iAPPS.sg

Gosh, what’s happening to the iPhone’s App Store? I kept getting a blank screen when I tap on the Categories. Restoring the phone does no help. It all happens yesterday afternoon when I shopped for applications on my iPhone. The Categories page is mysteriously empty! Is Apple secretly working on some features?

Let’s wait for Apple to rectify this problem, if it is really a problem.

[UPDATE: The App Store(Categories) is up, but there are no new features]

BeeJive is finally “Push-ready”.

Following the announcement of the iPhone 3.0 firmware, millions of users worldwide have been looking forward to Instant Messaging (IM) clients such as BeejiveIM and IM+ to make their applications Push-ready. According to the developers, the push-enabled version of their applications have already been submitted for Apple’s approval weeks before the release of the 3.0 firmware update. Users of IM applications can now be relieved as Apple has finally approved and make the applications available on the App Store.

With Push Notification, you no longer have to rely on Push email to keep you inform of incoming messages when you pick up a call or reply to an SMS. Instant Messages are delivered to you just the way it works on your desktop – through badges, alerts and/or sounds.

It has been a week or so since Apple unveiled iPhone 3GS in WWDC 2009. Since then, we have been waiting eagerly for SingTel to announce mobile plans for the new iPhone. Finally, SingTel’s website is updated to invite public to register their interest for the new phone.

For those who have watched the WWDC 2009 presentation, Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing, has mentioned a little on the release date for iPhone 3GS. If everything goes as planned, the iPhone 3GS should be released in Singapore on July 9th.

Apparently, SingTel has once again acquired exclusive rights to offer Apple iPhone to its customers. Though no official announcement has been made on the subscription plans and the cost of the phone, we all know it is about time.

If you are interested to grab Apple’s latest iPhone, register your interest now.

Apple has introduced a simple way to create and sync your custom ringtones to the iPhone via GarageBand, an application that comes pre-installed with Mac OS X Leopard. If you have a Mac and you want to create a custom Ringtone from your iTunes library then step in and follow me.

1. Startup GarageBand

2. Enter a name for the New Project, select a location and leave the rest untouch.

3. From the iTunes, drag the song you want to create as a ringtone to the GarageBand.

4. Turn on Cycle Region (it will turn blue after clicking)

5. Increase the Cycle Region (the yellow bar) from the default 5 to 20 (equivalent to 40 seconds).

6. Drag the Cycle Region to where you want to begin your ringtone.

7. Finally, send the newly created Ringtone to iTunes.

Congratulation Apple !!! The App Store launched nine months ago has just delivered its 1 billionth application download. Featuring more than 35,000 paid and unpaid iPhone/iPod Touch applications, built by thousands of developers, the App Store is currently available to 77 countries.

A 13-year-old downloaded the billionth application from the Apple App Store and stood out as the grand-prize winner in the countdown contest.

Apple has just launched the 1 Billion App Countdown promotion. Simply download an app and you will stand a chance to win a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card, an iPod touch, a Time Capsule, and a MacBook Pro.

Apple has just unveiled the iPhone 3.0 blueprint in Cupertino. Scheduled to arrive this summer, the iPhone 3.0 firmware will introduce over 100 new features to the hands of the iPhone/iPod Touch owners. Here is a list of the top 5 prominent features that are most talked about:

1. Tethering

Included in the iPhone 3.0 firmware is the tethering capability. Instead of signing up a separate mobile broadband for internet on the go, wouldn’t it be great if one can ride on the iPhone 3G connection for internet access on the laptop? This would be a whole lot of saving if SingTel allows this.

2. Copy-and-paste

Since the debut of the first generation iPhone in 2007, the iPhone has been criticized for the lack of such basic functionality. Though Apple has tried to predict where people would want to use copy-and-paste and provide suitable workarounds, anyone who’s ever had to transfer a scrap of arbitrary text between applications will eventually jot a note down on a piece of paper and then laboriously typing it back in. It seems that Apple is well aware of this and finally make “copy and paste” possible.

3. Spotlight

Just like Mac OS X, with the Spotlight phone-wide search feature, just key in a name and it will list down all the emails, calendars and contact of the person. So long as the 3rd party applications are written to support this feature, its data will also be available in the search.

4. MMS

This is a basic capability found in any other handsets except the iPhone. Yes, I know that I can send an email to someone with a photo attached, but what if the recipient does not have an internet-capable phone? With the new MMS capability, it allows you send messages that include everything from images to sound to vcards.

5. Push-notification

At the Worldwide Developer Conference 2008, Apple touted a push notification system that would allow 3rd party applications to alert users upon new information. However, after several firmware updates, the feature is still yet to be seen. So now, it is apparent that Apple has not dropped Push-notification, it has been doing complete re-architechture of the Push Notification server infra-structure to ensure stability upon rolling out. Well, it better be a rock-solid implementation than anything approaching the MobileMe’s disastrous launch.

The iPhone OS 3.0 will be a free upgrade to all iPhone users, and for iPod touch users, it will be available for $US9.95.

If you dare, you can sign up for the beta here.

After a couple of email teasers, SingTel has finally announced the official release of the much-anticipated iPhone 3G. The launch will take place at SingTel Comcentre on August 22nd, 12:01am – that is 42 days after Apple and AT&T launched the phone in US.

Tens of thousands of iPhone fans who have made online reservations at the SingTel’s website will get their first dibs on the phone. In preparation for the launch, official will setup barricades to control the queues and Comcentre will extend its usual opening hours on Thursday for the midnight launch. The iPhone 3G will be sold at various hello! stores islandwide starting next Monday.

Available in 2 capacity – 8GB (black) and 16GB (black/white), the iPhone 3G can be yours for as low as $0 with a new 2-year contract or existing plans. The subscription plans will be shown on SingTel website starting tomorrow.

Minutes before the unveiling:

Yes, the long wait is over! Continuing the success of the first generation iPhone, Apple has just unveiled the next generation iPhone to its product line – iPhone 3G.

In term of physical appearance, the iPhone 3G features the same gorgeous wide screen display, tappered edges and glossy black/white plastic backcase. Unlike the 1st generation iPhone which sports a matte finished plastic and metal backcase, the new iPhone will attract more fingerprints and smudges, thanks to its glossy backcase. After all those complaints about the incompatible headphone jack, Apple does listen and put in a flush headphone jack for the new iPhone.

There is no upgrade to the stingy 2.0 Mega pixels camera and the iPhone still does not support video recording. Apple has incorporated a 3G chipset and Assisted-GPS to the hardware, taking a step further to speed up internet connection and improving location-tracking. Despite the higher drain of 3G data, the battery life remains solid up to 5 hours of 3G talk time and 300 hours standby.

What makes iPhone 3G truly powerful is the 2.0 firmware that comes with the highly anticipated App Store. The App Store is Apple-sanctioned, jailbreak-less source of third-party applications that offer all the functionality to the device that isn’t already built-in. While not all apps will be free, not all will be pay-for, either.

The iPhone 3G will be available in 70 countries which includes Singapore by the end of the year.

Singapore among all: