PineApple iPhone

RedLaser: iPhone Barcode Scanning

App Spotlight

One of the most talked about features of the G1 Google Phone on T-Mobile was it’s ability to scan the barcode of a product and display comparable prices from other vendors.

Of course, on the iPhone…”there’s an App for that.” RedLaser, although there are mixed sentiments regarding it’s usability, is a completely functional and promising realtime barcode scanner.

RedLaser is available in the App Store, although this review is based on the Beta version available in Cydia.

Video games, books and movies scanned rather quickly. Magazines did not register and some items needed to be rescanned, but the speed at which it processed blurry UPCs with almost pinpoint accuracy is remarkable.

If you have a Jailbroken iPhone, RedLaser Beta is offered for free (hosted by BigBoss & Planet-iPhones).

If you have yet to Jailbreak your iPhone, RedLaser is available in the App Store for $1.99.

Pick an Item

Align the Barcode Within the Arrows

Results are Displayed

Results are Saved for Later Viewing

You Can Email Yourself a Product List

or Enter a Code Manually

Barnes & Noble iPhone Exclusive Freebies

Barnes & Noble offers a free iPhone eReader with 6 free eBooks

Click to Download

Free Titles:
(included with App download)
The Last of the Mohicans
Sense and Sensibility

Additional Free Titles:
(with free B&N.com account)
Dracula
Pride and Prejudice
Little Women
Merriam-Webster’s Pocket Dictionary

Aside from receiving a free eBook reader, you also gain access to the Barnes & Noble eBook store.

Note: The BlackBerry only receives 4 free titles with download

Scoops App for Free: Take on Meebz

One of my favorite apps from the App Store is available again for free in honor of National Ice Cream Day.

Click to download

It’s a simple and addicting game of catching ice cream scoops on a cone. You can post scores to your twitter account or share via email.

Take a screenshot and post your score below.
My best is 184150. Can you beat it?

iPhone Contact List Pictures

Numerous Apps Support Profile Pictures by Your Contact List

Enhancing your contact list with photos is just another way developers are attempting to eliminate a visual void left by Apple.

Here is a short list of free and paid apps that will satisfy your visual needs.

Free Apps

Contact Plus
Requirements: Jailbroken iPhone/Cydia

Contact Plus was developed by Darek Powers. It is hosted by Sleepers.net, so make sure you have them installed in Cydia.
(Go to Sections –> Repositories –> Sleepers.net –> Install)

ContactFlow
Requirements: Jailbroken iPhone/Cydia

ContactFlow, developed by Fabien Foulon, may not fit into this list, but I did have to mention it for the unique coverflow function it integrates into your profile pictures.

Paid Apps

Cyntact
Requirements: Jailbroken iPhone/Cydia
Price: $1.00

This is the flagship App of the Cydia store, you can even say it is the first App that introduced the function. It was developed by Jay Freeman (saurik) who is best known for developing Cydia.

VisualContacts
Requirements: App Store
Price: $0.99

VisualContacts, by GRC, is the first App available for iPhones that have not been jailbroken. It has a few additional features, such as grouping and editing groups. You can download this from the AppStore.

Pixcetera: HD Photos for the iPhone

AOL Brings High Quality Full Screen Images to the iPhone

Today marks the release of AOL’s Pixcetera App for the iPhone. Aside from a few caveats, this is a must have app.

Where it Excels:
High Quality Photo Galleries
Most Images are Full Screen
Clean and Intuitive Interface
Swipe to Browse Photos
View in Landscape and Portrait
Captions with Photos
Share Photos

Where it Falls Short:
Stretching and Shrinking Images
Saving to Camera Roll
Search Function

How to take a Screenshot with your iPhone:
Quick Fix for Saving Pixcetera Images to Camera Roll
Select Photo
Tap Home and Power Button*
Check Camera Roll

*A white flash will appear for a split second. Do not hold the buttons, only press them simultaneously and let go, otherwise your iPhone will restart.