Angry Birds Update Coming March 17th
Speaking at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Rovio Mobile’s Peter Vesterbacka has confirmed when we’ll be seeing the next update to Angry Birds Seasons and what the theme will be.
It’s set for release on the 17th March and will be St. Patrick’s Day themed. It will replace the current Valentine’s Day theme, which in turn took over from Christmas and Halloween. Once more we imagine the update will be free for those who already own Seasons, but will require purchasing for first-timers.
The only hint as to what we can expect from the next version of Seasons was for Mr. Vesterbacka to hold up a plush green pig and exclaim ‘more of these!’ when asked about the content!
A St. Patrick’s Day theme has come as a bit of a surprise, as I was expecting an Easter-themed update, especially given the handily appropriate eggs already in the game! Still, Easter is late this year, so perhaps Rovio will spoil us with two updates in as many months.
SOURCE: iPhoneFreaks
iPhone mini looking more likely by the minute
A mini iPhone is looking more and more likely, as a report has just been posted by the WSJ suggesting that a less-expensive iPhone will launch in an attempt to increase sales of smartphones, due to growing competition.
According to “people familiar with the matter”, the new mini iPhone will apparently be around half the size of the current iPhone 4, and would allow carriers to subsidize a good portion of the retail price, thus allowing for a much more competitively priced phone.
Along with the new device there is also talk of Apple updating its MobileMe online storage service. This revamp may involve making the service free, which currently costs $99 to use. Although the storing of personal data would mean an initial loss for Apple in the short term, the closed nature of the service could mean that Apple benefits in the long term – as the data will be stored in the cloud, freeing up memory on the new mini Apple device.
Social networking and music should also be key features incorporated in the new service.
This news also suggests that Apple is taking no chances with its smartphone future, and maybe it’s taking the news of the Nokia and Microsoft teamup a little more seriously than previously expected.
The new mini iPhone and updated MobileMe service should be launched sometime in the summer.
Via: http://www.pocket-lint.com
Read more: iPhone mini looking more likely by the minute – Pocket-lint http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/38560/iphone-mini-more-likely-minute#ixzz1E1cLl2JW
iPhone Nano ‘due out this summer’
WSJ corroborates the mini-iPhone, says Apple may make MobileMe free (update: ‘edge-to-edge’ screen)
By Sean Hollister 
posted Feb 13th 2011 at 6:40PM
The Wall Street Journal has weighed in on rumors of Apple’s smaller iPhone, and citing “people familiar with the matter” the publication says that the rumors are likely true. One such familiar person reportedly saw a device half the size of the iPhone 4, bearing the codename “N97,” and said that the handset will be only about half the size of the original, and at only around half the price too. Amazingly, those anonymous sources continued to divulge information, expressing the idea that Apple could finally make its MobileMe cloud service suite free, and that it just might be the platform from which Apple could finally launch a streaming music platform and lessen the need for all those gigabytes of flash storage in your pocket. We’ll let you know if or when any of that happens, okay?Update: The WSJ‘s source proved even more talkative after getting an eyeful of the Samsung and Sonyannouncements this morn; the publication’s article has been updated to read that the device is “signifcantly lighter” than the iPhone 4, has an “edge-to-edge” touchscreen, and “voice-based navigation” of some sort.
Apple to Launch Low-Cost iPhone
By Carrie-Ann Skinner, PC-Advisor-(UK) Feb 11, 2011 10:31 pm
Apple is thought to be preparing to launch a low-cost version of theiPhone.
According to Bloomberg, which cites a source that claims to have seen the device, the iPhone Mini will be around a two thirds of the size of the existing iPhone and does not feature a ‘home’ key. It is likely to cost around $200 in the US, although no speculation was made on UK pricing.
It is thought the smaller handset will be available with a “universal” SIM that allows users to switch between networks without having to remove on SIM and insert another. Furthermore, it is likely to be made available on a Pay As You Go (PAYG) basis rather than 18-month or two-year contracts.
Apple hopes the low-cost device would help rival the success of Google Android, which as well as targeting the high-end smartphone market, has become popular with low-cost devices that offer many of the same functions as smartphones.
“Instead of targeting 25 percent of the global mobile-phone market, Apple would be going after 100 percent,” Charlie Wolf, an analyst at Needham & Co, told Bloomberg.
The source also revealed that Apple initially aimed to unveil the device mid-way through 2011 and very few Apple employees know the ‘iPhone mini’ exists.
By Carrie-Ann Skinner, PC-Advisor-(UK) Feb 11, 2011 10:31 pm
Apple is thought to be preparing to launch a low-cost version of theiPhone.
According to Bloomberg, which cites a source that claims to have seen the device, the iPhone Mini will be around a two thirds of the size of the existing iPhone and does not feature a ‘home’ key. It is likely to cost around $200 in the US, although no speculation was made on UK pricing.
It is thought the smaller handset will be available with a “universal” SIM that allows users to switch between networks without having to remove on SIM and insert another. Furthermore, it is likely to be made available on a Pay As You Go (PAYG) basis rather than 18-month or two-year contracts.
Apple hopes the low-cost device would help rival the success of Google Android, which as well as targeting the high-end smartphone market, has become popular with low-cost devices that offer many of the same functions as smartphones.
“Instead of targeting 25 percent of the global mobile-phone market, Apple would be going after 100 percent,” Charlie Wolf, an analyst at Needham & Co, told Bloomberg.
The source also revealed that Apple initially aimed to unveil the device mid-way through 2011 and very few Apple employees know the ‘iPhone mini’ exists.
Transfer iPhone contacts with Swip Swap Contacts 3.0
Anybody remember the iPhone 2G on the first day it was launched? Yes that’s right either you don’t remember a thing, or you remember just how simple the iPhone was. There was no app store and a VERY basic OS. One of the major niggles on my first day as an iPhone user was the fact that I could not move my contacts from my SIM card to my phone! A while later when everybody else had got an iPhone and I realised we couldn’t move contacts from iPhone to iPhone!
Ah the good old days! However as time has progressed so has the iPhone, with many applications now available to sync contacts with other users. Now we have a new one.
iGangster!
There is not a soul in the gaming world that hasn’t heard of Rockstar Games. The people, who gave us the absolutely massive Grand Theft Auto series, have now turned mobile! The game is called Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Not only does Apple’s little device support a plethora of applications: Satellite Navigation, Fitness and Office Tools to name a few. For £5.99 you can now play Grand Theft Auto on it! All from the comfort of your phone. No court cases and an unlimited set of lives, so what are you waiting for? Get the guns out and have some fun.
5 Novel uses for your iPhone
On top of the iPhone’s voice, text, and internet functions, the versatility of the hardware, and the plethora of apps available from the iTunes store make the iPhone a very flexible device.
Here’s our pick of 5 unique uses for your iPhone, in no particular order:
Use your phone as a security camera
It’s actually possible to set your phone up as a CCTV camera, protecting your room/car/office while you are away. If you always wondered who was stealing your M&Ms, now you can find out!
Control iTunes over your WiFi
Save money on fancy HiFi remotes, and simply play your favorite tracks on your computer, and control it with your iPhone! You’ll need a home WiFi network (who doesn’t these days?) and it’s a simple case of pairing your phone with iTunes. Now there’s no need to get out of your comfy seat to change up the music. Continue reading
New Facebook iPhone App Now Supports The Vision-Impaired
The new 3.0 version of the Facebook iPhone App, which did not have VoiceOver (VO) support earlier, now does, and therefore, is capable of being used by the visually impaired.
