iPhone News

WIN AN IPHONE [source] - 13th February 2010

Cash Queens have five Apple iPhones worth £440 each to give away to Your Life readers.

We have teamed up with Tesco Mobile, the first supermarket to create an iPhone app for its loyalty card, so you can download the app yourself.

Gadget-loving Tesco shoppers will no longer have to search handbags or wallets for their Clubcard - as the app turns the telephone screen into a giant one.

Free to download from the Apple store, the virtual loyalty card has been created to mark the Clubcard's 15th anniversary.

And Tesco is also giving away double Clubcard points to celebrate.

To win your iPhone all you have to do is correctly answer this question

How old is the Clubcard?

A. Five years

B. 15 years

C. 25 years

Send your entries to: Cash Queens, Daily Mirror, iPhone Competition, PO Box 4020, London E14 5BW to arrive by Friday, February 19.

Don't forget to include your full address and a daytime phone number.

The first five correct entries drawn will win.

The editor's decision is final and usual Mirror Group rules apply.

To get you in the mood to write in, here are four other apps that will save you money and are available from the Apple store.

(1) METER READING - 59p. Tracks household energy and water use. You need to enter at least two meter readings and the rate at which your utility provider bills you.

(2) TAX CALCULATOR - 59p. Enter your salary, how much you pay into your pension, your tax code and it will do the sums.

(3) LOCAL SALE FINDER - FREE. Delivers vouchers and discounts for use in your local area direct to your phone. You don't need to print the vouchers - simply show them to the restaurant or merchant to get a good deal.

(4) 0870 - FREE. Avoid calling expensive 0870 numbers. Just tap in the number of the company you are trying to reach and the app will search for cheaper geographical numbers and even some freefone numbers.

One giant app for mankind [source] - 25th October 2009

Apple has taken one giant step by launching a truly out-of-this-world application for its iPhone.

The free Nasa app, also compatible with the iPod Touch, enables users to stay in touch with any space project.

It offers access to up-to-the-minute news, photos and video of the US agency's missions.

You can also track the orbital locations of various Nasa spacecraft in real time.

The app currently hosts details and updates (in the form of Twitter feeds) on missions such as LCROSS/LRO, Mars Exploration Rovers, the International Space Station, the Constellation programme, Mars Odyssey and the Space Shuttle.

The space agency said: 'Users can access countdown clocks, the Nasa image of the day, astronomy image of the day, online videos, our many Twitter feeds and more.'

Hardcore space fans will be able to watch the stars in three different views: maps with labels and borders, available visible imagery of satellites, and satellite positions overlaid on maps with country labels and borders.

The application was developed by Nasa's New Media Team at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California.

And as well as keeping the punters happy, Nasa hopes it will get more people interested in space projects as it struggles for public resources during the economic downturn.

Orange sets the day for launch of Apple's iPhone on its network [source] - 25th October 2009

Orange will launch Apple’s iPhone on its network on November 10, the day after O2’s exclusive contract to sell the smartphone comes to an end.

The launch date had been shrouded in secrecy since the operator confirmed in late September that it had won the right to sell the iPhone.

However, The Times has learnt that Orange will start selling the handset in a little over two weeks. More than 200,000 people have pre-registered to buy an iPhone through the operator in the past month.

Orange declined to comment on its launch date or the exact number of pre-registrations that it has received.

The launch makes for a busy day in the telecoms sector, with Vodafone to report interim results on November 10. Vodafone, which will start to sell the iPhone in the UK next year, will be asked about its own launch timetable.

O2 began to offer the iPhone on November 9, 2007, at an event attended by Steve Jobs, Apple’s co-founder and chief executive, held at the Californian company’s Regent Street store in the West End of London.

Potential customers will have to wait to learn Orange’s pricing plans. With O2 turning its attention to the Palm Pre, which it launched exclusively last week, and Vodafone entering the iPhone fray next year, Orange has a narrow timeframe in which to press home its advantage.

Yet those hoping that the three operators will engage in a price war are likely to be disappointed. Analysts have argued that the iPhone is a premium product and selling it cheaply would not make strategic sense for the operators.

Orange and Vodafone may look to capitalise on O2’s recent network problems in London to highlight the strength of their own networks or build more value into the bundles on offer. T-Mobile is still considering whether it will sell the iPhone in the UK, while Kevin Russell, chief executive of 3 UK, said this week that the country’s smallest operator also expected to sell Apple’s handset by mid-2010.

Apple Sued Over iPhone… Is A War About To Start? [source] - 25th October 2009

Nokia has officially declared war on Apple. The reason behind this is based on 10 patents relating to wireless technologies that we see on the iPhone.events_keynote20090526.jpg

Now pun intended here, but Nokia hasn’t been doing great over the last couple of years it has to be said, and in fact last quarter they lost $832 million according to theappleblog. So I can’t help but think that this is a little bad on Nokia’s image, as legal action that’s taken should have nothing to do with market share or how a company is performing etc. but if it does turn out that Apple have done something wrong, then of course Nokia will be right to sue. Nokia have added though that the reason behind this lawsuit is strictly on “principle only”.

According to theappleblog, the patents in question relate to GSM, UMTS, and wireless LAN standards covering “wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption.”

Nokia have actually come out and said that more than 40 big name companies have entered into wireless licensing agreements, however Apple still remain to be seen calling them “unprincipled”.

When I just read this, I thought to myself “but the iPhone has been out for years now….why has Nokia only just decided to do something?”. But after some research I found that Nokia did actually try or consider getting an injunction to stop Apple selling the iPhone in 2007, which eventually flopped. It has to be said though that Apple will probably settle in this situation, because one they have ongoing royality negotiations with Nokia on this topic and two it’s probably not worth the hassle and effort of trying to win, as this could affect Apple’s efforts in other areas.

My guess is that Apple knew that they were going to have to pay some royalties in some way or another to Nokia eventually and so they were pretty smart if you look at the figures. Apple have sold 21.17 million iPhone handsets as of Q2 2009, this adds up to some ridiculous amount of money for Apple and now they may owe at a guess around 10% of that to Nokia through royalties. This then at a low-end guess of around $10 per handset, means Apple will have gained somewhere around $189 million on the sale of just the iPhone….surely the royalties are just pocket change then?

Either way, it’s certainly a stepping stone for Nokia as I feel they really need to get back on track and soon!

iPhone apps of the week [source] - 24th October 2009

The evolution of the app store witnessed another milestone recently, with the release of a game that doubles as a very effective advertisement. One of my favorite iPhone games of the year, Firemint's Real Racing, just got a Lite version that doubles as a promotional tool for both the app and an outside company. Real Racing GTI (Free), sponsored by Volkswagen, lets you race on a few of the tracks of the full game using the 2010 Volkswagen GTI. You only get a small taste of the action in the full game, but it should be enough to help you decide if you want to spend the money. You also can choose between several different paint jobs on your GTI.

Though there are plenty of movie-based game apps, and other promotional offerings at the iTunes Store, this particular marriage of a popular racing game with a large car company really strikes me as a great idea. It will be interesting to see if more companies start using the iPhone app store as a way to effectively promote their products through context-appropriate game titles (not just simple ads). I could even see other car companies promoting a new line of cars using the same or similar titles. In any case, if you haven't tried Real Racing, check out Real Racing GTI to get a taste of the game and to get a look at the 2010 Volkswagen GTI inside and out.

This week's apps include a comprehensive and customizable to-do list program and a simple, but challenging game where you use a grappling hook to escape treasure filled caverns.
Awesome Note

Notes can be displayed using thumbnails so it's easy to find specific notes

Awesome Note ($3.99) lets you manage messages, memos, and ideas in several unique ways. An intuitive interface lets you use themes to help categorize information the way you want and get to the information you need quickly. Awesome Note includes a few demo categories (shown as folders) that you can use to see how your notes and info will be laid out. You can create new folders by hitting the add folder button in the lower right, selecting your prefered color, and adding a title. Opening a folder displays your notes for that category laid out as thumbnails so you can quickly find the specific note you want. You can also configure the program to display todos as a running list or as a separated list with completed items on top.

Once you have your category folders set up, simply open a folder, add a note, and start typing using the regular portrait view or in landscape mode by turning your iPhone sideways. You can also customize your notes by choosing from a wide variety of themes and fonts. When your finished, you can easily drop your note into other category folders or e-mail the information to whoever you want. Overall, if you are looking for an easy-to-use todo list manager and note taking app, the folder-based note management and customizable themes of Awesome Note make it a worthwhile option.
HookChamp

The first level acts as a tutorial so you can learn the controls

HookChamp ($2.99) is a fun (and funny) platform type of game where you swing through caves carrying stolen treasure using your trusty grappling hook to get to the exit. The game offers fairly simple graphics and reminds me of older console platform games. The control system is extremely easy to pick up and understand, but takes some practice before you'll be able to swing smoothly through the caverns. Along the way, you'll need to pick up gold coins, some of which require you to be creative with your high-flying grappling techniques. As you progress in levels, the action gets more difficult as you'll be chased by a giant unnamed ghost-like creature with large teeth. Some of the most exciting parts of the game are when you're on the run, trying to swing your way to safety.

Once you've managed to escape a level with your treasure, you'll be able to enter a shop to buy equipment that will make your escapes easier and maps of new locations to plunder. You can buy items like the shotgun, for example, that you can use to slow down the chasing ghost. You also can buy better shoes that help you run faster, or even rocket shoes to make you fly higher. If you like the swinging action of classic arcade games like Bionic Commando, or if you're looking for a platformer that doesn't require you to remember too many buttons, HookChamp has just the right mix of challenging gameplay, item collecting, and fun character dialog to keep you entertained game after game.

Pepsi Yanks Sexist Amp iPhone App [source] - 20th October 2009

Pepsi has reportedly pulled a controversial iPhone app that provided tips on how men could "score" with 24 types of women.

"We have decided to discontinue the AMP iPhone application," a Pepsi spokesman told AdWeek. "We've listened to a variety of audiences and determined this was the most appropriate course of action."

The "AMP Up Before You Score" app was released earlier this month as a marketing tool for the company's AMP energy drink. The app provided crib sheets of sorts for 24 types of women, like the sorority girl, the woman's studies major, married, or punk. There were pick-up lines, ways to scam your way into her pants, and a brag list of conquests. Each type also included a questionable description, like the sorority girl, which said, "This shouldn't be a problem."

After receiving complaints about the app, Pepsi released an apology of sorts on its Amp Twitter feed. "Our app tried 2 show the humorous lengths guys go 2 pick up women. We apologize if it's in bad taste & appreciate your feedback," the Tweet said.

A video demo of the app has been pulled from YouTube and any mention of it has been stripped from the AMP Web site.

Google Wave iPhone app incoming! [source] - 19th October 2009

A Google Wave iPhone app is on the way, so you can splash around on the service on the go too!

It’s still early days for Google Wave, but the service is already picking up third party support like rappers do entourages, and one of the most promising is Waveboard, a Google Wave Mac Desktop client. But now Waveboard is headed for the iPhone too, and awaiting the thumbs up from Apple right now.

Rumour : Is Apple Running iPhone 4G On Verizon Wireless LTE Infrastructure? [source] - 19th October 2009

Apple has apparently started testing a CDMA version of the iPhone, possibly the iPhone 4G, on Verizon's 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network according to claims that have surfaced on the web.

Sources close to the project have told website, Fonefrenzy.com, that the two companies have been quietly working together over the last two months. Verizon Wireless is the US largest mobile phone operator with a network coverage significantly better than AT&T.

FoneFrenzy.com also understands that Mr Lowell McAdam, Verizon's CEO, might have paid a visit to Apple headquarters to discuss a potential tie up. Apple needs to ramp up the sales of the iPhone if it wants to surpass last year's sales (or its shares price might suffer).

The only way to make that happen would be to get other networks to join the fray and Verizon would be the ideal partner. The killer point though is that Verizon will release its 4G LTE network next year in one swoop, rather than bit by bit which means that users will be able to access a brand new network overnight.

There are also unfounded rumours that Verizon could also become one of the partners (if not the exclusive one) that will deliver the necessary infrastructure for Apple's forthcoming Tablet PC.

It is likely that the iPhone will be available both 4G and 3G versions to cater for different audiences. You can find out more about what we expect the iPhone 4G to look like over here.

Apple profits up on iPhone sales [source] - 19th October 2009

Apple has shrugged off the recession with profits surging on demand for its iPhones, laptops and desktop computers.

The technology giant made a net profit of $1.67bn (£1bn) in the three months to 26 September, up 47% on a year earlier. Sales rose 25% to $9.87bn.

Computer sales grew 17%, and iPhone sales climbed 7%, though there was an 8% drop in the number of iPods sold.

The results come ahead of rival Microsoft launching its new Windows 7 operating system later this week.

Shares in California-based Apple closed at $189.86 on the Nasdaq index, but rose to above $200 in extended trading.

Premium products

Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs said he was "thrilled" at selling more Macintosh computers and iPhones than in any previous quarter.

The company sold 3.1 million Macs, a 19% rise from the same period a year ago.

Analysts said that Apple's unveiling of a faster iPhone in June, and cutting the price of the previous version of the phone had helped it boost iPhone sales to 7.4 million devices, half a million more than last year.

The launch of Apple's latest operating system, Snow Leopard, had also driven sales of new computers, said Dan Akerman, senior editor at CNET.com.

"They concentrate at higher-end premium products at a higher margin so they're aiming at the premium consumer."

Phones 4U to stock iPhone before Christmas [source] - 13th October 2009

Phones 4U has struck a deal with Apple which will allow the high-street retailer to stock the iPhone before Christmas. This is a major blow to rival Carphone Warehouse which up until now enjoyed a two year exclusive run in selling the iPhone.

The deal comes just days after the announcement that Apple's exclusivity deal with O2 will also not be renewed and Orange and Vodafone will be able to sell the smartphone.

Brendan Sweeney, Phones 4U managing director, said: "We are very pleased to be partnering with Orange and O2 to sell the iPhone." This contract will help to boost Phones 4U's market share and is also very good news for customers.

The announcement could re-ignite the potential Christmas price war that had been brewing when Orange and Vodafone announced they would also be stocking iPhones. Phones 4U will start selling iPhones come November at 450 nationwide stores and also online.

These announcements seem to be perfectly timed to draw consumer attention back to the iPhone with the release of the Palm Pre just days away holding and captivating everyone's attention. Consumers who were going to buy the Pre may hold off on their decision for now until prices become clearer. Whatever happens, it won't be a surprise if Apple's handheld sees a boost in sales come Christmas and the New Year.

Pepsi apologizes for girl-getting iPhone app [source] - 13th October 2009

US soft drink giant PepsiCo has apologized for a free iPhone application crafted to help men seduce women and keep records of conquests but the program remained available on Tuesday.

Pepsi's "AMP Up Before You Score" iPhone application categorizes women into 24 types and then uses the Apple smartphone's Internet capabilities to link users to information about them and what they like.

AMP is an energy drink made by PepsiCo.

"Let's say you meet a girl who is way into being green and you need a vegan restaurant stat; we've got you covered," a voice-over maintained on Tuesday in an online Pepsi video about the AMP at YouTube.

"If you are anticipating a successful night, the Before You Score app gives you up to the minute information, feeds, lines and much more to help you amp up and talk to 24 different types of ladies."

Types of women listed in the application include punk rocker, bookworm, aspiring actress, artist, and sorority girl.

A "Keep a List" feature in the program reportedly prompts users to add women's names and encounter details to a "brag list" if they "get lucky."

People offended by the application shared their ire with PepsiCo, which fired off an apology on popular microblogging service Twitter.

"Our app tried 2 show the humorous lengths guys go2 get women," the message read in shorthand typical of 'tweets" which are capped at 140 characters.

"We apologize if it's in bad taste and appreciate ur feedback."

The AMP app remained available at the App Store, according to a check Tuesday by AFP.

Online commentary ranged from amused to outrage.

"It's just Pepsi trying to lighten things up in the world," a person maintained in a chat forum accompanying the AMP video at YouTube.

"Whether this is a joke or not... this is not cool," countered another member of the online exchange.

Rock Band set to rock the iPhone [source] - 11th October 2009

The world's most rockin' smartphone is going to take it to the next level when Rock Band hits the iPhone app store later this month. Rock Band for the iPhone lets you play guitar, bass, drums or vocals to over a dozen songs including songs by the Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters, Lynard Skynard, Smashing Pumpkins and the Go-Go's.

Tap Tap Revenge is currently top of the charts for tapping out rhythmns on the iPhone, and you can expect a similar playstyle with Rock Band on the iPhone. But Rock Band will up the ante by including a career mode and allowing multiplayer games either through bluetooth or via your Internet connection using Facebook Connect to find friends to jam with.

And Harmonix has promised to deliver a good collection of downloadable songs for an undisclosed (but expect around $0.99) fee.

Adobe Brings Photoshop To The iPhone [source] - 11th October 2009

Adobe surprised more than a few people when it made free (yes, free) photo editing software available for the iPhone. Given what Adobe charges for Photoshop CS4, you'd think this software would cost a pretty penny. Nope. it's gratis...and pretty darned good, too.

Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin wow the crowd at the New York City intro of T-Mobile's G1 Android Google phone. Video by InformationWeek's Alex Wolfe. Go inside Xohm, Sprint Nextel's business unit for WiMax -- which has recently combined with Clearwire for an ambitious broadband buildout. Teardown TV takes a look inside the guts of the new Blackberry Bold -- Research In Motion's newest smartphone.
Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin wow the crowd at the New York City intro of T-Mobile's G1 Android Google phone. Video by InformationWeek's Alex Wolfe.

One of the major weaknesses of the iPhone, in my opinion, is the device's camera. Many competing camera phones not only take better pictures, but also have advanced editing features. There are no editing features to speak of on the iPhone. I suppose Apple expects most users with have an Apple computer, which comes with iPhoto editing software built in.

Photoshop.com Mobile is not the first company to offer on-board photo editing software for the iPhone, but it's offering the software for free, and it gets most of the basics right.

It works in conjunction with a Photoshop.com account (which is free), and allows users to sync up to 2GB of photos with the Photoshop.com site. The best part of this integration with Photoshop.com is that iPhone users can access their entire online photo library from their phone.

The most basic features offered by the software include cropping, rotating and flipping; ways to alter color exposure, saturation, tin, white and black; filters that apply sketching or soft focus; as well as effects such as vignetting, borders white glow and so on.

Most of the features are enabled with one touch, such as dragging your fingers across the screen to crop and rotate photos.

Top 10 iPhone apps to save you money [source] - 11th October 2009

It's a craze that seems to know no bounds: since it went on sale in June 2007, more than 30m people have bought an iPhone and the number of applications that have been downloaded has recently broken through the two billion mark.

