MSNBC’s New Mobile Application for Apple iPhone Users

Here’s an important piece of information for Apple users.

MSNBC has come up with a mobile application for Apple iPhone and iTouch users. It has joined hands with a mobile media company called Zumobi to develop this application. Zumobi is famous for developing unique mobile applications for various smart phones like Apple iPhone, Google Android, and Palm Pre.

The application brings all the latest news from around the world to the mobile screen. The developers have integrated Twitter into this application which makes it even more useful for the end user.

With this application, you will be able to check out all the latest headlines any time you want right from your mobile phone. From world news to business, sports, weather, or entertainment, this app brings you pretty much anything you need right to your mobile screen. You will also be able to track Twitter feeds, or Tweets as they are called by many, from msnbc.com and share your favorite news items with your friends. The best part about this application, as far as I am concerned, is that it is totally free. You can download it directly from Zumobi’s website.

MSNBC has said that the interactive features in this application will offer a thoroughly engaging experience for mobile users. It has also said that this application offers a great chance for advertisers in the form of premium brand sponsorships.

In my opinion, this app could become pretty popular with iPhone users. If you remember, Associated Press launched its own mobile news network some time back. Considering how popular it became in a very short period of time, I think my prediction might come true very quickly.

Categories: Apple iPhone, All things mobile phones.

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Watch Ustream.tv’s Live Video Feeds On Your iPhone

Watching the live video feeds of Ustream.tv just got easier for iPhone users. Ustream.tv has come up with an exclusive iPhone application which will allow iPhone users to watch live video feeds anytime, anywhere and connect with people who do the same.

Since developing apps for the Apple iPhone seems to be the in-thing now, I was not surprised to hear this news at all. After all, Ustream.tv has made a name for itself by providing high quality streaming video service. So, it was really a matter of time before they came up with this application. So, from now on, iPhone users can watch every single broadcast of Ustream.tv right on their phone. Also, using this application, you will be able to chat with people who watch Ustream shows and connect with like-minded people.

This will make it easier for iPhone users around the world to watch the live feeds from Ustream.tv no matter where they are. Moreover, the ability to connect with people on the move adds a nice social networking touch to the application. So, the way I see it, this application could easily become massively popular with iPhone users.

As of now, the application is still in beta. Ustream.tv has asked iPhone users to send in their identifier number in order to be able to get a copy of this application. Ustream.tv will select a number of people among the applicants and send a copy of the customized application to them.

Categories: Apple iPhone, All things mobile phones.

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Why is the iPhone restricted only to iTunes and YouTube?

Watching a video, a sitcom, or even a full length movie on an iPhone can be quite an experience. With its impressive, rich display, Apple iPhone has not only made the notion of watching videos on a cell phone possible, but also exciting. However, there is a major hiccup.

The iPhone only supports videos that are associated with iTunes and the phone’s built-in YouTube application. You cannot watch any other video on an iPhone. While there are some applications that can customize non-iTunes or non-YouTube videos for the iPhone, these apps are few and far between and are not popular with a lot of iPhone users. As a result, this stops a significant number of iPhone users from enjoying videos and other such stuff on the iPhone.

The iPhone does not support Flash, which is one of the most used software for digital streaming services. Steve Jobs, earlier this year, dispelled the idea of making the iPhone support Flash software stating that it can take a toll on the battery life and the processor of the phone. However, Adobe has confirmed that it is working on a Flash iPhone player which will meet the strict requirements of the iPhone. If it does come up with such an app, it would be great news for iPhone users as it can make their mobile-video experience a lot more exciting. However, till then, iPhone users are only limited to videos from iTunes and YouTube.

Ecommercetimes has a great article on this issue. Do check it out and let me know your thoughts.

Categories: Apple iPhone, All things mobile phones.

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Google Android vs. Apple iPhone - Who is the real winner?

So, the widely anticipated Google Android phone, T-Mobile G1, has been released. Before its release, there were a lot of speculations and questions due to two reasons. First, it was from Google. As we now live in the Google era, anything Google does is big news. Second, a lot of people compared Android to Apple iPhone and expected it to create a huge buzz in the market like the iPhone did. So, now that the phone has been released, did it manage to create a huge buzz like Apple iPhone? The answer to that question would be ‘no’.

First of all, you need to understand why and how Apple iPhone managed to create such a huge buzz in the market. There are two main reasons behind it.

1. Apple iPhone was the first of its kind. The unbelievably smooth touch screen, the built-in YouTube player, built-in iPod, and other features made iPhone a stand-out choice for both technophiles and laymen. Also, it made mobile web surfing easier than before. This was a major breakthrough, as an overwhelming majority of iPhone users use the mobile search facility extensively, making the iPhone the leader of mobile searches.

The T-Mobile G1, on the other hand, is in the ‘oh; so what’s new now?’ category.

2. Apple iPhone had a huge, loyal subscriber base way before its release. Most of the iPod-worshipping crowd was excited about the arrival of iPhone and these were the people that rushed to buy the iPhone on the very first day of its release, without even knowing how it was.

The T-Mobile G1, on the other hand, does not have such a loyal following. Though Google is probably the most popular brand today, it is not so in the mobile world. So, we can safely assume that G1 will not rock the sales charts like iPhone did.

However, there is one important thing which sets Android apart from iPhone - its open source platform which allows any developer from anywhere in the world to create mobile applications. Apple, on the other hand, has a tight grip on both the hardware and software of the iPhone. So, though Apple offers plenty of mobile applications through its App Store, it retains a lot of control.

Google has announced that it will license Android to any company in the world, which gives handset makers and wireless carriers around the world to tweak the software according to their needs. This is a major plus point.

Just imagine – If any handset maker can come up with a device for Android and any wireless carrier can support it, Google Android can become a household name around the world in a few years from now. Apple iPhone, on the other hand, is locked with AT&T for five years.

So, while T-Mobile G1 phone has not managed to create a huge buzz like the iPhone did, there is every possibility of Android becoming widespread around the world. So, who could be the real winner in the long term? My money is on Google. What say you?

Categories: Google, Apple iPhone, All things mobile phones.

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A letter to The New York Times

Dear The New York Times journalist,

I do realize that Apple’s 3G iPhone is one of the most talked about consumer products today. I do realize that people are still interested in hearing about 3G iPhone, its merits, and demerits. But then, haven’t you already discussed this issue to death?

When you came up with the brilliant discovery that the new 3G iPhone actually costs more than the old one, I was really taken aback. And if you remember, I already wrote a rebuttal for that. And now, you come up with this. What do I say?

The story is this – Apple sells its iPhone for $600 to those who don’t want the two-year contract with AT&T. Those who come under the contract can pay just $199. You see, we’re fine with that. But then, when you quote some market research firm and say that the iPhone is actually worth only around $170, aren’t you stretching things a little too far?

And how the hell did someone come up with that arbitrary figure? Based on the cost of the hardware components in the phone alone? Hello, ever heard of something called R&D? When you price a product, you have to take the cost of R&D, designing, and marketing into consideration. So, claiming that the iPhone is worth only around $170 based on the value of its components is not just incorrect, it’s plain stupid.

Sensationalizing issues is better left to bloggers like me. You, being a journalist, are supposed to be neutral and most importantly, well informed.

Thanks.

Categories: Rant, Apple iPhone.

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