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NeoGAF's best of iOS

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Vyer

Member
Wow. The Apple podcast app looks great but is just utterly horrible on my iPhone 4. Just not stable at all. Some podcasts won't delete, I've had it hard freeze just trying to add a podcast from the store and from trying to play something it had already deleted.

EDIT: I'm about done with Instacast too. Hard to believe it got so laggy/bloaty since I bought it not too long ago, but the lag on loading makes me wonder if they just dev on the 4S. Somebody suggested downcast, right?

Downcast is the best so far IMO. Instacast used to be my favorite. Haven't used the Apple app enough yet, but it looks like it needs some fine tuning.
 
it's very nice looking, but it won't let go of Location Services according to my buddy who bought it, thus eating your battery. I'd wait for a fix.

Just tried this out and you're right, even if you exit out of the app from the multitasking menu it'll keep on using location services. I had to turn off it's ability to use location services from settings.
 
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Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
They would have to seat the (obviously front lit) display like an inch behind the glass for that to actually be cool.
 
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Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
Uhh, there are gauges and switches and it approximates a real world physical interface.. That skeuomorphic, it's just not ugly as well.
 
Wow. The Apple podcast app looks great but is just utterly horrible on my iPhone 4. Just not stable at all. Some podcasts won't delete, I've had it hard freeze just trying to add a podcast from the store and from trying to play something it had already deleted.

EDIT: I'm about done with Instacast too. Hard to believe it got so laggy/bloaty since I bought it not too long ago, but the lag on loading makes me wonder if they just dev on the 4S. Somebody suggested downcast, right?

Yeah they definitely need to work on the Podcast app some more. I keep getting random old episodes in my lists, can't download one of my podcasts at all. Just now it randomly downloaded another old ep for one of the Podcasts. Why.

I've been using Downcast for my podcast needs and it's great. Haven't tried Instacast.
 

twobear

sputum-flecked apoplexy
Uhh, there are gauges and switches and it approximates a real world physical interface.. That skeuomorphic, it's just not ugly as well.

Right, it's not skeuomorphic to the extent of the stuff Apple is currently doing, is what I mean. Also, yes, it's not ugly which is a big plus.
 

Talon

Member
I had a conversation with my girlfriend about skeumorphic design, and she said she finds it comforting that the application's function serves as a metaphor for its design and vice versa. Thought that was interesting, and I wonder if that's why Apple sticks to it.
 
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Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
I think you really just mean its not ugly. In terms of emulating a real world object it appears to be more 1:1 than iCal or whatever... So since we seem to be treating skeuomorphism as something you can have just teensy little dabble of, wouldn't that make actually make it more skeuomorphic?
 

numble

Member
I had a conversation with my girlfriend about skeumorphic design, and she said she finds it comforting that the application's function serves as a metaphor for its design and vice versa. Thought that was interesting, and I wonder if that's why Apple sticks to it.

I always thought skeumorphism wasn't just about gauges and things that look like physical objects--it was about imitating something that did the same function, with no other purpose but to serve as cues. Like a notebook looking like a physical notebook, a calendar looking like a physical calendar, etc.

The Weather app doesn't look like any real-world physical object that determines the weather.
 

twobear

sputum-flecked apoplexy
I think you really just mean its not ugly. In terms of emulating a real world object it appears to be more 1:1 than iCal or whatever... So since we seem to be treating skeuomorphism as something you can have just teensy little dabble of, wouldn't that make actually make it more skeuomorphic?

I dunno, iCal has that horrible fake torn-off page thing too.
 
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Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
The Weather app doesn't look like any real-world physical object that determines the weather.
I didn't even look that closely at it. I thought it was just a thermostat.
Either way the recent prevalence of this term bugs me in all the worst ways.
 

twobear

sputum-flecked apoplexy
I didn't even look that closely at it. I thought it was just a thermostat.
Either way the recent prevalence of this term bugs me in all the worst ways.

It's skeuomorphic to a machine where you press a button and a dial tells you the weather!
 
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Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
It's skeuomorphic to a machine where you press a button and a dial tells you the weather!
That has to exist.
It probably doesn't work and is from a 1994 sky mall catalogue but that has to exist.
 

Talon

Member
I find it interesting that we talk about convergence of real world and digital design as some sort of goal, and we haven't really sorted it out quite right.

Like someone said, that device looks like a Braun device that would fit in a stylish 70s bachelor pad. There may not be a direct corollary, but its function is obvious - although the "refresh" looks like it should be used to change the weather or something.
 

twobear

sputum-flecked apoplexy
That has to exist.
It probably doesn't work and is from a 1994 sky mall catalogue but that has to exist.

I think this is the closest that real things come?

La-Crosse-Technology-Atomic-wall-lock-with--remote-temperature.jpg
 

giga

Member
It's definitely skeuomorphic. The push button, switch, red indicator line, and the selection behind glass reminds me of the Braun SK55. It's designed to mimic a physical object, even if an actual weather device never looked like this before. I personally don't have a problem with it though. Skeuomorph can look great if done well.

214_dieter_jp141108_a.jpg


7jdbK6flU6SfMLtMgcs8xM-temp-upload.pnfrnvri.320x480-75.jpg
 

DodgerSan

Member
I think Apple really missed the boat with the podcast app not syncing between iPhone/iPad ala Downcast. And speaking of syncing, it says you can sync with your iTunes library, anyone know how?

Apart from being able to subscribe on your device (finally), I'm not seeing the advantage of ths being a separate app.
 
