Apple’s iPhone Continues to Outpace Smartphone Industry Growth

Research firm IDC today issued a report highlighting fourth quarter and full year worldwide sales numbers of "converged mobile devices", more commonly known as smartphones, revealing continuing outstanding growth for Apple's iPhone above the overall ...

Report: Apple signs new iPhone manufacturer, rumored to work on CDMA iPhone

Filed under: Hardware, Apple, iPhone

Apple has reportedly signed up with a new manufacturer in China to help produce the next generation of the iPhone -- Pegatron will be joining Foxconn in putting together parts for Apple's next handheld unit, we hear courtesy of the always talkative "industry sources." The company has been rumored to be working with Apple before, when it was suggested that they'd be working on a smaller version of the iPhone designed to work on Verizon's CDMA network. Officially, Pegatron hasn't confirmed any agreement with Apple, but they have said that they plan to substantially increase their output in 2010.

And this might just be part of a good 2010 for Pegatron -- the company is also working on parts for Microsoft's Natal controller, rumored to be releasing this coming holiday season. As for what they'll be making for Apple, we'll have to wait and see what gets announced. It's almost a certainty that we'll see a new iPhone model sometime this year, but as to what that model will do (and whether it'll be CDMA enabled or otherwise), it's all just rumors so far.

[via Apple Insider]

Report: Apple signs new iPhone manufacturer, rumored to work on CDMA iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Report: Apple signs new iPhone manufacturer, rumored to work on CDMA iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slingplayer Mobile will finally be working on the AT&T 3G network

Filed under: Multimedia, Video, iPhone

Well, that took a while. AppleInsider is reporting that AT&T has now agreed to let SlingPlayer for iPhone [US$30, iTunes link] stream over the 3G network.

When the app was released last May, there was great moaning that the SlingPlayer Mobile app only worked on a Wi-Fi connection. That was in contrast to other versions of the Sling app running on other phones like the BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and some Palm devices -- all of which were allowed on the AT&T network.

AT&T now says they have worked with the Sling Media developers, and found ways to reduce the bandwidth footprint. Getting it all up and running will require a new version of the Sling App, which should appear shortly. The app will be a free upgrade for current owners. The posted version was released in August of last year.

A source at Sling Media told me this morning they were glad AT&T "finally saw the light." We'll keep you posted on developments, and we'll test the new app when it's online.

Slingplayer Mobile will finally be working on the AT&T 3G network originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Slingplayer Mobile will finally be working on the AT&T 3G network originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T Approves ‘SlingPlayer Mobile’ Television Streaming Over 3G

AT&T today announced that it has decided to allow Sling Media's SlingPlayer Mobile iPhone application to stream video content over its 3G network. SlingPlayer Mobile allows users of Sling Media's "Slingbox" hardware to control and stream live and re...

AT&T Grants SlingPlayer 3G Streaming Access!

AT&T has announced that it’s granting an optimized version of SlingPlayer Mobile [$29.99 - iTunes link] permission to send TV over their 3G network, something that up until now has been expressly banned under AT&T terms of service.

“Just as we’ve worked with Sling Media in this instance, we look forward to collaborating with other developers so that mobile customers can access a wider, more bandwidth-sensitive, and powerful range of applications in the future,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Collaboration with developers like Sling Media ensures that all apps are optimized for our 3G network to conserve wireless spectrum and reduce the risk that an app will cause such extreme levels of congestion that they disrupt the experience of other wireless customers. Our focus continues to be on delivering the nation’s most advanced mobile broadband experience and giving our customers the widest possible array of mobile applications.”

The updated SlingPlayer Mobile will be a free update for existing users, and ends a long, winding story of controversy and constraint for US iPhone users. Whether international carriers follow AT&T’s lead and allow the app to operate on their networks as well, of course, remains to be seen.

[MarketWatch via NYT Bits via Engadget -- Thanks Pat C for the tip!]

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

AT&T Grants SlingPlayer 3G Streaming Access!

US Government Fears iPad, iPhone and Other Data Devices May Cripple Networks

The US Government seems to be a bit concerned about Apple’s iPad, fearing its release in combination with the iPhone and other data-heavy devices, will wreak havoc on wireless networks.

Phil Bellaria of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau recently published in his blog his concerns about the future of our data networks.

“With the iPad pointing to even greater demand for mobile broadband on the horizon, we must ensure that network congestion doesn’t choke off a service that consumers clearly find so appealing or frustrate mobile broadband’s ability to keep us competitive in the global broadband economy.”

He then brings us back to 1996 to remind us of the time AOL first introduced unlimited data and how that particular instance brought about major connection trouble for all of it’s users. AOL, after the fact, then took the appropriate actions in beefing up it’s network to allow for all of that traffic. In regards to the iPad it seems like Apple has been closing working with AT&T to make sure network improvements are made being the products release.

Does Phil have a valid point? Should we be worried about our data networks? Sound off in the comments below (especially if you life in SF or NYC…)!

[Via TUAW]

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

US Government Fears iPad, iPhone and Other Data Devices May Cripple Networks

Apple Expands Browser-Based ‘iTunes Preview’ Functionality to Include App Store

TechCrunch reports that Apple has expanded its browser-based 'iTunes Preview' functionality to include pages for App Store applications.

To see this for yourself, open any direct link to an iPhone app (example) in your favorit...

AT&T letting SlingPlayer stream over 3G on the iPhone at long last

After all the hubbub and controversy caused by the release of SingPlayer for iPhone back in May, we knew it would take a serious change of heart for AT&T to reverse course on the issue of 3G streaming. The app's super-conspicuous lack of 3G was one of the clearest statements around that the iPhone represented a level of data consumption that AT&T was fairly unprepared for, and that certain uses like VoIP over 3G and live video streams were just not going to fly. Well, we've just now gotten over that VoIP hump, and now AT&T has given in to SlingPlayer demand at last. AT&T says it has been testing an "optimized" version of the app on its 3G network since December, and Sling says the dynamic bandwidth adjustment should keep the app from bringing the network to grinding halt -- in not so many words. The 3G-friendly version will be a free upgrade to the $30 application, and should be available as soon as the revised software makes its way through the App Store approval process.

AT&T letting SlingPlayer stream over 3G on the iPhone at long last originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiPb Give-Away: Music Skins Beatles Limited Edition Collector’s Set (8 iPhone and iPod Skins!) and More!

Music Skins make premium vinyl adhesive skins for iPhone and iPod that protect from scuffs and scrapes without being all bulky about it, and while they features tons of artists, their big release right now is the Beatles. That’s right, your iPhone can get the Fab Four on the outside before the iTunes Store offers them inside!

If you haven’t used a vinyl skin before, the process is simple and stress free. You peel them off, just like a sticker, align them on your iPhone or iPod touch, and then firmly press them down working your way from the center towards the edges. I typically use the camera on the iPhone as a guide but on the iPod touch I just eyeballed it and it worked out fine as well. I don’t know (and no one will tell me) what roll NASA or Massive Dynamics played in coming up with the material, but it looks like a grid of tiny air pockets that make readjusting it in case of misalignment, and removing it if your tastes change, a relatively easy and hassle free process.

Now, it’s important to remember that while a vinyl skin will sacrifice itself to protect your device from nicks, it won’t protect it from a fall. On the other hand, there’s almost zero added bulk and you won’t notice any difference in the pocket. Also, because of the extremely low profile, most of the hard cases I tried out fit over it no problem (the softer, leather cases were a bit tight, especially with the added friction from the vinyl).

As to the quality of the skins themselves, the printing was colorfully retro, the edges clean and precise, and the fit was well finished. They also provide matching wall paper for your lock screen.

TiPb met up with Music Skins at CES 2010 where they showed us their latest, greatest Beatles Limited Edition Collector’s Set for iPod and iPhone (only 250 available world wide!) and sent one on for us to show you. And like we mentioned in the title, now that we’re done showing it they’re letting us give it away, and that’s not all. Here’s the complete rundown:

• One (1) grand give-away, Beatles Limited Edition Collector’s Set for iPod and iPhone!
• Five (5) runner-up giveaways: Music Skin, style and device of your choosing!

Want? Here’s all you have to do:

• Head on over to the TiPb Forums and tell us your favorite Beatles song (and if you don’t have one, tell us your favorite non-Beatles song!)
• Contest starts now and ends Saturday, Feb. 6 at 12pm PST
• We’ll randomly pick the winners and let you know via PM.

More pics and video after the break!

