Is the iPhone the most user-friendly telephone on the market..?
It's not (just) a Telephone – It's the iPhone 3G
Lots of people spend untold energy and time discussing what iPhone can and cannot do compared to its competitors HTC, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Blackberry etc.
Some are of the opinion that iPhone is the best thing since sliced bread, and others think it is a lot of hoopla about nothing. But what is the real strategy behind Apple’s iPhone product?
iPhone is not first and foremost a telephone...
iPhone is a small computer and media player that you also can make phone calls with.
Apple has made the first handheld computer platform, which some are claiming is indeed highly user friendly. Anybody who has had dealings with smart phones, PDA’s and pocket PC’s in the mobile and computer industry knows that it is not always plain sailing handling some of these devices. You will not fall in love with a smart phone that isn't all that smart...
On the iPhone you can read e-books, call for free on SKYPE, play electric guitar, play driving games or poker, check TV programming, measure if your shelf is leveled right and "much much more...".
You can check your Twitter account or e-mail, surf the web and so on. You can also create your own programs using Apple SDK.
Several free or paid ad-on software features, such as video recording, make it possible to give some personality to your iPhone, which is not always something that can easily be done with the average cell phone.
The selection of free or shareware software applications out there is tremendous already, but still they are nothing compared to what will be available, sometimes for free, and sometimes for purchase , when Apple launches their shop for
iPhone software within their AppStore.
Lots of the hacked iPhone software available now can be characterized as hobby projects, but Apple has opened up a platform for developers through the Software Development Kit for
iPhone. Lots of serious software developers have entered the race to be the first and best
iPhone developers in the market.
This is where the iPhone strategy differs from your normal marketing approach.
People are used to paying for music, movies and tv shows on their iPod or iPhone already, at the iTunes Stores. All evidence however points in the direction of the idea that user friendliness and shopping selection in the AppStore will be in a class of its own, and will differ dramatically from what the other cell phone producers can offer.
Just like with the iPod, Apple is building a closed eco system around the product.
iPhone software will only be purchased through the AppStore, not very user friendly but at least it works to their own advantage... This is how the iPhone will become a money machine, that will tap into your account every time you just have to have that application you need.
With the 2.0 version of the iPhone release on July 11th Apple is targeting the business segment of the market as well. Integration towards Microsoft Exchange, and high levels of security and support for push technology enable new email messages to be automatically delivered to your iPhone. At the same time the changes you make in your contact list or calendar at work will be updated on the iPhone.
Eleven Things You Will Hate About the Iphone 3G
The iPhone 1.0 and 2.0 have been on the market now for a short while and have won fandom from many users. However, one would expect some new features on the 3G.
There are several features that Steve Jobs has not talked about when launching this latest version of iPhone, identical to the 2.0 version except for the additions of 3G and GPS. So what am I complaining about? Why do I just not get excited and tell everybody how great this new Apple gadget is?
Well, first of all, this is a cellphone, and should compete with other cellphones and their features and capabilities. It is only fair to let people know that there are cell phones on the market that can offer things that Apple iPhone can not.
I am not saying that iPhone 3G is a bad product; in fact I would say the contrary: it is a great all -in-one gadget, has been improved by its 3G and GPS abilities, which maybe in fact put it in the front line when it comes to smart cell phones. However, there are still some features I would like to see on this phone, that would at least allow me to “talk” to the other devices I have at home and work.
1. No MMS. Nothing was mentioned about MMS during Jobs' presentation at all, and there were nothing online telling consumers whether it wouldl be available in the version 2.0 of
iPhone.
Several blogs have announced that they will integrate their services directly on the cell phone with the option to load pictures and text. We think that the telecom industry will miss this feature most, as they will lose their chance to offer more expensive animated picture services on their network. The opening for third party software on the iPhone makes it possible for the network providers to add this service on if they feel inclined to do so.
2. No video recording. The camera on the iPhone is more than capable of recording videos, and with up to 16 GB storage there should be enough space to record more than most of us need.
But there is no video function, and this is a pity since Apple makes superior video editing software for their computers. If a programmer wants to, he or she can make a video recorder through the camera available. So for those interested in creating software for video recording on iPhone, start right away!
3. No docking station. The tiny plastic stand that comes together with version 1.0 of the
iPhone is now an extra add on. This is the same development as happened with the iPod, where Apple went from full package with charger and docking station to a package where you hardly even got a power cable included.
4. No video conference. This is maybe the least missed features on the
iPhone as this is used very little used in any case.
5. Still only 2 Megapixles in the camera. It is a myth that more megapixles make better pictures, but all other things being equal, frankly it would be better to have more mega pixles on the camera.
iPhone takes very good pictures with the small camera available, so it is really a shame that Apple does not provide more megapixles on the camera than they do.
6. No wireless iTunes syncronization. You still have to connect through the cable to transfer music. With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G the cable should have been history for the small updates one have to perform daily, like music f.inst. The first synchronization of the
iPhone has to be performed by cable, as 16 GB will take a while on the Wi-Fi, but the rest of the time should have been able to be performed through wireless connection.
7. No Adobe Flash.
iPhone has a very good internet browser. It is so good that it is used for most mobile traffic to Google, this despite that
iPhone is nowhere close to dominate the market on the cell phone side. It is therefore disappointing that Flash is not supported on the
iPhone, and even more disappointing when you want to browse a web page that you need to see a flash movie before you can go further into the page.
8. No Java. This means that you still can not use several net banks used around the world on
iPhone net browser.
9. No extra Bluetooth functions. Bluetooth on the existing version 1.0 of
iPhone is limited in use. You can not send files between
iPhone and other cell phones. Nor can it transfer between the
iPhones or other
iPhones..There is no option for using bluetooth head phones and there is no chance to connect to a PC.
10. No special price for you, my friend! This marks the end where you can take your stronger currency and buy a
iPhone in US shops and then hack it home. Sure, the hackers will find ways to avoid the blockings made on the
iPhone, but you will need to pay anyway. The reason people could buy the first version of
iPhone cheap, was because the consumer could sign the subscription at home. The consumer did not commit to anything in the shop, and this opened for using local SIM-cards. In the next version of the
iPhone, the consumer will demand you sign a subscription in the shop before you can take the
iPhone with you home.
11. Language selection. It is almost not understandable how Apple leaves the Arabic language out of its language selection. Arabic language is the 5th largest language in the world, and has a high potential user group with a great purchase power. So I still not get it Steve Jobs, why did you not include this in your new gadget?
Ten Things You Will Hate About the
iPhone 2.0
1. No MMS. There were no words mentioned about MMS during the presentation at all, and there are no net pages that mention whether it will be available in version 2.0 of
iPhone. Several blog sites have announced that they will integrate their services direct on the cell phone with the option to load pictures and text. We think that the telecom industry will miss this feature most, as they will loose their chance to offer more expensive animated picture services on their network. The opening for third party software on the iPhone makes it possible for the network providers to add this service on if they feel for it.
2. No video recording. The camera on the
iPhone is more than capable to record videos, and with up to 16 GB storage it should be enough storage to record more than most of us need. But there is no video function, and this is a petty since Apple makes superior video editing software for their computers. If any programmers want to, he can make a video recorder through the camera available. So for those who wants to make a software for video recording, it is just to start right away.
3. No docking station. The tiny plastic stand that comes together with version 1.0 of the
iPhone is now extra add on. This is the same development as happened with the iPod, where Apple went from full package with charger and docking station to a package where you hardly got a power cable included.
4. No video conference. This is maybe the least missed features in the
iPhone as this is a very little used feature in the network providers product portfolio.
5. Still only 2 Megapixles in the camera. It is a myth that more megapixles makes better pictures, but as long as all other factors are the same, it would be better with more mega pixles on the camera.
iPhone makes very good pictures with the small camera available, so it is really a shame that Apple does not provide more megapixles on the camera than they do.
6. No wirless iTunes syncronization. You still have to connect through the cable to transfer music. With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G the cable should have been history for the small updates one have to perform daily, like music f.inst. The first synchronization of the iPhone has to be performed by cable, as 16 GB will take a while on the Wi-Fi, but the rest of the time should have been able to be performed through wireless connection.
7. No Adobe Flash. iPhone has a very good internet browser. It is so good that it is used for most mobile traffic to Google, this despite that
iPhone is nowhere close to dominate the market on the cell phone side. It is therefore disappointing that Flash is not supported on the
iPhone, and even more disappointing when you want to browse a web page that you need to see a flash movie before you can go further into the page.
8. No Java. This means that you still can not use several net banks used around the world on
iPhone net browser.
9. No extra Bluetooth functions. Bluetooth on the existing version 1.0 of
iPhone is limited in use. You can not send files between
iPhone and other cell phones. Nor can it transfer between the
iPhone or other iPhones..There is no option for using bluetooth head phones and there is no chance to connect to a PC.
10. No special price for you, my friend! This marks the end where you can take your stronger currency and buy a iPhone in US shops and then hack it home. Sure, the hackers will find ways to avoid the blockings made on the
iPhone, but you will need to pay anyway. The reason people could buy the first version of
iPhone cheap, was because the consumer could sign the subscription at home. The consumer did not commit to anything in the shop, and this opened for using local SIM-cards. In the next version of the
iPhone, the consumer will demand you sign a subscription in the shop before you can take the
iPhone with you home.
Watch Out When Buying the New Version of
iPhone 3G
The old version that has been available around the world as a hacked version, because it otherwise would not work in other countries than SIM cards bought in the USA.
Up til now it has been possible to go into an Apple store in the USA and take with you an iPhone without any subscription for a network provider.
The next version of
iPhone with 3G net and assisted GPS will not be sold with this opportunity. Subscription will have to be signed in the store, and will last for 18 months in the USA. There might be a chance to open the new iPhone for other SIM cards, but the network operator will regardless get his money for the subscription.
A lot of auctions appeared on the eBay internet site after the launch of
iPhone 3G. On the 11th of July the
iPhone 3G was launched for sale in around 70 countries around the world.
If you buy an
iPhone 3G from an eBay auction now, it is not easy to tell what you will get in the mail. In the best case you will pay for another person to stand in line to purchase a cell phone locked to a network in the USA.
Future Apple Devices Looking to Solar Power
Apple has filed a patent for integrating solar cells into portable devices by placing them underneath the layers of a touch-sensitive display, according to the delivered patent application.
Solar power could help make devices truly portable, freeing from the need for wires to connect them to a power supply.
The larger the solar cell panel is the better it is for generating electricity, but as the patent "Solar cells on portable devices" warns, after allowing space for buttons, screens and a way to hold the device, only a small area is left on most devices for solar cells.
One of the ways around this dilemma is suggested in the patent as to stack a touch-sensitive layer, a display and solar panel on top of one another. That could make Apple's
iPhone and iPod Touch good candidates for such a power supply, as the display occupies almost the entire face of those devices.
The use of solar powered charging in portable devices is starting to get more attention, for more immediate consumer use as well.
When Vodafone announced its plan in April 2008, to reduce its emissions of the greenhouse gas CO2 by 50 percent by 2020, it also announced plans for solar-powered phone chargers and universal phone chargers for Vodafone-branded handsets.
At the recent ITU Telecom Africa 2008 conference, Ugandan Minister for Communications and Information and Communication Technologies Ham-Mukasa Mulira talked about trials of solar-powered charging conducted there, which had showed promising results.
Create, Design & Launch Your Iphone Application
The Apple
iPhone is an amazing device that invites creativity. You've probably said to yourself: 'I wish I could do that on my
iPhone.'
With the
iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK), programmers can make your ideas reality - even if you yourself don't know the difference between a C-pointer and a SQLite database.
More than 200
iPhone application projects have already been posted on Elance.com. Check out these tips in this article to get your project kick-started.
We focus on the development of applications for the Apple
iPhone, and we asked Nick Dalton,
iPhone SDK specialist, to give Elance buyers a few tips on how to scope and post an iPhone Application project. Here’s what he had to say:
The
iPhone is an amazing device that invites creativity. If you’re an
iPhone owner I’m sure you’ve said to yourself: ‘I wish I could do that on my iPhone, or I have a great idea for an
iPhone application’.
With the
iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK), programmers can make your ideas reality – even if you yourself don’t know the difference between a C-pointer and a SQLite database. But before you go ahead and post your application idea to the buzzing
iPhone project area on www.Elance,com. here are some pointers to get your project kick-started:
Study the Masters
Apple has already spent a lot of time thinking about how to present information and build interactive applications on the
iPhone. The applications that come with the iPhone are the results of this research. Study them in great detail and try to apply as many of the user interface metaphors as possible to your application.
Not only will Apple be flattered if you imitate the user interface in their applications, but they actually mandate it to a great level of detail as described in their Human Interface Guidelines.
Dream in Color Screens
Most applications for the
iPhone will be very visual. Therefore it makes sense to provide your requirements as screen images or sketches. You don’t have to be a graphics artist to do this effectively. An iPhone programmer is looking for the following information:
- The type of layout each screen should have
- The buttons on the screens
- The actions associated with each button
The exact shape and format of your screen sketches is secondary. As long as they are readable, it’s a great way to communicate your application design to a programmer.
Be Realistic About Your Budget
Look at other
iPhone projects posted on Elance to get a sense for the bid amounts on these projects. Read the descriptions of these projects to see if they seem to be larger or smaller projects than what you have in mind. If you set your budget to under $500 for something that is realistically going to take a programmer two months to implement, you are not likely to attract many bidders.
From a programming perspective, some things are easy to do on the
iPhone, while other seemingly simple things are very time consuming. For example the beautiful cover-flow animation used in the music application on the
iPhone should be simple to use in other applications. Unfortunately you can’t. If you want this animation within your application it will have to be written from scratch, probably costing a one month of work.
If you talk to an approved iPhone developer early in your application design process you can learn how to get most out of your budget by avoiding the things that are really difficult to do on the iPhone.
Don’t Be Too Original
iPhone users already know how to do certain tasks on their phones by convention. For example, if you tap an item in a list that has a > icon next to it, you expect to be taken to another screen with more information about that item. If your application needs similar functionality, don’t be creative and come up with a new way to solve the same problem. Use the conventions already established by Apple.
New conventions are difficult to establish especially with the touch interface because there is no way to discover how your application works on the iPhone. Unlike a website where you can hover with the mouse pointer over areas that look like you can interact with them and a tool tip or the status bar will reveal some clues to you.
Know Your Limitations
The current version of the iPhone SDK, which is used to write applications for the
iPhone, has many restrictions and limitations. Some of them are common sense, e.g. you can’t send text messages from an application. Imagine an application that sends out thousands of text messages without your knowledge, who is going to pay the phone bill for that?
Other restrictions are maddening: applications cannot access the log of phone calls, or interact in any way with the calendar or the music stored on the
iPhone.
To Apple’s credit, the iPhone SDK is an amazing piece of software especially given that it was publicly released as a Beta just three months ago. Some of the shortcomings listed above will likely be addressed in future releases of the SDK.
As a buyer with an idea for an iPhone application, you should educate yourself about these limitations before you spend too much time designing an application that is impossible to implement. Talk to a developer or company that specializes in iPhone development (and there are many available on Elance) and they can help you get on the right track from the start.
About
Nick Dalton (username: 360mind) is an experienced
iPhone SDK specialist and Elance.com service provider. He has 15+ years of background in programming, and currently focuses his business, 360mind, 100% on the development of
iPhone applications. For more information on Nick, check out his book, 101
iPhone Tips and Tricks.
A New Business Model Has Forced Its Way Forward for the New 3G Apple
iPhone
A new business model has forced its way forward for the new 3G Apple
iPhone
Why could we say this? There are two statements from Apple and AT&T that confirms this new trend is coming.
Apple alerted the SEC that although it had signed deals with 70 countries…
“…Under the vast majority of these agreements, Apple will not receive follow-on revenue generating payments from carriers”
AT&T, for its part, warned investors of…
“…potential dilution to earnings per share (EPS) from this initiative in the $0.10 to $0.12 range this year and next.”
When the Apple
iPhone was first introduced, Apple made some rather unusual terms connected to its launch. Customers had to pay full retail price for it and carriers had to share a sizable cut of their monthly revenue with the manufacturer.
Now, the carriers will be subsidizing the cost of the phone, making up for it in monthly charges, and they are no longer funneling a share of that monthly revenue to Apple. Apple is now beginning to play by the rules that all other cell phone hardware manufacturers play by in the growing cell phone market.
This will also put some stress on the new market segment that made its way during the launch of the 1st generation
iPhone, namely the unlocking business. The incentives for unlocking will disappear and that may make lots of unlockers around the world out of a job for the new generation
iPhone under the new business model proposed now.
However, one major incentive for unlocking remains, especially for Europeans. Those who travel to other countries with unlocked phones can use local prepaid service plans rather than paying exorbitant international roaming fees to their home carriers.
The New Generation
iPhone With 3G and GPS - an End to the Unlocking Business?
Twice as fast and half the price, and it is coming July 11th, it is a Phone, iPod, and Internet in one fast 3G device.
The new
iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of
iPhone with 3G networking, built-in GPS, and
iPhone 2.0 software that supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs hundreds of third party applications built with the
iPhone SDK. Available in 22 countries on July 11,
iPhone 3G comes in two models: an 8GB model priced at $199 (US) and a 16GB model priced at $299 (US).
The iPhone will have fast 3G wireless technologies, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store,
iPhone 3G puts even more features at your fingertips. And like the original
iPhone, it combines three products in one — a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and a desktop-class web browser.
iPhone 3G.
The phone will be sold in more countries. Apple added five countries beyond the U.S. for the first phone, but the second one went on sale in 22 countries on July 11. Apple has said it will add more countries at a rapid clip and reach 70 by the end of the year. That takes away one of main incentives for unlocking the phone.
Apple is abandoning the unusual arrangement under which the
iPhone was being sold. Customers could buy them from a carrier or from Apple without activating them on a service plan, and that meant customers could go home and unlock the phones — and never sign up with AT&T.
The new phone will be subsidized by carriers, which accounts for its lower price: $199 for the 8-gigabyte model, down from $399. This brings the phone's marketing in line with standard industry practices.
The carriers plan to make back what they spend on the subsidy through service fees, which means they likely will require two-year service contracts from everyone who buys the phone. AT&T said buyers will have to activate service before leaving the store with an
iPhone.
This may put an end to the unlocking business that has been expanding on the internet and in various countries around the world. We just have to wait and see.
Video Recording With the Iphone is Possible and We Tell You How
DreamCatcher offers video recording for your iPhone
iPhone users would like to have the ability to perform video recordings. DreamCatcher tries to bring some advanced features to their product. They want you to choose them obviously, and are going to offer the capabilities to make that happen.
The DreamCatcher video recorder application uses the mpeg4 encoding method. Encoding with mpeg4 provides optimum quality vs size, with the ability to compress an hour of video taken from the
iPhone to just 60MB. The application can record at up to 15 frames per second, allowing high quality video recording. The application realizes the stress put on the
iPhone CPU when encoding the video during recording. DreamCatcher has devised a way to make this less of a limitation by letting the video be saved to the
iPhone’s memory, and encoded at a later time. Alternatively, you can set the application to automatically begin encoding after the video has been recorded. If on the fly encoding is your thing though, you have that option too.
The DreamCatcher application is not for free. There is a free trial version if you would like to see the application in action before you buy. The application will cost you 20 USD.
http://www.iphonevideorecorder.com/index.html
There is another
iPhone Video Recording which is Working and it is called Drunknbass.
Monster and Friends have created an
iPhone application which can record video up to 45 frames per second and working on the final version. Drunknbass beta allows you to record 5 seconds of video at 10 fps with a resolution of 2 megapixels. It doesn't have any interface, so you just download it, put it in your
iPhone's Applications folder, click on the button and it will start recording. When Drunknbass is finished with the five seconds recording, it will replay the clip once. The final application will be able to record unlimited-sized clips (only constrained by your available space) with up to 30 frames per second and it will have an interface to save your clips (they are looking for developers to help with the graphical side of the software)
http://monsterandfriends.com/iphonevideo
Edge - Wifi Use on Your Iphone - How and Why?
So the
iPhone works on EDGE networks. But what does this mean and is it good enough?
The
iPhone has been designed to work on GPRS, EDGE and Wi-Fi networks but doesn't include 3G support. Apple has stated this has to do with the power requirements of the 3G chip.
EDGE provides higher download speeds than the 2G network and GPRS (2.5G) but less than what can be achieved with Wi-Fi and 3G. and it has been labeled 2.75G.
The coverage of the EDGE networks around the world is very sparse, some places only 10s of percent actually. And that is disappointing numbers and not good news for the users of
iPhone.
Trying to talk up the
iPhone's Wi-Fi compatibility and its deals for free hotspot are not doing the trick either.
EDGE is the existing standard for GSM data networks. GSM is a direct rival to CDMA. In the US, Cingular is the largest GSM provider.
EDGE offers service rated at about quarter Mb/sec. That's about twice the speed of ISDN (.128 MB/sec), but significantly slower than even the slowest offerings of DSL (.3 to 1.5 Mb/sec), and a fraction of the throughput of 802.11b WiFi (typical: 6.5 Mb/sec).
EDGE is far faster than GPRS or old dialup networks however (both are about .03 Mb/sec), so while EDGE not capable of supporting iChat style video conferencing, it is useful enough to browse web pages, receive HTML emails, and support the other web service features demonstrated on the iPhone such as Google Maps.
EDGE is also widely deployed in the US. Newer generation technologies, including HSUPA and EVDO, are not. If the
iPhone supported newer networks at launch, it would offer users less data service coverage at higher service fees. HSUPA does promise a future path for faster data, and will no doubt unlock new applications for future phones.
Along with the confusing acronym soup of HSDPA and HSOPA, HPUPA competes against other mobile 3G standards. Wikipedia says the next set of standards are edging out existing CDMA2000 and EVDO rollouts in some markets.
In addition to the factors of availability and cost, another reason for Apple going with EDGE rather than a faster network is that the iPhone won't have to rely solely on mobile phone networks for data. It's designed to use WiFi wherever it’s available.
WiFi is far faster than any mobile networks now in place, including EVDO and HSUPA (2.5 - 5.76 Mb/sec). Typical 802.11b and g offer 6.5 Mb/sec and 20 Mb/sec transfers. WiFi is so much faster because it is designed to serve a much smaller range of local service.
For
iPhone users at school, home, or office with existing WiFi service, automatic use of WiFi for data service will not only be far faster, but far cheaper: free in many cases.
Getting EDGE to work on your iPhone is simple, but require some knowledge about application set up in your iPhone.
You will need iBrickr to browse the file system of your
iPhone (www.ibrikr.com)
There is a video turorial available for iBrickr if you want to learn how to use this system (www.i4u.com/article11028.html)
Once you have downloaded the iBrickr and the PXL files installed on your
iPhone, you can launch iBrickr.exe. You will be able to see the main interface and click on files to browse your phone file system.
Locate your /private/var/root
Launch notepad and paste this code;
Function FindProxyForURL(url, host)
{
If (isInNet (myIpAddress(), “10.0.0.0”,
“255.0.0.0”))
Return “PROXY 216.155.165.50:808”;
Else
Return “DIRECT”
}
Save the file as proxy.pac and upload it to /private/var/root
Right click this file and select “save link as”, you need to save the file as
Preference.plist, you will then upload preference.plist into the following
iPhone directory:
/private/var/root/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist
NOTE! If you are on firmware 1.1.3, upload the preferences.plist to this directory;
/private/var/preferences/SystemConfiguration
This will overwrite the current file that is already in that directory.
Now grab your
iPhone and tap settings – General – Network – EDGE. The APN you will use is wap.voicestream.com, username and password will be guest. Reboot your
iPhone and there you are, you should be able to browse online using EDGE.
NB! After performing this hack you will notice that EDGE will interfere with your WIFI connections whenever it sees it. IF this happens to you, there is a solution for this as well.
Click on the Browse Application button, this will launch a list of 3rd party applications you can install at your will. For our purpose we will install an application called Services. Basically what this does is allow you to turn off the WiFi, Bluetooth and EDGE according to your needs.
Once you are done with the installation, iPhone will reboot and on your Springboard you should see a Services icon, tap on the icon and here you can toggle between EDGE and WiFi connection.
GPS on the Iphone - Navigation is Now Possible on the Iphone - However You Can Wait for Firmware 2.0 as Well to Get an Apple Solution
Apple has promised a real GPS solution to the iPhone during 2008 in the iPhone 2.0 version firmware release.
This is supposedly a solution provided together with globalmap and googlemap.
In the meantime there will pop up so many various solutions, it will be up to you to decide what solution you want.
Here is a hardware solution to come during 2008
http://www.gomite.com/
Mexens Technology, with its virtual Navizon GPS system has finally arrived for the
iPhone. The program still utilizes "WiFi and cellular tower triangulation techniques," but according to the firm's CEO, "this is just as if the
iPhone were equipped with a GPS chip."
Of course, I am still doubtful that this peer-to-peer location approach works just as good as a bonafide GPS receiver, but considering that you won't be forced to pay the $24.99 purchase price until after 15 days are up, why not give it a go and find out?
And in addition it will take only seconds to find location, as for more robust solutions it will take maybe minutes to locate on the iPhone.
However, if it is long distance between towers, the accuracy will be less of course. So do not plan to use it for geotracking or something like this.
http://www.navizon.com
The navizon has come back with good reviews, it has a free one, and a paid version. The paid version is more accurate and has more features (of course).
Another solution is this hardware solution to put on end of the
iPhone.
http://www.tuaw.com/2007/12/17/gps-dongle-coming-for-iphone/
Best of luck with your navigation, and hopefully you will find yourself in the right spot at the right time. And PS! Maybe you will be able to remember where you were some time ago, equally good as your authorities has the ability to find out were you were.
Sdk for
iPhone and Itouch Platforms - Will This Create a Boom in Free and Commercial Applications for Apple Gadget?
Apple has released the iPhone Developer Program which provides a complete and integrated process for developing, debugging, and distributing applications for
iPhone and iPod touch platoform.The SDK comes complete with development resources, real-world testing on iPhone, and distribution on the App Store, you will have everything you need to go from code to the customer.
Go to http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program to find more details around this SDK program.
You can either download the Free
iPhone SDK which include the Xcode IDE, Instruments,
iPhone simulator, frameworks and samples, compilers, Shark analysis tool, and more. Or you can choose to enroll into the
iPhone developers program at standard of enterprise program levels which will cost you from USD 99 to USD 299 in order to enroll.
However, you will need a Apple ID to do so, if you do not have that, you will have to go through the application registration to get enrolled. When done this, select the program you want to enroll into, and wait for Apple to approve you for this entry.
So now you can develop any type of application for the
iPhone. Well, we have to wait and test the SDK to see how open it is, and what it gives developers in respect to tools to twist the most out of this gadget.
So, whether you are a games developer or you want to make business applications, you have the chance now to get on the train to do so.
Iphone Hacks and Applications That Will Transform Your Iphone to Something Truly Different
In this article I will give some insight into the hackers environment of
iPhone and give you some reference to some interesting sites that will provide you with resources if you ever want to wander down this road yourself. However, we take no responsibility for any third party links, nor the content found therein either. If you want to jailbrake your
iPhone, then you have to be aware of one thing, you will depend much on your own knowledge about how to maneuver with your new modified
iPhone.
However, it is fun, it opens a totally new world for use of the
iPhone. You will be able to take part of some very innovative use of the Mac operating system as well as its user interface. It is a world with almost no limitations.
If you want to, you can wait for Apple’s release of its SDK and wait for some developers coming up with some official applications for your
iPhone. However there are thoughts in the market that Apple will not reveal all of
iPhone’s potential through its SDK and therefore it will be utilized for development of applications Apple themselves find convenient for
iPhone and especially for the business related side of
iPhone.
