Tag Archives: ios

Flickr for iOS now uploads photos “faster” »

February 22nd, 2013

Me, in December of last year:

Now they need to take a queue from Instagram (and many other modern mobile apps) and start uploading the photo immediately, rather than waiting for the user to click “done”, so that it seemingly uploads instantly.

Flickr blog, yesterday:

Uploads from the Flickr app are much faster. We did some magic to optimize uploads, but also start uploading in the background while you think about the photo’s title or where you want to share it to.

It is less magic and more smoke and mirrors but a welcome change nonetheless.

Flickr for iOS 2.01.772 »

December 24th, 2012

One niggle I had with the new Flickr app for iOS was the upload progress indicator was far too subtle (though an interesting take on what could be done to make it unobtrusive). They fixed that with this update.

Now they need to take a queue from Instagram (and many other modern mobile apps) and start uploading the photo immediately, rather than waiting for the user to click “done”, so that it seemingly uploads instantly.

Top 10 Flickr for iPhone tips »

December 19th, 2012

Great list of tips and features for Flickr’s new iOS application.  I particularly like number 3:

3. Apply a single filter to multiple photos at once. Did you fall in love with a particular filter? We’ve made it easy for you to apply it to multiple photos at once. You simply select the photos from your camera roll that you’d like to edit then go to the filter screen and tap and hold the filter that you want for your photos. And just like that, all of your photos are Panda-ized.

I also didn’t realize that you could manage your Flickr Groups from within this application as well. This is a very feature-rich application.

Bold Poker app »

December 11th, 2012

This is ambitious and a bit ridiculous… but it must have been a lot of fun to work on. Bold Poker.

Something I’d like to see is for an app that is as well-designed as this to handle what is arguably the much more difficult part of poker – the betting. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had split-pots and difficult-to-count bets that a machine could do in seconds.

/via John Gruber.

Siri vs. Google Voice Search »

November 2nd, 2012

Gizmodo did a side-by-side comparison of Google’s new Voice Search app on iPhone and Siri. Google wins every single time.

I’ve been using Google a bit on my iPhone 5 over the last 24 hours or so and it is blazingly fast. Siri, obviously, is far more integrated into iOS and can open applications, set appointments, etc. but strictly for getting at information Google’s new app is nearly instant.

As Gruber said, Apple now has something to shoot for. Siri’s abilities are great but her performance is relatively abysmal.

iOS 6.0.1 »

November 1st, 2012

Though iOS 6.0.1 is a .x.x release it actually has a fair number of bug fixes.

  • Fixes a bug that prevents iPhone 5 from installing software updates wirelessly over the air
  • Fixes a bug where horizontal lines may be displayed across the keyboard
  • Fixes an issue that could cause camera flash to not go off
  • Improves reliability of iPhone 5 and iPod touch (5th generation) when connected to encrypted WPA2 Wi-Fi networks
  • Resolves an issue that prevents iPhone from using the cellular network in some instances
  • Consolidated the Use Cellular Data switch for iTunes Match
  • Fixes a Passcode Lock bug which sometimes allowed access to Passbook pass details from lock screen
  • Fixes a bug affecting Exchange meetings

That one about the horizontal lines on the keyboard was something I thought was wrong with my particular iPhone 5. I’m glad to know it will be fixed in this update.

Camera+ adds iPhone 5 low-light support »

October 4th, 2012

Scott Meinzer at Camera+:

“Apple has added the ability for the sensor in the iPhone 5 to take pictures at 4 times the sensitivity. If you’re a camera buff this means the ISO can go from a limit of 800 before, up to 3200 now!”

Camera+ was always too slow to use on my iPhone 4. Since upgrading to the iPhone 5 Camera+ has made its way onto my main Dock. I’m glad for this update.

One quibble, though, would be that I wish Camera+ would save its photos directly to my Camera Roll rather than to its own Library.

Notes on iOS 6 for iPhone 4 and iPad 2

September 19th, 2012

In case you don’t follow me on Twitter; (really, how can you live with yourself?) earlier today I tweeted a few notes about iOS 6 on my iPhone 4 and iPad 2. I’ve taken those tweets and put them below.

