Note (9/12): there is an application in the iBrickr PXL repository called 'Balls' which links to this page. I have nothing to do with that app; it was created by Grudgnor over at the MacRumors forum.
Those who have followed this blog will know that I like to like to play with unusual input methods (see my earlier posts on , ambient light sensors, and the SmackBook).
As it turns out, the iPhone has a built-in LIS302DL, a tiny 3-axis accelerometer. While some have attempted to use it from within the Safari browser (the Tilt game detects changes to the width of the browser page; it is basically used as a 1-bit input device), its potential is still somewhat untapped.
After a rather lengthy bout of reverse-engineering (I had barely touched ARM assembly before this), I finally figured out how to access the raw data from the accelerometer itself, as can be seen in the video above. Source code will be posted as soon as possibleis posted here. (update: yes, it is possible to access the accelerometer directly through UIKit without this hack -- however, you'll be locked to the default sample rate, which is too slow for some of the fun stuff)
Chronus 2.18 is released in MMI’s Cydia repository.
Chronus is a replacement for TimeCapsule in 1.x, and serves to backup states of applications from multiple date/time and restore these data. In 2.x, Chronus supports backup of Cydia/Installer’s and AppStore applications. If there are applications that you wish to add to the list, drop me an email [...]
Tagi: timecapsule, mmi, date time, repository, email, lt
WildEyes! is updated to 2.1. You can download and install this application using Cydia, from the modmyi repository. WildEyes! is a viewer/reader for different file formats such as doc, pdf, jpg, mov etc. Unlike the previous 1.x version, WildEyes! is no longer dependant on Safari and LightTPD.
Here’s the changelog for the latest release: Hierarchical Property List [...]
Tagi: lger, doc pdf, wildeyes, file formats, changelog, safari, repository, lt
As promised, here is the localization file containing strings that need to be translated to make Icy speak your native language.
Translating is fairly easy -- open the file in your favorite text editor that can handle Unicode, and then translate all the pairs of strings -- leave the left side intact, and translate the right side. Make sure it all stays in the quotes, like this:
"Hello" = "Aloha";
Then save the file and mail it to us at ripdev@me.com - and we'll try our best to include your language in the next minor update, which will follow fairly soon.
Update: German, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Swedish translations were submitted already - thanks guys!
Icy Won't Launch
If Icy is refusing to launch, then it will be extremely helpful if you could send us some crash logs -- these usually live in the /var/logs/CrashReporter/Icy...crash files on the iPhone or ~/Library/Logs/CrashReporter/MobileDevice/<your device name>/Icy...crash on a Mac OS X (after the synchronization with the phone). We'll see what is causing this.
Ripdev Are Stealing Repo Owners Money?
There was a point running across certain community threads regarding Icy that by excluding the "depiction" and "more info" pages Ripdev is stealing money away from the repository owners. We'd like to clarify that in fact, we are not making any money off Icy -- there is no ads that run in it, and the whole point of the project is to provide a faster and lighter alternative to Cydia.
We all know that the competition boosts productivity and enhances products. In this case, as Icy and Cydia are inevitably going to compete in one way or another, this will tremendously benefit us, the end users.
As for the repository owners, some of them were upset with Icy 1.0 not even giving a chance for their information pages to show -- so this is why we have worked closely with The Big Boss and Fabiano Confuorto to work out a solution that makes the repository owners satisfied without slowing down the application down to the snail speeds. As a result, you can see a blue arrow button next to the package name that will lead you to the repository information page containing download stats, screenshots, and banners to support the repository. We encourage you to click on these often if you'd like to help repo maintainers.
And please, please remember -- this is not an evil plan to screw everyone, nor a holy crusade against repository owners -- we are, truly honestly just want to make your life a little bit brighter and easier. The positive feedback we receive every day helps us going and makes us sure we are moving in the right direction. So if you like or don't like something -- speak out, you will be heard.
Tagi: library logs, mac os x, iphe, depicti, big boss, promed, phe, native language, mobiledevice, launch, end users, repository, pairs, os x, crash, productivity, lt, threads, quotes
First things first. When we've started working on Icy two and a half weeks ago, we have never expected this kind of feedback -- and it was totally awesome!
In the past week, we have addressed most annoying issues you had with Icy -- and added the most anticipated feature, Recent Packages. With the help of fellow artists around the world, various themes for Icy are appearing in the repositories - so if you don't like the default black&white pure look, go for one of the themes. ;)
Last 3 days, we've been furiously adding the localizations you have sent in -- as Icy is a true iPhone application, it takes full advantage of the iPhone OS features like internationalization -- and as a result, Icy 1.1.1 comes with 15 languages in stock! This is all, of course, thanks to your extremely hard efforts -- we don't speak that many languages.
So now Icy is available in German, French, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, Greek, Brazilian Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Serbian, Hebrew, Romanian, Serbian and Ukranian languages -- in addition to English, of course. :) To see your native language, make sure it is chosen as a primary language in the Settings > International (well, or replace English.lproj in the Icy.app with the folder of your language, if you must. I didn't tell you that, okay?).
Among other things, we have tweaked the way sources are refreshed, fixed an annoying dependency-related bug when it would complain about missing firmware package, and added little category titles in the Recent Packages screen so it's easier to see what is what:
We also had some positive praise from the repository owners around the world -- they are happy with the way More Info pages are displayed -- and they say the pages load faster than in Cydia. The ads you see on the More Info pages help repository owners keep their servers up and running -- so give them some support by viewing and clicking on them -- we don't receive a dime from these.
Either way, snag Icy 1.1.1 from apt.ripdev.com and tell us what you think. And we're already working on Icy 1.2, which will bring a few other major features you have asked for.
