Go Desk Introduces Scrolling Panorama Wallpaper And Animations On The SpringBoard

Go Desk Introduces Scrolling Panorama Wallpaper And Animations On The SpringBoard 

One of the big features in iOS 6 is the introduction of a panorama shooting mode in the default Camera app. Unfortunately for those of us who like using our photos as wallpapers, there isn’t a good way to turn a panorama into a wallpaper on the standard firmware without cutting the picturedown. Luckily there’s a recently released Cydia utility called Go Desk that can create scrolling desktop backgrounds from high resolution pictures.

Go Desk panning through a random panorama snagged from Flickr.

The Tweak: Go Desk’s Cydia page says it supports high resolution wallpapers (at resolutions of 1290 by 960 and above?), so naturally I put this to the test by grabbing the highest resolution panorama I could find on Flickr. Unfortunately when I tried to load the monstrous 62 megapixel image, my iPhone 4 crashed. When I picked a more modest panorama, the app behaved as expected. My lesson? Don’t be a jerk.

When you select a picture (from the Camera roll) using Go Desk, the app displays a two rectangle overlay that you can stretch to adjust. The fixed rectangle on the left will be your first screen while the adjustable rectangle on the right will be the maximum distance Go Desktop will scroll to–the wider the frame the more dramatic the animation. You can adjust the rectangle by dragging on its corners, and pinch to zoom the background image.

Caveats:

• Go Desk doesn’t support the iPad; currently you’ll just get the panorama effect in a corner of the screen.
• I also found that it caused minor lag on my iPhone 4. Newer devices should run the software more smoothly.
• Needlessly large panoramas will cause crashes.

Synergy: Go Desk is an ideal companion to any panorama photography app.

Where to find: Go Desk itself is a free wallpaper Cydia tweak and is available in the BigBoss repository. The wallpaper can be set from the Go Desk app on the SpringBoard. In addition to panoramas Go Desk also supports animations. The first supported Animation in Cydia is called Go Desk Moonlight Pond, which is available for on Cydia for $2.99; the animation features frogs, fish, and lily pads.

What do you think of Go Desk? Do you have panoramas you’d like to use as wallpapers, or do you prefer ordinary textures and stills? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

ApplenBerry Release iOS 6 Compatible GEVEY Ultra S For GSM iPhone 4S

ApplenBerry Release iOS 6 Compatible GEVEY Ultra S For GSM iPhone 4S

ApplenBerry has released the GEVEY Ultra S for the GSM iPhone 4S that is compatible with the iOS 6 firmware. This Turbo SIM requires no dialling 112, has better reception and consumes less power over previous models. Unfortunately however, that is not to say that it does not come with some caveats.

The GEVEY Ultra S for GSM iPhone 4S for iOS 6.0 will only work on the GSM version of the iPhone4S. The CDMA version of the iPhone 4S will only be compatible with it once a proper Jailbreakingsolution is released. As for baseband support, according to ApplenBerry, this new Turbo SIM cardwill work with the following baseband versions “1.0.14, 2.0.10, 2.0.12 and 3.0.04.” Furthermore, there is currently an issues with the MMS.

The GEVEY™ Ultra S for iPhone 4S iOS 6.0 does not fully support MMS functionality in GSM iPhones. Due to the way MMS settings are locks within iOS 6.0, there are limitations on manually inputted settings. iFunBot, IBackUpBot, and Jailbreak have been used in previous iOS versions to manuallyprogram SMS and MMS settings and circumvent this issue.

Although the new GEVEY Ultra S for GSM iPhone 4S for iOS 6.0 will get the job done of unlockingyour GSM iPhone 4S on iOS 6, it is not very practical. We would suggest looking into an IMEI unlocking solution from someone trustworthy like Will Strafach; you will of course pay more though.

If you are interested in pursuing ApplenBerry’s new Turbo SIM card, you can click here to find out more information. It will cost you $22.99.

BlueStacks Beta Officially Released For Mac OS X And Windows, Run Android Applications On Your PC

On a train hurtling across Switzerland and individual lets his daughter use his Android phone to play a game. When they get to their destination the daughter wants to play the same game on her dad’s computer. The problem is however, the game isn’t available. Unlike most people who would just move on, an idea was formed. What if you could run Android apps on Windows / Mac OS X computers?

This lead to the birth of BlueStacks, an application that allows you to play a variety of Android applications on both Windows and Mac OS X computers. We reported on BlueStacks back in June when it was in its Alpha stages for Mac OS X, but now the beta version has just been released. In the beta version comes the ability to run every Android application that the Google Play Store has to offer. This beta update essentially makes BlueStacks on par with the Windows version that is now actually pre-installed on ASUS computers.

BlueStacks is becoming very popular to say the least and has actually passed the 5 million install mark. Thanks to partners such as AMD and ASUS BlueStacks looks like it has a bright future ahead of itself. Some of the upcoming improvements includes an App Discovery system to make it easier than ever to find apps.

If you are interested in trying the BlueStacks Beta for either Mac OS X or Windows you can download it by clicking here. What do you think of the idea of running Android applications on your computer? Let us know in the comments.

XBMC Hub Wizard For iPhone, iPad, And iPod Touch Configures Popular XBMC Plugins–Also Configures Apple TV

A couple days ago we ran an article on the nito Installer for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Like its counterpart onMac OS X, nito Installer can quickly load XBMC to an Apple TV 2 without opening a terminal window. In addition to loading XBMC onto the Apple TV, it can also be used to load XBMC onto the devices the Installer is running on, including the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

In either case XBMC doesn’t come with the best plugins pre-installed. Out of the box you have a barebones installation and access to the default XBMC repository where not everything works.

XBMC Hub Wizard installs third-party plugins on iOS with one button press–and a bit of a wait.

The Tweak: XBMC Hub Wizard is a utility that installs a whole bundle of popular apps and repositories to your Apple TV, or iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch. When you start up the XBMC Hub Wizard you have two options: configure AppleTV 2 or configure your local device. Press the button and the process launches.

This process really takes a while. For me, it took maybe twenty minutes on my speedyiPad 3 and a halfway decent DSL connection. On a slower machine or a worse connection, this process could take longer.

Not my first choice of channels, but you can pick and choose from the included repositories.

Caveats: Despite the fact that XBMC Hub Wizard was explicitly designed for iOS devices, some of the plugins included don’t work (hint: almost anything with the word “flash” in the title). Another possible point of contention is that the bundle also includesplugins which are explicitly designed not just to provide access to legitimate sources of content, but also pirate sites for TV shows and movies. The mix of preinstalled plugins is baffling, which includes Fox News and the CBC’s French language Tou.TV service, but there are many more to choose from in the repositories. It’d be great if we could configure the selection of apps we’d like to install from the get-go.

Where to find: Like nito Installer, XBMC Hub Wizard can be found for free in theBigBoss repository on Cydia.

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Nito Installer Now Available For Windows; Installs XBMC To Jailbroken Apple TV 2

Want to install XBMC on your jailbroken Apple TV 2? You could mess around with terminal commands, but wouldn’t you be more comfortable with a GUI? We’ve covered the nito Installer software that automates the processfrom an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, orMac computer in the past, but what if you just have an Apple TV and a Windows computer?

Lucky for you, Brandon Holllan recently ported Kevin Bradley’s nito Installer to Windows. The Installer is identical to the Mac version, with options for installing, upgrading, or removing both the NitoTV and XBMC software, as well as instant access to popular XBMC repositories and packages. There’s even a bar for running terminal commands over SSH for direct control over your Apple TV’s system, if you need it.

Now available on Windows.

All you need to do is install the software from the JailbreakAppleTV website, select a directory and let it install on your machine. Once installed, you can open nito Installer, select Apple TVs on your WiFi network, and select whichever option you want from main screen. You may want to select the option to Transfer Custom XBMC addons, as the default popular addons are a little eclectic.

The windows port, promoted by Kevin Bradley–the developer behind the Mac OS X source.

You can download nito Installer for Windows [here]. The software is free to use, and works with jailbroken AppleTV 2s.

If you’d rather use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to install XBMC, both nito Installerand XBMC Hub Wizard are both available for free in Cydia. The iOS version of nito Installer loads XBMC while XBMC Hub Wizard installs recommended packages.

Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Galaxy S4 Concept Features An Edge-to-Edge 1080p Display, Laser Keyboard, Android 5.0 & More [VIDEO]

Galaxy S4 Concept Features An Edge-to-Edge 1080p Display, Laser Keyboard, Android 5.0 & More [VIDEO]

The Galaxy S IV is yet to be announced officially by Samsung, but given the popularity of Android’s most successful smartphone series, it’s not too surprising to see the blogosphere abuzz with speculation regarding the features of the Galaxy S III’s eventual successor. We’ve heard various talk of 1080p unbreakable displays, CES announcements, and April release dates, but as yet, we haven’t much of an idea of its aesthetic form. As we await our first leak, Russian blog rozetked has thrown up a very intriguing concept design featuring a laser keyboard, super-svelte form factor, and an edge-to-edge display, all topped off with a delicious helping of Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie. Sound intriguing? We’ve got more juicy details – and a sumptuous demonstration video – right after the break!

