GPS for an iPod Touch, Coming in February

Dual Electronics has updated their site promising that the XGPS300 Navigation Cradle for the iPod Touch, originally expected in November ‘09, will be shipping later this February. The cradle offers GPS support for all models of the iPod Touch and comes bundled with a Windshield Mount kit and the NavAtlas App all for the price of $179.99. While some critics have taken aim at the price point claiming it to be too steep for a consumer who might as well buy a dedicated standalone GPS unit, there are some features of this that might make the expense a little easier to swallow.

Adding significant value to the deal is the battery pack portion of the cradle which can be switched on and off as necessary. Whether it be to keep the GPS from draining all of the touch’s power or simply as a power boost to keep the it kicking, the XGPS300 is capable of doubling its battery life. Battery pack cases alone usually cost between $60-$100, not to mention that this also means you’re not tethered to your car. Unlike many other standalone GPS units, which get all of their power from the cigarette lighter, this one can be taken hiking, biking, swimming…well maybe not swimming, but you get the idea.

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The iPod Touch, Location Services, and Skyhook: Let’s Make This Work.

The iPod Touch is sometimes considered the iPhone’s “baby brother” of sorts. While it’s matured into a formidable device, there are still a few things that us iPod Touch users don’t have: a camera, for example, and an always-on cell connection with GPS. Location Services on the iPhone are a cinch thanks to GPS. But what about iPod Touch users? Location Services can be incredibly useful, but there’s nothing more frustrating than clicking “deny” every time an app requests to use your location in order to avoid a long, fruitless search. Well, it turns out that iPod users haven’t been left out of the loop…not quite.

If you’re one of the lucky ones, your iPod’s Location Services will work the instant you connect to a WiFi network, like they’re supposed to. But for the many of us, that nasty “Location cannot be determined” pop-up is a constant reminder of our device’s limits. So why does this work for some people, and not for others? It all depends on where you live and what wireless networks your device finds. For example, my iPod’s Location Services were absolutely useless at home, but when I drove two hours to the Apple Store to have them look at it (hey, I had other shopping to do, too!), suddenly there wasn’t a problem.

The reason for the discrepancy is that the iPod relies on Skyhook for location information. Don’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of it; the Apple “Geniuses” hadn’t, either. Skyhook is essentially a database of known WiFi points and their addresses that supplies the technology behind non-GPS Location Services on the iDevices. (See the “how it works” page.) Here’s the catch, though: if your WiFi access point isn’t registered with Skyhook, Location Services simply won’t work. Skyhook’s coverage is far from comprehensive, focusing primarily on urban areas, so this isn’t exactly an uncommon problem.

To remedy the situation, you can register your router on their website by entering your email address, your physical address, and your router’s MAC address. Instructions for finding your MAC address are available on their website, and after submitting the information it takes 1-3 weeks for Location Services to work.

And that’s it! So, if you were wondering why Location Services just won’t work on your iPod…here’s the likely answer.

Let us know if you’ve had a similar experience, and/or if this works for you. As for me, I’ll be enjoying my newfound ability to, you know, use Maps. What a relief!

Four Of The Best Photo Editing Apps For Your iPhone!

When taking photos on the move, sometimes it pays to have photo editing apps. After all, you’re not going to tweet that picture without a bit of increased contrast, or brightness – right? It’s a well-known fact nowadays that the majority of photos we see on the web have being edited in some way in a graphics package such as Adobe Photoshop. But what if you can’t get to your computer and need reliable and feature filled editing applications on the move?

Being a keen photographer and designer, I thought it’d be fun to give you my low-down on the photo editing apps I personally think you should have on your phone. I’ll explain why I think you should have them, and what features and benefits I like most about each application. Here we go!

PhotoForge

Definitely one of the more fully-featured photo editing App Store offerings, PhotoForge (in my opinion) should have you pretty much covered for your mobile editing needs. Just like all the editors I’m about to feature, the app will allow you to open, edit and save a photo to your iPhone’s camera roll. What makes PhotoForge a great pick for this over it’s competition is it’s feature set. As well as allowing you to rotate and crop your photo, the app also offers a wide range of both adjustment and visual effects which are comparable to Adobe Photoshop on a mobile level.
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Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles To Be Released Next Week

According to Carmen Pearson, Public Relations Manager for Gameloft, Assassin’s Creed for the iPhone & iPod Touch is “slated to hit the App Store by early next week”.

The game, which has no price as of yet, will once again place you in the shoes of Altair, Master Assassin for The Order of Assassins, as he attempts to retrieve “The Chalice” from the Templars in an effort to end the Crusades. According to IGN, “Assassin’s Creed for the iDevices is indeed largely based on Altair’s Chronicles, the DS prequel to the very first Creed game.”

Continue reading Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles To Be Released Next Week »

Elegant film rental app allows easy queue management on the go.

iPhone OS 2.2 Released! Go Grab It!

Apple late last night released iPhone OS version 2.2 for all iPhone and iPod Touch models. It’s available now by going into iTunes, connecting your device and selecting Check for Updates.

2.2 Adds the following features:

* Enhancements to Maps
o Google Street View*
o Public transit and walking directions
o Display address of dropped pins
o Share location via email
* Decrease in call setup failures and dropped calls

* Enhancements to Mail
o Resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
o Improved formatting of wide HTML email
* Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)

* Improved stability and performance of Safari
* Improved sound quality of Visual Voicemail messages
* Pressing Home button from any Home screen displays the first Home screen
* Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

For details on the features, head on over to http://www.apple.com/iphone/softwareupdate/.

One note — if you have a jailbroken phone, don’t apply this update yet. Wait for those crazy kids to update QuickPwn/WinPwn or whatever you use to work with 2.2. If history holds it will only be a few hours.