iLounge

Griffin RoadTrip receives iPhone, iPhone 3G certification

• November 21, 2008
• iPhone Accessories
• digg this

Griffin Technology has announced that it is now shipping a revised version of its RoadTrip with SmartScan combination car charger, mount, and FM transmitter that is certified for use with the iPhone and iPhone 3G. RoadTrip includes interchangeable, model-specific cradles for iPhone or iPod to securely mount the device on a flexible steel neck, and features the ability to play music from the device while charging, a built-in FM transmitter with RDS technology and SmartScan for automatically finding open station frequencies, a line output, and an integrated display for tuning. Griffin’s RoadTrip with SmartScan for iPhone is available now and sells for $100.

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Compete: iPhone users more likely to install applications

• November 21, 2008
• iPhone
• digg this

According to the results of a survey contained in Compete’s latest Smartphone Intelligence report, iPhone users are far more likely to have downloaded and installed third-party applications than users of other smartphones. The survey, conducted during October and November and consisting of 940 respondents, found that 34% of smartphone users have not added an application to their devices, compared to just 7% of iPhone users. In addition, 72% of iPhone users said they had installed five or more applications, compared to only 23% of other smartphone users; more than a third of iPhone users (34%) said they had installed more than 15 applications.

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Sign up for our iPodweek newsletter, arriving shortly

• November 21, 2008
• Site News
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The latest edition of iPodweek, our weekly newsletter covering all things iPod, iPhone, iTunes, and Apple TV, is coming later today. iPodweek is a summary of the top news, reviews, and feature articles we’ve published over the past week, and it also features giveaways and iPod accessory discount offers from various companies. There’s still plenty of time to sign up and receive this week’s edition — just use the simple form below to submit your email address, if you haven’t done so already.

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Apple updates iPhone SDK for OS 2.2

• November 21, 2008
• iPhone
• digg this

Coinciding with the release of iPhone Software 2.2 for the iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod touch, Apple has released an updated version of its iPhone Software Development Kit for the new software. Listed as build 9M2621, the updated SDK weighs in at 1.56GB and requires Mac OS X 10.5.5. iPhone SDK for iPhone OS 2.2 is available now as a free download for registered developers from the iPhone Dev Center.

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Mix: Tweetie, Puzzle Quest, OrbLive, iTunes credit woes

• November 21, 2008
• Mix
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Atebits has released Tweetie, its new Twitter application for the iPhone and iPod touch. Tweetie lets users handle multiple Twitter accounts, view timeline, replies, direct messages and favorites, browse friends and followers, post new tweets and retweet, reply directly to tweets and send direct messages, picture uploading, view Twitter trends, perform custom searches, and more. Tweetie is available now from the App Store and sells for $3.

TransGaming has revealed that its upcoming game Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is currently in the approval process. Based on the game of the same name released for portable and console systems over the last year, the iPhone and iPod touch title will feature new story lines, new characters and new conquests, along with a revamped interface optimized for the devices’ touch screens. Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is expected to be released via the App Store next month, and will sell for $10.

Orb Networks has announced its new OrbLive streaming media application for the iPhone and iPod touch. OrbLive uses Wi-Fi or cellular network connections to let users access music, videos, photos, and, if their PC is properly equipped, webcams and live TV directly from their iPhone or iPod touch. The application requires the Orb application to be installed on the user’s Windows PC for the OrbLive client to work; the company says a version of the application is coming soon for Mac and Linux computers. OrbLive is available now from the App Store and sells for $10; a limited free trial version is also available.

A number of iTunes users are reporting problems using their existing iTunes credits for purchases on the iTunes Store following installation of iTunes 8.0.2. Users who have credit in their iTunes accounts from gift cards, certificates, or vouchers, have reported getting the following message when attempting to make a purchase following installation and acceptance of the new iTunes Store policies: “Due to a problem with the iTunes Store, your store credit balance is temporarily unavailable for use in purchasing music; you may continue purchasing using a different method of payment.” It is unclear when Apple will have the problem fixed.

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iPod touch Software 2.2 out, lacks Maps enhancements

• November 21, 2008
• digg this

In addition to the release of iPhone Software 2.2 for iPhone and iPhone 3G, Apple has released the “iPhone 2.2 Software Update for iPod touch,” containing a comparatively shorter list of improvements. Notably absent in Apple’s changelog are references to improvements to the Maps application, which on the iPhone and iPhone 3G has gained Google Street View, transit information, and walking directions. Here is what Apple lists as improvements to the iPod touch version of the software:

Secure WPA Wi-Fi network connection issues have been fixed.
E-mail fetching problems have been resolved.
Wide HTML e-mail formatting has been improved.
Auto-correcting keyboard can be turned on or off.
Safari is more stable and performs better.
Podcasts can be downloaded from iTunes application.
Pressing Home button from any Home screen returns you to the first Home screen.

The iPod touch version of the iPhone Software 2.2 is available now as a 277.7MB download from iTunes 8.0.2 by selecting your iPod touch under Devices and clicking on the Check for Update/Update button. It is free for users with earlier 2.x iPhone Software.

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iPhone Software 2.2 out: Google Street View, Podcasts

• November 21, 2008
• iPhone
• digg this

Early this morning, following the release of iTunes 8.0.2, Apple released iPhone Software 2.2 as a free download for iPhone and iPhone 3G users. Here is a partial list of new features contained in the update, according to Apple.

Fewer call connection failures and mid-call drops.
Improved Visual Voicemail sound quality.
Google Street View has been added to maps.
Public transit information and walking directions.
Dropped pins display addresses.
Current location can be shared via e-mail.
E-mail fetching problems have been resolved.
Wide HTML e-mail formatting has been improved.
Auto-correcting keyboard can be turned on or off.
Safari is more stable and performs better.

Podcasts can be downloaded from iTunes app, both on cellular (!) and Wi-Fi.
Pressing Home button from any Home screen returns you to the first Home screen. …

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Apple releases iTunes 8.0.2

• November 20, 2008
• iTunes
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Apple has released iTunes 8.0.2, the latest version of its digital media management software. According to the release notes, the update addresses a quality issue creating MP3s on some computers, fixes a connectivity issue with the iTunes Store when using some internet proxies with Mac OS X, and improves accessibility with VoiceOver. iTunes 8.0.2 is available now as a free download from itunes.com or via Apple’s Software Update utility.

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DLO ships HomeDock HD for iPod

• November 20, 2008
• iPod Accessories
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Digital Lifestyle Outfitters has announced that it is now shipping its HomeDock HD entertainment dock for iPod. The HomeDock HD features an integrated iPod dock offering video upscaling to 1080i or 720p and an optical digital audio output, component video and RCA audio outputs, an auxiliary audio input, an included RF remote, and an on-TV interface featuring album art in an icon-based visual flow format. The DLO HomeDock HD is available now and sells for $250.

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Apple patent points to iPhone, iPod status indicators

• November 20, 2008
• Apple
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A recently published Apple patent application suggests the company is developing a new system of status indicators for its iPod and iPhone devices. The patent describes a system in which the main backlight of the device sports a semi-transparent area, allowing a low-power, secondary backlight to show through, displaying simple icons to show whether the iPod is playing music, indicate new email or voicemail, missed calls, and so on. As with all Apple patents, this filing does not necessarily represent any future product release from Apple, but offers evidence of the company’s research in this area.

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MMS coming to iPhone via re-branded Mobispine app

• November 20, 2008
• iPhone
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Following a report from MacWorld Sweden (Translated Link) claiming that iPhone carrier Telia would soon offer a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) application for its iPhone customers, mobile services company Mobispine has announced that it is developing a native MMS application for the iPhone. According to a posting on the company’s blog, Mobispine will sell a specially-branded version of its MMS application to operators, who in turn will make it available to users via the App Store. It is currently unclear whether Mobispine will be able to receive approval from Apple for the MMS application.

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Mix: Softbank, Frenzic, Goldstriker, Zune Marketplace

• November 20, 2008
• Mix
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Softbank Chief Strategy Officer Tetsuzo Matsumoto recently said that the company is “happy” with its current situation regarding the iPhone 3G, despite reports of slower-than-expected sales. “We introduced the iPhone without any big market trial, so the initial package had some problems,” Matsumoto told Dow Jones Newswire at the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress. Citing research from MM Research Institute, Newswire reports that Apple sold about 200,000 iPhones in Japan in the first two months, but has seen falling demand, leading analysts to speculate that total sales are unlikely to reach 500,000, or around half of what Apple expected. Despite these figures, Matsumoto said iPhone users have been downloading data at ten times the rate of other phones, adding, “as new applications are being introduced, the attraction of the handset is increasing daily. So we are pretty happy about the present situation.”

The Iconfactory and ARTIS Software have announced the release of their game Frenzic for the iPhone and iPod touch. Frenzic is a puzzle-based game in which players attempt to move colored pie pieces from a central circle to surrounding circles; the outer circles are removed from the board as they are filled. Features include location-awareness to compare the player’s scores with those of nearby players or players across the globe, and integration with the frenzic.com website, which offers friend tracking, stats, and more. Frenzic is available now from the App Store and sells for $5.

Goldstriker has introduced three new precious stone-bezeled iPhone 3Gs (pictured). Available in black and white diamonds, ruby and white diamond, or white diamonds, each is a 16GB model and fully unlocked for compatibility with most GSM providers. The three new models are available now and sell for £3,595 (roughly $5,370), £3,095 (~$4,625), and £4,095 (~$6,120), respectively.

Microsoft has announced changes to its Zune Pass music subscription model, establishing a new value-conscious purchasing alternative to the iTunes Store. The new $15 Pass gives users on-demand access to millions of tracks from all four major labels and independents, then lets them keep 10 DRM-free tracks per month to add to their permanent collection, effectively reducing the monthly rental cost to only $5.

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