iPhone - Top Software, Promo Codes, & Market Share
Posted by Chris Leckness on 12/4/08 in iPhone
Love it or hate it, the iPhone is here to stay. I have one and I think it’s a nice phone. I still prefer my WinMo phones more though. Right now, I am using the HTC Fuze. There has been a ton of news to report about the iPhone, so I decided to throw it all in one post.
Global Dominance. Ok, Dominance is a strong word, but the numbers are quite amazing. According to Gizmodo, the iPhone has grabbed a 16.6% market share of the World Smartphone market. On a postive note, Windows Mobile has seen a little increase this year too.
iPhone Software for 2008, What was the most popular?
Linux in an iPhone
Yes, it’s possible and you can find all the details at this page. Now, if that’s possible then I’m more than sure that the next thing we are going to see is Android running in an iPhone.
And You may be asking yourself why some people are trying to do something like that to an iPhone which is considered by many the best OS for Smartphones available in the market. The reality is that they do this because THEY CAN. To me, Android is the best thing made in Linux for Smart Phones but I also consider that at this moment it still too “green” to fully compete against Apple’s SO in the iPhone. But that’s just my opinion, what’s yours?
Note: I’m a proud owner of a T-Mobile G1.
World of Warcraft iPhone Apps
Posted by Chris Leckness on 11/28/08 in iPhone
Does anyone play World of Warcraft? I know that 11 Million people do, do you? I have dabbled a bit in low level PVP in World of Warcraft. Some new applications for WoW have hit the app store lately…
The 1st one is Warcraft Characters. This is an application that queries the World of Warcraft Armory and displays vital info on your characters or others characters. You can check out all the info you can get from the armory on your iPhone.
The other app is one that seems pretty silly, but let’s say that the servers are down and you are out having coffee and want to see if your server is back up, you can with Warcraftstat. (via Wowinsider)
iPhone 2.2 Released
Posted by Chris Leckness on 11/21/08 in iPhone
For those of you using the iPhone, here is another update. I have to admit that I am quite envious of the frequent rollouts. Sometimes I wish Windows Mobile devices were all the same so updates would be the same no matter what phone you have.
What’s in this update:
- Enhancements to Maps
- Google Street View*
- Public transit and walking directions
- Display address of dropped pins
- Share location via email
- Decrease in call setup failures and dropped calls
- Enhancements to Mail
- Resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
- Improved formatting of wide HTML email
- Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)
- Improved stability and performance of Safari
- Improved sound quality of Visual Voicemail messages
- Pressing Home button from any Home screen displays the first Home screen
- Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings
Google iPhone Voice Search Application Now Available!
Posted by Chris Leckness on 11/17/08 in iPhone
Remember that cool app I shared a video of the other day? Well, it’s here! When I dust off my iPhone, this will be the 1st app I give a try. Well, maybe second… I love illium Software and want to check out their new game, Kings Corners.
That’s why we’ve added voice search to Google Mobile App for the iPhone — and made it super easy to use. Once the app is running, you don’t have to tap any buttons. Just hold the iPhone to your ear, wait for the beep, and say what you’re looking for. For instance, last week when I was arm wrestling with fellow product manager Robert Hamilton, I said, "official arm wrestling rules" to Google Mobile App to settle a little dispute about his elbow placement. (After all, the middle of an arm-wrestling match is no time to be typing.) Turns out we were both disqualified because we were not using elbow pads.
Our passion for making search faster and easier goes further. When you do local searches, Google Mobile App can now automatically use your location to make results more relevant to where you are. That was really useful when I was in San Francisco last weekend and my daughter got a paper cut. Having no familiarity with the neighborhood I was in, I just searched for "pharmacies" and I was quickly on my way to the nearest place to buy a bandage. The day was saved.
illium Software Releases King’s Corners for the iPhone
Posted by Chris Leckness on 11/17/08 in Press Releases, iPhone
Our good Pocket PC Friends illium software has gone iPhone crazy and released a new game today, Kings Corners…
Kings Corners is now available for the iPhone and iPod touch. Kings Corners combines luck and skill in a fun and fast card game that’s easy to learn, but challenging to master. Gameplay is quick, making Kings Corners the perfect distraction from long lines, waiting rooms, and all the otherwise boring parts of the day that can’t be avoided. But Kings Corners is also highly addictive, and players will soon find out that once they start playing, it’s really tough to stop!
