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W3C finally publishes Mobile Web Best Practices 1.0
Okay, so we saw W3C's Mobile Web Best Practices offered up in "near-final form" in June of 2006, but we're just now (August of 2008, for those parked under a rock or tuning in from a parallel universe) seeing a final release. Talk about taking their sweet time. Hopefully said document has been updated over the past two years, and hopefully webmasters will grab hold and actually implement some of the suggestions. In essence, these guidelines seek to make web browsing easier on more handsets, but we're still in dire need of more robust browsers before any server-side tweaks make a noticeable difference.[Via the::unwired]
AT&T reveals iPhone Text Accessibility Plan for hearing impaired
Although AT&T has had a specialized plan for the deaf and hard of hearing for some time now, the iPhone has been unfortunately unable to take advantage. No longer will that be the case, as said carrier has just implemented the Text Accessibility Plan for iPhone, which provides unlimited texting, unlimited data usage, $0.40 per minute pay-per-use voice and Visual Voicemail. Granted, the iPhone TAP does cost $40 ($10 more than the vanilla TAP), but you are getting limitless texts (versus 5,000) and Visual Voicemail thrown in -- not that those inclusions really warrant the extra Hamilton. Nevertheless, those with adequate documentation can get their iPhone on the plan right now, just click the read link for details / instructions.
Is Apple about to implement data persistence for Safari?
If the rental evidence we posted about earlier isn't enough, iPhone hacker extraordinaire Pumpkin has discovered evidence that we may soon see core persistence. TUAW wonders if this is possibly for Safari. Persistence refers to data that gets stored between sessions, similar to the way that Google Gears. This allows web apps to function off-line, when you are not connected to EDGE or Wifi, as well as online, when you are. Like GoogleGears, this mystery "CP" class (from the iPhone's AppSupport framework) relies on SQL databases to store and retrieve data.So is this firm, hard evidence? No. Is it suggestive? Definitely.Update: Webkit Persistence. Thanks Robert Mohns.
U.S. Opera DS web browser impressions
A forum member at NeoGAF recently posted impressions of the Opera DS browser just released in the US. Some early rumors suggested this version would support both Flash and Java, features missing in the Japanese and European releases. Unfortunately the rumors turned out to be nothing more than wishful thinking and the U.S. browser is just as crippled as the others.The browsing interface is intuitive (and snazzy if you ask us), with handwriting recognition, bookmarks, and excellent use of both screens. With image loading turned on it takes upwards of a minute to load most web pages. Not exactly our idea of a good time. The verdict: excellent for quick on-the-go info-checks, but with so many other devices offering web access these days, the DS browser doesn't offer anything revolutionary.
Linksys releases WIP300 and WIP330 802.11g VoIP handsets
Linksys has finally released those 802.11g-capable VoIP phones that we've had our eye on for awhile, although they are going for significantly more than we expected, with the Nokia-esque WIP300 priced at $220 and the high-end WIP330 (pictured) sporting a rather steep $370 tag. As you may remember, both models let you do the Internet calling thing from 802.11b/g-enabled routers and support SIP v2 standards, while the pricier unit adds hotspot support and the ability to browse the web on its 2.2-inch color display. If you're on the fence about throwing down several hundred bucks for a handset when other solutions let you use existing cordless phones on the cheap, the fact that domestic SkypeOut calls are completely free for the rest of the year may help you justify the cost to yourself.
DS Web Browser, TV tuner revealed
Well, Nintendo's big DS press conference in Japan has come and gone, with the fallout raining down upon us like a torrent of delicious, bite-sized candy. Though the main purpose of the conference was to parade the extraordinarily beautiful DS Lite about, Nintendo also took the opportunity to unveil some exciting new add-ons.As many of our readers correctly predicted, the melancholy and overly dramatic Internet browser, Opera, is indeed being released for the DS! Launching in June for approximately $30, the Opera browser is a fully featured, non-firmware web browser adapted to display pages on both screens and allow for stylus-based input. Yay!Nintendo also revealed a TV tuner add-on that simply plugs into the DS card slot and beams television programming straight to your portable. Though the chances of this little device making it to the West are slightly slimmer than the web browser, don't count it out just yet. Other points of note regarding the conference: The New Super Mario Bros. game will be released in Japan this May. Tetris DS will sell at a budget price. Calligraphy Training is coming to the DS, doing for the hand what Brain Training did for the mind. New footage of Xenosaga Episode 1-2 and Children of Mana was shown. Super Robot Wars, Dynasty Warriors and Winning Eleven 9, oh my! The last two will be using the Wi-Fi connection. Well, I guess we'd better get working on a DS-optimized version of DS Fanboy. [Via Joystiq][Thanks Keith Moloney, Khurrum and dwarpdesign!]
