Linked List: August 22, 2008

Friday, 22 August 2008

Wurdle 

Addictive fast-paced iPhone word game from Semi Secret Software. Terrific use of the touch screen for gameplay — just drag your finger to trace the words you find. $2 at the App Store. (Via Scott Simpson.)

iPhone GUI PSD 

Free library of iPhone UI controls for use in creating interface mockups in Photoshop.

Red-Light Cameras 

Vito Rispo, on the danger of red-light cameras:

In fact, six U.S. cities have been found guilty of shortening the yellow light cycles below what is allowed by law on intersections equipped with cameras meant to catch red-light runners. Those local governments have completely ignored the safety benefit of increasing the yellow light time and decided to install red-light cameras, shorten the yellow light duration, and collect the profits instead.

Despicable. (Via Jack Shedd.)

How to Launch Software 

Aaron Swartz:

I’ll call this technique the Gmail Launch, since it’s based on what Gmail did. Gmail is probably one of the biggest Web 2.0 success stories, so there’s an argument in its favor right there. Here’s how it works.

BusinessWeek on Apple’s Ambitious iPhone Plans 

Peter Burrows, reporting for BusinessWeek:

While final sales can’t be known until after the fact, clues are emerging as to Apple’s production plans. As of mid-August, they were ambitious, BusinessWeek has learned. Apple plans to build 40 million to 45 million iPhone 3Gs in the 12 months through August 2009, according to a person familiar with the company’s plans.

That’s a pretty big number.

DS Media Labs 

My thanks to the iPhone game studio DS Media Labs for sponsoring the Daring Fireball RSS feed this week. Two of their games are coming soon to the App Store: LightBikes (“an ’80s throwback thriller in which you and up to 4 other players via Wi-Fi”), and Dark Age of Reality (an MMO for the iPhone that uses GPS). Already in the store is FLOverload, a clever $2 race-against-the-clock puzzle game.

(DS Media Labs are hiring, too.)