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Continuing on the new OS theme of the day, Apple yesterday announced that they will be releasing two new iOS version for various devices in the coming weeks and months. First, for iPhone and iPod Touch, iOS 4.1 will be released next week. This new build will have several new features including HD YouTube uploads, TV rentals as part of iTunes 10 (which was released yesterday), Game Center and HDR photos. Just as importantly, the new 4.1 build will also fix issues with the proximity sensor, Bluetooth and improve performance in the iPhone 3G.
The new iOS 4.1 is expected to hit iTunes next week according to the announcements made by Steve Jobs in the Apple event yesterday. When “next week” is exactly is unclear but I would imagine Tuesday given that Monday is a national holiday in the United States.
Continue reading Apple to Release iOS 4.1 for iPhone Next Week – iOS 4.2 for iPad in November
The announcement this week from Microsoft is big and it really sets the stage for what will be an exciting holiday season in the mobile market. Windows Phone 7, the newest mobile offering from Redmond, has been Released to Manufacturing (RTM). This is a major milestone for any software development as it reflects the point where the code is complete and ready to be shipped to OEMs to be put onto devices.
How ready is Windows Phone 7? Terry Myerson on the Windows Phone 7 blog said the following:
Windows Phone 7 is the most thoroughly tested mobile platform Microsoft has ever released. We had nearly ten thousand devices running automated tests daily, over a half million hours of active self-hosting use, over three and a half million hours of stress test passes, and eight and a half million hours of fully automated test passes. We’ve had thousands of independent software vendors and early adopters testing our software and giving us great feedback. We are ready.
If the number of testing units and the amount of feedback are any indication, Windows Phone 7 should come out of the gates ready for action.
Read the full blog post here and then post your comments here at ClintonFitch.com. What do you think about Windows Phone 7 based on what you have heard?
AT&T has updated their U-Verse app for iPhone users and the new 2.0 version is impressive. Not only has A&T completely updated the UI of the app but have added a host of new features to it as well. As before, with the App you can manage recordings on your U-Verse DVR such as set up recording (an individual show or a series) and can delete recording from your DVR remotely. Now you can stream television content straight to your iPhone through the app if you are a U-Verse 300 or 450 subscriber. While you don’t get every channel or ever show out there, you do get a wide range of content to stream on-the-go. In my opinion, it is clear to see where AT&T could go with this app and the streaming content – hopefully they can get there someday! One final new feature: You can now setup your favorite channels listing in the app to view only those channel’s listings that you want to see quickly.
The new 2.0 version runs much smoother and faster than the previous version. Now navigating the Guide to see what shows are coming on is actually usable with few hesitations or outright crashes. From a visual perspective, it is much easier on the eyes as well.
 AT&T U-Verse App for iPhone Continue reading AT&T U-Verse App for iPhone Gives DVR Control and Streaming Television
PayPal, the online payment branch of eBay, has updated their iPhone app and have added a bevy of new features to allow you greater control over your account and finances. The new build allows you to transfer funds from your PayPal account to your checking account, link credit cards to your account and donate to a charity – or to your favorite mobile website! 
In fact there is very little that now requires you to go to the PayPal site itself. Almost everything can be done from the app itself. For those who don’t know, PayPal is accepted on millions of websites as a payment option for online purchasing.
 PayPal App for iPhone Continue reading PayPal Updates iPhone App Offering Greater Account and Financial Control
Netflix has released an update to their, up to this point, iPad only app, to allow it to work on iPhone and iPod Touch as well. The popular app allows you to not only manage your movie queue in your Netflix account but also allows for streaming content. It is one of the best media apps I have found for the iPad and having had the opportunity to use it some this morning on my iPhone 3GS, it is pretty impressive on the small screen as well.
The Netflix app performs exceptionally well on the iPad using a WiFi connection with minimal pixelization. The question of course is how it would perform on the iPhone with a 3G connection. In my testing this morning, not bad at all! Here is a screen capture from District 9 that I streamed on my 3GS this morning.
 Steaming Video from The Netflix App for iPhone Yes there is pixelization but it is not horribly distracting in my opinion.
Continue reading Netflix Updates App to Support iPhone and iPod Touch
USA Today has released a new version of their iPad app which now includes a daily crossword puzzle in the popular news app. The new 1.0.1 version gives you a new crossword puzzle each day and allows you to go back a few weeks to complete puzzles you may have missed. Each puzzle is timed and you can save your progress at any point by simply navigating away from the puzzle. If you are like me, you can have multiple puzzles going at the same time so if you get stumped on one, just go to another one and work on it.
Continue reading USA Today for iPad Adds Daily Crossword Puzzles
Last week Facebook released an update for their social networking application for iPhone featuring Places, a new Foursquare-like feature that allows you to tell those who follow you on Facebook your location. With the release a new login bug was also introduced, especially those who had jailbroken their iPhones. This morning they have addressed that with the new 3.2.2 release.
The update is free in the App Store and you can find it by clicking this button 
Note that Places is only available to users of the app in the United States.
Many retailers have released iPhone and/or iPad apps and one of the best is from Target. It is comprehensive but also easy to use which makes it really shine. This week the Minneapolis-based retailer updated their app to include a barcode scanner that can be used while in Target Stores to find the price on an item. Having tested it, it works fantastically well on the iPhone 3GS. The new version does require iOS4 on your 3GS or iPhone 4 to operate.
Other updates include the ability to sign up for coupons which are sent to you via SMS on your iPhone, registration of gift cards which can be used directly from the app so you don’t have to carry the cards with you and weekly sales flyers.
Continue reading Target adds Barcode Scanner to Retailer’s iPhone App
For you Louis Vuitton fans out there (Clinton raises his hand and I know Judie is as well), your wait for an iPad case is almost over. The French travel and fashion icon announced earlier this month that they will be introducing slip cases for the iPad starting early in 2011. Want a sneak peak?
 Louis Vuitton iPad Cases Coming in 2011 The case will be offered in two styles – the popular Monogram and the Damier Graphite – and will retail for approximately $366 US.
For those who don’t want to spend nearly as much on a case as you did on your iPad itself, not to worry. Early next week I will have a review of a handful of cases from different designers at a fraction of the cost.
Skype has released a new version of their app for iPhone users which now manages notifications much better and has a faster, more responsive dialpad included. With this new version, if you are in Do Not Disturb mode, any notifications you would receive are suppressed and not displayed on your iPhone. Also, the dialpad including in Skype has been notoriously slow since the apps release. Having tested this new version the dialpad is significantly faster and more responsive. This alone makes the download worthwhile!
Other improvments revolve around iOS4 and multitasking as well as being able to disable IM alerts. If you are a Skype users this is well worth taking the time to update your iPhone with it. This version feels much smoother than previous versions.
Continue reading Skype Updated for iPhone with Improved Notification Management & Dialpad
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