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BlackSMS iOS App Lets You Send Encrypted Text Messages

Lambert Varias — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:00:27 +0000

In today’s digital and connected age, privacy is becoming an increasingly precious commodity. It’s much easier to write, read and archive digital messages, but as the recent iMessage fiasco has shown, it also creates new privacy and security risks. Users of iOS devices who want to be extra careful might want to check out BlackSMS, an app that lets you encrypt outgoing iMessages.

Watch the demo below to find out how to use BlackSMS:

I find it a bit tedious to keep switching between the Message app and BlackSMS, especially if you end up engaged in a long conversation. It would’ve been nicer if it was integrated into iMessage itself; then again I’m not sure if Apple will allow that. Also, keep in mind that both you and the person you’re texting have to have the app and need to be texting with iMessage, not regular SMS. But if you can’t wait to pass digital secret notes, download BlackSMS from the App Store for $0.99 (USD). Just don’t render it useless with a weak password, okay?

[via Lifehacker]

Virtual Chorded Keyboard for Tablets: Piano Prose

Lambert Varias — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:00:30 +0000

Touch-based interfaces have generally made it easier for the user to interact with devices, but that’s not the case when it comes to typing. Virtual on-screen keyboards have small keys, provide no tactile feedback and take up a significant amount of the screen. The folks at Teague Labs think they may have a possible alternative – a virtual chorded keyboard.

In case you’re not familiar with the device, a chorded keyboard has fewer keys – the user presses multiple keys at once to enter a single command or character. This not only leads to a smaller device but makes it possible to type with one hand. Entering the patterns on such a device is similar to playing chords on a piano, hence the name. This is an example of a chorded keyboard. I’m not sure if the Kee4 Keyboard also qualifies as a chorded keyboard, but it does work in a similar way.

As for Teague Labs’ app, it uses five virtual buttons which appear when the user places all five fingers on the screen. Theoretically, it addresses the three weaknesses of traditional on-screen keyboards. The buttons are large. If you can memorize the patterns for characters, then you don’t need tactile feedback. Finally, the buttons go away when you lift your fingers off of the tablet’s screen; they can also be dragged in another area of the screen. Then again they take up the whole screen while you’re typing. Here’s the app in action:

If you have an iPad or Android tablet, fire up your tablet’s browser and go to this page to try out Teague Labs’ chorded keyboard prototype. Note that the app doesn’t allow for punctuation marks – those will be included in the second set of buttons, which are still in development. It’s a nice concept but I think I’ll stick to the default keyboard on my iPad. I don’t do a lot of typing on it anyway and I’m already looking at the screen when I’m typing so I don’t need to touch type.

What I really want is for Apple to include a numpad-style button, similar to the ones available on older cellphones. Years of owning Nokia phones have burned the memory of that interface to my thumbs. Also, I’m not sure if the guys at Teague Labs are aware of this, but there are already virtual chorded keyboard apps for both the iPad and for Android tablets, although the ones I saw are designed for use with two thumbs.

[Teague Labs via Hack A Day]

Cinemagram: Like Instagram for Animated GIFs

Range — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:00:36 +0000

There has been a revival of interest in animated GIFs since you can make some fun stylized animations with them. Some of the more recent stuff is pretty interesting, which is probably why the Cinemagram app was just released for iOS devices. It allows you to easily create animated GIFs and share them directly from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

Cinemagram converts short film clips into a single, animated image. It also offers special filters and photographic effects that can be layered onto the resulting animations. You can even select only a part of an image into a GIF, making it look like a video is embedded in a still photograph. Here are a couple of examples produced with the app:

You can get Cinemagram from the iTunes App Store for $1.99 (USD), and check out more Cinemagrams on Cinemagram’s Tumblr site.

[via designboom]

TypeWay App for iPad Adapts the Keyboard to Your Typing Style

Hazel Chua — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:00:54 +0000

When I type using my iPad, I become a one-finger typer. I usually type with at least four to five fingers when I’m using a regular keyboard, so that’s saying something. Instead of being able to bang out sixty-five words a minute, I’m now limited to approximately just somewhere around the fifteen word mark.

