Skype’s official iPhone client is in the App Store tomorrow, but with a feature list like this… should I really be that excited? At least BlackBerry users will have to wait until May to be disappointed.

The Skype app will include free Skype-to-Skype calls, SkypeOut support, a new interface, and instant messaging. The only feature that is kinda exciting is the support for 2G iPod Touches with external mics.

The real let down isn’t necessarily the Skype app, I suppose, but the App Store ban on voice over IP over 3G. Skype has to be used over a wireless network… =( Also, Gizmodo points out that, “You can’t even top up your SkypeOut account or purchase other services like voicemail, which, by the way, can’t be accessed from the app.”

I don’t wish Skype any ill-will, I’d just much rather them wait till Apple lifts the “Voice-out-IP-over-3G” ban and come out with an all singning, all dancing app that really shows off what a great service Skype is, rather than a half-baked app that is redundant with other third party apps. For instance, Fring has been doing all the things the NEW Skype app does and multiprotocol (including AIM) IMing for over a year. It’s about time two things happen:

1) Apple needs to hurry out their 3.0 firmware (which includes some apps being able to run in the background, maybe lifting the VOIP/SIP over 3G ban)

2) Skype needs to take a hint from Gizmo Project. I have their app on my Nokia N73. Basically, when you make a call, they call you and connect your call. VOILA! Problem solved. VOIP anywhere.

Skype told CNET that their app will have better voice quality (and probably lower latency), but aside from that was unable to offer many significant advantages over other apps. In my opinion, Skype should have just bought FRING and rebranded it. [via Gizmodo via CNET and NYT —Images from CNET]

Apple, Iphone, Iphone Apps Apple, Gadgets, Iphone, iphone apple apps, skype

As I type this, I am going 70 MPH down I-85 in South Carolina… mind you, I am a passenger, but still it is quite a rush. How is this possible you might ask? Well, without too much “technobabble”, it is called “tethering” and it’s simpler than you might think!

Before you start, make sure you back up everything on your iPhone in iTunes, also, while the chances of this messing up anything permanently are pretty low, remember, I’m not responsible if you mess up your phone. READ EVERYTHING TWICE!

     1. Head over to the Dev-Team Blog and download the latest version of PwnageTool, I downloaded 2.2.5 for my Mac. Make sure you are updated to iPhone version 2.2.1 via iTunes before you try to jailbreak. Once you have it downloaded, fire it up and choose which iPhone version you have 2G or 3G (or iPod Touch if you want to jailbreak it) and follow the steps, it is pretty straight forward. You will be asked to power your iPhone off and hold certain buttons, once that is finished, you are ready to restore in iTunes.

     2. iTunes should recognize your iPhone in recovery mode and offer to let you restore the firmware. What you need to do on a Mac is hold down the ALT/Option key then when you click the restore firmware button, you’ll get to select the file that was created by PwnageTool, it should be on your desktop. Mine was called: iPhone1,2_2.2.1_5H11_Custom_Restore.ipsw, yours may be different.

     3. iTunes will then offer to restore your iPhone with the back up you made earlier and copy all your apps, songs, and movies back onto your iPhone. Go take a little break, this sometimes takes a while.

     4. Once your phone is done syncing, look through your apps on your iPhone and you will see Cydia. Open it. Click Developer (no filtering), and then search for PDANet, click on it and the then click install on the top right. Once installed, move back over to your computer, click on wireless network settings and then create network. Name it whatever you want. I named mine iPhone.

     5. Go back you your iPhone go into settings and join the network you created on your laptop and then open PDANet and you should be online at blazing 3G speeds!

Comment below, I’d like to hear your thoughts and if this was helpful, consider buying me a coffee

Just a friendly reminder: Tethering is against AT&T terms of service, but I’ve never had any problems. Stick to internet browsing, data is data… still… no torrents or hulu just to be safe

Apple, Hacks and Mods, Iphone, Iphone Apps, Xbox 2.2.1, Apple, Dev-team, hacks, internet, Iphone, ipod, jailbreak, PDANet, tethering

This concept video showing possible ways Apple could improve iTunes when it comes to managing iPhone apps has been doing the rounds on the web for the past couple of days. Although, to our knowledge, the poster is in no way affiliated with Apple, the video provides some excellent, Apple-esque solutions to the currently poor app screen in iTunes.

1. Category sorting
Arrange applications like you do music and movies in iTunes by order of size and category, maybe even Cover Flow.

2. An end to upgrade mess
When you update an application or even sync new ones, your original Home Screen layout isn’t preserved. The result is an ugly mess and time wasted dragging apps to their proper place.

3. Home Screen folders
Drag and drop applications into folders you can name. One folder for games, one for social networking apps and so on.

4. Multiple direction Home Screens
At the moment you can swipe left and right but why not up and down too? That would provide the option to reach one of four screens in one swipe. [via iphonekungfu.com]

Apple, Iphone, Iphone Apps Apple, Apps, Declutter, Iphone, itunes, Organize

With more than 4,700 games in the App Store for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch, there are a lot of games to sort though — which are the ones you should buy and the ones you should steer clear of?

Here are Wired.com readers’ top-rated iPhone game picks:

10. JellyCar (Free) You guide your car through various courses trying to complete in the best time. The game uses ‘Jelly Physics,’ where your car bends, stretches and even breaks. It seems silly at first but after a few minutes, you’re hooked!	9. WordWarp ($1) Take six given letters and make as many words as possible in the time limit.
8. Cube Runner (Free) Free and highly addictive. It’s like old school Star Fox.	7. Tap Defense (Free) Set up turrets, then let the demons attack. It’s great for playing in short bursts.
6. Topple (Free) Fun, casual stacking game from the folks that made Rolando. Bought Rolando but seem to end up playing this free game more. It’s fast and fun and makes great use of the iPhone interface.

Top 5 after the jump:
Read more…

Apple, Gaming, Iphone, Iphone Apps Apple, cube runner, galcon, Gaming, ishoot, itunes, jelly car, lux, tap defence, topple, trism, wired, wordwarp, wurdle

If you haven’t heard of Smule’s smash hit Ocarina, then you haven’t used your iphone or ipod touch! Ocarina is one of the first great music applications in the iTunes App Store, actually allowing you to make real, honest to goodness music.

Making music is simple:

• Blow into your microphone to generate music
• Hold down combinations of the holes to change your pitch
• Tilt your phone from front to back to change the vibrato depth
• Tilt your phone from side to side to change the vibrato rate

“Ocarina of awesome”
appletell

“The Official Instrument of Zelda comes to the iPhone”
MacLife

Video after the jump.

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Iphone Apps iphone apple apps