iPhone Firmware Update Woes

by Budda
If you’re a Uk iPhone user thanks to the unlock methods that were made available earlier this month, then you might be a little worried about Apples new iPhone update.

Apple are pushing out the Firmware 1.1.1 update this weekend. The update brings the iTunes WiFi store to the phone, just like the iPod Touch.

Depending on how your iPhone was originally unlocked will give you different results. “Jail broken” handsets are going to turn in to expensive AT&T paper weights as the 1.1.1 update security has been tightened up.

Users of the open source SIM unlock software are getting an “Incorrect SIM” error message.

So if you’re running an iPhone in the UK - don’t do the update, do you really want iTunes store on your phone that much? Well there are other update features, Engadget has a nice round up of the features and status of the 1.1.1 progress on unlocked phones.

Serious Geeks Sour on Apple iPhone

This is the equivalent of Roger Ebert slamming a Scorsese movie, or Lester Bangs trashing the Beatles. Tired of being pushed around by Apple's greed and ham-fisted approach to locking down its hardware, gadget giant Gizmodo has brought down the hammer by giving the Apple iPhone a (rare) "don't buy" rating. Ouch, that smarts.

Gizmodo (which is hardly alone in the new Apple bashing) originally told users to "Wait" on the device for more applications to be included, hoping that a 1.1 firmware update would correct some earlier, obvious defects like the inability to send MMS messages, record videos, make your own ringtones, or use the device for mass storage. But Apple's latest release infamously fixed little of that. Yes, you can purchase ringtones now and access iTunes via Wi-Fi, but Apple also went out of its way to disable all unlocking and customizing that more enterprising users have developed. That's a picture of Gizmodo editor's iPhone just before upgrading it with the latest firmware. Afterwards, it looks just like any other device.

Gizmodo's ire on behalf of hardcore gadget enthusiasts is rightfully placed: Apple was probably never going to introduce these features on its own and intentionally "bricked" the devices as part of its most recent update. Gizmodo even goes so far as to call the update "malicious," after washing his hands of the device until its opened to third-party apps. (I plan to hold the post's author Brian Lam to his word next time I see him. If he has an iPhone in his pocket I'm gonna kick him in the shins.)

As for me, I can understand his position. He wanted upgrades, he got nothing. The average user, of course, gets the iTunes upgrade and a $200 price cut, and that's not a bad deal especially compared to the original proposition (though I still won't recommend it without 3G service). But power users who want the freedom to tweak their phones (which they paid for, right?) as they see fit are not going to have the patience to battle Apple on this stuff every 30 days or so. The iPhone will be unlocked again, then Apple will re-lock it, and the cycle will continue, probably forever. I don't blame Lam for washing his hands of the matter before things get ridiculous.
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Apple Trinity Sued over iPhone Price Cut

Steve Martinez
The suit, filed September 22 in Queens, New York, accuses Apple, Steve Jobs, and AT&T of discrimination by price, rebates, underselling, and deceptive actions.









Dongmei Li, the Plaintiff, was one of the many who waited in line on opening day to purchase an iPhone. Although she was going for the 8GB model, when she made it to the checkout line the 4GB was the only model still available. She claims she's the victim of price discrimination since she's unable to resell her iPhone for profit, given the recent price drop. Also, since the model she owns is being discontinued, it resale value has plummeted.

Additionally, she feels cheated since the $200 price drop that recent buyers received eclipses the $100 store credit her first purchase merited.

Says Li's attorney, Jean Wang of Wang Law Offices, "iPhone was selling very well because Apple's stocks were increasing since August 16, 2007 and rose as high as $144.16 on September 4, 2007, the day before Apple announced that it was cutting the price of iPhone."

They're claiming this is proof of "underselling", since there was no sound reason for the price cut to being with.

The lawsuit accuses AT&T as well, forcing customers into a 2-year service agreement with $175 early termination fees. Li believes this is unfair, given that users have been able to unlock their iPhones to use with other networks. However. given the recent iPhone firmware update, this argument has taken a backseat to the other issues.

Li is requesting compensatory damages of $1 million, as well as punitive damages to be determined at the trial.
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iPhone Tries VoIP

The British are bringing VOIP to your iPhone.

In a demonstration at this year's DEMOfall07, British VOIP provider Truphone showed conventioneers how to use the iPhone's built-in Wi-Fi capability to make calls over Truphone's VOIP network. Truphone representatives demonstrated how a call can be initiated from a handset and then routed to Truphone's server via Wi-Fi.

Truphone spokesman Tim Donnelly Smith emphasized that the event at DEMOfall07 was only a demonstration and was not intended to be a commercial launch. He also said that the program is a native application that is installed through third-party application installers, and does not require cracking the iPhone's SIM card. This is significant in the wake of Apple's declaration earlier this week that "many of the unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs available on the Internet" could render the device "permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed." Several iPhone users have reported that installing Apple's iPhone 1.1.1 update rendered their unlocked iPhones useless.

"This program doesn't do anything that Steve Jobs says not to do," said Smith. "Apple is fairly neutral on third-party applications and they won't deliberately try to break them."

In addition to its demonstration of iPhone over VOIP, Truphone demonstrated an application that allows people to call each other through the social networking site Facebook. Essentially, the application would let Facebook users embed a "call me" button into their Facebook profiles that would let friends call them without revealing their actual number over the Internet.

Smith said that the application would allow Facebook users to contact friends who use both VOIP and PSTN networks. He also said that this application is still in development and is not nearly as far along as the iPhone VOIP application.

Truphone bills itself as a "mobile operator for the Internet era" that offers "free mobile calls to other Truphone users or very cheap calls to anyone else." Its services work anyplace where there's WiFi or 3G, and it is available for use on various Nokia phones.
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Apple's iPhone Popular In Brunei

By Anna Abu Bakar
Brunei-Muara - The new iPhone has received quite a large number of following and it has seen smooth sailing since its debut in Brunei.

Khairul, a representative from Dee Jay Home Video Teleshop said that the only problem that was encountered was the so-called locking and unlocking mechanism, whereby if a customer was to make new add ons, in terms of new programmes into the iPhone, then it would become locked and difficult to open again.

"This is related to the problem that Apple in the United States as there has been a problem with hackers hacking into the programmes available in the phone," he added.

He emphasised that Dee Jay is a shop that follows the proper way of importing a mobile phone into the country as they are required to apply for a permit before bringing the phone in through AITI.

The Authority on info Communications Industry is a licensing and regulation organisation derived from the Telecommunications Order 2001. It is the proper authority that grants licenses for the operation of telecommunication systems and services subject to conditions imposed by AITI.

The establishment, installation, maintenance, provision or operation of unlicensed telecommunication systems or services within Brunei is an offence.

If, for example, the iPhone is bought from outside Brunei and are brought in without paying the duty the offender shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a maximum of three years, and/or a fine of up to $100,000 with a continuing fine of up to $10,000 per day for continuing offences after conviction.

"As for any reports of the sanctions against the iPhone for use in Brunei, there has not been any problem from the authorities and as long as we pay the duty tax and a permit is requested then there should be no problem," Khairul said. A representative who wishes to remain anonymous from a popular store in Brunei that sells the iPhone stated that "no problems whatsoever has been reported with the iPhone from their store apart from the lock mechanism that they can easily unlock for when the customer buys the phone and uses it."

He also added that "just like any other shop in Brunei, we go through the proper procedures and apply for a permit from AITL."-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times
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Learning About All The Different iPhone Features

Written by EditorsChoice
The iPhone is a truly revolutionary new phone, one that allows you to make and receive calls and perform various other tasks with a simple touch of a button. There are so many different and great iPhone features, and in order to take full advantage of this revolutionary device, you are going to want to understand as best about all these iPhone features as you possibly can.

Calls

Obviously the most common task that the iPhone is used for is making and receiving calls. The process involved in either case here is incredibly simple, and making a call is especially easy. All you have to do is tap an entry that you have listed in your contacts, favorites, or recent calls lists, and then this will begin the call to the particular contact that you have selected.

When it comes to answering calls you have a few more options, and when someone calls you, the phone will ring while simultaneously displaying the caller's information. You can tap Answer, or if you have the phone locked you can drag the slider. If you are listening to music through a headset then you can just click the mic button to answer, and you will be connected to the call.

SMS

This is another of the most popular iPhone features, and SMS, or text messaging as it is more commonly referred to in the general public, is a really great feature on any device. The software design created here by Apple recognizes that most of us really get into text messaging with our friends and so they help you here by tracking your SMS exchanges in speech bubbles, so that you can easily scroll back and remind yourself of what was said previously in each conversation.

This is especially useful for those people who text message with a variety of different people at a time, so that they can keep track of each separate conversation and stay on top of what topics they were talking about.

