By YURI KAGEYAMA – 3 hours ago

TOKYO (AP) — A prestigious Japanese university is giving away hundreds of iPhones, in part to use its Global Positioning System to nab students that skip class.

Truants in Japan often fake attendance by getting friends to answer roll-call or hand in signed attendance cards. That’s verging on cheating since attendance is a key requirement for graduation here.

Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo is giving Apple Inc.’s iPhone 3G to 550 students in its School of Social Informatics, which studies the use of Internet and computer technology in society.

The gadget will work as a tool for studies, but it also comes with GPS, a satellite navigation system that automatically checks on its whereabouts. The university plans to use that as a way check attendance.

Students who skip class could still fake attendance by giving their iPhone to a friend who goes to class. But youngsters aren’t likely to lend their mobile phones, which are packed with personal information and e-mail, according to the university.

U.S. universities use the iPhone for various, other purposes. At Stanford University, students have developed iPhone applications in a course. At Duke University, the gadget is used to get around the campus and find information about course listings and other events.

Aoyama Gakuin signed a deal earlier this month with Softbank Corp., the exclusive vendors of the iPhone in Japan.

The number of students using the iPhone is expected to reach 1,000 in the program — the first time the iPhone is being used on such a scale at a Japanese university.

The iPhone will be used to relay course materials, lecture videos and tests. The university hopes students will develop software applications and other lifestyle uses for the cell phone.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

guardian.co.uk

We’ve already had the iPhone band, so it was only a matter of time before creative professionals started doing impressive things with the rest of the iPhone app family.

Monday’s edition of the New Yorker magazine has a cover made entirely on the iPhone Brushes app in just one hour by artist Jorge Colombo. There’s more of his work for sale on 20×200.

Using another app called Brushes Viewer, Colombo made a video of the painting process. He told the New Yorker the app allowed him to work in the dark, which wasn’t possible without a torch before, and that it was more discreet that getting out his sketchpad because people assumed he was checking his emails.

“Colombo’s phone drawing is very much in the tradition of a certain kind of New Yorker cover, and he doesn’t see the fact that it’s a virtual finger painting as such a big deal. “Imagine twenty years ago, writing about these people who are sending these letters on their computer.” But watching the video playback has made him aware that how he draws a picture can tell a story, and he’s hoping to build suspense as he builds up layers of color and shape.”

Today I read about a free iPhone app called Email ‘n Walk. There are tons of iPhone apps out there, of course, many of them for free or super cheap. But this one caught my eye, in an oh-no-they-didn’t kind of way. The app’s goal is to make it possible for you to see the ground you’re walking on (via the iPhone’s camera) as you type an e-mail on your iPhone and walk at the same time.

No word yet when this app will automatically cause the iPhone to ring as you approach an open manhole cover. While we wait for that functionality to be added, let’s move on to three iPhone apps I actually find useful, especially for mobile professionals and other frequent travelers.

1. Jott

I’ve raved about Jott before. Reason: It’s one of the most useful productivity tools for those times when you’re on the go. And the iPhone app is a nice complement to the service.

In a nutshell, the Jott Assistant service ($4 to $13 monthly; $7 for 5 minutes in a pay-as-you-go plan) allows you to create a quick voice memo to yourself, or to someone in your contacts, over the phone. The message is quickly, and most often accurately, transcribed and sent to you (or others) as an e-mail or text message. Jott lets you maintain to-do lists, add appointments to your Microsoft Outlook or Google calendar, create a Twitter tweet, and a lot more–all by phone.

The free Jott iPhone app puts an easy-to-use interface on the Jott Assistant service. You can start a new voice recording with just a couple of taps on the screen, for instance, which is ideal if you’re moving around. I subscribe to the $4 monthly Jott Assistant plan, and I highly recommend it, though I wish you could leave messages longer than 15 seconds. (For that, you have to upgrade to the $13 monthly plan, which feels a bit too pricey for me.)

2. WiFi Directory

Frankly, none of the Wi-Fi hot spot finder iPhone apps I’ve tried do a consistently fantastic job. But WiFi Directory ($2) is fairly comprehensive and relatively up-to-date, which is more than I can say for JiWire’s free Wi-Fi Finder app.

Both apps use your current GPS location to show you a list of nearby hot spots. Of course, you can get this information just by opening your iPhone’s Settings, clicking Wi-Fi, and viewing the list of available networks. However, WiFi Directory also shows you at a glance which nearby Wi-Fi hot spots are free, which is the main reason why I rely on this app when sniffing out a wireless connection on the go.

3. White Noise Lite

I’ve become addicted to falling asleep to white noise. It’s soothing, and it blocks out ambient sounds. I’m especially in need of my white noise when on a plane (I’ve got to block the sounds of the inevitable screeching toddler) or staying in a hotel. The free White Noise Lite does the trick for me.

The app comes with ten sounds, some of which I love (White Noise and Oscillating Fan), and a few of which I loathe (someone stop that tick-tocking Grandfather Clock!). There’s also a White Noise Lite Storm Edition (99 cents), which lets you control the volume level of various storm elements (wind, rain, and thunder), and White Noise ($2), which offers more sounds, such as Cat Purring, Frogs, Pink Noise (seriously!), and Brown Noise (I don’t want to know).

Your Favorites?

Aside from games and entertainment apps, what are the iPhone apps you can’t live without? Which ones make your life easier on the go?

macrumors.com

According to AreaMobile.de, T-Mobile Austria briefly began advertising the “iPhone 32GB” on their website but was quickly corrected.

Meanwhile, MacTalk.com.au reports that according to their sources, Vodafone has sent out an email to retail staff indicating that the 16GB iPhone has been marked “end of life” by their supplier.

With WWDC just weeks away, these could represent legitimate leaks pointing to an imminent iPhone refresh.

arstechnica.com

Users may soon be able to download a variety of video content directly to an iPhone or iPod touch, according to an ad that supposedly appeared in an iPhone app. We’re not so sure of the story behind this one, though the feature would certainly be nice.

New screenshots supposedly reveal that Apple is in the process of readying the iTunes Store interface for the iPhone to allow direct download access to movies, TV shows, and music videos. The new capability would be an added convenience for the increasing number of people who watch video on a mobile device, but holes in the story have us holding off on the excitement for now.

The screenshots, posted by Kwame Jones and supposedly sourced from an anonymous “geeky friend,” show a toolbar for accessing a list of featured TV shows, movies, and music videos. It also shows places to add artwork for featured movies and TV shows. A progression of UI details added throughout the day suggests the feature is still being developed by iTunes Store developers.

The anonymous friend allegedly discovered the iTunes Store links from an ad that appeared in the Twitter client Twitterfon, which apparently advertised the ability to access the content. Apple may be limiting access to devices running iPhone OS 3.0 beta, as we were unable to verify any of the content shown by the sceenshots in iTunes.app on iPhone OS 2.2.1. It may also explain why Jones’ friend feared “the powerful arms of the Apple legal department.”

The main reason we are skeptical of this story is because of how this content was discovered. It’s highly unlikely that Apple would run ads for such a feature through a network like AdMob—since when does Apple advertise its TV and movie services in anything less than premium spots online? Also, it’s unlikely that Apple would create an ad like that this far in advance, knowing that non-Apple-employees have a high likelihood of seeing it. This behavior seems extremely un-Apple-like.

Suspending our disbelief for a moment, having access to movies and TV directly from the iPhone would be an added convenience for users. Currently, the only way to get iTunes Store video content on an iPhone or iPod touch is by downloading it via iTunes on your computer and syncing with your device. This on-the-go access would come in handy, for instance, when you find yourself in a long wait and want to catch up on the latest episode of Dollhouse.

online.wsj.com

A legal battle over iPhone application software appears to have ended almost as soon as it began.

A lawyer representing Cartier International N.V. late Friday said it is withdrawing a suit the company filed earlier in the day against Apple Inc. The suit alleged that two applications for the iPhone infringed on the trademark for the luxury brand’s Tank watches.

The applications have been removed from Apple’s App Store. “Our concerns have been addressed,” said Jonathan Lagarenne, the attorney for Fox Rothschild LLD representing Cartier.

An Apple spokeswoman said it had been informed that Cartier was withdrawing the suit.

Cartier’s short-lived complaint was not the first about software offered though Apple’s App Store. Last month, Apple was hit by a complaint from child welfare groups for allowing the sale of a game, in which players try to silence a crying baby by shaking the phone. Apple removed the game and apologized.

Cartier is a brand of luxury-goods maker Compagnie Financiere Richemont SA.

Write to Don Clark at don.clark@wsj.com

guardian.co.uk

Chatting to journalism students is always an eye-opener, because, despite the enthusiasm and the clear commitment to their career, there’s very often a rather romantic view of an industry that doesn’t really exist any more. It’s a world of smokey bars and clattering Fleet Street typewriters battling against a daily deadline, or, very often, a rather glamorous late night gig review by awannabe music journo.

The reality, of course, is very different. Even without the economy nosediving, the news industry was in a generational crisis of its own, but there are still new opportunities. Community management, user interface design, crowdsourcing, data mining and investigation on top of writing and reporting from a traditional skills base but with an outlook and construction that suits the web. And all of those demand a curiosity in and an appetite for exploring new technology. You don’t have to be a technophile, but I do think a natural curiosity and openmindedness should be part of being a journalist.

As the Guardian’s editor in chief Alan Rusbridger has said – look at the technology journalists to see how the rest of the industry will be working several years down the line.

At the oldest journalism school in the US, students are to be asked to provide an iPhone or iPod Touch as part of the curriculum. It’s the first time a specific electronic device has been included as a mandatory requirement at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, and though the decision was voted in by 40 to 9 of the faculty’s staff, it has proved slightly controversial.

Between 85-90% of students have devices anyway, so the argument that students will face an extra financial burden is slightly redundant, but the controversy was an endorsement of a particularly manufacturer – until the school clarified that a Microsoft Zune or Blackberry would suffice.

“It’s like asking an engineer to buy a calculator,” Brian Brooks, associate dean for undergraduate studies, told the AP. “We are doing this requirement solely to benefit our students’ learning.”

What will the students be using the iPhone or iPod for, according to the school? Listening to podcast lectures, watching course-related video outside classroom time and using the web to research stories on the ground. Not a radical implementation, and the $229 cost is equivalent to two or three substantial text books, but a signpost for the importance of technology to the journalism profession. Let’s hope there’s an app development course on offer too.

reuters.com

By Jim Finkle and David Lawsky

NEW YORK (Reuters) – NetSuite Inc’s (N.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) business is looking up and the software maker is preparing to launch its first application for Apple Inc’s (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) iPhone, Chief Executive Zach Nelson said on Wednesday.

Nelson told the Reuters Global Technology Summit in New York on Wednesday that he feels “a lot better” about NetSuite’s business now than he did in the first quarter, as more customers are now following through on commitments to sign subscriptions for NetSuite’s Web-based software.

“Q2 feels a lot better,” he said. “The tone is positive.”

Nelson added, “The good news is that the customers who said they were going to buy, did buy. That’s always a good sign.”

NetSuite will soon introduce its first software for the iPhone, giving customers easy access to a suite of products that help companies manage areas including accounting, marketing, inventory and Web commerce.

Nelson said the company is also in talks with Apple to devise campaigns to market the software, including possibly posting sales reps at some of the electronics maker’s retail outlets to promote NetSuite’s products.

Customers will be able to download the software over Apple’s App Store following the new program’s introduction in the third quarter, Nelson said.

Pleasanton, California-based NetSuite is the world’s second-largest publicly held provider of hosted software as a service, or SaaS, after Salesforce.com Inc (CRM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz). The company was founded by Oracle Corp (ORCL.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) CEO Larry Ellison.

SaaS subscription services have gained popularity over the past few years as it saves companies up-front costs of buying software and computers to run it along with the need to hire staff to maintain it.

ELLISON CONNECTION

At the summit, Nelson said he was “very comfortable” with NetSuite’s earnings forecasts for the second quarter and the full year. Business was stronger in April than in March, building on improvement compared with January and February, he said.

Nelson also said his company’s non-GAAP gross margin is running at about 70 percent, and he predicted it will stay at that level for about two years before it may increase.

NetSuite sells business software for small and medium-sized companies, though it is trying to expand to divisions of larger corporations. It has a wide range of rivals, include Intuit Inc (INTU.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Sage Group Plc (SGE.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Salesforce.com and SAP AG (SAPG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

Another competitor is Ellison’s Oracle.

Over the past year Nelson has increasingly focused on the corporate market, which is Oracle’s sweet spot. His pitch to heads of divisions at big companies is that they will save money if they use NetSuite instead of competing products from Oracle or its arch rival SAP

NetSuite even offers a line of software dubbed “SuiteCloud” to make it easier for corporate divisions to roll up their financial data from NetSuite into parent computer systems using Oracle or

SAP.

With the two software makers potentially going after the same clients, some investors had raised concerns about conflicts of interest prior to NetSuite’s initial public offering in December 2007.

Ellison responded by putting his majority stake in NetSuite in a “lockbox” company — an arrangement that bars him from exercising any shareholder voting rights unless it is related to the sale of the company.

Nelson, who worked directly for Ellison as Oracle’s marketing chief early on in his career, said the two speak occasionally.

“He rarely calls me, although I will pick up the phone once a quarter, once every six months if I have a question about strategy or what we’re doing in the business to get his pulse on it,” Nelson said.

(For summit blog: blogs.reuters.com/summits/)

(Reporting by Jim Finkle, David Lawsky and Gabriel Madway; Editing by Carol Bishopric, Phil Berlowitz)

venturebeat.com

BlackBerry users pay more for their apps. Lots more. That’s the finding of a new report from Skyhook Wireless, maker of location-based service software. Skyhook’s study found that BlackBerry apps average around $12 each, compared to the popular $2.99 price for an iPhone app, and Damn Cheap for Android apps at less than a dollar average. Most Android apps are completely free.