The one thing that really bugs me about this new podcast app is that's probably going to be integrated with Siri, so I can say something like "Siri start playing the newest episode of the giant bomb podcast "and it'll work. It's a shame, and rather annoying, did you can't do this is third-party apps yet. Then again, I don't think you can do this with the podcast app right now, but it seems like something Apple is going to allow themselves to do and no one else.
 
D

Deleted member 22576

Unconfirmed Member
Nah I'm pretty positive they specifically said Siri was gonna be coming to third party stuff. You'll jus have to say "open downcast and play the bombcast."
 

Le-mo

Member
Gaf, my iPhone 3GS is stuck on an infinite boot loop. The phone is unlocked for use with T-Mobile and when I try to restore it on iTunes with a custom firmware it gives me the error 3194. I tried the method of opening up the Hosts file and adding the code 74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com to the bottom of the list, but that doesn't fix the problem. What else can I do? I don't want to update to the newest firmware since I won't be able to unlock it.
 

sruckus

Member
I am already over Apple's Podcast app. Slow as crap on my 4 and they keep getting more and more ridiculous with this real-life nostalgic shit. It's like they're taunting us trying to see how far they can go. I'm not a grandpa. I didn't buy an iPhone so I can relive all the shitty devices I had to use before digital. </rant>

Downcast is still very nice for what it is and I'll be sticking with that.

Gaf, my iPhone 3GS is stuck on an infinite boot loop. The phone is unlocked for use with T-Mobile and when I try to restore it on iTunes with a custom firmware it gives me the error 3194. I tried the method of opening up the Hosts file and adding the code 74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com to the bottom of the list, but that doesn't fix the problem. What else can I do? I don't want to update to the newest firmware since I won't be able to unlock it.

I think there is a jailbreak thread here that may be more helpful. At the very least you should be able to stop the infinite loop with something like Tiny Umbrella.
 

mrkgoo

Member
It's definitely skeuomorphic. The push button, switch, red indicator line, and the selection behind glass reminds me of the Braun SK55. It's designed to mimic a physical object, even if an actual weather device never looked like this before. I personally don't have a problem with it though. Skeuomorph can look great if done well.

214_dieter_jp141108_a.jpg



7jdbK6flU6SfMLtMgcs8xM-temp-upload.pnfrnvri.320x480-75.jpg
Why hello there... What app might you be?
 

BocoDragon

or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
Yeah, instacast kinda went to shit after the big update a while back.

i guess I should give downcast a shot?

I've found that they fixed it. It was AWFUL after that first big update but they've slowly fixed all my complaints (splash screen is very quick now, you can slide to refresh on every page, it doesn't crash, etc)
 

Burger

Member
Sparrow next please.

I purchased iPhone Sparrow after having such a great experience with the Mac version. It's a shame it's pretty much useless in its current form. A mail app that can't check for mail? I realise it's not their fault, but jeez.
 

Mafro

Member
I bought Tweetbot yesterday and was surprised it doesn't do push notifications and doesn't work with the notifications center. Have the devs said why? It seems an obvious feature.

EDIT: never mind, just noticed I'd missed the option and they are all turned off by default.
 
I need some help, guys. I just purchased tweetbot and everything was working great in terms of push notifications and my settings. However, it keeps making me re-authorize my account. Any ideas?
 

Number45

Member
I need some help, guys. I just purchased tweetbot and everything was working great in terms of push notifications and my settings. However, it keeps making me re-authorize my account. Any ideas?
Yeah, they tweeted about it yesterday - it's a problem all third party apps are currently having.
 
With all the Instacast bumming, I just want to say that with over 50 subscriptions, Instacast continues to be the most stable and fastest podcast app out there for me. They released a major upgrade, and some bugs were to be expected, but they've squashed almost all of them. Moreover, I like how he handles his customer support, and how he responds and communicates with people on his blog and twitter. I dunno. I used to use Podcaster, but it became slow and buggy for as many subscriptions as I use, and I've never been a fan of Downcast and its user interface and user experience. It is all personal preference, but Instacast is more simple, works, and, if you want to do per subscription changes (I don't know why you would want to), a lot of features are available if you poke around. It is simple and robust. I like it, and I like the new version. I dunno.
 

Vyer

Member
It is all personal preference, but Instacast is more simple, works, and, if you want to do per subscription changes (I don't know why you would want to), a lot of features are available if you poke around. It is simple and robust. I like it, and I like the new version. I dunno.

I kinda felt the opposite. Downcast started to feel more streamlined (or 'simple') to me.

With Downcast in two taps I'm playing my podcast. The 15/30 second jump buttons are handy, and lots of the other functions (sleep timer, podcast speed, Airplay, etc.) are right on the main screen as well whereas on Instacast they are hidden away. I also didn't like how it changed a function like Mark As Played suddenly with an update and then changed it back again later. Just kinda annoying when you just want to jump in the car and start your podcast as you take off for work.

*shrug* it's not a bad app by any means, I used it for quite a while until all of a week or two ago. It just started to feel a little unnecessarily bloated.
 

xbhaskarx

Member
With all the Instacast bumming, I just want to say that with over 50 subscriptions, Instacast continues to be the most stable and fastest podcast app out there for me. They released a major upgrade, and some bugs were to be expected, but they've squashed almost all of them. Moreover, I like how he handles his customer support, and how he responds and communicates with people on his blog and twitter. I dunno. I used to use Podcaster, but it became slow and buggy for as many subscriptions as I use, and I've never been a fan of Downcast and its user interface and user experience. It is all personal preference, but Instacast is more simple, works, and, if you want to do per subscription changes (I don't know why you would want to), a lot of features are available if you poke around. It is simple and robust. I like it, and I like the new version. I dunno.

I still use Instacast, and I have different settings for various subscriptions...
 
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