The iPhone Blog |
- AT&T/GSM iPhone 4: Ultimate DIY repair guide
- Monday Brief: NFC hacking on Android, Guide to Siri, Windows 8 SDK preview and more!
- Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit review
- Apple had iPhone 4-like "purple" concept design back in 2005
- Purported iPhone 5 part leaks assemble again, pose for video
- OS X Mountain Lion downloaded 3 million times in 4 days
- Deal of the Day: 30% off Seidio CONVERT Plus Combo for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4!
- Apple iPhone 5 and iPad mini event planned for September 12, iPhone 5 release date for September 21
| AT&T/GSM iPhone 4: Ultimate DIY repair guide Posted: 30 Jul 2012 10:28 AM PDT
Everything you need to know to do-it-yourself (DIY) repair your AT&T/GSM iPhone 4. Whether you're out of warranty or your iPhone 4 has suffered accidental damage, we've got you covered!If you have an AT&T/GSM iPhone 4 that's showing it's age and exhibiting some hardware issues, and you don't have the benefit of AppleCare or insurance, we can help you give it some love and get it back in working order. Whether it's time to replace that problem battery, fix that cracked screen, or get that broken Home button back in working order, iMore will help you get the longest life possible out of your iPhone 4, and walk you step by step through all the major repairs, with detailed instructions, photographs, and links to high quality parts from suppliers we trust. Not exactly sure what the issue is? Read the descriptions for each repair below and match up the symptoms. Also make sure you check back often and bookmark this page as we'll be updating and adding even more guides on a regular basis.
How to replace the battery in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
If you're iPhone 4 is going on a few years old and your battery just isn't what it was before, replacing the battery can make a huge difference and possibly prolong the life of your device another year if not longer. An iPhone 4 battery replacement is a super easy repair to perform and only takes about 10 minutes. It'll also cost you a lot less than shelling out money for a brand new phone, especially if you're out of warranty. Symptoms of a dead or dying battery can include drastically reduced battery life, random reboots, and sluggishness even after a restore. In rare instances, a completely dead battery may result in an iPhone 4 only powering on when plugged into a charging source and when unplugged, the iPhone will turn off instantly. How to replace the back casing on a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
If you've cracked the back casing on your iPhone 4 or just want to change it out for a different color, an iPhone 4 back replacement is one of the easiest repairs to perform but if you need some help along the way, check out our guide for reference. How to replace a cracked screen on a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
Whether you've cracked just the front glass on your GSM iPhone 4, the touch screen isn't responding, or the LCD looks pixelated or has display issues, this is the repair you want to perform. A front digitizer replacement should resolve any issues with lines through the screen, dead pixels or pixelation, a grey screen due to a bad drop, and obviously a shattered screen. This is one of the harder repairs to perform so proceed with caution. How to replace the Home button on a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
The iPhone 4 has been known to have Home button issues for quite a while now. No, WD-40 will not fix it. If anything, using a substance like WD-40 will cause more harm than good. The problem with the Home button almost always stems from the cable becoming worn over time from so many presses. It's flimsy and Apple should have designed it better. The only thing that will correct Home button issues is a flex cable replacement. Whether it's not responding at all anymore, you've got to push down harder than you should, or it's registering single and double taps funny, a flex cable replacement will fix the issue 99.9% of the time. How to replace the vibrator assembly in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
If your GSM iPhone 4 vibrator functionality isn't working and the switch seems okay, the actual vibrator assembly could be burnt out. Replacing the vibrator assembly is a fairly easy repair and will only require about 5 minutes of your time. It's also a heck of a lot cheaper than picking up a brand new iPhone. How to replace the speaker assembly in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
If your loud speaker isn't working in your GSM iPhone 4, you could need to replace the speaker assembly. A good way to know if this is the repair you need is if your speakerphone function doesn't work, no music will play out of the bottom speaker but will work when you've got headphones plugged in, or if the sound is distorted when on speakerphone or while playing music. How to replace the rear camera in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
If you're having image quality issues with the camera in your GSM iPhone 4, it may be time to replace it. One thing to be certain of before proceeding is that the issue is with the actual camera and not the rear housing. The plastic lens that covers your camera is part of the back panel, not the camera itself. Inspect it and make sure it isn't the plastic that is scratched and causing issues. If that is the case, you'll need to perform a back replacement instead. If there are no blemishes or scratches over the camera lens cover on the rear casing, the actual camera could be the culprit. If that's the case, follow our guide to replace it. It's a relatively easy repair and should be doable for most, even beginners. How to replace the cellular antenna in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
If you're having reception issues on your GSM iPhone 4 the culprit could be the antenna itself which is attached to the speaker housing towards the bottom of the device. Symptoms could range from poor service even in good coverage areas to no service at all. There have also been instances of the iPhone 4 not picking up on 3G signals due to a bad cellular antenna. If these issues sound like you, a cellular antenna DIY replacement should solve the problem. You'll follow almost the same procedure you would for a speaker assembly replacement. How to replace the dock connector and lower mic in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
If your GSM iPhone 4 won't recognize a charger when it's plugged in, it may be time to replace the dock connector assembly. Dock connector issues can stem from using a faulty cable or charger, moisture in the dock connector, or an issue with the 30-pin connector inside the charge port. If you've got issues with the microphone, this should solve those woes as well. Typically if you've got this issue you experience people not being able to hear you while on a call or when recording video or audio there is no sound being output. If your iPhone recognizes a charger but dies when you disconnect it, try a battery replacement first as that could be the issue. How to replace the front facing FaceTime camera in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
If you're having issues with the front facing camera on your GSM iPhone 4, which is used most often for FaceTime calls, replacing it yourself isn't too big of a challenge if you've got a bit of patience. Symptoms could range from a blacked out camera to distortion to lines through the screen only when you're on a FaceTime call. How to choose the highest quality colored parts for your iPhone 4
If you're looking into performing a color conversion on your iPhone 4 it's always a good idea to make sure you order high quality parts. Let's face it, eBay and other online resellers have a nasty habit of selling parts that are DOA or issues crop up after a few days. Making sure you use a quality supplier right from the start will save you a lot of headaches. Apple never made colored parts so you won't find genuine OEM parts anywhere and if anyone claims they are OEM, turn around and run the other way. It doesn't mean there aren't quality parts floating around out there though. Check out our guide of what to look for so you can be prepared before you even place an order. How to check for water damage before purchasing a used iPhone 4
If you're thinking about picking up a used iPhone 4 from eBay, Craigslist, or any other online source, it's always a good idea to make sure the device hasn't seen any previous water damage before actually committing to the purchase. You can check some sensors externally and a few internally if the seller will allow it. To make sure you're getting the most for your money and you're not buying a non-working iPhone 4, check out our guide before purchasing More DIY guides and helpIf you've got a CDMA iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or other type of iPhone, we may have guides that can help you fix those as well. If you don't see a guide that can help or can't figure out exactly what the issue is, you can always check out our mod and DIY forums for answers to many questions. If you still can't find what you're looking for, feel free to shoot an e-mail to ally@imore.com with guide suggestions and questions. 
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| Monday Brief: NFC hacking on Android, Guide to Siri, Windows 8 SDK preview and more! Posted: 30 Jul 2012 10:16 AM PDT  A little change this week for the Monday Brief as our normal host, the adventurous Ashley Esqueda, is off in London right now taking in the London 2012 Olympic Games. No, you'll not see her on any diving boards or dressaging any horses herself but you can check her adventures on the her Samsung Global Blogger page. The show as they say though, must go on so go ahead and check out what's been happening around Mobile Nations below.
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| Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit review Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:30 AM PDT Want a chance to win a Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit of your very own? Subscribe to our YouTube channel and leave a comment on the video above!The Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit is great for those without built-in iPhone or iPod support in their car, and especially great for those of us who don't yet have Siri as on option on older generation iPhones. The setup is easy, so much so that I merely listened while the Jabra unit itself told me what to do.
Sound quantity was substantial, but as with any device with tiny speakers, distortion plagued the higher volume levels. There is a surround sound-like quality to it but I don't think most music lovers would use the tiny Jabra speakers over a dedicated Dock, AUX, or even via the FM stereo output connection. Also, for some reason, the mute button refused to work for me although the volume buttons worked fine. The Siri-replacing Voice Assist comes in the form of a $59 subscription service, though the first year is free. (Or at least comes included in the price of purchasing the Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit). It provides similar features like handsfree text/SMS messages, email reading and dictation, and more. Although a 1 year free subscription sounds tempting, I was quickly dissuaded by the amount of private information I had to give up for this service. I'm admittedly paranoid, so uploading all my contacts and giving over my email passwords was a deal-breaker for me. If you value convenience over security, and trust the Voice Assist service to protect your private data, more power to you. For me, I'll be getting an iPhone 5 soon enough that I don't feel the urgent need to spread my risk between more companies than is absolutely necessary.
However, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 users still have Apple's built in Voice Control system, which while no Siri, can still do things like make calls or play music. You can trigger Voice Control by pressing and holding the phone icon right on the device. Still, even without the Voice Assist service, the Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit packs a lot of value. The FM transmitter to play your music or voice calls through your car speakers, which is great. Even better, it allows for 2 simultaneous bluetooth connections so that if you share a vehicle with a significant other, you needn't argue or barter over whose one device in the car gets to be paired for listening to calls or music. That's a real stress-saver. One thing that is a HUGE pet peeve for me is that many hands free devices have a blue blinking light that tells you when something is paired or when the device is on. This drives me insane, especially at night time. It's like the eye of Sauron piercing through steel and glass, needlessly distracting while i'm driving. Manufacturers please stop doing this. The Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit can be charged via the same AC adapter you use for your iPhone, or you can use the 12v adaptor that comes in the box. It will also automatically turn itself on and off as you enter or exit the Bluetooth radius, so you don't have to worry about accidentally leaving it on when you're out of the car, or forgetting to turn it on when you're driving.
The good
The bad
The conclusionThe Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit is a great option for anyone who doesn't have built-in iPhone or iPod connectivity in their car, especially great for couples who want to be able to pair both their phones to single device. Voice Assist is a boon to anyone with an older iPhone that doesn't offer Siri, though it does come with some privacy and security tradeoffs. Sound quality with the built-in speakers is okay, but with the FM transmitter is even better. $109.95 - Buy nowGiveawayWant to win a Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit of your very own? Easy! Just subscribe to our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/iMoreVideo and leave a YouTube comment at the bottom of the the Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit video! We'll pick a winner and that winner will get a Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit! Ready, set, enter now!! 
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| Apple had iPhone 4-like "purple" concept design back in 2005 Posted: 30 Jul 2012 08:34 AM PDT
Yet more goodies from the Apple vs. Samsung litigation loot bag have emerged this morning, including a prototype iPhone from 2005, called "Purple", that looks a lot like the 2010 iPhone 4. Apple released the prototype to counter charges from Samsung that the iPhone had been copied from Sony designs. The Verge got a look at the court documents and posted the picture above.
Back when the iPhone 4 was released, it looked like the Braun- and Leika-inspired design Apple SVP Jonathan Ive had always wanted to make, but until then had simply lacked the technology to bring to market. Seeing the Purple prototype, that rings truer than ever, and given that purported iPhone 5 leaks don't deviate from that general design either, Apple may have struck on their Platonic ideal and won't deviate until they have to. Bigger screens, smaller bezels, thinner frames, all may come. Apple might whittle away everything they can until only the content and barest shell remain. But more than ever, the current design looks to be that shell. Source: The Verge 
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| Purported iPhone 5 part leaks assemble again, pose for video Posted: 30 Jul 2012 08:03 AM PDT
Apparently, pictures of supposed new iPhone parts assembled together weren't enough, because now a similar constructicon-style merge-to-form has been done on video and we get a look at what the leaks look like being held and spun around. This time it's Macotakara who're providing the purported preview.
It'll be interesting to see if Apple goes NFC or not for the next iPhone. Even if the words NFC never leave Apple's lips on anything other than a radio spec page, they need a big demo moment and something for the Santa commercial this year, and going into Starbucks or Target and paying with a wave of an iPhone would certainly fill that bill. As to the phone parts, like we said with the photos, they match one of the rumored 4-inch, 16:9 iPhone prototypes that we and others heard Apple was considering for the iPhone 5. Last year there was a lot of confusion over parts for an iPhone 5 that never made it into production (we got the conservatively designed iPhone 4S instead), but this year the leaks are more consistent with other information. Hopefully we'll find out for sure in about 6 weeks. Meanwhile, here's the video: Source: Macotakara 
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| OS X Mountain Lion downloaded 3 million times in 4 days Posted: 30 Jul 2012 07:02 AM PDT
Apple's brand new desktop operating system, OS X Mountain Lion, was downloaded over 3 million times in the first 4 days since it launched last Wednesday morning, July 25. Apple reports . According to Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller, that makes it Apple's most successful OS X launch ever:
Mountain Lion is the ninth major release of OS X, and like Lion before it, focuses on taking iOS in general, and iPad in particular features "back to the Mac". The two operating system remain built on the same foundation but serve widely different purposes -- to use Steve Jobs' analogy, OS X is the truck where iOS is the car. Mountain Lion continues Apple's drive to make the car as nicely appointed as possible, with as many iOS-style amenities as possible, so that iOS users find the Mac just as accessible as the iPad. That's the key to getting hundreds of millions of Apple mobile users to consider the Mac the next time they buy a computer. That's the democratization that drove the iPad, and that's now driving the Mac with Mountain Lion, Apple's ad campaigns with Genius commercials, and likely most of what else we'll see from them going forward. Were you one of the 3 million who downloaded OS X Mountain Lion so far? Source: Apple 
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| Deal of the Day: 30% off Seidio CONVERT Plus Combo for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4! Posted: 30 Jul 2012 06:56 AM PDT |
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Apple iPhone 5 and iPad mini event planned for September 12, iPhone 5 release date for September 21
Posted: 29 Jul 2012 10:00 PM PDT
iMore has learned that Apple is planning to debut the new iPhone at a special event on Wednesday, September 12, 2012, with the release date to follow 9 days later on Friday, September 21. This information comes from sources who have proven accurate in the past.
The iPad mini will be announced at the same September 12 event, as will the new iPod nano. We haven't heard a release date for the iPad mini yet, but it could be the same as the iPhone 5. It seems likely the new iPod touch will make an appearance on September 12 as well, though we haven't heard any specific information about that yet either.
Last year, the iPhone 4S was announced on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, and released 10 days later on October 14. The event included minor updates to the iPod line, notably a white iPod touch 4. This year, the iPad 3 was announced on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, and released 9 days later on March 16. The event included a 1080p Apple TV.
Back in March, we heard Apple was targeting an October release window for the iPhone 5,1, much like last year's iPhone 4,1 (iPhone 4S). Recently, however, several reports have suggested Apple would be ready to go as early as September. Last week, App4Phone.fr, citing Chinese manufacturing sources, reported the September 21 release date.
Unlike last year, when some 16 months separated the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, a September 21 schedule would put the iPhone 5 launch at just over 11 months after the iPhone 4S.
The longer schedule last year allowed Apple to re-position the iPhone as the new, big fall product release. It took the spotlight from the iPod family that previously ruled the holiday quarter, but has waned in recent years. It also padded the time between the Verizon iPhone 4 launch, which only occurred in February of 2011, and gave four extra months for Apple to work on iOS 5, which included major new features like iCloud, Notification Center, iMessage, and Siri.
iOS 6, which was announced during Apple's WWDC 2012 keynote on June 11 and includes a new, Google-free Maps app, and Passbook, should get a final presentation during the September 12 event as well, and if Apple sticks to previous patterns, a release sometime around Wednesday, September 19.
Apple typically shows off extra, hardware-specific iOS features at new iPhone events as well. For the last few years, Apple SVP of Marketing, Phil Schiller, has demonstrated advanced camera and video recording, and Apple SVP of iOS, Scott Forstall, has demonstrated Voice Control, FaceTime, and Siri. For now, we have only educated guesses (see the conclusion) as to what else might be coming to iOS this year.
As for hardware, we're still hearing the iPad mini will be exactly like the 9.7-inch iPad, only scaled down to 7.x-inches. We originally heard Apple had a few iPhone 5 prototypes, including 3.5-inch and 4-inch versions, but recent reports and parts leaks make it look like the 4-inch, 16:9 screen version is what Apple's going with. We've also consistently heard all new iOS devices will have the new, smaller Dock connector iMore learned about back in February, which along with the nano-SIM and rumored in-cell display should leave lots of room for the LTE radio we learned about earlier in the year, and the bigger battery to go along with it.
If these announcement and release dates prove accurate, we should find out in only 6 short weeks.
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