iPhone Approll

Excuse Me Services (creators of Dial Directions) has finally made available its Say Where iPhone application which lets users search several popular Web services using just their voice. The tool was originally shown off at DemoFall back in early September, and it's taken this long to go through Apple's certification process.

Its big feature is that you can search Google Maps, Yellowpages.com, Yelp, and Traffic.com without having to use the iPhone's often times challenging on-screen keyboard. You simply talk into the microphone and it converts your speech into a search query. There's location awareness, so once the phone pinpoints where you are it will narrow what it's searching for. You can also have it start and end in different locations, which can be set by simply speaking into the microphone.

The one big problem I found with the application was the quality of the voice recognition. It managed to pick up city names just fine, but out of five attempts at specific addresses it only succeeded once, and it was on some very basic words like "center" and "main." I had far better luck simply saying intersections, which it pulled in with ease. It seems when you mix in numbers and street names it gets a little overwhelmed. It's also worth mentioning that I was doing this in a quiet part of an office building, which means it's going to have a harder time if you're out on a busy street.

Another issue is that this app requires too many button presses to make it worthwhile over a simple type-in search. It's been designed as a way to alleviate the need to pay attention to what you're doing, but you still need to go through two or three menus before you get to your result, which usually requires firing up another application--be it Safari or Google Maps. Ideally, you could set it to automatically jump to the recording with just one click after it's been launched, then open up those pages with an in-app maps tool or Webkit browser.

I filmed a quick demo of me using it below. You can also check out the official video here.

The iPhone app Fring--which acts as a VoIP client for Skype and other Internet phone networks, as well as a voice and chat interface into IM networks like AIM and Yahoo--is now available for free to everyone.

Previously, it only ran on "jailbroken" iPhones, severely limiting its audience.

Fring places calls on cellular or VoIP networks.

(Credit: Fring)

On the iPhone, Fring can read both your IM and Skype buddy lists, as well as the contacts in your phone's address book. And when you select a contact, you get the option of calling him or her by SIP call, Skype, or standard cellular. VoIP calls obviously don't count against your cellular minutes, but you do need to have a Wi-Fi connection to make the calls.

The biggest challenge for Fring users is that when the app is not actively running in the foreground on your phone, it can't notify you of incoming calls or chats or indicate your presence to buddies. Apple has yet to provide background notification capability to iPhone developers, although we keep hearing it will be in an upcoming release.

Although all iPhone communication apps remain hobbled until background processing is available, Fring does appear to be the most capable voice and text chat app there is for the device, and it's well worth installing.

Fring is also available for several other mobile platforms.

See also: Palringo.

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Add "study guide" to the long list of tricks you can do with your iPhone. Cram ($9.99) is a solid application that lets you create and import tests on any topic. You'll be able to take scored multiple choice quizzes or go into study mode, in which Cram provides you with a series of digital flash cards. Cram will flash the question and you decide with a click when the answer appears.

Cram is fairly simple to use, but there is a correct order for getting started. For instance, you had best register for Cram online before you attempt to use it; you can't currently register from the iPhone.

If you're planning to create your own test material in preparation of an exam, you should consider crafting that online as well. While you can technically--and fairly easily--compose questions and answers within Cram, typing a series of multiple choice entries is faster work with a standard keyboard. If you intend to reuse multiple choice answers to trip up yourself or others, your computer's magical cutting and pasting abilities are indispensable.

You'll be able to import tests contributed by others or build your own.

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When it's time to import a test, you log into Cram from the iPhone and select the test you'd like. They transfer in seconds. You'll also be able to import public tests that others have created. What Cram's application doesn't tell you is that your personal log-in is useless for getting these. Instead, enter 'cram' as the log-in and the password to access shared files. At the time of writing, 116 tests were public, and some are quite useful.

The principle problem with relying on others' tests is that they're often under 20 questions in length. The shorter they are, the faster you'll ace them and move on.

There are also a few more features the Cram team should think about bestowing. The first is a search bar within the public test gallery to help you identify them by topic or name. The second is a button that lets you learn more about the public test--for example, what differentiates African Capitals numbered 1 through 5?

Even without these additions, Cram makes a good quizzing tool for students who respond well to flash cards, as well as teachers and study groups. You'll also get ecological bonus points for ditching your paper flash cards and going digital. The very recent price reduction from about $16 to $10 makes Cram that much more attractive.

Related download: Cram for BlackBerry

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It appears that sometimes wishes really do come true. Last week I talked about iGolf, hoping that Version 2.0 would include some sort of course to play through. Apparently this was already in the works. With Version 2.0 you can now play through three holes in addition to hitting for distance at the driving range. It still needs some work (putting requires you to perform a full swing making it less-than-ideal), but adding the three playable holes is a nice touch. I should point out that if you don't have a good grip while playing you may throw your iPhone across the room. Comments for this app at the iTunes Store include the sad tale of an iPhone owner who let his daughter take a whack at a golf ball only to watch as his iPhone flew out his third-story window. So make sure you have a good grip!

Hold down the Bowl button and start your armswing.

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Perhaps the better news, however, is while searching for iGolf to get the update I found SGN's other new free iPhone game, iBowl. Like iGolf, iBowl uses the iPhone's accelerometer to play the game. How it works is you hold the Bowl button and start your armswing motion, then release the button (but not your iPhone!) at the end of your swing to send the ball down the alley. You can also adjust which side of the lane you want to start your swing which makes picking up spares much easier. The game offers some nice audio for hitting the pins, but you get no sound for the ball rolling down the alley, and hitting a single pin has the same sound as hitting a strike. A two-player option would be a nice addition, with the ability to pass the iPhone back and forth with a friend, but overall iBowl still manages to be a great time waster.

Try tilting your iPhone from side to side and watch the flame sway back and forth.

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Another iPhone app that has been quickly moving to the top of the iTunes Store's most popular list is Moderati's Virtual Zippo Lighter. I happen to be a big fan of useless, funny apps, but this one, while adequate for a lighter simulator, could probably be better. You get to choose between several different Zippo lighter designs by finger scrolling before moving to the main lighter screen. Flip open the lighter using your finger or by physically flicking your wrist using the accelerometer. Flick the flint wheel to produce the flame. While lit, you can turn the iPhone and watch as the flame sways upward and turning it upside down causes your iPhone to vibrate. While it's a fairly good lighter simulator, the flame graphics are not as smooth as they could be, often lagging behind when you turn your iPhone. Still, with the well-known Zippo name attached to this app and the ability to choose different lighter styles, it's no wonder this simple, free iPhone App is rising up the most popular list.

What iPhone Apps do you like? If you have a favorite game or interesting app you use, let me know in the comments so I can check it out!

Here's a thought: instead of wading through dozens of ringtone-making apps to find one suited to your iPhone, why not try--what else?--iTunes for Windows and Mac?

In this Insider Secrets video, CNET Editor Brian Tong gives you the lowdown on producing ringtones for your Apple phone using nothing but Apple's own free music library and player.

(Credit: CNET News)

Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign launched an iPhone application on Thursday that turns the vaunted device into a political recruiting tool.

The most notable feature "organizes and prioritizes your contacts by key battleground states, making it easy to reach out and make an impact quickly," according to the software.

On my phone, the application ranked contacts in Colorado, Michigan, and New Mexico at the top; at the bottom was a friend whose cell phone has a Texas number, though she actually lives in California.

The application anonymously reports back the number of calls made this way: "Your privacy is important: no personal data or contacts will be uploaded or stored. Only the total number of calls you make is uploaded anonymously."

The software is the latest effort by politicians to capitalize on technology, joining other examples such as ads distributed through YouTube, Web-based fund-raising, Facebook pages and fan groups, and e-mail recruitment drives.

The Obama for America iPhone application is available for download through Apple's iTunes store, said Raven Zachary, an iPhone consultant who's directing the launch effort.

A "get involved" feature uses the phone's GPS-based location sensing to find the nearest Obama campaign headquarters, and "local events" likewise pulls up a list of activities sorted by proximity.

A "media" section provides links to video and photos, but beware: YouTube showed errors following some of the links. Perhaps the newer videos hadn't been prepared for iPhone display yet.

The application also shows Obama statements to the news media and a guide to Obama's positions on various issues.

Update 8:50 a.m. PDT: The application shows how many calls have been made nationwide and how many you made. Those statistics are the kind that can motivate people--they can feel like they're part of something bigger. That may sound a bit silly as a motivational tool, but consider that Smule's Sonic Lighter application for the iPhone is popular, despite the fact that it costs 99 cents more than its free competition, likely because people can see where else on the globe people are using it and because the longer you run the application, the bigger your own spot on the map becomes. It's a kind of competition.

Update 9:28 a.m. PDT: The campaign added an Obama iPhone app Web site, too.

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Coldwell Banker Real Estate is out with a new version of its Web site customized for iPhone users.

The new version shares the same domain as the company's traditional site but automatically recognizes iPhone end users to serve up the iPhone interface. iPhone users just need to go to www.coldwellbanker.com from their iPhone, without having to download or install any special software. The new site offers a very well-laid-out look and feel, along with convenient navigation on the iPhone's screen, especially the property listings search and home value estimator.

You can now search for homes on the iPhone just like you would do on a regular computer, if not more conveniently. Once you find a property, you can also contact the agent directly from the phone. And you can use the site to check the estimated current value of a specific property.

I tried the new site on my iPhone 3G and it worked well, both the home search and the home value calculator. I could also map the address of the property of interest on Google Maps and get directions to and from it that way. The new site, however, doesn't retain the input information, forcing you to retype everything for each property search, which is annoying.

While this new version of the site is convenient and cool, it won't help keep you from feeling depressed about the decrease in value of the real estate market.

