Looks like we’re having load issues from all the traffic. We’re working it, bear with us! A reminder - no need to refresh this page, the widget updates automatically.
As promised, we’ll be starting up our MetaLiveBlog in just over an hour. We’ll be tracking all them other live blogs and posting updates and our thoughts and commentary real time. A few seconds behind, but way ahead in pithy commentary, eh? We should have one or two quick posts up before the excitement begins, but we’ll move this post back up to the top when it all gets going. Keep an eye out (like you needed us to tell you that).
We’re using the fancy widget above, so no need to refresh the page to get the updates. You can also submit your own comments and thoughts with the widget above and we can publish them as things get going.
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WWDC hasn’t even started yet and the news is already getting crazy. Sling Media, the creator of the Slingbox, is developing an iPhone version of SlingPlayer Mobile that’ll allow your iPhone to stream media via your Slingbox.
For those who don’t know, Slingbox is a TV streaming device that allows users full control of your TV set at home through the internet. It’s basically a combination of technological prowess and fairy dust that enables this VERY sweet product to “just work”. Meaning if you’re a Dodgers Fan on a business trip in the East Coast, you can watch their games as if you were in your own living room. If you saved the season finale of Lost to your PVR, you can watch that too.
Now that convenience is coming to your iPhone. Which is fitting since SlingPlayer Mobile has been available for WinMob, Palm, and Symbian for some time now and we all know none of those platforms offer a screen quite like the iPhone. Though it’s still very, very early in development, Sling has a proof-of-concept version of SlingPlayer Mobile running on jailbroken iPhones.
SlingMedia will also be holding live demonstrations of SlingPlayer Mobile on the iPhone and iPod Touch for those attending WWDC. Their Product Manager Vicky Shum will be at the Starbucks at 120 4th Street, San Francisco (across from the Metreon) between 10am and 4pm Pacific Time on Monday, June 9th. The demo is open to everybody, so if you’re in the bay area for WWDC feel free to check it out!
Thanks MegaZone for the tip and Rob for the heads up!
Our iPhone App Wait-a-Thon has been a smashing success (once we get around to announcing the winners, that is. See the latest batch below). What’s that, you ask? Any time you see a post tagged “Wait-a-Thon,” any comment (with a legit email) is entered into that week’s drawing for a $100 iTunes Gift Certificate. We’re doing it to ease the pain of having to wait for Native Apps on the iPhone 2.0 software update. Go check out the full rules of the App Wait-a-Thon here, and you can always find the latest Wait-a-Thon opportunity here.
Of course, at the time we were expecting that the iPhone 3G would come much later. However, as recent rumors seem to show, it’s likely going to be coming much sooner than we expected. So here’s the deal: in addition to the weekly iTunes giveaway, we are going to give away an iPhone 3G once it’s available!
After the break - the details on how to enter to win the iPhone 3G and winners of a bunch of App Wait-a-Thon contests. Read on!
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The Phone different iPhone Accessories Store is running a special to congratulate us on the big ol merger between the old PD blog and the iPhone Blog. They are marking down 5 different types of cases to 99 cents apiece! Here’s what’s on sale while supplies last:
Marware Sidewinder Holster for iPhone
The sleek Sidewinder Holster from Marware securely holds your iPhone, and also features an innovate sidearm that holds ear buds (with cord management) and optionally Apple’s Bluetooth headset.
Smartphone Experts Holster for iPhone
Smartphone Experts’ engineers have designed the best iPhone holster yet! The iPhone securely snaps into this holster’s rubber interior (the rubber reduces the chances of scratching your device during daily wear), and a large ratcheting swivel clip ensures a snug fit to your belt or purse strap.
Marware SportGrip Backwinder for iPhone
Sport Grip Backwinder for iPhone is the perfect innovative blend of cord management, comfort, and carrying convenience.The sides, top, and bottom of the iPhone are protected by slip-free silicone, while the smooth rubberized backing is rigid and offers a unique backwinding cord management system.
Smartphone Experts Leather Hardcase for iPhone
The Smartphone Experts leather hard case will keep your iPhone protected with its strong impact resistant molded shell wrapped with soft, sleek leather.
