Well after much debate and finding a buyer for my first gen iPhone, I have decided to go 3g.

I am in line right now waiting for the purchase and trying to decide, white or black? I will post later and let you know which phone I get because I am sure digg will be alive waiting for the details.

BTW I am writing this on the new Wordpress app for iPhone, very cool! This app changes things for bloggers it allows you to blog on the run, upload photos, and kill time while you wait and wait and wait for Apple to work it’s way through the iPhone activation line.

The photo is a shot from the line at the Apple Southlake TX store. It is not a long line but they are working through about 5 people every 30 minutes.

VNC Client for the iPhone and iPod Touch. There is a free version and a pro version for $5.99 with free upgrades and support.  Follow the link for details.

MochaSoft - iPhone - iPod - VNC.

I have read some of the reviews on the Google App for the iPhone over at the App store and I don’t think people quite get it.  They are blasting the app stating they can do web searches already from safari.  But the Google App does a whole lot more.  You can search your contacts, your previous searches, websites, and it provides suggestions as you type.

I have found the app to be very useful.  It has not quite found it’s way on to the front page of my iphone yet, but it is secure on the second page for the moment.

So, if you have a lot of contacts or do frequent web searches from your iPhone, then this app may be just the thing to fit the bill.  Browse to the app store and download the Google App, it’s free of charge and helps get all the google goodness to your screen that much faster.

So iPhone software release 2.0 was let loose on the masses yesterday and with it came the much anticipated App store.  Apple released over 500 applications on launch day, enough to make any iPhone fan boy’s head spin.  While it is impossible to download and try every application I present to you the apps I found to be most useful, possibly leaving some gems yet to be discovered.  If you have others, leave a comment and I will try it out.  I’d love to have some apps crack the top 5.

So without much further ado I present to you my top 5 free applications from the iPhone app store.

Application #1   Remote

Remote from Apple found an instant home on the front page of my iPhone.  It allows you to remotely control iTunes or Apple TV from anywhere in the house.  If you have an Apple TV and a lot of media, this application turns your iPhone in to the THE perfect remote control for it.  You can call up movies, songs, albums, podcasts, do searches and more…then have it displayed in HD glory right on your TV.

Applications like this will help Apple sell more Apple TV’s, iPhones, etc because the convergence of all the media and the ease of use of all of the products can not be matched by ANY OTHER manufacturer.  This is truly a killer app that with all the right pieces in place, makes the digital home that much easier to negotiate.  This App is Free.

Application #2  Yellowpages.com Mobile

Knowledge is power and Yellowpages mobile gives you knowledge about your local surroundings by the bucket load.

Want to find the local auto inspection place?  Type “auto inspection”  YP Mobile will locate you, and provide a listing of all the area shops who provide auto inspections.  You can then call them directly from the app, view them on the map or view shop hours.

The app also lists local events in your area so you always know what is going on in your surroundings.

This app is much faster than finding the same information on the web, and the data online is very up to date.  This App is Free.

Application #3 Weatherbug

This app has been around for some time on PC desk tops and for the mac.  Now it makes it way to the iPhone.  Once I downloaded Weather bug I moved the Apple weather application to the back page of my iPhone because I won’t be using it any more.

Weatherbug provides so much more information like windspeed, direction, rain, humidity, dew point, radar, live local photos, etc.  There is no comparrison between the weather information you get from this app and the information you get from app that came with the iPhone.  If you care about the temp outside, what the weather is doing, and what it is going to do you need Weatherbug.  This App is Free.

Application #4 Bloomberg

If you have a 401K you keep an eye on then this is the app for you.  All the doom and gloom of the recent markets is right there before your eyes with beautiful charts and diagrams in a fashion that only an iPhone app could pull off.  Pinch and scroll, zoom and browse as you watch your hard earned retirement shrink into pennies on the dollar.

Time to sell the iPhone so the kids can go to college.

If you can bear to look at it this a great app with all the financial information you will ever need.  Maybe you can use it to seize some buying opportunities and turn in to the next Warren Buffet.  If you do strike it rich drop a couple a bucks at iPhone app review as a way of saying thanks for pointing you to this great free app.

Application #5 OneTap

If you still like to go out to the movies instead of downloading the torrents then this app will show what is on at the theaters near you.  It will locate your position, show you the theaters near by, and list everything playing.  From there you can watch trailers, see start times etc.

The interface is really slick and can help you decide where you want to buy that $12 bag of popcorn at. Unlike the popcorn, OnTap is free to download.

That about sums it up for me, I would love to hear what you think.

At $9.99 I think this app is a little over priced.  $4.99 would be a little better price range for this app.  You can’t blame the developer though, it’s not often you get to walk on stage at an Apple press event to announce your new app…I might over price my app by a few bucks too.

The app allows you to record and lay multiple tracks down which is kind of cool.  It also has a few pre-recorded songs.  The nice thing about the pre-recorded songs is that it highlights the guitar licks or piano keys as they are played so you can learn from the sound track how to play the song.  Since I am not too musically inclined I wish there were more sound samples to help teach me a few of the ropes.

Overall this is a fun app for the musical novice, it may be more useful for someone who actually knows and understands music.  Somewhat overpriced…I give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

Apple said Thursday that more than 500 native applications are now available on the iPhone’s App Store for use with the new iPhone 3G that goes on sale tomorrow.

Over 500 apps, many free

Over 125 of those applications — or more than 25 percent — are being offered for free. According to Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, 90 percent of the remaining applications will cost just $9.99 or less.

“This is the biggest launch of my career,” he said.


Browse all apps, or by section

Users who’ve downloaded the just-release iTunes 7.7 software can already browse the App Store via the jukebox software. The store offers sections that list: All iPhone Applications, All iPod touch Applications, All Free Applications, Most Popular Applications, and Most Popular Free Applications.

Browse by category

Users can also browse the store by category listings: Business, Education, Entertainment, Finance, Games, Healthcare & Fitness, Lifestyle, Music, Navigation, News, Photography, Productivity, Reference, Social Networking, Sports, Travel, Utilities, and Weather.

Apple said many of the new applications take advantage of iPhone’s large display, Multi-Touch user interface, fast hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, built-in accelerometer and location-based technology.

Top free apps

Unsurprisingly, the top free application at the moment is Apple’s own new iTunes Remote, with which you can “control the music on your computer or Apple TV from your iPod touch or iPhone. Play, pause, skip, shuffle. See your songs, playlists, and album art on your iPod touch or iPhone as if you were right in front of your computer. Remote works with your Wi-Fi network, so you can control playback from anywhere in and around your home.”

Other notable free applications include AOL’s Instant Messaging application, Google’s Mobile Searching application, Six Apart’s TypePad blogging application, and a New York Times news application.

Top pay apps

The five most popular pay applications include Sega’s Super Monkey Ball, Pangea’s Cro-Mag Rally, Pangea’s Enigmo, Freeze Tag’s Etch A Sketch, and Apple’s own Texas Hold’em.

Apple has also posted an App Store Frequently Asked Questions list.

AOL has introduced an interface for the iPhone to their search engine for the iPhone. It has some nice local search features and a clean interface, Press release below:

Just like sports car drivers, iPhone™ users want the best ride. Today we’re pleased to unveil in beta AOL® Mobile Search for the iPhone device.

AOL Mobile Search optimized for the iPhone is an extraordinary search engine that’s finely crafted to allow users of this brilliant device to get Better Answers, Faster™. AOL Mobile Search delivers comprehensive and more relevant search results by bringing together content from across the Web and mobile Web, as well as from Moviefone®, MapQuest®, AOL® CityGuide and other AOL services.

AOL Mobile Search for the iPhone device was designed specifically for the Apple® iPhone’s mobile Safari™ browser. By combining AJAX technology and the iPhone’s easy to use multi-touch surface, our designer Lisa Hoover and developers Alan Tai and Andrew Clarke have created a user experience that allows the richness of the Web to be delivered on a phone.

