iPhone Buzz Week in Review - Week 46 2008

This week we had a chance to review Say Who, the voice dialing application that will search for contacts in your address book or dial numbers for you. We loved how easy and responsive this application was. It worked just about every time.Recent studies done by  SquareTrade show that the ...

Apple approves third-party email client for the App Store, violates its own policies

Recently we were sent a PR email about an iPhone app called BdEmailer. No big deal, press releases about new iPhone applications show up in our box in large bundles every day -- but this one was different. According to the release, the program is the "the first wide email iPhone app that supports client SMTP." That means, in essence, that it duplicates an exact function of Apple's Mail application on the iPhone and touch. That's kind of a huge deal, because up until this point we've been led to believe that this duplication of functionality is one of the company's red flags when it comes to approval. Now mind you, we're not complaining. The idea of having more apps to choose from for doing things like sending email is a great idea, but Apple... what the hell is going on? You refused MailWrangler and Podcaster for similar reasons, yet BdEmailer passes through your review process, SMTP functionality intact? This means one of two things as far as we can tell -- either you've relaxed your policies on duplicate functionality, or you've gotten incredibly lazy when it comes to approving applications. We're inclined to believe it's the latter, as BdEmailer has a fair share of bugs that need working out, but really, people need some clarification here on what will and won't pass -- and moving the goalpost all the time isn't going to help.

Filed under: Cellphones

Apple approves third-party email client for the App Store, violates its own policies originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Review: iPhone OS 2.2 Software

iPhone OS 2.2 build 2.2 5G77, at 246.4MB, is the second major point release to Apple’s second generation mobile operating system. Following on release 2.0 (full review) on July 11, and 2.1 (full review) on September 15. Interestingly, while 2.0 had 8 betas, 2.1 only had 4 and 2.2 but 2. Is Apple really getting twice as efficient, or only spending half as much effort getting feedback?

Like 2.1, this update is also available FREE for the iPod Touch. Unlike 2.1, however, Apple is not providing the same functionality to Touch, with the Google Maps update notably missing. Since these updates don’t seem dependent on either the cell radio or GPS, it’s difficult to imagine why Apple chose to — we’ll say it — shaft the Touch. Perhaps they’ll blame their subscription accounting model again? iSigh.

Remarkable also by it’s absence — again — is the much ballyhooed Push Notification Service (announced during WWDC 2008), intended to provide the semblance of multi-tasking to 3rd party apps by sending badges, sounds, and pop-ups through a central Apple server to alert users of, for example, new IMs or tweets. (Should we even bother to mention the continued, and continually unexplained, absence of cut and paste, MMS, unified inbox, video recording, etc.)

Note: We updated just fine using iTunes 8.0.1, but you may want to consider grabbing yesterday’s 8.0.2 release first.

But enough dwelling on the didn’t gets. Read on after the jump for the we gots!

iPhone OS 2.2 Release Notes

Apple gets (can we still call it uncharacteristically?) chatty with the details:

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 schedule 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

Products compatible with this software update:

• iPhone
• iPhone 3G

The Fixes Are In

Much like 2.1, and as can easily be seen by the list above, 2.2 is much ado about fixes. Many of our current gripes, especially the fetch-mail problems and incredible crash-iness of Safari have been seen to. It’ll take a few days and a lot of testing to know for sure, but already things in general seem much snappier, smoother, and even more polished. This is especially noticeable in SMS, Contacts, and other previously laggy apps.

Likewise, Apple has closed a number of security vulnerabilities, a complete list of which can be found in their Knowledge Base, but includes fixes for CoreGraphics, ImageIO, Networking, Office Viewer, Passcode Lock, Safari, and Webkit.

The Un-Affected

While a lucky few apps got updates and some more received tweaks, the vast majority remain unchanged from 2.1 and even 2.0. Outside the general fixes mentioned above, that includes SMS, Calendar, Photo, Camera, YouTube, Stocks (nothing to stop them going down, sadly!), Weather, Clock, Calculator, Notes, Phone, and Mail.

In the perhaps re-broken category — though again this is based on only preliminary tests — iPod is back to losing its place in podcasts and other long-form content for me again. Hopefully this is a temporary glitch. (For those who don’t remember, this used to be a common problem fixed only with a reboot that suddenly “reminded” iPod where it had left off).

Likewise, while we can still connect to a VPN over WiFi, I still can’t over 3G. No explanation on that yet either, though we’ve confirmed on multiple iPhones on both Rogers and AT&T.

Home Screen

The iPhone has 9 available Home Screens to store Apps and WebClips. Now, if you’re on screens 2-9, you can press the Home button and be whisked back to screen 1. A very nice touch.

Google Maps

Wow but did this app receive the most attention. Google showed that even post-Android, they haven’t given up an ounce of their iPhone love, not only with their Advanced Voice Search in the Google Mobile App, but baked right into iPhone OS 2.0 as well.

First is Street-View. Google hasn’t yet photographed every street, even in the US, but if you search for major American cities, you’ll probably get lucky.

What is it? When you see a pin in a Street-View enabled location, tapping on the little icon on the left (looks like the top of a man), will animate you through an awesome transition to first-person view of that exact place. Swipe, and you can spin 360 degrees around or pan up and down. A searchlight metaphor, straight out of your favorite FPS, shows which direction the current view represents. Brilliant.

You can also report inappropriate content — which I’m guessing means road-repair not being finished with all due haste?

Words don’t do it justice (which is why we post pics!). Utterly mesmerizing.

Second, if you hit the icon to the right of the pin, you get pretty much what you got with previous firmware, with the notable exception of a new button option at the bottom — Share Location. This is similar to “Mail Link to this Page” in Safari, but instead of a web site address, it sends the Google Maps location of the pin.

Lastly, if you use directions, Maps now provides not only Driving, but Transit and Walking to boot (ha!).

Transit provides bus departure and arrival times, the cost of (combined) fare, and a schedule button to get more options. Note: Bus and train numbers aren’t shown right away. You need to hit Start and get underway for those. Maps will, of course, give you directions on how to get to the bus(es) and train(s) as well!

Walking ignores one-way streets and other vehicule-specific limitations (too much to hope for “Warning: Extreme Tire Hazard?” shortcuts?) when suggesting the fastest route.

Over all, since the iPhone doesn’t have a built-in compass like the Android G1, Street-View isn’t quite as jaw-dropping a demo on the iPhone. Never the less, it’s a spectacular update to an already outstanding app.

Rating: killer.

Settings

Under Settings, General, Keyboard, you now have the option to turn off the iPhone’s Auto-Correction, which many users — especially non-English users — found skewed more stupid than smart.

You can also, apparently turn on Japanese Emoji icons (screenshot via Macrumors) — if you are in Japan and on SoftBank, the official iPhone carrier there. Otherwise, no Emoji for you! (I did manage to switch my iPhone to Japanese trying this out, with only my 3 year old Chinese character (same as Kanji) reading level allowing me to bail back to English… Phew!)

iTunes WiFi Music Store

You read that title right! iTunes now has a new button along its bottom bar — Podcasts. Hit it and you’re greeted with a familiar interface boasting all new — for the mobile app at least — content. Audio and Video Podcast direct downloads have arrived. (You can even get our very own Phone different!)

It functions identically to music downloads, though all Podcasts are still free.

Unlike Music — and identical to the App Store — If you can find something below 10MB (we can’t!) you can download it over 3G. For everything over 10MB, iTunes will complain and direct you to WiFi.

In a pinch — and kudos to Apple for thinking of this — you can ignore the download button and tap the podcast title to launch the QuickTime plugin and stream the Podcast without saving it. You could do this previously via hitting a web link in Safari, of course, but adding it right into the same location as downloads is a fantastic option for users.

Note, having done this frequently from within Safari, it can be a life… er… boredom saver, but can also be frustrating. Dropouts and restarts can occur, and it won’t remember your previous location if you try to come back to it later.

Note: On the download screen, there’re are controls to pause and resume, and (consistency points!) you can swipe to pop up the delete option.

Epic addition that, while it still doesn’t excuse PodCaster-Gate, projects Apple’s iTunes/iPod dominance well into this generation.

App Store

Still no demos. Still no shareware. Still no trial periods of any kind. Yes, the ongoing tribulations of the App Store, developers, and their business models get very little help here, but Apple has provided a minor tweak for users — improved categories with icons.

Better still, App Store Mobile finally catches up with it’s Mac/PC counterpart, showing all the screenshots a developer supplies for their app, with the first one shown full-size and the rest tiled underneath. Tap on any of them to launch an embedded Photo browser to cycle through them all full screen.

