Breaking News: Linux Ported to the iPhone

Last chance for two App Store freebies

Filed under: Deals, iPhone, App Store

There are lots of iPhone app discounts to be had for the remaining 3 hours of the day (that's ET -- different developers may trigger the return to regular pricing at different times, although I believe 'official App Store time' is PT), but two in particular caught my eye as excellent temp-free apps, and probably worth their regular prices as well.

Houdah Software's ACTPrinter addresses a longstanding challenge for the iPhone: how to easily get PDF files or other printables onto the device without having to email them to yourself. Using a driver on the Mac side to wirelessly ship the printed doc across to the device is a delightful approach to the problem, and from what I've seen it works like a charm (you can judge for yourself via this screencast). Such a bargain! ACTPrinter is normally $0.99.

For a different moneysaving strategy, check out MeterRead from Zerogate. This app (video demo here) lets you keep track of your electrical usage by saving and analyzing your meter statistics. Does the dishwasher use more power than the air hockey table? Do compact-fluorescent bulbs save major kilowatts, or just a trickle? You can find out with MeterRead; the developer cites a study that indicates 10-20% electrical savings for motivated consumers who analyze their usage. MeterRead is normally $2.99.

Last chance to submit your favorite App Store ephemeral freebies in the comments!

Last chance for two App Store freebies originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last chance for two App Store freebies originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone hackers achieve a milestone: Linux boot

Filed under: OS, Open Source, iPhone, Jailbreak/pwnage

Call it the Touchable Penguin. OK, the touchscreen drivers aren't there yet, but the simple, scrolling shell output of a Linux kernel running on the iPhone represents a big achievement for the iPhone Dev Team and dev lead 'planetbeing.' The build is far from complete -- no wireless networking, no sound, no writeable support for the NAND flash memory -- but it's still very cool, and the effort involved was substantial (the team had to reverse-engineer the iPhone's boot loader so they could write their own).

Having a working Linux kernel on jailbroken iPhones and iPod touch handhelds might seem frivolous, but imagine the ability to run other touch phone OS platforms on top of an iPhone (like, perhaps, Android)... very tempting. You can see more of the rationale behind the Linux-on-iPhone project here, or you can skip to the second half of this post to see the video.

[via Engadget & Erica]

Continue reading iPhone hackers achieve a milestone: Linux boot

iPhone hackers achieve a milestone: Linux boot originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone hackers achieve a milestone: Linux boot originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone Apps Available for Free or Heavily Discounted on the App Store for Black Friday

Linux hits the iPhone!

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Linux_ported_to_the_iPhone'; We knew this day would eventually come, but somehow we're still misting up a little -- Linux has been ported to the iPhone and iPod touch. Dev Team member planetbeing is the mastermind in charge of bringing everyone's favorite open-source OS to Apple's handhelds, and while it's a little rough around the edges (read: no touchscreen drivers, sound, or WiFi / cell radio support), it's definitely the first step on the road to hacking nirvana. The team is hard at work, and it even sounds like they're thinking about porting Android in the near future (!), so hit the read link to try it out and lend a hand if you can -- or just head on past the break for a quick vid of the port in all its text-scrolling glory.

[Via iphone-dev.org; thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Linux hits the iPhone!

Filed under: Cellphones

Linux hits the iPhone! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: World Wiki Plus for iPhone

Tech Lumina’s version of the CIA Factbook is an inexpensive and better alternative to competing products from the App Store.

Looking for Black Friday bargains in the App Store

The App Store doesn’t have a section that readily identifies which apps have gone on sale. But bargain hunters have a couple options for finding discounted apps on this heavy shopping day.

Hacking Away at iPhone 2.2 TV-Out Secrets

Updated iPhone with live Video Out from Ars Technica on Vimeo.

A few days ago we mentioned Ars’ iPhone expert, Erica Sadun was taking the lifting of iPhone OS 2.2’s NDA as an opportunity to dump code and sift for gold. Turns out she’s not only found some in the way of “hidden” TV-out features in iPhone 2.2, she’s sacrificed her well earned turkey day to experiment with them. From her previous post, here’s what’s at work:

The MPTVOutWindow class allows your iPhone to send its video to a connected TV rather than to the built-in screen. Intended to be used with movies, the unpublished class creates a live video feed that is sent out through the iPhone’s connector port. End-users will need to buy a video adapter or cable to use this functionality.

Early days still, but fairly awesome stuff. Can’t wait to see what she and other developers — not to mention Apple eventually — come up with!

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

Hacking Away at iPhone 2.2 TV-Out Secrets

Google’s Mobile App Uses Undocumented API’s to use iPhone’s Proximity Sensor to Prompt a Voice Search

Round Robin: Questions About the Palm Treo Pro?

[This is an official Smartphone Experts Round Robin post! Every day you reply here, you're automatically entered for a chance to win an iPhone 3G, Case-Mate Naked Case, and Motorola H9 Bluetooth Headset! Full contest rules here!]

Like all good things, bad things, and flummoxing things — all thing in general I suppose — my time with the Palm Treo Pro (see video preview) will be ending shortly, whereby shortly I mean this weekend when my final review goes up an I ship this hot little handset on to Android Casey for his turn at the non-Palm, not-Treo, arguably Pro device.

In the meantime, however, I should like to ask you, our readers, what if any questions you might have about it. What would you like to see better explored? Compared more directly with the iPhone? Put to the torture test?

Let me know in the comments and you’ll also get another chance to win our iPhone 3G prize pack.

(And remember to head on over to our sibling sites for more chances to win a Blackberry Bold, Palm Treo Pro, WinMo HTC FUZE, and Android G1!)

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

Round Robin: Questions About the Palm Treo Pro?

Review: WriteRoom for iPhone

If you find yourself using your iPhone or iPod touch as a replacement for your ideas notebook and don’t care for the devices’ included Notes app, WriteRoom is well worth its $5 price tag for the ease of copying documents to and from your mobile device.

TiPb’s 2008 iPhone Holiday Helper Gift Guide

What to get for that annoying iPhone owner who knows has everything? For that new iPhone user who’s just getting started? For that last minute drop in you never expected but suddenly have to render iSpeechless?

TiPb’s got you covered! Here’s our 2008 Gift Guide, jammed packed with iPhone goodness just in time for the holidays, after the jump!

Rene Recommends

Gift Certificates! Be they for the iPhone 3G itself, for anything at the Apple Store, or for iTunes and its App Store. Take the first two with you to the Apple Store for specialist, even Genius help, or shop in the comfort of your own iTunes with the last one, Apple’s made it easy to give the least assumptive gift of the season.

Dieter Recommends

• BodyGuardz Protective Skin is a scratch-proof transparent film for your iPhone 3G. Designed to custom fit each particular device, these protectors are made from the same material that is used to protect the front of automobiles from stones and other abrasive elements. Tough and durable, you can be assured that your device is protected by BodyGuardz.
• Motorola H15 Bluetooth Headset lets you enjoy pure sound quality on both ends of the conversation with CrystalTalk. The flip design is easy to use - open to talk and close to save battery.
• Griffin PowerDuo combines the redesigned PowerBlock AC charger and PowerJolt auto charger in one convenient bundle.

Brian Recommends

• Seidio Innocase II, which features their unique soft touch “rubberized” surface and is less than 1mm thick but provides a strong layer of protection and excellent grip for youriPhone 3G .
• The New Jawbone is the next step in the integration of best in class noise elimination technology with personal design that is both humanistic and minimal.
• Inno.dock junior desktop cradle from Seidio, which is powered through your computers USB port with the use of the included cable and the charging connector lets you adjust the docking position of your phone.

Casey Recommends

• Case-Mate Vroom, which Kicks it into high gear with a new tire-tread pattern iPhone 3G case. Made from 100% rubber, this sporty form-fit iPhone 3G case will protect your phone in style.
• Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset is your essential conversation piece, blending an elegantly simple design with crisp sound quality and lightweight comfort.
• Marware Sportsuit Convertible is the most versatile sport armband case for the iPhone 3G. The Convertible is really three cases in one: it transforms into an easily adjustable armband case, a clip-on case for a belt or shoulder strap, or a slim-profile sleeve for an extra layer of protection in a pocket, gym bag, backpack or purse.

Chad Recommends

• Apple iPhone Bluetooth Headset let’s you answer iPhone calls wirelessly with a compact and lightweight Bluetooth Headset. You also get an iPhone Bluetooth Travel Cable for convenient syncing and charging.
• Griffin PowerDuo can’t be recommended enough. I am very pleased with the quality and versatility of this accessory, and I can proudly say I use it every day.
• Case-Mate Naked Case with full touch-through access to your screen via an electrostatic membrane that will also protect your iPhone 3G screen from scratches, fingerprints and other mishaps.

Jeremy Recommends

• Case-Mate The Hipster a durable leather pouch that keeps your 3G iPhone safely and stylishly by your side at all times. With it’s fixed belt clip and a magnetic snap, your iPhone 3G will be protected against the elements wherever you go.
• Griffin PowerDuo includes a charge/sync cable for iPhone 3G, iPhone, iPod touch, or iPod Touch 2G with full-sized dock connector.
• The New Jawbone is a miracle of miniaturization and 50% smaller than the original Jawbone.

Your Recommendations?

What did we miss? Any killer apps? Must-have accessories? What does your secret gift’er need to wrap up for you this year? What are you telling Papa Jobs you really want left under your iPhone? We only started this list; didn’t even check it twice! Drop some ideas in the comments, would ya? Make sure we get this right!

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

TiPb’s 2008 iPhone Holiday Helper Gift Guide

9 iPhone business apps

Need to get real work done on your iPhone? Bill Wiecking suggests nine iPhones apps to enhance your productivity on the road.

Black Friday Sales = App Discounts!

Well, not strictly speaking, as some Apps are being discounted for more than just the day, and others have even gone up in price, but if you check out sites like AppShopper’s Price Tracker, you can see that some bargains are to be had!

Some deals are sure sweeter than what Apple Retail is offering off the iPhone (nothing!) and iPod Touch (a tiny bit!).

I might just pick up BeeJive for $9. If you find any sweet App deals, or any great deals on iPhone/iPod Touch outside Apple, please let us know in the comments!

Meanwhile, here’s what MacRumors has singled out:

• Ambrosia (Now $0.99): Mr. Sudoku, Mondo Solitaire, Aki Mahjong.
• Igloo Games (Now $0.99): Dizzy Bee
• Gameloft ($2 off): Diamond Twister, Brain Challenge, Backgammon Classics, Block Breaker Deluxe 2, Midnight Bowling,
• EA ($2 off): SCRABBLE, Spore Origins, TETRIS
• Pangea (Now $0.99): Cro-Mag Rally, Bugdom 2, Enigmo.
• Free for Limited Time: 2079, 300 Bowl HTG, TapToDo, Pathways.
• Others: Classics ($0.99), CameraBag ($0.99), BeehiveIM ($15.99->$9.99)

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

Black Friday Sales = App Discounts!

Black Friday 2008: $300 MacBook Pro Discounts, iPhone App Sales

Apple has officially unveiled their Black Friday sales for their online and retail stores. The discounts are very similar to last year's event. The only two Mac models on sale are the iMac and MacBook with discounts of up to $101 for the mi...