Palm previously suggested that users will be able to drag and drop their music file from their PC to Pre device. That’s usually a simple task, but music management will soon be a nightware. So Palm figured, why re-invent the wheel? how about using something popular which users are already familar with? You can call it an attempt to step on iPhone toes, expand on existing iPhone market share, but Palm likes to refer to it as a feature that will allow Pre users to transfer DRM-free music, photos and videos. More on Palm Pre webOS here.

The question now is, how Apple feels about having it software used by a competitor? Will Apple in act of “monopoly” release an update to block non-iPhone and non-iPod device syncing with iTunes?

Following a recent interview of Nokia CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo by Almar Latour regarding the iPhone’s impact on the mobile phones market, Kallasvuo admitted that the release of the iPhone was a “Wake up call” to his company. They spoke about a new Nokia device in the pipeline, the Nokia N97 and the opening of Nokia’s own app store. This is Nokia’s initiative to position itself back as a leading mobile phones and service company with an applications store.

An online Chinese store is offering what looks like the next generation of Apple iPhone expected July 17 as per a previous post. The print screen on the side shows LCD display and bezel parts, which casts doubts of the rumours that the next iPhone will have an OLD screen. The speakers seems to have been moved up the fascia of the handset. The parts also show the difference between the current and the 3rd-gen LCD connections.However, other rumours suggests that Apple is probably planning 3 version of the new iPhone, including one that will be available for the Chinese market. In which case, the LCD display could be for some and not all versions.

Rumours has it that it’s very likely Apple is working on new version of iPod nano which will include a camera, same one as it currently available on iPhone, only in awkward position. We think this is kind of expected as Apple seems to move every new and successful feature available on the iPhone to the next release of iPod. We have seen no report of a camera going to iPod Touch. This is unlikely because Apple likes to keep the iPhone as the daddy and mummy of all it portable devices, featuring all the cool features users are after.  The picture on the side from iLounge shows an artist’s rendition of the next possible iPod nano. Quick question though, how are you supposed to hold the nano to take pictures? bearing in mind that there is no touch screen. We think iPod touch will be a better candidate. What do you think?

We have seen an unprecedented number of iPhone apps rejections by iTunes store in the past few weeks.  In some cases, it seems that Apple is willing to bend the rules from time to time if needed to silence screams of rejection, bad media attention or a law suit such as the one we reported in a previous post. We have compiled a list of 5 most problematic and controversial iPhone and iPod Touch apps in the past few weeks:

Eucalyptus E-Book Reader

What is it for?

An e-Book reader that allows the iPhone user to find, download and present classic books from Project Gutenberg.
Rejected by iTunes App Store on Thursday, 21 of May 2009. This is due to the fact that it’s possible, after explicitly (more…)

Fake Watch app displays the time of day using the appearance of “look-like” famous watches maker. Cartier didn’t seem too happy with this and they decided to to file a complaint yesterday in federal court in Manhattan with claims that Fake Watch app violates a trademark.

Apple’s “use of Cartier’s Tank mark and Cartier’s trade dress and proprietary designs is likely to cause consumers to believe that Cartier’s and defendant’s goods originate from the same source,” Cartier said in the complaint.

The app in question is made by Digitopolis Co. and is available on Apple’s online iTunes store, according to the complaint. Apple is yet to comment.

UPDATE on 23-May: Wall Street Journal reported that Cartier International withdrawed the law suite after Apple removed the two apps in question from Apple Store. In a statement Cartier stated that our concerns have been addressed.

This is the second complain in a month that Apple received, the previous being an app that requires the user to shake the iPhone to silence a crying baby.

The number of apps available for iPhone and iPod touch in iTunes store has exceeded 40,000 at the end of April 09. With every developer or company trying to get as many sales as possible, some will eventually drop price. There are already many available for free. This has been somehow backup by a recent report on App Store from Distimo, which is a new ducth company in the crowded mobile market. The report contains some interesting findings that seem to relate apps pricing and its ranking.

Distimo aims to release market-wide data on all Smartphones apps stores (Blackberry, Palm, Android..etc) on a monthly bases. There will be broad report on the US market for free and another one with more insight on worldwide markets for a charge. The first full report of Apple store is available for download here.

One month’s data may not be enough (more…)

What's your Top-Tens?

iPhone apps store has an app for almost anything that comes to mind, but does it have an app to keep track of them all? or maybe give the best ones per category? or perhaps the Top Ten news, music, video and other matters? frequently updated online? This is where the idea of Top-Ten app for iPhone and iPod touch was born.

Top-Tens allows users to track and monitor different types of Top 10 lists which are constantly updated, including Movies, Books, Music, Online Deals, Computer Viruses, Product Recalls, and many more.

A FREE version, Top-Tens LITE is now available for iTunes store. The full and paid version is available here.

Top-Tens LITE has the same feature set as the full version of Top-Tens. The only difference being that Top-Tens LITE only shows the Top 3 entries in each list instead of the Top 10.

Rod Cambridge, developer of Top-Tens says “Everyone has an interest or hobby that they like to keep tabs on (more…)