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Apple Market Data: Mac and iPod On the Rise, iPhone Sales Slow

Reports regarding Apple’s overall sales have been making the rounds today. Morgan Stanley is issuing reports that iPhone sales have dropped significantly in the 4th quarter, while Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster reports healthy rises in nearly everything but the iPhone.
According to a new survey published by Morgan Stanley, Apple sold 1.75 million iPhone in [...]

AT&T Playing Around With iPhone MMS Possibility, Wireless Network “Caching”

AT&T is playing around with some “wireless network caching” methods that may trickle down into how iPhone users experience sending multimedia messages. The surprising thing, it’s not new technology.
We first started hearing about something similar about a week ago, however remained hesitant to report it until we learned anything substantial. After a few emails back [...]

Functional iControlPad Gaming Prototype In Action (Video)

The first prototype of the iControlPad gaming pad definitely looked promising. Bringing extrenal input buttons and a directional pad to Apple’s purely touch interface handhelds is seen by many people as a must. For gaming, we definitely agree.
A developer that goes by ZodTTD has posted the above video of him using the iControlPad to play [...]

Apple’s App Store Hits Half a Billion Downloaded Apps

Apple today has changed the homepage of their website (apple.com) to reveal that users have downloaded nearly half a billion apps. This shows a semi-strong acceleration in the app store’s download rate since previous numbers were reported.

Back in December, Apple reported that they had passed the 10,000 application mark, and 300 million downloads. As you [...]

Apple Loosens Up 3rd Party Web Browser Restrictions in App Store [U]

MacRumors has noticed that over the past 24 hours Apple has allegedly begun loosening up its restrictions that prevent third party web browsers from residing in the App Store.
Apple has already made it publicly known that applications duplicating original iPhone functionality will most likely not make it through the iPhone App Store approval process. Third [...]

Apple Patent Aims to Integrate Calendar App and iPhone Mapping [U]

A recent Apple patent details a tight integration between navigation and the Calendar and Address Book applications. Unwired View reports that the Apple dubbed “Integrated calendar and map applications in a mobile device,” may be tied into future iPhone firmware updates.
The workflow of the purposed integration seems rather straightforward. A user enters in their [...]

App Store Wars: Developers, Spamming, Lying and Bogus Reviews

Apple’s App Store has become quite a source for commotion since being unveiled. The latest dilemma comes not from a situation between developers and Apple, but from two competing developers whose applications serve the same purpose.
NJection Mobile (iTunes link) is a speedtrap locating application selling for $0.99, just like Trapster (iTunes link) which is [...]

iPhone Tethering: AT&T May Shock Us All and Charge $10

AT&T may shock and surprise most of us as well as their competitors and charge much less than initially expected for an iPhone tethering plan. Additionally, sources report that there is much buzz surrounding iPhone tethering internally at AT&T.
An iPhone tethering plan has been in the works for some time now. We know for a [...]

iPhone Firmware 3.0 and Future Multi-Core iPhones

ZDnet brings word of a possible four-core iPhone being developed by Apple. The information explains that while Apple’s current iPhone does well with gaming, a move into multi-core processing coupled with iPhone firmware 3.0 could bring dramatically increased power.
As MacRumors points out, Imagination Technologies is announcing a new version of its its graphics chip IP. [...]

iPhone Bluetooth Keyboard Hack Looks Very Promising

Ars Technica has posted what looks like an incredibly promising bit of bluetooth iPhone hackery, courtesy of iPhone expert Ralf Ackerman.
What separates this hack from a few keyboard hacks in the past, is that this is a completely internal solution. It shows promising support for what may be a convergence of technologies used for general [...]

Case Company “Vaja” Lists iPhone nano Section in Website

Yet another company has snuck an iPhone nano section into their website. No legit images or renders are offered, and the “iPhone nano” link simply directs you to a strange signup page.
This company goes by the name of “Vaja” and as MacRumors intelligently points out, the iPhone nano link deceptively redirects you to a sing [...]

Contract Free iPhones Sell for up to $1,263 in France

French retailer FNAC has begun offering contract free iPhones with an extremely hefty price-tag.
As Macnn explains, 8GB contract free iPhones will be selling for €799 ($1,123), and 16GB models will be priced at €899 ($1,263). Our iPhone carrier worldmap has details about nearly every iPhone carrier and their rates around the world.
Apple was just recently [...]

The Next iPhone: 60GB, Physical Keyboard and a D-Pad (Concept)

There is a large amount of speculation and heated debate over what Apple will do with diversifying its iPhone family. While we know new models are needed, this sector of Apple’s business is arguably the most important, thus making every decision incredibly crucial.
Gizmodo has put together some concept art for a product they call the [...]

7 Reasons Why the iPhone nano Is a Bad Idea

Apple rumors commonly take on a life of their own. The iPhone was this way, the multi-touch Mac is this way, and now the iPhone nano. However, unlike the original iPhone, and the excitement of a multi-touch Mac, an iPhone nano would overall just be a misplaced product.
Prior to Macworld 2007, where Apple CEO Steve [...]

AT&T Dumping 8GB Refurb iPhones for $99, Making Way for 32GB Model?

AT&T has decided to start offering 8GB refurbished iPhones for $99. The rather unexpected move raises notions that a 32GB iPhone may be offered at the upcoming Macworld Expo.
MacBlogz has previously received an unconfirmed tip pointing to the release of a 32GB iPhone at the upcoming Macworld conference in January. “That rumored red iPhone… [...]

Walmart Confirms Selling the iPhone for $197, Sales Begin Dec.28th

Walmart has publicly confirmed that they will begin selling the iPhone on Sunday, December 28th. While the timing may be a little awkward (right after the holidays), the addition of Walmart’s enormous distribution chain is sure to add value to Apple’s iPhone sales.

There were many rumors floating around about the iPhone being sold at Walmart. [...]

New Patent Outlines Swipe Gestures for Touch Screen Keyboard

MacRumors points us to a new patent application titled Swipe Gestures for Touch Screen Keyboards that was unveiled by the United States Patent Office today.
The patent application gives credit to Wanye Westerman, who along with his partner John Elias were brought onto Apple’s touch technology team after founding Fingerworks. While it may not be [...]

Holiday Frames, An iPhone App Comes Just In Time For the Holidays

iPhone developers Big Canvas have officially released “Holiday Frames,” an iPhone application that allows users to place festive holiday style frames around their photos before sharing them with their friends and family.
Holiday Frames (iTunes link) allows users to import photos directly into the application, and then style them with fun, holiday themed frames. Once you’ve [...]

iPhone Market Share on the Rise While PC Share Slips

A recent survey shows that Apple’s iPhone now holds a steady 23 percent of the smartphone market, narrowing the gap between rival handset maker RIM and is retaining consumer interest five months after the release of the 3G. Spirits seem high in the smartphone department but the same cannot be said for the PC [...]

iPhone nano Evidence Builds Up, XSKN Posts Entire Case Listings

MacRumors points out that third party case manufacturer XSKN has posted a complete listing of cases they are selling pointing to the release of an iPhone nano.

This of course comes as mounting evidence that Apple may release an iPhone nano very soon. This correlates with some leaked case renderings, as well as some findings in [...]