NetNewsWire spoon-feeds iPhone the news

Of the several news readers offered in Apple's iTunes App Store to date, NetNewsWire stands out as the most appealing. Unlike Mobile News from the Associated Press, NetNewsWire pulls in stories from multiple sources, and unlike Google Reader, it does so nearly instantly in a true native application (Google Readers whisks you to an iPhone-optimized Web application after you select it from a list of more options on Google Mobile.)

Like many other applications, NetNewsWire is the iPhone version of an already-brawny Web service operated by NewsGator, and one whose desktop versions CNET Download.com editors have already acclaimed for its usability on Macs and on PCs, where it's known as FeedDemon.

NetNewsWire for iPhone is a feeds repository, but a good one. You won't be able to add feeds at this early stage, but the application will syncs with any of your existing NewsGator accounts for NetNewsWire for Macintosh, FeedDemon, Inbox, and NewsGator Online. The application lets new users to sign up from the iPhone. You'll also be able to save posts in a clippings folder for later perusal, and read the full article on Safari.

Via CNET Crave

First iPhone 3G battery results

We've had the iPhone 3G just three days, but we've manged to give it a good shakedown. Today, CNET Labs finished its first round of talk time testing for both the EDGE and 3G networks. On EDGE the iPhone 3G fell about an hour short of its rated time of 10 hours, while 3G calls matched the promised time of 5 hours. Those times aren't bad, but we'll run another round just to be sure. And in any case, actual day-to-day use will be the real test of the iPhone 3G's endurance. Ideally, it should last a full day with heavy use, but in our short experience thus far both the 3G and the GPS appear to be hungry applications that drain the battery quickly. We also completed our first Internet speed tests, and we can report that the 3G service positively smokes EDGE. Busy sites loaded in less than half the time it took on the previous iPhone. For a full review of the new cellular, check our iPhone 3G review .

Via CNET Crave

Apple: One million iPhones sold, 10 million App Store downloads in first weekend

Despite the outages, shortages, and related hand-wringing associated with last Friday's iPhone 3G launch and Thursday's release of the iPhone 2.0 firmware, Apple says there were nevertheless 10 million downloads from its new App Store in its first weekend of existence.

And those long lines? A total of one million iPhone 3G units were sold. The millionth phone was sold on Sunday.

"The App Store is a grand slam, with a staggering 10 million applications downloaded in just three days," Apple overlord Steve Jobs said in a release Monday. "Developers have created some extraordinary applications, and the App Store can wirelessly deliver them to every iPhone and iPod touch user instantly."

And on the phone sales, Jobs said: "It took 74 days to sell the first one million original iPhones, so the new iPhone 3G is clearly off to a great start around the world."

There are currently about 800 applications available for download in the App Store, over 200 of which are free; at launch, there were about 550.

Via CNET Crave

WordPress to release iPhone app

When the iPhone App Store was mentioned in Steve Jobs' WWDC keynote, one of the many applications announced was a TypePad blogging tool, courtesy of Six Apart (The company also makes two other blogging tools; Movable Type and Vox). Now that the App Store has launched, other blogging platforms like WordPress are coming forward with their own iPhone app plans.

Just recently, WordPress put out a video demonstrating its very own iPhone blogging tool, which supports WordPress.com blogs and self-hosted WordPress.org blogs (as long as it's version 2.5.1 or later). WordPress promises the iPhone app will let you create and edit posts, will support multiple blogs as well as privacy settings, plus it will let you upload images directly from your camera or library. You can also preview the post in the iPhone's Safari browser before hitting Publish. While you can currently post to your WordPress blog via the Safari browser, this native iPhone app will hopefully offer a better and more seamless experience. It isn't out yet, but seeing as the App Store is live and the iPhone 3G out, we expect it'll be out very soon. We expect to see a similar iPhone app from Blogger soon as well.
Read more »

Hands-on with Pandora's Internet radio iPhone app

Apple publicly unveiled the Pandora Internet radio iPhone and iPod touch application during the unveiling of the iTunes App store on July 10. Tim Westergren, CEO for Pandora, was kind enough to give us a personal tour of the new application. The following is a synopsis of just about every question we had for Tim.

Editors' note: This is not an interview transcript, but a roundup of information on the Pandora iPhone application presented in a FAQ format.
Read more »

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our new blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (779)

» Digital Cameras (431)

» Notebooks (506)

» PC & Peripherals (531)

» Handhelds (264)

» Printers (44)

» Home AV (523)

» Music & Play (439)

» Gadgets (1002)

» Future Tech (171)

Previously...

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Subscribe to
Crave

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads