Apps:
We all know that there aren’t enough, but it’s growing and there are some decent apps already out there.

Navigation:
Google Maps with Navigation is an amazing upgrade. But it’s buggy, slow, and a major battery hog.

Screen:
The screen is brilliantly clear and responsive. Great for watching video on YouTube or through a podcast. Unfortunately, it’s been picking up finger prints too easily.

Speed:
The home screens are slow to switch between pages, but the actual in and out/start and close of apps is incredibly fast.

Camera:
Definitely better than an iPhone 3GS, but not a major step up. The camera has so much potential and this may just be a software error. It’s slow, unresponsive and hard to tell when you’ve actually taken a picture.

On-Screen buttons:
Sometimes unresponsive. Frustrating, and I wish their was a better “home” button like the iPhone.

Battery:
Hard to charge the unit with a computer or on a non-traditional USB charging device. The Droid has to be plugged into the wall charger to make any battery progress. Otherwise, the battery life is fantastic after a full charge.

Google Voice:
Definitely a major upgrade over iPhone’s non-existent support. Phone calls are quick and the quality is surprisingly good. This is such a time saver! Needs to send SMSs into the Messaging app for a more seamless interface with the phone (but that’s an upgrade that the individual app needs to do).

More to come! Stay tuned and subscribe to Twitter updates @DrPsychology

For many US iPhone users, that means you can now choose between T-Mobile and AT&T. And if you’re abroad for any reason, pick up a cheap SIM-card and plug it into the iPhone–you should have no problem (as long it is also a GSM carrier)!

Check out an eBay auction that is now advertising a 3.1.2 iPhone 3GS that’s unlockable with Blackra1n.

Keep in mind that jailbraking can void your warranty! Watch out and mind the risk.

Facebook iPhone update: 3.03 with bug fixes coming soon, and 3.1 with push notifications to follow.

From Joe Hewitt on Twitter.

The iPhone doesn’t do/have: multitasking, a 5MP camera, open-source development, Google Voice, etc. But here’s an early prediction, Apple will soon have a face off with Verizon’s new “killer.” If the environment and competition warrants it, I foresee Apple and AT&T retracing a number of their preventative methods, which hinder the phone’s greater capabilities.

Verizon’s Droid is due to come out on October 30th, with some estimates pointing to an early November release date. Either way, the phone its accompanying specs will quickly stunt the iPhone’s growth; that is, if Apple and AT&T do nothing.

That’s where I think we’re going to get a healthy does of competition. Apple can quickly and easily allow apps to background and therefore multitask–it just takes the flick of a switch and a major press release to developers. All of a sudden, apps like Pandora and NPR, which stream over 3G/EDGE/Wi-Fi, will operate for as long as you want, even while checking your email. No doubt, their will be complaints over battery drain and AT&T’s horrid wireless network. But at least the iPhone will have built-in multitasking capabilities.

Soon after that, we could see a firmware update with a major megapixel upgrade to the iPhone. FM capabilities will be a must. Google Voice may soon be approved. And we could see improvements to AT&T’s troubled data network.

Maybe the last couple sentences are more of a hope than reality. But without a doubt, competition will force Apple to finally step up. It’s time to take advantage of everything the phone is already capable of!

Apple has made it clear that they wont allow applications that test, exceed, or go into the root of Apple’s iPhone software.

With the recent block of Google Latitude and Voice, Apple has set a clear precedent of conservative pragmatism that assures the iPhone’s destruction. Unless Apple reverses it’s closed off course, opens up to the open-source philosophy, and becomes a company for developers, Apple has already lost the smartphone wars.

Google and Verizon’s recently minted deal for Android on Verizon Wireless phones creates one of the greatest deals for Google–the phone is now going to be on the most popular national carrier.

Wake up Apple, we don’t want a closed device.

When we launched Google Voice, we offered free calling to the continental US. We’ve just expanded this to all 50 states by adding free calling to Alaska and Hawaii. (SOURCE)

http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/free-calling-now-to-hawaii-and-alaska.html

One source close to the thinking of AT&T executives said the company has been deliberating the decision for weeks and that top executives have said they were close to accepting voice over Internet services on all AT&T phones, including the iPhone. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because a decision hadn’t been officially announced. Skype currently operates on the iPhone through WiFi access, but not on AT&T’s 3G mobile network. (SOURCE)

Stay tuned for more details. News like this isn’t surprising as the recently inked deal between Google and Verizon may be pressuring Apple and AT&T to think about the ramifications of open source applications.

Update: Looks like AT&T just approved VOIP apps to be on the 3G network. Now the question is how long it takes for apps to update. Hopefully google voice will also be included in the new rules.

Check out Google’s post about SMS Emails: http://googlevoiceblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/receive-and-reply-to-sms-messages-by.html

The upgrade is expected to free up 6 GB of hard disk space, have a 45% faster installation, and faster finder actions.

Pre-order your copy today Here.

Mac OS X version 10.6 Snow Leopard

It wasn’t long before those little iTunes download cards starting showing up on the Starbucks counter, and iTunes was featuring a specially designated iTunes + Starbucks feature. iTunes cards often feature music of the month and the download cards are for a full album. It’s saved a vast amount of space and made the search for music an entirely different experience. The larger the selection of iTunes cards, the more Starbucks will seem less like a coffee shop and more like a record store of the past. But that’s not the end of the story; it becomes even further intertwined when a third party comes into the mix.

Around the time of the launch of the first generation iPhone, Apple decided upon AT&T to provide wireless service. It was highly publicized that Apple was looking for a company that would allow them to get royalties off monthly cell phone payments on the iPhone. As we all know, Apple priced the iPhone at $599, with no savings by signing on for two years. Without a doubt, Verizon Wireless missed the boat here when they declined the opportunity to work with Apple, citing that they could make a phone of their own, without having to pay third party royalties. And so it evolved that Apple and AT&T teamed up to provide service for the iPhone.

Perspective consumers were dismayed when discovering that the device would be running on AT&T’s slower “EDGE” network, known for having notoriously abysmal data service. Add into the equation that 3G technology was already working and delivering close to Wi-Fi speeds. In preparation for the major launch of the original iPhone, AT&T prepared their EDGE network lines and markedly boosted speeds. Without a doubt, these preparations were all tailored for the iPhone.

Eventually, AT&T’s CEO (and rumors around the blogosphere) acknowledged the development of Apple’s next iPhone: the iPhone 3G. AT&T delivered again, by upgrading the EDGE network to 3G. Apple was now ready to release the iPhone 3G on the network.

Right before the announcement of the new iPhone 3G on June 9th, Starbucks was in hot water with T-Mobile, which initiated a lawsuit as a result of Starbucks’ sudden jilting of T-Mobile, in preference for AT&T. Starbucks was preparing to have iPhone/iPod Touch + Starbucks content and music ready for their Wi-Fi consumers. And who does Schultz choose for cafe wireless? None other than AT&T. The new AT&T wireless internet at Starbucks allows 2 hours of free internet when connected to a Starbucks Rewards registered card account. Registration is free, and has made a trip to Starbucks even more appealing.

There have already been a number of rumors about iPhone users receiving unlimited free Wi-Fi service inside every Starbucks. Now more than ever, the probability of the two products working in tandem seems a given. Apple, AT&T, and Starbucks are collaborating so closely these days that one can envision these three companies developing an even closer partnership to serve their niche consumers.