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iPhone 4 hits T-Mobile Germany in June, three Canadian carriers in July
Hot on the heels of a three-way UK celebration, Deutche Telekom's reportedly managed to continue its coup -- if the company's Twitter account is to be believed, German exclusivity of the iPhone 4 will go to T-Mobile this June. Meanwhile, the English (and French) speaking world is still rolling out iPhone launch dates, as Canada's Rogers, Telus and Bell Mobility have all quietly announced the new superphone will be available "in the coming weeks" or "coming soon." Americans at Engadget HQ are supremely jealous of your choices, Canada... and rest assured that we feel Germany's pain, too. Update: T-Mobile is also continuing its tradition of carrying the iPhone in the Netherlands, with another announcement that's light on specifics. [Thanks, Xylias]
AT&T announces no-commitment / early update pricing for iPhone 4
If you're lucky enough to qualify for one of the "early upgrades" that get you out of the usual 18-month AT&T commitment period, then you pay just $199 for 16GB of joy and $299 for the 32GB model. If your upgrade date is January 1, 2011 or after, early update pricing for the iPhone 4 will be US$399 for the 16GB model or $499 for the 32GB model. Should you want a "no-commitment" contract, meaning that there's no early termination fee for dropping the phone in less than two years, the price sneaks up another $200 to $599 for the 16GB model and $699 for the 32GB unit. You can check your upgrade options via AT&T's myWireless account administration tool, or by dialing *639# (*NEW#) from your iPhone. As with any major purchase, you should consider these pricing factors before you jump into purchasing a new iPhone. Remember, there will probably be another new model coming out in June of 2011, too.
FaceTime video conferencing coming to the iPhone
At today's WWDC keynote, a new feature of the iOS 4 operating system called FaceTime was announced and demonstrated, bringing iChat like video conferencing to the iPhone. FaceTime requires no set up or configuration and will work with either the front or back facing camera on the iPhone 4, but the front facing camera has been "tuned" for FaceTime allowing you to hold the camera at arm's length to get a perfect picture. It works in both landscape and portrait orientation, and allows anyone running iOS 4, if the hardware supports it, to seamlessly video chat with anyone also running iOS 4 on another iPhone. There will be a FaceTime button in the Contacts app and on on the Phone screen. Tapping it is all you need to do to initiate a video chat, even if you're already on a voice call. The recipient will get a message saying that a FaceTime session has been requested which can be accepted or rejected. Accept it, and you are video chatting.
Apple screenshot confirms iWork coming to iPhone
Well well, what's this? Our pal Stuart Miles at Pocket-lint spotted an interesting detail on one of Apple's iPhone 4 screenshots: an "Open in 'Keynote'" button while viewing an attachment in Mail. It's since been replaced by a shot that reads "Open in 'iBooks'," but it certainly seems like the iWork suite will eventually make it across the iOS range from the iPad. While we're not going to pretend like that's nearly as big a deal as Microsoft integrating Office into Windows Phone 7, it's still a welcome move, as we know more than a few people who'd like to make some work-type edits on the go. Why we didn't get a peek at this today we don't know, but we've got a feeling we'll hear more about it as June 21 gets nearer.
Safari 5 announced... prematurely? And now it's official.
It got no attention in Steve's WWDC keynote, and it's not showing up in Software Update as of yet, but according to an Apple press release, Safari 5 is out for release today. Many analysts expected Apple to discuss Safari 5 (among other hardware) during the keynote, but iPhone 4 and iOS 4 got all the attention. The press release details several of the new features in Safari 5, including updates to HTML 5 features, the Nitro JavaScript engine, and more. Overall, Safari 5 is supposed to have 30% greater performance than Safari 4, and it will also include Bing as an optional search engine. More info on the features is available not only in the press release itself, but also a leak from earlier this week. We attempted to confirm the release with Apple PR directly, but we haven't heard back. Since this isn't showing up on apple.com/pr, and as of yet it hasn't been released to Software Update, it's understandable that the PR Newswire release might be fishy to some. However, I used to work for PR Newswire, and I can say with 100% confidence that this release is legitimate; PR Newswire's releases come directly from the companies themselves. We should see Safari 5 officially released sometime today. Update: The press release has been pulled from PR Newswire. Based on my experience there, most likely this means the release was published prematurely. It will most likely go back up in the next few hours, around the time it was originally intended to be published. Meanwhile, the text of the press release is still viewable on Engadget. Update 2: It's live! Here's the link.
iPhone 4's multiband antenna makes it a true 'world phone'
This morning, I read liveblogs about the WWDC keynote with growing irritation. I'd been hoping for a 64 GB capacity bump for iPhone 4, even though I knew in the back of my mind that engineering practicalities made it unlikely. The news that FaceTime will not only be WiFi only, but will also work only from one iPhone 4 to another, was also extremely disappointing. And the fact that the iPhone won't be getting down here to New Zealand until July, as opposed to June for the States, UK, and a few other countries, was probably the most annoying of all. Then I went to the tech specs page for the iPhone 4, and like rolling fog after the sunrise, all of my irritation evaporated. Back in March, I wrote this: "Apple can put a better camera in it, add more capacity, a better processor, a front-facing camera for videoconferencing, and a dozen other things -- but quite honestly, I'd be perfectly happy if none of that made it into the next-gen iPhone so long as one feature does find its way in: support for 900 MHz UMTS/HSDPA." According to Apple's tech specs for iPhone 4 & the FCC filing, I got my wish. Read on to find out why this unsung feature is actually a really big deal -- not just to me, but to millions of potential iPhone 4 customers.
iPhone 4: are you getting one?
Now that the dust is beginning to settle on Steve Jobs' WWDC10 keynote, we thought we'd ask the most pertinent question of all: who's buying this new hero mobile device from Apple? We know the company's loyal fan base will not disappoint, but what about you, undecided voter? Did that 960 x 640 IPS screen make you look upon Cupertino's wares with a new level of appreciation? And let us not neglect the iPhone's detractors here -- have they been placated by the inclusion of HD video recording, video chat and a meaty new A4 processor? Tick the appropriate box below, then visit us in the comments and let us know what you thought. %Poll-47657%
Apple announces Bumpers for iPhone 4, gets into the protection biz
During an Apple keynote, it's almost impossible to catch all of the info flooding out of Moscone. One thing we did catch, and then had to search for, was something about "Bumpers." A quick look at the pages on the Apple Web site didn't seem to show anything until I scrolled to the bottom of the Tech Specs page. Lo and behold, there was a very short description of Bumpers. Available in six colors (white, black, blue, green, orange, or pink), Bumpers slip over the stainless steel edge of your iPhone 4. They come with metal buttons for volume and power and are made of a combo of rubber and molded plastic. This may explain why we've received several tips over the last few days from people saying that iPhone cases are being removed from the Apple Stores. Bumpers are Apple's first foray into the iPhone case business (a market that has been run by third parties so far), and it will be fascinating to see not only how they sell, but what the reaction will be from long-time case manufacturers.
iPhone 4 vs. the smartphone elite: EVO 4G, N8, Pre Plus, and HD2
We know how the iPhone 4 sizes up against the aging 3GS -- but how does it fare against its fiercest competitors from all the major platforms? We wish we had some production Windows Phone 7 kit to check out here, but in the meantime, take a look at the results against the gruesome foursome of the EVO 4G, N8, Pre Plus, and HD2. You might be surprised by some of the results -- and sorry, RIM, you don't get to play until you bring some fresh, media-heavy hardware to the table. Nothing personal!
iPhone 4 pixel density examined (video)
Sure, you've seen our iPhone 4 hands-on... but have you seen it through a retina display? We put the new device next to our trusty old iPhone 3G to get a feel just how different the screens look with twice the pixel density and shot a little pseudo-macro video. There's a marked difference in the screens, even side-by-side with the EVO 4G, and we found that even from a distance we were able to read bodies of text we'd previously had to squint to discern on our classic iPhones. Hard to capture, it really is something you have to see first-hand... but until you get that chance, live vicariously through us after the break.%Gallery-94640%
iPhone 4 confirms June 24 date with O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone in UK
Good news for non-America: O2 UK has become the first international carrier to confirm it'll have the iPhone 4 ready for purchase and adoration on launch day, June 24. After the iPad gave preferential treatment to the US with its release schedule, some might have feared the similarly hot piece of tech Apple just announced today will also suffer from a tiered launch. It's looking like Brits won't have to worry about that particular pain, but it's also curious that Vodafone and Orange -- the other local carriers of the iPhone -- are remaining mum tonight. Is Apple lending a hand to its old partner by allowing it early stock? That wouldn't be entirely unfathomable, though it would be pretty unpleasant for impatient types who fancy some carrier choice. Update: Never mind that whole conspiracy theory: we've just seen that Orange is also throwing its hat into the June 24 ring -- let's keep this momentum going, guys! [Thanks, Blizzard] Update 2: And now Tech Radar has heard direct from Vodafone that June 24 is a go, giving us a complete Brit pack. Update 3: Hey, what do you know? T-Mobile UK's getting it too. Choice is good.
Is the iWork suite en route to iPhone?
Looking for more good news on the iPhone 4 front? Our eagle-eyed tipster iJcaP points out something that MacRumors also noted: on the iPhone 4 features page for Mail, a screenshot at the bottom lets a fairly large cat out of the bag. The picture shows an option to open a Keynote file... in Keynote. That, of course, implies a version of the iWork suite for the iPhone -- currently only available for the iPad. Screenshot mixup, or true vision of the future? Sure would be another nice thing to have for the iOS 4 launch and iPhone 4 availability, dontcha think? Update: The screenshot has been tweaked -- see the 2nd half of this post. It now says "Open in 'iBooks'" which is a trifle odd considering the email still refers to a presentation. Seems like this is not Apple's day for keeping things under wraps.
iPhone 4 hits FCC, becomes world's second announced pentaband 3G phone
You really can't fault Apple's timing. While the iPhone 4 may have slipped out in physical form way ahead of its launch today, the FCC docs for it were kept under seal until this very moment. So what do we find out from the disclosure? The Commission identifies the fourth-gen iPhone as model number A1332, and also confirms that it carries a Bluetooth module, that precious 802.11n capability that's still missing from most phones, and -- here's the good bit -- five bands of 3G internet compatibility: UMTS I/II/V/VI/VIII (evidence after the break). Which is all sorts of interesting, since Apple omits one of them -- the 800MHz band VI, most commonly used in Japan -- on the iPhone 4's specs page. Feel free to speculate away on what that might mean. Sadly, the reports grow rather dry from there, with nary a word on how banging the new IPS screen is or how well the FaceTime video chat works -- guess we'll just have to figure those things out for ourselves. Oh, and the first announced pentaband beastie; why it's the Nokia N8.
WWDC 2010: Bing coming to MobileSafari search
The rumor was partly true, Bing is indeed coming to the iOS search party; however, it will not be the default option as was speculated in January. During today's WWDC 2010 keynote address, Steve Jobs announced that Bing would be alongside Google and Yahoo as available search engine choices for MobileSafari. While it may seem insignificant, mobile search is a huge market that Google is currently dominating and it appears that Apple wants to put a little competition into the mix. While he wasn't gratuitous with his praise, Steve did say that he was impressed by Microsoft's implementation of their search engine in the browser. And no matter what Steve thinks, this additional option is a huge win for the Bing team at Microsoft. And hopefully a huge win for us, too -- competition in the search race will help out consumers a lot in the long run.
iPhone 4 vs. EVO 4G... fight!
If you put your ear up to the screen, you can hear these two beasts snarling at one another. Hit up the gallery for more shots, along with some iPhone 3G for good measure. Let's see how they stack up on the big stats, shall we? iPhone 4 EVO 4G Screen 960 x 640, 3.5-inch 800 x 480, 4.3-inch Thickness 0.37-inch 0.47-inch Primary camera 5 megapixel 8 megapixel Secondary camera VGA 1.3 megapixel Video chat FaceTime Qik Not enough for you? We'll have a big comparison of all the "majors" for you shortly. Now, there's a lot left to learn about Apple's FaceTime video chat service. For instance, they called it "open," but they also only mentioned a zero-configuration iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 calling setup. Meanwhile Qik can make calls between EVO 4Gs, but also stream video live to the web (while the iPhone needs to record and then upload to get "social" using its official apps). No mention was made of the FaceTime call resolution, but given the fact that the front camera is merely VGA, it's probably streaming at the same 640 x 480 that Qik is constrained to in the free service. However, a premium version of Qik for $5 a month lets you go beyond that resolution, using the EVO's higher resolution cameras. Perhaps the largest distinction is the fact that the EVO can stream video calls over 3G or 4G, while the iPhone 4 is constrained to WiFi for the time being. Naturally, we expect other video calling apps (Skype, please?) to crop up on both platforms and give these initial offerings a run for their money. %Gallery-94632%
iPhone 4 first hands-on! (update: FaceTime video demo)
We've just gotten some face time (ha ha!) with the new iPhone 4, and let's just say this: it's incredibly sexy. We'll hand it to Apple, the phone is so thin it's kind of mind-boggling. The 3GS by comparison looks bloated. Feast your eyes on the pics below, and check out the FaceTime video demo after the break! Oh, and special thanks to hand models Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg. Some takeaways about the device: As we said, it's shockingly thin. The screen is truly outrageous -- you basically cannot see pixels on it. We're not being hyperbolic when we say it's easily the best looking mobile phone screen we've ever laid eyes on. The build quality is really solid. The home button feels much snappier, and on the whole it just feels like a tightly-packed device, but it's not heavy. The side buttons are really nice and clicky. iOS 4 is very familiar -- there's not a lot added to fit and finish. The general speed of the whole OS is way snappier. The camera app in particular is noticeably faster -- shots get snapped in an instant. Update: More pics! We've also thrown in a video demo of the iPhone 4 running its FaceTime video chat app. Check it out at the usual location.%Gallery-94611%%Gallery-94616%
Apple's iPhone 4 promo videos show Retina Display and video calling
Ready to be uplifted by soundtracks and low swooping device shots? Apple's just posted up its iPhone 4 design video, a video about the new Retina Display, and the new (leaked) FaceTime commercial directed by Sam Mendes, and they're all pretty fun. Check 'em after the break. Update: We're told this isn't actually the Sam Mendes video calling ad, but rather an Apple promo video produced internally. We'll just have to wait and see if Mendes can top these heartwrenching images of American beauty with his ad.
iPhone 4 vs. iPhone 3GS: the tale of the tape
Apple's claiming that the iPhone 4 represents the platform's biggest advance since the original model's intro back in 2007 -- but does the argument hold water? Follow the break for a comprehensive rundown of the key differences between the newest member of the iPhone model and last year's king of the hill, the 3GS!
WWDC 2010: iPhone OS 4 now "iOS 4"
If something's all-new, it's gotta have a snappy new name. Among the technical innovations announced today during Steve's keynote at WWDC was one branding update -- the operating system formerly known as "iPhone OS" will now be known as "iOS," with version 4 in golden master now. We hate to bring the buzzkill, Steve, but remember how the iPhone trademark was actually owned by another technology company when you introduced the product? Guess what. Cisco's router operating system... uh... well, it's already called IOS. Apparently the first new feature of iOS 4 is "pays for trademark lawyers' summer homes." Update: Our loyal reader DocRock suggests this licensing deal is already done. Update #2: Yep, Cisco PR confirms that a deal was done. photo courtesy Engadget
WWDC 2010: Apple announces iMovie for iPhone 4
Today at WWDC, during the keynote address, one of the things Steve dropped upon us is the new camera in iPhone 4: Yeah, the 3G S did video, but the new camera does "full HD," at a sparkly 720p and 30fps. This means that little handheld video camera that's been on my Christmas list the last three years is now gone. Why get one when my new iPhone will do it? So you fill your phone full of video. What to do with it? If it was your Mac, you'd be flexing your iMovie muscles, wouldn't you? Now you can do the same on your iPhone: Steve showed some demos of iMovie for iPhone today, including one-click sharing, and the tap to focus that works in photos. Even the new LED flash gets in on it: You can leave it on the whole time you're shooting. Export options are 360p, 540p, and the original 720p resolution. And of course, the app also lets you run transitions, titles, and anything else the full version of iMovie will let you do. There are even themes and theme music to choose from -- Apple's video engineer says it's the best way to edit video on a mobile device he's ever seen. So now you can record beautiful video, edit down to the good bits, and email that video off to any of the tubes. As long as it goes through the app review process, that is -- according to Steve, "You'll be able to buy this for $4.99 ... if we approve it." Funny. When it appears on the App Store, we'll let you know.
