Review » 15 million iPhone 5 units said to be on order for September launch

Apple has reportedly placed an order for 15 million iPhone 5 units with Chinese electronic manufacturer Pegatron. Pegatron’s plants underwent a major expansion in 2010 and 2011 to accommodate Apple’s supply needs for the current iPhone 4 model, so the company had been seen as a likely candidate to receive orders for Apple’s next smartphone. Referring to the handset as both the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S, DigiTimes reports that shipments are scheduled to begin in September. The report also states that the upcoming iPhone refresh “does not seem to have any major update from iPhone 4.” Conflicting reports suggest that the next-generation iPhone could either be a major upgrade or an incremental update packed in the same case as the iPhone 4.

Review » AT&T to offer standard iPhone insurance beginning July 17th

AT&T has announced that it will offer standard insurance to iPhone owners beginning on July 17th. Previously, AT&T subscribers were able to sign up for a more expensive $12 monthly insurance plan, which had a $199 deductible. Protection will now cost just $4.99 per month with the standard plan and it is expected to have a $125 deductible, which covers all models of the iPhone for loss, accidental physical or liquid damage, theft, and mechanical or electrical failure.

“Effective July 17, 2011, the Apple iPhone (all models) will be eligible for coverage with the AT&T Mobile Insurance program (formerly Wireless Phone Insurance),” AT&T said in a statement on its mobile insurance page. “Enrollment restrictions apply. Customers can only enroll within 30 days of a new activation or upgrade, prior activations or upgrades outside of 30 days are not eligible.”

Review » Samsung Files Complaint Versus Apple, Wants Importation Ban on iDevices

Looks like it is not over between Apple and Samsung as the latter has filed another complaint against Steve Job’s megacompany. A report on the International Trade Commission website states that Samsung requests an import ban against all the iDevices (iPhone, iPad, and iPod). The investigation on this issue could last for up to 16 months, that is if the ITC decides to investigate the complaint.

In case you are still out of the loop about this beautiful relationship gone sour, here’s the gist of it: Apple started it. The iPhone maker filed a complaint back in April about how Samsung’s products have blatantly copied Apple’s gadgets. Samsung filed a counter-suit and as they say, “S” hits the fan.

The two companies even requested to court to get their hands on upcoming products. Apple wanted to inspect a slew of soon-to-be-released Samsung smartphones and tablets to see if it copies the Apple devices, while the latter demanded to see the yet-to-be-announce iPad 3 and iPhone 5, claiming that any change in its design would invalidate Apple’s complaint. The court only granted Apple’s request, with the judge saying Samsung’s request was overreaching.

And just last week, Apple filed a suit on Samsung homeland of South Korea, plus it is dumping the chaebol as its chip supplier in favor of Taiwan SemiConductor Manufacturing Company.

It is safe to say that this story would not end well for either party.

Source: FOSS Patents, via MobileCrunch, photo by Eheheheh

Review » Samsung Drops Its Counter-Suit Against Apple; Patent Battle Not Over

Apart from filing a complaint to the International Trade Commission against Apple, Samsung has dropped its counter-suit against the Cupertino-based company last June 30 in an attempt “to streamline the legal proceedings.” The patent infringement suit was in response to Apple’s allegations that Samsung’s Galaxy devices have copied the iPhone and iPad.

That does not mean Samsung has given up on its own infringement claims against Apple, as its spokesperson has said her company “will continue to defent its patent rights” by merging those claims with the counter-claim in an earlier suit that Apple filed at a court in San Jose, California. The withdrawal of the counter-suit also does not affect other cases or patent violation complaints that Samsung raised against Apple in the United States and in other countries.

Litigation between Apple and Samsung is also underway in United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and even in the latter’s home turf of South Korea.

Source: Bloomberg, via Engadget

Review » Kingston Wi-Drive Wireless Hard Drive Expands iPhone Capacities by Up to 32GB

It was just a few weeks ago that Seagate released their wireless GoFlex hard drive for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.  Now Kingston is releasing their own version, the Wi-Drive.  It too is designed for the same set of devices, but instead of using a spinning 500GB storage array like Seagate, Kingston has opted for the more rugged and versatile SSD in a 16GB or 32GB capacity.  They too are promising 4 hours of battery life and to add data to the drive you’ll need to plug it into your computer’s USB port.
There is no word on the launch date or price, but we’re gonna guess this summer and $200.

