Put on your buzzword protectors, because here comes a whole hive: Vitrue, a company that "helps organizations leverage consumer-generated content" has released a list of the top 100 "social brands" for 2008, according to their "Social Media Index," which... meh, we give up. Basically, they have a list of the most-talked about brands of last year, and surprise, surprise, the iPhone tops the charts. We're not much for any company that uses the phrase "paradigm shift" completely unironically, so "Vitrue" isn't exactly the end-all authority here, but you have to admit, no gadget, device, or tech brand has been more dissected and discussed and "empowered" (ugh) than Apple's own iPhone.

And speaking of Apple, they're sitting on the list at number three, and the iPod brand reached number 7. The Mac brand comes in at number 16, and AT&T is two steps below T-Mobile and Verizon at number 64. Say what you want about Apple and the day-to-day issues of the iPhone or their ongoing battles with developers, but when it comes to "mindshare" (look, now they've got us doing it!), the Cult of Mac reigns supreme.

[via Joystiq]

Early this morning the iPhone Dev-Team announced the impending availability of the latest release of PwnageTool and QuickPwn. The feature most touted was compatibility with the recent update of the iPhone's OS to 2.2.1.

The announcement over at the Dev-Team's blog also provides some very useful information regarding unlocking and jailbreaking iPhones and iPod touches. It gives heads-up warnings for users in different situations, such as factory-unlocked iPhone owners, YellowSn0w users, and iPod touch owners. It covers what they should or should not do regarding upgrading to 2.2.1 and using PwnageTool or QuickPwn; the Dev-Team also details a fix for entering DFU mode when using OS X 10.5.6.

Currently the release is Mac-only, but a Windows-friendly version of QuickPwn is said to be "coming soon." You can grab the release from the official BitTorrent download. Alternatively, there are several unofficial HTTP mirrors available. The team recommends comparing the SHA1 checksums when downloading from an unofficial mirror. Given the recent string of security-related downloading incidents, TUAW cannot recommend highly enough that users download from an official source or follow the Dev-Team's security advice.

I tip my hat to the many fine folks that sent this in!

Ever since the iPhone could run applications people have been really excited about the possibility of streaming XM-Sirius on the go.

After a lot of buzz, it appears the uSirius StarPlayr will finally be submitted to the app store this weekend. Then Apple will decide when to release the player to eager consumers.

The player, developed by nicemac LLC has been getting positive reviews from beta testers.

The bad news is that streaming services will no longer be free. Despite a promise from Sirius-XM that prices would be capped for 3 years, as of March 11, 2009, streaming will be an additional US $2.99 a month. Additional radio charges will be US $2.00 extra monthly. Costs of the base service will stay the same. and subscribers can lock in their current rates by agreeing to a 3 year contract extension. People rushing to do that may help the beleaguered merged companies in the short run. On the other hand, a lot of customers may not be anxious to throw a lot of money at a service that may not survive 3 years.

As far as the streaming app goes, nicemac hasn't released a price yet, but says once it is purchased updates will be free until they bring out a major upgrade.

Sirius-XM haven't released their own player. That may happen, but this third party app will certainly be first on the scene.

Addenda: One of our loyal readers says, and we confirm, that people with long term subscriptions will be able to stream for free for the life of that subscription. Thanks Daniel.

We first told you about Grocery IQ in October of last year. Grocery IQ allows iPhone users to completely organize a shopping list, and even arrange the list by aisles in the store. While the application has grown since its first release, it is about to see some major improvements.

Grocery IQ was recently purchased by Coupons.com (a website for finding coupons). According to a press release by Coupons.com, the application could see a 2.0 update as soon as February and include the ability to find coupons right from the device.

The update will be free for previous purchasers of Grocery IQ. The application is currently the number one seller in the Lifestyles section of the App Store. Grocery IQ is available on the App Store for a US $.99.

Thanks, Kim!

It's just a rumor at this point, but yes, apparently it's floating around out there that Apple may be considering a $19.99 price point for "premium" games in the App Store. That would be a direct response not only to bigger developers who say a 99 cents to $9.99 price point is too low for them to justify the cost of production, but also to competing game systems like the DS and the PSP -- if the same games were available for the same price on both systems, Apple could use the iPhone's extra features to justify even more purchases.

It's an interesting idea, and actually, though obviously it would cost consumers more, the bottom line in the App Store has always been worth, not price -- there are currently premium games being sold on services like Xbox Live and the Wii's Virtual Console for $20, and gamers are willing to pay, as long as they get the bang for the buck that they expect.

We'll have to see what approach Apple takes here. On the music side of things, they were obviously very hesitant to move up the price points (though even there, they made concessions and did so). As popular as the App Store is, a higher price point, if used correctly, could really open up the kinds of software we're seeing there.

Grand Theft Auto isn't out for the iPhone, but Payback is --it's basically a 3D version of the old top-down GTA gameplay, improved with better rendering and lighting. You control the game by pressing "buttons" on the screen, and tilting the iPhone around, and Touch Arcade says it works well. Some missions are apparently tough, but in terms of what GTA is really about -- driving around and generally causing mayhem -- Payback will deliver.

