Review: Incipio SILICRYLIC case with kickstand for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4

“The Incipio SILICRYLIC case with kickstand is ideal for anyone who wants decent protection without excessive bulk, but really wants the ability to quickly prop their iPhone up for easy video viewing.”

The Incipio SILICRYLIC case with integrated kickstand stands (literally!) somewhere between a feather case and a full-on armor case, providing twin layers of protection without being overly bulky about it. The two layers consist of a silky, silicone core that slips onto your iPhone 4S or iPhone 4 almost like a wetsuit. The acrylic shell clamps over, on top, to provide greater impact protection to the back and sides. It does take a little bit of wiggling to line everything up perfectly, however.

A “Vanity Kit” comes standard with the Incipio SILICRYLIC, and I’m not even going to lie, it’s just the sort of extra I love to see. The kit includes a cleaning cloth, screen protector, and applicator card, so you can protect the one thing the case itself doesn’t cover, that big, beautiful, scratch-able glass display.

And here’s the part where I unbury the lede — it also has a kickstand. I’ve often said I wanted a kickstand on the iPhone — and been made fun of because of it! — but where Apple continues to ignore me, Incipio has listened. Just pop the kickstand open on the back of the SILICRYLIC and you can prop up your iPhone and get down to some serious video watching. The only downside, and it’s a big one, is that the kickstand only works in landscape mode. If you try to stand it up in portrait mode, unless you have Crique de Soleil level balancing skills, it’s going to fall over almost immediately. Hopefully Incipio will engineer a more flexible kickstand in the future, especially if the feature is important enough to be included in the product’s name.

The good

• Dual layer protection
• Not overly bulky
• Did I mention it has a kickstand?

The Bad

• A bit fiddly to put on
• Dock port isn’t cut wide enough for some car and media plugs
• Did I mention the kickstand only works in landscape more?(!)

Conclusion

The Incipio SILICRYLIC with kickstand is ideal for anyone who wants decent protection without excessive bulk, but really wants the ability to quickly prop their iPhone up for easy video viewing.

Want a protective case with a kickstand then this case is for you. It has two layers which adds a good deal of protection for your case. The kickstand is a wonderful addition thought I had hoped and expected it to work in horizontal and vertical modes.

CAN$24.95 – BlueShop.ca

US$14.95 – Amazon.com

Manage your student life with College T.A for iPhone

College T.A is an app to help college students balance classes, clubs, work, and social life. Manage your coursework, events, to-do lists, professors’ info, and more and keep your calendars synced in College T.A and your iPhone’s built-in Calendar app. The recent update also brings a new UI and other optimizations.

For many college students, the Spring semester is right around the corner (or has just begun), so now is a perfect time to picks up College T.A before you’re helplessly disorganized!

The life of a college student can be a confusing whirlwind that involves balancing your academic and social lives. However, College TA, the next generation of college planners is here. College TA assists users with managing their personal, social, and academic lifestyles, all on a beautiful and simplistic design.

College T.A is available on the iPhone for free.

• App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on iMore? Email us at iosapps@imore.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Apple VP of iWork Roger Rosner rumored to head up digital textbook development

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple’s iWork VP Roger Rosner has been charged to lead Apple’s entry into the digital textbook arena.

According to people familiar with the matter, Mr. Rosner—Apple’s vice president for productivity applications, in charge of its iWork document, spreadsheet and presentation software—is closely involved in developing the new digital-textbook service. Apple last week said it was holding an event in New York City on Thursday for an announcement, which people familiar with the matter have said will be around digital textbooks.

With Apple’s education event happening January 19th, we’ll soon be able to lay to rest all the rumors surrounding what, exactly will be unveiled. It seems, however, that rather then looking to replace textbooks with their digital counterparts right away, Rosner’s team will introduce a new set of tools for publishers to create “iTextbooks”. Apple’s iTunes U podcast section is a critical if not mainstream success, and their iBooks eBookstore and reader already have a small set of textbook publishers participating. If Apple can expand on that existing base with tools to make the transition easier, they could start to get some momentum going.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Best iPad app for comic book reading: Comic Zeal

“If you already have comics in a digital format, Comic Zeal is simply the best way to read them on your iPad.”

Comic Zeal is currently the best app for reading comics on your iPad. Whether you’re a member of the mighty Marvel marauders, a dedicated DC-for-lifer, or someone who prefers the alternative and independent sequential art scene, if you already have your comics in a digital format — especially if you bought those massive Marvel DVDs containing all the early issues of Avengers, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, X-Men, etc. in PDF — Comic Zeal should be your go-to reader.

You can sync PDF, CBR/RAR, or CBZ/ZIP files straight over to Comic Zeal from iTunes via file sharing if you absolutely have to, and with Wi-Fi sync it’s easier than ever. I just drop mine into Dropbox, hit the Dropbox app on iPad, download them, hit the action button, and tell Dropbox to open them in Comic Zeal. It would be nice if Comic Zeal could hook into Dropbox (and other online storage pools) directly, eliminating a step. Here’s hoping we get that in the future.

Comic Zeal also has a lot of great options for organizing and displaying your comics, including by series and in a grid, so you can more easily find the issue you want, when you want. You can choose between swiping or tapping — or both — to change pages, tapping or hitting a button — or both — to show and hide the navigation tools, and a variety of other features, including zoom. Alas, you there’s no tactile way to manipulate your comics (you can’t put them into “jiggly mode to re-arrange or delete them, or put them into folders), and turning pages lacks the iBooks-style animation and doesn’t feel as crisp as it ought to.

The good

• Fast, well organized, good options and controls, and did I mention fast?
• Supports popular formats like PDF, CRB, and CBZ.

The bad

• Lacks iPad-like tactile manipulation and page turning.
• Lacks integration with popular online storage services like Dropbox.

The conclusion

If you already have comics in a digital format, Comic Zeal is simply the best way to read them on your iPad.

$7.99 – Download

Overflow: Jailbreak Tweak Brings Dynamic ‘Coverflow’-Esque Style to Your iPhone Dock

iOS hacker and developer – Adam Bell a.k.a b3ll has released a new jailbreak tweak called Overflow in Cydia. Overflow brings a dynamic ‘Coverflow’-esque style to your iOS dock. Here’s a description of the jailbreak tweak: Give your iOS dock a little … Continue reading →

Photos of Jailbroken iPad 2 on iOS 5.0.1 Running Cydia And Jailbreak Apps

Couple of days back, the jailbreak “Dream Team” showed us the video of a successfully jailbroken iPhone 4S running iOS 5.0.1. If you had any doubts about an jailbreak for iPad 2 the photos below should put those concerns to … Continue reading →

Goodnight iPad

Goodnight iPad: a Parody for the next generation, by Ann Droyd (ha!) is a cute little twist to the bedtime story, Goodnight Moon. Today’s children have iPad’s, iPhones, computers, and all sorts of gadgets and electronics, so this book is about saying goodnight to these items instead of the traditional ones in Goodnight Moon.

Now go grab a cup of hot chocolate and join me around the fire for a reading of this modern bedtime story!

• $14.99 – Amazon link

Smule’s Ge Wang plays Magic Guitar for us at CES

We got to sit down for a quick chat with Smule's own Dr. Ge Wang at CES in Las Vegas last week, and the result is the video below. Not only is the co-founder overseeing Smule's musical experiences for mobile devices (and its recent merger with Khush, another musical developer), but he's also an assistant professor at Stanford's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics.

And, as you can see, he's a mean Magic Guitar player as well. Those gloves he's wearing are Altec Lansing speakers sewn onto some gloves (with the fingertips cut off) for the Stanford Mobile Phone Orchestra. Wang was actually in Vegas to accept the Kids at Play Interactive's Emerging Pioneer award, which is an impressive achievement as well.

Always good to see Smule's co-founder out and about. He says Magic Guitar is selling well, the merger is moving along smoothly, and Smule continues to aim towards expanding its social connection features across apps in the new year. He couldn't share specific plans, but we'll wait and see. When he's kind enough to strum a few virtual bars for us like this, who are we to argue?

Smule's Ge Wang plays Magic Guitar for us at CES originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Smule's Ge Wang plays Magic Guitar for us at CES originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ally’s most used accessories of 2011 for iPhone and iPad

I have a very short attention span when it comes to accessories for my iPhone and iPad, and my most used accessories reflect that. To really keep my attention an accessory has to stand out from what I already own. If it looks like something I already have or doesn’t provide any additional features, I probably won’t give it a second look. Here are the ones I’ve found to be functional and versatile enough to keep around.

iSkin Aura for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

The first iSkin product I ever purchased was an iSkin Solo FX case for my iPhone 3GS. I’ve been impressed with their product lines ever since. Yes, they’re a bit more expensive than other cases on the market but I really think they’re a prime example of “you get what you pay for”.

The iSkin Aura adds minimal bulk to your iPhone, if any at all. The inside of the case is a thin rubber than won’t scratch or damage your device. The sides of the case are also rubber which provides a good grip. The back is a beautiful brushed metal that’s available in three different colors – grey, blue, and white.

I’ve been using the iSkin Aura for a good few months now and the quality is just what I’ve come to expect from iSkin. It’s worth keeping in mind that this case isn’t aimed for people who drop their phone frequently. It isn’t an Otterbox and doesn’t claim to be. If you don’t need heavy protection, you’ll love it. If you do need heavy protection, I wouldn’t recommend it.

• $34.95 – iMore Store link

Bamboo Stylus for iPad and iPad 2

I first learned of the Bamboo stylus when Leanna used it as her pick of the week. I’d tried several types of stylus’ and never found one that was a good weight and provided good accuracy while writing. Not to mention a lot of them have very cheap tips on them that will start to come apart or lose their shape after a while.

I find the Bamboo stylus to be the perfect combination of weight and design. It comes in several different colors and is priced very reasonably.

• $25.95 – $29.95 (depending on color choice) – Amazon link

Bose MIE2i in-ear headphones

I finally broke down several months ago and bought a “good” pair of headphones. The stock Apple ear buds always hurt my ears after an hour or so of use. My brother actually talked me into finally picking up a pair of Bose headphones. While they’re not new to 2011, they’re still a top seller when it comes to quality headphones (and they’re new to me).

Aside from the great sound quality, they’re extremely comfortable even when worn for long durations. They come with several different ear pieces to ensure the best fit individually. As you would expect, they’ve got a built in mic and clicker so you can use them not only for music but for phone calls and other tasks as well.

They’re a bit more expensive than other headphone choices but I’ve found the quality to be more than worth the price.

• $129.95 – Amazon link

Apple iPad 2 Smart Cover

The Smart Cover continues to be one of my favorite accessories for my iPad 2. The iPad 2 is much slimmer than its predecessor and I like to keep that form factor to a minimum. I don’t want a case that’s going to make it bulky.

I’ve found the Smart Cover to be versatile enough for my needs. I can prop it up in one way when I need to utilize the keyboard and another way when I want to sit back and watch a movie. It doesn’t provide the greatest protection considering it doesn’t protect the back at all but I’ve got that covered with an iSkin Solo Smart that compliments it perfectly without adding additional weight or bulk.

• $39.99 to $69.99 – Amazon link

iSkin Solo Smart for iPad 2

While I love my Smart Cover I still felt like the back was left wide open to scratches and potential damage. I wanted something I could use in addition to my Smart Cover.

Then I found the iSkin Solo Smart. Not only does it cover everything the Smart Cover doesn’t, including ports, it strengthens the Smart Cover’s connection. Along the left side you’ll find a small bracket that comes up and around the hinge of the Smart Cover. No matter how hard you pull, you’re Smart Cover won’t come unattached.

And if you don’t want to use a Smart Cover at all, the Solo Smart comes with an extra piece you can put inside the bracket so nothing on the back or sides of your iPad 2 is exposed.

• $52.99 – iSkin Solo Smart for iPad 2

Last week of voting for Dailymotion/Original iPhone Film Festival finalists

Everyone loves a winner, and when it comes to the top 12 finalists in the Original iPhone Film Festival (OIFF), the decision about who should get the golden trophy comes down to all of you. This year's 12 finalists in the competition (co-hosted by video site Dailymotion) are facing off across four categories to see who's got the best clip.

All of these entries are built from footage captured exclusively on iOS devices, and they're a lovely showcase for what's possible with the iPhone 4S's new camera. The voting for winners continues through next Wednesday, and the final tally will be announced live at Macworld | iWorld on Thursday the 26th of January.

Best of luck to the finalists -- now get out there and vote!

Last week of voting for Dailymotion/Original iPhone Film Festival finalists originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last week of voting for Dailymotion/Original iPhone Film Festival finalists originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple targets Galaxy S II, other Samsung phones in new German suit

According to a Bloomberg report, Apple filed a new lawsuit in Germany that targets ten of Samsung's Android handsets. This new suit gives Apple a fresh start to argue for its EU design rights, which were recently called into question by Germany's Dusseldorf Court. It also gives the company an opportunity to win an injunction halting the sales of popular handsets like the Galaxy SII and the Galaxy S Plus.

Apple also filed another German lawsuit that cites five Samsung tablet models. This suit supposedly relates to a German lawsuit Apple filed earlier this year against Samsung and its Galaxy Tab 10.1. This older suit led to the ban of Galaxy 10.1 tablet sales in the European country and the subsequent development of the Galaxy 10.1N tablet. This redesigned tablet meets the court's criteria and will not be banned from retail shelves.

A Samsung spokesperson confirmed the company received the new phone and tablet lawsuits, but did not comment on them.

[Via AppleInsider]

Apple targets Galaxy S II, other Samsung phones in new German suit originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple targets Galaxy S II, other Samsung phones in new German suit originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan Scratch Shield iPhone case uses self-healing paint, won’t un-crack your screen

Well hey there, butterfingers. Do your smartphone cases often slip from grip, hitting the deck and resulting in a bevy of tiny nicks that leave you self-conscious about your inability to maintain a firm grasp? Well, Nissan (yes, that Nissan) may just have an answer, in the form of a self-healing iPhone case. Naturally, the Scratch Shield protects your device from garnering unwanted blemishes, but it also features a polyrotaxane-based finish that helps maintain the case itself, covering over small scratches in as little as an hour. Nissan is keeping its magic paint on home turf for the time being, licensing the material to Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo, though the Leaf-maker is also said to be considering a commercial launch later this year. Until then, you'll need to stay strong (gripped), though a self-mend solution may well be in your future.

Nissan Scratch Shield iPhone case uses self-healing paint, won't un-crack your screen originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iWork VP Roger Rosner Taking Charge of Apple’s Digital Textbook Initiative

According to the Wall Street Journal, Roger Rosner is the executive in charge of Apple's digital textbook tools. According to his LinkedIn page, Rosner is a Vice President for Productivity Applications at Apple, and has been with the company since 2001, prior to which he was CEO of Bluefish Labs, a software development firm that Apple purchased.

Prior to working on the textbook service, Rosner was in charge of Pages, Numbers and Keynote -- Apple's iWork suite of office applications. Jessica Vascellaro writes for the WSJ:

Mr. Rosner's involvement is a sign of how strongly Apple intends to emphasize textbook creation, in a move to change the type of educational content that exists on the market. It also underscores how as textbooks—and all media—goes digital, it is increasingly important for tech companies to get media companies to create digital content with their software or in formats compatible with their services and devices.

Whether Mr. Rosner, whose LinkedIn profile pegs him at Apple for more than a decade, will take the stage on Thursday remains unclear. If so, audiences may remember him from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference this past June, where he demonstrated features of iCloud, the company's online syncing and storing service.

Rosner made his first a widely viewed public appearance when he demonstrated iCloud onstage at WWDC in June of 2011.


Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
• Thermochromatic iPhone Cases Have a Different Look
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iWork VP Roger Rosner Taking Charge of Apple’s Digital Textbook Initiative

According to the Wall Street Journal, Roger Rosner is the executive in charge of Apple's digital textbook tools. According to his LinkedIn page, Rosner is a Vice President for Productivity Applications at Apple, and has been with the company since 2001, prior to which he was CEO of Bluefish Labs, a software development firm that Apple purchased.

Prior to working on the textbook service, Rosner was in charge of Pages, Numbers and Keynote -- Apple's iWork suite of office applications. Jessica Vascellaro writes for the WSJ:

Mr. Rosner's involvement is a sign of how strongly Apple intends to emphasize textbook creation, in a move to change the type of educational content that exists on the market. It also underscores how as textbooks—and all media—goes digital, it is increasingly important for tech companies to get media companies to create digital content with their software or in formats compatible with their services and devices.

Whether Mr. Rosner, whose LinkedIn profile pegs him at Apple for more than a decade, will take the stage on Thursday remains unclear. If so, audiences may remember him from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference this past June, where he demonstrated features of iCloud, the company's online syncing and storing service.

Rosner made his first a widely viewed public appearance when he demonstrated iCloud onstage at WWDC in June of 2011.


Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
• Thermochromatic iPhone Cases Have a Different Look
• A Look at AT&T's Throttling for High-Use Unlimited iPhone Data Customers
• Apple Files New German Lawsuit Targeting Ten Samsung Smartphones
• iTunes Match Goes Live in the Netherlands
• Das Keyboard Releases Model S Professional for Mac

Daily iPad App: Run Roo Run HD

5th Cell is the developer behind the very popular Scribblenauts (which was released on iOS to great acclaim last year, and just had a new level pack update), and it recently brought a new title to the App Store called Run Roo Run. 2D platforming is a genre that's almost as old as videogames themselves (Mario, who you may know, is the grandfather of jumping around on 2D platforms), and as far as I'm concerned, Run Roo Run is a master class in 2D platforming design.

It also has the added benefit of being a running title of sorts, and a puzzle game as well. The idea is that you, as Roo, a very cute Australian kangaroo, have lost a little blue buddy, and it's your job to jump across the Aussie landscape, over and around various obstacles, to save your friend. But your run is broken up into a series of stages that consist of one screen each, and so the goal is to keep the constantly running Roo jumping at just the right times to make it to the end of the screen and onto the next one.

The action starts simple, but soon double jumps are added, and then the ability to slow Roo down or speed him up, and then you can swing on things, and just like Cut the Rope, a series of relatively simple elements can be combined into some very ingenious puzzles. Also like Cut the Rope, all of the action is crystal clear to see and understand, and the colorful graphics (especially on the iPad's HD version) and very chill Aussie soundtrack make this one a pleasure to play through. It's well polished, excellently designed, and for a 2D platforming fan like myself, every new stage is like another dish at an all-you-can-eat jumping buffet. And every level is timed and rewarded with gold, silver, or bronze medals, so there's lots of drive, even once you've conquered a simple one, to go back and do it perfectly the first time around.

Run Roo Run is a great title, and shows that 5th Cell has really fallen in love with Apple's platform (of course, the big sales from Scribblenauts probably didn't hurt that emotion, either). It's available for 99 cents on iPhone, or for $1.99 on the iPad, with over 420 levels included, more showing up every week, and the option to buy some extra power-ups or convenience items via in-app purchase. Don't pass this one up, whatever you do.

Daily iPad App: Run Roo Run HD originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Daily iPad App: Run Roo Run HD originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily iPad App: Run Roo Run HD

5th Cell is the developer behind the very popular Scribblenauts (which was released on iOS to great acclaim last year, and just had a new level pack update), and it recently brought a new title to the App Store called Run Roo Run. 2D platforming is a genre that's almost as old as videogames themselves (Mario, who you may know, is the grandfather of jumping around on 2D platforms), and as far as I'm concerned, Run Roo Run is a master class in 2D platforming design.

It also has the added benefit of being a running title of sorts, and a puzzle game as well. The idea is that you, as Roo, a very cute Australian kangaroo, have lost a little blue buddy, and it's your job to jump across the Aussie landscape, over and around various obstacles, to save your friend. But your run is broken up into a series of stages that consist of one screen each, and so the goal is to keep the constantly running Roo jumping at just the right times to make it to the end of the screen and onto the next one.

The action starts simple, but soon double jumps are added, and then the ability to slow Roo down or speed him up, and then you can swing on things, and just like Cut the Rope, a series of relatively simple elements can be combined into some very ingenious puzzles. Also like Cut the Rope, all of the action is crystal clear to see and understand, and the colorful graphics (especially on the iPad's HD version) and very chill Aussie soundtrack make this one a pleasure to play through. It's well polished, excellently designed, and for a 2D platforming fan like myself, every new stage is like another dish at an all-you-can-eat jumping buffet. And every level is timed and rewarded with gold, silver, or bronze medals, so there's lots of drive, even once you've conquered a simple one, to go back and do it perfectly the first time around.

Run Roo Run is a great title, and shows that 5th Cell has really fallen in love with Apple's platform (of course, the big sales from Scribblenauts probably didn't hurt that emotion, either). It's available for 99 cents on iPhone, or for $1.99 on the iPad, with over 420 levels included, more showing up every week, and the option to buy some extra power-ups or convenience items via in-app purchase. Don't pass this one up, whatever you do.

Daily iPad App: Run Roo Run HD originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Daily iPad App: Run Roo Run HD originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 4S ship times drop to 3-5 days

Electronista noticed this morning that shipping estimates for the iPhone 4S have dropped to three to five business days for all capacities.

This shows that the despite the ongoing rollout of the iPhone 4S in other countries, production has caught up to meet demand.

If you've been waiting to upgrade because of thin supplies since its release and the holiday season, now is a good time to consider ordering one.

iPhone 4S ship times drop to 3-5 days originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 4S ship times drop to 3-5 days originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 4S ship times drop to 3-5 days

Electronista noticed this morning that shipping estimates for the iPhone 4S have dropped to three to five business days for all capacities.

This shows that the despite the ongoing rollout of the iPhone 4S in other countries, production has caught up to meet demand.

If you've been waiting to upgrade because of thin supplies since its release and the holiday season, now is a good time to consider ordering one.

iPhone 4S ship times drop to 3-5 days originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 4S ship times drop to 3-5 days originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roam Mobility brings affordable roaming for Canadian iPhones in the US

Roam Mobility aims to help Canadians save a lot of money on voice and data roaming fees when they visit the U.S. Here’s how it works — you take your unlocked GSM iPhone with you to the U.S., and instead of paying between $1 and $30/mb roaming fees from the big carriers, you simply pick up Roam Mobility microSIM card, slap it in, and start saving. (You can also get data sticks, dumb phones, and miniSIMs as well.)

There are several plans and pricing options, from pay-as-you-go to pre-paid, and you can get both voice and data services. You don’t have to sign up for a contract. Check out the link below for all the details.

Source: Roam Mobility via Android Central

Secondary iPhone market is thriving

We often hear about iPhone sales during Apple's quarterly earnings report, but we don't talk about secondary sales very much. This is the market where used iPhones in various conditions are bought and sold. I've been an active participant in this exchange, often selling my old iPhone or iPad to get the current year's model.

AllThingsD details a recent Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP) report which reveals that 53 percent of iPhone 4S owners got rid their old handset to buy the new one. These re-purposed handsets were predominantly iPhones (49 percent), followed by BlackBerry (21 percent) and Android (15 percent) phones. Interestingly enough, a lot of the iPhones (31 percent) were gifted, and a smaller percentage (18 percent) were sold.

It's not only advantageous for customers who can get an iPhone for less than retail (I sold my 16 GB iPhone 4 for $275), but carriers benefit, too. Over 89 percent of these gifted iPhones will likely be activated on a wireless carrier. Since the launch of the iPhone 4S, CIRP believes almost 11 percent of iPhone activations are second-hand phones.

CIRP co-founder Mike Levin says secondary sales of the iPhone is a mixed blessing for Apple. The company loses sales because people buy used instead of new phones. Apple, however, gets fresh new customers who will purchase content from the iTunes and the App Store. They may also stay iPhone customers and buy the next model when it's released.

Secondary iPhone market is thriving originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Secondary iPhone market is thriving originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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