Voicemail

Voicemail of course is another of the iPhone features, and the greatest thing about the voicemail feature on the iPhone is that it is visual. This means that you can pick and choose between the different voicemails that you want to listen to, delete, and so on, rather than having to go through them and decide this only by audio. This results in saving you a great deal of time and money in the end.
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iPhone News Never Fail To Excite

Written by EditorsChoice
Not even three months after its monumental release, Apple's iphone is making really big news not only in the traditional media but also in the World Wide Web. iphone news have recently become more than just about features of the touchscreen-phone iPod. In fact, a person around the world search for iphone news even before the phone was launched last June.

When the rumors first came out that Steve Jobs' Apple will be issuing an iPod with call and SMS capabilities, a lot of people have started calling it an iphone. With no official iphone news from Apple, many bloggers and tech enthusiasts have started discussing about the then-to-be-launched iphone. Soon, more iphone news was published in the Internet.

Truth be told, when Apple made the iphone available to public that very historic Friday in June, iphone news was indeed big news! Customers lined up for the iphone launch. The earliest was Monday, 4-days before the official launch. iphone news has it that many were excited with the product that combines an iPod, amobile phone, and even a wireless Internet device into one.

Apple Fans Love the Latest iphone News

Until today, Apple has never failed to give the Apple lovers and even those who think the cellphone is just hype with all the iphone news they want. The first week of September saw the release of Apple's newest iPod models: the clip-on shuffle in new colors, the new fatty iPod Nano, the iPod classic, and the iPod Touch. The announcement proved to bring another Apple sensation in the media and the world. Just like iphone news, reports on the newest iPods are taking the world by storm.

However, early iphone adapters are disappointed with Steve Job's statement that the iPone's price will go down by almost $200, 3 months after they bought the $599 Apple phone. The change in price came with the release of iPod touch---an iphone without the phone. But 2 days after the announcement during Apple's The Special Event, Steve Job's sent out an open letter to the iphone owners that they will be receiving a $100 store credit reward. Now, the iphone owners are more than happy with the rebate after crying foul over the price cut.

Over the past few months of iphone news history, it is easy to note that Apple iphone is not just hype nor hysteria. It can be considered as a breakthrough gadget because it paved the way for many new hi-tech gadgets such as touchscreen phones, touchscreen MP3 players, and of course, the new iPods.
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A Guide To The New Iphone

By: The Content Group
The new iPhone that is available features the most revolutionary user interface to ever be seen, which is one of the most raved about qualities to the device in fact. It is truly an entirely new concept that is being brought to the table here, and it is an interface that is based on a large multi-touch display system and there is also innovative new software offered here that lets you control everything using only your fingers.

This is not only impressive but incredibly convenient for the average consumer, especially considering the busy and hectic world that we live in today. The new iPhone also allows you to glide through albums with ease, flip through hundreds of photos and email them just with a touch of your finger.

Questions and Answers

When it comes to the new iPhone, there are definitely overwhelming benefits and advantages that are brought to the table however there are also many questions that are pondered. For instance, many people wonder if the new iPhone is going to be compatible with their PC and Microsoft Windows. The answer to this is yes, it will be, and although there are certain specifications, it works with Windows XP Home or Professional as well as with Windows Vista.

The new iPhone can even be used internationally, as it is a quad-based GSM phone that is able to work around the world. It is important however, that before you travel you make positively sure that the international dialing and roaming features are enabled on the phone. You also may have to ensure that the place you are traveling to offers GSM coverage, and as long as they do you will be good to go.

The new iPhone also supports a variety of different email systems, and you are going to have to contact your own personal email provider to make sure that they use these particular standards. You can protect all access on the device with a four digit password, but remember that this password is then going to be required every time you turn the phone on or wake it from sleep mode.
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Apple iPhone: A multifunctional device

by adam caitlin
The Apple iPhone is much more than a mere talking device, combining the functions of a music player, internet device, camera and a video player, into a single device. The widescreen iPhone includes touch screen controls so you can enjoy all kinds of contents like audio book, movies, music and TV shows.

A comprehensive keypad, short cut buttons and a full fledged menu system is for ease of applications. The predictive QWERTY soft keyboard helps for easy and error-free typing. Other amazing features of the Apple iPhone are a 2 megapixel camera, rich HTML email client.

The loads of advanced software applications, offer you the best mobile experience. The Apple iPhone supports a unique Mac OS X a powerful platform. Explore the host of features with the touch of your fingertips. The QWERTY keypad helps you enter all your data fast. The Apple iPhone also comes endowed with EDGE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, e-mail client and web browser. The 4GB and 8GB versions, offer you enough space to load files of any data types. With the weight of 135 gm, the phone easily fits into your pocket.

Make a call just by touching a name or a number. Go directly to any of your messages with Visual Voicemail. The astonishing features of the Apple iPhone include a stunning display, a sleek design, an innovative multi-touch user interface, easy to use applications, and an excellent music player. Apart from the usual mobile phone features like SMS and visual voicemail capability, the Apple iPhone also consists of a music library The rechargeable built-in battery of Apple iPhone has up to 5 hours talk / video / browsing time and up to 16 hours of audio playback time. Browse through the online mobile shops to get attractive offers on Apple iPhone. So communicate with the world through your Apple iPhone.
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AT&T iPhone Work With PC

by Muhammad Zubair
AT&T iPhone can also work with your personal Computer. It sports the operating system Windows XP Home and also the professional version SP2. AT&T iPhone can also work with Windows Vista. AT&T iPhone can syncs your contacts and calendar whenever you connect your AT&T iPhone to your computer.

If you want to surf the web using AT&T iPhone it can be done with the Safari web browser on AT&T iPhone, you can surf websites just like as you do on your personal computer. You are not limited to mobile WAP sites, you can browse any site your want. You can connect the Internet using AT&T's EDGE data network as well as Wi-Fi connection. You can sends and receive emails by Wi-Fi and AT&T EDGE wireless networks on AT&T iPhone.

AT&T iPhone supports the email standards like IMAP and POP3. At&T iPhone works with all most all popular email services as given below:

* Yahoo! Mail * Google Gmail * AOL * Mac Mail

You need to check that your email provider IMAP and POP3 email standards. By using Yahoo! Mail supports "push" email service you can automatically deliver new email messages to your AT&T iPhone. You can send and receive email from multiple email accounts on your AT&T iPhone. You can transfer current mobile numbers to a new AT&T Apple iPhone. This process may take few minutes if you are using new line. If you are porting a number from another carrier then it could take longer.
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Getting The Most Out Of Your Iphone

by Andrea Dilea
iphone accessories for every purpose!

There has been no new technological item in the last several years quite like the Iphone. The Iphone allows you many ways to improve communications for both personal and business purposes with others all around the world. The ability to communicate instantly with people worldwide in a variety of ways will greatly improve the way you do business. The Iphone has removed many of the limitations on personal and company communications and thus will make us all better off.

Not mandated by the government or some regulatory agency, there is one very tangible condition that will affect your ability to use your iPhone to its full extent. Obviously, portable electronics don't work so well without battery power. To avoid the disappointment of not being able to use your new iPhone, you should consider investing in several iPhone extras that will help ensure reliable and on demand functionality of the iPhone. Particularly wise investments are a home charger and carriage. Actually, you are not going to be able to use your iPhone without charging it. A home charger and carriage are the easiest way to charge your iPhone. The next desirable extra for the iPhone would be a portable or car charger, which offers convenient mobile charging.

A large number of more optional different iphone accessories can be found in the marketplace. It is highly likely that number will grow, much as happened with the commercially successful sister-product, the iPod. Currently available items include protective coverings of varying thicknesses, wearable bands to attach an iPhone to your arm, belt-attachments, automobile mounting units, bluetooth devices, connection cables, and a plethora of others. No matter who you are or what you enjoy, you will find an "extra" you like for your iPhone.

You can find the iphone accessories at any Apple Store or other merchant that specializes in consumer electronics. You might even find some on ebay if you look carefully. Now is the time to personalize your iphone with the extras that meet your tastes and needs.
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Rivals develop iPhone 'killers' as Apple plans UK launch of must-have device

MURDO MACLEOD
IT HAS not yet been released in the UK but jealous rivals are already ganging up in a determined - and almost certainly forlorn - attempt to kill it off.

Apple's iPhone, with its seductive mix of drop-dead gorgeous looks and irresistible features, is expected to become the must-have gift this Christmas for well-heeled lovers of fashionable gadgetry.

But Apple's competitors are not standing still. Rivals are frantically working on iPhone 'killers' that will attempt to offer unbeatable combinations of style, features and price.

Ultimately, the launch of the iPhone and the subsequent battle for control of the mobile market promises to be good news for consumers.

The iPhone will be released in the UK on November 9, for £269, plus a £35 a month contract for 18 months, exclusively on the O2 network.

When the phone was released in the US earlier this year, sales took off to the extent the device was dubbed the 'Jesus Phone'. So far, a million have been sold. Some UK gadget seekers have decided they cannot wait and one impatient buyer last week paid £600 to buy an iPhone on eBay.

But South Korean firm LG is among those planning to launch iPhone 'killers'. Next month, its £300 Viewty goes on sale in the UK, offering similar 'candy bar' styling, including a large, colour touch screen. The Viewty is 20 grams lighter than its rival and the size of a playing card. LG have already established a reputation in the style stakes with their Chocolate and Prada range of phones.

If looks could kill the iPhone, so too could features. Rival network T-Mobile is planning to offer internet access speeds for mobiles which will be faster than many home broadband connections. Crucially, they will be able to offer high-quality TV and video straight to the mobile phone, rather than the grainy and jerky pictures which until now have put most users off mobile phone video. These services will work with LG, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, and Nokia mobiles but not with the iPhone.

Price could prove the Achilles heel of the iPhone for some. While owning an iPhone will cost £900 over 18 months because of the price of the gadget and contract, many rivals could be cheaper.

A Prada phone from T-Mobile will cost about £400 over the same period.

Industry experts north of the Border were split over whether the iPhone killers would make any impact.

Brian Baglow, chief executive of technology and communications at marketing firm Indoctrimat, said: "I just don't see the point of the iPhone here in the UK and I think the other phones are really impressive.

"The iPhone is very nicely packaged and stylish but there is nothing new or impressive in the technology. There are already a lot of phones available here which do everything the iPhone does and they can do it better."

However, Lachlan MacKinnon, professor of computing and creative technologies at the University of Abertay, said: "I think it will be a success. I have looked over one in the United States and it is very stylish and easy to use, big buttons for texting, for example. There's nothing especially new in the technology, but Apple excel in making things stylish and intuitive to use."

Bill Buchanan, professor of distributed computing at Napier University, said: "I think it will take off because of its ability to link up with wireless internet networks and make cheap phone calls over the internet. That will become a major selling point."

A spokeswoman for T-Mobile said: "It would have been great to have got the iPhone, but the terms on offer were not right for us. What we do plan to offer are much faster internet surfing speeds from mobile phones."

A spokeswoman for O2 said that the question of iPhone killers was a matter for Apple. She added: "We're pleased to have the iPhone, but it's just one of a range of products."
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Apple presents its new iPod Touch

San Francisco (dpa) - Apple has released the latest version of the iPod, the Touch. The Touch comes with multiple new features, including a touch-sensitive widescreen.
Other new features include a web browser and wireless internet access (WLAN). There's also a new mobile version of Apple's online music shop, the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, that allows users to download songs directly onto their iPod Touch without a computer.
During the presentation of the iPod Touch in San Francisco, Apple chief Steve Jobs said the new iPod will be released in 20 countries when it hits markets in September, just like its predecessors.
The iPod Touch comes with 8 gigabytes of memory and will cost 299 euros (418 dollars) and the 16 GB version comes at a price of 399 euros. To make the WLAN access more attractive, the Touch comes bundled with access to Google, Yahoo and YouTube.
Apple has also fine tuned its Nano and iPod Video, now dubbed the iPod Classic. The new Nanos are even smaller, but come with a larger display. The new Nano also plays videos.
Jobs also announced that the 8 GB iPhone, released in the United States in July, will be reduced by about one-third to 399 dollars. A smaller version will be discontinued. There is still no set date for the iPhone's release in Germany.
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Apple Legend Woz Blasts iPhone Price Drop And Refund Policy

Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak Saturday blasted his old buddy Steve Jobs' decision to drop the price of the iPhone by $200 only 68 days after the big launch and even took his old friend to task for how refunds have been handled for the popular device.

"Nobody expects a product to drop that much in price in such a short time," said Wozniak, the driving force behind the original Apple I and II computers. "Steve Jobs and everyone expects technology to drop in price. The first adopters always pay a premium. I am one of them. I am used to that. But that one was too soon, too harsh."

Wozniak, or Woz, as he is known by geeks and admirers made the comments in a question and answer session with reporters following an address before 600 solution providers at the ConnectWise Partner Summit in Tampa, Fla.

Jobs, Apple's CEO, sparked a firestorm of protest when he lowered the price of the iPhone on September 5 by $200 from $599 to $399 only 68 days after the launch of the eagerly awaited device that Apple fans waited in long lines and snapped up by as soon as it hit the market. The pricing decision upset a lot of early iPhone purchasers.

Jobs, who cofounded Apple with Wozniak, responded with a public letter of apology to those early iPhone buyers and and offered a "$100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store."

But Wozniak complained that he has bought some iPhones that he is saving as gifts for people which he can't get a refund on right now. Only when an account is opened can that person who received the phone get the discount, he said. "If I bought it and gave it as a gift they get the discount," he said of the Apple $100 credit policy for early iPhone buyers. "Why don't you just take my receipt and give me the money back? And of course it always comes back to Apple Store credit. So instead of getting $100 back you are getting $50 back sort of. It is very optimal to the company. I feel badly about the situation for everyone. I don't think Apple should have even done it. Maybe a very much more gradual price reduction, $50 at first or find ways to bundle it into a savings on your account."

Wozniak says he probably purchased about 20 iPhones for himself and his friends and has not gotten a single refund back on his own although some of his friends have gotten their refunds. "I haven't had the time to," he said. "I will. I only have one iPhone that I am using. I figured at first I would use three for myself. But one is enough."
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Briefly: iPhone Web app guide, games

In brief: A guide for developing iPhone-optimized sites has been created, an iPhone-optimized games site has debuted, GLX2 a script editor for Revolution has been released, Firefox 2.0.0.7 fixes a security flaw, and the Font Brothers have debuted some new typefaces... VirtualHosting has put together a guide for developing Web sites that are designed for the iPhone. The author of the guide says "When developing an app for the iPhone, there are a number of things you should keep in mind. Apple has put together an extensive guide for iPhone developers." There is also a list of useful tools, and sites to which developers can submit their optimized Web apps.
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The Latest Mobile Phones in the Market!

by Martin Dev
The mobile phone boom in UK is at its pinnacle and there have been a lot of latest technological inventions in this field. As a result, a plethora of handsets have been introduced in the market which are known for its technical brilliance and the elegant looks. It is impossible to list all of the handsets in one article so let us discuss a few exceptionally brilliant handsets that have been launched in the mobile phone market recently.

The first contender that has made a strong impact upon the mobile phone users around the world without the doubt, is Apple iPhone. It is an ultra superior device that has been brilliantly conceived and combined with super cool looks. A scratch proof front glass cover and a TFT touchscreen display emitting a kaleidoscope of 16 Million colours, in a large 3.5 inches screen makes Apple iPhone as one of the best gadgets around the town. This device has been equipped with Handset orientation sensor and proximity sensor that further add on to its appeal. A standard 2 Mega pixels camera and a Apple iPod has also been installed in this device for an excellent results. Plus, Apple iPhone comes in 4GB and 8GB variants that gives the user an ample sauce to store the music or data of your choice!

There is another mobile phone that has also eagerly anticipated but has not been released so far is known as Nokia E51, another addition to the super powerful 'E' business series in the market. Nokia E51 is a HSDPA enabled device that could be taken all across the globe with its Quad-Band GSM connectivity. Other high end connectivity features as GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth and integrated Wi-Fi adds on to its connectivity. Experience the joy of web browsing with Nokia E51 and consider the best for yourself.

You can buy these latest mobile phones at a cheap rates on the World Wide Web and with the various lucrative mobile phone deals! Buy them to experience the magic of mobile telephony!
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iPhone Equals iProblems? Is the iPhone Right for You?

By: Michael C. Podlesny
Besides being an instrument to talk on, the Apple iPhone can retireve your email, surf the web and more. Apple`s iPhone is expected to become an important tool for music fans to listen to and share music.

Apple report that they sold 270,000 iPhones in the first 30 hours after the mobile device`s June 29 release. However, according to MacWorld, Duke University in Durham, North Carolina claims that it causes problems in their wireless system. A few weeks after the iPhone`s release, Duke University said that the device`s Wi-Fi connection was responsible for taking down between a dozen and 30 of the school`s Cisco wireless access points at a time, due to the flood of connection requests coming from them. In blaming the iPhone, Kevin Miller, assistant director of communications infrastructure with Duke`s Office of Information Technology, said, he does not believe it is a Cisco problem in any way. Cisco Systems Inc. said in a statement that the problem was caused by a Cisco-based network issue.

Macworld also reported in their October 2007 issue that, a new study from ChangeWave Research shows that the iPhone may be extending its halo to Macintosh brands. According to the study, consumers planning to buy new computers in the next 90 days, the percentage opting for Apple desktops and laptops jumped significantly in June 2007.

Gregg Keiser of Computer World reports in the September issue, concerning the announcement of "iPhone price cut by Apple Inc. in the U.S. The company has unexpectedly slashed the price of the eight gigabyte model of its two-month-old mobile device by 33 percent which was released in late June 2007. It is stated that the price cut was initiated by the company`s chief executive officer (CEO) Steven Jobs during an announcement of new iPod music players. The company is flooded with complaints and accusations of betrayal by the iPhone users but responded to the issue by promising the issuance of $100 purchase credits to people who bought iPhones before the price change." The price of the phone went from $599 to $399.

However not all that is cool is complete according to Scott Bradner of Network World. Scott share`s his insights about the iPhone from Apple Inc. According to Scott, there is a lot of things that bothers him about iPhone and he wanted to see some technology on it. He reveals that most of the things he wanted to see on the iPhone is not there because the functions that would make the device complete are missing. Scott cites that it would have been far better for Apple to sell a version of the iPhone that admits it is a computer running a good operating system that would allow the customers used it openly. He further expresses that the worst part of the iPhone is that the Apple is treating the iPhone just like another cell phone.

And then of course there is the issue with the huge packages on phone bills that iPhone owners are receiving. The New York Times reported in August of 2007 that "Iphone users are amazed to find oversized bills delivered by AT&T. AT&T has promised to send summarized bill to the users through text messages. Itemizing of every detail about every text message and Internet data transfer by AT&T are reasons for oversized bills."

So should you buy an iPhone? It all depends on what you will be using it for. If you need access to your email or surf the web at a moment`s notice, then it might be for you. However all experts agree, it`s better to wait until the price drops further and all of the bugs are worked out of the system.
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iPhone Wi-Fi Hot Spot Connection Application Released

by Glenn Fleishman
Devicescape has released a simple application for the iPhone that lets you connect to Wi-Fi hot spots without all the fuss of tapping in user names and passwords, clicking Accept buttons, or remembering WEP and WPA encryption keys. The Devicescape Connect application requires the Nullriver AppTap application installer, a third-party hack that allows easy installation of software on the device. (I've been testing a version of the application released before the Nullriver integration.)



The way that Devicescape accomplishes this minor miracle - and obviates the single most annoying factor in using the iPhone outside of one's home and office - is via their flagship software, which comprises client software on a device, handheld, or laptop, and an account at their Web site in which you store passwords and account information. (I wrote a full account of Devicescape's approach in "Devicescape Aims to Ease Wi-Fi Hot Spot Connection Pain," 2007-05-07.)

At my.devicescape.com, you set up an account and enter any Wi-Fi hot spot and network information that you want to include. For instance, I store my home and work WPA keys on their site. Devicescape automates the login process for dozens of for-fee hot spot networks and aggregators of hot spots, including T-Mobile HotSpot, AT&T WiFi, Fon, Boingo, iPass, and others, as well as dozens of fee-free networks that require some confirmation step or login account to use.

With the Devicescape iPhone app, when you're at a hot spot for which you've entered your connection information, you simply tap the Connect application and click Login. Devicescape connects to the local network, tunnels your login request through the hot spot's DNS service (clever, that), receives back an encrypted set of login details, and then passes those credentials on to the hot spot. For free networks, the system knows to "click" the right button, sending a Web request with the correct response in it. (The Devicescape software for laptops, handhelds, and a few phones works pretty much the same way; you also get the benefit of every device you use having the same set of network access without re-entering details.)

I've been using Connect for over a week, and have tested it at a few T-Mobile locations. It's rather marvelous to simply tap Login, and be on the network. It's the way the iPhone should work - and suddenly does.

While Steve Jobs extols the ubiquitous availability of Wi-Fi, he and the company have done nothing to make connections easy except to simply protected home and work networks (and easy is relative there with the silly manner in which you have to type in passwords), and to open Wi-Fi networks. Devicescape bridges that gap.

In a briefing several days ago, the company also noted that they had found the business-grade authentication software in the iPhone, as I had expected, since the connection client needed for corporate networks is also built into Mac OS X. As Devicescape creates small device networking software, they could choose to provide an interface to this, making the iPhone immediately usable in corporate environments. (It's obscurely known as 802.1X after an IEEE protocol, and allows a user name and password, as well as certificates and tokens generated by hardware, to create a unique login session for a Wi-Fi or Ethernet network. WPA/WPA2 Enterprise is the most modern flavor of 802.1X.)

There's just one missing feature from Connect that you find on their full Devicescape software: buddy lists. With buddy lists, you can choose which other Devicescape users can access networks you manage - your friends and colleagues, say. These buddies' copies of Devicescape download an encrypted set of network passwords. You can revoke a buddy's access or update your network password and the system handles that seamlessly, too, transmitting it to those related parties. That will be a big plus for iPhone users who roam among households and work networks when this buddy list feature hits Connect.

While you could cobble together free and paid logins at networks you frequent or expect to, your best combo deal for using Connect is Boingo Wireless, a hot spot aggregator which resells access to tens of thousands of locations in the United States, including dozens of airports. Boingo charges $21.95 for unlimited U.S. access. Their worldwide footprint is 100,000 locations, for which they charge $39 per month for unlimited access. Both are month-by-month rates with no commitment or cancelation penalty.

In the U.S., they have most major networks; T-Mobile HotSpot is the big exception. T-Mobile charges $20 to $40 per month for unlimited use at about 8,500 locations, with the price varying by whether you're a T-Mobile voice subscriber and the duration of your contract. Devicescape supports T-Mobile, too.

While you can log into Boingo through a partner login in the Web gateway interface at nearly all the locations they bundle up, that involves tedious data entry each time, instead of a single click with Connect. And some Boingo locations don't have the partner login, but you won't know which until you're traveling.

Devicescape's gap-filling software makes me hope that hot spots pile on and promote this as a simpler option to get online. It's only a benefit to Apple and AT&T to make the iPhone work with fewer interruptions and less friction - and the less we use AT&T's cellular EDGE network, the better that network performs. I hope Apple considers bundling Connect in a future release - or making Devicescape its first certified application developer.
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First Look: 16GB iPod Touch

This beautifully designed media player is like a slim iPhone sans phone--but it's marred by some early hardware and software issues.
I'm an iPhone fan who can't get an AT&T signal at home, so I was hoping the iPod Touch would be the perfect compromise. Based on its specs (Wi-Fi, mobile Safari, the Multi-touch interface, and twice the iPhone's storage capacity at 16GB), it sure looks like it would be. But I've been testing a $39916GB iPod Touchfor a couple of days now, and based on a number of hardware and software issues I've encountered, it looks like Apple still has some work to do.
Don't get me wrong, the Touch is an amazing piece of technology. Mobile Safari is the best portable Web browser around, Cover Flow works great on a device with limited storage capacity, and the new iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store is extremely slick for a first generation product. But in these first two days, I've run into ascreen anomalythat makes dark movies scenes difficult to watch,software bugsthat halt music playback when browsing pages in Safari, and an issue thatharms sound qualityon many in-ear headphones.
If Apple can work out most of those kinks, it will have produced the first portable video player I'd actually want to own. Until they do, I'd recommend taking a wait-and-see approach with the Touch.

Run down a list of the iPhone's features, and you'll find that almost everything has made it over to the iPod Touch. The Touch is available in both 8GB and 16GB capacities. At .31 inches deep, it's substantially thinner than the iPhone, but it's got the same 802.11b/g wireless support. It also features a 3.5-inch Multi-touch screen with 480-by-320-pixel resolution. The single button on its face brings up the main menu, and a small button on top turns the device on and off.

The only missing bits of hardware are the phone (plus the mic and speakers that go with it), the camera, and the physical volume buttons and locking switch on the side. The non-standard headset jack that prevents you from plugging most headphones directly into the iPhone is gone as well--your normal headphones will fit just fine.

The touch works just like the iPhone, too. We've spent plenty of timedissecting how that device works, so I won't dig deeply into it here. The tap, scroll, and pinch gestures that make the iPhone a joy to use work just as well on the Touch.

The iPod Touch's beautiful interface and large, attractive screen help make it easily the most fun media player I've ever tested. Cover Flow, Apple's unique touch-based interface for flipping through the albums on your player, performs much better on the Touch than on the Nano or the Classic. Album art loads efficiently enough that it's nearly impossible to outrun the player and end up with the dreaded gray placeholder graphics while the player catches up.

I've always been a fan of music players that can hold my entire library, so the Touch was more attractive to me as a mobile video player and Web browser. But the Touch's limited capacity forced me to come up with some new ways to listen to music, and after awhile I was having a blast adapting to the smaller confines and the Touch's interface. I've loaded my test unit with a library-wide best of playlist, along with some classic discs and the last 20 or so albums I've ripped. My favorite new trick: I'll put the best of playlist on shuffle and let that play until I hear something I haven't heard in a while. When I do, a quick tap of the album's track listing lets me go back and listen to that disc.

Apple's new iTunes Wi-Fi Music store works great as well. Its search function updates while you type, helping you drill down to the correct artist, album, or song title with a minimum of typing. Provided you have an iTunes Music Store account, you can purchase songs directly from the device using the Touch's Wi-Fi connection. (This feature is now available to iPhone users as well.) Tracks download as quickly as your 'Net connection can manage, and are immediately playable. The next time you sync the player, those songs will be downloaded to your PC's music library.

Much like the iPhone, the iPod Touchsounds similarto a last-generation iPod Nano. That's not bad for a flash-based MP3 player, but there's a critical difference between the sound of the touch and any of the Nanos I've tested. As noted inour first impressionson Friday, the Touch doesn't play so well with many high-end in-ear headphones I've tested. The problem goes away if I use an attenuator (a tiny adapter that shipped with my Ultimate Ears Super.fi 5 Pros), but I'd prefer not to have to plug an adapter into the player if at all possible.

The Dark-Scene Video Blues

As I mentioned, I'd really like to use the Touch primarily as a portable video player. One of my favorite features of the iPhone is playing videos on its gorgeous 3.5-inch screen. With the iPod Touch supporting up to 640-by-480-resolution videos in both H.264 and MPEG-4 compression, I was all set to load up some movies from the iTunes store and start watching.

Unfortunately the 16GB unit I picked up at the San Francisco Apple store has adisplay problemthat makes many dark scenes almost unwatchable. Video looks reversed out in dark areas, creating a very distracting negative effect. Several other users have reported the same problem on Apple's forums, so I know I'm not alone, but other posters have mentioned that their displays work just fine. Perhaps this defect is confined to a small portion of Apple's initial iPod touch shipment and those of us experiencing the problem will be able to get replacements.

Thankfully those display woes don't distract from viewing most Web pages in Safari, which remains the best mobile Web browser I've ever seen. For the most part, it works great on the iPod Touch, except when you try to multitask.

If you start up some music and tap your way over to Safari for some Wi-Fi-enabled Web surfing, you may encounter problems. If I opened up a complex page or a second tab, the Touch would often stop playing music, forcing me to go out to the main screen, tap over into music, and start it up again. I've also experienced the occasional crash after loading up three or more pages. I'd bet that these problems will be fixed in a future firmware update, but until they are they're two more reasons this player feels a little rushed to market.

Not all of the iPhone's apps made it to the iPod Touch. I can begin to see the rationale for omitting the Mail and Google Maps applications--both would work better with the iPhone's always-on data connection--but why leave off the Notes app or the Weather and Stock widgets? The implementation of the Calendar app is also a bit confusing: While you can sync events from your PC's calendar, you can't edit them on the Touch or add new events.

We'll update this review shortly with results from our objective audio and battery life tests. (Apple rates the Touch as good for 22 hours of audio playback and 5 hours of video). I also hope that by the time we update, Apple will have responded to our questions about the Safari and screen issues I experienced.

Until then, the Touch remains a bit of an enigma. It's a beautifully designed player that's incredibly fun to use. If Apple can resolve these initial quality control issues, I'd gladly recommend it to anyone looking for a mobile video player, a portable Web browser, or a high-class way to cart around the highlights from your music library.
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Where and How to Get Your Apple iPhone Accessories

By: Mr. Miyagi.
The Apple iPhone is one of the hottest things to hit the market this year. Released in June of 2007, everyone was standing by to get their hands on a great Apple iPhone. Now that the popular Apple iPhone has been released, you can see many great new accessories popping up for you to enjoy.

The Apple iPhone is designed with a delicate screen, which is why one of the most popular accessories available are the ones that help keep the screen free from scratches and other types of damages that could hinder your view. However, there are many other exciting accessories available for you to enjoy as well. One of these is the much anticipated release of the Bluetooth headset and wired headset that are designed especially for the Apple iPhone.

You can find many different accessories for your new Apple iPhone anywhere the device is sold and one of the most popular items available is the iPhone cases. In fact, they are so popular that many of the stylish designs can run you up to $499 to $599 per case. This may sound pricy, but it is recommended that you purchase a case to help protect your investment.

You don't have to pay that much for your iPhone accessories but make sure if you are buying them from the internet or from someplace other than an authorized Apple iPhone dealer that you check carefully to be sure there are no compatibility issues. Regular cell phone accessories may not fit or work properly with the Apple iPhone so be sure you look into it before making a purchase.

When you take a look at all the items available at the stores where these devices are sold, you will find that the items mentioned here are just the beginning when it comes to Apple iPhone accessories, there are many others available as well. If you do not see the accessory you are searching for on displayed, then talk to the dealer to see what they have to offer. If there are products available that they do not carry, then they can at least tell you where you can find the accessories you are searching for.

It is important that if you decide to purchase your accessories from an online dealer that you are careful who and where you buy from. Make sure the company is a legitimate one that provides products you can trust. The internet is a great place to find good prices, but always use caution to ensure you receive accessories you can depend on.
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Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and newer iPod Touch are competitors

by Brian White
When Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) engaged with telecom dinosaur AT&T, Inc. (NYSE: T) to partner with it in launching one of its most ambitious products ever -- the iPhone -- many saw it as a gambit to partner with the leading wireless operator instead of partnering with a more advanced and "hip" wireless carrier. Apple of course knew that to get the iPhone into as many hands as possible, it would have to go with the largest. There's probably other reasons as well. But the partnership between these two companies has been labeled as odd at best by many, including me.

Apple knows marketing, knows its customers and has the flash to sell gadgets and computers unlike any other company. AT&T is an aging brand trying to re-invent itself for the younger, everywhere-connected generation who won't even know what a landline telephone is in a decade. But with 60+ million wireless subscribers, no company could walk away from that statistic when launching one smash wireless handset. When Apple unveiled the iPod Touch a few weeks ago (which is basically an iPhone without the phone), AT&T execs must have cringed.
Although Mark Siegel, one of AT&T's most prominent spokespersons, said that the iPhone and iPod Touch don't really complete, he's covering completely. The two products will compete head to head soon, and many who have held out on the iPhone due to not wanting AT&T's cellular service or "forced" $60+ calling plans will flock to the Touch product. Since the iPhone uses an old wireless data technology anyway (EDGE), are intended customers really wanting to need that all-in-one device or do they want the iPhone sans the expensive calling plan, credit check and two-year contract?

Apple is even making its new iTunes WiFi music store available on the iPhone, which can let customers bypass AT&T's own (and highly substandard) online music store. All of this tells us about the power Apple has, even over partners that it needs to launch new products like the iPhone. Will iPhone purchases dip when the iPod Touch is released in the next few weeks? Probably not -- but we'll see competition between that and the iPhone, no matter how myopic AT&T will be.
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Apple invite sparks iPhone rumours

Apple has sent out invitations for a press conference on Tuesday, prompting speculation about the identity of the European carrier for the iPhone.

It didn't specify the subject matter. "Mum is no longer the word" was the tagline attached to the invitation, stirring up talk that Apple is ready to announce its plans for European iPhone sales.

The company has previously said that it wants to start selling iPhones in Europe by the end of the year.

The Times reported that Peter Erskine, chief executive of O2, didn't quite confirm that his company was about to start selling the iPhone.
However, he told reporters that Apple's insistence on receiving a share of the carrier revenue from calls made with the iPhone — as Apple does with AT&T — is a good thing for the wireless industry.

Previous reports had indicated that O2 would be the UK carrier of the iPhone, but O2 representatives would not confirm reports on Thursday to The Times.

The Financial Times reported that Apple had chosen T-Mobile's network in Germany and Orange's network in France. It is not clear whether Tuesday's event will be just about the UK.

Apple's forays into Europe will be interesting, given the penetration of mobile phones. Apple is also likely to produce the first 3G-based iPhone for the European market.
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Apple set to reveal iPhone launch date in UK

By Nicole Martin
The hype surrounding Apple's iPhone will reach fever pitch next week when the company is widely expected to announce the date of its launch in Britain and other European countries.
Speculation has been rife on technology blogs and gadget websites that Apple will use a press conference in London on Tuesday to say when its landmark mobile phone - nicknamed the "God phone" - will finally go on sale in the UK.

Suspicions were aroused among journalists this week when the notoriously secretive company sent them an invitation to next week's event, headed "Mum's no longer the Word".

The iPhone has all the functions of a normal phone as well as the technology of Apple's iPod digital music player.

It can also screen television shows and films, take photographs browse the internet and send emails.

Industry watchers predict that its arrival in Britain will spark a frenzy of excitement similar to that in America where more than 270,000 were sold in the first 30 hours.

Such was its demand that thousands of Americans queued up five days before it went on sale to ensure they were among the first to get their hands on the coveted device.
The cost of the 8GB handset was originally $599 but was cut to $399 in a move that angered iPhone customers who had bought it at the higher price.

Online protests reached such levels that Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, was forced to write an open letter to customers, promising a $100 rebate to all those who had missed out on the price cut.

Ben Wood, director of research at CCS Insight, predicted that the iPhone would go on sale in Britain for £269, the same price that the $399 iPod touch is going for on Amazon.

He said he was confident that Apple would announce details of the European launch next Tuesday. "Apple has a reputation for announcing products and ensuring they are available in shops almost immediately," he said.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Steve Jobs turned up in person and said, 'Hey folks, the iPhone is available now'."

But Charlie Sorrel, writing on the gadget blog Wired, said: "We expect an announcement of pricing and availability, but it's unlikely that the iPhone will go on sale the same day.

"Apple will want to whip up a frenzy over the launch date, and give iFans time to prepare sleeping bags for the overnight camp-out."

It is also widely expected that Apple will announce that the network provider O2 has won the right to sell the handset exclusively in Britain in the run-up to Christmas.
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Apple iPhone: .. multi-tasking mobility !

by adam caitlin
After all the big hullabaloo, Apple finally launched its much hyped iPhone to the service of mankind. And the first glimpse of this phone makes a statement clear that the handset is for those who admire beauty with brain. In a tremendously stylised self, this phone offers surprising features all within its slim profile. With a high resolution, touch-screen display and a load of advanced software applications, the Apple iPhone is ready to help you experience the best of mobility every time.

In simpler terminology, the phone is a culmination of a mobile phone, an iPod and a mobile Internet communicator. It comes loaded with a unique Mac OS X a powerful platform to realise many a multimedia dreams. The phone is devoid of any stylus or a keypad and is assigned with proximity sensor and accelerometer sensor. With the aid of a vibrant 3.5 inch widescreen, you can browse through the long list of features of this phone just with the touch of your fingertips. And there is a virtual QWERTY keypad helping to enter all your data fast and accurately.

Take the help of iTunes CoverFlow to enjoy listening to your favourite music tracks or take pictures with an integrated 2.0 MP camera and enjoy watching videos on a large screen; this all-in-one phone is a complete entertainment kit. Add to all, the Apple iPhone comes equipped with quad-band GSM with EDGE, Bluetooth version 2.0, Wi-Fi, full version e-mail client and web browser. Coming in 4GB and 8GB versions, the phone offers enough space to load files of any data types easily.

In a thickness of just 11.6 mm and weight of 135 gm, the phone easily fits in the palm as well as pocket. All with a 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack and in-built speaker, the phone features help each of its proud possessor to listen to great music on the move.. and communicating to the world.
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IPhone Cases Available

by Fred Armstrong
Since the advent of the iPhone, many different cases have been designed by several manufacturers that serve as protection for your iPhone. Just the fact that a case exists does not mean that Apple approves of it as a good iPhone case.

The silicone protection case is one of the many different types available. The iPhone cases made from silicone come in several different colors. Depending on your preference, you can get them in pink, purple, blue, black, and many other colors. The iPhone cases conform to the body of the gadget and also accommodate the various functions of the gadget. Some cases have an open window for the screen area, while others feature a transparent screen protection. Deciding which one is right for you will lead you through many different choices from different manufacturers.

The crystal plastic case is another option to protect your iPhone. Some of these plastic cases feature handy belt clips and they are also available in a rainbow of colors. The hard crystal case also comes with an LCD screen protector. As with silicone cases, the plastic case choices are numerous and have been put to market by many manufacturers.

For the more luxury minded, there are also leather cases for the iPhone. These cases come in many different designs and colors. They are usually made of hard leather and are more bulky than most iPhone cases. They come in different kinds of leather and can be flip lid or pouches.

You can also get pocket pouches that will hold and protect your phone. These are very handy containers of iPhones because they are smaller than most and all you have to do is slide out your iPhone if you want to use it. Other forms of iPhone cases are flip-lid cases that protect the iPhone and give users direct access to the screen by just flipping the lid. Even though they offer good protection, they are bulky and don't easily fit into your pocket.

The iPhone has fast become a fashion statement, and for the fashion followers there are even designer cases by well-known designers such as Louis Vuitton. The fashion industry has found a niche for these specialized gadgets and many of the clients of the big brand names appreciate this.
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Apple iphone - Get Full web experience

by adam caitlin
The Apple iPhone packs the Safari web browser, giving full xHTML rendering and JavaScript through a WiFi or EDGE connection. Google Maps is also available for mapping and directions, and a 'widget' system gives you instant access to the information that matters to you. The Heat is a gleaming slider phone with an electrostatic touchpad, but has all the right geeky qualities.

The touchpad is set so you can customize its sensitivity (super, high, medium, low) for navigation through a simple finger tap, which means no more pushing extra hard while trying to navigate through applications. Through Apple's collaboration with Cingular Wireless, the company has been able to include some interesting carrier services, such as random access voice mail. Random access voicemail is a first that allows you to see a list of all your voicemail messages, showing the caller and the time and date of the call, so that you can jump right to the voicemail you need rather than have to listen to each and every one in turn.

The iPhone v1.0.1 Update also covers a separate cross-site scripting flaw in Safari as well as a memory corruption flaw in WebKit that creates a mechanism for hackers to inject hostile code onto the device. The patch also covers an address spoofing bug in WebKit, the application framework engine for Mac OS X, and a cross-site scripting flaw in WebCore, the HTML layout engine for Mac OS X.

I think all of these programs would be fantastic for the iPhone platform. When it comes down to it, implementation is key when working on such a unique platform/user environment. I think Josh's mock-ups are great and are how I would like to see these programs designed for the iPhone if they were developed! Out of the 5 though, I think the E-reader idea is the best.
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iPhone from apple: E-mail

The iPhone is great for multi-tasking, so you can read a web page while downloading your email in the background over Wi-Fi or EDGE. Its e-mail client fetches your email in the background from most POP3 or IMAP mail services, and then displays photos and graphics along with the text.
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iPhone from apple: Internet Device

The iPhone features a rich HTML email client as well as the Safari browser, which automatically syncs bookmarks from a PC or Mac. The Safari browser has built-in Google and Yahoo! search. You can also multi-task by reading a web page while simultaneously downloading your email in the background via WiFi or EDGE. Safari also includes built-in Google and Yahoo! search. You can even display Google Maps as they were meant to be seen, and zoom in to view specific points.
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iPhone from apple: Camera Function

The Apple iPhone also features an amazing 2-megapixel camera, as well as a photo management application unlike anything available on a phone today. Users can sync photos from a PC or Mac, browse or email them with just a touch of the screen.
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Using the iPhone: SMS Text Messaging

Using the iPhone, you can send text messages withan SMS application with a predictive QWERTY soft keyboard that prevents and corrects mistakes. This makes it easier and more efficient to use than the small plastic keyboards found on many smartphones.
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Phone Features

Using the phone function of the Apple iPhone, you can calls by simply pointing your finger at a name or number in your address book, a favorites list, or a call log. All your contacts from a PC, Mac, or Internet device are also automatically synched, you can select and listen to voicemail messages in whatever order you want — just like email. Calls can easily be merged together with just the touch of a button to create a conference call. Conference calling has never been easier!
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iPod Features

The Apple iPhone is a widescreen iPod that features touch screen controls that allow you to enjoy all your content, including audiobooks, music, TV shows, and movies. It features an amazing 3.5-inch widescreen display, and allows you to sync content from your iTunes library on your PC or Mac, making that content also accessible with just the touch of a finger.

iPhone users will be able to scroll through songs, artists, albums, and playlists with just a flick of a finger. One cool new feature of this function is the display of album artwork - you can now use Cover Flow to browse your music library by album artwork for the first time on an iPod.
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iPhone from apple

The Apple iPhone is not just a phone - it is a phone, music player, video player, internet device, and camera all in one. Like its Apple iPod Nano and iPod video cousins, the iPhone is slim and sleek at just 11.6mm thick, 2.4-inches wide, and 4.5-inches tall.
Steve Jobs has such confidence in the new iPhone that he has said he wants to sell over 10 million of them by 2008. I think he's setting his sights a little low, and project that Apple will sell over 10 million iPhones in less than 6 months. With the following that Apple has, and the fact that this device has been rumored about and anticipated for almost four years now, it shouldn't be too far out of the realm of possiblity.
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Apple's iPhone rebate hypocrisy

Apple's decision to credit early iPhone buyers $100 toward the purchase of other Apple products in an attempt to alleviate anger triggered by the massive 33-40 percent price drop enacted just 10 weeks after the device's introduction represents an about-face in the company's stance on such rebates. In fact, in 2003, Apple argued a Microsoft settlement that "fewer than 25 percent of customers redeem these types of vouchers." That criticism concerned Microsoft's $1.1 billion antitrust settlement, which consisted of vouchers worth up to $29. Wired reports "The vouchers, which are still being paid off, could be converted to cash upon proof of purchase of most any computer device or software from any company. Details about Apple's rebate are expected soon. Will Apple issue its own 'vouchers?'"


Apple's concession came after thousands of emails and feedback from angry customers. Backtracking on his previous hard-line stance, CEO Steve Jobs acknowledged the role of early adopters in the evolution of a product, while emphasizing that price continues to decline over the life of any technology product. Customers, he said, could expect a $100 credit some time next week. In an open letter to customers, the CEO reiterated that the company was making the right decision with its price cut ahead of the holiday season, but noted that trust was an important factor in customer relationships.
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Apple tries to block custom ringtones for iPhone with an update

Apple just recently announced the capability of adding custom ringtones to the iPhone mobile phone.

However, the official method required the user to purchase the song from the iTunes which cost an additional 99 cents.

The company has now released an update for the iPhone which tried to block the third party tools enabling the users to upload custom ringtones on the iPhone.

Users confirmed that after installing the iTunes 7.4.1 update, earlier methods no longer worked.

However, the problem existed for a short while as custom solutions are already available to bypass that update to add free custom ringtones on the iPhone.

Ambrosia Software’s iToner is one of the several tools which have already been updated to work with the latest update to the iPhone.
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Apple Update: iPhone Price Drop Shocker

The day of Steve Job's much anticipated press conference began with ebullience that carried through most of his presentation. Apple stock had gained 17.5% in the past two weeks, and the release of the Vanity Fair New Establishment list showed Jobs to be second in clout only to Rupert Murdoch and a mere 33 places ahead of Starbucks honcho Howard Schultz, who is seemingly morphing from caffeine purveyor to music mogul and would join him onstage to announce a partnership whereby you can access iTunes wirelessly in Schultz's ubiquitous, WiFi-equipped Starbucks.

But then came the announcement that the 8-gig iPhones that had caused avid first adopters to queue overnight and gratefully shell out $599 would now sell for $200 less. As Apple stock took a five percent hit, analysts puzzled it out (some saying it's probably a move to keep the new, browsing-capable iTouch from cannibalizing iPhone sales this holiday buying season, and don't cry for Jobs and what's probably a short-lived bump in the marketing strategy) as Jobs explained things to the Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, NBC Universal's decision to exit their content-providing partnership with Apple was generating mostly negative spin for the conglomerate while Apple looked like Robin Hood.

The iPhone had busted out of the gate to quickly outpace all other smart phones. Now the 4-gig version will go away, and Jobs, seen here introducing it in January for its June release, will ride out the gamble that the 8-gig model can keep gaining ground at its newly reduced price. If it does, the pressure on entertainment companies to keep providing Apple their content will only be increased--and vice versa if it falters.
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International Calls: Save Money

The Earth looks a lot smaller these days, as improvements in telecommunications and technology closes more and more gaps between people daily. International calls might now be more accessible and more affordable, because of these novelties. At MyCalls.org, people from any place of the planet may now get the prepaid phone cards they need to communicate with anyone any place. Buying the prepaid credits you need is easy through MyCalls.org. Just enter the country from where you will be making the call, and enter the country of the person you are calling. MyCalls will right away search and narrow down the best price you can get. You can buy hundreds of prepaid phone cards and brands with prices as low as 10 cents per minute. MyCalls differentiates prepaid cards for calls into following categories - from stationary phone to stationary phone, stationary phone to cell phone, or computerinternet to stationary phone calls. There is also a currency calculator which eases financing and comparison of prices. Buying phone cards includes a constant PIN and the specified minutes for calling. You can also purchase additional funds for your phone cards, so you don’t need to change your PIN unless you wish to. Having one’s permanent pin code includes a support fee, but this service includes 24/7 online customer support. A detailed dialing instruction is sent to the client for prepaid phone cards bought. Calling nationwide to your business partners or beloved ones has never been more affordable. It’s great these prepaid calling cards are available and simple to use by MyCalls. Moreover, clients are provided with help when they need it most of all. Financing phone calls is quite simpler with useful comparison information and low rates. With these helpful sites, affordable phone cards are very easy to get. MyCalls is affiliated with other calling card operators, which also have cards that cover nearly every country in the world.
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iPhone: new digital lifestyle. Apple’s iMac

In the last few years, it seems like every calculated move that Apple has made has contributed to the desire to flesh out a complete line of products around a new digital lifestyle. Apple’s iMac, iTunes, FrontRow, iPod, Apple TV, and now iPhone all contribute to the master plan: an Apple-centric lifestyle.

So what’s missing in this master plan? Is there anything left? Is the iPhone, in fact the last major category in Steve Jobs scheme?

I would argue that the next few years of Apple announcements will be newer models of existing product lines. The major releases will be “the new iPod” or “the new Apple TV”. Every major enhancement, every new technologically advanced interface or input device, all will be merely and upgrade to an existing product line.

I love the days when I see a “We’ll be right back” post-it note on the Apple.com online store, I sincerely doubt when the site comes back online that I will see the Apple Gaming System, the Apple Digital Camera, or the Apple DVR.

Apple has already given the ol’ college try on the camera market with the miserable Quicktake. My feeling is if Apple were to go down that route, they would enhance the existing camera in the iPhone. And the DVR feature would be part of a new Apple TV offering.

Although I feel an Apple offering into the gaming market (to compete with Microsoft’s XBox) would be irresistible, I would be surprised to see it as Apple has showed zero initiative in any type of gaming since Breakout.

Most, if not all, missing pieces in the digital hub plan can be delivered as new versions of existing product lines. What do you think? Will there be other products, or just updates of existing ones?
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How good is the Apple iPhone's camera?

You should never buy a mobile because of how good the phone's built-in camera is. But for the price the Apple iPhone should be different.

I've never much cared for the finished product of the photos I've taken with assorted phones over the years. I've always found the photos pretty dismal. Whether I tried the zoom or left the settings alone in their default state, the pictures were uniformly terrible.

So you can understand, then, why testing out the iPhone's camera was at the bottom of my list of things to try out. The specs for the iPhone's built-in camera are these: it's 2Mp with no zoom.

In addition to taking photos, the Camera feature also allows you to flip through images you've shot, set them as wallpaper, assign them to a contact, email them, or delete them. Which is a nice touch.

At full-size, the pictures are 1,200x1,600, 72dpi, RGB and take up about 550KB of space. Accessing and using the camera couldn't be any simpler - from the home screen just tap the camera icon. When the camera opens there is one button to push to take a picture and one to see any pictures you've already taken. Tap the button and you'll see an animated shutter closing and opening. Nice touch on Apple's part.

When you connect the iPhone to your computer, iPhoto or Aperture opens, sees the phone as another camera, and imports the photos for you - that's a handy feature. But it becomes less handy when one of those apps launches whether you have photos or not - that's happened to a few people I know.

One other thing about the camera - there's no flash. So if you're shooting in low-light situations, your images will suffer.

The camera still isn't something that I would add to my list of must-have items on a phone, but having a decent camera such as the iPhone's is definitely a bonus. The trick is to use the camera in conditions that are conducive to good shots. Save the tricky stuff for an actual camera.
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Phone call quality and camera

Dialing on the Apple iPhone's touchscreen is easy enough, but it's difficult to dial one-handed without looking at the screen, as you might be able to when you press tactile keys on an ordinary mobile phone.

Call quality was mixed in our initial sample of calls. Most sounded good, with just an occasional hiss to remind us that we were on a cell.

We loved how the Apple iPhone screen darkens while on a call, and the internal sensors reactivate it when its moved away from the caller's head (no more accidentally activating hold with your cheek).

We also loved the Apple iPhone's visual voicemail feature - what a pleasure to pick and choose which voicemails to listen to first (you either see the number, or the contact's name if he or she is entered in your address book) or to switch among voicemails with a click of the finger.

The speakerphone seemed inadequate, though. Even on maximum volume, our caller sounded faint, and had difficulty hearing us clearly.
The Apple iPhone's 2Mp camera lacks any adjustments and has no zoom. Shutter lag is longer than with a dedicated digital camera - or even the better cameraphones we've seen. Syncing nearly 258MB of images - that translates into 392 JPEG photos - took a little over five minutes.

Photos looked eye-popping on the bright, brilliant screen. Colours closely matched the originals, and we saw no issues with images being cropped to fit the screen. Most of the time we felt images were sharp and faithfully reproduced. Occasionally, we felt our high-resolution image lost some clarity in the conversion to the iPhone's format.
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Apple iPhone: the definitive review

If you want to love the much-hyped Apple iPhone you'll find plenty to rave about in our in-depth review of Apple's mobile phone/iPod hybrid. The Apple iPhone's multitouch navigation system is intuitive and fun. The endless expanse of display alone is mesmerising, with beautiful bright colours and crisp resolution.

The Apple iPhone is a great handheld video player, a decent music player and camera; its browser, while not as versatile as the one on your laptop, is still impressive.

Plus, the Apple iPhone works just fine as a mobile phone.

But there are disappointments with the Apple iPhone (see also The Apple iPhone's 50 biggest flaws revealed). These include lack of support for AT&T's fastest (HSDPA) data network and the absence of instant-messaging and office-suite applications. Others are apparent only once you start using the Apple iPhone - it can get warm with constant use, and you'll need to wipe off smudges frequently with the included cloth.

We're still iffy about the Apple iPhone's software keyboard and predictive text entry. They work reasonably well, but overall text entry is still easier with a hardware keyboard, and the iPhone may not be the best choice for people who need to compose a lot of email.

We were impressed with the Apple iPhone's durability. We tried scratching it and dropping it on everything from carpet to concrete. It survived all the abuse, with only some scratches from the concrete.

And then there are the undeniably fun aspects of the Apple iPhone, from the cute icons on the home screen to the way deleted email swooshes into a trashcan.

An iPhone is expensive and comes with some major drawbacks. It's not yet available in the UK, of course, but the most prudent course would be to wait for the next version anyway. Hopefully the next generation Apple iPhone will work out some of the kinks, and we hope, be tied to a faster wireless network.

But it's hard to be patient once you've seen one - the future of mobile devices is here and it's called an Apple iPhone.
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BMW first with iPhone: enabled cars

Apple's iPhone will be supported across a wide range of BMW vehicles in Europe, with the car manufacturer planning to show off examples at the Frankfurt Auto Show on 13 September.

iPhone support will be available in all Minis, and BMW Series 6, 5, 3, 1, and X5 cars, reports claim. These are already available to the US market and will be made available in Europe when the device ships here.

"In 2004, BMW was the first to integrate the iPod into BMW vehicles and have customers take full control of their music on the road. So it seemed only logical that BMW be among the first to ensure iPhone owners have the same ability to enjoy their music, plus the added benefits of Bluetooth hands-free calling across our model line," the company said.

BMW plans to present its range of iPhone-equipped cars at the Frankfurt Auto Show on 13 September.
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Better Than iPhone: 8 Mobile Handsets That Outclass Apple

There are many phones far more functional, and--hard to believe, I know--cooler than Apple's iPhone. The biggest contenders come out of Windows Mobile partner HTC in Taiwan, though many of its offerings aren't available in the United States. There's also an uber-cool handset waiting in the wings. (Can you guess from whom?) Check out my list, and the pictures which prove my point, and see if you don't agree that these eight handsets are better than the iPhone.

Why am I apparently on an Apple-bashing tear? It's not that I don't find much to admire about the company. Mostly, I'm in awe of Steve Jobs's marketing skills. He could sell Intel processors to Mac users. Oh wait, he does.

What bugs me most is the meme that anything Apple does is the best. That's a load of nonsense. Apple's hardware, especially now that the company uses the same Intel processors as everyone is, is just more expensive computing dressed up in fancier boxes. (Okay, it's got better software.) IPods, while legitimate category-creators, are no better designed than, say, a Samsung MP3 player. Plus, iPods are prone to breakage and battery problems.

As for the iPhone, well, it's a case of perception beating out reality. But rather than shutting up, I'm putting up. Here are the eight mobile handsets I believe currently outclass the iPhone.

HTC TyTN II and HTC Touch

The coolest smartphones out there come from Taiwanese vendor HTC (formerly High Tech Computer Corp.), which has strong connections to Microsoft.

HTC was founded in 1997. It's got a close strategic relationship with Microsoft. There was possibly some investment by Redmond in HTC, or a least partnership to help launch a big factory HTC opened in 2001. Microsoft sent reps to the open, as did HP. That's because HTC was a big partner in the HP/Compaq iPaq PocketPC. Today, HTC is a prime mover behind the increasingly important Windows Mobile platform.
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Kiwi successfully hacks first NZ iPhone

A Kiwi software developer has become part of a global elite after successfully hacking an Apple iPhone allowing him to use the device on Vodafone New Zealand's network.

John Ballinger, a director of IT Auckland company Bluespark, says the hack took him six hours of hard, sometimes painful work to get the phone apart and to accept a Vodafone SIM card.

Ballinger and friend Shaun O'Donnell's achievement is probably the first in New Zealand and one of a small, but growing band around the world.

The hack essentially follows the groundbreaking work of US teenager George Hotz, who was the first to successfully unlock the iPhone so it could be used on networks other than AT&T in the US. The 17-year-old famously swapped the enabled 8GB phone for a brand new Nissan 350Z and a paid consulting job with Certicell, a mobile phone repair company. Hotz documented his hack on his blog, iphonejtag.blogspot.com.

Ballinger says his phone is not 100 per cent in working order - he cannot get YouTube, the GPS or the email client to work - but he can make calls and send and receive text massages on the Vodafone network.

"I was given the phone on Thursday by a client in New York and within two hours was working on it," he said.

"Activating the phone was the definitely the hardest part, but I was amazed at how hard taking the actual phone apart was. It's beautifully put together. The tolerances on it are amazing. Probably one of the most challenging aspects to the phone is the number of Apple-branded parts. Some of the chips are found only in this phone, so their function is a real mystery."

Ballinger said this one of only a few devices he had hacked. "I put Linux on my iPod and OS X on some PCs, but this is one of the few devices I really wanted to hack - and I love gadgets."
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iPhone is no better than an iPod in South Africa

The iPhone remains useless in South Africa despite the controversial hacking of its exclusive service provider in the US and Australia last week.



South Africa’s major service providers were yesterday adamant the phone could only be used as an iPod or Internet communicator in this country.


Local cellphone retail stores and service providers have been inundated with calls from customers interested in buying the multi-purpose gadget, which is available in the US exclusively to AT&T customers.


Hackers, however, claimed to be able to unlock the Apple iPhone code which allows users to use the $599 (R4400) phone with cellular providers other than the AT&T Wireless Network.


Nicholas Maweni, spokesman for Virgin Mobile South Africa, said scores of customers had shown interest in the phone asking when will it be available in the country.


“We are currently in talks with relevant parties seeking ways to make the phone available to our customers.

“We are hoping the global strength of our brand will help. We will not do things through the back door,” said Maweni.

Greg Hill, product marketing manager for Apple South Africa, said he could not yet say when iPhone would be available to local users legally.

“The only information we have is that the iPhone has been released in the US and has been embraced by customers and is scheduled to be rolled out to Europe later this year.”

The iPhone made headlines after reports that at least four different hacker groups had cracked AT&T’s lock on the cellular service.

The multimedia and Internet- enabled cellphone designed and sold by Apple has been available in the US since the end of June.

On top of the normal extras found on cellphones, such as a camera and texting function, it also has a liquid crystal display touch screen and a virtual keyboard.
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iPhoneSIMfree have developed software that unlocks the iPhone.

I guess it's now more than official: CNN has confirmed that the guys at iPhoneSIMfree have developed software that unlocks the iPhone. Not only that, but the developers at iPhoneSIMfree have released a FAQ for their highly anticipated unlock solution. How long until we can get our hands on it?

Here is a look at how CNN confirmed that the unlocking software actually works:

Los Angeles software consultant Brett Schulte, who is not affiliated with the developers, demonstrated the software for CNN Friday evening.

An iPhone that had the new software appeared to work on the T-Mobile system just seconds after Schulte replaced the AT&T SIM card with a T-Mobile SIM card.

"It's completely software hacked," Schulte said. "There's no case opening required. It's not required to do any kind of disassembly." It took Schulte about two minutes to unlock the iPhone.

So the software hack works and it does not require any physical alteration to the iPhone hardware aside from changing the SIM card.

Engadget, the blog that first substantiated the story, spoke with Schulte, the consultant at CNN:

We followed up with Brett, a consultant with CNN, and he confirmed the iPhoneSIMfree unlocked his iPhone as well -- we also really wanted to ask about getting in touch with Ted Turner for a summer internship, but we got the vibe that it'd be a no-go. Now, if only iPhoneSIMfree would release that product of theirs to the public -- perhaps that might land along side the CNN story they're gunning for?

Despite the confirmation, iPhoneSIMfree has yet to say exactly when anyone will actually be able to buy the software. According to CNN, they only acquired the address iPhoneSIMfree.com a few weeks ago.

The site, however, does now offer a FAQ. According to the document, the developers "are hoping to release in the next 48-72 hours." Here is a look at some more juicy tidbits from the FAQ:

1. Would all the same features still work?

Yes. Except for Visual Voice mail (which is an exclusive AT&T feature), all features currently available on locked phones will be available on unlocked phones. *

2. Is it resistant to updates?

While we have taken all possible measures to ensure that the phone will remain unlocked, we can only guarantee the current released versions of updates (up to and including 1.0.2). With any of these versions, even if the phone is fully restored, the phone will remain unlocked.

3. If I restore my phone will the software still work?

Yes (confirmed up to version 1.02)

4. Is it completely unlocked for voice and data use with any alternative carrier?

We have tested both voice and data extensively in multiple countries, using various different carriers and have found no problems. **

5. Do you still need itunes to activate the phone?

Activating your phone with itunes is not the only method available for activation. In order to use our software you will need to activate your phone through the means of your choice (see question 11)

6. Will the unlock work on phones that have been activated?

Yes, an activated phone is required for our software to work. (see question 5 above)

7. Can I unlock it before the AT&T registration process?

Yes

8. Does it work with 1.02 update?

Yes


Caveat Emptor: While the developers remain confident in their solution, there will be no money back guarantee for those who actually buy it and use it on their iPhones.

I can only imagine that lawyers at both Apple and AT&T are working overdrive this Labor Day weekend preparing for the appearance of this software.
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