The iPhone NES app from nervegas has really been shaping up the last couple of days. The program has seen a lot of new updates and some minor fixes in the latest version. The iPhone NES emulator allows users to play NES games.

Here's the changelog for the latest version (v1.00_RC2.1) since v0.99.07:

1.00_RC1[nervegas]

• Added auto-install of coreaudiod.plist for on-demand mode
• Added 1-second delay for sound initialization

1.00_RC2[nervegas]

• Added suspend for incoming call, graceful exit for power off
• Removed "Allow Suspend" option, too complicated with sound
• Changed on-demand installer text to be more coherent+restart
• Added Swap A/B Preference
• Tapered off buttons in full screen / landscape mode
• Cleanup of full screen code, fixes for buffer overruns
• Fixed some games not appearing right in full screen
• New icon to experiment with
• Fixed sound looping issues (e.g. Zelda, Faxanadu, etc)

1.00_RC2.1[nervegas]

• Dropped back to old toolchain (new one hosed Zelda 2)
• NOTE: Use vibrate mode to avoid losing sound to Mail/SMS

As always, users are encouraged to look over the Readme file before using the app. Download the latest release of the iPhone NES app below:

Download: NESapp-1.00_RC2.1.tar.gz

 

Everyone has been raving about the iPhone. This comes as no surprise as it really is one hell of a phone. However, considering it's Apple's first stab into the mobile phone market, it's expected that it will still have some flaws.

One of the problems that has been pinpointed is the lack of consistency with its Graphical User Interface (GUI). One of the main complaints from users involve the location of  the "compose email" button. Other phones have this on the same place consistently, however, the iPhone places this in various locations depending on the application you're running. Here are a few examples from tuaw.com:

• Compose Button: The compose button, which looks like a square with a pencil through it, appears at the bottom right of many Mail screens and in the SMS Text application at the top-right of the screen. The Reply/Forward button appears just to the left of the Compose icon in Mail. Tap this to reply to a message or forward it on to another party.
• Envelope Icon. In the Notes application, the envelope icon appears on the bottom of the page, to the left of the garbage can. Tap it to email the current note.
• Use-For Icon: The use-photo-for icon appears at the bottom left of the screen. It looks like a rectangle with an arrow jumping out of it-the arrow is basically a mirror of the Reply/Forward button. Tap this and select Email Photo from the pop-up menu.
• Share: You can share YouTube video and Safari URLs by email. Tap the Share button on the Information page in YouTube and in the navigate-to-URL screen in Safari. To find this in YouTube, tap the blue reveal button located to the right of the video name. In Safari, tap on the URL bar and then look up and to the left.

These inconsistencies show a very modular method of designing the iPhone. The product could have been better streamlined with its different applications working in a more standardized manner. While this is a minor issue and is easily overshadowed by what the iPhone does right, Apple will hopefully take this into consideration when designing future phones.

The Beta version of Skype 2.7 for Mac is now out and ready for use. For those unfamiliar with this program, it allows users to chat and send text messages for free. In addition to this, it can be used to place calls to both cellular phones and landlines for a nominal fee.

Originally PC-based, the software has been reworked to run on multiple Mac platforms. If you'd care to recall, the previous version implemented a lot of new features, and the trend continues with this version. There are quite a few improvements to the program, here's a complete list of all the new features:

• Group contacts: organize your contacts into as many groups as you need. While there are some pre-defined groups (like Online, Waiting Authorization, Recently Contacted), youÂ?re free to add new ones that suit your life. This should be a godsend to those whose contact list has ballooned to hundreds of Skype users. Explore this nifty feature under the cogwheel icon on the main screen.

• See your Apple Address Book contacts in Skype: easily call or SMS anyone who has a phone number in their address-book profile. When texting, just make sure the number is one that belongs to a mobile phone.

• Create and manage public chats: by clicking on Chats in the menu bar and choosing Start Public Chat. A public-chat assistant will walk you through the necessary steps.

• Auto Redial for busy or unconnected calls: When your call hits the busy signal, Skype will give you the option of automatic redial every two minutes until the call goes through. This setting can also be adjusted in Skype > Preferences > Calls.

• Easy sound-level controls: when you need to tweak the sound level during a call, use a simple slider in the call window

• Overhauled file transfer: wearing a more fashionable jacket, file-transfer now looks elegant and acts even nicer, especially when receiving many files at once

So if you're a Mac user and use VoIP for raiding in World of Warcraft or chatting with loved ones, there's no reason for you not to pick this up. Head on over tot he Skype site to download the program.

There's a bit of controversy surrounding a TUAW report that a British iPhone user was able to get an AT&T SIM to adopt a local Vodafone number, enabling him to use the iPhone outside the US with an American SIM.

Apparently, the user was excited about the iPhone and got it even though he could only use it with AT&T activated by iASign. Realizing the futility of having his US number in the UK, he went to the Vodafone store and had the people there add the phone to his account. Amazingly, the Vodafone-enabled AT&T SIM worked great on the iPhone. The screen flashed AT&T but the number was localized and SMS was working well.

According to TUAW, users in IRC have been discussing how this could have happened and if there was any truth in it. Most chatters say that it shouldn't have worked because of regional and technical restrictions. Apple has not commented on the topic so far.

TUAW reports that they tried to have the same procedure done in Canada but the Rogers store there would not touch the SIM. We'll keep you posted for more on this issue and other exploits as they come.

In a few days, Apple's highly-anticipated iPhone will finally hit the streets. In anticipation of this much-talked-about event, the Cupertino-based company has put up a page detailing the iPhone's rate plans.

The rate plans are divided into three different categories: Individual, Family and Existing Customers. The lowest available number of minutes for the Individual plan is 450 for US$ 59.99 (Family: 700 shared minutes for US$ 80), while the most is 6000 minutes for US$219.99 (Family: 6000 shared minutes for US$ 310). All plans get 200 SMS text messages, but consumers can always choose to add more.

All iPhone service plans include voicemail and unlimited internet and email, so those who plan to get one only have to choose a rate plan for how many minutes and SMS text messages they need. The plans will be selected upon activating the iPhone through iTunes.

Existing AT&T customers who want to keep their current voice plans can also get choose to add unlimited data and visual voicemail for US$ 20 to US$ 40, with the only different being the number of SMS text messages. US$ 20 gets you 200, US$ 30 gets you 1500 and for US$ 40 you can get unlimited text messages.

For the full list of rate plans, click on the "Read" link below.

A guy who goes by the YouTube username of tzywen has just coded a PocketPC program that mimics the iPhone's interface. It's not a firmware, just a program running in fullscreen. The program utilizes the Eten M600 PocketPC's touchscreen to make it work just like an iPhone. Almost everything's in there too: the sliding lock, SMS, calendar... like I said, almost everything.

It also has the iPod feature, but tzywen says that it's still under development. Pretty much all you can do with it is scroll up and down. It can't play any songs yet, but it does prove that you can imitate the iPhone using just a PocketPC. In tzywen's own words, "It just depends on how far you're willing to go." Check out the vid below.

There is no emotion; there is peace.
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no passion; there is serenity.
There is no death; there is the Force.

You have now gotten past being a youngling and is entering a new phase. A Padawan. An apprentice Jedi. You are going to undergo intensive one-on-one training under a Jedi Knight. And to give you the best possible training, you are going to be under the tutelage of Jedi Master MacSaber 1.1.

MacSaber 1.1 has been updated for PowerBook5 and 7, added keyboard backlight actions for equipped notebooks and improved update checker logic 1.0.

MacSaber is compatible with Mac laptops equipped with Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS) technology. Remember not everyone can be a Jedi.

Download: [MacSaber 1.1]

Mac laptops are not exactly cheap, making them obvious targets for thieves. Thanks to Panda Studio's JackSMS, Mac laptop owners can somehow be assured that nobody can take their precious laptops away without them knowing about it.

JackSMS will work on a Mac laptop - iBook, PowerBook, MacBook, or MacBook Pro - with the built-in sudden motion sensor (SMS). Making use of the sensor, JackSMS triggers an alarm whenever someone tries to move the Mac laptop, close its lid, or disconnect the power cord. If you're away from the Mac laptop and cannot hear the alarm, you'll still know if someone is trying to move your Mac via a mobile text message being sent whenever the alarm goes off.

Also featured in this Panda Studios application is the option to lock the screen while JackSMS is on or when alarm is triggered, plus the SMS sensitivity and alarm duration is adjustable. Its Applescript support will work with Salling Clicker or BluePhoneElite.

JackSMS is currently in v1.0b3, where triggering of alarm when lid is closed has been integrated. To use, just install JackSMS anywhere in your computer, launch it and it stays as a menu item. To activate the alarm, choose "Activate Alarm". For Applescript support, refer to the "AppleScript Example for JackSMS".

If you want to keep your Mac laptops safe, give JackSMS a go...better be safe than sorry.

Download [JackSMS v1.0b3]