iPhone Audio Recorder Comparisons

August 8th, 2008

iLounge provides an extensive roundup of all of the iPhone voice recorders presently available in the App store. These apps are, of course, only compatible with the iPhone and not the iPod touch due to a lack of built-in microphone for the iPod touch. A summary of their ratings are provided here (prices link to App Store):

  • Voice Memos (£2.99, D) - no-frills. no way to get recordings off iPhone.
  • Voice Notes (Free, C-) - no-frills. easy to accidently delete recording. no export.
  • VoiceRecord (£0.59, B-) - slightly more polished. no pause, no export
  • SpeakEasy Voice Recorder (£1.19, B+) - polished. level meter, adjust quality. no export
  • Audio Recorder (£1.79, B) - email recordings out of iPhone.
  • QuickVoice Recorder (£1.19, B-) - transfer recordings out to Mac or PC. pause/resume.
  • Recordifier (£2.99, C) - no pause/resume. no export.
  • Recorder (£0.59, B-) - basic recorder. email recordings out of iPhone. no pause.
  • Note2Self (£1.79, B+) - designed to email recordings out of iPhone. accelerometer detects usage.
  • EccoNote (Free, C-) - poor interface.
  • iRecorder (£0.59, B-) - works as advertised. standard UI. no export.
  • YouNote (Free, C) - note taking
  • Jott (Free, B-) - part of Jott service to record and transcribe to do’s.

While iLounge’s top picks include SpeakEasy Voice Recorder [App Store] and Note2Self [App Store], it’s clear the best choice will depend on your usage. While Note2Self seems well designed for recording personal reminders, it would be less useful for recording lectures. If recording lectures is your goal, it would seem Audio Recorder [App Store] or QuickVoice Recorder [App Store] might be more useful with the ability to get recordings out of your iPhone and onto your Mac.

iLounge provides a much more in-depth look at each application in their review.

Smooth Gradients in Browser

July 31st, 2008

In some browsers gradients seem to go a bit blocky when exported from a graphics package. If you use GIF format colours are approximated to the nearest value, if you use jpeg compression similar colours are grouped.

Way i find is best for smooth gradients for using in CSS and that is by exporting a 1px wide or high image with jpg compression at 100%. This gives a nice smoothness to it.

256 Colour GIF (Only 20 colours needed apparently on export)

90% Compressed Jpeg

100% Compressed Jpeg

iPhone Activation Servers Made of String & Cellotape

July 11th, 2008

After receiving my iPhone 3G in the post today i was so excited, but open plugging it into my new version of iTunes i received a random error, “Could not connect to iTunes Store. Please check your network connection”.

After checking on my girlfriend’s Macbook i get an Error -4 which is very similar but less of the blaming the poor PC user.

How come on PC you are blamed by Apple for having a bad network connection, you Microsoft n00b! On Mac though you get a friendly Error -4! You’re part of the flock.

Whatever platform it is, the Apple activation servers have dissolved into a fine paste at Apple HQ. The store is online but no one can use their iPhones! 

On my new mobile provider’s website i am filled with sadness at 

Customers new to O2 can start using their device once they have synced with iTunes and the phone account has been activated. When syncing with iTunes you may see ‘Activation cannot be completed without service.’ The activation of the mobile service for new customers will be within 2 to 3 days given the volume of sales on Friday.