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Archive for the ‘iPhone Applications’ Category

FlyTunes update!

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

You might remember that we posted a story about FlyTunes back in February. We received the following email which we would like to pass on to our readers:

Thank you for your post about FlyTunes in February! I just wanted to drop you a quick message to let you know that we’ve recently tripled the content available to our users from 60 to 150 channels, including NPR and Radio Paradise.

You can access the press release from the following link. It is the first document on the page. http://www.flytunes.fm/FlyTunesInfo.aspx?PAGE=pressI hope to be in touch soon with more exciting updates.

We have added a link below with icon below and in the right sidebar…

iPhoneSlide.com

Tuesday, April 1st, 2008

If you have a blog such as Wordpress (like here at iPhoneUKlaunch.com), then there is a great tool where you can post photos that you have justtaken from your iPhone directly to your web page.

It all works via iPhoneslide.com

- Simply take your photo and email post@iphoneslide.com
- You then get an email back with a link
- Click the link - choose where you wish to post to
- It asks for your url of your blog, your username & password
- Thats it - as you can see, we tested it from our iPhone and it all works

.Mac Syncing coming to iPhone 2.0

Monday, March 31st, 2008

One of the biggest questions that I had following the iPhone SDK event was how we non-Enterprise users were going to get the cool new wireless syncing features promised to ActiveSync Exchange users. My first guess was that Apple was planning to fold something like that into .Mac, and now iPhone Alley has unearthed something to suggest this might be right.

In the just released SDK beta 2, iPhone Alley found a string within a preference bundle that reads: “Syncing with this Dot Mac account will turn off syncing for other Dot Mac accounts and delete any existing synced data.” This suggests the possibility of wireless syncing for non-Exchange users. Frankly, this would make a lot of sense. It would add considerably to the (presently somewhat questionable) value of .Mac and give us consumer types access to some of iPhone 2.0’s neatest features.

Source: TUAW

Apple Seed Firmware 2.0 beta

Monday, March 31st, 2008

With no fanfare or announcements of any kind, Apple has seeded the long-awaited firmware version 2.0 beta to developers. However, upon inspection, it appears that the only major difference is the official 2.0 version number. There have been some modifications to the Cisco VPN settings, and the the ActiveSync settings got moved around a little, but not much else is different.

Source: iPhoneAlley

iPhone Pwnage

Monday, March 31st, 2008

A group of iPhone developers will be releasing a new software tool today that will enable users to fully customize and control their iPhones. A Youtube video details what is possible with the tool.

The tool known as “Pwnage Tool” is currently a Mac OS X application that allows users to modify their iPhone’s bootloader to allow it to boot any software. In its native state, the iPhone bootloader is what prevents it from booting unauthorized (non Apple) firmware.

Once patched with this tool, the “pwned” iPhone will accept any software to boot, including modified iPhone firmware or alternative operating systems such as Linux. The demo video shows how a custom 1.1.4 firmware that already includes Jailbreaking and Unlocking can be easily loaded onto an iPhone. They also believe the modifications will support future firmware, such as iPhone 2.0, which is due for release in late June.

Early adopters should proceed with caution, of course. While the most common use will likely continue to be unlocking/jailbreaking, the tool opens up many possibilities:
Full independence from Apple’s vision on what the iPhone (and iPod Touch) can and cannot do.
….
You will eventually be able to backup your entire phone and restore to a state exactly the way you like it, restore straight to jailbroken state with installer, or even potentially install other OSes like linux (see iphonelinux.org) to your phone.

Update: Delayed until next week.

Source: MacRumors

Handwriting Recognition for iPhone?

Friday, March 28th, 2008

Not content with its Inkwell technology, Apple has started a search for a handwriting recognition engineer to improve Mac OS X and, potentially, the iPhone. Also, the company has issued separate updates for AirPort Extreme on Tiger systems as well as newer Mac Pro workstations.

Apple seeks handwriting engineer for Mac OS X, iPhone

The listing for a position at Apple’s Cupertino headquarters, spotted by Mac Rumors, asks for a veteran programmer of neural net code and pattern recognition who preferably has experience with writing in Apple’s Cocoa programming interface.

A successful candidate would primarily improve the main operating system, Apple says in its description. However, this and future developments may branch out to include both the iPhone and “other applications,” according to the company.

Handwriting technology has mostly been left untouched in Mac OS X since the launch of version 10.2 Jaguar in 2002, when the Mac maker added its Inkwell technology for pen tablets.

Apple doesn’t list specific goals in its posting, but is known to be rapidly expanding the amount of research conducted into touchscreen technology beyond that already found in the iPhone and iPod touch.

The company recently filed a patent application for a next-generation surface that would allow curved input areas capable of recognizing a user’s grip on a pen, and is still slated to introduce a multi-touch handheld later this year that would support more advanced commands than those found in the two devices already on the market.

Source: AppleInsider

Version 2 SDK Out Now

Friday, March 28th, 2008

In an email to iPhone Developers today, Apple has anounced:

The second beta version of the iPhone SDK is now available and includes Interface Builder, a powerful tool that allows you to visually build your interface and makes creating a UI as simple as drag and drop.

We’ve also added new sample code and updated documentation to the rich set of resources available to you in the iPhone Dev Center.

Log in to the iPhone Dev Center today and download the new version of the iPhone SDK.

Source: MacDailyNews

Flash for iPhone

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

For those out there that have wanted Flash on your iPhone since day one, that day may yet come to fruition. It seems that the Adobe CEO has stated that they have downloaded a copy of the SDK and are working on bringing Flash / or a version of Flash to the iPhone for download via the iTunes Apps Store.

Adobe made comments today that they will be delivering a Flash client for the iPhone. According to Adobe’s Chief Executive Shantanu Narayen, Adobe has downloaded the iPhone SDK and is planning on building a Flash Player for the iPhone and distributing it via Apple’s iTunes App store.

“We believe Flash is synonymous with the Internet experience, and we are committed to bringing Flash to the iPhone,” Narayen said. “We have evaluated (the software developer tools) and we think we can develop an iPhone Flash player ourselves.”

The news comes a few weeks after Apple’s Steve Jobs stated his reasons why Flash is not available for the iPhone. Jobs claimed that Flash Lite for mobile was not full featured enough, while the full version of Flash would not run well on the iPhone. Other reports have claimed the core issue preventing the release of Flash for iPhone is a licensing negotiation between Adobe and Apple over the iPhone’s PDF renderer.

It’s not clear how exactly Adobe would bring Flash to the iPhone, as there are several restrictions in the iPhone SDK that could prevent its release.

Source: MacRumors

More Screenshots 2.0 Firmware

Tuesday, March 18th, 2008

It seems that more screenshots have leaked out showing some more of the features of the upcoming 2.0 firmware update. New features include:

- Scientific Calculator
- Calculator works in landscape mode
- WiFi networks can be reordered
- Multiple Email deletion!!!

See them all here

iPhone Firmware 2.0 hands on

100,000 Copies of SDK Downloaded in 4 Days

Wednesday, March 12th, 2008

Apple have just released this press statement:

iPhone SDK Downloads Top 100,000

CUPERTINO, California—March 12, 2008—Apple® today announced that more than 100,000 iPhone™ developers have downloaded the beta iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) in the first four days since its launch on March 6. The iPhone SDK provides developers with the same rich set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools that Apple uses to create its native applications for iPhone and iPod® touch.

“Developer reaction to the iPhone SDK has been incredible with more than 100,000 downloads in the first four days,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Also, over one million people have watched the launch video on Apple.com, further demonstrating the incredible interest developers have in creating applications for the iPhone.”

Apple also previewed the new App Store, a breakthrough way for developers to wirelessly deliver their applications to every iPhone and iPod touch user. Developers set the price for their applications—including free—and retain 70 percent of all sales revenues.

Leading developers such as AOL, Electronic Arts, Epocrates, Salesforce.com and Sega have already demonstrated amazing applications using the SDK, and developer response continues to be phenomenal with more developers embracing the platform.

“The iPhone SDK gives us the tools we need to create powerful iPhone applications and is an important part of our overall mobile strategy,” said Rick Jensen, senior vice president, Small Business Group at Intuit. “We’re excited that the iPhone expands the ways our customers can solve key financial tasks wherever they might be.”

“We’re very excited about Apple’s new SDK and reaching every iPhone user through the new App Store,” said Scott Rubin, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Namco Networks. “We can’t wait to show off great new versions of arcade classics like PAC-MAN and Galaga that use the revolutionary features of the iPhone and iPod touch.”

“Apple’s tools have provided our development team the flexibility to make the SuitePhone application richer and deeper,” said Luke Braud, vice president, Software Development, NetSuite. “NetSuite is excited at the opportunity to give every iPhone customer access to their critical business data anytime, anywhere.”

“Apple’s become an important mobile game platform with the iPhone SDK,” said Jason Kapalka, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, PopCap. “The new SDK gives us the tools to innovate and reinvent games like Bejeweled, Zuma and Peggle. With the new App Store we can reach every iPhone and iPod touch user on the planet.”

“Seventy percent of the retail price is hands-down the best deal out there in mobile. It’s simple and motivating for developers,” said Wayne B. Yurtin, president and CEO, Rocket Mobile, Inc. “We can’t wait to get our first iPhone applications on the revolutionary App Store.”

“Six Apart pioneered the mobile blogging experience with an iPhone-optimised blog service,” said Chris Alden, CEO, Six Apart. “We’re taking it to the next level with our native iPhone application for TypePad that’s already in development.”

“The iPhone is the mobile platform game developers have been dreaming of,” said Scott Zerby, vice president, THQ Wireless. “We’re looking at how we can use the iPhone’s innovative user interface to create new game experiences for our big brand entertainment partners that consumers love.”

Pricing & Availability
The free beta iPhone SDK is available immediately worldwide and can be downloaded at developer.apple.com/iphone/program. The iPhone Developer Program will initially be available in the US and will expand to other countries in the coming months. A QuickTime® video of the iPhone roadmap event is available to view at apple.com/quicktime/qtv/iphoneroadmap.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Contacts Search Coming to iPhone?

Monday, March 10th, 2008

Something of note from the SDK video last week. It seems that someone has spotted on the contact page that there is a small Spotlight looking icon which might indicate that a search facility for contacts might be part of the upgrade.

But note that on the original presentation when the iphone was launched, there where features that were mentioned that did not appear, so do NOT take this as red that the feature will be on there - but it would be nice if it was…

Search Contacts iPhone 2.0

Apple iPhone Hack by Glasgow University

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

This from MacDailyNews that a hack has been created by those bods up here in Glasgow University…

“The University of Glasgow has unveiled an iPhone hack that provides vibration feedback when a virtual key is pressed, simulating the effect of typing on a real keyboard. The patch enables what the University calls haptic feedback, which researchers say can help improve typing speeds, while simultaneously reducing errors. The hack is available from the University’s Google Code page, requiring a jailbroken 1.1.3 iPhone,” MacNN reports.

“The current modification uses a 70-millisecond, 170Hz pulse with the built-in vibration motor to simulate pressing the key, while a 50-millisecond, 100Hz pulse imitates the key raising when the finger leaves the touch surface,” MacNN reports.

Click here for the full MacNN Article.

FlyTunes FM

Wednesday, February 27th, 2008

Thanks to JR for sending this into us.

Flytunes is a Music Service that you can access from your iPhone or iPod Touch. It does not require a jailbroken iPhone and after a simple registration, you can listen to different types of music.

Check it out here.

For registration, click here.

Firmware 1.1.4

Tuesday, February 26th, 2008

It seems today that Apple has released Firmware 1.1.4 for iPhone. It seems to have been started sometime after 5pm UK time. Early reports indicate that it brings NO new visible updates and may just be getting ready for the SDK. There is still no word on the SDK release so far from Apple, despite saying that they would release the SDK at the end of February.

Download seems to be very slow - probably with everyone trying to download from the same servers.

The file is 162.1MB.

Updated: Reports indicate that the 1.1.4 update DOES break jailbreak Apps!

SDK Delayed by 1-3 Weeks?

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008

Reports are coming from BusinessWeek in the US that the SDK may be delayed by 1-3 weeks.

There’s a week to go before Apple’s commitment to release the iPhone Software Developers Kit in February runs out of room. I’m hearing from one source that its going to be late. I’m not yet hearing any reasons why, and it’s sounding like the official release date could slide by anywhere from one to three weeks.

Apple had no comment, and as yet there’s no word on any events related to an SDK release next week. However I’m also hearing that the situation is fluid, and a lot of last-minute decisions are close to being made about what precisely will or will not be disclosed next week, if anything. There are, apparently, a lot of moving parts to something this complex.

Remember if you will that BusinessWeek broke the story of Apple’s plans to release an iPod SDK in October, a day before CEO Steve Jobs announced the company’s intentions himself via a statement on the “Hot News” section of Apple’s Web site.

So will they make it to the finish line in time or will they have to fudge it a little? We’ll all be watching next week.