Bandwidth caps are only part of the reason that torrenting has yet to hit mobile devices in a big way, but that hasn't stopped them from trickling into the portable world. Today BitTorrent, Inc. announced remote control app uTorrent Remote that lets you manage your desktop's torrents from your Android device, and stream completed audio and video torrents back to your device. Originally mentioned last month at CES, uTorrent Remote will only work with the next generation version of uTorrent, currently available only as a rough alpha.

The Android app adds basic torrent remote controls to your phone. You can check the status of a download or upload, and add, start, pause, or remove torrents, including torrents from RSS feeds. The big feature that makes this app a must is that it allows you to transfer, save, and play back any completed file from your PC to your Android device. In other words, there goes your data cap.

To use it, after installing uTorrent 3.0 alpha you must go to the Web section of the uTorrent preferences and choose a username and password, then enter those in to the uTorrent Remote app. The app comes with buttons for viewing all your torrents, and then filtering by active downloads, currently seeding, and completed torrents. You can customize labels for your torrents, and add RSS feeds--an excellent way to stay on top of podcasts, for example.

Tap on a torrent and you're provided with a detailed list of torrenting information, including status, download and upload speed, size of the files, and the amount downloaded. Controls at the bottom are for canceling the torrent, pausing it, and viewing the files. Tapping the folder icon takes you to a list of the files in the torrent, and you can select on the fly which ones to copy to your phone. Once you've copied it to your phone, a process that depends heavily on signal strength and the size of the file, the icon changes to a playback arrow.

Note that just because you can transfer the file to your phone doesn't mean that your phone has the ability to play it back, and uTorrent doesn't include a file conversion tool.

As a side note, uTorrent's parent company, BitTorrent, has also been promoting its free content site Vodo as a place where people can get legally distributed torrents. All this combined with hardware partners for later in the year indicates a strong push from BitTorrent to convert the torrent from a tool of theft in the eyes of many to an expedient way to get content.

As we draw closer to the release of the iPad 2, the Apple rumor sites are heating up, with the usual speculation and research into hidden clues about what the new device will be like. Rumors about faster processor speed and front- and rear-facing cameras have been out there for a while, but an article over at AppleInsider breaks down what types of the iPad 2 Apple is banking on selling most.

The first iPad came in Wi-Fi-only and 3G/Wi-Fi varieties. But with the introduction of iOS devices to Verizon, Apple has needed to make some adjustments to the hardware to make sure it works on all carriers.

According to the article, Apple is expected to offer three variations of the iPad 2: a Wi-Fi only version, a GSM/UMTS version for AT&T, and a CDMA/EV-DO version for Verizon.

AppleInsider reports that Apple is producing more of the 3G-enabled models than the others and concludes that the company thinks most people will opt for the 3G version over just Wi-Fi.

It's tough to say what Apple is really planning, but if you were going to buy an iPad 2 at launch, which variation would you buy? Let me know in the comments.

This week's apps include an app that lets you bring two turntables anywhere and a platform game that's so difficult you can't stop playing.

Tap DJ ($1.99) puts two turntables on your iPhone touch screen, letting you create mixes, scratch, and sample wherever you are. A quick tutorial shows you all the main features when you get started so it's easy to get music up and running and start mixing. Tap DJ uses the music from your iPhone's library and adds a few premade samples you can use to get started.

Tap DJ attempts to give you a real DJ experience, and it does a pretty good job. As with a real DJ rig, you can raise or lower the volume for each turntable, adjust the speed to match up beats on your mixes, and use the cross-fader to fade the volume between turntables. One advantage is that you have the ability to see the waveform for your audio so it's easy to pick out precise parts of the song.

Beyond the main onscreen controls, you also have a pop-up drawerlike interface element that lets you adjust an equalizer for each turntable, set Cue Points so you can start a track at a precise spot or create loops, and adjust effects you can add to your mixes. The app offers three effects to play around with: echo, reverb, and a "Gyro" effect. With Gyro activated you can touch and hold your finger on a button and move your iPhone 4 to "scratch" using the device's gyroscope technology.

Once you've put together a song or mix you want to keep, Tap DJ lets you record your mix, share it with friends, or even add a vocal recording to give it the full radio-DJ effect. Overall, if you have any interest in mixing your music or like the idea of carrying two turntables wherever you go, you should definitely get Tap DJ.

