The iPhone Virgin Blog

For those who can’t live without Facebook everyday, good news!  The new Facebook iPhone App version is almost completed according to this article on Techcrunch.

As one of the most popular applications on Apple’s popular iPhone platform, a lot of users are eagerly awaiting the next version of the app. And that wait is almost over.

“The app is pretty much done – we’re just working on translating it into a bunch of languages,” Facebook developer Joe Hewitt wrote tonight on Twitter.

That means that shortly, we’ll have access to the much-improved app which is scheduled to have features such as a News Feed that is more like the one on Facebook’s site, the ability to “like” items and a new customizable home screen. More importantly, it will also have video support for the iPhone 3GS, something which Hewitt threw-in at the last second, unexpectedly. And perhaps best of all, the app will have the ability to manage events, finally.

But don’t get too worked up just yet. We asked Hewitt if “pretty much done” meant next week perhaps. His response: “Can’t be sure – translating could take a while. I’ve been avoiding predicting an actual release date“. And of course even when the app is done, Facebook still has to submit it for approval in the App Store, and as we all know, that can be a crapshoot. We could see it next week, we could see it 6 months from now. Though, Apple does seem to do a pretty good job pushing important apps like this one through quickly. Funny how that works, isn’t it?

I am not an avid Facebook user, but for those who are, this should be something exciting huh?

Source:  http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/08/07/new-facebook-iphone-app-pretty-much-done/

Hey guys, time to take good care of your iPhone if you are just throwing it around.  Some TLC won’t hurt ya?  Unless, if you can afford another new one. 

Apple has investigated a system where portable devices like iPods and iPhones would detect and store into memory “consumer abuse events” such as exposure to extreme cold, heat or moisture in void of warranty, a new patent application reveals.

The invention, entitled “Consumer Abuse Detection System and Method,” was discovered by AppleInsider in a new patent application disclosure this week. Apple originally filed for the patent on Feb. 1, 2008. The concept aims to detect issues, like a dropped iPhone, that might void the warranty on the device.

Apple already includes liquid submersion indicators in its MacBook Pros, iPhones and iPods. They irreversibly change color once they come in contact with a liquid, thereby offering the company’s retail store staff and authorized repair specialists an easy way to determine if a customer caused damage to their product with liquids — incidents that aren’t covered under Apple’s standard warranties. Rather than the physical indicator, the new system would save information of damage digitally into memory.

“The system may include an interface by which a diagnostic device may access the memory to analyze the records and determine whether a consumer abuse event occurred, when the event occurred, and, in some embodiments, what type of abuse event occurred,” the patent reads. “By providing the capability to quickly and easily detect whether consumer abuse occurred in an electronic device, a vendor or manufacturer diagnosing a returned product may be able to better determine whether or not to initiate a product return under a warranty policy.”

In addition to warranty protection, the abuse detection circuitry could be used to disable the electronic device if an issue is detected, potentially reducing the risk of damage to the device. The system would aim protect a myriad of parts on devices, including the screen, processor, memory, and potentially inserted devices like SD or CompactFlash cards.

The system would recognize a number of incident types, with liquid and thermal sensors detecting the elements, a shock sensor for drops, and a continuity sensor to detect tampering with the device. Apple suggests that such a system could save money for product vendors and manufacturers who receive warranty returns on products that have been abused.

“A problem arises when a device has failed due to consumer abuse which may not be readily apparent upon a cursory inspection, but a consumer attempts to return the device for repair or replacement under the warranty,” the patent reads. “Often, particularly at a point of sale, personnel receiving the returned device may be unqualified or untrained to determine whether or not a device has failed due to manufacturing defects or due to consumer abuse.”

It continues: “Thus, personnel at the point of sale may often times exchange the returned product with a working replacement product regardless of the cause of failure in order to avoid potential conflicts with the customer. As a result, it is not uncommon for consumers to receive replacement products or repair services on abused products not covered under the terms of a warranty. Such erroneous replacements or repairs may be costly to the vendor and/or manufacturer of the product.”

Source:  http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/08/06/apple_working_on_device_abuse_detection_technology.html

Just when you thought the iPhone App Store approval process couldn’t possibly become more of a debacle, it did.

John Gruber of Daring Fireball details the story of Ninjawords, an iPhone dictionary that Apple censored.

You read that right: Apple refused to sell Ninjawords unless the developer removed certain words from the dictionary.

John Gruber describes Ninjawords as “a terrific app — pretty much exactly what I’ve always wanted in an iPhone dictionary,” but that, “Ninjawords for iPhone suffers one humiliating flaw: it omits all the words deemed “objectionable” by Apple’s App Store reviewers, despite the fact that Ninjawords carries a 17+ rating.”

Apple’s role as gatekeeper should be to keep apps that could keep malicious or illegal software off the app store. Apple’s role should not be deciding what’s offensive. Leave that up to iPhone owners and parents.

What are your thoughts about this?

Source:  Extracts from  http://www.pcworld.com/article/169667/apple_screws_up_again_censors_iphone_dictionary_app.html

Did you experience this fatal error when you tried to upgrade to Wordpress 2.8.2 or 2.8.3?

Well, I did and I finally got rid of the problem by disabling one of my plugins, NextGen Gallery before I tried to upgrade.

If you do not have this plugin, it could be another plugin causing the memory error, so try to disable your plugins first, upgrade to the latest WP version, then enable them back again.

Arghh!  I am really sick of upgrading Wordpress versions.  I love the blogging platform, but it can get so irritating having to upgrade so often.  Thankfully, there is automatic upgrade available now, otherwise I will go crazy overwriting my files again and again manually every other week or so.  So much for my rant now.  LOL.

Apple has released a software patch to address a recently described security flaw in the iPhone.

Experts revealed on Thursday that modified SMS messages could result in iPhones being disconnected from the network or hijacked altogether.

Apple said phones incorporating other mobile operating systems, such as Windows Mobile and Google Android, were also potentially vulnerable.

It added that no-one had actually used the flaw to gain access to an iPhone.

A spokesperson for O2, the iPhone’s service provider in the UK, said: “We will be communicating to customers both through the website and proactively. We always recommend our customers update their iPhone with the latest software and this is no different.”

Access all areas

Charlie Miller and Collin Mulliner told the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas that the hack works by slightly modifying the data – sent by the network and which the user does not see – that arrives as part of a text message.

The system that processes such messages is similar across different operating systems and can, once compromised, gain access across a range of applications including a phone’s address book or camera.

The team say that hackers could develop programs to exploit the weakness in as little as two weeks, but told the conference that publicising the means of attack was necessary to ensure the problem was addressed.

“If we don’t talk about it, somebody is going to do it silently. The bad guys are going to do it no matter what,” Mr Mulliner, an independent security expert, said.

The team wrote software to exploit the weakness, targeting iPhones on four networks in Germany as well as AT&T in the US. However, they believe it would work equally well in any country.

The approach is particularly dangerous because messages are delivered automatically, and users cannot tell that they have received the malicious code.

The problem could be fixed by directly patching the vulnerability in smartphones’ operating systems, or the network providers could scan for messages that look to be trying to gain access to phones via the malicious code.

The researchers said they had informed Google of the hack and that the company had already taken steps to address the problem.

The Black Hat gathering, part of a leading series of conferences for information and computer security experts, took place from 25 to 30 July.

Apple were not available to comment on the flaw.

Source:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8177755.stm

How I wish I was a student once again!!

Maybe I can ask my very young cousins to do me this favour.  Haha.

Well, this promotion is not to be missed if you are thinking of getting a Mac & an iPod Touch together.

If you’re a student, faculty, or staff member and you buy a new Mac and iPod Touch until September 8th, you can get up to S$365 back via mail in rebate (terms apply)

Get them here via the Apple SG Store soon if you are really keen as this promotion only last till September 8, 2009!

If you are a poly student, there is another separate promotion for you!

You are eligible to save up to $340 on a new Mac.  More details can be found here.

Now, my fingers are really itching for a new laptop.

After fond experiences using the iPod Nano & iPhone, I think I am going the Apple pilgrimage route soon.  Eyeing on the beautiful Macbook Air right now.  Hohoho…

Haha.  Yeah.  I just made my iPhone my official phone.  Although my Motorola has not reached it’s “end” yet, but due to a change in my Broadband on Mobile (BBOM) plan, I had to “retire” it earlier than what I thought.

As I mentioned before in my earlier post, I was using my iPhone only as an on-the-go web browser due to my initial BBOM plan.  I had a one year BBOM contract with Singtel starting last June, but this plan comes with a data sim card which cannot be used for the iPhone.  The data sim card only allows me to surf on my laptop or iPhone, but it cannot be tied to my phone sim card.

Apparently, I need to sign up another BBOM plan and get a voice & data sim card in order for me to surf and make calls at the same time.  It just didn’t make sense for me to have two simultaneous BBOM contracts and paying double, so I decided to wait it out till my first BBOM contract expires!

Well, just last week, my contract was up, so I took up a new BBOM plan which can allow me to use the same sim card to make calls and surf the internet.   It didn’t cost much different from what I was paying earlier, but I also subscribed to a second sim card for another S$5 a month for my laptop surfing.

So just two days ago, I finally got my iPhone to ring for the first time!  A bit slow huh, but better late than never lah…LOL…

Tip:  For those with two BBOM sim cards, you can only make one your primary card where it can receive incoming and outgoing calls.  The other will just be able to make outgoing calls.  The code to activate your primary card is to send a dial *431# from your phone, if I didn’t remember wrongly.  Hehe.

Sounds absurd right?  Hahaha.  Yes, I bet you think that’s strange.  Or funny.  But I have never, ever made any calls from my iPhone so far, nor used the sms feature before yet.

Perhaps it’s like telling the fishball noodle seller “Uncle, fishball noodle dry, but don’t want fishball” or the laksa seller “Auntie, laksa take-away, don’t want chilli”.  LOL.

You must be wondering, what am I doing with the iPhone then since I am not using it as a phone??

Well, it’s a long story and it’s all because of my BBOM (broadband on mobile) plan, but to cut it short, I am using it mainly as my portable web browser now.  I still make calls and sms on my cheap Motorola phone instead.   Haha.

Then why didn’t I get the iTouch instead of the iPhone?  The iTouch is actually almost the same, but iPhone has 3G enabled, which means I can surf anywhere I go with my data sim card.  I do not need to depend on free Wireless SG connections at cafes or shopping malls.  With 3G, I can surf while I am sitting in the car when Hubby is driving, and use Google Maps (by the way, this app is awesome) for directions on the roads.

With 3G, I can also access the internet when I am travelling on the bus or sipping teh-ci at a coffee shop.  Except for the time I went to a chalet at Changi where the connection was not so stable, and on certain” ulu” expressways, the access has been quite smooth so far.  I have not tried places like Lim Chu Kang though, will share my experience after my next visit to the farms there.

I will eventually use my iPhone as a phone if my Motorola becomes cranky due to old age.  But I hope it will still last as long as it can go as this arrangement, although somewhat weird to you, is saving me some money every month.  I will share a bit more on why I did not go the traditional route of signing up the bundled phone plans in the next post.  It’s another grandmother story of it’s own.  Haha.

If you are keen to know, do check back often or subscribe to my feeds.  See ya!

Hey, it has been a long time since I last updated.  Anyway, I guess you should have heard of this by now.

“WANT a new toy? Singaporeans will be the first in Asia to get their hands on the new Google-based smartphone, available at SingTel’s retail stores from Saturday..

Dubbed the “Dream”, the phone — made by Taiwan’s HTC — is seen as a worthy challenger to Apple’s iPhone and integrates well with Google’s online search,email and mapping services.

“We think this phone appeals to a different segment, primarily at a lot of Google users — those who use Google Search, mail, maps and all its other applications,” said Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, chief of SingTel’s consumer division.

The HTC Dream is a touchscreen smartphone that sports a 3.2-inch screen, a 3.2-megapixel camera and a slide-out Qwerty-based keyboard. Software-wise, it tops the iPhone with its ability to forward text messages and copy-and-paste text. It also has a digital compass and a removable battery.

Having chosen to partner SingTel to launch the Dream here, Google and mobile phone maker HTC did not reveal when the phone would be available from MobileOne or StarHub. SingTel also carries Apple’s iPhone.

The HTC Dream comes with access to a mobile application store called Android Market, which will also feature free locally-developed mobile applications. This includes iToday, which will allow users to read Today’s news articles on the go — both online and offline.

The HTC Dream, which must be bought with a two-year contractfrom SingTel, costs between$238 and $438, depending on the subscription plan.”

(Article from TodayOnline: http://www.todayonline.com/articles/303413.asp)

Well, if you ask me if I regret buying my iPhone, I guess I will still say no!

I don’t hanker over the 3.2-megapixel camera as I only take casual pictures with my iPhone.

I don’t need the slide-out keyboard as I enjoy tapping on the iPhone to type.  Once you get used to it, it’s a breeze!

I think the iPhone looks better in aesthetics.  It’s a beauty to look at.  LOL.

I like the idea of HTC’s removable battery though.  At least I can keep a spare one with me if I travel.

And regarding the feature of forwarding messages, I thought there are third-party iPhone applications that can resolve the issue?

So, iPhone win hands down for me as for now.  Haha.  How about you?

Yesterday, when I plugged in my iPhone to give it a quick charge, I got a message of another software upgrade to Version 2.2.1.  This is the second upgrade I am doing for the iPhone since I got it last month.

Upgrading the software version is actually really simple.  I just follow the instructions prompted by iTunes, but in case you are not sure what to do, these are the steps that are usually required.

Step 1: Plug in your iPhone 3G.  iTunes should detect the new upgrade and this message will pop up.

I usually choose “Download and Install”.

Step 2: To see the progress of your upgrade, just go to the side panel and click the name of your device.  Mine is “Hewlett Packard” as you can see (because of my laptop, LOL) as I did not bother to change the name I was assigned to when I first downloaded iTunes.

Step 3: After the download is completed, a message that says “Updating iPhone Software” pops up.  This should mean it is at the installation phase.

Step 4: When the upgrade is completed, the summary page will appear.  If it is successful, the software version should show Version 2.2.1.

The whole download and installation of 246.4 MB took about 20 minutes for me.  Looks really easy, isn’t it?