News apps for the iPhone span the political spectrum

Filed under: iPhone, App Store

Building a native app that aggregates and spruces up the content of a single news organ's website is all the rage, although it seems like overkill in some cases -- personally, I enjoy curating my own reading list with good old Instapaper, which also offers the advantage of clearing out most of the graphical cruft and leaving nothing but yummy text. Still, if you like having all the news that's fit to print in the palm of your hand (yes, the 2.0 version of the NY Times app is quite nice), there are two new choices of single-site apps (SSA) for your reading pleasure.

In the right corner, weighing in at four sections, it's the Wall Street Journal! Yes, the official newspaper of American business (whatever's left of it) has an iPhone app, and according to Silicon Alley Insider it's pretty good; the app lets you cache content for offline reading (similar to the NYT app), and offers audio and video content from the paper, along with stories and rich media from sister sites like Uncle Walt's hangout AllThingsD.

Most notably, using the iPhone version of the WSJ -- which is free -- you can read most or all the content from the daily paper... which, via the WSJ.com website, is not free (most full stories require a subscription). There's no way to know how long this workaround will be in place, but for now it's a great way to get access to the paper's stories.

And, in the opposite corner, weighing in at one home page and sporting a killer left hook, it's the Huffington Post! The HuffPo iPhone app has been in soft-launch mode for the past month and was just updated to version 1.1, quashing bugs and improving performance. It's not as polished as some of the other SSAs yet, but it gets the job done. The app is free.

If you have a preferred single-site app for news, let us know below.

News apps for the iPhone span the political spectrum originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

News apps for the iPhone span the political spectrum originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Has SlingMedia Player for iPhone Been Rejected at AT&T’s Requested?

We don’t know. BGR originally posted that it had, but has updated with a comment from Sling PR saying they haven’t heard from Apple one way or another yet.

While <a href="“>SlingPlayer was submitted quite a while ago, all we have right now are questions. Bandwidth is likely a concern for AT&T. Sure, they’ve had other devices running Sling Player for years, but suddenly dropping 10 million odd iPhones streaming video into the mix is a non-trivial concern from their perspective — remember their quickly rescinded “new terms of service“.

However, we’re still keeping our fingers crossed. YouTube app runs off 3G, after all, and while Ustream was forced to be WiFi only for now, Sling Player should at least have that option over flat out rejection.

Or do we the people demand our Sling over 3G now? (Even if we have to still get a new SlingBox to enjoy it…)

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

Has SlingMedia Player for iPhone Been Rejected at AT&T’s Requested?

iPhone Live! Tonight 8pm EDT/5pm PDT

iPhone Live! hits the nets again tonight (Wednesday, April 15) at 8pm EDT/5pm PDT.

Pre-show will start about 10 min. before if you want to drop by early. With iPhone 3.0 Beta 3 being released yesterday, more next gen iPhone rumors still hitting daily, and all sorts of other news, App, carrier, and Steve Jobs related, it looks to be a jam-packed show.

Oh, and Jeremy, our very own Bad Ash, might just be making his Live! debut as well.

Have any specific questions? Anything you really want us to talk about? As always, we’ll take your chat questions live on the show, or leave them for us any time in the comments below, or send them to @theiphoneblog on Twitter.

Join in via http://www.tipb.com/live

Chat with you soon!

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

iPhone Live! Tonight 8pm EDT/5pm PDT

Apple Stores Currently Selling 22 iPhones on Average a Day?

Apple Insider, covering Piper Jaffray’s favorite Apple analyst, Gene Munster, passes along:

Sales of 22 iPhones per stores is down from 28 iPhones per store during November, which suggests a 21 percent decline in sales sequentially compared to the Street’s view of a 24 percent drop. However, Munster is betting that expanded international availability will help offset some of these domestic declines and is therefore modeling iPhone sales for the March quarter to be relatively flat at 4.4 million units.

Of course, rampant speculation of a next generation iPhone announcement in June wouldn’t have anything to do with it… Like last year…

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

Apple Stores Currently Selling 22 iPhones on Average a Day?

Review: Snatch for iPhone

Snatch turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a trackpad and remote keyboard that controls your computer over a network.

Opinion: Apple should get back to iPhone advertising basics

Apple's iPhone marketing now focuses solely on the App Store and making sure that consumers know "there's an app for that." But as competitors catch up with their own mobile software stores, Apple may need to get back to showing off the iPhone's roots.

QuickApp: Sonos Controller for iPhone

It must be music day here at TiPb. Sonos, which we reviewed late last year, just let us know that they’ve updated their Sonos Controller App for the iPhone, adding a few nifty features which, when combined with iTunes music now being completely DRM-free, adds a whole heap of functionality to an already automagic system:

• Wake to music with Sonos – Create unique playlists and set wake-up alarms with your iPhone for every room with a Sonos
• Fall asleep to music with Sonos — Set timers for any room to turn off the music automatically
• Totally computer-free setup – Search for and set up network music folders without touching a computer

It’s a free update, so if you’re rocking a Sonos system, be sure to head on over to the iTunes App Store and pick it up.

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

QuickApp: Sonos Controller for iPhone

Sonos adds more firepower to iPhone app

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review

Sonos, maker of the highly regarded multi-room music system, has updated the free controller software the company provides for the iPhone. The Sonos Controller [App Store link] allows the selection of music or playlists, selection of internet radio stations, control of Pandora, Napster, Last.fm and other music services, and now adds the ability to set, edit and delete alarms as well as set up networked music folders.

If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, this free app is an alternative to the $399.00US controller that is sold with the system, and it is actually easier to use because of the iPhone touch screen. The iPhone app requires users to update their Sonos software to version 2.8, which is a free upgrade that was released yesterday.

The app works very well, without glitches or drama. The screens look stunning, and the reflection effects for album art are a nice touch. Sonos could have easily charged for this app, but getting it free is a major bonus.

The Sonos product is one of many that distributes music around the house and is Mac friendly. Of course Apple has its own solution, the Airport Express Base Station, which effortlessly streams music from your iTunes library to to speakers or a stereo within range of the device. Logitech also has several solutions including the Squeezebox, the Squeezebox Duet, and the Squeezebox Boom. Olive has a well regarded high end solution that includes music servers and players for individual rooms.

Here are some screen grabs of the Sonos Controller in action:

Sonos adds more firepower to iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sonos adds more firepower to iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trend Micro’s browser for iPhone

Anti virus company Trend Micro recently launched their own browser app for iPhone and iPod touch called Smart Surfing. The company claims that it's the first secure browser to provide enhanced Web threat protection for these devices. Smart Surfing is powered by the Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network using advanced “in ...

AT&T in Discussion with Apple to Extend Deal to be Exclusive Carrier of iPhone?

AT&T wants the iPhone until 2011

Filed under: Apple, iPhone

Why wouldn't they? I know about a dozen people who have switched to AT&T precisely because they are the only US iPhone game in town (mostly). The exclusivity ends 2010, but SAI asks, will Apple renew its contract with AT&T? The biggest problem plaguing iPhones appears to be the network -- AT&T is notorious for dropped calls and spotty 3G coverage, whereas now-number 1 service provider Verizon has a great reuptation for coverage (both voice and data).

The issue for Apple is compounded by the fact that AT&T uses the globally-accepted network standard of GSM, where Verizon uses the other, less-used standard CDMA. So now you've got two radios to deal with (as provided in the Blackberry 8830 World Edition), something I think Cupertino isn't eager to implement.

AT&T wants the iPhone until 2011 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T wants the iPhone until 2011 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smule releases Leaf Trombone: World Stage for iPhone

Smule, the maker of Ocarina for the iPhone, has released a new musical application for Apple's mobile platform, Leaf Trombone: World Stage.

iPhone RFID prototype is very cool

Filed under: Hardware, Internet Tools, iPhone

iPhone RFID: object-based media from timo on Vimeo.

Some things are really cool. Object-based RFID media for the the iPhone is one of them. The video above is a prototype demonstration of how this could potentially work. Basically, there's a small "tag" inside a physical object that triggers an iPhone action when it's in range via the attached RFID/NFC reader. In the demonstration it can be seen playing videos, launching podcasts, etc. Our favorite is that the phone begins playing home movies when moved within range of the little house.

This is full of potential. Could other actions be triggered, like send an email or open a web browser? What if, as the developers ask, the iPhone could send actions instead of perform them? Some really fun things could result.

Some bad as well. It seems like a marketer's dream come true, and I have this nightmarish vision of walking through the mall as my iPhone has a freakout. But let's look at the positive: Gaming, playing with toys and sharing media could get a whole lot more fun.

iPhone RFID prototype is very cool originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone RFID prototype is very cool originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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QuickApp: Smule’s Leaf Trombone for iPhone

You’re Smule and you’ve already released the innovative and acclaimed Ocarina app for the iPhone. What do you do for an encore? Why a Leaf Trombone, of course, a “massively multi-player musical game for the iPhone and iPod touch”, now available for $0.99 via the iTunes App Store.

Playing Leaf Trombone is easy: blow into your iPhone’s microphone (or, in Touch mode, simply touch the screen) and press down on the leaf to play a note. Slide your finger towards you - you’ll hear the pitch get higher, just like a real trombone Choose your favorite song from Leaf Trombone’s library of songs, right from your iPhone or iPod touch!

If you’re trying it out, let us know in the comments. Maybe we can get a TiPb reader band together!

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

QuickApp: Smule’s Leaf Trombone for iPhone

Vocal effects come to the iPhone with StompVox

StompVox allows you to put effects on vocals like Reverb, Echo to change the way your voice sounds.

Rumor: Upcoming iPhone parts list published

Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, iPhone

Once again, the folks at DigiTimes have leaked information about a forthcoming Apple product. Citing "Industry sources in Taiwan," they've published an alleged parts list for the next generation iPhone.

Standout items include the 3.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor from OmniVision, which seems in line with the rumored video features in iPhone OS 3.0. Also listed is NAND flash from Samsung and Toshiba and Mobile DDR DRAM from Samsung.

Most interesing is what missing from the list. Namely, the processor. So far, there are no solid rumors on what this could be, so it's really anyone's guess. We think it's safe to say, however, that Apple will release new iPhones this summer. Those who purchased original phones two years ago will have their contracts expire in June, just around the time that iPhone OS 3.0 and WWDC will drop. Here's to this summer!

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

[via theAppleBlog]

Rumor: Upcoming iPhone parts list published originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor: Upcoming iPhone parts list published originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T purportedly looking to push iPhone exclusivity to 2011

It's a little silly just how hush-hush this whole iPhone-AT&T exclusivity agreement has been, but now it sounds like it just might be next century before any of you CDMA loyalists are able to indulge in the App Store. According to a fresh report in The Wall Street Journal, people "familiar with the matter" have suggested that AT&T is feverishly working to extend its exclusive agreement to carry the iPhone in America until 2011. Last we heard, the deal was stretched out through 2010, and considering just how many new subscribers are flocking over solely for this phone, can you really blame the guy for wanting another dozen months of bliss? Not surprisingly, an Apple spokeswoman had more to say about her personal life than on these rumors, but if you were really banking on snapping up a Verizon-branded iPhone at the end of next year, you should probably ask someone to blast you with a giant fire hose of reality.

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Cellphones

AT&T purportedly looking to push iPhone exclusivity to 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Seeds OS X 10.5.7 Build 9J50 to Developers, Public Release Imminent?

Just four days after the last developer seed, Apple has released yet another version of OS X 10.5.7 to developers. The new seed, designated Build 9J50, contains only a single documented fix related to Bluetooth networking. World of Apple republishe...

