The Technology Life

iPhone Apps on the iPad

Monday, 8 March 2010

Brian X. Chen at Wired, on the default iPhone apps that aren’t present on the iPad:

But if you recall, the iPhone ships with some apps that appear to be left out from the iPad: Stocks, Calculator, Clock, Weather and Voice Memos. What gives?

Apple didn’t respond to a request for comment, but I’m willing to guess Apple will just stick those apps in the App Store for a free download, and they’ll be the same apps as they were on the iPhone. After all, it’s unlikely there’s much to do with those particular apps to make them visually special for the iPad.

Actually, it’s sort of the opposite problem. It’s not that Apple couldn’t just create bigger versions of these apps and have them run on the iPad. It wasn’t a technical problem, it was a design problem. There were, internally to Apple (of course), versions of these apps (or at least some of them) with upscaled iPad-sized graphics, but otherwise the same UI and layout as the iPhone versions. Ends up that just blowing up iPhone apps to fill the iPad screen looks and feels weird, even if you use higher-resolution graphics so that nothing looks pixelated. So they were scrapped by you-know-who. Perhaps they’ll appear on the iPad in some re-imagined form this summer with OS 4.0, but when the iPad ships next month, there won’t be versions of these apps. At least that’s the story I’ve heard from a few well-informed little birdies.

(There is, alas, no secret “widget” mode for iPad in OS 3.2, either.)

Some (maybe even most?) iPhone games will work well as-is, on the iPad. Not just technically, but in terms of being fun and feeling right. But non-game iPhone apps that are just upscaled on the iPad are going to feel weird. And the run the app in a little iPhone-sized rectangle in the middle of an otherwise black screen mode is even weirder, I think. A 3.5-inch screen is just totally different than a 10-inch screen.

On the whole, it’s actually rather un-Apple-like that they’re even allowing iPhone apps to run unmodified on the iPad. It’s a huge compatibility win, of course: an instant market of thousands and thousands of titles. Given the runaway success of the App Store and the fundamental technical similarities between the iPhone and iPad, it’s the sort of decision that most companies wouldn’t even think twice about. But it’s undeniably a sub-optimal user experience. iPhone apps on the iPad are a “good enough” thing, not an “exactly right” thing. Most companies — the ones that wouldn’t even see it as a tough decision whether to allow iPhone apps to run on the iPad — settle for “good enough” all the time. Apple, on the other hand, usually goes for “exactly right”.

I’ll go so far as to predict that by the time Monday April 5 rolls around, it’ll already be an established meme that non-iPad-optimized iPhone apps are to the iPad what Classic apps were to Mac OS X — something you’ll make do with “for now” but can’t wait to abandon for the real thing.

I’m not saying it’s a mistake that Apple is allowing the iPad to run iPhone apps. I’m just saying that the iPad is not a big iPhone.

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Attention Is the Real Resource

I so can not wait...

Last Tuesday, Google launched a new Google Voice mobile web app for iPhone OS 3.0 and higher and Palm Web OS devices, harnessing the power of HTML5, a new web technology that makes it possible to run faster, richer web-based applications right in the browser.

While this appication is web based, it provides real time access to your communication brain. Check it out today!

Have you heard about AT&T’s A-List? (In my circle of acquaintances, surprisingly few have.) Similar to other carriers, AT&T now offers five to 10 (depending on your rate plan) numbers that are free of charge. If you combine this with a Google Voice account, you can breathe easy as you eliminate the potential of overshooting your allowance of plan minutes. This isn’t new information mind you, but if you’re not aware, we’re about to show you how to set it up for yourself.

First, the disclaimer. I have set this up for myself and it all seems to be working without any issues. I couldn’t find this to be in direct violation of AT&T’s Terms of Service (though I understand it may be for the likes of T-Mobile, and possibly other carriers as well). That said, it is definitely a loophole that is probably not smiled-upon by AT&T — and probably a big reason that there was a huge hullabaloo over Google Voice being booted from the App Store last summer. On the other hand, to have the A-List feature, you have to be paying for a certain rate plan anyway, so AT&T will be getting a guaranteed chunk of cash from you each month anyway. Consider yourself edukated, and proceed at your own discretion.

Set It Up

Okay, now let’s begin. You’ll first need to make sure you’ve got the option to use A-List, based on your AT&T rate plan. Here are the qualifying factors, direct from AT&T’s webpage:

• Individual plans 900+ minutes ($59.99 and over) per month
• FamilyTalk plans 1400+ minutes ($89.99 and over) per month
  qualify for A-List

And when you sign up for the A-List feature, here’s what you get:

• No extra charge with your qualifying plan
• Add up to 5 numbers on your individual plan
• Add up to 10 numbers on your FamilyTalk plan
• Add any domestic number, on any network – including landline numbers
• Calls to and from your A-List numbers are not charged against your rate

If you qualify, but aren’t yet using A-List, log into your AT&T Wireless account and go to “Manage Features.” Under the Shared features, you should find the $0.00 option for A-List. Choose that and update your features. After doing so, you’ll have the opportunity to populate your five to 10 numbers (dependent upon your rate plan). This is where you’ll enter your Google Voice number (if you have one, that is).

Obviously the other key here, is to have the Google Voice service. If you’re lacking in this department, don’t despair (we won’t judge you). The good news is, there are options: You can either let Google know you’d like an invite one day, or ask current users who may have up to three invites to share. Unfortunately I’m all out, or you — my favorite TAB readers — would be in luck.

Because Google Voice functions as a forwarding service, the numbers that may be calling you can potentially come through to your phone directly, and unless those numbers are on your A-List, they’ll be counting against your minutes. To avoid this, you’ll need to go into your Google Voice Settings page. On the ‘Calls’ tab, look for the ‘Caller ID (in)’ section. Make sure that “Display my Google Voice number” is selected, and then save your changes. Doing this ensures that any call in or out of Google Voice (to your cell phone) is covered by AT&T on your A-List. Otherwise those calls will be from an arbitrary number that was transfered to you.

The key to success with this setup is using Google Voice for as much of your calling as possible. That means getting the word out to those who call you too. Lifehacker has some good tips for making this transition, if you’re ready to commit. Ideally, you can access either the Google Voice webpage from the browser on your phone, or you have access to the Google Voice app which is only available to Jailbroken iPhones. (Though fear not, our very own Chris Ryan has given some solid tips for getting the most out of Google Voice, regardless of your phone situation.)

When you initiate a call using Google Voice (whichever flavor of access you opt for), the service first rings your phone, and then connects that call on your phone to the number you wanted to dial, so from an A-List perspective, it’s your Google Voice number that’s performing the call.

So that’s about it. There’s not a whole lot to it, but rather, more about connecting the dots. I think it’s a fair solution too. AT&T is guaranteed to get $200 out of my family each month, and with the huge pool of roll over minutes we’ve got built up, it’s not likely we’ll ever have an overage anyway, so we’re all happy at the end of the day. Good luck getting yours setup, and enjoy the free calls.

Related GigaOM Pro Research: How Google Voice Could Change Communication

January 15, 2010 by Christina Warren

8

TCM iPhone App Brings Movie Classics to Your Pocket

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Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has recently released an iPhone app that promises to bring movie classics to your pocket. The app, which is $2.99 in the App Store [iTunes link], has movie clips and trailers, photos and access to the TCM schedule.

I’m a film fanatic (I am @film_girl, after all) and as an Atlantan, Turner Classic Movie has always held a special place in my heart (except for that period of colorization, which we should just try to ignore). TCM airs more than 300 movies every month, all uncut and commercial-free, spanning different decades and periods of film history.

What you might not know if you haven’t been to the TCM website before is that it also has quite a wealth of information and historical data, as well as essays about films and different genres. The iPhoneiPhone

app brings much of the best aspects of the website to your phone.

The schedule lets you see three months worth of data, and you can select a seven-day view or choose a specific day on the calendar. On February 1, TCM starts its annual “31 days of Oscar” celebration, and I only wish there was a search feature, similar to what HBO has for its app, to make it possible to find and set reminders for showtimes. When you click on a film, you can read a full synopsis, cast information, trivia and see any essays or other stuff related to the film.

There’s also a collection of film clips and trailers (small now, but hopefully growing) that are presented in the correct aspect ratio. It’s really neat to see how movie trailers from the 1950s and 1960s looked. You can also view photos and press kits from select films, look at classic actor and actress images, and see stuff like posters and lobby cards. You can also read the latest entries from TCM’s movie blog, though I wish the entries were a little better formatted for the app. Images are not clickable and text isn’t spaced out in a way that makes it easy to read on a handheld.

