iPhone Daily News Digest

The iPhone offers a couple of different options when it comes to viewing media. You can search video using the YouTube app, download and sync your own movies using iTunes or browse for video on compatible websites with Safari. A new app called FirstClip is aiming to integrate each of those three options into one app to enable video searching, streaming and downloading of internet video straight to your iPhone.

Searching for video on FirstClip is like any other search engine. Enter the keywords of your search and FirstClip will scan the web for iPhone compatible video encoded in MPEG or H.264 format. By default, the search engine will look through YouTube and Google Videos for media but you have the option of adding your own compatible websites in the settings tab. Searched videos can then be streamed and viewed immediately or downloaded straight to the app for offline viewing.

The app works fairly well and having the ability to save videos for viewing any time is a nice convenience, especially if you have an iPod Touch or find yourself in an area with limited data service.

FirstClip is priced at $4.99 which may be a costly amount for some to have the ability of being able to download short internet clips. The developers do offer a Lite version to give you a chance to see how the app works but it does come with some limitations. For instance, the search engine will only scan from two sources at a time and you’ll only be able to download 10 total videos for offline viewing.

If you’re looking for a fast and simple way to take internet video with you without having to convert video files or sync your device to a computer, FirstClip does the job as advertised. It’ll just be a matter if you can justify the $4.99 asking price.

FirstClip and FirstClip lite are available now on the App Store.

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MacRumors reports on an email being sent to users of Apple’s iWork.com document sharing site that outlines a few updates to the service, including one for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad:

Refined user interface. A redesigned Sign In and Shared Documents page for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch makes it easy to access your documents while on the go. The new interface and improved scrolling help you find your shared documents faster. Visit www.iwork.com from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to view your shared documents.

iWork.com has been in beta since it was introduced at Macworld 2009 and it’s still unclear exactly how much effort Apple is putting into it compared to say iWork touch recently unveiled for the iPad, and whether or not Apple will ever release full-on Web App versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote to compete with Google Docs and Microsoft’s new Office 2010 Online.

If you use iWork.com, let us know what you think of the changes.

Apple Updates iWork.com with Better Interface for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The Guardian

Day 74: iPhone, Droid, Nexus One CNNMoney.com (blog) "The comparison is interesting because the iPhone and Nexus One each represent Apple and Google’s first fully branded handsets, respectively," wrote … Nexus One to Compete With iPhoneWall Street Journal Google phone now works on iPhone's wireless systemThe Associated Press Google begins selling Nexus One for AT&T, RogersZDNet (blog) Only Kent (blog) -Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog) -IT News Africa all 553 news articles »

The Guardian

Day 74: iPhone, Droid, Nexus One CNNMoney.com (blog) "The comparison is interesting because the iPhone and Nexus One each represent Apple and Google’s first fully branded handsets, respectively," wrote … Nexus One to Compete With iPhoneWall Street Journal Google phone now works on iPhone's wireless systemThe Associated Press Google begins selling Nexus One for AT&T, RogersZDNet (blog) Only Kent (blog) -Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog) -IT News Africa all 553 news articles »

The Guardian

Day 74: iPhone, Droid, Nexus One CNNMoney.com (blog) "The comparison is interesting because the iPhone and Nexus One each represent Apple and Google’s first fully branded handsets, respectively," wrote … Nexus One to Compete With iPhoneWall Street Journal Google phone now works on iPhone's wireless systemThe Associated Press Google begins selling Nexus One for AT&T, RogersZDNet (blog) Only Kent (blog) -Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog) -IT News Africa all 553 news articles »

FOXNews

Open source developers ditch iPhone for Android IT PRO A new report has shown Google's Android platform is enticing open source developers away from creating apps on the iPhone. By Jennifer Scott, 17 Mar 2010 at … Meet Tim Bray, New Face of the Google-Apple RivalryPC World Open Source Developers Pick Android Over iPhoneInternetNews.com Google's Tim Bray Hates Apple's iPhoneInformationWeek BBC News (blog) -Apple Insider -ZDNet (blog) all 365 news articles »

Today at MIX10 Microsoft told our sibling site WMExperts that there would be no cut, copy, and paste in Windows Phone 7 Series, which follows on the news of an Apple iPhone-style closed app market and lack of 3rd party multitasking. When the original iPhone 2G debuted in 2007 without cut, copy, and paste, multitasking, and most importantly a third-party app platform, it led certain editors-in-chief who shall remain nameless (though not pictured-less) wondered — and not unjustifiably — if the iPhone could be considered a smartphone?

iPhone 2.0 brought the 3rd party apps. iPhone 3.0 brought cut, copy, paste and a host of other “missing” features. iPhone 4.0 may even bring multitasking. Regardless, we thought the iPhone 2G certainly was a smartphone then, and now, and certainly think the same about Windows Phone 7 Series, and Palm webOS when it debuted lacking certain features. It takes an incredible amount of effort to launch a new mobile OS and no company, not Apple, not Google, not even Microsoft have unlimited time, talent, and resources to nail everything in version 1.0. Our question remains, to get cut, copy, and paste (or whatever feature you think is missing), what other feature would you give up? Notifications? The new user experience? There’s an opportunity cost to everything.

Of course, when Apple launched iPhone 1.0 it wasn’t leaving behind a large existing user base accustomed to many of those now missing features the way Microsoft is with Windows Phone 7 Series. So, yeah, it’ll be interesting to see if they can grab enough new users to make up for all the ones they’re gone to lose. Because, if all those Windows 6.x users are suddenly faced with something new and different, it may not be too far a stretch to go for a different platform entirely. Including an iPhone. Which has cut, copy, and paste and may just have multitasking by then. So to them, to you, potential iPhone switchers:

Welcome! How you doing?

No Cut and Paste in Windows Phone 7 Series. So is it a Smartphone? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

TopNews United States

TomTom App for iPhone now warns of traffic jams NetworkWorld.com TomTom has added new features to its iPhone app. The award winning navigation software now offers high definition (HD) traffic … ProClip USA now offers TomTom car kit for iPhone integrationMarketWatch (press release) iPhone gets revamped TomTom appTop 10 Mobile Phones TomTom iPhone app gets Google local search, real-time trafficMobile Magazine Twice -Gadget Review (blog) -Gadget news and reviews (blog) all 60 news articles »

Along with the launch of the iPad pre-orders, Apple put up quite a lot of new details about the iPad’s features last week. The iPad is now actually boasting a  tab of its own on Apple.com, but the interesting bits are scattered a bit all around. Here is what we found out:

Find my iPad

Just like the iPhone, the iPad can connect to MobileMe and take advantage of the find my iPhone/iPad features. You’ll be able to locate it, wipe it remotely, make it show a message or play an alert. You can actually get $30 off your first year of MobileMe if purchased with an iPad.

ePub support through iTunes

This is a very interesting one, the format selected by Apple for the iPad’s eBooks is an open-source one called ePub. While you won’t be able to export the eBooks bought in the iBook app, the opposite will be possible. Just take any eBook in the ePub format, drag it to iTunes, sync, and voilà!

Not only this means that you’ll be able to buy your eBooks in other ePub-supporting stores outside of the iPad, but this gives you the possibility to import on your iPad a huge collection of freely available books, like the ones from Google books. (And of course, the Gutenberg Project)

VoiceOver

Your iPad can read things like emails or eBooks out loud.

Delayed Accessories

If you haven’t pre-ordered your iPad case or your iPad keyboard dock already then you’re out of luck. Apple has started updating its delivery times on some of its accessories and the delays are important. The case has just been delayed two weeks to mid-april, and the keyboard dock all the way to May. Some believe this presages some major shortages.

Battery replacement policy

In the unfortunate situation your iPad would need to have its battery replaced, Apple will actually replace your iPad altogether. Out of warranty, the swap will cost you $99 + shipping and taxes.

Youtube Facebook sharing

You can share your favorite Youtube videos to Facebook right from the app.

The App Store to get a dedicated iPad section

Apple is dedicating a separate category in the App Store for iPad-specific apps.

Did we miss anything?

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FOXNews

Google's Tim Bray hates Apple's iPhone The Money Times I hate it even though the iPhone hardware and software are great, because freedom's not just another word for anything, nor is it an optional ingredient," … Google's Tim Bray Hates Apple's iPhoneInformationWeek A very personal Google Android vs. Apple iPhone war just got some more personalityZDNet (blog) Web guru — Apple's goal for iPhone is a "Disney-fied walled garden"Computerworld (blog) Wall Street Journal -Netbook Boards -TopNews United States all 303 news articles »

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