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Apple explains smartphone antenna performance
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,
Following this morning’s iPhone 4 press conference, Apple has put up a page detailing the attenuation and signal loss of the antenna. They include videos of the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris, and Samsung Omnia II (basically, iOS, BlackBerry OS, Android, and Windows Mobile) all showing the same issue, and explain why it happens.
Don’t forget, Apple is offering free cases to all iPhone 4 purchasers through September 30th, and if you’ve already bought one, they will even give you a refund.
Read More 
| Apple
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iOS 3.2.1 update for iPad now available
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Software, Wireless / WiFi,
In addition to releasing iOS 4.0.1 earlier today, Apple has also given us iOS 3.2.1, the first software update available for the iPad. Some changes and improvements in 3.2.1:
- Improved Wi-Fi connectivity
- Fixed an issue that could prevent copy and paste of single-page PDF attachments in Mail
- Addressed an issue that could cause video playback to freeze
- Improved reliability of video-out when using iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter
- Added Bing as an option for Safari’s search field
Just connect up your iPad and check for the update in iTunes, and you’ll find it ready for you.
ATT iPhone 4 HSUPA upload speeds slow due to software bug
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Wireless / WiFi,
Over the past couple of days, many AT&T customers have been wondering if the company had imposed a new speed cap on uploads for devices that supports HSUPA. Many iPhone 4 users were reporting that their upload speeds had dropped significantly, down to the levels of previous iPhone devices, as you can see in the speed test above. As it turns out, AT&T says this is a software bug in some of their Alcatel-Lucent equipment, and that they are working on a fix:
AT&T and Alcatel-Lucent jointly identified a software defect — triggered under certain conditions – that impacted uplink performance for Laptop Connect and smartphone customers using 3G HSUPA-capable wireless devices in markets with Alcatel-Lucent equipment. This impacts less than two percent of our wireless customer base. While Alcatel-Lucent develops the appropriate software fix, we are providing normal 3G uplink speeds and consistent performance for affected customers with HSUPA-capable devices.
Unfortunately, no word on when that fix will be deployed.
Read More | AllThingsD
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Cases.com handing out free iPhone 4 silicone cases
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Hot Deals, Wireless / WiFi,
So, you know how some folks are complaining that their iPhone 4 has a signal degradation issue when touching the antenna in a certain spot? Well, one simple way to solve it is to use an iPhone case, so that you aren’t directly touching the stainless steel band on the outer perimeter of the iPhone 4. The thing is, the Apple iPhone 4 Bumper case is $29, which is ridiculously overpriced. However, the fine folks over at cases.com are offering up a free iPhone 4 silicone LifeGrip case to anyone who asks. You do have to pay for shiping, but in the end, you are paying $3.73 total for a case that will get rid of any antenna-related reception issues, and protect your iPhone from drops as well. Can’t really complain about any of that, now can you?
Read More | iPhone 4 LifeGrip Case
Droid Incredible picking up mobile hotspot and 720p recording via OTA update?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cameras, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software, Wireless / WiFi,
Looks like the HTC Droid Incredible is set to pick up a couple of oft-requested features by way of an over-the-air (OTA) software update. Droid Life is reporting that we can expect to see mobile hotspot functionality, 720p video recording, and even the addition of the red Droid eye bootup sequence (not that that one is a big deal.) No firm word on when the update will start being pushed to users, but we have an inquiry out to Verizon on that. Meantime, if you want a peek at the new HTC Incredible boot sequence, check the video after the break.
Read More | Droid Life
Apple set to bring iTunes to the cloud and offer wireless syncing
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Home Entertainment, Rumors, Wireless / WiFi,
Our pals over at BGR have got a scoop from a “reliable Apple source” that has told them that the company is preparing for a major shift in their iTunes strategy. Basically, Apple is readying an iTunes cloud service that would bring a few new capabilities to the service, and untether you from keeping and accessing your content strictly off of a local hard drive. Once live, you’d be able to stream your music and movies directly from Apple’s servers to your devices, no matter where you are. Further, you’d be able to steam music and movies from your home computers to your other computers and remote devices, kind of like an extension of Back to My Mac. Lastly, we should finally see wireless iTunes syncing come to devices like the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
These changes would immediately negate pretty much all storage space woes with WiFi-capable Apple devices. A 16GB iPad could stream every movie you own rather than requiring the movie to be stores on the device itself, making internal storage much less of an issue. Apple typically has their iTunes and iPod event in September, and this year should be no different. If this is real, we’d expect it to be unveiled in just over two months.
Samsung Epic 4G announced for Sprint
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,
Sprint just announced their newest Android smartphone, the Samsung Epic 4G. Formerly known as the Galaxy S Pro in the rumor mill, the Epic 4G will launch in “the coming months” and seems feature-packed. For starters, it’s got a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 5 megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p video recording, front-facing VGA camera for video calls, accelerometer, and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and a landscape QWERTY slider keyboard. Naturally, the Epic 4G will be running Samsung’s customized version of Android 2.1.
Definitely nice to see more 4G smartphones launching on Sprint’s 4G network, giving the EVO 4G some company. We will have more on the Epic 4G as news comes out.
Read More | Sprint
Apple and ATT being sued over iPad 3G data plan bait-and-switch
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,
Remember that AT&T iPad 3G data plan bait-and-switch that we were so upset about a few weeks ago? Well, it turns out that many people felt the same way as there’s now a class-action lawsuit filed against Apple and AT&T due to the situation. Specifically, the plaintiffs in the nationwide suit claim that both Apple and AT&T “deceptively promoted” that they could start and stop the iPad 3G plan at any time, and switch between the unlimited plan and the 250MB plan. Now customers who opt for the unlimited plan cannot switch back to a limited plan, or start and stop service at will, as originally promised.
Hit the link below to check out the details from law firm Lieff Cabraser, and if you have thoughts on the issue, you can submit them through their contact form.
Read More | Lieff Cabraser
ATT wants to charge you for letting them use your broadband connection that you already pay for
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Editorial, Wireless / WiFi,
You know, back when AT&T announced that calls made through their 3G MicroCell device would count against your minutes, we were kind of appalled that they’d charge for a device that helps them appropriately cover their service area, and then charge you for using said device to make calls, when the device routes its data through your home broadband connection that you already pay for. We were appalled, but not surprised.
However, today we are absolutely shocked at the latest tidbit of 3G MicroCell related news, as it has now come out that AT&T is also going to charge data used through the device (again, data that is going through your home broadband connection that you already pay for,) against your AT&T wireless data plan. Think about that for a moment, and let it sink in. AT&T, because they seemingly can’t get their act together and provide proper coverage, needs to sell the 3G MicroCell as a means to make up for the difference. You pay $150 to buy the MicroCell, which improves the signal in your home because it uses your much faster broadband connection. That should be the end of the story—but it’s just the beginning.
CDMA iPhone 4 to ship Q4 2010 for Verizon?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors, Wireless / WiFi,
You know, the Verizon iPhone rumor mill just won’t let up, but this time we are paying a bit more attention. According to Digitimes, Apple has put in orders to have a CDMA iPhone 4 manufactured. If that is the case, that really could only mean that the iPhone is coming to Verizon and/or Sprint. Of course, we won’t know if any of this means anything until Apple tells us it does.
Read More | Digitimes
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