| Buzz Buddy for iPhone knows when it's safe to drive home |
| | (Credit: CNET)
As the holiday season approaches, get-togethers have a tendency to grow...merry. After slurping up a couple spirited mugs full of glogg or 'nog, will you know when you're fit to drive home?
You might if you've tracked your drink intake with Buzz Buddy for iPhone ... Originally posted at The Download Blog |
| | 11/29/2008 5:31 PM (1d 23h 28m ago) |
| Unlocking iPhone 3Gs--the Vietnamese way |
| | Tuan Anh Do shows off an unlocked iPhone 3G at one of his cell phone repair shops in Hanoi.(Credit: Dong Ngo/CBS Interactive)
Editor's note: CNET editor and Crave contributor Dong Ngo is spending the next month in his homeland of Vietnam, and plans to file occasional dispatches chronicling his impressions of how technology has permeated the culture there. Click here for more of Dong's stories from abroad.
HANOI, Vietnam--Every obstacle presents an opportunity. I saw this firsthand in Hanoi.
Tuan Anh's shop on Nguyen Du street.(Credit: Dong Ngo/CBS Interactive)
The obstacle in question: the iPhone 3G. Since its launch, it has proven a much tougher nut to crack than the original iPhone. Without a viable software-based unlock solution, the only way to make the phone work with any GSM carrier has been the use of a proxy SIM. Put this piece of very thin circuitboard in the iPhone 3G atop the carrier's SIM, and you can make calls and text on a new network.
(I did experience some problems using the proxy SIM, including short battery life, instability, and, most seriously, incompatibility with iTunes.)
Unfortunately, the recently released 2.2 software update, for now, has made the iPhone 3G impossible to unlock--unless you happen to be in Hanoi. Here, I met a man who takes the job quite seriously and gets it done the hard way, literally.
His name is Tuan Anh Do, and he's a 29-year-old businessman who owns five cell phone repair shops. A big part of his business is servicing the iPhone and iPhone 3G, and that often involves getting those devices unlocked at the hardware level.
One of his shops is on Nguyen Du street, a relatively small, quiet block in Hanoi. It's located in a typically narrow four-story house, with one floor serving as a reception area, and another holding the accounting department. The top floor is the workshop, where the magic happens.
Here I witnessed a brand new iPhone 3G getting its hardware unlocked and was really impressed. This... |
| | 11/29/2008 5:30 PM (1d 23h 29m ago) |
| BestBuy's Mac Sale Over Prematurely? |
| |
With early hints at only modest sales at Apple stores, it comes as a surprise that Best Buy's Mac sale appears to be over. The retailer's site no longer shows the $100-$150 discounts on new Macs.
On Tuesday, we had heard unconfirmed ...
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| | 11/27/2008 7:19 PM (3d 21h 40m ago) |
| UK watchdog bans 'really fast' iPhone TV ads |
| | Filed under: Bad Apple, iPhone The BBC reported today that a TV ad for the iPhone has been banned in the UK by the government's advertising standards watchdog group for being misleading. The Advertising Standards Authority received 17 complaints about the ad above, which showed web pages, the Maps application, and mail attachments loading in fractions of a second. The group said that the ad "led viewers to believe that the device actually operated at or near the speeds shown," the BBC story read. The ASA said after reviewing the complaints, "Because we understood that it did not, we concluded the ad was likely to mislead." Apple argued that the claims in the spot were "relative rather than absolute in nature," comparing the 3G speeds to the speeds of the first-generation iPhone. Nevertheless, the ad cannot be run on UK airwaves again in its current form. One of the complainants was a man named Roger Browning, who said in a post at The Guardian that he complained about the advertisement as retribution for a bad customer support experience he had with O2. Apple has run afoul of the ASA before, with a claim in August that the iPhone could view "the whole Internet." Since the iPhone doesn't support Flash and Java, the agency decided the ads were misleading, and yanked them off-air. [Via MacDailyNews.] TUAWUK watchdog bans 'really fast' iPhone TV ads originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/27/2008 7:17 PM (3d 21h 42m ago) |
| Apple introduces iPhone3G Gift Card |
| | Filed under: Retail, iPhoneWith a little more than 24 hours before the official start of the 2008 holiday shopping season, Apple has made a new offer to shoppers. The iPhone 3G Gift Card provides its lucky recipient with an activated iPhone that has been tricked out with email and personalized ring tones. Plus, an Apple Store Specialist will help the new owner customize his or her home screen, pick some great apps and find their favorite songs.You can purchase the card in any amount starting at $25US toward the cost of a new iPhone. They may be redeemed at any Apple Store in the US. Apple also notes that the iPhone 3G Gift Card can also be used for all things Mac and iPod at the Apple Online Store or any Apple Retail Store. Sweet![Via Steve Rubel]TUAWApple introduces iPhone3G Gift Card originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/27/2008 7:15 PM (3d 21h 44m ago) |
| 2nd Generation iPod Touch Faster than iPhone |
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Mobile developer Handheld Games Corp reported to TouchArcade.com that performance of their 3D TouchSports Tennis game [App Store, $4.99] is noticeably different between models of iPhones and iPod touches. Their 3D tennis game (video) seems to parti...
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| | 11/24/2008 6:00 PM (6d 22h 59m ago) |
| Apple launches "iPhone Your Life" site |
| | Filed under: Apple, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch Are you looking for good iPhone application recommendations? While you could look at our App Store section to find reviews, you can also turn to a new section on Apple's website. "iPhone Your Life," as it's called, allows you to see applications as they relate to different parts of your life. Apple has sections for: Around Town, World Travel, At Home, Getting Things Done, and Fun and Games. They have staff picks, top downloaded apps, and descriptions of featured applications. You can take a look for yourself by clicking here.[via Mac|Life]TUAWApple launches "iPhone Your Life" site originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/23/2008 4:38 PM (8d 21m ago) |
| G1 multi-touch a reality, integrated headphone jack still just a dream |
| |
When reviewing the G1 we found a lot to like, but a lot to dislike too. We knew that some of its shortcomings, like the missing headphone jack, were sadly permanent (free adapters notwithstanding), but hoped that it would just be a matter of time before some enterprising soul (with an enterprising compiler) would take care of another complaint: the lack of multi-touch. Lo and behold now is that time and Ryan Gardner is that coder, author of a little app that proves the inability of the G1 to accept a two-finger salute is not a hardware limitation. You can see for yourself in a video after the break, and once Ryan is done cleaning up his code he pledges to post that, too (don't forget those comments, man). Okay, so being able to cover your screen with red and yellow splotches isn't going to convert any spoiled iPhoners, but we're thinking the rest of you developers out there should be able to pick up this ball and run with it. So make with the running, already.Continue reading G1 multi-touch a reality, integrated headphone jack still just a dreamFiled under: Cellphones, Displays, HandheldsG1 multi-touch a reality, integrated headphone jack still just a dream originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/23/2008 4:23 PM (8d 36m ago) |
| iPhone 2.2 Software Update Available |
| | This update contains many bug fixes and improvements, including the following:• Enhancements to Maps - Google Street View - public transit and walking directions - display address of dropped pins - share location via email• Enhancements to Mail - resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email - improved formatting of wide HTML email• Improved stability and performance of Safari• Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)• Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops• Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages• Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen• Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings |
| | 11/21/2008 7:15 PM (9d 21h 44m ago) |
| Walmart will sell iPhones starting Dec. 28 |
| | Filed under: iPhoneWalmart will be taking a pass for most of the holiday shopping season with one particular item: the iPhone. It will begin selling the handset December 28, according to Jamie Townsend, of research firm JRPG.
Boy Genius Report also notes that the phone will be sold in some Sam's Club stores as well. The blog broke the news about Walmart's talks with Apple, but originally said the smartphone would hit shelves last Saturday.
Walmart seems to be capitalizing on post-holiday shopping fervor, with BGR's Zach Epstein speculating, "Won't people be happy when they find out Apple's handsets popped up at discount prices three short days after Christmas?" It depends on how meager Christmas is, I suppose.
The handsets will apparently be activated in-store. No pricing details were released. TUAWWalmart will sell iPhones starting Dec. 28 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/20/2008 4:33 AM (11d 12h 26m ago) |
| Samsung Gravity touches down |
| | The Samsung Gravity in lime.(Credit: Samsung)
As we warned you two weeks ago, T-Mobile's Samsung Gravity goes on sale Monday.
The messaging phone is a dead ringer for the LG Rumor, in both features and design. Highlights include a slide-out alphabetical keyboard for rapid messaging, a 1.3-megapixel ... |
| | 11/19/2008 5:21 PM (11d 23h 38m ago) |
| LG Incite is LG's first U.S. smartphone |
| | LG Incite is LG's first U.S. smartphone.(Credit: AT&T)LG and AT&T just introduced the Incite, the first-ever LG smartphone for the U.S. market.
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/LG_Incite_is_LG_s_first_U_S_smartphone';
Equipped with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, the Incite comes with a host of ... |
| | 11/19/2008 5:19 PM (11d 23h 40m ago) |
| Mobile Browser Battlemodo: Which Phones Deliver The Real Web [Battlemodo] |
| | digg_skin = 'compact'; digg_bgcolor = '#f1f8fa'; digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/Mobile_Browser_Battle_Which_Phones_Deliver_The_Real_Web'; Before 2007, using the internet on your phone would make you want to kill yourself, if you were dumb enough to believe the crap splattered across that tiny screen even was the "internet." But the combination of increased bandwidth and better mobile software means that more phones really are promising to deliver the real internet, in living color. We tested eight different browsers, and while some put smiles on our faces, others proved that rendering HTML correctly is a far cry from actually giving you an awesome web experience. And what about 3G vs. Wi-Fi? Everything the carriers have told you is a lie. This is the true state of mobile web. Before we give you the rundown of each of the most prevalent mobile browsers, here's how they all stacked up in a timed test of how fast (and how well) they could render websites, chosen for their diversity and particular challenges: CHART KEY: Number value is time for complete page load in seconds; page rendering is rated from "Fail" to "Excellent" for each; and the color (red, yellow, green) indicates overall performance taking into account both speed and rendering accuracy: Green = good overall, Red = fail overall. This second chart runs through the same procedure with all of the phones that had Wi-Fi options: It's a pretty daunting pile of numbers, so let's break it down into standard prose, rating each browser as we go: Android A fast, smart mobile browser based on WebKit. It tackles most sites with (almost) unrivaled grace and speed. Panning and zooming could be smoother and more responsive, but with a ton of options for getting around a page—various touch methods and the trackball—few sites will be challenging to zip around. The only thing we really miss is multitouch for zoom. Buttons just aren't a very elegant or precise solution, and while the whole-page magnifying... |
| | 11/19/2008 5:16 PM (11d 23h 43m ago) |
| J.D. Power and Associates: iPhone offers highest customer satisfaction (Exclusive to iPhoneWorld.ca) |
| | 11/18/2008 5:40 PM (12d 23h 19m ago) |
| Logic3 intros i-Station Rotate iPod / iPhone dock |
| | Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio, Portable Video
It sure is tough for iPod docks to stand out from the pack these days, but it looks like Logic3 has found one fairly unique way to get its new i-Station Rotate unit noticed, with it packing a rotating mechanism that will let you adjust your iPod or iPhone to suit your screen format. Other than that, it looks to be a fairly standard speaker dock, with it boasting a whopping 10W of total output power, a video output for some larger screen viewing, a 3.5mm line-in jack to accommodate your non-Apple devices, a remote control, and accommodations for four AA batteries to let you take it on the road. You won't be able to get your hands on this one until January, however, when it'll set you back $130.
Logic3 intros i-Station Rotate iPod / iPhone dock originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/18/2008 5:35 PM (12d 23h 24m ago) |
| Incase Power Slider for iPhone 3G doubles the juice, lets you sync |
| | Filed under: Cellphones
Been cursing your iPhone 3G's disappointing battery life? Don't have the heart to saddle the thing with that big ol' Juice Pack? The Power Slider by Incase promises to double your phone's power for up to 5 hours talk time on the 3G network (10 hours on 2G), increase your audio playback time to 26 hours, and increase your video playback time to 7 hours. If that wasn't enough, the iPhone can be left in the case while you sync it -- saving wear and tear on the case and on your phone. While the Slider isn't as svelte as your raw, naked iPhone, at the very least it manages to keep roughly the same shape (even if it does fatten it up quite a bit). No pricing yet, should be available starting November 28.
Incase Power Slider for iPhone 3G doubles the juice, lets you sync originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/18/2008 5:33 PM (12d 23h 26m ago) |
| Google's Voice-Enabled Search for iPhone Now Available |
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Lifehacker reports that Google's new Voice-Enabled Search application is now live in the App Store (sort of).
The new application is actually an update to Google's existing Google Mobile Application that is already available in the A...
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| | 11/18/2008 5:29 PM (12d 23h 30m ago) |
| iPhone 3G launch in Taiwan may foretell China debut |
| | Chunghwa Telecom will launch Apple’s iPhone 3G in Taiwan, and the deal may foretell a China debut.
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| | 11/17/2008 4:29 PM (14d 30m ago) |
| NYT: Obama saying goodbye to BlackBerry? |
| | NYT: Sorry, Mr. President. Please surrender your BlackBerry. Those are seven words President-elect Barack Obama is dreading but expecting to hear, friends and advisers say, when he takes office. |
| | 11/17/2008 12:20 AM (14d 16h 39m ago) |
| Apple Releases Safari 3.2 with Improved Security, Anti-Phishing |
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Apple has released a new version of Safari 3.2 through the Mac OS X Software Update. The latest version of Safari provides improved security as well as protection from phishing websites:This update is recommended for all Safari user...
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| | 11/17/2008 12:18 AM (14d 16h 40m ago) |
| Great iPhone applications for parents |
| | Filed under: SoftwareOur sister site ParentDish has posted an article on their favorite iPhone/iPod touch applications for parents. As an iPhone-toting dad, I've used mine to keep the little nippers busy with cute applications, but Sarah James has found even better options, including
Baby Monitor Did you forget to bring Jr.'s monitor to Grandma's house? Put your iPhone next to his crib and launch Baby Monitor. When he starts to wail like a banshee, Baby Monitor calls a pre-determined number, like Grandma's landline. Baby Monitor costs $0.99US.
Baby Tracker: Diapers I remember the days of The Diaper Pail* and anxious trips to the pediatrician's office. If that's still a part of your experience, check out Baby Tracker: Diapers. It lets you note the consistency, color and contents of Jr.'s waste. Giggle if you like, but I see exactly how this could offer peace of mind. Baby Tracker: Diapers costs $0.99US.
There are more, of course, so check out the full article. In the meantime, here are a few suggestions from this old dad:
iChalky When my 3-year-old is out of patience, I hand over iChalky. Jiggle the phone and drag your finger to flip little Chalky all over the screen. The preschool set loves it. iChalky costs $0.99US.
Jirbo Match My 5-year-old likes matching games, and Jirbo Match is challengeing enough to engage her. Jirbo Match costs $1.99US
iTalk Think of something while you've got your hands full? Just launch iTalk and record that thought. Later, you can sync recordings with the desktop companion, iTalk Sync. iTalk is free.
While we're on the topic, I've got a request for the iPhone and iPod touch. The problem with letting the kids use them is that they sometimes navigate away from the application or video and get into other stuff (plus that whole "throwing and dropping" thing). Recently, my daughter deleted some photos I hadn't exported to my Mac.
That's hardly the end of the world, but it would be nice to put the phone in "Kid... |
| | 11/15/2008 6:43 PM (15d 22h 16m ago) |
| Google is listening, and iPhone users are talking |
| | Filed under: Internet Tools, iPhoneAccording to the New York Times and the Google iPhone page, the big G is about to add voice recognition capabilities to its iPhone search app (iTunes link), with the new version showing up on the App Store any minute now. You'll be able to ask questions (the kind Google can answer, of course; someone else will have to tell you if those pants make you look fat) and get speedy search results returned from the web or your own address book.
The voice recordings from the application will be sent to Google's servers for processing "in the cloud." Given the size of Google's infrastructure and its ability to transfer gargantuan amounts of data, it may have the advantage over existing voice-driven search apps such as Yahoo's oneSearch. Google execs seem hesitant to quantify the accuracy of the voice recognition software, but here's hoping it at least tops some of the iPhone voice-dialers I've been playing with.
You can see a sample video of Googlers testing the feature in the continuation of this post.
[via Truemors / blogtopten]Continue reading Google is listening, and iPhone users are talkingTUAWGoogle is listening, and iPhone users are talking originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/15/2008 6:41 PM (15d 22h 18m ago) |
| Apple Focusing on MobileMe Improvements in Latest 10.5.6 Builds |
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Apple is still hard at work on the next version of Mac OS X 10.5.6 according to published reports on the hmbt.org.
The latest Mac OS X 10.5.6 (9G35) build appears to focus heavily on testing of MobileMe syncing features for notebook ...
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| | 11/13/2008 5:15 PM (17d 23h 44m ago) |
| Apple Likely to Offer Black Friday Sales |
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Barclay's Ben Reitzes safely predicts that Apple will offer Black Friday sales this year, including $100 price reductions on "at least a few Mac models". Apple has regularly participated in sales on the day after Thanksgiving ("Black Friday") for a...
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| | 11/13/2008 5:14 PM (17d 23h 45m ago) |
| Apple Positioning iPhone and iPod Touch as Mobile Gaming Devices |
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In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Steve Jobs acknowledged that the iPhone and iPod touch "may emerge as really viable devices in the mobile games market this holiday season."
The sentiment also echoes comments made by...
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| | 11/13/2008 5:14 PM (17d 23h 45m ago) |
| Study: BlackBerry has twice failure rate of iPhone |
| | (Credit: SquareTrade)
Apple's iPhone has half the failure rate of RIM's BlackBerry in the first year of use, a study carried out by a mobile-phone warranty firm has found. The SquareTrade study, released Saturday, looked at more than 15,000 handsets that were covered by the company's policies. It found iPhones had a malfunction rate of 5.6 percent in the first year, compared to 11.9 percent for Research In Motion's BlackBerry smartphones. Palm's Treos fared even worse, with 16.2 percent having some sort of malfunction in the first 12 months of use.
Figures from the analyst firm Canalys, released last week, showed Apple has now overtaken RIM in the global smartphone sales stakes.
... Originally posted at News - Wireless |
| | 11/11/2008 11:17 PM (19d 17h 41m ago) |
| Apple iPhone #1 Amongst U.S. Consumers in Q3 2008 |
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The NPD Group issued a press release today revealing that the Apple iPhone is now ranked #1 in consumer phone sales for the 3rd quarter of 2008. The iPhone surpassed Motorola's RAZR phone which had been ranked #1 for the previous 12 quarters. |
| | 11/11/2008 8:34 PM (19d 20h 25m ago) |
| An observatory in your pocket: Star Walk for iPhone and iPod touch |
| | Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
I've always had a fascination with astronomy. Even when I'm not lugging my telescope out to do deep sky work, I'm using my eyes and binoculars to see what's visible in the night sky. Now I can use my iPhone to help me figure out where some of the night objects are -- even when it's light outside. VITO Technology has just released Star Walk (click opens iTunes), a US$4.99 astronomy app that shows you what's in the sky above. It has an internal database of almost 9,000 objects including the planets, various stars and clusters, and more. While not for serious amateur astronomers, this is a great tool for anyone who is interested in knowing more about the universe they live in. There's a moon phase calculator, a time machine function to show you what the skies were like or will look like on any day. If you have an iPhone 3G, Star Walk uses GPS to automatically determine where you are on Earth to adjust the view. First-generation iPhone and iPod touch users can select their city from a list. Star Walk should be a great app for teaching youngsters or yourself more about astronomy.TUAWAn observatory in your pocket: Star Walk for iPhone and iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/09/2008 5:10 PM (21d 23h 49m ago) |
| AT&T CEO Confirms iPhone Tethering Coming "Soon" |
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MobileCrunch reveals that during an interview at the Web 2.0 Summit, AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph De La Vega confirmed that AT&T would be offering an official tethering option for the iPhone "soon".
Tethering is the process by which you all...
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| | 11/09/2008 5:06 PM (21d 23h 53m ago) |
| PC Notebook Computer Batteries Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazard |
| | These lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. |
| | 11/08/2008 11:13 PM (22d 17h 46m ago) |
| Analyst Confirms Apple Moves Past RIM for Number Two Smartphone Vendor |
| | So apparently Apple knew what it was talking about after all. Research firm Canalys says that Apple stole the rug out from underneath RIM in the third quarter to become the world's number two pusher of smartphones, taking a hearty 17.3 percent market share compared to RIM's 15.2 percent and Windows Mobile's 13.6 percent. For what it's worth, the firm says RIM could very well bounce back in the fourth quarter with the Bold, Storm, and Pearl 8220 all ramping up in time for the holidays, but either way, number one platform Symbian needn't sweat any time soon; Nokia's baby managed to lose 21.5 percent share year over year, but they're still sitting pretty with 46.6 percent.How'd Apple manage to steal so much BlackBerry thunder (pun painfully intended)? Part of the evidence might lie in J.D. Power's just-released 2008 Business Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction Study, revealing that suits adore their iPhones, like their BlackBerrys just alright, and despise their Palms. Amusing to us was the iPhone's rating of a 5 out of 5 in the Features category -- the only contender to get a perfect score there -- despite the fact that virtually every other smartphone platform continues to outstrip it for raw capability. Usability, though, well... that's arguably another story altogether. |
| | 11/07/2008 3:20 PM (24d 1h 39m ago) |
| iPhone 3G, HTC Touch Diamond spur Taiwanese production |
| | Shipments of iPhone 3Gs and HTC Touch Diamond smartphones spurred Taiwan makers in the third quarter.
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| | 11/06/2008 7:36 PM (24d 21h 23m ago) |
| AT&T: Tethering Coming to the iPhone Soon |
| | Here’s a bit of cheery news from the Web 2.0 Summit: AT&T Mobility President and CEO Ralph De La Vega just told interviewer Michael Arrington that the company is working with Apple to let the iPhone serve as a tethered wireless modem for laptops soon. And he says it’ll be available “soon.” |
| | 11/06/2008 7:32 PM (24d 21h 27m ago) |
| Review: Wide-format e-mail apps for iPhone |
| | One of the biggest complaints about the iPhone has been the lack of a landscape keyboard for applications other than Safari. Several third-party software makers have created apps that let you compose e-mails with a wide keyboard. Dan Frakes takes half-a-dozen out for a test drive.
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| | 11/05/2008 9:58 PM (25d 19h 1m ago) |
| Apple: No New Products Before Holidays |
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Apple has issued a statement to Macworld clarifying that there are no plans for any new products before the holiday season."Our holiday line-up is set," Apple spokesman Bill Evans told Macworld.This announcement squashes circulat...
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| | 11/04/2008 8:49 PM (26d 20h 10m ago) |
| Apple to Benefit Further from Dropping Flash Memory Pricing |
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Forbes reports on Apple's "secret weapon" that has helped keep its earnings well above expectations: falling NAND-flash memory prices. And according to Forbes, there are no signs that this trend will abate anytime soon.Tech tracker ...
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| | 11/04/2008 8:46 PM (26d 20h 13m ago) |
| Prepare for Election Day with your iPhone |
| | Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touchHere at the TUAW home office, we're quite distracted by the pending election of the USA's 44th President. However, since this is an Apple blog, we can't go all political -- but we can combine our interests.Here are four ways you can prepare for the big day with your iPhone.1. Quiz yourself about the candidatesHow well do know the man who'll receive you vote? Fit 2 Vote [App Store link] displays a quote made by either John McCain or Barack Obama. Your job is to identify the quote's origin. Once you've correctly attributed 50 quotes, you're deemed "fit to vote." Fit 2 Vote costs $0.99US.2. Report on your polling placeVote Report [App Store link] is the mobile end of the Twitter Vote Report, a network of software developers, designers, and others that allows voters to instantly share the conditions at their polling places. Use your iPhone to alert the media, your neighbors, friends or anyone involved about wait times, machine malfunctions, and especially clever signs in the parking lot. Vote Report is free.[Incidentally, has anyone ever, in the history of democracy, been swayed by a posterboard sign viewed minutes before voting? You've got to wonder why those people are standing out there in the rain.]3. Track live resultsBy now the rhetoric has nearly died down and all that's left is the results. Election [App Store link] provides real-time polling results that can be sorted by state, candidate, percentage and more. You can even limit the results to your candidate, and best of all, there's no stumping. Election only reports the numbers. Election costs $0.99US.4. Perform electoral mathVotetastic [App Store link] lets you fiddle with electoral votes and observe the results. For instance, you can select a contested state like Ohio and either turn it "red" or "blue." Doing so moves those electoral votes from one side to the other. Votetastic is really more of a game than a tool, as it doesn't report on real data, but it... |
| | 11/04/2008 12:42 AM (27d 16h 16m ago) |
| Ziphone author demos iPhone crash to Forbes |
| | Filed under: Security, iPhone, iPod touchZiphone creator Piergiorgio Zambrini has discovered a bug with the iPhone that causes the phone to crash when it starts to play a specially-created video. Forbes.com recorded a demonstration.
The bug apparently affects the audio track of the video, which takes down the iPhone operating system. I could not independently verify the bug, because the links to the movie (and the movie file itself) shown to Forbes were no longer available online.
The bug does not permanently damage devices, according to Zambrini. He said he hasn't yet contacted Apple's security response team. Forbes.com informed an Apple spokesman about the flaw and is still awaiting an official comment.
Zambrini claims he emailed Steve Jobs personally about the bug; around the same time, he applied for employment at Apple. Apple has not yet responded to his resume. It strikes me that Zambrini is trying to appeal to Apple in the same way that your ex-girlfriend tries to appeal to you by spray painting the front of your house.
In the Forbes.com article, Zambrini now claims his goal "...is not to work for Apple."
Zambrini created Ziphone, a popular iPhone unlocking tool.
Thanks, Taylor!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 11/04/2008 12:42 AM (27d 16h 17m ago) |
| Apple slashes iPhones’ production? (From iPhoneWorld.ca - not for republishing) |
| | 11/04/2008 12:40 AM (27d 16h 19m ago) |
| A handful of Halloween for your iPhone or iPod touch |
| | Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touchReady for Halloween on your iPhone? The App Store provides a quick fix for trick-or-treaters, and the offerings provide a little of each category. I happened to grab a random assortment of freebies (several were temporarily free) themed around Halloween. Here's a quick review of each. Hit the gallery for sample screens. All app names are iTunes links.Bust-a-spookA simple tap-and-score game using some gradient-heavy backgrounds and simplistic artwork to keep you entertained. The audio, like most of the Halloween-themed apps, is appropriately annoying. I found this one to be too hard and pointless to play with it long. When ghosts, pumpkins or bats are "busted" they grow larger and fade away. That's really about it, except for choosing levels of difficulty. Price: $.99Carve3DClever way to carve a 3D pumpkin on the iPhone. You swap between "rotate" and "carve" modes and carve into the pumpkin by tapping corners. A final tap near the first point closes the loop and carves a hole in the geometry. As an interesting touch, the light actually shines through the geometry, so you can project the face you carve, though getting the camera in a good spot is tough. Price: $.99Crazy PumpkineZone has a slew of nifty, gimmicky apps (they remind me of the Johnson Smith Co. products). Around Halloween several went free, including Crazy Pumpkin. It's a very simple app: swap the eyes, nose and mouth of a virtual jack-o-lantern. I like the pulsing colors and the audio is well-done. Kids love this one. Price: Free.Crazy Metal HeadEssentially a ventriloquist's dummy in the form of a chrome skull with fire in its mouth. You can toggle metal music on or off. The head bounces around, like a bobblehead. That's about all it does, but it still is fun if you do crazy voices and have no shame. Price: $.99Crazy SkeletonAnother freebie from eZone, this time a skeleton with eyes that bounce around. You can control the mouth (like Metal Head), but shaking the... |
| | 10/31/2008 3:41 PM (31d 1h 18m ago) |
| iPhone with 2.3% Market Share and Even Attracting Lower Income Households |
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The Register reports on iPhone marketshare numbers for Q3 2008 as reported by research firm Strategy Analytics.
According to the latest numbers, Apple ranks 6th amongst phone suppliers with 2.3% marketshare for Q3 2008. The numbers re...
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| | 10/31/2008 3:41 PM (31d 1h 18m ago) |
| Classics brings real book reading experience to iPhone |
| | Classics allows users to read books on their iPhone with animated page turns and visual bookmarking.
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| | 10/31/2008 3:40 PM (31d 1h 19m ago) |
| Apple Details Ongoing MobileMe Upgrades |
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Arstechnica points to a new support document which details many changes that Apple has implemented into the MobileMe site in late September. Apple points out that since MobileMe is a server-side service, updates occur transparently to all users of t...
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| | 10/30/2008 3:51 PM (32d 1h 8m ago) |
| Sonos Controller for iPhone and Software 2.7 bring Last.fm, internet radio and 'the future' to your existing setup |
| | Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals
We've been griping about the limitations of the existing wireless Sonos controller for just about as long as Sonos has been pumping them out -- not that it's a horrible chunk of hardware, just that we love to gripe, and the lack of good text input is extremely limiting in these modern times of limitless content to surf through. Well, the problem's been solved, at least for iPhone and iPod touch users, and in typical Sonos fashion the solution's free. Starting today Sonos will be offering a free Sonos Controller app on Apple's App Store, which can handle just about every function the existing controller can, with the additional convenience of a touch interface and an on-screen keyboard. Multi-room control, Napster and Rhapsody, your own music library -- it's all here, thanks to the magic of WiFi. Sonos even saw it fit to pack a general software update (Sonos Software 2.7) which includes fifteen thousand internet radio stations and Last.fm integration. The primary limitation to iPhone control is the fact that you're relying on your home's WiFi instead of that schmancy mesh network Sonos products employ, but that's a small price to pay for usability. Check out our highly enthralling hands-on shots below, and then peep the read link for more info and video, which should be live by the time you read this. The app should go live sometime today.Gallery: Sonos Controller for iPhone and Software 2.7Sonos Controller for iPhone and Software 2.7 bring Last.fm, internet radio and 'the future' to your existing setup originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 10/29/2008 5:58 PM (32d 23h 1m ago) |
| Google Earth comes to the iPhone |
| | “Google Earth on the iPhone is a clear winner,” exclaims Frederic Lardinois (nytimes.com). Now available on the App Store, Google Earth “is a gorgeous application and thanks to the multi-touch interface, it’s extremely easy to use.” “Just like the desktop application,” Lardinois notes, “it is also a great application to just play with when you have a few extra minutes to spare.”
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| | 10/29/2008 5:49 PM (32d 23h 10m ago) |
| AT&T Finally Offering Free Wifi for iPhone Users |
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AT&T has announced that they are now offering free Wi-Fi access to iPhone subscribers across the U.S.AT&T knows Wi-Fi is hot, and FREE Wi-Fi is even hotter. Which is why FREE AT&T Wi-Fi access is now available for Apple iPhone at tho...
