Latest Gadgets, Tablets and Smartphones
It appears that T-Mobile hasn’t blocked Internet Tethering on the iPhone 4 that runs iOS 4. We tested just now with a T-Mobile SIM card (chopped and converted to a micro SIM) and successfully enabled internet tethering over Bluetooth and USB. This is on a SIM free 16GB iPhone 4.
To get the menu option to appear in the network settings menu, you need to go to the Cellular Data Network settings menu and enter the APN, Username and Password. For T-Mobile it’s the following settings… [Read more…]
The iPhone 4 launch was last week and the same day of launch revealed a few problems with the reception whereby if you hold the phone in your left hand, it bridges the gap on two antennae making the signal drop in bad coverage areas.
The Fake Steve Jobs twitter announced that an iPhone 4 recall would probably happen and by doing this the Daily Mail in the UK decided to report that the iPhone 4 was being recalled to fix the reception issues. The problem here is that on Twitter, the Fake Steve Jobs account, AKA ceoSteveJobs is labelled as being a parody account as seen in the Bio in the sidebar…
Bio I don’t care what you think of me. You care what I think of you. Of course this is a parody account.
The Apple [AAPL] launch of the iPhone 4 appeared to be a huge success last week in terms of how many units were shifted. Over 600,000 pre-orders were taken on day one with Apple stores having large queues of people wanting to collect the new smartphone.
There have been reports of people dropping and smashing the glass on their new phones though, so iFixit has decided to upload a handy repair manual for the iPhone 4 to help users fix their own phone rather than sending it off to Apple (if warranty doesn’t cover the breakages).
iFixit uploaded 10 step-by-step guides which cover the following repairs… [Read more…]
The latest Amazon [AMZN] Kindle app for the iPhone and iPad brings embedded video and audio to certain books. The first books that take advantage of using embedded media includes Together We Cannot Fail by Terry Golway amongst a handful of others.
“We are excited to add this functionality to Kindle for iPad and Kindle for iPhone and iPod touch,” said Dorothy Nicholls, director, Amazon Kindle. “Readers will already find some Kindle Editions with audio/video clips in the Kindle Store today–from Rose’s Heavenly Cakes with video tips on preparing the perfect cake to Bird Songs with audio clips that relate the songs and calls to the birds’ appearances. This is just the beginning–we look forward to seeing what authors and publishers create for Kindle customers using the new functionality of the Kindle apps.”
Many reports have come out since the launch of the iPhone 4 the other day saying that the device loses or drops most of the signal when holding the phone in a particular way. This is something we have seen ourselves and simply happens when bridging the gap on the bottom left of the device.
The response Apple [AAPL] has provided in the last couple of days ranges from advice to hold your iPhone 4 differently to blaming it on the network carriers side.
Rumours are now indicating that the problem could actually be fixed with a software update that could arrive as early as Monday. Around the internet, the reports seem to blame it on the construction of the antennae which basically use your body to bridge the gap between the two. This bridging the gap might not be the real cause of the problem and more of a symptom of a problem within the software that handles connectivity to networks. [Read more…]
Yesterday we managed to get hold of an iPhone 4 to test and see what it’s like compared to other phones such as Android devices as well as a comparison versus the older iPhone 3GS.
Apple [AAPL] has finally changed the design of the iPhone with the new iPhone 4. Previously the iPhone original, 3G and 3GS only had slight cosmetic changes. The iPhone 4 has a complete redesign and I happen to quite like it.
It’s completely flat on the back unlike previous models. The back is covered in hardened glass and has a transparent bit of glass where the 5 megapixel lens and the flash can be found (note the improved camera and the addition of a flash… more on this later in the iPhone 4 review that we will be posting soon). [Read more…]
Quite a few people are posting on the internet that they are having problems with holding their iPhone 4 and losing signal. I have experienced this too and it isn’t just something that happens occasionally, it actually happens each and every time I hold my iPhone 4.
The problem essentially is to do with the part of the antenna around the black bar on the bottom left of the phone. If your hand bridges that gap between the two antennas then the signal just dies. For me, I bridge that gap each time I use email, send a text message and browse on the web… basically every time I use the phone for anything other than making calls. When making calls it doesn’t effect me just because I grip the two edges of the phone and not the area around the black bar. [Read more…]
Apple [AAPL] launched the iPhone 4 today. Along with that launch the iMovie app for the smartphone was also launched. The iMovie app is for iPhone 4 only and costs $4.99 to buy.
The app allows you to create HD movies and edit them whilst on the move. A number of transitions have been included allowing you to create effects between two videos or between two segments on a video.
* Tap to add or record video right into your project.
* Drag to trim the lengths of video clips and photos.
* Pinch to zoom the timeline and get a closer look.
* Slide to scrub through the video in your project.
Since the deliveries of the iPhone 4 started a couple of days ago, a few people have been reporting problems with a yellow band or yellow spots on their screen.
We now hear that these yellow spots are actually fading with time. It appears that it takes a day or two for the spots to go and from what we understand, it is just the bonding agent that needs to dry fully. The reason the glue isn’t 100% dry is due to how fast Apple [AAPL] are having the iPhone 4’s manufactured.
Apple is using a bonding agent called Organofunctional Silane Z-6011 to bond the layers of glass. Apparently, Apple (or more likely Foxconn) is shipping these products so quickly that the evaporation process is not complete. However, after one or two days of use, especially with the screen on, will complete the evaporation process and the yellow “blotches” will disappear. How do I know? I was involved in pitching Z-6011 to Apple.
Reports of the iPhone 4 having signal problems are starting to arrive according to BGR. iPhone 4 users mention today that when picking up their iPhone 4 the signal drops, perhaps due to holding on to the antenna.
We just got back from the Apple [AAPL] store with our iPhone 4 (read the iPhone 4 review later today) and have to agree that when holding the phone it is common to see the no service or searching message. After putting the phone down the signal strength jumps back to 3 or 4 bars (for the area I am in).
Some users are suggesting that putting the iPhone 4 in a case might be one good way of solving the problem although we hope a firmware fix will arrive soon to some how fix the problem. [Read more…]
A while back Farmville was announced at the Apple [AAPL] WWDC event and allows users to use the Facebook game on their iPhone. Farmville has now arrived and can be downloaded from the iTunes store right now. It appears that a number of countries now have the application with the UK getting it early hours of this morning.
‘Plow, plant and harvest on the go 24/7! FarmVille, the most popular game on the web, is now available on your iPhone. Current FarmVille players can access their existing Facebook farm, and new users can create a farm.
Choose from a variety of seeds to grow beautiful fruits and vegetables. Earn coins and XP to decorate your farm or expand your acreage. Work faster with vehicles like tractors and seeders, and rear livestock including cows, sheep, and pigs. The more you help your neighbors, the faster you’ll level up. Exclusive iPhone/iPod items available!
Three in the UK has decided to finally launch details of the Apple iPhone 4 and the tariffs that they will be offering it on. Prices for the iPhone 4 on Three start with the 16GB iPhone 4 for £99 on a £30/month 24 month contract. The 32GB on the same contract will cost you £189. Included in the contract for both handsets is 500 minutes, 5000 texts and 1GB of data as well as another 5000 3 to 3 minutes.
SIM only tariffs have also been announced where you can pay £15/month on a month to month contract and get 300 minutes with 3000 texts and 1GB of data. Up that to £25/month and you can get a 12 month contract with 2000 minutes, 5000 texts and 1GB of data. [Read more…]