However, that can soon change with TypeWay. In fact, you can get back to typing using all ten of your digits, if that’s what you’re used to or if that’s what you’d want to do. The virtual keys in this app for your iPad will automatically change position and placement in order to adapt to your hand position and typing habits.

TypeWay isn’t just a keyboard app; rather, it’s text editing software complete with basic iOS 5 features like cut, copy and paste, spell-checker, suggestions for word correction, and multi-touch features. The developer made it this way since you can’t replace the regular virtual keyboard that comes with your iPad (though we wish that Apple would some day allow for this.) One other caveat is that the TypeWay keyboard currently only supports an English international keyboard in landscape mode.

You can purchase TypeWay from the iTunes App Store for $5.99 (USD).

[via Chip Chick]

App-Controlled Fireplace: For Lazy Romantics

Lambert Varias — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:30:05 +0000

Back in the olden days, starting a fire in a fireplace was a trick, something that had to be learned. I should know. I live in the tropics. And back in the olden days, man didn’t even know how to start a fire period. Now what do we have? Fireplaces that are Wi-Fi connected and can be controlled with mobile apps.

The tech was developed by New Zealand-based fireplace manufacturer Escea and is currently available in their two latest models, the DX1500 and DL850. Both fireplaces can be operated remotely by an iOS app – shown above – eliminating the need for a dedicated remote control or any conjuring skills. An Android app is also being developed. Both models can also be integrated with home automation systems.

The list of character-building activities continues to dwindle. What’s next, an app that pitches tents? I would buy that. I have built my character using weakness and resignation.

[via Design Milk]

“If I Die” Facebook App Lets You Post One Last Message From Your Grave

Hazel Chua — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:00:33 +0000

Some families contact Facebook to have the accounts of their loved ones closed when they pass away. Others just leave them be so contacts can leave comments remembering the life they led and the impact they made on the lives of others.

But when your time comes, would you want to leave a last word of some sort?

Sometimes, circumstances make it impossible for you to leave your last word, like if you’ve got some illness where you’ll be too weak to speak or if you go by way of an accident. It would’ve been too late – if you didn’t have the “If I Die” app, that is.

It’s an app for Facebook that will make sure you’ll be able to have your last word.

Just activate the “If I Die” app, prepare a video or text message, and you’re all set. When you die, three trustees who you’ve appointed when you set the app up will confirm if you have indeed passed. Your message will then be automatically posted to your wall from beyond the grave.

[via Daily Mail]

Kanye West Wants to Hire “App Guys and Tech Guys” for His DONDA Project

Shane McGlaun — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:00:37 +0000

Kanye West has returned to Twitter, and he used the service to talk about a new business venture that the is set to launch that sounds very, very far reaching. Kanye wants to get into everything from clothing design to apps and social media and is looking for hoards of people that help make it happen. The company will be called DONDA.

Donda West is Kanye’s late mother, who passed away back in 2007. Kanye offered no hard details on what the company will try to do, but it sounds sort of like a mish-mash of everything Kanye is into, with a large dose of social consciousness. With rappers seemingly doing well with clothing and electronics like headphones the move is no surprise. But reading over his tweets, it sounds like the company aims to do more than to just make a buck, and impact the world in positive ways.

Kanye has written about the project stating: “I am assembling a team of architects, graphic designers, directors musicians, producers, AnRs, writers, publicist, social media experts, app guys, managers, car designers, clothing designers, DJs, video game designers, publishers, tech guys, lawyers, bankers, nutritionist, doctors, scientist,teachers. DONDA will be comprised of over 22 divisions with a goal to make products and experiences that people want and can afford. I want to put creatives in a room together with like minds that are all waaaay doper than me. We want to help simplify and aesthetically improve everything we see hear, touch, taste and feel… To dream of, create, advertise and produce products driven equally by emotional want and utilitarian need.. To marry our wants and needs.”

If you think you fit Kanye’s bill, drop an email to contactDONDA[at]gmail.com.

[via Betabeat]

GymPact Makes You Pay for Not Working Out

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:00:31 +0000

If your resolution is to get fit in the new year, but you think you might end up blowing it off, this app might help you. It’s called GymPact and you can get it now for the iPhone. The idea behind the app is that your own hard-earned money is at stake if you don’t go to the gym and work out.

To start, you create a weekly “pact” that says how many times you’ll go to the gym, and an amount you’re willing to give up if you don’t. When you get to the gym, you have to stay at least 30 minutes for the workout to count using its check-in feature. If you don’t check-in you have to pay up for not meeting your goals. The upside is that you can get cash rewards (typically about $1 a visit) if you stick to your goals, using the funds paid up by those that didn’t go. Naturally, GymPact takes a chunk of all the money you put in, 3% to be precise.

I guess if you are lazy and cheap, the thought of losing a buck might be enough to get you to go exercise. I would worry about people gaming the system though. What do you think?

If you want to try it, you can download the free GymPact app over at the iTunes App Store.

[via TechCrunch]

Poly iPad App Makes You Look Like M… M… M… Max Headroom

Range — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:00:21 +0000

Ever wondered what you might look like if you were trapped inside a computer program? While it’s not exactly what was envisioned in TRON or The Matrix, this iPad app can polygonize almost anything you throw at it, including pictures of yourself. The result looks pretty cool and you can use it to create many different shapes and images.

The app is called Poly by Innoiz that allows you to draw points that allow you turn your pictures into sharp-edged geometric shapes and simplified colors. The art Poly creates is inspired by the triangulation invented by the mathematician Boris Delaunay in 1934. Apparently, there’s lots of fancy math stuff going on behind the scenes, though you easily manipulate images and reduce them to their essential forms using just your fingertip.

The resulting images are pretty cool, don’t you think? If you want to try it out for yourself, Poly is available from the iTunes App Store for $0.99 (USD).

British Prime Minister Runs Country with iPad: There’s an App for That

Range — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:00:04 +0000

British Prime Minister David Cameron will soon take care at least some of his daily business for the UK thanks to a personalized iPad app. It will primarily be used to provide him with real time data on England’s various key statistics. The only problem I see is what might happen if it were to get hacked. Chaos! Though to be honest, security services have probably vetted it thoroughly.

The PM will be able to see the latest stats on how long people have to wait for NHS healthcare, crime and unemployment figures, as well as other important data sets. The app will also pipe in real-time news from Google and Twitter, so that he’s aware of breaking news stories.

Downing Street expects to have the app in hand by March 2012. This custom app is supposedly the first of its kind specifically written for a world leader, at least that has been publicized. I can’t decide whether knowing this is good or bad, depending on how secure it is. At least he can’t start a war by pressing the wrong button.

[via The Telegraph via DVice]

Change Identities on Your Windows Phone with Face Swap

Hazel Chua — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:00:49 +0000

If you’re sick and tired of how your face looks, then maybe it’s time for plastic surgery. Sounds painful and unappealing, right? Not to mention expensive. But here’s a solution for you, albeit a really temporary and novel one: use Face Swap.

If you’re an iPhone user, you’ve probably already tried using a similar app already. But if you’re the owner of a Windows Phone, you might have felt a little bit left out in the cold because of the lack of face swapping apps for your OS – until now, that is.

Face Swap has now been released by Microsoft Research for Windows Phone users to download and use for free! Swap faces with your friends and family with a shake of your phone or a tap of a button. Facial recognition algorithms automatically detect headshots and work the magic behind the scenes. When you’re done swapping faces, you can also post the results for your social networks to see.

There! How’s that for a quick fix?

[via Engadget via Peta Pixel]

Wander Lets You Take a Virtual World Tour Through Photos

Hazel Chua — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:00:17 +0000

A lot of people I know love to travel, but they can’t, because: a) They have to work; b) They have no time; or c) They have no money. I love to travel myself, but sadly, the first two reasons apply and sometimes the third one is applicable, too. (Like right now, since I spent a ton on Christmas presents for myself and for my family.)

But did you know that with just your iPhone, you can travel the world for free? With Wander, you can virtually visit countless locations all over the world through the magic of pictures.

Wander will have you fill out your profile first. Then you choose where you want to “go,” and the app will hook you up with another user from that country.

For a week, you can correspond through instant messages and photos, and get a glimpse into the world of someone who lives in your destination country.

And when your week-long virtual tour is over, you can start over again at another destination. Pretty neat for something that’s available for free. It’s currently available over on the iTunes App Store, and is coming to Android soon.

[via Peta Pixel]

Action Movie FX iOS App: Get Your Freddie Wong On

Lambert Varias — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:00:52 +0000

Do you want to launch a missile on your cat or crash a car in your bedroom? Really? Why would you want to do that? Go to your room and think about what you thought of while the rest of us have fun with the Action Movie FX iOS app.

Action Movie FX comes to us from none other than J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Interactive, and lets you add explosive special effects to a clip with just a few taps on your iOS device. Choose an effect, record the scene where you want the effect to take place and then cue when to launch the effect. After a couple of seconds – and a Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol ad – your video is done. Here’s a quick sample from the guys at Slash Gear:

Take that, table! The app comes with two effects – missile attack and car crash. The other effects – tornado and chopper crash and fire fight and airstrike – are available as in-app purchases for $0.99 (USD) per pair. Still not impressed? Here’s Mad Ass Gamers‘ demo of all the effects:

Attack the iTunes Store with your mouse (or finger) to get Action Movie FX. Your videos won’t be as sweet as the ones made by Freddie Wong or as overwhelming as Michael Bay’s effects vomits, but then again it’s a free app. I tried it on my iPad and it’s really easy to use. The Mission Impossible ads are not that annoying since they only pop up when the app is “processing”, although I don’t know if the ads will still be there even if you purchase the additional effects.

[via Slash Gear]

Reel Doozy Adds Santa (or Keenan Cahill) to Your Holiday Movies

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:00:02 +0000

If you have kids and they’re anything like mine, they are apt to bust out singing and dancing at any given moment to some sort of soundtrack in their heads. One episode of Dancing with the Stars, my daughter danced with her cat and after a talk about how kitty’s legs don’t move like our arms, poor ol’ Cutie still fears music.

The point is, I end up with a lot of video of my kids doing weird things dancing around. I bet most parents have a bunch of that stuff too. If you want to turn some of those dancing videos into holiday vids you can share, Reel Doozy is a new iOS app that will let you. The app uses green screen tech to superimpose Santa, elves, or that Keenan Cahill kid from YouTube in the video dancing with you.

The app lets you upload the videos you make to YouTube, Facebook, and email them as well. The app is free and you can get the first four video foregrounds free as well. Grab the app on the iTunes App Store now if you want.

Find My Car Smart Helps You Find Your Car, Stupid

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:30:45 +0000

I used to get so mad at people I was with who would park their car and then forget where they parked. But I can understand it in some instances. I once lost my car at a NHRA national’s event. When I arrived at the venue, I thought I was a mile from the place and it couldn’t get any worse for parking. I was so wrong, by time I left there were literally a hundred acres of cars and I thought I’d never find my ride.

If you have the issue of losing your car a lot, hit Kickstarter and check out the new Find My Car Smart app and hardware combo. Together, they will tell you where you parked, how far you are away, and how long the car was there. While there are already apps which remind you where you parked, you don’t have to remember to activate this one. The dongle works its magic by detecting when you power down the car and automatically tells your iPhone to make a notation using its GPS sensor. The Smart dongle for your car communicates with your iPhone 4S using the new low-power Bluetooth 4.0 standard. According to its maker, this is the first app to use Bluetooth 4.0.

The app is on the iTunes App Store already, but the hardware part isn’t shipping quite yet. A pledge of $25 will get you the dongle and the app, while a pledge of $30 or more you get the app, dongle, and a car USB charger to keep it powered up, in case your car doesn’t already have a USB port. Find My Car Smart expects to start shipping the first of the devices in late January 2012.

Snappily 3D App Happily Shoots 3D iPhone Pics (Glasses Not Included)

Shane McGlaun — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:00:45 +0000

The world has gone 3D crazy these days, it seems. I am all for some sweet 3D content at the movie theater or with some shows on TV. I am not all for 3D everything though. For instance, I really don’t want the pics I take all the time in 3D so there is no real benefit to me getting one of those 3D phones that shoot 3D pics.

However, a new app has surfaced for the iPhone that is interesting to me. The app is called Snapily 3D and it allows you to shoot 3D pics on your iPhone easily. However, you need to wear colored glasses to view the photos you snap (unless you want to try the crazy glasses-free “cross-eyed” mode.)

