Wondering what you may have missed this week in the smartphone world? The Best of SPE is here to ease your mind and get you caught up.

Android Central

As we anxious await the official rollout of Android 1.5 for T-Mobile G1 users, we’re happy to say that if you’re sick of the wait we have instructions for a safe install of cupcake. Meanwhile, the Android Smartphone train keeps on running - though perhaps not quite on time. The Acer A1 should hit in “late 2009,” Motorola’s Android smartphone got dubbed “Morrison” and should hit T-Mobile, and the Samsung Galaxy, nee i7500 hits France in July.

CrackBerry.com

The BlackBerry Leak-Machine worked overtime this week as we saw multiple bits of news hit the Internet. The good folks at Engadget got their hands on the BlackBerry Odin (Storm 2), while CrackBerry.com busted out photos of the BlackBerry Aries. Facebook 1.6 is in the works too - you can find a detailed overview here.

Nokia Experts

Nokia Experts continues to be your best source for learning how to use your E71x, from general Q & A to tips and tricks (including getting rid of some annonying AT&T Bloatware) to running Ovi Maps. We’re also looking forward to the US release of the Nokia N97, which may be as early as June for as little as $600 (or less).

PreCentral.net

We were relieved to finally get the release date and price for the Palm Pre. It’s $199 after rebates, available on June 6th. The device is out there in spots, though, as our own forum members grabbed Palm Pre Hands-on time and we first leaked internal Sprint documents detailing the Pre’s Exchange support. Our Palm Pre Forums are a virtual bazaar of opinions about the Pre and help strategizing launch day tactics, too, so head on over and give them a visit!

The iPhone Blog

Pre-WWDC crazy-time continues with leaks — real and imagined — of next-generation iPhone 32GB from T-Mobile Austria, AT&T, Vodafone Australia, and Rogers Canada. Just what specs will this next gen iPhone have? Consensus seems to have been reached, even if rumors about on-device TV and movie downloads aren’t among them… yet.

TiPb also weighs in on iPhone 3.0 vs. Palm Pre — which should you buy? And, yes, more controversy shook the App Store… on both sides. But hey, at least AT&T is considering lowering their data rates, right?

TreoCentral

For those who enjoy reading eBooks on your Treo/Centro, we learned that Fictionwise is having a anniversary sale for turning 9 years old. Celebrate with Fictionwise and save 30% to 50% on every eBook. Plus, Andre reviewed the Motorola H780 Bluetooth Headset, giving it a 4 out of 5 overall rating.

WMExperts

The long march toward Windows Mobile 6.5 and some new hardware continues. Microsoft’s My Phone sync service moved to an open beta. We got glimpses of the Sprint and Verizon versions of the HTC Touch Pro 2. One of our favorite Twitter clients, Twikini, hit v1.0 (and 1.1). We reviewed the European version of the HTC Touch Diamond 2. The Samsung Epix got a ROM update. Microsoft clarified app sharing in the Marketplace. The Samsung Jack and Touch Diamond 2 made TV appearances. And we gave away an HTC Fuze and Touch Dual.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Best of SPE, 24 May 2009

This time, same as the last time, the initial, stupefying rejection of e-book reader Eucalyptus has been followed up by web outrage and now App Store acceptance. (Can we officially call these the 4 stages of App Store grief’ing now?) From developer Montgomerie’s blog (via Macworld):

Earlier today I received a phone call from an Apple representative. He was very complimentary about Eucalyptus. We talked about the confusion surrounding its App Store rejections, which I am happy to say is now fully resolved. He invited me to re-build and submit a version of Eucalyptus with no filters for immediate approval, and that full version is now available on the iPhone App Store. [$9.99 - iTunes link]

Eucalyptus provides a pretty amazing UI through which to access all the free content at Project Gutenberg. If you enjoy classic literature and drop-dead gorgeous iPhone interaction, check it out and let us know what you think!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Eucalyptus E-Book Reader Now Approved, Available in App Store

Apple Insider picked up a story from The Charlotte Observer that involved a lot of stuff about tax breaks and revitalizing certain counties, but we have to confess, all we really saw was:

Apple building $1 Billion Server Farm

Yeah, that’s like 1 dollar for every app download. Which made us wonder, is this building out and diversifying the location of infrastructure to help support the growth of existing “cloud-based” services like iTunes (including the App Store) and MobileMe, or does Apple have yet more on the agenda?

iTunes and MobileMe took a pounding when Apple released iPhone 2.0 last year. Turning on Push Notification for millions of users this year, never mind pie-in-the-sky future rumors of adding on-device movie and TV downloads for the iPhone will no doubt require the phatest of pipes. Could this also be just the beginning of Apple’s server farm planting as well? Or is it just a much-less-exciting redundant off-site mirror for current Cupertino based systems?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple Building $1 Billion Server Farm in North Carolina?

FLIP Forum Review by llofte. For more Forum Reviews, see the TiPb iPhone App Store Forum Review Index!

If Tetris and Bejeweled were to have a child, they would give birth to FLIP. This is a puzzle game of flipping and tilting your iPhone around to manipulate gems. There are 3 very distinct game modes: standard, puzzle, and speed.

Standard Mode

In standard mode, gems fall one at a time from the top and the objective is to mach like-colored gems by having them touch. Tilting the iPhone left and right moves the falling gems appropriately. These controls are fairly sensitive and it’s easy to move a gem farther than intended. I found that the more vertical I hold the iPhone, the less sensitive the controls tend to be. If you flip the iPhone 90 degrees, all the gems will fall to the new bottom. This is what makes standard mode a true puzzle in my opinion. For example, in the above screenshot, it initially looks like there’s no way to match 4 gems. But if I flip to the right, I will get 4 red gems to match up. This makes the dynamics of the game interesting and challenging. As you progress, the falling speed and the amount of gems you need to match increases. You get bonus points for multiple matches at once called “link combos” and for matching more gems than required for that level. The game ends when a gem is unable to enter the game because the stack is too high.

Puzzle Mode

In this mode, you play through a series of what eBattalion calls “think-puzzles”. Each level begins with multiple distinctly colored gems in a specific location. On the grid, there is a colored square for each gem. The goal is to get the gems to their matching square. When you get a match, the square eats up the gem and turns white like the rest of the grid. You’re given a certain number of allowed flips to complete each level. If you finish without using all the allotted flips, you earn extra points. If you do not complete the puzzle with the allowed flips, you lose a life. The game ends when you lose all your lives. You are also given a certain amount of continues. Using a continue lets you continue from the current level, but erases your points.

To control the gems, you must (of course) flip your iPhone around. Moving gems square by square is not an option; they all fall in the direction that you tilt your iPhone. Again, the controls are pretty sensitive and it’s easy to accidently make unintended moves. I found it easiest to play this mode with my iPhone as flat as possible looking down on it.

Speed Mode

The object of this mode is to match up all the like-colored gems in each level before you run out of time. What makes this mode challenging is that you must have all the gems of one color matched up before they clear. The controls and layout is exactly like puzzle mode. The quicker you complete the level, the more points you get. The game is over if you do not complete the puzzle in time. Unlike puzzle mode, you do not have any lives. You can use continues, however, but this erases your points.

Other Features

• If you exit the application while in the middle of game, FLIP returns to exactly where you left off when you relaunch.
• Can disable the music and listen to your own
• Easy directions to include your scores on the global scoreboard (must visit their website)

Conclusion

FLIP is a great little game (actually, three games), especially at only $0.99. I find myself playing when I have a few minutes to kill as well as when I have time to obsess over it for awhile. I would love it if a future update had an option to adjust the sensitivity of the controls. I often find myself losing a life or game because the game reacts when I barely move. I was initially disappointed that there wasn’t an option to disable the accelerometer and have gesture controls, but it didn’t take long to realize that the game wouldn’t be the same with gestures… besides, its name is FLIP for a reason!

Pros

• 3 game modes
• Fun and challenging
• Time killer

Cons

• Sensitive controls

TiPb Review Rating

FLIP is available for $0.99 from the iTunes App Store.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

App Review: FLIP

Every week a few of us from team TiPb, bloggers and forum crew alike, will bring you our current favorite, funnest, most useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they’re iPhone (or iPod touch) related, they’re fair game.

So who’s on deck this week and what are our picks? Find out after the break!

James’ Pick: Appigo Todo

As a heavy Outlook (and therefore Exchange) user, one shortcoming even the highly anticipated 3.0 upgrade does not address is the management and synchronization of tasks. Although I was initially disappointed, Todo by Appigo has filled the void quite nicely. Todo is a robust app that can organize multiple todo lists, projects, and even manage your shopping list. One great feature of Todo is the ability to sync with Toodledo, Remember the Milk and even has a free desktop sync client. For more information, see the uber review as put together by TiPB’s very own Matt Sawyers (msbaylor on the forums). [$9.99 - iTunes link]

Jeremy’s Pick: UFC Undisputed 2009.

[Ed: Not an iPhone app, but Xbox 360/PS3 and what's held Jeremy hostage lo this last week!] I’ve been waiting for this game for a very long time and my patience has paid off. Must have for any gamer who loves mixed martial arts. Anyone out there who thinks they can take me… You know how to contact me.

Leanna’s Pick: Word2Find

This is a quick little game that tests your vocabulary and unscrambling skills. You are given 6 letters and must produce as many words from them within the time limit. There is always at least one word that’ll use all 6 letters. Word2Find is one of those games you can get away with playing while in class or a meeting… not that I would ever do such a thing… [ $0.99 - iTunes link]

Matt’s Pick: Tweetero

Yes, Tweetero is a Twitter application and while is has all the usual standard Twitter actions, what put this on my radar was that it allows you to save Tweets that you can send later. Of course it doesn’t have all the nifty features of say, Birdhouse, but it is nice to have the option to save, edit and send later (or even send all saved). The interface is rather simple and the Home layout is reminiscent of Tweetie, best of all this little gem is free! [Free - iTunes link]

Rene’s Pick: iStat

iStat is by Bjango, whom you may know by the name iSlayer on the Mac, makers of the awesome iStat series of widgets of the same name as this app. Confusing? Maybe, but the app itself is as simple as it is awesome. It shows you all kinds of nifty stats and measures about your iPhone (and even lets you free up system precious system stats or email your UDID at the touch of button), but here’s the killer feature — it shows you stats for any Mac you’ve connected to as well. Want to know how hot your MacBook is running in the living room or what your Mac Pro is doing in the office without getting up? iStat makes it easy. If you have an iPhone and a Mac, and any sort of geek-cred, you need iStat. Best of all, it’s at sale price right now!

[$1.99 - iTunes link]

Your Pick?

You’re part of team TiPb too, so what’s your pick? What app was your absolute fav last week? Let us — and everyone — know in the comments!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Appigo Todo, UFC Undisputed, Word2Find, Tweetero, iStat - TiPb Picks of the Week