Operators offer incentives to early iPhone buyers

Israel's mobile operators are offering incentives for the first iPhone buyers at their points-of-sale that will open one minute after midnight on the night of Wednesday into Thursday.

The first customers arriving at Pelephone Communications Ltd. stand in the Ayalon Mall in Ramat Gan will receive a gift kit of Philips mobile speakers and anchor for the iPhone. Early customers will also receive a NIS 250 gift certificate for iPhone peripherals at stores of Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) franchisee iDigital Ltd.

 

iPhone will choose T-Mobile to AT&T

For the US, it is generally assumed that the ultimate marriage between device and carrier would be the iPhone on Verizon. The iPhone is unquestionably the most popular single phone out there for consumers and Verizon is the largest network in the US with impressive coverage and a great 3G network. The iPhone though may be headed to T-Mobile first.

The iPhone has been an AT&T exclusive since it launched in 2007. It has long been rumored that 2010 was the year the exclusivity agreement would run out and the general feeling is Verizon is going to get the iPhone. On Tuesday, StreetInsider.com reported that Apple's stock actually dipped because of rumors that T-Mobile would be the next Apple partner. I guess having Verizon as a partner was actually priced into Apple's share price to some extent and when rumors indicated it was going from the largest network to the smallest of the big four, it caused a bit of nervousness from investors.

More reports came on Wednesday reinforcing the idea that Verizon and the iPhone are not meant to be. Verizon seems to be committed to its V Cast music service and the iPhone, of course, relies on iTunes. AT&T also gives Apple over twice as much money for an iPhone than Verizon gives for its most popular smartphone, a RIM device.

The point is, Apple and Verizon both have areas that they aren't likely to budge on and it may ultimately prevent an iPhone deal from ever materializing. That is a shame too. I think the iPhone needs to launch on a CDMA network in the US. By going with T-Mobile, Apple would be picking the nations second largest GSM network. It is already on the largest GSM network. My gut says that almost anyone that is on T-Mobile that wanted an iPhone would have already switched by now. I am not sure how many people on Verizon or Sprint that didn't switch to AT&T for the iPhone would do so with T-Mobile.

These are, of course, just rumors, but if true, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I don't see the upside for Apple with this move. Neither, apparently, did investors.

Jailbreak and Unlock iPhone 3G/3GS 3.1.2 Using blackra1n and blacksn0w for Mac OS X Edition

blackra1n is the latest, simplest Jailbreak tool from iPhone hacker George Hotz (Geohot) and supports all modern iPhone and iPod touch devices running the latest 3.1.2 firmware. blacksn0w is the associated Unlock utility. (Jailbreaking lets you run software not approved by Apple, like background tasks, Google Voice apps, etc. Unlocking lets you use your iPhone on other carriers, like T-Mobile US or international carriers when traveling). blackra1n makes the process faster and easier than ever before, but if you need extra help, TiPb has your back.

Note: For those of you who are planning on jailbreaking your new iPhone 3GS with the updated bootrom, you should be aware that BlackRa1n supports only a tethered jailbreak. This simply means if you have to reset your phone or your battery runs out on you, you will need to connect your device to your computer and run BlackRa1n to be able to boot your iPhone.

Disclaimer: Neither TiPb nor I take any responsibility for any problems/issues/bricking/etc. that may occur while using this software to modify your iPhone. Please be aware of what you are doing. If you don’t understand it — don’t do it.

Lets get started, after the jump!

Preparation

First things first, before we start please be sure you are currently on the 05.11.07 baseband. If you are not, connect to iTunes and update your software to 3.1.2. Once that is done it is time to begin. You will need to go to the BlackRa1n homepage, and click on the Apple to download the proper software. You will want to save the zip file to your desktop and then double-click on it. This will then create the BlackRa1n launch icon.

The Jailbreak Process

Connect your iPhone to your computer. Once connected double-click the BlackRa1n icon to begin the process.

Now simply click “make it rain”. Your device will now enter recovery mode.

Your device will now reboot.

Once your device reboots the jailbreak process is complete and you will see the following message on your desktop.

Installing Cydia/Rock/Unlock

On your Springboard you will now see the BlackRa1n icon. Make sure you have a data connection and then press the icon to proceed.

