Dec 02
By now you’ve probably all heard about apps being rejected by app store reviewers only to have the outcome overturned by Steve Jobs himself. The latest case even involves a developer being allowed to use a private api (a major no no for the rest of us unworthy developers.)
Well I say NO MORE! For the first time ever I am going to share with you the secret to getting your app rejections overturned 
Introducing The Steve Jobs Card (very rare):
” Tap Steve Jobs to instantly overturn your app store rejection. You may only posses one Steve Jobs card per deck and it may only be played once per game. Playing this card will boost your noteriety mana +100, But you will incur -50 damage to the support of your fellow dev’s. Caution: this card can be blocked if your opponent casts the common sense spell. ”
Download your very own hi-res version of the Steve Jobs Card HERE!
Nov 13
Those cool guys at iD Software have released the source code to the hugely popular DOOM Classic game for iPhone & iPodTouch. It has been released under the GPL License and can be downloaded from HERE. You’ll probably also want to read the Build Instructions. 
For more information check out Development on Doom Classic By John Carmack, Technical Director, Id Software.
If you’re not an iPhone developer you can purchase the game from the AppStore
Features:
Play the legendary first person shooter, DOOM, with an iPhone or iPod Touch. Fight through 36 missions in four action-packed episodes: Knee-Deep in the Dead, Shores of Hell, Inferno, and Thy Flesh Consumed.
Experience DOOM multiplayer on your mobile device, including Deathmatch and Cooperative play for up to four players via wireless internet.
Choose from three different control types and customize the interface to suit your style.
Explore the depths of Mars while utilizing the topdown map to help you explore and save your game on the fly.
Listen to the original soundtrack or disable it and use your own iPod music.
Oct 17
I want to tell you about a handy free tool that developers can use to make their app demos more realistic and interesting. It’s called PhoneFinger by Wonder Warp Software. Simply what is does is turn your mouse cursor into a human finger. Not only does PhoneFinger make your demos look better but it also serves as a good usability test. Another really cool feature of PhoneFinger is the ability to create your own custom hands. Maybe you don’t like the default finger or you just don’t want your demos to look like everyone elses, no problem. The author provides detailed instructions on making the customizations (See Below.)
Download the latest version from HERE
From the authors website:
Test and demo your iPhone apps the way they’ll actually be used!
Because of the iPhone’s high-resolution screen, Apple’s iPhone Simulator may use an area on your Mac’s display that’s physically far larger than an actual iPhone. This makes designing and testing user interfaces troublesome. Software that’s easy to use with a magnified screen and the precision of a mouse can be difficult on the actual device. PhoneFinger puts things in perspective and reveals hidden usability problems.
How to create custom hands for PhoneFinger:
PhoneFinger uses its own .hand format to bundle hand graphics and related information. In addition to those that are built-in, PhoneFinger will use .hands from ~/Library/Application Support/PhoneFinger/Hands.
A .hand file is actually a folder — you can right-click on it and choose “Show Package Contents” to look inside. Inside of a .hand package are the images the hand uses as well as an Info.plist file.
So, to make a hand, just drop all the images and a customized Info.plist into a folder whose name ends with .hand, and drag it into the Hands folder. You’ll have to restart PhoneFinger for the hand to show up.
If you make anything particularly cool, let us know and we’ll put it on the PhoneFinger site for others to use!
Info.plist Reference
The Info.plist file is in property list format. You can edit it in any old text editor, in the Property List Editor that comes with Apple’s Developer Tools, or in a tool like PlistEditPro.
In the Info.plist file, you can specify the following values:
PFHandName- The readable name of your hand. Displayed in the hand model menu in the app.
PFHandAuthoroptional- The person or company responsible for the hand. Not displayed currently.
PFHandAuthorWebsiteoptional- The URL or email associated with the above. Not displayed currently.
PFHandDescriptionoptional- A description of the hand. Not displayed currently.
PFHandVersionoptional- A version number for your hand to distinguish newer versions from older ones.
PFHandUpImage- The filename of the image that is displayed when no mouse button is pressed.
PFHandDownImage- The filename of the image that is displayed when at least one mouse button is pressed.
PFHandHotspotX- The location of the active part of the image (where a click will actually happen) expressed as a number of pixels from the left of the image
PFHandHotspotY- The location of the active part of the image (where a click will actually happen) expressed as a number of pixels from the top of the image
PFHandMinScaleFactoroptional- A number from 0 to 1.0 expressing the ratio to which your image will be scaled when the user selects the smallest size. You must also specify
PFHandMaxScaleFactor if you specify this property.
PFHandMaxScaleFactoroptional- A number from 0 to 1.0 expressing the ratio to which your image will be scaled when the user selects the largest size.
Oct 12
Now that I’ve started working with the latest and greatest iPhone SDK I’m running into a bunch of deprecated method errors. It’s recommended practice to treat warnings the same as errors so I have been trying to fix them as they pop up. The one in particular that was giving me trouble today was:
NSString *contents = [NSString stringWithContentsOfFile:fullpath];
After doing a bit of Googling I found the solution.
Replace NSString *contents = [NSString stringWithContentsOfFile:fullpath]; with:
NSString *contents = [NSString stringWithContentsOfFile:fullpath encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding error:nil];[NSString stringWithContentsOfFile:fullpath encoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding error:nil];
(Side Note: Ever since I began coding my vocabulary has expanded. Now I get to use words like Redacted and Deprecated Thanks Apple!)
Oct 09
One of my apps [Remix DJ: AudioBox] recently had the honor of being reviewed in iCreate Magazine. They gave it 4 stars out of 5! This issue is almost 3 months old, i’m lucky to have picked it up at the local Barnes & Noble yesterday otherwise I might have missed it.
(Issue #71, page 98)
The text of the article is below:
RemixDJ: Spice up your set with these free samples
” The iPhone is so much more than a phone that you can now even integrate it into live electronic music. This simple app aims to provide DJ’s with a bevy of samples to use while playing a set. The audio quality is excellent and the simple trigger button means there is no lag between button pressing and the sound being played, so you be sure you don’t mis-time your triggers. All of the samples are royalty-free, so you can use them in all of your endeavors – even if you’re already a superstar DJ and playing in front of thousands of people. There’s nearly 200 sounds available, so there’s plenty of choice and variation. This app is very honest; it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what it is. If you want to get a boat-load of samples for free and use them for fun or even public performance, then it’s perfect.”
Verdict 4 stars Best for: DJs
Oct 09
Oliver Fürniß from www.curioustimes.de has released a very handy little OSX app that takes screen shots directly from the iPhone Simulator.
- You can save images as .jpg or .png.
- You can even tell the app to automatically remove the status bar from the top of your images.
It is very easy to use. Just start your App in the Simulator and press the “Take Screenshot“ button.
NOTE: The app only runs on snow leopard
Get the latest version directly from the Authors Website
Jul 15
OK, ok. So I wasn’t actually attacked by pirates but it makes for an exciting headline! I did how ever find a few of my apps listed on Appulous. If you don’t know Appulous is a website where you can download free cracked copies of pay iPhone Apps. Accroding to Appulous the site “is merely a collection of user-submitted links, and Appulous takes no responsibility for what users submit to this site or use this site for.” Well, whatever helps them sleep at night.
Here’s another gem from their website . . . “Apple has chosen to allow a multitude of ridiculous, worthless, poorly-represented applications through its “strict” screening process, nearly all written by mediocre programmers with a dream of getting rich quick.”
So what does Appulous do with these ridiculous, worthless, poorly-represented applications? They distribute them to anyone who wants them for free. Wait, what?
I guess piracy is the greatest form of flattery ?!?!
I also found a torrent for this same app ( damn, it must be popular!) . . .
Jun 01
iSpork
Version: 1.0
Date Submitted: 20 May 2009
Status: In Review
The iSpork is almost better than having an actual Spork in your pocket. Almost.
Touch the iSpork and drag it around to simulate actual Spork movement!
Swipe through the different iSpork Backgrounds to give your iSpork a more authentic look and feel.
Learn the entire history of the Spork, where it came from, where you can get it, what it’s used for. There are even Spork myths and Spork song lyrics!
This is the definitive app for Spork connoisseurs.
Jun 01
File Stash
Version: 1.0
Date Submitted: 17 May 2009
File Stash is a simple application with one main function in mind. Storing/Hiding files safely on your device.
Need to hide personal photos from a girlfriend or spouse?
Need to hide sensitive documents from prying room mates or colleagues?
Maybe you just don’t have your usb stick with you and you need to take your files with you.
Unlike similar applications, files stored in File Stash are not accessible directly from your device. What that means, for example, if you save images in your stash no one will be able to view them if they are browsing through your iphone/ipod touch.
So how do you access your stash? You can connect directly to your stash using any web browser. A wireless network connection is required for access.
If you would like to try File Stash before you buy download File Stash (Free.)
** Features **
- Save as many files as you want in your stash.
- Save any type of files you want. (gif, jpg, doc, xls, mpg, avi, whatever!)
- Files can be any size.
- App name & Icon are intentionally basic so that they do not draw attention to your stash.
- Even if someone discovers your stash app they will most likely not be able to access it without your knowing.
The App displays your device name and the time that the app was started.
Instructions:
1.) Start Stash App
2.) Click on “Stash” button
3.) Enable your stash by turning the switch to on
4.) Open any web browser connected to the same wireless network as your device
5.) Enter the full web address that is displayed inside of the Stash App
ex: http://192.168.2.100:8080
6.) Add/Delete your private files
Tested & Working on all major web browsers:
OSX = Safari, FireFox and Opera
Windows XP & Vista = Internet Explorer!
** Wireless Network Connection Required **
** Stash App must remain running while copying/viewing files **
Apr 24
LiveView is a very cool utility for both Developers & Designers. Basically it allows you to define a 320×480 view of anything on your Mac desktop and displays it directly on your iPhone screen. So if you are using Photoshop/Fireworks, ect you can view the comp live on your device without having to build or compile anything in X Code! Big time saver for creating pixel perfect layouts.
You can download the desktop app (free) from HERE
The iPhone App (free) is available HERE
Instructions:
- Run the desktop app
- Position the iPhone square over your desired graphics
- Run the iPhone app
- View your screen cast directly on your device
