Reviews

Can’t wait for the iPhone? Want to make phone calls on the same device as your music player? Never fear, the BluEye from Gear4 is here. Shaped similarly to the iPod earbud remote, the BluEye allow syou to make and receive calls straight from your iPod via your bluetooth enabled phone. This nifty device also records the caller ID number right on your iPod screen.

So if you absolutely cannot handle carrying 2 devices for music listening and phone calling, get this..oh wait, you still need to carry 2 devices. Ok, not quite sure of why someone would want to use this.

This video has been about for a few days now but I’ve just discovered it on YouTube. It’s a comparison video of the Windows Mobile operating system, running on an O2 XDA PDA, verses the iPhone’s OS X operating system. Although it’s not the most technical of videos, it does go over some of the features both phones have, and where the Windows Mobile does have a few advantages, the iPhone’s interface is second-to-none.

Having said that though, I think we have to bare in mind that Windows Mobile runs on PDA’s and Smartphones and, although I consider the iPhone to be a Smartphone, it’s technically not classed as one, so maybe a few lacking features is okay? Still, check it out and see what you think - it’s amazing how Apple can make an operating system so simple and easy on the eyes where Microsoft seem to love to pack a phone out with features that aren’t necessary in some circumstances.

That’s according to Austrlian IT who had around half an hour at Macworld to play with the iPhone.

Whilst it’s hard for anyone to write up a positive (or negative) review of this sleek product, there were a few fortunate folks out there at Macworld who were given the opportunity to use the iPhone for a short while. Australian IT says that the iPhone’s LCD screen is one of the sharpest and clearest they have seen on any mobile device, whilst the touch screen functions work just like Jobs said.

Apparently moving your finger across the screen is a complete breeze, offering little resistance, and accidental touches are not at all recognised - ok, we knew this but to hear someone who has used the phone say this is reassuring.

I don’t know about you guys but after reading this very short article, I’m all the more excited and looking forward to the iPhones launch later on in the year.

I still don’t really care much for this subject because it’s just terminology at the end of the day, but tech-heads are still questioning whether or not the iPhone fits into the Smartphone or Mobile phone category. The differences between the two are very slim, it appears.

According to ABI Research, a Smartphone is a device that runs an open commercial operating system that allows the use of third party applications to be installed, something the iPhone does not as it runs OS X and only allows the use of Apple developed/approved applications. Philip Solis at API Research says “It turns out that this device will be closed to third party applications. Therefore we must conclude at this point that, based on our current definition, the iPhone is not a smartphone: it is a very high-end feature phone.”

First and fore-most, I consider the iPhone to be a Smartphone, I don’t care about definitions or technicalities, I just care about what I can see and use. The Sony Ericsson K800i, on the other hand, is not a Smartphone, just a really snazy mobile phone. Now based on what a Smartphone is and isn’t, it appears… more...

Talk about obsessing over a product not even released yet, T3, the world’s no. 1 gadget mag, have ruffled up a pretty in depth ‘bible’ on the iPhone, covering everything from Apple’s two-year-in-the-making Multitouch patented technology, its internet features, how it’s practically an evolved iPod and a run down of some of the specs for those that haven’t already got enough information on the phone.

As it stands we’re also in the shadows over the final list of applications and widgets that will come installed on the iPhone, so seeing T3 come up with their own (sensible) list of widgets and apps they wouldn’t mind seeing on there is a good way of giving iPhone-fan boys and girls the chance to see what we could expect - remember that there’s still 5 and a bit months till launch and a lot can change between now and then.

One of the applications they do mention is ‘Garageband mobile’, which would allow users to record and publish podcasts on the go - it’ll probably never happen but it’s a great idea none the less. I wonder what… more...