Now MacRumors is rumoring that that is exactly what might be happening in a future firmware:
While we aren’t sure what the specific issues are, we’ve heard that as an alternative Apple is considering allowing apps to run as user selectable background processes. If so, this feature would likely come in the rumored iPhone 3.0 software update but would be limited to only one or two processes on current hardware. The next generation iPhone, however, would likely see less restricted background process support due to its improved hardware.
So how does that work for you, fellow TiPbsters? Better than Push notification? Worse? And is a few user-selectable apps enough? If the next gen iPhone allows more multitasking, is that a compelling reason to upgrade in and of itself?
Our best frenemy forever, CrackBerry Kevin Michaluk was gracious enough to join us on TiPb’s iPhone Live! podcast a while back to talk BlackBerry Storm, so this week I returned the “favor” by invading the CrackBerry.com Podcast to talk all things iPhone (and some Palm Pre):
Here it is folks. Another four-person CrackBerry.com podcast! We had a lot of positive feedback to our last episode, so we went for another humdinger this time around. Joining me and Craig on the crackcast hot seats is Rene Ritchie, Community Editor of our favorite frenemy TheiPhoneBlog.com, along with our Twitter-addicted friend and CB blogger / forums moderator, Adam Zeis.
I had a great time with Kevin, Craig, and Adam, so be sure to check it out for your bonus iPhone fix, and let us know what you think!
What’s the one thing worse than bloggers offering opinions about the likelihood of an Apple vs. Palm patent fight? That’s right! Analysts! (Where’s our magic 8 ball for a dissenting view when we need it?!)
PreCentral.net picks up just such a story on how one analyst thinks Apple’s IP claims against Palm just might be — wait for it! — fruitless:
Though the review of granted and filed patents shows that Apple has a “formidable arsenal of capacitive, multi-touch patents that constitute a nearly impenetrable barrier to entry for companies hoping to commercialize capacitive, multi-touch devices,” Perez-Fernandez also noted that Apple’s key patents may be “invalidated based on prior art considerations if subjected to a review by the USPTO.”
Prior art can trump all, unless Apple’s own early patents, or the ones it acquired from Fingerworks, are the most “prior” of relevant art in question.
Of course, Apple has $30 billion reasons more than Palm for just why it might press its case anyway, even if it’s ultimately unsuccessful…
Been looking for a way to sync todo’s with iCal? Well now you can with the recent beta from Appigo. Appigo Sync is their new tool to sync your Todo tasks with iCal via Wi-Fi on your local wireless network. The tool syncs calendars, but not your contexts, tags, etc. So you can’t add them in iCal, but they are still viewable on the iPhone app.
This is really exciting news for anyone looking for this type of syncing. Personally, I have moved beyond Apple’s todo’s and use Toodledo for my task purposes and Appigo’s Todo just happens to do over-the-air syncing for free with that site; even on EDGE. However, if you still use iCal’s todo feature, this just might be your killer app!
If you are a Windows user, Appigo says they are working on a Windows/Outlook syncing tool as well.
Yes, among the 15,000+ apps in the App Store, there are several file transfer apps available, but having spent some time with File Magic from SplashData, available here in the App Store for $4.99, I can report that it’s easy to use and increases the functionality of your iPhone or iPod Touch. By downloading the FREE desktop app at splashdata.com, you can transfer a myriad of file types from your desktop to your iPhone.
Why is this useful? If you are at work and want to take some files home with you or on the road to view and read, just use the handy desktop app to wirelessly transfer the files to your iPhone or iPod Touch, where they are automatically categorized. Transferring the files couldn’t be easier – just use the drag-and-drop interface on the File Magic Desktop app and the files will “magically” appear on your iPhone File Magic app via your WiFi connection.
Check out the app in the App Store to learn more about it’s features. Whether it’s a matter of taking files with you to review on the road, using your iPhone or iPod Touch to move files from office to home, or even using the app to backup important documents, File Magic handles it well.
Our fearless leader/editor was able to meet some great vendors at Macworld 2009 this year and got a sampling of their products. I am rounding them up in a series of posts, so, let’s take a look at what we have this time!
In this quick review we will be looking at two products: iKear’s Microfiber cloth and cleaning wipes.
This is an awesome cloth for wiping down your iPhone or any other type of device that gets dirty/oily and you want to clean it. The cloth is not moist, but rather easily wipes away any basic grime (I admittedly even use it on my glasses, works like a charm). You can also you use it on trackpads and screens too, and other Apple Products in your life. Don’t wash it in the washer though, to clean, hand-wash with a little soap and air-dry. I love this cloth, very handy!
This single-serving wipes do the trick for your iPhone or MacBook should they ever get “stuff” on them beyond the occasional oil, etc. Simply tear off the top and wipe away. Easy. I keep a few in my bag just in case!
Pros:
Endorsed by Apple and other manufactures!
Doesn’t have ammonia, etc. to ruin your screens (HDTV, iMac, iPhone, Etc)
Pocketable
Cons:
Pricey, but can you really place a price on your screen?
Ridiculously funny exchange between Adam from Gizmodo and the developer of Crackulous — the jailbreak app meant to pirate legitimate apps, see Jeremy’s post this morning — who’s complaining that someone is illegitimately pirating his hard work.
Adam, you are linking to a pirated version of the app. Please link to REMOVED (the official Crackulous site) instead of supporting the pirates in the crackulous article. Thanks.
Are you serious? This isn’t a joke? You’re seriously trying to stop an app designed to pirate apps from being pirated?
No but I need people to support my work… I deserve appreciation.
But the people who have legit apps that Craculous will help pirate don’t? You honestly don’t see the irony here?
PREVIOUSLY: Gizmodo is reporting the dreaded AT&T DATA DOWN! for Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana. Any iPhone users having problems there or thereabouts? Let us — and each other — know in the comments.
The headline says it all, Virtue’s #1 Social Brand of 2008. Steve Jobs scored huge in general, not only with the iPhone at #1 (can’t get tired of typing that!) but Apple at #3 and iPod at #7 and Mac at #16. (Our best frenemies, the BlackBerry, show up at #20, along with Microsoft at #11, and Google, Nokia, and Palm… um… er… Is the list really complete?)
The Vitrue SMI calculates scores about the brand’s social conversations. We apply a series of algorithms to reflect the frequency of usage, the size of the social media environment, and the magnitude of the conversation. The result is a single numeric score for each brand: the Vitrue Social Media Index (SMI).
No, nothing new here. Same story we’ve heard off and on for almost a year now, typically from Kevin Rose. But the internets are all a twitter about it, so for completeness’ sake, here’s the story again from CrunchGear, augmented with the recent iPhone patent grants:
Apparently video recording is mentioned frequently throughout the entire document but a few images and sections explain a video conferencing capable phone.
Yet they, like us, remain cautiously optimistic at best. After all, Apple files tons of patents, is granted quite a few, but only ever ships a very small subset.
Still… I wants it for my iPhone HD. How about you?
