Thứ Tư, 9 tháng 3, 2011

Unity: Verizon iPhone 5 faces smaller twindom to iPad 2

As the months evaporate on their way to the iPhone 5, Apple’s efforts to bring unity to its products are more clear than ever: nearly every one of its desktop and laptop computers is made of brushed metal. And the iPad 2 has taken a similar tack. While it’s clear that the Verizon iPhone 5 and AT&T iPhone 5 will be twins to each other, if not literally the same hybrid model, there’s new buzz that the iPhone 5 could also find itself collapsing into the now of Apple’s brushed metal ethos. And while that buzz is sketchy for now, there have been previous hints that Apple wants to go there in terms of, one way or another, bringing visual unity to the product line.
Consider the launch of the original iPad and then the iPhone 4, both inching close to having been a year ago. Both devices opted for a brushed metal band running around the entire outside of the device, covering the top, bottom, and sides. While other design elements of the two products remained disparate, most notably their rear surfaces, it was an early sign of where Apple truly wants to go with its product design. And it’s nothing new, of course. At the height of the popularity of the classic white iPod era, Apple redesigned the iMac, which had at that time looked more like a lamp, into an all-white flat panel computer with many observing that it resembled a giant iPod. Now Apple sees itself launching its two biggest known products of the year, the iPad 2 and the iPhone 5, and it’s merely a question of just how much further Apple is willing to go in its long running quest to visually unite its product line.
Are a three inch product like the iPhone 5 and a ten inch device like the iPad 2 really meant to look and feel exactly like each other, right down to the physical shaping and even the buttons? These are questions Apple has been asking itself for some time. And now that the iPad 2 is a done deal, its design sealed and revealed for all the world to see, Apple must choose just how far down that road is wants to pursue things when it finalizes the external design of the iPhone 5. The AT&T and Verizon iPhone 5 will be one and the same whether they literally are or not. But will they become shrunken head versions of the iPad 2 in the process? Here’s more on the iPad 2. Here’s more on the iPhone 5.
[via beatweek]

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Verizon iPhone 5 countdown clock: the scoop on the one to wait for


Those who are planning to buy a Verizon iPhone 4 but have spent the past month failing to do may be better off at this point simply waiting for the arrival of the Verizon iPhone 5, which Apple’s history says will be introduced in early June. That puts the iPhone 5 countdown clock at almost precisely three months from today, and if you think you can wait that long, here’s what you need to know about Verizon’s next iPhone:
- First, to be clear, there’s no guarantee that the iPhone 5 will arrive in June. Or for that matter July. But Apple has never left an iPhone generation on the market for more than a year (aside from bargain-binning it in the second year), and the iPhone 4 will be a year old by this summer. Smart money says Apple won’t delay the iPhone 5 overall, just to avoid hurting the feelings of the Verizon iPhone 4 early adopter.
- You can buy a Verizon iPhone 4 now and then dump it in favor of the iPhone 5 when it comes out, but it’ll cost you. If you use up your Verizon upgrade eligibility (which comes around once per year at best) on the iPhone 4, you’ll be looking at paying a minimum of $399 for the entry level Verizon iPhone 5, regardless of its $199 price tag. Of course you can then sell your Verizon iPhone 4 to defray that cost, but that’ll be right around the time everyone else is also trying to dump their Verizon iPhone 4 in favor of Verizon iPhone 5 – not exactly a seller’s market.
- The iPad 2 has given a few hints regarding the iPhone 5. First, the use of the new faster A5 processor in the former means that it’s ready for use in the latter as well. So the Verizon iPhone 5 should be significantly, and not marginally, faster than the iPhone 4. And the fact that the iPad 2 comes in white… well, we’re not even going to go there.
- There could ultimately be a single unified iPhone 5 with antenna technology built in for both Verizon and AT&T. Or Apple could continue to keep them separate. But as it turns out, the Verizon iPhone 4 is already hardware-capable of being used on either Verizon or AT&T, and Apple simply didn’t go that route for unknown strategic reasons. What that means is that Apple has already solved the challenge of creating a carrier-hybrid iPhone model, and shouldn’t have any trouble doing a hybrid iPhone 5 if it chooses to. Here’s more on the iPhone 5.
[via beatweek]

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Metal iPhone 5 not what doctor ordered, unless Apple has trick up sleeve

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JBL reveals wireless AirPlay speaker dock for iPhone or iPod touch



As you can see above, the JBL On Air Wireless AirPlay is a pretty intriguing speaker dock for your iPhone or iPod. Not only does it sport that Dyson-style ring, but it’s got an attached FM radio, a dual alarm clock, and even a screen to display the current name and album art of the song you happen to be listening to. As you can tell by the name, it’ll connect up to any AirPlay-enabled device, streaming your songs and media wirelessly for your ears to listen to.
Looks great. Of course, at home I already have a nice speaker setup in the living room, but this seems like it would be great for a bedroom or maybe even an office space. The dock should be available to the public this spring, and no price has been announced yet.
[via Engadget]

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Study finds AT&T iPhone downloads twice as fast as Verizon’s



We reported this morning on Verizon’s iPad data rates crushing AT&T’s, but if you’re looking for raw download speed instead of cost savings, it might be worth checking out AT&T.
Network World reported that studies from Metrico Wireless in five US cities showed that the iPhone 4 downloaded at twice as fast a rate on AT&T than Verizon. The AT&T phone had faster download speeds while moving, but the Verizon iPhone had the better upload speed when the phone was stationary.
For those following this since the Verizon iPhone’s release, this is nothing new. A TUAW hands-on last month showed slower data for the Verizon iPhone in Los Angeles. Considering that CDMA is an older technology to begin with, the result of the survey is really no surprise. It is worth noting, however, if you’re considering an iPad 2, since the Verizon models will also be CDMA.
[via tuaw]

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Pioneer receiver to gain AirPlay support


Pioneer plans to ship new 5.1 and 7.1 channel AV receivers at the end of the month. These receivers include greater support for AirPlay and iPad, iPhone, and iPod integration.
The receivers will have two different iOS apps included with the purchase. iControlAV2 will allow the user to remote control a home theater setup from an iOS device, and Air Jam will create play lists from up to four different iOS devices.
The biggest part of the news, though, is that the high end models will include direct support for AirPlay. This feature allows you to connect to the AC receiver wirelessly with your iOS device, and stream music directly to your home theater setup. While AirPlay obviously already exists, there isn’t a wide range of home theater devices already using it. AirPlay will only be available on the higher end Pioneer receiver, but that’s a step in the right direction.
[Via Electronista]

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Rumor: iOS 4.3 today at 10 AM PT, including WiFi hotspot (Updated)


A rumor fresh out of BGR claims that iOS 4.3 may debut today at 10 AM Pacific Time. This release date is earlier than the March 11 date suggested last week when the gold master version of the mobile operating system was released to developers.
BGR also claims the widely-reported three device WiFi limit of the personal hotspot feature is incorrect. According to anonymous sources, the carrier determines the limit of personal hotspot connections and can allow five devices to connect if it so chooses. That’s in direct contradiction to Apple’s iOS 4.3 page, however, which says that the feature supports only three devices via WiFi plus an extra two devices via USB and Bluetooth respectively. It’s possible that BGR’s sources got the five-device number without realizing that Apple is counting Bluetooth and USB separately from the three-device WiFi limit.
[Interestingly, Verizon's version of the personal hotspot feature is listed as supporting five WiFi devices, full stop. That does lend some traction to the BGR five-device concept, but remember that VZW iPhones aren't running 4.3 and won't be for a while yet. –Ed.]
We can’t confirm the validity of the iOS release time, so take it with a grain of salt. On the bright side, we shall know in a mere few hours if this is the real deal or merely a false alarm.
Update: The Loop is reporting that there will be no update today. It is also after 10 AM PT and the update has not materialized so this one is looking to be a false alarm.
[via tuaw]

