EverythingiCafe

Apple To Launch Verizon iPhone in Q3 2010?

Christopher Meinck — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:50:46 +0000

According to a report by OTR Global, via AppleInsider, sources within the Taiwanese handset supply chain say Apple has contracted to produce a UMTS/CDMA hybrid iPhone. This will allow Apple to sell a single “global handset” worldwide and this would include Verizon Wireless in the US

The new worldwide iPhone will be compatible with CDMA2000 networks, while allowing for support of UMTS 3G networks using a new hybrid chip.

In a surprising twist, the new phone is rumored to have a smaller 2.8″ screen, much smaller than the current 3.5″ screen currently found on the iPhone.

This news comes on the day when Verizon launched the Droid, the phone intended to compete directly with Apple’s iPhone 3GS.

For complete coverage of the Motorola Droid, please visit our sister site at everythingandroid.org.

[via AppleInsider]

Manage That iBill! Tracking Your iPhone Usage

Marianne Schultz — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:14:30 +0000

The iPhone can prove to be an addictive little bit of technology, providing you with instant access to your email, text and picture messaging, map information, and even games, GPS guidance and much more. If you’re not always near a Wi-Fi hotspot and tend to spend a lot of time on the phone or internet or sending text messages, you can easily rack up a big bill at the end of the month. We’ll give you a few tips in this article on keeping an eye on your usage to avoid a nasty surprise when your cell phone bill arrives.

Star codes to request account information

Star codes are service codes that can be dialed from your iPhone - as well as other cellular phones and even landlines depending on the service provider - that start or cancel a special service, such as call forwarding, and to request account status information. If you’re an AT&T user in the U.S., there’s an easy way to find these codes directly on your iPhone - go to Settings/Phone/AT&T services where you’ll see this screen of available short codes:

Tapping on the View My Minutes line will show you a status message like this:

You will then receive a text message from AT&T giving you information on your minutes used in your current billing period:

Tapping on the Check Bill Balance line will prompt the sending of a text message showing your current balance, due date, and the last payment received:

One very useful code that is missing from this menu is the data code that will show you how much wireless data you’ve used (on AT&T’s EDGE or 3G cellular data network, not Wi-Fi usage, which is not tracked or billed through AT&T or any carrier). This code is *DATA# (or *3282#) and it will show data and SMS/MMS usage in the current billing period.

AT&T always cautions that the information you see using these codes or even when logging in online to view your account may not always be up to date, so keep this mind whenever you request this information.

In case you’re wondering, the text messages that AT&T sends to you in response to the entry of these star codes are all free – they will not be deducted from your messaging plan balance (and you won’t be billed for them if you’re not on a messaging plan).

While the star codes we mention here are specific to AT&T, your carrier may use them as well though you should contact your carrier’s customer service department to verify this.

Online account management

Another way to see your current usage is to log in to your account through your carrier’s online account management portal. Below are links to these portals for several iPhone carriers around the world. More links can be found on this page on Apple’s site:

AT&T (U.S.)
Rogers (Canada)
T-Mobile (Germany)
Vodafone (Australia)
Orange (France)
3 (Hong Kong)
TIM (Italy)

AT&T recently upgraded their OLAM (Online Account Management) system to provide more information at a quick glance:

While this method definitely takes more effort than entering a simple star code on your iPhone, you can drill down to get more detailed information on your usage as well as make changes to your plans.

Apps

AT&T users in the U.S. can make use of a free app provided by AT&T that allows even easier access to account information on the go. The AT&T myWireless Mobile app can be found here (link opens iTunes) and allows AT&T subscribers to view current usage information, bills and even make payments and more.

There are similar apps for iPhone users in other countries available in the App Store, too. Phone Usage is one such app for Optus, Virgin, TPG and other carriers in Australia. For O2 month-to-month users in the UK, there’s Mobile Allowance. For T-Mobile users in the Netherlands, there’s Belstatus. [EverythingiCafe.com does not endorse these apps - these links are provided as examples of usage tracking apps only.]

Search the App Store using search terms like your carrier’s name and “usage” and “tracker” to see if there’s one available for your carrier and country.

Have any other tips to help iPhone users keep track of their usage? Feel free to submit them in the comments section below!

Apple Stores Let You “Reserve and Pick-up” Your Shopping

Tim Barribeau — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:21:28 +0000

Apple have rolled out a new, and rather sensible, feature for all their retail store. You can now reserve an iPod or iMac over the internet, and swing by between December 15 and 24, and pick it up. So no more trips into the Apple store, just to find whatever you want is sold out. For an extra $5, they’ll even giftwrap it for you, which officially makes Christmas shopping incredibly easy. Order, wrap, swing by, pick them up, and under the trees they go. iPod shuffles for everyone! Seriously though, this is an incredibly sensible move, seeing as iPods, iPhones and MacBooks are always snatched up like crazy for the holidays, now you can ensure you’ll be able to pick up the one you want.

Apple May Countersue Nokia

Tim Barribeau — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:46:44 +0000

Reports are starting to surface that Apple may go swinging into the battle with Nokia, by filing counter-suits. Reuters says it would not be unexpected for Apple to countersue over patents it believes Nokia is violating. This will most likely be posturing to try and improve their position in the legal fight, rather than any true belief that Nokia was using Apple tech improperly. On the defensive front, Apple will most likely question the validity of Nokia’s patents, to try and get themselves off the hook.

The legal battle is expected to last 2-3 years, and Nokia is expected to try and get $200 million to $1 billion out of Apple.

iPhone App Promises To Translate Baby’s Cries, Herb Powell Nowhere To Be Seen

Tim Barribeau — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:08:03 +0000

In a claim that defines the word incredulous, Spanish company Biloop have developed an app called Cry Translator, which they say can identify the reason behind a baby’s scream an astonishing 96% of the time. Of course, this requires the baby to wail for 10 seconds or more, and the app claims to be able to follow five different types of screaming: hungry, sleepy, annoyed, stressed or simply bored.

Alternatively, you could just try and bond with your child to the point where you can understand why they’re screaming, and you can save yourself $30. But where’s the gadgetry in that?

Apple Looking For iPhone Security Manager

Tim Barribeau — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:07:50 +0000

Apple is looking to bolster the security of the iPhone, by hiring a new iPhone OS Platform Security Manager. As much as we hope this job would involve fixing the problems that keep popping up, like background streaming racking up huge bills, or security vulnerabilities inherent in Safari, chances are the position will most likely involve continuing the ridiculous cat and mouse game with people who want to jailbreak their iPhone so they’re not stuck using Apple approved software. It seems ludicrous quite how much effort Apple keeps throwing at stopping people from using a device they purchased in a manner they want, even though no matter what extra security they erect, someone will eventually find a way around it.

Apple Working on RFID iPhone?

Tim Barribeau — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:20:25 +0000

Take this with a healthy dose of salt, but 9to5 Mac is reporting that Apple may be working on embedding RFID readers into the iPhone. So this won’t be constantly and insecurely transmitting data, which is one of the worries in the current generation of RFID transmitter equipped cards and passports. Rather, this would allow the iPhone to gather data from its surroundings, and talk to objects that are equipped with RFID transmitters. So, imagine being able to check the balance on your credit card locally, get a message when your laundry is done, find chipped objects in the utter chaos of your house, all the sort of wonderful things RFID is meant to be able to do, assuming they can ever fix the glaring security holes in the technology.

Makers of Zombies Live Accused of Stealing Players’ Phone Numbers

Tim Barribeau — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:49:39 +0000

Storm8, makers of the iPhone games iMobsters and Vampires Live, have had a suit brought against them accusing the company of using a back door to gather users phone numbers. The company, who produces a whole series of “live” games are said to use their software to illegally and automatically gather the numbers of anyone downloads one of their games. BoingBoing is hosting the full text of the lawsuit for any of you legal minded folks. However, given that all of their games are identical shovelware supported by microtransactions, with just slightly different skins, we’re leaning to this being a big old dirty scam, regardless of how many times Storm8 calls it a scam.

[via BoingBoing]

AT&T To Get 8GB 3GS?

Tim Barribeau — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:13:23 +0000

BGR is reporting that AT&T may get an upgrade to their base level iPhone, and bring in a new 8GB iPhone 3GS for $99. This would replace the current, entry level $99 8GB 3G just in time for the holidays. Bumping up the entry level would be a good move for people who are eyeing up a new phone, and the improved hardware might just be enough to pull even more people into the iPhone camp. $99 for an iPhone with all the extras that 3GS provides is a rather tempting proposition. What would also be interesting, is if the iPhone does open to Verizon, but only AT&T gets the 8GB 3GS as a parting gift, they would be able to keep hold of people who don’t want to spend a fortune on their phones.

Jobs Named “CEO of the Decade” By Fortune Magazine

Tim Barribeau — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:55:59 +0000

He may be dictatorial, demanding, abrasive, secrecy-obsessed and have a history of parking in handicap reserved spots, but he brought Apple back from the brink, and altered the landscape of computers and design. Fortune Magazine have named this “the decade of Steve Jobs“, and it’s understandable given the massive change that he has wrought.

Compare the floundering, almost dead, Apple of the late 90s to the hypercool design student dream that is Apple now. And that’s just the computers. Look at iTunes, which dominates the legal music purchase industry, the ubiquitousness of the iPod, and everyone’s favorite smartphone. Suffice to say, the personal technology industry would look very different today if Steve hadn’t stepped back into the reigns in 1997.