The ZodTTD Cydget

The Theme Of The Week is back in action bringing you many current, new, or upcoming theme platforms for your iDevice. Themes are chosen based on my discretion and by reader input. For suggestions for Theme Of The Week, email me at my email address. Two cool picks for this week's Theme Of The Week are OmegaHD and Kryptonite HD. Join the discussion for OmegaHD and Kryptonite HD and to post ideas, bugs, or other related material.

OmegaHD

Designed by Anthony Cornell (FreeAppl3), OmegaHD brings theming to a whole new level while still keeping a similar ambience as the regular native iOS look. It is available for both Winterboard and Dreamboard.



The design and feel is perfect for advanced and beginner themers alike. Adding a spin to the iDevice interface, it creates an excellent environment while still preserving parts of original interface. Every aspect of the interface is re-formated from the icons, status bar, 3G and WiFi bar; you name it and it's been tweaked. Widgets also come wrapped up in the package such as "Touch Flow," and user interactive widget on your lockscreen. A nifty weather gadget also is attached to the wallpaper. Tinkering with the weather gadget file allows you to change the location of the weather.



Overall, it's a simple yet elegant theme that brings a unique touch and outlook to any iDevice. It's available now on Cydia for $3.00 so give it a shot.

Name: OmegaHD
Author: FreeApple
Version: 1.50
Price: $3.00

Anthony Cornell, creator of OmegaHD, can be followed on Twitter; a great place to check up on developments with OmegaHD and to see his upcoming creations.

Kryptonite HD



Based off the original Kryptonite, Kryptonite HD brings forward retina display for both the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4 Generation. It is quite unique and looks really slick and crisp. After purchasing the original theme, color mods are available also. Some of the colors included are:

• Red - KryptoRed HD
• Aqua Blue - KryptoBlue HD
• Purple - KryptoPurple HD

These are all available on Cydia free with the purchase of Kryptonite HD.

Every aspect of the theme has been rendered and encompasses the Full UI. Many components of the native UI are themed but even so navigation through your iDevice is pretty similar to the regular UI. A few skinned areas are listed below:

• Auto creates all App Store icons.
• Wall Date and Clock in 12 & 24 hr
• Notes app skin
• Calender app skin
• Safari app skin
• iPod / Music Player skin
• Phone dialer skin

Without a doubt, this theme is quite comprehensive and stunning. With the color mods it also adds a little variety to the mix. Try it now; it's available on Cydia for $1.99.

Name: Kryptonite HD
Author: flybritn
Version: 1.6
Price: $1.99



Brian Morgan (@FlybriTn), creator of Kryptonite HD, can be followed on Twitter also.

Source(s): Anthony Cornell

The Theme Of The Week is back in action bringing you many current, new, or upcoming theme platforms for your iDevice. Themes are chosen based on my discretion and by reader input. For suggestions for Theme Of The Week, email me at my email address. Two cool picks for this week's Theme Of The Week are OmegaHD and Kryptonite HD. Join the discussion for OmegaHD and Kryptonite HD and to post ideas, bugs, or other related material.

OmegaHD

Designed by Anthony Cornell (FreeAppl3), OmegaHD brings theming to a whole new level while still keeping a similar ambience as the regular native iOS look. It is available for both Winterboard and Dreamboard.



The design and feel is perfect for advanced and beginner themers alike. Adding a spin to the iDevice interface, it creates an excellent environment while still preserving parts of original interface. Every aspect of the interface is re-formated from the icons, status bar, 3G and WiFi bar; you name it and it's been tweaked. Widgets also come wrapped up in the package such as "Touch Flow," and user interactive widget on your lockscreen. A nifty weather gadget also is attached to the wallpaper. Tinkering with the weather gadget file allows you to change the location of the weather.



Overall, it's a simple yet elegant theme that brings a unique touch and outlook to any iDevice. It's available now on Cydia for $3.00 so give it a shot.

Name: OmegaHD
Author: FreeApple
Version: 1.50
Price: $3.00

Anthony Cornell, creator of OmegaHD, can be followed on Twitter; a great place to check up on developments with OmegaHD and to see his upcoming creations.

Kryptonite HD



Based off the original Kryptonite, Kryptonite HD brings forward retina display for both the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4 Generation. It is quite unique and looks really slick and crisp. After purchasing the original theme, color mods are available also. Some of the colors included are:

• Red - KryptoRed HD
• Aqua Blue - KryptoBlue HD
• Purple - KryptoPurple HD

These are all available on Cydia free with the purchase of Kryptonite HD.

Every aspect of the theme has been rendered and encompasses the Full UI. Many components of the native UI are themed but even so navigation through your iDevice is pretty similar to the regular UI. A few skinned areas are listed below:

• Auto creates all App Store icons.
• Wall Date and Clock in 12 & 24 hr
• Notes app skin
• Calender app skin
• Safari app skin
• iPod / Music Player skin
• Phone dialer skin

Without a doubt, this theme is quite comprehensive and stunning. With the color mods it also adds a little variety to the mix. Try it now; it's available on Cydia for $1.99.

Name: Kryptonite HD
Author: flybritn
Version: 1.6
Price: $1.99



Brian Morgan (@FlybriTn), creator of Kryptonite HD, can be followed on Twitter also.

Source(s): Anthony Cornell

Many of the features that iDevice users enjoy are made possible by the many different sensors embedded within the hardware. Whether it's the proximity sensor or gyroscope, sensors enhance re-define key components and possibilities to your iDevice. Without them, and devices today would act and behave quite differently. As technology advances, so does the number of mobile sensors and the capabilities of each.

Bits (Business Inovation Technology Society) of the New York Times made contact with Benedetto Vigna, the general manager of the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) department of STMicroelectronics, in a recent interview. A company based out of Geneva, Switzerland, STMicroelectronics creates sensors and other similar technologies for smartphone devices. Vigna answered a few questions to Bits about what we should see as upcoming new sensor technologies. A few he mentioned are listed below:

• Altimeter sensor(s)
• Heart monitor(s)
• More microphones
• Temperature/Humidity sensor(s)

On top of these, the concern with smartphone security has driven companies to design security related sensors. Vigna described a particular sensor that watches and analyzes how you use your smartphone. Soon after it begins to lock/unlock phone accordingly based on how you use it. Ultimately Viga says, your socks, shoes, hair, etc. will one day have sensors to enhance your every day living.

With this said, the upcoming release of the new iPhone 5 could house some if not all of the features mentioned above. Or if not any of these yet, it is guaranteed that with the advancement of mobile sensors, upcoming smartphones will begin to sense more and more about the environment that they are in.

Source(s): Bits - New York Times

Many of the features that iDevice users enjoy are made possible by the many different sensors embedded within the hardware. Whether it's the proximity sensor or gyroscope, sensors enhance re-define key components and possibilities to your iDevice. Without them, and devices today would act and behave quite differently. As technology advances, so does the number of mobile sensors and the capabilities of each.

Bits (Business Inovation Technology Society) of the New York Times made contact with Benedetto Vigna, the general manager of the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) department of STMicroelectronics, in a recent interview. A company based out of Geneva, Switzerland, STMicroelectronics creates sensors and other similar technologies for smartphone devices. Vigna answered a few questions to Bits about what we should see as upcoming new sensor technologies. A few he mentioned are listed below:

• Altimeter sensor(s)
• Heart monitor(s)
• More microphones
• Temperature/Humidity sensor(s)

On top of these, the concern with smartphone security has driven companies to design security related sensors. Vigna described a particular sensor that watches and analyzes how you use your smartphone. Soon after it begins to lock/unlock phone accordingly based on how you use it. Ultimately Viga says, your socks, shoes, hair, etc. will one day have sensors to enhance your every day living.

With this said, the upcoming release of the new iPhone 5 could house some if not all of the features mentioned above. Or if not any of these yet, it is guaranteed that with the advancement of mobile sensors, upcoming smartphones will begin to sense more and more about the environment that they are in.

Source(s): Bits - New York Times

Listen up, Amazon... “appstore” is neither generic or legally permissible for you to use. That's the message Apple is essentially sending to Amazon. Again.

In a bitter battle that has ended up in a courtroom showdown, Apple is refusing to "play nice" and let others share in the promotional rewards of having an "app store"" to call their own. And thankfully for those of us who are utterly tired of reading about this lingering app store war, perhaps a resolution - but not an amicable one - will soon be reached in the court of law.

In yet another filing this week in a California federal court, Apple has once again pursued legal channels to express its displeasure over Amazon's use of “Appstore” - despite the fact that Amazon presents "Appstore" is one word. According to Amazon, “the words ‘app store' together denote a store for apps, such as the app stores operated by Amazon and Apple.”

"Apple denies that, based on their common meaning, the words 'app store' together denote a store for apps," Apple said in its filing yesterday, illustrating the company's commitment to keeping the fight alive. "Apple denies that the words 'app store' are commonly used among many businesses to describe mobile software download services and further denies that the term 'app store market' is used to describe the market for mobile software download services."

Indeed, no matter how far Amazon pushes its argument, Apple isn't going to back down. And, for this reason, it's apparent that federal courts may ultimately have no choice but to settle what Apple and Amazon can't seem to work out between themselves.

Source: PC World

Listen up, Amazon... “appstore” is neither generic or legally permissible for you to use. That's the message Apple is essentially sending to Amazon. Again.

In a bitter battle that has ended up in a courtroom showdown, Apple is refusing to "play nice" and let others share in the promotional rewards of having an "app store"" to call their own. And thankfully for those of us who are utterly tired of reading about this lingering app store war, perhaps a resolution - but not an amicable one - will soon be reached in the court of law.

In yet another filing this week in a California federal court, Apple has once again pursued legal channels to express its displeasure over Amazon's use of “Appstore” - despite the fact that Amazon presents "Appstore" is one word. According to Amazon, “the words ‘app store' together denote a store for apps, such as the app stores operated by Amazon and Apple.”

"Apple denies that, based on their common meaning, the words 'app store' together denote a store for apps," Apple said in its filing yesterday, illustrating the company's commitment to keeping the fight alive. "Apple denies that the words 'app store' are commonly used among many businesses to describe mobile software download services and further denies that the term 'app store market' is used to describe the market for mobile software download services."

Indeed, no matter how far Amazon pushes its argument, Apple isn't going to back down. And, for this reason, it's apparent that federal courts may ultimately have no choice but to settle what Apple and Amazon can't seem to work out between themselves.

Source: PC World

It now looks like those recent senate hearings on mobile security and consumer privacy may have actually served a bigger purpose than your run-of-the-mill political barking that comes without any real biting. On Friday, two members of a prominent US Senate subcommittee put forth their recommendations to Congress for new laws that could impact the likes of Apple, Google, and RIM.

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) are encouraging a bill that would regulate consumer privacy across smartphones and the web. The lawmakers contend that the regulation is essential to impede "the practice of gathering and sharing personal user data."

“These devices are not really phones–they are miniature computers,” said Rockefeller, chair of the Commerce Committee. “The mobile marketplace is so new, and technology is moving so quickly that many consumers do not understand the privacy implications of their actions.” Bloomberg News reports that Rockefeller is still search for concrete evidence that Apple and Google are truly in compliance with online privacy laws - particularly those that pertain to children.

Yesterday, Catherine Novelli, vice president of worldwide government affairs for Apple, told her questioners in Capitol Hill that Apple “doesn’t knowingly collect any information on children under age 13.”

Source: Bloomberg

It now looks like those recent senate hearings on mobile security and consumer privacy may have actually served a bigger purpose than your run-of-the-mill political barking that comes without any real biting. On Friday, two members of a prominent US Senate subcommittee put forth their recommendations to Congress for new laws that could impact the likes of Apple, Google, and RIM.

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) are encouraging a bill that would regulate consumer privacy across smartphones and the web. The lawmakers contend that the regulation is essential to impede "the practice of gathering and sharing personal user data."

“These devices are not really phones–they are miniature computers,” said Rockefeller, chair of the Commerce Committee. “The mobile marketplace is so new, and technology is moving so quickly that many consumers do not understand the privacy implications of their actions.” Bloomberg News reports that Rockefeller is still search for concrete evidence that Apple and Google are truly in compliance with online privacy laws - particularly those that pertain to children.

Yesterday, Catherine Novelli, vice president of worldwide government affairs for Apple, told her questioners in Capitol Hill that Apple “doesn’t knowingly collect any information on children under age 13.”

Source: Bloomberg

Users of Facebook know and have most likely used the tagging feature that Facebook has to offer. Tagging faces and people in photos is what set Facebook apart and was truly Facebook's first push of innovation (beyond the platform itself). Facebook has been battling for almost five years to gain the patent rights to tagging photos and the features along with it, and has finally won.

According to Inside Facebook, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Facebook a patent for selecting a piece of media (e.g. photo/video) and having the ability to reference a person or entity in it. Mark Zuckerberg, Aaron Sittig, and Scott Marlette were credited as the inventors during the case. The premise of "tagging people" in photos was one of the factors that convinced the founders to start a platform like Facebook Zuckerberg says.

Due to the success of photo tagging, Facebook opened up opportunities for developers to create and design other features that are now prominent to Facebook's interface. Because of this, Facebook also won a patent for "gifting" or the giving of gifts in a social network environment. Facebook applied for four other search-related patents in the last month and they regard social proximity and information of that nature. Because of the growing popularity and status of Facebook, it would not be a surprise if Facebook was to continue to gain patents and other trademarks as the social-network boom has in no way hit the ceiling.

Source(s) Inside Facebook

Users of Facebook know and have most likely used the tagging feature that Facebook has to offer. Tagging faces and people in photos is what set Facebook apart and was truly Facebook's first push of innovation (beyond the platform itself). Facebook has been battling for almost five years to gain the patent rights to tagging photos and the features along with it, and has finally won.

According to Inside Facebook, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded Facebook a patent for selecting a piece of media (e.g. photo/video) and having the ability to reference a person or entity in it. Mark Zuckerberg, Aaron Sittig, and Scott Marlette were credited as the inventors during the case. The premise of "tagging people" in photos was one of the factors that convinced the founders to start a platform like Facebook Zuckerberg says.

Due to the success of photo tagging, Facebook opened up opportunities for developers to create and design other features that are now prominent to Facebook's interface. Because of this, Facebook also won a patent for "gifting" or the giving of gifts in a social network environment. Facebook applied for four other search-related patents in the last month and they regard social proximity and information of that nature. Because of the growing popularity and status of Facebook, it would not be a surprise if Facebook was to continue to gain patents and other trademarks as the social-network boom has in no way hit the ceiling.

Source(s) Inside Facebook