* If you plan to unlock your device for T-Mobile USA (or any carrier not supporting iPhone 3G bands) you must first disable 3G in your settings before proceeding. *

Here you will now choose your installer. Your choices are Cydia and Rock. You can also select “sn0w” if you are unlocking your device. After you make your selections press “install”.

* Do not select “sn0w” if you are not unlocking your iPhone. *

Once complete your Springboard will reset and you will now see Cydia or Rock, whichever you chose, on your screen.

Congratulations, you have successfully jailbroke/unlocked your iPhone. If you wish, you can uninstall BlackRa1n from your iPhone by simply going back into the application and pressing “uninstall”.

If you are in need of some further help with this process please visit our iPhone Jailbreak/Unlock forums as there are many friendly forum members who are always willing to help you out.

Source theiphoneblog

There will over 300,000 Apple iPhone and iPod Touch Apps before 2011

The iPhone App market and the App Store seem to be enjoying the attention it has been showered upon; thanks to the records it has been creating. After the much hullabaloo leading to the 1 billion iPhone app downloads saga, now comes the news from the market research firm IDC who has predicted that there will be 300,000 iPhone apps by 2010 end.

While Apple prominently figures in IDC's top 10 predictions for the coming year, released on Thursday, this is an indication enough to prove that Apple iPhone is nonetheless a revolutionary smartphone changing the mobile world for ever. Going by recent statistics, the iPhone is compatible with more than 100,000 applications that are available for download through the Apple App Store. And if IDC’s predictions are to be believed, the App store would have three times as many applications by the end of 2010.

IDC report: iPhone application momentum to grow

The IDC report has predicted at least 300,000 iPhone applications by the end of 2010, when many of the new apps coming from well-known Global 2000 business and consumer brands. These are slated to attract more consumers and businesspeople as their most frequently and profoundly used clients.

It is a fantastic record considering the fact that just only a year ago, the App Store had approximately 10,000 applications. And one year later in November, 2009 Apple has put up an announcement that it had reached the 100,000 milestone less than a year and a half after its debut; which marks an annual growth rate of 900%. The report further mentions that Google Android devices would get access to around 50,000 to 75,000 applications around the same time.

IDC report: Over 1 billion mobile devices to access the Internet in 2010

Market research firm IDC has predicted for the first time that more than 1 billion mobile devices will access the Internet by the end of the year 2010, which is 25 times faster in comparison to the 1.3 billion PCs accessing the Internet. Apart from Apple iPhone, the IDC report includes the RIM's BlackBerry and Nokia's smartphone lineup.

There are also an increasing number of phones running Microsoft's Windows Mobile, Google's Android, and Symbian^1 (notably Nokia). The report further mentions that more than 200 million of these devices, which are distinguished by their ability to run third-party applications — will be shipped in 2010. This represents 16% of the market IDC predicts by 2013, accounting for over 20%. What are your thoughts on the IDC report? Share your thoughts.

from IDC

How Apple Could Survive Without Steve Jobs

Apple Inc. set off shock waves Tuesday by announcing Steve Jobs will not speak at what the company said would be its final appearance at the Macworld trade show. The news sent the company's stock downward, and raised questions about whether Mr. Jobs had new health problems or some new products were not ready.

But another question is likely to persist after the debate dies down: How well could Apple keep up the pace of new products without its iconic chief executive?

Speculation about the continued reign of Mr. Jobs -- which has popped up from time to time since his 2004 treatment for cancer -- underscore how closely Apple's fashion-setting products are identified with its co-founder. There is no sign of any change in his status; an Apple spokesman won't address the issue of his health, but said, "If Steve or the board decides that Steve is no longer capable of doing his job as CEO of Apple, I am sure they will let you know."

What if that situation does change? There is reason for optimism, based on the evolution of the team that develops Apple's hardware, software and services, some people familiar with the company's internal workings say. Some of them believe the group is now strong enough that, barring an exodus of top talent, the company could keep churning out innovative products without Mr. Jobs.

Mr. Jobs did not respond to a request for comment.

In one possible sign of confidence in the management team, an unprecedented number of executives presented during the company's press event to unveil its new MacBook lineup in October, though Mr. Jobs still dominated the event.

Mr. Jobs returned to Apple in 1997— he had left in 1985— and has since overseen the introduction of such ground-breaking products as the iMac, iPod and iPhone. He plays an unusually important role for a CEO in the gestation of such gadgets, agonizing over details that could impact users' experience.

Not that Mr. Jobs actually designs products himself. He serves more like an "editor in chief" in refining and improving ideas for Apple gadgets, according to former Apple executives.

"He didn't come up with the ideas, he just filtered them," says Bill Bull, a retired Apple engineer who worked for Mr. Jobs at Apple in the 1980s and again after Mr. Jobs returned.

The hands-on work of Apple's innovations depend more directly on subordinates such as Jonathan Ive, an Apple senior vice president who oversees the company's industrial design team. His group is primarily associated with the physical look and feel of products, such as the unusually slender Macbook Air.

Scott Forstall, another senior vice president, leads the team responsible for the iPhone's operating system and other software. In a sign of his growing importance at the company, Mr. Forstall was twice given the chance to speak at media and technical events earlier this year--and has shown some of the same showmanship that is Mr. Jobs' trademark.

Other crucial figures at Apple now include Ron Johnson, senior vice president of Apple retail, who has masterminded the success of Apple's stores, the hip electronics emporiums that have played a crucial role in the growth of the iPod and Macintosh in recent years.

One change to the team was the announcement in early November that Tony Fadell was stepping down as senior vice president of Apple's iPod division, which makes the innards of those popular gadgets carry out their products' slick features. He first conceived of the iPod, and convinced Mr. Jobs to support the idea despite skepticism from others in the company. Mr. Fadell said he will remain an adviser to Mr. Jobs; Mark Papermaster, a former International Business Machines Corp. executive, has been named to assume the iPod post.

For every design project in the pipeline, Mr. Jobs will hold meetings of two or three hours every week or two with key members of the product team. At those meetings, Mr. Jobs will critique the work in progress and also suggest adding or cutting features.

Read more wsj.com

iPhone apps round-up: Wine reviews, Hanukkah apps, and the inauguration

You could follow my lead and just pick the bottle that has the most eye-catching label. Or you could consult an expert in the form of WineReviews . The recently released application from Steve Saxon lets you look up reviews of wines on your iPhone. The $4 application also features a Favorites screen and lets you write your own reviews.

Speaking of the holidays, festive apps continue to jam the shelves of the App Store; today, we’ll highlight a pair that have a Hanukkah bent. The $2 iMenorah from Jutanabet joins the ranks of virtual menorah apps from RustyBrick and LilBros. iMenorah lights candles with the touch of a finger, features sung blessings, and promises to donate a percentage of its proceeds to charity. Meanwhile, iDreidle for Chanukah is not made out of clay, but rather is a $1 mobile dreidel game from Gp Imp. just in time for the festival of lights.

Finally, we’re a little more than a month out from another significant event—this January’s presidential inauguration. And 2009 Presidential Inauguration Guide figures to help visitors heading to Washington D.C. for the big event. The free app from PointAbout features a countdown screen to Inauguration Day as well as a distance calculator that tells you how far away you are from the steps of the Capitol Building. More important, the app offers info on local restaurants, parking, transit info, and nearby Wi-Fi hotspots.

Other apps of interest that recently debuted at the App Store include:

* LogMeIn Ignition , from LogMeIn: This $30 app lets mobile users connect to a Mac or PC and control it remotely.
* Snowdome , from Yotta Digital: The $1 virtual snow globe takes advantage of the built-in accelerometer for the iPhone and iPod touch to cause snowflakes to fly whenever you shake your mobile device.
* iBreviary , from Dimitri Giani: The $1 app comes in Spanish, French, English, Latin, and Italian offers mobile worshipers the prayer of the Breviary, readings of the Mass of the Day, and other principal Catholic prayers.
* FriendCast , from CallFire.com: The free application lets you record a message and send it to many contacts simultaneously.
source: macworld

Metal Gear, Silent Hill, Frogger get iPhone treatment

Last week, a teaser page on the English-language page of Konami's Japanese Web site led many to believe the Japanese publisher was working on bringing the Metal Gear Solid franchise to the Xbox 360, reviving the Metal Gear Acid brand, or even porting the long-running series to the Wii. However shortly after information leaked via scans of gaming magazine Famitsu, Konami has confirmed a different mission for Solid Snake.

