iPhone game roundup: 3D Rollercoaster Rush, FaceFighter

New iPhone games abound, and here's a roundup of some of the games that have crossed our desk this week.

Shazam updated to 1.7, adds location awareness

Filed under: Multimedia, Software, Freeware, iPhone, App Store

Shazam is an app that's been on my iPhone since the beginning, and in fact, everyone should have it. Besides the fact that it's free, it's useful in a very innovative way: if you hear a song anywhere that you don't know the artist or name of, just pull up the app to hear it, and it'll tell you what you're listening to. I still use it occasionally to find new music that I hear and like out in the world, but I never really paid attention to updates -- they usually just got included in my monthly or so "download all updates" click. Apparently Shazam's been updating something fierce, however, and the newest version has all kinds of functionality that you might not expect.

At some point, they added in Twitter integration, so if there's a tune you want to share that way, you can do so. There's always been a way to share them via email, too, and they've spruced that up a bit by calling it a "postcard" (conveniently also giving your friends a chance to buy the music you hear, and probably put some change in Shazam Entertainment Ltd.'s pocket -- it is a free app, after all). But the most interesting new feature is that Shazam now tracks your location when you "tag" a tune, so that eventually, you'll be able to look at a map of where you found all this new music you like.

Sure, it wasn't exactly a pressing feature, but it is cool to see your "musical journey," and have that information about not only what you tagged but where you tagged it. Shazam is an app that's probably on your iPhone already, but it's worth another look.

Shazam updated to 1.7, adds location awareness originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Shazam updated to 1.7, adds location awareness originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 3G S Arrives: First Impressions, Video, Speed

Photo by Buckit
The iPhone 3G S went on sale this morning 7 a.m. local time in the United States. First impressions by MacRumors forum members are being recorded in this thread. Highlights include

- "...really does see...

Chillingo’s Zen Bound

One of MY most anticipated games this year was Zen Bound . When I saw the preview movies of this game, I noticed how incredible the 3-D graphics and controls were. Taken from the publisher's description of the game: "Zen Bound is a calm and meditative puzzle game about wrapping ...

Google updates Gmail, iGoogle for iPhone

Google have recently released updates for its beta version of web-based Gmail and iGoogle for the Apple's iPhone. Available in 38 languages, just go to igoogle.com in your mobile browser and tap "Try the new Mobile iGoogle!" Google wrote: This new version is faster and easier to use. It supports tabs as ...

Get iPhone 3GS with insurance from Best Buy

Are you getting ready to grab the new iPhone next Friday? Might be you'll love this news. Since AT&T wouldn't offer insurance for any iPhone, seems Best Buy's offering is worth purchasing. For some peace of mind, of course. Normal cell phone insurance via Best Buy will cost you anywhere from ...

iPhone 3G S debuts across U.S.

The iPhone 3G S is now on sale, with crowds descending upon Apple and AT&T stores to get their hands on the new model.

Canadian iPhone fans feeling some upgrade love now as well

With just hours to go before the iPhone 3G S reaches its stores, Canadian provider Rogers and its sister brand Fido have promised heavy discounts for existing iPhone 3G customers trading up to the faster model. Also, Apple stores in the country will finally let customers buy the devices there instead of carrier stores. Rogers’ and [...]

Gizmodo reviews the new iPhone Firmware 3.0, and so far so good

Gizmodo published an article outlining all the new features of the 3.0 software version of the iPhone OS, and it’s an interesting read. Their highlights include: Spotlight Search, camera improvements, push notifications, Stereo Bluetooth and Calendar upgrades and Copy/Paste additions (though they wished for more elegance in supporting the feature, given the long wait time for [...]

RIM still a contender to Apple as it ships 7.8M Blackberries this quarter

Research in Motion put pressure on Apple Thursday with word that about 7.8 million BlackBerries had shipped during its latest fiscal quarter, again setting a new record — and dismissing the likelihood of new and cheaper iPhones as immediate threats. We’ll see if that remains their position, as the iPhone 3GS is very likely to [...]

Apple now aiming for Enterprise market with new iPhone

Apple this week stepped up its efforts to take on rivals Research in Motion and Microsoft in the corporate smartphone market, releasing a lengthy guide aimed at helping system administrators deploy iPhones throughout big businesses while simultaneously taking advantage of over a dozen new enterprise features delivered this week. The 83-page guide, titled “iPhone OS Enterprise [...]

iPhone 3G S Launch Day: Photos from 5th Avenue

Filed under: iPhone

Good morning! All day today we'll be updating with reports from iPhone 3G S purchasers around the country, both here and on Twitter. So far the lines seem modest and activation is reportedly going smoothly. Victor notes that AT&T store lines are short where he is and if you are not the primary account holder on your cell plan, you have to go to AT&T anyway to upgrade.

Morning schedules and slow subways kept me from the 7 am store open at 5th Avenue (since Apple moved it earlier from 8 am due to AT&T opening its stores at 7), but by 7:30 the line was still active and purchasers were beginning to emerge. NYPD reports that about half the barricaded area was full at 7 am.

iPhone 3G S Launch Day: Photos from 5th Avenue originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 3G S Launch Day: Photos from 5th Avenue originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple unleashes iPhone 3G S on well-prepared US public (with video!)

As the international date line swung around to the States and rain finally stopped in NY, a few hundred people lined up outside the Fifth Avenue Apple Store today for Apple's new iPhone, with the those The iLife guys up front descending into the store at 7AM to the sound of applause from the cheery horde of Apple Store employees. It was a far sight from the mayhem of previous launches -- the whole line was able to be contained in the elevated portion to the right of the store, no sidewalk necessary -- but it was still a fairly impressive turnout for a spec-bumped phone and a rainy night. Stand by for video from the launch, and be sure to send in your own launch impressions.

Update: Video is after the break!

Continue reading Apple unleashes iPhone 3G S on well-prepared US public (with video!)

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Apple unleashes iPhone 3G S on well-prepared US public (with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiPB Standing in Line for the iPhone 3G S

I’m at the Apple Flagship Store, waiting in line for the latest, greatest iPhone 3G S. 10 or so people right now, but apparently some tour buses are on the way. We’ll update this thread with more from TiPb and our readers, so if you’re in line, head over to the TiPb iPhone Forums and post your pics, stories, and videos. Dieter will move some of the funnest over here.

Good luck to all!

[pic thanks to @Forian}

[The updates continue after the break!]

Our good pal Matthew Miller of Nokia Experts fame lined up in Seattle at 2:30am local.

Meanwhile, many folks in Europe already have the 3G S in hand, per pguich in our iPhone Forums:

Switzerland started selling iphones about an hour ago. I was there 5 minutes before opening, and there were about 3 people waiting (I think 2 weren’t even there for the iphone). Doesn’t look like the mad rush from last year is going to happen.

Chad Garrett boldly waited until 6:00 am to line up at Kenwood Towne Center in Cincinnati, OH and it doesn’t look like he’ll miss out on his iPhone 3G S because of his tardiness.

Forum member nyknicks4412 is genuinely excited about his iPhone 3G S video taken in the parking lot above.

Leanne Lofte isn’t so sure that she needed to show up at 5:30am in Monterey, CA, what with only nine people in line.

Matthew Miller sends word that rain has finally come to Seattle… just in time to fall on iPhone Line sitters. Fortunately, there are umbrellas to be had.

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

TiPB Standing in Line for the iPhone 3G S

Rogers Customers: Prepare for a Long Wait. Everybody Else: Smile

Upgrading to an iPhone 3G S in Canada? We feel for you, and we fear we’re going to continue to feel for you for a healthy portion of the day. Last year there were activation backlogs and hang-ups all over, but it was especially egregious in Canada, where people were waiting for half the day for Rogers’ system to get up and happy and talking with Apple’s system.

Our esteemed editor Rene Ritchie just called in from his Apple Store to say that their system isn’t showing the 3G S on the Rogers system and it’s unclear how exactly it’s going to be resolved. Last year we heard 6-hour-wait horror stories. This year we’re crossing our fingers that resolution will come more quickly.

On the bright side, we haven’t heard a whiff of a problem anywhere else. From Switzerland to Cincinnati people who didn’t pre-order are finding lines short enough to guarantee everybody will get their phone and activations almost as quick as the iPhone 3G S itself.

Update: Rene is currently channeling the fury of his fellow Rogers-snafu-victims on his twitter feed.

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

Rogers Customers: Prepare for a Long Wait. Everybody Else: Smile

Macworld UK’s iPhone 3G S unboxing photos

Macworld UK has gotten its hands on a new iPhone 3G S and shares pictures of Apple's latest phone.

London queues for first iPhone 3G S sales

Crowds aren't matching those for last year's iPhone 3G launch, but iPhone fans were still up bright and early Friday in the UK, joining queues outside O2 shops and the Apple Stores.

Apple fans flock to buy iPhone 3G S

With the usual fanfare attendant with an Apple product launch, the company released the iPhone 3G S.

Apple Store iPhone 3G S Display Video

King Kong-sized iPhone at the Apple Flagship Store in Montreal highlights the new iPhone 3G S and iPhone 3.0 software features.

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

Apple Store iPhone 3G S Display Video

iPhone 3G S gets the quick and dirty tear apart treatment, already (update: could do 833MHz and 720p video)

Well that was fast. Orange Boutique in Paris, France did a midnight release of the iPhone 3G S, and the gang at Rapid Repair were there to pick one up and subsequently rip their new toy to shreds. There isn't much here in terms of analysis of parts yet, it's more so just a quick and dirty job to get it out to the world, but hey, if you're into watching someone rip apart brand new, expensive gadgetry, we've got just the gallery for you.

Update: They've identified the chipset as the SoC S5PC100 from Samsung and thus confirm an ARM Cortex A8 running at 600 MHz (operates at up to 833MHz though) and the ability to record 720p video should Apple choose to go in that direction (iPhone 3G S records VGA only). PowerVR SGX graphics and 256MB of RAM too as expected.

Read -- S5PC100 [warning: PDF]
Read -- RapidRepair Teardown

Filed under: Cellphones

iPhone 3G S gets the quick and dirty tear apart treatment, already (update: could do 833MHz and 720p video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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