iPhone Live podcast tonight at 9pm EDT, come chat!

iPhone Live, the live recording of the best dang iPhone and iPod touch podcast on the net, hits the air again tonight. Join us!


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Send voice messages with HeyTell for iPhone

HeyTell is an iPhone app that allows users to send voice messages to each other without actually making a phone. It’s like texting, only voice.

I have not had a chance to try this out yet, but it comes highly recommended by a TiPb reader. [Thanks Matt!]

Details and screenshots after the break.

 

Use HeyTell as a walkie talkie, intercom, or instant voice messaging system to send quick voice messages to friends and family with iPhones or iPods. Use the integrated geolocation feature to find your friends when they’ve given you bad directions and you’re just around the corner!

  • Send and receive voice messages with other HeyTell users with the press of a single button
  • Voice messages are quicker than SMS—and free!
  • Very low data usage, no more than sending an email
  • Works on 3G, EDGE, 1X or WiFi
  • Superior audio quality: At 16 kHz, HeyTell delivers twice the frequency range of a cell phone call
  • Push notifications alert you whenever a voice message is received and the app is closed
  • Favorites: Favorite and export messages you like to email or Facebook!
  • Export messages you record to Facebook, Twitter, Email, and more!
  • Extras: Use the in-app purchase function to set alert tones, send messages to groups, change your voice, automatically expire and batch-delete messages, and add emojis to your name!
  • Quickly friend, unfriend, or block contacts. Adding contacts as friends ensures that you can always quickly find them by tapping the To: field and tapping “Friends.”
  • Choose from three different privacy levels to control how users can contact you without an invite:
  • Low Privacy: Anyone who knows your contact information can connect with you without an invite.
  • Medium Privacy: Anyone who knows your contact information and is friends with one of your HeyTell friends can connect with you. Otherwise, they must invite you to connect.
  • High Privacy: No one can connect with you until you accept their invitation.
  • If you want to, share your location with selected contacts while you talk
  • Conversations can be saved and replayed offline, or deleted on-demand
  • All data and audio you transmit to HeyTell and your friends is encrypted in transit
  • Earpiece and speakerphone functionality: Press the SPEAKER button to toggle earpiece vs. speakerphone mode (If you find earpiece sound is too low, enable the speaker)
  • Supports iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices (2G and 3G iPod Touches require external microphone)
  • You do not need to share personal information to connect with HeyTell contacts.

HeyTell is available on the iPhone for free and has optional in-app purchases.

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Apple closed as the most valuable company in the world

While yesterday Apple only briefly passed Exxon to become the most valuable company in the world for a few minutes, today they managed to close that way. Whether they close that way tomorrow or not doesn’t matter. Whether they continue to rack up these type of accomplishments or go on to yet again eclipse them, whether they continue to lay, an image of the splendor of Silicon Valley in glory undimmed before the introduction of the microprocessor, doesn’t matter.

Today, Apple closed as the most valuable company in the world, by market cap.

And iPhone 5 hasn’t even been announced yet.

What on earth is next?

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Daily Tip: How to jailbreak iOS 5 beta 5 via RedSn0w 0.9.8b5

If you’re currently running iOS 5 beta 5 but just can’t live without your jailbreak, the Dev Team has already released RedSn0w beta 5. The only catch is, it’s tethered, just like the previous beta versions of RedSn0w for iOS 5.

Be advised that not all jailbreak apps and tweaks have been updated to support iOS 5. If you’re alright with running tethered and don’t mind a few bugs here and there, follow along for a quick walkthrough.

By this point, almost anyone jailbreaking is already familiar with RedSn0w and how it works. It’s no different this time.
Devices Supported

iPod touch 3G
iPod touch 4G
iPad 1
iPhone3GS
iPhone4 (GSM)
iPhone4 (CDMA)

And I can’t say this enough times, if your device is not listed above, please do not attempt to jailbreak it on iOS 5!
What you need

iOS 5 beta 5 IPSW from Apple’s Developer Portal
RedSn0w 0.9.8b5 – Mac Link, Windows Link

After you have iOS 5 beta 5 installed on your device and your version of iTunes upgraded to 10.5 beta 5, follow the steps below to jailbreak.

First launch RedSn0w.

It should ask you to navigate to a firmware file. Simply navigate to the iOS 5 beta 5 firmware file instead of beta 2.
Once you click next, RedSn0w will take a minute to do it’s thing. You should see a patching kernel message and that Redsn0w successfully recognized your firmware.

