Saturday, April 26, 2008

iPhone Video Recorder by DreamCatcher


iPhone Video Recorder by DreamCatcher is an app which records video and audio, and your file in mpeg4 format. The good thing is that developers acknowledged the limitations of the iPhone and implemented the ability to do the encoding while you are filming, or when the device is idle. This reduces stress on iPhone CPU.

One hour of video takes approximately 60mb. You can record videos up to 15 frames per second.

You can go here to download the free trial here, or buy it for $19.95 if it meets your needs.

dream.jpg

First glance into the new 3G iPhone


Engadget reports that next generation iPhone is currently in the testing stages. In fact, their secret source managed to get one of new iPhones. Here are his findings.

New iPhone is same in size and shape as the old gen iPhone
There is 3G support
True GPS support
iPhone will have a black glossy back. No more nice shiny metal
Back plate will be thicker and will have less angular edges
Battery is not removable
Phone itself will be slightly thicker than current gen iPhone
The headphone jack will no longer be recessed
The screen size and resolution will stay roughly the same
It is unknown what battery capacity it will have

20080403iphoneback1.png

According to recent reports, it will chip sometime in June or July. When precisely, it is yet unknown.

We should find out how true this information is during the upcoming WWDC, when the device should be announced. Until then – wait.

Thanks: Engadget

UK is preparing for iPhone 3G?


There seem to be an interesting development with the 8GB iPhone. Firstly, Carphone Warehouse reported that they completely sold out of 8 GB iPhones all over the country.

Spokesman for Carphone Warehouse said:

“Our price promotion has given many more of our customers the opportunity to enjoy the iPhone experience. Due to this unprecedented demand we have now sold out of the 8GB iPhone and we’re currently reviewing the stock situation. In the meantime, customers can still purchase the 16GB iPhone at the standard price at The Carphone Warehouse.”

iphone.gif

O2 also reported low stocks of iPhone. It has sold out of their stock on-line, and has limited stock in their stores.

Both O2 and Carphone Warehouse are thinking whether to order additional stock of 8 GB iPhones. One can only assume that they are indeed preparing for the upcoming 3G iPhone.

Still if you do not want to wait for 3G iPhone, and demand one now, Apple store is offering them at the usual price. No discount from there.

Thanks: PocketLint

RIM delays 3G Blackberry because of the iPhone?


According to a rumour, RIM, the makers of Blackberry phones, might wait for Apple to release 3G iPhone before releasing their own 3G version of Blackberry.

Fortune magazine reports, that sources close to RIM claimed that the reason behind the delay from June to August of BlackBerry 8900 were internal glitches. It will be the first 3G Blackberry to appear in US market.

8xxx.jpg

Fortune report says that delaying to launch of the phone will actually lower the number of phones sold, instead of doing anything else.

Thanks: RegHardware

MythTV for iPhone


If you have a MythTV PVR system then you might find a great use for MythTV for iPhone . It allows you to watch your recorded TV shows or movies on your iPhone wirelessly.

myth-iphone-4.png

“The software combines the work of many great programmers into one application. It allows you to browse your recorded shows, and look at show details. You can stream any recorded show to the iPhone wirelessly. It allows you to control your other (PC based) MythFrontend with a web-based remote control.”

Here is a YouTube video of it in action.

To find out more about Myth TV for iPhone, or download it visit Chris Carey’s website.

Thanks: eHomeUpgrade

Stickified for iPhone


Stickified.com is a service that will allow you to create “Sticky Notes”. However, differently from your regular text editor, the service will keep the notes on the web. So once you submitted it, and remembered that you want to add something else, you can always do that. It is like a sticky note blog.

It is really a great way to share information with friends, on forums or even maintain your own to-do list.

i16.png

To use it, go to Stickified.com, create a free account and enjoy.

Lab Rat Mouse game for iPhone


Lab Rat Maze is a fun little game where you guard a mouse in a series of mazes to get to a cheese. Sounds simple? The problem is that you only see 9 titles o screen from a huge maze. At first, it is quite basic, but the mazes get harder and harder each time. Have fun satisfying your hunger.

mouse.jpg

The Coming Convergence


BURLINGAME , CALIF. -This week, Apple shocked the semiconductor industry by acquiring P.A. Semi, a 150-person chip design company, as first reported by my colleagues at Forbes.com. (See: "Apple Buys Chip Designer.")

Opinions differ on why Steve Jobs chose to take this additional risk of vertical integration when every chip vendor on the planet is falling all over itself to sell its wares to Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ).

Semiconductor companies have figured out incredibly innovative ways to "hyper-integrate" their chips. This trend has given us products such as camera phones, music phones, video phones and phones with wireless local area networks. The most recent galvanizing event came when Apple’s iPhone hit the market, packing all those capabilities, along with Web browsing and e-mail, into a single, sleek device. Are we that far from a laptop replacement, demanded by consumers who are tired of carrying multiple gadgets?

Achieving this level of functionality in one miniaturized device means bringing together many sub-systems. Camera modules. MP3 players. Layers of memory. Baseband. GPS. And, of course, the microprocessor. The iPhone, for instance, uses a Samsung chip, which is a three-level stacked-die package containing an ARM processor and two 512-megabit mobile SDRAMs.

That chip alone accounts for approximately $76 or 30% of the component cost in the first-generation, eight-gigabyte iPhone, according to analyst firm iSuppli. (I've written about this component of the iPhone before, too. See "The iPhone's Component Ecosystem.")