Review: iharmonix Pro i-Series Stereo Headset for iPhone

The iPhone and music pretty much go hand and hand. Your music deserves to be played through a more than decent stereo headset, one that can deliver clear, clean, crisp sound at any volume. That said, I jumped at the chance to try out the iharmonix Pro i-Series Stereo Headset and put it through some serious usage. You can purchase this exact headset right in TiPb’s very own store, for the low price of $39.95. Honestly, I did not know what to expect while waiting for UPS to drop these babies off but I will admit, I was pleasantly surprised. For a full review, read on after the break!

Design

Lets start out by taking a look at the Pro i-Series design. All in all, I am fairly impressed with its build quality. Is it as fancy as some of the higher priced headsets out there? Not at all, but for a $39 it’s not to be scoffed at. The quality is definitely sturdy enough to last for the life of your phone. The headset’s wires are designed fairly well with a thickness and coating that keeps them from getting tangled easily. That would be good news for all of you who are jamming them into your pockets. It is also important to note that they are about 4 inches longer than the stock Apple headset.

Also included is an in-line microphone with an end and send button. You can use the same button to pause, skip tracks, etc., just like you are able to with the headset included with the iPhone.

Iharmonix even tossed in two different earbud sets so that ears of all sizes get the perfect fit. The memory foam earbuds, which you compress with your fingers and put into your ears, were difficult to insert but I did get them to fit. The rubber earbuds on the other hand were way more comfortable for me. Granted this all depends on your ears and what you prefer.

With every aspect of it’ design being positive up until this point, I did I manage to find one negative. Compared to the Apple headset, the 3.5 mm headset plug stands out a bit more than I am comfortable with and does not offer any flex or give if it were to be bumped or tugged on. I’ve always been a bit leary with any headset I’ve used for the simple fact that, with one good whack or tug, you are bound to end up with a crack in the plastic around your iPhone’s 3.5 mm jack. So that is something that should have been taken into consideration. Other than that one minor concern, iharmonix did a really nice job designing this particular headset.

Usability

Now this is where the Pro i-Series shines. Out of all the headsets I have used since getting my first iPhone I can tell you that you will be hard pressed to find one that will outperform this headset, especially in this price range. The sound quality while listening to music is definitely splendid. You get good bass and more importantly it is clear and heavy without getting distorted at higher levels. As is the case with similar headsets, the bass does not take away from the mids or the treble, so the balance is spot-on at low or high volumes. For all you fans of Dieter and Mike, who star in TiPb’s Phone Different Podcast, you’ll be really pleased to know voices come across superbly.

Color me impressed. You will not get a better bang for the buck than this.

That brings us to call quality. The Pro i-Series is very good. For the most part, the person on the other end of the call sounds very natural and there’s very little background noise. Most of the time friends told me I sounded loud and clear. There were a few instances that I was told I sounded distant but overall that was far and few between.

Conclusion

If you have been looking for a modest replacement for headphones that come with the iPhone, I would not hesitate to pick these up. Sure there are other headphones out there that outperform the Pro i-Series but you better be ready to fork over $100 plus. For $39.95, you really can’t beat the overall quality of the iharmonix Pro i-Series Stereo Headset.

Pros

• Excellent quality for the price
• It’s cheap!

Cons

• Lack of flex in 3.5 mm plug
• Earbuds may not fit comfortably depending on your ears

TiPb Accessory Review Rating

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

Review: iharmonix Pro i-Series Stereo Headset for iPhone

Video: Chrysler’s iPhone-like dashboard makes your car look lame

Personally, we're still digging the central display in Land Rover's forthcoming Range Rover over this, but it's hard to not appreciate a button-free whip. Chrysler was on hand for the 2009 NY Auto Show in order to showcase the 200C concept, a car that utilizes Nartron's touch technology in order to operate entirely without buttons. We stopped by the booth to check out the demonstration, and while a few things seemed inactive, the bulk of it was downright impressive. Now, whether or not Chrysler hangs around long enough to push this into show rooms is another matter entirely, but either way, you can check the vid just after the break.

Continue reading Video: Chrysler's iPhone-like dashboard makes your car look lame

Filed under: Displays, Transportation

Video: Chrysler's iPhone-like dashboard makes your car look lame originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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