When we can, we like to get out of town to go “glamping” in our 4wd drive trailer, away from technology and usually out of mobile range.
Last month we headed north past Broken Hill to Mutawintji National Park, which was handed back to it’s traditional owners in 1998. Local indigenous rangers look after the after the park and conduct tour guides to significant sites. The country is reminiscent of the great rocky escarpments and waterholes found in the NT. We went on some fantastic walks before heading off to White Cliffs (think Coober Pedy only smaller). Every forty or so years the Queensland floods slowly seep south and fill this usually parched desert county with lakes and birds. The contrasting green growth on red earth is spectacular - pics.

Working late into the night with Darren Ledwich on the interface design and our sensational coder, it involved a lot of guess work. Keep in mind at this stage, we didn’t even own an iPad. Running the iPad simulation software on a MacPro proved to be a whole lot different to running the real thing on an iPad. So we finally caved in and bought one from USA – thanks MacTalk. It was exciting to be among one of the first thousand iPad apps ready in June.

It’s taken another couple of months and a new sync engine to turn Fiscal into the fast little demon Google Finance reader we wanted it to be. The graphs are simply gorgeous. For the rest of the world, who don’t have iPads, you can now buy Fiscal Slim for iPhone. And for the rest of the rest of the world who don’t own an iPhone – ummm get one ?

By the way, if you don’t have a Google account and can’t be bothered putting a few stocks in Google Finance you can use this demo account – Username: nct.demo@gmail.com; Password: nctdemon . Why did we decide to use Google Finance to edit and enter your shares ? Answer – a faster more robust app with less syncing issues. However getting the data from Google’s API, not so simple and the ASX data actually comes from Yahoo.

No Ads

For those who like their privacy you can opt out of iAds on your iOS 4 device. Apple will not use the information they know about you to display an iAd. Then again you might prefer the ads Big Brother chooses for you.

Go baby go

Our first born baby app is PB Go. It’s still selling all over the world and in the words of the infamous Mike McHugh whose kids participate in Little Athletics he “can be nerdy and watch the kids go for it at the same time”! As PB Go is designed to encourage kids, ALA really likes it too ! Watch this space. We even made a cute trailer. Next we’re adding customised events, so you can add your own 50m egg & spoon race or marathon. PB Go and Heads Up are both designed with the infamous and illustrious Alex Tyres.

iCal Beta

If you have a mobile me account you might like to log in online and try it. I like how you can invite people to an event from your phone. Sync before you jump.

Q jumper

Yep we waited five hours for our iPhone4s at Chadstone in the Telstra queue with Gene. Then they told us we had to come back at 10am, as in 6 hours time, to get them. But one look at my fiercest ice queen I don’t think so smile and they buckled. The iPhone4 screen is a work of art and yes its faster.

Lost in the land of Apps

Word of mouth is still the best way to discover good apps. Here’s a selection from a few smiling mouths.

Trippy iPad apps

• Gravitarium recommended by our brilliantly talented website builder
• Quantum an equally trippy one from the hipster Mr Garry Barker macman
• Osmos on the same theme but this one’s actually a real game that goes foof

11yo boy

Miles in his own words reviews in priority order …
• Modern Combat Sandstorm A modern day shoot em up with great online features. (should contain parental warning re addiction, Ed.)
• Angry Birds A great simple app where you try to destroy pigs castles with a range of different birds with different powers.
• Aussie Rules Live is an app that gives live coverage of AFL matches with a lot of stats and past stats. (Aust rules football)
• Pocket God is an amazing app with over 30 updates that add another feature to an already great game. You control the god of 5 islands where you can do painful things to the Pygmies.
Local talent

Compatriot ozzie developers apps we love + their twitter addresses to follow

• Oz Weather an oldie but a goodie from https://twitter.com/gpdawson
• Cities one of Bjango’s early apps I use all the time to deal with jetlag and to avoid ringing mates OS at 4am http://twitter.com/marcedwards
• Shop Ethical Shopping with a conscience from Outware who make great apps for clever clients http://twitter.com/outware
• The Incident retro groovers from WA http://twitter.com/theincidentapp
• The Early Edition stylish old school http://twitter.com/glasshouseapps

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