The high price of the iPhone 4S in India

The iPhone 4S is set to go on sale in India in just five days, but its recently-announced price has some Indian customers fuming. While prices for Apple devices in India have always been higher than in the US, iPhone fans aren't happy that the 16 GB iPhone 4S will cost a whopping Rs 44,500 (US$854.00) with a two-year contract through both AirTel and AirCel. That price point is roughly the same price as a contract-free 64 GB iPhone 4S in the US.

As noted by NewsTonight, Indian iPhone fans took to Twitter upon learning the news and quickly pointed out that the cost of the entry-level iPhone 4S was not only more than the high-end contract-free iPhone 4S in the states, but that the 16 GB iPhone 4S in India costs more than most LED TV's or a year's worth of gas. Fueling the anger over the price was the assumption that the already-high Indian iPhone price point would remain the same as the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 was Rs 35,000 (US$672.00) -- significantly cheaper than the iPhone 4S. There's no word from the carriers or Apple as to why the iPhone 4S is priced significantly higher than the iPhone 4 was at its launch, as new iPhones usually keep the same price point as their predecessor.

The high price of the iPhone 4S in India originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The high price of the iPhone 4S in India originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T raises the price of iPhone 3GS from free to $0.99, refurb for a penny

Last Friday AT&T generated a lot of Twitter talk (and confusion) when it raised the price of the iPhone 3GS from free with two-year contract to US$0.99 with two-year contract. The "free" price of the iPhone 3GS was noted as being a major draw for price-conscious consumers by both AT&T and Apple when it was announced on October 4th, so the raising of the price to a nominal $0.99 was a bit puzzling. Adding to the confusion was the fact that the iPhone 3GS is still free with a two-year AT&T contract when bought directly from Apple.

When we contacted AT&T again today to get more specifics on the price change, a company spokesperson told us, "I can't share anything specific on the reasoning" and went on to reiterate AT&T's official response, "Our brief statement is this: 'iPhone 3GS is still available at an incredibly low price and we're confident consumers will agree that this remains one of the best deals for a leading smartphone.'"

MacRumors suggests that the price could be a way for AT&T to combat fraud, as the price of the phone cannot be applied to a user's AT&T bill and must be charged to a credit or bank-issued debt card. The requirement of a credit or debit card means that people using stolen identities to obtain the handsets have much less chance of getting one unless they've actually physically stolen the person's credit or debit card as well. This line of reasoning adds up considering the iPhone 3GS is still free through Apple. That is perhaps because Apple requires you to have an Apple ID with an associated credit or debit card tied to the account to make online purchases.

Lending further credence to the "anti-fraud" theory is the fact that refurbished 8GB iPhone 3GS models now cost $0.01 through AT&T. The nominal penny fee is also likely applied to refurbished models to combat similar identity theft fraud by requiring a valid credit or debit card to be charged a single cent.

Finally -- and perhaps unrelated to the new iPhone 3GS charge -- AT&T seems to be sold out of the iPhone 3GS online. We've asked the company what's behind the inventory shortage and are awaiting a reply.

AT&T raises the price of iPhone 3GS from free to $0.99, refurb for a penny originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T raises the price of iPhone 3GS from free to $0.99, refurb for a penny originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square adds customer loyalty, printable receipts

Mobile credit card transaction company Square updated its iOS app this week to include several new features for merchants and customers. Perhaps the biggest update to Square 2.2 is the ability for merchants to reward their regular customers with customized loyalty programs. The app now allows a merchant to define what a "regular" customer is (ie: five visits a week, twelve visits a month, etc) and assign an automatic discount to their tab when they check out.

