News about iphone 4:
iPhone 4 proximity sensor fix in the works
If you think the proximity sensor on your iPhone 4 has been acting wacky, don’t worry, turns out you’re not crazy: Apple has just committed to fixing weirdness in the next software update at its press conference today. Problems have mainly revolved around the sensor failing to detect your face when you’re on a call, leading to accidentally hang-ups, mutes, and so on as your ear makes contact with the screen — not too cool. Then again, if you’ve been staying off your phone lately for fear of dropping a call, well… maybe you didn’t notice. Read the rest of this entry »
iPhone 4 sales: 3 million and counting, 1.7 percent returned
In today’s iPhone 4 press conference out in Cupertino, Apple has revealed that they’ve pushed 3 million phones so far since launch a little under a month ago. For the record, that’s about twice the number Apple sold in the first weekend — 1.7 million — so the pace has clearly slowed down a bit, though that would appear to be due almost exclusively to supply constraints.
iPhone 4 press event liveblog in 4hrs!
Four hours to go before Apple takes the stage at their Cupertino headquarters for a hastily-called press conference to discuss the iPhone 4, and that means four hours until the SlashGear liveblog kicks off. We’ll be covering all the news over at our magically auto-updating http://live.slashgear.com/ site, with the event expected to start at 10am PT (that’s 1pm New York or 6pm London). On the agenda: the state of the iPhone 4.
White iPhone 4 spotted at London Apple Store?
Most people are expecting Apple to take on the iPhone 4 reception issues at their press conference later today, but there are signs that the company may be announcing white iPhone 4 availability too. Tech writer Julian Prokaza spotted significant deliveries taking place at Apple’s flagship Regent Street store in London last night, complete with “lots of white iPhone boxes in crates”.
iPhone signal tweaks compared; iOS 4.0.1 quietly fixes Exchange support too
We love a good colored diagram here at SlashGear, and so this comparison chart showing just how Apple has changed iPhone signal strength bar mapping in their latest iOS 4.0.1 update is tickling us nicely. The handiwork of AnandTech reader Mike Escoffery, it shows the considerable margin by which Apple emphasized a “full bars” signal. Meanwhile, while there was no mention of it in the iTunes release notes, iOS 4.0.1 also addresses Exchange ActiveSync problems.
“iPhone DSLR prototype” mounts Canon EF lenses, enrages purists
Want a guaranteed, sure-fire way to enrage DSLR enthusiasts? Call your custom-crafted iPhone 4 mount that allows you to use interchangeable lenses an “iPhone DSLR prototype“; you’ll soon have them queueing up to point you at the official definition of a single-lens reflex camera. Still, we’ll put aside nomenclature because there’s something sturdily lovely about Jeremy Salvador’s system, no matter what he wants to call it.
Apple deny engineer’s iPhone 4 antenna warning
Apple has denied Bloomberg’s report that the company’s chief antenna engineer informed Steve Jobs and the rest of management that the iPhone 4’s design would likely lead to dropped calls and other issues. According to Bloomberg’s unnamed sources, engineer Ruben Caballero highlighted the potential for interference from an external antenna design back in 2009; Apple PR, however, “challenge Bloomberg BusinessWeek to produce anything beyond rumors to back this up” going on to insist “It’s simply not true.”
Firefox Home for iPhone & iPod touch hits App Store
The cynic might say that Mozilla heavily previewed their Firefox Home app for iOS back in May so that, should Apple reject it, they could make a huge song and dance of it. Happily that won’t be necessary, since Apple’s App Store guardians have approved the browser companion app for iPhone and iPod touch. The concept is a little confusing at first glance: Firefox Home isn’t a standalone browser, instead using Firefox Sync to bring your browsing history, bookmarks and open tabs from the desktop to your mobile device.
Reminder: we’re live from Apple’s iPhone 4 press conference tomorrow, 10AM PT / 1PM ET!
Apple’s been pretty vague about what’s going to go down tomorrow at the press conference it’s holding in Cupertino, but we’re going to be there live, covering whatever it is they have in store for us. We have a feeling it’ll have at least something to do with that antenna issue you may or may not have heard about, so strap yourself into your seat, grab an orange soda, and keep it parked right at Engadget for the best, up-to-the-minute live coverage on the internet.
Senator Chuck Schumer writes open letter to Steve Jobs, world is officially doomed
Look, we get it. There’s a problem with the iPhone’s antenna. But was the open letter to Jobs calling for a “clearly written explanation of the cause of the reception problem” and a “public commitment to remedy it free-of-charge” really necessary? What, you don’t have better things to do? The full press release (and the Senator’s letter) is after the break. Read the rest of this entry »
iOS 4.0.1 released to fix iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G signal meter
Apple’s promised iOS4 update has been pushed out for the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G. iOS 4.0.1 apparently “improves the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display,” after Apple discovered they had been using the wrong calculations. Previewed earlier today in the iOS4.1 developer beta, the update is expected to make the iPhone’s signal meter more accurate, but not address the hardware issue experienced by iPhone 4 owners where holding the smartphone in a certain way can significantly impair antenna performance.
iOS 4.0.1 hitting iPhones right this second (update: 3.2.1 for iPads, too)
Well it’s not the full 4.1 we were expecting… but here’s a little tidbit from Apple. One of the main features? The update “improves the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display.” Interesting. We’re updating some devices right now, and will report back with what we find.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Update: It looks like iOS 3.2.1 for iPad is coming down the tube, as well. We’ll let you know what changes we’re seeing!
iPhone 4 “internal bumper” fix in works tips analyst
While most have dismissed the idea of a full recall for the iPhone 4 over the ongoing antenna issue, Rodman Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar still believes Apple is preparing a hardware fix. According to TheStreet, Kumar claims Apple’s engineers have come up with “a design fix for the iPhone 4 that more adequately insulates the transceiver,” which will address reception in a way that does not change the outward aesthetics of the smartphone.
Wozniak on iPhone 4: “It’s like the AT&T dead zone has been extended”
In the run up to Apple’s iPhone 4 press conference tomorrow the last thing they needed was more bad publicity about the fourth-gen smartphone’s poor antenna performance. Unfortunately, hot on the heels of Bloomberg’s report that a senior engineer warned Apple management back in 2009 that the iPhone 4’s design would cause signal problems, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has waded in with a little criticism of his own. Asked about his own iPhone 4’s performance, Wozniak said his own casual testing suggested that the smartphone’s problem “only occurs in some places” and that it was “like the AT&T dead zone has been extended with this new phone.”
Bloomberg: Apple engineer was concerned about iPhone 4 antenna early on
As if we needed any more drama in this situation, Bloomberg has someone “familiar with the matter” that claims Apple’s own antenna expert, Ruben Caballero, told Apple management that the iPhone 4 antenna design could cause reception problems, dropped calls, and a serious engineering challenge. Caballero is a senior engineer for Apple with a large quantity of antenna patents under his belt, and while we certainly don’t know the whole story — perhaps his claims were somehow quelled by Apple’s own testing — it certainly adds a twist to this story if Steve Jobs and co. had been alerted to this very real problem during the design phase. The Bloomberg article also claims, from a different source, no less, that a carrier partner also raised antenna concerns before the release. Apple and Caballero naturally did not comment on this report. We’re not really sure about the real-world implications of all this behind-the-scenes drama, but we suppose we’ll see what Apple has to say for itself tomorrow. Read the rest of this entry »
Apple engineer gave iPhone 4 antenna warning in 2009
Apple management were apparently warned more than six months ago that the iPhone 4’s external antenna design could lead to reception issues, Bloomberg has heard from an internal source at the Cupertino company. Senior antenna expert Ruben Caballero supposedly told Apple execs that the fourth-gen smartphone could experience signal problems sometime back in 2009, concerns that a second source claims were reiterated by on of the company’s carrier partners prior to the iPhone 4’s release in June.
FaceTime to use Apple ID & email for iPod touch & iPad users?
Details on how Apple will apparently handle FaceTime video calls to devices such as the iPod touch, iPad and desktop systems which lack a phone number have leaked to BGR. According to their “reliable” source, users will register their Apple ID to their device and then associate one or more email addresses to that ID; making a call will therefore be as simple as choosing the email address of your contact.
iOS 4.1 Released to Developers but Still No iPhone 4 Antenna Problem Fix
Apple have just released iOS 4.1 to developers which they mentioned would include a fix to the signal problems. However, although the signal bars seem to be showing up better than before, it would appear that the the actual antenna … [visit site to read more]
iPhone 4 is Apple’s Vista says Microsoft exec
Microsoft’s COO, Kevin Turner, just couldn’t help himself and has poured salt in the wounds of Apple after he said that Apple’s new iPhone is like their poorly received Windows Vista.
Apple and HTC lead charge as smartphone market looks set to grow and grow
A recent survey of 4,028 US consumers by ChangeWave has thrown up a number of illuminating statistics, which you might consider as predictable as they are informative. The chief takeaway is that people are keen on buying smartphones like never before, with 16% of respondents saying that they’ll be taking the plunge within the next 90 days, which marks the biggest increase in the survey’s history. Secondly, and crucially for vendor loyalists, Apple and HTC seem to be the biggest beneficiaries (or are they the stimulants?) of this interest, with both improving their share by over 50 percent between March and June of this year. RIM and Motorola have taken a tumble in that same timespan, while Palm has sadly failed to register even a single percentage point. We can definitely see the Droid X and BlackBerry 6 remedying things for the big boys, but Palm’s route out of ignominy seems a little less straightforward. You’ll find a chart of customer satisfaction — dominated by Apple in imperious fashion — after the break, and the full breakdown at the source link. Read the rest of this entry »
iOS4.1 Beta fattens signal bars but iPhone 4 antenna issue remains
Apple has pushed out their latest iOS beta to its developer community, iOS4.1, and the question everybody is asking is whether it includes the promised patch to “fix” the signal issue. Unfortunately, while the modem firmware has been updated (going from 01.59.00 to 02.07.01) and the signal bars are larger than before, early feedback in the MacRumors forum suggests that there’s no actual difference in performance – if you touch the antenna during a call, that can be enough to kill your connection.
Apple iPhone 4 press conference this Friday: we’ll be liveblogging
Apple has announced it will be holding a press conference on Friday, July 16th 2010, and we’re guessing the company will be taking to the stage to talk about the iPhone 4’s antenna. SlashGear will be there on Friday morning, running our usual liveblog at http://live.slashgear.com/ and we’d love for you to join us as we find out exactly what Steve Jobs & Co have planned.
iPhone 4 Gets Splashes of Color from Colorware
Ubiquitous Colorware is back and this time it is looking to paint iPhone 4 in all sorts of funky colors. However, pretty does not come cheap. The company is charging $250 a pop for the paint job.
Apple to hold iPhone 4 press conference this Friday
Headline says it all folks. Obviously the company is going to be getting out in front of this antenna drama (finally). We’ve been invited and we’ll be there, presumably reporting live! It all happens at 10AM PT, Friday the 16th. Read the rest of this entry »
iPhone 4 the New Vista of the Tech Market?
If you were to ask one individual, it would seem that that title is very, very true. Who would that individual be? That would be Microsoft’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Turner. He was speaking at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference today, and that’s exactly what he said regarding Apple’s new handset. Basically, despite the fact he may work for the company that he’s referencing, we can still all assume that he’s not saying the very kindest things about the iPhone 4.
ZVRS to support live sign language translation via iPhone 4′s FaceTime for calls between deaf and hearing users
While SMS and mobile email are great, they still can’t match the emotion, interaction, and intonation of a live conversation with someone — that’s why our phones still ship with microphones and speakers, apparently. Of course, this is much more difficult when one of the parties is deaf or hard of hearing, which is where video relay services come in. With the help of a videophone or your computer’s webcam, you can make a call with a live translator, who speaks your signed ramblings out loud to the hearing person on the other end. Of course you’re usually stuck at a desk when doing this, but now ZVRS is going to be supporting calls made from the iPhone 4 over FaceTime. It might not be quite as sexy as Apple’s goosebump-raising iPhone 4 commercial, since the phone obviously makes two-way sign language calls possible, but if the person on the other end doesn’t have an iPhone 4 or doesn’t know sign language, ZVRS seems like the next best thing. The new service will launch on July 26th. Check out a video of it in action after the break, the actual call starts at 2:25. Read the rest of this entry »
CE-oh no he didn’t!: Microsoft’s Kevin Turner says iPhone 4 might be Apple’s Vista
While not technically a CEO, Microsoft chief operating officer Kevin Turner is not immune to a certain amount of executive level foot-in-mouth. Speaking at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference in DC and chatting up his company’s upcoming slate of Windows Phones, he couldn’t help a little iPhone bashing: “It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I’m okay with that.” Should we point out to Kevin that attempting to criticize your competition by comparing it to your own flagship products is usually counterproductive, or leave him to figure it out on his own during some early morning magnificent moustache contemplation session? Read the rest of this entry »
Colorware iPhone 4 tests taste and wallet
Good old Colorware – just because Apple aren’t offering a white iPhone 4, doesn’t mean a rainbow of choice isn’t yours for the taking by other means. The well-heeled and desperately individual can now pick up a custom-colored iPhone 4 with their pick of frame, button, back panel, SIM tray and headphone hues, though as usual they’ll need to stomach a considerable premium.
The Daily Slash: July 13th 2010
Can you believe that it’s already (pretty much) the middle of July? It just feels like time’s flying by, doesn’t it? Guess that’s what happens when you’re having fun — and we have plenty of that around here. That’s why we’re happy you can join us. So, welcome to tonight’s edition of The Daily Slash. First up, in the Best of R3 Media, we’ve got 100,000 apps for the Android Market, and is an iPhone 4 recall coming soon? And then in the Dredge ‘Net, it looks like Stanford is going digital, we’ve got some big speakers, and it looks like Destination Arcade is just a limited run.
FaceTime video call works beautifully on airplane’s in-flight WiFi (video)
Yeah, seriously. While Aircell’s Gogo in-flight WiFi service has been blocking VoIP calling services (Skype being the most obvious example) from day one, it’s apparently not throwing the same brick wall in the face of Apple’s new standard. Our good pals over at TUAW managed to record a (relatively) solid two minute FaceTime conversation with an iPhone 4 owner, and only after you realize that said owner is a few thousand feet above the Earth’s surface does this all become a lot more interesting. We know for a fact that certain iPhone 4 owners have had difficulty with FaceTime conversations when using highly firewalled access points (like those found in hotels and corporate offices), but it seems as if seat 16A is cleared for transmission. For now, anyway. Head on past the break to peek the FaceTime ad that Apple forgot to make. Read the rest of this entry »
Colorware douses iPhone 4 in double rainbow, might just solve your reception issues
Given just how much that white iPhone 4 bumper is about to cost you on eBay, it seems as if a Colorware’d alternative has never been a better bargain. The master of gadget coloration is back once more, this time promising to dress Apple’s latest problem child up with just about any combination of hues that you choose. Consumers can splash paint on the frame, back, button, SIM card tray and earbuds, with the minimum price set at $250 for a sent-in device. There’s no guarantee that a coat of Colorware will serve to remedy those awfully annoying reception issues, but at least you can pocket a beautiful reminder of just how happy a pair of colorful bands can make the average vacationer. And that, friends, is priceless. Read the rest of this entry »
Yes, the iPhone 4 is broken / No, the iPhone 4 is not broken
The controversy over the iPhone 4′s antenna issues continues to grow, particularly after Consumer Reports confirmed yesterday that every iPhone 4 suffers from signal attenuation when the phone is held with the lower left corner covered — a report that we confirmed with results from our own custom signal metering app. At this point, there’s no longer any question in our minds that the iPhone 4′s antenna can be made to lose signal by holding it “wrong” — and we definitely think it’s more than a little silly that simply holding the phone in your left hand has been nicknamed the “death grip.”
Skype and Fring Tussle Over iPhone 4 App
VoIP mobile space players Skype and Fring have got into a skirmish and things seem to be getting out of hand now. Fring had temporarily suspended Skype from its new iPhone 4 app. Apparently, its network was overburdened due to new iPhone 4 … [visit site to read more]
iPhone 4 Inevitable Hardware Recall Coming, PR Experts Say
Back and forth. Back and forth. That’s what this antenna issue has become, with Apple sitting in the middle, watching the results as they make their way from one end of the spectrum to the other. Back and forth. And it’s only getting brighter in the media’s eye (if that’s even possible), and when that starts happening, we can surely expect it to be making waves amongst the populace. Even amongst those who might call themselves Apple fans. With a new report from Consumer Reports hot on the heels of the issue, we now get word from so-called PR experts that a hardware recall for the new iPhone is inevitable.
iPhone 4 carrier unlock teased, not released just yet
While we wait for a full, no-strings-attached jailbreak for the iPhone 4, let’s turn our attention to the other important matter of unlocking, shall we? iPhone Dev Team member planetbeing is teasing the world with a picture of an unlocked AT&T iPhone 4 being used way up north on Canada’s Bell — and while we don’t have a timeline for a release just yet, this should be particularly exciting news for Canadians who don’t have much interest in waiting any longer for their version of the phone to officially arrive. We’ll update you just as soon as it’s available.
iPhone 4 Has Officially Been Unlocked
If you’re an international customer (not in the United States), then you won’t have to do much to get your hands on an unlocked iPhone 4. They come like that across the pond. So, as is usual ’round these parts, devs had to crack down on their social lives to get the new iPhone, running iOS4, unlocked. It involved rewriting the entire ultrasn0w software, which meant previous versions couldn’t be used, thanks to the new baseband that Apple installed in the iPhone 4. But, PlanetBeing and MuscleNerd of the iPhone Dev Team have managed to get an iPhone 4, running iOS4, unlocked.
Apple deletes support threads talking about Consumer Reports iPhone 4 story
We mentioned yesterday that Consumer Reports had initially recommended the iPhone 4. The publication then actually tested the device, came back, and announced that it could no longer recommend the device due to the poor antenna design.
Apple deleting mentions of Consumer Reports’ iPhone 4 piece on forums, can’t delete your thoughts
…or can they? In case Apple has somehow managed to perfect the art of selective disremembrance across a wide population, here’s a refresher: Consumer Reports has thrown down the gauntlet, stating that it “can’t recommend” the iPhone 4 until the antenna issues are fixed, issues that its labs and ours have verified quite substantially. Apple apparently isn’t happy about that, and has taken to deleting threads about the Consumer Reports article from its support forums. Now, Apple deleting threads from its support forums is nothing new; outside of “regular” moderation, the company routinely deletes discussion of hardware flaws that it’s not ready to ‘fess up to, or just generally negative lines of thought about its products. Good thing the internet’s a big place, and if Apple’s not going to admit the antenna issue, there are plenty of ways to gripe about it. Feel free to express yourself in the comments below, for instance! Read the rest of this entry »
Skype says Fring violated its Terms of Use, ‘damaging our brand and reputation’ in the process
It looks like Fring’s recent decision to block Skype access to its iPhone 4 video app was the final straw for Skype, who charges that VoIP network was in breach of the Terms of Use and EULA for the Skype API. “Over time,” writes General Counsel Robert Miller, “Fring’s mis-use of our software was increasingly damaging our brand and reputation with our customers.” Although they’ve “been talking with Fring for some time to try to resolve this amicably,” Friday’s action is being called “disappointing [for] our customers, who have high expectations of the Skype experience.” He goes on to say that “Skype will rigorously protect our brand and reputation, and those developers that do not comply with our terms will be subject to legal enforcement.” Meaning, presumably, that in the case of more Fring shenanigans there will be some sort of red-hot legal action. For its part, Fring CEO Avi Shechter had this to say: “We are disappointed that Skype, who once championed the cause of openness, is now attempting to muzzle competition, even to the detriment of its own users.” Which is all well and good, but we can hardly see how Skype is the problem here when you were the ones who locked out its users in the first place. Read the rest of this entry »
Breaking: Fake white iPhone 4 is not delayed
Breaking: Fake white iPhone 4 is not delayed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Consumer Reports confirms iPhone 4 antenna problems — and so do we
Although there’s never been any question that there’s something going on with the iPhone 4′s fancy new antenna system, we really haven’t seen any rigorous testing confirming that the issue is real, severe, and affects every phone. That just changed: Consumer Reports tested three iPhone 4s and several other AT&T phones in their RF isolation chamber that simulates varying levels of signal from every carrier, and found that the iPhone 4 was the only handset to suffer signal-loss issues. What’s more, CR directly says that its findings call Apple’s explanation of a miscalculated signal meter into question since the tests “indicate that AT&T’s network might not be the primary suspect.” CR found that simply putting duct tape over the bottom-left corner is enough to alleviate the issue — we’re guessing that’s Jony Ive’s worst nightmare — and says that while the iPhone 4 has the “sharpest display and best video camera” of any phone its tested, it simply can’t recommend the device until Apple comes up with a permanent and free fix to the antenna problem. Ouch.
Consumer Reports refuse iPhone 4 recommendation over antenna issue
Consumer Reports have been playing with the iPhone 4, and the judgement is clear: while the fourth-gen Apple handset scores high enough to sit at the top of their smartphone tree, it loses out on a coveted “Recommended” rating because of the antenna issue. The independent testers also cast doubt on Apple’s open-letter to iPhone 4 owners, in which they blame incorrect signal meter calibration, and say that “AT&T’s network might not be the primary suspect” for the smartphone’s patchy performance.
Apple class-action over AT&T iPhone lock gets green-light
More iPhone class-action suit excitement this week, but this time it’s nothing so measly as dodgy reception. Instead, a federal judge has ruled that a monopoly abuse suit against Apple and their US carrier partner AT&T can go ahead, covering anybody who bought an AT&T iPhone (with two-year agreement) since the first-gen model’s release in 2007. According to the suit, because of Apple’s long-term – quoted at five years – exclusivity agreement with AT&T, buyers were in fact locked into five year rather than two year relationships with the carrier.
iPhone 4 Facetime Ad Campaign is Launched
Video Calling is nothing new, but Apple’s Facetime seems like the simple, useful video calling tool we have been waiting for. No more grainy faces, crackling sound and Krypton Factor software. One press of a button and you’re in … [visit site to read more]
