New iPhone 3GS version blocks jailbreak modifications

Several sources are reporting that a new version of the iPhone 3GS that is shipping blocks the ability for consumers to jailbreak and unlock the smartphone device.

iClarified, a site that provides resources on how to modify iPhone devices, reports that iPhones with the new boot ROM ,iBoot-359.3.2, began shipping last week, and that the new ROM breaks compatibility with current jailbreak software. A member of the iPhone Dev-Team, makers of iPhone exploiting software, confirmed that a jailbreak would be impossible until a workaround is found.

http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=8034

Greystripe And Tribal Fusion See Success With Web-To-Mobile Ad Campaigns

Mobile ad network Greystripe recently partnered with ad placement service Tribal Fusion to allow online ads to run on iPhones, diminishing the need for mobile specific ad formats. The partnership allows online ads to run on iPhones, eliminating additional mobile campaign creative production and dealing with an additional mobile advertising vendor. And of course, online ad budgets tend to be higher than mobile ad budgets, so Greystripe says this saves companies money.

Greystripe, which extended the ads to over five hundred online to mobile campaigns, says that advertisers are seeing 10-20 times higher performance with the mobile-online ad compared to the same online campaigns with average click through rates above one percent.

The mobile ad network maintains that its rich media, Flash full-screen ads generate higher click through rates and are able to generate better revenue to its publishers. With the Tribal Fusion program, Greystripe takes online Flash ads and transcodes them to make them fit on iPhones. Although Greystripe claims its rates are higher, we’ve heard they are on par with AdMob’s rates. That being said, the program does make it easier for ads to travel seamlessly from web-based to mobile platforms.

It’s important to note that one of the leaders in the ad network space, AdMob, was recently acquired by Google, leaving many of its competitors scrambling to compete with one of the largest companies in the world. Greystripe has been actively working to innovate its offerings over the past year; and has even received an $2 million infusion from NBC Universal.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/17/greystripe-and-tribal-fusion-see-success-with-web-to-mobile-ad-campaigns/

Issuu Mobile Makes Reading Books And Magazines Easier On Android

What is the best reading experience on a touchscreen device? As magazines and tablet-makers grapple with this question for larger form factors, Issuu has an answer for touchscreen phones. The Web-based document-viewer just released Issue Mobile for Android phones, and is working on an iPhone app.

Issuu Mobile is a mobile document reader which gives you access all the magazines, books, and documents uploaded to Issuu. Millions of public documents have been uploaded, just like on Scribd or DocStoc, and you can view your own private documents in your own account as well. The Android app shows featured content and addresses the small screen size with a new EasyRead feature. You just scratch a portion of the text and it pops up in a magnified view. You can also subscribe to publishers and news feeds.

Everything on Issuu is free or promotional right now, but you can find previews and free editions of books from Penguin, Random House and indie magazines. Issuu really needs a store like Scribd’s. But it is creating new mobile reading experiences which everyone can learn from.

I just wonder of down the road you need a separate app, or whether you can get the same reading experience from the Web. For now, Issuu is offering both and, at least for smaller screens, optimizing the experience with an app.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/17/issuu-mobile/

ComScore: iPhone overtakes Windows Mobile use for the first time in US

There are plenty of ways to measure smartphone marketshare. IDC measures units shipped from manufacturers whereas Gartner measures units sold to consumers. Then there's comScore, the research firm that conducts monthly surveys in the US to measure the total number of devices (and thus operating systems) currently in use. Its latest data is summarized above for the three-month period ending in October. See those yellow lines? If our kindergarten skills haven't failed us, then this data shows iPhone usage surpassing the once mighty Windows Mobile OS for the very first time. Unfortunately for Microsoft, Google's Android OS is set to accelerate significantly by the time the February 2010 data rolls in as is WebOS just as soon as Palm can bring its fledgling OS to Verizon's subscriber base. What's most troubling to Redmond about this report though, is where we found it: on FierceDeveloper, a site for mobile software developers who will presumably use the data to help determine which platforms they will focus their time. Oh Windows Mobile 7, where are you?

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/17/comscore-iphone-overtakes-windows-mobile-use-for-the-first-time/

Motorola's Shop4apps online Android app store discovered

Leave it to the gung ho gang at Android and Me to do some clever Googling and discovering Motorola's web based Android app store, Shop4apps. The store has since been removed / made hidden, but not before we got a good glimpse at the whole shebang. There's a MyLocker section to check your download history, the ability to re-download and transfer aspps to a new phone, and a special MotoAppstore client for downloading and installing the apps (which unfortunately wasn't working yet). Frankly, the images aren't too flattering, so we're hoping for some further tweaking before it's official launch. In the meantime, hit up the source link for more pictures.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/12/motorolas-shop4apps-online-android-app-store-discovered/

SHOP4APPS Is Motorola's New Android App Marketplace

Motorola, the US-based mobile phone manufacturer, has set in motion plans to roll out its very own app store for its range of Android mobile phones in an attempt to tap into the lucrative mobile app market by providing quality applications for its smartphones.
The site, called SHOP4APPS, has been reported by Android and Me which claims to have spotted the app store by using the ‘powers’ of Google search engine.
However, the web-based app store has been reported to be still under construction and can be browsed through a PC browser or Android browser.
The blog has posted screenshots of the upcoming app store and it seems that the store will provide apps in free and paid categories.
The app store will also have a section named ‘My Locker’ which will enable the users to access download history to view previously downloaded apps.
Android and Me has also revealed that a free MotoAppstore client will be available for as a free download which will allow users to effortlessly download and install applications.
The store will also allow its users to download apps from their desktops and list them on My Locker and then download it on to their handsets. My Locker will also allow users to re-download and transfer the apps to a new handset.

http://www.itproportal.com/portal/news/article/2009/12/16/shop4apps-motorolas-new-android-app-marketplace/showall/#ixzz0ZuUi1nRr

iPhone info part2.

http://www.ebuzz.co.kr/content/buzz_view.html?uid=83110&portal=001_00001

iPhone info part3.

http://www.ebuzz.co.kr/content/buzz_view.html?uid=83110&portal=001_00001

iPhone info part1.

http://www.ebuzz.co.kr/content/buzz_view.html?uid=83110&portal=001_00001

300,000 iPhone Apps By 2010 Reckons IDC

Online marketplace already seems to be inundated with an umpteen number of apps, but if forecasts from the researchers at IDC are to be believed then we have just been exposed to a prelude of what could be referred to as "app avalanche" in the next year.
The analyst firm has come up with a list of predictions for the year 2010, out of which one portrays 2010 as the year which will see the introduction of a wide range of apps.
Announcing the predictions, the company said: “It will be a watershed year in the ascension of mobile devices as strategic platforms for commercial and enterprise developers as over one billion access the Internet, iPhone apps triple, Android apps quintuple, and Apple's "iPad" arrives.”
Furthermore, the analysts were apparently very much enthused by the exploding growth that Apple App Store has showed in the recent past, as they forecast the number of iPhone and iPod to reach a whopping 300,000 by the end of the next year. The company further predicted an incredible annual growth rate of around 900 percent.
However such a mammoth figure may create problems for the users, as they wouldn’t only need to deal with more than 300,000 apps, but would also have to spend significantly more time to find out which ones to download.
The research figures appear to be overly amplified, as in order to reach this figure Apple would have to be more than lenient in its apps approval process - something, which seems unimaginable right now.

http://www.itproportal.com/portal/news/article/2009/12/4/300000-iphone-apps-2010-reckons-idc/showall/#ixzz0ZqA9xrU6

Android App Market Reaches 20,000 Mark - App Store, Watch Out!

The number of applications currently in the Google Android Marketplace has apparently reached more than 20,000, slightly more than one year after it was launched.
The figures were collected and crunched by Android-focused website, Androlib, which hasn't said where it got its figures. It has however been tracking Android apps since its launch as Googld doesn't disclose statistical data related to Android.
Nearly a third of those applications are paid for and according to Androlib, the end of November 209 saw a spike when more than 350 applications and games were published on a single day.
The App store, in comparison, has more than 100,000 apps although that high number is starting to draw some criticisms especially as it is becoming increasingly difficult to drill down and find out which app is worthy.
The majority of Android apps have been downloaded 50 times or less with the percentage of apps having been downloaded 50,000 times or more equivalent to 4.2 percent.
Surprisingly, nearly half of all reviews of Android apps have five stars (out of five) ratings with only 17 percent carrying a one-star rating. Overall, most users - 75 percent or more - are apparently satisfied or moderately satisfied with Android applications.
Finally, the overwhelming number of applications in the market - 85 percent - are non gaming. Android Market passed the 10,000 app count back in July 2009. 2010 is going to be a pretty exciting year for the Android platform, bring on the Nexus!

http://www.itproportal.com/portal/news/article/2009/12/15/android-app-market-reaches-20000-mark-app-store-watch-out/showall/#ixzz0Zq9OjzVk

Apple Approves Video Recording App For iPhone 2G, 3G

In a surprising twist, Apple has approved a video recording application called the iVideoCamera for the iPhone 2G and 3G, both models that were devoid of this feature which was, until now, one of the selling points of the new iPhone 3GS.
However, it might be a goo thing to wait for a while because of the appalling quality of the video the app currently can shoot. At 213x160 pixels and at a rate of three frames per second, it is nowhere near the shooting ability of the 3GS - 640x480 pixels at 30 fps.
On top of that, you won't be able to record more than 60 seconds per video clip. However, it is likely that Apple's move will encourage other developers to come forward with even better video recording applications.
Even better, it removes yet another reason for some iPhone users to jail break their iPhones. You will need the iPhone OS 3.1 to get it to work. You will be able to share the videos over to Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo and Youtube.
The App costs only $0.99 though and the developer, Laan Labs, has promised that the next version will offer significantly more features including higher resolution and better frame ratesRead more:

http://www.itproportal.com/portal/news/article/2009/12/16/apple-approves-video-recording-app-iphone-2g-3g/showall/#ixzz0Zq8IlFUz

Google to sell Nexus One Android smartphone

After a flurry of "Google Phone" related rumors from small time sources on Twitter and elsewhere, the Wall Street Journal has stepped in to report that its own sources indicate that Google will offer an HTC-built Android smartphone directly to consumers, and that the device will be known as the Nexus One.
Earlier today Google announced on its Google Mobile Blog that it had handed out a large number of new Android devices to employees as part of its "dogfooding" internal trials program. The Wall Street Journal's sources claim that the devices that is being distributed is the new Nexus One, which is likely to go on sale in 2010.
Other sources have indicated that the phone being distributed by Google runs Android 2.1, which has so far not been seen on production hardware, and features a highly customized user interface that was designed entirely by Google.

‘진짜 구글폰’이 나온다. ‘검색황제’ 구글이 단말기부터 애플리케이션까지 모든 것을 직접 디자인하고 판매까지 직접 맡는다. 웹·소프트웨어 업체가 하드웨어 분야로 진출하는 또 하나의 사례다.13일 업계에 따르면, 월스트리트저널(WSJ) 등 외신들은 대만 HTC 관계자 발언을 인용해 구글이 이르면 내년부터 소비자들에게 직접 판매할 자사 브랜드 휴대폰 ‘넥서스 원’의 제작을 마쳤다고 보도했다. 구글은 이미 전세계 자사 직원들에게 제품을 나눠주고 이 휴대폰의 성능을 실험하고 있는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 그간 업계 안팎에 퍼졌던 구글폰 출시설이 사실로 드러나면서 전세계 스마트폰 시장의 지각변동이 예고되고 있다.넥서스 원의 하드웨어 제작은 대만계 스마트폰 업체 HTC가 맡는다. 운영체제로는 구글 안드로이드가 탑재으며 HTC의 안드로이드폰 ‘터치프로2’와 비슷한 형태로 두께가 상당히 얇으며, 후면 카메라와 퀄컴 스냅드래곤 프로세서, 2개의 전후방향 마이크, OLED 터치스크린을 채용했다. 뒷면의 마이크는 주변의 잡음을 감지하여 그 잡음의 주파수를 상쇄하는 역할을 한다.구글은 이 휴대폰을 온라인을 통해 직접 소비자들에게 판매할 계획으로 알려졌으며 이에 따라 소비자들은 이 휴대폰을 구입한 뒤 통신사업자를 별도로 선택하는 ‘언락(Unlocked)’ 방식으로 판매된다. 이같은 방식은 기존 안드로이드 스마트폰 제조사들과 갈등을 빚게 될 소지를 남겨놓은 셈이다.

그렇다면 국내 출시는 될까. 넥서스 원은 유럽에서 채택하고 있는 GSM 디지털 이동전화 방식을 채택해 국내 CDMA와는 다르기에 당장 국내에 들어오기는 힘들 것으로 보인다.

http://www.fnnews.com/view?ra=Sent0901m_View&corp=fnnews&arcid=00000921844960&cDateYear=2009&cDateMonth=12&cDateDay=14

http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=8396

Google is working on a new “Google Phone”

For a while now there have been rumors of Google launching their own “Google Phone”. Google confirmed in a blog post today that they are indeed working on a new phone and that they have already sent it for testing to employees across the globe. Google didn’t refer to the device as the Google Phone, but they confirmed that it runs on Android and has new features and capabilities.
Google employees and people who have seen the Google Phone have already started posting about their experience with the phone. Jason Howell, an employee at CNet posted on Tech Crunch saying the following about the Google phone:
It resembled the HTC Hero, but was a bit smaller and definitely thinner.
Looked sleeker, and was super light.
Was unlocked and using an AT&T sim card.
Running on Android 2.1.
Another person that goes by the name Great White Snark also got some hands on with the Google Phone and had this to say:
“It’s like an iPhone on beautifying steroids”
“Similar form-factor to the iPhone, but with a smooth-brushed-metal-looking shell instead of a glossy one. And perhaps a smidgen lighter.”
“Super fast, speech-to-text in EVERY app”
” Awesome “live wallpapers” in the background that respond to touch in really beautiful ways. Like water ripples that emanate out from a touch.
So far there have been positive reviews, and the Google Phone is rumored to be launching in January 2010. If you plan on buying an Android phone this month, you may want to just wait until January and see if Google really does launch a Google Phone.

http://www.quickpwn.com/2009/12/google-is-working-on-a-new-google-phone-c0232.html