Review: Firemail for iPhone

Our look at wide-format e-mail applications continues with Firemail, another promising option thanks to its clean interface, comfortable keyboard, and free price.

iPhone gets physical keyboard, wants to be normal again

Section: iPod + iTunes, iPod touch, iPhone + Communications, iPhoneMany asked for it, but I’m sure this isn’t what they wanted. I’m talking about the iPhone with physical keyboard. I don’t know what you think, but after watching this video, I just feel as though this iPhone has been violated. Of course, this isn’t a fair evaluation of a potential iPhone with physical keyboard. But if the new MacBooks are any indication of the future of Apple and buttons, then you can kiss that wish goodbye. I really don’t think the iPhone’s lack of a physical keyboard is a problem though. That’s not to say that the virtual keyboard is perfect either. What Apple needs to do is enable the widescreen keyboard system-wide. I know there could be issues with App Store apps and going horizontal, but at the very least Apple could update Mail. The widescreen keyboard itself could use a little work, too. The tiny area at the top to see what you are typing isn’t always large enough to be useful. I see a few solutions to this problem. First, the widescreen keyboard’s height could be made adjustable, though I don’t foresee Apple doing this. Here’s a silly idea. The next iPhone could have a slide out screen, instead of a slide out keyboard. The screen could be dedicated to user input like a real keyboard, but still retain it’s button flexibility. Ultimately, it would probably ruin the design, so that one’s out too. Or Apple could just make the screen bigger on the next batch of iDevices. I also think the iPhone needs haptic feedback. This could be in the form of light vibrations with each key press, which could be enabled with a firmware update to current iDevices. In the future, I hope Apple will work to develop even better technologies to deal with this issue. I fully believe in the idea of a virtual keyboard, and I really think it is better than a real one, at least for a device like the iPhone. There are some improvements that can and should be made, but that’s no different than most products. What do you think about the relationship between the iPhone and it’s keyboard? Do you wish it was more physical? What do you want to see from Apple in the future in relation to this issue? Via [CrunchGear] Full Story » | Written by Jake Gaecke for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Review: Wide-format e-mail apps for iPhone

One of the biggest complaints about the iPhone has been the lack of a landscape keyboard for applications other than Safari. Several third-party software makers have created apps that let you compose e-mails with a wide keyboard. Dan Frakes takes half-a-dozen out for a test drive.

Found Footage: Help test WordPress for iPhone 1.2

Have a WordPress blog? Own an iPhone or iPod touch? Have you been using WordPress for iPhone to update your blog from the comfort of your bathroom [insert your own visual image here]? The WordPress community has been hard at work on the next release of WordPress for iPhone, and it will contain a ton of new features including: Landscape mode with the extra wide keyboard Link creation help Support for editing and creating Pages Comment moderation Asynchronous publishing Photo resizing options A video of WordPress for iPhone 1.2 in action with a beta of WordPress 2.7 is available with a quick click on the video window at the top of this post. For more information, visit the WordPress for iPhone page. As with the previous versions, WordPress for iPhone 1.2 will be free. As soon as the beta test is complete and all bugs have been successfully squashed, the new version will be available via the App Store.TUAWFound Footage: Help test WordPress for iPhone 1.2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Get more juice out of your iPhone battery with FastMac’s battery extender

Section: iPhone + Communications, iPhone Accessories, iPhone Ever since getting unlimited texting, downloading all the new games from the App Store, and replying to all sorts of email, I have found the battery in my iPhone can run out of juice very quickly. A new product from FastMac aims to solve this very problem, and then some. The iV external battery pack, which plugs into the the bottom of your iPhone like a dock and molds to the phone, provides an additional 24 hours of talk time, 750 hours of standby, and 72 hours of audio playback. However, it gets better. The iV can also provide battery power to any other USB enabled gadgets that you have using its built-in USB port on the bottom. All in all, it adds only about an inch to the bottom of your iPhone. The iV aims to be more than just a battery, however. With a stroke of genius, the FastMac team has also added bright LED light to the back of their product. This light can not only help you find objects in the dark, it can also double as a flash for the iPhone camera. The iV comes with a 30 day guarantee as well as a nice trade-in program for future upgrades of the product. They sell for $79.95, so head on over and buy it while they’re in stock. Product [FastMac iV Battery Extender] Full Story » | Written by Josh Holat for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Apple misses September deadline for iPhone notifications

At WWDC, Apple promised to roll out a push notification system for iPhone apps in September, but that deadline has now passed.