Categories
Accessories

Sound Amplifier For iPhone Fixes Poor Sound Quality

If you are a frequent visitor to the Apple Support Forums, you will not be surprised with the number of new threads from users who are dissatisfied with the sound quality on their iPhones. While I am fortunately not one of those, it certainly does help if you can play music and videos at a volume higher than your iPhone’s maximum capacity. The new Sound Amplifier for iPhone from WirelessGround is something you should then check out.

iPhone Sound Amplifier

While it is marketed as an accessory for the iPhone 4, this Sound Amplifier also works with the older models like the iPhone 3G and 3GS as well as the latest iPhone 4S model. According to the company website, this rubber accessory can add up to 12 decibels of sound to your iPhone speakers. In addition to this, the way the accessory is designed also makes it possible for the users to deploy it as a stand for your iPhone while listening to music.

I tried the Sound Amplifier with my old iPhone 3G and could readily notice the significantly improved volume from the iPhone speakers. Here is a video demo of the product although I must say that the video does not do justice to the actual improvement in sound quality that I experienced.

The Sound Amplifier for the iPhone is now available at WirelessGround for $9.95. You can check out more details about the product from their website by clicking here.

Categories
Apple

The iPhone 4S: How And Why Is It Better Than The iPhone 4?

Why did Apple call this one a 4S, and not the much-anticipated iPhone 5? Some were disappointed, feeling the 4S is not so new and improved as they’d hoped, and Apple’s share price even dropped a little. The good news is that with Apple releasing the iPhone 4S on contract, the iPhone 4 should become a lot more affordable and the 3GS will be available for free on many phone contracts.

Still, there were a couple of good reasons for naming it the 4S. Firstly, Apple does have a reputation for honesty and integrity, and wants to maintain that positive reputation. So, the new model number will be reserved for the genuinely next generation of iPhones, which means a full-blown 4G-capable smartphone, rather than a hodgepodge of 3G and 4G chips. Plus, naming the new version 4S means that the iPhone 4 can be repurposed as a budget-level device, but still at least theoretically a part of the current generation of top-of-the-range smartphones. It even allows the 3GS to seem to stay reasonably commercially viable, since it’s only one generation worse than the top of the range iPhone 4S. It makes good business sense for Apple to finally be addressing the budget end of the market, rather than continuing to assume that its products are so good, so unique, that people will always pay a premium price for them.

So what do you get if you are happy to pay the premium price, to snag the very latest model? Well, what you won’t get is a restyled phone – the 4S looks exactly the same as the iPhone 4 on the outside. What you will get is improvements in almost every other area, though. As Mark Hirst, Managing Director of Best Mobile Contracts has said: “The improved specs, including the A5 dual core processor, and 8 megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording make the iPhone 4S a welcome addition to the iPhone family.”

This is a much faster iPhone than ever before, with a dual-core 1 GHz processor offering twice the processing speed of the iPhone 4. In fact, the processor is the same A5 processor found previously in the iPad 2, somehow squeezed into the much smaller device. The graphics card is even more nifty, being seven times as fast as that of the 4, which further paves the way for a major upgrade of the iPhone camera.

The new camera offers a full 8 megapixels, compared to the iPhone 4’s 5Mp camera. Megapixels aren’t everything, but the new camera delivers in every other respect, too, finally putting paid to the concept that the camera was the iPhone’s weak spot. It has a much-improved image processor, a back-illumination sensor for improved low-light photography, amazing colours, and a new face-recognition feature. Overall, it’s as good as almost any standalone compact digital camera on the market, a significant achievement. The only real drawback to it is that there’s still no optical zoom function.

In video camera mode, you can now shoot 1080p HD movies, another notable improvement on the iPhone 4’s 720p HD. Image stabilisation software lets you get a professional look even in tricky conditions, so your home movies no longer have to look like the Blair Witch Project.

Many people have already blogged about the amazing Siri virtual assistant, now an iPhone 4S exclusive. Less flashy, but probably just as useful to most phone buyers, are the leaps forward in battery and antenna technology. Improvements in battery life now allow for up to 8 hours’ talk time or 40 hours’ music playback, while the antenna boasts significantly improved download speeds and more reliability.

Categories
Mobile

BlackBerry Bold 9900 Vs. iPhone 4

Once upon a time there were two companies, the first company did something no one ever did well before and released a phone with a full QWERTY keyboard. It did very well and was the toast of the kingdom until a man from a company who made very attractive but sometimes flawed devices released a touch screen phone that allowed users fast internet connection and a huge selection of downloadable applications. In case you didn’t guess we’re talking about Apple’s iPhone and RIM’s BlackBerry.

So, with a new Bold 9900 released, how does it compare to its direct competitor for number one, the iPhone 4.
Processor wise the BlackBerry has got an upgrade and is now running a super powerful 1.2GHz snapdragon processor with 768MB of RAM. Compared to the iPhone which currently runs a 1GHz chip with 512MB, on paper the BlackBerry is the faster chip. Then you have to take into account that the iPhone is a year younger and you have to give it its dues.

The matter of tactility is different; then again it always was and will be. BlackBerry’s really about the QWERTY keyboard and though this one allows dual navigation with keyboard and screen, the buttons are the best bet and are possibly the best BlackBerry have ever made. The iPhone is a touch screen and an amazingly responsive one at that. As far as this is concerned, it really is a case of what you prefer – like a lot of things you seem to be born for one or the other.

The screens do differ in size and the iPhone’s 3.5in is better for what it is meant to do, that is being a multimedia player. Though the BlackBerry has a 3in screen it does have a certain charm. Though quality wise the iPhone 4 wins hands down, with its amazingly clear retina display.

Both devices have 5mp cameras, to be honest there is not much give or take between them and they could be considered equally good flashers.

As far as the operating system is concerned iOS offer an amazing experience and has really set the pace. However, BlackBerry OS 7 is a huge improvement on previous offerings and does put up a good fight but is staring into the face of the best.

Design wise both maintain their classic styles, with the iPhone 4 looking fantastic and the BlackBerry looking stylish in a different way, with its curved chassis and keyboard. It really is a case of personal preference. Some people swear by either brand, though if you want a multimedia experience the iPhone is better and perhaps the BlackBerry is better for professionals.

Categories
Apple iphone 4

iPhone 5 Features And Rumors.

Rumored to be having an exact look like the iPhone 4, the iPhone 5 has already reached the mass production stage and is expected to have an exact look like the iPhone 4. With many controversial rumors cropping up regarding the phone as it nears its release date, lets have a look at the possible inclusions and rumors related to this upcoming device.

A Better Camera :

iPhone 5 could include an 8 megapixel camera as its predecessor was equipped with a 4 megapixel digital camera.

No Home Button :

The Home button could well disappear with the introduction of touch sensitive controls or getting the buttons transferred on one of the edges.

Screen Size and Enhanced Resolution:

A bigger screen measuring between 4 to 5 inches diagonally supported by a higher resolution.

Design :

Rumored to have the look and feel of the iPad 2, the glass could well be replaced with brushed metal on the back side with reduced thickness and rounded edges.

White and 64GB Models :

High possibilities of the device being available in white as well as a 64GB model could also be available.

A Physical Keyboard :

A long lost rumor of having a sliding keyboard for the iPhone one day may come true now.

Record videos in FULL HD.

The camera may be able to record videos in 1080p FULL HD.

Low-Cost Counterpart :

Apple could well be considering development of less efficient models thus making them less expensive to increase its brand awareness and market share.

No Storage :

The iPhone 5 and future models of the device will not be having any internal storage from now on.

3D display :

iPhone 5 could well be handling 3D display with or without glasses.

Battery :

The device could have a battery with better autonomy, but the length will be the same as that of the iPhone 4.

CDMA :

Already associated with the iPhone 4, possibilities of having an iPhone 5 with a CDMA chip is highly expected.

R-UIM MicroCards Compatibility :

A CDMA model with microSIM UICC R-UIM is highly possible.

2 Sim Card Slots :

The device could be equipped with 2 sim card slots allowing simultaneous operations of both the cards.

NFC Technology :

iPhone could be including the NFC technology to manage your Apple accounts from any MAC.

A5 Processor :

Revealed at the launch of iPad 2, the iPhone 5 could well be next in line for having an A5 processor.

Double the RAM :

iPhone 4`s 512mb RAM could now become 1GB in the iPhone 5.

