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GrayKey: The little box that unlocks iPhones

[Thomas Reed, for MalwareBytes][1]:

>Two iPhones can be connected at one time, and are connected for about two minutes. After that, they are disconnected from the device, but are not yet cracked. Some time later, the phones will display a black screen with the passcode, among other information. The exact length of time varies, taking about two hours in the observations of our source. It can take up to three days or longer for six-digit passcodes, according to Grayshift documents, and the time needed for longer passphrases is not mentioned. Even disabled phones can be unlocked, according to Grayshift.

Nothing is safe. Encrypt and delete constantly.

[1]: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/security-world/2018/03/graykey-iphone-unlocker-poses-serious-security-concerns/ “GrayKey iPhone unlocker poses serious security concerns “

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Introducing TapMeasure – Occipital’s new measurement / room CAD generation tool

TapMeasure is a whole new way to build a 3D model of any room in a few seconds. It works with Apple’s new ARKit framework, and adds Occipital’s special sauce to provide artwork alignment, quick measurements, and the aforementioned generation of (SketchUp-compatible) CAD files. It’s free, and will ship as soon as iOS 11 drops later today.

See [the website at tapmeasure.io][tapmeasure].

For my part, I got to push some iOS code to this one! As well as helping out with some of the graphic design and UX, I was also able to design and edit the tutorial videos and the launch trailer embedded above. We have the luxury of one of the most seasoned computer vision teams in the world here, and I think it shows.

[tapmeasure]: https://tapmeasure.io “TapMeasure”

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Gameboy Advance Emulator for iOS

[No jailbreak required, compiles and deploys in Xcode like any normal app.][link]

[link]: https://github.com/rileytestut/GBA4iOS “rileytestut/GBA4iOS”

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Instapaper for Android

[“Finally.”][link]

I use a fairly cheap Android phone, because I don’t want to give ATT or Verizon any of my money, and I hate cell phone contracts. Instapaper was one of the apps I use everyday that was really hampered by the lack of a native client. Looks like that’s fixed, now.

The interesting thing here is that Marco Arment, Instapaper’s founder/developer, didn’t code the Android app himself. He hired an Android development house to do it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see more iOS-only apps go this way if it works out for him.

[link]: http://instapaper.mobelux.com/ “Instapaper for Android”

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Adobe Shadow

[A new iOS app from Adobe which helps you test websites you are developing locally on your mobile devices more easily][link]. Currently free in the App Store.

[link]: http://itunes.apple.com/app/adobe-shadow/id498621426 “App Store – Adobe Shadow”

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Handheld Designer

[A successor to the “Sweet solution,” an HTML5-based iOS app creator for Macs.][link] Looks great in theory, looking forward to trying it out.

[link]: http://handhelddesigner.com/ “Handheld Designer, Easily create and host beautiful HTML5 mobile web applications for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch”

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How to bring good design to a platform

[Marco Arment is, once again, on point][link]. One of the largest problems with Android is the same problem Windows has had since its launch: The lack of attention to detail, nuance, and usability focus in the built-in applications and OS make developers feel like they can be lazy.

Based on my experience with the Android market 90% of all Android apps would absolutely not make the App Store, much less sell many copies.

[link]: http://www.marco.org/2011/10/20/how-to-bring-good-design-to-a-platform “How to bring good design to a platform – Marco.org”

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HP Says To Bye Bye TouchPad, Pre

[Almost hidden in this press release about HP’s plans to buy Autonomy Corporation][link]:

>In addition, HP reported that it plans to announce that it will discontinue operations for webOS devices, specifically the TouchPad and webOS phones. HP will continue to explore options to optimize the value of webOS software going forward.

A real shame. webOS and the devices built around it were the only real competition to iOS and the iPad/iPhone line.

[link]: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110818006301/en/HP-Confirms-Discussions-Autonomy-Corporation-plc-Business “HP Confirms Discussions with Autonomy Corporation plc Regarding Possible Business Combination; Makes Other Announcements | Business Wire”

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Why “Why Windows 8 Is Not Fundamentally Flawed As A Response To The iPad” Is Fundamentally Flawed As a Response To “Why Windows 8 Is Fundamentally Flawed as a Response to the iPad”

[It’s a rebuttal of a rebuttal][link], but it’s really worth reading. Jesper is one of the smartest people I know on the subject of modern computing, and this is a great example as to why. Not contrary to be contrary, not a Mac fanboy response, just some good sense.

[link]: http://waffle.wootest.net/2011/06/12/why-w8-flawed-ipad-response/ “waffle → Why ‘Why Windows 8 Is Not Fundamentally Flawed As A Response To The iPad’ Is Fundamentally Flawed As a Response To ‘Why Windows 8 Is Fundamentally Flawed as a Response to the iPad'”

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FDX Reader

[A Final Draft file reader for iPad][link] created by Screenwriter [John August][john]. This is one of those iOS apps that makes perfect sense for the platform. It is clever, nuanced, draws on a specific body of professional knowledge, and looks like a million bucks. It even has Dropbox integration.

Now it just needs to read Scrivener files, too.

[link]: http://quoteunquoteapps.com/fdxreader “FDX Reader – Read Final Draft files on the iPad. | Quote-Unquote Apps”
[john]: http://johnaugust.com/ “John August”

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Wired’s Coverage of Game Dev Story

[Nifty article with input from Ron Gilbert][link]. Game Dev Story has been a big timesink for me. It suffers from a distinct lack of polish, but it tickles just the right areas of my brain that spent months with old PC simulations like [Detroit][det] and [Air Bucks][airbucks].

[link]: http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/12/game-dev-story/ “What’s Right (and Wrong) With Game Dev Story’s Addictive Simulation | GameLife | Wired.com”
[det]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_(computer_game) “Detroit”
[airbucks]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Bucks “Air Bucks”

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iPhone and iPad now support TrueType font embedding

[About which your humble narrator is extremely excited.][link] iOS has supported SVG fonts for awhile, but SVG fonts are much larger in filesize and lower quality as of yet.

[link]: http://www.zeldman.com/2010/11/26/web-type-news-iphone-and-ipad-now-support-truetype-font-embedding-this-is-huge/ “Web type news: iPhone and iPad now support TrueType font embedding. This is huge. – Jeffrey Zeldman Presents The Daily Report”

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Amateur Hour

[Jesper of Waffle Software on the new, published, App Store rules][link]:

>[…] I don’t think it’s unfair for Apple to have a list of the applications produced for its platform that it believes is decent and upstanding, and which it is proud to be associated with. *I just don’t think that that list should be the same as the list of all applications that can run, ever.* I honestly think that even my detractors will concede this as a fair point.

I’m constantly surprised, myself, how many people still don’t see this as a *problem*. Is Apple totally within their rights to arbitrarily block apps? Yep. Nobody I know is arguing they shouldn’t be allowed to. However, **it is troubling to me that they would want to**. A dick move is a dick move is a dick move.

[link]: http://waffle.wootest.net/2010/09/09/amateur-hour/ “waffle → Amateur Hour”

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Netflix App now available For iOS

[For the price of an $8.99/month Netflix account, you can now carry the service in your pocket.][link] If you’re in the US, that is.

[link]: http://blog.netflix.com/2010/08/netflix-now-available-on-your-iphone.html “The Official Netflix Blog: Netflix now available on your iPhone and iPod touch”

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Elements, a Dropbox powered text editor for iOS

[An extremely slick-looking text editor][link] a bit lacking in features, but cloud storage using the indispensable Dropbox is a big plus.

[link]: http://www.secondgearsoftware.com/elements/ “Elements — Dropbox powered text editor for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch from Second Gear”