Apple Delays iPhone 3G S Pre-Orders to Prevent Early Delivery?

Several readers are reporting that their potentially early iPhone 3G S shipments are being intentionally delayed by Apple. The actual delivery date may still be early (the 18th) but the information is continuing to change. While originally ...

Waiting for iPhone 3.0?

Yeah, so are we. We have no idea when exactly “today” it will be released — Apple can pull the trigger whenever they want, first thing in the morning New York time, or last minute at night in Cupertino. So, all we can do is wait and keep hitting that download button.

Or, if you want to help pass the time, check out TiPb’s iPhone Forums. They’re friendly, informative, and fast and free to join (for those few who haven’t already).

There’s even an official “Staying up for iPhone 3.0” thread, courtesy of Tremain, to get you started!

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

Waiting for iPhone 3.0?

On the lookout for Push Notification apps

Filed under: iPhone

We can't wait for iPhone 3.0 to arrive (c'mon, isn't it Wednesday somewhere already?), so in the meantime we're making a list and checking it twice. AppAdvice has posted a short list of apps known or expected to include Push Notification capabilities, including IM+, AP News, Tap Tap Revenge 2.5 and AIM. ESPN's ScoreCenter (promoed at the top of the store earlier today) was also announced as a push-capable app during the original iPhone 3.0 event.

We've got a few others that seem to be promising PN capability at or near the 3.0 launch, courtesy of reader Joachim's research help: Beejive IM and ngmoco's Touch Pets Dogs. A quick search of Apptism for 'push notifications' reveals a few more candidates, including David Fletcher's ChatMaster. Searching the iTunes Store itself shows a couple more interesting (and not necessarily shipping) apps: speed trap checker Trapster, killer Jabber/XMPP client OneTeam, personal finance tool BillMinder and IT manager's virtual machine toolkit VManage all list PN on the roadmap but no sign of new versions yet.

Once the 3.0 version is released and developers can loose their tongues, we fully expect to hear about scores of updates to take advantage of PN and other new features. If your app is among the revised horde, shoot us a line at our app review address.

On the lookout for Push Notification apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

On the lookout for Push Notification apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why original iPhone owners will be left out with Push Notifications

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Bad Apple, iPhone

If you bought the original iPhone, you have the pride of being the first to own one... but you will also be left out when you install and use some of the nice new features in the iPhone 3.0 update.

One of the most awaited features, push notifications, requires a constant data connection. While the iPhone 3G can handle data and voice simultaneously when using a 3G/HSDPA connection, on EDGE (the cellular data service that the original iPhone uses) you are unable to take calls and maintain a persistent data connection. As a result, if you turn on the push notification service, you will be unable to receive voice calls.

Some iPhone owners might consider this a slap in the face from Apple, while other iPhone users will just be glad that their phone now has notifications. Either way, the good thing is that the voice mail system uses a data connection, so you will still get your voicemails.

Push notifications could also end up being a flop for other iPhone users too. Due to the structure of the service, push notifications can get lost in transit, and pushes to the same app (possibly all pushes) kick older ones out of the push queue.

Let us know your thoughts about push notifications on the first generation iPhone in our poll and comments!

View Poll

Why original iPhone owners will be left out with Push Notifications originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Why original iPhone owners will be left out with Push Notifications originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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QuickApp: TweetDeck Twitter Client for iPhone

Chad’s excited. Why? TweekDeck for iPhone has just hit the App Store (iTunes link). Doesn’t look to be iPhone 3.0 Push Notification enabled just yet, but the hallmark feature of Twitter Groups and multiple, columnar dashboards (looks similar to tabs in Mobile Safari) are all in place. And you can “shake to refresh”.

Best of all? It’s free!

If you try it out, let us know how it works for you, and how it compares to your current favorite Twitter client.

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

QuickApp: TweetDeck Twitter Client for iPhone

iPhone Dev-Team Shows Off iPhone 3.0 Jailbreak and “UltraSn0w” Unlock

Engadget Mobile brings word that the iPhone Dev-Team has shown off a working Jailbreak and Unlock — now dubbed UltraSn0w — via Qik video.

