Erica Sadun, the genius over at TUAW who keeps developing these amazing apps for the iPhone has just upgraded her SendSong app to work with the new firmware(Send iphone song via email). She did say it’s still kind of flakey though.

It’s free, and I am pretty sure you’ll be able to find it in the Installer.app. Now if we could just get that pesky mail app working on the iPod Touch you could probably use at least the email function of this app on your iPod Touch. Download it at here.

Posted on October 19th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: iPhone News, iPhone Ringtone | No Comments »

Elita Cheung over at TalkPlus was kind enough to drop in a line to inform me about their iPhone app which was released yesterday. If you are one of those who is carrying another phone with the “jesus phone” to manage your personal and work life then you won’t need it any more with TalkPlus service.

It also seems like an interesting option for making cheaper international calls from your iPhone.

TalkPlus has been a provider of advanced Voice 2.0 services over mobile networks. TalkPlus for the iPhone means that iPhone users can now use the virtual phone-number service that enables subscribers to create additional phone numbers on their mobile phones for placing and receiving calls.

So if you are one of those who is carrying another phone with the “jesus phone” to manage your personal and work life then you won’t need it any more with this service (but for an extra cost).

TalkPlus service comes with as-you-would-expect a phone numbers that be selected from major U.S. metropolitan areas and international cities in 28 countries and each number comes with its own voice mailbox with a customizable greeting.

Some of the features that I liked are as mentioned below:

* You could assign which number should be displayed in the caller ID when you make the call, thus allowing you to work from home and still make calls from your office number from the receiver’s point of view.
* It also offers the iPhone-like visual voicemail feature to identify voicemails and quickly jump to a message to listen or delete for the TalkPlus number.
* TalkPlus also includes advanced call-management features such as:
o Call Screening to send specific callers directly to voicemail or a busy signal
o Call Transfer to easily transfer to another number while on a call
o Conference Calling with as many as 10 people.
o Voicemail Screening to listen in as callers leave a message and pick up the call if desired
* In addition to all this, TalkPlus includes 200 minutes of domestic calls and also offers low-cost international calling which I think makes it an interesting option till true VOIP does not come to the iPhone.

How does it work?

If you curious to find out how it works like I was here are some of the details that was available from TalkPlus’s FAQ which should give you an idea:

“When you get a TalkPlus number, our system forwards calls to that number to whatever number(s) you have specified.

When you make a call using your TalkPlus number, you will use one of our mobile applications or WAP to initiate the call. TalkPlus will then use your mobile phone to place a call to a local number provided by our system, which then will connect you to the friend you are calling. This allows TalkPlus to show the TalkPlus number on your friend’s callerID, instead of your mobile phone’s callerID. This also allows you to place low cost international calls by dialing a local number to connect your call through TalkPlus.”

In case of the iPhone it essentially means that they are using iPhone Safari browser’s click-to-call feature to initiate a call from your iPhone to the local number provided by their system which then routes the call to your friend.

So how much does it cost?

From now through Dec. 31, 2007, TalkPlus is offering the service free for the first month and $9.99 per month thereafter (excluding international toll charges of course).

After the first free 200 minutes of domestic calls or in case you want to make international calls you will need to add money to your TalkPlus account. The rate for the additional minutes for domestic calls is 2.7 cent/min and these are the rates for international calls.

One of the drawbacks of the service is that since TalkPlus works over the carrier network, using your existing phone you are essentially using both your carrier minutes and your TalkPlus minutes. So you need to pay the extra cost for the TalkPlus minutes for getting rid of your other phone.

However, though it isn’t the true VOIP iPhone application that we were looking for it indeed could be an option for cheaper international calls and not forget in case you are looking for the advanced call management features on your iPhone.

To check it out, point your iPhone’s Safari browser to http://iphone.talkplus.com/s to signup, in case you have more questions check out the FAQ at this link.

In case you plan to try out the latest iPhone App, please do let us know how well it worked for the benefit of fellow readers.

Images of TalkPlus for iPhone UI from their website below:

Posted on October 19th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: iPhone News | No Comments »

Micromat has released a free utility Syphone that does exactly that. Syphone “lets you view, save, and back up your SMS messages” which comes in handy given the storage limits of the iPhone. The application itself installs only on your Mac and “does not alter the iPhone in any way.”

Syphone is presently in beta and is a free download from Micromat.

Posted on October 19th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: iPhone News, iPhone Tips | No Comments »

There are just some things that can be considered as JUST WRONG.

Like take these phone fingers for instance. Not only do they double as Halloween paraphernalia (hey kids that’s in two weeks time!), they also make for good precision wear for booger picking.

You can buy a whole bag of these things and iphone accessories from their website for only ten dollars — and they come in different sizes too!

Haha, I classified it under the “Handy Peripherals” category. Get it? Handy peripherals? No? Mweh.

Posted on October 19th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: iPhone Accessories | No Comments »

Ron Paul, one of the Republican candidates for the Office of the President of the United States of America, is gaining some steam. It wasn’t so long ago that most people didn’t even know who Ron Paul was, but now a few more people are cognizant of him. Why post this on TUAW? Because it would seem Mr. Paul is using an iPhone to talk to his supporters. Check out the following picture and tell me if that doesn’t look like a man who is happy with his iPhone.