Qualms aside, this is a good app with lots to enjoy for TCM and classic movie fans.

While just on the iPhone for now, TCM plans to release a version for the AndroidAndroid

and BlackBerryBlackBerry Rocks!

platforms in February.

What are your favorite movie-related mobile apps? Let us know!

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Tags: app review, iphone, Movies, TCM

User reviews: Android, BlackBerry Rocks!, iPhone

As we begin 2010, there are over 100,000 iPhone apps available for download — an overwhelming array of choices, but plenty of gems if you know where to look.

To help you out, we’ve compiled all of Mashable’s iPhone app reviews in a definitive list to kick off the year. From social media, to business tools, to just plain cool, the iPhone does it best with these App Store standouts.

Put your downloading hat on — there’s a lot of awesome in our iPhone Apps List 2010!

PS. Look out for more updates to this list throughout the year.

Social

Whether you’re talking about social media, or actually interacting with other humans face-to-face (shudder), there’s a plethora of apps that will help you connect, keep in touch, and avoid any unintended faux pas.

70+ Free iPhone Apps for Social Media Mavens

10 Fantastic iPhone Apps That Use Facebook Connect

5 Great Examples of Facebook Connect on the iPhone

29 Twitter Apps for the iPhone Compared

FriendFeed on iPhone: Comparing the Options

10 Essential iPhone Apps to Avoid Dating Disasters

5 Must-Have iPhone Apps for Wine Lovers

10 iPhone Apps That Bring Holiday Cheer

10 iPhone Apps to Help You Survive the Holidays

Business & News

Show your BlackBerry brethren that the iPhone also means business. These apps will help you get work done and stay on top of what’s happening in the news.

8 Fantastic Free Business Card Apps for the iPhone

10 iPhone Apps to Avoid Work Disasters

14 iPhone Apps With Push Notification for Productivity

A Guide to Better Web-Working From Your iPhone

10 iPhone Apps to Manage Your Job Search on the Go

50+ Free iPhone Apps to Make You Richer

Top 30 iPhone Apps for Organization and Productivity

40 Free Apps to Read Breaking News on Your iPhone

5 of the Best iPhone Apps for Political Junkies

Entertainment, Music, & Games

The iPhone is like holding a multiplex, a rock concert, and a Wii in the palm of your hand — that is of course if you have the right apps in tow. Check out these great games and other amusements that will surely keep your accelerometer… accelerating.

60+ Free Classic Tabletop Games for the iPhone

20 Free Role Playing Games for the iPhone

iPhone TV: Top iPhone Apps for Live Streaming Television

100+ Free Sports Apps for the iPhone

10 Free Music Based Games for the iPhone & iPod Touch

Social Music: 5 of the Best Free iPhone Apps

Star Trek on iPhone: 11 Apps for the Ultimate Movie Experience

5 iPhone Apps for Pulling Off Pranks and Tricks

Social Media Break: 5 Free iPhone Apps to Fight Midweek Malaise

Family, Shopping, & Travel

The iPhone is a great tool for honing your domestic prowess. These apps will help keep the kids in line, get your dream vacation in gear, and hopefully save you some money in the process.

15 iPhone Apps to Tame the Kids

20 Fantastic Free iPhone Apps for Parents

Back to School: Top 10 iPhone Apps for Students

11 iPhone Apps for Stress Free Family Travel

11 Essential iPhone Apps for a Road Trip

10 Best iPhone Apps for Dog Lovers

5 Great iPhone Apps for Pet Owners

5 of the Best iPhone Apps for In-Store Savings

Miscellaneous

Some apps could save your life, spark your creative passion, or just plain WOW you. These apps don’t quite fit in the categories above, but still deserve your attention — if you’ve got any space left.

20 Creative Apps For Your iPhone

10 Amazing Augmented Reality iPhone Apps

7 iPhone Apps That Can Save Lives

7 Soothing iPhone Apps to Help You Relax

Top 10 Free iPhone Apps to Lose Weight

Top 6 Augmented Reality Mobile Apps [Videos]

Images courtesy of iStockphoto, JulNichols, pmtavares, GreenPimp