Google is continuing their bold new design initiative, tweaking the search experience on iPad for web results, image results, and more.

The search button located below the search box provides quick access to specific types of results like Images, Videos, Places, Shopping and more. Just tap to open the search menu and select an option to see results in one category.

For image results, we focused on improvements that enhance the viewing experience such as enlarged image previews, continuous scroll, and faster loading of image thumbnails.

Looks good.

[Google Mobile Blog]

If you still have an “unlimited” data plan with AT&T and you’re among the top 5% of data users, prepare to be throttled.

Starting October 1, smartphone customers with unlimited data plans may experience reduced speeds once their usage in a billing cycle reaches the level that puts them among the top 5 percent of heaviest data users. These customers can still use unlimited data and their speeds will be restored with the start of the next billing cycle. Before you are affected, we will provide multiple notices, including a grace period.

This change will never impact the vast majority of our customers, and is designed to create a better service experience for all.

AT&T stresses they’re not the only one doing this, and that most users will never see the throttling, just those heaviest, most video streaming, sneakily tethering, packet clogging, network reputation ruining five-percenters.

[AT&T]

Horace Dediu of Asymco has taken a look at the financial results of Apple, Nokia, Samsung, LG, Sony-Ericsson, Motorola, HTC, and RIM and put together a comparison of who is making profit and how much. Apple, perhaps not surprisingly, has gone from almost 0 in 2007 to 66% in the latest quarter, 2011.

Three companies which captured 11% of the profits before the modern smartphone era started (four years ago!) now capture 84% of the profits. Only one global brand phone vendor selling non-smart voice-oriented feature phones is still profitable however, as we shall see later, the only reason profits still exist for any vendor is due to the strength of their smartphone portfolio.

The pie chart above tells the story, and for more details and graphics, hit the link below.

[Asymco]

Tweetcaster Pro has been updated as a universal application for iPhone and iPad.

• Multiple Account Support
• Facebook Integration
• "Zip It" (Hide unwanted tweets)
• Peekaboo Links – Link Preview
• In-App Notifications
• Tweet Power Swipe
• Timeline Search
• iTunes Music Sharing and purchasing integration
• Geolocation/Nearby functionality
• Advanced Profile Editing
• Multiple Themes
• Custom Backgrounds
• Follower Management
• Long tweet Support
• Draft Manager
• Lists
• Twitter Trends
• Instapaper/Read It Later Integration
• Threaded Conversations
• Standard features such as Search, URL shortening, Photo/Video Uploading, Retweets (with or without comment)

I really like Tweetcaster’s UI. It has a very nice design and makes good use of popups without overusing them. I’ll likely be using Tweetcaster as my primary Twitter app on the iPad.

Tweetcaster Pro is available for $4.99. Screenshots after the break.

[iTunes link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Aquapac and Overboard water-proof cases for iPhone

Whether you’re taking a bath, blazing a trail, or heading to the beach the Aquapac or Overboard water-proof cases will keep your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad not only safe from rain, river, and reef but fun and functional too! If you’re planning a trip, a vacation, or even just a long soak in the tub pick up a water-proof case for your iPhone or iPad today! (Just look at all the fun Georgia had!)

Shop waterproof cases for iPhone…

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!

• Waterslide 2: Torpedo your way through a gigantic, city-wide waterslide, skimming around hairpin corners and rocketing down the massive drops at toe-curling speed. Collect the pearls and avoid the aquatic adversaries as you race toward the finish. [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - iTunes link]

• OmniBlaster: It's the year 2104. You are a member of the Virgo Star Alliance. You've just completed your training at the Alliance Naval Academy and you've been assigned to your first Star Fighter Carrier group and ready to take your StarRaider out for some training missions when war breaks out with the Korgon Empire… [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - iTunes link]

• VisionSim: Allow people with healthy vision to experience the world through the eyes of a person experiencing one of four degenerative eye diseases: macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and cataracts. [Free for iPhone and iPad - iTunes link]

• Odd 1 Out: An excellent way to introduce your child to decision making skills. The activities are interesting and will keep your youngster busy for hours. The app helps sharpen critical thinking and decision making skills. [$0.99 for iPad - iTunes link]

• Foo Fighters Tour Guide: Get all the info about the Foo Fighters 2011 Wasting Lights Tour with daily updates of concert setlist! [$0.99 for iPhone - iTunes link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Here we go again, another day another iPhone 5 rumor. This time, 9to5 Mac has received an alleged screen capture from KT's (Korea Telecom) internal stock inventory system. The screen shot clearly shows SKU's (stock-keeping units) for AIP5 which we assume stands for Apple iPhone 5 followed by a number.

The number appears to represent the GB capacity of the iPhone 5 however we are widely expecting that a 64GB version would be released this time; but there is no mention of it. What is even more confusing is the third model in the screen capture; it appears that this is an iPhone 5 without any storage capacity? 9to5 Mac believes that this is a carrier unlocked model.

Before we lose all hope of an iPhone 5 64GB model, these SKU's are just place holders and it may be a case that Apple is keeping the specifications under wraps until it is officially announced. I know a lot of people who are pinning their hopes on an iPhone 5 with 64GB of storage. Personally I have a 16GB version and it still has a few GB remaining.

[9to5 Mac]

 

If you ever have an urge to learn how to play the piano, Ion may have just made it a whole lot easier with the Piano Apprentice accessory and companion app. Ion in case you forgot, is the company that brought the awesome iCade cabinet to market. It has now released another addition to its growing portfolio of iOS accessories.

Simply connect your iPad, iPod or iPhone, download the free Piano Apprentice app, and start playing piano instantly! Piano Apprentice is a lightweight, highly portable 25-note keyboard with built-in stereo speakers that deliver authentic piano sound and keys that respond to your touch. It’s easy to follow along as acclaimed piano instructor Scott Houston, aka the Piano Guy, appears on the screen demonstrating how to play while the actual keys on Piano Apprentice light up, showing you where to place your hands. The Piano Apprentice app will even teach you how to read real music notation!

Features:

• 25-note lighted keyboard with touch-sensitive keys
• Follow the lighted keys and learn how to play piano quickly
• Free piano teaching app available via iTunes
• Lightweight, portable design
• Powered by batteries (included) or optional AC adapter
• Everything you need to learn and practice piano
• Core MIDI Compliant

The cost of the Piano Apprentice is thought to be around the $100 mark. It is compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch. For the best learning experience, the iPad seems to be the best fit. I can see myself getting something like this as I always wanted to learn the piano. With an app and accessory like this, you can learn in your own time; which makes it much easier to fit it into a busy schedule.

[Ion Audio]

 

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Rene and Seth talk about native apps killing the open cloud, Apple passing Nokia, iOS 4.3.5, facial recognition, iPhone 5 rumours, and Jailbreak tweaks. This is iPhone Live!

• Show notes

Hosts

Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie)

Seth Clifford (@sethclifford)

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

Skyfire Labs have released their new iPhone and iPad app, Skyfire VideoQ, as a method of watching flash videos.

Skyfire VideoQ™ is a new kind of App that lets you watch Flash Videos while browsing with Safari or any iPad/iPhone browser! Simply click the 'Mail Link to this Page' on any browser to email the video URL to your 'Queue' and open the App.

• Simply register your email address in the App.
• Use the "Mail Link to this Page" button in Safari or any browser to email a webpage with a Flash video to video@skyfire.com.
• Videos sent from your email address will appear in your Skyfire VideoQ.
• Copy the URL of a webpage that has a Flash video and open Skyfire VideoQ.
• Install our bookmarklet into Safari. Once you find a page with a Flash video, just use the bookmarket to send the page to your Skyfire VideoQ.

One of the biggest complaints about iOS is the incompatibility with Flash. Skyfire VideoQ may not completely fill that gap, but since a huge amount of Flash content on the web is video, it’s a great solution for many people.

Skyfire VideoQ is available on the iPhone and iPad for $1.99. Screenshots and video after the break.

[iTunes link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.