Is your proximity sensor malfunctioning under iOS 4, leading your cheek to hang up on calls or otherwise frustrate your ability to have a conversation? iPhone’s proximity sensor is supposed to detect when the iPhone is moved up and close to your face so it can dim the screen and turn off multitouch, preventing just those types of problems. With iOS 4, for some users, it seems to randomly stop working, making multitouch live again, and that’s when the problems start.

Some folks who have been grappling with this issue say a clean restore fixed it. That means re-installing iOS 4 and setting up as a new iPhone — not from backup. It can be an incredible pain in the apps, costing you time to re-enter settings and losing your place in offline games, but if face dialing and other proximity sensor issues are driving you even crazier than a re-install would, it’s something to consider. Yes, even on a brand new iPhone 4. Seriously.

Sure, a magical iOS 4.0.1 update could show up any time to fix that antenna reception problem and cure proximity issues in one fell swoop… but it might not either. If the work involved in a clean install has you panicked, wait as long as your sanity allows and then get it over with as quickly and cleanly as you can. (Or explore Bluetooth and keep your phone in your pocket).

If you’re experiencing the proximity problem, let us know. If you’ve done the clean install, let us know if that fixed it.

Proximity sensor woes under iOS 4? There’s a clean install for that is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Incipio dermaSHOT case for iPad is high-density silicone protection in black, pink, green, or blue. As a bonus, it’s designed to protect your precious iPad without collecting excess and annoying lint.

It’s not the thinnest skin in the store but the thickness does provide extra protection against those little bumps and scrapes that would otherwise impact the device. (Except for the area directly over the Apple logo on the back — that’s left thin and translucent of course…)

The incipio dermaSHOT case for iPad includes a screen protector and is available now from the TiPb iPad accessory store.

Pros

• Nice feel
• Good protection for a skin
• Includes screen protector

Cons

• Edge flashing not well trimmed

TiPb review rating

Incipio dermaSHOT case for iPad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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We've been keeping our eye out as more iOS 4 app updates keep hitting the App Store filled with multitasking, state saving, Retina Display-ing goodness.

Hit the jump to see some of the latest we've found!

BeeJiveIM with Push 4.0

One of the best IM clients on iPhone gets better with:

• iOS 4.0 compatibility. Background support for iOS 4.0 devices.
• iPhone 4 compatibility. Enhanced image resolution for Retina Display.

[iTunes link - $9.99]

iHound 3.0

We spoke with iHound back at Macworld and now their already solid location tracking service has been beefed up:

If your device supports multi-tasking, then it checks in with the iHound server every 10 minutes, and the following new features become available for you in your Security Dashboard at www.ihoundsoftware.com:

• PowerSave Tracking: Your device determines its location, transmits to the server, then shuts down until the next check-in.

• Full On Tracking: Your device’s GPS will run continually as iHound transmits to the server every 30 seconds.

• Siren: Plays a siren alarm on your device. It will not quit until you shut it off from the web site.

[$3.99 - iTunes link]

Line2 2.4

No Google Voice app on iPhone? No problem, Line2 offers many of the same services, some extras for business, and now background support so you can use it like a real phone replacement. (Requires Line2 service).

• Receive calls while Line2 is in the background
• Continue talking on a call even when you switch away to another app

[Free - iTunes link]

Omnifocus 1.7

They had us at the purple brush-metal icon.

• In preparation for the new high-resolution display on iPhone 4 we’ve refreshed all of the artwork in OmniFocus. We hope you like the new look!
• OmniFocus now uses local notifications to present due alerts when running on iOS 4 or later, so you can receive alerts for due tasks even if you’re not syncing with a server. (Synced calendar alerts are still available for devices which are running earlier versions of the operating system.)
• OmniFocus is now a multitasking-aware application, allowing it to be quickly suspended and resumed on iOS 4.
• OmniFocus can complete some operations in the background on iOS 4, such as optimizing its database.
• The Completed perspective now includes items from completed projects, not just active projects.
• Fixed a bug which prevented audio from recording in OmniFocus 1.6.5.
• Fixed a crash when tapping “Save” while audio recording was still in progress.

[$19.99 - iTunes link]

PCalc 2.1

If it’s beyond 2 + 3 = apple, it’s beyond me but smart mathamagicians like Leanna tell me numbers are good and PCalc has consistently been one of the best. Now it’s better. And sharper.

• Added support for iOS 4.0 and fast app switching.
• Added support for the Retina display on the iPhone 4.

[$9.99 - iTunes link]

That's what we've found so far, but if you find any you think deserve a post-up let us know in the comments or send us a tip!

iOS 4 updated: BeeJiveIM, iHound, Line2, Omnifocus, PCalc is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

iRealSMS 3.0 for iPhone is a jailbreak utility that you can use in place of the default messaging app.  Up until this point, I had always used QuickReply for SMS.  A several of you TiPb’ers recommended I look at iRealSMS 3.0 so I did. And I’m impressed.  iRealSMS 3.0 exceeds the features of QuickReply for SMS by a landslide.

When you launch the app, you’re greeted with a screen that shows 3 tabs along the bottom; folders, conversations, and settings.  Everything you need is in one easy to access place.  I like that aspect a lot, as most apps put their user configurations in settings, which just means you have to go one more place to make changes.  I wish more developers would start including settings within their applications.

One thing I didn’t like about QuickReply was if you closed out of a text, you still had to exit out of what you were doing in order to respond.  This isn’t the case with iRealSMS 3.0, you simply set a shortcut in your settings to be able to access Quick Send.  I love this feature as I’m really forgetful.  I will be playing a game or reading news feeds and think of 2 other things I needed to tell someone and have to close out of my current task in order to do it.  With iRealSMS, this is no longer a problem for me.

You also have the option of a blacklist feature.  You can also choose to have all texts sent by a blacklisted number automatically deleted.  Another feature that most texting apps lack is delivery notification.  Very handy feature.  Some users reported it didn’t work but I tested it with a friend and it seemed to work okay with me.

Emoji also show up in an easy to access drop down menu or you can choose to have any emoticons you type out automatically turned into Emoji.  I remember last summer Leanna introduced me to the world of Emoji via the app store, and I haven’t been able to go a day without them since (thanks Leanna!).

The price tag for iRealSMS 3.0 is a bit steep compared to that of its counterparts, but for the feature set you get, the $9.99 price tag may be well justified.  There’s a free trial as well, so you can always try it out and see if it seems like a good value to you, and purchase after giving it a test run.

iRealSMS also has an iRealNetwork, as they call it, which will allow you to buy texting credits if you don’t wish to have a texting package.  The current rate is 8 EURO cents per text (of course you’ll have to convert that to your own currency).  In almost every case, that’ll average out to a heck of a lot cheaper than standard texting plans cost for those of you who are looking to save some cash or cut out texting charges.

If you picked up iRealSMS 3.0 or have another jailbreak text supplement you use, let us know what you think in the comments!

Pros

• Folders
• Blacklist
• Snappy response times
• Very configurable
• QuickSend option
• Credit System for those who don’t have a texting package
• In-App Settings
• Voice Notification if you choose to enable

Cons

• Price is a bit steep
• Delivery Notification not very reliable

iRealSMS 3.0 for iPhone Jailbreak – app review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

TiPb readers will remember Element Case for their original Liquid case for iPhone and the Joule stand for iPad, and you just had to know they wouldn’t sit out something as sexy as iPhone 4, right? Enter Vapor:

Available in a wide array of custom color options and custom features, the Vapor consists of a solid, CNCd aluminum frame made from aircraft grade metals lined with a new, shock-absorbent liner material to protect and stylize.

And yes, it’ll also insulate the iPhone 4 antenna band to prevent any attenuation-related issues.

We’ll be getting our geeky little hands on some soon, and thanks to their usual awesomeness, doing a give away just for you. In the meantime, in joy the pics!

UPDATE; Element Case just sent us one more pic, an exclusive look at the cutouts. Check it out below.

[Element Case]

Element Case shows off Vapor for iPhone 4 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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How does a law enforcement officer use his iPhone to get the job done and what iPhone apps help get him through his day? TiPb's iPhone at work contest aims to bring you just such slices of the iPhone life. Here's trooperoutlaw’s answer and as a small token of thanks we're sending him a $20 iTunes gift certificate. If you want to see your name up on the TiPb home page and get a gift certificate all your own, head on over to the TiPb iPhone Forum and share your story now!

I am in law enforcement and I use my iPhone everyday for work.

I use the iPhone’s email app for my agency’s email. It works great and helps me stay up to date on my agency email when accessing a computer isn’t possible.

Evernote is great for courtroom testimony. I use it to quickly access case notes I have saved, as well as accessing case law I have saved into my Evernote. It is also great for taking a snapshot of a subpoena or business card and having it searchable after you sync. Other than email and calendar, Evernote is my most used app.

Spanish for Police app is amazing and has proven to be beneficial to me in my job. When talking to a spanish speaking people, it is almost impossible to communicate without this app. (for me at least).

I use iPhone’s calendar app for all my scheduling. I think it is perfect for my uses. It does everything I want it to as well as keeping in sync with my Macbook Pro. I mostly use it to keep track of my appointments and court dates.

iOwn is a great inventory app that is helpful. I use it to keep up with items and serial #’s of both personal and agency owned equipment. Unfortunately, it has been pulled from the app store due to some type of trademark infringement from what I can tell.

Errands is a great app for keeping up with certain tasks that need to be done. I use it to keep track of certain citations I want to keep track of and see the disposition after adjudication. I like it because it puts the little number icon on the app so it is easy to see how may tasks that are left to complete.

The iPhone is a very useful tool in law enforcement. However, not many of my fellow officers use them (at least in my area). A lot of the officers are carrying more rugged type phones.

Do you also work in law enforcement? If so, what apps do you use to while on the job?

iPhone at Work: Law Enforcement is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The minute Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone 4 front-facing camera you knew it was coming, right? No, not FaceTime, a mirror app that would use said camera to let you check yourself out in full VGA glory.

I’m guessing there’ll be a bunch of these soon enough, but when David Barnard of App Cubby and Layton Duncan of Polar Bear Farm come together to do one, and base it on their awesome KaleidoVid code base, you just know it’s going to be one bad @$$ mirror app.

Full Retina Display support, sharing to Twitter and Facebook, and if your territory or region supports iAds, you might even get some Toy Story or Nissan interactivity and emotional engagement thrown in to boot.

Hockenberry’s Safety Light app might just have some competition for best category redemption to date…

[Mirror FREE for iPhone 4 on iTunes, App Cubby, Polar Bear Farm]

Mirror FREE for iPhone 4 now in App Store is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

BGR brings a purported conversation between “Tom” and Apple CEO Steve Jobs about the ongoing iPhone 4 antenna band reception problem. You can check out the full convo via the link below; here are some highlights:

TOM: You are going to kill your brand over one product. Apple is coming off arrogant and rude. If there is no fix just tell people so they can return their phones. We have work to do. I have bought just about every apple product made in the last 20 years and this is the 1st time I am ashamed to be a MAC fan. This is just sickening,

JOBS: No, you are getting all worked up over a few days of rumors. Calm down.

TOM: I just had dinner with 3 people who had iPhone 4s we all cant make calls without dropping. There is no rumors it is reality.

JOBS: You are most likely in an area with very low signal strength.

TOM: I hope this this is not really you. Are we on a different MHz? I have yet to see an iPhone [4] work in Richmond when you hold it in your hand. It is not "isolated". I was a big fan. But I am done.

JOBS: You may be working from bad data. Not your fault. Stay tuned. We are working on it. Sent from my iPhone

JOBS: Retire, relax, enjoy your family. It is just a phone. Not worth it.

As always, we have no way of knowing if the email exchange is genuine. Jobs has confirmed some conversations in the past, and discussed that he does respond to emails on occasion but it’s impossible to tell if any individual email or conversation is genuine.

Thats said, as phenomenal as Apple is at product marketing they’ve historically been exactly the opposite in dealing with product problems (MobileMe being the classic example). Obviously their legal department is going to be all over them to be as non-commital and non-communicative as possible, but in absence of solid, real information rumor always runs rampant.

It could very well be a software issue, Apple might be working on an iOS 4.0.1 update to fix it for those users experiencing it. Time will tell. But hopefully Apple decides to get out ahead of this one and soon.

[BGR]

Steve Jobs converses about iPhone 4 reception problems? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Not all app in Apple’s growing “awesome iOS 4 apps” list are “awesome” — at least not in their implementation of iOS 4 or for iPhone 4.

We touched on this already in our iPhone 4 review — in iOS 4, Apple has set up several types of behavior that, when taken together, create the multitasking experience for the user. What the user sees is the fast app switcher that launches when you double click the home button, and the carousel animation that sends one app to the “background” and another to the “foreground”.

For this to work in a user-friendly way, however, developers need to implement something called “saved state”, so a snapshot of the app’s current position is stored in memory, and when you return to it, restored to exactly that position in the app. This is supposed to eliminate what used to happen with 3rd party apps in previous versions of iOS — when you left an App Store app and came back to it later, it relaunched from the beginning. This was especially frustrating, for example, if you were playing a game, got interrupted by a phone call, and then went back to your game only to have to start over.

Ideally it shouldn’t happen any more on iOS 4 compatible apps. But it is. What some developers are presenting as updates, and Apple is listing as iOS 4 compatible apps, aren’t implementing saved state.

While I’m not certain, it appears the baseline for iOS 4 compatibility is simply that the app isn’t supposed to crash when launched in iOS 4.

And that’s not enough.

Users need a consistent experience. iOS 4 supports multitasking. They download an “iOS 4 compatible app”, use the fast app switcher to leave and come back, only to have the app re-launch and they think multitasking doesn’t work or iOS 4 doesn’t do it.

I watched, rather incredulously, that very thing happen on a TV review of iOS 4 a week ago. First I though the host should have (and probably did) know better. Then I realized the reviewer didn’t matter — users would probably experience the same thing and could justifiably come to the same conclusion.

Likewise, iPhone 4 adds Retina Display support to the top of the update list. Pushing out an iOS 4 update without an x2 icon at the very least is strange. (Pushing one out a first party app the day of iPhone 4 pre-orders without an x2 icon is bewildering — looking at you Apple Store).

No doubt there’s work involved and time required. I’m not a developer so I can’t speak to how hard it is to implement saved state; I am a designer and I have some idea what’s involved in making x2 artwork, but in both cases it obviously requires effort.

Some developers are clearly putting in that effort, however, and providing a wonderful iOS 4 multitasking and iPhone 4 Retina Display and even gyroscope implementations. Predictably they’re the usual suspects like Real Racing and Twitterrific, and other apps where the developers clearly love iOS and really want to provide the best user experience possible.

Why isn’t everyone?

(That’s a serious question, if you’re a developer and I’ve got it wrong, set me straight in comments or via email. If you’re Apple, please consider not listing something as iOS 4 compatible or “awesome” unless it implements the awesomeness that is iOS 4.)

Why not all iOS 4 compatible app are “awesome” is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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iPhone 4 vs iPad vs iPhone 3GS vs Palm Pre Plus vs Nexus One gallery

You want iPhone 4 pictures? You can’t handle iPhone 4 pictures! Okay, over-dramatic much. How about iPhone 4 vs. every other gadget we can find?

We’re starting with Dieter’s iPhone vs iPad, iPhone 3GS, Palm Pre Plus, and Nexus One and we’ll be adding more Android, some BlackBerry and everything else we can get our geeky little hands on.

If there’s any device you want in particular, let us know in comments and we’ll add it to the list.

Full mega gallery, after the break!

iPhone 4 vs everything – mega gallery is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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