State of iOS in NZ - Rugby, gripes and designs

Can't get enough Rugby World Cup? There's plenty on offer on the App Store. Photo / Simon Baker

There's a big rugby thing going on soon, you might have heard. There are a few apps that might help your addiction, affliction or at least pontification in the iTunes Store.

The Official Rugby World Cup 2011 app is free, which may be a bit of a surprise given hotel prices, shirt prices and ticket prices, but hey. It's presented in association with Land-Rover - I thought the Indians preferred cricket? There's a Fan Zone section that shows you where John Key wants you to party, stadium locations, seating plans, live commentary, stats, video and more. It's available in English, French - and Spanish,

An alternative appears to come from South Africa: Rugby 2011 World Cup costs $1.29. It has an interactive calendar and match schedule, countdown to kick-off, latest news, team performance updates and profiles of all 20 teams.

This may be worth the money, I don't know - in the recent Reviews section on iTunes, it carries the somewhat disturbing recommendation "It just makes me amazingly erect for the World Cup!!!"

Crikey. Perhaps he should try the free app WangBall instead. Er, it's free and a bit like Pong, apparently.

The All Blacks have their own app, of course, in a free and a paid version.

The free one has fixture lists, results, player profiles, a Haka video, team lineup announcements and breaking news 24 hours a day. And hey, it will still be useful after the RWC.

The alternative $2.59 version has more historical data about the ABs, from what I can tell, and supports Super Rugby. But I suggest you read through the review comments as they're up and down like a yoyo, whereas the free version has more consistent comments.

Anyway, there are also various rugby games - just type 'rugby' into the iTunes Store search window.

Tooth Camp

Tooth Camp is a Christchurch-coded iOS app which strives to improve tooth brushing habits by putting users in a boot camp setting. It has recently gone trans-Atlantic, adding English and Welsh instructors to the existing American taskmaster.

The press release says a "*drill instructor talks to users whilst they brush their teeth, offering encouragement, dental health tips, constructive criticism, and the occasional chuckle along the way."

[*Pun intended? Probably, the app is full of puns, like 'Crown Barracks'.]

Tooth Camp breaks the mouth up into quadrants; this structured approach is to ensure sufficient time is focussed in each area of the mouth. There is also a custom built-in engine which ensures every delivered commentary is different.So if you're keen enough to have an iPhone telling you, while you brush, how to brush, or perhaps you want to amuse the kids while improving their dental health, check it out, it's only $2.59.

Check out a video AppDesigner.com website for more details, if you think this is for you.

iPhone repairs in New Zealand

Have you tried to get Apple to get your iPod or iPhone fixed if it's out of warranty? There doesn't seem to be a place for that in New Zealand.

Apple has not, to my knowledge, established a repair option for out-of-warranty devices - even though there may be a legal obligation to do so, by NZ consumer law, one emailer tells me.

"By this I mean that if you push Apple (via Applecare), saying your item is out of warranty and you want to pay to get it repaired, they will give you the run around, never (in the end) telling you where you can get your iPhone, iPad, or iPod fixed. Then, if you persist ... they will ultimately replace your item with a new one - even though it is out of warranty. I've done this now with one iPod touch and two iPhones. It amazes me every time."

He continues "I think the main story here is that Apple is not following NZ law. It's very clear in the consumer act that if you import your stuff to NZ, you have to set up or designate somewhere for repairs. Even Trade Me sellers of cheap Chinese imports know to import some extra for parts, less they run foul of the law. And then there's Apple..."

Now, I don't have the resources to explore this issue properly, hence my quoting above, but if you know more, please do tell, as if this correspondent is correct, it's an issue that needs exploring.

But I do know of a couple of people who can repair iDevices - for example, iLab, run by Richard DeGranpre.

More NZ app developments

Yes please - do tell me, and I will publicise it here. I am very keen to spread the word on any New Zealand iOS developments. Talk to me! If you're in Auckland, I can even come and see you. If you're not, I am happy to call you.

Since my services in this regard are absolutely free, this is eminently worthwhile, don't you think?

- Mark Webster mac-nz.com