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Entries from June 7, 2009 - June 13, 2009

Tuesday
Jun092009

iPhone 3GS - All the specs, Prices and Features you need to know

Speed The "S" stands for "SPEED!" And according to Apple, it is faster launching applications or rendering Web pages.

• The iPhone 3GS has a new processor built-in. Apple claims that it is up to two times faster than the previous generation: Launching messages is 2.1 faster, load the NY Times in Safari: 2.9 times faster. It also consumes less, which has an impact on the improved battery life.

Camera This is one of the strong points of the iPhone 3GS, according to Apple. They increased the resolution to 3 megapixels, which—judging from the shots they showed-seems much better quality under all conditions.

• 3 Megapixels sensor. • New camera, with auto focus, auto exposure, and auto white balance. • You can also tap to focus, changing white balance in the process. That is really neat, if you ask me. • Special macro and low light modes. • The camera also supports photo and video geotagging. • Any application can access all the camera functions now.

 

• It supports video, 30 frames per second VGA with auto focus, auto white balance, and auto exposure. • You can trim the video shot just using your finger, then share it via MMS, email, MobileMe and YouTube.

Connectivity The other part of the "S" is the support for the faster 7.2 Mbps 3G standard, which in theory will deliver data faster to your iPhone.

• Three band UMTS/HSDPA. • Four band GSM/EDGE. • Wi-Fi 802.11b/g. • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Graphics • The new iPhone 3GS includes new 3D graphics support in hardware. This means faster and more complicated 3D games. • Same 3.5-inch widescreen multitouch display, but this time it has a fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating. I wonder if it will withstand a full frontal Shake Shack burger attack.

Design

• Same design as before, including the glossy finish of the back (so much for all the rumors about the matte back.) • Same size as the old iPhone 3G: 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 inches. • The weight increases a bit: One ounce to 4.8 ounces (135 grams vs 133 grams). • Greener materials: Arsenic-free glass, BDF-free, Mercury-free LCD.

New special features • It has a magnetometer, which works with a Compass application, third parties, and it is integrated into the new Google maps app, showing your orientation with a small semitransparent cone. • Voice control. You can now talk with your iPhone, Enterprise-style. You can instruct it to play similar songs to the one you are playing, or call people. • Nike + support built in. • Supports accessibility features, like zooming on text, inverting video, and voice over when you touch whatever text is on screen.

Battery life • One of the more important new features is the increased battery life. • According to Apple, you will get up to 12 hours of talk time on 2G and 5 on 3G, with a up to 300 hour standby time. • On 3G, it will deliver 5 hours of internet use. • On Wi-Fi, Internet goes up to 9 hours. • Video playback is 10 hours vs 30 hours for audio.

 

Price and availability • $199 for 16GB version. • $299 for 32GB version. • Available on June 19th.

If you are "a valued AT&T customer," AT&T offers an "early iPhone upgrade with a new 2-yr commitment and an $18 upgrade fee." The price? $399.00 for the 16GB iPhone 3G S and $499.00 for the 32GB iPhone 3G S. It gets worse: For non-qualified customers, including existing AT&T customers who want to upgrade from another phone or replace an iPhone 3G, the price with a new two-year agreement is $499 (8GB), $599 (16GB), or $699 (32GB).

apple.com/iphone

Tuesday
Jun092009

When is iPhone OS 3.0 Coming out? June 17!!!

Apple senior vice president of iPhone software Scott Forstall used Monday's WWDC keynotewith the news that iPhone users have waited months to hear:

The new iPhone 3.0 OS will be released on June 17, 2009. iPhone 3.0 will be a free release for all iPhone customers -- both original iPhone users and iPhone 3G users will be able to download it at no charge once it's released. iPod touch customers can download the new release for $10, and it will work on first- and second-generation iPod touch models. And iPhone software developers will be able to download the new release on Monday -- it's gone "golden master" today.

Forstall used most of his time to talk about and show off some of the 100 new features in iPhone OS 3.0, many of which were first discussed at a press event in Cupertino last March. He was aided by a long parade of iPhone developers who showed off their latest wares. Many of the new features in iPhone 3.0 have been talked about before -- Cut, Copy, and Paste, for example.

Landscape mode in all key applications, including Mail, Notes and Messages. Spotlight support across the entire device, and ubiquitous searching. Peer-to-peer Bluetooth-based multiplayer gaming, push notification, in-app store support and other capabilities factored into demonstrations showing off iPhone 3.0's new features, as well. Forstall also delved deeper into some capabilities in the new operating system, and took a couple of digs at Apple's United States cellular partner, AT&T, in the process.

Multimedia Messaging Support (MMS) has been, since the iPhone's first release, a common request from iPhone users and people considering a switch to an iPhone -- it's a capability many cell phone users take for granted. Unfortunately, MMS appears that iPhone users in the United States will be waiting longer.

Forstall noted that while iPhone OS 3.0 is capable of MMS, it requires carrier support to implement. Twenty-nine carriers in 76 countries will support MMS at the time of iPhone 3.0's launch, according to Forstall. AT&T, Apple's U.S. carrier partner, isn't among them, at least not initially. AT&T will be ready to support MMS "later this summer," according to Forstall.

That news that elicited boos from the crowd. Tethering is another feature without AT&T. Tethering describes the ability for a Mac or PC to share the iPhone's Internet connection. This feature is especially handy for mobile travelers who don't want to be tied to the limited range of a Wi-Fi hotspot, and who haven't purchased a 3G data card for their laptop. Especially given the absence of ExpressCard expansion slots on Apple's refreshed 15-inch MacBook Pro line, this will be a bone of contention for some users. iPhone 3.0's tethering works over USB or Bluetooth, and works on Mac OS X and Windows. But in another slight to AT&T, Apple listed dozens of carriers that will support this feature, and AT&T was notably absent from the list.

"Find My Phone" is a new feature in iPhone 3.0 that helps you locate your iPhone if you've misplaced it. It's specifically for MobileMe customers -- you can log in to MobileMe and it will show you where you left your phone. You can send a message to the phone, and will play an alert, even if you left the phone in silent mode. What's more, remote wipe isn't a feature just for system administrators anymore -- "Find My Phone" will you erase all your data, if your iPhone falls into the wrong hands. The new iPhone OS supports HTTP-based streaming audio and video that will pick the right bit-rate depending on your phone's data connection quality.

Autofill has been added for the Mobile Safari software, to save you from having to fill out forms manually. Another hotly-anticipated capability for the iPhone is turn-by-turn GPS-based directions. To that end, TomTom demonstrated an iPhone 3.0 application that delivers real TomTom navigation on the iPhone. What's more, the software also works with a cradle device that suction-cups to your vehicle's window. It's more than just a holder -- it securely docks the iPhone, and can enhance the iPhone's GPS capabilities, and give you hands-free calling capabilities, power and a loudspeaker. TomTom plans to release both this summer, with a range of maps.

Tuesday
Jun092009

Palm Pre - 26Min Video demo

Sunday
Jun072009

Play him off, Keyboard Cat: Michael Arrington Pwned - TWiT Live

Michael Arrington gets waaaaay out of line and becomes a complete troll! In my mind Leo Laporte loses his cool, and he has every right to! But Thank god! ...keyboard cat is there to the rescue.

Douchbag of the year (Michael Arrington) Leo FTW

Sunday
Jun072009

Zune HD - Video: Hands on with Zune HD

What we know so far

The Zune HD is going to rock it this fall, taking on the media giant of the 21st century, the apple iPod touch. The iPod touch is still so popular, I cant even make a blog post about its rival, without mentioning the iTouch itself!

We know that it will come with features, the iPod touch owners will be gealouse of no doubt! The Zune HD is set to feature a multitouch (capacitive) OLED screen in a 16:9 aspect ratio and will have a TV out port on the side (apparently HDMI).

Coming in 16 and 32GB versions, the device will also support wireless syncing to your computer. Some even speculate the PMP will support 3D Xbox games, if the Zune HD will actually use an Nvidia's Tegra chipset!

The new details also mention a Web browser on the Zune HD, which in turn supports multitouch. No word on what kind of browser this will be, but let's hope it won't be anything similar to Internet Explorer on Windows Mobile.

As previously reported, the Zune HD is set to launch this fall (probably September) with new details of international availability in Canada, the U.K, and France.

The Video