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iPhone News, Reviews, & Opinion
Apple TV News, Reviews, & Opinion
iPhone/iPod Add-ons
iPhone Add-ons
iPod and iPhone Deals
iPhone News, Reviews, & Opinion
iPhone Increases Market Share in Mobile Browser
Wars
PR:
Apple has increased its share of the Internet browser market in the US
by 64% between December and March according to StatCounter, which
provides organisations and individuals with a free website visitor
statistics tool.(1) Globally iPhone/iTouch has more than doubled its
share of the Internet browser market from 0.03% to 0.08%.
In March iPhone and iTouch increased their share of the total
browser market in the US from 0.14% in December to 0.23% according to
StatCounter which tracks in excess of nine billion pageloads per month
over its network of two million websites. If one excludes iTouch from
the figures then iPhone's market share of Internet browsing in the US
(0.18%) is still well ahead of Nokia (0.01%). However, Nokia still
maintains a significant lead over Apple in the global market with 0.25%
to 0.08%.
"The key message is that iPhone is more than living up to its claims
of being a user friendly Internet browser, unlike many other cell
phones," commented Aodhan Cullen, founder and CEO of StatCounter. He
said that iPhone web browsing peaked in the US on Christmas Day at
0.07%. "Presumably this was due to people trying out their new
Christmas present combined perhaps with not accessing their PCs that
day."
The StatCounter analysis finds that Microsoft Internet Explorer
still leads the browser market overall with 44.5% market share in the
US. But it is facing real competition from open source based Firefox
which grew to 43.9% of the US browser market. Globally Internet
Explorer is well ahead at 59% with Firefox on 33%.
The StatCounter analysis was based on a sample of 372 million page
views globally from December 07 to March 08, including 71 million US
page views.
(1) Note: Figures include iPhone and iTouch
Link: StatCounter
iPhone Crushes Competition in Smartphone Usage
Ars Technica's
Charles Jade reports:
"Analytics firm M: Metrics has a report [below] that confirms what
every iPhone user likely already knows: other phones suck at web
browsing.
"'The iPhone has certainly delivered on its hype,' said Mark
Donovan, senior analyst, M: Metrics. 'Beyond a doubt, this device is
compelling consumers to interact with the mobile Web, delivering
off-the-charts usage from everything to text messaging to mobile
video.'"
Link:
iPhone Crushes Competition in Smartphone Usage
M: Metrics: iPhone Hype Holds Up
PR: Six
months after the iPhone's US launch, has the device changed the mobile
landscape? According to M: Metrics, the mobile media authority, the
answer is yes. Today, the measurement firm reports that the iPhone is
already the most popular device for accessing news and information on
the mobile Web, with 85 percent of iPhone users accessing news and
information in the month of January.
"The iPhone has certainly delivered on its hype," said Mark Donovan,
senior analyst, M: Metrics. "Beyond a doubt, this device is compelling
consumers to interact with the mobile Web, delivering off-the-charts
usage from everything to text messaging to mobile video."
M: Metrics found that a staggering 30.9 percent of iPhone owners
watched mobile TV or video, versus a 4.6 market average, and more than
double the rate for all smartphone users. Usage of social networking is
also popular among iPhone users: 49.7 percent accessed a social
networking site in January, nearly twelve times the market average.
Twenty percent of iPhone owners accessed Facebook, one of the first Web
properties to customize its content for the iPhone, versus 1.5 percent
of the total mobile market.
"This data indicates that the iPhone's widgets are and effective
means to drive mobile content consumption," observed Donovan. "Two
featured widgets, YouTube and Google Maps are extremely popular among
iPhone users: 30.4 percent accessed YouTube and 36 percent used Google
Maps. In comparison, only one percent of all mobile subscribers
accessed YouTube and 2.6 percent checked out Google Maps."
Link: M: Metrics
Is Canada Too Cold for the iPhone?
iPhone World's
dennis says:
"Lots of folks are wondering why exactly the iPhone wasn't released
in Canada yet. Some think that it's because of the iPhone trademark
uncertainty, others blame Rogers' data plan rates, yet others just
don't consider Canada to be an important market for Apple.
"But the answer may be much more simple than conspiracy theory buffs
expect it to be: the iPhone simply was not designed to operate in cold
temperatures.
"This winter brought the coldest weather in recorded Canadian
history, with temperatures staying stable at below -20°C (-4°F)
for weeks. In the meantime, Apple clearly states that the operating
temperature for iPhone is 0° to 35°C (32° to 95°F),
while the 'nonoperating temperature' is -20° to 45°C (-4°
to 113°F)."
Link:
Northern iPhone Woes: Canada Is Just Too Cold for iPhone?
Is the iPhone the Next PC?
PC Magazine's
Tim Bajarin says:
"When the iPod debuted with much noise and fanfare, most analysts
and media saw it as just another MP3 player. Nobody could foresee how
it would revolutionize the music industry and the music player
market....
"By the time Apple introduced the iPhone, the noise and hype
surrounding it was palpable. For the first time in Apple's history, the
company had launched a product that finally met the expectations of the
industry and marketplace. It has become a major force in the world of
smartphones and telecommunications....
"Thanks to the recent launch of the iPhone SDK, we now have a
glimpse of what the iPhone is going to be when it grows up. At the SDK
launch, John Doer of Kleiner Perkins announced that Kleiner would put
$100 million into iPhone software start-ups. His exact words in
reference to the iPhone were 'This is the next PC.' Very few media
reports recorded this comment, or if they did, they did not put it into
context. In these few words, Doer told us exactly what the iPhone is
destined to be."
Link:
Is the iPhone the Next PC?
Lotus Notes Comes to the iPhone
IDG News
Service's Nancy Gohring reports:
"iPhone customers who use Lotus Notes at work won't be left out
anymore with a new offering from Sybase iAnywhere.
"Sybase iAnywhere is set to announce on Tuesday that it is adding
support for the iPhone in its Information Anywhere Suite, initially
only for e-mail. That means that companies using Lotus Notes will be
able to securely push e-mail messages to iPhone users.
"Apple recently announced that it plans to support Microsoft's
ActiveSync technology in its second-generation iPhone software so that
iPhone users can receive Exchange e-mail. But the announcement did not
include a way for Lotus Notes users to receive e-mail on iPhones, so
Sybase hopes to fill that gap."
Test Your Website with Apple's iPhone
Simulator
CreativeTechs says:
"If you are a web designer, your clients may soon start worrying how
their websites work on an iPhone. That's because after only eight
months, iPhones now account for a remarkable 71% of all US Mobile
Browser web traffic....
"Tucked away in Apple's free iPhone Software Development Kit is a
terrific iPhone Simulator you can use to test and preview your
websites. In the full version of this tip we'll show you where that
iPhone Simulator application is hidden, and include a few tips on how
to test various iPhone features."
Link:
Test Your Website on Apple's iPhone Simulator
Kit Turns iPhone into a Business Tool
McClatchy Newspapers' Julio Ojeda-Zapata reports:
"Apple's iPhone, for all its allure, has never been a
BlackBerry-like business tool for briefcase-toting corporate types.
"That's about to change. Apple recently announced upcoming
improvements for the much-ballyhooed touchscreen music-and
movie-playing cell phone to better integrate it into workplaces, big
and small. It also unveiled long-anticipated development tools that,
for the first time, will allow third parties to create software for the
famously computerlike handset.
"This is all sweet music for Marc Jensen, technology director at the
Minneapolis-based Space150 advertising agency. Workers there have
embraced the iPhone, he said, but have been unable to use it properly
with the firm's Microsoft- based e-mail, calendar and
contact-management infrastructure. The iPhone just didn't fit, he said,
the way a BlackBerry or a Windows Mobile handset does.
"An alliance between Apple and Microsoft changes that, he
said...."
Link: Kit Turns iPhone
into a Business Tool
Alternative Firmware for the iPhone
Hardmac's
Lionel reports:
"A new stage has been reached by hackers of iPhone. Armed with their
experience gained with the various updates of the iPhone firmware, they
have managed to unblock the beta of the next big evolution of the
firmware to be released in June, this is the same firmware that will
allow the use of the AppStore.
"However they have gone further...."
Link: Alternative Firmware for
the iPhone
Apple TV News, Reviews, & Opinion
Apple TV To Utilize Peer-to-Peer Technology?
Apple TV
Source's Luck Kanthatham says:
"Could it be? Peer-to-peer, the same technology that made
applications like Kazaa, Joost and Morpheus household names, might come
to the Apple TV in the near future. Instead of using the current
client-server model, Apple TV can really get a major speed boost IF it
switches to using peer-to-peer technology."
Link: Apple
TV To Utilize Peer-to-Peer Technology?
iPhone/iPod Add-ons
Proporta Echo Screen Protector
PR:
Proporta have added a new screen protector to their collection which
not only provides fantastic protection, but also doubles up as a
fabulous mirror.
Its called the Echo, and it's available for the iPhone, iPod touch
and 3G nano.
The Echo
Mirror Screen Protector is available for the iPhone, iPod touch and 3G
iPod nano. It offers you and your device more than any standard screen
protector you'll land your hands on. When the backlight of your screen
is turned on, the Echo works as a simple (yet brilliant) screen
protector. However, when you switch your screen off, it transforms into
a handy little mirror which not only offers the same level of
protection that you'd expect from all Proporta products, but also looks
pretty great too. Not only that, the Echo can also be washed and
replaced and comes with a handy little application kit.
So now you can head out and look almost as good as your iPod
will.
Link: Proporta
Echo
iJailBreak 0.6 Supports all iPod Touches,
iPhones on 1.1.4
PR: AriX and Ben have announced the immediate availability of
iJailBreak 0.6, the latest version of the popular open source Mac OS X
jailbreaking and unlocking utility. iJailBreak 0.6 brings support for
all iPod Touch and iPhone models running firmware 1.1.4. iJailBreak's
0.6.x branch is an automated iPhone and iPod Touch unlock and
jailbreaker for Mac OS X, taking advantage of ZiPhone as its core.
AriX and Ben have announced the immediate availability of iJailBreak
0.6, the latest version of the popular open source Mac OS X
jailbreaking and unlocking utility. iJailBreak 0.6 brings support for
all iPod Touch and iPhone models running firmware 1.1.4. iJailBreak
0.6.x is a Universal application, meaning it will run on both PowerPC
and Intel-based Macs.
Those who already have iJailBreak installed on their machine will
have iJailBreak 0.6 pushed as an update. Those who don't need to
download iJailBreak 0.6 from the iJailBreak website.
Once one has downloaded, installed, and launched iJailBreak 0.6,
they simply need to connect their device and run iJailBreak. Depending
on whether you want to jailbreak, unlock (on iPhone), or both, the
process could take anywhere from 45 seconds to 3 or 4 minutes.
iPod Touch users will also be offered the option to freely install
the iPhone applications, which normally cost $20 from Apple.
iJailBreak 0.6.x clears up previous issues with YouTube, Yahoo!
Mail, and iTunes purchased songs, leaving you with the same great core
experience that the iPod Touch and iPhone have come to be known
for.
As with previous versions of iJailBreak, iJailBreak 0.6 is free/open
source software under the GNU General Public License version 2.
iJailBreak's 0.6.x branch is an automated iPhone and iPod Touch
unlock and jailbreaker for Mac OS X, taking advantage of ZiPhone as its
core. The project is run by 13 year olds AriX and Ben.
Link: iJailBreak
iPhone Add-ons
FileMaker on Your iPhone or Treo in 15
Minutes
PR: How would you like to see your FileMaker database on your
mobile phone? Now you can. In as little as 15 minutes, you can have a
powerful FileMaker solution available on your mobile phone. How is this
possible? JumpStart is a powerful web based application that connects
to your FileMaker database and enables you to quickly recreate a web
based FileMaker solution for mobile devices. JumpStart provides you
with an easy to use visual interface. If you can point and click you
can build a website.
FileMaker on your iPhone or Treo in 15 minutes. JumpStart is a
powerful new technology created by FMWebschool. JumpStart enables you
to use your FileMaker databases on mobile devices. Now you can access
your data anywhere you have an internet connection.
What is JumpStart?
JumpStart is a web based application that connects to your FileMaker
database. JumpStart provides a visual picture of your database enabling
you to drag and drop layouts that you want to use and point and click
fields and privileges that you want displayed. JumpStart writes special
code so the websites display perfectly on mobile devices.
So this must be a very basic system right? Actually JumpStart
creates a very powerful FileMaker web based solution for you. JumpStart
automatically generates a full blown FileMaker website for you that
enables you to create new records, delete records, edit records,
search, display portals, display dynamic images and even allows editing
of multiple portal rows with one click of a button. JumpStart
automatically generates all of the necessary icons for navigation and
interacting with the database.
What about Security can everyone see my database? The level of
security you want to add to your site is up to you. JumpStart will
automatically generate a login and logout system for you. This way the
only people that can access the site are the ones that have a valid
username and password.
Once I create a FileMaker website how do I view it on my mobile
phone? Once you use JumpStart to create your FileMaker website, you
have two choices. You can instantly download the files that you
created. JumpStart automatically zips them up for you. These files can
then be run on any system with FileMaker Server 9 and PHP installed. Or
you can automatically upload the files to FMGateway.com and your files
will be available on your mobile device within seconds. This is an
automated process; the only thing you have to do is decide what you
want to name your folder. Your FileMaker website will be available to
you and the world instantly.
Why can't I build this website myself without JumpStart? You
certainly can, if you want to spend 20 - 30 hours and thousands of
dollars trying to replicate what JumpStart can do in 10 minutes.
JumpStart is so inexpensive; you can generate your website for $9.99.
If you decide that you want to make some changes to the website, no
problem. You can simply open JumpStart generated pages in any web
editing program. JumpStart creates clean well coded web pages that can
easily be edited.
How do I get started with JumpStart?
You can learn more about JumpStart at FMGateway.com. JumpStart is a free
service to all of our hosting clients and cost $9.99 a month to non
hosting clients. JumpStart allows you to create unlimited websites.
If you are a FileMaker developer or you just need to make your
FileMaker solution available on mobile devices now you can. JumpStart
provides you with an intuitive visual interface that will enable you to
deploy your FileMaker database to the web in minutes. The future of
FileMaker data presentation and interaction is mobile devices. Take
advantage of this opportunity to JumpStart your future.
Link: JumpStart
Sybase iAnywhere Secure Enterprise Email for
the iPhone
PR: Sybase iAnywhere has announced availability of support
for Apple iPhone within its Information Anywhere Suite. Information
Anywhere now enables IT organizations to provide secure delivery of
Lotus Domino and Microsoft Exchange enterprise email to iPhone users,
in addition to a broad range of other mobile devices. Sybase
iAnywhere's unique approach to providing enterprise email support for
the iPhone reduces potential security concerns while still providing a
rich user experience utilizing native iPhone applications.
"We've had significant demand from our customer base for iPhone
support, as companies want to allow the iPhone as an approved device
choice for wireless email, along with their other Windows Mobile,
Symbian or Palm devices," said Mark Willnerd, vice president, Sybase
iAnywhere. "In addition, we are excited by the recent release of the
Apple iPhone SDK. We are currently exploring new possibilities for
future product enhancements and additional iPhone support across our
entire Information Anywhere Suite mobility platform."
Key advantages include:
- Security: Information Anywhere provides iPhone support without
requiring changes to an enterprise's messaging infrastructure. The
outbound connection model adds an additional layer of security.
Enterprises no longer need to open inbound communication ports to the
messaging infrastructure, all mobile device connections end within the
enterprise DMZ. Information Anywhere adds specific features to equip IT
with the ability to eliminate security risks with iPhone devices, such
as restricting attachments, preventing user access and removing email
data from a device. All of these features reduce potential security
concerns with iPhone use in the enterprise.
- Offline Email Access: Information Anywhere supports the native
iPhone client which provides a feature rich and faster user experience
than found with browser-based email support. In addition, email is
available for offline use.
- Contact Data Access: Information Anywhere provides secure access to
contact data, including corporate directory and personal contacts.
- Multi-device Support: Information Anywhere addresses the extreme
demand corporations face to support a variety of mobile devices. Sybase
iAnywhere now supports the iPhone, in addition to more than 250 Windows
Mobile, Symbian and Palm-based devices.
- Broad Enterprise Email Support: Information Anywhere supports both
Lotus Domino R6/7/8 and Microsoft Exchange 2000/2003/2007.
"We were glad to be selected as an iPhone beta participant with
Sybase iAnywhere. The solution was easy to set up without any
adjustment to our backend infrastructure and we were ready to go with
our iPhone devices in less than a day," said Melkon Torosyan, project
manager, Comdirect AG. "We are looking forward to deploying the
solution because it addresses the needs of the users and the security
concerns of our enterprise customers."
Information Anywhere wireless email support for Apple iPhone will be
available by the end of March 2008.
Link: Sybase
iAnywhere for iPhone
iSee iPhone v3: The Next Evolution in iPhone
Protection
PR: Smaller, sleeker, and more protective than its
predecessor, the iSee iPhone v3 truly has earned the right to be called
a Contour iSee. With a two-piece snap together polycarbonate chassis
that is 30% lighter and 20% thinner, the v3 is still able to offer the
full protection for which Contour cases are known.
At Contour
Design, the primary focus is to create the most stylish and protective
cases imaginable. Always striving to find the next evolution in
protection, we constantly revisit our cases, searching for ways to
improve each and every design. So it is with great enthusiasm that we
introduce the newest member of our iSee line - the iSee iPhone v3.
Smaller, sleeker, and more protective than its predecessor, the iSee
iPhone v3 truly has earned the right to be called a Contour iSee. With
a two-piece snap together polycarbonate chassis that is 30% lighter and
20% thinner, the v3 is still able to offer the full protection for
which Contour cases are known. From the removable silicone headphone
and dock port plugs to the click through buttons shielding the volume
and power switches, the iSee v3 has the iPhone covered.
"And if that isn't enough," says Mike Jackle, Director, Product
Development, "we're also including a hard shell belt clip holster
complete with our new universal attachment system. This case has it
all!"
Key Features
- Crystal clear hard shell protection with easy, two-piece snap
together design
- Removable silicone dock port and headphone jack protectors
- Click through volume and power buttons
- Locking holster with universal attachment system
- Removable belt clip
The Contour iSee iPhone v3 is available now. MSRP is $29.95 the
US.
The iSee iPhone v3 is part of the Contour Cases collection created
by Contour Design, an industry-leader in innovative iPod accessories.
Contour Design offers the best and most beautiful protective shells
available anywhere for iPods. In addition, Contour Design, Inc., based
in Windham, New Hampshire, is a manufacturer of innovative add-on
products for Windows, Macintosh and UNIX workstations, specializing in
the audio/video and ergonomic markets. Contour Design's European HQ is
in Stanmore Middlesex, with distributors in all major EMEA
countries.
Link: iSee
iPhone
Indie Movie Seeks 1 Million iPhone
Downloads
PR: TimeCode Mechanics frontman Nathyn Brendan Masters,
writer and director of "Wages of Sin" the film considered to be the
first indie film for Apple TV now wants his film to be on your iPhone
and is willing to put up or shut up. TimeCode Mechanics will start
selling a special 99¢ download of the martial arts actioner "Wages
of Sin" aimed directly at iPhone users from the TimeCode Mechanics
website.
TimeCode Mechanics frontman Nathyn Brendan Masters, writer and
director of "Wages of Sin" the film considered to be the first indie
film for Apple TV now wants his film to be the first film on your
iPhone and is willing to put up or shut up. TimeCode Mechanics will
start selling a special 99¢ download of the martial arts actioner
"Wages of Sin" aimed directly at iPhone users from the TimeCode
Mechanics website.
Previously Masters best selling download was the Apple TV version
sold through cutting edge digital film distributor Hungryflix who are
also currently pushing iPhone, iPod, and Apple TV content, but Masters
is ready for his film to be on your Apple TV units, iPods and now your
iPhones. "Currently there are 5,000,000 iPhone users and fans; our goal
is 1,000,000 downloads by the end of summer," says Masters. "I want
everyone with an iPhone to grab a copy of the film. Right now I want
our film to be synonymous with iPhone, and at 99¢ customers can't
go wrong."
Wages of Sin, a.k.a. "Chicago Cop", is a low budget martial arts
action movie that revolves around a cop framed for the murder of his
partners, (lovingly named "Tarantino" and "Rodriguez") and said cop
trying to clear his name while kicking every bad guy's butt in sight
during the process.
The B grade actioner carries a rating equivalent to an R for it's
hard-boiled characters, language and drug use but ironically reviewers
have also made note of the film's overt Christian themes, with Masters
being called "...a director to watch." by DVDVerdict. Direct to Video
enthusiast and reviewer Gregory Conley of Yourvideostoreshelf.com
writes, "Masters is extremely passionate..." and goes on to urge action
fans to "Buy Nathyn movie..."
Masters hopes iPhone users will be willing to drop 99¢ to watch
this B-grade homage to classic action, a far cry from the money others
are asking for feature film even at Apple's iTunes and other sites.
"The overall goal is to make the TimeCode Mechanics brand tantamount to
portable media. Basically when people hear about our films they'll know
they can get an inexpensive and enjoyable film for almost any format."
Says TimeCode Mechanics public relations representative Richard
Mavers.
Currently Masters is moving into HD production taking advantage of
Canon's line of prosumer HD products. "I hope to get the funds together
soon to grab an XL-H1 or A1." Says Masters, who also hopes that funds
from current sales will aid in these purchases as well as help fund
future features.
TimeCode Mechanics is a Chicago based production company currently
focused on digital filmmaking and direct to viewer distribution via
mail order or digital download.
Link: Wages of Sin
