Are your apps ready?

With only just a couple of weeks till those pre-orders start shipping Apple has sent emails out to registered Devs advising them they can now submit their apps to the iPad App Store for the ‘Grand Opening’

So are your apps ready? If so then now’s the time, if not then you may want to get a wriggle on. You’ve got until 27th March to be considered for the grand opening , and given the number of apps on the App Store that will need be being ported I would suggest there will be a fair number submitted. Even if you don’t want to be part of that (not sure why)I would still get a hurry on as I am sure there are going to be delays with such a huge number of apps.

Head past the break for the full email.

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iPhone Supplier?

Computerworld are currently running a story which states that Gen-i, Telecom’s IT arm, are to sell and support the iPhone as of this coming Monday. The piece is light on details but Gen-i are quoted in a statement made to Computerworld this morning, so it seems legit. In the statement Gen-i confirm that this is not a formal agreement between Apple and Telecom but “allows clients to take advantage of Gen-i’s extensive plans for its business clients”, so it seems that this is not a consumer offering. Hit ‘read more’ for the link. Read More

TomTom 1.3 released

So as everyone who has the app knows, and probably a lot of you that may not, TomTom 1.3 was released  a few days ago. We looked at it and decided not to review it, we can’t review every single app that gets released, but what did interest us and many of our users was the lack of some of the features that are available to other countries. We received a number of emails asking us to contact TomTom to find out why some features are “missing” from the New Zealand version of the app.

Hit the ‘read more’ link to see what we got, what was missing and TomTom’s response to our email.

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Vodafone vs XT... again

iPhonewzealand and Geekzone user Ahmad has repeated his speed tests he did last year in Dunedin using the iPhone on XT and Vodafone.

Data speeds on the iPhone, between Vodafone and XT, are a much discussed topic. There are many different sides of the story and many different reasons behind the results of speed tests. I would suggest that everyone take from this just a view to Ahmad’s experience at the given time in the given location. Some of you may have different experiences and speeds so it would be good to hear your thoughts.

Personally for me the XT speeds, where I use my iPhone, are much faster than that of Vodafone but that is not to say that other areas where you may use it won’t be different.
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NEW ZEALAND! OKAY!?

Despite what some 1980s pop-star madmen will try to tell you, video did not kill the radio star. Neither did cassettes, CDs, DVDs or even MP3s. In fact, radio is so un-dead, that despite Apple’s dogged determination to ignore it into obsolescence, people are still clamouring to be able to listen to it on their iPhones and iPod touches. Rumours of radio integration seem to arise every time a product refresh is on the horizon, and there has even been talk of radio being ‘enabled’ in a future firmware update for iPhone and iPod touch, but until those pigs sprout wings and fly, radio lovers will continue to be forced to look to other means of getting their ‘wireless’ (in the sense that your Grandma means it) fix.

Up until now there has been a handful of free apps that deliver streaming for specific radio stations such as George FM and The Edge, but now there’s a new solution on the block in the form of Radio New Zealand. Not to be confused with the actual Radio New Zealand, this is a paid app that streams several major Kiwi radio stations including ZM, The Breeze, Newstalk ZB, Classic Hits, More FM, Radio Hauraki and a great deal more. But is it any good? We take a look. Read More

'Fest in your vest'

If you’re planning on heading out to the 2010 New Zealand International Comedy Festival then their new app will no doubt be invaluable.

It’s completely Free to download so why not check it out….hit the read more for the download link, gallery and feature set.

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Battery dead? Here have a new iPad

Reports yesterday have revealed that Apple’s battery replacement service for the iPad will actually consist of them replacing the device with a new one (or a refurb at least) for a service fee rather than them replacing the battery.

If your iPad requires service due to the battery’s diminished ability to hold an electrical charge, Apple will replace your iPad for a service fee.

Why is this such news you ask? Well it differs from that of the iPhone whereby they state they will service your iPhone for a fee.

If your iPhone requires service only because the battery’s ability to hold an electrical charge has diminished, Apple will service your iPhone for a service fee.

The thing is, in New Zealand, out-of-warranty battery repairs can be a nightmare to deal with. We know from iPhone experience that we can’t just take our devices to an Authorised Service Provider [read: MagnumMac, Ubertec etc] and have them resolve the issue like they can in the States with the Apple Stores, it is a lot harder here and you generally get sent from pillar to post trying to get it sorted and we may have that same experience again.

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Gonna be a very long wait!

Much to Steve’s disappointment, I have been fortunate enough to nab myself an iPad during today’s pre-orders.

As you can see I got the 16GB Wi-Fi version and I have since ordered the case for it is as well. The camera attachment wasn’t available on the store today, so i’ll have to wait for that (unless it comes out before it is available here) and I will also wait for the docks and other accessories to come to New Zealand before getting them.

I have family in the States so it will be delivered to them on (or around) 3rd April and they are going to express it to New Zealand. So keep your eye on the site and once here we’ll be sure to put it through it’s paces and let you know what we think.

Any devs out there who want to us to test their apps on an actual device before its launch here, just get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to help.

Anyone else order one today? Let us know in the comments below.

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Waiting, waiting, waiting

tmro, the cats behind Wellington bus timetable app WelliBUS are seeking feedback on what could potentially be a very cool solution to adding real-time information to the app. Founder Nick Parfene tells us that users of the app, of which there are around 4,000, are very vocal about their desire to see not just when the bus is scheduled to turn up but when it is actually going to turn up. It’s a need we can all identify with… so what’s the solution?

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Look ma, no wires!

Reader carper55 recently posted in the forums asking for advice on a suitable Bluetooth stereo headset to use with his iPod touch. It’s an often over-looked fact that both the iPhone and iPod touch (with the exception of the first generation models of both) are A2DP enabled, which means they can send your music to Bluetooth headphones or other devices like car stereos. We asked carper55 to review the headphones he decided on, so with many thanks to him, hear is his Guest Review.

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