When it comes to smartphones, we all have our individual favorites, but it just so happens that consumers have really taken to Samsung’s Galaxy S series. At the higher-end of the market, it seems to wipe the floor with all other competition, and aside from Apple’s iPhone, is consistently the biggest-selling handset among consumers.

The Korean company likes to go all-out when it comes to features, and we’re expecting nothing less of the Galaxy S IV. Yet while it will likely be the strongest, most feature-laden device on the market when it launches early next year, it’s still rather unlikely to compete with rozetked’s dreamy concept video.

Played over a background of relaxed, Bluegrass music, this thing looks most elegant when docked, and showing off its laser keyboard. Of course, we can rest assured such a keyboard will not be a feature of the real S IV, but if it were to, the general consumer interest would likely skyrocket beyond anything seen previously in the smartphone sphere.

The video reels off a bunch of other specs – mainly akin to those we’ve already seen hitherto, and for the benefit of those whom may not have caught the previous reports, Samsung is likely to pack in a 13-megapixel camera, larger and sharper display, and a bump in processor performance – among a bunch of other enhancements.

CES would seem the likeliest venue for the launch, although it has been said on numerous occasions that Samsung may showcase the sought-after handset at its own special event.

More Grand Theft Auto V Screenshots Released; Happy Holidays From Rockstar [IMAGES]

More Grand Theft Auto V Screenshots Released; Happy Holidays From Rockstar [IMAGES]

There may be absolutely no Christmas or seasonal theme to the latest Grand Theft Auto creation, but for those hardcore fans out there who are literally about to burst with excitement over the fifth major iteration of the game, then there is simply no better Christmas present then getting the chance to peek at a few new high-resolution screenshots that show just how epic Grand Theft Auto V looks. While we were visiting family members and polishing off the stuffed turkey, it seems that Rockstar was hard at work pulling together some press images to show the world what to expect from GTA V.

The five newly released screenshots don’t give away much about the game other than the graphics and environment, visuals look out-of-this-world stunning, but they do paint an interesting picture of some of the things we can expect to see as part of the game. The three angry looking Mafioso types are nothing new to a Grand Theft Auto game, but it also seems that we will be witnessing a pink-collar wearing dog riding in a convertible vehicle as well as the inclusion of some underwater predators that will make crashing into the sea a lot moreepic.

The newly released screenshots also show that gamers can expect to take to the skies for at least a few missions as well as having to enter into the aforementioned sea in some form of underwater half-submarine type contraption that we can only hope will protect our character from the rather large sharks that are coded into the game. They may not show a great deal about the game but they certainly manage to raise our excitement levels just that little bit higher.

As we move into the new year, we expect too see more screenshots coming out at a more frequent rate from the game developers, especially as they aim to ramp up excitement about the game that they are planning on officially introducing to the world in May 2013. Excitement levels already seem to be at an unprecedented levels, considering we have only seen a handful of official images released to date, but it’s more than likely that Rockstar will be fuelling that excitement with a number of additional promotional releases in the coming months including some all-action gameplay trailers that show the main protagonists in action.

(Source: Rockstar)

Apple Reportedly Working On iWatch With Intel, Will Feature Bluetooth 4.0 And OLED Display

Apple Reportedly Working On iWatch With Intel, Will Feature Bluetooth 4.0 And OLED Display

The previous-gen iPod nano certainly whet the appetites of those dreaming an iWatch. For some reason, the idea of the wearable iOS device is something people seem to really yearn for, and although said nano was little more than a trumped-up, iOS-ified iPod nano with a separately-sold wrist strap, it gave us a glimpse, perhaps, into the future. Today, the iWatch rumors have been reignited once more, and as well as the possibility of a release in the first half of 2013, the speculators are touting a possible 1.5-inch OLED display, Bluetooth 4.0, and – get this – the involvement of chip-making extraordinaire Intel.

