The report notes that the iPod and applications developed for the iPhone perform many functions in this time of “networked warfare.” The devices helping as intelligence resources, such as aerial images from drones and translation software. Included is a program called Vcommunicator translates spoken and written Arabic, Kurdish, as well as two Afghan languages.

One application developed for the iPhone allows soldiers to take a photo of a street sign, upload it and immediately receive intelligence on the local area, such as water and sympathizers. The report from Newsweek detailed that as new recruits were already familiar with how the iPod and iPhone work, it has been easier to train soldiers on loading content. Not to mention, the cost is significantly better than other military purchases.

[via CNET]

Xtenscape was developed by Scott Hather which allows you to take control of this X10 technology using a free custom built app. X10 is an international and open industry standard for communication among electronic devices used for home automation, also known as domotics. This process uses power line wiring for signaling and control, where the signals involve brief radio frequency bursts representing digital information. A wireless radio based protocol transport is also defined.

As for the software, there is a a Windows and Mac version available. The idea of the software, which is free to download for iPhones (note the X-10 hardware [modules] are not), manages control signals by creating a ‘piggy-backed’ system whereby the electrical current running through your house is used to tell a specific receiver to switch on or off. So simple your Granny could do it and all available through your iPhone.

System requirements:

• Intel-based Apple Mac or Windows PC (98 and above)
• Java 1.5 (included on a mac, download for PC)
• Windows only: Microsoft Dot Net 2.0 framework
• CM11A or CM12 X-10 Control module (any type, UK, USA, Euro etc)
• At least one Appliance module or Lamp module
• Spare COM port or USB port (COM to USB convertor)

[via Hacked Gadgets]

The governing “iPhone Developer Program License Agreement” has been updated where Apple forbids the creation of apps that violate privacy, facilitate crimes, or violate intellectual property laws. From now on, app developers are not able to jailbreak their own phones or assist others in jailbreaking their phone. Relevant clauses in the agreement are as follows:

(e) You will not, through use of the Apple Software, services or otherwise, create any Application or other program that would disable, hack or otherwise interfere with the Security Solution, or any security, digital signing, digital rights management, verification or authentication mechanisms implemented in or by the iPhone operating system software, iPod touch operating system software, this Apple Software, any services or other Apple software or technology, or enable others to do so; and

(f) Applications developed using the Apple Software may only be distributed if selected by Apple (in its sole discretion) for distribution via the App Store or for limited distribution on Registered Devices (ad hoc distribution) as contemplated in this Agreement.

Jailbreaking allows access to apps that Apple doesn’t approve of and enables unlocking the phone from approved carriers. It also allows users and developers access to the UNIX underpinnings of iPhone OS. Developers thinking of distributing a rejected app for jailbroken phones, lose access to the iPhone developer program altogether. Jailbreaking is likely to occur even with these provisions. Apple will just be keeping a closer eye on proceedings.

[via Ars Technica]

Rumors have been going around for about 12 months of the subject. Through this time, there are applications available that are capable of modifying office files, such as documents or spreadsheets although nothing ‘Microsoft’. Quickoffice is one such application that will be available in April.

Elop discussed a few other matters as well as the comment regarding iPhones. He noted that of the 500 million people who use Office, only 250 million actually pay for it. Elop said that the main fear for Microsoft was of innovation slowing down explaining, “it’s not about having bolding or underlining in the browser… The real threat is if we’re not continuing to innovate.” This level of innovation being the development of online options for Office products as well as moving on to the iPhone.

[via TechCrunch]

ZumoDrive also dropped the price of the 25GB plan to $6.99, 50GB for $11.99 and 100GB for $19.99 per month.  If all you need is 1-GB, it’s still free and the 10GB starter plan still cost $2.99 per month.

Finally, ZumoDrive Beta is officially open to the world to test drive and enjoy, so go forth and expand your iPhone or iPhone 3G’s storage beyond the 8 or 16GB of storage!

Thanks David Zhao for sending this over!

Hello,

David from ZumoDrive here. I wanted to tell you about a couple of major announcements that we are making later today. Before I dive into the details, I want to thank you for using ZumoDrive – our success so far has been a direct result of our users. We welcome your feedback, ideas and even criticism at all times.

“Supersize Me” iPhone App – That’s right, our iPhone app is called “Supersize Me” and will be available starting Wednesday February 25th in the Utilities and Music categories of the Apple App Store. Now it really doesn’t matter if your iPhone has just 8 or 16 GB – you’ll never again have to choose which content to put on it. Just like ZumoDrive supersizes your PC or Mac, the Supersize Me iPhone app lets you put ALL your music, photos and documents on your iPhone and delivers a fantastic experience whether you’re connected via WiFi, 3G or EDGE. Browse through your entire music library and play anything as if it were stored on your phone. See your entire updated photo archive as it grows. View all your files including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF at any time.

The regular price of Supersize Me is $4.99, but we’re giving the application away free to early users like you for a limited time – so go grab it now!

Oh yeah, if you like Supersize Me, please don’t forget to rate it on the App Store. For those of you who use other smart phone brands, we’re working to support the major platforms and will make ZumoDrive available on them later in the year.

Lower ZumoDrive Pricing – Yes, we’re dropping our pricing to make ZumoDrive more affordable for you and everyone else. You can still get 1-GB of ZumoDrive storage for free, and our 10-GB starter plan runs $2.99 per month. But as of Wednesday February 25th, you’ll get 25-GB for $6.99, 50-GB for $11.99 and 100-GB for $19.99 per month.

