phones

Manhattan iPhone Watch: T minus 1.25 days

High noon. The rain's stopped, thankfully, but now it's sunny and sweltering in New York. I stopped by the downtown Apple Store in SoHo right around midday, and the dozen or so people waiting in line for the iPhone were now using their umbrellas as parasols. Luckily, Apple Store representatives were walking around handing out free bottles of SmartWater (is that what they feed them at the Genius Bar?) to the queuers.

At the front of the line, as previously reported, is a group of volunteers from Keep a Child Alive, the foundation that had staked out the … Read more

Zoho optimizes office suite for iPhone

Zoho, the suite of Web-based productivity tools that's often considered the most formidable challenger to Google Apps' domination in the field, has entered the iPhone app blitzkrieg. It just announced iZoho, a version of its software that's been optimized for the iPhone's touch-screen architecture. Currently, you can only view existing Zoho documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, as well as edit the Zoho Notebook documents.

You can check out iZoho's Web site from your PC and see the neat sliding interface whenever you click on anything. No, it won't rotate if you turn your computer sideways!

The … Read more

Crave's iPhone roundup: Day two

It's the day before the iPhone release and the news about the shiny device is still coming fast and furious. Yesterday, Crave covered the hottest tidbits, which we've compiled for easy reading below.

The iPhone's recessed headphones jack will require a special adaptor for headphones that don't come with the phone. Also, a lack of stereo Bluetooth means you won't be able to listen to music wirelessly.

Apple's posted a new video on its Web site that shows how to use the touchscreen keyboard. Apple promises that the iPhone will predict words as you … Read more

Steve Jobs doesn't like my jellyfish

An e-mail inquiry from Apple last month offers a glimpse into the famously secretive company's preparations for Friday's release of the iPhone.

If you want the short version, here it is: Steve Jobs is involved in making even minor decisions about the iPhone's look and feel. Oh, and Apple employees don't get a substantial discount on the Jesus Device.

The story begins on May 4, when an Apple employee I'll call Joan sent me an e-mail message asking about one of my photographs on McCullagh.org. I have a few thousand photographs on my Web … Read more

Manhattan iPhone Watch: T minus 1.5 days

On Wednesday, as predicted, the rain came. I must say I don't think I've sported this much Gore-Tex outside of hiking trips. Thunderstorms had been on the horizon for New York, and despite rampant rumors that Steve Jobs can control the weather, they still came. Around the 5th Avenue Apple Store, drainage isn't too good, so parts of the stone courtyard outside the Early Show studios were half an inch deep in water. (Note to self: don't wear flip-flops next time!)

But that didn't do anything to break up the line of enthusiasts waiting for … Read more

Apple's Digital Home For the Night: The Apple Store

According to people familiar with the impending iPhone launch, it looks like Apple has asked its retail store employees to take a nap overnight in each of its brick and mortar locations. In most average-sized stores, this means the store manager and one other lucky person will be the first to actually be able to fulfill the literal meaning of the old saying, "sleeping on the job."

Perhaps most interesting about this slumber party is the feedback future line gatherers are spewing about this obvious security measure. In a number of comments on blog posts and on various … Read more

iPhone ringtones will cost you

MacRumors has confirmed that the forthcoming version of iTunes will contain a built-in ringtone creation utility for songs purchased via the iTunes Music Store. Users will be able to right-click on purchased songs and select "Make into Ringtone," which will give them a small audio workspace to select the 30 seconds they want to use as a new ringtone. According to MacRumors, the use of this feature will cost $.99 per track--a fee which goes toward licensing the music for your mobile phone. That means the total fee for a ringtone is $1.98.

There's no confirmation … Read more

One iPhone per person at AT&T stores

If you're planning to stand in line for an iPhone at an AT&T store, or if you're already there, understand that you can only buy one of those babies this weekend.

AppleInsider received an e-mail from AT&T informing potential customers that it's one-and-done for iPhone purchases starting this Friday at 6 p.m., at least at the onset. Apple is also expected to limit purchases, but the company hasn't said how many devices you'll be allowed to take home. Neither company's Web site appears to have that info at the … Read more

Craigslister offers to scare people out of iPhone line

A San Francisco Craigslist posting is offering to supply "diversions" that will allow buyers to cut in line for the iPhone, and sadly, we're afraid he might not be joking.

"Why pay someone else big $$$ to wait in line if the only thing between you and the front of the line is a good diversion?" the post asks, claiming to come from a trademarked company called "Over Here, Jerks." "Our tactics are guaranteed to be safe, effective and even humorous!"

Photos accompanying the posting include a giant clown bicycle, a scary-looking … Read more