NBC Offers Shows for iPhone, iPod Touch Streaming
09 May 2008 09:35 EST
Chris Barylick
This week, broadcaster NBC began making selected shows available for streaming to the iPhone and iPod touch devices.
The move, which sidesteps Apple's iTunes Store, moves around price flexibility issues the network had experienced with Apple.
According to 9 to 5 Mac, the shows, which are available for streaming over the Internet via the NBC web site, are ad-free, streamed in a QuickTime format and include hits such as "The Office".
Not a bad thing, but I still miss "Battlestar Galactica" on the iTunes Store.
Let us know what you think over in the comments or forums.
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AT&T Yanks Free iPhone Wi-Fi Location Information From Web Site
09 May 2008 08:15 EST
Chris Barylick
Mere hours from posting information that indicated where iPhone owners could go to receive free access from AT&T's public wireless hotspots, the company has removed all references to the service from its web site.
According to Macworld UK and Computerworld, AT&T had posted a new "Access to AT&T WiFi hot spots" section on their web site which included details regarding the complimentary Wi-Fi access in all of its iPhone subscriber planes.
The description, prior to removal, went as follows:"Unlimited Data (e-mail and web), 200 SMS text messages and access to AT&T's more than 17,000 WiFi hot spots, including Starbucks all for use in the US. Wi-Fi available at US company operated Starbucks locations equipped with a hot spot [emphasis added]."
Per the article, an AT&T customer service representative was unable to explain the change during a 15-minute telephone conversation, during which he repeatedly left the line to query his manager.
AT&T Spokesman Mark Siegel has issued a blanket "no comment" statement when asked about the Wi-Fi information on the company's home page.
Stay tuned for more information as this develops and we're taking bets as to whether will offer a service in which they come over and kick your cat in the comments or forums.
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O2, Carphone Warehouse State More 16 GB iPhones En Route
09 May 2008 08:03 EST
Chris Barylick
Following up on yesterday's story regarding the shortage of 8 and 16 gigabyte iPhones in the UK market, Register Hardware has stated that outfits O2 and Carphone Warehouse will continue to offer the 16 gigabyte model.
Carphone Warehouse has states that it is currently reviewing the 16 gigabyte iPhone stock situation and has announced that more units are already available at its assorted retail locations. Wireless carrier O2 has issued a similar statement citing that some of its stores already have 16 gigabyte units in stock.
Both the 16GB and 8GB models are available from Apple's UK online store and ship in 24 hours.
If you're on the other side of the pond and can offer any insight into the iPhone shortage, let us know in the comments or forums.
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O2 Reports iPhone Shortage in UK Market
08 May 2008 08:30 EST
Chris Barylick
Per the O2 online store, things have become quite clear that the wireless carrier is out of first generation iPhone stock in the UK.
Current speculation points towards the company waiting for a next generation, 3G device to come in and as their web site is concerned, the writing's on the wall:
If you've heard about this or seen it in action on your end over there in the UK, please let us know in the comments or forums.
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Additional "Leaked" 3G iPhone Shots Hit the Internet
08 May 2008 08:00 EST
Chris Barylick
It's speculation, but it's interesting.
The guys at Engadget, with thanks to WeiPhone and AppleInsider, have discovered yet another round of "leaked" next generation iPhone pictures.
Since a picture's worth a thousand words...
Let us know what you make of these over in the comments or forums.
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Apple, AT&T May Launch 3G iPhone Earlier Than Expected
07 May 2008 09:16 EST
Chris Barylick
It came from Rumorville, complete with an intercepted AT&T internal memo, so it must be true.
According to Boy Genius Report, AT&T representatives received a note telling them not to take vacation from June 15th to July 12th due to "projected increased traffic and an exciting new promotion/product launch."
The full internal memo is as follows:
AT&T MobilityVacation Schedules
To: All Employees
Last year at this time we asked that all vacations be scheduled before June 15 or after July 15, to ensure adequate store staffing and to give everyone an equal opportunity to benefit from an exciting product launch. Thanks to your hard work, we experienced excellent sales during the mid-summer period. This year, the numbers you produced in 2007 will be hard to beat; but as a business, we must rise to the challenge, and make every effort to exceed last year’s sales results. Your management team is counting on you!
We’ll meet the challenge “head-on” by providing an exciting Summer Promotional Launch to enable your sales to soar. We again anticipate heavier than normal customer traffic in our stores, providing an excellent earning opportunity for every front line retail sales consultant (RSC) in company owned retail stores.
To ensure proper staffing during this period, Sales personnel planning to take approved time off are encouraged to schedule their vacations before June 15 or after July 12 to participate in the heavy selling period
Previously approved vacation will be allowed where voluntary rescheduling is not feasible
No additional vacation will be approved for 6/15 – 7/12
If customer traffic is manageable, there may be an opportunity to approve vacation toward the end of the period. Managers will communicate updates as they become available.
As always, let us know what you think over in the comments or forums.
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Apple Releases Fifth Version of iPhone SDK
07 May 2008 08:49 EST
Chris Barylick
Late Tuesday night, Apple released the fifth major public build of the iPhone software development kit.
The build, a one gigabyte download, requires registered developers to sign into the iPhone Dev Center web site. According to Macworld UK, the new version includes bug fixes, adds support for the latest iPhone OS and includes the latest release notes.
In a move that dovetailed with the software release, Apple began accepting international members to the iPhone Developer Program this week. New developers are now allowed access to the iPhone SDK builds, technical support and will be able to write programs for later distribution on the App Store.
If you've tried the new SDK build and have any feedback about it, let us know over in the comments or forums.
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Vodafone to Release iPhone Handset in 10 Markets
06 May 2008 08:30 EST
Chris Barylick
On Monday, wireless carrier Vodafone announced that it had signed a deal with Apple to sell the iPhone in 10 markets. According to Engadget, the carrier will sell the handset in Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey.
The iPhone can be expected in these countries later this year and additional details have yet to be released.
If you've heard anything on your end or have experience with Vodafone, let us know in the comments or forums.
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T-Mobile Confirms 3G Network, May Offer Alternate Pricing for Austrian iPhone
06 May 2008 08:00 EST
Chris Barylick
Austrian paper Der Standard has stated that a 3G-capable iPhone is coming down the pipe and may bring pricing changes with it in at least one area. According to the article, T-Mobile Austria has allegedly confirmed the existence of a phone that would support faster data over its UMTS-based 3G data network. The company has made comments that this will be a "testing ground" for the device as one of the first to carry the new 3G hardware, though the company has also declined to say when it will unveil the new iPhone for customers and has yet to provide any technical details beyond faster wireless speeds.
The rumors come on the heels of leaked information about the iPhone 2.0 beta code containing references to an Infineon chipset that supports the UMTS, HSDPA and WCDMA protocols.
Pricing plans also seem likely to change per hints dropped by T-Mobile. Company chief Hendrik Kasteel said that the company will offer "more flexible" subscriptions than today but declined to go into details. The provider currently echoes agreements struck with other carriers and sells the phone at a fixed price regardless of contract length. T-Mobile Germany, however, recently launched term-based discounts that vary depending on a given user's monthly subscription fees.
Apple has yet to release any comment on these changes but is widely expected to announce the 3G iPhone at its upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco next month.
If you've heard anything new on your end or want to offer your opinion on a 3G iPhone, let us know over in the comments or forums.
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Counterpoint: WeatherBug for iPhone (Updated)
04 May 2008 03:23 EST
Kenn Marks
Not that I want to rain on Jason's parade, but after his article "Web app: Best iPhone weather" at the Apple Core, I just had to add my two cents and shed a little sunlight on the subject of weather applications for the un-jailbroken iPhone.
My number one favorite weather web app is WeatherBug for the iPhone. For two main reasons: one - it lets me have multiple sites bookmarked (a maximum of six) and, like the Apple weather app, I can scroll back and forth between my preselected locations to see not only today's forecast but the next several days as well. Secondly - I am able to display current local radar for that location so I can become my own meteorologist and predict the weather in the near future for a destination I will be going to soon.
