Waiting, waiting, waiting

tmro, the cats behind Wellington bus timetable app WelliBUS are seeking feedback on what could potentially be a very cool solution to adding real-time information to the app. Founder Nick Parfene tells us that users of the app, of which there are around 4,000, are very vocal about their desire to see not just when the bus is scheduled to turn up but when it is actually going to turn up. It’s a need we can all identify with… so what’s the solution?

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Look ma, no wires!

Reader carper55 recently posted in the forums asking for advice on a suitable Bluetooth stereo headset to use with his iPod touch. It’s an often over-looked fact that both the iPhone and iPod touch (with the exception of the first generation models of both) are A2DP enabled, which means they can send your music to Bluetooth headphones or other devices like car stereos. We asked carper55 to review the headphones he decided on, so with many thanks to him, hear is his Guest Review.

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26-in-one. Too good to be true?

All-in-1 Gamebox is one of those apps that has been hanging around the Top Ten for a while now, and currently it is sat in pride-of-place at number one. It’s an interesting concept: you buy the app for $1.29, and with every update another game is added for free, meaning your initial investment of $1.29 keeps on delivering more-and-more value.

Having started with eight games on-board back in October 2009, the app now boasts an impressive twenty-six games, so the return on investment is very good! But if you’re like me and are sceptical by nature, you’ve probably seen it and thought “26 games for a $1.29? Must be rubbish” and passed on it. Well, a couple of months back I gambled $1.29 (big risk-taker, me) and bought a copy. Read on for my review of this box of delights.

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NZ launch delayed

Well, this is turning into one rollercoaster ride. Since the initial excitement of the announcement we’ve been through lows and highs and here we are back on a bit of a downer again. Apple has this morning announced that the iPad will be available in the US from April 3rd, and some international territories in late April, but alas New Zealand is not among those locations which are Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. Additional countries (of which we would hope we are one!) are scheduled to get the iPad ‘later this year’. Check out the full press release from Cupertino after the ‘read more’ link, and be sure to tell us what you think about this news and where you might be planning a special iPad-purchasing holiday to in the comments.

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Meet Aura

Sygic, creators of one of our favourite GPS navigation apps, Mobile Maps, have announced their next-generation ‘real 3D’ GPS app, Aura. Described rather excitedly as a “dream come true”, it promises to be a “professional car navigation meets pedestrian-centric application with social networking in a single real 3-D futuristic product”. Phew! Got that? We have to say… it looks fab with densely and slickly-animated 3D buildings and topography, and best of all a New Zealand version is coming. We’ll be going hands-on with an in-depth review once the app is released but in the meantime read on for the full press-release, screen-shots and a video demo to whet your appetite. Read More

Coming to a virtual bookshelf near you?

Back at the end of January, it looked as though the iBook Store (as announced at the iPad event just days before) was going to be for the US only. While that may well be the case at launch, three lucky countries appear to be almost certainly getting it at some point: and one of them is New Zealand. Read More

Time for a replacement?

If you currently own and use an Apple mobile device (iPod touch or iPhone / iPhone 3G / iPhone 3GS) and you’re considering upgrading to a newer one or you’ve been given another one as a gift or a warranty replacement, or perhaps you’re even considering switching to an iPad, the question of what to do with all the content you’ve bought and synced to your current device and how to avoid losing it has probably crossed your mind. There are a lot of myths and presumptions floating around out there, largely because iTunes and the way it syncs to your devices is so misunderstood. Here, we’ll try to clear up a lot of those misunderstandings and set the record straight on what’s involved with switching devices.
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"Let down": Paul Reynolds, Telecom CEO

Telecom CEO Paul Reynolds has fronted-up to journalists at a press conference this afternoon over last night’s further XT outage, and the situation as a whole. He said that the company recognises the inconvenience that customers have been put to and announced a further compensation package for both consumer and business XT customers. An angry Reynolds spoke of how he feels “let down” by network operator Alcatel-Lucent, that “enough is enough” and that the company have been “put on notice” following this fourth outage. Hit ‘read more’ for the full press release.

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Ask iPhonewzealand

Every day we receive lots of emails from people who have bought either a new iPhone 3GS or 3G, or have bought an original iPhone via Trademe or eBay, and they are confused as to which networks they can use it on or whether it’s unlocked or can do this-or-that. We’re not surprised, it’s certainly not easy trying to get your head around it all, particularly if you’ve only just started looking and are trying to size the lay of the land. To help you understand the differences between each of the three models, how they work with each of the main three networks here in New Zealand and to help you pick the phone that’s right for you, we’ve put together a handy comparison guide. Hit the ‘Read More’ link to view the guide on-screen or to download a printable PDF.

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Calling all parents!

8Interactive, an iPhone development group based in Wellington, have contacted us with regards to an app they are developing which requires a closed beta environment to test and refine the product before it can be finalised and sent to Apple for approval on the App Store. They are seeking iPhone owners in Wellington who have children aged three to seven to take part, and an iPod touch is up for grabs for one lucky participant. Hit the link for further details and contacts.

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