It started with a constant and reproducible crash of the MDCrashReportTool. The following sequence causes the crash:

1. Launch iTunes 7.7.1
2. Connect the 3G iPhone
3. This error comes up:

Next, I’ve had random errors when iTunes tries to update programs to newer versions. This is only one screen shot of the three I’ve seen so far in the last week.

Lastly, when there are app updates some apps will display multiple times on the App Update Screen in iTunes. Unfortunately, I didn’t grab a screen shot of this so I’ll have to wait until another app update is available.

All of this leaves me impatiently waiting for iTunes v7.7.2 which (hopefully) will “includes fixes to improve stability and performance” as Apple stated in the release notes for v7.7.1.

- Al Degutis

• Flashlight (a free version), FlatLux and MyLite – all free
  Both are trying to steal market share away from the $1.99 Flashlight app mentioned in the previous post.
• SimStapler – Freeverse, Inc – Free
  The first true office equipment simulator, SimStapler© brings all of the thrill and excitement of a “real” stapler right to your computer screen! Until now, the dream of stapling without a stapler remained just that, a dream. Only with the latest advances in virtual reality technologies has that dream become a true reality! Today, anyone with a multi-thousand dollar Macintosh computer, color monitor, keyboard and mouse, can enjoy the act of virtually stapling, without the expense and bother of a “real” stapler.

• Banner Free - Masayuki Akamatsu – Free
  Banner is a LED-matrix-like display which you can put on any message.

• Who is Hot? – Weather Underground – Free
  Discover who your fair weather friends are. Instantly check the current weather for all of your friends and family in your contacts. View a list of your contacts alongside current temperatures and general conditions for each person’s home location – whatever corner of the world they live in.

• Midomi – Melodis Corp – Free
  midomi mobile – The ultimate music search and discovery. Search for music in four different ways: 1) sing or hum, 2) say the song name or artist, 3) type a song or artist, 4) grab by holding your phone to a speaker playing music.
  We tried this over the weekend using music from XM satellite on DirectTV and by singing or humming. The only song it was able recognize using this method was my 3 year old grandson singing Sesame Street. Guess he has a better voice than the actual artists.

Highly Recommended by me:

• Pandora Radio – Pandora Media – Free
  Pandora Radio is your own FREE personalized radio now available to stream music on your iPhone. Just start with the name of one of your favorite artists, songs or classical composers and Pandora will create a “station” that plays their music and more music like it.

• Remote – Apple – Free
  Be a mobile DJ. With Remote, you can control the music on your computer or Apple TV from your iPod Touch or iPhone. Play, pause, skip, shuffle. See your songs, playlists, and album art on your iPod Touch or iPhone as if you were right in front of your computer.
  I set this up an was able to access and control iTunes on my iMac and Judy’s Windows XP PC. Very Cool.

Many other odd/interesting apps are currently available and popping up, so this is just a little taste. Latest app I’m playing with: AirMe (camera, with tagging, geotagging and uploader to Flickr; also free).

- Al Degutis

Who is the iPhone for?
Answer the following questions:

• Do you use social services like Twitter, FriendFeed, Brightkite, etc.?
• Do you like to quickly and easily send photos to an online photo sharing account such as Flickr?
• Do you crave the freedom to check e-mail and surface the web at any time?
• Do you want e-mail and webpages to be readable in the small form-factor of a phone?
• Do you want a device that can install a plethora of mobile applications and games?
• Does the idea of automated geotagging excite you?
• Are you into technology or are you gadget freak?

If you answered “yes” to at least half of the above questions then the iPhone, either the original iPhone, the 3G version (again be aware of its hungry power consumption) or the iPod Touch are devices you should consider. The original (non-3G) iPhone is would the bes choice for the average consumer.

The iPhone is not just a phone, or just a smartphone. As ReadWriteWeb explains, it’s The New Personal Computer.

-Al Degutis

-Al