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Share text files and kill all humans: iPhone apps of the week

When Josh Lowensohn bought and wrote about the TyPad--the Bluetooth keyboard and iPad case combo--I knew that I had to have it. Though it's a bit expensive for a case ($129), the included black keyboard and fold-over leather case just seemed too convenient and classy to pass up.

I just received mine today, and I'm already glad I bought it, but it does have some minor annoyances. There is no right-Shift key, for example, which will be tough for formally trained typists to get used to. It also makes it difficult to play a lot of games because with the added keyboard it can be pretty unwieldy. Still, the ability to quickly convert my iPad into a laptoplike experience will be better for working than using the onscreen keyboard, and the controls for music, cursor arrows, and tactile typing make the case worth it to me.

What do you think? Does the TyPad seem like a good deal to you or should I have just bought a laptop if that's what I wanted? Is there a better case/keyboard combo you know about? Let me know in the comments.

This week's apps include an iPhone/iPad text editor that automatically syncs up with your desktop, and a game in which you control a man-eating giant worm.… Read more

Tap That App: Get your files anywhere (video)

SugarSync, Dropbox, and Box.net all have several things in common. They're freemium cloud-syncing services that let you upload files to download again elsewhere; they all have free apps for BlackBerry, iPhone, and Android smartphones; and they're all featured in this week's episode of Tap That App.

Check out our video to see how one of these apps could solve your storage problems.

Take files with you

Who says you can't take it with you? Dropbox for BlackBerry taps into the Dropbox.com cloud storage service to let you view uploaded files on your smartphone, including streaming music and videos. It's a two-way street--you're also able to upload files, like photos, to your Dropbox account. You can snap a new one or dig into your media gallery on the phone. If you're so inclined to share, a menu option will generate a link for you to e-mail to friends. That's nice and all, but come on, Dropbox, dip into BlackBerry's other … Read more

Insync turns Google Docs into the GDrive

Using Google's vast resources in ways that company did not intend is not a new thing, though rarely is it done right. A new service from the Philippines called Insync falls into that small category, while still managing to play by the rules.

Insync does one thing and does it well, which is to use your Google account as a storage locker. This in itself is not that big of a deal since Google has offered general file storage within Google Docs since January. What Insync does that's so special is turn that storage into a local folder … Read more

Elements 1.0: Dropbox-powered text editing for iOS devices

With the Dropbox-powered Elements, text editing on the go is more accessible than ever. A basic but functional feature set keeps Elements light, but still incredibly useful.

If you already have a Dropbox account, just sign in when Elements launches and you'll get a new folder on your account to store your Elements documents.

I ran in to some issues when setting up a new Dropbox account from my iPhone 4. The setup link brought me to Dropbox's downloads page for the Mac client and attempts to auto-download. This, of course, ended in an error due to being … Read more

GoodReader for iPad gets even better

GoodReader? They should call it GreatReader! OK, pardon the lame joke, but what is arguably the best document viewer currently available for the iPad just got better.

The app already excels at bringing all kinds of files to your iPad: Office and iWork documents, PDFs, text files, HTML pages, photos, music, and videos.

It does this using any number of connectivity options. You can set up a temporary Wi-Fi connection to your PC, browse a Web site or specific URL, or pull files from just about any online source: mail and FTP servers, Box.net, Dropbox, Google Docs, iDisk, and … Read more

Box.net finally gets desktop file sync

Online storage and collaboration service Box.net is finally getting around to offering its users a feature that was long-overdue: desktop synchronization.

The feature, which rolls out to business users Thursday morning, takes whatever files you've added to your online storage account and ferries them over to a local machine. It also does the same thing going the other way.

In order to use it, users must be subscribers of Box's business and enterprise tiers, leaving those with the free and individual plans out in the cold. It's also Windows only to start with, though Box's … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1221: Unbumble the Internet (podcast)

Phrases are coined left and right on today's show, from our plans to unbumble the Internet to the chat-room created phrase "gestApple," to describe the behavior of everybody's favorite door-busting-down, Ellen-berating iPhone-maker. Plus, "three-day-old tuna." It's a fun one. Also, six things you need to know about Facebook Connections (it violates your privacy six ways to Sunday) and the ensuing storm of tablet competition.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 1221

Six Things You Need to Know About Facebook Connections http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/05/things-you-need-know-about-facebook … Read more

Dropbox gets a mobile API and a trio of apps

Dropbox is getting more serious about its efforts to bring its cloud storage solution to mobile devices. On Tuesday the company is announcing a mobile API for developers to build ties to Dropbox's servers into their own apps, as well as formally launching first-party applications for the iPad and Android and BlackBerry devices.

The new mobile API is something Dropbox is calling "Dropbox Anywhere." The company has worked with a number of developers to integrate their apps into the new data pipeline. These include Fuze's FuzeMeeting app, Dictamus, Air Sharing, GoodReader, QuickOffice and Sprite Mobile's … Read more

Scanner Pro turns an iPhone into a document scanner

Problem: You've just been handed a stack of papers that need to be signed and returned--and there's no fax machine in sight.

Problem: You've got a pocketful of receipts you're tired of carrying around--and no place to file them.

Problem: You need to convert a printed document into a PDF.

The solution for all these predicaments is Scanner Pro ($4.99), which turns your iPhone into a mobile scanner that connects to everything from Dropbox to Evernote to MobileMe.

Here's how it works: Find the most well-lit setting you possibly can, run the app, then … Read more