Talk about timely. We’ve been waiting for months (with bated breath, might we add) for Pleco 2.2 to finally hit Apple’s App Store, and after dealing with a few launch day bugs last week, we can finally say it’s out and ready to dominate any Chinese homework you’ve been hastily procrastinating on. The Pleco Chinese Dictionary is now available in the app store at version 2.2.1, supporting both fullscreen handwriting input and live camera-based character recognition. Have a peek at the video past the break if you’re still curious as to what this app can do for you, and feel free to toss your experiences with it down in comments below. Here’s hoping this is only the first of many languages Pleco decides to tackle — not that we’re much on tossing out subtle hints.

Continue reading Pleco Chinese Dictionary iPhone app now handling real-time image translations

Pleco Chinese Dictionary iPhone app now handling real-time image translations originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ah, the beautiful, ever-useful jailbreak and the developers that make it worthwhile. It’s already unlocked the magic of FaceTime over 3G, and now it’s making FaceTime capable with any old iPhone 3GS handset (thanks to the iPhoneIslam Team, who did the heavy lifting). Of course, lacking a front facing camera, the resulting video chat might be a little short on faces, but the functionality certainly isn’t hurting anybody. Right, Apple? Hit up the app on Cydia and start streaming to your heart’s content, and if you’re wary there’s a demo video after the break.

[Thanks, Moe]

FaceIt-3GS brings FaceTime to your jailbroken 3GS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve already seen Epic Games and Id Software show off their respective game engines for iOS devices, but they’re only now finally giving folks a look at the first actual games that will use them. The first of those to roll out will apparently be Id’s Mutant Bash TV, which looks as impressive as the Rage demo promised (although that’s aided in part by being on rails), and will cost just $0.99 for the standard version or $1.99 for the Retina Display-enhanced version. Seemingly even more impressive than it, however, is Epic Games’ Infinity Blade, the game counterpart to the Unreal Engine 3-based “Epic Citadel” demo that was released back in September. While it may look like yet another God of War clone, it sounds like Epic has something quite a bit different in mind — the game’s creative director (of Shadow Complex fame, incidentally) recently described it as a mix of Karateka, Dragon’s Lair and Punch-Out. Head on past the break to check out the trailer, and hit up the link below for Touch Arcade’s preview of Mutant Bash TV (no video for it just yet, unfortunately).

Continue reading Epic Games, Id Software show off jaw-dropping new iPhone games

Epic Games, Id Software show off jaw-dropping new iPhone games originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember that WAPI-compliant version of the iPhone approved back in May? Yeah, well, China Unicom is just now getting around to rolling it out, promising it’ll be available next week in the form of an 8GB 3GS for an incredible 4,999 yuan (about $739). As far as we can tell, the phone will be compatible both with straight WiFi and WAPI wireless networks, which is a big step for the country — traditionally, the Chinese iPhone has been WiFi-free while the iPod touch has gone unfettered, the result of bureaucracy, product categorization, and strange laws that don’t fly in many other locales. On a related note, rumor has it that the iPhone 4 — presumably also with WiFi / WAPI — is on track for a September 1 release, so if the 3GS is feeling a little too 2009 for you, you may not have long to wait.

China Unicom getting WiFi-enabled iPhone 3GS next week, iPhone 4 on September 1? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s the moment that many of you have been waiting for: the Dev-Team’s ultrasn0w carrier unlock for iPhone 4 is out. You’ll find version 1.0-1 of ultrasn0w in Cydia on jailbroken devices. If not, just add the repo666.ultrasn0w.com repository. It works for iPhone 4 baseband 01.59 and 3G/3GS basebands 04.26.08, 05.11.07, 05.12.01 and 05.13.04. If none of this makes sense then you’ve got no reason unlocking your device in the first place, buddy.

Update: No-nonsense video embedded after the break showing how to jailbreak and unlock. Easy peasy. [Thanks, Adam]

Continue reading iPhone 4 unlock available now (update: video!)

iPhone 4 unlock available now (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 02:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you watched the most recent episode of The Engadget Show, then you know that Jimmy Fallon had a lot to say about the iPhone — particularly the fact that he’s been fed up with his 3GS’ dropped calls, and was planning a jump to an Android device on Verizon if the iPhone 4 didn’t improve things. You see, he takes a path through Midtown Manhattan where his calls are dropped in two specific locations on a daily basis. In his words: “It cuts out at 27th st. and cuts out again around 47th st., and it’s awful, I can’t take it.” Jimmy told us that he’d test the path with the iPhone 4 and see if things improved, and he’s recounted what happened yesterday in an email:

I did the experiment. I tried to stay on the phone from downtown Manhattan to Midtown with no dropped calls. (usually I get 2 drops)

I got….. (drum roll)

No dropped calls!!! Not one.

I’m a believer.

iPhone 4.

So like us, he’s getting better reception on the new phone (despite the antenna issues). What about you guys? We know that there are definitely noticeable, real signal issues, but how has your connection been? More dropped calls or less? Let us know in the poll below!

View Poll

The Jimmy Fallon Test: is the iPhone 4 dropping fewer calls? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Couldn’t very well have an iPhone for sale showing an outdated version of the operating system, now, could you? Just wouldn’t be civilized.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

New iPhone 3GS 8GB features redesigned box with iOS 4 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been able to confirm some leaked information out of modmyi.com today that AT&T is doing us a solid by extending price protection for recent iPhone 3GS buyers by just a little bit. If you purchased a 3GS — either the 16GB or 32GB model — between May 7 and May 14, you’ll have until June 14 to get credited the difference between the price you paid and the $149 / $199 they’re charging now; if you bought it after the 14th of May, you’d have at least until the 14th of this month anyway, so it’s effectively a one-week extension. If you’d rather trade up to an iPhone 4 rather than pocketing some cash and keeping the 3GS, you’ve got an option there, too: anyone who picked up a 3GS between May 7 and May 21 can preorder an iPhone 4 by June 21 and get the new phone for only the difference in cost, assuming you bring in your 3GS when you pick it up.

On a related note, modmyi.com is also reporting that AT&T corporate stores are set to open at 7AM on the 24th, iPhone 4 launch day, though we’re not able to confirm this one. Word on the street is that new customers will only be able to activate one line and existing customers will be able to buy one iPhone 4 per line of service, clearly an attempt to stretch inventory as far as it’ll go. With the way Apple’s setting up for preorders and launch-day delivery, it seems like a lot of this chaos and bedlam is going to be avoided — but hey, it’s Apple. You never know.

AT&T offering price protection (or iPhone 4 swap) to recent 3GS buyers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How desperate are you to get Netflix running on your iPhone? Desperate enough to jailbreak, grab frameworks from your iPad, and do some plist hacking? If the answer to those questions is “yes,” then the folks at ModMyi have something they’d like to show you. According to the site, a tipster has been able to get the video streaming service up and playing on an iPhone by making what appears to be fairly simple changes to his device; namely, boosting the iPad’s MediaPlayer.framework and altering plist settings once the app was installed on his phone. It’s not all wine and roses, as using Netflix where it’s not supposed to be used causes a massive battery drain (go figure), and there are issues with crashing and 3G playback (two more unsurprising problems). Still, it can be done, and this is just the start — so if you want to get in on the party (and maybe even help out a little bit), hit the read link and see what it’s all about.

[Thanks, Cody]

Netflix for iPad hacked and running on iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 May 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, this is intriguing: Walmart just officially announced that it’ll be selling the 16GB iPhone 3GS for $97 starting Tuesday, a full $100 off the regular price. Given the high probability that Steve Jobs will introduce the thoroughly-leaked next-gen iPhone when he gives the WWDC 2010 keynote on June 7th, the price cut seems like either an attempt to clear out remaining inventory or a way to slide the 3GS down the line to replace the $99 8GB iPhone 3G — a move which would corroborate some whispers we’ve heard today that the 3G is no longer being shipped to stores. Either way, the 3GS just got a lot cheaper, which is never a bad thing, but we’d still say potential iPhone owners should wait a couple weeks and see what’s coming next.

[Thanks, Ryan]

Walmart officially cuts iPhone 3GS to $97, potentially clearing out inventory for the iPhone 4? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 May 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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