Pinball, as a game, is something I feel transfers well to the iPhone (and iPad) – the screen is the right shape and you only need two ‘buttons’ to play the whole thing. GameProm already have a handful of other Pinball games which look good and work well and have teamed up with the metal band Slayer for the theme of this release.

The 3D-looking table looks great, the views scroll really well and you don’t get ‘lost’ as to where on the table you are while playing. You even have the option to use 3D glasses with the app – sadly I don’t have any so can’t comment on how effective it is. Slayer Pinball Rocks is a ‘universal app’ meaning it is designed both for the iPhone and iPad. The iPad version looks really nice owing to the larger screen but the overall gameplay is exactly the same so iPhone users aren’t missing out on anything. The in-app music is great (in my opinion) and they even provide a link to buy the album in iTunes. This is a bit of a shame though as it essentially becomes a paid-app (£2.99 / $4.99) but with ad’s…

I started off by saying “pinball is fun”, which it is, however the fun can be quite short-lived. You see, pinball is pinball. Different pinball tables (or apps) are essentially the same but with different clothes and different holes to get your balls into. Don’t get me wrong, Slayer Pinball Rocks IS a good game – the graphics are great, the transfer to iPhone works a treat and the controls work really well. However, if you already own one of GameProm’s other iPhone pinball apps then I think you may find this a bit ‘samey’.

Well, the premise is simple: you are on a shooting range and you need to shoot the targets that appear in groups throughout the level. Anywhere between 1 and 7 targets will appear at any one time and you simply move your phone to line up the target and tap the screen to shoot. Sounds simple, right? Well, in theory, it is pretty simple. But you need to have steady hands to hit the targets that are further away. In order to unlock the subsequent levels you need to hit a set number of targets – extra credits are awarded if you hit more targets. Once you have progressed through the levels and earned enough credits you can then unlock extra guns.

There are 12 guns in total each with 12 challenges so there is quite a lot for your 59p. However, game play is fairly limited as the same levels appear twice for each gun and you are always aiming at the same targets. A different target could spice things up a bit or, even better, the option to add photo’s of your ‘friends’ to shoot at as the targets.

Still, for a first game to use the gyroscope and costing only 59p, it’s not bad at all. The new style of game play is refreshing and should keep you occupied for a while.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

The Moshi Moshi 02 is a traditional style telephone handset that connects to various devices providing a convenient way to chat using your iPad or iPhone. With an additional USB adapter the Moshi Moshi 02 can connect to your computer as well making it a versatile audio handset.

Created by the French designer David Turpin, the handset comes with a matching base making it look like a rather stylish house phone. That is until you pick it up and realise that there is just a single button. This allows you to answer and disconnect when connected to your iPad/iPhone.

The MM02 handset is available in either “luxurious black soft-touch or white high-gloss”. I am (obviously) reviewing the high gloss white one here.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

The handset has a coiled cable that terminates in a 3.5mm jack. This can be plugged directly into your iPad or iPhone, or using a number of adapters available (at extra cost) into a wide variety of mobile phones. The phone base has a pair of 3.5mm sockets, one for the handset and one for a male/male cable that connects to your device/computer. The base to device cable is just over 30″ long and is pure white. The coiled handset cable is slightly off-white.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

If you want to use the Moshi Moshi with a computer then you will need to get the USB adapter. This is sold separately and is a zero configuration device that plugs directly into a free USB port. The adapter is about 2″ long by 3/4″ wide a little bit bigger than a memory-stick. Because of it’s width it makes it a little tight to use both of my USB ports on my MacBook Pro as they are sized for normal USB connectors, not the wider USB devices. The USB adapter simply provides an audio interface allowing you to select the handset as input/output for all audio, or just for specific applications.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

In use the handset works very well both with the base and on it’s own. I have used is as a handset for my iPhone over the cellular network, and with my iPad using Skype over WiFi and 3G. The quality of the speaker microphone combination works very well, with conversations being as good as or better than other headset/handset solutions. The good thing about this device is that you have what feels like a conventional telephone. One thing I did find a little confusing at first was that the handset button will stop and start the iPod on my iPhone/iPad, as well as answer/disconnect a call.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

Of course if you have an iPhone 4 and you suffer from the dreaded signal drops you can use the MM02, with your phone in the pocket meaning that you get full signal strength.

Although the iPad does have a microphone and speaker it is not very elegant, or private to try and use it for Skype or VOIP the handset is a much more practical approach.

Using it on the Apple MacBook Pro I often found that the USB adapter had grabbed the audio output, and I was left scratching my head trying to work out why iTunes wasnt playing properly… Once I got over that I had no problems assigning Skype to the handset and letting iTunes play over my speakers.

Priced at $59.99 or £45.00 with the USB adapter costing an extra $20 or £15 there are certainly cheaper options on the market, but if what you are after is a bit of style to add to your desk then this is for you… My only real criticism is that the coiled handset cable is just enough off-white to mar the overall effect of the handset and base, strangely if they had made it the same colour as the base to device cable it would be perfect.

Native Union Moshi Moshi 02 handset

From a more practical side of things would I want to carry this handset around with me when I am out and about? I think not! The idea of having the iPad is to cut down weight and clutter. I would be better off with a bluetooth handsfree kit, or even the iPhone headset with built in microphone. But this is not what the handset is about…

Check out Native Union’s US website or the UK site for more details including stockists.

In a recent forum debate on MacRumors it has been suggested that the  new Micro sim might be the source of the problem.

However the blame could still be directed at poor phone design. It is suggested that if the Micro sim has been missalined it can short/missconnect causing sim errors which would account for total loss of signal strength. Some have even suggested that the metal contacts on the sim could be touching the case. This may also provide clues as to why some phones are apparently free of this problem.

THE FIX.
Well this is the hard bit so I might suggest reading the post on MacRumors, as I don’t have the iPhone 4 to test this on, so maybe some of you could comment on any successes and failures?

Try repositioning the sim in the tray as even a fraction of a milimeter can make a difference. Placing tape around the sim to sheild it from the phone body (but not over the contacts). Mabye even talk to your provider about getting a new sim card. But apply caution as the sim tray has very limited space, and any modification here could damage internal workings and invalidate your warranty, so naturally Wired 4 iPhone take no responcibility for damages and failures.

Interestingly, if this does prove to be the problem then the fix could be relitively simple for Apple to achive with either shipping new sims to those with the problems or even a plastic replacment sim tray? Watch this space.

iPhone 4 launch day

Just before 8:00 a huge cheer went up round the corner at the front of the store…

We were still around the corner so had no idea what was happening, but shortly after 8 we started moving. There were 2 queues one for reserved devices and one for “pot-luck”. Fortunately we had reserved our devices and our queue was moving a lot faster.

Just after 9:30 we had moved onto Regent St and could see the Apple flag flying above the doors, and yet another queue to get in the store. 9:45 saw us in the door leaving the heat of the street behind, for the air conditioned interior.

Apple are selling both PAYG and contract iPhones as well as upgrades for existing users. Bearing in mind the length of the queues and the fact that they had not turned any of the pot-luck people away the chances are that they have plenty of stock.

This is not the case in other outlets as we are hearing of a lot of disappointed buyers at O2 and other outlets where stock has been as low as 25 iPhones. This was a scenario we were expecting and is why we pre-ordered ours.

We are now snaking around the glass staircase waiting our turn. Looks like we will not get them before midday. Apparently the reason for this is that the POS hand terminals keep crashing. About time they moved from Windows Mobile to iPod Touch devices like the US.

PocketGPSWorld.com CamerAlert

The CamerAlert 1.1 release has been tested with the latest iOS4 iPhone software, but does not implement multitasking yet. There are some major features added including camera management, HUD display, and numerous bugfixes.

From the Apple AppStore description:

This release introduces new functionality for management of camera reports. It is no longer required to have an active data connection to report cameras, the reports are collected and will be sent next time you have an internet connection. This means that CamerAlert will now work 100% without wireless data. Of course if you do not have a data connection you will not be able to display maps.

There is now a new HUD style display where all the data is mirrored allowing you to lay the iPhone flat on the dash and see a projection on the windscreen. Depending on your windscreen this my introduce ghosting.

There is a slightly more prominent reminder that a new database is available. This is displayed in the list mode.

Numerous bug fixes to improve the stability and performance of the application have been included.

Apple iPhone iOS4 upgrade live

In a slightly unusual move Apple have released the iPhone OS update before the new devices hit the stores. Normally it is the other way round.

iTunes is offering Apple's iOS 4 for upgrade.

iOS 4 contains over 100 improvements, but the headliners are MultiTasking, Application Folders, Improved Mail App, and iBooks. Apps taking advantage of these new features started appearing in the Apple AppStore over the last few days, and now they will be eligible for downloading and installing onto your updated iPhone.

Vodafone iPhone 4 pricing confirmed

The iPhone 4 handset will cost £219 and there will be 18 and 24 month contracts. The 18 month contract will cost £30 per month with 75 minutes of calls, 250 text messages, and 1Gb of data. Although this works out at £10 more than the equivalent O2 contract with less calls and texts it does offer double the data. If you do go over the O2 500Mb limit just once then the Vodafone contract becomes cheaper.

Buying the iPhone on a 24 month contract does not change the handset price, but does drop the monthly charge to £25, making it cheaper than the O2 24 month iPhone 4 contract.

Click here to view the official UK Vodafone iPhone 4 pricing page.

iPhone 4 in short supply

With this in mind I was beginning to wonder if the Apple Stores will actually have any stock. I phoned round a few stores and managed to get the same reply fro all the stores I tried: “We will have stock, but it will be very limited. We will have to keep most of our stock for the people who have reserved their iPhones”.

The other wireless carriers have been a little quiet so we don’t really know what is happening there, indeed Vodafone, T-Mobile and Three have not declared pricing yet. No doubt things will become a little more clear next week.

It certainly seems to be leading up to the biggest Apple launch so far. So if you really must have the latest iPhone 4 then it looks as if choosing the right location may pay dividends. The best bet would probably be to try a smaller shop, but then again they will have less stock. It really will be a gamble if you haven’t pre-ordered.

Quote from the O2 site.

iPhone 4 will only be available for existing O2 customers at launch

iPhone stock will be extremely limited in the UK at launch and not everybody who wants one will be able to get one straight away. We want to make sure that our existing customers get priority so until at least the end of July, only existing O2 customers will be able to get an iPhone 4 from us.

Whether you’re an existing O2 mobile customer looking to upgrade, or one of our broadband customers looking to move your mobile to O2, our iPhone stock is reserved exclusively for you.

FaceTime: Video Calls reborn

But that was way back in time, and things have changed since then. Video Calling which was the big selling point of upgrading to 3G died a death and was replaced by WAP and Mobile Internet. So why has Apple re-introduced video calling in the guise of Face Time?

Well some of the social media and new generation communications platforms have done very well with text, voice, and video messaging. So maybe it is time for mobile video calling to make a comeback. As far as bandwidth is concerned there shouldn’t be a problem (unless you are in San Francisco and your name is Steve Jobs at WWDC) and of course I think that is will be great for families and friends who are apart.

The restriction though is that you can only call iPhone 4 to iPhone 4. Why not iPhone 4 to Mac? Or iPhone to anything? Is restricting it to iPhone 4 going to cause it to fail? Does the fact that Apple has developed FaceTime mean that they will block the far more useful Skype from releasing video calling in their app? I certainly hope not, but even so the wireless carriers will be reluctant to allow this video calling over their networks as they will be struggling to provide the bandwidth that they have difficulty obtaining extra revenue from.

Maybe the recent withdrawal of “unlimited” data tariffs is more to do with gaining extra revenue from users wanting to use their devices in new and innovative ways, than punishing the tiny minority who have taken the networks at their word and “abuse” the “unlimited data”.

Lets face it with the cost of data fixed and falling the wireless carriers have to find a way to get the finances they need to invest in newer and faster networks. They have missed out badly on controlling what connects to their network so now they need to capitalise on the only “real” asset they have: the network and it’s airtime.

I am all for paying a fair price for a product to enable further development and innovation, and indeed for the company to make money, but being draconian and restrictive may very well stifle mobile innovation and effectively restrict what we can do with our mobile devices to static WiFi networks.

FaceTime: Video Calls reborn