It has been nearly a year since Apple Inc. launched the elegant and easy-to-use iPhone. Since then, our perceptions on how we can use a mobile phone have changed.
But the essential lesson of the iPhone has yet to be learned: The magic is in the simplicity of using Apple's software.cont.
more video reviews click here
That became abundantly clear as I wrestled with two new touch-based phones. They have their merits but are no threat to what Apple offers.buy 3g iphone here
The LG Vu and Verizon's XV6900 (an, ahem, attention-grabbing name; another missed lesson) are both handsome from a hardware standpoint. In some respects, I prefer either to the iPhone in terms of styling. But based on usability, they are so far behind what Apple achieved that it seems unfair to even make a comparison.
Related links
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Listening to Internet radio on the iPhone and iPod
Essentially, the one thing these phones have in common with the iPhone is touch. And even that needs work..buy 3g iphone here
LG Vu
Let's start with the phone I found more disappointing because it looked more promising than the other.
There are reasons to choose the LG Vu (pronounced "view") over the iPhone, both offered exclusively by AT&T.
You can watch live television via AT&T's mobile TV service. And the touch screen excels with the on-screen controls. The carrier offers mobile channels from CBS, NBC, FOX and a few popular cable channels, such as Comedy Central, CNN and ESPN.
The screen, which measures 3 inches across, is nice for TV viewing. Also, you can shoot video, and the phone is an AT&T video-share model. These are appealing features that the first version of the iPhone does not offer.
The Vu is one of 10 phones that can use AT&T's video-share feature, which allows two users to have a video chat via mobile phone as long as both parties have video-share phones. This is a great tool for families if one parent travels a lot, putting the kids a video call away..buy 3g iphone here
I like the controls for dialing a call and how the home screen is set up with an intuitive menu that gets you where you want to go, both lessons learned from the iPhone.
But I don't like entering text, either for writing an e-mail or a text message. The touch keyboard is not nearly as easy to use as the iPhone's, and that's because the Vu uses "haptics" for its controls. With haptics, you feel a slight vibration when you hit a key, basically confirming the action.
It's fine for dialing a phone call because the number keys are big, but not so much with the QWERTY-style keypad. Unlike with the iPhone, I needed to press firmly, and I often hit the wrong keys because the letters are squished together.
More important, the haptics controls didn't work well for the other functions that the iPhone has made simple: scrolling through the content on your phone or surfing the Web. For instance, you can't use a finger swipe to move through pictures or, in what enthralls many iPhone owners, use two fingers to enlarge an image or Web page.
The Vu costs $300 after rebate, with a two-year contract. Some people might find the Vu an appealing alternative to the iPhone. I might have, too, if it had come first. But now a year after the iPhone's release, I was disappointed..buy 3g iphone here
Verizon's XV6900
Likewise, I was disappointed by the XV6900, offered from Verizon and made by Taiwan's HTC. I couldn't figure out what this phone wants to be: a touch-screen phone or one operated by a stylus, like the Palm Treo. It comes with a stylus and, frankly, that's the easiest way to navigate around this smart phone, which operates on Windows Mobile 6.
Whereas the iPhone is a fun tool that is becoming a device for productivity, the XV6900 is for productivity and isn't fun.
I've reviewed Windows Mobile 6 phones in the past and think they generally are fine. But the operation of this phone is clunky and confusing and does not reflect well on the parties involved— Microsoft, Verizon or HTC.
Thankfully, they are not marketing this model as an iPhone alternative. But HTC has embarked on a U.S. brand advertising campaign featuring a similarly styled touch phone, the Diamond, that also runs on Windows Mobile software. (You can watch the HTC Diamond online at YouTube.com /HTC.)
I couldn't get the phone to do the tricks the ad shows, so lets hope the Diamond, expected later this year, performs better than the uninspiring XV6900. It sells for $299, with a two-year contract and rebate.
The XV6900 did perform some functions well, such as quickly accessing my Web-based e-mail account. Also, it runs on Verizon's quick EV-DO network, so getting online was efficient.
Yet navigating those Web pages was a pain: Do I use my finger or the stylus? Neither worked well. There is no magic here. The functional XV6900 would be impressive if this were still 2006..buy 3g iphone here
Perhaps the next few efforts at a touch-screen phone, including Sprint's Instinct, will provide the fun and function Apple got right in its first effort. So far, if someone asked me to suggest a cool touch phone, there's still only one worth buying.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
the iPhone into at least 10 more European, Middle Eastern, and African countries.
Orange, France Telecom's mobile provider, will whisk the iPhone into at least 10 more European, Middle Eastern, and African countries.
The iPhone is becoming quite the world traveler.
The deal with Apple, announced Friday, will bring the popular device later this year into Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Portugal, Egypt, and Jordan, as well as into unspecified countries in Africa and--back on the home side of the Atlantic--the Dominican Republic.
Until recently the iPhone has been available in just a handful of countries outside the U.S., including the U.K., France, Germany, and Ireland.
But announcement after announcement of foreign outreach keep popping up. Since late April, the list of target countries has frenetically expanded to include Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, the Philippines, South Africa, Greece, Turkey, Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.
No doubt, that list is incomplete...more info here
The iPhone is becoming quite the world traveler.
The deal with Apple, announced Friday, will bring the popular device later this year into Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Portugal, Egypt, and Jordan, as well as into unspecified countries in Africa and--back on the home side of the Atlantic--the Dominican Republic.
Until recently the iPhone has been available in just a handful of countries outside the U.S., including the U.K., France, Germany, and Ireland.
But announcement after announcement of foreign outreach keep popping up. Since late April, the list of target countries has frenetically expanded to include Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, the Philippines, South Africa, Greece, Turkey, Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.
No doubt, that list is incomplete...more info here
announcing the launch of the Thunder
Research in Motion, the Canadian company behind the BlackBerry handheld gadget, is working on plans to launch a touch-screen version to compete head-to-head with Apple's iPhone.
Apple's iPhone and the most recent 'Bold' BlackBerry
RIM is understood to have been working on a new model called the Thunder - with plans to sell it exclusively through Verizon Wireless in the US, and Vodafone in other parts of the world.
Rumours of a touch-screen BlackBerry first appeared on the internet earlier this week, but it is believed that plans for the new model launch are well under-way.
RIM has neither confirmed nor denied that the Thunder exists, and declined to comment on mounting speculation that it will be released in the third quarter of this year.
In February, the company said it may bring out a touch-screen device if there was demand for it.
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If RIM is close to announcing the launch of the Thunder, the new device is likely to come to market around the same time as BlackBerry's other new model - the Bold - which RIM released details and pictures of earlier this week.
The Bold is in part a new rival for the iPhone, offering a media player, a two megapixel camera, and a stronger design with a stylish silver rim.
It is also aimed largely at those wanting the added capabilities that come from a 3G network - and so will be useful in the fight against the iPhone's rumoured upcoming 3G model.
Although there are no suggestions as yet that RIM will combine the Bold's technology and the Thunder's touch-screen capabilities, were it to do so, the product would be a direct rival to the iPhone.
In the past, RIM co-chief executive Jim Balisillie has said he does not see the iPhone as a direct threat to its core business market.
However as RIM expands more and more into consumer markets, the company will increasingly come up against a barrage of smart-phone competitors, in addition to the iPhone. more info click here
Apple's iPhone and the most recent 'Bold' BlackBerry
RIM is understood to have been working on a new model called the Thunder - with plans to sell it exclusively through Verizon Wireless in the US, and Vodafone in other parts of the world.
Rumours of a touch-screen BlackBerry first appeared on the internet earlier this week, but it is believed that plans for the new model launch are well under-way.
RIM has neither confirmed nor denied that the Thunder exists, and declined to comment on mounting speculation that it will be released in the third quarter of this year.
In February, the company said it may bring out a touch-screen device if there was demand for it.
advertisement
If RIM is close to announcing the launch of the Thunder, the new device is likely to come to market around the same time as BlackBerry's other new model - the Bold - which RIM released details and pictures of earlier this week.
The Bold is in part a new rival for the iPhone, offering a media player, a two megapixel camera, and a stronger design with a stylish silver rim.
It is also aimed largely at those wanting the added capabilities that come from a 3G network - and so will be useful in the fight against the iPhone's rumoured upcoming 3G model.
Although there are no suggestions as yet that RIM will combine the Bold's technology and the Thunder's touch-screen capabilities, were it to do so, the product would be a direct rival to the iPhone.
In the past, RIM co-chief executive Jim Balisillie has said he does not see the iPhone as a direct threat to its core business market.
However as RIM expands more and more into consumer markets, the company will increasingly come up against a barrage of smart-phone competitors, in addition to the iPhone. more info click here
02 UK to Announce 3G IPhone Debut With Apple
02 UK to Announce 3G IPhone Debut With Apple, Telegraph Says
May 15 (Bloomberg) -- Telefonica SA's O2 U.K. unit and Apple Inc. may be about to introduce the first 3G version of the iPhone in the U.K., the Daily Telegraph reported.
O2 said it would make a joint announcement with Apple in ``the coming weeks,'' the newspaper said.
Matthew Key, chief executive of 02 in the U.K., declined to reveal details of the announcement, the Telegraph said. He said the company has an exclusive multi-year agreement with Apple, according to the newspaper. vidoes here
May 15 (Bloomberg) -- Telefonica SA's O2 U.K. unit and Apple Inc. may be about to introduce the first 3G version of the iPhone in the U.K., the Daily Telegraph reported.
O2 said it would make a joint announcement with Apple in ``the coming weeks,'' the newspaper said.
Matthew Key, chief executive of 02 in the U.K., declined to reveal details of the announcement, the Telegraph said. He said the company has an exclusive multi-year agreement with Apple, according to the newspaper. vidoes here
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
developer plans to tap the device's graphics and motion detector technology to let consumers do some virtual mixing
Is the iPhone ready to mix you up a healthy beverage? Hardly, but one developer plans to tap the device's graphics and motion detector technology to let consumers do some virtual mixing.
SiiTE Interactive, a New York-based creative marketing agency, said it's developing a range of iPhone applications for clients and just for experimentation. One is for a yogurt chain interested in SiiTE's idea for mobile coupons.
The concept is that an iPhone user will be able to mix a virtual smoothie, picking, say vanilla yogurt, strawberries and other ingredients on the screen. Once the ingredients are selected, the consumer can literally shake the iPhone to 'blend' up the drink they want (software written for the iPhone's accelerometer lets the device respond appropriately to the shaking). Then the consumer can go to the yogurt shop any time with their iPhone and have an on-screen bar code scanned to receive the discount.
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"It can be a channel to keep you connected to the company," Alan Ruthazer, CEO of SiiTE Interactive, told InternetNews.com. "It's a fun thing to show off to your friends and we think it can be an effective form of viral marketing."
A few other ideas being cooked up by SiiTE for the iPhone include an "Origami-gram," an illuminator for rock concerts and a virtual juice squeezer.
The Origami-gram, or "iFold," uses the iPhone's multi-touch technology to let users write a note and fold the virtual paper into custom origami configurations. The resulting swans, boxes, flowers and other designs can be saved in online galleries for others to enjoy.
For rock concert fans, cell phones have already replaced cigarette lighters as the device of choice to hold up high in a show of a solidarity. SiiTE is working on an application that will help you light up the hall with your iPhone, but also shake them in unison to generate the sounds of maracas, tambourines, jingle bells, and other instruments. SiiTE thinks this mobile music application could be included as a promotional item fans will download when they purchase a song at the iTunes store.
Related Articles
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* iPhone, BlackBerry Users List Likes and Dislikes
Squeezing the iPhone
Another concept in development: SiiTE said it's working with "a leading orange juice brand" to drive home the message that their juice is fresh-squeezed by offering a "Juicer" challenge on the iPhone.
Basically, it's a little game where users try to beat the clock and fill as many glasses of OJ as they can by tilting their iPhone to roll an orange into a squeezing zone and then using two fingers to squeeze the juice from the orange. With a flick of the wrist, the used orange is flipped off screen as the next orange rolls into place.
Analyst Maribel Lopez said she's not surprised such offbeat applications are starting to appear or at least being discussed.
iPhone
The iPhone
Source: Apple
"I expect an absolute explosion of applications for the iPhone now that the beta of software development kit (SDK)'s been released," Lopez, CEO of Lopez Research in San Francisco, told InternetNews.com. "iPhone users are very engaged with the device because it's such an easy to use platform.
When Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) releases the finished SDK in June, it will also launch a online site similar to its iTunes store that will showcase iPhone applications that are free or cost money. "If you're a developer looking for a quick way to reach a community actively seeking new applications, Apple's software store makes perfect sense as a way to prove there's a market for them."
Another development iPhone fans are waiting for are new models of the device rumored to be coming out this summer. Apple hasn't confirmed those rumors though its partner, AT&T, said new iPhones with a faster 3G connection will ship this year.
Another rumor making the rounds is that the new iPhones will include haptic technology from Immersion (NASDAQ: IMMR), the company that provides the force-feedback effect used in some video game peripherals.
Immersion's VibeTonz technology can be used to provide tactile cues for touch-screen interfaces and could give iPhone users a more tactile response when using the device's virtual keyboard.
SiiTE Interactive, a New York-based creative marketing agency, said it's developing a range of iPhone applications for clients and just for experimentation. One is for a yogurt chain interested in SiiTE's idea for mobile coupons.
The concept is that an iPhone user will be able to mix a virtual smoothie, picking, say vanilla yogurt, strawberries and other ingredients on the screen. Once the ingredients are selected, the consumer can literally shake the iPhone to 'blend' up the drink they want (software written for the iPhone's accelerometer lets the device respond appropriately to the shaking). Then the consumer can go to the yogurt shop any time with their iPhone and have an on-screen bar code scanned to receive the discount.
* Email Article
* Print Article
*
Share Articles
o Digg
o del.icio.us
o Newsvine
"It can be a channel to keep you connected to the company," Alan Ruthazer, CEO of SiiTE Interactive, told InternetNews.com. "It's a fun thing to show off to your friends and we think it can be an effective form of viral marketing."
A few other ideas being cooked up by SiiTE for the iPhone include an "Origami-gram," an illuminator for rock concerts and a virtual juice squeezer.
The Origami-gram, or "iFold," uses the iPhone's multi-touch technology to let users write a note and fold the virtual paper into custom origami configurations. The resulting swans, boxes, flowers and other designs can be saved in online galleries for others to enjoy.
For rock concert fans, cell phones have already replaced cigarette lighters as the device of choice to hold up high in a show of a solidarity. SiiTE is working on an application that will help you light up the hall with your iPhone, but also shake them in unison to generate the sounds of maracas, tambourines, jingle bells, and other instruments. SiiTE thinks this mobile music application could be included as a promotional item fans will download when they purchase a song at the iTunes store.
Related Articles
* When Is International "Shut Up Day"?
* Tech Comics: "Secure Browsing"
* iPhone, BlackBerry Users List Likes and Dislikes
Squeezing the iPhone
Another concept in development: SiiTE said it's working with "a leading orange juice brand" to drive home the message that their juice is fresh-squeezed by offering a "Juicer" challenge on the iPhone.
Basically, it's a little game where users try to beat the clock and fill as many glasses of OJ as they can by tilting their iPhone to roll an orange into a squeezing zone and then using two fingers to squeeze the juice from the orange. With a flick of the wrist, the used orange is flipped off screen as the next orange rolls into place.
Analyst Maribel Lopez said she's not surprised such offbeat applications are starting to appear or at least being discussed.
iPhone
The iPhone
Source: Apple
"I expect an absolute explosion of applications for the iPhone now that the beta of software development kit (SDK)'s been released," Lopez, CEO of Lopez Research in San Francisco, told InternetNews.com. "iPhone users are very engaged with the device because it's such an easy to use platform.
When Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) releases the finished SDK in June, it will also launch a online site similar to its iTunes store that will showcase iPhone applications that are free or cost money. "If you're a developer looking for a quick way to reach a community actively seeking new applications, Apple's software store makes perfect sense as a way to prove there's a market for them."
Another development iPhone fans are waiting for are new models of the device rumored to be coming out this summer. Apple hasn't confirmed those rumors though its partner, AT&T, said new iPhones with a faster 3G connection will ship this year.
Another rumor making the rounds is that the new iPhones will include haptic technology from Immersion (NASDAQ: IMMR), the company that provides the force-feedback effect used in some video game peripherals.
Immersion's VibeTonz technology can be used to provide tactile cues for touch-screen interfaces and could give iPhone users a more tactile response when using the device's virtual keyboard.
iTips for Your iPhone
iTips for Your iPhone
May 5, 2008
By $tu
1. How to Set Any Picture as Wallpaper
With the iPhone, you can use any picture that you've synced through iTunes or taken with the built-in camera as wallpaper. It is a great and simple way to add a little bit of your personality to your iPhone.
Here's how to do it:
* Press the home button to get to the iPhone's home screen.
* Select settings.
* Select Wallpaper.
* Choose the folder from which you want to select your wallpaper image.
You'll see one labeled Wallpaper at the top with pre-loaded wallpaper pictures from Apple. That's where our rose in the picture above comes from.buy 3g iphone click here
Next up is Camera Roll, where all the pictures you take with the iPhone are stored. Underneath that is the general Photo Library folder and then all the folders you've synced from your desktop.
* Select an image.
* What you'll see next is how the image you selected will look as wallpaper.
* Thankfully, you can move and adjust the picture as much as you like with your fingers through Apple's multi-touch interface. Use one finger to move an image around. Use two fingers, pinching them together and widening them apart, to shrink and enlarge the picture.
* Once you're satisfied with how the image looks, select Set Wallpaper.
That’s it, you’re all set. The next time you turn your iPhone on, you’ll be greeted by the picture of your choice. Unfortunately, that’s just about the only place you’ll see wallpaper with the iPhone. It doesn’t even appear on the home screen, which remains a dull black no matter what.
And, annoyingly, there doesn't appear to be any easy way to go back to not having wallpaper once you start using it. It seems you have to stop syncing or delete that image from your iPhone. All you can easily do, apparently, is change the wallpaper to another picture.
In addition to your own pictures, there are free wallpaper sites out there that have images you can download already formatted to fit smoothly on the iPhone's 320 x 480 pixel resolution display.buy 3g iphone click here
Related Articles
* Developer Plans to Shake Up the iPhone
* iPhone, BlackBerry Users List Likes and Dislikes
* Developer Plans to Shakeup The iPhone
* Tip: Troubleshooting a Frozen iPhone
Simply download them to your computer and sync them to your iPhone.buy 3g iphone click here
May 5, 2008
By $tu
1. How to Set Any Picture as Wallpaper
With the iPhone, you can use any picture that you've synced through iTunes or taken with the built-in camera as wallpaper. It is a great and simple way to add a little bit of your personality to your iPhone.
Here's how to do it:
* Press the home button to get to the iPhone's home screen.
* Select settings.
* Select Wallpaper.
* Choose the folder from which you want to select your wallpaper image.
You'll see one labeled Wallpaper at the top with pre-loaded wallpaper pictures from Apple. That's where our rose in the picture above comes from.buy 3g iphone click here
Next up is Camera Roll, where all the pictures you take with the iPhone are stored. Underneath that is the general Photo Library folder and then all the folders you've synced from your desktop.
* Select an image.
* What you'll see next is how the image you selected will look as wallpaper.
* Thankfully, you can move and adjust the picture as much as you like with your fingers through Apple's multi-touch interface. Use one finger to move an image around. Use two fingers, pinching them together and widening them apart, to shrink and enlarge the picture.
* Once you're satisfied with how the image looks, select Set Wallpaper.
That’s it, you’re all set. The next time you turn your iPhone on, you’ll be greeted by the picture of your choice. Unfortunately, that’s just about the only place you’ll see wallpaper with the iPhone. It doesn’t even appear on the home screen, which remains a dull black no matter what.
And, annoyingly, there doesn't appear to be any easy way to go back to not having wallpaper once you start using it. It seems you have to stop syncing or delete that image from your iPhone. All you can easily do, apparently, is change the wallpaper to another picture.
In addition to your own pictures, there are free wallpaper sites out there that have images you can download already formatted to fit smoothly on the iPhone's 320 x 480 pixel resolution display.buy 3g iphone click here
Related Articles
* Developer Plans to Shake Up the iPhone
* iPhone, BlackBerry Users List Likes and Dislikes
* Developer Plans to Shakeup The iPhone
* Tip: Troubleshooting a Frozen iPhone
Simply download them to your computer and sync them to your iPhone.buy 3g iphone click here
Apple's iPhone is set to make a big splash in India.
Apple's iPhone is set to make a big splash in India. A new report says that the rollout of the iPhone in India is set to be the largest, anywhere in the world -- through both Vodaphone (previously announced) and Airtel mobile carriers. Citing industry sources, Riyaz.net says that Apple's iPhones will be sold through about 250,000 Vodafone and Airtel retail outlets including franchisee-owned shops. "This rollout would be mammoth when compared to iPhones being available only in about 7,000 AT&T outlets in the US apart from the Apple Stores," the report noted. With the launch of the new 3G iPhone expected next month (likely at WWDC), Apple is already expanding the number of countries in which the iPhone will be available, including Australia (in an non-exclusive arrangement) as well as Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Asia, Egypt, New Zealand, and South Africa via a pre-announced Vodaphone deal.