HDMI Output :

iPhone 5`s dock connector could be used for HDMI video output with 1080p HD video support.

Support for 4G / LTE :

Chances of a 4G / LTE based network standards are very unlikely.

Better Voice Controls :

With the new iOS 5, the voice controls can be enhanced further with possible additions of new ones.

iTunes Cloud :

A cloud version of iTunes is highly anticipated because of Apple`s ever increasing network infrastructure.

The iOS 5 :

Apple may unveil the iOS 5 while presenting their iPhone 5 which will be finally available on iPhone 5`s release date.

iPhone 5 Availability :

Possible rumors suggest that the device may be available to the general public somewhere between June to September.

Categories
How To iPhone

How to Transfer Address Book Contacts To Verizon iPhone 4

We all know how irritating and frustrating it is when it comes to transferring your contacts to a new phone. This post is for all those who have purchased a new Verizon iPhone and are looking for a hassle free method to transfer their phone book from the old phone to the new Verizon iPhone 4.

Here is a short 10 minute tutorial briefing you with instructions on obtaining your address book. This guide is applicable for phones that are supported by 4 American carriers namely AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon and are having an active service on their present phone along with a gmail account (not required for Verizon wireless subscribers.)

Verizon Wireless Phones :

Transferring from an existing Verizon to a Verizon iPhone 4 is almost effortless. Verizon has a free program called Backup Assistant, so just register on Verzion`s website, install and run the application on your old phone first followed by the iPhone 4

Step 1 :

Register for the Backup Assistant application.

Step 2 :

Install it on your phone through the Get It Now store which is for feature phones or the App store for smartphones.

Step 3 :

Now load the software, log in and start backing up your contacts.

Step 4 :

Next, turn off the Wi-Fi radio on your iPhone 4 first as the application works only over a cell connection. Open the app store and install VZ Contact Manager. Now run this program and keep following the onscreen instructions.

Sprint Phones:

To transfer contacts from a Sprint feature phone, you will require a Sprint Mobile Sync and a gmail account. For a Sprint smartphone, only Google Sync is enough.

For Sprint Feature Phones :

Step 1 :

Register for Sprint Mobile Sync.

Step 2 :

Activate the software on your phone by navigating to Main Menu>Settings>Contacts>Mobile Sync>Activate.

Step 3 :

Now log in to Sprint Mobile Sync from your desktop computer and export all your contacts as .CSV file

Step 4 :

Log in to your gmail account and import the .CSV file

Step 5 :

Now install and run Google Sync on your iPhone 4.

For Sprint Smartphones :

All you need to do is just install and run Google Sync on your old phone first followed by installing and running it later on your iPhone 4.

AT&T  Phones :

For phones serviced by AT&T, if its a smartphone, the entire transfer process is free whereas a feature phone will be costing you around $1.99 for AT&T Mobile Backup.

For AT&T Feature Phones :

Step 1 :

Navigate to AT&T`s Mobile Backup Web Site which will be sending a link to your phone for installing the software.

Step 2 :

Load Mobile Backup from your phone and backup all your contacts.

Step 3 :

Log on to AT&T Mobile Backup from your desktop computer and export the contacts as  a .CSV file.

Step 4 :

Now log in to your gmail account and import the .CSV file.

Step 5 :

Lastly, install and run Google Sync on your iPhone 4.

For AT&T Smartphones :

Step 1 :

Install and run Google Sync on your old phone followed by the iPhone 4.

T – Mobile Phones :

Once again, transferring contacts from a smartphone is simpler whereas the same procedure becomes a bit more complex for a feature phone. The companies free contact backing software restricts you from exporting your contacts, but there is still a way to tackle this situation.

For T – Mobile Feature Phones :

Step 1 :

There is a preloaded application called Mobile Backup. Just load it and select “One Time Sync”.

Step 2 :

From your desktop computer, log on to the Mobile Backup Website and follow these instructions for exporting your contacts to a .CSV file.

Step 3 :

Log in to your gmail account and import the .CSV file.

Step 4 :

Now install and run Google Sync on your iPhone 4.

For T – Mobile Smartphones :

Just install and run Google Sync on your smartphone followed by the iPhone 4.

Categories
Mobile Verizon

Verizon Unlimited Data Plans Officially Announced

Verizon has officially confirmed rumors from last week that hinted at the possibility of an unlimited data plan for the upcoming iPhone 4. In a statement today, Verizon COO Lowell McAdam revealed that the carrier will charge a monthly $30 fee for unlimited data access on the iPhone. He conceded that one of the key challenges that the company faced was in attracting customers from AT&T and offering such a plan would make the transition for these subscribers easy.

Verizon’s statements have however not confirmed the official prices for the CDMA iPhone. It is interesting to note that JP Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz had predicted last week that the Verizon iPhone could be priced $20 to $30 higher than the GSM variant owing to the higher price of CDMA components. While we remain skeptical about this, we will be interested to hear more from the horse’s mouth. Stay tuned here for more.

Categories
Apple iphone 4

AT&T White iPhone 4 Appears On Carrier's Online Database

Apple unveiled the white iPhone 4 back in June last year. Although this variant of the iPhone found terrific popularity among customers even before launch, the device never made it to the stores due to, what Apple calls, a manufacturing glitch. However, it looks like the company may have finally fixed the issues and a white iPhone 4 may soon be on its way. Just days after details about a white iPhone 4 was revealed from the back-end databases of Vodafone Germany and Best Buy in the United States, comes one more report – this time from AT&T.

The AT&T Online Account Management system now appears to include two entries that read, “iPhone 4 – 16GB White” and “iPhone 4 – 32GB White”. While the entries do not contain details about the launch date, we do expect it to happen in the next few weeks considering that Apple may want to have this new iPhone variant in the market for at least a couple of months before the next generation iPhone launches – presumably in June of this year.

Categories
iphone 4 Verizon

Verizon iPhone 4 Commercial Goes On Air

In case you didn’t know yet, Apple will be launching the first CDMA variant of their iPhone 4 next month. Starting February 10, customers in the United States will be able to purchase a Verizon iPhone 4 that will run on the new CDMA chip. This has been an amazingly long wait given that a Verizon iPhone has been speculated ever since the iPhone itself was launched back in 2007.

Incidentally, the commercial emphasizes on this very aspect. The ad shows a number of ticking clocks with people fidgeting hands and tapping their feet. It ends with the voiceover noting –

“To our millions of customers who never stopped believing this day would come: Thank you.”

You can check out the commercial video below.

Liked it? Are you one of those looking to buy a Verizon iPhone? Tell us in the comments.

Categories
Apple iphone 4 Mobile

White iPhone 4 Launch On February 27?

Just a day after we had written about a possible launch of white iPhone 4 in the next few weeks comes a report that Best Buy could be prepping for the launch of the white iPhone 4. According to leaked screenshots of the Best Buy back-end inventory system, the white iPhone 4 is scheduled to launch on February 27, 2011. This is consistent with earlier rumors about a Spring 2011 launch and yesterday’s story about a similar listing discovered on Vodafone Germany’s inventory database.

White iPhone 4 on Best Buy

Like with the Vodafone Germany story, the Best Buy system too contains two separate SKUs for the 16GB and 32GB variants. In addition to this, the system also contains features description consistent with what was available on the Apple website in June last year when the white iPhone 4 was first unveiled.

February 27 turns out to be a Sunday and we are not sure if Apple would want to move away from its traditional launch days of Thursday and Friday. What do you think?

Categories
Apple iphone 4 Mobile

White iPhone 4 Launching Shortly?

Has Apple finally managed to work out the kinks that it had been facing with the white iPhone 4? Last month we wrote about an obscure footer message on Apple Store posters that hinted at a possible spring launch for the white iPhone 4. It now looks like these speculations could turn out right.

A Vodafone Germany employee has now leaked a screenshot of a back-end inventory system that contains listings for the 16GB and 32GB variants of a weiß (white) iPhone 4. No more information is available. But considering that the Verizon iPhone 4 is soon on its way, we expect a CDMA iPhone variant to make its way into other parts of the world by spring – with high chances for Apple to launch both a CDMA and a white iPhone model at the same time.

White iPhone 4 Germany

What this means is that we might also expect Apple to bring the white iPhone 4 to its primary market in the United States earlier than that. Can we expect a February launch of the white iPhone in the US? We will have to wait and watch.