iPhone Live hits the net again tonight to talk all the week’s news, reviews, and how-tos. So be there!

Time: 6pm PT, 9pm ET, 2am BST!

Place: http://live.tipb.com/live/

(You can watch from iPhone via Ustream Viewer app (here’s how) and iPad (we recommend Duet Browser.)

If you have any questions or stuff you want us to make sure we cover tweet them to @TiPb, email them to podcast@tipb.com, or leave them in the comments below!

iPhone Live podcast tonight at 9pm EDT, come chat! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

With your iPhone, do you mostly type with the keyboard in portrait mode or portrait rotation? Apple added landscape keyboard system wide in iOS 3 because they said users kept asking for it. I never use it though. On the iPhone, I’m strictly a portrait typist.

In portrait mode, I can easily reach both sides of the keyboard with either thumb, or just hold my iPhone 4 in one hand and quickly tap away with the other. And it just feels like more of the screen is left uncovered that way. We talked about it on the last podcast an Rene, Chad, Seth, Leanna, and Andrew were pretty much all in agreement — portrait was the way to go.

Several people in the chat disagreed though. They liked the wider, roomier landscape keyboard, especially for composing longer emails or notes. Some also liked that they could hold their iPhone two handed in landscape mode and tap away with both thumbs. Even though the remaining screen was shorter, they liked that it was wider.

So which type of typist are you? Landscape, keyboard, or is it complicated? Let me know in the poll up top and give me the details in comments!

Poll: iPhone keyboard – portrait or landscape? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The BodyGuardz Armor Carbon Fiber for iPhone 4 is a skin that sticks to the glass black and stainless steel antenna to change up the look and protect from scrapes and abrasions. They’re not the same as the thin, clear BodyGuardz films we’ve shown you how to apply before, and are actually even easier to apply. (Check out the video below to see just how easy.)

Now that I’ve been using them for 10 days, how are they holding up? Did they stay on or did I go running back to my favorite case? Read on to find out!

First things first. BodyGuardz Armor aren’t really made out of carbon fiber. (Shocking!) So they won’t stop a bullet (and no, they wouldn’t actually let me test that! Grrrr!) They’re printed to look like carbon fiber, however, so if you want protection and style and don’t actually need real fibers made from carbon, this could be the skin for you.

Overall I really like the look of the BodyGuardz Armor. A lot. The black on dark gray colors and woven texture have a sweet, apocalyptic vibe to them and make a really nice change of pace from the glass Apple look. Combine it with a pink bumper and it looks Hitman hot, I kid you not! (And no, you can’t see the logo through the skin so if you’re a hardcore Apple lover, you might want to steer clear.)

There’s also some function to the BodyGuardz Armor form — the texture is kind of grippy. It’s much easier to hold onto than a naked iPhone. It may not sound like much but if you’re precious iPhone ever slipped out of you hand, or off a chair or table, you know what a difference a little drag coefficient can make!

Since it’s just a sticker, the BodyGuardz Armor has almost zero profile, which is great for slipping into and out of pockets and purses alike.

So am I still using it? Mostly. I ended up taking off the side stickers but keeping the back sticker on. I prefer the feeling of the stainless steel antenna to the sticker cut outs, but I really like the look and protection it offers the glass back of my iPhone 4. I might go back to the security of a case eventually, but for right now I’m absolutely loving the BodyGuardz Armor. (Note: It’s not so thick that you couldn’t use it with some of the looser pouch cases if you wanted added protection when traveling or for just keeping it in your bag.)

So bottom line, if you need protection but want the minimum bulk possible, check out theBodyGuardz Armor Carbon Fiber for iPhone 4, available from the TiPb iPhone 4 Accessory Store.

Pros

• Looks really good
• Protects both back and sides from scratches
• Almost no added bulk

Cons

• Side stickers can feel a bit annoying
• No real protection against impact

BodyGuardz Armor Carbon Fiber for iPhone 4 – accessory review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

It sounds like Apple really might be getting ready to upgrade their already stellar Apple Retail experience to version 2.0… just in time for their 10th anniversary. 9to5Mac thinks they have more details on just what the reboot might entail.

• Personal Setup will have new dedicated areas in stores called "Startup Sessions."
• The new bars are said to be even more interactive.
• [Paper product sheets] will be replaced with interactive iPads.
• “Huge” displays
• brand-new Apple Store iOS application – possibly on Sunday – that is even more interactive.

It also sounds like Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive, Apple’s CEO and Senior VP of Design, have personally taken a hand in crafting this customer experience.