The 3G iPhone also will be available in Singapore and other Asian countries and is expected hit Europe before August.buy iphone 3G click here
The 3G iPhone also will be available in Singapore and other Asian countries and is expected hit Europe before August.buy iphone 3G click here
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
the release of iPhone Video Recorder
DreamCatcher today announces the release of iPhone Video Recorder, a powerful iPhone oriented video recorder. iiPhone Video Recorder is a powerful iPhone oriented video recorder produced by DreamCatcher. iPhone Video Recorder records audio and video to the compressed mpeg4 format, so the recording is space saving, an-hour-high-quality recording will be a file as small as 60MB. iPhone Video Recorder boasts a frame rate up to 15fps which guarantees better recording performance. With iPhone Video Recorder, recording is easy and enjoyable, you may play back the video, download it to a computer, upload to Youtube, or send it out by email as you wish.videos click here
News Image
Because of the CPU overhead, iPhone Video Recorder encodes at the end of a recording session, and the encoding can be paused anytime and then resumed when you are convenient. It is possible to record on-the-fly, the sound is good, yet the frame rate will suffer. Besides, we offer some important settings which are configurable, such as the audio input amplifier and the video size mode settings. You can also customize the image quality, the brightness and the audio bit rate options.
We are going to update this app as iPhone firmware upgrades, and it will be made to smoothly run on 3G iPhone. We are also preparing for listing in AppStore. Registered users are entitled to permanent free upgrades.
* "Awesome work on the iPhone Video Recorder. It works really well and its great to see someone put our a smooth video recording app for iPhone." - jmso
* "Cool! I'm indeed one of those who found it ludicrous that Apple did not include recording features on the iPhone. At $19.95, I think it's a small price to pay considering I almost NEED this feature (for my own purposes)." - Kat Marion
iPhone Video Recorder works on iPhone firmware 1.1.x, 1.2.x, 2.0. A limited-functional trial version (recording up to 30 seconds) can also be downloaded from this web site http://www.iphonevideorecorder.com.videos click here
DreamCatcher Software Co., Ltd., set up in 2007, specializes in developing and marketing iPhone related software.
News Image
Because of the CPU overhead, iPhone Video Recorder encodes at the end of a recording session, and the encoding can be paused anytime and then resumed when you are convenient. It is possible to record on-the-fly, the sound is good, yet the frame rate will suffer. Besides, we offer some important settings which are configurable, such as the audio input amplifier and the video size mode settings. You can also customize the image quality, the brightness and the audio bit rate options.
We are going to update this app as iPhone firmware upgrades, and it will be made to smoothly run on 3G iPhone. We are also preparing for listing in AppStore. Registered users are entitled to permanent free upgrades.
* "Awesome work on the iPhone Video Recorder. It works really well and its great to see someone put our a smooth video recording app for iPhone." - jmso
* "Cool! I'm indeed one of those who found it ludicrous that Apple did not include recording features on the iPhone. At $19.95, I think it's a small price to pay considering I almost NEED this feature (for my own purposes)." - Kat Marion
iPhone Video Recorder works on iPhone firmware 1.1.x, 1.2.x, 2.0. A limited-functional trial version (recording up to 30 seconds) can also be downloaded from this web site http://www.iphonevideorecorder.com.videos click here
DreamCatcher Software Co., Ltd., set up in 2007, specializes in developing and marketing iPhone related software.
Monday, May 12, 2008
BlackBerry phone with quicker Web browsing
May 12 (Bloomberg) -- Research In Motion Ltd. unveiled a BlackBerry phone with quicker Web browsing and more room for songs and videos, getting a jump on a faster iPhone that analysts expect next month.
The device, called the BlackBerry Bold, has a brighter screen and better Web browser than previous models, co-Chief Executive Officer James Balsillie said in an interview. The phone, which also has satellite navigation and a video camera, will start selling at AT&T Inc. for $300 to $400 this summer in the U.S., he said.
The product sets up a showdown between Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs and Balsillie in the market for so-called third-generation phones, which offer speedier Web access and video downloads. Such phones are the fastest-growing part of the handset market, with users quadrupling to 400 million in the next three years, RBC Capital Markets estimates.
``You need to provide faster networks, faster processors,'' said Balsillie, 47. Consumers are using ``more and more multimedia'' and ``there are lots of contenders out there.''
The Bold, which also will go on sale in Europe and Asia, is the first BlackBerry to use high-speed downlink packet access, or HSDPA, a network technology that speeds data delivery. Apple may introduce an iPhone with faster data in June, according to analysts such as RBC's Mike Abramsky. buy 3g iphone click here
Since the iPhone's debut last June, Apple has seized the No. 2 spot in the U.S. market for so-called smart phones, handsets with computer and Internet functions. The BlackBerry ranks first.
Courting Consumers
To fend off the iPhone, Research In Motion has expanded beyond business customers, releasing devices that have music players and cameras. The new BlackBerry lets users listen to songs from Apple's iTunes music program.
In a bid to foster new uses for the BlackBerry, the company started a $150 million venture-capital fund with the Royal Bank of Canada and Thomson Reuters Corp., Balsillie said. The fund invests in companies developing smart-phone applications.
The Bold has 1 gigabyte of memory, more than in any previous BlackBerry. Users can expand it to 8 gigabytes with a memory card. Cupertino, California-based Apple sells the iPhone in 8-gigabyte and 16-gigabyte versions.
While Balsillie unveiled the Bold before Jobs showed the new iPhone, the new Apple handset may still be the one that starts selling first, said UBS AG analyst Maynard Um. Apple, whose iPhone is sold exclusively in the U.S. through AT&T, usually waits to show new products until they are available to shoppers. buy 3g iphone click here
Research In Motion might benefit from following Apple's introduction because AT&T's rivals are likely to battle the new iPhone with their products, Um said. That may allow the Bold to start selling in a less competitive market later on.
Touch Screen?
With rounded corners, the Bold's design resembles that of the iPhone. Unlike Apple's product, it has a regular keyboard and not a touch screen. Still, Balsillie said he isn't ``religious'' about having a keyboard in the BlackBerry. Analysts say he may release a touch-screen model later this year.
``The BlackBerry design has improved quite a bit,'' UBS's Um said in an interview. ``We are going to see more innovation coming from them.''
Research In Motion rose $1.59, or 1.2 percent, to $132.77 on the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 9. Apple lost $1.61 to $183.45.
Research In Motion has more than doubled in the past 12 months, while Apple is up 72 percent over that span.
The BlackBerry dominated U.S. shipments for e-mail phones in the fourth quarter with 41 percent of the market, according to Reading, England-based research firm Canalys. The iPhone had 28 percent and Palm Inc., maker of the Treo, had 9 percent.
While Research In Motion dominates the market, Apple may grow faster this year. That company may more than triple its shipments to 14 million this year from last year's 4 million, RBC's Abramsky estimates. BlackBerry shipments will almost double this fiscal year to 25 million from 14 million last year, he projects. buy 3g iphone click here
Research In Motion will probably start selling other new BlackBerrys this year, including one that flips open to reveal a keyboard, Toronto-based Abramsky wrote in a note this month. He recommends buying both Apple and Research In Motion shares.
The device, called the BlackBerry Bold, has a brighter screen and better Web browser than previous models, co-Chief Executive Officer James Balsillie said in an interview. The phone, which also has satellite navigation and a video camera, will start selling at AT&T Inc. for $300 to $400 this summer in the U.S., he said.
The product sets up a showdown between Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs and Balsillie in the market for so-called third-generation phones, which offer speedier Web access and video downloads. Such phones are the fastest-growing part of the handset market, with users quadrupling to 400 million in the next three years, RBC Capital Markets estimates.
``You need to provide faster networks, faster processors,'' said Balsillie, 47. Consumers are using ``more and more multimedia'' and ``there are lots of contenders out there.''
The Bold, which also will go on sale in Europe and Asia, is the first BlackBerry to use high-speed downlink packet access, or HSDPA, a network technology that speeds data delivery. Apple may introduce an iPhone with faster data in June, according to analysts such as RBC's Mike Abramsky. buy 3g iphone click here
Since the iPhone's debut last June, Apple has seized the No. 2 spot in the U.S. market for so-called smart phones, handsets with computer and Internet functions. The BlackBerry ranks first.
Courting Consumers
To fend off the iPhone, Research In Motion has expanded beyond business customers, releasing devices that have music players and cameras. The new BlackBerry lets users listen to songs from Apple's iTunes music program.
In a bid to foster new uses for the BlackBerry, the company started a $150 million venture-capital fund with the Royal Bank of Canada and Thomson Reuters Corp., Balsillie said. The fund invests in companies developing smart-phone applications.
The Bold has 1 gigabyte of memory, more than in any previous BlackBerry. Users can expand it to 8 gigabytes with a memory card. Cupertino, California-based Apple sells the iPhone in 8-gigabyte and 16-gigabyte versions.
While Balsillie unveiled the Bold before Jobs showed the new iPhone, the new Apple handset may still be the one that starts selling first, said UBS AG analyst Maynard Um. Apple, whose iPhone is sold exclusively in the U.S. through AT&T, usually waits to show new products until they are available to shoppers. buy 3g iphone click here
Research In Motion might benefit from following Apple's introduction because AT&T's rivals are likely to battle the new iPhone with their products, Um said. That may allow the Bold to start selling in a less competitive market later on.
Touch Screen?
With rounded corners, the Bold's design resembles that of the iPhone. Unlike Apple's product, it has a regular keyboard and not a touch screen. Still, Balsillie said he isn't ``religious'' about having a keyboard in the BlackBerry. Analysts say he may release a touch-screen model later this year.
``The BlackBerry design has improved quite a bit,'' UBS's Um said in an interview. ``We are going to see more innovation coming from them.''
Research In Motion rose $1.59, or 1.2 percent, to $132.77 on the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 9. Apple lost $1.61 to $183.45.
Research In Motion has more than doubled in the past 12 months, while Apple is up 72 percent over that span.
The BlackBerry dominated U.S. shipments for e-mail phones in the fourth quarter with 41 percent of the market, according to Reading, England-based research firm Canalys. The iPhone had 28 percent and Palm Inc., maker of the Treo, had 9 percent.
While Research In Motion dominates the market, Apple may grow faster this year. That company may more than triple its shipments to 14 million this year from last year's 4 million, RBC's Abramsky estimates. BlackBerry shipments will almost double this fiscal year to 25 million from 14 million last year, he projects. buy 3g iphone click here
Research In Motion will probably start selling other new BlackBerrys this year, including one that flips open to reveal a keyboard, Toronto-based Abramsky wrote in a note this month. He recommends buying both Apple and Research In Motion shares.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
The Glyde from Samsung
Verizon announced the latest addition to its line of touch-screen mobile phones Thursday. The Glyde from Samsung , available Friday, offers many features that have gained popularity following the introduction of Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhone.
the samsung glyde video review
The Glyde joins the LG Voyager and Venus and the Samsung Instinct in a growing list of handsets with more user-friendly touch-screen interfaces, prominent Web browsing features and multimedia functionality.