The Jailbreak and Unlock should be available on Friday, though TiPb’s guess is it may not work on the new iPhone 3G S, since it took 6 months to unlock the iPhone 3G via yellowsn0w and longer for the 2nd generation iPod touch via redSn0w. We’ll likely know more when the Dev-Team gets some quality time with the new hardware and figures out what, if any, new cats Apple has brought for the mice to game…

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

iPhone Dev-Team Shows Off iPhone 3.0 Jailbreak and “UltraSn0w” Unlock

Apple reminds Palm Pre owners what ‘unsupported’ means

In a tech note posted Tuesday, Apple reminded Palm Pre users who are currently able to sync their devices with iTunes that such capabilities may disappear in future upgrades.

Best Place to Sell your Used iPhone

Sirius XM iPhone app coming this week, says customer support

Just in case a new iPhone model and OS 3.0 weren't enough goodies for this week, Sirius XM support team members are sending emails out announcing the company's long-awaited iPhone / iPod touch app will finally seeing the light of day and will launch this Thursday, June 18th. We just got off the phone with a customer service rep who confirmed the letters are legit, so unless there's some communication breakdown on the corporate latter, looks like it's really, finally coming. It'll be available as a free download from the App Store, but those who subscribe to the gratis Basic Online Service will have to upgrade to the $2.99 monthly premium plan to have it on the go. We're a bit light on other details -- we can't imagine it being as full-featured as the standalone receivers -- but it's a good bet we'll have all our questions answered before the week is out.

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio

Sirius XM iPhone app coming this week, says customer support originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Issues Advisory Regarding Third-Party Devices Syncing With iTunes

Daring Fireball highlights a new support document from Apple addressing the issue of "unsupported third-party digital media players" syncing with iTunes. The brief document warns users that Apple does not test its software with such devices and thus...

TweetDeck for iPhone go for launch tonight

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

Kevin Rose is reporting that the iPhone version of the popular Twitter client TweetDeck is set to be launched tonight (Tuesday, June 16th) at 9 PM PDT. Although the free app will officially be announced at that time, availability is totally dependent on the whims of the App Store. Rose's leak of the app's impending release did not include any precognition of when the app will actually make it into our hands, nor was price information available.

Mashable notes that TweetDeck for iPhone reflects many of the features of the desktop version, including multiple column-based friend groups and a beautiful user interface. TweetDeck for iPhone syncs with the desktop version, and is expected to provide the following features:

• Shake to refresh
• Support for multiple accounts
• Flick to move between columns
• Status updates similar to Facebook toolbar

It was mentioned in our email discussions about this app that it's interesting to see a Cocoa Touch version of Tweetdeck before a Cocoa (Mac OS X) version; the desktop app is cross-platform and runs atop the Adobe AIR framework.

Whether TweetDeck has the mojo to kick Twittelator off of my iPhone home screen remains to be seen. How about you, TUAW readers? What's your favorite Twitter app?

Update: Well, it looks like a number of blogs leaked the news, and TweetDeck for iPhone is now available for download in the App Store.

TweetDeck for iPhone go for launch tonight originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TweetDeck for iPhone go for launch tonight originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple to Palm: Careful Playing on our iTunes Lawn!

Not quite “get off our lawn”, yet clearly a sign post warning that the lawn might on day get a tad hostile if you choose to linger there without leave. Here it is, via Daring Fireball, Apple’s latest Knowledge Base Article: iTunes: About unsupported third-party digital media players, aka the Palm Pre syncing saga:

This article is about iTunes and unsupported third-party digital media players.

Products Affected iTunes

Apple designs the hardware and software to provide seamless integration of the iPhone and iPod with iTunes, the iTunes Store, and tens of thousands of apps on the App Store. Apple is aware that some third-parties claim that their digital media players are able to sync with Apple software. However, Apple does not provide support for, or test for compatibility with, non-Apple digital media players and, because software changes over time, newer versions of Apple’s iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with non-Apple digital media players.

So, if/when iTunes breaks compatibility with the Palm Pre — intentionally, incidentally, or otherwise, does this cover Apple?

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

Apple to Palm: Careful Playing on our iTunes Lawn!

Palm Prefection iPhone theme lets you have the best of both worlds, kinda

So you're an iPhone owner with a massive case of Pre jealousy, but you've got another year left on your AT&T contract. We know you're out there, and we know you're struggling -- you're feeling totally alone and misunderstood, like a lone voice struggling to be heard amongst the din of a thousand push notifications. A gadget nerd without a clan.

You don't have to live this way. You don't have to be trapped into a single touch interface aesthetic by the fear of early-termination fees and loss of Tap Tap Revenge compatibility. You have a choice -- you can jailbreak your phone and install the Palm Prefection theme. You can show the world you're not afraid to mix it up. Sure, you won't be able to multitask for real and no amount of fevered prayer will ever bring a gesture area to your iPhone, but that doesn't mean you won't be taking a stand. Fly high, butterfly. Video after the break.

[Thanks, Dave]

Continue reading Palm Prefection iPhone theme lets you have the best of both worlds, kinda

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm Prefection iPhone theme lets you have the best of both worlds, kinda originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you really Sirius? Streaming radio iPhone app expected this week

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

In what may be one of the great anti-climax stories of all time, it looks like Sirius/XM is finally releasing an iPhone/iPod touch app this week, probably on the 18th.

Subscribers who asked about the app are getting the following email... apparently Sirius support team members are paid! by the exclamation point!

Thank you for contacting SIRIUS regarding whether or not there is a SIRIUS iPhone application available. We are here to help! We appreciate the time you have taken to contact us in regards to this matter! We are happy to inform you that beginning June 18th a SIRIUS Internet Radio application will be available at the Apple iTunes App-Store for the iPhone and the iPod Touch! All Premium SIRIUS Internet Radio subscribers will be able to download the application from the Apple iTunes App-Store for free on their device and access the service at no additional cost! Subscribers who are listening to the Basic Online Service for free must first upgrade to the Premium Online Service for $2.99 per month to access the application on the iPhone or iPod Touch.

It's been a long and tortured road getting here. Competing players were stopped dead by Apple, and the Sirius player has been talked about ever since the iPhone came out. A couple of weeks ago we reported the app would appear 'real soon' and now it looks like this is the week.

No word as yet on how many channels will play on the app, but this is a highly anticipated release. We hope it's fully compatible with iPhone 3.0.

Are you really Sirius? Streaming radio iPhone app expected this week originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Are you really Sirius? Streaming radio iPhone app expected this week originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Layar app for Android presages the augmented world of iPhone 3G S

Filed under: Odds and ends, Found Footage, iPhone

If you caught the Copper Robot show on Sunday or any of our recent talkcasts, you may have heard me yammering at length about the possibilities for using the iPhone 3G S in enhanced or augmented reality applications. After the dynamic demo of compass-enhanced Google Street View on the Android Dream, the news of a magnetometer included with the 3G S -- allowing the phone to determine its direction with respect to the real world, along with position (GPS/SkyHook) and orientation/acceleration (accelerometer) -- starts to make geeks drool with eagerness for practical heads-up displays or browsable views of the world.

Here it comes, folks. As noted over at 9to5Mac, the Layar app from Dutch developer SPRXmobile will get Android phones into the realm of science fiction X-ray specs when it comes out at the end of this month. Point your phone across the street to see what houses are for sale, which bars are offering happy hour specials, or where the nearest ATM might be. A live, animated overlay points out the key locations and moves with your camera view. It's tough enough to describe, so I've got the video in the second half of this post -- but the effect is impressive. The previously-announced Wikitude app gives a travel guide the same augmented treatment for Android.

The guys at IntoMobile have given Layar a good once-over and come away quite awed. I can't wait to see this app, or one like it, make it over to the App Store. Add some social networking features from Brightkite or foursquare and iPhone users will jump all over this -- but they'll have to be careful not to walk into lampposts.

[via MacRumors]

Continue reading Layar app for Android presages the augmented world of iPhone 3G S

Layar app for Android presages the augmented world of iPhone 3G S originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Layar app for Android presages the augmented world of iPhone 3G S originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What to do with that old iPhone?

