iPhone

Report: AdMob alive and well in iPhone apps

AdMob may not be locked out of iPhone applications just yet.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that application developers using AdMob as their in-app advertising provider are having their applications approved by Apple without incident, despite Apple's decision to change the terms of the iPhone developer agreement in a way that appeared to ban AdMob. Back in June, AdMob lashed out at Apple for making this change, saying, "this change is not in the best interests of users or developers."

The change to the agreement said that developers were not allowed to use ad networks that … Read more

Creative's D200 plays big for a small Bluetooth speaker

Creative is hitching its wagon to Bluetooth in its bid to differentiate itself in this crowded speaker accessory category and is in the process of releasing several Bluetooth-enabled iPod speaker options, including the D200 ($130).

There really isn't a whole lot to this speaker. It's rather compact, measuring 3.9 inches high by 15.9 inches wide by 3.7 inches deep, and has a nice heft to it, weighing in at 3.6 pounds. Unlike the wraparound speaker grille of its step-up sibling, the $300 ZiiSound D5, this model only has cloth on the front of the … Read more

Compact with a kick: Creative's ZiiSound D5 Bluetooth speaker

As the iPhone-iPod audio docking systems move into a more mature phase, Creative is hitching its wagon to Bluetooth in a bid to differentiate itself in this crowded category. Bluetooth compatibility allows the wide range of A2DP devices--which includes iPhones, iPads, recent iPod Touch models, most recent smartphones, and many PCs--to stream audio wirelessly to the speaker. On the PC speaker side, Creative has the $130 Inspire S2 Bluetooth system, and now the company has bulked up its audio line with several Bluetooth-enabled iPod speaker options, including the ZiiSound D5, a higher-end model that retails for $300.

The nice thing … Read more

Apple: iPhone 4 signal bars can be wrong, fix ahead

Apple will issue a free software update "within a few weeks" to fix a reception problem affecting its newly released iPhone 4.

In a statement released early Friday, Apple said it was "stunned" to learn that a formula it had used to calculate the reception strength of its smartphone was wrong. Apple also said that customers can return undamaged iPhones within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

See also: "Poking holes in Apple's iPhone 4 antenna explanation"

Here's the text of Apple's Friday statement:

Dear iPhone 4 Users,

The … Read more

Google Voice newbies, start here

Once invitation-only, Google Voice's free telecommunications service for U.S. residents is now available to all. There are so many features, getting started can be confusing for first-timers. We won't walk you through every step--especially since Google has produced some good help files to explain your options--but we will point you in the right direction.

What is Google Voice?

Google Voice is best known for its visual voice mail features. If you miss a call, Google Voice uses computers to transcribe the voice message into text, which it can send to you via SMS or e-mail.

You can … Read more

Photo booth and a fun puzzler: iPhone apps of the week

If you're reading this blog (or really if you read any tech news at all), you've certainly heard about all the reception issues with the iPhone 4's external antenna. When the news broke here in the CNET offices in San Francisco, people were running around demonstrating (mostly successfully) how the iPhone 4 drops its signal if you hold it in just the right "death grip." I haven't experienced the connectivity problems personally, because I'm still waiting for my iPhone 4 to come in the mail, but clearly this has become a legitimate issue.

A number of fixes have been floating around the Web for those who don't want to fork out 30 extra bucks for the Apple recommended "Bumper." Some people are using large rubber bands and even those 99-cent "Live Strong"-type wristbands that were popular a couple of years ago, but even these quick-fixes cause problems with access to those buttons on the sides of the iPhone 4.

The guys over at MacFixIt found an alternative fix that seems to be working for some users. If you're an iPhone 4 user who has been experiencing these issues, check out MacFixIt. It might be just the thing to fix your iPhone 4 issues and if you're a Mac user, there's nothing wrong with knowing about a great site for common Mac hardware and software problems (shameless plug for a CNET site, but the folks over there really do know a lot about Apple hardware). Go ahead and check out the fix to see if it works for you, then report back here!

This week's apps include an iPhone 4-exclusive photo-taking app and a puzzle game remake that works great on any iPhone or iPod touch screen.… Read more

The Vapor: One slick iPhone 4 case

Element Case has made some high-end, high-stylin' protective cases for earlier iPhone models, and now it has one for the iPhone 4: The Vapor.

The picture really says it all, but you should know that according to Element, the Vapor "consists of a solid, CNCd aluminum frame made from aircraft-grade metals lined with a new, shock-absorbent liner material to protect and stylize." It's also designed, like most other cases, to address the iPhone "reception issues" by securely insulating the iPhone 4's frame "with a no-slip grip hold."

The Vapor comes in black, … Read more

Apple's first iAds hit the iPhone

The first day of July brings the first real-world glimpse of Apple's foray into mobile advertising.

As planned, iAds debuted on iOS 4-based devices on Thursday, with the first examples of Apple's program enabling advertisers to present interactive ads directly within iOS apps. Engadget has Dove's entry, starring Major League Baseball's Albert Pujols and Andy Pettitte.

There's also a YouTube video of Nissan Motor's interactive campaign for the new electric Leaf. It's essentially the same as the Leaf ad Steve Jobs demonstrated at its Worldwide Developers Conference last month. As promised, the ads … Read more

Turn a rubber wristband into an iPhone 4 bumper

There's one surefire way to solve the iPhone 4 antenna problem: don't let your hand or fingers come in contact with its metal band.

Easier said than done, right? Unless you're willing to constantly use the speakerphone, a headset, or a pair of gloves, your only viable option is to keep the iPhone in a case--or, as some have discovered, wrap it in a rubber "bumper."

iPhone Guru blogger Oliver Nelson crafted a clever DIY iPhone 4 bumper solution out of one of those rubber wristbands you probably have sitting in a junk drawer.

It'… Read more