Another big feature of the latest update is the ability to print physical receipts. Now the app can communicate with receipt printers so the customer can walk away with printed proof of their purchase instead of having to rely on an email or text message. Plus, the app has added the ability to wirelessly open the merchants cash register when the merchant taps "tender" on the app -- a small but nice feature at, say, cafés where a person might pay by card but want quarters in exchange for a dollar bill to get a paper. The feature also makes it easier for the cashier to store paper coupons in their cash drawer as some cash registers will not open a drawer unless the transaction is tendered in-register. Additionally the 2.2 update also allows merchants to create a "tips" field on the checkout screen.

Square recently surpassed US$2 billion in payments per year an usage by both customers and merchants is sure to increase as more people become comfortable making transactions on their mobile devices. Square is a free download from the App Store.

Square adds customer loyalty, printable receipts originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Square adds customer loyalty, printable receipts originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T concept store uses iPads, iPhones for checkout

An AT&T concept store opening this weekend in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights aims to "differentiate the AT&T experience," according to AT&T retail president Paul Roth. Roth told AllThingsD that AT&T needs to do more to lure the shopper into its stores now that most mobile phones essentially look the same (blocks of glass with software underneath). To that end, AT&T is borrowing heavily from the Apple Store model.

The Arlington Heights concept store has eliminated traditional cash registers in favor of a payment system using iPads and iPhones, just like Apple does in its stores. The store will also feature wide glass windows, so passersby can easily see what's on display inside and feel more "invited" to come in -- another Apple Store trait. Finally, the store will offer "bar stool-style seats and tables to try out the latest devices and services as well as a spot to get in-store support for devices and software," according to AllThingsD. Throw a logo of an atom with swirling electrons on it and you'd have a Genius Bar.

Some non-Apple Store features will also be included in the store, including two large touchscreen walls and an entire section of the store dedicated to "emerging devices," such as new Bluetooth and wireless accessories. Expect whatever features of the concept store that are a hit to make it into other AT&T stores in the future.

AT&T concept store uses iPads, iPhones for checkout originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T concept store uses iPads, iPhones for checkout originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NPD Group: iPhone 4, 3GS outsold Android phones in Q3

NPD's latest Mobile Phone Track service shows that Apple's iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS outsold other Android phones on the market in the US for the third calendar quarter of 2011 -- the same situation as results for the previous quarter. The iPhone 4 held the top spot, with Apple's two-year-old iPhone 3GS holding the second spot. It's no surprise the iPhone 4 claimed top spot, but it's a testament to how well the iPhone is revered among consumers that the iPhone 3GS -- which came out in 2009 -- outsold newer Android phones with higher screen resolutions and more processing power. The $49 price point through AT&T last quarter also must have helped.

Here's the entire top 5 list for the quarter that ended September 30th:

1. Apple iPhone 4
2. Apple iPhone 3GS
3. HTC EVO 4G
4. Motorola Droid 3
5. Samsung Intensity II

Results for this next quarter, which runs until December 31, will be very interesting to see. Given the strong sales of the iPhone 4S, the fact that the iPhone 4 is now only $99, and the fact that the iPhone 3GS is free on a two year contract, Apple may very well hold the top three spots when NPD announces its Mobile Phone Track results for Q4 sometime in January 2012.

NPD Group: iPhone 4, 3GS outsold Android phones in Q3 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

NPD Group: iPhone 4, 3GS outsold Android phones in Q3 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unlocked iPhone 4S now available for pre-order in the US

Apple has begun taking unlocked iPhone 4S pre-orders in the US Online Apple Store. The preorders list a 1 to 2-week ship time and and are available for all three storage capacities in white and black. I just put an order in for my unlocked iPhone 4S and the confirmation email lists a delivery date of between November 28 - December 5. Currently unlocked iPhone 4S pre-orders are for delivery only and cannot be placed online and then picked up in an Apple retail store.

Unlocked iPhone 4S models come in both white and black and cost US$649 for the 16 GB version, $749 for the 32 GB version, and $849 for the 64 GB version. Unlocked iPhones allow a user to simply insert a carrier's micro-SIM card in to use the phone on any GSM network in the world. The unlocked iPhones will not work on CDMA networks, including Sprint and Verizon in the US.