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Apogee’s Jam connects your guitar to your iPad


We’ve seen the iRig and the AmpKit, two interfaces for getting a line-in from your guitar or bass. Both come with effect racks and sound pretty darn good. But where do you go from there? How about a dock interface that records 44.1 kHz, 24-bit audio without line noise? Apogee’s Jam guitar interface does just that, and it throws in hardware gain control and LED peak monitoring. It plugs into your Mac, too!
I saw something similar at Macworld, though I don’t think it was this particular model. I sat down and played an acoustic with pickups through my iPhone, though, and I was blown away by the clarity of the audio. The dock connector is, in my newly-formed opinion, the way to go. The problem at the time was that it didn’t come with any effects, and the convenience of the AmpliTube and AmpKit setups was more convincing to my limited budget. However, with Apple’s announcement of GarageBand on the iPad, the tables have turned.
GarageBand’s full set of effects, combined with a crisp guitar input, plus editing and multi-track capabilities (all with the polish of an Apple product) make this an amazing prospect. I’m sure I’ll be picking one up, as they’ll be retailing at US$99 and will be available later this month. See the Jam page at Apogee’s site for more info.
[via Gizmag]

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Apple to Hold Early April Media Event for iOS 5 and MobileMe Revamp?


Attendees waiting outside Apple’s iOS 4 event on April 8th, 2010
German site Macerkopf.de claims [Google translation] to have received word from a source that Apple is planning an early April media event to introduce iOS 5 and revamped MobileMe services. The report seems to indicate that the event would take place on Apple’s campus in the 14th or 15th week of the year, which would be the first or second full week in April.An early-to-mid April developer event to show off the next-generation iOS version would be in line with Apple’s pattern in recent years as it seeks to get third-party developers on board ahead of a public release in June or July alongside new iPhone hardware. For example, last year’s iOS 4 event took place on April 8th at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino. We do not, however, have much of a track record for Macerkopf.de when it comes to rumors, so it is difficult to assess a level of confidence in the claims.
Previous claims had “almost guaranteed” that last week’s media event would see a preview of iOS 5 and cloud-based services, but those topics were not included with the iPad 2 unveiling.
[via macrumors]

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Apple to Release iOS 4.3 Today? Personal Hotspot Device Limits Up to Carriers?



BGR reports that Apple is preparing to release iOS 4.3 today at the company’s usual 1:00 PM Eastern / 10:00 Pacific timeframe for iOS releases. A release today would be a bit of a surprise, given that Apple announced last week that the update would launch on Friday alongside the iPad 2 debut. BGR does, however, have a strong track record of pinpointing iOS build numbers and releases.
Apple seeded the golden master version of iOS 4.3 to developers last Thursday.Today’s report also addresses the issue of personal hotspot device limitations, following considerable discussion around the fact that Apple’s iOS 4.3 pages for some markets mention that users may only utilize the hotspot via Wi-Fi with up to three devices simultaneously, while pages for other markets place the limit at five devices.
According to BGR, iOS 4.3 supports three devices via Wi-Fi by default, but can support up to five if requested by carriers.
[via macrumors]

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Prototype 64GB iPhone 4 Circulating in China?


MIC Gadget reports that an “engineering prototype” of a 64GB iPhone is being sold on the grey market in Hong Kong.
According to Unwire.hk, this suspicious 64GB model has started selling in Sin Tak, the greatest grey market in Hong Kong, and the sellers claimed that these are engineered models and available in small quantity.
The back of the units are labeled with “XXGB” (like previous leaked prototypes) but the on screen about screen shows that these are 64GB models. 

Apple has never produced a 64GB iPhone 4 model in mass quantities.
[via macrumors]

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iPhone lands in Korea on SK Telecom (CDMA?)



Korea’s biggest Mobile operator SK Telecom today announced they’d be carrying the iPhone.  There is some question as to whether this is a CDMA phone or a GSM iPhone.
SK Telecom’s Wikipedia entry says that it was the world’s first to commercialize HSDPA in May, 2006.  However Macrumors and others note that the iPhones the models are holding are of the CDMA variety.
Release follows:
  • To begin pre-registrations on March 9 through online and offline retail stores
  • To ensure high quality voice and data services on Korea’s most reliable mobile network, while providing excellent customer care
SK Telecom today announced it will offer iPhone 4 in Korea on March 16 with a range of tariff plans tailored for iPhone customers.iPhone 4 is the most innovative phone in the world, featuring Apple’s stunning Retina display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone resulting in super crisp text, images and video, and FaceTime, which makes video calling a reality. iPhone 4 is powered by Apple’s A4 chip and features a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, HD video recording and a beautiful glass and stainless steel design like no other mobile phone. iPhone 4 comes with iOS 4, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. The revolutionary App Store provides access to more than 350,000 apps including the iMovie app built just for iPhone 4. “SK Telecom is proud to offer iPhone 4 on the nation’s top network,” said So Jin-Woo, President of Platform Business and Co-CEO of SK Telecom. “Our customers will benefit from flexible tariff plans tailored to their unique usage needs along with a high level of customer care.”
Customers may pre-register for iPhone 4 beginning March 9 at 7:00 a.m. at SK Telecom’s official online store, T Smart Shop (www.tsmartshop.co.kr), or at one of 1,500 authorized SK Telecom T World retail stores.
Full pricing and availability details for iPhone 4 in Korea will be available soon.
For more information on iPhone 4, please visit: www.apple.com/iphone.
[via 9to5mac]

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Apple To Give Sneak Peak Of iOS 5 In Early April?


A German website, Macerkopf.de claims that according to their source, Apple is planning a media event in early April to give a sneak peak of the next generation iOS – iOS 5 and also the revamped MobileMe services.
The timing won’t be a surprise as Apple has typically held a media event in the first or second week of April to preview their next generation iOS and releases it to general public in June.
For example: iOS 4 was previewed at a special event on April 8th, 2010 and released on June 21, 2010.
Prior to iPad 2 media event, there were speculations that Apple will also preview iOS 5 and launch the revamped MobileMe service, which will allow users to upload their music, TV shows and movies to Apple’s servers so that they can access them from various devices but that didn’t happen.
It has been widely speculated that Apple will launch a cloud-based iTunes service after it acquired Lala – Online music store that allowed users to legally create playlists of their own uploaded music, which could play full length songs for other registered Lala members, among other things.
So let the speculations begin. We would love to hear what’s on your wishlist for iOS 5, so please feel free to drop us a line in the comments.
[via Macerkopf.de]

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Verizon iPhone 4 Flashed To Work On Cricket Wireless


While the iPhone Dev Team are working hard to unlock GSM iPhone, it looks like some folks have figured out a way to flash CDMA iPhone 4 to work on pay-as-you-go carrier Cricket Wireless’ network in the US.
Few weeks back, we had reported that Verizon iPhone 4 had been unlocked to work on China Telecom’s CDMA network.Engadget reports:
As any astute follower of the “pay-as-you-go” world knows, there are quite a few back alley Cricket dealers (and quite a few main street ones as well) that will happily flash any phone you give them for use on their network — and not even Verizon’s CDMA iPhone is immune.
You can also checkout the video of Verizon iPhone 4 working on Cricket’s network:
Technically, flashing refers to the overwriting or re-writing of the phone’s firmware, which in terms of the iPhone would be the baseband. We’re not sure how it was done but it looks like you first need to jailbreak CDMA iPhone and then flash it
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
[via Engadget]

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