iPhone Savior

NES Controller Dock Charges iPhone Like It's 1985

The idea of converting an iconic Nintendo joypad into a fantastical iPhone dock is like hot chicken soup for the nerdy soul. Designer GeekUnique, insists that it's time to "Say goodbye to your boring iPhone docking stations and let your geek flag fly." 

The classic 1985 brick-like design of this hand-tooled NES controller "Rock Dock" is an inspiring creation capable of conjuring up epic memories of 8 bit gaming without the hand cramps. I'll take the Nintendo controller dock over the "Duck Hunt Cartridge" dock any day of the week.

Expect to pay $30.99 for this unique nod to retro gaming imagined especially for iPhone (or iPod). That magical feeling of childlike wonder is guaranteed upon delivery.

Apple Rejects Shameless iDroid App

The easiest way to get free promotion for the iPhone cloning Android phone is to submit an app named iDroid to Apple and then just sit back and wait for the publicity. The Android nerds were sent packing by Apple after attempting to get iDroid approved through the App Store for public humiliation.

The app is nothing more than shameless promotional crapware designed to fill up your screen with a glowing red Droid eye and logo. When you tap the eye the app reveals a gaggle of product highlights for Droid that are far too lame to even mention.

Tech Crunch reports that Apple rejected the app because it was nothing more than an ad for a competitor. Writer Erick Schonfeld, sided with Apple's decision to instantly reject iDroid then quickly contradicted himself saying; "Although I think it would have been smarter for them to let the app through." Not exactly sure what that's about, but I'm thrilled that this obnoxious hackery was killed before it could ever grace iPhone's micro-screen of glorious goodness.

I'm content to let Motorola's Android phone earn its own place in pop culture like iPhone has accomplished, one fanatical and obsessed user at a time.

Good luck with that one Droid-tards.

Twilight MacBook Decal is for Serious Twi-Hards

 
STYLE GUIDE: The idea of pandering to serious Twi-Hards (diehard Twilight fans) who also happen to be committed Macheads is a lucrative combination I wish I had thought of first. It's the inspired work of a diabolical genius. This digitally printed and cut vinyl decal is designed to fit on a 13" or 15" MacBook (12" or 14" Powerbook) as an obsessive homage to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight phenomenon.

While adorning your MacBook with this kind of dedication to Twilight might seem like sacrilege to longtime Mac purists, it will send an instant message to Twilighters everywhere that you may have a mental disorder. The kind  of disorder only they can truly understand. That's so cool!

Expect to pay $15 for this Mac-tastic peel-and-stick version of Twi-Hard madness.

   
[Back Glass via Etsy]

First Official iFart Store Opens In iPhone App

While most of us know that the best farts come free, Joel Comm, developer of the biggest selling iPhone fart making apps has opened the first official fart store inside of his iFart Mobile app. The idea behind his new store concept is simple, the user pays $.99 for a fresh updated arsenal of iPhone farts featuring titles like the Broccoli Bomber, After Dinner Mint, Pork'n'Beans and Chocolate Syrup. Genius!

The purchase is called a "Foods Fart Pack", which includes approximately 10 added short-stainers for your listening pleasure. I consider Chocolate Syrup and Tooti Fruity to be instant classics in the category of iPhone ass thunder. Expect additional fart packs to populate the iFart Store in the near future, a concept that sets a raunchy new low in virtual shopping via iPhone.

What most purveyors of iPhone farts may not be aware of, is that iFart Mobile ($.99) also features a useful "Record-A-Fart" function that allows users to populate and pollute their iPhone with home grown favorites. The only drawback is that only one fart is able to be recorded and stored without naming rights. Now there's a feature I would certainly pay extra to have expanded. Who wouldn't want to store a private collection of trouser trumpets for true gas masters to share and examine together? Don't answer that!

The iFart store is now open for business with the updated iFart Mobile app version (2.20). Look for the store button on the bottom right after launching the app. An additional ($.99) is billed directly to your iTunes account for the Foods Fart Pack.

I'm convinced that the iFart Store will be a major hit with hardcore fans! Just in time for holiday shoppers. Get your fresh baked farts here! As they like to say at the Chinese food buffet... Enjoy.

Next-Gen iPhone (3,1) Spotted In Field Tests

MacRumors is reporting that iPhone developer Pandav spotted usage records by a still unreleased iPhone model (3,1) in their app's analytics reports through PinchMedia. The mystery iPhone was spotted being used with the iBart Live app, a public transportation guide for the San Francisco train network.

"iPhone3,1 was first spotted in Pandav's usage logs in November. This 'iPhone3,1' identifier does not match up with any shipping iPhones. The last iPhone released to the public was the iPhone 3GS which carries the identification string iPhone2,1". MacRumors reports.

It was back in August when the first references to iPhone3,1 were spotted in iPhone firmware files, but this recent news is the first reported usage of the device "in the wild". Apple conducted similar public testing for iPhone 3GS (iPhone2,1) in the San Francisco Bay Area back in October of 2008, roughly eight months ahead of the official launch.

"There have been few details about what the next generation iPhone might include, though early rumors had pegged a multi-core processor that could enhance performance significantly. There have also been rumors of Verizon compatibility as early as mid 2010." MacRumors writes.

No real glimpses of a 4G next-generation iPhone device have been revealed, although many of us are still holding out for a fresh new form factor and the ability to conduct video chats. With the major lag in finally getting MMS as a feature, video chat may be nothing more than wishful thinking.

[MacRumors]   [iPhone 4G mock-up via Digital Ganster]

XBox 360 and PlayStation iPhone Cases Voted Best of 2009

STYLE GUIDE: One of the predominant trends that exploded onto the iPhone scene in 2009 was the custom felt carrying case. True handmade goodness that offers iPhoners unique scratch protection with an impressive nod to console gaming, the retired VHS tape, the Cassette Mixtape, the all American Etch-A-Sketch, Pop-Tart and even a classic bacon and egg breakfast to name only a few.

Our select panel of 12 judges looked for case designs that exhibited unique style, fine detail, functionality and overall popularity based on web traffic. Two clear standouts in iPhone style this year were the brilliantly crafted XBox 360 and Playstation console cases created by designer Rabbitrampage.

The stunning detail in these iPhone works of art were voted in as second to none. The addition of the controller key chain concept pushed these epic designs over the top as the unanimous winners by our esteemed judges.

Honorable mentions go out to Barry's Farm for their Cassette Mixtape creation which took second place in overall votes. Congratulations to Rabbitrampage for her work being selected as the iPhone Savior's "Best of 2009 iPhone Style". We look forward to continued brilliance from all of the style makers and designers of iPhone couture in 2010.

Many of these designs are still for sale via Etsy.com or can be found through the links above.

[View Our Entire 2009 Style Guide]

iCornholio Brings Beavis and Butt-head to iPhone

In March of 1993 MTV aired the original Mike Judge animated series Beavis and Butt-head, and the rest is history as America's two metal-fueled teenage dumbasses quickly rose to cult-like status. The epic series eventually exited MTV on November 28, 1997.

Almost twelve years later to the day, Beavis and Butt-head have wormed their way onto iPhone with the iCornholio Soundboard. YES! The app is perfectly overstuffed with some 80 soundbites from the almighty Bungholio and his metal mouthed sidekick.

It's crazy to think that Beavis and Butt-head influenced an entire generation of young adults in the 90's with classic name calling like dillhole, buttmunch and bunghole. Reminding us all of that brilliant post MTV music video era when all that mattered was trying to "score" with chicks. Booiingg!!

The iCornholio Soundboard ($.99) is a pure nostalgic thrill ride of rude and obnoxious utterances, that I found impossible to put down. This is one unexpected throwback app I'm so thankful for this year, second only to Army of Darkness of course. Duh!

In short... THIS APP ROCKS!

iPhone Sticky Strap Sucks Most When It's Working

When I first fixed my gaze on the innovative Sticky Strap, I immediately realized that this shotgun marriage of iPhone and suction cup is bound to end badly for users. The Sticky strap appears to be an ingenious idea on the surface, but reading through the creator's "Do's and Don't's" scared the living bejesus out of me. Causing me to swear off of suction cupping my iPhone for life.  

It was these few general precautions that had me instantly cringing;

"The sticking/ hanging mode is meant only for practical and temporary use, it will hold for quite some time but not forever. Common sense is advised."
 
"Use your nail to pry the sucker from delicate/fragile surfaces, such as glass."

Do they mean glass like my iPhone is covered in on the entire front surface? Suggested uses for the Sticky Strap ($9.80 USD) include a stand for vertical and horizontal iPhone viewing, sticking it to a surface as a hands-free option for shooting photos with a timed photo app and endless other crazy ideas you can invent on your own. As long as you're using common sense of course.

The Sticky Strap creators at aProdukt.com tooled an informative video they suggest as a must-see. I found the constant popping of suction cups even more annoying than watching Steve Wozniak performing his tragic version of the Cha Cha Cha with a pink feather boa. But that's just me. (video after break)

Adorable Art Pits Android Market Against App Store Purgatory

With over 2 billion apps downloaded and almost 100,000 titles in the iTunes App Store, it's totally insane to compare the Android Market side-by-side with Apple's wildly popular juggernaut. Magical thinking has led the misguided droids at What's Up, Android? to do just that with this cute little steaming pile of art. Reminding us all that ignorance is bliss.

Meanwhile, French mobile phone game developer Gameloft, recently announced that they've chosen to significantly cut back investment in developing applications for Google's Android platform. Citing the  "weaknesses of Android's application store". No waiting and no one cares.

"We are selling 400 times more games on iPhone than on Android," Gameloft finance director Alexandre de Rochefort told Reuters.

Exactly! Purgatory never looked so good.

[Original artwork by What's Up, Android?]

Apple Pimp Slaps Verizon With New iPhone Ads

While the cheering crowd gathered in the parking lot for the big AT&T vs Verizon iPhone ad fight" screaming "kick 'em in the nards dude", no one expected Apple to come jumping into the scuffle swinging with some killer pimp slaps heard 'round the world.

Although Apple's new iPhone ads "Did You See My Email?" and "What Time's The Movie?" are not exactly award winning genius, they clearly come to AT&T's defense by highlighting a core weakness in Verizon's 3G service. AT&T's GSM network allows simultaneous voice and data connections for true multitasking, while Verizon's CDMA network does not.

Not to mention that Verizon has no iPhone to brag about. That means game over losers! Good luck with that Verizon. (alternate video after break)