Items tagged with iPhone 3G
Jobs wasn't exactly apologizing at the much-anticipated iPhone conference today, but he did acknowledge that the iPhone 4's reception problem when gripped a certain way. An actual hardware fix may or may not be in the works; according to Jobs it's impossible to redesign the antenna without also marring the phones aesthetic. "We're not perfect," Jobs told reporters. "Phones aren't perfect either," adding "but we want to make all of our users happy...It's very hard to escape the conclusion that there is a problem," Jobs said, "but that problem is affecting a very small percentage of our users." The conclusion that the problem is only affecting a small number of iPhone users (0.55 percent) rests...
Read more...
Apple products are often hailed with words like 'genius,' 'revolutionary,' or 'game-changing,' but the company's desire to push the envelope has had an unexpected impact on iPhone 4 owners who are left-handed. Unlike previous iPhones, the iPhone 4's antennae are engineered directly into the steel frame of the phone itself. While right-handed users have no problems, left-handed users who cup the phone with their left hand lose 3-4 bars of signal strength. In many cases, this may be enough to terminate a call altogether. Whether or not your call is dropped appears to depend on just how strong the signal is to begin with. Apple hasn't publicly commented, but the problem appears to effect 3G signals...
Read more...
Try to purchase an iPhone 3G right now. Go on, we'll wait. Done yet? You sure are, because it's not happening if you're turning to Apple. The phone, which has long since been priced at just $99 on contract ever since the iPhone 3GS took over the $199 on contract spot, has finally become unavailable to order from Apple's own website. Usually, something like this wouldn't cause too much fuss, but it's the timing here that's interesting. Tonight is the evening before the WWDC expo kicks off in California, with Steve Jobs slated to take the stage. We have already been told by Apple to expect a lot of details surrounding iPhone OS 4.0, but most in the industry are expecting more than just software...
Read more...
At least until iPhone OS 4 ships, probably the single biggest complaint with Apple's smartphone is its inability to multitask. That will change in the coming months, and so too will several other shortcomings be addressed (like managing apps with Folders), but if you just can't shake that Android-envy on your new iPhone 3G, you're not completely out of luck. David Wang, better known as "planetbeing," has ported Google's increasingly popular Android platform over to the latest iPhone. Within a few days, Wang will have put together packaged binaries and instructions for 3G owners to follow in his footsteps, and when he does, you'll be able to use the Android OS to do everything from download/install/run...
Read more...
It's sort of funny when think about it. The iPhone accessory market seems to be nearly as big as the phone itself; it's rare to find an iPhone owner with no accessories whatsoever, and with that large touch screen, many people are looking for ways to protect that panel and the corners surrounding it. It's no surprise to find that iPhone cases are amongst the most popular peripherals to buy for them, and quite a few companies have tried their hand at it. Mophie really jump-started the battery-case craze with the Juice Pack, and later, the Juice Pack Air. Now, another company is coming forward with something similar, but the twist here is that the MiLi Power Skin is the world's thinnest external...
Read more...
If the cost of the iPhone and its corresponding service plan has deterred you from purchasing Apple's popular phone, you'll like this. Katy Huberty, a prominent analyst with Morgan Stanley, expects Apple to introduce a new iPhone in June that will be more economically friendly to its customers. Huberty claims the cost of the iPhone hardware is the biggest barrier to greater iPhone adoption. The service plan is also a large barrier that's deterring adoption. In addition to her predictions that a new iPhone will have a lower total cost of ownership, Huberty is also claiming the new iPhone could include gesture-based functionality. "We expect Apple to launch new iPhones in June that offer both a...
Read more...
Belkin has been doing quite well in the iPod and iPhone accessory market, and today's announcement should be music to the ears of those who don't feel like installing any kind of sophisticated iPod adapter into their automobile. Sure, many new vehicles have iPod support from the factory, but older models were never designed to handle Steve's most popular products ever.The TuneCase Auto LIVE is one of the most elegant FM Transmitter solutions that we've seen to date for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, as it actually uses the phone's GPS module in order to locate where you are and track down the most open radio frequency available to you. Anyone who has used an FM Transmitter will know that finding...
Read more...
AT&T hasn't earned the greatest reputation since the launch of the iPhone. Most users in huge cities complain of reception issues, dropped calls and lackluster 3G response. Some folks aren't griping, but you don't have to look hard to find someone who isn't fond of the carrier. In fact, many are only sticking with AT&T due to its death grip on Apple's iPhone. And for as many iPhone apps that have been rejected for one reason or another, it's somewhat interested that this one was let through. In fact, it looks as if AT&T is supporting this, though many are chuckling at its presence rather than seeing it as the tool it was designed to be. Essentially, the Mark The Spot application is...
Read more...
If you ever had any doubts about just how important the iPhone 3G and 3GS is in the grand landscape of consumer electronics, let them be admonished. Joby, the company famous for producing small, mobile, flexible tripods for those on a budget, has just introduced the newest critter in its lineup. The target product? Not a camera. A cameraphone.Yep--Joby's Gorillamobile has its eyes on the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS alone, bringing the tried and true bendable legged-tripod to Apple's newest smartphones. For those unaware of how these things work, users simply attach their phone via the built-in case, position the three-legged stand however they please (wrapping around poles is perfectly acceptable)...
Read more...
If there's ever been an iPhone app that runs a good chance of being blocked at the point of entry, it's this. Real has just submitted its Rhapsody app to the App Store for approval, and if it passes, it'll bring an all new source of music to iPhone users everywhere. In fact, it'll be the "fully on-demand subscription music library app on the iPhone," but of course, one could easily argue that this functionality is already available through the iTunes app. Particularly if you're getting your checks from Apple. If all goes well, users will get full access to Rhapsody's eight million songs, all of its radio stations and the ability to create your own playlists right on the iPhone itself. Heck, the...
Read more...
AT&T used its Twitter page to let us know that it has dropped the price on the refurbished 8GB iPhone 3G to just $49, while supplies last. The Twitter posting suggests visiting att.com to order. The $49 price tag is half the price of an unopened 8GB model. If you’re looking for a 3G capable iPhone and don’t need the faster specs and better camera of the new iPhone 3GS, this could be a good deal. Of course, you’ll still be required to sign up for a two-year contract. AT&T’s site tells us a bit more about refurbished phones: Refurbished phones are previously owned devices that have been unused or lightly used and returned during the 30-day trial period. Each refurbished phone is independently...
Read more...
This week is earnings week for a slew of technology outfits, and there's one in particular that Wall Street was waiting for: Apple. During what's likely the worst recession since the Great Depression, analysts and consumers alike were eager to hear how the tech world's darling made out in the quarter ending June 27th. Needless to say, Apple blew away any and all expectations.With the market on a rebound and morale heading north, Apple added fuel to the good-news fire with its fiscal 2009 third quarter earnings. So, just how good were things? Oh, it was only Apple's best-ever non-holiday quarter in terms of revenue and earnings. You read that correctly -- during a time where spending was down...
Read more...
Can you say "unprecedented growth?" We had to pick our jaws up off of the floor just 1.5 months ago when Apple announced that it had surpassed one billion downloads in its heralded (and oft copied) App Store, and now--just days after this very store celebrated its first birthday--the California-based company is dusting off the party hats once more. Merely hours after the App Store turned 1, Apple announced that a whopping 1.5 billion App Store downloads had taken place. Let's do a little math here. It took around 11 months to notch 1 billion, and just 1.5 months to snag the next half billion. At this rate, Apple will double up that 1 billion in no time flat, and by the time the store turns 2,...
Read more...
Quite a poignant announcement, not because of the content, but because of the messenger. Apple’s money making iPhone franchise has now sold over 1 million iPhone 3G S devices, announced the company today.Just three days into the iPhone 3GS rat race, Steve Jobs himself - back from a life-threatening health problem - has come forward to announce the record sales and Palm Pre-squashing factoid that the iconic Apple device is an overwhelmingly sales hit. “Customers are voting and the iPhone is winning,” said Jobs, “With over 50,000 applications available from Apple’s revolutionary App Store, iPhone momentum is stronger than ever.”The iPhone 3GS starts at $199 for the 16GB version and $299 for the...
Read more...
Some may view smartphones as a necessity, but that doesn’t mean users are happy about the costs associated with the phone’s monthly data plan. iPhone users are especially among this group who don’t like the pricey data plans required for the phone. As the wireless industry continues to address the downturn in customer spending by offering lower priced service plans and phones, AT&T is holding its ground with the iPhone and required data plan that accompanies the phone despite increasing pressure from the industry and from consumers. Last month, AT&T wireless chief Ralph de la Vega said the company was considering a lower tier service plan for the iPhone that could include limits on how...
Read more...
It’s been hyped and anticipated for months. Now, the new iPhone 3G S is finally being unveiled. Announced today at WWDC, the newest iPhone features improved speed and performance. More specifically, the iPhone 3G S is up to twice as fast as iPhone 3G because the iPhone 3G S takes advantage of the OpenGL ES 2.0 standard for stunning high-quality 3D graphics. The new iPhone 3G S also supports 7.2 Mbps HSDPA for faster networking speeds.Additional features of the new iPhone include longer battery life, hands free voice control, and a high-quality 3 megapixel autofocus camera with video recording capabilities. The new voice control features of the iPhone 3G S let you control both the iPhone and the...
Read more...
This, friends, is the definition of "caught between a rock and a hard place." You see, AT&T is desperate to hang on to its iPhone exclusivity, particularly now that Verizon Wireless is reportedly looking to coerce Apple into producing a version for its CDMA network. On one hand, keeping the iPhone close to the chest enables AT&T to net loads of new customers; on the other, it forces the carrier to continually upgrade its networks to handle the influx of data usage. A tough spot to be in, clearly.According to a new report in The Wall Street Journal, 5.9 million iPhone 3G handsets were activated on AT&T's network in the past three months, which amounts to a substantial 7.5% of its total...
Read more...
If you thought the iPhone rumors would die down awhile after hearing that the next version may wind up with 802.11n support, you thought wrong. A new report from Barclays Capital analyst Ben Reitzes has fueled the raging fire further, asserting that Apple looks to be shoring up iPhone 3Gs to sell off before the introducing of something new in June.For those somewhat out of the loop, Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference is slated to take place in early June, and it was this very event last year which saw the introduction of the current iPhone 3G. While we'd suggest taking everything this guy says with a pinch of salt, he's forecasting a "robust new product cycle for iPhones," not to mention...
Read more...
Best Buy is offering a significant discount to members of its Reward Zone loyalty points program, for one week only. From Feb. 22 to Feb. 28, those who were members prior to Feb. 21st can get $50 off an iPhone 3G, or $100 off if you are a Premier Silver Member. Premier Silver Members are those who have spent $2,500 at Best Buy during a single calendar year; they are automatically upgraded from the normal membership level. Membership is free, by the way. This brings the price of an 8GB iPhone 3G to as low as $99, while a 16GB iPhone 3G would be $199 for a Premier Silver Member. These are discounts for new phones, not refurbished ones, as well. It's in-store only, however, and requires the obvious...
Read more...
Another day, another iPhone 3G "oops." Apple has just recently released the 2.1 software upgrade for the iPhone 3G, which seems to have fixed many of the issues with the device's 3G performance. While it dodged a bullet in terms of recalling millions of phones, it still has to make a major recall: millions of the small, square-shaped power adapters shipped with the phones.As Apple said on the recall website:Apple has determined that under certain conditions the new ultracompact Apple USB power adapter's metal prongs can break off and remain in a power outlet, creating a risk of electric shock. We have received reports of detached blades involving a very small percentage of the...
Read more...
One of the biggest laments iPhone users have about the iPhone is that it lacks voice dialing. How and when that key missing feature gets added is still open to speculation, but the engineers at AT&T Labs Research have at least been cooking up a way for developers to easily implement voice controlled applications for "multimedia devices with broadband access," such as the iPhone 3G. AT&T has developed a software framework that it calls the AT&T Watson Speech Mashup. Essentially, the Watson ASR (automatic speech recognition) engine is a Web-based service that developers can provide hooks to into their applications--ergo the "mashup." When someone uses one of these apps on a supported...
Read more...
According to Apple it sold 1 million iPhone 3Gs in the first weekend of sales. It also announced 10 million downloads from the App Store, many of which were free.Apple Inc. said Monday it has sold 1 million iPhones in the three days following the release of the latest model on Friday."IPhone 3G had a stunning opening weekend," said Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive, in a statement Monday.But the launch was plagued by software problems. All the new iPhones had to connect to Apple's servers for activation, which quickly overloaded them. Lines of customers built in stores as employees were unable to get the phones working.Additionally, new software was released for the old iPhone, which...
Read more...
