tech

After over two years using the iPhone 4, I was ready to move up to the 5 when it was released. As I did with the original iPhone, the 3GS, and 4, I was there on the release date waiting in line for it. The line was different this time around. Two years ago it was a little more than 3 hours from start to finish, this time it was only 90 minutes. I suppose my local Apple store has gotten better at handling the lines.

Tweetbot, the long awaited Twitter client for the Mac is now available in the Mac App Store. For several months I have been alpha/beta testing the app on the Mac. I had previously been using YoruFukurou (not an insult, it means NightOwl) as my main Twitter desktop client. Although perhaps not perfect (then again, I haven't found a perfect Twitter client on any platform), it has powerful features for power users such as myself on Twitter. That said, it may not be the prettiest client either. Enter Tweetbot. Finely crafted and honed visually, Tweetbot is pleasing on the eyes and ears. If you have used one of their iOS clients, you will know what I mean.

If you are of my generation, you saw the rise of the video arcade and home video gaming while growing up. Suddenly we noticed dust gathering on the old pinball game machines in the arcades as they were being replaced by these upright video game machines in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Many of them bore the name "Atari" on them. At the same time, a little machine called the Atari 2600 (actually at the time, I believe it was simply called the Atari VCS (Video Computer System)) which allowed you to play video games with your home television set (be it color or black and white).

You can play many of those titles from the arcade and Atari 2600 on your iOS device with the universal app called Atari's Greatest Hits - Atari (App Store affiliate link). For a limited time, you can get the complete 99-game pack (in-app purchase) for FREE. It is only available on August 31-September 1, 2012 in your local timezone. So act fast if you want it (I just discovered it myself now).

Is it the sunset weeks for my iPhone 4 now?

I vividly remember that June day in 2010 waiting on line at Apple for the latest and greatest iPhone, the iPhone 4. It was an usually hot day for June. It was not the first time I found myself on line for the new iPhone. I had done it before just the year before for the iPhone 3GS. Two years before that, it was for the original iPhone in 2007. I had skipped the iPhone 3G to make my first iPhone upgrade to be the 3GS. I didn't think I had a choice because I locked into my 2 year contract with AT&T. Even though I think they allowed me upgrade after 18 months, it would mean getting a new iPhone just six months before a new one was released. I figured I would simply hold out for the new one.

Last year we welcomed Blogworld and New Media Expo to New York with its first conference set in the Big Apple. Where does the time go? It's back again and once again it is at the Jacob Javitts Center in Manhattan this time in June (the 5th-7th 2012). 

At last year's event, I met several listeners as well as fellow podcasters and new media producers there. If you are going this year, be sure to say hi if you spot me there. Should you attend? Here's a piece I wrote a few years ago, but it still applies today: 5 Reasons to go to Blogworld & New Media Expo. 

If you hurry, you can still get the early bird discount on admission (ending tonight). Save an additional 10% NOW on your Early Bird Blog World New York 2012 registration with the code "BWAPVIP10"! Register now to save!

A quick post to let you know that TurboCollage - Collage Creator by SilkenMermaid for the Mac is FREE in the Apple Mac App Store for today only.

The app allows you to create collages with your photographs in various ways (using a picture pile, picture grid, mosaic, center frame, and a zig mosaic).

Many iOS app developers are offering free or discounted apps this weekend in celebration of Halloween. One of which is IncrediBooth. As the name implies, it is a photo-booth type of app. It takes a series of photos using the front facing camera of the iPhone 4/4S, iPad 2, or iPod touch 4th generation using different filters.

The app is free this weekend (normally 99¢ USD - App Store link: IncrediBooth - Synthetic Corp) and it includes the "Cowboy Booth" set of filters (4 variations). You can purchase other booths (filters) including a special one just in time for Halloween called Haus O' Haunt Booth (for iOS 5). This filter pack and other ones are available as in-app purchases for 99¢ each. They are completely optional of course.

Recently over the last month, I have written about smartphone app, Mobli. Last week, I had the honor of being featured among others on the popular people section of the app and website. I posted about it and the new features that had been added with the latest update to the iOS version of the app. In that posting, I mentioned I was among others featured including Lukas Haas and Leonardo DiCaprio.

First I want to say thanks to Mobli for featuring me among other fantastic people in their popular section both in the app and the website. It was an unexpected surprise.

Thank you, Steve Jobs. Here's to the crazy ones… Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. Think Different.

I had come home from a wake of a long time friend of mine. His death was sudden and unexpected. I was in disbelief that we lost him so quickly. It wasn't long after I checked Google+ to see what was going on while I was away and to distract my attention from the loss of a friend. To my surprise, there it was... people posting story after story about Steve Jobs. Just returning from my good friend's wake and knowing Steve Jobs' health had been declining for some years now, I feared the worst.

Wednesday saw the passing of a visionary. However you might feel about Steve Jobs, there's no denying that he has changed our world.

My original plans for tonight (Wednesday night) was indeed to write about Apple, it was going to be my take from Tuesday's Apple announcements. So many people have been asking me about the announcements that Apple made at the event, I wanted to put down my thoughts here to share.

Mobli mobilizes your life... What does that mean? The mobile phone app, Mobli enables you to mobilize your life by allowing you to be almost anywhere in the world and it allows your life and experiences to be shared to almost anywhere in the world.

Mobli allows this via our smart phones (it is available for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry). It empowers us to engage with others that may be sharing similar experiences or have similar interests. It allows us to share our experiences with others by sharing photos and video taken right on our smart phones shared out to other Mobli users, the Mobli website, and if you choose, Twitter and Facebook as well.

The King Camera (App Store link) for iOS has been upgraded to 2.0 with the upgraded version now in the Apple App Store. This is the first major upgrade of the app since its original 1.0 release (though I think an update back in June of this year that finally added 1:1 aspect ratio cropping was pretty significant as well). Say Cheezzz, the developer of the app states that it has been basically rebuilt from the ground up. I upgraded and had a little (not much) time to try it out today. The photo featured here in the upper left (pumpkins, gourds) is one of mine which I shot and processed on my iPhone 4 using the King Camera app version 2.0.

This is quick post to let you know that you can download the photo editing app, Snapseed for iOS (iPhone and iPad) for FREE until September 23, 2011 (previously $4.99). I haven't used it yet, so no review of it as of now. It is highly rated in the App Store though.

This is just a quick note to all that I know many people have circled me on Google+ recently, many more than normal as of late (not that I am complaining). I haven't had a chance to keep on top of all the new additions, though I normally do try.

This past weekend I have seen the number of people circling me increase by five times I would say. I'm not sure why there has been such an influx lately. Especially since I haven't been on as much as I normally am in the last week or two.