iPhone Live, the live recording of the best dang iPhone and iPod touch podcast on the net, hits the air again tonight. Join us!

Follow along with our show notes!

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.)

Look for Mobile Nations in Ustream after 9pm EDT!

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!

Apple is now using Twitter to promote the United States version of their iBookstore. Apple already uses Twitter to promote content for App store apps, iTunes music, TV shows, and iTunes movies. Even though the iBookstore account was created quite some time ago, Apple appears to have just started utilizing the account.

The first tweet was actually sent out just today –

Welcome to the Apple #iBookstore on Twitter. Follow us to discover new releases, exclusive book offers, and more.

The last tweet sent from the account is a link to a list of books that are quick reads at good prices. I’ve become a fan of companies using social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook to communicate with customers. If you’re an avid reader and utilize iBooks you may want to follow the account for new releases, discounts, sales, and recommended picks. Hit the link below to follow iBookstore on Twitter.

@iBookstore

iMessage is one of the great new features of the upcoming iOS 5 update and now there is evidence that it may soon be integrated with OS X Lion's iChat instant messaging software. This would enable instant messaging between iOS devices and Mac computers running OS X Lion.

iMessage is an iOS 5 messaging application which includes sending messages, photos and videos over WiFi or 3G. Messages can be pushed across all iOS devices that use the same account. You can even pick up on the conversation right where you left off when switching from your iPhone to your iPad or iPod touch.

MacRumors received some information today that reveals some new code has been added to OS X Lion's iChat framework that points to integration with the iChat app and iMessage.

The “timeDelivered” and “timeRead’ fields indicate the tracking of delivery and read receipts for instant messages. These features, however, are not supported in any of iChat’s native messaging protocols, while the same features are offered in Apple’s iMessage protocol. These properties were also not present in previous versions of iChat prior to OS X Lion. We believe the only reason Apple would have added these properties was to build in cross compatibility with their new iMessage protocol.

This does make a lot of sense and is something that has been strongly rumored earlier in the year too. I think it is only a matter of time before this all comes together and I would not be surprised if it was announced along with the official launch of iOS 5.

[MacRumors]

 

Apple will be revising their iPhone warranty and return policy in South Korea due to customers that were unhappy about their current return policy. If a customer receives a defective device they will be able to exchange it for a brand new device instead of a refurbished one within 1 month of the original purchase date.

Korean iPhone customers are not happy about Apple replacing defective devices with refurbished ones that have used parts in them when the actual warranty states they are entitled to a refund, new device, or free repair. When Apple spokesperson Steve Park was asked about the new warranty policy in South Korea he declined to comment.

I’ve personally never had any issues with refurbished iPhones from Apple. I’ve actually had better luck with them than brand new out of the box units. I’ve actually heard that refurbished units undergo a more rigorous testing cycle than brand new units. Not sure how much truth there is to that but I seldom have issues.

When Apple exchanges your products are you ok with receiving refurbished units? Have you had issues with them?

Bloomberg

The Seidio Innocase Active case for the iPhone 4 is a nice choice if you want decent protection but don’t want something as bulky as an Otterbox Defender. The case is made up of two separate pieces – a harder outer shell and a rubberized case that goes on first to give the phone a little more protection and padding.

The Innocase Active provides good protection and easy access to all ports. Port accessibility is something I’ve noticed to be a downfall with cases that provide more protection. Sometimes the ports are harder to access or the buttons are hard to push through a thicker casing. Since the Innocase Active goes on in two pieces, the harder outer shell gives you more protection but only the rubber portion covers all your buttons, making them easy to press which is always an added bonus.

I also didn’t feel like the case added a ton of bulk which is a huge issue of mine with cases as heavy as the Otterbox. I love the iPhone 4′s smaller form factor and adding a heavy case to it always seemed to ruin that for me. My iPhone is never in my purse but always in my pocket. So a thicker case makes it more of a pain to slide easily into a jean or shirt pocket. I was happy with the thickness of the Innocase Active and thought it provided more than adequate protection without adding tons of bulk.

I also had no issues with any accessories (3rd party or original Apple). All my chargers fit in nicely including my Griffin car charger. I despised the original Apple bumpers because no 3rd party chargers typically fit. You’d have to remove them. You won’t need to worry about this with the Innocase Active. All my accessories worked just fine with the exception of the Apple dock. But that’s to be expected unless you have a case where the bottom comes off such as the Innocase II line for iPhone 4 which is a great line of cases made by Seidio as well.

Pros

• Provides extremely decent protection in a slimmer form factor
• A wide variety of colors to choose from
• Good price for the amount of protection it provides
• All buttons and the volume switch are easy to press/toggle
• All ports are easily accessed without removing the case

Cons

• The case is a bit tough to get on at first as aligning the inside rubber case inside the grooves in the outer shell is a bit annoying
• After taking it off and putting it back on several times I found that the inner rubber case started to fray around the edges a bit

The Seidio Innocase Active for AT&T iPhone 4 can currently be found in the TiPb accessory store for $27.95. We’re also going to give one away. If this is a case you think you want, leave a comment letting us know why you want one or your favorite thing about the Seidio Innocase Active. We’ll pick one lucky reader and mail you one on us!

YouTube Link

Missed a compelling piece of iPhone news, a great review, or a killer how-to? We’re not collecting absolutely everything in iPhone here — you can hit up TiPb.com/iPhone for that! — but we’re carefully picking what we think is the best of the last 7 days and presenting it here for your review.

And hey! — these double as show notes for our iPhone Live! podcast tonight at 9pm Eastern. So join us at TiPb.com/live and follow along!

Meta

ZENandTECH 15: Goal setting

iPhone 5

• iPhone 5 not getting a redesign, going to assemblers in September?
• Poll: Would you be less likely to get iPhone 5 if there's no new design?
• Sprint getting iPhone 5 in October, offering unlimited data plan [Updated]
• Conan O'Brien takes aim at Apple and the lost iPhone 5 prototype [video]

News

• Acting president of HTC America claims the iPhone is no longer cool
• iPatch brings glowing Apple logo to iPhone! [Mod]
• Radio Shack preparing to offer Verizon iPhone 4
• Lowe's equipping its staff with 42,000 iPhones to improve customer service

Competition

• iPhone 4 vs DROID BIONIC: Which should you get?

Jailbreak

• OS X Lion Ultimatum theme brings OS X to your iOS device [jailbreak]

Forums

• iOS 5 beta 8, Social networks, iPhone 5 pricing, iPhone 5 redesign [From the Forums]

Contests

• Giveaway: Win one of 4 FREE licenses for iPhone Made Simple training videos!
• Contest winners: Jabra DRIVE, BookBook, iWork for iOS, MoneyWiz

Apple and Sprint may have already completed work on a Sprint compatible iPad. 9to5Mac claims that the Sprint iteration of the iPad will join the rest of the current iPad line-up (GSM models and Verizon) before the holiday season. Given we’ve also heard confirmations of Sprint getting the iPhone 5, it would only make sense they’d eventually carry the iPad as well.

Sprint is the only carrier in the United States that still offers truly unlimited data plans. This may be a big draw for data hungry consumers that aren’t currently happy with their tier happy carriers. 9to5Mac didn’t seem to be able to confirm whether or not the Sprint variation of the iPad will support their 4G WiMAX network. The fact that Apple has made a separate version to run on Sprint instead of using the existing Verizon CDMA model may have something to do with 4G but at this point it’s still unclear.

If Sprint ends up carrying the iPhone 5 and/or iPad this Fall, would you switch to have truly unlimited data again?

9to5Mac

Yesterday Microsoft gave us a brief look at its next operating system, code named Windows 8. The operating system will be aimed at not only desktop and laptop PC systems but also the tablet market. Will Windows 8 deliver enough for a Windows Tablet to become a real competitor to the iPad and iOS?

The answer at this stage is very unclear; Microsoft has previously claimed that older versions of Windows would work well on Table PC's as well as desktop and laptop systems. Unfortunately a distinct lack of Windows tablet sales tell a completely different story. Apple on the other hand stepped in and released the iPad with a cut down version of OSX designed for touch input, all of a sudden Tablet devices were vogue and everyone wanted one!

Looking at the features of Windows 8, it could be a very appealing OS for Tablets. It integrates the Windows Phone 7 Metro UI with the full blown power of Windows . Any app you run on your desktop or laptop could be executed on a handheld tablet. That is very appealing; there is no doubt about that. What is a doubt however is Microsoft's ability to deliver the full experience and make these apps usable with touch.

When I talk about experience I mean how easy the device is to use. Yes Windows 8 will be a great experience with a mouse and keyboard, I don't doubt that. What I do have serious concerns over is how well that will work using your fingers. How will developers address the issue of not only writing their apps for a mouse and keyboard entry system but also for touch too? If they fail to do it, using a Windows Tablet will again be a frustrating experience.

Microsoft has a lot of work to do to bring all of this together. They need to consider every possibility with every app and interface. It needs to be standardized so users know where they are and how to get where they need to be without much thought. I really hope Microsoft can pull this off, they need to learn from previous mistakes and deliver a tightly integrated touch OS. Unfortunately history tells us they will fall way short of this goal.

If you want to see a short video of Windows 8, there is a demonstration video below from This Is My Next. Do you think Microsoft and its partners have what it takes to challenge Apple’s dominance in the tablet space?

[This is my Next]

Theming your iPhone is definitely one of the perks of being jailbroken. Sometimes a really nice theme comes along that completely changes not only the design but the way you use your iPhone. This may be the case with the OS X Ultimatum theme by Modmyi forum member SirTimothy1.

OS X Ultimatium is a complete overhaul of the iPhone UI and brings it back to the look and feel of the full scale version of Mac OS X. The theme boasts of the following features –

• Fully usable and accurate finder bars and menus
• Launchpad – tap it from the dock to view all your apps at once
• Stacks – just like in Mac OS X, quick access to all your favorite apps with one tap
• Scrollable dock – add more dock icons and simply scroll through them
• Draggable windows
• Mission Control – quick access to any widgets or view all open windows
• Functional dashboard – view any widgets by swiping right
• Lockscreen – customizable and functional

The developer is also planning on optimizing the theme even more to free up more RAM. Although this theme is still in beta, donating $3.50 to the developer via Paypal will grant you access to the beta. Hit the link below for even more screenshots, information, and videos of the theme in action! And as always, if you test it out, let us know what you think of it!

Modmyi

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!

• Penultimate: Now you can import photos and images onto your notebook pages! [$0.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Jetpack Joyride: Suit up with a selection of the coolest jetpacks ever made and take to the skies as Barry Steakfries, the lovable hero on a one-way trip to adventure! Now with a new vehicle and jetpack! [$0.99 for iPhone and iPad - App Store link]

• Dynamic English Lessons – Phrasal Verbs: These aren't your routine and ordinary learn to speak English lessons! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• English For Children: Teaches kids common words by use of the spaced repetition technique. [$2.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Burn the Rope Worlds: The goal is to burn as much rope as possible without letting the flames burn out. [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store 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.