iPhone Savior

The Best Case for iPhone Second to None

STYLE GUIDE: If you're searching for an epic case to protect your new iPhone 3G S, look no further than the Incase Slider. Most longtime iPhone fanatics will tell you that a low profile case is most ideal. No one wants to add extra girth to their handset when buying a case, which is why a Slider by Incase makes such an ideal choice for its thin profile, excellent drop protection and a ginormous amount of styles to choose from.

The Slider can be found at any Apple store, especially if you like a simple matte black finish. But be certain that the best variety will be found online if you order direct from Goincase.com. The Metallic series are some of my personal favorites.

I have my eye on the new "Hunter Gatherer" design which will be released on June 23rd (pictured right), it has the kind of wicked flair I'm looking for. I'm expecting this fresh find covered in wood grain goodness to become an instant classic among iPhone faithful. Expect to pay $34.95 for any Incase Slider, but you should also expect to not be disappointed.

[Incase]

Using Your Earbud Remote with iPhone 3G S

Another small but very useful change Apple has delivered with iPhone 3G S is the wide range of device control accessed through an integrated remote button and mic found in-line on their stereo earbuds. The ability to trigger calls with the new Voice Control app is fun even if not always spot on. I found this upgrade to be a welcomed addition to the mix of new features I've been slowly uncovering with my new device.

 Here's a brief review of what you can do using Apple's earbud remote:

• Adjust device volume by pressing the + and - buttons.
• Control music and video — play/pause by clicking the center button.
• Answer and end calls by clicking the center button.
• Control next track or audiobook chapter by double-clicking the center button.
• Control previous track or audiobook chapter by triple-clicking center button
  
• Activate Voice Control feature for calls, dialing, and song selection by holding down the center button to launch app.

For those who use a hands-free Bluetooth earpiece, these earbuds may not mean much, but for everyone else Apple has brought some great functionality here that I've found useful on my daily walks.

I've posted a click-by-click user guide for the earbud remote button [here]. I think you'll be surprised how much this tiny button can control with one finger clicks. This is not just any ordinary stereo headset.

Note: Apple's integrated earbuds work with limited functionality on iPhone 3G

[Apple]

iPhone 3G S Hysteria Hits Small Seattle Suburb

                        Pictured from L to R: Phil, Zeke, James, Ian, Jesse and Brian

ISSAQUAH, WA - A fiercely loyal duo of iPhone fanatics wasted no time starting the line for the launch of Apple's new iPhone 3G S at a small AT&T location out in the suburbs some twenty five minutes east of downtown Seattle. The town that spawned indie rock band Modest Mouse in 1993 is where I chose to line up for my own iPhone 3G S purchase.

The line began at 3:30 pm on Thursday afternoon with Ian and Jesse, who grabbed the number one and two spots without the benefit of pre-ordering with AT&T. A small hoard of iPhone faithful joined the party after dark to brave the rain soaked night, hoping to push through the glass doors of AT&T shortly after 7:00 am once a minor number of pre-orders were filled. Just minutes before 7:00, the AT&T staff broke the bad news, confirming that anyone who did not pre-order a device will have to wait until 9:00 am for purchases. Fail. After what felt like an eternity, the line started to move into the store.

Sirius iPhone App Debuts Without Howard Stern

Before you rush online and plunk down $2.99 a month for Premium Online Service from Sirius, you should know that you won't find Howard Stern on the free Sirius XM app finally released for iPhone. Stern is just one of the missing favorites on board the big golden goose egg laid by Sirius into the App Store after months of anticipation. The wildly popular satellite radio app makes its grand debut with a glorious thud. Sirius posted an explanation on their website:

"Some select programming, including MLB® Play-by-Play, NFL Play-by-Play, SIRIUS NASCAR® Radio, and Howard Stern, will not be available on the iPhone and iPod touch. Listeners will continue to be able to access that programming through the platforms they are currently offered on."

