The problem it appears is in the way that Apple’s Mobile Safari handles Adobe PDF documents, as the browser is designed to automatically open such files, there are fears that a hacker could embed a malicious code in the file.

Apple say that the company is well aware of the reports and the threat involved and are currently investigating the problem.

Mobile experts have suggested that the only way of preventing Mobile Safari from automatically opening PDF files is by jailbreaking a phone and installing an application, called PDF Loading Warner, that then asks for permission every time the browser tries to open a PDF file.

Some have even suggested installing an alternative browser such as the much lauded Opera Mini, although no-one can be clear on whether this would solve the problem completely as they had not been checked for exploits.

It would appear that the only real option is to wait for Apple to offer a fix to the problem, although the iPhone company have been slow to respond with fixes to the mobile browser in the past.

It opens up the debate as to whether smartphones would benefit from having their own security or anti virus programme in place, many have argued that there is no need for such measures with the current OS that are being used.

Although I am not an expert on internet security we are warned on a daily basis of the vulnerability of our PCs to attacks and to this end there are numerous free antivirus downloads for computers.

While there are now some anti virus software developed for mobile devices, there does seem a split in opinion as to whether mobile users actually need such programmes.

It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has their own experiences on this subject.

PitchPerfect Guitar Tuner App for Apple iPhone

NCH Software has announced the release of its TempoPerfect Metronome Software application for the Apple iPhone. Together with PitchPerfect Guitar Tuner, which will be available for the iPhone soon, NCH is offering two essential utilities for musicians everywhere.

TempoPerfect is free metronome software for keeping a clear and precise beat. Metronomes are essential for keeping time, improving practice sessions, and for developing a consistent rhythmic feel. TempoPerfect allows musicians to accurately set the correct beats per minute (BPM) for any tempo, and comes with a BPM reference chart for tempo markings from largo, to allegro, to prestissimo. Additional features allow you to subdivide beat patterns to hear tricky patterns like triplets, or accent the first beat in a measure when working in difficult time signatures.

PitchPerfect is an easy-to-use, free guitar tuner that eliminates the need of tuning a guitar by ear and will greatly improve the intonation of your guitar’s sound.  And while PitchPerfect is great for guitar players, it also includes presets for tuning cello, double bass, fiddle, mandolin, ukulele, viola and violin. Most instruments have several tunings available, so no matter which stringed instrument you play or what style of music, you will know your instrument is in tune. Simply play the string you want to tune to see if you are sharp, flat, or in perfect pitch. PitchPerfect is also an excellent tool for checking fret board intonation.

PitchPerfect is now available for Windows, Mac, Pocket PC and SmartPhone.

TempoPerfect is also available for Windows, Pocket PC and SmartPhone.

The smaller, lighter version of the iPhone has excited Apple fans across the globe and many of those queueing to purchase the iPhone 4 in London had travelled from far and wide.

Apple have promised better mobile reception on the new device thanks to a stainless steel case that acts as the antenna. The new phone also includes a larger battery and improved display giving the device more talk time.

Also the camera has been updated for the new model, increasing to 5 megapixel in line with most top end mobile devices and including a flash for the first time.

One area where Apple may have to act swiftly is sorting out the latest OS system iOS4, as there has been much adverse internet dialogue from users having serious problems upgrading.

Supermarket chain Tesco are among the many outlets offering the iPhone from today, here is a copy of their tarriffs.

The malicious game is called “3D Anti-Terrorist Action” and it is manufactured by Beijing Huike Technology in China.

After being downloaded, the malicious game installer can be identified by the file name antiterrorist3d.cab (we have also seen a variant of it called codeckpack.cab).

For further information on this latest threat to Smartphone users, visit the CA Internet Intelligence Security web site, who offer practical advice on how to remove the Trojan from infected devices.

The Twitter app has been designed by Alex Morris with the aim of making the management and viewing of Twitter lists on the iPhone very simple. Something that iPhone twitterers have been crying out for.

The iPhone Twitter app enables:

Twitter lists help to organise ever-expanding follow lists into easily manageable groups. Keep separate lists for friends, celebrities, colleagues or whomever else – making sure those important tweets are never missed.

View a single stream of tweets from lists created, or quickly jump straight to an individual’s tweet to see everything they’ve tweeted.

Innercircle allows users to create and maintain Twitter lists wherever they are with a super efficient list manager. Adding a user to a list is as simple as touching their name in their main follow list.

Easily add new lists or build on existing lists that are viewable inside Innercircle and on Twitter.com.

 Lists can be private and just for the user, or left open to share with the world.

Innercircle supports multiple twitter accounts, the ability to author tweets, RT and follow/unfollow members, yfrog image upload and inline webpage viewing.

The elegant user interface makes full use of familiar iPhone design patterns to provide a familiar and efficient user experience and one of the most seamless integrations with twitter lists on any platform.

Enable Interactive’s Twitter iPhone app is available to download at the Apple store

tapulous

iPhone application developer Tapulous says that its Tap Tap Revenge game series has been installed on over twenty million phones and has been played more than 600 million times, with sales approaching $1 million per month.

Tapulous, who employ just twenty staff, provide all the evidence needed to see the growing demand for applications for the iPhone and clearly demonstrate the growing success of start-up companies designing programs for Apples iPhone and other mobile devices.

Apple have over 50 million users of iPhones and iPod touches, which is a massive market to tap into and experts are predicting growth in mobile apps in the next two years will match that recently seen by gaming sites such as Zynga, Playfish and Playdom.

Tapulous generates income from the sale of some games and selling advertising and songs through its games, the company is funded by an input of  $2.8million through investors and venture capital groups.

three generations of iPhone

Supermarket giant Tesco are the latest in a line of companies that have announced they will be offering Apple’s iPhone for sale in the UK, the superstore says that it is hoping to offer the phone “in time for Christmas.”

In September it was announced that O2 would no longer be the exclusive sales agent in the UK for the iPhone, despite having sole rights since the introduction of the smartphone in 2007.

Other service providers Orange and Vodafone quickly signed deals to allow them to sell the mobiles through their own networks, although Vodafone will not be offering the product until early 2010. Orange, who have  already started selling the touchscreen, said it sold more than 30,000 handsets on the first day of offering the phone.

Tesco Mobile is a joint venture with O2 and offers both pay as you go and contract phones via its retail outlets and online, they have around 2 million existing customers. Tesco has yet to announce tariff details for the phone, but said that its prices would be competitive.

nokia to sue apple

The World’s biggest phone maker, Nokia say that they are suing Apple for infringements of patents on mobile phone technology used to develop the iPhone. Nokia claim that unlike other manufacturers who use Nokia technology through a signed contractual agreement, Apple have never actually signed up.

Nokia say that they have agreements in place with around forty companies allowing them to use Nokia technology, mostly hand set manufacturers, but Apple have not signed an agreement.

According to Nokia the iPhone infringes ten patents including wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption, with breaches dating back to the launch of the iPhone in 2007.

Nokia said:

“The basic principle in the mobile industry is that those companies who contribute in technology development to establish standards create intellectual property, which others then need to compensate for, Apple is also expected to follow this principle.”

Over £36bn has been spent on research and development over the last two years by Nokia, but the recent financial crisis has seen a fall in sales resulting in the company posting their first quarterly loss in ten years.

Critics believe that poor sales are down to people switching from Nokia hand sets to iPhone and Blackberry devices, which may have prompted the alleged law suit.

iPhone 3G

According to reports, Orange along with T-Mobile, will be selling the iPhone 3G handset from September in a bid to boost sales.  However, it is believed that only the older models will be available to other networks, with O2 exclusively holding the newer faster versions.

Coincidentally, this is happening around the same time that Apple’s two-year partnership with 02 ends.  This of course, is still unconfirmed.

Up until now, customers have been forced to go with the over-subscribed network of 02 for their handset preference, but maybe now their is a light at the end of the tunnel, or maybe not!  For those of you who signed up for the 18-month contract, you’re likely to find yourselves stuck with it until the end before you can upgrade.

iPhone Apps for Small Business

I have just read an impressive list of 100 iPhone Apps for small businesses in the UK.

The iPhone small business mobile phone apps 100 is listed on Earn Accounting Degree and includes links to download each mobile app.  It is a great ‘one-stop’ shop for anyone who owns and uses an iPhone for business purposes, rather than entertainment.

The list categorises the business iPhone mobile apps under the following headings:

travel, calendars, to-do lists, accounting, customer relations, security, calculators and converters, office tools and notes, human resources and networking, meetings and communications, reference, niche business tools and miscellaneous.

This is perfect for any business person on the move who now finds he cannot be without a mobile office.