PURCHASE: Smartwrap

Since the iPhone functions as a phone unlike my previous iPod touch, I can't wrap my earphones around the iPhone itself.   So I bought this so I can wrap my earphones.  This way, I can stop trying to untangle the cords every time I pull it out of my pocket.  

Of course, I got the white one.  Let's hope it stays white for some time =)

Upgrading iPod touch 1g with iBlock Speakers

I plunged down around 20 dollars to get these iBlock speakers for my iPod touch 1g the other day at an electronics store here in Tokyo.

Now my iPod touch 1g has speakers too!

What’s good about these speakers:

• They plug right into the dock connector port and the speakers stay centered with the touch. 
  
  
• This actually may be good or bad – it draws power from you iPod touch and doesn’t require batteries.
  
  
• I can’t say too much about the quality (it claims to have an active bass system), but at max volume, it’s loud enough though I should try it in a crowded place.
  
  
• The volume controls are disguised as you can see in the following picture.
  
  
  

With the speakers, I realized for the first time that there are sounds when you get a new mail and when you send a mail with the touch.  And it’s cool to know that the sounds are the same as the Mac OS X Mail application.  These speakers also have enough volume to share video and music  when I'm at a friend's house.  Lastly, now I don’t have to wear earphones to hear the music in the games like Super Monkey Ball.

I got a white one, but it seems like the black one might look better with the touch. Urgh!!!  Well, at least it's a shiny white gadget.  

Anyway, below is a picture of the packaging, and thanks for reading!

Another new iPhone commerical in Japan from SoftBank and Apple

See for yourself below:

Unboxing SwitchEasy Colors iPhone 3G Case

For now, I'm going with the SwitchEasy Colors iPhone 3G Case (my previous blog post about it is here).  I was originally going to get the white one, but many people complained that it got dirty easily and yellows rather quickly.  Instead, I settled for orange, which is the theme color of the online songwriting tool project I'm working on.  

I bought it for around 15 dollars here in Japan.  It came with 2 protective films for the screen and even covers for earphones.  So far it's doing what it's suppose to do, and does a nice job of protecting the entire phone.  The protruding home button may get in the way when pressing the space button, which is right above the button.  It isn't really a big issue and I haven't accidentally press the home button yet (plus, it'll take more then a tap to actually press the button).  You might want to be careful if you have big thumbs though =)

And here are some pics:

iPhone 3G Unbox Pics

The bag and the iPhone.

The iPhone 3G... let's get you out of there!

Wooo...

The cables and stuff.  A new USB adapter will be sent to me because the one in the box was recalled.  

And yes! The SIM card eject tool...

Another look at the iPhone 3G

And a look at its shiny white back side!

Good bye Nokia ;-) , and HELLO iPhone :-)

OMG!!! My iPhone data transfer fees are 192,123 yen ($1,900)!!!

Ok. That’s how much I’d have to pay if I didn’t have an unlimited data plan. I sure got worried and surprised when I first saw it.

Apparently, this is the number before the unlimited data plan is applied. I guess that’s SoftBank’s way of saying – look! That’s how much you saved!

Free 24 CTU ringtone for your iPhone

While looking for a ringtone for my iPhone, I came across a free 24 CTU ringtone for the iPhone here via TUAW.  

UPDATE: A reader pointed out another one at CTU24-Ringtone.com.  Thanks!