Archive for March, 2008

Full-featured Flash support on the iPhone is just too enticing to ignore. With Steve Jobs' declaration that the desktop version of Flash was too slow for iPhone use and Flash Lite not up to snuff for "real" Flash viewing, Adobe was getting ready to make their own iPhone SDK-based solution for bringing Flash to the iPhone.

Alas, Adobe renegged on their plans in the face of Apple's stringent third-party application guidelines that essentially prevented any third-party application from working in tandem with an iPhone system application like Safari - something that would have to happen if Flash is to become a reality on the iPhone. If Apple would just allow plug-in support on the iPhone, Adobe could make a Safari plug-in that would bring the full-featured Flash experience to the iphone.

So, imagine my surprise when Boy Genius declared that the new iPhone OS 2.0 firmware sports a YouTube plug-in. It isn't clear if the YouTube plug-in simply leverages the YouTube application already loaded on the iPhone, or if the plug-in is a hint at some sort of Flash support. But, what is exciting is that the plug-in hints at Apple allowing plug-in support on the iPhone - which further hints at the possibility of future Flash support.

We'll keep holding our breath for Flash…

[Via: BGR]

Right. We're still waiting on Apple to release the next iPhone OS on us and Zibri has already released an updated ZiPhone utility. The new ZiPhone 3.0 brings with it a handful of bug fixes and new plug-in support.

ZiPhone is the simple, one-click (well, it takes a few clicks, but who's counting?) jailbreak and unlock solution for any and all iPhones and iPod Touches out there. ZiPhone 3.0 rocks the same features as all previous versions (including fixes for NVRAM problems), so the interface is the same ZiPhone UI that we're all fond of and familiar with.

You'll find a new button that will fix any WiFi issues you might be have after a ZiPhone-based jailbreak and unlock. And, with ZiPhone 3.0's plug-in support, you can take iPhone customization to new levels. We'll keep an eye out for the latest and greatest ZiPhone plug-ins…

Grab ZiPhone 3.0 here.

Who doesn't use the iPhone on the crapper? I used to occupy my time on the toilet with a magazine or newspaper, but now all I bring with me is my iPhone. News sites, RSS, emails - there's nothing I like more than a satisfying BM and a great web browser paired with a huge display. I spend a good deal of time just reading on my "Throne" (apparently, it's a guy thing).

But, having the iPhone in one hand basically leaves you with one less hand to deal with the other activities necessitated by a trip to the bathroom. Wouldn't it be great if there was some sort of iPhone holder that freed up both hands to "take care of business" while still taking care of business (email, reading, etc.)?

Enter the Naja King. It's an iPhone cradle attached to a flexible 3-foot arm. Simply wrap the coiled arm around the nearest convenient perch (toilet paper dispenser) and presto! You have yourself a free-floating iPhone next to the loo.

The Naja King is $39.99 and could be worth freeing up your other hand for "cleaning" duties.

[Via: TUAW]

Webkit's developers have been working to make their little darling of a rendering engine the fastest and most standards compliant solution available. And, it looks like the investment has paid off. Webkit has announced that their Webkit core scored a perfect 100/100 score on the Acid3 web browser standards compliance tests.

For the purposes of web browsers, think of Webkit as the rendering engine that determines how the web-code is displayed as a webpage. Webkit was originally devised by Apple for use in Mac OS X's Safari browser, and has now found its way into other browsers, including the iPhone Safari browser, S60 web browser, Android's web browser, and others. Now, the announcement that Webkit is basically at the top of the game when it comes to standards compliance and speedy page rendering only points to continued improvement in the mobile browser segment. Faster web browsing on our mobile phones? Yes, please.

Interestingly, Apple almost simultaneously updated the iPhone SDK with a "beta 2" release. Among the changes in the revised iPhone SDK is the updated Webkit build that powers the iPhone Emulator's iPhone OS 2.0 - Webkit 525.15 runs the show on iPhone SDK beta 2. With every iPhone OS update, Apple has updated the Webkit build that the iPhone Safari browser uses, and this latest iPhone OS is no exception.
The latest Webkit build available to desktop users is 526.1 - which indicates that the next iPhone Safari browser (assuming that the iPhone OS 2.0 that is used in the iPhone SDK Emulator will be released in a few months) could be really close (if not the same) to the same Webkit version that scored a 100% on Acid3.

Of course, the other mobile web browsers powered by Webkit will benefit from the Webkit team's achievement. It's just a matter of when the updated Webkit build will be implemented into the web browser and released to the public.

It should be mentioned that the Opera team managed to reach the perfect 100/100 score on Acid3 before Webkit, but Webkit is the only completely standards compliant engine currently available for public consumption - find the latest nightly build of Webkit here.

Webkit

You never know what's Steve's up to. Apple already have the handwriting recognition software in OS X and now they are searching for a new person to help them out to extend the technology "beyond Max OS X to other applications and the iPhone." Hmmm, sounds interesting, even though we're not actually dying for a stylus on the iPhone. Here's the full text ad.

The Handwriting Recognition team is seeking an engineer who will be responsible for advancing Apple's handwriting recognition technology for Mac OS X. The ideal candidate will be an expert in the area of pattern recognition, with an excellent understanding of handwriting recognition issues. The person will also assume primary responsibility for maintaining and enhancing existing code and tools. The recognition technology you create may extend beyond Mac OS X to other applications and the iPhone.

You can find the ad — and apply if you have the skills required — from here.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

iPhoneNotes is a Mac app made to allow iPhone owners edit Notes on their beloved handset. This isn't the first application that can do that. MegaPhone, which was earlier known as iPhoneDrive, can also do the job, but unlike iPhoneNotes doesn't come as a free download. To be fair, MegaPhone does much more than allowing you to manage iPhone Notes.

Anyway, the application is currently in the version 0.3 and is available for download as Universal Binary from here. You'll need to have your iPhone jailbroken and few apps — BSD Subsystem and Open SSH — installed prior to accessing your notes.

Now, if someone would make a Windows XP/Vista app that can do the same thing, I know some people who would appreciate that, myself included. Who can wait for the new firmware?

[Via: LifeHacker]

I'm not sure whether to classify this as a good or a bad news for iPhone developers. On one end, the SDK beta 2 adds new functionalities and developers should be able do much more. For instance the new beta of Xcode 3.1 now includes iPhone-ready Interface Builder. Then again, weekend is coming and this may kill your chill out plans, if you had any.

Unfortunately, we still don't have the firmware version 2.0 running on our iPhones, so I guess taking a time off won't hurt anyone. If that wasn't true, we would urge you to dump the weekend plans for the benefit of the man kind, have no doubt about it.

[Via: TUAW]

Looking to get your iPhone a new pair of brand new headphones? There some high-end models with $100+ price tag, but would you really spend that much on headphones? If you're like me, you don't spend a fortune on those things — rather you're searching for more affordable alternatives. Like Radtech's ProCable in-ear iPhone headphones for instance. Take a look at the specs:

• Freq Response (Out): 20 / 17,000 Hz
• Mic Response (In): -55 / -60 dB
• Isolation: 18dB
• Impedence @1kHz: 32 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 113 - 119 dB
• Maximum [Clean] Output: 110 dB/mW
• Cable Length: Avg 1.2m / 46in Asymmetrical
• Connector Type: 4-conductor 3.5mm
• Driver Type / Size: Dynamic / 10mm
• Mic Orientation: Left
• Weight: 13g
• Available Colors: White - Black

Best of all, you can get them for $24.95. There are even cheaper alternatives, of course, but these hit the sweet spot, between being too expensive and simply cheap. And while you're on a shopping spree at Radtech's website, you may also consider adding replacement ear tips (6 pack costs $4.95) or audio splitter cable ($6.95).

[Via: Gizmodo]

There's another round of hyped-up buzz starting to build surrounding the imminent launch of the next-generation iPhone. The first hardware revision of the Apple iPhone will hit the US market with a 3G radio in tow, among other features - which should appease the masses that have lamented the  iPhone's lack of true high-speed data capabilities (although, the iPhone's EDGE data seems to compete with 3G connections due to processing and browser efficiency advantages).

We're dying to get our hands on a 3G iPhone, and the latest report indicates that Apple is indeed ramping up production of the second-gen iPhone. Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney believes that Apple has just placed a 10 million unit-strong order for another round of iPhones. The significance being that the new batch of iPhones are most likely the 3G-addled version of the iPhone.

It wouldn't make sense for Apple to order another 10 million of the current iPhone, so if the new iPhone production order is true, it would most assuredly be an order for mostly (if not exclusively) 3G iPhones.

And, as another little gem from Apple, Dulaney indicates that the 3G iPhone will also employ a new display technology. The multi-touch capacitance touchscreen technology that has been used to tremendous success in the iPhone may just be mated to an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display on the 3G iPhone. The use of an OLED display should allow the 3G iPhone to shed some girth - a thinner OLED display panel ultimately means a thinner 3G iPhone. The OLED display also lacks a backlight, making it significantly more power-efficient than the current LCD display and allowing for increased battery performance - especially important, considering the greater battery drain imposed by 3G/HSDPA chipsets.

So, the next-generation, 3G iPhone is most likely set to start production. And, better yet, the 3G iPhone should also be toting an OLED display. We're crossing our fingers for the latter rumor to pan out. Oh, and let's not forget Kevin Rose's prediction that the 3G iPhone will rock two-way video calling. Stay tuned….

[Via: iPodObserver]

iPhone owners and fans of Paul Frank's work — most notably Julius the Monkey — may be glad to know that the famous designer is now making cases for their beloved handset. Actually, we've nothing confirmed at this stage but we spotted what seem as authentic Paul Frank accessories. In addition, browsing through the official website haven't produced any results, so you may need to look for these cases in a local Paul Frank boutique. That's in case you want them that much, of course…

[Via: textually.org]

Here's an interesting accessory you may want to consider getting in case you own the iPhone. First of all, My Touch Keys has nothing to do with the iPhone haptic feedback keyboard prototype we wrote about a month ago. It's a thin sheet of plastic with holes for the on-screen keyboard which mounts onto the iPhone's screen. In addition, aside from reportedly providing you with the easier typing experience, it also protects the screen of your shiny handset. The problem, though, is the holes are ideal place for "storing" all the dust, hence you'll need to be more careful where you're leaving your iBaby. If that doesn't bother you, hop over to My Touch Keys' website and grab it for $7.99. Actually, they are in the midst of promotion so when you buy a single My Touch Keys, you also get one for free… The short demo video follows after the jump.

[Via: Gizmodo]

Microsoft may not have cashed in on the initial iPhone hype, but that doesn't mean the behemoth tech company doesn't have plans to milk the cash cow from Cupertino. Upon reviewing the recently released Apple iPhone SDK and Apple's announced support for Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft says it is seriously considering a push into developing applications for the iPhone.

Microsoft is actually one of the largest development houses for Mac software. The Redmond-based company actually maintains a dedicated Mac-development unit in Mountain View, CA. Sales of Mac software have garnered Microsoft $200 million in profits, so it's not hard to see why the software giant is looking into iPhone development.

"It’s really important for us to understand what we can bring to the iPhone," said Tom Gibbons, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Specialized Devices and Applications Group, "To the extent that Mac Office customers have functionality that they need in that environment, we’re actually in the process of trying to understand that now."

The Apple iPhone can already view Microsoft Word and Excel documents directly on the handset. But, iPhone users are clamoring for better integration for Microsoft Office - the ability to edit those documents on the iPhone. In addition to Microsoft Exchange support, introducing Microsoft Office document-editing capabilities to the iPhone would complete the handset's role as a true enterprise player.

"It's really important for us to understand what we can bring to the iPhone," Gibbons said. "To the extent that Mac Office customers have functionality that they need in that environment, we're actually in the process of trying to understand that now."

And, with Microsoft's recent acquisition of the voice-recognition firm TellMe, the prospect of introducing voice-controlled applications to the iPhone is exciting indeed. Mike McCue, of the TellMe unit, says that his team is looking into whether the iPhone SDK will support voice recognition applications. "If the SDK supports these things," he said, "we’re absolutely going to get a version out there as soon as we can, get TellMe out there on the iPhone."

So, does the future of Microsoft include support for multiple mobile operating systems that actually compete with the Windows Mobile platform? Well, seeing as how Microsoft's Flash replacement, Silverlight, has been pledged for the Symbian platform, it seems that Microsoft has no problem branching out to other platforms - as long as there's money to be made.

Here's to waiting for June…

[Via: Fortune]

Now this is one of the coolest third-party, native iPhone applications that I've yet to see. GeoPedia is basically a location-based Wikipedia interface for your iPhone.

With the iPhone's (v1.1.3 and up) Google Maps My Location feature, iPhone users can hone in on their approximate location. It's not GPS accurate, but it can usually find the exact street corner that you happen to be loitering around (of course, your mileage will vary). And, with the ability to track your general position, it was only a matter of time before an application like GeoPedia came to light.

The unofficial (aka, Jailbreak) third-party application takes your iPhone's positional data and pulls up Wikipedia articles relevant to your current position - all in an iPhone-esque sliding menu. It's like having your very own Wikipedia tour-guide following you around  and cluing you in to interesting what-nots in your area.

Add "http://mazinger.cs.yale.edu/iphone-apps/index.xml" to your Installer.app Source list (here's how you do that), and install "GeoPedia."

[Via: iPhoneFAQ]

With China-Apple negotiations still in limbo, it's good to hear that Apple is still working to break into other Asian markets. We're hearing that Singapore, Thailand's SingTel has secured a deal to start offering the iPhone in Thailand come September - following on previous reports that Apple was considering Thailand as a possible iPhone market.

It's unclear whether SingTel has agreed to the revenue sharing model that Apple has demanded from every other iPhone carrier (and the source of contention with China Mobile). The problem is that there are already an estimated 10,000 iPhones being used (unlocked, of course) in Thailand - making it difficult for Apple to ensure iPhone exclusivity to any Thai carrier. Apple previously sought legal recourse against Thai iPhone resellers in an effort to stem the flow of unlocked iPhones into Thailand. Was this legal action enough for Apple to convince SingTel that they could be assured a reasonable level of exclusivity with the iPhone? Time will tell.

The iconic handset is slated to go live on SingTel's network in September at a $690 price point. 

[Via: Today Online]

Thanks, Max! 

Kevin Rose, Digg founder and Apple hardware prognosticator, just threw more fuel on 3G iPhone rumor-flames everywhere. It seems that having founded the uber-popular social-networking news site give Kevin Rose an inside line on some iPhone rumors.

Rose previously speculated on the iPhone's initial release, citing sources that indicated the iPhone would launch with two battery compartments, slide-out keyboard, and both GSM and CDMA versions. All his predictions failed to materialize - but then again, that's how the rumor-game goes.

Rose's most recent sources point to the 3G iPhone rocking true-blue, two-way video chat over AT&T's now-expanding 3G network. He says that the 3G iPhone will use a dual-camera setup (one camera on the rear for picture-taking duty and a front-facing cam under the multi-touch display glass) to get jiggy with video calls. Futhermore, the Digg founder claims that Apple is restricting third-party iPhone applications from running in the background in order to squash any potential competition to its iChat application - through which the iPhone is said to deliver its video chat goodness.

We'll just have to wait and see. It's looking like the 3G iPhone could be launching in a few months, so the wait may not be that long…