League of Evil (99 cents) is like an iOS remake of the popular and recent console and desktop game Super Meat Boy. For those who haven't played Super Meat Boy, it's a platform game that has become well-known (dare I say, "legendary") for being extremely difficult. League of Evil is probably not quite as hard as the game it emulates, but you'll find the same rage-inducing effect when you've restarted some of the later levels for the 20th time.

Like other platform games, League of Evil gives you directional controls for movement on the lower left part of the screen and buttons for jump and attack on the lower right. Your goals are to complete a level in the shortest amount of time possible, find and retrieve a hidden briefcase, and take out the scientist at the end of the level. The first several levels are not too bad, but once you get into the second tier of levels (54 levels total across three tiers), your old-school arcade skills will definitely be put to the test.

League of Evil is not for those who are new to platform games; even the most skilled gamers will be challenged by this title. But if you like the challenge of getting your run through a level exactly right and are willing to try the same level again and again for that feeling of finally succeeding, I highly recommend this game.

What's your favorite iPhone app? Are there any pro DJs reading who can comment on Tap DJ? Is League of Evil too difficult to be called a game and should instead be called work? Let me know in the comments!

Who needs a TV remote when you have a smartphone or tablet?

Samsung has released an app to the Android Market that turns your Android-powered Samsung smartphone (OS 2.1 or up) or Galaxy Tab tablet into a digital remote--so long as you use it with a compatible TV.

The Samsung TV Remote uses Wi-Fi to form a connection with the TV. A QWERTY keyboard, numbers, and directional arrows do the rest of the work.

The free remote app works with Samsung LED C6500 series and higher, the Samsung LCD C650 series and higher, and the Samsung Plasma C6500 series and higher. It will also work with some "smart TVs" from Sammy's 2011 lineup.

Originally posted at Android Atlas

Google wasn't the first mobile platform provider to introduce an online app catalog, but its Android Market Web store is the first to offer seamless over-the-air installation.

Using the online Android Market is fairly straightforward. Apart from some initial hiccups everyone encountered when the Web store first launched, it takes just a few mouse clicks to wirelessly download both paid and free apps without craning over your smartphone screen or straining your peepers.

However, those early frustrations are telling. Scrambling to test the online Market just after it launched, I had no problems selecting apps to download, but several of my first installation attempts failed before they succeeded.

What to do if your online Market apps refuse to download is definitely a concern, particularly if you've just paid good money for an app.

First, have a little patience. People downloading over a 2.5G EDGE connection, for instance, may not see downloads install as quickly as if they were on a Wi-Fi connection. That said, if the installation doesn't start within about 10 seconds, you may have a failed transfer on your hands.

The good news is that your app selection is tied to the same Google account you use on your Android phone.

When in doubt, going to the Settings menu on the Web store will show a list of past purchases. If your app is on that list, but not on your phone, you can download it afresh from the Market app on your phone--without being doubly charged. If your app isn't on the list, just try the installation again from the Web-based Market.

Originally posted at Android Atlas

Although an iOS 4.2.1 jailbreak has been around for a couple months, it came with a catch: if you ever had to reboot your device, you'd have to connect (i.e. tether) it to your computer in order to start using it again.

That's a semi-major inconvenience; if your battery died while you were on the go, you wouldn't be able to use your iPhone, iPod, or iPad again (even if recharged) until you got back to your PC.

Needless to say, people have been itching to get their hands on an "untethered" jailbreak (one that could survive a reboot). The good news: the untethered iOS 4.2.1 jailbreak was just released by GreenPois0n. The bad news: it's Mac-only for the moment, and GreenPois0n's site is currently offline.

Because I'm in the Windows camp, I haven't been able to test the jailbreak myself. And I'm not sure I want to, if only because iOS 4.3 is just around the corner. I will admit I'm eager to get back to using MyWi, the no-monthly-fee hot spot app. But that's pretty much my only motivation for jailbreaking at all.

If you don't want to wait for GreenPois0n to get back online, the jailbreak tool is available via Bittorrent. Keep in mind this is the Mac version; I'm not sure when a Windows version will surface.

As with any such tool, use it at your own risk. In most cases it's fairly easy to "un-jailbreak" a device, to restore it to its original, Apple-sanctioned state, but there's always a chance you could brick your baby.

Want to learn more about all this? Here's a great breakdown of the differences between tethered and untethered jailbreaks.

If you're a Mac user and you're able to snag the tool, hit the comments and let me know how it worked out. For everyone else, let me know your thoughts on the whole jailbreak scene. Worth it? Or not?

Originally posted at iPhone Atlas