The fine folks at iFixit have already torn down the new Verizon iPhone and while there’s a lot that hasn’t changed and some changes we knew about, the biggest shocker so far is that Apple used the Qualcomm MDM6600 chipset which supports both Verizon’s CDMA/EVDO and AT&T’s GSM/HSPA+ — but the GSM part isn’t enabled:

• This is the same chipset as the Droid Pro world phone. It supports both GSM and CDMA—which means that Apple could have supported GSM!

• Why didn’t they? It may be that it was easier to design antennas for a CDMA-only phone-this phone supports two cellular frequency bands, while Apple supports five bands in the GSM version.

Most of the rest of the Verizon iPhone is the same as the AT&T/GSM iPhone, though the model numbers of some parts have been slightly incremented. Also noteworthy, however, is that the vibration motor has received a “complete makeover”.

My tester said that the “Verizon vibration was quieter, a little softer to feel, and made a better sound on the table.” (No, I’m not making a ‘That’s what she said’ joke.) It used to be in the top right portion of the phone, across from the camera. Now it’s on the bottom left. It’s the silver circle bottom left in this photo:

If you want to watch iFixit tear into the Verizon iPhone, hit the link below. Anyone else disappointed Apple couldn’t make a world phone work yet?

[iFixit]

Verizon iPhone tear-down — could have been a world phone! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Angry Birds Seasons has been updated to go along with Valentine’s Day holiday. The update includes 15 new levels all dressed up in a nice Valentine’s Day theme with additional achievements and a new icon.

Get ready for the most heartfelt episode in Angry Birds Seasons so far: the Valentine's Day edition! After the shenanigans of Halloween and Christmas, Angry Birds Seasons continue in the spirit of Love! As usual, Angry Birds gives the most generous updates of any app!

Grab the update now and let us know what you think in the comments!

[Free - Angry Birds Seasons for iPhone] [Free- Angry Birds Seasons HD]

Angry Birds Seasons for iPhone, iPad gets a Valentine’s Day update is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

We’re getting a bunch of tips about the new greenpois0n RC 5 untethered Jailbreak working on the Verizon iPhone under iOS 4.2.6 but nothing we feel comfortable confirming right now. If you’ve gotten your Verizon iPhone and put it through greenpois0n let us know how it worked for you and we’ll update with more information as it comes in.

UPDATE: @pod2g tweeted that greenpois0n RC5.4 is now online for Verizon iPhone.

If you want to Jailbreak but aren’t sure how we’ve got a complete greenpois0n how-to ready and waiting for you as well as a Jailbreak Starters Guide to get you going. If you need extra help or trouble-shooting then head on over to our Jailbreak Forum.

Updated: Verizon iPhone iOS 4.2.6 Jailbreak via greenpois0n RC 5? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Well folks the mythical and elusive white iPhone 4 is popping up yet again and this time as a shelf price at Best Buy. According to Engadget they received pictures from a Houston area Best Buy which shows a shelf price tag of $599.99 for an AT&T 16GB white iPhone 4 off-contract (same price as the black version).

The white iPhone 4 has been popping up in news a lot lately and it seems as if evidence of its arrival into users hands (hopefully soon) is getting stronger and stronger. It feels a little late into the game but there are still new users and users who will be willing to make the switch from black to white to get access to this seemingly mythical device. Will you be one of them or are you just waiting for the iPhone 5?

[ Engadget ]

White iPhone 4 shelf price shows up at Best Buy, launching soon? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

TiPb checks out the best, most must-have apps for former Android/Droid users to load up as soon as you get your new iPhone 4

Switching from Droid or another Android device like the Samsung Facinate to the iPhone — maybe the new Verizon iPhone? — and curious which are the best, most must-have apps you need to make yourself feel at home? Well read on for TiPb's top 5 most recommended, most must-have apps to get your Android experience maximized on iPhone.

Google Mobile (Voice search + Google Goggles)

Unlike Android, iPhone doesn’t (yet) have broad and deeply integrated voice features in iOS. While there’s some Voice Control commands for making calls and playing music, that’s about it. Enter Google Mobile which not only adds voice search but also bundles in Google Goggles functionality. From location and maps to contacts and the web to most anything you can say or point your iPhone 4 camera at, Google Mobile gets you answers and fast. [Free - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• Siri was bought by Apple for a reason. If you’re in the US, Siri is your voice-activated artificially intelligent assistant. [Free - iTunes link]
• Vlingo not only lets you use your voice to call or search but tweet on Twitter and update your status on Facebook. [Free with in-app purchases - iTunes link]

Google Voice

Yes Google Voice is finally available for the iPhone. MInd you, it’s still US only but if you want the app you probably have an account already. It’s not as deeply integrated as Android but it has all the features you know and love, including push notifications for new SMS text and voicemail messages, listen and/or read voicemail, Google Voice number displayed as Caller ID, access to your iPhone contacts, and it will run in the background under iOS 4 or later. [Free - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• Line2 isn’t free but it is business-centric with full on VoIP functionality, cheap rates, and international availability. [Subscription - iTunes Link]
• Skype lets you make free VoIP calls between devices/computers — including video calls! — and cheap calls to landline. Free/credits – iTunes link]

Mailroom (Gmail)

You can access your Gmail account via IMAP or with full push via ActiveSync right from Apple’s built-in Mail app and while you’ll get unified inbox and threaded messages you won’t get Stars and you won’t get labels. Likewise Gmail.com won’t give you the ability to access contacts or view attachments. Enter Mailroom, essential the Gmail.com webapp inside a native iPhone app wrapper that gives you most of the best of both worlds. (See our tip on using Mailroom for a better iPhone Gmail experience.) [$2.99 - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• Google Mobile, mentioned above, gives you push notification for your Gmail. [Free - iTunes link]
• Boxcar not only gives you push notification for Gmail but will open it for you in Mailroom. [Free - iTunes link]

Waze (Google Navigation)

Google hasn’t yet made a version of their free Google Navigation app for iPhone but Waze provides a free crowd-sourced alternative. It’s full on voice, turn-by-turn directions that learns as you drive and will even let you munch tokens and reward you for your contributions. Yes, it’s navigation gone social. [Free - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• NAVIGON MobileNavigator if you want to go up to a premium navigation experience with all the onboard maps and bells and whistles that come with it. [$39.99 - iTunes link]
• AT&T Navigator, powered by TeleNav, keeps your maps online, your downloads small, and is subscription based so your upfront costs are much less. [Subscription - iTunes link]

Safari (Porn and everything else)

Apple’s iTunes App Store is curated and Steve Jobs says that’s to protect you from porn. He also says the Android Market is a porn store. He neglects to mention iPhone has pretty much the best browser in the mobile space (Flash aside) and the web, it be filled with porn. It also be filled with pretty much everything else, including many awesome Google web apps like Google Docs that work just great in Safari. If you can’t find something on the App Store, launch Safari, hit the Google search box (irony!) and chances are you’ll find it on the web. [Built in]

Also check out:

• Skyfire is a browser that does server-side translation of Flash to iPhone-friendly H.264 so if you ever think you’re missing your favorite Flash video, this could fix you up. [$2.99 - iTunes link]
• Apple’s iPhone web app directory has a great list of web apps should you want to find a bunch more. [Web link]

More Google

Google has a bunch of apps in the App Store, including Google Places, Google Latitude, Google Authenticator, Panoramio, and Google Earth. If you really miss your Google fix, check them out. [Free - iTunes link]

More iPhone apps and games

Once you’ve gotten that Google fix and you’re ready for the best of the rest, check out TiPb’s Top 10 iPhone apps where we list off some of the best, most must-have social networking, communications/IM, productivity, music/internet radio, photography, utility, and location apps, along with casual, time management, and hard core games. We’ve also got an ongoing series of top app lists in different categories and we’re adding more all the time, so keep your eyes peeled!

Bonus: Jailbreak

If you’ve been rooting your Droid or Android and don’t want Apple telling you which apps and hacks you can install on your device, allow us to introduce you to the wonderful world of Jailbreak. We’re talking the Cydia Store, themes and customizations, notifications and easy settings access, and pretty much everything else you can think of and Apple would never approve. Check out our Jailbreak Starters Guide to get you going, our Top 5 Jailbreak apps and Top 5 Jailbreak themes for some of our favorites, and head on over to the Jailbreak Forum for expert help and discussion.

Your top apps?

So there you have them, our top 5 best iPhone apps for Droid/Android switchers. Be sure to check out our Picks of the Week and iPhone App and Games Forum for more recommendations, and if we missed any of your favorites leave them in the comments below!

Top 5 iPhone apps for Droid/Android switchers is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

TiPb checks out the best, most must-have apps for former BlackBerry users to load up as soon as you get your new iPhone 4

Switching from BlackBerry Storm, Bold, Tour, Curve, or Torch to iPhone — maybe the new Verizon iPhone? — and curious which are the best, most must-have apps you need to make yourself feel at home? Well read on for TiPb's top 5 most recommended, most must-have apps to get your Android experience maximized on iPhone.

Google Sync (Push email, calendar, contacts)

While you’re giving up BIS and BES, you don’t have to give up your addiction to super fast push email, calendar, or contacts and since Google has licensed ActiveSync, you can even get it for free! If you already have a free Gmail or paid Google Account, you’re good to go. Just set it up as an Exchange account on your iPhone and get your push on. If you don’t already have Gmail, go grab an account and then set it up as Exchange. You can even forward your old account or have Gmail fetch it for you so your transition is smooth as silk. [Built-in - Gmail link]

Also check out:

• MobileMe is Apple’s paid push email, calendar, and contacts service that also gives you iDisk cloud storage, photo galleries, and a host of Mac features. [$99/year - MobileMe link]
• Good for Enterprise is for those who want extra secure Exchange or Lotus email on their iPhone. (You’ll need Good on your IT sever side as well.) [Free - iTunes link]
  

Kik (BBM)

BBM put the crack in CrackBerry and leaving it behind is hard to say the least. The good news is you’re leaving a BlackBerry locking but now have access to cross-platform replacements like Kik. It gives you all the real-time sent, received, and read status you crave and if you get your friends onboard, you’ll never miss BBM again — and can probably save on SMS text messages as well. [$0.99 - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• WhatsApp Messenger is similar to to Kik and works on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Nokia. [$0.99 - iTunes link]
• BeeJive isn’t BBM but it is IM and if you’d rather use something more universal, that supports AIM/MobileMe, MSN/Windows Live, Yahoo!, GoogleTalk, Facebook, MySpace and Jabber [$9.99 - iTunes link]
  

Boxcar (Notifications)

While we can’t turn the iPhone 4 LED flash into a notification light for you (yet!) a lot of apps come with built-in push notifications and local notifications that will give you popup alerts, badge number counts, and sounds. Boxcar takes this to the next level with push notifications for Twitter, Facebook, Email, RSS, Growl, Github, Google Voice, Google Buzz, App Recommendation, and more. [Free - iTunes link]

Reeder (RSS/News Feeds)

BlackBerry 6 includes feeds and while that’s far from being a mainstream feature power users will want their RSS — enter Reeder. It syncs with Google Reader accounts and it’s lightning fast. Just tap the app open and start browsing, reading, and sharing your feeds. [$2.99 - iTunes link]

Also check out:

• NetNewsWire isn’t as fast but it’s widely popular and it’s free! [Free - iTunes link]
• Twitter might sound crazy but many sites push their RSS to Twitter so you can follow them or makes lists of your favorite sites and get your news that way. [Free - iTunes link]
  

Jailbreak [Themes/settings]

The App Store has 350,000 apps but due to Apple’s policies there are just some low-level, system-side things they just can’t do. Jailbreak — which “breaks” open the root “jail” and lets you install non-Apple approved apps is an option. With Jailbreak you have access to the Cydia Store, themes and customizations, notifications and easy settings access, and pretty much everything else you can think of and Apple would never approve. Check out our Jailbreak Starters Guide to get you going, our Top 5 Jailbreak apps and Top 5 Jailbreak themes for some of our favorites, and head on over to the Jailbreak Forum for expert help and discussion.

More iPhone apps and games

Once you’ve gotten that Google fix and you’re ready for the best of the rest, check out TiPb’s Top 10 iPhone apps where we list off some of the best, most must-have social networking, communications/IM, productivity, music/internet radio, photography, utility, and location apps, along with casual, time management, and hard core games. We’ve also got an ongoing series of top app lists in different categories and we’re adding more all the time, so keep your eyes peeled!

Your top apps?

So there you have them, our top 5 best iPhone apps for Droid/Android switchers. Be sure to check out our Picks of the Week and iPhone App and Games Forum for more recommendations, and if we missed any of your favorites leave them in the comments below!

Top 5 iPhone apps for BlackBerry switchers is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Readers who pre-ordered a Verizon iPhone last week are starting to receive them! We’ve got a bunch of folks in our forums either eagerly awaiting the FedEx/UPS truck or already enjoying their new Verizon iPhones. If you’ve gotten yours let us know the when’s and where’s in comments!

And if you just got your new Verizon iPhone, we’ve got you covered:

• iPhone Starters Guide so you can get setup and get going as fast as possible!
• How to transfer data from your old AT&T iPhone to your new Verizon iPhone
• Top 5 iPhone apps for BlackBerry switchers
• Top 5 iPhone apps for Droid/Android switchers
• Top 10 apps for your iPhone 4 (All the current must-have apps and games)

[Picture via TiPb Forum member occb2]

Verizon iPhone starting to arrive! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Verizon has a long history of crippling aGPS on other smartphones so it’s certainly understandable that people are concerned about the Verizon iPhone and its ability to access location. For years BlackBerry users have struggled to unlock their GPS on Verizon. Windows Mobile users have suited up for war in efforts to free their GPS from Verizon. Most recently the Palm Pre Plus had aGPS locked out for users who didn’t subscribe to VZ Navigator. It’s a long, sad, ugly history, so we get it — you’re worried about your Verizon iPhone Maps, your check-in apps like 4Square and Gwolla, your Facebook Places and restaurant finders, and your turn-by-turn navigation that doesn’t have VZ in its name.

But here’s the thing — none of those locked down GPS chips were on phones made by Apple. Just take a look at the Verizon iPhone — no Verizon logo sticker, no pre-installed, indelible Verizon CrApps, no indication Verizon had any input on the iPhone whatsoever beyond ensuring it made calls on their network.

So while we won’t know for sure until the TiPb nation gets a ton of Verizon iPhones in hand and puts them through their full location paces, I can’t imagine a scenario where Apple and their App Store ecosystem lets that happen. (Even if Verizon demanded it, Apple would just escalate to Steve, and I don’t think even Big Red could take that level of hurt.) Either way we’re keeping track of the aGPS functionality in our Verizon iPhone Forum so jump in there or leave a comment below and let us know what you think

Will Verizon cripple iPhone aGPS? I doubt it. is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Switching from an AT&T iPhone to a Verizon iPhone and curious how to transfer all your information, apps, and data over? Luckily Apple makes this process almost painless thanks to iTunes iTunes. Click through for a couple easy steps that will ensure all your AT&T iPhone data and settings get transferred over to your new Verizon iPhone smoothly.

If you’ve ever had to swap an iPhone out at an Apple store, you’re probably already familiar with this process. If not, follow these easy steps to copy data to your new phone. This process will save all your contacts, camera roll photos, apps, and settings into an iTunes backup for you.

1. Plug your current iPhone into your computer and open iTunes.

2. If it doesn’t start to sync automatically, click the Sync button. (You can alternately right click your device name in the navigation bar and click back up as well. Either way will work just fine.)

3. Unplug your current iPhone and plug in your new iPhone.
4. You’ll be asked to register your iPhone if you haven’t already.
5. iTunes should prompt you to do one of two things, set up as a new iPhone or restore from a backup. Choose to restore from a backup and select the backup you just made.

6. Once the restore is done your iPhone will reboot. When iTunes detects it again it will start to sync back any apps and games your old iPhone had installed.
7. Let iTunes do its thing. When you come back, your new phone should have all the same settings and data as your old one!

If you guys are switching, let us know how transferring your data worked out! Any issues with things transferring or did everything go smoothly?

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 news@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

Daily Tip: How to transfer data from your old AT&T iPhone to your new 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

Moscone Center has a “Corporate Meeting” scheduled for June 5 – June 9, 2011 which looks to be the only period long enough to fit in Apple’s annual WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) event where iPhone 5 and the final version of iOS 5 would likely be announced. Of course there’s always the possibility of misdirection or last-minute shuffling so until Apple opens up registration we won’t know for sure. Still, it’s something.

Given the typical keynote structure, we’d then be looking for Steve Jobs (or an assortment of Apple execs including Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall, etc.) to take the stage on Monday, June 6, a year and a day following the iPhone 4 announcement in 2010.

Yeah, the Verizon iPhone has barely started launching, we haven’t even gotten an iPad 2 announcement or iOS 5 beta preview yet, so it’s a little early to be dreaming about iPhone 5 but still…

[setteb.it via 9to5mac]

WWDC 2011, iPhone 5, iOS 5 GM to be announced June 5-9? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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