Life Web Browser 1.1 Released, Worth A Try Again

I reviewed Life Web Browser for iPad last month and pointed out that while the idea was good, the developers needed to focus on stability and speed improvements, big fixes and tweaks to the user experience. That’s exactly what they’ve been doing for the past 24 days, “even without sleeping”. Actually, I quite believe it.

The new 1.1 version features an all new core memory management system, one of the biggest disappointments in the first release. The app felt slow and clunky sometimes, now it’s much smoother. Other features include a better state saving, keyboard tweaks, queue improvements.

The app is available at $1.99, a fairly good price for the innovative way of browsing the internet on the iPad the app carries along. Go download it here, check out the presentation video and full 1.1 changelog after the break.

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iHome’s Latest Clock is an iPad Throne

It had to be around 2006 or ‘07 when I purchased my first iHome speaker. I believe it’s the now discontinued iHR5 (I may have the model name wrong), but it’s still perched atop my dresser till this day, delivering AirTunes and clear FM radio across my bed as I browse websites on my iPad. At the time, the product was geared around the 5th generation iPod Video, which was a fantastic hit in the early days of senior high. While it can certainly play music from the 1st gen iPod touch I’ll replace upon the next announcement, I’m certain it won’t be future proof for much longer (but who knows). Looking big, TUAW recently showcased iHome’s latest model, which is pretty ridiculous. Not only is this rectangular beast designed to blast the infinite musical spectrum straight out of your eardrums, it sits the largest Apple mobile device you may own: the iPad.

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Windows Phone 7 Vs. iPhone 3GS [Video]

You may be excited about the upcoming Windows Phone 7 devices, but seriously - what browser is this test unit running? Internet Explorer?

They need a better browser. They need a better user experience (judging from the reviews and videos on websites such as Engadget). Now, I’m curious to see an iPhone 4 Vs. Windows Phone 7.

[via Redmond Pie]

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Turn Sheet Music Pages on the iPad…With The Tap of Toe

We saw the iPad being used as music instrument in the past. There are hundreds of cool applications for DJs, guitar players, even orchestra directors. I bet you haven’t seen anything like this though. A free-hand controller that connects to the iPad and allows musicians to turn music pages using their feet, thus being able to play the instrument.

TUAW reports:

“A company called Airturn has developed the BT-105, a Bluetooth foot switch for turning pages on the iPad forward and backward using a tap of a foot. As Hugh Sung explains in the video above, it allows instrumentalists who are busy with both hands to use a toe to tap one of the two switches to move through the score easily.”

It will be available later this year.  Check out the demo video below.

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Apple Releases iBooks 1.1.2, Forgets To Include Changelog? [Update: Addresses Minor Issue]

Four days ago Apple released iBooks 1.1.1. Now, a 1.1.2 update has just appeared in iTunes but…the changelog is the same of the last version. Could it be that Apple didn’t want to actually push this update yet, or is it just an temporary error? Also, maybe this is just a bug fixes-related release and Apple forgot to mention it.

Update #1: I think that we found it. The 1.1.2 should only “address a minor issue when updating iBooks”. So, a bug-fix release.

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iPhone Owners Love the iPhone. Android Owners… Hate Android.

Hey, it’s the Yankee Group again! While it’s from the same CNN Money article we’re finding tidbits of information from, we decided to split their statistics into two posts.

Quoting 9 to 5 Mac:

A telling stat from Yankee Group via CNN:

The iPhone is also the gift that keeps on giving: 77% of iPhone owners say they’ll buy another iPhone, compared to 20% of Android customers who say they’ll buy another Android phone.

You’ll all have your own thoughts on Android (haters gonna hate), but I have my own theory on this. There’s so many Android phones available, I can see the this statistic being appropriate for the platform as a whole. I think anyone still running anything less than Android 2.0 would probably want to throw their phone out the window at this point. And I can see owners of lesser Android phones like the Motorola Cliq, the HTC Droid Eris, and the Samsung Moment being generally dissatisfied. But looking at phones like the Motorola Droid, I can see those particular users being very happy as they have a massive development communities behind them. I imagine Motorola Droid X and HTC Evo owners would be happy with their purchase as well if they sought an Android phone, but I chose the Droid specifically since it’s the phone to get if you want to take advantage of every ounce of openness that’s advertised about the platform.

Otherwise, I’m indifferent.

[CNN Money via 9 to 5 Mac]

Digg iPhone App Finally iOS 4 Compatible

A quick yet important update for the official Digg client for iPhone, which reaches version 1.1.2 and introduces iOS 4 support. The app , developed by Digg together with taptaptap, was released some months ago in the App Store and stood at the top chart of free apps for quite a while. It’s a nice app, but there are many other good alternatives around.

Anyway, together with iOS 4 support there are some performance improvements and easier social sharing features. The app is free, go download it here.

Positive AT&T Survey Result of the Reality Distortion Field?

When the Yankee Group set out to survey the general happiness of AT&T customers, they were actually surprised by the results. 73% of surveyed US iPhone customers are very satisfied with their service. As a whole, AT&T has a satisfaction rate of 68%.

The Yankee Group concluded this to be quite the head scratcher, claiming that the “Reality Distortion Field” of Apple and Steve Jobs attributed to the iPhone’s praises rubbing off onto the carrier. I’m a Verizon customer myself, so I can’t comment on these claims, but of the readers here who live in the states, what do you think of AT&T?

[CNN Money via MacRumors]

Dragon Dictation Updated with Social Features, iOS 4 Support

I’ve reviewed Dragon Dictation (the iPad version) before on MacStories, and it’s really spectacular for patients dealing with RSI injuries and arthritis. TUAW reports that the latest update brings a pop-up toolbar that allows you speak a status update and send those messages to Facebook, Twitter, the iPhone SMS client, or the clipboard. Also available is the ability to save states between phone call interruptions.

Dragon Dictation is free as a universal application in the iTunes App Store. You can download it here.

[via TUAW]