Fring has just updated their app to allow iPhone 4 users to chat with Android and Nokia/Symbian S60 users with the appropriate camera hardware. So while FaceTime remains easier and slicker if you’re both on iPhone 4 on Wi-Fi, if you want to get some cross-platform chat on, this is your go-to option.

To test out the new Fring, Phil Nickinson from Android Central and I fired it up, Phil on his HTC Evo 4G and me on my iPhone 4. Hey, if Jobs and Schmidt can take coffee, I can talk to Phil, okay?

The quality wasn’t bad considering he’s in Florida on Sprint and I’m in Montreal on Wi-Fi. I did have a problem with the speaker volume, however. I couldn’t get any real speaker phone action going on, which meant I couldn’t hear Phil unless I put the iPhone to my ear — thereby destroying the whole point of a video call.

That might have been me not knowing which button to tap or setting to swipe, but we’re looking for an answer and will update when we get on. Apple made FaceTime’s underlying protocols open, so maybe we’ll see a future update employing those as well?

If you want to see Phil’s side of the call, head on over to AC.

So now that we live in a world where iPhone’s and Androids can talk together, who’s going to give it a try?

[iTunes link]

Fring 2-way video calling lets iPhone 4 chat with Android, Nokia is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Bluetooth now has an official specification for version 4.0, currently scheduled for release at the end of the year. Of course Bluetooth 3.0 was released in April 2009 and it hasn’t really caught on yet, especially when you consider most mobile devices — including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, still use Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.

This new 4.0 spec does promise reduced power consumption so maybe Apple (and others) decided to skip the previous generation and upgrade straight to this one? We’ll find out next year…

[Engadget]

Bluetooth 4.0 gets spec’d, 3.0 still not implemented is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

I took the maximo IP-HS5 iMetal isolation headset with me to WWDC 2010 this year, figuring it was a great way to test them out on both my iPhone and iPad. And it was. Due to “enhanced security” I had to be at the airport hours early, which meant hurrying up and waiting most of that time. Luckily I had a few podcasts and audio books on my iPhone so I queued those up to tied me over.

Now, low-bit rate talking isn’t the best indicator of sound quality, but I have found many headsets over the years didn’t handle just such low-quality talking very well. Some were never loud enough, many were never clear enough. The maximo ip-hs5 on the other hand did a good job. (In a fair bit of turn-around, I even used them to record both iPhone live! and iPad live! from on location in the hotel).

Sitting behind me on the plane were a pair of pre-schoolers who’s parents biological creators lacked the custodial fortitude to ask them to stop kicking the chairs of those of us in front of them or screaming at the top of their lungs. So, I was also able to test out the iMetal’s isolation and while I don’t think anything under full blown cans could have drowned out the poor, boundary-deprived kids behind me, they did a great job of muting the overall ruckus.

I’ve mentioned before that my grappling-mangled ears have a hard time keeping buds in, and no size ever seems to stay in place long. However, the iMetal have a snap-on lanyard so if — or when — they fall out, they stay around your neck and you don’t end up dragging them embarrassingly behind you.

As to music, I listened to everything from instrumental soundtracks to rap to pop to alternative while I did my writing and the sound quality was great given the budget price of this headset. There was good base and surprising subtlety and while I’m far from a golden ears they did sound a tad better to me than Apple’s in ear headset.

Speaking of which, instead of white plastic the iMetal have black cord, so it’s a very different look and feel. I like both.

Maximo also provides a handy carrying case, keeping the iMetal safe and protected from pocket to packing. Nice.

So if you’re looking to up your in-ear iPhone or iPad game without breaking your bank account (remember, high end models can run several hundred bucks), maximo IP-HS5 iMetal isolation headset are worth checking out.

maximo IP-HS5 iMetal isolation headset for iPhone and iPad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Twilight/Eclipse star Ashley Greene decided to take her purple-cased iPhone out for a walk. Looks like she’s still rocking an iPhone 3GS but given the way she’s holding it… well, that might be for the best right now. Still, we hope to see her rocking the iPhone 4 next time, okay Ms. Greene?

For those not familiar, Eclipse is the third movie in a series based on the popular Twilight Saga books about the ill-fated love affair between humans, vampires, and ware-wolves. Leanna tried to fill me in — apparently it’s like smartphone editors, iPhone, Android, and webOS, or some such — but I’m too old and unhip it seems.

(Back in my day vampires didn’t sparkle in the sun — they sizzled and screamed and burst into fiery pyres of evil bits. So while I can’t say I don’t hope Anne Rice and Joss Whedon aren’t eating Twilight’s author over a nice pint of B-neg as I type this, I can appreciate a member of the cast using TiPb’s signature device.)

One more shot, after the break.

See your favorite actor, actress, singer, or sport celebrity using an iPhone or iPad? Send them our way and we’ll include them in our next weekly roundup.

[Thanks for the pics, DL!]

Twilight star Ashley Greene takes her iPhone for a walk is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

The TiPb forums are naturally a great place to talk, commiserate, celebrate, get help, and offer advice to your fellow iPhone users. In order to create a new thread of your own or reply to any of the existing threads, you must be a registered member. Becoming a member is easy and free so if you haven't already head on over and register now!

• The iPhone 4’s proximity sensor seems to be causing some of you grief, how many of you are actually being effected by this issue?

• iOS 4 has now been out for a weeks and in that time a lot of us have noticed some bugs that will hopefully be corrected in the next software update. To see the issues others have had or maybe you’ve spotted a unique issue stop by this thread: iOS 4 Issues and Bugs.

• The list of apps updated for iOS 4 continues to grow! To see the full list or add others that have been missed be sure to visit the following thread: Official TiPb apps updated to iOS 4.

• Want to talk iPod, iPhone, and iPad accessories? This is the place to do it: iPhone, iPad, iPod touch Accessories

See you in the forums!

iPhone 4 proximity sensor issues, iOS 4 bugs, iOS 4 apps, Accessories – From the Forums is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Good news for those of you who were not lucky enough to land a new iPhone 4 on the June 24th launch date, according to reports in our forums Apple is shipping the second batch as you are reading this.

Apple originally promised the second batch would arrive on July 15th but it seems some lucky folks are getting their new devices a bit earlier. Has your shipping status changed yet?

Sound off in the comments below!

[TiPb forums]

Apple currently shipping backordered iPhone 4s is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

No sooner does speculation start about the iPod touch G4 than parts are spotted sporting a suspiciously front-facing camera-like hole.

Been wanting in on the FaceTime action but haven’t pulled the trigger on an iPhone 4? September/October may bring you your second iOS option.

[9to5Mac]

Speaking of iPod touch G4 part leaks: Front facing camera? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Given that Apple has released a new iPod touch every fall, every year, since the iPhone launched in 2007 it’s not hard to speculate that yes, indeed, they just might announced the 4th generation iPod touch this year at their annual iTunes/iPod Special Music Event.

Likewise, iPod touch G4 will get it’s traditional iPhone-matching hardware update. This year that could include a Retina Display, Apple A4 chipset, 802.11n Wi-Fi, gyroscope, and maybe even that long awaited camera — including a front-facing one to help make up those 10 million FaceTime devices Steve Jobs said Apple would ship this year.

Previous years the iPod touch update has even exceeded iPhone in some ways, with slightly faster clock speed on the chip and double the NAND Flash storage (since there’s extra space thanks to the missing GSM/UMTS radios). iPod touch is already at 64GB. Depending on pricing and availability of the newer, double density chips, we could even see 128GB. (So long, iPod classic?)

With iPhone 4 being as thin as it is, and iPod touch typically being thinner still, the design is something I’m looking forward to this year as well.

And it will probably come with iOS 4.1.

As attention inevitably turns to “what’s next”, we’ll get the usually bunch of retailer and analyst predictions, component and accessory leaks, and maybe an early peek at the device itself. We’ll cover the most interesting, most substantial items as they come up but always remember — it ain’t real until Steve Jobs holds it up on stage.

Until then, let us know what you want in the 2010 iPod touch G4.

Yes, there will be a new iPod touch this year… is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Google’s YouTube has deployed a significant update to their mobile site, m.youtube.com. As is typical with Google’s web apps, it works well and looks even better. Here’s their hit list:

It’s really fast. The user interface incorporates larger, more touch-friendly elements, making it easier to access videos on the go. It incorporates the features and functionality you've come to expect from the .com site, like search query suggestions, the options to create playlists, the ability to designate "favorite," "like" or "unlike" videos directly from your device. As we make improvements to Youtube.com, you'll see them quickly follow on our mobile site, unlike native apps which are not updated as frequently.

Sure, iPhone has a built-in YouTube app but it gets its updates only a few times a year when iOS gets updated. Theoretically, m.youtube.com will get updates any time YouTube feels like it, hopefully as fast as the main YouTube site. And hey, who doesn’t like options?

Video after the break.

YouTube significantly updates mobile site for iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

While iPhone 4 has stolen the spotlight these days, iPhone 3GS is still equipped with a great camera, especially for a phone. However, we never imagined a photographer using the iPhone 3GS during a professional photo shoot. Lee Morris, a professional fashion photographer and writer for f stoppers, has done just that!

The idea behind the shoot was to prove to his readers that a professional camera is not required to get professional photos. He assembled a team of professionals including professional model, Olivia Price, hair and makeup artists, a retoucher, and videographer, all of whom volunteered their time for the project. Morris also used his a studio and lighting equipment.

Morris also admits to using photoshop in post production. He claims that Photoshop is a “necessary tool” for his line of work. “I am in the business of making money and my clients do not care if I got it perfect in the camera or made it perfect in post, they simply want a perfect image.”

Morris made sure to stress that the point of this shoot was to show that a photographer should not be limited by his camera; in fact, “the most expensive camera in the world is capable of taking bad pictures.” He does a great job proving his point, but your average low budget photographer will not be able get the same results without the thousands of dollars of studio equipment that Morris used. He did mention that he may do a similar shoot in the future using only natural light. I would find that much more interesting and believe it would make a bigger impact. I also hope he uses an iPhone 4 next time!

Nevertheless, the images Morris produced are stunning and even more impressive because they were taken with an iPhone 3GS. You can see the entire set of high res photos on Flickr.

Follow us after the break to see a video of the shoot!

[f stoppers via 9To5Mac]

Professional fashion shoot with iPhone 3GS is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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