Not another ‘best of’ list

A new year always sparks pundits to look back on what has been. While I’m no pundit, I’m not immune from the urge to evaluate all the tech and apps that I’ve had the privilege to use/evaluate. Unlike those pundits, I don’t want to rehash the tired “Best of the year” category- best is far too subjective; what’s best for me more than likely won’t be best for you, and I lack the clout or resources to be able to sample more than a fraction of what Apple and its ecosystem of app and accessory developers have to offer. Instead, I’d like to share with you the things that have made a lasting impact; the games that I just can’t put down, the apps that have proven far more useful than I had originally thought they could be, the accessories that I couldn’t live without.

Games: While I haven’t had them long, the games that I gravitate towards epitomize what I love about iOS gaming: a unique concept, innovative controls and gameplay, and an eye-catchingly well made display.

First, there’s Groove Coaster. I love the spartan Tempest-like vector graphics, the simple yet engaging interface, and the use of music as an integral part of the gameplay. It’s been consistently enjoyable.

Second, another relative newcomer- Into the Dead. It does a better job of creating a tense, gripping environment than just about any game I’ve played. This latecomer to the booming zombie game genre may not be as well known as other apps but it holds its own against the best of the category.

Honorable mention- Carmageddon. While not a great game (especially the dodgy controls) its an extremely faithful port of the DOS-based classic

Accessories: The Brydge iPad keyboard. There are plenty of Bluetooth iPad keyboards out there, and most are less expensive than the Brydge, but none offer the combination of durability and functionality that the Brydge does. It’s aluminum chassis pairs perfectly with the iPad (although I’d love to see a future model with softer, rounded edges like the iPad has), and it’s patented hinge allows it to be forward compatible with future iPad models.

iOS feature: iMessage. The ability to use the same messaging platform across all my devices has been very welcome. While the app isn’t perfected yet, it’s been far more useful than I had thought it would be when I installed the initial OSX beta app. I’d love to see Apple make the iOS app as functional as the OSX version, specifically compatibility with other chat platforms.

Honorable mention: Airplay. The Apple TV is a great device in its own right (more on that later) and Airplay provides a great way to expand its usefulness.

Device: The Apple TV. I’ve been able to move beyond a media center PC and TiVo thanks to Apple’s diminutive streaming device. It almost instantly became the integral part of my living room’s media center; it does a better job with streaming content than any other device I’ve used, syncs perfectly with my iMac‘s iTunes library, and offers a decent selection of integrated apps. I’m hoping that Apple fulfills the rumor of opening it to the App Store; it is just another iOS device after all.

News/Reading- Mr Reader. I still rely on RSS feeds for my daily news and entertainment, and Mr Reader has been the best RSS client for iOS that I’ve found so far. Some prefer the eye candy of Flipboard, but I get a great deal more out of Mr Reader’s classic interface and sharing features.

Audio- Stitcher. I’m a huge fan of podcasts, but the recently introduced iOS Podcast app isn’t quite ready for prime time. Stitcher does a great job of bringing me the content I want, without the need for iTunes syncing.

Honorable mention- Pandora. Spotify may be the rage lately, but Pandora is still my go-to source for personalized internet radio. I purchased a subscription over a year ago and have gotten more than my $36 worth out of it.

That’s my list of additions from the past year I can’t do without. Feel free to share yours with me in the comments section!

 

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Good things can come in small sizes

As you may have surmised by my previous posts, I love the multimedia that my iOS devices provide access to. Be it content synced from iTunes or streaming from various sources, whether I’m at work or lounging about the house I tend to have some form of media playing. While wired or Bluetooth headphones work best when jogging or mowing the lawn, I would rather have my ears free when possible (especially when using my iPad). The single speaker built into the iPad produces acceptable sound for video, but it’s not optimal for music. The iPhone’s speaker may be audible, but it’s obvious that it just wasn’t designed for much more than providing audio for handsfree phone conversations. So what’s a music lover to do when they’d like to enjoy their tunes sans the white earbuds?

