Metal Gear Solid Touch video: thumb attack!

Of all the upcoming iPhone and iPod touch games, one of the most eagerly anticipated has been Metal Gear Solid Touch.  Now video of the actual gameplay has prompted some to wonder whether the UI is entirely satisfactory, given that much of the time the player's thumbs are covering up ...

Switched On: Taking the iPhone to tasks

Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


Apple may be right that the benefits of multitasking do not outweigh its costs at this point, and the company will address at least some of the needs that have traditionally been met with background apps via its reworked push service and in-app e-mail due to launch this summer. However, the rationale presented at the iPhone OS 3.0 event this week against background apps is an incomplete argument at best.

First, let's turn back to when Apple first announced that the iPhone would not support background applications at WWDC last June. Apple's Scott Forstall showed a screen shot of Windows Mobile's busy Task Manager noting, "This is nuts." He pointed out how background applications consume cycles, sandbagging performance, and consume battery life. But since when does Apple accept that Microsoft's implementation of something is the last word?

And at the iPhone OS 3.0 preview, in a quantitative justification of the background process ban that included relaying testing on Android, Apple talked about how running a background IM client can reduce standby time at least 80 percent, whereas a push system reduces standby time only 23 percent. However, the case against background applications is not so straightforward.

Continue reading Switched On: Taking the iPhone to tasks

Filed under: Cellphones

Switched On: Taking the iPhone to tasks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fandango releases iPhone App

Finally, online movie ticketing service Fandango is out for the iPhone as a free download, allowing users to preview trailers, find local theaters, and even buy up to 10 tickets at a time. "If you're into movies, however, the Fandango app is literally, the ticket," TUAW wrote. Its features include: Browse movies: In ...

iGames Summit addresses growth of iPhone gaming

The iGames Summit gathered luminaries from the iPhone game market to discuss how the business is evolving.

iPhone game roundup - Terminator Salvation, Topple 2

Terminator Salvation and Topple 2 are two of the top titles that we report on in this installment of the iPhone game roundup.

iWonder Surf offers parents managed browsing on iPhone, iPod touch

iWonder Surf helps parents block and filter Web sites on their children's iPod touch or iPhone.

iPhone 3.0 Friday roundup

Filed under: iPhone, SDK, iPod touch

Tuesday's iPhone OS 3.0 announcement has left the interwebs even more iPhone-obsessed than usual. If you find digging through all this information overwhelming (or, if like me you were out of town when OS 3.0 was announced), check out this round-up of news, opinions and videos. The only thing missing is a beta copy of OS 3.0 and that's already floating around various torrent sites.

If that's not enough, be sure to check out our continuing iPhone OS 3.0 coverage.

Watch the OS 3.0 presentation -- Were you left off the invite list too? Check out the video in HD or SD at the link above or in iTunes [iTunes link] as a video podcast.

Engadget's iPhone OS 3.0 Hub -- Engadget has a whole page dedicated to their furious and hands-on iPhone OS 3.0 coverage, including this video walkthrough.

What Apple Didn't Announce -- Apple's iPhone OS 3.0 presentation didn't answer every question or address every iPhone issue. Our old friend David Chartier tackles what was left out.

SDK 3.0 brings more NDA fun -- Much to the chagrin of many iPhone devlopers, the NDA is back for SDK 3.0. At Arstechnica, our pal Erica takes on what this means for developers. Let's just hope the NDA is lifted as soon as 3.0 is officially released.

OS 3.0 Screenshot Pr0n -- Pfft, what NDA? iLounge has put together a great gallery of iPhone OS 3.0 screenshots, showing off what's new and improved. Love it.

iPhone OS 3.0 vs. Android -- Lifehacker has a pretty neat comparison of features that are currently avaialable in the iPhone 2.21, stuff that's coming in OS 3.0 and what's available and coming for Android. As someone who has spent a LOT of time using both the iPhone OS and the T-Mobile G1, I'd just add that hardware and UI is actually just as important as "features" when comparing the two platforms. Right now, the iPhone absolutely cleans Android's clock -- despite having fewer "features" -- because the hardware is better (that G1 keyboard is terrible), the UI is more thought-out and the third-party software is better by leaps and bounds. (hat tip, Gruber)

Future iPod/iPhone models referenced in latest betas -- The latest iPhone OS 3.0 SDK includes references to future iPhone and iPod models (3,1) and two other unknown devices.

iPhone 3.0 Friday roundup originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 3.0 Friday roundup originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next Gen iPhone to Have Video Recording and Higher Megapixel Camera?

As Dieter would say, “cats and dogs living together!”. That’s how it feels these last few days, what with all the leaks/rumors hitting about next generation iPhone stuff. Are they legit, or part of some mass internet meme-teria? Dunno. But I’m running out of puzzle metaphors!

This time, Apple Insider is reporting that the next generation iPhone hardware will not only provide video recording, but through a higher quality camera to boot! Want more? They’re further rumoring that Apple will build in a Movie Recorder app, the video equivalent to the Memo Recorder for audio that already part of the iPhone OS 3.0 beta.

So this brings our list of leaks for the week to: code references for iPhone 2,1 and 3,1, multi-core GPUs, video publishing, OLED screen, faster internet speeds, and now higher def video recording…

Curiouser and curiouser…

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

Next Gen iPhone to Have Video Recording and Higher Megapixel Camera?

Apple’s New iPhone to Support Significantly Faster Internet Connectivity?

