I just did a post over at AppStoreApps.com talking about 8 applications that I want to see in the App Store(or even Cydia/Installer). I will list the apps below, but you can click here to read the article(where I go into detail about the apps in the list).
1. Digg
2. IMDB
3. Google Analytics
4. Firefox
5. VLC
6. Air Freshener
7. Woopra
8. StumbleUpon
Note – This idea can be argued from both sides. This is just my thoughts on the topic.
I was reading through Digg today and noticed this article. . .7 Reasons Why the iPhone nano Is a Bad Idea. Call me crazy, but this list just seems like a collection of potentially true opinions, nothing more. When an article like this to hit the front page of Digg, it just makes me think. Then again, just look at who submitted it DrOZMAC. 90% of his submissions are from MacBlogz.com(or at least the majority are) so I guess a few have to hit the front page eventually.
So let me break this list down 1 by 1 and tell you why an iPhone Nano is not only a great idea. . .but also, why it would sell well.
The invisibleSHIELD is the most popular way to make your iPhone(2G & 3G) and your iPod Touch(1st Gen & 2nd Gen) scratch proof. You might have seen the review I did for the BodyGuardz skin not too long ago. This is the same concept, except the invisibleSHIELD has been out much longer. . .and they have done a great job at marketing it.
The image above is a strength test showing you how durable the skin is. If a pen can’t be pushed through it, what are the chances your keys(or anything else in your pocket) can scratch through it.
The video above shows a much larger piece of the skin(same thickness though). . .and shows you just how much weight it can hold. Like I said, they’ve done a great job marketing the product. Here’s another strength test video. . .
They’re even having a 30% off sale on everything. All you have to do is use the coupon code “SITEWIDE30″.
Note – If you’re not familiar with the invisibleSHIELD, ZAGG also offers a skin for a LOT of other devices(laptops, other cell phones, ipods, handheld consoles, etc).
Earlier I talked about Walmart selling refurbished iPhones for $99. These were rumored to be 4GB models, but sadly they were just that, rumors. Luckily AT&T has announced that they will be selling refurbished 8GB iPhones for exactly that, 99 dollars. . .and the best part, they’re 8GB models. Or you can get 16GB models for just $199.
All you have to do is click here(or the image above) and AT&T will ask for your zip code. If it’s available in your area then you will see the order form and you can get yours today.
BTW – if you’re worried about refurbished devices, AT&T is giving you a 90 day warranty for them.
This is probably not the ‘flash’ that you’re thinking of. . .but if you’re a photgrapher then you might like this even more. This is a very niche product. First you must have a jailbroken iPhone and then you must have an application to use it. It will of course work with the Snapture photo application, but it also talks about video recording(so maybe it will work with apps like cycorder, qik, etc).
So far there isn’t a price, or a date on when it will be released. . .but as soon as it does we will be sure to tell you. If things go as planned, we will be reviewing it here and then giving it away in a contest(like we always do).
So it seems the rumors were half right and half wrong. Walmart is selling the iPhone this Sunday, December 28th. . .and it is going to be cheaper than usual. Even if it is only 2 dollars cheaper, that is the Walmart way. The only thing I don’t understand is why they’re doing this after Christmas. I guess it’s better late than never, but the iPhone would have boosted Walmart’s sales even more this holiday season.
Nevertheless, now Apple has another outlet for potential customers to get their own iPhone. I’m just shocked that Walmart didn’t get on board before Best Buy did.
With so many blogs creating great iPhone content every day, iPhone FTW! is a way to monitor it all(and quickly too).
We have an announcement from the iPhone Dev Team that the iPhone 3G has been unlocked! There has been hardware unlocks that have cost money in the past, but now it’s been done on the software side. . .and it will be free!
There is some good news. . .and some potential bad news. . .
* The target release date for the unlock is New Year’s Eve 2008.
* This unlock method is available to iPhone 3Gs that have 2.11.07 baseband or earlier, we did warn you.
* The unlock requires a jailbroken 3G iPhone.
So if you’re baseband is later than 2.11.07 then you’re out of luck. If you read further into the post, they link back to and older one that says “If you have a 3G iPhone and want potential soft unlock in the near future do NOT use QuickPwn, and do not use the official ipsw or the iTunes update process without using PwnageTool.”
Update – It seems that if you connect the usb cable to a USB hub before the computer, then it magically recognizes the iPhone. . .I’m not sure if this is more of a work-a-round, or a bug fix.
I have read a few websites saying that if you’re a Mac user, don’t update to 10.5.6. If you do this will prevent your computer from recognizing the iPhone and iPod Touch when it’s in DFU mode.
DFU mode is something that is required to repair a ‘bricked’ iPhone and iPod Touch as well as jailbreaking(with both Pwnage Tool and Quickpwn). TUAW contacted the iPhone Dev Team but they have yet to make an official statement. TUAW also confirms that this is in-fact true. . .so again, don’t update if you plan on jailbreaking your iPhone or iPod Touch.
I imagine this is in response to an article written about how DFU mode, which was implemented to help Apple(easy way to get the users to fix their broken devices). . .but in the end it’s just given the iPhone Dev Team a huge hole to perform the jailbreak.
The developer behind Frenzic and Twitterrific recently wrote an open letter to Mr. Steve Jobs himself. In this letter he basically complains about the price competition in the App Store.
He goes on to say that the development costs that go into an application(when developers and designers cost 150-200 per hour) make the process too risky. Talking about how developers are dropping their prices to the $0.99 range and because of that, his appliations are being pushed off the ‘top apps’ lists. This is coming from the person that is charging 10 dollars for a Twitter client(Twitterrific Premium).
I hate to be the bearer or bad news Craig Hockenberry, but we(the people who buy your applications) don’t care how much it cost to develop an application. If it’s too much, then don’t pay for it. Eventually the developers and designers will lower their prices. If not, then maybe developing applications for the App Store isn’t for you. It seems that other developers aren’t having any issues at all making money. . .then again he’s charging 5 dollars for a unique game on the iPhone(not just a Twitter client).
Pssst, Craig. . .if you make an application, when there are more than 5 others that essentially do the same thing. . .it won’t do well. Especially when your competition is charging much less than you are. No one is asking you to lose money. And if you can’t find a way to make a profit, we(the customer) don’t care. Maybe the App Store just isn’t for you.
On a final note, here is one excerpt from the letter. . .
I also worry that this low price point for applications is going to limit innovation on the platform. Sure, apps like Ocarina and Koi Pond are very cool and very cheap. But when are we going to see the utility of the platform taken to another level, like when spreadsheets appeared on the Apple ][ and desktop publishing appeared on the Mac? (It could be argued that Safari has already accomplished this, but I still think there is a third party idea that will be just as transformative.)
Just because you want a spreadsheet application to be big business on the iPhone doesn’t mean the other millions of iPhone owners want it. Most of us just want a small application that we enjoy showing off to our friends and family(especially the ones that have never seen an iPhone before).
You’re right, lots of applications have been marked down to the $0.99 price point and if you’re not willing to do this too, then be prepared to get left behind. The App Store just passed the 10,000 application mark. . .and this is just be beginning.