A first run through the app reveals the ability to stream 120 channels of satellite radio over Wi-Fi, 3G or Edge. That's where the thrill begins and ends. If you already have Premium Service access for Sirius XM, then there's nothing to lose with this one trick pony. Other than the time you'll squander trying to buy music from iTunes through the app one song at a time. The process is more painful than a root canal and dumber than a box of hammers.

I suggest you steer clear of paying a subscription fee to hear Sirius XM via iPhone until the company gets passionate about providing a true satellite radio juggernaut for iPhone that will put Pandora and Flycast to shame. Who cares about CD quality sound if the content is not worth paying for?

Without Howard Stern, Play-by-Play action and the other 180 channels from this media giant's vast line up, there's too little here to get all hot and bothered about. The opportunity to show up fashionably late expired months ago. [video after the break]

Get Sirius XM App    Get Howard Stern via Pocket Tunes

AT&T Delivers Epic Revision to iPhone Upgrade Eligibility

With just two days before the launch of iPhone 3G S, AT&T has issued an epic revision to their upgrade eligibility policy for iPhone users. Beginning Thursday, June 18th, AT&T is extending the window of upgrade eligibility for customers who would become eligible for the subsidized pricing in July, August or September 2009. I spoke with an AT&T retail store associate who confirmed by phone that the newly revised pricing plan for upgrades is in the system.

Expect to pay $199 for iPhone 3G S 16GB and $299 for the 32GB model. The company made it clear in their online Open Letter to customers that they are paying attention to the outcry from those scorned by the inability to upgrade to iPhone 3G S on June 19th at AT&T's best pricing.

"We’ve listened to our customers — and hope our response helps answer some of your questions and concerns. We’re now pleased to offer our iPhone 3G customers who are upgrade eligible in July, August or September 2009 our best upgrade pricing, beginning Thursday, June 18." Source: AT&T

Sirius iPhone App Expected To Debut June 18th

We reported on May 27th that a Sirius XM iPhone app debut was imminent. It appears that Sirius is confirming to customers that the long rumored satellite radio app for iPhone will be launched beginning on Thursday, June 18th, just one day prior to Apple's epic launch of iPhone 3G S. According to The Unofficial Apple Weblog, iPhone faithful who have been badgering Sirius XM for news updates have been getting this response from the media giant via email.

Thank you for contacting SIRIUS regarding whether or not there is a SIRIUS iPhone application available. We are here to help! We appreciate the time you have taken to contact us in regards to this matter! We are happy to inform you that beginning June 18th a SIRIUS Internet Radio application will be available at the Apple iTunes App-Store for the iPhone and the iPod Touch!

All Premium SIRIUS Internet Radio subscribers will be able to download the application from the Apple iTunes App-Store for free on their device and access the service at no additional cost! Subscribers who are listening to the Basic Online Service for free must first upgrade to the Premium Online Service for $2.99 per month to access the application on the iPhone or iPod Touch.

Sirius has not given any info yet about the number of channels set to debut with the app, but it is expected that it will be fully compatible with iPhone OS 3.0. It had better be! With all the stutter starts and rumors surrounding this highly anticipated release, this app should be nothing short of brilliant!

"Beginning tomorrow, the (iPhone) App will be available," a customer service representative for the New York-based company said on Wednesday." Source: Yahoo

[TUAW]

Kingpin Steve Jobs Returns To One Infinite Loop!

CUPERTINO, CA - It's not often that you see the oversized number outside of Apple's One Infinite Loop Headquarters adorned with random Steve Jobs pinhead art. Today is just that exception. Painter and animation artist Dax Norman has hand painted dozens of bowling pins resembling some wildly popular cultural icons including The Beatles as "Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Bowling Club Band".

But the idea of creating a constipated looking Steve Jobs bowling pin photographed at the entrance of Apple's famous Cupertino headquarters is just wrong. Which makes it pure genius! I'm glad I tripped over this ridonkulous work of Apple art today, it's just the kind of pin head thinking that's a welcomed distraction from the daily saturation surrounding Apple's iPhone 3G S launch.

Kudos Dax! This one is priceless. (close up photo after break)

DaxNorman.com

AT&T Bringing MMS To iPhone At 'No Extra Cost' For Some

It looks as if AT&T has figured out a perfectly sneaky way to hold customers hostage to sign up for a bundled texting plan. Though the company is planning to bring MMS services to iPhone OS 3.0 users late to the game, AT&T will be making multimedia messaging (MMS) available to all customers with a text messaging bundle plan at no extra cost. Isn't that generous? The company has not yet addressed MMS usage fees for those without a text plan.

Once AT&T finally launches MMS services to US customers later this summer, there will be no additional fees attached as long as you are already paying for a texting package, which start at $5 per month for 200 text messages and ends at $20 per month for sending unlimited text messages according to PC World. A slick little slight of hand trick by the mobile giant for sure.

AT&T has also not announced further plans to remedy their iPhone Tethering fail that also remains a bone of contention for many iPhone faithful who will have to forgo the service when OS 3.0 is launched. The rumored monthly rate for tethering could be anywhere from $30 to $70 according to some reports. It's all still speculation at this point. Though it is expected that the company will charge a premium for that service.

In the battle for monthly fees... do not underestimate AT&T's sneakiness!

AT&T iPhone 3G S FAQ    [PC World]

It's Log! The All Natural iPhone Docking Station

Here's one fantastical Father's Day gift idea that will bring years of joy to Dad while helping him to re-connect with the great outdoors. This is no ordinary carved out hunk of tree... it's LOG bro!

Log is an iPhone docking station created by Woodtec using 100% natural tree trunk. This well crafted green design creates the illusion that your iPhone is keenly in tune with nature while powering up all stealthy-like via entry from behind.

 

Dad can charge any one of his Apple iPod devices with Log, the only exception is that pesky iPod Shuffle. Imagine the look of childlike wonder on Dad's face when you deliver him this handmade, one-of-a-kind classic creation built for iPhone. Log is truly man-tastic!

For extra flair you can always include a 4GB phallic looking Log companion flash drive for Dad to take his data on the go. Is that Log in your pocket or are you just happy to see me Dad? Expect to pay $68 dollars for the docking station and another $58 for the epic phallic symbol of natural data love. A small shipping few is extra but no regrets come for free!

Woodtec on Etsy

Apple Saves Twitter Universe From Twitpocalypse

CUPERTINO, CA - On June 14th at roughly 10:30 pm EST Apple posted the epic update aimed at fixing Twitterrific, the wildly popular iPhone Twitter client that had been temporarily debilitated by the infamous Twitpocalypse bug one day earlier. The downing of Twitterrific set off a global panic in the Twitterverse, sending a clear message that the Twitpocalypse was not only real, but it was in full micro-effect.

Reports warned that Twitter would allegedly stop working once the number of tweets surpassed 2,147,483,647, it’s the largest number that can be stored as the data type known as a “signed integer. Totally capable of destroying Planet Twit.

"I was totally freaking out when I realized the Twitpocalypse was real," said Twitterrific iPhone user Wiles Trotter, "I felt like Twitter was coming to an abrupt end when I heard the news. I've not experienced this kind of panic attack ever, I was hopeless."

Once developers The iCon Factory, learned of the app's fatal flaw on Saturday, June 13, they quickly took action to fix the known issues with update 2.0.2 which was submitted to Apple at 6pm EST for approval according to The iCon Factory Blog. The next grueling hours that followed offered only one choice, hurry up and wait.

Meanwhile, the rest of the anxious Twitterverse tweeted news of the impending 2.0.2 update submission over and over again ad nauseum, with hundreds of Twits repeating the exact same text launched as the only glimmer of hope during the Twitpocalypse blackout that struck Twitterrific.