IntoMobile » iPhone OS

LinkedIn updates iPhone app

Marin Perez — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:34:59 +0000

When I talk to iPhone people about why the platform is better than Android, they always say iPhone apps are more polished and robust. This line of logic can be cut down with most apps, but the LinkedIn program on the iPhone is clearly superior, and the business social network has just added new features to its app for Apple (NSDQ: AAPL).

LinkedIn 3.1 has over a dozen small feature enhancements and the company said it was focusing on making the program smoother and quicker. It’s not a major upgrade, but it’s now easier to mark your favorite contacts, pull up their contact information and update your status profile. I’ll be keeping a close eye on LinkedIn’s apps because the company is making a big push in the mobile space. Try it out if you want and let us know what you think.

LinkedIn version 3.1 for iPhone (Free) [iTunes App Store link]

[Via LinkedIn blog]

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Tapulous’ Kings Of Leon Revenge Giveaway!

Daniel Perez — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:11:49 +0000

Have you been playing Tap Tap Revenge 3 but wish it had a little more Kings of Leon in it? Oh, you have, have you? Then it looks like this article is going to be short and sweet as Tapulous has given us TWO codes to give away to you, the IntoMobile reader, for Kings of Leon Revenge. All you have to do is drop a comment in this article with the name of your favorite Kings of Leon song.

This giveaway will be going on for the next 24 hours so be sure to enter by 3/18/10 @ 1PM PDT as we’ll pick and announce the winner then! Also, please note we’re only accepting one entry per person and only U.S. residents are eligible.

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Microsoft employees hide their iPhone’s at work

Blake Stimac — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:46:51 +0000

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) employees are using iPhones, and they’re trying to keep it on the downlow. It’s been reported that Microsoft workers who use iPhones hide them when the ‘big-wigs’ are around. While there is no ban on the half-eaten fruit’s devices, the workers know better than to wave it around when Mr. Steve Ballmer enters the room.

Since Microsoft has their own mobile platform, it would be easy enough to assume that most would all use Microsoft products, yeah? Well, for the most part this is true, but it turns out that about 10% of people who work for Microsoft actually carry around iPhones. Workers reportedly either hide their Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) devices when word that a big executive will be coming in, or throw a clunky case for it, disguising it as an old, ugly.. Windows Mobile device. There should be too much to take issue with here, but the actions are just.

Apple’s side of the story seems different. Almost all people who work for Apple, use Apple products, and the iPhone is no exception. Whether they get discounts, or got the device for free, it looks like everyone on that side of the river uses their products. Apple keeps the OS simple, and sometimes, too simple. Dumbing down the OS is not always a good thing, but so far they’ve obviously been doing something right. Apple’s products are just plain simple, and it works well. With the kind of choke hold Apple has on the OS, it better be easy to use!

One (of the many) things that differentiates the two platforms is simplicity, or lack there of. Where Windows Mobile may be slightly more open in its own ways, the iPhone OS is just plain easier to use, and it’s fun! Of course, this is excluding Windows Phone 7 devices, but historically, any way you dressed up a Windows Mobile device hardware wise, it seemed like there was just too much work to get around to the things you want to do. Some may disagree with me, and that’s fine, as I’ve never owned a WM phone for personal use. Now, that being said, even with my love of Android, I’d love to give the HD2 a go for a couple of weeks. HTC sure has a way of making ugly things pretty, Android included.

In this economy, even with absolutely no way of getting let go for the very device you use on your own time, If I was working for Microsoft, I’d hide my Nexus One the second I got word Mr. Ballmer entered the building.

[Via: Tuaw ]

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More Windows Phone 7 specs revealed

Marin Perez — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:53:23 +0000

We’ve already heard about the three chassis that are required for handsets that run Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)’s upcoming Windows Phone 7 Series, but the software giant has revealed a few more details.

As we already know, the handsets will have to sport a capacitive touchscreen with at least four points of contacts and a minimum resolution of 480 by 320 (the launch devices will have to be 800 by 480). The devices will also need to have an accelerometer, compass, assisted-GPS, and light and proximity sensors. The CPU needs to be an ARMv7 Cortex/Scorpion or better, and the GPU needs to be DirectX 9. Manufacturers will have to include at least 256 MB of RAM, 8 GB of flash memory, and there needs to be at least a 5-megapixel camera with a hard button to snap photos. It’s good to see Microsoft take a stand with its hardware partners, and these seem like a good baseline for devices going forward.

Microsoft appears to have learned its lesson with Windows Mobile – as it was widely distributed with few limitations and manufacturers released a variety of flavors. There’s something to be said about this approach because it enables handset makers to differentiate its products and it has brought us things like HTC’s Sense UI. But it can also lead to fragmentation and an inconsistent user experience – Android is already starting to feel some of this pain. Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) and Research In Motion (NSDQ: RIMM) have been very successful in this space because the companies have tight integration over the hardware and software, and Microsoft is trying to create a more cohesive experience with WP7S. Will it work? We’ve just started to see some interesting stuff to look forward to, so I’m pretty optimistic about Microsoft’s chances.

[Via Slashgear]

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MOG releasing mobile music app for Android, iPhone

Marin Perez — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:26:18 +0000

MOG said Monday it will be bringing an application to Android and iPhone that will let users have all-you-can-access music downloads and streaming tracks.

The cloud-based music service offers users access to more than 7 million songs for a $5 monthly fee, and the mobile app will be double that price (due to increased licensing fees) but it will allow users to download tracks to the device for offline access. You’ll have the choice of being able to download a 64 Kbps AAC-plus file or 320 Kbps file over WiFi, EDGE or3G. The company will also include its radio functionality, which allows users to create play lists based on artists, genre and other factors.

Look for MOG’s mobile app to hit in the second quarter and it will have a lot of competition. Pandora doesn’t offer the same ability to choose your songs but the streaming service is routinely the most-downloaded on smartphones. Rhapsody also plans to offer a very similar mobile music service soon, but it’s subscription fee will be $15 a month. There’s still a chance Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) won’t let these programs in the App Store, but I’m hoping it may be a bit more permissive to develop the iPhone app ecosystem.

[Via TechCrunch]

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Study: Many BlackBerry users covet Android, iPhone

Marin Perez — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:53:22 +0000

Let’s get ready for the flame wars because a new report from Crowd Science said nearly 40% of BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) users want to switch to the iPhone or Android with their next smartphone purchase.

The company’s survey found iPhone and Android users were extremely loyal to their platform, as about 90% of these users planned to stick to the same operating system when buying the next phone. Android has been gaining some traction, as 32% of BlackBerry owners said they would swap their present phone for the Nexus One, compared with 9% of iPhone owners. It should be noted that the N1 was introduced in the middle of the survey period, which may have momentarily swayed some users.

“These results show that the restlessness of BlackBerry users with their current brand hasn’t just been driven by the allure of iPhone,” said John Martin, CEO of Crowd Science, in a prepared statement. “Rather, BlackBerry as a brand just isn’t garnering the loyalty seen with other mobile operating systems.”

The survey also found that Android and iPhone users are more likely to use their handsets purely for personal reasons, which isn’t much of a surprise. The BlackBerry, by far, is used the most as a business-only device, while Android has a nearly-nonexistent enterprise base.

This isn’t completely surprising because even die-hard BlackBerry fans have to have a tinge of jealousy when Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) gets so much attention and other platforms get cool new apps like Google Maps Navigation. This isn’t just the tech press being enamored with Apple and Google (NSDQ: GOOG) (although that does play a part) because Research In Motion (NSDQ: RIMM) has failed to significantly innovate over the last few years. The Bold 9700 and Tour are top-notch devices and are the best messaging machines but the platform seems to be a bit behind. There are some positive signs – a Webkit browser is on its way, the developer tools are getting better and we’re about to see some new form factors – but I’m anxiously awaiting a complete rewrite of the BlackBerry OS so it can better compete.

So BlackBerry users, is this survey striking a chord, or do you think it’s completely off base?

[Via Crowd Science]

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Rhapsody readies offline access for iPhone app

Marin Perez — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:51:58 +0000

Rhapsody is preparing an update for its streaming iPhone application that will enable users to access their music even when there’s no data connectivity.

The previous versions enabled Rhapsody subscribers to stream their tunes on their device and it was somewhat of a surprise Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) let it on the platform because it does kind of duplicate existing functionality, and we all know what Apple thinks of that. But Rhapsody is going to take it up a notch with the latest version by allowing users to download tracks to the device and listen wherever they are. As a paying subscriber, you’ll be able to set up your play lists online and then download those songs to your handset.

“You want to hear your music everywhere, whether you’re on a plane, in the subway, with a mouse, in a house, in a box or with a fox,” Rhapsody wrote on its blog. “Well, you get the idea. No bars? No problem. Strong signal, weak signal or no signal – soon your Rhapsody music will be able to go anywhere your iPhone or iPod Touch goes.”

The move should also save a ton on battery life because playing tunes off your memory is better for power than streaming over 3G or WiFi. Offline access isn’t anything new because Slacker Radio lets you cache songs on BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) and Android, but the million dollar question is if Apple will allow this in the App Store. Apple recently purchased LaLa and I wouldn’t be surprised to see some form of streaming iTunes with the next version of the iPhone software and Rhapsody’s app would compete on multiple fronts. But if Rhapsody retains the ability for users to purchases songs through iTunes I could see Apple letting this on the App Store. Who knows, maybe we’ll get lucky and really get third-party multitasking with iPhone 4.0 that will be compatible with Rhapsody’s updated service.

[Via Rhapsody Blog]

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Microsoft exec weighs in on Apple-HTC lawsuit

Marin Perez — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:58:14 +0000

Microsoft’s always surprising. First, CEO Steve Ballmer praises Apple’s App Store and now another executive said Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s patent lawsuit against HTC “is not necessarily a bad thing.”

