Rumors: A Verizon iPhone in 2010

Judging from reader comments around the web, there are a lot of cellphone owners in America locked into Verizon contracts who would buy an iPhone in a minute if they didn't have to switch carriers to get it (me included!). Verizon has made it pretty clear that it would cut a ...

Apple Updates App Store — Less Words, More Screenshots

Apple has begun rolling out an update to the way the iTunes (on Windows or Mac) shows the App Store, including fewer words and more screenshots. Rather than the lengthy app descriptions of old, iTunes now shows only the first two lines, with a “more…” tag that needs to be clicked to reveal the rest (time to tighten up that text, developers!). Instead of one screenshot at a time, iTunes also now shows a series of scrollable screenshots, similar to how the on-device App Store began showing them with iPhone 3.0.

iTunes 9 gave media a makeover, so it’s nice to see Apps get the same treatment. iTunes 9, also like iPhone iTunes and App Store, transitioned to WebKit and HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for the UI. So, Apple can update it at any time without needed to provide a new version for users to download. This is exactly the reason they’re promoting WebKit UI for apps in general (when and where they make sense) during their Tech Talk World Tour.

Again, it’s rolling out, so a lot of apps still show the old pages. If you can find the new look, however, let us know what you think. Better for buyers? How about developers?

(via TechCrunch)

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

Apple Updates App Store — Less Words, More Screenshots

Having AT&T Problems in San Francisco?

Some of our readers are reporting trouble with AT&T’s network in San Francisco. If you’re in the area, let us know how your connection is working. Is it fine (by that we mean as fine as in usual) or are you having trouble? And if it was down but came back up for you, let us know that as well. Location and time for other readers always appreciated.

[Thanks everyone who sent this in!]

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

Having AT&T Problems in San Francisco?

Apple Rolls Out New App Store Look

Apple is rolling out a new look to their App Store individual app pages tonight which brings it in line with the rest of the iTunes 9 design that was revealed a few months ago. The changes will be of primary interest to App Store developers who rely...

TomTom lowers iPhone app price if you don’t need to go to Canada

Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, iPhone

Maybe they're feeling a bit of pricing pressure? Whatever the reason, TomTom just released a stripped down version of its Navigation app that leaves out Canada. Oh my.

This USA-only version sells for US $49.99, [iTunes link] which is half the price of the version that includes our good neighbor to the north. Like the big brother version, this app includes turn by turn directions and lane guidance, and 2D and 3D driving views.

This holiday season there is no shortage of choices for getting directions to your holiday destinations, and TomTom is pitching aggressive pricing and a strong feature set. The last few weeks we've seen several of the GPS apps cut prices temporarily to get some customers motivated, but this move from TomTom looks permanent and will undoubtedly force other vendors to follow suit.

This app requires an iPhone or iPod touch running 3.0 software, or older iPhones and iPod touches can work with the software ONLY if users purchase the TomTom car kit with a built in GPS receiver.

Thanks to Dubbs for tipping us to this holiday treat.

TomTom lowers iPhone app price if you don't need to go to Canada originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TomTom lowers iPhone app price if you don't need to go to Canada originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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$10,000 worth of iPhones stolen from Lancaster, PA Apple Store

Filed under: Retail, Odds and ends, iPhone

Apple Stores continue to be sizable targets for theft, it seems -- the local paper in Lancaster, PA reports that four young men stole 17 iPhones from the displays at an Apple Store recently, resulting in almost $10,000 worth of losses. The robbery took place during the day; at around 1:30pm, the young men just started grabbing, and walked out of the store with as many iPhones as they could carry.

Not that it'll probably do anything but get them in trouble. All of the phones are already entered in a crime database, and they were removed from the store without SIM cards, so any attempt to officially activate them will probably raise flags somewhere. Of course, from my time in retail I know that most retailers just usually write losses like this off, as it's just cheaper to eat the loss than deal with going after whoever stole the units. But you never know -- the police apparently have video and everything, so if the kids are caught, maybe they will face the music.

Moral of the story: don't leave your iPhone lying around an Apple Store? On the other hand, the warehouses aren't safe either, at least not in Belgium...

[ via @esposimi]

$10,000 worth of iPhones stolen from Lancaster, PA Apple Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

$10,000 worth of iPhones stolen from Lancaster, PA Apple Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yet another use for Dropbox: USB cable

Filed under: Tips and tricks, TUAW Tips, iPhone

As a seasoned world traveler and Apple geek, I'm always fascinated to see how others in the Mac and iPhone community make lemonade from lemons when they encounter difficulties on the road. The Mac Observer's Jeff Gamet was recently in Italy (and may still be there) and from the sound of a recent post, he must have arrived well before part of his luggage did. The result? He had a lot of photos on his iPhone that needed to be moved to his Mac, and didn't have a USB cable to link the two.

His solution? Use Dropbox and the hotel's Wi-Fi connection instead of emailing photos and then saving the attached photos to a folder on your Mac. The simple answer involves making sure that you have a Dropbox account (doesn't everybody?), the Dropbox iPhone app [Free, iTunes Link], and access to a Wi-Fi network.

Within the Dropbox app, tap on the Camera button, then tap Existing Photo or Video. From the iPhone's photo albums, you can send your photos to any one of the folders in your Dropbox. As Jeff points out in his post, this has the added benefit of making sure that your vacation photos are backed up online.

Once you've moved the photos to your Dropbox, it's a simple matter of moving or copying them over to your Mac's photo library by literally clicking and dragging them (or option-clicking and dragging if you want to make a copy and keep the originals in the Dropbox) to the iPhone app icon in the dock.

There's only one issue; you have to move one photo or video at a time with the current version of the Dropbox app. Let's hope that Dropbox can address that in an upcoming version of the app.

[Tip of the travelin' hat to Jeff Gamet, The Mac Observer]

Yet another use for Dropbox: USB cable originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Yet another use for Dropbox: USB cable originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Hanukkah apps for iPhone

Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday. Your iPhone or iPod touch can help you celebrate the Festival of Lights with a few selections from the App Store. Lex Friedman looks at half-a-dozen Hanukkah apps.

Coming Soon: ProSwitcher - Free OpenSource Multitasking iPhone App for Jailbroken iPhones

Study: More than 50 Android phones to ship in 2010

The trickle of Android-based smartphones seen this year will turn into an avalanche in 2010. More than 50 devices will ship next year, CCS Insight said.

New Version of Google Mobile iPhone App Now Available On App Store

Review: Command and Conquer: Red Alert for iPhone

Command and Conquer: Red Alert started life as a PC and console game, and even came to the Mac. Developed by Electronic Arts, the new iPhone version of the game isn't a direct port, but it is an impressively robust, feature-rich standalone version.

When good apps go bad

When one of your favorite iPhone apps gets hit with a flawed update, you could wait for the developer to come out with a fix. Or, with the help of Time Machine, you can re-install the old version. Here's how.

Apple countersues Nokia over 13 patents

After being sued by cell phone maker Nokia in October over patent infringement, Apple on Friday struck back with a countersuit claiming the Finnish company has infringed 13 of its patents.

Apple Patent Application Reveals Moldable Charging Dock for Media Devices

In addition to yesterday's published patent applications from Apple describing tamper-resistant labels and accelerometer-based menu navigation, Patently Apple noticed a third interesting patent, this one covering a universal charging station ...

Apple Countersues Nokia – Patent Pugilism Has Begun!

Remember when Nokia sued Apple for infringement over essential wireless patents? Us neither, but Apple sure does — in a counter-suit which says Nokia is copying the iPhone interface. Says Bruce Sewell, Apple SVP and General Counsel:

“Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours”

And in the complaint:

“Nokia has rapidly lost share in the market for high-end mobile phones. Nokia has admitted that, as a result of the iPhone launch, the market has changed suddenly and [Nokia was] not fast enough changing with it. In response, Nokia chose to copy the iPhone, especially its enormously popular and patented design and user interface.”

They remind Nokia of their EVP, Anssi Vanjoki’s statement about the iPhone in 2007:

“[If] there is something good in the world, we copy with pride”

To which Apple responds:

“True to this quote, Nokia has demonstrated its willingness to copy Apple’s iPhone ideas as well as Apple’s basic computing technologies, all while demanding Apple pay for access to Nokia’s purported standards essential patent. Apple seeks redress for this behavior.”

Whether or not this leads to a quick(er) settlement and cross-licensing deal on both sides, it’s interesting to note the “mutually assured patent destruction” strategy we (and PreCentral.net regarding Palm vs. Apple) have spoken about before seems to be holding true. If one sues, the other(s) sue back. Boom. Merry $&@#ing Christmas indeed.

UPDATE: Engadget reveals:

Apple also says Nokia wanted to cross-license Apple’s various iPhone device patents as part of any deal, which Apple clearly wasn’t will to do.

[NokiaExperts and Apple Insider]

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

Apple Countersues Nokia – Patent Pugilism Has Begun!

Apple countersues Nokia for patent infringement

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Apple, iPhone

Apple today filed a countersuit against Nokia for patent infringement as a response to the lawsuit Nokia filed against Apple back in October. The countersuit is over the 13 patents that cover many different communication technologies that are used in the iPhone, which Nokia clams to hold the patents. These patents cover the GSM, UTMS 3G, and Wireless-LAN standards used in the iPhone since early 2007.

Bruce Sewell, General Counsel and senior vice president for Apple stated: "Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours."

We'll post any more details on these lawsuits as this develops, so stay posted.

Apple countersues Nokia for patent infringement originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple countersues Nokia for patent infringement originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple relaxing App Store rejections in certain cases?

A handful of recent app approvals suggest that Apple is now approving iPhone apps that use previously forbidden private APIs.

Apple Files Countersuit Against Nokia [Updated]

In a brief press release, Apple today announced that it has filed a countersuit against Nokia for infringement of 13 Apple-held patents. While the specific patents have not been identified, they presumably relate to wireless communications.<p class=...

TiPb on APR Marketplace Discussing iPhone and AT&T

American Public Radio’s Marketplace was gracious enough to have me on yesterday to discuss AT&T and the iPhone with Stacey Vanek Smith. Segment starts about 4:00 min in. Can AT&T build out their network fast enough to get ahead of iPhone usage and growth? Will they need to start charging for tiered data? Is the end of exclusivity the only answer?

Listen in, and then let us know how (or if) AT&T can handle the iPhone…

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

TiPb on APR Marketplace Discussing iPhone and AT&T