Iron Ink Media: Inked Up

If you’ve been waiting until the AT&T exclusivity contract with Apple ran out before you got an iPhone, you’ll have to wait a couple of more years. Verizon customers are probably shedding a few extra tears since it was widely rumored that company could be getting the iPhone as early as this summer. But Apple has now confirmed on record that the contract they signed in 2007 was god for five years.

The contract term was made public after Apple filed court documents in an ongoing California class action suit. The lawsuit, which was filed three years ago, alleges that Apple and AT&T have an illegal monopoly over both the iPhone and the App Store.

While it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that the contract could be changed, it isn’t going to happen without a lot of legal wrangling. Of course it might be worth it after a recent survey revealed that more than half of Verizon customers would buy an iPhone if given the opportunity.

Rumors have been circulating blogs and Twitter for months, but today they were confirmed as Steve Jobs unveiled the Apple iPad tablet computer at an invite-only event.

From Engaget.com

Like other Apple devices, the iPad will run on a 3G network, have Wi-Fi capabilities, and be compatible with iTunes and the app store. Content publishers are hoping the tablet will be an opportunity to increase subscription revenues.

While Jobs calls the new product “a truly magical and revolutionary product,” other people are skeptical that consumers will agree. The tablet computer in general is not a new product. In fact, you can trace the idea back to at least the 1990′s. But so far no tablet has gained wide acceptance in the market and really taken off. Apple is hoping that with the popularity of the iPhone interface the iPad becomes the first success story.

The economy is in the crapper. Layoffs are causing the unemployment rate to skyrocket. And Ethan Nicholas just quit his job as an engineer with Sun Microsystems. You’re probably thinking, why would someone with a steady paycheck up and quit? Well, perhaps it has something to do with the fact that he just raked in $600,000 in one month from one iPhone app.

According to Wired.com, Ethan’s artillery game iShoot rose to the top spot in the App Store which earned him a whopping $37,000 in one day.

Wired points out:

Until recently, there has been no realistic way for individual programmers to make serious money on their own. Most of the software market is dominated by big companies, and the traditional distribution method for independent developers — shareware — isn’t conducive to striking it rich. By contrast, Apple’s iTunes App Store provides a platform for marketing, selling and distributing software; all a developer needs to provide is a good idea and some working code.

Nicholas’ success story proves that there’s still plenty of potential to strike it rich in Apple’s seven-month-old App Store. In September, iPhone developer Steve Demeter said he made $250,000 in just two months with his puzzle game Trism. But as the App Store expanded rapidly, many developers thought the store would get too crowded with apps and business would inevitably slow down.

What makes Ethan’s story even more interesting to me if the fact that he wasn’t a programmer by trade. Since he didn’t have enough money to buy the coding books he needed, he scoured the Internet to teach himself the skills he needed to build the app. That was of course after he put in a full day of work, and helped take care of his 1-year-old son.

iShoot sells for $3 although there is a Lite version you can download for free. It was actually the Lite version, created after the full-version was completed, that drew enough attention to the game to make it a booming success.

iShoot made independent developer Ethan Nicholas a measly $600,000 in one month

Pit bosses in Las Vegas have a new problem to worry about: the iPhone. A new card-counting application caused the Gaming Control Board to send casino operators a memo last week warning them of the electronic device.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal…

Card counting is not illegal in Nevada casinos. However, using a device to aid in the counting of cards is considered a felony under Nevada laws governing cheating, control board member Randy Sayre said.

Gamblers using the iPhone card-counting program can be detained by casino operators and arrested by state gaming agents.

The program is also able to run in a “stealth mode” that makes the phone appear to be off. Although the front screen is all black, users familiar with the program can still navigate the app keys.

The World Series of Poker already has strict rules on using electronics during the tournament, specifically stating “iPhones, iTouch, Treos, Blackberrys, and other similar devices will not be allowed.”

You want to watch the NBA All-Star coverage this weekend, but the little lady (or little man, who are we to judge) wants to have a candlelit dinner and talk about “feelings.” You used to have two choices, one of which would land you in the doghouse for at least a week. But not anymore.

While reading Adweek today I discovered that the NBA and Turner are playing Cupid for just 99 cents. Their new app will allow fans to view NBA All-Star Saturday Night and the 2009 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday on their iPhones. It will be unique footage, not seen in the regular TNT broadcast. Viewers will also be able to choose between four different camera angles while watching the games.

Kobe and Shaq are looking forward to their special night this Saturday.

So it looks like Apple and Adobe are finally working together to incorporate Flash for the iPhone. I’m blogging from the iPhone on a bouncy, shaky bus so don’t expect any links or images. You’ll be ok.

Just FYI, 2.2.1 is kind of stupid. None of my previously downloaded third-party apps would work after I upgraded.

But Lindsey figured it out. She downloaded some stupid, pointless free app and all of a sudden all the others worked again. Weird.

So if your existing apps ain’t working, try downloading a new one to see if that fixes everything.

Screw you, 2.2.1.

There is a new app in the works that will allow iPhone users to transfer files from their phone to other devices via a Bluetooth. Gizmodo drops the news:

“Trust the rogue programmers and Cydia—the independent equivalent to the iTunes App Store—to bring you one of the most awaited features ever for the iPhone: Bluetooth file transfer.

As you can see in the video, iBluetooth will bring you just that, allowing the iPhone to transfer files to any other device using Bluetooth. In this case, the application developed by MeDevil is working with an iMac and a Sony Ericsson handset but, once it is finished and available through Cydia, it will work with any device supporting the Bluetooth file transfer protocol.”

The article is accompanied by a video showing how the app works. If the jerky videotaping doesn’t make you a little queazy, the Lady Gaga song surely will.

I understand that there are endless possibilities for iPhone apps, but I can say for sure this one would never have crossed my mind. Runaway Technology’s new app, BulletFlight, is a “ballistic computer that provides quick solutions in the field.” But don’t expect to see your results in boring table form, this nifty app will “dynamically give you the solution you need now to make the shot.” Whatever that means.

Enter your type of gun, bullet, weather conditions, etc. and you will see how many clicks you need adjust to hit your target. My first thought was perhaps hunters would find this useful when it’s 4am and they’re already thinking about that night’s squirrel soup. Except, the built-in profiles are for semi-automatic precision rifles. Seriously?! Are there really enough people with those laying around the house to make the $11.99 price tag worth it?

Then again, maybe if Burress had this he would have known he needed to be four more clicks above his waistband.

Photo from Telegraph.co.uk

Rick Broida of CNET has released his latest “Six must-have iPhone freebies.” I love this for two reasons. One, I like when people recommend apps I should have because I’m often too lazy to search through a bunch. And two, they’re not just apps, they’re free apps.

1.) Mancala FS5 – I actually just downloaded this the other day. I played this game as a kid and love it. It’s easy to learn and allows you to play with others via the Internet. The games don’t take too long so it makes the perfect time filler.

2.) NPR Mobile – I’m a fan of all radio apps so I am going to be looking into this one. The search functionality lets you browse by a number of different features. It’s perfect for those long road trips where for stretches the only songs playing involve a broken heart and a pickup truck.

3.) Slacker Radio – I’m a huge Pandora fan (listening online right now) but Rick claims this is even better. Worth checking out.

4.) Sportacular – I have been searching for a truly great sports app. What I find annoying is most apps pick “favorite” teams by location. This app actually lets you designate the teams you want to follow. With scores, schedules and more, every bar should make this mandatory.

5.) Stanza – An e-book reader for the iPhone. I think there is something special about reading large hardback books, but my back begs to differ. Hauling one back and forth to work takes its toll. Now you can download books to your phone and pull from your eReader and Fictionwise libraries.

6.) Topple – I (briefly) tried Topple, but didn’t have it long enough to get hooked. I can see how it’s possible though. Stack cute little blocks as high as possible without tipping the whole thing over. It’s a game you can plan many times without getting bored. Great for the kiddies, too.

Do you agree with Rick’s list? Check them out and let us know what you think!