The iPhone Tracker

Apple Needs Memory Toshiba Has It; 1GHz iPhone Processor In The Works

2009-07-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

Sources confirm that Apple Inc. is seeking flash memory for its future handhelds. Samsung is currently developing technology that will increase the speed of future iPhone models.

The Toshiba corporation may face an overwhelming task of fulfilling all of the memory requests by Apple.

Toshiba is rumored to have taken a large order for flash memory from Apple. It has been verified that the two companies have agreed to a $500 million contract.

Industry sources say that the Toshiba manufacturing division is running on all cylinders and that it will increase it's current output by 85 percent of its current level over the next 30 days. This focus on the Apple orders may hurt other companies who have smaller memory demands for their products, since Apple will require most of Toshiba's resources.

This is not the first time Apple has caused a flash memory shortage. Insiders speculate that this happens practically every time a new Apple product hits the market.

On to other somewhat related news...

Samsung shares details on the 1GHz Advanced RISC Machine micro-processor

Last week, Samsung upped the ante in the race for fastest mobile micro-processor. It went public with the news that it is producing the first ARM-based micro-processor based on the 45 nanometer assembly process.

As of now the micro-processor has been named the "Hummingbird", which speaks to the smaller size, and cooler running design. These changes will maximize the overall speed of the upcoming micro-processors to 1GHz, that will propel the speed well past Samsung's current 830MHz. It will hopefully achieve this new speed-record while not heating up and draining our iPhone 3GS batteries.

Who knows if the "hummingbird" processor will actually make it to future Apple devices. Apple which in the past has exclusively used Samsung micro-processors, is rumored to currently be courting the services of other similar companies.

Foxconn Gives Dead Engineer's Family $44,000 In Compensation

2009-07-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

The saga of the suicidal Foxconn engineer, who misplaced an iPhone 4G prototype, moves on. The New York Times has reported that Sun Danyong’s family has received, a sum of money which equals $44,000-U.S., and that his girlfriend also was given a Mac laptop from Foxconn.

Foxconn has admitted to the "slight" manhandling of Danyong during a heated interrogation. They were trying to ascertain the whereabouts of the new iPhone prototype. They acknowledged that they, "became a little angry" after Danyong said he "Lost" then subsequently found the newly designed iPhones.

James Lee, the GM of Chinese operations at Foxconn maintains:

“Several times he had some products missing, then he got them back … We don’t know who took the product, but it was at his stop”

Foxconn did not go public with the scale of compensating payment to the family and girlfriend, Danyong's brother broke the story to the news outlets.

Danyong's job at Foxconn was to ship the new iPhone prototypes to Apple in the United States. As hes was transporting the 16 iPhones he had noticed, and then subsequently told Foxconn, that the unit became misplaced. It has been reported that once he was in custody of Foxconn security he was violently worked over as they rummaged through his apartment.

iPhone 3.0 Feature of the Day: Undo and Redo Typing

2009-07-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

Shake your iPhone to undo and redo typing.

No matter what facet of the iPhone one is utelizing, if a mistake is made while typing simply shake the iPhone. If the iPhone user instantly regrets shaking away the mistake and text retrieval is needed, just shake it up once more.

If something else was written prior to starting your "undo shake", the iphone will return to it.

Apple and AT&T Are Unloading Old iPhones - $49

2009-07-25T12:55:00.000-07:00

Remember the old 8GB 3G iPhones from back in the day (sure you know months ago), well AT&T has quite a few in surplus and is unloading the refurbed smartphones for as low as $49 a pop

A recent scan of the iPhone 3GS availability tool shows that many of the Apple stores are stocked with plenty iPhone 3GS models , this availability is probably the reason for the older phone's price drop. If you want the reduced price 3G better act fast, $49 might be a little to hard to resist for most people.

Palm Pre VS. Apple iTunes: Round 2

2009-07-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

Earlier in July Apple put forth a software update for the music downloading service iTunes. The update prevented the Palm Pre from syncing with the popular service. Prior to the update, iTunes recognized the Palm Pre as an iPod within your computer. At that point you were able to easily perform the same exact file downloads as the iPhone could.

Once this iTunes 8.2.1 update took place which required "verification of Apple devices", one of Plam pre's main functions went away.

Presently Palm is battling back with its current update ,1.1.0. This will reverse Apples update. By allowing Pre users to enter the menu, then hit the gift box icon with the "update" label to begin download. A quick Wi Fi network is recommended for this action.

The 1.1.0 update will once again let Palm Pre users to sync with iTunes.

If Apple throws out another checkmate in the future Palm users may want to try a free web based PC service named "Dazzboard" it claims to be able to do the job of the 1.1.0. update

I have a feeling that this is far from over between the two companies.

Send Up To Five E-mail Pics Simultaneously:Your iPhone 3.0 Feature of the Day

2009-07-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

The last iphone O.S. did not give the user the ability to e-mail multiple pics simultaneously. Now with the 3.0 O.S. you are able to send several.

How to operate this feature in 5 easy steps:
1. Enter the photos section
2. Hit arrow in the lower left corner
3. Select pics that you want to send
4. Hit share button
5. Send your email including the attached pics

iPhone's Link to AT&T May Lead to Diminished Growth

2009-07-23T02:22:00.000-07:00

Apple and AT&T's exclusive agreement is probably not the best way to sell the maximum amount of iPhones.

Apple made a deal with AT&T to lock down the iPhones so that they would solely run on the company's network. The agreement has opened the door for 'hacks' to create software so the phone can be unlocked from the network.

The result of numerous consumer questionnaires suggest that more folks would purchase the iPhone if it were made available through a different wireless company.

More specifically the results of those mentioned polls showed that over 10% of the participating cell phone consumers would purchase an iPhone if was made available with another network. Dropped calls and limited coverage may be the number one and two reasons for such discontent.

Chief Operating Officer of Apple Tim Cook has stated:

"the relationship with AT&T is strong and he is happy."

So while not every customer is thrilled with this agreement, Apple does not seem to be hurting, they are still scoring record profits.

iPhone 3.0 Feature of the Day: Forward and delete a single text message

2009-07-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

You can now forward and delete a single text message

This feature lets you to select an individual text message, and forward it directly to another person via the text messaging service.

You can also delete individual messages.

How to operate this feature:

1. Open a text message.
2. Press edit on the top right of the screen.
3. Place check marks next to text messages that are of interest.
4. Press forward then select recipient.

9 Useful iPhone 3GS Accessories

2009-07-20T11:49:00.001-07:00

Customizing your iPhone is the best way to make the most of it. . Adding iPhone 3GS accessories is a good way to add to your devices functionality . Here’s a list of 9 useful iPhone 3GS accessories you can purchase to make life with your iPhone a bit easier:

1. iPhone 3GS Retractable Car Charger, Plug in: The iPhone looks stylish and performs awesomely, but lets face it when it comes to battery life, it often falls short. Simply get yourself a mobile charger like this one. Powerful, and compact in size, this charger's wire is retractable. It boasts a Smart IC chip which automatically switches to saver mode when your battery is full.

2. Black Neoprene Armband for iPhone 3GS: In a word- sporty, this Neoprene Armband is great for use at the local gym. The Neoprene rubber is, waterproof and chemical-resistant. The vinyl protects the LCD, keypad and is scratch-proof.

3. Mirror Screen Protector for iPhone 3GS: Scratches on your new iPhone are unsightly and disappointing. This Mirror Screen Protector prevents these accidents from taking place. Completely clear and sturdy, this screen protector is specifically designed to fit your iPhone’s LCD screen.

4. iPhone 3GS Sliding Design Proguard W/Clear Transluce: We all know you hold your iPhone near to your heart. This Sliding Design Proguard protects it from scratches, everyday filth, and shocks. Easy-to-use, this proguard snaps in and fits perfectly on your iPhone. Absolutely clear, this shield also does not harm the aesthetic nature of your phone.

5. iPhone 3GS Retractable Home/Travel AC Charger: This travel charger takes up no space at all. The cable retracts to the necessary length and will let you to power up your iPhone, no muss no fuss. Just a push of a button and the cable is drawn back. With the the IC chip, you can plug the charger for a prolonged period of time, and you won't run the risk of killing your battery.

6. iPhone 3GS Red Rubberized Sliding Design Proguard: Maybe you need a little more style and you dislike the clear cases, then this is a great option. The Sliding Design Proguard is a vibrant red color, it makes your iPhone look hot. The rubber exterior coating protects your phone and also allows you to slip your iPhone in and out easily.

7. Five Piece Set Black PDA & Cell Phone Holder: This is a universal smartphone and PDA car mounting system. It attaches easily to your car windshield and can be utilized as a air-vent mounted holder. Squeeze the mounts sides to hand-hold your phone, release it via a single button. This holder keeps your phone safe even on the bumpiest of roads.

8. iPhone 3GS Black Elite Car Charger with Smart Display & IC Chip Protection: Completely mobile with dual-color LCD indicator, it adjusts to 90 degrees, metal tips and contacts will make battery charging very easy on the go.

9. Mono Hands-free Headset for iPhone 3GS: Go hands-free for awhile, at work or when in the car. If clear communication is what you are looking for, this headset has it. It also has a push on/off button that will make answering calls even easier.

10 Easy Steps to Longer iPhone Battery Life

2009-07-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

Testfreaks.com recently posted 10 ways that you can save the juice in your iPhone battery. Several of these tips may seem obvious, but you would be surprised by all of the iPhone users who have shortened-battery-life complaints without taking a few easy measures.

On to the tips:

1 Turn down screen brightness
2 Adjust for less frequent e-mail checks
3 Turn off WiFi
4 Enable auto-lock for the screen
5 Turn off the equalizer
6 Buy an external battery
7 Use a mobile battery charger
8 Disable vibration alerts
9 Disable Bluetooth
10 Update the phone frequently

As of yesterday I have instituted all 10 tips. I'll report back with my findings.

It can also be noted, that when one uses their iPhone more frequently the phones battery becomes calibrated to the individuals usage pattern, in turn providing better battery life.

http://www.testfreaks.com/

5 Useful iPhone Apps

2009-07-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

iMapMyRide
uses the built-in GPS in iPhone 3G to track and record every mile you ride. Duck out your music to learn your distance and speed. When you’re done, the application can upload your route and time directly into your profile at MapMyRide.com.

Home Sizer
Decorate with iPhone. Before you go to the flea market or the home improvement store, enter the name and dimensions of each room in your house and let Home Sizer calculate usable square footage.

Rocket Taxi
This app locates you via GPS or Wi-Fi and finds taxi companies near you. Choose a company by star rating, bookmark your favorite companies, map your start and end locations — even get a fare estimate. Then tap once to call a cab. And don’t forget to rate the company you choose so others can benefit from your taxi savvy.

Gas Cubby
Find the best gas prices near you with GasBuddy, the app that knows the cost per gallon at stations wherever you go. Whether you’re a hypermiler or simply want to stay on top of your oil changes.

Texas Hold'Em
Go all in on the most realistic handheld poker game ever. Texas Hold ’Em pits you against virtual opponents or with up to eight of your friends over a Wi-Fi network. Read your tablemates’ tells to win the pot and gain access to exclusive rooms with higher stakes. Drag your chips to go all in. Flick your cards to fold. Double-tap the table to check. And when you want to switch between first-person and top-down views, turn your iPhone to landscape or portrait mode.

Happy Birthday Apple App Store

2009-07-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

The Apple App Store is just over a year old today. A statement that the company released last week states that the App Store has received over 1.5 billion downloads from over 65,000 available apps. Pretty startling numbers from such a young service.

Oddly, there are about 100,000 app developers for the 65,000 available. A few things may be going on here, either this points to a 35,000 app rejection rate or many app developers are waiting on the sideline to submit their product. Can't count out multiple submission from developers as well.

iPhone App FlyChat Says Go Ahead Talk To Strangers

2009-07-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

FlyChat is a new iPhone app that allows you to converse with strangers who share common interests. Think Twitter in an audible form. Sounds harmless, but I think this app could get a bit weird.

Here is how it works: you type in a message and attach it to a "fly". That message then is sent to your selected stranger and global location, That individual from a far off land will then have access to your profile information including picture. The recipient will then have the ability to ignore or respond to your message. The company would like us to think of this app as a “high-tech messages in a bottle.”

This type of social network focuses on making new connections with less emphasis on your current friends list.

An app like this could be useful to the traveler who does not know anyone in their destination city. Maybe they could get useful information from locals about restaurants, hotels etc... Obviously I would not recommend meeting a stranger from another country for lunch, that is definitely creepy.

FlyChat is available in the App Store for $1.99

iPhone 3.0 Now With Location Based Web Searching via Safari

2009-07-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

It's finally here, the Google Mobile Blog has posted, that iPhone 3.0 will include geography based location searches via Safari and Google.com. You must turn on the "My Location" feature on the homepage.

Googlemobile.blogspot.com posted:

As of today, when you visit www.google.com from Safari on your iPhone 3.0, you can choose to turn on My Location by tapping on the link on the homepage. When you tap on the “update” link, your location will be updated and displayed right there on the homepage. Whenever you want to refresh your location, just tap the “update” link. Testing this in New York, my search for “jazz clubs” returned a handful of places within walking distance. I picked one, tapped the phone number, made a reservation, and we were set for the night.

As for now the new service only works in the English language and only in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Google wants its customers to know that it is and optional feature and can easily be disabled for those who are considering the privacy aspects of using "My Location"

Palm Pre Unable To Sync With iTunes 8.2.1.

2009-07-16T02:49:00.000-07:00

Consider your wrist slapped Palm Pre.

The supposed iPhone killing smartphone will no longer sync directly with the latest version of iTunes software, 8.2.1.

Apple's world leading music platform has been working on this development for quite a while. The move turns out to be both strategic and political, in that one will no longer have the ability to transfer music and video to their Palm through a simple plug in method.

The news of this issue first hit the UK on July 15 before Apple released their official statement on the matter the company stated that iTunes 8.2.1:

“disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we’ve said before, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players.”

The Palm company spokesman retorted:

“If Apple chooses to disable media sync in iTunes, it will be a direct blow to their users.”

The general consensus from Palm to their customers is to skip the upgrade and stay with iTunes 8.2.

This is another clear case where Apple feels as if their intellectual property is being infringed upon.

iTV App for iPhone

2009-07-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

Includes an easy to navigate TV guide, movie listings, and Netflix browser.

Cost is FREE

From The App Developers:

"i.TV is the ultimate movie, DVD and TV guide for the iPhone and iPod touch—and it's FREE. Quickly and easily find out when and where your favorite movies and TV shows are playing anywhere in the US or Canada and find related DVD titles"

Similar Apps: Remote, Sketches, Shazam

iPhone Apps for the College Crowd

2009-07-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

iPhone apps are becoming very popular at colleges these days, There are literally tens of thousands of choices. Below is a list of five top picks...enjoy.

1. Dictionary.com
This free app has just over 250,000 word entries and a built-in thesaurus. It performs audio pronunciation for comparative words. Your not getting through college without a dictionary.

2. Kindle for iPhone
The popular Amazon creation works with both the iPhone and iPod touch. This app will let you peruse the entire Kindle library give or take a few newspapers. It has Amazons Whispernet capabilities so most Kindle owners will enjoy its syncing ability. This is a free app and it will help students keep up with their assigned reading

3. Pi Cubed
Don't throw away your graphing calculator yet. This app will help you form real-time equations. It has the capacity to hold 150 annotated equations pertaining to a broad array of scientific subjects. Students may like that the equations are presented as if they were written on a chalkboard. This app is well worth the $9.99 price tag.

4. News Fuse
You can stay up to date without browsing every internet news outlet. This app will gather news from up to 18 different sources, no need to download several separate news apps. It's a pretty striped down app as far as features go, it just gets the job done. It goes for $0.99.

5. Tweetie
When students feel the need to tweet during lectures, there are many twitter apps to choose from. Tweetie appears to be the go-to choice due to its ability to post links and pictures through multiple accounts. It costs $2.99

Apple working on new iPhone 3.1 and Snow Leopard betas

2009-07-15T05:42:00.000-07:00

Apple on Tuesday evening provided iPhone developers with a second beta of iPhone 3.1, the first update to its third-generation mobile operating system, while Mac developers saw a new incremental build of Snow Leopard.

iPhone Software 3.1 beta 2

Beta 2 is only accessible to those with an existing developer account. Released to developers Tuesday evening, the latest beta provides a number of fixes and features, including the ability to connect to and work with a system wirelessly, without the tether of a USB cable.

Developers who spoke with ArsTechnica confirmed the new WiFi connection feature, with one unnamed developer calling the addition “huge.”

No official information is available regarding the upcoming iPhone OS 3.1 as developers are currently under a non-disclosure agreement. The second beta is available at the iPhone Dev Center Web site.

Though the new feature does free up a USB port and allows more flexibility for developers, Apple has reportedly warned that physically tethering is still the preferred method, as it is faster and consumes less power.

As revealed with the first release, 3.1 also adds Bluetooth and video features. Users can now invoke Voice Control using a Bluetooth headset rather than a wired headset or the built-in microphone. When editing video clips, users can save a copy of the trimmed video instead of permanently losing the discarded ends.

ArsTechnica reports that developers cannot install applications from Xcode or debug them via WiFi.

Further additions appear to improve battery life, greater access to video recording features for developers, and possible preparation for adding MMS support for AT&T subscribers.

First seeded to developers at the end of June, the first beta and SDK reportedly included roughly a dozen new extensions for the OpenGL ES graphics library, allowing developers to improve graphics on the iPhone 3GS. Beta 2 reportedly includes fixes for the OS Xcode, as well as other facets of the software.

Mac OS X 10.6 build 10A411

Separately, developers testing Snow Leopard received build 10A411 of the operating system over the next-gen system's Software Update mechanism.

"This Snow Leopard Developer Preview Update is recommended for all users running the Snow Leopard Developer Preview Build 10A402 or later," Apple reportedly told developers. "This update includes general operating system fixes for stability, compatibility, and security."

The latest update weighs in at roughly 730 MB, about half the size of build 10A402a distributed last week.

article source: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/07/14/apple_seeds_iphone_3_1_beta_2_to_developers.html

Five free iPhone music apps

2009-07-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

In a world teeming with increasingly similar tech products, Apple is one company that seems to have no problem churning out standout products. This might be attributed to sleek designs, fun features, and friendly interfaces--or maybe you want to chalk it up to good ol' marketing tactics. However, in the case of the iPhone and the iPod Touch, there's one attribute that undeniably separates these devices from the masses: the ever-expanding cadre of third-party applications. You can find everything from cookbooks and weight-loss trackers to games and productivity tools, but the area in which the iPhone and iPod Touch really excel is music, and there are hundreds of applications to choose from in this category.

To help you sort through the mass of options, we rounded up five of our favorite iPhone music apps. To keep things simple, we limited our scope to free selections that have a heavy focus on full music playback. Not everything included here will be a perfect fit for every iPod user, but you're sure to find something that will float your boat.

1. Pandora

Pros: Straightforward and easy to use; saves user data to account; nice interface with prominent album art; good music selection.

Cons: Skip limits; pop-up ads on every track; no community features.

The gist: If you only get one music streaming app for the iPhone or iPod Touch, make it Pandora--it's a great introduction for those who are anxious to hear some new tunes.

2. Last.fm

Pros: Plentiful community features and perhaps the best-tailored music recommendations; let's you add individual tracks to playlists for calling up later; lets you tag tracks and purchase directly from iTunes; no ads that we noticed.

Cons: Interface isn't as straightforward as those of Pandora and Slacker; not as valuable to users who aren't involved in the Last.fm community; a bit slower than other music apps listed here; skip limits.

The gist: With all its features, tabs, and buttons, the Last.fm application is one of the most in-depth and dynamic streaming music applications available for the iPhone.

3. Slacker

Pros: Straightforward and easy to use; saves user data to account; nice interface with prominent album art; heart and ban buttons to tailor playback to your liking; station listing page is graphically pleasing with album thumbnails.

Cons: Skip limits; no community features.

The gist: Sound quality, speed, and access to tunes are the most important ingredients in a mobile streaming radio app, and this app has them in spades--it's a worthwhile download for anyone who wants to less ads than found on Pandora.

4. imeem

Pros: Unlike other music apps, imeem gives you "cloud" access to part of your own library; includes useful sections that spotlight artists and recommend music based on your tastes; offers a sharing feature; has a nice interface that's easy to browse.

Cons: Limited by the usual Internet radio restrictions (skip limits, inability to play songs by the same artist back to back); access to your library is limited to 100 tracks unless you pony up a yearly subscription fee.

The gist: Beyond the appeal of streaming your music collection form the cloud, the rest of the Imeem application falls somewhere between the simplicity of the Pandora app, and the more personalized, social approach of Last.fm.

5. iheart radio

Pros: Let's you listen to radio stations from most major metropolitan areas across the U.S.; sound quality is generally better than standard FM radio; less commercials than standard FM radio; includes a fun "Shake It" feature that randomizes stations.

Cons: Station list is dominated by Clear Channel and other corporate offerings, meaning you won't find any cool, indie frequencies here; quality for some stations is poor.

The gist: If you love Top 40 and miss some of the hit stations from where you grew up (or where you went to school, etc.), iheart radio provides a portal for you to enjoy that content again.

Honorable mention: Shazam

Pros: Identifies songs playing over the air with the push of a button; shows album art for identified tracks; offers links for directly purchasing the song through iTunes or watching the video on YouTube.

Cons: Only works for recorded music; doesn't work well in noisy environments; often can't identify fringe music.

