Apple in Tablet Discussions with Both AT&T and Verizon

Fox News reports that Apple is in last minute negotiations with both AT&T and Verizon to provide wireless service for their upcoming tablet device. Support for both networks suggests that Apple will be producing two versions of the device to support...

Fox News: Apple in Talks With AT&T for iTablet, Verizon for iTablet and iPhone

Fox News is once again weighing in on the iTablet — and the iPhone — claiming sources within AT&T and Verizon are telling them negotiations to carry the device(s) are getting hot and heavy:

According to the story, there would be two versions of the iTablet/iSlate/iPad, one supporting AT&T’s fast GSM/HSPA network and the other supporting Verizon’s reliable CDMA/EVDO network. Both would likely have WiFi and access to associated WiFi hotspots. Verizon’s version might also be subject to tiered pricing.

Additionally:

According to a source at Verizon, Apple has been in talks with ‘the big red map’ to offer the tablet on its robust CDMA network. Additionally Verizon is in talks with Apple to bring the iPhone to its network by late spring or early summer, but specifics haven’t yet been finalized.

An iPhone on Verizon makes increasing sense for Apple. At a certain point, everyone who prefers AT&T as a carrier, or is willing to live with AT&T as a carrier just to have an iPhone, will have an iPhone. For Apple to grow their customer base, they’ll need to expand to a network that supports those who want an iPhone but aren’t willing to go to AT&T just to get it. The king of that hill is Verizon. Apple has broken exclusivity almost everywhere else. It will have to do it in the US, and LTE is too far out to be a logical change-point.

The rest of the article contains an amusing amount of bickering between the carrier rivals, with AT&T implying any network would have problems with the 7000% data spike that comes with the iPhone.

No matter what happens, we’re hoping for multiple carriers, as that would be a multiple win for US consumers.

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

Fox News: Apple in Talks With AT&T for iTablet, Verizon for iTablet and iPhone

Trapster Hits 4.0, Adds Patrol, New Trap Types, Caravan

Trapster 4.0 [Free - iTunes link] adds new features to the ticket-avoiding app:

• Patrol, which highlights recently driven roads so you know the data is fresh.
• New trap types like road kill, children at play, recent accidents, brush fires, ice, or floods, construction, etc.
• Caravan, a real-time, location based, social network for and between Trapster users.

All this in addition to it’s primary function — alerting you, including via push notification, of radar speeding traps, traffic light cameras, and police check points.

If you give it a try, let us know how it works for you. Especially if it involves a great story about you narrowly avoiding a massive speeding ticket learning an important lesson about responsible driving.

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

Trapster Hits 4.0, Adds Patrol, New Trap Types, Caravan

MyTown’s uncanny success

Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store

I posted a few things last year about Booyah, an app that promised a lot, but turned out to be not much more than your standard social networking/check-in app. And despite a little hype around its introduction, Booyah had some trouble finding an audience. But the developers (former Blizzard folks still supported by some execs there) came right back with MyTown [iTunes link], and this time, they appear to have hit gold -- despite the app's low profile, it already boasts more users than the well-known Foursquare and Gowalla apps. That's probably because it's more of an actual game; rather than just checking-in, the app has a currency to it, where you can "buy" places you check-in from, and then charge money to the next person that stops by. Imagine Foursquare mixed up with Monopoly -- instead of meaninglessly becoming the mayor of some place you visit, you can actually own and make money off of other people showing up there.

It's an interesting idea, and it seems to be working. MyTown has just reached version 2.0, increasing the number of levels you can earn and items you can buy with the virtual cash. It's still a free app, and originally, we heard that Booyah was going to earn money by teaming up with retail and business partners -- Taco Bell would pay them, and then they'd attach some promotion to checking in from a Taco Bell. But they haven't moved on to that point yet, apparently; right now it's just about building up a userbase and setting up a solid formula. And so far, while the original Booyah app may not have been able to do that, MyTown seems to be rolling right along.

MyTown's uncanny success originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MyTown's uncanny success originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Tablet Rumors: Dual Dock Connectors, Antenna Panel and Optional 3G Support?

As the tablet event approaches, there seems to be no shortage of rumors and speculation about exactly what form the tablet will take. It's probably a good time to remind readers that prior to the iPhone launch, a number of wildly different specs and...

Rhythm Racer is big on fun, short on content

Filed under: Gaming, Software, Freeware, iPhone, App Store

Rhythm Racer [iTunes link] is an interesting take on the growing music/rhythm genre, and while it shows some interesting promise, it's currently a little too thin to become a full-fledged obsession. The basic idea is that you're controlling a ship down a track with different colored orbs on it, and as you hit the orbs in sequence, they play music -- basically, it's Guitar Hero where you're driving an accelerometer-controlled spaceship rather than playing a guitar. And that central mechanic of the game is fun -- you move faster the more orbs you hit, there are occasionally ramps to jump off of, and at its best, the game has that "just one more try" feeling that keeps you addicted.

The problem? There's only one track to play. The game is free (and the track is good -- it's actually a song by former Nerf Herder Perry Gripp, who's been doing amazing things with his Song of the Week site), but one track? The idea is that, by paying a little more via in-app purchase, you can pick up more to play, but there's still only one other track to pay for right now in the game. It's too bad; while the game is definitely worth the free download, they don't even have in-app purchases for you to follow up with quite yet.

Hopefully, that's easily fixed (and hopefully we'll get at least a few more tracks to play through soon). As it is, the game is more sort of a demo -- a demo for what seems like a fun game, but a demo nonetheless.

Rhythm Racer is big on fun, short on content originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rhythm Racer is big on fun, short on content originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White House releases official app for free

Filed under: Odds and ends, Developer, iPhone, App Store

The White House (as in, the home of the American President Barack Obama) has introduced a brand new iPhone app, according to White House blogger Dave Cole. The app is a one-stop shop for everything there is to know about what the president's up to, including blog posts, a newsroom, photos, videos, and even live feeds from various events, including speeches and even press room briefings. It's actually pretty darn impressive -- obviously you're only going to get official White House news, but if you want uncut video of the goings on over there, you've got it.

The app is a free download [iTunes link], and in my short hands-on with it, it worked very well -- the updates come often, the video is crisp and clean, and while I didn't get to view any of the live feeds, I presume they'll work just fine over a solid 3G or Wi-Fi connection. If you want direct access to official White House news, this app is perfect.

[via Engadget]

White House releases official app for free originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

White House releases official app for free originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T Prepping Network for Launch Of “Unannounced Devices”

Review: LyricFind Pro for iPhone

Certain features of the paid and free versions of this lyric finding app are great. But if the artists and songs you like aren't supported by either version of LyricFind, you'll find the app frustrating. You'd best experiment with the ad-supported free version before committing to LyricFind Pro.

Rumor: Apple to announce Verizon iPhone on the 27th

Filed under: Hardware, Rumors, Odds and ends, Apple, iPhone

A tablet still might not be the only new hardware we see from Apple next week -- the rumor mill is still churning out news that the "one more thing" next week will be a brand new version of the iPhone, set up on the Verizon network. Obviously we've heard a lot about this one before, but this time it comes not from an anonymous source, but Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek, who says that not only will we see the new hardware as expected, but we'll have those nice red maps on it as soon as June of this year.

If you ask me, this is one too many rumors not to be true -- eventually, we'll see an iPhone on the Verizon network. But I'm hesitant to agree it'll be announced as early as next week. This is a big deal with a lot of tangles, and I doubt Apple wants to rush it out the door, especially with the much more likely tablet incoming. I do believe we'll see a new version of the iPhone, and it will be Verizon, but Apple's got time. I'm guessing we won't see an official announcement until later on this year.

Rumor: Apple to announce Verizon iPhone on the 27th originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor: Apple to announce Verizon iPhone on the 27th originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wintek strike settled, Apple’s supply chain unaffected

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Hardware, iPhone

There's some good news from China this week. The violent strike that happened at a Wintek factory on the 15th has been resolved. According to DigiTimes, Wintek offered previously-denied pay bonuses to the striking employees and that got them working again.

Additionally, Wintek claims that production was unaffected by the strike, which is good news for Apple. Wintek provides Apple with touchscreens for iPhones and, we assume, the forthcoming tablet.

The initial story about the strike mentioned the dispute over pay but also the workers' outrage over alleged deaths suffered by their coworkers due to prolonged exposure to a chemical called hexane, which is used for cleaning touch panels. The latest report from DigiTimes fails to mention that aspect of the story.

Last March it was rumored that Wintek would be producing screens for "... a new Apple product," then thought to be a netbook of some sort. Today, we assume that rumor was about the tablet.

[Via AppleInsider]

Wintek strike settled, Apple's supply chain unaffected originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wintek strike settled, Apple's supply chain unaffected originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Tablet Design Reportedly Akin to Flattened First-Generation iPhone

AppleInsider reports that it has received information from sources detailing the appearance of Apple's much-rumored tablet device, noting that it is reminiscent of a "first-generation iPhone that's met its match with a rolling pin."

<b...

Apple Set to Release Q1 2010 Financial Results on January 25th

Apple today issued a media alert announcing details for the January 25th release of its financial results for the first fiscal quarter of 2010, corresponding to the fourth calendar quarter of 2009. The results will be released after the close of trad...

Haiti Earthquake Survivor Uses iPhone App as Survival Tool

Apple’s iPhone, along with the help of a medical application, has saved at least one life in the tragic Haiti earthquake. American film maker, Dan Woolley, found himself trapped in rubble when the Haitian earthquake struck, injuring his head and leg. With no other place to turn he used his trusty iPhone along with help from a unknown first-aid medical application. The app helped him diagnose his broken foot, make a tourniquet for his leg, and described the best way to bandage his head to stop the bleeding. He even set the alarm clock to go off every 20 minutes to make sure he stayed awake and alert.

65 hours later he was rescued.

[Thanks to Robert for the tip! Via NBC Miami]

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

Haiti Earthquake Survivor Uses iPhone App as Survival Tool

Apple to Subsidize Tablet With Verizon Contract?

Review: Jewel Quest 2-in-1 Treasure Pack for iPhone

Jewel Quest is one of the most popular match three puzzle games ever. With its casual gameplay and addictive nature it’s a perfect match for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

iTablet to Look like Bigger, Slimmer Original iPhone 2G, Use MacBook Battery?

AppleInsider is claiming “people familiar with the device” as saying Apple’s upcoming iTablet/iSlate/iPad will have a physical design reminiscent of the original iPhone 2G launched in 2007:

Nestled in an aluminum shell that leverages the Apple’s expertise in unibody construction but thinner proportionality than the original iPhone, the tablet reportedly sports all of the same buttons found on the handset, right down to its iconic home button — which, like the volume toggle, is missing from the rendering.

Similarly, the tablet is said to sport all the same in/out connectivity as the current iPhone 3GS, including a 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack, built-in speaker grills, a microphone, GPS, 3G connectivity and a 30-pin dock connector. Like the rendering, its 10-inch display is framed by a black border that bleeds into its wrap-around aluminum enclosure.

The above conceptual rendering from Fotoboer.nl is said to be close, though lacking the home button and other details. Apple being Apple, they’ll likely want to maintain visual ties between their iPhone, MacBook Pro, and iMac lines, and that means blacks, aluminums, and glass, so this doesn’t sound at all far fetched.

AppleInsider is also hearing there may be a CDMA-compatible (read: Verizon-friendly) chipset version, but don’t know if it’ll make it into the final product.

Meanwhile, 9to5mac picked up a DigiTimes story that hints Apple’s new smart, long-lasting MacBook battery technology will be found in the iTablet as well:

Taiwan-based [MacBook battery suppliers] Simplo Technology and Dynapack International Technology are expected to share orders from Apple for its tablet PC, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report.

Again, not far fetched at all. Apple leverages their technologies across their product lines, and that’s one of the keys to both their hardware and platform models.

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

iTablet to Look like Bigger, Slimmer Original iPhone 2G, Use MacBook Battery?

TiPb Give Away: 10 FREE Slacker Plus Subscriptions Up for Grabs!

To celebrate their Canadian launch, the fine folks at Slacker are teaming up with TiPb to offer you 10 FREE Slacker Radio Plus subscriptions. Here’s the break-down:

• 3 first prizes — 1 year FREE Slacker Plus subscriptions
• 7 runner-up prizes — 3 month FREE Slacker Plus subscriptions

(And yes, it’s open to American Slacker listeners too. Love. Up.)

Here’s how to enter:

1. Make sure you have a free Slacker basic account (they’ll need the account info to make the upgrade).
2. Head on over to the TiPb iPhone Forums and tell us the name of a great song you’ve recently discovered.
3. Contest starts now and ends Saturday, Jan. 23, 12pm PST.

You don’t have to have discovered the song on Slacker (but hey, let us know if you did). We need music recommendations, TiPb-verse!

And just to make you want to go enter now, we’re listing the Slacker Plus features again… after the break!

Slacker Radio Plus:

• Cache stations to Blac kBerry and Android smartphones; soon on iPhone/iPod touch
• Enjoy Slacker music even without a wireless network on select mobile applications
• Unlimited song skipping
• Ad-free listening
• Complete song lyrics*
• Create custom stations based on artists or songs
• Unlimited song requests for creating perfect custom stations
• High-quality stereo playback
• Over 60 professionally programmed genre stations
• Fine tune stations on-the-fly to play more of the music you like
• View artist biographies and photos
• View album art and reviews
• “Peek Ahead” artist and album preview
• Pause and skip songs
• Rate songs as favorites
• Ban the songs and artists you don’t like
• Downloadable “mini” player for your PC

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

TiPb Give Away: 10 FREE Slacker Plus Subscriptions Up for Grabs!

Make your personal iPhone app in just 10 minutes

Filed under: Software, Blogging, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

Have you ever secretly wished that you could have your own personal iPhone app? An app that you could give to friends, relatives, and your adoring fans?

Now you can have your own iPhone (or Android, if you swing that way) app featuring all of your personal feeds from sources such as Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Posterous, Tumblr, and more. The really cool thing is that it's not going to take you much time, nor will you need to learn how to program. Through a new service called iSites, you can take all of your life feeds and have an iPhone app created just for you. The cost? Only US$25.

If you think that your hordes of faithful followers are going to download and use the app, you can spend another $99 to integrate AdMob ads into your personal app, meaning that you might be able to become rich (you're already famous, right?) beyond your wildest dreams by giving away your app in the App Store.

Everything about the iSites app you create is customizable; the feeds that make up the content (see photo above), the colors, even your icon and store banner. Anyone using your app can easily share an article with others via Twitter, Facebook, or email, and the app has support for video, image thumbnails, and the ability to mark a post as a favorite.

I'm not sure that I'm ready to bore the world with my personal iPhone app, but when I finally get to that point, I'll probably use iSites to create it.

[via Mashable]

Make your personal iPhone app in just 10 minutes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Make your personal iPhone app in just 10 minutes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple Patent Applications: Input Device Gestures, Solar-Powered iPods and iPhones

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published several new patent applications from Apple, revealing research into several areas, including the use of gesture-based input devices and solar panel technology in the casings of iPods.

...