According to an email from Apple, the first beta of the iPhone’s iOS 4.1 mobile operating system is now available from the iPhone Dev Center along with the 4.1 SDK.

Combine that with news that Apple is holding a special press conference this Friday regarding the iPhone 4 and we just might be looking at that expected software fix for the now infamous reception issues plaguing the device.

Even if the two tidbits happen to be unrelated, the rollout of iOS 4 beta indicates a software update to the iPhone’s operating system must be fairly close to public release. With the reception issues deemed serious enough for Consumer Reports to withhold their recommendation, as well as reaching mainstream awareness to the point of making David Letterman’s Top Ten slot last night, it’s hard to imagine the announced fix would be put off for terribly long.

We’ll know more after the hastily-called press event on Friday, but for now there’s good reason for left-handed iPhone 4 owners to keep the dream alive.

More About: iOS 4, iphone, iphone 4, iphone 4 antenna issues

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There’s a new Chatroulette clone on the block. It’s called iChatr, but it’s different from all the others; it’s an app for the iPhone 4’s front-facing FaceTime camera.

The free app is already out in the Apple App Store [iTunes link], and we’ve got to admit that the execution is fairly elegant, and just as minimalistic as the site that inspired it. There’s not even a sign-in process — I was surprised to find that I was face-to-face with a stranger an instant after I tapped the icon in my home screen.

The top half of the screen displays whatever your FaceTime camera is capturing while the bottom half displays that of your current chatting partner. In lieu of a “Next” button, you just swipe the bottom image if you want to skip to someone else.

You must be connected to a Wi-Fi network to use the app, despite the fact that another app called Fring already offers video chat over 3G. You’ll also need to plug in the earbud/microphone combo that came with your phone to converse with the person on the other end, in part because the app doesn’t have a text chat room like Chatroulette does.

I didn’t see any naked exhibitionists when I used the app, but it was similar to Chatroulette in one respect. You need a thick skin because almost everyone you talk to will swipe you away within seconds — unless you’re a pretty girl, I assume!

[via Gizmodo]

Screenshot

More About: App, apple, apple app store, camera, chatroulette, facetime, iChatr, iphone, iphone 4, Mobile 2.0, video, video chat

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Popular mobile VoIP and chat client Fring has updated its mobile app to add support for 2-way video calling for the iPhone 4. You might be brushing off this feature because the new iPhone has FaceTime, but the Fring app has two big advantages over Apple’s video calling feature: 3G support and compatibility across multiple platforms.

Fring launched video calls on iPhone last year, giving iPhone 3GS users a simple way to make calls, although 2-way video calling wasn’t possible because the 3GS didn’t have a front-facing camera. Earlier this year, the company brought 3G video calling to market.

Today’s update finally makes Fring compatible with 2-way video calling on the iPhone 4. While it’s easier to initiate or receive a FaceTime call, the company is betting that people will use Fring because it allows them to call friends without an iPhone 4 — one of the big restrictions to FaceTime. Fring’s 3G connectivity also addresses another shortcoming of Apple’s video calling feature: it only works on Wi-Fi.

Put it all together, and it means you can use Fring to call your friend with the Evo while you’re driving across the country, though we don’t recommend it for many reason.

Since FaceTime will eventually be an open platform, we hope that Fring will integrate FaceTime into its mobile apps, making video calls across multiple devices a seamless experience.

Reviews: Fring

More About: facetime, fring, iphone, Skype, video calling

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90 degree heat? Check. Sunscreen, sandals and sunglasses? Check, check, check. You are officially ready for the hot winds and bright rays of summer days.

With summer already upon us, you’re probably planning your next great getaway. No matter if you’re a backpacking adventure-seeker or just looking for some places off the beaten path, we’ve rounded up a bunch of great travel posts to help you plan your next trip.

If you’re looking for a travel buddy, maps to help you explore, or ways to record your memories then read on. Let us know in the comments which resources were most useful, and when you’re planning to go on your summer vacation.

• Find a Travel Mate for Your Next Remote Adventure
  Some people like to explore the globe solo, but most find it a bit daunting. Here’s how to find a new friend for your next great excursion.
• Tech Tourism: 10 Great Geek Destinations
  If you’re tired of sandy beaches, swim-up bars, and scuba diving, here are some tech-related destinations to help you make sure you stay as pale as you want to be.
• Top 10 Checkin Locations on Gowalla
  The road less traveled by is not for everyone; sometimes you just need to be part of the the crowd. Here are the most popular checkin spots around the world for Gowalla users.
• 5 Great Sites for Exploring Cities Around the Globe
  There is nothing more frustrating or scary than being lost in a city that you don’t know, especially if you don’t speak the language. Here are some mapping sites to help you find your way around and maybe even look like less of a tourist.
• Trip Journal Turns Your Smartphone Into the Ultimate Trip Scrapbook
  Your trip is going to be awesome, so you’ll want to make sure your memories last. Learn how to turn your smartphone in to a scrapbook, so when you return to work you can stare longingly at that week of relaxation.
• How the Resort Industry is Using Social Media
  The best vacations are often the ones you have to plan the least. Resort packages take care of that for you. Learn how the resort industry is using social media, so you can find the best place to set up that poolside lounge chair.
• Explore Space with Buzz Aldrin on Your iPhone
  We are taking this opportunity to say that the word “staycation” should be officially banned. But if you can’t get away this summer, what’s better than a little suspension of reality? Here you can take the ultimate trip and explore space with the help of your iPhone.
• 5 Ways Airlines and Hotels Can Drive Revenue with Social Media
  Planes, trains, and automobiles will get you where every you want to go, but if you have no patience for the open road, the open skies are the way to go. Here are five ways airlines are promoting good deals through social media, and you can snag those business-class seats to China on the cheap.
• 11 iPhone Apps for Stress Free Family Travel
  For many of us, “family vacation” can be a bit of an oxymoron since relaxation and fun often go out the window once you’ve rounded up the kids, the grandparents, the dog, and your kid’s friends who just had to come along. Behold, 11 applications designed to keep you from throttling your kids every time they ask, “Are we there yet?”
• HOW TO: Use Social Media for Travel Research
  Here is our basic guide to using social media sites to find out about hot destinations, amazing deals, traveler reviews and more.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, gisele

Reviews: Gowalla, iStockphoto

More About: adventure, check.in, geek, gowalla, iphone, maps, Planning, resorts, social media, space, travel, travel buddy, travel mate, vacation

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Mozilla has submitted Firefox Home, its first official iPhone app, to Apple’s App Store. It may be the closest thing we ever see to Firefox on the iPhone.

Firefox Home is not like Fennec, the official mobile version of the Firefox browser, currently in pre-alpha for Android. Instead, it is an app that provides users access to their Firefox bookmarks, browsing history, and open tabs. It also has an “Awesome Bar,” which helps you find the websites you frequent the most on your desktop. The app works by hooking up with the Firefox Sync add-on.

We expect Apple to approve Firefox Home without much trouble. After all, Apple approved Opera Mini, and it essentially competes with Safari Mobile as your iPhone’s browser. Firefox Home looks to be a great addition to any heavy Firefox user’s arsenal.

Will you download Firefox Home if and when it comes out on the App Store? Let us know in the comments.

Reviews: Android, App Store, Firefox

More About: Fennec, Firefox, Firefox Home, mozilla

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iMovie for iPhone is the official Apple application that lets iPhone users record and edit high-definition video to publish directly to YouTube or send via MMS and e-mail.

The application, available for $4.99 [iTunes link], is simple to use and yet surprisingly feature-rich for something on a mobile device.

Experienced video editors will have no problem picking up iMovie for iPhone 4. In fact, after a little practice and fidgeting around with the settings, even novice video editors like myself can create a polished video of various clips, music and pics in about 10 minutes.

Here’s how to create your own iMovie masterpiece.

Getting Started

iMovie for iPhone is a meaty app, which means the download process will take longer than a typical application download. Once installed, simply open the application and do as instructed, “Tap + to start a new project.”

After you start a new project, you’ll be asked to select a theme and be given the option to toggle theme music on or off. Apple gives you five themes to choose from — Modern, Bright, Travel, Playful, News. Don’t worry too much about choosing your theme; you can always change it during the editing process by clicking on the settings icon next to the Timeline.

Each new project you create is autosaved as you work, so you don’t need to worry about constantly saving. Also, while working on a project, you can return to your saved projects by selecting the Projects View button (it looks like a starred folder) to return to the Projects window. Projects are represented by a single thumbnail image.

iMovie for iPhone works in landscape or portrait mode, and there are only four primary buttons that you need to be concerned with. The button in the upper left-hand corner is the Projects View button — clicking this will return you to the Projects window. The button in the upper right-hand corner is the Play/Pause button. Position the bottom slider along the red line as desired, and click Play or Pause to watch or stop your clip from that position.

The bottom half of the display is dedicated to adding content to your video machination. In the lower left-hand corner is the Media Library button; tap this to add existing video, audio or photos from your iPhone 4 library. In the lower right-hand corner is the Camera button; select this to record video from within iMovie and add it to your timeline.

The Timeline

Perhaps the trickiest element of the app is the timeline bar at the bottom of the display. Video editors will automatically recognize what to do here, but for users new to video editing it might be a tad daunting at first. Fear not — the Timeline is actually quite simple to use. Simply position the red marker anywhere along the slider to add new content from your media library in that spot.

You can drag-and-drop photos and video clips to rearrange them, or drag them out of the timeline to delete them altogether.

The theme you choose can be accompanied by its companion musical composition or you can add a new track from your own library by selecting the Media Library button. Music selection is visible via the green bar below the photo and video content snippets. Unfortunately, you can only include one audio track per clip, although sound will fade in and out depending on whether or not you have audio toggled “on” for your video clips.

Editing Photos and Clips

After adding photos and videos to your timeline, you can edit them to your liking.

To edit a photo, just select one from your project timeline and two yellow lines will appear on either side of the photo in the timeline. Drag these markers to reduce the duration the photo is shown in your movie. You can also drag the photo in the preview screen to reposition it, or pinch it to zoom in and out.

For videos, trimming clips involves exactly the same process, but other editing features function slightly differently. Double tap the clip to pull up the Clip Settings menu (as pictured above). Here you can add a title and adjust when it shows up in the clip, specify clip location, and turn clip audio on or off. You can also delete the clip from this menu as well.

Transitions are automatically included between the media files in your Timeline. The transitions add continuity to the overall piece and you can edit or remove effects by double-tapping on the transitions button sandwiched between each clip or photo.

Exporting Your Movie

Once you’re satisfied with your work of video art, the final step is to export your movie to your iPhone’s camera roll. Return to the Projects window using the Projects View button and click the export icon. You’ll then have the option to export a medium, large or HD version of the clip.

Now that your film is in your camera roll, you can upload it to YouTube, or send it to friends and family via SMS or e-mail. That’s it! Now go pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

Just in case you a need a little inspiration, below is an example of what I was able to concoct in about 15 minutes.

Reviews: YouTube, news, video

More About: apple, imovie, imovie for iphone, iphone 4, iphone app

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Earlier today, we reported that iPhone 4 units were shipping out to customers a day early; well, they’ve already arrived at the addresses of some customers. Twitter and Facebook are abuzz with reports of new iPhone 4 owners unboxing and trying out their precious new toys a whole two days early.

Check out this photo of Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of Loopt, on the right.

Loyal Moses has also posted some video taken with his iPhone 4, uploaded to YouTube in 720p, which you can check out below.

Have you received your iPhone 4 yet? If so, let us know what you think of the new device in the comments.

Video

Close-Up

[img credit: Loyal Moses]

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Toy Story 3 isn’t just hitting movie theaters today, it’s also hitting the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, with Disney/Pixar releasing apps for the iOS platforms based around Woody, Buzz Lightyear and all of the other toys.

Because I’m a pretty big Toy Story fan (I have tickets to a show later tonight), I volunteered to review Toy Story 3 for iPhone (free), Toy Story Mania for iPhone ($4.99) and Toy Story 3 Read-Along for iPad ($8.99).

iPhone

All three apps have been designed to be kid-friendly and to align with the existing Toy Story style and sensibility. The free Toy Story 3 iPhone app features information about the film and its characters as well as lots of games. Some of the games are free but others are available through in-app purchase. You can also listen to a customized greeting from Sheriff Woody himself, which is a free (and very neat) feature that should appeal to lots of kids.

While Toy Story 3 for iPhone is clearly designed around the idea of the latest chapter in the film saga, the broader based Toy Story Mania covers the entire series. It’s a pretty well made app and has lots of mini-games which are actually addictive — even for adults. It also has a gallery feature that can only be utilized if you’re at the Toy Story Experience attraction at Walt Disney World.

iPad

The iPad app, Toy Story 3 Read-Along, is in some ways the most compelling app. It takes the form of a children’s story book — something we’ve seen dozens of for the iPad. What makes the Toy Story 3 book different, however, is all the extra features that Disney has packed into the app. For instance, you can record you voice or your child’s voice for the voice over.

You can also sing-along to two tracks from the film, color in drawings (using either a watercolor fill method or choosing your own colors) or create your own freeform designs, and play several fun games. The app is even 3D compatible, if you have a pair of compatible glasses, for certain images and for one version of the “Flying with Style” game.

After a heavy marketing campaign targeted at college students and young adults, it’s clear that Toy Story also has lots of opportunities to captivate younger fans. The film is already shaping up to be one of the biggest openings of the summer (if not the entire year) at the box office and the iPhone and iPad games are a fun addition.

Images

Toy Story 3 For iPad

Read-Along

Story Menu

Story Help

Sing-Along

Sing-A-long

Coloring Book

Painting

Painting

Completed Art

Games

Flying Woody

Toy Story Mania

Toy Story Mania

Toy Story Mania Games

Toy Story 3 iPhone

Toy Story 3 iPhone

Woody's Recordings

Toy Story Mac Controller

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Tags: disney, Film, ipad, ipad apps, iphone, iphone apps, Movies, toy story 3

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Today was clearly iPhone 4 day. Apple CEO Steve Jobs used almost all of his keynote time WWDC to talk up the new iPhone and its many features. And while iOS 4.0, FaceTime video calling, and a completely redesigned iPhone were what we wanted to hear about most, a lot of other rumored announcements were conspicuously absent from the two hour presentation.

There were a lot of rumors as to what else Apple might announce. The list wasn’t small and it didn’t come out of thin air. We were expecting a cloud-based version of iTunes, likely called iTunes Live. We thought there would be announcements regarding a refresh to the Macbook line. There were also credible rumors regarding the potential release of Safari 5 today (which was released later despite not being announced in Jobs’s keynote), not to mention Apple TV and the mythical Verizon iPhone.

As we now know though, with the exception of Safari 5 none of those things became reality today. Why weren’t they announced today?

The Virtue of Focus

Apple is notorious for being the center of countless rumors. The secretive company doesn’t spring a lot of information leaks (though it does lose the occasional prototype). That makes for lots of speculation and a lot of incorrect predictions.

If you don’t think Apple’s working on a cloud-based version of iTunes or refreshes to the existing Mac lineup though, then you’re just deluding yourself. Apple’s always working on improving its existing products. The Macbook AIR will be updated… eventually. Apple will bear fruit from its Lala acquisition… eventually. And yes, eventually there will be a U.S. iPhone that is not on AT&T.

However, Steve Jobs understands the necessity of focus. He didn’t want to drown out the iPhone 4’s debut with other major announcements. He wants people talking about the phone, and only the phone. He doesn’t want or need people to be distracted by Safari 5 or Apple TV.

So while we’re as disappointed as you are that we’re not getting our iTunes in the cloud today, it will eventually come. Today was iPhone 4, but tomorrow could be Mac OS. Expect Apple to hold another media event later this summer to talk about the company’s many other products.

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Tags: apple, att, iphone, iphone 4, itunes, iTunes Live, macbook air, safari, Safari 5, Verizon iPhone, wwdc

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Call it whatever you like — football, soccer, the game with the black and white checkered ball that you kick around the field. Pick a name and get ready for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Every four years soccer fans go wild and neighborhood bars are packed to the brim in broad daylight with devoted viewers.

While the BBC and ITV apps that promise to stream the games and video highlights have yet to be released, there are still some great, free iPhone apps to satisfy your World Cup appetite.

1. World Cup Countdown

We know you’ve been counting the days until the non-stop soccer action. This app counts down the excitement by the days, minutes, hours and seconds until it all begins on June 11th. The app also has an interactive photo slideshow with a series of cool pictures of South Africa. You can click on the photos to learn more about each scene.

There are even interesting video and audio options, like a spectacular overview of the countryside and some local music and dance moves. It’s a great way to learn about the country hosting the games, especially if you are planning to attend in person.

2. ESPN 2010 FIFA World Cup

This app has just about everything you need to prepare for the tournament. With a full schedule, you’ll never miss your team in action. The app allows you to select your favorite team or teams so you can easily keep track of all the news surrounding them. It also has full biographies and stats for each player for all 32 teams, so you’ll know exactly who is playing the game.

Super-fans will appreciate the app for its extensive history of the tournament, which dates back to 1930, and includes an overview, trivia and controversies for each year. Sign in with your myESPN account to post comments about your team or participate in the “Fantasy Bracket Predictor,” where you can attempt to forecast the outcome of each World Cup match.

3. World Football Live!

This app gives you the latest news about all things football/soccer from BBC Sports, Yahoo! Euro Sports, and ESPN. News is updated in real-time and you can bookmark your favorite articles or e-mail them to your friends. The app also lets users browse offline. Once you’ve updated the latest news, you can read all the downloaded articles without a WiFi or 3G connection.

4. AP 2010 World Cup Coverage

The Associated Press has been covering the games since the very beginning and is committed to giving fans full coverage. Once the games start, the app will provide up-to-the-minute news from more than 100 journalists in South Africa who will be covering the action. It has a multi-language platform and users can choose to get their soccer fix in English, Spanish, French or Portuguese.

With customizable skins for each team, you can show everyone (at least everyone you show your phone to anyway) who you are rooting for. There is an easy to follow schedule feature that shows which teams are playing and at what time. Also, a photo and video feature will be updated once the tournament starts. The app also has a “venue” feature and lists a bit of history and interesting facts about all 10 stadiums where the games will be played.

5. World Cup Factoids and History

If you really want to know what you’re talking about when you say that Germany is going to kick some butt, this is the app for you. With lists of every winner, host nation, defending champion and number of appearances since 1930, you’ll be able to make some informed predictions as to who will take home this year’s big title.

History buffs will swoon for the detailed chronicles of pre-tournament dates, starting with the world’s first international soccer match between Scotland and England in 1872. The app also connects you to news from BBC, ESPN and the official FIFA site. You can help spread World Cup fever (not that it really needs the help) by pressing the button that lets you tweet about the application.

6. World Cup Trivia Challenge Lite

Once you’ve brushed up on your facts and history, you’ll be ready for this game. Set on a soccer field, the lite version of this app has 50 questions that will test your soccer hooligan mettle. It’s a fast-paced game. With 90 seconds on the timer, you must answer questions like “How many nations appeared for the first time in 2006?”

Once you get three questions right, you score a “goal.” For every question you get wrong, your opponent (who isn’t actually answering any questions) scores a point. There are three stages to work through and it includes a penalty shoot-out for a tie game. You can even listen to the sounds of whistles, cheers and music from a real life game, or choose to turn them off.

Once you’ve mastered all 50 questions, you can upgrade to the paid version for $1.99, where 600 more questions are ready to test your fandom.

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More iPhone resources from Mashable:

– Top 10 iPhone Apps for TV Fanatics
– 10 Great iPhone Apps for Growing a Garden
– 5 Fantastic Free iPhone E-book Reader Apps
– 10 Essential Money-Saving iPhone Apps
– 10 Best iPhone Apps for Dog Lovers

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, zentilia

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter, iPhone, iStockphoto, news

Tags: ESPN, fans, football, iphone, iphone application, iphone applications, iphone apps, Lists, Mobile 2.0, MyESPN, soccer, South Africa, sports, world cup, world cup 2010

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