Cellphones News

The iPhone 4 antennagate a.k.a. antenna problem have indirectly open the iPhone 4 for a fierce competition from many smartphones, such as Samsung Galaxy S, HTC EVO 4G, and Motorola Droid X. One of the Apple Inc. executive named Mark Papermaster who is responsible for iPhone hardware have left Apple due to the iPhone 4 antenna problem.

Apple iPhone 4 drama started when Gizmodo got their hands on an unanounced iPhone 4, and soon after that iPhone 4 was launched, with big introduction from Steve Jobs. Steve said that the iPhone 4 is the biggest leap since the original iPhone. However, not long after that reports emerged about this iPhone 4 antenna problem. When lower left side of the iPhone 4 is gripped, the signal decreases significantly. Consumer Reports even said that they wouldn’t recommend the iPhone 4.

Apple then held a special press conference, saying that the antenna problem is common problem in many cellphone. In the press conference Steve even demonstrate the death grip simulation on several other smartphones from other manufacturer such as Motorola, HTC and Samsung. This triggered responses from each manufacturer. Some even release mocking ad against iPhone 4.

After getting so much complaints, Apple finally offers free fix for iPhone 4 antenna problem. They are giving away free case / bumpers for iPhone 4 owners. Interestingly, this iPhone 4 antenna problem have also triggered the production of iPhone 4 bumpers alternative. But still, this didn’t impress the Consumer Reports.

However, we do have an analysis report saying that the iPhone 4 dropped call rate is actually lower than the iPhone 3GS.

Anyway, Mark Papermaster who came to Apple in 2008 from IBM was the senior vice president of iPhone and iPod hardware engineering. And his leave was told by an Apple spokesman Steve Dowling. Dowling didn’t give any indication whether Papermaster was fired or is leaving voluntarily.

Apple has just removed all videos about the non-iPhone 4 competitor’s death grip on the Apple iPhone 4 Antenna page. Previously we can find other smartphones death-grip demonstration videos such as Motorola Droid X and Nokia N97 Mini.

Not so long after the controversial iPhone 4 press conference (which demonstrated several non-iPhone 4 smartphones death grip), at least two of the competitor (Samsung and Motorola) have released their iPhone 4 death-grip-mocking ad, and you can see them here (samsung Galaxy S pays back iPhone 4) and here (Motorola Droid X pays back iPhone 4)

Apple then trough its spokesperson said that the removal is just a routine update. If you still want to see the videos, you can watch it on Youtube. Here’s the quote from the Apple spokesperson:

“We constantly refresh the content on Apple.com. If you’d like access to them, you can find them archived on YouTube.com/Apple.”

And of course, the Apple Youtube page consisted of those videos. But one can speculate, right? Is it the Apple’s first step to end the war with their competitors? Well, you tell me…

Yesterday, finally the iPhone jailbreak and unlock process are legal, and it has bring joy to the jailbreaking community… However, Apple respond quickly and said that iPhone jailbreak will void warranty. So next time, they won’t cover the repair under warranty for a jailbroken iPhone.

According to our sources, up until now there’s as much as 10 million iPhones are jailbroken. Here is the Apple response on the legalization of iPhone jailbreak and unlock:

Apple’s goal has always been to insure that our customers have a great experience with their iPhone and we know that jailbreaking can severely degrade the experience. As we’ve said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably.

When Apple was asked whether they will put charges to companies that offers jailbreaking software, the Apple spokesperson said that they haven’t done so in the past. This answer makes us wondering, will they put those charges?

I’m sure you all have heard about the new iPhone 4, and perhaps most of you have also heard that the phone has a reception problem when it is hold with left hand. There’s also a joke about how you should handle the iPhone 4; like an advice on how “to hold it the right way”.

iPhone-4-signal-problem

It seems that Apple has finally begun to seriously think about this issue, and has just releasing a press release, claiming that the reception is just fine and it is a software issue. They said that they were using the wrong formula in calculating the number of bars of signal strength. This issue will be resolved in the next firmware update, and as soon as it is out, you should be able to hold the iPhone 4 anyway you want  That is if you have enough signal… We all know that AT&T network isn’t the best yet.

However, I recently heard that the iPhone 4 also has other problems, such as the easily scratched material etc.

So lets gather around and cross our fingers, hoping that the iPhone 4 will come with a full force in the next production.

If you are looking for the best online storage free app for iPhone, your search might have ended here. Meet Dropbox, a recommended storage app for iPhone (computers and iPad too! Perhaps next will be the iPhone 4G/iPhone HD? Who knows)

The reason I love this best online storage app for iPhone is that the software can syncs our files online, across devices installed with Dropbox (it could be iPhone, iPod Touch, Mac, PC, and iPad). Here’s how it works: for instance you are editing your documents (already put in your personal Dropbox folder, of course) in your iPhone, then Dropbox will automatically sync this newly saved documents across all devices. This feature allows us to have the latest version of the documents. How cool is that? More over, the Dropbox can also share files with other iDevice apps such as Mail, etc. You can share entire folders or even specific files on your Dropbox.

All in all, Dropbox is a MUST have free apps for your iPhone. With free of charge you’ll get a basic account with 2GB of space (enough to back up your docs). If you need more, you can upgrade to Pro 50 (50GB space for $9.99/month) or Pro 100 (100GB space for $19.99/month). These upgraded version is perfect to backup and share movies and videos.

For more info about the features, go here

To download the Best free iPhone apps: Dropbox; go on the itunes link

Do you know why Apple iPhone 3GS and its predecessor became such a big hit even though it is relatively expensive? It’s not about the hardware, that’s for sure..Yes. it is about the Apple App Store. They have so many cool app to offer and some of them are also free. Well this video shows you another proof that Apple iPhone gets another cool app that can guide you to find the nearest subway. By video. Anyway, it works for you guys, new yorkers…. and some guys in Europe….

Soon after the Apple App Store approve this app, you can purchase it directly from the store. And remember, it is only available for iPhone 3GS users

Just watch the video and you’ll want one. It is not fair, Apple….

Hello there, iPhone users… I have an interesting list here

As you all know that Apple iPhone 3G has become a hit now and one of the best part of the iPhone is the App Store. Yep, that’s the place where you search iPhone apps. However, in that software shop you might find it difficult to decide which apps you want for your iPhone due to the enormous number of Apps. But don’t worry, guys…our friends at Gizmodo have listed 20 most-wanted, must-have softwares in iPhone. Let’s check it out then, shall we?

