I really hoped that the...

WordPress 1.3 for iPhone

...update would work for me. But, I'm still seeing the same error messages I've seen since around the 1.1 or 1.2 update. WordPress 1.0 worked fine with this blog back in summer 2008. The only significant change in the blog itself has been my updating it through various WordPress updates. However, since WordPress for iPhone requires WordPress 2.7 or newer, my blog engine updates (it is self hosted) should not be the problem.

I really hope I'm able to use WordPress for iPhone with my iPhone someday. It would be great to be able to post a photo or screenshot along with some text to my personal blog running WordPress.

I find this difficult (but not impossible) to believe... From the Guardian...

Nokia turns to Android in smartphone wars

Nokia's been using Sybian's S60 mobile OS platform for years (Symbian owned by Nokia). And, although Nokia's S60 based phones continue to be a leader in the worldwide smartphone market, it has not gained a foothold in the U.S. And, it has started to look dated in terms of its user interface (navigation, icons, etc.). As and end user it also seems to me that there are a lot of problems developing apps to run across the now fragmented Symbian S60 platform landscape. It seems that a significant number of apps I've either tried or wanted to try is not compatible with the N96 I've been using since December.

Moving from the S60 to Android could be a good thing for Nokia to do. But, is this speculation actually true? What do you think?

Photo courtesy of iFixit.com

If you've ever had to have an iPhone or iPod touch display replaced, you know this process can take anywhere from a few days to a week. However, Loopinsight reports that...

Apple retail stores can now replace broken iPhone screens

It doesn't say how long the process takes. So, you might still have to leave your device at the Apple Store. However, we can infer that the to/from shipping time is cut out of the picture reducing the turnaround by at least two days and perhaps more.

If you are a DIYer (Do It Yourself-er), you might want to take a look at this free repair guide from iFixit (who was nice enough to participate in two podcasts with me)...

Installing iPhone 3G Display

I don't know how PCMag.com's Michael Muchmore timed the various app tests in...

Why iPod Touch Owners Shouldn't Upgrade to OS 3.0

But, I'm accepting them at face value. If accurate (and I'm assuming the data is accurage), I interpret the findings in two ways:

1. The iPhone 3GS is even more blazing fast than I assumed
2. The 2nd generation iPod touch is much faster than the iPhone 3G and nearly as blazing fast as the 3GS even after the OS 3.0 upgrade

FYI regarding processor speed. Here's what is said to be true about it since Apple doesn't release this information.

iPhone 3G: 412MHz
iPod touch 2nd generation: 532MHz
iPhone 3GS: 600MHz

Here's one example from the article: Load weather app and fresh weather [data]
- iPhone 3GS: 1 second
- iPod touch w/OS 3.0: 3.3 seconds
- iPhone 3G w/OS 3.0: 7 seconds

Here's another common task: Load Twitterfon and refresh tweets
- iPhone 3GS: 6 seconds
- iPod touch: 6 seconds
- iPhone 3G: 13 seconds

So, although a 2nd generation iPod touch running OS 3.0 is slightly slower (in raw time, not percentage) than one running OS 2.2.1, it is still very fast and comparable to the iPhone 3GS. And, both are much faster than the pokey iPhone 3G I have :-)

While reading TechWeb's item about...

Apple Obliquely Addresses iPhone 3GS Overheating

...I started thinking about how it looks like we are going to have a very hot summer in my part of the world and that gadgets of all kinds of recommended operating temperatures might be tested a lot over the next few months.

The iPhone 3GS has an operating temperature range of 32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. You might be surprised how hot it actually is when standing, for example, in a large unshaded parking lot (think big box store parking lots) even if the reported temperature is far below 95. And, temperatures above 95 is not uncommon regardless of where you are standing in many parts of the U.S. during the summer months. So, you might want to reconsider turning on and using your iPhone hot areas for the next couple of months.

FYI: The 3GS' stored temperature (sitting around but not in use) is -4 to 113 degrees. So, don't leave your 3GS or other electronic gadgets in the car either.

TechWeb article's title...

Apple Planning Fix For iPhone SMS Flaw

...seems relatively benign at face value. Then, I read the article and pulled out these factoids that had me pause for thought...

- The person who found the problem, Charlie Miller, is the same person who has won the Pwn2Own contest at the CanSecWest security conference for the past two years. The contest is to see who can take control of a computer using only browser exploits. Mr. Miller has hacked through Apple's Safari browser on day 1 of the contest for the past two years. You can find the contest rules here.

