Some interesting news filtering in from 9to5Mac just now. Apparently, Apple have raised the 3G download cap on iPhones from 10MB to 20MB.

In an attempt to maintain their coveted high-quality user experience, Apple had initially set the limit low on purpose, believing that networks may not be able to handle larger downloads efficiently and lead people to believe that the iPhone was sluggish as a result.

Today's news means that users will be able to download lengthier podcasts and more complicated apps.

The move is likely also in preparation for the launch of the iPad. Improved graphic capabilities on the iPad's larger screen will also lead to larger file sizes, so it appears Apple may be expecting to see some pretty special apps headed to their store in the near future.

Via: 9to5Mac

Looks like a major change is on the way for developers hoping to submit adult-orientated applications to the Apple App Store. John Atherton, the developer behind the Wobble iBoobs app, has just had his application removed from the store due to a rather severe and sudden change in policy.

Atherton received this message: "The App Store continues to evolve, and as such, we are constantly refining our guidelines. Your application, Wobble iBoobs (Premium Uncensored), contains content that we had originally believed to be suitable for distribution. However, we have recently received numerous complaints from our customers about this type of content, and have changed our guidelines appropriately."

Think this is another isolated case of the random App Store refusal process? Think again. The message ends with this pointed message: "We have decided to remove any overtly sexual content from the App Store, which includes your application."

It looks like Apple are now laying down the law on adult content, and already a number of sexy apps have been dropped from the store.

Is Apple's stance on sexual content spot on? Or are they being a little prudish and should be allowing adults to make up their own minds on what content they view? Let us know your thoughts.

Via: Tech Crunch

Here's one for movie buffs; a LOVEFiLM iPhone app has just launched, allowing members to view and manage their rental lists on the move.

Users can search and browse through LOVEFiLM's database of over 65,000 titles across DVD, Blu-ray and games and add titles they like the look of to their rental lists on the go.

If you aren't a LOVEFiLM member, you can still give the app a go as it features tons of information on movies, including plot synopsis details, cast lists and over 80 million ratings for both movies and LOVEFiLM's games rental service.

Simon Morris, Chief Marketing Officer at LOVEFiLM, commented, "As LOVEFiLM moves forward with continued growth of our online DVD business and the acceleration of streaming capabilities through Sony and Samsung's new internet-enabled TVs, it's also a great time to allow our customers mobile access via the iPhone."

The app is free, so why not click here and give it a try?

The Freeview digital TV service has now got its own iPhone app.

The app lets you check the programming guide to over 50 Freeview channels, including HD channels, letting you plan your night's viewing on the go. It's all customisable, so you can organise the guide so that you only have to scroll through channels that are relevant to your viewing tastes.

You'll also be able to search for shows through text entry or categories, with even a nice feature recommending programmes you may enjoy based on what you've searched for most. Come to think of it, a recommendation feature rolled out across all digital EPG's would be really useful, so hats off to Freeview there.

Tim Hunt, Marketing Communications Director at Freeview said: "As Freeview HD rolls-out across the UK, viewers can plan their HD viewing wherever they are with our new Freeview HD TV guide app. The launch of this smart app will allow users to cut a quicker path to their favourite channels and get the most out of planning their TV viewing."

The app is free and available by clicking here.

PopCap's hit Plants vs. Zombies PC game is headed to the iPhone.

According to PopCap, the game " challenges you to defend your house from encroaching zombies striving to reach your front door to eat your brains. Choose from an ever-increasing assortment of specialized, zombie-battling plants to slow down, confuse, weaken and ultimately destroy the vegetation-munching undead before they can traverse your yard and reach your front door."

Andrew Stein, director of mobile platforms at PopCap games said that: "Plants vs. Zombies for the iPhone and iPod touch marks the first adaptation of our wildly popular 'flower defence' game to a new platform, and we're excited at how well it has translated to the iPhone and iPod touch".

It may sound crazy (and it is), but it's a really addictive game with charm to spare, if the PC version is anything to go by at least.

Pick it up here for £1.79.

BIC's new My BIC Lighter app lets you pledge your devotion to the altar of rock without breaking any fire-saftey regulations.

As the first few chords of "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" chime in, you can fire up the app "to recapture the atmospheric, lighter-swaying moments at concerts".

Plenty of people have already grabbed the app, which is currently sitting at the number four slot on the free apps chart.

It's free to download, so why not back-comb your hair, dust off your favourite denim waistcoat and head on over to the App Store?

Rimless eye wear specialists Silhouette are releasing a brand new app for the iPhone. The Virtual Mirror app will let you try out a load of different glasses styles by overlaying them onto a picture of yourself.

If you're having a bad hair day or want to check out how the glasses would look on a friend, there are various models pre-installed on the app, happy to be made to look a bit "Dennis Taylor" for your entertainment.

There's also a power-user mode, where shaking the iPhone will scroll you through several test models quickly. Once you've settled on a pair, you can then send a preview picture to your friends via email to see if it passes their exacting taste standards.

You can grab the app for free here.

For more info visit www.silhouette.com.

