Now that it looks all but certain the Verizon iPhone will be announced tomorrow, one of the questions that arrises is will users switching from AT&T help take the load off and create a better level of service for everyone?

First, a personal anecdote: I left Montreal to fly to CES 2011 last Tuesday. In Montreal the iPhone is fast, like HSPA 7.2 fast, with nary a dropped call and lost network signal, and a battery life that lasts as long as Apple’s TV commercial suggests.

I switched planes in Charlotte and began to roam on AT&T. My iPhone 4 showed full bars but I kept getting a popup saying there was no network connection. That means the tower was broadcasting but there was no backhaul behind it. Like if your home Wi-Fi router is fine but your broadband ISP is down — lots of radio, no internet.

I asked an iPhone user next to me if he could get online. He couldn’t. No one at our gate or on our plane could. Luckily for me roaming iPhones can jump on any network so I switched to T-Mobile EDGE and was fine. None of the Americans could do that, however, so they just sat and cursed, the way a lot of Americans have been cursing for years.

Las Vegas was no better. You’d think CES and the thousands of iPhones that descend on it would just shred AT&T’s network but locals said the signal was never great. They blamed the casinos. (And maybe so, T-Mobile didn’t work in some buildings either.)

Of course, when there’s weak signal, the iPhone ratchets up the radio trying to latch onto it and that means the battery drains. And drains. Remember I said my battery lasts a long time in Canada? I could watch it drop on AT&T while I ate breakfast.

There’s likely a number of factors that create this perfect storm of hurt in some areas (because — and I need to stress this — AT&T is fine for a lot of people in a lot of places with a lot of different smartphones).

• AT&T should have spent more building out their network sooner and faster.
• The iPhone’s radio chipset never seems to have worked as well on AT&T as it did on international carriers.
• AT&T and Apple should have made sure the technology in the phones and towers was optimized to give their customers the best experience possible.
• And the amount of iPhone users hitting AT&T towers in high density areas was just paralyzing and needed either more towers or they should have broken exclusivity earlier to help spread the load around.

Again, the customers should have come first.

So now that iPhone is finally poised to go to Verizon there will be a network behind it that can serve more users with less towers more reliably (albeit with less features, like no simultaneous voice and data, and slower speeds). You’ll have a new CDMA chipset hitting different tower technology that might just work better. And you’ll have a segment of AT&T iPhone users switching to Verizon, finally spreading the load around. (Not as much as if T-Mobile and Sprint also got the iPhone and made the iPhone truly free in the land of the free, but that’s another rant.)

We’re running a poll asking our readers how many will stay with AT&T and how many will switch to Verizon and so far it looks like a big portion are at least considering the switch, and an even bigger portion is welcoming their departure in hopes it de-congests their own service.

A new radio and new radio software stack on a new carrier with what’s likely to be a ton of new iPhone users hitting all those Verizon towers — it remains to be seen how well Big Red’s Map holds up. (They seem to think it’ll do well enough to keep unlimited plans on the table — at least for now.) Whether it does brilliantly or struggles like AT&T’s has under the weight of iPhone, at least for the first time a US network won’t be struggling alone.

Could that just be enough to take the straw off AT&T’s severely aching back?

Will the Verizon iPhone help fix the AT&T iPhone? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Big Google user and interested in getting a better Gmail experience on the iPhone? You can use IMAP or set up Gmail as Exchange via GoogleSync in the Mail app to cover the basics, but you won’t get stars and labels. You can use Gmail.com to get stars and labels, but you won’t get iPhone Contacts integration, attachment viewing, or easy access to multiple accounts. For that you have to get a little more… creative. We’ll show you how after the break.

[Thanks to The Keith Newman for this tip!]

Putting Gmail.com in an app

Gmail.com is a great web app and, of course, really nails the Gmail experience. Since it’s not a native app, however, it can’t do everything a native app can. Enter Mailroom [iTunes link]. It wraps the iPhone-optimized version of Gmail in a native App Store app, creating a hybrid that’s almost the best of both worlds. It does cost $2.99 but for hardcore Gmail users it’s well worth the price.

While it does provide iPhone Contacts integration, attachment viewing, multiple account support, offline mode, labels, stars, threaded conversations, badging of total unread and new message counts, and everything else you’d expect, it doesn’t — yet — support push notifications.

Getting Push Notifications

Google Mobile App

Google Mobile app [iTunes link] is free and does provide push notifications for your Gmail account (and Google Calendar), including the ability to turn off sound notifications during certain times (like when you’re sleeping).

You can’t make Mailroom your default mail client but you can see the badge on Google Mobile and then tap Mailroom instead.

Boxcar

Or you can use Boxcar [iTunes link] instead, also free and a push notification powerhouse, and set it to open Mailroom when you get a Gmail alert.

What would be better?

Sure, it’s not the most straightforward or elegant solution, but until Apple provides more functionality in iOS Mail (like flags and mapping stars to flags!), or Google makes a native iOS Gmail app, it can be just the compromise you need to get more productive on your iPhone.

If you have any questions or any other Gmail tips to share, leave them in the comments!

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you'd like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it's especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we'll even give ya a reward…)

Daily Tip: How to get a better Gmail experience on 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 everyone waits for the big Verizon iPhone announcement tomorrow it’s a touch poetic to remember that the original Cingular/AT&T iPhone was announced on January 9, 2007 — almost four years ago to to the day.

Do you remember what smartphones were like before Steve Jobs took to the Macworld stage and finally revealed Apple’s wide screen iPod, internet communicator and revolutionary phone? Can you believe how far they’ve come since?

Let us know what you remember the most about the original iPhone introduction, what phone you were using at the time, and how in your opinion Apple has changed things (for good or for bad) since?

Video after the break!

Original AT&T iPhone: 4 years later is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Apple Retail Stores are set to put an end to restocking fees starting Tuesday January 11, and will also be adding new setup areas for Macs, iPhones, and iPads.

Previously when returning a product to your Apple Retail Store you get hit with a 10 percent restocking fee but this will no longer be the case starting tomorrow. Of course the standard 14 day window will still apply for returns. The setup areas will be for those who need extra help getting started with their new Mac, iPhone, or iPad while leaving the Genius Bar clear to handle more technical support issues.

It seems fairly interesting that Apple chose Tuesday January 11 as the date to put an end to restocking fees and open their new setup areas, but maybe we will learn why tomorrow as Verizon holds their big press conference.

Either way do we really have to ask — are you going to be taking advantage of the no-restoking fees or setup area any time soon?

[ 9To5 Mac, TUAW ]

Apple cutting out restocking fees, adding setup centers starting January 11 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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The Verizon iPhone has not been officially announced yet but that has not stopped AT&T firing the first shot at a CDMA iPhone.  According to a report by Business Insider, AT&T PR boss Larry Solomon has risen to the challenge and come out with the following statement:

The iPhone is built for speed, but that’s not what you get with a CDMA phone. I’m not sure iPhone users are ready for life in the slow lane. AT&T's GSM technology is faster than Verizon's CDMA technology.

With this statement, AT&T have not only added their confirmation to the Verizon iPhone launch rumors but have shown what kind of battle we might be in for. The question is, will this launch a price war between the two networks, or just a war of words?

Let us know what you think in the comments!

[Business Insider]

AT&T takes opening shot at Verizon iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Now that we all just pretty take it for granted that the Verizon iPhone will be announced tomorrow and ship around the end of the month we can start sweating the details like — will Verizon’s network be able to handle the AT&T-crushing load and will they still offer unlimited data plans. According to “a person familiar with the matter” (probably not Steve Jobs, right?), the Wall Street Journal says the answer to both questions is “yes”:

Verizon Wireless, the country’s largest wireless carrier, is confident enough in its network that it will offer unlimited data-use plans when it starts selling the iPhone around the end of this month [...] Such plans would provide a key means of distinguishing its service from rival AT&T Inc., which limits how much Internet data such as videos and photos its customers may use each month.