Review: College Basketball Live

Despite some persistent bugs, College Basketball Live is a helpful app for staying on top of scores, news, standings, and schedules if you’re a hoops fanatic.

Got iTunes HD? And an Old Display? — NO HD FOR YOU!

Yesterday, Dieter told us Apple had finally pulled the trigger on HD downloads for iTunes. Today, the internets (led by iLounge, via Gizmodo) are up in arms because said downloads are infected with Big Media-enforced DRM to such a degree that they can’t even play on older, non-HDCP (high definition copy protection) compatible devices.

What does this mean? Even if you forked over $2K for a ginormous Apple 30″ Cinema Display, that “cinema” part of the branding will be just plain useless to you except for the very helpful popup you’ll get reading:

This movie cannot be played because a display that is not authorized to play protected movies is connected.

Lovely. We understand Hollywood wants to protect their movies from pirates. We also understand that this type of nonsense doesn’t stop pirates (who run at pretty much a commercial scale nowadays) one bit — it only makes life extremely difficult and financially draining for actual consumers. (Poetically, pirated content plays just fine on older displays, making us wonder if someone deep inside Big Media secretly owns license to the torrents and is actually trying to drive traffic that way…)

Seriously, in what other industries can you get away with this? Sorry, your home is not copy protected, please back your car out and try burning down any non compliant houses before parking again. Sorry, food 2007 is not compatible with fridge 2009, please upgrade your fridge and then try eating again.

Sheesh.

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

Got iTunes HD? And an Old Display? — NO HD FOR YOU!

Next Gen iPhone to be an Internet Screamer? (802.11n?)

New iPhone hardware rumors are coming our way fast and furiously now, what with new device numbers, OLED screens, and… faster Internet speeds?

That’s what Silicone Alley Insider is saying:

our source has heard rumors that the next iPhone will have a significantly faster Internet connection.

What does that mean exactly? Our bet is on those new 802.11n mobile chipsets we heard about a while back. Pretty much everything else in Apple’s arsenal is now 802.11n fast, and even given those fancy new Airport Extreme and Time Capsules, faster would be better…

So again, how’s that picture of the next generation iPhone shaping up for you?

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

Next Gen iPhone to be an Internet Screamer? (802.11n?)

‘Find My iPhone’ may find its way into iPhone OS 3.0

Another potential iPhone 3.0 feature, "Find my iPhone", has been uncovered by some sites poking into beta versions of the new software.

Next-Generation iPhone to Have “Faster Internet Speeds”?

Silicon Alley Insider reports on rumors from a mobile industry source saying that the next-generation iPhone will have "a significantly faster Internet connection." While no further information is given as to whether this is referring to cellular or...

Win a MovieWedge for your iPhone or iPod touch

Filed under: Accessories, iPhone, iPod touch

Tired of holding your iPhone at just the right angle while on a cross-country trip? Need an easy way to mount the iPhone for casual viewing? We pitted the MovieWedge against the MiniRizer and wound up preferring the MovieWedge for the screen-cleaning surface, portability and design. Now win one of two MovieWedge's this weekend. To enter, just tell us the last video you watched on your iPod touch or iPhone (or anything, really).

• Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. (Sorry, we know our international readers want to participate, but promo codes don't transfer outside the US.)
• To enter leave a comment telling us the title of the last movie you watched.
• The comment must be left before March 22, 11:59PM Eastern Time.
• You may enter only once.
• Two winners will be selected in a random drawing.
• Prize: one MovieWedge bean bag for iPhone/iPod touch ($9.95).
• Click Here for complete Official Rules.

Win a MovieWedge for your iPhone or iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Win a MovieWedge for your iPhone or iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone OS 3.0 may lift limit on podcast downloads

A screenshot shows that iPhone OS 3.0 may lift the 10MB limit on podcasts downloaded over the cellular network.

Review: ESPN Cameraman Deluxe for iPhone

The original version of ESPN Cameraman put a sports-themed twist on the old Spot The Differences puzzle game. This Deluxe edition adds a few modest features—as well as a price tag.

Apple to use OLED in Next Gen iPhone Screens?

Smarthouse (via BGR) has a report saying Apple just might be making the leap to OLED (organic light emitting diode) screens for those future iPhone models mentioned yesterday.

It’s also believed that a new iPhone and iPod Touch due later this year will include an OLED screen made by LG who last year scored a multibillion dollar deal to manufacture display screens for Apple.

Apple currently uses LED for the iPhone (and MacBooks, and the new 24″ Cinema Display). OLED required no backlight and consumes much less battery power than previous technologies. Given Apple’s obsessions with thinness and battery life, this move makes the kind of sense that does.

Also bundled in the rumor is, of course, a rumor about Apple also using OLED in an upcoming “netbook”. We’re still thinking an iTablet is more likely…

So, all these leaks starting to paint anyone a new summer hardware release picture yet?

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

Apple to use OLED in Next Gen iPhone Screens?

iPhone as a popular gaming platform? The way to go

Yeah, there's no doubt that iPhone is becoming a popular gaming platform among mobile users now. There are at least two reasons: (1) the statistics of iPhones  sold and  games apps on the App Store; and (2) the latest features on the device's OS which enriches the upcoming gaming development. As ...

Mobile Roadie brings iPhone Apps to Indies

Thanks to the iPhone's technology, nothing is impossible now. Indie artists and labels can create their own iPhone apps with affordable pricing and less effort -- in term of technology and back-office aspects. They can use a new self-service platform called Mobile Roadie from Fluidesign. The Orchard, a global leader in ...