SMS in Landscape Mode Finally Made Possible for iPhone
November 10th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Now with the help of BigBoss’ alternative text messaging application BiteSMS it is possible to send your SMS messages in landscape mode with the iPhone. The feature only works with the latest biteSMS version 2.5 beta. BiteSMS can conveniently be set as your defaut SMS app and I am sure many of you will once they have given it a test run. This application is only available on Cydia or Installer so In order to use it you will need a jailbroken iphone.
Landscape Mode
Typing on a wide keyboard is so much easier! In landscape mode the text is bigger too.
BiteSMS gives you the option to chose from:
- Using your current cell phone provider’s network to send your SMS text messages
- Use the biteSMS network that charges a flat rate per SMS message sent to any country in the world by buying credits.
Rates:
AUD 10 cents
CAD 10 cents
CHF 10 centimes
EUR 6 cents
GBP 5 pence
HKD 70 cents
JPY 10 yen
SGD 12 cents
USD 10 cents
In my case I use it only the biteSMS network when I need to send an SMS internationally. You can quickly switch between your carrier and biteSMS by holding down the send button for a second (until it flashes) to quickly switch from sending via the Carrier to sending via biteSMS, and vice versa.
To get it installed on your iPhone add the following source in Cydia :
http://www.bitesms.com/cydia/beta.
Don’t know how to add sources?
Launch Cydia—> Manage—> Sources—> Edit—> Add—> Enter the URL—> Click Add Source
Here are the Features Found in biteSMS v2.5:
Forward or Delete a Message
- To forward or delete a message, right-swipe any conversation bubble and you’ll be presented the option to Forward or Delete:
Adding Contacts and Location
Right-swiping the text box brings up a menu. From the menu you can add a contact or your current location.
The location is added as a Google maps URL.
Character & Credit Counter
A character counter and credit counter are neatly combined into a single circular graphical indicator.
Typically each SMS message (and biteSMS credit) allows you to send 160 characters (unless you type a special character, switching the character set to Unicode, in which case you’ll only get 70 characters).
The character and credit counter make it very clear how many credits will be used and how many characters remain for the text being entered. So let’s look at how these work.
Before you start entering text, the circle is unfilled, meaning no text has been entered. As you start to type the circle begins to fill up in a clockwise direction. As you get closer to using all the available characters for a single SMS message a prompt appears and counts down, for example “20 left”.
Once all the available characters for an SMS have been exceeded, the SMS credit counter in the center of the circle becomes “2″ and the circle moves around again filling up the second credit.
Here are a few screen shots to help show this.
No text entered:
Only 12 characters left in this SMS:
Onto the second SMS credit, and only a few characters used, so plenty left for more text!
Proxy Support
A number of applications, for example TZones Proxy Hack (from Cydia), install mobile carrier specific proxy settings on your iPhone so you can surf the web, check emails, etc. These proxy settings are honored by biteSMS, so you can also send SMS texts via a proxy!
Hide Keyboard
When typing text in an SMS message you can tap in the bubble area and the keyboard will slide away, letting you read the conversation more easily.
Turn off Auto-Correction
The built-in auto correction doesn’t work correctly in some languages, for example in Swiss German. On the biteSMS settings page you can turn auto correction off.
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DataViz to Release Document to Go for iPhone
October 29th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Dataviz, the makers of Document To Go for Blackberry and Palm will soon release an iPhone version. This application will permit to write and edit word, excel and Powerpoint compatible files in their native formats on the iPhone directly.
Here is is the full set of features that will be available on Document To Go for iPhone:
• View, edit and create native Word, Excel and PowerPoint files and attachments
• Supports Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Includes support for Microsoft Office Word 2007 & PowerPoint 2007
• Full featured solution with viewing AND editing functionality
• Supports file and attachments received via e-mail, Bluetooth® or media card
• Unique InTact Technology retains original document formatting of edited files
• Integrated with BlackBerry Enterprise Server and BlackBerry Internet Service for reliable and instant access to e-mail attachments
• Spell checking for word processing files
• Advanced character/font formatting
• Advanced paragraph formatting
• Insert and delete tables for word processing files
• Insert and edit auto bullets & numbers in word processing files
• Sorting in spreadsheets
• Apply cell formatting in spreadsheets
• Insert and delete worksheets
• Insert, duplicate and delete slides in presentations
• English, French, Italian, German and Spanish versions available
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Russia Gets the iPhone 3G on October 3rd
September 29th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
It’s a bit late but I am sure Russians are still happy to learn that the new iPhone 3G is arriving to their Country. Apple said it would be launched in the Russian market this coming October. The iPhone 3G will be available in Mobile phone retail shops and as well as wireless service providers in unlocked condition. According the most credible sources the estimates of sales of the iPhone 3G in Russia will reach 150,000 before the end of the year.
The “Jesus Phone” has an awesome stunning display screen, sleek design and it’s innovative multi touch screen user interface. The iPhone 3G 8GB version will be sold at the price of 23,216 RUB ($923.6) and the bigger 16GB version will be sold for 27,266 RUB ($1,084). The price stated here are for contract free iPhone 3G that can be activated on any GSM network.
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Apple Launches a Free iPhone Developer University Program
September 23rd, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Apple has launched its iPhone University Developer Program, an initiative geared to helping our higher education institutions teach iPhone development.
The iPhone University Developer Program is a free service allowing U.S. based higher education institutions that allows upwards of 200 students to collaborate on iPhone applications. The iPhone Developer University Program is full featured, offering students the ability to create and test applications, before adding them to the application store. The universities will be able to take advantage of all the tools that iPhone developers have access to, including the iPhone SDK and iPhone Dev Center resources. The application form must be completed by someone who has the legal authority to make such an agreement on behalf of the university.
It is unclear what adjustments or exceptions Apple may be planning to add to the iPhone developer Non-Disclosure Agreement, which currently forbids developers from discussing iPhone OS development.
Apple’s standard developer program costs $99 if you want to test applications on a device.
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The iPhone 3G Not So Big in Japan
September 15th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Nomura Research Institute once estimated that Apple could sell two to to three million iPhones annually in Japan–about five percent of the market. But that was back in June when iPhone mania was at its peak and the device seemed destined to be a success wherever it was sold.
But Japan is one of the world’s largest and most demanding mobile phone markets. Perhaps even a bit too demanding for the iPhone. According to market-research firm MM Research Institute, Apple (AAPL) sold just 200,000 iPhones in Japan in the device’s first two months on the market.
And now demand is declining. So much so that analysts say sales are unlikely to top 500,000 units, let alone two million. The reason: The iPhone, even with its multi-touch screen and elegant design, pales a bit in comparison to the typical Japanese handset, which boasts not just a high-end color display, but a video camera, GPS and digital TV and electronic currency support as well. Said MM Research analyst Eimei Yokota, “The iPhone is a difficult phone to use for the Japanese market because there are so many features it doesn’t have.”
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iPhone Secretly Takes Screenshots of Everything You Do
September 13th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Zooming, flipping and other maneuvers are additionally made possible by that and while it
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iPhone 3G now available for purchase at Bestbuy
September 8th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
So you want to buy an iPhone 3g but don’t have an Apple store near by and hate to go to the AT&T store (who can blame you)?
Well fear not because as of today, you can purchase the jesus phone at Best Buy.
Buying an iPhone on 9.7.08
It will take about 45 minutes to purchase your iPhone 3G and set up your AT&T account. We know your time is valuable, so Best Buy® is offering scheduled, 1-hour appointment times for consultation and the purchase and setup of your new iPhone. Here’s how the process works:
- Customers in line will receive iPhone appointment tickets from a Mobile Phone Specialist shortly before the store opens. A ticket reserves an iPhone 3G for you, whether you choose to wait in store or to schedule a day and time to return to this Best Buy for your iPhone 3G purchase and setup.
- Upon returning to Best Buy, customers who have chosen a specific date and time should visit our iPhone concierge at the front of the store to check in and begin their appointment.
- Appointments will cover everything from purchase to AT&T account setup. Geek Squad® Agents will be available to assist customers requesting e-mail setup or to answer questions.
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25 iPhone Apps Business People Should consider using
September 6th, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
More than 550 iPhone apps currently populate the iPhone store, and the number is constantly growing. The challenge lies not in acquiring apps, but in finding the ones relevant to your needs.
Here’s the TOP 25 iPhone Apps Business list:
A quick and easy replacement for the traditional written mileage counter, this tool also allows you to calculate your vehicle’s fuel consumption. Handy
for small business owners and anyone else who needs to report mileage.2. Budget Tracker
This tool allows you to set a budget, then enter your expenditures into your iPhone to track how close you are to spending it all.
3. 43 Actions
The ultimate action list, this app allows you to organize actions, add new ones via email or Twitter, check off finished actions, get agendas emailed to you on a regular basis, and more.
A list of countries is available for you to instantly calculate VAT in a variety of countries. Handy for the frequent business traveler.
5. Currencies
Keep an eye on a variety of exchange rates, each equipped with a calculator that goes between your currency and the foreign one.
6. Attendance Countdown
Tracks your working hours easily and quickly. Tap on the time to specify your arrival. The app counts down how many working hours you have left, and allows you to email times for your own records or for your boss.
7. Feed Reader
This RSS feed reader comes equipped with autoscrolling to make getting your daily information fix easily and quickly.
8. Countdownr
Counts down to a date and time; for example, a birthday. Specify a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual countdown message. When the time comes, an alert goes off. Syncs with Google Calendar.
9. Worldwatchr
Allows you to view webcams of your choice directly on your iPhone. Handy for traffic and weather info.
10. Salesforce Mobile for the iPhone
Instant customer information on Salesforce.com’s mobile platform. What more could you ask for?
A cost-effective, quality voice recorder that Gizmodo loves for its pause feature.
12. Oracle Business Indicators
Business performance info at the touch of an iPhone screen, including a range of analytics. No more need to pop open the laptop before that big meeting.
13. StockWatch
Let your stockwatching obsessions flower with this standard stock app equipped with a column for your real-time gains and losses.
14. Taskr
Another task app, with an Adobe AIR desktop hookup. Easy and convenient.
15. Evernote
Evernote combines the good ol’ task-list function with notes capability and an image search. Syncs across platforms and devices.
16. SugarSync
Access your Mac or PC from anywhere, anytime, viewing and sharing a variety of files. Back up an unlimited number of computers.
17. Local city real time traffic reports
Detailed, real-time traffic conditions with all the usual radio information—what happened, how bad it is, time it happened—plus a map and GPS location.
18. Language Translator
Translates more than 20 languages through the Google language translator.
Flightstats.com data, fitted like a glove to your iPhone. Check out delay info to see if you can sleep in or languish a little longer. http://www.flightstats.com/go/Home/home.do
20. PackageTrackr
Tracks your package through UPS, FedEx, DHL, the US Postal Service, and more. Handy for planning purposes.
21. Map Mailer
Send Google maps locations via email by clicking on a map location, entering text, and sending. Emails come with links to Google Maps. Twice the accuracy and half the cell phone calls for finding colleagues and friends.
Search for jobs on the go through CareerBuilder’s website. Use geolocation to find a job near your real-time location.
23. CheckPlease
Easy restaurant price/tip calculator that spits out tip amounts and cost per person.
24. Cards
Stores credit- and ATM card details, as well as bank account information. Just don’t ever forget the encryption password—it’s not retrievable.
25. Balance
Track your budget or bank account balance. Obsoletes the manual checkbook balancing method, but doesn’t (yet) come with password protection.
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iPhone officially coming to Russia via MegaFon & Vimplecom
September 2nd, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Following weeks of speculation, it is finally official; the Apple iPhone is finally legally coming to Russia.
MegaFon, the third largest mobile carrier in Russia has announced that it will begin selling the device in Russia before the Christmas holiday but did not add any further details about the deal.
Despite never officially being released in the nation, unauthorized sales have been growing exponentially with industry experts saying sales of unlocked iPhones are at about 20,000 per month now in the country. With over 500,000 estimated iPhone users, Russia has the third largest population of iPhone owners in the world behind the US and China.
In a separate announcement, Vimplecom, Russia’s second largest carrier, announced they to had reached an agreement with Apple to sell the phone. Many expect the region’s largest carrier MTS to announce a similar deal in the next week.
Analysts believe however that sales may initially slow, as Russian buyers are normally put off by being locked to a certain network.
“Typically Russian operators are not strong handset sellers, and users prefer to buy handsets separately from their mobile contracts,” said Konstantin Belov, a telecoms analyst at UralSib. “But the iPhone is very popular, and if mobile operators start subsidizing it, they will probably see strong demand.”
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O2 announces Pay&Go iPhones plan to be released this month
September 1st, 2008 by iPhoneTechZone
Mobile Carrier 
will be releasing the iPhone 3G on their Pay As You Go tariffs this month. As of September 16th, if you’re willing to part with £350 for the privilege of having to top up your 8GB iPhone or £400 of your english pounds for the 16GB flavour.
The PAYG phones will be sold by O2, Apple and The Carphone Warehouse.
O2 have revealed that all purchases come with 12 months unlimited browsing, as opposed to the contract variety where you get unlimited browsing anyway. Owners will still be held to an “excessive usage” policy, so unfortunately, that means you’ll have to put your porn on your phone before leaving the house rather than streaming it.
After the year of free usage is up, PAYG iPhone owners will have to pay £10 a month to keep the unlimited browsing privilege.
Unlimited Wi-Fi is included for the first 12 months after activation also.
The handset will come with a SIM initially linked to O2’s Favourite Place tariff and users will get free calls to other O2 handsets.
O2 have said that buyers will be able to switch tariffs - if they don’t, then their call time will depend on how much they top up their account each month: 500 minutes if they pay £10-14; £15-29 a month grants 1000 minutes; spending more than £30 gives unlimited minutes.
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