Apple

The Nike+ Sport Kit released a few years ago for iPod Nano digital music player is finally getting an upgrade that will see support extended to iPhone and iPod touch.

I have not used the kit, but I have heard that with the existing version of the kit, runners must first return to their Mac or PC, dock their iPod nano, launch iTunes, and then push their latest performance data to the Nike+ website.

However, with the new application coming to the iPhone and iPod touch, runners will be able to beam that data to the website wirelessly the instant they complete their workout.

That being said, I assume the iPhone SDK will allow this to happen, with the application being available via the AppStore. For more information, take a look here.

Crazy iPhone fanatics, such as myself, have watched many iPhone commercials before the phone’s release. Ask any of us what time it was on the iPhone (in the commercial), and you will likely merit a swift accurate and response. 9:42 of course! This has been consistent in almost every commercial I have watched. (9:41 has also appeared)

In the newer commercials such as ”bet," this has stayed the same. Frankly, it is kind of scary. When I saw “bet,” the first thing I noticed was the time. I was amazed it had still remained the same for many months. It reminded me of many theories I had heard about the clock.

“What time was displayed?” Ha! That question has a simple answer, but to answer “Why?” requires greater skill. The iPhone was introduced at 9:42 during the Macworld Keynote of 2007. I wonder if the “9:42” developed from this critical introduction, or if it was predestined. Chicken or egg? Many have also suggested that 9:42 refers to a Bible quote, specifically this one. Maybe, the phone just looks nicer with 9:42 displayed. It is possible that… more...

I always like looking at the new ads for the iPhone. Yesterday, Apple released 3 great iPhone ads. Bet, Brilliant, and Music Store.

The new ads follow the same theme as their previous iPhone commercials, demonstrating specific features on the iPhone. “Bet” shows how easy it is to lookup information on Safari to win a Bet. “Brilliant” demonstrates the iPhone’s new “locate me” GPS-like functionality, and Music Store shows off the iTunes Wifi Music Store.

Check them out, if you haven’t already.

I am not much of a gamer, but it is still cool to think that my iPhone will play games beautifully if I ever decide I do want to play a game or two.

Unity Technologies has announced that its multiplatform 3D game development tool, called Unity, will soon be able to create titles that run on the iPhone.

Unity says: “The Unity engine is the core technology that facilitates visually rich, engaging 3D game play, whether it’s on a traditional desktop, or on the Web at major gaming sites like shockwave.com, or now on the world’s leading mobile device - the iPhone. […] With support of the iPhone platform, the Unity engine becomes platform agnostic and significantly expands the reach and capabilities of the tool. As a fully supported deployment platform, developers can now use Unity to drive development of the best games to iPhone’s massive mobile market and beyond.”

I look forward to what is to come and being able to play some amazing looking games on my iPhone may change my mind. To read more, taike a look here. more...

With the introduction of an Interface Builder and revised APIs, developers have a more complete set of tools to work with to make our experience just a little bit better.

Below is a video demonstration of PhotoBoard, an application that looks amazing. The program presents a grid surface upon which photos from the user library can be laid. The grid can then be navigated, and photos rotated and manipulated.

Check it out. The program kind of reminds me of Microsoft’s Surface, which has some nifty effects.

Although Steve Jobs said, during his SDK introduction presentation, that the iPhone App Store would work over both WiFi and cellular networks, a new screenshot of the store from Boy Genius Report apparently reveals that a WiFi connection is, at least for now, required.

I’m sure this is just for testing purposes. The network access to the App Store should come with future beta builds.

To get a good idea of what you will most like see in June, check out the plethora of pictures that Boy Genius Report has taken of the iPhone beta software.

Can’t wait

As the SDK progresses, we are finding out more and more about the true features which are to come, as well as the problems developers are having with the beta OS.

More coders are now being accepted into the program and taken back by some restrictions and problems.

Apple’s documentation states: “Once you install the pre-release iPhone OS on your device, such device may only be used for development and testing purposes until the final (GM) version of the iPhone OS is released. In addition, you will need to install new versions of the software from time to time throughout the beta period. Failure to install the most current version will, after a period of time, put your device in a deactivated state.”

In addition to that, once you have the beta software on the phone, there is no downgrading or starting from the begging, so you are stuck. Not to mention, installing iPhone OS 1.2 also disables the phone’s radio, so you cannot make phone calls.

I am guessing the leaked photos of the beta OS will not be overlooked, but here at iPhone Matters (and others, i am sure) we… more...

While recent news reports generated anticipation that Apple’s iPhone SDK would at last allow for a native version of Flash, Adobe has since said that a solution won’t be as simple as they thought.

“A fully functional version that ran within a web browser would require far more integration than the SDK allows.” “Adobe has evaluated the iPhone SDK and can now start to develop a way to bring Flash Player to the iPhone,” the statement reads. “However, to bring the full capabilities of Flash to the iPhone web-browsing experience we do need to work with Apple beyond and above what is available through the SDK and the current license around it. We think Flash availability on the iPhone benefits Apple and Adobe’s millions of joint customers, so we want to work with Apple to bring these capabilities to the device.”

The SDK currently restricts any third-party software from running in the background or launching any sort of code of its own, both of which pose some problems for an embedded program such as Flash, in addition to other programs like AIM.

Flash is highly anticipated for many users and I am… more...

Not so sure about this one, but Unwired reports that one of Apple’s recent filings seems to indicate that it has considered the possibility of an iPhone flip phone, among other dual-screen possibilities.

The patent is described as a “dual sided trackpad,” which would be translucent and boast touch sensitive panels on each side, allowing it to be used both when it’s opened or when it’s covering the main display.

The patent does not stop there. Click the link above to find out more.

I don’t know about you all, but I prefer the “candybar” style rather than a flip…

In an effort to get the iPhone selling in as many places as possible, Apple has released the iPhone in Austria and Ireland.

Apple and T-Mobile are now selling the iPhone in Austria. The iPhone is being sold for 399 euro for the 8GB model and 499 euro for the 16GB model.

The announcement in February indicated the iPhone would also be launching in Ireland.

Apple plans on announcing the iPhone in Asia and other European countries as well as a possible release in Australia.