Software

So now that Jobs has confirmed we’ll be getting third party Software (not what most of us were hoping but it’s a start) developers have risen to the challenge and have released working Applications. If you’re wondering just which non Apple apps you’ll be able to run on your iPhone, then this list which comes to us from Digg is right for you.

IPhone Application List is home to a few iPhone Web Apps and should grow as developers announce new Applicationss. However, there is some downside to the current list of Apps such as inaccuracies and limitations. On the list a mobile YouTube App (not iPhone specific) is mentioned but uses the flash version of YouTube. Also the interface and usability of some Apps greatly undermine the iPhone. Developers have to pay monthly hosting bills but the way Ads are integrated makes it very hard to use on a 3.5 inch screen, also limitations such as 10 minute chat sessions exist on the online AIM client but I prefer Meebo.

Via: Digg

Safari on Windows, using Safari to run non-Apple Apps on iPhone, odd right? Greg’s recent posting explaining Apple’s iPhone was the only reason Safari would come to Windows also brings up some questions: Why is Apple so Safari crazy when it comes to iPhone?

We all questioned iPhone’s survival from a lack of third party Applications. Apple granted our wish, sorta. Steve’s decision to use Safari as the interface for third party Apps opens new doors and closes old ones, there is a trade off.

The Good
There is a good side to this although it’s a little “so what.” Sure we can’t complain, we now have the opportunity to create our own iPhone Apps but the way Apple is allowing us to do so, doesn’t look good for future Application development. Nonetheless, the positive. At launch Apple aims to command a certain percentage of the mobile market, not groundbreaking but enough to confirm their place. All iPhones sold will be Internet capable and last I checked, hundreds of millions have Internet access. Applications can not only be created for iPhone users but for PC/Mac users as well… more...

We were thrown off by Apple’s latest iPhone Ad depicting the full featured Internet, on a mobile device. Hearing the latest report from Macrumors, Apple seems to contradict itself. How can you have the full Internet but not support Flash? Does Apple’s YouTube deal have anything to do with this?

It was speculated in January that Apple would offer Flash for iPhone, but learning that it’s support will be dropped brings up some issues. This isn’t the full Internet Steve Jobs was advertising, it’s more like the watered down version. However, Apple did strike a recent deal with Google to bring YouTube to AppleTV, this could be done for the iPhone as well. Sure we’ll get better quality and that’s what we need for AppleTV, high quality video, but going through the entire process of converting and creating a custom catalog for us? Jobs must have something else in store and if you haven’t got the hint yet, think about it. No Flash, H.264 videos, limited content. Duh, Apple wants you to buy videos for your iPhone from iTunes! Appease some of us by offering a limited catalog, but increase… more...

It’s something that has puzzled all of us. Just why won’t Apple let us run our own applications on the iPhone? Jobs has said they’re trying to find a way to ensure stability and security but of what he doesn’t mention. The iPhone supposedly runs a full version of OS X minus all the unnecessary add ons like printer drivers and iLife. What could be preventing us from running our apps then? Windows Mobile 5 and 6 allows you to run applications just as you would on a PC, something fishy could be going on here…

OS X Mobile Isn’t As Full-Featured As Once Thought
Stability and security are two words always associated with a Mac and it’s operating system. We’ve gone from 10.0 (Cheetah) to 10.4 (Tiger) with little to no problems but 10.5 (Leopard) has yet to arrive to the mass public. But as any other OS X release we can count on it to be stable, right? We might be wrong this time around. Apple chose a mobile version of 10.5 to run the iPhone, something they haven’t done and want to optimize it as much as possible… more...

Similar to the report on the iphone syncing content only on iTunes, we also receive news that iChat will not be supported on the initial release of the iPhone’s OSX Mobile release.

The report comes from 9to5 Mac via The Boy Genius Report. Even though no one really knows the legitimacy of 9to5 Mac, they do have some pretty convincing photographs and information.

What is unclear at this time is whether the lack of iChat capabilities is just on their advance copy and not limited to the initial mainstream launch. Only time will tell, but I am very unhappy about this rumor as I was excited at the possibility of iChatting it up at the end of June.

[Via The Boy Genius Report]

One of the most convenient features of the iPod is the fact that although it syncs up with your computer through iTunes (allowing for transfer of music, movies, TV Shows, Pictures, and Podcasts) it also shows up on your Mac or PC as an external drive allowing for data transfer ontot he iPod as a portable hard drive.

What works for the iPod apparently is not the same for the iPhone. Chris Davies of SlashGear is reporting that the iPhone will only sync through iTunes or iPhoto.

This move is no doubt a move by Apple to encourage content purchases via the iTunes store and syncing it with the iPhone but as Davies writes: “That should increase ease of use for novice owners, but likely frustrate everyone else.”

[Via SlashGear]

Cingular AT&T has announced a partnership with 4 major U.S, banks in bringing mobile banking capabilities to their phones. According to Engadget Mobile, “AT&T customers will be able to manage bank accounts and pay bills through Wachovia, BancorpSouth, Regions Financial and SunTrust banks using an application on their handset”

Does this mean that the iPhone will also carry that type of functionality? Engadget predicts this may be a J2ME application which means, if Steve Jobs was not full of **** in his interview with John Markoff, not a chance. Steve Jobs said Flash and Javascript on the iPhone. Not Java.

But no one will know for sure until the release date. More as we know it.

[Via Engadget Mobile]