Okay all you major league baseball fans, once again the ever popular At Bat application is available for download at the Apple app store.  You can purchase this app for the one-time charge of $14.99, and it is ready now so you will be able to keep up with all of your favorite baseball teams.  The application allows baseball fans to keep track of their home team, as well as other teams and how they are doing in the standings.  With opening day just around the corner you may want to think about getting this application now so you can keep up with all of the current news or in spring training and the exhibition games.

This application let you catch all of the games that matter where you are.  You can either listen or watch the games on your unlocked iPhone, but just the careful if you are doing this to work!  This app is especially great for those that have moved away from their favorite teams and do not want to miss any of the games in their local market.  It also gives you the most up-to-date information about other games and scores as well as player information and statistics.  It will also give you highlights of games, as well as to be able to notify you based on your input.  This app has won the best multimedia app from MacWorld, and was named most valuable application of 2009 by Sports Illustrated.

This year’s version we even allow you to listen or watch to spring training and give you all the breaking news in regard to player trades and other major league baseball news.  It will take you all the way through the playoffs and World Series as well.  And for all of those that have Blackberry cell phones or android mobile devices, you will also be able to download the application as well.  Check out the At Bat 2010 at your app store, and do not miss one inning of your favorite team.

The question today is whether or not cell phones are actually used for making calls.  This is been something that’s been on my mind for quite a while and I thought I might take a few minutes to do some pulmonary research to see if my suspicions were true.  With all the amazing things that are touchscreen smart phones, such as the iPhone can do, I began to think that perhaps we are not even using our cell phones to make that traditional phone call.

I was browsing the web from my traditional PC, as I stumbled upon an article on the online version of the Wall Street Journal.  This begins to give me some general information that perhaps I was on the right track and that we are not using our cell phones for calls.  The article centered on some Harvard students that are involved in developing a new application geared towards those attending this illustrious school.  However, halfway through the article the conversation turned towards the fact that many of these students do not use their cell phone to make telephone calls.  Matter of fact, one student that was interviewed had to stop for a moment, as she had to think whether or not one of her friends had the ability to send and receive e-mail via her cell phone.  The student had to actually call using her cell phone, something that she does not do but maybe once a week.  The student stated that normally they would use their cell phones to call home and other than that they only use them to send e-mail and text message.

So I began to think, surely there would be some statistics that would back up the fact that no one really uses her cell phone anymore to make telephone calls.  And I was right.  I found a report, even though it is slightly outdated, from the Nielson Company, 2008 that began to show some interesting facts.  The average number of calls back in 2006 per month was 198 per person and those same people received 65 text messages.  By the end of second quarter 2008 these numbers changed dramatically.  The estimated number of monthly text messages was 357 as compared to the 204 monthly phone calls.  I would imagine that if we had up-to-date statistics today we would see that our cell phones are predominantly used to send and receive text and e-mail, and that probably less than 30% of a mobile phones use is for actual telephoning.  Hopefully I will be able to find an updated statistical report that will prove my original theory.  My unlocked iPhone can help me do this as my PC is too slow!

It looks like the new iControlPad for the iPhone has gone into production.  This will allow everyone to enjoy a their games for the iPhone a bit easier as you will not have to any longer worry about the touchscreen to control your games.  The new controller will be available in two different models.  One will have an internal battery that you will also be a will to charge your phone with and another one that will be less expensive and will not have the battery.  Other than that they will both have the same game controls.  It will have the two analog controllers as well as the typical ABXY buttons and of course the selected start button.  There is no release date yet, and so far, no one is quite sure how much this is going to cost.

This comes on the heels of the announcement on February 24 that Apple iTunes had its 10 billion songs downloaded.  This is a culmination of seven years worth of songs being downloaded, and the rate that we have seen people using iTunes means that we will probably see the 20th billion download for years from now.  Apple recently acquired Lala, which is an online music streaming company.  This company has enabled users to be able to download a track free for the first time and only charging $.10 per track of their unlimited streams.  This may be a way for Apple to hit that new milestone fairly quickly especially with their iPhone unlocked cell phone users.

In other iPhone news, iTunes recently removed over 5000 apps that were deemed to be offensive.  This came as a response to the many complaints from women that found much of the content to be very degrading.  This is also are sponsored to the numerous complaints from parents that were not very happy with some of the applications that their children were able to have access to.  There was a rumor that Apple was going to have an explicit content area to be able to satisfy some of the complaints from the developers who are losing thousands of dollars a day.  This seems to be a rumor as no response has been forthcoming from Apple.  Apple does not seem to want to deal with explicit applications and wants to keep their app store much more family-friendly.  They did introduce some parental controls, but it seems as though the number of adult rated apps were far more than what Apple was comfortable having.