  • iOS 6 note: The new Maps application is pretty fast even on the iPhone 4.
  • iOS 6 note: Clicking “App Store” in Passbook lead to a blank screen for me.
  • iOS 6 note: Love love love the new Phone features. Being able to reply with an SMS with two taps is awesome.
  • iOS 6 note: Change your “Reply with message” messages in Settings > Phone > Reply with Message. Just customized all three.
  • iOS 6 note: The new App Store layouts are such a welcomed change. Screenshots of app are readily available now.
  • iOS 6: Don’t forget to download the new YouTube app. Because the old one from Apple is gonzo.
  • iOS 6 note: The new YouTube app forces landscape video viewing. All is right in the world.
  • iOS 6 note: How to preview a song in the iTunes Music Store is still not apparent. You have to click the number. I never understood that.
  • iOS 6 note: Song previews continue to play while your browsing around. Makes for a much less jerky experience.
  • iOS 6 note: Six versions too late, but… you can now attach a photo/video to a Mail message after you’ve begun writing. Huzzah!
  • iOS 6 note: Shared Photo Streams appears to be dead simple. Looking forward to using this on vacations with friends.
  • iOS 6 note: With Passbook I suddenly have the urge to go to a movie or book a flight to try it out.
  • iOS 6 note: Unsurprisingly iOS 6 does not make my iPhone 4’s screen any taller. I guess I have to wait a few days for that.
  • iOS 6 note: The new “share screen” is also available from any Messages attachments. It used to just be “Save image…”
  • iOS 6 note: iOS 6 on an iPhone 4 runs faster than its predecessor. Even camera readiness from Lock Screen is quicker.
  • iOS 6 note: No matter how loud I yell at my iPhone 4 Siri refuses to listen.
  • iOS 6 note: You “agree to terms” at least 3 times. In iTunes before the download and on first run and a confirmation button. I AGREE APPLE.
  • iOS 6 on iPad 2 note: The clock app is droooool worthy. Wow.
  • iOS 6 on iPad 2 note: Mail is much, much faster. It checks and downloads new email instantaneously.
  • iOS 6 on iPad 2 note: Since the built-in YouTube app is gone. And Google’s isn’t iPad-ready. There is no good YouTube app for iPad.
  • iOS 6 note: To use iCloud tabs you must turn on Safari in Settings > iCloud. And also use Safari on your Mac/PC.
  • iOS 6 note: iCloud tabs works even if Safari is closed on your Mac. It remembers the last opened tab.
  • iOS 6 on iPad 2 note: 3D maps work. And they are amazing.
  • iOS 6 on iPad 2 note: I’ve never seen New York City like this. It is surreal.
  • iOS 6 note: The Yelp integration in Maps is really awesome.
  • iOS 6 note: Something new to me, Street View is gone. 3D maps are good. But Street View will be missed.
  • iOS 6 note: Apple uses the term “200 new features” fairly loosely but this is an excellent upgrade. Recommended for all.
  • iOS 6 note: The Pull-to-refresh animation is way too fun.

As of this writing – 5:45pm – Passbook still doesn’t work yet.

Missing iOS 6 features for some devices »

September 19th, 2012

Dan Frakes and Serenity Caldwell at Macworld give a run-through of iOS 6 installation and what this latest release means for each device. Some features won’t be available to all iOS 6 devices. Naturally. Here is one example, though, that I lament.

Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation features of the new Maps app are available on only the iPhone 4S or later, fifth-generation iPod touch, and the iPad 2 or later

Flyovers are one thing, but not getting turn-by-turn navigation if you own an iPhone 4 is downright painful. I’m glad to be getting an iPhone 5 so that I’ll be able to use all of the new features in but as an iPhone 4 user for a few iOS updates I have to say that this sort of thing hurts. Understandably, graphics and CPU intensive features can not run well on older devices but Apple’s propensity for cutting older iOS devices short – given how quickly they release new hardware – is disappointing. Many applications available to the iPhone 4 have turn-by-turn navigation. Most terrible Android-powered phones have turn-by-turn navigation. The millions of people out there with an iPhone 4 should get it too.

I think this trend shows how new and fast moving this post-PC era really is. Updates are coming quickly to both the software and hardware of this new era. Leaving those of us that buy into it spinning with how fast it is moving when compared to the old, cludgie, and far less attractive PC market.

/via John “I took a photo of Han Solo with an iPhone 5 before everyone else did” Gruber.

Mike Rundle on mobile apps for iOS »

June 27th, 2012

Mike Rundle on Twitter:

And to everyone trying to build great mobile-web-in-a-native-shell iPhone apps, give up. Facebook couldn’t do it, and neither can you.

I agree with Mike. Mobile web applications that perform as fast or faster than native / compiled applications on iOS is simply not on the horizon. Could it happen? Could Webkit or another engine get so fast and efficient to make it plausible to build entire applications for mobile devices like phones and tablets? I think so. I just don’t see it happening in the next few years. Native applications are simply the best bang for the current buck.

Side note: Man I miss working with Mike. Hi Mike!

A new Facebook for iOS coming next month »

June 27th, 2012

Remember when Facebook’s iOS application was used during an Apple keynote to show how great an app could be built by third parties? In fact, when Apple only allowed mobile web applications on the iPhone and when they began allowing native applications Facebook was used as a shining example for both ways of building an app for iOS.

Fast-forward to today where 21,000 out of 38,000 app reviews for Facebook for iOS are one star due to how slow the application has become.

Nick Bilton:

Thankfully that’s all going to change next month. According to two Facebook engineers who asked not be named because they are not authorized to speak about unreleased products, Facebook has completely rebuilt its iOS application to optimize for one thing: speed.

Thank goodness. Finally.

Instagram 2.5 for iOS »

June 26th, 2012

Instagram was just updated to version 2.5. Here are a few of the highlights.

  • Revamped profile tab
  • Search for users and tags in the Explore tab
  • Improvements to commenting
  • User search autocompletes based on people you follow
  • Visual improvements
  • Speed optimizations
  • Optionally share likes to Facebook (enable in your Profile > Sharing Settings > Facebook)

This is a decent upgrade and there are a few things to note. Instagram’s rapid growth has been, in part, due to its Popular tab. Even if you were new to the network you could easily see stunning photos. The Popular tab is now called Explore. And this is important for product people to note. Instagram needed an easier way to find photos you might be interested in (such as an event or other interest) and also find users. And many would be scared to “mess with” the Popular tab. However, taking the most popular tab (the Popular tab) and adding those features to it really shows what Instagram considers important. They want people to discover people and photos easier than ever.

Also, cross-network “likes” is an interesting concept that we’re about to see a lot more of. It will even be in Mac OS X Mountain Lion next month.

There are some hidden gems in this release to including this one from Keegan Jones.