iPod News. iPod info. Latest Apple iPod News: July 2007

LG to develop iPod washing machine

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

First came internet fridge; now MP3 appliances

Sorting out your dirty clothes, chucking them in the washing machine and waiting for its spin cycle to finish isn't exactly the height of fun. LG wants to change all that with a new washing machine featuring a built-in MP3 player - at least then you'll be able to listen to your favourite tracks while doing your chores.

LG Electronics , which has

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Synchronica Mobile Gateway 3.0 set to start free trials - Microsoft Exchange coming soon to an iPhone near you!

IntoMobile

Those of you just itching to get your iPhone all hooked up with your Microsoft Exchange email account are in luck! Synchronica’s Mobile Gateway 3.0 software opens up the Enterprise world of Exchange mail right on your iPhone! The over-the-air system makes nice with your Exchange account via Outlook Web Access (OWA) and serves up that synchronized email to your iPhone.

As Dusan mentioned before, “Synchronica?s solution does NOT require the enterprise to expose IMAP and SMTP in their Exchange servers or install additional connectors ? instead it uses Microsoft?s secure Outlook Web Access (OWA) to retrieve e-mail from the corporate Exchange server, a service enabled by many enterprises to provide users with access to corporate e-mail from home or while traveling. And the best thing is that you will be able to use iPhone?s built-in email client, not some web-based solution!”

The software will kick off its commercial availability with a free trial offer, starting this week. Head on over to Synchronica’s sign-up page to register for your chance to get yourself some sweet free trial offer action.

Source

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iPhone firmware reveals possibility of hidden apps - Translator, Business, Converter, Radio

With the iPhone’s file-system cracked open for all to see, everyone and their grandma is free to browse through the iPhone’s guts for kicks and giggles. And, all that snooping around has uncovered a few interesting bits of information within the iPhone’s firmware. It seems that there are 4 hidden references to unused, possibly hidden, applications in the “LocalizedApplicationNames.strings” file:

key: com.apple.widget.translation

string: Translator

key: com.apple.unitconverter

string: Converter

key: com.apple.widget.phonebook

string: Business

key: com.apple.mobile.radio

string: Radio

This could hint at the future Google-collaborated apps that we speculated previously.

While the Translator, Converter, and Business references could simply be “left-overs” from Mac OS X (these are all widgets within Mac OS X Dashboard), the “mobile.radio’ reference is incredibly interesting. The iPhone’s hardware doesn’t even support radio functions - could we see a mobile, web-based radio app in the future? This is pure speculation, but we’re hoping that a future update will enable these “hidden” apps.

[Via: MacRumors]

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Voltage Bags are iPod-friendly

How many of you tote around your iPods whenever you head out of the home? While most of us place it in a belt clip or pocket, the Voltage iPod Bags make it more convenient by boasting stitched-in control panels that lets you control your iPod remotely without having to search for the iPod first. Each Voltage iPod Bag comes with a zipped docking section and the necessary connectors to hook up your iPod to an exterior control panel. The controllers were very well designed, giving great tactile feedback so you'll know that you have already pressed a button or not. In addition, the Voltage iPod Bag can also keep your 15.4" notebook safe from unwanted knocks during traveling. The Voltage iPod Bag retails for £59.95 each.

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Allsop Splash Pack DriPod OK with water

Electronics loathe water and moisture, and the same goes for your iPod. The Allsop Splash Pack DriPod is different, however, as it is capable of preventing your iPod from getting wet no matter where you bring it thanks to a waterproof, air tight soft case. Not only does it keep your iPod dry, it also works with other electronic devices that are similar in nature. A triple seal and heat-sealed headphone jack enables you to submerge this up to 10 feet of water without experiencing any breach. Even when the iPod is placed within, you can still access its controls. Sounds like the perfect summer present to frolic by the pool. The Allsop Splash Pack DriPod retails for $19.99. How many of you bring your iPods to the beach or pool?

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BoomBucket Music System for iPod

Energize your next BBQ session with this BoomBucket Music System from Brookstone. Being weather resistant, the BoomBucket is more than suitable for outdoor use, letting all and sundry enjoy their favorite tunes without being shackled by an indoor speaker system. There is a locking clear cover for the iPod dock compartment, charging the iPod while it is docked. Features include a rechargeable battery, a pair of full-range powered speakers, and a remote control. If you're thinking of having a few tunes to groove to the next time you decide to have a cookout in your backyard, the BoomBucket Music System for iPod is the perfect companion for $150.

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SCO Mobile and Genisys Software deliver enterprise vertical solutions to the iPhone

See, iPhone does find its way to the enterprise market! Latest in the line to join the iPhone fray and add some seriousness on top of Apple’s primarily multimedia handset are the leading provider of UNIX software - SCO Group and a provider of rental and point-of-sale software for the specialty equipment rental market - Genisys Software. Last months, the two companies were working to bring AlphaRENTAL Solution for the iPhone handset.

The AlphaRENTAL solution is a mobile workforce automation application used by retail equipment and party rental centers to manage all aspects of their business, including CRM, sales, reservations, quotes, invoicing, receivables, parts, service and rental equipment inventory management.

There you have it - another industry is now covered with the iPhone. What’s next?

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Dailymotion launches iPhone-optimized site

In case you haven’t realized, your iPhone can go beyond the built-in YouTube application. For instance you can already enjoy clips from Google Video if you download them as “Video iPod/Sony PSP” files. But things don’t end there - now we have Dailymotion joining the rising “optimized for iPhone” tide with the launch of “iphone.dailymotion.com” site. From there you can access all Dailymotion’s content from your beloved device, and spend even more time watching the user-generated content… from a WiFi connection of course…

[Via: Engadget]

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TRANSFORMERS MP3 or iPod Speaker: Bumblebee

Monday, July 30, 2007

iPod portable speaker system
This is just too cool. Too bad they don't have other characters. Here is the product description from brando.

Description
TRANSFORMERS MP3 or iPod Speaker: Bumblebee. Bumblebee knows how to morph your music! It's a speaker for your music and will dance along to all your favorite beats. In a twist of customized cool, Bumblebee takes your tunes and plays them back to you with TRANSFORMERS sound

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Online storage service Box.net adds support for iPhone

Everyone needs additional storage space these days. Yeah, hard drives are cheap as never before, but having some of your stuff online gives you that edge of mobility, many of us are looking for. So it doesn’t surprises online storage providers are having more and more users every day.

One of the most popular such services, Box.net, recently added support for Apple’s handset. Located at “i.box.net“, the optimized interface allows iPhone users to easily access their files from everywhere. Box.net already had a mobile-optimized version, but this one is (as expected) more slicker to suit that uber-cool style Apple is pushing.

Suddenly your 4 or 8 GB iPhone could store more than you imagined… Also to check - SeeFile.com’s iPhone storage service.

[Via: Cellphone9]

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iPhone-like scrolling on Nokia N800

Yesterday, we showed you the iPhone-like virtual keyboard running on the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet. Today, we’ve spotted iPhone-like screen scrolling video on YouTube. Apparently, the Nokia N800’s open Linux platform allows so much tweaking that at the end it will be able to do pretty much everything iPhone does. Yeah, there’s a lack of any cell phone radio in it, but hey, we have Skype. Enjoy the video!

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27.6% of Japanese mobile phone users want an iPhone

Recently conducted poll by Mitsubishi Research Institute and Rakuten Research Inc. suggests that 27.6% of the mobile users in Japan are willing to buy Apple’s flagship handset. One would think that all their high-tech gizmos fill-in the demand of the Japan’s modern man/woman, but apparently some of them crave for that iPhone coolness Apple is pushing on us.

Anyway, according to the poll’s results, 5.2% of some 2,200 respondents said they were “very willing,” while 22.4% said they were “somewhat willing” to buy an iPhone. Of those saying they are willing to buy the iPhone, 11.8% said they would use the iPhone even if they have to switch mobile phone service providers.

See, Apple can do miracles - to make Japan’s savvy consumers jump into the iPhone craze.

[Via: slashphone]

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Akoo wants you to control in-store advertising from you iPhone or Windows Mobile handset - m-Venue

Sunday, July 29, 2007

In the age of digital advertising, consumer interaction is king. What better way to capture your advertising audience’s attention than by having them actually interact with the ad-media - even controlling what gets displayed. Akoo International Inc. has announced the launch of their new m-Venue application. Specifically created and optimized for the iPhone’s Safari browser and Windows Mobile’s Internet Explorer Mobile, m-Venue allows users to interact and control in-store advertisments and entertainment.

As soon as you come within range of a compatible advertising display, Akoo’s m-Venue application will prompt customers to use their handsets to “remote-control” the in-store media. Customers will be able to “search, select, and activate songs, music videos, memorable sports moments, pre-approved user-generated content, and additional programming for shared public performance over standard audio/video systems. m-Venue?s library features more than two million pieces of content directly licensed from major content providers, such as Universal Music Group, the world?s leading music company. Users can also discover, ID, and ?tag? music for subsequent purchase on leading online music services, such as iTunes�.”

And, since m-Venue works through internet, text message, or WiFi, the application is compatible with over 230 million handsets in the US - on every major carrier (AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint/Nextel, and T-Mobile, we’re talking about you).

Says Niko Drakoulis, Akoo?s CEO, “m-Venue supports Steve Jobs? vision of extending the iPhone?s capabilities through innovative third-party applications, as expressed during WWDC 07, while addressing retailers and brand marketers? need to engage consumers at the critical point-of-sale, or ?moment of truth,? in more targeted and measurable ways.”

We can’t wait for our nearest Apple Store and Best Buy to pick up on Akoo’s advertising system.

Press release here.

[Via: PRWeb]]

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Bobcat in your iPhone?

As much as everyone loves hearing about the iPhone every day, I must bother you with another reference - but I promise it has relevance.

Apple made its transition to Intel x86 processors in record time, everything from its notebooks to its desktops and even the Apple TV use x86 processors. However, the iPhone uses an ARM based processor - which means Apple has to maintain compatibility with a

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Apple shows up twitchy investors, announces sales of 270,000 iPhones - stock rebounds

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Following AT&T’s report of only 146,000 iPhone activations in the last 30 hours of the fiscal quarter, Apple has announced their iPhone sales numbers over the same period. After AT&T’s announcement sent Apple stock tumbling, news of the company’s 270,000 iPhone sales helped shares rebound to their pre-AT&T announcement prices.

We’re not sure how many of the more-than-quarter-million handsets were 4GB and 8GB models, but it looks like most people didn’t activate their iPhones until after the end of the fiscal quarter. As we speculated, this could be due to the fact that most people maxed-out the Apple Store limit of two iPhones with the intention of gifting one of the devices - which wouldn’t be activated for some time. And, don’t forget all the activation problems people were experiencing over the launch weekend.

Way to go, Apple! It looks like nervous investors bailed too early.

[Via: USA Today]

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Apple: 1 million iPhone sold in next three months

As part of Apple’s announcement that 270,000 iPhone had been placed into eager hands in the 30 hour window from the iPhone’s launch to the end of the fiscal quarter, the company has indicated their goal of selling 1 million iPhones by the end of the first full quarter of sales.

Could this be an indication that a newer iPhone is on the way? With many people complaining of the iPhone’s slow internet connection, and many more citing AT&T’s EDGE network as the reason they are waiting to buy the iPhone, Apple may be looking to introduce a 3G version of the iPhone soon. However, that’s pure speculation and we could very well not see a 3G update until mid-2008.

Apple may also be relying on their European iPhone performance to help boost sales figures. And, there’s even talk about the iPhone “Nano” coming soon.

We’ll have to wait and see how this pans out. If Apple is planning to introduce a 3G version of the iPhone anytime soon, they may have a handful of incredibly bitter early adopters out there. Ourselves included.

[Via: Cellular-News]

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Mobile-review talks about the iPhone

Mobile-review have posted an interesting article about the iPhone. The impression I got was that they weren't that impressed by the phone and classifies it as a fashion device and nothing else. Here is the final conclusion.

Fashion and nothing else
What characterizes all fashion-savvy solutions? A good, recognized brand (the iPhone has it), quaint design (in stock), top-notch materials (got?em), relatively hefty price tag (obviously). Meanwhile, the maker can provide only the core functionality with no bells and whistles ? fashion-conscious users put it very low on their lists, they rather need a thing grabbing everyone?s eyes and displaying their status. The success of the Nokia 8800 and all of its variations results from the abovementioned factors.

So, the iPhone is a real fashion phone? Exactly, it is the only class it belongs to.

This means the iPhone?s direct rival can by, say, the LG Prada. By the way, these two solutions are very resembling philosophy-wise and in the sense of some technologies used.

Finally, we have figured out what kind of phone it is, and come to realize that it is neither an enterprise solution nor a multimedia-heavy device. Apple has made a bold move by shutting itself away from the segment of premium MP3-players, which have already become its signature, and slipped into the lower price-bracket. Its top of the line solutions are replaced by the iPhone, which can be dragged along as a second or even third phone, allowing you to brag about your status and lots of cash. That?s why there are no price cuts for the phone, which would?ve made it too affordable (even more than it is today, which wasn?t on Apple?s to-do list).

The hype around the product lets it reach the main goal ? make its owner the talk of the town for some time. This is what characterizes every fashion-savvy solution.

