Apple mini-USB plug seriously by-packaged
October 10, 2008
Wow. You know how Apple issued that recall for their mini-USB plugs? Well, it seems now the company is sending out replacements for the devices. However, check out the box that thing came in.
I think there’s a key word in the name of the product. You know, “mini.” That box could’ve fit at least twenty of those things, most likely more. I guess there’s comfort in knowing your shipment was well packaged and won’t be broken during travel, but come on! that is ridiculous!
All that was in the box was the plug and an instruction sheet. Apparently, whether you don’t return the recalled plug, Apple may charge your credit card for it. That’s awfully threatening sounding, don’t you think? particularly when dealing with a defective product of their own!
[via GottaBeMobile]
[Source] Brenda Stokes
iPhone Developer Tech Talks launch
October 9, 2008
In an effort to bring iPhone programming knowledge to more citizens, Apple has launched the iPhone Developer Tech Talk World Tour. These free developer conferences will bring insight into the technology that goes behind iPhone apps and how to use the tools to create your own.
This is what Apple has to say about it:
Don’t miss that rare opportunity. The event is free, but space is limited.
Apple technology evangelists and engineers will soon be traveling the globe bringing iPhone development expertise to a city near you. Learn about the tools and technologies you’ll use to create great iPhone applications, thereupon work with the experts to optimize your cipher, refine your user interface, and apply the knowledge you gain from the sessions to enhance the capabilities of your iPhone application.
You can expect lectures on iPhone User Interface Design, Objective C and Game Development. The Tour will kick off in San Francisco on October 22nd. Other cities include Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle. A few cities in Europe, Asia Pacific and India are included as well.
[via MacRumors]
[Source] Brenda Stokes
PhoneTag offers actual visual voicemail
October 9, 2008
One feature that the iPhone is known for is its Visual Voicemail. However, PhoneTag is now offering its new service that is certain to please iPhone users. In fact, our sister site, SlashGear recently tested the service on an iPhone 3G, and what chases is how the device faired.
The PhoneTag service makes it so your voicemails are forward to their system to be transcribed into text to be sent to you via SMS or mail. that way you can read your voicemails at your own convenience. The system was rather accurate and only really had trouble with strange names or when a lot of wind noise interfered with the recording.
Most phone systems can use the system and there are two main plans available including a $9.95/month plan that includes 40 messages and a $29.95/month plan that allows for unlimited messages. The pay-as-you-go plan makes it so you only pay for the messages you use on the service at a rate of $.35/message. PhoneTag was rather impressive and will no doubt serve as a serious competitor to Visual Voicemail.
[via SlashGear]
[Source] Brenda Stokes
Big chunk of iPhone users switched carriers to use it
October 7, 2008
We all know the iPhone 3G is a popular device. But we just learned yesterday that one third of its users actually switched carriers to use it.
According to a report put out by the NPD Group, Apple lured by many customers from different carriers, and encouraged many to join AT&T just to use their smartphone. Apple plus made up 17% of the smartphone market for August. that is an 11% increase prior to the launch of the iPhone 3G.
Another interesting tidbit is that the overall cost of smartphones has dropped significantly to an average of $174 since that date last year. Fortune is additionally now reporting that Apple has reached their goal of selling 10 million iPhones in the past year based on ID numbers from individual iPhones.
[via mocoNews]
[Source] Brenda Stokes
Heart Rate Monitor app hits App Store
October 7, 2008
It’s difficult to keep up the App Store these days as there are just so many cool apps to talk about. However, that one demanded some attention. It’s a heart rate monitor and it uses the iPhone’s built-in microphone to detect your heart beat.
that is one of those cases where something so simple is really pretty smart. All you have to do is hold your iPhone to your chest or under your jaw with the headphone microphone. The iPhone app thereupon “listens” to your heartbeat and takes a measurement of it.
This is a great view for those that have a goal heart rate or wish to keep track of it while on the go. that is plus a good thing to have for pregnant women, who need to keep their heart rate under a convinced level when exercising.
[via Ubergizmo]
[Source] Brenda Stokes
iPhone 2.1 makes for web-app use without MobileSafari
October 6, 2008
Web apps is a well known part of the iPhone’s system and paves the way for the ability to run applications within the MobileSafari browser. Up until recently, we all thought that meant web-oriented apps mandatory Safari to run. However, with the release of iPhone 2.1, a sneaky new feature rolled out that allows for fullscreen web-app use without launching Safari at all.
Let me assemble a word of note, however. It is only web-apps that have been coded to go fullscreen that will work without Safari. The concept is to compose the web apps feel more like native iPhone applications.
If you want to see your apps in fullscreen, try out the following step-by-step guide from IntoMobile:
- Fire up your iPhone’s Safari browser
- Navigate to “http://webapp.net.free.fr/Demo/Index.html”
- Save the webpage/web-app to your homescreen
- Hit the “+” button along the bottom navigation bar
- Select “Save to Homescreen”
- Go back to your homescreen and fire up the newly saved web-app
- Enjoy using the web-app in full-screen mode with 100% less Safari - Notice the absence of any browser navigation controls (URL field, bookmark button,etc.)
[via IntoMobile]
[Source] Brenda Stokes
iPhone Firmware 2.2 sports additional features
October 6, 2008
Just when I got writing about the the relatively unknown fullscreen web app feature, that comes across my screen! The iPhone 2.2 firmware update apparently had a few secrets of its own that are worth mentioning.
Developers have located these secret features, which are like little nuggets of iPhone treasure. Okay, so possibly I’m exaggerating, but it’s still pretty cool. One thing uncovered are Emoji, a anatomy of Japanese icon. With 461 characters included on the iPhone 3G now, it is likely that was to please the Japanese market. The icons can be used mid-sentence or as an emoticon of sorts.
Another feature is Street View support in Google Maps. that is a must-have whether the phone is to stay on level with the upcoming T-Mobile G1, the first Android phone. One last feature unearthed is the ability to turn off auto-correction while typing. So, whether you always found the predicative text feature always guessed what you wanted to say wrong, you can turn it off for good.
[via Electricpig]
[Source] Brenda Stokes
