Just a quick post to notify whoever doesn’t check the Appstore at least 4 times a day (for updates or new apps) that a new version of Dropbox (what a good service this is!) has been posted to the Appstore yesterday.

This update is meant to fix a few things, most notably, the compatibility with OS 3.0. Lot of people didn’t upgrade to 3.1 either because of the know “random shutdowns” or because no jailbreak was available, those same people couldn’t use Dropbox on their iPhone as the application simply would not run on an iPhone running an OS lower than 3.1

We could argue the speed of the approval process as this update came out AFTER 3.1.2 was released and a JB being available, still, always good to see updates flowing in.

My recommendation? Signup with Dropbox (using this link we’ll get a bit more space each) and install the iPhone app right away. Personally love it!

I think I’ll leave this video to your comments…

There are people that just can’t stop having ideas, some even very good, or so simple that you say:”Why didn’t I think about it???”

When you are Jack Dorseay (co-founder of Twitter) then your mind must be filled with good ideas. With his new company called Square he developed the Square iPhone Payment System. A tiny cube to be mounted on the headphone jack (iPhone and iPod Touch) and a software to be installed (to make the little cube card reader work) that will allow to accept credit card payment by swiping the card in the reader.

How clever?!?

Can you imagine people travelling around with a payment system in their pockets? Shops where any employee can accept your payment wherever you are without having to queue? That sounds pretty good to me…

(Via TUAW)

We do talk passionately about the iPhone on this blog. So obviously you may think we are 2 nerds deprived with any social live and worship our gadget like a God.
Well just for the record, Ka owns a Blackberry, a HTC Hero with Android and an iPhone 3G. I, on the other hand own a T-Mobile G1 (Google Phone), a Samsung S7500 (running Android), a 3Gs 32Gb and a Palm Pre coming next week.
Yes we are geeks.. And yes we do other things besides loving our toys. We know what we are talking about when we praise the iPhone, otherwise this blog would be named luxAndroid or luxPre. If we decided to go for the iPhone, it’s because in the past 3 years, no iPhone-killer has made me turn on Apple, and all of them got their fair chance. Each time, I wanted to believe, and each time I cheated, I begged for forgiveness. Many things-iPhone we take for granted. But anyone who’s been deprived for a couple of days feels my pain. Are you an addict too?

To who like me jumps on every update before even reading what others that tried before say, I feel your pain.

Well, this also comes from the confidence that Apple got us to feel when they come out with something. The concept that makes their strength is not only the “wow factor”, coolness of their products, it’s also the “it just works”. But, this time, I’ve the impression that the 3.1 update hasn’t been a huge success. This post is actually an update on a previous one. Unfortunately it’s not an update that brings good news. The issue is still there, and a lot of people are really unhappy. See the picture here below: Continue reading »

The comment I get from a large part of the people that still didn’t fall for the iPhone (and Apple in general) is about the virtual keyboard of the iPhone and sending texts. A comment from the ones to be considered “heavy texters”. I’m talking about that special breed that is able to send around 500-600 SMS a day. They probably have 30 fingers, don’t know, still, they’re entire life is like a looong SMS (hyper concatenated SMS).

As I was saying before, one of the comment I get a lot is:”Yeah, the iPhone is great but I won’t be able to get used to the virtual keyboard… That’s a <No, no> for me”.

Personally had several phones before the iPhone and ranged from a simple Ericsson GH788e (my first and the most awesome non PDA mobile ever made!) to some Compaqs PDAs, then HP, then Nokia with Symbian, couple of Blackberrys… And then the iPhone. What I loved of the Blackberry was also the fact of having a full keyboard. I use a computer most of the day. I’m using to type on a keyboard. Coudn’t imagine doing development (coding, programming) with T9 on a numeric pad. Could you imagine doing the same or using Excel with predictive T9 text? Naa. So when I switched to the Blackberry… I enjoyed every part of it (push email, etc) and the full keybodard. Ok, smaller than my computer’s one, but still a full keyboard and sending emails or texts was a pleasure (I’m more an “email guy” than “text guy”).

The day I switched to the iPhone… I must admit it took me some time to get used to the virtual keyboard. I don’t have huge fingers but managed anyway to type several times the wrong key and so son. After a while, and especially since we have the keyboard also in landscape mode, I’m enjoying it more. I can understand thus that some people still won’t take the plunge because of the lack of a physical keyboard. There are some people willing to send an sms without checking the screen. With a touchscreen that is a bit difficult.

My friend Vitovox sent me today a link to another blog (Engadget) which was writing about a “true innovation”. A physical keyboard for the iPhone. No, not a piece of “Frankensteinesque” DIY like the video below

but a real accessory to attach to your iPhone. It’s called the iTwinge.

Must be that somebody got the idea to make something like a mix of a case and an accessory… It’s still unclear whether this keyboard is meant to connect to the iPhone dock connector or if it’s just a way to press on the screen via some rubber letters covering the virtual keyboard, the only thing we know now is that it retails at 30$+shipping and is available for preorder. Shipping expected for November.

Do you think this will make more people to come to the iPhone world?

(Via Engadget)

It has been some time we didn’t have a poll running and the latest news got me thinking… Why not make one?

What is the operator of your choice for your iPhone contract?

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Not talking about different iPhone models but about the three different offers currently available in Luxembourg.

Now that even Tango jumped on the iPhone train, the three operators in Luxembourg share the same privilege: sell iPhone contracts.

We already published some time ago a little, brief, comparison of the offers that were available in Luxembourg. It was right a couple of days this blog was started, when the 3Gs went for sale in Luxembourg. Now that Tango joined the club, thought it was time to give a little update and put for everybody to make her/his mind the three offers on a single web page.

