MacRumors.com

Gizmodo reports that iOS 4.1 has reincluded the Field Test mode to iOS. Field Test mode allows you to get a numerical figure for your antenna strength rather than the traditional bar measure. To get to Field Mode:

- First, upgrade your iPhone 4 -- or any iPhone -- to iOS 4.1.
- Dial *3001#12345#* into your phone [and press Call].

Pressing Home will exit you from the Field Test mode. For reference, Anandtech provides a good discussion about bar strength and signal values. Since that article was published, Apple has remapped the signal strength to # of bar ratio. More negative numbers are worse, and Anandtech reports they were surprised they were able to hold calls with signals as low as -113db.

Most customers won't care about their numerical signal strengths, but the antenna strength changes generated a lot of publicity surrounding the iPhone 4 launch due to issues with new antenna system.

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With the new fourth-generation iPod touch launching today, Apple has released an update to its iMovie application for iOS, adding compatibility for the new device to the existing support for iPhone 4. The updates also adds several new features, including the ability split video clips, automatic music looping, and more.

What's new

- Compatible with iPod touch (4th generation).
- Ability to split video clips.
- Automatic music looping when video extends beyond music track.
- Scrub to preview clips in Video Browser.
- In-app Tips page that illustrates how to use key features.
- Updated Photos Browser with newest images at top.
- Mute badge to indicate video clips with audio disabled.
- Additional performance and reliability improvements.

iMovie, priced at $4.99, debuted in late June for the iPhone 4, offering users the ability to edit footage shot on their devices without having to transfer it to a computer. A number of filmmakers quickly demonstrated how films could be easily shot and edited entirely on the iPhone 4.

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Apple today released iPhone Configuration Utility 3.1 for Mac OS X, an update to the company's software to allow system administrators to deploy iOS devices in enterprise settings.

iPCU version 3.1 adds support for new Mobile Device Management (MDM) features introduced in iOS 4 and enables wireless delivery of configuration profiles. It also includes support for Cisco AnyConnect and Juniper Networks SSL VPN clients, CardDAV, multiple Exchange accounts and SAN support using Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol (SCEP).

The update weighs in at 9.94 MB and requires Mac OS X 10.6.

Apple has also apparently issued a similar update for Windows, although it is not yet showing on the download page for the utility.

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Right on schedule, Apple has released iOS 4.1 for the iPhone and iPod touch. The update, known as Build 8B117 and available for the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and second- and third-generation iPod touch models, brings several new features and fixes.


As detailed on Apple's site, iOS 4.1 enables the company's Game Center social gaming network (for all iOS 4-compatible devices except iPhone 3G), support for High Dynamic Range (HDR) photos on iPhone 4, and HD video uploading to YouTube and MobileMe for iPhone 4.

The update has also been touted as addressing several high-profile bugs, including proximity sensor issues, performance issues on the iPhone 3G, and Bluetooth problems.

Apple's new fourth-generation iPod touch is shipping with iOS 4.1 already installed. That device has started appearing in stores and on customers' doorsteps today.

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Wired editor-in-chief Chris Anderson yesterday tweeted that he had been told by a "T-Mobile manager" that the carrier will begin offering the iPhone 3GS "later this year", but that the iPhone 4 will not be offered.

A T-Mobile manager casually mentioned to me that they're going to get the iPhone 3GS (but not 4, oddly) later this year. Common knowledge?

The tweet is bizarre on a number of levels, beginning with Anderson's apparent ignorance of the status of iPhone carrier offerings and extending to his choice of using Twitter to share the news rather than turning to his own staff to verify the current rumor mill status and/or pursue the tip.

It is also unknown what Anderson means by a "T-Mobile manager", as a store manager would almost certainly not be privy to such information until a public announcement was made, and retail store employees are notorious for spreading incorrect information.

The rumor itself is also rather odd, as it has T-Mobile's offerings being limited to the older iPhone 3GS model, a move which would not be likely to spur tremendous interest. The existing iPhone 3GS is also apparently not compatible with the frequency bands used by T-Mobile's 3G network, despite the carrier using the same GSM technology as AT&T and the rest of Apple's iPhone carrier partners around the world.

Given the number of oddities with this report, we are placing little faith in it and are publishing it on Page 2 primarily for interest and discussion.

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Apple has confirmed on its Game Center overview page that the social gaming network will be available for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and second-, third-, and fourth-generation iPod touch models when the feature debuts in iOS 4.1 later this week. The iPhone 3G, original iPhone, and original iPod touch are not supported, although of those only the iPhone 3G supports iOS 4 in any form.

Apple had initially deployed Game Center on all iOS 4-compatible iPhone and iPod touch models in its iOS 4.1 betas, but removed support for the iPhone 3G and second-generation iPod touch in a revision issued early last month. It appears that, after further review, Apple has decided to restore the functionality to the second-generation iPod touch but not the iPhone 3G, which has seen a number of performance complaints under iOS 4 with improvements in that regard reportedly coming in iOS 4.1.


Game Center, first announced at Apple's iOS 4 media event in April of this year, offers developers a number of tools to enhance the user experience with social gaming features such as leaderboards, friend invites, challenges, and matchmaking. It aims to bring together a fragmented array of such networks by offering a single Apple-sponsored way to foster interactivity within and across games.

Update: TiPb notes that Apple has also just reset Game Center in advance of the public launch of the feature and iOS 4.1. Developers who have been testing the service have seen their accounts deleted and friends removed.

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The GSM Association today announced that it has partnered with IDG World Expo, organizers of Macworld Expo, to offer a new "Macworld Mobile" event as part of the Mobile World Congress 2011 to be held in Barcelona next February. The event will bring dedicated support for iPhone and iPad development to the more broadly-focused mobile industry event.

At Mobile World Congress 2011, the GSMA is partnering with IDG World Expo, organisers of Macworld, the world's premiere event focused exclusively on the Apple products platform, to produce Macworld Mobile, a mobile developer event for the Apple iPhone and iPad platforms. The Macworld Mobile iOS Developer Conference will provide full-day, in-depth training on this critical platform, with technical sessions, targeting tools and applications specifically designed for mobile application developers and engineers.

"We're excited to bring Macworld Mobile to Mobile World Congress," said Mary Dolaher, chief executive officer of IDG World Expo, a leading producer of world-class tradeshows and events. "Macworld is known around the world for helping to drive and stimulate the Apple products community with educational programmes and business development activities. At Mobile World Congress, we will help international iOS developers to strengthen their skills, as well as facilitate connections with other developers and the worldwide audience of mobile decision makers who attend."

Mobile World Congress is the world's largest exhibition and trade show focused on the mobile industry, and has seen increasing attention placed on Apple's contributions to the industry as the popularity of the iPhone and iOS in general have continued to grow. For its part, Apple has stepped back from the trade show scene, arguing that its network of over 300 retail stores offers a better opportunity for its customers to get hands-on time with its products. At Apple's media event last week, Steve Jobs noted that Apple's retail stores see in excess of one million visitors on some days, far exceeding the reach of the trade shows it had long participated in.

Mobile World Congress 2009, the first to occur after the launch of the App Store the previous year, saw executives of mobile phone companies criticizing the iPhone's closed ecosystem while also scrambling to develop their own answers to Apple's entry into the market. This year's event saw Opera demoing its Opera Mini browser for iOS, which appeared in the App Store several months later as the first major-name alternative to the built-in Safari browser for iOS.

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As noted on our sister site AppShopper yesterday, Nike has released a new Nike+ GPS application into the App Store, offering iPhone users new tools for tracking their running performance.


While the Nike+ system built into the iPhone and other devices has required that users purchase a separate sensor to be attached to the user's shoe for tracking, the new application takes advantage of the GPS capability and accelerometer built into the iPhone to provide map-based tracking, as well as pace, and distance traveled. The app also supports challenges, voice feedback, and 'PowerSong' integration to help runners push themselves even further.


Nike+ GPS, which is priced at $1.99, is compatible with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, as well as the second-, third-, and fourth-generation iPod touch, although without the mapping capabilities that require GPS functionality.

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Late last week, Lifehacker posted a video comparison of the performance of iOS 4.0 and iOS 4.1 on an iPhone 3G.

The video demonstrates the results, but here they are in all their glory:

- Messages: iOS 4.1 Wins (By a Little)
- Maps: iOS 4.1 Wins (By a Lot)
- Photos: iOS 4.1 Wins (Just Barely)
- Safari: iOS 4.1 Wins (Just Barely)

While the speed advantages ranged from marginal to significant, iOS 4.1 clearly outperformed iOS 4.0. It's still significantly slower performance than you'll get from a 3GS or iPhone 4, and we're still not sure it's a big enough improvement that 3G owners will want to ditch iOS 3. The most obvious difference was UI responsiveness. The UI didn't get stuck nearly as much on an interface element or when trying to enter text. If you are set on using iOS 4, the upgrade is worthwhile for that alone.

In late July, Apple acknowledged that it was looking into reports of performance problems for the iPhone 3G under iOS 4.0, and Apple CEO Steve Jobs confirmed late last month in an email to a customer that a software update addressing the issuing was forthcoming.

At last week's media event, Jobs announced the release of iOS 4.1 set for this week, noting the iPhone 3G performance issue as one of the bugs addressed in the update.

