RoamBi offers a new look at data on the iPhone

Mobile app maker MeLLmo has announced RoamBi, an iPhone offering that lets users transform static spreadsheets and tables into interactive, dynamic views that are easily viewable on the iPhone and iPod touch.

Rumor: Apple working towards putting background processes on the iPhone

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Apple, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Apple's push notifications sure are neat, but they aren't the brass ring for developers on the iPhone. That, so far, would be background processes. And while Apple has said that background processes would just be too much of a drain on the iPhone's battery, that doesn't mean they don't want them, too.

Ars Technica reports that Apple is still trying to figure out a way for certain apps to do it. There's two options laid out here: one is user-based, in which the user actually approves certain apps to run in the background, with the consequence (if you do choose to enable that) of lower battery lifetime. The second has Apple approving apps for background action, allowing certain developers to run based on limits of "resource usage such as RAM or network bandwidth."

Obviously, there are pros and cons to each plan -- giving the power to the user means they will be able to choose when the battery is drained (on a particularly busy day, for instance, or when the iPhone is plugged in), but it also means that users will have the ability to crash their own phones (allowing too many background processes could cause issues). And of course, while leaving the choice in Apple's hands will make sure background processing is only used in the "right circumstances," we all know how great Apple is at app approval.

Ars concludes on the same point that I would: if background processes are really going to make a difference, they'll likely rely on a future iteration of the iPhone, as the one we've got now is just not built to run apps all the time, no matter who chooses them. Even if Apple is working out a way to run certain apps in the background, they are almost certainly spending more time beefing up the iPhone hardware as well.

Rumor: Apple working towards putting background processes on the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 May 2009 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor: Apple working towards putting background processes on the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 May 2009 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Developers invited to test iPhone 3.0 push notifications with Associated Press app

Filed under: iPhone, SDK

If you're a developer running the iPhone 3.0 beta, you may have gotten a special note in your email today -- and judging by the number of you who let us know about the news, there's plenty of those emails going around. Apple is testing the long-awaited push notification feature of the 3.0 software (and the back-end servers that provide the updates) with a build of the Associated Press news update app. If you got an email with a promo code and you've been putting the app through its paces, do let us know how it's going.

Push notification is all well and good, but what about true background processing for those critical applications that need always-on connectivity? More on the prospects for that capability in our next post, coming up shortly.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

[H/T to Engadget]

Developers invited to test iPhone 3.0 push notifications with Associated Press app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 May 2009 21:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Developers invited to test iPhone 3.0 push notifications with Associated Press app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 May 2009 21:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone Plan to get Cheaper: AT&T to Offer a Monthly iPhone plan for $20 with Limited Data Access?

Latest App Store trend: Long keyword flooded app names

What will they think of next, those ever so clever iPhone developers who help make the App Store such a wonderful place. We already have the devs who produce dozens of apps that all do essentially the same thing but manage to occupy 10 screens in iTunes and we have those that throw the [...]

Quick App: Slacker for iPhone Gets Updated

Slacker let us know that they’re pushing out a new version of their iPhone applications, which should hit the App Store any time now [Free - iTunes link]. What so streamers have to look forward to?

Aside from the massive song library and the usual enhancements and interface streamlining, there’s larger album art view, recently played stations folder, an option to disable sleep mode, and for Radio Plus subscribers — song lyrics,

Slacker users, when you grab the update, let us know what you think!

More screenshots after the break!

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

Quick App: Slacker for iPhone Gets Updated

AT&T may introduce cheaper data plans, and other lower cost options

With next-generation iPhone hardware and software around the corner, a new report is adding to claims that AT&T is mulling changes to its iPhone monthly service and data plans that could reduce the cost of owning an iPhone and help Apple grow its share of the smartphone market. Citing people with knowledge of the company’s thinking, [...]

Developers get first look at Apple Push Notification service on iPhone OS 3.0 beta

Well, what do you know: it really does exist. Apple's at last showing off push notifications outside the clutches of Cupertino, with registered iPhone developers getting a special version of the Associated Press app to test out on their super fine iPhones running the latest and greatest iPhone OS 3.0 beta 5. Devs are instructed to let Apple know if they don't receive notifications from the app within 48 hours, and it sounds like this is an ideal setting to test out the server and make sure everything is humming along nicely before us proles start choking up the network with our inane Twitter noodlings.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Developers get first look at Apple Push Notification service on iPhone OS 3.0 beta originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 16:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Sync to Support iPhone Voice Interaction?

Microsoft produces Windows, the operating system of choice for most iPhone users, and Exchange ActiveSync, the push data system Apple (and Google!) have licensed for business users. They also make Sync, the integration system found in Ford cars, which has just gotten an update.

TWICE (via CNET) lists all sorts of interesting info on the update, but the really interesting part is what’s revealed about future updates, including support for Pandora streaming internet radio, and… the iPhone:

“We’ll be able to link you to your Internet in the car. If you brought an iPhone into the vehicle, you could interact with that through voice. You could then read your email by voice,” said Joe Berry, Ford business and product development director for Sync, referring to a future version of Sync.

Good news for Ford owners… eventually.

(Thanks to the Reptile for the tip!)

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

Ford Sync to Support iPhone Voice Interaction?

Apple Beginning High-Volume iPhone OS 3.0 Push Notification Testing

In an e-mail sent to iPhone developers testing iPhone OS 3.0 betas, Apple announced the start of testing of high-volume Push Notifications using a pre-release version of the Associated Press iPhone application. The current test will run for seven da...

Review: Tasty for iPhone

Succont has done a really good job of bringing access to the Delicious social bookmarking service to the iPhone with Tasty, which sports a simple and intuitive interface -- and a steep price tag.

Snow Leopard Videos Demonstrating Several New Features Surface

Brazilian website MacMagazine links [Google translation] to YouTube user LeopardOctober, who has been posting video previews of new Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard features. Many of the features have already been described, but the videos provide exampl...

RedLaser for iPhone scans for bargains

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, App Review

I wouldn't have thought it was possible to get an iPhone to capture barcodes clearly, but Occipital has done it with a new iPhone app called RedLaser [App Store]. Why capture barcodes? One good use is to find better prices for a product. Scan a product in the store, then RedLaser captures the barcode and does a quick Google or Amazon search to give you quick price comparisons.

I tried the app at a bookstore and my local Best Buy and was surprised how well it worked. You need pretty good light to capture a barcode, which is an issue with the iPhone camera, not the RedLaser software. You need to hold the camera steady. The best way is by holding down the button to take the picture, then release when you are steady.

RedLaser gives you the option to try again, and guides you on how far the camera needs to be away from the barcode. Then RedLaser instantly goes out to the internet and gets you the price comparisons.

In practice I had some misses. The camera wasn't at quite the right distance, or I was a bit shaky holding it. In most instances, however, I was able to get the barcode and see the price comparisons I was looking for. It's also important that the camera not be tilted in relation to the barcode. Try to keep everything lined up. And the app will not work at all unless you have an internet connection. It would be nice if it could store the barcodes, then go out and identify them when you have a good signal.

You also get the ability to mail your product list to yourself or a friend to read it on a bigger screen when you get home.

The clever technology in the app is able to sharpen the image a great deal, making the iPhone camera a feasible platform for this app. When you take the picture the barcode will look pretty fuzzy, but after a couple of seconds of processing it looks quite good, which is the magic that RedLaser accomplishes.

I'd expect this will work fine for most people, but there are some negative comments at the iTunes store as well, largely, I suspect, from people who couldn't hold it steady, had bad light, or glare falling across the barcode. When I eliminated those issues, it seemed to work fine.

Note: This app only recognizes US and UK UPC and EAN barcodes. It works works best on standard-sized barcodes, but I had success with some smaller ones as well.

Here's are some screen shots of RedLaser in action:

RedLaser for iPhone scans for bargains originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

RedLaser for iPhone scans for bargains originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Recruiting Developers to Beta Test Push Notification

Apple has begun emailing registered developers with the following:

As a developer actively working with iPhone OS 3.0 beta, we would like your help in testing the Apple Push Notification service. We have selected a pre-release version of the Associated Press app for iPhone OS 3.0 to create a high-volume test environment for our servers.

Great move on Apple’s part, provided they recruit enough developers to really test the scaling of their iPhone 3.0 Push Notification system. After last year’s disastrous MobileMe launch, Apple needs to make sure their infrastructure is as bullet-proof as possible before they pull the push lever… even if they are planning some limited multitasking as well…

Full text after the break:

Help test the Apple Push Notification service

Dear [redacted],

As a developer actively working with iPhone OS 3.0 beta, we would like your help in testing the Apple Push Notification service. We have selected a pre-release version of the Associated Press app for iPhone OS 3.0 to create a high-volume test environment for our servers.

To participate, we ask that you follow these steps:

1. Download the pre-release version of the Associated Press app for iPhone OS 3.0 from the iTunes Store via your desktop by entering this unique redemption code in the ‘Redeem’ section of iTunes, found under the ‘Quick Links’ section: [redacted] This unique redemption code and the functionality of the application will expire in seven days.

2. Install the application on a development device running iPhone OS 3.0 beta 5 by synching it to iTunes. Make sure to accept notifications when prompted after installation. This application can only be installed on devices running iPhone OS 3.0 beta 5.

3. When you first run the app, choose U.S. English as your region when prompted. The U.S. English region will receive alerts, the Canadian English region will not. For purposes of the test, AP will be sending a high-volume of real news alerts.

4. If you do not receive notifications from the app within 48 hours after installation, let us know.

We appreciate your assistance,

iPhone Developer Program

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

Apple Recruiting Developers to Beta Test Push Notification

Review: Bento for iPhone

Bento for the iPhone and iPod touch is an amazing, versatile, and powerful application, making it possible for you to create databases and manage a variety of information while on the go.

