Headphones for iPhone Becoming More Important to Consumers
When Apple first released the now world famous iPhone, many users were startled to discover that the headphone jack would not fit standard headphones. As a result, they needed solutions that were custom designed for the iPhone. Some turned to adaptors, but other users wanted headphones that actually worked with their cherished mobile phone.
Headphone technology has long been a standard in consumer electronic devices, especially those of a portable nature. The portable cassette players of the 80’s and the portable CD players of the 90’s were important developments because they allowed consumers to transport their music along with them and listen to it privately. The emergence of the iPhone as a popular consumer device is due not only to its function as a communications device, industry experts say, but also because it allows users to listen to music while on the go. This crucial feature is believed to be largely responsible for the iPhone’s popularity because instead of carrying an MP3 player and a cell phone, users could carry one device that met all of their needs, a breakthrough in both mobile communications and portable music device technology.
With the arrival of high quality headphones for iPhone users, the market expanded to offer durable and high fidelity listening devices from a wide range of manufacturers. Now a variety of styles exist to suit the tastes of different consumers, some of whom want Bluetooth technology capable headsets that allow them a cord free experience. As the market expands, consumers are expected to demand increasingly more complex headphones, particularly as the iPhone rises in popularity as a music listening device.
In the current age of real time web searching, streaming video and instant MP3 downloads, consumers are expected to become ever more reliant on their mobile phones and Apple has poised its iPhone to lead the charge. This means more manufacturers will step forward to offer more products specifically tailored to the iPhone’s unique design, giving consumers precisely what they want at the price they’re willing to pay.
Experts agree that it will not be long before the iPhone ascends to the place that both the Walkman and the Discman once held as a generation’s primary music listening device.
Faceoff
Black Forest Interactive has released Faceoff, a 3D action game in the shooter category, for the iPhone. This original title features gameplay intended to take advantage of the popular handheld device’s unique capabilities by offering a physics based ball roller to keep players focused on the game’s action through touch based lock on to ease play, with a virtual pad control system being offered as an alternative to those who prefer that style of play controls.
Faceoff places players in a fictional setting where they are part of a resistance movement against a global a sinister race of secret agents called The Black Thorns bent on humanity’s demise. To battle a nuclear meltdown and save the world, players will need to make use of eight different weapons such as a Lightning Whip, Peashooter, Gatling Gun, Napalm Thrower and Heat Seeking Missles. The roamable missions will offer players 10 missions, each with its own boss for players to battle.
Black Forest Interactive is developing more content for the game to be released at a future date such as a global leaderboard, multiplayer capabilities and further missions for players to conquer.
The title is available for those with the iPhone or iPod Touch through Apple’s App Store for a 3 day introductory rate of $0.99, but it typically sells for $2.99.
Game Based on Showtime Series Dexter Now Available
The hit television series Dexter, now entering its fourth season on the Showtime cable channel, now has a game available for users of the iPhone. Dexter the Game is made by Mark Ecko Entertainment and will feature lead character Dexter Morgan (played by actor Michael C. Hall in the series), who works as a crime scene analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department on the show and has a side line habit as a serial killer himself. The series itself, a Showtime original, features Dexter investigating various violent crimes and analyzing evidence such as blood spatters and slides of biological evidence in order to help the homicide department track down the killers. The twist in the show is that Dexter leads a double life as a killer himself, stalking and executing the killers through his own methods as a way of serving justice. In the game, players will be using their own sleuthing skills to analyze evidence and decide if the criminals should be apprehended by the justice system or subject to what the show calls ‘the Dark Passenger’, meaning that Dexter murders those he finds guilty. With a 3D gaming environment and an action adventure theme, the game will be available for download in the Apple App Store at a price of $5.99.
Spotify Allows Users to Stream Music to iPhone
A new app from Swedish music streaming service, Spotify, allows users who purchase a £10 subscription to listen to unlimited songs from the reportedly vast library of music the company offers. The app not only enables users to search out new music, it also allows them to store playlists on their phone for times when there are no connections available to them such as when they are on a plane or underground.
The company has been seen as a rival to Apple’s iTunes because it offers an alternative model of music sales that many in the industry believe could be a viable and competitive way to sell songs online. The Spotify music library contains millions of tracks and the company has over two million subscribers in the UK alone, with over six million subscribers having been garnered across Europe since it began only a year ago.
The Spotify app is available for free via download for Spotify Premium subscribers at the Apple App store. The company has plans in place to expand into the US by the end of 2009. It is expected that the US market will be readily open to the idea of subscribing to a music service due to the popularity of the now outlawed file sharing networks that experienced such heavy traffic due to music trading.
MySpace Mobsters
In a move many in the app industry are calling pure genius, the extraordinarily popular social networking game Mobsters is being ported to iPhone as a title called Mobsters: Big Apple. This mafia themed social RPG game has already become the most popular game on MySpace, boasting over 13 and a half million installs on that network.
The entire game, including all of its features and huge community will be completely ported to the iPhone. Players will still be able to do their old favorite activities like buy ammo, rob convenience stores and buy getaway cars. On top of what they already know from MySpace, a “Mysterious Mr. X Missions” addition will help gamers cross over to the iPhone where they will enjoy a deeper, more complex game play experience that still allows them to play on both their iPhone and MySpace, seeing results of game play in both places.
On missions that require extra players, iPhone users will be able to use their friends from MySpace or play through missions for hired guns. Playdom has stated that they are dedicated to keeping Mobsters: Big Apple the most content rich mafia game on the iPhone. The game will run on any iPhone running OS 2.2.1 or later.
Order from Pizza Hut with Your iPhone
With an iPhone app coming out for seemingly every conceivable activity you might want to do, it’s no surprise that there would be one to come for ordering pizza. That’s right, thanks to modern technology you can now order a range of food from this well known pizza franchise.
“We recognize that there’s something big going on,” Bernard Acoca, Pizza Hut’s senior director of digital marketing was quoted as saying, “Apple’s technology platform enabled us to create an experience for our customers that makes ordering easier, faster and more fun.”
With over 1.5 billion apps downloaded by user of the iPhone, it isn’t surprising to hear this. Pizza Hut has traditionally embraced innovation, being one of the first pizza restaurant chains to offer pizza deliveries ordered over the internet.
The Pizza Hut app will play like a video game, allowing users to utilize the iPhone’s technology to create their own pizza by dragging and dropping their favorite toppings, shake the virtual Chicken Wings and even take a sale coupon from a refrigerator within the app.
Pizza Hut hopes that consumers will want to enjoy the game and be motivated to buy more products, all while having an entertaining time doing so.
The iPhone Moves From Hype To Reality
After months of waiting the newest generation is here. The iPhone SO 3.0 is the latest in smartphone technology, offering a range of features designed for increased functionality and convenience in 3G.
The first launch came on Wednesday, with the release of the OS 3.0 software, the new platform update for the iPhone. Specifically created to offer new features for iPhone users, as well as addressing some of the security concerns in former models, the OS v3 has already become one of the most downloaded updates online.
The second release was today’s beginning sales of the newest iPhone model, which has been highly anticipated for months. The reviews have been positive, and it is clear that once again Apple has produced a more than successful phone. While the sales may be slightly behind those of smartphone predecessor, it’s finishing numbers as Sunday draws to a close are still sure to be high, with hype having engrossed the country since the original announcement of this newest iPhone evolution.
OurStage Radio
OurStage Radio is a new iPhone application from OurStage that can be used to find and listen to new songs by emerging and indie music artists from a wide array of music genres. OurStage radio app also allows iPhone users to evaluate the songs that they listen to, using a thumbs-up thumbs-down feature. Moreover, the app makes new song recommendations to the user based on their music preferences. OurStage Radio is a free app and is currently available at the app store.
Mobileyes
A free app called Mobileyes has been released for the iPhone by 3rd Dimension Inc that allows iPhone users in various cities to access live traffic cameras. Through Mobileyes, iPhone users can see how traffic is moving in various areas and can use the information to avoid traffic jams and choose the optimal routes to travel. A user can also choose between low, medium, and high resolution images. Mobileyes currently covers many large U.S cities including New York, Houston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Washington among others with more cities to be covered in the future.
iPhone 3G Users Report Dropped Call Problems
According to various sources, many iPhone 3G customers in USA and Europe have been experiencing connection failures during calls. The problem commonly occurs when the iPhone attempts to move to another network from 3G. According to some experts, the 3G chipset provided by German chipmaker Infineon Technologies is to blame.
Roger Entner of Nielsen IAG recently mentioned that the problem occurs in every market where the iPhone 3G is being sold and pointed out that it is probably a problem with the iPhone 3G device rather than any particular network. Apple has released a software fix which is available now. A recall of iPhone 3G devices might be necessary if the problem isn’t solved by a software fix. This could spell big trouble for Apple. However Roger noted that it would be an unlikely occurrence.