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Smartphone Antennas
RIM And Nokia Object To Apple's Comments Regarding Their Smartphone Products' Antennas
Apple says just 0.55% of iPhone Owners Have Reported Antenna Problems
I'm Actually Happy With My iPhone 4
Antennagate Fails To Feed The Mob
Are Smartphones a Waste of Money?
Mozilla's Firefox Home Lands in the App Store
Apple Greenlights Browserless Firefox App For iPhone
Get Firefox Home on Your iPhone
Phone Customers Lay Into Apple After iOS 4.0.1 Update Fails To Install
Another Melted Apple USB Cord, This Time On An iPad
Consumer Reports Still Won't Recommend iPhone 4
iPhone DSLR Prototype 1.0
New App Turns iPad Into A Second Monitor For Windows PCs
Tilt iPhone 4 Stand: Give Props To Your Phone
iPhone/iPad: Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2010 is Now Available Worldwide for All iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad Users
WATERWEAR case for iPad
ZAGG's invisibleSHIELD Offers Simple, Stylish Solutions for iPhone 4 Antenna Concerns
The Tech Night Owl: The iOS 4.0.1 Report
Smartphone Antennas
Apple says:
Every smartphone has a cellular antenna. And nearly every smartphone can lose signal strength if you hold it in a certain way. To demonstrate this, we tested iPhone 4 alongside other smartphones.
To read more, click here.
http://www.apple.com/antenna/
RIM And Nokia Object To Apple's Comments Regarding Their Smartphone Products' Antennas
Research In Motion principals Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie have issued a statement protesting Steve Jobs' comments on Blackberry antenna performance in his presentation to the press on Friday.
"Apple's attempt to draw RIM into Apple's self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple's claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public's understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple's difficult situation.
RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage.
One thing is for certain, RIM's customers don't need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple."
- Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie
Via CrackBerry blog:
http://snurl.com/zkq45
Nokia also took umbrage, saying in a statement:
"Antenna design is a complex subject and has been a core competence at Nokia for decades, across hundreds of phone models. Nokia was the pioneer in internal antennas; the Nokia 8810, launched in 1998, was the first commercial phone with this feature.
"Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying human behavior, including how people hold their phones for calls, music playing, web browsing and so on. As you would expect from a company focused on connecting people, we prioritize antenna performance over physical design if they are ever in conflict.
"In general, antenna performance of a mobile device/phone may be affected with a tight grip, depending on how the device is held. That s why Nokia designs our phones to ensure acceptable performance in all real life cases, for example when the phone is held in either hand. Nokia has invested thousands of man hours in studying how people hold their phones and allows for this in designs, for example by having antennas both at the top and bottom of the phone and by careful selection of materials and their use in the mechanical design."
See:
http://thenokiablog.com/2010/07/16/nokia-iphone-antenna/
Apple says just 0.55% of iPhone Owners Have Reported Antenna Problems
AppleInsider Staff reports:
Just 0.55 percent of all iPhone owners have called AppleCare with an antenna issue, and the return rate for the iPhone 4 has been 1.7 percent -- much less than the 6 percent seen with last year's iPhone 3GS, Apple said Friday.
For the full report, visit here:
http://snurl.com/zkfjn
I'm Actually Happy With My iPhone 4
Gizmodo says:
I am. I have no doubt about it. I had to buy an overpriced bumper to stop the reception issues. That sucked. But now I'm happy.
To read more, click here.
http://gizmodo.com/5588608/im-actually-happy-with-my-iphone-4
Antennagate Fails To Feed The Mob
OWC blogger Grant says:
We re not going to resummarize the whole Apple iPhone 4 Antenna press conference; every other tech blog has already done that, many of them in real time.
As OWC Mike H. said to me earlier today, it was eerie how some of what Steve said had been channeled in our post last night. Maybe that s because, being in the same industry, we live the same passions for serving our customers and creating (sorry Steve but it is a great line) insanely great products. I felt his comments today were spot on &and even his use of the word bulls(*)(*)(*) & well & that is kind of an old-school word and really does cut to the bone when calling it like it is.
One point he raised that I had in (but later removed from) my post last night was about Apple being an American company. Do any of the lynch mobs realize just how important Apple is to our economy and how many ancillary jobs (like yours truly for example) they help to create? I d say what was misquoted in the 1950 s by the president of GM, What s good for General Motors is good for the country. could be changed to a modern day and correct version of What has been good for our country has been good for Apple and vice versa.....
To read more, click here.
http://blog.macsales.com/6152-antennagate-fails-to-feed-the-mob
Are Smartphones a Waste of Money?
EnterpriseEfficiency's Matthew McKenzie says:
When AT&T dumped its all-you-can-eat smartphone data plans, the company insisted that most users wouldn't notice or care. And guess what? AT&T might be right.
The Nielsen Co. (yes, that Nielsen Company) recently analyzed the phone bills of more than 60,000 smartphone customers. It went through every line item on every bill and put together a fascinating look into exactly how people use their smartphones....
Millions of users consume NO data. You read that right -- Nielsen's analysis shows that one in four smartphone users consume exactly 0 MB of data per month.....
For the full report, visit here:
http://snurl.com/zkfqt
Mozilla's Firefox Home Lands in the App Store
Macworld's Marco Tabini reports:
Apple on Friday finally approved Firefox Home, an app developed by the Mozilla Foundation that allows users to sync and view their bookmarks, open tabs, and history between their iOS devices and the desktop version of the non-profit's flagship browser.
For the full report, visit here:
http://snurl.com/zkftz
Apple Greenlights Browserless Firefox App For iPhone
The Register's Kelly Fiveash reports:
Apple has approved an application submitted by Mozilla that syncs history, bookmarks and open tabs with versions of the open source outfit's Firefox running on desktop computers.
The Cupertino firm isn't keen on letting other browsers run on the Jesus Phone - but the Firefox Home app has, somewhat surprisingly, been given the thumbs up by Apple.
For the full report, visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/16/firefox_home_iphone_approved/
Get Firefox Home on Your iPhone
Mozilla's Stuart Parmenter says:
We are happy to announce that the wait is over.
Firefox Home, a free application, is now available for download on your iPhone or iPod Touch.
Firefox Home provides access to your Firefox desktop history, bookmarks and open tabs on your iPhone. Get up and go and have exactly what you are looking for on the Web on your iPhone or iPod Touch. Firefox Home uses your browser data, securely synced from Firefox on your desktop to the cloud, to let you search and browse quickly and efficiently. You can view the sites you want directly in Firefox Home, open them in Mobile Safari or share them with friends via email. Your Firefox data is private and only you have access to it.
For Quick Start directions, visit:
http://blog.mozilla.com/blog/2010/07/15/get-firefox-home-on-your-iphone/
How to set up Firefox Home on your iPhone:
http://snurl.com/zkgch
Phone Customers Lay Into Apple After iOS 4.0.1 Update Fails To Install
The Register's Kelly Fiveash reports:
iPhone customers are struggling to install Apple s latest software patch and have been grumbling about the problems on Cupertino's support forums.
For the full report, visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/16/iphone_4_ios_update_gripes/
Another Melted Apple USB Cord, This Time On An iPad
CrunchGear's Devin Coldewey reports:
Last week we heard about an iPhone 4 cord that flared up, scorching the device and melting the cord. This week it s an iPad; TechReport reader Forge says he woke up at 5 in the morning to the smell of burnt plastic. The USB connector was melting and the iPad was extremely hot, so much so that when he grabbed it to disconnect the cord, he immediately dropped it on the ground.
For the full report, visit here:
http://snurl.com/zkgf6
Consumer Reports Still Won't Recommend iPhone 4
Electronista reports:
Consumer Reports has already shot down Apple's offer of free iPhone 4 cases to solve the phone's reception issues. The testing magazine still declined to give a recommendation as it didn't believe the program reached far enough. It was a "good first step" but wasn't universal and had a set expiry date, CR said....
For the full report, visit here:
http://snurl.com/zkgg8
iPhone DSLR Prototype 1.0
iPhone DSLR's Jeremy Salvador says:
Here are Photos/Pictures of my iPhone DSLR Prototype 1.0 This is my first attempt at putting together an iPhone DSLR. You might ask & Why pair an iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, or iPhone 4 with a DSLR lens? Why not!
Apple has updated its iPhone 4 camera and now has 5-megapixels still frames, HD video, and an LED flash. Put that together with a DSLR lens, and you ve got a device that can shoot amazing images/video with SLR lenses, edit them on the fly, and share them on the internet all in one device....
The mount currently fits only Canon EF lenses. Eventually, with the right adaptors, I should be able to fit Canon FD lenses, Nikon lenses, and M42 lenses....
The housing is a solid piece of anodized billet aluminum. It weigths about 1.1 lbs, has two handle grips, and 4 x 1/4 3-20 female threaded mounting holes so you can actually screw this thing into a standard tripod. The housing can fit any iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, or iPhone 4.
For more information, visit:
http://iphonedslr.com/blog/archives/73fb
New App Turns iPad Into A Second Monitor For Windows PCs
Bartels Media GmbH announces MaxiVista 4.0, the multi monitor App that can turn an iPad into an additional monitor for Windows computers. MaxiVista is a pure software solution and requires no further Hardware. Instead of using a cable connection, MaxiVista transmits the expanded virtual desktop, digitally and without loss of quality, over a normal Wireless LAN network connection to the iPad. Swapping between portrait and landscape can be done by turning the iPad.
Program windows can be shifted seamlessly from PC and on to the high-end screen of the iPad to alleviate the hassle of swapping between overlapping applications. Photoshop color palettes, toolbars, messenger programs and file folders windows can be moved to the iPad screen to create room on the main monitor.
MaxiVista offers a portable Dual Monitor Solution for Mobile PC users underway. The application offers a display frame rate that, although wireless, closely matches that of a conventional monitor. Due to a special data compression, the CPU and network load stay mostly within single digits.
The new graphic card standard, WDDM, that was introduced with Windows Vista prohibited the use of multiple graphic cards from different manufacturers on one computer. MaxiVista is the first application of its kind to overcome these limitations and functions with Windows XP as well as with Windows Vista and Windows 7. The MaxiVista video drivers are digitally signed and therefore compatible with 32 and 64 Bit operating systems. Swapping between portrait and landscape can be done by turning the iPad.
Supported Languages:
(*) US English and German
Device Requirements:
(*) Compatible with iPad
(*) Requires iOS 3.2 or later
(*) 0.2 MB
MaxiVista 4.0 is $9.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Utilities category. An OSX version is on the way.
MaxiVista 4.0:
http://www.maxivista.com/ipad_monitor.htm
Purchase and Download:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/maxivista/id380146095?mt=8
YouTube Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhbGgLOxc-Y
Screenshots:
http://www.maxivista.com/ipad/screenshots.htm
Tilt iPhone 4 Stand: Give Props To Your Phone
[Press Release]
Your shiny new iPhone 4 deserves only the coolest accessories. Look no further than the Quirky Tilt, a funky new bumper-style case and stand that protects your phone in style, while offering cool details to boot.
Features:
- Protects the sensitive sides and edges of your iPhone.
- Modern cut-out design.
- Durable plastic body, with soft rubber front face.
- Faceted, easy-to-grip sides, pinched in for easy horizontal cord wrapping.
- Easy-to-use stand function: bottom portion of the case hinges back and snaps at 90 degrees to hold your phone in landscape and portrait modes perfect for watching media or using the new FaceTime feature.
Available in classic black and a fun white/purple combo.
MSRP $30.00
Presale: $28.00
For more information, visit:
http://www.quirky.com/products/50-Tilt-iPhone-4-Bumper-Case
iPhone/iPad: Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2010 is Now Available Worldwide for All iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad Users
[Press Release]
One of the world's most trusted encyclopedias with newly updated content and hundreds of new images and maps, faster article search, a host of new features and learning tools directly on the latest Apple mobile devices.
Educational publisher Paragon Software Group announces the immediate release of Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2010 2.0 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The new concise version of one of the world s most trusted encyclopedias includes the latest content, nearly 2,000 new maps and images, categorization of search results, new search options, and new interface features. The Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2010 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad is the most reliable and comprehensive learning and reference source of information on the go, requiring no Internet access and minimal memory space:
http://snurl.com/zkgl5
Prepared by the editors of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2010 delivers over 25,000 thoroughly researched and fact-checked entries covering art, history, geography, politics, technology, science, sports, pop culture, and other subjects. Watch topics come to life with thousands of colorful images and maps. Whether you are wondering where Wall Street got its name or when the excavation of Pompeii began, you will find that Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2010 is the perfect information resource for home, school and the office. Don t remember the exact spelling of a name, place or event? The advanced wildcard search feature allows you to replace unknown letters with symbols, and instantly find the word you re looking for.
New in Version 2.0:
• Enhanced search results
• Nearly 2,000 additional images
• Categorization of search results
• New interface features
Additional Features:
• No internet connection required information accessible anywhere, anytime
• On this Day feature highlights what happened on any calendar day in history
• Browser-like user interface
• Share articles with friends via e-mail
• View hyperlinks between articles
• Receive random articles by shaking your device
• Instant access to all your Favorite articles
• Suggested Searches appear at startup screen
• Search History for last 100 articles
Compatibility:
iOS 3- iOS 4
The Britannica Concise Encyclopedia 2010 for iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad is available for 19.99 USD (15.99 EUR) via download from the AppStore:
http://snurl.com/zkgl5
Follow Mobile Products on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Paragon_Mobile
Find Mobile Products on Facebook:
http://snurl.com/zkpam
WATERWEAR case for iPad
This Waterwear case for iPad / Tablet PC is a carrying case made from a durable, transparent material with a triple zipper design to lock iPad or a tablet PC safely inside and keep it away from water and dust. WATERWEAR uses a thin yet strong clear material enabling control of the device through the case. Bring it into the kitchen or into the bath and enjoy videos, web browsing and music wherever you are.
The locking mechanism includes a combination of zippers, velcro and snaps to guard your device from the outside elements. An iPad optimized insert spacer is included for keeping iPad stable inside. There is extra space inside to accommodate a small pocket WiFi device or other items.
Use Waterwear case in the kitchen to search for recipes. Control the touch screen without worrying about getting iPad wet or dirty. Bring it with you when you take a bath or go outdoors by the pool or to the beach. The convenient strap lets you hang Waterwear case from a hook or carry it around with you on your shoulder or neck. The strap is removable and the length of the strap can be adjusted.
This case is suitable for / Compatibility (please see its specifications carefully):
- Apple iPad
- Tablet PC
- UMPC
- eee PC (Netbook)
- DVD Player
- eBook
Specifications:
- Size: 250(W) x 360(H) x 11(D)mm
- Weight: approximately 150g
- Strap length: approximately 48cm
US$49.99
For more information, visit:
http://snurl.com/zkqsl
ZAGG's invisibleSHIELD Offers Simple, Stylish Solutions for iPhone 4 Antenna Concerns
[Press Release]
ZAGG Inc. (http://www.ZAGG.com), producer of electronics accessories for protecting and enhancing the mobile experience, including the popular invisibleSHIELD, ZAGGskins, and ZAGGsparq brands, has completed independent testing to determine whether their protective skins products help improve antenna concerns associated with the Apple iPhone 4.
Based on conclusions from internal tests, independent lab tests and research with consumers in the wireless industry, both the invisibleSHIELD and ZAGGskins help prevent loss of signal strength that has been attributed to placing the hand over the antennas on the lower left-hand corner of the phone. More information about the testing and links to ZAGG s products can be found at ZAGG.com/iPhone4.
"We are thrilled to offer this solution to help customers get the most out of their iPhone 4," says Brian Packer, VP of Marketing for ZAGG. "Nobody wants to hide that amazing device behind a bulky case just to save the signal, and by using the invisibleSHIELD or ZAGGskins, they don t need to."
The invisibleSHIELD is ZAGG's military-grade, virtually invisible and indestructible film that protects thousands of gadgets from bumps, scratches, and dings with a lifetime guarantee. ZAGGskins are high-res images printed on high-grade vinyl and fused with the invisibleSHIELD. Both the invisibleSHIELD Full Body Maximum Coverage design and a ZAGGskin design includes strips to cover the antennas/stainless steel frame of the iPhone 4. ZAGG also offers Complete Sides Only designs for both the invisibleSHIELD and ZAGGskins.
The invisibleSHIELD Full Body Maximum Coverage sells for $24.99, and the ZAGGskin sells for $19.99. The Complete Sides Only Coverage specifically addresses the antenna concern and is available separately for $9.99. ZAGG products are available online at ZAGG.com or through select ZAGG retail partners.
For more information about ZAGG or any of their products, visit:
http://ZAGG.com
The Tech Night Owl: The iOS 4.0.1 Report
When someone predicted Apple would release that highly-anticipated fixer-upper Thursday for at least some antenna-related issues on the latest and greatest iPhone, I was skeptical. How could anyone outside of Apple possibly know. Yet a Greek-language site, iPhone Hellas, had it right on, all the way.
Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://www.technightowl.com/2010/07/the-ios-4-0-1-report/
Notes: You can also access our new RSS feed, available at:
http://www.technightowl.com/rss
Or our new Atom feed at:
http://www.technightowl.com/atom
Tags: iPhone ď iPhone News ď
