iPhone 2.2 Screen Shots

Screen shots of the new iPhone 2.2 features

Google Maps

Street View

Podcasts

Safari

iPhone 2.2 software is available for download

As many expected iPhone OS 2.2 is available for download on November 21st.
Well, actually it became available even on November 20th, Cupertino (Pacific) time.
Below are the screen shots, highlighting new features of the software.
- Google Street View
- Enhancements to mail
- Improved stability of Safari browser
- Ability to download podcasts in iTunes app over wi-fi and cellular
- Improved call quality
- Improved sound quality
- Home button enhancements
- Ability to turn on and off auto-correction
Download and enjoy this update!!!

Presidential Race Poll on iPhone - Barack Obama vs John McCain

With only a few weeks away from the 2008 November elections, you can review results of US Presidential race poll that was captured on VoteOnPhone.com web site.

As of October 11th, 1292 responses were collected. 805 people picked Barack Obama, 410 - John McCain, 32 - Other candidate, 45 - will not vote. This gives 62% of votes to Barack Obama and 32% of votes to John McCain.

This poll also collected state statistics to determine which states are likely to vote Republican vs. Democrat.

Below is a partial list of states, where the most votes were collected. It also shows a lead of Barack Obama over John McCain in many states.

This poll result can also reflect political opinions of more technology savvy people that used iPhones to submit their votes

State	John McCain	Barack Obama
California	39	125
New York	17	88
Florida	35	72
Texas	32	57
Illinois	9	30
Alabama	11	27
Wisconsin	55	25
Georgia	15	18
Virginia	14	12
New Jersey	11	21
Pennsylvania	11	24

BSOD on iPhone - how long to wait for iPhone application approval

"The Blue Screen of Death (also known as a stop error, BSoD, bluescreen, or Blue Screen of Doom) is an error screen displayed by some operating systems, most notably Microsoft Windows, after encountering a critical system error which can cause the system to shut down, to prevent damage." - Wikipedia

A joke application that simulates BSOD on iPhone was submitted to Apple for a review on September 22nd. Application does nothing, but display "Blue Screen of Death" on iPhone, so those, who used to see BSOD working with PC hardware can recall not so long ago memories of failing PC  hardware, and maybe make a joke to their friends.

Well... 17 days and counting, application is not yet approved. Will the BSOD on iPhone ever see the light of the day or stay in "In Review" status forever?

Rediscovering Handango

Apple's App Store is a big part of iPhone success for both iPhone users as well as a few individuals and companies that were able to develop popular products and sell them online. Let's not underestimate development of Microsoft technologies and availability of the software for the Windows Mobile powered devices. Quick look at the Handango web site shows almost 20,000 applications available for Windows Mobile and about 75,000 for all platforms. 

Handango site provides access not only to Windows Mobile applications but also Palm, BlackBerry, Symbian OS, PSP and Tablet PC. Site categorizes applications by their purpose: Games, Business Applications, Multimedia, Education and other. 

To make easier for a customer to make a selection, applications have screenshots, review rank, reviews as well as product recommendations. Customer can also select phone model to see applications that are supported on a specific device.

Despite all of this, one shocking fact is that most of the applications are priced way above of iPhone apps.  Prices between 19.99 and 39.99 are very common, however trial versions of applications are available for most of them.

Conclusion: If you are not an iPhone or G1 user and seeking to extend your phone abilities,  you may find Handango is worth to explore to find a new phone application.

Android is a better development platform for background apps?

One of the iPhone limitations is ability to run only one application at a time. This limits development of the phone applications only to those that can be run interactively. However, there is a plenty of opportunities for applications, that should run in a background. This can extend to instant messaging (IM) applications, scheduling applications, and other. Perfect example of applications that can be run on a background are favorite Pandora and FlyCast music streaming applications.

If the favorite tune is playing there is no possibility to swith to email application to check latest emails without stopping the music that is playing.

Android platform is open for development and this limitation does not exist on G1 phone. This can be seen as a big advantage of G1 over iPhone for future software development.

Ironicaly Apple own apps can run on a background, this applies to alarm clock, calendar, email, music player, and phone applications. Will this functionality be expanded by Apple over time to be competitive with Google?

Hidden cost of G1 phone - limited storage

One of the things that seems to be not widely discussed in comparison of iPhone and G1, is that G1 only comes with 1GB memory (according to T-Mobile site - "With the 1GB memory card, you'll never be without your favorite tunes"). This is not enough for the modern smart phones, which will handle larger than previously volumes of data.

Data storage will be needed for music, videos, photos, email and applications. On one side, having expandable storage is a good thing for the G1, since a large card can be installed easily, however to truly match to iPhone, storage capacity needs to be taken in consideration. With the lower-end iPhones having 8GB of storage, G1 users will need to get up-to-par with at least 8GB micro-SD card.

Well, so much for lower than expected cost of the G1 phone at $179.99, now it is time to be prepared to throw extra $20-$60 for extra memory at your favorite electronics or T-Mobile store.

Mobile Technologies in Real Estate

Internet has changed the way how real estate transactions are made. In a not so long ago days real estate listings were primarily obtained via a dedicated agent, who arranged selling/buying process. The agent was the key point of accessing the data from MLS systems and providing listings to a buyer. Real Estate listings were also accessible in the news papers and magazines.

Internet expanded marketing of the homes for sale and allowed much greater access to listing resources. Agents' web sites have home listings, and even MLS sites in many cases allow public access to homes for sale information. Search for homes became much easier on the Internet.

Mobile technologies are likely to change dynamics in Real Estate transactions just like Internet did it to the industry. Advantages of having Real Estate information at hands (on a spot) will benefit both Real Estate agents as well as home buyers.

Trulia made their home search application available in the Apple App Store and it quickly became on the top 25 applications list. It has limited functionality, but sufficient to find properties near specified location or GPS position.

There are additional opportunities for Real Estate mobile applications.
As a sample of a mobile web application please point your iPhone to http://www.capitalcityre.com/iphone

Open Source ActiveSync using Z-Push technology

Mobile devices such as Windows Mobile powered phones or iPhone 3G utilize ActiveSync technologies to synchronize device email and calendar items with the corporate email and collaboration systems. ActiveSync allows to deliver new messages with a "push" model, where new emails will reach mobile device with minimal delay, when they reach the main email system.

Z-Push software allows to implement "push" functionality using open source technologies. Z-Push technology was developed and it is integrated in Zarafa messaging software.

Z-Push can be used with email services, that support IMAP, for example Gmail, however using this tool with external email providers to speed-up delivery of messages to mobile devices may not be successful, since external providers will still have to be polled with specific intervals to get latest email. However, if the company hosts own internal email system, Z-Push may greately improve email delivery to mobile devices.

No tethering, Exchange support and AD2P on Google / T-Mobile G1

According to live blog at Gizmodo, that covered G1 launch, there will be no tethering, Exchange support nor AD2P on the Google/T-Mobile G1 phone. G1 seems to be targeting consumer and not a business market. Even so iPhone also missing AD2P feature, and tethering is disallowed as well, Exchange support is built-in to G3 iPhone, which is a long-awaited feature for business users. Both price cuts and support for better email integration allowed iPhone to be embraced by companies' IT departments.

Price for the Google / T-Mobile G1 is $179.99 subsidized, and data plan starts from $25 a month.

Google Android demo

Google & T-Mobile will launch first Google Android powered phone on September 23rd, 2008. Please preview the new phone, which may spark competition in the smart phones market.

Fox & Crow iPhone game

In ancient famous Aesop's fable "The Fox and The Crow" hungry fox was desperately waiting for the cheese to fall out of crow's beak. In this game test your arcade skills and help the fox to catch it. To make the cheese catching job more twisted, game presents plenty of cheese and not one, but four crows.
Prepare yourself for increasing speed and bonus lives with every level.
Touch onscreen see-through buttons to turn the fox to the falling cheese and have fun!!!

Get it from the App Store

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Welcome to Mobility Live blog. This blog is dedicated to mobile platforms development - iPhone, Google (gphone), Windows Mobile, etc.