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Bleeding Edge TV 400: Apple iPhone 4S

We give you a look at the white AT&T iPhone 4S, along with the black Verizon iPhone 4S in this episode. As you can see, if you're familiar with the iPhone 4, Apple made some subtle changes in the design of the iPhone 4S, most notably in the antenna, which now has a slick dual-action function. The Verizon model also picks up a SIM card slot, making it (and the others) a world phone device. We also show you the included accessories that Apple throws in as well. Be sure to check out our full iPhone 4S review, and iPhone 4S unboxing gallery as well.

Big thank you to GoToMeeting and JackThreads for sponsoring the show - be sure to check them out! As for JackThreads, we've got exclusive invite codes that give you $5 to use towards anything you'd like.


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iPhone 4S unboxing gallery

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, Galleries, Handhelds,

Siri: What Can I Help You With?

After publishing our iPhone 4S review, we got a bunch of you asking what happened to our unboxing photo gallery. We wanted to make sure we had both the white and black models in-hand prior to the photo shoot. We've now published our iPhone 4S unboxing gallery (better late than never!), and we should have the video up shortly as well!

Gallery:


Sony’s PlayStation Vita launches February 2012 in the US

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hardware, PlayStation Vita, Sony,

Playstation Vita box

Sony has announced a Feb. 2012 launch date for the PlayStation Vita, its next-generation portable console, SCEA's chief executive said at the Web 2.0 Summit on Tuesday. You can pre-order one now.

Sony previously said that the PlayStation Vita would launch Dec. 17 in Asia and Japan in time for the holidays. Hundreds of people lined up in Tokyo just to get in line for the presale.

"But today, we're announcing that it will be available in North America, Latin America and Europe on Feb. 22, just four months away," said Jack Tretton, chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment of America. Sony will price the Vita at $249 for the Wi-Fi version and $299 for the Wi-Fi/3G version, Tretton said.

Sony executives said previously that the Vita would miss the winter holidays for the North American market.

Click to continue reading Sony’s PlayStation Vita launches February 2012 in the US


iPhone 4S review

iPhone 4S review

After over a year, Apple has released the follow-up to the iPhone 4, and its called the iPhone 4S. What do you do with your phone? If you're like most Americans, you make some calls, take some photos, and send some texts. Maybe you kill time with some games, check Facebook or Twitter, and look things up on the Web. If that's you, then the iPhone 4S ($199-$399 with contract on Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T) is your phone: it's the best cameraphone in the US, the fastest Web-browsing phone, and one that has finally licked the iPhone's calling problems. It's so good, that it's our current Editors' Choice on Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T.

Click to continue reading iPhone 4S review


Apple sells over 1 million iPhone 4S pre-orders in 24 hours

1 million iPhone 4s preorders

This morning Apple announced that it had sold over 1 million iPhone 4S smartphones within the first 24 hours that they were available for pre-order. No matter how you look at it, this is a monstrous number, and crushes last year's iPhone 4 figures, which were "only" 600,000 on the first day. These 1 million pre-orders obviously don't include all the folks who'll be lining up at Apple, AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint locations this Friday to buy the iPhone 4S directly. The device goes on sale at retail locations at 8:00 am on October 14th.

This is a shout-out to all the media who were calling the iPhone 4S underwhelming and disappointing--apparently over a million consumers disagree.


Another midnight iPhone pre-order fiasco

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds,

iPhone pre-order fail

With the fifth iPhone launch looming, you'd think that five years would be enough time for major companies like Apple and AT&T to get this stuff working. You'd think. Unfortunately, when the iPhone 4S pre-orders were supposed to start at 12:01am PDT today, it took about 40 minutes before Apple's online store came back online, and things quickly went downhill from there. While Verizon customers seemed to be able to make purchases with ease, and even Sprint's site held up well despite some slowness, AT&T's systems continually crashed and burned until Apple threw in the towel and implemented a reservation system two hours later so that people could reserve a device and get to bed, coming back later to complete the transaction.

Here's looking to next year's improvements...we hope!


iPhone 4S: A5 chip, 8MP camera, 1080p, Siri, available October 14th

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds,

iPhone 4S

Today (after accidentally outing it) Apple announced the iPhone 4S. The device is the follow-up to the massively popular iPhone 4, and features an internal overhaul while keeping the same iPhone 4 external design. So, what's changed? First, the iPhone 4S is rocking an A5 processor, which makes it 2x faster in performance, and 7x faster graphics performance than the iPhone 4. The camera is upgraded to 8 megapixels, and records in 1080p video.

The iPhone 4S has two cell antennas, and will intelligently switch between the two on the fly. Speaking of antennas, the 4S is also a world phone, supporting both GSM and CDMA networks. The device can download data at about 14.4Mbps, which is double the iPhone 4 and its 7.2Mbps speeds - AT&T actually says this is 4G speed, but we won't get into all that.

The iPhone 4S will be available in black and white on October 14th, and will cost $199 for 16 GB, $299 for 32 GB, and $399 for the 64 GB model, a first for the iPhone. Another first? In addition to AT&T and Verizon, now Sprint customers can get in on the love as well.


Why Apple is announcing the iPhone 5 in October instead of June

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Editorial, Software,

iPhone 5 announcement

The iPhone 5 will be revealed in under an hour. In all likelihood, it won't be called that—that's just the general name people are calling the device, since it will technically be the fifth iPhone model from Apple. As with any iPhone launch, there have been the obligatory predictions, analysis, and mountains of rumors, but this launch is different from previous ones in a big and obvious way: Apple is unveiling the next iPhone in the fall instead of summer. Why?

It used to be there was a kind of unwritten agreement between Apple and its customers. Apple didn't say word one about any of its products until they were on the verge of general release. On the other side, customers and observers—the whole world, really—could rely on an extremely regular product release schedule: iPods in the fall, iPads in the winter/spring, and iPhones in the summer. It was so predictable you could plan vacations around it.

Click to continue reading Why Apple is announcing the iPhone 5 in October instead of June


Samsung Galaxy S II is their fastest selling smartphone ever

Galaxy S II Epic touch 4g

Samsung has announced the latest batch of sales figures for its Galaxy S II Android smartphone, and the device remains the company's fastest-growing smartphone yet.

According to Samsung, the Galaxy S2 has officially hit 10 million in sales all of five months after the device's worldwide launch this past April. Sales in South Korea take the lion's share of the total at 3.6 million, with European markets close behind at 3.4 million. Sales of the smartphone in Asia hit a total of 2.3 million.

"In just five months the Galaxy S II has seen tremendous growth, reflecting its tremendous popularity with customers around the world, who in selecting the Galaxy S2 as their device of choice have driven the device's strong market position globally," said J.K. Shin, president of Samsung's mobile communications division, in a statement.

Previous sales figures put the Galaxy S2 at three million units sold after a mere 55 days on the market, shattering the company's sales records at the time. In fact, the Galaxy S2 hit the three-million figure all of 30 days faster than its predecessor device, Samsung's Galaxy S smartphone. Total Galaxy S2 sales then ballooned up to five million at the 85 day-mark.

Click to continue reading Samsung Galaxy S II is their fastest selling smartphone ever


AT&T launches super-expensive global text messaging plans

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Corporate News,

att global messagingAT&T launched two global messaging plans today to attract international travelers who prefer to text while abroad.

Global Messaging 200 lets you send 200 messages for $30 per month, while Global Messaging 500 lets you send 500 text messages for $50 per month. Previously AT&T only offered a package of 50 text messages for $10. Don't let that fool you, though, as these prices are ridiculously expensive.

The new plans let you send text, photo, or video messages in more than 100 countries. Without a plan, AT&T charges $0.50 to send a text, $0.20 to receive a text, and $1.30 to send a message with a photo or video.

Click to continue reading AT&T launches super-expensive global text messaging plans


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