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At today's keynote event, Steve Jobs announced the upcoming availability of iOS 4.1 for the iPhone and iPod touch. Jobs noted that the long running proximity sensor, Bluetooth, and iPhone 3G performance bugs that have been raised by users will be fixed in this update.

New features to iOS 4.1 include High Dynamic Range photos, HD video upload over Wi-Fi, TV show rentals, and Apple's Game Center will make its official debut.


High Dynamic Range photos are photos created using 3 separate photos captured in quick succession at varying exposure levels. The photos are then combined using some complex algorithms to create an enhanced composite photo. Game Center, which was first introduced earlier this year, will officially be included in iOS 4.1 and allows gamers to invite others to play, post scores to online leaderboards, and more.

iOS 4.1 will be available next week for iPhone and iPod touch and will be a free update.

Jobs also revealed that iOS 4.2 will be released in November, finally bringing iOS 4.x support to the iPad. The free update will include wireless printing as well as a new feature called AirPlay, which replaces AirTunes. AirPlay will offer streaming of video, music, and photos. iOS 4.2 will be compatible with the iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone.

Update: While Apple's U.S. and many other sites simply states that iOS 4.1 is coming soon, some international sites such as the Spanish one, as well as the company's press release announcing the new iPod touch note that iOS 4.1 will become available next Wednesday, September 8th.

Existing second and third generation iPod touch users can update to iOS 4.1 free of charge on September 8 to enjoy new features including Game Center.

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CanalMX reports [Google translation] on comments from an executive at Mexican carrier Telcel claiming that Apple is set to release a revised version of the iPhone 4 by the end of September to address the highly-publicized antenna issue. Telcel began offering the iPhone 4 in Mexico last Friday as part of a quiet expansion that saw the device also come to the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Portugal, and Slovakia.

According to Marco Quatorze, Telcel's Director of Value Added Services, the iPhone 4 sold in Mexico will initially be the same hardware as that sold in the U.S. and elsewhere, with Apple offering a free case to address potential issues with antenna performance. But he also noted that as of September 30th, when the free case program expires, revised hardware without the reception issues will become available.

The veracity of Quatorze's claim is unknown, as it is unclear whether a carrier executive at his level would even be privy to such information, and it is possible that he may simply be mistaken in his understanding of Apple's September 30th expiration date for the free case program. At Apple's iPhone 4 press conference last month, Steve Jobs noted that the free case program was launched with an initial expiration date of September 30th to provide the company with time to continue its investigation of the antenna issue and perhaps come up with a better solution for future customers.

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Fortune noted over the weekend that Apple's App Store has surpassed 250,000 active applications, a little over two years after the store's debut.


Current App Store statistics from AppShopper
According to our sister site AppShopper, there are currently 254,916 apps in the App Store. Over 300,000 applications in total have been approved over the App Store's history, but nearly 50,000 previously-approved apps are no longer available in the store.

Developers are continuing to press forward on Apple's iPad tablet device, with nearly 25,000 apps now available in either iPad-only or universal formats to provide user interfaces and features optimized for the larger screen size.

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Intel today confirmed long-standing rumors by announcing that it will acquire the Wireless Solutions (WLS) unit of German firm Infineon for $1.4 billion. The move gives Intel a significant expansion into the market for smartphone chips as it continues to try to build interest in its own Atom platform for mobile and netbook devices.

Through this effort, Intel will pair WLS' best-in-class cellular technology with its core strengths to enable the delivery of low-power, Intel-based platforms that combine its applications processor with an expanded portfolio of wireless options -- bringing together Intel's leadership in Wi-Fi and WiMAX with WLS' leadership in 2G and 3G, and a combined path to accelerate 4G LTE.

The acquisition is notable for Apple, as the company has long eschewed Intel's offerings for its mobile devices in favor of ARM-based technology. Infineon's wireless unit has, however, supplied the baseband controller for supporting cellular connectivity in every generation of the iPhone.

While Intel and Apple have been key partners on the Mac platform since Apple began moving away from the PowerPC platform with the release of the Mac Pro in 2006, the two companies have not seen fit to work together on the mobile side of things. Intel has in the past been critical of the iPhone's use of ARM-based processor technology, claiming that any device seeking to access the "full Internet" needs to be based on Intel's technology.

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As promised, Netflix has finally updated their App Store app [iTunes Link] to support the iPhone and iPod Touch in addition to the iPad.

Get Netflix on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. Just download this free app and you can instantly watch TV shows & movies streaming from Netflix.
- It's part of your Netflix unlimited membership. Not a Netflix member? Start your FREE trial today.
- Watch as often as you want
- Resume watching where you left off on your TV or computer
- Browse movies and manage your instant Queue right from your device

Netflix originally launched the app for the iPad-only and later revealed that the App would come for all iOS devices.

The popular app allows iOS device owners to stream video directly from Netflix. The service does require a Netflix subscription which starts at $8.99/month. The iPhone App seems to support streaming over both Wi-Fi and 3G.

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Google today announced an update to its Google Mobile App for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, bringing push notifications for Gmail and Google Calendar.

Ever missed an appointment or important email because you were away from your desk? Now Google Mobile App can help with push notifications from your Google account to your iPhone -- an icon badge shows you've got new mail in Gmail, and Google Calendar event reminders appear right on your home screen.

Also included in the update is as-you-type results for searches on flight info, weather, stock quotes and currency conversions.

The update appears to just be going live now, and may not yet be appearing for all users.

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An Apple patent application published for the first time last week has been generating some discussion and controversy over exactly what the company intends to or could do with methods to identify "unauthorized" users of iOS devices.

The patent application describes how certain activities performed on a device such as an iPhone could be indicative of "suspicious behavior" that could reveal unauthorized usage of the device. In particular, Apple describes how voice, facial, or heartbeat recognition could be used to confirm whether a user is authorized to have access to a given device. Upon detection of an unauthorized user, the system could limit access to sensitive data stored on the device while working to gather information (photos, voice recording, location, screenshots) on the user in order to determine his or her identity.

Some observers have, however, pointed to another set of methods for unauthorized user detection that could in theory be employed by Apple to exert control over legitimate users' activity on the device. Specifically, Apple suggests that such actions as jailbreaking, unlocking, or SIM card removal could be used to flag users as unauthorized.

Ignoring the possibility that a false positive in Apple's proposed theft protection might activate the spy cam while the user is in the bath, or in the middle of some other intimate moment, this technology seems Orwellian for another reason: It gives Steve jobs and Co. the means to retaliate when iPhones aren't being used in ways Cupertino doesn't expressly permit.

But remember, it's for your own good.

Others are urging caution over what could be considered overreactions, claiming that Apple is perfectly clear in its intentions for the features.

Just because Apple could shut down your iPhone if it's "jailbroken" doesn't mean Apple is trying to seize control of your digital life. In fact, if you want to keep control of it, you might actually want Apple to step in.

. . .it's clear what Apple is really doing is scrambling to reassure those running corporate wireless programs - or just paying bills for the household wireless devices - that they're going to be able to secure all those iPhones, iPads, and other gizmos if they get lost or stolen.

Another overlooked factor is Apple's history of inventions disclosed in patent applications, many of which have never made it into shipping products. While Apple does routinely take steps to inconvenience users attempting to perform actions such as jailbreaking of which it does not approve, there are obviously any number of other tactics it could employ to step up its efforts. And while Apple could easily employ more invasive methods, it has shown no apparent interest in doing so, and would obviously face a tremendous public backlash should it do so.

Regardless, this newly-published patent application filed in February 2009 seems to be clearly focused on protecting and finding lost or stolen iOS devices and simply offering up jailbreaking and unlocking as part of a possible suite of clues that together could help assess whether a user is authorized to access the device or not.

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A new email from Apple CEO Steve Jobs appears to confirm that the company will soon be issuing a software update to address issues with the iPhone 3G's performance under iOS 4. Late last month, the company acknowledged that it was "looking into" user reports of the issues.

The new email came in response to feedback sent by a customer who expressed frustration over the performance of his iPhone 3G, calling it "dog slow" and pointing to problems with system responsiveness when scrolling, zooming, and typing.

I've waited patiently through 4.0.1 and 4.0.2, looking for a fix that will make my phone work again. I've read the forums that advise me to jailbreak my phone or use some other method so I can downgrade back to a version of iPhone 3, however I'm not prepared to use a method that is not supported by Apple.

Jobs' response was unsurprisingly terse:

Software update coming soon.

Sent from my iPhone

While Jobs did not offer details on the planned software update, he was most likely referring to iOS 4.1, which has been in testing with developers. Anecdotal reports have indicated that the iOS 4.1 betas do seem to be improving performance on the iPhone 3G, but confirmation that the company is addressing the issues will be welcome news to users who have been frustrated by iOS 4 performance on their devices.

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Facebook yesterday announced the launch of its new Places geolocation feature that allows users to "check-in" and tell others where they are at any given time.

Ever gone to a show, only to find out afterward that your friends were there too? With Places, you can discover moments when you and your friends are at the same place at the same time.

You have the option to share your location by "checking in" to that place and letting friends know where you are. You can easily see if any of your friends have also chosen to check in nearby.

