TUAW Responds: Creating Web Clips with User Names and Passwords

TUAW Responds: Creating Web Clips with User Names and Passwords: ”

Filed under: iPod Family, iPhone

TUAW reader Rudi writes that he needs web clips on his iPhone that ‘prefix my web path with a username and password, great for things like web based corporate email.’ In response to Rudi and to anyone else who needs special-purpose URLs, including ones that make telephone calls (using the tel:// prefix instead of http://), here’s ClipIt.

When run, it prompts you for a web clip name and URL. Enter these and tap Create. The utility builds a new web clip for you and places it on your home screen. There’s no way to go back and fix a URL with this (and of course, being the iPhone, no cut & paste yet), so make sure you’ve entered it carefully the first time.

If you’re looking to create a telephone link, build a URL that starts with tel://, e.g. tel://202-456-1111. When tapped, the web clip first opens Safari, which then asks you to confirm whether you want to continue placing the call. ClipIt, with its web clip functionality, works only on iPhone firmware 1.1.3 and higher.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

iTunes overtakes RealPlayer

iTunes overtakes RealPlayer: ”

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iTunes

Even though Apple’s stock prices are in the slumps, iTunes usage is certainly not! Website Optimization posted that iTunes has surpassed RealPlayer usage in terms of online streaming — for the first time in history. They cite that iTunes was the only online streaming player that had a positive growth over year 2007. Here’s how the online players break down as of December 2007:

• iTunes – 35,664
• QuickTime – 12,787
• RealPlayer – 27,565
  
• Windows Media Player – 75,865

iTunes is now the second most popular streaming player behind Windows Media Player. Web Optimization also stated that iTunes has an annual growth of about 26.8%. There’s no doubt that we will hear about this more when Steve takes the stage at a future music-related event.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Eye-Fi card to get new ‘Smart Boost’ feature

Eye-Fi card to get new ‘Smart Boost’ feature: “The Eye-Fi card is getting a new software update that will enable it to upload photos regardless of whether your Mac is powered on.“

(Via Macworld.)

AT&T data network fails for iPhone, BlackBerry users

Fortunately, I was unaffected by the outage. -Tim

AT&T data network fails for iPhone, BlackBerry users: “AT&T’s wireless network is down in the Midwest and Southeast U.S., with service expected to be back up soon.“

(Via Macworld.)

Technorati Tags:
Internet, iPhone

Analysis: Inside Apple’s iPod sales figures

Analysis: Inside Apple’s iPod sales figures: “Why did Wall Street react so negatively to Apple’s record sales of iPods during its fiscal first quarter? Because the rate of growth for the company’s mobile music player is slowing down from its breakneck pace. But Dan Moren discovers there’s more to the iPod’s prospects than growth rate.“

(Via Macworld.)

Lenovo, Fujitsu planning to use Intel’s MacBook Air chip

Lenovo, Fujitsu planning to use Intel’s MacBook Air chip: ”

The PC industry is wasting little time getting in line behind Apple to use Intel’s spiffy new notebook chip.

Lenovo and Fujitsu plan to use the same Intel chip that helped the MacBook Air get so thin.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

CNET News.com has learned that Lenovo and Fujitsu …

(Via One More Thing.)

When is HD not HD?

When is HD not HD?: ”

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iTS, Video, Apple TV

ZDNet’s George Ou doesn’t exactly have a great record when it comes to Apple related analysis, but even the stopped clock is right twice a day, and he’s got an interesting article up about the forthcoming HD movies that Apple is planning to offer with Apple TV Take Two. His central point is this: high definition video is about more than resolution (whether 720p or 1080i/p); it also matters significantly how much the video is compressed. So his complaint is that the HD download services (both Xbox Live and the forthcoming Apple TV) offer video compressed so highly that even if it has the requisite number of pixels it ‘is simply not HD by any respectable definition.’ He’s got another post illustrating the point.

