ComScore: iPhone overtakes Windows Mobile use for the first time in US

There are plenty of ways to measure smartphone marketshare. IDC measures units shipped from manufacturers whereas Gartner measures units sold to consumers. Then there's comScore, the research firm that conducts monthly surveys in the US to measure the total number of devices (and thus operating systems) currently in use. Its latest data is summarized above for the three-month period ending in October. See those yellow lines? If our kindergarten skills haven't failed us, then this data shows iPhone usage surpassing the once mighty Windows Mobile OS for the very first time. Unfortunately for Microsoft, Google's Android OS is set to accelerate significantly by the time the February 2010 data rolls in as is WebOS just as soon as Palm can bring its fledgling OS to Verizon's subscriber base. What's most troubling to Redmond about this report though, is where we found it: on FierceDeveloper, a site for mobile software developers who will presumably use the data to help determine which platforms they will focus their time. Oh Windows Mobile 7, where are you?

ComScore: iPhone overtakes Windows Mobile use for the first time in US originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiPb Presents… iPhone Live! #80 — Nokia Comes Knocking!

Apple Debuts 12 App of Xmas Commercial

Apple has hit pause on their “100,000 apps for just about anything” ads, turned the other cheek on “can your network…?” counter-commercials, and debuted a new, merrier bit of marketing for the holiday season — 12 Apps for Xmas. Care to sing along?

On the twelfth day of Christmas my iPhone gave to me:

• 12 cookies cooking
• 11 cards a sending
• 10 gifts for giving
• 9 songs for singing
• 8 bells for ringing
• 7 slops for skiing
• 6 games for playing
• 5 gold rings
• 4 hot lattes
• 3 flights home
• 2 feet of snow
• And an app that can light up the tree

Unlike previous commercials, other than Betty Crocker right at the top, individual app icons and titles aren’t shown but Apple’s “as shown on TV” page on iTunes should collect them up for us…

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

Apple Debuts 12 App of Xmas Commercial

Dilbert Pokes Fun At the (Windows Mobile, Zune) Competition

Paul Thurrott over at the Windows Supersite Blog posted this up in reference to Microsoft’s apparent strategy so far when it comes to Windows Mobile and Zune.

Funny.

Steve Jobs likes to quote hockey legend Wayne Gretzsky’s famous line — don’t skate to where the puck is, skate to where it will be. Let’s just hope they remember that, and this comic, and really bring it next year with iPhone 4.0 and the 4th generation iPhone, now that Android 2.x and webOS are on the ice.

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Dilbert Pokes Fun At the (Windows Mobile, Zune) Competition

Raytheon’s iPhone app will track enemy combatants in real time

Raytheon's iPhone app will track enemy combatants in real time originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fake Steve Jobs: “Stand down!”

Filed under: iPhone

Wow. What a roller coaster ride! First, Fake Steve Jobs ordered Operation Chokehold. Then AT&T struck back. That's right around the time when a group of rebels joined the battle with Operation Cuckoo. Now, the original mastermind is telling everyone to stand down:

"I really don't want to cause any actual harm to my fellow AT&T users. Quite the opposite - I feel as if we're all caught in the same horrible prison, suffering alongside one another. The point is, I'm not sure we can stop this thing."

He goes on to list several alternate ideas including:

"Another idea and perhaps the best one: Let's form actual flash mobs outside AT&T stores and put duct tape over their mouths. Anyone up for this? Like, in San Francisco? The media is already all over this protest. They're loving it. They know how badly AT&T sucks and apparently they want to join us in our struggle. So making this into a physical demonstration is the best way to ratchet it up another notch."

Chickening out or being responsible? That's your call. Let us know in the comments!

Via iPhoneSavior

Fake Steve Jobs: "Stand down!" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Fake Steve Jobs: "Stand down!" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple requiring the HTTP live stream protocol for iPhone apps

Filed under: Video, iPhone, SDK, iPod touch

Amidst all of Apple's recent app non-rejections and changes to allow APIs that were private, it was announced earlier this week that the company is now requiring developers of apps that implement live streaming video to use the HTTP Live Stream protocol.

The HTTP Live Stream protocol uses web standards to implement video, and also allows for use of iPhone-friendly formats like H.264 encoded streams for QuickTime (supported on the iPhone since iPhone OS 3.0).

This change also requires developers to create a minimum stream of video no larger than 64kbps, for use with slower connections.

It's still not known if this will have any impact on AT&T's position on streaming video over a 3G connection, but developers are still trying to find ways to work around Apple's restrictions. One example is the EyeTV update that was released earlier today, which works via Mobile Safari to stream video over a 3G connection.

Apple requiring the HTTP live stream protocol for iPhone apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple requiring the HTTP live stream protocol for iPhone apps originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A bevy of iPhone and iPod accessories

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

As seen on Engadget.

A bevy of iPhone and iPod accessories originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A bevy of iPhone and iPod accessories originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Onion Microfiche Headline Reader for iPhone

This app provides headlines -- and nothing else -- from the satirical Onion newspaper. It's pretty silly, but if you're a fan of the paper, you'll get some laughs out of this app.

