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Friday News Round-Up

kbarnum — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:57:16 +0000

- First of all, it’s Talk Like a Pirate Day! AAargh! (check out FriendFeed’s eye patch, hehe)

-Second, make sure you pop over to www.twitter.com to see their redesign. I think it looks sharp, with the rounded corners. =P

- Radio that’s all user interface: BoingBoing found a radio that is incredibly simple. You lift the top to change the volume and you twist it to tune into your favorite station! So neat.

- yearbookyourself.com: You can upload your photo and see what your yearbook photo would have looked like in all the decades back to the 1950s. Looks pretty neat, but I don’t have a front-on photo of myself. Let us know if you try it out!!

- The Simpsons: LEGO: YouTube user bulc96 has created an animation in stop-motion with LEGOs. It was for a contest and won him $40. Enjoy!

- Space Invaders flexible keyboard: Just in case you love space invaders so much, there is a keyboard for you. And it’s one of those flexible ones. Looks pretty cool, 8-bit style… (via BoingBoing)

kate = bought an iPhone.

kbarnum — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:09:43 +0000

Well, I caved. (It wasn’t too hard to get me to. =P)

Saturday I was in the vicinity of the Apple store and I was sucked in. I emerged with a white 16GB 3G iPhone. And a case and screen protectors and a car charger. And the $20 per month unlimited text messaging plan, bringing my monthly bill total to $89.99. Good thing I don’t have cable, eh?

I’ve downloaded a few apps., but I haven’t done much searching for neat ones. So far I’ve got Twitterific, AIM, NetNewsWire, Pandora, AppleRemote, and WeatherBug. Apple Remote is nothing short of amazing for controlling my iTunes. Thinking about some games, perhaps. I do have three separate email accounts set up including .mac, gmail, and Microsoft Exchange.

I can’t wait to explore it more. I’m already used to the keyboard after only a day of use. The only ‘eh’ thing is the battery life. I’m sure it will get better when I’m not constantly playing and surfing the web, watching youtube videos. hehe. Otherwise, I’ll be tethered to the wall/macbookpro/car for power.

Any tips and suggestions out there?

Skins & Covers for your iPod, iPhone & iPod Touch

jpraklis — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 20:27:11 +0000

Give your iPod® a new look in seconds and protect it from abuse at the same time! Forget thick plastic shells - skin it! This ready-to-apply iPod full-color skin with an ultra-high resolution full-color design is printed on adhesive-backed vinyl. Each skin is coated in a clear protectant layer for long term durability. This skin is repositionable & removable for fast, easy and accurate installation and goo-free removal!

Shop by Model

iPod Classic/5G

Skins in this category fit both the iPod Classic and Video 5G

Cameras on White - $18.00

Design Colors: White, Pink, Lime, Cyan, Magenta, Blue, Green

Theme(s): Camera, Photo, Photography, Lens, Film, Develop, Light Painting, Drips

View all iPod Classic/Video 5G skins >

iPod Nano 3g

Skins in this category fit the iPod Nano 3G.

Azure - $13.50

Design Colors: Blue, White, GreenTheme(s): Paisley, Decoration, Swirls, Plants, Ties

View all iPod Nano 3G skins >

iPhone

Skins in this category fit the iPhone.

Simply Green - $13.50

Design Colors: Green, White, BlackTheme(s): Lime, Vector, Decoration, Swirls, Circles

View all iPhone skins >

iPod Touch

Skins in this category fit the iPod Touch.

Midnight Garden - $13.50

Design Colors: Navy, Blue, WhiteTheme(s): Midnight, Swirls, Decorate, Plants

View all iPod Touch skins >

iPhone Applications News 7/3/2008

jpraklis — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:32:38 +0000

Apple sets deadline for App Store launch submissions

Apple has sent out an email to paid iPhone developers encouraging them to get their applications submitted by July 7 for inclusion on the App Store on launch day. The email, received by World of Apple, states: “To ensure your application can be considered for the exciting launch of the App Store, submit your application by 12 PM PDT, on July 7, 2008. We will continue to accept applications after this time, however your application may not be available until after the launch of the App Store.” The App Store is expected to open for business alongside the release of iPhone Software 2.0 and the iPhone 3G on July 11.

PurpleTalk launches advertising service for iPhone devs

PurpleTalk, a new iPhone developer tools and services company, has announced the launch of AdShare, a new free advertising service for iPhone developers. AdShare will use a brief splash-screen promotion embedded into a iPhone application to cross-promote different apps and raise awareness for those applications. Each time a developer displays an ad for a separate developer, they receive credit for one advertisement of their App, which will be promoted by another developer. The service will also provide analytic services which will allow developers to track the usage statistics of their applications.

Sridhar Muppidi, PurpleTalk’s Founder and CEO, said, “This service offers non-intrusive ads which do not affect the user’s application experience, since our AdShare banners use only 30 % of the splash screen, while the rest promotes the application owner’s brand.” Vince Mundy, CEO for iPhone gaming application development company OrangeShark.com commented, “PurpleTalk’s AdShare service will allow us to promote our games directly to end users. We expect that it might help us to acquire as many as two or three times more customers. The value is in differentiation and increased exposure.”

Former EA head starts iPhone gaming studio

Neil Young, former head of Electronic Arts’ Blueprint studio, has left the firm to form Ngmoco, a new iPhone-focused gaming studio. In an interview with Gamasutra, Young described his departure as amicable, saying, “[t]his is just a different type of opportunity, and honestly, if it wasn’t for the advent of the iPhone and the advent of the App Store and the SDK, I would probably still be at Electronic Arts focusing on making Blueprint as successful as it could possibly be.” Young goes on to explain that he was attracted by the iPhone’s usage patterns, in that more than half the time the average iPhone is in use it isn’t being used for telephony, calling the pattern “a fundamental shift.”

He also lauded the iPhone’s capabilities, saying, “The iPhone, from a performance standpoint, is pretty close to a PSP, but unlike the PSP, it’s got a touchscreen, accelerometers, a camera, it’s location-aware, it’s got all of your media on it, it’s awake with you, it’s always on, and it’s always connected to the network. So if you think about the types of games and entertainment experiences that you can build on a platform like that, it’s got to get pretty exciting pretty quickly.” Young also said that while his company will be involved in first-party development of games, it also plans to work with other developers, supplying funding, technological expertise, and marketing opportunities.

iTunes remote control app revealed in iTunes 7.7

Alongside Beta 8 of the iPhone SDK, Apple posted a pre-release of iTunes 7.7 to registered, paid iPhone developers. In addition to featuring support for the MobileMe service and a new “Applications” tab in the iTunes sync screen to manage apps being loaded onto iPhones and iPod touches, the software’s Read Me file confirmed an earlier report that Apple has developed an iTunes remote control application for the iPhone and iPod touch. The Read Me file states, “Use iTunes 7.7 to sync music, video, and more with iPhone 3G, and download applications from the iTunes Store exclusively designed for iPhone and iPod touch with software version 2.0 or later. Also use the new Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch to control iTunes playback from anywhere in your home—a free download from the App Store.” Further details about the Remote application have yet to be revealed.

Apple opens App Store to developers

According to a new report, Apple has opened the App Store to allow registered developers that have been accepted into the paid iPhone developer program to ready their apps for distribution. TUAW reports that developers are using iTunes Connect to track the financial performance of their applications, and that Apple is said to withhold any payments until the developer has earned at least $250 for themselves through sales of their app. It remains unclear how Apple will schedule payments once the $250 threshold has been reached. In addition, and in keeping with an earlier report, developers can choose their own pricing for applications, and all prices will end in 99 cents, as is common with iTunes purchases. More information about the application submission process is available from the “Program Portal” on Apple’s secure developer website.

Adobe: Flash Player running on iPhone Emulator

Speaking during its fiscal second quarter conference call, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen revealed that the company has a version of its Flash Player running inside the iPhone Emulator. In response to a question about possible Flash support on the iPhone 3G, Narayen said, “With respect to the iPhone, we are working on it. We have a version that’s working on the emulation. This is still on the computer and you know, we have to continue to move it from a test environment onto the device and continue to make it work. So we are pleased with the internal progress that we’ve made to date.” Following the release of the iPhone Software Development Kit, Adobe stated its intent to bring the Flash Player to the iPhone, noting that integrating the software with the Safari browser would require “work with Apple beyond and above what is available through the SDK and the current license around it.” [via Boing Boing Gadgets]

iPhone developers, frustrated, still waiting on Apple

A large number of potential iPhone developers are still awaiting acceptance into Apple’s paid iPhone developer plan, according to new reports. Paul Kafasis of Rogue Amoeba writes that after three full months, the company’s application has still not been accepted, despite the fact that an individual employee was able to gain access to the program in under 24 hours after applying. Using numbers revealed during Apple’s keynote address earlier this week, TUAW noted that the paid iPhone developer program has an acceptance rate of just 16 percent, or 4,000 admitted out of 25,000 applications. Most frustrating, says Kafasis, is the lack of communication from Apple on the subject. He writes, “Confusing emails and a lack of useful correspondence have left us waiting to hear the status of our application for a full three months and counting. Will we eventually be accepted to the program, or will we ultimately be rejected, and barred from providing software for the platform at all? At the moment, we simply have no way of knowing.”

TomTom clarifies iPhone GPS application plans

Following a Reuters report claiming that GPS manufacturer TomTom plans to sell a navigation application for the iPhone, and the subsequent discovery of a line in the iPhone SDK agreement disallowing “real time route guidance,” a spokesperson from TomTom has come forward to clarify the company’s plans for the device. In an interview with MacGeneration (Translated link), Yann Lafargue of TomTom France revealed that while the company does have a navigation application running on the iPhone, it is unsure of whether or not it will release the software. Lafargue said the company wants to be sure that Apple will allow them to sell the software on the App Store, while stating that the restrictive clause in the SDK agreement is most likely Apple trying to protect itself from a liability standpoint, rather than an outright restriction. Finally, Lafargue added that while the company does work with other cellular manufacturers such as HTC, it is primarily focused on car navigation solutions.

Details of App Store submission process emerge

Details of the application submission process for Apple’s upcoming iPhone and iPod touch App Store have been published online. AppleInsider reports that applications have been restricted to a file size limit of 2GB, and apps that are not distributed for free will be priced using a tiered system which scales from $0.99 to $999.99. Screenshots from a web-based application submission portal show a screen to help developers rate their games, and a screen that allows selection of which countries the application will be sold in, and the appropriate pricing in each region based on that application’s pricing tier. Apple is expected to launch the App Store in early July, possibly on the 11th, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 3G.

Apple announces Apple Design Awards winners

Apple has announced the winners of its 2008 Apple Design Awards at a ceremony held during the Worldwide Developers Conference. The awards recognize technical excellence, innovation, and outstanding achievement in software development, and this year included several new categories for iPhone developers. The Associated Press’ AP Mobile News Network was Runner Up in the category of Best iPhone Web App, bested by Remember the Milk, an online to do list and task manager and winner of this year’s award.

New to the awards this year were categories for native iPhone software application development. The title of Best iPhone Game went to Enigmo from Pangea Software, which was demoed during Apple’s keynote address on Monday. Best iPhone Entertainment Application went to AOL’s upcoming AOL Radio, which gives users access to over 350 online radio stations, including 150 local CBS Radio stations. Twitterrific from The Iconfactory was named the Best iPhone Social Networking Application, while the award for Best iPhone Productivity Application went to The Omni Group’s OmniFocus. Finally, the award for Best iPhone Healthcare & Fitness Application went to another keynote demo application, MIMVista’s MIM medical imaging app.

Apple posts iPhone SDK beta 7

Apple has released the seventh beta version of its iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK). The new beta release is labeled build 9M2199, beta 7, and weighs in at 1.19GB. It is available now as a free download for registered developers from the iPhone Dev Center. Release notes have not yet been posted.

iPhone applications get limited persistent connections

Apple today announced that native iPhone applications will be able to receive updates and notifications on a limited basis even after the user as quit the application. The lack of persistent connections for third-party iPhone applications led to some complaining among developers when it was announced in March. With the new system, there will be a persistent connection between the iPhone and Apple that will allow services to push three types of notifications to users: badges (how many messages), custom alert sounds, and custom textual alerts. Developers can provide buttons to reload the app in notification messages, and the service will work over both Wi-Fi and cellular networks. Available in September, developers will get access to the feature next month.

250K iPhone SDK downloads, App Store launching in 62 countries

Apple has announced that the iPhone Software Development Kit, launched 95 days ago, has now been downloaded by 250,000 developers, 25,000 of which have applied to Apple’s paid developer programs. Over 35% of the Fortune 500 is now participating in Apple’s Enterprise Beta program, including the top five commercial banks, 5 securities firms, 6 of 7 top airlines, 8 of top 10 pharmaceutical companies, and 8 of the top 10 entertainment companies.

Apple also revealed further details of its App Store, through which it will distribute native applications to the iPhone and iPod touch. The Store, originally planned for 22 countries, will now be launched in 62 countries. Applications taking up 10MB or less will be available to download via cellular or Wi-Fi networks, or through iTunes. If an application is over 10MB, it will only be available via Wi-Fi or through iTunes. As Apple announced in March, developers will set the price for their own applications.

“Developer reaction to the features, power and simplicity of the iPhone SDK has been incredible,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We are seeing some truly amazing native apps from our developers and think users are going to love the breadth and depth of the applications available from the App Store.”

“The SDK allowed us to build a groundbreaking new AIM client in record time,” said Kevin Conroy, executive vice president, AOL. “The platform’s elegance and ease of use has inspired our developers to create innovative new web and SDK based experiences for iPhone and iPod touch.”

“The iPhone SDK has given us an excellent set of tools and APIs to create mobile extensions for FIM’s entire portfolio of web brands including MySpace, IGN and Photobucket in the near term, and other properties such as FOXSports.com down the road,” said John Smelzer, senior vice president of Mobile for Fox Interactive Media. “The popularity of the iPhone, along with the high demand for applications, gives us an amazing opportunity to create groundbreaking mobile experiences.”

“Cocoa-touch is a compact and robust application framework that handles all the heavy lifting for developers so they can concentrate on building their applications in record time with the legendary Apple finesse we’ve come to expect,” said David Krantz, president of YELLOWPAGES.COM.“ iPhone has been a game changer since it launched, and the availability of our YELLOWPAGES.COM application on the App Store is going to make a great device even better.”

“As mobile developers with primarily J2ME and BREW experience, we were up and running with the iPhone within two weeks,” said Jonathan Backer, manager of Mobile Engineering, The Walt Disney Company. “The hardware is stable and full-featured, while the software development tools are intuitive and represent a level of polish rarely seen in the mobile arena.”

“Since the launch of the iPhone we have seen a steady rise in traffic to the MLB.com mobile site so it made perfect sense to develop a rich client application for the App Store,” said Adam Ritter, vice president, Wireless Major League Baseball, Advanced Media. “Our development staff was excited to work on an iPhone application and reported that the SDK was robust and straight forward and contained helpful development tools. All combined we were able to expedite our development and deliver an application we know baseball fans will enjoy.”

iPhone Software 2.0: new features, coming early July

Apple today revealed several new features of the previously announced iPhone Software version 2.0. New features in the update will include Contact Search, full iWork document support, and completed support of MS Office documents, including PowerPoint. Users will be able to delete and move of email messages in bulk, and save images directly to your library from email. The Calculator application will be improved to include a scientific mode. Other new features will include Parental Controls, expanded language support, including two forms of entry for Japanese and Chinese as well with a drawing character feature. iPhone software version 2.0 will be available in early July as a free update for all iPhone owners. The update will cost $9.95 for the iPod touch.

Sling Media shows SlingPlayer iPhone concept

Sling Media has announced that it will be showing a proof of concept version of its SlingPlayer Mobile application for the iPhone at WWDC. The current version runs on jailbroken iPhones only, and will not be made available to consumers until the app can be reworked using Apple’s official SDK. According to the company, the proof of concept version was developed “to characterize the performance of the platform” and to ensure delivery of “a high quality customer experience on the iPhone & iPod Touch platforms.” Sling Media hopes to release SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone through the new App Store later this year.

Apple releases sixth update to iPhone SDK

Apple has released the sixth beta version of its iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK). The new beta, labeled build 9M2192 beta 6, requires Mac OS X 10.5.3, the latest update to the Mac operating system which was released earlier today. The updated SDK, which is available as a free download for registered iPhone developers from the iPhone Dev Center, is a 1.19GB download. Complete release notes are available here.

Ecamm releases PhoneView 2.0 for iPhone

Ecamm Network has released PhoneView 2.0 for iPhone, a Mac-only companion application for the iPhone. Formerly called MegaPhone (and iPhoneDrive before that), the application gives iPhone and iPod touch users access to iTunes media, photos, notes, contacts, SMS messages, and call history data stored on their device. It also opens the devices for data storage and file transfer purposes, and allows users to add notes to the devices’ Notes application by dragging text files in most popular formats into the PhoneView browser. New to version 2.0 is the ability to search, access to the contact list, and automatic backup of SMS and call history data. “With PhoneView’s Notes features, the iPhone Notepad gets a whole lot more useful,” says Ken Aspeslagh, Ecamm Network’s iPhone specialist. “Not only can you retrieve iPhone Notes by simply dragging them out of PhoneView, you can actually drag in text files for reading and editing on the go.” PhoneView requires Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later and sells for $19.95; a free 7-day demo version is also available.

Apple posts iPhone SDK Beta release 5

Apple has posted the fifth beta version of its iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK). According to Apple’s notes, the new release “fixes bugs and adds support for the latest iPhone OS.” The updated SDK, which is available as a free download for registered iPhone developers from the iPhone Dev Center, is a 1.08GB download, and is listed as build 9M2173a, beta 5. Complete release notes are available here.

Apple releases fourth iPhone SDK beta, adds OpenGL ES support

Apple has released its fourth update to the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) beta, which adds OpenGL ES support to the iPhone Simulator application, amongst other improvements. The new release, which is available as a free download for registered iPhone developers from the iPhone Dev Center, is a 1.15GB download, and is listed as build 9M2165, beta 4. Apple has posted complete release notes here. We will update this story with any new information we discover.

Update: Following installation of the updated SDK, we have found it includes an updated build (55) of the iPhone Simulator application, which is running an updated version of the iPhone OS, version 2.0 (5A258f). In addition, the Contacts application in the iPhone Simulator now features a search bar at the top, which was previously revealed in the iPhone 2.0 Enterprise beta.

New software enables potential iPhone/Blu-ray interaction

NetBlender has introduced BD Touch technology, a software toolkit that could enable iPhones and iPod touches to interact with content on a Blu-ray Disc. The technology will require a BD Touch-compatible Blu-ray Disc—as yet unreleased—and an iPhone OS application that interacts with the company’s BD Touch SDK. It leverages the network connection built into Blu-ray players and the Wi-Fi connectivity of the iPhone and iPod touch to create two-way communication between the devices, allowing for transfer of video, audio, text, and player commands. Possible applications of the technology include pushing digital copies of a movie to an iPhone from the Blu-ray Disc menu, cataloguing a viewer’s Blu-ray Disc collection and providing movie suggestions, and more. “By releasing the BD Touch SDK to the iPhone developer community we’re excited to see creative possibilities for Blu-ray interactivity flourish,” said Denny Breitenfeld, NetBlender CTO. “The BD Touch framework is built into our Blu-ray disc authoring solution, DoStudio, so Blu-ray authors at every level of the industry will be able to take advantage of these exciting new applications on their discs with point and click ease.”

iPhone Accessories News Round Up - 7/3/2008

jpraklis — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:28:40 +0000

Vaja debuts cases for iPhone 3G

Vaja has announced its first cases for the upcoming iPhone 3G. The iVolution Top and iVolution SP leather cases both feature a flip-down cover, which blocks access to the iPhone’s Dock Connector but offers protection for the screen when closed, and offer open access to the phone’s camera and headphone jack. The iVolution Top is available in solid colors and starts at $75, while the iVolution SP offers a decorative stripe down the center of the case’s front flap, and starts at $85. The classic Retro Slim Bag is a sleeve-style case which offers access to the phone’s ring/silent switch, sleep/wake button, and headphone jack, and features a stitched leather stripe on the left side. It starts at $45. Finally, the classic Pouch is a solid color leather case featuring a fold-over top flap and a snap closure. It starts at $65.

Sena unveils line of cases for iPhone 3G

Sena Cases has introduced a number of cases for the upcoming iPhone 3G. The Elega Pouch is a slim case featuring a leather exterior, velvet lining, shock-absorbent padding, rigid inner layer for protection, a built-in belt clip, and holes for the iPhone’s speaker and microphone. It is available now in a variety of colors and sells for $40. The Ultra Slim Pouch is a slim sleeve-style case featuring a leather exterior, velvet lining, and openings for the iPhone’s speaker and microphone. It is available now and sells for $30.

The LeatherSkin for iPhone 3G is a form-fitting case offering a leather exterior, velvet lining, a rigid layer for added protection, a removable ratcheting belt clip, and open access to the iPhone’s screen, sensors, ports, and controls. Available for pre-order in 14 colors, the LeatherSkin sells for $42 but it currently offered for $34. Sena’s WalletSkin for iPhone 3G adds a wallet-like rear flap to the rear of the LeatherSkin case, offering four credit card slots and a semi-transparent pocket for an ID card. It is available for pre-order for $42. Finally, the WalletBook Case for iPhone 3G adds a horizontally-opening, wallet-like front flap to a LeatherSkin-like case. It offers a single credit card slot and a semi-transparent ID card slot, as well as a snap closure. It is also available for pre-order at a cost of $42; the regular price on each case is $52. All three cases are expected to begin shipping on July 29.

PDO rolls out TopSkin, Flipp cases for iPhone 3G

PDO has announced its new TopSkin and Flipp cases for the upcoming iPhone 3G. The TopSkin is a form-fitting silicone case featuring a play-through design that covers the power, volume, and home buttons in a slim layer of silicone, while cut-outs allow for access to the iPhone’s screen, camera, ring/vibrate switch, speakers, and microphone. The device’s Dock Connector and headphone jack are covered by flaps that can be opened for access and protect the ports when not in use. In addition, the TopSkin features a micro texture grip on all four sides, and includes a slim-profile belt clip and a full frontal screen protector. PDO’s TopSkin for iPhone 3G will sell for $20 and will be available in black, blue, pink, and white in July.

The PDO Flipp for iPhone 3G is a premium black leather flip-style case featuring a flip-up front cover with magnetic close, and cut-out access to all ports and controls. It also features an integrated belt clip and includes a full frontal screen protector. The PDO Flipp Leather Case for iPhone 3G will sell for $30 and is expected to ship in July. Lastly, PDO announced its Screen Protector sets for iPhone 3G. The screen protectors are precision cut to cover the entire front face of the iPhone 3G except for the home button and speaker. PDO’s Screen Protectors for iPhone 3G will come in packs of two and will be available in early July for $10.

Griffin unveils FlexGrip for iPhone 3G

Griffin Technology has unveiled its FlexGrip case for the iPhone 3G. The FlexGrip is a form-fitting silicone case featuring textured surfaces on its side and back for added grip. It offers full access to the iPhone’s screen, sensors, ports, and controls, and includes a screen protector. The Griffin FlexGrip for iPhone 3G will come in a variety of colors, and will sell for $15. According to the company, it will be available “in plenty of time for the official availability of iPhone 3G.”