In an official press release today, Konami of Europe revealed that Metal Gear Solid Touch would be heading to the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch early in the New Year. According to the release, "Metal Gear Solid Touch focuses on action elements of Hideo Kojima’s classic stealth series, and will see series veteran Solid Snake embark on an all-new mission." It won't be a completely new experience for MGS fans however, with players "using locations and characters introduced in Konami’s Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots [including] eight action-packed stages, with more to be added at a later date."

In addition to the feted stealth-action series, Konami also confirmed Frogger for the iPhone, reportedly "a pixel-perfect conversion of the classic arcade game," and Silent Hill: The Escape. It looks like these releases may only be the start, with Konami's Head of Mobile Business Department quoted as saying, "We welcome the iPhone and iPod Touch to our product line-up and look forward to these initial games." (Emphasis added).

The teaser page on Konami's Web site now links to what appears to be a placeholder page with the Metal Gear Solid Touch logo.

Source from gamespot.com

Google’s Voice Search Finally Hits The iPhone

Google’s search-by-voice application is finally available on the App Store. To grab it, visit this link (the page still shows the old version, but you’ll download the new one). The application was originally announced on Friday, leading to widespread excitement that quickly turned to unrest as the application failed to make its debut on the App Store. The delay led to criticism of Apple’s App Store approval process, which apparently leaves all developers in the dark - even Google.

The app allows users to speak into their iPhones to submit queries to Google’s search engine, which can serve up both standard search results as well as movie showtimes, addresses, and other handy information. Voice detection seems to work pretty well, though it sometimes takes a few tries with long phrases and names (I was able to correctly search for the “answer to life, the universe, and everything” after only two tries). And when it works, it’s really cool - I’ll probably be using it on a daily basis.

My biggest issue with the app is that there is apparently no way to use the voice detection feature to call a contact, despite the fact that you can search through contacts using manual text entry. One of my biggest gripes about the iPhone is that there’s no way to make a hands-free call, and while this would still require at least one buttonpress, it would be an improvement. A free application called Say Who offers voice dialing on the iPhone, but it would have been nice to see the functionality integrated into the Google app.

source: techcrunch.com

National Geographic launches Games division

National Geographic Global Media on Tuesday announced the launch of National Geographic Games (NGG), a new business unit that is creating games for multiple platforms, including the Mac and iPhone.

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NGG will work with game publishers and developers to create games based on National Geographic’s core themes and media properties, the company announced. As part of that effort, NGG announced that it has partnered with Namco Bandai Games America and Sony Computer Entertainment to bring new titles to market. Namco Bandai has brought several of its own game properties to the iPhone and iPod platforms.

The first title to be released is “Herod’s Lost Tomb,” a downloadable game for the Mac, iPhone and Windows that can also be played online through the National Geographic Channel’s Web site. The game, featuring content from the December 2008 issue of National Geographic magazine, features information about the biblical figure King Herod.

Other titles coming in November include “National Geographic: Panda” and “National Geographic: Africa.” December will bring “Sudoku Traveler: China.” And releases planned for 2009 include “Rain Forests,” “Greencity” and “From the Bottom Up.”

source: macworld.com

China Mobile eyes buyouts at attractive valuations

MACAU (MarketWatch) -- China Mobile's chairman and chief executive said Tuesday that the company was looking for acquisitions in emerging countries as the slump in global financial markets over the past year has opened up opportunities at attractive valuations.

"Telecom assets have become very inexpensive and some people say there's a good opportunity for buyers. I agree with them, but it's not so simple. There is no reason for sellers to sell at such a low price," said Wang Jianzhou, speaking at the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress in Macau.

"We have to find some opportunities ... when someone needs the money. [Meanwhile], we will do our best for our Pakistani company," he said. 

 "We have [non-]disclosure agreements with Apple, so I can't disclose many details. All I can say is that China is still interested in [bringing the] iPhone into China Mobile markets," he said.

