Square payment dongle demoed for iPhone toting hippies and you (video)

Ever wonder what the offspring of an after-party Twitter and Digg copulation might look like? No, well aren't you pure and normal. Regardless, we fantasize about it all the time but never expected this iPhone payment dongle to be first from the litter. Square is Jack Dorsey's (Twitter co-founder) new startup that now has Kevin Rose (Digg founder) on board as an investor and YouTube pitch man for the prototype payment device that plugs directly into the iPhone's headphone jack. We've covered Square before but this is the first video that clearly demonstrates the full capability of the credit card swipe system on a live device. A compelling proposition for receiving cashless payments if you're a small business owner looking to exploit irresponsible credit card debt or just the average Joe hocking goods at a garage sale, farmers market, or Craigslist. Assuming of course, Square's cut of the transaction isn't too egregious. Demo after the break.

Continue reading Square payment dongle demoed for iPhone toting hippies and you (video)

Square payment dongle demoed for iPhone toting hippies and you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aliph Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset launched in six lush flavors

Turns out that leak we saw of the Jawbone Icon was for real after all, but it was only one of the six designs straight out of Aliph's oven: (clockwise from top left) The Thinker, The Rogue, The Hero, The Ace, The Catch and -- our favorite -- The Bombshell. While these are the smallest and lightest Jawbones ever, Aliph has managed to cram in an allegedly improved NoiseAssassin and simultaneous dual-phone linkage, along with an onboard 'AudioApp' which vocally broadcasts battery level and caller ID. If you prefer a visual indication, the Icon also does a battery gauge on the iPhone -- a first on a non-Apple Bluetooth headset -- and apparently "Apple's aware of this" so a firmware update shouldn't kill this Palm Pre-style. We're digging the MyTALK website -- currently in beta -- where you can pick and install other AudioApps and DialApps (for the multifunction button; e.g. voice dialing, free directory assistance and voice-to-SMS) onto the Icon, and both will be free except for some DialApps which require subscription. Oh, and there are seven earbud sizes plus an earloop to keep everyone happy too. When you're done with picking, hit the Verizon stores for the initial launch today and pony up $99.99. Press release after the break.

Continue reading Aliph Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset launched in six lush flavors

Aliph Jawbone Icon Bluetooth headset launched in six lush flavors originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best of Smartphone Experts, 17 Jan 2010

Only 20,000 Nexus Ones Sold In The First Week? Is This The Nexus Two? Next Android Version Will Be Called ‘Froyo’ not ‘Flan’	Looking Back: Full CrackBerry @ CES 2010 BlackBerry Coverage Wicked Awesome CrackBerry.com Podcast – First Show of 2010! Slacker Personal Radio Now Available in Canada!
Nokia N900 firmware update and Firefox RC 2 release and then N900 firmware PR 1.1 Nexus One vs Nokia N900 How To Enable Portrait Mode on the N900 Browser	webOS 1.3.5.2 Adds Bluetooth Tethering for Europeans New Verizon Wireless Plans and webOS Palm C40 on Sprint Systems again
Is RAM the Thing That Will Dictate iPhone 4.0 Multitasking? AT&T Offers New $100 Unlimited Voice/Data (Not SMS) Plan for iPhone iPhone vs. Nexus One: Which One Should You Buy?	Early Windows Mobile 7 build reportedly handled; legacy apps absent Sony Ericsson ‘Faith’ front-facing QWERTY appears out of nowhere Xperia X2 shows up on Sony Ericsson’s Web site; springtime launch anticipated

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

Best of Smartphone Experts, 17 Jan 2010

Case-Mate Go Bare for iPhone — TiPb @ CES 2010

After being Barely There last year, at CES 2010 TiPb wanted to know how much slimmer Case-Mate could go — turns out they could go Bare. You read that right, one of the big products on display for Case-Mate in 2010 was their entry into the iPhone skin market, and the twist is their version doesn’t require any application liquid, you just peel and apply.

Video of the skin being applied, after the break. And if you’re the guy who made a living selling the tiny little squirt bottles, please don’t comment spam us — we’re just the messenger….

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

Case-Mate Go Bare for iPhone — TiPb @ CES 2010

TiPb Invades WMExperts Podcast — Round Robin

Phil and Mal over at WMExperts.com were gracious enough to invite me onto the WMExperts podcast today to kick my apps discuss my Windows Phone Review, as well as all the weeks news — including whether the iTablet or Windows Mobile 7 wins the prize for most rumored, unannounced product of the year.

Check it out!

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

TiPb Invades WMExperts Podcast — Round Robin

Dear Apple: What we want to see in iPhone 4.0, part 2

Filed under: Features, iPhone

First, I want to take a moment to thank all of you. The response to the first open letter has been incredible, and it wouldn't have been possible without your suggestions. This is the second in a series of letters from you, the TUAW reader, to Apple. This time around I received over 1500 emails with suggestions on how to improve the next iPhone's hardware.

While the next iPhone is expected sooner this year than in past years, and the hardware design has most likely long since been finalized, it's clear that plenty of you have your own ideas of how you want the next-generation iPhone to look and work. With that in mind, even though the next iPhone's hardware may be a done deal, let's hope Apple uses your suggestions in a future iPhone (or, if they use these suggestions in the upcoming one -- congrats, you guys are genius-level industrial designers!). Remember, these suggestions and desires don't necessarily align with the ideals of better battery life and 3G call performance... it's a wish list, not an engineering manual, and we do realize that reality can easily get in the way of the perfect design.

Just like last time, because there were so many suggestions, I needed to whittle them down. To do that, I tabulated how many times a feature request was made. If more than 40% of you mentioned it, it made it into the letter. A lot of you want to hear the one-off suggestions so I'll add an extra letter onto the series at the end of its run to address those.

Remember, this letter deals only with iPhone hardware. If you made suggestions about any of Apple's built-in apps (Mail, Maps, Stocks, Calendar, etc) you'll see those in the next letter.

Continue reading Dear Apple: What we want to see in iPhone 4.0, part 2

Dear Apple: What we want to see in iPhone 4.0, part 2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dear Apple: What we want to see in iPhone 4.0, part 2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preparing for the Bar Exam? Got $1000? Yep, There’s BarMax CA for That!

We submit another high-priced entry into the App Store — BarMax CA [$999.99 - iTunes link]. The California Edition of this Bar exam prep app seems to actually have something to offer for would-be-lawyers, according to TechCrunch:

The app is over 1 gigabyte in size, which is the largest application I’ve ever seen. It includes thousands of pages of materials as well as hundreds of hours of audio lectures. It’s all the information you could ever want for the two-month course. And again, it can be done all on your iPhone. That said, if you do want some more tangible paperwork for certain sections, BarMax will send you that electronically as well.

Still sound expensive? Apparently there’s a free version as well, but you have to have signed up for the $3000-$4000 in-class prep course. So, yeah, price is relative.

Any California would-be barristers think it’s worth it?

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

Preparing for the Bar Exam? Got $1000? Yep, There’s BarMax CA for That!

Weekend app reviews roundup: Turner Classic Movies, Emoti, Dragon goes north

Filed under: iPhone

The latest & greatest from our central App Reviews hub, including a giveaway for Emoti!

Weekend app reviews roundup: Turner Classic Movies, Emoti, Dragon goes north originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Weekend app reviews roundup: Turner Classic Movies, Emoti, Dragon goes north originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For all the movie buffs out there, here’s TCM on your iPhone

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

The iPhone has been good for movie fans. There is the free IMBD, plus the Empire Magazine collection of reviews at $4.99, plus scads of apps that will find your nearest cinema and give you showtimes and trailers.

Of course real film fanatics are probably fans of the Turner Classic Movies channel on cable and satellite. TCM runs a lot of the best movies ever made, with great introductions and extras.

Now the info in the TCM library has come to the iPhone and iPod touch [iTunes link] with a US$2.99 app loaded with clips, blogs, trailers and information on the latest TCM fare.

When you start the app up it tells you what's showing on TCM this minute, the production details of the film, clips from the film, and a detailed essay on the movie.

You can do the same for any movie in the TCM schedule. I had a lot of fun going through the schedule and diving into all the information, trivia and clips.

I did think there was one serious problem. You can't search the database, which would seem an obvious feature to have. If you can't find the film on the TCM schedule, you'll get no info at all. That seems a shame, and it is a contrast to the TCM web page (which is free).

All in all, I'd rate the TCM app a good start, and it would go a long way toward perfection if it added search capabilities.

For all the movie buffs out there, here's TCM on your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

For all the movie buffs out there, here's TCM on your iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T lowering cost of unlimited voice and data for iPhone users

Filed under: Odds and ends, iPhone

The battle of snarkiness between AT&T and Verizon is resulting in benefits for subscribers.

Yesterday, AT&T announced a new unlimited voice and data plan for smartphone owners, including those who use the iPhone, that offers unlimited voice and data service for $99.99 per month. The change was the result of Verizon lowering the cost of its unlimited plans earlier in the day, and consumers are the beneficiaries of the battle of the cell phone titans.

Prior to the announcement, iPhone users paid $100 monthly for unlimited voice, then tacked on another $30 a month for unlimited data. Starting on Monday, January 18th, 2010, a combined unlimited voice and data plan is available for $99.99. That's a savings of $30 per month. For a Family Talk plan with two iPhones, the deal is even better -- $179.99 per month.

Unfortunately, AT&T still charges for text messaging separately, so if you want to add on an unlimited texting plan it'll be another $20 per month. Beginning on Monday, existing AT&T customers can change to the new plans without penalty or a contract extension by using the online account tools at www.att.com/wireless.

AT&T lowering cost of unlimited voice and data for iPhone users originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T lowering cost of unlimited voice and data for iPhone users originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is An Upcoming Voice Call Technology the Reason Why VoIP Over 3G Is Still Unavailable?

Apple Sues Nokia Again - Seeks Ban On Import Of Nokia Phones

Apple, Nokia battle in court

Apple has asked the International Trade Commission to ban imports of Nokia mobile phones, escalating its legal battle with the Finnish phone maker.

Mauritius to Apple: Thanks for the iPhones, can we haz iTunes Store?

Filed under: iTS, Apple, iPhone

Recently, the people of the island republic of Mauritius have been able to purchase the iPhone 3G and 3GS through mobile phone provider Orange, but there's one major problem -- there's no access to an iTunes Store. This brings back memories of the original iPhone, when there was no iTunes Store to tempt iPhone owners with its wares. Can you imagine? No apps, no songs, and no videos for purchase directly from your phone? It boggles the mind.

Here at TUAW, we're doing our part for the "Free the iTunes Store" movement in Mauritius. Reader Marc, who works for Mauritian Apple reseller Paoma, notes "Thousands of iPhones, no Apps! We are hoping to get Apple to take notice and include us. A Facebook page has been set up to document the movement and we have already been featured in many leading French-language Apple blogs."

Well, Marc, now you have a leading English-language Apple blog taking up the cause as well. If you'd like to help iPhone users in Mauritius get their own iTunes Store, consider visiting the Facebook page and joining their group.

Mauritius to Apple: Thanks for the iPhones, can we haz iTunes Store? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mauritius to Apple: Thanks for the iPhones, can we haz iTunes Store? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SmoothBoard App for Jailbroken iPhones Lets You Scroll Multiple Pages of Springboard With One Swipe

Copy Data from Desktop to iPhone Easily With Pastefire iPhone App