iOS Devices

At about 1:10 in this interview Elton John says he’s getting a ‘Skype iPad’ in April which seems to indicate an iPad with cameras.  Who else is getting a Skype iPad in April?
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Apple has been updating their iOS stores with new features lately and today, Apple has added the neat ‘Genius’ recommendations function to the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch version of the iTunes Store. The iPhone/iPod touch version gets its own tab with the default placement being in the ‘more’ section, and the iPad version can be accessed by a new button in the ‘music’ iTunes Store tab. Let us know if you find this helpful in the mobile experience. (via TUAW)

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqr7a0ekmS8&w=640&h=505]

FaceTime has long been seen as the iPad’s main glaring omission, and now you can partially solve this with a hack courtesy of “Intell.” The several step process is noted to be risky, but the end result (video above) is very cool and seems to work as advertised. The hack installs the iPod touch 4 FaceTime application on the iPad, with a full-screen, optimized user interface. This interface looks very similar to that of the FaceTime application on the iPod touch, but does leverage iPad-specific user interface elements, like the silver navigation bar at the top.

The calls, of course, will only work if you are connected to a WiFi network, and as shown in the video above, the quality seems relative to the FaceTime video quality you see on the iPhone, iPod touch, and Mac today. This quality of course is that of the person on the other end of the FaceTime video call. Although the iPad user will not be shown due to the lack of a camera, the audio still works and the mute button is present, too. This hacked version of FaceTime for iPad appears to be very neat, and we can’t wait to see Apple’s real implementation, soon, with the second-generation iPad. All the steps are pasted after the break.

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One user managed to get his Verizon iPhone 4 today by visiting his nearby UPS package holding center. It looks like the Verizon version comes with a Verizon-tailored “getting started” guide and you can see a video of the user picking up his Verizon iPhone 4 after the break. Many readers have let us know that their devices are set for a Monday delivery, and those who have not pre-ordered can buy a phone in stores on February 10th.

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Go get it… — Mac version was released a couple days ago.

It looks like some Best Buy stores have a few more 16 GB Verizon iPhone 4s on order for launch than the 32 GB variant. As you can see, a Best Buy store’s inventory is showing 100 16 GB models for launch and 80 for the 32 GB model. This number will likely stay relatively the same across the retail chain’s stores.  Also, “On order” doesn’t necessarily mean they will be in stock.

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According to AppAdvice, Target is offering trade-ins on various older iPhones for those who wish to upgrade to iPhone 4, starting tomorrow.

iPhone 3G or 3GS trade-in – In order to take advantage of this in-store only offer, guests must trade in a working iPhone 3G or 3GS and sign a two-year contract with AT&T. Guests may receive up to $100 credit for an iPhone 3G 16GB and up to $200 credit for an iPhone 3GS 32GB, offering great cost savings on a new iPhone 4 16GB priced at $199 or an iPhone 4 32GB priced at $299.

The promotion only lasts a week.  If you look over at eBay however, you’ll see some legwork will be more handsomely rewarded there.
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We’re hearing from some Verizon customers that their Verizon iPhones are stuck in Memphis due to weather.  Flights have been cancelled or delayed pushing deliveries back from today to Monday.

All Verizon iPhones are being distributed through the Memphis hub, which is severely restricted today with many flights cancelled due to the snowstorms last night

We’ve also recieved these unconfirmed numbers:

250,000 units were ordered of the Verizon iPhone 4 before sales were closed.

100,000 had been ordered by noon yesterday.

Update: We’ve heard from a lot of you that your iPhones are going out thru Memphis on UPS and they haven’t got the same warnings (screenshot below) but there is this

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2H-3Gf_fL8&w=640&h=390]

Here’s an interesting piece of information. For all of the exclusive Droids and such that have been released over the years on Verizon’s network, the iPhone 4 has beaten them all.  But not just beaten them…here are some amazing qualifiers:

• The 8 month old iPhone 4 that will be replaced in 5 months.
• It beat everything else in just two hours
• Those two hours were from 3am to 5 am.
• It was only available to current Verizon customers, not the world at large (AT&T customers)
• Verizon employees weren’t allowed to buy them

That is pretty incredible.

Also, some WalMart Stores will have the iPhone 4 at launch as well, which is news to us.  Full press release below:
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Apple has updated the iPad’s App Store to include a new search filter feature. The new feature allows you to filter application searches by category, release date, customer ratings, price, and by device’s that support each respective application. It doesn’t look like the iPhone has received the feature yet, and due to screen size, it might never.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2H-3Gf_fL8&w=640&h=385]

Verizon has released another commercial showcasing the CDMA iPhone 4. The “can you hear me now guy” makes an appearance (Woo!), and they decided to show the actual phone this time, too. Watch out for the clear hit at AT&T when he picks up the call.

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A developer named Chris Galzerano has claimed on his blog that the iPad 2 will not have a one-megpixel camera, but in fact a three megapixel camera. This report has obviously caused some excitement in the Apple-news community as three megapixels is better than the one megapixel camera we claimed the iPad 2 will have. Now, let’s examine the evidence so you can make a judgement for yourself.

Here’s Chris Galzerano’s: Chris opened up the “N88” file in the SDK and found the “AVFoundation.framework” folder. This folder displays the camera information for all of Apple’s iOS devices in the SDK, and this folder says that “N88” has a three megapixel camera. Now, Chris’s report would be probably be correct if “N88” is in fact the codename for Apple’s upcoming iPad 2. The fact is, “N88” is the internal codename for Apple’s iPhone 3GS. That is fact known by us and a quick Geek Bench reading concurs:

Back to why we are claiming the iPad 2 will have a one megapixel back camera: we got the information from the “K94” file. “K94” is an internal codename for one of the iPad 2 models as proven by the device’s feature plist. This plist says “K94” is a device with FaceTime.app, Camera.app, and PhotoBooth.app (in that order). MacRumors already found the iPad 2’s homescreen in the SDK, and this all matches up.

As for ‘DisplayPort’, every iOS device made has a reference to that which is the 30-pin adapter at the bottom.

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We’ve gotten a few tips that AT&T is now sending some prospective switchers some last minute love in the form of a free AT&T Microcell.  The only caveat is that you need to stay on AT&T an additional 12 months.  What say you switchers?  Is this Microcell enough to keep you from switching over to Big Red?

Just as an FYI, if you are staying with AT&T for another 12 months, now may be a good time to ask your local AT&T rep for a Microcell of your very own.  We hear they are awfully friendly these days.

Thanks@lethalillness
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Patently Apple points us to a new filing which shows an Apple display/iPad with a built-in stand.  A kickstand if you will.  The patent looks like it covers both monitors and iPad type devices and rotates 90 degrees for Landscape/Portrait.

At the moment, Apple’s (and 3rd party) cases do this stuff but it’d be nice to roll nekked with the kickstand available for watching videos.

Admittedly, we kinda like the kickstand on that EVO.

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COMPUTERWORLD: Angelheaded hipsters, cease your burning, cease your pining for your ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night, iPad 2.0 is coming and where v.1 was magical, v. 2 could be poetry, maybe, just believe.

Read more

iPads may be about to take a seat in UK government, with the House of Lords administration committee recommending that iPads, smartphones and other mobile devices are allowed to be used in the Lords chamber and grand committee.
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Apple and Verizon have begun offering the iPhone CDMA model for pre-order by existing Verizon customers — if you pre-order the device will arrive “by February 10”, Apple promises. Beginning on Wednesday, February 9, all qualified customers will be able to order an iPhone 4 on Verizon.

Prices of the devices via either carrier remains the same: $199 for the 16GB and $299 for the 32GB models. However, monthly tariffs are very different (see tables after the jump).
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This isn’t a good sign if you are looking to get your hands on a Verizon iPhone.  Verizon is urging its employees to hold off on buying iPhones until its customers’ demand is met.  That means that they anticipate selling a whole lot more than they have initially.  Via TiPB

Hey — recall the iPad 2.0? (Faster processor, better screen, faster graphics, cameras etc., etc.?) Well, it looks like someone brought one along to The Daily (yawn) press launch today….Reuters confirms the front-facing camera and cites a source who says (surprise, surprise) “the final release model could have other features”.  (Editor notes: Hey Reuters, you are a news agency.  Next time you see a prototype iPad, take a picture of it and put it up?  In fact with 100 news orgs there covering the event, no one took a picture?)

Who knew? (We all did, but hey, loving the hyptastic launch of the new beastie). Oh, check the screen of the thing here.
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From a press release today, AT&T has said they will add 2GB of data to customers tethering plans on Feb 13th because of their new hotspot offer (Android only atm-wtf?!) offers more data.  Still, if you are tetherin’ with your iPhone, and extra 2GB of data doesn’t hurt.  You know what else doesn’t hurt?  Competition from Verizon!

2 GB of data added to tethering plans: In addition, also on February 13^th, to bring AT&T’s smartphone tethering plan in line with the AT&T Mobile Hotspot offer, AT&T will automatically add the additional 2GB of monthly data usage to smartphone customers already on a tethering plan – at no extra charge. Customers will incur the same $20 monthly fee they’re accustomed to paying, only now they’ll receive an extra 2GB of data each month that can be used among all devices.  (Customers will receive a text message from AT&T – as soon as February 13 – once the additional 2GB has been auto-added to their plan.)

Does that mean you can start overing your monthly allowance now?  We wouldn’t try anything funny.

AT&T also is offering phones for soldiers and new trade in programs (below)

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Apple has just updated their iTunes terms and conditions to reflect their new “In-App-Subscriptions” service. As just announced by Apple executive Eddy Cue, this will tie in directly with the Daily. No word yet if this will be a third-party API available to all developers. Apple just said in the Q/A session that an announcement will be coming soon regarding the API for all publishers.

Thanks, Chris

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