Jul 20

Apple Announces iPhone 4, iPad International Launch Dates

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Electronics giant Apple today announced that it will start selling its new device- the iPhone 4 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland from July 30th. Apple was set to start selling the iPhone 4 in South Korea also but it has been delayed slightly as the electronics giant is waiting for Seoul’s approval for the sale of the smartphone.

Not only iPhone 4, Apple’s tablet PC, the iOS-powered iPad will also go on sale in nine more countries from Friday, July 23. The new countries are Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Singapore. Interested buyers in these countries can visit any Apple’s retail stores or Apple Authorized Resellers to buy any of the six iPad models.

These nine join existing countries Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S., which means that the hugely popular device will now be available in nineteen countries. Apple added that it would start selling the iPad some more country before the end of this year.
In May, Apple announced that it had sold two million iPads in the first two months since its debut. Apple is yet to announce the sales figure of the iPad since then. The Cupertino-based firm is scheduled to announce its third quarter financial results for 2010 tomorrow and it is expected that the company would also announce the sales figure of iPad tomorrow.

Source from: www.usanewsweek.com

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Jul 19

Steve Jobs grits teeth, solves the iPhone 4 ‘crisis’

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Apple CEO Steve Jobs likely quieted the outrage over the antenna issues surrounding the iPhone 4, but he sure didn’t have fun doing it.

A clearly annoyed Jobs took the stage at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino last Friday to announce that all iPhone 4 users would be receiving a free case in order to solve reception issues caused by the phone’s exterior-antenna design.

Apple’s first response to the outcry was to change the way it displayed signal strength on the iPhone in order to give users more confidence in the accuracy of the signal, but Jobs acknowledged during his announcement that internal testing showed the iPhone 4 dropped more calls–albeit by a small margin–than the previous model, the iPhone 3GS.

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Jul 16

Apple Is Not Expected to Recall Troubled iPhone

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As Apple prepared to address the mounting controversy surrounding the antenna of the iPhone 4, one thing appeared clear: the company does not plan to recall the popular device.

A person with direct knowledge of Apple’s plans said it would not announce a recall at a press conference scheduled for Friday at its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. The person was not authorized to speak for Apple and asked to remain anonymous.

The iPhone 4’s antenna is built into a steel bracket that surrounds the device. Soon after the phone went on sale, buyers complained that holding it a certain way caused reception problems. On Thursday, Apple denied a report in Bloomberg BusinessWeek that a senior Apple engineer and antenna expert had warned Steven P. Jobs, the chief executive, and other senior managers about problems with the antenna design last year. It did not comment further on the controversy.

One person with direct knowledge of the phone’s design said Thursday that the iPhone 4 exposed a longstanding weakness in the basic communications software inside Apple’s phones and that the reception problems were not caused by an isolated hardware flaw.

Instead, the problems emerged in the complex interaction between specialized communications software and the antenna, said the person, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.

The person said the problems were longstanding but had been exposed by the design of the iPhone 4. All cellphones can be affected by the way a hand grips the phone, but well-designed communications software compensates for a variety of external factors and prevents calls from dropping, the person said.

Mr. Jobs did not learn about the software problem until after the iPhone 4 shipped last month, the person said.

The glitch could presumably be fixed with a software update, and it appears to be unrelated to one that affected the display of the phone’s signal strength.

Two weeks ago, Apple said that while looking into customer complaints about reception, it had discovered that a longstanding software bug was causing the iPhone 4 and its predecessors to display signal strength incorrectly. It promised a fix, which it released Thursday. But Apple continued to say that the iPhone 4 had better wireless performance than any previous iPhone.

Apple’s headaches mounted on Monday after Consumer Reports called into question the veracity of Apple’s response. The magazine said its testing had led it to conclude that the iPhone 4 suffered from a hardware design flaw. Consumer Reports said it could not recommend the device to its readers until Apple fixed the problem. In a seeming contradiction, Consumer Reports also said that despite the flaw, the iPhone 4 was the best smartphone it had tested.

Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, wrote an open letter to Mr. Jobs on Thursday demanding that Apple give customers a “permanent fix” to the problem at no cost.

Source from: www.boston.com

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Jul 15

Apple, Under Fire, to Discuss iPhone Friday

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 Apple Inc. said Wednesday that it will hold a news conference Friday concerning its iPhone 4, which is facing mounting criticism over reception problems tied to antenna design.

Apple addresses a letter to iPhone 4 users following recent complaints about a weak service signal – and says it’s due to a software problem, not the antenna design. But how “simple and surprising” is this explanation? Dan Gallagher and Julia Angwin join the Digits show to discuss. Plus: Google looks to expand its empire to the online travel industry.

An Apple spokesman declined to give further details, including whether the conference will address reported reception problems or Apple’s response to those problems. Apple plans to hold the conference at its headquarters, the spokesman said.

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Jul 14

iPhone 4 antenna fix could impact Apple’s operating income by 1%

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The iPhone 4 antenna issue has reached a “boiling point,” though investors in Apple should not overreact to the problem, a Wall Street analyst said Tuesday.

Gene Munster with Piper Jaffray said in a note to investors that investors should “not lose site of the forest for the trees” in the ongoing iPhone 4 antenna controversy. He projected that a potential fix from the Cupertino, Calif., company could impact its operating income by 1 percent.

“Ultimately we believe this PR black eye takes away from near-term upside potential to our iPhone estimates, but it does not change the long-term trajectory of the iPhone,” Munster wrote. “While the issue has gained significant traction in the press, the reality is we estimate this problem periodically affects 25% of iPhone 4 users given the fix is easy (a case for the iPhone), and 75% of customer choose to use a case anyway.”

The analyst gave a list of options that Apple could use to resolve the antenna issue. First among those would be giving away free $29 bumper cases, which the company has said will resolve the problem by covering the metal band on the exterior of the phone, which serves as its antennas.

Another option for Apple: do nothing. Munster said that because he believes only 25 percent of iPhone 4 users are periodically affected by the issue, the company could “weather the storm,” and let demand for the product speak for it self.

Finally, Apple could do a recall, an option Munster said he feels is “highly unlikely,” given that the problem is resolved with a simple case. He sees the first two as realistic options for the company.

How could this happen? The analyst said it’s likely a result of the secrecy used by Apple when testing its products in the wild.

“We believe Apple field tests every iPhone model. However, recall that the lost iPhone 4 prototype was disguised as an older model iPhone with a case,” he wrote. “Given its proclivity to secrecy, it is possible that Apple required all test units to have a case, which would render the issue undetectable. In other words, Apple may never have known the problem existed on test units in the field because they all had cases on them.”

Piper Jaffray remains unfazed by the hardware issues with the iPhone 4, and continues to expect that Apple will have strong June and September quarter results, largely putting the discussion behind it. The firm has maintained an overweight rating for AAPL stock with a price target of $351.

Source from: www.appleinsider.com

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Jul 12

iPhone 4 Software Won’t Fix Antenna: Reports

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When users first began complaining about the iPhone 4’s reception issues—namely, that touching the device’s exterior antenna rim seemed to kill its signal—Apple’s initial response was succinct: hold the phone differently, or buy a bumper for it.

“Gripping any mobile phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas,” Apple wrote in a June 25 statement. “If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of the many available cases.”

But the idea of purchasing a $29 bumper through Apple, after shelling out either $199 or $299 for the iPhone 4 with a two-year plan, did not seem to compute with many users, who continued to complain on a variety of message forums. Perhaps in response to this, Apple issued another missive—this one insisting that the iPhone’s issues were software-related, not hardware.

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Jul 07

Ways to Unlock and Jailbreak iPhone 4/3Gs/3G – Remove AT&T Barriers

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There are many aspects of the iPhone 4/3Gs/3G that Apple controls. Hackers and developers have found ways around these controls. While Apple indicates that these modifications to your iPhone 4/3Gs/3G will void the warranty with over two million jailbroken iPhone 4/3Gs/3Gs, no one has reported any issues. When you jailbreak the iPhone 4/3Gs/3G you can modify the iPhone 4/3Gs/3G to install apps and modify the basic functions of the phone.

One method to unlock the iPhone 4/3Gs/3G to use T-Mobile is through a SIM unlocking method. If you use this method and do not activate your iPhone 4/3Gs/3G you may not be able to use some features including the Media player and other web features.

Apple continues to try to block jailbreakers in a variety of ways. When they launched the 3G they required that activation be performed in the store where it was purchased making hacking iPhone 4/3Gs/3G much more difficult. But because of this requirement the Apple and AT&T servers were overloaded so much they failed. So to avoid this from occurring again when the 3Gs was launched the software was released in advance by a few days. This advance release allowed hackers to develop software to jailbreak and unlock the iPhone 4/3Gs/3G even before it was sold.

Today in store activation is becoming less common. As the iPhone 4/3Gs/3Gs operating system attempts to prevent some software from being run, jailbreak software will allow the software to be run.