Dragon Dictation adds privacy setting

Some users objected to the fact that the speech-to-text app uploaded the names of your contacts to its servers, so developer Nuance added a privacy setting to turn off the feature in the most recent update of Dragon Dictation.

Fake Steve Jobs and AT&T square off over iPhone service

AT&T and Newsweek writer Dan Lyons's alter ego, Fake Steve Jobs, are at each other's throats over poor iPhone service.

Recycle that contract-free iPhone as a holiday gift

Filed under: iPhone

We're sure this will be a hit for the holiday season: Apple recently updated one of the iPhone support articles, explaining how you can continue using an iPhone as a quasi-iPod touch, if you no longer have a cellphone contract with your carrier. Let's give an example:

Your iPhone 3G contract was eligible for the upgrade pricing not too long ago, so you purchased an iPhone 3GS. You have your old iPhone 3G lying around the house with no purpose. Obviously, you could try and sell it... but maybe your child has been begging you for an iPod touch for Christmas. Apple wants to see these devices be re-used and not thrown into the trash, so they've outlined how to activate your iPhone (1st gen, 3G or 3GS) in the article.

It all boils down to this: never get rid of your SIM card. For the iPhone 1st generation, you have to keep the original SIM card in place at all times. Without this, it will not activate in the next software update. The iPhone 3G and 3GS do not need a SIM card installed for day-to-day use. However, you still need a SIM card for the required activation after a software update.

This differs a bit from the iPhone 1st generation: with the iPhone 3G and 3GS you can use any SIM card from your authorized carrier. Either way, it's silly not to leave the SIM card in each generation of iPhone as long as you don't need the SIM card for your new phone. Now you won't get stuck at the "Connect to iTunes" screen forever.

Recycle that contract-free iPhone as a holiday gift originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Recycle that contract-free iPhone as a holiday gift originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T Snubs Blogger’s Call For Choking Network to Protest Metered Pricing

Prominent Analysts See iPhone With ‘Two or Three-Year Lead’ on Mobile Internet Market

Fortune reports on a newly-published research effort from Morgan Stanley which analyzes the mobile Internet industry and in the process points to the iPhone's tremendous early growth and Apple's leadership position in the industry.

Ba...

Microsoft’s Bing now available in iPhone app form

Microsoft has produced an iPhone app for its Bing search engine.

iPhone Live! with NokiaExpert’s Matt Miller! iPhone Live! Tonight at 8pm ET/5pm PT (1am GMT)

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Bada Bing! Microsoft delivers Bing search app

Filed under: Odds and ends, iPhone, iPod touch, App Review

Search is really getting interesting these days. Microsoft late last night released Bing [iTunes link] for the iPhone -- a full featured free app offering search, movies, maps, and directions, all with voice control.

It's notable that Microsoft is going after iPhone mind-share after Steve Ballmer famously dissed the iPhone more than 2 years ago. He's had to sit back and watch the iPhone eclipse Windows Mobile phones in the marketplace, which can't be pleasant, but business is business, and Microsoft is pushing the Bing search suite of tools hard.

After spending some time with it last night and this morning, I can say that it works pretty well. I think on-screen it is more attractive than the Google Mobile app offering [iTunes link] and the voice control is about as accurate.

On the Bing home screen there are direct links to images, movies, maps, businesses, news and directions. It inverts the Google method, where you do a search, then select, for example, images. I think I prefer the Bing hierarchy as being more logical.

The voice search isn't perfect. It especially had trouble with addresses. You can use Bing, as you can Google Maps, as a low end navigation app, but of course no voice directions as yet.

Some of the icons, like back and forward seem a bit too close together, but the icons are serviceable. Like Google, you can search for a business, then click to dial it directly, get directions, or read reviews. Business categories are well thought out, and easy to navigate.

You can access an iPhone friendly version of Bing from Safari on the iPhone, but of course there is no voice input and it is more cumbersome to use, so I think having an app makes sense.

For free, there is no reason not to download Bing and see if you like it. I'm hoping Microsoft will aggressively update the app, and continue to add features. I think if you grab it, you'll use it. Bing requires an iPhone and iPod touch with iPhone OS 3.0 or later.

Bada Bing! Microsoft delivers Bing search app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bada Bing! Microsoft delivers Bing search app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SYMBIAN FOUNDERS CREATE FLOOK, THE WORLD’S FIRST LOCATION BROWSER

Today, Ambient Industries (www.ambientindustries.com), a mobile application software company, debuts flook (www.flook.it), in the Apple Store. Offered for free, Flook is a location browser that lets users discover and share the world around them. Flook’s design is being lead by a team of four co-creators with deep programming, entrepreneurial and ...

Ridge Racer Accelerator revealed for iPhone

Namco keeps its foot on the gas with regular iPhone announcements and reveals another classic franchise.

Review: Super Monkey Ball 2 for iPhone

Super Monkey Ball was one of the first games to hit the App Store back in August 2008 but received mixed critical response. But with Super Monkey Ball 2, Sega finally delivers a fun monkey-rolling experience for the iPhone.