iPhone Software

Playing games on the iPhone can be fun, but usually it's a solitary experience. Game Center will change that some, with social features and multiplayer gaming. Problem is you're still staring at that little screen by yourself. Enter the Griffin PartyDock. The iPhone plugs right into the dock and now you're talking four-player console gaming on your iPhone.

Four controllers are stored in the dock, which charges the iPhone and provides composite or component video out to your television. Griffin is calling the PartyDock a "media and game dock" for a reason. The unit does more than just play games.

The latest version of Google Mobile for the iPhone features some great improvements, including push notification functionality. The mobile Google app (now at 0.6.0.4416) now features an icon badge with the number of unread emails on your linked Gmail accounts. Push notifications that pop up on your home screen can be sent when a calendar event is about to take place on your Google calendar schedule.

The wait is finally over for Netflix subscribers interested in streaming video on their iPhones. The highly anticipated Netflix app version 1.1.0 went live in iTunes and can be downloaded for free. Netflix subscribers now have access to their Instant Queue and can watch movies using a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection.

Movies that are interrupted can be continued on the iPhone later or on other devices such as an iPad or a computer. The new iOS app is a universal app, meaning it also works on the Apple iPad. Netflix includes high-speed scrubbing controls and switches between full letterbox format and a zoomed video view which fills more of the iPhone screen.

According to Oprah Magazine, StumbleUpon is not only the most addictive website ever, it's also the "greatest thing ever invented." Well now you can have all this on your iPhone with the StumbleUpon app. The app will look familiar if you're one of StumbleUpon's almost 11 million members.

With an embedded browser, the StumbleUpon toolbar has thumbs up and thumbs down buttons along with a home button and random stumble option. In order to use the app you must have a registered account with StumbleUpon. What sets the iPhone app apart from the desktop version is a focus on mobile-web specific features and content.

Apple has launched FaceTime video calling with every iPhone 4. All that's required is a Wi-Fi connection and a person on the other end of the line running the same setup. There are many things you can do to get the most out of your FaceTime calling experience.

First of all, to test your setup and get some personalized instruction, you can call an Apple representative using FaceTime at 1-888-FACETIME. Make sure you're connected to Wi-Fi before you dial. When you're ready to video chat with your friends and family, check out this list of tips: