Now here’s a surprise. Apple isn’t exactly known to be super friendly when it comes to video compatibility, and we can sympathize to an extent. However, for some inexplicable reason, Steve’s brethren decided to give this CineXPlayer app the green light for general consumption, thus finally allowing iPad users to load up their stash of Xvid AVI files — sans conversion — via iTunes. While this is worth a quick celebration, it’s still rather absurd having to resort to underhanded apps for such basic functionality — something that we’ve been able to do natively on many other tablets and PMPs for years. Let’s not also assume that this free app is staying for good, so grab it while it’s hot. Video instructions after the break.

Continue reading iPad gets Xvid AVI video playback with CineXPlayer app on iTunes, hell freezes over

iPad gets Xvid AVI video playback with CineXPlayer app on iTunes, hell freezes over originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electricpig  |  iTunes  | Email this | Comments

Well, would you look at that? The v1.2 update to MobileMe iDisk that Apple pushed out last month has a secret — er, did have a secret. One of the concealed new features of the app is background streaming, or as Apple puts it, the ability to “play audio from your iDisk while using another app.” For starters, it’s pretty fantastic just to have this functionality in-hand for your own garage jams, but what’s more is that any licensed music on your iDisk still streams perfectly fine. Only time will tell if any record labels (or that mean, mean RIAA) step forward with a grievance, but this could very well be the beginning of iTunes in the cloud. Or a reason for buying Lala. Or a mysterious combination of the two.

Apple slyly enables background iDisk music streaming in iOS 4 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Michael Robertson, Apple  | Email this | Comments

Well, it’s about time. Touted back in March as one of the pillar apps to benefit from the new multitasking API, Skype has finally been updated to iOS 4 compatibility. We’re seeing crisper, more retina display-friendly graphics and, more importantly, background VoIP (not for iPhone 3G, naturally). A notification window will pop up when you’re called or messaged, and you can use other apps while on the line chatting to international friends at reduced rates. Even on the lock screen, if you receive a call, sliding to unlock will take you immediately into the call. Video chat still isn’t here — a darn shame given the lack of other options now — but now you’ve got even more of a reason to rack up those rollover minutes on AT&T’s voice plan. Download away!

Update: Remember when Skype was talking about charging extra for calls over 3G starting this month? Straight from the horse’s mouth: “we no longer have plans to charge a supplement to make calls over 3G.”

[Thanks, Tyler C]

Skype updated for iOS 4, background VoIP is a go (update: no plans to charge for 3G use) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  iTunes, Skype  | Email this | Comments