Omaha Sternberg of iGameRadio spent her Labor Day weekend at the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), and explains what it is and where computer gaming in general, and Mac gaming in particular fit in. With opportunities for all aspects of the gaming community, from tabletop to online games, Omaha talks about her experiences, the social aspects of the show, and some of the more interesting developments that include a possible update to a game after a decade of waiting, and an upcoming game that involves three very unlikely ingredients and more. Omaha also talks about mobile vs. online gaming, where the iPhone and iPad fit in at this point and in the future, and more.
MacVoices #10104: Omaha Sternberg Reports on The Penny Arcade Expo and Mac and iOS Gaming
MacVoices #10103: Dan Pourhadi Explains Why QUp is a Better iPhone Music App
Dan Pourhadi is back, this time wearing an iPhone app developer’s hat. Dan discusses his new app, QUp, that gives you more control over playlists on the iPhone. Dan admits that it is a little difficult to explain, but tries anyway, highlighting the ability to see, skip and re-arrange upcoming tracks without having to stop what you’re currently listening to, or navigate the traditional menu system. QUp also lets you skip to more music from the artist that you’re listening to, move through the music on your iPhone or iPod touch in a much more intuitive fashion, and more. Dan also provides some thoughts on Apple’s recent publication of App Store guidelines and how it will encourage more developers to write for the Apple iDevices.
MacVoices #10102: The Smile Software Crew Introduce the Cool New Features of PDF Pen 5
Smile Software (formerly SmileOnMyMac) is at it again, upgrading one of their wildly useful tools with even more new and cool features. Jean MacDonald, Philip Goward and Greg Scown join us to talk about PDF Pen 5, New to this version is redacting of PDFs…real redacting, not just cosmetic graphic placement that can reveal confidential information. How this is implemented and why it is so important are covered in depth, as is the other new killer feature, conversion of web pages to PDF documents. You won’t appreciate how useful and sophisticated this is until you hear the group explain how it works and how much control you have to download not just a page, but links and content as well. A live demo is even done during the show, much to everyone’s surprise, so you can hear how long it takes and what you get out of it. The Smile crew review other changes to this version of PDF Pen, how the upgrades work, and how another of their products, TextExpander, is fast evolving into a platform of its own for handling text on the Mac, iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
MacNotables #1031: Ted Landau on the New iPods, Apple TV, Cable TV Frustration and Ping
Like many tech analysts, Ted Landau has spent considerable time pondering the evolution of the iPod, especially in light of Apple’s newly revamped lineup for the portable music player. Note the word “music” because video, both taking and watching, is now a think of the past on all but the iPod touch. Ted discusses the return of buttons to the iPod shuffle, and the loss of them on the iPod nano, whether a touch screen really makes sense at that size, and how Apple is posturing these devices for the future. Ted and host Chuck Joiner also delve into the new Apple TV, the market for online video, frustration with the cost of cable, and what Hollywood and the cable companies are missing. Ted wraps up by providing perspective on Apple’s new music social network, Ping, what works and what doesn’t and for whom.
This edition of MacNotables is sponsored by…
MacJury #1021: The Verdict on New iPods, New Apple TV, Video Rentals and More from Apple’s Special Event
Shortly after Steve Jobs left the stage at Apple’s Special Event, The MacJury convened to review the announcements. Starting with Apple’s decision to stream the event, and the success and implications of that stream over both Mac and iDevices, the panel review everything that was shown. The new High Dynamic Range photography option of iOS 4.1, new Game Center options, new iPod shuffle, nano and touch models, iTunes 10 with the new Ping social network, TV show rentals and a new Apple TV all were entered into evidence and contemplated by the panel of Dave Hamilton, Chuck La Tournous, Don McAllister, Omaha Sternberg and host Chuck Joiner.