Skyhook’s study also confirmed the conventional wisdom that users are cycling through apps, buying new ones and abandoning last month’s downloads. ”App usage drops off considerably after the first 14 days of use,” says the report.

Besides price, Skyhook found other major differences among the three most prominent app stores:

• Blackberry App World offers the most expensive and least varied apps.
• Apple sells inexpensive apps across an array of different types.
• Android sits somewhere in the middle, with mostly free apps in a growing variety of categories.

pcmag.com

Here are our favorite games for the iPhone and iPod touch, and most of them cost less than $5.

by Kyle Monson

Everything about the iPhone and the iPod touch makes them ideal casual gaming devices. The accelerometer allows for innovative control styles. The Wi-Fi connectivity lets you play against friends and strangers. The App Store makes it easy to find and download new titles. The popularity of the devices gives game developers an incentive to develop cool games for the platform. And the price of the games themselves makes trying lots of games affordable.

If you want to turn your iPhone or iPod touch into the ultimate gaming machine, we have some game recommendations for you. We’ve played our way through the App Store’s games to find the best 11 downloads, looking for a good mix of different gaming genres. Whether you’re into strategy games, word puzzles, shoot-’em-ups, or even hunting games, there’s something in our list for you. And they’re cheap enough for you to buy every game on the list for just under $40.

DeerHunter 3D ($5.99)
If you’re a fan of arcade hunting games like Big Buck Hunter, you’ll love DeerHunter 3D. The game lets you track deer footprints on your map, and when you get close enough, go in for the kill. Unlock cool extras like a scope for far-away shots, and keep yourself still and your aim true using the Steady button.

Fieldrunners ($2.99)
There are lots of tower-defense-style games in the App Store, but Fieldrunners is my favorite. Install different types of defense towers across the battlefield to keep enemy soldiers, tanks, helicopters, and zeppelins from infiltrating your base.

Flight Control ($0.99)
Think you’ve got what it takes to be an air traffic controller? Flight Control will change your mind about that. The game involves setting flight paths to safely direct jumbo jets to the large runway, smaller prop planes to the airstrip, and helicopters to the helipad. The premise is simple, but the game play is tough.

iFighter ($0.99)
iFighter is a new take on the classic top-down shoot-’em-up, in which you fly your fighter plane through scrolling levels, dodging bullets and taking out the bad guys. What makes the iPhone the perfect platform for this type of game is its accelerometer: Just tilt the phone left, right, forward, and back to maneuver your plane.

iShoot ($1.99)
This turn-based tank battle pits you against other players or the computer in a fight to the death. Each round starts with a shopping spree in which you browse a long list of available weapons and buy the ones that will best blow your opponents to smithereens. Once your arsenal is set, players take turns shooting by calculating the trajectory and velocity needed to hit the other tanks

Need for Speed: Undercover ($9.99)
This is hands-down the best racing game for the iPhone, which is saying something because there are lots of racing games for the iPhone. Like most of them, Need for Speed: Undercover uses your phone’s accelerometer to steer the car, and you use the touch screen to brake or give yourself a nitrous speed boost. The game play is challenging, the cut scenes are beautiful, and there’s even a decent story line to hold your interest.

SimCity ($4.99)
EA has managed to cram an amazing amount of bells and whistles into this mobile version of the classic municipal administration game. The visuals are great, and the strategies and game play hew close to the original SimCity that you remember from 20 years ago.

Texas Hold’em ($4.99)
Apple’s own poker game is one of the best card games in the App Store. Hold your phone vertically to see your opponents’ faces and look for tells as they play, or turn it horizontal to see the whole table and speed the game up a bit.

UniWar ($3.99)
UniWar is a turn-based strategy game that turns interstellar war into a kind of chess match. The goal is to capture your enemy’s bases using an army composed of different types of soldiers and vehicles, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Every level demands a different strategy to win, and you won’t beat it quickly.

Wolfenstein 3D Classic ($1.99)
This game is a throwback to the original Wolfenstein 3D first-person shooter. Honestly, its main appeal might be nostalgia—the graphics and controls are way beneath what the iPhone is capable of—but Wolfenstein is still a fun Nazi-killing romp. (For even more nostalgia, check out Oregon Trail.)

Word Warp ($0.99)
It’s more fun than Bookworm—really! Word Warp gives you six letters and asks you to form as many words as possible from those letters in 2 minutes. I dare you not to get addicted.