Archive for February, 2011

Just after a couple of hours a the launch of the new version of iPhone 4 on the Verizon's web-page the first reviews of the new CDMA iPhone 4 hit the web. We have decided to make a short summary. So, the Verizon iPhone looks, feels, and works just like the AT&T iPhone 4. AT&T can be faster for data and handles simultaneous voice and data, but Verizon sounds better, calls are more crisp and clear, and has more reception in more places. This version of the iPhone 4 seems to have none of the same antenna issues as the AT&T model and provides 4 hour of hotspot connection. The phone connects reliably and consistently. Unfortunately, the Verizon iPhone drops the Internet connection if you're using the Internet and your phone rings.

Despite of all advantages and disadvantage of the new version of the well-known iPhone 4, it is the first time than the iPhone users in the U.S. have a choice of carrier.

Today Verizon has opened its website for iPhone pre-orders. Though, people on Twitter have reported that the Verizon site had difficulties and crashed, may be because of a high demand. New handset is also available for pre-ordering on Apple’s official page. If you are purchasing from the Apple Store you have to be an existing Verizon user. The Verizon iPhone 4 is being sold for $199 for the 16 GB model and $299 for the 32 GB model and you have to sign up to the two year contract.

iFIxYouri.com managed to acquire the new iPad 2 LCD display from iPhone repair shop in China. The display is a 9.7-inch display from LG with a 1024 x 768 resolution, the same resolution as the current iPad and is definitely higher quality in terms of its build. The display is also lighter and over a millimeter thinner than the current iPad's display with a smaller surrounding frame, suggesting Apple is looking to shave as much weight off the next iPad as they can for this update.

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Some Lonely Planet City Guides for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch are free until February 4 at 9 pm ET. This is a $6 price drop and free is the lowest possible price, so hurry up.

Guides' features include offline maps, location-based navigation, points of interest, image galleries, and editorial content.

Here are the links to free guides:

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Recently Apple seeded a new version of Mac OS X 10.6.7, termed Build 10J850, to developers for testing. This time Apple is asking developers to focus their testing on Mac App Store, AirPort, Bonjour, SMB, and Graphics Drivers. No known issues are listed in the attached documentation. An estimated date of public release of Mac OS X 10.6.7, as usual, stays unclear. Apple likes making surprises.

Apple released on Tuesday, two weeks after previous update, a third beta version of iOS 4.3 for the iPad, iPhone 4 and 3GS, and third- and fourth-generation iPod touch, to developers. The build carries the number of 8F5166b. The iOS 4.3 beta 3 now allow users to cancel downloading apps and delete them mid-download. The feature would be useful for users who accidentally begin downloading a large application and wish to cancel the process. Remind you that the iOS 4.3 is expected to introduce a rather small set of new features:  AirPlay video streaming for third-party apps, HTTP live streaming statistics and full-screen iAds. In the developer betas Apple also enabled support for multitasking gestures on the iPad, although the feature won’t be part of the public release of iOS 4.3.

Last week Samsung has admitted that its sales of Galaxy Tab were actually "quite small".

Last year Samsung Galaxy Tab represented the first generation of Android tablets that are able to compete with iPad and are available on the market. By the end of the Q4 of 2010 the company reported it had sold 2 million units. But according to Samsung executive Lee Young-Hee, this number does not represent actual sales and only includes inventory channel stuffing.

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According to The New York Times, Apple has forbidden all developers including Sony to sell content or provide access to purchases outside its iOS App Store.

After that Apple rejected a Sony Reader iPhone application, as it allowed users to buy and read electronic books from the Sony Reader Store. So now all in-app purchases must go through Apple, president of Sony's digital reading division Steve Haber told.

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A new job listing appeared on Apple’s website. Now the company is looking for LTE 4G connectivity expert. This is the first time LTE is mentioned among the “specific duties” for an applicant.

Specific Duties

- Implementation, Integration, customization, enhancement and maintenance of L1-3 Protocols for one or more of the following air interface: GSM/UMTS, CDMA (1x/EVDO), LTE etc.

Job listings often provide good indications that Apple is working on a new feature, which might be implemented in Apple’s devices in the feature. Moreover, US carriers are updating their networks to provide support for 4G network and some European carriers confirms that they start working with LTE during 2012 and 2013.

The BBC reports that some Soviet-era films are being sold illegally through the App Store. Films available via iTunes include such as Gentlemen of Fortune, Assa, The Diamond Arm, Kin-dza-dza and Cheburashka. The copyright holders confirmed that they didn’t give their concern for their films to be sold in the App Store.

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Apple today has posted iOS 4.2.6 for Verizon iPhone on its servers for public download, where it listed as for iPhone 3,3, the identifier for the CDMA version of iPhone 4. The version checks in as Build 8E200. Possibly the firmware was launched for journalists who have reportedly received the devices to write reviews. The Verizon iPhone carried iOS 4.2.5 when it was demoed at the media event introducing the device earlier this month, so it appears that Apple has made some additional tweaks since that time. Those who hoping that iPhone 4 for Verizon would be released with the iOS 4.3 will no doubt be disappointed. Though, it is pretty likely that 4.3 is going to be ready quickly after launch of the device.

Direct link to iOS 4.2.6 for Verizon iPhone

Yesterday research firm Canalysis revealed a new study, where it was found that last quarter there were sold 32.9 million smartphones, which are based on Google platform, including Android, Tapas and OMS. In turn, according to Reuters only 31 million of Nokia's smartphones with Symbian OS were sold over the same period of time, and that allows to conclude that Google has overtaken Nokia and became a top smartphone platform maker in the world.

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