Review: T-Mobile myTouch 3G

PC World's Melissa J. Perenson looks at the T-Mobile myTouch 3G, the second T-Mobile smartphone to run Google's Android operating system. And while this iPhone competitor has a lot going for it, it's not without its flaws.

OmniFocus for iPhone finally has reminders, but implementation is awful

Filed under: Software, Features, iPhone, iPod touch, App Review

[Update] Ken Case comments below, addressing some of the concerns listed here. It looks like a future version of OmniFocus on the Mac will be able to directly update the OmniFocus reminders on the server, removing at least one of my complaints.

Ken Case from The Omni Group has been twittering for awhile about the impending inclusion of alarm reminders for OmniFocus. The task management app's iPhone users have been pestering The Omni Group to implement reminders as push notifications, but OmniFocus refuses to do so. They say that reminders that rely on connectivity are not good enough, and they have instead chosen to implement reminders by exporting due dates and times into iCal. Once the time comes for a reminder, it pops up like a normal iCal appointment reminder.

Well, OmniFocus 1.5.2 for iPhone was released, and now we get to see how this alternative reminder system works. If I had to choose a word to describe this implementation, that word would be "awful." Here's why:

• The Omni Group has taken great pains to point out that you do not need to be using the desktop version of OmniFocus to get use out of the iPhone version. But for users that only have the iPhone version and are not synchronizing it to either MobileMe (which has a yearly fee) or a WebDAV server (complicated for non-techies), they can't use this implementation of reminders. That's right; the way it works is that OmniFocus on the iPhone exports your reminders to your synchronization server, then points iCal on the iPhone to the server to import your reminders. That means that if you enter new due dates in OmniFocus for iPhone but don't happen to have connectivity, you won't get reminders. Wait, I thought it was implemented this way in the first place to guard against a lack of connectivity?

• Your OmniFocus reminders unnecessarily pollute your iPhone calendar with reminders. This is a visual problem when you need to glance at your calendars and see what actual appointments are coming up. On the iPhone you can either look at one specific calendar, or all calendars, so if like me you need to regularly stay on top of more than one calendar, you're forced to look at your OmniFocus reminders as well. Oh, and even when you complete them in OmniFocus and resync, they don't go away in your calendar. [Update] Stephen points out in the comments that this works as expected, and upon further testing I have to agree. Maybe I was being a bit too impatient.
  

• Since your OmniFocus reminders are actually just fake appointments, there is no way to audibly differentiate them from appointment reminders. They sound and look exactly the same. Remember the Milk, for example, uses push notifications on its iPhone app, and you can set the notification sound to a number of different options. That way you know that you're being reminded of a task rather than an appointment.

• Reminders are set based on Due time, rather than Available time, and in terms of flexibility you can set the reminder to be 5 to 60 minutes before the task is due. By the time a task is actually due, isn't it too late to be reminded about it?

• Finally, if you're a user of OmniFocus for the Mac, your reminders are not created on your iPhone until you think to launch OmniFocus on the iPhone and synchronize it. That means that if you work all day in OmniFocus on your Mac (like I do), then drive home and start doing other stuff and don't happen to open OmniFocus on your iPhone, you won't receive any reminders for tasks that you might have set for that night, or until you actually open and sync OmniFocus on your iPhone.

So, what would I rather see? Push notifications, like the many other OmniFocus for iPhone users out there that have been providing their feedback to The Omni Group.

As mentioned, Remember the Milk has implemented push notifications, and the ability to change the notification sound isn't the only trick it has up its sleeve. The Remember the Milk icon on my iPhone's screen shows how many due tasks I have that day, and the number changes almost instantly when I make changes on the web version. To see how many currently available and due tasks I have in OmniFocus, I again have to launch the app and wait for it to synchronize.

While I love OmniFocus and I think The Omni Group does amazing work, this implementation of reminders for the iPhone version of OmniFocus is just full of an amazing amount of fail. It's a hacky workaround that still doesn't ensure that a lack of connectivity won't adversely affect the user's ability to receive reminder notifications. Omni folks, this is just meant to be tough love -- I wouldn't be saying all of this if I didn't truly care about OmniFocus.

OmniFocus for iPhone finally has reminders, but implementation is awful originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

OmniFocus for iPhone finally has reminders, but implementation is awful originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hackers scoffing at iPhone 3GS’ hardware encryption

There were other features taking higher billing in the iPhone 3GS' announcement than its hardware-level encryption -- hell, even the magnetic compass was getting more play -- but it's there, and Apple's actively marketing the bit-scrambling capability to enterprise clients. Problem is, hackers are apparently having a field day with it, rendering it useless in all but name. One iPhone dev (who teaches courses on pulling data off iPhones, coincidentally) goes so far to say that he doesn't "think any of us have ever seen encryption implemented so poorly before," noting that it's no more difficult for him to pull data off a 3GS than it is off an encryption-free 3G. He goes on to point out that RIM -- which has far more experience dealing with enterprise-class mobile fleets than Apple does -- offers a far more robust remote wipe solution that doesn't necessarily need to rely on an active wireless connection to clear a phone. The lesson? As overwhelmingly popular as the iPhone may be across every market segment, these guys are still the new kids on the enterprise block -- and RIM (and heck, Microsoft, too) would be wise to stand their ground here.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Hackers scoffing at iPhone 3GS' hardware encryption originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Finally Provides Latitude to iPhone Users — Yeah, it’s a WebApp

Google Latitude — the service that either allows you to keep track of your friends or be stalked by stalking stalker types, depending on your point of view — is finally available for the iPhone and iPod touch. No, it’s not built into Google Maps as part of iPhone 3.1 with push update capability. No, it’s not built into Google Mobile app. No, it’s not even set up as an iPhone app in and of itself.

Google Latitude is a WebApp and it runs in Mobile Safari using the iPhone 3.0 geoLocation feature.

Apparently Apple, in their infinitely-looped wisdom, hasn’t yet deigned (or Google wouldn’t yet offer them the chance?) to build it into Maps, and Apple decided it would be too confusing to users to have another app on the iPhone thats shows the same Google maps. (And it’s not when simply framed by mobile browser chrome? Sigh.)

While Google inarguably makes among the best iPhone WebApps in the business, this doesn’t strike us an ideal solution. Still it is a solution for iPhone users desperate to get their Latitude on. Until Apple gets their act together on this, here’s official word from the blog:

Our Latitude web app provides all the core functionality you might expect: you can see the location of your friends on a map and modify your privacy settings so that you control how your location is shared and with whom. In fact, if my friends and colleagues back in London haven’t yet noticed my absence, they’ll see in Latitude that I’m currently vacationing on the beach in Australia. Hi guys, remember me!?

[...] To try Google Latitude, type google.com/latitude into your iPhone’s browser. And if you miss the experience of launching the app directly from your home screen, you can add a bookmark to the home screen by opening Latitude in Safari and tapping the + icon > Add to Home Screen > Add.

Wonder if Steve Jobs is already using it to follow Eric Schmidt….?

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

Google Finally Provides Latitude to iPhone Users — Yeah, it’s a WebApp

Google Latitude finally makes it over to iPhone, as a web app

The iPhone has finally caught up with its BlackBerry, Windows Mobile 5.0, and S60 competition, at least as far as Google Latitude is concerned. The stalker-centric program is now available for Apple's smartphone, but instead of coming as an App Store-approved download, it's actually just a web-hosted app that grabs your location through Safari -- a new trick care of iPhone OS 3.0. As to why, the Official Google Blog explains Apple had some concern that people would confuse it for the native Maps app. We still don't get why it couldn't simply be added to Maps itself, but we're not the multibillion dollar company, here. Go ahead, let your privacy cares away and direct your iPhone to the link below to see what all the fuss is about. Now it's time to wait (im)patiently for Google Voice.

Read - Google Latitude
Read - Official Google Mobile Blog

Filed under: Cellphones

Google Latitude finally makes it over to iPhone, as a web app originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Re-Hacks iTunes Sync, Shows They Care More About Ego and Press Than Pre Users

Palm Pre got webOS 1.1 today and the surprise feature was that it re-hacks iTunes sync, once and for all proving Palm’s new management — in this area — cares more about thumbing their nose at Apple and strutting in front of the press than they do about Palm and the Pre user base.

Yeah, this will be an editorial of the scathing variety. You’ve been warned…

Palm got an astounding and impressive number of things right with webOS. The multitasking is great, the notifications sublime, the SDK a stroke of genius, and the Classic emulator smart, smart, smart. Palm’s done so much so right, it’s flabbergasting that they’ve handled iTunes sync so boneheadedly wrong.

What’s so wrong about it? It doesn’t serve the webOS/Palm Pre user. Bottom line, no company should ever base a user experience on something they don’t own or license. Regardless of caveats like version numbers, Palm telling Pre users they can sync with iTunes when Palm can’t guarantee it will work going forward is irresponsible.

RIM/BlackBerry and Nokia, by contrast, sync with the iTunes XML file which won’t break if iTunes updates. Sure, it’s not the way an iPod syncs, but then they aren’t — and the Palm Pre isn’t — and iPod.

We’ve spoken before about user confusion. Stick a Palm Pre into iTunes and it pretends to be an iPod, but it can’t sync iTunes movies, can’t sync App Store apps. That breaks the user experience (my mother has no idea what DRM is, but she sure knows what “not working” is). And if iTunes is updated and, even if purely by accident, Palm Pre can no longer sync, it shatters the user experience. (”No, see mom, Apple and Palm are like rivals and– yes, I know you can’t get your ABBA to play. Sigh. Again–”)

See, we’re not talking about pro level users here. This isn’t DVD Jon hacking iTunes DRM and experts going in to set up the sync themselves. That’s closer to Jailbreak, you roll your own dice and takes your own chances.

We’re talking about average users who go in thinking they can sync with iTunes just like an iPod. That’s incredibly unfair to them.

So why is Palm doing it? First, it’s important to remember current Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein was formerly head of the iPod division at Apple, and brought a lot of iPod and iPhone engineers (and PR people) with him to work on webOS and the Pre. That’s reportedly caused some animosity between Palm and Apple. Second, look at all the press it generates for them.

Even putting aside whether Palm, with all that iPod brain trust, could prove reverse-engineering in a clean room, it comes off as looking like they did it to show they could, and to get the required action from Apple to generate buzz and attention.

The original hack was just a USB masquerade and was easy for Apple to stop. This hack, while currently unidentified, is likely deeper and perhaps not as trivial. That makes the first hack look like a sacrificial pawn in a chess gambit, with the second (and third, fourth?) more like Bishops and Queens lined up, ready and waiting.

But Palm isn’t playing with game pieces, they’re playing with that average user who just wants a reliable sync solution for his or her (or moms!) media. Palm is putting that user behind their own ego — to show up former big boss Apple — and attention seeking — to hook the blogsphere in riveting rounds of cat and mouse posts.

And that’s not right. It’s not right for Apple, who’ll get blamed for Palm’s manipulations. It’s not right for Palm who is better than this, and has created an otherwise exemplary new platform. It’s not right for the engineers on both sides who waste time hacking and patching unlicensed sync rather than working on great new features. And it’s absolutely not right for Palm Pre users who deserve that BlackBerry or Nokia quality sync experience, legitimately for their very own.

How about it Palm, how about we re-task those engineers into making a great iTunes Library XML sync for all the users who stuck by the original Palm, through the years in the desert, and into the clouds?

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

Palm Re-Hacks iTunes Sync, Shows They Care More About Ego and Press Than Pre Users

Palm Releases WebOS 1.1, Restores iTunes Media Syncing

The cat-and-mouse game between Apple and Palm continues today with Palm's announcement that it has released webOS 1.1, bringing a host of new features and improvements to the Palm Pre including restoration of iTunes media syncing.

Oh,...

Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition out on iPhone

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

Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition out on iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition out on iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Latitude for iPhone arrives as Web app

Google has brought Latitude, its location-based social network service, to the iPhone. It might have arrived earlier, but Google originally wrote Latitude as a native app, and Apple shot it down.

AT&T: iPhone subsidy hurts earnings, but only in short term

The $300 subsidy that AT&T pays for each iPhone took a toll on the carrier's quarterly finances, slightly more than analysts projected.

AT&T CEO admits iPhone won’t be exclusive forever

Filed under: Cellphones

AT&T CEO admits iPhone won't be exclusive forever originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zensify, another not-so-hot social aggregator for the iPhone

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, iPod touch, App Review

It's an increasingly crowded category on the App Store: Social Networking. Like several other apps in this category, Zensify (iTunes link) doesn't just tap into one social networking service. The app is an aggregator, taking multiple sites and rolling them up into one app that will, in theory, make your social networking somehow easier. That's the promise of all these aggregator apps. So how does Zensify do?

First, Zensify supports Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Digg, Delicious, YouTube, 12seconds and Photobucket. Unfortunately, I had only moderate success with signing in to some of these. Flickr takes you to the requisite Flickr-based verification pages, but after going through the process I received a warning dialog that an error had occurred, with only OK as my option to continue -- right before the app froze up completely. Then I tried Digg, but there was only a username field, not a password field. I was able to get Delicious to work, and YouTube (after quitting the app, as there was a bug preventing me from typing in the text area). I didn't try Photobucket or 12seconds, as I'm not big on those.

I should note that I wound up deleting Zensify, then re-installing it, and something interesting happened -- once I had re-logged into Facebook Connect, my previous logins "stuck." I only needed to type in my username on digg and it said everything was logged in. That was a pretty neat trick, and a re-install appears to take care of some of the initial bugs. I'm assured by the folks at Zensify that several other bugs are being crushed for the next release.

While Zensify is pretty in parts, there are functionality issues. These are because, in an effort to do everything, the app winds up a confusing mess at times. Many apps suffer from this, especially social networking apps. Keep reading for my full review.

Continue reading Zensify, another not-so-hot social aggregator for the iPhone

Zensify, another not-so-hot social aggregator for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Zensify, another not-so-hot social aggregator for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From the Forums: iPhone Hardware, Extra Button, Ringtone Requests, Twitter Apps

It’s that time again where TiPb selects some of the hottest topics on the forums and spotlights them right here. In order for you to reply to any of the following threads, you must be a registered member. Becoming a member is a painless process that will only take a few minutes of your time, so if you haven’t already, head on over and register now.

First thread for today revolves around iPhone hardware and how well it’s held up for you. So how is your iPhone hardware? Did you get a device that is pretty much perfect or are you one of the unlucky people who got a lemon? So far the majority of forum members are very happy with their defect-free iPhones. Cast your vote now!

Next up we have forum member, rrrl17, posing an interesting question - what do you think about Apple adding a extra button on iPhone? My personal opinion is if it is not broke, don’t fix it. What are you thoughts on this one?

So you say the ringtones that comes preloaded on iPhone just don’t cut it for you. Well if you are in need of a certain ringtone and can’t seem to find it - check out the following thread started by Live Free, Ringtone Requests. This is the perfect place to get that hard to find ringtone that you’ve been searching for.

Today’s final thread is very straight forward - what is your favorite Twitter application? You have a ton of them to choose from. Anything from Tweetie, Twitterriffic, Twitbit, Tweetdeck, etc… the list goes on and on. What’s your favorite?

See you on the forums!

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

From the Forums: iPhone Hardware, Extra Button, Ringtone Requests, Twitter Apps

Apple stock with high expectations with iPhone and other gadgets surging in sales

Analysts are again bullish on Apple stock after the company reported a record third quarter in Tuesday’s earnings report, and provided higher-than-expected guidance in some aspects of its fourth quarter. Though Apple is well known for giving investors conservative guidance for the coming quarter, many analysts were surprised by Apple’s third-quarter guidance of 34 percent gross [...]

iPhone hurts AT&T’s bottom line this quarter; subsidies to blame

AT&T’s second quarter earnings beat Wall Street estimates, but still fell 15 percent year over year, as the highly successful launch of Apple’s iPhone 3GS — a phone subsidized by AT&T — affected the company’s bottom line. With $0.54 earnings per share reported, AT&T stock fell from $0.63 earnings a year prior. The company’s overall revenue [...]

iPhone seen as “cannibalizing” iPod market, and Apple expected it?

Sales of traditional MP3 players like the iPod nano, iPod shuffle and iPod classic continue to decline, as the enemies of these Apple products — the iPhone and iPod touch — come from within the same company. Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s chief financial officer, said the company had expected that consumers would lose interest in traditional MP3 [...]

Hacking/jailbreaking can cause messaging oddities

While a variety of sources have published a story accusing the iPhone 3.0 software of broadcasting instant messages to random iPhones, in reality this exploit affects only users who have hacked their phone and made it vulnerable. The problem allegedly occurs through AOL Instant Messenger’s push feature in phones that have been jailbroken (allowing the use [...]

AT&T Activated Record Breaking 2.4 million new iPhones in Q2 2009

More Purported Next-Generation iPod Touch and iPod Nano Cases Surface

Cult of Mac gathers an extensive gallery of cases from Chinese manufacturers claimed to be for the next-generation iPod touch and iPod nano. Cases for both devices feature holes in their backs that appear to provide openings for built-in cam...

Comics by Comixology brings comic store to iPhone

Iconology's Comics for iPhone and iPod touch lets you buy, download, and read digital comics.