Apple’s roadmap: 3 new iPhones this year?

Not just one, but three new iPhones will appear in 2009, according to an analyst with the Canadian research firm Canaccord Adams.  Seems this news confirmed the Dubai's launch of the next-gen of iPhone and the-once-rumor iPhone Nano. The first is a 32G iPhone in multiple colours that is likely to ...

New iPhone apps: TWSS, Snabiz

I was just discovered two new iPhone apps: TWSS (it’s a free, ad-supported) and Snabiz ($4.99). TWSS helps you to turn your iPhone into the response sound machine in a funny way, while Snabiz helps you to import business cards. TWSS' description: One tap of the That’s What She Said iPhone App ...

Apple Puts Some Snap Into MobileMe/Windows Outlook Sync

Good news, Windows PC users: Apple’s MobileMe News blog has just announced that they’ve finally put some shove into their Windows-side push:

We’ve recently improved the performance of MobileMe syncing with Microsoft Outlook on Windows. Contacts and calendars automatically sync whenever a change is made in Outlook, and likewise when a change is made on the web or from another device. To take advantage of this improvement make sure you’re using iTunes 8.0.2 and MobileMe Control Panel 1.3 and that you have “sync” set to occur “automatically” in the Control Panel.

Anyone out there tried it yet? How’s the performance?

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

Apple Puts Some Snap Into MobileMe/Windows Outlook Sync

On Apple, Android, and 3.5mm Headset Jacks

Someone told Daring Fireball that Apple not only asked Google to remove the multi-touch from the Android/HTC T-Mobile G1 smartphone, but also to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack.

The first part was reported earlier and makes the kind of sense that only tricky mega-corp coopetion can make (iPhone eyeballs are more valuable to Google than the G1’s multi-touch at this point). The second part… not so much. Specifically, Daring Fireball’s source mentioned Apple’s use of the remote buttons on the headset to control media playback as the reason for Google avoiding the jack entirely on the G1. (Note: while this sounds familiar, a Google search didn’t turn up any links for Apple patenting anything associated with such processes, so if anyone can point us towards that info, please let us know in the comments).

Other smartphones have long used the 3.5mm headphone jack, and since the G1 is hardly a media powerhouse (it doesn’t even include a built-in video app), there’s little reason to believe HTC couldn’t have including a non-remote, standard 3.5mm jack.

(Aside: Our editor-in-chief, Dieter Bohn, has managed to confirm that both the BlackBerry Curve 8900 and Pearl both make use of some type of headset based media control, so there we go…)

Chris Ziegler over at Engadget Mobile weighs in, calling the entire Apple/Google story from VentureBeat FUD, and the sourcing on the 3.5mm piece sketchy, and while admittedly an unnamed Android source, absent corroboration, doesn’t pass the traditional media test, here’s the other thing:

HTC seems to love the ExtUSB in lieu of 3.5mm headset jack. It’s not just the G1, but an increasing array of their smartphones that are — and will be according to the 2009 HTC roadmap that was leaked — abandoning 3.5mm for the ExtUSB.

So, we’re not sold on this story yet, how about you? Does it seem likely Apple talking Google out of a 3.5mm jack, or that HTC just plain doesn’t like them and never considered it?

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

On Apple, Android, and 3.5mm Headset Jacks

FUD alert: Apple allegedly scared Google out of using multitouch, 3.5mm jacks, batteries, displays, love

So we've been watching this sketchily-sourced piece from VentureBeat's MG Sigler that claims Google was specifically asked to avoid implementing multitouch by Apple over patent concerns bounce its way around the web today, and while we didn't want to contribute to the echo chamber effect without being able to lend any authority to the story, it's starting to get stupid: John Gruber is chiming in that he'd additionally heard that Apple warned Google against including a 3.5mm headphone jack on the G1 after Cupertino was shown a prototype, which is ridiculous. Fine, we're somewhat willing to accept the complete lack of multitouch on the G1 is a result of Apple's influence, especially considering the huffy language Apple's been using lately over its intellectual property, but the absence of a straight 3.5mm headphone jack can't be chalked up to any patent issues, since Gruber's source is probably pointing to an Apple patent that covers controlling music via a headphone jack, which in no way prevented HTC from slapping a regular 3.5mm jack on there -- and hell, HTC makes breakout boxes for ExtUSB that expose both a jack and control capability anyway. Furthermore, it's not even remotely clear why Google would be cruising around Infinite Loop with the G1 way ahead of release; as Gruber himself points out, Schmidt recuses himself from board meetings involving iPhone conversations, and we'd expect the courtesy to go both ways.

iTunes, iPod, music, your ears... we get it, Apple owns everything with a melody nowadays, but c'mon, now: at the time the G1 was designed -- many moons ago -- attitude toward the importance of 3.5mm jacks on phones was significantly different than it is today, and we can understand why HTC and Google could've reasonably thought that ExtUSB was good enough. Today, that attitude wouldn't fly -- indeed, HTC's own Touch HD does a real jack, and going forward, we'd expect most Android hardware to have them, too. Talented engineers can usually design their way around patent issues, and we're certain Google and HTC have both the legal and technical muscle to deal with Apple -- so can we please all stop playing lawyer and get back to mocking up the Dream G2?

[Via Daring Fireball]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

FUD alert: Apple allegedly scared Google out of using multitouch, 3.5mm jacks, batteries, displays, love originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Darts for iPhone

This iPhone adaptation of the classic bar game has slick 3-D graphics but gets dull quickly.

Will the iPhone Kill the Kindle? No Way

PC World’s Robert Strohmeyer argues that the Kindle is more than a match for the iPhone.

App Store tally: 20,000 apps in seven months

Apple isn’t commenting officially, but iPhone app activity aggregator apptism said the 20,000th iPhone app arrived in the App Store sometime Tuesday.

App Store reaches 20,000 apps

Filed under: Software, iTunes, Apple, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Our friends over at Apptism, a site that tracks and rates App Store apps, have pointed out that their counter recently flipped over the big two-zero... zero zero zero. That's right, only three months after hitting the 10,000 mark (and that took only six months), the amount of apps in the store has doubled, and there's no sign the acceleration will be stopping any time soon.

The ease of development in the iPhone SDK, combined with the huge success of the device and Apple's own promotion revolving around how many apps are in the store, mean that the platform is taking off like a rocket. Sure, numbers aren't necessarily the best indicator of quality (anyone want to speculate how many of the 20,000 apps have to do with farting or belching?), but the fact is that people are both developing and consuming apps from the App Store in gigantic numbers. How long before we reach 50,000 different applications on the iPhone? A million?

App Store reaches 20,000 apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

App Store reaches 20,000 apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is There a Market (Again!) for the iPhone 2G?

Before WWDC in June of 2008, when Apple announced the iPhone 3G, supplies of the original iPhone (now called 2G) began to dry up. Apple killed the iPhone 2G rather than allow two versions of the device to be on the market at the same time.

So why is every internet rumor and it’s quotable analyst predicting Apple will once again introduce a low-end $99 iPhone this spring/year/at Walmart? Why do they think Apple will bring back the iPhone 2G? (which is essential what a cheap, 4GB, EDGE, non-GPS iPhone would be). Sure, the still-ongoing economic problems are a concern to every consumer electronics maker. Granted, non-subsidized markets like India have been difficult for the premium iPhone to penetrate. Okay, Steve Jobs said they wouldn’t leave an umbrella beneath the iPhone for competition to try to exploit. FINE!

But here’s the thing: Since when has Apple done “cheap” anything? Aren’t these the same analysts that have been “predicting” an iPhone nano? An Apple Netbook? A bargain basement MacX mini-tower?

There are some markets Apple chooses not to participate in. And Apple doesn’t know how to make cheap products that aren’t crap.

