Mobispine bringing real MMS feature to the iPhone via App Store
November 21st, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Apple seems to have started listening to iPhone users lately. They seem to have authorized a Swedish carrier Telia which is planning on bringing Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) to their iPhone users. MMS is a feature that has been long requested by iPhone users and would allow the easy sending of multimedia (photos, video) to your contacts. Macrumors has covered this news as well:
Their solution appears that it may be a third party application developed by Swedish developer Mobispine. Mobispine is marketing their MMS application to mobile carriers (such as AT&T) as a solution to provide the service to their end users.
We’re confident that operators will find the service easy to use and profitable with an opportunity to expand messaging usage, improve subscriber retention and hopefully increase revenue. The service will also increase customer loyalty and recognition as the brand is displayed on the user’s phone. The application is white-labelled and will be branded for each operator and distributed via the App store.
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iPhone Firmware 2.2 Released on November 20th
November 21st, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Apple has just released its 2.2 iPhone firmware. To update your iPhone, Launch iTunes > Connect your iPhone > and click “Check Update”. Download 2.2 firmware.
WARNING - UNLOCKED AND/OR JAILBROKEN IPHONES USERS : DO NOT UPGRADE
So what is new in Firmware 2.2?
- Google Streets view in maps feature: This is incredibly cool. I’m not a major user of the street views online, but having it on the phone is really nifty- and kinda creepy. I looked up my grandmother’s address, and it pulled up just fine complete with a 360 degree view of her neighborhood. Just seemed… yeesh.
- Google Search relocated in Safari browser: Others are calling this an excellent adjustment to save screen real estate in the browser. I say… meh. I mean, it’s nice and all. Just not a huge change like others are saying.
- Podcast Over-the-air Download capability in iTunes: Okay, this one’s really nifty. They’ve finally added podcast downloads over wifi on the iPhone, and I love it. Now, if I want to get the latest episode of a favorite podcast and I’m not at home to get it, I can do so from my phone. Very convenient, very cool. I’ll be using this one.
Full List of Featured Updates:
- Enhancements to Maps
- Google Street View
- public transit and walking diretions
- display address of dropped pins
- share location via email
- Enhancements to Mail
- resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
- improved formatting of wide HTML email
- Improved stability and performance of Safari
- Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular)
- Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
- Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages
- Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you to the first Home screen
- Preferences to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard settings
- 2.2 fixes the issue with broken App Store links in Mobile Safari
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Orb App for iPhone: Stream TV, Video, Music from Your PC
November 21st, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Orb, one of my long-time favorite applications for remotely streaming home media has finally come to the iTunes AppStore. Up to now, Orb was only possible on jailbroken phones, but somehow, Apple has approved the application for everyday use.
With the $9.99 application, you can access and view various content on a home Windows PC right on your iPhone or iPod Touch. The Orb folks say that a version for Macs and Linux computers is coming as well. What I always liked about Orb is that is smartly manages the audio or video stream based on your connection speed: it’s always optimized. So what can you stream on your handheld while away from home?
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NumberKey Turns iPhone into a Numpad for your notebook.
November 20th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Here’s something ultra-useful for all those Mac laptop owners who need numeric keypad from time to time. It’s an iPhone app called NumberKey, which will display a numeric keypad and wirelessly connect (via Bonjour) to your Mac to allow input of numbers much faster.
As you can see from the image above, the app is designed to follow the look of Mac’s keyboard, meaning when you put your iPhone near your laptop it will look like they were made one for the other. Four skins are available - black, white, silver and classic.
NumberKey works with both PowerPC and Intel CPU-based Macs and you can grab it for $1.99 from the AppStore.
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QuattroPower SmartCase for the iPhone 3G
November 19th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
We’ve seen countless models of iPhone cases that feature built-in batteries but iyskin has just announced the first one to have it’s own glass screen protection and removable battery named the Quattro Power.
After witnessing the phenomenal success of its Touch-Thru cases, ivyskin anticipated growing demand for SmartCase that would offer consumers their favorite ivyskin case packaged with an internal battery. With the QuattroPower cases, iPhone enthusiasts at every level can enjoy a premium protection with an added 200% of battery life to their iPhone 3G.
With Apple offering the first true medium, audiences from casual users to musicphiles, moviephiles and constantly-connected business users can get it all from one device. They want the same from accessories - one high-performance, bundled accessory that maximizes everything their device offers - and this is exactly what ivyskin is delivering with its new Quattro line.
QuattroPower SmartCase Features:
The QuattroPower sends a signal to the iPhone to drain its power first before using the iPhone’s battery. This advanced power distribution system, enables the iPhone to receive an additional 200% battery life
6 light LED battery status indicator
The QuattroPower case can be charged without removing the case, it includes a USB cable and a power charger
QuattroPower has a full rechargeable lithium polymer battery embedded into the Quattro case that provides a non-slip, soft grip case
Polycarbonate hard shell case with Polysilicon coating provides a protection that is secound to none in the market today
Features:
- Standby Time - Up to 350 hours
- Talk Time - Up to 6 hours on 3G | Up to 12 hours on 2G
- Internet Use - Up to 6 hours on 3G | Up to 7 hours on Wi-Fi
- Audio Playback - Up to 28 hours
- Video Playback - Up to 8 hours
Pricing and Availability
Just in time for Christams on the 22nd of December for $99.99
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Cole Zhu French/English Traslation App
November 17th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Cole Zhu Français/Anglais is an easy to use French/English and English/French translation application Bundled also with a full featured English dictionary. All this works without requiring any internet connection (something that is essential when travelling abroad).
The software includes the following additional features:
- all-in-one multi-language search bar
- incremental search results appear as you type using our super fast index
- scrollable search result word list
- resizeable, zoomable word description view
- adjustable dictionary result order
- remembers your last word on close
- save your words for future study
- email your saved words to yourself for study or collection
- delete all saved words option
- word history
- word jump tap on any word in the data view to see its detailed description
Free for only 3 days (Get it fast !!). Normally 5$/3.99€.
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ToneFxs Ringtone iPhone Application
November 16th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
ToneFxs is another interesting ringtone application I just discovered on cydia.
ToneFxs makes it easy to create and randomize all your favorite ringtones on your iPhone. For example chose one set of ringtones for your calls, another for SMS, one for your Mail…
All you need to do is install this program that is available for either Mac or PC and follow the easy instructions.
ToneFXs comes with an ultra cool shuffle feature. When turned on, everytime a call comes in you hear a different custom ringtone that you have put on your iPhone. This is a great feature when you have many custom ringtones and you want to enjoy all of them. How sweet is that!! It gets even better. With ToneFX, you can select the ringtones you want to shuffle. Why is this super cool? Imagine a scenario where you have created 3 ringtones from one song with iPhoneRingToneMaker; that is the first verse, second verse and the chorus. Now you can select those 3 and enjoy them all. In another scenario, let’s say you have about 20 ringtones and 5 of them are from one artist you are really feeling. Now you can just select those 5 as the ones to shuffle.
Just as you use ringtones to spice up your incoming call alert/rings, ToneFXs lets you spice up your incoming call alert/ring. Say goodbye to sms sounds like tritone and create your own supa dupa sounds from your current and expanding music library.
More from from the ToneFXs Creator:
So where do I these cool ToneFXs from? The answer is YOU! We have built a simple and easy to use Mac and PC application called ToneFXsCreator that lets you create your ToneFXs from any of the music from your current and expanding music library and then have it automatically sent to your iPhone for you to use. If you are not up to this super easy task, we have bundled some really cool ToneFXs that you can choose from.
How do I install ToneFXs?
1. You need a jailbroken iPhone (2.0 and above)
2. Launch the Cydia app
3. Go to Sections
4. Select Utilities
5. Scroll to and select ToneFX
6. Select Install
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Armado: A 3D Platform Game Comes to the iPhone
November 15th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
A new games was just released by the creators of the popular Spore Origin.
Armado is a 3D platform action game that features good graphics but lacks some diversity in its level design. It remind me of Crash Bandicoot for those who are old enough to have played this 1996 PlayStation title. The gameplay is limited to going forwards and backwards while you control your character with the accelerometer. You can also jump by tapping the screen to grab things or avoid obstacles.
Here is a video to give you a better idea of what Armado is all about:
Armado is available ON the App Store now for $4.99.
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Logic3 i-Station Rotate dock speaker for iPhone
November 14th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
This is one of the new and innovative gadgets for your iPhone. The i-Station Rotate Dock from Logic3. The iPhone docking speaker set has had the good idea to include a rotation mechanism, so you can plug it in either horizontally or in landscape mode.
The i-Station Rotate Dock is very compact and practical in size so it’s perfect for your travelling. Additonally it features TDMA noise suppresion, Stereo line-in, Video Out, remote control and a carrying case.
Features:
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High performance speaker system for iPhone & iPod.
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10 Watts RMS power output
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Rotating dock to view films, podcasts and music videos from iPhone & iPod.
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Composite Video Output for connecting to TV
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Remote Control to operate Speaker & simple functions of iPod.
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Operates using an AC Adaptor (Included) or 4 x AA Batteries
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Stereo Line-in Cable for playing other audio devices including iPod shuffle, MP3, or CD players.
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Volume level display on screen of iPod & low battery indicator system.
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Power efficient Class D amplifier for improved performance
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Dimension (H x W x D) 120mm x 315mm x 50mm
The i-Station Rotate Dock is sold for 80 GBP or ± $120.
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Installer v4.0b9 Released: Rating System And Other New Features Added
November 13th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Rip Dev has just released today their latest version of Installer app on their site. A bit too late I think? Since the release of the firmware 2.x Installer app team stayed inactive for way too long and Cydia picked up to void the gap. Not to help there is also lots of bad feedback from users on this beta version for causing stability issues (buggy,reboots, lag, etc.) Anyways everything just seems to be on Cydia these days. Unless your are one of those who hasn’t upgraded and still running firmware 1.x.
New Features of Installer 4.0b9:
- Added user-driven ratings. We encourage you to submit your votes for various packages. Once more data will be collected (in a few days), that will be reflected on the Featured page.
- SpringBoard is no longer terminated after the software was installed or removed.
- Proxies are (again) supported. The support was broken after we moved to libcurl.
- Introduced download timeouts (again) that were disabled after the move to libcurl.
- Reworked many parts of the engine in an effort to get rid of the occasional GUI stalls.
- If a particular source fails to update, it will be moved to “disabled” state for 6 hours and will not be included in the all sources refresh process. The disabled state is listed as the source icon with a red “stop” sign over it. This is done to prevent unnecessary stalls at the sources refresh if one of the sources goes offline for whatever reason. If you’d like to retry it before 12 hour interval, open its info and hit Refresh button there.
- Removed customInfo support as it was mostly used for unnecessary ads that were disturbing many people. These pages are normally reachable from the “More Info” link.
- Much better error reporting. Forget these “error 3″s and such. The descriptions are much more human readable now. And for script errors, it will show an actual script command that caused an error.
- Installer will prevent iPhone/iPod touch from sleeping when it’s downloading or installing something.
- The app icon badge should behave better now.
- Lots of smaller fixes and optimizations I won’t list.
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