Smartphone Experts Metal Cover for iPhone
Unique and colorful, this metal cover will keep your iPhone’s screen protected and scratch free. The iPhone can be placed into the metal cover either face-in or out. If you want to keep your screen protected while it’s in your pocket or purse, just place your phone face-in and the soft velvet cushioned interior will keep the screen scratch free.
…Each case is only 99 Cents! Go find them and more at the iPhone Accessory Store by Phone different.
It’s been a bit slow here at TiPB, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been working behind the scenes for some great stuff for you all. We’re going to a little messy this weekend, so please pardon our dust as we make a few changes here and there. If you can’t help yourself and don’t mind seeing holes in the drywall, you might try stopping by over the weekend to get a hint at the big announcement that’s coming on Monday morning.
Big. Giveaways and whatnot. You’ll see.
God hates me. Nothing else can explain my recent steady string of bad luck. My plans to devote free time to writing, and my entire holiday, were derailed by a bout with food poisoning…or stomach flu (it’s not clear which is the culprit). While most of you were enjoying vast portions of poultry, piled on plates, and devouring drumsticks, I was in bed convalescing. I was struck down Wednesday evening and didn’t fully recover until late Saturday, and by that time my only goal was to salvage what was left of Thanksgiving. On the bright side, illness provided a way of avoiding family. Hallelujah!
So that was my week. Enough ruminating. Now for some good news - I freed up this whole bloody week to devote to blogging…and I am raring to go. Today will be a little spotty due to a couple meetings with clients (you know, that whole job thing), but from then on it’s off to the blogosphere. Provided of course God ceases his campaign to punish me. Was I Hitler in a past life? I thought having Vista running on my PC was punishment enough. sigh
Now, if you’ll all excuse me, I have to see a man about some wallpaper.
In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday here the US, I will be posting content tomorrow and throughout the remainder of this week. How’s that, you ask? Yes…well it seems the only free time I have for writing these days is when not working at my real job. The holiday provides the perfect opportunity to publish a backlog of content and reviews I’ve been hammering out. Plus it gives me something to do while digesting an explosive combination of Turkey and Aunt Clara’s lethally over sweetened cranberry stuffing - killing two birds with one stone, if you’ll excuse pun. So now you have something to cure both boredom and Turkey toxemia while visiting family and friends this week.
I’m still contemplating future plans for this site and whether or not to open it to volunteer contributions. Based on the email responses I’ve gotten most of you favor maintaining the status quo, but with me posting more content. I think you’re all just trying to drive me insane…it’s what I’ve suspected all along. To that end I plan on devoting more time to writing, and less time to work. Homelessness can’t be that bad…can it? We’ll see how this goes. Until then, have a wonderful holiday and be sure to check back here, in between second helpings of Mashed potatoes.
Unlike most professional bloggers, I have a real job (snap!). I work as a self-employed freelance web designer and creative professional. A job that consumes most of my available time that would otherwise be devoted to writing. Since this site was incepted I have run it, literally, with one hand and four fingers tied behind my back. Each post I write is done with one remaining pinky finger, in the span of whatever free minutes I can spare each hour or afternoon. Even as time deprived as I am, I still managed to make this blog one of the most popular iPhone enthusiast destinations on the internets. Not a bad achievement for one person, but still woefully inadequate.
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By now you’re all wondering why I haven’t been posting this week. Well I can dispel the myth of my tragic death in a storm of Judgment day proportions. No, much to my misfortune I was incapacitated by the smallest of all things… a virus. Since Sunday evening I have suffered one of the worst bouts with flu in my young life. This virus comes equipped with all the latest features and options. When not doubled over with excruciating abdominal pains, I’m sitting on a porcelain throne experiencing all the joys of uncontrollable diarrhea. In the few brief moments respite from pain and purging, I suffer delirium as a result of high fever and insatiable fatigue. Needless to say, the past three days have not been fun for this lad.
But the show, or blog as it were, must go on. And on it goes. It is the Captain’s duty to go down with his ship, but the ship should not go down with it’s Captain. I will resume normal posting starting today, which won’t be easy for me since I have a backlog of “my real job” work piled high on my desk. But enough of my whining.
I have setup a petition page to record every feature request made by my readers. This is your chance to speak out and be heard. What features do you want added to iPhone? Visit this link, and post your request in the comments section. I will then add your request to the list. I expect this page to grow long over time, so I placed a permalink in the left sidebar so you’ll always know right where it’s at.
Click here, and post.