There are applications for everything: you can measure your knee’s range of motion with IGoniometer (59p), get subway maps for 33 cities around the world (including Cairo, Tokyo and Moscow) with Subway Supreme (£8.99), or turn your iPhone into a glass of beer with the iBeer Special (59p).

There are more than 85,000 apps, ranging in cost from nothing to £34.99 (for satellite navigation software) or more. They are available to download from the online iPhone App Store, either directly from the handset or via iTunes on a computer.

Kieran Alger, editor of T3, the gadget website, said: “The rise of apps has been phenomenal. For me, the real driving force is the promise that all life’s little problems can be solved at the click of a few buttons, so it comes as no surprise that we’re seeing a surge in apps aimed at managing our finances.”

Alger said that Android, BlackBerry and the other major mobile handset manufacturers hoped to follow suit. “Apple has set the benchmark and now others are working hard to make sure apps are in the hands of everyone — not just the iPhone brethren,” he said.

Here, we look at 10 of the most popular money-saving applications and give their star ratings, based on customer feedback on Apple’s App Store:

1 RED LASER (£1.19)

Last week, this was the number one paid-for application on the App Store. Designed for on-the-go deal-seekers, it has a built-in scanner, which automatically detects a barcode on consumer goods as you swipe your iPhone camera past it. It then searches Amazon and Google Product Search for the top online prices for that item. It reads almost any product barcode, although it tends to yield better results on white goods as opposed to groceries. Ideal for taking to John Lewis to test its “never knowingly undersold” claim.

For example, say you saw a Smeg FAB28QNE fridge freezer in John Lewis costing £950, it would tell you that you could get the same fridge for £895 from buyersandsellersonline.co.uk, the electrical goods website, or £885 from marksandspencer-appliances.com.

2 MINI MORTGAGE MANAGER (59P)

This lets you keep an eye on your home loan costs. Input the size of your loan, term of the mortgage, and rate of interest, and it will calculate your monthly repayments as well as show you a running total for how much you have repaid — and how much of that has gone in interest.

So, say you had a £300,000 repayment mortgage over 25 years and were paying a rate of 6.5%; it would show that you would pay £2,026 a month in repayments. Over the entire term, you would repay £607,688 — and 51% of that would have gone in interest. Ouch!

3 CURRENCY (free)

Giving up-to-date exchange rate information for more than 90 currencies, covering 100 countries, this is a must-have for holidaymakers and foreign-exchange traders. It tracks, among others,the US dollar, Japanese yen, Philippine peso, Thai baht and Turkish lira.

4 STOCK WATCH (£1.79)

Track your favourite stocks and monitor your portfolio — irrespective of the number of your holdings. This app launched a year ago and has 11,000 users.

It allows you to track individual stocks, bonds, funds, futures and options. You can see the total value of your portfolio, the overall gain or loss since you made the investments and how much you’ve made or lost on any given day.

5 TAX CALCULATOR UK (59p)

Simply enter your annual salary and a few more details — such as how much you contribute to your pension, your tax code and whether or not you’re making any student loan repayments — click “calculate” and this app will do the rest. You can also input any paid overtime and the hourly rate. It will show your monthly and annual net income, how much you have paid in tax and National Insurance contributions, how much you’ve stashed into your pension fund, and what, if anything, you have repaid of your loan.

6 METER READINGS (59p)

Enter at least two meter readings and the rate at which your utility provider bills you, and this app will track your household energy and water usage — and how much it’s costing you. You can configure up to three separate meters and input readings for each of these as often as once a day. Say, for example, your electricty meter read 74303.7, and a week later it stood at 74371.8. Meter Readings would calculate that you had used 68.1 kilowatts. Based on a rate of 10.63p per KWh, you would have spent £7.24 on electricity during that week — or £1.03 a day.

It will plot your average usage per day, week or month on a line graph so you can see at a glance the rise and fall of your consumption.

7 PENNIES (£1.79)

This helps you to keep track of what you are spending. With only two taps you can enter your monthly budget and start tracking your expenses. Spending can be entered in sterling, dollars and euros.

You regularly input what you have spent money on, and the amount, and it tracks how much of your overall budget you have used. It breaks down how much you have spent each day, and on how many items. It also highlights your “top expenses”, such as food, car or personal and how much you’ve forked out in each category.

8 TIMEWERKS (£5.99)

This is a time-tracking and invoicing application which is aimed at freelancers, consultants, contractors, lawyers and salespeople — or anybody else who needs to track time, materials and send invoices.

Input the names and e-mail addresses of your clients and how much a project is going to cost. You can then create and send invoices to them. If a job is being carried out in different stages, it will tell you how much of the total cost has already been billed for, and how much remains outstanding.

9 TIPULATOR (£1.19)

Take the guesswork out of restaurant tipping. Enter the bill amount, select a percentage and the number of people the tip is being split between, and Tipulator will crunch the numbers for you.

10 APP SNIPER (59p)

If you are one of those people who is constantly visiting the App store for the latest additions, then App Sniper is for you. It allows users to track which apps are on sale, and notifies them when any they’re interested in have met their set target price.

Metallica launches iPhone application for fans [source] - 8th October 2009

American heavy metal band Metallica has launched a new iPhone application to allow fans to listen to its live show recordings on the
move.

The band has teamed up with Apple to allow subscribers access to its website, which offers fans song downloads from 269 of their concerts with an access to the Live Metallica application for just 99 cents, reports contactmusic.com.

iPhone users who have accounts on the band's site can download the tracks they've bought to their Apple phones and fans will even be allowed the latest songs for free.

"In our ongoing efforts to be of service and give you as many options as possible in the digital era, we asked the brainiacs that help us out with LiveMetallica.com to come up with a super-cool iPhone application that creates a streaming interface to your LiveMetallica account," read a statement on the band's website.

Frontman James Hetfield added: "It's about time, and I think it's the right move."

Apple releases iPhone OS 3.1.2 [source] - 8th October 2009

Apple on Thursday released an update for the iPhone operating system, bringing the current version of the OS to 3.1.2.

According to notes accompanying the update, Apple fixed three bugs, which may not seem like a lot, but they are important. Among the changes is a fix for what Apple says is a "sporadic issue," where the iPhone would not wake from sleep.

The update also resolves an issue that could interrupt the cell network until the phone is restarted. A bug that caused a crash during video streaming has been addressed in iPhone OS 3.1.2.

Apple said iPhone OS 3.1.2 is compatible with the iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS. The update is available by plugging your iPhone into your computer and clicking on the update button in iTunes.

Napster iPhone app confirmed [source] - 8th October 2009

A Napster iPhone app has been made and is good-to-go. That’s the word from Napster’s Thorsten Schliesche, who told us that his team of music mad software mavens had an app ready, but that it won’t launch until labels ease up on pricing regulations.

Schliesche, speaking at the launch of the rejigged Napster Unlimited service, told us about plans for a Napster iPhone app. “We have developed an app for the iPhone but it’s not approved by Apple yet,” he said.

However, he went on to say that it would stay behind closed doors until the labels drove down the cost of streaming to mobile phones. Citing Spotify’s £9.95 monthly price tag for its iPhone app, Schliesche said he was opposed to the premium price tag for mobile streaming.

Tekken and Rock Band coming to iPhone [source] - 8th October 2009

Both EA and Namco appear to be planning iPhone versions of their popular video game franchises - Rock Band and Tekken, respectively. Both games are in development, with Rock Band seeming to be the one that'll be appearing first.

Rock Band is already available on several mobile devices, but judging from a demo reel of EA Mobile's portfolio, spotted by CrunchGear, the game is firmly in the works with a video showing notes flowing down a fretboard and four plectrum-shaped buttons at the bottom for triggering them. It'll apparently have premium content downloadable, and four player multiplayer via Bluetooth.

Tekken for the iPhone, on the other hand, has been outed by Jonathan Kromray - Namco's head of its Apple Games division. Speaking to the Washington Post, he said: "If we can take Tekken and make it really fun to play on the iPhone, then we will. We do have a back catalogue of Japanese games that we're working on, as well as some new IP".

We'll keep you posted on the progress of both games as we get new information.

O2 iPhone Could Offer Unlocking Option [source] - 7th October 2009

O2 could allow users to unlock iPhones.

O2 where in the envious position of having the exclusive rights to retail the iconic Apple iPhone. This then came to an abrupt end when Orange secured a deal to sell the iPhone on their network and the Apple smartphone will be on the Orange shelves as soon as November we understand. Shortly after that announcement Vodafone released the news they too were to stock the iPhone, however the deal would see Vodafone coming to market in early 2010. As a consequence 2 may now have no option but to offer the option of iPhone unlocking to allow existing customers coming out of an O2 contract to switch to one of the other networks offering the Apple phone. The main driver for a switch from O2 to a competitor is greater network coverage by either Orange or Vodafone, and a possible price war that could see more attractive deal or a more comprehensive package.

Flash Apps We’d Like to See on the iPhone [source] - 7th October 2009

Adobe is finally bringing Flash to the iPhone. Now’s your chance to tell us what you think programmers should use this awesome power for.

Adobe has been working long and hard to finagle Apple into imbuing the iPhone with a full Flash experience. The solution unveiled Monday was a compromise at best: Adobe announced its new development kit would convert software written in Flash into standalone iPhone apps. Though this is a lesser Flash experience, Adobe claims there are over 1 million Flash developers worldwide, so expect a flood of new Flash iPhone apps and games to land in the App Store in the near future. Compare that to the 100,000 iPhone developers that Apple says are already out there, and you’ll get an idea of how this might start to change the landscape for iPhone apps.

