The iPhone Blog


Sprint CEO says paying over $15 billion for the iPhone was money well spent

Posted: 07 Aug 2012 03:19 PM PDT

Sprint CEO says paying over $15 billion for the iPhone was money well spent

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse spoke with a group of reporters touring Sprint's headquarters, and told them that the deal to get the iPhone on the Sprint network was too good to pass up; even though Sprint had to commit over $15 billion in purchases to Apple over the next four years. The news comes from a report by Ina Fried of All Things D.

"I think the No. 1 thing was getting the call from Apple that they were interested in at least having the opportunity," Hesse said. Of course, the company and its board had to take a hard look at the economics. Selling the iPhone is good for the long term, Hesse said, noting that customers are more valuable in the long term. But, in the short term, it is costly, as the company spends more in subsidies to attract those iPhone buyers.

"We committed to $15.5 billion over four years in purchases," Hesse said. "That's a large commitment. "He said Sprint looked at Apple and its popularity, and "we saw no reason to bet against Apple."

Hesse also talked about Sprint's other gamble with its investment in WiMax rather than LTE. Hesse claimed that the choice to run with WiMax was all down to timings. If Sprint ran with WiMax it would be the first network with an operational high speed network. If it had chosen to run with LTE, it would have been last to offer LTE; as it didn't have the spectrum to launch a reliable service.

Sprint may have the iPhone on its network but the iPad has remained elusive. When Hesse was asked about the possibility of having the iPad on the Sprint network, he declined to make any comment.

If an when Sprint gets their LTE network up to speed, and they offer the iPad, would their unlimited data plans entice anyone to switch over from AT&T or Verizon?

Source: All Things D



iOS 6 could point to new, smaller Dock connector sporting 9-pins

Posted: 07 Aug 2012 03:11 PM PDT

iOS 6 could point to new, smaller Dock connector sporting 9-pins

Back in February, iMore reported that Apple would be switching away from the traditional 30-pin Dock connector currently found in all iPhones, iPods, and iPads, to a new, miniaturized Dock connector, both to save space inside new, battery-needy devices, and in recognition of wireless technologies like AirPlay and Wi-Fi sync replacing some of the old Dock requirements. Now 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman has gone digging inside iOS 6 beta 4 and found reference to a 9-pin connector.

The reference comes as a new iOS hardware feature called "9Pin," so we're assuming this has to do with the dock connector. [...] This reference comes in a part of the operating system that details general hardware features in iOS devices. That mean this new 9-pin connector may not only be implemented into the iPhone.

TechCrunch has previously reported on a 19-pin connector and iLounge on an 8-pin connector. Both have had good sources in the past, though the code strings found by 9to5Mac, if indeed they refer to the new Dock connector, would be the least opaque to date.

The reference being part of the general OS, and not iPhone specific, could be an indicator that Apple will indeed be updating the entire iOS product line this September when iOS 6 launches.

Last month iMore learned Apple will be providing an adapter for accessories that use the old Dock connector, so does the exact number of pins make a difference to you? More the merrier or the fewer the better?

Source: 9to5Mac



iOS 6 preview: Siri knows sports

Posted: 07 Aug 2012 02:15 PM PDT

iOS 6 preview: Siri knows sports

Siri, as introduced in iOS 5 on the iPhone 4S, is an able if not particularly well-rounded personal assistant. With iOS 6, however, Siri is expanding to the iPad, and adding sports to its repertoire. Now, in addition to keeping you in contact, on time, on course, and on schedule, Siri will also serve you up the latest scores.

Here's how Apple describes it:

Sports fan? Siri knows baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and hockey. Ask Siri for game schedules, scores from the current season's games, or up-to-the minute scores from live games. Tell Siri to show you player stats and compare them against other players' stats. Siri tracks team records, too, so you'll always know how well your team is doing (or not doing).

Siri sports scores are only available to beta testers right now, but Apple did show them off during WWDC 2012, so we have some idea how they'll work. According to their presentation, Siri sports will support looking up information on:

  • Soccer: Italian Seria A, English Premier League, Dutch Eredivisie, Major League Soccer, French Ligue 1, Spanish La Liga, and German Bundesliga
  • Baseball: Major League Baseball
  • Football: NCAA Football, NFL
  • Basketball: NCAA Basketball, NBA, WNBA
  • Hockey: NHL

For each of those sports, Siri can provide:

  • Scores
  • Standings
  • Schedules
  • Team rosters
  • Player stats

Taken together, here's what you'll be able to do with Siri and sports:

  • Ask "what was the core of the last Giants game?" and get a new scoreboard widget showing the results.

  • Ask "what is Buster Posey's batting average?" and get a new player card widget showing you the stats.

  • Ask "what are the national league standings?" and get a scrollable widget with up-to-date team standings.

  • Ask "who is taller, Lebron or Kobe?" and not only get both player cards, but a comparative assessment.

  • Ask "when is the San Francisco 49ers first game of the season?" and get a new schedule widgets giving you the data and time for the appropriate game.

And that's just what's been shown off so far.

Taken together, those sports sources, combined with Siri's almost Pixar-like persona and natural language, context aware search capabilities, should make it a surefire hit for everything from keeping up with games on the road to finding out who wins a bar bet.

iOS 6 is scheduled for release this fall, perhaps as soon as September 19. For more on iOS 6 and Siri, check out:



iOS 6 is scalable to 640 x 1136, possibly the dimensions of the next gen iPhone

Posted: 07 Aug 2012 09:48 AM PDT

iOS 6 is scalable to 640 x 1136, possibly the dimensions of the next gen iPhone

Of all the rumors thrown around in regards to the next generation iPhone, a larger display is one of the most interesting and persistent. And now there may actually be evidence in iOS 6 that points to a taller display, and a pixel count measuring 640 x 1136. 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman did some digging into the iOS simulator -- the program that lets you test iOS apps on the Mac -- and found that that resolution not only works, but seems programmed in.

Thanks to some tweaks to the iOS Simulator application that is included in the iOS development tools, we were able to run the simulator at the rumored next-generation iPhone display resolution of 640 x 1136. We did this running both the current public release of iOS 5.1 and the upcoming iOS 6.0 The iOS 5.1 simulator displayed the home screen with a stretched set of four rows of icons. On the other hand, iOS 6 displayed five complete rows – as our sources said Apple was testing for taller iPhone displays.

Under iOS 5.1.1, scaling to a larger display result only in the same 4 rows of icons that we currently see on the iPhone Home screen. The difference in iOS 6 is that the iOS simulator will actually scale to fit a full 5 rows of icons on a display sized at 640 x 1136.

iOS 6 scaleable icons from 9to5mac

9to5Mac has also confirmed that no other combination if display size will scale correctly. At this stage it's unlikely that Apple is still testing prototypes. It may be more likely that we'll see a taller iPhone with these dimensions come Apple's official announcement this Fall.

We've seen tons of leaked parts assembled that support that type of display, and we've previously gone over how Apple could implement a 4-inch, 16:9 iPhone.

Having the 640 x 1136 resolution supported in the iOS 6 simulator is just one more piece of the puzzle. We'll only know for sure when Apple updates all of their iOS products this Fall. In the meantime, hit the link below to read more and see more images.

Source: 9to5Mac



How to fix a stuck or broken On/Off button on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

Posted: 07 Aug 2012 08:15 AM PDT

How to fix a stuck or broken on/off button on a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4

If you've got a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 and the On/Off button seems to be recessed or no longer pushes down when pressed, a DIY repair can alleviate the issue. While this isn't the easiest repair to perform, it's a lot cheaper than an out of warranty replacement through Apple. So if you aren't eligible for an upgrade and are out of warranty, it may be worth a try.

Follow along and we'll walk you through the process step by step.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, neither iMore nor PXLFIX can be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

Note: While this repair will fix the On/Off button, if you're having issues with the noise canceling mic, proximity sensor, or ambient light sensor, it will also take care of those issues as well. This is the right guide if you're experiencing any of these issues as well.

What you need for a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 On/Off button repair

PXLFIX recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like eTech Parts. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs. You will find links to the specific parts you'll need for this repair in the list below.

  • CDMA iPhone 4 (please note there ARE internal differences between the GSM and CDMA models)
  • Replacement CDMA iPhone power button flex - Link to part

You will also need the following tools which are also available via eTech Parts.

  • SIM removal tool (or a paper clip)
  • #00 Phillips screwdriver
  • Pry tool or spudger
  • Tweezers
  • Security screwdriver (for the 2 dock connector screws)

Power off your iPhone 4

iPhone slide to power off

Before performing any repair, always power off your device before removing any screws or parts.

Remove the back

    Remove the dock connector screws on your CDMA iPhone 4
  1. First remove the bottom 2 dock connector screws in your iPhone 4. For all CDMA iPhone models you'll need to use the 5 point security screwdriver.
  2. Remove the back of your CDMA iPhone 4
  3. To remove the back simply slide the back upwards and lift it off gently.
  4. Set the back and 2 dock connector screws aside.

Organize your screws

It's very important to make sure you remember where you are pulling screws from, so place them in an arrangement that you'll understand and remember. I normally lay them out the same way every time I disassemble a device so I remember where they came from and how they go back in. They're all different sizes so trying to figure out where they go if you get them mixed up probably won't be fun.

Remove the battery

    Remove battery screw iPhone 4 CDMA
  1. To remove the battery you'll need to remove the #00 screw holding the battery clip in place. Remove this screw located to the bottom left of the battery.
  2. Remove battery clip iPhone 4 CDMA
  3. The metal clip on the battery is what clips the battery to the logic board. You'll need to pop this clip up with your plastic pry tool. Simply stick the end of your pry tool underneath the clip and gently pull upwards until it unfastens from the logic board.
  4. Remove battery iPhone 4 CDMA
  5. To remove the battery, I do not recommend using the plastic pull tab. There is quite a bit of adhesive underneath the battery and the tab will normally just rip off or you can bend the battery. Instead, run your pry tool along the right side of the battery and break the adhesive that way. Once the battery is free from the adhesive, you can pull the battery out of the phone. There are no other connectors holding it in.
  6. Fold over battery tab on iPhone 4
  7. I typically fold the plastic tab over while working on the iPhone 4 to keep it out of the way while I'm disassembling parts. It's not necessary but convenient.

Remove the grounding clip

To the left of where you disconnected the battery you'll see another screw holding in a grounding clip over the antenna. We'll need to remove it.

    Remove grounding clip screw on CDMA iPhone 4
  1. Unscrew the one screw holding the grounding clip in place with your #00 Phillips screwdriver.
  2. CDMA iPhone 4 grounding clip for antenna
  3. Gently lift the grounding clip out of the device. It's very tiny as you can see above. Take care not to misplace it or lose it.

Remove the Dock connector shield and disconnect the cable

    Remove dock connector shield iPhone 4 CDMA
  1. There is a shield held on with two screws covering the dock connector cable. Remove the two screws holding it in place and set the shield and screws aside, remembering where they came from.
  2. Remove dock connector cable iPhone 4 CDMA
  3. Next, use your pry tool to pry up the actual dock connector cable. Be careful as there is adhesive holding the cable in place as well. Peel back the adhesive gently to free the cable.

Remove the top logic board shield

    Remove logic board shield screws CDMA iPhone 4
  1. There are 5 screws holding the logic board shield in place as labeled in the photo above. Remove the 5 screws holding it in place plus screw number 6 off to the right (we'll get to this one in a second). Just be sure to remember which holes they came out of as the screws are different sizes. I keep them arranged in the shape they came out of the logic board with the shield next to it. I find this to be the easiest way to keep them in order.
  2. Remove logic board shield CDMA iPhone 4
  3. Next you'll need to remove the shield. There is a tiny clip built into the shield holding it in place. (Refer to the photo above.) Grab the shield by the top where the top screw came out and gently lift up and push down. The bottom notch will come out and you should be able to gently lift the shield out of the device.

Remove wifi antenna grounding clip

    Remove wifi grounding clip screw CDMA iPhone 4
  1. The number 6 screw we removed previously we're now returning to. There is a clip underneath it. Gently use your pry tool to remove it.
  2. Remove wifi grounding clip CDMA iPhone 4
  3. You'll find a cross head screw underneath it. We'll get back to that in just a minute.

Disconnect 7 cables from the logic board

    Remove cables from logic board iPhone 4 CDMA
  1. Pop up all the cables labeled in the pictures above by gently lifting them with your pry tool or spudger..
  2. Remove CDMA iPhone 4 CDMA Camera
  3. Next gently lift the camera out of the device. You'll notice there is a tiny tab that is seated underneath the LCD and digitizer cables to the right.
  4. iPhone 4 CDMA cables removed from logic board
  5. Play close attention to the direction in which the cables pop up. The cable furthest to the right will pop up in the opposite direction of the others.

Remove the logic board

    Logic Board Screw Placement CDMA iPhone 4
  1. There are 5 screws you'll need to remove in order to remove the logic board. Three need to be removed with a flat blade screwdriver (flathead) while the other two will be removed with your #00 Phillips screwdriver.
  2. Remove the screws numbered 1-3 in the image above using your flat blade screw driver. Make sure you remember which ones go where as the heads are a bit different.
  3. Now remove screws 4 and 5 with your #00 screwdriver. Notice that the screw labeled number 5 will have a tiny gold grounding clip for the camera underneath it. Make sure you don't lose this and save it for re-assembly.
  4. Remove the logic board on a CDMA iPhone 4
  5. You should now be able to remove your logic board. Holding it at the bottom, gently pull it upwards. I use my other hand to lift up at the top where the rear facing camera used to be.
  6. Logic board grounding clip iPhone 4 CDMA
  7. Take note that there is a small rubber piece that sits at the top of the logic board. You will need this for re-assembly so make sure it doesn't fall off. If you lose this, you could experience wifi or reception issues.

Remove the earpiece assembly

  1. Carefully use your pry tool to pull up the earpiece assembly from the midframe. It is held in with a foam type of adhesive.
  2. Remove CDMA iPhone 4 earpiece speaker
  3. Once you've remove the earpiece assembly, set it aside for reassembly.
  4. iPhone 4 earpiece assembly closeup

Remove the 2 screws in the power button bracket

iPhone 4 power button bracket 2 screws

The power button is held in by a bracket that runs along the top inside of the mid-frame There are 2 screws holding it in place. You may need to use your free hand to hold back the digitizer and LCD cables when removing the screw on the right side. Remove the two screws outlined in the picture above and set them aside.

Partially remove the power button bracket

  1. Use your pry tool to gently lift the power button bracket out of the iPhone but don't pull it up too high as it is still attached to the main assembly.
  2. The bracket and cable are wrapped around once. Gently unwrap it so yours looks like the image below.
  3. Remove CDMA iPhone 4 power button cable and bracket
  4. Leave the power button bracket as it is for now and continue on to the next step.

Remove the power button

iPhone 4 physical power button

More than likely, the power button will start to come out of the iPhone as there is nothing holding it in place. Just remove it from the assembly and set it aside for reassembly as a precaution so it doesn't fall out and get lost.

Remove the power button flex cable and bracket from your iPhone

CDMA iPhone 4 power button cable removal

The power button sensor cable is the only sensor cable you'll see attached to the midframe that is an orange/brown color. This is the cable we will be removing. The power button bracket will also come off with it.

There is a bit of adhesive that is holding the cable down underneath where the earpiece speaker sat. Be careful when pulling this part up that you do not tear any cables. Once the cable is free gently remove it from the iPhone being cautious of any other cables it may get caught up on.

Replace the old power sensor cable with the new one

CDMA iPhone 4 power button cable removed

  1. First, start by removing the bracket off the old cable and placing it on the new one paying attention to which direction it goes on. The cable is held the the bracket with a tiny bit of adhesive but it isn't difficult to pull it off.
  2. Starting with the lower portion of the cable, gently start laying it back into place. There should be some adhesive on the back of the new cable that'll hold it down the frame while you work on positioning the upper portion.
  3. Once you've gotten the cable positioned where it should be, wind the power button cable back into place and move onto the next step.

Replace the power button

iPhone 4 physical power button

Now place the actual power button back into the assembly and use the edge of your pry tool or tweezers to make sure it is all the way into the opening before proceeding. The side of the power button that has a moveable hinge should be facing downwards.

Secure the power button bracket back into place

  1. Place the power button bracket back into place. You will know it is lined up correctly if you look inside the screw holes and they are lined up correctly.
  2. Use one hand to hold the bracket in place with one finger holding back the LCD and digitizer cables so they are out of the way. Use your other hand to replace the screws on both sides of the power button bracket.
  3. iPhone 4 remove power button bracket screws
  4. Once the bracket is screwed in, hold the iPhone in your hand and make sure the power button is now functioning correctly by pushing it down. You should feel it depress and click just like a functioning button would. This means you've installed the cable correctly. Give yourself a high five and move on to the next step. You're done with the hardest part!

Reassemble the rest of your iPhone 4

Once you know the On/Off button on your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 is depressing correctly and you feel confident the cable is lined up correctly, it's time to reassemble the rest of your phone.

You can do one of 2 things to complete reassembly so choose the one you're most comfortable with. You can follow these directions in reverse order starting with replacing the logic board or you can watch the video directly above starting from around the 4:40 mark. The reassembly video covers a complete reassembly from removing the screen so you'll only need to watch from that point on in order to finish up.

And... done!

Once you're done with reassembly and have everything put back together you can go ahead and attempt to power on your iPhone 4. If all went well, you should see the Apple logo which means your On/Off button replacement was a success!

Want to know how to perform another type of iPhone repair or modification? Send me suggestions to ally@imore.com.

For questions or to inquire about mail-in repairs through PXLFIX, please follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or e-mail us directly! Of course, you can like us and follow us just because you think we're cool too!

Additional Resources:



How to install iOS 6 beta 4 despite "Unable to Check for Update" error

Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:42 AM PDT

How to install iOS 6 beta 4 despite

After Apple released iOS 6 beta 4 yesterday, we started getting flooded with emails and tweets concerning an "Unable to Check for Update" error that was occurring when trying to install the new beta over-the-air (OTA). If you're a developer trying to install iOS 6 beta 4 and you keep getting that error, here's what you can do...

Turn off Wi-Fi

This seems to be the simplest, quickest solution if you're experiencing the "Unable to Check for Update". Just go into Settings, turn off Wi-Fi, go to General > Software Update, and the update should appear.

You can then turn Wi-Fi back on to download and install iOS 6 beta 4. [Thanks @m4tt]

If that doesn't work, you can start the escalation...

Reboot your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad

Several developers have also told us that, after getting the "Unable to Check for Update" error, they rebooted their iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, and the OTA update then began to work properly.

If you're getting that error, try a simple reboot first. Then redo the OTA update process:

A large portion of developers have also told us a reboot didn't help them at all. So, if after doing a reboot, you're still getting the "Unable to Check for Update" error, you might have to forgo OTA and do your update the old fashioned way...

How to install iOS 6 beta 4 via iTunes or Xcode

Sure, there's no beating the speed of OTA's bit-differential/delta format, and the efficiency of installing-in-place, but if you want the update done now, you'll have to turn to your old friends iTunes or Xcode.

You'll have to backup your device to iTunes (or do a clean install), and make sure your UDID is properly provisioned with Apple's developer portal, but it's your best bet to beat the pesky "Unable to Check for Update" error get iOS 6 beta 4 up and running.

More help

If you're having any other problems, or just want to discuss the issue and get more personalized help, check out our:



Deal of the Day: 46% off Seidio ACTIVE Case for The new iPad and iPad 2

Posted: 07 Aug 2012 07:16 AM PDT

Deal of the DayToday Only: Buy the Seidio ACTIVE Case for The new iPad and iPad 2 and save $32.00!

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Contest Winners: Sexy Beach photo contest, $117 (not billion) dollars, Plume, and tons of accessories!

Posted: 07 Aug 2012 06:14 AM PDT

iMore contest winners

If there's one thing iMore loves even more than iPhones and iPads, it's giving cool iPhone and iPad accessories and apps to our awesome readers. This week we have...

App Giveaway: Plume for iPhone
mobijew
smn74uk
Superveloce
TubbyJester
uncleho

Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth Car Kit review
slyles101

Qmadix iharmonix Q-i-sound Stereo Bluetooth Speakers review
Heather Creely

Belkin Rotating Charger 2.1 + ChargeSync for iPhone and iPad review
jason01568

$117 (not billion) dollar giveaway! Tell us what you would buy... and you could win it!
Alexfisher

Weekly Photo Contest: Sexy Beach!
SimpleAsItSeems

At the Bitterroot River in Montana. Edited with Camera+, Snapseed, and Photogene.

 

Congratulations everyone! You'll be contacted during the week with information on claiming your prize.



How to set up Gmail's 2-step verification with Mail on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac

Posted: 07 Aug 2012 12:58 AM PDT

How to set up Google's 2-step verification with Mail on your iPhone and iPad

After the news of Mat Honan's horrible experience of getting hacked, many of you are probably (and if not, should be!) taking extra precautions with your accounts, passwords, and general outlook on digital security. One of the big mistakes that Mat said he made was to not setting up Gmail's 2-step verification. Admittedly, this is a somewhat annoying security measure, but it's totally worth it.

iMore is here to help you every step of the way with setting it up!

What is Gmail's 2-step verification?

Gmail's 2-step verification is an optional level of security that not only requires your password, but also a passcode that gets sent to your phone via text or voice. Any computers you mark as "secure" will only require you to enter the code once every 30 days, but all other computers will require you to enter it every time.

Some apps and services do not yet support Gmail's 2-step verification. Three of those apps includes Apple's built-in Mail for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The good news is that Gmail has provided an alternate method to increase your security -- requiring a separate, auto-generated password for each of those apps.

Like I said, initially setting up 2-step verification is a bit of a hassle, but the extra security it provides is priceless.

How to activate 2-step verification

  1. Login to your Gmail account and visit Gmail's 2-step verification settings page
  2. Click Start Setup.
  3. Enter in the phone number you wish to receive the verification code at and choose whether to receive it by text or voice call.
  4. Receive code and enter it.
  5. Decide whether to trust the computer you're using or not. Click Next.
  6. Read info about 2-step verification. Click Confirm.
  7. 2-step verification activation is complete! Gmail will log you out and return you to the login screen.

How to set-up passwords for iPhone, iPad, and Mac with Gmail's 2-step verification alternative

Now that Gmail 2-step authentication is up and running, you will probably immediately notice that all of your Mail clients, including your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, start giving you incorrect password errors. This is a good sign because it means your activation was a success! To access your Gmail from your iOS and Mac Mail clients, you must create separate passwords for each one.

  1. Login to Gmail.
  2. You will immediately be taken to screen informing you that 2-step verification has been activated and provide you with further options. The first one is to enter a backup phone number (very good idea) and the second to is get list of printable codes (I actually stored these as a secure note in Dropbox). The third one is the one we're most interested in right now; it's called "Application specific passwords". Click the Manage application specific passwords link in the lower righthand corner.
  3. At the bottom of the screen you should see a password generator. Give a name to the password you're generating. Be as specific as necessary. For example, if both you and you wife use iPhones, share a Gmail account, and will access the account from both iPhones, make sure you give each device a separate name like "Leanna's iPhone" and "Dave's iPhone.
  4. Click Generate Password.
  5. Immediately enter this passcode into your iPhone's Mail Settings via Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Accounts. Do not enter spaces.
  6. Repeat steps 4-5 for iPad, Mac, and any other devices you may want to access your Gmail account from.

There you have it! Now you're all set to use Gmail's 2-step verification security feature and still have access to your email from the Mail clients on your favorite devices.



Sprint drops the iPhone 4S price by $50 ahead of new iPhone announcement

Posted: 07 Aug 2012 12:25 AM PDT

Sprint drops the iPhone 4S price by $50 ahead of new iPhone announcementSprint is the first Carrier to start slashing prices of the current iPhone 4S after it reduced the price of the 16GB entry level model by $50 over the weekend. The iPhone 4S previously cost $199 with a two year plan with Sprint so this is a significant reduction.

The move to reduce the price shouldn't come as any real surprise; we have already heard that Apple will hold a press event on September 12th where it is expected to announce the next iPhone, a revamped iPod touch and even the rumored iPad Mini. The new iPhone, according to our information and based upon recent parts leaks should have a slightly taller 4-inch 16:9 screen and have access to the LTE network.

Price reductions by Carriers are simply a way to create a buzz around existing stock in the aim of selling it before a new model replaces it. Last year we saw some similar activity on the lead up to the iPhone 4S announcement in October. We would expect to see similar reductions from AT&T and Verizon in the U.S. in the coming weeks and no doubt around the world too.

If you want the latest iPhone, now would not be a great time to buy one; with the expected product refresh just around the corner. Instead, hold on to your money for just a little while longer. Having said that, if you are more than happy with the capabilities of the current iPhone 4S and just want to pick up a bit of a bargain, now could be a great time to do just that.

Source: Sprint



Solar : Weather for iPhone review

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 11:25 PM PDT

Solar : Weather for iPhone review

Solar: Weather is a unique weather app for the iPhone that offers a one-of-a-kind interactive UI and experience. Instead of simply displaying the weather forecast for you, Solar: Weather will display different information based on gestures. For example, swiping up with scroll through the 24-hr forecast, swiping down will display the 3 day forecast, and swiping left/right will switch between locations. It's actually very fun to use.

The iTunes description for Solar: Weather actually sums it up rather nicely, so instead of trying to find a clever way of restating it, I'm just going to share it here:

No vector polygons, no dew point calibration and it won't remind you to wear a jacket. Just radiant, Rothko-esque colorscapes in a very simply designed, interactive weather forecast app.

A modern tech-cessory for the aesthetically-inspired, new-fashioned adventurer.

This description should immediately tell if you Solar is for you or not. If you need a weather app that clearly displays specific information (like the forecast for 2p) in a traditional format, then Solar is not for you. If you're a sucker to unique, clever UI's that are exciting to use, then keep reading.

The main screen of Solar is a simple gradient of colors that represent the time of day and weather conditions. The bottom of the screen displays the location and the upper right corner displays the time, date, conditions (like "clear"), and temperature. One of the fun details about this screen is that if you don't touch it, the colors will subtly pulsate to add slight movement to the background.

If you swipe down, the 3 day forecast will slide down from the top of the screen. Each day includes the day of the week, high and low, and an icon that represents that day's conditions.

The really fun gesture is swiping up. As you swipe up (I recommend you do this slowly), a little analog clock will display in the up right hand corner that represent the current time you are looking up. The digital clock display will also adjust as your scroll. If you scroll slow enough, you can look at every single minute over the next 24 hours hours. As you scroll through time, the temperature will adjust to the forecast and the background colors will also change to match the time/condition. This gesture is extremely cool and somewhat mesmerizing to use because of the analog clock and changing background.

The pinch-to-zoom gesture will let you view up to four different locations at a time. You can swipe through multiple pages of locations and hold your finger down on one to edit their arrangement or delete one.

The good

  • Beautiful
  • Interactive
  • 3 day forecast
  • 24 hour forecast
  • View four locations at once
  • Swipe between locations

The bad

  • Not the most efficient way to view a 24 hour forecast

The conclusion

Solar: Weather is a really fun weather app. It's one of the coolest ones I've seen for the iPhone, yet. Too often I see developers strive to create a "unique" app, but end up with a confusing (albeit, unique) mess. Not so with Solar. The folks at Hollr did a killer job with Solar : Weather, and although it's definitely not for everyone, it's awesome for many.

$0.99 - Download Now



Tweet Cleaner for iPhone allows you to quickly search and delete Tweets

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 09:48 PM PDT

Tweet Cleaner for iPhone allows you to quickly search and delete Tweets

Tweet Cleaner is a new iPhone app that lets you easily delete Tweets from your Twitter account. You can also easily search your timeline by keyword or date, making it easy to find the exact Tweet you may be looking for. Furthermore, Twitter only allows you see your last 3200 Tweets, but Tweet Cleaner will store older Tweets, allowing you to have your own personal archive. The first time you use it, Tweet Cleaner will load your last 3200 Tweets, then keep adding more Tweets every time you launch it.

What's great about Tweet Cleaner is its simplicity. It consists of primarily two different views: your timeline and the filter options. To delete a Tweet, you simply tap edit, then tap the Tweets you want to delete (you can choose select all if you wish to go nuclear), then tap Delete.

Although Tweet Cleaner allows you to delete your viewable Tweets, it's worth mentioning that Google's cashe may still pick a few of them up for awhile. Also, don't forget that deal Twitter made with the U.S. Library of Congress -- undeleted Tweets that are more than 24 weeks old (6 months) get sent to the Library of Congress for archiving, so even if you delete them from your stream (after 24 weeks), they will forever be in the hands of the US Government. To exclude individual tweets from this archival process, just include #noloc in your Tweet.

If you're looking for a way to easily delete all your Tweets and start fresh, check out Tweeticide, also made by the same developers.

Do you have some Tweets you need to delete? Perhaps anything that mentions an ex, or some drunken Tweets you now regret? Or perhaps you're getting ready to apply for a job and just want to make a good impression. Let us know!

$1.99 - Download Now



Poll: How do you access YouTube on your iPhone and iPad now?

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 09:24 PM PDT

Since it looks like Apple's YouTube app is going the way of the Dodo with IOS 6, and we'll all be left to use YouTube.com's mobile site to get our video fixes until Google can put out a YouTube app of their own, I started wondering how many of us use the YouTube app to begin with?

Do you use the current YouTube app a lot and does this move upset you? Did you long ago switch to the more feature-rich if not always as natively functional YouTube.com site, so you're good? Or do you simply not use YouTube?

Vote in the poll above, comment in the comments below, and let me know -- how big a deal is Apple dumping the built-in YouTube app on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad?



Bling My Thing Swarovski Slim Cases for iPhone review

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 09:13 PM PDT

The Bling My Thing cases for iPhone are slim style cases encrusted with Swarovski crystals and, as you can imagine, that makes for a stunning combination. While the cases are manufactured, the crystals are individually placed by hand. Swarovski crystals aren't cheap, and they make for an absolutely beautiful finish. But how do they hold up as cases?

Bling My Thing Swarovski Slim Cases for iPhone review

The Swarovski crystals in the Bling My Thing cases are set into slightly receded areas, which reduces the chance they'll pop off due to wear and tear from regular use. I used one of the review units for about a month and despite the brutal way I treat my phone, I didn't lose a single crystal.

Speaking of which, the Bling My Thing is not meant to be an ultra-protective armor case, but it did survive a few accidental drops and bumps, and not only kept my iPhone is fine working order, it kept itself in one piece as well.

While some slim cases have been challenging to put on or take off, the Bling My Thing case was easy. When it's on, you have full access to all the usual ports, including the Dock and 3.5mm headset jack. Volume, mute, and On/Off buttons are likewise easy to hit. The front of the case does rise slightly above the iPhone screen, so you can put it down on really smooth, flat tables without worrying about scratches or scrapes, but keep it away from extra round, bumpy surfaces.

There's a good range of colors and designs available. The major styles include Simple is Beautiful, SPLASH!, Elegance, GOD SAVE THE BLING!, and Prélude. Each style has a variety of color options, and Simple is Beautiful contains numerous sub-styles including Milky Way, Diffusion, Stripe, Flower, Butterflies and dot.matrix.

I'm not wild about all the styles. Some of the cheaper ones don't have anywhere near the amount of crystals needed to make an impression, and when you're buying a case for Swarovski crystals, you need on that has a good amount of Swarovski.

They all follow the Japanese practice of Deko-Den, which is essentially decorating phones, and Bling My Thing has been working with Swarovski since 2005, with craftspeople trained by Ayano Kimura.

The idea of Deko-Den is to transform something common and utilitarians, like a phone, into something unique and glorious, like a fine piece of jewelry.

Unlike some other Swarovski encrusted cases on the market, Bling My Thing isn't focusing on artistic works printed onto the cases, or a range of artistic patterns. They're making a few designs, in a few variations, and doing them very, very well.

The good

  • Beautiful crystals
  • Excellent fit and finish

The bad

  • More decorative than protective

The conclusion

The Bling My Thing cases for iPhone are definitely for those with style and flare -- and by that I mean a desire to draw attention and show off. While you can get some inexpensive models, the more crystals, the more beautiful, so I definitely recommend going big... er... bling.

Just pick a style you like -- or better yet, a style you think that someone special in your life would like -- and go for it.

Variable - Buy now



Forums: YouTube gone, Photo size increases, Are you upgrading to the next iPhone?

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 07:05 PM PDT

From the iMore Forums

Found an interesting article you want to share with iMore? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or lend your expertise to other members of our community. You check out some of the threads below:

- New iPads at our school
- Photos magically increasing in size.. why?
- Notification Center reset itself, anyone know why?
- Beta 4 seeded to developers
- YouTube gone, will you miss it?
- Are you upgrading to the next iPhone?

If you're not already a member of the iMore Forums, register now!



How Amazon and Apple security flaws allowed a digital life to be destroyed

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 05:49 PM PDT

How Amazon and Apple security flaws allowed a digital life to be destroyed

Mat Honan was hacked over the weekend, his Apple ID/iTunes, Gmail, Amazon, and Twitter accounts all compromised, and his digital life laid ruin. Had his attackers been out for more than just "the lulz", they could have also done incredible harm to his financial life as well.

[What] happened to me exposes vital security flaws in several customer service systems, most notably Apple and Amazon's. Apple tech support gave the hackers access to my iCloud account. Amazon tech support gave them the ability to see a piece of information — a partial credit card number — that Apple used to release information. In short, the very four digits that Amazon considers unimportant enough to display in the clear on the Web are precisely the same ones that Apple considers secure enough to perform identity verification. The disconnect exposes flaws in data management policies endemic to the entire technology industry, and points to a looming nightmare as we enter the era of cloud computing and connected devices.

It's a chilling tale, and it should embarrass and infuriate Apple and Amazon into implementing proper, modern security policies immediately if not sooner. It should also serve as a giant neon light, flashing, for everyone on the importance of good security and backup.

Go read it, then spend a few minutes wondering if you should take an axe to the network, Battlestar Galactica style. Because what happened to Mat Honan was just one very public example of the exploits and inattentiveness faced by all of us, every day.

Here's how to set up two-factor account verification for Google.

Source: Wired



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