Sound ID’s 510 Bluetooth headset has iPhone app to match

Occasionally, we long for simpler times -- times when "handsfree" meant little more than connecting a corded earbud to your phone and calling it good. Nowadays, of course, things are a little different: Bluetooth is quite literally everywhere, headsets have their own frickin' apps, and bone conduction tech is the real deal. Take this Sound ID 510, for example, featuring its very own iPhone app (which Sound ID made sure to get approved by Apple ahead of the actual hardware's release) that lets you control a number of settings, check your battery level, and find the set if you misplace it. To be fair, it's not the first time we've seen an on-phone companion app for a Bluetooth earbud, and something tells us it won't be the last; that's right, welcome to our frightning new reality. Look for the 510 to hit shops in early June for about $130.

Sound ID's 510 Bluetooth headset has iPhone app to match originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wi-Fi Sync now compatible with Windows and iPad

Wi-Fi Sync is quite the gem (at least we think so) but it had some limitations -- namely, it only worked on OS X for desktop, and only with iPhone / iPod touch. Developer Greg Hughes pinged us earlier today to let us know he's thrown the gates off such restrictions. The jailbroken app now works for both iPads and Windows -- XP, Vista, and 7. The desktop client is free to download but it still cost just a hair under $10 for the appropriate mobile device. Worth the price of breaking free from wires? Your call.

Wi-Fi Sync now compatible with Windows and iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer shows off Android-powered Stream handset

Acer offered a preview off its upcoming Stream smartphone on Thursday.

Just get an international iPad? Here’s what you need next!

Apple’s iPad launched in 9 more countries today and while many of you snuck them out of the US early, many more are likely waiting in line at the Apple Store or in front of the window for the delivery truck. Once you’ve gotten your hands on Apple’s new tablet, once you’ve turned it on and played around with the browser and photos, you may be wondering what to do next Don’t worry, TiPb’s got your back:

• Get apps and games. Apple has unleashed almost 2000 of them already (seriously, we’ve stopped counting!). You can find them — all of them — on iTunes, either on your Windows or Mac, or right on the iPad App Store. Because of the US release, we had a head start and have covered a ton of iPad apps here already, and there’ll be plenty more to come so keep checking back.

• Get accessories. The TiPb Store has just started offering iPad accessories. If you want to protect that big, beautiful screen or wrap a case over that pristine aluminum shell, be sure to check them out! We’ve done a bunch of reviews for cases, keyboards, stylus, and all sorts of other accessories as well, so if you just want to see what’s available, check those out.

• Get talking. If you just want to talk about your new iPad and all those apps and accessories, or if you need help getting started (or to trouble-shoot bugs), or advice and recommendations, we have two new discussion groups just for you: iPad Device and Help Forum and iPad Apps and Games Forum.

I ordered an iPad 3G, but I can’t stay away from launch-day festivities so I’ll be at the Apple Store in Pointe-Claire, Quebec tomorrow (if anyone wants to say hi). Let us know where you’ll be and what you’re doing with your brand new iPad!

Just get an international iPad? Here’s what you need next! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Getting your international iPad today? Happy with iPad? Top iPad apps? Not interested in iPad? – From the Forums

From the Forums is a great way to see all of the hot topics in our iPhone and iPad forums. In order to create a new thread of your own or reply to any of the existing threads, you must be a registered member. Becoming a member is a simple process that will only take a few minutes out of your day, so if you have not already already done so, head on over and register now!

• International iPad customers still waiting for your device to be delivered? Still waiting? If you’re standing in line, add a picture, if you’re waiting for a delivery, tell us when it arrives, if you just got !

• Since most of you have had your iPad for some time now or even if you’ve just gotten it – are you happy with iPad?

• What are your top 5 iPad applications?

For those of you who do not own a iPad, lets address two popular iPhone threads:

• Will you be purchasing the new iPhone when it is released this June?

• What color next-gen iPhone will you choose? Black or white?

See you in the forums!

Getting your international iPad today? Happy with iPad? Top iPad apps? Not interested in iPad? – From the Forums is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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How to tweak your Jailbroken iPhone

We get a lot of questions about tweaking Jailbroken iPhones, so here are a few handy tools that are free and don’t require a lot of know-how in order to implement.  All you need is a bit of spare time to change your Jailbroken iPhone from stock to stunning!

Fontswap

First up is FontSwap, which allows you to change the system fonts on your iPhone. It can be found in Rock and Cydia for free.

On the main page of FontSwap you can choose to change fonts on different parts of your phone. There are certain times I have the Lock Clock font set different than the system wide fonts, and that’s okay too. Whatever suits you.

I always get a lot of requests for the font I use.  It’s call Simpsons font and it’s available for free in Cydia and Rock.  FontSwap will come with a few default fonts to choose from, but you can download lots more for free.  Just go into Cydia or Rock and search for fontswap.  You’ll get tons of new fonts you can browse and download.  Once you download them, they’ll automatically go into FontSwap for you to apply.

Chat Bubbles

Another tweak I enjoy using is changing chat bubble colors.  This can be done one of two ways.  You can either make your own chat theme or you can search Rock and Cydia for “sms bubbles” and “sms balloons” and apply them via Winterboard.  There aren’t a lot to choose from but making your own is pretty easy.  DeviantArt and forums like modmyi.com have a ton of users that post up chat bubbles and balloon templates you can use for your own personal use.

iBlank and BlankNull

Our last tweak for today is iBlank.  If you’re jailbroken and anything like me, you want to actually see your background.  I accomplish this with iBlank.  It basically produces blank icons for you that allow you to move them around like you would apps in order to see your backgrounds.

I also installed a free app from Cydia called “BlankNull” as well.  This way, your blank icons become unclickable.  Pretty neat, eh?  I frequently reorder icons in L shapes, just along the bottom, or on a side depending on what part of a picture I want to see.  iBlank makes it really easy.

Have any cool apps you use to tweak out your jailbroken iPhone? Let us know and maybe we’ll include those next time!

How to tweak your Jailbroken iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Apple education promo: buy a Mac get a free iPod touch

Apple is once again offering an educational promotion where qualified collegiate buyers can get their hands on a new iPod touch for free:

Whether it’s for a first year or a current university student, the faster, more powerful Mac is the ultimate computer for school. And now it includes something extra special. When university students buy a qualifying Mac, they’ll get a free 8GB iPod touch. And they’ll save even more with Apple education pricing. This offer is for a limited time and is available only at the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Campus Stores.

Yeah, the 8GB which is basically a 2nd generation model. But hey, free is free. Anyone taking them up on it?

[Apple online store]

Apple education promo: buy a Mac get a free iPod touch is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Bring your iPhone for SCVNGR hunts around museums and universities

Filed under: iPhone, App Store

SCVNGR looks like an interesting idea for an iPhone app: It's sort of a virtual scavenger hunt, composed of a series of "challenges" at certain real-life places that are found via the GPS on your iPhone. When the iPhone first released with GPS, the idea of a real-life MMO was something I wanted to see, and while SCVNGR (on the App Store for free) seems targeted more towards exploration than actual gaming, it's definitely something that should get you to exploring your world a little differently.

Lots of organizations have already jumped in to make up some challenges, and this note, about how a few LA museums got their challenges, caught my eye. If you're looking for something fun to do with the family this holiday weekend and want a new iPhone-based twist on the usual museum tour, SCVNGR might be just the thing.

Bring your iPhone for SCVNGR hunts around museums and universities originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bring your iPhone for SCVNGR hunts around museums and universities originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OpenFeint hits 25 million users, announces 2.5 beta release

Filed under: iPhone

OpenFeint has announced that they've reached 25 million users on their social networking service for apps on the App Store. That's an astounding number, and not only does it represent an amazing achievement by the folks at Aurora Feint, but it hints at just how big Apple's official Game Center service will be (whenever they get around to, you know, implementing it). Just for comparison, location networking service Foursquare is still racing to try and hit 3 million users, so in just over a year's time, OpenFeint has picked up many times that number. Those users represent almost a third of the iDevice market and over 85 million devices across 1900 different developers.

The service has also announced that they're bringing out the beta of version 2.5 for developers to implement in their iPhone apps and games. The new version includes a revamped API, which will allow for both turn-based and "action replay" multiplayer (a functionality that Game Center won't yet offer, as far as we know); it's also Game Center compatible, so developers who implement OpenFeint in their games will be able to easily transition to Apple's official service when it comes out (that's what we heard from Jason Citron a little while back, too). OpenFeint 2.5 is in beta right now and will arrive on iPhones later this summer.

