iPhone 3.0 is coming!
People have started to receive invites to an Apple event on March 17th announcing the iPhone software v3.0. It has been about 8 months since the release of OS 2.0, and 6 months since Apple missed their self-imposed deadline for push notifications for background applications.
Josh’s Verdict: Why now? Any copy and paste? And what about apps being able to run in the background?
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How to: Auto Follow and DM, Track keywords on Twitter and more!
If you’re new to Twitter, you may want to read this. And even if you’re not new to Twitter, and want to automate your tasks on Twitter, read on.
I’m going to introduce Tweetlater - please don’t assume about their name and think that all they do is allow to schedule your tweets to a later time. They offer way more than that. Here’s what Tweetlater CAN do:
Send automated thank you notes to new followers, and automatically follow new followers, if you choose to do so. Optionally, select to vet (approve, ignore, block) new followers before we perform your selected automation tasks.
Grab your own personal 140-character tweet scheduling engine and RSS feed. You can schedule and publish tweets that don’t go to Twitter, they go to your personal tweet stream, which is available in RSS, XML and Javascript formats.
Josh’s Verdict: All that, and for free too! You can add and manage as many Twitter accounts as you want. Sign up Today, like I did. Tweetlater helped me automate a number of tasks which would take me way too long if I did it manually – After all, I have 10k+ followers!
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GrandCentral is now Google Voice!
Wow, after 2 years, Google finally does something about their acquired company, GrandCentral. This is currently only avilable for previous GrandCentral users. The official announcement is here.
The new application improves the way you use your phone. You can get transcripts of your voicemail (see the video below) and archive and search all of the SMS text messages you send and receive. You can also use the service to make low-priced international calls and easily access Goog-411 directory assistance.
As you may know, GrandCentral offers many great features, including a single number to ring your home, work, and mobile phones, a central voicemail inbox that you could access on the web, and the ability to screen calls by listening in live as callers leave a voicemail. You’ll find these features, and more, in the Google Voice preview. Check out the features page for videos and more information on how these features work.
If you need an invite to Google Voice, sign up here.
Josh’s Verdict: Is eBay going to quit their Google AdWords campaign just because Google launched a competitive product, i.e. to Skype? Why not? They did that when Google launched Google Checkout, the competitor to PayPal.
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Apple releases iTunes 8.1
As anticipated, Apple on Wednesday evening delivered iTunes 8.1 with performance enhancements, support for CD imports to iTunes Plus, and new Genius features. Separately, the company also updated its Front Row media application.
iTunes 8.1 (65.4 MB) “is now faster and more responsive,” Apple says. “You will enjoy noticeable improvements when working with large libraries, browsing the iTunes Store, preparing to sync with iPod or iPhone, and optimizing photos for syncing.”
In addition, iTunes 8.1 provides several other improvements and bug fixes, including:
- Supports syncing with iPod shuffle (3rd generation).
- Allows friends to request songs for iTunes DJ.
- Adds Genius sidebar for your Movies and TV Shows.
- Improves performance when downloading iTunes Plus songs.
- Provides AutoFill for manually managed iPods.
- Allows CDs to be imported at the same sound quality as iTunes Plus.
- Includes many accessibility improvements.
- Allows iTunes U and the iTunes Store to be disabled separately using Parental Controls.
iTunes 8.1 also includes a couple of security enhancements.
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Topify: Manage your Twitter followers with email (100 Invites!)
Topify basically does 3 things with your Twitter account within your email, without even going on the Twitter website. If you’re the Power Twitter user, this is your serious power tool and time saver.Topify was created by two former TechCrunch France employees, Ouriel Ohayon (@ourielohayon) and Arik Framovitch (@arikfr).
1. First of all, they create better notification emails when some one follows you. The improved email is seen below:
The email now shows Following/Followers stats, their Display Image, Bio, On Twitter Since, Updates Count, their Website and their Latest Update, versus the original Twitter one, which only told you your new follower’s name and username (e.g. only @Joshlam and Josh Lam).
2. Awesome. I want to follow this guy who just followed me. Do you need to go all the way to twitter.com, sign-in, go to the guy’s profile page, and click follow? Well, with Topify, you don’t have to. All you need to do is to reply to the email. Simple, Easy and Smart. Now why didn’t Twitter think of this before?
3. How about Direct Messages?
I just followed this really cool guy on Twitter (I know, it’s @Joshlam) and he told me I was awesome 
Topify makes it really easy to reply to Direct Messages. Once again, all you need to do is to reply to the Direct Message notification email.Done.
So, to conclude, Topify may be simple, but has to be a great shortcut, especially if you’re a Power Twitter user.
Topify is currently in private beta. So how do you get into the action then? 
Well, as a lucky Josh’s Blog reader, you get EXCLUSIVE invites to Topify. Just click here. 100 Invites only!
If you’re on Twitter, follow @Joshlam as well for Josh’s Blog updates, exclusive Beta Invites and cool freebies!
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New 4GB iPod shuffle with VoiceOver
Apple just released the new 4GB iPod shuffle. Available in black or silver for $80. The new design keeps the clip and adds VoiceOver — a new feature that gets around the lack of display by telling you which song is playing and who performs it at the touch of a button on the earphone cable controller. It’ll also call out your playlists and let you navigate to others. More images below.
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Steve Wozniak on "Dancing with The Stars!"
Oh yeah. Steve Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple, finally got his first appearance at the show “Dancing with the Stars” – A MUST WATCH!
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iPhone prototype on eBay.. for a whopping $2K!
Trust me, this’ll be the most expensive (two) phones you’ll ever get, unless you manage to get the second iPhone to turn on, which the eBay seller is willing to let you try. The details are below.
No seriously. It’s real. Check out the video below.
Phone #1:
-Powers on OK – GSM service works
-Plastic matte screen (see pics)
-Serial number YM649xxxxxx which corresponds to a factory in China, manufactured week 49 of the year 2006.
-Runs iPhone OS 03.06.01_G (iPhone Launch OS 1.0 was version 03.11.02_G)
-Good cosmetic condition
Phone #2:
-Doesn’t turn on (tried leaving on charger for awhile, along with various reset procedures)
-Glass screen
-Serial number YM650xxxxxx which corresponds to a factory in China, manufactured week 50 of the year 2006. (The iPhone was announced on Jan 6 2007 and release June 29 2007.)
-I replaced the battery and still doesn’t work. Currently apart right now, can leave as-is for buyer or reassemble.
-Has various scratches, it is in fair cosmetic condition at best
Josh’s Verdict: So, got $2000 handy? Head over here then.
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Dell’s new Adamo teaser
Seriously sweet. I can’t wait to see an actual one. You can’t tell me you’re not excited about Dell’s new, ultra thin laptop.
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My FIRST AdSense check!
Oh yeah It’s also my first check ever.
Thanks to ALL my readers. I love you guys. This was only possible because of you guys!
P.S. That orange thing behind is my Physics textbook. Got to study now
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