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Posts with tag iphone

Slim Down Your Wallet By Scanning Its Contents Into Your iPhone

Replace your Wallet with your iPhoneWith all the high-tech toys and gadgets we carry around every day, there's one thing that's always seems to drag us back to the twentieth century: the wallet. Whether it's made of leather or vinyl or even Tyvek, the wallet feels incredibly dated and often quite bloated-- especially when over-stuffed with faded and torn membership cards. It creates an unsightly bulge that's even more pronounced with the smaller and shorter summer clothes most of us are about to start wearing

For one enterprising blogger, the solution to the overstufed, George-Costanza-style wallet is an iPhone. Albert Alberts used his scanner to digitally replicate many of his membership cards. He then created an album called WalletCards on his iPhone and loaded the images of the cards in. Surprisingly, most establishments had no problem accepting the copied cards, and bar code scanners even read them.

Naturally you won't be able to replace anything that relies on a magnetic strip or embedded RFID chip, but if you can replace everything else, you might that this trick could help you slim down that beat wallet by a good margin -- just don't try it with your driver's license. [Source: Lifehacker]

More "Leaked" 3G iPhone Shots Hit the Web


For those that need to be in the know about the very latest supposedly-leaked 3G iPhone shots that hit the web this week, we've got you covered -- but we're not convinced, especially of the device on the right. The shots on the left do at least seem to be crafted around those supposed size and shape leaks we saw the other day though, so bonus points there for playing into another current rumor to rack up a small bit of credibility. Still, in our best Rick James voice, Photoshop's a hell of a tool.

Read - Left four shots appear on Chinese phone forum
Read - Shot on the right from AppleInsider

Best iPhone Accessories

Chances are, you treat your iPhone better than you treat your children. You lavish it with attention, show it off to friends, and rub its underside when its battery is low. It sleeps next to you, and turning it on is your first order of business in the morning. So why not make it happy with some top-notch accessories? We've compiled a list of the best in every category -- and make your iPhone love you as much as you love it. Freak.



Best Case:

incase Slider

We've put quite a few cases on our iPhones, and there's a clear winner: incase's Slider ($34.99). It's ultra slim and made of quality, hardshell plastic -- something not the case with most of its competition (no pun intended), which quite drastically change the silhouette of the phone. On the inside are rubber guardrails, which provide shock absorption, and the bottom cover is removable, making it fit easily in most docks (the device is actually thin enough that it fit in all of our docks as-is). And then, of course, there are the looks: It's shiny, black or white Storm Trooper plastic that just looks awesome. It sounds crazy, but we like the way our iPhone looks more with the case on than without it. (And incase just released a black matte version if a more understated, non-Storm-Trooper look is more up your alley.)

Is This the New iPhone?

Well here's an interesting one. French iPhone blog iPhon.fr got these pics from an anonymous and unverified source, and while there's no way of telling if the shots are legit, they certainly have a truthy ring to them. They follow what we know so far about the shape, size and color of the upcoming 3G iPhone, and while there's always the possibility of knockoff, a Photoshop job, or some other evil plot to mislead us, we're certainly not going to discount these shots entirely in the runup to iPhone's second coming. [Source: iPhone.fr]

[Thanks, Janvier]

Top Six iPhone Accessories

Chances are, you treat your iPhone better than you treat your children. You lavish it with attention, show it off to friends, and rub its underside when its battery is low. It sleeps next to you, and turning it on is your first order of business in the morning. So why not make it happy with some top-notch accessories? We've compiled a list of the best in every category -- and make your iPhone love you as much as you love it. Freak.



Best Case:

incase Slider

We've put quite a few cases on our iPhones, and there's a clear winner: incase's Slider ($34.99). It's ultra slim and made of quality, hardshell plastic -- something not the case with most of its competition (no pun intended), which quite drastically change the silhouette of the phone. On the inside are rubber guardrails, which provide shock absorption, and the bottom cover is removable, making it fit easily in most docks (the device is actually thin enough that it fit in all of our docks as-is). And then, of course, there are the looks: It's shiny, black or white Storm Trooper plastic that just looks awesome. It sounds crazy, but we like the way our iPhone looks more with the case on than without it. (And incase just released a black matte version if a more understated, non-Storm-Trooper look is more up your alley.)

3G iPhone to Be Discounted to $199 by AT&T?


According to Fortune, AT&T will subsidize the cost of the new, 3G iPhone by as much as $200, bringing the price within the $199 range. Apparently, a "person familiar with the strategy" claims that the provider will create this bargain bonanza for customers signing new, two-year contracts. Of course, the author of the story also says that the new phones will be available in "8-gigabit-memory and... 16-gigabit-memory" versions (for $399 and $499, respectively), so take that as you like.

In addition to these discounts, the source says the new iPhone will be 2.5mm thinner than the previous iteration, although we understand that right after telling Fortune this information, the "person" burst into a cloud of rainbow-colored sparkles and went flying off into the night sky. [Source: Fortune]

[Thanks, Penny]

iPhone Finally Coming to Canada


It seemed like it would never happen, but the impossible has occurred: Apple's iPhone is coming to Canada. The news was quietly slipped into telecom giant Rogers' latest earnings report, with the simple statement that the company was "thrilled to announce" a "deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year." Apparently, lips are sealed on all other details, but we'll keep you posted as news gets our way. [Source: PR Newswire]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Evidence of 3G iPhone in Software Update?

Evidence of 3G iPhone in Software Update?
Intrepid geeks have dug up an intriguing bit of code buried deep in the confines of the latest iPhone software update. Rooting through millions of lines of code revealed reference to "SGOLD3," which very well may be a reference to the follow up to the S-GOLD2 chip from Infineon that powers the current iPhone.

S-GOLD3 is a 3G cell phone chip capable of downloading data at 7.2 megabits per second, about three dozen times faster than the current EDGE network the iPhone is saddled with. Currently AT&T's network is only capable of 3.6 megabits down, but that is plenty fast for a truly rich internet browsing experience.

The chip also adds support for higher resolution cameras (5 megapixels instead of 2) and an SD/MMC slot. This just adds to the mounting evidence that an iPhone with a blazing fast 3G data connection is right around the corner.

From Engadget


More iTunes Fitness Apps and Gadgets Due From Apple

Patents
Apple seems to think you're all a bunch of fat asses who need to get more exercise. Frankly, we're inclined to agree, you have been looking a little soft around the middle lately.

Apple has already teamed with Nike on iPod and running shoe packages, and unveiled a plan to put iPod docks in treadmills for saving workout data, now a new patent reveals the boys in Cupertino may be working on a full fledged fitness program and accompanying hardware.

Sensors will record heart rate and other physiological information to be loaded into an accompanying iTunes like fitness software platform. You'll be able to set goals, track achievements, even create custom work out routines based on your goals and interests.

The software will "interview" users to gather information such whether you want to lose weight, or just tone up, if you wish to be very active, or only moderately active, and what activities you'll enjoy (such as martial arts, yoga, or marathon running). The app will work with your iPod Touch or iPhone to give you work out plans and collect data while your at the gym.

Check out AppleInsider for all the mock ups of what will likely be known as iFit.

From AppleInsider

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Faster 3G iPhone Coming Within Three Months

3G iPhone Coming Within

When it comes to gadgets, it seems there always has to be a fly in the ointment. For the iPhone, it's slow network speed. Yes, the device is a lovely piece of kit, with a smooth, functional UI (user interface) and a nice form-factor, but -- due to the slower AT&T EDGE network -- it doesn't deliver the speeds for Web surfing or e-mail downloading that competing 3G phones offer.

As a result, even since the iPhone's launch, there's been talk of a 3G version of the phone, which would offer considerably faster downloads. It's been mostly rumors, but now we have a pretty clear indication that the 3G iPhone will be out by this summer. That's because earlier this week, AT&T's Mobility CEO spilled the beans at a press event and told reporters that all of AT&T's smart devices would be offered in 3G flavors within the next three months, including the iPhone.

So, faster iPhones are good news, right? Yes, but there's still a catch: You won't be able to upgrade your current phones. If you took the plunge as an early adopter, or even if you waited a good six months before buying in, you're still going to be stuck with slower speeds than those who waited until this summer. Alas, those are the breaks.

But this is great news for anyone who held off on buying an iPhone, which is still most people. To those people, we would say wait until this summer before you plunk down any cash for an iPhone.

From TUAW

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Flip Version of iPhone Revealed By Apple Patent?

iPhone Flip Revealed by Apple Patent?

It's been awhile since the iPhone rocked the mobile world with its simple aesthetics, supple user interface, and overwhelming media hype. The buzz has been silenced as people have long-since settled into the day-to-day routine with their gadgets, but a recently uncovered patent application by Apple indicates that the now familiar iPhone could have looked quite a bit differently at release, or may hint at a second, smaller flip iPhone that's still in the pipeline for some future release.

The patent application pictured above shows what is called a dual-sided touchpad. It's a translucent touchpad that would flip up, clamshell-style, to protect the screen of the phone, though you could still control the phone with the phone closed. For more touch-intensive apps, you could flip it open and use the inside of the touchpad with your index finger.

It looks like a great way to interact with a relatively small-screened device, while also protecting the screen from scratches and from fingerprints. What we don't know, though, is whether this was just an idea that proved impossible to implement or is a device that is, right this very moment, going through the rigors of refinement and testing prior to release.

We probably won't have an answer to that until one of these shows up in the hand of Steve Jobs held high at some Apple event or another. One thing's for sure: Fantasy or reality, we're flipping for this dream of an iPhone.

From Engadget and Unwired View

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BlackBerrys Getting Music Download Service

BlackBerry Phones Getting Music Download ServiceJust a few years ago the smart phone was a something only the slightly geeky business professionals of the world would carry, usually by clipping the bulky monstrosities onto their belts for all to see. Today, though, with slim and pocketable smart phones like Apple's iPhone and the HTC Touch, the devices have started to shrug off their professional manners and start to live it up a little. The BlackBerry line, the first truly popular smart phone, is still about the stuffiest out there, but is getting a bit more laid back with the announcement of a custom music store tailored just for the e-mail pushing devices.

The service, from a company called Puretracks, will launch in April and will let BlackBerry users do something that the usually enviable iPhone users can't: Download tracks from anywhere they can get a signal. The Puretracks store will available via the cellular network, while, at best, you can only connect to iTunes from your iPhone via a localized Wi-Fi signal. The BlackBerry will be able to access Wi-Fi as well for faster downloads, but if you're on the go you'll still have the ability to get the latest Project Jenny Project Jan album while you're in the back of a cab on your way to the airport.

No word on just what pricing will look like for the new service, but expect to pay a bit of a premium over iTunes' offerings.

From Engadget Mobile

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Corporate Email Coming to iPhone - Look Out BlackBerry!

The Apple iPhone, soon to be corporate email capable.
One of the biggest knocks against the iPhone has been its inability to handle enterprise email, which is how companies manage the email that is delivered to employees who, for example, use Blackberry's as their smartphones. That's changing now, as Apple today announced it will support the "push" e-mail systems necessary for corporate email to show up on their popular phone and music-playing devices.

People have, of course, been using iPhones for email reading and writing since they were launched last year -- but it's been of the individual Web account variety, typified by Google's Gmail service.

With this new advancement, expect to see more and more people using iPhones for business purposes. That's good news if you're an iPhone user and have been eager to ditch your work-supplied BlackBerry. This isn't great news if you're BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion, which until now has dominated the workplace handheld market.

The release of the iPhone 2.0 software in June will include support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to provide secure, over-the-air push email, contacts and calendars. The software beta will be available to users by the end of June, so companies can start integrating the application into their systems and get things started with their employees.

The software rollout doesn't mean everyone will immediately be able to use their iPhones for work. Developers will still have to set the systems up for each business and an annual fee will apply to each user who wants the service on his or her iPhone. Still, expect to see many BlackBerry's disappear from workers' belt clips this summer, as Apple continues to be the hot alternative for mobile connectivity.

To read the entire transcript from the Apple event, click here.

From Engadget.

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Games and Apps Coming to iPhone, Including AIM and Spore

Piles of Games and Apps Coming to iPhone
Today Apple officially unveiled its anticipated iPhone / iPod Touch SDK (software development kit) that will allow third parties to create applications that take full advantage of those devices' capabilities without all the hacking. A whole host of applications and games will be available via the "App Store" either on your iPod Touch or iPhone or in iTunes when it launches in June as part of the iPhone 2.0 software update.

On the productivity side, Salesforce.com and AOL are working on applications for the devices. Salesforce will be offering an iPhone-specific interface for its customer relationship manager and sales tracking software for the mobile professionals, and AOL will offer a version of its ubiquitous AIM instant messaging application.

But if AIM wasn't enough to excite you, then check out the games. Apple developers threw together a quick demo called 'Touch Fighter,' a fully 3D space fighter game. Your craft is controlled by turning and tilting the handheld and you fire weapons by touching the screen. Sega is also getting in on the accelerometer-controlled gaming with a version of the popular (and quite addictive) 'Super Monkey Ball.'

But most exciting is the announcement of a version of the highly anticipated EA title 'Spore' from god-game guru Will Wright, creator of 'The Sims' and 'Sim City.'

Apps and games will vary in price, set by the developer. The software update to unlock these features will hit in June for free on the iPhone, and for a "nominal charge" on the Touch.

From Engadget

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University Lets Students Trade Windows Laptops for MacBooks

Oklahoma Christian University Will Let Students Trade in Windows Laptops for MacBooks
Oklahoma Christian University (OC) is the latest in a long line of schools to get on the Apple bandwagon. Handing out new MacBooks to incoming students is hardly unique, but this new exchange program is.

Most of these programs are for new students only, but OC will offer current students an opportunity to trade in their Windows laptops for brand new Apple machines. And if that isn't enough, students will also be offered an iPhone or iPod touch.

OC's Apple hocking programs and campus-wide Wi-Fi put the university at the cutting edge of technology and education, so we're big fans.

From TUAW

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