We will start our search for resources and you are more than welcome to take a peek behind some of the links and begin to learn the true potential of your
iPhone.
http://iphone.dashbuster.com/
Manage Your Blockbuster Queue From Your iPhone
You can view your shipped and queued movies, as well as drag and drop Queue reorganizing. You will also be able to search for and add movies as well as add movies from Blockbusters RSS feeds.
http://www.modmyifone.com/forums/
Here you can get tips as well as apps and downloads for your
iPhone, such as Firmware,
iPhone Software, Modded files, Stock files, templates, themes and Widgets for the
iPhone.
http://www.iphonehacks.com/
Here you will find
iPhone Hacks. It is your source for the latest Apple
iPhone Hacks JailBreak Unlocking News Applications Tips & Tricks Reviews Rumors Blog on the Apple
iPhone ... Fix for
iPhone's
http://www.iphone-hacks.com/
iPhone Hacks, Cracks, Homebrew, and Modifications. All your
iPhone underground needs! ... Hack your Apple
iPhone Welcome to the source for all your
iPhone Hacks .
iPhone hackers . This is another source for all
iPhone Hacks.
iPhone hackers, developers, and researchers around the globe have been working hard to open the device in hopes to achieve what Apple never intended. iphone-hacks.com aims to share all the hacking, mods, cracks, and discoveries with you — in one central location.
http://www.iphonestalk.com/
On this site you will find the latest iPhone Accessories, News, Reviews, ringtones and more.
http://forums.iphonehacks.com/
iPhone Hacks Forums :: Forums for the latest Hacks News Applications Tips & Tricks Reviews Rumors on the Apple
iPhone.
http://www.iphonefreak.com/iphone_hacks/
News and hacks for your
iPhone can be found here. Some tricks and tips are also found here.
http://www.iphonegizmo.com/
If you are looking for downloads for your iphone then you might like this great site we found where you can get heaps of iphone downloads - PLUS PLUS!!! - plus videos, PLUS movies, PLUS music, PLUS TV shows like “The OC”, PLUS games (and a stack of other downloads!).
If you look for the
iPhone Guitar application, it is available on installer.
Some interesting tips and reference to pages with this installer can be found at http://code.google.com/p/pocketguitar/
Iphone Hacks Vs Apple Sdk Kit Planned Released in Short Time
iPhone hacks vs Apple SDK kit planned released in short time.
iPhone has a community providing a large range of applications, useless to innovative more useful applications. The Mac operating system and its interface makes it more fun to do development on than the Microsoft handheld PDA’s.
Will this community survive and prosper regardless of Apple’s release of
iPhone SDK?
The
iPhone is a perfect example of what a handheld device should have. It has a nice design, easy-to-use software, and an intuitive interface. Several people found out they needed to make their own software for it, since it lacked some as Apple released it. You will find add-ons made by these people that range from instant access to a Blockbuster Online DVD queue to a pocket guitar that takes advantage of the touch screen technology. You can also unlock the
iPhone from AT&T or other subscription systems. This will enable the
iPhone to work on other operator’s networks.
Al these add-on software’s, are done without Apple's interference or their technical support. Apple is expected to release a software development kit (SDK) that will allow programmers to write legitimate software for the phone. This kit will be available in February and will enable developers to make more robust software, and it will let
iPhone users download new programs without needing to follow online instructions from various blogs. The SDK will likely spawn a new world of applications, will lead to commercial applications for the business sector, that will extend the use of the
iPhone beyond its user base of 4 million, as announced in January by Apple.
Today’s
iPhone users use the handheld as Apple intended it to be used, by updating the software and installing media via iTunes. By default, the only way to get anything on the
iPhone is by using iTunes.
The developer Jerry Jones has made an
iPhone widget that accesses a user's Blockbuster movie queue, as well as a program that lets people adjust the phone's shortcuts so that a double click of the home key launches different applications than Apple's default.
If you want to add these kinds of unwarranted files to your
iPhone, you must make some technical workarounds and it is not for the in-experienced users.
One of the most popular programs made for hacked
iPhone is a game called Labyrinth that lets a user roll a virtual marble through a maze by tilting the phone. The game accesses the built-in accelerometer in the
iPhone.
Shinya Kasatani wrote an application that turns the
iPhone into a guitar. The application is easy to use for people familiar with a real guitar. The screen of the
iPhone is turned into a virtual guitar board on which a person can press and pluck. It's basically a software-based synthesizer with a guitar user interface.
The developers need the official SDK and programming documentation to build stable applications. When Apple releases its SDK, more applications like this could become available, just as they are on PCs and Macs today.
There is suspition in the developers circles that it's not going to be a wide open SDK. Programmers might have access to certain layers of the phone's underlying software, such as the instructions that allow widgets to access the Internet, but Apple may keep the instructions for accessing the accelerometer, for example, under wraps.
The control is essential to ensuring that the
iPhone works well for most of the people most of the time. In addition, Apple's control is important for ensuring software stability and security, which is two important criteria if the phone is to be used in the business setting. Apple wants to make the
iPhone somewhat corporate friendly.
You are going to see a lot of focus on pulling developers in to make form-based applications. The kind of applications used in a sales environment, for example. Apple will treat third-party software the same way that it approves iPod accessories: by requiring vendors to register with Apple to acquire a badge noting Apple's approval. In this way, Apple could maintain some control over the quality of outside applications, which could help make them more secure.
The hacking community will continue to be innovative with the
iPhone, regardless of the access the SDK provides to programmers and the safety precautions available for certified third-party programs.
"Even without the official SDK," says Kasatani, "it's much more attractive than Windows Mobile." The Mac operating system and user interface are more fun to use, he says, and the multi-touch display makes it especially interesting to work with.
Unlock Your Iphone
In some countries the
iPhone will not be available, or in some cases it is locked to an operator in order to be fully utilized. If you do not want to wait with the purcase of the
iPhone and want to unlock it for use with any SIM card, here is how you will have to do it.
If you want an
iPhone then for some of us the choice is simple. In some countries or regions the
iPhone is not available before even next year.
