New Black Friday iPhone App Is A Must Have

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The number of advertised deals on Black Friday is overwhelming. There is no easy way to compare deals for a specific product across stores. The Black Friday Sites do a good job on categorizing and analyzing of the Black Friday circulars. One of these site called TGI Black Friday went now a step further and released a surprisingly useful Black Friday App for the iPhone.
For instance if you want to find out which Wii Bundles will be offered on Black Friday. You just search for "Wii Bundle" on this iPhone App and you see at a glance all Wii Bundle offers with prices available in the different stores.
When you search for iPod touch you can easily see that Walmart has the best deal with $195 and a free $50 iTunes card.

TGI Black Friday announced the free Black Frida iPhone app today and I just downloaded it from iTunes.
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Posted on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:18:22 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

iCarte BFC/RFID Reader for iPhone Debuts

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There really is an app or a hardware accessory for just about any need that an iPhone user might have. Wireless Dynamics has announced a new hardware accessory for the iPhone called iCarte. The device turns the iPhone into a NFC/RFID reader.

The iCarte 110 is a near field communications device and RFID reader that plugs into the charge and sync port of the iPhone. The embedded smartchip can also be used as a debit, credit, pre-paid, or loyalty card to turn the iPhone into a digital wallet. Read more

Posted on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:00 CST | by Shane McGlaun

The Great iPhone Heist of 2009

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Sherlock Holmes is coming out in theaters next month, but where he's really needed right now is Belgium. That's where a cadre of clever criminals have absconded with 3-4,000 iPhones (AppleInsider). Local reports can't seem to agree on exactly how many phones were stolen from a warehouse belonging to CEVA Logistics in the city of Willebroek.

The actual heist sounds like a traditional 'Mission Impossible' type of break-in. The thieves climbed onto the roof and then cut a hole into it, dropped down into the building, and lifted roughly $3 million USD in smartphones. Considering the level of inside knowledge required to pull something like this off, it's likely one of the criminals had inside information.

Posted on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:42:36 CST | by Robert Evans

eSecure: Control Your House From Your iPhone

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Okay everyone, we have definitely jumped deep into the future. I'm not entirely certain when it happened (maybe when we started using robots to fight our wars) but it's definitely in full swing now. We just received an announcement from the folks behind eSecure, a new iPhone app from the home security provider Protection One. This app allows your phone to sync up with your home security system and lets you control your domicile remotely.

Protection One says that users will be able to arm and disarm their security system, and receive text alerts and real-time updates if their house is broken into. That's pretty much what you'd expect from this sort of app. Here's where things get awesome; using eSecure, customers will also be able to register if a door is opened, detect carbon monoxide levels, and monitor the contents of their liquor or medicine cabinet, as well as any other 'sensitive' areas.

Posted on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:09:21 CST | by Robert Evans

Apple iPhone Sync Issue Fixed On Gigabyte Intel P55 Motherboards With New BIOS

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If you have encountered issues syncing your iPhone with iTunes on your new Windows 7 PC than you might be in luck. If you run an Intel P55 motherboard from Gigabyte you can now upgrade your motherboard Bios with a beta version that is supposed to fix the Apple iPhone Sync issue.

As Gigabyte was able to fix the issue with a Bios update it would imply that the problem is not a Windows 7 problem. Microsoft and Apple are supposed to also still investigate the issue. Read more

Posted on Mon, 9 Nov 2009 01:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

New Verizon Ads Hint At Verizon iPhone?

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Christmas is coming up, and Verizon's launched a whole new bevy of ads in order to push their new smartphone line-up this holiday season. If you haven't already seen it on television, you can check out any of the ads on Verizon's YouTube stream. Most of the ads are your normal fare, but one of them has got me thinking.

The ad is set in the isle of misfit toys, and features the iPhone as a newcomer to the island. The interesting thing about this is that Verizon isn't attacking the iPhone itself in this ad. In fact, the line the ad states that the iPhone is a fantastic smartphone, shackled to a terrible carrier with poor 3G coverage. That's somewhat different than Big Red's previous tactics, which included focusing on the iPhones shortcomings.

Posted on Sun, 8 Nov 2009 16:27:32 CST | by Robert Evans

The Verizon iPhone: Coming Q3, 2010?

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Verizon's recent “Droid does” ads are probably the most pointedly anti-iPhone pieces of advertising out there. This has led some people to theorize that Big Red has given up all hope of ever carrying the iPhone, instead choosing to focus their efforts on the Droid line. In the current climate, the idea of a Verizon iPhone certainly seems a little preposterous. And yet, if AppleInsider's sources are correct, that's just what's headed our way next year.

The blog has received a report from an industry analyst with OTR Global which states that Apple is hard at work developing a “worldmode” iPhone. This device would be smaller than the iPhone, with a screen of just 2.8”, but would be compatible with both CDMA2000 networks and UMTS 3G networks. The report claims that this universal functionality will be made possible thanks to a new hybrid chip from Qualcomm.

Posted on Sat, 7 Nov 2009 05:43:39 CST | by Robert Evans

iPhone 4G Will Pack RFID Reader?

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RFID technology has come a long way in the past few years. Chips are now individually very cheap, and thousands of uses for them have been devised by corporations and governments. Now it seems that Apple is looking to help make RFIDs something consumers make use of every day by adding a reader into the new iPhone. AppleInsider says that a site focusing on Near Field Communications has found evidence that Apple has built new iPhone prototypes that pack an RFID reader.

An iPhone-mounted RFID reader could have a wide variety of uses. It could allow “touchless” payments at vending machines, stores and toll booths, as well as enable a variety of AR technologies. RFID chips can also act as barcodes, which would make browsing for deals and 'at a glance' window shopping much easier for people with iPhones. Since many products and services are already embedded with RFID chips, we could see this functionality appear in the very near future.

Posted on Fri, 6 Nov 2009 07:34:14 CST | by Robert Evans

iPhone 4G Parts Spotted?

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Alright readers, put on your wild rumor hats and get ready for the craziest bit of speculation I've seen in months. Gizmodo ran a story today about the latest set of iPhone rumors from China Ontrade. In case you don't recall, China Ontrade is a parts wholesaler who posted up images of parts to the iPhone 3GS a month before that device was announced. Today, China Ontrade has images of parts for a fourth generation iPhone on their site.

Since their 3GS images were proved to be legit last time, we have no reason to distrust them on this. Still, it makes no sense for the images to come out now. Parts for the fourth generation iPhone shouldn't even exist until a month or two before the official announcement. No manufacturer, especially one as paranoid about information security as Apple, wants to put their hardware out six months ahead of a release. This could mean that a surprise iPhone launch is around the corner.

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:16:50 CST | by Robert Evans

envIO Chorus: The Future of iPhone App Advertising

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In a few days Apple will send out a press release celebrating the approval of the App Store's 100,000th application. The news will be met with much celebration at Cupertino and pages of analysis from bloggers and tech sites. The rapid, unconstrained growth of the App Store is fine news for Apple shareholders and iPhone owners, but the message it carries for developers is not entirely pleasant. In a crowded ecosystem with 100,000 apps and counting, how do you separate your product from the herd?

This isn't just a problem for apps that have dozens of virtually identical competitors gobbling up their customers. Even if your app is truly unique it has better than even odds of being buried under a mountain of crap. When the cost of successfully pushing an app becomes greater than the small developer is able to bear, those independent (and innovative) small developers risk being pushed out of the business altogether.

Posted on Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:00:00 CST | by Robert Evans

Mosquitoes Augmented Reality Game For iPhone 3GS launched

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I am a sucker for augmented reality apps (AR) and therefore had to try out Mosquitoes right away when developer Makayama pointed me to it.
The iPhone game Mosquitoes lets you shoot animated mosquitoes that are infesting your room. The game uses besides the camera, the compass and accelerometer to realistically let you hunt down the mosquitoes around you.
Try playing this AR Game on a rotating office chair - it works quite well.
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Posted on Mon, 2 Nov 2009 07:43:09 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

World's Biggest Multitouch Screen Makes Your iPhone Look Small

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If you want to experience the world's biggest multitouch and multi user screen you have to visit the newly revamped Nürburgring in Germany. The Formula One race track has transformed into a theme park.
The two-piece so called ring°wall consists of an LED display and a multitouch information wall with a total surface of 425 square meters, which equals more than 6,000 computer displays. Read more

Posted on Mon, 2 Nov 2009 06:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

iPhone Halloween App Gets You A Last Minute Halloween Costume

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Happy Halloween! Oh, you forgot to get a costume? No worries, there is an app for that on your iPhone. The Halloween Costume Generator app for the iPhone generates a virtual costume for you complete with theme song. The Halloween Costume Generator sells for $1.99 on iTunes.

There are tons of other iPhone Halloween apps that will get you into a Halloween party without being all dressed up as an elf or what not. Read more

Posted on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:27:23 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Apple iPhone Has Launched In China

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After a long back and forth, the Apple iPhone is now on sale in China via carrier China Unicom.
According to Sina the first customer of the iPhone in China is a man named Zhi Xianzhong. He "only" waited 7 hours and 40 minutes in the cold and rain.

The question is now how many will follow his lead and buy the rather expense iPhone in China. According to Sina there has been large crowd gathered at The Place shopping center in Beijing before the China Unicom Store. Read more

Posted on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:21:16 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

New Google Maps Navigation For iPhone Is Possible

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Google unveiled a great new navigation service called Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0 devices like the upcoming Droid.

Google Maps Navigation, which is currently in beta, will feature turn-by-turn voice directions.
And, like all Google products, it's going to be 100% free. This means that, in the very near future, you'll be able to get turn-by-turn navigation on your smartphone at no extra cost. The software will also feature 3D views, automatic routing, and voice direction input.
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Posted on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

TomTom Car Kit Does NOT Work With iPod Touch/iPhone 2G

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Bad news, iPod touch users and owners of a first generation iPhone; the TomTom car kit will not work with your gadgets. AppleInsider has received direct confirmation from TomTom that neither product is compatible with the car kit. Both gadgets can handle the app, but for whatever reason the car kit is only compatible with the iPhone 3G and 3GS. The TomTom car kit offers a better GPS and higher quality audio, in addition to acting as a dock.

Posted on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:28:09 CDT | by Robert Evans

Analyst: End Of AT&T iPhone Exclusivity Means Expensive iPhones

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After more than three years together, it's time for Apple and AT&T's exclusive relationship to end. While the arrangement still works out well for AT&T, it's only holding Apple and the iPhone back. That's why analyst Brian Marshall's prediction of an AT&T/Apple break-up isn't being viewed as a particularly bold one.

What makes his prediction (via AppleInsider) interesting is that he looks at an angle that most of us have overlooked. Tech bloggers have been writing about the likelihood of an end to exclusivity for a while, but you seldom hear anyone mention what that will do to the $450 subsidy AT&T pays for each iPhone.

Posted on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:12:12 CDT | by Robert Evans

Ask The Hoff iPhone App Launched By David Hasselhoff

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Actor David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider, Bay Watch) launches new iPhone app dubbed Ask The Hoff, wich gives "Hoffalicious" advice.
David Hasselhoff, who is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as "The Most Watched TV Star in the World", is apparently trying to get extra income from the iPhone app store. The Ask The Hoff iPhone App sells for 99c.

The iPhone app was created by Hasselhoff's company Hoffstuff Productions and Never Odd Or Even LLP, a UK-based mobile development agency. David Hasselhoff was in the press quite a bit with alcohol related escapades. But it's looking like even this can be turned into gold, as David Hasselhoff and his kids are supposed to star in a new reality TV show according to TMZ. Read more

Posted on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:56:52 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

TomTom Car Kit For Apple iPhone On Sale in U.S. Apple Store

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The TomTom Car Kit for Apple iPhone has been selling in Europe since earlier this month. Today the navigation accessory also appeared on the U.S. Apple store.

TomTom Car Kit for Apple iPhone sells for $119.99 online at the Apple Store.
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Posted on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Newser Grid Comes to iPhone

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If you are a fan of the news aggregator Newser you will be glad to hear that the aggregation service has been successfully translated to the iPhone by Interactive Mediums. The application offers similar features to the normal Newser app with snapshots of the news day in photos, headlines, and pop-up summaries.

Newser currently claims more than a million monthly readers and the new app is optimized for the browser of the iPhone. The Newser service is also available on the Blackberry and other similar smartphones. Read more

Posted on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Shure Unveils Sound Isolating Headphones for iPod/iPhone

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Shure has unveiled a new set of headphones that are designed specifically to work with Apple products like the iPod and iPhone. The headphones are called the Shure SE115m+ and feature an inline mic for making phone calls.

The mic housing on the right earpiece cable also has three buttons for controlling volume, music, and video playback. The headphones use Shure's Dynamic Micro Speaker II drivers for enhanced bass and sound quality. The earphone sleeves are interchangeable and block outside noise by forming a tight seal with the ear. Read more

Posted on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun