Tim Cox, author at Cult of Mac

Plug Your Guitar into your iPhone and iPad with this DIY iRig

By

iRig-large.jpg

No way would I ever plug in my Gibson SG Les Paul Custom into my iPhone 3G. Just no way. Now that I have the iPhone 4 and its increased processor speed, crystal clear pictures, and hardcore stage presence, I’ll reconsider.

Seriously though, playing an instrument through an iDevice is more of just a hobby or gimmick if you’re going to try and use it for modeling amps and effect pedals. What really convinced me to hook up a quarter inch jack to my phone was the Moog Filtatron App. Synthesizers are most certainly perfect for and acceptable to use in your music even if they’re coming from you Macbook or iPad. If they have the Moog name attatched to it then you’re just that much more legit.

If you have a box full of cables tucked away somewhere, you may have all that you need to construct your very own iRig. Even if you purchased all the cables from The Shack, you’ll probably come away with a cheaper version, and you’ll feel like MacGyver.

Here’s how I put together my own audio interface:

MONDAY GIVEAWAYS: SyncMate Expert From Eltima Software

By

syncmate eltima software

Keep your Mac and Windows Mobile device in perfect sync: Address Book, Calendar entries, To Dos, browsers bookmarks, Mail notes and entourage ones, iTunes, iPhoto, folders and more. You can manage SMS messages with an ease of your Mac keyboard, which makes reading, sending or deleting your messages a fast and easy task. We’re giving away 10 SyncMate Expert Edition licenses from Eltima Software to you, our fun and loyal readers. Not rocking the new iPhone and instead using an Android phone?  This application will help you easily sync with that, too!

Here’s how to win a copy of SyncMate:

  1. Become a fan of our Facebook page.
  2. Post a link to your favorite Cult of Mac article from the past week or two on your Facebook profile.
  3. Comment on our Facebook page wall that you posted the link.

Guidelines: You must be 18 years old to enter the giveaway.  This giveaway is void where prohibited.  NO purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway.

Special thanks to Eltima Software for providing these license keys.  Each license has a retail value of $39.95.

iPad Controlled Video Blimp

By

cult_logo_featured_image_missing_default1920x1080

Today is a good day for innovation.

The crew over at BreakfastNY created a helium filled blimp controlled by an iPad’s accelerometer and demoed it at a crowded party that I wasn’t invited to. Thanks, guys.

So the Blimp was cool and everything but they were able to stream live video feed from the blimp to a big screen while guests took turns taking iPad Blimp for a spin. Here’s a description from BreakfastNY:

This year’s Design Week after-party featured a silent auction of 23 KidRobot Munny characters created by the world’s top industrial designers. To show off these creations to the thousand guests, we flew a 52″ camera-enabled blimp over their heads. The blimp (a modified BlimpDuino) was controlled by an iPad which was receiving the live video-feed from the cockpit. When guests looked up, they watched as their faces were transformed into those of the Munny characters up for auction. The feed also went up on a big screen at the event and the event’s site allowing everyone to get in on the action.

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRlQTBPtYfc&feature=player_embedded

Facebook Nerd Debate: Best iPhone Case Edition

By

iPhone 3G _ 3GS Defender Series Case __ OtterBox.com

We here at Cult of Mac receive a ton of email asking “What’s the best _____?” or “I just got a new iP___,  tell me what sweet apps I should purchase!” Though we try to cover the vast realm of the best of Apple products, software, and accessories we know that crowdsourcing it to you guys will give us some interesting results.

We’re posting questions on our Facebook Page or Twitter profile and taking your answers into consideration. Here’s the first question of our Nerd Debates: “What’s the best iPhone case out there and why?”

Tweetie 2 is Gone: Twitter For iPhone Coming Soon

By

post-43326-image-7aa17cafc3ac0c89383c077619844efd-jpg

Our favorite app for the iPhone, Tweetie 2, has made a quick getaway from the App Store. It looks like Tweetie 2’s new owners, Twitter, might be replacing it with it’s Twitter for iPhone app in mere moments (or this week).

The recent update to Tweetie 2 included a slot machine pop-up that would run if you pulled down to refresh. It was pretty cool the first time I experienced it-actually the first two times since you had to pull twice to see the message “Coming Soon: Tweetie will be Twitter for iPhone.”

But soon after I hated everything about it and I never wanted to see the message again. It took me a while but you can actually pull down to refresh gently enough so as not to disturb the slot machine monster that I wish would die.

Twitter for iPhone should be released tomorrow. Keep it here for the details.

“Bump” Track Info to Friends with Rhythmic for iPhone

By

Rhythmic for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store

Free Radical Software has just released Rhythmic for iPhone and iPod Touch. Rhythmic allows one user to transfer song information, including relevant song data and cover art, from their device to another with the same technology used to transfer contacts in the popular iPhone app Bump.

Once a track is Bumped, the recipient can choose to download the track from iTunes.

I could see this app working well at iPod nights at your local beverage dispensing establishment. Can you think of other instances when this might come in handy? I can’t. I’m also weary of the negative comments in the App Store. Fun idea, though.

Bill Maher on Next US President: “America Needs… Jobs. Steve Jobs.”

By

14livzp-2

Bill Maher might be on to something. The politicomedian made a bold statement last night that suggested Steve Jobs (aka Sven Jorbs) should make a run for the Oval Office.

Last week, President Obama admitted to being technologically challenged. Maher, noting that the President’s historic run for office was fueled primarily by social networking, refused to take Barry’s ignorance as adorable. Video and transcript after the jump.

Todo for iPad Released, Half Price for a Limited Time

By

post-43177-image-775716c9565caa94fa5742f7da51b42a-jpg

The Todo app for the iPad was released recently, and to celebrate Appigo is offering this gorgeous little piece of productivity for $4.99; 50% off of its everyday $9.99 price tag.

About Todo:

Todo is a powerful set of tools that makes task management simple and fun. Use Todo on your iPad or iPhone alone or synchronize your tasks to your desktop (iCal or Outlook) using Appigo Sync (free download) or to the web using the popular online todo list Toodledo. Todo helps you focus on what matters most and allows you to integrate the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology or your own.

Appigo has noted that future updates to Todo for iPad are free.

Charge Your iPad with Quickerteck’s Foldable Solar Panel

By

solar panel for apple ipad

Quickerteck has done it again! First they brought us a charge monitor for the iPad that indicates if you’re getting enough juice to charge your pad. Now they’ve brought us a 10 watt foldable solar panel for the iPad that comes with the aforementioned charge monitor.

Quickerteck states that the panels will charge your iPad as fast as using a wall charger and they can be yours for a cool $250.

The name of the product is the best part: Apple Juicz.

My questions to you: Would you use this? Is it reasonably priced?

Bluebox Ai: In-Flight Entertainment coming to iPad

By

post-43158-image-3ec9df765656b36634d3679b298b3d49-jpg

It looks like in-flight entertainment will become a little less annoying in July 2010.

Bluebox Avionics has announced its Ai IFE  which “leverages the power, flexibility and quality of the most advanced consumer device ever produced” (apprently that’s the iPad). Flight attendants would either pass out iPads or chain them to your tray tables and you could enjoy a Airline specific iPad experience  thanks to Bluebox’s proprietary security solution and custom apps.

I’m not sure how practical this is, but it would be nice to move away from the seat-back touchscreens with the hidden credit card swiper.

[via Engadget]