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>> Postings for December 2009

Click. Boom. Amazing!

Thu, 24 Dec 2009

As the 2000 decade began Apple was getting off its knees and starting to stand on its own two feet, following the return of messianic company founder Steve Jobs three years earlier. In that time Jobs had cut back Apple’s product line from a sprawling mess to one that included the industry-changing iMac – that odd-shaped, translucent PC that allowed Jobs to quip: “The back of our computer looks better than the front of anyone else’s”.

Steve’s vision was not conservative or cautious. The only way Apple was going to once again dominate the industry was by creating great new products and technologies: “The cure for Apple is not cost-cutting. The cure for Apple is to innovate its way out of its current predicament.”

Simon Jary | Read more...


The most listened-to tracks on Spotify in 2009

Wed, 23 Dec 2009

Swedish streaming music service Spotify has put together a list of the Top 100 most listened to tracks of 2009.

Here's the Top Ten, the full list is available on the Spotify blog.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Retro fun with Browser Pong from Stewdio

Tue, 22 Dec 2009

Browser Pong from Stewart Smith is a traditional Pong game played not in a browser window, but with browser windows.

According to Smith, Browser Pong was designed to take advantage of emerging HTML5 features (including Audio elements), intentionally breaking compatibility with older browser versions and substandard contemporaries such as Internet Explorer. " Best in Safari for Mac. Also supports Chrome, FireFox, and Opera," notes Smith.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Five to watch for 2010 from mobile music discovery provider Shazam

Mon, 21 Dec 2009

The Drums currently sit atop Shazam’s Sound of 2010 chart, followed by Nicki Minaj, Ellie Goulding, Chase Coy and Delphic, of musical acts to hopefully do well next year.

Shazam, billed as the world’s leading mobile music discovery provider, Sound of 2009 Chart correctly predicted the success of Kid Cudi, Lady Gaga and Empire of the Sun while the Shazam 2008 Chart picked out Duffy and The Ting Tings as the top two acts to watch.

Nick Spence | Read more...


inkstrumental, an ustwo iPhone App collaboration with Jon Burgerman

Sat, 19 Dec 2009

Creative studio ustwo™ are about to release a new iPhone application, a collaboration with Jon Burgerman, one of the hardest working illustrators currently burning the midnight oil.

inkstrumental™ from ustwo™ and Jon Burgerman, famed for his art, doodling, drawing, scrawling, illustration, animation, character design and much much more, is due early in 2010. Here's Jon in action, live at the ustwo™ studio.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Made on a Mac - Tim Dennis - Around the World on a Mac

Fri, 18 Dec 2009

Adventurer Tim Dennis, creator of The RamblingRat project benefiting Street Kids International, appeared at the Apple Store, Regent Street in October to talk about his work.

Tim told the tale of his intrepid solo expedition around the world via a MacBook presentation 'Around the World on a Mac,' sharing stories and showcasing extraordinary footage from his 40,000-mile odyssey.

Nick Spence | Read more...


In mouse design, Apple lacks the Magic touch

Fri, 18 Dec 2009

Have you ever had a four-year-old try to tell you a knock-knock joke? A knock-knock is universally understood as a straightforward, five-step transaction that begins with “Knock knock” and ends with “Dwayne the bathtub – I’m dwowning”. But by the time the kid gets there, the narrative has been embellished beyond recognition. It was a simple, taut and effective piece of comedy before she started ‘improving’ it with pirates, vampires, and a sparkly pony named Eric.

(Oh, come on. What? She’s crying? Really? OK, look, if she wasn’t prepared for a frank appraisement of her work, then she shouldn’t have asked me what I thought about the joke.)

Andy Ihnatko | Read more...


Get a grip on your iPhone, iPod touch with GameHandle from TUNEWEAR

Thu, 17 Dec 2009

Here's an accessory for all iPhone and iPod touch gamers out there.

The GameHandle from TUNEWEAR, promises to give you a better grip when playing action and racing games, or indeed while watching that NSFW Rammstein music video you happened to stumble across on the top deck of the bus, sat next to your mum.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Non-Cheesy Christmas music - There's an app for that

Wed, 16 Dec 2009

SomaFM bills itself as an independent, commercial-free internet radio, with 18 unique channels featuring underground electronica, chillout, ambient, downtempo, lounge, space music, indie rock and alt.country/americana.

Oh and just now, a channel dedicated to non-cheesy cool and festive tunes that won't make you feel you've overdosed on marzipan and Turkish Delight.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Future Retro Classics - The Stylophone Beatbox

Tue, 15 Dec 2009

Remember the original Stylophone? Here's a hybrid, the world's first ever Stylophone Beatbox.

The principle remains the same - use the stylus to touch the metal areas, complete the circuit and make a sound.

NicK Spence | Read more...


Creative Profiles - LucyTuning - Charles Lucy

Mon, 14 Dec 2009

Recently Macworld had the pleasure to meet Charles Lucy, of LucyTuning fame, an enlightening musical tuning system, at the prestigious FileMaker CubeAwards09. This year's ceremony was held at The Royal College of Physicians, Regent's Park and included a wide range of developers including Charles, who provides a useful array of resources via his website www.lucytune.com. Macworld found out more about the LucyTuning system, use of Macs and FileMaker.

Yes in about 1986, when I was running an Amstrad PCW, to write the original book "Pitch, Pi, and Other Musical Paradoxes" and using Prestel to connect to the rest of the world.

NicK Spence | Read more...


Simon Cowell Vs. 600,000 Facebook users - Let Battle Commence

Sun, 13 Dec 2009

So congratulations Joe McElderry, winner of UK talent show The X-Factor.

If all goes to Simon Cowell's master plan, the young winner will be number one in the previously prestigious Top 40 singles chart this time next week, in time for Christmas the following Friday.

NicK Spence | Read more...


Future Retro Classics - The Revo Heritage radio iPod dock

Sat, 12 Dec 2009

Something new, that's actually old, from the good people at Revo, based in Lanark, central Scotland.

The Heritage is billed as a contemporary reinterpretation of classic European table radio designs from the 1960s. We had something very similar sitting on our kitchen fridge in the 1970s.

NicK Spence | Read more...


Cool Apple MacBook stickers from Hu2 Design

Fri, 11 Dec 2009

Some fun and clever stickers from Hu2 Design.

[Via Apartment Therapy]

NicK Spence | Read more...


Pro-Action - Your creativity is an asset

Thu, 10 Dec 2009

For any creative folk out there, the Pro-Action Campaign and Liaison Group primarily represents the interests of commercial illustrators, helping them to protect their copyright and get just rewards for their creativity and hard work.

The group, backed by the Association of Illustrators (AOI) and the Society of Artists Agents, also advices commissioners and publishers on agreeing terms that are in everyone’s best interests.

NicK Spence | Read more...


No news is bad news with Phil Schiller’s iPhone Apps

Wed, 09 Dec 2009

Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing and a member of Apple’s Executive Team, spoke with The New York Times over the weekend.

In a relatively rare interview, Phil revealed his favourite iPhone applications amongst the 10,000 plus currently available for download.

NicK Spence | Read more...


Creative Profiles - iPhone developers - Pixelcocoa

Tue, 08 Dec 2009

Pixelcocoa is a new (ish) UK iPhone developer about to debut its first iPhone game in KickSwerve on the Apple iTunes Store.

Macworld caught up with Pixelcocoa's Damian Wood to find out about the company.

NicK Spence | Read more...


The iPob t-shirt anyone?

Mon, 07 Dec 2009

Apple iPod parodies are already long in the tooth. Anyone remember the iPoo t-shirt? I hope not. Ditto iPuf, iPorn and iPope.

Now a company called 8ball after offering the perfect present for fans of Apple's iPod and vintage cult kids TV. Or maybe not.

NicK Spence | Read more...


Dieter Rams and the roots of Apple design on BBC iPlayer

Fri, 04 Dec 2009

Here's something worth catching, the famed German industrial designer Dieter Rams talking to Tom Dyckhoff on The Culture Show this week.

Online for those in the UK via the BBC's iPlayer, it shows a master at work, one who clearly has been an influence on Apple.

NicK Spence | Read more...


What happens when Apple stop promoting your iPhone app

Thu, 03 Dec 2009

Here's what happens when Apple stops promoting your iPhone application.

"It was promoted in the New Games section on both the iPhone and iTunes. They had a catergory called New Games," explains Matt Miller, Creative Director at iPhone developer ustwo™.

NicK Spence | Read more...


Christmas comes to the Apple iTunes App Store

Wed, 02 Dec 2009

Here's a small selection of Christmas themed iPhone and iPod touch applications to get you in the festive mood.

Much much more on the Apple iTunes App Store.

NicK Spence | Read more...


Computer People - The recession and the art of Appraisal

Wed, 02 Dec 2009

As someone who has sat through several appraisals/end of year reviews and even carried out a few over the years, in previous jobs, this report from specialist IT recruitment consultancy Computer People caught my eye.

Like many, I'm hoping 2010 proves a better year for business and the economy. A business contact in IT recently told me that morale at work was at an all time low, having halved staff numbers in the last 18 months while doubling the work load.

Nick Spence | Read more...


Teufel start Christmas countdown with chance to win prizes galore

Tue, 01 Dec 2009

In the run up to Christmas, throughout December Teufel, the makers of loudspeaker systems, will be awarding one lucky entrant per day a prize from its range of audio goodies.

Entrants won't know what's behind each door until they enter, so there’ll be plenty of great surprises each day promise the German company.

NicK Spence | Read more...


Facebook, celebs and swine flu dominate Google Hottest Trends for 2009

Tue, 01 Dec 2009

I'm not sure what it says about the state of the nation but once again Google has revealed the UK's most searched terms of 2009.

Back in 2007, Apple's iPhone was a hot topic amongst Google users, this year Facebook, the BBC and YouTube dominate.

NicK Spence | Read more...