[Ed: New Case-Mate Vrooms in new spectacular colors now available in the TiPb iPhone Store! - Rene]

The iPhone 3G certainly has a ton of case options. Everyone has their own take on what constitutes a good iPhone case—some prefer silicone, others want a hard plastic, some prefer loud cases, others search for more subtle options. We take a look at a lot of cases here at TiPb and there’s a different qualification for the case we’re about to take a look at—this falls under the ‘fun’ category.

The Case-Mate Vroom for iPhone 3G ($14.95) is a subtly-fun designed rubber case. From afar the Vroom case looks like a basic, black silicone case that protects the back of the iPhone 3G. Upon closer inspection, whoa what?! The back has tire tread!

Is this merely a gimmick? How cool is it?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

Come on. Laugh a little. Ease up. The Vroom case for the iPhone 3G is funny and a definite conversation starter. I mean, it’s a tire on your iPhone 3G! You could even come up with a far-fetched story on how you custom made the case with your old car tire’s or even say its a special edition made by Goodyear or Michelin. I mean, a tire on your iPhone? What other crazy designs can we get?

Jokes aside, the Vroom case is a basic black rubber case that protects the full back of the iPhone 3G while leaving room open for all of the iPhone 3G’s functions. It even comes equipped with a plastic screen to protect the iPhone 3G’s touchscreen. We’re not fans of those plastic touchscreens preferring to go with Bodyguardz or Invisibleshield for cases like these.

But in all, I think it looks great and adds a ton of character to the iPhone 3G.

Usability

The rubber is a lot different from other silicone cases I’ve encountered. Instead of a soft, grippy feel the Vroom case is harder and slicker. I don’t prefer this finish because it doesn’t offer the same amount of grip as other silicone options but I think that’s just a matter of preference.

What’s great about the Vroom case, other than the design of course, is that it doesn’t add much thickness to the iPhone. I found that the case was really easy to hold and didn’t change the contours of the iPhone 3G. And though the rubber is a bit different than most cases, I feel like it’s a stronger grade. Instead of being just a sleeve or a skin, this feels like true tire rubber. I guess it succeeded in its intended effect, right?

But this case does have its fair share of limitations—more thought was put into its design than its actual construction. It attracts lint and dust very easily, I could never really manage to keep the case clean. This may be more of a color issue than anything since dust simply shines on a black case.

Also, this is personal preference but I don’t like it when a case ever-so-slightly exposes the chrome rim around the iPhone. I feel as if you’re going to cover the back of the iPhone you might as well go the extra millimeter to cover the chrome rim.

But in all, the Vroom case offers just enough protection. It’s not going to be mistaken as an OtterBox but it definitely does a good job in preventing nicks and scratches from daily routine.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for pure protection, this case probably isn’t for you. I won’t lie, there are better options for you if protection is your biggest concern. For starters, take a look at the TiPb store.

But if you like quirky designs and/or conversations revolving your iPhone 3G case—hey, this is as good as it gets. Let me tell you, when I was testing out this case, I got numerous compliments and questions about its origins. I found that I personally LIKED the case enough to ignore its limitations.

Though it only offers middling protection—this is the case I reach for most for my iPhone 3G.

PROS

• Great, Fun Design
• High Quality Rubber
• Adds Minimal Thickness

CONS

• Offers Average Protection
• Attracts Dust

FINAL RATING:

If you don’t know OtterBox, you should. They make high-quality, high-grade cases for the iPhone 3G that offer first-class protection. The OtterBox Defender Series for iPhone 3G ($49.95) is one of the most comprehensive cases ever designed for the iPhone 3G.

We had already taken a look at the OtterBox Defender Series for the Original iPhone, how does the updated version for the iPhone 3G hold up? Does it offer great protection? Is it just another case?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The OtterBox comes in 4 different parts—each serving a purpose to cradle and protect the iPhone 3G. The base layer is a hard plastic shell (front and back). The second layer is a thick yet still soft layer of silicone that wraps around the aforementioned hard plastic shell. And finally, the last piece is a plastic cradle that adds another layer of protection but also doubles as a belt clip.

A thin sheet of plastic protects the screen, camera port, and Apple Logo while the headphone port, volume buttons, and sleep/wake ringer switch are protected via rubber caps. A thin cloth also covers the speakers.

Overall, the design of the OtterBox is carefully thought out and provides a perfect fit for every little nook, switch, and button on the iPhone 3G. Using a hard shell base layer with a silicone skin offers great protection while providing for even greater textile feel.

Usability

Obviously, the OtterBox Defender Series serves to a specific niche and those who have no need for such a rugged case would assume the case is in excess. But judging it from a pure protective stance—there are few options better. I have full confidence that the OtterBox case will protect my iPhone 3G in almost any likely scenario—a fall down the stairs, skidding across a hiking trail, and even a drop on concrete.

But because of its intricate design, care and exactness is needed when applying the case. The OtterBox is not an ordinary case that can be easily slipped off and on, you’ll have to fix the silicone to wrap around the intricacies of the plastic shell. Furthermore, the plastic shell seems to have a lot of clips and snaps that need to be put together. It’s a process to be sure, but after you’re done, this is protection at its finest.

Even more amazing is how the OtterBox maintains the iPhone 3G’s sensitivity and allows access to all its ports, buttons, and features. The touchscreen maintains the same sensitivity, I had absolutely no problem playing games and surfing the web with the OtterBox applied.

The buttons can be easily pressed except for the Home button. For some reason OtterBox decided to make a Home Button that cuts off the top of the circle. The plastic cover for the touchscreen can also get problematic if you leave some air space between it and the iPhone’s screen. Unsightly air bubbles would appear but I found this to be hit or miss and not particularly damaging.

The included belt clip is made from the same tough plastic as the hard shell and it locks the iPhone into it quite well. In fact, I often times had trouble pulling the iPhone out of the clip—the fit was that secure. The belt clip is able to rotate 360 degrees and the iPhone can be placed either be open faced or face backwards.

OtterBox has certainly improved on the deficiencies in the original iPhone, namely two issues that I had problems with are now fixed. The ringer switch is now accessible and the home button can be pressed when inserted into the belt clip. Bravo to OtterBox for listening to my complaints!

In all, the OtterBox offers as close to complete protection and coverage of every part of the iPhone. If you’re looking for superb protection or live an outdoor lifestyle, this case is truly one of the best available.

Final Thoughts

I’m a huge fan of OtterBox products because they put care into their design and they execute extremely well. The silicone seems to be of higher grade than basic silicone cases—offering better texture, thicker protection, and doesn’t seem to stretch as much. I definitely feel like OtterBox succeeded in creating a case that can offer maximum protection without sacrificing usability.

The one downfall is obviously price. At $49.95 it is a fairly steep cost to pay for an iPhone case. But compared with other cases priced near the Defender, the Defender offers an infinite amount more protection. Though it does add considerable amount of thickness, if you’re looking for a case that protects your iPhone from the elements—thickness should be expected.

Also, it cannot be fully submerged under water, a definite shortcoming considering its target market. However, with all things considered, the Otterbox Defender for iPhone 3G is great implementation of protection without compromise. All of the iPhone’s features are present with an unparalleled level of protection. I would consider this a buy for anyone who’s lifestyle is rugged, planning an outdoor trip, or is looking for the ultimate protection for their iPhone.

PROS

• Superb Protection
• Soft Silicone Feel
• Everything Protected, Every Feature Still Usable

CONS

• Bulky
• Pricey

FINAL RATING:

It seems that e-book readers are going to be technology's next big thing. With the Kindle being named Oprah’s favorite gadget and other e-book reading devices battling for pole position, the e-book reader is populating daily culture. But who wants to pay that much money for a dedicated reading device that is admittedly limited and still has no true standard format?

Insert iPhone. We all know that the iPhone does a great job in converging multiple devices, why not add being an e-book reader to its capabilities? Obviously we won’t have any e-ink technology in the iPhone but the e-book readers in the iPhone, Classics and Stanza, offer ease of use and a great free selection—plus you don’t have to plop down an extra 400 dollars to read a book.

See what we think of Classics and Stanza in our App vs App!

Design

Classics is wonderfully designed. Upon starting the app, a virtual bookcase filled with the covers of popular books gives you your reading options. The interactive bookshelf definitely makes for a virtually pleasing layout—it gives a experience similar to grabbing a book from your shelf, but in this case, tapping will suffice. You can also rearrange the books in any order, though the obvious flaw is when more books become available this design layout may not be the most effective to navigate.

What’s great about Classics is that the look of the pages seems carefully designed and well implemented. The pages look like pages of a book, complete with a clothlike texture and instant readability. Another great touch is the flipping of the pages, swipe from right to left to move pages in the most accurate rendition we’ve seen in an e-book reader.

Stanza makes up for what it lacks in groundbreaking design by offering seemingly limitless customization. If you want the color of the words a certain hue of grey or the background completely black, you have the option to do so. This amount of customization allows you to create layouts that better suit your eyes.

Stanza's library page is akin to the iPhone’s setting page—effective and efficient but hardly awe inspiring. It gives you a basic list to select from and it’ll narrow your selection from there. Overall, it works but it definitely feels like you have to learn how to use the controls before you read, rather than just get to reading right away.

Usability

Classics notable feature is its ability to realistically flip through pages. Because there is no customization options whatsoever in Classics, Classics needed to nail this feature to warrant any type of consideration. Luckily, they absolutely nailed it. The animation and physics of turning the page are extremely accurate and if you’re sliding the finger to turn but decide not to, it follows your movement and the page falls back in place. You really have to give it a try, it’s the most accurate representation of page turning that I’ve ever seen.

Also, I found that the overall page design of Classics was fairly easy on the eyes. It uses a tan/brown mix of colors to create a more paper-esque texture to the page. It almost looks cloth like. Overall, Classics did a wonderful job in presenting themselves and I enjoyed reading from the application.

But by no means is Classics perfect. It doesn’t have a great selection, offering only a handful of “classic” novels and it offers no customization whatsoever. There is no ability to customize page layout, to change fonts, no ability to add books—you really have to run with what the developers designed for you. You can’t even change the font size, so you’re stuck turning pages at a pretty fast rate. So though Classics looks great, it is definitely limited.

Stanza on the other hand, is completely customizable. You can add books, newspapers, magazines, and thousands of books from different publishers. The sheer number of books is simply staggering, you can always find something to read.

Also, you can customize the page layout to fit your eyes’ preference. The text color, background color, link color, font, font size, alignment, line spacing, margin width, images, and controls—it can really be tweaked to whatever you prefer. Want to read with a black background and white text? By all means! Black Helvetica text on a red background with justified alignment? Sure!

But in the end, I still preferred the overall look of Classics standard page layout over Stanza’s customizable options. No matter what I did, and I tried to emulate Classics, it just wasn’t as easy on the eyes. Also, turning the page is nowhere near as pretty. It only slides out in Stanza.

But the unarguable advantage of Stanza is its ability to add books. That makes it a much more powerful reader and definitely lengthens the life span of the application. You'll never be able to read everything that the folks at Stanza offers because it really has a library worth of literature! 

Final Thoughts

So I guess what it really boils down to is: do you want an e-book reader that looks good with a limited amount of books or a fully customizable reader with limitless options of reading material?

In conclusion, I think having a greater selection wins out. The fact that Stanza can add a variety of books, newspapers, and magazines to your library makes it the winner in this week’s App vs App. The complete customization of the page layout also deserves kudos because it lets the reader decide what he or she wants to see.

It’s hard to knock Classics though. As a reading application, it deserves stellar marks for nailing the physics of turning the page and offering such a great, easy on the eyes, page design. Even though customization is huge in e-book readers, the stock look of Classics is still by far the best look in comparison with the two.

But Classics falls short by not offering a wider reading selection. It simply can’t seriously compete as an e-book reader when you can only read the same “classic” books over again. I love this application and think the developers did a fantastic job, but the lack of selection makes it hard for me to give my full recommendation. I definitely think it still merits consideration as the most exciting reader app for the iPhone. But as it stands now, Stanza has still got it beat.

Classics Rating

Stanza Rating

The iPhone 3G has plenty of case options that range from hard polycarbonate cases to soft rubber options, from colorful designs to more understated lines. The Marware Sport Grip for iPhone 3G ($19.95) is a soft rubber case that incorporates subtle design and offers superb protection. How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Marware Sport Grip for iPhone 3G is a silicone rubber case that protects the corners, the entire back, and even the home button on the iPhone. The Marware Sport Grip also comes with an adequate adhesive clear screen protector that covers the entire front face of the iPhone 3G. There is a quirk in design that exposes the multitude of sensors on the iPhone 3G but this oddity is due to maintaining the function of the sensors.

The Marware Sport Grip is available in three opaque colors: black, white, and pink. What makes the Marware Sport Grip case stand out is that it protects as much of the front face of the iPhone 3G as possible—the home button and ear speaker is protected—leaving only the touchscreen open for 'direct' access. Few cases offer as much protection.

The volume buttons and sleep/wake switch are also covered via exterior rubber buttons—no worries, the buttons don’t lose much sensitivity with the protection, the molded rubber buttons are very easy to press. The silent/ringer switch is made available through a small cut out in the case.

Usability

Make no mistake, the Marware Sport Grip’s main purpose is to protect the iPhone 3G offering few frills and no gimmicks. Whereas other companies choose to sway consumers with eye-catching design, the Marware Sport Grip focuses on function. The design is simple—cover as much as the iPhone 3G as possible. And to that extent, it definitely succeeds. You can’t possibly cover more of the iPhone 3G’s exterior without losing some functionality, the protection that the Sport Grip offers is simply superb.

There is also a cutout for the speaker grilles on the iPhone so the sound won’t get muffled behind the silicone. There will obviously be some thickness added with the case but it isn’t bothersome. Overall, the Sport Grip performs solidly and the rubber used is thick enough for better protection but not too thick where it detracts from the iPhone’s form factor.

Even though the Marware Sport Grip is made from a silicone rubber, it doesn’t offer the tactile feel or grip of similar options. The case also attracts a lot of lint and dust but perhaps this is due to my testing with the black version. Also, though the holes for the iPhone 3G’s sensors are purposeful, it is still an odd design choice that clutters the front face of the iPhone 3G.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Marware Sport Grip will fit anyone who wants a simple case that offers the most protection possible without sacrificing function. The case adds minimal thickness and the iPhone 3G feels secure and protected. Obviously, those looking for a more unique design should look elsewhere but the Marware Sport Grip is as solid a case as it gets with the iPhone 3G.

PROS:

• Superb, Complete Protection
• Maintains All Functionality of iPhone
• Adds Minimal Thickness

CONS:

• Attracts Lint & Dust
• Little Grip Added
• Cluttered Front Face

FINAL RATING:

The Griffin Wave for iPhone 3G uses a unique wave lock design to create a snug fit for the iPhone and offer solid protection. The hard plastic case was unique among competitor’s offerings because instead of choosing a slide mechanism to connect the case together, it uses a front piece and a back piece to hold the iPhone. Does the Griffin Wave succeed as a case? We think so. Read on to see why.

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Griffin Wave for iPhone 3G is a hard plastic case that offers protection for the chrome rim, corners, and entire back of the iPhone. It comes in four color choices and allows accessibility to all the ports, switches, buttons and jacks on the iPhone.

As mentioned before, the Wave case comes in two parts. Unlike other cases which offer a top and bottom slide mechanism, the Griffin Wave opts to use a front piece and a back piece—held together via the interlocking wave design. To explain it briefly, the wave shaped closure overlap and inserts into each other to create a very, very snug and secure fit. It kind of looks like DNA.

The polycarbonate of the Griffin Wave is clear and the wave lock design is very pleasing to the eye. The helix design adds a certain amount of depth and improves the look of the iPhone 3G.  

Usability

I found that the material used in the Griffin Wave feels great in the hand. Though it is unmistakably a hard plastic case, there is a soft touch rubber feel to it and the iPhone feels safe inside. I believe that Griffin found a great compromise with soft cases and hard cases in the Wave. Whereas soft cases offer better grip, it often loosens over time. The benefit of a hard case is that it soundly protects the iPhone without wear and tear. But the main problem is it typically adds too much thickness and that the material doesn’t provide for much grip.

In the Wave's case, it combines both the sturdiness of a hard case with the tactile feel of a soft case. I loved the added depth and dimension of the material and found it very pleasing to hold. Also the clear polycarbonate material allows you to see the Apple logo on the iPhone and gives off a better look than an all plastic material would.

All the ports and switches of the iPhone are made available with the Wave case. The hole for the camera is exact. Because of such precise cuts along the ports and openings, it leaves little room for dust to settle and build up. Though it does add some amount of thickness, I didn’t find it to be bothersome.

However, the case doesn’t seem to match up exactly where the front portion and the back portion meet. This is odd considering everything else about the Wave is so exact and beautiful. Though the slight opening might only affect the most nit picky of people, it is a design flaw nonetheless. The packaged plastic screen protector is a throwaway, it diminishes the iPhone’s sensitivity and is difficult to use. Spring for a adhesive screen.

Final Thoughts

The Griffin Wave for iPhone 3G is a subtly styled, great feeling case. Griffin really did a good job with the Wave and its unique locking system not only offers a secure fit but also adds to the design. I think if you were looking for a hard case for the iPhone 3G, you couldn’t do much better in regards to look, feel, and all around security than the Griffin Wave.  

PROS

• Unique closure system
• Great Design
• Adds minimal thickness
• All ports are accessible

CONS

• Back and Front portions don't meet up exactly
• Packaged Plastic Screen Protector is a throwaway

FINAL RATING:

[This is a TiPb AT WORK App vs. App Interlude! Last week, we ran our Remote Desktop/VNC Showdown, with Jaadu edging out Mocha for the victory. But which forum voter and blog commenter won copies of the winning App? Congratulations MSZATNY and GOS

This week, while the TiPb iPhone Forums vote on THE TWIST Casey steps in to look at Earthscape and it's major-league new rival, Google Earth! They're both FREE, but if you comment below (and make sure you leave a valid email address in the comment form -- it won't be made public, but it will be used to contact you), you'll still have a chance to win an iTunes gift certificate from TiPb! Check out the full contest details, then grab your iPhone and get ready to get things done -- the TiPb AT WORK Interlude: Earth vs Earth is on!]

Google has a certain love affair with the iPhone. Yeah, we know Android is Google’s baby but that doesn’t stop them from putting out top-notch applications for the iPhone. The Youtube App and Google Maps are both best in class and Gmail and Google Reader on Safari are setting the bar for web-based applications. So though Android is all Google, they're still not ready to leave the iPhone.

Case in point, the release of Google Earth on the iPhone. Anyone a bit surprised that they released one of their more unique products on the iPhone before it got even as much as a sniff for Android? Luckily, as iPhone users we don’t have to worry about the politics of the situation and we get to enjoy the app for what it is.

But Google Earth isn’t the only player in town. Earthscape has been around, is free (used to be $9.99), and works admirably. So in this arena of mobile Earth based apps, is Google Earth the young challenger or the new champion?

Read on to find out in this special edition of App vs App!

Design & Input

Google Earth

Google Earth is a well designed app, which isn't surprising considering its coming from the guys from Mountain View. The control layout is basic but purposeful, there is a My Location button, an Info button, a Search button, and a Compass feature that can redirect you to due north. There's enough to be usable and nothing to distract you.

The core design of Google Earth lays in the control and all around power of the iPhone. There are a lot of multi touch gestures that behave according to whichever gesture you use. This leads to a greatly intuitive UI and a fairly low learning curve. Using multi touch allows the map to take center stage in the app with no dock or tabs blocking the focus.

Frankly, if you know how to navigate the iPhone, you’ll do well with Google Earth. Zoom in, Zoom out, Rotate, and Pan are all controlled by gestures that are similar to those system wide on the iPhone. There is also a two finger drag that can tilt the screen up and down. The accelerometer is also used by portraying the bird’s eye view of the map when faced flat and a 3D view when tilted up. A very neat feature.

Earthscape

Earthscape is also a full featured ‘Earth’ maps program. Though instead of fully using the iPhone’s multi-touch and accelerometer to its advantage, it chooses to offer numerous options on a dock. You get options for My Location, 3D mode, Camera, Search, Info, and an Earthscape button. I found this method to be less intuitive considering I wasn’t exactly sure what each button did which in turn slowed down usability.

To be sure, Earthscape still supports multi-touch. Zooming in and out is familiar and panning is all but second nature (there is no rotate feature). Also, the accelerometer is put to minimal use, only flipping the map to landscape—the dock remains static—and the map doesn't turn into 3D mode upon tilting.

Verdict: I prefer the Google Earth method of relying on the iPhone’s multi-touch and accelerometer. Earthscape's choice of a dock just isn't as easy to use.

Usability

Google Earth

So once you enter the Google Earth, you are given a bird’s eye view of whatever location you choose. It’s kind of like Satellite View on steroids: offering a better overview of the ‘world’ and its terrain than anything Google Maps has to offer. However, it does away with the street names so you’ll have to instead focus on City Names, State borders, and Wikipedia Entries for your information.

I really enjoyed the Wikipedia Entries that showcase cool tidbits on local landmarks. You definitely learn a lot more about your area when you click on the Wikipedia ‘W’ and have the page open within the app.

The maps on Google Earth also seem to be recently updated. There are a couple new buildings that have sprouted up in recent years that are now viewable on Google Earth. The maps are also clear renderings of the area with seemingly accurate colors and geography.

As mentioned before, browsing Google Earth is simply a cinch. You don’t have to re-learn any icons or gestures because it uses everything that you're used to with your iPhone. You’ll definitely be surprised at how flawless everything works and how well it performs.

However, Google Earth does have a tendency to crash on my iPhone. I found this to be an unavoidable problem and something I just dealt with. To offer an iPhone app that’s nearly better than the desktop version? Bravo, I’ll take the crashes in stride…for now.

Earthscape

Earthscape works well and if Google Earth didn’t exist, it’d be a great app to show off to your friends. But it simply can’t keep pace with Google Earth on two big, big features. Controls and Maps. Controlling Earthscape just doesn’t make as much as sense as it does on Google Earth. The cluttered dock takes a bit of time to get used to and the icons aren’t as easily recognizable. Though I may just be getting spoiled with how Goolge Earth does things, I’m surprised at the decision to use on-screen inputs rather than multi-touch and accelerometer based controls.

Also, the maps are a little bit older than those on Google Earth. The buildings that exist in Google Earth are nothing but a plot of land on Earthscape. The maps also don’t zoom in as close nor offer the clarity of Google Earth. There is also some choppiness in the images, some maps don't line up properly.

What is unique about Earthscape is that it offers a few more features than Google Earth. There is a Camera button that allows you to take cameras and plot them with geotagging. You can also see nearby pictures from the Earthscape community. Earthscape definitely offers more social networking options than Google Earth.

Earthscape also suffered the same crashing issues as Google Earth and includes Wikipedia articles for fun and interesting facts around the area.

Verdict: Google Earth just works better. Earthscape is a great app that offers some social networking features but its maps and usability simply cannot compare to Google Earth.

Final Thoughts

In all, Google Earth simply outclasses Earthscape. Though Earthscape was the first to come to the market, it simply does not utilize the control mechanisms that make Google Earth seem so effortless. Also, the map quality and zoom levels on Google Earth are far superior than those of Earthscape and for an app based on maps, that simply can’t be ignored.

Both apps have limited real-life use other than the cool tech “show off” factor for friends. Though Google Earth and Earthscape don’t offer the pure functionality of Google Maps (they both don’t have any street names or basic directions) there are still some neat features like Wikipedia Entries and Pictures (on Earthscape) that make them fairly unique.

For both apps, use on Wi-Fi was preferred but 3G and EDGE performance was commendable. However, the 3D view for both was much too taxing on the iPhone and it caused multiple crashes, and let’s face it, the 3D view is what makes Google Earth and Earthscape cool to begin with, so if you can’t get that right, you’ve already lost half the battle.

For pure usability, they both work well enough. Their features are fairly impressive and you do get a great looking glass view of the world with both. But in the end, Google Earth simply translates too well on the iPhone for Earthscape to seriously challenge it. The multi touch gestures, use of the accelerometer, and detailed maps make Google Earth the app to get.

App vs App Winner: Google Earth

Google Earth Rating:

Earthscape Rating:

Some Intel Execs must be still quite jealous that Apple went with the ARM architecture for the iPhone and left Intel waiting at the altar. At a Intel Developer Forum in Taipei, Taiwan, two Intel Execs claimed that the iPhone struggles with "any sort of application that requires any horse power" and that Apple fell short in delivering a full internet browsing experience.

Huh. Color us confused. We've been using the iPhone as our daily driver since it came out and we thought that this was the most--or at least one of the more-- powerful phones on the market. We've been using apps and playing games that show off the pure power of the iPhone that no other phone can run. And that Internet we browse on Mobile Safari? I guess that's not best-in-class either. Though we still can't seem to find a comparable experience, well, anywhere.

The ARM architecture may have its faults but to say the iPhone is slow, underpowered, and fails to deliver the Internet? Did these guys even use the thing? I think good 'ol Intel should give the TiPb headquarters a visit and we'll show them how the iPhone, of this world, works.

What do you guys think? Does the iPhone really suck that much? Or has Intel gone crazy?

Photo Credit: Suzanne Tindal/ZDNet

Read

Everybody has his or her own definition for the perfect iPhone 3G Case. Some may want a hard plastic case, others prefer rubbery silicone cases but most prefer a case that is non intrusive and more importantly, offers protection while adding minimal bulk. The Incipio dermaSHOT Silicone Case for iPhone 3G ($14.95) is a rubber silicone case that tries to offer a layer of protection without adding much thickness. How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Incipio dermaSHOT Silicone Case for iPhone 3G is a fairly simple case that offers protection for the backside, side, and corners of the iPhone 3G. There are multiple color options and the case also includes a clear plastic screen protector.

The material used in the Incipio dermaSHOT is a very soft and malleable silicone. It is unique among competitive products because most silicone cases opt for the thicker, rougher material. This soft silicone design choice is both good and bad, it feels great in your hand because it almost conforms to your grip but at the same time is also susceptible to stretching and loosening.

The Incipio dermaSHOT covers the entire back of the iPhone 3G leaving a hole for the camera, headphone jack, and the silent switch. The volume controls and sleep/wake button are protected via a thicker rubber that offers protection but also easy access to its controls.

Overall, the design is extremely simple—it doesn’t offer home button protection and doesn’t attempt to over complicate things with a sophisticated design or gimmicky options. It is as straight forward as any iPhone 3G case can be and comes in what seems like every color of the rainbow.

Usability

The case fits really well around the iPhone 3G—it is made out of a softer silicone material that wraps solidly around the iPhone yet offers a certain tactile feel that most other rubber cases do not. Specifically, the case feels soft and has a certain amount of depth to it, there's a give to the case unseen in most rubber options. The extra grip that the case offers is a great touch and really feels good in hand.

Because of the softer, more malleable material of the Incipio dermaSHOT, it seems like it’d be more susceptible to stretching and loosening. Many silicone cases face this problem—the added grip of rubber cases is great but after removing the case a few times it no longer fits as exact as before.

The Incipio dermaSHOT avoids permanent loosening and stretching by using the softer material, it kind of bends towards your movement. Meaning, if you press the sleep/wake button the top of the case is pushed down as well. This is a well implemented compromise, though the case doesn’t offer skin-tight coverage, it also does not permanently stretch. If you’re expecting an exact form fitting case, the Incipio dermaSHOT isn’t that case—but if you want longevity in your silicone case, the dermaSHOT is perfect.

My only gripe with the case is that its cut isn't the most laser-accurate exact. There seems to be excess materials in the opening for the silent switch. The lines are also not as clean as I would like but that’s probably being nit picky. Overall, the design is fair and the protection is more than adequate. I would recommend passing on the clear plastic screen protector because it deters from the sensitivity of the iPhone 3G’s touchscreen.

Final Thoughts

The design of the Incipio dermaSHOT is simple and basic. There will probably be folks that complain that it is perhaps too plain, but the case does its job—it offers great protection and won’t stretch over time (compared to competing products). If you’re looking for an eye-catching product or head turning design, the Incipio dermaSHOT is simply not for you. But if you want a design that fits great around the iPhone 3G, offers above-average protection, and a multitude of color options at a very affordable price ($14.95), you probably can’t do any better.

PROS

• Feels Great in Hand
• Adds Minimal Thickness to iPhone
• Offers Above-Average Protection
• Many Color Options

CONS

• Plain and Basic Design
• Stretchier than Most Silicone Cases

FINAL RATING:

If anyone checked out ESPN.com late last night they would have been smacked right in the eye with quite possibly the biggest iPod Touch Banner Ad Ever. After releasing the new iPhone "game changer" commercial during the baseball playoffs, it looks like Apple is focusing on expanding the iPhone/iPod Touch product line by reaching sports fans. Good idea? I don't know maybe Apple is thinking they can turn sports fans into Apple fanboys..

Either way, that thing was BIG. Dare I say life-size. There was no way anyone going on to ESPN.com could miss it (unless you have ad blockers). Effective? Yes. Annoying to scroll down to read the news? You betcha. Newsworthy? Hey it's the weekend..

Jeremy recently reported that the iPhone-dev Team were inching towards an unlock for the iPhone 3G. This time, the iPhone-dev Team checks in through their blog saying that they have made "significant progress" with the 3G Unlock.

The team modified the baseband of the iPhone 3G and even though it failed the integrity check, it was still running. They state that though running modified code is extremely useful, they still can't give an accurate time table to when we will see a 3G Unlock. Click the read link to see a video of the process. And let's hope that the amazing iPhone-dev Team are able to get through.

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Hudson, maker of a ton of different iPhone games, is offering a limited time free download for three of their most popular games! We already told you about Aqua Forest, but now Catch the Egg and Neo Same Game have also been price dropped to the low, low price of FREE. Act fast and download now because the free trial offer is supposed to end on Oct 12th, which is only a couple hours away!

Here are the iTunes Store Links:

Aqua Forest (formerly $7.99)

Catch The Egg (formerly $3.99)

Neo Same Game (formerly $3.99)

What are you doing here still? Go download for free! Don't say TiPb doesn't love you!

Via

Is there a difference between a high-end Bluetooth Headset compared to a normal one? With so many hands-free driving laws being passed these days, the question is obviously on many consumer’s minds. The BlueAnt Z9i ($74.95) is one of those high-end headsets that manages to combine a small and sleek form factor and with a powerful piece of technology, Digital Signal Processor (DSP). On paper, it is everything you want in a Bluetooth headset. How does it test? Does it accomplish everything it sets out to do?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Z9i’s design is extremely sleek and admirably compact. Whereas many headsets of comparable size focus on their notable lack of size over middling specs, the Z9i manages to pack strong, top-of-the-line technology in a very tight package.

The glossy black of the body is accentuated by chrome lining—it matches incredibly well with the black iPhone 3G. There are dedicated volume buttons on the top side of the headset and a multifunction button (power up/down, answer/end calls, and alternate between standard and max noise cancellation) on the headset’s body. Also, the Z9i includes two microphones which are dedicated to canceling noise.

There is an obscenely bright indicator light, which flashes the BlueAnt logo in well, blue (and red). Luckily, there is an option to turn this off because it is quite blinding in a dark room. The earhook design is quite ingenious—where most other headsets have a fixed earloop or one that moves horizontally, the Z9i moves vertically. This offers easier access and greater comfort. The only design quip is that one end of the earhook is strangely visible, an odd decision by the folks at BlueAnt that detracts from the overall sleekness.

In all, the Z9i isn’t exactly adventurous in its design but its execution is top-notch. You would be hard pressed to find a Bluetooth headset that matches great technology with great build quality—those who enjoy a Bluetooth Headset that is small, sleek, and compact will definitely love this headset’s design.

Usability

The Z9i’s packaging includes two earloops (one is transparent), two earbuds, a wall charger (MicroUSB), and a USB cable. The Z9i syncs wonderfully easy with the iPhone and as an added bonus, the Z9i is capable of being simultaneously connected to two different devices, offering seamless transition for those with multiple devices. It offers 200 hours of standby time with 5.5 hours of talk time. Taking advantage of a feature that is lacking in the iPhone, you are able to use voice commands with the headset as well.

I found the Z9i to be really comfortable in the ear. It has a basic earbud design that is really easy on the ears and plus its light weight makes it barely noticeable.

In testing, I found that the incoming calls sounded great, they were clearly audible with no distortion. I had absolutely no trouble hearing the conversation and thought the Z9i was better than most in regards to incoming audio. Though it doesn’t have any technology that adjusts the incoming audio to your background, the easily accessible, dedicated volume buttons do help. 

In quiet situations, the outgoing audio quality is also impressive. Callers didn’t even realize I was using a Bluetooth headset and stated that I sounded perfectly normal with no digitization. The performance in quiet surroundings certainly warrants its high-end price and is impressive due to its dimunitive size.

However, the noise cancellation is not as good as advertised. Though it does block out some background noise and isolates the outgoing audio, it is not the noise assassin that the Jawbone 2 is. When I had the radio on, callers could hear the song fairly clearly.

This might be a philosophical difference between the Z9i vs the Jawbone 2, where the Z9i chooses to accentuate the voice of the speaker and include the background noise while the Jawbone 2 seeks to simply eliminate the background noise. Both work, but if you’re expecting Jawbone-like ability in regards to background noise, you might decide that the Z9i isn’t for you.

Final Thoughts

Let it be clear, that the Z9i is better than nearly every other Bluetooth Headset available and its comfortable fit and long battery life should convince many users that the Z9i is for them. Add the bonus points for multiple device syncing, easy controls, and a small size—it clearly should be considered in every Bluetooth Headset purchase. Though it’s noise cancellation performance is not top notch, callers will definitely hear you a lot easier than other headsets. If you’re seaking a noise cancellation headset, you can do no wrong with the Jawbone 2. If you want something a little more versatile, the Z9i is a great, great headset.

PROS

• Small, Sleek Design
• Comfortable Fit, Easy to Put On
• Sync to Multiple Devices
• Great Incoming Audio Quality, Impressive Outgiong Audio in Quiet Surroundings

CONS

• Not an 'amazing' noise cancellation performer
• Odd Earhook Design Exposes chrome

FINAL RATING:

MLB At Bat just announced a price cut that puts the price at a very affordable $2.99 (from $5) to get an impressive app with a slick interface and great features. Good deal, right? How thoughtful of you MLB to cut the price just in time for playoffs so us fans can get a taste of the action. WRONG.

Why is it a bad deal? Because you have to buy MLB At Bat again next year! The current version of MLB At Bat will expire after the end of the season which is in approximately the end of this month. Maybe even sooner. So if it's worth it to you to spend money on an app that will be useless in a few weeks time, by golly do it! But for the rest of us, Sportacular should work fine.

Does anyone else think charging users every year is a little ridiculous? Maybe I'm still in shock over the 6th inning of the NLCS and a little peeved about this whole baseball thing but I just don't find it good practice on MLB's part-they need to highlight this aspect a little better. But maybe after Game 2, I'll celebrate in utter jubilation by buying an app that will soon be worthless?

The MLB is again bungling this whole technology thing--remember they switched DRM for their videos back in 07 and users lost ALL previously purchased videos. DRM sucks but having things wrongfully taken away from you blows even more.

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[This is a TiPb AT WORK App vs. App Review! The TiPb iPhone Forums voted on their favorite Apps, we took the top two, and now they're going head-to-head. But wait -- there's more! One of the forum voters has already won a copy of the winning App... Congrats duhockey! Want another chance to win? Comment on this post and make sure you leave a valid email address in the comment form -- it won't be made public, but it will be used to contact you if you win! Check out the full contest details, then grab your iPhone and get ready to get things done -- the TiPb AT WORK IM Showdown starts now!]

Instant Messaging has become one of the most popular forms of online communication because it offers instant access, no SMS costs, and unmatched convenience. How Apple doesn’t implement an iChat Mobile on the iPhone is simply beyond us, we at TiPb think an iChat Mobile would be a top contender for an App vs App.

With that said, 3rd party apps are beginning to fill the holes that Apple left open. Two of the more popular, argued about IM Clients available in the App Store are Palringo and BeejiveIM. Though at the core of each is an IM Client, they could not be more different. How do they perform? Which IM Client is better? Who will win the first edition of AppvsApp: AT WORK ?

Read on for the rest of the review!

First Impressions

BeejiveIM

Okay, the $15.99 price tag is hefty and borderline egregious but it doesn’t come without cause. BeejiveIM is perhaps the easiest, most intuitive, and slickest IM Client on the iPhone. Everything makes sense, it supports a ton of different Instant Messaging programs and is very, very stable.

I had no problems logging into my AIM and Google Talk accounts at the same time and was off to chatting in a moment’s notice. The buddy list supports buddy icons, groups and status. The basic layout of the application includes tabs for Buddy List, Favorites, Chats, Accounts, and More

It also provides a very neat feature where it can keep you logged in after you exit BeejiveIM (24 hour max period) and will send you a notification of IM through your E-Mail account. This works best if your E-mail account supports push since it serves as a pseudo-push notification feature. So if you reason that you’re using their servers to remain connected, the $15.99 price doesn’t look as bad.

To put it into perspective, BeejiveIM is essentially everything you want AIM to be but better.

Palringo

Palringo is free. That’s a huge selling point in itself. But make no mistake though, Palringo isn’t some second-class IM Client; it is capable, almost as stable, and possibly even more full-featured.

The unique aspect of Palringo is that it strives to be more than just an ordinary IM client. Palringo serves as a full communication tool—you can send text IMs, voice IMs, or even picture messages—all in Palringo. It is limitless fun to send your buddies snapshots of your daily life and accompany them with voice notes.

However, with Palringo you have to sign up for a Palringo-specific account. Though this sounds easy enough, there have been reports of spam reaching your linked E-Mail account because of Palringo. Also, when I first tried to log in, the app just kept loading and loading and loading. Not until I re-installed Palringo could I finally get access.

Palringo also supports pretty much all the Instant Messaging programs available but its buddy list doesn’t support groups and buddy icons. It also lacks a favorite tab and a chat specific tab.

I found that even though Palringo is free, it is absolutely a full-featured IM Client that doesn’t cut any corners.

Usability

BeejiveIM

I really believe if Apple were to design an iChat Mobile, it would look strikingly similar to BeejiveIM. The buddy list is clear, the fonts are wonderful, and the whole experience is unbelievably smooth. Even the colors and sounds used are consistent with iChat and the iPhone in general—if you showed a Mac user BeejiveIM they would automatically think iChat—it’s simply that well made.

When in a chat, the typing interface is unique and well thought out. Instead of offering a small linear box to type in, BeejiveIM instead chooses to offer a text bubble overlay—the overall conversation moves to the background and what you type comes to the forefront—this offers more seamless chatting. The conversation is still visible because of the transparent text bubble.

Though this method of inputting messages is smart, it isn’t consistent with the iPhone and almost looks out of place in BeejiveIM. BeejiveIM uses a lot of blues and muted greys in their interface so using a black text bubble sticks out like an eyesore.

Though I absolutely love using the text bubble over any other text input interface and certainly appreciate the innovation, I just can’t wholly agree with its design—a more streamline color would have been appreciated.

BeejiveIM also offers support for landscape mode so our fat-fingered friends won’t feel left out. As an added bonus, you can even e-mail the current chat to your e-mail account for future reference. It also has a contact search button so your buddies won’t get lost. One more tip, theres a dedicated SMS button that makes it easy as pie to send SMS through BeejiveIM (which should be cost free to you).

Palringo

Palringo is well implemented and looks good but you can’t deny the fact that Palringo just looks like a third party application. Though it does use a mixture of greys and blues, the base color of Palringo is a deeper black than the iPhone that doesn't stay consistent with the rest of the iPhone's apps.

Let it be known, when using Palringo, sending text IM’s becomes bland and boring because of the alternatives offered. When you have voice and picture options, who needs text? It gets to become a minor annoyance when you want to send a text IM because every time you open a chat, it gives you three options: Text, Voice, and Picture. Select the option, than begin typing.

Sending voice messages and picture messages are a breeze, over Wi-Fi and 3G it is absolutely snappy and even on EDGE it can be considered quick. There is also a search bar option for contact search and you can swipe screens to move over to the next window. Palringo also offers support for hyperlinks, making it easier to surf the web and IM at the same time.

Negatives/Annoyances/Gripes

BeejiveIM

Though BeejiveIM is absolutely well-designed, there are still a few missing features and odd choices that make you question your money spent. Firstly, its chat-to-chat movement is less intuitive than AIM and Palringo. Instead of swiping the screen to move to the next window, you tap the top of the screen and select the buddy icon of the chat you want to jump to. Though this method is sometimes more effective than swiping multiple times to jump to a specific conversation, it is largely less intuitive. BeejiveIM also lacks hyperlink support which makes it much more troublesome to access web pages.

I had a few more complaints about BeejiveIM until I realized the features I thought were missing were actually included. BeejiveIM has different depths and layers to grow accustomed to, you won't learn them all overnight. It is probably one of the most well-made applications in the App Store and has features that make you go “Man, that’s just smart”.

Palringo

There’s also no way to keep your message history, so good luck looking up information on your old IMs. Also, if you misspell the last word in Palringo it doesn’t automatically correct the error instead choosing to send the message as is. I also preferred the font of BeejiveIM over Palringo. The interface just didn’t work as well as BeejiveiM’s, it did the job but it never really raised the bar.

Final Thoughts

It can be argued that Palringo offers an arguably more well-rounded service than BeejiveIM. But when comparing IM to IM, BeejiveIM manages to run away with a victory.

BeejiveIM is simply one of the best applications available in the App Store: it is polished, it is well constructed and it is stable. It overcomes the lack of background apps and push notification on the iPhone by coming up with its own solution. It handles multiple accounts very well and is designed almost perfectly. The BeejiveIM team certainly needs to be commended for such great work. In the end, both IM Clients are great but BeejiveIM is simply in a class by itself.

BeejiveIM Rating:

Palringo Rating:

TiPb At Work Winner: BeejiveIM

The Plantronics Voyager 520 is the follow up to the very popular Voyager 510 with newer features and better technology. The Voyager 520 is targeted at the user who is looking for supreme comfort and solid sound quality. It maintains professional styling and ease-of-use to provide the user a great Bluetooth headset. How does it perform? Does it measure up to the uber-popular Voyager 510?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

Let’s put it this way. The Voyager 520 isn’t the most stunning Bluetooth Headset you’ve ever seen. There are headsets that are smaller, sleeker, and use better colors. The headset is fairly large because of the locked-in, large ear loop. The front face of the Bluetooth Headset looks overly-complicated, with harsh lines, multiple patterns, and different colors.

Don’t get me wrong, the Voyager 520 is most definitely not an ugly headset—it’s just not the prettiest one either. The Voyager 520 looks like the Bluetooth Headsets of yore, more professional and business-like than sleek and stylish.

However, styling and design issues aside, I was amazed at how comfortable and light it felt when worn. The large ear loop rotates nearly 360 degrees and is made of a softer, silcone-esque material. It is likely one of the better, more comfortable ear loops on the market. You’ll barely notice it hanging on your ear

Also, the earbud of the Voyager 520 is unique because it sits soft in your ear canal. As opposed to a lot of classic earbud designs, the Voyager 520’s earbud sits naturally in the ear because of its almost funnel like shape. The earbud is the best compromise of in-ear designs and classic ear phone designs.

When you’re wearing the Voyager 520, the comfortable ear loop and the even more comfortable ear bud makes the headset essentially unnoticeable. Some headsets may be prettier but few even come close to the superb fit the Voyager 520 offers.

Usability

Syncing with the iPhone is a cinch. Plantronics chose to implement a multifunction button that doubles as a volume switch. I found the button to be easy enough to hit but switching the volume up and down proved to be more cumbersome. I accidentally ended a call when trying to turn up the volume.

As I mentioned before, the Voyager 520’s fit really stands out. Even after wearing the device for hours, my ears were perfectly fine and I didn’t feel the need to remove the device. Typically, my ears need a break when earbuds are lodged in but the unique design of the Voyager 520’s earbuds made it a joy to wear.

The incoming sound quality is rock solid. Because of the funnel shape of the ear bud, incoming callers were clear and pronounced. It felt like I was getting the best of both worlds—in-ear sound quality but classic ear phone feel. Also, Plantronics uses AudioIQ to smarten the audio, getting louder in noisier environments and softer in quiet surroundings.

Outgoing sound quality is also good. Though it does pick up some background noise, it wasn’t enough to be bothersome to the caller. Callers felt that I sounded clear with no digitization and preferred the headset to many competitors. In quiet environments the headset’s performance was simply stellar, callers never even imagined me being on a Bluetooth headset.

Talk time is 8 hours, which should be plenty for most users. You’re also able to pair to more than one device, which is definitely convenient. Unfortunately, the Voyager 520 uses a proprietary AC adapter.

Final Thoughts

The Voyager 520 really surprised me. When I first saw the headset, I was expecting middling performance and an uncomfortable fit. I could not be more wrong. The fit of the Voyager 520 might be best in class—it hangs light on your ear yet sits naturally in the canal. Also, the audio quality ranged from decent in noisy environments to simply superb in quiet surroundings. Though I still have a few quips with the design and styling, honestly, it’s closer to being pretty than ugly while still remaining professional. I think the Voyager 520 should be seriously considered by any potential headset user and should be considered a steal for the price!

PROS

• Very, very comfortable fit
• Smart Ear Bud Design
• Solid Audio Quality
• Good Battery Life

CONS

• Average Styling
• Fairly Large
• Weird Charger

FINAL RATING:

Searching for a unique case that’ll make heads turn? Looking for a case that offers great protection and adds superb grip for your iPhone 3G? Well then, the Speck Products PixelSkin for iPhone 3G ($24.95) just might be for you. With a waffle-like texture wrapping around the entire case it offers both daring style and a sense of security. How does it perform? Are all those squares really put to use?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

Make no mistake, the Speck Products PixelSkin isn’t an ordinary iPhone 3G case and it doesn’t pretend to be. Where other case makers choose to offer simple designs that try to remain as invisible as possible, the PixelSkin is loud, fun, and bold.

The PixelSkin is a rubber case that is textured with square blocks that wrap around the entire case. Imagine it as a big graphing grid or a waffle or a turtle shell or even a grenade. The rubber is thicker than most other cases and offers great protection of nearly the entire iPhone 3G—the PixelSkin even offers protection for the home button!

The color options are bright, bold, and plentiful. Black, White, Purple, Blue, Green, Pink, and Yellow are all available—for this review we’re using the Yellow version.

Usability

By choosing a thicker rubber, the textured grid of squares offer a much more superb grip than ordinary iPhone 3G silicone cases. Not only does it offer better protection than thinner cases, it also feels magnificent in hand. The rubber that Speck chooses is certainly best-in-class. However, the downside of using thicker rubber is the added thickness—you would have to debate whether the added protection outweighs the thickness.

Design-wise, the PixelSkin is likely to be a hate-it or love-it type affair. When using it as my main iPhone case for the past couple days I’ve received numerous compliments on it and questions asking where did I get one. I think for those wanting a stylish, attention-grabbing case— the PixelSkin is as good as it gets. It is eye catching and it is fun. The coloring is also wonderful, the yellow was more bright and bold than mold and mustard.

Because of the PixelSkin’s unique bottom port design (it kind of extends a thinner layer of rubber outward) it is able to be docked. This is highly unique with rubber cases because the added thickness typically does not fit. Applaud Speck Products for creating a great design. Frown on Apple for not including the dock with the iPhone 3G. Also, the cut for the headphone jack is very snug with the included Apple headset, so there may be connection issues with bigger headphone ports.

The problem with the case however is that the square grid design creates a lot of grooves for dust to settle in and the material itself seems to attract a lot of lint and dust. Though this isn’t a huge factor, I did find myself brushing off dust inside the grooves more than a few times.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I loved the feel of the PixelSkin—it manages to use a bold styling choice that doubles as a wonderfully grippy texture. The grid design will certainly have onlookers wondering just what the heck you are carrying. Though some might find the added thickness a nuisance, I think the added protection is worth it. Some silicone cases protect from just nicks and scratches, I’m fairly confident that the PixelSkin can survive drops. I think the PixelSkin should be considered by anyone looking for a fun case that adds good protection and incredible grip.

PROS

• Fun & Bold Design
• Grippy Material
• Many Color Choices
• Great Protection

CONS

• Design Might Not Appeal To Everyone
• Adds Thickness
• Attracts Lint & Dust

RATING:

If you didn’t know, Google and T-Mobile held a small event that introduced the world to Android and the first Android device, the T-Mobile G1. And though Android impressed many (TiPb included), a lot of people scratched their heads when it came to the T-Mobile G1. Sure it packed a lot of features, controls, layouts, etc in one device but looks-wise it just didn’t blow anybody away. Is this really the device that Google is going to use to introduce the world to Android?

So we decided to take a closer look at the hardware and see how it compares to the iPhone 3G!

Read on to see how the iPhone 3G compares to the T-Mobile G1 Here's a disclaimer: We know that the iPhone is the iPhone is the iPhone while Android can pretty much be anything anybody wants it to be. Apple and Google employ different strategies, different ideals, and different means but the goal is the same—to take as much of the cell phone market as they possibly can. We’re not going to delve into the differences because honestly, it’s too many to list.

Google is a company that (almost) receives as much attention as Apple so when they release a cell phone platform, we’re going to pay attention. Though some may argue that Android is trying to replace Windows Mobile more so than go after the iPhone, like it or not, the iPhone and the T-Mobile G1 are two devices going after the same consumer market. So let’s see how they compare, hardware wise, yeah?

Design

Probably the biggest disappointment of all is the styling of the device. Though it looked considerably better than the leaked photos, the T-Mobile G1 still lacks a certain swagger to it. It seems like it’s so confused on what to be that it just comes off as plain. Not even to imagine the Jay Leno sized chin, in product shots the thing is ginormous. The device does seem to have an endearing quality to it, perhaps it’s the usage of very-approachable colors—you won’t find a glossy black or white here.

But overall, it’s sad that the design couldn’t be more revolutionary than evolutionary considering HTC doesn’t typically make bad looking devices (look at the Touch series). I think it can be said with fair certainty that the T-Mobile G1 will never win any design awards and will NEVER be mistaken as an iPhone.

Edge: iPhone, Comparing the styling of the iPhone to the T-Mobile G1 is really no contest and probably offends the heck out of Jonathan Ive.

Input Method

Plainness aside, the T-Mobile G1 is the perfect device to launch Android with. Why? Because it includes all the popular input methods: touch-screen, keyboard, and even a trackball. Developers are able to create versatile apps that will extend past the T-Mobile G1 because of all the input methods available.

But by including so many input methods, the T-Mobile G1 risks confusing the user experience. Would anyone ever actively use a trackball over a touchscreen? Is a keyboard that might not even be good (there have been complaints of it being too flat) worth the added thickness? And above all, having a touchscreen is fine and dandy with TiPb but where’s the multi-touch? Most other touchscreen devices are less sensitive and less responsive than the iPhone 3G and without multi-touch it can’t even be considered in the same league. Maybe the T-Mobile G1 will be better in that regard.

Edge: T-Mobile G1, I think people who can effectively use the iPhone’s keyboard won’t look twice at the added input methods of the T-Mobile G1 (I know I won’t). But it’d be careless to not admit that the T-Mobile G1 beats the iPhone in offering options. I mean, even Blackberry users can get in on the fun with the (out-dated) trackball.

Dimensions

Size and shape wise, the T-Mobile G1 does a great job in creating a easy-to-hold, good-in-hand feel. It’s a wee bit taller than the iPhone (4.6 inches vs 4.5) and noticeably thicker (.62 vs .48), but it does deserve credit for being narrower (2.16 vs2.4). The screen is a nick smaller at 3.17 inches vs the iPhone’s 3.5 inches but I can’t imagine people complaining about that difference. In all, dimensions wise the T-Mobile G1 is commendable, it’s pretty amazing how it can offer so many input methods in such a tight package.

But come on, really? To compete with the iPhone you have to package a more amazing product in stunning dimensions. The T-Mobile G1 doesn't do that. Instead it loses here, loses there, and pretty much loses everywhere when compared to the pure dimensions. Some may still complain that the iPhone 3G still doesn't "feel" like a phone but you'd be hard pressed to find a better package than the iPhone.

Edge: iPhone, Though the T-Mobile G1 surprised many with a solid build quality, it doesn’t approach the iPhone 3G (and original iPhone!) in terms of feeling great in the hand.

Storage, Headphone jack, Camera, Battery, Misc

Some people like expandable memory via MicroSD cards and sure it offers a lot of options for the future, but honestly, I would rather take the 8/16 GB out the box than the 1GB—its just easier that way. When bigger MicroSD cards become affordable we’ll probably be on 32GB iPhones and maybe even a G2.

Even worse than a recessed headphone jack is using a proprietary ExtUSB port. Seeing how much flack that the original iPhone got for not including a 3.5mm headphone jack it is simply jaw-dropping that the T-Mobile G1 would include something even worse. Yeah, we know HTC typically uses this style of port but come on, we’re really going to get excited to listen to our DRM-free music through this thing?

One thing the T-Mobile G1 has going for it is opting for a 3 megapixel camera that can auto-focus at close distance over the iPhone’s 2 megapixel fixed camera. Also, the T-Mobile G1 includes a removable battery while claiming to offer the same talk time (5 hours) as the iPhone 3G. A big plus for power users. Oh, and don’t forget that the T-Mobile G1 has a built-in compass that adds a ridiculous amount of slickness when using Google Maps Street View.

What they both have: Wi-Fi, 3G, EDGE, GPS, Accelerometer

What they both lack: stereo Bluetooth, video recording

Edge: Tie, In our book, Built In Storage + 3.5mm headphone jack = Better Camera + Removable Battery + Compass

Final Thoughts

Don't worry, the king is still the king and the world can continue on spinning. The iPhone 3G still takes the cake in this hardware shoot out. Yeah, who would have thought we would do that huh?

Though a lot of the features are similar, the things that the iPhone are better at are simply best-in-class while the T-Mobile G1’s offering were simply par for the course. Put it this way, the iPhone is a knockout punch while the T-Mobile G1 is just a light jab. The iPhone was made to stun and revolutionize the industry while the T-Mobile G1’s main purpose is to get the market ready for the Android onslaught. They're both successful at what they aim to do.

Even though we are the iPhone blog, we’re pretty excited at the potential of Android and were surprised about how solid the T-Mobile G1 was. Our baby-sister site AndroidCentral is covering all things Android and T-Mobile G1 so be sure to check them out!

What do you think? Do you think the T-Mobile G1 is a worthy contender of the iPhone? Let us know!

The reason for the recall? Apple is saying that the metal prongs may break off and remain embedded in the power outlet which creates a risk of electrical shock. Apple strongly states that users should stop using these adapters until they are exchanged for the new version. The exchange program starts October 10th so Apple suggests charging via USB on your computer until then.

It hurts to say but it looks like us early adopters for the iPhone 3G got bit hard. Previous Apple products had all these little nuggets that made Apple a breath of fresh air in a stale PC-world. But with the iPhone 3G it seemed like all the adorable qualities that made Apple, Apple, got lost and got worse. Luckily it looks like Apple is tidying the ship on all of these issues.

Click the Read Link to see the full details directly from Apple.

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How does the Otterbox perform? Is it as secure and successful as the case suggests? Or is it just another case in the iPhone pipeline? Could it all be just a gimmick?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

From a quick glance, the Otterbox Defender doesn’t look much different than any other case. Upon closer inspection however, you begin to notice the well-thought design and construction. Though it adds a considerable amount of thickness to the iPhone, it feels great and solid in hand.

The Otterbox Defender comes in four separate pieces: a front and back hard shell, a silicone sleeve, and a belt clip. The Otterbox Defender includes a protective plastic cover for the screen and an exposed plastic to show the Apple logo—I mean you still have to know it’s an iPhone right?

The camera is also protected by a thin sheet of plastic and the headphone jack and docking port are protected via rubber caps. The speakers and microphone have a very thin sheet of protection on it. The volume, lock, and home controls are also protected by rubber buttons with the silent/ringer switch is completely inaccessible.

Overall, the design of the Otterbox Defender is extremely sturdy and solid. The choice to use a combination of a plastic hard shell with a silicone rubber skin is great because it combines the protection of a hard shell with the overall feel of rubber.

Usability

With such an intricate design for a case, it is obviously going to take time to apply and remove the Otterbox Defender to the iPhone. There are a lot of clips that need to be snapped together and rubber that needs to fit in specific holes, but after you get through that process, make no doubt about it, your iPhone feels as protected as can be. The silicone rubber skin is of great quality and feels great in hand.

All the buttons—volume, lock, home—are equally as responsive with the rubber covering them. Amazingly, the plastic screen that protects the actual iPhone touch screen does not inhibit the sensitivity. I was very impressed by how responsive the iPhone’s touch screen was under that layer of plastic. The only problem with the plastic screen is that if pressed with any amount of force, it would occasionally create unsightly air bubbles. There didn’t seem to be anyway around it.

The included belt clip is made from the same tough plastic as the hard shell and it locks the iPhone into it quite well. In fact, I often times had trouble pulling the iPhone out of the clip—the fit was that secure. The belt clip is able to rotate 360 degrees and the iPhone can be placed either be open faced or face backwards. My problem with the belt clip is that the home button is not easily accessible and it is too tough to remove for easy access.

I have very few complaints about the Otterbox Defender for iPhone because it offers as close to complete protection and coverage of every part of the iPhone. Plus, it gives off a secure and solid look and also feels wonderful. If you’re looking for protection or live an outdoor lifestyle, this case is truly one of the best available and the price can easily be rationalized to be ‘worth it’.

Final Thoughts

I’m very impressed with the Otterbox Defender for the iPhone because of its thoughtful design and excellent execution. I loved the feel of the case because it not only felt sturdy and solid but it also added grip to an obviously slick iPhone. It definitely feels like OtterBox didn’t cut any corners with this case.

Unfortunately, it does come with a fairly high price. But compared with other cases priced near the Defender, the Defender offers an infinite amount more protection. Though it does add considerable amount of thickness, if you’re looking for a case that protects your iPhone from the elements—thickness should be expected.

Also, it cannot be fully submerged under water, a definite shortcoming considering its target market. However, with all things considered, the Otterbox Defender for iPhone is great implementation of protection without compromise. Almost all the iPhone’s features are present with an unparalleled level of protection. I would consider this a buy for anyone who’s lifestyle is rugged, planning an outdoor trip, or is looking for the ultimate protection for their iPhone.

PROS

• Protects Your iPhone in Every Imaginable Way
• Feels Great in Hand
• All Buttons, Most Features Easily Accessible
• Solid Build Quality

CONS

• Adds Considerable Thickness
• Occasionally Leaves Air Bubbles Behind Plastic Screen Cover
• Pricey
• Belt Clip is a Tight Fit and Gives No Access to Home Button

FINAL RATING: 4.7/5

[This is a GRAND PRIX App vs. App Review! Congratulations to our first winner, Dorthensensens, who gets a copy of last week's winning racer: Crash! Want a chance to win this week's? Comment below, and make sure you leave a valid email address in the comment form -- it won't be made public, but it will be used to contact you if you win! Check out the full contest details, then grab your iPhone and get ready race -- Heat 2 of the TiPb GRAND PRIX starts now!]

Continuing TiPb’s GRAND PRIX we have two racing games with sophisticated graphics and sweet controls. Introducing Asphalt 4 Elite Racing (available from iTunes for $9.99) and GTS World Racing (available from iTunes for $7.99)! So we must ask again, who is going to get the checkered flag this time? Will it be the game with Ridge Racer like controls or the one with a Gran Turismo type feel? See how they compare in Heat #2 of TiPb’s GRAND PRIX!

The Race Starts After the Break!

First Impressions

Asphalt 4: Asphalt 4 Elite Racing, from Gameloft, is rooted in mobile platforms, in fact, there have been previous versions for other, less-capable cell phones. From the quick look of it, the gameplay falls more in line with Ridge Racer than anything else. Which essentially means: expect a more arcade like feel which includes pumping up the Nitro and drift like mad.

Choose between a Wi-Fi multiplayer mode, 28 licensed cars, and 9 different cities all with great 3D graphics and intuitive gameplay.

GTS World: GTS World Racing, from Handmark Inc., falls more in life with “realistic” racing games, choosing to pass on gimmicky elements such as Nitro and throwing bones and instead focusing on excellent controls and great simulation of the driving experience.

With GTS World Racing you are able to pick between 4 different race modes (single, challenge, grand tour, and championship), 3 different cars, and a multitude of destinations.

Graphics and Sound

Asphalt 4: Asphalt 4 Elite Racing claims to have the “Best 3D Graphics on the iPhone” and though it’s a lofty claim, you’d be hard pressed to find anything better. The environments are wonderful, Los Angeles has a Los Angeles feel which is entirely different from New York and Paris. We at TiPb are simply amazed by the detail in the environment.

Also, because Asphalt 4 Elite Racing attempts to be more than just a simple racing simulator, you get the added bonus of oncoming traffic (hate those taxis), cones, and mid-race instant replay. The one negative about Asphalt 4 Elite Racing’s look and feel is the sound teeters on the verge of annoying. The screeches when drifting don’t seem accurate and the soundtrack could use some work.

GTS World: GTS World Racing is certainly pretty, make no mistake, but the destination cities don’t seem different enough and the 3 car choices limit the range of the graphics. It seems like Canada is the same as New Zealand and Morocco is a carbon copy of Kenya. The graphics of the car and the road are well made but overall the limited options don’t exactly allow for versatile images.

What is a plus of GTS World Racing is its world-class sound—acceleration sounds perfect, braking is on point, and accidentally driving off road sounds exactly as it should. To be fair, GTS World Racing is graphically great, just not varied enough to be sophisticated.

Graphics and Sound Result: Asphalt 4 Elite Racing, though the sound could use some work, we at TiPb would still rather have it be pretty looking than pretty sounding.

Controls

Asphalt 4: What’s great about Asphalt 4 Elite Racing is the control options that it offers. There are three options to choose from that uniquely use all of the iPhone’s features: a touch based control, an accelerometer based control, and an on screen steering wheel. I personally found the touch based control to be the best—tapping a direction on the screen inches your car toward that direction. The accelerometer control was a bit too sensitive for my taste and the on-screen steering wheel was not sensitive enough.

Giving the option of 3 different control schemes is remarkably obvious but genius at the same time: it lets the player choose what they are most comfortable with.

GTS World: Though GTS World Racing only offers one control system: an accelerometer based tilt left, tilt right, lean forward to go faster—it is quite possibly the most accurate use of the accelerometer to date. The standard sensitivity is perfect and I found myself in awe of how well it read my movements. You can’t nail the iPhone-as-steering wheel as well as GTS World Racing did.

Controls Result: GTS World Racing, though I loved the choices that Asphalt 4 Elite Racing offered, you just can’t deny how accurate the steering is in GTS World Racing. Compliments to them!

Gameplay and Value

Asphalt 4: Though Asphalt 4 Elite Racing hits the price ceiling for iPhone gaming ($9.99), the incredible depth of the game makes it well worth it. The plethora of car choices combined with the varied destinations makes this one of the most complete racing games available. Without even mentioning Wi-Fi multiplayer, which enhances its replay value, Asphalt 4 Elite Racing is as good a buy as there is in the App Store.

Gameplay is great because when starting Asphalt 4 Elite Racing you’re pressed to hit certain money landmarks to unlock new features. Therefore, Asphalt 4 Elite Racing offers depth not found in other iPhone games—you actually have to win races to advance and enhance your car.

GTS World: GTS World Racing offers multiple game modes but after a while the racing got more or less the same. The tracks are varied by difficulty but the environment remains the same—you either get green grass, dead grass, or ice.

To be fair, GTS World Racing gets bonus points for varying the different race types but after a while you can only do so much. Even for a racing die-hard winning the same race gets a tad bit boring.

Gameplay and Value Result: Asphalt 4 Elite Racing, though GTS World Racing offers great immediate value at $7.99 it simply doesn’t have the replay value of Asphalt 4 Elite Racing.

Conclusion

But this is TiPb’s GRAND PRIX and for each heat there can be only one winner and for this race we are going to go with Asphalt 4 Elite Racing. The game depth simply surpasses most iPhone games and the added replay value of Wi-Fi multiplayer cannot be discounted. Combine that with the amazing graphics and control schemes, Asphalt 4 Elite Racing is in our minds the favorite to win the ENTIRE TiPb GRAND PRIX.

WINNER: Asphalt 4 Elite Racing

AT&T has high hopes for their U-Verse service, which is AT&T's fancy term for their high speed internet, TV, and voice telephone package. It all works over the Internet and some believe that this is the direction that television is headed. So how does the iPhone fit into all this?

Well, obviously we all know that AT&T is the exclusive carrier for the iPhone, so some high ranking suit probably thought it'd be a great idea to create synergy with their most popular phone and their next big money maker. How well will they play together? The iPhone's U-Verse features will include having Visual Voicemail play through your TV, the option to download shows from your DVR to your iPhone, using the iPhone as a true remote, and even for giggles like hurling virtual tomatoes at the screen.

Sure, it may sound gimmicky but it looks to be good business for AT&T. And hey, throwing tomatoes? That's always fun.

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When Steve Jobs uttered the statement that “Now you can make a pretty good argument that the [iPod Touch/iPhone] is the best portable device for playing games on”, did you nod your head in unison? I have my money on you saying no—the iPhone is a great device, to be sure, but a gaming device? Leave that to Nintendo you probably thought.

Why? Because the Nintendo DS has sold close to 80 million units since its inception. The numbers speak for themselves, the Nintendo DS is the king of portable gaming. So what would it take for the iPhone to knock the DS off of its throne? Well, that’s what we are here to tell you.

Read on to see how the iPhone can take on the Nintendo DS!

Taking a quick look at the Nintendo DS we can definitely see that Apple has a lot to learn before even coming remotely close to matching the success of the DS. The DS has great games, a sleek, colorful design, and a fun factor that is unmatched in portable gaming. Nintendo as a company bleeds games, it is their sole priority—to compete with such dedication Apple needs to befriend those whose talents better suit the field.

But looking at it spec-by-spec, it is clear the the iPhone/iPod Touch is fully capable of challenging the DS for portable gaming supremacy, the processor is superior, the screen is bigger, and multi-touch simply runs circles around the stylus+touchscreen of the DS.

Nintendo DS

Processor: two ARM CPUs (67MHz and 33MHz)

Screen: two 256x192 pixel screens

iPhone

Processor: ARM CPU @ 620MHz

Screen: 480x320 pixels

Plus the added benefit of not having to carry a cell phone AND a gaming device is understated, I cannot tell you how many times I’ve fired up an iPhone game to kill dead time—I don’t readily carry my DS as much as my iPhone.

The biggest concern for iPhone gaming is attracting developers to develop standout games for the iPhone and more importantly, exclusives. The DS has an advantage because the company who makes the system (Nintendo) is the company who makes its best games (Nintendo). This is why it’ll take time to develop the iPhone as a viable gaming platform—developers need to become familiar with the format and develop games that can take advantage of all the iPhone’s features. But guess what? It’s already happening. Super Monkey Ball and Spore Origins is already here, Need for Speed is coming, and who knows what else is next. Multi-touch, the accelerometer, and flexibility is all specs that the DS can’t match.

Games CAN sell on the iPhone because of the wondrous App Store that leaves the developers with no advertising nor packaging costs. If a solid game hits the $9.99 price point, gamers will flock. Add to the fact that the iPhone is always-connected to the internet (DS accepts only WEP encrypted WI-Fi) and has a 8GB/16GB hard drive, the iPhone is the most superior system to develop games on—its more powerful than any gaming device with the most unique control system yet maintains a convenience factor that cannot be duplicated.

We at TiPb agree that gaming on the iPhone is still a work in progress—there are few games that adequately replace the portable gaming device feel and there are still traditionalists who prefer physical buttons over multi-touch. Yeah, the iPhone is heads and shoulders above “cell phone games” but to compete with the DS, Apple desperately needs to accommodate for more “game-like features” such as: better save modes, deeper immersion in video games, and maybe even external, physical buttons.

When all that happens, look out. The DS is a limited system that can only play games. The iPhone? Well, we at TiPb think that the iPhone is the perfect platform for gaming. What do you guys think?

Many Bluetooth Headsets are beginning to make and market small, ultra-portable Bluetooth Headsets. Count Samsung as one of them because the Samsung WEP-500 Bluetooth Headset is a simple, stylish, and ULTRA-small Bluetooth Headset.

The headset itself is no bigger than a quarter, with such small stature does it sacrifice in performance? Or is the Samsung WEP-500 Bluetooth Headset the best of both worlds?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Samsung WEP-500 is a very impressive looking headset. It’s not the flashiest or shiniest headset around but I think that's a good choice by Samsung's Design Team. I think a lot of people will appreciate the WEP-500’s subtle style, it doesn't overwhelm you with bells and whistles. The headset’s color scheme is classy, with a matte black outlining a sleeker bluish black. It also comes in a version with muted silver outlining a tasteful black.

The Samsung WEP-500 is unique because of its circular design and of course, tiny size. Unlike other ultra-portable Bluetooth Headsets, the body of the Samsung WEP-500 is fairly thin. The indicator light is also unobtrusive but also can be turned off by holding the volume button. I definitely enjoy the overall look and build quality of this headset. Too many times, Bluetooth Headsets scream ‘Hey! Look at me!’. The Samsung WEP-500 is confident enough in its styling choices that it doesn’t feel the need to overcome any perceived shortcomings.

Usability

Because of the WEP-500’s small size, the button layout is rather simple. There’s a multifunction button and volume controls. I found the multifunction button to be much too easy to press and overly sensitive. I’ve hung up on a few calls while trying to adjust the fit and didn't know what hit me. The position of the button is expected but the button itself is just a little too sensitive for my taste; Samsung should have definitely made a stiffer, less obtrusive multipurpose button.

Another sacrifice in having such a small design is that it requires a charging cradle. I’m not a particular fan of charging cradles because it adds another item that needs to be carried. Luckily, the charging cradle doubles as a carrying case and the WEP-500’s battery life is better than similar headsets. Though 3.5 hours may be paltry to heavy users, for an ultraportable headset, it’s almost as good as it gets.

The fit is decent, the design is almost “in-ear” but it is not as bothersome as in-ear ear buds typically are. Though I did find a few instances where I felt as if the headset was about to fall out—the headset managed to stay fairly secure the whole time. However, I wouldn’t recommend running or even light jogging with this particular headset since there doesn't seem to be an ear loop option.

A notable feature on this headset is the addition of a secondary microphone. I found it very surprising for a device so small to have TWO microphones. And you know what? The addition of two microphones seemed to have helped and make this headset a standout performer. Callers heard me loud and clear, the echo cancellation really seemed to work. Even in noisier settings, the callers didn’t complain as much as they have in testing of previous headsets.

Incoming audio quality is also very impressive. It has similar technology as Plantronics AudioIQ, which essentially means it adjusts the volume to your surroundings. Specifically, it'll get louder in loud areas and quieter in quiet areas. Plus the in-ear design helps block out background noise, the incoming audio is really great.

Final Thoughts

Overall the Samsung WEP-500 is a solid performer. It combines subtle style with great audio performance, I am happy to use such a great piece of technology. The fit isn’t amazing but after a few times I’ve grown accustomed to it. The circular shape is unique in the world of Bluetooth Headsets and the indicator light isn't blinding.

My biggest gripe is the sensitivity of the multifunction button. Samsung really should have made it a bit stiffer, I have accidentally ended a call too many times. After a while I got used to the sensitivity and made it more of a point to handle the headset with care. If Samsung ever comes up with a solution to this minor problem, the WEP-500 will become an excellent headset that everyone should own. In the meantime, I can still recommend this to anyone looking for an ultraportable headset because it still works as advertised: great styling and great audio quality.

PROS

• Great Subtle Design, Classy Look
• Very Good Audio Quality
• Decent Enough Battery Life Compared to Similar Products

CONS

• Ridiculously Sensitive Multi-Function Button
• Charge via Charging Cradle
• Still Not Enough Battery Life

FINAL RATING: 4.3/5

We had mentioned the prototype of iControlPad more than a couple months ago, but it has popped up again looking a little bit more finalized and a lot BIGGER. Back in May, I had compared the original model to a PSP, but I think this edition looks more like the Sega Game Gear from years back. This thing is huge!

It promises to be glossier in the final production model and hopefully it'll look a little bit nicer. Shouldn't it look flush with the iPhone? At least steal some of the iPhone's design cues! I will reserve my excitement and temper my expectations until I see the final product. Because even though it is kind of ugly, it might take iPhone gaming to another level.

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Bluetooth headsets are becoming increasingly popular, on a common day you’d run into plenty of people using these hands-free devices. Some make you look like a bionic man, others simply look bland, but there are a rare few that makes your head turn. The Motorola H9 Bluetooth Headset ($89.95) falls in that head-turner, borderline sexy category.

Sculpted to be no larger than a quarter, the Motorola H9 is sleek, lightweight, and unmistakably TINY. How can they fit a capable Bluetooth Headset in such a small package? Does it sacrifice performance for the sake of good looks? Is it even useful?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

Obviously, with such a strong emphasis on the size of the Motorola H9, it better be jaw droppingly small and impressive. And to that fact, it is, the headset is amazingly small yet it still manages to remain sturdy and look sleek.

A blue indicator light illuminates the shiny silver on the front face of the Bluetooth headset. Though eye-catching to most, some may find it annoying so pressing all of the control buttons can turn it off. But there is no denying that the Motorola H9 is one of the better looking Bluetooth headsets available, its combination of good looks and superb build quality makes it without a doubt, a high end set.

However, with such a strong emphasis on the size and design, Motorola keeps the functions of the H9 to a minimum. The key control is simple—a main multi button and standard volume buttons. The H9 is designed as an in-ear headset, so those that dislike the in-ear design should obviously stay away. Also, though the headset is tiny in size, it is a bit thicker than expected.

Usability

Because of the H9’s in-ear design the headset will take some getting used to. Though the lightweight of the H9 helps this issue, the in-ear design may not be for everyone. Also, It doesn’t come with an ear loop so though it is secure for daily use—running or even light jogging will probably dislodge the headset.

The fit is decent, after you get used to the in-ear design it slowly grows on you. It isn’t immediately comfortable like those from the Plantronics Line but it’s not uncomfortable either. The fit will probably boil down to how forgiving you are of in-ear designs.

Since there isn’t room for a charging port on the headset itself, the H9 is accompanied by a charging cradle. To charge, you insert the mini-USB port to the cradle and place the headset on the cradle. The charging cradle doubles as a portable charging unit, which is necessary since the H9 itself only holds 1.5 hour of talk time. With the charging cradle, you can add an extra 6 hours albeit at a 1.5 hour a time pace.

Overall, the Bluetooth headset performs solidly—earning rave reviews in more quiet areas but having problems in slightly noisier environments. It’s amazing that such a small piece of technology can perform as well as bigger-sized products. Though callers complained of background noise such as other voices and wind, when I used the H9 in the car, it performed quite well. The in-ear ear buds worked to keep the incoming audio quality clear because it manages to block out exterior noise.

Final Thoughts

Let’s be honest, with such a tiny design the Motorola H9 will obviously have some limitations. Pointedly, the battery life is a concern for constant travelers not everyone may prefer the fit. Luckily, Motorola packaged a charging cradle that offers a boost to the headset’s battery life and the in-ear design blocks out background noise and isn’t all that uncomfortable.

The most important aspect of the Motorola H9 is that it attempts to be unique in the bland world of Bluetooth Headsets and to that extent, it succeeds. The audio quality is near flawless in a quiet setting and it keeps pace with comparable (but bigger) headsets in noisy environments. If you’re looking for a long-lasting Bluetooth headset and your commute is noisy, the Motorola H9 is not for you. But if you want a stylish design that doesn’t skimp on quality, look no further.

PROS

• Incredibly Small Design
• Great Audio Quality in Quiet Environments
• In-Ear Ear Buds Makes For Outstanding Incoming Audo
• Stylish Look

CONS

• Short Battery Life
• Average Performer in Noisy Environments
• In Ear Design May Put Off Some

FINAL RATING: 4.5/5

The Advertising Standards Authority, which we at TiPb are going to (foolishly) assume is the executive power of advertisements across the pond, has deemed an iPhone Advertisement as misleading in the UK. The sticking point? When Apple said:

"...all the parts of the internet are on the iPhone."

We think to please the guvnuhs on the other side, Apple will probably throw in one of them fine prints across the bottom of the page that specifies on what technology you 'really' do get. Does anyone know if Apple makes the same claim on the US commercials? Methinks yes.

Thanks Lee Richards!

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If you've never played around with BeeJive's JiveTalk, boy, you don't know what you're missing! Even though third party apps such as AIM and Palringo are available, I still prefer the look and feel of the JiveTalk WEB APP. I'm sure Crackberry Addicts can attest to JiveTalk's IM supremacy. And you know what? BeejiveIM (formerly JiveTalk) is coming to the iPhone and from the looks of it, seems to better than ever.

It's planned for Beta Release in September 2008 but the Boy Genius got his hands on it early and gave away a few details. It supports most IM programs, we're talking about: AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, Jabber, Windows Live Messenger, MySpace IM, and Yahoo! Messenger. Plus, it looks like the clean look of JiveTalk extended over to BeejiveIM and it's rock solid.

An added bonus, BeejiveIM is ready for Apple's push notification, which will be a godsend for IM programs. Though there isn't a current release date or price, BeejiveIM can't come soon enough...AIM blows big time. Click on the Read Link for more pictures.

Photo Credit: Boy Genius Report

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Think your iPhone 3G needs some sprucing up? Hate that the chrome bezel of the iPhone 3G scratches too easily? Well, for those who are wealthy beyond even the most wildest dreams, you can now get the diamond edition of the iPhone 3G. With only 50 being made worldwide, it'll cost $10,000 for the first 10 customers with the other 40 being priced at a later point.

Here's the lowdown on the diamonds:

• 475 Diamonds
• Brilliant Cut
• Color: F
• Clarity: VVS
• Carat 3.75ct

ReadVia

Cool. Who else loves this cat and mouse game that Apple and the iPhone dev team have with one another? First one goes and the other quickly follows, you gotta admit, at the very least it makes for good theater. At best? Well, a jailbroken iPhone of course!

This time around 2.0.2 has been pwned and is available to us via Pwnage Tool 2.0.3. It's Mac-Only so Windows users will have to use QuickPwn. PwnageTool 2.0.3 includes the newest build of Installer.app. Heads up to those waiting for QuickPwn to come to the Mac (I am), they state that it's about a week away.

But bad news for those still looking for a baseband unlock of the iPhone 3G since there are no significant updates on that front. Well, I guess we can't have everything right?

Read

Bluetooth headsets often offer the same feature set, the same styling, and the same performance. Plantronics is known for offering unique takes on Bluetooth Headsets and often add a new wrinkle to each headset in their product line. Popular because of their comfortable fit and Audio IQ technology, the Plantronics line constantly innovates.

With the Plantronics Voyager 815 Bluetooth Headset ($89.95), the innovation is an in-ear earbud and a sliding boom mic. Do they create a better Bluetooth Headset? Or are these features just bells and whistles? How does the Plantronics Voyager 815 perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Ed note: people looking to future-proof themselves might consider the Plantronics Voyager 855, it's identical to the 815 but supports A2DP Stereo for music. If the iPhone ever supports Bluetooth Stereo, it's a good option. Note, however, that the 855 has a 2nd earbud attached to the earhook, which might be annoying

Design

The Plantronics Voyager 815 falls in line with the look of a classic Plantronics headset. The sleek black plastic is outlined by a silver strip that tastefully adds symmetry to the design. It is extremely lightweight and feels very durable, Plantronics succeeds again in creating another quality looking Bluetooth Headset. The build quality is definitely that of a higher end headset.

There are three different in-ear earbuds you can insert to fit your ear not to mention the standard, included one. The in-ear earbuds are soft and malleable, they fit gently yet securely, in your ear. I found that the in-ear earbuds were very similar to high-grade earphones such as those from V-moda and Shure. Also, there are 2 different ear loops that allow you to stabilize the headset, though not required, I found it more comfortable with the ear loops attached.

The sliding boom mic is a unique feature in that it is supposed to make your outgoing audio sound clearer. There is no lock or extra click to fasten the boom mic, rather just simply a smooth slide to utilize the mic. You can also answer and end calls via sliding the boom mic. Though when extended, I felt the mic extension wouldn’t be as durable as the rest of the body of the headset because the plastic thins out. The headset is charged via micro USB.

Usability

The overall fit of the Plantronics Voyager 815 boils down to if you prefer the in-ear fit of noise isolating ear buds over the classic, less immersive regular earphones. Because this is strictly an in-ear headset, those who prefer the alternative should reconsider. The earbuds are of high quality materials and fit snugly in your ear canal, though the in-ear design may rub off some, the comfortable earbuds combined with the lightweight headset equals a great, almost unnoticeable fit.

The benefit of an in-ear design is that it blocks out surrounding noise and allows for a clear conversation. I found that though I’m typically not a fan of in-ear designs, using this headset is almost enough to convert me. Combining the AudioIQ technology (which automatically adjusts the volume to your surrounding) with the in-ear design, the incoming audio is superb. No static, great volume, and no background noise.

In varied tests with the PLantronics Voyager 815, I found that the outgoing audio quality was absolutely superb in quiet settings. Callers could hear my voice clearly without any digitization and no echoing. I was stunned by the quality of the outgoing audio quality, it worked wonderfully.

However, the Plantronics Voyager 815 isn’t quite the noise assassin that the Jawbone is so background noise is a bit of a problem. Extending the boom mic does help outgoing audio quality in this regard but the overall effect is minimal. Given a quiet surrounding and the Plantronics Voyager 815 excels, with a noisier background its performance is middling.

Final Thoughts

The Plantronics Voyager 815 Bluetooth Headset has become my go-to headset. The in-ear design blocks out surrounding noise and allows you to focus on the conversation. The fit is perfect, its lightweight body resting gently on your ears. The outgoing audio quality is superb when it is quiet and performs as well as most other headsets when background noise exists.

I think this is the perfect headset for anyone who prefers an in-ear design. The sleek and modern look is an added bonus and the comfortable fit is consistent with the Plantronics platform. Overall, this is easily one of the better headsets on the market today. You should consider it a BUY if you are looking for an in-ear design and a comfortable fit with great audio quality.

PROS

• Very Comfortable Fit
• Stylish Design
• Superb Incoming Audio Quality, Outgoing Audio Quality Shines In Quiet Areas
• Lightweight, Great Build Quality

CONS

• Average Performance in Noisier Environments
• In-Ear Design Not for Everyone

FINAL RATING: 4.5/5

One thing the FCC is really good at: unknowingly or "accidentally" leaking information about heavily anticipated, top-secret technology. At the very least, you gotta love them for that. There latest misstep? Leaking the size of the fabled HTC Dream, which you may remember as the world's first Android device. Yeap, that Android.

Surprisingly, it looks like it's going to be a wee bit shorter and a wee bit skinnier than the iPhone 3G. However, it is expected to be thicker than the iPhone given its inclusion of a full QWERTY keyboard in some way, shape, or form. Even though we are the iPhone blog, we give credit where credit is due: HTC must've done a helluva job making the Dream a bit smaller than the iPhone. I guess the Dream is making no secret about going after the iPhone

Now about that big slow fatty Blackberry Bold...

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Have you checked out our forums lately? The community is growing and the commentary is getting better and better each day. Unconvinced? I’ll bring out a thread, a post, a topic, or a comment directly from the forums and post it on TiPb’s front page every week to prove it to you. We here at TiPb love the interplay, quid pro quo, repartee with our readers, so step up your creativity and tighten up your diction, you could be next!

This week we have a great and interesting thread going on in our forums. CharlieBall asks when did your iPhone make your life easier? Obviously, we all know that the iPhone is a multipurpose tool that's the best iPod, best internet device, etc. but what about those little, less important times where the iPhone just made your life easier? The current answers range from trivia questions to phone saber battles, directions to movie times. So, when has the iPhone helped you out?

For me, I always Shazam songs that play on the radio and play games to kill the dead time. How about you?

Go Read CharlieBall's post on when the iPhone made your life easier!

So while Apple is ramping up production of the iPhone 3G, it looks like the rest of the cell phone industry is in a serious slump. Kind of. According to the NPD, (via Ars Technica) only 28 million cell phones were sold this quarter representing a 13% year-to-year decline. But looking specifically at the model-by-model numbers, it looks like everyone is enjoying success on Motorola's dime.

"Quarterly unit-sales of handsets fell to their lowest level, since NPD begin tracking the category in 2005," NPD director of industry analysis Ross Rubin said in a statement. "Even so, most major manufacturers picked up market share that was lost by Motorola."

In related news, MobileSafari has been on an absolute tear since the release of the iPhone 3G. According to Analysts, (via MacDailyNews) MobileSafari has nearly doubled its market share to 0.31% since the launch. Doing rudimentary math, having more handsets on the market that are twice as fast as the old one, well, I guess it adds up.

And to top it all off, our friends at Engadget have created an iPhone specific web page. Why, you ask? Because in 2008, the iPhone/iPod Touch Family has accounted for nearly 96% of all mobile views on their full Engadget site. That's just jaw dropping.

So that's the state of the industry. Surprised that the iPhone 3G has had such an effect on the numbers? What's to come?

Everybody has been playing the guessing game on how many iPhone 3Gs Apple has sold. The numbers have been pitted at 11 million this year and 25 million in 2009 on the low end and 13 million this year and 45 million in 2009 on the optimistic side. Well according to people familiar with Apple's production plans, it looks like Apple is preparing for the high end of the spectrum, upping their yearly production to around 40 million.

As it stands, Apple is pumping out 150,000 iPhones a day which roughly equates to 39 million a year (5 days a week, 52 weeks a year). Apple should have no problem selling these iPhones because of the international rollout and the Best Buy initiative, greater availability leads to more sales.

What does need to be fixed is the activation process, analysts deem the current process as the bottleneck that limits efficiency. Analysts are also pointing at a cheaper iPhone model to be announced during Macworld. That'll certainly help Apple reach its ambitious goals.

We at TiPb think it's entirely feasible to reach 40 million by 2009. Even after the initial hype subsides, there are still plenty of new markets to reach. If the iPhone begins to come in colors, new models, and more polished apps the iPhone 3G will continue to stay fresh for a long while. Now if Apple ever decided to sell the iPhone online again, well then, 40 million will be easy as pie. What do you think?

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Those Nike+ Pictures we reported a few days back? There's some rumblings that they may be fake. Yes, Apple and Nike are still in cahoots and plan on releasing Nike+ for the iPhone, but the pictures floating around the web are not a production of Apple or Nike but rather some enterprising photoshop expert.

Who knows when we'll get some solid info on Nike+ for iPhone. Hopefully, Apple and Nike are working on creating a great program that includes some of the features we saw in the screenshots like the ability to map out a running route. There currently is no timetable for Nike+ to be released on the iPhone.

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"We have these fake queues at front of 20 stores around the country to drum up interest in the iPhone," a spokesman said

What do you think? Would you buy a product because it looks like it's going to be popular? What do you think the 'actors' are going to do when Orange Poland asks for personal information? Is this the most ridiculous act of advertising ever?

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We've all known that Nike+ was supposed to come to the iPhone, we've just been waiting a bit longer than expected. So what has been cooking over at the Nike+ factory? A lot of great features and smart implementation, Nike+ definitely uses the iPhone's technology to its advantage to create a better user experience and offer a better feature set.

Because of the capabilities of the iPhone, a lot of the stuff that Nike+ used to run on the Mac and on the Web are now being run on the iPhone itself. You're able to keep track of all the classic stats and maybe even map out your route with GPS. Taking in all these screenshots, Nike+ and the iPhone has the looks of a winner.

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It's happened to a lot of us, I know. You're in a new city and you're hungry but you don't know where or what to eat. You delay the decision, growing edgier by the second and maybe even a little dizzy. Finally, you give in and order McDonald's or Pizza Hut or any fast food joint you can eat anywhere in this world when a great local spot was right next door. But of course, you had no idea.

With LocalEats, that scenario no longer exists. You're in a new city, you're hungry, you fire up LocalEats on your iPhone to find a great restaurant. You eat at said great restaurant. Don't be mistaken, this isn't a comprehensive food-review app like Yelp but rather a program that points you to the best restaurants when you need it most. To quote our own Dieter Bohn about LocalEats:

"It's [really] spot on!"

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Obviously, this tip won't apply to everyone. The 'killswitch' is there to remotely remove potentially malicious apps on your iPhone. Apple has stated before that to not have a 'killswitch' would simply be negligible on their part. So if Apple is activating the 'killswitch' they'll have good reason. But for those who would rather keep all the Apps that may not be okay by Apple's standards, this is the easiest way to disable the 'killswitch'.

So for those with jailbroken iPhones, you can sleep a little easier at night knowing that you've turned Big Brother off. Simply point your jailbroken iPhone to Cydia and download BossPrefs and you'll see the switch to switch off the 'killswitch'. Viva La Revolucion.

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Have you run into any 3G connection issues? Do you notice a slower tick than expected with your iPhone 3G? Well, take a part in Wired.com's global study so you can see if your iPhone is the slowest horse in the race or if it's just your area. Just point your iPhone Safari browser to TestMyiPhone.com and start a download and upload test and remember your location to import into Wired.com's interactive ZeeMap.

Maybe all this data won't amount to anything but it sure is cool to see how blazing fast 3G is in different parts of the world. Also, it serves as good reference to see if your iPhone 3G is part of the unlucky 2%. Click the Read Link for more info.

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Imagine this scenario: You’re in a hotel room and you bring your iPhone, Macbook, External Hard Drive, Camera, and another iPod cause you’re nasty..but they’re all in need of a charge. You run and send a search team for the nearest available outlet, to your utter dismay it only provides two outputs. You reason you can live without a couple of those items but then you can’t fit two clunky chargers at once. You’re left with just charging one device.

We’ve all run into hotel rooms that just don’t seem to have enough power outlets. With the Belkin Mini Surge Protector with USB that problem is pretty much solved. How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

It’s a portable surge protector that includes 3 electrical outlets and 2 USB ports (for charge only). They also throw in a Mini-USB charger for you in the box. Obviously it won’t win any design awards but the white and grey look is clean and will match your white charging cables from Apple, if you’re into that kind of thing.

The uniqueness of this electrical solution is the ability to rotate the surge a full 360 degrees with four locking positions (up, down, left, right). Meaning you can adjust the surge to your liking or to fit the surroundings of any outlet.

It’s a bit taller than your iPhone and as thick as maybe 4 iPhones so it’s not exactly small but its size is certainly purposeful. Build quality is solid, it makes you feel safe just holding it. Belkin did a really good job in making this surge protector a sturdy, trustworthy device. But I won’t lie, for a surge protector, this may be as good as it gets for design. It even matches Apple’s minimalist products!

Usability

Okay, here’s the lowdown on the specs of this bad boy:

• EMI/RFI Noise Filtration: 150kHz ~ 100 MHz up to 40 dB reduction
• Joule Rating: 918J
• Maximum Spike Current: 36,000A
• Powered USB Output: 5V/500mA each port
• Responses Time: <1 nanosecond
• UL Clamping Voltage: UL1449 800V

Though it isn’t the most compact device, it has become a must-add to my laptop bag. I’ve already found use for it at the local coffee shop, a hotel room, a classroom and expect to use it in more locations such as airport terminals and other public spaces. Honestly, I have no worries of being without a charge when I carry this portable surge around. Also, sharing the plugs with neighbors is fine by me, many suits breathe a sigh of relief when they see me pull out the mini surge protector.

This item isn’t exactly perfect though. I do wish the 3 electrical outlets were spaced a little bit wider, with so many unwieldy chargers these days it was hard to use ALL 3 outlets at the same time. Also, I would have preferred to see the actual plug snap into the body of the surge, which would make this device even more portable. Luckily they toss in a cap to protect the prongs.

The good

• Simple and Stylish for a Surge Protector
• Incredibly Useful for Frequent Travelers
• Rotates 360 Degrees
• It's a portable surge!

The bad

• Minimal Usage for Home Use
• Outlets should be spaced wider apart
• Plug should fold into the body

The conclusion

This is probably the perfect solution for any road warrior or frequent traveler. It seems as if there just isn’t enough plugs in this world to plug your electronic goodies into. So until hotels revamp their whole electrical wiring and public spaces offer multiple outlets, the Belkin Mini Surge Protector is probably the best solution. A 5 for 1 portable solution? Not bad at all.

Rating

• 4.8/5

Buy now

Have you checked out our forums lately? The community is growing and the commentary is getting better and better each day. Unconvinced? I’ll bring out a thread, a post, a topic, or a comment directly from the forums and post it on TiPb’s front page every week to prove it to you. We here at TiPb love the interplay, quid pro quo, repartee with our readers, so step up your creativity and tighten up your diction, you could be next!

This week we have a great tip from our moderator extraordinaire Bad Ash! We all obviously know that MMS is missing in the iPhone and even though we may have differences in opinion about MMS (it being a limited technology, for one) but the fact of the matter is that MMS has become the pseudo-standard for sending pictures on cell phones.

So, how can we send MMS pictures if we're using the iPhone? Well you'll have to check out Bad Ash's post won't ya! Hint: It involves attaching the phone number to a carrier specific e-mail address. E-mailing that address will send the picture via MMS. It's easy as pie!

Go check out Bad Ash's tip on how to send MMS to other cell phones!

So the news isn't that iPhone 2.1 Beta 4 has been seeded to developers, no that's expected. With a (hopeful) September release, iPhone 2.1 should be receiving its finishing touches. What the news is, is that the much ballyhooed feature of push notification is missing. As in gone. Not there. Removed. iPhone 2.1 Beta 4 removes the push notification feature from the test version.

Should we begin to worry? Push notification has been present in iPhone 2.1 since the very first beta. Apple says its been removed for further internal development. Obviously, the removal of the push notification feature would prevent developers from understanding the animal that is push.  But then again, we at TiPb would rather prefer a delayed polished product than a rushed buggy one (ahem..MobileMe).

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Before we say anything about the app, Simplify Media, go download it. Like right now. The first 100,000 iPhone users who download Simplify Media will receive it for free. After that, they'll be charged a cool $3.99. Who doesn't like a deal? Okay, good.

Simplify Media is an app that uses the desktop version on your Mac or PC to wirelessly stream your iTunes Library to your iPhone. So essentially the storage cap for music on your iPhone is essentially removed. Plus, it also works over EDGE and 3G and you have the option of listening to 30 of your friends' iTunes Library as well. In other words, Simplify Media is oozing and dripping with potential.

Here's to hoping you got a chance to be one of the first 100,000 users to download! As soon as we get things running, we at TiPb will let you know how well Simplify Media actually works!

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Ever miss the good old days of buying an iPhone? Well, you can get one step closer if you're an AT&T Premier member since you can now order the iPhone 3G online and wait for it to ship to you! The process takes 7-10 business days while a Direct Fulfillment Order made in the brick and mortar stores take around 2 weeks. Combining this method with the recent Best Buy Mobile news, it looks the iPhone 3G is going to be available to a lot more people now.

We at TiPb have always been wondering why the iPhone 3G was never made available through Apple's and AT&T's online outlets. Filling out an online form with the necessary information, waiting for the iPhone 3G to arrive in mail, and activating with a 'last step' on iTunes seems simple enough to us. But we guess Apple is in the business of the spectacular. Long lines FTW.

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Enigmo is a 3D puzzle-based game for the iPhone developed by Pangea Software that has been met with rave reviews, even earning a “Best iPhone Game” at WWDC 08. The basic premise is to put water droplets in the water container, oil droplets in the oil container, and lava droplets in the lava container using the specific materials given to you. The materials can range from sponges, springs, slides, or even laser guns and it uses basic physics to determine where each droplet will land.

Enigmo is already a popular game on the Mac, but does it translate to the iPhone? Is it worth your $9.99? How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Overview

The basic premise of the game is to put 40 droplets of whichever substance (water, oil, lava) into their respective containers. When I first saw it demo’d, I saw the immense potential in this puzzle-based game.

There are various tools you can use to accomplish the mission of filling the droplets in the containers. What’s great is that the water reacts to the item like it would in real life. Specifically, sponges would soak up the water and drip at a constant rate, slides would allow the water to slide down, and well, laser guns (if they were real, they’re more like super soakers) would shoot the water as if the droplets were bullets.

So you get the basic idea, water drips and you navigate those droplets into the container.

The Look

Honestly, Enigmo isn’t a graphically intensive game. There aren’t environmental concerns or realistic textures; obviously it won’t be confused with Gears of War. With that said and for the type of game it is, Enigmo still looks great. The 3D animation is similar to its desktop counterpart and there is never any hiccup in processing the graphics. When playing Enigmo, you can feel the iPhone’s slick graphical prowess, the animation just feels ridiculously smooth.

Luckily, the good doesn’t just end there. The physics in Enigmo is what drives it. Each water droplet reacts as expected and the items attempt to mimic reality—placing an item in one spot is entirely different than placing the same item in another. Because this game is physics based, it is crucial that Pangea nail it—good thing they passed the physics test with flying colors.

My only complaint with the look of the game is that it gets a bit dark in certain spots which is forgivable because the look is supposed to mimic the inside of a water pipe. Also, the introduction screen can be improved; it simply does not do the game justice. (Just look at how bland that looks!)

Gameplay

Because Enigmo is a puzzle-based game that uses physics as its main control, it comes with few instructions other than to put 40 water droplets into the container. The entire is game is essentially trial and error, you see what works and what doesn’t and then adapt to it.  It would have been nice if the developers included some hints to certain levels. For example, if you beat one level in a certain amount of time you would earn a 'hint' which you could then use when you are stuck. It could clue you in to where to put a particular piece or what have you. 

The basic controls for the items are dragging and dropping wherever you please. Pinching or pulling the screen will result in zooming in or out. You are also able to twist the item at a more precise angle when dragging the aiming circle outwards. Double-tapping an item will result it being sent back to your inventory bar. You can pause or end the game by double-tapping the screen.

The secondary goal to the game (the first being getting the droplets in the container) is to do it as fast as possible. Each level starts with a predetermined point value and it quickly counts down until it hits zero. When it hits zero, it essentially means you have gained no points. This scoring system is a bit odd because at the more difficult stages, it seems as if the counter is going much too fast and you can’t possibly see how it is feasible to earn points in your first attempt. I assume that the points are geared more toward replay value because completing a difficult level is already rewarding enough.

Enigmo allows 5 different saves and you are allowed to save after completing each level. Though it won’t save exactly from where you last left off, it will bring you back to the beginning of the level. Also, because the premise of the game is set, Pangea promises to introduce more level packs for the iPhone. Furthermore, if you’re ambitious, you can create your own level on your Mac and import them into the iPhone. Enigmo can essentially serve as a platform for creating specific level packs, the replay value of this game is immense.

However, this game isn’t PERFECT. I would like to see some improvements in the controls, sometimes I unintentionally move a key piece when I wanted to actually move the screen and other times I wish the precise zoom aiming would lock so my finger wouldn’t have to be locked to the screen the entire time.Other than a few control quirks and the lack of hints, I believe that Enigmo is a great puzzle game and perfectly ported for the iPhone.

Final Thoughts

But no matter how frustrating the levels of Enigmo can get, the possibilities of the platform is endless. With more level packs coming and the ability to design your own, Enigmo looks like its going to be a keeper for iPhone gaming. Go buy it now!

PROS

• Great Physics and Good Graphics
• Intuitive Gameplay
• Great Replay Value
• Good Music

CONS

• Sometimes a bit dark
• Controls can be quirky
• Maddeningly Frustrating When You Don't Know How To Pass a Level

Final Rating: 4.8/5

Apple's Headquarters in Cupertino caught fire overnight. A three-alarm fire burned in the building known as Valley Green 6. The Santa Clara Fire Department received reports of smoke at about 10 P.M. Pacific Time. No injuries have been reported and the building was cleared. At about midnight Pacific Time the fire dispatcher was still uncertain on when the fire would be contained.

We're not exactly sure what goes on in the Valley Green 6 building but the obvious joke would be that it houses MobileMe. On a more serious note, we at TiPb hope that the firefighters are able to contain the fire and get home safe. Hopefully, everything and everybody will be okay.

Click the Read Link for a Video

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Where's my auto-focus, zoom, better resolution, better lens, video, etc. !? I think Apple is severely underestimating the appeal of a great camera. Hopefully, they'll recognize the iPhone Camera's limitation and create an industry-leading device. We here at TiPb like to dream big.

What do you think?

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Can't find a Bluetooth Headset that fits your ear? Struggling enough with the headset that it defeats the purpose of being 'hands free'? Well, the Motorola MOTOROKR T505 Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone ($99.95) is ideal for you. It is essentially a Bluetooth speakerphone, keeping your hands free and your ears clear while driving your car. Unlike a Bluetooth headset, the Motorokr T505 is meant to be used strictly in a car setting. How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Motorokr T505 looks about the size of your average garage door opener, in fact, Motorola suggests that you clip it to the sun visor in your car. The build quality of the Motorokr T505 is superb. It has great texture to it, feeling soft yet sturdy. The buttons are defined and easy-to-reach, the overall look of the Motorokr T505 is subtly stylish, a gadget that looks more wonderous and mysterious than utilitarian and boxy. It will more often than not blend into your car instead of sticking out like an eye-sore.

Usability

The Motorokr T505 sets out to do a few things which are: keep your hands free while driving, provide a clearer and louder speakerphone than your iPhone’s, and transmit calls (and music) to your car’s stereo system via FM. It certainly can be considered a narrow scope to focus on, if you don’t drive a car you won’t need the Motorokr T505. But if you do drive a car, let me tell you this, I can’t imagine using anything other than the Motorokr T505 again.

Syncing your iPhone with the Motorokr T505 is easy as any other Bluetooth device. And I was able to use the speakerphone in seconds upon powering up. Also, charging is made available through mini-USB. What’s great about the Motorokr T505 is that there is no fumbling for the iPhone or having an earpiece attached to you the entire time you’re driving, it is truly a hands free device.

The speakerphone is clear, loud, and extremely audible. Callers were pronounced and unmistakably clear, this was as good as it gets for a Bluetooth speakerphone. Callers also agreed that I sounded great and hardly noticed that I was talking via speakerphone, they assumed I was on my iPhone the entire time.

When the FM transmitter in the Motorokr T505 transmits the call to your FM, it scans the best available station to broadcast to. Specifically, it searches for an empty signal and broadcasts your call to that transmission. Doing this, it gives your phone call a surround sound-esque platform. Though your mileage may vary with the FM transmitter, I live in Los Angeles, home of a multitude of FM stations and the Motorokr T505 still managed to find a signal that was empty and transmitted the conversation clearly to my car’s stereo.

However, because the Motorokr T505 is a speakerphone meant for in the car use, it can only fill a specific niche. For example, if you are always on the go but without a car, there is little need for a car speakerphone. But if you are a commuter who travels mainly by car, there are few better options. The only downside to the Motorokr T505 is when you are carrying passengers, your conversation is not exactly private since the whole car can hear and participate. For those worried about those situations, a Bluetooth headset might better fit that need.

Final Thoughts

I never imagined a car speakerphone to perform so well. I initially imagined the Motorokr T505 to be nothing more than a glorified speakerphone for the iPhone, but I was completely off base. It is a speakerphone that offers great compatibility, clarity, and flexibility. As a speakerphone it succeeds, but when transmitting to your FM stereo it surpasses all expectations.

This Motorokr T505 is a great solution for anyone who is looking for a hands-free device while driving in the car. I highly recommend it to all people who are in need of talking on their cell phone while driving.

PROS

• Great Sounding Speakerphone
• Transmits to FM stations well
• Stylish Design
• Easy-To-Use

CONS

• For Use in Car Only
• Conversations aren't exactly private

Final Rating: 4.8/5

So you've been running on iPhone 2.0 (hopefully, 2.0.1) for a while now. And you've all enjoyed the plethora of quality apps at the App Store, but did you know how well the App Store was actually doing? Well, according to one of those old reputable printing press companies, pretty darn well.

The App Store holds a current pace of earning a revenue of over a million dollars a day, which roughly translates to $360 million a year. Steve Jobs issued some resounding statements about the App Store saying,

"This thing's going to crest a half a billion, soon," he added. "Who knows, maybe it will be a $1 billion marketplace at some point in time." and also said, "I've never seen anything like this in my career for software"

So yeah, that App Store is doing great. Who would have thought an easy-to-use, iTunes-like interface would revolutionize the mobile software industry? Best of luck catching up RIM, WinMob, Android..

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Peeved that your iPhone 3G didn't come with a dock? Annoyed that the dock is just too, plain? Well, if you want to add some color, creativity, and character, there probably isn't anything better than a Steve Jobs Dock! The detail is amazing, the color is accurate, and the Steve Jobs Keynote pose is downright hilarious. Not to mention, it's a bobblehead that works with both original iPhone and the iPhone 3G.

What would be even cooler is if you could rig Steve Jobs the Bobblehead to say "Boom" every time you insert your iPhone into the dock.

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Have you checked out our forums lately? The community is growing and the commentary is getting better and better each day. Unconvinced? I’ll bring out a thread, a post, a topic, or a comment directly from the forums and post it on TiPb’s front page every week to prove it to you. We here at TiPb love the interplay, quid pro quo, repartee with our readers, so step up your creativity and tighten up your diction, you could be next!

This week we have a question raised by Wegmans wondering if we love our iPhone's soft keyboard. Answers range from resounding yes's to an almost as good as my old phone. Surprisingly, many of the folks who came from Blackberry and Treo have little complaints about the iPhone's keyboard and have actually gotten quite attached to it.

AutoCorrect? Best thing ever. No physical buttons? Saves ourselves from the Blackberry thumbs! However, the forums are still looking for a universal landscape keyboard.

Either way, the iPhone's keyboard is a great implementation of a soft keyboard. For those who haven't tried it, try it out! And for those who have, do you like the iPhone's keyboard?

Go check out Wegmans' thread on if you like the iPhone's keyboard!

You see that picture? That's the $999.99 app that we've already warned you about. So please, if you're interested in that red ruby of a status symbol, simply save that image to your iPhone and use it as a wallpaper or something. Don't go buying this completely featureless program for $999.99 !! But sadly, it's too late for 8 people who have already purchased the app. According to the developer there is even more waiting for it to come back to the app store.

"I am sure a lot more people would like to buy it -- but currently can't do so," Heinrich said. "The App is a work of Art and included a 'secret mantra' -- that's all."

Actually, I have a request for any sane and capable developer. Make the same exact program. Call it "I Am Richer' and give it away for free. How's that for ya?

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Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

The Nu Form is designed as a 2-piece polycarbonate shell with a smooth upper and grippy bottom exterior. The case is connected together by sliding the top portion (about 3/5th the iPhone length) with the bottom portion (2/5th). There is no snap mechanism or enclosure to click, the case just slides into one another, connecting in a sure grip of the iPhone. The benefit of creating a 3/5th design is to allow the iPhone 3G the freedom to dock, but given that Apple excluded the dock as a standard accessory, there is less need for such a design.

Also included in the box is a front screen protector that seems a tad bit too thick and clunky. Using a clear, thick plastic screen instead of a film solution leaves room for air bubbles and adversely affects the touchscreen, I would recommend searching for another solution from the likes of Bodyguardz or Invisibleshield or doing away with the included screen protector entirely.