Version 2.0 of Last.fm's free music streaming and discovery application for the iPhone and iPod Touch is now available through the iTunes App Store, offering significant performance and design improvements over the original version we reviewed in August.

Last.fm hasn't added any notable new features to their application, however, a few features have been enhanced, and an overhauled design makes the user experience more intuitive and attractive. For instance, the main menu is now divided into two tabs that separate Last.fm's streaming radio features from its social networking capabilities, making the experience less confusing for first time users. The radio menu tab is the default menu screen, offering a listing of your preferred personal music channels, along with Last.fm recommendations and a prominent red button for creating a new music channels. By clicking over from the Radio tab into the Profile view, Last.fm regulars can still dig deeper into their top artists, albums, and tracks, keep tabs on local music events, and peek into the listening habits of their friends.

Last.fm's original main menu (left) was dull and a little confusing for anyone unfamiliar with Last.fm's lingo and social features. Version 2.0's main menu splits the application's radio and social features into two tabs across the bottom and emphasizes the immediate gratification of creating new personalized music stations.

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The Last.fm Now Playing screen has also undergone an extreme makeover. Album artwork is now displayed clearly and not superimposed with song information. A volume bar is a permanent fixture on the bottom of the Now Playing screen, and many controls have been consolidated for the sake of simplicity. A collapsible menu lets you add your own personal song tags directly from the playback screen, along with options to save the song to a playlist or share it among your personal contacts or Last.fm friends.

A distinction between Last.fm and other personal Internet radio applications such as Pandora, is the ability to view and save an artist's current touring information. An On Tour button appears next to the name of currently touring artists on the Last.fm playback screen, allowing you to browse tour dates on an internal calendar and flag any shows you're considering.

The Now Playing screen on the original Last.fm application (left) offered a confusing mush of buttons, hidden volume control, and obstructed album art. Last.fm 2.0 (right) offers a much cleaner interface with consolidated controls, pristine artwork, and dedicated volume slider.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

Last.fm's streaming audio performance has also improved on their application. The dropouts and buffering delays experienced in the first version of the Last.fm application have all but disappeared in version 2.0. While connected over a moderately strong Wi-Fi signal, we encountered no drop outs and noticed that the buffer gaps between songs are down to around 1-2 seconds in length (about what you'd experience using Pandora). Audio quality is also quite good, with no noticeable streaming compression artifacts and a stereo sound quality comparable to 128Kbps MP3.

Overall, the updates to the Last.fm application have brought nothing but improvements. If you're looking for a personalized streaming music application for your iPhone or iPod Touch that offers more features than Pandora, Last.fm does not disappoint.

Editors' note: Last.fm is owned by CNET's parent company, CBS Interactive.

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I was on the bus yesterday during my commute home and I decided to check out one of my latest iPhone apps to see if it worked as advertised. There was a loud-talking person yammering away on his cell phone (why must people do this?) and to get away from the racket, I stuck in my ear buds and launched WhiteNoise.

Simply touch the sound you want, adjust the volume, and relax.

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WhiteNoise offers several neutral sounds that are perfect for blocking out annoying sounds and also can be quite relaxing. The interface offers eight buttons of soothing sounds you can start up immediately with a timer if you'd like to listen while you nod off to sleep. A small arrow in the lower-right corner of the screen lets you choose from 22 different sounds that you can move into your top eight for easy access. There are a few variations of rain and thunder storms, droning noises like fans and hair dryers, ticking grandfather clocks and wind chimes, and some sounds that offer ambiance like Amazon jungle sounds and deep city sounds. Almost all of the sounds are fairly good representations of what they're trying to emulate, and the rainstorm sounds are excellent. If you want to block the sounds of the outside world to help you concentrate or drown out those annoying bus passengers, this affordable iPhone App is a great choice ($0.99).

Choose your club, press the hit button, and perform your swing.

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iGolf is another recent download for me. When I first saw this free game I was hoping for a real golf game in which I could play a course, but the actual game is pretty fun--if a bit limited. iGolf lets you use the iPhone's accelerometer to hit golf balls for distance like a portable driving range. Choose from three different clubs, get into your stance, touch the Hit button, and start your swing. It takes some getting used to with the timing of your swing (I heard the club hit the ball on my back swing more than a few times), but once you get the hang of it, you'll get some good hits. After the initial contact, you get to watch your ball travel past yardage markers like a driving range, and iGolf will save your best distances. I like iGolf, but it would be even better if you could actually play through a course using the same system (maybe we can all hope for an iGolf 2). Until then, it's fun knowing that I can bring a driving range anywhere on my iPhone.

Got a favorite new iPhone app? Let me know about your latest finds in the comments!

Instant-messaging fiends awaiting Yahoo's first IM solution for iPhone are getting more than they bargained for with Yahoo OneConnect (download and rate). Whether you love or hate the new social-networking and address book features, Yahoo OneConnect does offer some innovations in iPhone chatting. See our pros and cons in this First Look video or read our full Yahoo OneConnect review.