Oct 13

I’m downloading iOS 5 for my iPad as I write this post.  Can’t wait to check it out.  Below is the description from Apple:

iOS 5 Software Update

This update contains over 200 new features, including the following:

•    Notifications
◦    Swipe from the top of any screen to view notifications in one place with Notification Center
◦    New notifications appear briefly at the top of the screen
◦    View notifications from lock screen
◦    Slide the notification app icon to the right on the lock screen to go directly to the app
•    iMessage
◦    Send and receive unlimited text, photo, and video messages with other iOS 5 users
◦    Track messages with delivery and read receipts
◦    Group messaging and secure encryption
◦    Works over cellular network and Wi-Fi*
•    Newsstand
◦    Automatically organizes magazine and newspaper subscriptions on Home Screen
◦    Displays the cover of the latest issue
◦    Background downloads of new issues
•    Reminders for managing to do lists
◦    Syncs with iCloud, iCal and Outlook
◦    Location-based reminders when you leave or arrive at a location for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4
•    Built-in support for Twitter
◦    Sign-in once in Settings and tweet directly from Camera, Photos, Maps, Safari and YouTube
◦    Add location to any tweet
◦    View twitter profile pictures and usernames in Contacts
•    Camera improvements for devices with cameras
◦    Double click the home button when device is asleep to bring up a camera shortcut on iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (4th generation)
◦    Volume Up button to take a picture
◦    Optional grid lines to line up shots
◦    Pinch to zoom in the preview screen
◦    Swipe to camera roll from preview screen
◦    Tap and hold to lock focus and exposure, iPad 2 and iPod touch (4th generation) only support exposure lock
•    Photo improvements for devices with cameras
◦    Crop and rotate
◦    Red eye removal
◦    One tap enhance
◦    Organize photos into albums
•    Mail improvements
◦    Format text using bold, italic, or underlined fonts
◦    Indentation control
◦    Drag to rearrange names in address fields
◦    Flag messages
◦    Mass mark messages as flagged, read or unread
◦    Customize mail alert sounds
◦    S/MIME
•    Calendar improvements
◦    Year view on iPad and new Week view for iPhone and iPod touch
◦    Tap to create an event
◦    View and add event attachments
•    Game Center improvements
◦    Use personal photos for your Game Center account
◦    Compare your overall achievement scores with your friends
◦    Find new Game Center friends with friend recommendations and friends of friends
◦    Discover new games with custom game recommendations
•    AirPlay Mirroring for iPad 2 and iPhone 4S
•    Multitasking Gestures for iPad
◦    Use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen
◦    Swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar
◦    Swipe left or right to switch between apps
•    On-device setup, activation and configuration with Setup Assistant
•    Software updates available over the air without tethering
•    iCloud support
◦    iTunes in the Cloud
◦    Photo Stream
◦    Documents in the Cloud
◦    Apps and Books automatic download and purchase history
◦    Backup
◦    Contacts, Calendar, and Mail
◦    Find My iPhone
•    Redesigned Music app for iPad
•    Hourly weather forecast
•    Real-time stock quotes
•    Wireless sync to iTunes
•    Keyboard improvements
◦    Split keyboard for iPad
◦    Improved autocorrection accuracy
◦    Improved Chinese and Japanese input
◦    New Emoji keyboard
◦    Personal dictionary for autocorrection
◦    Optionally create keyboard short cuts for frequently used words
•    Accessibility improvements
◦    Option to light LED flash on incoming calls and alerts for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4
◦    Custom vibration patterns for incoming calls on iPhone
◦    New interface for using iOS with mobility-impairment input devices
◦    Option to speak a selection of text
◦    Custom element labeling for VoiceOver
•    Exchange ActiveSync improvements
◦    Wirelessly sync tasks
◦    Mark messages as flagged, read or unread
◦    Improved offline support
◦    Save a new contact from a GAL service
•    More than 1,500 new developer APIs
•    Bug fixes

Products compatible with this software update:
•    iPhone 4S
•    iPhone 4
•    iPhone 3GS
•    iPad 2
•    iPad
•    iPod touch (4th generation)
•    iPod touch (3rd generation)

* Normal carrier data rates may apply. Messages will be sent as SMS when iMessage is unavailable, carrier messaging fees apply.

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

Apr 29

Now downloading iOS 4.3.2 for my iPad1. The file is 593.4 megabytes. Unfortunately my new connection isn’t terribly good so this may take a while.

Details from Apple on the iOS 4.3.2 update below:

This update contains improvements and other bug fixes including:

* Fixes an issue that occasionally caused blank or frozen video during a FaceTime call
* Fixes an issue that prevented some international users from connecting to 3G networks on iPad Wi-Fi + 3G
* Contains the latest security updates

Products compatible with this software update:

• iPhone 4 (GSM model)
• iPhone 3GS
• iPad 2
• iPad
• iPod touch (4th generation)
• iPod touch (3rd generation)

This update contains security content originally included in previous iOS Software Updates.

For more information, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

This update is available via iTunes.

Nov 17

Tempo is an extremely important part of a good golf swing. MyGolfSwing is a $1.99 iPhone application which helps golfers establish and groove their swing tempo.

The app breaks the swing down into three sections and times each one: back swing, pause at top of swing and downswing.  Drills show video and play sounds so the player can see and hear the desired tempo while practicing.

References

There’s a fun feature in MGS which shows the tempos of great golfers like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Lorena Ochoa and others.  Players can use those as templates in working on their own tempos.  It is interesting how similar the pro tempos are.  I’d like to see a few more in there like Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer.

Continue reading »

Nov 17

SHOTmaster is a 99 cent iPhone/iPod/iPad golf application which provides some good basic instruction and golf tips.  The application provides textual as well as video golf instruction for nearly every type of shot a player may encounter on the golf course.

From the main menu the user can access the shot category, video list and golf tips list. Some of the data overlaps between the selections.

When sleeting a shot from the main menu, like a 50 yard bunker shot, the next page displays text pointers and a supporting image, or may contain a link to view a video.

Critiques

The videos are YouTube based.  The drawback is if there isn’t an available web connection or the device doesn’t have web access you won’t be able to view the videos.

Conclusion

From plugged lies to stinger shots, SHOTmaster is a useful mobile golf application.  I don’t think the rules of golf allow use of these tips during stipulated or tournament play however.

Related Links

SHOTmaster images

SHOTmaster in iTunes