Achtung Instagrammers! A new version of Instagram has been released that has some funky new features like real-time tilt shifting, border options and new filters.

Head down to the AppStore now to upgrade.

Sorry Android peeps, looks like you’re still not cool enough for Instagram to release an App for

I’m “mr_gadget” on Instagram for those keen to see snippets of my life – warning: it’s not just technology you’ll see!

P.S. I’m posting from my iPhone 4 to train myself to do more things with less

It had to happen sooner or later. Safari’s days reigning as the prominent browser on the iPhone are numbered with the very-soon-to-be-released (is a matter of hours in some places) Opera Mini browser for iPhone.

Reminds me of how for many years the general public didn’t have any other choice except for IE on Windows machines and how the likes of organisations like Mozilla / Netscape changed that. In this case, as evident from the video below, Opera have come out with a much more faster browser and one that looks better too.

It’s also interesting to note that the iPhone using Opera Mini is actually using the what’s-supposed-to-be slower EDGE network!

I’ve got my eyes glued to the Australian Appstore just waiting for Opera Mini to appear…I want to surf faster!

Safari VS Opera Mini Video:

YouTube – Opera Mini for iPhone.

Last year, I was fortunate enough to review Navigon’s iPhone GPS app. I gave it a thumbs-up for its clean and easy-to-use interface and nice cityscape backgrounds. Today, Navigon have announced some major improvements to their already great iPhone App, namely in the additions of 3D terrain views which are powered by NASA, Social Media integration (Facebook, Twitter) and intelligent routing which provides multiple routes and more!

I’m going to see if I can jump onto the appstore and upgrade my version of Navigon pronto!

Here’s the press release below:

Sydney, February 10, 2010 —NAVIGON AG, the leading provider of mobile phone on-board navigation, today announced a significant update for MobileNavigator, the most feature-rich navigation app available on the iPhone platform. Extending comprehensive functionality, the update adds three innovative features: in-app connection to Facebook and Twitter, Panorama View 3D with 3D terrain views powered from NASA data, and personalised route delivery via NAVIGON MyRoutes, an intelligent direction provider.

“NAVIGON, the first in the industry to launch an on-board navigation app on the iPhone platform, remains ahead of the competition by consistently delivering first to market, full-feature updates. Apple’s App Store is ideal for delivering our latest innovations to our users,” said Gerhard Mayr, vice-president worldwide mobile phones & new markets, NAVIGON. “The upcoming fifth version not only redefines routing capabilities on the iPhone platform but also integrates social media connectivity, and outstanding, reliable 3D environment views.”

Further enhancing the proficient iPhone connectivity capabilities, MobileNavigator allows users to broadcast current position, destination and ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) to favourite social media outlets, Twitter and Facebook, without navigation interruption. This free addition provides easy access in-app icons that seamlessly launch, while the Twitter feature automatically limits input to the maximum 140 characters, and provides a character countdown.

Complementing the elegant iPhone UI, Panorama View 3D delivers 3D map views through digitised cartography rendered from NASA’s height and terrain data. The full 3D view delivers an accurate depiction of surrounding environment, and what lies ahead with digital landscapes that include elevations, shadows, and geographic images. Panorama View 3D is integrated in-map, independent from the phone’s data connection.

NAVIGON MyRoutes takes personalised route recommendations to a new level with intelligent, customised direction planning and is provided at no extra cost to MobileNavigator users. The feature analyses individual driving data and designs customised routes. Up to three choices with distance and ETA are clearly displayed in-map for each. One primary recommendation based on the user’s driving habits, the day of week and time of travel is provided and the additional two alternatives provide options to choose a preferred route.

MobileNavigator transforms the iPhone into an inclusive navigation device that relies on the GPS receiver, independent from a cell or wireless signal, to provide the most feature rich on-board navigation application. MobileNavigator offers a familiar, yet streamlined user interface that offers intuitive visual feedback and readily accessible connected features, which takes the efficiency of mobile navigation to new heights. It is the only on-board iPhone navigation app available that includes Google Local Search, Reality View Pro, branded in-route POI’s, seamless in-app iPod controls, enhanced pedestrian mode, and now in-map social media connectivity in one application.

Version 1.5.0 Feature Highlights:

Connection to Facebook and Twitter: This free addition to Navigon MobileNavigator provides a simple icon tap that posts users current position, destination, and ETA without navigation interruption

Panorama View 3D: True 3D in-map views obtained from NASA’s height and terrain data enable intuitive orientation of surrounding environment, and what lies ahead with digital landscapes elevations, shadows, and geographic images. Panorama View 3D is integrated in-map, independent from the phone’s data connection.

NAVIGON MyRoutes: Analyses driving habits, patterns, location, time/day and provides up to three routes clearly displayed in-map with ETA, distance and driving times for each and is provided at no extra cost to MobileNavigator users.

Pricing and Availability

MobileNavigator is available for AU$99.99 in the Apple App Store and is equipped with maps of Australia from NAVTEQ®. NAVIGON is showcasing the update prior to its launch in spring at the Macworld Expo show in San Francisco/USA, booth #575. The Panorama View 3D feature will be available via an in-app Purchase for AU$9.99.

Besides being available for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, the NAVIGON app also runs on first-generation iPhone or an iPod Touch. Additional accessories are required for GPS navigation on these devices.

For more information, please visit: www.navigon.com/iphone.

Find NAVIGON on:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/NAVIGON_
Facebook: www.navigon.com/facebook

Flickr: www.navigon.com/flickr
Youtube: www.navigon.com/youtube

About NAVIGON:

NAVIGON AG are a world leading provider of premium navigation technology. NAVIGON delivers software on mobile phone platforms and for the automotive industry as well as branded personal navigation devices. NAVIGON’S MobileNavigator is the most feature rich on-board navigation app on the iPhone platform. Founded in 1991, NAVIGON employs more than 400 worldwide with a presence in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South Africa. – NAVIGON. And the world is yours.

And as one of the final posts of 2009, I thought I’d zoom into the Appstore and see what were the best grossing apps at the end of 2009 (Australia).

Here were the final winners:

1. TomTom GPS (TomTom) – AU$99.99
2. The Simpsons Arcade (Electronic Arts) – AU$5.99
3. James Cameron’s Avatar (GameLoft) – AU$12.99
4. Need for Speed (Electronic Arts) – AU$8.99
5. N.O.V.A. – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance (GameLoft) – AU$8.99

I’m surprised that TomTom is still number one considering that there are better value GPS apps now available in Australia like CoPilot. It’s a decent GPS app, but CoPilot’s interface is superior in my opinion – I like how CoPilot allow you to pinch and zoom on the actual navigation screens. At the moment it’s also only AU$59.99! $40 cheaper.

Need for Speed has always been one of my all-time favorite PC games, especially due to the fact that you could add weird and wonderful cars into the game like the BatMobile or an Imperial Speeder Bike.  I may download this one next over the break.

James Cameron’s Avatar Screenshots

Last night I downloaded #3, James Cameron’s Avatar and was engrossed in the vivid graphics and playability. It reminds me a bit of when I had my night-elf hunter in World of Warcraft so I am treating it with extreme caution considering I used to be a hardcore player…

Below are some screenies from the game:

Let us know if you have any apps that you think should be on this list!

Get your Apps at Australia’s Apple Appstore now:

Who in their right mind would want to be a passenger in an iPhone Controlled Car?! What if the battery dies or the iPhone crashes? Despite my obvious struggle to think of any logical reasons for this, looks like some academics at a German university think it has some merits. They’ve named it, of course, iDriver.

Check out the video below – I loved the Wario music at the end.

P.S. I thought of a good application for this – when you find a spider in  your car but don’t know where it crawled to!!

iDriver Description

iDriver is an iPhone application to remote control a car. Go to http://www.spiritofberlin.eu for more information on “Spirit of Berlin”, a completely autonomous vehicle by the Freie Universität Berlin. It is equipped with various sensors and a drive-by-wire system for unmanned driving. iDriver is an addon to remote control the car with an iPhone. Powered by Appirion UG (http://www.appirion.com).

YouTube – iDriver – iPhone remote controlled car

With a global recession looming, us gadgeteers have to buckle-up and chop logic together on ways we can use our gadgets to help make it through financially tough times. Yes, your iPhone 3G was expensive but with a quick visit to our friendly Apple App store we can transform it from a mobile phone that occasionally plays music into an all-powerful Recession-bustin’ tool.

Here’s a list that I devised that could potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars if you follow the instructions attached to each app. Granted, some of the steps call for extreme measures (e.g. selling your house) but all apps have been enlisted with the ultimate goal of getting you through the recession unscathed – possibly even better off.

10 iPhone Recession Buster Apps:

1. Knot Guide: Let’s start off with the most outlandish – Sell your house and live in a tent. I warned you earlier about extreme measures right? The iPhone Knot Guide app will teach you all the different knots you need to know to keep your future tent in tact, clothesline from sagging and new alarm system / portable heater (dog) from running away to catch pesky vermin.

2. Budget: Boring right? Let’s face it, not many of us have or like budgets. They take diligence and persistence to maintain. But they do save us money if we follow them and plan accordingly. Not as hands-on as the Knot Guide but a necessity when it comes to frugality.

3. iHandy Carpenter: Got no lumber skillz? Chill. Download and install the iHandy Carpenter which claims to be the lightest, prettiest and most handy carpenter tool kit in the world. Forget Ikea, just head down to your local scrap yard, find wood and start making furniture with iHandy Carpenter. It may not be as good as those in the shop, heck, it may even not be able to hold you up, but it’ll be your very own creation. Reach self-actualisation and save a bit in one hit!

continue reading "10 iPhone apps to get you through the Recession"

At the recently concluded WWDC 2008, Wall Street analyst Gene Munster interviewed a few app developers subsequent to the announcement of the 3G iPhone. Half of Munster’s interviewees said they’re going to focus on developing apps solely for the iPhone and the iPod Touch.

continue reading "New iPhone Apps Could be Available For Free"