iPhone Pandemic: spreading around the world at an alarming rate!

France’s iPhone carrier, Orange, announced today that they would be the carrier for the iPhone in a gaggle of European, Middle-Eastern and African countries later this year.  This adds Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Jordan, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, the Dominican Republic, and at least a few unnamed African countries to the recently announced Vodafone expansion into Australia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, India, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey.

Also worth noting is that there’s some overlap with carriers in at least four countries: Both Orange and Vodafone are now signed on as carriers in Egypt and Portugal, Orange and Swisscom are signed up for Switzerland and Vodaphone and Italia SpA will be providing for Italy.

While multiple carriers in certain countries is still a far cry from a totally open handset, it does put a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel for consumers who want some more choice in carriers, which should be the last hurdle for adopters once the 3G iPhone has been released.  Once the 3G and carrier-lockdown issues have been addressed, it will be mostly one group that refuses to switch.  They’re easily spotted by the ever-present dents in their thumbs.

iPhone DevCamp 2 this August

The iPhone DevCamp is back and with the official SDK now out, it should be even bigger than last year. The three day gathering is being held from August 1-3 at Adobe Systems in San Francisco and promises to be an intensive meeting of the minds for iPhone Developers, both web-based and native.

Attendees are expected to include Cocoa Touch developers, UI designers, web developers and testers, all working together over the three day event, in which attendees are greatly encouraged to form ad-hoc teams and collaborate on the next big iPhone app.

Though not in any way Affiliated with Apple, the DevCamp is most definitely playing by the rules and wants it known that Apple’s NDA for developers is to be respected but since the event is taking place a month after the 2.0 launch, we’re all hoping it doesn’t end up being an issue, as the non-disclosure is likely to be lifted after the pre-release period.

This year’s DevCamp also promises to have some very exciting things lined up for participants this year and we’ll certainly let you know what they are as they’re announced. In the meantime, brush up on those developer skills!

EDIT: If anyone would like more information, check out the official iPhone DevCamp site at www.iPhoneDevCamp.org

iPhoneFreak now listed on Alltop!

For your perusing pleasure, if you happen to use mac.Alltop.com to keep up with your Apple news, you can now find us listed there with all your other favorites, in one easy-to-use listing of all the Apple news worth reading, updated constantly.

If you haven’t been before, be sure to check it out. It’s the brain-child of Guy Kawasaki, one of the guys in charge of marketing the original Mac back in ‘84.

AT&T to iPhone users: No WiFi for you!

There’s been a bit of a hubbub lately concerning free AT&T Hotspot access for iPhone customers. Though nothing had been announced, an iPhone user discovered that, when he launched Safari on the iPhone at an AT&T Hotspot, he was given a login screen where he could put in his iPhone number and AT&T account password to get free access to the Hotspot via iPhone. This was, of course, reported all over the internet and the login screen quickly disappeared, leaving many to speculate that someone at AT&T had flipped a switch too soon.

This idea was reinforced a few days later when someone noticed that the iPhone rate plans on AT&T’s site suddenly listed access to AT&T Hotspots as an included feature. This, also, disappeared quite quickly.

As it turns out, this was a feature that was supposed have its official launch yesterday. Unfortunately, the launch seems to have been scrapped at the last minute. According to an internal AT&T Memo:

“The iPhone Wi-Fi offer that was scheduled to launch today has been canceled. Nothing has been announced by the company to our customers and will not impact existing customers. Additional communication will be provided if the status of the project changes.”

While that does suck, it at least leaves open the possibility that the service may be launched at a later date, possibly in order to let Steve announce it at his WWDC keynote June 9th (as if he isn’t going to have enough to talk about).

[via CrunchGear]

WebApp of the Week: deviantART iPhone Edition

For those of you who are unfamiliar with deviantART, deviantART is an "international online artist community." In layman's terms, deviantART is a place where artists (photographers, painters, graphic designers, animators, and even poets) from around the world can have their work visible to the world community. DeviantART is much like YouTube in the sense that it allows you to upload your own work (not videos), and then watch as people comment/critique it.

So how exactly does any of this relate to the iPhone/iTouch? Well, using your iPhone/iTouch you can now browse this magnificent collection of user-made artwork (at this point in time there are 56,395,305 "deviations," currently on the site. DeviantART "iPhone Edition" is a modified version of deviantART that retains many of the features found on the actual "computer-accessible" website.

deviantART iPhone Edition (iPhone/iTouch)

DeviantART logo: © 2008 deviantART Inc.

3G coming soon: More than just speculation

Amid rampant speculation over when the much awaited 3G iPhone will see the light of day, there has finally been a voice brave enough (or not-familiar-with-Steve enough) to make a declarative statement... and it’s from someone who would be almost certain to know for a fact.

Matthew Key, the Chairman and CEO of Telefónica Europe--the parent company of UK iPhone carrier O2--was asked when the 3G iPhone would be available.  He replied that he didn’t know when it would be available but stated that “...over the coming weeks we will do a joint announcement with Apple as Telefónica Group.”
“The coming weeks” is an awfully telling statement, especially with Steve taking the stage at WWDC in about 3 and a half weeks.  Obviously, Steve isn’t going to make a joint announcement with Key about the 3G iPhone at WWDC, it’s more likely that, immediately following WWDC, Steve will be making the usual rounds to the other carrier countries and making announcements on region-specific availability.  It only makes sense that the O2 group would be first after AT&T (and maybe Rogers).

It’s safe to say that it’s things like this that are why Apple tries not to partner with outside companies when they can avoid it.  In having no choice but to partner with large telecoms all over the world, Apple has no choice but to occasionally let some of their secrets outside of Cupertino.  And some people are just bad at keeping a secret.

Of course, we can expect a retraction any time now as Steve is likely to be dispatching his team of elite ninjas to remind Mr. Key that nothing exists until Steve speaks it into existence.

Looks like 10 Million was a bit of an understatement

In the same speech in which he introduced the world to the iPhone, Steve Jobs made the bold statement that he planned on selling 10 Million units in 2008 to achieve a 1% global market share.  At the time, even Mac-Acolytes like MacWorld magazine thought the goal was too lofty.  It seemed as if Steve had set the bar too high, that Apple would never be able to deliver.  When they announced 1.7 Million units sold in the first three months of the calendar year, more doubts were raised.  1.7 Million per quarter certainly doesn’t add up to 10 million, after all.  Things looked bleak for Steve’s grand iPhone plan, and the stock was reflecting it.

As the middle of the year approaches, however, it’s beginning to look like a whole new ball-game.  Deals are being struck with international carriers left and right, next month will see support for Enterprise users, not to mention officially sanctioned native 3rd party applications.  Soon after that (or maybe in tandem?) we can expect to see the long-awaited 3G iPhone.

Looking at all these factors, analysts from American Technology Research are seeing a much sunnier picture for the iPhone’s 2008 performance: they expect that the iPhone will exceed Steve’s grandiose expectations by almost 50%, with sales estimated at about 14.6 Million for the 2008 calendar year.  This raises its own problem, of course: it will embolden Microsoft to build the ZunePhone.

"iPhone Black" Now on AT&T's Website

AT&T now lists an option on their website allowing users to select an "iPhone Black," as opposed to the traditional brushed metal one.

This finding (made by an AppleInsider reader) only confirms what we have suspected for several months now, the new iPhone (3G) will in fact be black. It has yet to be determined whether or not the "traditional style" iPhone will be maintained, or if it will be phased out completely by the new black iPhone.

Note: It has yet to be confirmed by Apple/AT&T whether or not the new iPhone will actually be black, but there is a fair amount of evidence leading us in that direction.

[via AppleInsider]

Click image to enlarge
Image Courtesy of AppleInsider

*Update*: AT&T was apparently only using the "iPhone Black" text as a placeholder (the website was undergoing changes) and has removed it from their website.

New iPhone just Around the Corner: 50% off on all Speck iPhone Cases

Speck seems to be the first manufacturer to liquidate their iPhone case inventory in provision of a new iPhone. Are they doing this just because they’ve heard the rumors too? Or do they really have insider information? Have they received the recently leaked images showing a new iPhone form factor?