ZumoDrive Beta Now Public – Thanks to the help of our private beta users like you, we’re now ready to offer ZumoDrive to the rest of the world starting Wednesday February 25th. So feel free to invite your friends to try ZumoDrive – they’ll no longer need a beta access code.

Thanks once again for your support. You can view more regular updates on ZumoDrive (along with general musings by our team) by subscribing to our blog. I would also encourage you to follow us on Twitter to get the latest updates from us.

Best,

David Zhao
ZumoDrive Founder and CEO

This app has been downloaded over 4,000 times from Apple’s iTunes store in two weeks, the Reuters reported today. That’s all? No. The boy is in the process of writing another iPhone application called “Invader Wars”, a science fiction game.

Ah, yes. He is now fluent in six programing languages and started using the computer at the age of 2. Wow.

[via Reuters]

Michael Dijori, last semester attended Franklin & Marshall College, developed the application that works

by placing a few shapes on the phone’s touchscreen with either a one- or two-finger tap and then resizing, moving, rotating and shearing the images.

He just learned last month that Apple accepted the application and now it’s available to download for free from Apple’s online iTunes store. Dijori admitted that he was shocked that Apple accepted the application. “Actually, I didn’t plan to send the application to Apple. Professor Anderson decided to do this, and I was really surprised.”

According to Professor Anderson, Dijori’s application originally was rejected by Apple last fall, but Anderson advised him to tweak the application and resubmit it.

Well done, dude. Congrats!

[via Lancaster Online]

Lucky, which is not collecting fees for the service, has even hired a call center, staffed with 20 to 200 representatives, who will confirm that the shoe is available and set it aside, text-messaging a shopper that, say, Jessie in the second-floor salon shoe department at the downtown Nordstrom has set it aside. For now, the application showcases just the shoes in the March issue, but Lucky is planning to update the application with forthcoming magazine features.

[via NYT]

Palringo will also bring up a map showing the location of that contact and also the location of any other Palringo contacts within a 10km radius.

Palringo is an application that syncs up with your instant messaging accounts and lets you send text and picture instant messages over the iPhone. It goes over your EDGE/3G/WiFi networks.

[via SlashPhone]

According to its developer:

It’s called ‘Home Barista’. It’s basically like a ‘Missing manual’ (sorry Pogue) for home espresso machines. Plus on iPhones you can take shots of your work and they are categorised into galleries based on coffee type. Hope you like it.

How useful is it? If you have a chance to use this app, let us know your experience – please leave  your comment right here.

[via Forum MacTalk]

According to the the iPhone class students’ site, all of these apps were final projects with the exception of Stress Bust, iDiscover, and Abodi, which were developed by CS193P students outside CS193P class.

Stress Bust
Stress Buster provides a video of soothing ocean waves, assisting the user in relaxing through a progressive muscle squeezing up through the body. [$0.99, pending App Store approval].

Qingwen
Qingwen is focused and streamlined Chinese-English and English-Chinese dictionary designed with the Chinese reader in mind. Lookup is meant to be fast and easy. [Free, get it on the App Store].

iDiscover
iDiscover lets you discover new articles, videos, and applications customized to your interests. You and your friends can also easily share contents. [Free, get it on the App Store].

Heydar
Heydar is a fun new way to meet people. Get started by taking your own headshot. Then view headshots of nearby Heydar users.  [Free, pending App Store approval].

Site Saver
Site Saver allows you to save websites locally on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Save online references to train schedules, recipes, or product reviews to your device on the go. [$2.99, pending App Store approval].

HaveASec
This is the useful application to create a short survey or poll to send out to your friends. [Free, get it on the App Store].

Abodi
Abodi allows you to search listings on Craigslist and save your favorite results for viewing access on the go. [Free, to be submitted by 01/26/09].

Air Guitar
Air Guitar provides all the fun of rocking out with none of the talent  required to play a real instrument. [$1.99, get it on the App Store].

[Stanford iPhone Class Apps via TechCrunch]

Each phrasebook contains over 500 sound files covering all features including Eating, Travel and even Flirting. It also has a new search functionality. Users can now quickly search for all phrases with, for example, ‘taxi’.

Just visit Apple’s App Store, download it for $0.99. iPhone users can simply choose their preferred language:

• French
• German
• Greek
• Italian
• Japanese
• Portuguese
• Spanish

• Shake to sort – Shake your phone and your list is automatically sorted.
• Unique wallpaper – Use a unique ‘SnapShot’ feature which captures your most important tasks and set them as your wallpaper.
• Landscape mode – rotate the phone 90 degrees to access the powerful delete functio.
• Sound effects – checking items off, sorting lists and deleting items are all accompanied by pleasing sound effects.

[via EverythingiCafe]

iSteam exploits all the features of your iPhone (accelerometer, multitouch, microphone, speakers) like never before, for a totally realistic experience!

Check out the video below for this new cool app:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_EIY3-_HOY&eurl=http://isteam.co.uk/&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

[via Gizmodo]

The awards, brought to you by 148apps.com, feature 34 categories ranging from the eponymous “Best App Ever” all the way down to “Best Free or Ad Supported Game.”

Voting is open now through 1/6/2009. Click on any category that you wish to vote in. Winners will be announced at the 2009 MacWorld Expo in San Francisco on January 7th, 2009.

[via MacWorld]