Unlocked iPhone 4S now available for pre-order in the US originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Unlocked iPhone 4S now available for pre-order in the US originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon’s Flow app is augmented reality shopping goodness

Amazon quietly released a new iPhone app last week that aims to give other bar code scanning apps a run for their money. The free app, called Flow, isn't revolutionary in its bar code scanning capabilities. Oh, it scans bar codes just fine, but the beauty of Flow is that it does more than just bar code scanning. Flow allows the user to point their iPhone's camera at an object, like a book, DVD, Blur-ray disc, or video game (and Nutella, apparently) and get an instantaneous augmented reality overlay of the product information right on the iPhone's screen.

The overlay is more than just a Buy It Now link to Amazon.com. The app utilizes Amazon's large digital media collection and allows users to instantly get audio previews of CDs they've scanned or video previews of DVDs, video games, and more. I used the app to successfully scan The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, the Captain America DVD, and the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine with Steve Jobs on the cover. All were found in Amazon's huge virtual catalog instantly.

It's no wonder Amazon released Flow now. They want to get it in the hands of as many iPhone users as possible prior to this holiday shopping season. The app works exceedingly well both in bar code scanning and photo recognition. It's also really nice to be able to get audio and video previews of products and be able to instantly buy them on your phone. However, Flow isn't a huge threat to other bar code scanning apps, like RedLaser, just yet. Flow obviously only shows you products on Amazon's site, where RedLaser gives you the prices of products across multiple sites.

Brick and mortar stores like Best Buy and Target should be extremely worried about Flow and its future iterations. When Flow gets to the point that you can scan larger items like TVs or laptops (items that typically don't have the bar code showing on the store's display) those big box retailers could then become largely nothing more than a glorified showroom to which people go to see products, quickly scan them, and then order them at a significant discount from Amazon.

Flow is a free download.

Amazon's Flow app is augmented reality shopping goodness originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Amazon's Flow app is augmented reality shopping goodness originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eco-friendly iPhone case made from trash

For those of you who are eco-conscious and are looking for an iPhone case, you may want to check out the Re-case. The Re-case is made from rice agricultural waste that is added to post-consumer thermo-plastics resulting in a case that is literally made from trash. Besides its environmentally friendly status, the Re-case also offers a slot users can keep an RFID-enabled card in, such as an Oyster card for London's tube network or a security card for work, allowing for quick use of the card without having to fumble through your wallet.

The Re-case comes in six colors and is available for US$24.95 on Amazon.com.

Eco-friendly iPhone case made from trash originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Eco-friendly iPhone case made from trash originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Czech Telefonica dropping the iPhone

Czech mobile provider Telefonica Czech Republic AS has decided not to sell the iPhone 4S and will stop selling all iPhone models, according to an October 27th report by Hospodarske Noviny, a local Czech paper. A spokesperson for Telefonica Czech said Apple's business terms were the reason the carrier chose to stop selling the popular smartphone.

The details of the business terms between Telefonica Czech and Apple were not disclosed. Czech iPhone fans won't be left out to dry though. As noted by Bloomberg, last week the iPhone 4S went on sale at the Czech units of Vodafone Group and T-Mobile International AG

Czech Telefonica dropping the iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Czech Telefonica dropping the iPhone originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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C Spire Wireless will begin selling the iPhone on November 11

A few weeks ago, Mississippi-based C Spire Wireless announced it had inked a deal with Apple to sell the iPhone, making it the country's first regional carrier for Apple's smartphone. Today the company announced that both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S will go on sale on November 11th. From the press release:

iPhone 4S will be available starting at $199.99 for the 16GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB model and $399.99 for the 64GB model with a new two-year contract and data plan. In addition, the iPhone 4 8GB model is available for $99.99, also with a new two-year contract and data plan. iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 will be available at C Spire Wireless retail stores, online at www.cspire.com/iPhone and through the Telesales group at 1-855-CSPIRE4.

C Spire Wireless is a CDMA carrier that serves Mississippi and parts of Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. If you live in its coverage area, you can begin pre-ordering your device today. The pricing of the handsets are the same as the iPhone's national US carriers. However, a look at its data pricing plans reveals that C Spire is trying to undercut the national carriers by offering an entry-level voice and data iPhone plan for only $50. Oddly though, the $50 plan and a $70 plan do not allow customers to "stream" data, which I've contacted the company about because I'm not exactly sure what that means; perhaps it has something to do with streaming video and audio, but it's not clear how transport-agnostic applications like YouTube or Pandora would know the difference.

No word from Apple on whether other regional carriers will join the iPhone bandwagon yet, but it seems very likely considering the exclusivity agreements with the national carriers have come to an end.

C Spire Wireless will begin selling the iPhone on November 11 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

C Spire Wireless will begin selling the iPhone on November 11 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung requests iPhone 4S source code in Australian court

Samsung continues is counter-assault on Apple in Australia, now requesting that Apple show it the the subsidy agreements that the company has with the Australian carriers and also the source code to the iPhone 4S firmware.

Samsung's attorneys told the court that the company needed both the carrier agreements and the firmware source code in order to prove that there are grounds for a ban of the iPhone 4S in Australia. Samsung alleges that the technology used in the iPhone 4S infringes on three of its patents. According to Apple, Samsung had agreed to license those patents under the Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory terms (FRAND) standard.

Samsung has also tried to get the iPhone 4S banned in Japan, France, and Italy, but an Italian judge threw out Samsung's request, making it unlikely that Samsung would be successful in getting Apple's latest iPhone banned in any European country.

Samsung requests iPhone 4S source code in Australian court originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Samsung requests iPhone 4S source code in Australian court originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple confirms GLONASS support for iPhone 4S

Apple has updated its US iPhone 4S tech specs page to say that the new devices supports GLONASS positioning systems. GLONASS stand for Global Navigation Satellite System and is the Russian version of GPS that was developed in the 1990s. According to Wikipedia, the GLONASS system fell into disrepair in the 90s as the Russian economy sank, but in the last decade the system has come back with Russia launching its 24th satellite last year, giving GLONASS coverage to every inch of Russian territory.

Before GLONASS, the iPhone only supported assisted GPS. There's no word from Apple yet if the iPhone 4S will take advantage of both systems simultaneously on a world wide basis to give users more accurate positioning data. Also, at this time only the US iPhone 4S page has been updated to note GLONASS support.

Apple confirms GLONASS support for iPhone 4S originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple confirms GLONASS support for iPhone 4S originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget compares iPhone 4S,Galaxy S II, Nokia N8 and Amaze 4G cameras

Engadget spent the weekend comparing the cameras of the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, Galaxy S II, Nokia N8 and Amaze 4G. The iPhone 4S camera is a marquee feature of the device with its 8 MP sensor and an f/2.4 aperture lens. The 4S also shoots in full 1080p HD video.

With regards to the iPhone 4S, Engadget generally praised the quality of the photos and video the device took, saying, "The iPhone 4S is a pleasure to shoot with. The camera is ready to capture its first image within a second of launch, and tapping to focus after recomposing is painless and speedy...Its image quality rivals many point and shoot cameras in most conditions...Overall, we were most often pleased with photos we shot with the iPhone 4S."

Of course, Engadget found reason to praise the other phones as well. The Amaze 4G took sharper photos in Engadget's testing, for example. Engadget also noted that Apple's competitors offer more advanced manual controls over exposure, white balance and ISO sensitivity. Of course, there are a number of iPhone apps that provide similar features.

The iPhone 4S lost out big on battery life. Engadget noted that "After about two hours of wandering around town, shooting several dozen photos and about 10 minutes of HD video with each device, the iPhone 4S had just 30% of battery left." The iPhone 4, on the other hand, had 53% of its battery remaining, and that's with Engadget sending some emails and making some phone calls too. The worse battery life while using the camera can mainly be chalked up the fact that the iPhone 4S has to process much larger files due to its 8 MP sensor and 1080p video recording capabilities.

It's a good comparison, and we encourage you to read the whole thing.

Engadget compares iPhone 4S,Galaxy S II, Nokia N8 and Amaze 4G cameras originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Engadget compares iPhone 4S,Galaxy S II, Nokia N8 and Amaze 4G cameras originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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North American iPhone 4S sales now reservation-only at Apple stores

Apple updated its "How to Buy" iPhone 4S page earlier today with instructions detailing how US and Canadian customers can go about getting an iPhone 4S. The company is now insisting that prospective buyers first reserve the new phone online before heading into an Apple Store to buy it. From the page:

iPhone 4S is available in store by reservation only. Reserve yours after 9:00 p.m. tonight for pickup tomorrow. When you come in, you'll choose a carrier and plan, and we'll get your iPhone up and running before you leave the store.

This shouldn't be too much of a shock after Apple announced an astounding 4 million iPhone 4S sales in the first weekend. Apple obviously wants to control the flood of people heading for retail stores; reservations are a way to avoid sending people away disappointed should they show up expecting to get an iPhone 4S only to be told the store is sold out.

However, MacRumors notes that it seems unlikely that Apple would refuse to sell unreserved phones to walk-in customers and theorizes that Apple will take reservations online, but will then sell any extra daily stock to customers on a walk-in basis.

North American iPhone 4S sales now reservation-only at Apple stores originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

North American iPhone 4S sales now reservation-only at Apple stores originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The iPhone belt buckle holster is for the cowboy in you

What do you get for the cowboy who has everything? How about a huge brass iPhone belt buckle/holster? The $300 brass or aluminum cage sheaths an iPhone 4 or 4S and allows the wearer to choose how he displays his phone- either as a belt buckle or a pocket holster. Either way, should he ever be challenged to an iPhone duel, the top of the holster easily flips up for quick draw access to the iPhone. John Marston, lookout!

The iPhone belt buckle holster is for the cowboy in you originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The iPhone belt buckle holster is for the cowboy in you originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch court denies Samsung’s request to block Apple products

As the unending battle between Apple and Samsung continues into its third epoch, a Dutch court today denied Samsung's request for an injunction against every single Apple product that uses 3G technology. According to Reuters, the Dutch court not only denied Samsung's requested injunction, its ruling pretty much put an end to Samsung's hope of getting other EU countries, like Italy and France, to rule that Apple infringed on Samsung's patents.

The court found that Samsung's 3G patents were part of the essential standards that should be licensed under FRAND, a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory licensing obligation for technological standards. Intellectual property expert Florian Mueller told Reuters that the ruling was "a win for Apple but also relief for the industry because the judge upheld widespread understanding of fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms in the use of patents."

Besides being locked into lawsuits on four continents, Samsung has also tried to undermine Apple's iPhone by using logic-defying reasoning to plead that a 9.9mm thick phone is thinner than a 9.3mm thick phone and by selling its Galaxy S2 for $2 in a pop-up store across the street from an Apple Store on the launch day of the iPhone 4S.

[photo by fPat Murray]

Dutch court denies Samsung's request to block Apple products originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dutch court denies Samsung's request to block Apple products originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 4S video image stabilization in action

The improved camera on the iPhone 4S is a big new feature of the device. Matter of fact, the camera is so good point-and-shoot makers like Sony, Canon, and Nikon should be seriously worried about their sub-$200 camera sales. After getting the iPhone 4S, I've eBayed my Canon PowerShot as the new iPhone offers me all the features of it and more (with the exception of optical zoom, which I never use). Of course, another big feature of the iPhone 4S camera is the image stabilization, which promises to get all the shakes out of your video footage.

Below you can check out a video of the iPhone 4S camera's image-stabilized footage versus the iPhone 4 camera's non-stabilized footage. Do note, however, that the iPhone 4S achieves image stabilization digitally without the use of in-camera optics, so stabilized footage will be slightly zoomed in and cropped compared to non-stabilized footage. However, when your footage is in 1080p, as is the case with footage shot by the iPhone 4S, you really won't notice any zooming or cropping at all.

[via dvice]

iPhone 4S video image stabilization in action originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone 4S video image stabilization in action originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Regent Street Apple Store sees record crowd

Protect Your Bubble, a UK insurance firm, today conducted a survey of the line of people waiting to buy an iPhone 4S outside London's Regent Street Apple Store. The survey, which was conducted for no other reason than so Protect Your Bubble could get a little free brand recognition on the back of the iPhone 4S, did however reveal some interesting stats. Most notably, the line for the iPhone 4S launch is the longest in the history of iOS device launches for the Regent Street store (see infographic above or view the whole thing here). Not bad at all for a device that was more of an evolution than a revolution.

Coming later today: More iPhone 4S surveys from Luvs Diapers, Edwardo's Pizza in Chicago, and Research in Motion.

Regent Street Apple Store sees record crowd originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Regent Street Apple Store sees record crowd originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Horn Bike: the bike-mounted passive amplifier for iPhone 4

My favorite way to get around in London is cycling. And everyone knows that an iPhone with its GPS is a cyclist's best friend while navigating a city. But the drawback to cycling with an iPhone is obvious: if it's held in your hand you're going to A.) drop it eventually, or B.) fall off your bike trying to catch your iPhone when you drop it eventually. That's where Horn Bike comes in. The all-silicon device lets you ride in style like it's 1899.

Horn Bike is multi-purpose. Its primary feature is that it allows you to mount your iPhone on your bike and amplify your iPhone's speakers by about 13 dB, which allows for earbud-free riding (riding a bike with headphones in your ears in London -- and most other places -- will get you pulled over by mounted police). Yeah, the horn part looks really retro, but the design works. Unlike other bicycle speaker and mounting systems, the Horn Bike has no moving parts, has no electronics, and requires no power. If it gets dirty, run it under water to clean it off. Best of all, because the Horn Bike uses a phonograph-like passive amplifier system, the amplified sound is directed towards you and not blasted into the ears of other pedestrians.

But playing music isn't why I'm excited about the Horn Bike. I'm excited about it because it's going to make riding with my iPhone and using it for navigation that much easier because I'll be able to hear Siri speak while I'm cruising down Regent Street. The Horn Bike is available in a number of retail stores in the US, Asia, and Europe and is also available at Fruitshop.com. It comes in white, black, or blue and costs US$29.99.

[via Wired]

Horn Bike: the bike-mounted passive amplifier for iPhone 4 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Horn Bike: the bike-mounted passive amplifier for iPhone 4 originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Place a T-Mobile call from your iPhone with Bobsled

T-Mobile might not be an official carrier for the iPhone in the US, but that doesn't mean you can't make T-Mobile phone calls on your iPhone.

The company has released its Bobsled app for iOS. Bobsled is T-Mobile's web-based phone and messaging service. With it users can call anyone in their Facebook contacts for free in the US, Canada, or Puerto Rico. Even if you are outside of the US, you can call any of your Facebook contacts in those countries for free.

The service isn't just for iPhone to iPhone calls either. It allows you to call any mobile phone or landline from any iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Android device. Right now the service is free to everyone, but as CNET points out T-Mobile does eventually plan to charge for certain calls and/or run in-app advertising. However, right now the company is more concerned about encouraging adoption of the app.

Bobsled is a free download, and it requires iOS 4.2 or later and a Facebook account.

Place a T-Mobile call from your iPhone with Bobsled originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Place a T-Mobile call from your iPhone with Bobsled originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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