iOS Devices

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For those of you keeping up with the iPhone girl, Kim Yeo-hee, who sang a cover of Lady Gaga

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Redmond Pie has successfully and completely ported iMovie for iPhone 4 to an iPhone 3GS. It was originally rumored that iMovie for iPhone only works on iPhone 4 due to the exclusive availability of 512 MB of RAM. Now, you can see that the application works almost flawlessly on a 256 MB of RAM device. 

If you’re interested in getting this working you will need to follow a long and tiring step-by-step guide which involved SSH skills, jailbreaking, and editing of the internal iMovie for iPhone application files. Because of this we don’t recommend it, but it’s cool for those who like to live life on the edge. 

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/34757275001?isVid=1

Philadelphia Eagles’ star Stacy Andrews couldn’t wait to get his hands on an iPhone 4 so he payed a 15-hour line sitter two-thousand dollars to get the only iPhone 4 up for sale at Walmart’s launch.   He could have probably found a much better deal on eBay.

An interesting tidbit from the story is the girl who sold the iPhone was initially offered $1 thousand from the star but had turned it down only to have the offer doubled. 

Video on YouTube for the flash impaired.

via Switched

A few weeks back we reported a slip-up on Apple.com which displayed a screenshot showcasing the ability to open up an attachment in Keynote from an iPhone. This led to a bevy of rumors that Apple would launch an iPhone version of their popular iWork productivity suite. 

Today, Mobiture spots an interesting tidbit on some of Apple’s international online stores. When a user goes to purchase an iPhone via the online store they have some options such as purchasing a bumper, in-ear headphones, or in this case, AppleCare for iPhone. When a user in the U.K. clicks learn more on the AppleCare section they are given information as to what AppleCare will cover. In the software coverage section an interesting tidbit is present and this is coverage of “iWork for iPhone and other Apple branded iPhone apps.” 

Apple currently offers iWork for iPad, so this may be a typo by Apple’s website staff, or it can be a slip-up and iWork for iPhone is coming in the near future. Maybe at the September iPod event? (We hope soon!)

Developer Steven Troughton Smith has even ported (a work in progress) Pages to his iPhone and a screenshot is after the break:

The Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff Legal firm have opened up their own investigation into the iPhone 4’s well-known reception issues. The firm urges customers experiencing issues to contact them via live instant message chat, by phone, or by e-mail.

This particular firm has dealt with some high-profile class-action lawsuits in the past such as an $87 million wage settlement involving UPS drivers.  Apple has settled a high-profile class-action lawsuit in the past for $22.5 million, when the original iPod nanos were very susceptible to scratches.

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via TechCrunch

Once you knew iMovie was coming to the iPhone 4, you knew this was coming.  “Apple of my Eye” by Michael Koerbel.  For the Flash averse. via DF.

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A Mac Forums member (Thanks Albert!) has taken some truly ‘magical’ high-res pictures of his iPhone 4 with a white bumper. We went black on black with our iPhone setup but we are truly jealous of the white…especially with the call quality improvements and safety that go along with it.

Are these beauties about to come standard issue? 

A few more after the jump including a black bumper in the wild for comparison:

Black Bumper courtesy of your’s truly:

Besides having the astronomical 1.7 million iPhones in three days information, today’s press release had something else new for us.  The footer.

For the longest time, Apple’s Footers have read:

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution with the Apple II, then reinvented the personal computer with the Macintosh. Apple continues to lead the industry with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system, and iLife, iWork and professional applications. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store, has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

However, today’s release had a new bit of copy to the end of its release:

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OSX, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

While we’re not sure if this is the way of the future, it is interesting to see how Apple is changing its priorities (and is really sticking with this often-mocked ‘Magical’ thing).

Remember that Thinkgeek iCade Arcade box that was ‘demo’ed on April Fools? Turns out that it may actually exist:

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via Engadget

A mind-boggling 1.7 million iPhone 4 users are waiting on Apple to release arguably the most critical software update in its history, as users and competitors wait and see if software can fix the damage done by the left-hand-holding iPhone 4 call flaw….

read more

The Daily Mail in the UK this weekend published a story claiming the iPhone 4 may be subject to a product recall, basing its story on one solitary Tweet published by a FAKE Steve Jobs. (The newspaper later retracted the tale).  In the Twitter user’s bio it says: “Of course this is a parody account.”

Say what you will about their pricing scheme, those AT&T Femto cells work great for dead spots around the house…that is unless you are a lefty with an iPhone 4.

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Thanks Mike!

Perhaps a reason for the outrages?  Distance from tower (below)

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The video above by Jesse Rosten hit viral status a few weeks ago and is now at almost 285,000 views and now on Apple’s iPad website. The video now featured on the iPad site demonstrates several fun and ‘magical’ (we had to say it) ways to make your iPad more useful with velcro.

Examples range from velcroing the iPad to a kitchen stove in order to watch videos on how to make certain foods to velcroing the device to your wall as a digital photo frame. It is very interesting that Apple decided to post this indie viral video, and is something we remember being done in the past with an iPod touch ad. 

A MacRumors forum user got the following email from SJobs after asking about the wireless issue.  rfbandit (Mark) was asking about Apple’s policy on giving free bumper cases to alleviate the issue. “I love everything about the phone except my signal issues”, he wrote.

There is no reception issue?  I absolutely love my iPhone 4 but we can easily reproduce this reception issue on my phone to the point where data is cut off and calls drop.  Am I crazy?  How about those 80,000 people on YouTube or the majority in the MacRumors poll?

So I’m wondering if Steve Jobs is invoking the Distortion field for this one.  Sadly, it reminds me of this:

Until now, the Apple party line has been:

Gripping any 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.

I’m really hoping that Jobs is talking in future-speak and a baseband update comes out next week that makes this all go away.

iTunes now has a new iOS 4 Apps section with 42 (currently) featured apps that are built with new features in mind:

http://news.sky.com/sky-news/app/skynewsflash/OBU_Player_30.swf?type=embedded&baseColor=6710886&highlightColor=16711680&channel_key=News&ad_channel=2169867&ad_alias=pre_NewsHub&networkId=999.1&unique_id=015463&media_title=iPhone4:IsItWorthTheHype?&attrib_url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/video&video_url=http://static1.sky.com//feeds/skynews/latest/flash/240610-iphone-package.flv&smoothing=true&tracking_account=DM530320KARC

WTF? How are these people on Sky News (1:23 and 1:31) rolling with white iPhones? Were these store models? We haven’t even been able to check out white iPhones at our local Apple Store.  (Thanks Conner)  What say you, UK shoppers?  Were there any White iPhones for sale?

Other interesting UK tidbits: Reports say that only 16,000 were sent over for launch, wat.  That might have been because of antenna issues according to one bloke.

Update: Shane Richmond clears it all up for us.  They were review units for Sky news.

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The iPhone 4 antenna issue is a very real one for Apple.  While no one is certain what is causing the issue, it appears that when held with the left hand, assumedly connecting the two antennas, the signal drops significantly, often cutting off data and any phone calls.  

I’m visiting Ohio for my brother’s wedding and I can reproduce this just about anywhere I’ve tried.  It is very real, at least on my iPhone in this town.  I can do it with dry hands and other people I’ve let test it can also reproduce it.

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(BTW, AT&T service here overall is insanely great compared to the New York City area, it is like a whole other experience.)

Macrumors is doing a poll and it appears that significantly over half of iPhone 4 users are having this issue.  This is no joke and a significant issue for Apple.  

Some have suggested that a software update may be able to help.  That seems unlikely, however, as it appears to be a hardware problem.  Maaaybe a baseband update could solve the issue if it is related to switching channels due to interference, but that is just a hopeful guess at this point.

Steve Jobs’ suggestion that people are holding it wrong isn’t going to please those above.  A free protective case might make sense for some, but it adds some bulk to the product which is otherwise wouldn’t have (and can Apple still say that its iPhone is as small as it is if it requires a case?).  With the case, the iPhone 4 no longer fits into docks either, which is a pain.

Could Apple have missed this issue entirely because their test units were wrapped in case disguises?  Were all of their testers righty?  Has AT&T artificially pumped up its service around Cupertino so much that it went un-noticed by Apple’s testers?

Could Apple be looking at a recall issue here?   It will be interesting to see how it all pans out.  

Say what you will about the other perceived iPhone 4 shortcomings, one area which there is no question of improvement is the camera. The iPhone 4 is both a 5-megapixel still gem and 720P video recorder.  Tests have been done around the web and every single one of them puts the iPhone 4 at the top of the best smartphone class near the dedicated point and shoots.  In video, it again rates above all other smartphones and just below dedicated Flip HD recorders.

• BGR puts the iPhone 4 up against the Droid X in video
• Matt Buchanan did stills vs. Droid x, EVO and Canon S90
• The Washington Post has a contest comparing DSLR vs. iPhone 4
• Macworld has extensive tests in both video and stills (and even audio)
• CNET has a gallery of pictures.
• PCworld puts iPhone 4 up against Droid x

A funny one for the weekend. Not for the kiddies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SMP2LnmkEs&w=700&h=400

Update: according to the commenters, Hitler is funnier.  We aim to please:

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Mosspuppet joins below:

Some more issues are popping up with iPhone 4 users. Seems the proximity sensors are a little less sensitive than their predecessors, causing hang-ups from people who hold the iPhone close to their ear, move it slightly away and then touch their cheek to it.   Also some people are muting by accident.  Apple discussions are growing.

Is this another iPhone 4 issue or just a learning curve thing?  We’re not getting this problem but it is apparent that many people are having the issue.

9to5mac reader, Christopher Menendez writes:

Yesterday, after camping out 13.5 hours in jacksonville, a 2 hour drive from Tallahassee where I’m currently attending FSU, I noticed my calls were hanging up out of nowhere. I didn’t attribute this to the antenna problem because not only do I have a bumper but the call also did not show up as failed, merely as hung up (would return me to my recent calls page). I then started thinking i might be cheek dialing…a quick call to moviefone to give me a chance to mess with the proximity sensor using my hands showed it is COMPLETELY out of wack. It takes too long to turn off once you put it to your face (thus hanging up on people with my cheek) and would turn on immediately after pulling it away from my face half an inch. A quick search on google and the macrumors forums show that many people are experiencing the problem