Here's a review of the NUDE case for the iPhone 4 that is offered free by Apple as part of the free case program to protect the antenna.
Don't get it!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Speed up iOS4 on iPhone 3G
It appears that by turning off Spotlight in the iPhone 3G with iOS4 will help speed things up a little.I have done this just a few minutes ago and will be checking if this really does speed things up.
If it does, I will report back here.
To try this yourself, navigate to Settings -> General -> Home Button -> Spotlight Search. In here, uncheck as many of the search items listed.
If this improves the performance of your iPhone 3G with iOS4 please post your results below.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Motorola Droid X antenna problems
Apple has released videos to demonstrate industry wide challenges with mobile phone antennas. These videos compared the signal displays of the iPhone 4, BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris, Nokia N97, Samsung Omnia II and iPhone 3GS. When held tightly, the signal drops without exception on all phones.
Understandably, competitors have rejected the suggestion that their products share the same antenna problems as the iPhone 4. BlackBerry and Nokia have responded as blogged here. Samsung has responded since.
Apple certainly isn't shy when it comes to bringing its competitors back down to earth. As this cage match continues, the latest to be thrown into the ring is, the new Motorola Droid X.
It will be interesting to watch how this plays out.....
Saturday, July 24, 2010
77% iPhone owners will buy again.
According to an article on CNNMoney, iPhone 4 has strong customer loyalty. This is based on a survey by the Yankee Group.To quote the article, "...The iPhone is also the gift that keeps on giving: 77% of iPhone owners say they'll buy another iPhone, compared to 20% of Android customers who say they'll buy another Android phone.."
This is still early days. I am not sure about the survey's sample size. To be fair to Android, earlier versions are not as impressive as the latest Android 2.2 Froyo. Customer loyalty might change in the future.
Either way, having Android around means the iPhone will innovate faster to keep up with competition. This can only be good for iPhone owners.
iPhone 4 drop test
Ever wondered how tough an iPhone 4 with a bumper is?
A web citizen has kindly donated their iPhone 4 for this exercise. He dropped the iPhone 4 from 4, 6, 8 and 22 feet. The first three heights represent a very reasonable range for normal use. If you ever drop your phone from 22 feet it's a tragedy.
The author for the video has done a good job in making the experiment as scientific and genuine as possible without being a scientist. Kudos to that!
A great video for us who wonder how tough an iPhone is but do not dare put our precious mobiles in harm's way.
A web citizen has kindly donated their iPhone 4 for this exercise. He dropped the iPhone 4 from 4, 6, 8 and 22 feet. The first three heights represent a very reasonable range for normal use. If you ever drop your phone from 22 feet it's a tragedy.
The author for the video has done a good job in making the experiment as scientific and genuine as possible without being a scientist. Kudos to that!
A great video for us who wonder how tough an iPhone is but do not dare put our precious mobiles in harm's way.
Free Bumper! Get your Free Bumper!
Joel from ZDNet has an article with his views and tips.
It appears there is a 3 to 5 week wait on bumpers. So unless you can wait... you might probably just get them yourself!
If you just wanted instructions on how to get your free bumper Adrian from ZDNet can help here.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Skype Multitasks on the iPhone
Features include:
- calls over 3G network;
- receive calls when other apps are opened;
- during a call you can switch to email to check details or another app for movie listings;
- calls appear even when your phone is locked
The best feature... it is FREE! Over 3G. Awesome. Not sure how long that's going to last but here's hoping.
The link -> Skype blog.
iPhone 4 Antenna Problem Blown Way Out of Proportion
Here's an article describing how the iPhone 4 antenna problem has been blown way out of proportion.
This brings some balance to the "hoopla" created by the media.
To summarise, the author goes to Best Buy to purchase an iPhone 4 and asks how many complaints have they received. To which the sales person said none.
Perhaps the antenna problem in real life is not much of a problem and is only mentioned in isolated cases.
I will keep my eyes peeled for more news.... good or bad.
This brings some balance to the "hoopla" created by the media.
To summarise, the author goes to Best Buy to purchase an iPhone 4 and asks how many complaints have they received. To which the sales person said none.
Perhaps the antenna problem in real life is not much of a problem and is only mentioned in isolated cases.
I will keep my eyes peeled for more news.... good or bad.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Bumpers fix the iPhone antenna problem
Consumer Reports is a US based independent, non profit organisation providing product reviews.
I didn't realise how highly regarded Consumer Reports are. In the future I will certainly be using them for reviews on other products.
They have an article about the bumper solving the antenna problems.
I have always purchased protective cases for my phones and hence I am not fussy about this "issue". I will probably end up getting a screen protector too for the iPhone 4 screen.
I didn't realise how highly regarded Consumer Reports are. In the future I will certainly be using them for reviews on other products.
They have an article about the bumper solving the antenna problems.
I have always purchased protective cases for my phones and hence I am not fussy about this "issue". I will probably end up getting a screen protector too for the iPhone 4 screen.
Monday, July 19, 2010
iOS4 multi tasking and battery life
This post might be techie for some, however I will try and keep it as simple as possible.
Multi tasking provides a user with the ability to run applications in the background. For example, you can have iPod playing music on the iPhone 3G while you surf the internet. This exact form of multitasking permitted by Apple has always existed. However, you were unable to open 3rd party applications such as Pandora (music streaming app) and surf the internet at the same time.
With iOS4, 3rd party applications can now open in the background. However, only for applications using the phone's multi tasking services for audio, location and voice over ip (eg. Skype). Technically there's task completion too as a service.
Some say this is not full multi tasking.
However, Apple is quite clear about why they have designed multi tasking in this way. To preserve battery life and maximise performance. Gizmodo has an article on this. This appears to be a very reasonable design goal.
Android allows for "full" multitasking, however it drains battery life. Google has acknowledged it.
Multi tasking provides a user with the ability to run applications in the background. For example, you can have iPod playing music on the iPhone 3G while you surf the internet. This exact form of multitasking permitted by Apple has always existed. However, you were unable to open 3rd party applications such as Pandora (music streaming app) and surf the internet at the same time.
With iOS4, 3rd party applications can now open in the background. However, only for applications using the phone's multi tasking services for audio, location and voice over ip (eg. Skype). Technically there's task completion too as a service.
Some say this is not full multi tasking.
However, Apple is quite clear about why they have designed multi tasking in this way. To preserve battery life and maximise performance. Gizmodo has an article on this. This appears to be a very reasonable design goal.
Android allows for "full" multitasking, however it drains battery life. Google has acknowledged it.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Flash on Android 2.2 still needs some work on mobile devices
No Flash on the iPhone 4? To see what I am missing out on, I found this video comparing the performance of mobile internet browsers on the 3GS, Nexus One (Android 2.2 Froyo) and a HTC HD2.
On the Nexus One, it appears that Flash content makes the internet browser choppy when scrolling. Flash games running in a dedicated fashion do not appear to exhibit any obvious problems.
Appears like there are some performance issues with Flash 10.1, Android 2.2 and Nexus One. Sites with Flash slows the browser.
Without Flash, Froyo beats the iPhone 3GS when displaying web pages. Once again the video attached below is of the iPhone 3GS and not the iPhone 4.
On the Nexus One, it appears that Flash content makes the internet browser choppy when scrolling. Flash games running in a dedicated fashion do not appear to exhibit any obvious problems.
Appears like there are some performance issues with Flash 10.1, Android 2.2 and Nexus One. Sites with Flash slows the browser.
Without Flash, Froyo beats the iPhone 3GS when displaying web pages. Once again the video attached below is of the iPhone 3GS and not the iPhone 4.
iPhone Antenna problems fixed. Free bumpers.
Steve Jobs announced in a Press Conference that Apple will be offering free bumpers for the iPhone 4's "Antennagate". Apple will send the bumper to you when you go to their website.
It appears that Apple will be unable to meet the demand for the iPhone 4 bumpers and will be sourcing other types of iPhone 4 cases. According to Steve, this website for getting free bumpers or cases should be up sometime towards the end of next week (23 July 2010).
Steve further illustrated how other smart phones experience similar problems with the antenna such as the Blackberry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris and the Samsung Omnia II.
Interestingly, Apple has also dedicated a page on its website explaining industry wide challenges of smartphone antennas. Just this morning RIM and Nokia have issued a response to Apple using their phones as examples when describing the smartphone antenna problem.
The music video (below) used at the start of the Apple Press Conference was quite amusing.
It appears that Apple will be unable to meet the demand for the iPhone 4 bumpers and will be sourcing other types of iPhone 4 cases. According to Steve, this website for getting free bumpers or cases should be up sometime towards the end of next week (23 July 2010).
Steve further illustrated how other smart phones experience similar problems with the antenna such as the Blackberry Bold 9700, HTC Droid Eris and the Samsung Omnia II.
Interestingly, Apple has also dedicated a page on its website explaining industry wide challenges of smartphone antennas. Just this morning RIM and Nokia have issued a response to Apple using their phones as examples when describing the smartphone antenna problem.
The music video (below) used at the start of the Apple Press Conference was quite amusing.
Android 2.2 Froyo browser's speed is over hyped
I just found this review of the Android 2.2 Froyo on the Nexus One on Endgadget.
This review compared the browsers on the Nexus One and iPhone 4 from a normal use perspective. It appears that the reviewer was trying his best to prove that the Nexus One (with the Froyo upgrade) will be significantly faster than the iPhone 4.
To be honest, the difference in the browser rendering speed is not large enough to write off the iPhone 4. Most of the tests done were just marginally faster on the Nexus One.
The hardware on the Nexus One and iPhone 4 is almost identical. 1 GHz processors on both and 512 RAM.
This review from Engadget compares the Nexus One with Flash enabled and disabled, against the iPhone 4.
This review compared the browsers on the Nexus One and iPhone 4 from a normal use perspective. It appears that the reviewer was trying his best to prove that the Nexus One (with the Froyo upgrade) will be significantly faster than the iPhone 4.
To be honest, the difference in the browser rendering speed is not large enough to write off the iPhone 4. Most of the tests done were just marginally faster on the Nexus One.
The hardware on the Nexus One and iPhone 4 is almost identical. 1 GHz processors on both and 512 RAM.
This review from Engadget compares the Nexus One with Flash enabled and disabled, against the iPhone 4.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Justifying getting the iPhone 4
Most criticisms at iPhone are hard to dispute mainly because they are true:
-the lack of Flash
-not having the most megapixels for the camera
-antenna problems
Reading about them didn't help inspire confidence in the new iPhone 4. I started reading comparisons about the HTC Desire Android platform and was impressed by the new features in Froyo.
The main reasons I needed a mobile device are:
-Internet Browsing;
-Twitter: keeping up to date with technology news and tweets from people;
-Calendar: my personal assistant
-Evernote: note taking
-Facebook: keeping up to date with friends
-Stocks: monitor the stock market
I hardly use the iPhone as a phone. It appears that the iPhone is more of a mobile companion to me. This is an observation that I have made during the time I have owned the 3G. Despite this, the phone feature is still an important feature for me.
With the improvement in the camera I hope to take better pictures of business cards or meeting black boards. These images can be either saved to Evernote or MobileMe cloud services.
-the lack of Flash
-not having the most megapixels for the camera
-antenna problems
Reading about them didn't help inspire confidence in the new iPhone 4. I started reading comparisons about the HTC Desire Android platform and was impressed by the new features in Froyo.
The main reasons I needed a mobile device are:
-Internet Browsing;
-Twitter: keeping up to date with technology news and tweets from people;
-Calendar: my personal assistant
-Evernote: note taking
-Facebook: keeping up to date with friends
-Stocks: monitor the stock market
I hardly use the iPhone as a phone. It appears that the iPhone is more of a mobile companion to me. This is an observation that I have made during the time I have owned the 3G. Despite this, the phone feature is still an important feature for me.
With the improvement in the camera I hope to take better pictures of business cards or meeting black boards. These images can be either saved to Evernote or MobileMe cloud services.
Upgrading iPhone 3G to iOS4
The iPhone 3G has served me well for 2 years. Being one of the first to purchase an iPhone 3G, I hope to get the iPhone 4 as soon as it is released in Australia.
Just a few weeks ago, I upgraded the iPhone OS to iOS4. It wasn't a good decision. iOS4 slowed my iPhone in these respects:
-Applications: opening applications however they seem to run ok after opened;
-Safari: rendering of web pages;
-Phone: delays in picking up calls;
Furthermore, applications I use often crash more frequently such as Mashable, TweetDeck and Evernote. Perseverance is needed.
Quite a number of articles have been released about the iPhone 4 to date. The usual amount of praises and criticisms are about everywhere. I will be attaching these stories as time goes on.
Just thought I might mention that I am an Apple fan, however I do like other platforms for their strengths which I wish can be adopted into Apple products.
Just a few weeks ago, I upgraded the iPhone OS to iOS4. It wasn't a good decision. iOS4 slowed my iPhone in these respects:
-Applications: opening applications however they seem to run ok after opened;
-Safari: rendering of web pages;
-Phone: delays in picking up calls;
Furthermore, applications I use often crash more frequently such as Mashable, TweetDeck and Evernote. Perseverance is needed.
Quite a number of articles have been released about the iPhone 4 to date. The usual amount of praises and criticisms are about everywhere. I will be attaching these stories as time goes on.
Just thought I might mention that I am an Apple fan, however I do like other platforms for their strengths which I wish can be adopted into Apple products.
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