DataViz, publisher of the venerable Palm OS application Documents to Go, has announced its plans to bring a version of the application to the iPhone. The software allows users to view and edit Word documents, PowerPoint presentations and Excel Spreadsheets and offers many other features, including the ability to display graphic files.
Some features available on the Palm OS may not make it to the iPhone because of Apple’s stringent developer agreement.
DataViz is projecting delivery of Documents to Go for the iPhone in 2009. The company asks that anyone interested in news or information about the software sign up for a mailing list here.
The DataViz web site does not supply any screenshots or other solid information about the application’s features or pricing. A phone call to DataViz resulted in a push to sign up for the mailing list.
The iPhone has built-in support for viewing some Microsoft Office documents and Adobe PDF files, but the functionality is not as robust as Documents to Go for Palm.
Feedback? http://www.iphoneatlas.com/contact.
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Rafe Needleman of our sister site WebWare reports on his experience with AT&T’s newly offered free WiFi for iPhone users:
“[...] the images I had of just sauntering in to a Starbucks, selecting the local Wi-Fi network and jumping on the Internet were busted when I read these ridiculous instructions for getting access:
- Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone.
- Select “attwifi” from the list of available networks.
- Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the Acceptable Use Policy. Tap ‘continue.’
- You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the AT&T Wi-Fi hot spot. You will not be charged for the text message.
- The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was requested. Another request must be submitted when using another hot spot location.
- Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the AT&T Wi-Fi hot spot.
“To get on Wi-Fi, I need to tell you my phone number and then authorize over SMS? That’s just goofy. I get that the method that I think should work to authorize an iPhone on the network–a check of the phone’s MAC address by the AT&T Wi-Fi authorization system–might be more hackable than this closed-loop authorization system that checks to see if you’re an AT&T iPhone subscriber in good standing via your phone number. But so what? It’s not like the value of the network connection that someone would be appropriating if they hacked this system is that high to begin with.”
For more, visit WebWare.
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knows why Ubisoft decided to stick with the Far Cry 2 naming convention for its latest sandbox shooter. Far Cry 2 isn’t made by the same developer as the original PC shooter, it has a different graphics engine, a completely different narrative structure, it doesn’t star the same protagonist and it has dropped the tropical island chains for the rolling savannas, deserts and jungles of Africa. And there are no mutants either.
However, once you get over this misconception, we’re happy to report that there’s an enormously enjoyable game to be found that stands out in completely its own right.
Far Cry 2 gives players a huge, 50 square km playground in which to cause mayhem. At the start, you can pick one from a handful of different mercenary characters who’ll you be controlling in the quest to hunt down the elusive arms dealer who sparked the whole civil war in the first place.
The Jackal is really the star of the show, not the shallow characters that populate the rest of the world; you’ll piece together his mysterious persona from a handful of personal encounters that take place between chapters and from the interview tapes that are hidden around the environment. His conflicting character is at the heart of the game’s deeper message about war and human nature.
At the start, the vague approach to the plot seems bewildering, but as you put in the hours, it all slowly starts to fit together like an elaborate puzzle, which rewards you more as you take the time to investigate deeper and comes to surprising, yet satisfying conclusion by the end.
You rapidly learn that worst way to play Far Cry 2 is to rush around trying complete missions as quickly as possible. You need to savour the open world environment and make up your own mind as to how to complete your goal. You can sneak about silenced weapon in hand, take on foes from long-range with a rifle, or stroll about in broad daylight bombarding everything with rockets and grenades; it’s up to you. Taking to the time to plan your attack is where the real enjoyment is to be had.
While the enemy Ai is prone to some staggering displays of stupidity from time to time, in the most part it is dogged and sneaky. This makes combat spectacularly varied as you choose either stick to high ground where you get a good view of your approaching adversaries, or dash rapidly between cover so you can stop yourself getting surrounded. Or you can turn everything to chaos by igniting the bush with flame throwers and Molotov cocktails, a tactic than can yield some beautiful pyrotechnic eye-candy.
Ubisoft has ensured that you have plenty of distractions to prevent you from just careening right through the main missions, in which you play off both sides of the pointless conflict against each other. Using your GPS tracker you can hunt for hidden caches of uncut diamonds, the game’s currency, or you can unlock new safe-houses to save your game or take on extra missions to unlock new weapons to purchase. Your fellow mercenary buddies will also offer you alternative means to complete each major mission, with extra rewards for taking the time to do things their way. And as further obstacles to your progress are the ever-present guard posts.
These armed checkpoints and the roving patrol trucks can be the bane of your game life. Trying to drive straight through them will rapidly earn you a belly full of AK rounds, so you’ll need to stop, scope out the obstacle, and work out how you want to tackle it. This is when Far Cry 2 is at its most frustrating and repetitive; the frequency of patrols at latter stages of the game and the rapid re-spawn times at the guard posts can turn your game into a bit of trudge.
But the sheer scale of the environment and the freedom you have to do things your way easily overshadows the smaller gripes. The African setting is massive, stunning to behold, brimming with atmosphere and littered with wildlife; it’s a true technical marvel. While PC fans may find the controls a little too consoley compared to the tightness and complexity of the original Far Cry, or the more recent Crysis, the capacity for the AI to surprise makes it a highly satisfying experience.
Once you’ve found your own pace, Far Cry 2 is like having a vast combustible toy box to wreak havoc upon, offering countless hours of entertainment for your money.