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

TiPb Give-Away: Music Skins Beatles Limited Edition Collector’s Set (8 iPhone and iPod Skins!) and More!

In Stock: Jawbone ICON for iPhone

In Stock: Jawbone ICON for iPhone

The Jawbone ICON for iPhone is the newest addition to the Aliph Jawbone series.

• Custom ICON audio tones whisper important information like remaining battery life and caller ID into your ear.
• Introducing our most significant innovation since NoiseAssassin®. You can now dynamically update and personalize each individual Jawbone ICON with an array of convenient apps.
• Simultaneous Multipoint means that your Jawbone ICON can manage two calls from two different phones at the same time. For example, you can be on a call with your personal phone and then answer a call on your work phone and seamlessly switch between each call. Jawbone ICON handles the experience with the simplicity of traditional call-waiting.
• Be free to keep your conversation going while walking down a gusty street because our team of scientists developed a unique Digital Sensor Signal Fusion system to reduce wind noise. ICON uses an algorithm that digitally fuses together the best audio from its two electret microphones and its patented Voice Activity Sensor to create a single, natural sounding speech signal.
• Your Jawbone ICON’s remaining battery life is displayed on your iPhone’s status bar

The Jawbone ICON for iPhone is in stock now, check out TiPb’s iPhone Accessory Store for details!

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

In Stock: Jawbone ICON for iPhone

Review: 2Do for iPhone

This excellent to-do list management app is as easy to use as it is powerful, which is a decidedly impressive combination.

TiPb Presents: iPhone Live! #86 — The Whole iPhone Platform

• Our podcast feed
• Download Directly
• Subscribe via iTunes

Join Chad, The Cell Phone Junkie Mickey, and Rene for iPhone 3.1.3, more on the 4th generation iPhone, iPad everywhere, Jailbreak updates, and all the week’s news! Listen in!

Credits

Thanks to the the iPhone Blog Store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!

Our music comes from the following sources:

• I Called You — iPhone Remix by Pete Leidy
via Sneakmove iPhone Ringtone Challenge

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

TiPb Presents: iPhone Live! #86 — The Whole iPhone Platform

iTunes Adds In-Browser App Store Previews

iTunes has followed up their recent addition of in-browser music previews with in-browser App Store previews, changing the way iTunes link work from a simple redirect to desktop iTunes to a full-on web showcase for the app in question.

Whether or not this is a step towards the much rumored iTunes.com — the moving of iTunes from desktop to cloud — is harder to say. For Safari users on Mac, the old browser redirect process was so fast as to be pretty much invisible. You click the link, see a brief message, and boom — iTunes is open, on top, and displaying the item you requested. For other browsers on other OS, like Windows, it could be a less elegant experience at times. iTunes might not launch at all (especially on Linux where there’s still no iTunes).

While this doesn’t provide a solution in actually getting to iTunes, it does make sure that, when you don’t move past the browser, you still get to see information based on the link you clicked.

Let us know how it works for you on your system!

(Thanks to Glasshouse Apps for the tip!)

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

iTunes Adds In-Browser App Store Previews

Pocket Sitar is a virtual sitar for the iPhone

Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, Music

NPR posted the other day about an app that promised to simulate a sitar, the stringed instrument used mainly in Indian music. So just for you, dear readers, we downloaded it [iTunes link] and gave it a shot. The verdict? If you can already play the sitar, you'll probably find it a reasonable approximation. Just like the guitar simulators on the iPhone, there are various strings on screen that you can "strum," and the notes are labeled under the virtual strings. As for actually learning the sitar, however, you're probably out of luck. There's one instructional page, and links to eHow videos, but there's nothing solid in terms of actually learning the device.

And unfortunately, the app just feels pretty cheap -- there's a large part of the screen taken up with a one-hit sitar sound, and quite a few times, we'd try striking different strings and get the same notes, as if the app had bugged out and gotten stuck on one file. Of course, I can't play the sitar (though I'm pretty respectable on the guitar), so maybe I was just doing it wrong. But even a little experimentation with the app didn't bring up an easy way to do it right.

Still, NPR has a point -- you can't always carry your sitar around with you. If you want to pay 99 cents to have a Pocket Sitar around, this will app will probably strum your chikari.

Pocket Sitar is a virtual sitar for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pocket Sitar is a virtual sitar for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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