$99 Refurbished iPhones Now Available From AT&T

AT&T is now offering refurbished iPhones via its online store - the black, 8GB iPhone goes for $99 and the 16GB iPhone for $199 in white or black. A two year contract is still required, but it still comes with a 90-day warranty.

Crazy Bidding at Ebay Philippines for used iPhone 3G

Submitted by Steven -

There is something definitely wrong with the bidding for an iPhone 3G over at Ebay Philippines. As the photos show, the bid for a used 8GB iPhone 3G is now at PHP 1,003,000.00 or approximately USD21,218.46.



The bid started at P12,000 and quickly escalated with 18 bids in 3 days.

No lie: voice stress analysis on iPhone

From TUAW -

The Agile Lie Detector is an app that detects stress levels in the speaker's voice to determine if he/she is lying. The approach is a somewhat controversial alternative to the traditional polygraph test. It is not considered as accurate as hooking someone up to a machine that measures more than one physiological response, like breathing and pulse. On the other hand, theoretically anyway, it allows you to test someone who isn't physically in the same room. In fact, it's possible to analyze speech through speakers, assuming the quality of those speakers is high enough.

Anyways, either Apple knows something or it is just playing safe, as the $7.99 Agile Lie Detector is filed under the Entertainment category in the App Store.

Weirdest Bug Uncovers Rotating Gesture on iPhone?

A weird iPhone 3G bug has been reported at Gizmodo. While showing off some photos, the guy rotated the an image but the the image got stuck at 45 degrees. There was no way to go back to the Home screen. It was there, stuck in the photo album, with the photos turned on a 45 degree angle. The only thing hecould do was to move them sideways, and up and down in relation to each other. The movement was limited, as it was locked with springs.

Mobile Spy software now for iPhone 3G

From Gizmag -

Retina-X has ported its Mobile Spy to the iPhone. Previously available only for both the Windows Mobile and Symbian platform, the app discretely tracks all communications, copying all incoming/outgoing SMS messages including the associated phone number and tracking all calls, including duration. It then immediately uploads the data to the your private online account where you can check it form any browser without needing further access to the monitored phone.

Mobile Spy runs in total stealth mode and no mentions of the program are shown on the phone. It, of course, assumes, the monitored phone, can be connected to the Internet.

Konami Releasing Silent Hill, DDR and Frogger for iPhone

From Gizmodo -

Konami has announced it will be releasing Silent Hill: The Escape, DanceDanceRevolution S Lite and Frogger for the iPhone/iPod touch platform. Here is part of their PR -

Konami Announces Plans to Release Top Franchise Titles For the Apple® iPhone™ and iPod® touch in North America

Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, DanceDanceRevolution, and Frogger Coming Soon

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (Dec. 17, 2008) - Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced that the company will be releasing mobile games for the iPhone and iPod touch based on four of its top-selling franchises in North America. Metal Gear Solid Touch, Silent Hill: The Escape, DanceDanceRevolution S Lite and Frogger will all be specifically designed to take full advantage of the iPhone's unique touch screen capabilities.

All four of the top-selling Konami titles have been re-designed to take full advantage of the iPhone's capabilities, including the innovative Multi-Touch™ interface and accelerometer. For more information, please visit www.konamimobile.com.

Katamari on the iPhone

Geisha in Your iPhone, Coming Soon

Uploaded by GClueandroid -

I Love Katamari on the iPhone

Uploaded by parislemon -

iPhone Nano Protective Case Appears

From Ideals China -

Since iPhones are made in China, with thousands involved in the process - from components to assembly - insider information invariably leaks out. These days rumors are circulating in China that there will be two new iPhones in the near future, with one an iPhone Nano.

According to www.xskn.com, they are now developing a silicon case design specifically for a new model nicknamed "Nano iPhone." And they are not the only company doing so. Pre-release advanced information of the iPhone 3G was also similarly distributed among the Chinese manufacturers, who had products ready almost simultaneously with the phone's release.

Microsoft's first iPhone app: Live Labs releases Seadragon Mobile viewer

From TechFlash -

Microsoft Live Labs today becomes the first group inside the Redmond company to release an application for Apple's mobile phone, with its Seadragon Mobile, now available at the Apple App Store.

Seadragon Mobile is a free demo program meant to test the viability of the high-tech Seadragon photo-display technology on mobile platforms. It is best known as a core technology behind Microsoft's Photosynth photo-browsing program. It's designed for zooming smoothly in, out and around photos over the Internet, regardless of bandwidth constraints or image size. Seadragon's technological trick is to store images in multiple resolutions and deliver only the bits needed to present the view a user wants at any given moment.

Full article here.

Apple: "the iPhone is a gaming console"

From Engadget -

During an ADC "iPhone Tech Talk" in San Jose, Apple Director of Technology Evangelism John Geleynse called the iPhone a "gaming console" and claimed that "it's not a phone, it's a console experience."

Considering Geleynse's comments came after Greg Joswiak's comparison of the iPod Touch to the Nintendo DS, Apple appears to be making a noticeable effort to push this angle. Per a PR announcing a series of EA "sneak peek" events at Apple Stores around the US -

"Throughout the month of December Apple Stores in New York, LA, San Francisco and Chicago will host special "EA Games Sneak Peek" events where Electronic Arts will discuss why the iPod touch and iPhone are amazing platforms for mobile gaming..".

NSFW Apps Coming to the iPhone App Store

From Gizmodo -

According to the developer of "Pull My Finger", Apple is now considering adding a new category for those apps that fall in between wholesome and adult - slightly lewd but not really full-blast stuff. Apple had initially rejected his app but has re-considered. However it is still trying to figure out how to categorize similar types.

iPhone & iTable (Multi-Touch)

Ms. Pac-Man down to $5.99

From PC Mag -

Namco has reduced the price of Ms. Pac-man to $5.99 (down from the original $9.99), albeit for "a limited time."

Santa Live iPhone App Pulled Due to Even More Controversy

From Gizmodo -

A recent episode of the controversial app Santa Live featured a song titled "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer", prompting parents to complain to Apple, which then pull the app from its store.

The developer, Adam Majewski, was previously reported paying commenters to leave positive feedback about his app.

Apple to Sell IPhones in WalMart This Month

Bloomberg U.S. has reported that WalMart will starting offering two iPhone models this month. Employees are currently being trained on how to sell them. However there is no cofirmation yet on the rumored $99 model.

Walmart is the second big retail chain to carry the iPhone, the first being Best Buy, which starting selling the device in September.

iPhone as a videogame Device

Uploaded by hippiemanx -

"This is our Moto Chaser game running on the official iPhone & iPod Touch 2.2 OS, but outputing the video to TV using iPod AV cables.

We are using the MPTVOutWindow class to do this. Thanks to Erica at Ars Technica for pointing this out to us."

A $99 Apple-branded cell phone is inevitable, analyst says

From AppleInsider -

In response to rumors of WalMart offering a $99 iPhone 3G by year-end, Kaufman Bros has expressed that it is inevitable Apple will release a mobile phone at that price point, noting that Apple's iPhone product line essentially consisst of one product with two storage capacity points (8 GB and 16 GB), while what's really needed is a complete family of iPhones that includes "true low-end, mid-range, and high-end" models.

It is believed that the existing iPhone design allows Apple to support a $99 price despite the product being perceived as a high-end device.

iPhone Barf Bag Mod is Perfect for Airsick MacGyver

From Gizmodo -

hodenmumps has come up with the brilliant idea of using a readily-available airsickness bag to hold the iPhone/iPod Touch hands-free while you are on the plane. As the photo shows, the bag is simply tucked into your tray table. Its height can be adjusted to achieve the optimum viewing angle.

10,000 iPhone Apps

From TechCrunch
-

148Apps says 10,000 applications have now been released on the iPhone App store. About 24% of apps are free; 35% cost $.99. The average cost is $3.12, including free apps. About 34% are games or entertainment, and there are 49 weather related apps for the iPhone despite the fact that a weather app is built in.

Amazon.com Application for iPhone and iPod touch Now Available on Apple App Store

From TeleRead -

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2008--Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced its Amazon application for iPhone and iPod touch is now available on the Apple App Store. The Amazon app offers an easy way for users to search and browse for products offered by Amazon and thousands of retailers like Target and Macy's, access Amazon's popular shopping features such as Customer Reviews, and purchase using 1-Click Shopping and Amazon Prime.

The Amazon app for iPhone and iPod touch includes an experimental feature called "Amazon Remembers". Amazon Remembers helps customers keep track of items they see in their daily lives and even tries to match photos of products to the same or similar products available on Amazon.com. Customers simply snap photos with their iPhone, the photos are automatically uploaded to Amazon.com, which then tries to find products similar to the ones in the photos. As soon as the customer receives the results, they can then purchase the item immediately or "remember it" for later in their Amazon account.

"We designed the Amazon app to be a quick and easy way for iPhone and iPod touch users to shop, browse, and buy with Amazon.com," said Sam Hall, director of Amazon Mobile. "We're also really excited about Amazon Remembers because it's a fun and useful way to use the iPhone camera to find and remember items while on-the-go. Customers can build visual lists of things they want to remember, buy, or even learn more about."

The Amazon app is available free from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

For more information please visit www.amazon.com/iphone_app.

iPhone sales exceed Windows Mobile sales for first time

From Engadget -

Per Gartner's latest global smartphone industry report, iPhone sales, has for the first time, exceeded sales of Windows Mobile devices worldwide and in North America. The entire sector also grew 11.5% in Q3 08, the smallest since tracking began. Nokia has a rare 3% year-on-year decline but managed to maintain its leading 42.4% share. while RIM's Blackberry phone sales jumped 81.7% in the same period

Apple to sell a $99 4GB iPhone at Walmart?

According to The Boy Genius Report, they got a tip that in addition to the iPhone 3G actually making its way to Walmart, there will reportedly be a 4GB model priced at $99 with a 2-year agreement.

Apple has previously dropped the 4GB iPhone from its initial line-up, but that was at a $399 price-point.

SMS Touch

"SMS Touch lets you send text messages on your iPhone using Apple's larger landscape keyboard. SMS messages sent through SMS Touch are dispatched using Apple's mobile mail program and the iPhone user pays no SMS fees. Free SMS Messages on your iPhone"

Night Camera App Eliminates Shaky Hands

From Gizmodo -

Night Camera uses the iPhone's accelerometer to detect motion and pulls the trigger when your hands are at their steadiest. When you press the shutter button, it starts taking accelerometer readings for three seconds; when the sensor determines that you're holding the camera steadily, the app triggers the shutter at that exact moment. Accelerometer sensitivity and sensor reading time are all configurable.

Night Camera is selling for $1, but for a "limited time only."

iPhone Case for the Visually Impaired

From Yanko Design -

The Silicon Touch case works in tandem with an app to enable visually challenged users to use the iPhone via special functions such as text to speech and moon type tactile feedback. It is engraved with bas-relief buttons each corresponding to a modified home screen on the phone. Other functions are not compromised with both multi-touch and finger flick scrolling still usable.