iPhone News Updated

500pc increase in demand for iPhone app programmers

The demand for iPhone programming jobs has skyrocketed by 500pc over the past six months as the iPhone Software Developer Kit (SDK) creates a brand new marketplace.

The success of the iPhone has taken everyone by surprise, and certainly Apple CEO Steve Jobs after he revealed that 10 million of the devices have been sold so far.

In August, he announced that iPhone users have downloaded more than 60 million applications from iTunes since they went on sale with the launch of the iPhone on 11 July.

Jobs said while most of the applications are free, users paid on average US$1m a day for those which are not – yielding Apple an impressive US$30m in sales within the App Store’s first month of trading. Jobs predicted that if this continues, Apple will crest US$360m a year in new revenue from apps.

According to oDesk, an IT skills outsourcing provider, demand for iPhone programming jobs has skyrocketed by 50pc over the past six months.

“Apple’s introduction of the 3G iPhone and the iPhone 2.0 platform has driven global demand for oDesk’s highly qualified freelance iPhone developers,” said oDesk CEO, Gary Swart.

“The App Store and Apple iPhone SDK have created a whole new marketplace that oDesk is best able to serve.”

For the period from March through September 2008, the oDesk trends show an increase from under 30 to over 140 jobs per month for iPhone app developers, iPhone SDK engineers, and other iPhone programming and consulting jobs working in the ‘oDesk oConomy’ network of providers from the US, Russia, India, Ukraine, China, and 100 other countries.

“There is a huge demand for iPhone developers and people are quickly learning iPhone development,” reported Adeem Basra, founder of one of oDesk’s highly ranked iPhone development companies, based in Lahore, Pakistan.

Basra’s start-up has hired five additional iPhone programmers. “The demand picked up after July 2008. I believe we are still way under capacity,” Basra said.

oDesk has introduced a qualification test to help employers select the best certified professionals for their projects and jobs. The qualification test is available free of charge to all registered oDesk providers.

Embeddable widgets of the oDesk Trends covering nearly a hundred key job skills and roles will be available soon to industry websites, business publications and media covering IT jobs and outsourcing.

By John Kennedy
http://www.siliconrepublic.com

Review: Griffin PowerDuo for iPhone and iPod Touch

Sometimes just having the default sync cable is not enough. If you use an iPhone 3G, that sucker’s battery dies very fast and waiting till you get home/work to charge it just doesn’t cut it in certain situations. So, I have been on a quest, a quest to find a great car charger that can double as a general charging/syncing cable. Well, I think I have found it, the Griffin PowerDuo!

Design

The Griffin PowerDuo is comprised of three parts: the power block, USB cable and cigarette/12V accessory charger. Let’s first look at the power block.

The power block is solid with retractable blades that fold flush into its body. Nothing quite beats the size of the new iPhone 3G’s power block, but the blades on the PowerDuo are hidden within the body, preventing them from possibly bending or breaking, adding value.

The 12V cigarette/accessory charger works as advertised. You simply pop it in to the 12V port in your vehicle and it charges the iPhone. What is particularly great about this adapter is that it has a fuse that can be replaced should the charger go bad due to some sort of surge… very cool.

Finally, the last peice of the puzzle, the USB cord. This cord is very versitle; it has the iPod 30-pin connector on one end and a standard USB male connector on the other. This allows you to use the cable in a few different combinations:

• 30-pin connector–>USB–>computer
• 30-pin connector–>USB–>power block
• 30-pin connector–>USB–>12v adapter

Daily Use

My routine with the iPhone goes something like this: I get up in the AM and sync my iPhone and check for any app updates. During this time it charges in the dock. Often, this does not give me a full charge due to lack of charging throughout the day. Next, I hop in my car and as I drive to work I use the 12V accessory charger component. I drive about 45 minutes to work, and by the time I get to work, the iPhone is fully charged (I also make the most of my time and listen to awesome podcasts such as the Phone Different Podcast while it is charging).

Once I arrive at work I use the device during the day with 3G on (yeah, no accessible Wi-Fi for the Chadman at work I am afraid… something to do with security…). So, as needed I can then charge my iPhone two ways; either by plugging the iPhone into my HP laptop with the supplied USB cable, or plugging the USB cable into the power block and plug it into the wall.

After work, on the ride home, it is the reverse of my morning; I charge in the car as needed.

Pros

• Power block blades fold flat for storage
• Works with AC outlets from 100V to 240V
• 12V car charger works in your vehicle’s cigarette lighter or 12V accessory socket
• Has replacable fuse to protect from surges (NICE!!!)
• LEDs change color for charging status at a glance

Cons

• The PowerBlock is large, could be smaller

Overall

I can’t recommend this combination enough. I very pleased with the quality and versatility of this accessory, and I can proudly say I use it every day.

[Thanks: http://www.theiphoneblog.com]