Origins of the Apple Iphone

Author: Chris Simpson
Although a detailed history of the development of the Apple iPhone smartphone does not exist yet, analysts and researchers tracing the Apple iPhone’s history have made several educated guesses.

The start of the Apple iPhone might be traced to Apple founder and chief executive officer Steve Jobs decision to do more investigation on touch senstive displays, leading to more interactive tablet computers.

Many have noted the iPhone’s similarity to its predecessor the Newton MessagePad. Although hailed for its groundbreaking handwriting recognition, the Newton was seen by many analysts as one of the leaders in tablet technology, but perhaps it was ahead of its time to find sufficient market acceptance. Nonetheless, there are still Apple enthusiasts still using their Newton tablets to this day.

The Newton was nearly all screen, lacking a keyboard, a similar trait which is to be found in the iPhone. This design feature has been attributed to Apple design head Jonathan Ive.

But Apple did not immediately focus on developing the iPhone, after the launch of the Newton and its successful iMac series of desktop and laptop computers. Instead, it focused its energies on developing the iPod digital music player and the iTunes online music store and community site.

It was only in late 2005 that Apple collaborated with telecom giant Motorola to release the ROKR E1, the first mobile phone to use iTunes.

However, industry insiders say that Steve Jobs felt that the ROKR did not turn out the way he expected. As a result, the Apple and Motorola joint product development did not continue.

Apple meanwhile focused its energies on creating a telecoms device which would play both pictures and video.

Subsequently, it was only at the Macworld convention in early January 2007 that Steve Jobs announced the iPhone, a move that would create an uproar and much expectation in the technology world.

Since then, hundreds of bloggers have posted close to 300,000 blog posts related to the Apple iPhone, which gives an indication of the expected excitment regarding the iPhone’s launch.

Starting with Apple’s memorable “1984? commercial during that year’s Super Bowl, Apple’s products have continued to hold the public captivated and keep them entertained with its unique brand of marketing.

The iPhone looks set to wow on the world stage, just as it has at Apple’s developer conference.

Can the iPhone create a revolution in the cellphone arena?
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Features Of Iphone Bluetooth Headset

Author: Roger Thompson
The recently release Apple iPhone has quickly become one of the most desired cellular phones on the market today. With its upgraded technology, the Apple iPhone requires upgraded accessories as well. One of the most popular accessories for the phone is the iPhone Bluetooth headset which allows users to make and receive calls on their iPhone hands-free without any wires to get in the way. This makes the iPhone Bluetooth headset very desirable to many individuals that have purchased the iPhone.

The design of the iPhone Bluetooth headset is simple and compact, adding to its appeal for the general public. The design is simply a black bar that is about 2 inches long with an earpiece in one end and a microphone in the other end close to the mouth. It features a lightweight earpiece that can easily fit in either the left or right ear and stay securely for extended periods of time. It is operated by a single button that allows users to quickly and simply make and receive calls without fumbling with the phone or finding the numbers to dial. The simplicity of the iPhone Bluetooth headset is what makes many individuals eager to purchase it.

The iPhone Bluetooth headset can allow up to 5 hours of talk time before needed to be recharged and can typically recharge to full power within 1 ½ hours. The iPhone Bluetooth headset comes bundled with a docking station that is used to recharge the headset when needed. The docking station is a dual one that can accompany both the iPhone and the iPhone Bluetooth headset that allows both items to fully charge at the same time. This feature is a lifesaver for individuals that travel, as there is only one item to remember to bring to charge the phone and headset, instead of multiple wires and docking stations.

The iPhone Bluetooth headset has a range of 33 feet, allowing the iPhone to be placed on a desk or central location in the home while freeing the user to move around without having the phone on their person. The call clarity of the headset is crystal clear and many individuals cannot tell whether the individual that they have called are using the headset or the phone to speak to them. Having an iPhone Bluetooth headset makes the experience of having an iPhone even better and easier to use.
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Wireless Lotus Notes on your iPhone from CommonTime

Posted by helen
CommonTime announce support for the Apple iPhone following the yesterdays announcement by Steve Jobs co-founder and CEO of Apple that “ we want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an Software Development Kit in developers’ hands in February.”
BOISE, IDAHO and DERBY, UK– October 19, 2007 – CommonTime announce support for the Apple iPhone following the yesterdays announcement by Steve Jobs co-founder and CEO of Apple that “ we want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an Software Development Kit in developers’ hands in February.”
"We can't say how delighted we are to be coming back home to an Apple device, our very first mNotes product was for the Apple Newton back in 1995, we believed in the platform and loved working with Apple back then . We will have a full mNotes5 solution for the iPhone and a desktop synchronization product for the iPod touch available by summer 2008, this will be a true rich mNotes client with high data fidelity and rich functionality that can really capitalize on the unique usability of the iPhone." said CommonTime CEO, Nigel Mackrill.
Celebrating over a decade delivering world class Lotus Notes Mobility software designed exclusively for the IBM lotus Notes /Domino; CommonTime continues to deliver simplicity, data integrity and functionality with the launch of their latest Beta software mNotes5.
mNotes 5 Beta brings information and communication to your fingertips, with enterprise strength security and device management features designed specifically for individual users. mNotes5 is the software for the next generation of Lotus Notes users.
Download Mnotes5 Beta for free and mobilize the best wireless push email, mobile Instant Messaging solution available for Lotus Notes® on Windows Mobile 5 and 6 devices. For download instructions, Beta release notes, or to learn more about the program, please visit www.commontime.com.
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Apple opens iPhone software

By Kevin Allison
APPLE moved yesterday to placate restless software developers by announcing plans to allow software makers to create programs for its iPhone mobile handset.

The announcement marks a change of tack for Apple, which has long resisted opening its products to outsiders in favour of closed systems in which it controls the features loaded on its hardware.

It is likely to spark a flurry of software development as programmers rush to build applications that take advantage of the iPhone's touch-screen interface and its ability to make calls, browse the internet, and store photos and music.

"You're going to get a lot more applications than you would if you have a closed environment," said Van Baker, an Apple analyst at market research group Gartner.

Such applications could include contact management and other business software - a lack of which has limited the iPhone's appeal to corporate customers, who are among the biggest buyers of smartphone handsets.

In a statement on Apple's website, company co-founder and chief executive Steve Jobs said it planned to provide a development toolkit to outside programmers by February.

"We are excited about creating a vibrant third-party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of applications for users," Mr Jobs said.

Apple has sold more than 1 million iPhones since the handset was launched in June.
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Sony Co-Prosperity Sphere Plans Defense Against iPhone Invasion

By Rob Beschizza
Sony is, according to electronista, under the impression that all it needs to do to counter the iPhone in Japan is allow MP3 file transfers between walkman-branded Sony Ericsson handsets and non-Sony equipment over local carrier KDDI's network.

If this idea—opening up a platform to a single, arbitrarily-selected industry standard that most users take for granted—is enough to get handset makers sleeping easy at night, then there are two possibilities.

Either (a) Sony still controls portable music in Japan and always will. The iPhone is a flash in the pan that obviously requires only token counter-strategery, or (b) the iPhone has already won the war, because despite being only marginally innovative, it operates in a dimensional plane of otherness that competitor executives are mentally incapable of accessing.

I would love to see a room full of besuited executives debating the revolutionary notion of letting people move MP3 files off the phone. Considering that Sony pissed away its global control of the music-player market by not letting its customers play MP3s at all, perhaps it was a very difficult decision to make.

Regardless, there's only one way to beat the iPhone: make a better device, sell it cheaper, and market it more aggressively. Why do some companies think they can build a future trying to shovel bullshit at a market defined by 18- to 40-year old geeks with high disposable incomes?
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Tired Of Smudges On Your iPhone? Get Phone Fingers

by Elena Malykhina
If there was an award for the strangest iPhone accessory ever invented, it would go to the makers of Phone Fingers, hands down (no pun intended). The latex fingers were created specifically for the iPhone's touch screen to prevent smudges and fingerprints. And no, this is not a joke.

Any iPhone owner will tell you that a major disadvantage of having a touch screen-only phone is the smudge factor. Naturally the screen will reflect everything you touched before navigating through the phone's icons. But I wonder how many people would actually resort to wearing black latex finger shields to keep their iPhone screens clean?

Phone Fingers are sold in a bag that contains 25 pieces, guaranteed to last a long time with multiple usage. They cost 9.90 euros, which translates to about $14. What's even more comical is the fact that they come in different sizes: medium for an average-sized index finger and large or extra large for a thumb.

If you want to see how Phone Fingers look, click here. There's even a YouTube video demonstrating the funny accessory.

While I don't see myself ever roaming the streets of New York with my fingers covered in black latex, Phone Fingers could become a signature mark for the most passionate followers. I have a feeling the makers of this accessory intentionally wanted iPhone users to stand out from the crowd.

So what will people come up with next? Perhaps face gear for those who wear makeup so it doesn't smear all over the iPhone's screen when they're making a call.
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AT&T seen getting an iPhone boost

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - When AT&T Inc. reports third-quarter earnings next week, the nation's largest phone company is expected to show strong growth in its wireless business, fueled by sales of the Apple iPhone.
The July-to-September period represents the first full quarter of iPhone sales. The device only became available exclusively from AT&T in the last two days of the second quarter, when 146,000 subscribers activated an iPhone plan.
Since then, Apple Inc. has said more than 1 million iPhones have been sold.
In the third quarter, AT&T is projected to earn 71 cents a share, excluding onetime costs and benefits, or 52 cents a share on a net basis, according to the consensus of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial. Revenue is seen reaching $30.12 billion.
AT&T (T:















41.81, -0.12, -0.3%) is slated to issue results on Tuesday morning.
Bear Stearns predicts AT&T will gain a net 1.88 million wireless customers in the third quarter, with Verizon Wireless trailing at an expected 1.62 million. The brokerage said AT&T and Verizon would especially benefit from weakness at Sprint Nextel Corp. (S:
















17.62, -0.10, -0.6%)
Sprint has already said it would lose 337,000 net postpaid customers, putting its losses in that category at more than 1.03 million over the past five quarters. Postpaid subscribers sign up for annual plans and pay at the end of each month. They are considered the most valuable in the industry.
Just a few weeks ago, Bearn Stearns and other brokerages were estimating that AT&T would gain 1.5 million or fewer wireless customers, but most firms have raised their estimates in expectation of higher iPhone shipments. Apple sharply cut the price of the iPhone in early September.
Bear Stearns said about 40% of iPhone buyers are new customers, many of whom came from other mobile carriers. The rest are current AT&T users who upgraded to the iPhone, the brokerage said.
AT&T is the nation's top mobile carrier in terms of subscribers, with 63.7 million at the end of the second quarter. Yet Verizon Wireless, the joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ:















44.97, -0.29, -0.6%) and Vodafone Group
PLC (VOD:















36.01, +0.05, +0.1%) , generates more revenue from its wireless
business.
The iPhone and wireless aside, investors are expected to focus on growth in AT&T's high-speed Internet and fledgling fiber-television segments. They also hope to see improved trends in the company's local-phone division and corporate-services unit.
For the third quarter, AT&T is forecast to add more than 70,000 customers to its TV service, called U-Verse. The service has more than 100,000 customers and AT&T is rolling it out quickly, but the company faces huge competitors in the cable and satellite industries.
Over the past months the market has been rife with speculation that AT&T might acquire a satellite-TV business - Echostar Communications Inc. or DirecTV - to jumpstart its entry into the television business.
AT&T is making a push into the video market to counter the cable industry's move into the phone business. Every quarter AT&T is losing local-phone customers to cable companies that operate in its territory.
Investors would like to see line losses begin to slow. AT&T could see a 4.1% decline year over year in the number of residential lines in service, BMO Capital Markets forecast.
In the high-speed market, AT&T could add between 400,000 and 500,000 customers, Wall Street firms predict.
Jeffry Bartash is a reporter for MarketWatch in Washington.
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What the iPhone SDK means for open source

Posted by Dana Blankenhorn
In a purely technical sense, news that Apple will offer an iPhone software development kit and allow third-party applications is not an open source story.

This is still a proprietary platform.

But with this move Jobs is admitting that the iPhone is a computer platform, thus subject to computer rules, and that is an important move.

It means the absolute device control AT&T and the other U.S. carriers have exercised must give way. It means that the iPhone is not a phone, and that’s what its competitors, such as the coming GPhone, will be as well.

So what we have is a tipping point, from mobile voice to mobile data. One that will change public attitudes. While people can accept “it’s the network” as an excuse for maintaining voice reliability, they know better when it comes to data.

They have the Internet, the “network of networks,” not (supposedly) under any one carrier’s control, offering fixed monthly service pricing, a comparative gob of bandwidth, with voice as just one of many low-bandwidth applications.

Consumer demand is going to move in this way. Apple’s decision was really defensive, a way to forestall bigger market share losses to Google.

So far AT&T’s contract concessions have been minimal, and the phone has been highly profitable, grabbing market share from rival T-Mobile, forcing Sprint into a limp response, putting pressure on Verizon.

But as mobile service is increasingly defined by the device makers, and mobile devices are increasingly data-driven, can the carriers retain their monopoly control? I doubt it.

In a way, Apple and Google are playing a good-cop, bad-cop routine on the carriers, with Apple as the good cop (you don’t want to be sued) and Google as the bad cop (we’re just going to ignore you).

On TV, suspects who are subjected to this routine eventually crack. Will the carriers?
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Greenpeace slams Apple over 'toxic' iPhone (+ video)

By Matt Greenop
America's Centre for Environmental Health is 'initiating legal action' against Apple Computer after a Greenpeace report found hazardous chemicals and materials it claims are in the hyper-popular iPhone.

The environmental organisation says it conducted tests on 18 internal and external iPhone components and its scientists' findings included toxic brominated compounds in the phone's antenna.

It says materials in the phone violate California law.

Under the state's Proposition 65 law, products that expose consumers to phthalates and chemicals that are reproductive toxins or carcinogens must carry a warning label.

Greenpeace said the tests indicate a mixture of toxic phthalates was found on the coating of the headphone cables.

The fact that the iPhone battery is glued and soldered into the handset, it claimed, hinders recycling efforts.

"It was disappointing to see the first release of the iPhone putting on the market a toxic product," Greenpeace spokesperson Zeina Alhajj said.
"We hope that the next release of the iPhone on a global level will bring us a greener iPhone."
Greenpeace said in a news release that recycling gadgets like the iPhone jeopardises both the environment, and the health of those charged with dismantling them to recycle.

"There is no reason to have these potentially hazardous chemicals in
iPhones" said Michael Green, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Health.

"We expect Apple to reformulate their products to make them safer from cradle to grave, so they don't pose a threat to consumers, workers or the environment."
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Review: Accessorizing the IPhone

By MICHAEL FELBERBAUM
Anyone who owns Apple Inc.'s iPhone knows that it can be mighty difficult to keep the sleek smart phone shining. But is it necessary to shell out more money to keep the gadget in pristine condition?

If you're among the million people who've snatched up the combo iPod-cell phone, the answer is probably yes. The touch screen is used for everything, and all that finger tapping and swiping can make for a bit of an oily mess at the end of the day. It's hard to be hip with a messy status symbol.

But fear not, those few extra bucks will help keep your iPhone looking like new. And early adopters can use the $100 credit they got from Apple as an apology after it cut the price of the 8 gigabyte model to $399 from $599.

The good news: The best set of accessories (for cleanliness and protection) will only set you back about $45.

First pick up Belkin's $13 ClearScreen Overlay — as the name implies, it protects the phone's screen from the daily damage brought on by hours of surfing the Web, talking and texting. It may be worth picking up a few in case of scratches on the overlay that are inevitable over time.

An iPhone case or cover would provide even more protection — and run the risk of wrecking its appearance or making it harder to slide out of a pocket.

Incase Designs' Molded Rubber Case ($30) is a thin but protective skin with a hip pattern. Cutouts in the case also make it easy to access to the camera, touch screen, speakerphone, microphone and dock connector.

Or for an earthy design take a look at Incase's Canvas Fitted Sleeve ($35) that wraps the iPhone in olive canvas. The sleeves also come in pink, black and tan leather for a more sleek and sophisticated look.

IPhone-toting gym-goers have other options. Belkin's Sport Armband ($30) or Incase's Neoprene Sports Case ($35) help keep iPhones dry. Both sport washable and adjustable armbands. The Incase setup is a bit more bulky — with extra material and clips to remove the case from the armband — but does have a cutout for the camera, just in case you stumble upon an interesting sight along your run.

Other accessories do more than protect the iPhone.

While Apple includes a special set of earbuds with the iPhone with a built-in microphone, those looking to use higher-end headphones can do so with Belkin's Headphone Adapter to connect through the iPhone's input jack. For $11, the adapter, which is a bit on the large side, allows you to plug in any set of stereo headphones.

But it doesn't allow for microphone input through your regular headphones. V-Moda's Vibe Duo Earbuds ($100) can fix that, with high-end stereo headphones and built-in microphone and controls for your music.

If you're looking to add a Bluetooth headset to your iPhone, any model should be compatible with the iPhone, but Aliph's Jawbone headset ($120) takes the cake.

Its sleek design matches the iPhone and the sound quality is great. It has military-grade technology that filters out even the loudest background noise. The black, red or silver headset is also comfortable.

Apple's own Bluetooth headset ($130) is a bit sleeker. It does complement the iPhone nicely, but in certain situations it doesn't provide the sound quality that the Jawbone does. The Apple headset does include a dock to charge both the iPhone and the headset, as well as a travel cable that recharges both.

The Jawbone headset boasts up to 6 hours of talk time and up to 120 hours of standby time, where Apple's unit has up to 5 1/2 hours of talk time and up to 72 hours of standby time.

There are hundreds of accessories for the iPhone, and every user has his or her own taste and style to spice up the smart phone. A word of advice: to keep your device sleek and portable, and to save money, keep the accessorizing simple.
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Iphone Reviews And Credibility

by Roger Thompson
When it comes to the matter of reading iphone reviews, it becomes important to establish the credibility of the individual who is writing the review. That is to say, if the reviewer is not qualified to write the review then the review may be without merit. While this may seem like an overly serious assessment of requirements needed to read a review, there needs to be a clear understanding present as to why the potential customer is reading the review in the first place. The primary reason people read a consumer review is to make the proper purchasing decision. Considering that there is a time and monetary commitment required for making the purchase of the iphone, the need to be forewarned and forearmed is vital to many people who are of limited time and resources. In short, they peruse the iphone reviews so as to make sure they are not making an inaccurate purchasing decision.

If the credibility of the review is in question, this will undermine the primary purpose and objective of reading the review in the first place. Of course, there are those who read consumer reviews for entertainment purposes only, but such trite casual reading is also deserved of accuracy in consumer review and reporting. Providing iphone reviews - or any reviews for that matter - should not be treated tritely by the reviewer and there should be a clear and definite attempt to provide a quality review. If not, the previously aforementioned undermining of the review's purpose becomes present.

If there was a genre that movie critics disliked to review it would be the comedy genre. The reason for this is that no matter how much they may dislike a comedy they can not say it was not a funny film if the bulk of the audience is laughing. The purpose of a comedy is to make people laugh and if it does then it succeeds at its purpose.

Similarly, liking or disliking a particular iphone may provide entertaining reading as some iphone reviews may serve a purpose of being little more than a vehicle for humor, but whether a person likes or dislikes the phone is irrelevant unless the liking or disliking is expanded upon to include whether or not the phone delivers on its promised service. Ultimately, this is the most important aspect of the phone - does it work or not and does it provide a functional value in concert with its cost.
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Test iPhone Battery Before Purchase

by Roger Thompson
Testing the iPhone battery is something that requires expertise that the ordinary user of iPhones may not have, which means that one is then dependent on needing to read up reviews of how well or badly does the iPhone battery work. It certainly pays to do some legwork before buying your iPhone as you do not want to end up with something that is going to fall short of your expectations and which may cause you disappointment as well. Thus, before you actually purchase your iPhone makes sure to check out the many reviews that are available regarding the working of the iPhone battery among other features.

No doubt, the specs will show a usage time that is supposed to be excellent though only actual testing will reveal the true picture about how the iPhone battery functions while talking and browsing with your iPhone. Sometimes, you may find that the life of the iPhone battery is not even close to the specifications mentioned in the manual. According to experts that have checked out the Apple iPhone battery life, they found that far from giving 5.5 hours of voice, it actually only did four hours and three minutes of voice, and just three hours and eleven minutes when browsing. This is well below the stated 5.5 hours and so you need to take that into account before considering your iPhone purchase.

A possible reason why the iPhone battery life falls far short of its listed times could be the heavy amount of power that is consumed by its giant screen though it could also be because of improper charging of the battery and also because the batteries them are faulty. In any case, it pays to find out these things well before the actual purchase.

There is no doubting the fact that iPhone testers were less than impressed with the Apple iPhone battery life, and instead of a promised eight hours of talking and six of internet use, according to tests these times were greatly exaggerated and actual battery life was no more than four to five hours, which is what you could expect from smartphones. This is a reason to be concerned because four to five hours of battery light would not serve you if you happened to be on an international journey and were in the air for ten plus hours and needed to talk to someone during the flight. It would also not be very good for watching videos that are sure to drain the iPhone battery sooner than expected.
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iPhone Availability Tracker

by Roger Thompson
Apple has launched a small web application that will let customers check up on iPhone availability at its 164 national retail stores. The Apple retail availability tracker allows iPhone seekers to select their state of residence and then will display a list of Apple retail stores with iPhone availability indicators. If there is a green dot next to your local Apple store, then iPhones are in stock. A red dot indicates that iPhone availability is negative. This simple system is a great way to see iPhone availability without trouble. It is an incredibly user-friendly system that can be used by almost anyone.

Unfortunately, however, Apple plans only to update the tracker system on a nightly basis. This, therefore, means that shoppers might want to supplement the information available on the site by placing a call to the local Apple store just before making the trip. This will ensure iPhone availability and save time and hassle.

A separate section of the Apple retail availability tracker website also informs the iPhone shoppers on how to "get the most out of the iPhone," offering lists of free workshops that cover the basics of the iPhone and beyond. In addition, the Cupertino-based company notes that its One to One members will have easy access to private tutorials on everything from how to sync their iPhone with iTunes, to receiving and sending email and surfing the web. Reservations for these One to One tutorials can be made up to 14 days in advance.

The iPhone retail availability tracker is a great tool made by apple. Informing all potential shoppers on where your product is available is a great idea. Shoppers will be more much more willing to buy products if they know that when they go to buy the product, it will be available.

IPhone availability, though, has not been a huge concern. IPhones have been widely available for all buyers. It has not been too difficult for a desiring customer to find a store with iPhone availability. The quantity of phones available has stayed relatively the same since the release of the iPhone. Also, buyers have not been incredibly fast in purchasing iPhones. It seems that many are willing to wait for the price to drop and for the bugs to be worked out. Therefore, Apple doesn't plan on raising the output of iPhones in the very near future. IPhone availability is good, and buyers are happy. Shortages have not been a concern at all.
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Overview Of Iphone Accessories

by Roger Thompson
Since the iphone has proven to be a widely popular item on the consumer electronic and computer market, it is no surprise that there are a number of iphone accessories that have debuted on the market. Now, some may be dismissive of the advent of the accessories seeing many of the accessories as unnecessary (this, by the way, is a thoroughly inaccurate notion, albeit one held by many who have gradually become cynical consumers). However, there are a number of vital accessories that provide great value to extending the life of the iphone. Granted, the owners of the iphone seriously need to consider taking proper care of the iphone and its accessories in order to maintain the functionality of the iphone.

Iphone accessories are not going to be worth much to you or your iphone's functioning if they are not properly maintained. Simply owning iphone accessories does guarantee that they will perform perfectly. Consider the following: if you leave your iphone accessories by an open window and it rains, the accessories are going to be destroyed. And guess what? It is a destruction of expansive items that could have clearly been easily been avoided. Granted, the example provided is somewhat extreme. (On second thought, it may have already happened a few times by now) There is a moral, however, to the example provided: if you are going to invest into a series of critical accessories, they must be properly taken care of or the money investment on not only the accessories, but the iphone as well will be utterly wasted.

Of course, there will be those who feel that iphone accessories may be somewhat out of their budget of affordability. In order to purchase those items that are needed, one needs to clearly and effectively decide on what accessories are of vital importance to purchase. In other words, the consumer may be looking at a collective of accessories and deeming the collective as too expensive as opposed to making a decision based on eliminating those accessories that are not important to purchase. In order to drive at this decision, one should separate those items that are helpful in the iphone's operation such as battery chargers vs. those items that are not entirely necessary such as carrying cases. Additionally, a scanning of consumer electronics review sites may provide insight into what products to purchase and which ones to avoid.
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Apple distributor warns iPhone hackers

Staff from the Middle East marketing arm and distributor of Apple Computer products Arab Business Machines (ABM) have warned users against buying imported iPhones and ‘unlocking' these using downloaded software.

ABM also confirmed today that iPhone launch plans have not yet been finalised for the UAE market.

Quoting Apple's corporate statement, ABM marketing manager Joe Sfeir said: "Apple has discovered that many of the unauthorised iPhone unlocking programs available on the internet cause irreparable damage to the iPhone's software, which will likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed."

Sfeir added that Apple "strongly discourages users from installing unauthorised unlocking programs on their iPhones", as users who make such unauthorised modifications to the iPhone software violate their software license agreements and void their warranties.

Although not officially launched in the Middle East, imported iPhones have been available here for some time, through online auction sites such as souq.com.
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How to turn your iPod Touch or iPhone on and off

By Jonathan Schlaffer
to Apple to design a device that you can't simply hit the on and off button and expect it to turn off. This fact was lost on some people who purchased the iPhone, pressing the power button does not turn the iPhone or iPod Touch completely off.

Instead, pressing the power button (located on the top of the unit) puts both devices in a standby mode where the display is turned off, kind of like a *gasp* computer, but thinking about it they are like tiny computers.

When the iPhone is in its standby mode, it is still accessing the nearest network and updating your emails, messages you have missed and so forth, this is why its possible to run up a $4,000 bill while overseas with the iPhone.

I don't really know what the iPod Touch does with its standby mode as it doesn't have SMS or the email application but both devices resume quicker from the standby modes than if they are turned off and have to perform a full boot each time.

Also, with the iPod Touch, shutting down completely and starting up again uses a large amount of battery life so I don't recommend doing it unless its going to be sitting on a shelf for a while.

If you are traveling overseas, the iPhone will access foreign network if not turned completely off, to turn either the iPhone or iPod Touch off, first if it isn't on, turn it on then hit the power button at the top of the unit which places it in standby then press and hold the same button for a few seconds until "Slide to turn off" is displayed, slide the slider and it will shut down, a lot like a computer.

Like I said, when you want to turn it back on from being completely off it will take a few seconds to come back on.
This procedure is more important for the iPhone than it is for the iPod Touch.
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More Problems with iPhone and Windows XP

The iPhone from Apple is developing a quite a notorious reputation. Now there seems to be another problem with using Microsoft XP and the new version of iTunes 7.4.3. Don’t get me wrong the phone is amazing, but what a pain in the butt to keep up with.
I would furious with the prompt “iTunes does not support iPhone”. But theres a simple solution. The iPhone requires you to have Apples USB driver, as well as Apple’s mobile device support. Also watch for and get rid of the spastic firewalls and anti-virus programs because they prevent the drivers from installing properly.
Yes the iPhone is a little bit tricky, but once it’s up and running satisfaction immediately sets in. As simple as technology should be, there are its up’s and down’s. We all would just love to be able to have everything just work, but unfortunately we don’t always get our way.
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iPhone Hacks For Firmware 1.1.1 Begin to Surface

By Sean P. Aune
Not that anyone expected the 1.1.1 version of the iPhone firmware to be unhackable, it’s still nice to see the hacks finally starting to appear.
The Unofficial Apple Weblog has been liveblogging their attempts all day, following the steps of the hackers “dinopio” and “Edgan”, and seem to be having some success.
It appears the blogger, Erica Sadun, has managed to get read/write access to the directories of the upgrade, and is working that method still.
Meanwhile, over at the Hackintosh forums, they are working on a solution that uses a TIFF exploit. By opening a TIFF file of their own creation with Mobile Safari, they hope to crash the browser and cause a buffer overflow. If successful, this will allow them to execute the codes they need to to hack the popular phone.
The hacks are all still in process, but seem to be on the right track to getting in.
Of course, this will all be moot once firmware 1.1.2 or 1.2 comes out and breas the hacks again.
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Web 2.0 Vendor Etelos Announces AJAX-Based iPhone Support

Etelos announces a new way for people to access their Customer Relationship Management System - through their iPhone.

"Etelos CRM works great on the iPhone" Etelos CEO Danny Kolke said. "It allows you to get access to your tasks, projects, appointments or any of your other business processes while you're away from the office. It's almost as good as carrying a laptop."

The Etelos CRM suite gives users contact, task, group, sales and project management, as well as group messaging and reporting functionality in one easy-to-use interface that is now compatible with the iPhone's Safari Web browser.
CRM for iPhone is seamlessly integrated with Etelos CRM, which can already be run in Google Apps, Netvibes, Windows Live and Pageflakes.
The iPhone edition is available to Etelos CRM Professional, Enterprise and Developer edition customers immediately. A 24-hour test drive is available to iPhone owners at www.crmforiphone.com.
More than 4,000 businesses have signed up for the existing versions of Etelos CRM. Existing users will be able to access their traditional CRM tools while away from their computer. Note taking, appointment setting and contact management are all easy to use and simple to navigate with Etelos CRM for iPhone.
Etelos CRM for iPhone was designed to offer businesses flexibility and functionality on their iPhone’s Safari Web Browser. Combining powerful functionality such as project management, call logging, appointment management, in-depth reporting and more with easily customizable AJAX-enabled functionality, Etelos CRM for iPhone gives businesses of any size the ability to manage their all of their business processes together. Scalable and easy to customize, Etelos CRM for iPhone helps businesses improve and easily manage their business using the web.
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Apple Iphone; Touch the Best of Multimedia !

Author: Adam Caitlin
It is there to be seen, touched and experienced. Apple iPhone is delivered for the service of mankind. The first glimpse of this mobile gadget makes meaning for those who admire beauty with brain. In an alluringly sophisticated self, Apple iPhone comes to offer magnificent features within its slim profile. It welcomes you with a high resolution, touchscreen display - all along with a bag full of advanced programmes. Be it its enamouring looks or feature laced functionalities, Apple iPhone is ready to make you experience the best of mobility every time!

Enjoy listening to your favourite music tracks with iTunes CoverFlow. An integrated 2.0 MP camera lets you capture moments of your life. The big, high resolution display helps you to enjoy videos and downloads. With all the features within one entity, this calling device is an all-in-one phone replete with several possibilities to indulge in serious entertainment. This quad-band GSM comes equipped with EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi, powerful e-mail client and web browser. The phone comes in 4GB and 8GB versions and offers abundant space to save all your data effortlessly.

Now, after taking a view of the limitless possibilities, it won't be false to state that the calling device from Apple is a mobile phone, an iPod and a mobile Internet communicator- all perfectly juxtaposed to one single entity. Talk of Mac OS X – the all new and powerful operating system,
ready to make you realise many a multimedia dreams. There is no stylus or a keypad, but the phone is assigned with a accelerometer sensor and proximity sensor. A 3.5 inch-wide display screen lets you to browse through the long list of features of this phone. All with the touch of your fingertips. A QWERTY keypad, though virtual, helps the users of this phone to enter data effortlessly.
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France may miss out on iPhone

French newspaper Les Echos reports the relationship between Apple and Orange is not going smoothly.

While there is a suggestion that Apple CEO Steve Jobs took offence when Lombard made the announcement without him, a bigger stumbling block seems to be a French law that prohibits any requirement that a product and a service are purchased together. This threatens Apple's plans for a single iPhone carrier in each geography.

Despite Apple's professed dislike of handset subsidies, one possibility would be to offer an unlocked iPhone in France at a price significantly higher than that of the phone plus two years service. That might have a sufficient deterrent effect without falling foul of the law, but it could also make France the centre of an international grey market in iPhones.

According to Les Echos, a source at Orange said “The risk we are evaluating is that Apple crosses France [off the iPhone list]. We have a plan B. There is still a chance that we have the iPhone, but we are very close to the limit where the company's plan is endangered."
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Japanese Device Challenges iPhone

Apple Inc.'s iPhone may still have the world's heart aflutter, despite a sharp price cut that stiffed early adopters and the recent release of a software update that turned some unlocked iPhones into electronic bricks. But there's more to the world of cell phones than Apple, and users outside Japan are missing out on some of the nicest-looking and most sophisticated phones ever made.

Japanese operator KDDI Corp. laid out the best that Japan's cell-phone industry has to offer at the Ceatec exhibition held this week in Chiba, Japan. Among the handsets attracting the most attention from visitors was the funky-looking Infobar 2, a KDDI handset with cutting-edge features that will hit the market in November for around ¥20,000 (US$172), not including the cost of a service contract.

Inspired by the look of a melting candybar, the Infobar 2 has a 2.6-inch LCD (liquid crystal display) screen that offers resolution of 240 pixels by 400 pixels, a 2-megapixel camera, 100M bytes of internal storage, and a microSD slot for memory cards containing music or other files.

The cost of microSD cards has fallen in step with memory prices. A 2G-byte card now costs around US$20, and prices will continue to fall even as capacities rise over time. That's less storage capacity than the 8G-byte hard disk inside the $399 iPhone, but how many songs can one person listen to during the course of the day, or on vacation?

The Infobar 2, which comes in four color schemes, also has an embedded Felica smart chip for electronic payments. Approximately half of all new phones sold in Japan come with these chips, and Java applets are available that allow Felica-based phones to pay for subway trips and train tickets, as well as make purchases at convenience stores, vending machines, and restaurants.

The Felica system also allows Japanese air travellers who are registered with an airline's frequent-flier program to use their phones in lieu of a boarding pass on domestic flights.

There are similarities between the Infobar 2 and iPhone. For example, both handsets are tied to an operator, allowing tighter integration between the handset and mobile services available to subscribers. But much of the technology used with the Infobar 2 is one or more generations ahead of the iPhone.

Unlike the iPhone, the Infobar 2 doesn't have support for Wi-Fi but with KDDI's CDMA2000-1X EV-DO network, who needs it? Phone users can surf the Internet or send e-mails nearly anywhere in Japan at speeds up to 2.4M bps (bits per second). By comparison, AT&T Wireless Inc., the exclusive provider of the iPhone in the U.S., says the EDGE network used with the iPhone offers average download speeds of 70K bits per second (bps) to 135K bps -- hardly speeds that set your pulse racing.

When users get bored of sending e-mails with the Infobar 2, they can watch digital-television broadcasts. These broadcasts are free and are available across the country, with different channels available in each region. In Tokyo, there are seven channels available to viewers: two from public broadcaster NHK and five commercial channels.

In addition, each television broadcast includes a data stream of related information, such as a ticker of headlines that runs alongside a news broadcast or subtitles for a drama, a handy feature for users prone to leaving their earphones at home.

Of course, Apple's iPhone is more than just a phone: the device is still a music player at heart. But Japanese operators have developed music-download services that outshine the iTunes Store, giving users the option of downloading music directly to their handsets, for example.

Users can access KDDI's Lismo music store from their handsets or their PCs, and the software will synchronize files stored on the two devices when they are connected. You can also copy songs from a CD in your collection to Lismo. And when you change phones, Lismo lets you copy all of your songs to the new handset.

One cool feature of the Lismo service is the search function. You can search by artist or song title, but you can also find a song if you don't know its name or who sings it. Just hum part of the song into your handset and Lismo will match the song you hum with a music file in its database.

Song prices on Lismo, which average about ¥300 to ¥400, are roughly twice what iTunes charges in Japan. But music CDs are generally more expensive here, costing approximately ¥3,000. And song files purchased on Lismo can also be used as ringtones. That's not the case with iTunes: if you want to use a song as an iPhone ringtone you must buy a second file at the same price as the original.

KDDI claims Lismo offers a wider range of Japanese songs than iTunes. That's partly because iTunes does not offer songs from Japanese artists in Sony Corp.'s catalog, which includes many of the best-known and most popular Japanese artists.

Granted, the Infobar 2's design may not be for everybody. Most Japanese cell-phone users prefer clamshell designs, and the Infobar 2 is not available to subscribers of NTT DoCoMo Inc., Japan's largest operator. But that doesn't mean users have to forego these features: Felica, digital television, and music download services like Lismo are available on dozens of handset models that support high-speed 3G (third-generation) networks run by KDDI, DoCoMo, and Softbank Mobile Corp.

Apple and other handset makers outside Japan, as well as mobile operators, have some catching up to do.
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