next iphone – Gadget Teaser

AT&T blocks employee vacation days in June

Jeff Morgan — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:22:49 +0000

This news came out a few days back but without much substance I didn’t want to get overly excited. Now that the iPhone 4G has leaked, though, it seems appropriate to share that AT&T has blocked employee vacation requests for the month of June. You can bet that’s for the iPhone 4G release.

Historically speaking, AT&T has only ever blocked vacation days to support the extra traffic associated with an iPhone launch. There is really no other reason (c’mon, who’s actually excited about AT&T as a carrier). Come mid-June you can bet I’ll be seriously considering selling my current 3GS to pick up the 4G. Then again, AT&T hasn’t released those ridiculous rules for upgrading to the newest iPhone model so who knows, I just might get screwed. Wouldn’t be the first time, though, right?

Source: BGR

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Apple’s iPhone 4G leaked

Jeff Morgan — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:41:38 +0000

It’s amazing how one little mistake can seemingly shake up the entire world. Gray Powell, a software engineer at Apple, was out at a bar, testing what looked on the surface like any other iPhone 3GS. Even up close it was tough to tell that the shape of the 3GS was actually a case disguising a much more stylish, sleeker version of the iPhone – the iPhone 4G (this is not the official name, not yet anyway). Unfortunately, Powell left the iPhone behind when he left the bar, and because people are the way they are, someone took it home, realized he was holding the next generation of the world’s favorite smartphone, and likely sold the right to return the device to Apple to Gizmodo, which was kind enough to post pictures and leak what specs it could prior to the device’s eventual voyage home.

Enough of the story, though, and on with the phone. The new iPhone looks great. I was always a little underwhelmed by the shape and design of the previous iPhone models, including the 3GS. Something about them seems too forward thinking – they’re almost so futuristic they look retro. This new phone hits my industrial nerve and hits it hard. It’s slightly thinner than the current iPhone and lays flat instead of the current curved back. There’s a new camera on the back with a bigger lens and a flash, and the volume button is now two small, round buttons on the side. The front of the phone sports a front-facing video camera for video chat and the top has what looks to be a secondary microphone for noise cancellation. All said and done, this is what I wish the iPhone looked like now, and I’m going to struggle not to buy one when it launches.

There is sadly very little information about the OS. Shortly after the phone was reported missing, Apple remotely disabled the device via the MobileMe function, and because device firmware is model-specific, there was no way to restore the bricked handset. Gizmodo did peel the phone apart to reveal Apple stamped internals, which suggests we’re pretty close to launch, and a slightly larger capacity battery. The screen also appears to be slightly smaller but perhaps runs at a higher resolution than the current 3GS.

You can find full exclusive photo galleries at Gizmodo.

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Contract free iPhones almost guarantee a new model this summer

Jeff Morgan — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:32:40 +0000

The internet just about blew up the other day when word dropped that Apple would be selling contract-free iPhones at unsubsidized prices. There were rumors that the handsets would be unlocked as well, but that was just a rumor. If you’ll remember, this happened last year, just before the launch of the iPhone 3GS. The idea is to get rid of as much inventory as possible. It’s not easy to sell those expensive handsets, but some of the folks that can send of them overseas or feel like running them on T-Mobile will pick them up.

The news virtually guarantees a new iPhone model in the coming summer. What other reason would Apple have for selling unsubsidized handsets? The smart money says there will be a fire sale on subsidized 3GS models, just like there was on the 3G. Would you pay $99 for a 3GS on AT&T? Yeah, I thought you would.

You can check out the official leaked document at Gizmodo.

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New iPhone model shows up in SF

Jeff Morgan — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:38:42 +0000

The iPhone model 3,1 has peeked its head above ground for a second time this weekend. You may recall the first appearance was in OS 3.0 beta firmware files back around June. Now the company responsible for iBART, a Bay Area Rapid Transit app, has found the model number showing up under access lists for the application. Someone in San Francisco has the new iPhone. DUN DUN DUN!

It’s not all that surprising. The more iPhones Apple makes, the more money it makes. It’s a simple business model for Cupertino. As for what this model will have, I don’t really know. The front-facing camera? Maybe, but my guess would be more speed, more wireless band support (new carriers) and maybe even a better camera.

As for timing, again, it’s all guesses. iPhone model 2,1 first showed in October 2008 and went on to become the 3GS eight months later. The first iPhone launched in June 2007, so it would be odd to see model 3,1 available within the same timetable as the 3GS, around February 2010. At the very least, I would guess AT&T’s exclusivity contract has a duration divisible by six.

Source: MacRumors

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