AT&T switched to 256MB and 2GB plans back in June 2010 and while Verizon is rumored to be doing likewise, staying with unlimited just long enough to launch the iPhone is probably the smart play. As to capacity:

“Whether they are iPhones or Droids, they are smartphones,” Verizon Chief Executive Ivan G. Seidenberg said in a mid-November interview. “Regardless of the mix, we are prepared to carry more data.”

Droids/Androids are already hitting Verizon’s CDMA network in large numbers and iPhone will hit it again like a freight train, so it will be interesting to see if Verizon can really back up their claims.

Of course, Verizon’s current EVDO Rev-A network can’t handle voice and data at the same time, so unlike AT&T, Verizon iPhone users won’t be able to talk and surf the web at the same time. Will that lighten the load, or simply put the pressure on Verizon to roll out an updated EVDO Rev-A network (since they’re skipping the voice/data friendly Rev-B and going straight to LTE, which it doesn’t look like Apple will be supporting for a while still…)

If unlimited data and better network reliability are really in the cards, does that encourage you to consider Verizon for your next iPhone?

[WSJ]

Verizon confident enough to keep unlimited data plans for iPhone 4? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they're iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they're fair game.

To see what we picked, and to tell us your pick, follow on after the break!

Alli’s and Brian’s pick: Skype

Alli: Skype recently updated its iOS app to include the ability to video chat over 3G. While video over 3G is mediocre, video over WiFi is great. I’ve found that lately I’m using Skype on my iPhone more often than Skype on my desktop.

Skype was even able to come to my rescue recently, when I had no voice or data with AT&T at the Cincinnati airport. Once the plane was at cruising altitude and the captain turned on WiFi, I was able to use Skype to send an sms to my parents to let them know where I was.

Brian: Skype may not be the newest application around but it is for sure my Pick of the Week. With it’s latest update they have finally enabled video calling from your iOS device and it is a much welcomed feature. Most of my friends and family from back home don’t have an iPhone 4 so video chatting for them to talk to my daughter or to see your truly wasn’t possible with my phone. That being the case I hardly ever used my front facing camera. Well now that Skype allows video calls I have found myself using my front camera at least once per day to talk to the folks or other friends and family members. So if you haven’t updated yet or don’t have the Skype app yet it is well worth the download!

[Free - iTunes link]

Ally’s pick: Tapatalk

I love browsing forums, especially interacting with members of the TiPb forums. Sometimes work and other things keep me away from a computer and browsing forums on a mobile device has not always been the best experience.

Tapatalk sets out to solve that. As long as the forum supports the plug-in, you’ll be good to go. I’ve noticed more and more forums adding Tapatalk support every day. It’s extremely fast (even over AT&T Edge for you poor saps like me that live in an area where 3G is severely lacking).

It even supports moderator accounts. I love the fact that if I need to quickly moderate, I can do so from my device just as easily as I can from a computer now. If you’re a heavy forum user, it’s definitely worth checking out!

[$2.99 - iTunes Link]

Chris O's pick: The Sun

The Sun is a national tabloid Newspaper in the United Kingdom and there is now an official iPad app. The app comes with a 30 day free trial with no need to sign up, so it is well worth taking a free look.

The newspaper does not have the best reputation, but does do a good job covering sporting events. One of the great features however, for many of The Sun readers, is the page 3 girl. Basically a topless model adorns page 3 every day of the week (except Sundays). The app for iPad goes a little further and offers the page 3 girl in a 360 degree view. You can swipe to rotate the picture right round.

The app is free to download and once you fire it up, it downloads the day's paper when you click on it, shame it is not automatic! Well worth a look, to keep abreast of the latest news and sport.

[Free - iTunes Link]

George’s pick: Paperless

Paperless is an outstanding, unique list making app.

You have the choice whether you want to make a 'checklist' or a simple 'list'. Checklists are great for to-do lists and shopping lists, and the 'lists' are great for leaving yourself notes, like quotes or ideas.

What makes Paperless great, is that it includes over 300 custom made icons and 5 themes, that make your lists eye-catching, unlike traditional checklist apps, which just show text, which can be boring.

Selected lists can be shown as a 'bubble' on your home screen, so you have a realistic look on all the selected, important, things you have to do, instead of everything at once.

While not supporting 'cloud' storage. You can send yourself an email backup of your lists, so if you lose your phone or delete the app, you can always re download the lists.

[$0.99 - iTunes link]

Leanna’s pick: iTouch Gloves

While at Macworld 2010, Rene and I checked out iTouch Gloves – leather gloves that work with the capacitive screen of the iPhone and iPad. I finally got a pair for Christmas this year and love them!

The iTouch Gloves look like normal leather gloves but work wonderfully with my iPhone and iPad. They are much warmer than I was expecting. I had also expected typing on the iPhone’s small keyboard to be difficult, but not so! I do have to type a little slower to prevent mistakes, but I’m still remarkably accurate considering I’m wearing gloves.

If you live in cold weather, these gloves are a must-have!

[iTouch Gloves]

Rene’s pick: mophie juice pack

Whenever I attend a trade show, like CES 2011 this week, my iPhone 4 battery gets hit like a freight train. First I use my iPhone so much because I’m constantly on the go, recording media, keeping up on Twitter, and — oh ya! — checking up on TiPb.com from the road and the show floor. Second, these shows are flooded with iPhones making AT&T’s sometimes tenuous service into a full on disaster– my iPhone radio has to fire so hard, so often, I can literally watch the battery drain from the time I unplug until the time I finish breakfast.

So, as usual, I brought 2 mophie juice packs with me, this time for iPhone 4 and both the juice pack air and the juice pack plus. The air got me back to 75% or so, the plus to full charge. I typically went through both every day and that’s literally the difference between me getting the job done for TiPb or being left high and dry with a dead phone.

Air is $79, plus is $99. Both are well worth it for road warriors or anyone else who just can’t — or won’t — put their iPhone down.

[Mophie]

Your pick?

You're part of the team as well, so jump into the comments and let us know your pick of the week!

TiPb Picks of the Week is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

ZAGG’s ZAGGmate is an aircraft-grade aluminum case for iPad… that also happens to convert to a full-on Bluetooth keyboard. It looks great — executive even — but for $99 it also provides road-warrier level text entry on top of protection.

Check out our video live from CES 2011 and let us know — if you had any worries about iPad as a content creation, typing champion, would a case like this change your mind?

[ZAGG]

ZAGG’s ZAGGmate keyboard case for iPad – TiPb at CES 2011 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Monsoon has announced two new boxes, Volkano Flow and Volkano Blast along with apps to let you transport (“sling”) your home TV to your iPhone or iPad.

Flow is $99 and is barebones slinging. Blast is $199 and added DVR, schedule recordings, web video like YouTube, and mobile video recording (you pick your mobile device and it will record a TV show specifically for that format). The iPad and iPhone apps are $9.99 and the Windows and Mac apps are free.

We got the live demo at CES 2011 so watch along and let us know if you’re interested in the new, cheap Volkanos.

[Monsoon]

Monsoon introduces Volkano Flow, Volkano Blast to shift your TV to iPhone, iPad – TiPb at CES 2011 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Take old world fun like drawing with crayons or magic markers and update it with the latest in high tech so it runs on the iPad and what do you get? All shades of awesome.

Grab an iMarker, launch the companion app, choose a active coloring landscape, and get your crayon on.

We checked it out live at CES 2011 so watch the video up top and let us know how busy this would keep your kids!

[Griffin]

Griffin shows off Crayola Color Studio HD for iPad – TiPb at CES 2011 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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