Looking for a cool way to control your iTunes without using the iTunes interface, but keeping that cool Coverflow feature? Cover Stream is the way to go. Another cool feature is that the program has the capability to run in the menu and/or dock, instead of always staying on the desktop. It also has an in-program search function that will allow you to search for the artist, song, etc. by typing it into the cover interface. It includes its on internal notification system for when a song changes, or the user can specify to use Growl if they like it better. When you first open Cover Stream, it will search iTunes to create its own disc cover database. Of course if you add songs you will need to re-sync your library, so just enable the ’sync with iTunes on startup’ in the preferences menu.

Cover Stream has full integration with the Apple Remote, allowing users to use the buttons for the normal functions. The ‘menu’ button now enables one of the other cool features, full-screen mode. In full-screen mode you can view all of your album artwork in full-screen. It also includes a LastFm login, so if you use their services you can integrate that into your Cover Stream.

My only complaint is that you cannot move the desktop display without going into preferences. And it has to stay in either of the four corners. Other than that this program has everything you need and more. If you would like to get Cover Stream, click here. A license can be purchased for €14.95 or $23.17 (but that changes daily).

written by Councillor Wes \\ tags: Cover Stream, iTunes

ZiPhone, my absolute favorite iPhone jailbreaking and unlocking utility will work perfectly on the new iPhone 3G and 2.0 firmware according to the developer. A blog post on the developer’s site confirms that the handy app will support numerous networks including AT&T (of course), Rogers and Fido in Canada, T-Mobile, Claro, Vodafone and other carriers in many other countries.

As far as unlocking/jailbreaking apps go, this one is dead easy. In a few minutes you can have your iPhone unlocked, jailbroken, and ready to use… and all you need to do is click a few buttons. Couldn’t recommend it more. I’m glad to see the developers are ‘keeping up with the joneses’ by ensuring support on the new iPhone 3G and 2.0 firmware.

For more info on ZiPhone, visit the official site.

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: iPhone 2.0 Firmware, iPhone 3G, ZiPhone

With the US Open in full swing, I figured it was a great time to make another golf-related post. When I first started reading about this I wanted it on my iPhone immediately… But sadly it will have to wait until the iPhone 3G ships.

The folks over at GolfFlyover.com are offering over 10,000 fully mapped out golf courses for the iPhone 3G. Yardages and all kinds of good stuff will be packed in the course maps, from the 1st tee to the 18th green of your local course.

They will also be offering golf course flyovers for an in-depth view of all holes at your local track. The flyovers help give you added information, and will help you plan your attack before that first round at a new course.

The good news about all this is that GolfFlyover plans to offer up the course info and maps free of charge…and no membership is required.

Bad news is that the courses will be limited to the US only. Darn it! I can hear Canadians groaning… I suppose we’ll just have to map our own courses out with Google Earth and transfer that data to our iPhones or heck, just create a yardage book

Should be really interesting to see how this app comes out. Looks to me that it will be closely tied-in with Google Earth.

The App Store can’t come soon enough…

[via PRWeb]

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: GolfFlyover.com, iPhone 3G App, iPhone Software

Golfers, I think a new era of tracking our game, our yardages, our courses and our scores is upon us. With the upcoming launch of the app store, it looks like some new and exciting golf related apps are due to drop. Case in point, ‘Plum Caddy’ from Plum Amazing Software for the iPhone.

I read a press release earlier today all about the new app that is coming soon (as soon as the app store launches). With Plum Caddy you can keep track of your scores, track your putts, driving and most other stats you’d want to track. Also, you can plot the points on your course map where each shot ended up, providing you with unique historical data you can learn from in the future.

The historical data built up in the app will help you select the right club and make the right play on almost every shot.

While Plum Caddie sounds great… as an avid golfer, below are the things I’d like to see in a golf tracking/management/yardage app:

• Built-in GPS that works with Google Earth for measuring yardages and distances in real time.
• A simple, easy to use interface.
• A desktop app that lets me manage and work with my stats, import courses and manage course yardages right on my Mac. I’d much rather manage these items on my computer than on the iPhone!

There are other great golf tracking/yardage apps out there already, namely for the BlackBerry. They make use of the built-in GPS on the 8800 series, and soon to be released BOLD series. I’m looking forward to taking advantage of the GPS built-in to the 3G iPhone (fingers crossed).

To sign up for the ‘Plum Caddie’ notification list, click here. Plum Amazing will send you a note when there is news on the relase of the app.

Golf anyone?

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: iPhone App Store, Plum Amazing Software, Plum Caddia

OK, here’s the story so far: From the start when I switched to the Mac in 2006 I was amazed by Quicksilver and its capabilities. This program was magically finding the application you wanted, could create short chains of events, e.g. find a photo first and then send it via mail. All this was available right from the keyboard and for the experts these shortcut-like procedures were executed in split seconds compared to finding the mouse on screen, dragging from a to b etc, etc…

Since that time a lot happened: quicksilver is no longer under development and similar programs came up, being able to do things in a quite similar way as QS did, albeit everyone of those has its different advantages/disadvantages. Type “launcher” into the search bar of MacUpdate and you’ll get a variety of spin-offs that are more or less powerful. In this blog I’ll concentrate on comparing LaunchBar to its two main opponents: Quicksilver and Butler.

Continue reading »

written by madmacmat \\ tags: Butler, GTD, Launchbar, launcher, quicksilver

Ever want to run Google Earth on your iPhone? That reality might not be very far away. iPhone Earth is a new 3rd party app being worked on by Earthscape. The new app interacts with the iPhone’s accelerometer, which allows you to navigate Google earth by tilting and rotating your iPhone. Unfortunately the app is still in a private beta (you can apply for the private beta here), but it does look wonderful from all I’ve seen.

Now wouldn’t it be nice if the 3G iPhone had a GPS receiver? Can I get a seconder?

For more info, visit Earthscape.

[via BGR]

written by Mr. Mayor \\ tags: Accelerometer, Earthscape, Google Earth, iPhone, iPhone Earth