Sure, maybe they’ll re-introduce the iPhone 2G. Maybe they’ll make a Netbook. Maybe Steve JOBS will appear on Dancing with Stars. Maybe I’ll look really stupid when all of the above happens this year. Maybe not.

My guess? If Apple introduces new hardware like they’re expected to this summer, maybe this time they’ll let the iPhone 3G hand around as an 8GB lower-end model. We’ll see if supplies start drying up around the May/June time frame.

Meanwhile, instead of breaking out my magic 8-ball again, I’m going to ask YOUR opinions. What do you think? Will Apple bring back the iPhone 2G? Will they go cheap?

(Thanks to Mike for sending in yet another analyst prediction, prompting this question).

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

Is There a Market (Again!) for the iPhone 2G?

PC World: Five reasons the iPhone trumps the Kindle

PC World’s Rick Broida thinks the iPhone is a much better bet than Amazon.com’s revamped Kindle e-book reader.

Review: To-Do Lists for iPhone

Tapku’s To-Do Lists app recreates the satisfying feeling of crossing out a completed task with the swipe of a finger. It's a shame that this metaphor did not influence other controls in this simple to-do list manager.

New Apple iPhone Concepts: Which one is your Dream iPhone?

31 fart apps in 90 seconds

Filed under: Humor, Video, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Looks like the years I spent in Spencer's finally paid off, as I was given the dubious honor of sniffing out a few dozen of the 60+ fart apps on the store. But I promise, no squeaking out a lame joke just because this is a video about farts. No silently doling out the goods while looking the other way, either -- I'll just squeeze my mind cheeks together and hold it all in. I even avoided using the "1812 Overture" as theme music. For maximum effect I highly recommend blasting this video loudly at work.

I'll own up to it: I had a hard time not laughing while taping this. Many thanks to the developers who provided promo codes and laxative audio (seriously, don't drink coffee while watching this). Not every app I tried made it to the video, but they are all included in the link list (next page).

Something you'll notice is that many fart apps are simple -- sometimes almost too primitive. Also: they are mostly just soundboard apps, with some by the same developer as derivative works designed to promote their work on the App Store. Why Apple had to make this into a circus I'll never understand (keeping them out of the store temporarily only drew more attention to them). But, like any mall with various departments, the market will eventually sort this mess out. Read on for the full list or check out the gallery of featured fart apps. You have been warned.

Continue reading 31 fart apps in 90 seconds

31 fart apps in 90 seconds originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

31 fart apps in 90 seconds originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Apple gives Google marching orders on multitouch

An unnamed source has reportedly said that Google decided not to implement multitouch on Android at Apple's behest.

Today on the Forums: Google Sync, iPhone 2G or iPhone 3G? MobileMe Renewal? iPhone Help Forums

The forum community here at TiPb keeps growing in numbers every day! With more and more great threads getting posted it’s been hard to try and keep up. Today on the forums, we have a few more good ones that you should definitely check out!

First thread up was started by Dizzy, Google Sync (Beta). For more information about Google Sync for iPhone be sure to check out Dieter’s post from the other day. I’m sure a lot of Gmail users are happy campers at this point.

Next thread comes to us from a new forum member, fallingsenses, he seems to think a lot of people have the iPhone 2G rather then the 3G. What do you usually see? More 3G’s than 2G’s or vice versa? Be sure to chime in!

This thread is pretty straight forward, Will you renew MobileMe? I know without hesitation I will be giving more money to Apple when the time comes. How about you?

Lastly, I’d like everyone to know about our iPhone Help forum. If you have any questions regarding the iPhone please head into this forum and post your issue or question. There are a so many knowledgeable forum members that are always willing to help you out.

In order to get in on the forum action you must register. It’s a quick painless process which can be done at this link right here.

See you on the forums!

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

Today on the Forums: Google Sync, iPhone 2G or iPhone 3G? MobileMe Renewal? iPhone Help Forums

TiPb 2009 Valentine’s Day iPhone Gift Guide

Unlike the snow, TiPb’s 2008 Holiday Gift Guide has come and gone, but while festivities pass, the gift of giving lasts all year long — especially when loved ones are expecting them some Valentine’s gift love! So, TiPb once again comes to the rescue with our 2009 Valentine’s Day iPhone Gift Guide!

Need something special for that someone special? We got’cha covered after the break!

iPhone

Carrier subsidies means you still can’t just walk into a store and buy your sweetheart an iPhone 3G, but Apple has thrown you a tiny, little bone with iPhone gift certificates, which, like Apple Store and iTunes gift certificates, fit neatly in a heart-shaped candy box and can help take the sting out of buying an iPhone or some content.

Chargers

Tired of your sweet-talk cutting off after a full day of surfing and gaming the iPhone’s battery away? Not a problem. Just get your honey (and yourself) an extender. The Mophie Juice Pack works like a case, the Seidio Innocell fits like an extender, or the RichardSolo dongles off the bottom. And if you just want to plug in and re-charge, everyone at TiPb loves the Griffin PowerDuo. Check them out, and then chat the night away!

Cases

Want to protect the one you love? And their iPhone? Cases are the way to go. Whether it’s our favorite from last year, the Innocase II , the latest and most Barely-There from Case-Mate (yep, it comes in hot pink!), or the sheer goodness of a BodyGuardz Skin, nothing says love like an iPhone glove! And if you want full-on armor, check out ElementCase (now in hot Valentine colors!)

Bluetooth

What’s hotter than hands-free? Get your car kit on with the Parrot Minikit Slim for speaker goodness, or the latest from Motorola, the H15 if you prefer to take it anywhere, on the go. Bling your thing? The Jawbone 2 is still tough to beat, especially for whispering those noise-free sweet nothings.

Apps

It wouldn’t be a special occasion without every developer and their marketer pushing out the App Store Valentine tie-ins (iTunes search link), would it? We haven’t tried any out yet (we prefer to wait until the last minute, panic, and then desperately try to load up our true love’s iPhone with Apps before a vase gets broken over our non-romantic, terminally insensitive heads), but Apple has their “picks” (iTunes featured link), and we’d love to get your thoughts in the comments!

Your Recommendations?

What did we miss? Any killer apps? Must-have accessories? What does your secret admirer need to leave at your doorstep this Valentine’s Day? Drop some ideas in the comments, would ya? Make sure we don’t end up sleeping on the couch (again!) this year…

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

TiPb 2009 Valentine’s Day iPhone Gift Guide

The 7-Day $0.99 AppStore Pricing Experiment

Take your $5+ apps and put them on sale for $0.99 for a week, and see if cheap really does make it up on volume, and what do you get? Aside from a lot of iPhone media attention, pretty much a wash according the AppCubby:

People seem to think that there is unlimited demand for iPhone apps, but that’s just not true. The time, attention, and discretionary income of iPhone and iPod Touch users ARE finite. They can only download and use so many apps in a single day. The published download numbers for the App Store are off the charts, but as I’ve pointed out before, those numbers are spread quite disproportionately among free apps and the top 50 paid apps. The harsh reality is that very few apps can “make it up on volume.”

The post goes on to describe some of those harsh realities in more detail, and shares the developers thoughts on whether or not he’ll keep with his current apps, or ditch it for high-volume, low-brow novelty CrApps. Definitely worth a read, especially by anyone who wants to see really innovative, really polished iPhone apps. Extra-especially by Apple.

Or is this just a bunch of crazy talk, and real iPhone users are happy with free/cheap iFartz! fun, premium apps be damed?

(Via Gadeon from Icon Factory on Twitter)

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

The 7-Day $0.99 AppStore Pricing Experiment

TUAW Review: Livespeakr

Filed under: Accessories, iPod Family, Reviews, iPhone

Last year we reported that Livespeakr, an innovative set of speakers for iPhone, would soon begin looking for a manufacturing partner. In the latter portion of the year, we were suprised to learn that the Livespeakr would begin shipping as soon as January 2009 -- which they did. We now have our hands on this awesome portable speaker system for iPhone/iPod, and it doesn't disappoint.

The Design
The Livespeakr features what the creator call a "super cradle" that will fit not only the original iPhone, but also the iPod Classic, iPhone 3G, iPod Touch and iPod Touch 2G. This cradle rotates 180º to enable both landscape and portrait usage from the iPhone/iPod touch. Behind the super cradle lies the male audio jack which plugs into your device. The cradle can be popped off to reroute the cable for either iPhone or iPod use.

When you rotate the cradle 180º the speakers will expand so that the cradle is not blocking the speaker grilles. When you return it to the 90º position, the speakers will retract back into place.

The top of the Livespeakr is plain, only offering an on/off switch, small LED, and mini-USB port. The Livespeakr is made out of shiny black plastic that resembles the 5th generation black iPod (with video). On the back you will find a small flap that pops out -- this is actually the stand. While you can't adjust the height with the stand, you can adjust the angle that it swings back or forward. The metal stand has rubber feet so the unit won't slide while you use it.

What you get with Livespeakr
When you order a Livespeakr, you'll get not only the Livespeakr itself, but also a USB-to-AC adapter that will allow you to charge the unit on the go. You'll also get a USB to mini-USB cable, and a carrying case for the speakers and the charger.

Functionality
These speakers greatly improve on the built-in speaker that is on the iPhone. When I plugged in the speakers for the first time, I was astonished that such a big sound was produced by such a small speaker system -- it reminds me of having a miniature iPhone boom-box. While these speakers are a little light on the bass side of things, I found that by adjusting the equalizer on the iPhone/iPod, I could drastically improve on the sound quality.

The nice thing about the Livespeakr is that the speakers themselves are shielded against RF (Radio Frequency) noise. So, you can listen to your tunes without either switching the iPhone into Airplane Mode, or having to hear your iPhone search for a 3G signal and getting the incessant buzzing sound associated with it.

The Livespeakr features a rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-Ion) battery that I had very good luck with. In my testing, I was able to squeeze a week of 1-2 hour per day uses of it.

Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed using the Livespeakr and seeing how far it has come along since I first looked at the schematics of it last year. I could definitely see taking the Livespeakr on vacation to the beach, or just a swim at the pool. In addition, this small speaker set can be used as a speaker phone on your desk.

While some might say the $129.99 (US) price tag is a little high, I would have to disagree due to the portability and usability of the speakers. The Livespeakr is actually on sale right now, so you can actually get them $30-off for a sale price of $99.99(US).

You can check out the speakers in a little more detail on the Livespeakr website; you can also order them from their site. Be sure to check out our gallery of pictures of the Livespeakr.

TUAW Review: Livespeakr originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Review: Livespeakr originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mighty Marvel Motion Comics Coming to Intrepid iTunes!

Listen up, true believers! TUAW is reporting that Marvel Comics, home to the X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, and Spider-Man has announced at the New York Comic Con:

their intention to sell “In-Motion” comic books through the iTunes Store. According to Marvel, the In-Motion comics go beyond the paperback books with animated panels and voice-over work from popular actors. Sounds like something that could be a lot of fun on an iPod touch or iPhone.

New stuff? Old stuff? In between? Will we be getting the heights of the Phoenix Saga and Astonishing X-Men or the dregs of Secret Invasion and Ultimatum? The tears of the Boy Who Collected Spider-Man, the cheers of Nextwave, or the jeers of Hulk Red?

Grab your Extremis kit, pop your admantium claws, sling some webs (any size!), and let us know just how exactly Marvel needs to SMASH! it up in iTunes!

iXcelsior!

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

Mighty Marvel Motion Comics Coming to Intrepid iTunes!