Omio News Blog

iPhone On Tesco Mobile Confirmed For Xmas, Price War Imminent?

The mobile industry is alight with the news that the Apple iPhone is coming to Tesco Mobile in time for Christmas, according to the BBC’s Rory Cellan-Jones.

The technology reporter recently tweeted that the coveted smart phone is coming to the supermarket chain, and “hopefully” by the festive period according to Tesco’s PR.

Tariffs and pricing details regarding iPhone deals are set to follow, but there is already a registration page up for the 3GS model on the Tesco site, and every possibility we will be getting a bargain in our stocking if the touted price war finally arrives!

News as we get it…but buying an iPhone with your groceries is an exciting prospect!

iPhone On Orange – Deals Now Available On Omio!

If you weren’t quite ready to take the plunge with Apple’s much-loved device, we are pleased to now be able to offer a selection of the latest iPhone deals on our new dedicated page!

Go here to choose your ideal iPhone!

Our new deals page allows you to compare features by putting the iPhone 3G and the slick new iPhone 3GS side-by-side, browse deals from all of the networks and retailers (Vodafone coming soon!), as well as get an insight into what makes the iPhone tick with our selection of tips to get the most from your new phone!

Compare prices between networks and retailers (we now stock the Orange iPhone!), check out the latest Apple news and find out our choice of must-have apps on the new-look iPhone page!

This is one-stop resource for everything you need to know about the best Apple iPhone deals, be sure to stop by and have a look!

BREAKING NEWS: iTunes 9.0.2 Update Disables Palm Pre Sync…Again.

In a shocking twist to this seemingly endless game of cat-and-mouse, the latest update to Apple’s iTunes software (9.0.2) disables the ability of the Palm Pre to sync music and movies using the platform.

Whilst this latest update is said to offer all sorts of whizzy new features to iTunes 9 and improved support for Apple TV, an unfortunate side effect (if you are Palm) is that it has severed their connection once again…

Despite the diminutive handset having basic synching software of its own, Palm’s device has piggybacked off the popular iTunes service since launch, even making it a selling point to convince customers to defect from iPhone 3G and the House of Jobs.

At every turn Apple has attempted to thwart this, claiming that the Pre’s method of masquerading as an iPod to gain access was a violation of the use of the USB format.

Almost every iTunes update since has locked out the Pre from their digital download party, only for Palm to find a new way in with their own ‘Web OS’ software upgrades.

It is very likely that Palm will yet again try to restore the popular feature, as Apple’s big 9.0 update took their elite squad of ninjas mere hours to unravel.

Alternative apps for Pre synching do exist, but the robust nature and ease of use that iTunes offers for purchasing and transferring media is something even the most staunch Pre supporters find it tough to deny.

The strange dance continues…

Analysts Forsee iPhone Overtaking DS And PSP, App Pricing ‘A Dangerous Threat’ To Publishers

The iPhone 3GS may have dealt a serious shot in the arm to the potential of mobile gaming, but Apple’s device is set to bring  headaches for rival hardware platforms and game makers, according to industry analysts.

DFC analyst David Coles thinks that Sony’s PSP and the Nintendo DS have reached their peak, whilst the iPhone is still in its ascendancy and will control mobile gaming by 2014.

He predicts mobile gaming to gross £7.2 billion in revenue by 2014, with the iPhone and iPod touch cornering 24% of this lucrative market whilst we all float around on our holo-decks eating space chocolate, presumably.

Whilst the PSP and DS will still dominate, he feels “growth for these devices has peaked.”

More soothsaying than analysis we feel…the PSP has been out for over 4 years, whilst the DS has been through three iterations and is due to celebrate a fifth birthday.

Both are old-timers compared to the spritely iPhone, with cosmetic sequels like the DSi and PSP Go doing little to address the digital downloading and novel control methods that make Apple’s heavily hyped device a contender for next gen gaming on the go.

The software market is also under serious threat from the cheap and cheerful App Store, and according to vocal industry analyst Michael Pachter, the end is nigh:

“I think the iPod touch is the most dangerous thing that ever happened to the publishers, ever.”

Talking of the incredibly aggressive pricing structure of both the iPod touch and iPod/iPhone apps on Game Trailers’ Bonus Round show, Pachter paints a bleak picture for mobile games on a dedicated device.

“It’s going to be a different audience, it’s going to be young kids because iPod Touch is $199 this Christmas, it’ll be $149 next year,  $129.

When it’s $99, every nine year old kid is going to have one of those instead of a DS or a PSP, and if you train kids that this is the game that you want to play…

How about Tetris? Why would you pay $20 for Tetris when you can get it for $6.99 or $3.99 on iPod touch?”

Whilst I’ll happily splash almost £40 on the latest 360 or PS3 title, I feel my wallet getting tighter if an app costs more than 3 quid…he makes a very valid point.

With iPhone and the App Store, Apple are building a consumer mentaility where we expect cheap (or even free) engrossing games with high production values.

How difficult will it be for Nintendo to convince us to pay full whack for a DS game when the iPhone version arrives at a fifth of the price?

Bear in mind that Pachter was also the man to proclaim that the iPhone was not a viable gaming platform a year and a bit ago, and we know how that went…

The iPhone is certainly changing the gaming landscape, it will be interesting to see whether Sony and Nintendo can respond with long-term competition to what was considered an unlikely, yet currently very real competitor for a prized position in our pockets.

Source: Electric Pig / Pocket Gamer

Facebook On iPhone Gets App Upgrade To 3.0

The Facebook app for the iPhone has just been updated to 3.0, rolling out a host of new community requested features, including ‘liking’ of status updates, uploading of photos and creation of albums, and adding a fully customizable homepage.

The new version of the application provides easy access to more facets of the ever-popular social networking site, plugging the odd omissions including replying to event invites and tagging on photos, as well as introducing the newly bolted on features.

Having toyed with both extensively last night, the 3.0 Facebook update seems far more intuitive to reach both profile and friend pages more quickly, and the user interface is far more consistent without obscure lateral scroll bars and tiny icons. We think it’s an impressive enhancement to a very useful app, albeit with the occasional crash to the iPhone home screen.

Roll on push notifications and (hopefully) Scrabble support in version 3.1, we say!

First Music Video Recorded Using iPhone 3GS!

The Apple iPhone 3GS records video. It’s pretty good too, but good enough to create a music video?

Well, pretty warbler Reyna Perez and her fiance, Ari Kuschnir decided it was, and recorded her clip for new song “Love Love Love” together.

The idea apparently came about by Ari was listening to Reyna’s music whilst enjoying his shiny new iPhone 3GS.

The post production and editing might be decidely professional, but the video quality is pretty darned impressive already!

Pre-Tend: iPhone Returns The Favour With New Theme…

If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, this custom theme for the iPhone repays the Palm Pre‘s touch-driven ‘homage’ in spades.

It’ll be out for jailbroken iPhone users soon enough…

Source: Gizmodo

The Top 25 iPhone Apps, Free Games Prove Popular

The market research company comScore has been crunching some numbers regarding the best selling and most downloaded iPhone software since the App Store’s launch (which they like to do), and it seems that lots of people like some rhythm action with their telephony.

Of the top 25 apps, 12 of them were games with the number one title Tap Tap Revenge (also our best free iPhone game) downloaded by almost one third of US iPhone owners. The profusion of titles from some new iPhone game start-ups is also something to note, with ngmoco‘s Mazefinger and Cube Runner both ranking highly.

If it isn’t games, it’s all about social networking and entertainment with MySpace Mobile, streaming radio app Pandora and Facebook also in the top 10.

Despite all of the other statistics, considering that the vast majority of these apps are available for the princely sum of zero dollars, the most salient thing that we can draw from the information is that iPhone owners like to download free things.

A lot.

Source: Kotaku

iPhone Protector To Match Your Trainers? WORD.

As the iPhone has permeated from the heights of geekdom down to the coolest fashionistas on Dover Street (and everyone inbetween), it was only a matter of time before the super-popular handset needed some customisation to stand out from the crowd.

InCase has stepped in to appeal to the trainer fetishists and style icons alike, offering colourways of protective cases which just so happen to match the latest designs from a fairly popular shoe manufacturer.

Coincidence? I think not.

With a ‘fly’ iPhone case to match your limited edition Kiks Tyo t-shirt and personalised Nike Air Dunks, you will be the belle of the Santigold concert!

Source: iPhone Savior

Apple App Store Reaches 25,000 Apps, Now Has More Programs Than Windows Mobile

Windows Mobile. Been around nine years, has had 20,000 third party applications developed for the platform.

Apple App Store, 8 months and 25,000 applications as of March 5th 2009.

It has taken less than a year, according to stat-tracking site 148Apps, for the Apple iPhone to have more applications than the original smartphone platform of Windows Mobile. With around 6,000 of these being games (and what feels like a billion iFart apps), it shows consumers like to play just as much as work… This just goes to show just how dramatic a shift in development the existence of the iPhone and App Store has been to the market at large, with even bedroom coders getting a chance at fame and fortune due to the hallowed iTunes Top 10 charts.

However, this phenomenon is showing little sign of trailing off. If anything, iPhone application numbers are increasing more steeply than ever.

With 500 million apps downloaded and an approximate calculation of 23 million units sold, it is safe to say that both the App Store and the iPhone/3G have been quite successful.

At least the other manufacturers are recognising that it isn’t just competitive to have an App Store of their own, but a necessity to even be considered a worthy alternative in the eyes of consumers to the all-encompassing device. With 2009 seeing the rest of the industry coming round to touch phones in a huge way, it remains to be seen what Apple will do this time to keep five paces ahead of the rest of the pack.

Source: CNN Money