"China Mobile is open to all operators, all vendors, content providers and service providers," he said.

China, the world's largest mobile-services market with more than 600 million subscribers, is one of the few big markets in Asia where the iPhone is still not formally launched.

Apple and China Mobile started talks more than a year ago, but differences over Apple's demand for sharing revenue delayed an agreement. The companies reportedly resumed talks earlier this year after Apple abandoned its demand for splitting revenue.

source: marketwatch.com

Merge Healthcare Announces New Merge Mobile(TM) for the iPhone(TM)

a leading medical imaging solutions provider, announced mobile technology that enables patients and healthcare professionals to view digital medical images such as CT, MRI, X-ray and other images on an Apple iPhone(TM) or iPod(R) touch. A demonstration of Merge Mobile(TM) for the iPhone(TM) is available free of charge from the iPhone App Store.
Merge Mobile is breakthrough technology intended to help health organizations and clinicians improve quality of care, reduce costs and improve responsiveness to patients. Today, radiologists and physicians have access to patient medical images from computers connected to their practice management or PAC (picture archiving and communications) systems. Applications(a) built upon Merge Mobile technology will enable radiologists to view emergency cases directly from their iPhone or iPod touch, consult with colleagues and, when necessary, forward critical findings directly and securely to a patient's referring physician.
"Merge Healthcare will usher in a new era of mobile healthcare by bringing advanced medical imaging information to the fingertips of physicians," said Justin Dearborn, Merge Healthcare Chief Executive Officer. "Merge Mobile leverages the rapid convergence of mobile and medical technology development to empower new approaches in healthcare delivery and coordination."
Merge Mobile technology will enable the development of applications to retrieve CT, MRI, X-ray and other images wirelessly, and to perform standard radiologic manipulations to guide decision-making, much like computer-based solutions such as PACS. Few solutions of this kind exist today, and most experience download delays associated with medical imaging's large data sets. Merge Mobile incorporates advanced remote rendering techniques, including multi-planar reconstruction (MPR), which eliminate downloading of large data quantities to the mobile device and enable near-immediate access to images. Features include remote stack viewing using the iPhone multi-touch interface, scroll, contrast adjustment, zoom and pan. A secure communication protocol addresses privacy.
Merge Healthcare provides sample images and data via a demonstration server with the free Merge Mobile download at www.apple.com/iphone/appstore.
Apple, iPhone and iPod are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.
Merge Healthcare's solutions solve mission-critical issues for radiology practices, outpatient imaging centers, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers worldwide. For additional information, visit www.merge.com.
The matters discussed in this news release may include forward-looking statements, which could involve a number of risks and uncertainties. When used in this press release, the words "will," "believes," "intends," "anticipates," "expects" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by the federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such factors or to publicly announce the results of any of the forward-looking statements.
(a)Note that as to Works In Progress, Merge Healthcare is not legally obligated to develop or continue to develop such Works in Progress that may include the features and functionality described herein.
SOURCE: Merge Healthcare

Screenshots: iPhone OS 2.2 Adds App Store Sorting

Fresh off the heels of rumors that iPhone OS 2.2 will be landing within ten days, Boy Genius Report posts a few screen shots of Apple’s unreleased iPhone OS 2.2 Firmware. The new images show new App Store “sorting” functionality not present in any iPhone Firmware build to date.

…you can sort the categories themselves by “Top Paid”, “Top Free” and “Release Date”. In addition to that, each category gets a cute little icon instead of just text-based lists, and you can finally browse through all the application screen shots, BGR explains.

What this means is that instead of looking at just text-based lists, you can now browse through the applications screenshots, just like in iTunes. As previously mentioned, rumors that came in today point to November 21st as a release date for iPhone OS 2.2, though it is still unconfirmed.

source:macblogz.com

`BlackBerry less reliable vs iPhone’

  NEW DELHI: Apple's iPhone has half the failure rate of RIM's BlackBerry in the first year of use, says a study carried out by a mobile-phone war

ranty firm.

The SquareTrade study, which analysed cell phone failure rates for more than 15,000 new phones, found iPhones had a malfunction rate of 5.6 per cent in the first year, compared to 11.9 per cent for BlackBerry smartphones. Palm's Treos fared worse, with 16.2 per cent having some sort of malfunction in the first 12 months of use.

The study noted that the most prominent malfunctions for iPhone users appear to be touchscreen-related, accounting for a third of all reported issues with the handset. However, 12 per cent of iPhone users reported accidental damage to their handsets within the first year of use -- the average for other handsets is nine percent.

"It's likely that any iPhone owner can guess the reason iPhone accidents are so common," the authors wrote. "After two minutes of handling an iPhone, it's impossible to escape noticing that the handsets are incredibly slippery. The form doesn't help, either. The dimensions make for a difficult grip, especially for those with small hands. These two factors conspire to make the iPhone more accident prone than just about any other handset model we've seen."

The report's authors also noted that fewer than half-a-percent of iPhone owners reported battery problems after a year of use, compared with around one percent for BlackBerry and Treo users.

SquareTrade's study did not take into account software issues handled directly by the retailer or fixed by firmware updates. 

source:indiatimes.com

Billing Revolution Brings One-Click Payments To iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android Apps

When it comes to charging for mobile apps, payments usually have to go through either the carriers or one of the emerging mobile app platforms such as Apple or Google’s Android. The problem with charging for an iPhone app through iTunes is that Apple takes 30 percent. A startup called Billing Revolution wants to charge about one tenth as much for a seamless, mobile one-click shopping experience. Already available on other phones, Billing Revolution is announcing availability today for iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android apps.

Once a consumer signs up to pay for things through Billing Revolution, he is presented with an Amazon-like one-click payment option no matter what app is using it. (Didn’t Amazon patent that?). Billing Revolution charges a 3.5 percent transaction fee plus 50 cents per transaction.

That pretty much kills any app developer using it for micro-transactions. Nobody is going to sell a digital song for $1.00 if they need to pay Billing Revolution 53.5 cents. But it could become an option for larger purchases, and as a way to charge for premium subscriptions for apps that build adoption with a lighter-weight free version.

source:mobilecrunch.com

Debian Deviously Ported to Android, G1

If increased functionality, more usability, and greater geekiness have any place in your mobile heart, this post is for you. Jay Freeman (a.k.a. Saurik)  has successfully ported Debian onto Android and the G1. Saurik is the guy that brought you (not us) Winterboard, Cydia, and Cycorder to the iPhone, so we know this is a fully legit claim.

Instructions are not for the faint of heart, although we’d suspect the faint of heart aren’t salivating over the notion of accessing the G1’s root file system.

Some readers may be questioning the usefulness of such a mod to an already open source operating system; however, at the moment the G1 and Android does not allow developers the right to access the down ‘n’ dirty of Android on the G1.

So, if you’re up for the challenge (which might be the only real benefit of this mod), use your deductive reasoning to find, and subsequently click, the read link.

[via ModMyGPhone]

iPhone steals Razr's throne

That may seem an obvious statement, but consider this: The best-selling mobile phone among U.S. adults the past three years has been Motorola's Razr V3, which at 4 years old is ancient in the gadget world.

Now, the crown has passed from the Razr to the iPhone 3G in the latest quarter, according to new data from market research firm NPD Group.

It has taken the iPhone less than a year to topple the once-trendsetting Razr, as consumers gravitate toward handsets that not only look cool, but can handle advanced Internet tasks. The Razr achieved its stardom with its fashion-forward look. The iPhone and the other handsets in NPD's Top 5 rankings, including Research In Motion's BlackBerry Curve and the Rumor by LG, combine external design with other popular features.

source:chicagotribune.com

Where to Shop iPhone Application Gives Holiday Shoppers More Choice to Find the Best Price

             MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Nov 11, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --Find Products at Nearby Stores, and Compare Online and Local Pricing While on the Go

TheFind, Inc. ( www.TheFind.com), the leading shopping search engine for discovering lifestyle goods, is making it easier for consumers to complete their shopping lists this holiday season with TheFind: Where to Shop, a new application that gives consumers the ability to leverage TheFind's powerful shopping search capabilities and comprehensive local store data from anywhere, via the Apple(R) iPhone(TM).

"The economic challenges that the U.S. and global markets have experienced over the last couple of months are expected to impact retail sales this holiday season, with price likely to become the defining factor in product purchases, followed by breadth of product selection," said Siva Kumar, co-founder and CEO of TheFind. "In introducing TheFind: Where to Shop, we hope to ease some of the 'pocketbook' pain consumers are feeling, by helping them find products in their local neighborhoods and compare online prices while on the go. With TheFind's Where to Shop, consumers can find the best deals on their holiday purchases, without running all over town or having to sit at their computer to conduct their online research. Our comprehensive approach to finding products also ensures that those consumers will find even the most unique items in a snap."

Last month, the National Retail Federation (NRF) issued its 2008 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, which projects that U.S. consumers will "spend an average of $832.36 on holiday-related shopping, up a paltry 1.9 percent over last year's $816.6, and representing the lowest increase in planned consumer spending since the survey began in 2002." The report went on to state that "consumers say one factor will play the biggest role in buying decisions this year: price." According to the survey, 40.0 percent of shoppers cite sales or promotions as the largest factor when determining where to shop, while another 12.6 percent claim that everyday low prices sway their decision. Other consumers rated selection (21.5%) as the primary factor.

TheFind: Where to Shop bridges the gap between online research and offline purchases, enabling shoppers to compare products and pricing -- while out and about -- and ensuring that they find exactly what they're searching for, quickly and easily within reach. With a comprehensive index of more than 250 million products covering 200,000 store locations, TheFind's iPhone application aims to be the best resource for savvy shoppers.

With TheFind: Where to Shop consumers are able to:

-- "Carry" online shopping research -- product searches, prices, store locations and sales information -- with them anywhere they go. Consumers no longer have to sit at their desks in front of the computer before leaving home to do their Holiday Shopping -- they can have it all with them wherever they go.

-- Quickly and easily determine which retail outlets selling the desired items are closest in proximity. For every search, TheFind: Where to Shop graphically maps the locations of local brick-and-mortar stores whose websites have the item, and also gives phone numbers and directions to those stores. Consumers can use the map to determine which location is the closest to them, or call ahead to get more information or reserve the product - saving time, money and gas.

-- Check in-store availability. Through integration with inventory look up capabilities offered by NearbyNow and Krillion, TheFind's iPhone application enables shoppers to actually check the inventories of participating, nearby stores to see if a particular item is in stock. Additionally, all listings for local retailers have phone numbers listed so the busy shopper can call to check in-stock status before venturing out.

-- Compare online and local pricing and obtain the very best deal. TheFind: Where to Shop puts a wealth of information at one's fingertips, enabling a shopper at a store to assess prices from other retailers, to make sure they are getting the best deal. TheFind's application alerts shoppers to various considerations such as items on sale and driving distance of retail outlets, so they can make purchasing decisions based on their individual preferences and criteria.

Local search is one of the fastest-growing areas of search engine technology, and integration with brick and mortar stores, and location-specific data to facilitate in-store purchases is viewed as the "last mile" in search. An October 2008 report by Nielsen Research entitled "Research Now...Buy Later? How consumers balance an online and offline multi-channel world" found that "shoppers who browsed for products both on- and off-line at Wal-Mart, for example, spent 38% more than the store's average customers." The study goes further to show that "nearly two-thirds (64%) of consumers who purchased electronics in brick-and-mortar stores first researched the products they bought online."

"Mobile represents a real opportunity for retailers in the near term, as well as a bridge between the Internet and local stores," said Greg Sterling, analyst, Sterling Market Intelligence and Local Mobile Search. "As the audiences grow and the technology matures, mobile promises targeting, tracking and consumer loyalty opportunities not even available on online."

Availability

TheFind: Where to Shop is available now from the iTunes App Store. TheFind plans to release TheFind: Where to Shop for other popular mobile platforms with standard browsers, 3G and location services.

About TheFind Inc.

TheFind.com offers the leading search engine for shopping that delivers comprehensive, authentic and visually compelling results, especially in the lifestyle goods categories. From the most popular e-commerce sites to the most unique, hard-to-find brands, TheFind uniquely crawls the entire Web to find more than 250 million products from over 500,000 e-commerce sites. By using patented technology, TheFind.com displays the best-selling products, styles, brands and stores for any shopping search right on the first page of results -- saving consumers time and money. TheFind Inc. family includes leading fashion shopping website Glimpse ( www.Glimpse.com), which specifically caters to fashion-savvy shoppers searching for the latest trends and hottest apparel products, and TheFindGreen ( www.TheFindGreen.com) which finds organic brands, green stores and environmentally friendly products all in one place. TheFind Inc. promotes shopping that gives back to the community through its Color For A Cause campaigns, which have included charitable beneficiaries such as The Susan G. Komen Foundation, Doctors Without Borders and Global Green USA.

TheFind Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is backed by leading investors Bain Capital Ventures, Redpoint Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Apple and iPhone are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE: TheFind Inc.

source: marketwatch.com          

Apple's iPhone is the number one phone in the land in the world

Not just smart phone mind you.  Phone.  Apple's iconic gadget phone which can only be had for $200-$300 with two year data plan outsold every mobile (and land line too, whynot?) phone.  From the $25 dollar pay as you go phones to Blackberries and Sidekicks and all of the fallen iPhone killers in between. The Motorola Razr which you can get for less than free with a plan had been the best seller for the better part of the last three years.  Not any more.

NPD has the news today..specifically that iPhone is the number one phone amongst adult consumer shoppers.   The business market is smaller than consumer and the children's market is nuch less significant than the adult market so can't we just say overall?  Or perhaps more Blackberries sold in the enterprise.  Anyway, the point is clear.  iPhone is on top.

That means in a few months, you'll probably be more likely to see an iPhone in someone's hands than a Razr.  It also means that iPhone has reached critical mass.  Non-techies can confidently pick one up as well. They'll of course have heard it is a best seller.  This is of course fantastic news for the iPhone development community who now have millions more potential customers.

If this all sounds familiar for an Apple product, it really looks like Apple's iPhone is hitting the trajectory that the iPod line had hit.  It is really the market leader in the smartphone space. 

And things are only looking up.  JD Power's annual survey of phone satisfaction came out recently with the iPhone on top.

Oh and don't forget it is twice as reliable as a blackberry and three times as reliable as the Treo.  That, and really cool new apps are coming out for the App Store that are pushing the limits of what a gadget has been traditionally able to do.

Finally, there have even been a few rumors of price drops happening should keep iPhone up there with the leaders. 

source:computerworld.com

Use an iPhone or iPod Touch in disk mode with DiskAid

One of the first things that iPhone and iPod Touch users noticed was the lack of a built-in "disk mode," where your device would appear on the desktop as a drive that you could use for file storage. Other iPod models even had a setting to specify how much of their storage space should be used for music, and how much should be used for disk mode, but the latest and greatest ones didn't. But thanks to an app called DiskAid, you can still transfer files between your iPhone and your Mac or PC without jailbreaking or using iTunes.

Sure, you may already know how to access a jailbroken iPhone's hard drive via SFTP, but that's a pain in the butt compared to DiskAid. You can just plug your device in, start it up, and start transferring files in a straightforward interface that anybody who's ever used Windows Explorer or the OS X Finder can figure out. As a brief disclaimer, realize that storing files on your iPhone doesn't mean your iPhone can interact with them. It's like putting music on an old iPod in disk mode: you can store it there, but you can't play it.

Source: downloadsquad.com

iPhone and 360 Chatpad hacked into a wireless mess of need

This hack isn't for the faint of heart. In fact, it's more a demonstration of Dr. Ralf Ackermann's technical badassery than anything practical. But its as good as it gets until Apple achieves a state of sanity and flips the switch on its Bluetooth stack to finally allow us the option of pairing a Bluetooth keyboard to the iPhone. The setup starts with a cobbled together Xbox 360 Chatpad and XBee wireless module. The good doctor then takes a Jailbroken phone (naturally) and attaches another wireless XBee module to the iPhone's jury-rigged serial port housed in an Akku enclosure. A work in progress, it will ultimately rely upon a VNC server running on the iPhone to feed keyboard input to any application of your choosing. See Apple, this is the corner of desperation that you've backed us into.

engadget.com