The path they have picked is quite good, especially for the US market, where it will be rivaled only by Nokia, which is relatively weak on this market. That is, there no competition with the fashion-savvy Nokia 8800 in its American iteration, while the Nokia N95?s sells well, but nothing outstanding about it. With an army of the iPod owners behind its back and player replacement dates on the near-horizon for many users, the company has made all the right moves and offered a product that made the market go crazy. However the figures they give us are a tad shady, since about 25 percent of all sales were generated by profiteers, who wanted to gain something from the fuss around the iPhone. Well, they failed. But that?s what we are going to focus on in the articles to come.

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Amazon teases Europeans with iPhone availability

Oh Amazon, why must you tease us so? It’s one thing to offer the Apple iPhone for pre-sale, but it’s not cool to advertise the Apple iPhone when you can’t even confirm that you will actually be carrying the device. Evidently, Amazon has started an ad campaign to show off the 4GB and 8GB versions of the iPhone, complete with device reviews. Right, we love reviews of devices that aren’t even on market yet - we don’t even know if the European iPhone will sport 3G or not. Does Amazon know something we don’t?

Here’s the topper - Amazon’s UK, French, and German sites state that, “At this time we cannot guarantee if or when this item will become available.” At least they offer to send out emails when they can confirm availability.

Thanks, Amazon. Thanks for a whole lotta nothing.

[Via: The Inquirer]

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iFuntastic makes adding of custom ringtones to your iPhone more manageable

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

By now you’re probably aware that it is possible to add custom ringtones on your iPhone. However, as this process isn’t actually supported by Apple, thus it’s not that easy to do it. Luckily, “iPhone hackers” have been working on this and now we have an application called iFuntastic, which simplifies the whole thing. Actually, it’s better to say that iFuntastic makes the adding of custom ringtones more manageable — it brings a GUI for the Jailbreak application, making you feel like you know what you’re doing. You’ll still have to do all the (seven) necessary steps, though.

Anyway, iFuntastic works only on Intel-based Macs and is available for download from here.

[Via: Gizmodo]

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Apple stock take a dive on news of iPhone activations falling short of expectations

We were all expecting iPhone sales in the neighborhood of 500,000 units over the launch weekend. So AT&T’s announcement this morning of having activated only 146,000 iPhones in the last 30 hours of Q2 came as something of a surprise. And, as those hyper-reactive Wall Street drones are so prone to do, Apple stock took a $3.72 dive to $139.90.

Yes, AT&T’s activation numbers were disappointing. But, they make complete sense - to us anyway, we’re not sure what those financial-types are thinking. Keep in mind that the iPhone, which launched June 29 at 6pm, only had 30 hours before the end of the fiscal quarter. Then think about how many newly-minted iPhone owners weren’t able to activate their iPhones over that launch weekend. Oh yea, lest we forget that many iPhone hopefuls bought the Apple Store limit of two iPhones, with the intention of gifting one of their iPhones - who knows how long it took those lucky recipients to activate their new phones.

The point is, don’t let some half-informed finance-tard get your panties in a bunch. Apple likely sold the boatload of iPhones that we all expected over the launch weekend - activation numbers aren’t a reliable indication of actual sales. We’ll have solid numbers after close of market tomorrow, when Apple releases their Q2 results.

[Via: MacDailyNews]

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FlickIM - AIM client for your iPhone

The iPhone really, really needs to have a built-in iChat application. It’s a shame that Apple didn’t give us the feature out of the box, but we’re betting on a future update to enable the app on our iPhones. Until then, iPhone web-app developers are having a great time trying to cash in on the rush to get bring the best chat client to market. The best clients so far seems to be JiveTalk and Meebo, but the latest entrant into the iPhone chat-game is the FlickIM web-app. It only supports AIM, so JiveTalk has a hand-up on FlickIM, but the interface is so beautifully simple and intuitive that it’s a perfect fit for the iPhone. We’re still waiting on Trillian to release their Astra chat client.

Head on over to http://www.flickim.com/ to check out the new AIM client on your iPhone.

[Via: TUAW]

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Apple getting incredibly large kickback From AT&T for each new iPhone contract - Apple the Bounty Hunter

Apple is really raking the cash these days. Following today’s reports from AT&T about shorter-than-expected iPhone activations (causing panty-wearing investors to jump ship and offload their Apple stock), we’re hearing rumors that Apple’s kickback from AT&T don’t stop at the $3 per month revenue share.

According to TheStreet.com, sources close to the company are claiming that Apple is getting somewhere in the neighborhood of $150-$200 per new contract - quite a difference from our earlier speculation that Apple made $11 for every new iPhone contract. With Apple refusing to allow AT&T to give any new-contract rebate or subsidy for new iPhone users, it makes sense that the wireless carrier pony up a bounty for each new contract (or did Apple demand such a deal?). Third party dealers make even more when they sign up new contracts with data plans, so a $200 bounty doesn’t seem like such a bad deal for Apple.

If these reports turn out to be true, Apple will be beating the hell out of Wall Street’s earnings estimates for the company - Jobs will be making money faster than anyone ever thought possible.

Hopefully, we’ll see Apple’s stock rebound a bit in tomorrow’s trading.

[Via: The Street]

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Apple may have sold only 200,000 iPhones

In its Q2 earnings report released today, AT&T said that it has activated 146,000 iPhones during on June 29 and June 30. The number is significantly below analysts? sales estimates, which were in the 500,000 range initially. Of those 146,000 iPhone subscribers, more than 40% were new customers, AT&T said. According to the company, sales of the iPhone continue to be strong in July with store traffic above historical levels.

Following the announcement, several analysts restated their sales expectations: For example, Piper Jaffray & Co. technology analyst Gene Munster told Bloomberg that Apple is likely to have sold only 200,000 iPhones. Investors reacted almost immediately and gave the recently high-flying share price a break: Apple shares were down $8.81 or more than 6% to $134.89 today.

source

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Some Apple iPhone accessories

Here is a collection of various accessories for the Apple iPhone.

Bang&Olufsen bluetooth headset
- costs about 350$ US

Car charger

Retractable usb cable
- costs about 17$
- extends to 36 inches

Outer hard case/shell
- stylish and mard of hard plastic

Carrying case
- costs about 29$
- available in cloth or leather

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Heart Imaging Technologies announces medical images delivered to Apple iPhone

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

The Apple iPhone has a place close to our hearts. In fact, with Heart Imaging Technologies’ (HeartIT) latest announcement, the iPhone has a place for our hearts - medical images of our hearts, that is. Until now, “viewing medical images traditionally requires dedicated workstations costing tens of thousands of dollars, which in turn are connected to proprietary picture archiving communications and storage (PACS) systems costing millions of dollars more. In order to view medical images, physicians must literally drive or walk to one of these workstations.”

HeartIT is out to change all that. With the advent of the more powerful and efficient Web 2.0, quality images and video can be viewed straight on the Apple iPhone - via password protected email link. With the Apple iPhone’s small size (compared to TabletPCs) and powerful browser (compared to the PDA), it’s set to provide physicians with a whole new way to interact with patient data.

[Via: MacNN]

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OtterBox to tackle the iPhone

OtterBox is famous for producing waterproof cases for a variety of of devices, and it definitely won't let the opportunity to come up with something for the iPhone. It is said that this new OtterBox case boasts three layers of protection, including a patented touchscreen membrane that lets you take advantage of the iPhone's multi-touch interface while it is stored securely within. Every single button is protected yet useable, while the Dock Connector, silent/ring switch, and headphone ports remain useable via the use of plugs. It will take several more months before the OtterBox for iPhone hits store shelves, so pricing details have yet to be determined.

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The Nokia E70 vs the iPhone

The Best Page in the Universe has released a comparative review of the Nokia E70 (his current choice) and the iPhone. Everybody who scours the Internet knows the Best Page in the Universe. And now, he reviews the iPhone…

First of all, the E70 has a full keyboard, not some *bleep* stripped down, tap-and-pray smudgy piece of *bleep*. Nokia uses a technology that’s even more advanced than the iPhone’s tap screen, allowing you to actually feel the keys you press as you’re pressing them! The technology is called “tactile response,” and it allows you to do things like dial a phone number without staring at your screen like a *bleep*-chucking ape. In fact, every other cellphone ever made has this technology, sometimes called “buttons.”

Read the full article here.

iPhone Death Watch tells you when your iPhone will kick the bucket - kind of

Those silly geeks over at PC Magazine have put together an “iPhone Death Watch.” Essentially a countdown timer for your iPhone’s battery, the “watch” ticks off the seconds to the day that your iPhone will die. They say their countdown timer is based on “scientific calculations.”

Don’t take this “Death Watch” seriously folks. As we mentioned before, the battery is not dead after 400 charge-cycles, just reduced to 80% capacity. You’re not likely going to need to replace the batter at such time, but if you want, Apple offers their battery replacement program.

Keep in mind that a charge-cycle is defined by a full discharge followed by a battery-topping refill charge. So, the 400 charge-cycle estimate is bound to last quite some time. PC Mag estimates that after 675 days, the iPhone’s battery will have such reduced performance that you will likely be looking for replacement.

Honestly, we’re not likely to keep the iPhone for anywhere close to two years, so the battery life problems is something of a non-issue for us. And, we figure most early adopters of the iPhone will be looking to replace it with the next-gen iPhone before the battery craps out.

Still, the “iPhone Death Watch” is pretty amusing. We got a good chuckle out of it.

Check out the countdown timer here.

[Via: The Raw Feed]

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Want to check out the iPhone at an Apple Store? It?s going to cost you $5.

Given the huge success of the Apple iPhone, it’s not surprise that throngs of windows shoppers have hit their local Apple Store to get a chance to play with the almost iconic device. What is surprising is Apple’s newest move to help curb the incredible crowds that have started to inundate Apple Stores. Following a successful pilot program in Canoga Park, California, Apple Stores across the nation may start to institute a $5 “cover charge” for iPhone window shoppers.

Vince Sciopiano, vice president for Apple’s retail stores, said that, “Part of the move was to limit crowds to keep the stores safe, but also we wanted to keep the right kind of people in the stores. By ‘right kind of people’ I mean true Apple customers with money, willing to pay just to look at our newest wares.”

Shoppers would buy a $5 badge that would track the customer’s movements throughout the Apple Store. Upon purchasing an item, the $5 entrance fee would be deducted from the purchase price.

However, Mr. Sciopiano’s statement that Apple wants to limit entry into their stores to people “with money, willing to pay just to look a” Apple products seems a bit elitist. Sciopiano asserts, “That’s exactly the case.”

Update:

Turns out the source of this story was a parody of Apple’s techno-snobbery. Hilarious.

[Via: Tech.co.uk]

Image courtesy of CartoonStock

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iBloglines - Bloglines optimized for iPhone

While there is no real iPhone RSS feed reader application, there are a number of web-based solutions which could be easily used on your shiny new handset — Apple even made its own web-based RSS reader optimized for their phone. Still, you may want to use your current RSS reader on your iPhone, to keep track of all the saved entries and categories/tags. In case you’re using Bloglines, well… now you can use it on your iPhone! The popular web-based RSS reader just launched the version of its service optimized for iPhone’s touchscreen at i.bloglines.com. All your feeds are there and the images are re-sized for faster loading time, which I find especially important when accessing through EDGE network. One thing that bothers me is that I can’t see my saved entries. Hopefully, Bloglines will fix this…

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Peer Review: iPhone madness continues

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Are you exhausted by the barrage of iPhone stories out there? Even complaining about them has become clich�. There just aren't many other new gadgets to write about in July (like TV pilots, most gadgets launch in the fall). It's a relief that at least some websites have begun to write about something else (hence the headline "Harry Potter is the new iPhone"), but we've rounded up the best of recent iPhone coverage after the jump so that you can skim while recovering from your all-night HP reading marathon.

A lot of current iPhone coverage concerns hacks:

Wired reports about someone who claims to have put his iPhone on the Vodafone network, while other hackers make it work with unlocked Cingular SIM cards. Someone even managed to get it to run Skype.

These are positive hacks, but it's not all good news. "Intended to be a convenience, the unique dialing feature included in the iPhone version of the Safari browser might soon become a nightmare," writes Robert Vamosi of CNet. That's because SPI labs researcher Billy Hoffman has found that the dialing feature allows hackers to "redirect free calls to fee-based phone numbers, track phone calls, manipulate the confirmation screen to place a call even if a user doesn't accept, place a phone in an infinite loop where the only escape is to turn off the phone or prevent the phone from dialing."

Others report on iPhone's effects on the wider world:

For example, the iPhone may be feuling a flash memory shortage that will lead to higher prices in other gadgets. According to Darren Yates' Techlogg article, "The latest weekly spot prices show that between July 9 and July 16, prices for 1GB chips rose 11.4%, 2GB chips 16.4% and 4GB chip prices lifted 9.8%... Whether or not this will result in a rise in pricing of flash-based consumer electronics items remains to be seen."

What's next for iPhone and the iPod family?

Rumors abound that Apple will release a new iPhone before Christmas this year. It will be "streamlined," which means it may not have Internet browsing, but less expensive. It will probably also piss off a lot of iPhone owners who wanted the device more for its screen than its slow-loading Safari. And we reported on rumors of a future karaoke iPod, which would almost certainly have a touchscreen.

Oh, and how's the performance holding up?

We've rounded up plenty of reviews already, but more recently
AppleHound compiled a list of 68 iphone 1.0 bugs. The good news is "very few of the listed flaws are likely to affect users," according to Wired's Scott Gilbertson.

Soft resale market

Lastly, if you're thinking of buying an iPhone just to re-sell it on Ebay at a profit, think again. Reporter Rachel Metz failed to do so, and The New York Times found many similarly disappointed potential iPhone scalpers. — S.E. Kramer

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Duke University: Cisco wireless access points crashed our network, not Apple iPhones; iPhones cleared of all charges

So, it turns out that Duke University’s network woes were not caused by aggressive iPhone MAC address requests. Apparently, the insistent network requests were caused by a Cisco access point bug. Cisco released a statement saying that they had “worked closely with Duke and Apple to identify the source of this problem, which was caused by a Cisco-based network issue. Cisco has provided a fix that has been applied to Duke?s network and the problem has not occurred since.”

If you’ll remember, Kevin Miller, assistant director, communications infrastructure, with Duke?s Office of Information Technology, pinned the blame on Apple’s iPhones. Miller was quoted as saying, “I don?t believe it?s a Cisco problem in any way, shape or form.” He’s likely enjoying the proverbial taste of his words.

Duke University’s chief information officer, Tracy Futhey, said, ?Earlier reports that this was a problem with the iPhone in particular have proved to be inaccurate,” in a posting on the school’s website. The posting also mentioned that “the iPhone is fully operable within our environment.”

Duke students with iPhones are probably pleased that their devices are fully operational on Duke’s network. But, it’s a got to be a greater relief to have skirted the iPhone witch-hunt that would likely have ensued, had the iPhone been the root of the network problems.

Way to go Cisco, thanks for exonerating our iPhones!

[Via: Macworld]

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Customize your iPhone?s background image!

The iPhone’s beautifully glass-encased bright LCD screen is perfectly suited for displaying your favorite pictures and videos. It’s a bit disappointing that you can’t take advantage of said screen with a wallpaper that does more than just show itself while the device is locked - behind the homescreen icons, to be specific. Alas, Apple hasn’t seen fit to endow our current, pre-update iPhones with customizable homescreen background wallpapers (or any homescreen wallpapers, for that matter). Could it be a battery life issue (more black means less power needed, which means longer battery life)?

Enter modmyiphone. Using iPhoneInterface, JailBreak, and a dash of terminal coding (ok, it’s actually a pretty good dose of terminal command-ering), the guys over at modmyiphone have put together a 15-step guide to getting customized backgrounds onto your iPhone’s homescreen.

But, be wary of early bugs, intrepid iPhone modder. Due to some simple formatting issues with the backgrounds images, the homescreen icon text is not displayed and the calendar icon is a little mis-aligned. And, “If you press any of the bottom icons, there is a brief dark gray over the entire column before it launches.”

We’re hoping for an Apple update that will allow the less adventurous iPhone enthusiasts to get customized background images onto their iPhones. Until then, or at least until the boys over at modmyiphone flush out those bugs, we’re going to deal with the plain black background.

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iPhone?

Okay you have your iPhone by now right?? I wanted to let you know we are compatible with tip A61…

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Peer Review: iPhone madness continues

A lot of current iPhone coverage concerns hacks:

Wired reports about someone who claims to have put his iPhone on the Vodafone network, while other hackers make it work with unlocked Cingular SIM cards. Someone even managed to get it to run Skype.

Others report on iPhone's effects on the wider world:

What's next for iPhone and the iPod family?

Oh, and how's the performance holding up?

Soft resale market

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Duke University: Cisco wireless access points crashed our network, not Apple iPhones; iPhones cleared of all charges

Way to go Cisco, thanks for exonerating our iPhones!

[Via: Macworld]

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Colorware spruces up iPhone

Why look like one of the many iPhone grunts when you can actually personalize it with some Colorware custom paint job? Their service isn't cheap though, retailing for $150 for a new coat of paint. You get to choose from two color choices for the back portion of your iPhone, and if you are willing to spare a few more dollars, the shiny metal part and Home button located on the front can be customized, in addition to the Apple logo located behind, its earbuds, and dock. Alternatively, you can also pick up pre-painted iPhones in both 4GB and 8GB capacities. Are you willing to forgo your iPhone warranty for a custom paint job? Why not send it in after the warranty runs out - that way, you'll have an iPhone that looks as good as new when painted.

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Hello World - First REAL iPhone 3rd party app is here

Folks from iPhone Dev Wiki have been busy as hell trying to unlock the iPhone. And… the results are in! Behold, the first REAL iPhone 3rd party application is ready. It may produce the simple “Hello World” output, but the point is that this opens the doors for other applications. You could rely on iPhone-optimized web services in the meantime, but the real deal is coming. Stay tuned as we keep you well informed…

Sorry, no direct link for iPhone Dev Wiki - guys over there are experience huge traffic on their server. Instead, Google them and you’re almost there.

P.S. “Nightwatch” is the guy we should all thank for this. Big huray for Nightwatch!!!

[Via: Engadget]

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Trick out your iPhone with new colors

Are iPhones already too ubiquitous for you? Do you not feel special and unique anymore? Well, that's a shame. It's the whole reason you dropped $600 on a phone, after all. But don't worry: there are ways to make your iPhone stand out from the crowd again.

You can just swap out the casing for a totally different color, differentiating yourself from the masses quickly and easily. You can get them in any number of colors, and you can either buy the casings and do it yourself or order a custom iPhone right come Colorware, the manufacturer. Like the iPhone, it doesn't come cheap: $150 for the casings, and $650 or $750 for a tricked out iPhone. But hey, clearly price isn't a worry to you. You bought an iPhone, after all. — Adam Frucci

Colorware, via New Launches

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Apple iPhone phishing vulnerability revealed - Fortify Software warns of embedded links

They’re out to get you. Hackers the world over are gunning for the iPhone - and not all of them are working for the good guys (unlocking the iPhone to work on non-AT&T networks is a good thing). Security firm Fortify Software reveals a couple things about the iPhone that make a hacker’s job a little easier. We’re using the term “hacker” a bit loosely here - these securtiy holes are really more like phishing vulnerabilities.

For one thing, your iPhone won’t display the URL of a link embedded into an email, making it easier to trick you into pointing your Safari browser to a scam-a-licious website. Which brings us to our next security flaw. The address bar in Safari displays only a partial URL, making it even easier to hide disguise said scam-a-licious site.

And then there’s the integration of Safari into the iPhone. Brian Chess explains that, “you can embed a telephone number in a web page like this:

<a id=”phone_home” href=”tel:1-900-867-5309″>call me!</a>

You can also write JavaScript that causes the iPhone to initiate the dialing process:<script>

window.document.url = “tel:1-900-867-5309″

</script>”

Now that’s a sobering thought - to think that the iPhone’s dialing function can be hijacked via JavaScript. But then again, you are prompted to initiate the call.� We’re gonna say that the iPhone is still a fairly secure platform.

[Via: Tech.co.uk]

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Apple patent application reveals iPod and iPhone as wireless remote controls with metadata communications!

Apple innovates like none other. We love getting the latest details on what they’ve got cookin’ up in Cupertino. The latest dirt on the iPhone maker is the company’s 2005 patent filing that reveals the possibility of using your iPod and iPhone as a media remote control with wireless metadata communications. In addition to Apple’s patent outlining the possibilty for our iPods and iPhones of the future to wirelessly communicate with each other, we’re on the verge of total Apple wireless connectivity in the home.

It’s great that a 2005 filing has the snazz to catch our eye in 2007 - especially since a possible 2-year development time, and that other iPhone remote patent, makes this patent more likely to cross over into production. So, what are we talking about? Apple’s recently published patent details a “portable media player as a low power remote.” Essentially, the patent reveals the distinct possibility of having your iPhone or iPod work as a wireless remote control for your Mac or Apple TV.

And this is what they mean by “portable media player:”

“A portable multimedia player is used to wirelessly access and control a media server that is streaming digital media by way of a wireless interface to a media unit such as a stereo/speakers in the case of streaming digital audio. In one embodiment, the portable multimedia player is wirelessly synchronized to a selected one(s) of a number of digital media files stored on the media server in such a way that digital media file metadata (song title, author, etc.) associated with the selected digital media file(s) only is transferred from the media server to be stored in the portable media player.“

But, it doesn’t stop there. The patent also allows for the device to actually communicate metadata (information like song title, album name, artist name, etc.) wirelessly from the media server. So, not only will you be able to control your Mac from your couch, but the current song will display itself nice and conveniently on your iPhone’s display. Could this be a hidden feature waiting patiently in our iPhone for an Apple update to come out of hiding? We sure hope so.

[Via: ZDnet]

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Chiva P008 iPod phone, Chinese of course

Now I clearly see why Apple decided to go for the full touchscreen device — otherwise the iPod phone would look quite ugly as we can see from the Chiva P008. Of course, this is the Chinese handset and have nothing to do with Apple.

Dedicated music keys are used instead of a keypad, thus in order to type the phone number, China P008 users will have to rely on the 2.2″ touchscreen. There’s also the 3 MP camera, microSD expansion slot and yes, a media player. The Chiva P008 measures 100.6�49�17 mm, and my guess is you will be able to get it for less than $200. In China, of course.