That gets us in the mood for wishing. There are plenty of Flash-based games, apps and streaming-video sites we’d love to see turned into iPhone apps. Some examples include the Hulu TV-streaming service, the Straw Hat Samurai fighting game, or maybe even a mobile version of the Aviary multimedia suite.

Read on for our wish list of iPhone-ported Flash apps we’d like to see in the App Store. And after you’re done, feel more than welcome to suggest the Flash apps you want to see, in the Reddit-powered list below. If Flash developers see enough demand for their apps and games, they might feel compelled to deliver their wares to the iPhone.

Hulu

We have a feeling consumers wouldn’t have created such a fuss over the lack of Flash on the iPhone if a Hulu app were available. Imagine how great that would be. Missed the first episode of Flash Forward? On your bus ride home, launch the Hulu app, punch Flash Forward into a search and stream the episode over a 3G connection — all free, with the brief interruption of a few ads. We estimate this will make commuters’ lives 40 times less miserable. (If a Hulu app ever appears, AT&T and Apple might cripple it to work Wi-Fi only, but hey — this is a wishlist, so we can dream.)

Straw Hat Samurai

Samurai warriors are rad (almost as awesome as ninjas). Imagine how fun this game Straw Hat Samurai would be on an iPhone. The game involves using your mouse to draw lines onto the areas you’d like to slash your enemies to death. It’s charmingly simple, and with an iPhone it would be even better, using our fingers to swipe across the touchscreen to swing the sword. We think kids with an iPod Touch would especially love this game. Try it out at Kongregate if you haven’t already.

Dolphin Olympics 2

Yeah, that’s right — we like this dolphin game. Got a problem with that? It’s fun. You take on the role of a dolphin, and the goal is to do as many tricks as you can in two minutes. Sounds like a stupid time waster, we know, but that’s what all games are, right? See if you can make the dolphin fly into space, and then tell us this game isn’t entertaining.

Aviary

Aviary is a pretty impressive multimedia suite coded in Flash. In your desktop browser you can apply effects and make basic edits to images, and there’s even a vector-editing tool. We wouldn’t expect this to translate smoothly into an iPhone app, but it’d be great to see a lighter version modified for iPhone owners.

AT&T lets 3G VoIP onto iPhone [source] - 7th October 2009

At long last, AT&T has opened up the American iPhone to VoIP calls over its 3G wireless network.

Previously, the US wireless giant had only allowed iPhone VoIP via WiFi net connections.
Click here to find out more!

Big Phone announced the change on Tuesday, six weeks after telling the US Federal Communications Commission it would "take a fresh look" at iPhone VoIP.

According to an August 21 letter to the FCC, AT&T had not allowed 3G VoIP on the iPhone at least in part because it didn't want to lose revenue to such services as eBay's Skype.

The telco's reversal comes as it faces two FCC investigations related to the iPhone: one over Apple's rejection of Google's Voice app, and another over handset exclusivity deals.

Big Phone said it has informed Apple and the FCC of its decision to allow 3G VoIP on the iPhone, and the Jobsian cult tells CNet it will amend its developer agreements to get VoIP apps into the iPhone App Store "as soon as possible."

The App Store already offers WiFi VoIP tools from the likes of Skype, but they will have to be tweaked and resubmitted to Apple gatekeepers.

iPhone app lets you annotate the world around you [source] - 5th October 2009

Wikitude is an augmented reality iPhone app that blends Wikipedia with real life, allowing you to view comments other people have left about the world around you.
Wikitude is available in a number of languages, including German

Wikitude is available in a number of languages, including German

The app allows you to access a wide range of data on places, buildings and points of interest in your vicinity simply by looking through the camera on your iPhone 3GS.

Information from Wikipedia, local reviews from Qype and crowdsourced data from the Wikitude website appear in text boxes superimposed over the real world.

The app, which uses the compass built into the iPhone 3GS also you to tag any location with personal notes and annotations for others to find later.

Wikitude launched last month for Android-enabled mobile phones, but has been highly anticipated on the iPhone because of its practical ability of overlay useful virtual items on the real world.

3 Reasons Why iPhone Won't Get Adobe Flash [source] - 5th October 2009

Adobe delighted on Monday the smartphone world, when it announced that Flash Player 10.1 will be available by the end of the year on BlackBerry, WinMo, Palm WebOS, Google Android, and Symbian phones.

But the millions of iPhone users out there are left fuming over the announcement because their beloved gadget isn't showing any signs of Adobe Flash adoption.

Research In Motion, Microsoft, Palm, Google and Nokia will all embed the Flash Player 10.1 into their handsets by the end of this year or in early 2010, but Apple is ignoring the wishes of the masses of iPhone owners across the world and did not announce any plans to integrate Adobe Flash support onto its line of smartphones.

It has been more than a year now since the industry was speculating the appearance of Adobe Flash on the iPhone, and since October 2008 we've seen Apple introducing a more powerful iPhone (the iPhone 3GS) and an improved operating system (iPhone OS 3.X), but still, no Adobe Flash -- so here's why I don't think it will happen any time soon either:

3. Apple Doesn't Want Flash on the iPhone

Let's face it: when Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayan said in February that Adobe Flash on the iPhone is "a hard technical challenge, and that's part of the reason Apple and Adobe are collaborating," we all thought that the iPhone's hardware wasn't powerful enough to support this technology.

Eight months later though, the iPhone 3GS doubled the processing power and RAM memory over its predecessor, the iPhone 3G, and the hardware barriers are gone. But still no Adobe Flash. Meanwhile, HTC managed to graciously support fully Adobe Flash on the similarly-spec'd HTC Hero, so Apple is running out of reasons to dismiss Flash.

2. The iPhone is Created so it Won't Support Flash

The virtual limitations imposed by the iPhone software, as in only one application open at all times (except for a couple of Apple's own apps), means that an environment like Adobe Flash won't be able to install or launch other executable code by any means, including the use of a plug-in architecture (iPhone SDK EULA clause 3.3.2).

For you and me, this translates that the ways Adobe Flash or Microsoft Silverlight were designed to work are forbidden from running on the iPhone -- unless Apple decides to make an exception (which sends us to point No. 1). In relation, this means that third-party browsers such as Firefox or Opera (besides being banned from the App Store because of duplicate functionality) won't be able to use Safari's built-in Java engine either.

1. Apple is Betting on a Different Standard

Although Adobe Flash powers most of the interactive Web applications for full-featured computers, Apple has set its eyes on HTML 5 with the introduction of the iPhone 3.0 OS. HTML 5 makes obsolete plug-in-based technologies such as Adobe Flash and Microsoft Silverlight, because it's open source and has similar multimedia capabilities to Adobe's and Microsoft's solutions.

Apple is quite involved in the development of the HTML 5 standard as well, and the technology is already being implemented into browsers before the standard is final. Oh, and the editors of the HTML 5 standard are David Hyatt of Apple and Ian Hickinson of Google. As a side note, Flash is not supported on standard Google Android installations, but only custom ones, such as on the HTC Hero.

But there is hope: Apple could change its mind at any time regarding Adobe Flash support. As far as no one knows, Apple might be working on a solution right now, but as usual, the Cupertino Company is keeping mum on details. Just don't bet your money on Adobe Flash on the iPhone yet.

Hopes fade of an iPhone price war [source] - 5th October 2009

It has been almost two years since Apple’s iPhone first hit the shelves but the euphoric response to news that Orange and Vodafone will soon be stocking the device demonstrates that the handset has lost none of its allure for consumers.

With Orange launching the iPhone before Christmas and Vodafone hot on its heels in 2010, there is no doubt that the device is set to go mainstream.

However, those customers that have been holding off buying an iPhone in the hope of a massive price cut look set to be disappointed.

Andrew Harrison, chief executive of Carphone Warehouse’s UK operation, said: “I am not convinced there will be a price war. That is a game that only leads in one direction and that is all of them losing. This battle will be fought on other fronts.”

One of those fronts will be network quality with some O2 customers unhappy with the performance of the company’s network when using an iPhone.

Orange, which has already received a staggering 125,000 pre-registrations for the handset, is set to take advantage of its broader 3G network coverage to entice unhappy O2 customers to jump ship.

Steven Hartley, an analyst with research company Ovum, believes there will inevitably be some price cutting, perhaps by £5 a month on the most expensive contracts, but argued that a huge price war is not on the cards.

“Are we going to have an iPhone Armageddon? Definitely not. Slashing prices dramatically would defeat the purpose of having it as it is a premium product,” he said.

It is more likely that the three operators — and possibly four with T-Mobile still evaluating its options — will build more value into the bundles offered as part of the contract.

However, the impact of the iPhone extends well beyond the handset itself. O2 has sold more than 1 million iPhones in the UK over the past two years, which may sound impressive until you consider that Nokia sells 1 million handsets around the world every single day.

What the iPhone has done is to open up the market to the potential of what the best mobile phones, dubbed smartphones, can do.

Apple’s product may be centre stage in the market but customers who feel they cannot afford to spend up to £1,800 over two years to own an iPhone may still opt to upgrade to a cheaper handset.

It is worth noting that Tom Alexander, chief executive of Orange, spoke of this year being a “multimedia Christmas” as opposed to an “iPhone Christmas” when launching the handset.

“I really think we are on the verge of the next big consumer revolution. It’s all about accessing rich media from wherever you are. All off a sudden you have to have a multimedia device — it’s not just about voice and text anymore,” he said.

