Best Phone Blog

Flash is never a necessity, web browser can run without any problems even if you do not download a Flash player.  There are hundreds and thousands of websites all over the world that are made entirely in HTML, Java and CSS.

Still, the lack of Flash will render many sites and features unavailable.

One of the biggest missing features is video playback. Most of the video content that users will find on the internet is encoded in Flash format. While Apple’s H.264 has an impressive video compression rate and the quality is much better than FLV, there are only a few website that actually use the new format. Even YouTube which is slowly re-encoding content to H.264, still uses FLV as the default file format for users.

So what does this all mean for the Apple iPad? This means that the touch screen tablet will work great as an eBook reader, an apps platform, a media playback device, but as a browser, it is crippled.

There is no denying the fact that lack of Flash is a disadvantage. Despite being future proofed for HTML5 and H.264, the iPad is a device of today, not tomorrow. Given a choice between a tablet that can run Flash, AIR, HTML5 and H.264 –like the new Android tablet previewed at the Web 2.0 Expo, and the Apple iPad which is only limited to the last two formats, the Google device is the better choice.

Apple is simply making sales because Google has yet to release their device.

To answer the main question: yes, Flash is needed. There is no two ways about it. Apple may be prepared for the future, but they certainly lack the features that are needed here and now; and it would be a bad assumption to think that the iPad will still be Apple’s main tablet by the time that Flash is no longer used.

If you just cannot decide if you prefer the modern iPhone or the look of retro gadgets, well the iRetrofone Base may just be the thing for you. You can now convince your aging parents to trade in the old phone for your modern day iPhone by showing them the iRetrofone.

From Freehand Studios comes a handmade, sculpted and resin casted dock for your iPhone which looks like an old school telephone. This is made to be compatible with all of the available iPhone models and is meant to be able to charge as well as to sync the Apple device. A USB plug is not included, and of course an iPhone is not included (the site was very specific in stating this). This is the official description according to the Studios’ Etsy page:

“[The] handmade iRetrofone Base, sculpted and casted one at a time from resin. Designed to be compatible with all iPhones (not included) and retro handset. USB plug (not included) can be used to charge and sync with a computer. Easy to use, avoid radiation and looks cool.”

It looks to be a coveted item because due to high public demand, it is currently out of stock and is backordered. Not to worry though because the official site says that the iRetrofone will be shipping in around two weeks. The iRetrofone Base comes in three colors. Classic Black for that authentic retro vibe, clear black for those who want to mix it up with something modern and clear pink for those who prefer a girly feel.

The Base ships from the United States and costs just under 130 GBP. This is quite a pricey dock indeed, but if you would like to go retro, visit the Etsy site of Freehand Studios (http://www.etsy.com/listing/45436168/iretrofone-base) to check out how the Base looks.

More about the iRetrofone Base at Engadget.

There is no doubt that any news of a delay would be a sour note for any tech devotee that has been patiently awaiting the release of a device, but Apple takes the cake with the recently announced one month delay for the Apple iPad.

Originally, the touch screen tablet was meant to have a single worldwide launch. However, in the same week that it was reported that Apple was having troubles with their China based manufacturers, it was announced that the iPad would be released in the US first and later in the UK (and the rest of the world). While this was met with a few raised eyebrows, the tech community easily took in the explanation and awaited the official launch patiently.

The US release of the iPad pushed through on schedule last April 3 with thousands lining up in stores to purchase the new touch screen gizmo. Many others who pre-ordered the device were able to quickly try out the new product –leading to hundreds of unboxing videos and reviews of the device all over the internet. At this point, the rest of the world was just waiting to have a taste of the gadget.

Swallowing the wait is fine for many Apple fans. After all, it was announced beforehand that the iPad would not be coming out until the end of April. But to expect the very same fans to be content with an even further delay is too much for Apple. Considering the fact that the device is already available in the US, it is almost as if the folks at Cupertino are teasing the rest of the world with their new gadget.

It will take more than Apple’s “surprise” with large demand for the iPad to sate the angry mob of eagerly awaiting iPad fans.

Read more about the details of the iPad launch delay at Times Online UK.

The device already launched in the United States last April 3, however, if news sources are to be believed, it seems that Apple is unsure about being prepared for the worldwide launch of the touch screen tablet this coming April 24 and are considering delaying the launch until later this coming May.

The odd news comes to us courtesy from the folks at Stuff, who has stated that the new tentative launch date may be as far back as late in May –almost a full two months since the US launch. According to Apple, the reason for the delay is due to the need to produce more devices in order to keep up with the unforeseen demand for the product.

Though considering that there were previous reports about Apple having more than a million devices being prepared for launch, it is odd that they would delay the international launch of such a crucial product.

If anything, the US launch would have shown Apple that the iPad is a success, and whether they are able to keep up with demands or not, the world is already awaiting the launch of the device. In fact, some might even say that the reason why the US demand is currently so strong is because it is being bolstered by many international buyers who are having the device shipped outside of the US.

For those who missed out on the iPad launch, this is the very first standalone touch screen tablet device that serves as a unified media access device. It works as a web browser, an eBook reader, a media player and a gaming device. Users can also run iPad applications and it is compatible with apps for the iPhone and the iPod Touch.

Read more about the possible launch delay for the Apple iPad at Stuff TV

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It may seem like a major loss, but with over two years of connoted support from Apple, the first generation iPhone has finally met the end of its time. And a good time it was. Since the launch of the device over a couple of years ago, the device quickly became the recognizable touch screen smart phone in the whole world.

The iPhone operating system held a place as a new benchmark for how touch screen controls should be –how responsive and how intuitive a user interface must be in order to achieve the best user experience when navigating a device. The iconic black front and metallic back cover has become pop culture references and changed the world of smart phones the way the iPod changed the world of portable music devices.

Getting down to the hard numbers, the first gen iPhone already received two major OS updates and has lasted to be in use by the mobile phone industry for a length of time that very few other handsets have lived through. As a smart phone, the device has had a long lifespan –most Android and WinMo devices would be shoved out after the first major OS change it sees.

With the new iPhone 4G in the horizon, letting go of the old iPhone is a need that has become more and more apparent. The new features and capabilities of the OS will need hardware that the old iPhone cannot provide and if Apple is to stay on top of the mobile phone industry, they would need to stick with devices that can function and run with all of its features and capabilities in tow.

Owners of the first generation iPhone are encouraged to have their devices properly recycled when migrating to the upcoming iPhone 4G.

Read more about the first generation Apple iPhone at Stuff TV.

Just when we thought that the new iPhone 4.0 OS announcement was done, Apple unveiled the new SDK and of course, the license agreement.

In a very surprising move, Apple is risking the support of many developers by choosing to block out the use of third party software for developing iPhone apps. Clause 3.3.1 states that “Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited).”

Simply put, developers can no longer make use of the Adobe Flash Professional CS5 program in order to make their iPhone applications. This will definitely hamper the work progress for many developers. After all, Adobe’s software streamlines production time by making it easy to string together scripts with visual content in a familiar Flash environment. The output is then run through a compiler which makes the app compatible with the iPhone.

By taking out this process, developers could be facing a longer development time for their apps which would mean that the cost for producing apps may also increase.

Apple is confident that developers would be able to adapt with the change. While the tools that come with the SDK are considered to be more than sufficient, the limitation on allowed software would certainly be a heavy burden most particularly for independent and cross platform developers.

Considering that all that the new OS version brought with it was multitasking, this major change in the app development process is too much of a trade-off for many users.

Read more about the how Apple’s new license agreement is locking out Adobe at Mobile Choice UK.

To say that a single tablet could single handedly change the world for Apple would be too much, but it certainly gives the Cupertino based manufacturer and developer a solid leg up over Google in their continuous tech war.

The Apple iPad launched just a couple of day ago in the United States (April 3), and in the launch day alone, the sale numbers has hit a massive 300,000 units. In the span of a few days, that number has risen to about 700,000 units –according to some estimates. While the hard numbers has yet to be formally announced by Apple, many are confident that the figures would reach the 1 million mark by the end of the week; easily surpassing the predicted 1.2 million units in the first full quarter.

But why is the Apple iPad so successful? It is a very valid question since the device does not provide any other purpose or function that does not exist in other electronic devices. From browsing the web to reading eBooks to media playback, these are all features that can be found elsewhere.

The secret lies in the fact that the iPad is a simple device that turns all of the above functions, and more into very easy tasks to accomplish. Add in other features such as iWork which turns the tablet into a temporary workstation along with the maps, contacts and the many Apple apps and you have a fully functional media gizmo. Google has yet to announce if they will actually come up with their own Chrome tablet – though some rumors state that one might just be in the works.

For more details on the apps for the Apple iPad and what this could mean for the Apple and Google’s control for the web at the Australian IT.

It may seem like Elan Microelectronics is standing up for fellow Taiwan-based HTC with this new lawsuit. Elan is filing a single patent infringement case against Apple, and despite the fact that they have already filed a similar case against the American giant last year; there is also the fact that Elan filed the same lawsuit against Synaptics Inc and won.

In truth, Elan Microelectronics has nothing to do with HTC, though it is quite probable that Apple has painted a big red target on itself by attacking the small manufacturer in their fight against Google’s Android operating system.

Anyway, the lawsuit covers the use of multi touch technology. And while we were inclined to assume that this lawsuit would not do much against Apple, the fact that it won against Synaptics (responsible for many touch pad technologies and more) shows that there is more to this than meets the eye.

Even bigger are Elan’s demands: “Apple is violating Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, by importing its iPhone, iPod Touch, MacBook and Magic Mouse products into the United States, that infringe Elan’s U.S. Patent No. 5,825,352. (the “352 patent”). Elan also alleges that the importation of Apple’s iPad products, which Apple has indicated will be available to consumers on April 3, violates section 337. Elan is requesting that the ITC issue a permanent exclusion order barring the importation of those products into the United States, as well as a cease and desist order barring Apple from selling any of these products in the United States that it has already imported.”

Talk about going in for the kill. While many only assumed that this was exactly what Apple wanted to get from their lawsuit against HTC, the same deal is already being brought down upon them. Regardless of how this turns out, Apple will have to settle this soon or things will certainly get messy as stocks stop coming into the US.

Get to know more about the new lawsuit against Apple at the Consumerist.