The video I’ve posted below highlights the many cool features of our new product. Or if you just can’t wait, check it out for yourself by going to search.aol.com on your iPhone . To experience the best of our new search engine, try searching for a new movie, a local restaurant or your favorite celebrity.

Original article found at Apple.com

A good read on syncing VS backing up on the iPhone / iPod touch.

Summary

iTunes can create backups of settings and certain other information on iPhone and iPod touch. You can use a backup to restore this information to your iPhone or iPod touch after a software restore or update, or to transfer the information to a different device. Backups can be deleted from iTunes using the steps below.

Products Affected

iPhone, iTunes 7 for Windows, iTunes 7 for Mac, iPod touch

Syncing vs Backups

You can use iTunes to sync content on your computer (such as music, podcasts, videos, ringtones¹, photos, email account settings, contacts, calendars, and bookmarks) with your iPhone or iPod touch². Syncing makes sure this content is the same on your iPhone or iPod touch and computer. You can also use iTunes to create a backup of settings and certain other information on your iPhone or iPod touch to use in case you want to restore the software on your iPhone or iPod touch or transfer this information to a different device. Backup information includes information such as mail settings, text messages, notes, call history, contact favorites, sound settings, widget settings, certain network settings, and other preferences.
Creating a Backup

Backups can be created in the following ways:

• If you have configured your iPhone or iPod touch to automatically sync with iTunes on a specific computer, iTunes will back up the iPhone or iPod touch after you connect it to that computer and sync with iTunes. iTunes will not automatically back up an iPhone or iPod touch that is not configured to sync with that computer. iTunes only makes one backup each time you connect, even if you sync multiple times before disconnecting.
• If you choose to update the software, iTunes will back up the iPhone and iPod touch automatically.
• If you choose to restore the software to factory settings, iTunes will ask you if you want to back up the iPhone and iPod touch.

Restoring from a Backup

To restore information from a backup:

1. Connect the iPhone to the computer you normally sync with.
2. In iTunes, select the Summary tab and click Restore (this erases all data on iPhone). When prompted, select the option to restore your settings.Notes:
   • Information you can sync from the computer (e.g., photos, videos, songs) that are not stored in the back up will need to be resynced. Photos you take with iPhone are included in the backup with iPhone software 1.1 and later.
   • Your passwords will need to be entered again if your restore your backup to a different device.
   • If you restored to a different iPhone, you will need to reactivate Visual Voicemail.

Deleting a Backup

If you want to delete a backup created by iTunes, follow these steps in iTunes 7.5 or later:

1. Open iTunes Preferences:
   Windows: Choose Edit > Preferences.
   Mac: Choose iTunes > Preferences.
2. Click Syncing (iPhone or iPod touch does not need to be connected).
3. Select the backup you want to remove and click Remove Backup.
4. Confirm you wish to remove the selected backup by clicking Remove Backup.
5. Click OK to close the iTunes Preferences Window.

If you have been waiting to get an iPhone, your patience may be about to pay off.  That is if you are not an AT&T customer and are willing to sign a 2 year commitment.  According to published rumors on the web AT&T may be subsidizing the cost of the soon to be released 3g iPhone by $200.00 with a signed contract to AT&T.

That’s a smart move for Apple and AT&T. I think it will keep a few more unlocked phones off the market and will bring a new wave of iPhone adopters to the fold.  With subsidized pricing an 8 gig iPhone would cost $199.00 and a 16 gig would be $249.00 in the U.S.  With those kinds of prices I think a few more people may be willing to live with AT&T for 2 years.

Along with cheaper prices some of the rumored new features of the iPhone are said to be 3G (of course), GPS, and some rumors are stating a slimmer package than the current.

I would not be surprised to see the phone released in 16 gb and 32 gb models only.  This can not be substantiated, but you can quote me in case I am right.  It makes good business sense, due to the cheap prices in memory and Uncle Steve wants you to have lots of room to store Apps, and movies, and music, and games, Oh my!  Apps, and music, and movies, and games, Oh my!
So if I am right quote me, my name is Kevin Morris @ www.iPhoneAppReview.com, and if I am wrong, Oh well!

There are many rumors about the the 3G iPhone that are starting to hit the net.

First is the wide spread reported shortage of iPhones at Apple stores across the country.  Apple typically reduces inventory of a product in store before releasing a new updated version.

And now this…actual photos of a possible 3G iPhone in a new shiny black case.  Could this be the real thing or hoax?  Only time will tell.  For now the photo shows an all black plastic case that would help with the problems that the metal case causes interfering with the antenna in the current model and 8 gigs, at least on this prototype.

I would be surprised to see Apple carrying the 8 gig over to the 3G but they may need to in order to keep the entry price down.

Thanks to iPod Observer for the photo.

Apple has just released a new version of the iPhone SDK Beta.

Here are the details as released by Apple:

The second beta version of the iPhone SDK is now available and includes Interface Builder, a powerful tool that allows you to visually build your interface and makes creating a UI as simple as drag and drop.
We’ve also added new sample code and updated documentation to the rich set of resources available to you in the iPhone Dev Center.

Log in to the iPhone Dev Center today and download the new version of the iPhone SDK.

Griffin Technology announces their Power Jolt Car Charger for all iPods and iPhone.

Some things that make this charger unique are:

• Low profile.
• Detachable power cord.
• Amber and red ring light to show you the charge status.

You can order the charger directly from Amazon for $17.30, that’s more than $2 off the retail suggested price.

On a site like iPhoneAppReview you may not understand the title of this post.  But let me explain, in one short article John Dvorak can bring more attention to a product and him self than a thousand press releases.

a recent article as an example
He likes to beat the war drum and gets the Apple faithful worked up, scratch a little of the chrome on the shinny Apple logo.  I think it’s great, because I get his schtick.  He does not pick his topics based on personal beliefs but on what is going to get a rise out of the community that he is attacking.  The easiest targets are Apple fans, most Apple faithful read his articles or headlines and froth at the mouth.  They discuss the idiot John Dvorak, they email his articles they go to his web site, they view his web ads, they watch him on TV, they make him money so that next month he can do the same thing again.

Yes, John Dvorak, the Apple Antagonist, the Nexus of Negativity is my hero…with a small h. I don’t get worked up by his articles, I just enjoy them for what they are.  Satire on the computing industry for the purpose of generating traffic and talk.

I will help you out this month by contributing to the iPhone buzz you have created. Way to go John Dvorak, you are one of the best!

satire |ˈsaˌtīr|
noun
the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues. See note at wit .
• a play, novel, film, or other work that uses satire : a stinging satire on American politics.
• a genre of literature characterized by the use of satire.
• (in Latin literature) a literary miscellany, esp. a poem ridiculing prevalent vices or follies.
DERIVATIVES
satirist |ˈsatərist| |ˈsødərəst| noun
see John C. Dvorak

Microsoft is said to be leveraging the skills it has learned from it’s Mac Business Unit to look at creating a mobile version of MS Office for the iPhone. Microsoft will leverage it’s expertise in Active Sync technologies to create business applications that are sure to appeal to the corporate units who are looking to bring the iPhone in house.

This looks to be shaping up as an explosion of applications and development as every company wants a piece of the iPhone marketplace. 10 million phones may be an easily attainable sales figure if this is picked up on the corporate level as it looks like it is shaping up to do. I predict by this time next year that Apple will be on level playing ground with Rim as far as phones in the marketplace. I believe the adoption will be swift, and snowball as corporations adopt, developers create compelling apps, and other corporations adopt so as not to be left behind.

For iPhone owners adoption is a good thing. More iPhones in the market place means more applications, more cases, more car kits, more gps devices, more home automation kits, more, more, more.

It is a good time to be an iPhone owner!

Read more about Office for iPhone here.

Boy Genius has posted numerous iPhone 2.0 screen shots on his web site. So, if you just can’t wait to see what Apple has in store for you, head on over to take a peak for yourself.