Review » iPhone 5 Coming This September, Almost Certain

We hate to continue to perpetuate the iPhone 5 rumors, but since it’s not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ it will arrive, we feel as though this posting is justified.

Macrumors, by way of 9 to 5 Mac, is reporting that the next iPhone, the iPhone 5, will arrive this September according to 3 sources familiar with the device’s production schedule.  Word is that the iPhone 5 test schedule is drawing to a close and that production will get under way this July.  Keep in mind that September will see the release of the next iOS, so the timing plays well to complement a new hardware release.

Review » iLive Alarm Clock Radio Isn’t Complete Without Your iPhone

We’ve seen our fair share of iPod/iPhone bedside alarm clocks, and by most accounts that’s an understatement. However, the iLive ICP391B Clock Radio stands alone in the often over saturated category by incorporating a design that calls for the iPhone to become the 12th number in the clock, thus making it a complete clock. Of course you’ll need to download the accompanying application, which also provides an alarm and radio. The hardware itself includes a set of speakers, an FM antenna, 3.5mm headphone input, a full remote and gradual wake function.

You can buy the iLive ICP391B alarm clock radio for $49.99.

Review » Unlocked iPhone 4 now Officially Available from Apple

Apple now officially sells the iPhone 4 unlocked.  The 16GB version will set you back $649, while the 32GB model costs $749.  At $100 more and twice the capacity we suggest you opt for the latter model, but then again it all depends on how much storage your library of music or photos demands.  If you’re game the unlocked iPhone 4 is available now in black or white and will work abroad, or on T-Mobile’s EDGE network, provided of course you’ve got a micro-SIM card to jam into its slot.

Review » Dock Fan for iPhone (video)

There are more than enough crappy iPhone accessories on the market today, so why not throw another one in the pile.  Actually, the Dock Fan isn’t the worst accessory we’ve seen to date and it will probably get scooped up by a number of you, especially in light of the hot summer days ahead.  According to the manufacturer the iPhone (or iPod) can power its soft plastic blades for up to 6 hours.  A rotating hinge lets you adjust the direction of the wind.

Review » Samsung C6712 Star II DUOS

Seeing a large enough customer response to the dual on GSM phones seem to continue to inspire Samsung to spawn similar products. Samsung released the latest version of Duos Samsung C6712 Star II Duos. The design was different from the Samsung C6712 Star II, there was only a little difference. Star Duos II was performed with a capacitive touch screen 3.2-inch WVGA touchscreen, a little bigger than Star II (3 inches). And, to prop up his dual capacity, the battery is crammed with a capacity of 1200 mAh.

Star II Duos Samsung C6712 is not a smartphone. This phone runs the TouchWiz interface 3.0 UI, which is supported by Social Service Hub, which will bring easy access to such social networking portals facebook and twitter.

Uniquely, the Samsung DuoS immerse Star II QuickType T9 input technology for virtual keyboard, which is claimed will allow her messaging access. Another feature is the WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and 3.15 MP camera. While the dual on GSM phones are circulating in Eastern Europe, which for the Russian priced around $ 250

Specifications:

GSM-GSM (Quad-Band GSM); Capasitive Touchscreen TFT 262,144 color, 240 × 400 pixels, 3.2 inch, 3.15 MP camera, video (QVGA @ 15fps); sms, mms, email, IM, GPRS 12, EDGE, WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML; 30 MB memory, microSD card slot (up to 16GB), dual SIM card slots and dual on GSM, polyphonic (MP3/WAV), accelerometer sensor, TouchWiz, java MIDP 2.0, 3.0, Wi -Fi 802.11 b / g / n, Facebook, Twitter, GTalk, AIM, Facebook chat, Yahoo IM, player MP3/WAV/WMA/AAC +, H.263/H.264/MP4 player, organizer, document viewer (word, excel, powerpoint, pdf), stereo FM radio (RDS), voice memo, Bluetooth v3.0 (A2DP), microUSB 2.0 port; battery Li-Ion 1200 mAh

http://www.icellphonereviews.com/samsung-c6712-star-ii-duos-spec-price-peview.html

Review » iPhone 4

iPhone 4 has been officially released in the event Apple WorldWide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2010 in San Francisco Tuesday yesterday. Let us review the iPhone 4 which was sensational.

Apple's iPhone was first sold in 2007. The first generation iPhone on sale on June 29, 2007 at a price of U.S. $ 499 for 4GB model and U.S. $ 599 for the 8GB model. The second generation iPhone 3G is named and launched in various countries on July 11, 2008 for U.S. $ 199 for the 8GB model and $ 299 for the 16GB model. Third generation or 3G iPhone, launched on June 17, 2009, at a price of U.S. $ 199 for 16GB model and $ 299 for 32GB model.

So what's new iPhone compared to the previous iPhone's 4?

First, let's surgical outer shape. Fourth-generation smart phone from Apple is thinner than the previous iPhone form that is 0.38 inch 0.5 inch while the previous iPhone. Batteries last up to 7 hours in an active condition, the difference of two hours of battery life before the iPhone version.

According to Jobs, the iPhone battery 4 resistant to various activities, such as talk for seven hours in the 3G, 3G browsing for 6 hours, browsing the WiFi for 10 hours, 10 hours of video, music 40 hours and 300 hours standby. Despite the wide screen is the same as the previous iPhone, but the resolution of the iPhone 4, four times better than previous generations.

Bodi iPhone 4 wrapped glass and stainless steel panels on the front and rear, and insert the antenna which surrounds the entire body of iPhone. The phone may not have been smart if not embedded camera. In the iPhone 4, Apple buried 5 Megapixel camera complete with LED flash and can record and edit high-definition photo.

If earlier the iPhone operating system is a lightweight version of Mac OS X without the various components that are not needed. The operating system used in the iPhone 4 is ios 4 and not much difference with the previous operating system. What is truly different is the processor that gives Apple A4 high speed. For features that are available, some new features in the iPhone, including multitasking, iBooks, advertising and video chat.

IPhone 4 Specifications

Form:

* Color: Black or White
* Height: 4.5 inches
* Width: 2.31 inches
* Thin: 0.37 inches
* Weight: 137 grams

Capacity:

* 16GB or 32 GB

Display:

* Retina Display
* 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display
* Resolution 960 x 640 pixels, with 326 ppi
* Contrast ratio 800:1
* Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on the front and rear
* Supports multiple languages ​​and characters simultaneously

Camera, Photo, Video:

* Footage HD (720p) up to 30 fps
* 5MP Camera
* VGA front camera with 30 fps
* LED flash
* Geotagging feature on the photo and video

Audio:

* Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000 Hz
* Audio Format: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX +), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV

TV and Video:

* Video Format: H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, the Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in. M4v,. Mp4, and. Mov file formats; MPEG- 4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in. m4v,. mp4, and. mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in. avi file format
* Supports resolution of 1024 × 768 pixels, with a dock connector to VGA for 576p and 480p.

Cellular and Wireless:

* UMTS / HSDPA / HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
* GSM / EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
* 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz)
* Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR wireless technology

Location Features:

* A-GPS
* Digital Compass
* Wi-Fi

Batteries and Power:

* Lithium-ion batteries that can be in charge
* Power USB via PC / Mac
* Talk time up to 7 hours (3G), up to 14 hours (2G)
* Standby time: 300 hours
* Use of the Internet up to 6 hours (3G), up to 10 hours (WiFi)
* Video Recording: up to 10 hours
* Record Audio: up to 40 hours

Review » Movie Pass: Unlimited Movie Theater Tickets for $50 a Month

For as little as $9.99 a month you can rent an unlimited amount of DVDs from Netflix.  When the company launched it was met with skepticism and apprehension.  But after years of fighting the big boys, such as Blockbuster, they’ve emerged the winner.  Now a company called Movie Pass is looking to enter the space, but instead of offering an unlimited amount of DVD rentals, they want you to pay $50 a month to watch as many movies as you’d like in the movie theater.

Over 100 theaters are currently participating, but from what we understand the beta program has kicked off in San Francisco.  Users simply sign up on their website and then using an accompanying iPhone or Android app, present a reservation code to the movie clerk.  Seats and tickets can be reserved online, and Movie Pass is even promising discounts on the popcorn, access to advanced screenings in addition to restaurant vouchers, though we’re not sure how the latter works.


Since movie theaters often make their profits on concessions, it stands to reason that these movie goers could be more profitable than an average attendee.  Though if you attend the theater on a regular basis you’ll probably skip the popcorn and soda since it’s novelty factor will wear off quickly.

On average today’s movie theater tickets cost about $12.  So 4 visits a month to the theater could pay for Movie Pass.  However, that means attending the theater more than once a week, something most busy people don’t have time to do, hence why theaters are most busy on weekends.  We’ve heard that special movies, such as those presented in 3D and Imax, will include an additional surcharge per viewing, though that info isn’t on their website.

So will you sign up for Movie Pass if and when it comes to your state?

Review » The Dot: Capture 360 Degree Video with your iPhone 4 (video)

The olloclip for the iPhone 4 suffices in instances of direct photography providing an array of lenses in a pocket friendly form factor.   However, that hardly lets you capture the room in a 360 panoramic view, does it?

Enter the Dot.  It too is a pocket friendly iPhone 4 camera attachment, but instead of enhancing the iPhone’s snap shot abilities, it allows you to record the entire room in 360º, panoramic video.  The company behind the kit, Kogeto, says that the captured video will be fully navigable and shareable on Twitter, Facebook and sites alike.

The hardware is just one piece of the puzzle.  In fact, the accompanying app, or software, is the other half of the battle.  If you were to just launch the native video camera app on the iPhone you would see a donut shaped image that is practically unusable.  Launch Kogeto’s app and it converts the image, on the fly, into a panoramic view.  Pretty slick, right?

The company placed their project on Kickstarter seeking $20,000.  To no surprise, they’ve exceeded that goal by over $80,000 and they’ve still got 13 days to go.  If you want one you’ll need to pledge $98 and you might, might still get an invite to their launch party in NYC.  Wait until August or September and you’ll be able to buy from their site for a yet to be disclosed price.

Review » Miss America 2011 Named, Top 5 Beauty iPhone Apps to Help you Score the Crown

It ain’t easy looking good, just ask Miss America 2011, Alyssa Campanella.  She beat out 50 other contestants at the the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.  She’s originally from New Jersey but now resides in Los Angeles – no big surprise there.  So how does the 21 year old stay fit and maintain her good looks for the cameras?  A big part of it are genetics and age, but were willing to bet she’s referenced an iPhone beauty app or two.  Here’s our list of the top 5 iPhone  beauty apps that could help you look your best competition or not.

5. Lancôme Make-Up

With this app you can apply make-up to a virtual module with precise and realistic rendering.   In other words, you don’t have to smear makeup all over you face, remove and start again if you want to try a new look out. They’ve also included a lash diagnostics tool, access to advice from from Lancôme Make-up Artists, view videos tutorials from make-up blogger Michelle Phan and receive news about their latest products.


4. Organic Spa Magazine Skin Care Guide

Beauty, as we all know it isn’t just on the outside.  In fact it starts on the inside.  And hence why you need this app.  It provides a list of the leading companies in the natural and organic beauty field.  They cover everything from health and wellness, eco fashion and design, green travel, organic beauty and skin care, organic foods and supplements, and everyday green living tips.

3. Lookz

Apparently, Lookz is the world’s first ‘made for mobile’ make up and beauty stylist.  The app provides make-up video tutorials and provides the latest celebrity and fashion looks.  Categories include Nails, Catwalk, Bollywood, Goth, Emo, Everyday, Clubbing and Celebrity.  And if that isn’t enough, they’ve tossed in a bunch of hip wall papers to spruce up your iPhone

2. Sephora to Go

With the Sephora iPhone app buying beauty products has probably never been easier.  The app lets you stay in touch with the latest releases, scan items in the store to look up a price, view past purchases, watch expert videos and more.  And get this.  For a limited time you’ll get a free iPhone case with your first online purchase.

1. iStylist Makeover

The iStylist app might just take the cake.  It lets you pick an existing photo of yourself and then try hundreds of different hairstyles, glasses, hats, makeup, and facial hair.  Yup, it’s designed for both males and females, but something tells us that the women are gonna be the most drawn to this. And like all good apps you can share your look with their community and receive a rating.

Review » Lark iPhone Sleep Monitor Nudges You Awake, Tracks Your Sleep

A solid nights rest is just as important as the food you eat.  But unlike the food you consciously consume, we unfortunately can’t monitor ourselves when we sleep.  Unless of course you invest in a sleep monitoring apparatus, such as the Lark.

It’s a fabric soft wristband that monitors your sleep activity and gently vibrates to wake you from you slumber.  The latter feature not only wakes you in a more gradual state, but insures that your companion won’t be disturbed, unlike an audible alarm clock.  The iPhone, like all trendy and cool products, serves as the administration hub to the alarm clock (connects over Bluetooth), and even if your phone dies over night the Lark will still vibrate at the defined time.   Fold into the mix that the Lark can monitor your sleep quality – it tracks how fast you fell asleep, for how long and if you woke up – and you’ve got the whole kit and kaboodle of sleep doctors stuffed into a $189 apparatus.

Review » iBoobies iPhone Case and Stand

The iBoobies iPhone case, ironically enough, will do everything but protect your iPhone from grabbing hands. $10.

Review » iHealth: The First Ever iOS Blood Pressure Monitor

Getting older means being more cognisant of what you eat, how much you exercise and if you’ve got a family history of high blood pressure, keeping a keen eye on your systolic and diastolic pressures.

The iHealth is the first ever blood pressure monitoring system for iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad. The included cuff, which automatically inflates, fits arms 11.81 inches to 16.54 inches in circumference and connects to a dock, where upon you place your chosen iOS device to collect the data. The iHealth app ($0) includes a diary for tracking systolic and diastolic pressures, heart rate, measurement time, and a pulse-wave graph. It incorporates an easy to use interface and what the maker is calling a vivid testing process. There are also a variety of tools to help you stay on top of your daily healthy changes, such as an interactive graph, statistics, smart World Health Organization (WHO) classifications, and an FAQ. Lastly a built-in email function allows you to easily share your data with your doctor or any concerned family member.

The iHealth is available now directly from their website for $99.95. If need be, a larger cuff can be purchased for an additional $16.

Review » Apple suspected in the development of "smart TV"

According to Katie Hubert Morgan Stanley analyst, Asian sources suggest that Apple is developing a prototype "smart TV". It is not known what lies behind this title, but Hubert said that the new device may include: video player and TV content, games, digital video, FaceTime and other features.

The analyst believes that such a device - the next "big" product of Apple, will be able to bring an additional 4 billion dollars a year with each 1% of the television market, which they enter in 2013.

Rumors about the possible release of the TV Apple appeared repeatedly few past years. Nevertheless, one can assume that it still is not all about television in the usual sense. Apple has already demonstrated that all of its products are designed around iTunes as the main source of content (for example, the iPhone has no FM-tuner, and Mac does not support Blu-ray discs), so it will be hardly possible to use such a device as a "normal TV" and digital video recorder.

Hubert also suggests that the next model of the iPhone will support LTE by 2012 and establishes a target price of Apple shares at $ 410

Review » Elecom Introduces New External Batteries for iPhone 4, Galaxy Smartphones

Elecom has introduced new external batteries in the Japanese market for use with the Apple iPhone 4 and the Samsung Galaxy S smartphones. This just goes to show that there can never be enough power to go around while having smartphones. Having a handy piece of external battery to charge such devices on the go allows available emergency power when needed at all times.

The new Elecom DE-A01L and the DE-U01L Series of external batteries are lithium-ion rechargeable batteries for the iPhone 4 and the Galaxy S. They are high capacity external rechargeable batteries that will come in 3000mAh and 4700mAh versions. Both will come with an easy charge function and can also accommodate other portable USB enabled devices. The new Elecom external batteries is expected to be available by the end of this month in Japan. Prices are set at 7,000 Japanese Yen or around US$87 for the 3,000mAh version and 8,000 Japanese Yen or around US$100 for the 4,700mAh version.

Image Source: Elecom

Review » Judge Declines Samsung’s Request to Peek into iPhone 5 and iPad 3

Judge Lucy Koh has rejected Samsung’s request to inspect Apple’s iPhone 5 and iPad 3. In an 11-page document, she explained that while Samsung is entitled to “parity,” requesting for Apple to hand over unreleased and unrevealed products was a bit overreaching.

While the decision sounds good for Apple, the rejection of Samsung’s motion is not permanent because the court may have to wait until the iPhone 5 and iPad 3 become available for inspection before deciding whether or not “consumer confusion” will exist as claimed by Apple. This also means that Apple may not get the preliminary injunction that would have barred Samsung from selling certain products in the United States.

Although Apple may not get the injunction that it wants, it may focus its legal battles against Samsung’s unreleased and unnannounced products that could pose an infringement threat. And the cycle continues.

Source: Phonescoop, via MobileCrunch