Facebook's iPhone application has been updated to support the new Places feature, while users on other devices supporting geolocation and HTML5 can utilize Facebook's touch-optimized mobile site. Places availability is currently limited to the United States, but support for additional countries and mobile platforms is planned for the near future.

Update: Apple has just posted yet another update to the Facebook application, version 3.2.1. The description simply lists "bug fixes" in the list of changes, but users might want to make sure they update again if they updated earlier today for the "Places" functionality that arrived in version 3.2.

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Fortune noted yesterday that supply constraints for the iPad appear to be easing slightly, with shipping estimates for orders placed through Apple's U.S. online store now coming in at 3-5 business days, down from 7-10 business days. The change was noted in a research brief from analyst Jeff Fidacaro of Susquehanna Financial.

"iPad demand remains strong with production ramping above expectations," writes Fidacaro. He has revised his iPad build forecast for Apple's (AAPL) fourth fiscal quarter to 7 million units, up from 6 million units. And his 4Q iPad shipment estimate now stands at 4.75 million units, a 45% increase from Q3.

The Fortune report also shares results of a weekly survey of in-store iPad and iPod availability at Best Buy locations conducted by Barcalys' Ben Reitzes showing significant improvement this week for all iPad models.

Meanwhile, GigaOM reports on a research note from Rodman Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar claiming that production of both the iPad and iPhone 4 is beginning to approach demand, with iPhone shortages expected to ease by the end of next month.

The wait for a new Apple iPhone 4 order should be shorter by the end of September, which would help Apple sell 14 million new handsets in the third quarter and another 15 million in the final three months of 2010 according to an industry analyst. With the expectation that LG is ramping up production of 9.7-inch display panels, iPad orders should flow faster as well, with Apple having the capability to sell 5 to 6 million tablets this quarter.

Shipping estimates for iPhone 4 orders placed through Apple's U.S. online store remain at three weeks, however, suggesting that a considerable backlog still remains.

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As noted by AppleInsider, Caixin Online reports that China Unicom will launch the iPhone 4 in September and has secured the rights to sell the iPad in China. The iPhone 4 will be made available in early September while no release date has been specified for the iPad.

It was reported last month that a China Unicom executive had flown to the United States to meet with Apple executives to finalize a distribution deal for the iPad and iPhone 4.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that China Unicom would begin selling iPhone 3GS models with Wi-Fi enabled just earlier this month, after months of selling the device without Wi-Fi enabled in order to adhere to government regulations.

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Ars Technica highlights a new television commercial for the Sony PSP in which a character mocks the mobile gaming experience on a smartphone that looks suspiciously like an iPhone. In addition to claiming a superior experience on the PSP, Sony also touts $9.99 pricing for some of its older games, closer to the App Store typical high-end gaming price point than that of traditional PSP games.

It's interesting: the PSP is basically setting itself up as an alternative to iPhone games, which is the opposite of how that argument usually plays out. Sony is also promoting inexpensive, older games as a reason to enjoy the PSP instead of looking ahead to big-name upcoming titles.

As the report notes, sagging PSP sales appear to have led Sony to take on the Apple's App Store as a source for gaming on the go. But the strategy carries some significant risk of bringing the iPhone even further into the mainstream gaming world.

The traditional gaming hardware companies have increasingly been looking to Apple as a viable competitor, with Sony planning a new lineup of mobile gaming devices and Nintendo similarly viewing Apple as the "enemy of the future".

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Telegraph.co.uk publishes an interview with Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen in which he discusses his company's long-running dispute with Apple over the device maker's decision not to include support for Flash in its iOS devices such as the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. In the interview, Narayan appears to note that Adobe has given up on its efforts to convince Apple to adopt Flash.

They've chosen to keep their system closed and we'd rather work with partners who are interested in working with us.

We believe in open systems. We believe in the power of the internet and in customers making choices and I think a lot of the controversy was about their decision at that point. They've made their choice. We've made ours and we've moved on.

It's a business decision. With the energy and innovation that our company has, we'd rather focus on people who want to deliver the best experience with Flash and there are so many of them.

The dispute between the two companies came to a head in late April when Apple CEO Steve Jobs posted an open letter describing his "Thoughts on Flash" and outlining the controversy from his point of view. Narayan quickly responded in his company's defense, attempting to contrast Apple's "closed" ecosystem with the multi-platform, "open" stance taken by Adobe.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission are currently pursuing an investigation of Apple over its business practices with respect to Flash technology.

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Boy Genius Report claims that a source has revealed code in iOS 4 showing that new iPhone and iPad models may be set to begin field testing. The relevant code allows devices carrying the designations of iPhone3,2, iPhone3,3, and iProd2,1 to "auto-activate", a process said to allow carriers to test the devices without requiring manual activation through iTunes as is required for retail units.

Way down deep within iOS 4 is a pretty intriguing block of code. Our source says that the code queries the device, and if the device is either a CDMA iPhone or iPad 2, the device will auto-activate, thus bypassing the need for iTunes. We're told this block of code has appeared every year consecutively before a major iPhone / device release, removed right before launch.

These code names are not new, as they first appeared several months ago in iPhone OS 3.2 released for the iPad. Their presence in an "unreleased hardware" portion of code dealing with auto-activation does appear to be new, however, and the source claims that this presages field testing of the devices.

Software evidence of Apple's future devices tends to appear rather early in the development process, as evidenced by iPhone3,1 appearing in iPhone OS configuration files in March 2009. That device turned out to be the iPhone 4, released 15 months later. Evidence of field testing of the iPhone 4 appeared by late November 2009, more than six months before its public launch. Combined with claims that a CDMA-based iPhone 4 is in "engineering verification test" stage, this new evidence of software support for field usage of the new hardware continues to point to possible product releases sometime early next year.

The fact that the new iPhone models carry the iPhone3,2 and iPhone3,3 designations rather than "iPhone4,1" suggests that the hardware is a relatively minor revision to the existing iPhone 4, although it is unclear why there are two new iPhone models in testing. In addition, the assumption is that iProd2,1 is the next-generation iPad, as the current iPad began life as iProd1,1 before taking the name iPad1,1 closer to its release. An even earlier iProd0,1 is presumed to have been an iPad prototype.

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A pair of surveys released last week reveal strong pent-up demand for a Verizon iPhone, which has been the subject of increasing rumors in recent weeks with claims of a release as soon as January.


Market research firm Morpace has published the results (PDF) of a survey finding 29% of surveyed consumers either very or somewhat likely to purchase an iPhone should it become available on Verizon, with existing Verizon customers showing particular interest in the handset should it come to their carrier of choice. In particular, the strong interest among current Verizon customers suggests that bringing the iPhone to the carrier could have the double effect of both opening the device up to new customers as well as drawing them away from other smartphone platform such as Android, which has proven very popular with Verizon customers.


Interestingly, the survey also shows that nearly half of AT&T iPhone customers "would consider" a Verizon iPhone, with over a third of AT&T iPhone customers actively holding off from upgrading their handsets while they wait for the iPhone to make its way to other carriers.


That last data point is echoed in a separate survey conducted by ChangeWave that found 31% of current iPhone 4 owners either very or somewhat likely to switch to Verizon should the iPhone become available there. Those users are obviously already under a new two-year contract with AT&T, however, as they have just upgraded to the iPhone 4, and so it is unknown how soon after a Verizon iPhone launch they would be willing and able to make the switch.

ChangeWave previously released data showing AT&T as the biggest drag on iPhone satisfaction ratings, with a leading 27% of iPhone 4 customers citing AT&T's exclusivity for the iPhone as a reason for disliking the device, and 24% of users specifically pointing to the performance of the carrier's 3G network as a top drawback.

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ID8-Mobile today announced the MoGo Talk XD™ for iPhone 4, claiming to be the World’s thinnest and only high-performance Bluetooth headset + protective case system.

According to ID8-Mobile, one of the major challenges for bluetooth headset users is keeping their headset handy with their phone without constantly wearing it. Their solution is the MoGo Talk XD™ for iPhone 4, an integrated solution that provides an iPhone4 case which also allows for docking the included slim-profile (5mm thin) bluetooth headset.



Stuart Nixdorff, CEO and President of ID8-Mobile, had the following to say about the product:

The convenience, functionality and thin design of MoGo Talk XD make it a Smart accessory with unmatched significance. With MoGo Talk XD, the Bluetooth headset is always ready for use without adding unnecessary bulk to the iPhone 4. The iPhone was designed to be the thinnest Smartphone on the market, and users shouldn’t have to compromise that when they decide to add features that are supposed to enhance it, and cases that are meant to protect it. Technology is supposed to improve efficiency for the consumer, and too often it just becomes an added frustration. MoGo Talk XD optimizes Bluetooth technology to provide consumers with the most convenient and elegant Smartphone.

With so much attention to industrial design and aesthetics, we wondered whether user comfort was lost. Mr. Nixdorff indicated to us that comfortability hadn't been overlooked.

The MoGo Talk is extremely comfortable for long term wear and every day use. We have designed and patented the exclusive SoundShape ear bud design that softly yet securely conforms to the unique shape over each individual’s ear. As you put on the MoGo Talk, it comfortably fits like a great pair of in-ear professional headphones. The SoundShape design is much better than the older designs on the market today where you have to bend a hard wire around your ear or shove a larger speaker into your ear.

