Opera Mini for iPhone Approved

Opera Mini for iPhone was submitted to the Apple iPhone App store on March 23, 2010.  I think most people didn’t believe this app would ever be approved.  Well earlier today it was announced that the app has been approved and is available right now in the App Store.

What makes this browser so fast is due to the server-side rendering, Opera Mini compresses the data before it is sent to your phone.

My initial impressions is this browser is fast.  The app opened up fast and you are shown the default Opera start page.  From here you have links to facebook, twitter, New York Time, AccWeather and My Opera.  You also have the option of adding your own.  It is very similar to Google Chrome when you open a new tab.  The browser is amazing at how fast it renders pages.  One thing that I noticed is the the ability to Find in Page.  You select the Find in Page button and then type what you are trying to find.  The words you are trying to find are highlighted on the webpage.  Opera certainly has released a very nice alternative to Safari.

[iTunes]

Fring Bringing Video Calls to iPhone

Fring released a free video chat client for the iPhone.  You can now make and receive Fring and Skype video calls over Wi-Fi.  Unfortunately, you will not be able to transmit your image, due to the fact the iPhone doesn’t have a front camera.  It is certainly worth checking out.   

[iTunes App Store]

Dropbox App for iPhone/iPod Touch

Dropbox is certainly the best cross-platform file-syncing tool.  Now you can use Dropbox on your iPhone/iPod touch.

The app will allow you to view any file as long as it is supported by the iPhone.  You also have the ability to upload any photo or video you have taken from your iPhone to your Dropbox account.  You even have the ability to share a file in your Dropbox.  The application will generate an email with a direct link to the file.

The Dropbox for the iPhone is free.  You will need to sign-up for a Dropbox account if you don’t already have one.

[Dropbox – iTunes App Store]

Apple iPhone MMS Messaging

Apple iPhone owners starting today now have MMS on their device.  You will need to update your iPhone using Apple iTunes to get the latest update.  MMS is available for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS running OS 3.1.

[AT&T]

Sirius XM SkyDock for Your iPhone

Those of you that want to convert your iPhone into a satellite radio will be able to do that soon.    Once you install the free SkyDock control app, which then transforms the iPhone/iPod Touch into a touch-screen control for the satellite radio service.  The Sirius XM SkyDock plugs into your car’s DC jack, which charges the iPhone/iPod Touch during use.  You will need a Sirius XM subscription.  The XM SkyDock will be available this fall for $120.
[AllThingsD]

SIRIUS XM RADIO INTRODUCES THE FIRST DEVICE TO RECEIVE LIVE SATELLITE RADIO CONTROLLED BY THE iPOD TOUCH AND iPHONE

XM SkyDock™ allows customers to enjoy live XM and “The Best of SIRIUS” in their vehicles using the iPod touch or iPhone

NEW YORK–August 26, 2009–SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today introduced XM SkyDock, the first satellite radio controlled by an iPod touch or iPhone. The XM SkyDock is also one of the first products to take advantage of the new hardware control capabilities of iPhone OS 3.0.

Designed for easy use through the existing vehicle audio system, SkyDock has a built-in XM tuner controlled by a free App that users download from the App Store. The App allows control of the XM tuner using the capabilities of the iPod touch or iPhone Multi-Touch user interface. SkyDock will also charge iPod touch and iPhone devices while listening to live satellite radio.

“XM SkyDock will allow millions of users to add live SIRIUS XM Radio capability to their iPod touch or iPhone while in their vehicle,” said Bob Law, Group Vice President and General Manager, After Market Division, SIRIUS XM Radio. “XM SkyDock makes their favorite programming from XM and ‘The Best of SIRIUS’ available to iPod touch and iPhone users anywhere they drive, coast to coast.”

Listeners can use their iPod touch and iPhone to listen to all their favorite sports, talk, news, entertainment and commercial-free music programming, including Oprah Radio, MLB Home Plate, the PGA TOUR Network, Opie & Anthony, Bob Edwards, Jamie Foxx and Blue Collar Comedy. For the first time, subscribers can also listen to the complete “Best of SIRIUS” package, including Howard Stern and his two 24/7 channels, Martha Stewart Living Radio, SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, sports play-by-play and the Playboy Radio channel, all controlled by the iPod touch and iPhone.

Listeners can also tag songs they hear on XM’s music channels for later purchase from the iTunes Store–including songs on XM’s 24/7 artist branded commercial-free channels such as Jimmy Buffett’s Radio Margaritaville, Elvis Radio, Eminem’s Shade 45, The Grateful Dead Channel, B.B. King’s Bluesville, Willie Nelson’s Willie’s Place, Siriusly Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Radio. Other features include game alerts and sports ticker, artist and song alerts as well as a stock ticker.

The XM SkyDock is a perfect companion to the SIRIUS XM Premium Online App, which allows subscribers to receive SIRIUS XM’s Premium Internet service on their iPhone and iPod touch when they are out of the vehicle and on-the-go, at home, or at the office.

XM SkyDock comes with SIRIUS XM’s patent-pending PowerConnect™ technology, which simplifies Do-It-Yourself vehicle installation, working through the existing vehicle radio and making it easy to move from vehicle to vehicle. An Aux In Cable is a standard in-box accessory to facilitate Aux In connections in vehicles with Aux In capability. SkyDock’s flexible stalk optimizes the iPod touch or iPhone placement in the vehicle. Customers can view the touch-screen interface in portrait or landscape modes. Accessories include Magnetic Mount Antenna and spacers to accommodate the various iPod touch and iPhone product generations.

XM SkyDock is compatible with iPod touch (1st generation), iPod touch (2nd generation), iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. All models require iPhone OS 3.0 or later.

XM SkyDock will be sold in stores and will also be available at http://www.shop.xmradio.com with an MSRP $119.99 in fall 2009. The XM SkyDock App will be available at the same time.

This device has been granted preliminary approval by the Federal Communications Commission but is still undergoing evaluation by the Commission.

For more information on XM, please visit http://www.xmradio.com.

Official Wikipedia iPhone Application

Wikipedia released their own iPhone application today called Wikipedia Mobile.

The application is free and very easy to use.  Currently the application only has a few features.  The application is open source and Wikipedia is willing to let anyone contribute.

Wikipedia application is available for iPhone and iPod Touch.

[iTunes]