Bought a cheap tv-out composite AV cable for your iPhone off eBay, but learnt that it’s unsupported later? Well, all is not lost. Like most prudent consumers, I refused to purchase an Apple-branded composite AV cable that will set me back RM139 ($45). Instead, I tried my luck with an aftermarket tv-out cable on eBay, costing just RM25 ($8), which is the cheapest in my region. The seller advised me that the cable would only work on older iDevices like the original iPhone and iPhone 3G.

I figured that the iPhone 3GS is really not all that different from the 3G, so I placed my order anyway.

Fast-forward a week after ordering (snailmail international delivery), the cable finally arrived. You guessed it, it didn’t work. Every time I plug the cable into my iPhone’s connector dock, the phone shows the following message: “This accessory is not supported by iPhone.”

I tried playing some videos anyway after dismissing the message, and it turns out that the audio would play on my television just fine, but the video won’t show up.

What gives? It turns out that this isn’t a hardware limitation. It’s an Apple-imposed limitation that render any tv-out cables that are not blessed by Cupertino useless. The aim is to make you buy their expensive cables that have special authentication chips on them — but you really don’t have to, provided your iPhone is jailbroken.

If your situation is similar to the one I described above, follow the following steps, and chances are your cheap cable will work like a charm:

1. Open Cydia on your iPhone
2. Search for “Resupported 4″ (works on iOS 4 and 5), install it
3. Search for “TVOut2 Mirror TVOut” and install it
4. Reboot your iPhone

That’s about it. It worked perfectly in my case, but your mileage may vary. Do note that “Resupported” will only work for 10 days before you have to pay for it. But considering the amount of money you could save by NOT buying Apple’s expensive cable, the $3.99 the developer asked for is reasonable.

©2011 SheepTech

iPhone TV Out: Fix “This Accessory Is Not Supported by iPhone”

50 odd days later, the app is finally available in the App Store — for free of course. To summarize my take on it, it’s significantly better than the previous version, but falls short of my expectation.

Pros:

• Highly customizable columns, the very reason why I love TweetDeck
• Column swiping
• Conversation view when viewing individual tweet
• Beautiful interface, especially when viewing profile
• Tweets are highly readable
• Landscape browser
• Able to return to where you left off after minimizing the app (not possible in the old iOS TweetDeck). Won’t work though if you exit the app completely.
• Tweet from different/multiple accounts (tap on the avatar while in the compose window)

Cons:

• App crashes every time the built-in photo viewer is launched. Every singe time.
• No individual time stamp on tweets while in column view
• No RT/Reply/Favorite/etc buttons in column view. You’d have to view a tweet individually to have access to the said buttons (deal breaker)
• Unable to return to the first column in a single swipe from the last column. Very tedious to swipe all the way back, especially when you have gazillion columns around
• Poor integration with Instapaper

I was using TweetBot for the past week, and my very first response after launching the new TweetDeck is, “why is it silent?“. Yes, I’m spoiled by TweetBot’s sound effects.

For now, I’ll stick to TweetBot, at least until it’s possible to RT/Reply in column view.

The above observations are done in under an hour playing with the app, so take it with a pinch of salt. I will revisit iOSDeck again after a revised version is out.

[TweetDeck in App Store]

©2011 SheepTech

My Take on iPhone TweetDeck 2.0

The said display is capable of switching from a full-blown color display to a more soothing e-ink and vice versa.

Divided into three layers, termed as “multiple composite display regions”, the upper most layer is the touch interface, to register touch inputs. Under it is the “electronic paper display”, or e-ink—and lastly, “video display” for color display.

When not in use, users can bypass the translucent e-ink layer and see the LCD display underneath directly. Both the e-ink and LCD layer can also work together, by displaying contents like text in e-ink and other media in full color display.

I have several e-book readers on my iPhone, including Kindle, but finds myself hardly using any of them. No doubt, these apps are all very well designed and there are plenty of high quality free e-books, but facing a bright tiny display for hours is really causing too much eye strain.

That is one reason why I sometimes prefer reading on a real physical book than an e-book. For the same reason, Amazon Kindle still has its own unique appeal to book readers albeit Apple’s effort marketing iBooks on the iPhone and iPad.

If Apple were to implement e-ink on both the iDevice, it will definitely pose a serious threat to Amazon Kindle, the most gifted item in the company’s history. There will be very little reason left for book readers to consider the Kindle instead of the more capable iPad, unless there’s a cash constraint or a serious need of eternal battery life.

via AppleInsider

©2011 SheepTech

Apple Might Bring e-ink To iDevices with Hybrid Displays

A month later, Skype released a newer version of its Windows client, with almost nothing to do with bridging calls between Skype and Facebook. All it does was adding a new Facebook tab that is nothing but another way to read your news feed. You can call your Facebook friends if they made their number public, which will of course uses your Skype credit. Free calls is only possible if your Facebook friend has a Skype account.

Far from what I expected.

Forget about Skype. Here’s an app for iPhone and iPod Touches developed by CrispApp, called the Facebook Messenger. Facebook Messenger enables you to make voice calls from your iPhone to any of your Facebook friends that is online.

How it works?

1. Initiate the call using Facebook Messenger app on your iPhone
2. A link will be sent to your friend via Facebook chat
3. The link will bring your friend to a web-based VoIP client, which will automatically connect itself to your call
4. Once the connection is established, you both can start talking, for free

All it takes to receive the call is just a flash enabled browser. No additional software or Facebook app is required.

While the main selling point of Facebook Messenger is none other than voice calls, it also supports push-enabled Facebook chat. The interface is just sleek, better than any other expensive instant messaging app in the App Store.

The app is currently only available on iOS, but an Android version is said to be planned. It would be perfect if it is also possible to initiate the call from Facebook itself, rather than just from mobile devices.

Sure, there is Skype for desktop to desktop calls, but not everyone has a Skype account. Utilizing Facebook’s network for VoIP makes so much more sense.

Though it is free to make calls using the Facebook Messenger app, the app cost $2.99 in the App Store.

[Facebook Messenger] (App Store link)

©2011 SheepTech

Call Facebook Friends for Free from iPhone

Imaginary iPhone Nano & iPhone Shuffle dated in 2007, courtesy of iA.

The new iPhone Nano, as everyone dubs it, will be going for $200 without contract.

It is understandable why Apple is willing to work on a lower end iPhone instead of maintaining its luxury or premium status, considering how quickly its arch rival, Android, is dominating the mid and low-end market.

Apple has done this before with its iPod line up with the iPod Shuffle, blowing the rest of low-end MP3 players out of water even without a screen (when everyone else has one).

The iPhone already has a strong branding across the globe, and I can imagine those who have longed for an iPhone but can hardly afford would welcome this new addition to the iPhone family.

Until there is an official announcement for Apple however, it’s best to take this news with a grain of salt. The iPhone Nano rumor has been going in both 2007 and 2008. It’s 2011 and there’s still no sight of a tinier iPhone.

©2011 SheepTech

Apple Working on iPhone Nano, Smaller & More Affordable

HeyWire is a free app for both iDevices (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad) and Android that provides unlimited free text not only in the United States, but also to numbers in any of the 146 supported countries.

It is not a BBM-like messaging app like Whatsapp and KakaoTalk. The recipient need not to have the same app installed. All he need is a phone that is capable of receiving text messages, be it a monochrome Nokia 3210 or a cheap Chinese knock-off.

When you first sign up for the service after downloading the app, you will receive a real free US number. The recipient will see your text message as a regular SMS originating from that number. If he decides to reply to that number, he will be charged at the same rate texting to any other US number by his carrier.

Supported Countries & Carriers

At the time of writing, you can send free text internationally to any numbers in the 146 supported countries. You can find the full list of supported countries on this page (select region on the left pane, list of countries and carriers on the right)

I have personally tested texting myself to both my Google Voice number (US) and my Malaysian number (Digi, but both Celcom & Maxis is also supported according to the list). Both worked great. The message arrived almost instantly.

If you are sending a text outside US, make sure the number is formatted correctly with the country and area code.

Pros:

• Free text to almost anyone in any country, to any number
• Free US number, capable of both sending and receiving SMS
• The app is free, available in both App Store and Android Market
• Send a message to up to 10 contacts at a time
• Facebook Chat and Google Talk integration (optional)

Cons:

• App is ad-supported to pay for your free texts
• HeyWire promotional signature in all outgoing texts by default (you can change it easily to your own personalized signature or remove it all together. No biggie)

Download: App Store | Android Market
(or just search for “HeyWire” in the store or market)

©2011 SheepTech

Send Free US/International SMS from iPhone/Android

Recently, a new iPhone 4 knock off called the Sophone has been making rounds on other blogs for its perfect resemblance of the iPhone 4, both exterior and interior if not for the slight lag. You probably wouldn’t know it’s a knock off by just watching the demo if you’re not told earlier.

Almost every detail of the iOS is implemented in the Sophone, including the keyboard, iPod (background playing supported), app folders, multitask, multi touch, pinch zoom, and other gestures.

Even the stock apps like Notes and Voice Memo are included and looks exactly the same.

See to believe:

To put in into perspective, here’s another video comparing the Sophone and iPhone 4 side by side.

Sophon’s Specifications:

• MTK6235 chipset
• Supports GSM & WCDMA
• Supports Java & WAP
• 3.5-inch (480 X 320) capacitive screen
• 4GB flash storage
• 2 megapixels camera, both front and rear
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• Removable 1400mAh battery

Not convinced Sophone is the best fake iPhone 4 yet? Wait till you see the worst. Introducing the AirPhone no.4. You will be frustrated just by watching the video, let alone using the phone. Air. AirPhone. Whatever.

©2011 SheepTech

The Best & Worst of Fake iPhone 4

What does it take to create an iPhone app? With App Cat, creating an iPhone app is as simple as replying emails. Once you have answered all the questions Kitty have, it will create a new iPhone app for you, without charging you a dime.

How to create a free iPhone app with App Cat

1. Visit www.app.cat. Pick your preferred template, there are 34 different designs for you to choose from (which really is just a background).

2. Enter your email address.

3. Reply Kitty’s email with the corresponding information you wish to show on your app.

• Name & slogan
• Address (to put a map in your app, a town name will do if you have privacy concern)
• Phone number (so that your app user can call you using the app itself)
• Photos for your app’s gallery
• Description to be used in the “About” page

4. You will then receive a link from Kitty with your app’s download link.

Download link? What download link?

By right, your app should be submitted for iTunes’s approval and have your finger crossed, no?

No. It won’t be submitted to iTunes. Your app will not be available for download in the App Store. So how does this work?

Visit the download link given by Kitty on your iPhone, then save the page using the “Add to Home Screen” button. Now go to your home screen, launch the app and it will download the required data.

It sounds just like a bookmark on the home screen doesn’t it? Except it’s a bookmark that can be accessed even without data, making it work just like other apps. However, when connection is available, the app will automatically update itself to reflect the latest changes made by the app owner.

What’s in the app?

There are 6 buttons in the app, namely:

• News – where you can publish new entries to reach out your app users
• Photos – a gallery of your uploaded photos
• Call – to call you or your business in just one touch
• Contact – showing your address, contact number, and location on Google Maps
• About – your app’s description
• Love – to share you app via email, SMS or Twitter

How do I update my app?

When your app is created, you will be presented a 4 number PIN. Use the PIN to gain access to the edit buttons. Clicking on any of these buttons will launch the email client containing specific instructions. Just send the email to Kitty and it will update your app right away.

How can App Cat be free?

The same developer is selling silly apps like iBeer for $0.99 a pop in the App Store, so why on earth would they create a service totally free of charge?

Turns out there will a small ad banner in your app created using App Cat. Fair enough I’d say, a service won’t stay long if there is totally no revenue source to support it.

App Cat might launch some premium feature near future, and I suppose by then you can pay to remove the ads.

Suggestions

It would be really nice to have these features on top of the available ones:

• RSS aggregator to automatically pull new articles on your blog.
• Show updates from Twitter and Facebook
• More customization: uploading my own background, designing my own buttons, app icon on home screen etc.

Demo please?

I have created a demo app with App Cat, simple point your iPhone’s browser to http://app.cat/sheeptech/ if you would like test it yourself.

©2011 SheepTech

App Cat: Create iPhone App For Free in 7 minutes

The first early Santa will be Gameloft, the popular mobile games maker. Starting from 1st of December, Gameloft will surprise you with a gift every day until Christmas.

The gifts can be anything like free mobile games for iPhone and Android, game discounts and game related contents like wallpapers.

To make sure you don’t miss any freebies or deals from them during this period, follow @gameloft on Twitter, the only place the gifts will be announced.

The second early Santa is FontDeck. Just like Gameloft, FontDeck will be offering premium fonts for free everyday until Christmas.

Simply go to Adfont Calender every day to check out the free font of the day. Perfect for web designers.

©2011 SheepTech

Christmas Freebies: Gameloft Mobile Games & FontDeck Fonts

What about this: spend money on virtual items in a village building game, which correspond to a real village in Uganda. You buy a virtual blanket in the game, a villager in Uganda receives a real blanket.

New Era Charity makes it possible with its iPhone game, Raise the Village.

In this game, you becomes the chief of a village in Uganda, or so to speak, right from the comfort of your couch with your iPhone. You help improve your villager’s life, sending aids to them, building farms etc.

Your villagers will report to you when they have received your item, with a photo of them and your purchased item.

And when someone ask you what have you done to make the world a better place, just whip out your iPhone and show them your village.

I personally think it would be a good idea if it is possible to earn virtual in-game currency by viewing ads. This way, even the stingiest iPhone user can help improve the village.

For the time being, it seems that the app is only available in the U.S. App Store.

©2011 SheepTech

Raise the Village: iPhone Game that Makes the World Better