Boom Town: Apple Buying AdMob Competitor Quatro Wireless

Boom Town claims several sources have confirmed that Apple is getting into the in-app advertising business by buying AdMob competitor Quattro Wireless for $275 million.

Since Apple currently dominates the mobile app space, bolstering their cut of profits with a cut of in-app advertising is likely good business for them. It’s all about the eyeballs, and if those eyeballs are locked on iPhones and iPod touches, why let Google gobble it all up?

If rumors are true that Google bought AdMob out from under Apple (much like Apple bought online music streamer Lala out from under Google), then switching targets to an AdMob competitor couldn’t have been entirely off the radar, now could it? (Especially with — yes more rumors — of Google now turning towards Spotify for their music fix).

Apple and Google certainly look to be getting even more up into each others business, and that should make the expected Nexus One announcement later today, along with Apple’s expected January 27 event, and the whole of 2010, a lot more exciting!

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

Boom Town: Apple Buying AdMob Competitor Quatro Wireless

Apple Acquired Quattro Wireless for $275 Million?

All Things D reports that Apple is set to announce that it has acquired Quattro Wireless for $275 million.

Quattro Wireless describes itself as a "global mobile advertising company, empowering advertisers and publishers to reach and ...

WSJ: Apple iTablet/iSlate to Ship in March, 2 Different “Material Finishes”

The Wall Street Journal is wading into that whole Apple iTablet/iSlate thing, saying:

Looking to build on the momentum of its iPhone and iPod, Apple Inc. will unveil a new multimedia tablet device later this month, but isn’t planning to ship the product until March, say people briefed by the company.

Now for the weird part:

Apple was working on two different material finishes for the device, one of these people said, though it was unclear whether the Cupertino, Calif., company was just testing the finishes or planning to come out with multiple versions of a tablet at different prices.

Plastic vs. unibody aluminum? Black vs. white? Adamantium vs. unobtainium? They care nothing about further elaboration, so we’re left to wonder.

Still rumors of tentative schedules and obscure design elements is something, right?

[Wall Street Journal via Daring Fireball]

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

WSJ: Apple iTablet/iSlate to Ship in March, 2 Different “Material Finishes”

Documents to Go Premium, Kids vs. Zombies, Playstation 3 Trophy Guide, Pilates for Pregnancy, Pastebot — TiPb Picks of the Week

Every week a few of us from team TiPb, bloggers and forum crew alike, will bring you our current favorite, funnest, most useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone (or iPod touch) related, they’re fair game.

So who’s on deck this week and what are our picks? Find out after the break!

Chad’s Pick: Documents to Go Premium

This new version of Documents to Go brings a couple of nice enhancements: PowerPoint editing/ creation and attachments through Gmail (Exchange only).

DataViz keeps making this app better and better. If you need the ability to edit or create documents (Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint compatible) on the go for work, this is an indispensable tool for your iPhone. One more thing, it can even open password protected Word and Excel documents; this can come in quite handy! [$14.99 - iTunes link]

Derrick’s Pick: Kids vs. Zombies

Kids vs. Zombies is a very fun game that has zombies and dogs that you have to kill to continue to the next level. It has many fun levels to play and is one of my favorite games on iPhone, Also they have a lite/free version you can try out! [Free - iTunes link]

Jeremy’s Pick: Playstation 3 Trophy Guide

I recently picked up a PS3 due to Rene constantly nagging me, claiming he can take me out in UFC 2009 Undisputed. That will never happen but if you own a PS3 you might as well download this app. It gives you complete details for every trophy you can earn for each PS3 game out today. Now all it needs is access to your friends list and you have a well rounded free app! [Free - iTunes link]

Leanna’s Pick: Pilates for Pregnancy

Being pregnant, I know the importance of physical fitness but also understand the dangers of exercising too much or making wrong movements. Pilates for Pregnancy provides exercises that are safe and healthy for each stage of pregnancy and gives me confidence that I’m exercising in a way that will cause no harm to my baby. You can choose exercises based on body part or Pilates for Pregnancy will build a well-rounded work-out based on the time that you have. The instructions are clear and the pictures are helpful. Not only is Pilates for Pregnancy a great fitness app, but it offers a checklist of things you should do each day and each trimester, a place to store pregnancy related photos, and a list of important questions to keep as notes. Pilates for Pregnancy has been added to my list of must-have pregnancy apps. [$9.99 - iTunes link]

Rene’s Pick: Pastebot

Pastebot, the 3rd app from iPhone GUI maestro’s Tapbots is a clipboard manager that lets copy in, store, and paste back out multiple items on your iPhone or iPod touch. Items, which can include text or images, can also be tagged and shared by email. Oh, and if you have a Mac, you can SHARE CLIPBOARD ITEMS VIA WIFI. Sorry for shouting, but already updated 2 or 3 times (I’ve lost count) the Mac sync is just — I need to make up a word — fantabutasmic. Rather than screen capturing and emailing myself pictures for posts, I can just drop them into Pastebot, copy to Mac, launch Preview, and hit “new from clipboard”. Boom. Time saved. [$2.99 - iTunes link]

Your Pick?

You’re part of team TiPb too, so what’s your pick? What app was your absolute fav last week? Let us — and everyone — know in the comments!

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

Documents to Go Premium, Kids vs. Zombies, Playstation 3 Trophy Guide, Pilates for Pregnancy, Pastebot — TiPb Picks of the Week

Airstash brings wireless storage to iPhone

Filed under: Peripherals, iPhone

In 2007 I thought that my 8GB iPhone was as large as I would ever need. Two and a half years later and I've already filled up the 16GB storage of my iPhone 3GS. Enter AirStash, an expandable flash drive (via SD memory) that you will be able to access from your iPhone. Simply plug AirStash into your Mac, drag and drop some files to the mounted volume, and head then out the door with AirStash and iPhone in your pocket.

How the technology works is currently unclear (expect to see a demo at CES 2010), but a logical solution would be that AirStash automatically syncs its contents with an off-site server -- similar to what Dropbox does today. If it truly is as portable as that, it will obviate Dropbox's (and MobileMe's) need to install any client software if you are, for instance, using a friend's computer. Personally, I'd like to see Apple purchase Dropbox and turn MobileMe's cloud storage into something usable; but in the interim, I'm excited by the prospect that AirStash provides.

[via Engadget]

Airstash brings wireless storage to iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Airstash brings wireless storage to iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger creator working on an iPhone project

Filed under: Gaming, Software, iPhone, iPod touch

Good news for the new year from Touch Arcade: Hironobu Sakaguchi is developing games for the iPhone. Just in case that name doesn't ring a bell for you, maybe the games he's helped create might: Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG, and Xenogears. Yes, those of you who know your console RPG history will know that those are some of the best role-playing games ever made, and if you don't know that, then walk away from whatever you're doing right now and go play all of them -- they're brilliant.

Sakaguchi announced over on the blog for his latest company, Mistwalker, that his team was working on a brand new "blockbuster project" in 2010, and they're also working on releasing something for the iPhone. He doesn't share much at all about either, though he does say that we'll see the iPhone project on the App Store soon. We can't wait -- having a legendary developer like this working on the iPhone platform just shows that while 2009 was a great year for iPhone gaming, 2010 has plenty of potential as well.

Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger creator working on an iPhone project originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger creator working on an iPhone project originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tivit promises to bring Mobile DTV to the iPhone and other WiFi-equipped mobile devices

The Mobile DTV standard is official, sure, but the device selection at this point isn't what we'd call plentiful or even appealing -- so leave it to CES to attract a virtually unknown company with an attractive alternative. Dubbed Tivit, the pocketable box is a said to be a bit smaller and lighter than a deck of cards and claims to stream television to a number of WiFi-enabled devices, including Windows laptops, Motorola Android phones (no clue why other Android devices wouldn't be in the running here), WiFi-equipped BlackBerrys, and even iPhone 3G / third-gen iPod touch (software via related App Store download). One charge gets you three hours of reception, and while that $120 price tag isn't too terrible a fee for keeping the phone you like, when the dongle launches in Spring, it better hope the channel selection is more interesting. Press release after the break.

Continue reading Tivit promises to bring Mobile DTV to the iPhone and other WiFi-equipped mobile devices

Tivit promises to bring Mobile DTV to the iPhone and other WiFi-equipped mobile devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG develops cell phone for US mobile DTV standard

LG Electronics has developed handheld terminals compatible with the U.S. mobile digital TV format and will show then at CES.

L5 Remote turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a universal remote

L5 Remote turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a universal remote originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone as TV remote coming to CES

Filed under: Hardware, Odds and ends, iPhone, iPod touch

It's kind of a shame the iPhone didn't include an IR port at all. While it's not a necessity (certainly the device has sold plenty of units without one), I have quite a few devices in my house that still require an old school IR remote to control -- it's 2010, but my TV still isn't hooked up to Bluetooth or WiFi. That's why this accessory looks interesting -- it's an IR transmitter that plugs into the iPhone's port and turns the device into a touchscreen-based universal remote. It's made by a company called L5 Technology, and they'll show it off at CES later this week. Previous systems have required you to connect up your television (or other device) to expensive controllers so the iPhone can access them via WiFi, but this seems like a much more sensible solution.

They're asking $50 for it, which sounded expensive at first, but that's relatively cheap when it comes to high-end universal remotes. Assuming that the accompanying app is well-designed and full-featured enough to compare to some of the other offerings out there, it might end up being a nice solution for combining all of your various remotes into just your iPhone or iPod touch.

[via Cult of Mac]

iPhone as TV remote coming to CES originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone as TV remote coming to CES originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Tablet Scheduled to Begin Shipping in March? Two Different Material Casings Being Considered?

The Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required) that while Apple is expected to introduce its tablet device at a media event reportedly scheduled for later this month, the tablet will not begin shipping until March.

Apple Inc....

Review: I Am T-Pain for iPhone

Even if you're not into hip-hop music, this app inspired by T-Pain's distinctive sound is sure to impress.

Android Gaining Momentum Among Future Smartphone Buyers

New survey data released today by ChangeWave Research indicates that Google's Android smartphone operating system has been rapidly gaining momentum over the past few months as the release of the Motorola Droid and the hype around the Google Nexus One...

iPhone devsugar: Working with tablet resolutions

Filed under: iPod Family, Developer, iPhone, App Store, SDK

Rumors are hitting the ground hard and strong about exactly what to expect in the upcoming (yeah, yeah, possibly mythical) Apple tablet device. And the most important of those rumors, the fact most consistently cited, is the introduction of extra pixels. You might roll your eyes and say, "of course a tablet means more pixels," but what exactly does that extra resolution mean to you as a developer? After all, we don't know what the pixel count will be or whether the (possibly mythical) tablet will offer widget-mode applications using the current iPhone resolution size or full-screen options. So let's look at some of the challenges having extra screen space might offer up developers.

Continue reading iPhone devsugar: Working with tablet resolutions

iPhone devsugar: Working with tablet resolutions originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone devsugar: Working with tablet resolutions originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Accessory turns iPhone into the mother of all remotes

A Florida-based company has announced a hardware add-on that turns any iPhone or iPod Touch into a universal remote for your home entertainment devices.

Rumorous Maximus: Apple Getting iPhone 4.0 Beta, Resolution Independant SDK Ready for Developers?!

Take this with a 7-to-10 inch capacitive grain of salt, but French site M4Ever [Google translate link] is claiming that we might just see iPhone 4.0 beta fairly soon (hey, maybe as soon as the Jan. 27 media event?) Macrumors supplies the clean text:

Several of our sources give us two pieces of information concerning the famous Apple tablet: In late January, in addition to its tablet, Cupertino should have a beta of iPhone OS 4, accompanied by an SDK. Our informants also tell us of a “simulator” specifically adapted for the tablet. Evidently, the major novelty of the SDK therefore concerns the interface, making it easier for developers to adapt to different screen resolutions. The new iPhone could also benefit from a higher pixel density.

Real, fake, really fake? We know we’ll get iPhone 4.0 seeded to developers eventually, and resolution independence (i.e. iPhone HD and iTablet) is something TiPb’s been talking about for a while now. No matter what, if Apple wants App Store level success to continue with next generation devices, they’ll need to get the SDKs into the hands of developers, so while — again — this is just a rumor, it’s going to come true sooner or later. The only real question is… when?

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

Rumorous Maximus: Apple Getting iPhone 4.0 Beta, Resolution Independant SDK Ready for Developers?!

AirStash expands your iPhone’s storage, wirelessly

AirStash expands your iPhone's storage, wirelessly originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Contract-free refurb 8GB 3G $430 with free shipping

Filed under: Deals, iPhone

TUAW reader Conrad N. tipped us off to a nice 3G iPhone deal this morning. Buy.com is offering an 8GB 3G for just $430 with free shipping. While I wouldn't classify this as a red hot deal (a 3GS would have qualified) it's not bad for anyone who wants to pick up an inexpensive contract-free unit, for generous interpretations of the word "inexpensive".

The 3G model works right out of the box with any AT&T SIM, although AT&T encourages you to sign up for an iPhone-specific plan. If you're only interested in basic phone service without data, you can buy a $10 O2 SIM at Best Buy (it's a re-branded AT&T SIM) good for 3 months of use, at 5 cents a text message and 17 cents per minute of airtime. That's great for developers who want to add a telephony-ready unit into their testing arsenal without signing up for a full contract, who don't want to use the phone except for testing and occasional use.

If you want to use data, however, your best economy bet probably lies in jailbreaking and unlocking (with a tool like blackra1n or pwnage) and using one of T-Mobile's better-priced data plans. But be aware: because T-Mobile uses a different 3G frequency than AT&T, their data plans can only use EDGE service when accessed on the iPhone 3G. Want to use an existing AT&T data-plan enabled SIM? It should work out of the box but AT&T generally disapproves of that approach, and may (ahem) "encourage" you to upgrade to a (contract-enforced) official iPhone plan.

So is the 3G a good iPhone to buy for four-hundred-plus dollars? Recall that the 3G is just a 1st generation system (model 1,2 -- i.e. 1st gen, 2nd iteration) with a few extra bells, whistles, and case design beyond the original model. The 3GS (model 2,1) is a far better system in terms of processor power and features, and we're half a year out from what will likely be the next (model 3,1) iPhone, let alone any (possibly mythical) tablet. I'd call this a "warm deal" at best.

Contract-free refurb 8GB 3G $430 with free shipping originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Contract-free refurb 8GB 3G $430 with free shipping originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Survey shows Android gaining smartphone ground

ChangeWave Research polled over 4,000 smartphone consumers in mid-December and found that Android had grained a surprising amount of ground since its last survey.

Nokia Files One More Lawsuit - Calls for Ban On Import of iPhone, iPod and MacBook