Head to the iTunes store to grab it today!
My top 5 Favorite iPhone apps (this week)
Posted by Jay Donovan on 11/16/08 in Apple, iPhone
Gil’s iPhone post inspired me to list a few of my recent favorite applications for iPhone. It is a list that changes frequently, as there seem to be many new applications available on an almost daily basis.
GOOGLE EARTH. Fascinating. Works great. GPS works so fast that I think to myself every time it opens—”What would people 300 years ago think of this little thing if they saw it.”
Indeed, would they faint, would they cry out with joy… nah, they would probably burn me at the stake as a heretic for having it in my possession. At least I would know, within 3 meters, the location of my final resting place.
I digress. What I mean to point out is that the WYSIWYG-ness of this thing is super fun and FUN is what I tend to think it is best suited for. If I want directions to a place, then regular old Google maps seems the quickest and most intuitive way to get directions, but if I want to look for the sattelite image of the sandstone model of the Parthenon in Nashville, TN (and believe me, I look up things like that ) it’s way more fun on Google Earth for some reason. Plus Google Earth can keep your kids busy, when you are out at a public event or restaurant that they find boring.
FACEBOOK. If you are a social media junkie, the Facebook application for iPhone is a must-have. It is loaded with features and is intuitive. Sometimes I think I prefer it to the actual web site. You can check status updates, scroll thru friends’ pictures, upload your own pictures, all with the flick of a finger.
SPORTS TAP. Comprehensive list of all events in the sporting world. I was happy to see that world soccer leagues are listed right along with NFL, NHL, NCAA. Works great in conjunction with ESPN SMS score alerts, for keeping tabs on matches and events while you are stuck somewhere without access to a TV or computer—like during meetings when you are at work.
STANZA. It’s a great little e-book reader and the app itself comes with access to many classic novels. At the time of this writing, I am 8 chapters into 1984, by George Orwell. I know, I know… I was supposed to have read that in eighth grade, but alas, I didn’t, so I am reading it now. Plus, now I can read in the dark.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. There is an app that contains scans of the document, but also a transcription. When I read it, it’s kind of like I hear the theme song to Rocky in my head, and I’m serious. I find it to be a very moving and stirring piece of literature. Download the app. Read it when you are feeling sorry for yourself. Read it before you go out to jog. Read it before you go to pitch that client presentation. Seriously folks, if you have never read it… READ IT. It puts a little perspective on the bravery and well, cojones, the Founding Fathers had in order to risk their fortunes to fight for our great nation. When I read it, I try to paraphrase outdated phrases like “all men” to be “all people”, but other than that it’s a classic. That last paragraph is killer.
WHOA… where did THAT little tirade come from. Well, never mind my melodramatic ramblings about The Founding Fathers, and just get the app because it’s free.
iPhone to Get Google Voice Search
Posted by Chris Leckness on 11/15/08 in iPhone
Wow. This, if it works as well as this promo video portrays, looks awesome! The New York Times broke this one Friday and Crunchgear grabbed this nice promo video.
I guess it goes without saying that you will need a location enabled iPhone for some of the functionality. I would love to see this application spread to Android, WinMo, and others.
What happens when a Windows Mobile Addict breaks his vow and buys an iPhone?
Posted by Gil Bouhnick on 11/14/08 in Opinion, iPhone
+
The following events took place between Monday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 12.
Nov 10, 2008, 19:00:
I’m on my way to a ‘Mobile Monday’ event where the main theme is “user interface in the mobile world”. Perfect for a guy like me who loves mobile gadgets and develops user interface…
Maybe I’ll get to see some new stuff like Windows Mobile 6.5!
iPhone Rumor Time : 2.2 Soon?
Posted by Chris Leckness on 11/11/08 in iPhone
According to Gizmodo Tipster iPhone Hellas, Apple will be pushing 2.2 on November 21st.
According to the consistently reliable iPhone Hellas, the iPhone OS 2.2 update will appear even sooner than we all expected. Barring any sudden plan changes, the iPhone Hellas people are saying the upgrade will be available on November 21. The new feature list remains unchanged from the previous beta versions, so the question here is: Would they add copy and paste by surprise?
Apple is pushing these updates out fast. Sure wish it was that simple for multi-device platforms!
iPhone Battery Sleeve from FastMac
Posted by Chris Leckness on 11/10/08 in iPhone
Get a Whopping 3100mAH Battery for your iPhone! Does the average human need this much juice? Nope, but I can understand the need to have this much excess laying around too! Here is your juice, fed through an IV. The FastMac IV.
Even though the iV gives you instant power on the go, the unique design allows you to directly insert it into an Apple dock to charge both your iPhone and the iV at the same time. Another great feature of the iV is the full size USB port that enables you to charge another device such as your Bluetooth headset, digital camera or even another iPhone.
Pick it up for $79 at FastMac
Sonos Controller Launched for the iPhone
Posted by Chris Leckness on 10/29/08 in iPhone
Control your Sonos System with your iPhone, for free. Well almost free, you have to have a Sonos obviously. I have really like what I’ve seen from those guys at tradeshows. I got one hell of a demo at the Engadget Party in Boston 2 years ago. Anyhow, here ya have it…
The Sonos Controller for iPhone™ is a free application that turns your iPhone (or iPod® touch) into a full-fledged Sonos Controller. Plus, it uses the familiar touch-screen interface and fits in your pocket so you can carry it with you all over the house. Best of all, you can download it for free on the App Store in seconds. Just grab your iPhone and simply touch the screen to pick a room, point and flick to pick a song, and then hit play. Grouping zones and searching tracks has never been easier. You can mix and match Controllers (CR100, Desktop Controller and Sonos Controller for iPhone) for maximum flexibility. Or get started with Sonos using the iPhone you already own and one or more ZonePlayers spread throughout your house.
Head over to Sonos for a demo video and some other goodies…Thanks Kaity.
Astraware Sudoku for iPhone
An award-winning Sudoku game that’s packed with features and easy to use!
Check these features:
- Wide range of assistance including smart hints system, pencilmarks and hold-and-highlight to help beginners.
- Puzzle of the Day downloadable over the air.
- Dedicated companion website featuring solving techniques and additional puzzle packs at http://www.sudokuoftheday.com.
- Built in puzzle generator creates unlimited number of puzzles!.
- Play your own music in the background.
Read the Press Release after the break
iGPS360 - GPS Receiver for iPhone and iPod Touch
Posted by Chris Leckness on 10/20/08 in iPhone
Looks like a company called Orange Gadgets is making a little add on that should make iPhone and Touch users with jailbroken phones quite happy. Engadget seems a bit skeptical about this company, so be cautious.
Included with the GPS module is a 6ft USB-A to micro USB-B cable for on-the-go or at home charging. With this cable you will be able to charge your iPhone or iPod touch while the module is plugged into your handheld device. A suitable USB car charger, USB wall charger or USB desktop/laptop port is required for this functionality (not included).
The price of the module will be $75.00 + shipping and this price includes the USB cable. We are currently gearing up for full-scale production of the module. You can sign up for one on our pre-order list here.
iPhone with Windows Mobile
Today seems to me that is going to be a day all relative about phones. Here is an amazing news, a Norwegian teenager has created a program to have dual-boot into Windows Mobile in his iPhone.
Check the video.