Trend: Company-specific apps and ads

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, App Store

Imagine this scenario: you're watching the latest episode of "Mythbusters" on the Discovery Channel when an ad for Nationwide Insurance appears. Are they trying to sell you insurance? Of course, but they're also touting their new Nationwide Mobile (click opens iTunes) iPhone app, which Nationwide policyholders can use to report accidents, start claims, and find local agents or repair shops.

Later, you're watching NBA playoff action and you see an ad for E*TRADE that catches your attention. It's not that you want to lose more money in the stock market, but you're fascinated because the ad is talking about the E*TRADE Mobile Pro app for the iPhone. Banks have been doing iPhone apps for a while, with Chase and Bank of America taking the lead.

Are you beginning to see a trend here? Sure, maybe a handful of ads doesn't make a trend, but more and more companies are delivering apps that provide a mobile solution for their customers, and then advertising that iPhone-based solution to a wider audience on TV. Why? The iPhone, despite being on the market for two years, is still considered to be leading-edge technology, and it has an unparalleled "cool factor". Any company wanting to show that it's cool and on top of current mobile technology is going to jump on the iPhone connection.

I wouldn't expect to see any Microsoft apps for iPhone soon. What apps and related ads would you like to see?

Update: Thanks to the many readers who pointed out that there are two Microsoft apps available: Seadragon MobileMicrosoft Tag Reader. Of course, I seriously doubt if they're going to tout either of these apps in a TV ad.

Trend: Company-specific apps and ads originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Trend: Company-specific apps and ads originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 May 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T to Offer Data-Capped $20 iPhone Plan? $99 iPhones? Pre-Paid iPhones?

Business Week is warming up the rumor we heard ten days ago about AT&T considering reducing the iPhone data plan from $30 to $20. This time, however, instead of just a price drop, it’s suggested there could be the introduction of a new, limited data option.

So, high end users could get “unlimited” data for $30, and lower end users could get a capped plan for $20.

Business Week’s sources also suggest that a lower price or price tier is part of the ongoing negotiations between Apple and AT&T regarding the extension of AT&T’s US iPhone exclusivity.

Of course, $99 and pre-paid iPhones are also tossed in for good measure. Apple has stated in the past that they wouldn’t leave an umbrella for the competition, so lower-cost — up-front up on plan — iPhones are seen as putting pressure on RIM’s BlackBerry and Palm’s upcoming Pre, and shoring up Apple and AT&T’s market share.

If you don’t use a lot of data, would a tiered option (already available on many international carriers) appeal to you? Would a lower end or pre-paid iPhone?

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

AT&T to Offer Data-Capped $20 iPhone Plan? $99 iPhones? Pre-Paid iPhones?

AT&T considering cheaper iPhone plans?

We're getting close to WWDC, which means the Apple rumor mill is nearing redline -- today it's BusinessWeek saying AT&T's working on cheaper iPhone data plans. It's not clear exactly how that would play out, but the most popularly-discussed option is a $20 "limited-access" plan potentially offered alongside a cheaper iPhone to be introduced at WWDC -- an option that's almost certainly being discussed as the two companies sort out that exclusivity extension. Of course, we're extremely curious to see what "limited access" means, given AT&T's recent SlingPlayer debacle -- cheap certainly isn't worth it if you're not allowed to do anything worthwhile. Phil, you have anything to say?

[Via AppleInsider]

Filed under: Cellphones

AT&T considering cheaper iPhone plans? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TUAW Review: RadTech ProCable Shortz

Filed under: Accessories, iPod Family, iPhone, iPod touch

RadTech manufactures a lot of accessories for the iPhone and iPod, but one recently caught my attention. The recently released ProCable Shortz cables are handy in tight places where you need a USB to 30-pin connector cable. I use mine in my car to hook up my iPhone to the stereo via a USB cable. Before the ProCable Shortz, I had a regular sized 30-pin cable and it took over my glove box with a tangle of wires. These cables can also come in handy when you want to charge or sync your iPhone/iPod with your MacBook, but don't want a tangled nest of wires sitting beside you on the desk.

The RadTech ProCable Shortz come in many flavors, but the most recently released USB to 30-pin iPod connector cables come in two sizes and two colors. You can pick up these cable in either 7-cm or 20-cm lengths, and either in white or black. The build quality is similar to Apple's own cables, and in some ways the cabling seems stronger. Prices are not terrible either: Only $7.95-US for the 7-cm cable or $8.95-US for the 20-cm cable. Compare that to Apple's $19.00 US dock connector cable. The ProCable Shortz are available on the RadTech website.

TUAW Review: RadTech ProCable Shortz originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW Review: RadTech ProCable Shortz originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 18 May 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deer Hunter comes to iPhone and iPod touch

Deer Hunter 3D is now available for the iPhone and iPod touch.