPhones ready folks, because those Nexus One kiddos are going down!
Apple has just issued a press release, announcing the availability of the iPad in 9 more countries this Friday. The countries are: Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore.
Check out the full press release below.
If you have an iPhone 4, you’ve tried FaceTime. Either you’ve called Apple, or you’ve started a video call with one of your friends. I did both. What I didn’t do, is try FaceTime from unusual locations, say airplanes. TUAW did, and it’s an impressive result.
But Wifi from a plane seems almost “easy” and “standard”, compared to what Philippe Kahn and his MotionX colleagues did. Philippe is in the middle of the Pacific ocean: if you draw a thousand miles circle around his location, there’s no sign of land. He’s using a satellite connection, possibly tunneled through a router the iPhone 4 is connected to. His colleagues are in the MotionX offices in Santa Cruz.
Check out the video after break. What’s next, space?
[Daring Fireball via Pegasus]
There’s a Taiwanese outlet that, to better illustrate news, recreates events using a technology pretty similar to The Sims game. Problem is, they’re pretty “creative” with the way they see events - let’s just say things didn’t exactly go that way.
I mean, Steve Jobs cutting fingers off customers to eliminate the Death Grip? Yeah.
