The Verizon iPhone
We’ve waited and waited, and now Apple and Verizon have made a million dreams come true: the iPhone is coming to Big Red. After talking up his new LTE network a bit, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed a CDMA (non-LTE) version of the iPhone 4 is coming to Verizon Wireless next month. Talks started way back in 2008, and the phone has been in testing for a year — it sounds like they wanted to get this one right. Current Verizon customers will be able to pre-order on February 3rd for the standard $200 price for the 16GB model on a two year agreement, $300 for the 32GB version — everyone else can order on February 10th (see it compared with AT&T’s iPhone 4). Just to clarify and put any wild rumors to bed, the phone is Verizon 3G (EV-DO) only, no 4G data or GSM roaming. It’s not a world phone or an AT&T + Verizon phone, it’s just a Verizon phone.
Outside of Verizon connectivity, the phone is basically unchanged, although Verizon’s CDMA network doesn’t support simultaneous voice and data as with the GSM version. It does have the new antenna design we were hearing about last week, but that’s just because CMDA requires a different configuration of antennas. (Apple says they didn’t go LTE just yet because first-gen chipsets would force unwanted design decisions, and customers want a Verizon device now.) That slight modification also equates to a slight bump in where the volume buttons and mute switch — a new case might be required. Software-wise the big innovation is five user WiFi hotspot functionality, something that’s standard on Android phones, while Apple has kept the iPhone only able to tether directly to one compute
Android 2.3 gets ported to the iPhone 3G, breaks hearts left and right
Android getting ported to the iPhone may be old news by now, but Android 2.3 (a.k.a. Gingerbread) getting ported to the iPhone? Well, that’s something… new, if entirely expected. As before, it’s the iPhone 3G doing the honors, and the port is still based on the iDroid project, which means you can hang onto iOS in a dual-boot configuration so you won’t be left in the cold when the less-than-stable port decides not to cooperate. And, yes, this once again means that the iPhone has gotten the latest version of Android before many Android devices have. Head on past the break for a video.
http://www.twitvid.com/embed.php?guid=6SWN3
Is Apple Planning A Holographic 3D TV?
If patents are to be believed, Apple is working on the creation of the world’s first glasses-free 3D display that would produce holographic images using a screen made up of “pixel-sized domes” that would be read differently by the human eye depending on where they’re viewing from.
The patent itself explains the technology like this:
An exceptional aspect of the invention is that it can produce viewing experiences that are virtually indistinguishable from viewing a true hologram. Such a “pseudo-holographic” image is a direct result of the ability to track and respond to observer movements.
By tracking movements of the eye locations of the observer, the left and right 3D sub-images are adjusted in response to the tracked eye movements to produce images that mimic a real hologram. The invention can accordingly continuously project a 3D image to the observer that recreates the actual viewing experience that the observer would have when moving in space around and in the vicinity of various virtual objects displayed therein. This is the same experiential viewing effect that is afforded by a hologram.
It’s not known at this time whether Apple would use this technology for 3D television or some other application. The company released a statement that it does not comment on patents.
OnLive demos Windows 7 on an iPad and Galaxy Tab, launches cloud computing tablet app
Flash on an iPad? No problem, and neither is QuickTime on a Samsung Galaxy Tab — assuming you’re running both from a virtualized Windows 7 PC using OnLive’s new app. OnLive may have originally pitched itself as a streaming games service, but founder Steve Perlman revised his ambitions at the D: Dive into Mobile conference today, showing off a host of Windows 7 programs (including 3D modeling software Maya, above) running on the pair of ARM-based tablets. Like always, OnLive requires a nearby server and fast internet connection to function adequately, and the apps themselves would need touch controls, but Perlman said it’s actually easier to deliver apps than games since they’re less sensitive to lag. OnLive didn’t provide a date when we can expect full cloud functionality, but you can get a sneak peek at a pared-down version right now — the brand-new OnLive Viewer app, which lets you spectate games in progress (and will eventually let you play them) is now available for iPad.
Mac App Store launching on December 13th
It’s no secret that the Mac App Store is launching soon. Jobs himself said that it would go live “within 90 days” back when the iOS-inspired App Store was announced on October 20th — that’s mid January, if the timeframe is carried to its fullest extent. Now we have AppleTell citing an “inside source” claiming that Apple is trying to launch the Mac App Store before Christmas, specifically targeting December 13th while telling developers to have their software ready by Monday, December 6th. Unfortunately, the Mac App Store also requires an OS update to end users to which MacRumors reminds us that the new OS X 10.6.6 has already been seeded to developers. So yeah, that’s a pretty aggressive timeline if true and could possibly be kicked off by a press event that would also birth Apple’s rumored recurring subscription billing model in support of Rupert Murdoch’s The Daily digital newspaper.
White iPhone 4 to land, finally, in Spring 2011
The white iPhone 4 saga is both long and treacherous. It’s a bit like a Shakespearean classic, with all the tragic twists and turns to toy at your emotions along the way.
Actually, come to think of it, it’s all rather tedious – so it really is like a Shakespeare play (alright Billy fans, back in your boxes, it’s only a joke).
But it is a tale that could be coming to an end pretty soon.
A photo has hit the web of some new Apple Store sign-age that clearly reads:
“The white iPhone 4 will be available in spring 2011.”
This backs up an Apple statement released back in October.
Apple first stated that the white handset would be hitting the shops by the end of July, a statement backed up by Apple in the UK originally.
Then it was delayed for a few weeks, before an announcement was made stating that: “white models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have continued to be more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected, and as a result they will not be available until later this year”.
Chances are though that Steve will be donning a turtle neck and taking to the stage in June 2011 to announce the next-gen iPhone. So white iPhone 4 owners would have had only a couple of months with their device still being cutting-edge.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Just use some Tipp-Ex if you’re really that bothered about having a white iPhone 4.
Apple iPad 2 to feature FaceTime and retina display?
The iPad 2 is coming, that we know.
But what it’s coming with is unclear. And whilst we could chuck a few guesses in of the hardware changes that are likely to be included, it’s much better to go on some inside info.
And that’s exactly what an Economy Daily News report is claiming to have, and it names five new features for the 2nd-generation iPad.
Those features are listed as:
- Video phone
- New display technology
- 3-axis gyroscope
- Better mobility
- USB connectivity
Video phone is a bit of a no brainer really. With FaceTime now on board Mac OS X and the latest iPod touch, it’s fairly obvious that Apple will want this on its tablet contender.
New display technology hints at a retina display for the iPad 2, and/or possibly Gorilla Glass.
The 3-axis gyroscope is on board the iPhone 4, so again, this seems like a shoe-in, but what could better mobility mean?
Perhaps it hints at a smaller form so it fits in your pocket. Not likely – it’s more conceivable that it’ll be lighter, and maybe include CDMA-GSM chip capabilities.
And we’ll leave you to work out what USB connectivity means.
iOS 4.2.1 Jailbreak hits with updated redsn0w
The Dev-Team Blog was just updated with a new redsn0w version 0.9.6b4 jailbreak (based on Geohot’s Limera1n bootrom exploit) for iOS 4.2.1. Unfortunately, iOS device owners won’t find jailbreaking as easy as navigating to a website. And the 4.2.1 jailbreak is currently “tethered” so owners of the iPhone 4, iPad, and newer iPhone 3GS and iPod touch models will have to reattach to a PC or Mac to boot into a jailbroken state each time your device loses power or needs a reboot. Those of you who rely on the ultrasn0w unlock should hold off for now — good advice for anyone not comfortable with terms like “SHSH blobs” or “Cydia.” Everyone else can hit up the link below with a detailed how-to provided by Redmond Pie.
iOS 4.2 available to download
Hold on to your hats fanboys, because iOS 4.2 has finally arrived.
If you plug your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into iTunes now, it should automatically prompt you to download the latest software for your iOS device – but if not you can always click “Check for Update” on your device page. You’ll need to be running the latest version of iTunes as well (10.1).
So what exactly does iOS 4.2 mean?
Well, apart from AirPlay, AirPrint, new device management capabilities and support for 25 additional languages, iOS 4.2 is also the first time that you’ve been able to multitask, create folders and get involved in all of the other iOS 4 goodness on your Apple tablet (the previous updated iPad software was version 3.2.2).
So, whilst you wait for iOS 4.2 to download and do its stuff on your iDevice, why not check out our guide: Read more 
iOS 4.2 reportedly delayed, iPad WiFi issues to blame
Sorry, Apple mobile device users, your first little pre-holidays gift has been delayed. Apple has reportedly canceled today’s expected iOS 4.2 release, the controversial one that might or might not be lacking AirPrint. We’d hoped to solve that particular mystery before the weekend, but it seems we’ll have to wait a little longer thanks to a serious looking connectivity bug plaguing the iPad. Many users of the Golden Master version of 4.2 reported that a WiFi connection could be established by their devices but, once made, they were unable to actually do anything on the ‘net, and not being able to do anything on the ‘net is what we like to call a Very Bad Thing. No word on exactly when a new version will be available, but it should still drop within the next few weeks.