With handsets such as Toshiba’s TG01, the HTC Hero and the Palm Pre, O2’s latest exclusive handset, all on offer, consumers stampeding to Orange and Vodafone stores over the coming months may have their heads turned by cheaper devices that are just as good as the iPhone.

“The iPhone gets the glory but actually it’s just part of a much wider battle. It acts like a magnet that you can use to draw people toward you and there are plenty of alternatives in the stores that do pretty similar things — they just don’t have an ‘i’ in front of them,” said Mr Hartley.

Mr Harrison said that the iPhone mania will help speed up the replacement cycle for operators and wake up “sleepers” — customers that have never upgraded their phones.

He estimates that 65 per cent of people have never left their network. Yet the next wave of iPhone marketing as Orange and Vodafone come on board could breathe life back into a stagnant mobile phone market.

“People have got a bit bored with phones which have done the same thing for a long time now. The big effect of the iPhone is that mobile phones and what they can do are once again the subject of conversation at dinner parties,” he said.

Apple CEO Jobs makes top 50 richest Americans [source] - 3rd October 2009

As the CEO of Apple and, among other accolades, the biggest individual shareholder in Disney, Steve Jobs is what you would call “well-off.” Perhaps even “comfortable.” Maybe, if you’re into numbers and lists, the 43rd richest person in the world America.

As it happens, Forbes is in just that line of work. In compiling its annual list of the richest Americans, the Apple CEO and his $5.1 billion net worth landed in the 43 spot. (Sorry, Douglas Adams aficionados, missed it by that much).

As per usual, the top of the list is everyone’s favorite retired technopreneur, Bill Gates, who is defending his title for the 16th year running. He’s followed by close pal and America’s billionaire next door Warren “The Buff” Buffett. Perhaps the two will finally follow through on long awaited plans to star in some sort of buddy comedy. Maybe they're cops. Who run a giant charity. And they live together! Hollywood, you've got my e-mail.

Jobs also comes in just two slots below frenemy Eric Schmidt of Google. Do you think they bet on this kind of thing? You know, friendly-like. Money, of course, would be a ridiculous stake, so they’d have to go for something big, like “loser has to use the winner’s phone platform for the next year.” Actually, that might be a little too high, especially after accounting for the black eye of the staffer who winds up on the receiving end of Jobs hurling the G1 out of frustration.

Multi-Touch to Go from iPhone to Mouse? [source] - 3rd October 2009

Is Apple on the verge of releasing a new, multi-touch enabled mouse for their Mac line that harnesses the technology debuted in the iPhone? That’s what AppleInsider is claiming.

Unlike the iPhone, which garnered almost immediate and universal praise when it brought multi-touch mainstream, Apple has historically gotten the opposite reaction to their Mac mouse line, from the abysmal hockey-puck that came with the original iMac to the latest track-balling, gunk-clogging Mighty Mouse that ships in old-school white, even for the latest gen aluminum Mac Pros.

So the poetry of Apple’s latest input technology swinging full circle to one of their oldest (keyboard aside) isn’t lost on us, and goes to show just how deeply multi-touch is being explored — and more importantly, realized and integrated — into Apple’s entire product line.

And it goes to show what TiPb’s been saying for a long time, the iPhone benefitted from the Mac platform, and the Mac platform is certainly benefitting from the iPhone!

Man Arrested After Threatening to Shoot His iPhone [source] - 3rd October 2009

I know it's frustrating when your phone is borked, but telling an Apple Store staffer that you're "so mad I could pop a 9mm at it"—before revealing you actually have a real 9mm concealed—probably won't help matters.

But that's what a man allegedly did yesterday at the Apple Store in Cincinnati's Kenwood mall. According to reports, the man continued, "I'll do it right now. Look!", and opened the right side of his shirt to show a black 9mm handgun.

Kudos to the Apple Store employee who stayed calm and said she'd get it fixed. She walked him over to a technician before informing her manager, who called police.

The man was charged with "aggravated menacing, causing fear of harm". And even though he has a concealed weapons permit, could face charges for the gun because he didn't tell the deputy on the scene that he had it. Now that's some iPhone rage.

The iPhone and Google War: Google spam iPhone Maps with ads? [source] - 2nd October 2009

The Maps app on the iPhone is arguably the most elegant mobile navigation solution available right now. Although supplied by Google, it manages to achieve the Apple ideal of “just working”. That elegance now appears to have been sullied by the appearance of Sponsored Links.

Search Engine Land has uncovered the links, which highlight businesses that have paid for the priviledge in the same way the Sponored Links in Google search results do.

Without knowing the particulars of Google’s deal with Apple over the Maps app it’s difficult to know whether these ads are a problem for Apple. Is Apple getting a cut? We just don’t know.

There’s certainly been much speculation over the future of Google’s iPhone Maps app after it emerged this week that Apple bought mapping company Placebase in July. Throw in the dispute between Google and Apple over the as-yet unavailable Google Voice app and you have a situation packed with firecrackers waiting to go off.

Will we see an Apple own-brand mapping solution in the iPhone’s 4.0 firmware? Given the evidence, it certainly wouldn’t be surprising.

Apple Maps Could Replace Google Maps on iPhone [source] - 2nd October 2009

The revelation that Apple snapped up a small mapping service in July has observers speculating about everything from Apple replacing Google Maps on the iPhone to the once-friendly companies moving to fierce competition.

Apple acquired Los Angeles-based Placebase in July, a small enough deal that Apple wasn't required to make an official announcement. Placebase offers an API that lets developers create customized features and functions not available on Google Maps.

One of the best-known products based on Placebase technology is PolicyMap. PolicyMap lets users explore geographic information through maps, tables and reports so they can make better decisions. Organizations like The Washington Post and Wachovia are using PolicyMap.

Apple could be thinking of displacing Google Maps as the default mapping service on the iPhone and iPod touch, or at least preparing a backup. Could the once-friendly companies be getting ready to do battle on apps? Apple and Google were not immediately available for comment.

"Two years ago, Apple's interests and Google's interests seemed pretty aligned," said Michael Gartenberg, a vice president at Interpret. "But since then we've seen Google introduce a new mobile operating platform. We've seen Google introduce a new browser. We've seen Google introduce a new operating system, all of which are totally divergent from Apple's interests."

Indeed, despite all the focus on Google invading Microsoft's territory, Google and Apple are more often competing rather than partnering in the high-tech world. Nothing evidenced this more than Google CEO Eric Schmidt resigning from Apple's board of directors in August.

After sitting on Apple's board since 2006, Schmidt and Apple mutually decided that the companies were beginning to compete head-to-head on several fronts. At the time, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said, "Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple's core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric's effectiveness as an Apple board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest."

Apple has a history of making sure it stays in control of its own destiny, particularly when it comes to third-party applications. For example, Apple developed the Safari Web browser to remain independent of Internet Explorer and Firefox. Apple created a high set of professional graphic and video applications to be independent of Adobe Systems.

If Apple depends on third parties to deliver services, applications or infrastructure to the Mac or iPhone platforms, Gartenberg said, it is subject to the fickleness of those developers and could be left without needed software if the developer's interests diverge from Apple's interests.

"It would not surprise me if Apple was looking to find some way to be independent from Google, particularly for something like Google Maps, which is a default application for the iPhone and iPod touch," Gartenberg said. "Apple may be hedging itself against a time when it may find itself directly in competition with Google."

Dropbox released for the iPhone [source] - 2nd October 2009

The extremely popular document sync/sharing service Dropbox has released its awaited iPhone application into the App Store for free.

The app also interestingly requires iPhone OS 3.1, and offers users quite a bit of on-the-go access to accounts and syncing content while on the move.

App features from the app listing:

* Access your Dropbox on the go
* View your files
* Download files for offline
* Take photos and videos and sync them to your Dropbox
* Share links to files in your Dropbox
* Photo galleries
* Sync downloaded files so they’re up-to-date

Dropbox has 3 levels or ‘tiers’ of service, each with increasing amounts of space: Basic (2 GB, Free), Pro 50 (50 GB, $9.99/month), and Pro 100 (100 GB, $19.99/month). We anticipate 2GB to be plenty for many average people.

Five iPhone app streams live football [source] - 2nd October 2009

iPhone owning footie fans, take note: there’s a new Five iPhone app live on the App Store today, which’ll let you stream live football over 3G and Wi-Fi, straight to Apple’s touchscreen telly and occasional phone. Want to know what you can watch, and when? Read on to find out.

The Five iPhone app will stream live matches that Five airs from the UEFA Europa League, kicking off tonight with Celtic vs Rapid Vienna, as well as highlights from the tournament throughout .

Granted, it’s not the Premiership or the Champions League, but you can now get live football streamed to your iPhone or iPod touch without having to go around the houses with a Slingbox or Elgato TV tuner, and it’ll work over 3G, so here’s hoping Sky and ITV take note of the Five iPhone app and follow suit.

Dumping exclusivity could double iPhone sales [source] - 2nd October 2009

Apple could double its iPhone sales if it ended its policy of exclusive contract with mobile service providers.

That's the considered opinion of Morgan Stanley analyst Kathryn Huberty, voiced in a research missive issued Friday morning.
Click here to find out more!

Huberty cites a 136 per cent increase in the iPhone's French market share after the überpopular smartphone became available from SFR and Bouygues Telecom after initially being limited to Orange.

"This total opportunity is substantial," Huberty writes. "It adds up to an incremental 20.3M iPhone units."

Although the iPhone is unarguably popular even in single-carrier countries, Huberty sees significant growth possibilities if those markets open up. "In the top six iPhone markets that are still exclusive," she writes, "we believe that Apple’s market share could rise to 10 percent, on average, in a multiple carrier distribution model from 4 percent today."

Not that Apple has limited itself to one-carrier-per-country arrangements. Although Huberty used France as her example, she could also have mentioned Austalia (Optus, Telstra, Vodafone, Three, and Virgin Mobile), Canada (Rogers and Fido), Hong Kong (Three, Broadway, and Fortress), India (Vodafone and Bharti Airtel), and many other countries where multiple providers compete.

Even tiny Luxembourg offers iPhone buyers a choice of three carriers: Vox, LuxGSM, and Tango.

In the UK, exclusivity is about to be overcome, with Vodaphone set to join O2 early next year. The US, however, lags behind. AT&T has a lock on iPhone distribution in the States, and is reportedly angling to extend its exclusivity deal for at least another year.

One barrier to breaking AT&T's hold on the iPhone is technological. AT&T's network is based on GSM mobile tech, while the most obvious additional carrier, Verizon - which has the largest mobile network in the US - uses CDMA.

But if Verizon could guarantee Apple a few million sales, we see no reason why Cupertino couldn't make a CDMA-based iPhone - although, of course, a customer-education effort would be required to inform owners of existing iPhones that they couldn't immediately shift their loyalty to Verizon.

And if Apple provided Verizon with a CDMA iPhone, those existing AT&T customers would be mightily peeved. AT&T has won few friends with its iPhone service, due to a plethora of problems: dropped calls, delayed MMS support (which resulted in multiple lawsuits), steep upgrade fees (from which it backpedaled - but only a bit), charges of playing favorites with media streaming (and American Idol voting), still-delayed internet tethering (perhaps waiting for progress on its current system upgrade effort), and more.

Odds are, however, that a CDMA iPhone 3GS won't appear. Verizon's chairman and CEO chairman Ivan Seidenberg said as much earlier this year, when he told The Wall Street Journal that if his company were to offer an Apple smartphone, it would most likely do so down the road, when their 4G LTE network is up and running.

At that point, both Verizon and AT&T will have LTE networks, and their competition would be based on service and price, not underlying technology.

So iPhone customers in the US aren't likely to benefit from Huberty's advice to Apple, at least in the short term - and despite calls by US senators to put an end to exclusivity contracts.

New iPhone calculator app kills off BOOBIES gag [source] - 2nd October 2009

You know the drill: it’s last period on Friday, you’re in Maths and one of your pals taps 5318008 into his otherwise unused calculator and turns it upside down. Cue BOOBIES and much tittering. But if you buy the PCalc iPhone app, such base joys don’t exist, thanks to an in–built censor.

Yep, you read that right. Slap in the correct digits, flip your iPhone around and the PCalc will block the word with a “Censored” image. Not only does that mean no more pranking about when bored to tears at work, it takes App developer paranoia to whole new levels.

iPhone 3GS 3.1 Jailbreak/Unlock PwnageTool Release Imminent [source] - 2nd October 2009

For those of you who have patiently been waiting to jailbreak your iPhone 3GS with the 3.1 software, your patience is about to pay off. According to MuscleNerd all of the testing is complete and the new PwnageTool is almost ready to be released to the public.

Regarding the iPhone 3GS 3.1 software unlock, if you have already updated to the official 3.1, there still is no known way to unlock your device. In order to unlock the 3.1 software on a iPhone 3GS, this next version of the PwnageTool will be needed to make a custom IPSW file to preserve the 04.26.08 baseband firmware. Again — that older baseband is needed if you plan on unlocking your device successfully.

Stay tuned as we will bring you the news when the latest PwnageTool drops.

Apple's iPhone war PR coup [source] - 2nd October 2009

As the mobile networks Orange, Vodafone and O2 prepare to do battle, Apple is already the clear winner in the iPhone price war.

The news this week that Apple’s coveted iPhone will soon be available on mobile networks other than O2 will have excited those who are waiting to get one and exasperated anyone who has had enough of hearing about just how cool Apple is. No other phone gets so much attention but then no other phone has Apple’s PR machine behind it.

Normally, when a mobile operator signs the rights to a new phone it calls the shots over when and how the deal is announced, but when Apple allowed Orange and Vodafone to break O2’s exclusive hold on the iPhone they dictated all the terms and operators risked being barred from future deals if anything leaked.

“It was a PR masterstroke, the tight control of its brand and the deals enabled Apple to get three days of press coverage, where another company would have struggle to get any,” says PR expert Mark Borkowski. “Apple totally controls its every move to ensure maximum publicity.”

Tom Alexander, chief executive of Orange, which won the first deal to break into O2’s previously exclusive contract, said getting the iPhone was “top of my to-do list” since he joined the company in October 2007.

He revealed this week that Orange signed the deal more than a year ago, but was banned from announcing any detail of the agreement until Monday morning.

“We’ve really been dying to tell people, but we just couldn’t do it. It’s been really frustrating,” he said. “There’s been a lot of secrecy surrounding it.”

It is understood that as few as a dozen people at Orange were aware that the deal would be announced last week. It appears that even fewer of Apple’s UK staff were aware of the contract as negotiations were handled by Apple’s head office in Cupertino, California.

The reason for the secrecy was that Apple was simultaneously negotiating with Britain’s other mobile operators, and any hint that it had already signed up with Orange would have reduced its bargaining position.

“Apple is a highly secretive company everything is handled on a completely needs to know basis and that’s it,” says Carolina Milanesi, lead Apple analyst at Gartner, the technology research house.

Vittorio Colao, chief executive of Vodafone, was as desperate as Mr Alexander to secure the right to sell the iPhone in the UK, as he has conceded that not having the phone is a key reason why the company lost 159,000 customers in its latest quarter.

“The UK is clearly the market where the iPhone has had the highest impact. I consider O2 our main competitor in this country [because it has the rights to the iPhone]. They are the company we have our eyes on because we want to beat them,” he said in the summer.

While Orange had its deal sewn up last year, Vodafone’s agreement was a far more last minute affair. Just a week before its announcement Vodafone told The Telegraph that no deal had been signed.

It is understood that at that stage only a couple of very senior executives, including Mr Colao, were aware that the company had even entered into talks. Such was the secrecy around the deal that even Guy Laurence, Vodafone’s UK chief executive, is thought to have been excluded from the discussions.

It is believed that mobile phone operators pay Apple around £250 per handset. Vodafone needed staff to crunch the numbers and assess whether the deal would be worth the while. Fearing that its own staff might leak the deal, Vodafone drafted in a team of temporary staff and ordered them to sign non-disclosure agreements to prevent them from telling even their nearest and dearest what they were really doing every day.

On Monday, when Orange announced that it would start selling the iPhone before Christmas, Vodafone faced the prospect of losing hundreds of thousands more of its customers to its rivals. Emergency talks with Apple were held late that night.

It is understood that Michel Combes, chief executive of Vodafone Europe, not Mr Laurence, landed the deal. On Tuesday, Vodafone announced that it would start to sell the phone in the new year at about the same time as the first wave of O2’s iPhone 3G customers’ contracts come up for renewal.

The big winners are Apple and iPhone customers. Apple got the deals they wanted with Britain’s three major mobile networks. Customers will get to pick from a range of iPhone packages at Christmas and into the new year and will get cheaper iPhones as a result.

“Apple calls all the shots,” says Carolina Milanesi. “Apple is an iconic brand and the iPhone is an iconic device which has transformed the mobile phone market. Apple can do what it likes and the mobile phone operators just have to lump it.”

Apple flexes iPhone muscle with mobile networks [source] - 2nd October 2009

Apple imposed such secrecy on mobile networks negotiating access to the iPhone that one was forced to keep the deal secret for a year, while another hired entirely new staff to avoid news of the deal leaking out, the Telegraph has learned.

Orange and Vodafone announced this week that they would soon start selling the iPhone, bringing an end to O2’s exclusive deal. However, Apple holds such power over the operators that both deals had to be negotiated in strict secrecy.

Mr Alexander revealed this week that Orange signed the deal more than a year ago, but the company was banned from mentioning any detail of the agreement until Monday morning.

“We’ve really been dying to tell people, but we just couldn’t do it. It’s been really frustrating.” Mr Alexander told the Daily Telegraph. “There’s been a lot of secrecy surrounding it.”

Apple was desperate to keep news of the agreement with Orange secret because it was simultaneously negotiating with Britain’s other mobile operators, and any hint that it had already signed up with Orange would have reduced its bargaining position.

Vittorio Colao, chief executive of Vodafone, was as desperate as Mr Alexander to secure the right to sell the iPhone in the UK as he has conceded that not having the phone is a key reason why the company lost 159,000 customers in its latest quarter.

While Orange had its deal sewn up last year, Vodafone’s agreement was a far more last minute affair. On Wednesday last week, when questioned by the Daily Telegraph, Vodafone refused to comment on talks with Apple but said no deal had been signed.

Fearing that if it asked its own staff their excitability might cause a leak, Vodafone drafted in a team of temporary staff and ordered them to sign non-disclosure agreements to prevent them from telling even their nearest and dearest what they were really doing every day.

Carolina Milanesi, lead Apple analyst at Gartner, the technology research house, said: “Apple calls all the shots. Apple is an iconic brand and the iPhone is an iconic device which has transformed the mobile phone market. Apple can do what it likes and the mobile phone operators just have to lump it.”

