The iPod Nation

Handheld Games Corp. announced today that they have found the second generation iPod Touch to be the fastest for 3D gaming among all iPod Touch and iPhone models. Their new 3D TouchSports Tennis game, which is available for download at the Apple App Store for $4.99, seems to run the fastest when played on the second generation iPod Touch. In order to compensate for the varied performances among the different devices, Handheld Games Corp. had to implement different optimizations for the various iPod Touch and iPhone models. The differences in performance can be attributed to the different processor speeds as the second generation iPod Touch has a processor speed of 532MHz. In comparison, the iPhone 3G, original iPhone, and the first generation iPod Touch have a processor speed of 412MHz. But according to the tests, the first generation iPod Touch was shown to operate the slowest.

- Geoff

[Source: MacRumors]

A few analysts have looked over Steve Job’s adjusted revenue numbers he released last week, and it shows that iPod sales last quarter  were only 14.2% of Apple’s total revenue. This is down from 55.6% in the first quarter of 2006. Ever since that quarter, Apple’s iPod sales have been slowly diminishing. Check out the following graph:

Although sales of the iPod have been declining as of late, revenue numbers for Apple show that this dip in iPod sales have had little to no effect on revenue for Apple.

The only explanation I can come up with to the declining iPod sales is because the iPhone is doing so well. People are opting for an iPhone, which is basically just an iPod Touch with a phone built-in. So Apple really has nothing to worry about in terms of iPod sales, but I’m pretty sure Steve Jobs is still concerned over the sales of his baby. If it weren’t for the iPod, Apple wouldn’t experience the same success they are experiencing now. The iPod is what made Steve Jobs and help built the Apple selling machine.

- Geoff

[Source: CNNMoney]

Not that we really care about celebrities, but check out this picture of Halle Barry.

Yes, it indeed looks like a first-generation iPod Touch. It looks like Halle Barry couldn’t leave, what looks like a Blackberry, for an iPhone. So it seems she settled for an iPod Touch. But what is more interesting is the book she is holding in her hand. Diagnosis and Treatment for Multiple Personality Disorder. Hmm I wonder what that is for?

- Geoff

[Source: Macenstein]

A German site named AreaMobile, has just released a video comparing the HTC Touch HD against the Apple iPhone 3G. And from my great German translation, it seems as if the verdict is a positive one for the HTC Touch HD. But is it good enough to topple Apple’s iPhone 3G. You be the judge. Check out this video and tell us what you think:

- Geoff

[Source: Gizmodo]

With the release of Google’s Android yesterday, there have been several Tech experts who believe that Google’s Android is better than the iPhone. One went as far as to write up 11 reasons why the Google Android will beat out Apple’s iPhone. Dan Grabham of TechRadar wrote an article giving those 11 reasons. Check it out and tell us what you think:

11 ways Android will kick the iPhone’s ass

Start quaking in your boots, Steve. Or support some more stuff, up to you

So Android has arrived with the announcement of the T-Mobile G1. The HTC-manufactured phone certainly has a few nice touches, despite its lack of multi-touch (and with T-Mobile’s particular variant, no accelerometer).

But while this particular handset might not be the technology king to beat the iPhone, the potential’s there. And the OS looks super-hot. Here’s why Android can make its presence felt and could really threaten the iPhone. Read the rest of this entry »

It has been known for some time that Apple wants complete and total control over its own App store. This has been bad news for iPhone developers because Apple has been rejecting several iPhone Apps, such as Podcaster, due to “application confusion”. In addition, since iPhone developers started to rebel against Apple, Apple released a new SDK non-disclosure agreement, which also shuts the mouths of iPhone developers. This has been irritating for iPhone developers. But one iPhone developer isn’t complaining. Steve Demeter, the developer of the iPhone puzzle game Trism, has stated that he is quiting his job to work exclusively for Apple because he generated about $250,000 from selling his game for $4.99 at the Apple App store. This is even after Apple took out their 30%, which came out to $5,000. Demeter has been so content with Apple that he also stated that he doesn’t want to work on 3rd party applications for Google’s Android operating system. He said the following regarding Google’s Android:

“Do I want to be spending 6 months to write the game, and another 6 months making it compatible? If I had Trism available for Android, and there are 50 Android devices and every time one of them crashes (the users) contact me, do I want that?”

Currently, he hired four more people to work for him and they are currently are stationed in San Francisco and are presently working on 5 new iPhone games. Good news for him, still bad news for other iPhone Application developers. What will happen when Apple rejects one of his applications?

- Geoff

[Source: SiliconAlleyInsider]

Apple may have been harsh to outside iPhone Application developers, but they are trying their hardest to be open to 3rd part Apps. Apple has just announced their iPhone Developer University Program that will allow higher education institutions to offer classes on iPhone and iPod Touch application development and programming. With this program, iPhone developers would be able to take a class on iPhone programming and at the same time work within the constraint of Apple’s iPhone SDK non-disclosure agreement. Apple released the following statement:

The University Program provides a wealth of development resources, sophisticated tools for testing and debugging, and the ability to share applications within the same development team. Institutions can also submit applications for distribution in the App Store.

In addition to Apple’s iPhone Developer University Program, Stanford University is also jumping into the mix. Stanford has also announced that they are working on a project that makes several of their web-based services as iPhone applications. Stanford released the following statement regarding the project:

A suite of five software applications developed by students is now being tested on campus. Two of them, for managing course registration and bills, are intended for students. The other three will allow access to Stanford’s searchable campus map, get team scores and schedules, and check listings in the university’s online directory, StanfordWho.

Here are some screenshots of Stanford’s iPhone applications:

- Geoff

[Source: MacRumors]

Recently, a video has been released to show how Apple’s iPhone advertisements are deceptive and do not really showcase the speed of the iPhone. So how will Steve Jobs and Apple respond to these allegations? Check it out and let us know what you think.

- Geoff

[Source: AlleyInsider]

Do you just absolutely love Wii golf? Well now you don’t have to leave home without it. Social Gaming Network, a company based in Palo Alto, has just released iGolf. It is a iPhone application that works exactly like Wii Sports Gofling game. The application utlizes the iPhone’s accelerometer to detect a golf-like swing. So basically, you could swing your iPhone like you would do with a Wii remote control in order to hit the ball. You could challenge friends anywhere and save the scores of each player. But remember, hold on tight! You don’t want to launch your iPhone 350 yards away. Check out this trailer for the application.

- Geoff

[Source: TechCrunch]

It has been reported by Reuters that the Apple iPhone has just won the “Gadget of the Year” award from Stuff Magazine. The publication gives out the award each year and this year wasn’t easy for the iPhone. The Apple iPhone had to beat out the Microsoft Xbox 360, Wii Fit Add-on, and B&W’s Zeppelin iPod speakers. The Apple iPhone won the award in a year which dropped calls, unreliable 3G service, and crashing software downloads were rampant. This could explain why Stuff Magazine did not award the iPhone 3G the Editorial Staff’s choice of top gadget, which went to ASUS Eee PC.

- Geoff

[Source: MACNN]