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    Entries in iPhone (41)

    Monday
    Jul192010

    The Apple-AT&T relationship has been a rocky one

    iphone_att.jpeg

    New reports have detailed that the relationship between Apple and AT&T has been tense, and reveals that Steve Jobs did consider dropping AT&T numerous times and even leaving for Verizon as far back as 2007, when the iPhone was first introduced.

    This tense relationship is described in detail in this month's issue of Wired magazine, although it appears that the article is not up online yet. However, it has been summarized on Monday by Jason D. O'Grady of ZDNet.

    The entire exclusive partner arrangement is similar to that of a 'loveless celebrity marriage,' as AppleInsider was kind enough to put it. It's one of those marriages that go wrong very quickly right after the honeymoon.

    It seems that Apple was unwilling to restrict the Internet capabilities of their device, while AT&T has been struggling with the overwhelming pressure placed on their networks with this single brand of device.

    According to an annonymous source in the magazine article, it seems that Jobs actually did consider breaking ties with AT&T at least a half-dozen times.

    There was even a point in 2007 where the Apple engineers reportedly visited the headquarters of Qualcomm in order to consider the prospects of building an entirely new CDMA iPhone for Verizon. However, this proved to be too costly and complicated, since an entirely new model of iPhone would have to be made to fit new chips in.

    Another interesting fact from the article is that Qualcomm had already started working on a chip that would allow the iPhone to work on both AT&T and Verizon networks. If recent rumors are to mean anything, there may be a sliver of hope for a CDMA iPhone for Verizon in January 2011 (but no guarantees, of course).

    Another important point in the spat between these two companies is the issue of tethering: Apple wanted it to be included in standard data plan charges (hence why every other carrier worldwide offered tethering before AT&T), while AT&T wanted to charge users extra for the ability to tether. AT&T won that battle, since tethering the iPhone will cost users an additional $20 a month for USB or Bluetooth tethering.

    The iPhone also uses a radio from Infineon, which is a company that has previously been mostly used in Europe, where the cellular towers are much more common than North America. This caused AT&T to feel that this chip would lead to inferior reception and asked Apple to resolve the issues "together." Apple's response to this is said to be: "No, you resolve them. They're not our problem. They're your problem."

    Even small things were argued over between the two corporations. An AT&T representative reportedly told one of Job's deputies that Jobs should wear a suit to meet with the AT&T Board of Directors. The answer to AT&T? "We're Apple. We don't wear suits. We don't even own suits."

    What other things could the two have fought over? When is the breaking point? With light being shined on these incidents, the possibility of a Verizon iPhone may even be more likely...

    Source: AppleInsider

    Thursday
    Jul152010

    iOS 4.0.1 update out

    iOS 4.0.jpeg

    If you plug in your iPhone, you'll probably get prompted by iTunes that there's an update out.

    No, it's not iOS 4.1, but rather the minor iOS 4.0.1 update. This update only has one specific promise - the improvement of the formula that is used which determins how many bars of signal strength to display.

    If you really want this very minor update, go ahead and plug in your phones now. It affects iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4 models.

    I will put this off as long as I can because I feel it's not something I particularly care about wasting my time with currently.

    Wednesday
    Jul142010

    Apple releases iOS 4.1 beta and 4.1 SDK to developers 

    165323-ios_4_1_beta_1.jpeg

    Apple has released the first beta of iOS 4.1 to developers today, as well as the associated software kit (SDK).

    www.macrumors.jpeg

    As of now, there is little revealed about changes, although @besweeet on Twitter has revealed that it "supposedly brings back Game Center and brings a numeric keypad" and also "makes the smaller signal bars easier to see, though it doesn't fix the signal issue."

    This does not look like the update that Apple was talking about, which would fix the algorithm for calculating signal strength.

    Stay tuned for more updates.

    via MacRumors

    Wednesday
    Jul072010

    New YouTube Mobile HTML5 Update for iPhone/Android

    iPhone_YouTube_redesign_large.jpeg

    YouTube received a big update today for all mobile users - the mobile website now plays video in HTML5 on iPhone and Android devices.

    The entire interface has received a makeover that makes it easier to interact with the site using a touch screen device. It also allows users to flag, share, rate, save, and even comment on videos on one single page.

    A major bonus is the addition to be able to play high quality (HQ) content on YouTube, which is absent from the iPhone's own native YouTube application. This allows users to play better quality videos while on EDGE data than 3G. Videos will load much faster through the new mobile site because of Apple's own encoding process for videos that are playing through the native app. And yes, this mobile site will also work with the iPad - bigger is better, right?

    The redesigned mobile site can be found at m.youtube.com. Check out the video below that demonstrates the new site.

    via MacLife
    Tuesday
    Jun292010

    Verizon poised to get the iPhone in January?

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    The rumor that just won't die - it's back, and bigger than ever.

    Bloomberg reported Tuesday that two anonymous sources are claiming that Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. mobile-phone company, will begin to sell Apple Inc's iPhone as soon as next year. This will end AT&T's iPhone exclusivity in the U.S.

    Please note that these are anonymous sources, because the information is not supposed to be public. There has been no comment from either Apple or Verizon.

    This rumor has been circulating since the original iPhone, which Verizon was originally offered to be the exclusive carrier but they had turned it down, leaving Apple to go to AT&T. And the rest is history.

    Let's face it - the main thing that is holding Apple back is AT&T. If this exclusivity was to end, and the iPhone were to go to Verizon, it would be a boost to Apple's sales as well as Verizon, as well to all those people that have been waiting 4 years now for a Verizon iPhone.

    And this time, it actually makes sense. Why?

    AT&T and Apple decide to bump the upgrade eligibility for all iPhone owners that had an upgrade due anytime in 2010 - up to 6 months early, and have locked all of these users in for another 2 years. AT&T recently raised the ETF for smartphone users from $175 to $325.

    If this rumor is true, it would actually be good news for everyone - Apple will get more sales, Verizon customers will be happy, Verizon will get more customers, AT&T's data load could be alleviated, and more choice for everyone that wants an iPhone. What could go wrong?

    We'll have to wait until January to see if anything really happens.

    via Bloomberg