Rumor: AT&T to reduce cost of entry iPhone plan

Filed under: Rumors, iPhone

The Street is reporting on a rumor today that AT&T is planning to drop the cost of the entry-level iPhone plan in the US from $69US per month to $59 per month. The suspected drop will take place when new iPhone models are released, as early as "...next month."

What's AT&T's motivation here? To attract price-conscious customers, woo Apple away from a rumored Verizon deal or simply clear inventory for the next-generation iPhone? As a person who's on this plan, I honestly don't care why -- I just hope it happens.

The change would trim $120/year off of the current plan, reducing the overall cost of the 2-year plan to $1,760. [The original $240/year mention was due to an editing error. -Ed.]

[Via The Apple Blog]

Rumor: AT&T to reduce cost of entry iPhone plan originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 May 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor: AT&T to reduce cost of entry iPhone plan originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 May 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 3G in the UK: Vodafone Getting in on the Action?

A couple days ago we mentioned that Orange UK might be in the running to become the second (after O2) carrier to get the iPhone in the United Kingdom. Today comes word that Vodafone (think of it as Verizon with a fancy accent and GSM goodness) may also be splitting the Isles wide open. According to Mobile Tech Addicts:

Now we have discovered a Vodafone portal designed for the iPhone. It is basically a portal that gives you access to news but the question is why would Vodafone go to these lengths if they weren’t about to get the iPhone.

The site points out that, of course, it could just be a smart move from Vodafone to woo unlocked, or soon to be unlocked, iPhone owners off O2 and onto their pipes.

Time will tell, but for our UK readers, is Vodafone a better option for you than O2 or Orange UK?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone 3G in the UK: Vodafone Getting in on the Action?

Android gets updated to version 1.5

The long-expected update to the Android operating system, version 1.5, has arrived, with T-Mobile rolling out the new OS to G1 phones next week.

TiPb Birthday Bash: Name the TiPb “Nation” for a $50 iTunes Gift Card!

Entering this contest counts as an entry in TiPb’s Birthday Bash grand-prize draw for an Unlocked ColorWare iPhone 3G!

CrackBerry Nation. Trekkies (Trekkers?). Wu Tan Clan. Colbert Nation. TiPb… ???

Who are we? What are we?

We need an identity here folks! And we need you to come up with it!

Post your ideas in a reply to the TiPb Birthday Bash: Name the “Nation” forum thread! There’s a juicy $50 iTunes Gift Card up for grabs for the one we like best, so get with the collective naming!

• iTunes US (or Canada) account needed to redeem gift card. (Don’t have a US account, no problem, see here!)
• Contest runs from now until Monday, May 11, 12pm EDT
• Enter as often as you like
• In the event of similar suggestions, we’ll credit the one made first.
• For the above reason, edited posts will be disqualified. If you have a better idea, make a new post.

Good luck, TiPB… ???!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb Birthday Bash: Name the TiPb “Nation” for a $50 iTunes Gift Card!

Simplify Music 2.0 for iPhone launched

Simplify Media has launched Simplify Music 2.0 applications (iTunes link) for iPhone and Apple iPod Touch, offering new features including search for albums, artists, and song titles. It also has the ability to tag favourite songs, create a playlists inside the app while on the go, and a new scrub ...

Beta 5 of iPhone OS 3 downloadable

Filed under: Beta Beat, iPhone, SDK

Version version, who's got the new version? iPhone OS 3.0 beta 5 is now downloadable, along with a new build of iTunes 8.2 -- log into developer.apple.com to pick up the latest build.

What's tweaked and changed? Well, editing the carrier file in iTunes to enable tethering is now apparently blocked, and MMS support on AT&T is also 'hidden' per the iPhone Blog. It's not 100% clear whether these feature drops are deliberate, as some reports say a clean install preserves the capabilities. Parental control features for apps now seem to be visible... and yes, the new beta has already been jailbroken.

Got more observations and tidbits? Let us know below.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

Beta 5 of iPhone OS 3 downloadable originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 May 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Beta 5 of iPhone OS 3 downloadable originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 May 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reminder: How To Create a US iTunes App Store Account Without a Credit Card (but with Promo Codes!)

For NO PARTICULAR REASON, we just wanted to remind everyone that even if you don’t have a US credit card, Apple has helpfully provided a knowledge base article on how to create and use US App Store accounts. With these accounts, you can still download and use apps (and redeem promo codes).

The process involves making sure you’re not already logged in with another account, then choosing App Store from the menu, downloading a free app, choosing “none” for the payment type, and responding to the confirmation menu.

Downside is it requires you to download apps via iTunes — for now. iPhone 3.0 will let you manage multiple accounts on-device.

[Via iphoneincanada]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Reminder: How To Create a US iTunes App Store Account Without a Credit Card (but with Promo Codes!)

Review: Eliss for iPhone

At first glance, this puzzle game may look disappointing and inscrutable. But if you stick with it, you'll be rewarded with an imaginative, addictive game.

Review: Corkboard for iPhone

This idea organizer thrives for simple uses. But if your needs go beyond a solid tool for jotting down quick ideas, you'll want to look elsewhere.

Eliss releases version 1.1

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, Odds and ends, Developer, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Unfortunately, I missed Eliss the first time around, but I won't make the same mistake this time. It's a game designed by a French and Portugese graphic designer named Steph Thirion, and it's sort of an abstract multitouch puzzler -- you can pull and push together differently colored planets all floating around in a sort of space-like environment, with some groovy synth sound effects and music cuts to back up the gameplay. The game got nominated for an IGF award, and for anyone interested in fun puzzlers (not to mention the possibilities of multitouch in gaming), it's a must-see.

I say "the first time around," because it's been on the App Store for a while now, but the game just got updated to version 1.1, and the main tweak is in the difficulty -- there are now 25 levels instead of 20, and the curve has been adjusted to make moving through the stages a little smoother. And the game got a price drop, too -- you can pick it up for a mere $3.00. As I said, definitely worth it to get a little multitouch practice in for what might be the future of gaming.

Eliss releases version 1.1 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Eliss releases version 1.1 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Terminator Salvation game released for iPhone, iPod touch

Terminator Salvation is now available for the iPhone and iPod touch.

AT&T Considering $10 Drop in iPhone Monthly Plan Rates?

TheStreet.com reports on comments from analyst Michael Cote suggesting that AT&T is considering reducing the basic monthly iPhone plan from $69 to $59 alongside an announcement of the next-generation iPhone at next month's Worldwide Developers Confer...

First Look: Moments

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Have you wanted to remember an event, or just remember a small bit of information for later? On the Mac there's a cool application called Stickies, but there really wasn't a great application for doing this same thing on the iPhone ... until now. Enter Moments [iTunes link]. This small application is your one stop for remembering small pieces of information or events.

Even though this application has a simple agenda and interface, it is executed beautifully. Moments has an interface composed of three gorgeous themes: corkboard, steel, and a fabric print. Sticky notes are aligned in a grid of 2 x 3 across the screen. You can reorder your stickies, and when you run out of room a new screen will be created that is similar to the layout of the iPhone home screen. When you create a new sticky, you are able to create just a note, or a "moment." A moment has a date associated with it, and can be something in the past or future. A note just has a larger text area that will let you add more information.

Overall, this application is really nice for remembering things, and looks just as good as built-in iPhone apps. However, there are three things that I would like to see: (1) User selected sticky note colors, (2) A place to add more details about a specific note or email the note, and (3) More themes to choose from. This application is really great the way it is, and is well worth $.99 US in the App Store. You can check Moments out on the App Store, or check out our gallery of pictures.

First Look: Moments originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Look: Moments originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TiPb Birthday Bash: Win a mophie Juice Pack Battery Pack/Case for iPhone 3G!

Courtesy of TiPb’s iPhone Store, our first accessory give-away is the mophie Juice Pack 3G! Designed to more than double the time you can Rock, Talk, Surf and Send with your iPhone 3G. The Juice Pack is a rechargeable lithium polymer battery in the form of a non-slip, soft grip case. It extends the time that you can use your iPhone 3G in these ways (additional hours):

• Standby Time – Up to 350 hours
• Talk Time – Up to 6 hours on 3G | Up to 12 hours on 2G
• Internet Use – Up to 6 hours on 3G | Up to 7 hours on Wi-Fi
• Audio Playback – Up to 28 hours
• Video Playback – Up to 8 hours

What do you have to do to win one? Simple: tell us why you need one. Get on over to the forums, in the Win a mophie Juice Pack Battery Pack/Case for iPhone 3G thread and tell us what makes your day so long, so intense, so iPhone battery-draining that you need a mophie Juice Pack 3G to help get you through it? Give us your best iPhone Road Warrior story!

• One entry per person
• Contest ends tomorrow, Friday May 8, and 12pm EDT
• Need a real US shipping address to win (no international shipping, sorry!)

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb Birthday Bash: Win a mophie Juice Pack Battery Pack/Case for iPhone 3G!

First Look: 24: Special Ops for iPhone

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Odds and ends, Freeware, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Digital Chocolate has nabbed the 24 license (along with a few sounds and music bits) from Fox, and they've released an iPhone game based on my favorite TV show ever. Unfortunately, things don't get quite as good as they probably should, but the run-and-gun gameplay mixes it up with a nice variety of minigames, so if you're a 24 completist (and have an iPhone -- apparently this doesn't work for iPod touch at the moment), it might be worth spending the $5.

If not, there's a "lite" version on the App Store which will take you through the game's first few "hours" (in reality, just a few minutes per segment) of stages. The game itself features Jack Bauer backed up by Chloe doing what else but saving Los Angeles from various terrorist threats. The grid-based action gameplay is simple but fun, and the shooter stages are broken up with encryption and driving minigames. None of it is brilliant, but just like the show, watching Jack Bauer kill bad guys is usually good enough.

It's too bad they didn't do more -- 24's strengths have always been in its breakneck story pace and twists and turns, and just from playing the first few hours in the lite version, this seems like a Jack-and-Chloe story only (Bill appears in a suit on the menu screen, so apparently he shows up later, in some role at old CTU). If there are any cool story twists or turns, they take place more than four hours in -- it would be great to see Michelle or even Nina (if this is before Day 3) again, but I doubt we get that. Still, it's got Jack killing and blowing stuff up, and that's never a bad thing.

First Look: 24: Special Ops for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

First Look: 24: Special Ops for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 May 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Psystar Working on Mac OS X Netbook?

Unauthorized Mac clone manufacturer Psystar remains embroiled in legal battle with Apple after initiating sales of their first Mac clone back in April 2008. ZDNet Asia summarizes the case today which remains in the discovery process:

...

iPhone tops JD Power smartphone survey

As if there would every be any question about it, the Apple iPhone and iPhone 3G have topped the latest survey conducted by JD Power & Associates. The 2009 Wireless Consumer Smartphone Satisfaction Survey shows the phone taking the lead in most areas. With a score of 791 out of 1,000, ...

Review: Yowza Mobile Coupons for iPhone

When this mobile coupon app comes up with applicable offers, it rocks. But all too often, Yowza draws a blank.

Manage your AT&T/iPhone account right from your iPhone easily with MyWireless app

AT&T customers can now pay their bill, view all voice and data usage and browse / manage bolt-on features directly from their iPhone with ease thanks to the new myWireless mobile app. It’s about time for this, as previously it required calling in to pay or getting online using a typical browser to do this. So, [...]

iPhone 3.0 Beta 5 is released

Can you feel that? That electricity in the air? Yes, it means that the final release of iPhone OS 3.0 is closer than ever, and here is iPhone beta 5 — which is build 7A312g - to illustrate it. And of course, it comes with a new beta of the SDK and iTunes 8.2. We will [...]