Category: Apple (Page 50 of 65)

      Trouble in 3GS Land: the Roundup

      June 28, 2009 /

      iPhone activations unavailable.It’s been more than a week now since the new iPhone launched and we’ve heard a couple reports of trouble with the new hardware. For a launch, though, the phone seems fairly bug free, along with the Palm Pre and even Nokia’s N97. Here’s what we’ve heard:

      Activation
      Enough people experienced extended activation times (as long as 96 hours) to warrant a response from Apple. The 3GS manufacturer is sending out $30 iTunes gift cards to say I’m sorry to affected customers, giving up $30 of apps to tend to their understandable frustration.

      TetheringWhile tethering is still unsupported by AT&T it is possible to enable the feature via a quick hack. Some users have seen errors reminding them that the feature is unsupported. Uninstalling and reinstalling the hack seems to fix this problem.

      GSM NoiseBoy Genius Report was the first to put out the GSM Noise…report. Apparently some sounds on the iPhone trigger a high-frequency “whistle,” typical to GSM phones running near magnets (hello, compass/speaker).

      White Burns PinkThe latest trouble comes from french site nowhereelse.fr, where a tipster sent pics of his white 3GS that had apparently been “burned” when it got to hot while running GPS on a 3G connection. The burn looks like a light pink ring around the perimeter of the phone. This is the first and only report we’ve seen of this problem.

      Had any trouble with your phone? Leave us the info in the comments.

      Apple, iPhone

      Sprint Takes Their First Shot

      June 27, 2009 /

      Sprint's Pre vs. iPhone ad.Remember how Palm and Sprint weren’t going to position the Pre against the iPhone? Because the Pre isn’t meant to run against the iPhone. Because it was was designed for its own subset of consumers, not iPhone malcontents. Because, because, because.

      The world didn’t pay much attention to that plan, though, because frankly, the devices are similar enough for comparison and in the world of cellphones, it’s usually an either/or decision. Either I get an iPhone or I get a Pre. You get the idea.

      Sprint has finally caved, taking their first shot straight at Apple’s face. They posted the ad at right on their Facebook page this week, which features the Pre leaning against a chewed-to-the-core Apple. As if they they thought the ad was a little too subtle, it also includes text like, “The Palm Pre does things the iPhone can’t. Run multiple applications at the same time with real-time updates and even save $1200 over two years.”

      The ad does seem to be well timed, at least. Original iPhone contracts should be up right around now, and who knows, maybe the Pre will nab a few of those folks away from Apple, but I’m pretty unimpressed with their sales pitch. Run multiple applications? Like…all 30 of them at once? Pitching your multitasking is great if you have some sort of reasonable app selection, but 30? Why not remind people that you’ve got a full keyboard, a flash on the camera, a slick new operating system? Granted, the first two are obvious, but they’re benefits the customer will see immediately, not in six months when you finally release your SDK.

      Apple, iPhone, Mobile

      Update: No Porn in the App Store

      June 26, 2009 /

      iPhone porn?Yesterday we ran a story concerning the application “Hottest Girls,” available up until yesterday in the iPhone App Store. Prior to OS 3.0, the application showed pictures of scantily clad women and allowed users to rate those images. An update yesterday pushed topless images through the application. The app was pulled within a few hours.

      The developer posted to his website later in the day, claiming the application was “sold out” due to server load from all the fresh boobies beaming to iPhones around the world. In truth, it was Apple pulled the app for, you guessed it, explicit content.

      When Steve Jobs announced the App Store, porn was among the first mention of all things verboten. Other unapproved apps included privacy invasion and other malicious apps. “Hottest Girls” would have been the first app sanctioned by Apple with explicit content.

      As an apple rep told CNN:

      Apple will not distribute applications that contain inappropriate content, such as pornography. The developer of this application added inappropriate content directly from their server after the application had been approved and distributed, and after the developer had subsequently been asked to remove some offensive content. This was a direct violation of the terms of the iPhone Developer Program. The application is no longer available on the App Store.

      Once again we have more noise than necessary concerning porn on the infamous iPhone. Explicit content is still viewable on the device via the web browser, though I think the real issue here is whether or not Apple wishes to be complicit in skin traffic. Apparently they do not.

      Apple, Apps, iPhone

      Wireless iPhone Charger: Hemorrhoid Included

      June 24, 2009 /

      WildCharge iPhone Skin.One of the more gimmicky advantages (unless, of course, you build it into your BMW) of the Palm Pre over the iPhone is wireless charging via Palm’s Touchstone dock. Just slap your Pre on there and by magnetic magic (and a whole lot of heat) you get a fresh battery.

      WildCharge wants to give iPhone users that same functionality with their WildCharger iPhone Skin. You may remember the WildCharger from days gone by, when the Motorola RAZR was the phone to have. On phones (like the RAZR) that allow you to remove the battery, it’s kinda cool. There are no funky connections required.

      But the iPhone has a built-in battery, one that can’t be removed or replaced with third party units. In order for the WildCharger to work, you need the WildCharge iPhone Skin, a $34.99 silicone sleeve that adds one big pimple to the ass end of your sleek little phone. The full kit (skin + charge pad) will run you $79.99.

      The WildCharger isn’t a bad idea if you’ve got multiple supported devices. For me, it would only support my iPhone, and frankly I don’t mind plugging it (the iPhone) in all that much. I certainly don’t $80 mind it, and if it means a little tip hanging off the end of my phone you likely won’t see me trying one. Not even for a minute. Not even just to see how it feels.

      Apple, iPhone

      Jobs Gets “Excellent Prognosis,” No Special Treatment

      June 24, 2009 /

      Steve Jobs looking healthy.After having a liver transplant Steve Jobs is reported to have an “excellent prognosis” by the medical institute responsible for the operation. Nice to hear some good news surrounding a pancreatic cancer survivor, even if he is one with the means to pay for the very best in medical care.

      The Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute also issued a statement with the prognosis claiming Jobs received his liver because he was “the sickest patient on the waiting list at the time a donor organ became available.” This was no doubt released to allay concerns that Jobs may have seen special treatment because of status.

      Good news for Jobs means good news for Apple, whose stock dropped some 10 points when the CEO announced his leave of absence in January. There had been speculation about his health leading up to the announcement, though Jobs claimed it was a hormone imbalance until he finally had to leave.

      Despite his absence, Apple stock has continued to blow up, surging 60% this year alone. Hopefully we’ll see Jobs taunting handicapped grandmothers in his Cupertino parking lot soon.

      Apple, News

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