We all know the current US President is an iPod user. Have you seen any other noteworthy folks chatting away on iPhones? One imagines that Al Gore has an iPhone or two.

Oh, and just because Ron Paul is a political figure doesn’t mean the comments on this post should descend into partisan talk. Let’s keep the focus on the technology, shall we?

Posted on October 18th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: iPhone Fun | No Comments »

The iToner saga continues. As you might recall, iToner (which allows you to create ringtones for your iPhone using any non-DRMed AAC or MP3 files) no longer worked with the iPhone 1.1.1 firmware. All seemed lost, but those crafty folks at Ambrosia figured out a way to get iToner working as a beta. The beta has now been released as a full fledged update.

iToner 1.0.3 costs $15 and requires OS x 10.4.10 or higher and an iPhone.

Posted on October 18th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: iPhone Ringtone | No Comments »

Steve Jobs has posted an open letter revealing that Apple will be releasing a 3rd party Software Development Kit (SDK) for iPhone and iPod Touch applications. The SDK will be released in February 2008.

At this time, the letter only appears on Apple’s Hot News page:

We’ve reproduced it here in its entirety:
Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers’ hands in February. We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users. With our revolutionary multi-touch interface, powerful hardware and advanced software architecture, we believe we have created the best mobile platform ever for developers.

It will take until February to release an SDK because we’re trying to do two diametrically opposed things at once—provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc. This is no easy task. Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phones—this is simply not true. There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target.

Some companies are already taking action. Nokia, for example, is not allowing any applications to be loaded onto some of their newest phones unless they have a digital signature that can be traced back to a known developer. While this makes such a phone less than “totally open,” we believe it is a step in the right direction. We are working on an advanced system which will offer developers broad access to natively program the iPhone’s amazing software platform while at the same time protecting users from malicious programs.

We think a few months of patience now will be rewarded by many years of great third party applications running on safe and reliable iPhones.

Steve

P.S.: The SDK will also allow developers to create applications for iPod touch. [Oct 17, 2007]

Steve Jobs points to Nokia’s digital-signature system as a “step in the right direction” and promises some system that balances developer access and security.

Posted on October 18th, 2007 by admin
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A version of AnySIM that is compatible with iPhones running software/firmware 1.1.1 has been released. In a nutshell, this means that iPhones running the new software release can be unlocked to run on carriers other than AT&T via an iPhone native application with a graphical interface.

A note from the iPhone/iTouch Dev Team reads:

“Please note that this version works only on VIRGIN 1.0.2 or 1.1.1 phones. We are working on a re-virginizer. DO NOT USE IF YOU HAVE ALREADY UNLOCKED WITH ANYSIM 1.0.”

In other words, if you unlocked your iPhone while it was running software/firmware 1.0.2, do not use this version of AnySIM. This release is only for new iPhones that shipped with firmware/software 1.1.1 or iPhones that were upgraded from 1.0.2 to 1.1.1 but never unlocked. We’ve received word that a “re-virginizer,” which will allow iPhones that were unlocked under software/firmware 1.1.1 to return to a default state from which they can be unlocked under 1.1.1. There is already an 18-step process that will unbrick iPhones that were unlocked under 1.0.2 then upgraded (and in the process bricked) to 1.1.1.

Instructions for applying this release are as follows:”

1. Jailbreak your iPhone with software/firmware 1.1.1 and set it up to receive third-party applications via the steps in this article, or use iNdependence to jailbreak your phone (this second method is significantly easier).

2. Once your iPhone is setup to receive third party applications, use these steps to put AnySIM on it:

For Mac OS X

1. Download AnySIM 1.1 and expand the ZIP file.
2. Drag the resulting file “anySIM” (full name, anySIM.app) to your /Applications Folder.
3. Open Terminal (located in /Applications/Utilities) and type the following: scp -r /Applications/anySIM.app root@IPADDRESS:/Applications/ replacing IPADDRESS with the IP address of your iPhone (you can determine your iPhone’s IP Address by tapping Settings, then “Wi-Fi,” — tap the arrow next to the name of the Wi-Fi network to which your iPhone and look at the IP Address)
4. Restart your iPhone.
5. Run the AnySIM application to unlock your phone

via http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2007/10/16/anysim-graphical-unlock-for-111-iphones-released-instructions-for-installing/

Posted on October 17th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: iPhone News | No Comments »

Besides Leopard, Apple announced today that Orange will be the exclusive French carrier for the Apple iPhone. The iPhone will make its debut in France on Thursday November 29th.

“We are excited to partner with Orange and bring iPhone to France in time for the holidays,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPhone is an amazing product and we hope mobile users in France will love it as much as we do.”

The 8GB iPhone will be sold in France through Orange’s online and direct retail stores for 399 euros including V.A.T.

It’s unclear what became of the negotiations surrounding the French law that requires mobile phones to be sold unlocked 6 months after launch.

Posted on October 17th, 2007 by admin
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Version 1.2.2 of iNdependence was released today, providing iPhone 1.1.1 support

ok, the long awaited version 1.2.2 is out. This version works with phone firmware 1.1.1, although the activation/jailbreak process is a bit more complicated now. The documentation has been moved from the README file into the Help menu within the application itself, so please read through that before asking questions. Enjoy…

iNdependence is a Cocoa-based application for Mac OS X

Posted on October 16th, 2007 by admin
Filed under: iPhone News | No Comments »