Unfortunately, textures (both visual and audio) are rough, as are the actual physics, so it seems Payback is more of a "GTA could work on the iPhone" demo rather than an actual game (though of course you can play it, it probably just won't be as fun). Still, we're in favor of any game reaching high on the iPhone, and this one definitely does.

Payback is out in the App Store now, for a substantial $6.99. But it's worth it, especially if you're a big GTA fan, just to see such a complex game on Apple's little handheld. Video on the next page.

As we know from the iPhone television commercials, if there's something you need to do, there's an app for that. And so apparently, if the thing you want to do is solve a Rubik's Cube, then yes, there is an app for that. CubeCheater will help you quickly solve a Rubik's Cube -- all you do is punch in the colors on your cube right now, and then you get directions, complete with rotating graphics, on what steps to take to solve the cube.

It's not built from scratch -- the app uses an algorithm already developed for solving the Cube -- but it does take advantage of a surprising amount of the iPhone's features. You can draw the colors on the virtual cube yourself, or even take a picture of your cube's sides and the app will recognize where the colors are. The latest update adds support for non-standard cubes, so if the colors aren't quite the same on your cube as on the screen, you can change things around.

Impressive, even if it is a little limited in practicality. It's in the App Store right now for 99 cents. Obviously, the point of a Rubik's Cube is solving it yourself. And if you really want to cheat, you don't need an iPhone. Just do what I do: take the little stickers off and replace them in the right places.

[via Cult of Mac]

Thanks to our friends at DDH Software, your chances of winning in our HanDBase giveaway have just gone up. They were so thrilled with the responses in the comments section of yesterday's contest post that they have upped the ante by offering a total of five prize packages.

If you haven't yet entered the giveaway, click here to visit the post, read the rules, and put in your entry. And if you have already entered, your chances of winning are much better. You have until 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, January 30th to leave your comment with an idea of how you'd use your copy of HanDBase.

Good luck, and keep sending in those creative ideas.

Mark/Space has added another member to their rapidly growing family of iPhone file transfer applications. The new baby in the family is Fliq Tasks, which joins Fliq for Mac and Windows, Fliq Notes, and Fliq for iPhone.

As with Fliq for iPhone and Fliq Notes, Fliq Tasks is available in the App Store for free (click opens iTunes). Mark/Space is providing their iPhone applications for free, while charging for the Mac and Windows "host" software. Fliq for Mac and Fliq for Windows are available for US$19.95 (US$49.95 for a 3-pack) each.

If you want to transfer files between iPhones over a Wi-Fi network, all you need are the free iPhone apps. When you add the functionality of transferring information to and from your Mac or PC, you'll have to purchase the desktop applications.

Fliq Tasks is a full-featured task manager with big, clear, and easy-to-use interface similar to that found in Fliq Notes. Tasks can be listed by name, date due, category, and priority. You can add categories to better match them to your requirements, and there's a simple setting to hide completed tasks. Using the soon-to-be-released Fliq 1.1 for Mac or Windows, you'll be able to send or receive tasks from your iPhone to your big computer.

Current Fliq users should be sure to give Fliq Tasks a try, and the price is definitely right. Check out the mini-gallery below for more screenshots.

Apple has just updated the firmware for the iPhone and the iPod touch to 2.2.1. The list (at least for the iPod touch) looks like it is mostly bug fixes and stability improvements, but we're still searching for a full list of all the changes.

You can upgrade your phone or iPod's firmware by selecting, "check for updates" in iTunes.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

We had such a great response to our Six iPhone Games still worth playing that we decided to do a follow up. In this post, I'm going to tell you about 5 new iPhone games that are new, and look very promising.

Trivial ($4.99 each)
If you are a fan of trivia then you will love Trivial [iTunes link]. Trivial is interesting because it is not just one application -- it is actually a collection of six iPhone applications that together create a set of trivia games. There's an app for History, Movies, Pop Culture, Sciences, Sports, and Technology. Each Trivial app includes thousands of different questions that will tax your brain into thinking of the correct answer.

Trivial includes two great ways of playing the game: single player, or networked. In single player mode, you are able to choose between four different game types: Endless, Endurance, 100 Questions, and Timeless. Endless keeps throwing questions at you until you can't handle it any longer. Endurance will test your knowledge and reaction time by allowing you to answer questions until you get one wrong -- when you get one right, the scoring is based on how quickly you answered. 100 Questions allows you to answer a hundred questions in a row to see how many you get right. Timeless gives you the same great Trivial game without having to worry about the clock ticking. There is even an online score board that allows you to post your scores and compete against other Trivial players.

Playing a game of Trivial over the network is absolutely amazing. Handshake (an app by the same company) is the technology that powers Trivial's networked play feature. When you tap "Multiplayer" you have the ability to either host a new game or join a game that someone else set up. In addition, you can play against the computer. Joining a game is as simple as being in the same vicinity as the person you're playing against (the app uses Core Location to find your location using GPS/Cell Triangulation) or typing in someone's handle. You can easily choose any name you want under the "Settings."

In addition to all this, the application also includes several Pixel-licious themes to choose from (my favorite is Corkboard and Electronic Glow). The music in the game is also just too cool ... the pace of the music will change based on the difficulty of the question. If Trivia is your thing, this is a must-have. You can check out Trivial on the iTunes App Store -- each version is available for $4.99US each. My personal favorite versions is Trivial Science and Trivial Technology.




I Love Virus ($1.99)
I Love Virus: no really, I do. No, not those new Mac trojans, but the new iPhone game. The premise of the game is to follow a "young virus-in-training" as it makes its way through mazes and obstacles. The game is basically a cooler mixture of Dig Dug and Pac-Man.

As you move throughout the course you will receive different power-ups and abilities, some of which include the ability to eat enemies or speed up. There are over 30 different levels, each with their own styling. There are also three game modes (selectable in the settings): Regular, Clones Everywhere!, and Enemies Can Use Speed Power-ups -- each of these different types of game play can drastically change the the game.

You move the virus around by sliding your finger up/down/left/right to move throughout the maze. Since reviewing, an update has been issued to the App Store to allow the virus to move faster, it can also expand and contract when the virus accepts input. There is also better artwork. You can check out I Love Virus in the iTunes App Store for just $1.99US -- and that price will buy you several hours of gameplay.




Continue reading for more iPhone games worth checking out.

One of the first applications I used and enjoyed on my iPhone, Sketches, has updated to version 1.5. New in this version is the ability to change the alpha settings for colors (so you can change the opacity of the drawings you make on photos you take), and an edit mode for the corkboard view, to rearrange your drawings with. Additionally, they've moved uploaded photos off of a third-party server and onto their own page, so (for right now, anyway) no ads to get in the way. Not new in this app: a quality, fun, and surprisingly robust photo and image editor designed for the iPhone.

We've heard from the devs that there is a version 2 on the way as well, and both this version and that one are free to anyone who's purchased the app. But if you haven't picked it up yet, it is available for $4.99 over on the App Store, well worth it if you often take and share pictures with your iPhone.

Many intense hurricanes in the last five years have caused tremendous damage to the the Gulf Coast and eastern US, so interest in keeping a constant eye on tropical storms has definitely increased. Last August, TUAW covered AccuWeather's tropical storm tracker for iPhone. While this information is part of the overall weather coverage available from AccuWeather, there's a recently updated iPhone app that is focused solely at hurricane watchers.

The aptly-titled Hurricane (click opens iTunes) from Kitty Code, LLC is chock-full of hurricane data. Not only do you get up-to-the minute info on tropical storms gone bad, but you can also look at historical information and storm tracks for just about every storm that has been recorded since 1851.

Hurricane first appeared in the App Store in October of 2008, and a recent update has added many more features that will be useful when the 2009 National Weather Service Hurricane Season officially kicks off on June 1st. Click the Read More link to see the details.

Our friends at Joystiq make a very insightful and very telling discovery: the iPhone more or less owns the finalist list for the 2009 Independent Games Festival Mobile category. 11 of the 14 contestants aren't on the Nintendo DS or PSP -- they're built and played on the iPhone and the iPod touch. The popular Fieldrunners and Igloo Games' Dizzy Bee are standouts, but even innovative games like Galcon and the pseudogame experience Ruben and Lullaby are being honored with nods.

Very, very telling -- the relatively low cost of entry into the App Store and the versatility of Apple's SDK makes the iPhone/iPod touch a dream platform for independent game developers, and clearly, even with less than a year of development time, Apple's handheld is making a big splash in the industry. Sure, there's still a few pricing hiccups that need to be worked out to get bigger developers on board in a big way, but for smaller and single person independent game developers, there's never been a better platform on which to make and market your games.

Back in November, we treated TUAW readers to a full review of HanDBase from DDH Software. HanDBase is a full relational database for the iPhone and iPod touch platforms, and it's easy to set it up to keep track of just about everything in your life.

DDH Software and TUAW have joined forces to let a lucky TUAW reader win a copy of HanDBase for iPhone plus their choice of either the PC Desktop and Desktop Conduit, or the Mac Desktop and the upcoming Desktop Conduit for Mac. You can read about the different versions of HanDBase here.

What do you need to do to enter? Just leave a comment with your idea for a database that you'd create with HanDBase on your iPhone or iPod touch. Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your creative answers!

• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
• To enter leave a comment telling us what kind of database you'd create with HanDBase on your iPhone or iPod touch.
  
• The comment must be left before January 30, 11:59PM Eastern Time.
• You may enter only once.
• One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
• Prize: Promo code for free copy of HanDBase for iPhone ($9.99), and winner's choice of either the PC Desktop ($9.99) and Conduit ($14.99), or the Mac Desktop ($9.99) and upcoming Mac conduit ($14.99).
  
• Click Here for complete Official Rules.