We briefly pointed this out in our longer post on Google Latitude launching on the iPhone, but it’s worth pointing this out separately. In its post today, Google made an unusual admission about its service: It apparently built a native Latitude app for the iPhone, but Apple asked it to make it a web app, so Google did that instead.
Here’s their actual wording:
We worked closely with Apple to bring Latitude to the iPhone in a way Apple thought would be best for iPhone users. After we developed a Latitude application for the iPhone, Apple requested we release Latitude as a web application in order to avoid confusion with Maps on the iPhone, which uses Google to serve maps tiles.
Google has finally gotten around to launching its location-based network, Latitude on the iPhone. The service, which has been around for months on the web and Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Mobile devices may finally be ready to take off now that it’s on the hottest smartphone on the market. But there’s a problem — and it’s a big one.
Latitude, like all other third-party iPhone apps, cannot run in the background on the device.
While you might think this would be extremely obvious, there is a big difference between Latitude and many of the other apps built for the iPhone: Latitude is entirely browser-based. Yes, there is no native Latitude app, and there was some thought that since the mobile version of Safari on the iPhone can technically run in the background, that maybe it would allow apps like Latitude to also do the same. Sadly, that is not the case.
An Apple expert and hacker has shown that the iPhone, in all its various forms and moltings, is child’s play to compromise. This comes despite assurances from Apple regarding the 3GS’s encryption feature. Bad news for businesspeople of the 21st century, who have glommed onto the iPhone and its service halo like no other device. The wonder-phone has certainly changed the way smartphones and other devices are made, but this isn’t the first time Apple’s security measures have been described as being seriously lacking.
It seems that with a little creative coding, or access to an insecure computer, the iPhone can be cracked wide open. The encryption doesn’t really even enter into the equation, since you can just have the phone read off the information you want. There hasn’t been much of a reason to hack iPhones yet — you might get a few Facebook passwords, or some contact info, but now that the phone is gaining traction in the business world, there may actually be something worth stealing on them. And it’s not very hard to do.
It’s been nine months since I first dabbled in the world of Android. It wasn’t a pretty picture then, but a lot has changed in those short nine months. The platform has grown and become more stable. The Market is filled with useful and enjoyable apps. Cupcake has had the biggest impact thus far but we eagerly await what Donut has to offer. Read More
Late last night and seemingly out of nowhere, the iPhone-port of The Secret of Monkey Island appeared in the App Store. Coming in at a whopping 400MB, you’re going to want to camp out next to a nice, fast WiFi hotspot if you decide to buy this – which you absolutely, positively should. Read More
AT&Ts Second Quarter Earnings are up. There’s not much to be said here beyond what the numbers clearly show: AT&T is doing well (though profits dropped about 16% from the same quarter last year), largely on the success of the iPhone.
Can’t get enough of the wallet-friendly HTC Click? We hear you. Sure, it’s kinda small, and maybe it’s not the most exciting design ever – but it’s (supposedly) only going to cost a buck shy of $100, and it’s fueled by Android. Read More
Seven years ago the National Highway Safety Administration called for a complete and total ban on the use of cellphones while driving. That includes hands-free kits, too. Now, a lot has changed in the seven years since this draft proposal was made—for one, the number of cellphones in the U.S. has gone from 170 million to 270 million.
Here’s a rendering of the purported Snapdragon powered HTC Leo aka Firestone. According to WMPowerUser’s sources, the Firestone will be a media-centric device with hot-swappable microSD card and rather large speakers on the front and back. Aside from the 1GHz Qualcomm processor, the WinMo device will include a 5-megapixel AF camera with dual-LED flash, Wi-Fi, BT and a 4.3-inch WVGA capacitive screen.
Long after the Palm Pre hype machine has been turned off, Sprint is just now making the Pre available for purchase via Sprint.com. There really isn’t advantage of ordering the phone online besides you don’t actually have to leave the comforts of your basement. Purchasers will still need to mail in a $100 rebate to bring the cost down to $199. But if avoiding the general public is your thing, it’s time to order your Pre, Neo.
All accelerometers are not created equal. Some are more sensitive than others, while some are capable of working alongside other hardware. When Usuda Research Institute and Systems Corp started dabbling with the accelerometer in the TG01, it just wasn’t enough for their needs. What were they to do? Yell at Toshiba? Tuck tail and give up?
Nonsense. Rather than bothering with the built in accelerometer, they went ahead and tacked on their own.
When John Hargrave of Zug.com (otherwise known as “that one site that allegedly pranked the SuperBowl“) found out that the wireless carriers were doing a whole lot of nothing to keep the data store in cellular customer accounts safe, he decided to do what any good angry person does: grab a bullhorn. Rather than camping out on a soapbox and spitting his spite to random passersby, however, John took it to someone who really should care: the CEO of Verizon, Ivan Seidenberg.
After digging up Seidenberg’s home address by way of one of those scammy-looking “cell phone record search” sites, Hargrave headed out armed with nothing but the aforementioned megaphone… and an amp. While we’re not sure if Seidenberg actually got the message (it didn’t appear as if anyone was home), he’s sure to hear about it every day for sometime.
Its taken a bit longer than we all might have hoped, but it seems that Android is really starting to pick up the steam it deserves. Be it Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson.. if they’re a big gun in the mobile manufacturing world (Well, outside of certain obvious exclusions), they’re probably working on an Android handset or two. The first off the bat and the most dedicated so far has been HTC – and if the latest rumors hold true, they might be looking to throw even more weight behind it. Read More
The FedEx guy just stopped by MobileCrunch HQ with a box full o’ Samsung Comeback, so we figured we’d go ahead and give it the ceremonial undressing.
It’ll be a day or two before we’re ready to really talk about this thing, but our first impressions aren’t the best. While the handset feels absolutely outstanding when held in the flipped out, QWERTY-exposed position, actually typing on this thing seems like a game of Operation. The keys are nearly twice as tall as they are wide, making things feel a bit foreign. We’ll tinker with it for a while and see if we get used to it. Be on the look out for a review later this week.
Short Version: As it stands, the BlackBerry Tour 9630 is the best smartphone available for Verizon Wireless customers. It’s a mash-up of the AT&T BlackBerry Bold and T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8900. One would think that this would lead to the perfect BlackBerry, but it has one glaring flaw and it isn’t one that you can get over quickly, if ever. Read More
Everyone, even your mom probably, knows that there is a new BlackBerry Storm coming soon from Verizon. It’s only a matter of time before RIM or VZW announces the updated 9550. CrackBerry just got a screenshot showing a curiously unannounced BlackBerry Thunder. Could this be the next Storm?
If you watched in agony as the very-cool MoGo Talk Bluetooth iPhone headset was announced and given away here on CrunchGear while your BlackBerry sat idly on your desk, take heart. The BlackBerry Curve and BlackBerry Javelin versions are coming and we’re giving 50 of the Curve models away.
As much as Samsung loves to claim a “world’s first” every single day of the week, I know they love to beat LG more than anything. Today is no different, folks. Samsung has unveiled an 11.98mm watchphone by the name of S9110.
That snazzy looking Dick Tracy watch features a 1.76-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, voice recognition, e-mail (Outlook!), speakerphone and a music player. Doesn’t that leather strap look fancy? Take a look at the clasp and don’t worry about the screen getting scratched either. The S9110 is due out in this month France for 450 Euro.
As if you didn’t already know T-Mobile would be announcing the Samsung Comeback after numerous leaks in the past week. Look here, here and here. Regardless, here are the facts straight from Samsung. The Comeback features a full QWERTY keyboard, 2-megapixel camera and little else. At least it’s 3G. And, yes, it will be $130.
Next up is the Gravity 2, also a 3G device, with a 2-megapixel camera and a full QWERTY keyboard. The Gravity 2 is due out in August, but no word on price.
We briefly pointed this out in our longer post on Google Latitude launching on the iPhone, but it’s worth pointing this out separately. In its post today, Google made an unusual admission about its service: It apparently built a native Latitude app for the iPhone, but Apple asked it to make it a web app, so Google did that instead.
