Design

A patent recently made available (filed in 2006) shows plans by Apple to implement a mobile ordering system. To what this could be applied is endless and could foster a widespread adoption of wireless payments. To go with this, Phil Lu had created a concept of what such a system would look like.

What’s amazing is that Phil designed this concept long before the patent was publicized. This does not detract from it but is very accurate of what an Apple/Starbucks partnership would entail. The concept created by Phil uses a Semacode to authenticate orders which works as a digital receipt.

As of now, Starbucks is rolling out free Wi-Fi for iPhone and iPod Touch owners to use the iTunes store. it’s possible Apple could expand on this.

Via: Gizmodo

For those who just are not satisfied with having a great phone (as if the iPhone were a mediocre phone), there is something that is even better than a gold plated phone. That is right, there is now such a thing as a platinum plated iPhone. This gives a brand new level of meaning to “OMG! I scratched my iPhone!” Because for some it will now be “OMG! I scratched my $2230, Platinum Plated iPhone!” Yep, just in case you did not catch the price, the metallic phone will run the average consumer about $2230. $2230, Seriously! Goldstriker International is the company you will want to go to to purchase the metal beauty. At least now you can take your bragging rights to the next level, Oh wait… you got mugged? So sorry for your loss.

[via Gizmodo]

In order to prevent consumers from getting handsets replaced when they intentionally abuse it or violate the warranty, manufacturers have implemented some very crafty tricks to easily tell whether or not it was damaged in the way described. The most popular is a sticker that detects water damage by turning red and is a tell tale sign of violating your warranty. Normally they are located under the battery cover but when it comes to the iPhone it’s not so easy to take out the battery so what would the next best place be?

The headphone jack of course, at least that is what Hard Mac (the English translation of Le Macbidouille) is saying. If you look carefully in the headphone jack, you’ll notice a silvery white disk and if it comes in contact with water, it should turn red and upon inspection by someone from Apple or AT&T, your warranty will be voided if your iPhone is malfunctioning for any reason. You might be able to get a sympathetic Genius at an Apple retail store who knows that even though it looks like your iPhone was water damaged, it still… more...

I am not a fan of cases that cover my iPhone. I prefer a case in which I can slide my iPhone in when not in use and slide back out when I need it. A friend of mine let me try out his new, appropriately named “Showcase”, for his iPhone and I must say, it isn’t bad.

Thanks to designs that provide good protection without hurting the iPhone’s own attractive surfaces—hence the name Showcase. The Showcase for iPhone is a clear-plastic shell with a thin layer of black-rubber around the edges. To put the case on your iPhone, you flip open a back panel, slide the phone into the base of the case, and then snap the back panel closed. Sounds complicated, but it really isn’t. The iPhone fits perfectly inside the Showcase and the case adds less bulk than I expected.

The case leaves the iPhone’s screen accessible, and also provides openings for the iPhone’s Home button, earpiece, motion and light sensors, camera lens, volume buttons, Ring/Silent switch, headphone jack, Sleep/Wake button, dock-connector port, and speaker/microphone area. The only drawback to this case… more...

When one envisions the iPhone the first things that comes to mind is elegance, simplicity and maybe accessories that cost too much. Even then the iPhone lacks in the audio department, the speaker is very weak which probably contradicts the speakerphone function but you can fix that for free.

TUAW tried this out and I can safely say this takes a ghetto Amp, demeans it some more then strips any value from it and turns it into something worthy of Macgyver. Behold, the iPhone cardboard Amp, may music blast throughout your room and break every window in your living room, your results will vary.

Via TUAW

The current trend on the web is GTD (getting things done) which isn’t all that surprising when you consider so much information is being passed around that goes beyond the normal level of human consumption. Now you can get some GTD goodness for your iPhone in wallpaper form.

You can grab the wallpapers here and GTD on the go.

Via: Lifehacker

I cannot believe how many of you have yet to notice that the iPod Touch is in fact the future iPhone update in disguise.

A few things that I had noticed upon the iPod Touch’s much awaited arrival was the Dock. I’ll forgo the obvious Hardware related iPhone specs but if you’ll look at the Dock, it’s clear Apple wants to update it to reflect that Leopard finish, just really dark and making it very hard to see.

Next up, the Icons. Obviously the iTunes icon will appear on the iPhone via Software update but the Calculator icon is brown instead of gray. Now one more tidbit: Version 1.1 on a new product so soon? Perhaps, just maybe the iPhone and iPod Touch OS are identical?

Before you get your panties in a bunch and declare to your family and friends that from the deepest bowels of Cupertino someone has recovered the iPhone Nano in such a way that it would make Indiana Jones jealous just look at the picture first then tell me if it takes you any more than 2 seconds to tell the difference.

Spoiler: It’s fake if you can’t tell by now and Gizmodo (credit to Gizmodo for the shot and Jesus Diaz for the Photoshop’ed pirate face) got exclusive pics of this from the nether regions of IFA2007.

Via: Digg

I think I can vouch for Steve just a bit when he didn’t want 3rd party Apps but not for the reasons provided. My experience with them was what I was expecting but some things cropped up that prompted a full software restore.

Don’t get me wrong I love the 3rd party App support for the iPhone, well to some extent at least. Installer.app is the epitome of awesomeness when it comes to installing 3rd party Apps (hence the name Installer.app) but things do get messy.

Take for Instance Dock 2.0, it’s one of the many App launchers on the iPhone but is very poorly done. The original conception was a very good idea but it’s flawed execution caused tremendous problems which Greg had noted in his post of the App.

I don’t know how this small dilemma could get worse, having a phone that may require a complete wipe down while your content resides on another computer is a disaster for App design. Upon installing Dock 1.0 (I even tempted the problem more by installing version 2.0) I was presented with a non working touch… more...

As the influx of iPhone optimized web sites continue (along with the regression of the “real Internet") it will eventually reach the point of not having an iPhone optimized anything will be fatal to your online presence. Amazon is not one to be left out with their beta iPhone portal.

Visiting Amazon.com on the iPhone takes you to a horribly designed site with a massive loss in functionality and appeal. The very least I can credit the portal with is its speed, it’s very hard to slow the delivery of a white background and maybe a few thumbnails even on EDGE.

However you can still return to the regular, less watered down version of Amazon. But your site display preferences are not saved so every time you decide to visit Amazon will automatically be taken to the iPhone “optimized” version.

Even still as I put this in the design category I wish I could tack on “lack of design” any word on that Greg?

David Chartier has provided a screenshot of the portal, image below.

Via: TUAW