5 apps for summer travel

Summer has officially begun here in the States. Schools are closing and families are planning vacations across our great land. It can be a hassle, but don't fret! Here are five apps to make your adventure more enjoyable.

SundayDrive (Free)

When my sisters and I were young, my dad routinely stuffed us into the "wayback" of our Matador station wagon where we sat, sweaty and gobbling Chicken McNuggets, en route to no where in particular. Ah, I can still smell the BBQ dipping sauce and leaded gas fumes. Few contemporary families enjoy a sunday drive, and that's what the aptly-named SundayDrive for iPhone aims to change.

The attractive, location-based app represents a growing database of user-supplied travel routes, attractions and single-day getaways. To get started, let the iPhone find your location via GPS. A map will load with the familiar blue dot as well as SundayDrive icons representing logged drives. Tap any one to see its title, distance from your location and length (9.1 miles, for example).

Tap again to review details like an overall description, standout points of interest, photos and the ideal starting point. Finally, you can mark certain trips as favorites (Facebook login required) and even submit your own. If your submission is featured on the SundayDrive website, you'll earn ten bucks!

If only we had this app back in the day. I mentioned the fumes, right?

Flight Update ($4.99 or $9.99 for pro; universal)

You'll be flying to visit grandma's retirement village in Florida? Grab the SPF 100, Dramamine and inevitable acknowledgment of your own mortality while you install Fight Update Pro. I've used this app for years and it consistently beats the airport itself at dispensing timely info and completely eliminates paper. Here's how it works.

First, enter a name ("Trip to Florida"), the start and end date plus any relevant notes. Next, tap Add a Flight. A new window appears. This is where it gets good. Scroll through an exhaustive list of airlines to find yours and then enter your flight number (via the conveniently-supplied number pad) and the date. Hit Save and the app does the rest.

A tidy window appears which lists the airline, flight number, type of plane and status (on time, late, departed, etc.). You'll also find the originating and destination airport, actual departure and arrival times (updated in real time), gate and terminal information as well as the airport's home country and local weather.

Lest I gush like a 13-year-old who's watching Justin Bieber sing "Baby" from the first row, I'll skim through the remaining awesomeness. There's a handy, at-a-glance overview of flight information, a seating chart for nearly every type of plane, a list of alternate flights should a cancellation befall you and even a super convenient, in-app way to alert family and friends of your status (boarding, en route, landed, etc.) via SMS or Email. The pro version offers integration with Tripit.

Flight Update is among my top 10 iOS apps ever. Now enjoy the Sunshine State. Just don't accept any fancy pens.

MotionX GPS Drive ($0.99 for the app, $2.99 - $19.99 in-app purchase for live turn-by-turn voiceover)

The App Store his home to many GPS-based driving apps, several from the industry's big names. My favorite is MotionX GPS Drive. I've used it for over a year and have never had a problem, plus the pay-as-you-go option appeals to me as a frugal New Englander. Here's why you should check it out.

To get started, tap the Search button to reveal the comprehensive search screen. Here you can manually enter an address or hit a button to find shopping, restaurants, gas, hospitals or more in your area. Once you've identified your destination, tap Nav Choices to opt for live voice navigation or visual navigation. The latter is always free, while you can buy 30 days of live voice (non-recurring) for $2.99 or a full year for $19.99. That's a huge selling point: don't pay for it if you aren't using it.

Finally, tap Navigate an off you go. The visuals are extremely clear and work in portrait or landscape. A number of voices are available (some free, some via in-app purchase) but I've found the default to be perfectly acceptable (I've named her "Roadsie"). You can zoom in and out with a tap and even play music as you drive via on-screen controls.

There are plenty of options available, like night mode, live traffic updates, favorite destinations and more. You'll find pricier GPS navigation solutions, but MotionX GPS Drive is my favorite.

Best Road Trip Ever ($3.99)

Best Road Trip Ever (BRTE) is another location-based day trip app, similar to SundayDrive. The main difference is the destinations. BRTE features the off-beat, unusual and atypical destinations that dot the US. Think folk art installations and UFO culture.

