Pathfinder, a software development and user experience design firm, announced the initial release of rails_iui, an open source Rails Plug-In for the iPhone.

The plug-in makes it easier to build iPhone enabled web applications. Rail plugin adds the ability to iUI framework which contains a number of CSS styles and JavaScript event handlers, to make iPhone Web apps look and feel somewhat like native iPhone applications.

“While developing my latest mobile web application with iUI, I realized I was building up a library, so I converted everything to a Rails plug-in,” stated Rappin, creator of the plugin. “Open source is all about sharing what you have learned and making contributions to support the community.””

Currently the plug-in focuses on automating common tasks and streamlining development. Future enhancements include improvements in documentation, testing and leveraging the Rails framework to enhance interactions, especially related to history and back behavior.

To get more information and download the plugin go to here or here.

This acrylic iPhone case is the only case that provides full protection for your screen. The patent pending electrostatic membrane on the front of this case actually mimics the way the iPhone screen works, allowing full touch through access, while still protecting your screen from scratches. Cutouts are provided for full access to all controls.

You can get more detail on the Naked Case HERE, and check out a video showing off how the touch through works at:

Caterpillar is an unique package of little tools for your iPhone that can be installed separately from each other. Each module provides its own set of features aimed to make your use of iPhone more productive and fun. Customization, business tools, quick contacts search, system font replacement and many more — constantly growing as we add new tools and functionality.

What’s inside? Read the rest of this entry »

via pocketnow.com

The recent announcement of a software development kit and the Microsoft Exchange Activesync support for the iPhone has raised the eyebrows of a few users who have remained hesitant from switching to the iPhone. Our own Brandon Miniman even exclaimed that now that the iPhone has Exchange support, various device form factors was the only reason left to stick to Windows Mobile.

On the contrary, here are 42 reasons you still don’t want an iPhone: Read the rest of this entry »

Recent developers in WebKit on which Safari is based, ended up in Safari browser for iPhone 2.0 as well as in newly released Safari 3.1.

Apple has implemented HTML 5, CSS 3 and SVG into it. HTML 5 provides a standard for embedded SQL statements into a script code. SVG (scalable vector graphics) brings motion into places where only static bitmap graphics worked before. SQL (through SQLite) and SVG are linked into Safari but not by plug-ins. CSS 3 sets up implicit and explicit animation, and manages both using renderer.

The advancements to Safari are not only the additions of new standards. Apple has also managed to speed up JavaScript performance.

Early on Apple decided not to include cookies and XML to Safari, and hence ported SQLite from iPhone OS to Safari. It allows JavaScript coders the ability to manage data using real SQL with transaction support.While SQLite is client-sized, it is very powerful for a database that links entirely into your code.Since iPhone has space restrictions, using SQLite forces developers to use space carefully.

The advancements in Safari on iPhone 2.0 are great. In fact, Mac users will want it in their desktops! At least viewing for the developers’ perspective since it allows great stand-alone web apps, and that’s something you can’t do on other browsers.

Posted by David on March 22nd, 2008

During this week’s AjaxWorld conference, ICEsoft Technologies has unveiled their open source ICEfaces Project.

ICEfaces itself is an Ajax framework that enables developers to easily create server centric rich internet applications in pure Java. The system works by extending JSF (java server faces) which is a component model for JavaEE development.

While working in standart JSF programming envirounment, you have the addition of Automatic AJAX which handles back-end AJAX Framework functionality for them transparently. In addition, a feature known as “AJAX Push” automatically takes care of synchronization between the desktop and the mobile device.

While iPhone was presented as a great platform, Steve Markya CTO of ICEsoft Technologies said it had some deficiencies like memory constraints, small footprint, and inability to support drag-and-drop.

But even with its shortcomings, ICEsoft demonstrated some interesting projects like a program that allows users to “push” conference slides from a desktop to an iPhone and an app to order taxi from iPhone while on business trip, and then receive and view status reports.

Thanks: SeanKerner

If you still don’t have an iPhone case, and pink case for some reason is not for you then you should check out Vaja cases. It’s made from durable Argentinean leather, and is probably the most customizable iPhone case ever!

The cheapest ivolution Grip holster (priced from $55) features 39 colors to choose from, ability to add belt clip and you can even engrave text or image on it, which would make a perfect gift for your beloved one.

But if $55 is too much you can choose slim bag for just $29. However if you want something more classy like i-volution SP be prepared to spend around $100. There are over 20 case designs to choose from, and each is customizable even more.So if customization is you thing head over to Vaja Cases

After Apples announcement of the iPhone SDK, SUN also unveiled their plans to release iPhone compatible version of Java VM, making it possible to run Java apps.

Java VM will be based on Java Micro Edition, which is a version of java designed for mobile phones, PDA’s and other portables. Even though Apple didn’t express any interest in enabling Java, but SUN said they will make it so themselves.

Java would be useful not only for small apps, or games, but also for enterprise applications.

“Once our JVM is on the phone, we anticipate that a large number of Java applications would run on the phone,” Klein said.

Chris Silva, research analyst said that bringing JVM to iPhone could increase devices security.

After SDK’s release SUN experts analyzed it and decided that there is nothing that would prevent Java working on the iPhone. According to Klein, Sun plans to release Java SE and JavaFX technologies.

“It’s a new platform for us. We might be able to bring additional technologies onto the iPhone and the iTouch,” Klein said.

Thanks: InfoWorld

In a shareholder meeting on Tuesday, Steve Jobs said that Adobe Flash will not be supported by iPhone anytime soon.

He said that the cause for that was Flash’s architectural limitation. This due to the fact that Flash was designed for PC, which has huge computing power. IPhone on the other hand has much less powerful CPU, memory, disk storage and battery.

So in order to develop a Flash plug-in for the iPhone, Adobe’s proprietary software would need to be recompiled and optimized for the ARM architecture, which would require huge input from Adobe. Basically it should be designed to use CPU much more wisely, saving as much power as possible, also using limited RAM and storage.

While we don’t have flash support here is something iPhone web developers should take into consideration:

“Don’t bring up JavaScript alerts that ask users to download Flash. Flash isn’t supported and neither are downloads.”
“Safari on iPhone does not support… Java applets, Flash, Plug-in installation”
Under the section “Unsupported Technologies,” Apple listed one technology: Flash.
“You’ll want to avoid using Flash and Java for iPhone content. You’ll also want to avoid encouraging users to download the latest Flash on their iPhone, because neither Flash nor downloads are supported by Safari on iPhone.”

Thanks: AppleInsider