OpenFeint hits 25 million users, announces 2.5 beta release originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 May 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

OpenFeint hits 25 million users, announces 2.5 beta release originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 May 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google AdMob deal closes

Google's acquisition of AdMob has closed.

Navigon cuts price of MyRegion version for a limited time

Filed under: iPhone

If you were about to buy one of the MyRegions Navigon GPS apps for the iPhone, don't press that 'buy' button just yet. In honor of WWDC, Navigon will make the normally U.S. $29.99 version just $14.99 from June 1 through June 11. That's a big savings on one of the premier nav apps. The MyRegions versions cover the Western, Central and Eastern U.S., so if you are going to buy, make sure you get the correct version.

All versions include functions such as Reality View Pro, Google Local Search, Lane Assistant Pro, Enhanced Pedestrian Mode, NAVIGON MyRoutes and much more. Of course you get text to speech, and either a flat or perspective view of your route. All these features are described in detail at the links above for each version.

In addition, you can add other regions of the country with an in-app purchase. During the sale, additonal regions are $9.99 instead of the usual $14.99. Buyers can also add Traffic Live services (which will update traffic notices in real-time) for a one-time subscription cost of $19.99. If you buy, note that the entire U.S. will download to your iPhone, which is 1.4GB, so make sure you've got the room. If you go to add a region or two, you'll just unlock the data already installed on your phone.

Continue reading Navigon cuts price of MyRegion version for a limited time

Navigon cuts price of MyRegion version for a limited time originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Navigon cuts price of MyRegion version for a limited time originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T: 40 percent of iPhone sales are enterprise, Android ‘built with a very specific focus to consumers’

It isn't just Verizon's Lowell McAdam with fascinating commentary at this Barclays Capital tech conference going down in New York this week. Ron Spears, who leads up AT&T's Business Solutions division, had some notable things to say about enterprise mobility -- specifically, the iPhone's role in taking businesses to the road, a magic trick typically associated almost exclusively with BlackBerry over the past ten years. Basically, Spears says that he's seeing extraordinary uptake on the business side with the iPhone since 2008 and the introduction of the platform's first enterprise-focused features; in fact, he claims that "four out of every 10 sales" are to enterprise users these days and that it has all but caught up to BlackBerry for the kind of modern, tight, full-featured security that your average IT department needs. On a related note, Spears says that he hasn't "seen the Android platform yet in the enterprise space," but that he figures it'll evolve over time to become "hard to ignore" to the enterprise segment. Of course, considering that AT&T has virtually no presence in the Android market at the moment, we're not surprised that he'd take a lukewarm tack -- so here's hoping that changes fast. Follow the break for more highlights of Spears' comments.

Continue reading AT&T: 40 percent of iPhone sales are enterprise, Android 'built with a very specific focus to consumers'

AT&T: 40 percent of iPhone sales are enterprise, Android 'built with a very specific focus to consumers' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 May 2010 17:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PangeaVR HD gives iPads a panoramic view

Pangea Software has released PangeaVR HD, an app that lets you interactively view full-screen 360 degree panoramas on the iPad.

Hacker Jailbreaks iPhone 3GS Running iPhone OS 4.0 Beta 4

Pac-Man puzzle game heading for iPhone

With multiple versions of Pac-Man already available on the iPhone and iPad, Namco Networks will roll out another release featuring the iconic arcade game figure -- this time in the puzzle genre.

Review: ToonPaint for iPhone

For turning photos into cartoon-like portraits, there's no better option than this app, which makes the process both easy and fun.

AT&T Claims 40% of iPhone Sales Made to Business Customers

ZDNet reports on comments made by AT&T Business Solutions CEO Ron Spears revealing that 40% of the company's iPhone sales are to business customers, dispelling the notion that businesses are not willing t...

Apple Increases Support for Self-Publishing in iBookstore

While Apple may be struggling to sign up major publishers for international eBook distribution through its iBookstore, the company appears to be making things easier for independent authors without a publisher to have their work included in t...

Microsoft To Announce Visual Studio iPhone App Development Tools At WWDC?

No Steve Ballmer Appearance at WWDC Keynote [Updated]

In a tweet from Microsoft's official Twitter account, the company has denied a claim that CEO Steve Ballmer would be speaking at the keynote for Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) on June 7th.<...