This past week, RealVNC released the VNC Viewer.  This application for the iPhone 3Gs unlocked will give users the ability to access and even control their PC or laptop computers.   You can do this from just about anywhere.  It is downloaded at the Apple App store and it will run applications, access documents with any Mac, Windows, Linux or UNIX computer.

The Apple iPhone have just become mobile troubleshooters.  Just imagine that you can test, install, uninstall programs, and check desktops or servers and other issues.  This will be terrific for those system managers.  They will no longer have to run to the office to fix a problem.

People using this application on their iPhone will need to make sure that they are using VNC Enterprise Edition on their personal computer or laptop in order to be able to access it.  Since it has very intense security features, you will not have to worry about that particular issue.  Using your mobile device, you will be able to use touch, tap and drag to access features of the computer.  It also has the mouse mode if you are more comfortable with this method.  You will be able to scroll left, right, up and down as well as be able to scroll, all from your touchscreen.  You simple enter text right from your touch screen or slid out keyboard.  There are also buttons for shift, Ctrl, Alt and delete, just like your PC or laptop keyboard.

This really makes the iPhone a mobile office.  To be able to remotely access all of the information on your computer will enable you to be much more productive.  With a $10 price tag, this makes it one of the best applications as of yet.  How many times have you wished you had a document with you at home?  Now you will be able to remotely access it with a touch of a button.

The double set of rules that text messaging has had, tweens vs. adult, seems to have blown up in our faces. While text messaging was just beginning, our teens had it all figured out and a language to go with it. The problems began when in no time, our tweens became adults and the etiquette rules are a quite a few years behind in concern.

Sure most adults understand texting while engaging in conversations with other people, out on a date, while others may be sleeping, or before someone has had their morning coffee is not OK. But there are a huge number of adults that have not been adults for very long. Texting all night long is probably a crime comparable to the phone cord pulled into your bedroom, or that first iPhone unlocked cell phone under your covers so your parents would not know you were talking to your best friend for hours at a time. So, to try to understand, tween habits die hard and hopefully a little guidance from some not-so-tween adults can help.

On a personal level: Text message etiquette while you are with other people, dining, talking, or just hanging out watching a movie or the game on your tv is to enjoy the actual people you are with. If you really cannot live without your text buddy for an hour or two, then go be with them and leave the rest of the one-on-one interactors on their own. An occasional text is fine, especially when you get a new Apple 3G iPhone, but a steady stream of texting when with other people is just simply rude.

On a business level: You will not get a job if you check your phone for a text while interviewing. Shutting your phone off for an important interaction is the best policy. Texting at work is unacceptable, if you are getting paid by the hour forget it. Although some employers do use texting for communication, drawing a business and personal line in the sand will keep your sanity in tack for both parties.

Texting may be common sense for some, but when you grew up with the words unlimited text messaging being a literal meaning as an adult you may need some help. Perhaps some day these suggestions will be outdated and totally wrong, but today we still need to stick by some standard of text message etiquette for people to follow.

By now we all know that Apple has an event planned for January 27th, 2010 and the rumors about what was going to be announced have been running rampant.

Well now it looks like BoyGeniusReport has received some info from an Apple contact regarding the iPhone 4.0 operating system.

According to BGR

• There will be multi-touch gestures OS-wide. (Would make sense for that as the rumored OS for the iTablet is close if not the same as the iPhone)
• “A few new ways” to run applications in the background — multitasking.
• Many graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient. We haven’t had this broken down, but we can only hope for improved notifications, a refreshed homescreen, etc.
• The update will supposedly be available for only the iPhone 3G and 3GS, but will “put them ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers” more than any other phone to date. Everyone is “really excited.”
• The last piece of information is the most vague, but apparently there will be some brand new syncing ability for the contacts and calendar applications.

From the sounds of it the 4.0 software will finally give users some things they wanted, but anyone still using the original iPhone 2G will unfortunately not be able to upgrade.

Until January 27th we guess everyone will just have to sit tight and wait

It’s official today.  The Apple iPhone has been finally unlocked.  A few months after Apple updated the iPhone to version 3.1 Engadget finally announces that unlock is available.

This means that PureMobile will have unlocked iPhones again soon.  This means that you are no longer tied to a specific carrier.  If you want to change your GSM carrier you can and now bring your iPhone 3Gs with you with you.

It is official; the two remaining major players in the Canadian mobile phone industry will carry the iPhone. In two separate news releases, Bell Canada and Telus announced the launch of their new 3G network and partnerships with Apple that will allow them to carry the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. There is no official date set for the release but both corporate websites suggest it will be available in November.

With major mobile companies in Canada upgrading their network to support 3G, isn’t it time for Sprint and Verizon to do the same? We’re not sure but one thing is certain, they are missing a great opportunity with growing popularity of the iPhone. The fight should be over at this point and clearly 3G networks have won, it’s time to do right and get on the 3G bandwagon. The result for end users is more variety which in turn results in lower costs, more features and overall better innovation in Smartphones. Don’t hold your breathe but let’s see if Sprint and Verizon follow the lead of their northern counterparts.

[image courtesy: Mobiletor.com]

There’s an iPhone app out there for everything–finding a restaurant, amusing yourself on a long bus ride, pretending you’re a Jedi complete with lightsaber. But few of us ever think that one app could mean the difference between life and death. Here’s a list of apps that will take you from accident waiting to happen to survivor extraordinaire. So pick up an iPhone 3GS and prepare to be saved.

Here it goes:

1. Emergency Preparedness Checklist

As the saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The Emergency Preparedness Checklist is a 59-point checklist that helps you prepare for any kind of emergency. Get advice on how to create an emergency plan, what disaster supplies you can’t do without and important steps you need to take in the event of an evacuation.

2. iSurvive Wilderness Support

You’re lost in the woods and don’t know what to do. Don’t panic. iSurvive contains all of the information essential to your survival. In easy to understand language and detailed diagrams, this app will tell you how to tie knots, construct a shelter, set a snare and so much more.

3. Emergency Radio

No one can predict when disaster will strike, but you can give yourself a head start if it does. Emergency radio lets you locate nearby frequencies, listen to police chatter and keeps you abreast of what’s really going on in case of calamity.

4. Pocket First Aid & CPR Guide

Heart attack? Choking? No problem. Pocket First Aid & CPR Guide is an extensive and easy to follow guide to life saving procedures. It has videos to teach you how to provide first aid, creates detailed medical profiles and contains up-to-date information from the American Heart Association.

5. iSOS – GPS emergency locator

You’ve just gotten into a car accident and you or someone else is seriously injured. What do you do? Use iSOS. This application reports your position to the police, medical services, family or friends and whoever else you program it to contact. After activation an e-mail is automatically sent with data you’ve included—name, age, document number, mobile number—as well as a link to Google Maps with your GPS position.

6. Airstrip OB

Airstrip is designed for doctors not patients, but it could still save your life one day. Developed specifically for Obstetricians and those involved with childbirth. It allows your doctor to track your vitals on the go and can send notices in the event of an emergency like cardiac arrest.

7. Diabetes Log

This application allows you to track glucose readings, food intake and medicine records; a must for any diabetic. Diabetes log lets you export records over CVS or e-mail and select the span of the records you want to view. The creators hope to soon include a function that lets you edit medication types and record classifications.

8. Pillbox

This app was created by the Community Health Network and allows you to keep track of your and your family’s medication list. It links all of your listed medications to an information database, lets you keep separate lists for each family member and stores a list of physicians associated with each profile.

9. PEPID

This application is a comprehensive and free toxicology resource. It allows you to spot poisonous plants, track dangerous drug interactions and includes a guide on how to identify and manage any toxicology emergency; everything from inhaled gases and occupational poisonings to drug abuses and medication overdoses. It’s great for the expert and layperson.

10. Smart-ICE

Designed by an EMS Director with over 30 years experience in emergency response, this program contains everything first responders and emergency room staff need to know to treat you effectively should you become incapacitated. A database of Allergies, medical history, emergency contacts and your express wishes will be at the fingertips of those people trying to save your life.

11. Escape Call

Okay, so maybe a bad date or a lame party isn’t exactly a life or death situation, but Escape Call can definitely stop you from wishing you were dead. In the past you had to rely on a trusted and loyal friend to call you mid-date to give you a polite excuse to flee the scene of the disaster. No more. Escape Call features ringing and call in progress screens that use names and photos from your phone’s address book. Because life is to short for stilted conversations.

So next time you’re stuck in a life-threatening or just plain uncomfortable situation, whip out your iPhone and grab a hold of that app life line. And if you don’t have an iPhone 3GS, maybe you can win one.

So it looks like there is a major exploit set to wreck havoc on the Apple iPhone.  This is for all Apple iPhones.  Wired.com is reporting on it and they are saying that “a hacker could control all the functions on the iPhone, such as e-mailing, dialing contacts — and, most alarmingly, sending more text messages to hijack even more iPhones.” This is really scary since from the sounds of it the person who hacks into your phone basically can do anything they want with your phone remotely.

The only thing you can do to prevent it apparently is turn off your iPhone and you know that you are being hacked if you receive a text message with a single square character according to Forbes.

At this point Apple has not issued any patch to prevent the exploit or commented on it as far as anyone has seen.  Also please remember as was stated in the Wired article “researchers informed Forbes of the SMS exploit, it’s worth noting they did not demonstrate it to Forbes.”  So until we actually see someones Apple iPhone or 3GS get hacked or Apple confirm it we have to say take it with a grain of salt.