New Solar charger

I’m always looking for alternative ways to charge my devices and saw this one today over at  Akihabara News that caught my eye but of course the big question is, will we see it here in the US?  This solar charger offers you the ability to provide power for your PSP/iPod/Nintendo DS or mobile phone. The iCharge delivers an output of DC5.0-5.5V/600mA, and comes with a battery of 1,350mAh.

It takes around 3.5 hours to charge via an AC Adaptor, 5Hours via USB, and 15Hours via Solar panel.
Dimension: 107.5×51.5×15.3mm

Colors: black / white / silver / red / pink / blue / green

iPhone Battery Sleeve from FastMac

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

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.

 Astraware Sudoku for iPhone

 

 Read the Press Release after the break

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Your Application Was Rejected, Don’t Tell Anyone!

There have been quite a few developers getting angry with Apple about rejections for inclusion to their store. Many of which have become quite vocal in the blogosphere. There was a big uproar when an application called Podcaster.

The developer published the rejection letter which cites duplication of iTunes functionality for the reason for rejection:

Apple Rep says: Since Podcaster assists in the distribution of podcasts, it duplicates the functionality of the Podcast section of iTunes.

Anyhow, it seems the negative publicity that Apple is getting for their selective BS has their lawyer teams scrambling to save face now. They are now including text in their rejection letters stating that the reasons and communications are under NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement).

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE IS UNDER NON-DISCLOSURE

Wait up a second, unless they developer agrees to this NDA when they submit an app, there is no way they can enforce an NDA on an email sent to them in rejection. Either way, it is quite clear that Apple is trying to keep their dirty laundry locked up behind the bedroom doors.

What should developers do? I am sure that it would be tough for any developer selling an application through iTunes to “stop” selling, so the idea of a “dev strike” is not one that is feasible.  Unfortunately for the Developers, Apple holds the cards and you are going to have to play by their overbearing rules. Why are thoughts of Handango lingering in my minds while I type this?

Read more about this at MacRumors. What do you think?

This is a dream, the HTC DREAM

Get that iPhone off my Network!

No, this isn’t a rant asking AT&T to do something about the 3G iPhone users clogging up my data pipes. No, not at all. This is actually a tip from Jason Langridge’s Blog tell those IT managers how to block iPhone users from using their corporate Microsoft Exchange Servers.

I’ve had a number of customers asking how they can block certain devices from connecting to Exchange.  This has arisen primarily around many IT departments being uncomfortable with people using an iPhone to connect to their corporate Exchange environment due to security concerns over the iPhone platform.

Now if you are using ISA as your firewall then you can block an iPhone (or other devices by inspecting the HTTP header)

To do this right click on the Activesync rule, choose Configure HTTP and then do the following

Thanks Jason Langridge’s

PocketPCTechs Apple iPhone Power Adapter

Ever want to use a mini USB connector to charge your iPhone? Now you can… Grab one for just $14.99 at Pocket PC Techs.

We developed the Lil Sync Duo Apple iPhone 8GB Adapter as the convenient solution to this common charging problem. Using our DUO adapter enables you to use any USB charging device and Mini-5 USB sync and charge cable with your Apple iPhone 8GB to use the most effective “fast-charge” mode when plugged into AC/DC power and the switch is set to ‘F’. If the switch is set to ‘S’, a normal sync and charge functionality is enabled.

In my video, I was unsure of what the additional mini USB cable hanging off the main body was for. I assumed it was to charge another phone at the same time, but there doesn’t seem to be enough juice to share. After uploading the video, I chatted with Leonard Wesson of PocketPC Techs and he let me know that it is for charging usb accessories such as a Bluetooth Headset. In the Youtube comments, that was also pointed out. Thanks.

The iPhone 2.1 Software Update is Here

The iPhone 2.1 software update contains many bug fixes and improvements. To get it, connect your iPhone to your computer using iTunes 8 and click Check for Update.

Update includes:

• Decrease in call set-up failures and dropped calls
• Significantly better battery life for most users
• Dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes
• Improved email reliability, notably fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
• Faster installation of 3rd party applications
• Fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes for users with lots of third party applications
• Improved performance in text messaging
• Faster loading and searching of contacts
• Improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
• Repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages
• Option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts
• Genius playlist creation

Will it fix all that it is supposed to? We shall see.

