HTC yesterday outlined its disagreement with Apple’s legal actions. Earlier this month Apple sued HTC for infringing 20 iPhone patents.

We know that iPhone OS 3.2 exists and that the iPad will debut with the said firmware. There has also been evidence to support rumors of an iPhone OS 4.0 being in the works as well. So, which of the two iPhone OS versions will unify both Apple devices? According to The Loop, it might be neither.

Given the current timeline Apple is working with (iPhone OS 4.0 expected to debut this June with the release of the 4G iPhone), it’s highly likely that the particular iPhone OS which will tie-up both devices won’t be available until iPhone OS 4.1. We’ve heard a lot from iPhone OS 3.2, and it might not be made available on the iPhone given that it’s got specific features and settings that’ll only work with the iPad. Add to that the possibility of iPhone OS 4.0 becoming available as early as June, just a few months away from the release of the iPad, we’re starting to doubt it as well. With iPhone OS 4.1, on the other hand, they’ve got more than enough time to plan it out and develop it accordingly.

Anyway, this is pure speculation at the moment, and with Apple, you never really know. For what it’s worth, if ever firmware 3.2 doesn’t get released for the iPhone, I’m pretty sure there will be some resourceful folks out there who will be able to port the iPad OS to the Apple mobile phone.

[the loop via redmondpie]

Apple today announced that iPad will be available in the US on Saturday, April 3, for Wi-Fi models and in late April for Wi-Fi + 3G models. Pre-Order starts on March 12.

No, this is not an external antenna accessory for the iPhone/iPod Touch nor is it a microphone plug-in. This is actually ThinkFlood’s latest IR accessory for the iPhone, the RedEye mini. This ultra-compact Infrared (IR) dongle easily attaches to the 3.5mm jack of any iPhone/iPod Touch (and is also compatible with the upcoming iPad), and when coupled with the free RedEye app available at the App Store, allows users to convert their iPhone/iPod Touch into a universal remote.

Interested? The RedEye mini IR dongle for the iPhone/iPod Touch isn’t available yet, but has already begun shipping to 47 countries. It’ll be ready for retail through their website this spring and will cost just $49.

[thinkflood via engadget]
Head on past the break for another snapshot of the RedEye mini IR dongle.

We’ve been covering Macworld Expo for a long time. And, this year is no exception. For complete iPhone, App Store, Mac, and iPod coverage, visit TechNews.biz to see it all. We’ve got every single booth covered. TechNews.biz

(Continue reading at the link above, or visit PhoneNews.com directly)

The iPhone Dev Team has issued a warning against sites offering an iPhone 3.1.3 jailbreak for new devices such as the iPod Touch 3G and 05.12 baseband unlock in exchange for cash. It certainly sounds enticing for newbies who want to jailbreak their new iPhone/iPod Touch, but don’t be fooled, there is no such thing available right now. The PwnageTool 3.1.5 for iPhone OS 3.1.3 doesn’t work on those Apple devices that already have the new jailbreak-proof bootrom installed on it, and neither is a 05.12 baseband unlock in existence at the moment. It’s all just a scam.

On a good note, however, the team is proud to let everyone know that they’ve found a possible way to unlock the new 05.12 baseband. With that being said, it’s still too early to lay down a roadmap for this new iPhone unlock as they’ve yet to verify if it indeed works. Rest assured though, the iPhone Dev Team is hard at work in coming up with an appropriate unlock for the 05.12 baseband. All they request is some patience on everyone’s side so that no one will fall victim to scammers out there.

[via iphone dev team]

The research group iSuppli says while the iPad has met its lofty expectations and is likely to be a sales success for Apple, the jury is still out as to whether the tablet will define or redefine the technology market to the same degree the other products like Apple II, the Macintosh, the iPod and the iPhone have.

Two smartphone giants - iPhone and Nexus One - got a software update yesterday.

Apple released iPhone OS 3.1.3 for iPhone and iPod touch that improves accuracy of reported battery level on iPhone 3GS, resolves issue where third-party apps would not launch in some instantes and fixes some other bugs. Google added multitouch (pinch-to-zoom), on-board Google Goggles and new version of Google Maps to the Nexus One. 

After all the rumors and geek's dreams... I’m almost sure some people get disappointed about the device and the general consensus among the people I spoke with about the iPad is that “Wow! But is not for me,” or “It’s only for geeks.”

“It is a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” said Steve Jobs unveiling Apple’s “latest creation” yesterday in San Francisco. Although we may doubt if the iPad really brings “magic” and “revolution” to us, we have to admit the prices are unexpectedly low. Yesterday, Apple’s stocks started to climb fast only when Jobs revealed how much we’ll have to spend on the device.

Since the iPad runs on iPhone OS 3.2, it’s not surprising that iPhone owners out there are hoping to get some of the new goodness found on the iPad – more specifically split view and popovers – on to their Apple mobile phone.

Unfortunately, it’s been confirmed that these two new UI enhancements are iPad-specific and wont’ be available on either the iPhone or iPod Touch. It actually makes sense though since the iPad does boast of a larger 9.7-inch display which provides a lot more touchscreen real-estate as compared to the iPhone and iPod Touch which only comes with a modest 3.5-inch touchscreen.

On a good note though, there is a possibility that the Apple iPad might be souped up with a camera in the near future as evidenced by the Take Photo option in the iPad’s Address Book when running the updated iPhone simulator in iPad mode. There might be other reasons why such an option is there, but we’d like to believe that they’ve already laid down the groundwork on the OS to support such a feature when the hardware arrives at a later date.

[via engadget]

Two days before the long-awaited unveiling of the company’s “latest creation”, Apple revealed financial results for its Q1 2010 (ended December 26, 2009).

Apple sold 8.7 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 100 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter.

The latest rumor on the iPhone 4G is suggesting the Apple phone is going to have a complete design overhaul. Oh, it may retain its general shape and size but with a new touch-sensitive casing, the iPhone experience will be completely altered. Bloomberg reports:

“Apple’s going to put a lot of innovation, not just on the hardware, but also on the software of the new iPhone,” said Taipei-based Chen, a member of Asia’s top-ranked technology hardware research team. The handset will feature a new plastic casing similar to that used for Apple’s touch-panel Magic Mouse released last year, he said.

We’ve already heard the 5 megapixel camera and the new user interface, but we haven’t heard that the new iPhone OS may be related to an overhaul of the iTunes Store. The sensitive backing is comparable to the Apple Magic Mouse, adds Chen. Apple may incorporate the same technology in the iPhone 4G.

[bloomberg via wired]

Korea may get the iPhone 4G at the same time as the U.S. or at least, soon after the original release date. Telecoms Korea got the information from “internal sources” out of KT, the exclusive distributor of the iPhone in the country. Some specs have leaked out with this information:

• 4G iPhone will have almost double the battery life of the current iPhone 3G S.
• The new iPhone will also have a front-facing camera as well as a camera at the back.
• Korea will get video-calling for the iPhone, the first country to do so
• Mobile TV on the iPhone 4G
• iPhone 4G will be better in both hardware and software

That’s all for now, until the next “leak” or rumor.

[source]

Verizon iPhone rumors aren’t exactly new, but this latest one suggests that the Verizon-bound iPhone will have a different chip under the hood as opposed to the current models. Ashok Kumar, Northeast Securities analyst who first broke the news that Google will be selling a phone (Nexus One) direct to consumers, strongly believes that Apple is indeed building an iPhone for Verizon bundled with a Qualcomm chip. However, before you let your imaginations run wild with the prospect of a Snapdragon-based iPhone, the rumor goes on to mention that Apple is just opting to get a basic “3G wireless technology chip for EV-DO” connectivity. For comparison’s sake, the current iPhone ships with an Infineon chip.

Is this fact or fiction? We’ll probably find out once June arrives as this is the month when Apple is expected to announce the 4G iPhone and the iPhone’s exclusivity officially ends on AT&T. If you ask us, we find it hard to believe that Apple will be producing a different set of iPhone units just for Verizon. It just doesn’t make sense from a business standpoint, but hey, that’s just us. Apple could be looking at the situation differently.

[the street via unwiredview]

We’ve already seen how an iPhone can easily be paired to keyboard courtesy of the iPhone BTstack Keyboard app, and it looks like pairing a mouse is next in line. We’re not too sure though who would want to pair a Bluetooth mouse with the iPhone, but this proof of concept video shows that you can also get Apple’s new Magic Mouse to work on the iPhone as well. A little more useful, they also show off am infrared virtual keyboard working in tandem with Apple’s versatile mobile phone. Pretty interesting stuff, but unfortunately, neither app is available right now. Just treat this as a heads up of what app developers for jailbroken iPhones might have in store in the near future.

[btstack via engadget]

The hype of the new year will be the Apple Tablet, there’s little doubt, but with little to go by in terms of leaks (read “cone of silence” for Apple Tablet team) we are left to ponder what Apple’s intention is for the iTablet.

Let’s put it another way. What if the rumor–from no less a tech personage than Ex-Google exec Kai-fu Lee–that Apple has ordered 10 million iTablets from suppliers is true? Does Apple have a market segment in mind sizable enough to take home ten million units of a possibly $500 + device? My opinion: netbooks. That’s right, Apple and Steve Jobs may be gunning for the highly competitive netbook market. What’s a netbook for anyway but to surf the Web and maybe watch movie or two on a screen at least twice as big as the biggest phone screen. The iPhone and iPod Touch are simply too small to do surfing or movie watching with any real comfort for the user. Apple might just have the answer in their upcoming tablet. A device thinner than a netbook but with just as much viewing space with some Mac OS X magic added and you may have yourself a netbook killer. With the success of the iPhone, Apple has pretty much proven that users can do without a keyboard. The next logical step is for a bigger screen and a faster processor.

According to Lee, the Apple Tablet will be 10.1 inches and will support 3D graphics. Now just take a pause for a moment and imagine this. Then add some Apple special support for videoconferencing and e-books. Now imagine an entirely reworked virtual QWERTY keyboard that is ergonomically designed for fast typing (at least faster than before on a virtual keyboard), and you have a technology that is as much a game-changer as the iPhone… that will be on January 26th 2010.

iPhone credit card readers are as unique as they come. So far, Square is the only group that has one albeit still not being available to consumers, and even now has a website to promote their Square iPhone credit card payment system.

However, come CES next week, this may no longer be the case as we hear Mophie will also be coming out with a similar device of their own. There’s no name yet or working details about what they will be unveiling, but we do have this snazzy concept design above that definitely beats what Square hands down in the aesthetics department. Of course, if you’re familiar with Mophie who’s more popularly known for their battery backs and cases for the iPhone, iPod Touch and other iPod models, this shouldn’t come as a surprise anymore. We’ll have more on this once the festivities at CES begins.

[engadget via cellphones etc]

We’ve seen some iPhone keyboard hacks in the past, but this latest one, looks to be the most convenient and readily available one right now.

The BTstack Keyboard app which is now available at the Cydia store and retailing for $5 allows you to connect your iPhone to a wireless Bluetooth keyboard for some physical full QWERTY keyboard fun on your Apple touchscreen mobile phone. Needless to say since this app is only available at Cydia, you need to have a jailbroken iPhone get this app and make this work.

To jailbreak your iPhone, just pick your iPhone 3.1.2 jailbreak of choice – Geohot’s blackra1n iPhone jailbreak or the iPhone Dev Team’s PwnageTool.

[btstack keyboard via engadget]

Unlike in the US where the iPhone is still exclusively available on AT&T, those in the UK have a variety of options as to where they can get the iPhone. There’s O2, Orange, and you can even find Apple’s dear little mobile phone at Tesco Mobile, and now, you can add Vodafone to that slowly growing list. Vodafone UK will begin selling both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S in the UK on January 14th and will be free on all tariffs over £35 and £45 respectively on a 2-yr contract. For those who’d like to take advantage of the iPhone tethering feature introduced in iPhone OS 3.0, you’ll have to add an extra £5 to avail of the Vodafone’s 500MB data tethering plan. It’s really becoming quite a competitive scene over in the UK, and who knows, maybe the iPhone will also finally be announced on T-Mobile this coming June in the US.

[via bgr]

The online version of CNN Money call the Android phones, among other iPhone competitors like BlackBerry Storm and Palm Pre, iPhone copycats. David Goldman seems to think every smartphone with a touchscreen is an iPhone clone, and he may have a point. The problem is that he also exaggerates. These are iPhone clones:

• C-002 HiPhone
• SciPhone i68
• Meizu M8
• and many more

Motorola Droid, Palm Pre and Various HTC Android phones that has come out this year are iPhone competitors produced by the most well-known manufacturers of cellphone to combat the iPhone’s popularity.  Now Google is coming into the fray with Nexus One. These phones do not want to be iPhone (which would justify CNN calling them clones) but phones that want to beat the iPhone, and to a modest degree they are suceeding.

“According to the report, 17% of consumers who are shopping for a smartphone intend to buy a phone that runs Google’s (GOOG, Fortune 500) Android operating system, compared with 20% who plan to buy an iPhone. That gap is much narrower than the last study, which showed only 7% were going to buy an Android-powered phone, with 21% planning to buy an iPhone.”

Though it is quite plain the competition has gotten better, analysts has forgotten one thing: the iPhone is currently locked to one carrier, AT&T, which has made a reputation of being a problematic provider. Sure;y once Apple decides to distribute the iPhone to other U.S. carriers, the numbers above will shift significantly to Cupertino.

[read]

If ever the iPhone does become available on Verizon, data usage will definitely be up. That’s one thing that AT&T apparently wasn’t prepared for when they began selling the iPhone, and they’ve been widely criticized for it. Anthony Melone, Verizon Wireless Chief Technology Officer, didn’t confirm if the Apple iPhone will indeed be part of their 2010 line-up, but did go on to say that: “We have put things in place already. We are prepared to support that traffic.” Of course, this does nothing to strengthen or weaken the Verizon iPhone rumor, but if Apple’s little cash cow of a mobile phone does become available on AT&T’s rival, you could look back and say that this is the first concrete evidence lining out the future of the iPhone in the US. With Verizon headed down the LTE route, this likewise supports the rumor that an LTE-capable 4G iPhone will be debuting next year.

At the end of the day, sad to say, nothing’s still confirmed. For what it’s worth, this latest news bit does help fan up Verizon iPhone rumors anew.

[businessweek via bgr]

We all know that Fring allows you to connect to various IM services and also does VoIP on the iPhone, but did you know that you can now also do video calls as well? That’s right folks! The latest version of Fring for the iPhone and iPod Touch now comes with video calls albeit just being one way of course since the iPhone doesn’t have a front-facing camera. Could this possibly be one of the new features included in the upcoming 4G iPhone (aka iPhone 3,1)? Maybe, but as far as the present is concerned, you can now enjoy chatting with your Fring buddies on your iPhone while on the road face-to-face. Well, not exactly, but at least something close to that effect.

[fring via unwiredview]

Prior to the official announcement and release of the iPhone 3G S, rumors about an iPhone 2,1 in existence flooded the interwebs. Now, it seems like the circus is once again coming to town with this latest bit of news that an iPhone 3,1 has been spotted by iBart through their analytics software records that revealed that such a device was using their app. Apart from this little tidbit, we’ve got nothing else to work on, but given at how Apple has annually upgraded their iPhone, it’s not exactly surprising that a new version is already under way for next year. Anyway, it’s still a long way to go before June when a new iPhone will hopefully be unveiled so anything could happen between now and then.

For the immediate future, what we’re certainly looking forward to is a whole new bunch of leakages and insider info on what this 4G iPhone could look like and what it’ll possibly come with.

[mac rumors via engadget]

Despite facing stiff competition from veteran local players such as Samsung and LG, KT is still very optimistic about their newest offering, the iPhone, as they expect to sell around 100,000 to 500,000 units once its releases in Korea. They still haven’t announced their official pricing for it, but analysts predicts that the Korea iPhone should be priced somewhere in the 350,000 to 400,000 KRW ($300 to $345) range bundled with a contract. Given that the iPhone didn’t fare so well in Japan (only 200,000 units sold since 2008), a market somewhat similar to Korea, we’re not too sure where KT is drawing their optimism from. Anyway, with the iPhone scheduled to be released by November 28th in Korea, we’ll soon find out whether the Korean iPhone can truly be a hit for KT or not.

[yonhap news via unwiredview]

The second iPhone worm of the week carries with it a lot more risk than the first one. According to Intego Security, this new iPhone worm that is known as iPhone/Privacy.A uses the same hole that ikeeex found a few days ago to change the hacked iPhones’ background image into Rick Astley’s photo. The new iPhone worm, however, is a more serious one because it allows the hacker to install software without going through iTunes.

The new worm bypasses iTunes in jailbroken iPhones and iPod Touches and copy private data. These data include e-mail, contacts, SMSs, photos, music files, videos, calendar entries and saved data from apps. Intego explains:

Hackers using this tool will install it on a computer – Mac, PC, Unix or Linux – then let it work. It scans the network accessible to it, and when it finds a jailbroken iPhone, breaks into it, then steals data and records it.

This hacker tool could easily be installed, for example, on a computer on display in a retail store, which could then scan all iPhones that pass within the reach of its network. Or, a hacker could sit in an Internet café and let his computer scan all iPhones that come within the range of the wifi network in search of data. Hackers could even install this tool on their own iPhones, and use it to scan for jailbroken phones as they go about their daily business.

Intego recommends its own VirusBarrier X5 for the iPhone/Privacy.A malware. Also, you can simply change the SSH password. iPhone jailbreak is common to six to eight per cent of iPhone users.

[intego via mobilecrunch]

Geohot followers rejoice as your ever reliable hacker has just unleashed his latest iPhone offerings: the blacksn0w iPhone unlock and blackra1n RC3 iPhone jailbreak.

The great thing about blacksn0w is that it works on the new 05.11.07 baseband bundled with iPhone 3.1.2 firmware which the iPhone Dev Team has still yet to crack. For those who already have a jailbroken iPhone, just add blackra1n.com as a repo in Cydia to get some blacksn0w goodness. Once unlocked and you want to enable tethering, you can head on over here using your iPhone to select your carrier so that an appropriate MobileConfig file will be sent to your iPhone. Blackra1n RC3, for its part, is an improved version of his blackra1n iPhone 3.1.2 jailbreak which still works on both Windows and Mac systems.

As usual, proceed with caution in attempting this, but if you’ve been aching to jailbreak and unlock your new iPhone 3G S for the longest time, then be our guest and try this all new blackra1n RC 3 iPhone jailbreak and blacksn0w iPhone unlock out.

[blackrain, iphonejtag via engadget]

Perhaps Motorola Droid won’t be enough for Verizon. Wall Street analyst Brian Marshall is putting his money on a Verizon iPhone next year when Apple and AT&T may end their exclusivity deal.

“AT&T’s ’sweetheart’ carrier subsidy (~$450) for the iPhone would not be attainable at Verizon,” said Marshall in the note. “[But] diverse carrier support is a key element in driving global penetration of the iPhone. We believe the chances are high the iPhone will find its way onto the Verizon network in the second half of 2010.”

When Apple does stop selling the iPhone for AT&T’s GSM network, Marshall predicts Apple will lose significant chunk of the subsidy money, from the $450 per home that AT&T is giving them to only $300 when the iPhone lands on Verizon. The $300 per phone will put the Verizon iPhone on the same plane as other smartphones in network deals. In the long run, Marshall believes Apple will gain by about $7 billion, selling about 14 million iPhone by 2011. It will be AT&T’s big loss to the tune of half a million subscribers every quarter.

“Everyone is dissatisfied with AT&T on the iPhone, not only on voice, but data as well, especially in congested cities like New York and San Francisco,” said Marshall, echoing complaints that go back more than two years to the launch of the original iPhone in the summer of 2007. “If Verizon starts selling the iPhone, AT&T is going to have an issue on their hands.”

[via computerworld]

Both the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3G S will officially be available in China by the end of this month courtesy of China Unicom. However, it seems that they’re not quite content in just nabbing new iPhone owners in the country, but are also keen on cashing in on those who already own an iPhone in China despite being purchased from the grey market and jailbroken. Shanghai Unicom, a subsidiary of China Unicom, has in fact already kicked off their amnesty program that permits grey market iPhone owners to sign up with them which will, in effect, allow them to avail of all the services provided for “legal” iPhone owners such as firmware updates and access to the official App Store without having to purchase a new and more expensive iPhone . This is a pretty bold move and the first we’ve heard of from an exclusive carrier of the iPhone, and while this may directly affect their initial iPhone sales, this will definitely help drive up plan subscriptions.

How about you guys? What do you think of this iPhone amnesty program? If the official carrier in your country offers up a similar iPhone amnesty program, will you sign up for it?

[china business times via unwiredview]

With regards to suing other people for patent infringement, Apple is usually on the throwing end rather than the receiving end, but today, the tables have turned and Apple is the one being sued this time around by no less than the top dog in the mobile phone biz, Nokia. Citing that Apple Infringed on at least 10 patents for “for GSM, UMTS and wireless LAN (WLAN) standards,” Nokia didn’t go into specifics, but did, however, divulged that the patents covered wireless data, security and encryption, and speech coding. They also went on the record to say that it’s been going on since the very first iPhone so we can’t help but wonder why it took Nokia that long to file a complaint. Nonetheless, it’s here and karma has finally caught up with Apple. As far as I can remember, it’s been Apple who has been suing people left and right for patent infringement especially when it comes to the iPhone, but if true, it’s only just fitting that Apple take some of the heat as well.

[nokia press release via unwiredview]

Nokia announced that it has today filed a complaint against Apple with the Federal District Court in Delaware, alleging that Apple's iPhone infringes Nokia patents for GSM, UMTS and wireless LAN (WLAN) standards.

Nokia says the ten patents in suit relate to technologies “fundamental” to making devices which are compatible with one or more of the GSM, UMTS (3G WCDMA) and wireless LAN standards.

Overall satisfaction among smartphone owners has increased considerably over time as manufacturers continue to improve styling, feature sets, usability and software, according to the J.D. Power and Associates studies.

Apple ranks highest among manufacturers of smartphones used primarily for personal reasons, with a score of 811, and performs particularly well in ease of operation, operating system, features and physical design. LG (776) and RIM BlackBerry (759) follow Apple in the rankings.

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The Canalys “Smart phone market trends 2009/2010” report pulls together, in a concise format, qualitative analysis of key market trends, top-level market share and shipment estimates for the leading vendors, comparative analysis of vendors’ performance and evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses, and forecasts for future market development.

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The actual iPhone 3G/3GS unlock here at iPhone Unlocking Solutions.

The current generation phone, iPhone, has the features of a PC, an iPod, a digital camera and a mobile phone. It is one of the most preferred phones having features of networking and browsing. But it gets expensive to buy an iPhone because it comes with a contract of limited use and you cannot run your iPhone after some time as mentioned in the contract of its provider. Unlocking helps you to run iPhone on any carrier of your choice and it releases an iPhone from Apple’s network. It simply means you are not bound to any network to run your iPhone and your iPhone is usable even after the end of the contract. Benefits of unlocking an iPhone are that it helps you to run third party applications and play retro-games.

The Apple iPhone 3GS is one of the fastest iPhones available on the market including the 3GS 3.1, 3.0.1, and 3.0. According to them, the services of Unlock iPhone has served many customers across the globe, helps you to individualize your iPhone and it in turns enables you to run many applications on the iPhone. The website provides detailed information about unlocking an iPhone. You can get extensive information related to iPhones on the website.

The methods mentioned in the resources provided by the website ensure that all the previous features of iPhone are retained and extra features enabled. The solution of Unlock iPhones comes with a money back guarantee of 15 days. In case you find any difficulty in unlocking iPhone you can contact the support staff to get a satisfactory help. You can even read the various clients’ reviews and ensure the credibility of the procedure followed by the website.

Above is a Guest Article: PMP Today has not tested the unlocking software mentioned. It is not a jailbreak solution but an unlock solution.

Are you using your iPhone 3G to connect to Microsoft Exchange? Well, here’s a reason for you not to upgrade to iPhone OS 3.1.1 aside from it shutting the door on your unlocked iPhone.

Apple has just confirmed that new firmware also comes with an Exchange ActiveSync mailbox policy that now requires encryption on the device which, unfortunately, the original iPhone and iPhone 3G doesn’t come with. Only the iPhone 3G S supports this feature.

The solution? Ruling out the option of having to shell out your hard earned cash to buy the new iPhone 3G S, you’ll have to contact your Exchange Server administrator and hope that they’re amendable to turning off device encryption. That’s probably a long shot so the next best and most likely to work solution is to just lay off the iPhone OS 3.1.1 upgrade until a workaround is available.

[apple via engadget]

“Smart phones continue to shine as one of the brightest spots of the technology industry, with shipments growing despite the global recession,” says the recent Canalys’ report on the Q2 key smartphone market trends.

The report shows that Nokia maintains global lead, Apple’s success continues, as the iPhone takes 23% of the North American market and RIM continues to gain share, succeeding with its push into the consumer market. Touchscreens become the preferred interface, representing 40% of all shipments.

You probably know by now that the iPhone now comes with a ‘Find My iPhone’ feature (courtesy of iPhone 3.0), and if you’re still skeptical about its usefulness in the real world setting, this story might change your mind. An unnamed victim who was robbed of his wallet and iPhone was actually able to use this neat little iPhone feature, and more importantly, helped the cops apprehend the suspects behind the crime. Of course, if you own an iPhone, you also probably know that this doesn’t work right off the bat and that a MobileMe subscription is actually required to take advantage of this service, but as you can, even though this isn’t really free, there are some substantial benefits you can reap from it.

[full story via bgr]

If you’re on T-Mobile in the UK and want to own an iPhone 3G, all is not apparently lost for you despite the iPhone being exclusive to O2 in the country.

Apparently, T-Mobile is now selling unlocked iPhone 3G units (not the iPhone 3G S) to select high-spending subscribers. This is what customers who have a monthly bill of at least £75 and managed to catch a very generous rep while threatening to walk out on T-Mobile have experienced.

It should be noted, though, that supply is quite limited per week. Only 150 iPhone 3G units are in stock per week as T-Mobile is currently importing them from Germany where T-Mobile is the partner carrier and also being careful so as not to violate any terms and conditions their contract with Apple stipulates. O2 has not yet commented on this brazen move by T-Mobile to encroach on their territory in the UK, but as far as legality is concerned, T-Mobile hasn’t crossed the line yet.

[via bgr]

The theoretical iPhone virus has just gotten very real. Researchers Charles Miller and Collin Mulliner said the iPhone virus could be sent throught text messages. If your iPhone receives an SMS message with one character, turn off your iPhone immediately. On an infected iPhone, the sender of the virus takes total control remotely and can make calls, surf and send SMS through the infected iPhone.

“This is serious. The only thing you can do to prevent it is turn off your phone. Someone could pretty quickly take over every iPhone in the world with this.”

The iPhone text virus is not a typical virus but a vulnerability in the iPhone OS. The hack is possible because of the way the iPhone does texting. There’s no word from Apple about a possible patch.

Miller and Mulliner demonstrated how to hijack the iPhone via texting to CNET. They said they have notified Apple six weeks ago…

For the attack to work, an attacker must send hundreds of SMS control messages, which are different from regular SMS messages, according to Miller. Only the initial SMS may be seen, he said.

Asked what an iPhone user can do when attacked, Miller replied: “Rebooting wouldn’t be a bad idea. It would stop all but the most sophisticated attacker. However, it doesn’t take but a second to grab all your personal info from the device, and as soon as you turn it back on, the bad guy could attack you again. That’s why I think this is so serious.”

[source]photo: cnet

Filed under: Handsets, Misc, Apple

Foxconn hasn't exactly been helping itself much lately in the sad case of an employee of the company who committed suicide after apparently misplacing an iPhone prototype, with it first noting that the worker had a history of misplacing such prototypes, and then going on to offer his family a rather meager compensation of $44,000 and a free Apple laptop. It now looks to be trying to improve things somewhat, however, with a Foxconn official saying that the company has now agreed to pay Sun Danyong's parents 360,000 yuan (or about $52,600) in compensation up front, plus an additional 30,000 yuan (or $4,385) every year thereafter. Of course, that official is speaking on the condition of anonymity, so things could still well change, and it goes without saying that this likely won't be the last we hear of this story.

Foxconn increases compensation to family of worker who committed suicide originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Software, iPhone OS

Developers now have access to beta 3 of iPhone OS 3.1, suggesting that the latest revision is inching ever closer to a rumored September release. The big news here might be support for video APIs, making augmented reality apps (among others that need... you know, video) a distinct possibility -- and knowing the App Store, you'll be flooded with them in no time.

iPhone OS 3.1 beta 3 out now originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Apple

Foxconn claims employee who committed suicide had history of misplacing prototypes, does nothing for its case originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, RIM, T-Mobile, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, BlackBerry OS

Sadly enough, this is pretty much par for the course with RIM. We talk about a BlackBerry for months on end, and after everyone grows acquainted with its features via less-than-official sources, the company finally confesses. At any rate, the long-awaited BlackBerry Curve 8520 (which may or may not go by Gemini on T-Mobile) has finally found a dedicated landing page on its maker's website, and while the list of specifications aren't a surprise, there is one thing that caught our eye. Alongside the 2 megapixel camera, video recording mode, WiFi radio, 1,150mAh battery (which is good for 4.5 hours of talk time or 17 days in standby), a fairly robust multimedia player and a 320 x 240 resolution display, RIM also promises "out of the box Mac compatibility." Specifically, we're told that users will be able to "sync contacts, calendars and notes" by using BlackBerry Desktop Software on Apple computers. Of course, when clicking for more information, we're simply ported over to a page informing us that the Mac-specific version of the aforesaid platform won't arrive until September. So, is the 8520 special, or is that August 5th ship date around 30 days off?

Update: RIM just confirmed the T-Mobile USA release date: it's August 5th for $48.88 (from Walmart, anyway) on a two-year agreement. Guess we'll see just how legitimate that Mac claim is here soon, huh?

[Thanks, Marcus]

Continue reading RIM officially intros BlackBerry Curve 8520, promises "out of the box" Mac compatibility

RIM officially intros BlackBerry Curve 8520, promises "out of the box" Mac compatibility originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's App Store has hit the 1.5 billion download mark just a few days after celebrating its first anniversary.
iTunes now has more than 65,000 apps available in 77 countries, with over 100,000 developers registered with the iPhone Developer Program.

INTERVIEW: Mobile operators are searching for new and innovative ways to generate revenues beyond service plans.
Julien Oudart, sales and marketing director for French mobile advertising company Sofialys, tells smartphone.biz-news about the opportunities open to carriers from opt-in subscriber databases.

It’s now the iPhone Dev Team’s turn to release an iPhone 3G S jailbreak via redsnow v0.8. Aside from jailbreaking the iPhone 3G, 1G/2G iPod Touch, and unlocking the 1G iPhone, redsnow is now also capable of jailbreaking the iPhone 3G S. This latest redsnow release is also the first version that works on Linux platform. You are, however, still advised to stay away from upgrading to firmware 3.1, if the temptation arises, as this will render ultrasnow incapable of unlocking your iPhone.

On the good side, though, iPhone 3G S owners won’t have a problem jailbrekaing their phone in the future regardless of any new updates Apple might release just as long as they have their personalized (signed) dfu/img3 files. Detailed instructions on how to go about getting this can be found here. We’re not exactly sure if this is better than purplera1n so if you do get a chance to try this out, do share with us your experience with this new redsnow iPhone 3G S jailbreak.

[redsnow torrents; via iphone dev-team blog]

Filed under: Messaging, Apple, iPhone OS

Way back in the heady days of 2007, there was an iPhone without 3G data (hard to believe, we know, but trust us -- we were there). This iPhone, though revolutionary in some ways, was marred by the love-hate relationship its users suffered for missing out on some very basic features that they'd grown used to on mobiles of yore. One of those missing features, of course, was MMS -- and now, some two years later, here we are with a truly integrated MMS experience courtesy of the all-powerful hacking community. Granted, there have been MMS apps available for ages, but there's a difference: this is the same action 3G and 3GS owners are getting in conjunction with OS 3.0, which Apple curiously decided to hold back from original iPhone owners. As you might imagine, getting this going on your own phone is marginally more complicated than downloading from the App Store, so here's the question, you non-upgraders: just how badly do you want it?

[Thanks, Paul]

Stock-looking MMS support hacked onto 2G iPhone originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: LG, Motorola, Nokia, RIM, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Accessories

While the free-market works pretty well when, uh, left alone to be free, sometimes it needs a push from a visible hand. Case in point, phone chargers, at the moment some 30 different types of chargers are used on handsets throughout Europe. Today, the European Commission received industry backing of its phone charger standard that relies on a micro-USB socket. The standard is now backed by all the majors (representing 90% of the European mobile market) including Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola, Apple, LG, NEC, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, Samsung and Texas Instruments with compatible devices starting to appear in Europe next year. Or course, the micro-USB charger standard already has the blessings of CTIA, OMTP, and GSM Association which implies a broader adoption beyond Europe, someday. One charger for any mobile phone... where's the catch?

Nokia, Apple, RIM and others agree on micro-USB phone charger standard for Europe originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Apple

Apple's guided tour videos have featured an endless variety of creepy-android perfect "Apple Store employees" in the recent past, but we'd just like to take a moment and pour one out for OG Bob Borchers, who kicked off the entire series in 2007 with the original iPhone tours and followed 'em up with the iPhone 3G tour. Bob's leaving his post as Apple's senior director of worldwide iPhone product marketing to join VC group Opus Capital -- yeah, it's not hard gadget news, but we're getting a little misty on Sunday evening remembering how closely we all watched those initial demos looking for any tiny nuggets of information about the then-mysterious platform. Peace out, Bob -- it's been a ride. Video after the break.

Continue reading Bob the Apple guided tour guy leaves for greener pastures

Bob the Apple guided tour guy leaves for greener pastures originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As expected, the iPhone Dev Team has released the redsn0w jailbreak tool for the first generation iPhone and iPhone 3G/iPod Touch via PwnageTool 3.0 for Mac OS X. Now for the caveats: 1. redsn0w will only jailbreak and unlock the first-generation...

(Continue reading at the link above, or visit PhoneNews.com directly)

You’re probably aware that the iPhone 3.0 update is now ready for download. The iPhone 3G S is likewise now available in the US and several other countries slowly making its route across the globe, and just like in the past, the iPhone Dev Team is not far behind. They’ve just announced that an iPhone 3.0 jailbreak is now available albeit being limited to the PwnageTool and for Mac use only. The Windows and QuickPwn version will follow soon .

They do post a few reminders before you proceed to jailbreak your newly updated iPhone. First, and most important of all, do not upgrade to iPhone 3.0 if you rely on yellowsnow. This iPhone 3.0 jailbreak does not include ultrasnow which is needed to unlock 3.0-running iPhones and neither is yellowsnow capable of doing so. Second, this current iPhone 3.0 jailbreak will not work with the iPhone 3G S. It is, however, compatible with the 1G iPhone, iPhone 3G, and 1G iPod Touch. So, if you’re more than ready to start jailbreaking anew, then start downloading the iPhone 3.0 jailbreak now (bittorrent files can be found at their blog).

[via iphone dev-team blog]

The iPhone Dev Team group of skilled and intrepid firmware developers have announced that they will demonstrate a fully working version of the yellowsnow unlock tool for the official build of iPhone OS 3.0 which will be available for download on Wednesday and released as default on the iPhone 3G S.

This development is notable as the DevTeam is known for quick and fully functional releases of their venerable unlock tools in PwnageTool and QuickPwn for Mac and Windows respectively not long after Apple releases major and minor software updates for iPhone.

The Dev Team does stress that little information on unlock tool development for the 3G S will be released, owing to Apple’s ability to patch any exploits that might be found after release of the hardware via constant development updates.

Update: As promised, the Dev Team has demonstrated the new unlock tool for iPhone 3.0 on iPhone/iPhone 3G, now known as ultrasn0w.

Click for full-size

The unlock is planned to be available on Friday barring any last-minute issues.

The Docs 2 Go iPhone app maybe affordable, but its editing features are only limited to Word files. The new Quickoffice Mobile Office Suite, however, takes things further by including Excel editing as well. Complete with cut/copy/paste, redo/undo, highlighting, and a host of font customization (style, size, color, etc), this iPhone office suite will certainly help you get more done on your itsy-bitsy Apple mobile phone.

[itunes; engadget via cellphones etc]
More after the break.

You can also work in landscape mode, and also provides emailing options. However, everything starts from a computer first, not on the iPhone. With either a Mac or PC, you first need to connect to the iPhone through Wifi using a desktop client, and create a folder wherein all your mobile documents will be stored. This will appear in the iPhone in just a matter of seconds. After which, you can simply click and drag files into the folder if you wish to take it on the road with you. Likewise, thanks to automatic 2-way syncing, any new files you create on your iPhone will also appear on your computer as well.

It’s really a very capable mobile office suite for the iPhone, but be warned, this doesn’t come cheap. The Quickoffice suite for the iPhone retails for $19.99. Nonetheless, if you’re looking for a truly versatile productivity app for the iPhone that doesn’t skimp out on features, then this is the one for you.

Google has announced improvements to its Mobile Gmail implementation for the iPhone and Android devices with hardware keyboards.

On the iPhone, auto-completion has been accelerated when typing in the name and address fields, while Android users using the HTC Dream can now take advantage of GMail keyboard shortcuts.

Shortly after the unveiling of the iPhone 3G S, the FCC has released the requisite approval documentation. The iPhone 3G S builds on the iPhone 3G with a processor two orders of magnitude faster than the 3G, tri-band HSPA 7.2 support, GPS with...

(Continue reading at the link above, or visit PhoneNews.com directly)

Filed under: Handsets, Apple

Look, we're not definitely saying that Apple's gonna announce a new iPhone in 16 and 32GB capacities on Monday -- we'll leave that sort of certainty to Unkie Walt -- but we will say that the evidence is starting to get overwhelming. Today's whispers bring us "iPhone32gGbV3" and iPhone 16GbV3" inventory placeholders popping up in mammoth UK retailer Carphone Warehouse's systems, with each size notably coming in both black and white editions. That's the first inkling we've seen of color choices, but we're not making too much of it, since it's entirely possible whoever entered this info was just hitting all the possibilities. We're also not seeing anything to indicate that rumored cheaper 4GB version either, so there's a lot still up in the air as we get closer to the Philnote -- keep a sharp eye, we'll let you know.

"iPhone V3" placeholders pop up in Carphone Warehouse systems -- white model coming too? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Apple, iPhone OS

Let's just be totally honest with each other here: Walt Mossberg probably has a new iPhone that none of us have ever seen. In fact, he could very well have two or more, depending on exactly what Apple intends to unveil at WWDC next week. We doubt the guy's actively trying to blow Apple's cover, but he's been surprisingly candid in the past ahead of press embargoes both on the original model and the 3G, so it's anyone's guess what's really going on in that mind of his -- other than proper goatee grooming techniques, obviously -- and there's a little gem in his just-released Pre review that gives us pause:

"Whether the Pre is better than the iPhone depends on your personal preferences, though I'd note that the new iPhone to be unveiled next week will have lots of added features that could alter those calculations."

Now granted, Walt could simply be talking about all the great stuff 3.0 will bring to the platform, but we tend to think there's something a little more revealing afoot here -- the notion that the new iPhone is awesome enough to potentially tip the scale against the Pre for some cross-shoppers. Whether it's the rumored 3.2 megapixel AF camera, the integrated radio tuner, the OLED display, the faster processor, the butter pecan ice cream dispenser, or some totally unknown stuff that has him fired up, we don't know -- but we wouldn't be surprised if Palm execs were furiously refreshing our liveblog of Schiller's keynote come next Monday.

Update: Reading further into the review, Walt continues to walk the fine line between harmless speculation and thinly-veiled news leakage, saying that new iPhone hardware will be "likely available within a month." He also goes on to mention that it'll "likely" lack a physical keyboard, quashing a longstanding rumor that's gone quiet in recent months.

Mossberg on new iPhone: it'll have "lots of added features," available within a month? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Apple, iPhone OS

WWDC can't possibly come soon enough at this point, with the usual endless array of random, oft-conflicting iPhone rumors being tempered only somewhat by the impending release of its archrival, the Pre. Meanwhile, though, we're once again on cleanup duty -- and the latest batch of rumors brings us a new alleged shot of the phone (or one of them, anyway, assuming there are multiple models coming down the pike). If we had to guess, this is supposed to be a graphic you'd see on Apple's web store, and while the black border coincides with everything we believe to be true about the new gear, the "Available today" text there gives us pause -- Apple really hasn't pulled that kind of instant-inventory stunt lately and we've been led to believe from the previous two iPhone launches that it's basically impossible to make it happen with that kind of device.

Moving on, spelunking through iTunes' inner workings has yielded more evidence that suggest Apple will introduce Nike+ support -- a feature arguably long overdue on the iPhone -- and some sort of FM radio tagging, though it's not clear whether it'll be used with an integrated tuner (a rumored feature) or simply as a memory-jogger when listening to another radio. Our money is on the former. Finally, we have what appear to be some screen shots of iPhone 3.0's new parental control system for applications in action, showing exactly what happens when you try to install some sick, lewd, objectionable material from the App Store -- check out our little gallery below for that.

[Thanks, ascen]


Read - Sketchy screenshot shows new model?
Read - FM radio tagging and Nike+ support suggested

Apple iPhone 3.0 rumor roundup, part II: parental controls and sketchy shots originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I?ll be the first to admit, these photos aren?t exactly the best of quality, but you can?t deny the fact that it can actually be one of the new iPhones. It appears to have an autofocus camera, built-in compass, and MMS all of which have been reported to be in the latest iteration of the iPhone. Of course, this could also just be images loaded unto the current iPhone 3G, but hey, we?re more than ready to give this one a shot and be happy at the thought that we?ve gotten a sneak peak at the latest iPhone regardless of how blurry and indistinguishable these photos are. How about you guys; what do you think? Is this the new iPhone or just a sham?

[theiphoneblog via bgr]
More pictures after the break.

We?ve heard about a 32GB iPhone, but it seems that there?s more in store for use come June. The latest rumor is that Apple will not only introduce one, two or three new iPhones, but a total of six iPhone versions will be unveiled next month. They will be divided by storage capacity, 16GB and 32GB, and will offer three different radio protocols: 3G, enhanced 3G (probably HSDPA), and TD-SCDMA. We?re still clueless as to what it really looks like, but it is rumored to feature a matte casing. Likewise, a new iPod Nano is said to be in the works providing a wider 1.5:1 display, integrated camera, and a smaller click wheel. The inclusion of a camera maybe stretching it a little bit too far, but hey, this is Apple were talking about so anything?s possible. We?re expecting more news as well as rumors to surface in the coming week heading to WWDC so stay tuned for more updates.

[ilounge, theiphoneblog via bgr]

I guess spending $350 for the lowest-capacity Meizu M8 can put too much strain on on our bank accounts in this economic environment, which is what the good people of MeiLi must be thinking when they made their own version of the M8 Apple iPhone clone. The MeiLi M8 is undeniably a lookalike of the Meizu M8, a phone generally acknowledged as the finest iPhone clone there ever was. The question is if the MeiLi M8 is a Meizu M8 clone and the latter is a clone of the iPhone, then theoretically Apple can sue MeiLi for copyright infringement, too. Right?

Specs after the break. More cheap phones like the $100 touchscreen MeiLi M8 at our cheap electronics page.

[store]

MeiLi M8 specs:

• Quadband GSM/ GPRS/ WAP
• 2.8-inch touchscreen
• SMS, MMS
• Bluetooth, JAVA, MP3 and MP4 support
• camera (unspecified pixel count)
• 1200mAh battery
• Price: $99.99 (includes two batteries)

Every Filipino is proud of Manny Pacquiao?s convincing victory over the British Hitman Ricky Hatton, and if you’re one of the millions of Filipinos across the globe who want to further show your nationalistic side, then why don?t you bling out your iPhone and other portable gadgets with some Jeepney skins? This set of skins follow in the same tradition as the local jeepneys found in Metro Manila where every vehicle is adorned with lavish decorations to make it stand out from the rest of the pack. Jeepney skins does the same thing with your iPhone and PMP, but with a little Filipino flare. They even have many Pacquiao skins in their collection as well. Average price of these skins are $15. So, if you want to give your aging iPhone, PSP, PMP or mobile phone a new look, then give Jeepney skins a try and be proud that you?re a Filipino.

[via music-skins]

If you?re looking to score one of the latest and coolest games for the iPhone, we highly recommend you watch out for Gameloft?s Terminator: Salvation game for the iPhone. The video above is a sample of what you?ll be getting in their latest iPhone game, and even though we?re not exactly sure how game play will actually work on the iPhone, one thing?s for certain, it definitely doesn’t fail to impress in the graphics department. The release date as well as its price isn?t known yet, but we’re guessing it’ll probably be released in conjunction with the premier of the movie of the same name. For now, let?s all just enjoy this video demo of the Terminator: Salvation game for the iPhone until it finally goes live in the App Store.

[terminator: salvation; bgr via gizmodo]

With a launch date for Palm's much anticipated Pre still to be announced along comes news that Palm is preparing a second Pre-like handset for release this year.
The smaller and slimmer device will be pitched at a different part of the smartphone market, according to Techcrunch.

BusinessWeek is reporting that Verizon and Apple is talking about releasing media and wireless devices, not necessarily in the iPhone line, as early as this summer. The iPhone Lite, which Verizon and Apple need not call it by that name, is a less expensive phone than the iPhone.

The new iPhone-like device is slightly thinner and smaller than the existing iPhone, people say. The reason the device is much cheaper than existing iPhones is that it relies on a so-called system on a chip, which incorporates many types of chips and drives down the cost of silicon in such devices, says one source familiar with the design. This new chip could also potentially be used in the media pad. “It will have a much lower cost that will blow away the margins on the BlackBerry and the iPhone,” the person says.

The Apple Media Pad, not the real name either, will have WiFi connectivity and support for high-definition videos. A brief description of the Apple Media Pad:

“The media pad category might go to Verizon,” said the person who has seen the device. “We are talking about a device where people will say, ‘Damn, why didn’t we do this?’ Apple is probably going to define the damn category.”

Probably a direct competitor of the mintpad.

There’s no deal yet and Steve Jobs–yes, he’s the one making the moves for Apple-may just opt for a better deal with AT&T. Still Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam has spoken directly to Jobs and it can be confirmed that new mobile devices are in the works at Apple, Inc. Big year for Verizon Wireless. First rumors about a Verizon iPhone, then a Zune Phone and then a Microsoft WinMo phone and now two totally new mobile devices that Apple is going to distribute exclusive through them.

[source]

If you?re an aspiring DJ and own an iPhone, you?ll be interested to know that renowned DJ Paul van Dyk is coming out with an iPhone app of his own aptly named the PvD DJ app. It comes with a set of handy tools for DJs such as Frequency Analyzer, Decibel Meter, BPM Counter, Seismic Reader, and some fun stuff such as a Virtual Glow Stick just to name a few. Paul himself shows you the various treats his app has to offer in this video, but if you?re not into hardcore music mixing and partying, the seismic reader function looks to be quite a handy tool in detecting earthquakes and the torch features is certainly useful during blackouts at night. No word though when it?ll be released in the App Store, but rumor is that it will debut sometime in late May.

[via gizmodo]

Don’t panic yet. Though the hacker was able to run shellcode he says one will need a working iPhone exploit. ?For now, this is more of a warning than anything else,? he says. The hacker, Charlie Miller or Safari Charlie for his previous work on Apple’s Safari browser. He assures us the current iPhone OS is pretty invulnerable.

When shellcode is enabled and successfully exploited it “would enable an attacker to run whatever code they wanted on the phone… ” Again he assures us, the iPhone exploit must be found first. ?Mac OS X can run shellcode — in fact, many trojan horses exploit this ability — but this is an inherent part of the operating system. The real issue is exploits that may be able to launch this code on an iPhone, and we’re waiting for those to arise.? OK, got it.

[via arstechnica, cellular-news]

If you?re a Pogoplug user and own an iPhone, you?ll be happy to know that a Pogoplug app is now available at the App Store for your little Apple mobile phone. It lets you access your internet-connected home network drive and view its contents while on the go using your iPhone, and likewise let?s save photos from your iPhone to your drive as well. Best of all, it?s free! Of course, you do need to own a Pogoplug first to take advantage of this, but hey, if you already own one, you can go ahead and download this new iPhone app so that you can virtually take all your files with you wherever you may be going. If not, you might want to consider getting one to enjoy the added convenience of the Pogoplug.

[app store via engadget]

The people at Elan Microelectronics, maker of the eFinger Transparent Touchpad, are saying their invention is so good even Apple copied it for the multitouch iPhone. The infringement is not on one patent but on two by Elan Microelectronics. They have filed an injunction against the sales of iPhone, iPod Touch and the MacBook. According to the New York Times what may seem like a desperate move from a company with a dwindling revenues has actually won one related lawsuit against a rival. They actually have a stronger than expected case, if one asks analyst Jessica Chang:

?From their previous victory in the case with Synaptics, I think they should be quite confident,? she said, referring to Elan. ?Elan believes they have a unique edge with this patent, and they want to send a signal to the market? and set an example for others.

If you take a look at how eFinger Transparent Touchpad works, on Android this time, it might actually make you think twice next time you get the urge to call the iPhone the multitouch king.

[via engadget]

Steve Jobs may have taken a leave of absence from Apple, but it seems that he is still running the show. That?s according to a WSJ report, and he has actually played a key role in the making of iPhone firmware 3.0 and in new product development. It was also confirmed that a new iPhone and new iPod Touch model is indeed on the way, which isn?t actually that surprising anymore, but what is interesting is that a tablet Mac was also mentioned being in the works. It?s supposedly bigger than the iPhone, but a lot smaller than current laptops. Could this finally be the Macbook Nano netbook that has been rumored in the past? Well, we can only hope for now.

[wsj via crunchgear]

An analyst at the Lazard Capital Markets is now saying there will be two new iPhones soon: the 32GB iPhone we’ve mentioned before and then a low-end version that will be headed for third world countries like Brazil and China. Cheaper doesn’t mean 3G-less, because according to the analyst Daniel Amir it will be 3G, though perhaps with less features than the current iPhone. Too bad the low-cost iPhone will probably ditch WiFi, which sounds strange (wouldn’t you rather have WiFi than 3G if you live in an emergin market?). I wouldn’t be surprised if they dubbed this non-WiFi iPhone Nano.

The analyst includes the NAND market outlook in his study, which gives 20% of production capacity to Apple. With the new models, both with 32GB, NAND producers will feel a renewed strain in meeting orders. We’ll see soon enough.

[via iphonebuzz]

Filed under: Peripherals, Apple

Would it be too cruel to say we're shocked it lasted this long? Apple's iPhone Bluetooth Headset never was too popular outside of the hardcore Apple faithful, with a litany of respectable (and let's face it, far superior) alternatives available for a fraction of the $99 MSRP. To that end, Cupertino has seen fit to discontinue the peripheral, though prospective customers can apparently still buy 'em until supply runs dry. Here's a tip, though -- wait for the fire sale.

[Thanks, Richard]

Apple iPhone Bluetooth Headset now discontinued originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, HSUPA, Apple, OS X

Rumor has it that AT&T's gearing up for yet another door-busting, riot-inducing summer filled with new iPhone hardware, which would certainly jibe with everything we've heard in the past few months (never mind the fact that June is officially Apple's iPhone release cycle these days, and indeed, AT&T's apparently saying that the June cycle is becoming "a tradition"). That's not terribly interesting at this point -- what is interesting, though, is how AT&T plans to play it. Apparently, the carrier wants to ramp up its -- ah, how should we put this in a politically correct way -- "integration" with Apple's hardware, including a U-verse app that we're guessing will approximate the functionality to be offered by Verizon's FiOS. What really has us worried is not so much the U-verse app specifically, but the possibility that AT&T's sick and tired of having its crapware left out of its highest-profile device, leading to non-removable garbage like Cellular Video on a future iPhone's home screen. It's still a bit early to sound the alarm there, but you know, we're paranoid types around here. It's said the new device will be faster, though the exact meaning of that is a little unclear; the iPhone 3G's chipset is already 7.2Mbps-capable, so we're not sure if the carrier is simply referring to its ongoing infrastructure upgrades. Finally, it's said that a $99 netbook running something other than Windows (don't suppose that'd be Linux?) will be launching this summer, following on the 3G-enabled Aspire One that hit Radio Shack late last year. Heads up, though, AT&T: give us an iPhone with your Mobile Email app on the home screen, and let's just say we can't be held accountable for our actions afterwards. We know you wouldn't do that, but just sayin'.

AT&T counting on new iPhone this summer; carrier apps to figure prominently? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Apple

Well, that was quick. Actually, not really -- it's not altogether unheard of for a phone to last less than a year on a carrier before getting pulled off shelves -- but when that phone happens to be the iPhone 3G, it's bound to raise a few eyebrows. MobileSyrup reports that the 16GB version of the device will not be reordered in April by Fido once current stock depletes, leaving just the 8GB model to soldier on. Why only 8GB? Two theories, and in all likelihood, the truth lies somewhere in between both: one, since Fido's been rebranded as Rogers' value brand, it makes more sense for the high-end iPhone to live on Rogers alone; two, there's one (or more) new devices on the way in the next few months. For the world's sake, we hope the latter theory figures prominently in the equation.

Fido getting ready to give 16GB iPhone 3G the pink slip? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you want the iPhone 3G but don’t want to sign up to AT&T, you can buy one now for $599 for the 8GB iPhone 3G and $699 for the 16GB version. There is no mention whether these iPhones can work on any GSM network, but there’s no point selling locked iPhones without a contract, especially for $400 more the iPhone with contracts. You can buy one starting March 26.

Update: all the reports we’ve read indicate an AT&T-only iPhone, so this isn’t exciting news at all. Only existing customers of AT&T will be able to use the iPhone anyway. This could work, though, in countries where iPhone carriers have cheaper plans compared to available iPhone plans but at any rate other countries have pre-paid iPhones already. And doesn’t AT&T already have a contractless iPhone plan?

[yahoonews]

Apple has flagged up March 17 for a special event to preview its new iPhone 3.0 software.
One issue that could be addressed with the new OS is allowing for background tasks from third party applications.

American Idol fans who happen to own an iPhone or iPod Touch will be happy to know that FreemantleMedia in collaboration with Zumobi Networks has come out with the American Idol Season 8 Exclusive app. This nifty little app is your one-top-shop for your daily fix of American Idol goodies ranging from news, photos, bios, and even videos. There?s also a My Rankings features that allows you to keep track of the performance of your AI picks. This is definitely something for the AI fanatics. The American Idol Season 8 Exclusive app is retailing for $1.99, but before you purchase this app, here?s something to think about; why is it called American Idol Season 8 Exclusive and not American Idol Exclusive? We?ll probably get the answer to that question when season 8 of American Idol finally comes to a close and season 9 begins.

[ai season 8 exclusive app; unwiredview via cellphones etc]

BMW has come up with a novel - and legal - way to drive its new Z4 Roadster while using the iPhone.
No, it's not some ingenious hands-free device designed by engineering geniuses at the German car-maker.

Journadugeek have secret sources inside Apple and they were told the iPhone Nano is coming in June at an Apple event hosted by Steve Jobs. Come to think of it, China already has iPhone Nano cases on the ready when this new iPhone, which is said to have the same exact screen and features as the original iPhone. It will have a smaller footprint as the iPhone design team has managed to relocate the home button to the side. It will look something like the photo below with three color options–just use your imagination for the color options.

[source: journaldugeek]

Filed under: Verizon Wireless, Apple

With phones like the Versa and Dare already on the market and a host of other interesting devices inbound for Verizon in the next few weeks, we'd say Verizon has enough juice in the marketing tank to fight off the iPhone for the time being -- but be that as it may, they'd still like to know if you've been swayed by Cupertino's gravitational pull. A tipster to Boy Genius Report sent in some screenshots of an exit survey sent after canceling his service, and of the things Verizon could have "offered to keep you as a customer," the iPhone was the only hardware called out by name. Apple's baby goes on to appear in two more of the survey's questions, suggesting that there's some concern out there in Basking Ridge -- and considering that rumors of a CDMA iPhone for Verizon refuse to die down, maybe they're planning on doing something about it. Or... you know, maybe all you needed was an apology to be swayed to stay, you big softie, you.

Verizon survey suggests carrier is a little self-conscious about the iPhone originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Handsets, Apple

It's hard to call two incidents of some occurrence around the world a trend, but, when those incidents both involve an electrical device catching fire spontaneously, it creates a situation that's hard to ignore -- especially when that device is the iPhone. On Saturday, Italian blogger Tim Colbourne was charging his 3G handset and, after three hours, it sparked and caught fire at the base. Tim did a little investigation and found a case of a Swedish handset doing the same thing back in 2008, making us a little concerned that there could be more melted chargers out there. Apple replaced that earlier phone after something of a fight, and while we're hoping they'll be a little friendlier here, we're also hoping this gives Cupertino another bit of incentive to go ahead and switch over to micro-USB already. All the cool kids are doing it, and you don't see their cables catching fire -- usually.

[Via Cult of Mac]

Is the iPhone hotter than we think? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's Android Market is expected to begin accepting paid applications this week for the first time.
The move could provide a much-needed boost to the platform, which currently has around 800 applications.

Very exciting rumor this one: there will not be a new iPhone but three new iPhones, says analyst at Canaccord Adams. There will be an iPhone Nano, a 32GB iPhone with color choices and a cheaper non-3G version, perhaps of a totally different aesthetic appeal than than the original. Will all these iPhones tethered to exclusive providers. I’m thinking not.

There has also been suggestions that the 4GB version should be re-released with an under-$100 price tag. Frankly, Apple needs to refresh the curves and thickness of the iPhone, and screen dimension seems to be a little bland to me after two years in the market. I expect more imagination from Apple compared to the iPhone clone companies.

[via slashphone]

While the jailbreak only alternative iMobileCinema app has been available for quite sometime now, nothing beats full Flash support in Safari. There?s still no definite date on when this feature will hit the iPhone, but Adobe confirms that they are working with Apple on this one as it is turning out to be quite a challenge. Flash Lite, which is the common version used in phones, isn?t up to par with Apple’s standards which basically means that Adobe needs to create a new version of Flash which isn’t too demanding for the small processor of the iPhone to handle, but is equally capable as the full version. Sure, it?s good to hear that the two are working on it, but what we really want to know is when it?ll become available. Hopefully, that?ll be sooner than later as we hear Mobile Internet Explorer 6 already comes with full Flash support.

[appleinsider via cellphones etc]

The addition of 1.9 million 3G iPhone accounts helped AT&T to post USD $0.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter.
Apple's handset made up the bulk of the 2.1 million net new customers that the telecom company gained in the period.

AdMob has announced that it has launched its first advertising unit for Android applications.
The move by the world's largest mobile advertising marketplace will give developers an option for monetizing their applications on the open source device platform.

Our sister site, CentralGadget.com, has covered that the iPhone Dev Team has managed to jailbreak the iPod touch 2G. Integration into PwnageTool is a work in progress. This is great news for those that have already fired their iPhone, in favor of...

(Continue reading at the link above, or visit PhoneNews.com directly)

Apple COO Tim Cook is take over the company's day-to-day running after it was announced that Steve Jobs is to take a six month medical leave of absence.
Having previously stepped into the CEO post when Jobs was treated for pancreatic cancer, there is no doubt about his leadership abilities.

Nokia will see its share of the global smartphone market halved from 40 to 20 per cent by 2013, according to Generator Research.
And who is going to be gobbling up Nokia's lost business? Why Apple, of course.

Apple and LG Display have agreed a deal that will see the South Korean electronics manufacturer supply flat panel displays for Macs and handheld products over the next five years.
In exchange for a guaranteed supply of LCD screens until 2013, Apple will prepay USD $ 500 million to LG later this month.

Filed under: Peripherals, Software, Apple, OS X

Yeah, sure, name any IR-equipped phone in existence and odds good to excellent that you can find a universal remote app for it, but you probably can't think of many for the iPhone, now, can you? They exist, yes, but they tend to carry a home-automation slant since the lack of an infrared port leaves the thing relegated to WiFi duty. Enter UiRemote, an ambitious little project undertaken by a handful of scrappy University of Toronto students that uses a fingertip-sized IR blaster connected to the headphone jack paired with a totally customizable app to get the job done. Novel? Not necessarily, but when you consider that a dedicated remote with these specs would probably run half a grand, it's an interesting way to save money and still end up with the coolest AV controller on the block. The devs are still tweaking both the module and the app, but hopes are high that they'll be available to all interested parties in the next couple months.

UiRemote is like a remote... in your iPhone originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple is to start selling digital songs without copy protection software from iTunes along with over-the-air download songs for the iPhone.
Announcing the changes at the Macworld Expo trade show in San Francisco, Apple marketing exec Phil Schiller also detailed plans to roll out variable pricing on digital songs at iTunes with songs priced between USD $0.69 cents and $1.29.

Details are emerging about Palm’s expected launch of its latest smartphone and operating system at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show.
The new handset is to have a full QWERTY keyboard that will slide down under a portrait-oriented touchscreen.

Filed under: Handsets, Others, Apple, OS X

For those with a whiteboard full of Apple rumors, you'll been keenly aware of the fact that the whole iPhone Air terminology has been tossed around before in a joking manner. This, however, is not a joke. In fact, it's a very real KIRF, and it's possibly one of the most awesome we've ever seen. We mean, who'd ever want an iPhone nano when one could have -- wait for it -- the iPhone Air. Aside from clean, beautiful, streamlined edges, those fortunate enough to procure one from China will also find dual SIM card slots, an FM radio, Bluetooth, a multimedia player and a built-in camera. The KIRF game just got stepped up good fashion, and we love it.

[Thanks, David]

Keepin' it real fake, part CLXXVI: iPhone Air jockeys for "best ripoff ever" award originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola is to discontinue making phones for Symbian and will instead concentrate on two new platforms: Windows Mobile and Android.
Sanjay Jha, CEO of the Mobile Devices group at Motorola, confirmed what had until now been rumors to Michael Oryl of MobileBurn.

Palm has secured a USD $100 million equity lifeline from Elevation Partners just a few weeks before it unveils its new Nova operating system.
Faced with mounting losses and weak smartphone sales, the success of the new operating system could very well decide the company's fate.

Devoteam is to release a Blackberry version of its VoIP client OnePhone that runs on mobile platforms enabling voice calls over an IP network.
smartphone.biz-news spoke to Christoph Wernli, business development manager at Devoteam, about the convergence market and the opportunities offered by open-source operating systems.

iPhone owners are the single largest source of mobile WiFi data traffic worldwide, particularly in the US and UK, according to AdMob.
In the US, the Apple handset represents 50.6 per cent of all requests from handhelds of any kind, followed by the iPod touch, which accounts for 28 per cent of the requests.
The best non-Apple device, Sony's PSP, only manages 13.1 per cent of this traffic.

Microsoft's Live Labs has released its first application for the iPhone.
Seadragon Mobile is an experimental image viewer that aims to make high-resolution images easier to handle on a small screen.
It allows users to view enormous photo collections and high-resolution imagery using the iPhone's multi-touch intuitive interface.

Predictions about Apple's intentions for the upcoming Macworld Expo are ripe - with the latest being the launch of a netbook that works like an iPhone.
Technology Business Research analyst Ezra Gottheil believes that as with the iPhone, users will download mobile applications for the netbook from Apple's App Store.

The lack of copy and paste on the iPhone could soon be a thing of the past if a new web service called Pastebud is as good as it appears.
Although still to be launched Pastebud's creators have put a demonstration of their service on YouTube showing how iPhone users can copy and paste text from Safari into Mail and between web pages.

Games publishers and developers will give up on Java unless operators follow Apple's lead in offering more appealing revenue shares.
That's according to a report by analyst Windsor Holden, of Juniper Research, who warns that as well as being a lost opportunity for developers it would seriously reduce the variety of games for players.

It’s official, as confirmed by Bloomberg, the iPhone 3G will be available at Walmart beginning next month.

The iPhone 3Gs will be $199 and $299 for the 8Gb and 16GB respectively, though some rumors say the 8GB Walmart iPhone will be cheaper by $2.

We don’t know about the $99 iPhone 3G, though, if indeed Apple will let Walmart sell iPhone 3Gs this cheap (the 4GB model only). Apple really should, if only to solidify their leadership in the smartphone category.

[source via arstechnica]

Growth in the global smartphone market dipped to 11.5 per cent in the third quarter year-on-year, the slowest rate of growth since it started tracking smartphone sales, according to research firm Gartner.
Some 36.5 million smartphones were sold globally in the July-September quarter.

What an amazing deal if it goes through. A Walmart iPhone is not far off, but it gets better if they make the old 4GB version available at a big discount during the holidays. The $99 iPhone will no doubt create another wave of iPhone queue. For our loyal readers, you might remember that I have been hoping for a cheap iPhone Nano at about the same price range. A full-pledged iPhone, however, is not too bad either. Cross our fingers.

[via bgr]

If you?ve been wishing that the iPhone would become available in another form factor such as a clamshell, then you?re in luck. Some dudes over in China have come out with their a new iPhone clone now showcasing Apple’s little darling in an all-new clamshell, brushed aluminum finish complete with an illuminated Apple logo design. Ok, so maybe it doesn?t look like an iPhone at first glance. Heck, it doesn’t even come with a touchscreen display, but once you flip it open, the oh so familiar iPhone UI will great you on the 2.6-inch 240×320 display. This iPhone wannabe also comes with a 3-megapixel camera and weighs about 110 grams.

[phone magazine via engadgetmobile]
More pictures after the break.

If there was a contest for the most out-of-the-box rendition of the iPhone, this one definitely ranks as one of the top contenders.

DeFi Mobile is to make its Global Access VoIP service available to  iPhone owners - possibly by the new year.
Users will have access to unlimited global calling, roaming, and long distance for a monthly subscription fee.
While calls will require a WiFi connection, DeFi says it has struck global partnerships that ensure an extensive network of private and commercial connections.

Mobile game sales are "flatlining" across North America and Western Europe despite increased interest from consumers, according to a report from Juniper Research.
It says that unless more operators adopt an Apple-like approach to rewarding games publishers, they will be driven away from the sector - and the number and variety of games available will decline.

External battery packs have always been the bane of the iPhone?s beauty. It adds an unflattering accessory to the plush, sophisticated look of Apple?s slender mobile phone. Thank God someone finally come out with a battery pack that won?t exactly make the iPhone look ridiculous while attached to it. What looks like a protective case at first glance is actually the Power Slide battery pack. It provides protection and extends battery life as well as sync/charger capabilities all in one stylishly designed product. It has a 1330mAh 4.2V rechargeable battery that?s roughly equivalent to up to 330 hour standby time, 26 hours audio playback, 5 hours talk time on 3G,10 hours on 2G and internet usage of up to 5 hours on 3G and 6 hours on WiFi. Now this is one accessory I wouldn?t mind being seen attached to the iPhone anytime of the day. Look for it to become available starting November 28.

[product via engadgetmobile]

Apple's iPhone has overtaken Motorola's Razr to become the best-selling consumer cellphone in the US in the third quarter of 2008.
The iPhone's success is all the more impressive considering it costs upwards of USD $199, while the RAZR has been virtually free with a signed contract for the past few years.

Show most non-gamers an iPhone running the 3D fighting game Kroll and the reaction is usually some variation of "wow".
What surprises them is that a game of such quality and with such stunning graphics is on a handheld device.

It may lack some vital business tools - no cut-and-paste, for starters - but it seems that Apple's 3G handset is gaining followers who see it as more than just a fun device.
The iPhone has received the highest customer satisfaction marks in the most recent JD Power & Associates customer satisfaction survey of business smartphone users.

Filed under: RIM, Palm OS, Windows Mobile, Apple

So apparently Apple knew what it was talking about after all. Research firm Canalys says that Apple stole the rug out from underneath RIM in the third quarter to become the world's number two pusher of smartphones, taking a hearty 17.3 percent market share compared to RIM's 15.2 percent and Windows Mobile's 13.6 percent. For what it's worth, the firm says RIM could very well bounce back in the fourth quarter with the Bold, Storm, and Pearl 8220 all ramping up in time for the holidays, but either way, number one platform Symbian needn't sweat any time soon; Nokia's baby managed to lose 21.5 percent share year over year, but they're still sitting pretty with 46.6 percent.

How'd Apple manage to steal so much BlackBerry thunder (pun painfully intended)? Part of the evidence might lie in J.D. Power's just-released 2008 Business Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction Study, revealing that suits adore their iPhones, like their BlackBerrys just alright, and despise their Palms. Amusing to us was the iPhone's rating of a 5 out of 5 in the Features category -- the only contender to get a perfect score there -- despite the fact that virtually every other smartphone platform continues to outstrip it for raw capability. Usability, though, well... that's arguably another story altogether.

[Via AppleInsider]

Read - Apple outsells RIM
Read - JD Power rankings

Analyst confirms Apple slid past RIM to become number two smartphone vendor originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While for the most part the onscreen keyboard is efficient enough to write short e-mails and jot down notes, there are times that you just wish there was a way to hook up a real keyboard to the iPhone. Well, that?s what some ingenious dude managed to do. After jailbreaking the 3G iPhone and hacking the software to support a Palm external keyboard, he now enjoys the luxury of being able to type long biographies on his iPhone without having to touch the screen. Now, if this isn?t proof of concept that a keyboard can be connected to the iPhone, I don?t not what is. So, any of you developers out there want to start working on a Bluetooth driver to support some of the more modern keyboards out in the market today? Don’t hesitate to give us a holler, we?ll gladly appreciate it if there’s one made available for use.

[source via bgr]

Meizu is planning to launch its M8 smartphone in various markets around the world before Christmas.
The Chinese-made touchscreen handset bears a striking resemblance to the iPhone.
Quite what Apple's response will be is uncertain.

Passing your contact entry to other iPhone users just got a whole lot easier thanks to a new app called Handshake.
The free app, which also runs on the iPod Touch, allows contact information and photos to be exchanged with another user nearby.

So who exactly was Nokia's Kai Öistämö referring to as a "dictator" when he addressed the recent Symbian Smartphone Show in London?
No names were named by the executive vice president of devices but his speech made it clear the Finnish giant isn't resting on its laurels.

The iPhone may be made in China but Apple still hasn't launched its game-changing handset there yet.
That hasn't stopped the 3G smartphone having a huge impact on China's estimated 700 million cell phone market, according to the latest report from Research and Markets.

Filed under: Handsets, Software, Misc, Apple, OS X

Take one look at the room rates at the Malibu Beach Inn, and you'll fully understand why you'll be treated to a loaner iPod touch for the duration of your stay. For those who already own an iPhone / iPod touch, they'll be given access to a web application that was built for the Safari browser to give guests all sorts of remote capabilities. For instance, ordering up room service, setting a wake up call, requesting luggage, renting a limo and flipping the door placard to "Do Not Disturb" no longer requires any strenuous work; instead, users can simply hit a few buttons and be on their way. The hotel chose a web app in order to avoid the Apple certification process and to make it available on other hot devices in the near future. But then again, if you can swing this place, you've probably got a butler handling the front-desk inquiries, anyway.

[Via Fashion Funky, thanks Daisy]

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While I personally would have appreciated WiFi 802.11n support in future iterations of the iPhone or iPod Touch, it seems like WiMAX has been thrown into the picture thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Korean Telecom and Apple. So far, only iPods and Macbooks are confirmed to be included in the said memorandum, but it is also likely that the iPhone will be part of it as well. Why WiMAX? It?s because Korea has one of the most developed WiMAX networks in the world, and they want their consumers to take advantage of it. I like the sound of a WiMAX-enabled iPhone, but the prospects of me purchasing one is next to never simple because there?s still no WiMAX network from where I live. Nevertheless, who knows, maybe if Apple comes out with WiMAX support for their devices, this might be an incentive for telecoms to ramp up progress in the deployment of WiMAX networks around the globe.

[via mobilewhack]

Suggestions that a Norweigan developer produced software that allowed Windows Mobile to be run on the iPhone look like being a hoax.
A demonstration shown by iphonefreakz.com of an application that gave users a choice of OS when the iPhone is booted up was part of a viral marketing campaign.

Filed under: Handsets, Peripherals, Others, Misc, Apple, OS X

You were looking for a laugh to start your Columbus Day / Canadian Thanksgiving Day / etc. off, weren't you? Consider yourself lucky. OLO Computer is reportedly thinking of bringing to market a netbook-styled device that would actually enable (require?) users to plop their iPhone / iPhone 3G into the palm rest; from there, the handset would act as the brains of the operation and double as a trackpad. At the present time, there are no real specifications to speak of -- just a zany teaser page and lots of speculation. We shouldn't have to remind you what an epic failure the whole "cellphone companion" sector has been, as one look at Palm's axed Foleo and the deeply discounted Celio REDFLY should be explanation enough. Hey, we're not trying to discourage you from giving this a go, OLO, but we'd probably have a backup plan ready to roll in case Apple itself drops a netbook on the world in the next 48 hours.

[Via Liliputing]

Read - Official teaser page
Read - Netbook-style clamshell for iPhone is coming

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Whether the Blackberry Storm unveiled today lives up to its much-hyped “iPhone killer” title remains to be seen.
What’s certain is that RIM – the champion of corporate emailers – appears to have delivered excellent new touchscreen technology in its first handset not equipped with a physical keyboard.

Filed under: Handsets

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Thirty per cent of US consumers who purchased Apple’s new iPhone 3G from June through August 2008 switched from other mobile carriers to join AT&T, according to a survey by the NPD Group.
Unsurprisingly, the new iPhone was the top selling smartphone between June-August, pipping RIM’s Blackberry Curve and Pearl to the top slot.

Whether Apple would have carried out it’s threat to close down its iTunes Store rather than operate at a loss will never be known.
Apple had raised the possibility of shutting iTunes if the US Copyright Royalty Board decided to increase the royalty fees paid to publishers and songwriters.

After camping out twice for iPhones, this editor-in-chief has decided to part ways with iPhone 3G. Find out why, and what Apple can do to win back my vote.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not unhappy with the performance I’ve gotten from my original iPhone. And, my iPhone 3G served its purpose. But, several factors have come together that have brought me to the point, that it’s time to move on.

With the recent launch of the second-generation iPod touch, this really became a simple choice. With the iPod touch, I can use Wi-Fi to sling internet from any Symbian or Windows Mobile phone. And, that frees up my cell phone plan… to do anything I want with it. I can watch live TV from my Slingbox, share internet with my laptop, and download podcasts wirelessly.

Did I mention that I can play all my video games thanks to emulators, tune into radio (yes, while surfing the web), chat in the background, and still have enough bandwidth to place a VoIP phone call?

Now, unlike most… I’m not going to shout and demand that Apple completely rid the walled garden, and enable these applications on all iPhones. AT&T would throw a fit, and their already-bogged-down data network could crawl to a halt. But, as Om Malik put it simply “today’s power users, are tomorrow’s everyday users.” Apple needs to provide power users such access, while building a path for traditional users to benefit from these advances… someday.

And, that’s why Apple should offer an unlocked iPhone 3G. No, the ability to swap SIMs with international providers is nice, but breaking free from the walled garden will benefit even more users. AT&T will already unlock an $80 3G phone for no charge… the value-added benefit in an unlocked iPhone would be in its ability to be jailbroken from the get-go.

Now, you may be wondering why I don’t just jailbreak my iPhone 3G. And, I’ve done that. After all, it lets me stream recorded video via Qik, play my Sega Genesis and Sega CD games (long live Sonic CD, by the way), and share internet with PdaNet. But, the answer to that is simple… it’s the economy stupid.

Quite simply, innovation on iPhone is stifled right now. Slingbox can’t get in (except over Wi-Fi, which they’re still hashing out with Apple), Adobe Flash is in approval quagmire (which is still being hashed out by Apple), and Apple’s rational for prohibiting emulators has run out of excuses (while Apple comes up with new ones). See a repeating problem here? Apple is dragging their feet on innovation, in each of these areas.

But, dragging their feet on innovation is pretty typical. Apple held off on releasing Boot Camp for Macintosh, for nearly six months. But, when they did… their stock value shot up 10% on the news. Apple had 802.11n in hundreds of thousands of MacBooks, but was disabled until Apple could ship a complimenting router. And, every iPhone sold, as well as the current iPod touch, could do Stereo Bluetooth A2DP. See a trend here? Apple benefits from holding back on technology, it’s a powerful marketing tactic to help a company get its ducks in a row.

Sure, the impending kill-off of cheap iPhone 3G data loopholes is what ultimately did things in, but, I actually think I will pick up some utility. And, if Apple was actually engaging in “FairPlay” with apps, the GoPhone Pick Your Plan offering would be just fine.

For example, with a Touch Diamond on Sprint, you can get unlimited data for as low as $25/month (sans voice plan, thanks to the Sprint Developer Plan offering). That gives you all the benefits of Windows Mobile, while handing off web, email, and App Store duties to the iPod touch. Or, an XV6800 on Verizon Wireless can do the same, now for only $30/month, thanks to Verizon’s data rate cuts.

And yes, this has been possible all along (we were, after all, the first to cover that originally). But, again, the iPod touch 2G changed everything. Now, you can get a full-fledged PDA, and a full-fledged MID (Mobile Internet Device). No headphones for audio, actual volume controls… it’s exactly what I complained about in the first generation.

Hopefully Apple will get the message. An unlocked iPhone can actually sell for $699. AT&T doesn’t have a problem when HTC, Palm, Sony Ericsson, and Nokia do it. All Apple needs to do, is tear down this wall… somewhat. Even with just one iPhone OS device being open, developers will supply the innovation that will prove successful to Apple. What will it prove exactly? It will prove that these blocked apps are, in most cases, profitable to everyone… and that blocking them only hurts Apple.

Nokia has finally unveiled its touchscreen 5800 XpressMusic.
Aimed at a mainstream market, the Finnish phone giant is hoping to attract users put off by the price of Apple’s iPhone.
To coincide with the announcement of its the mid-range music-focussed phone Nokia launched its’ free music package Comes with Music.

The future of Apple's iTunes music store could be decided today if the Copyright Royalty Board backs a proposal to raise royalties.
iTunes’ vice president, Eddy Cue, has warned that Apple would close iTunes if the board agrees to increase royalty rates.

At Adobe’s “Flash On The Beach” conference, the company confirmed that a Flash player for the iPhone is under development and will be ready when and if Apple gives the approval.

Image courtesy of Flash Magazine

While a true player hasn’t been fully developed and tested, Adobe’s Sr. Director of Engineering did confirm for the first time publicly that his team is “actively developing Flash support for the iPhone.”  No word yet as to how comprehensive the player will be, nor whether it will bring true full-Flash support to the iPhone or if it will be a trimmed-down version.

An announcement is expected from Nokia today about the launch of a touch-screen device.
Dubbed the “Tube”, the handset could be unveiled at a media and analyst event in London.
It would be Nokia’s first touch-screen since Apple launched the iPhone last year.

Filed under: Handsets, HSDPA, Apple, OS X

Worried about long lines for the iPhone 3G come this holiday season? Already breaking into cold sweats at the thought of standing knee-deep in snow for three hours so that your loved ones won't be filled with contempt for you? Take heart, consumers -- Apple has you covered. The company has just launched an online tool to take you through the process of purchasing an iPhone 3G, allowing you to just pop into your local Apple Store for retrieval and activation. Sure, this still doesn't let you just order a phone for delivery like a normal person, and it's a day late and a dollar short for the people who've already wasted precious time waiting for this thing, but it's nice to know it's there if you need it.

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Microsoft is not expected to complete a final build of its Windows Mobile 7 operating system until the second half of 2009.
The delay is a significant blow for the software giant, which has been counting on the next version of WinMo to enable devices that better rival Apple's iPhone.

The rising popularity of smartphones and their increasing use to access the internet means web sites must be prepared for effective handheld viewing.
With the launch of new phones from the likes of Apple, RIM and now HTC, with Google’s Android-based G1, that trend is set to accelerate.

Apple is to block developers' abilities to distribute iPhone applications outside of its iTunes App Store.
The move is certain to add to the growing disquiet from application developers already unhappy with Apple’s unclear and seemingly arbitrary approvals policy.

While Apple may have released a bunch of iPods including the new 4G iPod Nanos, the recently concluded Let?s Rock event had very little to say or give to iPhone fans. So, it?s not at all surprising that rumors are circling around that Apple might be readying a bigger capacity model to replace the top-of-the-line 16GB iPhone; a 32GB perhaps in early 2009? After all, if you look at the trend of the iPhone, it won?t exactly be against their philosophy since it was just earlier this year when they made the 16GB version available to the public.

Likewise, there?s also talk of at-home activation for the iPhone which everyone will gladly accept if and when they decide to bring it back. Anyway, all of these are just rumors and hear-say for now. Let?s all just wait and see in the next couple of months and who knows, maybe all of this will happen before 2008 ends.

[appleinsider via engadget]

Those looking for a comparison between the 3G iPhone, Samsung Omnia and the latest HTC Touch HD need look any further as we’ve found a video pitting each one against each other. The only downside to it is that it’s in French, but the performance of the Touch HD can more or less speak for itself. Personally, I think that the HTC Touch HD is phenomenal as far as Windows Mobile 6.1 devices are concerned, but if you’re the type who puts a premium on looks, the 3G iPhone is still the best all-in package. Anyway, that’s just my opinion, watch the video and tell us what you think about it.

[bgr via cellphones.ca]

iPhone and iPod touch users can download Avatron Software’s Air Sharing for free until September 22, from the App Store. The developers plan to charge $6.99 beginning on the 22nd.

Air Sharing enables the iPhone or iPod touch to be used as a Wi-Fi storage device, using WebDAV to mount the device as a drive on Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows. The application also supports Bonjour, enabling Mac users to instantly see the iPhone as a networked computer (Bonjour is also for Windows, but the device will not appear automatically).

While such applications existed for iPhone, even before App Store, Air Sharing combines this utility with another powerful feature. Air Sharing allows the user to browse and access stored content, locally on the device. This removes a key annoyance with iPhone; until now, you had to email documents from your computer, to yourself in order to view them on iPhone.

Air Sharing also builds on the iPhone’s standard user interface, offering for tap-hold browsing of folders… a feature built-in to the Mac’s Aqua UI (by command-clicking on the title bar), but not the iPhone UI. Air Sharing is currently the number one most popular application on the App Store.

The increasing numbers of smartphones on flat-rate data plans, coupled with ever-improving handsets, is leading to a surge in mobile search, according to comScore.
It has published the results of a survey which show that searching the internet from a mobile phone is gaining in popularity in the United States and Western Europe.

Touted as Google's answer to the iPhone, the first cell phone powered by the feverishly anticipated Android software is to be unveiled on 23 September.
The Android launch will heighten competition in a market increasingly dominated by Apple's 3G handset and RIM's BlackBerries.

More than 100 million applications have been downloaded from the App Store since the launch of Apple’s 3G iPhone two months ago.
This landmark was announced today to a chorus of iPhone programmers voicing their displeasure towards Apple’s unclear and seemingly arbitrary “approval” policy.

Filed under: Handsets, ATT, GSM, EDGE, Apple, OS X

This little phenomenon has been going on ever since lines were wrapped around buildings as consumers waited impatiently for the iPhone 3G, but even now, original iPhones are fetching wild prices on the secondhand market. In a weird twist of economics, Apple's iPhone actually maintained the majority of its value even after its successor hit the market. Why, you ask? Put simply, first-gen iPhones purchased from eBay or other pre-owned resellers arrives sans an AT&T contract, and of course, it can be (relatively) easily unlocked to work with some other carrier. PSA: if you're still sitting on your old iPhone for no apparent reason, now would probably be an excellent time to test the market.

[Image courtesy of IFOAppleStore]

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Readers, as well as our own testing, has confirmed that iTunes 8 fixes the lock-out issue that prevented many users from access their iTunes Store purchased content. This unaccepable issue blocked access to iTunes Store content, repeatedly demanding the user enter their password. As we previously reported, workaround simply could not fix the problem, isolated to iTunes 7.7.1.

Considering that the outage lasted about a month, we suggest that you contact iTunes Customer Service if you were affected, and request a $20 or 20 song credit. That is the fair-market price for a monthly music store subscription.

Finally, Windows users have complained that iTunes 7.7 added MobileMe software to their systems, even if they did not subscribe to the MobileMe service. Upon updating to iTunes 8.0, you can now go to Add/Remove Programs (or Programs and Features in Windows Vista), and independently uninstall MobileMe. It is listed as the “MobileMe Control Panel” inside of Add/Remove Programs.

Smartphones accounted for 25.8 per cent of worldwide mobile ad traffic in August, up 3.4 per cent since May 2008, according to AdMob’s August 2008 Mobile Metrics Report.
Nokia dominates globally, with a 62.4 per cent slice of the traffic in August and more than 50 per cent in every region except North America.

Apple’s iPhone has done much to thrust touch screens firmly into the public’s consciousness – a place they seem certain to increasingly inhabit.
A report from ABI Research forecasts that revenue from the global touch screen market for smartphones and other handheld devices such as MIDs, UMPCs, and PNDs will reach USD $5 billion in 2009.

The launch by Samsung in the UK this week of what it claims is Europe's first 8 megapixel camera phone is being seen as an attempt to highlight shortcomings in the iPhone.
A number of other handset vendors are preparing to launch similar high-end camera phones in time for the Christmas period.

Samsung has accepted Nokia's offer to buy out its stake in software firm Symbian, and Nokia now has acceptances from all Symbian shareholders to sell their shares.
Nokia said in June it would buy out other shareholders of UK-based smartphone software maker Symbian and make its software royalty-free to other phone makers in response to new rivals such as Google.

UK customers are to be offered a pay-as-you-go 3G iPhone from later this month starting at GBP 349.99 (around US$630) for the 8GB model.
O2 , which has the exclusive handset franchise for the UK, will also be selling the 16GB model for GBP 399.99 (around US$720).

Microsoft is to create an online software store for its Windows Mobile platform.
To be called Skymarket, the online store for mobile software follows Apple’s iPhone App Store and Google’s plans for an App Market for its Android smartphone platform.

Filed under: Software, Apple, OS X

Developers are mad as hell about the copy / paste situation on the iPhone, and they're not gonna take it anymore. Despite rumblings of the long-overdue feature making an appearance in version 2.1, a grass-roots effort has been started in the form of OpenClip.org to implement a totally independent, third-party clipboard solution that apparently manages to remain entirely within the bounds of Apple's airtight SDK agreement that significantly limits what App Store apps can and cannot do. Some eleven apps are already listed as having pledged support for the OpenClip standard, which will inevitably be wiped out if Apple decides to do something official -- which, let's be real, should've happened ages ago. Follow the break for a video demo of OpenClip in action.

[Via MacRumors]

Continue reading Third-party clipboard framework for iPhone in the works

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The success of Apple’s App Store is making smartphone software developers increasingly attractive to venture capitalists and phonemakers with millions to invest.
The head of one US$100m fund that invests in smartphone application start-ups has told the New York Times he expects to tap into the iPhone’s success.

Tech-Ex reports in his blog that Alabama resident Jessica Alena Smith has filed a complaint against Apple.
The attorney representing Smith said the 3G iPhone hadn’t lived up to Apple’s promise that it was twice as fast as the pre-existing phones and would function properly on the 3G network.

A college student has developed an open source framework that allows cross-application Copy and Paste on the iPhone.
Zac White says his Open Clip framework uses a shared space on the iPhone that can be accessed by applications to enable Copy and Paste – without falling foul of the iPhone SDK agreement.

Telecom providers in Turkey and Kenya are the latest to announce they will be bringing the 3G iPhone to their markets as the international rollout of the handset continues.
On August 22nd, the current list of 22 nations where the iPhone has already been launched will be extended to give another 20 countries access to Apple’s latest product.

Smartphone sales in the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) market reached 12.57 million units in the second quarter of 2008, representing a 28.2 per cent on-year growth, according to market research firm Canalys.
While the results signal the second biggest quarter ever in volume terms for “converged” devices, the growth was the lowest level recorded in the past 18 months.

T-Mobile is to be the first carrier to offer a mobile phone powered by Google's Android software.
The phone will be made by HTC, one of the largest makers of mobile phones in the world, and is expected to go on sale in the United States before Christmas, according to reports.

Questions remain about battery life, security and email options but it would seem Apple’s 3G iPhone is attracting increasing interest from the business world.
HSBC is considering equipping its employees with some 200,000 iPhones, according to HSBC’s Australia and New Zealand chief information officer Brenton Hush.

The US smartphone market grew 67.3 per cent in the first half of 2008 with RIM’s Blackberry the firm leader with nearly half of all sales.
However, even with Q2 shipments dropping in anticipation of the new 3G iPhone, Apple retained the second place spot for the first half of the year with Motorola a close third.

The GPS maker Garmin has delayed plans to launch its Nuvifone smartphone in the fourth quarter of 2008 until the first half of 2009.
Obstacles in dealing with the various individual needs of each cell phone carrier were cited as the reason for the delay.

Touchscreen handset could have a potentially revolutionary impact on mobile gaming, according to a report by Screen Digest.
In particular, Apple’s iPhone 3G is expected to drive the growth of the North American market raising it to the leading global market by revenue next year.

The media analyst’s study says that the world’s top four games publishers are taking an ever bigger share of the market for mobile games.
EA Mobile, Gameloft, Glu and THQ Wireless have seen their global market shares increase from 11 per cent to 22 per cent in 2007 and the figure is rising, particularly in Western Europe.

 

It appears that iPhone jailbreak and unlock methods will continue to be a popular up until 2010 in the U.S. AT&T will be enjoying a longer iPhone exclusivity thanks to the new $199 pricing of the iPhone 3G, which may have forced Apple to extend AT&T’s contract. That would mean, AT&T would benefit from at least two more iPhone iterations and no one can stop them but the iPhone unlockers/jailbreakers.

[via engadget]

An application by Nullriver that turns an iPhone into a portable WiFi hotspot disappeared from Apple’s App Store 20 minutes after being made available - only to re-appear hours later.
Once operating the app is designed to give Wi-Fi-enabled devices internet access wherever a mobile signal is available.

Global demand for mobile devices is expected to reach 1.3 billion units in 2008 despite financial uncertainties, according to ABI Research
As the recent launch of the 3G iPhone demonstrated, the public appetite for the latest, most sophisticated smartphones is strong.

Verizon Wireless has exceeded analysts’s predictions and posted impressive second quarter earnings of US$1.88 billion.
A key factor in the results was increased smartphone sales, which now account for 30 per cent of the US carrier’s device sales.
Denny Strigl, Verizon’s president and COO, even went as far as to give the build up of interest for the 3G iPhone’s launch earlier this month some of the credit for his company’s results.

A fortnight after the iPhone 3G was launched many Apple retail stores have no handsets in stock and lengthy queues form outside those that do.
Now AT&T has provided frustrated buyers with further evidence that Apple’s latest handset is popular – the carrier has sold twice as many Apple iPhone 3G units upon launch as they did a year ago with the first generation iPhone.

 

Now you can jailbreak your iPhone 2.0 for free with iPhone Dev Team’s PwnageTool 2.0. It jailbreaks and unlock and jailbreak iPhone, jailbreak iPhone 3G and the iPod Touch if they are running the iPhone 2.0 software. Only the 2.0 software is supported by this jailbreak. THIS IS NOT AN UNLOCK SOFTWARE FOR iPHONE 3G… yet.

Update 1: Just to clear up some confusion over what this actually does: yes, it jailbreaks and unlocks older iPhones, and jailbreaks iPhone 3Gs and iPod Touches. We only support the 2.0 firmwares.

Update 2: It looks like there aren?t enough TCP ports on that server, so _BigBoss_ has generously offered to mirror it.

Update 3: If you get Error 1600 from iTunes (or if you see in your log a failure to prepare x12220000_4_Recovery.ipsw), try: mkdir ?~/Library/iTunes/Device Support? ; if that directory already exists, remove any files in it. Then re-run PwnageTool.

[source]

Motorola has sued a former executive for allegedly violating a non-compete agreement and threatening to reveal its trade secrets by taking a job with Apple’s iPhone division, the mobile phone maker said in a lawsuit.
Michael Fenger accepted “millions of dollars in cash, restricted stock units, and stock options” in exchange for agreeing not to join a competitor for two years after leaving Motorola, where he oversaw mobile devices in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the lawsuit said.

If you’re looking for an unlocked iPhone 3G and can’t seem to find one in your area, maybe Hong Kong’s Union Camera, Ltd. can help you out. They are selling iPhone 3G, the original and all brand new, not refurbs, to interested buyers. Minimum order is 1,000 units. It’s available in 8GB and 16GB. If you don’t believe me, go to their Alibaba page and wait for costumer service to go online and you can ask Union Camera yourself if they do have unlocked 3G iPhones in stock. Ships a day after receipt of payment.

[product]

Some impressive mobile phone product launches between now and the year-end will help the world’s mobile handset markets finish 2008 with strong sales, according to ABI Research.
Spurred on by the launch of Apple’s second-generation iPhone, rival handset vendors such as RIM, Nokia and Samsung are also expected to debut new models in the second half of 2008.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1lQWH24hv4

The first-gen iPhone was unlocked for the first time by Turbo SIM. It’s not a software jailbreak but it’s a simple method for those users willing to shell out $80 for a blank SIM. It took the unlockers four days after the iPhone was released, doing exactly what was done on the original iPhone, using a SIM adapter to fool the new iPhone. I wonder why this wasn’t done any sooner, because with over a million iPhone 3Gs in users hands now, the majority of whom may not think getting tied to one network, esepecially when traveling and having to pay roaming fees, is not such a good idea.

Our procedure consist in using one SIM adapter to simulate a fake IMSI test card. Instead of the AT&T IMSI like in the universals.

The unlock method is not posted online yet, and honestly we are not sure it will become available for free.

[via gizmodo]

As the iPhone notches up one million sales Palm and HP launch their latest smartphones with a little less fanfare.
With hardly a whimper Palm’s Treo 800w and Hewlett-Packard’s iPaQ 910 have been released on to a smartphone market still largely focussed on Friday’s iPhone launch.
They will be held up against Apple’s latest handset, which is now available in 21 countries and will go on sale in France on July 17.

The opening of Apple’s online App Store to coincide with the launch of the new iPhone could herald seismic changes in the mobile phone market.
At least that’s what Steve Jobs, the Apple founder, is hoping.
He sees the online applications store as an attempt to do for mobile applications - games, reference guides and other software - what Apple’s iTunes Store has done for music.
While rivals may bristle at his comments, Jobs is clear about his goal.

Filed under: Handsets, Features, ATT, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Apple

It's hard to think of any other device that's enjoyed the level of exposure and hype that Apple found in the launch of the first iPhone. Who could forget it? Everyone got to be a gadget nerd for a day; even those completely disinterested in technology seemed to come down with iPhone fever. But the original device was still far from perfect: its limited capabilities (especially in the 3G department), high price of entry, and the small number of countries in which it was available kept many potential buyers sidelined. Until now -- or so Apple hopes.

The wireless industry is a notoriously tough nut to crack, and it's become pretty clear that the first iPhone wasn't about total domination so much as priming the market and making a good first impression with some very dissatisfied cellphone users. With the iPhone 3G, though, Apple's playing for keeps. Not only is this iPhone's Exchange enterprise support aiming straight for the heart of the business market, but the long-awaited 3rd party application support and App Store means it's no longer just a device, but a viable computing platform. And its 3G network compatibility finally makes the iPhone welcome the world over, especially after Cupertino decided to ditch its non-traditional carrier partnerships in favor of dropping the handset price dramatically. $200? We're still a little stunned.

So now that Apple finally stands poised for an all out war on cellphone-makers everywhere, will the iPhone 3G stand up to the competition -- and higher expectations than ever? Head on over to Engadget for our full review.

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Rhythm NewMedia, a leader in mobile video, has announced the availability of the free vSNAX Videos native iPhone application on the Apple App Store.
vSNAX Videos promises to deliver mobile video clips to iPhone and iPod touch users from more than 20 premium media partners including AccuWeather.com, Ford Models, Ripe TV, and MTV Networks’ VH1, Spike and GameTrailers.

Filed under: Handsets, Features, GSM, EDGE, HSDPA, UMTS, Apple

Here she is, the iPhone 3G, captured on video. We went through a number of the new features on the device and in the 2.0 software release for you. Apologies in advance if you're looking for side by side speed tests, we spiked the on-camera test due to coverage issues where we're at. Video of the unboxing and new feature walkthrough after the break. (We should also have a bit more video shortly, so check back soon.)

Still got questions about the 3G? Get 'em answered right here.

Continue reading Video: iPhone 3G unboxing and first look

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Filed under: Handsets, ATT, HSDPA, Apple, OS X

Continuing this day of iPhone 3G impropriety, the Boy Genius has somehow secured himself a brand-spanking-new iPhone 3G, and has unboxed it for all the world to see. First off, our condolences to the AT&T or Apple employee who will probably lose their job over this one, and then a tip of the hat to BGR for pulling off such a daring stunt. The pictures, however, should be less exciting (since we've been seeing a lot of these today) -- still, nice to know what you're about to get into! We've included a few more shots after the break.

Continue reading US iPhone 3G gets unboxed and handled

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South Korean regulations requiring handset applications to be based on a homegrown technology are largely why the country’s mobile phone market is dominated by Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.
As a result of the WIPI ruling – the acronym stands for wireless internet platform for interoperability - foreign companies have found it too expensive to produce handsets tailored for South Korean consumers.
Nokia is virtually absent in the country and Motorola is a minor competitor with less than 5 per cent of the market. Apple has kept its iPhone out of the market because of the WIPI rule.
Yet international handset makers are keen to enter South Korea, one of the world’s most technologically advanced and expensive telecoms markets.
Now President Lee Myung-bak’s newly elected government has expressed a willingness to soften the WIPI rule, potentially opening the door to foreign handset makers.

As pricing details continue to emerge about the new iPhone, one analyst estimates that Apple stands to make more from each device than previously thought.
Gene Munster, of investment bank Piper Jaffray, said that AT&T’s complete official pricing for iPhone 3G units suggests Apple is making more from the reportedly abundant iPhone stock than estimated in the past.
Although the US$199 starting price is much lower for the customers themselves, the US$599 pay-as-you-go price suggests that the carrier subsidy cuts much deeper.
If so, then this hides potentially greater profits for Apple, which could be asking US$500 for each iPhone versus an earlier estimate of US$425.
“This discrepancy leads us to believe our [average selling price] is conservative,” said Munster.
The analyst said that a change of this level would boost Apple’s revenue for 2009 by eight per cent.

Nokia may still be the world’s leading mobile phone supplier but it’s been toppled from its pedestal when it comes to phone cases.
Krusell, the Swedish manufacturer of carrying cases for portable electronics, has released its “Top 10” - list for June 2008.
The list is based upon the number of pieces of model specific mobile and smartphone cases that have been ordered from the company during June 2008.
Its chart is unique, according to Krusell, due to the fact that it reflects the sales of phones on six continents and in more than 50 countries around the globe.

Apple will build at least 15 million 3G iPhones in 2008 bringing its total smartphone production to at least 17 million phones.
At least that’s what Craig Berger, semiconductor analysts with Friedman Billings Ramsey, expects production levels to run to by the year-end.
He has upgraded his figures after previously saying that Apple would build 13 million iPhones in 2008 (which, interestingly, included 2 million 2.5G Edge-only iPhones).
His rationale for the change is because he thinks iPhone production in the third quarter will be higher than expected.

We’ve heard about Negri Electronics before and their penchant for, er, exaggeration. Their over-excited online retailing techniques aside, they can be relied upon to keep an eye on the most interesting releases. It comes as no surprise to me that besides the 3G iPhone, Negri also has in stock the BlackBerry Bold, HTC Touch Diamond and the Samsung Instinct - all unlocked. You can place orders for these phones now. Negri does not take orders of 16GB “iPhone3G” at the moment but they have listed July 21 as the date when they expect they will have the phones on stock. Now, we know that Apple will be releasing the 3G iPhone in 22 territories come July 11. Has Negri made a mistake? Hm, sure doesn’t look like a typo to me since they have the information in all three 3G iPhone models and it’s posted in red. Interesting…. They have both black (16GB and 8GB) and white (16GB only) versions unlocked.

[product]

Appleinsider reports that Apple, Inc. has ordered 17 million iPhone, 2 million of these with EDGE-only. If this sounds too optimistic, you’d be doubly interested to note that the figure is for Apple phones that are still about to be shipped. It is expected Apple will sell all or most of the 17 million before the end of this year. A staggering number, but when coupled with another rumor of iPhone finally supporting MMS, it might actually make a lot of sense. The source of this rumor is an internal memo passed on to iPhoneatlas and the bloggers there immediately noted that the plans for iPhone 3G does not include text messages, or it was omitted for a very important reason: MMS rates have yet to be finalized.

[via unwired]

The new iPhone is expected to carry an initial hardware Bill Of Materials (BOM) and manufacturing cost of US$ 173, according to a preliminary “virtual teardown” analysis conducted by iSuppli Corp.
If correct, the second-generation iPhone could be even more profitable for Apple than either the original iPone or the iPod.
Dr Jagdish Rebello, director and principal analyst for iSuppli, said that at a hardware BOM and manufacturing cost of US$ 173, the new iPhone is significantly less expensive to produce than the first-generation product.
He said this was despite major improvements in the product’s functionality and unique usability, due to the addition of 3G communications.
“The original 8Gbyte iPhone carried a cost of US $226 after component price reductions, giving the new product a 23 per cent hardware cost reduction due to component price declines,” he said.
Last week, a survey revealed that nearly a quarter of US consumers questioned in a survey highlighted price as the main reason why they were not considering buying an Apple iPhone 3G.

Strong sales of Blackberry devices have helped Smartphone-maker Research in Motion Ltd (RIM) to more than double its first quarter profit and revenue.
The Canadian company earned US$482.5 million for the three months that ended May 31, up from US$223.2 million in the same period last year.
RIM’s revenue increased to US$2.24 billion from US$1.08 billion for the same period.
There was a net gain of 2.3 million BlackBerry subscribers in the quarter, six per cent higher than in the fourth quarter, to bring the total number of subscribers to more than 16 million.
Around 5.4 million new devices were shipped by the company in the first quarter of 2008.
Jim Balsillie, co-chief executive of RIM, said revenue had increased 107 per cent in the quarter, a rise he attributed to the continued popularity of the BlackBerry platform in business, government and consumer segments.

The popularity of the Apple iPhone in Germany - over 100,000 people have bought iPhones there since its launch in November 2007 - has prompted Mercedes-Benz to offer what it claims is an industry first.
The luxury car-maker has unveiled a new cradle specifically for the device which boosts reception and moves controls and display onto the steering wheel and dashboard.
A company report said the move was an acknowledgement by Mercedes of Apple’s current dominance in the mobile arena.
It said the cradle offered owners the means to seamlessly integrate the device’s music and telephone functions into their vehicles’ architecture.

Nokia’s intention to compete in the Smartphone market by launching an array of devices will lead to a substantial and prolonged “upside” for the mobile giant.
Gus Papageorgiou, an analyst at Scotia Bank, said he believes Nokia is undervalued after hearing its CEO outline future growth plans.
Among the reasons for his optimism is the company’s aggressive plan to compete in the high-end Smartphone market, so far largely dominated by the rivalry between Research in Motion’s Blackberry and Apple’s iPhone.
Nokia is launching a range of new Smartphones and repositioning its image away from the hardware/”mobile phone” tag, by integrating services with its handsets to deliver web-enabled customer solutions.

Nearly a quarter of US consumers questioned in a survey highlighted price as the main reason why they were not considering buying an Apple iPhone 3G.
Another impediment to purchase was people’s preference for a network carrier other than AT&T, Apple’s exclusive provider of the handsets in the US.
Only 4 per cent of those surveyed by PriceGrabber.com, a part of Experian, currently own an iPhone, but 42 per cent said they are considering buying one.
The study investigated purchasing trends and smartphone pricing history based on a survey of 3,066 online consumers conducted from May 20 to June 5, 2008.
Of the remaining 54 per cent who do not intend to purchase the iPhone, 41 per cent – or 22 per cent of the total - said that the mobile device costs too much.

No one is saying this right now, but to me the 3G iPhone is already a flop. The iPhone is Apple’s iPod for the mobile phone market. The company promised 10 million iPhones in people’s hands by 2008. No doubt, it will fall short of its predictions.

Apple has sold over 170 million iPods and that’s not even its biggest achievement in the portable music player market. With the success of the iPod, Apple has also created an industry: the online music. The success of the iPod produced the most lucrative online music store to date. The iTunes industry boasts a worldwide distribution in the excess of 600 million copies with over 4 billion songs sold.

iPod = iTunes. iPhone = MobileMe. With 3G iPhone, the iPhone 2.0 software, Apple is attempting to do another iTunes (more…)