Featured Stories
-
WeatherBug Debuts HTML5 Mobile Lightning Widget for Developers at SXSW
08 March 2013 9:00 PM | No Commentsvar AdBrite_Title_Color = '0000FF'; var AdBrite_Text_Color = '000000'; var AdBrite_Background_Color = 'FFFFFF'; var AdBrite_Border_Color = 'CCCCCC'; var AdBrite_URL_Color = '008000'; try{var AdBrite_Iframe=window.top!=window.self?2:1;var AdBrite_Referrer=document.referrer==''?document.location:document.referrer;AdBrite_Referrer=encodeURIComponent(AdBrite_Referrer);}catch(e){var AdBrite_Iframe='';var AdBrite_Referrer='';} document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,83,67,82,73,80,84));document.write(' src="http://ads.adbrite.com/mb/text_group.php?sid=2053203&zs=3436385f3630&ifr='+AdBrite_Iframe+'&ref='+AdBrite_Referrer+'" type="text/javascript">');document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,47,83,67,82,73,80,84,62)); AUSTIN, Texas & GERMANTOWN, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Just in time for severe weather season, WeatherBug is unveiling its new...
Read More -
First NSTIC Pilot Goes Live with Secure Online Identity Verification via Smartphone
08 March 2013 4:54 PM | No CommentsRESTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Daon®, a leading provider of identity management and authentication solutions worldwide, and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), today announced that AAAE is the initial pilot participant to...
Read More -
Faith Wonderworks Establishes Infant and Child Educational App Specialty Label “Kids App Planet”
08 March 2013 9:56 AM | No CommentsTOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Faith Wonderworks, Inc. (FWW) that is known for its mobile entertainment site in Japan established “Kids App Planet”- a new label specializing in educational for smartphones and tablets geared for...
Read More -
Rokform Announces the Updated RokShield v3 iPhone 5 Case
07 March 2013 5:00 PM | No CommentsSANTA ANA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rokform®, a leading manufacturer of functional and creative cases and accessories, announces the updated RokShield v3 case now being solely made...
Read More -
Incredimail Recreates the Email Experience
07 March 2013 3:00 PM | No CommentsTEL AVIV, Israel & SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Perion Network Ltd. (NASDAQ: PERI), developer of the leading email client Incredimail, today debuted its latest version of Incredimail, forever changing the email experience for iPad...
Read More
-
iphone4 Archive
-
Gyroscope gunning on the iPhone 4 with Eliminate: Gun Range (video)
Posted on June 25, 2010 | No CommentsWe'd heard earlier that ngmoco's new game Eliminate: Gun Range was one of the first apps to really take advantage of the iPhone 4's gyroscope, and now that we've had a chance to play with it, we've got say there's a ton of potential here. E:GR is itself just a simple shooter, but the gyroscope adds what seems like nearly 1:1 motion control to the proceedings -- and since you're moving the display itself, it almost feels like augmented reality. It's hard to explain, since it's so unlike any mobile UI experience we've encountered before, but as soon as we tried it our brains pretty much exploded with possibilities -- we're thinking drastic improvements to actual augmented reality apps like Layar, all kinds of crazy flight simulator games, much more refined GPS apps, you name it. Video after the break.
Continue reading Gyroscope gunning on the iPhone 4 with Eliminate: Gun Range (video)
Gyroscope gunning on the iPhone 4 with Eliminate: Gun Range (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
iPhone 4 antenna woes contextualized by dude in the know
Posted on June 25, 2010 | No CommentsIt's the ultimate of ironies that Apple's externalized antenna array in the iPhone 4 -- hoped (and hyped up) to finally give us a phone every bit as good the rest of the device -- has become the cause of most rancor in the immediate aftermath of the handset's release. This morning you'll be rubbing both sleep and disbelief out of your eyes as you read that Apple's response to some people's reception problems with the 4 is to hold it differently. But, before we start ostracizing Apple as the singular offender here, let's hear from a man in the know.
Spencer Webb runs AntennaSys, a company that designs tailormade RF solutions, and has himself worked on making quad-band transceivers for AT&T. As he tells it, almost all phone makers have now transitioned to locating their antennae at the bottom of the phones. This has been in order to move radio wave emissions away from the head (a shortcoming that a top-mounted aerial would incur), which the FCC has been quite demanding about with its SAR standards --
Another great point made here is that testing done both by the Federales and mobile carriers might include the head, but never accounts for the presence of the person's hand. Thus, although a phone's antenna could test very well, it might suffer from such issues as those experienced with the iPhone 4. Mind you, this still seems like an assembly (rather than design) problem to us, since most of our editors haven't had any reception worries and we in fact saw improved performance on that front while conducting our review testing. Spencer himself has decided to buy the phone knowing full well about this potential limitation, and concludes on the note that "sometimes an antenna that's not great, but good enough, is good enough."The iPhone 4, however, moved the antenna action from the back of the phone to the sides. This probably improves the isotropy of the radiation pattern, but only when the phone is suspended magically in air.iPhone 4 antenna woes contextualized by dude in the know originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 03:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you’re holding the phone the wrong way
Posted on June 24, 2010 | No CommentsSo, we just spoke with Apple and got the straight dirt on the reception issues that have been plaguing users today... and it's a little surprising. In essence, Apple cops to the fact there are reception issues with the new iPhone -- namely, that if you cover the bottom-left corner of the phone and bridge the gap between the notch there with your naked flesh, you could see some signal degradation. Yes, you read that right: it's not a software or production issue, simply a matter of the physical location of your hand in regards to the phone's antenna. The company's suggested fix? Move your hand position, or get a case which covers that part of the phone, thus breaking contact. As you can see in the email above which just arrived in our tip box, this is a sentiment which runs pretty high at the company. Here's the official statement:
We know what you're thinking, and we're thinking it too: this sounds crazy. Essentially, Apple is saying that the problem is how you hold your phone, and that the solution is to change that habit, or buy one of their cases. Admittedly, this isn't a problem that exists only for the iPhone 4 -- we've seen reports of the same behavior on previous generations (the 3G and 3GS), and there is a running thread about this problem with the Nexus One. While it is definitely true that interference is an unavoidable problem, we can't help feeling like this is really a bit of bad design. If the only answer is to move your hand, why didn't Apple just move the antenna position? What we can say without question is that in our testing of the phone, we had improved reception and fewer dropped calls than we experienced with the last generation, and we never noticed this issue. Additionally, when using a bumper we can't recreate the signal loss. So, now we have an answer... all we're wondering is whether or not the company will start handing out bumpers pro-bono to those who are experiencing problems. It certainly seems like the right thing to do.Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases.
Update: To add a little perspective, check out a video from 2008 after the break showing the same issue with the now-ancient iPhone 3G (thanks Inge).Continue reading Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you're holding the phone the wrong way
Apple responds to iPhone 4 reception issues: you're holding the phone the wrong way originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
Okay, you’ve got an iPhone 4 — now what?
Posted on June 24, 2010 | No CommentsWhether you were lucky enough to score an early delivery, blazed through a pre-order reservation line, or camped out all night, you're going to want to take full advantage of your hard-won new iPhone 4 once you get it home. As we said in our review, the core experience of using an iPhone hasn't changed too dramatically with iOS 4 and the new hardware -- it's instead been refined and extended with some new capabilities. That means you'll need to poke around a little and download some updated apps to really see all the benefits -- there's some fun stuff to uncover. So without further ado, let's run down the list of things to try and do with your new iPhone, as well as highlight some essential apps that'll let you get the most out of your new toy. Read on!
Continue reading Okay, you've got an iPhone 4 -- now what?
Okay, you've got an iPhone 4 -- now what? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
iPhone 4 Retina Display vs. Galaxy S Super AMOLED… fight!
Posted on June 24, 2010 | No Commentsdigg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/iPhone_4_Retina_Display_vs_Galaxy_S_Super_AMOLED_fight'; If the title of this post isn't enough to entice you, we don't know what else to say. We've gone and run some sunlit comparisons between Apple's brand spanking new phone's Retina Display and Samsung's equally fresh and exclusive Super AMOLED panel on the Galaxy S. We don't know if we'll be able to settle the argument, but we're certainly going to subject both superphones to an expansive visual inspection. Follow us after the break for video exploration of this most pressing topic.
Continue reading iPhone 4 Retina Display vs. Galaxy S Super AMOLED... fight!
iPhone 4 Retina Display vs. Galaxy S Super AMOLED... fight! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
iPhone 4 launch day line watch (update: Woz in action)
Posted on June 24, 2010 | No CommentsWelcome to the latest installment of our annual tradition: the iPhone launch day queue experience in pictorial form. London's getting the party started early (not as early as some, admittedly) with a sizable crowd turning the corner from the Apple Store at Regent Street, but we'll keep this post updated with imagery from all over the place. Wouldn't mind if you helped us out with a few of your own pics, either. You know where to send them in by now, and once you've done that, feel free to slide past the break to see how everyone else is doing it.
From the London store
Update: Now with reports from San Francisco!
Update 2: NY joins the fray!
Update 3: We added some of the more interesting reader-submitted stories.
Update 4: Reports from Palo Alto and San Jose, California!
Update 5: London's doors have swung open and we're now busy activating our brand new Apple phones.
Update 6: Woz and his Segway make their regular appearance at the San Jose Valley Fair Apple Store.
Update 7: We're adding a bunch of reader reports. Even as Apple opens its doors to pre-orderers in the US, the lines remain crazy.Continue reading iPhone 4 launch day line watch (update: Woz in action)
iPhone 4 launch day line watch (update: Woz in action) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
Keeping it real fake: ePhone won’t shatter when you drop it, might melt in the sun
Posted on June 24, 2010 | No Comments
We're guessing that there won't be many tech sites lineblogging outside the Shenzhen KIRF stalls when the ePhone 4GS finally gets a release date. And it's a shame, really: for knock-off fanatics like ourselves, this thing could be in the big leagues, right up there with the iorgane (that's pronounced "i-orange," by the way). Don't let the industrial design fool you -- unlike the real deal, this thing is all plastic, right up to that silver band wrapping 'round the edges. The rear of the unit boasts the Apple logo and 16GB, and while the first designation is definitely inaccurate, we harboring serious doubts about the latter. But what do you expect for $85? Get a closer look after the break.Continue reading Keeping it real fake: ePhone won't shatter when you drop it, might melt in the sun
Keeping it real fake: ePhone won't shatter when you drop it, might melt in the sun originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
iPhone 4’s yellow spot issue goes away with a bit of time?
Posted on June 24, 2010 | No CommentsWe're starting to hear a few reports of the dreaded yellow spots disappearing from the iPhone 4's display after a day or so of use. Interestingly, someone posting on the AppleInsider forums seems to know why:
If this can be trusted, it's very good news for those afflicted -- though hopefully Apple will keep to its usually painless replacement policy for defective phones either way. We are still seeing some mentions of the spots sticking around, fading in and out based on the heat of the phone, but we'll give it another day or two to really see how much of a problem is going to be. Let us know how yours fares.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.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]iPhone 4's yellow spot issue goes away with a bit of time? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
MobileProtect now officially ready to insure your iPhone 4 from everything*
Posted on June 24, 2010 | No Comments
And just like that, it's confirmed. We'd heard through the grapevine that AT&T may be fixing to certify a third-party to sell an iPhone insurance program, and now it looks as if Asurion has been given the green light by Ma Bell, and not a moment too soon. According to the company, MobileProtect is the "only iPhone (and iPhone 4) insurance to protect against loss or theft (the reason for nearly 50% of phone claims), while also covering water or other liquid damage, accidental damage, and out-of-warranty failure." Of course, you'll have to shell out a borderline-ridiculous $11.99 per month for the coverage (and yeah, there's still a deductible), which is made even more outrageous by the fact that the iPhone 4 and its Gorilla Glass is nigh indestructible. Er, wait...
*Claims of "everything" are subject to interpretation, as anyone who has ever dealt with an insurance company will attest.Continue reading MobileProtect now officially ready to insure your iPhone 4 from everything*
MobileProtect now officially ready to insure your iPhone 4 from everything* originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
Some iPhone 4 models dropping calls when held left-handed, including ours (Update: Apple responds)
Posted on June 24, 2010 | No Commentsdigg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/iPhone_4_bezel_antenna_actually_makes_it_DROP_calls'; What's more annoying than spending hours lining up for a shiny new gadget? Learning that your precious phone can't actually connect to the network. Well, depending on how you hold it -- word has it that the iPhone 4's bottom-left corner isn't playing nice with your skin. If you recall from the keynote, that's where the Bluetooth / WiFi / GPS antenna meets its GSM / UMTS counterpart. So we decided to test on two brand new iPhone 4 handsets purchased today in the UK.
One iPhone 4 demonstrated the issue everytime it was held in our left hand (as a right-handed person is apt to do) so that our palm was essentially bridging the two antennas. You can see that in the video after the break. Bridging the two with a finger tip, however, didn't cause any issues with the reported reception. If we had to guess, we'd say that our conductive skin was acting to detune the antenna -- in fact, we've already managed to slowly kill two calls that way so it's not just an issue with the software erroneously reporting an incorrect signal strength. That said, we had no issues when Apple's $29 rubber bumper accessory (given to us free for standing in line) was attached, creating a buffer between our palm and the antennas. Our second UK-purchased iPhone 4 was fine, showing none of these handling symptoms. See the video evidence after the break including Insanely Great Mac's version which got us to worrying in the first place.
P.S. Don't forget to take our poll and let us know if you're seeing both the yellow spots / stripes and reception issues. Unfortunately, we're suffering from both flaws which is not a good sign for quality control on this first batch of Apple handsets.
P.P.S. Since some of you are asking, our review unit showed none of these issues.
Update: Apple responds to the issue, and boy, it's a doozy.Some iPhone 4 models dropping calls when held left-handed, including ours (Update: Apple responds) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
iPhone 4 drop test yields results (video)
Posted on June 24, 2010 | No CommentsThere's been a lot of fuss about the iPhone 4's
Gorilla Glass"custom glass" comparable in strength to sapphire crystal but 30 times harder than plastic. Sounds incredible, right? But make no mistake, that front glass panel will still break if dropped. Ok, it took four deliberate attempts to accomplish what you see above but it still happened. Bottom line: like any cellphone, you'll have to worry about more than just scratches. See the destruction after the break.Continue reading iPhone 4 drop test yields results (video)
iPhone 4 drop test yields results (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 01:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
iMovie hits iTunes App Store, only for iPhone 4 (update)
Posted on June 24, 2010 | No CommentsYou may not have an iPhone 4 yet -- unless you lucked out on delivery, you're probably still waiting in line -- but if you did receive Cupertino's latest opinion polarizing handset, you might have noticed it doesn't come with a tool to edit all the 720p footage of jealous friends that you just shot. Thankfully that can be remedied with a portrait of President Lincoln, as iMovie for iPhone just went live -- head on over to the App Store and drop your $4.99.
Update: Oddly enough, we're not actually seeing iMovie in the App Store on our iPhone 4 -- only in the desktop client.
[Thanks, Joel]iMovie hits iTunes App Store, only for iPhone 4 (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
iPhone 4 and iPhone 3G screens go head-to-head under the microscope
Posted on June 23, 2010 | No Comments
We got up pretty close to the iPhone 4's retina display in our review, but we can't say we got quite as close as PhD candidates Ryan White and Bryan Gauntt of Penn State University, who have kindly provided us with some images of the screen under a microscope (along with an iPhone 3G for comparison). According to their measurements, the iPhone 3G's pixels measure 13 x 40 microns, while the iPhone 4's measure 6.5 x 20 microns, which adds up to exactly four times as many pixels. As impressive as sounds that sounds, however, it's the pictures that really tell the story -- hit up the gallery below to check them out.iPhone 4 and iPhone 3G screens go head-to-head under the microscope originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
Poll: is your iPhone 4 retina display seeing yellow spots? (update: losing bars in the hand?)
Posted on June 23, 2010 | No CommentsOut, damned spot! out, I say! One; two: why, then, 'tis time to do 't. Hell is murky! Fie, my lord, fie! Reports are coming in from some of those lucky early iPhone 4 users that there may exist a not-so-lucky yellow coloration in the bottom right corner of the IPS LCD. We haven't seen this ourselves on any new iPhones, but maybe you've had different experiences. Tell us, is your iPhone 4 seeing yellow?
Update: As a number of readers have pointed out, there seems to be an issue with how many bars are displayed on screen -- perhaps even a correlation to how it's being held in the hand. According to Walt Mossberg's review, Apple has acknowledged the issue as something that has to do with "the way the bars are presented, not the actual ability to make a call," and that a fix is forthcoming. Indeed, as noted in our review, we've had "far, far fewer dropped calls than we experienced on our 3GS." We're not seeing very many videos showing more dropped call, but the bar change is interesting. Still, to be sure, we're adding another poll.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Poll: is your iPhone 4 retina display seeing yellow spots? (update: losing bars in the hand?) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments -
iPhone 4 launch day line watch (updated)
Posted on June 23, 2010 | No CommentsWelcome to the latest installment of our annual tradition: the iPhone launch day queue experience in pictorial form. London's getting the party started early (not as early as some, admittedly) with a sizable crowd turning the corner from the Apple Store at Regent Street, but we'll keep this post updated with imagery from all over the place. Wouldn't mind if you helped us out with a few of your own pics, either. You know where to send them in by now, and once you've done that, feel free to slide past the break to see how everyone else is doing it.
From the London store
Update: Now with reports from San Francisco!
Update 2: NY joins the fray!
Update 3: We added some of the more interesting reader-submitted stories.
Update 4: Reports from Palo Alto and San Jose, California!Continue reading iPhone 4 launch day line watch (updated)
iPhone 4 launch day line watch (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments