Posts tagged iPhone 4
Apple.ca Begins Shipping iPhone 4
Aug 18th
Good news has finally arrived for those patient Canadian iPhone 4 purchasers who didn’t want to wait in line on launch day. Apple’s Canadian website Apple.ca appears to have finally begun shipping the unlocked iPhones to those who bought on, and around, the release date.
Initially Apple.ca had stated there would be at least a 3 week delay in shipment due to overwhelming interest, and lack of supply. The wait seems to be up as several customers have reported receiving their shipment notices in their email. If you ordered from Apple.ca, have you received shipment confirmation yet? Or are you still waiting?
[via iPhoneInCanada]
Sony PSP Ad Kicks Apple In the Bumper
Aug 16th
Lately, Apple has been the topic of most phone-related jokes for its reception-plagued device, and for good reason. But now, Sony is joining in on the fun, this time from a different angle; gaming. And the ad couldn’t be funnier.
[Click here for mobile friendly viewing]
Notice how Sony calls the iPhone “A phone built for texting your grandma”, not gaming.
We all know the iPhone has some pretty stellar graphics for gaming, but nothing really compares to the PSP when it comes to playing on the go. I wonder how, or if, Apple will respond to this latest competitive chirp.
[via IntoMobile]
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So what’s the deal with the white iPhone 4?
Aug 3rd
Other than the now annoying “Antennagate” saga, one of the most popular questions related to the recent iPhone 4 launch is “So when is the white version coming out?”. Apple won’t give a straight answer leaving many blogs and fan boys to speculate and create rumor.
Tuaw decided to do some digging and found an interesting discovery. Supposedly, the issue with the release has to do with the manufacturing of the devices parts, frankly, they weren’t done well, resulting in a ”rough & bent” condition. It appears that the top case is rendered less-than-perfect in manufacturing, and as a result doesn’t sit completely flush when the phone is assembled.
Supposedly the issue has been rectified and the device in mass production for release later this year.
If you just CAN’T wait, you can pick up the white housing for personal assembly here.
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The iPhone 4 Has Been Jailbroken
Aug 2nd
It was only a matter of time, but Comex (creator of the famous Spirit jailbreak) has officially jailbroken the reception plagued iPhone 4, and frankly it couldn’t be easier.
WARNING: Make sure before you do this, you back up your phone, should your device brick, you can simply restore to factory and restore your backup.
Head over to jailbreakme.com directly from your device and the above picture should show up (should there not be any server issues), swipe the slide bar and let the magic happen (should only take about 5 minutes).
On a side note, the great gurus over at Dev Team have stated that the iPhone 4 unlock should be available in the next 48 hours. It will be available under the same Cydia source as the the previous ultrasn0w unlock, and we will update the post when this comes through.
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Bell, Telus and Rogers Release Similar iPhone 4 Price Plans, Early HUPs
Jul 30th
Yes, it appears that Rogers’ $159 16GB / $269 32GB trend has spilled over to the other carriers, and this will be a Canadian mosquito-swatting competition to see which carrier can be lure you into the light.
What’s lovely about this is that all three carriers are being more lax about their hardware upgrade requirements, so even if you’ve upgraded your phone quite recently, you can probably eek out a lower-cost iPhone 4 than you would any other device.
This is the first time that the iPhone has launched simultaneously on Canadians networks. If you recall, Telus and Bell only launched their HSPA+ network in November 2009, so up until then Rogers had exclusive sale opportunities for the iPhone 3GS. Hence, this time, why the competition is so heated.
As well, Bell is offering a 6GB/$30 monthly data plan, which jibes with Rogers’ latest offering, too. Get this while it’s hot, as it will probably expire September 30th. Telus will likely have to follow suit, though no announcements have been made.
Bell is also offering a $10/month iPad sharing offer, so if you sign up for that 6GB plan, you can share it with your iPad for only $10. Not bad. Rogers is offering the same ability, but for $20/month.
iPhone 4 Officially Ready To be Sold!
Jul 30th
What we have here is a screen shot of the iPhone 4 showing up in the Rogers retail upgrade screen, meaning the die-hards in line can rest assured that they will get their device (obviously stock permitting)
Pricing seen reflects the users monthly spend NOT the price of hardware.
Before I pick my device up, I will be talking to some customers waiting in line today to get their reaction to the whole ordeal, so stay tuned!
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iPhone 4 Demos Begin To Arrive At Rogers Retail Stores [Updated]
Jul 29th
If this isn’t a huge tease, I don’t know what is.
On the eve of the much anticipated Canadian launch of the iPhone 4, as frantic consumers try in vain to source out a device for themselves from both Rogers and Apple stores alike, our Rogers connect has just sent us a few drool worthy shots of the floor demo which just arrived at his store. Though it is nothing we haven’t seen before, it makes tomorrow morning seem oh so far away, leaving me with one final question…
Have you sourced out yours? I know I have
UPDATE: We just received word that the first round of devices have been received in very limited quantities!
Hit the break for more shots
Follow me on twitterShould You Upgrade to the iPhone 4 in Canada?
Jul 28th
Today we introduce another contributing editor to the site, GuruTyler. Tyler is an iPhone fan-boy and cellphone guru-in-training. Please welcome him!
To upgrade, or not to upgrade
As we approach the Canadian release date of the iPhone 4, the anticipation of hopeful buyers is beginning to reach critical mass. Without the ability to pre-order with the providers, long lineups are surely expected on July 30th when it finally drops. Unfortunately, along with the newest technology, also comes a hefty price tag and a new 3 year contract. Of course, for the first time, the iPhone will be available for purchase without a contract, however expect the cost to be similar to an iPad. All this begs the question - is it really worth the upgrade?
Firstly, this article is geared towards current iPhone owners, whether it be the 3G or 3GS. With the recent iOS4 software update, is the iPhone 4 merely a sleeker version of the previous models, or is it worth the money?
Beginning with what most casual owners care about, space. Perhaps the most disappointing thing about the iPhone 4 is that Apple is not offering larger capacity flash drives, remaining with 16GB and 32GB models. Although most may find 32GB to be plenty, the massive number of available Apps is quickly making the 16GB feel outdated.
Everybody loves taking pictures, making the next most important feature the camera. This is the biggest hardware related improvement in the iPhone 4 compared to all previous models. There is now a camera on both the back and front, as well as an LCD flash. Current owners are well aware that not having a flash is very frustrating and provides for very low quality pictures in dim light. Also, trying to take a self-portrait with a touch screen is unnecessarily difficult. As if those improvements weren’t enough, the camera records in 720p High Definition, which could hypothetically put HD flip cameras completely out of business. Lastly, Apple has introduced a new featured entitled “Facetime” which allows for video calling between iPhone 4 owners over a WiFi connection. Needless to say, the beefed up cameras alone might be enough to entice customers to upgrade.
As far as hardware, those are really the most important aspects. Of course the iPhone 4 has improved their display, battery life, and esthetics, but none fully justify an upgrade on their own. That leads to the meat and potatoes of the device: software stability. iOS4 performs much better on the newest model than the 3GS across the board. With an updated “A4″ chip similar to that used in the iPad, it runs noticeably faster and smoother. The 3G really suffers in this department with iOS4. Hardly any of the new features are available, and not having multitasking is an utter disappointment. The 3GS has all the key features of iOS4 but there is noticeable lagging when switching between apps in multitasking. It is certainly not a severe enough issue to say the 3GS is outdated, but to say that it runs as smooth as 4 would be false.
The final verdict: The iPhone 4 is without a doubt one of the best cell phones ever released. There is no question that it is the biggest advancement since the original iPhone was introduced. For those still using said original or a 3G, an upgrade will be a great improvement. However those with 3GS can easily get another year out of it if the fancy bells and whistles aren’t as appealing. All this keeping in mind that Apple will undoubtedly be releasing a 5th incarnation of the iPhone in the summer of 2011.
In Retrospect… (expletive removed) YOU!
Jul 27th
Last night, I wrote a little rant regarding the iPhone 4. It was an opinion piece entitled Why I Won’t Buy the iPhone 4 in Canada. It was not meant to be an inflammatory piece, but a few minutes after publishing, CellGuru started BBMing me about the “backlash” the post was receiving on Twitter and in the comments. I was busy sitting on the patio with a cup of coffee, reading the paper, so the news was kind of startling. In earnest, after months of publishing editorials on this site, it was the first time there has been any reaction to one of my pieces. A slow smirk appeared on my face. I can’t say I was displeased.
You see, most people don’t like seeing the words “Fuck Apple,” anywhere. Apple is a brand to which people are sensitive, even protective. Had I said, “Fuck Google,” I don’t think the reaction would have been as strong. Regardless, it was an editorial decision to begin the piece with the word “Fuck,” and, in the so-called professional blogging business, this is a no-no. Indeed, it’s considered unprofessional. So I re-read the piece. Garnering the reaction I did, I expected to be surprised at the vitriolic hatred I spewed against the most popular technology company in the world, but alas, it was only those two lines that really seemed out of place.
One of the comments on Twitter noted not that the article was in bad taste, but after reading it directly after the post What Do You Want From Us? seemed almost ironic. We are trying to increase our scope, attract more readers, and, indeed, become the “professional” cell phone news and reviews site that so many people try, and fail to, attain. But in the twenty minutes of fierce Twitter debate and constructive commenting on the post itself, I saw my Twitter followers almost double. I admitted to one of the more skeptical commenters that, indeed, we have to try and set ourselves apart. Sometimes being blasphemous just works. Sometimes it doesn’t. But we need traffic, just like any other site. And I don’t think beginning an editorial with “Fuck Apple,” ruins my editorial integrity. Especially if you read it in the context of the rest of the article. Some may disagree; some may never return to the site. But I achieved my goal of spurring debate, even if the debate itself was not about buying an iPhone 4 in Canada, but merely about the minutiae of professional blogging.
So, to anyone I offended, I apologize. But I won’t take the article down, nor remove the opening two lines. The piece, in its rushed, rant-like glory stands on its own. It was not an especially good piece; I doubt I’ll re-read it in a year and be proud of the writing quality, nor of the argument espoused. But it served its purpose, and that’s really all writers can hope to achieve. We have to take the hits as they come, stand by our work, and learn from the criticism. I certainly have. I appreciate the comments, the insults, the constructive remarks.
I really do this because it’s fun, and when it is no longer fun, like so many of our generation, I’ll probably find something else that is. It’s the genuinely unique existential crisis of our times. The internet affords so much freedom, since we get to hide behind these aliases and personae. But when I write, I do so in my own voice, with the experiences that have brought me to this point. As long as I continue to do that, I will be proud of my work, and I hope the same can be said for whatever you do, on- or offline.
Rogers/Fido iPhone 4 Pricing Revealed: Let the Gouging Begin
Jul 27th
This week has definitely been one for iPhone fans to drool over. It started with the announcement that the device will be available for mass Canadian consumption this Friday July 30th, followed by pricing for the device unlocked via Apple retail stores. But the question still remained “What will the carriers price it at?”. Rumor had Telus price tagging it at $649 and $749 respectively, leaving one to assume its competition would follow suit and by seeing the above inventory screenshot it seems as though the assumptions made could be fairly accurate. This being said It’s a known fact that many Canadians loathe the now standard 3 year contract imposed by the carriers, and subsidized pricing or not the outright price is high and many can’t (and won’t) justify dropping up to 3/4 of a thousand dollars on a cell phone.
So, “what are the options” one might ask? Honestly, there really aren’t any and Apple/Rogers know this, love it, and leverage it.
My suggestion? There are three days left to launch, giving ample time to lift up the cushions and put your money together. I plan on starting tonight
[Via MobileSyrup]
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