PMP Today » Apple

iPhone-powered netbook in the works?

Allan David Reyes — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:08:36 +0000

Probably two of the most talked about subjects on the internet today are netbooks and the iPhone, so why build a gadget that integrates both devices in one, right? Well, that’s what OLO computer maker has planned in the future by coming out with a netbook that has the iPhone running at the very core. A dock, so to speak, is featured at the trackpad area where you can lay down the iPhone to power the netbook and likewise use it as the trackpad for the device. Very creative thinking if I should say so myself, but while definite plans for its release are still scarce and everything is just a concept at the moment, I’m not exactly optimistic how Apple will appreciate this new found fondness for their mobile phone. Similarly, with an Apple event scheduled to go live tomorrow, they may even launch a netbook of their own which might just spoil the plans of OLO and their iPhone-powered netbook. Nevertheless, this is a unique but utterly expensive idea considering that you’ll have to buy both the netbook and an iPhone just to make it work. Totally ingenious, but totally impractical as well.

[liliputing via engadget]

Walmart to Sell iPhone 3G

BrianB — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:23:26 +0000

Apple will be making the iPhone available in Walmart stores, says BoyGeniusReport, starting November 15. This is terrific news for impulse buyers, especially in these financially trying times (I’m not sure if the preceding sentence qualifies as irony, but anyway… ). Radio Shack is out of the equation, though. Hopefully, further price cuts will be implemented by Apple. The iPhone 3G still have some ways to go before 10 million.

[via bgr]

4GB iPod Nano 4G Makes it in the Philippines

BrianB — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:50:16 +0000

We’ve heard rumors about 4GB iPod Nano 4Gs going to India. Rumor has it the original price of the 8GB and 16GB Nano 4Gs were originally intended for the lower capacities. Well, in the Philippines, they are. Filipinos will be getting the 4GB version for 7490 PHP or roughly $157 and the 8GB version for 8990 PHP or around $189. This 4GB version costs more than the 8GB version in US retail and the 8GB version approaches the 16GB. What the heck is this all about?

[via yugatech]

iPhone Fring multi-IM, VoIP app now available via App Store

Allan David Reyes — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:25:14 +0000

Joining the likes of Palringo and JetSet, Fring is the latest multi-IM app available at the App Store. Fring, as the jailbreak community knows, has been around for quite sometime now, but this is the first time they’ve made their app available via Apple’s software store. What’s also unique to Fring is that aside from connecting with other IM services such as Yahoo, Google Talk, MSN, and AIM to name just a few, it also provides you with on-the-go VoIP through Skype. VoIP functionality, however, is limited to WiFi connectivity, but hey, at least it’s now finally there, right? What’s even better is that it won’t cost you a single penny. I’ve used Fring on a number of mobile devices, including a jailbroken iPod Touch, and I have to admit, I sorely missed it when I decided to give up my jailbreaking habit. Now, I totally have no regrets on turning clean since I can also get from the App Store. With this development, will all iPhone apps eventually land in the App Store at some point in time? I guess only time will tell.

[mobilecrunch via cellphones etc]

iPhone Backgrounder: Run multiple apps simulateously

Allan David Reyes — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 00:09:22 +0000

Don’t you just find it irritating that you can’t run two apps at the same time on your iPhone like watching YouTube while staying connected via your favorite IM app? Well, the iPhone Backgrounder app just does that. It allows you to run apps simultaneously with each other. You can even add an XML code to have certain apps running in the background by default, but don’t be surprised if you experience a sudden drop in your iPhone’s performance. One of the reasons that the iPhone is so snappy is because it doesn’t allocate too many resources to running a processes in the background, and by allowing apps to run simultaneously, you eat up those resources. However, if you think this nifty little app will do you some good, you can find it in Cydia which basically means its jailbreak time again. So for those who have lost their faith in all the free apps for the jailbroken iPhone, maybe this one will get you back into the swing of things.

[crunchgear via cellphones etc]

iTunes add-ons: Making iTunes better suited for you

Allan David Reyes — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:36:25 +0000

iTunes, for the most part, is a pretty decent software that allows you to easily manage and transfer all your media content to your iPod and iPhone, but there’s denying that there’s still room for improvement. So, instead of just waiting for the next major version of iTunes to become available, why don’t you try on for sides installing some add-ons to improve your iTunes user experience? Techradar has a rundown of what they consider as some great add-on apps that’ll bring out the best in iTunes.

[via techradar]

More after the break.

One of the add-ons that made it to the list is the Last.fm app. Similar to its iPhone app counterpart, it gives you FM radio capabilities through the internet and likewise furnishes you with a playlist of songs that you may like based on your music collection. Think of it as the basis from which Apple got its idea for the new Genius feature. They also recommend the Magnetosphere visualizer which basically is a better performing version of the new visualizer found in iTunes 8. Both are free, but not all of the add-ons in the list are free. Some are even restricted to just the PC or Mac.

Personally, I find that the Remote app to be the most useful add-on since it gives me the power to control the iTunes on my desktop using my iPod Touch. How about you guys, what add-ons have you come across that you find interesting and worth trying out?

iPhone firmware 2.2 updates mobile Safari browser

Allan David Reyes — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:04:08 +0000

It looks like the Safari browser of the iPhone/iPod Touch is up for some changes when Apple releases firmware 2.2 update. Apparently, the guys at Apple decided to do some minor tweaking to the mobile internet browser by relocating the refresh button to the inside of the url field, and making the whole address bar and search field present at all times. We still don’t know if there are other enhancements coming to mobile Safari, but if those two are already it, it’ll just make navigating to different sites a little bit less time consuming.

While I have nothing against these enhancements, I do wish, however, they include flash support already and that the firmware won’t block sites that allow you to run mini-apps as well. The inclusion of cut/copy/past won’t be so bad either.

[wired, iphoneatlas via engadget]

iPhone JetSet 1.1 app on sale on October 6th

Allan David Reyes — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:43:23 +0000

BriteMac is making their latest version of the JetSet iPhone app, v1.1, available at a special discounted price on October 6. It will just cost $4.99 as opposed to its regular price of $9.99. JetSet is an expense manager app for the iPhone/iPod Touch that looks to be quite well featured. It provides 15 major expense categories neatly arranged through icons with over a 100 subcategories, allows you to attach photos to expenses, and gives you the option to export to Google spreadsheets or Excel. At $5 off, it might be the best time to buy one for yourself if you’ve been looking for a versatile expense manager app. I’ve been using the free Balance app for quite sometime now, and I must say, it’s like a little toddler compared to this full-grown, mature app from BriteMac. Best of all, you don’t need to jailbreak. So what do you guys think, is $4.99 good enough a price for you to buy one for yourself?

[via tuaw]

Release of iPhone 2.2 SDK means iPhone 2.2 Jailbreak not far behind

Allan David Reyes — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:36:55 +0000

Apple has just released iPhone 2.2 Beta 1 SDK for developers which could mean some added features aside fixing some leftover bugs that firmware 2.1 wasn’t able to address. Some of the new features we could probably expect from this new firmware when it does come out are push notifications and some added GPS features. Well that was fast. The Dev Team hasn’t even released the full pwnage tool for iPhone 2.1 jailbreak for Windows, and here comes a new firmware that could debut before the year ends. I guess now they’ll have to start working on iPhone 2.2 jailbreak as well. Anyway, I’m sure that whatever firmware Apple’s capable of dishing out, they can always provide a jailbreak for it.

[via engadget]

China Mobile Wants Chinese iPhone With no 3G or WiFi

BrianB — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:52:37 +0000

The Chinese distributor of the iPhone does not want the iPhone to have fast wireless connectivity. China Mobile, according to the South China Morning Post, does not care for 3G or WiFi. The former is understandable as China has not yet rolled out its own 3G technology. Frederick Wong, BNP Pariba analyst says Apple shouldn’t comply: “Apple shouldn’t customise a model of iPhone for the mainland market, given that it only provides a standardised product to operators around the world.” It is not yet clear why the Chinese would want a WiFi-less and non-3G iPhone. There is an estimated 400,000 already illegally connected to China Mobile.

[via gizmodo]