As good as the iPhone’s rather limited 2mp fixed lens camera is, I’m sure there are people wanting a bit more flexibility. Conice has stepped up in manufacturing a 6×18 optical zoom lens for the iPhone to get closer to your subject. The optical zoom lens is attached to a plastic housing which also acts as a protective case for your iPhone. The box describes the optical zoom lens in better detail. Or not.

From The Box:

The new design to run of rays effectively avoid the contortion of image, and makes the wide angle, the larger luminousflux, the higher visual acutens, good for color reduction, which makes the high quality of photography.

Check it out at DealExtreme.

Announcement From JiWire:

JiWire to Provide iPhone™ and iPod touch Users with First Ever Ad-Supported Free Wi-Fi Access

JiWire Wi-Fi Advertising Network Members to Offer “Ads for Access”™ Payment Alternative at Premium Airports, Hotels, Cafes

SAN FRANCISCO, January 15, 2008 - JiWire, the leading provider of Ads for Access at premier Wi-Fi locations, today announced that members of the JiWire Wi-Fi Advertising Network are offering iPhone and iPod touch users the option to connect to Wi-Fi networks for free in exchange for viewing a JiWire-supplied advertisement. The option will be available at select Wi-Fi hotspots located in airports, hotels, cafes, and other desirable locations around the world. Major airports include Atlanta-Hartsfield, JFK and LaGuardia in New York and Chicago’s O’Hare. Members of the JiWire Wi-Fi Advertising Network collectively operate more than 100,000 hotspots.

The JiWire Wi-Fi Advertising Network enables cutting-edge advertisers to target an affluent, technology-savvy demographic by device (i.e., PC vs. iPhone vs. other Wi-Fi-enabled device), creating uniquely valuable marketing opportunities and enabling “Ads for Access” Wi-Fi business models. Charles Schwab and HBO will be among the first to deliver advertising to iPhone users under the arrangement announced today.

“By 2011, more than 500 million Wi-Fi-enabled mobile consumer devices will be in the market,” said Daryl Schoolar, senior analyst, In-Stat. “JiWire’s ad model is positioned to help drive more usage of these devices at public hotspots.”

“The incredible success of the iPhone represents a tipping point in the mainstream use of handheld, Wi-Fi-connected devices,” said Kevin McKenzie, chief executive officer, JiWire. “Our Wi-Fi advertising platform is ideal for both network operators seeking suitable business models and for marketers seeking to capitalize on the unique advertising opportunities we offer.”

For more info, point your iPhone’s mobile safari browser at http://www.jiwire.com/.

It seems Brian Moore has found a novel way of using webclips, one of the new features from the 1.1.3 firmware update, by making a photo gallery on an iPhone. It’s a clever idea but methinks I made the right decision by not upgrading. You play with your gallery now while I go and play iPhysics on my iPhone, mmmkay? Just kidding Brian. Very creative.
Source: TUAW
* Update: It seems one of the commenters of the post from TUAW has enabled a way to save photos saved as webclips into speed dial buttons. Read the comments of the post for details.*

Here are my speed dials using my photos with Open Url.

Here’s a cool concept born out of Miami Ad School Europe by David Aronson and Juri Zaech using the Vans brand to mock-up a Tony Hawk-esque looking game.
Source: (Notcot via Trendwatch Daily)

It seems Apple’s recommendation of making a 57×57 pixel icon for webclip bookmarks under the new 1.1.3 firmware results with a fuzzy icon and according to Playground Blues, they’ve found the sweet spot for webclip icons at 60×60 pixels. I’m not quite sure why Apple would recommend making a 57×57 pixel sized icon for webclip bookmarks when their applications icons are 59×60 pixels.