Apple Releases Graphics Firmware Update for 17" Unibody MacBook Pro

Apple Releases Graphics Firmware Update for 17" Unibody MacBook Pro
Apple today released MacBook Pro Graphics Firmware Update 1.0 for all users of the new unibody 17" MacBook Pro released in January.

This firmware update is recommended for all 17-inch MacBook Pro (Early 2009) users and addresses the a...

Sway releases a free version

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, Developer

If you haven't yet tried Sway, the game from Illusion Labs and ReadyFireAim, now's the perfect time to do so. They've released a free version of the game that limits you to three levels and just two characters, but it's enough to try out the really unique control scheme. Back when I first posted about the game, I hadn't tried it yet, but it's now been on my iPhone for about a month, and it's excellent. Each of your thumbs is a "hand" on your characters (i.e., to grab something with your left hand, in game, you just touch your thumb to the left side of the screen), and then once you've grabbed something, you can swipe that thumb back and forth to sway the character around. It gets pretty complex, but practice makes perfect, and a few stages in, you'll be swinging from grip to grip with the greatest of ease.

The full version still costs $4.99, and if you enjoy the free version, I highly recommend it: there are many more characters that you can pick up and choose from, and the stages actually get really tough, as there's a lot of precise swinging that you'll have to do to explore the whole area and find everything there is to find. Sway might be a sleeper hit for the iPhone -- it took me a little while to figure it all out, but once I did, I found a control scheme that's delightfully original. If you haven't tried it out yet, definitely take advantage of the free version.

TUAWSway releases a free version originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OmniGraphSketcher 1.0 fleshes out graphs
Omni Group says it has released OmniGraphSketcher 1.0, having originally acquired the app as Graph Sketcher from new employee Robin Stewart. Users simply draw the graphs they want to produce, after which OGS interprets the illustration as proper data. Lines are used to indicate items such as goals and cutoffs, and appearance can be enhanced with labels, shading and various shapes....



Star Trek prequel coming to the iPhone

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Multimedia, Software, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

I have no idea how much of this is spoilers, but if you want to walk into this summer's Star Trek movie with a completely blank slate of expectations, you should probably move on to the next post. Spoilers ahead!

Ok then. Apparently J.J. Abrams, who's directing the new Star Trek movie, has worked with some comic book creators to (get this) bring a prequel of the prequel to the small screen before it appears on the big one. Whew. They're releasing a series of iPhone apps, which are actually "mini-comics" telling the pre-story of the movie. And here's where it gets really confusing (and spoilerific): apparently, while the movie is a prequel featuring a young Kirk and Spock, the story's villian is actually a time-traveler from Star Trek: TNG times. Which means the iPhone comics actually star Picard and his TNG crew, and tell the story of the movie's villian, a Romulan named Nero. I originally though the film was a non-canon reboot of the series, but no -- apparently even though we've never seen this era on film before, it is still mean to fit right in the Federation's universe.

Still with us and interested? You actually are a Star Trek fan! (I prefer Star Wars myself.) The comics are going for 99 cents each (you can apparently pick up the same comic in print for $3.99), and are available in the App Store right now.

TUAWStar Trek prequel coming to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZeeVee updates Zinc internet video browser
ZeeVee has released a third beta version of its Zinc internet-video browser. The application is designed to run on a PC that is connected to a larger display or TV, enabling users to watch videos from the Internet and navigate the interface with a remote control. The update offers an expanded on-demand library, along with new content from Netflix and CBS. The available media now includes almost 15...



Guitar Hero World Tour offers new Music Studio
Aspyr Media and Activision have announced Guitar Hero World Tour for PC and Mac. The music game features a new Music Studio that provides tools for creating digital music from scratch. The new wireless drum kit and guitar controllers can be used for game or studio input, and the studio compositions are available to play in the game. A Battle of the Bands mode now allows eight players to join onlin...



Apple Releases Graphics Firmware Update for 17" Unibody MacBook Pro
Apple today released MacBook Pro Graphics Firmware Update 1.0 for all users of the new unibody 17" MacBook Pro released in January.

This firmware update is recommended for all 17-inch MacBook Pro (Early 2009) users and addresses the a...

Sway releases a free version

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, Developer

If you haven't yet tried Sway, the game from Illusion Labs and ReadyFireAim, now's the perfect time to do so. They've released a free version of the game that limits you to three levels and just two characters, but it's enough to try out the really unique control scheme. Back when I first posted about the game, I hadn't tried it yet, but it's now been on my iPhone for about a month, and it's excellent. Each of your thumbs is a "hand" on your characters (i.e., to grab something with your left hand, in game, you just touch your thumb to the left side of the screen), and then once you've grabbed something, you can swipe that thumb back and forth to sway the character around. It gets pretty complex, but practice makes perfect, and a few stages in, you'll be swinging from grip to grip with the greatest of ease.

The full version still costs $4.99, and if you enjoy the free version, I highly recommend it: there are many more characters that you can pick up and choose from, and the stages actually get really tough, as there's a lot of precise swinging that you'll have to do to explore the whole area and find everything there is to find. Sway might be a sleeper hit for the iPhone -- it took me a little while to figure it all out, but once I did, I found a control scheme that's delightfully original. If you haven't tried it out yet, definitely take advantage of the free version.

TUAWSway releases a free version originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

OmniGraphSketcher 1.0 fleshes out graphs
Omni Group says it has released OmniGraphSketcher 1.0, having originally acquired the app as Graph Sketcher from new employee Robin Stewart. Users simply draw the graphs they want to produce, after which OGS interprets the illustration as proper data. Lines are used to indicate items such as goals and cutoffs, and appearance can be enhanced with labels, shading and various shapes....



Star Trek prequel coming to the iPhone

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Multimedia, Software, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

I have no idea how much of this is spoilers, but if you want to walk into this summer's Star Trek movie with a completely blank slate of expectations, you should probably move on to the next post. Spoilers ahead!

Ok then. Apparently J.J. Abrams, who's directing the new Star Trek movie, has worked with some comic book creators to (get this) bring a prequel of the prequel to the small screen before it appears on the big one. Whew. They're releasing a series of iPhone apps, which are actually "mini-comics" telling the pre-story of the movie. And here's where it gets really confusing (and spoilerific): apparently, while the movie is a prequel featuring a young Kirk and Spock, the story's villian is actually a time-traveler from Star Trek: TNG times. Which means the iPhone comics actually star Picard and his TNG crew, and tell the story of the movie's villian, a Romulan named Nero. I originally though the film was a non-canon reboot of the series, but no -- apparently even though we've never seen this era on film before, it is still mean to fit right in the Federation's universe.

Still with us and interested? You actually are a Star Trek fan! (I prefer Star Wars myself.) The comics are going for 99 cents each (you can apparently pick up the same comic in print for $3.99), and are available in the App Store right now.

TUAWStar Trek prequel coming to the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

ZeeVee updates Zinc internet video browser
ZeeVee has released a third beta version of its Zinc internet-video browser. The application is designed to run on a PC that is connected to a larger display or TV, enabling users to watch videos from the Internet and navigate the interface with a remote control. The update offers an expanded on-demand library, along with new content from Netflix and CBS. The available media now includes almost 15...



Guitar Hero World Tour offers new Music Studio
Aspyr Media and Activision have announced Guitar Hero World Tour for PC and Mac. The music game features a new Music Studio that provides tools for creating digital music from scratch. The new wireless drum kit and guitar controllers can be used for game or studio input, and the studio compositions are available to play in the game. A Battle of the Bands mode now allows eight players to join onlin...