Fring Brings Two-Way Video Calling Over 3G To iPhone 4

Follow Friday: Team TiPb edition

If you want to keep up with the latest iPhone and iPad news, reviews, and how-tos, right from the comfort of your very own Twitter app, follow the site. If you want to get in on some behind the scenes action, follow the writers.

(Plus you never know when we’ll give something cool away just to show our appreciation!)

• @TiPb
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Add your Twitter ID to the comments and we’ll pick some at random for #FF shoutouts later today as well.

Follow Friday: Team TiPb edition is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Appsgiving Day is this Saturday, July 10th

Filed under: Software, iPhone

I like this idea -- the folks behind a new under-development app called iWishApp (that's designed to create a wishlist of iPhone apps) have decided to declare this Saturday, July 10th, as "Appsgiving Day." Basically, you go into iTunes on Saturday, the anniversary of the App Store's debut, and choose to "Gift This App" on an app you like to someone special. Not only can you support quality developers (like the ones we highlight here on TUAW every day), but you can give a nice cheap gift to an iPhone or iPad owner of your choice.

OK, sure, it's basically a completely made-up commercial holiday, and the whole point of the thing is to sell some apps -- you may have already spent more money on your iPhone than you want to admit. But there are a lot of great developers working hard on the iPhone, and why not spend a buck or two and make someone else happy with a great app, right? Seems like a good way to celebrate the platform that's come so far.

Appsgiving Day is this Saturday, July 10th originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Appsgiving Day is this Saturday, July 10th originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iOS 4 adds direct access to iTunes library, iPhone DJ apps about to get crazy

Although there's been no shortage of iPhone DJ apps in the past few years, they've remained fairly niche, since Apple didn't allow devs official access to the iPod music library -- mobile DJs needed to upload a second separate music library per app, and that's no fun at all. Looks like that's about to change, though: one of the 1500 new APIs in iOS 4 provides direct access to the iPod library, meaning music apps of all kinds can play your tracks in any wacky way they want -- including, yes, scratching them. The first app to support the new API in the store is Flare Scratch, which is a relatively simple scratch app -- we just gave it a shot and yes, it does indeed load tracks from the iPod library and let you scratch 'em. There's a bit of a wait when loading up a new track, though, so it's not totally fluid to use in anything but a hey-this-is-fun context, but we're betting we'll see more serious DJ apps hit with smoother transitions soon enough -- and we can't wait to see what devs do once iOS 4 hits the iPad and they've got more room to work with. Video after the break.

Continue reading iOS 4 adds direct access to iTunes library, iPhone DJ apps about to get crazy

iOS 4 adds direct access to iTunes library, iPhone DJ apps about to get crazy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Where’s my rollover data, AT&T?

Filed under: iPhone, iPad

You've seen the commercials and heard that they're "your minutes" so why is "your data" any different?

I'm old enough to remember when "rollover" minutes were first announced, and I was hugely impressed by the idea. The idea was -- and is -- simple: you pay for a certain number of minutes per month, and if you don't use them this month, you can use them the next. This recognizes that some months you may use more and some months you may use less, but you can pay for approximately what you need. I'm assuming that it also allows the company to have some reasonable idea of how much network usage will occur on any given month, which benefits them as well. This seems like a nice, reasonable balance between offering "unlimited" calling plans but still providing their customers with a good value.

Since AT&T has started metering data usage for the iPhone 4 and iPad, it seems only logical to ask (and I know I'm not the first): why isn't AT&T rolling over data too?

The almost-too-painfully-obvious-to-even-say-aloud answer is that AT&T will make more money by not offering rollover data, so they aren't. I don't expect this will change anytime soon. AT&T has done nothing to suggest they have any interest in providing value to their iPhone and iPad customers, but let's imagine a different world, one where AT&T hoped to keep some of their iPhone customers, perhaps a world where other carriers had the iPhone and AT&T had to actually compete for their business.

Read on to imagine with me...

Continue reading Where's my rollover data, AT&T?

Where's my rollover data, AT&T? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Where's my rollover data, AT&T? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Want some video calling over 3G? Fring goes live for iOS 4

Filed under: iPhone

The new update also includes support for multi-tasking in iOS 4, as well as a "smarter" address book, and a social stream that combines updates from services like Twitter and Facebook along with your chats all in one place.

You can get the app right here in iTunes. Let the drunk-dialing chatroulette begin!

[via Engadget, thanks Dennis!]

Want some video calling over 3G? Fring goes live for iOS 4 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Want some video calling over 3G? Fring goes live for iOS 4 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adding a Carl Zeiss SLR lens to your iPhone 4

Filed under: iPhone

We're not sure of the source of this Franken-cam, but it looks like the real deal. Think of this as an über-Owle Bubo, with the ability to use higher quality lenses with your iPhone to take amazing photos.

Starting with a Manfrotto Model 797 Modopocket tripod, the rest of the rig appears to be some sort of clamp holding the lens and (on the camera side) a T-mount adapter. I'd be willing to venture that there's some sort of lens in the T-mount so that our friend, the iPhone, doesn't have to squint to see through that nice Carl Zeiss lens...

TUAW readers -- can you identify the other components used here? Should you recognize any of the bits and pieces, let us know what they are via the comments so that the digicam geeks in the crowd can assemble this kit.

[via Technabob and Engadget]

Adding a Carl Zeiss SLR lens to your iPhone 4 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Adding a Carl Zeiss SLR lens to your iPhone 4 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: iPhone 4 burst into flames, faulty USB port blamed

Filed under: iPhone

Report: iPhone 4 burst into flames, faulty USB port blamed originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Report: iPhone 4 burst into flames, faulty USB port blamed originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fring update approved for iPhone, does video calling with front cam over 3G

We weren't exactly sure whether Apple was going to approve third-party video calling apps using the front camera on the iPhone 4, but good news: the answer is "yes." Fring just slid in a new version of its longstanding iPhone app today featuring support for video calling, which is pretty awesome in and of itself -- but the real news is that it works just fine over 3G, as you can see in our quick test above between Chicago and London. This opens the door for services that could have potentially broader implications than FaceTime itself, since Apple's service is limited to WiFi and currently only works between iPhone 4s. Just make sure you're wearing clothes when you call, alright?

Fring update approved for iPhone, does video calling with front cam over 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fring 2-way video calling lets iPhone 4 chat with Android, Nokia

Fring has just updated their app to allow iPhone 4 users to chat with Android and Nokia/Symbian S60 users with the appropriate camera hardware. So while FaceTime remains easier and slicker if you’re both on iPhone 4 on Wi-Fi, if you want to get some cross-platform chat on, this is your go-to option.

To test Fring out, Phil Nickinson from Android Central and I fired up, Phil on his HTC Evo 4G and me on my iPhone 4. Hey, if Jobs and Schmidt can take coffee, I can talk to Phil, okay?

The quality wasn’t bad considering he’s in Florida on Sprint and I’m in Montreal on Wi-Fi. I did have a problem with the speaker volume, however. I couldn’t get any real speaker phone action going on, which meant I couldn’t hear Phil unless I put the iPhone to my ear — thereby destroying the whole point of a video call.

That might have been me not knowing which button to tap or setting to swipe, but we’re looking for an answer and will update when we get on. Apple made FaceTime’s underlying protocols open, so maybe we’ll see a future update employing those as well?

If you want to see Phil’s side of the call, head on over to AC.

So now that we live in a world where iPhone’s and Androids can talk together, who’s going to give it a try?

[iTunes link]

Fring 2-way video calling lets iPhone 4 chat with Android, Nokia is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Next Generation iPod Touch To Get Front-Facing Camera For FaceTime, 5-MP Camera, HD Video Recording And More

Android, Samsung gaining mobile share in U.S.

Android is gaining on all the top smartphone platforms in the U.S., nearly beating Microsoft, according to comScore.

iPhone 4’s 5MP Camera Won’t Fit in Current iPod Touch Design

iPod Touch (left) and iPhone 4 camera (right)
After we heard today's rumors claiming that the next iPod Touch might be getting the iPhone 4's 5 megapixel camera, we asked iFixit's Kyle Wiens if that would even be possible given the siz...

Security expert: iPhone app scam likely fueled by phishing

It's unlikely that consumers' iTunes accounts were hacked by a Vietnamese iPhone developer, a security researcher said,

Bluetooth 4.0 gets spec’d, 3.0 still not implemented

Bluetooth now has an official specification for version 4.0, currently scheduled for release at the end of the year. Of course Bluetooth 3.0 was released in April 2009 and it hasn’t really caught on yet, especially when you consider most mobile devices — including the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, still use Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.

This new 4.0 spec does promise reduced power consumption so maybe Apple (and others) decided to skip the previous generation and upgrade straight to this one? We’ll find out next year…

[Engadget]

Bluetooth 4.0 gets spec’d, 3.0 still not implemented is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Fring Adds Two-Way Video Calling Over 3G to iPhone 4

Looking to upstage Apple's FaceTime video calling feature, fring has announced that its App Store application has received an update enabling two-way video calling on the new iPhone 4 via both Wi-Fi and 3G.

With the new fring ...

Conspiracies, kittens, applesauce, and AT&T SIMs

Filed under: iPhone

Yesterday, Steve Sande posted about his experiences testing iPhone 3GS signal attenuation. In his post, he showed a picture I had snapped during our morning experimentation showing my 3GS and my 4 competing head to head with the same carrier. My 3GS appeared to have better signal strength than my 4 throughout our testing.

I used a Best Buy O2 SIM for that test. It's basically a re-branded AT&T SIM. Because of that it works in any 3G or later iPhone, just by dropping it into the unit. (Unfortunately, no such luck for 1st generation iPhones, which must be jailbroken and hacktivated to take advantage of the SIM.)

Continue reading Conspiracies, kittens, applesauce, and AT&T SIMs

Conspiracies, kittens, applesauce, and AT&T SIMs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Conspiracies, kittens, applesauce, and AT&T SIMs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: Monster Trucks Nitro 2 for iPhone

Thanks to pleasing polished visuals, this racing game outshines other monster truck offerings. The variety of courses and obstacles in Monster Trucks Nitro 2 go along way toward building -- and holding -- your interest.

Next Round of International iPhone 4 Releases Set for July 28th?

Actualidad iPhone reports [Google translation] that Spanish mobile carrier Movistar has issued a series of tweets indicating that the iPhone 4 is set to launch there on Wednesday, July 28th.

While we can't say for certain that ...

maximo IP-HS5 iMetal isolation headset for iPhone and iPad

I took the maximo IP-HS5 iMetal isolation headset with me to WWDC 2010 this year, figuring it was a great way to test them out on both my iPhone and iPad. And it was. Due to “enhanced security” I had to be at the airport hours early, which meant hurrying up and waiting most of that time. Luckily I had a few podcasts and audio books on my iPhone so I queued those up to tied me over.

Now, low-bit rate talking isn’t the best indicator of sound quality, but I have found many headsets over the years didn’t handle just such low-quality talking very well. Some were never loud enough, many were never clear enough. The maximo ip-hs5 on the other hand did a good job. (In a fair bit of turn-around, I even used them to record both iPhone live! and iPad live! from on location in the hotel).

Sitting behind me on the plane were a pair of pre-schoolers who’s parents biological creators lacked the custodial fortitude to ask them to stop kicking the chairs of those of us in front of them or screaming at the top of their lungs. So, I was also able to test out the iMetal’s isolation and while I don’t think anything under full blown cans could have drowned out the poor, boundary-deprived kids behind me, they did a great job of muting the overall ruckus.

I’ve mentioned before that my grappling-mangled ears have a hard time keeping buds in, and no size ever seems to stay in place long. However, the iMetal have a snap-on lanyard so if — or when — they fall out, they stay around your neck and you don’t end up dragging them embarrassingly behind you.

As to music, I listened to everything from instrumental soundtracks to rap to pop to alternative while I did my writing and the sound quality was great given the budget price of this headset. There was good base and surprising subtlety and while I’m far from a golden ears they did sound a tad better to me than Apple’s in ear headset.

Speaking of which, instead of white plastic the iMetal have black cord, so it’s a very different look and feel. I like both.

Maximo also provides a handy carrying case, keeping the iMetal safe and protected from pocket to packing. Nice.

So if you’re looking to up your in-ear iPhone or iPad game without breaking your bank account (remember, high end models can run several hundred bucks), maximo IP-HS5 iMetal isolation headset are worth checking out.

maximo IP-HS5 iMetal isolation headset for iPhone and iPad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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