Apple

Spark Inspector (US$39.99 single-license) offers an exciting new development tool. Targeting devs looking to refine their user interfaces, it enables you to interactively tweak view properties like frames and layers. The app centers around an Interface Builder-like experience, with familiar-looking attribute and size inspectors. If you're comfortable in Xcode 4, you'll easily find your way around this tool. In addition, it provides a custom layer inspector -- one that could (and, honestly should) inspire Apple. It enables you to update layer attributes like shadows and transforms, while viewing the results in real time. Perfect for devs who otherwise write their interfaces in code (I am guilty as charged), it breaks out of the tweak-build-run loop that takes up so much time and energy in the normal development day. Instead, you apply your tweaks within the app itself, adjusting the interface until it looks just right. This is the point at which Spark Inspector displays its one big weakness (keep in mind that it's still in development). Instead of producing an updated XIB (which would be okay) or PaintCode-like Objective-C output suitable for re-integration to your apps (which would kick ass), you take responsibility for transferring values back to your Xcode project. Honestly, It's not a huge deal -- especially when your tweaks change a constant from say 50 to 58.5 -- but it's something that could be a killer feature in future updates. For now, you make notes of what values worked best for you. And no, there's no "bookmark this UI for later comparison" option either, another thing I would have liked to have seen. One of Spark Inspector's nicest features is its 3D extrusion display. This pushes views out in parent-child hierarchies, letting you explore and select items with more tangible visualization than you get in IB. Spark Inspector also offers a notification inspector, which may be useful for some devs. If you're already writing your UIs from code, however, you probably know how to set up a listener that logs notifications. Setup is easy. There's a setup assistant for configuring Xcode projects, or (if you're paranoid like I am) add both the SparkInspector and libz frameworks to your dev builds, making sure to enable the -ObjC flag in Other Linker Flags. Include the SparkInspector header as such: and enable the inspector in your application delegate, typically in application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions: Make sure you test using the simulator, and not (as I first tried) on device. The standalone Spark Inspector app (DMG) must be running. As soon as your app hits the "enable observation" stage, it seamlessly connects to the inspector, and you're ready to test and tweak. For forty bucks, this promises to be a valuable tool that many devs will benefit from. If you'd like to kick the tires before you buy, there's a free 30 day trial available on the Spark Inspector website. If you do decide to buy, you purchase directly from the vendor.DevJuice: Spark Inspector offers real time iOS interface inpection originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

If you enjoyed this week's roundup of iPhone cases, check out last week’s edition, Opposites Attract.

Apple’s rumored iRadio service may be delayed beyond the expected launch during the company’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC). According to a report from CNET, negotiations between Sony and Apple have been delayed over an issue with song-skipping. Apple’s iRadio service is reportedly closer to Pandora than Spotify in terms of design and usability. However, Apple is expected to change certain features and add new ones,…Continue reading iRadio negotiations between Apple and Sony delayed by song-skippingNo related posts.

Designed by m has managed to craft one of the most exquisite and well designed iPhone bumpers we've ever seen ? in fact "bumper" seems too unrefined a descriptor ? but one flaw could mar for some people what is otherwise a nearly perfect companion to Apple's smartphone.

This weekend MacUpdate has slashed prices on Painter 12 and Painter Lite. <a href="https://deals.macupdate.com/deal/14292/5274">Painter 12</a> retails for $429, but has been reduced by 54% to $199. <a href="https://deals.macupdate.com/deal/14296/5274">Painter Lite</a> has seen a 58% price cut from $69 to $29. Hurry, because these deals are only available until May 19th 2013.

Samsung earned industry praise for estimating that it expected to ship 10 million units of its flagship Galaxy S4 to carriers in its first month on the market, six months after the same journalists voiced disappointment that Apple had sold "only" 5 million iPhone 5's in its first 3 days.

In a court motion filed earlier today, MetroPCS is dropping its net neutrality opposition lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission. The company filed a motion for voluntary dismissal, leaving Verizon to willingly fight the decree and US government on its own....

Listen, robots, you’ve got three simple rules to follow. Three! Is that so hard? Apparently so, if Bad Bots is any evidence. Thankfully, we’ve got intense robot blasting action to remind them of just who built them, we’ve got the game on Steam for Mac and PC users to get the action started, and we’ve got it on sale for $7.50. Bad Bots stars Sam McRae, a grease mechanic aboard the “Titan Hauler” space cargo ship who wakes from…Continue reading Bad Bots are bad, and they want to destroy your Mac and PCRelated posts:indiePub believes those Bad Bots are just misunderstoodChampions of Regnum MMORPG comes to SteamHalf-Life for OS X review

Crescent Moon Games, known for its quality iOS gaming work (Aralon: Sword and Shadow, Dig!), has just released it’s well-regarded iOS game, Ravensword: Shadowlands, for Mac OS X. Apple gave Ravensword: Shadowlands the Editor’s Choice designation for the iPad version, which can still be purchased for $7 on the iTunes App Store. The Mac OS X Version, enhanced with graphical upgrades like realtime shadows, bloom effects, and high resolution textures and environment models, is in the Mac App Store right now for $13, which seems like a pretty decent deal. This open-world role playing game has been called the Elder Scrolls of mobile gaming, and the full experience is now on the Mac, in addition to the higher end visuals. There’s a huge 3D high-fantasy-themed world to explore, hundreds of items to find and use, and an epic storyline and soundtrack to immerse you in the gameplay. You’ll get to try out various weapon types like bows, crossbows, hammers, swords, and axes, and get places faster on horses and flying mounts, as well. You’ll fight your way past enemies, counting on your armor upgrades and looted items to keep you safe and vanquish your foes across a ton of multi-part quests. Sounds like a pretty typical Friday night, no? If this sounds like fun to you, you could do worse than pick up a gorgeous open-world fantasy RPG for $13 on the Mac App Store, right? Ravensword: Shadowlands requires Mac OS X 10.6.6 or later to run on your Mac. Source: Mac App Store Related StoriesSteve Jobs’s Widow Is The World’s 9th Richest Woman And Quite The PhilanthropistHow Apple Could Create An iTV Experience With Siri [Concept]Apple Screws ‘Bang With Friends’ And Pulls It From App StoreDevelopers From Nearly Every Continent Will Be Attending WWDC 2013Challenge Your Friends And Enemies With Free iOS Game, Star Trek Rivals

In a court motion filed earlier today, MetroPCS is dropping its net neutrality opposition lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission. The company filed a motion for voluntary dismissal, leaving Verizon to willingly fight the decree and US government on its own....