verizon iphone
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Verizon iPhone gets five hardware tweaks
Although the Verizon iPhone is largely the same as the iPhone 4 Apple released last year, PC Mag has pointed out five tweaks Apple's made to the design of the new version of the iPhone 4. A few of these hardware changes were necessary in order for the iPhone to connect to Verizon's CDMA network, while others are either cost-cutting measures or subtle improvements to the design. The most obvious change is the outer antenna. The original iPhone 4 had three break points in the antenna, while the Verizon version has four. While the redesign may have been necessary to get the iPhone 4 working on a CDMA network, according to PC Mag, analysis from iSuppli indicates this could be a dual-antenna design intended to improve the Verizon iPhone's reception. However, according to what we've heard so far, this does not mean the Verizon iPhone 4 is immune from the "death grip" attenuation problem that affected some of the GSM-type iPhone 4s. This new antenna design also meant the volume and mute buttons got moved downward slightly, so case manufacturers (including Apple) will have to update their designs for the Verizon iPhone. Earlier this week, we learned from iFixit that the iPhone has a dual-mode CDMA/GSM chipset. With a SIM slot and a GSM antenna, this could have allowed the iPhone to act as a true "world phone," but without that essential hardware, the Verizon iPhone won't connect to a GSM network. It's possible that the iPhone 5 will use this same chipset and all the requisite hardware, meaning Apple might only need to produce one version of the iPhone 5 rather than two. According to iSuppli, and supported by iFixit's teardown, the Verizon iPhone lacks a standalone GPS chip. Instead, it relies on the same Qualcomm MDM6600 chip that handles connecting to GSM/CDMA networks. Rumors abounded last week that subtle hardware differences like these would require navigation app developers to make custom apps for the Verizon iPhone, but that turned out to be untrue. In its teardown, iFixit also discovered the Verizon iPhone's vibration motor has been entirely redesigned. According to iFixit, the new motor has a "quieter, softer feel, and makes a better sound when on a table." Finally, iFixit noted that although the Verizon iPhone's battery has the same capacity as the standard iPhone 4, the new battery weighs 1.3 grams less. Overall, these subtle changes to the iPhone 4's design don't make the Verizon version much different. That's not to say there are no differences -- the Verizon iPhone can't use data and voice simultaneously, for instance -- but overall it's still the same great device that Apple released last year.
Verizon iPhone hits the streets, fails to gather crowds (video)
Verizon may have had its best sales day ever with the launch of the CDMA iPhone 4, but you wouldn't be able to tell if you parked outside a retail store this morning. Reuters reports that the usual hordes didn't show up for the Verizon iPhone launch -- San Francisco and New York flagship Apple Store locations boasted as few as forty individuals in line -- and that by afternoon today, the initial shipment of devices were still in stock. Of course, the device had already been on sale for several days -- and face it, it's just a CDMA iPhone 4 -- but it's not often we get to see spectacles like the one on video above, shot at the Mall of America store.
Skype updates iOS app for Verizon iPhone
All of the new Verizon iPhone 4 owners who are looking for apps to install on their shiny new devices can add Skype to the list. The free Skype app has been updated today so that it functions properly on the Verizon iPhone, and the update also adds support for the H.264 codec. This support is crucial to allowing Skype users to call from their iOS devices to more Skype-enabled devices, including new TVs from Panasonic and Samsung. Of course, now that you're on the "Can You Hear Me Now?™" network, you shouldn't need to resort to Skype for your calls, should you? [via BGR]
Navigation app sales and Verizon friendliness
There's a flurry of GPS related news today, so let's get right on with it. First, one of our favorite nav apps, Navigon, is having a pretty big sale to celebrate its milestone of 2 million sales worldwide. If you've been lusting after a Navigon app, there's a 4-day, 50% off sale beginning today. Regional versions for the US are $14.99. The US-Canada app is $29.99. The USA-only version is $24.99. Current users can take advantage of the promotion as well, with prices for in-app purchases of Traffic Live, Panorama View 3D and Zagat Survey for MobileNavigator iPhone at 25 percent off. On the TomTom front, that excellent nav solution is on sale for $34.99 for the US version. The US-Canada app is $39.99. The sale has no end date. TomTom also notes that new iPhone users on Verizon will be seeing a "connect to GPS" warning when they start up. TomTom advises users to just hit continue, and all will be well. The glitch doesn't affect your navigation and will be fixed ASAP.
Verizon iPhone customers line up across the US
Verizon customers began lining up to snag an iPhone 4 from the nation's most reliable carrier today. People were lining up across the country, but most lines were reportedly light. Long lines with wait times of several hours were not expected given the ample pre-order opportunities and the cold temperatures, which would drive folks inside. Nonetheless, there are a few brave souls who stood out in the cold to buy an iPhone 4 on its first day of availability. Check out our gallery below of a sampling of lines from coast to coast. %Gallery-116221%
Mophie sneaks out new Juice Pack Air with Verizon and AT&T iPhone 4 compatibility
There's been no shortage of cases for Verizon's flavor of the iPhone 4 -- Ballistic, iLuv, iKit, AGF and Scosche have already announced ones of their own -- but if you're looking for a mainstay in the industry, you can now turn to Mophie. The company's life-doubling Juice Pack Air has been ever-so-slightly reengineered to work with both AT&T and Verizon iPhone 4 units, with initial shipments expected by the end of the month. At first it'll ship in black with silver accents, while soft-touch red and glossy white versions are scheduled for release shortly thereafter. Still $79.95, and still awfully hard to resist for 3G power users.
Visualized: a hundred CDMA iPhone 4 handsets prepare for Best Buy assault
Too preoccupied to pre-order? Looks like Best Buy's your best bet starting tomorrow morning. And don't try anything sneaky -- you know, like sneaking the whole lot into Israel. [Thanks, J.]
Walmart to carry Verizon iPhone in 600 stores starting February 10
Walmart has announced that beginning tomorrow, February 10, it will begin carrying the Verizon iPhone for sale in almost 600 of its retail stores. According to MacRumors, Walmart is the latest retailer to join Apple, Verizon and Best Buy in offering up the VZW iPhone 4 for sale, even if it is only going to be available inside a fraction of its 8,800 worldwide retail stores. However, with Walmart's reach, you can be sure that the sales record Verizon set on the first day of iPhone sales of over 500,000 units will look like peanuts in the coming weeks. While the iPhone is available for online orders starting today at both the Apple Store and at Verizon, retail sales at brick and mortar stores don't begin until tomorrow. Will you be picking up your very own VZW iPhone in the near future? Or have you gotten yours already? If so, and if you are new to the iPhone family, you should definitely check out Erica Sadun's Verizon iPhone 101: What new owners need to know to get started to get your iPhone ownership experience off on the right foot. [via MacRumors]
CNBC: Apple should be world's most valuable company
Apple's latest earnings report has been available for three weeks, and analysts are chiming in with their 2011 assessment of the Cupertino company. Though Apple's stock dipped slightly after Steve Jobs announced another medical leave of absence, the release of the Verizon iPhone and Apple's 2011 forecast is causing the stock to rebound to an all-time high. Currently, the stock is trading at US$356, which is more than $160 higher than the 52-week low. Apple's stock is trending well and will continue to climb upward according to several analysts who have placed price targets as high as $550, though most are projecting an average price of $467. At its current trading price, Apple market value is hovering at $326 billion. A 32 percent increase into the upper $400s would push Apple's market value to $433.7 billion and propel it past Exxon Mobil, which currently has a market value of $423.2 billion. This continued climb has prompted some to question whether Apple is ripe for a stock split. The Cupertino company last split its stock in February 2005 when it was trading at $88.99 per share. Now that it is 690 percent higher than its 2005 level, some analysts are suggesting Apple may be ready to drop the price on its stock and let smaller investors into the fold. There are pros and cons to a split, not the least of which is Steve Jobs' desire to see the stock price climb higher. Apple won't comment on this possibility, officially stating "We have not announced any plans for a stock split." [Via Fortune]
Verizon iPhone hands-on: better calls, slower data, the iPhone experience you know and love
If you've been living on an island somewhere, you might not know that Verizon Wireless now has the iPhone 4. It's available starting tomorrow from Apple and Verizon retail outlets, as well as both companies' web stores. However, as I'm an existing Verizon customer, I was able to take advantage of the pre-order that took place last week. Thanks to that and to staying up until midnight to order, I now have the new Verizon iPhone in my hands and have had a chance to use it for about 48 hours. Naturally, in addition to using it for my everyday smartphone needs, I've also done some testing and comparisons to its AT&T counterpart.
Verizon iPhone now available online
The Verizon iPhone is now available for online orders, both at Apple's site and Verizon's. Pre-orders were available last week to existing customers, some of whom have received their iPhones already, but online orders are now open to everyone. If you'd rather buy a Verizon iPhone 4 at a brick-and-mortar store, it'll be available on February 10. My guess is there'll be some pretty long lines (and limited quantities) at your local Apple and Verizon stores, so buy online if at all possible and stay warm. Carrier choice for the iPhone is nothing new in my part of the world, but I'm still pleased it's finally come to my old stomping grounds in the US. If you're just now joining the Cult of iPhone (one of us, one of ussss ...), here's an introduction to the iPhone ecosystem; we also have an iPhone 101 series tailored to beginners.
Verizon iPhone 4 now available to order / reserve for in-store pickup
Apple and Verizon's long-awaited partnership is nearly upon us, folks, and the final piece to the puzzle is general availability of the hallowed iPhone 4. You're now able to order or reserve your own at the online stores of both carrier and phone maker, though shipping dates for early orders are listed at a distant February 18th. We'd just reserve one and go down to our nearest physical outlet to pick it up tomorrow. Update: We're now hearing that only Apple stores will take in-store reservations, while Verizon is first-come, first-served and only while supplies last. You may get lucky, but it seems the rule is that VZW won't reserve or hold phones in-store for any reason. [Thanks, S.!]
Verizon iPhone causing fragmentation of iOS apps? We've got the real story
Sometimes, when journalists and bloggers hear something that sounds like a scoop, they rush to publish the story before anyone else can get it. Unfortunately, that sometimes has repercussions. Yesterday, I was talking to ZDNet's James Kendrick at the TeleNav Waypoint event in Cupertino when he mentioned that he had just posted a story about fragmentation in the iOS market. The story suggested strongly that there were changes between the AT&T and Verizon iPhones that would require some developers to create individualized versions of their apps for each carrier. His conclusions were based on a question he had posed earlier in the day to TeleNav personnel, asking why the company had created a Verizon-only version of their iPhone navigation app instead of just re-branding the AT&T Navigator app. The answer from Telenav execs was that they believed it was due to hardware differences. I also overheard that comment and found it quite disturbing. Shortly after Kendrick's post went live, TechCrunch's MG Siegler wrote a sharp-tongued but insightful response, iPhone App Fragmentation FUD Is Looming. In his post, Siegler decried Kendrick's story as "complete nonsense" based on his observation that all apps he had personally tested on the Verizon iPhone -- including a number of GPS-centric apps -- had worked fine. This seemed like a story that could be rapidly resolved one way or another with a bit of targeted reporting. Our beat writer for the navigation app market, Mel Martin, quickly jumped in (at 10 at night) and emailed numerous contacts in the mobile nav sector to see if they had run into any issues with their apps working on the Verizon iPhone. The unanimous answer? No.
greenpois0n Verizon iPhone jailbreak adds Windows support
We announced the greenpois0n jailbreak for iOS 4.2.1 over the weekend. At the time, the jailbreak tool only worked on Mac. It didn't take long for the Chronic Dev Team to update the tool to now support Windows. This means you can jailbreak your Verizon iPhone using either a Mac or Windows. As always, make sure you know what you're getting into when you jailbreak your iPhone. You should definitely read the documentation included with greenpois0n before you alter the way your iPhone works. The instructions for executing the jailbreak are pretty straightforward, and you shouldn't have much trouble, even if you're new to the jailbreak world. [via Engadget]
Consumer Reports optimistic about Verizon iPhone
Remember those warm summer days last year when the iPhone 4 was fresh from the Apple tree, and Consumer Reports said it couldn't recommend the smartphone because of the "grip of death" reception issues? Well, now that the Verizon iPhone is hitting the streets, the famous consumer advocacy and product testing group is weighing in on the newest variety of iPhone. Although Consumer Reports hasn't yet had an opportunity to actually test the Verizon iPhone, The Street is reporting that Senior Editor Mike Gikas says "key technical differences" separate the phone from the AT&T model. Does this mean that Consumer Reports may give the Verizon iPhone a thumbs-up? We'll have to wait to see the results of their detailed testing. You can watch The Street's interview of Gikas on the next page.
iFixit: Verizon iPhone using dual-mode chip
A lot of the anticipation and/or naysaying about the Verizon iPhone has focused on CDMA, the somewhat less travel-friendly and slower network standard that Verizon uses. GSM covers a lot more countries, including all of Europe, and in the US the AT&T data speeds are testing noticeably faster -- of course, if you can't get or keep a signal, faster data does you precious little good. Some iPhone watchers were hoping for a dual mode phone like the Droid Pro, which features an antenna chip (the Qualcomm MDM6600) capable of handling both kinds of networks. That chip, combined with an auxiliary SIM slot for device identification and a secondary antenna, could have allowed the Verizon iPhone to roam from continent to continent at will. As we now know, the real-world Verizon iPhone is not a dual mode device; it's CDMA only, leaving us to hope that the next iPhone will be truly universal hardware for any and all carriers. There is a catch, though; today's thorough iFixit teardown revealed that the Verizon unit actually is using the MDM6600 chip, which would have theoretically allowed Apple to build out a GSM antenna in this version. Lacking the SIM slot and the GSM antenna, however, the current Verizon iPhone is decidedly not dual-ready. iFixit mused that the extra effort and space required for a second antenna may have put such a device out of reach for this cycle; however, since Apple is already using the required universal chip, the signs point even more strongly to an iPhone 5 that bridges the gap. [via Engadget]
Verizon iPhone 4 (iOS 4.2.6) jailbreak now available for Mac and Windows, courtesy of greenpois0n
Aw, suki suki now! Merely hours after the first Verizon iPhone 4 units began to land in the hands of mere mortals, out pops two download links that you'll most certainly want to give a little consideration to. Chronic Dev Team has just pushed out greenpois0n RC5.4 for Mac and Windows machines, enabling those with iOS 4.2.6 devices to uncage their phone and mate it with Cydia. Hit the links below to get started (including a tutorial over at Quickpwn), but make sure you consider all possible outcomes before doing the deed. Will you life be forever altered for the worse? Will your Verizon iPhone suddenly have less coverage than your old AT&T iPhone? Will you find the always-elusive "true happiness?" Let us know how fate treats you in comments below. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Verizon iPhone 4 gets torn apart, Qualcomm MDM6600 chip found inside
Not exactly a huge surprise here, but the folks at iFixit have gotten their hands on a Verizon iPhone 4, and they've already torn it apart without even bothering to make a phone call. In addition to the expected differences, they found that the phone packs a slightly lighter battery than its counterpart (same capacity, though), that the mechanical vibrator has been redesigned and moved from the top right corner of the phone to the bottom left and, most notably, that it boasts a Qualcomm baseband chip, which lines up with what we've been hearing since last month. That's a Qualcomm MDM6600 chip, to be specific, which supports HSPA+ data rates up to 14.4 Mbps, and is the same chip used in the Droid Pro. Yes, that also means that the chip technically supports both GSM and CDMA, although Apple has apparently decided not to take advantage of that capability for one reason or another -- iFixit speculates that it may have been easier to design antennas for a CDMA-only phone. Hit up the link below for the complete teardown.
Verizon iPhone 101: What new owners need to know to get started
You hung in there. For four long years, you hung in there. And now, finally, you've made it to the promised land. For many of you, an iPhone is even now arriving on a FedEx truck. Soon, you'll be able to set up your new baby and start entering the strange and wonderful world of Verizon iPhone use. TUAW is here to help you. Many of you already own iPods or iPads, and know the ins and outs of iOS use. For others, the Verizon iPhone may represent your first ever iOS device. Let's take a few minutes to go over the basics, point out a few key steps for new users, and recommend some apps to supercharge your new superphone. What's iOS? It's the mobile operating system that Apple developed for its portable devices including the iPhone, the iPod and the iPad (also the current-generation black Apple TV). For your new iPhone, it's a touch-based OS. The screens of iPhones use the small electrical charges in your fingers to detect the position where you have touched; you drive your phone with fingertips instead of four-way buttons, scroll balls or a physical keyboard. To connect your phone to your computer, your music, your videos and your apps, you're going to be using Apple's media and device management tool: iTunes. When Apple releases new versions of iOS, you can install those updates on your phone through iTunes -- unlike Android phones on Verizon, there are no over-the-air OS updates for the iPhone. iTunes is a not just a central hub for managing music libraries, it's the home manager for your new iPhone.
First Verizon iPhones now being received, FedEx now awaiting your impatient calls
If you got in quick and ordered your Verizon iPhone early you might just be getting a surprise in the mail this morning. We've heard from a number of people that their special somethings were out for delivery, but our man Chris was the first to provide conclusive proof, freshly in the door and photographed for your viewing pleasure. Still haven't ordered yours and are on the fence? We can help. [Thanks, Chris]