The recent shortages in different stores in New-York, UK and even online, show us that Apple also tries to keep very low iPhone inventories, to be ready for some sort of transition.

In all cases… if you own a 1st gen iPhone, you might want a take advantage of this deal. Even if Jobs announce a new groundbreaking 2nd generation iPhone in June, your iPhone will still work like a charm for a few more years. Protecting it adequately still make sense!

Speck - Thanks Brent!

The “iPhone goes International Fest” Continues: Singtel Confirms Singapore, Autralia, India and Philippines

In an other  “later this year” type of press release, Singtel says that it’s secured agreements to distribute Apple’s phone in four Asian countries including Singapore with SingTel mobile, Australia with Optus, Philippines with Globe Telecom and last but not least, India with Bharti Group.

In the last few weeks, Apple announced deals for releasing the iPhone in nothing less than 13 countries before year's end.

Source

Apple Store Online: Out of iPhones

Alright guys, I'll keep this short, online Apple stores (US/UK) are now officially out of stock of any model of the iPhone (8gb/16gb.) This just shows us how close they are coming to releasing the new 3G iPhone to the consumer market. If Apple does not restock their shelves soon with the 3Gs they will lose a good deal of business, from this we can infer a late May or early June release of the 3G.

Additionally, actual Apple Stores throughout the United States and Europe have run bone dry in terms of iPhones, in a few more weeks the 3G iPhones will be ours!

Realtime Twitter Search by Summize

If you're not into Twitter yet, then you should be. It couldn't be easier on the iPhone. It's blogging for those with little time, or those who are just plain lazy. It has the immediacy of text messaging, yet goes out to everyone who might come across it. It's a quick way to jot down that fleeting thought, overheard comment, or life ambition, and then share it with your friends and fellow Twits (that's probably not what they call themselves, but you get the idea).

That being said, if you're already tweeting your days away, then it's highly possible that you are finding enjoyment in reading what other people tweet. Now, instead of reading only the most recent posts from across Twitter, you can search for specific topics that interest you with this new Realtime Twitter Search tool from Summize. Want to read people's opinions about the latest summer blockbusters? Curious to get other people's reactions after the previous night's episode of "LOST"? Dying to determine how many other people might be eating salami at the same time as you? Search it!

Certainly there are those who look at this whole thing as being a waste of time, but I prefer to think of it as a bit of insight into today's society and our use of technology. If you're with me on this one, then go check it out. On your iPhone, go to summize.com to begin the fun of their Conversational Search.

iPhone Shortage in New York City

Thats right folks, the iPhone shortage is not just in Europe, but has crossed the Atlantic to the United States. An unnamed "staffer" at a New York City Apple Store (West 14th St.) disclosed to Gizmodo that "It's [the iPhone] [has] been out of stock all week."

This is just another telltale sign that the 3G is coming, and coming rather soon.

Be sure to check out our other articles reporting on the iPhone shortages throughout the world.

[via Gizmodo]

More "Leaked" 3G Pictures? Yes...

Alright, its getting kind of old, I agree, but these supposed "leaked" 3G iPhone pictures just keep coming.

These images of a supposed white 3G iPhone were "leaked" onto a unnamed Chinese iPhone forum. As opposed to other "leaked" images of the 3G we have seen, these pictures depict a glossy white iPhone instead of the black one.

The iPhone shown in these pictures fits the recently released specifications of the 3G iPhone. While I cannot say whether or not these "leaked" images are authentic or not, I can tell you that I think its just another hoax. What I mean by this is that I think this picture is just another picture of a first-generation iPhone with a glossy white protective case that has "custom" holes cut into it, but hey, thats just my opinion.

[via TUAW]

WebApp of the Week: hiHome

hiHome is a simple web application for the iPhone/iTouch that can be used to find property values via the real estate website, Zillow.

To use this web application all you must do is input the street address/city, state or ZIP code to get instant results. These results include square feet, Zillow's price estimate, the year built, when it was last sold (and at what price), how many bedrooms/bathrooms.

"v 1.1: Now you can see the properties you find using your iPhone’s built-in Google Maps application. Get directions to and from the property — even use the cell triangulation to help out!"

Check property values straight from your iPhone here