Usability

The Nu Form case itself allows for easy access to all buttons and doesn’t inhibit any controls. Though some may complain that the openings in the case allows for easy damage to the controls, I would much rather have easy access to the iPhone than a diminished user experience. The protection that the Nu Form offers is more than adequate and is similar to competitive products.

What makes the Nu Form stand out from being just an average case is its stylish design. The smooth white upper includes a box graphic that added a bit of character to the case. The bottom portion of the case differs from the top in that its exterior materials provide for more grip and texture. Overall, the look and feel of the Nu Form is great. This case is a joy to use.

The case adds minimal thickness to the iPhone 3G and from my testing seemed pretty good to hold in hand. Having the Nu Form case on the iPhone 3G seemed like a much better solution that constantly wiping away all the fingerprint buildup on your glossy iPhone 3G.

One potential issue that I do see with this case is its inner design. I would have been happier if Griffin included some felt lining in the interior because plastic on plastic typically leads to scratches. But in slipping the case in and out multiple times, there seems to not be an issue. So I presume adding a felt lining would only serve for my peace of mind.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I can recommend this case to anyone looking for a stylish solution that doesn’t strip away all the unique character from the iPhone 3G. It offers adequate protection and is one of the better looking cases available for the iPhone 3G. However, I would recommend doing away with the included plastic screen protector and instead choose a solution from Bodyguardz or Invisibleshield. It comes in either White/Light Grey or Dark Grey/Black Combinations available at the iPhone blog store now!

PROS

• Stylish Design
• Easy Access to buttons
• Easy Removal for Docking Purposes
• Adds Minimal Thickness

CONS

• Plastic Screen Protector Diminishes Sensitivity
• Styling Might Not Be For Everyone

Final Rating: 4.6/5

This is fun. It's like a game of cat and mouse between Apple firmware and the jailbreaking community, Apple launches an update and the iPhone-dev team works feverishly to jailbreak said update. This time, they are said to be putting the finishing touches on PwnageTool 2.0.2 which will be able to jailbreak the "snappier" 2.0.1.

Excited much? Well, there still won't be Installer.app because Installer 4 isn't ready for the primetime yet but a new version of Cydia will be there so you can still get some apps. There still is a lot of catching up to do on developing jailbroken apps and it still won't unlock the iPhone 3G, but all in due time. We'll follow up with a link to PwnageTool 2.0.2 when it is released.

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So it's been a day since 2.0.1 was made available and we at TiPb would like to know how it's been running on your iPhone. Did this bug-fixer of an update actually fix any bugs? Or are we all getting suckered into believing that the update has made things snappier? Pains in the update process? Backups faster? Apps Crashing? Or are things just less sucky? Maybe you completely avoided the update..anything and everything, we want to know!

Personally, things have "felt" a little bit smoother. Contacts load noticeably quicker but my SMS is still a good couple of seconds too long. No crashes to report yet but I did have one ginormously big hiccup after updating: the mail app crashed on launch. I had to completely restore and set up my iPhone as a new iPhone which was more than mildly annoying, to put it lightly. So other than that, YAY 2.0.1. Woot.

So TiPb faithful, how is 2.0.1 treating you?

Bummed out that the (PRODUCT)Red iPhone never came out? Regret your White iPhone? Wondering how to turn your iPhone 3G, let's say, blue? Well Colorware, the electronics color customization company, has just announced that they are going to be lending their amazing talents to the iPhone 3G.

Though obviously there won't be an option to buy an iPhone 3G directly from Colorware, you will be able to send in your iPhone for customization that includes a variety of colors and finishes. Colorware also offers the opportunity to change the color of the frame, sim card tray, button, ear buds and dock.

For those looking for a solution to make your iPhone unique, Colorware is a great option. The process starts at $150 but the envious stares from your friends may be worth it. Any takers?

Read. Thanks to mrHiDefinition for the tip!

Have you checked out our forums lately? The community is growing and the commentary is getting better and better each day. Unconvinced? I’ll bring out a thread, a post, a topic, or a comment directly from the forums and post it on TiPb’s front page every week to prove it to you. We here at TiPb love the interplay, quid pro quo, repartee with our readers, so step up your creativity and tighten up your diction, you could be next!

This week we have a tip from forum member, h22kai, on how to swap out your broken iPhone 3G for a brand, spanking new one at the Apple Store. We at TiPb have heard of more hardware issues dealing with the iPhone 3G than any other Apple product in recent memory, so if you own an iPhone 3G and are running into build quality issues, feel free to take a look at h22kai's list!

It includes simple advice like restoring your iPhone prior to your Genius Bar appointment and more specific suggestions like removing any discount from AT&T.

Go Check out h22kai's tip on how to swap out your broken iPhone 3G at an Apple Store!

We've had our fair share of gripes and complaints about AT&T here at TiPb but we don't give them enough credit for trusting Apple and letting them go wild with the iPhone. Sure, they may be out to squeeze every dollar from their customers, but few carriers would even imagine giving Apple the freedom to create the. best. gadget. ever.

Plus, AT&T is well aware of the attention and added dollars they get by having an exclusivity agreement for the iPhone, so it comes to no surprise to us that one of those old, reputable, print companies is reporting that AT&T has added another year of exclusivity (until 2010 now). If AT&T were to lose the iPhone now, it'd be a complete disaster since the iPhone is starting to entrench itself in the market.

So I guess since AT&T will never give up on the iPhone, it's on Apple to make every customers dream come true and deliver a fully unlocked iPhone. Maybe then, carriers will begin to lower their prices and the power will come back to the consumers.

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Update: Macrumors lets us know that, strangely enough, it's back in the App Store. It doesn't show up in a search, but you can download it via this iTunes/App Store link.

Update 2: ...aaaand it's gone again, at least in the US. Le Sigh.

The Interweb is abuzz about this little program that popped up on the App Store yesterday, so aptly named NetShare. The concept of the app is to essentially use your iPhone's 3G or EDGE (god knows why) connection for your laptop. It creates a proxy and establishes a pseudo-hotspot with your iPhone's connection leaving you free to surf the web on your laptop. It's tethering, more or less.

How this got passed Apple and AT&T who knows. But it looks like  has already been kicked out of the App Store. Did any of the TiPb faithful get their hands on this app while it was hot? Anyone get it to work? From what TiPb has been hearing, it's really hit or miss. Let us know.

Maybe Apple wanted the developers of NetShare to get the app right before they put it out again...wish for it and it'll come true...wish for it and it'll come true.

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Patent filings sometimes clue you in to the direction a company is headed with their devices. Sure, some are crazy and others are ridiculous, but you can get a general sense of what the company is trying to accomplish in those stencil-like drawings and comic-like blurbs.

Well, Apple has filed a patent that strongly hints toward developing an add-on/dongle/hub/dock-type device that will accept AM, FM, HD, or satellite radio along with cable TV, satellite TV, antenna, or IPTV. The multiple connecting devices, as shown in the patent filing, could range from being a dock, a stereo, or even a computer.

What makes this Apple patent unique is its ability to "tag" information about the current movie, TV show, or song, allowing you to save the information presumably to let iTunes develop a list of movies, shows, and music you might be interested in.

Honestly, I'm lukewarm about this "media extender" device coming into fruition partly because I would hate to have a dongle attached to my iPhone and more importantly, can't imagine Apple pushing media that isn't sold through their iTunes pipeline.

Either way, this patent filing makes for good conversation. What do you think?

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What raises TiPb's eyebrow is the fact that their website has common spelling and grammatical errors. Plus it seems like they're pimping their product more than showing the process. But hardware Sim Unlocks do seem to be from foreign countries and use some mysterious, voodoo magic to unlock the iPhone. So I guess if they're right, we can forgive them for everything.

What do you think? Is this legit? Or should we wait until a non-SIM Unlock method?

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So there have been some reports that the white iPhone 3G has been showing cracks in its plastic housing already. From the pictures shown, some look like it could be scratches while others look almost, definitively cracked. I knew that the plastic would not be as durable as the original iPhone's but cracks in the casing? That's a lot worse than I ever imagined.

Is this a case of internet propaganda or could this really be happening? Anyone with white iPhone 3Gs like to tell their side of the story?

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At the TechCrunch Mobile Web Wars event (basically a Silicon Valley roundtable discussion), the topic of conversation often turned towards, you guessed it, your favorite gadget, the iPhone. Many Execs were claiming that the traffic generated by the iPhone is extraordinary and the amount of apps downloaded in a matter of weeks are jaw-dropping.

Here are the notable facts and figures:

• Pandora has been available for 18 months in other mobile platforms which resulted in 12,000 monthly subscriptions to the service. In 6 days with the iPhone...350,000 installs on the iPhone.
• And before you cry foul because of the paid vs free debate, Pandora says that the App Store lets the company make money through ads whereas on other devices they were forced into a subscription method.
• 1 million Facebook users downloaded the Facebook App
• Average iPhone user is 47 times as active on Loopt as those on other phones

Right now the iPhone does. And everyone else doesn't. Zing.

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Are you a frequent international traveler? Are you always confused by international electrical outlets? Have you realized that there are a gazillion different electrical outlets requiring a gazillion different plugs? Well, the Mobi Products World Wall Adapter for S&C Cables for iPhone 3G, iPhone ($34.95) tries to simplify the tangled messy world of cables by giving you almost every solution in a simple adaptor. How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design

Also, the charger has two USB ports available for charging. Thank god USB is universal because if each region had their own USB, well that would be more of a doozy than the electrical outlets.

Usability

The On/Off switch and Indicator Light made it easy for me to determine if the adapter was working and its light weight made it unnoticeable when moving from station to station. However, because the adapter includes so many different charging capabilities, it is a little bit bulkier than ideal size, but this can be forgiven since the adapter packs so many features into one device.

The execution of the Mobi Products World Wall Adapter is smart and purposeful. It all is designed to look like a one piece device but when put to use, the usefulness of all three adapters shines through. The inclusion of the three main electrical outlets allows the adapter to be compatible with over 150 countries worldwide. There are also built in surges and spikes protection system to protect your electronic devices from potential damage.

Final Thoughts

PROS

• Simple, Straightforward Design
• Two USB Ports for Charging
• As close as you can get to a Universal Charger

CONS

• A tad bit bulky

Final Rating: 4.8/5

Need a place to keep your hands free when you hit the gym? Looking for the ideal workout case for your iPhone? The Marware Sportsuit Convertible case for iPhone 3G ($34.95) and original iPhone ($34.95) is a workout case that keeps your iPhone always within reach and your hands free to lift weights, use the yoga ball, run faster etc. It also doubles as a slim-profile sleeve case. And even triples for a clip-on case that is attachable via belt clip. How does it all perform? Does it hold up over time?

Read on for the rest of the review!

What Comes In The Box

• Marware Sportsuit Convertible
• Arm Band
• Belt Clip
• Key Pouch

Design & Fit

What’s unique about the Marware Sportsuit Convertible is its versatility. Marware stresses that you are able to use the workout case as an independent case as well. Though it may look unsightly, the case itself offers great protection with padded backing and edges and a full screen protector.

The Marware Sportsuit Convertible leaves room open for all of the iPhone’s sensors, the camera, ear speaker, and headphone jack. The belt clip works as well as any other belt clip. Most of my testing concerns the Marware Sportsuit Convertible Case as a workout Case.

Usability

In my testing, I found the case to be extremely comfortable and usable. I found the case easy to remove from the arm band and most of the iPhone’s buttons easily accessible. There are gray outlines that detail where the buttons on the iPhone are (not like you would forget, but a nice touch). Though the iPhone does lose some touch sensitivity behind the plastic screen protector, it didn’t seem to be a deal breaker for me. Whatever I needed to get done in the gym—changing playlists, increasing volume, make a quick call—the Sportsuit Convertible handled well enough.

The material of the arm band is great and I rarely noticed my iPhone attached to my arm when running. The velcro attaches well and the arm band is always secure. The quality of material that Marware uses in the Sportsuit Convertible was a great choice. As a workout case, the Marware Sportsuit Convertible succeeds.

Final Thoughts

Though it was a complete pain to remove the iPhone from the case, when it was in the case my iPhone felt safe and secure. There was never an issue of looseness and my iPhone was never in danger of falling onto the treadmill (oh the horror!) or getting smashed by some free weights. Obviously, if you were to use this as an everyday case, the plastic screen protector wouldn't be the most ideal for heavy touch screen usage, but the Sportsuit Convertible is perfect for a trip to the gym and is rugged enough for any physically demanding exercise.

PROS

• Great Build Quality, Neoprene feels soft
• Secure Arm Band
• Useful Key Pouch

• A VERY, VERY tight fit. A little difficult to remove the iPhone
• Not the prettiest design
• Loses some touchscreen sensitivity

A reporter over at one of those reputable, printing companies recently received a phone call from Steve Jobs and this was his opening line:

"This is Steve Jobs,” he began. “You think I’m an arrogant [expletive] who thinks he’s above the law, and I think you’re a slime bucket who gets most of his facts wrong.”

The whole conversation with Steve Jobs was off the record so we still don't know the nitty gritty details but according to the New York Times, it's more than just a common bug but isn't life threatening and it's not cancer.

Some think his health should be a private matter, which makes sense because we should all have some level of privacy. Some think his health should be public knowledge if it is serious enough, which also makes sense because of Steve Jobs unique role in Apple and Apple being a public company.

We at TiPb just want him to get better and hopefully the rest will handle itself.

What do you think?

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So a new employment opportunity popped up at Apple's job listings the other day and Apple is looking for an experienced iPhone Security Engineer to create "proof of concept" attacks on current security mechanisms and provide risk analysis of potential security threats. Basically, Apple needs an iPhone Hacker to prevent future jailbreaks, unlocks, and security breaches.

So if any of you are good at what you do and want to work for the "good guys", go give it a try. Apple is trying to ramp up security to protect enterprises who are adopting iPhone 2.0 and more selfishly, protect their own App Store from competition ahem Cydia & Installer. Either way, Apple is getting serious about security and the iPhone.

What do you think?

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Have you checked out our forums lately? The community is growing and the commentary is getting better and better each day. Unconvinced? I'll bring out a thread, a post, a topic, or a comment directly from the forums and post it on TiPb's front page every week to prove it to you. We here at TiPb love the interplay, quid pro quo, repartee with our readers, so step up your creativity and tighten up your diction, you could be next!

We're going to start with Trevor's post detailing reasons why the iPhone replaced his Crackberry. Trevor didn't just blast his Crackberry into outerspace or dump it in the Hudson River, he provided reasons why his iPhone isn't perfect as well. More than a few of his reasons supporting the iPhone have to deal with its role in the Mac ecosystem and I'd have to agree, the 'it just works' feeling is how technology should be.

However, Trevor, being a former Crackberry user, listed durability as a concern. No worries there Trevor! That glass screen is as resilient as it is pretty!

Go check out Trevor's reasons why the iPhone replaced his Crackberry and tell him what you think!

Installer.app, the app store before that other app store, is coming back for firmware 2.0 and being re-fashioned as Installer 4. Currently, jailbroken 2.0 iPhones are using Cydia as their main app pipeline but when Installer 4 is released, well, they'll likely play nice with one another and especially nice with that other app store.

The RiP Dev Blog has a lot of complicated, programmer's type language describing the updates for Installer 4.0 so I'll try to translate to more understandable, layman's terms: It's going to be faster, safer, and more integrated. Bang.

The release of Installer 4.0 seems to be imminent but well, really, there's no rush, many of the apps that were available for 1.1.x aren't quite ready for the big time yet. So take your time with Installer 4.0. We here at TiPb would almost always prefer a little delayed polished product over a rushed, rough, not as advertised..yeah, we're looking at you MobileMe.

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Interested in knowing what apps are being bought at the App Store? Well, lucky you, Medialets has estimates for your viewing pleasure. To determine demand, Medialets uses the number of ratings each app has and also takes into account the average rating of an app as well. So though it may not be the most accurate measurement, it's still a fairly good barometer in determining app popularity.

So what rules the App Store? FREE. According to Medialets, 9 out of the top 10 most rated apps are FREE with the one exception being Super Monkey Ball. The usual suspects populate the top 10 list with the Remote, AIM, Facebook, etc. having the most ratings and more importantly, all entirely free.

Also, it looks like the best-selling apps are games which further proves that there is a market for iPhone gaming. Simple math concludes that Sega has already hit $5 million in sales for the first weekend. Though iPhone users tend to want free apps, it looks like they have no problem laying down the cash for good games.

Feel free to click over to Medialets to see the list for yourself. Do you think it's accurate? Are apps on the top 10 all on your iPhone? Let us know!

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I thought AT&T and the iPhone were living happily ever after? I mean what with Apple making some concessions with the activation process and data plans plus selling a gazillion iPhone 3Gs (more like a million), AT&T should be happy right? Nope!

An AT&T Kiosk at the Moorestown Mall in New Jersey has decidedly gone anti-iPhone 3G. When a customer approached asking about iPhone insurance she was answered with evil laughter and was told by the employees to get a...hide the women and children...Blackberry! (gasp). I guess not AT&T stores don't show a united front. To make matters worse, they gave her anti-iPhone 3G pamphlets using articles from Pocket PC Magazine and Crackberry.com.

You may or may not know, but Crackberry.com is like family to us at TiPb. It's a little more than heartbreaking to see their articles being used against our. most. beautiful. and. fastest. gadget. ever. But hey, family squabbles happen, we get that, but it won't stop us from fighting back!

Read on to see how we'll defend our honor!

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We here at TiPb would like to take it to the next level and escalate this "fight" by giving future carrier stores who will carry the Bold (when's that coming out anyways) a one stop shop for possible material in their anti-Blackberry Bold pamphlets. All in good fun, right?

10 Reasons to Ditch Your Blackberry for the iPhone

Why the iPhone is Incomparable

Why the Blackberry compares worse than EVER to the iPhone 3G

So Carrier Stores across the world, feel free to use these articles when customers ask about the iPhone 3G and Blackberry Bold, but don't forget to credit us! One more thing, we ask you to please not mock customers, that's just bad business. Thanks!

As gaming developers grow more familiar with the iPhone platform and learning its capabilities, many are doling out their opinions across the interweb. Compared to the DS and the PSP, an EA developer put the iPhone in terms of power closer to the PSP than the DS. That's nothing new for us at TiPb but now Sega is claiming that the iPhone is more powerful than their last console, the Dreamcast! To remind you: the Dreamcast was home to Soul Caliber, Shenmue, & Virtua Tennis and the console was a competitor of the PS2 and Xbox.

And. the. iPhone. is. more. powerful. than. that.

But powerful as it is, as proven by the current console war, the iPhone is going to need FUN games to succeed as a gaming platform. Let's give developers some time to see what they can come up with. With such power under the hood, they'll have no excuse!

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Yeah, we know that Apple has its own iPhone 3G finder but that one doesn't work during store business hours. Plus this iPhone finder searches the Apple Stores closest to your location via Google Maps and is a little bit cooler than Apple's. Location Based Services are all the rage right?

Some interesting tidbits on iPhone 3G availability as of July 16th is that it's sold out in 23 of the 38 states that Apple has retail stores in. And the most difficult model to find is the 16 GB Black version which is only available in 12 of Apple's 188 stores. Apple desperately needs to re-stock those puppies!

So if you didn't get your hands on an iPhone 3G yet, feel free to use the tool to plan your purchase!

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Vindication! Well, kind of. Our MobileMe is still having problems but at least Apple admits that the transition from .Mac to MobileMe was "rocky" by sending an e-mail/apology letter to all MobileMe users. Billed as Exchange for the rest of us, MobileMe is still having problems with syncing, calendar, duplicate messages, etc. Not quite that Blackberry killer we envisioned.

Also, Apple will stop using the word push to describe MobileMe until syncing is "near-instant" on Mac and PCs like it is for the iPhone and Web Apps. Not that "15 minute" version of push it currently is. Either way, Apple is begging (read: bribing) for your forgiveness with a free 30 day extension to all current subscribers.

It's good to see Apple admit mistake and take care of their customers, but I'm fairly certain most of us would have rather had a product that 'just works'. Unreliability, problems, and false promises are for the folks over in Redmond, this is supposed to be Apple right?

Thanks for the tip Cherryhead25!

Read on for MobileMe's full apology letter!

So I ventured out to an Apple Store yesterday hoping that since the iPhone 3G was a couple days old that I could easily grab one. No, not for me. For the girlfriend and my sister. I could have gone to the AT&T store only a few blocks away but whenever Apple releases a new product I prefer the full Apple experience at an Apple Store (Brea, CA); it’s just more complete that way. Expecting to get some hands on time with the iPhone 3G and pick up the Macbook Air again, I was pretty excited to get to the store.

As I cheerily walked through the mall eagerly anticipating the iPhone 3G, I stopped dead in my tracks. There was at least a 100-person line that stretched multiple storefronts! The Apple Store Employee ‘in-charge’ estimated the line to be a 5-hour wait! This was a Monday afternoon, didn’t people have work to do?

But it gets better (read: worse).

Read on for the rest of this very weird Apple Store Experience!

The iPhone 3G line wasn’t the only line! There was a ‘Mac-line’ for people who weren’t interested in the iPhone 3G but wanted to buy a Mac, play Frisbee with the Macbook Air, get free WiFi, or just do whatever you do at the Apple store. That line was at least a 30 minute wait—to just get into the store! This Apple Store was making potential customers willing to spend thousands of dollars on the iPhone 3G wait outside. Two different lines to get into an Apple store—just crazy!

Adding to the ridiculousness of it all, an Apple Store employee served as a ‘bouncer’ complete with a ‘guest list’ that presumably had genius bar appointments on it. I felt like I was in Hollywood trying to get into an exclusive club, not buy a computer at a computer store.

How is it good business making people wait to buy a Mac because of the iPhone 3G? Won’t it cannibalize sales of their other product lines if Mac customers have a difficult buying process? A few people in the Mac-line were already getting quite antsy and angry at having to wait. The Store employee gave me the excuse that the lines served as a safety precaution but the Apple Store looked pretty empty. I mean Apple Stores are almost always crowded, where are the safety measures then?

I understand a line for iPhone 3G customers, as insane as a 5 hour wait is, if you want to buy an iPhone 3G you have to wait your turn, that makes sense. But having a Mac line just to get into the store? That’s a little too exclusive, even for Apple. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I was ready to buy a Mac but had to wait outside the store because of the iPhone 3G. Just let me in the store! At least I’d be able to play with my future purchase.

What do you think? Is the iPhone 3G bad for the rest of Apple’s products? Is this Apple's way to Store different? Can Apple focus enough energy on all their products? Is two lines ridiculous or what?

Photo Note: The line on the left side is the 'Mac Line' and the line on the right that stretches all the way down is the iPhone 3G line. Picture taken with iPhone.

With more and more Bluetooth headsets looking alike and new releases feeling like old ones, the Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset ($129.95) offers a much more unique take and infinitely more appeal. Its futuristic, luxury look was eagerly anticipated and has definitely shaken up the headset industry, putting all makers on notice.

Is the Plantronics Discovery 925 all show and no go? Or does it perform as good as it looks? And does it even look THAT good in your ear? Well read on for the rest of the review!

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design & Fit

Overall, the design of the Plantronics Discovery 925 is cutting edge, to put it mildly. With a sleek design that carves a hole in between the boom microphone, the headset truly looks like something from Star Trek. Personally, I am a fan of the design, I find it refreshing in the market of bland headsets and applaud Plantronics for creating such a bold headset.

From my experience, Plantronics headsets offer superb fit and comfort and the 925 is no different. Though the shape of the ear gels are a tad weird (they have a handle bar across the top edge that supposedly fits better to the interior of your ear, Plantronics calls it stabilizers), the gelly substance used in the ear tip is an excellent design choice in both style and comfort. I had no problem taking the 925 in and out of my ear.

The 925 is also very, very light. This is important since weighty or uncomfortable Bluetooth headsets often defeat the purpose of even using one, having a Bluetooth headset that is essentially unnoticeable is almost as important as the headset’s sound quality.

Usability

Because of the 925’s minimalist design, there aren’t too many buttons or features that complicate the process. Simply, slip the headset into your ear and you’re rolling. There are two buttons on the 925—one for volume control and the other to power up, make calls, and end calls.

I found that incoming audio quality performed fairly well. The AudioIQ technology works well and it is possible to hear callers loud and clear. There wasn’t many issues with static or feedback—it was very easy to hear the incoming caller. In louder environments, the 925 adapts to its surroundings and offers louder volume. I found this feature to be a great addition to the headset because I never had to worry about manually controlling the volume—the AudioIQ smartens up the headset.

Outgoing voice quality is good but falls short of being great. In regular usage—like in the car, or in a room, it is a more-than-able performer. Callers hear your voice loud and clear, without any digitizing or static. Few even noticed the difference between the 925 and the iPhone. However, the Plantronics 925 doesn’t do a great job of masking environmental noise. Callers complained about background noise that came from the TV, other people, and/or wind.

Final Thoughts

The Plantronics 925 is a good piece of hardware with a great design. Though it doesn’t offer much new features or innovative controls, the comfortable fit and fashion forward look should push those looking for a Bluetooth Headset to consider the Plantronics 925. In my experience, there are few headsets that fit as comfortably as the 925 and even fewer that look as striking as it does.

Though its high price may deter potential buyers from committing, the Plantronics 925 is a good headset that just falls short of great. If you are looking for a headset that will turn heads and fits great, this is the headset for you.

Pros

• Bold, Striking Design
• Extremely Comfortable Fit
• Easy Sync Process
• Simple Controls
• Carrying Case doubles as a charger!

Cons

• Fairly Expensive
• Not a Standout Performer

Final Rating: 4.5/5

So you might have heard that the iPhone 3G was going to retail for $199 from AT&T. I’ve already covered how it isn’t technically $199 for current iPhone users. And you heard Rene tell you that $199 is less than the notorious price DROP of the iPhone. Well TiPb has been wondering how Apple settled on dropping the price so dramatically.

And we settled on a story, kind of—more like a collection of reasons. We’ve analyzed the outcome back and forth, from reverse and from the beginning. And we think we have come to a conclusion (or at the very least, a conspiracy theory). In a purely speculative story, I’ll give you my opinion on how we reached $199.

Read on for Apple’s Path to $199

Apple Wanted to Revolutionize the Phone Industry

They were hoping that the iPhone was going to be ridiculously popular (it was) and that foreign carriers would see such popularity and ask for it on their network as well. Therefore in that case, Apple could then leverage the iPhone’s popularity into folding the carriers into having the same relationship with Apple as AT&T ‘enjoys’. Essentially making the carrier powerless to Apple’s demands and eventually change the way carriers work.

Do you guys remember the uniqueness of the original iPhone? This was a phone that toyed with AT&T, basically ignoring everything that the Death Star Company wanted. When AT&T asked for prototypes pre-iPhone launch, Apple reportedly created fake models to placate them. Apple created a new iPhone-specific data plan that AT&T had to abide by—$20 for unlimited data and 200 SMS. Apple created a new activation process that essentially cut AT&T out of the loop. You activate via iTunes, not with AT&T. Apple created a new business model for the iPhone that included revenue sharing—AT&T is paying Apple for users using AT&T’s service, just simply brilliant business. Phone Carriers don’t typically get thrown around like this.

It almost worked

With the gray market in full affect, Apple lost their leverage. Foreign Carriers had no desire to bend to Apple’s unprecedented demands because anyone who really wanted an iPhone could easily get an iPhone through the gray market. And those using unlocked iPhone on a foreign carrier's network would HAVE to work with the current data plans in play. Therefore we have iPhone users across the world using the iPhone on network’s aimed to rip every dollar from the consumer.

What could Apple offer the carriers now? From the carrier’s standpoint, the money gained by having unlocked iPhones on their pricey data network was worth more than agreeing to revenue sharing models and affordable data plans. Not to mention the fact that when a foreign carrier introduced the iPhone to their country's market per ‘exclusivity contract’ it would only give unlockers a chance to use OTHER networks in the same country. So much for exclusivity, right. The money spent paying Apple for ‘exclusive’ rights was better not spent at all.

Apple still needed to increase marketshare

Back then, the idea was that foreign carriers would see the benefits of having an exclusive relationship with Apple and that would offset the costs that they would have to pay in a revenue sharing model. But with the gray market, all the foreign carriers had to do was stand pat and wait for Apple to come around because everyone knew they NEEDED to sell 10 million units in 2008. And that meant expanding to more countries.

So when the clock started ticking and Apple realized they had little to no leverage, they folded to the carriers demands. The carriers were too entrenched in their markets, they had too much power and Apple’s only leverage was lost. Nothing about the carriers was going to change.

AT&T demanded change

So the revenue sharing disappeared. So did the activation process. So did the iPhone-specific plan. AT&T isn’t going to do it Apple’s way anymore because Apple folded to the demands of foreign carriers, thus giving AT&T a loophole to subsidize, raise data prices, and basically conform the iPhone to any phone in AT&T’s lineup.

So Apple needed to re-strategize

So how else could Apple revolutionize the cell phone industry? By aiming their attack at the other party. Cell phone makers. A $199 price point for the iPhone 3G will force people to notice and overhaul the system from the device end. In fact, the Samsung Instinct dropped to $199 after the Apple announcement. I’m sure RIM and other companies will have to follow suit. How could a company justify charging so much for such feature-strapped phones?

So Why $199?

But to be bold enough to declare it at $199. That’s a direct challenge to RIM, to Palm, to HTC, to Sony. $199 is the price point you have to hit and if you don’t, consumers are going to wonder why is a phone that’s not as full featured as the iPhone cost more than the iPhone? They are forcing cell phone makers to change their strategies and not simply rely on the carriers doing all the work for them.

A $199 price point can realistically put the iPhone in the hands of a lot of potential customers. They’re attacking the situation in reverse of what they originally intended. Putting it in the hands of the most customers possible and gaining market share to create change. With a larger install base, the App Store and iTunes Wi-Fi store become instant money makers. With users falling in love with the iPhone's usability, Apple gets their leverage back. Apple believes that when people finally get to own the iPhone, they'll always own an iPhone. Cell phone makers, you're going to have to catch up fast. Cell phone carriers, Apple is still going to come after you.

This plan actually makes more sense than Apple's original business model, when people fall in love with the iPhone, Apple would have a dedicated user base ready to follow Apple and the iPhone wherever they go, to whomever carrier it happens to be.

What does the future hold then?

And what about expanding the iPhone platform, which is a natural progression in creating cell phones. What will an iPhone nano retail at? $99? Can Apple deal with the PR-nightmare it would have if they were to raise prices in the next editions?

Or could Apple simply put the iPhone in the most hands possible and then prep themselves to go completely unlocked? Could they manage to offer a $199 price point without carrier subsidies?

Final Thoughts

Or maybe I'm just a conspiracy theorist. Remember this is all speculation and opinion. Apple simply just could have realized they couldn't keep pace with the hype of the iPhone 3G and determined the best way to have conversation was to significantly drop the price. Shock and awe. Or maybe not.

What do you think? Why do you think Apple priced it at $199 and do you think the iPhone will ever go completely unlocked? Comment on this Wait-a-Thon post for a chance to win a $100 iTunes Gift Card!

In an article over at Brighthand, Antoine Wright raised an interesting and thought-provoking point, that Apple should have ignored developer's wishes and maintain their web app platform. He believes that Safari, one of the most capable mobile browsers available, could have paved the way for an even better web experience by offering very polished web apps. He lists examples such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and banking sites as those who have created great web apps.

Apple, with its own browser, Safari, and a fresh mobile platform, had the opportunity to really change the game when it came to making web applications. These could have become a standard type of software platform model for mobile devices. The company chose instead to listen to developers.

Though we at TiPb would have loved to see Apple make some headway in Web Apps and do see a future in it, we just don't think straying away from Native Apps would have been the answer. Native Apps provide a distinct advantage, they work without an internet connection and offer a more immersive experience. Native Apps aren't trapped to the confines of Safari and theoretically, offer limitless potential. TiPb's vote goes to Native Apps FTW.

What do you guys think? Web Apps all the way? Or did Apple make the smart decision in admitting an error and allowing 3rd party native apps?

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I assume you are a little disappointed in the news, but for what it's worth, the second proximity sensor will provide better accuracy compared to the original iPhone's one proximity sensor get up. It's supposed to improve the iPhone's face proximity detection and well 2 is better than 1 right?

The sensors have also found a new home moving from above the speaker in the original iPhone to the left of the speaker in the iPhone 3G. Also, the three sensors create a J shape as opposed to the single straight line of the original iPhone.

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You know what the iPhone popularized? Not just iCloning. Not just multi-touch. Not just visual voicemail. What I’m talking about is watching video on your mobile device. Youtube was integrated into the iPhone from the beginning and well, most other mobile users were jealous.

But the iPhone has so much more video potential than just Youtube. As popular as Youtube is, there are other video sites out there. Take the webapp PocketVidz for example, they have thousands of videos available for your iPhone, sized and optimized for your viewing pleasure. What is the selection like? Should you try it out?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design/Interface

After selecting a category the next page shows certain ‘broadcast networks’, if you will. The videos that populate PocketVidz are mostly vodcasts, so if you’re looking for the latest music video, you’re out of luck. You select which vodcast series you wish to watch and tap it for a short description and a listing of the latest episode. There is also a link at the bottom of the screen for all videos from this vodcast.

Usability

Over Wi-Fi, the videos load quick and snappy and the quality of the videos seemed to be on par with what Youtube currently offers (sorry I couldn't screenshot a video). Loading the videos on EDGE was expectedly slow. There is also an option to download the videos as well which means you can step away from the typically iTunes-only videos of the iPhone and watch PocketVidz' videos at your leisure.

The best feature of PocketVidz is the seamless way it loads videos onto your iPhone. Sure the layout of the whole web app is clunky and dated-looking, but when clicking the play button it effortlessly transitions into the video player. Also, unlike Youtube, you can watch videos in portrait mode which is of course smaller, or watch it in landscape (the recommended way).

Overall, the web app is still in its beginning stages. Its easy to use because there isn’t much flair to it and I was watching videos in a matter of seconds over Wi-Fi.

Criticism

PocketVidz claims that the experience is optimized for iPhone users and though the videos are sized correctly, the interface is clearly not. In order to have your application stand out among the rest of the more polished apps available, PocketVidz will certainly need to improve their layout. It functions fine, but man, it doesn't feel like using an iPhone at all.

Final Thoughts

But PocketVidz definitely needs to step it up in design. The program is functional, to be sure, but it just lacks a certain amount of oomph to it. Put it this way, the program looks like it was made for smartphones with bad screen resolution and a trackball. And in the iPhone world of polished and multi-touch, PocketVidz current design layout just doesn’t cut it.

PROS

• Quick load times over WiFi
• Offers Categories and Channels to choose from
• Video launches effortlessly
• Serviceable Alternative to Youtube

CONS

• Poor, ‘rest-of-the-smartphone-world’ design
• Not all videos are available

Final Rating: 3/5

Safari on the iPhone is the best mobile internet experience in today’s market bar none. It is as much intuitive as it is pretty which makes for a superb user interface and browsing experience. But one complaint I had with Safari was the lack of quick search tools. If you ever used Sogudi or Saft on the desktop Safari, you know that it makes Safari an even more powerful web browser.

WebSearch on the iPhone comes from a similar mold. Because in Safari the default search engine is Google (you can also switch to Yahoo! in the settings) it kind of limits the specific searches you might need. Especially considering the slow pace of EDGE, quick searches in the wild can often be cumbersome. Well with WebSearch you are allowed quick easy access to the searches you want. How does it perform?

Read on for the rest of the review! (and remember you'll need a jailbroken iPhone!)

How to Install:

Design/Interface

There is minimal flair to the program because let’s face it, Google has proven that Search needs no bells and whistles. The folks who developed WebSearch realize that the best way to let you search multiple domains is through a quick and easy interface. Want to check prices on Amazon? Click and type. Who’s that actor in this movie? Fire up the IMDB widget and type.

Usability

This native app fulfilled my thirst to know things on the spot. Whenever I needed quick answers for simple questions on-the-go, I needn’t make a mental note to search on my Mac when I get home but rather was able to just fire up WebSearch and everything I used to search on my Mac was now easily accessible on my iPhone.

Because let’s face it, as great as Safari is, sometimes it is TOO good for its own good. Especially when on EDGE, I like to make my web browsing as text based and photo-less as possible, when searching eBay or IMDB without WebSearch, the process can take foooreever.

Criticism

Also, I used WebSearch a lot more before I figured out the usage of bookmarklets. We’ve covered Bookmarklets more than a few times here at TiPb, but its worth mentioning again. Bookmarklets are more useful than WebSearch because it is essentially embedded in Safari. I have Bookmarklets for all my necessary searches such as eBay, Wikipedia, and IMDB. Having to not wait for WebSearch to launch Safari cuts down on the seconds that matter for quick web searches.

Final Thoughts

For quick web searches on your iPhone WebSearch is a great tool. Because Safari is much too good a browser to use on EDGE, the searching process becomes kind of slow. With WebSearch, you get your answers as quickly as possible.

Pros

• Simple, easy interface
• Loads of search engines
• Customizable to your needs

Cons

• Has to launch Safari which adds time
• Bookmarklets are better

Final rating: 4/5

Now that the iPhone 3G has been officially announced and the details have been released, we are holding the first ever: TiPb vs TiPb. In the two articles we will detail reasons why we SHOULD upgrade and why we SHOULDN’T upgrade to the iPhone 3G. No hard feelings, No blood spilled, just good old fashioned point-by-point debate.

More so than any other Apple release, the iPhone 3G was probably the worst kept secret in the history of Apple. There was plenty of speculation, some wild (video conferencing) and some tame (black casing). Some were right, some were wrong.

I flagrantly participated in the rumorpalooza. I was excited for every nugget of news even though it didn't contain a kernel of truth. So maybe I hyped myself into thinking the iPhone 3G was going to be the be all, end all device that the iPhone was. After my initial excitement subsided, I realized, hey, the iPhone 3G isn't a necessary upgrade! I could wait a little until all the kinks are worked out, so these are the 5 Reasons Why I’m NOT Upgrading to the iPhone 3G.

Read on for the 5 Reasons to NOT upgrade!

5. Form Factor

Actually, could I even lay it down flat on its back, without getting scratches? Do you guys remember your first iPod? It looked great coming out of the box with it glossiness but after just minimal usage, that thing was SCRATCHED. Scratches going every which way, some small, some big, and all with unknown origins.

And honestly, there wasn’t much you could do about it. With plastic, daily usage caused scratches on those plastic iPods. Will it do that to my precious iPhone? Looking at my iPhone now, it’s just as beautiful as the day I opened it.

4. GPS

The My Location feature in Google Maps is plenty good for me. Even though I live in Los Angeles and driving is the only form of transportation I know (walking? People do that?), the coverage and cell towers that triangulate my location is plenty good. Sure it doesn’t give me pinpoint accuracy but I like to take in the surrounding cross streets and intersections.

For me, My Location is good enough because in a sense, it turns your map book to the right page and section. Using My Location it feels as if you are constantly learning more about your surroundings. Using GPS narrows your perspective and focuses you on the dot, instead of what is around you.

GPS on the iPhone 3G is going to be great, I have no doubts about that. It’s probably the best mobile device to be equipped with GPS, but for me, its not going to change my lifestyle by leaps and bounds. Some people, constant travelers come to mind, need the exactness of GPS. Right now, I don’t.

3. 3G

A lot of the things I do, 3G isn’t quite necessary for me. I’ve played with some 3G phones and their battery life is horrible. Apple has a tendency to sometimes, over-state their battery performance, so I’d rather take the current battery over the iPhone 3G’s. When AT&T improves their 3G network, maybe I’ll change my stance. But I feel as if even though 3G is pretty much in every phone, the network is still in its infantile stages.

2. Price & AT&T Control

Sure, $10 dollars a month isn’t a big deal monetary wise and it’s better than handing over $399 in one lump sum or living in Canada (zing!), but I think the precedent AT&T is setting with the hike in data plans is highly disappointing.

I enjoyed the first iPhone because though it was carrier-locked, it seemed free of the usual BS behavior of carrier-locked phones. I didn’t have a carrier branded phone layout, I wasn’t forced with a AT&T MediaNet store, I didn’t have to scratch off the AT&T logo sticker and I was paying $20 a month for data + 200 SMS. It was as if Apple was only using AT&T services as their playground—I was having fun and had no idea AT&T provided me the service. Using an iPhone was a treat from Apple, not anybody else.

Now? AT&T is hiking up prices, reverting the activation process, fining people who don’t activate under 30 days and who knows what else. All the misinformation that is floating around is so confusing that it seems as if AT&T is changing the rules while we play the game. The 3G playground? Tagged in Blue and Orange, branded by AT&T. Someone blow up the Death Star, please. I'll stay in my current sandbox, thank you.

1. What They Didn’t Update

This wasn’t the iPhone that iPhone users wanted. It’s the iPhone that RIM’s, Palm’s, WinMob’s users needed. 3G & GPS are no longer checkpoints that Apple can’t fill out. As Apple & iPhone users we usually have dreamy scenarios for upcoming products. We want video conferencing even though it hasn’t matured yet. We want an iPhone nano because we love the iPod nano. But the reality of it is, the iPhone 3G isn’t as important a release as the original iPhone was.

A lot of our astute readers are realizing that the iPhone 3G isn’t the must upgrade we imagined. Like the iPod Photo that updated the iPod Click Wheel, the difference is big at first glance: color screen/3G & GPS, but it isn’t the completely revolutionary tool that the Video iPod and the iPhone Next will be.

Final Thoughts

I’m not saying that I’ll NEVER buy an iPhone 3G. I think it’s a GREAT deal for those who don’t currently have iPhones and need 3G & GPS in their daily lives. Just don’t expect me to be in line with you guys come July 11th. I’ll probably come around at some point in time, probably when I get to hold the iPhone in my hand and ‘race’ the iPhone 3G with my original iPhone. But until then, I’ll be more than happy with my beautiful, getting better with age, original iPhone.

Here at TiPb we’ve covered 10 things we thought Apple needed to fix in the next iPhone. With the anticipation of the iPhone 3G, the rumor mill went crazy with things like video conferencing, different models, etc. all but confirmed at one point in time. We even ran a bunch of our own predictions.

And well the Jobsnote was yesterday, and though we got the biggies: 3G, GPS, flush headphone jack, and a $199 price point, but we also missed out on a lot of stuff we thought we would be getting already.

Read on to see what we didn't get in the iPhone 3G!

Here’s the quick hit list:

• A Better Camera – we’re still stuck with the 2 megapixel camera with no flash, no zoom, and a tad bit slow. I personally think Apple missed a great opportunity to place themselves ahead of the curve in camera capabilities.
• Video – I’m personally not a big fan of video recording, it’s just too shaky and amateur-ish for me. But this would be sweet if they had integrated Youtube uploads.
• Bigger Storage Size – Just 8 & 16 GB? What about the current iPod Touch’s 32 GB? Couldn’t manage to fit it in?
• MMS – A lot of people use this popular yet limited technology. Missing out on it when pretty much any phone can do it is disappointing.
• Note Syncing – I guess this could be remedied by MobileMe? But in theory this is an easy feature to do, no?
• Cut & Paste – Sigh. This is probably the single, biggest issue that has been missing in the iPhone since its release. Can’t we get acknowledgement that this is in the works, at the very least? Come on Apple, throw us a bone.
• A2DP Bluetooth – Yikes. The world is going wireless and Apple is left behind. The iPhone is the best music player on the market, you would think they would have included support.
• Release Date - July 11th? I can wait a month but what were those rumors floating about IMMEDIATE launch doing? Not even Mid-June? It's not like you guys updated much...I kid, I kid.

What do you guys think? Did Apple miss a great opportunity to leap the entire smartphone field? Any features missing that Apple should have included? Wireless-n? iPhone nano? Why do you think Apple kept upgrades to a minimum? How do you feel about the iPhone 3G ‘the morning after’?

Since 2.0 STILL hasn't been released, we're still having our Wait-a-Thons! Comment on this post for a chance to win a $100 iTunes Gift Card. We need those apps, Apple!

Ready for developers to take advantage of the new features in the iPhone 3G, namely GPS? Well don't worry, TomTom, makers of popular GPS units and GPS software, has already developed navigation software for the iPhone 3G. A TomTom spokesperson was quoted as saying,

"Navigation System runs on the iPhone already"

Read

Accidentally fall asleep when developers went over 190832 apps during the keynote? Numb your mind and index finger by maddeningly refreshing your browser? Miss all the apps that were showcased in the iPhone? Fear not, TiPb will give you a quick nitty gritty update on the lot.

• eBay - A fairly basic eBay app that didn't really showcase any advancements from the basic web app. Sure it was nice and integrated but really, isn't an eBay webapp good enough? Certainly, they could have gotten someone better to demo their app.
• Loopt - A location-based social networking application. Now this is kind of cool, it displays your friend's location on a map and works with other platforms. Basically, I imagine it to be similar to Boost Mobile's Where You At?
• TypePad - A mobile blogging app that is pretty straightforward. The interface looked similar to the iPhone's E-mail client and well, at least you can add photos via camera or photo roll
• Mobile News Network - Basically enables viewing videos and pictures of news stories from various sources. It also allows you to directly report the news if you have a first hand account of something
• Band - This is a fun app, basically a collection of virtual instruments: piano, drums, bass, 12-bar blues 'instrument'. I've seen iterations of 'Band' in the jailbreaking scene and it makes for good fun
• MLB.com - This app is nice! It gives iPhone users direct access to video highlights right after they happen! It also displays a live detailed scoreboard for quick updates on baseball games.
• Modality - A medical application used to easily learn names of body parts, etc. Mildly useful for me, incredibly useful for doctors I presume
• MIMvista - Another medical application that takes advantage of the iPhone's screen to zoom in, out, and scroll around. Basically, an interactive way to view medical imagery?

Miss the iPhone 3G Launch? Want to see Steve Jobs work the crowd? Trying to test out how the RDF works on you? Well, Apple has posted the WWDC 08 Keynote for your viewing pleasure. It's time to catch up on the biggest Apple-related news since the SDK event.

In the keynote, you'll be able to see details of the 2.0 firmware, MobileMe in action, app and game demos aplenty, and the unveiling of the iPhone 3G. Not to mention, it's always good fun to see Apple's CEO at his finest and re-live the excitement in a Quicktime video.

Click the Read Link to watch the keynote

Read

Sorry to rain on the iPhone 3G parade but it has to be done. Here's some not so great news about the iPhone 3G. The iPhone 3G data plan is going to cost $30 per month. That's $10 more than the current iPhone plan. On top of that, current iPhone owners will have to sign a NEW 2-year contract to use the iPhone 3G. Meaning, buying an iPhone 3G won't be a seamless upgrade in the traditional sense. Granted, AT&T won't count the remaining years on your current iPhone contract to the new iPhone 3G contract, the fact that you have to sign a new contract plus the added cost per month just doesn't sit right with me.

Look at it this way, the iPhone 3G costs $199. Hip hip hooray right? Not quite. We have to add the cost of the added monthly fees. First we multiply the 10 dollars more a month by 24 months (the life of a 2 year contract) which equates to $240 dollars more to use the iPhone 3G's data plan versus the original data plan. Now for the simple math, $199 (cost of the iPhone 3G) + $240 (cost of 3G data vs EDGE data over 2 years) = $439 over the lifetime of the contract. That's actually a $40 dollar increase from the current iPhone, not quite the 'half price' that we're being marketed to believe.

Also, it looks like AT&T will discontinue their pre-paid, GoPhone option meaning there is no alternative than being tied into a 2 year voice+3G data contract under AT&T. At least before, some users could choose to use the iPhone as a pseudo-data only device.

Perhaps its because the old revenue sharing model of the original iPhone is no longer in effect, but it looks like AT&T has taken back control of data plans and is positioning the iPhone 3G to increase subscribers and broaden market potential. The carrier subsidy is theoretically included in the $199 price, essentially AT&T is giving Apple the money upfront instead of through a month-to-month revenue sharing plan. Do we as consumers win out? Depends what your perspective is. The iPhone 3G is still a great phone and a steal, but AT&T & Apple are obviously not in the same relationship they were in just one year ago.

So when the iPhone 4G comes is AT&T going to raise our data prices to $40? Will it stop? What do you guys think of this? Does it change your perspective on the price of the iPhone 3G?

UPDATE: Gizmodo is also reporting that the iPhone 3G can only be activated in store via a 10-12 minute process. Also, a fine might be levied to those who don't activate the iPhone 3G within 30 days. It seems like the iPhone no longer carries that unique badge of being separate from the rest of the other phones in AT&T's lineup anymore..

Remember the iPhone 3G ad that they were reportedly filming at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store? Well it came to fruition at WWDC and it's pretty slick. Not quite as epic as the 1984 commercial or as flashy as those iPod dancing ones, but the iPhone 3G "hallway" ad has its own appeal.

It starts with two security guards handling a silver lockbox and walking through an uber-modern, top-secret hallway. As the security guards walk, a voiceover says, "It's finally here. The first phone to beat the iPhone." As they set the safe down and it opens, the voiceover goes on to say "...introducing the NEW iPhone...3G"

How do you guys like it? Click the Read Link to watch the new ad.

Read

You'll probably hear from a lot of people who attended WWDC that the app demo section of the keynote was much too long and even :gasp: boring. But the games showcased at WWDC continue to prove that the iPhone is going to be a force in mobile gaming.

• Super Monkey Ball - First shown in the March Event, Sega has expanded on Super Monkey Ball including over a 100 levels and four classic Monkeys. The graphics in Super Monkey Ball for iPhone is on par with anything from the DS.
• Enigmo - A physics based game using reflectors to put water in a bucket. Ported in three days, looks like frustratingly mindless fun.
• Cro-Mag Rally - A racing game using the iPhone's accelerometer as a steering wheel. Nine different tracks, 10 unique cars and looks really fun. That too was ported over in three days.
• Digital Legends Entertainment - They demoed a 3D fantasy game that displayed the graphical prowess of the iPhone. It probably didn't reach the high end level of PSP but it only took two weeks to develop. Available sometime in September.

• iWork and Office document viewing
• Save images from E-Mail directly to photo library
• Contact Search
• E-Mail/SMS Bulk Delete & Move
• Scientific Calculator when switched to Landscape Mode in Calculator
• Support for a TON of languages including Chinese, Japanese

Firmware 2.0 will be available for iPhone users come 'Early July' for free and for iPod Touch users at a reduced fee (compared to the last update) of $9.95.

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!

Before we hit the sure-to-be-craziness of WWDC, TiPb has some definite house cleaning to do. Meaning lucky for you readers, more roundups! With Rene handling every roundup possible for the iPhone 3G and beyond I thought it'd be a great time to focus on the device we've all been unconsciously neglecting: the iPhone!

Every few weeks, I'll present you with a quick list of web apps, native apps, and games that should tie up any loose ends that we might have missed. Click on each link to learn more about the program and be sure to mention your experience in the comments or forums. Before we start, with the iPhone 3G just mere days away, make sure you participate in TiPb's Wait-A-Thon-Tastic and give yourself a chance to win a FREE iPhone 3G!

Read on for the Rest of the Software Roundup!

Web Apps

HyperOffice promises to make your iPhone a mobile business collaboration and productivity tool. With HyperOffice, you can share your data with associates and clients. Also, you can access your data in Outlook and even remain in sync. HyperOffice is an award winning software that makes things easier for iPhone business users.

iZoho

Zoho is a web office suite that includes tools for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, note-taking, wikis, etc. With the launch of 2.0, Zoho has completely revamped their web app, iZoho, for the iPhone. The new design introduces tabbed interface for easy navigation between Zoho Apps. I gave iZoho a twirl and couldn't manage to edit my documents as promised, viewing was a cinch though. However, the interface is slick and I remain hopeful that the customizability of Zoho can translate to the iPhone.

Mobispine

Mobispine is a free mobile news reader that offers easy categorization and over 250,000 global sources to comb through. It's a great way to streamline your daily blog visits and quicken the pace for how you read websites. The best thing is it's easily customizable!

Widgetop

This web app allows you to run single Dashboard widgets from the Widgetop catalog without loading Mobile Widgetop Desktop. Essentially, it puts the widgets on the homescreen of the iPhone which allows for easier access to the widgets.

Games

A FPS that uses the accelerometer and multi-touch for controls is planned to be released very soon. There is a video of gameplay footage and graphic-wise it is pretty amazing. This is probably a first glimpse of many, many FPS to come to the iPhone.

Tribal

For jailbroken iPhones this game has a basic premise but is executed beautifully. The graphics and animation are definitely exciting but the gameplay leaves a lot more to be desired. The whole idea behind the game is to "shoot the targets that pop up on the screen". As simple as it is, it's a great time killer when waiting for the next appointment.

temper4iPhone

An old favorite for the oldies. Temper4iPhone is an emulator of TurboGrafx-16 also known as PC Engine for the iPhone. Which basically means, you can play Bonk on the iPhone. Emulators are a sweet way to gain access to incredibly vast game libraries rich with history.

Native Apps

This Native App for jailbroken iPhones allows you to post new web logs to your LiveJournal account. With a simple interface, it serves as an extension of your LiveJournal page and could be extremely useful for anybody who wishes to blog-on-the-go. Since it's in the beginning stages of development there is still much more work that can be done.

RetroPhone

Ever wanted a rotary dialer for your iPhone? It's trendy these days to use our advanced technology to recreate ancient technology, isn't it? It'll be available through the AppStore. Can't wait for a developer to create a telegram machine for the iPhone..

And that's it for this roundup! Hope you guys listened to Dieter on how to prep for WWDC. And be sure to be a part of TiPb's Live Color Commentary Blog!

Freeverse Software, one of those Mac game developers still kickin', has developed a racing game called Wingnuts Moto Racer for the iPhone. Freeverse is known for their bizarre, offbeat games that appeal to those looking for a hilarious joyride.

As such, they would have loved to give you a preview of the game but due to their NDA they're forced to edit some portions of their preview detailing the specifics of the game.

So is the preview much ado about nothing? I mean there aren't any actual in-game screenshots just artwork. The controls aren't specifically defined rather described by an intern. Supposedly, it's a racing game for the racing enthusiasts and non-racing folks alike. Pick up and play is the idea behind the games they'll design for the iPhone.

At the very least, it's a hilarious read from a free-spirited company. Hopefully, they'll follow through in delivering games with the same fun factor.

Read

Ubisoft, the publisher of game series such as Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, and Prince of Persia, is reportedly very interested in developing games for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Pauline Jacquey, Executive Producer of Ubisoft's "Games for Everyone" recently said,

"At the minute, we’re only showing DS and Wii games, but we'll be working on all other platforms. We'll be making games not only on PC, PS3 and 360, but on iPhone and iPod touch as well."

Ubisoft may be waiting to see how well EA and Sega develop real games for the iPhone and what kind of market there will be for iPhone gaming before jumping in. But no worries Ubisoft, as we stated on TiPb many times before, we love iPhone gaming. And none of us ever want to go back to that mobile version junk.

Read

Another day, another leaked picture.  These pictures add another layer to the already interesting pie that is the iPhone 3G. The leaked images show that there will be a front facing camera used for video conferencing on the iPhone. iPhone-to-iPhone video calls would be made possible with the 3G network while iPhone-to-iChat video conferencing will require WiFi.

As the images say, "The video calling revolution has begun".

Other interesting tidbits from these leaked photos is the back-facing speakers, the tapered edges, and the color selection (black or (product)red). The tapered edges make a lot of sense with the thicker vs thinner rumor battle: thicker in the middle and thinner on the edges (guess we should have seen that coming). The speakers were probably moved because of the edge's thinness. And for the color choices, Apple has always been in line with the (Product)Red campaign, so it's not too surprising. Also of note, iChat is supposed to be released for Windows (XP2 or Vista), so everybody can join in on the fun.

Personally, I don't think mobile video conferencing has matured enough in the US for Apple to include it in the iPhone 3G. What do you think? Let's start a manhunt for Carlos Rodriguez? Or should we RUMOR SMASH this already? 

Read

A VoIP company called iCall has developed a program for the iPhone that enables seamless switching of calls from GSM to WiFi. Meaning: iCall will prompt you to switch your phone calls, mid-call, to WiFi so you don't waste your minutes. Meaning: It's Free! Though the desktop version of iCall is only available for Windows (Mac Support is on the way) this will probably be one of the more useful VoIP clients for the iPhone.

People who are familiar with T-Mobile's use of UMA and HotSpot@Home technology will tell you that calls over Wi-Fi are not only free (with the right plan), but often times even better. Using VoIP instead of your minutes would help ease the drain for plenty of users who are always near WiFi and potentially offer international travelers free calls back home.

Currently, iCall is in private beta but plans for a public release very soon. In fact, you won't even have to jailbreak for this app because the folks over at iCall are confident it'll be a part of the App Store. 

ReadVia

Are you one of those people who love Flickr? The ease-of-use, best-in-class community, and (for pro users) unlimited storage space? Well I actually am one of those people. I love my Flickr. And the iPhone plays really nice with Flickr in part because of Flickr’s ability to upload pictures through E-mail. Take a picture. E-mail to Flickr. And it’s posted.

But for jailbroken iPhones there is another method that is in ways much more integrated. This Week's Native App-a-Week will take a look at this program, iFlickr. iFlickr is a native app that is dedicated for Flickr uploads. Meaning you take pictures for the pure purpose of posting it to your Flickr account. How does it work? Is it more effective than the current iPhone Camera->E-mail->Flickr set up?

Read on for the rest of the review!

How To Install

Design/Interface

The interface is simple and easy to use. Simply set-up your Flickr account, which is a cinch, and start snapping away. You have a choice of whether to save photos to your photo roll or just simply upload to Flickr. After you snap the picture, you are prompted with basic options: Send to Flickr, Add Details…, Email Photo, and Cancel—all of which are self explanatory.

Usability

iFlickr is as easy to use as the Camera application on your iPhone. Snap a picture and if you don't want to add any details, simply click Send to Flickr and you’re done. I was somewhat disappointed that iFlickr didn’t offer the ‘whoosh’ I enjoy so much and instead chose to replace it with a ‘Processing…’ sign. The overall speed in uploading with iFlickr is noticeably faster. You can easily save 5-10 seconds (depending on your network) using iFlickr as opposed to the E-mail process.

The benefits of using iFlickr as opposed to using the iPhone’s E-mail photo process is that iFlickr allows the original sized images to be uploaded to Flickr. Whereas the iPhone’s E-mail interface limits you to 640x480 sized photos, photos uploaded using iFlickr can retain its original size (1600x1200). Adding titles, descriptions, and tags are made possible through the ‘Add Details…’ button. Sadly, there isn’t a way to add your photos to a set.

Criticism

However, iFlickr isn’t without its faults. Every picture that isn’t properly Titled, Described, and Tagged would have the iFlickr branding on it. This is so because iFlickr auto-fills these areas with their own stock titles and description (title: iFlickr, description: Taken with my iPhone - uploaded with iFlickr). This is highly annoying because pictures become a walking advertisement for iFlickr. I would prefer if iFlickr left the fields blank for me to edit later instead of automatically reverting my fields to iFlickr-oriented labels.

Also, the ‘geolocation’ feature in iFlickr is a downright lie. I live in Los Angeles. Every picture I have taken using iFlickr has been automatically mapped to Lebanon, Kansas. I’ve never even heard of Lebanon, Kansas! I also couldn’t turn off the geolocation feature in the settings, so I guess I have to deal with being from Lebanon, Kansas.

Final Thoughts

The program is limited in the sense that it only sets out to do one thing—Upload full size images to Flickr. And it does it well—the whole process is much quicker and efficient than the iPhone's E-mail interface. With that said, iFlickr can still improve by stopping the autofill of descriptions and fixing the Lebanon, Kansas geotagging issue. If those issues were resolved, I would absolutely use it more frequently because of its ability to upload full resolution pictures. But in the mean time, the negatives have proven to be much too annoying for me. I'll stick with the iPhone's E-mail interface for the time being.

Pros

• Uploads orignal size of Photos
• Fast, Speedy uploading process
• Simple Interface

Cons

• iFlickr branding
• No use if you’re not a Flickr user
• Lebanon, Kansas

Final Rating: 4/5

VLC is a popular media player that supports countless audio and video codecs and multiple file formats. Because of such versatility, a lot of folks use VLC as their computer's main video player. And now thanks to ZodTTD, it's available for the iPhone (jailbroken ones only, sorry)!

The project is currently in private beta but a public release is planned for 'very soon'. In its current iteration, VLC supports drag and drop files for MPEG/MPG, AVI, and MP3 formats. Support for FLAC and OGG are well on their way and they are currently researching playback for DivX, VCD, WMA, and WMV. The project is even asking for YOUR input on what codecs you want to see supported, feel free to click the Read link to let your voice be heard.

I firmly believe that this will be a game changing program for the iPhone and the jailbreaking scene in general. Imagine being able to play ANY video format like the desktop version of VLC, that freedom from iTunes will undoubtedly lead people to jailbreaking. Keep up the good work ZodTTD!

ReadVia

A lot of people have criticized the fact that there isn’t a Mobile iChat or any other Instant Messaging program on the iPhone. From a technological standpoint, there is absolutely no reason for it to be missing. Also, an IM client is a common offering among smartphones and feature phones alike. A IM program is often very useful to quickly stay in touch with your contacts and well, for ‘instant’ communication.

The Web App JiveTalk from Beejive, a company who makes the similar program and uber-popular JiveTalk for Blackberry, is the answer for those who need a chat program but aren’t ready to jailbreak their iPhones. How does it perform? Should you give it a go?

Read on for the rest of the review!

Design & Interface

Using Jivetalk is simple. Just point the Safari browser on your iPhone to iphone.beejive.com and the Jivetalk web app will be loaded.

The design of the program is sleek and very Apple-ish, the usage of brushed metal and chat bubbles creates an experience akin to iChat. It is extremely easy to flip through your buddy list and if in the case you can’t find it, the buddy search works as advertised. The whole interface is fluid and I have yet to come across a bug.

Even though it is currently in beta, Jivetalk is a very, very polished web app. The interface is clean and clear, simple buttons line the top of the screen such as Status, Log Off, Settings, Help, and a Buddy Search. The Settings are very customizable, almost to the point of iChat on your Mac. You can choose what theme to use, turn off bubble-chat, show offline buddies, and so on. The buddy list itself separates your buddies into your pre-determined groups and displays profiles/status of your buddies.

Usability

Jivetalk is able to use almost every chatting application ever created. Okay maybe that’s an overstatement, but AIM, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, and Google Talk accounts can all be used. For this review, I kept it with AIM usage only. But note that multiple logins are also possible for those who have different accounts on different IM programs.

I found Jivetalk extremely easy to use, login is quick and painless—it even offers to remember your account and auto login on next arrival. Tapping a contact automatically opens a chat. And when chatting a new group is created for your ‘open chats’—this is a neat little feature that gives better accessibility to those whom you’re chatting with and cleans up a traditionally messy (on other phones) multiple chatting process.

There is also a tab-like interface in the chats. When having multiple conversations, in the upper right hand corner there are chat bubbles that correspond with each open chat. This allows for quick switching between chats.

You have the option to keep the keyboard up while chatting, which I chose to do, because having the keyboard slide in and out was dizzying, to say the least. Emoticons are also shown, so if you live to give your buddies smileys, feel free to on Jivetalk. There is a slight lag between pressing ‘Send’ on your iPhone and when it appears in your conversation (which is shown through a fainter font) which I will chalk up to data transmission.

Like any Web App however, especially those in Beta, Jivetalk is not without its limitations. Because of such limitations, it doesn’t always run in the background. I’ve had instances where I was able to stay logged in, but other times I was automatically logged off. It’s hard to fault Beejive for this limitation since it is Apple’s restrictions that causes this, but hopefully this can be solved..eventually.

Final Thoughts

Maybe when 2.0 rolls around (very soon!) there will be an AIM app or even iChat that can make for a better Insant Messaging experience, but I’m not so sure. Jivetalk for the iPhone is as good as any app can be, and its only limitation is the fact that it is a web app. Even on my jailbroken iPhone, I use Jivetalk rather than the other native IM options. It’s that good.

Hopefully the folks over at Beejive can release an official app for the iPhone because this is the best Instant Messaging Client currently available and it will only get better once it removes its web app status.

PROS

• Fluid Interface
• Handles Multiple Chats Well
• Groups, Profiles, Status, Emoticons—It’s iChat on your iPhone
• Customizable to your preference
• Great looking program

CONS

• It’s a web app
• Doesn’t always work in the background

Final Rating: 5/5