My how times have changed. The web is full of talk surrounding early evidence that Microsoft is cozying up to Apple, and vice versa, and some of the evidence if (for once) quite obvious-

• Brad Smith (Microsoft) stated of Apples lawsuits against HTC “the fact that there’s litigation in this area is not necessarily a bad thing.” which is a real surprise considering HTC is the big player in Windows Mobile and Windows Phone 7.

• Rumours continue that Apple will use Bing as the default search engine for the iPhone, iPad and of course the iPod Touch.

• In the aforementioned lawsuit, Apple quotes HTC and Android, but not one mention of Microsoft or Windows Mobile despite the fact that some of the phones mentioned wun Windows Mobile. The ones that one Android have a mention of the operating system in them.

It is of course all speculation, but it does seem a little odd. Are we to see some sort of mini alliance in the future? I can’t honestly how either needs the other, but I may be wrong.

Rhapsody has posted a video demonstrating how offline music will work on the iPhone. The most interesting part will be to see how Apple views this feature which has the potential to knock a small dent in iTunes music takings.

The Harmony (Procedural drawing tool) shows what can be done with HTML5 and also works beautifully well on the iPhone, as you can no doubt tell by the ’stunning’ work of art I produced to the left…

I discovered this through Mr John Gruber over at Daring Fireball who has long championed HTML5.

The whole Flash v HTML5 debate looks set to continue for a long time to come and I can understand the arguments on both sides, but this does seem to boil down to a battle between Apple and Adobe at this time. Those who think Mr Jobs sits on a cloud hate Flash and the rest of us have few issues with it- I don’t know where this one will end up, but I have a soft spot for Flash and I have absolutely no idea why…

TomTom for the iPhone has at last been updated to v1.3 which brings some long awaited new features. The HD Traffic service is not cheap, but the 59p option for a one day use is a clever idea. Here’s what is new-

- HD TRAFFIC: The best traffic information available today – for the fastest route every time and the most accurate arrival time estimate. Available via in app purchase.

- GOOGLE LOCAL SEARCH: Find countless shops and businesses wherever you are, and navigate directly there. Access the latest Google listings from within the TomTom app.

- NEW MAP: Drive with the latest, most accurate map

- MUSIC FADING: Music fading will gently reduce volume while TomTom gives you driving instructions, and will return to normal volume between prompts.

- AUTOMATIC DAY & NIGHT MODE: Your app calculates local sunrise and sunset times to automatically adjust the screen brightness while driving, for a safer drive.

- ADD LOCATIONS from other applications and websites on your iPhone to your TomTom app and instantly navigate to them or store them as favorites for future use

The FCC has launched apps for the iPhone and Android platforms which can test your mobile connection speed. You may need to run them a few times to get some accuracy, but it is good that we can finally test our mobile speeds with ease. Let us know what you get- my first test is pictured in this article. To get the app search for ‘Fcc Mobile Broadband Test’ in the iTunes app store of Android Market.

“Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Communications Commission launched new digital tools — the Consumer Broadband Test and the Broadband Dead Zone Report — that allow consumers to test their broadband service and report areas where broadband is not available.

“Transparency empowers consumers, promotes innovation and investment, and encourages competition,” said Chairman Julius Genachowski. “The FCC’s new digital tools will arm users with real-time information about their broadband connection and the agency with useful data about service across the country. By informing consumers about their broadband service quality, these tools help eliminate confusion and make the market work more effectively.”

The Consumer Broadband Test measures broadband quality indicators such as speed and latency, and reports that information to consumers and the FCC. The mobile version — the FCC’s first mobile app — is available through the Apple and Android app stores. The fixed version is available at www.broadband.gov. Two popular broadband testing tools are used in this beta version — the Ookla, Inc. Speed Test and the Network Diagnostic Tool (NDT) running on the Measurement Lab (M-Lab) platform. In the future, the FCC anticipates making additional broadband testing applications available for consumer use. The Commission does not endorse any specific testing application.”

Pool Pro Online 3 has been released for the iPhone and looks like a cracking game. If it plays as well as it looks, I am on this one straight away.

Play online with your friends anywhere in the world with Pool Pro Online 3!

View online lobbies of available players then hustle your way online through 8 Ball, 9 Ball and Snooker games. Play head-to-head while chatting with opponents in real-time, or play offline in single-player Mode and pass-and-play Hot Seat Mode.

Enter the virtual pool hall with your friends across the world to win fame and in-game “scratch”. Put your money where your mouth is and challenge wannabee players wagering in-game cash. Customize your game by spending your winnings on table felts, cue sticks, and new pool halls! See how you rank against the elite pool sharks on the global leader board! Share your achievements with your friends with Facebook connect. Play for keeps world-wide with Pool Pro Online 3.

Street Fighter IV has received its long awaited debut on the iPhone and looks ‘quite’ good. By all accounts the controls could be better, but it is a faithful port of the original.

Street Fighter 4 delivers the first true fighting game on iPhone. This uncompromising fighter features all the visceral thrills, fantastic graphics and brilliant gameplay that are hallmarks of the series.

Long time Street Fighter fans can jump into the action and have an instant familiarity with the controls. For more casual players Street Fighter 4 features numerous settings and tutorials that put you on the path to world warrior.

Oh, and did we mention MULTIPLAYER. Street Fighter 4 supports head-to-head arcade play over Bluetooth.

Ice Hockey Nations is expected to arrive very soon on the iPhone and I for one will be stumping up some cash for this one. It looks superb!

Sheffield UK, 8^th February 2010. Distinctive follows up their Rugby Nations game with the first full Ice Hockey Simulation game to appear on iPhone, ‘Ice Hockey Nations 2010’.

Ice Hockey has, so far, been under represented on iPhone & iPod Touch and Distinctive have used their extensive sports game development experience to bring this dynamic sport to the App Store.

Working with motion capture specialists ‘Centroid 3D’ and players from Sheffield Scimitars, the game features realistic, silky smooth, animation so you feel part of the action – without the risk of broken bones or concussion.

Ice Hockey Nations 2010 is a fast-paced and fun game that recreates the excitement and strategy of the sport on the small screen.

Ice Hockey Nations 2010 will be launched in March 2010 at price of $4.99

Features include:

• The first full 6 on 6 Ice Hockey simulation game on iPhone/iPod Touch.
• Take control using touchscreen d-pad and control buttons.
• Make line changes at the touch of a button.
• Sin-bin and powerplays
• Real player movement animation using motion capture.
• 14 National teams to choose from.
• Quick play, practice, tournament and league game modes.
• No waiting for the Zamboni in between periods.

I have a problem with ToDo Lists and despite multiple attempts I have never been able to get my head around a list of things that I need to do. Something in my head just can’t comprehend this way of working and so my ToDos tend to fill up my calendar and be pushed backed time and time again. Maybe ToDo Map for the iPhone is what I need? It is highly visual and works by highlighting the most important items in brighter colours and crucially using bigger boxes. It is immediately apparent that this will work for some people and I will be giving it a try over the next few days.

You keep writing paper notes, post-it notes, filling your agenda, browse miscellaneous files…
so many little things you can’t afford to forget.
But there’s too many, so easy to loose track in all this!!
So many tasks at the same time, so many files of different kinds, so many priorities.

Asteroid Shooter has been released for the iPhone and the graphics appear to bring a new edge to a classic format. “Asteroid shooter is classic arcade game, where the goal is to shoot all asteroids in the playfield.

The game is simple with focus just on the gaming experience and the player is not bothered with any quests and complicated user interface. The game is fast with immediate changes between the levels. The difficulty is increased when advancing to a new level. With each level the speed of asteroids or the number of asteroids increases.”

The iPhone app store is full of overly complex games, impressive apps and all manner of silly and serious software, but now and again something comes along that stops the world for a 6 year old girl. That girl is my daughter Alice and every night for the past few days she has been transfixed by the The Boy Giant.

The Boy Giant is an animated story which plays itself out on the iPhone, and one which has all the ingredients that a child’s book needs; humour, an engrossing story, beautiful illustrations and above all the right pace and length. The giant boy in the story is called Hujo and he is ironically born to Mr and Mrs Small which sets the tale off in the manner in which it delightfully continues.

The animations are sensitively implemented and the humour made my 9 year old son and I laugh out loud the first time we played it to Alice. You can choose to read it yourself or have it read to you which I personally prefer because the narrator has a much better story telling voice than I have. She just sits there transfixed as the story plays out and it is a joy to behold for a proud Father.

I now have a new weapon in my battle to make her behave (being naughty means no Boy Giant) and this is a simple app which is fun for the whole family. Even my 9 year old happily sits there listening to the story, although he doesn’t like to admit it, and I have to say that I have been more than impressed by the releases from Wotsamaflip for the iPhone so far and look forward to many more in the future, as does my daughter.

Available now on the App Store for a mere £0.59 / $0.99.

It looks as though TomTom for the iPhone is about to get real time traffic updates and Google local search. No word yet on price for the extras, but all of the main players are starting to compare nicely on features alone.

From TUAW- “The makers of the TomTom app for the iPhone have let us know that they’ve submitted an updated version that adds real-time traffic information, Google local search, and even some secret features the company isn’t talking about yet.

The TomTom app was eagerly sought out last year, but of late has fallen a bit behind market leader Navigon. This new release, with real-time info and Google local, will give both apps rough feature parity.

The current TomTom app is on sale for U.S. $49.99 at the app store (U.S. maps only) and it includes a “free update to the new version as soon as its available.” That would indicate that some or all of the new features will be an extra charge for current owners…”

My sister-in-law phoned T-Mobile UK two days ago to cancel her contract because she wants an iPhone. Two days later she has an iPhone 3GS which she received from T-Mobile today to stop her leaving. So, the moral of the story is that if you are on T-Mobile UK and want an iPhone just ask for one. They don’t advertise the fact, but it is definately available.

The iPad will be available in the US from 3rd April (Wi-Fi edition) and you can pre-order from 12th March. Will you be putting an order in? Thanks to Trevor.

“CUPERTINO, California—March 5, 2010—Apple® today announced that its magical and revolutionary iPad will be available in the US on Saturday, April 3, for Wi-Fi models and in late April for Wi-Fi + 3G models. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.

Beginning a week from today, on March 12, US customers can pre-order both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple’s online store (www.apple.com) or reserve a Wi-Fi model to pick up on Saturday, April 3, at an Apple retail store.

“iPad is something completely new,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We’re excited for customers to get their hands on this magical and revolutionary product and connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

Starting at just $499, iPad lets users browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook—and delivers battery life of up to 10 hours.*

iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch™ interface makes surfing the web an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. You can read and send email on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard or import photos from a Mac®, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. iPad makes it easy to watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD, or flip through the pages of an ebook you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection.”

Deliverance will soon be available on both the iPhone and Android platforms and looks incredible. I have always been a fan of top down racing games, but this one ups the bar a lot. Check out the video below.

“Deliverace is a classic top-down racing game that will be released on iPhone and Android soon. It features the prettiest graphics, coolest physics and dirtiest powerslides ever seen on a handheld device.”