News - Apocalypse Interrupted

Play, Look and Listen 5.0 (without Google Reader) Now Available

posted Jul 11, 2013, 8:23 AM by Paul Barnett

Play, Look and Listen 5.0 is now available for all platforms: iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad), Windows Phone 7.1/8.0, Windows 8 and Android. This release removes support for the now-defunct Google Reader and offers you two new options: You can use the application on a single device without any account or syncing, or you can use a Dropbox account and have your subscriptions and bookmarks roam with you across all of your devices. We are actively investigating adding other storage services in future updates.

This release also opens up a number of new possibilities for additional features so please stay tuned and don't hesitate to contact us with your feature requests by using the "Contact Support" option from within the application.

An Update on Google Reader Support in Play, Look and Listen

posted Jun 27, 2013, 9:21 AM by Paul Barnett

We have an important update coming to Play, Look and Listen that will remove Google Reader support and offer you two new options. You will be able to use the application without signing into any account or you will be able to sign in to a Dropbox account and have your podcast subscriptions and bookmarks roam with you across all of your devices. This update is currently in the approval process for Windows Phone, Windows 8 and iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users. We are hopeful that we will receive approval prior to the July 1st shutdown of Google Reader. If we do not receive approval in time, you will still not lose your podcast subscriptions provided that you do not uninstall the current version of the application from your device(s).

Here's what to expect: When the Play, Look and Listen update is available for your device, please install it as soon as possible. Do not remove the current version of the application. The first time you launch the application after the update, you will be asked if you want to continue using the same list of subscriptions that you had in Google Reader. If you answer "Yes", your subscription list will be upgraded. The upgrade process may take several minutes as it will need to sync each feed on your list. When the upgrade process is complete, all of your subscriptions will be displayed. Note that bookmarks you had will not be preserved but new bookmarks that you create going forward will be preserved. Also note that episodes that you might have already listened to or watched may re-appear in your list. This is a one-time reset of this information.

While the upgrade is in progress, you will also be asked to either sign into a Dropbox account or choose to use the application without syncing across devices. You can create a free Dropbox account at http://www.dropbox.com. You can change your mind later by going into the settings for Play, Look and Listen and changing the "Sync Service" setting.

We realize that some of you might want to sync across devices but not use Dropbox. We are investigating adding additional sync services.

What about Android?

We are feverishly working on completing an all-new implementation of our Android version. We hope to have it ready before Google Reader shuts down. The new Android version will initially look somewhat like the current version but is almost completely new underneath. This new version will allow us to more rapidly add new features, address issues and keep the feature set on par with our other platforms.

Introducing Play, Look and Listen 4.5 with an All-New Look Plus An Update on Google Reader Support

posted Apr 1, 2013, 8:43 PM by Paul Barnett [ updated Apr 1, 2013, 8:46 PM ]

Google Reader might be going away, but Play, Look and Listen is not. In fact, it will be better than ever.

New version 4.5 brings and all-new interface with exciting new features:

The new "Now Playing" panel is accessible from any screen in the application. From here you can control playback, volume, AirPlay, playback speed and jump back to the detail screen for the episode.
Better AirPlay support. You can now manage AirPlay from within the app.
Support for playing video using AirPlay while still managing your podcasts.
Change the look-and-feel of the application to fit your mood. Current themes include a variety of colors as well as inverse/high-contrast and 'classic' black-and-gray.
All new icons and startup screen.
Smoother application launch including going directly to your subscription list if you're already authenticated.
A new simplified status indicator in the upper right corner of the subscription list shows when downloads are active, paused or waiting for WiFi or if all downloads are completed.
New pull-down-to-refresh your subscription list.
When looking at episode lists that contain episodes from multiple podcasts, the icon for the podcast is displayed next to the name.
New layout for the 'episode detail' screen includes support for extra-long episode titles, including the ability to scroll extra-extra long titles, a new giant "play" button that starts or resumes playback, a new summary that shows if the episode is downloaded or streaming as well as the percentage complete and time remaining along with a new button for viewing episode notes and links provided as part of the feed in a full-screen browser window.
If you don't want to always play videos full screen but want to play multiple episodes full-screen, playback will remember the last mode independent of your app setting (iPad only).
Set the volume and playback rate for video and audio podcasts independently and we'll remember them for new sessions.
New setting to let you choose your sync service. Currently, only Google Reader is displayed but additional services will be enabled before Google Reader shuts down.

Version 4.5 will be available very soon for those who have purchased the app on iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and iPad Mini.

Users of the free version will have to wait a bit longer. For users of the free version, some features may require an additional in-app purchase. Additional versions for other platforms are coming soon.

Create Stop-Motion Animation With "StoMo" for iOS

posted Aug 13, 2011, 6:10 PM by Paul Barnett

Our third application, "StoMo" is now available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices with at least one camera. With StoMo, you can create stop-motion animations/movies with a simple interface. Features include:

Simple interface allows you to rapidly capture images and organize them into scenes and projects
Easily align the next frame with the previous one using the preview window
Support for rear and front cameras on supported devices
Reorder and delete individual frames
Adjust frames per second
Export your movie in MP4 format suitable for uploading to online services.
Universal application supports iPad and iPad 2.

Please note: This application requires a device with at least one camera, including the iPod Touch 4th generation, iPad 2 and iPhone.

We intend to release optional premium feature packs that will provide additional functionality such as:

Removal of ads
Camera brightness and flash controls for supported devices
Rapid and timed capture modes

StoMo is free and available now at the Apple App Store.

Take a Break from Podcasts with a Free Game for iOS and Windows Phone 7

posted Jun 11, 2011, 6:53 PM by Paul Barnett [ updated Jun 11, 2011, 7:22 PM ]

Our second application (and first game), "Art Gallery" is now available for iOS and Windows Phone 7. Art Gallery is a simple shooting gallery game with a few twists:

Tilt your device or use the on-screen controls to move from side to side and tap the screen to fire at the targets.
If you have music on your device, the targets will be the artwork for random albums in your collection.
Sixteen game modes have you shooting at invisible targets, avoiding specially marked targets, holding your screen to stop uncontrolled shooting and more.
Compare scores with your friends with online leaderboards (iOS only currently. Support for leaderboards on Windows Phone 7 is coming soon).
Did we mention this game is completely free?

Get Art Gallery for Windows Phone 7 or iOS today!

Play, Look and Listen 3.2 Released for All Mobile Platforms (Including Android Tablets!)

posted Jun 11, 2011, 6:45 PM by Paul Barnett

Play, Look and Listen 3.2 is now available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone 7. This release includes several bug fixes and user interface updates:

On iPhone and Android, application status messages are now displayed in a small area at the top of the screen, similar to iPad and Windows Phone 7. Popup messages have virtually been eliminated.
Android-based tablets such as the Motorola Xoom and Asus Eee Pad Transformer are now fully supported, including an optimized interface that allows you to browse and modify your podcast subscriptions and episodes while simultaneously watching or listening to a podcast.
The interface on Android phones has been updated with a new color scheme and larger text with better contrast.

As always, this update is free for all users. Visit the App Store or Market on your device to download the update today!

Now Available: Play, Look and Listen for Boxee

posted Mar 4, 2011, 8:41 PM by Paul Barnett

Play, Look and Listen for Boxee (www.boxee.tv) is now available. This free version of Play, Look and Listen allows you to watch and listen to your podcasts on your Mac, Linux or Windows PC via the Boxee application. Boxee is a free application that acts as a media hub -- you can watch TV, movies, DVDs and use specially designed applications (including Play, Look and Listen!) with a mouse, keyboard or remote control, allowing you to connect your PC to your TV, sit back on your couch and enjoy your podcasts. As with all versions of Play, Look and Listen, if you don't finish enjoying the complete episode in one sitting, a bookmark will automatically be created that roams with you to other devices. For example, if you watch part of a podcast using Boxee and hit 'pause' on your remote, you can later pick up exactly where you left off on your mobile device, tablet, desktop or within Boxee. Similarly, if you watched part of a podcast on your mobile device, you can finish watching it via Boxee. Please note that the Boxee version of Play, Look and Listen only allows playback of podcasts. Subscriptions can be managed in all other versions of the applications or via the Google Reader web site. Also note that at this time, only desktop versions of Boxee (for Mac, Windows and Linux) are supported. Support for the Boxee Box is under development.

To use Play, Look and Listen on Boxee, install the Boxee application from www.boxee.tv then select "Apps" from the main screen. Search for "Play, Look and Listen" (typing "Play" is sufficient) and upon selecting it from the list of applications you will be able to start the application, add it to your personal app library or add a shortcut to the Boxee menu.

Now Available: Play, Look and Listen for Windows Phone 7

posted Feb 25, 2011, 11:23 PM by Paul Barnett [ updated Feb 26, 2011, 12:08 AM ]

We're pleased to announce that Play, Look and Listen for Windows Phone 7 is now available in the Zune Marketplace. This version has all of the features available other platforms:

Download or stream podcasts.
Find and subscribe to audio and video podcasts.
Have new episodes of your favorites download to your device automatically.
Create a playlist on your phone or in Google Reader.
Play part of an episode on one device and pick up right where you left off on another device.
Share what you're listening to/watching with your friends on Facebook.

In addition, this version has a free trial mode so you can try out the app before you buy it. The trial is limited only in the number of subscriptions and episodes that it will display.

Visit the Marketplace on your Windows Phone 7 device or click here to visit the marketplace on your PC.

Play, Look and Listen v3.1 for iOS Now Available

posted Jan 28, 2011, 9:07 PM by Apocalypse Interrupted Support [ updated Jan 28, 2011, 9:13 PM ]

Version 3.1 of Play, Look and Listen for iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad has been released to the Apple App Store. This release brings to iOS the improvements recently added to the Android version, most notably offline

support. You can now login to the application and play previously downloaded podcast episodes when you have no network connection available.

This update also includes improved support for background downloads. If you have episodes queued to download, those downloads will continue for a period of time after you've switched to another application.

Play, Look and Listen v3.1 for Android Released!

posted Jan 24, 2011, 6:01 PM by Paul Barnett

Version 3.1 of Play, Look and Listen for Android has been released to the Android Market. This release includes the following updates:

Offline support. You can now login to the application and play previously downloaded podcast episodes when you have no network connection available.
Quick access to product news. On the login screen menu and the subscription list menu, a new "Product News" button provides quick access to Play, Look and Listen news here on www.apocalypseinterrupted.com
Improved experience for incoming phone calls. If you are playing a podcast episode and your device receives an incoming call, playback will automatically be paused and a bookmark will be created automatically.
Minor bug fixes. Several small issues reported by you our users have been addressed.

The corresponding version 3.1 upgrade for iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad is awaiting Apple's approval and should be available in the iTunes Store later this week.