Newton Peripherals are readying the European launch of their MoGo Talk Bluetooth headset ahead of next week's MWC 2010 conference.

Ultra thin at only 5mm thick, the headset docks with a low-profile iPhone 3GS case, slotting away so that you need never misplace your hands-free kit. Providing you know where your phone is, of course.

There's enough juice in its battery for four hours talk time from a single charge, while standby mode will see the headset survive a week away from a power source.

"MoGo Talk was a top selling iPhone accessory in the U.S. over the 2009 holiday season and soon all of Europe can experience MoGo Talk through The Apple Store," said Stuart Nixdorff, CEO of Newton Peripherals. "We are confident that iPhone users across Europe will appreciate how the MoGo Talk extends Apple's clean, life-simplifying design philosophy to a companion Bluetooth headset."

Already proving a hit Stateside then, expect this to be pretty popular when it hits the European Apple Store later this month, priced £99.

Shazam have today unveiled new versions of their Encore and (SHAZAM)RED music discovery apps.

Teaming up with Last.fm, Encore and (SHAZAM)RED users can now access geo-tagged tour information for tagged artists, look up the Shazam blog and create Internet radio stations from their tagged music.

"We are delighted to bring these enhancements to the more than 15 million Shazam iPhone and iPod touch users around the world," said Andrew Fisher, CEO of Shazam.

"We are committed to continually improving our apps and our collaboration with Last.fm, a leading consumer music brand, allows us to deliver an even more compelling music journey for our users."

You can pick up these updated versions on the App Store now.

Though carrying an iPhone around is like having everything but the kitchen sink in your pocket thanks to all its maps and apps, its Achilles heel is its relatively low battery life. You'll get a little over a day's worth of juice out of a single charge at best, which isn't too great if you're going to be away from a power supply for very long.

Griffin's PowerBlock looks to relieve you of your charging woes. At first glance it may appear to be a regular USB AC wall charger. However, it features a detachable battery pack which can be used as a reserve power supply for your iPod or iPhone, while also charging other USB devices.

"The addition of a removable battery to the PowerBlock charger means you can take the power with you when you go," said Paul Griffin, founder and CEO of Griffin Technology, "It is a simple and reliable backup to ensure iPod and iPhone users never run out of power on the move."

The PowerBlock Reserve EU and UK model will be available at Apple stores from February priced £29.99.

This week's trip to Apple's app store finds the shop in a romantic mood.

Opening the doors to their Valentine's room reveals a wealth of loved-up e-cards and love poems, as well as apps to make sure you get your other half's pressie just right.

Among the other apps on offer this week, Tapulous bring us the music/driving hybrid Riddim Ribbon featuring tunes from the Black Eyed Peas, and Postman Pat makes his debut on the app store in a selection of wacky, kid friendly mini-games.

Click the image below to get started

Apple haven't historically been too keen on introducing browsers to rival Safari onto the App store. However, Opera are so confident that their Opera Mini browser will pass Apple's vigorous application process that they plan to showcase it at this month's Mobile World Congress.

The main draw here is page load speeds. Opera claim that their Mini browser is 6 times faster than the mobile competition thanks to advanced compression technology. It's good news for those who pay for their mobile internet use by the MB, as Opera claim it can reduce browsing costs by as much as 90%.

"We are thrilled to offer journalists and partners an exclusive preview of Opera Mini for iPhone during the year's biggest mobile event," said Jon von Tetzchner, Co-founder, Opera Software.

"This is a unique opportunity to introduce the fast, feature-rich Opera Mini experience for the iPhone, and to showcase our latest beta releases of Opera Mobile and Opera Mini on other platforms and devices.

"Opera's mission is to bring the Web to the world, and by making Opera Mini available on yet another platform, we are one step closer."

Opera will also be displaying Opera Mobile 10 beta 3 on Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile handsets, Opera Mobile 10 beta running on Android handsets, Opera Mini 5 beta running on a range of handsets and platforms and their cross-platform Widgets Manager beta, running on Windows Mobile and S60 handsets.

Taplulous' Tap Tap Revenge iPhone app proved a surprise success, taking on the rhythm gaming big-guns like Guitar Hero and Rock Band and beating them at their own game. Tap Tap Revenge proved wildly popular, and now Tapulous are looking to replicate that success with the new Riddim Ribbon game.

A cross between a racer and music mixing app, players use the iPhone's accelerometer to roll a ball down a sloping circuit to a soundtrack by the Black Eyed Peas. Hit an obstacle and the music track grinds to a halt, but take alternative routes and you get a brand new mix of the song.

The game's co-producer, will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas said, "I am so excited about this game. It makes you re-think the concept of playing a song. It makes you re-think the remix".

So far the game is set only to include three Black Eyed Peas songs: Boom Boom Pow, Meet Me Halfway, and I Got a Feeling. Remember though that Tapulous have a reputation for releasing new content for their iPhone games, so if the Black Eyed Peas aren't your cup of tea there's a good chance other artists may get thrown into the mix later on.

Via: Games Beat

The Apple iPad has landed, and with it comes the news that most of the app store's current apps will be fully compatible with it. So think of this latest collection of apps as an investment for your future iPad!

Thankfully, this week's collection includes the cinematic Assassin's Creed II Discovery, the perfect app to put the iPad's gaming capabilities to the test, as well as more sombre budget managing Money Book.

Click the image below to get started

Ever checked out the Threadless website? If you haven't, you really should; it's a great online, community driven t-shirt store. Users submit their designs to Threadless, the community votes on them, and the best are made into limited-run t-shirts and hoodies. It's a great concept that delivers unique, user-generated fashion at pretty attractive prices.

Showing they've got their finger on the pulse, Grifin Technology have teamed up with Threadless to produce a new range of Threadless-themed iPhone 3G cases.

The three cases hitting UK shores are 'I'm Like A Bird', featuring a carefree image of a giraffe among birds, 'Living in Harmony', with an electric and acoustic guitar pictured, and 'Hi', emblazoned across a black background in pink and white.

"The collaboration with Griffin is fantastic because it places a spotlight on the amazing talent within the Threadless community," said Jake Nickell, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of skinnyCorp, LLC, parent company of Threadless. "Griffin has gone to great lengths to make sure the artists get exposure for their work. It'll be an amazing feeling for each artist to see their designs being used across the UK."

The cases are available at Apple stores nationwide, priced £24.99.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt has become the first politician in the world to have his own iPhone app.

The MyMP app aims to get younger people involved in politics by offering text and Twitter based discussions on local and national policies. Users can:

• View what Derek is doing in their area, as well as local stories.
• Tell Derek if something's bothering them locally, via telephone or email.
• Find out when Derek is holding his surgeries.
• Give their opinion on local and national issues.
• Take part in personal discussions with Derek.
• Watch and take part in discussions between Derek and other residents.

Speaking to Kent Online, Wyatt said : "We want to encourage more MPs to put their application on the site so we have designed it so every MP in the United Kingdom can participate if they just fill in their details.

"It has got a lot of traction; I think a lot of young people like Twittering and texting more than they like emailing. An amazing number of people are already texting on the site.

"I have been quite surprised. More people have want to come to discuss by mobile than have on my website over the last eight years and my website is one of the biggest in Britain politically."

The app has already had over 4,000 downloads. It'd be interesting to see how many of those 4,000 are actively using the app, or are even based in the Sittingbourne and Sheppy area. Personally though I think it's a great idea; constituents can often feel removed from and uneasy about contacting their MPs. Wyatt's embracement of Web 2.0 tools has made him more approachable, and likewise made It easy for constituents to comfortably get involved in local politics. Let's hope other MPs follow suit.

Pick up the app here, free of charge.

You'd assume it had already been done (RightMove?), but apparently not; Hamptons International claim to have become the first UK residential property agent to launch an app for the iPhone.

Buyers and sellers can use the app to search for properties and check prices. Other features include GPS-enabled local searches, overseas searches that include properties in the UAE, USA and India and the ability to contact Hamptons International via email directly through the app if a house tickles your fancy.

Shakeel Barok, managing director, Hamptons International states, "The Hamptons app for iPhone marks an incredibly exciting development for Hamptons International and the residential sector. The way people are searching for property and the mediums they are using to do so are changing dramatically. The launch of the Hamptons app reflects our commitment to driving innovation in what we do, and going above and beyond expectation to meet our customers' requirements."

You can grab the app for free here.

While it may have been a tad more useful a month or so ago, the Met Office have today launched their official iPhone app.

It features five-day forecasts, national severe weather alerts, national and regional weather maps and a UK rainfall radar.

Mark Wakefield, founder and COO of app developers Gorillabox said: "Gorillabox has worked closely with the Met Office to develop an application utilising a range of iPhone features and incorporating the Met Office weather alerts that will provide users with the latest and most accurate weather information wherever they are"

Better late than never we suppose.

Pick up the app here.

Those storks best watch their backs: it looks like iPhones will be delivering little bundles of joy from now on.

Take Lena and Dudley Bryce from Kelvinside Glasgow. For four years the pair had tried to have a children, but to no avail.

"Doctors couldn't find any reason why I hadn't been able to get pregnant" Lena told the Scottish Sun. " We're young, fit and healthy and just expected everything would be fine, so it began to weigh a bit heavily on us".

The Bryces were considering adoption and IVF treatment when Dudley gave Lena an iPhone, who then put the Free Menstrual Calendar app on the handset. The app predicts when the most fertile moment to conceive is, and even suggests some sexual positions to get things started.

And, as if by magic, two months later Lena conceived. Little Lola Bryce was born at Glasgow's Southern General Hospital, weighing a healthy 6lb 12 oz.

Is there anything an iPhone can't do?

Fancy giving the app a go? Kick-start a 21st century baby-boom by clicking here.

More good news for Mr Jobs ahead of next week's big launch. Vodafone is claiming that in a week it has sold over 100,000 iPhones in the UK.

The company isn't saying much but Vodafone UK CEO Guy Laurence, said "The demand from both consumer and business customers has been phenomenal. They want an outstanding phone on an outstanding network and we're delivering that."

It'll be interesting to see how long it takes to get to 200,000.