Patent Watch: Apple Exploring Advanced Unlocking for Future iPhones?

No, not unlocking the iPhone from AT&T (JAR!), unlocking the iPhone so you can use it. Slide to unlock, passcode unlock, that kind of unlock. Okay, now if you’re still reading, Apple Insider has found some patent filings that suggest Apple is exploring things like biometrics (i.e. it reads your fingerprint while you slide to unlock), facial recognition (i.e. uses the camera to analyze who you are/might be) and pattern matching (i.e. choose unique shape combinations as a passcode). But it doesn’t stop there:

Apple goes so far as to suggest the possibility of recognizing the user’s distinctive voice or even collecting DNA samples to recognize a user’s genetic sequence. Biometrics could also be context-sensitive and detect the shape of a user’s ear before allowing a call to go through, for example.

Of course, many, many Apple iPhone patents have yet to see the light of day, so there’s no telling when, if ever, this functionality will be built into future iPhones. Still, it’s always nice to Apple is working on possibilities for those future iPhones.

But we have to admit, some of this is just so sci-fi we kinda want to see if they can really do it…

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

Patent Watch: Apple Exploring Advanced Unlocking for Future iPhones?

iPhone 3G finally available contract-free

At long last folks with a contract phobia or just a general penchant for lawlessness can pay exorbitant amounts of money to get an iPhone 3G contract-free. As promised, 8GB models for $599 and 16GB ones for $699 are now available from AT&T and Apple stores, with AT&T requiring buyers to be existing AT&T customers, limited at one per, while Apple stores will sell the handsets to anyone wandering in off the street -- rebellious demeanor preferred.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

iPhone 3G finally available contract-free originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: AccelaRuler for iPhone

AccelaRuler is a virtual tape measure that provides estimated distances by using the iPhone’s built-in accelerometer. But the results are decidedly mixed.

App Store Start Your Approval Process: Here Comes Sling Player!

TiPb scored the above eyes-on way back at Macworld 2009, and now TUAW brings word that SlingMedia’s Player for the iPhone has finally been submitted to the App Store. Of course, no one but the magic 8-ball knows how long it will take for — or even if — Apple to approve it, but this is SlingPlayer, folks, so we’re taking even the tiny little steps as they come.

Any super-keeners revving up their SlingBox’s in anticipation? Or do you doubt Apple (or the carriers?) will actually let it into the App Store and onto the iPhone?

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

App Store Start Your Approval Process: Here Comes Sling Player!

The Bad Decision Blocker prevents dialing mistakes

Filed under: Odds and ends, Apple, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Enough of the fart apps -- here's an iPhone function we really need. The Bad Decision Blocker (BDB for short) is an iPhone app that will let you block any of your phone's contacts for a predetermined set of time.

We've all been there -- you go out Friday night, get a few drinks in you, and suddenly calling up your former friend, or a girl you're trying to ask out, or a girl you used to go out with (who decided not to hang out with you any more thanks to all the drinking) becomes something you're suprisingly willing to do. BDB, however, will say no, and keep that contact out of the contact list, until whatever time you'd said it was OK to let it back in. And, presumably, by that time you can be in a more sober state of mind, and realize that you don't need any girl whose idea of a good time is keeping you from having fun. Take that, Susan!

It's helpful for sure. All the program seems to do is erase (and rewrite) whatever contacts you choose in your address book, so you've got to re-open the program after the set time if you want your contacts back. Also, the app doesn't actually block the phone, just the contacts you choose, so if you have their phone number memorized, you might still end up doing a little drunk dialing. But you never know -- BDB might be just the thing to help you leave that old relationship right where it is, or at least come to your senses long enough to not sabotage that new one. It's in the App Store right now for 99 cents.

The Bad Decision Blocker prevents dialing mistakes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Bad Decision Blocker prevents dialing mistakes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Apple Stores Now Selling Unsubsidized, Contract-Free iPhones?

Apple Insider is reporting that some US-based Apple Stores are, following a similar to move by AT&T, starting to sell unsubsidized and off-contract iPhones. Pricing is $599 for the 8GB model and $699 for the 16GB, but in this case there seems to be no restriction on the quantities purchased.

While Apple Insider suggests these units could be unlocked, we’re not aware of any official policy or method in place to do so — unless they’re referring to Jailbreaking and running the yellowsn0w software.

Speculation as to why Apple and AT&T are now more fully embracing the off-contract model, of course, centers around their desire to clear inventory prior to an anticipated (by the Internet) hardware revision sometime this summer, perhaps introduced at WWDC in June as the iPhone 3G was last year.

Anyone rushing out to get their off-contract iPhone 3G while supplies last?

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

US Apple Stores Now Selling Unsubsidized, Contract-Free iPhones?

GDC: An Interview with Ngmoco’s Neil Young

Neil Young, CEO of iPhone game publisher Ngmoco, talks frankly with Macworld about his vision of the iPhone's gaming future.

GDC: Com2u plans baseball games for iPhone

Chronicles of Inotia publisher Com2us plans two new baseball games for the iPhone in the coming weeks.

iPhone OS 3.0 SDK Sneak Peak

If you weren't already aware, Apple is set to unveil some of the features of the upcoming iPhone OS 3.0 today at a special media event scheduled for 10 a.m. PST. There have been much speculation as to what exactly is going to be shown today, but in MY opinion, ...

iPhone OS 3.0 SDK Beta Delivers on Most Fronts

Just released to developers on Tuesday, the iPhone OS 3.0 beta addresses some of the issues users have been recently clamoring for. Not only will the beta give the users a chance to see new features, but more importantly, it will give developers the time to test these new features ...