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
Apps & Services
Accessories
Protection
iPod and iPhone Deals
These price trackers are updated regularly.
News, Reviews, & Opinion
iPhone 3GS Overheating Reports
PC World's
Melissa J. Perenson says:
"Is the Apple iPhone 3GS having overheating issues? I've seen some
reports circulating on the Web today that indicate some handsets might
indeed be affected. And I have my own tale to add to fray."
Link:
Apple iPhone 3GS Overheating Reports
iPhone 3GS Is a Scorcher
Register Hardware's James Sherwood reports:
"Owners of Apple's latest iPhone, the 3GS, have begun letting off
steam online with claims that the smartphone gets hot enough to cause
itself and its owners physical harm."
Link: Owners Say
iPhone 3GS Is a Scorcher
Experiencing Short Battery Life with iPhone 3GS?
Apple Has an App for That
Hardmac's
Linathael and Lionel report:
"In order to deal with complains from iPhone 3GS owners experiencing
short battery life, Apple has designed a procedure. If a customer
claims his iPhone 3GS has a limited battery life, Apple will offer him
to monitor it battery thank to a specially-designed application
[Battery Life Logging] to be installed on the phone."
Link:
Apple's Procedure for Users Experiencing Short Battery Life with the
iPhone 3GS
Apps & Services
TEL3Dialer for iPhone: Low Cost International
Calls
PR: With the launch of the new TEL3Dialer App for iPhone
users, TEL3 provides direct international calling experience with the
most competitive rates available in the market.
TEL3 has been one of the most
innovative and technology driven brand name for more than a decade, and
because of their reach across the prepaid market, they claim to have a
unique perspective on the industry that no other company can match.
TEL3 continues to offer services that allow customers to easily
communicate with anybody in the world from any phone at lower costs.
The introduction of TEL3Dialer App is another example of TEL3's
commitment to our customers, and we will continue making distance local
for them with convenient and affordable services. We are proud to
provide connectivity without boundaries.
TEL3, a prepaid long distance calling service in business for 15
years, has announced its new free application for iPhone users:
TEL3Dialer App. iPhone users can now dial direct from their contact
list while enjoying low international rates of TEL3 combined with
superior call quality.
The company started a new campaign with the product launch for a
limited time, and now offers a free trial version for new customers
including up to 60 free International minutes along with the free app
download on the App Store. No commitment or credit card required for
the free trial.
TEL3Dialer App is a seamless software application that enables users
to make international calls directly from their iPhone just the same
way users access their wireless provider. The innovative difference
here is users get to place international calls at very low rates
because the TEL3Dialer enables a seamless direct connection to TEL3's
platform without having to dial any toll free or local access numbers
during the call. Customers can place calls with their iPhone direct or
from existing contacts or even from recent call list.
Once a customer downloads TEL3Dialer on the App Store, the whole
International calling experience will change and users will immediately
start saving money while enjoying the flexibility and the convenience
of their iPhone. With this application, they will be able to make
International calls for pennies that will be debited from their prepaid
TEL3 balance while using only regular domestic airtime with their
existing wireless provider.
TEL3 is an International prepaid calling service that is available
from any phone in the US and Canada. The Company last year introduced
software for Blackberry and over 450 other smart phone models to enable
its users to make direct International calls that will be charged again
only with low rates of TEL3 instead of very expensive cell phone
provider rates. The TEL3 service is an excellent choice for business
travelers and students due to its ease of use and flexibility and now
the iPhone App will help the Company to reach more users in the US and
Canada.
"TEL3 has been one of the most innovative and technology driven
brand name for more than a decade and because of our reach across the
prepaid market, we have a unique perspective on the industry that no
other company can match," says Burak Ozan, VP of Marketing and Business
Development at TEL3. "TEL3 continues to offer services that allow
customers to easily communicate with anybody in the world from any
phone at lower costs. The introduction of TEL3Dialer App is another
example of TEL3's commitment to our customers and we will continue
making distance local for them with convenient and affordable services.
We are proud to provide connectivity without boundaries."
The company continuously invests in Customer Service and Technology,
and currently has A+ rating with BBB.
TEL3Dialer is available for download on the iPhone App Store.
Link: TEL3Dialer (available through the
iPhone App Store)
PianoStudio for iPhone and iPod touch
PR: Frontier Design Group has launched PianoStudio, the most
powerful piano composition and performance app for the iPhone and iPod
touch. Unlike other piano apps that limit the user to tiny keyboards
with limited range, PianoStudio takes another approach. By placing
individual notes, entire chords, and even complete musical phrases onto
a set of buttons that you can order and play, users can write and
perform real piano music with chord progressions, "two-handed"
patterns, and melodies in Allegro.
PianoStudio
offers mobile musicians an incredible set of tools for creating songs,
including a built-in Chord Selector and a powerful Phrase Editor. You
can use PianoStudio to explore musical ideas, learn songs, write your
own tunes, and even play along with your iTunes music.
PianoStudio features:
- Three high-quality piano instruments (Grand 1, Grand 2,
Upright)
- 9 built-in demo songs
- Built-in Recorder with overdubbing, variable tempo, metronome, and
undo/redo
- Tilt-controlled volume and sustain pedal
- Awesome phrase editor lets you create repeating patterns or
passages that would otherwise be impossible to play
- Built-in chord library with over 10,000 chords
- Lots of visual customizations to help you organize and play your
tunes
- 5 banks of buttons per song
- 9 available button layout styles with between 8 and 40 buttons,
plus keyboard-and-buttons style
PianoStudio is the newest entry in Frontier Design's lineup of great
iPhone music apps, which includes Guitar (acoustic guitar), iShred
(electric guitar with effects), Theremin, Rainstick, and Cowbell
Plus.
Minimum Requirements: iPhone and iPod touch 2.2.1 or later
PianoStudio is available now on the iTunes Store for $6.99.
Link: PianoStudio (available
through the
iPhone App Store)
Total Baby 1.0 for iPhone and iPod touch
PR: Andesigned announces the newest addition to the Baby
Tracker Family: Total Baby for iPhone and iPod touch. Greatly expanding
on Baby Tracker: Nursing and Baby Tracker: Diapers, this is a brand new
Complete Baby Logging Application for the iPhone and iPod touch. It is
the must-have high-tech accessory for Parents.
Total Baby will help you log and time all aspects of your child's
care through a smart and sleek interface that makes tracking easy and
fun. Inspired by my own family, I built this application from the
ground up to support multiple children (especially twins) with
unmatched features on any computing platform. Total Baby combines 11
separate timing and tracking functions into a single complete solution.
Total Baby will help answer important questions, such as how old was my
child when they had their DTaP shot? Or when the baby's last feeding or
doctor visit was.
Feature
Highlights:
Main Screen
- Complete summary of your child's day grouped by time (Early
Morning, Morning, Afternoon, and Evening)
- The amount of time since the last timed start or end date
(selectable via preference setting) for each event
- Your child's current age, days until their next birthday, and their
most recent photo
- Edit or Delete any entry without leaving the main screen
Timers (All timers will automatically stop in case you get too busy
to remember to turn it off)
- Diapers
- Feeding (Nursing/Bottles - fluid selection based on child's
age)
- Sleeping
- Bath Time
- Other (Create your own timer or single events like Medicine or
Temperature)
Entries (The baby's age is shown for every entry)
- Diary and Milestones (Add photos with the built in camera or use
previously saved photos)
- Doctor Visits (Grouped by Past and Future Appointments)
- Growth (Show Percentages of change for Weight, Length, and Head
Circumference)
- Vaccines (Preloaded with vaccine description and information)
Total Baby includes 74 built in descriptions and timer events to get
you started, these are fully customizable and you are able to create
your own. All Entries have a note and title field and all Timers have a
note and fast description picker to quickly add repetitive information
such as where your baby slept or how you held the baby during
nursing.
Support for 6 children with an innovative dual timer display which
automatically detects twins or multiples (via a preference setting).
Promotion of proper alternate side nursing with both visual cues
(safety pins) and automatic Start (alternate) side functionality.
Export data via email, in a simple and easy to read table grouped by
day.
Minimum Requirements: iPhone and iPod touch 2.2 or later
Total Baby 1.0 for iPhone is only $4.99 (Special Introductory Price)
and available exclusively through Apple's App Store under the Medical
Category.
Link: Total Baby
(available through the
iPhone App Store)
iPhone/iPod touch App: Schedule U-verse DVR
Recordings on the Go
PR: AT&T U-verse TV customers can now use a free
application from the Apple App Store to make scheduling and managing
recordings on their DVR even easier when they're away from home. The
U-verse TV Mobile Remote Access App for iPhone and iPod touch lets
customers record their content from virtually anywhere and is another
example of U-verse TV applications and DVR enhancements that have been
rolled out to customers at no extra charge.
"This is the perfect example of how AT&T is bringing services
together to deliver a better experience for customers," said Jeff
Weber, vice president of video services for AT&T Mobility and
Consumer Markets. "With AT&T U-verse, you get DVR capabilities you
can't find from any other provider, and this app gives users the
freedom to schedule their DVR from their iPhone or iPod touch."
The app allows users to easily search U-verse TV program listings
from the full program guide, view descriptions of selected programs,
schedule program or series recordings, manage or edit scheduled
recordings, and delete stored DVR content.
The Mobile Remote Access App is available for free from Apple's App
Store on iPhone and iPod touch.
The launch of the new U-verse TV Mobile Remote Access App follows
several DVR enhancements that are currently being rolled out to U-verse
TV customers, including an exclusive new Total Home DVR feature that
allows customers to schedule and delete recordings from any U-verse
receiver in the home - all from a single DVR.
A&T U-verse was one of the first providers to introduce Web
Remote Access to the DVR in November 2006, and it brought three-screen
DVR access to all U-verse TV customers with Mobile Remote Access to the
DVR in April 2007. In 2008, AT&T launched AT&T U-verse Total
Home DVR, allowing all U-verse DVR customers to watch standard and High
Definition recorded shows from a single DVR on any connected TV in the
home.
U-verse TV customers can also enjoy several other integrated
applications, including personalized, onscreen weather, sports, traffic
and stock information via AT&T U-bar; local and national weather
forecasts with Weather On Demand; the ability to view personal photos
on your TV that you have uploaded to flickr.com; and more.
AT&T U-verse customers enjoy quadruple-play integration,
enhanced features and greater value, all made possible by IP
technology. AT&T U-verse TV ranked "Highest in Residential
Television Service Satisfaction in the North Central, South, and West
Regions," according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Residential
Television Service Provider Satisfaction Study(SM).
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by
subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand
and not by AT&T Inc.
AT&T U-verse services are provided by AT&T local telephone
companies. Geographic and service restrictions apply to AT&T
U-verse. Call or go to www.uverse.att.com to see if you
qualify. Customizing options require AT&T U-verse High Speed
Internet Service. Wireless remote access requires WAP 2.0-compliant
cell phone or other handheld device. Full Total Home DVR functionality
requires a receiver for each additional TV at $7 per month each.
AT&T received the highest numerical score among television
service providers in the South, North Central and West regions in the
proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Residential Television
Service Satisfaction Study(SM). Study based on 18,938 total responses
from measuring providers in the South (13), North Central (11) and West
(10) regions and measures consumer satisfaction with television
service. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and
perceptions of consumers surveyed in July 2008. Your experiences may
vary. Visit jdpower.com (available through the
iPhone App Store)
Etiquette Avenue App Puts Protocol Advice at Your
Fingertips
PR: Dale Webb, Director of The Protocol Centre in Coral
Gables, Florida, announced today the debut of Etiquette Avenue 1.0 for
iPhone and iPod touch. Etiquette Avenue puts screens of professional
protocol advice in the hands of millions who can use it in ever-more
competitive times. It is the first App dedicated to the rules of
professional and workplace protocol. Etiquette Avenue's information is
a version of the company's Best Protocol Practices curriculum updated
and adapted to an App.
To text or not to text ... the answer to that question may mean
losing a job or gaining a new client. The answer is also now just a tap
away on your iPhone. Dale Webb, Director of The Protocol Centre in
Coral Gables, Florida, announced today the debut of "Etiquette Avenue,"
an iPhone and iPod touch application now available in the App Store.
The App puts screens of professional protocol advice in the hands of
millions who can use it in ever-more competitive times.
"We all notice the little things, especially in the workplace, when
we're evaluating whether someone is a 'must-have' member of the team,"
said Webb. "Etiquette Avenue's information is a version of our Best
Protocol Practices curriculum updated and adapted to an App. We used
the most requested 'help-me topics' from our clients. These are the
skills one needs to be competitive."
Etiquette Avenue, designed by Blue Whale Web Solutions, offers 14
Etiquette Categories, ranging from electronic etiquette to tips on
small talk and networking. A "Tip of the Day" offers a quick tutorial,
and dining photos help the uninitiated navigate complex table settings.
The App can be downloaded for $2.99 at The Apple Store.
Like a polished executive, Etiquette Avenue pays attention to the
details. Jim Morin, a Pulitzer-Prize winning cartoonist, created the
whimsical illustrations introducing each category. Gregg Weiss of Blue
Whale conceived the illustrations as 'flash cards' that flip to reveal
advice, like how to deliver the perfect handshake and enter and exit a
chair for dining. (Yes, there is a correct way to sit down.)
As for advice on texting in socially sensitive situations - "be
respectful of others in your quest to be connected. When you are
tapping and checking, you lose eye contact, and people know what you
are doing. Etiquette is about respect and common sense," said
Webb, who recently witnessed a groomsman checking his phone during a
wedding. "The Protocol Centre wants etiquette to reach as many people
as possible. What better way than on your iPhone?"
The Protocol Centre provides seminars on Business and Dining
Etiquette and International Briefings for corporations, educational
institutions, government and individuals. Each seminar is designed and
customized for the client providing completely up-to-date information
on 21st century business etiquette and dining protocols. Blue Whale Web
Solutions designed the iPhone and iPod touch application Gold Price
Grabber.
Link: Etiquette Avenue
(available through the
iPhone App Store)
Rocket Taxi 2.0 for iPhone and iPod touch
PR: Edovia announces Rocket Taxi 2.0 iPhone and iPod
touch. Rocket Taxi uses the device's Location Services to find nearby
taxi companies. Search has been extended to taxi companies, and the
biggest new feature is the new map system that is powered by Apple's
MapKit. This new map is far more precise than on the older version and
lets the user interact with it. Moreover, in addition to the estimated
fare, Rocket Taxi 2.0 now shows you the best route between your
starting and destination points. This new version represents a much
more mature product and includes a lot of improvements that users will
enjoy.
Rocket Taxi is now available on the App Store. Rocket Taxi uses the
device's Location Services to find nearby taxi companies. The new 2.0
versions has several improvements such as faster results and better
overall performance.
"Rocket Taxi has been a hit since it's release and we're very happy
to release this new version. With the new integrated map, the app is a
lot more useful and when Apple announced MapKit, we were quickly at
work to improve our best selling app", said Luc Vandal, founder of
Edovia Inc. "We have also fixed a lot of bugs and polished the overall
user experience and feel that the app is very solid and a must have
update."
Minimum Requirements: iPhone or iPod touch 3.0 or later
Rocket Taxi 2.0 is available on the App Store now for $1.99. This is
a free update to all current users.
Link: Rocket
Taxi (available through the
iPhone App Store)
Accessories
Sync Blocker USB to Dock Cable for
iPhone/iPod
PR:
If you are at home, you naturally will sync (and also charge your
iPod/iPhone with your PC; however, if were out or at your office, you
may just want to charge your iPhone/iPod, if you plug your iPhone/iPod
with other computer, of course, it has no problems, just that it may
have some little disturbances to you.
Here is a cable for you to manage your iPhone/iPod. This cable is
designed to have 1 button on the Dock connector, one side is at any
other ordinary Dock cable for iPhone/iPod. To hotsync with and charge
your iPhone/iPod; if you just want to charge your iPhone/iPod, you may
push the button to another side, then no matter which PC/laptop that
you connected with, it will just drag power from the computer to charge
your iPhone/iPod, will not hotsync with.
This is especially useful for travellers.
Features:
- Help you to manage your iPhone/iPod
- 2 modes: Data HotSync + Charging and pure Charging
- Compact and lightweight
This accessory is compatible with: (see notes below)
- iPhone 3GS
- iPhone 3G (or iPhone 2.0)
- iPhone 2G (or iPhone 1.0)
- iPod touch 1st & 2nd
- iPod classic
- iPod video
- iPod nano 4th
- iPod nano 3rd
Specifications:
- Length: 115cm (45 inches), approximately
- Net Weight: 29g approximately
Note:
- See its compatibility above
- All the brandname and trademarks are the properties of their
respective owners
- iPhone 3G is not included.
- If you cannot switch between the 2 modes when the dock connector
stay plugged, please unplug and select your desired mode plugging into
the dock connector on your iPhone/iPod side.
$12.99
Link: Sync
Blocker USB to Dock Connector Cable
240 GB Upgrade Kit for 5G iPod
PR: Apricorn announced its 240 GB Upgrade Kit for 5th
Generation Video iPod. With added capacity, your 5G iPod can hold up to
60,000 songs, 50,000 photos, or 300 hours of video; a 300% increase
from the largest video iPod's original 80 GB.
Apricorn's Do-It-Yourself Upgrade Kit enables you to upgrade your
video iPod hard drive and battery in just 10 to 20 minutes. Apricorn's
comprehensive kit includes an intuitive step-by-step instructional
video to guide you through the entire upgrade, a high capacity hard
drive up to 240 GB, a lithium ion battery, and case opening tools.
The upgrade is completed in a few steps. Start by watching the
instructional video to view the procedure in its entirety. After
watching the video, you are ready to upgrade your video iPod. If you
need to review a step, the video will allow you to watch the entire
process or review individual sections. After the process is complete,
just plug the iPod into your computer and restore using iTunes.
In addition to increasing the capacity of your 5th Generation
iPod, Apricorn's Upgrade Kit also increases your iPod's battery life.
The kit's 240 GB Toshiba drive has lower power requirements, showing a
33% overall improvement in energy efficiency vs. the original drive.
This, in addition to the new replacement lithium ion battery, vastly
increases your iPod's play time. This can come in handy with all of the
new songs, videos and games that your upgraded iPod can now store.
In addition to free technical support, Apricorn backs their kit's
hard drive and battery with a limited 1-year warranty, in effect,
renewing the warranty that may have expired on many well loved Video
iPods.
"Apricorn has answered the call from consumers to provide an easy,
low-cost way to increase the capacity and battery life of their iPod,"
said Mike McCandless, VP of Sales and Marketing. "For the same price as
an iPod classic 120 GB, you can have twice the space. If you love your
Video iPod, but are just not getting the same amount of play time, or
are just running out of space with podcasts, games and video,
Apricorn's Do-It-Yourself Upgrade Kit is a great alternative."
Package Contents:
- Hard Drive up to 240 GB capacity
- Lithium Ion Battery
- Case Opening Tools
- Step-by-Step Instructional Video
Apricorn's Upgrade Kit for iPod is currently available in the US,
Canada, and online at apricorn.com.
MSRP
- 240 GB Upgrade Kit (for 60 GB or 80 GB video iPods) - $249
- 120 GB Upgrade Kit (for 30 GB video iPods) - $159
1 year limited warranty
Link: 240
GB Upgrade Kit for 5G (video) iPod
Xtand iPhone Stand Reviewed
Test Freaks
says:
"For today's review I will be looking at a simple yet functional
iPhone stand that looks sleek and stylish on ones desktop; especially
if you own an aluminum iMac or an Apple Cinema Display. Just Mobile has
designed an iPhone stand dubbed the Xtand (thank God they did not name
it the iStand) that mimics the base of an aluminum iMac. It is an
elegant looking device that allows any model iPhone to rest in a
horizontal or vertical orientation. "
Link: Xtand iPhone Stand
Reviewed
Protection
Contour iSee Crystal Clear Protection for iPhone
3G/3GS
PR: Hot
on the heels of the iPhone 3G/3GS is Contour Design's iSee case.
Matching the iPhone 3G/3GS curve for curve, the iSee offers more
reasons than ever to safeguard your investment. Why compromise
protection by stretching a rubber skin or style by hiding behind an
opaque shell when you can get both in the iSee? Introducing the iSee
iPhone 3G/3GS, hard shell crystal clear protection for the iPhone
3G/3GS.
With a two-piece snap together polycarbonate chassis, the ultra
lightweight iSee iPhone 3G/3GS creates a sleek, nearly invisible shield
around the iPhone 3G/3GS. Add removable silicone covers to the hold
switch and volume buttons, as well as total access to the touch screen,
and the iPhone 3G/3GS is not only completely protected, but also fully
functional. The iSee iPhone 3G/3GS, where form meets functionality.
- Discreet Protection: A case so unobtrusive, you'll forget it's
there.
- No Hidden Compartments: Being completely transparent, the iSee has
nothing to hide
- Stylishly Efficient: Just two pieces, the iSee snaps together for
ultimate protection.
$29.95
Link: iSee iPhone
3G/3GS
iPhone 3G and 3GS Get New and Improved
Protection
PR: With Apple's release of the new iPhone 3GS and an ever
increasing user base of iPhone owners with a need for gadget
protection, up and coming iPhone accessory company Krypton Products LLC
has recently announced the release of its new Screen Armor line of
product. The Screen Armor line, which is now available through
Krypton's website and Amazon.com,
aims to reinvent iPhone protection through sleek design, unique
functionality, and best in class materials.
Made with three layers of tough scratch resistance, Krypton's Screen
Armor line will not only provide users with added iPhone screen
protection, but will also allow for greater touch navigation to help
users glide even more effortlessly from menu to menu.
Consisting of the Ultra Clear, Anti-Glare, Privacy 180, and Privacy
360 models, the Screen Armor line gives customers the ability to select
the right protection and functionally for their needs. The Ultra Clear
model protects the iPhone screen without any degradation in viewing
quality. The Anti-Glare gives users the ability to see their screen
more clearly while outdoors or in bright areas. The Privacy 180 affords
the user side to side privacy and wards off nosy neighbors. Finally,
the Privacy 360 provides maximum privacy protection by offering side to
side and top to bottom privacy ensuring that personal information stays
personal.
Upon releasing this line, Krypton also highlights its commitment to
serving customers through dialogue that aims to speak with them, rather
than at them. In this paradigm, Krypton utilizes social media tools
like Twitter and Facebook with hopes of engaging in meaningful a
dialogue with customers to not only better serve them, but to represent
the ideal that customers should be at the top of every corporate
organizational chart in America.
A dynamic, modern, carbon-free company, Krypton is fundamentally
aware of the fact that you love your gadgets. A California company,
Krypton is committed to protecting your envied collection of
technological marvels while ensuring style, function, and fashion are
still fully addressed. Apart from selling fashionable, practical, and
brilliantly designed iPhone accessories, Krypton's Random Acts of
Greenness movement encourages waste consciousness in everyone and aims
to one day make "leaving lights on because you're too lazy to get up"
and "driving one mile to get to work" a thing of the past.
Link: Screen
Armor