Orbino debuts cases for iPhone 3G

Luxury leather goods manufacturer Orbino has introduced its first cases for the iPhone 3G. The Pantera is a flip-style case that features a leather or exotic skin exterior, hand stitched with waxed thread for a tailored fit and better grip. It also offers a brushed palladium home button cover, a slim adherent protective screen cover, a unique “talk-through” design that allows the phone to be used even when the front flap is closed, and an included spring-loaded removable metal belt clip. It will sell for $149 and up. The Strada Tre for iPhone 3G is an open-faced, hand stitched leather case, featuring a built-in, spring-loaded removable metal belt clip, and offering full access to all ports and controls. Pricing starts at $99. Finally, the Tasca for iPhone 3G is a pocket-style case, offered with an exterior of either premium leather or exotic skin. Hand stitched with waxed thread for a tailored fit and extra grip, the Tasca offers complete coverage for the iPhone 3G, with a top-opening flap that closes using a simple leather strap. It will sell for $119 and up. All three Orbino leather cases for iPhone 3G will begin shipping in mid-July.

Marware debuts two leather cases for iPhone 3G

Marware has debuted its C.E.O. Glide and C.E.O. Flip Vue cases for iPhone 3G. Available in black, white, or red, the C.E.O. Glide is a slim, sleeve-style case made with a firm-textured Nappa leather exterior and microfiber interior. It features a dual-purpose strap that both helps with iPhone removal and helps secure it by folding over the top of the phone and attaching to the other side with Velcro. The C.E.O. Glide for iPhone 3G will also include clear protective film and a microfiber cleaning cloth, and is available for pre-order now for $25.

The C.E.O. Flip Vue is a flip-style leather case for iPhone 3G, offering a black leather exterior with perforated leather and contrast stitching accents, a magnetic closure, and access to all ports and controls. Other features include an interchangeable Multidapt low-profile belt clip, elastic siding for a more secure fit, and included clear protective film and microfiber cleaning cloth. Available for pre-order now, the C.E.O. Flip Vue for iPhone 3G sells for $30. Both cases are listed as “coming soon.”

Knomo rolls out leather cover for iPhone 3G

Knomo has introduced its leather cover for iPhone 3G. The case features a form-fitting leather exterior with a black velveteen interior lining and a snap-fastening clasp. It offers full access to all ports and controls, and features cut-outs for the new phone’s three front sensors. The knomo leather cover for iPhone 3G will be available in black, ember, yellow and red from Apple both in-store and online and through knomo’s website and will sell for £30, or around $59.

Mercedes-Benz launches iPhone cradle in Germany

Luxury auto maker Mercedes-Benz has announced its new Apple iPhone Cradle. The cradle, which mounts in the center console, is designed to allow for full integration of the device with the car. It connects to the audio system via the optionally available Media Interface or the retrofittable iPod Interface Kit, and enables the car’s multi-function steering wheel controls to activate both phone and audio features of the iPhone. Information about phone status and music functions such as the device’s phone book or currently playing track, album title, and artist appears on the vehicle’s display, and the cradle also charges the iPhone while docked, and ensures the best reception possible by connecting it with the vehicle’s own antenna. Compatible with C-Class, E-Class, CLK-Class, CLS-Class, S-Class, CL-Class, SL-Class, M-Class and R-Class vehicles, the Mercedes-Benz Apple iPhone Cradle is now available in Germany for €249.

NLU Products debuts BodyGuardz for iPhone 3G

NLU Products has announced that it is releasing a new BodyGuardz Skin for the iPhone 3G. BodyGuardz Skins are custom-made, thin transparent protectors that are meant to cover the entire device, including the screen, and offer protection from nicks and scratches. Made from the same material that is used to protect the front of automobiles from stones and other abrasive elements, each set will include two complete BodyGuardz protectors, application solution, a squeegee card, and application instructions. NLU Products BodyGuardz for iPhone 3G are now available for pre-order and are expected to begin shipping on July 12 for $25.

ezGear intros ezSkins for iPhone 3G

ezGear has introduced its upcoming ezSkin Plus and ezSkin Landau cases for the iPhone 3G. The ezSkin Plus for iPhone 3G is a form-fitting silicone case that covers nearly all of the iPhone’s exterior save for the screen, ringer switch, Dock Connector, and headphone port. It employs the company’s ezButton feature to allow for easier pushing of the buttons while protecting them in additional silicone. The ezSkin Plus for iPhone 3G will include a static screen protector and a spring loaded belt clip, and will be available in white, black, or blue for $20. The ezSkin Landau for iPhone 3G is a slim silicone case that uses a transparent film to protect the iPhone’s face, while covering the bezel, top, bottom, sides, and back in silicone. It also offers the ezButton feature for the volume and power buttons, while offering full access to all other ports and controls. The ezSkin Landau for iPhone 3G will be available in white, black, or pink, and will sell for $15. ezGear’s ezSkins for iPhone 3G are expected to begin shipping July 8.

Speck unveils PixelSkin case for iPhone 3G

Speck Products has unveiled its PixelSkin case for the iPhone 3G. Made from lightweight, form-fitting rubber, the PixelSkin offers slightly thicker corners for extra bump and drop protection, while the textured tile pattern provides extra grip. The case offers access to all ports, controls, and sensors, and the front features a raised ridge detail to help protect the iPhone 3G’s screen when it is placed face down. “The introduction of the elegant iPhone 3G has caused an explosion of creativity from our design team” said Irene Baran, CEO of Speck Products. “We took inspiration from historical trends, social catalysts and color forecasts and crafted a product that encompasses the key qualities this case design needed to offer: protection, personality and comfort.” Speck Product’s PixelSkin for iPhone 3G will be available in July in 6 different single-pack colors, and will sell for $25.

Miniot announces iWood 3G for iPhone 3G

Miniot has introduced its iWood 3G wooden case for the iPhone 3G. The iWood 3G is made from a single piece of selected wood, and covers the phone’s back and sides, leaving the front face open, and offering access to the phone’s camera and other ports and controls. Miniot is also offering a service which allows customers to have their own logo or message engraved on the back. iWood for iPhone will begin shipping by the end of July and sells for 75 Euros, or about $116.

Marware intros Sport Grip, Sportsuit for iPhone 3G

Marware has introduced its Sport Grip and Sportsuit Convertible cases for the iPhone 3G. The Sport Grip is made from non-slip silicone, and offers direct access to the iPhone’s screen, ports, and controls. The Marware Sport Grip for iPhone 3G will also include clear protective film and a microfiber cleaning cloth, and is now available for pre-order in a variety of colors for $20. The Sportsuit Convertible is described by the company as a 3-in-1 case that can function as an armband, a clip-on case, or a protective sleeve. made from lightweight, stretchable neoprene, the case offers an integrated clear vinyl display protector, an adjustable, removable Velcro armband, a removable armband carrying pouch, a Multidapt low-profile belt clip, access to the phone’s various controls and ports, and includes clear protective film and a microfiber cleaning cloth. The Marware Sportsuit Convertible for iPhone 3G is now available for pre-order, and sells for $35. Both cases are expected to begin shipping soon.

Incase debuts cases for iPhone 3G

Incase has announced its first cases for the iPhone 3G. The Leather Folio for iPhone 3G is made from genuine Nappa leather and ballistic nylon, and features custom suede interior lining, velcro closures, and will be available with a belt clip in select colors. Incase’s Leather & Neoprene sleeves will offer form-fitting construction in either leather or neoprene, direct access to the iPhone’s screen, ports, and controls, and will allow charging while in the case. The Protective Cover for iPhone 3G is made from a form-fitting injection molded material, and features a custom gloss topographic pattern on the matte exterior, access to all ports and controls, and will be available in a variety of colors. Finally, the Slider Case for iPhone 3G is made from lightweight hardshell plastic, offers access to all ports and controls, features a slide-away bottom cover for easy docking, and will be available in a variety of colors in both matte and gloss finishes. According to Incase, the Leather Folio, Leather & Neoprene Sleeves and Protective Covers will be available at Apple retail and online stores for the launch of iPhone 3G, with additional products to follow.

Wrappers unveils Sleeves for iPhone 3G

Wrappers has introduced its new Sleeves and Shiny Sleeves for the iPhone 3G. Original Sleeves offer a simple pouch-style design with an alcantara exterior in Slate Black, Jubilee Red, Otter Grey, or Metal Grey, microfiber lining, and an optional elastic band. Wrappers Sleeves for iPhone 3G are priced at £11, or around $23. Wrappers new Shiny Sleeves for iPhone 3G are made from waterproof polished polyurethane, offer a slim profile, and feature 100% Thai silk lining in one of five colors. Wrappers Shiny Sleeves for iPhone 3G will sell for £14, or around $29. Both cases are expected to be available from July 11.

Marware announces C.E.O. Premiere for iPhone 3G

Marware has announced its C.E.O. Premiere case for the iPhone 3G. Made from textured Nappa leather, the C.E.O. Premiere features a magnetic flap, an opening on the bottom for esy removal of the phone, a microfiber interior, side openings for access to the headphone jack and sleep/wake button, a built-in belt clip, and perforated design accents with contrast stitching. The case also includes clear protective film and a microfiber cleaning cloth. Marware’s C.E.O. Premiere case for iPhone 3G is now available for pre-order in black, and is expected to begin shipping by July 1. It sells for $30.

Griffin intros new line of iPhone 3G cases

Griffin Technology has introduced its new line of cases for the iPhone 3G. The Wave for iPhone 3G features wave-shaped contours that overlap and interlock in a double-helix closure. The form-fitting polycarbonate case also offers full access to the iPhone’s ports and controls, and will be available in black, blue, pink, or white. Griffin’s Nu Form with EasyDock for iPhone 3G is an impact-resistant, hard-shell case featuring an EasyDock design with a removable bottom for more convenient docking. It includes a rigid, thin screen protector, and will be available in black or white.

The Elan Form with EasyDock for iPhone 3G is a hard-shell leather case that offers triple protection in a slim, no-clip design. The case features a top-grain leather exterior bonded to hard-shell polycarbonate material, and an EasyDock design. Elan Form with EasyDock will be available in pink or black. Finally, the Elan Clip for iPhone 3G is a leather holster-style case with an inner polycarbonate shell. It features a 180-degree rotating belt clip that doubles as a stand, and includes a static peel screen protector and a premium microfiber cleaning cloth. All of Griffin’s new cases for iPhone 3G will be available at major retailers, including Apple and AT&T stores, on July 11, 2008, and will also be available on the company’s website in late June 2008.

Belkin premieres line of cases for iPhone 3G

Belkin has announced a complete line of cases for the upcoming iPhone 3G. The Formed Leather Case offers slim, formed-leather construction, microfiber lining, and open access to the iPhone’s screen and controls. It will be available in black or pink for $30. An Eco-Conscious Formed Leather Case will also be offered, featuring a natural-felt interior and a price of $35. Belkin’s Leather Sleeve with Clip features form-fitting leather construction with a suede interior, open access to the touch screen and Dock connector, and an included belt clip. Like the Formed Leather Case, it will be offered in black or pink and will sell for $30. The Clear Acrylic Case for iPhone 3G is a slim polycarbonate case that offers full access to all ports and controls, as well as a removable base cabinet for docking access. It will sell for $30.

Made from nylon, the Slim-Fit Case is a holster-style case featuring microfiber lining, a slim profile, a rigid protective inner layer with shock-absorbent padding, a speaker opening, and an integrated belt clip. It too will sell for $30. The Silicone Sleeve for iPhone 3G is a textured and multicolored case with a custom-pattern exterior. It offers access to all controls and ports, and will be available in black/infrared, gray/grapefruit, and pink/gray for $25. The Leather Flip Folio features a holster design with a multipurpose pocket, microfiber inner lining, a rigid internal protective layer, openings for access to the phone’s controls and ports, and a magnetic closure. It will sell for $35.

Belkin’s Micro Grip for iPhone 3G features a textured, reflective, custom-pattern rubber exterior, and offers access to all controls and ports and form-fitting construction. It will be available in pink and black and will sell for $25. Finally, the Sport Armband Plus with FastFit is made from lightweight, water-wicking materials, and features a removable sleeve for the iPhone, a low-profile belt clip, key pouch, and a cable capsule for headphone cord management. It will sell for $30. Belkin also plans to offer ClearScreen Overlay screen protectors for iPhone 3G. Made from clear static-cling plastic, they will be available for $13/3-pack. Belkin’s new line of protective cases for the iPhone 3G will launch in the US in July, with launches in Europe, Asia, and Australia to follow soon after.

Marware unveils C.E.O. Sleeve for iPhone 3G

Marware has announced its C.E.O. Sleeve for iPhone 3G. Made from Nappa leather, the sleeve features a microfiber interior, elastic siding for a snug fit, perforated design accents with contrast stitching, open access to the 3G’s headphone jack and sleep/wake button, and an interchangeable Multidapt low-profile belt clip. It will also include clear protective film and a microfiber cleaning cloth. The Marware C.E.O. Sleeve for iPhone 3G is available now for pre-order online for $25 and is expected to ship prior to July 1.

Speck debuts ToughSkin, SeeThru for iPhone 3G

Speck Products has announced its upcoming ToughSkin and SeeThru cases for the iPhone 3G. Originally announced in The Free iPod + iPhone Book 4, the ToughSkin for iPhone 3G is a rubberized case offering a textured pattern that protects the iPhone from accidental bumps and drops while allowing full access to buttons and controls. The bottom of the case flips back for easier docking, and the case also features a removable belt clip. The Speck ToughSkin for iPhone 3G will be available in July and will sell for $35. The SeeThru for iPhone 3G is a hard shell case with built-in rubberized side strips for extra grip and a specially designed bottom that slides off for docking and conveniently doubles as a stand. Available in a variety of colors, the Speck SeeThru for iPhone 3G will be available in July for $30.