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News, Reviews, & Opinion
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News, Reviews, & Opinion
Apple in iPhone 4 Denial
The Register's Rik Myslewski says:
"Apple released a surreal
missive on Friday morning that said the only thing wrong with the
iPhone 4 is the way it calculates signal-strength bars. That letter is
either an honest explanation or total bullshit and it's high time that
a competent, unbiased antenna-engineering team found out.
"On the face of it, Apple's letter . . . appears ludicrous in the
extreme. Like an alcoholic in deep denial, Apple says that it's not
their fault, it's the bars'."
Editor's note: For a detailed analysis of the iPhone 4's antenna
problems, see The Real
Story on iPhone 4's Antenna on AnandTech. Apple's missive has
everything to do with misleading strength bars on the iPhone and
nothing to do with the antenna problem. dk
Link: Apple's iPhone 4
Denial: Insulting or Ignorant?
Apple Needs to Rush iOS 4.0.1 to Fix Problems
PC World's Tony Bradley says:
"Officially, Apple seems to be in denial about the serious and
mounting issues being reported by its customers. However, complaints of
the antenna 'death grip', battery power vampire, proximity sensor, and
other issues are flooding online forums. Thankfully, unofficially, the
rumor is that Apple is hard at work resolving these 'non-issues' with
an update to the iOS software coming soon...."
Link: Apple Needs
to Rush iOS 4.0.1 to Fix Flubs
Apple Drops iPhone 4 Return Fee Due to Reception
Complaints
MacNN reports:
"Apple has decided to drop its 10 percent restocking fee for
customers dissatisfied with the new iPhone 4. The device has achieved
extremely brisk sales in the first few weeks of availability, however
many customers have complained of poor reception, dropped calls, or a
complete loss of signal when the phone is held in a certain way."
Link: Apple Drops
iPhone 4 Return Fee Amid Reception Complaints
Why Apple's $29 iPhone 4 Bumper Case Is a
Rip-off
Ars Technica's Aurich Lawson says:
"Much has been made of the iPhone 4's antenna woes and whether or
not a bare-handed grip will send you spiraling into no-signal limbo.
Even if you are not the type to normally consider a case for your new
iPhone, reading those reports might give you second thoughts.
"While the third party market is quickly stepping up to provide
options, the obvious first choice is the Apple Bumper case. Minimal and
Apple-engineered, what could go wrong?"
Link: Why Apple's iPhone
4 Bumper Case Is a Rip-off
The End of Apple's iPod Era
AppleInsider's Andy M. Zaky, says:
"After years of serving as Apple's main source of revenue, the
iPod's influence on the company's financial health has diminished to
the point of being effectively irrelevant as a revenue driver, marking
an end to the 'iPod era.'
"As the halo effect of the iPod reached its maximum potential,
reinvigorated Macintosh sales and deep market penetration by the iPhone
have completely taken over as the main source of Apple's revenue and
earnings. Even the iPad in its inaugural
quarter will post more revenue and earnings than the iPod, pushing the
device to Apple's 4th largest source of income. What's more, the iPod
as a percentage of Apple's total revenue will drop below 10% in
2011."
Editor's note: Four years ago the iPod accounted for over half of
Apple's total revenue (fiscal Q1 2006), and by last holiday quarter it
had declined to around 20%. That said, Zaky shows how the iPod remains
a consistent source of revenue. dk
Link: Special Report:
The End of Apple's iPod Era
iPhone 4: Machined to Perfection?
The Register's Tony Smith reports:
"Let's be honest here, what really makes the the iPhone 4 stand out
is its new 'Retina Display'.
"Yes, Apple has crammed in some other new features too - gyroscopes,
extra microphones, video calling, better WiFi, multi-tasking and yet
more megapixels for the camera - but these alone don't raise the iPhone
4 above the shoulders of its peers."
Link: Apple iPhone 4 -
Machined to Perfection?
Cell Phones Still Driving Us to Distraction
InformationWeek's Eric Zeman reports:
"Driving while distracted - by anything - is dangerous. According to
a poll conducted by Harris Interactive for Nationwide Mutual Insurance
Company, 38% of drivers say they've been hit or almost hit due to
others who won't get off their cell phones while driving.
"The same poll also shows that 40% of drivers admit to using their
phones - whether it be to check email, Facebook, GPS, or send text
messages - while driving."
For more pertinent reading on this topic, see Hang Up and
Drive on Road & Track.
Link: Cell Phones
Still Driving Us to Distraction
Lobbyists Try to Reframe Distracted Driving
Issue
The New York Times' Matt Richtel reports that Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood said he was alarmed by a lobbying effort to
reframe the debate over the dangers of distracted driving, with a major
electronics industry trade group and a Washington lobbying firm pushing
separate efforts to reframe the debate over the dangers of distracted
driving in response to moves by state legislators and regulators to
restrict motorists use of cellphones and other devices.
Link: Lobbyists Try to
Reframe Distracted Driving Issue
God on the Go: How iPhones Are Changing
Religion
TechNewsDaily's Stuart Fox reports:
"From the printing press to the radio to the Internet, advances in
communication technology have almost always instigated rapid and
profound changes in religious practice. The proliferation of mobile
devices like the iPhone is currently provoking a similarly profound
change, simultaneously allowing worshippers to craft a personal
religious environment in an otherwise secular world, but also diluting
many practices central to all religions."
Link:
God on the Go: How iPhones Are Changing Religion
iPhone Fashion Shoot: Lee Morris Shoots with iPhone
3GS
Lee Morris says, "I try to preach the same message to people who
always say 'You must have a really expensive camera' when they see some
of my photos. I do understand that you're making a point about the
camera but just like some comments before me this is a bit of a shot in
the foot."
Link: The iPhone
Fashion Shoot - Lee Morris Shoots with the 3GS (video)
iPhone 4 vs. 3GS Speed Test
ObamaPacman Editor reports:
"Apple 2010 iPhone 4 vs. 2009 iPhone 3GS. Both phones are brand new
in terms of OS. iPhone 3GS running official 3.1.3. 5 tests are
conducted in this video.
"Note this speed test illustrates the relative speed of iPhone 4 vs.
iPhone 3GS in terms of web browsing. It is not designed to show the
speed of mobile 3G which might vary depends on your location."
"Result: even though iPhone 4 is rendering 4 times the pixels on its
new, high resolution Retina display, it does more faster than the
recent iPhone 3GS!"
Link: Apple
iPhone 4 Speed Test (vs. 3GS)
iPad 3G: Worth the Extra Cost?
The Register says:
"The problem of choice when buying an iPad is compounded not just by the size of the
storage, but the issue of whether or not to shell out an additional
hundred quid for the 3G version. It's not as simple as the choice
between an iPod touch and an iPhone, since the iPad 3G doesn't include
phone capabilities: it all depends on where and how you want to use
it."
"Unlike a laptop or a phone, the iPad is an unknown genre of device:
you can't run desktop applications on it, so it's not a laptop
substitute. As a wholly new type of machine, you don't really know how
you're going to use it until you've had one for a while. Register
Hardware has already reviewed the entry-level WiFi-only 16 GB iPad, so
now it's time to find out if a 32 GB 3G iPad is worth the extra."
Link: Apple
iPad 3G 32 GB
Deposit a Check with Your iPhone
9 to 5 Mac's Seth Weintraub says:
"I know a few banks have been doing this for awhile but one of my
banks, Chase, is now allowing you to take pictures of your checks and
submit them through your iPhone. Huzzah...."
Link: Damn, I Just
Deposited a Check Through My iPhone
How to Erase an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch
Cnet's Donald Bell says:
"For most people, the idea of having their iPad erased sounds like a
nightmare. There are times, however, when it can be handy to wipe all
your personal data from an iPad and restore it back to its factory
settings.
"...here's a video demonstrating two methods for erasing and
restoring an iPad. This same technique also works on an iPhone or iPod
touch, and can be used to move a grown man to tears if executed on
someone's device without warning. Proceed with caution, and be sure to
double-check that all your data is backed up to your computer."
Link: How to Erase
an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch
Reading an iPad and Kindle Is Slower Than Reading
a Real Book
Jakob Nielsen, of product development consultancy firm Nielsen
Norman Group, reports on his study of people reading long-form text on
tablets, which found higher reading speeds than in the past, but still
slower on the electronic devices than reading print.
Going in, it was presumed that various types of tablets ought to do
better than desktop computers, because they offer higher-resolution
screens and a more comfy reading posture, but the question remained
whether tablets are as good as printed books.
Nielsen tested people reading fiction on the two highest-profile
tablets - Apple's iPad (first-generation) and Amazon's Kindle 2 - and
found that hard copy books are still read faster than tablets, with the
iPad measured at 6.2% lower reading speed than the printed page, and
the Kindle 10.7% slower.
However, users subjectively preferred the iPad and Kindle. When
asked to rate their satisfaction with the devices respectively on a 1
to 7 scale, with 7 being the best score. iPad, Kindle, and the printed
book scored 5.8, 5.7, and 5.6, respectively, with traditional PCs
scoring a mediocre 3.6.
Link: iPad and
Kindle Reading Speeds Slower Than with Real Books
iPhone 4 Gyroscope Teardown
iFixit's Miro says:
Photo Courtesy iFixit
Apple first announced the iPhone 4's gyroscope at WWDC 2010, but it
was largely overshadowed by other big players inside the phone - the A4
processor, Retina display, and external antennas. A lot of technology
gets stuffed into vibrational gyroscopes (the type found in the iPhone
4), yet a casual observer may barely notice the chip itself, let alone
the phenomenal contents within it. iFixit and Chipworks have partnered
to show you exactly what's inside these little gems.
Vibrational gyroscopes have a ton of practical uses, including
automotive yaw sensors, game controllers, and image stabilization in
cameras. Now, iPhone 4 applications and games can also benefit from
their superb accuracy. The teardown covers not only the iPhone 4's
gyroscope, but vibrational gyroscopes in general. We tried our best to
explain how vibrational gyroscopes function and have documented their
internals at a microscopic level.
As always, we're available to field any questions you have regarding
the iPhone 4, or vibrational gyroscopes.
Thank you,
Miro
iFixit
Link: iPhone
4 Gyroscope Teardown
Samsung Tablet to Take on iPad This Year
T3's Chris Smith reports that Samsung has revealed it will join the
tablet PC circus later this year by launching a rival to the Apple iPad
that will have the processing power of a netbook PC and will focus
heavily on connectivity, with more inputs and outputs than its rivals.
Smith cites Samsung exec Philip Newton telling the Australian site APC:
"I do feel that that slate-type platform has legs, but I think the legs
need to be far more powerful, for example an Atom-based product which
has far greater flexibility, not to mention inputs and outputs. This
has more potential than an iPad," also noting that Samsung's Australian
chief Emmanuele Sinaneseu reckons tablet PCs can overtake the
smartphone as the dominant gadget on the planet.
Link: Samsung
Tablet to Take on iPad in 2010
Asus Plans to Challenge iPad with Eee Pad and
Detachable Keyboard
Electronista reports that Asus CEO Jerry Shen outlined how his
company plans to tackle the iPad in a talk on Monday, explaining to
Poland's RP that the iPad's runaway success has "inspired" his company
and others to make touchscreen devices, but that it would also try to
overcome the iPad's limitations with an enhanced Eee Pad netbook,
announcing that an optional detachable keyboard section will "breathe
new life" into netbooks by letting the EP121 work as a tablet - with
the option of becoming a Windows 7 netbook with a hardware
keyboard.
Link: Asus Hopes to
Counter iPad with Detachable Eee Pad Keyboard
iPads in Business
iPad Invades Corporate America
PC World's Tony Bradley reports:
"Despite all claims by PC purists that the
iPad is a toy that has no real purpose - especially in the
corporate world, there are large enterprises embracing the tablet
device. It may be designed as a portable media consumption device for
consumers, but the iPad also provides a unique mobile computing
platform for business as well."
Link:
iPad Invades Corporate America
iPad Woos Business Users Despite Security
Worries
MSNBC's Rachael King reports that Wells Fargo, SAP, and Daimler's
Mercedes-Benz are all using iPads for everyday tasks, and cites
Forrester Research vice-president and principal analyst Ted Schadler
observing: "This iPad thing has taken the world by storm. It came in as
a consumer product, and very quickly the people who actually bought
them were businesspeople."
However, the article notes that with their smaller screens,
inability to multitask [coming in iOS 4 later this year - ed], and lack
of keyboards, tablets are not likely to replace full-featured computers
for many work-related tasks anytime soon, with Forrester projecting
that even by 2015, less than one-quarter of personal computers sold
will be tablets.
On the other hand, iPad challengers coming soon from
Hewlett-Packard, Dell, LG Electronics, Cisco, and Samsung may well
address some or all of the iPad's shortcomings as a serious work
computer cited in the previous paragraph.
Editor's note: The "security worries" hinted at in this article's
title have more to do with connecting to Microsoft's Exchange Server,
not issues such as viruses, Trojans, and other malware that are
prevalent on Windows and almost unknown on other platforms.
dk
Link:
Apple Woos Businesses Despite Security Worries
Enterprises Adopting iPad for Business Tasks
Sci-Tech Today's Barry Levine reports that Apple's iPad is finding
increasing acceptance in enterprises as tablet computers begin to
transform business computing. Wells Fargo Bank and SAP AG are utilizing
the iPad for a variety of tasks despite its introduction as a
media-consumption device. More tablets, including Cisco's Cius, are
coming and are expected to join Apple's iPad in businesses.
Link: Enterprises Are
Adopting Apple's iPad for Business Tasks
iPads in the Board Room
VentureBlog's David Hornik says:
"I don't know about the rest of the country, but Sand Hill Road has
clearly embraced the iPad. There was a time when every VC on Sand Hill
proudly carried the latest, greatest Palm Pilot. No self-respecting VC
would be caught without one....
"Fast forward a decade and that tool of choice for the VC world is
the iPad. Since its launch, the iPad has taken over the board room. I
have not attended a single board meeting since the day the iPad shipped
in which at least one iPad wasn't present...."
"Prior to the launch of the iPad, VCs would arrive at a board
meeting and promptly set up their laptops. Anyone who's attended a
meeting of laptop users knows that it is not the most conducive
environment for discussion . . . the VC community has
realized that an iPad lying flat on the table does not have the same
effect . . .. Less distraction. Less interruption. Better
board meetings."
Link: iPads
in the Board Room
Apps & Services
iPhone 4 Repair Manual
PR: Good news: you no longer have to use our teardown to take
apart your iPhone 4. Our engineers worked 12-hour shifts for five days
to bring you a comprehensive repair manual for Apple's newest creation.
Ten guides, 122 images, and 181 bullet points later, our manual shows
you how to replace all the major components that may break or fail in
your iPhone 4. We hope you never have to use our guides, but we've got
you covered if you do.
During our teardown, we investigated the repairability of the front
and back glass panels. It turns out that you'll be able to swap the
back glass with little effort, but you won't be able to replace the
front panel without also replacing the LCD.
The LCD, glass panel, and digitizer come as one unit in the iPhone
4, and they are inseparable without damaging the LCD. We're going to
keep investigating potential methods of separating the LCD from the
rest of the front panel, but the outlook isn't good.
We don't have iPhone 4 parts in stock - yet. All parts that end up
on iFixit's shelves are thoroughly tested, and we're especially
cautious when parts come out for a new product. Sometimes suppliers
create parts based on preproduction gadgets, which may differ slightly
from the final product. Apple has been known to switch things around at
the last minute; for example, compare the 5-pointed star screws on
Apple's iPhone 4 gallery images with the Phillips screws in our
teardown. Accordingly, we'll have a great selection of iPhone 4 parts
soon at our iPhone parts store: http://www.ifixit.com/iPhone-Parts
The good news is that whatever goes wrong with your beautiful iPhone
4 - whether you crush the home button, damage one of the cameras, or
short out the iPhone logic board while taking a swim - you can fix it,
and we can help.
On an iPhone-related note, we created a YouTube video
slideshow of the teardown for those who prefer moving pictures.
Thanks,
Miro
iFixit
Link: iPhone 4 Repair
Manual
iLookGood: A Real iPhone Mirror Wherever You Go
PR: iLookGood, the first of iLook app optimized for the
iPhone and specifically the iPhone 4 is now available in the App Store.
This is a true mirror built especially for iPhone 4 (with old school
black mirror for other devices). iLookGood is the simplest of several
upcoming releases and turns iPhone 4's front facing camera into a true
mirror. With iLookGood you're never more than a quick glance from
seeing just how good you look. iLookGood also takes advantage of iPhone
4's Retina display to present a high fidelity presentation that looks
almost as good as you do.
Need to check your
makeup or your hair while you're on the go, but forgot your makeup
mirror. Never fear iLookGood is here. By using the iPhone 4's front
camera (or a solid black screen on other devices), your iPhone becomes
a perfect mirror. Great for checking:
makeup- hair
- lipstick
- eyeshadow
- anything else you need to see
Choose from a selection of frames to find the one that best
accentuates your look, or turn the frame off altogether to fill the
entire screen with your lovely face. Whatever you choose, iLookGood is
the perfect high tech mirror replacement.
Price: 99¢
System requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.
Requires iOS 3.1 or later.
Link:
iLookGood (download link)
Create Your Greeting Card Using iPicEd for
iPad
PR: Moobila, a
mobile cloud computing company, has launched iPicEd for iPad, which can
be purchased at the iPad App Store.
iPicEd for iPad offers 32 useful filters, 11 overlay effects, 6
borders, and 12 photo frames to enhance your photos. There are also
options to zoom features, crop, apply filters on a selective area, and
save in original dimension.
According to Jauher Zaidi, CEO of Moobila, "iPicEd for iPhone has
been extremely popular among iPhone users, and we at Moobila believe
that iPicEd will be even more popular among iPad users who will enjoy
editing their photos on a slightly bigger surface that supports 12
megapixel photos.
iPicEd for iPad has all the
same features that iPicEd version 2 for the iPhone has and more, making
it an ideal application for the user who enjoys editing photos wherever
and whenever they want. According to Farooq Ahmad, CTO of Moobila, This
version for the iPad features a new custom greeting card template where
you can edit your photo, add text, and then send the greeting card to
all of your friends and family. iPicEd allows users to upload their
photos to their email, Facebook, Flickr, and Picasa accounts in just
one click.
For a demo on how to use iPicEd for iPad, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jTcog9lWYM
Link: iPicEd (download link)
Accessories
Wooden-look Hard Back Cover Case for iPad
PR: Features:
- Featured with Wooden-look Back Graphics
- Unique ergonomic design
- Protected from bumps and scratches
- Light weight
- Perfectly fit
- Anti-dust
- Easy access to all ports, buttons and sockets
This case is suitable for iPad
Note: This is not made of Real Wood.
$16.99
Link: Wooden-look
Hard Back Cover Case for iPad
Cool iPhone Soap
PR: Do you love the iPhone or know someone who does? This is
the perfect gift for iPhone lovers.
This iPhone soap is roughly the same size as the actual iPhone. It
has the black button at the bottom and the "screen icons" in its "flat
screen". The top layer of the soap is dark grayish black and the bottom
layer is white.
It weighs about 4
oz. and it is scented with a delicate Amaretto fragrance. (I'm happy to
provide a list of available fragrances to customize it as well.) Not
only does it look cool, it is also infused with shea butter. It can
also be made without fragrances or without shea butter.
All of Two Eggplants' soaps are made with vegan-friendly and
animal-friendly vegetable soap base, cosmetics-grade colorants, shea
butter, essential oil/fragrance oil, and a lot of imagination and
loving care.
Cool iPhone Soap scents available: Amaretto, Bacon, Croque Monsieur,
BBQ Pork,Apple Martini, Macintosh Apple, Strawberries & Champagne.
7-Up Scent, Aged Merlot, Beer, Chocolate Frosted Cupcake,Orange Sherbet
Milkshake, Creme Brulee, Mojito, Apple Cinnamon, Rice Krispies, Bourbon
and Coke, Cabernet Sauvignon.
You will receive the soap in a clear plastic box with a matching
ribbon.
Price: $9.99
Link: The
iPhone Soap Collection
The iPod Soap Collection
PR: I love
my iPod :). This fun white iPod soap looks a lot like the real
thing! It weighs about 2.0 to 2.5 oz. and is made of 100% vegan and
animal friendly vegetable soap base, fragrance oil, and cosmetic-grade
colorant.
- The white iPod soap is scented with a a fun Milk and Honey
fragrance.
- The Cool White iPod Soap is French Vanilla scented.
- The orange iPod soap smells like orange truffles.
- The cool fuchsia iPod soap smells like botanical garden and
nectar.
- The lime green and yellow iPod Soap is scented with a hint of
Botanical Garden fragrance.
- The pastel green iPod soap smells like peppermint.
- This pastel pink iPod soap smells like tropical fruits.
- This cool teal iPod soap smells like ocean and breeze.
This cool
gray iPod is scented with Peppermint. Unlike the others in the
collection, it has a black control pad in addition to the black
screen.- This clear green iPod soap smells like peppermint.
- This Sky Blue iPod soap is scented with an Ocean and Breeze
fragrance.
- This new purple iPod soap is scented with English lavender.
- This new sleek black iPod soap is the newest color to the
collection of iPod soaps and scented with Chai Tea.
All orders can be made with no fragrance or another fragrance.
Price $6.50
Link: The
iPod Soap Collection
iPhone + iPod Soap Combo Gift Set
PR: This gift set is perfect for someone who loves the iPhone
and iPod. You will receive an iPhone soap with a fragrance of your
choice and an iPod soap with a color and fragrance of your choice as
well.
They can be shipped with different clear plastic boxes or in 2
separate boxes with matching ribbon.
$14.50
Link: iPhone
+ iPod Combo Gift Set
