So, our buddies over at fonehome.co.uk have conducted a download speed test using the iPhone 3GS on three different networks (O2 (NYSE: TEF), Orange, and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD)), side-by-side, to see which is the quickest. And the result – well, let’s just say Vodafone didn’t lose!
Now of course there is some criticism you could level at the test, because it could have been in an area of poor coverage for O2 and Orange, and great coverage for Vodafone. But that’s part of Vodafone’s statement about their network anyway – they say it’s the fastest, and has the best coverage too! Certainly on the evidence of this video, you wouldn’t disagree.
I’ve long been going on about iPhone and/or network issues with respect to some of the applications taking forever and a day to get connected (the email app is one great example) – but this speed test shows that it’s more likely to be a network issue – since all the devices were kicked off with their search at the same point in the same app, but the Vodafone iPhone appears to connect and pull the search results much more quickly.
Whatever the explanation, it’s “Steeee-rike One!’ to Vodafone – we’ll keep you updated as more tests are performed
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is joining the mobile wave with an app that works across multiple platforms and devices (iPhone/iPod Touch, BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) and Android), providing fans with advanced schedules, film historical information, fan commentary, video content, TCM’s movie blog, and an abundance of photo galleries.
Here’s the rundown of the TCM app features:
A complete schedule of movies playing on TCM, with full-month views up to two months in advance.
Access to the TCM Movie Database, complete with synopses, credits, trivia, detailed background information from the American Film Institute film catalog and fan comments.
Rich video content, including hundreds of movie clips, trailers and TCM promos.
Photo galleries for films playing on TCM, including original lobby card sets, behind-the-scenes production stills, publicity stills, original poster art and more.
In-depth articles by TCM staff members writing about the history and making of nearly every film on TCM.
And that’s just the beginning, with plans for future offerings including greater access to more video and photos, complete access to TCM’s entire movie database, photo utilities, added schedule features and access to TCM Fan Community content.
Here’s a theme for those of you with jailbroken iPhones who at the same time dig Avatar. The still highly-popular movie got the unofficial video theme. And by video theme, I mean animate wallpapers, featuring quite a few scenes from the blockbuster.
I doubt the Avatar theme is worth jailbreaking and I wonder for how long it will be available for download, since I doubt any licensing fees have been paid. On the other hand, it’s a free theme, so it’s not like James Cameron & co. are actually losing some money.
Anyway, if you’re interested, simply search for “avatar” in Cydia and take it from there…
Nokia (NYSE: NOK) launched the Rihanna app for S60 touch phones (as far as I’ve understood) such as the Nokia N97, Nokia X6 and Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. The exclusive application (as Nokia emphasizes) delivers news, music, photos and video content to Rihanna fans.
That video content part is especially underlined, as it includes live performance clips from Rihanna’s album launch event. Additionally, there are music samples, a Rihanna biography and photo library, as well as information on the forthcoming 2010 tour (when available).
Of course, the application is closely tied to the Nokia Music Store from where you can download Rihanna’s songs, including a Nokia bonus track – Hole In My Head, written and produced by Justin Timberlake; and Donni Hotwheels’ remix of Rihanna’s Russian Roulette.
The Rihanna App and the mentioned exclusive video content from the show is available from nokia.com/rihanna, and you can also grab the app from the Ovi Store.
Mobile media network and service provider GoTV Networks announced an exclusive agreement with CallOnJesus.com to bring a library of faith-based apps to mobile phones. Under the agreement, GoTV will syndicate content from CallOnJesus.com — including books, video and audio files — to mobile phones through GoTV’s carrier network and application storefronts.
Three applications have been already launched:
CallOnJesus – Integrated sermon video, Bible reader and daily devotional application ($5.99 from the AppStore)
Bible in a Year – Integrated Bible reader and devotional video application ($4.99 from the AppStore)
The three apps are currently available for the iPhone/iPod Touch users, as well as Android-powered smartphone owners, and can be downloaded from the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL)’s AppStore and Google (NSDQ: GOOG)’s Android Market, respectively.
In addition, GoTV said that in coming months the applications will be available for select BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) phones as well as devices running Windows Mobile…
I’m not sure why it took so long for Sony’s music publishing arm to fully “go mobile,” but whatever the reasoning is, it’s good to see them finally taking this route.
The company has partnered with Azuki Systems to optimize the web destinations of its artists for viewing on mobile phones. Not surprisingly, Michael Jackson’s official website is the first site to launch under the initiative.
Located at m.michaeljackson.com, the Michael Jackson mobile website features news, photos and streaming access to classic videos such as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller.” The site is optimized to work with all of the latest higher-end devices such as the iPhone/iPod Touch, BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Store, Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pre and Android-powered devices; though we’re guessing some other phones will do the job just as well (Symbian S60 devices)…
And of course, Sony Music wowed to roll out mobile versions of other artists’ websites in the coming months.
Push-email solutions provider Emoze unveiled what they say is the first “pushed content” application dedicated to football/soccer news – Soccer Updater. The app release doesn’t come as a surprise considering that we’re slowly approaching the 2010 World Cup that will take place in South Africa. The application costs $5 and once you grab it, there are no other fees involved — you’ll get the latest news from now until after the tournament’s final in July.
In addition to the latest news, Soccer Updater also features player of the day pictures (in html format), game venues, scores and of course full tables of the team groups. The opening splash screen features a real-time countdown to the big games in South Africa, and then once the tournament starts, countdowns to individual games.
As for the platforms supported, Emoze’s app works on any Symbian and Windows Mobile powered smartphone, with Java phones to follow shortly. Download is available from Emoze’s website.
Back in July of last year, we talked about Verve which at the moment got $3 million from Associated Press and other investors. Now we’re finally seeing some fruits of the co-operation as the two companies [Verve and AP] have unveiled an initiative to help publishers create white label, branded mobile apps for their content. The idea is to take a piece of the advertising being placed on other publisher’s apps in exchange for the application design.
The package comes with a content management system, allowing publishers to fully control their content, as well as ads that will appear in the application. In addition, standard metrics are also provided, as well as advertising delivery module.
The applications will be available for an array of platforms — including Android, BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM), iPhone, Symbian, Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pre and Windows Mobile. Additional details are available from Verve’s website…
Sony Creative Software has a new mobile content DVD called 1,000 Ringtones, which as you can guess for yourself comes with a bunch of ringtones grouped into three categories: music, sound effects, and spoken words and phrases. Users can select tones for incoming calls, emails and text messages.
Apparently, the DVD is developed with iPhone users in mind (though other devices will work just as well), hence the files are included in .m4r and .mp3 formats, and are ready for immediate use without any additional fees. To install, iPhone users can simply load the DVD, and move selected ringtones into iTunes for synchronization with their iPhone. The DVD includes a tutorial video that demonstrates these steps, so if you’re complete newbie, you’re covered as well.
If this is something you find interesting (i.e. like the idea of customizing your beloved iPhone), you can grab 1,000 Ringtones for $19.95 from Sony Creative Software’s website or from select retailers around the U.S.
A company called Intermundia is hitting the AppStore with its Opera project, consisting of 24 applications with the librettos of the most famous and well-known Operas. In addition to lyrics/libretto, each of the apps include information about the plot, characters and history.
Back in July of last year, we 
Sony Creative Software 