The MoGo Talk XD for iPhone 4 will begin shipping September 1 and will be made available through select authorized retailers for a suggested retail price of $99.99. Current MoGo Talk headset owners can upgrade to the Slim MoGo Grip Case for iPhone 4 for $24.99 or 3G/3GS for $19.99 (A $10.00 savings) for a limited time by ordering online at www.mogostore.com.

Update 8/17/10: Upgrade pricing updated with new information from ID8-Mobile

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NearFieldCommunications World reports that Apple has recently hired Benjamin Vigier as its new product manager for mobile commerce. Vigier is described as an expert in near field communications (NFC) having been in the field since 2004.

Most recently Vigier was product manager for mobile wallet, payment and NFC at US mobile payments specialist mFoundry. There he conceived and managed both the PayPal Mobile service and Starbucks' barcode-based mobile payments service and was also responsible for the development of mobile wallet applications for two top US mobile network operators and an NFC wallet application for a top three US bank.

Near Field Communications is short range wireless communication technology (~4 inches) that is used in mobile phones for a variety of applications including mobile ticketing, mobile payments, interactive advertising and more. The same site had previously reported that Apple has had prototype devices already outfitted with the required radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips.

Apple has published a number of patent applications related to NFC technology. One even detailed the use of an iPhone as an electronic wallet and payment system that could be used to pay a bill at a restaurant. A host of other patent applications from Apple has demonstrated other possibilities including "Grab & go" file transfers between an iPhone and a Mac or PC. According to LinkedIn, Vigier joined Apple in July 2010.

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Oracle announced tonight that it had filed suit against Google over the use of Java in their Android mobile phone operating system.

"In developing Android, Google knowingly, directly and repeatedly infringed Oracle's Java-related intellectual property. This lawsuit seeks appropriate remedies for their infringement," said Oracle spokesperson Karen Tillman.

CNet provides the full legal document surrounding the complaint. According to the document, Oracle claims:

Android (including without limitation the Dalvik VM and the Android software development kit) and devices that operate Android infringe one or more claims of each of United States Patents Nos. 6,125,447; 6,192,476; 5,966,702; 7,426,720; RE38,104; 6,910,205; and 6,061,520.

The complaint also claims that Google has infringed on several Oracle copyrights surrounding Java's code, specifications and other materials.

Google's Android is seen as the biggest competition for Apple's iPhone and iOS platform.

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Screenshot of Rage on iPhone 4
Kotaku reports that during his keynote address at QuakeCon 2010 today, John Carmack of id Software showed off the company's forthcoming Rage game running at 60 frames per second on an iPhone 4, claiming performance beyond that of Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation 2. The report includes a video clip showing Rage in action on the iPhone.

Carmack's demonstration, using the id Tech 5 engine, could possibly be the most impressive tech we've seen on the iPhone. Running on the iPhone 4 but easily run on the 3GS, the visuals indeed rivaled anything from the PlayStation 2 and original Xbox, and might even be able to give a few current-gen titles a run for their money.

The report notes that id will be releasing a minor "show off" title from the Rage franchise later this year, with a full version set to launch next year along with versions for other platforms.

Update: Smooth video:

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Research firm Gartner today published a report covering worldwide mobile phone sales to end users for the second quarter of 2010. Gartner's data shows Apple again placing seventh among all mobile phone manufacturers with the same 2.7% market share it held last quarter and up from 1.9% in the year-ago quarter. Motorola's continuing decline in sales dropped it to 2.8% share for the quarter, managing to stay fewer than 400,000 units ahead of Apple in the race for sixth place.


Worldwide Mobile Phone Sales in 2Q10 in Thousands of Units (Source: Gartner)
Noting constraint supplies and of course reduced customer demand ahead of the iPhone 4 launch at the very end of the quarter, Gartner reports that Apple seems well-positioned to ride the iPhone 4 momentum through the remainder of the year.

Apple's sales would have been higher if it had not had to face tight inventory management in preparation for the arrival of the iPhone 4 at the end of the second quarter of 2010. Apple also suffered from some supply constraint on the new device. We expect that a wider global rollout of iPhone 4 will sustain Apple's sales momentum throughout the second half of 2010.

In looking specifically at smartphones, which now make up 19% of total mobile phone sales (a figure that is up 50% year-over-year), Apple captured 14.2% of the market, up slightly from 13.0% in the year-ago quarter but down from 15.3% sequentially.