Having become a bit of a HD video buff myself, I think his central claim is true. The highly-compressed video from the download services does not hold a candle to Blu-ray or HD DVD on a large 1080p display. If you think about the files’ relative sizes, how could it possibly? By the same token, however, it’s not entirely clear that this is what matters most to consumers. The obvious comparison is to audio; 128kb AAC files sound significantly worse than CDs with complex music and yet Apple has sold literally billions of them. So it may turn out that the convenience of the HD downloads ends up trumping video quality except for the videophiles. However, if that’s so it’s nonetheless true that average consumers make up the fat part of the curve where the real money is to be made. So even if Ou is right about the technical issues, it’s not entirely clear that it’ll matter in the long run. What do you think?

[via Engadget HD]

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Apple hints at forthcoming Aperture update

Apple hints at forthcoming Aperture update: ”

Filed under: Software, Apple Professional, Apple

There’s been much debate on the interwebs on what lies in store for users of Aperture (Apple’s professional-level photo management software). I’m not suggesting that we mourn Aperture’s passing, but it has been a little neglected of late, and as someone who uses Aperture almost daily that makes me intrigued by Apple’s plans for the application.

Apple has been hounded for a little while about some cameras not having RAW support in OS X: colleague Chris Ullrich’s Nikon D300 is still unsupported, for example. So you can imagine the widespread surprise when Joe Schorr, Apple’s Senior Product Manager for Photo Applications posted a thread on the Aperture Discussion Groups:

‘We’re constantly working to make Aperture an even better tool for users, and will soon release an upgrade that includes RAW format support for new cameras and other exciting new features. Please stay tuned.’

This is where the plot thickens, dear readers, as the updates for Aperture’s camera support actually hinge on updates to OS X. So if a new camera comes out, Apple puts out an OS X RAW Support Update for these new formats, and Aperture just works — as do any other applications that utilize the OS X image frameworks. Now add into that the use of the word ‘upgrade’, not update, but upgrade. While perhaps hinting at a paid upgrade, it’s good to know that the frustration of photographers everywhere isn’t falling on deaf ears.

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

1Password brings form-filling to the iPhone

1Password brings form-filling to the iPhone: ”

Back at Macworld we saw a sneak-peek from 1Password creater Dave Teare of the (then forthcoming) iPhone form-filling, username-storing 1Password bookmarklet for iPhone (pictured above at Moscone). Today sees a new build of 1Password pushed out for beta-loving users who want to take advantage of it.

Of course, one main qualm people may have with this is ‘just how secure is my data?’ The 1Password data is saved in the bookmarklet itself using ‘448-bit blowfish encryption’. Users set up password to use with the bookmarklet, and 1Password outputs all your data in an encrypted format to sync via iTunes’ ‘Sync Safari Bookmarks option’. Once on the iPhone, you navigate to the page such as Pownce, choose the bookmarklet, enter your previously-set password and choose the login you wish to use. All the form filling, and form submission, is handled by the Javascript.

I’ve been long-in-need of something like this for the iPhone — the typical ‘too many usernames, too many unique passwords’ scenario — and using it this evening, it’s been mighty handy. If you’re wanting to get your hands on it, simply set your copy of 1Password to check for beta releases (all the usual beta disclaimers apply) and download the most recent release!

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Technorati Tags:
Internet Tools, iPhone, Security, Software

Order prints of iPhone photos with the phone itself

Order prints of iPhone photos with the phone itself: ”

Filed under: Software, iPhone

ECCE TERRAM announced a new service this week that will allow people to order prints of photos stored on their iPhones from the phones themselves. With their Photo2lab Client, users may select a photo (both those taken with the iPhone and those transfered from iPhoto), add text and create prints, post cards and even mini photo books. You’ll even be able to add an address to a post card from the iPhone’s built-in contacts list.

This sounds great, and ECCE TERRAM says it will be available just after the iPhone’s SDK is released in February.

[Via Macworld]

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)