The gist: Shazam is a great download for people who are constantly wondering "what's the name of that tune?" while out and about.

article source: http://download.cnet.com/2300-13271_4-10001192-1.html?s=0&o=10001192&tag=mncol;page

Apple IPhone Application Downloads Top 1.5 Billion

2009-07-14T07:24:00.000-07:00

Apple Inc. said users of the iPhone and iPod Touch media player have downloaded more than 1.5 billion programs from the company’s online store, signaling demand for the applications is accelerating.

The pace of downloads has picked up since Apple reached the 1 billion mark in April. The App Store now has more than 65,000 free and paid programs available, up from more than 500 when the site was introduced a year ago, Apple said in a statement today.

Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs said the application site’s success will make it “very hard” for competitors to catch up. Research In Motion Ltd. and Palm Inc. set up stores in recent months offering programs for their devices and lag behind Apple in the number of applications available.

RIM, which opened its App World in April, said the number of programs on the site doubled to about 2,000 as of July 6. Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM, maker of the BlackBerry, doesn’t provide download figures.

Palm, which began selling the Pre handset in June, has about 30 programs on its site. Several thousand developers have applied to build programs for the Pre, Pam Deziel, vice president of developer relations, said last month.

Apple, which also makes the Macintosh computer, rose 76 cents to $143.10 at 9:37 a.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The Cupertino, California-based company’s shares had gained 67 percent this year before today.

Market-Share Gains

The iPhone went on sale in June 2007, and Apple added the App Store after developers clamored for a way to create programs for the device. Apple is the gatekeeper for the site, approving which programs are distributed. It takes a 30 percent cut of each application sold and distributes free programs at no cost.

In June, Apple released a faster version of the iPhone, selling more than 1 million in the first weekend. There are now more than 40 million iPhone and iPod Touch users who can download games and programs for the phone that do everything from tracking the weather to simulating a Zippo lighter to keeping tabs on calories consumed.

The iPhone’s share of global sales of so-called smart phones doubled to 10.8 percent in the first quarter, outpacing RIM’s growth, according to research firm Gartner Inc. RIM boosted its share to 19.9 percent. Nokia Oyj dominated the market with 41 percent, while Palm ranked outside the top five.

To contact the reporter on this story: Connie Guglielmo in San Francisco at cguglielmo1@bloomberg.net.

article source: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=aUsY1IZ5TtyE#

Post Your Video Tweets to Twitter With TwitVid

2009-07-13T23:23:00.000-07:00

An app called TwitVid launched on the iTunes App Store today, enabling iPhone 3G S owners to record "video tweets" and post them to Twitter just as they would with photos, links, and text. The app is one of the first to make use of the new iPhone's video capabilities, and is made by a pair of Canadian college students and their venture-backed startup EatLime. The app is tied to a companion site, TwitVid.com.

While EatLime and its video-tweet competitors can't be faulted for taking advantage of Apple's newly unlocked iPhone features, there's something to be said about the regressive nature of "video tweets." What was once hailed as rapidly consumable, quickly-written and unobtrusive, the text-based tweet is evolving into something entirely different: A multimedia note trailing a ten-second time-waster that has to launch a video site just to present itself. Keeping up with Twitter just became a lot less fluid.

As Digital Beat notes, the TwitVid news comes on the heels of a sizable $5.5 million fundraising round by mobile video site Qik.com.

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/chris-dannen/techwatch/twitvid-brings-video-tweets-iphone

Medical Apps for iPhone

2009-07-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

Prescriptions, X-Rays, Even Eye Tests on a Smart Phone Screen

By DEVIN POWELL, Inside Science News Service
July 13, 2009 —

Doctors are increasingly bidding farewell to their classic sidekick -- the pager -- and opting for smartphones that do more to help them practice medicine.

A recent report by the healthcare market research firm Manhattan Research in New York shows that 64 percent of doctors are tech-savvy, using mobile devices made by BlackBerry, Palm, and Apple.

Although medical applications are a small fraction of the myriad of "apps" available for smartphones, they are one of the fastest growing categories and are finding their way into hospitals, clinics, and medical schools.

Medical apps make up a little more than one percent of all apps, but the downloadable medical apps are becoming so useful to doctors that the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., now requires all of its students to carry an iPhone or iTouch.

Here's a look at some of the more popular and unusual apps developed for medicine and public health for the iPhone and other mobile devices:

Pocketing Prescriptions
The most popular medical application for the iPhone by number of downloads is Epocrates, a free portable database that contains pictures of and information on 3,300 pharmaceutical drugs. It has been available for several years on mobile devices like BlackBerrys and Palm Pilots and was downloaded 50,000 times during the first three months after it was released for the iPhone.
Physicians at hospitals such as Georgetown University Medical Center carry around the app to double-check for potentially dangerous drug-drug interactions when prescribing treatments for their patients. An expanded version also provides information about diseases and laboratory tests.

Itty-Bitty X-rays
Featured in Apple's commercials, OsiriX allows radiologists to view and carry around their patients' X-ray scans on an iPhone. The X-ray images can be sent from phone to phone via iChat.

While the iPhone's tiny 480 by 320 pixel screen is small for making a diagnosis, physicians can zoom in and out or transfer the images to a Mac computer to study them in full detail.

OsiriX also displays PET, MR, and CT scans, as well as ultrasounds. To ensure confidentially, the images can be stripped of information that could be linked to a patient.

EyePhone
Brazilian ophthalmologist Renato Neves has adapted seven eye exam tests to be administered from the iPhone's screen. The chart of letters that tests vision acuity, usually mounted poster-sized on a wall, has been scaled down for the small screen held at an arm's distance.

Standard tests for color blindness have also been reformatted for the iPhone, as has Amsler's grid, a field of crossing lines used to check for problems like macular degeneration.

Zapping Cancer
The "level" application on the iTouch -- normally used to hang a picture properly -- has been adapted to help radiologists aim X-rays and destroy tumors.

During chemotherapy, radiologists often use beams of X-ray energy to kill cancerous cells inside the body. But many cancers -- especially those of the lungs, livers, pancreas, and breast -- become hard-to-hit moving targets when a patient breathes in and out.

Two radiologists at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor figured out how to use data gathered by the iTouch accelerometer strapped to their chests, which measures the angle of the devices, to calculate their breathing rates.

They will present the app, which could be used to time X-ray blasts to coincide with exhaling, at a medical physics conference this month. It is called "iBreathe" (which happens to be the name of another app that turns the iPhone into a breathalyzer).

Tracking Swine Flu
As the H1N1 influenza virus ("swine flu") swept across the globe, IntuApps in New York, New York developed a public health app that allows people to track its spread. The app, which is still awaiting approval by Apple, brings together information drawn from a range of different sources on the web.

A Google Maps plug-in shows the locations of outbreaks, while feeds from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide information about how the virus works, the current threat level, and government advisories.

article source: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Story?id=8054939&page=1

Brando- New iPhone mic gets improved reception over standard microphone

2009-07-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

New iPhone mic gets 10X better reception than the built-in mic
Brando’s claiming 10x better audio reception on this external, swivelable iPhone microphone.

Even if it doesn’t get 10x better reception, it should get perhaps 2x better reception, which is worth $14 for most people.

Here’s more detail from their website:

“Voice and video recording on iPhone 3.0 brings iPhone owners to the new mobile multimedia era. Yet, sound quality is not the best. Try out the NEW Flexible mini capsule microphone which is especially designed for new iPhone 3.0. It enables you to record better sound quality. Instead of receiving sound from the iPhone speaker at the bottom, your iPhone can receive sound from any direction. It is especially useful while shooting video as the microphone and the camera can be pointed to the same direction. Bend and turn the microphone to the desired direction to focus sound source. Flexible mini capsule microphone gains 25+ dB, sound clarity increases as well as sound quality improves. It works on iPhone 3G S, iPhone 3G, iPhone 2G and iPod Nano 4G.”

article source: http://www.iphonestalk.com/new-iphone-mic-gets-10x-better-reception-than-the-built-in-mic-5522/

Apple Bringing iPhone To China

2009-07-12T02:07:00.000-07:00

According to an Apple Insider report, Apple may finally be in the closing stages of bringing the iPhone to China.

The report says the company as applied for a Network Access License, meaning a release could be just months away.

The news comes through Wedge Partners analyst Matt Mathison who says the application was filed this week but notably lacks any mention of onboard Wi-Fi, meaning the wireless will not be available on the Chinese version of the phone.

It has been long rumored that Wi-Fi would have to be dropped to "appease the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which would prefer that iPhone owners use local networks," says AI.

Mathison says he is confident now that the Wi-Fi issue is settled that the phone will go on sale in China before the Chinese New Year, on February 14th 2010. The phone will likely be available through carrier China Unicom , the only carrier in the nation that has available compatibility "with the iPhone's existing 3G standards."

article source: http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/18442.cfm

Apple iPhone Applying For More Patents

2009-07-12T02:02:00.000-07:00

Apple has filed for a brace of patents that give some insight about what could be in future iPhone smartphones. The July 9 patent application came a week after Apple applied for touchscreen-related patents.

One of the patents is called ID App, and it would enable an iPhone, or other portable device, to display various amounts of data on nearby objects. The device could use the camera, an RFID reader, or a GPS chip to identify objects, and then compare those against multiple databases. For example, a user could take a picture of a landmark, and the app could use meta-data along with GPS to determine what it is, and then bring up the landmark's Wikipedia page.

"After an object has been identified, the portable electronic device can provide additional information about the identified object," the patent application said. "In some embodiments, the portable electronic device can search for the additional information based on the previously defined mode. In some embodiments, the portable electronic device can provide additional information with incrementally increasing levels of detail."

Nokia (NYSE: NOK) has released something similar with its Point & Find program. Users can snap a picture of a movie poster with their phone's camera and then receive a movie trailer, information, or directions to the nearest theater playing the film.

Another filing suggests future Apple devices could have facial-recognition technology. This could be used for security purposes by limiting who can authorize the device. Most Macintosh laptops already come with built-in cameras. For this to be effective with the iPhone, a future version would likely have to have a front-facing camera.

The company also filed for patents that could filter text messages for obscene content, better manage visual voicemails, and changing the voice output on iPhones. The patent application may be seen here.

article source: http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/business/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=218401418

iPhone not the best choice when work needs to get done

2009-07-10T23:05:00.000-07:00

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jul 10th 2009 at 3:10PM

The other day, whilst sitting in the waiting room of a doctor's office, awaiting the inevitable bad news to come down the pipeline (you're dead, you're dying, no that rash can't be treated), I attempted to do something daring with my iPhone 3GS. I attempted to work. I say attempted, because what dawned on me -- separated from my laptop, a netbook, or any viable computing system -- was that I couldn't really get much of my work done on Apple's bundle of joy. It wasn't the first time I tried to get work done on my phone, but it was one of the first times that I really thought about how frustrating the experience is. What follows is my heartbreaking tale of staggering lameness. Or staggering tale of heartbreaking lameness. Your pick.

Before I even got to the "work" part of my experience, I realized I had serious problems. AT&T's service is never anything to write home about in New York City (in fact, it's usually embarrassingly bad), but I found that my 3G connection seemed especially weak in this Manhattan doctor's den. Oh, I had five bars all right, but trying to load just the iPhone-formatted version of Engadget tested my will to live. After nurses denied my requests for assisted suicide, I resigned myself to dealing with the network issues. Honestly, a lot of what I do during the day (namely, hanging out in a chat room and commanding the team to help me pick the perfect pizza toppings) doesn't require the highest-test connection -- though I certainly put pedal to floor at times.

So, stoically accepting the fate of thin 3G, I set about firing up the apps I would need to actually tend to Engadget. First up, I required an IRC session. That's no problem, because the App Store is filled with useful tools for chatting with good buddies. I prefer Mobile Colloquy, so away I went, happily bounding into the Engadget chat room to direct the editors and get the latest gossip about Gyllenspoon. Of course, it took an exorbitant amount of time to actually connect, but once I did it's a reasonable experience... save for one big issue. The iPhone keyboard truly sucks if you're trying to type words it might not be familiar with. You know, like tech terminology which isn't exactly part of its native dictionary. Additionally, typing quickly during a conversation with lots of people is severely hampered by the inaccuracy of the on-screen keyboard.

I would have left it at that, but my work requires that I use a bunch of web tools, look at lots of news sites, and have a feed reader open... basically, things that would require some level of multitasking. Imagine the frustration of having to constantly break the connection in chat to go look at a site or work on a post. It's frustrating, let me tell you. The idea of jumping into and out of applications -- of having to actually quit an app to move to another one -- is "We don't work like this on our computers -- why does Apple think we want to work like this on our phones?"
an incredibly outmoded and foreign idea in 2009. Additionally, the email experience on the iPhone is brutal -- and to get anything done in a day as Editor-in-chief of Engadget, you need your mail. As a Gmail user, the way the native iPhone mail application handles messages is counterintuitive at best. Google presents a lovely browser-based solution for email, but it is markedly hampered by the browser environment itself. It's slow and inaccurate to navigate, though obviously better if you need to bounce between an open page and your mail. Funnily, the Safari experience provides better multitasking than the phone itself. Adding insult to multiple injuries, the system of notification for SMS, calendar events, or even push IM messages (which still gives you limited options) is intrusive, productivity-stalling, and frankly upsetting. It doesn't aid productivity if you're constantly being hammered with pop-ups.

The whole, painful experience set me thinking. Is this really what Apple wants me to be doing with my phone anyhow? The company has added lots of features -- like decent Exchange support -- so that its phone will appeal to enterprise and business users, but can these users really get what they need out of the device? Basic functionality, like calling people, email, and certainly document editing still feel inelegant and clunky due to the onscreen keyboard, and the lack of multitasking makes moving around through those typically important tasks difficult to say the least. The experience on an Android device, S60, the Pre, a BlackBerry, or even Windows Mobile just makes more sense. Let me say that again: those experiences make more sense. Now I'm not saying the execution of those experiences is better across platforms, but the philosophy of letting users multitask is more natural to us. The iPhone doesn't even have a method for switching between recently used or favorite applications.

We don't work like this on our computers -- why does Apple think we want to work like this on our phones?

Well that's the thing -- maybe they don't really care about how we work. Maybe they don't want us to work at all. If you take a look at the App Store, it's fairly obvious where the cash is going -- and it's not to productivity or enterprise apps. Where is it going? To Doom Resurrection, frankly (sorry, not for me -- I hate games on rails). At the end of the day, it's nice to stick the "we love business users" line into your PR, but it's quite another thing to make it real.

Keep this in mind: I'm not a Wall Street lifer -- I'm a guy in new media who needs to get things done. I should be part of Apple's target market.

So, what's the fix here? Well for Apple, the solution is simple -- the virtual keyboard problem is annoying, but not a deal breaker necessarily. The lack of multitasking is. The fact that Apple won't let end users decide to run down their battery with these dangerous, experience-ruining background tasks is galling, but the fact that the company doesn't seem to recognize how important the concept is is even worse. Giving users the option to select even a few apps to juggle would alleviate this problem instantly, but you've still got the hurdle of notifications which are difficult to manage, and an email platform which feels woefully behind the curve. Until the company finds some new paths to beat in those departments, the iPhone -- for all its apps and all its uses -- still doesn't hit the sweetspot for a lot of users who need to work.

For me? Providing this heart holds up the way doctors say it will, I'll be keeping a keen eye on Android developments. But seriously guys... put a keyboard on those things.

article source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/10/editorial-taking-the-iphone-3gs-off-the-job-market/

America Movil To Launch IPhone 3GS In Six Nations By End Of July

2009-07-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

America Movil SAB (AMX), ,largest mobile operator, said Friday it will launch Apple Inc.'s (APPL) iPhone 3GS in six countries in the region at the end of the month.
In a press release, the company said starting July 31 the iPhone 3GS will be available in Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.

America Movil said the iPhone 3GS will be made available in the rest of the region at a later date.

The Mexican wireless carrier launched an older version of the popular handset, the iPhone 3G, in July of last year.

America Movil, which is controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, had 186.6 million wireless clients in 17 countries in the Americas at the end of March.

-By Ken Parks, Dow Jones Newswires; 52-55-5001-5723, ken.parks@dowjones.com

iPhone Apps Apple Doesn't Want You to Install

2009-07-10T22:44:00.000-07:00

Jailbreak iPhone Apps
Apple's SDK and iTunes App Store rules have prohibited apps that exploit certain iPhone features, such as global UI enhancements (such as copy and paste), video recording and streaming, multimedia SMS, Bluetooth file sharing, Internet tethering, and background processing. Apple also blocks apps that don't fit its vision for iPhone usability, including podcasting, direct GPS access, and competing e-mail and Web browser clients. The following 21 apps today run only on jailbroken iPhones. Some of their capabilities will ship with Apple's 3.0 iPhone firmware, but most of them won't.

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: Clippy
Clippy adds the long-desired ability to copy and paste text between applications. For example, you can copy an SMS message and paste it into an e-mail. Alas, Clippy does not work in Mobile Safari. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: Cyntact
The iPhone's built-in contact directory lets you store pictures that pop up when someone calls. Cyntact displays those pictures in the scrolling listing itself, allowing you to find contacts rapidly by facial recognition. $1

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: Voicemail Forwarder
The iPhone's visual voice mail is a captive portal for audio messages. Voicemail Forwarder lets you forward individual messages to any e-mail address for archival purposes or just to pass around someone's silly comments. $2.49

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: Categories
The iPhone supports up to nine pages of apps. Power users want more, and they want to organize them for easy access. To this end, Categories lets you group applications into an arbitrary number of springboard folders. Folder contents scroll horizontally to show multiple screenfuls of apps. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: Cycorder
Most digital cameras today can record video as well as still images. Now the iPhone can, too. Cycorder captures video at up to 15 frames per second in bright lighting at 384-by-288 resolution, yielding QuickTime movies. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: PDANet
AT&T prohibits tethering, but jailbroken phones can bypass this restriction using PDANet, sharing Internet via a Wi-Fi connection to the phone or via USB cable to Windows PCs. Be sure you have an unlimited data plan if your iPhone is unlocked for another cellular provider. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: Snapture
The camera app built into the iPhone does little more than a disposable digital camera. Snapture adds a timer, auto-rotation, image resizing, leveler, color and burst modes, digital zoom, and silent snapping. It makes self-portraits easy. $7.99

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: Searcher
Global search of iPhone content. Searcher scans virtually all iPhone content -- contacts, SMS, notes, events, Mobile Safari bookmarks and history -- for any keyword, grouping results for easy recognition. You can then inspect item details by tapping. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: MiVTones
For that special someone, play the video of your choice along with audio. MiVTones provides a video sharing community as well. $9.99
Jailbreak iPhone Apps: MxTube
For those times when you can't be online, MxTube lets you salt away a few cool YouTube videos for offline viewing. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: BargainBin
Prices for apps in the iTunes App Store often fluctuate. BargainBin lets you spot significant price drops or temporary price reductions to snag the best deal on the apps you want. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: Adblock
Browsing the Web on your iPhone can be slow going when downloading ad-cluttered pages. Adblock filters out most ads, speeding Web page display tremendously. Not really an application, Adblock is a list of the most common ad hosting sites. Replacing your iPhone's existing /etc/hosts file with this list effectively redirects ad HTML links to nowhere. As a bonus, Adblock also disables Apple's application killswitch server. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: FindMyi
FindMyi.orgFindMyiTracks your iPhone location in the background. If you've ever misplaced your iPhone, you know the deep pit of fear that can instantly envelope you, especially if your phone was on silent ring. Allay that fear with FindMyi, which employs GPS and cell site triangulation to track the location of your phone at programmable intervals. The program hides itself once enabled, running in the background. You can view your phone's location at any time, as well as its traveling history, via a paid subscription to the FindMyi Web site. If you believe your phone is stolen, you can recover data and lock the phone. $2 per month

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: iBluetooth
Every other phone on the market can exchange files via Bluetooth -- to both Bluetooth-enabled computers and other phones. But Apple did not ship Bluetooth file transfer support with the iPhone. Fortunately, iBluetooth adds the capability, allowing you to easily transfer multiple files simultaneously in both directions to any other Bluetooth device. $4.99

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: myWeek
Who knows why Apple left by-the-week views out of the iPhone calendar? Fortunately, myWeek puts them in, along with a year view and the ability to search your calendar by keyword. $2.99

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: StatusNotifier
When you want to see at a glance that you have new SMS, e-mail, or IM messages, Apple's text-only status messages make you squint. StatusNotifier presents clear message and other status icons on the sleep screen and status bar. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: NetaTalk
Transferring files using the spacious user interface of your desktop or notebook Mac is much more convenient than twiddling the iPhone's tiny controls. NetaTalk makes your iPhone discoverable via Mac OS X Bonjour file sharing, letting you mount your iPhone as a remote disk. Take care, though -- NetaTalk's root-level access gives you the power to overwrite any file. Free
Jailbreak iPhone Apps: Qik
Exploiting speedy Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, Qik lets you stream live video from your iPhone to the qik.com capture site, where you can share your video sessions in real time or archive them for later retrieval. Partnerships with Mogulus, Justin.tv, and Twitter allow you to broadcast your qik iPhone live video far and wide. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: TV-Out
As shipped, the iPhone can output to a TV output via an AV accessory cable, but only for playing YouTube and iPod videos or displaying still photos. TV-Out enables general-purpose TV viewing of any iPhone content, including live video from the camera, Mobile Safari, map navigation, and other applications. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: Veency
Switching between your computer desktop and the small iPhone screen can be tedious, especially for entering textual information. Veency lets you remotely control your iPhone from your computer desktop using a VNC client application like Chicken of the VNC. You can view the screen, touch controls, and activate physical controls such as the lock and menu buttons. Free

Jailbreak iPhone Apps: MCleaner
We all have those nuisance callers and SMSers we'd just as soon ignore. MCleaner lets you automate the ignoring process by blacklisting Mr. or Ms. Annoying. You can set up multiple profiles to selectively screen groups of people at times of your choosing. $11.99

article source: http://www.pcworld.com/printable/article/id,163008/printable.html

The iPhone's Distinctive Dozen

2009-07-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

Since the App Store opened its doors a year ago, more than 50,000 iPhone apps have found a place on Apple's virtual shelves. And we have to be honest here--a solid majority of those 50,000 apps are not all that memorable. But just as assuredly, there are more than a few apps that have made a name for themselves in the past year and, in their own way, helped make the App Store the success story that it is.
We're not necessarily talking about the best iPhone apps here -- we listed our favorite iPhone apps at the end of 2008 (and we'll do so again, in a much bigger way, at the end of this year). Rather, we're focusing on apps that made an impact, whether by way of quality, innovation, popularity, or sheer chutzpah.

We asked our iPhone-using editors to name the most significant apps to appear on the scene since the App Store's July 2008 launch and came up with a list of 12--one for each month that the App Store's been open. Not every app on our list is a must-have--the presence of a gas-passing simulator should be your first clue there. But we think this collection represents apps that, for better or worse, have defined the iPhone platform. These are the programs that, a year into the App Store's existence, give us an overview of the state of third-party development for the iPhone.

Amazon Mobile

Sure, you can access Amazon.com on your iPhone using Safari, but Amazon Mobile makes a compelling case for the superiority of a dedicated shopping app. As you'd expect, it lets you search for products on Amazon, giving you quicker-than-the-Web access to prices, descriptions, and user reviews. And by linking up with your Amazon.com account, you can buy items right on your phone without having to tediously re-enter your shipping and purchasing details; you can also save items for later or add them to your Wish Lists. But the coolest feature is Amazon Remembers: If you see an item while you're out and about--even if it's just a book or gadget at a friend's place--you can take a photo of it using your iPhone's camera. The app sends the photo to Amazon, and a few minutes later you get an e-mail identifying the item and linking to Amazon's shopping page for it; the item is also saved to your Remembers list in the app and in your account on Amazon.com. If you do quite a bit of your shopping on Amazon anyway, Amazon Mobile is like having a personal shopping assistant, and it gives us a taste of how a multi-function mobile device can enhance everyday tasks (Free; Amazon.com).

Cydia

Hey, we didn't say that you would find every one of these apps within the App Store itself. Because one of the iPhone's most important applications is one you won't find in any Apple-sanctioned emporium--Cydia, the installer application for jailbroken iPhones and iPod touches. It's through Cydia that you can install tools for accessing the complete contents of your iPhone or iPod touch as well as add applications that provide capabilities not provided (or allowed) by Apple. With Cydia installed, any jailbroken iPhone can shoot video, tether, stream video, download YouTube videos, file applications into folders, bear a customized interface, and much more (Free; Jay Freeman).

Flight Control

The iPhone platform is fast becoming a gaming juggernaut, rivaling the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP in capabilities--and dwarfing both platforms combined in terms of the number of available titles. But among the iPhone's most compelling games is one of the simplest: Flight Control. An onscreen airfield features two runways and one or two helipads; as planes and helicopters appear on the screen, you use your fingertip to create a flight path from each to its proper landing site. Sound easy? It is until your airspace starts to get crowded, forcing you to manage those flight paths to avoid collisions.

The graphics are delightfully retro, the gameplay is dangerously addictive, and the app tracks a number of interesting stats that spur you to improve on your personal best (and compare it with others' online). The game also remembers where you left off the last time you quit, making it perfect for a few minutes of fun during your commute or while waiting in line. The developers aren't resting on their laurels, either: Flight Control was one of the first apps to embrace iPhone 3.0's peer-to-peer networking, letting you share your tower duties with other iPhone and iPod touch owners ($1; Firemint).

iFart Mobile

Really, this space could go to iFart. Or myFart. Or FartFX. Or any one of the dozens upon dozens of off-color noise-making apps that turn up when you type a certain slang term for passing gas into the App Store's search engine. It's not something that Apple is likely to tout at its next iPhone press event and we're not sure we entirely understand the phenomenon ourselves, but the fact remains: There are a lot of offerings in the App Store whose sole function is to simulate the sound of breaking wind. We like to think novelty apps like iFart Mobile maybe inspired their developers to move on to creating bigger and better things once the novelty died down or that App Store shoppers looking for flatulence apps might have been tempted to try out some of the more useful apps available for download in the store. Nevertheless, there's no denying these kind of programs had their finger on the pulse of the App Store in its first year, and that a lot of customers were eager to pull that finger ($1; InfoMedia).

Koi Pond

The first time you hear a description of Koi Pond--animated Japanese carp swimming aimlessly about your iPhone screen--it sounds like, at best, a novelty app and, at worst, a waste of a perfectly good dollar. So how did this app swim its way to the top of Apple's list of best-selling paid apps for 2008? Because the development team at The Blimp Pilots mastered the little details of an iPhone app, from the realistic movement of the fish to the ambient noise to the interactivity. (Touch the screen in Koi Pond, and you'll see ripples form and fish scatter, accompanied by the sounds of splashing water.) Koi Pond is a relaxing and entertaining addition to any iPhone or iPod touch, but more important, it shows that even apps with simple conceits can contain a great deal of depth just below the surface ($1; The Blimp Pilots).

MLB.com At Bat

If you're looking for an example of how much an app can evolve in the short span of a year, consider the changes that MLB.com's At Bat has undergone. The app was there from Day One of the App Store, offering live scores, game status data, and in-game video highlights from Major League Baseball games. By the fall, MLB.com released an update that made in-game data even more accessible with play-by-play and pitch information that mirrored what you'd find on Major League Baseball's Web site.

At the start of the 2009 season, another update introduced GameDay Audio Support, letting users tune into the radio broadcasts for any game featuring the hometown announcers of both teams. The recent iPhone OS 3.0 update brought even more changes--MLB.com At Bat now offers live streaming video for up to two games per day. The most notable app makers strive to find new ways to take advantage of the iPhone OS, and few have been more successful at it than MLB.com ($10; MLB.com).

Movies

There are those who will lament no longer having to listen to the strange intonations of the Moviefone guy, but Movies by Flixster brings the cinema outing into the 21st century. Sure, you could go to Google or one of the numerous movie showtime Web sites, but Flixster one-ups those offerings by allowing you to quickly and easily find showtimes for movies in your area: no need to wrangle with ZIP codes, thanks to the iPhone's location services. Can't decide on a movie? Movies lets you skim through reviews from Rotten Tomatoes as well as comments by fellow users. You can also browse upcoming movies and DVD releases and Facebook users can connect with their accounts to keep track of their favorite movies. Movies is a great example of how a single application can collect information on a subject from disparate sources around the Internet and mold it together into a single, easy-to-use format (Free; Flixster).

Postage

Some apps are must-haves, not because they're actually necessary for everyone but because they're such perfect examples of what an iPhone app can do and how it can do it. Take Postage, an app that makes creating electronic postcards not only easy, but fun, thanks to an iPhone-optimized interface. You choose photos from your albums or take them with the phone's camera; use multi-touch gestures to resize and position images; swipe and tap to choose postcard designs, photo effects, and text styles; type messages using the onscreen keyboard; add recipients directly from your contacts; and send your postcards right from within the app. It feels like the sort of app Apple would make, and, best of all, it produces beautiful results ($1; RogueSheep).

Remote

Cute though Apple's gum-stick-like hardware remote control is, it's a limiting way to command an iTunes library or Apple TV because it requires that you repeatedly mash buttons to work your way through your media's hierarchy. With Apple's free Remote app you can bid that hardware remote a dry-eyed goodbye. Not only does it let you navigate an iTunes library or Apple TV with ease, but it displays the contents of each on the iPhone or iPod touch's screen--thus letting you move to just the music or video you want without a lot of tiresome button presses. And because it works via Wi-Fi rather than infrared, you can exert control over your media from just about anywhere in your home. Remote control of your computer and media devices is a powerful thing, and Apple led the way with this app (Free; Apple).

Rolando

A lot of games arrive on the iPhone after making their name on other platforms. There's nothing wrong with that, certainly, but games created specifically for the iPhone and iPod touch hold a special place in our heart. After all, the best of these iPhone originals are created with the idea of taking advantage of the platform's unique features. Ngmoco has quickly established itself as one of the top iPhone game makers with a stable of unique and creative apps.

The crown jewel of its collection is Rolando, a side-scrolling platform game in which you must navigate the roly-poly Rolandos from Point A to Point B. If the premise sounds fairly pedestrian, the implementation is anything but--Rolando exploits the iPhone's accelerometer in a clever way, letting you tilt and turn your mobile device to get the Rolandos rolling. You also use finger swipes to make the Rolandos jump and to pan around the playing screen to see what dangers lie ahead. Ngmoco continues to innovate--a sequel to Rolando came out earlier this month--but the original continues to impress ($6; ngmoco).

Shazam

Should you ever need to convince Mr. Van Winkle that the iPhone he's recently heard so much about truly is a miracle worker, take him down to the local drinkery, wait for a song to start playing, fire up Shazam, tap Tag Now, point the iPhone's mic at the music's source, and observe the shock on his face when, scant seconds later, the name of the song appears on the iPhone's screen along with links for watching associated YouTube videos, browsing reviews, viewing the artist's biography and discography, and, in some cases, displaying the song's lyrics. Shazam gets far more than it misses and is an amazing demonstration of the power of the iPhone coupled with a remarkable audio analysis algorithm (Free; Shazam Entertainment).

Twitterrific and Tweetie

You either get Twitter or you don't. For those who do, the iPhone and Twitter were made for each other: Twitter's microblogging service lets you post short, on-the-go messages for others to read, and the iPhone is an easy-to-use, always-connected communication device you're likely to have with you all the time. While there are scores of iPhone Twitter clients available, Twitterrific (Standard, free; Premium, $4; The Iconfactory) and Tweetie ($3; Atebits) have earned spots among on our list--the original Twitterrific for being the first really good iPhone Twitter client, and Tweetie and Twitterrific 2 for subsequently setting the standard for how great such an app's interface and functionality can be.

Macworld's Christopher Breen, Dan Frakes, Dan Moren, and Philip Michaels contributed to this report.
article source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/168241/the_iphones_distinctive_dozen.html

FingerBeat Is An iPhone Virtual Instrument App

2009-07-09T22:18:00.000-07:00

FingerBeat is a virtual instrument inspired by retro synthesizers & samplers, designed for creativity & self-expression. A homage to dance music and pop culture, FingerBeat is a classic for absolutely everyone.Only on iPhone & second generation iPod touch*

article source: http://www.flylyf.com/fingerbeat-iphone-app/

iPhone 3GS Upstream Speed Limited to 384Kbps

2009-07-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

While the iPhone 3GS got a download speed boost—to 7.2Mbps—it didn't get any upload power-up, according to PC World: Its upstream speed is limited by its hardware to 384Kbps. But don't get out the torches and pitchforks yet.

Most GSM-based cellphones suffer the same problem: No matter how fast they are at download, they will upload at only 384Kbps, or less, as you can see in our iPhone 3GS network test. This is because the hardware doesn't support the HSUPA (High-Speed Uplink Packet Access) standard, created by Nokia—the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) refers to this standard as Enhanced Uplink.

Some would say that this is not needed because Enhanced Uplink—which runs at 1.4 and 1.9Mbps—is not supported by AT&T yet, but in Europe there are networks that already support this standard. I would imagine that users of the popular JesusPhone would love to upload their photos and videos to Facebook and YouTube as fast as possible.

On the other side, with AT&T still struggling to get 7.2Mbps off the ground and most of the other networks having problems and slowdowns everywhere, I would be happy if they all just managed to actually deliver their advertised download speeds.

article source: http://gizmodo.com/5311116/iphone-3gs-upstream-speed-limited-to-384kbps

Apple Files For iPhone Touchscreen Tactile Feedback Patent

2009-07-09T21:59:00.000-07:00

Apple has filed a patent application with US patent office
called Multi-touch display screen with localized tactile feedback.
As the name suggests, the patent application reveals that Apple wants to bring haptic tactile feedback to iPhone's touchscreen.

If you are a long time iPhone user and are used to its virtual keyboard, you might find the need of a physical keyboard unnecessary. However, some folks insist that its one of the deal breakers.
Apple's patent application suggests that they are looking at improving the user experience of iPhone's virtual keyboard with the help of haptic feedback using “piezoelectric actuators", which will make it easier to use while you are driving the car etc with the help of non-visual hints so you don't have to see the screen while typing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
According to the patent application:

The haptic feedback can take any form, including vibration, and can be paired with other non-visual feedback such as audible noise...

The display screen can be used to present a visual display which includes a virtual button. A haptic feedback response can be associated with the virtual button. The haptic feedback response can be provided while the virtual button is included in the visual display, or in response to a touch event. For example, the virtual button can vibrate when a touch event occurs in proximity to the virtual button. In addition to virtual buttons, the display can include other user-selectable display elements.

For example, the visual display can include a virtual click wheel associated with a haptic feedback response. For example, the virtual button at the center of the virtual click wheel can vibrate at a different frequency than the virtual wheel surrounding it. The virtual wheel and the virtual button at the center can vibrate while they are included in the visual display, or in response to a touch event. By providing dynamic, localized, haptic feedback at the location of the virtual click wheel, the present invention enables a user to find and operate the virtual click wheel non-visually.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
It will be interesting to see if the improvements mentioned in the patent application will convince users who believe that lack of a physical keyboard is one of the deal breakers.
It is also important to note that Apple's patent applications generally reveal a very wide-range of possibilities but might never see the light of day though its interesting to get a glimpse of Apple's recent research effort.

In addition to the tactile feedback patent application, MacRumors has revealed that Apple has also filed patent application for Fingerprint Identification and RFID reader for iPhone.
As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments section

article source: http://www.iphonehacks.com/2009/07/apple-might-bring-tactile-feedback-to-iphones-touchscreen.html

iPhone 3GS: Video editing and a friendly warning

2009-07-09T21:50:00.000-07:00

One of the great new features that comes along with the iPhone 3GS is video recording as well as the ability to edit and easily share it while on the go. Well, in this case, I am using the term edit with a little sarcasm because it seems to be more like trimming instead of editing.

Without getting to far into the how to side of video editing, this post will remain a little simpler and just offer a friendly warning so others will not lose any video footage — like I did. Thankfully, in my case, the footage was not all that important, but still.

Anyway, getting back to the term edit, it seems that the iPhone more specifically does not edit video, but instead it actually trims the video. All in all, that is fine by me, but be prepared that when you make any edits, or trim that video on your iPhone that you are going to lose the parts you trimmed.

You see, when you trim the video it discards the trimmed portions and leaves you with just your edited version. What would be ideal, is if Apple would save the original file and then save a second (editing) version as a new file.

That said, think twice before you edit trim your precious videos on your iPhone 3GS because you may end up tossing that special moment.

article source: http://www.iphonefreak.com/2009/06/iphone-3gs-video-editing-and-a-friendly-warning.html

NFL Games On The iPhone This Year, But It'll Cost Ya'

2009-07-09T21:40:00.000-07:00

More live sports are coming to Apple's (AAPL) iPhone: You'll be able to stream NFL football games this season onto the phone via DirecTV's "Supercast Mobile" iPhone app and its Sunday Ticket "SuperFan" service.

The app will be free, and video will stream over 3G and wi-fi, but the service is not cheap.
First, you'll need to be a DirecTV satellite TV subscriber. Then you'll need the $280 NFL Sunday Ticket subscription. And on top of that, you'll need a $100 Sunday Ticket "SuperFan" subscription. But if you're already leaning that way, then the iPhone app will be a great addition to your Sunday rituals.

It seems that, like MLB's At Bat live baseball streaming, the NFL games will be subject to local blackout restrictions. So while a Chicago Bears fan in New York -- that's us -- should be able to watch live games, a Jets fan is probably out of luck.

Here's DirecTV's explanation:
Customers will only be able to watch the games available on NFL Sunday Ticket channels in the local ZIP code of their billing address–blackout rules apply. Due to NFL broadcast restrictions, some games will be unavailable on SUPERCAST™ based on your ZIP code.

article source: http://www.businessinsider.com/live-nfl-games-on-the-iphone-this-year-but-expensive-2009-7

Road Trip To Find The Best iPhone 3GS Apps

2009-07-08T20:59:00.000-07:00

For almost a year, I've owned an iPhone 3G. I've done lots of things with it and loaded a lot of apps on it. But now, Apple has released the iPhone 3GS, and it's got new features--including a compass, voice commands, video recording, and auto-focus.

This iPhone 3GS has only one new app on it. I want to learn about the best apps that specifically take advantage of 3GS features. If you are the first one to suggest an app I try and keep, you win a prize.(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET)

Luckily for me, I'm on Road Trip 2009 and am testing a number of gadgets, including an iPhone 3GS that Apple lent me for my journeys through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Colorado.

I've already downloaded Brushes, the amazing painting app that was used to draw the cover of a recent issue of The New Yorker. But that's all I've got. What I want are the best apps that specifically leverage the new features available only on the 3GS.

And so I'm asking: do you have a favorite? If so, let me know. Over the next few days, I'll be trying out a number of apps on this iPhone, and if you're the first one to suggest an app--paid or free--that I download and keep, I'll send a nice little gift your way.

Remember, I'm not interested in things for the iPhone in general. Well, I am, but in this case, I only want to know your thoughts on apps that have been designed with the 3GS in mind. They can, however, be apps that have updated features available only on the new phone.

If you'd like to send me an idea, please do so at daniel--dot--terdiman--at--cnet--dot--com by Monday, July 13, and include "iPhone 3GS app" in your subject line. If it's an app you designed, I may still try it, but you won't be eligible for a giveaway.

Please help me make the iPhone 3GS more interesting. I look forward to your suggestions.
For the next several weeks, Geek Gestalt will be on Road Trip 2009. After driving more than 12,000 miles in the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest and the Southeast over the last three years, I'll be writing about and photographing the best in technology, science, military, nature, aviation and more in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Colorado. If you have a suggestion for someplace to visit, drop me a line. And in the meantime, join the Road Trip 2009 Facebook page.

Daniel Terdiman is a staff writer at CNET News covering games, Net culture, and everything in

between.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10281756-52.html

IPhone Battery Issues Possibly Due To Software

2009-07-08T12:17:00.000-07:00

It wasn't the most sexy upgrade for the iPhone 3GS, but for iPhone lovers, the news that the battery life was improved was welcome news.

Apple said at the iPhone 3GS would get 9 hours of use on Wi-Fi, 10 hours for video playback and 30 hours for music. This compared to the iPhone 3G, which offered 6 hours of Wi-Fi use, 7 hours of video playback and 24 hours of audio.

Yet, when the the 3GS came out, the battery has not seemed to offer much in the way of improvement, complained many users. I, too, have noticed a drop-off in battery life. I thought this might be something that fixes itself after a couple of days, as it did with the iPhone 3G. But the battery life has continued to be rough and though I've never done tests, it doesn't seem any better and possibly worse than the 3G.

It doesn't appear to be an issue with the 3GS' battery. The device has a battery that's about 5-6 percent bigger than the iPhone 3G. The problem seems to lie with the iPhone OS 3.0 software upgrade. Some iPhone 3G users have said the new software has also degraded their battery life.

I talked with Aaron Vronko of Rapid Repair, who was one of the first to disassemble the iPhone 3GS. He said the issue does indeed appear to be with the software. Somehow, the operating system is not working efficiently and apps and functions are requiring more power than they need.

"I would strongly suspect there is a problem in the software that is causing certain features to be overused or not use the hardware in an optimal way," Vronko said.

He said the iPhone may not be throttling the power needs of programs as it should. Another issue could be that there are more "vampires" in the OS, apps that suck the life out of the battery. A big feature of the iPhone 3.0 software is push notification, which allows developers to send out notices and alerts to users even when their apps are not in use.

"The push notification could be operating too often with things like instant messaging," he said. "Or it could be just some other software glitch that Apple didn't catch that is making things overwork the battery."

The fix may come in an upcoming 3.1 update to the OS, said Vronko, which could help address any inefficiencies.

Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison told the LA Times that battery life is highly dependent on usage. But if people aren't changing up their usage patterns that much, it shouldn't result in worse performance. At the very least, with all Apple's claims of improved battery life on the 3GS, we should see at least similar battery results compared to the previous iPhone 3G.

This is an ongoing challenge for the iPhone. Each iteration gets more functions but they also invite more usage, which can suck away battery life. The software and hardware have to try and keep pace with the advancements or we end up seeing worse battery life.

So you 3GS users and iPhone 3G owners who are on iPhone OS 3.0, how's your battery life? Are you doing ok?

article source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/techchron/detail?blogid=19&entry_id=43192

eBuddy Finally Presents An iPhone App With Push Notification

2009-07-08T12:12:00.000-07:00

eBuddy, the Dutch startup behind the eponymous mobile communication tool I dubbed the swiss army knife for instant messaging when it debuted an application for the Android platform last May, is announcing one hell of an iPhone application today. For context: eBuddy is a free mobile app that enables users to communicate with others using AIM, Facebook Chat, ICQ, Gtalk, Windows Live Messenger etc. in one, aggregated interface.

The application for the iPhone and iPod Touch the company is announcing today has quietly gone live in the App Store last week, but hasn’t been promoted in any way since until today. It brings a very strong competitor to the likes of Nimbuzz and fring, both of which have had native iPhone applications for a while now. Where eBuddy differentiates is in its support for Apple’s Push Notification Service, which allows a third-party server to ping the service in order to push out notifications to your device over a persistent IP connection.

You can see how that comes in handy for an instant messaging tool, since it basically acts as a replacement for text messages. When you exit the app, you’ll still be able to receive incoming messages from your contacts regardless of which IM client they choose to use (apart from Skype, but that’s another story), for 30 minutes initially.

At a later stage, the company expects to prolong this push notification window but strives to maintain a balance between a longer time and not putting too much strain on the device’s battery life.

I’m told that eBuddy already saw about 2 million people using its product from the iPhone or iPod Touch before the app actually hit the App Store, thanks to the web-based eBuddy Lite Messenger tool, but the free native application that was just released will likely convert most of those users to it in a short period of time.

In fact, many seem to have already done so despite the lack of a marketing push: according to stats provided by app store analytics startup Distimo, the eBuddy for iPhone application is currently already ranked #1 in 21 countries, within the top 5 in 31 countries, and within the top 10 in 37 countries in the free social networking application category.

Of course, a massive user base doesn’t equal massive revenue streams, especially not when you’re giving away a product for free. I asked eBuddy how it expects to make money from its mobile applications (they’re already doing quite well on the web version, I’m told), and CEO Jan-Joost Rueb said he wants to see an aggregate mobile app user base of 10 million uniques before they roll out monetization efforts like advertising and paid premium apps.

Rueb expects to hit that milestone by the end of this year based on its current growth path, so basically if the company can attract 4 million more mobile app users on top of its current 6 million ones, they’ll start deriving revenues from them in Q4 2009.

Growl App Notifies You Of Other iPhone App Changes

2009-07-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

If you've seen a string of notifications pop up on your screen and then gracefully fade away, you've probably seen Growl; it's the open source & popular system-wide framework that allows applications to let you know when something happens. For instance, a Growl notification might appear to inform you of a newly-arrived email, new mentions on Twitter, a change of song in iTunes, or a download completing in Safari or Transmission.

The notification itself is a customizable pop-up that can also include an auditory notification as well. Growl is very flexible; it allows you to choose exactly which events trigger a notice, or pick a particular notification style for a specific event. Growl includes support for hundreds of OS X applications and is one of the first items I install on a new system.

Probably the only feature that could make Growl even more awesome is if it were to support forwarding notifications to an iPhone or iPod Touch running 3.0 via the new Push framework. Enter iPhone application Prowl. it is a Growl client for the iPhone that sends your Mac's Growl notifications out to your iPhone.

Because Growl is installed on your Mac and Prowl on your iPhone, the requisite link between the two means there is some configuration involved in getting going with Prowl. You can't download Prowl onto your iPhone or iPod touch and be ready to go immediately.

To use Prowl you must first have Growl installed and then create an account at the Prowl website. An account is necessary for the Prowl plug-in on your Mac to know where to send the notifications. Once the client application is installed on your iPhone and configured it is simply a matter of setting your Growl notification style to use "Prowl" rather than your default.

Usage/configuration
Prowl immediately begins working and any notifications that appear from Growl are automatically forwarded on to your iPhone. You can configure Prowl to use a different notification style for notices that appear on your Mac. It is also possible to have Prowl only forward notices of a specified priority. Prowl even lets you decide when to keep the notices on your Mac, when to send them to your iPhone or when to have them them show up on both.
This works by configuring the option to "Only send to Prowl when computer is idle for more than X minutes." By using this option you can tell Prowl that after X minutes of inactivity it should begin forwarding notifications to your iPhone. While the computer is still active, however, it will use the local notification style. Leaving this option un-checked means that all notices will appear on your Mac and your iPhone or iPod touch.

Performance
In my testing I found that Prowl worked exactly as planned and the notifications appeared on my iPhone very quickly. When my iPhone had been in standby for about 20 minutes, there was a 3-second delay between the actual event and the notification appearing on my iPhone -- not bad at all. When I was actively using my iPhone the notifications arrived almost instantaneously. For example, downloading the latest release of redsn0w with Transmission, I heard the familiar sound-effect of my torrent download completing, and before the "ting" had ended my iPhone was vibrating with a new Prowl notification.

Conclusion
I was extremely impressed with Prowl and the elegance with which I was able to view Growl notifications on my iPhone. If you are already using Growl then this application is an easy $2.99US purchase.
Growl is also common with individuals running their own closet servers -- if this is you then Prowl is a must-buy. For example, you could have Growl notifications on your closet server show up on the office Mac and also forwarded to your iPhone when you're away from home.
Prowl is written by Zachary West, who is also one of the developers of the beloved, multi-platform chat client Adium. Prowl is a great application, and I am extremely pleased with the results I had in my testing.

article sources: http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/08/push-growl-notifications-to-iphone-with-prowl/

iPhone Now Has over 13,000 Game

2009-07-07T23:02:00.000-07:00

You know how your birth was a miracle, because of the odds against a specific sperm fertilizing your mom's egg? Now that there are 13,000 frigging games on the iPhone, how far are we from a comparable setup in the App Store? How long until the simple act of playing The Moron Test rather than other games is considered a miracle in and of itself?Do you realize that the number of apps has doubled since March? Doubled. If the App Store continues that exponential rate of growth, games will outnumber humans in about 5 years, and you know what that means: Yep, Skynet.

article source: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/there-are-13-000-iphone-games-now/

VideoUp app allows uploading from iPhone 3GS to Facebook in a snap

2009-07-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

Maybe you heard that a new Facebook iPhone application is almost complete. Maybe you’ve also heard that probably the best feature is that it will allow you to upload video right from your iPhone 3GS to the social network. Well you don’t actually have to wait for the new app to do that — there’s one that does it already. And it’s really, really fast.

VideoUp is a application created by Raizlabs. While they are in no way affiliated with Facebook, the social network was nice enough to help them fix a couple bugs to get it ready for the App Store, founder Greg Raiz tells us. That’s good news because it means Facebook apparently isn’t being tyrannical and demanding that its official app is the only one that will be able to do video uploads to the network.

VideoUp is very simple. You login to your Facebook account via Facebook Connect, choose which video you wish to upload (you can pick one in your library or shoot a new one), enter a description, and you’re done. What’s really pretty amazing about the app is just how fast it uploads the videos. The 16-second test video I shot below was uploaded and playable on Facebook in under a minute. That easily beats the YouTube upload times from the iPhone 3GS, and the quality seems much better.

VideoUp recommends that you hold your iPhone horizontally, so it appears correctly on Facebook. However, if you do it vertically, it’s easy to rotate the video there as well. Obviously, this will only work with the new iPhone 3GS, which has video capabilities.

You can find VideoUp for Facebook in the App Store. It is $0.99.

article source: http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/07/07/videoup-lets-you-upload-videos-from-your-iphone-to-facebook-right-now/

iPhone Could Make Flip Cams Obsolete

2009-07-06T16:28:00.000-07:00

I reviewed the Flip Mino HD video camera December 2008 and was impressed by its sleek design and excellent video quality calling it “ultimate accessory for any self-respecting Mac head.” Then the iPhone 3GS came out — and I haven’t thought about it since.

Much has been written about how the iPhone 3GS effectively killed the Flip Mino, after all, who would pay $230 for a single-purpose device when the $199 iPhone 3GS records video and can edit it and upload it to YouTube? For starters, anyone that is locked in a mobile phone contract with a carrier other than AT&T and people that don’t want an iPhone. A formidable bunch.

Then comes word that Apple is in the process of adding a camera to the iPod touch which is sure to evoke fear in some Cisco executives after the ink barely dried on its acquisition of Pure Digital Technologies (makers of the Flip Mino HD) in March 2009 for $590 million.

TechCrunch, courtesy of a source in Asia, is reporting that Apple has placed an order for a massive number of camera modules like the ones in the iPhone, concluding that the cameras are destined for the iPod touch. Adding more fuel to the fire, MacRumors reports that a “third generation” iPod touch case has been spotted with a hole in the rear for what could be a camera lens.
If the iPhone 3GS didn’t kill the Flip Mino HD, then a third-generation iPod touch with video could be the final nail in its coffin.

Jason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here or to view Jason's full profile click here.

TomTom for iPhone en route

2009-07-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

Among the third-party products demonstrated during June’s WWDC keynote, the one that may have generated the most anticipation was TomTom’s TomTom for iPhone. This combination of an iPhone app providing turn-by-turn driving directions and a hardware accessory, the Car Kit for iPhone, that enhances the app will enable the iPhone to take the place of a standalone GPS unit for many users. Unfortunately, TomTom CTO Peter-Frans Pauwels didn’t provide many details during that demonstration other than to say that TomTom for iPhone would be available “later this summer.”
Macworld recently had a chance to talk with with Tom Murray, Vice President of Market Development for TomTom, and while the company hasn’t yet announced a release date or final pricing information, Murray was able to expand on some of the information presented at WWDC. (You can see a video teaser of TomTom for iPhone on YouTube.)

iPhone challenges
While other vendors have announced, and in some cases already released, navigation apps for the iPhone (AT&T’s Navigator and Sygic’s Mobile Maps are a couple of the latter), Murray noted that TomTom for iPhone is unique because it’s a two-part solution. By combining software and hardware, the company says it can provide an experience that’s much more comparable to that of a standalone navigation unit than an app on its own.
According to Murray, the biggest challenge presented by an iPhone-based navigation solution is that dedicated navigation devices have better GPS reception than an unassisted iPhone. In addition, the iPhone doesnt include any of the special technologies TomTom implements in its own navigation units; for example, gyroscopes and other hardware that allow a unit to better approximate its position when it loses the GPS signal in, say, a tunnel. The size of the iPhone is also an issue”4.3-inch screens are becoming the standard for standalone devices, while the iPhone's screen is only 3.5 inches in size. And few iPhone owners have car mounts for positioning the phone safely while driving.
There are also logistical issues. For example, because the iPhone doesn’t support background processes, any navigation app must shut down during phone calls, making real-time tracking difficult—something that doesn’t happen on a dedicated GPS unit, even one that includes telephony features. And while the iPhone offers far more space for data storage than do most GPS units, the company recognizes that iPhone owners will want to use much of that space for apps and media, so navigation apps need to avoid abusing the opportunity.

Car Kit not required, but recommended
iPhone owners will be able to purchase and use the TomTom software and maps without the Car Kit hardware accessory; however, the Car Kit for iPhone was designed to enhance the software by addressing several of the limitations mentioned above. For starters, the Car Kit includes a separate GPS receiver that performs better than the one built into the iPhone; Murray said this receiver is closer to what you’d find in a dedicated GPS unit. The TomTom app uses this receiver when your iPhone is docked in the Car Kit, allowing for improved real-time navigation, especially in cities with large buildings or in locations with lots of trees or other natural obstacles. The Car Kit also includes a built-in speaker that provides better audio quality and considerably louder output, making it easier to hear spoken directions.
The Car Kit is also a car mount for placing your iPhone in a safe location for driving. The unit includes the same EasyPort mount as TomTom’s recent standalone GPS units, letting you adjust the cradle’s angle, rotation, and relative position (you can position the cradle sitting on or hanging from the mount). The mount locks in place when in use, and folds flat for easier storage. The Kit's power cable plugs into your car’s accessory jack or any USB power source and charges your iPhone while docked.
Finally, the Car Kit includes several additional audio features. For example, it includes a 1/8-inch audio-output jack for connecting the iPhone and Car Kit to any car stereo with an auxiliary-input jack; this lets you listen to both navigation directions and iPhone audio—including music—through your car stereo. You also get a microphone that lets you use the Car Kit as a Bluetooth speakerphone. (Yes, even though the iPhone physically connects to the Car Kit, it uses a Bluetooth connection for phone calls.)
We asked TomTom how the company will promote the TomTom for iPhone package, given that the software and hardware will necessarily be sold and distributed separatelyâ€”the app through the App Store, the hardware through other outlets. The company says it intends to sell each separately, as well to bundle the two, but that making people aware of the hardware if they purchase the software first will be the biggest challenge.

TomTom features, iPhone UI
While the iPhone’s hardware can’t match that of a standalone GPS unit, Murray noted that TomTom is taking advantage of the iPhone’s own unique features to enhance the app. For example, unlike TomTom’s dedicated GPS devices, the TomTom app’s interface has portrait and landscape modes depending, of course, on how the phone is oriented. You can also use the iPhone’s multi-touch gestures—tap, swipe, pinch, and zoom—to navigate the interface and zoom in and out of maps. You’ll also be able to access your iPhone contacts from within the TomTom app, letting you quickly choose a destination or starting point from a contact’s information. (Integration with other apps has not yet been announced.)
Mapping and navigation will apparently work much as they do on the company’s standalone units, with a similar interface, most of the same core features, and similar voice-guided navigation. The app will include TomTom’s IQ Routes feature, which takes advantage of other TomTom GPS owners’ driving experiences to determine the actual speeds driven on particular routes at particular times of day. Murray said the “trillions of bits of data” lets IQ Routes provide accurate information about historical drive-speed norms, generating more accurate drive times and letting the software choose the actual fastest route, which may not be the same as the shortest route.
One feature Murray couldn’t yet confirm or deny is Map Share, which lets users make route corrections—for example, road closures or incorrect street information—on their devices and then sync those changes with TomTom’s servers to share them with other users.
(When asked which TomTom GPS unit the iPhone will most-closely compare with, Murray said there is none—the iPhone’s screen size makes it similar to the older, 3.5-inch-screen models, but features such as IQ Routes make its software more similar to that of newer models.)

Pricing and availability haven’t yet arrived
Unfortunately, TomTom wasn’t able to provide concrete information about pricing and availability—the company is still saying simply “later this summer.” However, Murray did tell us that the company is leaning towards a set price for the application and maps, rather than taking the subscription approach of AT&T. The application you purchase through the App Store will include the TomTom navigation software and the latest TeleAtlas maps for your area; North America and Europe will be the initial areas offered.
Due to the size of the maps, the download will be quite large for an iPhone app—close to 1GB. (TomTom doesn’t yet know if the download will be restricted to WiFi connections.) iPhone users will be able to update their maps, although the policy and process for updating—for example, via in-app purchasing, App Store updates, or using software similar to TomTom Home—has yet to be determined.
Those interested in more information on TomTom for iPhone can sign up for status updates at the TomTom site.

article source: http://tech.yahoo.com/news/macworld/20090706/tc_macworld/tomtomforiphoneenroute_1

Mophie Cures iPhone Battery Woes

2009-07-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a critical post about, among other things, of the iPhone’s battery life. Since then, reports have poured in of new iPhone users who are displeased with the device's longevity, indicating that the new 3GS does little to alleviate the problem.

Putting my money where my mouth is, I headed to the Apple store in Emeryville and picked up a Mophie Juice Pack Air for $80.

The Juice Pack Air is an add-on battery pack that doubles as a case for your iPhone. It comes in two pieces. You slip your iPhone into the bottom piece, which uses and covers the Apple connector. The top piece then slides on to encapsulate the iPhone. It adds an additional 1200mAH of battery power to your iPhone, effectively doubling its life. For an extra $20, the standard Juice Pack provides an additional 1800mAH.

It does add a little size. The Mophie makes the iPhone 0.4 inches longer, 0.2 inches wider, 0.27 inches thicker, and 2.66 ounces heavier. When I first put it on, it felt a little bulky and heavy. After a weekend, I was used to the additional heft. When talking on the phone, I thought the extra depth actually made the phone a little more comfortable to hold. All in all, I think the compromise is fair.

Offsetting the bulk a little is the fact that the Mophie doubles as a case, which is helpful since most other iPhone cases won’t fit over it anyway. The front of the Mophie is flush with the iPhone, offering slightly less protection than my old case, which wrapped around the front slightly.

Conveniently, the Mophie charges the iPhone first and discharges it last. This allows the pack to be removed when it’s empty, shedding a few ounces but leaving you with a fully charged iPhone. The Juice Pack Air can also be charged independently of the iPhone. Four LEDs on the back indicate its battery level.

Suddenly my iPhone world is a little saner. I may as well have had a 2G iPhone all this time since I’ve basically been running it with 3G turned off and with the screen a little dimmer than I like in order to stretch the battery life. Despite those precautions, my iPhone has conked out, leaving me high and dry, on more than a few occasions.

Today, I breathe a sigh of relieve knowing that I can use my iPhone the way I like without having to dive for a charger at the nearest opportunity. I can now leave 3G on and still go 24 hours between charges.

One thing I’ve always disliked about the iPhone is the Apple connector. It seems that virtually every other manufacturer has gone with micro-USB and Apple stands alone with its proprietary connector. Last month, Apple signed an agreement to support micro-USB on cell phones in Europe so future iPhones may be different.

The Juice Pack Air covers the iPhone connector and replaces it with micro-USB (cable included). The USB connection provides all the same functionality of the Apple connector and suddenly I can use the same cord that my Bluetooth headset and other mobile devices use. This makes me happy.

If you’ve already purchased a flurry of Apple iPhone cables to use at home, at work, in the car, and an extra for your laptop case, you might not like the switch to micro-USB.
You’ll also be less than thrilled if you own one of the myriads of music docks that capitalize on the iPod/iPhone connector. To use these devices, you need to remove your iPhone from your Mophie, a minor drag.

I’ve taken my phone in and out of the case a dozen or so times over the weekend. Disappointingly, when I removed the top of the Mophie this evening, the thin piece of plastic surrounding the power button chipped off. Perhaps I was a little rough with it, but the Juice Pack Air fits snugly and takes a little muscle in removing it. Seeing as the Web site sells a replacement top for $8, I imagine I’m not the first to break it.

All in all, I’m happy with my purchase. The Mophie Juice Pack Air is little pricy and slightly bulky, but that’s a small price to pay to end my iPhone battery misery.

article source: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/blogs/bizfeed/167885/mophie_cures_iphone_battery_woes.html?tk=rss_news

Sirius XM App Is An iPhone Hit

2009-07-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

Sirius XM declared its new iPhone application a hit, announcing the app has been downloaded more than one million times from the iTunes App Store within its first two weeks on the market. The Sirius XM app is currently ranked the seventh most popular free entry on the App Store. The leading free app is iHandgun which essentially turns the iPhone into a toy gun. Other leading free apps are mainly game titles.
The Sirius XM app streams up to 120 satellite radio channels in a free trial for seven days, after which users must pay for service including a $3 monthly Internet fee on some plans.
"Reaching more than 1 million downloads so quickly is a strong testament to our world-class programming and Sirius XM's instant brand recognition," said Scott Greenstein, president and chief content officer.
The Sirius XM app does not include access to Howard Stern's programming, although most other Sirius XM stars are offered including Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart and Eminem. MLB Play-by Play, NFL and NASCAR programming is also excluded from the iPhone/iPod touch app.
The app allows users to purchase a Sirius XM song while it is playing or tag favorite songs for purchase at a later time on iTunes.

article source: http://www.twice.com/article/307465-Sirius_iPhone_App_Hits_1M_Downloads.php

iPhone OS 3.0 and 3GS - 5 Apps To Check Out

2009-07-05T05:24:00.000-07:00

Apple Inc. has an interesting pie-slicing problem coming as far as developers of iPhone (and iPod Touch) applications are concerned. All of those first- and second-generation iPhones run the same operating system -- the just-released iPhone OS 3.0 -- as the new 3GS model. But the latter includes new hardware such as a magnetometer, a faster CPU and faster GPU, as well as more memory. If developers build shiny new apps with only those features in mind, they'll limit their market. What to do?

So far, most developers seem to be focused mainly on expanding existing apps to incorporate iPhone OS 3.0-enabled capabilities, such as push notifications and MMS support (in some markets). They're evolutionary changes, much as the newest iPhone itself is evolutionary, but still offer an interesting look at where the iPhone hardware/software combo is headed.
Here's a quick look at five applications iPhone and iPod Touch owners should consider. The easiest way to track them down is by accessing the App Store on the iPhone and searching for the app title. (You can do it in iTunes, too, if you want.)

1. Push to Jive: BeejiveIM 3.0 with Push
Price: $9.99From: Beejive Inc.
Beejive Inc. was an early developer for the iPhone; it even had a Web-based instant messaging client before Apple released the APIs for building "real" iPhone apps. What's new in Version 3.0 is push notification, one of the premier new features enabled with the release of iPhone OS 3.0.
What this means is that BeejiveIM 3.0 will let you know whether any of your IM accounts -- AIM, iChat, MSN, Yahoo, GoogleTalk, Facebook IM, ICQ or Jabber -- has an incoming message, whether you're currently running BeejiveIM or not. Though there are other (and free) IM clients, BeejiveIM has one of the more integrated user interfaces, as well as a wealth of options, such as SMS out, hyperlink support, chat histories, and pop-up-ad blocking.
Though some people might not want to be available this way 24/7, it's nice to know you can be. (Note to BlackBerry and Windows Mobile users: Beejive has you covered as well.)

2. Fight the Flip: FlickitPrice: FreeFrom: Green Volcano Software LLC
This app for mobile shooting and uploading to Flickr will surely benefit from the iPhone 3GS's new and improved 3-megapixel camera -- and possibly from the additional onboard RAM and added storage space.
Flickit allows you to take, tag, title and geotag multiple photos for uploading to your Flickr page. I've managed to avoid the Flickr phenomenon, since I'm not a shutterbug, but I can see how this would be wicked useful for those who are.
Best of all, it's even compatible with all previous hardware models and iPhone OS 2.2 or later.

3. News You Can't Lose: AP Mobile
Price: FreeFrom: The Associated Press
You have to be a bit careful setting up AP Mobile initially -- it takes advantage of the iPhone OS 3.0 push feature, so top stories can pop up at any time, requesting your attention, even when you're using another app, or no app at all. You might want to disable that feature before going to, say, a job interview or a funeral.
Otherwise, this is a great, free way to keep on top of breaking news. ESPN ScoreCenter (also free) will soon get a similar push feature, pinging you every time some overpaid jock makes a basket, scores a goal or hits a home run. Vital for sports fans.

4. Star Defense
Price: $5.99From: NGMoco Inc.
From the same company that brought out other amazingly creative offerings like Dropship and Rolando comes this tower defense game. Not only does it benefit from the iPhone 3GS's souped-up CPU and GPU chips, but it uses push notifications to send out challenges to friends and other Star Defense players within virtual earshot.
The Nintendo DS family of handheld game devices were immensely successful in their P2P play over Wi-Fi. There's no reason the iPhone and the iPod Touch can't also grow into using peer-to-peer/player-to-player networking for collaboration and challenges, opening up new modes of gameplay and productivity. One hopes.

5. What Now?: Remember the Milk
Price: Free, but requires $25 "Pro" accountFrom: Remember the Milk Pty.
Remember the Milk is a to-do productivity application that can get around one of the big weaknesses of most to-do lists -- you have to look at them. I know that's a problem for me. For example, iCal can send you e-mail or desktop note alerts, which helps -- but it only works if you are at your desk.

This app will display an alert at user-defined times before a task must be done. The alert will arrive via IM, e-mail or SMS. It works with Google Calendar, and you can manage tasks even if you're offline and you can share them, as well. It's like the way your mom would remind you to do homework when you were a kid.

These five are just the tip of the iceberg, given the thousands of apps available already and the countless others in the works. It took a little while after the initial APIs were released for developers to start really taking advantage of the iPhone's initial features, like multitouch functionality. We'll be seeing more as time goes on, especially since by most metrics, the adoption rate has been fabulous for the new operating system -- more so with iPhones, where it's free, than on the iPod Touch, for which there is a $9.95 charge because of the way Apple accounts for revenue.

Let's just hope developers and users don't go overboard with the pushing. It could make a crowded train car quite annoying.

article source: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=Default&articleId=9135057&taxonomyId=0&pageNumber=1

iPhone Used As Agricutural Aid

2009-07-05T02:29:00.000-07:00

As he rolls across the wheat fields of his Nebraska farm, Steve Tucker often has his hands not on the wheel of his tractor, but on a smartphone.

He sometimes posts a dozen messages per day on Twitter, commenting on everything from the weather to the state of his crops to his son's first tractor ride and even last night's cheeseburger.
"Got rained out trying to finish up planting corn. Only 90 acres left. Maybe it will dry up today and I can finish Lord willin'," he wrote in one recent post.
"Just sold some more wheat, now, I wait for God to provide the harvest so I can fill the contracts," the 39-year-old said in another. "Eat more bread!"
Tucker is proof that smartphones are starting to put down roots in rural America.
He lives in a 150-person town near Brandon, Nebraska -- a place even he calls "the middle of nowhere." The nearest neighbor to his 4,000-acre farm is about 2 miles away.
Yet, farmers like Tucker are using Internet-enabled phones to gain a foothold on online social networks -- both for business and personal reasons.
_____________________________________________________________

Tucker's tractor tweets
Man, it's so HOT outside, had a zit on my nose that just shriveled up and died.

I'm beginning to think I root up the desert plants I planted and plant bananas and pineapple since we are having Hawaii type weather.

This is not good, the fan on my tractor AC just stopped. It gets hot in a hurry.

This is the day the Lord has made. And he made hail which has struck about every field tonight. But I'm not bitter...not very happy either.

Another night of rain, I think we are beginning to become a tropical area. Crops in the west are way behind.

Just sold some more wheat, now, I wait for God to provide the harvest so I can fill the contracts. Eat more bread!

Trying to fertilize and it is trying to sprinkle while I am doing it. Just give me two hours and then it can rain all it wants.

Got rained out trying to finish up planting corn. Only 90 acres left. Maybe it will dry up today and I can finish Lord willin'.
_____________________________________________________

"I can be in the most remote place and just with the power of having a BlackBerry ... I can communicate with anybody at anytime about anything," he said. "It is just amazing."
The growth of smartphones on farms is important because many people don't think about where their food comes from, much less associate a specific farmer with that process, said Andy Kleinschmidt, a farmer and agricultural extension educator at Ohio State University.
"When you can put a name or personality with someone who's actually raising corn and soybeans or actually milking cows, that's the most important thing that's come about in my opinion," he said.
A host of blogs and Twitter feeds have popped up around the subjects of technology and life on the farm. On Tuesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. ET, farmers meet on Twitter for a live chat about all things agricultural. You can watch that conversation by searching for agchat on the site.
Kleinschmidt said he uses a smartphone to check live weather reports, which can make or break a year's crop. Other farmers send him pictures of ailing plants, hoping to identify crop diseases early.
Some farmers use their phones as notepads, tracking their applications of pesticides, he said.
Developers of phone applications apparently have taken notice of the farm-tech trend, too. An iPhone application called PureSense helps techie farmers in drought-stricken places monitor how much water is in their soil at various locations and in real time.
Historically, farms have lagged behind the rest of country in Internet and computer usage. But a 2007 census by the U.S. Department of Agriculture says Web use on farms is increasing.
High-speed Internet access doubled on U.S. farms between 2005 and 2007, for instance, jumping from 13 percent to 27 percent.
That's still less than the general population, however. Fifty-five percent of farms had Internet access in 2007 compared with 62 percent of homes in the United States overall, according to government statistics. The census does not measure smartphone penetration.
Internet-enabled phones are making their way into rural America slowly because it's difficult to send Internet data over cellular networks in some sparsely populated areas where wireless service is spotty, some advocates have claimed.
Still, some farmers are adopting the technology despite the odds.
The biggest draw of smartphones and online social networks is that they provide human connections to people for whom farm life can be lonely, said Chuck Zimmerman, publisher of an agriculture news blog called agwired.com.

"Most farmers are going to be in their [tractor] cab," he said. "You're going all day long, night and day -- it can get a little bit boring, you know? So, a lot of them have satellite radio, smartphones, iPhones, BlackBerries. I can't tell you how many farmers are following me who are tweeting form the cab."
It's a misconception that farmers are behind the curve technologically, Zimmerman said.
"In large part, farmers tend to be very early adopters of technology. We have the stereotypical image of a hayseed farmer that still persists -- out on a tractor with a straw hat on," he said. "The reality is that most of them are very highly trained from a technological standpoint."
Tucker said his job on the farm in Nebraska includes more than harvesting wheat, corn, sunflowers and millet.
He wants to bring urban Internet users along for the ride. And in doing so, he's become a sort of text-happy evangelist for rural America.
"People out in the cities aren't familiar with agriculture like it used to be 100 years ago. They may not have an appreciation or an understanding of what goes on out in the rural side of things," he said. "I just try to be an information source for whoever may be listening."
So that's what he does from his tractor -- one tweet at a time.
article source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/07/02/twitter.farmer/index.html#cnnSTCText

iPhone performs better than Palm Pre and BlackBerry in Consumer Reports Testing

2009-07-03T21:52:00.000-07:00

Apple's recently released iPhone 3GS pulled out a victory in Consumer Reports' latest smartphone showdown.

In handing the iPhone the top spot in this year's smartphone list, Consumer Reports on Wednesday praised the iPhone 3GS for its "superior display, reinforced by top-notch multimedia, navigation, Web browsing, and battery life." However, the iPhone didn't win in all of the categories.

Consumer Reports gave high marks to the Palm Pre and BlackBerry for their messaging functionality. The organization also praised the Pre as a "superior multitasker" for its "deck-of-cards handling of multiple applications."

In light of the changing features and needs of the smartphone category, Consumer Reports changed some of the criteria for this year's showdown. The changes helped some older phones--like the iPhone 3G--move up in the rankings, while other phones--like the Samsung Blackjack II and BlackBerry Pearl Flip--dropped due to the changes.

Changes include putting more emphasis on things like the display, navigation, multimedia, and messaging, while putting less of an emphasis on features such as talk time and voice quality.
It's unclear how the iPhone 3GS would have rated, had MMS messaging been available from AT&T at the time of the tests. AT&T said functionality would be available sometime this summer.
article source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10278119-37.html

iPhone 3GS Produces ATT's 'best-ever sales day'

2009-07-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

The iPhone 3GS launch on June 19th produced a "best-ever sales day" for AT&T's retail stores, a leaked memo is said to claim. The carrier similarly notes that it experienced its second-largest amount of one-day foot traffic, and the most transactions and upgrade eligibilities it has ever had to process. This comes despite also recording the largest-ever number of phone and feature orders through the AT&T website.

If true the achievements are notable for several reasons, such as surpassing the iPhone 3G launch in 2008, which itself drew major numbers that led to crashing activation servers. Records would further come in spite of Apple taking orders at its own stores and website, and allowing Best Buy and Walmart as third-party vendors. The 3GS can also be seen as an incremental upgrade to the 3G, mainly adding better performance.AT&T has not published exact numbers; Apple however has announced worldwide sales of over 1 million units during the launch weekend, the greatest percentage of which are likely to have been sold in the US.
article source: http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/07/02/iphone.3gs.launch.record/

iPhone releases OS 3.1 in Beta

2009-07-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

Apple this week released a beta version of the iPhone 3.1 software. At the moment the beta is intended only for app developers and isn't really recommended for the rest of us. A number of blogs have already begun digging around in the software already, of course, and have uncovered a handful of new features.
Among them are Bluetooth integration for voice control, non-destructive video editing, AT&T profile 4.2, an update of the modem firmware, and vibration when the user moves icons around.
No word from Apple when the public version of the new OS will be available, because, well, this is Apple we're talking about.

article source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349581,00.asp

iPhone Travel Apps - Top 20

2009-06-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

Forget Super Monkey Ball. New iPhone travel apps are changing how we interact with the world.

It's March in Saigon and I’m staring up at a huge portrait of Ho Chi Minh—the fourth of the morning—when I realize I know almost nothing about him. But I don’t reach for my guidebook. Instead I pull out my iPhone, tap on an app called Air Sharing, and within seconds I’m scrolling through dozens of Wikipedia pages, photos, and PDFs I’d saved for precisely this moment. Like that, I’m an Uncle Ho expert.

In the short year since the opening of the Apple App Store, iPhone applications have already begun to transform travel. No, I’m not talking about More Cowbell. I’m talking about location-aware apps, shareware apps, and just plain good idea apps. Want the best pho in Saigon? Just ask Google Mobile. Looking for the coolest attractions nearby? HearPlanet will find them—then read their Wikipedia entries out loud. And that’s just the beginning. According to tech analyst Ben Bajarin of Creative Strategies, which counsels corporations like Microsoft and Philips on future technology, GPS-enabled apps will be fully personalized within the next 18 months. Imagine landing in Buenos Aires only to have an app sort through your most played songs, then search out upcoming concerts you might like. So with more than 2,000 travel apps and dozens being added every week, where do you begin? With the 20 best, of course.

YOUR TURN

Do you have a favorite iPhone travel app? Is there a new travel app that we should know about? Let us know your thoughts in the commenting area below.
Follow National Geographic ADVENTURE on Facebook and Twitter!

1. Next FlightGot bumped? Leaving early? Next Flight tracks scheduled departures from more than 4,200 airports and 1,100 airlines. It sounds overwhelming, but you can filter by carrier. $2.99

2. UrbanSpoonUrbanspoon is the gold standard in the U.S., London, Melbourne, and Sydney: Shake your phone, watch the dials spin like an old-school slot machine, and up comes the best guide to local restaurants yet. Free

3. HearPlanetLike having a tour guide in your pocket, HearPlanet tells you what attractions are nearby and then plays the Wikipedia description aloud. $5.99

4. Air SharingDon’t waste time (and money) downloading docs abroad. Air Sharing lets you save HTML Web pages, PDFs, text files, you name it, for off-line perusal anytime, anywhere. $4.99

5. TweetieFinally, a practical use for Twitter. With Tweetie you can send vacation pics and witty comments from afar faster and more easily than with any other app. $2.99

6. IAmHereWant your friends to know exactly where you are? (Scorpion Bay, Baja!) IAmHere sends an email with a link to Google Maps. In my tests it was accurate to within a hundred feet. $0.99

7. World CustomsWhich way to wrap that kimono? World Customs dispenses international dos and don’ts, one for every day. (Kimono? Left over right.) $0.99

8. Wi-Fi FinderInternational data rates can be crushing, so finding Wi-Fi is key, especially if you Skype. Wi-Fi Finder tracks over 200,000 hotspots in 135 countries. The only quibble: It could do better at distinguishing free from paid spots. Free

9. The Weather ChannelWeather Bug and AccuWeather come close in the race for full-featured meteorological apps, but the Weather Channel’s gets the nod for customization and the ability to check out conditions in multiple locations at a glance. Free

10. Google EarthAlthough slow even on Wi-Fi, browsing satellite images of anywhere from your vacation destination to the top of the Matterhorn is still one of the best ways to get the lay of the land. Free

11. PackingBecome a packing perfectionist with this easy tool. Create lists of necessary items and check them off as you go. The packing application will make preparing for your vacation a breeze. $1.99

12. RoomIf you're always forgetting your hotel room number—and modern keycards don't remind you, of course—log it in this free program. Free

13. FlightTrack ProMade for busy travelers like you, just forward your airline confirmation emails to plans@tripit.com and TripIt flight itineraries will appear automatically in FlightTrack Pro. $9.99

14. Lonely Planet PhrasebookAt $10, it's spendy for a one-language application, but—very cool—it speaks the translated phrase aloud. Perhaps not such a big deal in Mexico, but in tongue-twister countries, such as Morocco, it's a huge plus. $9.99

15. SkypeBreak the international calling shakedown—jumping on a Wi-Fi network lets you make free (or cheap) calls. Free

16. WriteRoomAmazingly, the iPhone comes with no way of syncing text files and its Notes app stinks. This simple word processing tool transfers text easily between desktop and handset so you can leave your laptop at home. $4.99

17. Amazon KindleThe Kindle's nice, but why carry two devices when you can download e-books directly to your phone? Have an iPhone AND a Kindle? Once you've bought the book, you can read it wherever you want. Free

18. Cheap Gas Pretty straightforward—shows you the least expensive petrol wherever you are. Awesomely helpful if you don’t know the area. Free

19. Babelingo Great linguistic value—300-entry phrase book with 11 languages for just $3.99.

20. WhereShows you what’s around you, from Starbucks to movie theaters and show times. Free

by Steve Casimiro

http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2009/06/best-iphone-travel-apps-text/1

Steve Jobs returns to Apple job -- whence iPhone 4G

2009-06-30T06:12:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs is back at work on the Apple Cupertino campus, in part to guide iPhone 4G development. In IT Blogwatch, bloggers debate the significance of his return to Infinite Loop.
Richi Jennings is your humble blogwatcher: he has selected these bloggy morsels for your enjoyment. Not to mention a list of Konami-code sites...

Kicking us off today, it's Jacqui Cheng:
Apple has confirmed that Steve Jobs is back at work on a somewhat reduced schedule. Jobs is now working on Apple's campus for a few days per week and making up the rest of the time while working from home....Apple had stated earlier this month that the CEO was still expected to make a timely return at the end of June, despite months of speculation that Jobs might not ever come back. We're glad that Jobs has managed to prove the rumor mill wrong this time around, though COO Tim Cook has proven himself quite capable of running the ship in Jobs' absence.

Next, Erick Schonfeld asks what it all means:
Steve Jobs is officially back at work, according to Apple PR. Even though he had a liver transplant earlier this year, a detail which was leaked to the Wall Street Journal and conveniently reported on a Friday night after the markets had closed....What is all of this messaging about? When Jobs took his medical leave of absence in January, he said he would return by June 30. This is Apple’s way of telling investors that he kept to that deadline despite the seriousness of his operation. The official story is that he is back, even if only part-time. But honestly, if he took another six months, would anyone blame him?

Our mate, Ryan Tate, has a deep throat:
Apple won't say whether Steve Jobs was at the office today as part of his official return to the company. But a Valleywag spy spotted the CEO on his company's Cupertino campus. Jobs apparently left early....Earlier today, Apple declined to tell Bloomberg News whether Jobs was on campus. The company had good reason to avoid such a discussion: Entertaining that line of questioning might have led to a discussion of Jobs' itinerary and unwelcome question about why the CEO had to leave early, and about his health. More practically, it also would open the company up to endless questions from reporters about where Jobs is on campus that day. Of course, there's a good chance Apple is going to be getting those queries anyway, whether it answers them or not.

Comparing Jobs to Bill Gates, it's Stuart Miles:
The return of Jobs as promised, is likely to be a relief to stock holders who were, it seems, starting to get worried that the visionary wasn't at the helm....It is not sure though how long Steve Jobs will last in his postion with some experts suggesting that his reign at the company as CEO will be shortly over perhaps taking on a chairman or more "senior architect" role similar to Bill Gates at Microsoft before he finally stepped down from the company last year.
And Dean Takahashi dreams of insectitude: [Is that even a word? -Ed.]
This is one of those days when I’d love to be a fly on the wall at the secretive Cupertino company, which has mastered the art of operating in stealth. ... How many other CEOs can make the news just by going to work?.

Meanwhile, Harry McCracken asks the big questions:
Others will blog (endlessly) about Jobs’ health, how many hours a week he’s really putting in, questions of shareholder disclosure, etc., etc., etc., etc. I have only one question: When will we next see a Steve Jobs keynote? Maybe soon; maybe not so soon. And maybe never, although I have no reason to think he’s done with them, and I certainly hope he isn’t....I’m a bystander, not an Apple cheerleader. But I’m in favor of the tech world being interesting, and it would be a more boring place without Jobs keynotes.

In case you hadn't noticed, Dan "fakesteve" Lyons is back, too:
Palm, which has reinvented itself with a business model that basically involves doing whatever Apple does, only two years later, announced today that its CEO, Jon Rubinstein, is planning to receive a liver transplant. No official date -- they just say it will happen sometime in the next 12 to 18 months.

Palm says Rubinstein's liver will have features that my liver lacks, though they won't say what those features are. Meanwhile Roger McNamee has been posting Facebook updates saying he has seen a working prototype of Ruby's liver and it totally blows my liver away. Just like the Pre blows away the iPhone, right?

article source: http://blogs.computerworld.com/steve_jobs_returns_to_apple_job_whence_iphone_4g

Sirius XM Rolls Out iPhone App, But No Stern or NFL on the Go

2009-06-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

Oprah Winfrey and Martha Stewart fans got a tiny bit of good news yesterday. Sports followers and Howard Stern listeners, not so much.
Sirius XM Radio rolled out a new software application, giving subscribers the ability to tune in to 120 of the satellite radio service's stations via an iPhone or iPod Touch.
However, some early takers were annoyed to find that several of Sirius XM's biggest draws -- channels devoted to baseball, football and Stern -- are not available.
"Laughable and pathetic," grumbled one Stern fan, in a typical complaint, posting on the iPod discussion site iLounge.com. "It's almost like Sirius is trying to fail."
A spokesman for Sirius XM declined to elaborate on the omissions, but this is not the first time stations have not been available on the company's Internet streams. In some cases, Sirius XM doesn't own the rights to stream its standard content on the Web. And when the New York-based Sirius merged with XM Satellite Radio of the District last July, some programming unique to each provider was not readily accessible.
Satellite radio has faced a slowdown in sales in the past year as consumers hold off on buying new cars and after major electronics retailer Circuit City went out of business. Analysts who follow Sirius XM rated the new iPhone software, which requires a paid subscription, as mildly positive for the company.
"I don't think it's a game-changer in the sense that it will drive mass subscriptions, but it's good for them to be there," said James Goss, a media and entertainment analyst with Barrington Research Associates. "They might generate extra subscriptions."
The company's stock, which had been trading around 35 cents, opened at 42 cents yesterday but ended the day at 34 cents.
With its entry into the iPhone "App" space, the company will be competing for attention against popular free services such as Pandora and Slacker.
Although the download is free, only Sirius XM subscribers are able to use the application. Owners of Sirius XM radio devices typically pay about $13 per month; to listen via the Internet, or through the new iPhone software, listeners pay an additional $3 a month.
Sirius XM, which has about 20 million subscribers, recently announced that it will raise its subscription rates, since its royalty dues have increased. Beginning in August, users will have to pay an additional $1.98 a month.

By Mike Musgrove Washington Post Staff Writer

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/18/AR2009061804004.html

iPhone 3GS Jailbreak complete, but won’t be released yet

2009-06-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

The eagerly awaited iPhone 3GS jailbreak hack is working and finished, says its creator, the iPhone Dev Team. It could be released in the next ten minutes if the Team so desired, but it’s going to be kept under wraps for the time being so that it’s harder for Apple to circumvent it.
It sounds cruel, but the iPhone Dev Team has a sound reason for not jumping the gun. “We can jailbreak the 3GS right now,” it reveals, but “once the jailbreak is out, Apple will fix the iBoot-family bug we use to accomplish it. If you bought your phone after Apple has done this, there’s nothing you can do…the jailbreak isn’t going to work for you.”
This relies on Apple updating the iPhone OS 3.0 software in the near future, which is quite likely once the various bugs are identified. Apple also needs to fix the previous Ultrasn0w exploit too, ironically. The iPhone Dev Team admits that Apple could still find out how to prevent the unreleased iPhone 3GS hack by itself, but doesn’t want to hand it over on a silver platter.
So you’ll have to stay patient in the meantime, and once iPhone OS 3.0.1 is launched, the iPhone 3GS will be hacked open like a ripe watermelon.

article source:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology/2009/06/29/iphone-3gs-jailbreak-complete-but-won-t-be-released-yet-115875-21481114/

5 Free Ways To Get Michael Jackson Content Online

2009-06-28T16:46:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson was a cultural icon and a musical legend. So you could be forgiven, on this Friday, if you try to get some Michael Jackson loaded up on your PC or smartphone, even at the office.
If you don't own any albums, there are plenty of free ways to check out the massive quantity of Michael material online, whether you're at your PC or on the go.

Pandora: A customized Michael Jackson radio station on Pandora.com will start with Michael Jackson himself, heading into other artists with "disco grooves, a subtle use of vocal harmony, mid rhythmic syncopation, antiphony and mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation." More likely than not, you'll hear music seriously influenced by Michael - whether it's one of his family's bands (like The Jacksons, the Jackson 5, or Janet Jackson) or music in a similar vein (Pandora gave me Rick James within six songs.) You can log into Pandora through your Web browser, or use a smartphone client on iPhone, BlackBerry, or Windows Mobile. Check out our reviews of Pandora on the PC and on the iPhone.

Slacker: Slacker has the same trick of creating a customized, Michael-themed radio station with a lot of other Jackson family content, as well. But much more than Pandora, Slacker loads up their custom station with modern descendants of Jackson's music, artists like Beyonce, Usher, and Justin Timberlake. Check out our reviews of Slacker on the PC, iPhone, and BlackBerry.

Nutsie: Nutsie has a mobile app that taps into your own iTunes library, but what we're most interested in here is their Web site, which serves (among other things) as a weird sort of YouTube search engine. If you search for Michael Jackson songs, it will pull semi-random YouTube tribute videos to those songs, giving you a very serendipitous look at Jackson's effect on pop culture.

YouTube: There are lots of Michael Jackson videos on YouTube. Remember, the "real" version of Thriller is more than 13 minutes long. The "real" version of Bad, directed by Martin Scorsese, is 16 minutes, but I couldn't find it on YouTube. You can get YouTube on the iPhone and many other smart phones, through customized apps or the Web browser (go to m.youtube.com).
MTV.com: MTV.com also has tons of Michael Jackson videos, of course, including that crazy-long version of "Bad" that I had trouble finding on YouTube, where Jackson plays a young man named "Darryl."

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349409,00.asp

Michael Jackson's death won't affect any Beatles-iTunes deal

2009-06-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

Michael Jackson's position in long-time efforts to make the much-coveted Beatles catalog available digitally is one of the most misunderstood aspects in the very complicated negotiations.
The sudden death of one of the world's best known entertainers on Thursday will have no impact on whether songs from the Fab Four will finally make it to iTunes and other Web music stores. Rumors aside, no deals are imminent, music sources told CNET News.
Jackson bought ATV Music Publishing, the company that owned the words and music to 250 Beatles songs, nearly 25 years ago. He sold a 50 percent share in the company to Sony in 1995 and together they operated Sony/ATV. The actual recordings of the Beatles playing their songs is owned by EMI, one of the four largest music labels, and Apple Corp., the company that looks after the Beatles' business holdings and rights.
What that means is that if you want to record and release a version of "Help," then you need to compensate Sony/ATV. A filmmaker wishing to add a recording of the Beatles performing the song to a soundtrack must negotiate with EMI and Apple Corp.
In the latter scenario, Sony/ATV would collect a share of that deal and could veto it since the company owns the copyrights to the music and words. That typically doesn't happen, and to be clear: Sony/ATV has never stood in the way of a digital deal for the Beatles catalog, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Indeed, the sources said that Jackson and Sony/ATV welcomed it.
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Jackson was in financial trouble at the time of his death. Jackson borrowed twice against his Sony/ATV stake, according to the Journal story. How that will affect Jackson's stake in Sony/ATV, which was held in trust, is unclear.
"Jackson was incredibly proud of his association with Sony/ATV Music Publishing and his role in the company," said a company representative. "He was a great partner."
Correction: Michael Jackson borrowed against his stake in Sony/ATV, and how that will impact the company is unclear.

Greg Sandoval
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10273698-93.html

Apple iPhone 3GS- where does it get its speed?

2009-06-28T13:05:00.000-07:00

So, where does the Apple iPhone 3G S get its claimed "2x faster" leap in speed? Rumors are rampant that Apple is using a new chip to crank up the performance.
Why rumors when Apple has already announced the iPhone 3G S? Apple doesn't disclose chip-level hardware specifications. Moreover, Apple clearly wants to convince any prospective buyer than it's not the iPhone's individual parts that matter but the Apple-branded whole.

Apple claims a speed jump up to two times faster than the previous iPhone: a lot of that may be due to the new processor.(Credit: Apple)
The fact is no one will know for sure until teardown specialists like iFixit and iSuppli actually disassemble the iPhone 3G S. "Until we actually decap those chips, we won't know exactly which chip it is," according to Francis Sideco, senior analyst for wireless communications at iSuppli.
Kyle Wiens, one of the founders of iFixit, said Wednesday he is flying to Europe to get his hands on the iPhone 3G S and take it apart.
So, what does Apple claim exactly? Here's the Apple ad copy on its Web site. "The Fastest iPhone Ever. The first thing you'll notice about iPhone 3G S is how quickly you can launch applications. Web pages render in a fraction of the time, and you can view e-mail attachments faster. Improved performance and updated 3D graphics deliver an incredible gaming experience, too. In fact, everything you do on iPhone 3G S is up to two times faster and more responsive than iPhone 3G."
Technology Web site Anandtech claimed Wednesday that it knows what the chip is. "Although unannounced, the iPhone 3GS uses (again) a Samsung (system-on-a-chip) but this time...it's got a Cortex A8 and PowerVR SGX; just like the (Palm) Pre," according to an analysis published Wednesday at Anandtech by Anand Shimpi, editor in chief .
Most smartphones today--including the previous versions of the iPhone--are based on some version of an application processor design from U.K.-based ARM. The Cortex A8 is a newer, faster version of the ARM design.
A T-Mobile Netherlands' Web page has published features that specify "256 RAM" and "600 MHz-processor." The link is cited in a report published Wednesday by AppleInsider.
"My gut tells me the Cortex A8 is very possible," said IFixit's Wiens, responding to an e-mail query. Though he emphasized that he is simply guessing. iSuppli's Sideco said that the 600MHz speed cited on the T-Mobile Web site doesn't necessarily mean that Apple is using the latest and greatest ARM design. "I wouldn't necessarily make that connection," he said, adding that there are 600MHz ARM processors available based on older designs.
That said, if the Anandtech report is true, this means the iPhone 3G S's application processor--essentially the brain of a smartphone--is similar to the processor used in the Palm Pre. The Texas Instruments' chip in the Pre is also a Cortex-A8 design core from ARM.
Here's what ARM says. The Cortex-A8 processor "is the highest performance, most power-efficient processor available from ARM. With the ability to scale in speed from 600MHz to greater than 1GHz." And using argot probably lost on many readers, it is an in-order, dual-issue, superscalar microprocessor core. Over-simplified translation: it can do more than one thing at a time.
These specifications compare favorably to the processor used in the previous iPhone: an older-generation ARM chip running at 412MHz.
The Palm Pre chip also integrates a Powervr SGX 2D/3D graphics accelerator based on a design from Imagination Technologies. The Anandtech report claims that the iPhone 3G S also uses this graphics silicon.
One of the big mysteries is how much tweaking Apple does to the basic ARM chip design. In one respect, this question is answered very visibly since Apple stamps its brand on the iPhone processor. And for future iPhones, Apple is expected to tap proprietary technology from the recently acquired P.A. Semi. "With their acquisition of PA Semi, the apps (application) processor is the most likely slot to get internalized," according to Sideco, referring to the likelihood that Apple will focus in-house development on the main processor inside the iPhone.
Marion Morales, vice president of IDC's semiconductors research program, said last month in a phone interview that though Apple uses Samsung chips, "when you look at the processor itself, they're designing the processor and using Samsung as a foundry (factory)," he said, underscoring the fact that Apple emphasizes internally developed technology and de-emphasizes external suppliers, even large companies like Intel and Samsung.
Originally posted at Nanotech - The Circuits Blog
article by:
Brooke Crothers is a former editor at large at CNET News.com, and has been an editor for the Asian weekly version of the Wall Street Journal. He writes for the CNET Blog Network, and is not a current employee of CNET. Contact him at mbcrothers@gmail.com. Disclosure.

Bugs & Fixes: IPhone 3GS Signal Strength Oddities

2009-06-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

I warn you at the outset. This is not going to be one of those Bugs & Fixes with a neatly defined set of symptoms and a iron-clad solution. This one's a bit messy. Here's the deal:
Almost immediately after getting my new iPhone 3GS, I noticed that it spent more time connected to the EDGE network, rather than the faster 3G network, than did my prior iPhone 3G.
As my old 3G was still in use (it's now my wife's iPhone), I could conduct a test. Turning off Wi-Fi on both phones, I tracked their behavior. I confirmed that there were numerous occasions when the iPhone 3GS connected to EDGE while the iPhone 3G hooked up to a 3G network--even when the two devices were side-by-side. The reverse virtually never happened. Most of the time, the two iPhones connected to the same network, but a difference was definitely detectable.
Checking online, I found others reporting a similar situation. So I contacted Apple Support for an explanation. They said they were familiar with this matter and that there was nothing wrong. At least not with my iPhone 3GS. According to Apple, the software behind the status bar on an iPhone 3GS does a better job of showing when a switch from 3G to EDGE has occurred than does the comparable software on an iPhone 3G. The status bar on the older iPhone 3G may persist, at least for awhile, in showing the 3G icon even when the phone is actually on an EDGE network. In other words--again according to Apple--both iPhones are likely on the same network at the same time, even if their status bars don't always agree.
This iPhone 3G-vs.-3GS difference is most likely to occur when you are on the edge (sorry for the pun!) of a 3G network coverage area. This is where the signal strength is borderline, thus resulting in switches to the EDGE network and sometimes frequent switching back and forth.
While this made sense, it still left a couple of questions unresolved:
Why does an iPhone 3GS sometimes switch from 3G to EDGE even when the listed 3G signal strength is high (4 or 5 bars)? For this, Apple Support claimed that the cause is an increase in network traffic. As more users connect to a 3G network in a given location, the bandwidth and network speed declines, similar to what when traffic goes up on a cable modem node. This too can cause the iPhone to switch to EDGE.
Apple also contended, although I cannot confirm, that the network gives priority to those who joined most recently. The result is, as network speed slows down in a given location, those who have been connected to 3G the longest will be the first to be switched to EDGE. If this is true, then disconnecting from and reconnecting to the 3G network should temporarily improve matters. To test this out, I went to Settings -> General -> Network and turned off Enable 3G. After waiting a few seconds, I turned it back on. This typically had an effect, but not a predictable one. The iPhone sometimes succeeded in shifting from an EDGE to 3G connection. At other times, it shifted to No Service! No matter what happened, the connection returned to its prior EDGE state within a few minutes. Powering off and turning the iPhone back on led to similar results. As a result, I am skeptical of Apple's explanation on this point.
Finally, some iPhone 3GS users are convinced that the strength and consistency of their 3G network connections on an iPhone 3GS is less on average than on an iPhone 3G. This would be consistent with an iPhone 3GS shifting to EDGE more often than an iPhone 3G, as the newer phone would more often be near the "shift point." On the other hand, this could just as well reflect that the iPhone 3GS reports the network status more accurately, as described above. As I said at the outset, this one's still a bit messy to sort out.
If there is ultimately a signal strength problem that needs solving here, I am optimistic that a iPhone firmware update will do the trick. We'll have to wait and see.
Finally, at least for AT&T phones, you can get a more accurate numerical indicator of the iPhone's current signal strength by manually dialing *3001#12345#* followed by a tap of the Call button. This brings up Field Test mode. The signal strength bars in the upper left are replaced by a negative number. The less negative the number, the better your signal strength. For a reasonably reliable signal, the number should be less negative than -100. Ideal strength would be somewhere around -50.
article source:
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/167459/bugs_and_fixes_iphone_3gs_signal_strength_oddities.html

Apple iPhone Users Can Now Use TeleNav's Turn-by-Turn Navigation Service

2009-06-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

TeleNav's turn-by-turn GPS navigation application is now available for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. This service -- which is being re-branded as AT&T Navigator -- offers features not available on the Google Maps app that ships with the iPhone.
"AT&T Navigator has been one of our most popular and best-performing apps since we launched it last year," said Mark Collins, a VP at AT&T Mobility. "With the new iPhone OS 3.0 software, we're expanding the advantages of true turn-by-turn navigation -- both voice and on-screen directions -- to millions more customers."
This service for iPhone models includes real-time voice and visual guidance, including street names, automatic re-routes, ETA and total mileage updates. Drivers can also choose among multiple route options, including 'traffic optimized'; 'fastest'; 'prefer streets'; 'prefer highways' and 'pedestrian mode'.
AT&T Navigator also offers traffic Alerts, with route monitoring and proactive searches every five minutes for traffic congestion or crashes.
Pricing & AvailabilityThis app is available for $9.99 a month from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch, or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.
As with AT&T Navigator subscriptions on other devices, the app will be billed directly by AT&T and included on the customer's monthly statement

article source: http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=15383&subject=TeleNav+Apple+iPhone

Apple iPhone 3GS Is Jailbreakable. Does it Matter?

2009-06-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

The hack masters at the iPhone Dev Team earlier today announced the iPhone 3GS is officially jailbreakable. The news comes less than a week after Apple released the latest iteration of its wonder gadget featuring new toys like video capability and a digital compass. The Dev Team said that while the iPhone 3GS jailbreak poses some extra technical difficulties, the new phone is susceptible to the same jailbreak and unlock techniques used on earlier iPhone models.
Has Apple Addressed the Issues?
But does jailbreaking the iPhone matter anymore? PC World's David Murphy last month wondered just that, and pointed out that the iPhone 3GS's expanded feature list -- including tethering, video capture, and copy-and-paste -- eliminates a lot of good reasons to jailbreak your iPhone. Of course, there's one big, unsolvable problem that Apple hasn't dealt with yet: overwhelming customer dissatisfaction with AT&T, the iPhone's exclusive U.S. carrier. But is switching carriers a good enough reason to risk your device warranty with a software jailbreak? It just might be.
Jailbreak Interest
Over the last 30 days, the top ten iPhone-related Google searches in the U.S. do not include any references to jailbreaking. However, the United St ates is one of the top ten countries in the world searching for the keywords "iPhone" and "jailbreak." Not only that, the U.S. is one of only three English-speaking countries looking for those terms. Breaking it down even further, Google's own data say that of the top ten cities in the world searching for "iPhone" and "jailbreak," eight of those urban centers are American. So while a majority of American iPhone searches are not about jailbreaking, significant numbers of people in the U.S. are searching for information about iPhone jailbreaking.
U.S.-sourced site traffic for popular jailbreak destinations is also a mixed bag. The Dev Team's blog -- one of the major sources for jailbreak news -- gets less than 5000 visits monthly, according to metrics firm Quantcast. Meanwhile, traffic headed to Cydia, a popular repository for unofficial iPhone apps, doesn't even register enough traffic to be worthy of tracking.
However, Quantcast does rate BigBoss, an iPhone jailbreaking tutorial and reference site, as one of the 500 most popular Websites in the U.S., with 2.5 million U.S.-based page views per month.
Jailbreaking Alive and Well?
It's hard to know for sure if the popularity of rogue iPhones is waning, but iPhone jailbreaking definitely has potential for growth, especially among porn fans. Yesterday, a mini-saga unfolded over Hottest Girls -- the first Apple-sanctioned iPhone application to contain nudity. In true iTunes App Store style, Hottest Girls was available, and then reports came out that the app was pulled. Then the app's creator said they were the ones who pulled it. Not to be outdone, Apple came back to take credit for pulling the app, saying it did so because the app contained nudity. At the time of this writing, Hottest Girls is no longer available in the App Store.
What's strange about the Hottest Girls fiasco is that issues like this were supposed to be solved by Apple's new age appropriate rating system for iPhone apps.
But instead of improving access to a wider range of apps, Apple might be making things worse.
This morning, iPhone developer Travis Yates dropped me a line to let me know Apple is no longer allowing Yates to send updates to his Blackjack card counting iPhone application. The Blackjack app is still available on iTunes, but why won't Apple allow Yates to improve or update his product?
Yates's Blackjack app made headlines earlier this year when it was discovered the program was being used by gamblers to count cards on casino floors -- counting cards in a casino with the help of an automated device is illegal. Since Yates's app was used for illegal activity, it's possible Apple decided the program was unfit for iTunes. At the time of this writing, Apple has not removed the older version of the card counting app from the iTunes App Store.
But you know, I guess jailbreaking has a guaranteed future after all. Well, at least among AT&T haters, porn fans, and gambling addicts it does.

article source: http://tech.yahoo.com/news/pcworld/20090626/tc_pcworld/iphone3gsisjailbreakabledoesitmatter_1

10 things I love about the iPhone 3GS

2009-06-26T18:49:00.000-07:00

Another summer, another iPhone hardware update. This one's worth getting, too -- especially if you have an original iPhone or the iPhone 3G.

If you keep holding out because the iPhone doesn't have everything you want, it may be time to re-evaluate your position. This isn't just a phone -- it's a mobile communications device that boasts few true rivals in the marketplace.

Instead of waiting in line at an Apple or AT&T store, I simply ordered mine though Apple, and that process was amazingly simple. I was guaranteed delivery by the June 19th launch date, and indeed, my 32GB (black) iPhone 3GS was handed to me on Friday morning. No muss, no fuss. Kinda.

Before I get into the reasons I'm in love (LOVE!?) with the iPhone 3GS, let me just say that the activation process on AT&T's network was less than impressive.

It took close to 32 hours for the SIM card to activate, and AT&T could offer little to no assistance in that process. They were, quite simply, overwhelmed. I contend that a lot of perceived iPhone issues have more to do with AT&T than they do with Apple.

Even so, Apple saw fit to issue a $30 iTunes gift card to people caught in this delay. Now that is customer service.

So, what else has Apple given the world in the iPhone 3GS?

1. Video recording capabilities. With the swipe of a finger, you can record a quick video. With another swipe, you can trim your recording. With yet another swipe, you can email it or upload it to your YouTube account. Even when it's transferred over AT&T's 3G network, the A/V quality is rather impressive. Based on my first mobile YouTube upload test, I know I've sold a few more people on the 3GS. Apple seems to have integrated some kind of anti-shake feature into its video processing, too.

2. It's 50 percent faster than previous generations. Yes, believe me when I say that you'll notice a difference in speed (in direct comparison to the iPhone and iPhone 3G models). If you've never owned an iPhone before, then you're going to be equally as impressed. Animations are smoother, apps launch more quickly, and...well, the dang thing's just faster.

3. Twice the storage capacity. Are you good with 16GB? Would you rather have 32GB? Either way, you'll get what you want. I always say: Buy as much as you can afford.

4. Five times the amount of usable memory. Given that iPhone OS 3.0 now supports push data (that is, it allows applications to send and receive data in the "background"), you're going to want more than just 20MB available to you. Whereas the iPhone 3G comes with 128MB of memory, the iPhone 3GS has 256MB. This translates into far fewer app crashes.

5. Voice control. Press and hold the home button (that's the round thing at the bottom of the iPhone), and you'll be passed to the Voice Control application -- allowing you to tell your device to call a friend, play a song, and more. It didn't require any training for me to use, either.

6. Compass. Yeah, I have no idea when I'm actually going to need this. More importantly, app developers will take advantage of this new feature. Turn-by-turn navigation, anyone? TomTom's working on an app for that.

7. Improved battery life. I'm not sure you could make it through an entire working day without attaching an external battery pack to your iPhone, but Apple's found a balance in performance and power with the 3GS. They had to throttle the processor speed somewhat, slightly diminish the capability of the video processor, but at least people can't complain that they always have to keep 'er plugged in to an external power source.

8. Better camera. Isn't 3 megapixels usually better than 2? Generally, yes. But Apple also added the ability to take close-up (macro) shots, and an intuitive autofocus feature. Simply tap the area on the screen you want to be in focus, then take your shot. And before I forget, a friend told me that if you wanted to take a picture of yourself (with the screen facing the other direction), tap and hold the "snapshot" icon. Flip the screen away and when you're ready to shoot, simply lift your finger from the trigger. Thanks, David!

9. Same form factor as the iPhone 3G. Why is this nice? Well, you don't have to run out and buy new cases for your iPhone (if you were previously using the iPhone 3G). If this is your first iPhone, or you're upgrading from the original, then you'll still have a full range of accessories for your iPhone 3GS. I'm sure a revision is in the iPhone's future, but not this year.

10. Weight Loss support. Okay, this one's a bit of a stretch, but the iPhone 3GS has the Nike sensor built-in (no receiver required). Maybe I can convince people that I'm more healthy because I have the ability to track progress? Meh. Still, it's a convenience for those who use it -- I'd just recommend a waterproof case for your iPhone to keep it from being damaged by sweat!

Admittedly, the iPhone isn't "cheap" to own. But the device is only getting better with time. The operating system is ever-maturing and (for the most part) backwards-compatible with older iPhones, the 3G S's hardware specs are comparable to today's sexiest smartphones, and Apple isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

The only iPhone killer on the market today...is a newer iPhone

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/25/pirillo.iphone.3gs/
by Chris Pirillo

Peeking Under the Hood of the iPhone 3G S

2009-06-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

By now, we know that the “S” in the name of the new iPhone stands for speed.
But what exactly does that mean?
Aaron Vronko, co-founder of Rapid Repair, an online repair shop for portable electronics based in Kalamazoo, Mich., flew to Paris to find out. Mr. Vronko scooped up the iPhone 3G S shortly after it was released there and took the device to a nearby shop to take it apart.
“The construction of it is almost exactly the same as the iPhone 3G, so it feels the same in your hands,” he said. “But more than half of the actual components inside the phone have been tweaked or changed.”
Most notable, he said, was the upgrade of the main processor. Both the original iPhone 2G and the 3G used a design with a 412-megahertz central processing unit. But the iPhone 3G S is outfitted with an amped-up processor running at 600 megahertz. That and other upgrades allow the phone to work twice as fast as previous models. Applications that normally take 10 or 12 seconds to open on older phones were up and running in half the time.
Another big hardware improvement, Mr. Vronko said, is the system memory (not to be confused with the storage space for things like music files). The 3G S was upgraded from 128 megabytes to 256 megabytes, which allows the phone to manage more of everything at the same time. Previously, larger Web pages could crash the system, but with the additional memory space, those can be handled without a problem, he said.
Mr. Vronko pointed out that with the beefed-up processor and bigger memory, the iPhone 3G S rivaled the new handset developed by Palm, the Pre.
“The main processor and system memory are completely equivalent to what’s in the Palm Pre, which allows for multitasking in a robust environment,” Mr. Vronko said. “This could also potentially open the door for true multitasking on the iPhone.”
For now, Apple allows iPhone owners to have only one application open at a time. But if the company were ever to relent on that restriction and allow multiple applications to run simultaneously, the iPhone 3G S’s new hardware should be able to keep up.
Perhaps more significantly, Mr. Vronko said, was what the juiced-up capabilities would enable developers of games and other applications to do with the device.
“Right now, Apple has only added a small list of new things that you can do on the 3G S,” he said. “But the capabilities are there to do much more.”
For example, the iPhone 3G S now integrates a PowerVR SGX graphics chip that can handle 3-D rendering, opening the doors to much more complex games design, Mr. Vronko said.
But these new capabilities could potentially cause Apple to run into difficulties down the line, he said. The different generations of the iPhone and iPod Touch, equipped with varying processor speeds, mean that applications could run unevenly across the various devices. Or iPhone 3G S users might have access to a different catalog of applications than owners of the iPhone 3G or iPod Touch.
“Right now, Apple wants their developers to make apps compatible across the various processors,” Mr. Vronko said. “Developers are going to want to push the limits of the device.”
If some apps only work on some phones, that could threaten the simplicity that is an important part of the iPhone’s success, he said.
By Jenna Wortham
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/peeking-under-the-hood-of-the-iphone-3g-s/?apage=2

There May Be 50,000 Apps For The iPhone, But Only A Select Few Become Popular

2009-06-25T21:37:00.000-07:00

AdMob has released its metrics report for May 2009, and looked closely at the actual distribution of users of the iPhone apps in their network this time. The main takeaway? There may be tens of thousands of applications available for the iPhone, but a whole lot of them simply never actually make it onto the device.

Out of 2,309 tracked applications (representing 15.1 million unique iPhone and iPod Touch users), no less than 54% are actively used by south of 1,000 persons. That’s a very long tail there, and not an economically interesting one at that. Only about 20% of the tracked apps have more than 10,000 active users, and only 5% (or 116 apps) boasts more than 100,000 active users. For the record, an active user is considered to be someone who used the app at least once in May.

Two caveats: the AdMob network evidently doesn’t cover all applications available for the platform in its entirety, and the large majority of those it tracks are free of charge. That means two things: there’s no indication that these findings can correctly be extrapolated to the entire iPhone app universe, and it’s likely the curve is less steep with paid applications (usually, you’d be more actively engaged with an app you paid for than a free app you downloaded just for testing).

The report also correctly points out the App Store ranking system feeds the success of top applications, particularly when they are featured on the Apple website in combination with getting rave reviews.

by Robin Wautershttp://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/25/there-may-be-50000-apps-for-the-iphone-but-only-a-select-few-become-popular

Apple iPhone 3G S vs iPhone 3G: Speed Test

2009-06-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

Thanks to SoldierKnowsBesthttp://www.youtube.com/user/SoldierKnowsBest

iPhone 3GS Chews Through PlayStation, Game Boy Games

2009-06-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

Just what your brand new iPhone 3GS needs--Cloud Strife's super-deformed spike-do bristling at hundreds of frames per second. PlayStation emulation amped up to supersonic? Oh yes you can, writes Engadget, and with Game Boy Advance stuff too. All you need is a pre-jailbreak hack called psx4iphone, which you can request a copy of here, and one of Apple's newly supercharged iPhone 3GS's and you're in business.
Okay, it's just a wee bit more complex than that, and you wouldn't catch me doing it for a million bucks. But. If you already have the 3GS, you're also much tech-savvier than me (I don't have one--yet) so why not?
ZodTTD claims they've got things like gpSPhone (the iPhone GameBoy Advance emulator) running full gallop...well, without sound. And you can't switch games without restarting the emulator, or access save states. But getting between 150 and 225 frames per second with zero frame skipping already? That's some serious horsepower under the new iPhone's hood. The original 3G was only able to hit 60 fps with the same game, apparently.
Article by Matt Peckham http://tech.yahoo.com/news/pcworld/20090625/tc_pcworld/iphone3gschewsthroughplaystationgameboygames_1

Apple Approves Porn App, Hottest Girls Available for iPhone

2009-06-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for: Apple has finally approved a porn app. Although it’s not entirely porn, there are nude topless pics which means that we can watch boobs as much as we want. The application is called Hottest Girls, and it was developed by Allen Leung. At first the application showed Asian girls in bikinis and lingerie, however, they’ve uploaded new images with non-Asian girls who are topless.
How great is that? To have a smartphone ready to be filled with 50,000 apps, but no porn. This wasn’t fair. Apple has done a marvelous job because this is what people wants. If you search porn in Google Trends you will not be surprised to see that hundreds of million people are looking for it every day. If you want Hottest Girls on your iPhone or iPod touch, then you will have to pay only $1.99.
I am pretty sure that Apple will not remove the application from the iTunes Store as the application is rated 17+ due to frequent/intense sexual content or nudity and frequent/intense mature/suggestive theme which means that you have to be 17 to download it, and that it will stay here forever.
The vibrator app that was approved a few days ago was destined for the women with an iPhone / iPhone 3G / iPhone 3GS / iPod touch, but this was developed for all the guys who’ve been “supporting” porn industry for a long time.
article source: http://www.softsailor.com/news/5368-apple-approves-porn-app-hottest-girls-available-for-iphone-nsfw.html

iPhone 3G S Teardown Reveals Not Much Profit

2009-06-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

There's another shiny new gadget on the market, and that means it's time for another teardown from the folks at iSuppli. This time out the team tackled the new iPhone 3GS. According to the company, the 16GB model has an estimated price tag of$178.96--that's $172.46 in parts and $6.50 for manufacturing expenses.

That's a bit of a bump from the $174.33 that the company estimated it would cost to put together the iPhone 3G, this time last year. All things considered, it's not a huge profit margin, given the phone's $199 price tag--at least it's not before the carrier costs are factored in.
For a full break down of manufacturing costs, check out iSuppli's site.
by Brian Heater Originally posted to Gearlog.com

iPhone 3GS raises YouTube mobile uploads 400 per cent

2009-06-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

The number of videos filmed on mobile phones uploaded to YouTube has risen 400 per cent since Friday, following the release of Apple's iPhone 3GS.

The device, newly fitted with video recording technology, allows users to upload their videos wirelessly to the YouTube over 3G phone networks. The increase comes as part of a trend towards mobile devices being equipped with video uploading and sharing facilities which has seen 17 times more mobile phone footage uploaded to YouTube in comparison to six months ago. The increase in uploads is not believed to worry YouTube, which already sees more than 20 hours of content uploaded every minute, from a variety of sources.

Though less widespread, Android phones such as the T Mobile G1 and Vodafone HTC Magic are also capable of performing the same function. Video sharing is made straightforward on all formats by the integration of social media features with YouTube, allowing users to show content they've uploaded using social networks such as Facebook and microblogging service Twitter.
Article by Jack Riley
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/iphone-3gs-raises-youtube-mobile-uploads-400-per-cent-1719189.html

IPhone 3G S Lines Shorter, Apple Stock Watchers Say

2009-06-25T07:11:00.000-07:00

Apple’s new iPhone went on sale this morning, to a bit less hoopla and somewhat shorter lines than some expect for new Apple products, the Associated Press reports. (Although there seems to be some disagreement amongst analysts, below.)

In fairness, the iPhone 3G S isn’t really a revolutionary jump from previous incarnations of the popular smart phone. Buyers can opt for an older 3G model, whose price Apple halved to $99, and many current iPhone customers have simply upgraded to the new OS 3.0.

As The Journal’s Walt Mossberg wrote in his review of the 3G S, it pretty much looks the same as previous iPhones, but offers more speed, more memory, more battery life and a few new features, including video recording and a better camera for still photos.

Still, analysts that follow Apple stock are deeply interested in how the new 3G S — which costs at least $199 — seems to be faring on its first day in the market. Here’s a smattering of their recent notes:
Hudson Square Research: “In our survey of 9 retail stores, we found more new customers to the iPhone than we initially expected. In some cases, we found 30% to 40% of the people in line were first-time iPhone buyers. With respect to changing carriers, our findings were mixed. We believe this is a positive sign for the device, particularly since the 3G S is not that different than its predecessor. Overall, as we anticipated, the turn-out is smaller than last year.”

Morgan Keegan: “We stopped by our Apple Store this morning and counted about 40 people in the line compared to the 300+ that were in line at the same time last year. The crowd was about as early adopter in appearance as one could imagine…with less countries getting the iPhone 3G S on day 1 and less incentive to upgrade, we believe that 500k-600k devices sold this weekend is a reasonable expectation vs. the 1mm+ sold last year in the first weekend.”

Piper Jaffray: “In 2008, Apple introduced the iPhone 3G at $199, a 50% reduction from the previous model, which drove demand up significantly. Most customers will be able to purchase the new iPhone 3G S for $199 (the same price as the previous model). As such, the change in value proposition for the iPhone 3G S is not as meaningful as it was for the iPhone 3G, leading to less of a surge in units at launch. Moreover, the iPhone 3G was available in 21 countries at launch vs. the iPhone 3G S which will sell into 8 countries at launch (then over 70 more throughout the summer).”

Scotia Capital: “Although we believe the iPhone 3GS is an improvement over its predecessor and that the US$99 iPhone 3G will have some appeal to AT&T’s subscribers, we see three reasons why iPhone sales may not be as strong as some investors expect … These are: (1) iPhone penetration rates at AT&T are likely slowing: (2) the US$99 iPhone 3G is not likely to change the value proposition enough to appeal to the majority of non-iPhone subscribers, and (3) the upgrade cycle by existing iPhone owners is expected to be muted.

Article by By Matt Phillips - WSJ - http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/06/19/iphone-3g-s-lines-shorter-apple-stock-watchers-say/

Apple iphone 3GS - Guided Tour

2009-06-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

Get a look at all the new features of the iPhone 3GS like video editing, voice control, and more.

Apple iPhone 3GS: The sum of its parts

2009-06-25T02:56:00.000-07:00

The iPhone, of course, is more than the sum of its parts, but the cost of individual components adds up--to $178.96, to be exact.
A new analysis by iSuppli details the cost of the iPhone 3GS and the motley collection of chips inside.

The entry-level (16GB) version of the iPhone 3GS carries a BOM (bill of materials) cost of $172.46 and a manufacturing expense of $6.50, for a total of $178.96, said Andrew Rassweiler, director and principal analyst, teardown services, for iSuppli, in a statement.

Service providers are paying more for the low-end iPhone 3G S than the original iPhone 3G, according to Rassweiler. "Although the retail price of the 16GB iPhone 3GS is $199, the same as for the 8GB version of the original iPhone 3G, the actual price of the phone paid by the service provider is considerably higher, reflecting the common wireless industry practice of subsidizing the upfront cost of a mobile phone and then making a profit on subscriptions," he said.
And what are the major cost drivers? The 16GB flash memory chip is the priciest at $24--and reflects the rising cost of flash chips due to supply constraints, according to iSuppli. This part is also available from Samsung. So there could be some second-sourcing (sourcing the part from a second chip supplier) in the future.

The next rung in the cost ladder is the 3.5-inch display module and touch-screen assembly, at $19.95 and $16, respectively.

Below this, is the main Samsung applications processor. Priced at $14.46, it is the fourth most costly component in the iPhone 3GS. As reported earlier, the new ARM-based Samsung processor (Apple branded, by the way) plays a key role in the 3G S' improved performance. In the 3GS, the processor runs at 600MHz version, in the 3G at only 400MHz.
Beyond faster performance, the iPhone 3GS adds video capture, an autofocus 3-megapixel camera--compared with 2 megapixels before--and a built-in digital compass.
Aside from these extras (and the new processor), the 3GS hardware feature set (that user sees) is not much different from that of the 3G, iSuppli said.

"From a component and design perspective, there's also a great deal of similarity between the 3G and the 3GS. By leveraging this commonality to optimize materials costs, and taking advantage of price erosion in the electronic component marketplace, Apple can provide a higher-performing product with more memory and features at only a slightly higher materials and manufacturing cost," Rassweiler said.

And how did other chip suppliers do beyond Toshiba and Samsung? Broadcom is supplying a single-chip Bluetooth/FM/WLAN device, costing $5.95. Look closely, and squeezed in between the Bluetooth and WLAN (wireless local area network) is an FM radio feature. The iPhone 3GS does not list an FM radio as one its features, but that's part of the feature set of the Broadcom chip. In this case, it may be simply disabled.

AKM provides an electronic compass and STMicroelectronics, the accelerometer, both of which are 3-axis devices. The STMicroelectronics part allows the 3G S to determine device orientation or inclination, while the AKM sensor detects device movement relative to magnetic north, supporting the 3GS' capability to reorient a map displayed on the screen to correspond with the direction the user is facing, according to iSuppli.

Infineon Technologies AG is the supplier of the phone's important baseband chip, which accounts for $13 of the 3GS component costs.

Article by Brooke Crothers CNET News.com

A Brief History Of The Apple iPhone

2009-06-24T23:53:00.000-07:00

iPhone - Apple Inc.

Release date Original: June 29, 2007 (2007-06-29) 3G: July 11, 2008 (2008-07-11) 3GS: June 19, 2009 (2009-06-19)

Units sold- 21.17 million (as of Q2 2009)

Operating system-iPhone OS 3.0 (build 7A341)

Power Original: 3.7 V 1400 mAh 3G: 3.7 V 1150 mAh3GS: 3.7 V 1219 mAh Internal rechargeable non-removable lithium-ion polymer battery

CPU
Original & 3G: Samsung 32-bit RISC ARM 1176JZ(F)-S v1.0 620 MHz underclocked to 412 MHz PowerVR MBX Lite 3D GPU 3GS: ARM Cortex-A8833 MHz underclocked to 600 MHzPowerVR SGX GPU

Storage capacity
Flash memory (Original: 4, 8, & 16 GB; 3G: 8 & 16 GB; 3GS: 16 & 32 GB)

Memory
Original & 3G: 128 MB DRAM 3GS: 256 MB

Display
320×480 px, 3.5 in (89 mm), 2:3 aspect ratio, 262,144-color LCD

Sound
Two speakers, TRRS headphone jack, 20 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response (internal, headset), microphone

Input
Multi-touch display, headset controls, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis accelerometer3GS also includes: digital compass

Camera
Original & 3G: 2.0 megapixels with geotagging 3GS: 3.0 megapixels with video (VGA at 30 fps), geotagging, and automatic focus, white balance, & exposure

Connectivity
Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (3GS: 2.1), USB 2.0/Dock connectorQuad band GSM 850 900 1800 1900 GPRS/EDGE 3G also includes: A-GPS; Tri band UMTS/HSDPA 3GS also supports: 7.2 Mbps HSDPA

Online services
iTunes Store, App Store

Dimensions
Original:4.5 in (115 mm) (h)2.4 in (61 mm) (w)0.46 in (11.6 mm) (d)3G & 3GS:4.5 in (115.5 mm) (h)2.4 in (62.1 mm) (w)0.48 in (12.3 mm) (d)
Weight
Original & 3GS: 135 g (4.8 oz)3G: 133 g (4.7 oz)

The iPhone is an Internet-connected, multimedia smartphone designed and marketed by Apple Inc. Since its minimal hardware interface lacks a physical keyboard, the multi-touch screen renders a virtual keyboard when necessary. The iPhone functions as a camera phone (also including text messaging and visual voicemail), a portable media player (equivalent to a video iPod), and an Internet client (with email, web browsing, and Wi-Fi connectivity). The first-generation phone hardware was quad-band GSM with EDGE; the second generation added UMTS with HSDPA
Apple announced the iPhone on January 9, 2007, after months of rumors and speculation. The original iPhone was introduced in the United States on June 29, 2007 before being marketed worldwide. Time magazine named it the Invention of the Year in 2007. Released July 11, 2008, the iPhone 3G supports faster 3G data speeds and assisted GPS. On March 17, 2009, Apple announced version 3.0 of the iPhone OS operating system for the iPhone (and iPod Touch), released on June 17, 2009. The iPhone 3GS was announced on June 8, 2009. It was released in the U.S., Canada and some European countries on June 19, will be released in Australia and Japan on June 26, and will see international release in July and August.

History and availability
Development of iPhone began with Apple CEO Steve Jobs' direction that Apple engineers investigate touchscreens. Apple created the device during a secretive and unprecedented collaboration with AT&T Mobility—Cingular Wireless at the time—at an estimated development cost of US$150 million over thirty months. Apple rejected the "design by committee" approach that had yielded the Motorola ROKR E1, a largely unsuccessful collaboration with Motorola. Instead, Cingular gave Apple the liberty to develop the iPhone's hardware and software in-house.
Jobs unveiled iPhone to the public on January 9, 2007 in a keynote address. Apple was required to file for operating permits with the FCC, but since such filings are made available to the public, the announcement came months before the iPhone had received approval. The iPhone went on sale in the United States on June 29, 2007, at 6:00 pm local time, while hundreds of customers lined up outside the stores nationwide. The original iPhone was made available in the UK, France, and Germany in November 2007, and Ireland and Austria in the spring of 2008.
On July 11, 2008, Apple released the iPhone 3G in twenty-two countries, including the original six. Apple has since released the iPhone 3G in upwards of eighty countries and territories. Apple announced the iPhone 3GS on June 8, 2009, along with plans to release it later in June, July, and August, starting with the U.S., Canada and major European countries on June 19. The 8 GB iPhone 3G is still available after the latest of several price reductions over the years; it now sells for one-sixth of the price of the original 8 GB iPhone when it first became available. In the U.S., it now costs $99, down from $599, although it includes a two-year contract and a SIM lock.
Apple sold 6.1 million original iPhone units over five quarters. The company sold 3.8 million iPhone 3G units in the second quarter of fiscal 2009, ending March 2009, totaling 21.4 million iPhones sold to date. Sales in Q4 2008 surpassed temporarily those of RIM's BlackBerry sales of 5.2 million units, which made Apple briefly the third largest mobile phone manufacturer by revenue, after Nokia and Samsung. While iPhone sales constitute a significant portion of Apple's revenue, some of this income is deferred.
Reception from critics has been generally very positive across all iPhone models, with the iPhone effectively becoming a cultural icon. Among those choosing not to buy an iPhone, the price, lack of interest, and having to change carriers were cited according to an NPD Group survey.
Regardless, the iPhone remains popular among people of all ages, with particular reach to those who are financially well-off: according to MocoNews, a survey by Nielsen Wire in 2009 found that 40% of iPhone owners in the US make a six-figure income (above $100,000 annually).

Hardware
Screen and input
The touchscreen is a 9 cm (3.5 in) liquid crystal display (320×480 px at 6.3 px/mm, 160 ppi, HVGA) with scratch-resistant glass, and can render 262,144 colors. The capacitive touchscreen is designed for a bare finger, or multiple fingers for multi-touch sensing. Most gloves and styluses prevent the necessary electrical conductivity. The iPhone 3GS also features a new Fingerprint-resistant oleo phobic coating.
The display responds to three sensors. A proximity sensor deactivates the display and touchscreen when the device is brought near the face during a call. This is done to save battery power and to prevent inadvertent inputs from the user's face and ears. An ambient light sensor adjusts the display brightness which in turn saves battery power. A 3-axis accelerometer senses the orientation of the phone and changes the screen accordingly, allowing the user to easily switch between portrait and landscape mode. Photo browsing, web browsing, and music playing support both upright and left or right widescreen orientations. The 3.0 update added landscape support for still other applications, such as email, and introduced shaking the unit as a form of input. The accelerometer can also be used to control third party apps, notably games.
A software update in January 2008 allowed the first generation iPhone to use cell tower and Wi-Fi network locations trilateration, despite lacking GPS hardware. The iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS employ A-GPS, and the iPhone 3GS also has a digital compass.
The iPhone has three physical switches on the sides: wake/sleep, volume up/down, and ringer on/off. These are made of plastic on the original iPhone and metal on all later models. A single "Home" hardware button below the display brings up the main menu. The touch screen furnishes the remainder of the user interface.
The back of the original iPhone was made of aluminum with a black plastic accent. The iPhone 3G and 3GS feature a full plastic back to increase the strength of the GSM signal. The iPhone 3G is available in black with 8 GB of space, and the discontinued 16 GB model was sold in either black or white. The iPhone 3GS is available in both colors, regardless of storage capacity.

Audio and output
One of two speakers (left) and the microphone (right) surround the dock connector on the base of the iPhone. If a headset is plugged in, sound is played through it instead.
One loudspeaker is located above the screen as an earpiece, and another is located on the left side of the bottom of the unit, opposite a microphone on the bottom-right. Volume controls are located on the left side of the unit and as a slider in the iPod application. Both speakers are used for handsfree operations and media playback.
The 3.5 mm TRRS connector for the headphones is located on the top left corner of the device. The headphone socket on the original iPhone is recessed into the casing, making it incompatible with most headsets without the use of an adapter. The iPhone 3G eliminates the issue with a flush mounted headphone socket.
While the iPhone is compatible with normal headphones, Apple provides a headset with additional functionality. A multipurpose button near the microphone can be used to play or pause music, skip tracks, and answer or end phone calls without touching the iPhone itself. A small number of third-party headsets specifically designed for the iPhone also include the microphone and control button. Apple sells headsets with volume controls, but they are only compatible with the iPhone 3GS.
The built-in Bluetooth 2.x+EDR supports wireless earpieces and headphones, which requires the HSP profile. Stereo audio was added in the 3.0 update for hardware that supports A2DP. While illicit solutions exist, the iPhone does not officially support the OBEX file transfer protocol.The lack of these profiles prevents iPhone users from exchanging multimedia files, such as pictures, music and videos, with other bluetooth-enabled cell phones.
Composite or component video at up to 576i and stereo audio can be output from the dock connector using an adapter sold by Apple. Unlike many similar phones, the iPhone did not support voice recording until the 3.0 software update.

Battery
The iPhone features an internal rechargeable battery. Like an iPod but unlike most other cell phones, the battery is not user-replaceable. The iPhone can be charged when connected to a computer for syncing across the included USB to dock connector cable, similar to charging an iPod. Alternatively, a USB to AC adapter (or "wall charger," also included) can be connected to the cable to charge directly from an AC outlet. A number of third party accessories (stereos, car chargers, even solar chargers) are also available.
Apple runs tests on preproduction units to determine battery life. Apple's website says that the battery life "is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity after 400 full charge and discharge cycles", which is comparable to iPod batteries. The original iPhone's battery was stated to be capable of providing up to seven hours of video, six hours of web browsing, eight hours of talk time, 24 hours of music or up to 250 hours on standby. The iPhone 3G's battery is stated to be capable of providing up to seven hours of video, six hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi or five on 3G, ten hours of 2G talk time, or five on 3G, 24 hours of music, or 300 hours of standby. Apple claims that the 3GS can last for ten hours of video, nine hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi or five on 3G, twelve hours of 2G talk time, or five on 3G, 30 hours of music, or 300 hours of standby. However, these are purported maximums ("up to"), and actually user experiences vary.
Battery life has been a subject of criticism from several technology journalists. This is also reflected by a J. D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction survey, which gave the "battery aspects" of the iPhone 3G its lowest rating of 2 out of 5 stars. This is the same score given to HTC, Motorola, and Palm smartphones, but a lower rating than Samsung and Blackberry smartphones.
If the battery malfunctions or dies prematurely, the phone can be returned to Apple and replaced for free while still under warranty. The warranty lasts one year from purchase and is extended to two years with AppleCare. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a consumer advocate group, has sent a complaint to Apple and AT&T over the fee that consumers have to pay to have the battery replaced. Though the battery replacement service and its pricing was not made known to buyers until the day the product was launched, it is similar to how Apple (and third parties) replace batteries for iPods.
Since July 2007 third party battery replacement kits have been available at a much lower price than Apple's own battery replacement program. These kits often include a small screwdriver and an instruction leaflet, but as with many newer iPod models the battery in the original iPhone has been soldered in. Therefore a soldering iron is required to install the new battery. The iPhone 3G uses a different battery fitted with a connector that is easier to replace, although replacing the battery oneself still voids the warranty.

Storage and SIM
The iPhone was initially released with two options for internal storage size: 4 GB or 8 GB. On September 5, 2007, Apple discontinued the 4 GB models. On February 5, 2008, Apple added a 16 GB model. The iPhone 3G was available in 16 GB and is still available with 8 GB. The iPhone 3GS comes in 16 GB and 32 GB variants. All data is stored on the internal flash drive; the iPhone does not support expanded storage through a memory card slot, or the SIM card.
The SIM card sits in a tray, which is inserted into a slot at the top of the device. The SIM tray can be ejected with a paperclip or the SIM eject tool included with the iPhone 3G and 3GS.[72] In most countries, the iPhone is usually sold with a SIM lock, which prevents the iPhone from being used on a different mobile network.

Included items
All iPhone models include written documentation, and a dock connector to USB cable. The original and 3G iPhones also came with a cleaning cloth. The original iPhone included stereo headset (earbuds and a microphone) and a plastic dock to hold the unit upright while charging and syncing. The iPhone 3G includes a similar headset plus a SIM eject tool (the original model requires a paperclip). The iPhone 3GS includes the SIM eject tool and a revised headset, which adds volume buttons . The iPhone 3G and 3GS are compatible with the same dock, sold separately, but not the original model's dock. All versions include a USB power adapter, or "wall charger," which allows the iPhone to charge from an AC outlet. The iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS sold in North America, Japan, Colombia, Ecuador, or Peru include an ultracompact USB power adapter.

Software
The iPhone (and iPod Touch) run an operating system known as iPhone OS. It is based on a variant of the same Darwin operating system core that is found in Mac OS X. Also included is the "Core Animation" software component from Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard. Together with the PowerVR hardware (and on the iPhone 3GS, OpenGL ES 2.0), it is responsible for the interface's smooth animations. The operating system takes up less than half a GB of the device's total storage (4 to 32 GB). It is capable of supporting bundled and future applications from Apple, as well as from third-party developers. Software applications cannot be copied directly from Mac OS X but must be written and compiled specifically for iPhone OS.
Like the iPod, the iPhone is managed with iTunes. The earliest versions of iPhone OS required version 7.3 or later, which is compatible with Mac OS X version 10.4.10 Tiger or later, and 32-bit or 64-bit Windows XP or Vista. The release of iTunes 7.6 expanded this support to include 64-bit versions of XP and Vista, and a workaround has been discovered for previous 64-bit Windows operating systems. Apple provides free updates to iPhone OS through iTunes. Major updates often require a newer version of iTunes — for example, the 3.0 update requires iTunes 8.2 — but the iTunes system requirements have stayed the same. Updates include both security patches and new features. For example, iPhone 3G users initially experienced dropped calls until an update was issued.

Interface
The interface is based around the home screen, a graphical list of available applications. iPhone applications normally run one at a time, although most functionality is still available when making a call or listening to music. The home screen can be accessed at any time by a hardware button below the screen, closing the open application in the process. By default, the Home screen contains the following icons: Messages (SMS and MMS messaging), Calendar, Photos, Camera, YouTube, Stocks, Maps (Google Maps), Weather, Voice Memos, Notes, Clock, Calculator, Settings, iTunes (store), App Store, and (on the iPhone 3GS only) Compass. Docked at the base of the screen, four icons for Phone, Mail, Safari (Internet), and iPod (multimedia) delineate the iPhone's main purposes. On January 15, 2008, Apple released software update 1.1.3, allowing users to create "Web Clips", home screen icons that resemble apps that open a user-defined page in Safari. After the update, iPhone users can rearrange and place icons on up to nine other adjacent home screens, accessed by a horizontal swipe. Users can also add and delete icons from the dock, which is the same on every home screen. Each home screen holds up to sixteen icons, and the dock holds up to four icons. Users can delete Web Clips and third-party applications at any time, and may select only certain applications for transfer from iTunes. Apple's default programs, however, may not be removed. The 3.0 update adds a system-wide search, known as Spotlight, to the left of the first home screen.
Almost all input is given through the touch screen, which understands complex gestures using multi-touch. The iPhone's interaction techniques enable the user to move the content up or down by a touch-drag motion of the finger. For example, zooming in and out of web pages and photos is done by placing two fingers on the screen and spreading them farther apart or bringing them closer together, a gesture known as "pinching". Scrolling through a long list or menu is achieved by sliding a finger over the display from bottom to top, or vice versa to go back. In either case, the list moves as if it is pasted on the outer surface of a wheel, slowly decelerating as if affected by friction. In this way, the interface simulates the physics of a real object. Other visual effects include horizontally sliding sub-selection, the vertically sliding keyboard and bookmarks menu, and widgets that turn around to allow settings to be configured on the other side. Menu bars are found at the top and bottom of the screen when necessary. Their options vary by program, but always follow a consistent style motif. In menu hierarchies, a "back" button in the top-left corner of the screen displays the name of the parent folder.

Phone
When making a call, the iPhone presents a number of options. The screen is automatically disabled when held close to the face.
The iPhone allows audio conferencing, call holding, call merging, caller ID, and integration with other cellular network features and iPhone functions. For example, if a song is playing while a call is received, it gradually fades out, and fades back when the call has ended. The proximity sensor shuts off the screen and touch-sensitive circuitry when the iPhone is brought close to the face, both to save battery and prevent unintentional touches. This iPhone does not support video calling, and the first two models only supported voice dialing through third party applications. Voice control, available only on the iPhone 3GS, allows users to say a contact's name or number and the iPhone will dial.
The iPhone includes a visual voicemai (in some countries) feature allowing users to view a list of current voicemail messages on-screen without having to call into their voicemail. Unlike most other systems, messages can be listened to and deleted in a non-chronological order by choosing any message from an on-screen list.
A music ringtone feature was introduced in the United States on September 5, 2007. Users can create custom ringtones from songs purchased from the iTunes Store for a small additional fee. The ringtones can be 3 to 30 seconds long from any part of a song, can fade in and out, pause from half a second to five seconds when looped, or loop continuously. All customizing can be done in iTunes, or alternatively with Apple's GarageBand software 4.1.1 or later (available only on Mac OS X) or third-party tools.

Multimedia
The layout of the music library is similar to that of an iPod or current Symbian S60 phones. The iPhone can sort its media library by songs, artists, albums, videos, playlists, genres, composers, podcasts, audiobooks, and compilations. Options are always presented alphabetically, except in playlists, which retain their order from iTunes. The iPhone uses a large font that allows users plenty of room to touch their selection. Users can rotate their device horizontally to landscape mode to access Cover Flow. Like on iTunes, this feature shows the different album covers in a scroll-through photo library. Scrolling is achieved by swiping a finger across the screen. Alternatively, headset controls can be used to pause, play, skip, and repeat tracks. Voice control, only on the iPhone 3GS, can also be used identify a track, play songs in a playlist of by a specific artist, and create a Genius playlist.
The iPhone supports gapless playback. Like the fifth generation iPods introduced in 2005, the iPhone can play digital video, allowing users to watch TV shows and movies in widescreen. Unlike other image-related content, video on the iPhone plays only in the landscape orientation, when the phone is turned sideways. Double-tapping switches between widescreen and fullscreen video playback.
The iPhone allows users to purchase and download songs from the iTunes Store directly to their iPhone. The feature originally required a Wi-Fi network, but now can use the cellular data network if one is not available.

Internet connectivity
Internet access is available when the iPhone is connected to a local area Wi-Fi or a wide area GSM or EDGE network, both second-generation (2G) wireless data standards. The iPhone 3G also supports third-generation UMTS and HSDPA 3.6, but not HSUPA networks, and only the iPhone 3GS supports HSDPA 7.2. AT&T introduced 3G in July 2004, but as late as 2007 Steve Jobs felt that it was still not widespread enough in the US, and the chipsets not energy efficient enough, to be included in the iPhone. Support for 802.1X, an authentication system commonly used by university and corporate Wi-Fi networks, was added in the 2.0 version update.
By default, the iPhone will ask to join newly discovered Wi-Fi networks and prompt for the password when required. Alternatively, it can join closed Wi-Fi networks manually. The iPhone will automatically choose the strongest network, connecting to Wi-Fi instead of EDGE when it is available. Similarly, the iPhone 3G prefers 3G to 2G, and Wi-Fi to either. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G (on the iPhone 3G) can all be deactivated individually. Airplane Mode disables all wireless connections at once, overriding other preferences.
The iPhone 3G has a maximum download rate of 1.4 Mbps in the United States. Furthermore, files downloaded over cellular networks must be smaller than 10 MB. Larger files, often email attachments or podcasts, must be downloaded over Wi-Fi (which has no file size limits). If Wi-Fi is unavailable, one workaround is to open the files directly in Safari.
Safari is the iPhone's native web browser, and it displays pages similar to its Mac and PC counterpart. Web pages may be viewed in portrait or landscape mode and supports automatic zooming by pinching together or spreading apart fingertips on the screen, or by double-tapping text or images. The iPhone supports neither Flash nor Java. Consequently, the UK's Advertising Standards Authority adjudicated that an advertisement claiming the iPhone could access "all parts of the internet" should be withdrawn in its current form, on grounds of false advertising. The iPhone supports SVG, CSS, HTML Canvas, and Bonjour.
The maps application can access Google Maps in map, satellite, or hybrid form. It can also generate directions between two locations, while providing optional real-time traffic information. During the iPhone's announcement, Jobs demonstrated this feature by searching for nearby Starbucks locations and then placing a prank call to one with a single tap. Support for walking directions, public transit, and street view was added in the version 2.2 software update. The iPhone 3GS can orient the map with its digital compass. Apple also developed a separate application to view YouTube videos on the iPhone, which streams videos after encoding them using the H.264 codec. Simple weather and stock quotes applications also tap in to the Internet.
iPhone users can and do access the Internet frequently, and in a variety of places. According to Google, the iPhone generates 50 times more search requests than any other mobile handset. According to Deutsche Telekom CEO René Obermann, "The average Internet usage for an iPhone customer is more than 100 megabytes. This is 30 times the use for our average contract-based consumer customers."

Text input
For text input, the iPhone implements a virtual keyboard on the touchscreen. It has automatic spell checking and correction, predictive word capabilities, and a dynamic dictionary that learns new words. The keyboard can predict what word the user is typing and complete it, and correct for the accidental pressing of keys adjacent to the presumed desired key. The keys are somewhat larger and spaced farther apart when in landscape mode, which is supported by only a limited number of applications. Touching a section of text for a brief time brings up a magnifying glass, allowing users to place the cursor in the middle of existing text. The virtual keyboard can accommodate 21 languages, including character recognition for Chinese. The 3.0 update brought support for cut, copy, or pasting text, as well as landscape keyboards in more applications.

E-mail and text messages
The iPhone also features an e-mail program that supports HTML e-mail, which enables the user to embed photos in an e-mail message. PDF, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint attachments to mail messages can be viewed on the phone. Apple's MobileMe platform offers push email, which emulates the functionality of the popular BlackBerry email solution, for an annual subscription. Yahoo! offers a free push-email service for the iPhone. IMAP (although not Push-IMAP) and POP3 mail standards are also supported, including Microsoft Exchange and Kerio MailServer. In the first versions of the iPhone firmware, this was accomplished by opening up IMAP on the Exchange server. Apple has also licensed Microsoft ActiveSync and now supports the platform (including push email) with the release of iPhone 2.0 firmware. The iPhone will sync e-mail account settings over from Apple's own Mail application, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Entourage, or it can be manually configured on the device itself. With the correct settings, the e-mail program can access almost any IMAP or POP3 account.
Text messages are presented chronologically in a mailbox format similar to Mail, which places all text from recipients together with replies. Text messages are displayed in speech bubbles (similar to iChat) under each recipient's name. The iPhone currently has built-in support for e-mail message forwarding, drafts, and direct internal camera-to-e-mail picture sending. Support for multi-recipient SMS was added in the 1.1.3 software update. Support for was added in the 3.0 update, but not immediately in the U.S. and not for the original iPhone. A lack of focus on text-messaging is widely considered a chief weakness of the iPhone, although a large number of users evidently have no issue using the device for this purpose.

Camera and photos
The iPhone and iPhone 3G feature a built in fixed-focus 2.0 megapixel camera located on the back for still digital photos. It has no optical zoom, flash or autofocus, and does not support video recording. Version 2.0 of iPhone OS introduced the capability to embed location data in the pictures, producing geocoded photographs. The iPhone 3GS has a 3.0 megapixel camera, with auto focus, auto white balance, and auto macro (up to 10 cm). It can also record VGA video at 30 frames per second. It can then be cropped on the device itself and directly uploaded to YouTube, MobileMe, or other services.
The iPhone includes software that allows the user to upload, view, and e-mail photos. The user zooms in and out of photos by sliding two fingers further apart or closer together, much like Safari. The Camera application also lets users view the camera roll, the pictures that have been taken with the iPhone's camera. Those pictures are also available in the Photos application, along with any transferred from iPhoto or Aperture on a Mac, or Photoshop in Windows.

Third party applications
At WWDC 2007 on June 11, 2007 Apple announced that the iPhone would support third-party "web applications" written in AJAX that share the look and feel of the iPhone interface. On October 17, 2007, Steve Jobs, in an open letter posted to Apple's "Hot News" weblog, announced that a software development kit (SDK) would be made available to third-party developers in February 2008. The iPhone SDK was officially announced on March 6, 2008, at the Apple Town Hall facility. It allows developers to develop native applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch, as well as test them in an "iPhone simulator". However, loading an application onto the devices is only possible after paying a Apple Developer Connection membership fee. Developers are free to set any price for their applications to be distributed through the App Store, of which they will receive a 70 percent share. Developers can also opt to release the application for free and will not pay any costs to release or distribute the application beyond the membership fee. The SDK was made available immediately, while the launch of applications had to wait until the firmware update which was released on July 11, 2008. The update was free for iPhone users, but not for owners of iPod Touches with the 1.x release of iPhone OS, whose operating system can be updated to the current version of iPhone OS, so that they can run iPhone applications, only after paying a $10 fee.
Once a developer has submitted an application to the App Store, Apple holds firm control over its distribution. For example, Apple can halt the distribution of applications it deems inappropriate as has happened with a US$1000 program that has as sole purpose to demonstrate the wealth of its user. Apple has been criticized for banning third party applications that enable a functionality that Apple doesn't want the iPhone to have. In 2008, Apple rejected Podcaster, which allowed iPhone users to download podcasts directly to the iPhone claiming it duplicated the functionality of iTunes. Apple has since released a software update that grants this capability. NetShare, another rejected app, would have enabled users to tether their iPhone to a laptop or desktop, using its cellular network to load data for the computer.
Before the SDK was released, third-parties were permitted to design "Web Apps" that would run through Safari. Unsigned native applications are also available. The ability to install native applications onto the iPhone outside of the App Store will not be supported by Apple. Such native applications could be broken by any software update, but Apple has stated it will not design software updates specifically to break native applications other than those that perform SIM unlocking.

Accessibility
The iPhone can enlarge text to make it more accessible for vision-impaired users, and can accommodate hearing-impaired users with closed captioning and external TTY devices. The iPhone 3GS also features black on white mode, VoiceOver (a screenreader), and zooming for impaired vision, and mono audio for limited hearing in one ear.
Nevertheless, Apple states that "[e]ffective use of the iPhone requires a minimal level of visual acuity, motor skills, and an ability to operate a few mechanical buttons. Use of iPhone by someone who relies solely on audible and tactile input is not recommended." The iPhone 3G has not been rated under the United States Federal Communication Commission guidelines for hearing aid compatibility at either level M3 or T3.

Restrictions
Apple tightly controls certain aspects of the iPhone. The hacker community has found many workarounds, most of which are condemned by Apple and threaten to void the device's warranty. All iPhones must be activated (assigned a telephone number and carrier) before most features become available. "Jailbreaking" allows users to install apps not available on the App Store or modify basic functionality. SIM unlocking allows the iPhone to be used on a different carrier's network.

Activation
The iPhone normally prevents access to its media player and web features unless it has also been activated as a phone with an authorized carrier. On July 3, 2007, Jon Lech Johansen reported on his blog that he had successfully bypassed this requirement and unlocked the iPhone's other features with a combination of custom software and modification of the iTunes binary. He published the software and offsets for others to use.
Unlike the original, the iPhone 3G must be activated in the store in most countries. This makes the iPhone 3G more difficult, but not impossible, to hack. The need for in-store activation, as well as the huge number of first-generation iPhone and iPod Touch users upgrading to iPhone OS 2.0, caused a worldwide overload of Apple's servers on July 11, 2008, the day on which both the iPhone 3G and iPhone OS 2.0 updates as well as MobileMe were released. After the update, devices were required to connect to Apple's servers to authenticate the update, causing many devices to be temporarily unusable. Apple avoided this by releasing the 3.0 software two days before the iPhone 3GS.
Users on the O2 network in the United Kingdom, however, can buy the phone online and activate it via iTunes as with the previous model. Even where not required, vendors usually offer activation for the buyer's convenience. In the U.S., Apple has begun to offer free shipping on both the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS (when available), reversing the in-store activation requirement. Best Buy and Wal-Mart will also sell the iPhone.
(article source Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iphone