The JavaScript Performance of iPhone 3.0 is Far Better than What Apple Claims

Apple has always been accused of having a tendency to hype about the speed of its devices by giving just the right benchmarks and using the right products while comparing. But, surprisingly the company seems to act a bit differently when it comes to its two new releases – iPhone 3G S and OS 3.0. It looks like Apple has quite underestimated the capabilities of the updates as far as the speed is concerned. Well, this is not an assumption; mobile analysts, users as well as iPhone developer believe that the speed they are now experiencing on the device is far better than what they had experienced so far.

A mobile analytic and advertising company did a comparison test on iPhone 3G S as well as the 3G S, with both the old and new operating systems. The company ran the SunSpider JavaScript benchmark on both the devices to measure the speed differences. The test revealed that the processor speed almost tripled on the iPhone 3G with the OS 3.0 and the iphone 3G S, which is built-in with the upgraded operating system, is three times faster in completing the SunSpider benchmark test.

But what’s more interesting is that the new iPhone 3G S only takes twelve times as long as a 2GHz Core 2Duo MacBook to complete the benchmark test. Even though this difference may sound huge, it is confirmed that at this rate users and iPhone app developer are yet to see some incredible performances on the next-generation of mobile phones.

It is not necessary that this benchmark would correlate directly into a far better user experience, but it is really good to see that even the iPhone 3G users will experience significant speed gain with the operating system upgrade. This would surely put iPhone developer in a much advantageous position, as they can now develop more sophisticated and complex cross-platform compatible web applications that would run smoothly on the iPhone and would not be interrupted by the inefficient performance of the mobile browser.

iYamato iPhone App – Grab All Your Weapons and Fight Till the End!

Category: Games

Released Date: 25 June 2009

Seller: Geppetto Inc. © 2009 Geppetto Inc.

Price: $0.99

iYamato, with its top notch graphics and sound has successfully established itself as one of the most exciting shooting games users have ever experienced or iPhone app developer have ever developed on and for the iPhone platform. This amazing game allows you to play as the flagship of Yamato, the Japanese Combined Fleet that fought during World War 2. Originally, Yamato and Musashi, her sister ship were formally commissioned in the latter half of 1941. These were the largest as well as heaviest battleships ever designed and were armed with 18.1 inch main guns. So, you can very well imagine how much powerful action you will experience on this exciting iPhone application.

iYamato recreates a devastating battle field, where you fight your enemy with the unsinkable battleship Yamato. The application has a unique approach, which is not usually seen in Western video games. Since you play the game as the Japanese in World War 2, you fight against the Americans and their Allied forces. The gameplay however, is quite simple. The battleship is armed with its standard guns, which has unlimited ammo. Yamato is also armed with larger and extremely powerful cannons, which can be reloaded within seconds. All you got to do is use these weapons well and defend yourself from the waves of enemy fighter planes, blimps, bombers and other aircrafts.

iYamato offers unique mechanism and amazing game engine. When hit and damaged, your ship will start sinking either from the bow side or the stern side depending on the part where it had been hit. To fire, you need to simply tap on your iPhone screen. Tap on the left and the right button on your screen to fire antiaircraft artillery and tap the central button to fire the cannon in order to destroy larger enemies or huge forces.

Here are the main features of iYamato:

• 3 unique difficulty level: Easy, Normal and Hard
• Outstanding visual battle
• Perfect sound effects
• An exceptional Tutorial that will addict players and glue them to the game for hours
• 3 different scoring models: Personal Record, National Record and World Record

Developers Geppetto Inc. further promises to bring some amazing added features to the next version of iYamato like new battleship downloads with new range of weapons as well as several new enemies and items.

Every iPhone developer dreams of developing an application that would not only satisfy users, but will be appreciated by all for its overall performance. And yet it seems that Geppetto Inc., while creating iYamato hasn’t left a single gap.

To download this app visit here

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=318764748&mt=8

iCam iPhone App – Your Very First iPhone Webcam!

Category: Utilities

Released Date: 8 July 2009

Seller: SKJM, LLC © SKJM, LLC

Price: $4.99

iCam is undoubtedly one such application that will never leave your iPhone once downloaded. At first the app might seem to be unworthy, ordinary or overpriced, but as you go through its varied features and unique functionalities, you will simply fall in love. iCam is by far one of the best Utilities application that any iPhone developer has ever created or any iPhone user has ever experienced. iCam is basically a video streamer through which you can stream videos and audios directly from your computer’s webcam to your iPhone – it’s convenient, fun and extremely cool!

The way the iCam application works is also very simple. You start by downloading a source, which is free from the developer’s website. This file can be run on both Mac and Windows. After downloading the file, you will find a setup screen displaying quite a few numbers of different options. The first thing you should do is select your camera and create a unique ID and password for it. Now, you simply need open the iCam app on your iPhone, enter the password and you are done! Once you get over with the whole process, you will find your webcam working perfectly on your iPhone.

One of the best features of the iCam iPhone app is that it allows you to stream live videos from a maximum number of four different webcams over WiFi, 3G or EDGE, which makes it perfect to be used as a baby monitor, security cam, pet cam, nanny cam or even a spy cam. The application splits the screen into four parts and each of which can be connected to different webcams allowing you to stream in videos for different sources. But if you wish to see only one of the displays, you simply tap and get a full-screen view.

The audio streaming feature is the first major update that has been added to the iCam application – which has indeed enhanced the usefulness of this utility tool. Audio streaming to your iPhone is a bit laggy at times as due poor network connectivity, but it is a feature that surely adds on to the success and popularity of the app.

Now here is a great deal! With an additional $0.99 you can add a push support to the application, which will allow the app to provide you with notification indicating the movement, whenever any of the cameras sense motion in its field. With all of these and more, iCam is sure to become one of the most popular and useful apps in the Apps Store – not just among the users but in the eyes of every iPhone app developer as well.

To download this app visit here

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=296273730&mt=8

Federal Communications Commission Seeks Explanation from Apple and AT&T for Rejecting Google Voice Apps

Apple’s rejection of the Google Voice Application has become one of the hottest news across the mobile phone industry. There has been a lot of speculation regarding the reason behind this huge step Apple has taken to prevent applications getting duplicated. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took this issue quite seriously and launched an investigation on Friday to dig deep into the matter. FCC has been questioning Apple Inc. (AAPL) and AT&T Inc (T) regarding their rejection of Google Voice Application and removal of similar third-party applications from the App Store. However, this news has certainly put iPhone developer into deep thought.

Late on Friday, FCC sent letters to all the three companies asking them for explanation. The letter further seeks information whether or how AT&T was consulted in Apple’s decision of the rejection or removal of apps from the App Store. For the convenience of their investigation, FCC asked Apple to describe the conversation the company had with its partner (AT&T) while making decisions. In the letter the commission said:

“Why did Apple reject the Google Voice application for iPhone and remove related third-party applications from its App Store?… Did Apple act alone, or in consultation with AT&T, in deciding to reject the Google Voice application and related applications? If the latter, please describe the communications between Apple and AT&T in connection with the decision to reject Google Voice. Are there any contractual conditions or non-contractual understandings with AT&T that affected Apple’s decision in this matter?…Does AT&T have any role in the approval of iPhone applications generally (or in certain cases)? If so, under what circumstances, and what role does it play? What roles are specified in the contractual provisions between Apple and AT&T (or any non-contractual understandings) regarding the consideration of particular iPhone applications?”

FCC did not leave the matter to that but further asked about other VOIP applications that are approved by the company for iPhone and the ones that have been rejected in general. The commission also enquired about the standards that Apple has set for approving or rejecting apps and its approval process.

However, while FCC is busy investigating the issue, an AT&T spokesperson supported his company’s stand and said that they do not have any role in making decisions related to iPhone application approval or disapproval – it is Apple and Apple alone. In his comment, he said - “We have received the letter and will of course respond to it. AT&T does not manage or approve applications for the app store,”

No matter what the reason maybe, it is for sure that Apple’s decision will certainly have an impact on every iPhone app developer and upset almost every iPhone user.

Apple Blocks Google Voice Apps from the App Store: Creates Disappointment among Users and Developers

The latest news, which concerns almost every iPhone developer as well as the users, is the news of Apple rejecting and pulling out all Google Voice enabled applications from the App Store. The company cited the fact that the apps they have banned from the store as they duplicates the features that comes with the device itself. Not only that, Apple has even blocked Google’s official Google Voice application from the App Store. In other words, it is likely that iPhone users will no more have the advantage of using Google Voice, which indeed is one of the best telephony services that a smart phone user could ever think of. Therefore the news of Apples withdrawal and rejection of all GV apps has likely offended users and developers throughout the world.

Apple’s action has initiated a cold conflict between Apple and Google, which most fear could become the end of some amazing experiences that users could have otherwise enjoyed on their iPhones. According to a report, a spokesperson from Google said – “We work hard to bring Google applications to a number of mobile platforms, including the iPhone. Apple did not approve the Google Voice application we submitted six weeks ago to the Apple App Store. We will continue to work to bring our services to iPhone users — for example, by taking advantage of advances in mobile browsers.”

The Google Voice service basically allows users to select a phone number and have it ring all of their phones at the same time. It further allows users to screen callers while they leave voicemail or choose not to have certain phones ring during certain specified times. Moreover the service sends recording of the voicemails to the mail box of the user along with machine transcriptions. GV Mobile, a third-party iPhone app was the first to be removed from the store. The application allowed Google Voice service subscribers to dial numbers from the built-in iPhone address book, send SMS, playback system for voicemails and also make international calls in cheap rates. Other programs supporting Google Voice such as GVdialer and VoiceCentral were also pulled from the store for being an imitation of the device’s built-in features.

However, there has been a lot of speculation regarding the cause behind Apple’s rejection and most have agreed that AT&T plays a huge role behind it. It seems that Google’s Voice’s lines actually scares the carriers as it allows sending free SMS messages, making long distance calls on cheap rates as well as voice recording and forwarding. Well, whatever the reason may be, it is confirmed that for the time being, iPhone app developer and users will not be developing or getting applications that implement Google’s Voice services for the iPhones.

Rocket Taxi – Call a Cab with One Tap!

Category: Travel

Released Date: 28 July 2009

Seller: Edovia Inc. © Copyright 2008-2009 Edovia Inc.

Price: $1.99

Calling a cab while you are trapped in the most inconvenient location or cannot get back home late at night can become easy and smooth if you have the Rocket Taxi – Call a Cab Fast application on your iPhone. This amazingly convenient application will allow you to call your nearest cab service in just few simple taps. Calling a cab in a new city has never been as easy as it is now if you only have this unique application downloaded on your personal iPhone. Users and even iPhone developer believe that Rocket Taxi is by far the best taxi-tracker application available in the App Store.

For super-fast service, Rocket Taxi uses GPS or WiFi to locate your current location and tracks down your nearest cab service. However, this application is available in countries like United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Australia, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark and all. Developers have specially focused on making the app simple and easy to use, so that users would not have difficulty to use it while they are in hurry. Rocket Taxi is undoubtedly, ideal for both frequent travelers as well as for the first-time travelers.

Below is a list of some of the most notable features of Rocket Taxi iPhone app, which you will find important and extremely useful.

• This amazing application stores information about 27,500 taxi companies across 10,000 cities from all over the world on your iPhone. You can browse through the list and select according to your requirement and convenience.
• The best thing about Rocket Taxi is that the application does not require internet connectivity. You can browse through your database and make calls whenever you need. Internet connection is required only when you use the Trip Calculator or the map functionalities.
• You can also store your favorite taxi companies, so that you can get an easy and quick access while you are in a hurry.
• You can further calculate the fair in your desired currency with the help of the Currency Converter.
• The app further offer assistance by providing a suggested route to your desired destination.
• The application is available across U.S, Canada, U.K., Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Denmark, Austria, Australia, Spain, Norway, Belgium and Spain.

Looking at its usefulness, simplicity and convenience, users as well as iPhone app developer have rated Rocket Taxi – Call a Cab Fast as the best iPhone app of its kind.

To download this app visit here

http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=294331009&mt=8

Apple Tablet Coming Soon – Developers Might Face Challenges

If asked, every single iPhone app developer across the world would speak high of Apple and its unparallel development tools. These tools are indeed of first-rate and thus take application development to a whole new height. Apple’s enormous App Store is undoubtedly the biggest application store front in the world, which serves as an ideal platform for iPhone developer to showcase their creativity and talent. Through this store, developers get a chance to present their applications to the users - quickly and easily. And above all, developers get a target market for their products that’s not only huge, but is growing by the days.

However, it seems that the uniformity of the target market might get a little affected. On Friday, Apple Insider reported that the company is now working on a new Apple tablet computer, which will likely be released early next year. Apple’s move to build a strong team of mobile chipset developers and the purchase of PA Semi last year surely affirms the report of Apple Tablet Computer in making.

Apparently, this new release might seem to bring some interesting changes in the world of iPhone, but the truth is that if Apple rolls out a tablet computer, it is likely that building applications for Apple’s portable devices, including iPhone and iPod Touch will become more complicated and difficult. Developers of the all the 65,000 (and above) iPhone applications believe that consistency is the biggest advantage of developing applications for these devices.

The Apple Tablet of course, has an upside for developers as well, which until now seems to outweigh any drawbacks. Apple, for quite sometimes has been warning iPhone developer about the changes that might occur in screen size and resolution of their current work platform. A Tablet computer is sure to put all the different applications, which includes games, news-browsing apps, social networking tools, entertainment etc. on a bigger screen. This change would undoubtedly glue users more to their iPhones, as the quality and visibility of the displays would be enhanced with a wider screen.

Even when many mobile companies are now coming up with different iPhone-like devices, Apple with their huge and fast sale of iPhone (3G and 3GS) and iPod Touch, doesn’t seem much worried about the downfall of its products.