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Help stop AT&T from blocking FaceTime over Cellular from the majority of its customers
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi,
The fine folks over at FreePress are asking the public to take action in an attempt to convince AT&T to reconsiders its position on blocking iOS 6 feature FaceTime over Cellular for all customers unless they switch to a Mobile Share plan. It's an obvious money-grab, a way to encourage its unlimited data users to leave those plans behind, and it shows preferential treatment on how users can use their own data plans. We're signing, and we encourage you to do the same. According to Public Knowledge:
“By blocking FaceTime for many of its customers, AT&T is violating the FCC’s Open Internet rules. These rules state that mobile providers shall not ‘block applications that compete with the provider’s voice or video telephony services.’ Although carriers are permitted to engage in ‘reasonable network management,’ there is no technical reason why one data plan should be able to access FaceTime, and another not. ‘Over-the-top’ communications services like FaceTime are a threat to carriers’ revenue, but they should respond by competing with these services and not by engaging in discriminatory behavior.”
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| FreePress
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Sprint says it will not charge for FaceTime over Cellular feature
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News,
The other day we talked about how AT&T charging for FaceTime over Cellular is consumer robbery, and today we've gotten word from Sprint that it agrees, and therefore will not be charging customers extra to use the new iOS 6 feature. When iOS 6 goes public this fall, owners of the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, the next-generation iPhone, iPad 2, and the new iPad will all have access to FaceTime when on 3G and LTE connections. According to Sprint, it's "committed to our unlimited data, and that means not charging for data consumption based on the application." Good on them for that. Now we're just waiting on Verizon to make the same move.
AT&T charging for FaceTime over Cellular is double-dipping consumer robbery
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Editorial, Features, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi,
With the release of iOS 6 beta 3 yesterday, a disturbing "feature" was uncovered. Some users on with AT&T iPhones are reporting that, when they attempt to enable FaceTime over Cellular, a prompt pops up that tells the user to contact AT&T in order to enable the feature. Many are assuming that this means that AT&T will be looking to charge a premium for customers to use FaceTime over its data connection, and if that is the case, it is straight up consumer robbery.
In iOS 6 you’ll be able to use FaceTime over cell networks
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Wireless / WiFi,
Beginning in iOS 6, you'll be able to use FaceTime over cellular networks. This feature was announced during the WWDC 2012 keynote and is a big deal because it means you can FaceTime with anyone, as long as you have a cell signal. You can be out and about getting your video chat on, and this will bring FaceTime out from the occassional use category and into something that may actually prove to be very useful.
iOS warning foreshadows FaceTime over 3G?
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Rumors, Software,
Since the introduction of FaceTime, users have been clamoring for a time when the technology would work over 3G. Since the debut of FaceTime as the major feature of the iPhone 4, it's been relegated to Wi-Fi-only staus, which meant that many on-the-go users never used it. However, a recent error message found by iDevice displays the message "Disabling 3G may end FaceTime."
With the next iPhone rumored to be LTE-enabled, it isn't hard to believe that FaceTime over 3G and/or LTE will be a feature of iOS 6. When FaceTime was first introduced, Steve Jobs noted that Apple needed "to work a little bit with the cellular providers to get [FaceTime] ready for the future."
Read More | iDevice
Mountain Lion Messages app brings iMessage to the Mac - download the beta now!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software,
Ever since iMessage was introduced as part of iOS 5, we've been waiting impatiently for Apple to bring that goodness over to the Mac. With OS X Mountain Lion, announced earlier this morning, it will be a reality. In Mountain Lion, Apple will be replacing iChat completely with a new app called Messages. We've installed Mountain Lion and have been playing with it a bit, and what we've basically found is that Messages is everything that iChat was, but with the addition of iMessage and FaceTime rolled in (still no MSN Messenger support.) Apple has actually released Messages in beta, so you don't need to wait for Mountain Lion to get in on the fun, as long as you're running OS X 10.7.3. Head on over to Apple's Messages page to download it.
2011 Holiday Gift Guide: iPod touch 4th generation
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Handhelds, Techies, Teens, Under $250, Under $500,
Apple's focused on the iPod touch as being the "funnest iPod ever" for a while now, but the introduction of the fourth generation model put it over the top. You've got the Retina display, FaceTime video chat, high definition video capture, and built-in gyroscope all packed into the thinnest iPod touch ever--and now it's available in white. Of course, you need great software running on hardware like this, and the App Store fits the bill with over 200,000 apps available. A great gift for teens who don't need an iPhone, or anyone who wants a mobile iOS device that isn't a phone. Prices start at $199 (or $189 on Amazon, a 5% savings):
Be sure to check out the rest of the stuff in our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide, we're adding new suggestions every day!
Skype for iPad now available
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Social Networking, Free Apps,
After a false start this morning, Skype today released its official iPad app.
Skype for iPad is now available for download in the Apple App Store. The free app is compatible with Apple tablets running iOS 4.0 or higher.
"Skype for iPad is beautifully designed and optimized for the iPad. It offers the best of both worlds for users who want a larger Skype experience, on-the-go," Skype said in a blog post. "The large iPad screen is perfect for bringing Skype video calls to life, in either landscape or portrait view, and because it is on the iPad, Skype video calls can be made at the beach, in a car or even lying on a couch."
Skype promised several iPad-optimized features, including two-way video calling for those with an iPad 2. Connect with other Skype users on PCs, Macs, or iPhones and Android phones with front-facing cameras.
Click to continue reading Skype for iPad now available
Mac OS X 10.6.7 update now available
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Software,
Sure, Mac OS X Lion is getting all the hype, but Apple isn't resting on its Snow Leopard laurels, having just released 10.6.7. The update focuses on improving Back to My Mac, fixing some Mac App Store bugs, FaceTime improvements, and also takes care of that Thunderbolt Cinema Display issue as well. Grab the goods by launching Software Update now.
5 reasons not to buy the iPad 2
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Features, Handhelds,
Apple has a new iPad on the way, but you've probably gotten pretty chummy with your original model. For a first-generation product, the Apple iPad is a fine tablet that can do tons of different things and hasn't lost any of its functionality in the last few days. Sure, the newer iPad 2 is more compact, faster, and adds cameras, but besides that, there's not much more in the way of upgrades. So, should you make the move to the iPad 2?
Well, the new one has a camera, so you can use FaceTime, Photo Booth, and other fun iLife apps that focus on taking photos or videos. If your best friend or favorite relative has an iPhone, iPod touch, or a Mac, this would be the perfect way to get some video calls going without getting a new cell phone. And its faster CPU and graphics processor means it's better suited for the apps and games of the future. Still, there are several good reasons why you shouldn't ditch your old iPad just yet. Here are five of them:
It's as good a media player as the iPad 2
The iPad 2 doesn't increase the resolution or improve the brightness or colors of its display over the first iPad, so as a plain movie viewer, there's no compelling reason to replace your iPad. There are no movies you can watch or songs you can listen to on the iPad 2 that you can't on the original iPad.
Click to continue reading 5 reasons not to buy the iPad 2
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