“Apple today previewed its iPhone 2.0 software, scheduled for release this June, and announced the immediate availability of a beta release of the software to selected developers and enterprise customers. The iPhone 2.0 beta release includes both the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) as well as new enterprise features such as support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to provide secure, over-the-air push email, contacts and calendars as well as remote wipe, and the addition of Cisco IPsec VPN for encrypted access to private corporate networks. “We’re excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community with potentially thousands of native applications for iPhone and iPod touch,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPhone’s enterprise features combined with its revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface and advanced software architecture provide the best user experience and the most advanced software platform ever for a mobile device.” The iPhone SDK provides developers with a rich set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools to create innovative applications for iPhone and iPod touch. Starting today, anyone can download the beta iPhone SDK for free and run the iPhone Simulator on their Mac. Apple today also introduced its new iPhone Developer Program, giving developers everything they need to create native applications, and the new App Store, a breakthrough way for developers to wirelessly deliver their applications to iPhone and iPod touch users. With the iPhone SDK, third party developers will be able to build native applications for the iPhone with a rich set of APIs, including programming interfaces for Core OS, Core Services, Media and Cocoa Touch technologies. The iPhone SDK will allow developers to create amazing applications that leverage the iPhone’s groundbreaking Multi-Touch user interface, animation technology, large storage, built-in three-axis accelerometer and geographical location technology to deliver truly innovative mobile applications. Apple has licensed Exchange ActiveSync from Microsoft and is building it right into the iPhone, so that iPhone will connect out-of-the-box to Microsoft Exchange Servers 2003 and 2007 for secure over-the-air push email, contacts, calendars and global address lists. Built-in Exchange ActiveSync support also enables security features such as remote wipe, password policies and auto-discovery. The iPhone 2.0 software supports Cisco IPsec VPN to ensure the highest level of IP-based encryption available for transmission of sensitive corporate data, as well as the ability to authenticate using digital certificates or password-based, multi-factor authentication. The addition of WPA2 Enterprise with 802.1x authentication enables enterprise customers to deploy iPhone and iPod touch with the latest standards for protection of Wi-Fi networks. The iPhone 2.0 software provides a configuration utility that allows IT administrators to easily and quickly set up many iPhones, including password policies, VPN setting, installing certificates, email server settings and more. Once the configuration is defined it can be easily and securely delivered via web link or email to the user. To install, all the user has to do is authenticate with a user ID or password, download the configuration and tap install. Once installed, the user will have access to all their corporate IT services. The iPhone 2.0 software release will contain the App Store, a new application that lets users browse, search, purchase and wirelessly download third party applications directly onto their iPhone or iPod touch. The App Store enables developers to reach every iPhone and iPod touch user. Developers set the price for their applications—including free—and retain 70 percent of all sales revenues. Users can download free applications at no charge to either the user or developer, or purchase priced applications with just one click. Enterprise customers will be able to create a secure, private page on the App Store accessible only by their employees. Apple will cover all credit card, web hosting, infrastructure and DRM costs associated with offering applications on the App Store. Third party iPhone and iPod touch applications must be approved by Apple and will be available exclusively through the App Store. The iPhone SDK provides a reliable, fast and secure way to create innovative applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. In addition to the rich set of iPhone OS APIs, the iPhone SDK also provides advanced tools for creating native iPhone and iPod touch applications including: Xcode® for source code editing, project management and graphical debugging; Interface Builder with drag and drop interface creation and live preview; Instruments to monitor and optimize iPhone application performance in real time; and the iPhone Simulator to run and debug applications. During the beta iPhone SDK program, a limited number of developers will be accepted into Apple’s new iPhone Developer Program and offered the ability to get code onto iPhones for testing. The Standard Program costs $99 (US) per year and gives members an iPhone SDK and development tools; access to pre-release iPhone software; technical support; the ability to get code onto iPhones for testing; and distribution of applications via the new App Store. The Enterprise Program costs $299 (US) per year. In addition to these new iPhone network and security features, the beta iPhone 2.0 software provides several new Mail features such as the ability to view PowerPoint attachments, in addition to Word and Excel, as well as the ability to mass delete and move email messages. Pricing & Availability Apple plans to release the final iPhone 2.0 software, including the iPhone SDK and new enterprise features, as a free software update for all iPhone customers by the end of June. Third party applications created for the iPhone will also run on the iPod touch, and iPod touch users will be required to purchase a software update to run these applications. The free beta iPhone SDK is available immediately worldwide and can be downloaded at developer.apple.com/iphone/program. The iPhone Developer Program will initially be available in the US and will expand to other countries in the coming months. Apple is accepting applications beginning today from enterprise customers who would like to join the private iPhone Enterprise Beta Program (www.apple.com/iphone/enterprise). Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.
ASUS P560 communicator with animated touch interface
“ASUS has introduced its P560 communicator at the CeBIT 2008. Like ASUS Lamborghini ZX1 it is based on Windows Mobile 6.1 and own-branded 3D graphical interface, which enables “one-touch” access to multimedia menu. You can adjust Multi-Home animated menu as you like. The specs provided below are taken from the exhibition info and can be somewhat changed by the release of the device.The specs of ASUS P560: Networks – GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS/HSDPA OS – Windows Mobile 6.1 Display – 2.8” touchscreen 240×320 pixels 128 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM Bluetooth 2.0 WI-FI 802.11b/g GPS-receiver 3-megapixel camera VGA-camera Li-Ion battery Dimensions – 116.4×64.2×13.4 mm Weight – 120.5 g ” via mobile-review.com
VITO Technology announced the release of iWindowsMobile Communication Suit
“VITO Technology just released iWindowsMobile Communication Suit which claims to be an upgrade your Windows Mobile touchscreen device.iWindowsMobile Communication Suite contains 4 best-selling VITO Technology applications, including the task manager GoodWin, contact manager FunContact, SMS client SMS-Chat and onscreen keyboard ZoomBoard.This way you get to manage your device just with fingers and say farewell to the stylus. Moreover, after stylish and thought-out interface of iWindowsMobile Communication Suite, the standard Windows Mobile interface will be too boring for you. GoodWin is a touch oriented Windows Mobile launcher and task manager. Slide the screen with finger to scroll the list of favorites and running programs, installed applications, and settings – all on one screen! GoodWin has today plug-in and quick access to SMS-Chat and FunContact. FunContact is a contact manager that brings iPhone experience to your Pocket PC. Now you can scroll a contact list just with a flick of a finger. When choosing the contact and tapping SMS button you go directly to SMS-Chat. SMS-Chat is an SMS client that organizes your SMS correspondence into threaded SMS conversations. It is great to have a separate chat for every contact with whom you exchange short text messages. You can easily follow a conversation scrolling thru a chat with a finger. If you need to add a contact or look up contact details you are automatically brought to FunContact. ZoomBoard is an onscreen keyboard for quick and accurate finger typing. The popping up magnifying glass provides an instant zoom-in on the keyboard area under your finger. Sliding technology allows for accurate and quick text input.iWindowsMobile Communication Suit works with Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6 Classic and Professional devices and is available for US$ 39.95 which saves you US$ 25 compared to the per title price. A trial version is also available.” via theunwired.net