Apple iPhone

Drenched in Blog: Nick Cave Digs Lazarus

David Brown: “20/40”

David Brown makes art with his iPhone

Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook Vols. 2 & 3

David Brown makes art with his iPhone

The Willie D Scam: Read Along As It Goes Down

Willie D is still cooling his heels in a Federal lock-up as we write this, but there's updates o'plenty. Hair Balls's old buddy Matt Sonzala posted a Willie D round-up on his blog yesterday. To us, the most fascinating link Sonzala unearthed was this one, in which you can document in real time the r ... More >>

Social Distortion: While You Weren't Tweeting

Oh, by the way, the new iPhone came out. In case you hadn't heard.Yup. It's Monday morning. The weekend's indisputably over. You sucked down the last of Saturday night's spliff before bed, and you've pulverized the remaining vomit from your knees with a skin-scalding jet stream. You've blearily ... More >>

What Do Your iPhone Apps Say About You?

When you're an iPhone owner, not only are you better than everyone else (obvs), but the lifeblood of your technological slice of gadget heaven is your applications, or "apps," if you're nasty.  An integral part of your holy iPhone identity really shines through the apps you choose to rely on wh ... More >>

In the Pit

It's easier than ever to take pictures at concerts. Unless that's your job.

New iPhone? Rocks Off Has an App for That.

Photo illustrations by John Seaborn Gray​ We know a ton of you got iPhones over the holiday break. Well, good news: Rocks Off has spent the last few months developing our own iPhone applications (or "apps," as the urban kids are saying) and we're thrilled to debut them here. All inquiries, critici ... More >>

"iPad"? Really, Steve? Here We Go Again

Photo by Alexia TsotsisClick here for a slideshow of iPad photos​Steve, Steve, Steve, Sigh. Stevie - darling, sugar, baby! We hate to say it, but we've had this conversation with you before. Remember your pussy fetish and the resulting "Snow Leopard" fiasco? Cluck, cluck, cluck. So do we. ... More >>

A Weird Pop Heaven Via Bay City's "Happy Radio"

​Along Rocks Off's various Texas travels, we almost never listen to an iPod or compact discs anymore. Anything we could pop in wouldn't match the rhythm of the road; the Stooges or Metallica don't really jive with Highways 59, 71 or 77. In today's world of satellite radios, streaming tunes on your ... More >>

New iPhones Bring Madness To Memorial City Mall

Photos by Travis HensleyWaiting on an iPhone​Steve Jobs must be a happy man today. With the release of the new iPhone 4g he has customers lining up in the hundreds outside of stores.At the Memorial City Mall in Houston customers are finding themselves camping out inside the mall in two groups of l ... More >>

iPhone Gets Even Better: Now It Has A Houston Press App

The Houston Press, now with more touching and sliding.​Over 50 million iPhones have been sold since the release of Apple's now-omnipresent smart phone in January 2007, and that doesn't take into account the mad rush for the latest iPhone 4. So we're willing to bet that more than a few of our r ... More >>

Accessories Houston Rappers Don't Leave Home Without

fashionbombdaily.comSlick Rick: The ruler's back at Reliant Arena, November 6​Rappers have always been obsessed with accessories. It's mandated in rap contracts, right next to girl songs and Bun B collaborations. The tradition dates back to hip-hop's early days. Before Kanye popularized shutte ... More >>

iPhones: World's Least Imaginative Crook Is Stealing Them At HCC Stafford

Take the iPhone and run​Sometimes you don't have to spend weeks or months in your criminal lair thinking up highly intricate plots to attain riches and power.Sometimes the keep it simple, stupid path actually works.Houston Community College has sent an e-mail warning out to students at the Staffor ... More >>

The Eight Stupidest iPhone Music Apps

​Apple's foray into the social-network field failed big-time last month with the release of Ping, the iTunes-linked program that promised to connect you to your favorite artists, as long as your favorite artist is Justin Bieber. When it comes to iTunes, we at Rocks Off are a discerning sort. ... More >>

Five Tips for Shooting Food Photos with Your iPhone

Photo by hirotomoThe iPhone really can take good photos if done correctly.​Lots of you like snapping photos of your food while preparing it or after it is served. Most of the time, that means using a point-and-shoot digital camera or something nicer if you have it despite the weird looks of wa ... More >>

The Situation is Making Us Fat

He may be a tool, but, unlike most of us, he ain't fat.​Americans are voyeurs. We like to watch. Since the invention of the television, it has been the choice for peering into the world outside our living room and, despite the popularity of streaming video and the Internet in general, TV is ... More >>

The Best Food Apps for Your iPhone

The 42 Restaurants app is a thing of beauty.​I recently commented to a friend that reviewing restaurants is so much easier with a smart phone, taking notes on the fly and being able to instantly look up directions if you get lost on the way. In my case, I have an iPhone, and -- sad as I know ... More >>

Houston Rabbi's STD iPhone App Sure To Liven Up Seders

Fighting STDs through religion and iPhones​A bunch of Jewish chicks from Houston don't want you to get an STD. Houston rabbi Amy Weiss, along with her Initiative for Jewish Women, has created the LoveSmarts iPhone app, which might be the only app with a Space Invaders-style game where you zap the ... More >>

App of the Week: GroupMe

Group texting through GroupMe​App: GroupMe Platforms: iPhone, Android Website: GroupMe.com Many experts are predicting that more people will text than make actual phone calls in the coming years. This is already true for younger people, but the convenience of a short message over a long conve ... More >>

App of the Week: Six Awesome, Free Apps for Movie Buffs

These six apps will help you with any movie, except Human Centipede. For that, you're on your own.​It's awards season. From People's Choice to the Screen Actors Guild to the Academy Awards and the other hundred worthless statues given out this time of year, people are talking about movies, and ... More >>

App of the Week: Waze

Thanks to Waze, I know foxybarrel, whoever that is, got stuck in traffic on 59.​App: Waze Platforms: iPhone, Android, BlackBerry (beta only, Windows Mobile Web site: Waze.com Cost: Free Houstonians know their traffic like Seattleites know their heroin coffee or heaved aquatic animals. In othe ... More >>

App of the Week: How Evernote Organized My Life

Organize your notes and your life with Evernote.​App: Evernote Platforms: iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Palm, desktop apps also available for Mac and PC Web site: Evernote.com Cost: Free ($5 monthly or $45 annually for premium service) I'm a note taker. Over the years, my desk ... More >>

App of the Week: Wi-Fi Finder

Find you some wi-fi with Wi-Fi Finder.​App: Wi-Fi Finder from JiWire Platforms: iPhone Web site: JiWire.com/iphone Cost: Free Working from home can be isolating. Sitting in a tiny office surrounded by nothing but your computer and your cats (shut up) can get a little depressing day after ... More >>

App of the Week: GasBuddy

Find cheap gas with GasBuddy.​App: GasBuddy Platforms: iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile Web site: GasBuddy.com Cost: Free People love their cars in Houston. More specifically, people love their enormous, gas-guzzling, monster-mobiles. With the turmoil in the Middle East driving gas prices ... More >>

App of the Week: Are We Over-Sharing?

Imagine DeNiro's stalker fan character with an iPhone.​Normally, each week we'd reserve this space for some awesome mobile app or cool website that would help improve your mobile experience. This week, instead of an app, we have a question: are we, as a society, over-sharing? When skimming ov ... More >>

Best of Houston Just Got Better

Best Of: there's an app for that.​You totally trust Houston Press to help you find the best margaritas in town, the best place to watch wildlife in this urban jungle of ours, and the best place to be glad you're alive, right? Now we can help you make the most of 31 other cities, thanks to a ne ... More >>

Got A Smartphone? Get Our Best Of App

Best Of: there's an app for that.​You totally trust Houston Press to help you find the best margaritas in town, the best place to watch wildlife in this urban jungle of ours, and the best place to be glad you're alive, right? Now we can help you make the most of 31 other cities, thanks to a ne ... More >>

App of the Week: Cat Paint

What wedding isn't better with cats?​App: Cat Paint Platforms: iPhone Web site: CatPaint.info Cost: Free Photo sharing has rapidly become one of the hottest trends in cellular phone technology. Most smart phones have fairly sophisticated cameras in them and, with an added software app lik ... More >>

App of the Week: To iPad or Not to iPad

Bring on the lions app!​As I was looking through my iPhone apps this week and potential new apps worth downloading, it struck me the number of iPad apps coming available. It's not surprising. The iPad, particularly since the release of the 2.0 version, has been nothing short of a sensation in ... More >>

App of the Week: Four Apps to Ease Your Summer Airline Travel

Use these apps to help you survive summer travel and keep your face intact.​App: FlightTrack Platforms: iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Palm Web site: Mobiata.com Cost: $3.99 (Pro for $9.99) App: FlightBoard Platforms: iPhone, Android Web site: Mobiata.com Cost: $3.99 App: Skyscanner P ... More >>

App of the Week: Ranking Nine Popular Weather Apps

Even weather Hercules Jim Cantore could use some app help now and then.​My name is Jeff, and I'm a weather nerd. When I was very young, my father, an avid outdoorsman, would flip on the old-school weather channel on early cable television that consisted of nothing more than the current Houston ... More >>

App of the Week: RoadAhead Makes Road Trips Easier

Next time you gas up the family truckster, be sure to bring RoadAhead with you.​App: RoadAhead Platforms: iPhone Web site: Apple Link Cost: Free I love a good road trip. There's something magical about getting behind the wheel and putting your hometown in your rearview mirror. I've taken ... More >>

Battle App -- Echofon vs. Twitter: App of the Week

Echofon's timeline interface.​App: Echofon Platforms: iPhone Web site: Apple Link Cost: Free ad-supported or $4.99 Pro version App: Twitter Platforms: iPhone Web site: Apple Link Cost: Free I'm on Twitter a lot, probably more than I should be. As a result, a lot of my time spent on T ... More >>

Comment of the Day

​Today John Kiely declared Classic Donuts better than Shipley's. Then commenter Mike Simon alerted us to the following: There is a new Shipley Do-Nuts "Concept Store" at 12225 Westheimer which takes things to another level. They serve hot donuts, beignets and fresh kolaches (try the Italian s ... More >>

App of the Week: MySocialMania

It doesn't get much easier than this.​App: MySocialMania Platforms: iPhone Web site: Apple Link Cost: $0.99 Mania seems to be an appropriate word when discussing the crazed use of social media by millions worldwide. From Twitter to Facebook to Flickr to MySpace (God help us), millions of ... More >>

App of the Week: Three Hurricane Tracking Apps Just in Time for Hurricane Season

Hurricane is about as good as it gets for tracking storms on your phone.​App: Hurricane Platforms: iPhone Web site: Apple Link Cost: $3.99 App: iHurricane HD Platforms: iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile Web site: Download Link Cost: $2.99 App: Hurricane Tracker Platforms: iPhone Web ... More >>

App of the Week: Never Lose Your Car Again with Parkn' Find

Lose your car at the mall? Parkn' Find can help.​App: Parkn' Find Platforms: iPhone Web site: Parkn' Find Cost: $0.99 There are few things more frustrating than wandering around a parking lot looking for your car. This is especially true when it is raining or the sun is baking you like a ... More >>

Best Apps For Cheating On Your Spouse, Or Finding A Cheater: Apps of the Week

It was easier to keep secrets in the 1800s.​As long as there have been relationships, there has been infidelity. There are even times in our collective history when taking a mistress was commonplace. In the last 100 years, however, the notion of love and marriage and its role in the long terms ... More >>

Thieves Suck: How to Protect Yourself When Your Stuff Is Stolen

​Sunday evening while I was out for a jog, my car was broken into and my purse was stolen. By some miracle of paranoia, I happened to have both my cell phone and wallet with me on the run, not for fear of them getting jacked, but because I'm always worried I might get lost, or need my ID if I ... More >>

Biophilia: Bjork Releasing The First App-Based Album

​Your humble narrator is being dragged kicking and screaming into a future of iPhones and whatnot, both by being married to a loyal Apple convert and the innovations of the music industry. Though Rocks Off still tracks down local acts and releases the old-fashioned way - online concert listing ... More >>

The Nine Best Mobile Apps for Fantasy Football Enthusiasts, Ranked

Foster may hate you, but he was still #1 on your draft board this year​Thursday night marks the opening of the NFL season and fantasy nuts are gearing up with Red Bull, nachos, paid NFL television subscriptions and, you guessed it, technology. While I am not in a fantasy league (I have been a ... More >>

How Things Change: Technology in 1991, 2001 and 2011, Graphically Displayed

I was stylin' and profilin' with one of these bad boys back in the day​A lot changes in 20 years, perhaps nothing to the degree technology does. When talking about the ten-year anniversary of 9/11, I began thinking about the massive changes that have taken place in just that ten years, but go ... More >>

IWatch Harris County App from the Sheriff's Department Poorly Designed

The IWatch welcome screen.​The best smartphone apps meant for functionality rather than entertainment fill a need, are easy to use and provide appropriate functionality for the task at hand. The Harris County Sheriff's Department IWatch Harris County app delivers about one-and-a-half of those ... More >>

My Five Most Indispensable Music Technologies

Previously the pinnacle of music technology...and pure awesomeness.​I started listening to music on vinyl way back in biblical times and things seemed just fine. CDs came along and made hauling around music somewhat easier and, once you got past the crispy clarity, the music sounded pretty dam ... More >>

15 Odd Christmas Gift Ideas for Musicians

​As the timeless tale of the Little Drummer Boy reminds us, there is no greater gift than the gift of music. But what about those on your Christmas list who already have plenty of music in their lives? Buying gifts for musicians is no easy task -- most of them already own the entire Rush disco ... More >>

Lamest Cop Impersonator Ever Gets Arrested

An iPhone looked like this?​The mind of a 17-year-old male is a wondrous thing to behold, especially because oftentimes it isn't working properly. Take the case of one unnamed Montgomery County teen who, according to the police blotter, now faces charges of impersonating a public servant. Su ... More >>

Angry Birds, Shazam & Evernote: My 10 Favorite Apps of 2011

Evernote. Get it.​I buy a lot of apps for my iPhone; too many, really. Some are just to review. Others are for actual use, some even every day. But, truth is, there are more on my phone than I can reasonably be expected to use on a regular basis, but I like them all...mostly, and I do use them ... More >>

App of the Week: Dragon Dictation and Dragon Go!

​App: Dragon Dictation and Dragon Go! Platform: iPhone, Android Website: http://www.nuance.com Cost: Free So, let's say you decided earlier in 2011 that you were going to upgrade your iPhone 3GS to an iPhone 4. Let's also say that you were impatient and had no desire to wait until, supposedly, ... More >>

App of the Week: App Shopper

​App: App Shopper Platforms: iPhone, iPad, Mac Web site: AppShopper.com Cost: Free The iPhone may be good for many things -- most of those may be the result of cool little apps that extend its features -- but finding cool apps via the App Store is not one of them. Calling the App Store utilit ... More >>