August 13th, 2009

Conversion has never been so much fun

Posted by David Morgenstern @ 10:13 pm

Categories: iPhone 3.0, iPod touch

Tags: Fun, App, Tapbots, Robots, E-books, Smart Phones, Emerging Technologies, Personal Technology, Consumer Electronics, David Morgenstern

Some software programs have a certain “wow” factor. They are so much fun and so stylish that they can showcase the hardware platform. Who would think that an unit conversion utility could sell the iPhone/iPod Touch?

Tapbots’ Convertbot is from the collaboration of interface designer Mark Jardine and programmer Paul Haddad. They call their applications “utility robots” that aim to be “easy to use, focused, and lots of fun.”

Certainly, Convertbot takes unit conversion to a new height. It moves from a virtual, animated click-wheel interface to a keypad. Little icons move about, appearing to slide in and out of the sides of the screen. Amazing.

There are lots of little niceties in the app, such as the automatic updating of currency exchange rates (according to the company blog, users of the forthcoming Version 1.4 will be able to turn this feature off).

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August 10th, 2009

Apple App Store to be bigger than Wal-mart?

Posted by David Morgenstern @ 11:29 pm

Categories: Analyst, Android, Android Market, Blackberry, Kindle, iPhone 3.0, iPhone Killer, iPhone OS 3.0, iPod touch

Tags: Apple iPhone, Developer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Mobile, Apple Inc., Flurry Inc., E-books, Smart Phones, Personal Technology, Consumer Electronics

A developer of mobile application deployment and analytic tools says project starts for the iPhone show no sign of slowing. According to its figures, Apple’s App Store could have more than 100K titles by the end of the year, putting it into Wal-Mart territory.

The data comes from a post in Flurry Inc.’s blog by Peter Farago, the company’s vice president of marketing. Flurry makes a platform of analytics, deployment and monetization tools for mobile developers. The company said that Flurry Analytics is often integrated early into the development cycle, perhaps 6 months before the app ships.

Farago compared its New Project Starts statistic to new starts in the real estate market. He said it provides a reliable indicator for the strength of the application pipeline heading to market.

… Specifically, it measures 3rd party developer support for the App Store, a key to Apple’s iPhone strategy, and support which has been increasingly sought after by companies like Google, RIM and Palm.

Over the last six months, the number of available applications in the App Store has more than doubled, from 25,000 applications in January to over 65,000 in July, which equates to 14% month-over-month growth. Flurry’s month-over-month rate for New Project Starts has been holding steady at 30% for the last several months. Assuming that roughly half of those new project starts are for new applications, the pipeline to the App Store shows no signs of slowing.

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August 3rd, 2009

iPhone OS 3.0.1 jailbreak, unlock and tether-able

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 8:30 am

Categories: Jailbreak, Software Update, Tethering, Unlock, iPhone, iPhone 3.0

Tags: Apple iPhone, Smart Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Jason D. O'Grady

Apple’s freshly-released iPhone OS 3.0.1 update fixes a bug that allows arbitrary code execution via SMS messages. The bug, exposed by Charlie Miller and Collin Mulliner at last week’s Blackhat conference is particularly nasty because it allows a hacker to root an iPhone via a series of text messages — which are push, and not optional.

The good news is that 3.0.1 doesn’t disable tethering and you can still jailbreak and unlock an iPhone running the new software. Needless to say, all iPhones should be updated to the 3.0.1 software (available via iTunes) as soon as possible now that the hack is in the wild.

July 14th, 2009

Bits from Apple's iPhone deployment guide for the enterprise

Posted by David Morgenstern @ 9:56 am

Categories: 3G, iPhone 3.0, iPhone 3GS, iPhone OS 3.0, iPod touch

Tags: Apple iPhone, Device, Apple Inc., Configuration Profile, Smart Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, David Morgenstern

Following the release of the iPhone Software 3.0, Apple also presented corporate customers with its first edition of the iPhone OS Enterprise Deployment Guide. This manual is packed with instructions for setting up mass quantities of iPhones and iPod Touches as well as some interesting “important” notes and tips.

Here are some of these items that the guide considered important as well as some other items I found interesting:

First was a warning about the time it takes to remotely wipe an iPhone. This action removes all data and config info from the device, which is restored to its factory settings. But this all takes a while, a number of hours depending on how much memory the iPhone contains.

Important:  With some devices, such as older iPhone models and iPod touch, wiping can take approximately one hour for each 8 GB of device capacity. Connect these devices to a power supply before wiping. If the device turns off due to low power, the wiping process resumes when the device is connected to power.

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June 30th, 2009

iPhone OS and SDK 3.1 betas distributed to developers

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 9:30 pm

Categories: Developer, SDK, iPhone, iPhone 3.0, iPhone 3GS

Tags: Apple iPhone, Developer, Operating System, SDK, Video, Beta, Smart Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Jason D. O'Grady

Apple made betas of iPhone OS 3.1 (build 7C97d) and iPhone SDK 3.1 (build 9M2736a) available to developers today on its iPhone Developer Connection Web site.

According to QuickPwn.com changes include:

• The baseband has been updated to 5.08.01 - ultrasn0w users should not use the iPhone OS 3.1 beta, otherwise their iPhones could be permanently locked!
• iPhone 3GS - When you’re trimming your videos you now have the option of saving the original video by tapping the “Save as copy” button.
• Voice Control is finally working over bluetooth now!
• When you move your icons around the iPhone vibrates
• MMS is enabled by default but does not work for AT&T users
• The AT&T profile is updated to 4.2
• Improvements to OpenGL and Quartz
• There’s now a VideoEditorController API - Allows third party apps to call up video editing UI
• Video picker API

June 26th, 2009

Review: iSkin CERULEAN F1 stereo bluetooth headset

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 12:03 pm

Categories: Accessory, Bluetooth, iPhone, iPhone 3.0

Tags: Apple iPhone, Audio Quality, Headset, Bluetooth Headset, Stereo Bluetooth Headset, A2DP, F1s, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Cable

One of the most powerful new features in iPhone OS 3.0 is also its least discussed: Bluetooth 2.0, more specifically, the A2DP (a.k.a. stereo Bluetooth) profile. A2DP allows an iPhone running 3.0 to transmit stereo audio to a Bluetooth receiver — enabling an entire category of stereo BT headphones to work with the iPhone.

A2DP allows the use of stereo Bluetooth headsets with your iPhone. You can listen to the iPod application and even use it for phone calls — including Skype. It can also be used to transmit audio to compatible BT car stereos.

I’ve been testing the new CERULEAN F1 ($99, pictured) stereo Bluetooth headset from iSkin and I’m impressed by the sound quality and its ease of use. I was initially relegated to using the F1s with my Android-powered G1 phone because the iPhone lacked A2DP. I began testing the F1s with iPhone when OS 3.0 was distributed to developers.

I have to admit to being skeptical initially about stereo Bluetooth because of the audio problems and dropouts that plagued many of the early Bluetooth headsets. Boy, have we come a long way since then. Audio quality is good and clean with the F1s and I was able to walk almost 20-feet away from my iPhone before I got my first dropout.

The battery is estimated at eight hours for music, but I haven’t yet run into that limit yet because I’ve been using the F1s mostly while working out and bike riding — where they really shine. If you don’t like dealing with cables and having to be tethered to your iPhone, BT headphones are an indeal solution.

The Type A (”micro”) USB port on the F1s is a minor annoyance (I’d prefer mini USB) but now that it’s a pseudo-standard for charging mobile phones, its here to stay. I’d also like it better if the cable that connects the two earpieces came out of the bottom, but other than that I have little bad to say.

Sound  quality and range make the CERULEAN F1 a great companion to the iPhone, especially if you want to jam cable free.

June 26th, 2009

iPhone OS 3.0 disables purchases for AIM logins

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 8:35 am

Categories: AOL, iPhone, iPhone 3.0, iPhone 3GS, iPhone OS 3.0, iTunes, iTunes Store

Tags: Apple iPhone, AOL Instant Messenger, America Online Inc., Screen Name, Apple Inc., iPhone OS 3.0, Jason D. O'Grady

It seems that in iPhone OS 3.0, you can no longer make purchases from the iPhone when using an AOL screen name as your store account.

In iTunes when entering a password for a purchase, you can use either an AOL screen name or Apple ID — the iPhone has no such differentiation. Of course your past purchases and gift card balance is tied to the store account, so it’s not as easy as just creating a new account.

To fix, I talked to a few people at Apple Support.  Eventually they were able to port my AOL screen name over to an Apple ID of the same name, and now things are peachy.  Had to go through a lot of rigamarole, though.

Tip: Dave Comeau

June 25th, 2009

iPhone Tip: The home button triple-click

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 10:27 am

Categories: How-to, iPhone, iPhone 3.0, iPhone 3GS, iPhone OS 3.0

Tags: Apple iPhone, Screen, Telecom & Utilities, Jason D. O'Grady

A quick primer on the new home button functionality courtesy of iPhone OS 3.0:

A single click returns you to the last apps screen you launched an app from, but if you are in an apps screen already, it brings you back to the home screen. If you are already on the home screen, it takes you to the spotlight search screen.

Instead of assigning “Double-click the Home Button” (found in Settings > General > Home) to Search, you can instead use it for something more useful, like Phone Favorites. To get to spotlight search quickly from within an app, triple-click in this rhythm “Tap - TapTap.” The first backs you out of the app, the second brings you home, the third into Phone favorites (or whatever you set).

Of course, holding the home button brings up Voice Control - arguably the best addition to the 3GS.

Tip: Stuart Pomerantz

June 24th, 2009

Apple's Remote app adds gesture controls for Apple TV

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 10:44 pm

Categories: AirTunes, App Store, Apple TV, iPhone, iPhone 3.0, iPhone 3GS, iTunes

Tags: Apple Inc., Apple TV, Media Center PCs, TVs, Tv & Home Theater, Digital Music, Digital Media, Personal Technology, Home Entertainment, Consumer Electronics

Lurking under the hood of Apple’s freshly-updated Remote app for iPhone are the beginnings of a powerful media center remote control application. Say goodbye to Apple’s skinny, white Front Row remote because you can now using your iPhone (or iPod touch) to control your Apple TV instead.

Apple quietly-revved its previously iTunes-only Remote application to version 1.3 which now controls both the Apple TV and AirTunes connected speakers — and it’s a potent combination. In fact, it’s peculiar that Apple chose to label such a major revision to Remote as simple dot release, it’s certainly worthy of being called 2.0.

Remote 1.3 has the ability to control the Apple TV just like it did with iTunes before it. Just launch the app and connect to your Apple TV’s library via settings (if you haven’t already, now’s a good time to connect to your iTunes library as well), then add the iPhone as a remote on the Apple TV (Settings > Remotes). Where it gets compelling is a new “Control” interface in Remote that allows you to use simple gestures on the iPhone to control the Apple TV.

With a flick of your finger, you can browse through your media collection or search for new movies and TV shows on the iTunes Store. Tap to select and play. To find something specific, use the QWERTY keyboard and tap out the title.

The updated Remote app just made the Apple TV about 1000 times easier to use and that sound you hear is thousands of dinky white Front Row remotes being tossed into the trash. TechCrunch has posted two videos of Remote 1.3 in action and all the features are listed on both the product page and on the App Store.

Update: Remote was able to control AppleTV before version 1.3. The gesture and AirTunes control is new.Thanks to @yellowhandman for the correction.

June 24th, 2009

How-to: Enable Emoji on your iPhone

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 9:24 am

Categories: App Store, Hack, How-to, iPhone, iPhone 3.0, iPhone 3GS

Tags: Apple iPhone, Apple Inc., Emoji, Keyboards, Wi-Fi, Blogging, Wireless And Mobility, Hardware, Peripherals, Internet

I have to admit to having second thoughts about blogging about this.

No, it’s not some super-secret new piece of hardware that will get the attention of Apple legal, it’s a simple software hack that should have been in the iPhone OS from the beginning.

It gave me pause because it’s such a fun little hack that I didn’t want to publicize it and have Apple close the loophole. Oh well, here it goes.

Emoji is the Japanese term for the picture characters or emoticons used in Japanese wireless messages and Web pages. It’s common in Japan, but Apple specifically excludes it from iPhones in the U.S.

You can enable Emoji for all applications on the iPhone by installing a free application called Spell Numbers from the App Store then following these instructions.

Once you do, you’ll see a new globe icon in the lower left of all keyboards on the iPhone that, when pressed, gives you access to 25 pages of Emoji icons like those pictured above. Tapping the globe again takes you back to the regular text keyboard.

Tip: Tom Hesser