Apple iPhone in and out: The next step

Let's go online

The online capability of the iPhone is among the most exciting since the Safari is the most advanced browser seen on a mobile phone to date. Yet, the Apple phone lacks some embedded online features, an IM client and a RSS reader just to name a few.

That's no longer the case after a jailbreak. The Apollo application is a nice IM client that supports MSN, ICQ, AIM and .Mac. It doesn't have contact list filtering (user status, custom groups), however it can keep the connection even when the iPhone goes to standby (normally the Wi-Fi connection would switch itself off when the handset is in standby). If the Apollo just doesn't seem enough, there are some other available IRC clients - the iRCm and Colloquy.

Listing the available accounts • the ICQ contact list • texting away

The MobileRSS reader is a native application for browsing RSS feeds. The MobileCast is a similar application that however allows users to subscribe to their favorite webcasts and listen to them without syncing with iTunes.

Setting up our RSS feed

Listening to online streaming radio is possible too with the iRadio application. It also has a preloaded list of radios to suit every taste.

The preset list of online radios

Flickr integration is available with the iPhone through a native application too. The Pushr application takes selected pictures directly from the handset's camera album and uploads them, while iFlickr directly opens the camera viewfinder to shoot an image for upload.

Setting up iFlickr

When it comes to pictures, it's worth noting that sending them as email attachments results in automatic resizing. With the SendPics application that's no longer necessary. Another application by the same author is called SendSong and it obviously allows sending songs from the music album via email. It's also used to add new ringtones to the iPhone, however a known bug is that all custom ringtones will get lost upon syncing with iTunes.

When it comes to pictures, it's worth noting that sending them as email attachments results in automatic resizing. With the SendPics application that's no longer necessary. Another application by the same author is called SendSong and it obviously allows sending songs from the music album via email.

<#AdRectangle#>

There's some fun stuff too

Not all iPhone applications are about productivity or online content sharing. The original iPhone doesn't have any games installed - what a waste to some? The iPhone developer community lets users choose from several gaming titles. Some of them even put the accelerometer in action in a really smooth way.

Playing Sudoku, iBlackJack, Lights Off, TicTacToe

Reading e-books on the iPhone is also possible with the Books application. Most e-books out there redone for the iPhone are made for use with this particular application. While we're at it, stumbling upon an unknown word, users can always look it up in one of the many available dictionaries.

Opening an e-book • reading a chapter • setting up your book reading experience • some of the available dictionaries

Final words

So that's about it. We are not providing any direct links to the applications, as they can be found in the Installer app. For those that haven't been tinkering under the hood of their iPhone, we hope that this article is quite revealing. The application development scene is on the rise and new applications emerge every day. A perfect example of that is the iApp-a-Day project, also available through the Installer. The project developer has committed to developing a new application for every day in November. And while those applications are not as elaborate as others, they seem to make a point about expanding the boundaries of iPhone. That's our way of bidding the iPhone a warm welcome on the Old Continent. Cheers.