Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• feedly: Feed your mind. Get the best content from your favorite websites delivered to your iPhone and iPad. Powered by Google Reader, Twitter, Instapaper and Read it later. [Free - iTunes link]

• Safari To Go: Access thousands of books and videos about technology, digital media and professional development from more than 40 of the world's most trusted publishers. Search, view and organize your content with the user-friendly interface designed specifically for iPad. [Free, with Safari Books Online account - iTunes link]

• FILMINK: Australia's best movie magazine is now tailor-made for your iPad, taking every advantage of its stunning display and hands-on interactive capabilities. Now with an updated viewer to support Adobe Publishing Suite Version 10. [Free - iTunes link]

• Weather Doodle: Suns rise. Clouds glide into view. Raindrops, snowflakes and hail fall from the sky. The wind blows. All in a gorgeous, whimsical art style. And when you’re ready to see something different? Just download new art from within the app and experience an entirely new look with new animations. It’s simple, beautiful, intuitive, and more fun than a weather app has a right to be. Now a universal app for iPhone and iPad. [$0.99, with in-app purchases - iTunes link]

• myStarbucks: Now with a new scanner (QR Codes) experience for camera enabled-devices with iOS 4.0 and higher, and new Summer Products such as Starbucks Petites, Mocha Coconut Frappuccino and Coconut Crème Frappuccino. [Free - iTunes link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Thursday, May 12 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Nilay Patel of This is My Next (and formerly of Engadget) has written up a terrific breakdown of the ongoing Google/Skyhook lawsuit, which alleges Google interfered with Skyhook’s location tracking business by unfairly using their control over Android licensing.

At the very least, it's now extremely clear that Google plays a major role in Android device development, to the point where Andy Rubin himself approves and denies requests from OEMs. It's also clear that Google places tremendous value on collecting location data, and it acted swiftly when it determined Skyhook's deal with Motorola might threaten its ability to collect that data. Hell, one of the headings in Google's summary judgment brief is "Skyhook was not entitled to deprive Google of its contractual right to collect location data on Motorola Android devices." Can't say it much plainer than that, really. And Google's doesn't hesitate to use its muscle to get what it wants from OEMs — it revised Samsung's app license to specifically require Google location services be installed and used by default. Whether or not Google's behavior is anti-competitive is a matter for the court to decide, but it's definitely aggressive.

Emphasis is Patel’s. To be frank, I don’t have any problem with this in general. I wouldn’t even call it “evily”, just “businessy”. Google is a public company in a highly competitive space and the drive to succeed is enormous. So is the desire to maintain quality and reduce fragmentation.

But here’s the thing — Google so constantly, consistently, and competitively misrepresents it as “open” and “good” in contrast to Apple’s “closed” and “evil”.

At Google I/O last year, Google’s Vic Gundotra played the 1984 card against Apple, saying in essence they created Android because they feared a future where one man (Steve Jobs) and one company (Apple) controlled the mobile space. He said that, apparently, knowing the exact same thing applied to Andy Rubin and Google.

What should be particularly galling for Android users (of which I’m one — Nexus One specifically) is that Rubin and Google will use this power to prevent Motorola, Samsung, and Skyhook from interfering with Google’s ability to ensure themselves a great data collection experience on Android, but they’ll do nothing to prevent manufacturers and carriers from denying customers a good user experience by locking bootloaders, locking out side loaders, installing crapware, and otherwise ruining Android’s increasingly good handsets.

Google will step in to prevent their own loss of data, but not to prevent the loss of “openness” to their end users. At the same time they were calling Apple closed, decrying Apple’s lack of choice, and implying Apple was evil, Google was keeping their proprietary apps and their license as weapons, denying location data service choice to their partners, and acting… if not evil, then certainly “evily”.

We’ve already established Android isn’t open, it’s “openy” and once again that’s fine — it’s just no different from Apple except for the areas in which they choose to focus.

And it’s one more in a long list of examples as to why you should never buy a phone based on philosophy. You should buy it based on being the best phone for you.

Now go read Patel’s full article, linked below.

[This is my Next via Android Central]

Evily is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

There are some alleged 7th-generation iPod nano prototypes floating around the internet that show it just might be getting a camera this fall, something the 5th generation had but the current iPod nano lacks. Aside from Apple having to modify the clip so as not to interfere with the camera, is this really something we want?

What I’d much rather see is an alleged prototype floating around that shows a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC or some other type of short-range radio. Because I don’t want my iPod nano to be just another crappy camera (looking at you iPod touch and iPad 2!) — I want it to be a really smart watch.

We’ve been talking about this since the current nano launched and Steve Jobs “joked” that an Apple board member wanted to wear it as a watch. I did too. So did many others. It’s create a whole cottage industry of iPod nano watch band adapters and accessories. But really the current nano isn’t optimized for the job. It’s not finished.

If it had Bluetooth we wouldn’t have to use wired headsets (especially the hateful Apple earbuds). Sure, we’d lose FM radio (the wire serves as the antenna) but we’d also lose a cable running up our arm as well. More than that, we’d gain the ability for a nano watch to interface with our iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Instead of reaching into my purse or pocket every time I get a text message, event reminder or notification, I could just glance at my iPod nano smart watch, which seamlessly received the transmission and echoed it from my iPhone. And once the connectivity is there, who knows what else Apple — and developers! — could come up with.

One day I fully expect my iPhone and iPad to seamlessly integrate with my entertainment center, my fridge, my car — my entire home and life. Things like Apple TV and AirPlay, and the accessory program started with iOS 3 show bits and pieces of what needs to be a cleaner, more organized, more well rounded solution.

Google is hard at work on this, and HP has shown off notification transfer on webOS, so Apple can’t afford to fall behind. Maybe the iOS 5 preview at WWDC this June will give us some hints?

In this context, an iPod nano smart watch is just another bit or piece in the puzzle, but darn if it isn’t one I want this year!

[Alleged iPod nano 7 with camera via AppleInsider]

I don’t want an iPod nano camera — I want an iPod nano smart watch is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The iKeyboard is an interesting Kickstarter Project that aims to address an often complained about problem with any iPad. The on-screen keyboard is great for simple text input however if you have something longer to type up, it can become very awkward and uncomfortable to use. This is where iKeyboard comes in and hopes to address these issues and offer the ability to touch type on the iPad. .

The iKeyboard sits on top of the iPad's virtual keyboard without adding much to the weight or physical size. It claims to allow you to touch type, but more importantly, not have to suspend your hands above the screen; which is anything but comfortable and often painful after prolonged text input. The iKeyboard requires the same force and travel distance to register a key press as the current Apple keyboard.

The accessory is in a working prototype stage at the moment and its claimed that it works pretty well and the highest hurdles have been jumped. As this is a Kickstarter project, the aim is to get funding to take the prototype to the next level and start production. To do this, the iKeyboard needs investment pledges which were originally set at $4000. As of today, it has received over $5000 with some 46 days left to go. It seems to be proving very popular!

Have a look at the video after the break the let us know what you think of the iKeyboard? Can you see yourself using an accessory like this? Let us know in the comments!

[Kickstarter]

iKeyboard Kickstarter project claims to make touch typing on the iPad a reality [video] is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Twitter is rolling out a significant redesign to their mobile website, the one you see when accessing Twitter.com via Safari on iPhone or iPod touch, and other mobile device browsers. The new web app layout is molded around the official Twitter for iPhone app and is heavily doused in HTML5 goodness (however the menu bar has been switched to the top instead of the bottom).

We want you to be able to access Twitter no matter where you are; regardless of what device you use; or, whether you prefer to access Twitter through a mobile application or the browser. Today, we're starting to roll out a new version of twitter.com for mobile devices. This web app allows us to provide a high-quality and consistent Twitter experience on high-end touchscreen devices – whether or not an official Twitter application is available. It was built from the ground up for smartphones and tablets, which have more advanced browsers that support the latest web technologies, including HTML5.

We’re not seeing the redesign on our end just yet, as Twitter has only allowed a small percentage of users to see the new layout. Word around town is that it looks and functions a lot better than the previous design, and judging from the screenshots, we get the feeling we’ll all be in full agreement once it’s rolled out to everyone.

Any TiPb readers out there seeing the update?

[Twitter Blog]

Twitter rolling out web app redesign resembling official iPhone app is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Do you want to know how to authorize and deauthorize iTunes linked accounts? If you purchase your media content through iTunes and want to play it back on different computers in your home, you are restricted to a maximum of five Windows or Mac PCs linked to a single iTunes account. If you sell, re-install, upgrade or replace  a computer, you can soon run into the problem of not being able to authorize a new one, due to reaching your maximum of five. In this daily tip, we show you how to authorize a new computer, deauthorize an existing computer and also how to completely reset your five authorized computers. Read on to find out how!

To authorize a computer to play purchases using your Apple iTunes Account

• Open iTunes
• From the iTunes menu, select the Store section
• Click on Authorize this Computer

• Enter your iTunes username and password; if you are under the total of five computers, this one will be authorized and start to play the media.

• That's it your done!

If you encounter a problem authorizing your computer and get an error message stating that you have already reached your five computer allowance, you will need to de-authorize a computer before you can continue.

To deauthorize a computer

• Open iTunes.
• Choose Store > Deauthorize Computer (In earlier versions of iTunes, access this option from the Advanced menu).
• Select “Deauthorize Computer for Apple Account” and enter your Apple ID and password.

Make sure you deauthorize your computer before you upgrade your RAM, hard disk or other system components, or reinstall Windows or Mac OS X. If you do not deauthorize your computer before you upgrade these components, one computer may use multiple authorizations.

If you have sold a computer or no longer have access to it, or if the hard drive died, etc. and you didn't deauthorize it, all is not lost. You can reset every computer associated with your iTunes account.

Note: this is only allowed once a year, so keep that in mind!

To deauthorize all computers associated with your account

If you find you have reached 5 authorizations, you can reset your authorization count by clicking Deauthorize All in the Account Information screen.

• Click iTunes Store in the menu on the left side of iTunes.
• If you’re not signed in to the store, click the Account button, then enter your account name and password.
• Click the Account button again (your ID appears on the button), enter your password, and then click View Account.
• In the Account Information window, click Deauthorize All.

Once you have done this, you will have to go back and authorize all the computers that you wish to use with your iTunes account. Also please note, you may only use this feature once per year. The Deauthorize All button will not appear if you have fewer than 5 authorized computers, or if you have already used this option within the last 12 months.

Yes, DRM (Digital Rights Management) is annoying, and authorizing and deauthorizing computers is a hassle, but at least iTunes makes it a fairly straightforward process. If you have any other iTunes tips, share them with us in comments!

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you'd like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to news@tipb.com. (If it's especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we'll even give ya a reward…)

 

 

 

Daily Tip: How to authorize and deauthorize iTunes computers linked to one account is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog