It is a good day. We got some Facetiming iPod Touches and some pretty sweet iPod Nanos, not to mention an Apple TV I would actually buy. However, for me, that is not the biggest Apple news of the day, Twitter for iPad is.

After a few months of using the iPad, I am still unsatisfied with my tweeting options on the tablet. Osfoora is pretty awesome but not perfect with no live links in the timeline. Twitterrific is the runner up and I was actually testing it out to become my default on the iPad. That is until I saw the famous tweet that changed it all. Twitter for iPad is now live and it’s rocking.

The new Twitter for iPad not only includes all the features needed in a serious Twitter app, it also adds some unique gesture-based advancements such as two finger swipe down to reveal the thread preceding a tweet. The interface also seems to have multiple levels that open upon clicking on a profile or link in your stream.

Twitter for iPad also has the standard real time search capabilities we have come to expect from a Twitter app, trending topics, integrated maps, and a whole lot more. Twitter for iPad has one click Instapaper support, which is pretty darn awesome and the UI, at least if I am trusting my first impressions, is the most invested in interface out of all the iPad Twitter apps.

One thing I am sorely missing is the old RT format of “RT <the person’s name< and >their tweet>. The new format, in addition to the native RT, is actually quoting the person’s tweet, but you can’t win em all I guess.

I am definitely going to be using Twitter for iPad as my default app for now. I do like the way I can access my lists in one click in Tweetings and the way Echofon shows a missed tweets count, but in terms of an overall experience combined with the most functionality, looks like Twitter for iPad wins…

I am writing this review as I test the app out so as I notice things, I am recording them, and I just realized there is no auto complete on Twitter names, which is going to be a problem for me.  I do love how you can click live links in the stream itself including profiles and it opens up a new page with everything you need to know about the person. That is something missing from other apps I have tried.

At the end of the day, Twitter for iPad provides a superior overall experience to any other iPad Twitter app I have tried, which means one thing, time to pin it to the main apps bar along the bottom of the iPad.

Have you tried Twitter for iPad? Are you loving it? Please let me know in the comments or better yet, reach out to me on Twitter here.

As expected, Apple’s entire iPod lineup has been completely refreshed. Let’s start with the new iPod Shuffle, which experienced the least amount of change compared to the iPod Touch and Nano.

Apple has gone back to the second generation Shuffle design, but has retained the updates granted to it in the fourth refresh. We now have the return of the classic iPod click wheel. The new iPod shuffles are much smaller than ever before, and are Apple’s cheapest gadget, starting at $49 for the 2GB version.

As you can see above, the iPod nano has gotten a major overhaul. They are now much smaller than before, come with a shuffle-like clip on the back, and have a multi-touch touchscreen. If you look closely, you’ll notice the background wallpaper resembles the one that comes default with iOS4, which enables backgrounds in the wallpaper. The various options for your music resemble apps, and it looks like you’ve got 4 pages of “apps,” by default.

Did anybody notice how Apple silently removed the video camera on the back? Apple also stealthily removed video playback, if anybody managed to catch that either.

I think they’ve finally realized that a video camera is absolutely not unnecessary on an iPod Nano. However, I think that video playback was a good feature that they killed in the latest refresh, something I would miss if I upgraded to the latest iPod Nano. Like last year’s Nano, this one also has a built-in FM radio, something that should probably be on the iPod Touch/iPhone, especially since you’re paying a premium.

This brings us to the main attraction, in my opinion – the new iPod Touch. It has a new shape, to accommodate the new dual cameras. Earlier this year, Steve had mentioned that “millions of people will be able to use FaceTime this year.” This latest refresh definitely supports that quote, with FaceTime enabled on all of the latest iPod Touches.

The new iPod Touch 4G also has a retina display, which comes as no surprise. It also packs in Apple A4, which is a 1ghz processor, that Apple has underclocked for better battery life. Along with that, the iPod Touch is now incredibly thin, and the camera on the back allows for HD video recording. However, you cannot take pictures with it, it’s strictly video recording only. Gametime, similar to Xbox Live, is set to be launched sometime next week, along with iOS 4.1, which I’ll get to in a little bit.

Finally, the Apple TV is finally been refreshed. As you can see, it is noticeably smaller than the previous version, and will retail at $99. It features HD video, just not Full HD (1080p), but rather, 720p. It has Netflix streaming built-in, along with iTunes rentals, (HD) YouTube streaming, and much more. There are also 99 cent rentals, but it is SD, not HD, unfortunately.

Next week, iOS 4.1 is set to launch. One of the main features is HDR photos. If you didn’t know, HDR stands for “high dynamic range.” It basically combines two images, one dark, one light, and combines them to form one perfect image. It is also supposed to help alleviate the proximity sensor issue, somewhat.

All in all, it was a great Apple event. Some of our speculations came true, and some did not. I for one will not be buying any of these because I already own an iPhone 4. What are your thoughts on this? Are you going to pick one of these new devices up? Drop a comment below!

The million dollar question is how to discover iPad apps that are not featured in the App Store. When an app is not in the Top Apps category, not in the New and Hot category, or any other special section of the App Store, it is usually very difficult to find. Many services are attacking this problem with their own solution, in fact, we have a little something up our sleeves that is going to blow everyone out of the water, but that is a topic for another time.

The way I discover apps is a mixture of a lot of things but my social circles on Twitter and Facebook play a significant role in my app discovery. That was the case with Rafter HD as well. A friend (thanks a lot Aniya, I am now hooked) on Twitter recommended to me and I had actually never even heard of it. Based on her recommendation, I went and paid the $1.99 for it and within a minute or two, I was hooked.

The app is an adaptation of the regular Rafter for iPhone, but utilizes the iPad’s screen real estate as well as its superior graphics. Maybe the reason I love this game so much is because it could not be simpler, which combined with stellar graphics, and advanced gaming capabilities, makes for a winner of an app.

The object of the game is to hit a little red mine by drawing different shapes and dropping them in a way that they will land on the mine. The thing is, every level has different obstacles including blocks, moving blocks, falling blocks, swinging blocks, fans, and many more. The game has some seriously awesome physics involved in drawing precisely the right shape so it rolls, bounces, or flies in exactly the right direction to land on the mine.

Obviously, as the levels advance, the game gets harder, and there are some levels you think you will never pass, yet somehow, sometimes after trying tens of times, you pass the level and move on to the next.

Rafter HD is absolutely brilliant and I am not exaggerating when I say it is some serious competition for games like Angry Birds.

Of course nothing is perfect and this is no exception. There are various bugs in the app like the fans not blowing when they should or the bounce intensity not changing despite your adjustments. All these bugs eventually resolve themselves, so it is not in any way a deal breaker, but they are unnecessary annoyances.

The bottom line is, if you have an iPad, this is an absolute must download app. However, I must warn you, just like I did with other iPad games I reviewed, beware of extreme addiction.

Have you tried Rafter HD? What did you think? Please let us know in the comments or reach out to me on Twitter.

When I first opened the app, I noticed how addictive the gameplay is, right off the bat. You control a character, in a variety of environments, trying to get as far as possible.

You control a character, named Barry Steakfries who’s running across the map (there are several). The maps aren’t completely flat, so you have to jump over the large gaps that separate one stretch of land from another. You may encounter some obstacles on your way, including: mummies, zombies, vampires, and devils

The controls of the games are very simple. The left side of the screen makes Barry jump, the right side makes him fire his weapon. A short, quick tap on the left side will result in a small jump, and a longer tap will result in a larger hop. You start the game off with a flamethrower as your weapon. As you go along, you may run into a crate with a different weapon. Each weapon has its own strengths and weaknesses. The weapons you pick up through crates come with a limited amount of ammo though, so use them wisely!

If you run into a mummy/vampire/devil, you will lose a life. You start the game with 3 lives total, and have the opportunity to gain one by simply collecting a heart. They are usually floating in a midair, and a quick jump will easily get you another life. The game also has Openfeint, so you can compare your high scores with your friends. The score in the game is based on the distance you are able to run.

The graphics in the game fail to disappoint, like all the other aspects of the game. If you’re a fan of simple, cheap, yet addictive games, then Monster Dash is definitely for you. Another hit from Halfbrick Studios, definitely check this application out in the App Store for 99 cents!

Our Rating: 5/5

Download Link

Developer Link – Halfbrick Studios

While games is the most popular category in the Apple App Store, it never ceases to amaze me how creative developers have become in other categories as a result of the rising competition. A relatively new app I came across in the App Store was so brilliantly simple and original, I just had to share it with the rest of you.

This is going to be a short review since the app pretty much does one thing, and one thing only. It sends an email to your designated contacts telling them you are in trouble with a live dynamic link to a map of your current location. As soon as you hit the big Help button in the iNeedHelp! app, the app sends that email to your contacts.

You can define multiple contacts to receive the email, but as far as I can tell, the person needs to have an email address and needs to be in your phone’s address book. The obvious next step is to send the person an SMS for people who do not use email, possibly some Facebook connect action, and if the developer wants to get really cutting edge, maybe even allow the app to send someone a tweet.

I tried out the app and sent myself an email with a distress call. The email arrived immediately and the map was updated and accurate.

There is nothing more to say about this app. The main interface has a dangerously inviting Help button and a large Settings icon. In the Settings screen, you configure your details and choose the contacts you are sending the message to.

Is the app worth it? Well, this is the kind of utility you will only need once and that one time, this kind of thing might seriously help you, so I say yes. I have spoken to the developer and everything I mentioned above is already available in the next version of the app, plus a whole lot more.

To sum it up, iNeedHelp is a smart, creative, and useful iPhone app that has the absolute simplest interface you can possibly imagine. Seems like a winner to me. You can download the app here. One last thing. The app is free now, but from what I understand, it will not stay that way for much longer…

Netflix was only available for the iPad until today, August 26th, where they finally launched the iPhone/iPod version. It is 100% free, and you can download it here. You’ll notice it’s not a new app, but now, a universal app – one app will work on all iDevices that can run the App Store.

You can stream netflix content over 3G or WiFi, however, I would imagine video streamed over 3G to be degraded, quality-wise. If this is true, then there is a simple solution through (jailbroken devices only), with 3G Unrestrictor (our review here).

If you are not aware of what Netflix, the service in general, offers, it is basically for movies. There are several ways you can take advantage of Netflix. Once you subscribe to the service, you can rent movies (they have free overnight shipping), or instantly stream movies over your computer, PS3, Xbox 360, anything! The great thing about it is that there is absolutely no software required. You simply need to know your login ID to access it from anywhere!

A service this great needs a way to make revenue – I believe they charge $9 monthly for unlimited movies. This includes both streaming over the internet as well as DVD rentals. The launch of the iPad gave Netflix a great opportunity to expand their business. I can imagine how wonderful movies look on the gorgeous 9.7″ screen. It’s extremely convenient too, since you can take your iPad with Netflix anywhere you want, whether on the couch, bed, etc.! Obviously, only the iPhone/iPad 3G version of the application will allow streaming over 3G, since the iPod Touch can only access the web via WiFi.

Once you are logged into the application, you have a variety of options. You’ll start off at the “home” tab by default. This will show other movies in the same genre as your previously watched ones. It shows the name, a thumbnail, date released, length, and rating. Basically all the general information regarding the movie. Tapping on a movie allows you to either play the movie, add to instant queue, and provides the plot.

The second tab in the Netflix for iPhone application is “Genres.” This is pretty basic, you simply tap on the genre of movie you feel like watching, and it will pull up a long list, arranged in order of popularity.

The third tab is the search bar, nothing special there. If you have something specific on your mind, you can always use this to see if they have it available for instant streaming, as not all movies on Netflix are available to do so.

The last tab is “instant queue.” These are the movies you saved earlier on to watch later, or movies you haven’t quite finished.

Netflix for iPhone is a hit, and you have absolutely no reason not to pick it up, especially since it’s free! Go download it now.

Our Rating: 5/5

Download Link

Developer Link

Last year, a similar even was held on September 9th, if I remember correctly. If you didn’t know, the event will be held in San Francisco. They’re generally around the same time frame, and they tend to refresh the iPods later in the year (fall time, usually) to maximize sales, since these products are popular Christmas presents.

The image above may signify a refresh for music related products, for example, the iPod. It could also mean updates for other products, such as Garageband.

This is what I think they will announce:

• Redesigned iPod Nano
• iPod Shuffle will have a 1.7 inch screen
• iPod Touch Redesign
• iPod Touch with not one, but two cameras, enabling FaceTime to not only other iPod Touches, but also other iPhone 4′s
• iOS4 for iPad – Apple had announced its debut sometime in Fall, and the time has finally come
• New iLife/iWork?
• Rumored Updated $99 Apple TV (dubbed iTV?)
• 99 cent TV show rentals (very attractive price will be sure to rake in the customers)

That’s basically what I think will be announced/released. These are in no way guaranteed to happen, but signs/rumors do point in these directions.

Let us know what you think will happen – drop a comment below!

“Where To? – GPS points of interest” gives you points of interest for specific genres. For example, looking for a sushi restaurant near you? Just select the “Food & Drink” category, then the “Sushi” selection and see sushi restaurants close to your location. Get the restaurants address, phone number and website or click get directions which will direct you to a navigation app such as Navigon, TomTom or the default application on every iPhone, Maps. Winner of the “Best feel like a local app” award in the Best App Ever Awards 2009, Where To? is an app you can’t pass by without giving a try. Watch a review of the app below!

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Download Link ($2.99)

Developer: FutureTap

Samsung tweeted out a nice teaser 5 minutes ago of their up and coming debut into the Apple-dominated tablet market. The Samsung Tab will be available on September 2nd, and everything else you need to know is either in the title or the video below.

Now all that’s left is to wait and see if this device will even get off the bench and play in the same game as the iPad. To be honest, I am not buying the 7 inch display, I think Apple’s 9.7 inches is pretty ideal as far as tablets go, but then again, nobody thought the iPad would sell this well either.

Take a look at the short video below and let me know what you think. Does it stand a chance? You can share your thoughts in the comments below or on Twitter here.

The war between Google and Apple, iPhone and Android, continues to heat up. For me, it is not just a hypothetical battle, I am actually personally on the fence here between two mobile devices.

On the one hand, the iPhone 4 is a piece of art and like Apple’s policies or not, you cannot deny the engineering brilliance that went into this device.

On the other side, there is finally an Android phone that meets my needs just as well as the iPhone and even beats it on some fronts. The new Samsung Galaxy S, in all its versions, is one heck of a device.

I am not going to compare and contrast the two devices, since for starters, I have never used either one. Besides, that is a discussion for another time.

In any case, do you have thoughts on these two devices? Which would you prefer? Please let me know in the comments or on Twitter here.

Meanwhile, enjoy this awesome TV ad for the Samsung Galaxy S in its 4G version, dubbed the EPIC 4G for Sprint!