Filed under: How-tos, iPhone

At first I was going to wait until December when I could upgrade my 3G iPhone to a 3G S for the best price, but the thought of that better camera resolution and video was slowly gnawing away at my resolve. I wanted a new iPhone (damn you Apple!), but I had to do something about my current model. Putting it in the drawer that has become my 'Museum of Obsolete Technology' didn't seem like a great (or cost-effective) solution. Selling it to friends is tough because most already have iPhones and are in the same boat I'm in. We've even offered some good tips in the past here at TUAW.

Then I remembered that when I upgraded to the iPhone 3G I sold my iPhone online. eBay wasn't offering much back then, so after some research I settled on NextWorth. They are one of a number of companies that will give you real cash for gadgets, and they had a good reputation. Prices depend on demand and change daily. With my old first generation iPhone, I sent it in with all my accessories and received a check back in 2-3 weeks. It was all pretty painless.

I checked them again this time, and they were offering US$280.00 for my 16GB iPhone. I've gathered all my accessories and will send it in when I get the new iPhone. That 280 clams makes the whole trade up quite a bit less painful. I also like this method rather than selling to a friend because of the "something is sure to go wrong with the phone the day after I sell it" factor.

Our readers will have their own stories and suggestions. Let's hear them -- and one tip. Before you engage with any company try a site like ReSeller Ratings or do some targeted Google searches to see how other people did with them. I might have gotten more money for the phone using another method, but the route I went has no risk and offered a reasonable trade in value.

Other online companies that buy iPhones include Gazelle, BuyMyTronics and CashforiPhones. That's not an exhaustive list, and be sure to check reputations. Searching on "sell your iPhone" at Google is a good place to start. There's also Craigslist, but you have to be careful. There have been a lot of rip-offs.

One final tip. When you sell the little darling, be sure to do a secure erase first. It takes a while, but protects you from selling your data along with your phone.

I'm looking forward to the new iPhone but hate the thought of buying the next model and the next. What's a geek to do?

What to do with that old iPhone? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What to do with that old iPhone? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 3.0 Update for iPod Touch Page Appears in iTunes, Not Yet Functional [Updated]

One MacRumors reader has discovered an iTunes page that appears to offer the iPhone OS 3.0 software update for iPod touch for download for $9.95. While iTunes permits the transaction to go through and prompts the user to connect their iPod touch to ...

Review: Car Jack Streets for iPhone

This game owes a lot to Grand Theft Auto. But it's still an immersive experience with clever graphics, easy-to-use controls, and nice touches. Car Jack Streets offers endless hours of gameplay.

French and German carriers release iPhone pricing

Filed under: iPhone

One of France's providers, Orange, plans to charge €229 ($318US) for the 32GB version and €149 ($206US) for the 16GB with a one-year minimum contract. The least expensive contract will cost €39 and last two years. Orange plans to open its Champs-Elysées store one minute past midnight on the day of release, which means the French will have their iPhones in hand a full 14 hours before the U.S.

Orange is also releasing a new data plan that has four hours of calling and unlimited e-mail and text messages, 60 TV channels and Internet access through 3G and WiFi at €52 per month, an imporvement over previous plans with fewer TV channels and unlimited texting only at certain times of day. Tethering will also be available at €9.90 per month for 200MB of traffic, or €29.90 for "unlimited service" that will be throttled once the user exceeds 1GB of data.

Germany's T-Mobile, in a similar approach to O2 in the UK, is pricing the iPhone 3G S at €1 for both models, but to get that price the customer must agree to a two year contract at €119.95 per month. The most expensive configuration at the outset is the 32GB phone at €249.95, but it will allow for cheaper contracts.

Orange's competitors, SFR and Bouygues Telecom, have not yet released pricing information. SFR plans to release the 3G S on June 24th, and Bouygues has not yet announced a date.

[Via Macworld]

French and German carriers release iPhone pricing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

French and German carriers release iPhone pricing originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands on with Samsung’s Android handset

Samsung has given the world a first look at its upcoming Galaxy handset, which runs the Android operating system.