When it comes to getting the latest news and finding the right one that we are interested in, that would not be the consistent case. With so much to report about what is going on in the world today, you are bound to get some news clippings that you may not even be interested at all.

However, the Smiling App news aims to put some order to this area. The new app is a powerful and fully functional news reader and can act as a go-to source of standard news. It is available on the Apple App Store for $0.99.

Features:

• Four different positivity levels (from neutral to high)
• Easy-to-use one-tap emoticon interface
• 16 popular news sources, sorted by category, including: Yahoo! News, Google News, AP, New York Times, CNN, MSNBC, Fox, CBS, ABC, USA Today, NPR, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Time Magazine, Newsweek
• An expansive and informative positive news category from the Smile News Mix
• View one OR multiple news sources at the same time
• Assign specific news sources to specific news categories
• The ability to enter feeds of your choice (via RSS)
• Landscape mode for easy reading - just tilt your device and double-tap on the article text

Smile News Network is a software company founded by young veterans of the tech world who seek to apply technology for the social good.

(Source) Press

Tags: abc usa, app news, Apple, article text, chicago tribune, cnn, double tap, Google, iPhone, la times, landscape mode, Mobile Software, msnbc, New York Times, news clippings, news reader, popular news, positive news, standard news, time magazine, usa today, washington post, world today

Get the records straight. iPorn and the controversial “The Hottest Girls” app are two different applications. This was the explanation that iPorn developers wanted to make straight. Some people have misconceived the two, assuming that the app was one and the same. iPorn is still on the web despite the Apple announcement that they are banning adult content from the app store.

“It was widely reported that Apple stated that the developers of ‘The Hottest Girls’ iPhone application added x-rated content directly from their server after the application had been approved and distributed through the iTunes App Store,” stated a representative of iPorn. “In contrast, the makers of the iPorn web application never sought to deceive Apple. Instead iPorn was developed as a web application that can be obtained by users over the age of 18 through their iPhone web browser for free without having to purchase it through Apple’s iTunes App store and bypasses Apple’s ability to censor content from the iPhone.”

So in summary, iPorn is more of an entertainment sate with a saner intent over the pornographic nature that The Hottest Girls carried. iPorn provides its adult users with social networking capabilities similar to those found in YouTube, MySpace and Facebook.

(Source) Press

Tags: adult content, adult users, Apple, apple announcement, bypasses, developers, iPhone, iPhone, iporn, iTunes, Mobile Software, MySpace, networking capabilities, pornographic nature, sate, social networking, web application, web browser

Golfers need all the help they can get when they are on the tee and now they can use the iPhone to improve their game and make accurate calculations when it comes to strokes in their games.

The new app is the Golfshot: Golf GPS rangefinder for the iPhone 3G and 3G S. Among the features of this new app is the TruePoint positioning which allows golfers to touch any point on a golf hole to receive distances to and from that point.

Features:

• Aerial images of golf courses worldwide
• Exclusive TruePoint positioning to view distances to and from any point on the course
• Accurate distances to greens, bunkers, water hazards, layups, and more
• Customized layup distances tailored to a golfer’s ideal clubs and distances

The Golfshot app for the iPhone is now available at the Apple App Store for $29.99

(Source) Press

Tags: 3G, accurate calculations, accurate distances, aerial images, Apple, game, games, golf courses, golf hole, golfers, greens, iPhone, iPhone, Mobile Software, rangefinder, strokes, water hazards

It seems a user by the name of vofffka got their hands on what they are calling a prototype version of an iPhone 3GS. How do they know it’s a prototype? Well, when they connect it to iTunes it says “iPhone can not be restored, because software for this iPhone is not available yet”.

Not only that but it also has E10633 engraved on the front. Before you go and place a bid, this phone doesn’t work and the eBay user has doubts it will ever work.

However, if you’re a nifty iPhone hacker maybe you can pull a few strings and get yourself a cheap iPhone 3GS?

Read (eBay)

Tags: Apple, bricked, Cell Phones, ebay, iPhone, iPhone 3GS, Mobile News, prototype

Apple’s been known for some crazy patents in the back but I think this one tops the cake. Their recent patent filing is for something they are calling ‘active packaging’.

Essentially, ‘active packaging’ is a retail package that charges the device inside while also transmitting data to and from it. For instance, if an iPhone had this kind of packaging the device would not only be fully charged but would have the latest firmware even if it was released after the phone was packaged.

Sure this is cool and all, but how much is it going to cost us just to get this new kind of packaging? If it costs more money, I’ll settle for the normal cardboard box.

Read (PhoneArena)

Tags: active packaging, Apple, Cell Phones, charger, data, iPhone, Mobile News, patent

Facebook has recently announced that they are gearing up to launch version 3.0 of their iPhone app. If you are waiting for Facebook push notifications a la iPhone OS 3.0, you’re going to be disappointed, because it doesn’t add it.

However, there are 15 features that have been added such as Events and the ability to create photoalbums with the full list included below:

1. The “new” News Feed
2. Like
3. Events (including the ability to RSVP)
4. Notes
5. Pages
6. Create new photo albums
7. Upload photos to any album
8. Zoom into photos
9. Easier photo tagging
10. Profile Pictures albums
11. A new home screen for easy access to all your stuff, search, and notifications
12. Add your favorite profiles and pages to the home screen
13. Better Notifications (they link to the comments so you can reply)
14. Quickly call or text people right from the Friends page
15. Messages you are typing will be restored if you quit or are interrupted by a phone call

The announcement says that the Facebook 3.0 iPhone app is about 98% done with no real release date announced. They also added that users should expect a 3.1 update before the end of this summer that will add the much sought after Push Notifications.

Read (Facebook)

Tags: 3.0, app, App Store, Apple, Cell Phones, Facebook, iPhone, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Update

Normally, an iPhone jailbreak doesn’t hit the scene until the Dev Team deems it appropriate. They even went so far as to delay the release of an iPhone 3GS jailbreak due to fear that Apple would discover and fix the hole they used. Well, it seems that an iPhone hacker by the name of GeoHot got sick of waiting for the Dev Team to release it and went ahead and released what he is calling ‘purplera1n’:

Normally I don’t make tools for the general public, and rather wait for the dev team to do it. But guys, whats up with waiting until 3.1? That isn’t how the game is played. We release, Apple fixes, we find new holes. It isn’t worth waiting because you might have the “last” hole in the iPhone. What last hole…this isn’t golf. I’ll find a new one next week.

GeoHot says that all you need to do is download the purplera1n file at www.purplera1n.com on a Windows (not 7) PC, run the file, connect your iPhone to iTunes, click “make it ra1n”, then “on bootup, run Freeze, the purplera1n installer app”.

Of course, this jailbreak is in its beta form so make sure you backup everything and do all of this at your own risk.

Read

Tags: Apple, Cell Phones, geohot, iPhone, iPhone 3GS, iphone dev team, jailbreak, Mobile News, Mobile Software, purplera1n

Many people worried when they noticed that Apple was talking about heat and the new iPhone 3GS. People thought the company was admitting that the phone had heat issues and that potentially it could overheat or be otherwise dangerous to users.

This is not true. Apple simply updated the previously published tech note about safe operating temperatures for the iPhone 3GS. The company regularly does this as part of their practices for giving consumers information they should have. The note simply advises individuals using the phone not to leave the device in a hot car. It also states that the device should not be placed in direct sunlight for an extended amount of time. There is no risk to the user.

Tags: Apple, Apple, iPhone, iPhone 3GS

Besides that overheating problem which can’t exactly be corrected right now, there’s another important issue with your iPhone. There’s a certain SMS vulnerability which puts your iPhone at risk. Apparently it’s possible to:

run software code on the phone that is sent by SMS over a mobile operator’s network in order to monitor the location of the phone using GPS, turn on the phone’s microphone to eavesdrop on conversations, or make the phone join a distributed denial of service attack or a botnet.

The flaw has been discovered by OS X security expert Charlie Miller and it was presented at the SyScan conference in Singapore. Apple is probably going to patch this security issue pretty soon and we’ll keep you updated.

via HotHardware

Tags: Apple, Charlie Miller, iPhone, OS X, security, SMS, software

The iPhone is a hot handset and we do mean its temperature. The phone can overheat and that can be pretty annoying. Even Apple has officially acknowledged the problem. A little late you might say since the iPhone has been around for more than two years. Nevertheless the company has released a document concerning the issue. It refers to iPhone 3G or 3GS acceptable operating temperatures. Remember to keep the phone between 32º and 95º F when using it or between -4º and 113º F when simply storing it and you should be fine. That means you should let the phone cool down whenever you feel it’s too hot to play with. In case it keeps overheating you’ll notice unwanted side effects like shorter battery life, display dimming, connection loss and more. And you don’t want that, do you?

via Apple

Tags: 3G, 3gs, Apple, Apple, iPhone, overheating

One thing that people are looking for is to get budget-friendly costs when it comes to making international calls. And today, MyGlobalTalk brings its act to the iPhone, allowing owners to make cheaper calls through routing calls via this award-winning solution.

MyGlobalTalk features:

• Easy-to-use interface allows users to dial as they normally would
• Integration with native iPhone contacts list
• “Faves” and “History” lists for calls made only through MyGlobalTalk™
• Easy access to account information and balance

It works wherever mobile service is available, providing high-quality service without the need for a Wi-Fi connection. There are no contracts, connection fees or call minimums. It is strictly pay as you go.

(Source) Press

Tags: Apple, contracts, easy access, interface, iPhone, iPhone, making international calls, mobile service, Mobile Software, Wi-Fi, winning solution

iPhone owners get a new option this July as Nickelodeon’s Addicting games is set to be unveiled, providing broader games for kids and teens. Addicting games is the largest network where users can get free online games. Games based on properties from Nickelodeon, COMEDY CENTRAL, MTV and other divisions of MTV Networks will also be part of the AddictingGames iNetwork.

“The iPhone is perfectly suited for our easy-to-play, fresh, fun games which together present a pretty powerful combination,” said Dave Williams, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group. “With the AddictingGames iNetwork, we are extending our relationships with developers to the iPhone platform, and are giving them a new promotional vehicle for their games.”

The first AddictingGames that will be available on the iPhone include: “iParking It,” based on the popular “Parking Lot” game series on AddictingGames.com; “50 States,” a geography duel; and the strategy game “World Wars.” More titles will be released in coming months.

(Source) Press

Tags: 50 states, addicting games, addictinggames, Apple, comedy central, dave williams, free online games, fun games, game series, game world, games for kids, games games, games group, iPhone, iPhone, Mobile Software, mtv networks, new option, nickelodeon, nickelodeon kids, senior vice president, strategy game

The iPhone provides a lot of different options and among them include the ability to send virtual media postcards, customized according to an iPhone users preference. goPostal creates personalized postcards from any digital photo taken with the Apple iPhone.

“It’s fast, it’s easy and it’s cheap,” said George Coriaty of Whittier, CA. “I don’t have to buy a postcard, I don’t have to buy a stamp and I don’t have to find a mailbox, yet for $1.29, which includes the postage cost, I can send a postcard directly to my Dad from wherever I happen to be.”

goPostal users are coming up with unique ways of using the unique postcard iPhone application. United States soldiers stationed overseas send unique, personalized postcards to friends and family back in the States. Travelers use goPostal to capture the moment and mail postcards easily, efficiently. Businesses use it to maintain contact with their customers.

(Source) Press

Tags: Apple, Apple iPhone, dad, digital photo, friends and family, gopostal, iPhone, mail postcards, Mobile Software, postage cost, postcard, preference, travelers, virtual media, whittier ca

Go fishing with your iPhone and net yourself a date with the WhosHere app. If you are simply out to make friends, broaden your cyber circle of friends by meeting new people via this app, touted to be among the top 5% free apps running across the Admob network.

WhosHere is a social proximity application that enables users to meet friends, potential dates or network through an exceptionally simple interface. WhosHere will show you matches that are near you or anywhere in the world based on your answers to a few questions about yourself and who you are interested in meeting. It takes the chance out of the chance encounter. When you find someone you want to talk with, you can send unlimited, free text and image messages to them; all within the WhosHere application.

The WhosHere app is available for free download at the iTunes App Store.

(Source) Press

Tags: Apple, application that enables users, chance encounter, circle of friends, cyber circle, fishing, free apps, interface, iPhone, iPhone, iTunes, Mobile Software, proximity

What will the next generation iPhone bring? Well it’s a little too early to speculate on that but Apple is certainly working on it. A few new patents have emerged and they depict a few new features like haptic screens, RFID readers and fingerprint ID. The picture clearly suggests that such technology would definitely apply to the iPhone or the iPod touch.

The screen is using a grid of piezoelectronic actuators that will offer a tactile vibration response every time you press the screen. Do we need a haptic touchscreen? Yes we do:

However, one of a touchscreen’s biggest advantages (i.e., the ability to utilize the same physical space for different functions) is also one of a touchscreen’s biggest disadvantages. When the user is unable to view the display (because the user is occupied with other tasks), the user can only feel the smooth hard surface of the touchscreen, regardless of the shape, size and location of the virtual buttons and/or other display elements. This makes it difficult for users to find icons, hyperlinks, textboxes or other user-selectable input elements that are being displayed, if any are even being displayed, without looking at the display.

As for fingerprint identification or RFID reader, these are not exactly must-have features but they would be also useful in a future iPhone.

Tags: Apple, Apple, fingerprint, haptic, ID, iPhone, Mobile News, patent, Portable Devices, rfid readers

Strike a tune or play simultaneously with your favorite music with the new Chords for iTunes as made possible by iPlayMusic. Now, you don’t just listen to your favorite music via your iPhone or iPod. You can play along with various tunes made popular by artists like Green Day, James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, Matchbox 20, White Stripes and more.

The musical tunes are presented in video for easy playback and learning, a perfect app for the people who are starting to learn the ropes on how to be good musician. Improve on your musical learning experience and rendering with this new app which you can access by simply installing the Mac version of iPlayMusic’s software.

Click on the Shop button and start browsing. If a selected song is not already present in your iTunes library, the iPlayMusic software will prompt you to purchase it from the iTunes Music Store. Once the song is in place, simply click the playback button and let the jamming begin.

(Source) Press

Tags: Apple, favorite music, green day, iPhone, iPhone, iplaymusic, itunes music store, james taylor, jimmy buffett, learning experience, mac version, matchbox 20, Mobile Software, musical tunes, musician, playback, ropes, shop button, white stripes

One of the many features of iPhones and the iPod Touch is to accommodate video streams. And today, a church will become the first group to experiment on streaming their services via video. The New Hope church thus becomes the first non-profit group to feature such a service, something that is cheered on by many of New Hope’s church attendees.

“Typically, churches are years behind other organizations when it comes to technology and innovation. We have tried to reverse that trend and pioneer new ways to spread the Gospel using the most current tools available,” explains New Hope’s Technology and Innovations Director, Michael Sharpe. “We don’t mind the long hours and stress that comes with innovating because we know that if we can come up with something useful, it can be used by other churches around the world.”

All of this was made possible with the inclusion of HTTP live streaming in Apple’s iPhone 3.0 software. The streams will be available via their website starting July 4. The live stream requires an iPhone or iPod touch with the 3.0 software update and an active Internet connection.

(Source) Press

Tags: Apple, church attendees, churches, connection source, current tools, inclusion, innovations, internet connection, iPhone, iPhone, iphones, iPod Touch, july 4, live stream, michael sharpe, new hope church, new ways, software update, stress, video streams

Apple released the iPhone OS 3.1 beta yesterday and lucky developers out there can now enjoy the new firmware update. While there’s no official change log coming from Apple, the Internet is now filled with unofficial rumors about the iPhone OS 3.1.

Here’s what we should expect from it:

• MMS options available on AT&T but the service is not running
• Voice Control available over Bluetooth
• Vibration when moving icons
• “Save as copy” option available for saving videos
• Improved OpenGL and Quartz
• APIs for third party apps that access video
• Modem firmware updated to5.08.01
• Updated AT&T profile to 4.2

Come on Apple, tell us all what’s going on in iPhone OS 3.1! As you can see we already have a pretty good idea of what’s coming…

Tags: 3.1, Apple, Beta, developers, firmware, iPhone, Mobile Software, OS, SDK, Updates

Well what do you know iPhone developers! Apple has apparently released iPhone OS 3.1 Beta for you guys. The SDK is out now so you can probably get it right ahead. When you do that, drop us a line and tell us what’s new!  Only developers have that privileged access to this beta so we’ll be waiting for them to leak it to the rest of us regular mortals. What has Apple changed besides the regular improvements and solved issues? We’ll be updating the story as we find out more!

Tags: 3.1, Apple, Apple, Beta, developers, iPhone, Mobile News, Mobile Software, SDK

Sony should work harder on that PSP phone! If they don’t then everyone will soon start purchasing iPhones and iPods to play cool games while on the go. The new iPhone 3GS is definitely a better gaming platform than its predecessors and games like the Quake trilogy will be easily adapted for it.

Quake 1, 2 and Arena are said to be available soon for the iPhone which means you’ll be able to enjoy once again a game that you’ve played for hours when you were younger. Besides Quake you can expect to play other similar titles like Wolfenstein RPG, Doom 2 RPD and Doom Classic on the iPhone 3GS. Would it be too much to ask for multiplayer modes for some of these games?

Tags: 3G, 3gs, Apple, doom, gaming, iPhone, iPod Touch, Mobile Software, PSP Phone, Quake, Sony, Wolfenstein