Trying to find your way to London underground subway? Look though your iPhone 3GS screen.

YouTube daily mobile upload up 400%

YouTube today announced though its blog that since, Apple lunched the iPhone 3GS on June 19th with video capture and editing function the daily mobile video when up 400%. Once again if it is done right people we come. Link to YouTube blog.

Apple sales 1M iPhone 3GS.

For the first 3 days of the iPhone 3GS Apple Inc. has sold 1M unit world wide. Matching its own record from the launch of the iPhone 3G. Link to Apple press release.

1 Billion downloads!

The Apple App Store has reach 1 billion download in a short time of just 9 months since its launch. For all the iPhone and iPod Touch user this is great news cause, it will only lure more developer to the platform. Creating more apps and more games.

iPhone 3.0 SDK event!

Apple has invited the press to a special event to unveil the next version of iPhone 3.0 SDK and new main feature. The event will be held on March 17th at Apple campus. Is likely that Apple will introduce background processing and better performance to the iPhone OS. Making it runs faster and much more internet connected then before.

New iPhone "Small" ready for introduction?

A case leak from China might be point to a possible iPhone Nano? Well only time will tell cause just a few more weeks to the next Apple event which will happen on Jan. 5th 09. The famous MacWorld San Francisco!  

iPhone Game on big screen!

An iPhone / iPod Touch game concept in development by Freeverse...

Google Voice Search on iPhone.

Google has updated their iPhone App to enable people to do internet search without typing a word. Google has been eyeing the mobile space for the past 2 years and we can expect more to come.

The Touch Screen Party.

October is shaping up to be like a "Touch Screen Party" for smartphone market. After the launch announcement of the HTC G1 (Android) and the Nokia 5800 Xpress Music, here comes the first official webpage on the BlackBerry Storm from Vodafone. BlackBerry first touch screen phone without any keypad.

So you ask why suddenly everyone is fighting to get a space in the touch screen party? Well since Apple Inc. launched the first iPhone in US with a all touch screen input system, everyone is watching closely on how consumer will respond to a touch screen smartphone without any traditional keypad. Now the iPhone 3G has become an international product, other phone market no longer can wait in the sideline. But is all those touch base smartphone really playing the same game? Not really if you look closely at each device they might all base on the touch screen concept but their approach vary. 

I think you can basically divide them into 3 different camps. Finger only (iPhone), Stylus + Finger (HTC Diamond, Nokia 5800 etc.), and Finger + Keypad (HTC G1). For the Blackberry Storm is not clear what kind of input combination is it going to include, but it is likely to be a touch with stylus system. (BB Storm hands On from GIZMODO)

So which format works better? It really depended on the user. So I will say don't buy one until you really touch one first.

To Sign or not to Sign a iPhone Contract.

In the past months since iPhone 3G is available in Hong Kong I have been thinking about getting one but a 2 years contract has made me think twice before signing up. Like other iPhone 3G around the world signing up for a contract is the only way to get one (without the trouble of hacking). I don't mind signing up for a deal, but 24 months is just too long for me, so I waited and waited cause I know 3HK did not say anything about exclusive when they launch the iPhone 3G. The possibility of the different carrier or a contract less iPhone is very possible for the Hong Kong market as most mobile phone is sold contract less.

Finally it happen in Oct. 2008 Apple online store Hong Kong started to sale iPhone 3G without contract. The price is not cheap (5,400 8G/ 6200 16G) but well within the range of high-end smartphone pricing (Nokia N96 / 6,588 - HTC touch Pro / 6,380).

Now the wall of a lock in contract is down, what's left is shopping for a data plant that will fit my needs. Once again I'm back in the world of contract shopping again.

Note: So far Hong Kong is the only Apple online store that carry contact free iPhone 3G. Not sure will this version of iPhone will work in other counties carrier, but technically speaking it should.