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iPhone

Banned in Cupertino

Add one more headache for whoever is running Apple's App Store approval process: edgy books.

Books aren't a huge part of the App Store, but there are more than 600 titles for sale, ranging from classics to Japanese comic books. CNET's own David Carnoy has a new detective thriller out called Knife Music, but you won't find it on the App Store.

That's because when Carnoy enlisted a software developer to submit the book to the App Store, Apple rejected the book for containing "objectionable content," citing a clause in the iPhone SDK … Read more

Strong passwords fast

If devising secure passwords isn't your strong suit, this free password-creator is your answer. You can set the desired password length with the slide bar or, more interactively, by shaking the device to get your random number. You can also define passwords for hex encryption from the main interface. If you're the forgetful type, you can also e-mail the password to yourself as a back-up.

To its credit, the app gives you flexibility in including or excluding letters and special characters--though your password will be stronger with both. Still on our wish list are ways to manually set … Read more

Google refines search results on iPhone

After revamping the iPhone's presentation of Google search results last month, the Internet giant has spread the change more broadly on the Apple device.

Previously, the new Google search results were available only when people typed Google.com into the phone's browser, then performed the search. Now the results also appear when using Safari's built-in search box, which, given that it's one fewer slow-loading page away from results, is how I use the service.

Google announced the change on its Google Mobile blog. The new results also appear on the T-Mobile G1, which uses Google's Android operating system. … Read more

iPhone users love their Wi-Fi

A new report from the mobile advertising company Admob says that 42 percent of iPhone Internet requests came from Wi-Fi hot spots rather than AT&T's 3G wireless network in November. This is quite a bit higher than most Wi-Fi capable phones, which typically average about 10 to 20 percent.

Several bloggers say they think iPhone users are gravitating toward Wi-Fi more because AT&T's 3G network is not up to snuff. Om Malik at GigaOm said AT&T's 3G service was as unpredictable as Lindsay Lohan's mood.

But I don't really think that is the issue. Personally, I haven't had many problems accessing the data network from my iPhone in New York City. I have had dropped calls. But for the most part, whether I'm on Wi-Fi or AT&T's 3G network, downloading e-mail or accessing the Web from my phone works pretty well.

I think there are two reasons why iPhone users are opting for Wi-Fi when it's available. And these reasons could provide some interesting lessons for phone manufacturers and wireless carriers.

For one, accessing a Wi-Fi access point on the iPhone is easy. I have Wi-Fi access turned on on my phone. Whenever I fire up the browser or download e-mail, a list of available networks pops up. If I'm home or in a network I've already been on, most times the phone will automatically connect via Wi-Fi instead of the 3G network. I don't have to really think about it. It just happens. So most times, as a user, I'm not consciously deciding to use Wi-Fi or not.

But whether I choose a Wi-Fi network or not, downloads from the Wi-Fi network are noticeably faster, which is why I have the Wi-Fi option turned on in the first place.… Read more

CNET Live - Episode 84

Kind of all over the place, but it is, in fact, our last show until CES, January 8 and 9, live from Las Vegas. Visit ces.cnet.com for all the details.

Watch the show on CNET TV.

Things We Crave

The new CNET store has shirts, mugs, iPods, and more.

Warcraft-themed restaurant

iPosture

First Look

Apple 24-inch LCD Cinema Display

Best of the Web

Grocrio

Insider Secrets

What to do with your old gadgets

Your video calls

Shane in Nevada Has a computer that continually drops off his wireless network. He's tried upgrading firmware and trying new wireless … Read more

Light and strobes in a flash

Literally a flashlight of a different color, myLite goes beyond the majority of bland iPhone flashlight applications to bring you the full spectrum of colors and strobes, including SOS lighting and a lighter to get into the concert act. It's dead simple to operate, and you may one day find yourself needing its pulsing red rays as an emergency strobe or its neon green beacon to signal a friend in a crowded concert. At the very least, it will impress the kiddies and you'll be all set to host spontaneous dance parties.

Cool party favor or life-saving tool? You be the judge

So you're at a party late one night. You really hadn't planned on getting this drunk. Who knows, though, maybe you're not as drunk as you feel. Wouldn't it be great if there was some way to know just how drunk you are before you attempt to drive home?

OK, that was the basic setup right? I throw a hypothetical situation out there and then the next paragraph is supposed to read something like "Well Bob Loblaw feels the same way, and he has a solution for you called X". With this product, though, … Read more

Apple buys stake in mobile graphics chip designer

Apple has taken a small stake in a British chip designer, revealing how the company plans to power the graphics in future iPhones and iPod Touches.

Imagination announced Thursday that Apple has acquired a 3.6 percent stake in the company, which will only cost Apple 3.2 million pounds, or about $5 million. Imagination designs chip cores for a variety of applications, but its most prominent designs are its PowerVR cores for graphics in mobile phones.

That is believed to be the source of Apple's interest in the company, according to AppleInsider, which has tracked Apple's interest … Read more

'SimCity' arrives on the iPhone

To the stable of games for the iPhone, you can now add the legendary SimCity.

Electronic Arts' city-building game, priced at $9.99, is now available for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Users can take advantage of the touch-screen technology to design and construct their vision of an urban landscape.

MG Siegler at VentureBeat, who's had a chance to play with the game for a while, waxed enthusiastic about the touch-screen qualities and more--"SimCity is a very impressive game on the iPhone"--but warned of some lingering bugs from the game's demo period:… Read more