During a speech about copyright last week, Brad Smith, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT)’s general counsel and senior VP, said the lawsuit can help determine the proper roles patents play in the smartphone space. While the software giant is not going to pull a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) and take sides, it said the issue of radio technologies in phones has already been sorted out and it will just take time for other elements to fall in to place.

“I think it’s premature to endorse or offer any other reaction to it,” Smith said. “But as I mentioned, the fact that there are efforts to sort out these issues are on balance a positive development for the market because they typically take an important role in sorting this kind of issue out.”

Microsoft’s bread and butter has been licensing software, so it’s not very surprising it doesn’t believe in open source operating systems for smartphones. HTC has been a major partner for years and has been one of the few to still make high-quality Windows Mobile phones – you would think Microsoft would be eager to have HTC’s back. Hopefully, Microsoft is right about the positive aspects of the lawsuit because I’m sick of reading about how many patent cases we’re seeing.

[Via AppleInsider and The Seattle Times]

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Review: Plants vs Zombies for iPhone

Daniel Perez — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:19:26 +0000

Tower defense games have been all the rage for the past couple of years. There’s something about setting up towers to defend against wave after wave of increasingly difficult enemies that can be very satisfying. But what happens when you take a tried and true gameplay type and have it developed by a video game developer that is known for making some of the most addictively simple games ever? You have yet another game that will eat hours away from your life.

Plants vs Zombies is a tower defense game where you fend off your home from wave after wave of zombies by using their obvious adversaries: plants. As you progress through the game, the zombies become increasingly difficult, but your arsenal of plants improves as you dig up new varieties of foliage after each mission. In order to plop down your plants, you’ll need to harness the power of the sun… literally. Sun droplets will come down every so often from the sky, but you can also plant down sunflowers, which will spit out sun droplets as well. Micromanaging your sun expenses becomes fun as you decide which plants to put down in what location, all while zombies are trying to get into your home. Be mindful where you place your plants as when zombies come into contact with them, they’ll eat them and proceed down their sluggish path of destruction.

I’ve been fighting zombies for a good portion of my adult life, and as mindless as they seem, the zombies in Plants vs Zombies are a smart bunch. The zombies will don various pieces of armor, better mobilize themselves with zambonis, or even imitate the king of pop to try and get into your home. The game starts off with zombies invading your front lawn, but your zombie slaying services will be required at other points of your home as zombies launch their attacks all around your home. Each level has its own challenges to deal with, such as the night level where you aren’t given sun droplets from the Sun, or the roof where you need to put down a pot of dirt in order to plant anything, and this diversity in levels certainly keeps the game fresh throughout the entire zombie slaying campaign.

PopCap Games impressed me by how well they brought the desktop experience of Plants vs Zombies onto the iPhone, and made it feel so natural. The desktop interface translates well on the iPhone as putting down your plants and collecting sun droplets feels second nature. The sights and sounds of the desktop version are all here, from the unique art style of both the plants & zombies, down to the sound of Crazy Dave’s ramblings. The game performs well on an iPhone 3G, except for when a large number of zombies are on screen. During these times, the overall gameplay performance slows down, but not to the point of being unplayable. When you consider how much is going on at these times, the hit in performance can be overlooked.

FINAL THOUGHT: PopCap Games has successfully adapted one of its most popular games from the PC/Mac to the iPhone. Not many games can offer as nearly an identical experience as Plants vs Zombies can on the iPhone. The only unfortunate downside is the hit in performance when playing on an iPhone 3G. Even saying that, I still cannot praise Plants vs Zombies enough. If you own an iPhone, you must own this game.

Plants vs Zombies ($2.99) [iTunes Link]

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Check out the iPhone game controlled by your mind

Marin Perez — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:58:57 +0000

While trolling around the Game Developer’s Conference this week, I stumbled upon an interesting app from MindGames which lets you use your brain to play a game.

Tug of Mind will be a $5 iPhone game aimed at teaching people how to stay calm under tense situations. You can upload a photo of someone that can cause you stress (boss, significant other, Lady Gaga), and a 3D model of their face will appear on your iPhone or iPod Touch. The face then says disparaging things to you, and if you remain calm, the face will gradually get calm too and stop insulting you.

You need a $200 NeuroSky headset to be attached to the iPhone in order to play the game and it measures electrical impulses in your head as well as your facial muscle reactions to determine what state of mind you’re in. MindGames told me they’re hoping this game can actually help people overcome real-life stressful situations. To be honest, I’m not smart enough to know the exact science of how it works but it seems like an interesting concept for how we may interact with devices in the future. While some are worried about the long-term effects of brain-controlled games, I think it can be incredibly useful if done right. Look for the game to hit later this year and NeuroSky is working on a cheaper, less dorky headset that could hit the market in the next few months.

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