MacRumors Reaches Ten Million Forum Posts

MacRumors Forums, the discussion boards for the MacRumors website, reached a major milestone today: 10 million forum posts. MacRumors' coverage of Apple's products and business, along with the MacRumors discussion forums, Buyer's Gui...

AT&T To Offer MobileProtect Insurance Plan To iPhone Users From June 6

Skype app finally delivers on 3G voice calling

Filed under: iPhone

There's good news and a little bit (just a little bit) of bad news. Good news first: the iPhone Skype app has been updated to allow for calls using AT&T's 3G data network.

AT&T's restrictions on cell data usage have evolved over time. Recently, download data caps have been eased, from 10 MB to 20 MB. And since October 2009, VoIP apps have been allowed to use AT&T's data network to place calls.

The elephant in the airwaves, however, has been Skype. Several months after AT&T allowed VoIP apps to use cell data, Skype was still without an update. The company, via a blog posting on its site, stated that it wanted to take the time to ensure that audio fidelity was at the best quality.

I made several calls over AT&T's 3G network this afternoon using the updated app and was surprised at how good the quality was. Each person I spoke with said they could barely tell the difference between this and a call using AT&T's voice network.

Continue reading Skype app finally delivers on 3G voice calling

Skype app finally delivers on 3G voice calling originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 29 May 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Skype app finally delivers on 3G voice calling originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 29 May 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microscopic signs that next-gen iPhone screen resolution will be 960 x 640

Filed under: iPhone

Czech Republic site superiphone.cz claims that it got hold of parts from the next-gen iPhone, but they've gone way beyond the analysis of sites like Gizmodo or Vietnamese sites taoviet and tinhte. Specifically, they've taken the screen from a next-gen iPhone, put it under a microscope (how cool is that), and counted the screen's RGB elements to figure out the screen's resolution.

By doing this, the Czech site has confirmed what we've "known" for a couple of months: the next iPhone will have a screen resolution of 960 x 640. This is quadruple the number of pixels on current iPhones, which have a screen resolution of 480 x 320. MacRumors notes this increases the pixel density to 320 dots per inch (dpi), much higher than the Motorola Droid's 265 dpi or Nexus One's 252 dpi.

Because the horizontal and vertical pixel density are exactly double that of current iPhones, scaling apps upward to fit the screen's new resolution will be even easier than the scaling that takes place for the iPad when running iPhone-optimized apps. For apps that do take advantage of the higher resolution (games are the first that come to my mind), the result will be graphics much crisper than anything we've seen before on a device this small.

[Via Engadget]

Microscopic signs that next-gen iPhone screen resolution will be 960 x 640 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 29 May 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Microscopic signs that next-gen iPhone screen resolution will be 960 x 640 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 29 May 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Skype 2.0 app for the iPhone allows voice calls over 3G

Plenty of other VoIP apps have managed to work in this functionality since Apple / AT&T started allowing it last year, but the official Skype app has been a notable holdout. Now, two months after Skype started doing 3G calls on Android with Verizon, there's a 2.0 version of the app for iPhone that brings voice calls over 3G at last. Mobile iPhone calls are free until August, after which you'll need a "mobile subscription." We're testing out the app as we write this and it seems to work about as well any other 3G VoIP app we've tried: passable, not revolutionary.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

New Skype 2.0 app for the iPhone allows voice calls over 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 May 2010 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Bing To Replace Google Search On The iPhone?

Skype 2.0 for iPhone brings VoIP over 3G!

Chad just Skyped me over 3G to tell me Skype has finally (finally!) released Skype 2.0 for iPhone with support for VoIP calling over 3G cell phone networks.

We’ll spare you the long drawn out AT&T, Apple, Skype drama and the out-loud wondering about why it took so long. We’ll also skip the reminder about how, with iPhone OS 4, you’ll be able to leave it running in the background. We figure you’ve already tapped through and are busily installing the app.

When you’re done and have tried it out, come back and let us know what you think about the experience and call quality.

UPDATE 1: Sigh. Skype-to-Skype over 3G won’t be free like traditional Skype-to-Skype over Wi-Fi calls:

Call using your 3G connection. Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G are free until at least end of August 2010, after which there will be a small monthly fee (operator charges for data will still apply).

UPDATE 2: Launching Skype 2.0 on iPhone OS 4 will result in a warning that it only works on “unmodified iPhone OS 3.0.x, 3.1.x, 3.2.x”. Sorry developers on iPhone OS 4, no Skype 2.0 for you!

[iTunes link]

Skype 2.0 for iPhone brings VoIP over 3G! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Next iPhone Screen Resolution Confirmed at 960×640

The next iPhone screen has been confirmed to be at running at a resolution of 960x640, according to SuperPhone.cz (via Engadget). The site claims to have obtained a next generation iPhone screen (parts have been floating around) and magnifie...

iPhone 4G display put under a microscope, 960 x 640 a lock?

You've seen it in San Jose, you've seen plenty of it in Vietnam, and now, apparently, you're seeing the iPhone 4G display waving at you from the center of Europe, namely the Czech Republic. We haven't been able to corroborate that these fellas do indeed have a legitimate next-gen iPhone part in their paws, but hey, that's what they claim. The guys from superiphone.cz have gone above and beyond the leaker's call of duty, by taking the supposed next-gen screen under a microscope and figuring out its pixel density and display technology. According to them, the new iPhone will sport an IPS panel, much like the other handheld device Apple introduced this year, with a cool 960 x 640 resolution. This quadruples the total number of pixels from the iPhone 3GS -- making rescaling of current apps a straightforward affair -- while also giving Apple the right to claim the highest pixel density yet seen on a phone. You'll find similarly zoomed-in pics of the Nexus One and iPod touch screens at the source, and the answers to all your iPhone-related questions at WWDC in a few days' time.

iPhone 4G display put under a microscope, 960 x 640 a lock? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 May 2010 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: HTC EVO 4G smartphone

The speedy HTC EVO 4G packs in some powerful specs and a variety of multimedia features into a stylish, minimalist design, but not everybody will get to enjoy one of its best features--4G connectivity.

Would you pay AT&T $13.99/month for MobileProtect iPhone insurance — with a $199 deductible?

BGR got their hands on a leaked AT&T document that purports to show a new iPhone insurance program called MobileProtect that will cost you $13.99/month and include a deductible of $199 for an iPhone 3GS 32GB. ($99 for the iPhone 3G 8GB)

You must enroll in the plan within 30-days of upgrading/purchasing a new iPhone. AT&T is launching this service as: “Lack of iPhone insurance is a leading source of iPhone related customer complaints.”

So does anyone think $168 a year is worth it for a little rebate and piece of mind? Deal or no deal?

[BGR, Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Would you pay AT&T $13.99/month for MobileProtect iPhone insurance — with a $199 deductible? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

How fast is your international iPad 3G data?

What kind of upload and download speeds are you getting on your iPad Wi-Fi + 3G? Apple included an HSPA 7.2 3G radio on the iPad 3G, so if you’re on an HSPA+ 21 network like Bell/Telus you won’t approach that face-peeling velocity, and in the real world where you’re not sitting on top of your own cell tower in a test lab, you probably won’t hit 7.2 either, but we’re curious to know what kind of performance you do get.

So far, on Rogers Canada, I’m getting close to 4mb/s as measured by the SpeedTest.net app [iTunes link], which is pretty much the same as I get on the similarly equipped iPhone 3GS.

Let us know where you are, which carrier you’re on, and what data speed you’re getting.

How fast is your international iPad 3G data? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

iPhone Exploit Allows Access To Data Even With Passcode Protection

Microsoft and Apple still in talks for Bing iPhone search option, Google is not on notice

What turned into a pretty frenzied rumor this afternoon ended up being much ado about nothing, but there is something noteworthy. As the story goes, TechCrunch reported that Microsoft was going to completely replace Google with Bing as the search engine of choice for the iPhone once OS 4 launches next month. Enter All Things Digital's Kara Swisher, who has a pretty strong track record on all things Redmond. According to her sources, what's being discussed isn't a full swap -- instead, Bing is being considered for an "option" that users can decide between. None of this is what we'd call brand new gossip, and in fact, it sounds exactly like what we heard back in January. So, discussions still seem to be ongoing four months later, which is pretty interesting. For its part, the original TC article has been amended to say the issue is "more complicated" than originally presented. Hey June 7th? You really can't get here fast enough.

Microsoft and Apple still in talks for Bing iPhone search option, Google is not on notice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 22:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth headset comes with its own iPhone app

Filed under: iPhone

The Sound ID is a Bluetooth headset with its own iPhone app. EarPrint is an app created just to control the sound of the headset -- you can tweak the audio in and out, change volume, and even find a lost headset directly from the iPhone itself. Not exactly revolutionary (personally, I've never really found a reason to use a Bluetooth headset -- when the actual iPhone didn't work for me, the wired headset works fine), but it's a nice bit of added functionality, especially if you know you'll always be using this headset with an iPhone.

The Sound ID is available for $130 (there are many cheaper BT headsets out there, but for the money it's a respectable piece of tech), and the EarPrint app is free.

Bluetooth headset comes with its own iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 28 May 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bluetooth headset comes with its own iPhone app originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 28 May 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NBC, Time Warner Plan To Stick With Flash Instead Of iPhone, iPad-Friendly HTML5

Bing coming to iPhone search — more crazy Microsoft rumors!

Multiple sources are claiming Apple is either going to replace Google as default search with Microsoft’s Bing in iPhone OS 4, or at least integrate Bing into the search picture.

Look, it’s just over a week until WWDC 2010 and the rumors are just going to get crazier, okay? Apple and Google have been on increasingly shaky ground as of late, with some silly comments by Google during their I/O event probably not helping matters. Whether or not this proves to be true, or any of the parties chooses to comment or dispel the rumor like Microsoft did the Visual Studio for iPhone/iPad/Mac rumor from a couple days ago, we’ll just have to wait and see.

And hey, Bing powers Yahoo! which is already a search option, so if that becomes Bing in name as well, and even if it’s default, it’s hard to see Apple eliminating Google as a user-assignable option anyway, so for diehard Googlers it will just be one annoying settings switch away.

Real, fake, really fake, let us know what you think!

[BusinessWeek, TechCrunch. Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Bing coming to iPhone search — more crazy Microsoft rumors! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

AT&T prepping MobileProtect insurance program for iPhone?

Shots of some docs over on BGR have us believing that AT&T is on the cusp of launching a program called "MobileProtect," but don't be fooled by the fancy name -- this is basically an Asurion-operated handset insurance plan just like any other, the only real difference being that it's for the iPhone and offered directly by the carrier. Interestingly, it seems that you'll buy the protection through the App Store of all things, automatically billing the credit card that you've got on file with Apple, but you'd better really want the protection because it's going to run $13.99 a month. Oh, and you'll have to pay a $99 deductible to fix an 8GB 3G, scaling up to $199 for a 32GB 3GS. To put that in perspective, that means it'll cost you $367 to replace an insured 32GB 3GS after a year of coverage, at which point you'll say "well, I'd rather have an iPhone 4 anyway" and shell out $200 with an upgrade pull-ahead. Yeah, call us jaded.

AT&T prepping MobileProtect insurance program for iPhone? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple iPad Launches Internationally; Greeted With Long Lines

More on international iPad delivery delays – maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow

Earlier today Apple began notifying some international iPad customer who had placed pre-orders that, due to flight delays their iPads may not be delivered on May 28 but instead on May 29. Following up with FedEx, TiPb was first told that a hold on delivery placed by Apple had caused the delay, and then that due to Apple’s desire to have iPads show up on May 28 and no earlier (except in Europe, right?), FedEx lacked the capacity to deliver them all on the 28th. Apparently a flights with iPads are still arriving at local airports and FedEx had an agreement in place with Apple to continue to deliver to residential addresses until 10 or 11pm tonight, and through the day tomorrow. Customers with business addresses not open late or on the weekend may not be so lucky, having to way until Monday to take delivery, or heading over to the FedEx facility to pick it up themselves.

Again, we don’t know the service level agreements in play here, but definitely not a situation Apple or FedEx wants to be in.

If you’re still waiting on your international iPad delivery, or if you’ve gotten any further info from FedEx, let us know in the comments!

More on international iPad delivery delays – maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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