For additional information and the Update click the headline jump.
Let us know what your thoughts and observations over in the comments and forums.
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AT&T Offering Free Starbucks WiFi Access to iPhone Users
01 May 2008 09:00 EST
Chris Barylick
The AT&T/Starbucks deal is getting more interesting by the day as rumors point towards free WiFi access for iPhone users in assorted Starbucks locations. The guys at MacRumors have uncovered a screenshot seeming to offer complimentary access to the iPhone.
The current belief is that the access system requires that a user enter their mobile iPhone number as a means of verification.
As per the terms of the agreement, AT&T recently partnered with Starbucks to provide WiFi access to more than 7,000 stores across the United States.
Have any thoughts on this? Let us know over in the comments or forums.
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Rogers May Offer 100-200 MB/Month Data Limit on iPhone Accounts
01 May 2008 08:23 EST
Chris Barylick
The good news: The iPhone is coming to Canada through Rogers Wireless.
The bad news: RBC analyst Jonathan Allan has predicted that the iPhone's plan will offer a "virtually unlimited" data plan of 100 to 200 megabyte per month. According to an article in the National Post, Rogers would offer consumers 250 to 500 anytime minutes as well as unlimited evening and weekend calling plans after 9 PM.
The article suggested that the data plan would run for $35 per month while the phone plan would range between $80 and $100 per month (prices are at Canadian exchange rates).
Additional rumors on the ground cite Apple as being likely to charge about $400 for the eight gigabyte version of the iPhone with a three year contract designed to cover Apple's commission on the plans.
If you've heard anything on your end, please let us know over in the comments or forums.
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AT&T May Offer US$199 Subsidy for Next-Gen iPhone
30 April 2008 08:15 EST
Chris Barylick
The iPhone has long been seen as a cool but pricey item. This may change, according to Fortune, which is reporting that Apple may allow assorted wireless networks to discount the price of the handset to bring up market share.
In the case of the U.S. 3G iPhone, the device may be discounted by US$199 when the unit is released later this year (most likely June).
The report cites a "person familiar with the strategy" who claims that AT&T will offer a US$200 subsidy on the handset to customers signing up for new two year contracts.
This report comes weeks after T-Mobile in Germany and O2/Carphone Warehouse in the UK applied their own discount subsidy on sales of the 8 GB iPhone, generating sufficient interest with their £100 discount to clear stock on hand within days.
Click the jump for the full story...
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Rogers Wireless Announces iPhone Partnership, Distributor Status in Canada
29 April 2008 10:37 EST
Chris Barylick
On Tuesday, Canadian wireless carrier Rogers Communications announced that it will be bringing the iPhone to its user base.
“We’re thrilled to announced that we have a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year,” said Ted Rogers, President and CEO of Rogers Communications. “We can’t tell you any more about it right now, but stay tuned.”
Thanks to Macworld for the heads up and we'll bring you additional details such as pricing, availability and launch date as they become available.
Have a take on Rogers or the iPhone in Canada? Let us know in the comments or forums.
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Foxconn Ramps Up 3G iPhone Assembly
29 April 2008 10:24 EST
Chris Barylick
The 3G iPhone rumors are at their peak and with this, the Chinese newspaper Commercial Times, by way of DigiTimes, is citing inside sources that claim component maker Foxconn is ramping up 3G iPhone assembly. The first batch, which is expected to ship three million units this June, will be the beginning of some 24-25 million units which are expected to be created before the product reaches the end of its life span.
Stay tuned for further details as this story develops.
If you've heard anything on your end or have plans in mind for what you'll do first with a 3G iPhone, let us know in the comments or forums.
Apple iPhone Foxconn May June life span first batch Commercial Times assembly
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Foxconn Ramps Up 3G iPhone Assembly
28 April 2008 08:30 EST
Chris Barylick
The 3G iPhone rumors are at their peak and with this, the Chinese newspaper Commercial Times, by way of DigiTimes, is citing inside sources that claim component maker Foxconn is ramping up 3G iPhone assembly. The first batch, which is expected to ship three million units this June, will be the beginning of some 24-25 million units which are expected to be created before the product reaches the end of its life span.
Stay tuned for further details as this story develops.
If you've heard anything on your end or have plans in mind for what you'll do first with a 3G iPhone, let us know in the comments or forums.
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Apple States 200,000 Developers to Date for iPhone SDK
24 April 2008 08:56 EST
Chris Barylick
During yesterday's conference call to release second quarter financial statements, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer revealed that the company has signed up 200,000 developers to date for its iPhone software development kit.
According to Macworld UK, Oppenheimer called the response to the SDK "tremendous" and mentioned that 400 higher education institutions as well as more than one third of Fortune 500 companies are actively creating software for the iPhone.
Apple plans to deliver a major update to the iPhone software, termed iPhone 2.0, in late June. The update will incorporate the company's anticipated App Store, which will allow users to purchase, download and install third party applications for the iPhone. A similar update is also planned for the iPod touch to allow the handset to access the App Store as well. The iPod touch's update won't be free, but has been cited as nominally priced.
Company representatives stated that 1.7 million iPhones had been sold in the second quarter with COO Tim Cook reiterating the statement that Apple is on track to sell 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008.
Let us know what you think over in the comments or forums.
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Apple May Release Unlocked iPhone in Belgium This June
23 April 2008 08:37 EST
Chris Barylick
Per a report on Belgian web site Astel.be, Apple seems set to introduce an unlocked 3G model of its iPhone handset within the country this June.
The report states that Apple will release the iPhone in an unlocked form for use with any network within the country. Other details within the article cite that wireless carriers are busy assembling special iPhone data packages to support the launch.
Providers Proximus, Mobistar and BASE have been described as assembling iPhone support, planning to offer visual messaging and unlimited data packages. The report hints that Mobistar may be give a two month exclusive deal for the device, which will then be made available through all operators.
Stay tuned for more details on this story as it develops and if you've heard anything across the pond, let us know over in the comments or forums.
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iPhone to Arrive in Italy Sans Contract, Carrier Lock
21 April 2008 10:27 EST
Chris Barylick
Apple's popular iPhone handset will reportedly arrive in Italy in a matter of weeks under a landmark deal that will have the handset sold through Telecom Italia Mobile without a contract or exclusive wireless carrier.
According to Italian newspaper Repubblica, a formal agreement was signed last week when Franco Bernabè, chief executive officer of Telecom Italia Mobile's parent company, Telecom Italia, met with Steve Jobs at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California.
According to sources close to the story, Telecom Italina Mobile will reportedly receive a several month exclusive on sales of a 3G iPhone through its retail shops. These locations will be staffed with specialists who are trained to support iPhone customers who will help get the units up and running on the carrier's 3G network.
The deal marks a significant contract deviation for Apple, which until now has pushed for exclusive partnerships with choice wireless carriers in each country the iPhone has been introduced in. The Italian market, in turn, is renowned for being the number one purchaser of pre-paid wireless contracts worldwide every year, thereby creating a market where Apple's typical deal may have proven highly unpopular to prospective buyers.
Click the jump for the full story...
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Guide to Preventing iPhone Freezes and Crashes Posted
21 April 2008 08:00 EST
Chris Barylick
As nifty as your iPhone may be, the handset is never perfect and glitches can emerge from time to time.
Fortunately, methods exist to get around these errors.
The guys at Macworld have posted an excerpt clip from a recently released iPhone guide describing how to get around common freezes, hangs and delays present in the iPhone. Take a gander:
To unfreeze an iPhone press and hold down the Home key for about six seconds. If this works, you are returned to the Home screen, with (hopefully) everything working again. If a force-quit fails to unfreeze the application, try further actions as described ahead in this section (begin with Restart, below).Handle crashes:
When you’re working with an iPhone application or widget, the iPhone may suddenly toss you back to the Home screen. When you return to the program you were using, you may further find that some of your recent changes have been lost. For example, a Web page that you had closed may now be back. When this occurs, it means the iPhone software has crashed.After being dumped back Home, you should simply return to what you were doing and hope the crash does not recur. If the same crash does happen again (and sometimes again and again), try restarting your iPhone (described next). This often helps because many crashes are caused by a combination of events that won’t reoccur in exactly the same way after a restart.
To look over the full guide, click here and if you've found a reliable fix for iPhone freezes that keep emerging, let us know over in the comments or forums.
http://www.macworld.com/article/133078/2008/04/tco_iphone_freeze.html
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Apple in Discussions with Orange Wireless Over iPhone Price Drops
18 April 2008 12:17 EST
Chris Barylick
According to CNNMoney.com, Apple is currently in discussions with French wireless carrier Orage about lowering the cost of the French iPhone. Per French newspaper Les Echos, Apple is putting pressure on Orange to switch to a subsidized pricing model, which would make the handset more affordable to a wider French market.
Orange is currently offering the iPhone for €399 (or US$635), thereby making it one of the most expensive handsets in Europe.
Apple is said to be disappointed with sales of the iPhone in France, which only recently crossed the 100,000 threshold, and in Europe in general. This is likely one of the reasons for price cuts elsewhere, which have seen the eight gigabyte iPhone fall to £169 in the UK, and just €99 in Germany. The company may also be looking to clear out inventory in advance of a 3G iPhone release this summer.
Sources close to the story have indicated that Orange is willing to go along with Apple's plan but is currently negotiating for a better revenue-sharing agreement in order to compensate for lower profits on each iPhone sold if the price drop goes through.
If you've heard anything about this across the pond, please let us know over in the comments or forums.
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Early Handwriting Recognition Software for iPhone Released
17 April 2008 08:41 EST
Chris Barylick
It's not as kosher as it could be and requires a jailbroken iPhone capable of running third party applications, but a Chinese developer has just released an early version of its handwriting recognition software the for iPhone, HWPen, which can recognize both Latin and Chinese alphabets, can be installed through the Installer.app program. The program can then take over the standard keyboard at the touch of a button.
In order to install the software, open Installer.app, go to "Sources", click on "Edit" and "Add" the following new source: http://iphonecake.com/src/new
From there, refresh the sources and look for the HWPen program in the iPhoneCake packages category.
Install the software, restart your iPhone and you're off to the races.
The software is still in beta and sports errors such as being unable to work correctly in landscape mode and failing to appear in the Mail.app program.
Still, it's a start and if you've had a chance to test out the program, let us know how it goes in the comments or forums.
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Fring VoIP Client Comes to iPhone
16 April 2008 08:06 EST
Chris Barylick
If you have a jailbroken iPhone, you're home free.
Yesterday, Fringland Ltd. released its Fring VoIP client for the iPhone. The software allows users to place and receive calls through the iPhone's WiFi connection.
According to Zatz Not Funny!, the program also handles protocols such as Skype and allows users to connect to instant messaging clients such as MSN Messenger, ICQ, GTalk, SIP, Twitter, AIM and Yahoo.
And now, the mighty demo video:
Fring can be located via the Installer.app program found on jailbroken iPhones.
If you've tried the program and have any feedback about it, let us know over in the comments or forums.
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Apple Includes Additional International Language Support in Latest SDK Beta, Could Point to New Markets for International Launch
14 April 2008 08:21 EST
Chris Barylick
Once again, the text strings of the latest iPhone software development kit beta have been looked into and some interesting new tidbits have emerged.
Per Computerworld, additional language support code for Swedish, Danish, Finnish, Norweigan, Polish, Korean and Brazilian Portuguese has been discovered. These languages supplement the kit's existing support for English, French, German, Italian and Russian.
No carrier files (software designed to support an iPhone on specific networks) were discovered alongside the new language support.
The introduction of support for Korean within the iPhone hints that Apple may debut in the Far East with a release in Korea, pending successful business deals in Japan and China.
In past development kit releases, the inclusion of new language support has indicated as to which country or region the iPhone would debut next.
If you've heard anything on your end, let us know over in the comments or forums.
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