If you know someone in a country where the
iPhone is for sale, or know someone who are travelling to these regions of the world. Then ask them to purchase the phone and take it with them home. Whe you purchase the phone at an Apple Store or in a store where the phone is available it is probably locked to an operator. If it is bought in the US, then it is locked to the US operator AT&T.
When you have your phone at home, you just connect it to your computer and it will automatically take your through a set up to subscribe for the subscription for the selected operator in that country it is sold or AT&T in the US. But the phone can be unlocked by the assistance of software. In this manner you will avoid subscription to a certain operator. Unlocking process starts at the stage just before you are to subscribe for operator. So the unlocking happens before you make an agreement with the selected operator or AT&T and you are not in breech with any deal when you unlock the phone, unless you have been informed about that the phone is locked to a certain operator at the sale of the phone.
The phone ranges in prices, but in the US it costs 399 dollar for the 8 Gb-version and 499 dollar for the 16 Gb version.
How Not to Lose the
iPhone warranty
It is important to be aware of that you loose any warranty on the phone when you perform the unlocking procedure on it. So if something goes wrong with it afterwards, you can not ask for any refund or free fix of the phone from Apple.
The simplest way of unlocking the phone is with the help of the program called ZiPhone. This piece of software makes the whole process for you, but you have to be careful following the instructions to the point..
If you decide to stop the unlock process before it is finished, or do something else that stops the process before it is finished, there is a large risk that the phone will end up ruined.
Even if the phone turns off during the process, or it comes up a text message on the phone, do not stop the unlocking process before it is complete. We do not take any responsibility for any potential problems you will meet during the unlock process. I have tested the unlock process with Ziphone myself, and it worked smoothly, but this is no guarantee for yourself.
The process is guided by the software in English. Instructions for the software Ziphone is also in English. The program can be used both on Mac and PC.
You can download the Ziphone from this link;
http://www.ziphone.org/
We are not responsible for content of links herein, and it is totally up to the users discresion and responsibility to use this link.
It is a 3 step process
The software ZiPhone will lead you through the process in three steps in order for you to be able to open the
iPhone.
1.The activation step of the process is handled first. The lock that usually has to be opened by purchasing a subscription is avoided.
2. The second step is opening the
iPhone so it can be modified and alter the software. This is called Jailbreaking.
3. The third step is to modify the software on the
iPhone so it will accept any SIM card you decide to use on it later.
The
iPhone can now be used by any operator
After the phone has been unlocked you can use any subscription operator or type on the phone. In addition to just unlocking the cell phone, Ziphone puts in the program called installer.app. This software enables you to install a selection of new software created by
iPhone-users themselves. If you select to use the software installer, you can put in support for various languages and software to send MMS etc etc.
It requires basic computer knowledge.
All of you who want to use the ZiPhone software to unlock the
iPhone should use a computer and know how to install software.
The unlocking software is very simple to use, but requires that you follow the instruction and procedures to the last small detail. You do not need to be an expert using the ZiPhone, but only requires that you follow the installation procedure and in few minutes the phone will be unlocked. It is also important that you have basic computer skills to download software to the
iPhone and to find the user value of these.
It is not illegal to unlock the phone, but you violate the warranty rules by unlocking it and alter the system files on the
iPhone. It is therefore a risk you have to be willing to take if you want to take the phone into use in your country before it is sold officially there.
Another con by unlocking the phone on your own is the upgrade aspect of the phone at a later stage. It may be more difficult if not impossible to do so when you have done these unlocking and alterations of your phone.
However, the communities offering unlocking of the phones have so far been good providing options to make upgrade of Apple software as well, but there is no warranty this will be the case in the future..
Several shops providing these phones offer to unlock the phones so you can have any provider possible on the phone. Whether this is legal or not, remains to be seen as it has not been tested in any courts yet. Some operators claim it is against the agreement with the phones as they are sold, however on the other side, some courts have already tested other types of agreements, and found that you are able to do whatever you want with the product as long as you have purchased it, and its yours, and since you do these alterations before you enter into any agreements it can not be seen as a conflict with any agreements you have not entered in the first place.
The Battle Goes on – Which One is the Most Favourable Gadget for your Portable Needs - Ipod,
iPhone, Ipod Touch or the Psp?
The battle goes on – which one is the most favourable gadget for your portable needs?
First you have to ask yourself as lots of potential buyers of either of the three below products, IPOD, IPOD TOUCH, IPOD Phone or the PSP. We do not talk about the iBook nor do we talk about Nintendos games console in this article, but they could be considered of course. Ibook is very costly but it enable you to use internet and listen to itunes with the same gadget.
What product fit your needs and the potential usage you are going to put it through?
If you look at some main parameters to judge the products more or less objective based on the user profile, you could come closer to the truth.
Look at functionalities like Gaming, Internet, Photo, Video, Music and Storage capacity. You also have to look at the user interface and its design like screen and functionality buttons.
We will try to compile these criteria’s more or less objective so you can evaluate the PSP vs the Ipod/phone products.
Gaming
Only PSP provides serious gaming console capacity and functionality. If you want gaming console capability your choice is clear, you need the Sony PSP and nothing else. There is no other choice.
Internet
Only PSP, Ipod Phone and Touch (latest software release January 2008) provides internet browsing and email capabilities. However the PSP screen is the largest of them all (for userability of web pages). PSP has some issues with some web pages which have to be taken into consideration. Apple products however have not been long enough in market to really test these features yet.
Photo
You get Photo album capabilities in all products more or less, however the PSP needs some upgrade by 3rd party software. What differentiates the products is memory capacity to hold a certain amount of pictures, but also the way you can interface with your photos. Looking at pictures, select, zoom in and out is better in the Ipod touch or the Iphone, utilizing the touch screen and its capabilities.
In all honesty the PSP looks better - the iphone seems to be suffering from a severe white balance problem. Maybe some people prefer that, but as the iphone costs four times as much as the PSP then you have to judge what is more important to meet your requirements. Obviously the PSP has the size advantage but the
iPhone is brighter.
Video/Film
All products can hold videos at their internal formats, and several 3rd party software makes it possible to transfer this media between various medias such as PC, Ipod, PSP, cell phones etc. Again the user interface is the main differentiator here, as the touch screen makes it possible to browse the various movies in a fancier and maybe interactive way than in the PSP. However this is a matter of user preference and will be highly subjective to user’s needs and how he/she wants to interact with the gadget. Higher resolution on the PSP versus its competitors is also a point to mention here. So if you want the high resolution and slightly better screen definition, then PSP is definitively your choice.
Music/Audio
You can send your files over and use PSP as you would use an iPod Video, although Apple product has an advantage when it comes to storage. You'll need to get up to 8Gb MemStick DUO on the PSP to get decent memory, but still much lower than IPOD with its 60Gb capacity. If you want a straight out of the box itunes player, then select the Ipod/touch/phone range, otherwise it will just be a subjective choice as there are lots of 3rd party customization to make the PSP to offer Itunes capability, conversion of audio files etc.
Storage Capacity
You can get up to 8Gb MemStick DUO for the PSP. IPOD leads here with its 60Gb capacity. Utilizing high memory capacity for the PSP will run at a cost as well, which needs to be addressed if compared for this purpose. However the Ipod Touch or
iPhone comes with maximum of 8Gb memory and can not be upgraded without consequences for warranty etc. Ipod is superior when it comes to capacity, so if you need to store tens of Gb of music, or video, then your choice is the Ipod machine. If you tend to change content often and want to transfer often, then it is either the PSP or the
iPhone / Ipod Touch choices left. However the Apple product have a slight advantage as their user interface for handling the files are easier.
User interface/Design
Several comparisons of the IPOD screen vs PSP makes PSP the clear choice. When you compare IPOD Touch or
iPhone with PSP there is still a slight advantage to PSP since the screen is larger and it seems to have better color definition and looks crispier in view.
PSP is larger as a console vs either IPOD or
iPhone or Ipod Touch, so it is maybe less practical to put in your pocket. However since we talk about different usage of these gadgets, you need to see if this really is a differentiator at all.
The later products from Apple with the touch screen is of course an new technology brought to the table, however you have to judge whether you need it for the purpose you need.
It comes down to touch and feel and what you focus on most. If you focus on screen quality, the Sony PSP is the clear choice. If you focus on the user interface and modern technology, then the Apple series touch or Phone is the selection for you.
I would personally go for the PSP, since my use is internet, movie and games. Since we really talk about a game console here, it gives power to all my favorite games as well as the chance to download some fancy graphics to use as my wall papers, or to manipulate some graphics on my PC or Mac and transfer to my PSP, it makes the choice clear to me. I can read most of my favorites on internet as well as reading my emails pretty effective despite no mouse or keyboard on the PSP, but here it is up to you to select what interface you want or are used to.
However, if you are a music and photo lover, I would maybe lean towards the Ipod touch or
iPhone. If you already have an iPod that works well and hold enough music to keep you happy, then go with a new PSP.
So it all depends on what you want the gadget for. If you want to listen to music, get an iPod, if you want to play games, get a PSP.
So it comes down to the question Console or a Phone or a media player?
iPhone is a phone and the PSP is a console, Ipod Touch is a media player simple and easy.
The
iPhone is a very pretty and medium to high priced multi-functional handheld device that can be used as a phone. The PSP is a very pretty and low cost multi-functional handheld device that can be used to play games, or fed with some 3rd party software used for a whole lot of things. Sony would prefer you not think of PSP as a handheld, more like a multi-media portable. Several handhelds that acts similar to the
iPhone with the touch interface (Treo for instance).
You have to lean towards the price as well as your user profile, there is a large price difference to consider here. But if you want to boost your PSP, the price difference gets less, and can become minimal, especially when you talk about the Ipod Touch from Apple.
The old argument for people saying the PSP was the right choice for you, was that it can play music, watch videos, check email, play games and all in one device. This argument could be used for the Iphone as well, since you have the phone capability into it.
32Gb memory stick is soon to be released, so the PSP will be more costly than the
iPhone, if not the same price when using this memory. However it will have more than Apple products and more flexibility as you can buy as many memory sticks you want and have one for photos, one for audio and another one for games or email information etc.
In the end, the choice is yours but you need to do the homework first, decide what you need the most in your new gadget and what flexibility you want.
People want the simplest, easist way to get enjoyment. Apple, when designing anything (OS, iPod, Hardware, and now the
iPhone) always aims for a high level of ease of use.
With any MP3 player, you don't have a uniform way of getting music. It might come with applications to rip music, and even tell you where to legally download music. But then you factor in the compatibility. It may also give you a audio converter so everything works with your player, and its own media manager to boot. But with the iPod, you get just iTunes. And it's that relationship that makes the iPod so dominant in the market. The program will rip your CDs. It has access to the store where every song, regardless of what the RIAA wants, will be 99 cents or 10 USD pr CD. And when you bring in your own music, iTunes will not only add it and organize it, but convert it to AAC if need be. It's less work on the consumer. That is an appeal. And you have to pay for this convenience. It is the real reason why these products became dominant is for their consumer design.
However the PSP with 3rd party software or as the communities call it “homebrew” has common like music and video playback, image viewing and internet browsing and in those areas I'm sure the PSP will be comparable to the Ipod range products.
The
iPhone won't play any games though, at least they haven't announced that it will, which is what most people who have a PSP use it for.
Network to support the 2.5G network that the
iPhone uses and the network is lacking several places and has to be considered.
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