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Pagination in Instapaper

Instapaper Pro 2.2 is now available, and it supports pagination (in addition to the existing scrolling interface):

After the previous version’s release, I took a break from reading on the iPhone and read everything on the Kindle. I learned that I much preferred pagination to scrolling — even tilt scrolling — and that pagination is part of what makes the Kindle reading experience so great. So I spent a long time experimenting with different methods to bring pagination to the iPhone, and I finally found a solution that, while simplistic, allows any mix of pagination and scrolling in the dynamic web content that Instapaper is ideal for reading. I now prefer pagination to tilt scrolling. You can toggle between them with the Pagination switch in the Settings screen.

I like this. I've been reading a lot of books on the iPhone Kindle app, so I've gotten really used to its pagination interface vs the scrolling interface that Instapaper's historically had. A couple of days ago while reading an article in Instapaper, I realized that I'm constantly trying to scroll exactly one page's worth at a time. Which is... distracting.

So, yes: pagination.

Canabalt high scores!

Matt built a Canabalt High Scores site, which makes me very happy (I love Canabalt)! Now all he needs to add is pagination past the top 25, so that my high score can be on the list.

Better with iPhone 3.0

Here's a site I'd really like to see: a showcase for software that takes advantage of new developer features for the Mac OS and iPhone platforms (and maybe others, too).

The recent software updates for both the iPhone and Mac OS are heavy on features for developers, like Core Location & Grand Central Dispatch in Snow Leopard, in-app purchases on the iPhone, &c. (this is a key part of Apple's marketing, even). And when browsing the iPhone app store, applications that've been tested in the 3.0 software are specially flagged as "tested on iPhone 3.0". But what about applications that actually make use of all of the new developer features? That is, applications that are optimized for the new platform?

The promise of an update like Snow Leopard--and, to a lesser extent, the features in the new iPhone 3.0 SDK--is the types of new applications that can be built upon the new platform. Reviews of the new operating systems are heavy on information about the new developer features, but light on actual examples of applications making use of those features. And, as a potential developer for these platforms--but even moreso, as a very interested user--those are the apps that I'd love to see.

My current favorite example of such an app: Clarke, an app for updating your location on Fire Eagle, will soon support the Core Location framework for gathering location data (currently, it uses Skyhook data). That's almost neat enough for me to gather the courage to upgrade!

Does a site like this exist?

Ghostface Killah - Cherchez La Ghost

via www.youtube.com

My iPhone selected "Cherchez la Ghost" to lead off its "Hip Hop" genius mix as I walked to work this morning. Good choice, iPhone!

iPhone 3.1 walkthrough

On the fence about downloading iPhone 3.1? Wondering what’s changed since iPhone 3.0? Need a handy link to send your friends who may have questions? TiPb’s got your back with our complete iPhone 3.1 Software Walkthrough.

via www.theiphoneblog.com

Given that it took me nearly half a day to figure out how to activate Genius Mixes on my iPhone, I figured this might be useful to someone else in determining what's new in the iPhone 3.1 software.

Wishing Stars

Wishing Stars is an iPhone-powered game you play at Disneyland. (Think "scavenger hunt.") It's a real-life adventure that unfolds as you find clues, solve puzzles, and explore the furthest reaches of the park (...maybe even some places that you didn't know existed!)

via notes.torrez.org

This sounds like a fun game to play the next time we go to Disneyland (though I'll be content with the easy puzzles, given that traipsing around obscure corners of the park to win virtual prizes may not, admittedly, be the most fun for Penelope, at this age).

Cocktails on the iPhone

Cocktails, on the phone: the future is truly here!

Photo from spiritsandcocktails.com

Cocktails--my absolute favorite iPhone app, both for reference (while at the store, looking to buy everything I need to make a cocktail) and for browsing fun--just got a recent upgrade. Along with the usual bug fixes, speed improvements, &c., they've added a new collection of recipes, which they're calling the Contemporary Masters series:

Our inaugural release includes a generous 78 recipes from Seattle mixologist Jamie Boudreau. We’re confident you will find in his recipes a rich trove of fresh ideas and techniques. In another first, we’re implementing in this release our first real batch of ingredient recipes: formulations for extraordinary ingredients you make yourself, ahead of time.

The drink I'm most excited to try is the Twelve Five Cocktail, a mixture of scotch, absinthe, Punt e Mes, and Benedictine.

Nike+ and iPhone

The leaked screenshots for the upcoming iPhone Nike+ interface almost make me excited enough to start running again:

We've known that Nike+ has long been in development for the iPhone. Now we're finally getting a peek at the first shots of the interface. From what we can skim, Nike+ users will get all of the nifty performance graphs right on the phone (before this stuff was available on the web only).

And! Google Maps integration for running routes, which may be my favorite part of all.

iPhone Home

My favorite iPhone trick, which I only just discovered yesterday, is the ability to control the iPod functions (volume, play/pause, &c.) without having to unlock the phone:

If you double click the "Home" button from "Slide to unlock" screen or when the iPhone is in sleep mode, a set of iPod controls will appear below the clock which give you access to play/pause, skip, and volume controls.