Like Rene said on Twitter earlier, with all the speculation as to what big product announcement Apple was going to launch, it’s far more likely Apple Store 2.0 is the big product launch. Apple considers their retail stores a product and put as much care, design, and attention to detail into them as they do their Macs, iPads, and iPhones.

Whatever it is, we keep hearing it’s big. Are you eager to see what they’ve come up with for Apple Store 2.0? If you were in charge of the Apple Stores, what would you change?

[9to5Mac]

Apple Retail Stores about to go 2.0? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Spoing: Spoing’s colorful rainbow diamonds have been stolen! Now it’s up to you to guide him through 50 underground caves to get them back. Build platforms using green gems to climb to high up places and throw yourself around in this elastic platform puzzler! [$0.99 - iTunes link]

• ABBYY Business Card Reader: Transfer your contacts from business cards into iPhone’s address book or CardHolder as well as to find more information about your contacts in Facebook, Twitter or on the Map! [$4.99 - iTunes link]

• Move’n Call: Associate gestures of your choice with phone numbers. Once done, you will be able to trigger a specific call with your gesture. [$1.99 - iTunes link]

• King of Frogs: Help the King of Frogs find his way home in this fresh new puzzle. Using fun and simple game rules similar to checkers, you’ll have lots of fun solving frog-hopping puzzles level after level. Now with a challenge mode and bonus pack! [Free, with in-app purchases - iTunes link]

• FatBooth HD: What would you look like with a “few” extra pounds? And what about your friends? Find out with FatBooth, a fun way to instantly supersize faces on your iPad. [$0.99 - iTunes link]

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

For a video trailer of Spoing, follow along after the break!

New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Wednesday, May 18 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

TiPb checks out the best, most must-have math apps to load up on your iPhone and iPad

Student enrolled in math classes? Have a job that requires the use of math? Simply someone with a love for mathematics? Whether it’s arithmetic, calculus, or hacking the code of the universe, there are dozens of iPhone and iPad math apps to choose from. Read on for TiPb’s Top 5, must have favorites to get you started!

WolframAlpha (Universal)

WolframAlpha is a much more than a math app, but the computational and mathematical abilities it possesses are phenomenal. Need to not only calculate a complicated integral, but know the steps to get the answer on your own? WolframAlpha can do it. Need to quickly solve a cubic equation? WolframAlpha will calculate all real and complex solutions. Or perhaps you want to look up Fermat’s little theorem or the Riemann Hypothesis – WolframAlpha’s got you covered. From basic mathematics to advanced calculus, statistics, physics and other topics, WolframAlpha is an excellent tool to have in your pocket.

[$1.99 - iTunes link]

Calcbot (Universal)

Calcbot is a beautifully designed calculator the iPhone and iPad. In addition to being UI candy, Calcbot offers many features that makes it a great candidate to replace the native calculator on the iPhone (and fill the gap on the iPad). The more advanced, scientific functions are accessible by a swipe and Calcbot records your history onto a tape that you can email or send values back into the calculator. And true to Tapbots’ style, Calcbot comes to life with finely machined animation and sound.

[$1.99 - iTunes link]

Also Check out:

• PCalc is a very robust and feature-filled RPN calculator and is universal for both iPhone and iPad. [$9.99 - iTunes link]

Apollonius (iPhone)

Apollonius is a must-have application for Geometry students. With it, you can make geometric constructions as if you were using a straightedge and compass. While making constructions, you can move points around to adjust the sizes, angles, and distances to visually see how these changes affect your constructions. Even with complicated constructions, the app runs very smoothly. If you’ve had any experience with Geometer’s Sketchpad, Apollonius is very similar. My only complaint it’s not a universal app for the iPhone and iPad.

[$3.99 - iTunes link]

Math Ref (Universal)

Math Ref is an excellent reference app for mathematics that includes over 1,400 helpful formulas, figures, tips and examples of the equations, and concepts. It also includes example problems and solutions that you may see in specific subject areas. Math Ref doesn’t have a fancy UI, but the information is there; it is clear; and it is easily searchable. Since the UI is basic, Math Ref is very snappy and runs smoothly. This is an app that deserves to be in every math student’s pocket.

[$0.99 - iTunes link]

Also Check out:

• iMathematics! is a universal reference app that contains over 700 formulas in over 120 topics as well as 8 solvers and calculators. [Free, with in-app purchases iTunes link]

SkyNumbers (iPhone and iPad)

For a fun game that will refine your arithmetic skills, check out SkyNumbers. In this game, you’re given a target number while other numbers fall from the sky. You must combine these numbers with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to reach the target number. If a single figure falls through the last cloud, the game is over. The speed at which the numbers fall increases with time making this game a fun challenge. SkyNumbers has Game Center support and you can also share your scores on Facebook and Twitter.

[Free for iPhone, with in-app purchases - iTunes link [$2.99 for iPad - itunes link]

Your top math apps?

So there you have it, our top 5 best math apps for iPhone and iPad, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some other great ones floating around out there. Also, be sure to check out our Picks of the Week and the TiPb iPhone App and Games Forum for more recommendations, and if we missed any of your favorites, leave them in the comments below!

Top 5 math apps for iPhone and iPad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

According to Digitimes, who are a bit hit and miss with these type of stories, Apple is currently in the process of reducing its demand for iPhone 4 models. According to its source, Apple has reduced its iPhone 4 requirements for the second quarter of 2011 from 20 million units down to 17.5-18 million. These figures are broken down into 16 million 3G models and 1.5 – 2 million CDMA models

As we posted last night, the same source also claims that production of the “iPhone 4S” will begin in August with an earliest launch of September, with a Qualcomm chipset for both CDMA and 3G versions and the rear camera would be an 8-megapixel.

As we get nearer WWDC, these stories and rumors will just keep on coming! Only the actual announcement of the next generation iPhone will stop them. Sadly, we might have to wait until fall this year for that to happen…

[Digitimes]

 

Apple slowing iPhone 4 production, gearing up for the next generation iPhone? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Epic Games has announced that the long awaited update for its Infinity Blade title will be available this Thursday. The free update will be known as Infinity Blade: Arena and brings online multi-player to the table via Apple’s Game Center as well as many more new features for the single player game.

• Enter the Arena:  Assuming the role of Titan or Knight, Infinity Blade fans can now challenge their friends to multiplayer matches online via Game Center!
• Survivor Mode: Players face off against a legion of Titans to see how far they can go!
• New Holiday Helms!  A new helm for every season, ready to be played and mastered!
• More than two dozen new magic rings, swords, shields, and helmets for players to collect and master.
• New Facebook integration allows fans to view their character on their profile and take a screen grab to share with friends.

We will let you know as soon as the update is available; this one is sure to feature in our daily New and Updated iPhone and iPad apps post! Now who is excited by the prospect of a great online multiplayer game? Let us know in the comments!

[Epic Games]

 

Infinity Blade update coming this Thursday, online multiplayer matches and more is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Digitimes rumormongers that Apple expected to launch an 4G LTE powered “iPhone 4S” (sigh) this year (double sigh) but has had to push it back to 2012 due to problems with the Qualcomm chipsets.

Apple is likely to delay the launch of its LTE-enabled iPhones to 2012, said the sources, noting that the industry had also long been skeptical about the launch of LTE iPhones in 2011 as the implementation of LTE networks has not yet matured.

Of course, Apple wasn’t expected to ship an LTE iPhone in 2011, as they themselves have expressed — justifiable — concerns over battery life in current generation chipsets, and the proper Qualcomm radio isn’t expected to be available until iPhone 6 in 2012 anyway.

The 5th generation iPhone is expected to be announced and shipped sometime in the September/October timeframe in the US, though why on Jobs’ green earth would they call it iPhone 4S when it’s the 5th generation iPhone? (iPhone 3GS was the 3rd generation iPhone, a problem that needed fixing because they called the 2nd generation iPhone, iPhone 3G.)

So, yeah, let’s take that bit with a China sized grain of salt. What’s more interesting, and hopefully likely, is the second part — that it will boast an 8mp rear camera. Let’s hope that’s matched up with a new FaceTime HD up front.

[Digitimes]

iPhone unlikely to go LTE before 2012? [No, really!] is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

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Rene Ritchie and special guest Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents discuss the situation and climate of uncertainty surrounding Lodsys threatening iPhone and iPad developers with patent infringement. What’s happening, what options developers have, whether or not Apple will get involved, and what could come next. This is a special edition of iPhone Live!

Read on for show notes…

Previously on TiPb

• iOS developers being threatened with patent infringement over in-app purchase system [Updated]
• Lodsys "responds and clarifies" their patent threats against iPhone, iPad developers
• What developers need to know about Lodsys and similar patent threats

Hosts

• Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie)
• Florian Mueller (@FOSSpatents)

Credits

Thanks to the TiPb iPhone accessory store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!

Our music comes from the following sources:

• I Called You — iPhone Remix by Pete Leidy
via Sneakmove iPhone Ringtone Challenge

iPhone Live 151: The Lodsys Letters is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog