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New Apple Fitness Monitor through Earbuds: Report

pauldanielash — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:35:59 GMT

AppleInsider revealed today a patent application, filed in May of last year, for a revolutionary new way of measuring pulse, body temperature and blood oxygen, all through the earbuds of your iPod or iPhone.

In an apparent effort to build on the success of the Nike+iPod sensor technology, the patent describes a method of obtaining information about your workout by emitting light from the earbud and using photodetectors to measure blood oxygen levels, body temperature, heat flux and heart rate.

Quote:

From infrared radiation in the user's ear, sensors... can detect minute temperature variations due to the user's heart beats. Heart rate can be calculated based on time between beats and the user's temperature can be set as the 'DC Component' (or average or median value) of the detected temperature distribution. Other sensors can also be used for tracking the same physiological metrics or different physiological metrics.

The patent explains that the blood oxygen monitor would transmit LED light and "detect the portion of such light that passes through the user's earlobe, the remaining light having been absorbed within the user's earlobe. From the relative absorption of these two wavelengths of light, the user's blood oxygen content can be calculated."

Other monitoring technology outlined in the patent includes a strap that would give more accurate measurements of heart rate and a wireless transmitter to sendthe data to an iPod or iPhone. The system would detect errors induced by the wearer's movements, and filter them out from the data for improved accuracy.

The Nike+iPod Sports Kit is an existing application which measures and records the distance and pace of a walk or run. It consists of a small piezoelectric accelerometer that's embedded in a Nike shoe which communicates to either a separate receiver, or directly with a 2nd-gen iPod touch or an iPhone 3GS.

image via AppleInsider

Cisco Rolls Out iPhone Security App

Messany — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:55:33 GMT

Cisco has introduced a new (and free) iPhone app chronicling the latest security threats and offering alerts from Cisco's enormous internet traffic and, most importantly, security experts (better than 500 in all) keeping on eye on the cyber dangers that loom large, occasionally unbeknown to us.

From CNET:

Quote:

The app also allows users to enter an IP address to determine a website or server's internet "reputation" -- an estimate of risk based on a variety of factors including traffic volume and location.

Available for download beginning today, "SIO To Go" enables you to monitor a host of security news feeds, the most important of which is Cisco's Risk Report. Tossed into the mix are podcasts, Twitter feeds, and an array of blogs. From the looks of it, Cisco's app does, indeed, serve up a lot of "unique information" collected from Cisco's monitoring of more than 60% of the world's e-mail.

All in, the cross-referencing of data from multiple sources enables Cisco's app to present a "threat correlation" based on known and identified Internet attacks via spam or other nefarious mechanisms.

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The app is designed for professionals and security geeks, not the average consumer, said Michael Weir, Cisco security marketing director.

Although Cisco isn't promoting the app to the "average consumer," I can't help but view the app as worth having, even if you're not an IT person or a cyber security guru. The ability to enter an IP address or domain name to check the site's e-mail or web reputation score is a killer feature arguably practical for anyone accessing the internet.

Among the other simple, but much appreciated functions are the ability to review volume statistics, obtain data from Whois, and review terse summaries of a website's reputation.

Image via iPodnn

Trillian for iPhone Finally Released

pauldanielash — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:25:12 GMT

After a long wait in Apple-approval limbo, Trillian for iPhone is now available for purchase on the App Store. The makers of the slick multiservice IM client waited three months, with no word up or down from Apple, before the okay came through yesterday.

While chat windows somewhat evoke the look and feel of Messages, the functionality far outstrips what comes in Apple's standard SMS client. The iPhone version, like the popular desktop program, allows for multiple IM connections to be managed and used in a single app. Unlike the desktop version, though, all connections are handled through Trillian's Astra network. Trillian for iPhone is always connected to the Astra server, which allows instant sync between different clients running on different platforms. If you change your avatar or display name on your iPhone, for example, the change is immediately propagated to your Windows client as well as your online Astra Profile. Adding a contact on the iPhone app, also adds a contact on the Mac program, conveniently allowing a consistent way to manage settings.

Back in August, around the time of the notorious Google Voice non-rejection rejection, Cerulean submitted the Trillian for iPhone app to Apple. The developers noted that they hadn't gotten any rejection or objection from Apple in all that time.

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Despite sending a steady stream of emails to Apple requesting status updates, we continue to receive generic form letters in response -- frustrating, to say the least.

Trillian's proprietary “Octopus” technology allows Trillian for iPhone sessions to be stored server-side, so that when you lose connection due to gaps in 3G or WiFi servce, messages and chats can be buffered on the network for delivery later on. You can even quit the app, and still find all your chat windows and messages when you log back in. Trillian for iPhone can be configured to automatically set your status to away when the application closes down.

The app has a number of nice features that allow for smoother integration of multiple accounts. With tabbed chats, you can switch from one account to the other, while the Active Chats screen shows all your currently open chats at a glance. Trillian also supports push notifications, so you can be informed of new chats and messages via a pop-up dialog. Photos from the camera or Photo Library can be sent to contacts, and the app can receive images from the desktop client.

The app is available for $4.99 on the App Store. The price is for existing Trillian Pro users as well as new customers, the company notes, because all of the new versions - iPhone, desktop, and Web ports - utilize the Astra service, which makes use of Cerulean servers and backhaul.

image via Trillian

TomTom Releases Update for iPod touch and 1st-Gen iPhone

pauldanielash — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:17:47 GMT

TomTom has, at long last, released a version of its navigation app compatible with original iPhones and the iPod touch. With version 1.2 of the app, released yesterday on the App Store, users of these devices can join iPhone 3G and 3GS users with enjoying turn-by-turn navigation... when used with its $119.95 car kit. The company had originally stated that their product would support the devices, but at the time of the October release only iPhones with GPS receivers were compatible.

The new version also features a new text-to-speech function, so the driver can pay attention to the roads while the app announces street names as turns are reached. It also allows the driver to control iPod music from within the app, rather than having to switch in and out of iPod mode. There's improved lane guidance in both landscape and portrait mode, direct access to emergency numbers with the "Help Me" function, a database update to its map and safety camera database update, and customizable audio warnings while approaching safety cameras or driving faster than the speed limit.

The update is free to owners of earlier versions of the app, which sells with U.S. and Canada maps in the App Store for $99. Maps are also available for Western Europe ($139.99), Australia ($79.99) and New Zealand ($94.99).

A company spokesman said that the upgrade is part of an ongoing process of adding functionality to the app.

Quote:

The TomTom app for iPhone is a priority for us and we are committed to both its long term development and everyday improvements. Current and future customers of our application for the iPhone can count on more great updates from TomTom for free.

TomTom's car kit is a cradle which contains a GPS module, integrated speaker, charger, and line out. It is not required when the TomTom app is paired with the iPhone 3G and 3GS, which have integrated GPS receivers, but can be used to improve GPS reception. The kit retails for $119.95 US.

image via TomTom

ModMyWheelchair with New iPhone Solution

Messany — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:28:07 GMT

upon the iPhone's initial launch and release, some said the device would ultimately be used for a variety of functions incapable of being considered at that time. Today, such arguments are once again gaining credibility as the iPhone continues to be put to work at simplifying the ways in which we navigate life. And according to a story on 9to5Mac today, "navigating" is exactly the function provided through new wheelchair controls optimized for the iPhone.

Quote:

Dynamic Controls has integrated an iPhone into its power wheelchair electronics, enabling powered wheelchair users to use them as normal while also gaining access to detailed information and control system access of their chair using the device.

Unveiled by Dynamic Controls in Germany at a major trade fair for those with special needs, the solution links a user�s iPhone or iPod touch to the wheelchair system via Bluetooth to display chair information in real time as well as speed in kph or mph and compass heading. A cradle is also available to mount the iPhone or iPod touch onto the wheelchair. Best of all, the iPhone can now display the status of a wheelchair - something of vital importance to those who spend a majority of their day in one.

Quote:

The new technology operates with an iPhone 3G, 3GS, iPod touch V2.0 and 3.0. It can easily be fitted to any new or existing Dynamic Controls DX2, DX or Shark wheelchair control systems without reprogramming the wheelchair.

In the last two years, there has been a growing movement to make the iPhone more user-friendly and appropriately functional for individuals with special needs. And while a host of applications exist to aid certain individuals with disabilities, solutions like the one introduced by Dynamic Controls remain a rarity.

But wheelchair users like Lee Kwok, who contributed a quote to the article, are already exhibiting excitement about finally being able to tap into the iPhone's potential in a new, but highly personal way. �Having access to mainstream technology via a wheelchair is a huge advantage," Lee said.

Quote:

Benefits also include the on-chair charging for the iPhone and a �chair doctor� wheelchair diagnostics feature that interprets problems with the wheelchair.

Image via 9to5Mac

"First iPhone Reality Show" to Give Away 3GSes

pauldanielash — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:17:26 GMT

In what's touted as the "first iPhone reality show," the development company Command Guru will invite a team of ten international developers to create a new iPhone application in seven days: December 6th through 12th, 2009. The project will be filmed for a reality television show to be broadcast across Europe, and will be available via live stream on Command Guru's site, www.commandguru.com.

The app planned by the Italian organizers is described as "a unique Sexy Social Network application." In an interesting twist to the "reality show" concept, the source code will also be available on a public SVN server so that viewers can suggest improvements. When complete, the app will be submitted for inclusion on the iTunes App Store, and be available for free when it finally clears Apple's review process.

Alessio Zito Rossi, founder and CEO of Command Guru, said (or apparently shouted) in a press release about the event: "There are over 100,000 Apps and millions of users who do not have any idea of how they are developed! The stork doesn't deliver iPhone Apps! We will show the world how they are really born - live and streaming!"

Aaron Hillegass, Cocoa training expert and CEO of Big Nerd Ranch, was chosen to lead a group of app developers from all over the world, including USA, Italy, Germany, Slovenia, China and New Zealand. On December 5th, their names will be disclosed on the Command Guru website. The developers will interact with users via the website and the Twitter feed @commandguru.

To publicize the event, Command Guru is giving away three unlocked iPhone 3GSes, one per week, to people who follow the Twitter feed and retweet the event announcement on their own feeds. You can go to the event page to sign up.

Remote Control Your Benz From Your Phone

pauldanielash — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:38:29 GMT

Mercedes-Benz announced its new telematics platform - called mbrace - on Monday, featuring an improved navigation system that provides directions, access to up-to-date location-based traffic and weather and information about points of interest along your route. The new service also integrates with car owners' iPhones, allowing them to find their Benzes and unlock them with a single tap.

The new Mercedes system replaces its 10-year-old Tele Aid service and comes standard on most models. There is built-in GPS capability and two-way data communications using Verizon in the US. If you're in an accident, the system will detect it by sensing if the airbags have deployed or if the Automatic Tensioning System on the seat-belts is triggered. An alert is sent to the Mercedes-Benz "Emergency Response Center," where an operator will attempt to call your iPhone. If they're unable to get through or if the user requests assistance, emergency services are immediately dispatched.

For normal use, the iPhone app will will lock or unlock a Benz remotely: literally remotely. Because the app sends commands to the car through its the 3G or WiFi connection, even if the phone is on one coast and the Benz on the other, it will still lock your car. The app will also locate your car and tell you how to get to it, and unlike some other apps will pinpoint the vehicle through its GPS transponder, rather than making the user remember to tag the car’s location when it's parked.

And of course, if you want to find your nearest Mercedes dealer, the app will help you do that, too.

The iPhone app is free. The Mercedes C-class starts at $33,600 US.

image via Hughes Telematics, Inc.

Google Earth 2.0 Allows Map Sharing

pauldanielash — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:30:14 GMT

Google announced yesterday the 2.0 upgrade to Google Earth for the iPhone and iPod touch, with a lot of added functionality, including perhaps most notably the ability to access maps that you saved from your desktop computer to the Google "My Maps" website. The new version also provides a more intuitive touch navigation, better performance, and is available in 31 languages (version 1 only did 18).

"My Maps" integration not only allows you to extend the functionality of your desktop Google Earth program, but also tune in to other users' shared maps. As Google' blog announcement described it:

Quote:

"By logging in directly to your Google Maps account, you can view the same maps that you or others have created, using the My Maps interface. Maybe you're on a trip and want to see where Tony Wheeler, the co-founder of Lonely Planet, most likes to travel. Or perhaps you're walking around looking for a restaurant and you want to see where world-famous chef Ferran Adri� likes to eat. All you have to do is click "Save to My Maps", open Earth on the iPhone, log in with the same account information, and voil�, you have your same collection of My Maps right in your pocket."

Selection and manipulation of the map's data layers - featuring photos, Wikipedia articles and other metadata about the area being mapped - is also improved in the new version. In the earlier release, you had to either tap very precisely or zoom in close enough to hit your target: an often time-consuming process, especially on slow data connections. Now, when you tap an icon it glows, and if you tap a spot close to multiple icons it opens up a menu list of icons to make it easier to select the one you want.

Google Earth is free on the App Store, and is available in US and Commonwealth English, French, German, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, European and Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Arabic, Thai, Czech, Greek, Hebrew, Indonesian, Malaysian, Romanian, Slovak, and Croatian.

image via Google

Thieves Steal �3,000,000 of iPhones in Belgium

pauldanielash — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:43:31 GMT

In a daring heist, thieves took anywhere from 3,000 to 4,000 iPhones from a warehouse in Belgium, with a street value of up to 2 million euro, or $3 million US. The robbers may be foiled, however: wireless carrier Mobistar, for whom the phones were intended, say they have a list of all the serial numbers and that they will block the phones from accessing their network.

The thieves climbed a fire ladder to the roof of a warehouse owned by CEVA Logistics, a Netherlands-based logistics company in Willebroek, Belgium. They then cut a hole in the roof of the large building directly above where the iPhones were located. Reports in the De Standaard newspaper suggested the thieves knew about iPhone delivery and storage location details, and that the robbery may have been an inside job.

Mobistar, which has had problems keeping the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in stock, is reportedly in an urgent search for more devices before inventory runs low. With the holiday season coming, the breakin could prove costly to the carrier's business. Mobistar has prepared for a large number of devices coming onto the black market by blocking them from accessing the Mobistar network. However, the strong likelihood is that these phones will be unlocked before they are sold.

Police say they have no leads.

image from Gizmodo

Computer Screening to Blame for Inconsistent App Rejections?

Messany — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:14:36 GMT

This could explain a lot.

It seems the folks at Apple may be using a special computer screening technology to filter App Store submissions.

Macnn.com covered the report by Daring Fireball blogger John Gruber, who suggests that Apple may have expanded its iPhone app review process to include computerized filtering.

Quote:

The new "static analysis tools" are designed to catch developers trying to use Apple's private APIs, which the iPhone SDK terms explicitly prohibits.

Some, of course, are taking this report to explain why so many apps may have been rejected in recent months for somewhat nonsensical reasons. The inference, needless to say, is that Apple may use this alleged computer filtering process to a much greater degree than anyone realizes.

But before we all get the idea that Apple has abolished any human involvement in the app screening process, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. If such a "filter" really does exist, such technology is probably utilized purely for security concerns at Apple.

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Apple is believed to restrict use of private APIs because of security concerns or compatibility issues if the features have yet to be finalized. The company has been known to leave the rule unenforced, however, as many apps have been approved even with private APIs.

Should any of us really be surprised that Apple may be using a computerized filtering process? With more than one-hundred thousand applications already in the App Store and no telling how many more submissions are planned for 2010, at some point Apple has to invoke as many automated filters as possible both for our sake and the good of developers who are already complaining that the screening process takes far too long to complete.

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The automated filtering process is expected to help the company quickly spot violators of the SDK. It remains unclear if the rules will be strictly enforced, or if a certain amount of flexibility will remain.

image via gamezville.net

Apple's Appointment App in the Works?

Messany — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:39:01 GMT

Bringing the luxury and convenience of your own personal concierge to the iPhone, Apple is said to be working on a new application that enables customers to make appointments at retail stores.

Although there is no confirmation from Apple that this app will definitely manifest in the coming days or weeks, doesn't it sound like something Apple would come up with? Our friends at Apple Insider, who broke the news, seem to concur. And their "sources" give them reason to confidently believe that an appointment app or similar functionality is imminent.

Quote:

The App Store software will allow anyone to view memberships and make appointments for services at retail stores, like the Genius Bar or One to One. No release date for the alleged application was provided.

When you think about it, extending the ability to make in-store appointments to the iPhone or iPod Touch isn't much of stretch, since appointments can already be made through Apple's retail Web site. The same goes for reservations for shopping, workshops, or any other event held at an Apple store.

It's likely that the new app - if there is, in fact, going to be a new app - will roll out sooner rather than later as Apple continues to gear up for the holiday shopping season. Earlier this month on Modmyi.com, we talked about Apple's holiday shopping in-store pickup option, scheduled to span Dec. 15th through the 24th. A "concierge app" would be perfectly suited to help execute Apple's vision for a more convenient, seamless shopping experience for consumers.

Holidays aside, any appointment app should benefit the company as its retail presence grows by leaps and bounds.

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Apple has big plans for its retail stores in the coming year. Ron Johnson, the company's senior vice president of Retail, said last week that 50 new locations will debut in 2010.

Image via Apple Insider

"Cry Translator" App Translates Babies' Screams

pauldanielash — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:22:27 GMT

I don't have any way of testing this myself, but it's not April 1 so I'm going to assume it's legit.

Wired Gadget Lab today put up a feature on Biloop Technologic's "Cry Translator" app, which supposedly listens to the pitch, volume, tone and inflection of a child's cries and analyzes it to determine if the child is in one of five states: hungry, sleepy, stressed, annoyed or bored.

The app seems ready-made for ridicule (really? you need "an app for that?" really? consider a dog instead), though Wired makes a reasonable point: the app is of value to both new parents and caregivers - like babysitters - who haven't had experience in interpreting the cries of an infant.

The developer, Biloop Technologic, claims that clinical tests have proven the app to be accurate 96% of the time. A spokesperson, Lori McKnight, said that the sounds a baby makes are innate to the human, and thus transcend the parents' nationality or language.

Quote:

There are five distinct cries that have common frequency patterns, regardless of culture or language. A mother learns these over time, but this can help speed up the learning curve, and also help dads and caregivers.

The app is available on iTunes for $29.99 and I would love to hear if anyone with kid-access and $30 to spare (two conditions which seldom both obtain simultaneously) has any experience with this.

image via Wired

App Developer and Former Apple Employee Opens Up

Messany — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:37 GMT

Digital Arts has published an interesting new interview definitely worth checking out. The piece profiles Dave Howell, CEO of Avatron Software. Howell now develops apps for the iPhone. But before he started his own business, he woked for Apple.

Although you might not know his name, chances are, you know his work. Last year, Howell introduced "Air Sharing," which became enormously popular for being one of the first document readers for the iPhone. Yet, before he made it big on his own, Howell worked at Apple for six years in various engineering capacities. And now he's opening up about his experiences there and what it means to be an app developer in the modern competitive landscape.

When asked "Did your Apple background pave the way to the App Store?" Howell responded:

Quote:

Not at all. There were times when we were having issues with the App Store, and I'd send emails to everybody I knew at Apple, from fellow engineers to managers to vice presidents. The few people that responded would say, "You know I can't talk about that."

We all know Apple prides itself on being a largely mysterious, hush-hush company that always leaves us guessing as to what they wll do next, but apparently, Apple maintains the same air of enigma even with its employees. And while certainly frustrating for those out of the loop, it now seems more believable than ever when current or former Apple employees open up about how they were unaware of the projects on Apple's agenda before introduction to the marketplace.

Quote:

The paranoia and secrecy was always frustrating but not as hard as I thought it would be. It was more my fear. For the most part, Apple's processes just work really well. Another frustration with a big company, not just Apple, is that if you have what you think is a great idea, there may just be nobody there to listen to it.

But, ultimately, Howell seems to suggest that Apple may be more developer-friendly than we realize.

Quote:

There have been moments where it's been frustrating because Apple's system are evolving painstakingly slow. For a big company, I think they're moving pretty quickly; but from a [startup's] point of view, a year is a lifetime. We've had frustrations from bugs in the App Store and inconsistent app reviews. However, the opportunities in this new marketplace far outweigh any of these frustrations.

Image via Apple

Is Tweetie 2 For The iPhone Worth The Excitement?

Messany — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:42:30 GMT

I just might slap the next person who tells me how excited they are about Tweetie 2, for it was all I heard about this weekend. Not helping my exposure to the new iPhone app was all the surprising attention it has been given in the last few days, including an expansive profile in the New York Daily News.

Quote:

Twitter was designed with cell phones in mind, but it's a whole other ballgame on the iPhone. Thanks to a host of tweet-smart applications, Apple's handheld is a micro-blogging marvel. iPhone software developers take note: Tweetie 2 is full of features every other app needs to steal.

Although I haven't been bitten by the Twitter bug to the painful extent to which some of my friends have, I must still confess that Tweetie 2 for the iPhone is pretty impressive, although somewhat stalkerish.

Among the features rolled out in the new $2.99 app include:

GPS integration
URL shortening
One-touch access to a username search
Add Twitter friends to iPhone contacts
Translator functionality for foriegn Tweet-ups
Easy switching between multiple Twitter accounts

Although TweetDeck for the iPhone has been the only Twitter-based iPhone app that I have remotely been able to get into, Tweetie 2, while not its first day on the market, has gained considerable momentum in the last 48 hours, and I have to admit that I can see why.

Tweetie 2 is, indeed, pretty cool, but primarily because the iPhone makes it possible. In this sense, Tweetie 2 is strikingly impressive. Not only does it offer a variety of features not available on the original site, it portends favorably for a host of other developments that you can almost smell on the horizon for future updates.

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The app does just about everything except make dull tweets seem witty; but, hey, maybe they'll solve that problem with Tweetie 3.

Image via New York Daily News

App Store Cracks Under Pressure... Again

Messany — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:39:26 GMT

Last week we covered the decision by Apple to reject a submitted iPhone app from Tom Richmond, an artist for MAD Magazine who crafted "Bobble Rep," a functional database of every elected member of Congress, their contact info, and, instead of a photo, a unique caricature of each Congressperson and Senator.

Unlike most rejected apps that largely go unnoticed, the rejection of "Bobble Rep" was noticed. Widely noticed, in fact. And likely as a result of all the negative attention, Apple decided this weekend to overturn its decision to ban "Bobble Rep" from the App Store.

The app is now available for download on iTunes for $0.99. From PC World today:

Quote:

The tale of Bobble Rep-app is submitted, app is rejected, controversy ensues, app is accepted-is a remarkably common one on the App Store. Yes, I know that the fast majority of programs submitted are quietly accepted without incident. But of the ones that are initially nixed, a high percentage seem to make it into the store eventually.

"I'm glad Apple came to their senses," Richmond reacted, who earlier had blasted Apple on his blog. Richmond expressed gratitude that Apple finally "realized that this app is not only not derogatory or insulting to our congressional representatives and senators, it's a beneficial program and a little fun as well."

From CNN to FOX news, "Bobble Rep" is getting a lot of attention this weekend. Not bad for the developer and Apple, as both will now likely be able to ring the register on the controversy that resulted from a now-overturned decision to ban the app last week.

The only question now is that since the App Store continues to prove time and again that it cracks under public pressure, will Apple face a considerably larger backlash from developers in the future who, once their apps are rejected, will similarly cry foul to the media in hopes of stirring up a national controversy too?

Image via CNN Money

Ravensword, Other Unity-based Games Rejected by Apple

pauldanielash — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:14:30 GMT

Developers have passed word to Touch Arcade that Ravensword: The Fallen King - along with a number of other games built on the Unity game engine - have been rejected by Apple from the App Store. API calls used in the games were reportedly used by one company to obtain players phone numbers in violation of the iPhone SDK agreement.

Storm8, the company behind multiplayer games like iMobsters and Vampires Live, has been sued for using private, unpublished API calls to harvest game users' phone numbers and uploaded them to its servers. The suit alleges:

Quote:

Storm8 has written the software for all its games in such a way that it automatically accesses, collects, and transmits the wireless telephone number of each iPhone user who downloads any Storm8 game... Storm8, though, has no reason whatsoever to access the wireless phone numbers of the iPhones on which its games are installed.

The publisher of Ravensword, Chillingo, noted that the API calls in question - _NSGetEnviron and exc_server - are used to obtain environment variables used by the .NET core APIs the game was built with, and for exception handling. The company has said that the problem APIs "have been removed," and that they had resubmitted the game for App Store approval.

Apple's aggressive policing of apps it permits to be available on the iTunes App Store has been a source of irritation in the developer community, often because of complaints of poor communication of what is permitted and prohibited. In this instance, there appears to be a perception of guilt by association simply because programmers implemented certain calls that had been unethically used by others. In many cases, according to people on the Unity discussion forums, apps were rejected even though they lacked the network functionality to send any data.

Hopefully, removal of the offending code will result in the apps eventually getting approved, but the delay - and expense - is further irritating the companies involved, and does nothing for Apple's image among app developers.

video via Chillingo

New iMac Core i7 Head and Shoulders Above the Rest

pauldanielash — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:54:27 GMT

Reports began trickling out mid-week that some people who had placed orders for the new high end quad-core iMac Core i7 processors had been notified that their computers had finally shipped from the manufacturer in China. Now, the first benchmarks are coming to light, showing considerable speed bumps for the Apple's new top performer.

The Primate Labs Geekbench program provides a suite of tests for comparing single and multi-core processors in 32- and 64-bit versions. Users have run tests on their own computers and submitted them to Geekbenchs server, giving a good indication of performance irrespective of individual configurations. While it can be difficult to wad through all the results, Timon Royer put together a side by side comparison in a nice graphic (at the top of this post) which shows how significant the performance improvement really is. The score for the i7 (9638) compared to the i5 (7131) shows that the 2.8 GHz i7 performed 35% better than the 2.66 GHz i5... and that both leave the 3.33 GHz Core 2 Duo (5131) far behind.

The 27-inch 2.66 GHz Core i5 750 iMac has a suggested retail price of $1,999, with the 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 860 processor available as a $200 upgrade. Both systems include:

quad-core processor with 8MB shared L3 cache
27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display
4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB
ATI Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics; with 512MB GDDR3
1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm
A slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+ / -R DL/DVD+ / -RW/CD-RW)

Apple to Hire Gaming Engineer

Messany — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:33:22 GMT

If anyone is concerned that Apple hasn't properly taken a hint that iPhone and iPod users want their beloved devices to develop the potential for advanced gaming that they possess, have no fear. Apple has apparently received the message. And now the folks in Cupertino are acting on it by posting a job opening for a gaming engineer.

According to ChannelWeb:

Quote:

In the posting for a "game/media software engineer," Apple said it is looking for a skilled software engineer looking to work with a small team on "interactive multimedia experiences on the iPhone and iPod Touch." The potential employee has to
be flexible and creative.

The timing couldn't be better for Apple to augment its team by hiring an experienced multimedia engineer for the iPhone and iPod touch, one who is a passionate gamer and has shipped at least one �AAA� game since the iPhone was introduced.

It shouldn't be too terribly difficult to find an applicant who fits the above description. If anything, the hard part - getting Apple to take gaming more seriously - was the hard part. Undeniably, the revenue streams from what's already available - and becoming available - has likely proven sufficient to convince Apple of the financial and branding benefits that come with being considered among the portable gaming giants of the industry.

This weekend, a lot of people (myself included) are considering what a first-party Apple gaming franchise could mean for both mobile gaming and mobile gamers. Then again, it's important not to get too far ahead of ourselves here since Apple, to date, has only developed four apps in-house, one of which is a game.

Quote:

Apple is looking to hire a game developer for its iPhone and iTouch team, but such a move carries the possibility of alienating some of its huge ecosystem of independent game developers.

Indeed, it would be a shame to anger developers, since Apple has no history of ever rubbing a developer the wrong way (insert sarcasm here). For sure, it will take some creative energy and diplomatic skill to make everyone happy with whatever plan is in the works. But for the biggest category of people impacted by this potential development - Apple fans and mobile gamers - this weekend's news is a welcome gem of promising information.

Image via The iPhone Blog

NASA Scientist Makes a Chemical Sensor out of an iPhone

pauldanielash — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:52:23 GMT

A NASA scientist has come up with a working prototype of chemical-sniffing circuitry as a test of technology that could one day become standard equipment on cell phones in the US. The sensing device attaches to the bottom of an iPhone and uses the data connection to collect, process and report the results.

Jing Li, a physical scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in California developed this prototype as a proof of concept of new technology that would bring compact, low-cost, low-power, high-speed nanosensor-based chemical sensing capabilities to cell phones. Li worked with other researchers under a grant from the "Cell-All" program of the US Department of Homeland Security to develop tools that would better enable the government to quickly respond in case of a chemical release or terror attack.

The circuitry the team came up with is about the size of a postage stamp and plugs into an iPhone's dock port. It's able to detect and identify low concentrations of ammonia, chlorine gas and methane using something called a "sample jet" and a multiple-channel silicon-based sensing chip, which consists of 16 nanosensors. The phone processes the data, stores it, and can send detection data to another phone or a computer using either the 3G or WiFi data network.

The Cell-All program "is designed to provide greater detection capabilities in areas where people congregate," according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate.

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The concept allows for chemical agent detectors to ultimately be everywhere where there are cellular telephones. At the option of the cell phone owner, the GPS in the phone could provide sensor location information to emergency operation centers.

While the technology is years away from widespread implementation, it's another indication that cell phones are spreading the ubiquity of surveillance tools. Along with the ability to remotely turn on a cell's microphone without the user being aware, any future sensing tools built into mobile phones offer both powerful tools for law enforcement, and potential dangers to privacy.

image via NASA

Facebook for iPhone App Developer Quits, Blaming Apple

pauldanielash — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:59:12 GMT

Joe Hewitt, the programmer behind the most popular offering on the iTunes App Store, is moving back to being a web developer, and cites Apple's review process as the reason he wants to stop working on apps. Hewitt had tweeted that he is quitting development on the Facebook for iPhone app, and told TechCrunch that Apple's "gatekeeper" approach to the App Store was entirely responsible for his decision to quit.

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My decision to stop iPhone development has had everything to do with Apple�s policies. I respect their right to manage their platform however they want, however I am philosophically opposed to the existence of their review process. I am very concerned that they are setting a horrible precedent for other software platforms, and soon gatekeepers will start infesting the lives of every software developer.

The web is still unrestricted and free, and so I am returning to my roots as a web developer. In the long term, I would like to be able to say that I helped to make the web the best mobile platform available, rather than being part of the transition to a world where every developer must go through a middleman to get their software in the hands of users.

Hewitt has been long an outspoken critic of App Store policies. In an August blog post titled �Innocent until proven guilty,� he had asserted that �the review process needs to be eliminated completely,� and that the review process was about "lawyers, not quality."

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Apple does not have the means to perform thorough quality assurance on any app. This is up to the developer. We have our own product managers and quality assurance testers, and we are liable to our users and the courts if we do anything evil or stupid. Apple may catch a few shallow bugs in the review process, but let's face it, the real things they are looking for are not bugs, but violations of the terms of service.

Hewitt is well-known in the developer community for being on the team that created the Firefox browser and for his work on the Firebug development plugin. He remains at Facebook, but says he can't comment on his next project.

While there has been much criticism of Apple's strict control of what apps can and cannot go on the App Store, it may be that this rebuke from such a prominent developer may spur action by Apple... or lead to the defection of more and more developers to other platforms.

TomTom Offers Major Text-to-Speech Update for iPhone App

Messany — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:33:16 GMT

TomTom is taking on Text-to-Speech with their popular iPhone application. And despite wide gaps between those who like and dislike the app, that chasm will likely be bridged (just a wee bit) by the new update that adds a staple of full-blown GPS technology to their app.

As you would imagine, the free update, which been submitted to Apple and is currently awaiting approval, enables your app to announce everything from street names to points of interest, two developments that instantly - by mere virtue of their inclusion - make the TomTom app incredibly more attractive.

According to coverage from the New York Times:

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The $100 app has received its share of bad comments and has the worst rating compared to two of its competitors, the $35 CoPilot Live and the $90 MobileNavigator. The current TomTom version averages just 2.5 stars, and has more one-star than five-star reviews. Both CoPilot and MobileNavigator have been offering text-to-speech for several weeks.

Interestingly enough, the app update doesn't exclusively contend with text-to-speech. TomTom is also now allowing for in-app iPod player control, a development that will probably prevent many traffic accidents and lost lives in the coming years.

Further adding to the lure of the app and its update is the inclusion of a "safety camera database update." Sort of like the "Spark Notes" of driving, the update lets you remember the important points of your travels. By "important points" I mean wherever safety cameras are mounted to capture you speeding or driving recklessly. By avoiding such behavior in the presence of cameras, TomTom is thinking that such "good behavior" will eventually be practiced at all times by drivers not just when the tape is rolling.

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Other features that TomTom will add with this version include advanced lane guidance in both landscape and portrait mode, direct access to emergency numbers, a database update to its map and safety camera database update

Image via TomTom

New $99 iPhone to Be Verizon-Only?

pauldanielash — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:23:07 GMT

Mobile chip manufacturer Qualcomm announced today that they are working on a dual CDMA/UMTS chip that would allow the same phone to operate on carriers using either standard. Recent reports have suggested that Apple is readying a new dual-mode "worldphone" that could work on Verizon Wireless's CDMA network in the US.

Contrary to the announcement, an analyst - citing his own sources within the company - says that Qualcomm would not be able to deliver the hybrid chip anytime in the coming year. The report that was detailed by GigaOm last week said Verizon was readying an "iPhone nano" for launch in the third quarter of 2010. Ashok Kumar, an analyst with Northeast Securities, told AppleInsider that it would be impossible for Apple to release a dual-mode iPhone until 2011 at the earliest. Kumar noted that in order for them to be able to start shipping the new device in the summer of 2010, a prototype would have to be undergoing field trials already, and "they're nowhere near that," he said.

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Technically I think it will be a stretch to have both UMTS and CDMA, because not only do you have hardware issues in terms of the baseband, but also software issues. Eventually they will probably get there [with the iPhone], but that's probably a 2011 story, not a 2010 story.

Instead, Kumar says he thinks that it's much more likely that Apple would release a CDMA-only version of the iPhone that would be specifically made for Verizon Wireless, and that would go on sale in the second half of next year.

The GigaOm report said a Verizon-compatible "worldmode" iPhone would launch by the third quarter of 2010, and that it would work with on both CDMA/EVDO networks like Verizon's and and UMTS networks like AT&T's. Qualcomm's press release said that the company would be launching new chips that would support HSPA and 3G and LTE chipsets in the second half of 2010, but Kumar asserts that the technology isn't currently available and, further, that any new chips would have a very high cost.

"It's very likely they're trying to hit a low price point, maybe a $99 price point," Kumar said about the rumored phone, which is in line with what was reported by GigaOm.

image via The Inquisitr

App Developers Can Now Monitor Approval Status

Messany — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:35:34 GMT

Application developers rejoice!

If the headline caused you to do a double take, you're not alone. The news is still sinking in for many that Apple will now allow app developers to monitor their approval status through a new feature added to Apple's Dev Center.

According to what some developers have reported to multiple outlets including our friends at Apple Insider, there may be as many as nine status levels for apps under review, such as "ready for sale" and "rejected."

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While this update to the Dev Center website may not seem like a major change, it is a step in the right direction towards greater transparency and disclosure about the Application review process.

Although many of us may still not agree with the App Store's eventual decision to embrace or shun a submitted application, at least developers will know sooner whether to celebrate or punch a hole in the wall.

No matter how you slice it, it's likely that Apple is optimistic that this change will attract many developers who have been turned off and turned away in recent months by both the App Store submission and approval processes. Despite the acceptance of more than 100,000 apps to the App Store, Apple and scores of 3rd party developers now have a horrendous relationship if any relationship at all as a result of perceived hypocrisy in the approval process, vague rules and confounding policies, and a series of controversial app rejections that resonated with developers everywhere.

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Earlier this year Apple Insider was told, "Many developers are pulling their hair out by the roots" over the approval process. Approvals that once took days were taking months and Apple's response to inquiry about the process was a stock answer or no received answer at all.

So what does it all mean?

As we've seen, Apple is being credited for taking a "step in the right direction" with what has become a rapidly deteriorating working relationship with developers perpetually frustrated at even a subtle mention of the App Store. And although the new feature in the Dev Center is sure to please many, ultimately, this is only the first of many steps Apple will need to take if the company hopes to be the truly developer-friendly entity it says it wants to be.

Image via Apple

Apple Gives Safari a Security Update

Messany — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:13:03 GMT

Apple has just released a security update for Safari 4.0.4 (available for Windows and Mac) that hopefully resolves an issue that appears to have been capable of presenting a potentially catastrophic security problem.

Then again, we may never know how "grave" the danger was since Apple doesn't play along with the established practice of competing browsers by revealing just how serious a threat to Safari truly is.

According to Apple Insider:

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The security fixes address a wide range of problem points. On both Windows and Mac, parsing maliciously written XML content could have led to a browser crash, using shortcut menu options within a maliciously created Web site could have led to the disclosure of local information, and visiting a maliciously built Web site could have resulted in unexpected actions on
other opened Web sites.

The latest update for Safari - the first since late summer - is once again prompting Apple fans and critics alike to request more openness from the company regarding security threats that we're "not allowed" to know much about. Seth Rosenblatt at CNET put it best by suggesting that while it's good practice to update a program when a security fix has been released, Apple should be considerably more transparent on such matters and, in doing so, hold itself to the same standards as its chief competitors: Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome.

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For Windows only, viewing a maliciously made image with an embedded color profile that could lead to a browser crash or running arbitrary code is no longer a threat, nor is accessing a maliciously crafted FTP server, which could have led to an
unexpected crash, information disclosure, or arbitrary code execution. For Mac only, an exploit that could have allowed e-mail to remotely load audio and video content when loading a remote image has been disabled.

Apart from resolving a handful of security issues, Apple says the 36.2MB Safari 4.0.4 update also lends to improved JavaScript performance and stability improvements for third-party plug ins, the search field, and Yahoo mail.

The browser update can find its way to Mac and Windows systems through Apple�s software update utilities. Of course, if you're wondering when the iPhone will similarly get patched, your guess is as good as mine.

Image via TheiPhoneBlog

Malware Allows Access to Jailbroken iPhones

pauldanielash — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:37:47 GMT

Well, we all knew this was coming.

The Macintosh security firm Intego reports that they have identified malware that will allow hackers to access data on jailbroken iPhones running OpenSSH with the default root password 'alpine.' Unjailbroken iPhones, devices not running sshd, and devices with unique root passwords are not vulnerable to this exploit. Though Intego currently categorizes the risk of the malware as "low," users should act to secure their phones.

The tool - which Intego identifies as "iPhone/Privacy.A" - works by being installed onto a "Mac, PC, Unix or Linux" computer - or another iPhone - and then scanning the computer's network to find ssh services.

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This hacker tool could easily be installed, for example, on a computer on display in a retail store, which could then scan all iPhones that pass within the reach of its network. Or, a hacker could sit in an Internet caf� and let his computer scan all iPhones that come within the range of the wifi network in search of data. Hackers could even install this tool on their own iPhones, and use it to scan for jailbroken phones as they go about their daily business.

When a vulnerable iPhone is found, the hacker can then download all personal data stored on the device: "e-mail, contacts, SMSs, calendars, photos, music files, videos, as well as any data recorded by any iPhone app."

Intego recommends its own VirusBarrier X5 software to identify and eradicate the software on a Mac, but notes there is no detection tool for other computer platforms, or for the iPhone itself. Users of jailbroken phones should not enable ssh except when needed, and should change their root passwords:

install and run "Mobile Terminal"
type su root at the shell prompt and tap enter
type passwd and tap enter
enter alpine for your old password
enter new password
enter new password again to confirm

image via Intego

Apple Pulls Ahead of Nokia as Most Profitable Phone Maker

pauldanielash — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:57:17 GMT

Apple, Inc. overtook Nokia in the September quarter as the cellphone maker generating the highest total operating profit in the industry, according to a report by research firm Strategy Analytics.

The Finnish handset maker is still the world's largest by volume. Apple sold 7.4 million iPhones during the July-September quarter, generating sales of $4.5 billion. Nokia sold 108.5 million phones in total in the same quarter, with sales of �6.9 billion ($10.36 billion). When measured by profits, however, Nokia lost in the third quarter against Apple. While Apple does not release profits for its specific product lines, Strategy Analytics estimated Apple's profit on the iPhone at $1.6 billion in the third quarter, compared with Nokia's $1.1 billion. Analyst Alex Spector said:

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With strong volumes, high wholesale prices and tight cost controls, the PC vendor has successfully broken into the mobile phone market in just two years.

Nokia sued Apple in October for patent infringement, accusing Apple of �attempting to get a free ride� off Nokia�s research on GSM, 3G and WiFi technologies. Apple said it will �vigorously defend� against the lawsuit. However, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster said that Apple could end up paying $6 to $12 of royalties per iPhone.

China Obsessed with iPhone TV?

Messany — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:29:04 GMT

Chinese consumers haven't quite warmed to their expensive iPhone options yet, but government officials in China love the device and, in particular, an application from state broadcaster CCTV.

Using the app as a means to present its own spin on state happenings and Chinese news to the world abroad, the iPhone is becoming a mechanism to spin any news and information originating from the world's most populous nation.

Putting its best face forward to the world, China is now endeavoring to harness the power of digital media - an entity that has, until now, been used primarily to paint the Chinese government in a negative light.

According to PC World this morning:

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The free iPhone app, one of a growing number from Chinese state-owned news outlets, has gained 500,000 users in the month or so since it went online and is adding 2,000 new users each day, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said in a statement on its Web site.

Although one would presume that the bulk of growth in popularity for the app would be taking place within Chinese borders, CCTV is readily expanding in use and appeal overseas. Needless to say, some were upset with Apple for giving the CCTV iPhone app a plug when the iPhone went on sale in China last month. Apple's support of the app was interpreted by some critics to suggest the company's support of government-controlled media.

Nonetheless, the iPhone seems to be more popular for now with Chinese government officials than it does the general public, with high prices remaining an impediment to the iPhone's widespread growth at the onset of its release. But it seems to matter more to Chinese officials that the iPhone has provided an unfettered platform for perpetuating their views - a controversial reality the ultimate consequences of which are presently unknown.

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China is investing heavily to expand the overseas reach of its state-owned news outlets, which often air official Chinese political views strongly at odds with mainstream Western views.

Image via wigab.com

High Hopes Pinned on Samsung's Bada

Messany — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:52:47 GMT

Samsung has introduced Bada as its own new smartphone platform, hoping to successfully face off against the iPhone and Android in the increasingly competitive smartphone market.

The reported specs on Samsung's Bada are impressive to some. Believed to be built on top of Linux, Apple Insider is reporting that Bada could be formally released in early December with an open SDK.

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Unlike Symbian or Android, Samsung appears to be developing its new mobile platform and software market solely for the benefit of its own phones, much like RIM, Apple, and Palm.

Although Samsung's Bada is being billed by some as the new iPhone killer, its important to remember previous examples in recent history that suggested the latest "iPhone killer" was right around the bend. That hasn't exactly happened yet, even though some think Samsung will have a winner with their new offering.

Leading into the holiday season, its apparent that Samsung, which has de-emphasized licensed operating systems, will have a laser-like focus directed toward its new platform - something the company believes will offer "differentiation in options" available to consumers in the market for a smartphone.

Apple's staunchest fans are already chomping at the bit to pounce, but most (like myself) are waiting for more information to become available in December on the Bada website.

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HMC investment securities analyst Greg Noh outlined Samsung's expected smartphone mix showing Symbian completely phased out by 2011, and Samsung's own Bada making up half of its portfolio by 2012, with the remainder being about 30% Android and 20% Windows Mobile.

Image via telegraph.co.uk

Apple's First Patriotic App Rejection?

Messany — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:47:37 GMT

Some aren't sure what to make of the App Store's decision to reject what would have been a cool "Mad Libs"-style app for the iPhone. But Apple isn't willing to share the laughs with this one. And because they can't, neither can we.

Perhaps Lex Friendman at MacWorld put it best:

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Try this one on for size: Apple on [day] rejected an iPhone app devoted to [phrase] for [ridiculous reason]. This time, the answers are "Monday," "contacting your Congressional representatives," and "including caricatures of all 540 members of both houses of Congress, which Apple has deemed offensive."

Although some are saying the App Store's decision to reject the app was "patriotic" because the company doesn't want to encourage the mockery of elected leaders in the United States, others think the App Store had less noble reasons... like just following "policy."

Tom Richmond, who serves as an artist for MAD Magazine, broke the news on his blog about Apple shooting down the app he and entrepreneur Ray Griggs created called "Bobble Rep," a complete database of every elected member of Congress, their contact information (for search by zip code) and, instead of a photo, a unique caricature of each Congressperson and Senator.

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It's those caricatures that Apple apparently considers "content that ridicules public figures," a violation of Section 3.3.14 of the iPhone developer agreement, and a reason that Apple's previously cited for rejecting apps that poke fun at politicians.

In case you were wondering, the app gets its name because shaking the iPhone or iPod causes the caricature's head to bobble around.

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Sounds cathartic, right? Maybe they can make a sequel to the app that features the heads of App Store reviewers.

Although there is no shortage of developers confounded and frustrated to learn that their seemingly harmless app has been rejected, the often hypocritical or downright confusing approval process still doesn't seem to be impairing the overall number of apps submitted and ultimately admitted to the app store. Most developers, after all, bounce back with a revised, more acceptable app. And, hopefully, that's exactly what Mr. Richmond will find a way to do with his creative work that deserves to see the light of day.

Image via tomrichmond.com

Google Will Buy AdMob for $750 Million

pauldanielash — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:23:30 GMT

It's just been announced that Google will buy the world's largest mobile advertising provider: Admob. The online search giant will buy out AdMob's stock which at current prices would total $750 million.

Admob's system allows developers to sell their apps for free and make money on ads. Many developers have found that the arrangement works better over the long term than a regular upfront sale of their apps, because the ad revenue continues to come in.

The large online companies like Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft hare in fierce competition to grab a piece of the mobile market. Since there are more mobile phone users in the world than computer users, the growth in that sector is considered to be much more potentially lucrative than traditional online advertising.

Omar Hamoui, Admob's founder, started AdMob in January 2006 while he was still a student at the University of Pennsylvania. He originally just sold web links from his dorm room, but really built his business on the iPhone's success, as he noted in his announcement:

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We were so excited by the promise the iPhone represented that we shifted a significant portion of our attention to that device in its very early days. We launched the first iPhone ad units focused on the web and quickly added the capability to run ads in applications. Now with the addition of excellent devices from Palm, Nokia, RIM, and plethora of Android powered smartphones, we have all the preconditions necessary for what will be a tidal wave of mobile browsing and app usage. But let there be no mistake. Our business, and the mobile industry in general, owes Apple a debt of gratitude.

The companies noted today that the purchase will be subject to certain closing conditions, but both parties' boards have approved the deal.

image via AdMob

O2 to Unlock iPhones After Contracts Expire

pauldanielash — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:57:17 GMT

O2 will allow its customers to unlock their iPhones after their current contracts expire, according to Matthew Key, chairman and CEO of O2's parent company, Telef�nica.

In an interview held as part of Times Online's "Ask the Boss" feature, Key left open the question of whether O2 would unlock the phones for their customers, or merely not object if they chose to do so:

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Once the iPhone becomes available on other UK networks, we will allow O2 customers to unlock their iPhones, although of course they will still need to honor any outstanding contract period they have. At the end of their contract period, they are entirely free to move to another operator

.
A reader had asked Key to comment on a rumor that O2 would "not allow people to unlock their iPhone, even if they are out of their contract period." Unlocking phones after contracts expire is much more common in the UK than it is in the US and other markets, so any move by O2 to restrict that ability would be poorly received.

O2 also offers the so-called "Pay & Go" option for users without a contract, that offers 12 months of unlimited (using the UK definition of that term) web and WiFi, though without Visual Voicemail, call merging or Internet tethering. These users will also be able to unlock after paying a fee of �15.

As exclusive-carrier arrangements in many countries are increasingly coming to an end, it will be interesting to see which service providers go O2's direction and which don't. O2 clearly thinks that they can hold on to customers by offering low prices, so this move should spur healthy competition in the UK market.

HD Radio Comes to the iPhone

pauldanielash — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:43:49 GMT

iBiquity Digital, the company behind HD Radio, has finally released the first digital radio solution for the iPhone. It requires a Gigaware HD Radio Tuner, which costs $80 through Radio Shack, and uses your earphone cord as an antenna.

HD radio uses a digital signal piggybacked onto existing analog broadcasts, allowing high-quality sound and song metadata (artist, track and album). There are nearly 2000 stations in the US are already broadcasting a digital HD Radio signal. The Gigaware tuner, like all HD Radio receivers, can pick up both the digital and analog stations, so you can get regular AM and FM along with the HD broadcasts.

Bob Struble, the head of iBiquity, told the Wall Street Journal that the relatively high cost of the HD tuner is offset by the fact that digital signal can often be picked up in areas where there is not WiFi or 3G signal for services like Pandora. �The signal is coming from your local radio broadcast, so in most cases, if you�re within range of that signal,� the app will work exactly as a radio does. Users are able to access a wide variety of multicast as well as local radio stations.

Struble says iBiquity is trying to get Apple to add a built-in HD Radio receiver to the iPhone and iPod touch, as the external device is somewhat unwieldy. Microsoft released the fourth-generation [URL="http://zune.net:80/en-US/"]Zune HD[/URL, which has an integrated HD Tuner, in September.

iBiquity's Navigator Control app is free on the iTunes Store.

image via iBiquity Digital

Holiday Ad Wars Kick into High Gear

Messany — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:43:15 GMT

There had been some rumors and speculation in recent weeks that Verizon's next round of holiday "attack ads" would take aim at Apple, iPhone jailbreakers, and, of course, AT&T. For now, however, it seems that Verizon is just going to focus on coverage claims against AT&T.

Apple Insider has amassed the new ads, which have just begun running. The titles of the ads include: "Naughty Nice," "Misfit Toys," and "Blue Christmas."

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[The ads] prominently feature the coverage maps first introduced in the "There's a Map for That" commercial. These maps were a point of contention between Verizon and AT&T, causing AT&T to bring a lawsuit against Verizon for misrepresenting AT&T's 3G coverage areas.

Despite AT&T taking legal action, Verizon isn't pulling punches, even as AT&T claims that Verizon is misleading consumers with wild accusations about AT&T's less-than-stellar 3G coverage area.

Strangely enough, this latest round of holiday ads may be foreshadowing a relationship between Apple, the iPhone, and Verizon - one possible explanation for why Verizon didn't deliver any harsh jabs anywhere else except at AT&T.

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In the ads, it is clear Verizon has tried to separate their criticism of AT&T from the iPhone itself, going so far as to call the phone "A great 3G phone without great 3G coverage." This may be an indication that the rumors of Verizon offering the iPhone sometime in 2010 have some truth behind them.

The latest ads from Verizon come as research firm OTR Global "cites sources in the Taiwan handset supply chain" claiming that Apple is now working on a new iPhone for distribution in partnership with Verizon.

App Store Lets Hitler Slip Past Radar

Messany — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:40:56 GMT

Over the weekend, an unexpected arrival to Apple's App Store took place.

For reasons that pass anyone's understanding, Apple approved a Spanish-language eBook version of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf. If that isn't bad enough, the application icon was a swastika.

Within 24-hours, however, the $1.99 application was pulled from the App Store altogether. Gee, I wonder if anyone complained?

The JP, which reported the story today, covered how EdibleApple, 9to5Mac, TechCrunch and TheNextWeb all took notice of the controversial app as soon as it hit the store.

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Bloggers were shocked that Mein Kampf made it through Apple's selection process and many reacted angrily.
EdibleApple, a site dedicated to Apple news, rumors and analysis, wrote, "It's naturally filled with a plethora of racist content and it's pretty mind boggling that Apple's app store censors let this one slide through."

From shocking to mind-boggling, the content was rated 9+. So according to the App Store approval process, the content was determined to be appropriate for readers over the age of nine.

Indeed, someone dropped the ball.

Although Apple has been criticized in the past for being "hypocritical" in terms of the apps it approves and those it rejects, at the end of the day, Apple is running a business and its understandable why the company would pick favorites - or at least those that further the goals and objectives of Apple. Approving the Hitler app, however, is beyond anyone's capacity for understanding, which is likely why its approval can only logically be attributed to an overlooked error.

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Despite the overwhelming number of applicants, Apple should not have these slips, TechCrunch argues. "This version of Mein Kampf is in Spanish, so maybe that's what allowed it to slip by the App Store guardians. But that's no excuse. If the Nazi logo didn't raise a red flag, I'm not sure what will."

Image via TechMarketing

Aussie Worm Rickrolls Jailbroken iPhones

pauldanielash — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:00:19 GMT

A programmer in Australia has created a worm that changes the lockscreen of infected phones to a picture of 80s singer Rick Astley. Like the recent Dutch "hack" that replaced users' wallpaper with a demand for money, this worm accesses jailbroken iPhones that are running OpenSSH and are still using the default root password.

The worm was written by someone who goes by the name of ikee. It works by scanning the IP range of the 3G network the phone is on, then the address ranges of carriers Optus, Vodafone and Telstra, until it finds a running SSH service. The worm then replaces the lockscreen with an image of Rick Astley along with the words "ikee is never going to give you up," deletes the SSH daemon, and begins scanning for another vulnerable phone. ikee noted that his own phone had infected more than a hundred other phones, and there have been suggestions, as yet unconfirmed, that the worm may have spread beyond Australia.

A blogger posted the transcript of an IRC chat with ikee, in which he explained that he wrote the worm because he "was curious to how far something like this would actually spread." He says that it "was all in good fun (well ok for me anyway)." The blogger also posted the source code of the virus.

There's no real justification for hacking somebody's phone. It's to be hoped, though, that the increasing frequency of default-password "hacks" highlights the importance of changing your root password and not running ssh when it's not needed.

image via JD's Thoughts on Everything

"PhoneBook" Combines Your Phone and a Children's Book

pauldanielash — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:19:05 GMT

In a novel use of mixed electronic and traditional media, Japan's Mobile Art Lab created "PhoneBook," a children's picture book that becomes interactive when you slide your iPhone into it.

Using the phone's touchscreen and a switch that changes the scene when the page is turned, the book - currently just an art concept with no indication of when it may be commercially available - opens up new possibilities for interactive media. The art group's intent was "to create a new parent-child communication through the mobile (phone), and their website (auto-translation here) says that they want to extend the concept into "magazines and books," which could lead to more such experiments and -one hopes - possibly a product that you could bring home to your kid one day.

This thing would be an incredibly popular Christmas present if it were on the market.

App Developer Swiped Cell Numbers

Messany — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:51:11 GMT

Storm8 has found itself stirring up a storm of controversy in the wake of a lawsuit filed against the developer, which stands accused of "stealing' user's phone numbers." In case you're unaware, that's a big no-no and a blatant violation of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

According to The Mac Observer:

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The iPhone game developer Storm8 has been sued for harvesting iPhone cell numbers on iPhones where its game was downloaded. The incident first came to light in August, when Storm8 acknowledged the issue and blamed it on an error that it said was then corrected.

Storm8 offers better than three dozen free and paid games in the App Store, including the popular Zombies Live and iMobsters.

Storm8 has not denied claims that it collected the numbers. In fact, it admits to having collected them. But the lawsuit filed doesn't offer much empathy for Storm8's claim that a glitch in their source code is responsible for the wrongful activity.

Those behind the lawsuit, however, contend that a "glitch" could never cause phone numbers to be harvested and that something much more sinister could possibly have been intended. In case you're wondering, the developer hasn't offered many details on the "glitch" in question and how it could have possibily provoked this situation.

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MediaPost also pointed out that the suit will have a high barrier in that the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act stipulates that computers were unlawfully accessed and damaged. Having your phone number sent back to a server isn't likely to constitute as damage, but then that's what courts get to figure out.

Image via iEhow.com

LogMeIn Ignition App, Now on Sale

pauldanielash — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:15:14 GMT

The LogMeIn Ignition app takes the popular remote access program's convenience and ease of use, and makes it available on your iPhone. It's ideal for IT support people, but useful for anyone who needs to get control of their home computer while on the road. And for the rest of the weekend, LogMeIn Ignition will be available on the App Store at a 30% discount.

My doctor saw my iPhone and told me about this app. Apparently the owner of the company is another one of his patients. I've used the web-based version of the software to control computers behind my old company's firewall, because they didn't offer me VPN access. So, security FAIL, but productivity WIN.

There's nothing especially complex about the way the software works. It uses TLS over TCP to allow you to access the target computer, even behind a NAT gateway. You use the web portal or the LogMeIn Ignition standalone app to take over your computer's keyboard and mouse and view the screen remotely. There is also a Pro version which lets you transfer files between computers, print documents from a remote computer to a local printer, share files with others, and more for $69.95 a year.

The LogMeIn Ignition app gives you what you would have with the desktop version, with some nice multi-touch features. You pinch to zoom, single-finger tap to click, two-finger tap to right click, double tap to double click, two-finger swipe to scroll like a mouse wheel. You can even drag and drop by double tapping an object and sliding.

Probably because of the sale price of $19.95, LogMeIn Ignition is currently at second place on the Top Grossing Apps list in the App Store.

Apple Store Launches "Reserve And Pick Up" Program

Messany — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:37:05 GMT

Apple wants our business for the holidays. And it shows.

Apple has unveiled "The Reserve And Pick Up" program for its retail stores that gives consumers the opportunity to go online and select their Apple product(s), make a reservation, and then sometime between December 15 and 24, come into their local Apple store to pick up the goods just in time for the holidays.

According to MacWorld:

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Currently, the line-up of offerings includes iPods, iPhones, MacBooks, Mac Minis, iMacs, and Mac Pros. To make a reservation, you sign in with your Apple ID and select a store location. Payment is due only at the time of pick-up.

Although the reserve and pick-up concept is nothing new, this holiday season represents the first time Apple has adopted the method. Apple, naturally, is couching the language of this announcement in terms of adding value to the consumer shopping experience, the truth is that Apple has been experiencing product shortages and while they want to keep an adequate inventory, they also don't want to overproduce this holiday season.

In other words,it seems the "Reserve And Pick Up" program will help Apple reconcile supply with demand.

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Shoppers who make their reservations online can avoid the disappointment of finding something out-of-stock at the retail store. And in theory, the purchasing and pick-up process should be more efficient than waiting in long holiday lines. In many cases, items can be wrapped in the �signature gift box,� too.

Despite a slowing economy, Apple is prepped and ready for a blockbuster holiday shopping season. The announcement is also being taken this weekend by Apple conspiracy theorists to mean that the company may reveal another new offering in a matter of days and will need the "Reserve And Pick Up" program as a way to mitigate the pandemonium that would likely result.

Image via Apple Insider

RadioShack Carrying iPhone In Selected Stores Nationwide In 2010

thetoothfairy — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:57:04 GMT

Apple has been making sure that many stores have been carrying the iPhone such as Walmart, Best Buy and At&t but another one has been added to their list and that is RadioShack.

RadioShack Will Introduce iPhone As part of its ongoing mobility strategy.

RadioShack is pleased to announce that it will introduce Apple's iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in a limited number of company-owned stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth and New York City metropolitan areas beginning later this month. RadioShack expects to introduce iPhone in stores nationwide in 2010. For more information about exact store locations and product availability, visit RadioShack - mobile phones, MP3 players, laptops, and more.

RadioShack | iPhone Alley

Verizon iPhone "Nano" in 2010?

pauldanielash — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:24:51 GMT

Apple will release a new "worldmode" iPhone next year with a significantly smaller form factor, according to a report revealed by AppleInsider. The phone will have a hybrid UMTS/CDMA chip manufactured by Qualcomm that will enable it to use Verizon Wireless's network in the United States.

The report was produced by OTR Global, an independent Wall Street research firm, and relies on sources within the Taiwan handset manufacturing industry. Their research indicated that Asustek subsidiary Taiwan's Pegatron, a subsidiary of Asustek will bur tapped to manufacture the phone. Apple is said to have chosen that company rather than Hon Hai, their current manufacturer, because of concerns that they would be "constrained by a single-source assembler."

The purported new phone would have a 2.8" screen, as compared to the 3.5" screen on current iPhones. This is consistent with pictures leaked on the web over the summer supposedly showing components of a smaller iPhone.

The possibility of a hybrid chip running both Verizon-compatible CDMA and AT&T-compatible UMTS would eliminate a major stumbling block to a potential Verizon iPhone. Verizon Wireless has stated that its plan is to upgrade its entire network to LTE - a major undertaking that won't be complete until the middle of the next decade - rather than adding UMTS 3G service to its current network, as other CDMA carriers have done. The dual chip allows Apple to sell one phone globally that can run on all major telecom providers.

Verizon has done much recently to pour cold water on rumors that they would be releasing their own iPhone, in particular the recent attack ads making fun of Apple and AT&T. The carrier also has the Blackberry Storm 2, the Palm Pre, and Motorola Droid in its stable as direct competitors to the iPhone. The report, however, indicates that the companies have been in talks all along.

Recently, Verizon Wireless announced a policy that would levy a $350 fine on customers who cancel contracts on "advanced devices," which leads some observers to wonder if the report of a future Verizon iPhone will put a drag on Droid, Storm, and Pre sales over the holidays.

The report claims the new phone will be released in the third quarter of 2010.

Apple Not Fond of iPhone Gaming

Messany — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:16:42 GMT

Perhaps the reason Apple seems to be the only one dragging its feet on developing the run-away popularity of gaming on the iPhone and iPod Touch is because, as some suspected, Apple doesn't really like the idea of their Juggernaut mobile devices becoming dominant platforms for mobile video gaming.

Over time, subtle hints are being dropped by those working closely with Apple that the folks in Cupertino are becoming increasingly more irritated by the references to Apple's iPhone/iPhone as popular gaming systems.

From Apple Insider:

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John Carmack, creator of the classic PC game Doom, described working with Apple as a "rollercoaster ride," and suggested that company executives are not happy about the popularity of gaming on the iPhone and iPod touch.

Carmack says the top suits at Apple aren't pleased with the direction mobile gaming is taking as far as their devices are concerned: "They're not proud of the iPhone being a game machine, they wish it was something else."

This news, of course, comes as anything but music to the ears of avid gamers like myself who find themselves playing less PSP now that a flurry of phenomenal games have found their way to the iPhone. Although other mobile gaming systems present some advantages over the iPhone, the convenience factor of having an outstanding phone and a terrific gaming system all in one can't be replicated elsewhere.

But can Apple really afford to reject a movement that has become larger than their hopes for the iPhone - those that, dare I say, arrogantly regard the iPhone as "above the fray" of lowly hand held gaming devices. Carmack thinks Apple will have little choice but to change its attitude over time.

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Carmack believes the executives at Apple have had to embrace the iPhone/Touch as a gaming platform as a result of the overwhelming popularity that games have enjoyed at the App store. Apple executive John Geleynse was quoted earlier this year as saying "it's not a phone, it's a console experience."

But don't look for that detachable keyboard that gamers are begging for anytime soon. Apple is going to make us wait while they "warm to the idea" of the writing that's clearly already on the wall.

Image via Slashgear

$99 8GB iPhone 3GS for Christmas?

pauldanielash — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:22:56 GMT

Is AT&T getting ready to roll out a $99 iPhone 3GS in time for the holidays? "Boy Genius", of Engadget fame, is asserting that two anonymous sources told him they are doing just that, as a "way of combating the DROID madness.�

Verizon's new Droid line of Google Android smartphones have stolen some of the iPhone hype as we move into the busy holiday season. Verizon would like to post big numbers to build momentum for the new brand, and it's not inconceivable that Apple could be trying for a knockout punch. The Droid Eris, HTC's low end Android 1.5 smartphone, lists for $99, and positioning an iPhone 3GS at that price point would make the newest iPhone competitive at all levels.

Boy Genius wrote:

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Definitely not confirmed, but rather interesting nonetheless. We�ve heard now from two sources that AT&T, and we guess Apple, are contemplating launching an 8GB iPhone 3GS at the $99 price point before Christmas. One source said this was AT&T�s way of combating the DROID madness.

There's more than a few problems with this rumor, however. Apple has up until now announced new iPhones in the summer months, and the rollout of a low-end 3GS model would leave no real reason for the whole iPhone 3G line to even exist.

It's not impossible that Apple's thinking of something that off-the-wall, but that doesn't mean it's likely.

Apple Readying RFID Enabled iPhone?

Messany — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:41:42 GMT

Einar Rosenberg, Chief Technology Officer of Narian Technologies, is being widely quoted today about speculation that Apple is currently tinkering with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip for possible inclusion in the next generation iPhone.

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Had to share this news. A highly reliable source has informed me that Apple has built some prototypes of the next gen iPhone with an RFID reader built in and they have seen it in action. So its not full NFC but its a start for real service discovery and I'm told that the reaction was very positive that we can expect this in the next gen iPhone.

But of the many things Apple is likely working on these days (hopefully everything from a tablet to a physical keyboard for gamers) how high of a priority should an RFID chip be? To some, its the highest priority imaginable. To others, its a gateway to functionality that, while cool, just doesn't seem to fit with the iPhone.

From MacRumors:

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RFID is a catch-all term that describes a vast array of technologies and standards. RFID tags can be relatively large and battery-powered, such as ones used in toll collection, to small "passive" tags that can be embedded into credit cards, drivers licenses (called "Enhanced Drivers Licenses" in the U.S.), passports, or stuck onto a piece of merchandise.

Apple's chief impetus for seeking an RFID enabled iPhone (and that's assuming they really are) is almost certainly the potential that would be born of turning the device into a convenient payment tool - a situation that essentially helps the iPhone further reduce the patience of on-the-go consumers who can already barely stand the wait for their soft drink to be dispensed after dropping a few quarters into the vending machine.

Sounds good to me.

In some parts of the world, but primarily in Asia, technology has been used in this fashion for quite some time. So, in this regard, Apple isn't ahead of the curve, it's behind. So if successfully implemented, RFID capabilities could make the iPhone far more attractive to the masses than it already is.

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Currently, cell-phone usage of RFID technology is centered around Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC has three main usage scenarios: a phone acting as an RFID tag; a phone acting as an RFID reader; and peer to peer communication (P2P).

Apple's potential foray into this arena could conceivable change the landscape of mobile technology in the US. And that's exactly why I buy into the rumors that Apple wants and will probably roll out an RFID-enabled next generation iPhone in 2010.

iPhone RFID: object-based media from timo on Vimeo.

Image via Barcodesinc.com

Apple Officially Going to War Against Jailbreaking

Messany — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:40:09 GMT

Apple is officially in the market for a new top cop on their jailbreak police force. With the booming business that is jailbreaking only growing bigger by the day, Apple is planning to seriously crack down on the ease with which hackers exploit the iPhone platform and modify their devices' operating systems.

And Apple isn't making any secret of its intentions. In fact, a new position is posted for all to see on the company's website. They are hoping in the very near future to fill the position of "iPhone OS Platform Security Manager" - aka, a jailbreak cop.

Apple Insider reports that "The company is looking for someone to oversee its team which ensures secure booting and installation of the iPhone OS and protecting and hardening it against outside threats."

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It's not clear whether the position is new, or if Apple is looking to replace someone on an existing team. The Santa Clara Valley job was posted on Oct. 16, 2009.

It seems plausible that this is an entirely new position altogether at the company, as Apple is likely surprised with how easily and readily the iPhone is being jailbroken by more users than they can possibly imagine. Consequently, the obvious purpose of this position is to invent and erect as many barriers to jailbreaking as possible.

Sounds like Apple is really going to war with jailbreakers this time.

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It has been a long back-and-forth battle between Apple and hackers since the iPhone debuted in 2007. While those working to crack the phone have, until now, been able to maintain their ability to run unauthorized code, Apple, at the moment, appears to have the upper hand. The most recently updated iPhone 3GS, released mid-cycle in October, requires what is known as a "tethered jailbreak," meaning that the iPhone must be attached to a computer via USB and have a hack applied each time it is restarted.

Image via revolver360

Thanks to Melech518 for the heads up!