Let’s start with the Vox offer.

VOXmobile – iPhone3G

What makes this offer stand out from the others is the package that includes roaming. Using an iPhone means also using data very often. Emails, social networks or even stocks (for some) and weather (not really needed in Luxembourg). With the 75Euro package, if you travel often, you’re sure not to have any surprise. You have some roaming included, both calls and data. Not a huge amount, but enough to keep you still hooked to your iPhone, even sitting by that pool. Another good point is the inclusion of unlimited access to Vox Spots. Free wifi is nice when you can connect to it.

Let’s go to Luxgsm to see what they offer.

On the Luxgsm side they seem to pay special care to the younger customers rather than to the “power users”. They don’t have a package that includes roaming as Vox does, on the other hand they have a more economic package for customer between 12 and 26 years of age. Although it looks great that they’re thinking about younger people, the amont of units included in the package doesn’t seem very realistic for a “young” mobile usage. This package includes 60 units of calls/sms per month. I imagine a young girl or boy using those 60 sms in a single day and soon be spending more than what the bigger packages may cost. This is my understanding of the packages, I might be wrong, but I think it’s actually more convenient, young or not, to go straight to the bigger and more expensive package. Also to note that although the middle package, priced at 35euros/month includes 2gb of data (compared to 1gb Vox has), Vox upgraded their 35€ offer to 2Gb of free data as of Friday the 28th, none of these packages includes wifi access to PT hot spots.

And now… Ladies and Gentlemen, the newcomer in the Lu-iPhone scene, Tango:

First thing everybody will notice is that the monthly price is lower than the other two local operators, and this is clearly the eye catcher trick. Now, after the emotion has passed, let’s give it a second look, just to make sure nothing gets missed.

We have a bit of a mix. The more economic package costs 5euros less a month than the equivalent with the other two operators and the same applies to the higher priced package. Both cost 5euros less a month. But what is actually included?

We can clearly see that the more economic package includes twice the data Vox offers (2gb instead of 1gb), while giving the same Luxgsm does. On the other hand, Tango is the operator to give less units a month for their economic package. I’m not comparing this package to the “Youz” package by Luxgsm as that one is aimed only at a specific group of customers. I’m comparing packages which are open to everyone. Giving away “only” 100 units a month is not extremely appealing when, for example, Vox offers 180 (and Luxgsm 120). Uhm… Not really impressed by the economic package. On the other hand, the one priced 45Euros a month looks like the best deal on earth! But, again, let’s look closer. As some comments to our previous posts mention, Tango doesn’t (or didn’t, correct me if I’m wrong) have an Edge network. This means that the iPhone has either to run on 3G (UMTS) or 3.5G (call it as you wish, HSDPA etc) or GPRS. While using networks like 3G is extremely nice as they’re quick, that speed can be appreciated as well in seeing how fast the battery gets discharged. I know a lot of iPhone users (me included) that have their iPhone to use only Edge to save battery power. Edge is not as fast as 3G but can still do to check that email or download a little app. Doing the same on GPRS… No, please, no…

The point of this post is not to give a verdict on who’s the best operator or what is the best deal available in Luxembourg. It’s more a way to see all the offers and whoever reads this to make her/his mind. Maybe even add a comment.

(The package descriptions, images, etc have been taken from the respective operator websites at the time of writing this post)

After years of struggling they seem to have finally made it the legal way. Since August 28th, 2009, Tango is selling the iPhone with a very competitif offer. So now the 3 operators can fight with equal weapons which is a great thing for consumers since the competition also announced pricedrops almost simultanously. Too bad (again) for early adopters.

BTW even if they do advertise unlimited MMS, this service isn’t available yet due to “technical adaptation” issues. No date is known so far.
Internet tethering isn’t mentioned anywhere either.

Will their network coverage be on par with the other networks (especially the EDGE since, as far as I know was the main concern for Apple not to dance the Tango back then)?…

How about you let us know? So I call for your opinion: Is Tango’s 2G connection (E) fast enough? Or are they still relying on the 4x slower GPRS? Post your comments

Reuters reports that a spokesperson from the European Union’s consumer safety division has stated that Apple is investigating the incidents where users have alleged that their iPhones exploded.

Apple believes these incidents are ‘isolated’ but will carry out tests to identify the root cause of the problem.

There have been few cases where iPhone or an iPod Touch had allegedly exploded:

* Guardian had reported about an incident in France where a teenager’s claimed that his girlfriend’s iPhone began making a hissing sound before the screen suddenly shattered, sending broken pieces of glass “flying in the air”.
* Folks at Geekologie had reported that a Dutch guy had claimed that his iPhone had exploded and burnt the seat in his car.
* Times had reported of an incident where a second generation iPod Touch exploded, set a person’s pants on fire, and caused second-degree burns.

This also comes close on the heels of another report, which claimed that Apple had offered a refund to a British family for an iPod Touch that had allegedly exploded only if they agreed to keep quiet about the incident.

Helen Kearns, spokeswoman from the European Union’s consumer safety division has stated:

“What they’ve said to us is that they consider these are isolated incidents,”

“They don’t consider that there’s a general problem.”

Apple has issued the following statement:

“We are aware of these reports and we are waiting to receive the iPhones from the customers. Until we have the full details, we don’t have anything further to add.”

Though the cases reported might sound a little scary, Apple has sold more than 40 million iPhones and iPod Touches and so far only few cases have been reported, so frankly I’m not worried.

How about you?