If you’ve been quietly anticipating the prospect of an iWatch, these are arguably some of the most exciting rumors hitherto – particularly that of Intel’s alleged attachment to the project. According to Chinese blog TGBUS (via iMore), the supply chain for the product also points to an RiTdisplay 1.5-inch OLED screen, and while the Cupertino company has utilized Intel processors for its Mac range, this would be the first mobile device to see such implementation. Apple’s favoritism toward LED over OLED would also be another first, suggesting Apple is really prepared to break the mold in bringing this intriguing product to market.

Much like the iPad mini prior to its release a couple of months back, it’s a rumor that – despite resolute skepticism – simply will not pass, and although today’s reports should be taken with the proverbial pinch of salt, it would be naïve to dispel anything at this point.

As I mentioned earlier, there does seem to be a strong undercurrent of desire for an iWatch, but considering many of us have ditched the traditional wristwatch in favor of compulsively checking our smartphones for the time, is the market really crying out for an Apple-made watch?

Whatever the case may be, Apple will need to do what it has done with all its products, in making it seem "cool." The idea seems, to me, a little bit "geeky" as is, and the last thing the Cupertino company will want is a product stigmatized as too geeky for the general population.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on the matter, so please drop us a comment on our Facebook or Google+ pages, and let us know if you would seriously consider buying such a product.

Design killer apps with The iOS App Design Course Bundle [Deals Hub]

There’s nothing worse than having a great app destroyed by an unappealing look. Don’t let a genius app idea lose its luster because of a poor design. This iPhone Hacks Deals offer aims to help you deliver designs for your app that make them shine rather than hide in shame – and you’ll get this trio of courses for just $79 for a limited time.

Here’s what you’ll get in The iOS App Design Course Bundle:

iPhone App Design Course

This course is for anyone with beginner-level knowledge of Photoshop. From this class you will learn the comprehensive process of iPhone app design, including prototyping, user experience design, interaction design and visual design where you will learn to make your app pretty in just 7 days.

iPad App Design Course

Looking to get a jump start on your iPad app design? This mini course includes a full set of iPad design templates (retina and non-retina) and video lessons on the quickest way to get started on your app design

iOS Icon Design Course

What is the first thing your potential customer sees before buying your app? Your app’s icon. This is your first chance to scare off or attract new customers. In this course you’ll learn how to create an icon that will make them tap through for more.

You can learn more about all three courses over at the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub.

Now you can’t go into this bundle completely empty-handed. You’ll want to have a beginner’s knowledge of Photoshop in order to get the most out of this package. But if you’ve got the knowledge coupled with a desire to learn iOS app design, these courses will help you learn how to design both iPhone and iPad apps and icons quickly and effectively.

But The iOS App Design Course Bundle isn’t going to be around for long. All three curses in this bundle are worth $249 – and you’re getting them in this iPhone Hacks offer for only $79!

So don’t delay – pick up this bundle today!

New Solar Charger For Your iOS Devices :WakaWaka P ower

WakaWaka Power: A Solar Charger For Your iOS Devices

 Jain on Dec 25, 2012 | 3 Comments

In the wake of events like Hurricane Sandy, we’ve come to realise the importance of alternate power sources like sunlight, which function even when the conventional power grid goes down. WakaWaka Power, a portable solar charger for your iOS devices, hopes to come in handy in situations like these, where a power outlet isn’t accessible.

The charger, as you’d expect, is a project on Kickstarter and has already exceeded its minimum funding amount with 17 days to go. WakaWaka Power is a follow-up product to theWakaWaka Light, a solar-powered LED used in various developing countries.

Here’s the project description:

The WakaWaka Power is a pocket size mini power station with super efficient solar cells and a power management system which ensures efficiencies which are up to 200% better than any other product in the market.  Apart from charging your smart phone, WakaWaka Power is also a light source which can provide you with more than 40 hours of excellent reading light (on a single day solar charge!).

Place WakaWaka Power in direct sunlight for a whole day and you will notice that the battery will be completely full, even if you live in New York or Seattle (where the intensity of the sun is far less than in Texas). The capacity of the battery is large enough to fully power most mobile phone from completely depleted, to practically full. On top of this, you will have 10 or more hours of excellent reading light as well. If you don’t charge your phone or tablet, as said before, you can have more than 40 hours of light.

For $59 you can reserve the solar charger for yourself. It charges pretty much all portable devices that come with a USB cable. The estimated shipping time is May 2013. There’s an added social-good element to the project as well, with the creators of the project planning to assemble the charging units in Haiti, to aid in the economic development of the country.

Here’s the project’s Kickstarter page.