According to reviews, the app takes a bit to get used to, but once you do, the 3D effects are fantastic. It can snap pics in either color or greyscale, and you can even print your 3D images. One catch is that 3D glasses naturally aren’t included with a digital purchase. You will have to find your own stereoscopic glasses and tell the app what sort you have. It appears that the app takes multiple photos for precise distances and overlays them for the effect.

The Snapily 3D app is on the App Store to purchase right now for $1.99 (USD)

X-Ray App That Lets You See Through Model’s Clothing Boosts Sales

Hazel Chua — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:15:06 +0000

So here’s more proof that sex sells. I think it’s sort of sad why a lot of retailers push women dressed in skimpy or revealing stuff when they aren’t even selling said clothing (or rather, lingerie) in the first place. Liquor ads? Perfume campaigns? Ads for deodorant?

And now it’s spread on over to ads for winter clothing. Yes, you read that right: winter clothing. Moosejaw decided that they wanted to boost their sales by showing their models in their underwear. How? By releasing an X-ray app that worked with their Winter Catalog to do just that.

Just fire up the app and hover your device over the print catalog or digital catalog, and you can see the models in all their near-naked splendor.And it worked, too. Moosejaw has seen a 37% increase in sales from the same period in November of last year. At least they didn’t discriminate, and have both women and men in their undies.

Gary Wohlfeill, Creative Director at Moosejaw, explains the move: “Our goal at Moosejaw is to always create a unique and notable customer experience. Something that everyone who shops with us will want to tell ten friends about. The X-Ray catalog and X-Ray App are designed to create an incredibly cool, interactive and fun experience that breaks the barrier between our print and digital brand.”

What do you think?

[via Oh Gizmo!]

Cut the Rope’s Om Nom Gets His Own Cartoon

Shane McGlaun — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:00:08 +0000

Of all the apps out there that I play on my tablet and smartphone, Cut the Rope is one of my favorites. The little cute character Om Nom only wants to eat candy, and I can understand that. The little bugger is cute, and now the creators of the game have offered up a little animated cartoon starring Om Nom for you to enjoy.

The cartoon is called Om Nom Stories. In it, Om Nom pops out of an iPad when the person isn’t looking and goes exploring. He happens on a tennis ball and tires to eat it, but we all know those things don’t taste good. He spies a bag of eats on the counter and goes searching for candy, when on the way, he encounters the family cat, and wacky hijinx ensue. Check out the cartoon below and see for yourself.

Not an Oscar-worthy plot, but still good fun.

Fruit Ninja Plush Toys Won’t Slice Your Budget in Half

Lambert Varias — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:00:54 +0000

If you’ve collected just about every bit of Angry Birds merch on the planet, it’s time to show some love to the other poster boy of touch-based gaming, Fruit Ninja. Developer Halfbrick recently opened its online store, with plushies of the sweet slicer’s Sensei mascot and a watermelon as its first offerings.

In keeping with the game’s theme, the watermelon plushie has separate upper and lower halves. Sensei is in one piece though.

You can order the Fruit Ninja plush toys on Halfbrick’s online store. The watermelon plushie costs $15 (USD), Sensei costs $16 and the Training Pack – which includes both toys – costs $30. Hey Halfbrick, I like the watermelon plushie, but you know what would really make you bajillionaires? Jetpack Joyride plush toys.

[via Joystiq]

Call of Cthulhu Christmas Calendar App: Go Really Insane for the Holidays

Range — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:15:26 +0000

What’s better than a Cthulhu 2012 calendar? How about a calendar app, that will deliver complete insanity directly to your mobile device? It sounds like some Cthulhu cultists have embraced new technology in order to make more people insane during this holiday season. I’m all for this, as people are already loony this time of year.

Red Wasp Design’s app features an original Cthulhu image that can be opened each day. You’ll find Cthulhu having lots of fun with Santa Claus, mistletoes, and Christmas trees. These fun images have been merged, mixed, mutated and mashed up with other, darker figures from the Cthulhu Mythos.

You’ll also get to answer a Cthulhu-related question each and every day. The tally will be revealed on the 25th, and it will give you your Mythos rating. It’s available at the iTunes App store for iPhone and iPod ($0.99), for iPad ($1.99) and in the Android Market ($1.09).