Now it so happens that ARM-based processors have an exorbitant market share among mobile devices, and by building the iPhone on the ARM-core, Apple has had to work with the same quasi standard that almost every other phone maker uses.

Many other component vendors--Broadcom (nasdaq: BRCM - news - people ), Marvell, STMicroelectronics (nyse: STM - news - people ) (which just created a joint venture with NXP), Infineon, Texas Instruments (nyse: TXN - news - people ), and National Semiconductor (nyse: NSM - news - people )--also serve multiple handset vendors. The Samsung chip that Apple used also had power problems, and there was widespread speculation that Apple was planning to move to Intel (nasdaq: INTC - news - people ) in the next generation, banking on the veteran’s low-power-design excellence.

Against that backdrop comes this announcement, which most analysts read as another effort from Steve Jobs to control the differentiation elements of his product line. He already controls the operating system, which has enabled the creative, mercurial genius to offer an unprecedented user experience on both his handheld and desktop products.

Jobs’ unrelenting commitment to delighting the customer has continued to yield bounties as frustrated consumers flock from the PC to the Mac, and from Palm's (nasdaq: PALM - news - people ) Treo and Motorola's (nyse: MOT - news - people ) Razr to the iPhone.

For Jobs, therefore, it is worthwhile to take this additional risk with the hope that a successful chip breakthrough may put Apple in an unstoppable position, vis-à-vis its competitors Research in Motion (nasdaq: RIMM - news - people ), Palm, Nokia (nyse: NOK - news - people ), Samsung and Motorola.

Apple has been insanely profitable, and is now sitting on $19.4 billion in cash, having generated $4 billion in cash over the last two quarters. In fact, shareholders have expressed their discontent at Apple not doing anything significant with that stockpile.

Well, here comes the answer. An answer of Jobsian proportion.

Apple’s long-time competitors have learned that having your own captive chip division is not easy. Motorola spun off Freescale as a standalone semiconductor company. Not only has Nokia systematically moved away from developing its own chips, it doesn't want to rely on a single partner, such as Texas Instruments (TI). Instead, last year, Nokia started creating multi-sourcing relationships with ST, Infineon, Broadcom and others. Palm is gasping and Research in Motion doesn’t seem like a company that would make a move toward vertical integration.

Samsung is the only mobile handset vendor in this market that is also a significant semiconductor player. In fact, Samsung owns its own chip fabrication facilities and has considerable ability to differentiate via manufacturing excellence and cost. Having Samsung as a key vendor should make Apple nervous.

But even without Samsung, there are so many other players who would be delighted to join Apple's parade. Apple could play them against each other, then pick the one that delivers the best chips. Intel, IBM (nyse: IBM - news - people ), TI, Broadcom ... one nod from Apple, and they would all be on their knees, begging to serve the master, Jobs.

Why then, does Steve Jobs close these options and bring the chip design in-house?

The answer is, he doesn’t. He will continue to play all of them against each other, including this newly acquired unit. If the in-house team delivers a breakthrough, he wins. If they don’t, he can continue to buy his chips from the other vendors.

The $278 million is chump change compared to the option it creates for Apple. The option to differentiate not only at the design, operating system and software application levels--all of which the Macintosh, the iPhone, and the iPod already do--but at the fundamental electronics level.

The convergence device movement will march on over the next decade. The next billion consumers will likely do their "computing" through a convergence device. No, the device may not be an iPhone. In fact, most likely, a whole new product category is in Apple’s labs right now which would give us the option of leaving the laptop at home.

Dell (nasdaq: DELL - news - people ), Hewlett-Packard (nyse: HPQ - news - people ), Lenovo and the other laptop vendors will need to get their own strategies together to bring convergence devices to the market. Nokia, Research in Motion, Palm, and Samsung will not only have to respond to the iPhone, but also to this new, yet-to-be-created category.

Too much is at stake. Jobs took a risk. He created an option.

If Apple succeeds, expect to see many others in the industry scramble to recreate a vertically integrated industry, which is where it all started. WinTel will eventually be seen as a detour.

[Thanks: http://www.forbes.com]

Analysts guess new iPhone will debut in June



IDG reports that industry analysts have settled on a prediction: Apple will unveil the next iPhone -- a model equipped with faster 3G networking capabilities -- on June 9, when CEO Steve Jobs will most likely take the stage at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

This is only a guess, of course, and it's not even an especially surprising one. Everyone knows that a new iPhone is coming soon, and the WWDC is Apple's next big event.

As support for their prediction, analysts point to reports of a shortage of current iPhones -- a suggestion that Apple may be winding down production before the new model debuts.

And when the new iPhone ships, what'll happen to today's iPhone? Looking into his crystal ball, Shaw Wu, an analyst at American Technology Research, predicts that it'll get a slightly redesigned case and a lower price -- $299 to $349, compared to today's $399.

We'll see.

[Thanks: http://machinist.salon.com]

Apple forecast: mostly sunny, with increasing chance of profits


Once again on Wednesday, Apple reported excellent earnings.

Though most of the reaction was positive, some expressed concern over whether Apple’s good fortunes will prove sustainable in a challenging U.S. economy. It strikes me Apple has just proved its powerful brand can keep drawing consumer’s cash even in a souring economy.

Apple could not have done much better in the January quarter, the best 2Q in company history. Revenue hit $7.51 billion, representing 43 percent growth year over year. Apple made a $1.05 billion profit, increasing its cash stash to $19.4 billion. Every operating segment did well, led by extraordinary growth in Mac sales.

Apple’s conservative guidance for the June quarter did generate some hand wringing among analysts, particularly the bit about Apple’s gross margins hovering around 33 percent.

I don’t see much of a problem here. Even if Apple just barely makes its numbers, the June quarter will be far from a disaster. Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer said the company expects revenue of $7.2 billion – a 33 percent year over year increase. He estimates earnings per share at about $1.00, which translates to about $900 million in profits.

Of course, Apple always lowballs its guidance to make it easier to exceed the numbers.

In a MarketWatch story yesterday BMO Capital Markets analyst Keith Bachman pointed out that over the past three years Apple has predicted an 18 percent drop from 2Q earnings, but in fact reported gains averaging 10 percent in the June quarter.

If Apple follows this historical pattern, it will earn about $8.25 billion in revenue and $1.15 billion in profits. Not bad in a struggling economy.

Now let’s take a look at Apple’s 2Q report segment by segment:

The Mac: Three words: growth, growth, growth. Desktop sales were up 37 percent, powered by strong iMac sales and a refresh of the Mac Pro. Laptop sales were up 61 percent, helped by the new MacBook Air and a refresh of the MacBook and MacBook Pro lines. Apple shipped a total of 2.29 million Macs in the quarter, a prodigious 51 percent increase year over year.

Oppenheimer noted in his remarks that Mac sales grew 3.5 times faster than the overall PC market growth rate. He also said Apple’s U.S. education business increased 35 percent year over year, “its highest growth rate in any quarter in the last eight years.”

And the Mac’s strength extended beyond U.S. borders. Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook said sales in the Americas were up 52 percent year over year; in Europe up 48 percent; and in Japan up 47 percent.

Each of the past several quarters has set some sort of record for Mac sales. I see this trend continuing for quite some time.

The iPod: Sales of the iPod increased only 1 percent year over year to 10.6 million units. Many observers interpreted the small increase as a “maturation” of the MP3 player market and a sign that Apple can no longer expect much growth in this segment.

But mere units sales of iPods doesn’t tell the whole story. Revenue from the iPod increased 8 percent because many of those sold were more expensive iPod Touches. And let’s not forget the 1.7 million iPhones – they also serve as fancy iPods.

In any case, Apple has retained its market dominance in this space, holding 73 percent of the MP3 player market in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Oppenheimer said the iTunes Store holds 85 percent of the legal download market, hinting that rivals such as Amazon have not proven as formidable a threat as once feared.

The iPhone: On the one hand, the 1.7 million iPhones Apple sold exceeded the company’s expectations, leading to shortages in some areas. But unless the pace picks up significantly, Apple can’t meet its target of selling 10 million iPhones in 2008. At the 2Q rate, Apple would sell 6.8 million iPhones by year’s end.

With the iPhone 2.0 software due out in June – near the end of the next quarter – and widespread anticipation of a 3G iPhone in the same time frame, one would expect diminished iPhones sales in 3Q while customers await the new goodies.

Yet in his remarks Oppenheimer reiterated the 10-million iPhone goal for 2008. Apple rarely lets its expectations get too far out of line with reality, so I’m guessing it’s figuring on several factors to alter the equation.

The factors that could hamper sales in the coming quarter will accelerate them in the second half of the year. Beyond that, Apple will continue to introduce the iPhone into new international markets throughout 2008.

Will it be enough to hit 10 million units by December? Apple must think so.

Apple Retail: The performance of Apple’s retail stores has gotten scant mention, but this segment continues to amaze. Revenue from the stores grew 74 percent year over year. Sales of Macs in the stores rose 67 percent. Operating profit doubled.

Apple continues to expand the chain, adding four more stores for a total of 208, including 15 in the United Kingdom. Oppenheimer said Apple plans to open its first stores in Australia, China and Switzerland in the next few months. Overall, Apple expects to add 45 more stores in 2008.

Oppenheimer as usual noted that half of the stores’ computer sales were to customers “new to the Mac,” a statistic that makes more sense now that Mac sales are exploding.

[Thanks: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com]

Canadian debut may be set for Apple's iPhone



Business Reporter

The stars finally seem to be aligned for a Canadian launch of Apple's popular iPhone nearly a year after it was first unveiled to lineups of gadget-crazed consumers in the United States.

There have been no official confirmations, but industry sources say that Rogers Communications Inc., the only Canadian carrier with a compatible GSM network, was hoping to include the iPhone as part of a campaign that focuses on "touch screen" phones, to be rolled out between May and July.

That would put one of the world's most talked-about devices in the pockets of Canadians right around the time that Apple Inc. is expected to roll out an updated version of the iPhone that runs on so-called third generation, or "3G," networks.

It could also mean that the iPhone will be available in rival smartphone-maker Research In Motion Ltd.'s backyard before it is able to unveil its response: a 3G version of its popular BlackBerry email device for GSM carriers that is being dubbed "Meteor."

Shares of Waterloo-based RIM fell nearly 3 per cent or $3.52 to close at $122.25 on the Toronto Stock Exchange yesterday amid reports the anticipated June launch of a new BlackBerry has been pushed back to August.

"Reasons appear to be battery life, voice quality and other issues," said Mike Abramsky, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets, in a note to clients yesterday that cited sources "confirming" the rumours.

A RIM spokesperson declined to comment.

As for the iPhone's arrival in Canada, a source said Rogers Wireless executives believed they were "close" to inking an agreement earlier this year with Apple, which has used its clout to force significant changes to the standard industry relationship between wireless carriers and handset makers.

That includes the way the iPhone is marketed and sold, as well as a sizeable cut of subscribers' monthly bills.

However, it's still unclear whether a deal has actually been reached because neither side is talking.

"We believe it is a phenomenal device and we look forward to being able to offer it to our customers if and when the device becomes available in Canada," said Elizabeth Hamilton, a Rogers spokesperson.

An Apple spokesperson declined to comment.

While Rogers initially said it planned to offer the iPhone in Canada, the carrier was later forced to backtrack after it admitted it didn't actually have a deal with the Cupertino, Calif.-based maker of iPods and computers.

It has been widely speculated that the stumbling block was Rogers' wireless data plans, which typically cost more than those offered by carriers in Europe and the United States – a disparity that critics blame on a lack of Canadian wireless competition.

As well, most of Rogers' wireless data plans have usage caps, with users charged by the megabyte if they go over their allotment.

"We're not fans of unlimited plans," Rob Bruce, president of Rogers' wireless division, told analysts during a February conference call.

Apple, by contrast, emphasizes the consumer experience of its products and is said to be adamant that the iPhone be offered with unlimited data plans. That way, subscribers don't have to worry their mobile Web browsing habits will put a crater in their wallets.

In return, carriers offering the iPhone can expect to woo new customers and coax more of their customer base onto higher-priced wireless data plans. AT&T Inc., which has an exclusive deal with Apple in the U.S., this week reported a 57 per cent year-over-year increase in its wireless data revenues, which was attributed in part to the iPhone and its focus on mobile email and Web browsing.

Apple also demands a portion of subscribers' monthly bills. That's bound to be a sticking point with Rogers, which has little incentive to bow to all of Apple's demands since there's little risk the iPhone will wind up in a competitor's hands.

Mineral Database for iPhone


If you are a student on mineralogy or geology, you probably know of the mindat.org, a mineral database on the web. Now it is available on the iPhone as well. It features over 4,400 minerals, and over 10,000 varietal and synonymous names.

This is great for both fieldwork, and cheating on the exam. Just be careful. And remember, you did not read that here.

mindat.jpg

iPharmacy for iPhone


Don’t know how to use a certain drug? iPharmacy is there to help you. It offers a huge list of various drug descriptions, directions on how to use them and common symptoms.

The information might not be presented in the best way, still it offers a search, where you can find all you need.

caduceus-sm.gif

200 000 iPhone SDK downloads


Apple has revealed that over 200,000 iPhone developers have downloaded Software Development Kit so far. Interestingly in mid March, that number was at 100,000.

Openheimer, Apple CFO, said that SDK is a great success, with more than 400 higher educations and over one-third of Fortune 500 companies making software for iPhone.

iphonesdk.png

This will be even greater when Apple releases iPhone 2.0 software, with features like App Store for third party apps and exchange support.

Thanks: Macworld

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

RedSquare for iPhone


RedSquare is a fun little game where you have to move red ball into a red square. Sounds easy? Well it is at first, but as the levels progress the games gets harder and harder. Click here to give it a try.

redsquare.jpg

The first iBand CD to be won!


Some time has passed since the last news on the famous iBand we have posted at iPhone World. Well since then they have managed to issue a new single titled “Vitality” make an interesting appearance on a German TV show and produce their new CD. It is more of DIY-with the hand-made cover therefore unique and more valuable for their real fans.

Marina, Roger and Seb’s new song “Vitality” has inspired them to launch a contest for those of their fans who do something exceptional to make them feel alive. The link to the contest’s own internet site can be found on the iBand’s official web site. The site is already presenting people who want to show what makes them feel alive. The contest is opened for submissions until 25th of April. Below you can see the YouTube video showing the process of creating their first single CD (with all three songs) as well as listen to the latest single.

Coming back to their TV appearance on Sunday, 13th of April - the program in which they showed their faces to the public for the first time is called Neues (eng. New) and brings the news from the world of technology to the viewers of ZDF, Arte and 3sat TV stations.

The three members of the iBand, Marina (vocals, piano, guitar), Roger (xylophone) and Seb (drums.) has already appeared in the most important American newspapers like “Washington Post” or “New York Times”. But it is the first time they show their faces to the world. You can see the German language interview below with English subtitles and the full 20 minutes one for German-speakers available at www.3sat.de.

mr Handsfree Blue Smart Review


With more and more legislation preventing the use of cell phones while driving, bluetooth and wireless devices are becoming more of a necessity then a nice-to-have. Many find wearing wireless headsets to be uncomfortable. In these instances, carkits can be a comfortable alternative. mr. Handsfree’s Blue Smart is a flexible and affordable choice.

Blue Smart cords

Installation
Despite how intimidating the number of cords may be, installation of the unit is fairly straight-forward. Basically, it consists of three parts - a speaker, a microphone and the control unit. The microphone and control unit plug into the speaker. The unit is powered by a cigarette lighter charger. Each piece has ample cord lengths in order to position them in the ideal locations. For the microphone, it is recommended that this location be away from wind sources (e.g. the vents) and ideally within 30 cm and faced towards the speaker’s mouth. Other than that, the only other location recommendation is that the microphone be at least 1 meter from the speaker. You’ll want to place the control unit in a spot that’s easy to reach while driving. All the components can be affixed using the supplied double-sided tape. You also have the option of adhering the speaker using the supplied screws. Clips are supplied to manage the cords.

Professional installation is an option. Professional installation allows the unit to be powered on when your car is turned on, use of your car speakers, and automatic radio muting when a call is received.