- The SMS flaw can be used to run unauthorized code with full access to the iPhone

- Mr. Miller is presenting the technique at the Black Hat conference during the last week of July

The good news, however, is that Apple is said to be working on an OS 3.0 patch that will be available before the Black Hat conference starts.

Apple has a number of what some might think of as oddball design philosophies. One is their desire to rid the device world of all buttons. Their mouse started out with one button. Then, they hid that away in the nearly unusable (for me) Might Mouse. I tried it for a week since it came with my Mac and then put it away never to be seen again. They took the step of removing the keyboard entirely from the iPhone equation. And, this has been a major problem for people like me who would like to use a physical QWERTY keyboard to respond with email messages longer than a few finger pecked words or to write substantional notes.

Techweb reported that...

Apple Files Touchscreen-Related Patent Applications

This patent application has, among other things, feedback on screen keyboards in the form of vibration and audible noise. Personally, I don't want a noisy clicky iPhone. OK, sure this is probably adjustable and can be turned off. But, there goes that feedback if it is turned of. And, vibrations? Hmm. Although I'm guessing vibration will be dampened away from the screen itself, I can't help but wonder if this will also cause noise. And, it might be another source of draining the iPhone's battery.

It would be a lot easier if Apple would just add either a thumb keyboard model or the ability to use a Bluetooth keyboard. Even the Apple Newton has a physical keyboard accessory as an option.

30 of my iPhone apps were updated in the past week. Updates 1MB or larger are noted in parentheses. You may note that some of the apps listed were on one of my booted apps list. They are shown as updated because they were unsynced with my iPhone rather that completely removed from my iTunes app library.

Apps that do not have comments in the list below (12 of 24) indicates that the update is simply a bug fix release or an iPhone OS 3.0 compatibility update with, perphaps, some bug fixes.

1. Amazon Mobile 1.1.2

2. CameraBag 1.5.2

3. ComicZeal 2.19 (9.3MB)

4. Epocrates 2.70 (2.3MB) Off the counter medications included

5. Evernote 3.0.1 (1.8MB)

6. EveryTrail 2.5 Photos saved in higher res to camera roll. Post to Twitter. Bug fixes

7. Free Translator 1.0.16

8. fring 1.2.0.4 (1.8MB) Push notification support

9. I Love Katamara Lite 1.0.2 (31.4MB)

10. iHusky 3D Pet Lite 3.2 (9.6MB)

11. Iron Man: Aerial Assault 1.1 (34.4MB) Virtual D-pad control

12. Kindoms Live 1.3 (1.4MB)

13. Looptastic Producer 2.1.1 (14.5MB) Export recordings via WiFi

14. Mobile Translator 3.0.2 (1.2MB) Tutorial menu

15. NPR Addict 1.55

16. Pocket Express 4.4.1073 (3.3MB)

17. reMovem (free) 1.3.2 (1.2MB)

18.reQall 3.0 (2.4MB) Live maps. Push notifications. Add by voice. Auto info linking

19. RhinoBall 1.3 (37.2MB)

20. RoamBI - Visualizer 2.2 (3.4MB)

21. Skype 1.1 (3.7MB) SMS messages using Skype credit. Voicemail support. Improved dialing to conventional phones

22. TED 1.2

23. Topple 1.9.2 (18.6MB)

24. TV.com 1.3

25. Vlingo 1.0.3 (1MB)

26. VoiceBox Dialer 1.1.1

27. WebMD Mobile 1.2 (1.1MB)

28. WhitePages Mobile 1.3

29. WordPress 1.3

30. WritePad 2.0 (1.5MB)

Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

I've been thinking about which netbook to buy next. I'm leaning towards either the Asus Eee PC T91 touchscreen netbook or a Dell Mini 10 with an HD display. So, I didn't expect to find much personal interest in this item from EeeUser.com...

Customising Your 1000HE and the 1005HA Arrives

But, I was wrong... Martin points out that two version of the 1005HA are available in Amazon: One has a matte LCD display while the other has a glossy display. That sounds great so far since many people prefer one display type over the other. So, that's that, right? Choose a display type and you're done. But, no. Asus, or perhaps Amazon's buyer, decided these two models would have other significant differences.

1005HA VU1X: $349.99. Matte LCD display. 8.5-hour battery life. Atom N270 processor

1005HA-PU1X: $389.99. Glossy ("Color-Shine") LCD display. 10.5 hour battery life. Atom N280 processor

So, there you have it. If you prefer a matte screen (minimal reflection) you pay less but also get a shorter battery life and the older processor model. If you prefer the glossy screen (lots of reflections), you have to pay $40 more but get longer battery life and the newer processor. This just doesn't seem right to me.

Nokia Beta Labs announced...

Introducing Nokia Java Runtime 2.0 for S60

My first thought while reading the subject line was: Sounds good! Then, I read that this runtime update provides:

- One-click application installation
- Improved application launch user experience
- Improved execution performance

So, my next thought was: Wow, this is great!

Then, I read it has only been tested with:

- Nokia 5800 XpressMusic software versions 20.x.xxx and 21.x.xxx
- Nokia N97 software versions 10.x.xxx and 11.x.xxx

Phooey was the thought that came after reading that. So, if you are fortunate enough to have the two latest and greatest Nokia phones with touchscreen goodness, head over to...

Nokia Java Runtime 2.0 for S60

...to download and install the new Java runtime. Otherwise, keep moving on... there's nothing to see here...

Some situations have a good side and a bad side. On one hand, I was not happy to see that Visual Voicemail is currently unavailable message on my iPhone. On the other hand, I was thrilled to actually have service from AT&T Wireless instead of the dreaded "No Service" in the status area. I have numerous issues with AT&T service on my iPhone 3G. One of them has been voicemail messages that seem to emerge from hiding hours after they were sent. But, I didn't realize that AT&T was aware this is nationwide (U.S.) and that some people aren't receiving their voicemail until days later! PC World describes the experience of one frustrated iPhone user who chased down the problem...

AT&T Problems Can Delay iPhone Voicemail

Are you having frequent issues with visual voicemail issues on your iPhone? Have you contacted AT&T about it? Did you get the same story as the Glenn Tenney (the subject of PC World's article)?

I'm not enough of a Facebook user to say much about the current Facebook 2.5 for iPhone. As iPhone apps go, it looks ok to me, is stable and performs basic tasks as expected. However, I guess heavy-duty Facebook users want a lot more because there are 15 new features listed in this blog item about the upcoming...

Facebook for iPhone 3.0

Its developer says it is about 98% completed and expects to submit it to Apple in the near future. He also says that the frequently requested Push feature won't be in the 3.0 update. Here's what is though:

1. The "new" News Feed
2. Like
3. Events (including the ability to RSVP)
4. Notes
5. Pages
6. Create new photo albums
7. Upload photos to any album
8. Zoom into photos
9. Easier photo tagging
10. Profile Pictures albums
11. A new home screen for easy access to all your stuff, search, and notifications
12. Add your favorite profiles and pages to the home screen
13. Better Notifications (they link to the comments so you can reply)
14. Quickly call or text people right from the Friends page
15. Messages you are typing will be restored if you quit or are interrupted by a phone call

QuickPWN has a good concise summary of...

What's new in iPhone OS 3.1 beta?

The list isn't very long. But, there are at least two changes that most iPhone 3GS owners will welcome:

- Voice control works over Bluetooth
- Option to save original video after trimming a video

There's one change that is pretty much of a puzzle to me...

- iPhone vibrates when moving icon around

And, developers are probably happy to see that they will be able to use Apple's video editing interface from their own apps.

Screenshot courtesy of Automattic, Inc.

Straight from the WordPress for iPhone blog...

Version 1.3 is Live

A few weeks ago I noted that...

WordPress Founder Matt Mullenweg Says Their iPhone App is "Pretty Lame": Will Version 1.3 Rock?

So, is version 1.3 non-lame? It certainly appears so based on the screenshots. But, my problem has been that WordPress for iPhone refused to let me work with my WordPress based blogs since around the 1.1 or 1.2 update cycle. It worked fine before that with the same settings. I'm going to wait until the long weekend to try out version 1.3. I don't want to waste a half hour fussing with an app that still might not work for me.

WordPress 1.3 for iPhone (iTunes App Store)

Photos courtesy of PC World

PC World's Daniel Ionescu is a brave person. Why? I think it is nearly impossible to write a comparison article like...

Smartphone Palooza: 10 Hot Touchscreens Compared

...an emerge unscathed. You are bound to make judgement calls that are going to upset people if you didn't choose they phone they are using (and presumably like) right now. I encourage you to read the article. But, don't get upset if one of Daniel's choices isn't one of your current favorite touch screen smartphones. Note he doesn't pick a single winner. In fact, he picks pairs of winner in three broad categories: Storage space, photos and heavy text input (email, texting, twittering). The HTC Touch Pro2 (something I'm hoping to buy later this month) is one of the two "winners" in this last category. So, I wasn't upset by his picks :-)