FIFA 10 lands on the iPhone [source] - 2nd October 2009

EA's latest instalment to their revitalised football game legacy walks out on the iPhone and iPod Touch for the very first time, as FIFA 10 launches on the App Store.

FIFA 10’s arrival on the two touchscreen beauties delivers the only fully-licensed football game on the App Store that lets you select from over 12,650 players and 570 teams from 30 leagues across the globe all accurately reflecting the new 2009/2010 season.

Those worrying about getting that gamepad feel on their Apple smartphone need not worry, EA Mobile has placed a sensitive directional pad and button control system either side of the iPhone and iPod Touch’s touchscreen, which means you can deliver plenty of variation in your build up play and those mesmerizing forages down the wing.

Most of the key console features are intact on the portable version including 'Manager' mode and the popular 'Be a Pro' mode where you can play your way from the dredges of the lower leagues to becoming a fully fledged international star.

Adding a little more variety to your football gaming on the go, FIFA 10 also lets you play against your fellow iPhone pals over a Wi-Fi connection, so you can hammer them 5-0 and then text them to rub it in their faces. FIFA 10 is priced at £5.99 and is available from the App Store from today.

Newsy.com iPhone App Now Available in iTunes App Store [source] - 2nd October 2009

The Newsy.com iPhone App is now available for downloads from the iTunes Store, offering users quick mobile access to Newsy.com’s unique multi-source news videos on their iPhones and iPod Touches.

The free application is easy-to-use and features a simple, clear user interface that complements the iPhone and iPod Touch experience. With just one touch, users can watch the latest Newsy.com multi-source news videos. Updated instantaneously with the website, the application allows users to browse videos with the gravity scroll or search specifically with keywords.

Newsy.com President Jim Spencer explains, “More and more people are consuming their news on the go and in short snippets – our iPhone app is Newsy.com’s next step in delivering our content to the fast-growing mobile video market.”

Newsy.com is the only multi-source video news service producing daily videos that analyze the key differences in how a story is being reported by various news organizations. In 2 to 3 minutes, users understand the nuances in coverage – offering context with convenience.

The application enables users to share videos via Twitter, Facebook and email as well as read and post comments – which are instantaneously synced with the website.
The award-winning team that developed the real estate application, NearBuy, built Newsy.com’s application.

New iPhone App - I AM SAFE [source] - 1st October 2009

Picture This: You can be traveling the world on your own, or just out for a night with your friends who have gone their separate ways and left you to catch a taxi. It is THREE in the morning, the streets are deserted and there's not a taxi to be seen anywhere. All of a sudden, you feel very alone and vulnerable.

You think you see movement in the darkness of a doorway close by. Then, from nowhere a large figure is rushing at you. The situation immediately becomes an emergency.

At once, with one touch of the i am Safe button on your iPhone your emergency strategy is activated and positive safety actions are triggered. The people who care about you are notified immediately by SMS and Email, your position is tracked and recorded wherever you may be and the event is monitored.

i am Safe will send your messages to and from anywhere in the world, subject to the integrity of the signal on your iPhone.

You can have your loved ones monitor your safety at any time from anywhere and feel totally secure. In today's world of uncertainty and violence, i am Safe is a MUST for EVERYONE.

Here are some of the App features:

Send an incoming call ringtone to your iPhone, which may avert the potential incident,
Compute your position on the map
Register the date and time of the incident,
Send a pre-worded PANIC e-mail to five nominated contacts from your contact list,
Send up to five SMS messages to your nominated contacts,
Attach a web-link to your e-mail's navigating to the i am Safe incident page,
Allow your contacts to monitor your position and listen to audio recordings in real-time,
Continuously record the incident and save the recording for future reference on the server.
Sending SMS's attracts a charge. We include the first bank of SMS's in the initial price of i am Safe. Subsequent uses need to be purchased on the Members page.

O2 braced for flood of iPhone returns [source] - 1st October 2009

O2 is braced for calls from customers seeking to return recently-purchased iPhones to benefit from an expected price war after Vodafone and Orange won the right to sell Apple's smartphone.

About 30,000 customers who have bought the iPhone from O2 within the last two weeks are entitled to end their contracts, but hundreds of thousands of others will be forced to continue paying their contract tariff.

O2 is thought to have sold about 2,200 iPhones a day since it secured the rights to the hugely popular device in November 2007.

A spokesman for O2 said the company is not planning to offer disgruntled users a better deal in order to convince them not to cancel their contract.

Some O2 customers are already unhappy that the operator will not allow them to upgrade their older 3G iPhones to the new 3GS model unless they pay-out the remainder of the contract term.

It is thought that many of these customers will leave O2 for Orange and Vodafone if the contract term for the 3GS model is reduced.

Opening up the iPhone to three network operators is expected to knock about £5 a month of the contract tariff, which would cut the overall cost of the iPhone by about £100 over two years.

Orange is expected to start selling the phone in November, but Vodafone will be restricted from selling the phone until the start of next year.

"There will be a price war," said Steven Hartley, analyst at technology research house Ovum. "Research shows that in every country where there is more than one operator selling it, it is cheaper.

"It could be very disruptive, but it depends how Orange play it. If they get really aggressive O2 will have to respond and a full-on price war could start."

The 16GB iPhone 3GS costs £96.89 on a £44.05-a-month contract with O2.

Orange refused to give details of its contract terms but indicated that it would be cheaper than O2's deals.

O2 sells out of iPhone 3GS [source] - 1st October 2009

O2 has sold out of the iPhone 3GS, the latest model.

The shop’s website has issued a notice informing potential customers that it has run out of both the 16GB and 32GB 3GS models. The Telegraph understands that the majority of O2 shops across the UK have also been without any of the 3GS models for the last two weeks.

Until Monday, September 28, the larger and more expensive 3GS model, the 32GB, was still available. However, O2 has now run out of this model.

An O2 spokesman confirmed that O2 has run out of the phone in the past as it is extremely popular. They said: “We continue to see extremely high levels of demand for the iPhone which means it comes in and out of stock very quickly and will be why the website hasn’t had any since Monday.”

An Apple spokesman confirmed that there was a shortage of the models, as explained by Peter Oppenheimer, Apple’s senior vice president and chief financial officer, in July 2009, when the company’s most recent financial results were announced. He said at the time: “We are currently unable to make enough iPhone 3GS’ to meet robust demand and we are working to address this.”

Staff at a London O2 store told The Telegraph that shops were expecting the next batch of iPhone 3GS models to be delivered by the end of this week or the beginning of next.

However, the shortage of stock coincides with the news that the iPhone is set to become available on Orange and Vodafone later this year, prompting concerns that if the company cannot cope with demand from one supplier’s group of customers, how will cope with two extra sets of requests.

Mark Mulligan, vice president and research director of Forrester Research, said: “There is no doubt that Apple is still adjusting to being a player in the mobile phone market. It’s a different game than what it’s used to… However I expect it will be building up its supply chain in advance of becoming available on multiple networks in the UK.

“I don’t think it would expand if it couldn’t meet consumer demand, as that would lead to extreme consumer dissatisfaction – which compared to its peers, Apple is usually good at avoiding.”

O2 still has iPhone 3G models available. This is the older version of the phone, which is slower than the 3GS, does not have a video camera, nor does it come with the option of 32GB.

Vodafone's emergency Apple talks over iPhone [source] - 1st October 2009

Vodafone has dramatically entered the fight for control of the Apple iPhone in the UK.

Faced with the prospect of losing hundreds of thousands of customers to rivals Orange and O2, which are expected to slash £100 from the cost of Apple's trendsetting device, Vodafone entered into emergency talks with Apple to win the right to sell the iPhone.

Telegraph.co.uk revealed early yesterday that Vodafone signed a deal to become the third British operator to sell the phone, which has fundamentally changed the mobile- phone market in the UK.

The news came less than 24 hours after Orange became the first operator to break into O2's previously exclusive deal.

Vittorio Colao, Vodafone chief executive, has said that not having the iPhone was a key reason why the operator lost 159,000 customers in its latest quarter.

Analysts believe that a price war between Orange and O2 will force the contract tariff of the iPhone down by about £5 a month, which would cut £120 off the price of the phone on a 24-month contract.

However, Vodafone will be banned from entering the price war until the new year.

The restriction is a major blow to Vodafone – and consumers – as it means a full-on battle is unlikely to start until after Christmas.

"Prices will come down immediately," said Carolina Milanesi, analyst at Gartner, the technology research house.

"But the prices will come down even more when there are three operators in play."

Ms Milanesi said Apple is the "real winner" from the deals as a price war will massively boost iPhone sales. Apple is understood to collect more than £250 from mobile- phone operators for every device sold.

Opening up the iPhone to more operators is a change of tactic for Apple, which had previously demanded a share of the revenue collected by O2 in return for exclusivity.

O2 said it has no plans to cut the price of its contracts, even for the estimated 30,000 customers who signed up in the last two weeks and have the right to end their contracts.

The 16GB iPhone 3GS currently costs £96.89 on a £44.05-a-month contract with O2. Both Orange and Vodafone refused to comment on how much they plan to charge for iPhones or when the devices will be available through them.

Meanwhile, O2 has the rights to sell the Palm Pre from October 16.

Retailers battle for iPhone rights [source] - 1st October 2009

Carphone Warehouse and Phones4U were on Wednesday battling for the rights to sell the iPhones on Vodafone and Orange's networks.

Carphone is understood to be close to agreeing terms with Vodafone over the sale of Apple's hugely popular device.

At present Carphone has exclusive retailer rights to sell the iPhone through an agreement with Apple and O2, which until this week held the sole network rights to the iPhone.

Charles Dunstone, chief executive of Carphone Warehouse, has credited the iPhone with enabling the company to increase its market presence at the expense of rival Phones4U.

Carphone securing the rights to sell the iPhone comes two months after the companies agreed a truce that saw Vodafone's phones return to Carphone after a two-year absence.

It is understood that Vodafone may also market the phone through Phones4U stores.

Orange is understood to have signed a deal to sell the iPhone through Phones4u, but it might also allow Carphone to market the phone.

The wider the phone is marketed the more likely it is that the price will fall considerably as both operators and retailers will be battling to attract customers.

Analysts expect that rampant competition could force the price of the phone down by more than £100. Orange's iPhones are expected to go on sale at the start of November. Vodafone's iPhones will not go on sale until early in the new year, at just about the same time that thousands of O2's iPhone customers' contracts will come up for renewal.

Is the iPhone the best gadget of all time? [source] - 1st October 2009

Everywhere you go these days, you see them: distracted-looking people staring into hand-sized oblongs of glass and stabbing at them with their fingers.

These gadgets look almost like religious icons. And, in a way, they are.

They are mobile phones - but not the ones we once used merely for calling people. The Apple iPhone, launched in Britain only two years ago, does far, far more than just that.

Indeed, thanks to the iPhone's revolutionary 'Apps' - applications - which users download from the internet for, mostly, a few pence to a pound or two, an iPhone can be converted into 85,000 different devices - some useful, some entertaining, and some downright bizarre.

Apart from being a phone, an internet-surfing pocket computer, a camera, a video camera, a tape recorder and a device that stores and plays songs, films and TV shows, your iPhone can also be a satellite navigation system for your car; pocket tenpin bowling alley; a spirit level; a Scrabble or chess opponent; and a barcode reader that tells you if you can buy an item cheaper elsewhere.

No wonder the iPhone has become a cult unlike any gadget before. Indeed, many experts regard it as the greatest electronic gadget ever made.

Show me the way to go home: The iPhone can act as navigator for both driver and pedestrian

More than 50 million iPhones have been bought worldwide, almost two million of them in Britain. And that number is bound to explode now that mobile operators Orange and Vodafone have agreements to sell the iPhone - previously, O2 had the exclusive deal.

The iPhone has its faults. Battery life is not fantastic. Your voice can sound tinny when you call on one. And a lot of people find the digital keyboard rather tricky to type on.

The Apps have made up for such shortcomings. More than two billion have been downloaded worldwide - 500million in the past three months.

But are iPhones and their ubiquitous Apps insidious diversions that are wasting a generation's time?

Well, there are plenty of truly moronic Apps - and a lot of game Apps that are worryingly addictive. But the iPhone's sheer usefulness has made it a global sensation whose history is only in its early stages.

Best apps for

Consumers

RED LASER: Came out a few weeks ago and could change the way we shop. It reads the barcode from almost any product and tells you if and where it is available cheaper. Ideal for taking to John Lewis to test its 'never knowingly undersold' claim.

Red Laser is a shopping App that reads barcodes and can tell you if there are bargains to be found elsewhere

Commuters

NATIONAL RAIL ENQUIRIES: Updates the departure and arrival boards at any station in Britain every few seconds.

Motorists

TOMTOM: One of the most expensive apps available at £60 - but much cheaper than a real car satnav system.

Travellers

LONELY PLANET: Converts your iPhone into a speaking Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish or Italian phrasebook.

Pedestrians

GOOGLE EARTH: Pull up an aerial view of where you are, and go into Google Street View to match the address you're looking for with the streetscape as photographed by those mobile Google camera cars.

Children

SMACKTALK: Big in Japan and now big over here. This oddly-named app converts your voice into an adorable, lip- synched hamster, puppy or kitten. Once children get their hands on it, they will do all they can to run down their parents' already overstretched iPhone batteries.

Foodies

QYPE RADAR: Want to know where to eat? Qype lists all restaurants and cafés and bars close by. Features restaurant reviews from real people - and if you disagree, you can log your own criticisms from your iPhone while you're still eating.

Music lovers

SHAZAM: Can identify any song you hear when you are out and about. Shazam needs only to hear a 20-second snatch of pop or classical music. It sends this to its central computer, which contains most of the world's music.

It matches what it's heard with its records and sends you a text within a couple of seconds identifying the track. If you want to then buy the music, it will download to your iPhone.

Wordplay: Test your grey matter with a tough game of Scrabble or waste a few minutes having a doodle on a 'steamy' screen with iSteam

Book lovers

STANZA: Turns your iPhone into an electronic book. There are thousands of books to download, and many classics are free. You turn the 'page' by touching the bottom right-hand corner of the iPhone's screen.

Star-gazers

STARMAP: Using satellite technology, this locates exactly where in the world you are and helps you identify stars and constellations precisely as they appear in the night sky.

Radio fans

WUNDERRADIO: Converts your iPhone into an internet radio. You can listen to your local station when you are hundreds of miles from home - or to any one of thousands across the world. The App works by using the 3G phone network to connect to the internet. The result is that you can be walking along a British street nonchalantly listening to a live radio station broadcast from Sydney or New York.

Balancing act: iHandy Level converts your iPhone into that carpenter's essential, the spirit level

Game players

SCRABBLE: A proper, official Scrabble game that pits your wits against your iPhone's - or you can play with a friend who is thousands of miles away, live.

DIY-ers

iHANDY LEVEL: Converts your iPhone into a spirit level for carpenters, people putting up shelves - or those just fussy about getting restaurant tables level.

Lovers of peace and quiet

DECIBEL: Transforms your iPhone into a noise meter that registers red when the sound around you is at a harmful level. AND FINALLY - perhaps the iPhone's biggest market

People with nothing to do

OCARINA: Converts your iPhone to an ancient form of flat flute. Phone flautists hold the iPhone horizontally while blowing into the microphone and fingering virtual holes on the screen.

The sound is quite pleasant, and your tunes can be heard as you play, by fellow flautists around the world.

iSTEAM: Turns your iPhone into a simulated steamy window on which you can write messages with your finger.

KALEIDOSCOPE: Makes your iPhone a kaleidoscope. Shake it and the coloured bits reform, just like the real thing.

Orange signs iPhone deal with Apple [source] - 30th September 2009

O2's exclusive deal to support Apple's iPhone in the UK is to come to an end, after Orange announced today that it would also be selling the handset later this year.

In a brief statement, Orange said it had agreed a deal with the Californian computer company to start selling the iPhone in Britain.

"Orange UK and Apple have reached an agreement to bring iPhone 3G and 3GS to Orange UK customers later this year," it said. "Orange, which has the largest 3G network covering more people in the UK than any other operator, will sell iPhone in all Orange direct channels including Orange shops, the Orange webshop and Orange telesales channels, as well as selected high street partners."

The network did not reveal pricing plans or exact dates, but it has already put in place a website where potential customers can register their interest.

The deal comes as O2's two-year exclusive to provide service for the iPhone in Britain comes to an end.

While the move was seen at the time as something of a risk - particularly since Apple is believed demanded a slice of revenues from sales and even monthly contracts - it has largely been seen as a success for the company, with O2 gaining more than 1m iPhone subscribers as Apple pushed on to sell more than 20m units worldwide.

In fact, Britain is one of the few countries where the supply of iPhones is still limited to a single network. While the situation is mirrored in America, where telecoms giant AT&T still has exclusive iPhone rights, the handset is available from different providers - or even unlocked - in a number of other countries.

The Californian technology company is hoping that branching out to new networks will help it sell more handsets, while Orange is desperate to enhance its offerings ahead of a proposed merger with the UK arm of T-Mobile. That move would create the UK's largest mobile network, and would mean that the iPhone - often seen as an elite, high-end product - would be available to more than 49 million mobile users across Britain.

iPhone takes top spot in cool brands survey [source] - 30th September 2009

The Apple iPhone has been named the coolest and most desirable brand in Britain.

The touch-screen phone and MP3 player topped a list of 20 products, knocking Aston Martin off the top spot for the first time in four years.

Apple took three of the top five places in CoolBrands’ annual survey, which lists products that people own or want to own.

After pushing Aston Martin into second place, Apple itself came in third, with its iPod taking fourth spot.

iPhone's top positioning comes as Orange announced today the iPhone will be available to Orange customers in the UK later this year, ending rival O2's exclusive deal over the must-have handset.

Technology dominates the rest of the top ten, with Nintendo up two places from last year to number five and BlackBerry rising 16 places to number seven.

The BBC’s on-demand television service, iPlayer, was the only new entry to reach the top 20.

Despite dropping a few places, classic brands such as Dom Pérignon and Rolex remained in the top 20, but Nike, Facebook and Lamborghini dropped off the list.

iPhone App Store downloads hit 55 a second [source] - 29th September 2009

The iPhone App Store has casually sauntered past the two billion apps sold barrier, Apple announced today. Let’s put that in digits: that’s 2,000,000,000 sold in under 15 months. We’ve crunched the numbers and come up with some stunning stats, so read on to see how fast those bikini babe and fart machine apps are flying off the shelves.

Apple’s iPhone App Store hit the 1 billion apps downloaded mark back in April, but the acceleration continues. Apple says it’s past double that now, which means at a base rate, calculated from the App Store being open for 418 days, iPhone and iPod touch owners are now downloading at a minimum rate of 55.37 apps per second: it’s likely the actual figure is much higher, and certainly up on the estimated 47.6 back in July.

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