iPhone Hill

Twitterrific is the grandaddy of iOS Twitter clients — it existed on the iPhone before there was an SDK and was in the App Store on launch day, and again for iPad launch. Twitterrific has evolved from a reader-centric experience to a feature-full client and back to a highly focused app.

Craig Hockenberry, a principle at Iconfactory, the driving force behind Twitterrific, spoke to me at WWDC 2010 about getting Twitterrific ready for the iPad and how that process re-informed what will be going into (and perhaps coming out of) Twitterrific 3.0 for iPhone.

And no, Tweetie becoming the free Twitter for iPhone isn’t slowing them down. (You can read more on that from Craig and Iconfactory collaborators David Lanham and Ged Maheux)

Hockenberry has also taken a turn as author, with his iPhone App Development: The Missing Manual now available from O’Reilly. It takes you through the process, from SDK signup to Xcode and Objective-C, to deploying an app. It’s a treasure-trove of experience and insight for developers — aspiring and veteran alike.

Videos after the break. (Huge apologies to everyone, especially Craig, for the annoying wind noise — I greatly underestimated it during filming)

[Twitterrific homepage]

YouTube link

YouTube link

Twitterrific gets simpler, better for iPad – TiPb at WWDC is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The iPad eBooks war just got a bit more interesting with Barnes & Noble releasing their BN eReader for iPad into the App Store today. With the following features we are curious to see what adjustments Apple makes to iBooks, and Amazon with the Kindle in the near future.

• Exclusive LendMe technology that lets you share eBooks with friends using any of our free BN eReader apps or NOOK eBook readers
• LendMe allows you to grab friends’ addresses right from your existing iPad contacts
• Free safe and secure library keeps your eBooks accessible for years and years to come
• Ready to read in your library:
• Ten free samples of current best sellers (with new accounts)
• Three free classics
• Free samples of any eBook
• Adjustable font size so you can make the text as big as you want for reading ( 10 different sizes)
• Multiple font types—so you pick the typeface you prefer
• Background and text color options for easy reading in any light
• Use our professionally designed themes or create your own
• Tap or swipe to turn pages
• Browse your library visually with big, beautiful color covers or in iPad style “list view” (like Apple’s Mail app)
• Synchronize your notes, highlights and current reading position with BN eReader for PC (and our forthcoming update to iPhone)
• 24/7 shopping — no waiting
• Free Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary is built right in so you don’t leave the page when looking up a word

If you have given this a try let us know what you think in the comments below! Should Apple and Amazon be worried?

[iTunes Link - Free]

Barnes & Noble introduces BN eReader for iPad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

According to The Wall Street Journal Google is planning on introducing their very own eBook store as early as this next month, and gearing up once again to go head-to-head with Apple. This news comes just after Apple announced that in just 28 days, iPad users have downloaded over 1.5 million eBooks via iBooks.

“Google says its new service–called Google Editions–will allow users to buy digital copies of books they discover through its book search service. It will also allow book retailers to sell Google Editions on their own sites, taking the bulk of the revenue. Google has yet to release details about pricing and which publishers are expected to participate.”

Unlike on devices such as the iPhone, iPad and Kindle, Google’s approach will be to allow users access to the digital books from a complete range of websites and over various devices.

Would any of our readers prefer Google’s eBooks over Apple’s iBooks? Sound off in the comments below!

[WSJ via Mac Rumors]

Google prepares for eBook sales, increase competition with Apple is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb – The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog