GigaOM Network: GigaOM | Earth2Tech | jkOnTheRun | NewTeeVee | OStatic | TheAppleBlog | WebWorkerDaily | GigaOM Pro Live Events | About | Contact

Author Archive for Olly Farshi

Being based over in Europe — London and Helsinki — I have the distinct pleasure of bringing you lots of Apple-related news from various awkward time-zones. As a regular globe-trotter, I've compressed my collection of gadgets in to a selection of the bare essentials: Macbook Pro, iPhone 3G, Airport Extreme (plus Mighty Mouse and Apple keyboard, both wireless, of course). Make sure to come follow me on Twitter and say howdy!

Site: http://www.twitter.com/ollyf

App Review: Rolando 2 — Roll On the Second Coming

Written on July 09, 2009 by Olly Farshi and No one has commented

Rolando 2 is the sequel to Rolando, a game which proved that the iPhone can compete with Sony’s PSP and Nintendo’s DS in the handheld console wars.
Just over a year after opening, the App Store is coming into its own. Indeed, there’s the dodgy dirge of novelty joke apps, but at the other end of [...]

Weekly App Store Picks: July 4, 2009

Written on July 04, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 7 people have commented

It’s that time of the week — when we welcome you to the weekend with a selection of the freshest picks for the iPhone from the App Store.
Hold your horses, though, because before we dive headfirst into a glorious ocean of iPhone apps, I’ve got a roundup of notable Apple news from the past seven [...]

App Developer Diary Part 2: Pitching My Concept

Written on July 03, 2009 by Olly Farshi and No one has commented

In this week’s enlightening installment of the App Developer Diary, I pitch my game concept to the coders, preach the gospel of the Game Bible and muse upon the possibility of the project imploding.
Straight after submitting last week’s App Developer Diary, I packed up my MacBook Pro and headed down to Nolla, a local bar [...]

App Review: oMaps — Offline Mapping for iPhone

Written on July 01, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 10 people have commented

Due to hefty 3G roaming rates, Apple’s Maps app just won’t cut it when you’re out of the country. The oMap app lets you download maps for offline viewing — dodging a shocking bill post-vacation.
The iPhone is an almost perfect companion for travels to distant lands. With a bit of foresight and time set aside [...]

Weekly App Store Picks: June 27, 2009

Written on June 27, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 4 people have commented

It’s the weekend, people, so prime your downloading finger and get ready to make good use of it as I guide you through the latest picks from the App Store.
Thanks to the release of OS 3.0 and the iPhone 3GS, there’s been a constant stream of Apple happenings. Before we get to the apps, let’s [...]

App Developer Diary Part 1: Game On

Written on June 26, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 10 people have commented

This is the first installment of one journalist’s diary designing a game. It is a genuine, behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to develop an app, from conception to release, for Apple’s iPhone.
This isn’t your regular developer diary. There’ll be no talk of code and classes, no discussion of the intricacy of integers or vileness [...]

App Review: Presenter Pro — Learn to Sell It Like Steve Jobs

Written on June 24, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 3 people have commented

Presenter Pro is a learning resource for professionals and interns alike, coaching you in the ways of effective presenting.
There are three heroes of presenting for me: Merlin Mann, with his deliciously witty and yet precise style; Lawrence Lessig, who takes a high-speed, word-by-word approach; and of course, Steve Jobs, who is alternately expressive, passionate and [...]

Weekly App Store Picks: June 20, 2009

Written on June 20, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 1 person has commented

A hand-picked selection of the latest releases for iPhone? Plus, a handy summary of Apple news from the past seven days? We’ve got it all, you lucky person, you.
Despite the deluge of announcements at last week’s WWDC, we’ve had no time to rest this week, either. Indeed, the news hasn’t stopped rolling in, so before [...]

Weekly App Store Picks: June 13, 2009

Written on June 13, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 5 people have commented

Your head might be spinning from the torrent of Apple happenings at WWDC this week, but fear not, I’ve got the cure: fresh picks from the App Store.
It’s been an exciting week for TheAppleBlog, with our correspondents posting live from WWDC in San Jose; we’ve been covering the event from all angles. Before we look [...]

Apple’s New iPhone & OS: Developers Talk Future Potential

Written on June 11, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 7 people have commented

The iPhone 3G S and OS 3.0 introduce a raft of updates to the device, representing another leap ahead of the competition. We spoke to three App Store developers to find out what to expect in the coming weeks.
The new device, iPhone 3G S, stays with the form-factor of its predecessor but squeezes in more [...]

Weekly App Store Picks: June 6, 2009

Written on June 06, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 42 people have commented

The week may be drawing to a close, but here at TheAppleBlog we’ve got an array of apps to get your through the weekend.
As ever, I’ve got four notable new iPhone releases from the App Store to tell you about. Before we jump into the apps, though, let’s take a look at the week that [...]

App Review: Stuck Genie — There’s a Genie in Your iPhone

Written on June 04, 2009 by Olly Farshi and No one has commented

A genie, a load of balls, and an ancient labyrinth come together to create a frustrating, but fun, puzzler.
One of the big boys in the movie biz, Warner Bros., has been solidly churning out iPhone apps for the past few months. Most of these apps have been global franchises, though, including Terminator Salvation, Watchmen and [...]

App Review: GyPSii — Social Networking For Digital Nomads

Written on June 02, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 4 people have commented

GyPSii brings GPS-fueled social networking to the iPhone, but do we really need to sign up for yet another network?
Any effective social-network connoisseur will already have a bevy of accounts to frequently check. Aside from the regulars — Facebook, Twitter, and so on — there’s already a stack of networks I’ve tried and duly abandoned, [...]

Weekly App Store Picks: May 30, 2009

Written on May 30, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 7 people have commented

Just when you thought the weekend couldn’t get any better, along comes a selection of the freshest picks from the App Store.
This week I’ve selected four playful picks for you to toy with over the weekend. It’s not all fun and games, though, as before we get to the apps, I’ve got a roundup of [...]

Tweetie for Mac Update: Now With Video Tweeting

Written on May 28, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 6 people have commented

Tweetie for Mac, big brother to the game-changing iPhone Twitter client of the same name, is shaking things up again with the desktop app’s latest update.
The update incorporates a range of smaller fixes and tweaks, including swipe gestures and improved URL-shortening. However, the big news is that Tweetie for Mac now incorporates video tweeting.
Video means [...]

App Review: Quick Voice Pro — Voice to Text Email for iPhone

Written on May 28, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 17 people have commented

By converting your voice messages into text e-mails, Quick Voice Pro could be a time-saving boon for busy iPhone owners.
Empowered by our emails, tweets, IM conversations, and blogs, we’ve become modern-day information conduits. We collect knowledge, then discharge it into the ether, spurting out a constant fountain of fact, fiction and entertainment.
Quick Voice Pro is [...]

Weekly App Store Picks: May 23, 2009

Written on May 23, 2009 by Olly Farshi and No one has commented

What’s that, you say? You’re looking for iPhone app recommendations alongside a smattering of the week’s Apple news? Read, on my friend, I have just the article for you…
Before I present you with my four recommendations, hand-picked from the freshest apps to launch for the iPhone, it’s time to take stock and review this week’s [...]

App Review: Face Fun – iPhone Face-Recognition Multiplied By Fun

Written on May 20, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 1 person has commented

If we were to liken the iPhone to a Greek hero — all muscle-bound and chiseled man-face — it would surely be Achilles, the guy with the wonky heel.
The iPhone is our modern-day electronic hero, savior of our interconnected lives. Yet it is a hero with one tiny flaw, a weakness that even its fondest [...]

Weekly App Store Picks: May 16, 2009

Written on May 17, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 6 people have commented

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, even better, it’s a super selection of fresh picks, plucked from the App Store, especially for you.
But that’s not all I’ve got in store for you this weekend: After perusing the week’s happenings right here at TheAppleBlog, I’ve prepared a swift run-down of Apple news from [...]

App Review: Rockchinko

Written on May 15, 2009 by Olly Farshi and 3 people have commented

A bag of metal balls, a rockabilly soundtrack, exploding pegs: Rockchinko is the pachinko machine from hell.
Harking back to the old American parlor game Corinthian Bagatelle, pachinko has captured the imagination, and yen, of Japan. While the game may not have invaded Western casinos, there’s a steady stream of pachinko apps arriving for the iPhone.
Rockchinko [...]