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Pocketfuzz: Create your own ringtones, sort of

The field for Web applications geared at independent music acts is almost as saturated as, say, video-sharing sites and social networking portals. Consequently, the new ones emerging these days are typically very niche-specific--in other words, find a feature that MySpace doesn't offer, create a Web site for it, and make sure you offer embeddable widgets.

Like this one, PocketFuzz, which just launched its new Web site. Pocketfuzz aims to make it easier for independent artists to offer mobile downloads--specifically ringtones, but also wallpapers and text-message alerts--and profit from the sales. It's free for artists to join, so the … Read more

First third-party iPhone app: A shopping list

It only runs on Safari--and no one but Apple knows if it'll actually run on the iPhone, because JavaScript support is still a mystery--but the first third-party application built with the iPhone in mind is freely available.

OneTrip, a simple JavaScript shopping list builder that runs only on Safari, was created by designer Neven Mrgan. You can download Safari here to test out the application.

According to Mrgan's Twitter page, the app existed as early as May 31. That's either tremendous foresight by Mrgan, amazing luck that Apple announced Safari as the official iPhone app engine yesterday at WWDC, … Read more

Tips for landing an iPhone

We at CNET News.com dialed up 75 Apple and AT&T retail stores this week in hopes of dislodging some secrets to landing--or, although it seemed forbidden in most cases, even reserving--a coveted iPhone.

The verdict? No one's really sure how the scheduled June 29 launch will unfold, much less how many phones they'll have in stock. But many stores are bracing themselves for long lines and pitched tents well before the gadgets arrive.

Here's our full story on the big hunt, and here are a few tips for making the iPhone yours:

•  Log … Read more

Land line gets into leather

And now for our outrageous notion of the day: The land line is making a comeback. That's right, you heard it here first.

Long overshadowed by its glamorous mobile cousin, the homebound stalwart has been trying to get noticed however it can--sometimes by proving its toughness, other times by tarting itself up with a new design. Joining the latter category is Japan's Amadana, which GeekSugar says is weighing in with a wireless land line that's clad in leather, of all things. Now that's what we call a fashion statement.

If anyone is up to the task, … Read more

The smartest move in iPhone prehistory

Today, during his keynote at WWDC 2007, Steve Jobs may have done the smartest thing in iPhone prehistory.

With two announcements that didn't receive any of the hype normally associated with the iPhone, Apple may have actually made good on its promise that the iPhone will be revolutionary. Much more revolutionary than pretty looks, a touch screen, a wide-screen iPod, or even visual voice mail.

So revolutionary, in fact, that it may have an impact on much more than just the mobile-phone industry. And they seemed so relatively unimportant at first glimpse...

The two smartest announcements in iPhone prehistory

1. A version of Apple's Safari browser has been released for Windows. (Download here.)

2. The "third-party iPhone apps" Steve Jobs alluded to weeks ago would be Web-based applications, not apps that run natively on the iPhone.

The second of these announcements sounded like a cop-out at first. After all, when Jobs mentioned opening the iPhone up to third-party applications, everyone got the impression he meant they'd actually run on the iPhone, not on a browser.

But here's why it looks so smart after a closer look.

… Read more

Web apps are key for wannabe iPhone developers

Steve Jobs's final "One Last Thing" announcement at the WWDC keynote today had to do with the iPhone. Instead of announcing a third-party developer kit like many thought he would, he encouraged the use of Web 2.0 and AJAX applications to be run entirely from the Safari browser (Which coincides nicely with the other announcement of a Windows version of Safari). Apple even demonstrated something called Apple Directory, a Safari Web application that lets you look up business contact cards. There's also a Google application that pulls up map and satellite imagery when a street … Read more

Nokia 5700 first thoughts

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the Nokia 5300 Xpress Music. In fact, I loved it so much when I reviewed it last year that I gave it a CNET Editors' Choice award. So you can imagine I was a bit excited when the new Nokia 5700 Xpress Music landed on my desk. As the update to the 5300, the 5700 offers everything found on its predecessor but with a new twist (literally).

At first you might think the overall design hasn't changed much, but the 5700 offers a twisting base like that on … Read more

Samsung goes for Olympic gold, again

They're not quite as distinctive as the "Cloud of Promise" design that's gracing Lenovo's special laptops, but Samsung has announced its own contribution to the Beijing Olympics with three new mobile phones dedicated to the event.

The most notable is the E848 slider pictured here, which has a 2-megapixel camera and is 0.42 inches thick, according to CrunchGear. It's unclear from the scant photos in Samsung's press release, however, whether they'll bear any Olympic logos or designs (which kind of defeats the purpose, in our opinion).

And now here's a … Read more

Wired clothing goes white-collar

For years we'd been hearing that suits were on their way back to the office, but we'd begun to suspect that it was just the work of some industrious (and increasingly nervous) marketing execs at Brooks Brothers and other purveyors of traditional attire. Yet pinstripes may see a revival of sorts thanks to consumer technology, where fashion follows function, at least where clothing is concerned.

Although there have been plenty of wired options for fitness and casual wear, U.K. department store chain Marks and Spencer is planning to offer an iPod suit that will let you discreetly … Read more