They've amassed more than 7,000 attractions for you to explore, including diners and eclectic greasy spoon-type places. Finding an interesting spot is easy. Just tap one of the spots that appear on the map next to your location, follow the directions and go. You'll find lots of photos and even a few videos to get you excited for what you're about to see. BRTE is certainly not for everyone, but those who appreciate the kitsch of a roadside stand in the shape of a doughnut will enjoy it.

The Chimani Guides (Free and $4.99 versions available)

If you intend to visit some US National Parks this summer, grab the Chimani Guides. These fantastic apps are your electronic guide to several National Parks, including Acadia, Cape Cod National Seashore, Yosemite, Cuyahoga Valley and the Grand Canyon.

Of course you'll find detailed maps and photos, that's expected. But the Chimani apps also feature audio driving tours and up-to-the-minute listings of scheduled activities. You can even have push notifications let you know what's going on. Finally, sunrise and sunset times will benefit those on a tight schedule as well as photographers anticipating the golden hour.

So there you have it, five apps for summer travel. One for leisurely Sunday drives, one for tracking your flights, one for long road trips, another for discovering the unusual and finally a pocket guide to some of America's National Parks. Have fun and enjoy the summer.

5 apps for summer travel originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

5 apps for summer travel originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Agenda is a fast, tidy calendar app for iPhone

Agenda (US$1.99), from Washington, DC developers savvy apps, is a calendar app for the iPhone that's legible, fast, bursting with Multi-Touch support and reminiscent of the desktop organizers we used before apps replaced archaic paper. Nearly every function is a swipe away and even the icon displays the current date. Here's my look at Agenda for iPhone.

UI

Black text on a field of white. That's Agenda. As some apps get "cutesy" and try to resemble real-world objects, (I'm looking at you, Calendar for iPad), the folks at savvy apps went in the opposite discretion. Agenda features year, month, week, day and event views. A colored dot indicates an event's parent calendar while the tools - navigation buttons, edit/create button and settings button - remain consistent across all views. Best of all, nearly everything you'll want to do, aside from enter event details, can be accomplished with one hand. Heck, with one thumb.

Gallery: Screenshots of Agenda for iPhone

Use

A calendar must satisfy two main tasks: record information and display it. Here's a look at how Agenda handles both. To enter a new event, tap the "+" button in the lower right-hand corner. The Add Event screen appears, which should be familiar to anyone who's use Apple's Calendar app. In fact, it's identical. Populate the title field, start/end time, repeat field, etc. as appropriate and then tap Done in the upper right. The sheet disappears and your event is added to the calendar.

Agenda's only real advantage in event creation is that the button is always available. With Apple's Calendar app, the new event button disappears while in single event view.

Of course, Agenda shines when displaying information, making great use of swipes and taps. By default, Agenda presents a list view. Each day in the list features the date, pending appointments and their respective start times. Swipe up and down to scroll through the list and tap the top of the screen to return to the current day. As you enter a new month, its name is briefly displayed.

Here's where it gets fun. Swipe right once from the list view to produce month view. A grey bar highlights the current week and the current date is in red. Every day with pending appointments displays a dot(s) corresponding to the parent calendar's color. While in month view, swipe up and down to move from month to month, and tap any day to see its events in detail.

Next, swipe right again to enter yearly view, which presents a nice overview of the whole year. Again, tap any month to jump to it.

Back to list view. Swipe left once to enter daily view. A mini calendar appears in the upper left while the date appears in the upper right. Below a divider is color-coded list of what's due on that day. Swipe up or down on that list to move from day to day, or tap any item to see its details. Here's what's really cool: while in this event-specific view, swipe up and down to scroll through that day's individual events. Any phone number or address is tappable from event view, so you can place a call or jump to a map.

Conclusion

Agenda isn't the app for rapid event creation. However, those interested in a speedy, efficient and good-looking way to move through their events ought to consider Agenda. The fact that you can do almost everything with the swipe of a thumb is very nice indeed. Old eyes like mine appreciate the legibility and I can't help but love the speed. Good work, savvy apps. Agenda is very well done.

Agenda is a fast, tidy calendar app for iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Agenda is a fast, tidy calendar app for iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 5 reportedly in final testing phases, nearing production

9to5 Mac is reporting that the next-generation iPhone is in the final stage phase before production begins. Quoting a "previously accurate Apple source," 9to5 notes that some high-level Apple and carrier executives are testing near-final iPhone prototypes.

The source also claims that the new model will be released in September, and the Verizon model will still depend on Wi-Fi for FaceTime sessions (no word on if the AT&T model will handle FaceTime any differently that it currently does).

The September rumor his hardly new, as Reuters suggested it back in April. We'll know soon enough. In the meantime, start saving your pennies.

iPhone 5 reportedly in final testing phases, nearing production originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 5 reportedly in final testing phases, nearing production originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 101: Using Voice Control

While we wait for iOS 5 to deliver cool new features, here's a look at Voice Control, a feature introduced with the iPhone 3GS model. There are three types of Voice Control commands: phone, music and other. Here's how to use each.

Launching Voice Control

Of course, you can't use Voice Control until you get it running. You can either hold the Home Button down for about two seconds, or do the same with the middle button on your supplied Apple earbuds. You'll hear a beep and the iPhone's screen will display "Voice Control" with a blue background. Now, let's issue some commands.

Phone commands

Your iPhone understands "call" and "dial." To tell your iPhone to call a contact, say "call" (or "dial") plus the contact's name. For example, saying "Call Janie Smith" will launch the phone app and call Janie's number. If a contact has several numbers (work and home, for example), you can specify which one you want. "Call Janie Smith home" will call Janie's home number.

Calling a number that's not in your contacts list is just as easy. Simply say, "call" plus the number.

Music commands

Voice Control supports a nice list of music commands, from starting and stopping a song to asking about the artist. Here's how to get started.

You can say "play" or "play music" to get the music going. If you've got a song paused when you issue the play command, it will resume. If the iPod app isn't running, it will start at the very first song in your library.

Of course, you can get specific. Voice Control also understands "play playlist [name of playlist]," "play album [name of album]" and "play artist [name of artist]." For example, saying "Play album Dark Side of the Moon" will start the first track of that album, while "Play artist Pink Floyd" will start at the first track of the first album in your Pink Floyd collection (you have one, right?).

While you're at it, create a Genius playlist. While a song you dig is playing, tell Voice Control "Genius play more like this" or "Genius play more songs like this" or simply "play more like this" and it'll create a Genius playlist for you on the spot.

Simple navigation is also possible. Your iPhone understands "pause," "pause music," "next song," "previous song" and "shuffle."

Finally, you can ask your iPhone four questions about the track being played. Specifically, "what's playing," "what song is this," "who sings this song" or "who is this song by."

Miscellaneous commands

Here are a few other commands that don't fit into the previous categories.

"What is the time" or "what time is it." For most people it's quicker to tap the Home Button once and look at the time, but this command will benefit visually impaired users.

"Cancel" and "stop" exit Voice Control.

You can correct a mistake (and there will be plenty. More on that in a minute) by saying, "no," "not that," "nope," "not that one" or "wrong." Write those down now.

Finally, saying "FaceTime" supposedly initiates a FaceTime call. Which brings me to the bad news.

Voice Control works in the way that temporary tattoos look like real tattoos. At first it's passable but upon closer inspection, you see that it's not the real thing (my attempts at initiating a FaceTime call launched a Genesis album). Placing calls was the most reliable function, while the phone had trouble understanding some musical artist's names and was downright befuddled at other times.

That being said, I have friends who swear by it, so perhaps I've got poor diction. Give it a try yourself using the commands listed above, and dream of the day that Siri purchase actually pays off.

Thanks to reader Walt whose email inspired this post!

iPhone 101: Using Voice Control originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 101: Using Voice Control originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two iPhones to fly into space on last shuttle mission

The space shuttle Atlantis' final mission into space on July 8, 2011 will also mark a first. Specifically, the first time an iPhone has entered outer space. Two in fact, meant to carry out specially-designed experiments.

The iPhone 4s will be running an app called SpaceLab for iOS, designed by Odyssey Space Research. Crew members will use the app to run tests that involve the iPhone's cameras, gyroscopes and other hardware once Atlantis has docked with the International Space Station. For example, one test will be used to determine if the phone's gyroscope can determine the shuttle's orientation in space.

"I'm pretty sure this is the very first iPhone to go into space," said Odyssey CEO Brian Rishikof. He also stated that the iPhone tests will be purely experimental, and not meant to supplement the craft's guidance systems.

Earth-bound astronomers can purchase a version of the app tailored for civilians for US$1, which simulates aspects that can't be reproduced with all the pesky gravity here on terra firma.

You'll find more information on the final shuttle mission here.

Two iPhones to fly into space on last shuttle mission originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Two iPhones to fly into space on last shuttle mission originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iOS 5 hints at iPhone, iPad updates

TUAW sources inspecting the USB device files in yet-unreleased iOS 5 firmware have discovered suggestions of two future iPad 3 models as well as a pair of iPhone 5 models. What's most surprising is a big omission: no mention of an iPod touch 5.

Specifically, there are declarations buried in the iOS system files that reference "iPad3,1" and "iPad3,2." Likewise, "iPhone4,1" and "iPhone4,2." The iPhone 5 will be a 4th generation unit because the iPhone 3G was technically 1st generation. This throws off the numbering and confuses everyone, so don't fret if you were confused.

Interestingly, there are no mentions of a new iPod touch. If there really is no iPod touch 5 ready to launch in September (the typical iPod refresh time), sources believe it could be because Apple is reserving the spotlight for another member of its iOS family, namely the iPhone 5.

Of course, experience has shown that model registrations do not mean that these items always become an actual shipping product. For example, it took almost a year for the iPhone 3,2 (the iPhone 4 for Verizon) to ship, and the iPhone 3,3 never became a product. Sources believe that's because alleged carrier deals probably fell through for a third iPhone 4.

We'll know for sure in the upcoming months, but until then these tantalizing hints will have to do.

iOS 5 hints at iPhone, iPad updates originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iOS 5 hints at iPhone, iPad updates originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White iPhone to arrive tomorrow (4/28) says Apple

Apple has announced that the white iPhone 4 will be available tomorrow, April 28th. You'll be able to find it at Apple's online store, Apple retail stores, AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores and some Apple Authorized Resellers (call to confirm). The white iPhone will go on sale in 28 countries tomorrow, including Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the U.S. and the UK.

"The white iPhone 4 has finally arrived and it's beautiful," said Apple's Phil Schiller. "We appreciate everyone who has waited patiently while we've worked to get every detail right."

As of this writing, the white iPhone has commandeered Apple's homepage.

At last, the wait is over! Rumors suggested we'd see it this week, and here it is. If you pick up one of the snowy beauties tomorrow, please share your photos and stories. We'd love to hear all about it.

White iPhone to arrive tomorrow (4/28) says Apple originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

White iPhone to arrive tomorrow (4/28) says Apple originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vimeo for iPhone doesn’t disappoint

Vimeo released an official iPhone app yesterday, and it does not disappoint. As a 1.0 release, it's impressive. Consider it a one-stop shop for watching, recording, editing and delivering video to Vimeo. There are a few bumps in the road, but all-in-all Vimeo for iPhone is a solid offering. Here's my experience with the app.

UI

Vimeo for iPhone is a portrait orientation kind of app. Unless you're shooting or viewing video, it wants to be vertical. You're first presented with your video library, aptly named "My Video Library." Across the top of the screen are the Camera and New ("+") buttons, followed by a list of your previously-uploaded videos. These can be viewed in list or thumbnail layout, and sorted by date or number of views. A search function returns results as you type, which is nice.

At the bottom of the screen you'll find buttons for My Videos, Recordings, My Stuff (which includes sub-tabs for Inbox, Watch Later and Likes,) Browse (by channel) and finally account information.

Gallery: Vimeo for iPhone screenshots

Browsing your videos in list view provides information on views, number of favorites and comments at a glance. Otherwise, tap a video to find those details and more, like tags, privacy setting, stats and licensing options.

Continue reading Vimeo for iPhone doesn't disappoint

Vimeo for iPhone doesn't disappoint originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Vimeo for iPhone doesn't disappoint originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Find My iPhone app thwarts another thief

It's becoming a familiar story: a ne'er-do-well miscreant attempts to steal an iPhone, only to be thwarted by Apple's free Find My iPhone app. Today's tale comes from Manchester, England.

James Bird is an aerospace engineering student at Manchester University. When his iPhone was stolen, he alerted his friend, Nick, who tracked the iPhone using Find My iPhone on his computer.

Nick then handed his own phone to James and a mutual friend Alex, who received running commentary on the iPhone's whereabouts from Nick back at the computer. Finally they spied the man who likely had the phone and he took off on foot. After a footrace, James and Alex chased the man onto a bus and confronted him. James asked for the phone and the man denied having it, but the bus driver refused to drive until the suspect could prove he was not in possession of the phone. Realizing he was caught, he handed the iPhone over.

As fate would have it, there was a police car behind the bus. The suspect was then arrested.

Go, technology! I've had first-hand experience myself with using Find My iPhone to retrieve a lost (but not stolen) iPhone. This is the first app everyone should install.

Find My iPhone app thwarts another thief originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Find My iPhone app thwarts another thief originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 4 survives 1,000 foot fall from airplane

Late last night, we received an email from U.S. Air Force Combat Controller Ron Walker, who wrote to share an incredible story about his iPhone 4.

Airman Walker's duties as a jump master require him to ensure that his aircraft is the the proper location before sending parachute jumpers into the air. One week ago (on March 16), he stuck his body out of the open door to look for landmarks as the plane sped through the air at 130 knots (about 150 m.p.h.). As he did, the Velcro seal on his pocket flew open, and out popped his iPhone. Airman Walker could do nothing but watch it fall away from the plane; he assumed it was lost forever, not to mention destroyed by the fall.

Later, he shared his story with colleagues on the ground, one of whom installed the Find My iPhone app on his iPhone. Within minutes the app found the wayward phone, and Airman Walker and his buddy hopped on ATVs and tracked it down in a wooded area about 2 miles away.

Not only was the iPhone undamaged, Airman Walker reports, it was in perfect working order -- "not a scratch on it, not even dirty."

The phone was wearing a Griffin case at the time of its unexpected journey, but no special aerodynamic protection.

Thanks to Airman Walker for sharing his story. We're glad it turned out so well. Next time, however, make sure the iPhone is wearing a parachute and carrying a flare gun.

[Airman Walker also shared his story separately with iLounge.]

iPhone 4 survives 1,000 foot fall from airplane originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 4 survives 1,000 foot fall from airplane originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Due for iPad brings reminders to the big screen

Due, the simple and almost supernaturally useful reminder app for the iPhone (our review) has finally gone universal. Due on the iPad (US$4.99) offers the same great look and functionality as it's iPhone-exclusive predecessor, and introduces over-the-air sync of reminders thanks to the magic of Dropbox.

I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and I can say that it's just as great on the iPad as it's been on the iPhone. Here's my review of Due version 1.4 on the iPad.

Gallery: Due 1.4 on iPad

Continue reading Due for iPad brings reminders to the big screen

Due for iPad brings reminders to the big screen originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Due for iPad brings reminders to the big screen originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BOOKback for iPad and iPhone offers sleek scratch protection

The BOOKback from DODOcase is an adhesive fabric skin for the iPad (original and iPad 2) and iPhone 4. It feels nice (think Moleskine notebook), is easily re-positioned and looks good to boot. I spent two weeks with a BOOKback on my iPhone 4 and 1st-generation iPad. My overall impression is that the BOOKback will appeal to design-conscious iPhone/iPad owners who aren't concerned with impact protection. Here's my review of the BOOKback.

First, some DODOcase love. Last April, I waited in line to buy an original iPad (as many of you are doing today). A DODOcase representative was handing out discount coupons, which I later used to order one. It looked super (here's my original review) and even helped to save my iPad's life after a fall.* I ordered a replacement right away.

Gallery: BOOKback iPad and iPhone skin from DODOcase

Continue reading BOOKback for iPad and iPhone offers sleek scratch protection

BOOKback for iPad and iPhone offers sleek scratch protection originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

BOOKback for iPad and iPhone offers sleek scratch protection originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iWrap offers case-free iPhone protection

The iWrap is a thin and tough film meant to protect your iPhone from nicks, smudges and dings. It applies easily and removes without leaving residue. After a few weeks of use, I can say that it will appeal to a certain class of user, but not everyone. Those after thin, case-free scratch protection should consider the iWrap. Here's my look at iWrap for the iPhone.

In four short years, the iPhone has spawned a huge industry of accessories, apps, whatever this is, and cases. Lots and lots of cases. On one end of the spectrum is the Griffin Survivor, a hardcore badass meant to laugh attempts to damage it. It's bulky, tough and not afraid of a little pocket lint to say the least.

The Survivor's polar opposite is the iWrap.

What you get

This pair of adhesive films from Virtuosity Products clings tenaciously to your precious, sparing it the occasional scratch. While Virtuosity claims that the "iWrap protects your entire device from scratches & falls," I wasn't willing to drop perform a drop test.

Inside the package you'll find a cleaning cloth, the iWrap squeegee, instruction pamphlet and the skins themselves.

Gallery: iWrap for iPhone 4

Continue reading iWrap offers case-free iPhone protection

iWrap offers case-free iPhone protection originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iWrap offers case-free iPhone protection originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No iPhone nano, says New York Times

No iPhone nano, says New York Times originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

No iPhone nano, says New York Times originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon data limitations not unique to iPhone

There's a video up at 9to5 Mac which demonstrates how iPhones on Verizon and AT&T handle conference calling differently. Specifically, the CDMA-based Verizon phone is unable to jump between calls like the AT&T iPhone can.

The user began by placing a call on both phones. Once connected, a second call was initiated. The AT&T phone let the user move between calls easily, placing the non-active call on hold. Finally, each call could be terminated individually.

Meanwhile, the Verizon phone did not let the user jump between calls, and pressing the End button terminated both calls at once. We noticed that the user in the video didn't hit the Merge Calls button on either phone, even though it was available on both.

This is not a "limitation in the software" as 9to5 guessed, but a limitation of CDMA. The AT&T phone uses Cellular Radio and the GSM Data Radio to put each call on a unique channel. Since CDMA can't handle voice and data simultaneously, you're out of luck. The issue isn't unique to the iPhone, but the technology behind the Verizon flavor. In fact, here's how Apple summarizes the issue:

"On a CDMA model, you can't switch between calls if the second call was outgoing, but you can merge the calls. If you end the second call or the merged call, both calls are terminated."

Many home users won't be troubled by the limitation but business users might be. Enterprise customers considering a purchase will want to keep this in mind.

Watch the video after the break.

Continue reading Verizon data limitations not unique to iPhone

Verizon data limitations not unique to iPhone originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Verizon data limitations not unique to iPhone originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iControlPad, the physical controller for your iPhone, finally available for order

At long last, the iControlPad for iPhone is finally available for order and it's shipping next week! We've had our eye on this thing since May of 2008, when an early prototype looked much different than the final product.

The iControlPad is a slide-on gaming attachment that clamps into place when attached to an iPhone, adding all the nifty gaming controllers that the cool kids want, like a D-Pad, buttons, analog nubs and two rear buttons. It also features upgradable firmware so new features can be added and a battery that can charge your iPhone via USB while playing. As Engadget notes, not all games are supported, so keep that in mind.

The iControlPad will cost you US$74.99. Last August we saw that only 3,000 units will be built in the first run, so get your order in.

iControlPad, the physical controller for your iPhone, finally available for order originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iControlPad, the physical controller for your iPhone, finally available for order originally appeared on TUAW on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White iPhone price ticket reportedly shows up at Best Buy

White iPhone price ticket reportedly shows up at Best Buy originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

White iPhone price ticket reportedly shows up at Best Buy originally appeared on TUAW on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone breaks Verizon sales record in 2 hours

iPhone breaks Verizon sales record in 2 hours originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone breaks Verizon sales record in 2 hours originally appeared on TUAW on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple confirms Verizon iPhone pre-order

Continue reading Apple confirms Verizon iPhone pre-order

Apple confirms Verizon iPhone pre-order originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple confirms Verizon iPhone pre-order originally appeared on TUAW on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iFixit releases iPhone 4 liberation kit for Pentalobe screws

Continue reading iFixit releases iPhone 4 liberation kit for Pentalobe screws

iFixit releases iPhone 4 liberation kit for Pentalobe screws originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iFixit releases iPhone 4 liberation kit for Pentalobe screws originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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