"It is certainly another impressive high-end phone and certainly capitalizes on consumer interest in touch-screen devices popularized by that other phone with a touch-screen that so many people are talking about," said Michael Gartenberg, a JupiterResearch analyst.
"It definitely should appeal to buyers of similar devices and give something like the Voyager, for example, a run for the money," he continued.
If the buyer signs a new two-year contract and claims a US$50 mail-in rebate, the cost for the Glyde comes to about $250. It's available at Verizon Wireless stores as well as Circuit City (NYSE: CC) .
Tactile Sense
Designed to fit easily within a user's palm at 4 inches by 0.7 inches, the Glyde's more prominent features include the handset's comparatively large, 2.8-inch touch-screen.
On the home screen, users will find buttons that will quickly take them to the phone's main menu, dial pad, contacts and messaging screens. While the phone does not have default buttons for access to e-mail , Web browsing and other functions, users can create customized buttons for shortcuts to those screens. Perhaps aware of user complaints criticizing small touch-screen buttons, Samsung made the buttons on the Glyde large enough to accommodate even generously sized fingers.
"It does have a nice touch-screen interface and nice exposure of high level functions, and that's a good thing," Gartenberg told TechNewsWorld.
And There's More
With the Glyde, Samsung also put some attention toward the mobile Web surfing experience. Reviewers have given the Glyde's Web browser from Access NetFront a solid thumbs-up. The high-end HTML (hypertext markup language) browser is known for its quick rendering, Gartenberg noted.
"At the end of the day, it's mobile Safari that is setting the standard for mobile Web browsers in terms of features, and not surprisingly, lots of other handset vendors are going to look to incorporate that level of functionality in their devices," he explained.
Running on Verizon's 3G EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) network , the Glyde has a step-up on the iPhone, which uses AT&T's (NYSE: T) 2.5G EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) network when not linked via WiFi. Apple opted for the slower network in part due to concerns about battery life at the time of the phone's initial launch a year ago, said Bill Hughes, an In-Stat analyst.
"If you have an iPhone user who throws away their iPhone and picks up a Glyde, they will see that functionality go much faster on Web browsing," he told TechNewsWorld.
Another standout feature is the Glyde's QWERTY keyboard, revealed when the user slides up the screen.
"Increasingly, more and more of these devices are used for e-mail and communication. Having some type of QWERTY keyboard is something that makes those tasks a little easier. At the end of the day, most of these people are not using the devices to write long e-mails or novels, but having that keyboard gives you a different type of functionality," Gartenberg pointed out.
The handset also includes a 2-megapixel camera, a music player for use with Verizon's V CAST Music and Video, Bluetooth and Verizon's VZ Navigator global positioning system
the samsung glyde video review
The Glyde joins the LG Voyager and Venus and the Samsung Instinct in a growing list of handsets with more user-friendly touch-screen interfaces, prominent Web browsing features and multimedia functionality.
"It is certainly another impressive high-end phone and certainly capitalizes on consumer interest in touch-screen devices popularized by that other phone with a touch-screen that so many people are talking about," said Michael Gartenberg, a JupiterResearch analyst.
"It definitely should appeal to buyers of similar devices and give something like the Voyager, for example, a run for the money," he continued.
If the buyer signs a new two-year contract and claims a US$50 mail-in rebate, the cost for the Glyde comes to about $250. It's available at Verizon Wireless stores as well as Circuit City (NYSE: CC) .
Tactile Sense
Designed to fit easily within a user's palm at 4 inches by 0.7 inches, the Glyde's more prominent features include the handset's comparatively large, 2.8-inch touch-screen.
On the home screen, users will find buttons that will quickly take them to the phone's main menu, dial pad, contacts and messaging screens. While the phone does not have default buttons for access to e-mail , Web browsing and other functions, users can create customized buttons for shortcuts to those screens. Perhaps aware of user complaints criticizing small touch-screen buttons, Samsung made the buttons on the Glyde large enough to accommodate even generously sized fingers.
"It does have a nice touch-screen interface and nice exposure of high level functions, and that's a good thing," Gartenberg told TechNewsWorld.
And There's More
With the Glyde, Samsung also put some attention toward the mobile Web surfing experience. Reviewers have given the Glyde's Web browser from Access NetFront a solid thumbs-up. The high-end HTML (hypertext markup language) browser is known for its quick rendering, Gartenberg noted.
"At the end of the day, it's mobile Safari that is setting the standard for mobile Web browsers in terms of features, and not surprisingly, lots of other handset vendors are going to look to incorporate that level of functionality in their devices," he explained.
Running on Verizon's 3G EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) network , the Glyde has a step-up on the iPhone, which uses AT&T's (NYSE: T) 2.5G EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) network when not linked via WiFi. Apple opted for the slower network in part due to concerns about battery life at the time of the phone's initial launch a year ago, said Bill Hughes, an In-Stat analyst.
"If you have an iPhone user who throws away their iPhone and picks up a Glyde, they will see that functionality go much faster on Web browsing," he told TechNewsWorld.
Another standout feature is the Glyde's QWERTY keyboard, revealed when the user slides up the screen.
"Increasingly, more and more of these devices are used for e-mail and communication. Having some type of QWERTY keyboard is something that makes those tasks a little easier. At the end of the day, most of these people are not using the devices to write long e-mails or novels, but having that keyboard gives you a different type of functionality," Gartenberg pointed out.
The handset also includes a 2-megapixel camera, a music player for use with Verizon's V CAST Music and Video, Bluetooth and Verizon's VZ Navigator global positioning system
Thursday, May 8, 2008
AT&T Yanks IPhone Free Wi-Fi Info From Site
Only hours after posting information that indicated iPhone owners would receive free access to AT&T's public wireless hotspots, the company pulled all references to the service from its Web site.
By 5 p.m. EDT Thursday, the page dedicated to AT&T's subscriber plans for Apple's iPhone has been stripped of all mention of Wi-Fi hotspot access.
Earlier in the day, the AT&T site noted that "Access to AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots" was included in all iPhone subscriber plans, with additional details that spelled out the extent of that access. "Unlimited Data (e-mail and Web), 200 SMS text messages and access to AT&T's more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots, including Starbucks* all for use in the U.S. *Wi-Fi available at U.S. company operated Starbucks locations equipped with a hot spot [emphasis added]."
Hours later, all of that WiFi info had been scrubbed from the site.
An AT&T customer service representative was unable to explain the change during a 15-minute telephone conversation, during which he repeatedly left the line to query his manager.
The removal of references to free WiFi is sure to confuse iPhone users and potential customers even more. On May 1, iPhone users discovered that they could use AT&T's wireless access points in Starbucks coffee shops and other locations, including some Barnes & Noble bookstores, by entering their iPhone telephone number.
Within 24 hours, however, AT&T had turned off the free access; users reported that they were being asked to enter a username and password to access hotspots they had used for free the day before.
Earlier today, AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel issued a blanket "no comment" when asked about the Wi-Fi information on his company's iPhone page.
AT&T is Apple's exclusive network partner in the U.S., and in exchange for handling all iPhone accounts, shares subscriber revenues with the Cupertino, Calif. computer and consumer electronics maker.
By 5 p.m. EDT Thursday, the page dedicated to AT&T's subscriber plans for Apple's iPhone has been stripped of all mention of Wi-Fi hotspot access.
Earlier in the day, the AT&T site noted that "Access to AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots" was included in all iPhone subscriber plans, with additional details that spelled out the extent of that access. "Unlimited Data (e-mail and Web), 200 SMS text messages and access to AT&T's more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots, including Starbucks* all for use in the U.S. *Wi-Fi available at U.S. company operated Starbucks locations equipped with a hot spot [emphasis added]."
Hours later, all of that WiFi info had been scrubbed from the site.
An AT&T customer service representative was unable to explain the change during a 15-minute telephone conversation, during which he repeatedly left the line to query his manager.
The removal of references to free WiFi is sure to confuse iPhone users and potential customers even more. On May 1, iPhone users discovered that they could use AT&T's wireless access points in Starbucks coffee shops and other locations, including some Barnes & Noble bookstores, by entering their iPhone telephone number.
Within 24 hours, however, AT&T had turned off the free access; users reported that they were being asked to enter a username and password to access hotspots they had used for free the day before.
Earlier today, AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel issued a blanket "no comment" when asked about the Wi-Fi information on his company's iPhone page.
AT&T is Apple's exclusive network partner in the U.S., and in exchange for handling all iPhone accounts, shares subscriber revenues with the Cupertino, Calif. computer and consumer electronics maker.
NBC shows are selling on the Zune Marketplace for $2 per download
NBC shows like "The Office" and "30 Rock" are selling on the Zune Marketplace for $2 per download, but if you have an iPhone or iPod Touch you can watch these two shows for free on the iPhone optimized NBC website. Silicon Alley Insider says full episodes of these two shows are available to iPhone users in unprotected Quicktime format and without advertisements, which doesn't make sense considering the network pulled all its shows from iTunes due to a pricing/DRM dispute.buy 3g iphone click here
Nevertheless, to access these shows on your iPhone, you have to go to NBC.com, which will automatically redirect you to its iPhone optimized section. So far only full episodes of the "The Office" and "30 Rock" are available under the video tab, but you can view short previews of other NBC shows such as "Heroes" and "Deal or No Deal" on other parts of the site. The video quality is not great at the moment, but it looks like this new offering for iPhone users is still new, so there's a chance it might improve later once the network adds more shows in the future.
I'd love to know what NBC is planning to do here, but until it sheds more light on this project, I'd say take advantage of the offering while it lasts. It's a good way catch a missed episode of the "The Office," especially now that iPhone users get free Wi-Fi at all AT&T hotspots which does include Starbucks and Barnes and Noble.buy 3g iphone click here
Nevertheless, to access these shows on your iPhone, you have to go to NBC.com, which will automatically redirect you to its iPhone optimized section. So far only full episodes of the "The Office" and "30 Rock" are available under the video tab, but you can view short previews of other NBC shows such as "Heroes" and "Deal or No Deal" on other parts of the site. The video quality is not great at the moment, but it looks like this new offering for iPhone users is still new, so there's a chance it might improve later once the network adds more shows in the future.
I'd love to know what NBC is planning to do here, but until it sheds more light on this project, I'd say take advantage of the offering while it lasts. It's a good way catch a missed episode of the "The Office," especially now that iPhone users get free Wi-Fi at all AT&T hotspots which does include Starbucks and Barnes and Noble.buy 3g iphone click here
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