A bar code scanner and a four-wheeler dirt racing game: iPhone apps of the week
Do you have a "jailbroken" iPhone? Ever since the iPhone first came on the scene, there has been a large group of users who believe Apple tries too hard to control what works and what doesn't on the iPhone. The minute a new iPhone firmware update is released from Apple, a whole slew of people search for ways to unlock the device, letting them download apps that have never had to go through the App store acceptance process. This means that apps that would have otherwise never seen the light of day can be used on an unlocked (or "jailbroken") iPhone.I personally have no opinion about those who jailbreak iPhones because I believe in the free-flowing open-source idea of software, while also believing a company ought to have some control over their products. In other words, I guess I fall somewhere in the middle. But I have never jailbroken my iPhone because part of my job is to review apps that everyone has access to (in the iTunes Store) and I need to have the same user experience with the iPhone that most people have. Also, I would say I'm happy with the iPhone as is.According to AppleInsider, a recent release to Apple's iPhone firmware makes the device invulnerable to the usual jailbreaking tactics. I guess we'll have to wait and see how long it takes the community to jailbreak the latest version (if they can), but you can bet they're working on it right now. If you have a jailbroken iPhone, please tell us all about it in the comments.This week's apps include an excellent product bar code scanner and a four-wheeling ATV game that's probably the best of its kind in the iTunes Store.You'll need to hold still (better than I do) in order to get an accurate scan.Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNETRedLaser ($1.99) lets you "scan" products to give you a list of prices from online retailers. There are a few products that perform a similar function at the iTunes Store and several have been made for other devices, but RedLaser is surprisingly effective using only the built-in camera on your iPhone. Simply tap the lightning bolt icon and line up the bar code in between the guidelines on your screen. You have to remain still for about a second, but soon RedLaser beeps, indicating it has scanned the code. Once scanned, you are presented with a list of matches from various stores so you can find the best price.I tried RedLaser on a number of products including old game guides, CDs, and books I had lying around, and in almost every case, RedLaser was able to identify the item. The app also saves all your previously scanned items in a list making it easy to check back once you're ready to buy it online or at the store. Overall, if you like to comparison shop or just want to make sure you're getting a good deal when out and about, RedLaser is a fun and useful app to have. Frankly, it's fun just to try to stump RedLaser with the most obscure object you can find.Even on the medium level, it's tough to stay out in frontScreenshot by Jason Parker/CNETATV Offroad ($7.99) is made by 2XL games, the same company that made SuperCross, a motocross racing game I talked about in an earlier post. Not only does ATV Offroad add two more wheels (instead of dirt bikes, you're on four-wheelers), but it adds the feature I and many other reviewers complained Supercross lacked: a career mode. Now, in addition to amazing graphics and excellent physics, you'll be able to race through challenges and multirace competitions to unlock more tracks. There also are freestyle, quick race, andmultiplayer modes, but you'll need to be on the same Wi-Fi network to race against your friends.ATV Offroad sets itself apart from other racing games the second you hit the track with smooth-looking graphics and excellent accelerometer-based controls. You can even pull off huge tricks while in the air by hitting onscreen trick buttons. You can choose between three skill levels, though I found even the medium skill level to be very hard to beat. If you don't like the look of your racer, you can easily switch between multiple ATV designs and different-color leathers with a swipe of your finger before a race. Overall, ATV Offroad adds just the right amount of core features to be the great game SuperCross could have been. If you like off-road racing, I highly recommend this game.What's your favorite iPhone app? Have you priced all the products in your house with RedLaser yet? Do you think the addition of the career mode makes ATV Offroad the dirt racing game to beat at the iTunes store? Is your iPhone jailbroken? Let me know in the comments!
How to install iOS 7
How to install iOS 7
If youriPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch is pictured above, then you can upgrade it to iOS 7 today and experience the radically new design and new features while you eagerly anticipate the expiration of your current contract.There are two methods for downloading and installing iOS 7. You can simply update your iOS device over the air via the device's Settings, or you can connect it to your computer and use iTunes. Before you update, however, it would be a good idea to back up your iOS device. In addition, there are a few other things to do before you install iOS 7, including upgrading to the most recent version of iTunes (11.1).Method 1: Over the airIf you are on a Wi-Fi network, you can upgrade to iOS 7 without needing to bother with iTunes. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and click the Download and Install button for iOS 7. You may run into some issues today with Apple's servers getting slammed by millions of iOS device upgraders. My download failed about a dozen times this afternoon before finally completing.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETAfter tapping the Download and Install button (and crossing your fingers), you'll need to tap to agree to Apple's terms and conditions and either heed or ignore Apple's advice to connect your device to a power source during the download to save battery.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETOnce you have successfully downloaded the file, which was 667MB for my 16GB iPhone 4S on Verizon, you'll be greeted by an Install Now button. After the update installs and your device restarts, you'll know immediately that you're using iOS 7, right from its initial greeting:Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETSlide to configure iOS 7. You'll need to click through the following setup screens:Hooray! The update is complete!Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETLocation Services, yes or no?Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETSign in to iCloud.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETNew and improved Find My iPhone...noted.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETAdd a passcode to keep prying eyes away from your data.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETMethod 2: Via iTunes If you are near your computer with iTunes, it might be faster to update this way. In my experience, updating my iPad 2 via iTunes was faster than updating my iPhone 4S over the air. The first order of business is to update iTunes to version 11.1. Open iTunes and then click iTunes > Check for Updates to install the latest version.Once iTunes is up-to-date, connect your iOS device. Click on your device in the upper-right corner of iTunes and then click the Update button.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETA pop-up window will appear, alerting you that a new iOS version is available for your device. Click the Download and Update button. (Or, if you are going to need your phone in the near future, opt for the Download Only button to download it now and install later. iOS 7 is a 649MB download for my iPad 2 and took the better part of an hour to download and install via iTunes.)Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETIf you chose to download and install the update, you can monitor its progress in the status window at the top of iTunes. Keep your device connected to your computer until your device restarts. After restarting, your device will greet you in any number of languages by the blinding white iOS 7 setup screen.Que paso?Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETSlide to enter iOS 7's setup process, which will have you tap through a handful of screens to configure settings, including Location Services, iCloud, iMessage and FaceTime, Find my iPad, and a passcode.For more on Apple's radically redesigned mobile operating system, read CNET's full review of iOS 7.
If youriPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch is pictured above, then you can upgrade it to iOS 7 today and experience the radically new design and new features while you eagerly anticipate the expiration of your current contract.There are two methods for downloading and installing iOS 7. You can simply update your iOS device over the air via the device's Settings, or you can connect it to your computer and use iTunes. Before you update, however, it would be a good idea to back up your iOS device. In addition, there are a few other things to do before you install iOS 7, including upgrading to the most recent version of iTunes (11.1).Method 1: Over the airIf you are on a Wi-Fi network, you can upgrade to iOS 7 without needing to bother with iTunes. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and click the Download and Install button for iOS 7. You may run into some issues today with Apple's servers getting slammed by millions of iOS device upgraders. My download failed about a dozen times this afternoon before finally completing.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETAfter tapping the Download and Install button (and crossing your fingers), you'll need to tap to agree to Apple's terms and conditions and either heed or ignore Apple's advice to connect your device to a power source during the download to save battery.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETOnce you have successfully downloaded the file, which was 667MB for my 16GB iPhone 4S on Verizon, you'll be greeted by an Install Now button. After the update installs and your device restarts, you'll know immediately that you're using iOS 7, right from its initial greeting:Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETSlide to configure iOS 7. You'll need to click through the following setup screens:Hooray! The update is complete!Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETLocation Services, yes or no?Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETSign in to iCloud.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETNew and improved Find My iPhone...noted.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETAdd a passcode to keep prying eyes away from your data.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETMethod 2: Via iTunes If you are near your computer with iTunes, it might be faster to update this way. In my experience, updating my iPad 2 via iTunes was faster than updating my iPhone 4S over the air. The first order of business is to update iTunes to version 11.1. Open iTunes and then click iTunes > Check for Updates to install the latest version.Once iTunes is up-to-date, connect your iOS device. Click on your device in the upper-right corner of iTunes and then click the Update button.Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETA pop-up window will appear, alerting you that a new iOS version is available for your device. Click the Download and Update button. (Or, if you are going to need your phone in the near future, opt for the Download Only button to download it now and install later. iOS 7 is a 649MB download for my iPad 2 and took the better part of an hour to download and install via iTunes.)Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETIf you chose to download and install the update, you can monitor its progress in the status window at the top of iTunes. Keep your device connected to your computer until your device restarts. After restarting, your device will greet you in any number of languages by the blinding white iOS 7 setup screen.Que paso?Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNETSlide to enter iOS 7's setup process, which will have you tap through a handful of screens to configure settings, including Location Services, iCloud, iMessage and FaceTime, Find my iPad, and a passcode.For more on Apple's radically redesigned mobile operating system, read CNET's full review of iOS 7.
Amazon to launch streaming-music service for Prime-
Amazon to launch streaming-music service for Prime?
Amazon plans to launch a streaming-music service in June or July similar to the one Apple just agreed to purchase through its Beats deal, though the e-commerce company's catalog would be limited, according to a Buzzfeed report on Thursday.A message to Amazon seeking comment wasn't immediately returned. The article, citing unnamed people in the music industry familiar with the plans, said the offering wouldn't have new music releases -- songs would be about six months old at their freshest-- and it would be part of Amazon's existing $99-a-year Prime membership program, which includes free second-day shipping on some Amazon purchases and a Netflix-like streaming video service. By adding a music service to Prime that is fundamentally more restricted than its major rival, Amazon is unlikely to lure in totally new customers attracted solely to a streaming product. However, following Amazon's recent price increase to Prime from $79, the addition of streaming music will be a bonus for people who are already members, and it will turn Prime into a more well-rounded collection of services. The streaming-music category is still relatively unfamiliar to mainstream consumers but is growing rapidly -- and quickly becoming more competitive. Sweden-based Spotify as well as a host of smaller startups vie with similar offerings by tech giants like Google's Play Music All Access and soon-to-be Apple's Beats Music.Yet services like these often generate their greatest spikes in attention by brokering exclusives or early releases for their platforms. Beyonce, for example, released her latest album exclusively through iTunes, dropping 14 tracks and 17 videos without any prerelease hype, leaks, or reviews -- and garnering a huge amount of press for her project and for Apple's music store in the process. Amazon will be at a disadvantage to competitors if the catalog restrictions on new content extend to such deals, but exclusive arrangements are typically negotiated in one-off pacts unrelated to broader licensing agreements.With subscription-music services growing rapidly and digital downloads showing their first sales decline last year, music labels have been accommodating to new services seeking to license content to stream. A deal that limits streaming access to older tracks -- thus insulating physical and digital sales when demand is highest -- was likely an easy pitch to make to labels.The article said that Amazon has reached license deals with Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group, two of the big three music labels, as well as several independent ones. The status of Universal Music Group, the world's biggest recorded-music company by revenue, wasn't confirmed.
Amazon plans to launch a streaming-music service in June or July similar to the one Apple just agreed to purchase through its Beats deal, though the e-commerce company's catalog would be limited, according to a Buzzfeed report on Thursday.A message to Amazon seeking comment wasn't immediately returned. The article, citing unnamed people in the music industry familiar with the plans, said the offering wouldn't have new music releases -- songs would be about six months old at their freshest-- and it would be part of Amazon's existing $99-a-year Prime membership program, which includes free second-day shipping on some Amazon purchases and a Netflix-like streaming video service. By adding a music service to Prime that is fundamentally more restricted than its major rival, Amazon is unlikely to lure in totally new customers attracted solely to a streaming product. However, following Amazon's recent price increase to Prime from $79, the addition of streaming music will be a bonus for people who are already members, and it will turn Prime into a more well-rounded collection of services. The streaming-music category is still relatively unfamiliar to mainstream consumers but is growing rapidly -- and quickly becoming more competitive. Sweden-based Spotify as well as a host of smaller startups vie with similar offerings by tech giants like Google's Play Music All Access and soon-to-be Apple's Beats Music.Yet services like these often generate their greatest spikes in attention by brokering exclusives or early releases for their platforms. Beyonce, for example, released her latest album exclusively through iTunes, dropping 14 tracks and 17 videos without any prerelease hype, leaks, or reviews -- and garnering a huge amount of press for her project and for Apple's music store in the process. Amazon will be at a disadvantage to competitors if the catalog restrictions on new content extend to such deals, but exclusive arrangements are typically negotiated in one-off pacts unrelated to broader licensing agreements.With subscription-music services growing rapidly and digital downloads showing their first sales decline last year, music labels have been accommodating to new services seeking to license content to stream. A deal that limits streaming access to older tracks -- thus insulating physical and digital sales when demand is highest -- was likely an easy pitch to make to labels.The article said that Amazon has reached license deals with Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group, two of the big three music labels, as well as several independent ones. The status of Universal Music Group, the world's biggest recorded-music company by revenue, wasn't confirmed.
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