Dolphin Browser for iOS [Free]

The popular Dolphin Browser for Android has made its way to the App Store. This third-party browser is free on the App Store and is fully compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. Dolphin Browser has a variety of features such as highly customizable gestures, built-in translations, speed-dial, tabbed browsing, and much more. However, Dolphin Browser is based off of Apple's WebKit so it won't be too much different than any other third-party iOS browser. Hit the link below to head over to Dolphin's website.

Dolphin-Browser.com

Rage for all iDevices Free for a Week

RAGE is currently free on the App Store for an entire week in celebration of their 100,000 "likes" on Facebook. Currently, RAGE has some of the best graphics on iOS to date. And in terms of gameplay it has been almost unanimously reviewed as one of the best games available for any mobile device.

[App Store]

iPod Touch with 3G?

Over the weekend, 9to5 received a screenshot showing a cellular data toggle switch found in the latest iOS 5 beta. Unless this was accidental, which seems highly unlikely, this means that an iPod touch with 3G could be headed our way as early as this September—and how magical that would be. The screenshots were taken on a fourth generation iPod touch running iOS 5 beta 3.

[9to5]

iOS 5 Key Features

Key Points:

• To be released this fall as a free update
• Available for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4G, iPod touch 3G, iPad, and iPad 2
• Contains over 200 new features, most notably being: all-new and improved notifications, iMessage text messaging between iOS devices, Twitter integration, and new camera and Safari features

This major update to Apple’s mobile operating system will be available in the fall as a free update for the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch 4G, iPod touch 3G, iPad, and iPad 2. There doesn’t seem to be any notion towards limited features for older-generation devices, but we’ll work on confirming this. If you want, you can enter your email address and Apple will notify you when it is released. iOS 5 contains over 200 new features, the following being the most notable: all-new and improved notifications, iMessage text messaging, a newsstand illustrating all of your App Store subscriptions, an official creative to-do application called Reminders, in-app Twitter integration, new camera features such as grids, photo editing and enhancing abilities, new Safari features included tabbed browsing on iPad, and the ability to setup and use your iOS device without a Mac or PC. Here’s a breakdown of some of these and other features:

Revamped Notifications

Currently, notifications can easily become a nuisance when you’re playing games or using other applications. They pop up, they’re obtrusive. In iOS 5, notifications are all-new and improved. There’s a new drop-down menu called Notification Center, which allows you to keep track of all of your notifications in one convenient location. Perhaps Apple took a lesson or two from the notification system on Android–they now have striking similarities. To reveal Notification Center, you simply swipe down and you can then choose which notifications you would like to see. If you want to delete the notification, you can simply tap the “x” button located next to it. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a “clear all” option for deleting your entire queue of notifications. This is something, however, that could be seen in a future update. New notifications also appear briefly at the top of your screen, without interrupting what you’re doing. Furthermore, they appear on your lock screen for quick access.

iMessage

This is an official application designed by Apple that allows you to send text messages to other iOS devices over Wi-Fi or 3G. It’s compatible with any iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad that is able to be upgraded to iOS 5. This is another new iOS feature that his strikingly resemblance to another company’s features, this time it being RIM’s BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).

Newstand

Another application designed by Apple. This one adopts the iBooks bookshelf design as a convenient place to show you all of your App Store subscriptions. This includes newspapers and magazines, which the app will alert you about when there is new issues available. There is also a new section on the App Store that is specifically dedicated to subscriptions.

Reminders

You can create reminders for yourself in a neat and clear to-do list. There’s also integrated calendars for your convenience. Reminders also works with iCal, Outlook, and iCloud, so changes you make update automatically on all your devices and calendars.

Twitter

Twitter integration is another prominent feature of iOS 5. Of course, Twitter is already available on iOS devices in a variety of different formats—through Safari, the official Twitter app, or other apps on the App Store—but this is different. You sign in once in the settings, and you can then tweet directly from Safari, Photos, Camera, YouTube, or Maps. You’ll be able to tweet text, photos, videos, and more. It would be nice if this functionality was able to be added to third-party apps from the App Store, but we can’t confirm this functionality just yet. You can add a location to your tweets based on your iOS device’s location tracking ability.

Safari

There’s a variety of new features in this mobile browser from tabbed browsing on iPad to the Safari Reader. The latter allows you to display web articles without any ads or any other distractions. There’s also Reading List, which saves webpages offline for later viewing. These webpages can be synced with iCloud.

“PC Free”

This is perhaps the most creative feature of iOS 5. Thanks to a combination of Apple’s iCloud service, on-device software updates, and on-device setup, you’ll be able to use your iOS device without ever connecting or configuring it with a Mac or PC. You can do everything wirelessly and backup and restore your iOS device through iCloud.

Other Noteworthy Features:

• Wi-Fi Sync: You’ll be able to sync your iOS device with iTunes wirelessly, and automatic syncing is also available.
• Mail: You can now use text properties such as underline, italics, and bold. Your iCloud account is also connected to Mail.
• New Multitasking Gestures (using four or five fingers):
• Swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar
• Pinch to return to the home screen
• Swipe left or right to switch between apps

[via iFans]

MobileNotifier: Better iPhone alerts

If you haven’t jailbroken your iPhone yet then you should seriously consider doing so if you are like many iPhone owners who are dissatisfied with Apple’s less than spectacular push notification system. MobileNotifier beta v3 is a free redo of iOS’s push notification system coded by Peter Hajas and Kyle Adams. The nice thing about MobileNotifier is that all alerts are unobtrusive and out of the way, they appear at the top of the screen or open app unlike Apple’s notifications that appear smack in the middle of your screen. MobileNotifier’s alerts can also be ignored, you can leave them on the screen without hindering the usability of your iPhone. 

Another feature of MobileNotifier is AlertDashboard. AlertDashboard appears in the unused area above the app switcher (You can access this by double-tapping the home button). Another nice thing about AlertDashboard is that you can also view pending alerts as a line item on the lockscreen of your iPhone.

Although MobileNotifier isn’t perfect, it is perhaps one of the greatest additions to the jailbreak market since WinterBoard.

MobileNotifier Beta v3 Demo

iPod Touch 4g Specs

iPod Touch 4th Generation Hardware Technical Specifications

• 960x640 Retina Display at 326 ppi
• Apple’s A4 Processor
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• HD Video Recording (720p) 30fps max
• VGA Quality Photos (960x720) Back Camera 
• 40 Hours Audio Playback, 7 Hours Video
• Thinner Design

(We’ll have comparative photos of the iPod Touch 4g, iPhone 4, and a standard DSLR camera as soon as we can get our hands on an iPod Touch 4g)

Sprint iPod Touch Case

Remember the Yosion Apple Peel case from yesterday? It seems that Sprint has the same idea, and is planning to release a 3G case for the iPod Touch. (This wouldn’t be the first time they stuck it to Apple and AT&T either.)

It’s unknown what the initial or monthly cost will be, but it would need to be dirt cheap to keep it competitive. It would also be nice if you could just buy a data plan and only use Skype to make calls, making it even less expensive.

Stay tuned for more updates.

[FCC]

Engadget has found an interesting accessory from a Chinese company called Yosion that turns your iPod Touch into the phone it has always wanted to be.

Powered by an Infineon baseband chip, this adapter not only offers voice calling and text messaging (presumably requiring a jailbroken iPod Touch for the apps; GPRS not possible yet), but it also doubles up as an 800mAh battery and provides 4.5 hours of call time or 120 hours of standby juice.

It’s unknown whether or not it will ever be available stateside, but it could potentially allow users to buy cheaper cell plans without a two year contract or carrier lock-in. Hit the source for a video of it in action.

Update: I dug around a little, and found the Yosion forums, which have a bit of chatter about the accessory if you’re looking for more info. (Google translate is a must-have, unless you speak Chinese.)

[Engadget]

Does Apple Learn From Jailbroken Developers?

Many of the features that are new to iOS4 seem to have originated from jailbroken applications and utilities. Has Apple been adopting the ideas of jailbroken developers and implementing them into firmware updates? Or, are these features that were likely to be implemented at some point anyways? It’s your call.

1. Folders

Folders, which allows you to group similar applications together, is a non-jailbroken copy-cat of Categories, which is available on Cydia for jailbroken devices.

2. Rotation Lock

Double-tap the home button and you’ll find a new Orientation Lock button. By tapping this button, your device is now locked in portrait mode. No more awkward positions when you’re lying in bed — you weren’t the only one. Nevertheless, jailbroken users have had this utility for quite some time through SBSettings/Rotation Inhibitor.

3. Home Screen Wallpapers

You’re 3 years late on this one, Apple.
—

4. Battery Percentage

iOS4 allows you to see the exact percentage of battery life remaining on your device. While this is much more accurate than the battery icon next to it, it’s something jailbroken users have been able to do for years.

via [iPodTouchFans]

iOS4 App Section in iTunes

iTunes now has an iOS4 section for featured apps that take advantage of iOS4’s new capabilities. Check it out! Apps include Canabalt, Instapaper, Articles, and a ton more.

[iTunes]

Next-gen iPod Touch photos leaked

Once again, an iDevice prototype has been leaked. This time, an iPod touch – with a camera. It’s not known how it was acquired, but it’s clear that Apple needs to do something about all these leaks.

Tinh Tế, to whom we owe thanks for the second iPhone 4G leak, have gotten hold of a prototype next-generation iPod touch, now sporting the long-awaited camera.

The serial number of the Camera part indicates 2.0 megapixels, but this could easily change as newer models are developed. Running a diagnostic mode, no internal specs are known as of yet.

It’s fairly safe to say that we’ll be seeing Camera-equipped iPod touches in the near future! As before, we’ve got a video in action, and more images after the jump.

The back, showing some hardware details.

via iPodTouchFans

iPhone 4.0 OS Features

Some of the new features in the 4.0 iPhone OS are:

• Multitasking (Double-Tap home button, you can run up to 4 apps simultaneously)
• BlueTooth Keyboard
• 5X Digital Zoom
• Change Homescreen wallpaper
• SMS Reminders
• Sync IMAP Notes
• Tap-to-Focus Video
• Web Search Suggestions
• Find & Delete Mail Search
• Larger Fonts for Mail
• Wake on Wireless
• Changeable image size in mail messages
• Background Audio
• VoIP (AT&T is going to hate Skype)
• Background location
• Local Notifications
• Faster App Switching
• Folders*
• Enhanced Mail Application
• Can have 2,160 apps installed instead of 180
• iBooks for the iPhone (With Free Winnie The Pooh)
• In-App encryption
• Game Centre
• MultiPlayer Matchmaking & Invite Friends Option
• iAd
• HTML5

Incompatible with 1st gen iDevices, 2nd gen will have limited features.

Woah, they even changed some of the icons for the default apps.

Pandora radio is now fully background-aware so you can exit the app and still listen to music!

Multitask with 4 different apps at once! Amazing

Skype behaves just like your standard calling in the new OS! Same style notifications too (Note: You can also receive skype calls when your phone is locked) You can also exit the app and run another one, just like standard calling.

The enhanced mail application has a unified inbox & better searching

*Folders is just like categories for those of you that have jailbroken your iPhone/iPod Touch

NOTE: iPod Touch users still have to pay, free for iPhone users

iPhone 4.0 OS SDK

iPhone 4.0 OS SDK will ship later this summer.

Some features:

• In-app SMS
• Date Formatters
• Automated Testing
• Performance Profiling Tools
• Carrier Info
• ICC Profiles
• Quick Look
• Draggable Map Annotations
• Embed PDF Metadata
• Image I/O
• Full Map Overlays
• Block-Based Animation
• Date Formatters
• iPod Remote Control Accessories
• Power Analysis Tools
• Half-Curl Page Transitions
• And More!

iPhone 4.0 OS Update Confirmed

On April 8th (That's 3 days from now) Apple will be unveiling their 4.0 OS for the iPhone/iPod Touch. It's amazing to see thing just so soon after the iPad's launch, but hey, we're not complaining.

More details will be posted here shortly

Apple lifts 3G VoIP Restrictions

Amongst other news, Apple has lifted it's 3G restrictions in the developer SDK. The new wave of VoIP applications will now be able to take full advantage of the 3G network. iCall is the first application to use this feature.

Perhaps Apple is planning their own VoIP services on the iPhone?

iPad, Apple's new tablet device

Just one day ago Apple unveiled its newest creation, the iPad. The iPad follows the same principles as an iPod Touch/iPhone; but this one's got a 9.7" screen. The iPad can run all of your native iPod Touch/iPhone apps, plus a few more. Apple has also created iWork for the iPad, each app costs $10. The iPad an on-screen keyboard that works well, the iPad has 3 speakers as well. The iPad docks just like a normal iPod, through the same cables & uses the same program (iTunes). AT&T has also provided a no-contract 3G plan for the iPads.

Features List -

• On-Screen Keyboard
• Built in speakers
• 9.7" multitouch screen
• Mp3 player
• Video player
• Faster than the iPod Touch
• Same basic interface as the iPod Touch/iPhone
• 3G Capable

What do you think about the iPad?

It’s surprising that this nifty little utility for Windows PCs (sorry, Mac users) has avoided our attention for so long, but not anymore. In case we weren’t the last ones that hadn’t heard about this, iPhone Folders by Bozhenov Artem is a great way to access the files on your iPod touch and iPhone from Windows. Because it hooks in as a Windows Explorer extension, there is no software to run once it’s installed: it just works. The iPhone or iPod touch just shows up like any other hard-drive, and the extension even includes support for displaying application icons for .app folders in thumbnail mode. It’s very slick, almost as if it was functionality that Apple forgot to ship.

Metallica Revenge Released

Tapulous has recently released a new special edition Tap Tap Revenge, this tapulous is showing its metal side. Metallica Revenge has an added tapper bar, making up 4 tapper bars in regular play, in extreme mode and boss levels you rotate the device sideways for 5 tapper bars.

iTunes link HERE

3.1 Software Features

I know I'm a tad bit late, but here is the list of things that apple has updated in 3.1

iPhone OS 3.1 includes these features and updates:

• Improved syncing for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos¹
• iTunes U content organization
• Redeem iTunes Gift Cards, codes, and certificates in the App Store
• Display available iTunes account credits in the App Store and iTunes Store
• Save video from Mail and MMS into Camera Roll
• Option to "Save as new clip" when trimming a video on iPhone 3GS
• Better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when Bluetooth is turned on

• Remotely lock iPhone with a passcode via MobileMe
• Use Voice Control on iPhone 3GS with Bluetooth headsets
• Paste phone numbers into the keypad
• Option to use Home button to turn on accessibility features on iPhone 3GS
• Warn when visiting fraudulent websites in Safari (anti-phishing)
• Improved Exchange calendar syncing and invitation handling
• Fixes issue that cause some app icons to display incorrectly

New iPod Touch 3g Features

Now that the rest of the world has stopped crying about the new iPod Touch not having a camera, there is some good news:

• The third generation iPod Touch has a better screen. When you play videos or surf the Internet, you will notice that the colors are crisper and the screen doesn't wash out as much.
  
• The 3rd gen iPod Touch has a faster processor, 50% faster than the previous 1st & 2nd generation processors to be exact.
  
• iPod Touches are now cheaper, the 8gb model is only $199, 32gb is $299, and 64gb is $399. It seems that Apple has decided to drop the 16gb model. (I don't understand why, I personally would have dropped the 8gb model myself)

Not much in the new iPod Touch, but still an upgrade