Mac notebook and other portable computing is covered
in The 'Book Review, and general Mac
news is in Mac News Review.
All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
News, Reviews, & Opinion
$99 iPhone Speculation
Apps & Services
Accessories
Protection
iPod and iPhone Deals
These price trackers are updated regularly.
News, Reviews, & Opinion
Apple TV at the Crossroads
VentureBeat's
MG Siegler says:
"It's nothing new for pundits and bloggers to say what functionality
they think should be included in the Apple TV. The device, which brings
iTunes and other digital content into the living room by hooking up to
your TV, has the potential to be Apple's next big thing - if it makes
the right moves. Today brings two long reports about Apple TV's future
that take what are basically opposite stances.
"On one side, you have Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster saying
that he expects Apple to launch its own actual televisions with digital
video recorder (DVR) capabilities built-in over the next couple of
years. On the other, you have RoughlyDrafted Magazine's Daniel Eran
Dilger arguing that getting into both the television and DVR business
would be large blunders for Apple. Instead, he lays out some more
forward-thinking approaches Apple should take with the Apple TV.
"So which is right?"
Link: Apple
TV at the Crossroads
Hacking Apple TV
Register Hardware's Nick Hawkesmoor reports:
"Apple continues to describe its Apple TV set-top box as a 'hobby'
project: it'll continue to develop the platform, but it's not making
any money out of it yet. The gadget's a hobby project for a lot of
other folk too. They want to gain access to this closed but
surprisingly powerful system to make it more useful.
"We've had an Apple TV unit for a while now, and we decided it was
time to dig a little deeper into its foundations. Under the hood, it's
essentially a tweaked Mac OS X 10.4 box. There's no shortage of
information on a variety of internet sites, Awkward TV, in
particular. But, like so many online guides, bits were written some
time ago and not updated, while others skip steps.
"What follows is our attempt to collate and make consistent a number
of online guides, and to ensure they work on the latest version of the
Apple TV's OS...."
Link: Hacking
the Apple TV
iPod touch a Better, Cheaper iPhone?
TG Daily's Nino
Marchetti says:
"Jajah (see press release below) is putting an
interesting spin on an iPod touch application for IP telecommunications
- by turning it into a white label solution for others as a fully
functional mobile telephony device. The company is currently in the
process of looking for partners to put this solution to market.
"The Jajah iPod touch design, which the company says turns the
portable media device into an iPhone, essentially takes the touch's
ability to use WiFi and expands upon it by adding VoIP abilities. Jajah
says users will supposedly be able to download the service from the App
Store, plug in a microphone headset and be immediately 'able to make
calls and send SMS messages from their device from any WiFi network in
the world. Calling costs will be up to 98 percent cheaper than existing
rates on mobile networks, and in many cases could be free.'"
Link: Jajah Asks: Could iPod
touch Be a Better, Cheaper iPhone?
Next-gen iPhone to Run on Nvidia Chips?
Register Hardware's Tony Smith says:
"Will Apple's next iPhone pack an Nvidia ARM-based system-on-a-chip?
That's what one US analyst thinks.
"Enter Doug Freedman of AmTech, the market watcher formerly known as
American Technology Research. Freedman tracks Nvidia, and he reckons
the chip maker is pumping development resources into 'additional mobile
operating systems beyond Microsoft's Windows Mobile and Windows 7
Mobile' so they can support Nvidia's Tegra SoC.
"Freedman goes on: 'We believe the next OS supported will be
company-specific, leaving us to believe it will be either Research in
Motion or Apple....'"
Link: Third-gen
iPhone to Run on Nvidia Chippery?
Apple Working on Next-gen iPhone with Customized
Multicore Chips?
IntoMobile's
Will Park reports:
"By now it's an accepted fact that Apple has loosed a fleet of
unannounced iPhones for real-world testing. And, true to Apple's
usually secretive ways, the new 'iPhone 2,1' feature-set is still a
mystery. But, that doesn't mean we can't speculate on what Apple has in
store for the iPhone-loving world....
"The next major overhaul of the iPhone platform might just see the
iPhone coming into its own as a graphics-savvy gaming platform. Apple
has been confirmed to have licensed PowerVR graphics technologies from
Imagination Technologies in a bid to turn the iPhone into a
data-crunching and gaming phenom the likes of which dedicated gaming
consoles would cower beneath...."
Link:
Is Apple Working on a Next-gen iPhone with Customized Multi-core
Chips?
iPhone the New Super Platform?
CasualGaming's Tim Ingham says:
"As Apple's marketing machine turns its attention towards games -
and publishers disagree as to which level they should be supporting it
- CasualGaming.biz asks if iPod touch and iPhone can really topple
DS?
"It's always been a dead certainty: different demographics will
become drawn to different consoles. But there's one platform that's
threatening to smash that age-old maxim: and it's not even a 'proper'
games console...."
Link:
Is iPhone the New Super Platform?
3 New Phones This Year?
Silicon
Alley Insider's Dan Frommer says:
"Apple will almost certainly announce new iPhones before the end of
June. So what will they look like?
"Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek checks in with Apple's carrier
partners and reports three new iPhones in Apple's roadmap, according to
a summary by FinancialPost. These phones include:
"The first is a 32 GB iPhone in multiple colours that
is likely to arrive during the next six months.
"Next up is a lower-cost handset based on the 2.5G
iPhone, which is targeted for China and India.
"Third is a smaller version - about one-third the size
of the 3G iPhone - that costs 40% less and is also likely before
year-end...."
Link: Apple's
iPhone Roadmap: 3 New Phones This Year?
Palm Pre versus iPhone
Sprint Connection reports:
"The Palm Pre is easily the most talked about phone since the
original Apple iPhone. We're talking millions of Web posts, hundreds of
thousands of blog mentions and more than 5,000 recent news items picked
up by Google News.
"With the iPhone often regarded as the pinnacle of mobile
magnificence, comparisons are natural...."
Editor's note: Here at Low End Mac headquarters, we're excited that
Verizon's acquisition of Alltel will finally let us consider a Palm
Centro as our next phone - and first smartphone - and quite possibly
the last Palm OS device ever. dk
Link: Head to Head:
The Palm Pre versus the Apple iPhone
iTunes Updates iPhone Carrier Settings
A new Apple Knowledge Base
article says:
"iTunes 7.7 and later has the ability to update the carrier specific
settings on iPhone with iPhone 2.0 software or later. Carrier settings
updates are small files (about 10k) that are downloaded from iTunes to
be installed on your iPhone. The carrier settings can include updates
to the default APN (how iPhone accesses the carrier's cellular data
network), special dialing codes at Settings > Phone > [Carrier]
Services, default settings for Stocks, Maps, Weather, and other
items...."
Link: About iPhone Carrier Settings
Updates in iTunes
$99 iPhone Speculation
Royal Bank of Canada Says $99 iPhone Coming This
Summer
Silicon
Alley Insider's Dan Frommer reports:
"Apple will start selling a cheaper, 'entry-level' iPhone sometime
this summer, for around $99 after subsidy, according to 'checks,' RBC
analyst Mike Abramsky said in a note this morning.
"The main cost reductions would come from fewer features - not a
crappy 'iPhone nano' or something without a multi-touch screen.
Abramsky thinks it might have a lower-resolution camera, no 3G Internet
access or GPS, and a cheaper data plan (~$15/month) with a usage
cap....
"Meanwhile, the iPhone 3G will get feature upgrades, such as a
better camera, video capabilities...."
Link: $99
iPhone Coming This Summer: RBC
Firm Reiterates Claims of Entry-level iPhone This
Spring
AppleInsider's
Katie Marsal reports:
"Although Apple has downplayed the possibility of a stripped-down
iPhone, the Royal Bank of Canada is reiterating claims this week that
the company is gearing up to announce two new versions of its
touch-screen handset, including an entry-level model that lacks both 3G
connectivity and an unlimited data plan...."
Link:
Firm Reiterates Claims of Entry-level iPhone This Spring
Assessing the Impact of a Low-End iPhone
Barrons' Eric
Savitz says:
"RBC Capital analyst Mike Abramsky this morning wrote a research
note assessing the impact on Apple from the introduction of an 'entry
level' iPhone. Now, I would point out before I dig in here that Apple
has not actually announced plans for a cheaper version of the iPhone;
and I would also note that Abramsky has an Underperform rating and $70
price target on the stock. (And the call has not worked out very well;
he turned bearish January 15, and the stock has since rallied
impressively.)
"Abramsky contends that 'checks reveal' further details on the
company's plans, with a launch on existing carriers in the June/July
period. (He also expects an upgraded version of the iPhone 3G.) Were
Apple to launch a low-end iPhone at $99...."
Link:
Assessing the Impact of a Low-End iPhone
$99 iPhone Rears Its Nonsensical Head Again
9 to 5 Mac's
Cleve Nettles says:
"First, our take then we'll let you read the story.
"Ain't gonna happen. Tim Cook specifically said in the last earnings
call when asked about the $99 iPhone. 'We don't make the cheapest
phones, we make the best phones.' That being said, there were a few
times already where AT&T was selling $99 iPhone. Plus there are
going to be a boatload of cheap iPhone 3Gs on the market when the next
version is released (ours being some of them). That isn't the point.
Whether the iPhone is $99 or $199, isn't really significant to
consumers' pocketbooks (mindset is another matter). AT&T will bill
you the $100 difference in little over a month into your 2 year
contract...."
Link: $99 iPhone Rears Its Ugly,
Nonsensical Head Again
Elusive $99 iPhone May Lose 3G, GPS
The Apple Core's Jason D.
O'Grady says:
"MSNBC is jumping on the $99 iPhone bandwagon based on a report
based on RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky, who believes that
the entry-level iPhone will arrive in June or July, presumably at WWDC
2009. Dates for the conference have not yet been announced.
"The interesting thing about the arrival of the $99 iPhone is that
it will create a division between the high-end and low-end models for
the first time in the product line. According to Abramsky, the $99
iPhone may drop 3G and GPS in order to keep the price low...."
Link: The Elusive $99 iPhone May Lose
3G, GPS
Apps & Services
JAJAH Turns iPod touch into an iPhone
PR: JAJAH, a leading IP telecommunications company, today
announced a complete revamp of the iPod touch, turning the device into
a fully functioning mobile phone for consumers. The new capability,
available as a white label solution, enables carriers as well as
non-carriers to launch the service under their own brand and provide
their customers with the ability to make low-cost phone calls and send
SMS text messages to any phone in the world from their iPod touch. To
use the service, end users only require an iPod touch and a WiFi
connection, with no need for a SIM card or contract.
Move over, iPhone
The iPod touch is one of the most popular consumer devices in the
world for music, entertainment, Web-browsing and now, making phone
calls.
"Millions of people around the world already have an iPod touch in
their pocket. With JAJAH's solution, any company can turn their
customers' iPod touch into a fully functioning mobile phone," said
Trevor Healy, CEO, JAJAH. "The device is particularly popular amongst
students, who live in a world where WiFi access is always available
and, like everyone, they are looking to save costs, so this is a
perfect solution."
JAJAH's next generation IP communications platform gives its
partners everything they need to launch the service immediately. This
includes the application itself, plus the entire suite of management
services, from termination of the calls and quality control, right
through to billing and processing payments in 200 countries around the
world.
Given the economic downturn, consumers are seeking ways to make
calls on any mobile device they own, as inexpensively as possible.
"Offering a turnkey solution provides iPod touch users with added
value," said Jon Arnold, principal analyst of J Arnold &
Associates. "This is a prime example of how JAJAH's innovative platform
helps carriers differentiate their services."
Connection made easy ...
Anyone with the latest version of the iPod touch will be able to
download the service from the Apple App Store. With a microphone
headset (available from Apple), users will immediately be able to make
calls and send SMS messages from their device from any WiFi network in
the world. Calling costs will be up to 98 percent cheaper than existing
rates on mobile networks, and in many cases could be free.
A platform for everyone (else)
JAJAH's plug-and-play IP platform is the only service that provides
the full suite of services required to develop, deploy and monetize IP
communication services anywhere in the world. The JAJAH platform is
used by a number of the world's largest companies including Intel,
Yahoo! and Comcast, and allows any company to offer
value-added-services (VAS) to their customer base with no upfront
payment or development work, saving millions for its customers and
ensuring partners are prepared for the next generation of service
provision.
JAJAH continues to develop innovative communications services. In
the coming months the company will announce a range of new data
communication services, applications and partnerships.
Link: JAJAH
(available through the
iPhone App Store)
Skout Mobile Location-Based Social Dating Service
and iPhone Application
PR: Being single is tough. Skout can make it a little
easier
Skout is a new mobile, real-time, location-based dating platform
that helps people meet compatible singles in their vicinity. People can
use Skout to chat, share photos, and even share videos and other
information. Whether at a conference, a bar, a college campus or a
sporting event, people with similar interests who are near each other
can use Skout to communicate and possibly even find love.
Skout's online dating service and iPhone application are being
launched at the 6th annual Internet Dating Conference in Miami,
Florida, January 22nd and 23rd, 2009.
"When I founded Match.com, I envisioned how the internet could
change the way singles discover each other . As we stand at the cusp of
mobile convergence, Skout is perfectly positioned to disrupt the online
dating market. Skout represents what all dating companies must become
to not only just remain relevant, but to survive," says Match.com's
founder Gary Kremen.
The Skout dating service is available online on virtually every
mobile phone with a browser as well as via a laptop or desktop
computer.
The company is also releasing Skout, an iPhone application,
available free of charge at Apple's AppStore under the Social
Networking/Lifestyle categories.
"We are very excited about today's release of our Skout dating
platform and the Skout iPhone application," says Skout Founder and CEO
Christian Wiklund. "We're making it easy for singles to discover others
with similar interests, using location information and mobile phones.
Skout brings cheer to people who are on the go and typically don't have
time to find someone special."
According to Juniper Research, the mobile dating market will reach
1.4 billion dollars by 2013. Skout is perfectly positioned to take
advantage of this growing market.
Skout iPhone app is completely free and available now.
Link: Skout
(available through the
iPhone App Store)
NIC's 'Most Wanted' iPhone App Hits Top 10 in 3
Days
PR: eGovernment firm NIC has just launched "Most
Wanted," a free iPhone application dedicated to helping families of
missing children and law enforcement. The application has averaged
5,000 downloads per day and has broken the top 10 in iTunes' Free
Utility applications in its first three days of availability.
Most Wanted features FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted, Terrorists, and
Missing Children. Each has background information, a picture, and a
place for individuals to provide tips. Most Wanted is a free
application.
"NIC has been deploying mobile services for years, but the faster
wireless networks and smarter devices are making the development of
more advanced services possible," said Harry Herington, Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer of NIC. "As an ex-law enforcement
officer, I felt strongly that developing and launching the Most Wanted
application was the right thing for NIC to do as it directly supports
two very important groups - families of missing children and law
enforcement."
Link: NIC (available through the
iPhone App Store)
Squires Studios Releases Valentine's Update of
Squiggles Paint
PR: Squires Studios releases the Valentine's update of
Squiggles, an advanced paint and image app for the iPhone. Users can
create and send their own customized Valentine's Day cards. The
Valentine's update of Squiggles comes with a number of special images
that can be layered on personal photos on the iPhone. Combining these
with the Valentine image paintbrushes and advanced tools makes it easy
to create a unique personalized photo gift that can be sent directly
from Squiggles.
Squires Studios releases the Valentine's update of Squiggles, an
advanced paint and image app for the iPhone. Users can create and send
their own customized Valentine's Day cards from their iPhone. The
Valentine's update of Squiggles comes with a number of special images
that can be layered on personal photos on the iPhone. Combining these
with the Valentine image paintbrushes and advanced tools makes it easy
to create a unique personalized photo gift that can be sent directly
from Squiggles.
Images include a variety of hearts, chocolates, balloons, bubbles,
Love You text, candy hearts and heart glasses.
New features allow images to be emailed directly from Squiggles, an
eyedropper tool and easy layer positioning.
The App Store has featured Squiggles on What's New and as part of
their Staff Favorites.
Squiggles includes a wide range of styled brushes, unlimited colors,
variable opacity and paint modes making it ideal for working on iPhone
size drawings, sketches and specifically for work on the iPhone since
it is not always easy to draw with your finger on a piece of glass.
Paint smoothing - Draw a shape and the stroke will be redrawn
smoother. This removes any wobble or jitter.
Finger Offset - When painting with your fingertip it is difficult to
precisely place a stroke because your finger obscures the paint as it
is being applied. This makes it difficult to connect lines or mark a
photograph. The finger offset allows users to apply paint away from
their finger where they can see it. A cursor allows them to make the
exact lineup before commencing to paint.
Smart Shapes - Draw an approximation of a line or circle and the
shape will be redrawn precisely. This is great for notations on photos
and minimizes the need to keep changing tools.
The eraser restores the image to the original. This works with both
paint and any filters applied to the image to allow advanced
images.
A clone brush allows the cloning of an area just as in desktop
painting programs.
Since part of owning an iPhone is having fun, Squiggles has a full
collection of Stamps. These are full color paintbrushes that apply
images to a paint stroke. (Stars, flowers, bubbles, etc.)
Squiggles comes with a full collection of Overlays. These are images
that can be layered on top of existing photos and rotated, sized and
placed to best create a final image. Photographic overlays include real
hats, tinted glasses, balloons, thought balloons and other images can
be used to make on the fly photo cards.
Text layers can be created with different colors and fonts. The same
two-finger process to resize and rotate overlays is used with text
layers as well. The text can be used to document a photo or to make a
greeting.
Squiggles also includes a number of filters similar to the
PhotoBooth application on the Mac to distort the image or change
values.
All images are saved to the Photo Album so users can email them,
save them to their desktop, make wallpapers or save as contacts.
Link: Squiggles
(available through the
iPhone App Store)
Unlock Any iPhone in Any Country, Running Any
Firmware Version
PR: Since we launched our first iPhone Unlock solution in
late 2007 our product has received over an amazing 1,000,000 downloads
worldwide.
At this moment in time our iPhone unlock solution will unlock any
iPhone in any country, running any firmware version. We advise that
your iPhone is updated to the latest firmware version 2.2 through
iTunes before proceeding with our iPhone Unlock solution. This will
enable all of the latest features and benefits from Apple.
Our iPhone unlocking software also has the capability to relock your
iPhone at any time as to ensure that the warranty on your iPhone
remains valid should you ever need to return your iPhone to the
store....
As a good will gesture we are now providing free updates of our
product for life. This will ensure that you will never have to pay to
unlock your iPhone ever again. This will also ensure safe updates to
future firmware versions and most importantly of all your iPhone will
remain unlocked when installing future firmware versions.
As an extra added bonus along with our iPhone Unlock software we are
also providing you with some great applications completely free of
charge. These include, Video Recording, MMS Messaging, Voice Recorder,
Voice Dialing, SNES Emulator and many many more. We also provide
hundreds of wallpapers and ringtones to customize your iPhone should
you choose to do so.
Link: iPhone Unlock
Accessories
Charge Converter: Charge New iPods with Older
Chargers
PR:
So, you've upgraded your iPod. You don't have to upgrade all your
chargers.
Newer iPod and iPhone models use USB charging circuitry to charge
their batteries. Older chargers provided power through the FireWire
portion of the connector. Griffin to the rescue.
Now, older dock connectors and charging devices can properly charge
the newer iPod and iPhone models. Our Charge Converter clicks in
between your device's dock connector and your charger, and routes the
charging circuits correctly. So your iPod can keep on doing what it
does best.
Do you have an original Bose SoundDock? For a limited time, Griffin
is offering an adapter made specifically for the SoundDock, so you can
use your new iPod or iPhone with your Bose system (Portable and Series
II are not compatible).
$29.99
Link: Griffin
Charge Converter
Proporta's Wonderful Universal Emergency Travel
Charger
PR: There's nothing worse than running out of battery,
whether it's on the train to work or the plane abroad. Following the
success of their Mobile Device Charger, Proporta announce their new
model, the Universal Emergency Charger. This sleek, portable gadget
allows you to power up any device that charges from a USB socket up to
three times, so whether you're a commuter, a traveller, or just out and
about, you need never be caught short again.
The Universal Emergency Charger packs an impressive
2500 mAh of power and can be charged from any convenient USB port. It
comes complete with a USB to Mini USB cable and a retractable cable
with adaptors that allow you to charge and recharge your iPod, Nokia,
Micro USB, PSP, Samsung, or Sony Ericsson device anywhere. Anything
that charges from USB will work with this ridiculously handy device,
meaning you can charge your mobile gadgets again and again (and again)
wherever you are.
For the travellers among us, Proporta also offer the Universal
Emergency Charger - Travel Kit</a> which includes a
useful in Car and an AC World Travel Charger Kit that allows you to
charge from the mains anywhere in the world.
Universal Emergency Charger - Travel Kit - $ 50.95
Proporta's Universal Emergency Charger - Travel Kit includes all you
need to keep your iPod, mobile phone, smartphone, PDA, Nintendo DS
Lite, Sony PSP, digital camera etc.) charged and at the ready whilst on
the move. This ridiculously handy product charges from any standard USB
port and stores an impressive 2500 mAh of power meaning that you can
recharge your mobile gadget again and again (and again) wherever you
are.
Key Features
- Charge anywhere, recharge anything - standard USB input and
output
- Comes with a free drawstring bag
- Comes with USB to Mini USB cable, and a retractable cable which is
compatible with the following interchangeable connector heads: 1 x
Nokia Slim, 1 x Sony Ericsson, 1 x iPod, 1 x USB to Mini USB, 1 x Micro
USB, 1 x Samsung, 1 x PSP
- Includes World AC Power and Car Power Supply (with USB)
- Power indicator LED shows when you're low on juice
- Impressive 2500 mAh storage (recharge your devices and gadgets
several times)
- Powerful 5v, 800mA output (enough for even the most power-hungry
mobile devices)
Link: Proporta
Universal Emergency Charger
tuneband for iPhone 3G
PR: Grantwood Technology, LLC has announced the release of
the tuneband for iPhone 3G, an armband product designed to comfortably
secure the iPhone in place during exercise, with the ability to access
the screen and buttons.
The
tuneband for iPhone 3G is one of the most popular armbands sold, now we
are making available six skin colors: black, cloud/clear, navy blue,
pink, red, and purple.
Each tuneband consists of a comfortable and flexible armband strap
that can accommodate both large and small arms. We also have extra
large armbands available upon request. The rest of the package includes
a durable silicone skin that allows access to all ports on the iPhone
3G, including volume, screen, camera and home button.
We also supply a low-tack, cut-and-peel screen protector that helps
guard against smudges, moisture, and daily wear-and-tear. The tuneband
armband is made with the same material as our highly acclaimed tuneband
for iPod nano and our original tuneband for iPhone.
"The tuneband for iPhone is one of the most popular armbands
available," explained Michael Banks, MD, cofounder and CEO of Grantwood
Technology, LLC. "We have now added 5 more colors to the original black
skin that was available."
Link: tuneband for iPhone
3G
Replacement LCD Screen for iPhone
3G
PR: This is the 3G iPhone LCD screen suitable for the Apple
iPhone 3G, If you can see black ink spots or maybe bleeding on your
screen, but the touch screen is undamaged, the LCD will need to be
changed to restore your 3G iPhone to full working order.
Suitable for:
- iPhone 3G 8G
- iPhone 3G 16G
US$49.99
Link: Replacement
LCD Screen for iPhone 3G
Replacement Touchscreen for iPhone 3G
PR: Apple iPhone 3G Digitizer, this is the part
you require if you have damaged the front glass on your iPod and it has
cracked, or if the touchscreen is not responding to any input.
Suitable for:
- iPhone 3G 8G
- iPhone 3G 16G
US$69.99
Link: Replacement
Touchscreen for iPhone 3G
Protection
USBFever Hard Crystal Case for iPhone 3G - Bank
Note
PR: Features:
- Unique ergonomic design
- Printed with Vivid Pink Heart
- Fully Protected from bumps and scratches
- Light weight
- Perfectly fit
- Anti-dust
- Easy access to all ports, buttons and sockets
Notes: This is not for iPhone 2G, it is for iPhone 3G
only.
US$16.99
Link: USBFever
Hard Crystal Case for iPhone 3G - Bank Note
USBFever Hard Crystal Case for iPhone 3 -
Leopard
PR: Features:
- Unique ergonomic design
- Printed with Vivid Pink Heart
- Fully Protected from bumps and scratches
- Light weight
- Perfectly fit
- Anti-dust
- Easy access to all ports, buttons and sockets
Notes: This is not for iPhone 2G, it is for iPhone 3G
only.
US$16.99
Link: USBFever
Hard Crystal Case for iPhone 3 - Leopard