Still today in store activation is less common. The iPhone 4/3Gs/3Gs OS attempts to stop unauthorized software from being installed. Jailbreak software is what allows this unauthorized software to be installed. Still both AT&T and Apple are making it more and more difficult to jailbreak the iPhone 4/3Gs/3G and unlock it. AT&T has a statement indicating that you are not allowed to unlock iPhone 4/3Gs/3Gs even if you have fulfilled your contract.

Source from:www.techteet.com

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Jul 05

Putting hard numbers to the iPhone 4 antenna issue

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The discovery that gripping the iPhone 4 in a way that bridges the left and bottom antennas can cause serious signal problems has resulted in—to say the least—a lot of controversy. However, most of the data that either “proves” or “refutes” that existence of said problem has been anecdotal at best.

So AnandTech used a clever hack to get an iPhone 4 to report actual signal strength instead of “bars,” giving some quantitative data about how bridging the antennas can negatively affect signal strength. The analysis explains why not all users are affected by the problem, and further investigation also shows that the antenna design does in fact improve reception as long as the left-bottom area isn’t bridged when holding the device.

Other mobile handsets definitely have antenna attenuation problems—when cupping an iPhone 3GS or Google Nexus One in the manner that causes problems with the iPhone 4, AnandTech measured 14dB and 18dB drops, respectively. However, the problem with the iPhone 4′s external antenna is worse; bridging the antennas detunes 3G reception by a full 24dB.

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Jul 01

Apple gets slapped with lawsuit over iPhone 4 reception problems

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Well, the first of what could be many lawsuits has landed on Apple and AT&T’s doors because of the iPhone 4′s antenna reception problems.

A law firm representing two Maryland resident has filed a class action complaint alleging negligence, breach of warranty, deceptive trade practices, fraud and misrepresentation over the iPhone 4′s antenna.

The iPhone 4 has a unique design in which the antennas are built into the metal frame of the body. Some users who hold the phone by the left hand corner have experienced weaker cellular reception, apparently because their hand bridges two antennas and causes either attenuation or antenna detuning.

The plaintiffs in the case reported that they immediately experienced problems on their phones due to the antenna design. They argue that Apple and AT&T knew about the problems before the launch of the iPhone 4.

“Plaintiffs were sold defective iPhone 4 units, which drop calls and data service when held in a manner consistent with normal wireless phone use,” the suit says. “Plaintiffs have experienced numerous dropped calls and, as a result, Plaintiffs are left with a device that cannot be used for the normal purpose and in the normal manner in which such devices are intended to be used.”

The plaintiffs are seeking class certification because the list of affected users numbers in the millions, according to the suit.

This case is being brought by Ward & Ward, PLLC and Charles A. Gilman and is apparently not tied to a Sacramento law firm, which previously sued Zynga and Facebook over allegedly scammy ads. That Sacramento firm is currently seeking iPhone 4 users who may be affected by this issue so that could represent another suit facing Apple and AT&T.

Quote from: www.sfgate.com

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Jun 30

Possible fix for iPhone 4 signal problems available?

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One of the most popular topics regarding the new iPhone 4 is the reception issues a number of people have mentioned that seem to be exacerbated by hand placement on the device. While Apple currently suggests avoiding certain hand positions or using a case, there is a new report that suggests a possible fix for this issue.

The rumors site “MacRumors” has a new article that mentions the issue could be caused by an improper placement of the SIM card in the new iPhone. By removing and replacing the SIM card, or otherwise adjusting the SIM card’s positioning, some people have been able to clear the reception problems they were experiencing.

It is possible the SIM card could be making an improper connection with its aluminum chassis, which may in turn provide a connection to the antenna. Such connections could be causing improper grounding issues that result in poorer overall RF reception. This is further supported by some people having similar success after using tape or other insulators to prevent the SIM card from making contact with the holder chassis.

If you wish to try the fix, keep in mind that not everyone has had success in their attempts, though we cannot be certain to what extent they adjusted the SIM card. You can try removing and reinserting the card, wiggling it in its mountings a little to see if that changes its position, or use tape like others have mentioned.

Another thing to keep in mind is while adjusting the SIM card may help improve reception issues for the new iPhone, the possibility of a software basis for the problem is not out of the question. The fact that older iPhone models have shown reception issues after applying the latest iOS 4 update suggests a software component may also be contributing, and therefore a future software update may still help the issue.

Finally, some people comment to this issue seems a bit blown out of proportion. While this problem may seem prominent with the number of “me too” replies in forum postings and other mentions of these problems, keep in mind the iPhone 4 has been the largest seller in Apple’s history, and has so far been sold to millions of people. With such a large user base, even if the percentage of people sharing problems is no larger than that for other devices, there will be more people overall who are affected by the issue.

Quote from: reviews.cnet.com

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