1. Pageonce Personal Assistant: Combines myriad online accounts, from banking and investing to bill paying to airline frequent fliers. Rather than hit 15 different sites for your montly bill pay/pain time, use this single app.
2. AOL Radio: Four letters: KCRW. AOL Radio pipes in the legendary LA station and for this we are thankful.
3. Fring: The only IM/messaing client you need. Covers Google Talk, AIM, Skype, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, Twitter, plus VoIP calls over Wi-Fi if you’re low on minutes at home or in the coffee shop.
4. Remote: One of the first apps we saw, and still among the best in terms of usefulness. If you use iTunes frequently at home and especially if you listen away from your desk via a stereo hookup or Airport Express, you need the Remote
5. AirSharing: Our favorite file storage app—shoots files to the iPhone’s flash memory via Wi-Fi for storage, transport, and easy retrieval.
6. Yelp: Taps into Yelp’s community reviews to find good bars and restaurants based on your location. Essential for cities like San Francisco and New York where Yelp reviews are solid. When I’m out in the city and need a drink ASAP or the restaurant I was planning on going is too crowded/sucks, Yelp is what I reach for
7. Routesy: Can’t live in San Francisco without this app. I use it everyday to see when trains / busses are coming. Even if I am sitting at my computer I choose to look up the train / buss schedule via Routesy on my iPhone because it’s just that much simpler.
8. City Transit: Ditto here for NYC. Even for locals, quick access to a subway map is always a good thing, plus constantly changing service outages are impossible to keep track of, without an app like this. And if you’re feeling old-timey, a vintage MTA map is here too
9. Pandora: Best internet radio app, hands down. Smartly auto-suggests music based on other artists you like. Both on the go and while at home. Streams well over EDGE and 3G. Free. What more could you ask for?
10. VNC Lite: View and fully control my computer from anywhere, as long as I am on the same network. So I can basically be at my computer without actually being at my computer…
11. PanoLab: Who knew multitouch is the perfect interface for stitching photos together into panoramas? It is. Plus if the photo you just took doesn’t work, toss it out and take another one immediately. A paid version adds even more features.
12. Bloom: Generative, ambient music by Brian Eno. If I need to say more, it’s also a mini-sequencer: Drop your finger on the liquidy pastel screen, play a note, make simple loops. Music For Airports that you can make yourself. In an airport, even.
13. Shazam: This just doesn’t get old: hold your phone to the air to grab the song playing at the supermarket (or being hummed by your friend), and have it identified in a few seconds. We live in a privileged age.
14. Simplify Media: Stream your home machine’s iTunes library and those of up to 30 friends to your phone. This app lives up to its name. Forget worries of filling up 8GB, or even 16.
15. Galcon: It’s Risk, but in space, and instead of six hours it takes two minutes and you don’t have to be shitfaced to enjoy it.
16. i.TV: Provides you with an elegant TV guide, movie listings and showtimes, and Netflix queue management all in one app.
17. MotionX Poker: The dice rolling in MotionX Poker is one of the most accurate and painstakingly simulated dice physics engines ever built. And it shows. Not a substitute for real dice behind your neighborhood bodega, but the closest thing possible.
18. Snow Reports: If you fait du ski/snowboard, Snow Reports will let you know when you should drop everything and head to Alpine Mountain for the weekend.
19. Google Earth: The same amazing Earth touring app found on the desktop, now spinnable via multi touch. Honestly if someone told me two years ago I would have a functional Google Earth app on my phone, I wouldn’t have believed them. This is now.
20. Sketches: Brian likes this app because deep down, he’s just a Japanese schoolgirl who wants to slap sticker graphics on photos of his dog. If you share this desire, Sketches: it’s for you too.

Any thing missed, people? Tell me your fave apps then…

[Source]

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Well this is interesting… Recently my source have posted an interesting article based on a famous newspaper the NYTimes. They said that Opera Software have succeeded in making Opera Mini Browser that can run on the iPhone, yet the iPhone’s manufacturer Apple have blocked them. The reason behind this act is because the Apple decided to protect its Safari -their built in web browser- from Opera. Here’s the quote:

Mr. von Tetzchner said that Opera’s engineers have developed a version of Opera Mini that can run on an Apple iPhone, but Apple won’t let the company release it because it competes with Apple’s own Safari browser.

This could be something to do with the Javascript interpreter, or Apple restricting applications which compete with their built in iPhone applications such as Safari. With Apple restricting apps, especially alternative browsers, iPhoner will probably not be seeing an alternative such as FireFox anywhere on the Apple App Store very soon.

[Source]

This might be a comparison review that you’re looking for! I’m sure that everyone are wondering, which one is better, the brand new Nokia 5800 XpressMusic or the famous Apple iPhone 3G? Well, I have found an interesting post that compare the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic vs iPhone 3G from various point of view such as from the camera, battery, display, price, etc. Read it more to find out more…

1. The camera.
I think the Nokia 5800 XM wins this round. It is provided with a 3.2Mpix camera with Carl Zeiss Optics and dual flash. The iPhone 3G on the other hand mounts a basic 2Mpix camera, without flash. I always think Apple and its iPhone should upgrade their cameras…

2. Input methods.
Nokia 5800 XM has the new handwriting feature, similar to the palm computers. I haven’t tried it myself, but if it works properly I’m sure it will be very practical instead of typing if you want to write a quick sms or note. The Nokia 5800 also has a plectrum. This one I’m not so sure about. It doesn’t seem extremely useful. But of course if you don’t need it just throw it away.

3. Battery.
Nokia 5800 XM seems to be better at this one as well. However we can only go on the specifications for the Nokia 5800 XM. The iPhone 3G specifications mention a standby time up to 300h, audio playback up to 24h and a talk time of 5-10h depending on if you use 2G or 3G.
In the specifications on the Nokia website for the 5800 they claim it will have a standby time of 16.7 days that should equal approximately 400 hours. Talk time very similar to the iPhone 3G and audio playback of 1.5 days which should be 36 hours. Although as I said before these are specifications. As we all know it’s usually much lower than this especially when you have used your phone for a while. So there is not many conclusions we can draw from this more than that Nokia claims to have a little better general battery time.

4. Video recording.
This is interesting. The iPhone is not capable of video recording yet. Sure on jailbroken phones I have read it could be possible but the Nokia 5800 has video recording as a standard application. You should also be able to do video calls with your friends which is not possible with the iPhone 3G.

5. The display.
The Nokia 5800 has a smaller display than the iPhone 3G, 3.2 inch against the 3.5 inch for the iPhone 3G. However the resolution is better on the Nokia 5800 with 640*360 pixels against 480*320 pixels for the iPhone 3G.

6. The price.
Nokia claims the price will be 279 euro. Which should be less than the price of the iPhone? I guess this is one of the main advantages of the Nokia 5800. They are quite similar but the lower price probably appeals to a wider range of customers. Sure we don’t know how apple will react. Maybe they will lower their prices as well. But for now it’s a big advantage for Nokia. Recently I heard that Nokia Ovi Store is announced, so Apple App Store, prepare yourself!

7. The music.
Apple has a huge advantage in their established iTunes website. However Nokia has a music store of its own. When you buy your Nokia 5800 you will get free music for a year, which of course is very generous. Sure apple has an advantage in this area; they do have their background in mp3 players and iTunes. Although it seems like Nokia is working very hard in this area with their music shop and the increased battery hours while listening to music. Oh by the way, both Nokia 5800 and iPhone 3G has a standard 3.5mm audio jack.

8. General things.
A disadvantage with the iPhone has been that it can’t send MMS. However the Nokia 5800 is able to do this. Both Nokia 5800 XM and iPhone 3G has GPS, bluetooth, TV output etc. Although Nokia lacks a few things that the iPhone has, for example it doesn’t support multi touch which many people like about the iPhone.

9. Size

Nokia 5800 is a winner here. It is slimmer and lighter than the iPhone 3G. The Nokia 5800 dimension is 111 x 51.7 x 15.5 mm and weigh at 109 g, while the iPhone 3G dimension is 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3 mm and weigh at 133 gr. However, as I told you above, the Nokia 5800 XM screen is a bit smaller than the iPhone 3G’s screen.

10. Memory

In this part, I think that it’s a tie. It’s true that Apple iPhone 3G doesn’t have a memory card slot. It only uses shared memory 8/16 GB, but the Nokia 5800 XM only offering expandable memory via memory card for up to 16 GB. So I guess it’s just the same.

As a conclusion I’ll go with the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic. It’s cheaper, and has more features. But hey, everyone has their own taste, right? What about you? Is the Nokia 5800 XM or Apple iPhone 3G that won your heart?

Source

It is very interesting how Apple have approved a VoIP application for their iPhone and iPod since a while ago they changes its mind about the whole VoIP thing. The app is called Frings, and with it you can talk, chat and interact with other fring users and all of their online communities such as Skype, MSN, Google Talk, ICQ, Twitter, Yahoo! & AIM by using using your device’s internet connection. fring’s feature-rich application enables users to enjoy mobile instant messaging with their online buddies, regardless of whether their contacts are on mobile, PC or other internet device, and make cost effective mobile calls to them over WiFi.

Here is a list of features in details

• Can call directly using iPhone to another person with iPhone running Fring
• Call MSN or Skype users that are using their computer
• Call using Skype account, which allows you to have your own Skype number and at a discount rate for international calls
• Receive phone calls using Skype with your own custom Skype number
• Basic chat functions with most chat platforms, such as AIM, Yahoo and ICQ

Click here to view the embedded video.

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