Since I started using a Magic Trackpad instead of a mouse in my daily work, the program Raskin quickly became one of my favorite applications. Today they released a new 1.1 version which also includes Quick Look making this piece of software even better. And a disclaimer, as you can see Raskin is advertising on Fosfor, and this post has nothing to do with that – I like the product, that’s it.

Raskinformac.com

Plug in your iPhone or iPod into your computer and you’ll get the new iOS 4.1 update. It was launched just recently and includes HD video upload, the new Game Center, TV show rentals, HDR photography, a faster iPhone 3G OS and a few bug fixes.

If you’ve been using Google the last few hours you might have noticed that you are getting instant search results. Pretty neat if you ask me. Here’s Google launch video describing their new service:

If you have an iPad with a component cable or VGA adapter and an iPhone 4 you got to try this new game called ‘Chopper 2′. I think it’s really cool. You control the chopper using your iPhone 4 while the iPad is hosting the game and displaying it on your big screen. With this setup Chopper 2 delivers some true console gaming feeling even though the iPhone’s touch screen isn’t that great as a gaming controller. For $2.99 this is a must have if you already own the gear. Highly recommended. Check out some gameplay above (Note, this video is a few months old and the final game is even better).

iTunes link

This guy has glued a cheap microscope to an iPhone case and managed to get a portable microscope that can snap 5 megapixels photos. Pretty neat don’t you think? I’m thinking of getting myself one of these actually…

iPhone Microscope Mod [crabfuartworks.blogspot.com]
via tuaw

I just wanted to warn you guys for this $2.99 game called ‘Flight Control – Aircraft Carrier Commander’. I thought it was a new ‘Flight Control‘ from Firemint, but this is something completely different. It’s a really crappy game so stay away from it. I won’t even link to it.

Rating: 1 out of 10

As you all know using an iPhone 3G running iOS 4.0 is painful and Steve Jobs promised that they have been doing a lot of tweaking to get the device faster in the upcoming 4.1 release – and as you can see in the video above it’s much faster.

Until today I’ve been using the app called ‘Osfoora HD‘ for my iPad twittering needs but that changed today when Twitter launched their official app. It’s free and it’s a really, really good app! This is a must have if you’re a twitterer and own an iPad.

US iTunes link

The last thing Steve Jobs presented today was the brand new Apple TV. It’s brand new, really small (1/4 the size of the old Apple TV), very capable device that they will sell for $99. The strategy is clear, sell tons of these devices and hope that people will rent movies and episodes like crazy.

Instead of the old, time consuming dowload method, you will now be able to stream your content. HD TV episodes can be rented for $0.99 and you will have up to 30 days to start watching and then 48 hours to finish. A pretty good deal. The new Apple TV will be available late September. More info and images inside.

Apple Premieres New Apple TV for Breakthrough Price of $99
Rent Commercial Free HD TV Episodes for Just 99 Cents

SAN FRANCISCO—September 1, 2010—Apple® today announced the new Apple TV® which offers the simplest way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows on your HD TV for the breakthrough price of just $99. Apple TV users can choose from the largest online selection of HD movies to rent, including first run movies for just $4.99, and the largest online selection of HD TV show episodes to rent* from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America for just 99 cents.

Apple TV also streams content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe™, as well as music, photos and videos from PCs and Macs to your HD TV. Enjoy gorgeous slideshows of your photos on your HD TV using Apple TV’s selection of built-in slideshows. Apple TV has built-in HDMI, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and an internal power supply for easy set-up, and features silent, cool, very low power operation in an enclosure that’s less than four inches square—80 percent smaller than the previous generation.

“The new Apple TV, paired with the largest selection of online HD movie and TV show rentals, lets users watch Hollywood content on their HD TV whenever they want,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “This tiny, silent box costing just $99 lets users watch thousands of HD movies and TV shows, and makes all of their music, photos and videos effortlessly available on their home entertainment system.”

Apple TV users can now rent thousands of commercial free, HD TV episodes on iTunes® for just 99 cents, with up to 30 days to start watching and then 48 hours to finish—or watch multiple times. Users can also rent over 7,000 movies with over 3,400 available in HD, with most new releases available the same day they are released on DVD.

Apple TV also gives access to the Netflix streaming catalog for Netflix subscribers, and the ability to browse and search, rate content, add to or remove from your queue, or instantly stream straight to your HD TV. Apple TV users can also enjoy millions of YouTube videos, more than 200,000 podcasts, 4,000 Internet radio stations and personal photos from MobileMe and Flickr with several gorgeous new slideshow themes. Music, videos and photos can also be streamed from PCs and Macs, turning your HD TV into the hub of your home entertainment system.

Apple TV set-up is quick and easy with a single HDMI cable connection (HDMI cable sold separately). Just connect Apple TV to your HD TV, join a Wi-Fi network and with a few clicks on the seven-button aluminum Apple Remote, you have access to amazing content. Users can also control Apple TV with their iPhone®, iPad™ or iPod touch® using the Remote app, available as a free download on the App Store℠.

Pricing & Availability
Apple TV will be available late this month for a suggested retail price of $99 (US) and can be pre-ordered beginning today on Apple’s online store (www.apple.com). Apple TV, which comes standard with an aluminum Apple Remote, will be available through the Apple’s online store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple TV requires an 802.11b/g/n wireless network or Ethernet network, a broadband Internet connection and a high definition TV capable of 720p. iTunes TV show rentals and Netflix are only available in the US. Netflix features require account subscription. iTunes movies rentals are only available in the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

*99 cent HD TV rentals only available in the US.

The launch of a new iTunes version today didn’t surprise anyone, the big question was if it was going to be just another 9.x or the new version 10. The new iTunes 10 features a new social network for music called ‘Ping’ and since they launch the application with a potential of getting over 160 million users it could get successful very quick. I can’t access the new version from Sweden yet so I haven’t been able to try it out. With the new version you’ll also get $0.99 HD TV episode rentals! More info and images inside.

Apple Introduces iTunes 10 With Ping
Ping Social Music Discovery Now Available to 160 Million iTunes Users in 23 Countries

SAN FRANCISCO—September 1, 2010—Apple® today introduced iTunes® 10 with Ping, a new music-oriented social network for following your favorite artists and friends to discover what music they’re talking about, listening to and downloading. iTunes Ping lets you post your thoughts and opinions, your favorite albums and songs, the music you’ve downloaded from iTunes, plus view concert listings and tell your friends which concerts you plan to attend. iTunes 10 also features HD TV show rentals* for just 99 cents an episode and AirPlay wireless music playback.

“iTunes is the number one music community in the world, with over 160 million iTunes users in 23 countries, and now we’re adding social networking with Ping,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “With Ping you can follow your favorite artists and friends and join a worldwide conversation with music’s most passionate fans.”

Ping lets you follow your favorite artists to see what they’re up to, check out photos and videos they’ve posted, see their tour dates and read comments about other artists and albums they’re listening to. You can also create a profile on iTunes to let your friends know who you’re following, what you’re listening to and which concerts you’re going to. There’s no better way to discover new music than to find out what your friends are listening to, and Ping’s Recent Activity feed shows you their posts about artists, albums, songs and concerts, plus a consolidated Top 10 list of the songs and albums your friends and the artists you follow are downloading from iTunes. In addition to using Ping on your desktop computer, you can take it with you on your iPhone® or iPod touch®,** so you’re always plugged into your personal music scene.

With iTunes 10, you can rent your favorite HD TV shows commercial free from ABC, ABC Family, Fox, Disney Channel and BBC America and watch them at home or on the go for just 99 cents an episode. Thousands of episodes are available, many the day after broadcast, to watch on your Mac® or PC, iPhone, iPod touch and the all-new Apple TV®, and you have 30 days from the moment you rent an episode to start watching it, and 48 hours after that to finish it.

iTunes 10 also features AirPlay wireless music playback to listen to your music on remote speakers using Apple’s AirPort Express® base station. In addition, AirPlay now works without AirPort Express, using speakers, receivers and stereo systems from companies including Bowers & Wilkins, JBL, Denon and iHome, so you can enjoy your entire iTunes music library wirelessly from any room in the house with no extra gear required.