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| | 10/29/2008 5:46 PM (32d 23h 13m ago) |
| BlackBerry Bold, iPhone 3G, and BlackBerry Storm Compared in Video |
| | The new BlackBerry Storm touch-phone from Verizon Wireless is expected to be released in the U.S. in November (Nov. 4th, 9th, or 16th?) so now is the time to check out some comparisons with a few other hot smartphones, specifically...
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| | 10/28/2008 6:05 PM (33d 22h 54m ago) |
| iPhone Software 2.2 Features Google Street View |
| | Apple has seeded iPhone 2.2 Firmware Beta 2 and has fully enabled Google Street View. We had previously reported that Beta 1 of iPhone 2.2 had hidden APIs related to the Street View for Google Maps, but was not enabled.Apple seeded iPhone 2.2 Firmware Beta 2 to developers tonight. The seed notes also indicated that Line-in audio accessories are now supported in the SDK. |
| | 10/27/2008 11:21 PM (34d 17h 38m ago) |
| LivingSocial comes to iPhone |
| | (Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET Networks)
With the holidays just around the corner, it's probably time you tried to figure out what to get your friends and family. How about you show them your wish list and they show you theirs?
That's the idea behind LivingSocial, a social Web ... |
| | 10/27/2008 7:48 PM (34d 21h 11m ago) |
| iPhone Firmware 2.2 Beta 2 Enables Street View |
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Apple has seeded iPhone 2.2 Firmware Beta 2 and has fully enabled Google Street View. We had previously reported that Beta 1 of iPhone 2.2 had hidden APIs related to the Street View for Google Maps, but was not enabled.
Apple seeded i...
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| | 10/27/2008 7:46 PM (34d 21h 13m ago) |
| Google Releases Google Earth for iPhone and iPod Touch |
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Google announced the release of an iPhone native version of their Google Earth application. With just a swipe of your finger you can fly from Peoria to Paris to Papua New Guinea, or anywhere in between. It may be small, but it brings...
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| | 10/27/2008 7:46 PM (34d 21h 13m ago) |
| Apple introduces new MacBook family |
| | The new MacBook family redefines notebook design while dramatically lowering the entry price for advanced notebook features, including all-metal enclosures, pro-performance notebook graphics, brilliant instant-on LED-backlit displays, and new large, glass Multi-Touch trackpads. The industry’s greenest notebooks, the entire MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0, EPEAT Gold, and RoHS environmental standards. Starting at $1,200, the new MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro are shipping now.
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| | 10/14/2008 8:32 PM (47d 20h 27m ago) |
| Apple schedules laptop event for Oct. 14; leaked photos abound |
| | Filed under: Rumors, Other Events, Macbook Pro, MacBook
Our sister site Engadget received an invitation for a town-hall event in San Francisco about new Apple notebooks, featuring an image of what could be hinting at possible new aluminum enclosures for 13-inch MacBooks.
tw.apple.pro purports to have images of new aluminum cases for the MacBooks. Judging from the height of the ports (and if the photos are authentic) the new MacBooks could be significantly thinner than their predecessors.
In related news, AppleInsider claims to have confirmed that a widely-circulated spy-shot is indeed one from Apple's next generation of MacBook Pro, but is not fabricated from a single "brick" of aluminum, as 9-to-5Mac said.
The top case, however, appears now to include the ports, rather than having them integrated into the bottom case. (This could make case disassembly easier.) The port arrangement appears to include many more ports on the left side of the bottom case, much like the current MacBook.
Combined with earlier images of the back of the LCD and bottom case, the design retains much of the same look that MacBook Pros (and PowerBook G4s before them) have had since January 2001.
Apple's notebook event is scheduled for next Tuesday at 10 a.m. Pacific time (1 p.m. Eastern). Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 10/12/2008 6:38 PM (49d 22h 21m ago) |
| Apple.com, a retrospective |
| | Filed under: Internet, Apple History
TUAW reader Tyler noticed that Google is celebrating its 10th anniversary by digging up its searchable archives from 2001. He took a peek at some Apple history and shared the find with us. The archives dip into the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, which I decided to use to dig up a series of archived Apple.com sites. You can surf all the way back to 1996 ... a land where Apple was still Apple Computers, the rainbow apple was still in effect, and web pages were all stuck to the left side of the screen.
According to Wikipedia, the Apple.com domain was registered in 1987 (and hacked in '97, as a marginally NSFW prank). Unfortunately, the Internet Archives only go back to '96, so that's what we're working with (if you, for whatever reason, have an image of the Apple website in the late '80s, please do make my day and send it in). Also according to Wikipedia, the 1987 registration made Apple.com the 64th oldest .com domain. These wiki-facts may or may not appear on this semester's final exam.
In addition to being a fun trip through web design history, it's a good refresher on the Apple timeline. Revel in the release of the iPod, iTunes 3, and the blazing-fast 700 Mhz iBook. In the process, you'll gain a full appreciation for the current refresh of the Apple site. If you want to save some surfing time, check out the gallery of some gems from my dig. Of course, intrepid Apple explorers can venture into the cave and see for themselves.
Thanks, Tyler!
Gallery: Apple.com retrospectivePermalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 10/09/2008 4:13 PM (53d 46m ago) |
| PDF version of iPhone developer's cookbook available |
| | Filed under: Developer, iPhoneIt's a good day to become an iPhone developer: in addition to the screencast we mentioned, someone near and dear to us at TUAW finally got her book out into the wild ... at least the PDF version. Erica Sadun's* "The iPhone Developer's Cookbook" is available as an electronic download from informIT. If you want to dig in and start developing native iPhone applications with the SDK, this is a great way to start. The paper version is set for release on October 15th, if that's what you're into, but having the code samples in a cut-and-paste-friendly format is far preferable to me. Coupling that with a complete lack of patience, I bought the PDF this morning and am avidly poring over it for new information. I'm planning a combination tip calculator/grocery list application with several language translation apps and an ebook reader built in ... although I may consider doing a Pinocchio app that lets people know when I'm joking instead. So, up-and-coming iPhone developers, head on over to informIT for some SDK development goodness. Editor's Note: Since Erica has moved on from TUAW to her new home at Ars Technica, we no longer have conflict-of-interest concerns about reviewing her books -- but we still love her & wish her all the best.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 10/09/2008 4:12 PM (53d 47m ago) |
| iPhone 2.2 Hidden Features: Google Street View, Emoji, Auto-Correction Off |
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It seems that Apple is taking further care in hiding new iPhone features in their beta releases. The most recent firmware beta seeded to developers listed "compatibility testing" in its release notes as the only change.
We've since he...
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| | 10/09/2008 4:12 PM (53d 47m ago) |
| Apple Launches iPhone Developer Tech Talks |
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Apple appears to be trying to make it easy for developers to learn about iPhone programming. Apple has launched a set of free iPhone developer tech talks across the world.Don't miss this unique opportunity. The event is free,...
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| | 10/09/2008 4:09 PM (53d 49m ago) |
| BlackBerry Takes the World by Storm with Verizon Wireless and Vodafone |
| | BlackBerry Storm Delivers the Full Power of the BlackBerry Platform on the World’s Leading Networks with the World’s First “Clickable” Touch-Screen SmartphoneBASKING RIDGE, N.J., NEWBURY, England, and WATERLOO, Ontario - Verizon Wireless, Vodafone Group (NYSE and LSE: VOD) and Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced that the BlackBerry® Storm™ will be available later this fall, exclusively to Verizon Wireless customers in the U.S. and Vodafone customers in Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand.Designed to satisfy the needs of both consumers and business customers, the BlackBerry Storm smartphone combines the powerful communications features, global connectivity and personal productivity advantages of the BlackBerry® platform with a revolutionary touch-screen technology that dramatically enhances the touch interface and enables easy and precise typing. The world's first “clickable” touch-screen responds much like a physical keyboard and also supports single-touch, multi-touch and gestures for intuitive and efficient application navigation. Read the completeBlackBerry® Storm™ press release. |
| | 10/08/2008 1:54 PM (54d 3h 5m ago) |
| NetShare: Use Your iPhone’s 3G or EDGE Connection to Get Your Notebook Online |
| | A new iPhone Application called NetShare now makes it possible to share your iPhone’s data connection with your notebook. NetShare turns your iPhone into a WiFi hotspot that you can use to get your notebook online wherever you have 3G coverage. To get started, you’ll need to purchase NetShare for $9.99 from Apple’s App Store. It was first available on 7/31/08, but it was pulled down just minutes after launching. It’s up again, but here’s no telling if it’s here to stay or not. Carriers typically charge extra for allowing subscribers to use their 3G-enabled phones as modems for their notebooks and may pressure Apple to remove this application fro the App store permanently. I recommend buying NetShare while you can.Once you install NetShare on your iPhone you’ll have to spend some time setting up network preferences on both your notebooks and your iPhone. The makers of NetShare include instructions in the application on how to do this assuming you’re using a MacBook. Falaris put together instructions on how to use NetShare on Windows XP notebooks.Tethering your iPhone 3G is no replacement for a 3G data card for your notebook if you’re a heavy user though. One limitation is that while you’re using your iPhone as a modem you won’t be able to make callls. |
| | 10/05/2008 9:54 PM (56d 19h 5m ago) |
| Facebook v2 for iPhone goes live |
| | Filed under: Internet Tools, iPhone, App Store, iPod touchThe Facebook [iTunes link] application for the iPhone has just been updated to version 2 (although you may see it listed as version 1.1 in the store), and the new version number brings some stellar features! In this release, the Facebook team has completely revamped the user interface and brought the client up to parity with the mobile Facebook app for Blackberry (really surpassed it, if you ask me). Some of the new features are:
Facebook Chat (OK, not new, but seems to be working much better now)
Address book lookup
New, easier to use interface, including notifications and the full news feed
WritePhoto post on friends' walls and view their full profiles
Photo tags (holding your finger down on the photo will show them)
People search, friend requests and your full inbox/inbox search
Photo uploading is faster
You can now upload photos from your library stored on the iPhone
In addition to all those changes, there are also "dozens of bug fixes that improve stability" and speed -- especially for users with a large number of friends. Now that's something every iPhone-owning Facebook user will like! You can download this new version of FaceBook.app for iPhone from the iTunes App Store today. Be sure to check out the changes in the user interface by looking at our gallery of screenshots. Gallery: Facebook 2 for iPhoneThanks for the tip, Jason!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 10/01/2008 3:43 PM (61d 1h 16m ago) |
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