Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:00AM - By Jared Newman
Word on the Wall Street Journal is that Microsoft is teaming up with Verizon to create an iPhone-like smartphone, complete with a touch screen and apps for sale at the Windows Marketplace. Reportedly, Microsoft will design the software and hardware, then hand the manufacturing off to a third party, kind of like Google does with its Android operating system. This isn’t a surprising rumor, but there’s a twist: USA Today reported that Verizon is in talks with Apple to reel in the iPhone. Could both of these unconfirmed stories pan out? Maybe, but get ready for yet another shocker: BusinessWeek says Verizon and Apple are actually working on an “iPhone lite” and a media pad that only includes Wi-Fi for making calls. With so many crazy rumors packed into such a short period of time, they can’t all pan out. Which one would you like to see the most? [Wall Street Jounal via Engadget]
A Chinese company named CECT has done its very best to bring us the iPhone Nano we’ve all been waiting for, sort of. The m188 looks just like Apple’s creation — minus the branding — but in a shell measuring 3.5 x 1.9 x 0.4 inches (roughly the size of a credit card). The specs aren’t bad, either, with a 2.6-inch touch screen, GPRS connectivity, an MP3/video player, an FM tuner with scheduled recording and a cheap little 640×480 resolution camera. International travelers might enjoy the dual SIM card slots. If you’re interested, head over to BigBoxStore, where $100 gets you this bold exercise in ripping off Apple. [via Technabob]
If Japan is any indication, Skype for iPhone is going live at respective midnights around the globe. The VoIP program is downloadable now in Japan, and should start coming online as each time zone hits 12 a.m. on Tuesday. Early reports say the sound quality is great, and the app itself is absolutely free. Good thing, because nothing’s better than saving a few cell phone minutes here and there when you’re shelling out $30 per month for data. In all seriousness, the app will come in handy for international calls — say goodbye to purchasing SIM cards before a big trip — although PC World says a Wi-Fi connection is required. Blackberry users, don’t fret; your version comes in May. [via Engadget and PC World]
iPhone 3.0 has been officially revealed to the public. The new iPhone 3.0 operating system will include some basic (and some highly demanded) updates that will make using an iPhone easier and more immersive. Here are a few of the changes that the new iPhone 3.0 will feature:
Cut, Copy and Paste. It’s about time! You can now cut/copy/paste between applications on the iPhone OS version 3.0.
Global Search Functionality – allowing you to search your iPhone and all of its apps in one single query bar.
Landscape View Composition – you can now compose emails, text messages and notes while in landscape mode, allowing for a wider keyboard.
Peer-to-Peer Bluetooth – want to share files, contacts and more with your friends? You can now do so via Bluetooth. Welcome to the social.
As more news hits, we’ll post it here. For now, we welcome the new functionality to our iPhones– its about damn time!
This St. Paddy’s day you may want to avoid swigging back those Guinesses, at least until you’ve gotten the scoop on iPhone 3.0. Apple will be previewing its new iPhone OS and a new version of its software development kit at a media event for reporters and bloggers at 10AM. That’s next Tuesday, March 17 for all you non-drinkers. Given that Apple has made recent introductions of new Mac hardware and a new Shuffle via press release, analysts are expecting this event to unveil some exciting and concrete iPhone updates. Some of the new features being speculated include universal search, updated user interface and multimedia messaging. Could this be an indicator that the new iPhone is on its way for June? [Wired]
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 1:30PM - By Jared Newman
The economy’s not so great right now, and getting a new job could be tricky — especially if you got canned for bad behavior in your last gig. So as tempting as it is to play around with that sweet iPhone you got when finances were peachy, it’s probably best to put it away. But if you must, here are 10 apps that should definitely be avoided in the workplace.
Am I the only one who doesn’t really want this? The alleged iPhone prototype is cool and all, but it’s a prototype because the real thing is better. Still, the plastic matte screen and old-school user interface are neat enough, and it must be fun to mess around with accelerometer options, as suggested in the photo above. Best of all, it turns on, makes calls and receives SMSs, though it’s not clear who the service provider would be. To sweeten the deal, the seller is throwing in a second prototype that doesn’t work at all. That’s something I definitely don’t want. Let the biggest Apple fanboy pay a boatload for the pair. [eBay via Engadget]
If you’re still finding the keyboard on the iPhone to be a bit cumbersome (or if you just want to do some actual work on the phone) now you can pair a Bluetooth keyboard with your phone and get your type on big key style. The hack requires you have a jailbroken iPhone, and of course a Bluetooth keyboard. The keyboard function comes as an application, however currently that application isn’t available to the public…so this is all just an evil evil tease. Hopefully the developer (or even better Apple) will make the application available soon for all us bloggers who want to work computer free. [via Wired]
The iPhone has a lot of uses. But one thing it hasn’t been able to do is operate a vehicle, at least until now. Rinspeed, designer of all kinds of crazy concept cars, has developed the iChange for the Geneva Motor Show. The iChange is billed as “the world’s first car whose body adapts to the number of passengers on board.” Sounds pretty comfy for a sleek concept car that looks this cool. The adjustable seats and car ignition can be controlled with an iPhone, leaving the key in the past. Also gone are car doors, and instead, the vehicle’s roof tilts forward for passenger loading. The car is powered by an electric motor that runs on lithium ion batteries, with different configurations for long and short distances. [zoomilife]
