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Photojojo intros iPhone Lens Dial for fisheye, telephoto and wide-angle shooting
Annie Leibovitz seems to love the camera in the iPhone 4S as is, but if you'd ever hoped the snapshot darling were a bit more flexible, then Photojojo's new Lens Dial may be the solution. Available as a case that's compatible with the iPhone 4 and 4S, users are able to rotate between three different lenses -- including fisheye, telephoto and wide-angle -- to achieve their desired effect. Naturally, the enclosure will add quite a bit of thickness and heft to your handset (it weighs ten ounces, or twice that of the iPhone), but it also piles on flexibility, too, such as tripod mounts for landscape or portrait scenes. Shipping now for $250, the iPhone Lens Dial seems like the logical step after you've taken Holga's option for a spin.
Thanks to iOS 5, some users lose WiFi connectivity
Of all the enhancements to discover in Apple's iOS 5 upgrade, it seems that an unforeseen monster may have snuck its way into the release. We're now reading through a handful of user complaints about losing WiFi after taking the plunge, with most replies mentioning intermittent connectivity and / or a significant loss in signal strength. The issue remains unconfirmed by Apple, but it appears to span across a number of devices, including the iPhone 4S, 4 and 3GS, along with the iPad (and possibly, the iPod Touch). By troubleshooting, one user was able to resolve the problem by reverting to iOS 4.3, then cause it to manifest -- once again -- by upgrading to iOS 5. The recent iOS 5.0.1 update certainly hasn't fixed the matter, either. Could these reports be an unfortunate series of unrelated events, or is there something larger at play? Sound off about your experience with WiFi and iOS 5 in the comments below. [Thanks, Iain]
Holiday Gift Guide: Buying an iPhone
Welcome to TUAW's 2011 Holiday Gift Guide! We're here to help you choose the best gifts this holiday season, and once you've received your gifts we'll tell you what apps and accessories we think are best for your new Apple gear. Stay tuned every weekday from now until the end of the year for our picks and helpful guides and check our Gift Guide hub to see our guides as they become available. For even more holiday fun, check out sister site Engadget's gift guide. Two years ago, my best friend bought his wife an iPhone 3GS for Christmas. She totally wasn't expecting it. When she opened the package and saw what was inside, she went crazy with glee. Two years later she still has that phone, and it's become an indispensable tool. People refer to a lot of things as "the gift that keeps on giving," but it's especially true of the iPhone. Even the iPhone's basic functions via Apple's pre-installed apps can vastly expand the things you're able to accomplish while on the go; once you factor in all the apps on the App Store, the iPhone turns into a full-fledged, powerful, portable computer that quite literally fits in your pocket. Before I get into discussing which iPhone may be right for that special person in your life, there are a couple things to keep in mind before you decide to give an iPhone as a gift. Contracts I called the iPhone "a gift that keeps on giving" earlier, but it's also a gift that keeps on taking. You may think you're doing someone a favor when you give them a US$199 iPhone 4S (and they'll probably think so, too), but that lovely gadget also comes with a significant monthly expense attached to it in the form of a carrier plan. The cheapest possible (on-contract) iPhone plans in the US, according to the rate plan info on Apple's site: AT&T: $54.99 Sprint: $79.99 Verizon: $59.99 You might be able to tailor a cheaper pre-pay plan through one of these carriers if you buy an unlocked iPhone instead, but no matter how you look at it, the iPhone is going to incur a monthly expense. This may not be a big deal to you if you're giving the iPhone to your spouse or one of your children, but buying an iPhone for one of your friends or someone outside your immediate family is kind of like buying them a pet: it's not just a one-time gift, but an ongoing and expensive obligation. Buying an on-contract iPhone also makes it a bit tougher to keep it a surprise, unless you're planning on paying the monthly plan fees yourself. If you're buying an iPhone for someone outside your immediate family and you want to keep it under wraps, the best option is probably going to be buying one of the unlocked, contract-free models -- but keep in mind that those iPhones are significantly more expensive than they are when subsidized through a carrier. Carriers The carrier situation in the US is more involved than in most other countries due to the differing technologies US telcos use. Depending on which model of iPhone you're looking at giving, this could considerably affect your options. Apple currently offers four iPhone models, but the carrier compatibility situation is quite complex in the States: iPhone 3GS: AT&T only iPhone 4: GSM version (AT&T only) iPhone 4: CDMA version (Sprint or Verizon only) iPhone 4S: Technically universally compatible, but all models are locked to their specific carrier when sold -- even the "unlocked" iPhone 4S will only work on AT&T Different carriers also offer markedly different quality of service depending on where you are. AT&T is notorious for having terrible service in some parts of the US, so if your gift iPhone is going to someone who lives in an area with little to no AT&T coverage, Verizon or Sprint may be a better choice. Check each carrier's coverage map first before you decide which one to go with; if you give someone an iPhone that's locked to AT&T, but AT&T doesn't offer coverage in their area, you might as well have bought them an iPod touch instead. The three US carriers also have specific strengths to consider. While AT&T is the only one that supports simultaneous voice and data traffic (and also somewhat higher 3G network speeds, assuming you have coverage), Verizon's overall network coverage and reliability is considered top-notch. Sprint's data plans or support may also draw you in, especially if your intended recipient already has a phone on Sprint; the company is advertising heavily that it has the only "true unlimited" data plan for the iPhone, with no 2GB cap or overage fees. The carrier situation outside the US usually isn't quite so byzantine, because almost all other countries use the GSM standard instead of CDMA. The only specific carrier recommendations I can make for countries outside the US apply to Australia and New Zealand. For both countries my recommendation is the same: avoid Vodafone if at all possible. My experiences with Vodafone's networks in both nations have been almost universally terrible. Your best bet for sussing out the ideal carrier for you is to ask neighbors or coworkers who already have iPhones (and who commute/hang out in the same general area as you) how they feel about their carrier of choice. With that out of the way, let's look at which model of iPhone fits your gift-giving mood. Super-low budget: iPhone 3GS The iPhone 3GS is available at a very attractive price: free from Apple and nearly free ($1) from AT&T, but both incur a two-year contract. It might therefore look like a great option for a particularly budget-minded gift-giver, and in fact if you're looking at giving an iPhone as a Christmas gift to your teenager, this might be a good choice. The iPhone 3GS is old, though -- more than two years out of date. It lacks many features that owners of more modern iPhones have come to take for granted, like the Retina Display, faster processors, and much-improved cameras (including the forward-facing camera for FaceTime or Skype use). It's also only available on AT&T in the States, so if you wanted to go with Verizon or Sprint, you're out of luck. It also comes in only one capacity: 8 GB. That's going to be quite cramped for even light users; between apps, music, photos, videos, and other data, 8 GB just doesn't count for as much as it used to. The iPhone 3GS is quite far behind at this point in terms of its feature set, and it's unlikely Apple will continue to support the device with iOS updates for the same length of time that it will support more current iPhones. Although the iPhone 3GS is still a decent iPhone, I wouldn't recommend giving one as a gift unless your budget absolutely cannot handle giving an iPhone 4 instead. Low budget: iPhone 4 For just $99 more than the iPhone 3GS, you can get last year's flagship iPhone, the iPhone 4. Check out all the improvements that $99 gets you: More powerful processor, leading to better overall performance (especially in games) Much higher quality Retina Display Improved battery life Much better camera (5 vs. 3 megapixels in the iPhone 3GS) with an LED flash and improved video recording quality Front-facing camera for FaceTime Noise-cancelling microphone Compatibility with Verizon and Sprint (CDMA models only) The iPhone 4 is still a great phone, and it should offer plenty of power for most users with only one exception: like the iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4 now comes only in an 8 GB capacity. That may feel even more cramped on the iPhone 4, because the pictures and videos it takes have much larger file sizes than on the iPhone 3GS. The iPhone 3GS is a decent iPhone, but the iPhone 4 simply blows it away no matter how you look at it. It's also a more attractively-designed phone, and Apple is likely to continue issuing software updates for the iPhone 4 for longer than for the iPhone 3GS. I know if I was receiving an iPhone as a gift, I would much rather receive an iPhone 4 than an iPhone 3GS. That's likely to be true of just about everyone. Higher budget: iPhone 4S (16 or 32 GB) Here we hit another $100-200 price jump (depending on which capacity you choose), but again that rise in price nets you some great improvements over the iPhone 4: Much more powerful processor -- up to twice as fast as the iPhone 4 for some applications Improved camera (8 vs. 5 megapixels in the iPhone 4) with face detection, 1080p video recording, and video stabilization Higher data capacity (16 or 32 GB versus 8 GB on the iPhone 4) Improved antenna (faster download speeds, better signal quality) Siri voice assistant The iPhone 4S will easily outperform the iPhone 4 at any processor-intensive task, especially gaming. Its camera is much improved, too, especially in low light situations; in fact, the iPhone 4S is arguably a great replacement for a low- to mid-budget point-and-shoot camera. The higher capacity the iPhone 4S offers over the iPhone 4 will also allow its user to store more music, photos, and apps on the device. 16 GB will probably be enough for light users -- people with small music libraries, not many photos, and only a handful of apps -- but it might start to feel cramped after awhile, especially if the user starts taking lots of videos with the built-in camera. A 32 GB iPhone 4S may be a better choice if the person using it has a lot of media; if this isn't their first iPhone, the person you're giving it to may already have lots of apps, too. [iTunes Match users can spend less time worrying about how to fit a music library on to the portable device. –Ed.] Let's be frank, though: Siri is the biggest selling point for the iPhone 4S. It may or may not come to Apple's other devices eventually, but for now the iPhone 4S is the only device that offers Apple's revolutionary new voice-driven interface. As corny as talking to your phone may seem at first, Siri is the kind of feature that seems perfectly natural (maybe even necessary) after using it for awhile. Money is no object: iPhone 4S (64 GB) Even with a two-year contract, the biggest, baddest iPhone on the block is going to set you back almost $400. The unlocked, contract-free version is an even more staggering $849 -- $20 more than an iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G model with the same storage capacity. Though the 64 GB iPhone 4S offers no other improvements over the smaller capacity iPhone 4S models, the higher capacity is definitely going to come in handy for "power users" with huge music libraries, hundreds of apps, thousands of photos, or any combination of those items. The 64 GB iPhone 4S is Apple's first iPhone to come in that capacity, and that's the model I snagged for myself. It holds all of my music (well, all the stuff I actually listen to anyway), almost 200 apps, over five hours of videos, and it still has enough space left over that I can take hundreds of photos or an hour of high-def video without worrying about deleting things first. That having been said, once you get into this pricing territory you have to start wondering whether an iPad 2 might not be a better gift instead. Though it's larger and less portable than an iPhone, it's also available without a contract commitment to any carrier. A 64 GB Wi-Fi-only iPad costs $300 more than the on-contract 64 GB iPhone 4S, but that bigger $300 initial outlay also saves you over $1300 in carrier fees over the course of two years. There's an iPhone for every budget now, from the free iPhone 3GS all the way up to the credit-card-slaying 64 GB iPhone 4S. As you go up the ladder the feature set expands along with the price, but the 16 or 32 GB iPhone 4S is probably going to be the sweet spot for most users. Regardless of which iPhone you give this holiday season, the person who receives it will almost certainly be very excited -- so long as he or she can afford the monthly service costs.
iPhone case offers up literal kaleidoscope of Holga lens effects
Sometimes photo apps just don't cut it. Sometimes you want instant color filters and split image gratification. Now they're here with a turn of a dial, though it looks suspiciously like something your parents might have played with in the distant past. Holga's iPhone Lens Filter will fit both iPhone 4 and 4S models and there are nine different lens effects to meddle with. The case itself is up for grabs in some curiously Nokia-esque colors options available for $25 in white, silver, black, blue and red. If tinted photography sends you into a spin, you can direct yourself to the source link below.
Belkin's Live Action camera accessories should be in the middle of your picture, lyin' in the reeds
Belkin is making it easier for you to turn your iPhone into a real camera. The LiveAction Camera Grip is made of rich corinthian leather soft touch plastic and connects to your iPhone 4, 4S or iPod touch via the dock port. It sits on the heel of the phone with separate shutter release and video / stills buttons for easy snapping. On the bottom is a standard size tripod mount for when you need a mechanically steady hand. At the same time, you can grab the LiveAction remote -- a Bluetooth control that can shoot pictures from up to 30m, saving you the ten-second-timer-dash. If the surface won't hold your phone neatly, you also get a detachable prop. Undecided buyers should check out the press release after the break; those who believe in love at first sight just need to know both are available from mid December and will set you back $50 each.
NPD Group: iPhone 4, 3GS outsold Android phones in Q3
NPD's latest Mobile Phone Track service shows that Apple's iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS outsold other Android phones on the market in the US for the third calendar quarter of 2011 -- the same situation as results for the previous quarter. The iPhone 4 held the top spot, with Apple's two-year-old iPhone 3GS holding the second spot. It's no surprise the iPhone 4 claimed top spot, but it's a testament to how well the iPhone is revered among consumers that the iPhone 3GS -- which came out in 2009 –– outsold newer Android phones with higher screen resolutions and more processing power. The $49 price point through AT&T last quarter also must have helped. Here's the entire top 5 list for the quarter that ended September 30th: Apple iPhone 4 Apple iPhone 3GS HTC EVO 4G Motorola Droid 3 Samsung Intensity II Results for this next quarter, which runs until December 31, will be very interesting to see. Given the strong sales of the iPhone 4S, the fact that the iPhone 4 is now only $99, and the fact that the iPhone 3GS is free on a two year contract, Apple may very well hold the top three spots when NPD announces its Mobile Phone Track results for Q4 sometime in January 2012.
Samsung drops plan to file Apple suit in Korea, will battle in 'the global market' instead
A Samsung executive revealed to Korean Newspaper The Chosun Ilbo today that it will drop its plans to pursue Apple for patent violations in Korea, instead focusing efforts on cases overseas. The anonymous exec cited performance in his company's home country, saying "we concluded that we should engage in legal battles with Apple only in the global market, but not in order to gain more market share in Korea." The move seems logical given the company's existing share, and will allow Samsung to maintain a positive image at home, where it dominates in categories ranging from televisions to refrigerators. So Apple may be in the clear in Sammyland, but the battle will likely continue beyond Korean shores for some time to come.
Apple releases iOS 5.0.1, fixes bugs plaguing battery life and document syncing
Get ready to fire up iTunes and plug in that iOS device, because Apple's just released iOS 5.0.1. The release notes are identical to the two beta releases, which include fixing bugs relating to battery life and document syncing, while also re-enabling app switching gestures that developers previously had access to on the original iPad. And for those down under, voice recognition has apparently been improved when dictating with an Aussie accent. Those not interested in the 790MB download from iTunes, can look for a 44.6MB delta -- including only the changes -- from their device Settings. You'll find photographic evidence of the latter after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Auto-suggestion keyboard found hiding inside iOS 5
The panoramic camera mode isn't the only thing to be unearthed from within iOS 5. A familiar-looking predictive typing option has been unlocked by iOS tinkerer, Sonny Dickson, who tweeted several shots of the new keyboard in action. Like the rough-around-the-edges panorama mode, jail-breaking isn't necessary, requiring only the iBackupBot program to tweak your configuration settings. Tick yes to Library/Preferences/com.apple.keyboard.plist, and you're away. We'd advise speed-typing obsessives to back up their devices to iTunes first, naturally.
iOS 5's panorama enabled with backup hackery, jailbreak not required
Did you want in on iOS 5's hidden panorama feature, but weren't down with the whole jailbreak shindig? You're in luck, because RedmondPie found a roundabout solution. All interested parties need is an iTunes backup, a little elbow grease and a program called iBackupBot. That last item will allow you to bust open your device backup, where you'll find a preference file that needs an "EnableFirebreak" value changed from "false" to "true." Once that's done, a quick restore is all that stands between you and some epic panoramic vistas, bro. A full step-by-step guide awaits you at the source, just triple check that backup's recent before you obliterate and restore, okay? [Thanks, Brian]
Judge tells Apple to reveal Australian contracts to Samsung
Things are really heating up between Apple and Samsung in Australia. In the war between the two electronics behemoths, a judge ruled that Apple Inc. must now provide Samsung Electronics Co. with copies of contracts with Australian mobile-phone carriers. If you remember this story, Samsung has sued Apple in Australia claiming that the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPad 2 infringe on patents that the company holds for various wireless technologies. For some reason, Samsung asserts in the patent lawsuit that carriers are contractually obligated to subsidize iPhone sales -- that's not surprising, since that's standard procedure for many carriers and many phone manufacturers. However, Australia Federal Court Justices Annabelle Bennett ordered Apple to produce agreements that it has with Vodafone, SingTel Optus, and Telstra if they don't agree on the assertion. Apple's lawyer Andrew Fox told the judge that "This is quite clearly a fishing expedition," and that Apple will fight the disclosure, suggesting that it's an effort to find other damaging evidence. The Samsung lawsuit was filed in September after Apple requested a court order to bar the sale of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia. Apple did win that battle, with an injunction granted on October 13. Apple has also been required to turn over 220 pages of documents to Samsung relating to the source code for the iPhone 4S firmware, but Samsung wasn't happy with what they got, stating that there was a "missing file."
Siri apparently won't come to older iPhones
Everyone's saying Siri won't come to older iPhones, but this report may be premature. It's based on an email Michael Steeber received from Apple support about a bug in Siri. The customer service rep was told by Apple's engineering team that "Siri only works on iPhone 4S and we currently have no plans to support older devices." Most people are focusing on the "have no plans" part of the response and overlooking the key word "currently". Yes, right now, Apple doesn't have plans to expand Siri, but these plans could change next month. It's not like Apple hasn't said one thing and done another before - remember the iPod, which was deemed to have a screen too small for video? Looking beyond words, there are other signs that suggest Siri won't be exclusive to the iPhone 4S. First and foremost, there's no technological reason why Siri won't work on older handsets. The iOS hacking community has managed to get Siri running, as a proof of concept, on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and both iPad models. The major hurdle these developers had to overcome was Apple limiting Siri requests to the iPhone 4S. Siri can and does run on older hardware. Apple's just not allowing it, at least not yet. Apple may be proceeding slowly with Siri. It's a beta product and still undergoing refinement. Just look at Apple's Siri FAQ page and all the new languages that are being added. Apple's smart enough not to swamp their system by rolling out Siri to millions of iPhone 4 handsets at the same time they are still adding features. Apple customers just need to be patient and wait. Wait for Apple to flesh out the service and get it firmly established on the iPhone 4S. By that time, Apple will be done using the voice assistant to sell their flagship handset and will be ready to bring Siri to the iPhone 4 and possibly other older iOS devices.
Vooma Peel PG92 case brings dual-SIM capability, added appeal to your iPhone 4, 4S
Vooma's new Peel PG92 handset case isn't the first to bring dual-SIM capability to the iPhone 4, but it may be the most elegant. The accessory, which has yet to be released, essentially consists of an extra battery pack and an unlocked SIM slot. All you have to do is download Vooma's customized app to your jailbroken iPhone 4 or 4S, strap on the Peel PG92, and insert your spare SIM card into the case (judging from the photos, it appears that the device is tailored for mini-SIM cards, rather than micro-SIM). Once that's taken care of, you'll be able to place calls via the app and external SIM, using a dialer interface that's only slightly different from what Apple offers. No word yet on pricing or availability, but you can sign up for more information at Voom's website, linked below. Otherwise, check out the coverage from our friends at TechCrunch, who managed to get their hands on a pre-release model.
Siri ported to iPhone 3GS, likes to kick it old school
Still clutching that 3GS in a jealous rage over your iPhone 4 and 4S toting mates who've been hooking up with Siri? Qwell your anger, friends, as iOS 5's favorite sidekick has been successfully ported to a 3GS by the same hacking pros (Steven Troughton-Smith included) that got her going on the 4 and iPod touch. Not only does Siri work on the older model iPhone, but the device also is able to connect to Apple servers. Take look at the video to see the action for yourself as we wait for our 3G to help us find the best waffle in Kansas. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Apple Store iOS app adds in-store purchasing, we go hands-on (video)
If you've been to an Apple Store recently, you're probably familiar with EasyPay -- Apple's not-always-so-easy handheld checkout system that enables employees to process transactions on the floor, sending a receipt to your inbox. Well the latest Apple Store iOS app eliminates the middleman -- those t-shirt and jeans-sporting retail employees -- letting you process the transaction on your own iPhone 4 or 4S, completely eliminating any need for human interaction. The tool is currently limited to accessories, so you won't be able to pick up an iPad, "scan" it with your phone, and walk out of the store. What's unclear is how Apple will prevent dishonest folks from shoplifting, since your iPhone lacks the ability to spit out those nifty white shoulder bags or blue purchase stickers. We took the app for a spin, running up a $107.79 tab with an Airport Express. As expected, checking out is painfully simple -- after you launch the app from within a store, a popup window gives you the option for EasyPay. You then hover over the item's barcode using the iPhone's camera, and click through to complete your purchase using the default credit card from your iTunes account. We then walked right out the front door with our purchased Airport in hand. You'll still need to head to the registers to return an item, however, which we were able to do within minutes of making our purchase. Jump past the break to see how it works.%Gallery-138810%
Consumer Reports finds iPhone 4S to have worthwhile antennas, says newer iPhone 4 is still problematic
"Consumer Reports recommends the iPhone 4S." It's only half a dozen words, but to the engineers (and marketers) at Apple, it spells "relief." After being profusely impacted by Consumer Reports' decision to recommend against buying the iPhone 4 due to those Antennagate issues, the entity has allowed all in Cupertino to breath a sigh of relief by effectively declaring the reception issue dead on the newest edition. To quote: "Apple's newest smart phone performed very well in our tests, and while it closely resembles the iPhone 4 in appearance, it doesn't suffer the reception problem we found in its predecessor in special tests in our labs. In special reception tests of the iPhone 4S that duplicated those we did on the iPhone 4, the newer phone did not display the same reception flaw, which involves a loss of signal strength when you touch a spot on the phone's lower left side while you're in an area with a weak signal. (The iPhone 4, which is still available, continues to exhibit that problem, we confirmed in tests of new samples of the phone. Because of the flaw, we continue to omit the iPhone 4 from our list of recommended models, despite its otherwise fine performance.)"In other words, even the newer samples of the iPhone 4 (perhaps even that one for Sprint?) continue to have antenna quirks, but at least the latest and greatest seems to have addressed 'em. Hit the source link for the full report.
US Cellular: we don't need no stinkin' iPhone
Dost a company actually dare turn down the seductive wiles of the iPhone? As a matter of fact, there is at least one US carrier that has the audacity to say no to Tim Cook's face: US Cellular. During her company's quarterly earnings call, CEO Mary Dillon mentioned that the mobile provider was given the opportunity to sell the iPhone, but Apple's "terms were unacceptable" when considering the risk and profitability involved. It's bad news for anyone on US Cellular that was remotely interested in grabbing one; the good news, however, is that the fact the opportunity was even available -- paired with C-Spire's intentions of selling the devices next week -- will at least give hope to customers of the little guys. Cricket? Cincinnati Bell? Who's up next? [Thanks, Cliff]
Apple seeds iOS 5.0.1 beta 2 to developers, beta 1 was so yesterday...
If you downloaded yesterdays iOS 5 beta you might want to check that iPhone / iPad / iPod touch for an OTA update. No word on what's new in 9A404 -- a mere two builds from yesterdays 9A402 -- but the updated build should still bring solace to those suffering from battery-drain issues. We're getting errors trying to download the developer notes, but we'll update if we find anything new or noteworthy. [Thanks, Haseeb]
C Spire Wireless will begin selling the iPhone on November 11
A few weeks ago, Mississippi-based C Spire Wireless announced it had inked a deal with Apple to sell the iPhone, making it the country's first regional carrier for Apple's smartphone. Today the company announced that both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S will go on sale on November 11th. From the press release: iPhone 4S will be available starting at $199.99 for the 16GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB model and $399.99 for the 64GB model with a new two-year contract and data plan. In addition, the iPhone 4 8GB model is available for $99.99, also with a new two-year contract and data plan. iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 will be available at C Spire Wireless retail stores, online at www.cspire.com/iPhone and through the Telesales group at 1-855-CSPIRE4. C Spire Wireless is a CDMA carrier that serves Mississippi and parts of Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee. If you live in its coverage area, you can begin pre-ordering your device today. The pricing of the handsets are the same as the iPhone's national US carriers. However, a look at its data pricing plans reveals that C Spire is trying to undercut the national carriers by offering an entry-level voice and data iPhone plan for only $50. Oddly though, the $50 plan and a $70 plan do not allow customers to "stream" data, which I've contacted the company about because I'm not exactly sure what that means; perhaps it has something to do with streaming video and audio, but it's not clear how transport-agnostic applications like YouTube or Pandora would know the difference. No word from Apple on whether other regional carriers will join the iPhone bandwagon yet, but it seems very likely considering the exclusivity agreements with the national carriers have come to an end.
iPhone 4S gets official date and blessing by C-Spire, all yours on November 11th
Oh, heck yeah. We've already been delighted by the news that C-Spire (the hip carrier formerly known as Cellular South) is the lucky recipient of the iPhone 4S, but we now have a date -- and it's coming up pretty fast. Both the 4S and the 4 will be ready for your purchase on November 11th, unsurprisingly for the same exact cost as the big three national carriers: $99 for the 8GB iPhone 4 and $199-399 for the iPhone 4S, but the deal's sweetened by the offering of unlimited data (though the two lowest plans exclude streaming). If you're down with that, it's a good idea to head over to the site and get pre-registered as soon as possible. Now that the little guys officially have the iconic device, who's next? Full press release after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
