So far, there are no changes to the Maps application for the iPhone. There are some other features that include maps that are new to the 3.0 Firmware though. First, developers can now integrate Google Maps into their application. This is part of the new developer APIs in the 3.0 Software Developer Kit. This should help with some sweet weather or real estate apps.
Another really sweet feature that has to do with mapping is turn-by-turn directions. This is not a feature of the Maps app and also can’t be combined with the Google maps embed feature above. Developers will have to bring their own maps. This has to do with a licensing agreement with Google maps. This opens the door for apps like Tom Tom navigation apps.
Apple has fixed DFU Mode and enabled iPhone notes syncing in the just released Mac OS X 10.5.7, according to an iSpazio report.
With the new Mac OS 10.5.7 DFU mode session are fully functional, which is certainly a good thing! We can also synchronize notes between the iPhone 3.0 and iTunes 8.2 via USB. Take a Look at a screenshot by Mark Sfreddo that shows the ability to synchronize notes in iTunes.
This is great news to everyone out there having trouble using DFU mode. For some reason I never had any. Thank God. Anyway, this will surely help everyone out.
SlingPlayer Mobile allows you to watch and control your home TV and DVR from your iPhone and iPod touch. This is accomplished by using one of SlingMedia’s media devices. Ah, but there’s a gotcha as usual, due to concerns about network congestion, the application will only stream video over Wi-Fi connections and does not support 3G or EDGE.
Our very own NurkJon has released a really handy application for Windows named iUSB Tunnel. iUSB Tunnel makes it truly simple to SSH to your iPhone, tether to your iPhone, and to do many other things all with a simple user-friendly GUI.
iUSB Tunnel is a simple gui that makes it easy to use SSH, VNC and Tethering with your iPhone over usb on a Windows machine. It’s a free liteweight program and portable so you can run it from a usb stick if you want. It comes loaded with WinSCP, Putty, Firefox Portable, iTunnel, TightVNC and UltraVNC so you don’t have to download those programs.
I haven’t had a chance to test this out myself, but I thank NurkJon for releasing this on our own forums and for all of his hard work!
First, the Stocks application gets a new icon. It’s not a total redesign, but they did take off the labels at the bottom of the graph in the icon. Also, the design of the line on the graph has more of a sharp line than curvy. Most of the app is still the same but there are some valuable new features. When tapping on the stock’s units on the right, in green or red, you now get a third option. Not only do you get the percentage and price change, but you get the Mkt Cap. Best of all, there’s a nice new landscape view. It’s a big, full screen graph like the small one in portrait view. Overall, a great update to a simple app from Apple.
I don’t know if you ladies have heard of Sally’s Spa by Games Cafe Inc. if you haven’t…you most definitly want to check it out. Out of all the games I have tested, and that I have on my iPhone for personal use, this is by far my favorite! In the game you are Sally, the owner/operator of a Spa where you;
“Refresh your customers with saunas, manicures, bath bombs, massages, hot stones and more. Enhance the experience of your clients with upgrades for your rapidly growing business. Melt away the stress from a wide variety of customers and personalities including blushing brides, demanding fashionistas, calm couples, and many others! As you build your Spas, earn money to shop for over 65 items including employees to help your Spa business grow!”
Sally’s Spa is a fast-paced, challenging and extremely addicting game. The graphics are amazing and the touch interface perfect. Honestly, I would pay $9.99 for this game. It is normally priced at $4.99 in the App Store however, they are having a Mother’s Day sale right now and you can get it for $0.99 (until Midnight on Mother’s Day)!! You seriously do not want to miss out on this deal. Even you guys that have ladies who pick up your iPhone or iPod Touch and play games…you will totally want to get this one for her!
Below is a video demo of the app…and yes, this is my first video demo so be nice!
Blackberry has regained the title as bestselling U.S. smartphone for the first quarter of 2009, perhaps this will serve as motivation for Apple to make a “lite” version of the iPhone or lower the price even further.
According to data from NPD Group, the top 5 smart phones were:
BlackBerry Curve (all 8300 models)
Apple iPhone
BlackBerry Storm
BlackBerry Pearl
T-Mobile G1
BlackBerry also offers multiple models which are also represented on the top sales list. NPD attributes the surge to a number of factors including aggressive giveaways as well as broader availability of the BlackBerry across the four major U.S. national carriers.
DaringFireball’s John Gruber believes that Apple will model the iPhone product line expansion after the iPod’s:
Apple went on to repeatedly improve upon the iPod in two ways: on the high end by producing new devices with the same shape and price but with new features (additional storage, color screens, larger screens, video, etc.); on the low end by taking the existing features and making them smaller and cheaper.
The reason why Apple did this with the iPod, and why I’m convinced they’ll do it again with the iPhone, is that when it comes to managing the balance between per-unit profit and overall market share, Apple is determined to err on the side of market share.
Gruber notes this plan is very different than Apple’s Mac strategy in the much more mature PC market. He also believes this is the reason why Apple will eventually have to broaden the iPhone’s availability beyond AT&T.
We all have seen the images and watched the keynote highlighting the new features in the upcoming iPhone OS 3.0. To actually see these features working in real world situations required you to be a developer with apple or steal the software and use some hacks to get it working on your device. However, I have been using this software for a few weeks now and I have to say the new feature work well. The video bellow covers a few of these new features including universal search (spotlight) and the new youtube application. I showed MMS as well but while recording I forget to actually show a message being sent. A mistake on my part but I can confirm it works.
This is beta software so bugs are present but we can assume apple will have these issues resolved when the software goes gold later this year. Moving on, my main gripe with the software is its lack of innovation. When it comes down to it 3.0 adds features to the iPhone that should have been present since day one. Rumors and other leaked information have lead to the conclusion that more features will be unveiled when the new iPhone launches sometime later this year which I truly hope is the case. The original iPhone changed the market and the iPhone OS 2.0 introduced an app store every other company is still trying to mimic. Although an improvement, if this is all 3.0 is going to be than I think apple has lost a step.
This post was brought to you by Michael Sherlock, for more of my content why not subscribe to my youtube channel?
I don’t know if you ladies have heard of Sally’s Spa