If, after using the icons and screenshots to help choose and app, you ultimate decide you hate it and want to burn it from your flash memory, Apple will also cheerfully now ask you to rate it first. Any guesses as to how many 5 star apps will get trashed?

Safari (Web Browser)

Though the big news is the apparently improved reliability, Safari got a small tweak all its own — the search bar is now surfaced right up alongside the URL bar, with the search button (logically) gone and the back button now relegated to a less prominent position inside the URL bar (much as it is on Mac/PC Safari, absent the orange color).

And while it sure seems faster, whether any additional WebKit goodness, including the screaming hot SquirelFish JavaScript engine, has made it into the Mobile version is something we’re still very interested in finding out.

iPod

We noticed you noticing our previous mention of the Podcast direct download feature in the iTunes app. Well, it’s accessible via the iPod app as well. If you go to the Podcast section and drill down to a Podcast list, you’ll see “Get More Episodes…” at the bottom of the list (notice we didn’t say “end” — we’ll get to that in a bit!)

Why Apple chose text instead of an elegant, reflective button we don’t know, but tapping it will take you straight to the iTunes app page for whatever Podcast you wanted more of. Very nicely integrated.

Okay, so that “end” in the “beginning” at the “end” thing? It looks like Apple has reversed the order of Podcast listings in 2.2. In 2.1, the most recent episode was at the top. In 2.2, it’s at the bottom.

Why? Well, in 2.1 when you finished listening to a Podcast episode, it would auto-annoyingly go right on playing the next oldest episode available, with nary a Settings toggle available to end this assault on reason.

We’re guessing they flipped things so that iPod will now auto-just-as-annoyingly go right on to the next newest Podcast.

Why, in the name of Jobs, can we not just get buttons similar to the Music section so we can choose to loop or not on our own?! What’s that? They do have those buttons, it’s just that the buttons seemingly do absolutely nothing?!

iSigh again.

Memo: Please flip the Podcasts back and, you know, implement the behavior of the buttons, not just the visual state, b’okay?

Conclusion

Yeah, STILL no cut/copy/paste, no turn-by-turn, no MMS, no video recording, no ubiquitous landscape keyboard, and the list goes on and on. It’s just Apple, once again, doing what they think will give them the most holiday, Storm-competive bang for their developer buck.

Should you upgrade to 2.2? Still an major NO if you want it jailbroken and — eventually — unlocked, according to the DevTeam. For everyone else, there’s not reason not to. It costs nothing and Google Maps and Podcast Downloads alone are major reasons to grab it and not look back.

If you’re uncertain, drop by the forums to talk it over.

And if you notice anything else we may have missed, please let us know in the comments and we’ll update asap!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Review: iPhone OS 2.2 Software

Updated! Got Gmail Problems with iPhone OS 2.2?

I noticed 3 messages stuck in my Gmail outbox post-OS 2.2 upgrade. Just sitting there. Mocking me. “Sending” but never getting “sent”. Following a comment by Matt, I re-typed my password and voila, the intertubes they were cleared.

Not sure if this will work for everyone, either by itself or with a reset, but give it a try and let us know.

UPDATE: scottb helps out earnie in the comments with a Google link for unlocking display Captcha to overcome an invalid sender address problem. Our readers rock!

Any other trouble-shooting tips? Keep ‘em coming!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Updated! Got Gmail Problems with iPhone OS 2.2?

iPhone Firmware 2.2: Problems and Workarounds to Fix them

TUAW Review: HanDBase for iPhone

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Enterprise, Software, Education, Reviews, Developer, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Last month TUAW pointed you to a video of a relational database application for iPhone and iPod touch: HanDBase. DDH Software, developers of HandDBase, announced immediate availability of the program in the iTunes App Store.

At US$9.99, HanDBase (click opens iTunes) isn't cheap, but when you consider that it can be used to create custom iPhone database applications to track just about anything in your life, it begins to look like a bargain. HanDBase has been a popular product in the mobile computing space for years, and HanDBase aficionados have uploaded over 2,000 applets (database templates) to the HanDBase applet gallery for free download by other users.

Over the past three weeks, I've been test driving HanDBase for iPhone / iPod touch.

Read on for a full review of the app.

Continue reading TUAW Review: HanDBase for iPhone

TUAW Review: HanDBase for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Review: HanDBase for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Swedish provider hints at MMS on iPhone

A presentation by Scandinavian and Baltic mobile operator Telia Sonera hints that Multimedia Messaging may be on its way to the iPhone.

iPhone/iPod touch update 2.2 Walkthrough

Filed under: Software Update, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

As you've probably heard by now, Apple released the much awaited 2.2 firmware update for both the iPhone and iPod touch. This new firmware brings several impressive new features.

Downloading and Installing the new Firmware
First, you'll need to get the new version of iTunes that was released last night. Next, launch iTunes, and connect your iPhone or iPod touch. Click on your device and select the "Summary" tab and then click "Update." The update will then take a few minutes to download and install.

Continue reading iPhone/iPod touch update 2.2 Walkthrough

iPhone/iPod touch update 2.2 Walkthrough originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone/iPod touch update 2.2 Walkthrough originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Should I Upgrade to iPhone OS 2.2?

With the Apple’s early morning release of the iPhone 2.2 firmware update, that’s the exact question many people will be asking. Hey, we at TiPb asked it ourselves — and then blindly pushed and shoved our way to the iTunes tethers!

So what’s new in iPhone 2.2, is it awesome enough for you to update, and who should stay clear at all costs?

Answers after the jump!

What’s in the 2.2 Update

According to Apple, iPhone version 2.2 includes the following:

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 schedule 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

Products compatible with this software update:

• iPhone
• iPhone 3G

In addition, there have been some minor UI tweaks, which you can check out in our new iPhone 2.2 Screenshot gallery.

Who Should Update?

While some may feel, especially given recent history, that best practices are to wait a few days for the guinea pigs… er… early adopters to kick the tires and discover any deal-breaking bugs, if you’re already suffering from any of the problems listed above, especially Email fetch woes, crashing Safari browsers, or want the latest security fixes, then bite the bullet and update asap. Likewise, the new Google Maps goodness and direct Podcast downloads had me at beta.

There’s always a risk something might go wrong, but you’re likely suffering immense frustration already, or really want the new features,the benefits clearly outweigh theoretical drawbacks.

Who Shouldn’t Update?

First and foremost: those of you who have jailbroken your iPhone 3G or 2G, or unlocked your 2G need to STEP AWAY FROM THE ITUNES. Read Jeremy’s post for the details, but if you upgrade now, you’re in for a world of hurt and disappointment later. Bottom line: If you’re rolling with a jailbroken or unlocked iPhone, stay clear until you’re given the all-clear. We’ll always let you know right quick when/if there are any developments in that area.

Likewise, if you’re living large on iPhone OS 2.1, and won’t absolutely die if you don’t get Podcast Downloads now, now, now then you have nothing to lose by hanging back and waiting a few days to make sure 2.2 doesn’t crash and burn. Keep reading TiPb, and in a week or so, when confidence levels are high, you can take the plunge — if you feel like it.

Conclusion

So what’s the deal’yo? If you’re happy with your 2.x (or even 1.x!) iPhone right now, save yourself the potential pain frustration and wait to update until there’s a compelling reason to update.

If, on the other hand, 2.1 is giving you nothing but headaches, or the 2.12features are must-haves, go ahead and update now. Things can’t get any worse, can they? Can? They?

Whatever you do, let us know. And if you do run into problems, be sure to head on over to our forums where Bad Ash has the crew in full force!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Should I Upgrade to iPhone OS 2.2?

Launch of Sirius XM iPhone app ‘StarPlayr’ coming soon?

Filed under: Multimedia, Rumors, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Subscribers to Sirius XM satellite radio have reasons to be thankful on Thanksgiving Day next week: it appears that an iPhone app called "StarPlayr" will be coming soon.

There's a thread in the SternFanNetwork forums about receiving Sirius XM on the iPhone, and forum member JJRousseau, who is apparently an employee of developer NiceMac, LLC, pointed everyone to the StarPlayr website. StarPlayr currently makes a Mac player and is hard at work on the iPhone app. JJRousseau noted in the forum that "[t]he iPhone is our first priority, but it has taken longer than expected getting licensing worked out for the iPhone Client. As soon as the business side of iPhone version is worked out, you'll be able to purchase StarPlayr for iPhone at the App Store."

The feature set sounds impressive, with Sirius and/or XM content streams, album art, iTunes WiFi purchase links, lyrics, and favorites lists. No release date or pricing has been set for the app at this time.

Thanks to Rymon for the tip!

[via iPhoneSavior]

Launch of Sirius XM iPhone app 'StarPlayr' coming soon? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Launch of Sirius XM iPhone app 'StarPlayr' coming soon? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

iPhone 2.2 Screenshot Gallery!

Running 2.2 (5G77) and if you don’t care about cut and paste, mms, or any of the other other stuff Apple likely hasn’t had enough time/resources to make an investment/reward benefits case for, you’ll dig the Google Maps and Podcast downloads — and Emoji if you, you know, are running on a legit Japanese iPhone carrier!

Screen cap gallery after the break!

(Thanks to Dieter for getting US Google Street-view content! I don’t think us filthy Canadians are deemed worthy for it yet!)

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone 2.2 Screenshot Gallery!

Engadget Podcast 119 - 11.21.2008

Back for more, eh? Well you've come to the right place -- the Engadget Podcast! Join Josh, Paul, and Nilay as they take you on a magical journey through the trials and tribulations of the BlackBerry Storm, investigate the legal situation of the Apple-cloning operation known as Psystar, dish on the latest Zune and Xbox happenings, and lament the forthcoming death of FireWire as it cedes its high-speed throne to USB 3.0. And just think, access to this treasure-trove of information is yours free of charge!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, and Nilay Patel
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Paranoid

00:02:25 - BlackBerry Storm review
00:32:35 - Psystar's antitrust claims against Apple dismissed
00:53:59 - Microsoft revamps Zune Pass: keep ten tracks per month forever and ever
01:02:43 - Microsoft ratchets down pricing on flash-based Zunes
01:02:39 - NXE hitting 360s with red ring, freezing and sorta-sexy-avatar issues?
01:06:45 - Goodbye, FireWire 400

Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 119 - 11.21.2008 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

How To: Get Our iPhone Podcasts Over the Air

Now that 2.2 is upon us, you can get your TiPb fix in yet another way: grab our Podcast over the air!

It’s simple. Just turn on WiFi (necessary because all of our podcasts are over 10 megs), head into iTunes on your iPhone, and search for “Phone different.” It’ll pop up right quick (and includes the feed for our iPhone Live! Podcast to boot!). Then head in, tap download, and away you go!

(Speaking of the Phone Different Podcast, we have this week’s in the bin. It should be edited up and ready for you to grab tomorrow)

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

How To: Get Our iPhone Podcasts Over the Air

iPhone Dev Team says don’t upgrade to 2.2 yet

As always the iPhone Dev Team is warning about blindly installing the new firmware without instruction from them first. They have gone out explaining the pros and cons of immediately installing one of these updates without knowing all that it is doing to your phone. With all the security measures that ...

Control your Rovio with your iPhone

Many of you iPhone owners will not be able to control yourself when you see the new Rovio by WowWee on store shelves. This radio controlled beast is more for adults and offers many fantastic features such as live video camera and even allows you to speak through it. With no ...

Cheat the law with NMobile

For any of you out there that have trouble avoiding speed traps, NMobile is the application for you. This application shows you the location of speed traps, red light cameras and radar locations. All of these locations are then displayed on a map for you. Using your internal GPS in conjunction ...

iPhone 3G hits select Wal-Mart store shelves on December 28th

We have been hearing rumors that Wal-Mart will be getting the iPhone 3G for several weeks now. It has now been confirmed that Wal-Mart will start selling the iPhone 3G in select locations on December 28th. Looks like a lot of people are out of luck with it landing on ...

Apple gets hit with another lawsuit

Apple is facing yet another lawsuit because of the new iPhone 3G. Its been a lot time since reports of the new iPhone 3G having construction issues causing the back casing to crack. This problem was more easily detected in the white version than the black. The lawsuit also lists ...

Compiled c & c++ in Flash ! - The Future of Web Applications and Games

 As an example of the complexity of this project, the engineers ported the C++ version of Quake 1 engine into Flash Player and it worked perfectly and performed well. It is an extreme case but showcased the potential of this project. The Quake 4 Intro video is here just to serve ...

Mobispine intends to deliver MMS to iPhone users

With the new iPhone firmware 2.2 release we expect a lot of changes to be made, one thing Apple will not be giving us is the ability to send MMS. Mobispine has set out to give the iPhone the “world’s first true Multimedia Messaging for iPhone.” We already know there are ...