Samsung OMNIA first impressions … better than the iPhone

Matt Miller from ZDNet.com  posted some interesting first impressions on the Samsung OMNIA and his thoughts are that it can clearly show that Windows Mobile can beat the iPhone.  I would expect that!!  It is a great piece and well worth reading Matt’s thoughts.  It is expensive (US$675) and is only available a few select countries but it is a tempting device.  Matt ended his piece by saying:

The OMNIA is better than the iPhone in so many ways: I know some may say it isn’t fair to compare the iPhone with more powerful smartphones, but here is a random order list in which the Samsung OMNIA looks to be a more capable product that you may want to consider (even without US 3G support):

• Ability to rotate in three directions in all applications
• Ability to connect to A2DP headphones or a Bluetooth keyboard
• Ability to tether the device to a PC with a wired or wireless connection
• 5 megapixel camera that captures video and has image stabilization with flash
• Download and store podcasts wirelessly
• Access the file system and connect as a flash drive or via Bluetooth to a PC
• FM radio with RDS support
• Office Mobile support (creation and editing)
• Cut, copy, and paste
• Handwriting recognition
• 3rd party navigation and turn-by-turn direction support
• Advanced 3rd party support (SlingPlayer, photo/video editing, etc.)
• Advanced Exchange/Outlook synchronization capability
• Haptic feedback
• Removable battery
• Removable storage card

Check out Matt’s Samsung OMNIA first impressions here

Is the Meizu M8 out of Vaporware Status?

OK, it’s been a while since I have posted or even cared about the supposed iPhone Killer, the Meizu M8. A couple iPhones have been launched since these guys started showing their mock ups of what is really just a rip off of the iPhone. After Apple announced the launch of the original iPhone, concept photos and other phooey about the Meizu M8 began to surface. I had actually forgotten all about this device until the following video surfaced…

When the Meizu M8 started making some headlines, there seemed to be plans of it being a phone/media player like the iPhone. It seems now that they have decided to stick to a music player making it more like an iPod Touch Rip than an iPhone Rip.

Source: Gizmodo

Brando Releases iPower, a Portable Power Station

Brando has released iPower. iPower is a docking station, extra battery source that packs a 2300mah battery internally to either power your iPhone or charge it. It has a speaker port, volume jack, and is designed to allow the iPhone to be used while it’s in it.

Specifications:

• Capacity: 2400mAh
• Charging Time: ~3hrs
• Discharging time (to iPhone): ~3hrs
• Power of amplifier speaker: <1.5W
• Input Voltage: 4.8 ~ 5.5V
• Current input: 500-1000mA
• Output Voltage: 5.0 ~ 5.5V
• Current output: 100-1000mA
• Quiescent power drain: <50uA
• Weight: 93g

Grab it at Brando

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Rant: I think I now hate my iPhone 3G

I can’t relate with my buddy Joel over at Geek.com on his rants since I decided not to buy the 3G variety of the iPhone. I do have the original 8GB iPhone with 2.02 running on it. I keep putting it away to try other devices, then Apple releases another bug fix, so I fire it back up. I have used it 60% of the time since the new software that allowed me to use Microsoft Exchange 2007 was released. Well, Joel dove in and bought the 3G iPhone and from earlier impressions, he liked it. Now, he seems to be changing his toon a tad…

When I first reviewed the iPhone 3G I couldn’t say enough good things about it. I even recommended that existing owners of the iPhone upgrade to it. After a little over a month of ownership, though, I’m contemplating getting rid of mine. My reasons are below.

Head over to Geek.com to see his reasoning, but I will say that out of his issues, the battery life issue is the only one we share. I attribute the poor battery times I get to constant incoming email via Microsoft Exchange. I know I could adjust some settings, but I don’t want to limit Exchange’s ability to get my email to me in a hurry.

iPhone 2.02 - Time to Fire Mine Back Up

Just when I thought it was safe to put my iPhone back into the library (master bathroom), Apple goes and releases another patch. Time to fire it back up again…

This is supposed to be a bug fix, but some early reports I have been reading around the web seem to indicate that bugs are being added. Seriously though, some people are having issues so far according to iPhone Atlas.

As described by one Apple Discussions poster:

“I use to get 1-3 bars of 3g service in my house and now I cant make a call… I have to switch off the 3G to get any bars Things are going the wrong way!””

Even worse, many users are experiencing incompatibility with previously operational third-party applications. Two sample reports:

• “Yes I have about 15 Apps loaded and now only 8-10 work with the new 2.0.2 software.”
• “All my downloaded applications crash within 5 seconds of being opened. Restarting the phone and reapplying update have done nothing to fix it. “

Source: Engadget Mobile

GTS World Racing for the iPhone

A demonstration of GTS World Racing for iPhone and iPod touch.

Was it a case of over reaction ?

Possibly this follow-up might make some folks feel a little better about the concern that was raised  by Jonathan Zdziarski, author of the book iPhone Open Application Development and an iPhone Forensics manual:

“This suggests that the iPhone calls home once in a while to find out what applications it should turn off. At the moment, no apps have been blacklisted, but by all appearances, this has been added to disable applications that the user has already downloaded and paid for, if Apple so chooses to shut them down.

“I discovered this doing a forensic examination of an iPhone 3G. It appears to be tucked away in a configuration file deep inside CoreLocation.”

Engadget Mobile seems to think you all can breathe a big sigh of relief.  According to John Gruber (Daring Fireball), via “an informed source at Apple” — the “clbl” stands for “Core Location Blacklist” and stipulates specific pieces of software that don’t have access to in the Core Location.

Possibly this is a better interpretation …. one never knows, does one?  Check out John Gruber’s piece here at Daring Fireball.