Worldwide Smartphone Sales in 2Q10 in Thousands of Units (Source: Gartner)
The big winner, however, was Google's Android platform, which surged past iOS into third place among smartphone platforms with 17.2% of the market, up from just 1.8% in the year-ago quarter and 9.6% in the first quarter of this year. Long-time market leader Symbian is continuing its slide as it has been unable to keep up with overall industry growth, down to 41.2% but still more than double its closest competitor, Research in Motion. Research in Motion is, however, also slipping a bit, with its 18.2% of the market just barely holding off Android.

Observers will of course be interested in Apple's performance during the third quarter, as it offers the company an opportunity for a full quarter's worth of sales with the new iPhone 4, although continuing supply constraints could hold the company back somewhat from its potential top-end performance.

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Daring Fireball's John Gruber has penned an interesting piece about Apple's CDMA-based iPhone 4 that has been rumored to be coming to Verizon as soon as this coming January. According to Gruber's sources, the device, which carries an internal code name of "N92", has reached the "engineering verification test" (EVT) stage of development, the point at which prototypes are moving through the final steps of the testing process to ensure that they function as intended.

I don't know anything about negotiations with Verizon, and I doubt anyone does other than the highest-level executives at both companies. But I do know that engineering-wise, the wheels are turning on N92, the CDMA variant of the iPhone 4. It's certainly not in production yet, and hasn't reached DVT status (device verification test - like Gray Powell's infamous stolen unit), but it is, a few little birdies claim, at EVT (engineering verification test). That's one step below DVT, which is one step below production. So it's right about where you'd think it would be if it were scheduled to go on sale in January. The CDMA iPhone is no longer a cold storage, keep-it-alive-just-in-case-we-need-it project.

Gruber qualifies his statement by acknowledging that a CDMA iPhone is not yet a "sure thing", and even if so, not guaranteed to be coming to Verizon, citing Sprint or other international CDMA carriers as potential partners for the device.

He also notes that now is about the time that Apple will have to begin committing to full-scale production for such a project if it is planning a January launch as rumored, and consequently leaks are likely to begin appearing from Apple's manufacturing partners who need to be brought on board. Increasing claims in recent days have been suggesting just that, providing the best evidence yet that a CDMA iPhone may finally be becoming a reality.

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Apple today released updated versions of its iOS operating system, addressing a significant security vulnerability in the way Safari handles PDF files on Apple's mobile devices. The new versions, which arrive as iOS 4.0.2 for the iPhone and iPod touch and iOS 3.2.2 for the iPad, should also disable the Web-based JailbreakMe service that first exploited the vulnerability.


Apple noted one week ago that it had developed a fix for the security hole, but did not offer a timeline for its release.

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TiPb reports that UK wireless carrier Orange has been emailing customers to notify them that availability of white iPhone 4 models is not expected "until the end of the year", encouraging them to consider a black model instead while continuing to offer notification when the white models do arrive.

We wanted to let you know that there won't be any white iPhone 4's in the UK until the end of the year.

If you're happy to wait another few months we'll let you know as soon as they're back in stock.

want an iPhone 4 now?

Alternatively, if you want it now, click here or visit your local Orange shop to get the iPhone 4 Black 16GB or 32GB today.

It is unclear whether Orange has received official word from Apple that supplies should not be expected until the end of year or if the carrier is simply basing its claim on Apple's public disclosure of a launch delay until "later this year". Regardless, many potential white iPhone 4 customers have been holding out hope that the device might make its appearance sooner rather than later.

It is also unclear whether Apple would stagger white iPhone 4 launches as it has with other iPhone models and the iPad. In such a case, the United States would presumably be the first country (or in the first group of countries) to see a launch, and so it is unknown whether Orange's "end of the year" claim would apply to all markets.

Apple has not officially acknowledged the reason for the white iPhone 4 delay other than citing manufacturing challenges. Some sources have claimed that Apple is experiencing problems with non-uniform application of the white paint leading to light leakage from the device's backlight through its back and at seams.

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Yesterday, we noted a change to the App Store's developer terms and options allowing developers to offer their applications at a 50% discount for bulk purchases made by educational institutions. Apple has now posted information on the program disclosing how institutions can take advantage of the discounted pricing.

The Volume Purchase Program makes it easy for educational institutions to purchase iOS apps in volume and distribute those apps to users. The Volume Purchase Program also allows app developers to offer special pricing for purchases of 20 apps or more.

Volume purchasing is accomplished via vouchers available through the Apple Store for Education in $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 denominations. The vouchers can be purchased by authorized educational purchasing representatives and are sent by regular mail. Vouchers can then be distributed to "Program Facilitators" for redemption in the App Store.

Full information on the program is available in an FAQ, with the company also offering a direct Volume Purchase Program portal to allow authorized educational users to log in and redeem their vouchers.

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