Programming
There are a variety of functions available via the control unit that are accessed by pressing on the large wheel and turning it. Some functions included are voice dialing, speed dialing, the ability to turn off the rear speakers. Thank goodness set up of these features only occurs once because it’s rather tedious - requiring you to turn the wheel to select each number or function. Once set up is complete, the features worked flawlessly.

Blue Smart control unit

Quality
I found the speaker to be adequately loud and clear - surprising given its compact size. Volume is controlled by turning the wheel on the control unit. Although I had no issues hearing the speaker, I cannot say the same for those who I called. Most had issues hearing me and cited too much background noise, sounding like wind. I attribute this to 1) my car has pretty much no soundproofing - it’s just generally noisy and 2) in both tests, I was driving on the highway. I imagine if you had a quieter car and/or mostly used the device for city driving, there wouldn’t be as many issues with callers hearing you.

All-in-all, mr Handsfree Blue Smart fits the need for a hands-free iPhone carkit device and the price is right at $69.95 EUR. It can be purchased from TE Group at http://www.mrhandsfree.com/blue-smart.aspx.

Dating DNA for iPhone


If you still have not found your second half, you can try using Dating DNA. The service allows add your and browse photos of other users, as well as get a match based on your preferences, with whom you might get a chance of meeting. That is if you are very lucky! Still it is a convenient way of looking for your date. Just trust yourself.

dating.jpg

Cinema Times for iPhone


Cinema Times is a WebApp designed to look up for the movie showcase times in cinemas in US or UK. It works by retrieving results from Google Movies. You can even mail the movie details to a friend, in case he forgot when he has to meet up with you.

Press here to visit the app.

clipboard01.jpg

iPhone Widget Gallery by Widgetbox


Widgetbox, a site dedicated bringing widgets to various websites and blogs, has revealed several iPhone specific widgets, or as we know them: WebApps.

widgetbox_logo.png

So far, there are only 16 widgets available to choose from. To see them, visit Widgetbox with your iPhone.

The website also provides a tutorial on how to make your own iPhone ready widgets.

Thanks: techCrunch

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

AT&T profits rose to 22% primarily on IPhone sales


AT&T has unveiled their quarterly results today. Their first quarter results rose by 22%.

Net income jumped to $3.46 billion, or 57 cents a share, from $2.85 billion, or 45 cents, a year earlier.

AT&T announced that such profits were in part driven by gains in its wireless business. And of course the flagship of it is the iPhone, which doubled the average revenue per subscriber that AT&T gets from other wireless customers.

Strangely, AT&T did not announce how many iPhones were sold, like it did in the past. One can guess that it is not a record braking number. This unknown situation leads to fall of Apple stocks today.

untitled1.jpg

One the good site, tomorrow Apple will publish their quarterly earnings as well revealing the precise numbers.

Thanks: TechCrunch.

Black Night iPhone


Goldstriker, the maker of luxurious iPhone models, is offering yet another version of their luxury iPhones called Black Night.

The 16 GB device is encrusted in 24ct gold, front bezel and the rear side is painted with paint used in Bentley diamond black metallic range of cars, with a golden Apple logo.

24ct-gold-iphone-back-night-edition-montage.jpg

Goldstriker revealed that they are working on other iPhone colors like Lamborghini white and Jaguar winter gold models.

Black Night iPhone will cost you only GBP699.95 ($1398)

Thanks: SkyNews

ModeLabs Bluetrek Surface Sound Compact-the best car hands-free kit for the iPhone.


iLounge the Apple-dedicated internet site is recommending Bluetrek Surface Sound Compact to the iPhone users. The device has been developed by ModeLab, a Customized Design Manufacturer behind such products like H2 Hummer mobile.

Bluetrek Surface Sound Compact has been available on the market since the last quarter of 2007. It features an ultra slim design and DSP - an echo cancellation and background noise reduction system. The device consists of a speaker, a microphone, and a rechargeable battery pack installed on one of the customers’ car sun visors.

bluetrek1.jpg

A short presentation of the device in a video below:

The hands-free set from ModeLabs works for 15 hours of talk time, or 21 days of standby time. It can be recharged from the cars’ lighter socket. In the US it is being sold by Contour Design for $100.

A new appearance of the 3G iPhone


We have already mention that the new 3G iPhones may be different.

Now, according to the Times Online some industry informers claim to know some more details about this. Here is what one of the Asian analysts said in an interview: “I think ultimately you are going to see multiple versions. One for customers who want it principally as a music and video device, which will be similar to the existing model, one for people who want to communicate - with the keyboard, and one for people who want it as a substitute for their laptop - that will let them browse the internet on a larger screen.”

The Times Online further reports that the new 3G iPhone due to be launched during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June is going to have a 4.5 inch screen. There is also a likelihood of a flip and a sliding version of the phone - the one with a QWERTY keyboard.

Thanks to: business.timesonline.co.uk

iChat for iPhone?


One of the more anticipated programs for iPhone is a native iChat app. Yes, we did see native AIM client, and we know of other chatting web apps, but nothing does it like a program specifically designed for iPhone by Apple boffins.

Recently revealed patent shows how it might look. Apart from general features for IM, there is also word prediction feature, which should simplify your typing. Hopefully we will not have to wait for this one for too long.

iphoneichat.gif

Thanks: UberGizmo

iPhone MySpace Web Application is in the works


It seems that you are not alone to think that MySpace does not provide a good user experience on your iPhone. In fact, one man, named Jake Marsh was so fed up with it that he decided to take matters into his own hands and create MySpace app version of his own.

He is making a mobile port of MySpace, which is similar to Facebook’s iPhone app. While it might not feature original user interface, it brings what people want most: ease of use. It certainly should be easier to use than current my space mobile client.

The website will feature music player, subscribing to peoples newsfeeds, photo viewer and more.

Right now the iPhone MySpace Web Application is still in the works, and we can expect its debut somewhere in late summer.

Drop Copy for iPhone


DropCopy is an application, which simplifies file transfers between your Mac and iPhone.

The app works only on Mac’s so far. It provides you with an area on the screen, to which you can drag and drop your desired files. It will then transfer files to your desired directory on the iPhone.

It also works in opposite direction, meaning that you can easily transfer files from iPhone to Mac. Once you install and launch the app, you will see a screen, which will tell you how to do it.

dropcopy3.jpg

To download the app for iPhone or Mac visit 10base-t interactive website.

Microsoft Live Maps for iPhone


If you are not a Google Maps person, then you might be happy to know that now you can use Microsoft Live Maps instead.

Microsoft has finally adapted their maps application to be compatible with both Mobile and regular safari browsers. For now, it still is a web map, but one can hope for a native maps application once app store opens up.

maps.jpg

To check the maps in action, click here.

Future generations will shop virtually using just an iPhone?


A patent application filled by Apple on April 17, says that their store might become virtual someday in the future. Patent described as “Enhancing Online Shopping Atmosphere”, is supposed to create an online shopping experience that does not feel “sterile and isolating”, like a traditional online stores we have now.

“Customers in such an environment may be less likely to have positive feelings about the online shopping experience, may be less inclined to engage in the online equivalent of window shopping (e.g., will not linger in front of a display), and may ultimately spend less money than their counterparts who shop in physical stores.”

18-patent-3.gif

One implementation of such idea could be something like a store in Second Life, where you can virtually explore product, walk around maybe interact with customers and salespeople before buying the product, instead of just seeing a few pictures.

You can see Second Life visualisation of Apple Store in this video:

One other interesting use of such virtual store would be shopping from your mobile device. Just imagine exploring virtual store from your future iPhone! You will never have to spend time in shops, since everything could be done on the move, saving you precious time to spend with the family.

Thanks: Gigaom

AT&T Profit Jumps 22% on IPhone Sales, Merger Savings


April 22 (Bloomberg) -- AT&T Inc., the biggest U.S. telephone company, said first-quarter profit rose 22 percent on sales of Apple Inc.'s iPhone and savings from a plan to cut 10,000 jobs after its 2006 purchase of BellSouth Corp.

Net income jumped to $3.46 billion, or 57 cents a share, from $2.85 billion, or 45 cents, a year earlier, the San Antonio- based company said today in a statement. Sales climbed 6.1 percent to $30.7 billion, meeting the average estimate in a Bloomberg survey of analysts.

AT&T rose in New York trading after reporting 1.3 million new wireless customers, in line with the 1.35 million estimate of UBS AG analyst John Hodulik. Customers dropped about 693,000 primary home-phone lines to switch to wireless handsets or cable providers' voice plans, a trend that has forced Chief Executive Officer Randall Stephenson to look to mobile sales for growth.

``Wireless continues to be a strength for the company,'' said Todd Rosenbluth, an analyst at Standard & Poor's in New York. He recommends buying the shares. ``Investors had concerns about the impact from the economy and the impact from competition, and we think the results AT&T has put up show business continues to be strong.''

Even after shutting off service to about 330,000 wireless subscribers who were using an older technology, customer turnover, or churn, was unchanged from a year earlier at 1.7 percent.

2 Million IPhones

AT&T had almost 2 million iPhone users on its network at the end of last year. While Apple plans to sell a new iPhone this year that offers faster Internet download speeds, demand for the current model was ``pretty stable'' last quarter, Chief Financial Officer Rick Lindner said in an interview. He declined to say how many of the handsets AT&T activated last quarter.

Profit, excluding costs such as acquisition expenses, was 74 cents a share, meeting the average estimate of 22 analysts in a Bloomberg survey.

AT&T climbed 22 cents to $37.81 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The shares have declined 9 percent this year. The stock's 7.8 percent drop in the first quarter was its biggest since 2005. Twenty-two analysts suggest buying the stock, six recommend holding it and one says to sell it, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Apple fell $7.96, or 4.7 percent, to $160.20 on the Nasdaq Stock Market after American Technology Research downgraded the shares, saying investors' expectations for earnings tomorrow may be too high.

$90 a Month

More than 40 percent of iPhone buyers are new AT&T customers, and the average user of the Apple handset spends more than $90 a month on wireless service, including Internet access, text messaging and other features, Lindner said. That compares with the $50.18 average for all of AT&T's wireless customers.

Mobile-phone customers spent 21.5 percent of their monthly bills on data services such as text messaging and Internet access, up from 16 percent a year ago. The extra spending makes the wireless business more profitable. AT&T's operating profit margin from wireless service rose to 41.7 percent from 38.9 percent a year ago, leaving out depreciation and amortization.

``They're definitely getting a better reputation of having a higher-end user,'' said Jennifer Fritzsche, an analyst at Wachovia Securities Inc. in Chicago. She expects the shares to outperform the broader market. ``The more-savvy wireless user is walking into their stores.''

Firing People

Stephenson, 48, is using the $86 billion BellSouth purchase to cut 10,000 jobs in overlapping functions such as marketing and technology. The company announced 4,650 additional firings April 18 to thin the ranks of managers in the home-phone business, incurring a $374 million pretax charge in the first quarter.

The acquisition expanded AT&T's home-phone territory to 22 states and gave it full control of the wireless unit it co-owned with BellSouth.

The first-quarter results ``reinforce the confidence we have in our outlook,'' Stephenson said in the statement. In a conference call with analysts, Lindner reiterated a January forecast for full-year revenue growth in the ``mid-single digits'' over 2007's $118.9 billion.

Sales to corporate customers, excluding revenue from an equipment business, expanded in the second half of 2007 for the first time since the 2005 merger that created the current AT&T. The turnaround was ``a pleasant surprise,'' Stephenson told investors in January.

`Solid' Demand

Total corporate revenue climbed 1.2 percent to $4.66 billion. Demand from large business customers remains ``solid,'' Lindner said.

Earnings reports have been mixed this month, with General Electric Co. and Alcoa Inc. missing estimates and Google Inc. and Caterpillar Inc. exceeding them.

AT&T has been the exclusive U.S. carrier for the iPhone since it went on sale in June. Apple, based in Cupertino, California, introduced a model in February with added storage capacity for music and movies. The faster model may debut in June, analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. and Piper Jaffray & Co. have said. Apple plans to sell 10 million iPhones this year.

AT&T lost 1.6 million primary residential lines in 2007. To compete with cable rivals such as Comcast Corp., the company is spending $7 billion on network upgrades over five years to offer speedier Internet connections and television service.

Subscribers to the company's U-verse service, which offers video over home-phone lines, rose by 148,000 to 379,000. AT&T reiterated its forecast for more than 1 million U-verse customers by the end of the year.

The company also plans to boost download speeds on wireless phones beginning in 2011 or 2012, when it will introduce a new generation of mobile technology. AT&T paid $6.64 billion in a U.S. government auction this year to acquire airwaves for faster Web access.

[Thanks: http://www.bloomberg.com]

Report: Apple Plans Nonexclusive IPhone Deal in Italy


Telecom Italia has signed a nonexclusive deal to distribute Apple's iPhone in Italy -- and the phone will be a newer model, compatible with 3G (third generation) networks, according to a report Monday in the Rome daily newspaper La Repubblica.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs has decided to modify the company's distribution strategy of choosing an exclusive partner in each national market and taking a share of the operator's traffic revenue, La Repubblica said. Telecom Italia CEO Franco Bernabe signed an agreement in Cupertino, Calif., at the beginning of April, the newspaper said.

However, Telecom Italia declined to comment Tuesday on the report.

"We haven't been commenting and I can't tell you when we might be likely to do so," a Telecom Italia spokeswoman said.

The agreement provides for the distribution of iPhones compatible with 3G (third generation) networks based on the European UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) standard, and the handsets will be sold at a higher price than elsewhere to compensate for the absence of revenue sharing, La Repubblica said. While the agreement is nonexclusive, Telecom Italia has the 3G technology ready immediately, giving it an advantage of several months over Italian competitors Vodafone and H3G, the paper said.

The newspaper put the change of direction down to a realization at Apple that boosting the market share of its Safari browser could be more important than short-term revenue gains from phone sales.

The deal reflects Italy's lead in 3G penetration and mobile Internet navigation, with Telecom Italia having more than double the number of 3G users than the principal mobile phone operators in France, Britain and Spain, the paper said.

The iPhone has been credited with an increase in mobile Internet browsing, with mobile Safari users outnumbering users of all Windows Mobile browsers combined at the end of 2007, according to analyst reports.

[Thanks: http://www.pcworld.com/]

Apple Aims to Patent IM Features on IPhone


A recent patent filing indicates that Apple is getting closer to adding its own instant messaging client to the iPhone.

The filing is titled "Portable Electronic Device for Instant Messaging ", and covers methods for sending, receiving, and viewing ongoing conversations. The proposed GUI is similar to Apple's current interface for SMS.

Built-in support for IM has been missing from the iPhone, to the dismay of many users. The patent filing shows Apple has IM on its mind.

At the recent launch of the iPhone SDK, AOL demonstrated an AOL Instant Messenger client, but it isn't allowed to run in the background, which normal IM applications rely on.

Support for IM is quickly becoming a must on mobile phones. Users want the same thing on their mobile phone as they have on their computers including IM, according to Leif-Olof Wallin, research vice president at Gartner.

"It will be a blockbuster in two, three years," said Wallin.

But instant messaging is also a threat to the massive amounts mobile carriers make from SMS messaging, which the iPhone currently supports.

"They can charge much more for SMS compared to IM," said Wallin.

Pressure from its carrier partners is a possible explanation for why Apple has taken a hands-off approach to a feature many users want, according to Wallin.

"At the same time it can't afford to be left behind" he said.

[Thanks: http://www.pcworld.com]

An IM Patent for the iPhone?


Ian Lamont writes
"Apple has filed a patent for IM on portable devices, which could mean that it's getting ready to launch an IM client for the iPhone. The filing is titled 'Portable Electronic Device for Instant Messaging', and covers methods for sending, receiving, and viewing ongoing conversations. The proposed GUI is similar to Apple's current interface for SMS. As for why iChat wasn't enabled for the iPhone earlier, there's some interesting background and analysis here, which also includes a discussion of AIM for the iPhone. IM also came up in the discussions last year about the most-wanted features in iPhone 2.0."
[Thanks: http://tech.slashdot.org]



Monday, April 21, 2008

Price reduction drives iPhone sales in UK


Apparently, recent O2 price drop on iPhone did quite the trick. According to the report O2 stores in Newcastle, Birmingham and London sold out most of their iPhone stock. Carphone Warehouse employees reported that sales doubled, and one said that instead of selling two iPhones per day, they sold over 20.

