July, 2008

I’ve just checked the O2 website, and there have been a few changes to their iPhone section.

As expected, people who want to upgrade to the iPhone 3G will need to do so online.  This is done here, although you may need to log in first.  You certainly need your account number, which you can get from your O2 bill.  I believe you can also specify a different delivery address, so if you’re working on Friday you’ll avoid a trip to the post office.

In terms of availability and delivery, there are seemingly a ‘limited supply’ and they will be sold on a first come first served basis.  The first batch of iPhones should be delivered on Friday but if you’re not one of the lucky first, delivery ‘may take up to two weeks’.

Activation has been discussed, but O2 have confirmed that those upgrading from the old iPhone will need to use the supplied ‘SIM ejector tool’ to remove the SIM card from the old phone and insert it into the new one.  They also advise that you listen to your voicemail first - activation will delete all voice messages from the account.

O2 had been very quiet about the cost of the iPhone on Pay & Go, and this doesn’t seem to have changed.  O2 now advise that ‘iPhone 3G for Pay & Go will be available later this year’.  It’s a shame they haven’t launched it at the same time.

So, I suggest that if you want your iPhone 3G on Friday, you stay tuned to the website and sign up as quickly as possible when it goes live.

We have a couple apps which we’re hoping to have ready for the App Store launch next Friday, which I’d like to tell you about now. But before I do, I should mention that all our initial apps will be completely free to all iPhone & iPod touch users!

PhoneSaber
PhoneSaber is the app Star Wars fans have been waiting for… As you swing your phone, a range of lightsaber sound effects will be emitted from your phone’s speaker (or connected audio output). Not only that, but you can also withdraw and put away your saber, and change it’s colour! Screenshots and more info on the app’s official page. PhoneSaber will definitely be available on the App Store at launch, so don’t forget to check it out next Friday.

NearPics
NearPics is a simple, fun app for travellers (and everyone else)! As soon as you load up NearPics, it gets your location using the iPhones unique location based services, and uses that to instantly find photographs taken near to your exact location. NearPics is great fun when you’re on holiday somewhere new, or even just when you’re in your home town, to see photos of places you might never have known about! And when you’ve found an interesting photo you can even find out where it was taken using the iPhones maps application. Screenshots and more info on the app’s official page. NearPics will hopefully be available at the launch of the App Store next week.

Units
Units is a really useful app that lets you easily convert from various units into lots of others. It can convert Area, Currency, Energy, Temperature, Time, Length, Weight, Speed, Pressure, Power, and Volume. Last, but not least, it has a small built in ruler for quick measurements on the go. Screenshots and more info on the app’s official page. Units will hopefully be available at the launch of the App Store next week, but if not, should be available shortly after.

Hope you’ve enjoyed that run down of our apps, and we hope you’ll check them out next Friday!