iOS Devices

Mockup of rumored next-generation iPhone design

With the next-generation iPhone’s announcement and release approaching for next month, one of the most present rumors is a larger, nearly-four inch display. A larger iPhone display has always been at the top of many iPhone user wish-lists, and it appears that the next iPhone will fulfill that.

Back in mid-May, we reported that the next-generation iPhone would feature a taller display that comes in at 3.999 inches diagonally with a resolution of 640 x 1136. At this resolution, Apple would be retaining the current horizontal length of the iPhone display, and only increasing the height.

This taller display information was soon affirmed when we posted the first photos of purported next-generation iPhone parts. These parts demonstrated this taller screen with the same horizontal length. We soon heard from sources that a few of the next-generation iPhones in testing within Apple feature a display that matches the parts.

These next-generation iPhones with taller displays feature a home screen that scales to five rows of icons, according to sources. The current 3.5-inch iPhone displays feature four rows of icons. The user-interfaces of Apple’s included applications were also said to be tweaked to take advantage of the taller screen area.

Today, we have found more proof that Apple is at least testing next-generation iPhone displays that are taller. In fact, iOS 6 is completely scaleable to a taller display. Read on for all of the details and screenshots: 

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Earlier today, Apple released iOS 6 beta 4 that notably drops the Google-backed YouTube application and adds some tweaks. The iOS 6 3D Maps application is one of the highlight features of the upcoming iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch operating system, so we’ve been combing the app for newly supported 3D regions. We’ve found that Apple has added some new incredible 3D views for new major cities both in the U.S. and abroad. Here are the major new 3D cities we’ve found:

United States: Boston, Atlanta, Portland, Phoenix, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas.

Canada: Toronto.

Europe: Lyon, France; Birmingham, UK; Manchester, UK.

Previous iOS 6 releases, beginning with the beta 1 release in mid-June, include several other cities: Los Angeles, San Diego, Memphis, Denver, Copenhagen, Montreal, San Francisco and the Bay Area, Las Vegas, Sydney, Melbourne, Chicago, Miami, Seattle, and Sacramento. Apple’s iOS 6 3D mapping technology was inherited with the company’s 2011 acqusition of a company called C3 Technologies. C3 also produced 3D data for London, Barcelona, Milan, Prague, Toronto, Venice, Oslo, and Vienna so perhaps we will see those cities added soon.

See our full gallery of the new 3D cities after the break: 

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Earlier today, Apple released its fourth beta of iOS 6 beta 4. The biggest change of note, which we broke the news on earlier, is the lack of a YouTube player in the new build. YouTube is a Google-built product, so it wouldn’t be a stretch to believe that Apple removed the app, just like they dropped Google Maps in favor of their own 3D mapping database. While that’s the biggest thing of note, there are some other new features and enhancements. Find those all after the break.

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iOS 6 beta 4 has removed the YouTube application that existed on iOS since the first version in 2007. We’re not entirely sure what to make of this, but this could have to do with Apple trying to break away from dependence on Google services. iOS 6 drops Google Maps in favor of Apple’s own 3D Maps program. We’re looking into this. Of course, this just could be a bug or an error for this beta. YouTube is gone from the iPhone and iPad, but it is still present on the Apple TV (below).

After we broke this major news, Apple confirmed to The Verge that YouTube is gone from iOS 6. Google is apparently building its own app.

Our license to include the YouTube app in iOS has ended, customers can use YouTube in the Safari browser and Google is working on a new YouTube app to be on the App Store.

A YouTube rep told us:

We are working with Apple to ensure we have the best possible YouTube experience for iOS users.

Also, the ability to upload video to YouTube from iOS 6 beta 4 is still present.

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AT&T announced its new mobile data sharing plans last month that allows customers to share data between their phones and tablets while also allowing families or businesses to share data across their devices. Adding to the announcement, AT&T just announced this morning that the plan would be available to its customers Aug. 23. The carrier provided a tool for families to calculate just how much data they need, offering from 1GB to a whopping 20GB of data. Here is the cost matrix:

Sadly, you need an activated smartphone to use a shared data plan. It is disappointing you cannot go data only, because just being able to buy shareable data for a few iPads and Macs would have been useful. Will this save any of you money? I think it comes down to personal use.

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAkXnecQ2HQ&feature=player_embedded”]
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Over the past couple of years, Apple has been taking steps to overhaul its retail operations and customer experience with the iPad. From iPads for employees equipped with RetailMe and Concierge software to manage store operations, to iPads loaded up with software for the Genius Bar, to iPads with “Smart Sign” software sitting beside every product display in the store, Apple has overhauled its retail stores with the iPad.

AT&T, Apple’s first carrier partner, is planning to take these cues from Apple Retail in order to overhaul the way its stores work as well. Currently, all AT&T stores are equipped with inefficient counter areas where employees work behind outdated computers.

These computers run software called OPUS that functions as the point of sale system as well as allowing employees to check inventory levels, news from corporate, customer upgrade information, and more.

But that is all about to change, according to sources.

AT&T has already started to take steps away from the counter – in certain markets – by deploying iPhones and tablets with stripped-down versions of OPUS. These iPhones are basic in their functionality, allowing employees to only conduct simple tasks like accepting payments for accessories and basic account management.

However, in the next two years, according to sources, AT&T plans to completely rid its stores of computers and counters, moving completely over to the iPad with a feature-complete version of OPUS. Read on for all of the details:

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There are more than a few hardware camera kits and peripherals on the market that extend the capabilities of the iPhone’s built-in cam. We recently reviewed the Olloclip camera lens kit that provides three external lenses for iPhone 4S. Today we introduce you to another that has just been announced by Mophie and combos with a dedicated companion app for managing and sharing footage. According to Mophie, the goal of its new action sports “Outride” camera kit, which integrates a wide-angle lens with 170 degrees viewing angles and a waterproof, impact resistant casing, is to eliminate “the need for a dedicated device such as a GoPro or Contour camera.” The kit will also include several custom, quick-release mounts for attaching the device to a variety of sports equipment and capturing footage at various angles.

To go along with the camera kit, Mophie will also launch the Outride iOS app that provides users with a profile and the ability to capture and share footage with other users:

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We have been getting some interesting bits and pieces from the Apple vs. Samsung trial this week, and most, of which, are related to early iPhone prototypes referenced in pre trial briefs by Samsung’s lawyers who alleged Apple was inspired by Sony products when creating its initial iPhone concepts. We get some more insight on Apple’s original iPhone plans today thanks to a deposition of former Apple designer Douglas Satzger, as discovered by Network World in recent court filings. Satzger, current VP of Industrial Design at Intel, held various roles at Apple from 1996 to 2008 including Industrial Design Creative Lead and Industrial Design Manager. In the deposition, Satzger claimed Apple had “strong interest in doing two pieces of shaped glass,” while referencing the 0355 model prototype pictured above.

He continued to explain how Apple ultimately chose not to utilize curved glass mainly due to cost:

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The Philips FWP3200D 300W Mini Hi-Fi System, often simply referred to as the “Party Machine”, is essentially a set of rotatable iPhone docks (made to look like turntables) atop a 300W speaker system that includes two speakers boxes and packs a 2-inch tweeter and a 5.25-inch woofer. The turntables do little more than allow you to rotate the docked iPhones to either side of the system, providing a traditional DJ setup from behind the speakers or a more casual setup when docked in front. As for the controller itself, the majority of your DJing will be done from the iPhone’s touchscreen via the supported Djay iOS app. While it is not as feature-filled as your typical DJ controller, it does provide physical controls with a 13-key remote for fast reverse/fast forward, play/pause, repeat, etc., and a number of other features you will not find in your average docking station…

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Update: AT&T seemed none-too-pleased with the allegations and gave us the following statement:

The idea that we would steer any customer away from a particular device couldn’t be more farfetched.  Our reps do what it takes to align customer needs with the best device for them.  iPhone remains one of our most popular devices, which doesn’t happen by steering people away from it. Our reps are encouraged to try all devices so they are more knowledgeable on our industry-leading smartphone lineup.

[tweet https://twitter.com/leewalker10/status/230703524634300416]

We heard reports in the past that retail employees at other carriers were instructed by higher-ups to push Android and other alternative smartphone options to customers interested in the iPhone. However, BGR claimed today that AT&T’s slow 3 percent growth of iPhone activations in the second quarter was likely the result of a similar strategy. Although iPhone activations made up roughly 73 percent of smartphones in AT&T’s Q2 report, the initiative has apparently been confirmed by three independent sources:

Regional retail sales managers at AT&T have been instructing store managers to pump the brakes on Apple’s iPhone. Instructions handed down from corporate state that customers seeking smartphones at AT&T retail stores should be steered away from Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone and towards Android phones or Windows Phone handsets like the Nokia Lumia 900 instead. BGR has confirmed the directive with three independent sources

[tweet https://twitter.com/rjonesy/status/230700916075020289]

The report also claimed that one source indicated iPhone sales dropped from 80 percent to 50- to 60- percent of smartphone sales, at least in one region, since the initiative began. BGR also claimed retail staffs at AT&T in some regions are forced to choose an Android or Windows device over the iPhone for their company phone. We reached to AT&T for a comment and will update this post shortly when we hear back.

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Verizon iPhone Personal Hotspot settings (Image: TechCrunch)

Verizon was fined a measly $1.25 million today for blocking access to tethering apps mostly on the Android platform. That does not apply to most iOS users (currently), however. That is because this ruling —for now— only affects LTE 4G devices. With the next-generation iPhone, which will launch in mid-September, heavily rumored to be the first iPhone to include LTE access, this will affect those choosing to go with Verizon Wireless for their fancy new iPhone.

The ruling asserts that Verizon must not charge an additional fee for tethering on its devices—so long as they are not on the grandfathered unlimited data plans. The iPhone has included tethering support since iOS 3.0, and the feature was taken to the next level by Apple and Verizon Wireless with the launch of the Verizon iPhone 4 and the wireless Personal Hotspot feature in early 2011. The feature was soon spread to iPhone carriers globally with iOS 4.3.

Earlier this year, Apple brought the Personal Hotspot feature to its tablet with the LTE iPad. Something notable with Apple and Verizon’s agreement for the iPad is that the wireless tethering feature is included in the pre-paid data plans. If a user pays a certain amount for data, they will not have to pay anything extra to access the wireless tethering system. With the LTE iPhone, according to today’s FCC ruling, users will have the same, great experience.

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Image via AP

As first reported by News Corp’s AllthingsD, News Corp’s Daily iPad publication is cutting its staff by a third.

The publisher plans to tell its workers today that it will fire 50 of its 170 employees, according to [colleagues] familiar with the Daily’s plans.

The news follows a report from earlier this month by the New York Observer that claimed The Daily was winding down operations and ultimately shutting down after the Nov. 6 elections. It would appear the iPad-only magazine is in that process.

From Day One, we were highly critical of the News Corp iPad app that aimed to revolutionize newspapers for the digital age—despite the amount of hype built before it launched. From its hay-day, The Daily has been relatively slow to load and present new content, especially considering our fast pace, gimmie-gimmie world. Moreover, its content has not always been hard-hitting.

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In recent months, the iPhone has been released on a few U.S. prepaid carriers, allowing consumers to purchase the device without a contract on a much cheaper plan than what a post-paid carrier would offer on a contract.

Unfortunately, the device selection is limited to only the 8 GB iPhone 4 or the 16 GB iPhone 4S (available in black or white) on both Cricket and Virgin Mobile. The unlimited plans are only $55 depending on either carrier. The data runs over Sprint’s 3G network, however, which is one of the slowest 3G networks available. This really limits the iPhone’s potential and ruins the experience of using such an advanced device. I am sure many people believe the old “you get what you pay for” saying is true—an iPhone on a prepaid carrier will never be as good as an iPhone on a contract carrier.

However, those people could be wrong.

Keep reading to find out how one pre-paid carrier stands above the rest.

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We hope you are not sick of early iPhone prototypes just yet, because the monster Apple vs. Samsung trial is kicking off today and another prototype has hit the docket. This time, Apple is releasing images of its “purple” iPhone design from 2005. It actually has some, if not most, of the design elements of the iPhone 4 design, which Samsung accused Apple of lifting from Sony. This one, again, is labeled “iPod”.

The chronological progression below is also posted in the filing (PDF) [via The Verge]:

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Last week we galleried up a bunch of iPhone prototypes Apple was forced to divulge in the run-up to its legal fight with Samsung, which starts today incidentally.  One interesting note: At the prototype phase, both iPhones and iPads are labelled ‘iPods’ (or ‘Sony!’) revealing that the names of these device lines either weren’t finalized or weren’t made known to prototyping teams.

Over the weekend, AllThingsD scoured court documents and found some additional stuff that folks with an eye to Apple nostalgia and prototyping might enjoy. Behold:

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Per iMore, Apple plans to announce the next-gen iPhone and the iPad mini at a media event on September 12th. The iPhone is said to go on sale just a little over a week later on September 21st. The iPad mini release date is less clear. French website App4Phone previously claimed that manufacturing sources informed them of a September 21st launch date, but we were initially skeptical of that report because the site lacked a track record. Earlier today, photos of purported next-generation iPhone parts hit the web.

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You’ll remember that 9to5Mac was the first to show photos of purported next-generation iPhone parts. Since then, many of the details – including the smaller dock connector – were affirmed by multiple mainstream reports. Unsurprisingly, as the new iPhone moves into production, more of these parts are starting to leak out to more repair shops.

Today, repair shop iLab has posted its own photos, but these images apparently showcase a fully assembled body. The new photos give a clear look at what a black, fully-assembled next-generation iPhone might look like when it ships to customers this fall. The repair shop also has some photos of other individual components like home buttons and volume keys.

Macotakara has posted another video of purported next-gen iPhone parts to its YouTube channel:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyOqeDfJueM]

See the full image gallery after the break:

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