SkyFire plays Flash video on iPhone and Android phones

One of the major features of the Android operating system is its ability to play Flash video using the Flash Player app. Unfortunately, not all Android-based phones have access to the Flash app and won't until Froyo or Android OS 2.2 becomes available (possibly in December for Galaxy S phones). It's also no secret that the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch can't play Flash video either....unless you've downloaded the SkyFire app.

SkyFire is a mobile browser that converts Flash video into HTML5 format. In addition, the browser is surprisingly Facebook friendly, integrating the Facebook Like button and a shortcut to the social networking site into the browser itself.

The browser was approved for Apple's App Store earlier this month and pulled nearly 1 million users from both Android Market and App Store in it's first week. 

DoubleTwist: iTunes for Android

This past week, I made a major life decision - to drop the iPhone for good and pick up a Samsung Captivate which runs on the Android operating system.

It’s important to understand that both the iPhone OS - iOS X - and the Android OS are very similar, relying on apps as a form of device customization.

However, when I first got my hands on the Captivate, one question had to be answered for both my iPhone friends and I - how could I get my iTunes data onto my non-Apple device. The answer is DoubleTwist.

DoubleTwist = iTunes
DoubleTwist runs exactly like iTunes. The desktop manager is compatible with both Mac and PC and syncs with iTunes so that users don't have to upload music to both media managers separately. Users connect their mobile device to a computer and sync the device to the DoubleTwist Library.

Flies can be dragged and dropped directly to a device, playlists can be created and even Most Played, Recently Added and Top Rated playlists come standard (just like in iTunes) with the desktop application.

iTunes and App Stores
In terms of the App Store and the iTunes Store, there’s a feature for that, too. DoubleTwist connects to the Android Market and the Amazon MP3 store.

Widget
DoubleTwist is obviously an app, but the download also includes a widget. Widgets don’t exist on iPhones but on an Android phone, they can be anything from a newsfeed to a status update bar on a device's home screen.

In DoubleTwist’s case, it’s widget is a basic media player which plays whatever file the user selected when they last accessed the DoubleTwist app. For instance, if the user was listening to “Paranoid Android” by Radiohead, that song would show up in the DT widget with a play and skip button.

Do you know of another Android app that works like iTunes? Let me know in the comments section.

Tech Toys: Violight UV Cellphone Sanitizer

When you notice your phone looking a little greasy...do you wipe it on your shirt? Recent studies indicate that smart phones, headphones and other modern tech toys are covered in bacteria (Uncrate says there is 18 times more bacteria on your cell phone than a flush handle in a typical men's restroom). Still want to wipe your phone on your shirt?

Enter Violight UV Cellphone Sanitizer ($50). This device sanitizes your iPhone in under five minutes without use of damaging cleaners, liquids and sprays. Item requires three AA batteries which are not included.





(via Uncrate)

VIDEO: Microsoft Windows Phone 7 launch keynote

Here's the Microsoft Windows Phone 7 launch keynote video.

Microsoft's new mobile operating system, Windows Phone 7 is expected to be on over a dozen phones before the end of 2010. The Samsung Omnia 7 and LG Optimus 7 were "leaked" recently providing mobile enthusiasts with a look at the new OS that works essentially like an iPhone or Droid, however, the OS syncs with Microsoft products like XBox and Windows Live.

....Speaking of gaming, check out part three of the keynote to hear about the Microsoft/EA Games partnership which will bring titles like Sims 3, Need For Speed: Undercover, Tetris and Monopoly.

Google announces Google TV

First, the Android operating system, now this - Google TV.

Little information has been released but Google has released a quick tour to its latest product, Google TV. The product which seems to be pretty similar to Apple TV offers Web browsing, apps, customization and more. Like Apple TV, it seems to be where computers and modern TVs collide.

Google has recently announced that it has partnered with Logitech and it's Revue product which allows users to connect Logitech's Keyboard Controller and other products to an HDTV.

Search
How many times have you needed to find a show or sports event on TV but you don't know what channel it's on? Google TV offers a search feature that allows users to search for a program, select it and view it. No more continuous scrolling like in the Verizon and Comcast menu system.

Web

Google TV allows users to surf the Web through a television. Using the system's dual view, users can watch TV and surf the Web at the same time. In an age when everyone is watching TV with a laptop in hand, this could be a pretty nice feature.

Apps

Google TV will come preloaded with apps like Twitter, Pandora, Napster, Netflix, CNBC (an app for watching TV on a TV? That should be interesting) and more. According to the company, developers will be able to create their own apps as soon as next year.

Apps for Google TV

Google TV Remote

Phone apps allow users to control their computers. Now, your phone can control your TV too. The Logitech Harmony App for iPhone and Android allows users to set sync their phones to a Logitech Revue system allowing your phone to work as your Google TV remote. The in-app touch pad and keyboard allow users to have complete browsing and search control.

Personal

If you have used SpeedDial for Chrome, then you'll recognize Google TV's bookmarking style. Simply select a channel, app, or website you know you'll always want to come back to, and add it to your bookmarks. The saved items will be added to your personalized menu with an icon or screen shot for easy selection.

Dual View

Watch a show while you surf the Web or watch two games at the same time. This is nothing new to the world of television but still a nice feature.

Accessibility

According to the product's preview, Google TV works as a companion to your current cable or satellite system. It is not clear how the system needs to be set up but it should be similar to Apple TV's installation process.

UPDATE: Hootsuite releases geo-aware features for iPhone users

UPDATE: This update is now available in the App Store for iPhone users. However, HootSuite's geo-location-aware feature enhances more than just search terms. Users can now add location tags to their tweets and syncs to Foursquare.

"Places," a new tab in the Hootsuite app, lists nearby venues already registered through Foursquare. When users select a venue, the location is added to their HootSuite tweet. Your location appears as a Foursquare address but the app quickly shortens the link using Ow.ly.

In terms of geo-search features, the app now allows users to search between two and 25 miles of their location. I searched sushi in my area and was able to find tweets mentioning my favorite sushi restaurants.

HootSuite has announced its geo-location-aware feature that will allow users to discover great restaurants and social gatherings right in their own neighborhood. The feature is expected to be available to both browser and iPhone users sometime "soon."

According to Hootsuite, users will be able to search Twitter by location. The browser-based social media tool announced on its official blog Thursday that Twitter users will be able to enter search terms and then select a distance range to see updates only in that designated area.

The company expects the feature will be exceedingly popular for users who are searching for local restaurants, deals and happenings.

"No use hearing about great sushi in Vancouver when you are in New York City! Or a shoe sale in Tokyo when you are in Milan … or … well, you get the idea. Keep it local, keep it easy." - Hootsuite Blog

Oddly enough, the blog post alludes that the feature is now available - it isn't. When I emailed HootSuite Help asking where to find the App Store update, this was the response.

Support Ranger, Oct 01 13:15 (PDT):
It will be in app store soon! hang on!

HootSuite has struggled to match up with Twitter app titan TweetDeck, however, users may find "the owl" more accessible in office environments where downloading is restricted. Further, the service's scheduling and analytics features are unusually impressive under the app's free version.

Firefox releases cloud app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

We've waited years and now it's finally here..or at least something relatively close to it is here. Firefox Home, a free app that syncs your Firefox browsing history, bookmarks and open tabs to the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, is now available in Apple's App Store.

According to a release from Mozilla, creators of Firefox, the new app is not a Web browser itself but when users select a Web address or search term, the app will take you to a Web page using a browser within the app.

Now the bad news. Mozilla officially cancelled its project to build a Firefox Mobile app on iOS today. Instead the company is expected to focus on Firefox home as a way to build its cloud presence.

"We do not have plans to ship the full Firefox browser for the iPhone. Due to constraints with the OS environment and distribution, we cannot provide users Firefox for the iPhone," the company said in a press release.

Below is a video explaining some of the features in Firefox home and how to sync the app to your browser.

Apple offers free cases as solution to iPhone 4 antenna problem

It's funny to hear Josh Topolsky of Engadget talk about the iPhone's new antenna design and describe it as an "improvement" in this June episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Last Friday, however, iPhone users may have gotten what they were looking for, some kind of apology in the form of a gift.

That's right, according to Engadget, Apple will be offering free iPhone 4 cases to all users who bought the device before September 30. Cases can be shipped or picked up at any Apple Store location. If a user has already bought a case Apple, you'll get a refund in full. Check out the full story at Engadget.

How to watch the World Cup online, for free

Anyone who watches Futball (Soccer) knows that the World Cup is being played through July 11 in South Africa. Of course, we Futball fans also know that almost every game is being played during work hours (7:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. EST). So we've come up with a few ways to enjoy the World Cup via your computer and mobile devices. Enjoy!

ESPN 3

Via ESPN3.com (no longer espn360.com), users can watch every World Cup game on the schedule including game replays. But if users really want to get some use out of the site, check out the "mosaic" view. Using mosaic view, users can watch up to four video streams at once including major and minor league baseball games.

Canadian Broadcasting Centre

Visit CBC.ca for a full schedule of live broadcasts of the World Cup. CBC even offers "pre-game/tactical" commentary before each game so that users are prepared for each game. ESPN 3 offers similar pre-game commentary, but CBC offers a detailed schedule explaining exactly what's to come.

Recommended Mobile Device Apps:

iPhone - ESPN World Cup (Free)

This app offers everything from Group lists and standings to text and video reports. Upgrade from the free app to the premium app for $7.99.

iPad - FIFA.com News HD (Free)

This app has everything a Futball fan could ask for on the iPad: Multimedia stories, match and group info, interviews, etc. This app is also integrated with social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and Buzz.

Have another place to watch the World Cup online? Leave a comment and share your source!

iPad Apps at First Glance

I blogging to you via my new iPad. I'm already in love with the keyboard and the screen lock feature but we'll save that for another blog post. I've already downloaded a few social apps that users may find interesting upon first use. Here they are:

Tweet Deck
As I've mentioned in past posts, the Tweet Deck iPhone app is among the slowest Twitter apps on the market. However, the iPad app (so far) doesn't seem to suffer from the same problem. The columns are beautiful, you can set them to refresh at any rate you wish and so far I've seen little to no lag time when I set the refresh rate to one minute.
Bit.ly Tools

Bit.ly recently released Bit.ly Tools for iPhone and iPod Touch. Unfortunately the link shortening service has yet to release an iPad app. To get started with the iPhone app on your iPad, just drop a link into the shortening box, click "shorten" and the app will generate a trackable Bit.ly link.

BlogPress:

This blogging app works with just about any blogging service including Blogger, Wordpress, Moveable Type, Live Journal and the list goes on. I had a couple problems with saving a draft. The save button only appears when you click the title of the post, otherwise there is a photo icon. I'm actually using BlogPress write now to type this post. I'm able to add media, links and basically do whatever I could on a computer. I've very please with this app as blogging is one of the primary reasons as to why I bought an iPad.

This post was written from my iPad....Please excuse any grammatical or capitalization mistakes.