Thanks to Apple’s AirPlay, there are plenty of options. You can bounce your audio to any of a number of AirPlay-compatible devices, from a high-end boom box like the Jawbone Jambox to simple speakers attached to an AirPort Extreme. Sadly, those that either can’t afford the pricey audiophile-esque Jambox or need something more portable than the speaker/AirPort Extreme combination don’t have nearly as many options.

My friends at MobileFun.co.UK have one for you to consider- the SoundWave. This diminutive accessory doesn’t look like much; the device is small enough to fit into a palm and looks more like an art-deco paperweight than a multimedia accessory. To be honest, I didn’t expect much from it when I opened the package. I’ve used wired mini speakers for the iPhone and iPad before and have been uniformly underwhelmed by the volume and sound quality. Even when powered by an internal battery these inexpensive options are rarely better than the iOS device’s internal speaker.

The SoundWave quickly proved my initial impression to be wrong. It feels sturdy- the unit is heavier than it looks, and perches on nonskid feet that hold it quite steady. The SoundWave pairs with your device via Bluetooth; the sync process took all of two minutes (including the time spent perusing the instruction booklet). Just hold down the multifunction button for a few seconds, then select the SoundWave on your device’s Bluetooth menu.

I tested the SoundWave on a fairly wide selection of sources and media, and was somewhat taken aback by how good the sound quality was. Bear in mind, it’s not going to unseat something like the Jawbone Jambox in either volume or fidelity, but the SoundWave actually has some audio presence. Midrange was well represented without being muddy, the high range was crisp and clear, and bass reproduction was respectable. While it is a mono speaker, it easily filled my work office with music, be it instrumental, blues rock, rap, or pop. It handled both internal content and streaming from Pandora and Stitcher Radio equally. The Bluetooth connection to my iPad was also strong; the sound was steady over 20 feet away and only started to sputter when a wall came between the iPad and unit.

The SoundWave speaker has even more functionality when paired with an iPhone. The multifunction button can be used along with an internal microphone making the unit a speakerphone: press once to answer a call and once again to end. Coupled with the SoundWave’s small footprint it makes for an excellent desktop accessory when space is at a premium.

The device’s internal battery is rated for about three hours of use, and is recharged via an included miniUSB cable. For those that need a small, inexpensive, and portable means of enjoying audio from their iOS device (or other Bluetooth-enabled device) you can’t go wrong with the SoundWave. In just an afternoon’s worth of testing it’s already earned a place beside my iPad at work.

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Microsoft Making a Play to be Your Media Center

As the blog’s name would suggest I tend to focus on the Apple-verse, but when interesting tech news comes along I feel the need to share- especially when it concerns a competing product or service. While most wouldn’t consider Microsoft’s Xbox a competitor with any Apple product line, that may not be the case very soon.

There have been rumors about the next generation of Apple TV (or an actual Apple television) bolstered by iOS 6 as a possible gaming platform. Thanks to AirPlay iOS device users can already mirror their game to a TV via an Apple TV, but rumormongers have stated that gaming could be an internal function of the dedicated TV box.

In what coincidentally seems like a return salvo to Tim Cook’s musing that an Apple foray into gaming “could be interesting” MacRumors reports that Microsoft is readying a push to make the Xbox the focal point of your entertainment center. The SmartGlass wireless streaming technology would allow users to push content to their televisions from tablets or smartphones much like Apple’s AirPlay, while also adding two way functionality that would push content back to the screen of your mobile device. Such a service could provide information about the video being watched or provide controls on your device’s touchscreen.

At first glance this idea seems interesting but not very useful until you expand it to the Xbox’s primary function- gaming. Engadget illustrates the possibilities well- imagine playing Madden on the Xbox while using your iPad to scroll through plays, or playing one of many combat simulators with your iPhone’s display showing your vital stats or the view through your rifle’s scope.

In addition to this Microsoft is reportedly expanding on the Xbox’s media offerings by including Internet Explorer for full web access, the Xbox Music streaming service, and access to sports via WatchESPN. Voice control via Kinect will be added to Internet Explorer and Bing searches is also reported.

I tend to restrict my gaming to my iOS devices and iMac (the Nintendo Wii has sat in a closet now for some time), but my interest is definitely piqued by the Xbox’s reported expanded functionality.

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