iLounge

By Charles Starrett

Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Monday, August 10, 2009
News Category: Mix

Clickfree has introduced new iPhone and iPod USB accessories called Transformer and Transformer SE, which use the devices’ empty storage space to perform backups of connected computers’ files. The accessories are designed to back up files without the need to install or set up any extra software; you simply connect your device to the Transformer, then connect the Transformer to a PC or Mac. Additionally, the Transformers can also be used to transfer media from any iPod or iPhone to any Mac- or Windows-based computer. The Transformer for iPhone and iPod is available now and sells for $50; the Transformer SE will add the ability to work with external USB hard drives and will be available in September for $90.

The University of Washington is now offering a certificate-granting program in iPhone and Cocoa Development through its downtown Seattle campus. Set for Autumn 2009, the program will include three courses—Programming in Objective-C and the Cocoa Framework, Developing with the iPhone SDK, and Advanced Cocoa Development for Mac OS X and iPhone—and will teach students how to “successfully design, build, test, and sell [their] own quality Mac OS X and iPhone applications.” The cost for each individual course is $705. [via Ars Technica]

Japanese online retailer Sanwa Direct is now offering a Waterproof bag for the iPhone or iPod (Translated Link). The simple bag offers a clear plastic window through which users can control their iPhones, iPod touches, or Click-Wheel iPods, a pass-through headphone port, a clear rear window to allow for use of the iPhone’s camera, and a clip closure. Sanwa also includes waterproof headphones, an armband, and a neckstrap. The Waterproof bag is available now for 3,280 Yen, or roughly $34.

Following its removal on Friday, ThinAir Wireless’ Offender Locator application for the iPhone and iPod touch has returned to the App Store, minus its California listings. The app, which uses publicly-available databases to help users locate sex offenders in their areas, was reportedly pulled from the store for legal reasons. Some suggested it ran afoul of the state of California’s law prohibiting the sale of criminal information for profit, a claim which is backed up by its reappearance without the potentially infringing content. Offender Locator and its Lite counterpart are both available from the App Store, for $1 and and as a free download, respectively. [via Fortune]