16 GB phones aren’t selling as good, however we might expect a similar price reduction happening to it as well. That is of course, if Apple will decide to do so.

iphone-uk.jpg

This is a necessary move to boost sales before the 3G iPhone arrives. Interestingly Apple stores still sell iPhones for its original price.

Thanks: Mobility Today

New iPhone plan from Orange in France


April 24 Orange will launch a new plan for the iPhone called 12h+12h.

The plan priced at € 149 will include 1000 SMS, and 100h of Wi-Fi usage from Orange Wi-Fi.

_forfait_iletter_m.jpg

Apple will cut revenue sharing from iPhones in Italy?


According to a report from Italian newspaper la Repubblica, Apple is going to revamp their revenue business model upon the launch of iPhone there.

iPhone will be launched by Telecom Italy there and it seems that carrier won’t have to pay Apple a share of the data revenues like it happens in other countries. Telecom Italy will not have ongoing exclusive either, which will make iPhone more expensive than it is elsewhere.

italy.jpg

Moreover, according to the report, Telecom Italy will have an advantage of several months before other carriers will be able to sell the iPhone.

It is an interesting turn of events from Apple, who said that the will not change their business model.

Hangman for iPhone


Feeling playful today? How about a game of Hangman? This web app features a rather nice graphic interface. You can make eight misses while guessing the letters. It also fully utilises iPhone keypad. The vocabulary is quite huge, so you are guaranteed not to encounter same word twice in quite some time. It also features newer words like and YouTube.

You can access this game here.

hangman.jpg

Naked Case for iPhone


Case-mate is offering a new type of case for iPhone called Naked Case. It is made from acrylic.

The front features electrostatic membrane, so you can enjoy touchpad features without any interference. Cutouts are provided for full access to all controls.

Here is a video of it:

This nice almost invisible case will cost you $34.99. However while it might protect your device from scratches, don’t try dropping your iPhone.

Thanks: MacWorld

Future iPhones will feature terabytes of memory?


Is 16 GB not enough for your iPhone? How about 1TB? The Times Online reports on a development in memory technology called ‘racetrack’ memory. It uses the spin of an electron to store data, and can operate far more quickly than regular hard drives.

It is also much quicker than the flash drives, and unlike flash, it does not wear out after repetitive use of several thousand of times.

Dr Parkin said that racetrack memory could lead to the development of ‘three-dimensional micro-electronics’, breaking with the tradition of scientists trying to fit an ever-greater number on transistors on an ultra-thin piece of silicon shaped like a wafer.

_44045351_racetrack_memory_416_3.gif

“The combination of extraordinarily interesting physics and spintronic materials engineering, one atomic layer at a time, continues to be highly challenging and very rewarding,” he said.

While according to IBM, the technology is still exploratory at this stage, they still expect the devices using such technology within 10 years.

AOL TV Listings for iPhone


If you use AOL TV, then the following web app might be just for you. AOL TV Listings for iPhone provides all the information you would get on channel 110.

You can scan schedule ahead and back, jump to dates and times, view by category, read episode details, find upcoming airings, all without dropping a second of that season finale or a big game. You can even search the listings.

aol.jpg

Country Quiz web app for iPhone


This is an interesting app, which tests your knowledge of countries all around the world. Knowing where which country is might always be useful, be it for geography exam, during a conversation or just knowing where real world events happen.

You can access this web app here.

cc.jpg

Quidco £100 cash back on iPhone


Quidco is offering a £100 cash back on 8GB iPhone models. Together with O2 price reduction it will cost you only £69.

Offer ends tomorrow so if you still want to purchase your iPhone you must hurry! Of course, you can skip this all together and wait for 3G iPhone, which is coming out next month.

Please note that O2 takes a 2-3 days to track in so please don’t panic if you don’t see the cash back show on your Quidco account right away!

clipboard02.jpg

Thanks: Quidco

Nokia’s market share in the US slips down. No fear of iPhone?


Nokia revealed a huge increase in profits (1.95 billion) and worldwide market share (40%) during the last quarter; however, they are not as lucky in United States.

Neil Mawston, director of Strategy Analytics, said that Nokia’s North American market share has fallen from 20% to 7% in the last two years.

In addition, it seems that Nokia takes drastic measures, by preparing to release a device, which they hope will let their market share climb up again. Strange that they choose to make such a similar device to the iPhone, whose marketplace is already a hard target.

nokia_logo.jpg

MacDailyNews writes:
Kallasvuo is either incapable of applying the lessons of [the] iPod to iPhone and understanding what’s coming his way or, much more likely, he understands perfectly and, since he has no answer, is saying just what many now-defunct MP3-makers said a few years ago. How many “niche” products have $100 million venture capital funds ready and waiting, exactly? Candy bars and way-too-late, fake, 1st-generation iPhones with craptastic UI’s are not going to cut it from here on out, Nokia boy. This June, the bloodbath really begins, and Kallasvuo sounds like he knows it.

While US market is important to Nokia, they just don’t seem to exploit it well enough. In fact it seems that they are not afraid of competing against iPhone at all.

Thanks: InformationWeek