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Much Like Russell Brand, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 interface is starting to feel a little passé as we enter November 2008.
Thankfully, New XBox Experience, launching on November 19th, does the equivalent of shearing Brand’s raucous mane, plonking him in a smart suit and teaching him some bloody manners.
See pics of the NXE interface
The suave and sophisticated new menu system, which will download like a normal update, disposes of the trusty “blades” that allowed you to cycle between Xbox live, Marketplace, memory, and system content.
Now each channel gets its own spruced-up slot, a visual treat befitting the HD-era and placing it on-a-par with the PlayStation 3’s homepage.
Users can create their own Mii-like avatars, a la the Nintendo Wii, with a more detailed, grown up feel with heavily customisable clothing and facial features.
The other big addition, at least in the US, is the partnership with rental giants Netflix to provide over 300 HD movies available to download through Xbox Marketplace. No word on an equivalent UK provider, like Lovefilm, stepping up to the plate yet.
The Marketplace will also feature an open-source Community Games section, much like the Apple App Store, where 3rd party content will be available to download.
Microsoft will be hoping their new overhaul will breathe new life into the 360’s already glittering career. Now, Russell, where are those scissors…
Xbox (via Engadget)
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Toshiba jumped onto the netbook bandwagon last month with its NB100 - and now it’s available to buy in the UK, courtesy of the Carphone Warehouse.
The NB100’s looks are certainly a cut above the opposition, but the spec is identical to just about every other netbook out there. Which means a 1.6GHz Atom processor, Windows XP, 120GB hard drive, 1GB of memory, Wi-Fi and webcam, with the added bonus of ‘Sleep-and-Charge’ technology to power up your gadgets.
If you’re on the look out for some mobile broadband, Carphone Warehouse will do you a deal of access plus netbook from £30. If you’re already dongled-up (or just don’t want it), £299 will get you the standalone PC.
Link: Carphone Warehouse
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A year ago, ASUS astounded us all with the original budget Eee PC. 12 months on and it’s set to do the same again - with the $200 Eee. Now if our currency was on better form, that would be a ridiculous £100. But it’s not, so today we’re looking at the less-catchy (and not so cheap) £123.91 laptop. Here’s hoping for a stronger pound before the launch date.
The announcement was hidden away in the company’s financial statement. What the PC offers for such a small price isn’t clear, but as ASUS is planning on ditching 7-inch and 8.9-inch laptops, we can safely say it will be a 10-inch model, not a million miles from the original concept.
One thing is for sure - it’s unlikely to make a dent in the ASUS coffers. According to company reports, ASUS made a profit of $6.38 billion in the third quarter of this year, $19.25 billion over the year. Around 6 million notebooks have been shipped in the past year, with that number expected to jump to 20 million in 2009.
ASUS (via Digitimes)
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Vodafone has the exclusive on the BlackBerry Storm - and you can get your name down for from today for a monthly fee of £35, should you be willing to sign away the next two years of your mobile life.
There’s no denying its pulling power, check out our un-boxing for the full hands-on and that oh-so-touchy high-res touchscreen interface in full effect. Throw in a 3.2MP camera, Wi-Fi, A-GPS and some media playing and the Storm just might be the handset to rain on Apple’s parade.
But it does come at a price. A £35 contract for 600 minutes of calling and unlimited text and data might not sound a bad deal, but committing to the handset for two years could be asking a little too much. An 18-month deal bumps the monthly price to a minimum of £40. Anything shorter and you’ll be waving goodbye to the free handset. It’s your call - check out the full lists of tariffs at the Vodafone website.
Vodafone Storm
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There’s no shortage of iPod docks on the market, but you’ll have to look far and wide for one as classy as the Revo Blok.
None of your plastic here, the Revo Blok is handcrafted from a slab of American Walnut, which offers up a reassuring weight and natural acoustics, combining with the NXT Balanced Radiator speaker to throw out 40W of rich, deep and room-filling audio.
All iPods are welcome, thanks to a full range of dock adapters and if you want an eye-catching remote control, the purpose-built Kontrol offers ergonomic goodness, soft touch buttons and should you get bored of it, the option to use as an indooe frisbee. Yours for £199.95.
Link: Revo
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From Sony Vaio laptops to Swatch watches, Bond wouldn’t be the same these days without a host of tech tie-ins.
The best Bond movie gadgets ever!
Quantum of Solace is no different, so we’ve rounded together our favourite Bond videos into one tidy package for your visual enjoyment.
Also featured is our interview with James Bond legend Richard Kiel, aka Jaws. Find out his personal tech-inspired moments from the franchise.
If you’re heading to see Daniel Craig tear down some henchmen this weekend, our video is the perfect prelude.
Head this way for more from our James Bond week
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Well, the Waterstones exclusive on the Sony eBook Reader has finished, so you can shop around for the best deal. And if you go to John Lewis, you can even choose your colour - just as long as you like red.
The red version of the eBook reader is a John Lewis exclusive, but it’s already old technology - Sony is releasing a slightly improved version (the PRS-700) next month in the US with improved page turning, an on-screen keyboard and LED light, so you might want to think carefully before adding this to your Christmas list.
But let’s not talk down the original, we were certainly impressed (check out our hands-on here ) and with a pile of classics pre-loaded, the option to play music and little strain on your eyes, the eBook Reader will be as welcome on the daily commute as a free double seat. Yours for £199.
Link: John Lewis
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