Here’s the rundown from last week’s top Apple-related headlines:

• Apple Patents Forward Facing Camera for iPhone
• New iPod Shuffle Costs Apple $21.77
• Apple Responds to Microsoft Laptop Hunters Ads
• Third Beta of iPhone 3.0 Released to Devs
• Apple Updates Aperture, iMovie, and Server Admin Tools
• Third-gen iPhone Parts & Suppliers Leak?
• With Prices Up, iTunes Sales are down
• WSJ Reports Steve Jobs is still involved at Apple

This Week’s iBAM Posts:

• A Look at Filemaker Pro 10
• Special Characters (Glyphs) in OSX and HTML
• iPhone App Spotlight: Pocket God

I have done some previous reviews of Bento from FileMaker, which is a database solution for more casual users, such as for home use and small businesses. While Bento is fantastic, it’s still limited and there are people out there who need more when it comes to database software. That is where Filemaker 10 comes in.

I have never used Filemaker much before, so I was a bit intimidated to try, but I thought it would be useful to see it from a beginners prospective. Much to my surprise, FileMaker has made it easy to get started with several included templates which are all presented in a ‘quick start’ menu at launch. Of course, you aren’t limited to these, but it does give new users a helping hand to get started.
[Continued]

One of the things I refer to all the time is the special character shortcuts available in OS X and their HTML equivalents. I love that there’s a keyboard shortcut for just about any one I want to use. The problem is remembering them from time to time (especially the HTML codes). So, I decided to whip out a table with all that I could find online and put it up here at iBAM so I could have quick reference to it and so could you. If there’s something that I missed, feel free to add it in via the comments. We all would love to share in your juicy knowledge. I hope this list proves helpful. Happy characterizing!

I also use this site a lot: CopyPasteCharacter [Continued]

You won’t find me playing iPhone games all the time, but there’s one game that I find myself constantly playing. That game is Pocket God, in which users “play God” by controlling a group of natives on a small island.

With a maximum of 6 islanders, you can make them do various tasks, or do a multitude of things to them. For instance, tapping on the screen will make them dance, or you could toss them into a volcano to spark an eruption. There’s also a storm cloud that allows you to strike a native with lightning, or spur on a hurricane. The water isn’t safe though, for there’s a shark swimming and the islanders will drown instantly.

Of course, you’re responsible for feeding them and ensuring a good night’s rest. By dragging the sun, or moon, you’re able to change the time of day. To feed the islanders, you can either break open some coconuts or have them go fishing. Of course, you can’t just drop a coconut from the tree, you have to break them by dropping them upon a native’s head.

What’s really cool about Pocket God are the constant updates that are released. Recent updates have brought bats, fire ants, and fishing rods. Updates are available at miscellaneous times, but so far there have been eleven releases.

There are many other features available, and all sorts of others planned. At ninety-nine cents, Pocket God will bring you hours and hours of amusement that are well worth the price.

You can find Pocket God for sale in the app store, or visit the active community and blog for Bolt Creative and Pocket God.

It may have been the Holy Week, but that doesn’t mean a lack of Apple news. Here’s the rundown:

• Apple Hosts 1 Billion App Download Countdown Promotion
• .Mac Homepage Creator is No More
• Apple orders 100 million 8GB SSDs
• iPhone 3.0 Video Recording Screenshots Discovered
• Updated XServes are released
• iTunes Variable Pricing Goes Live, All DRM-Free
• Is that a 2-TB Time Capsule?!
• iTunes 8.1.1 Released
• Video, Better WiFi Coming to the iPhone?

This Week’s iBAM Posts:

• TweetDeck
• iPhone App Spotlight: Skype