Next select the options you’d like RedSn0w to perform. I typically only select Install Cydia. It’s worth noting that this is where you will perform a tethered boot if needed as well. You will just select Just boot tethered for now if you need to do this or your device reboots or dies.

Redsn0w will now walk you through putting your device into DFU mode

After you’re successfully in DFU mode, simply let Redsn0w do its thing and you’re done!

That’s it! The process is pretty much the same as the first time around. But if you do run into problems or have questions, make sure you check out our TiPb Jailbreak Forums. We’ve got tons of great members more than ready and willing to help!

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Chat for GTalk now available

Chat for GTalk is a Google Talk client for the iPhone. The appearance is highly customizable and comes with three themes.

I’m not a big Google Talk user, but if I was, the UI and themes for this app would suck me in.

Details, screenshots, and video after the break.

Chat for Gtalk offers a unique ability to completely change the appearance of chat window, contact list, fonts and background colors of the app. The first version of Chat for Gtalk introduces three fancy themes: Paper, Racing and Simple White.

  • Chat with your GTalk / Google+ friends with the niftiest messenger on the App Store
  • Give your friends the idea of what you’re up to with customizable status messages
  • Cloud-based Chat History with easy access to any conversation you had earlier
  • Send pictures on the go right from the app
  • Push notifications will deliver incoming messages even if you are not in Chat for GTalk
  • Integrated Web browser: open links from the conversations without leaving the app
  • Supports both landscape and portrait orientations for your convenience
  • Splendid graphic emoticons

Chat for GTalk is available on the iPhone for $0.99.

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Walmart closing iTunes music rival

According to Digitial Music News, eight years and almost as many strategies later, Walmart is closing their MP3 Music Download store its $0.88 tracks in the face of insurmountable competition from Apple’s iTunes and associated devices like iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

“After eight years in business, the Walmart Music Downloads Store located at mp3.walmart.com will close on August 28, 2011. All content in the Store will be disabled and no longer available for download from the store.

“The sale of physical record music products on Walmart.com as well as in Walmart US retail stores will remain unaffected. Walmart Soundcheck (soundcheck.walmart.com) will remain operational as a live streaming site without any download options.”

They’ll keep the DRM servers running for customers who purchased WMA music before Walmart switched to unprotected MP3.

Still, Walmart gets added to Yahoo! Music Unlimited, MTV URGE, AOL MusicNow, MusicMatch Jukebox, and growing list of others to exist the music download business. Which is unfortunate because iTunes needs rivals, and not just subscription services like Rdio, Spotify, Zune, Slacker, Pandora, etc., or music lockers like Amazon Cloud or Google Music Beta.

Amazon MP3 is still going strong, though Amazon has failed to grow the service internationally, and has yet to begin offering associated devices of their own, like their much-rumored Android-based tablet. Is the age of downloadable music, outside of iTunes, simply coming to an end?

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Investors want Nintendo to put Super Mario on iPhone, iPad

Bloomberg reports that Nintendo investors are beginning to pressure the console and handheld gaming giant to start offering their iconic titles, such as Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Zelda, etc. on Apple’s iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad platform.

On July 6, Nintendo shares jumped the most in almost four months after Pokemon Co., a former unit, said it’s developing a game for the iPhone and handsets running on Mountain View, California-based Google Inc.’s Android software. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) sent a note to clients saying the move indicated Nintendo may begin making titles for products outside its proprietary hardware.

Hours later, Nintendo denied any change in strategy, and the shares surrendered gains.

Instead, Nintendo is cutting the price of their thus far disappointed 3DS handheld, and betting on their new Wii U console.

Sega and Atari, who exited the console space years ago, offer a variety of titles on iOS, while Playstation maker Sony has brought PSP-like services to Android devices and Microsoft is building XBox Live into Windows Phone.

Nintendo could likewise try to create their own smartphone or tablet, partner with an existing company (RIM BlackBerry or HP webOS?) or simply start offering titles for existing platforms, like iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

They could even test the waters by releasing only their classic arcade or SNES titles, like the aforementioned Sega and Atari have done. (And what bootleg emulators already offer.)

But it doesn’t sound like current management has any plans to do that, any time soon.

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TiPb Asks: What do you want from iOS 5 voice control?

I’m really looking forward to the new, system-wide “Assistant” voice control system Apple’s rumored to be including in iOS 5. From the leaks, it looks like it might be implemented similar to Android — a microphone button on the keyboard that you press to tell your iPhone or iPad you want to talk to it, then it takes your voice command or text entry, sends it to Apple’s servers, and either does what you told it to do or types the text you told it to type.

Currently iOS takes very simple commands like “call” or “play”… and I almost never use it. Holding down the home button for a few seconds then waiting for it to beep and be ready just seems… slow. I’m not sure if the microphone button will be any better, honestly. Now if Apple figured out some way for it to be quietly waiting for a special code phrase that I could say to make it wake up and start listening, that would be sweet, but the technology, especially the impact on battery life, probably isn’t there yet.

It should at least be far more functional that the current system. With Apple’s purchase of Siri and the rumors of their Nuance (the makers of Dragon Dictation) deal, I expect I’ll be able to do much more, like:

“iPhone, get me a taxi at the corner of Sherbrooke and Crescent.” “iPad, make me a dinner reservation at Gibby’s at 8pm tomorrow.” “iPod touch, take a note — bug Seth on the podcast tonight. So say we all.”

Will it work well enough and smoothly enough that I’ll actually use it? That I don’t know.

What are you looking for in iOS 5 “Assistant”? Would something like Android’s existing implementation be enough? What’s your realistic assessment of what Apple can deliver, and what’s your totally unrealistic hope?

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IM+ Pro for iPhone and iPad goes on sale

IM+ Pro, the popular instant messaging client for the iPhone and iPad, is on sale for 40% off.

Of all the IM clients available, IM+ has always been my favorite.

Features and screenshots after the break.

  • NEW! Neighbors offers a new dimension of communication in IM+ by providing users the opportunity to find new real life connections and friends with common interests.
  • No cost per message! Send photos, voice msgs, videos, and IM for free and save on MMS/SMS! IM+ uses your existing data plan or Wi-Fi connection. Voice messages are sent as MP3 files and can be played back on any Mac, PC, or mobile.
  • Apple push notifications: Stay connected even after closing IM+! You’ll be notified when you receive a new message or when certain contact comes online (customizable) in all supported networks up to 7 days after closing the application!
  • New email push notifications – Get notified instantly when you get a new e-mail. Supports AOL, Hotmail, Yahoo!, and GMail.
  • Speech recognition (as in-app purchase) – The very FIRST and the ONLY speech recognition service for instant messaging on iPhone! Easy as 1-2-3. Dictate messages instead of typing them in! Offered on a monthly basis. English only.
  • Group chat – Invite your friends to Skype, MSN, AIM, and ICQ group chats and enjoy group conversations. Incoming Skype calls can be recorded and played back instantly as voice messages.
  • Twitter – View friends’ feeds, favorites, direct messages and replies. Update your Twitter with voice, photo or geo-location messages. ReTweet, Geo Timeline, and Search!
  • Custom status and geo-location – Create your own status messages, or use geo-location to update your status so that your friends can see where you are and easily locate you on a map!
  • Chat history – Access chat history in app and at https://plus.im
  • Built-in browser – Multi-task with a built-in browser! Surf the web and open links from conversations without leaving IM+.
  • Animated emoticons and customizable sounds – IM+ is the only application in App Store with awesome animated emoticons! Emoticons can be turned on or off. Use different sounds for different IM+ actions, such as incoming messages, contact coming online, push alert, etc.

IM+ is on sale for $5.99 (originally $9.99).

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New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Thursday, August 11

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

  • SushiChop: Cut with precision and skill to fill each tray before the timer runs out. Fill a tray chopping the fewest fish necessary to earn a Perfect Chop bonus, but beware the stinky green fish!
  • Puzzle Puzzle 2: Defend our town before pudding slime take our town!
  • Doozy: A fresh approach to productivity and tracking which gives events visual representations instead of showing them in uniform lists and columns. With heavy use of icons, images, colors and other visual cues, Doozy lets you see what you need to do – literally!
  • History Challenge: WWII: Test your knowledge of World War II history in this fun, fast-paced and exciting history quiz written by a college history professor.
  • Granny vs Zombies: The Zombies are in town, and its up to you to send them back to where they came from! You start playing as a lovable granny, but don’t be fooled by appearances! This granny is really kick-ass! Collect different weapons, items, cash, and blast your way through the hordes of Zombies to clean-up the town.
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