iPhone OS 4.0 Coming this Summer

The iPhone OS 4.0 will come out this Summer. Dev Testing is now available. It will be most useful to users with current gadgets, iPhone 3GS and 3rd Gen. iPod touch.

The iPhone 3G and second gen. iPod touch won't have certain features such as multitasking. I think its time to upgrade...



Unfortunately iPad users will have to wait til Fall for OS 4.0 to come to the iPad. Good thing I didn't get one yet...

New Cheaper, Faster, Bigger, Video Recording iPods

The new iPod Touch will run Open GL ES 2.0, the same as the iPhone 3GS. It'll be twice as fast, with a catch. The 8GB one that will now sell for $199 will be running the same old processor. The new 32 and 64 GB Touches will be running Open GL ES 2.0. So the 8 GB model stays the same with a price drop, other get an upgrade.

The iPod Classic will receive an upgrade. The $250 125 GB iPod Classic will now be upgraded to 160 GB for the same price.


The list of headphones available for the Shuffle will be updated to include Dr. Dre's Beats headphones (for anyone not broke after buying a new iPod, obviously).


The iPod Shuffle will come in some new colors and will receive a price drop, 2 GB for $59, 4 GB for $79. A special edition 4 GB model with polished steel will also be available for $99.

New iPod Nano will be priced at $149 for 8 GB and $179 for 16 GB. They'll have cameras for recording video. From what it looks like, it won't take pictures, which is weird. Here's details on the video recording:

• H.264 VGA video, 640 x 480 pixels, up to 30 frames per second with AAC audio
• 15 real-time special effects: Sepia, Black and White, X-Ray, Film Grain, Thermal, Security Cam, Cyborg, Bulge, Kaleido, Motion Blur, Mirror, Light Tunnel, Dent, Stretch, and Twirl

It'll also pack a built-in speaker for playback audio. Yep, that means you can record audio as well. The colors look even better as they are "polished anodized aluminum."


Two added features are the voice recorder and a pedometer with Nike + built in. The new iPod Nano's will be available today. It will also have genius mix enabled and FM radio. [Gizmodo]

iPhone Steering Wheel

If tilting a rectangular screen to drive is too hard for you, use this steering wheel designed for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Don't Call It A Comeback: Zune HD

Reports of the Zune's death have been greatly exaggerated.

Those slick-looking babies you see there above are a couple of versions of the soon-forthcoming Microsoft Zune HD. Yes, the new Zune received a glowing (albeit, partial) review from CNET, and I have to say, it does sound pretty impressive.

Among the highlights:

- The Zune HD supports 720p video content, which you'll be able to purchase directly though the Zune Marketplace software... The only hitch to this arrangement is that the Zune's screen doesn't natively support 720p playback, so content does get scaled down to 480x272. Videos still look outstanding, though, and if they told me it was native 720p I would have believed them. You can get 720p natively out of the Zune HD, but you'll need to dock it into the optional HDMI Zune dock and run it to your TV.

- The music playback screen has also been given a lot of work. Without the benefit of a navigation pad or playback buttons, users will need to tap the middle of the screen once to access a large four-direction onscreen cross for play, skip, reverse, volume. Controls for favorites, shuffle and repeat are found conveniently near the bottom of the screen, instead of buried in sub-menus.

- Speaking of Wi-Fi, the Zune's new Web browser smokes. Not since first using the iPhone have I been this impressed with a mobile web browser. There's no branding on the browser, but I was told it was cooked up by Microsoft's Internet Explorer team (makes sense). Page load was snappy, and pinching and reorienting pages work just like the iPhone and iPod Touch. You also get a fast on-screen keyboard with a nice little magnifier effect with each keystroke. The only bad news on the browser is that there's no support for Flash audio and video content. So Pandora and YouTube are out, but I was able to get onto Facebook and Twitter.

Don't worry AAshish, I'm not jumping off the Apple ship just yet (or ever). After all, the review was written by a self-described "pretty big fan" of the Zune, even from its crappy infant days. But if credit is due, then credit will be given. We'll see when the Zune HD is released this fall.

[CNET via Gizmodo]

Free App Alert

Often, iPhone apps go on sale. Sometimes, they are even up for free. Free App Alert lets you know when all your favorite apps are on sale for FREE in the iTunes App Store! You can subscribe to their RSS and stay up-to-date with the latest free apps. [Free App Alert] [image via Lifehacker]

New iPod Cases Show Next Gen iPods to Have Cameras

New iPod Nano and iPod Touch cases are popping up everywhere and they have holes on the back section for the reported camera that will be on the next-gen iPods. Check out Cult of Mac for a whole slew of case pictures.

iPod Nano 5th Generation?

This is a image of iLounge's artist rendition for the 5th generation iPod Nano. Rumor has it that the latest Nano will have the ability to take pictures. Also, the screen will be bigger and the clickwheel will get smaller. There is also a rumor that a new iPod Touch will hit the stores with photographic capabilities as well. Both iPod would be due for a upgrade come September. iLounge's previous iPod Nano artist rendition has been correct, so this stuff looks promising. [iLounge]

GV Mobile

GV Mobile is a app that brings Google Voice to your iPhone/iPod Touch. It allows you to make calls, send text messages, record calls and check visual voicemail from all your phone numbers in one central location. The app comes in two versions. The free version lets you make and receive calls, but not much else. The full version is for $2.99 and has all the features that make the app great. Still, for most people it would be a waste of $3 for an app that's cool but they wouldn't use much.

Google Voice Coming to iPhone Soon

It'll be available for the iPhone and iPod Touch soon.

iPod Touch Sets Kid's Pants on Fire, Mom Files Lawsuit

A Ohio kid put his iPod Touch in his pocket when it apparently blew up and set his pants (and underwear) on fire. The boy was treated for second-degree burns.

"He continues to suffer from both physical and mental conditions which will cause him to suffer pain, mental distress, emotional distress, and otherwise for the rest of his life."

In addition to suing Apple, the boy's mom is also suing 10 Apple Store employees for over $150,000 and lawyer fees. The lawsuit says that the iPod was turned off when it caught on fire, which doesn't sound correct. More to come I'm sure. [Engadget]