iPhone 3GS

One of the web sites I currently read with regularity is Smashing Magazine. I must say that I enjoy this site a lot and have been learning a lot of things. They recently published an article by Jen Gordon of Clever Twist. The article is entitled “How To Create Your First iPhone Application”. It lists the steps that you need in order to create your first iPhone application.

With the iPhone’s rising popularity, applications for this device are rapidly gaining market share. The great thing about the iPhone is that for the first time there’s a great mobile platform that people really want to use. I’ve been using mobile devices for a long time and I haven’t really seen a great platform that made me want to use my mobile device. In fact I think the Palm OS was the closest thing that did it for me. The sad thing is Palm’s development stagnated until recently with the introduction of the Palm Pre. We’ll see how that goes.

As of now the iPhone/iPod Touch is the mobile device to beat. So more and more people are getting interested in developing for it. I’ve read the article and here are some of the things pointed out.

A great idea is the most important aspect. No matter how good a designer or developer you are without a great idea your skills will just not be enough.

Assemble the things that you need to build the application. This goes both for the hardware and the manpower. Ask yourself, “What am I good at? What can I bring to the table?” and based on that assemble the other pieces that you need to build the application. Apart from the manpower you’ll need the tools such as a membership to the iPhone Developer Program, an iPhone or iPod touch, software such as Xcode, etc.

Learn the iPhone/iPod Touch OS and UI. There are a lot of great reads at the Apple Developer web site. This requires a membership though.

Other things that you need to do are upload it to iTunes and have your app approved and a have marketing plan to promote your app.

Like I said, the iPhone OS is a great platform that will surely become more popular in the years to come. More and more people are using it, the apps are getting better and better. So if you think you have that next great idea that you think will make for a good application get started and make it happen. Who knows, it might be your ticket to fame and fortune.

Read the complete article here.

Post from: EveryJoe

Steps To Creating Your First iPhone App

Image: Trimble Outdoors

The application complements a variety of outdoor activities, including walking, running, hiking, cycling, mountain biking and snowboarding.

After downloading AllSport GPS, you can:

• Begin a new fitness routine or maintain your existing workout plan
• Track exercise activity by monitoring time, speed, calories burned, and distance traveled during outdoor workouts
• Download map images and recommended routes to your iPhone
• View performance statistics and real-time information
• Store favorite outdoor workout routes
• Share fitness progress with friends and family

You can interrupt your workout if you get a call and then resume the app. You can also listen to your favorite music while running the AllSport GPS app through the iPod feature on your iPhone.

Furthermore, you can analyze your workouts, upload workout plans and check out customized trips taken by others on the Trimble Outdoors website.

You can the AllSport GPS app for $9.99 through the Health & Fitness category in the Apple iPhone App Store or online through iTunes.

Image: Trimble Outdoors

Post from: EveryJoe

AllSport GPS iPhone App

I have to say, it’s really fast. The apps are much more responsive. It really helps the UI. The only problem I saw was when I was exiting from the video camera application, it took a few seconds from pressing the home button to getting it to the home screen.

From the outside it looks every bit the same as the iPhone 3G. For the untrained eye, it’s almost indistinguishable. There’s a subtle difference as to how the text on the back is treated/rendered but it’s hardly noticeable if you don’t really compare it. Is having the same design good or bad? Well Apple really evolves their products rather than changing them drastically. A product goes through several cycles and improvements before a major design change is actually done. Even with the 1st gen iPhone, compared to the 3G and 3GS it is different but you can see the evolution of the design. I like the design of the 3G/3GS so I’m not complaining that they look similar. It’s what’s under the hood that’s important.

I can give you the specs but why waste my blog entry on that. You can just click here to see the full specs as well as a comparison to the 3G.

I love the new camera application. The 3MP camera isn’t the best in class, it’s so so but the ease of use of the application plus the tap to focus makes it an excellent app. I also love the video camera. The editing feature as simple as it may be is great. I’m amazed at how easy Apple makes it. It’s also a great space saver since you can trim video straight from the iPhone.

The compass is a nice feature but I don’t think I’ll have much use for it yet. However that being said, when developers start rolling out augmented reality applications such as this one (via AppleInsider), things will get pretty interesting.

The iPhone 3GS, like it’s predecessor is a solid phone. The 3.0 version of the software makes it even better with copy and paste, MMS support, landscape keyboard and a whole lot of other features. However it’s not with out flaws.

The biggest complain I have is it’s crappy battery life. At least for some people, my brother included the iPhone 3GS has dismal battery life. Now whether it’s a hardware flaw or software, the jury is still out on that one. That being said a phone that can’t hold a charge for one day of use is severely lacking in my book. Good thing the 3GS has a lot of great features that just slightly edges out this problem.

Another is what some people report as excessive heating. I haven’t seen this in the brief time I spent with the 3GS. So this might be dependent on use and the unit. The jury is also still out on that one.

Summing it up, I like the 3GS. If Apple comes up with software or hardware fixes to improve the battery life, I’m getting one. I think I’ve reached a point wherein an iPhone makes sense to me. This coming from an Apple fan boy. I’ve loved the iPhone before but not enough to ditch my iPod Touch/Nokia e71 combo. I think I’m ready to ditch the touch and most likely use the e71 as a backup once Apple addresses the battery issues.

Post from: EveryJoe

iPhone 3GS Impressions

iPhone 3G S image courtesy of Apple

There were still people who camped out at stores. Just not in the volumes previously witnessed.

A couple of days ago, the 3.0 version of the iPhone OS was made available. This upgrade brings a lot of the feature of the 3G S to the previous models of the iPhone. The most sought after feature of the new OS is the addition of copy/paste. Finally! Welcome additions as well are SMS forwarding, tethering, spotlight search, etc.

Read about the launch of the iPhone 3G S here. Apple’s official press release can be found here.

Post from: EveryJoe

iPhone 3G S Debuts With Little Fanfare

Apple took the wraps off some high-profile new products at the WorldWide Developer’s Conference in San Jose. Chief among them was the next upgrade in the iPhone, the iPhone 3Gs. The 3Gs is being touted as up to twice as fast as the iPhone 3G,with longer battery life, a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus, video recording, and hands-free voice control. A ton of new capabilities are built into it. The 16 gigabyte iPhone 3Gs retails for $199, with a 32 GB model for $299.

Also today, the iPhone 3G, the last generation 8 GB model, is available for an incredible $99.

Apple also unveiled updates to the MacBook, a brand new version of the company’s free web browser Safari, and the upcoming latest version of OS X, Snow Leopard, which will be available to Leopard users for just $29.

Images: Copyright 2009 ©Apple Inc.

Post from: EveryJoe

Apple unveils iPhone 3Gs, new MacBooks

[image courtesy of Information Appliances Associates]

Sometimes the it’s the simple things in life that give the greatest pleasure. That also translates to apps. Great apps don’t have to be complex.

This is true with the new game from Information Appliances Associates. Puzzlicious is a simple puzzle game but it’s quite addicting. Basically, the app grabs a picture from Picasa or your iPhone/iPod Touch’s photo library and creates a jigsaw puzzle out of it. You drag the pieces around until you complete it. There’s a time limit so you’re racing against time. It’s that simple and yet, it’s one of the enjoyable games I’ve played lately. The game lends itself perfectly to the iPhone interface.

It’s perfect for relaxing because it’s not terribly difficult to play. It stimulates your mind and so it’s not just a mindless game. Since it’s grabbing pics from Picasa, the images are a plenty. Chances are you will have a different image every time you play.

You can adjust the number of pieces and the time limit to make it easier or difficult.

Puzzlicious is 99 cents, there’s a lite version which has some limitations. But really, at 99 cents, you can’t go wrong. Go out and buy the app. It’s definitely worth the 99 cents.

For the next versions, I’d like to see puzzles that are cut in different shapes, not just the rectangle/square one currently available. Also I’d like to be able to rotate the pieces to fit them together. Now that would be challenging!

Download Puzzlicious from iTunes

Post from: EveryJoe

Puzzlicious: Endless Fun for A Buck

The program is a high-tech etch-a-sketch. You can draw on the iPhone using your fingers and then shake the device to erase it.

He’s fluent in a number of programming language. At the age of 9 I could barely cope with the english language, much less programming languages. He’s the man!

Read the original article from Reuters here.

Post from: EveryJoe

I Wanna Be Like Lim

InternetSafety.com introduces Safe Eyes Mobile, an internet filtering software for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It blocks inappropriate content but still allowing you to view the rest of the World Wide Web. You don’t need to turn off all the browsing capabilities of your mobile device.

Below is the official press release about this product.

New ‘Safe Eyes Mobile’ Delivers First Internet Filter for Apple iPhone,
Keeping Browsing Safe for Younger Users

Selectively Blocks Inappropriate Content in Multiple Categories

InternetSafety.com today dialed up safe online browsing for young Apple iPhone users with the introduction of Safe Eyes® Mobile, the first Internet filtering software enabling parents to protect children from exposure to objectionable Internet material on a mobile device. This new browser for the iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod Touch blocks millions of pages of inappropriate online content while allowing full access to the rest of the Web, eliminating the need to turn off the iPhone’s highly acclaimed mobile browsing feature to avoid exposing children to the unsavory side of the Internet.

A demo is available at www.safeeyes.com/iphonedemo.

Using the same approach as the company’s award-winning Safe Eyes software for PCs and Macs, Safe Eyes Mobile works by checking requested websites against a massive blacklist of potentially objectionable Web addresses that is updated on a daily basis. It prevents iPhone/iTouch access to pages in the pornography, nudity, sex and tasteless/gross categories by default. Parents can also configure the software to filter sites in 31 other categories as well as by URL at www.safeeyes.com.

In contrast, the iPhone itself can control Internet browsing only by blocking Web access entirely, while AT&T’s wireless MEdia Net Parental Controls do not work on the iPhone at all. Safe Eyes Mobile filtering works on both the AT&T cellular network and individual Wi-Fi networks to which the iPhone automatically connects when in range.

“iPhones are becoming the new youth status symbol, with some surveys reporting that as many as 8% of U.S. teenagers own one. That presents a major challenge for parents who believe it is vital to manage their children’s Internet browsing,” said Aaron Kenny, CTO of InternetSafety.com. “Safe Eyes Mobile is the first solution to address the problem without an all-or-nothing approach. If kids try to reach an objectionable website, the software simply blocks it. It’s a safety net that protects younger users without disabling one of the iPhone’s best features: the Internet.”

Safe Eyes Mobile has no noticeable effect on iPhone performance. In addition, the solution cannot be overridden by children because it is controlled from the Safe Eyes website with password-protected setup.

To learn more and sign up to be notified of a release date, visit www.safeeyes.com/iphone. Per-phone pricing will include automatic daily updates of the product’s website blacklist.

About InternetSafety.com
Established in 1999, InternetSafety.com™ specializes in providing Internet safety solutions. Its flagship software, Safe Eyes®, is the two-time recipient of the PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award, earned a separate Editor’s Choice Award from LAPTOP magazine, and was rated as the #1 parental control solution by America’s leading consumer advocacy publication. The company’s Safe Eyes, Safe Eyes Mobile and EtherShield products provide online protection for consumers and businesses in more than 140 countries.

Post from: EveryJoe

Safe Mobile Browsing

I posted about the WordPress app for the iPhone and iPod Touch awhile back. Unfortunately the WordPress version we’re using for The After Mac wasn’t a version that was supported by the mobile app.

b5media, upgrade the WordPress versions of the blogs, hence I can now post via the mobile app. Woohoo!

I’ll post a better review about the app tom.

Post from: EveryJoe

Finally I’m Able To Blog From My iPod Touch

[image courtesy of Apple]

[via CNET]

Apple had a rocky road at times with the iPhone in 2008, but it finished the year having turned its first phone into its most important product. The iPhone began the year as a gadget status symbol in four countries and ended the year as the world’s second-best-selling smartphone, putting Apple in perhaps the best financial shape in the tech industry as the world entered a severe economic downturn.

2008 truly has been the year for the iPhone. Looking back this is the year that Apple’s new jewel made its mark not only with Apple fanboys but in the mobile world.

With the help of the App Store, the iPhone made significant inroads into the territory of companies such as Nokia, RIM, etc. The third quarter saw the iPhone selling more units than RIM’s Blackberry as well as Windows Smartphones. For a phone that’s only been around for a couple of years, that’s quite an achievement.

The App Store was a huge success driving a lot of developers to make applications. Over 10,000 made its way to the App Store. Even if most of them are 99 cent applications. Never have we seen something like it.

The iPhone is not the best phone. It’s hard to text message, there are some basic features such as MMS and copy/paste that are still missing but it is a great mobile computing platform. In the age of the internet that’s something that makes up for it’s short comings as a phone.

This is also the year that the iPhone made its way around the Globe. Opening up a whole lot of new territory for Apple to spread iPhone love.

2008 is certainly the year of the iPhone.

Read the CNET article here.

Post from: EveryJoe

2008: The Year of the iPhone