White iPhone 4 Now Delayed Until "Later This Year"

As is reception issues, Bluetooth connection problems, and proximity sensor failures weren't enough, Apple has announced that elusive white iPhone 4 will be delayed even longer.

This is Apple's official statement:

White models of Apple's new iPhone 4 have continued to be more challenging to manufacture than we originally expected, and as a result they will not be available until later this year. The availability of the more popular iPhone 4 black models is not affected.

According to a report from 21st Century Business Herald, the company that produces the glass for the iPhone 4, Lens Technology, is having production problems with applying white paint to the glass. More specifically, the company is having problems with finding the right balance of paint thickness to allow clearance for the digitizers while at the same time adhering to the physical standards for "beauty" that Apple has for its products.

Apple's iPhone 4 retails for $199 (16GB) and $299 (32GB) with a two-year contract. Due to the production problems with the white iPhone, only the black model is currently available.

[via Daily Tech]

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Jailbreaking, Rooting Phones, Video Montages are Legal

Somewhere Steve Jobs is screaming in frustration

With the advent of modern smartphones, many users have sought to jailbreak their phones to allow them to use unauthorized code (such as controversial apps or services not officially allowed by hardware or service providers).  Many also have sought unlock the SIM cards on phones, allowing them to be used on networks which the hardware providers do not officially have deals with.

Apple has long contended that unlocking and jailbreaking is illegal under the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act.  Apple claims that it supports a vast variety of evils including gangs, drug dealing, and terrorism.  Other companies like Microsoft or Palm [now part of HP] have remained mum on the issue.  And yet others -- like Google -- have been mildly supportive/tolerant of unlockers, while stopping short of providing the tools to unlock phones themselves (which might endanger their valuable carrier contracts).

Some expected the U.S. Supreme Court or further legislation by Congress would eventually tackle the issue.  However, a surprising source appears to have, in essence, given unlockers and (phone) jailbreakers the legal green light -- the Library of Congress.

While not typically officially considered a part of the legislative branch, the Library of Congress is rather an independent research organization tasked with supporting Congress in a variety of ways, including legal research and preserving our nation's history.

[via Daily Tech]

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Rogers iPhone 4 Hardware Upgrade Plans Leaked?

We have some news regarding the iPhone 4 from Rogers. Rogers iPhone 4 Hardware Upgrade (HUP) details have been revealed in a placeholder employee training manual. This info is not “final” but take it with a grain of salt as changes will occur closer to the launch date.

Our sources have provided us with the following information and here it is:

Last year, Rogers provided a special iPhone upgrade that gave iPhone 3G owners the chance to upgrade to iPhone 3GS before their normal hardware upgrade eligibility. This year, we’re doing it again – and we’re expanding it to give millions more customers the chance to get an iPhone 4 at a discounted price! Every Rogers customer with a smartphone, quick messaging device, or regular cellphone (purchased on contract before June 7, 2010) is eligible for a discount on a new iPhone 4!
At time of launch, an eligibility tool will be introduced on Rogers.com that allows customers and sales representatives to validate their eligibility for exclusive offers and discounts based on their profile. The link (and all additional HUP information) will be available in Sales Central, so keep an eye out for it!

Usually Rogers/Telus/Bell provide upgrade details at the very last minute and this time around it’s no different. According to the above, if you purchased a cellphone on contract prior to June 7, 2010 you’ll be eligible for an iPhone 4. Most likely your subsidy will be determined by how many years you are into your contract.

[via iPhone in Canada]

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Canadians Can Pick Their Own iPhone 4 Carrier

To lock or unlock, that is one choice facing the thousands of Canadians intent on purchasing the iPhone 4.

On Friday, the smartphone will be on sale unlocked, or free to purchase without the confines of a wireless contract, at Apple’s retail and online stores.

The phone will also be available through wireless carriers Rogers, Bell and Telus, which sell the phones for low cost if consumers are willing to lock into what are typically long-term contracts.

“An unlocked iPhone means you have to dig a little bit deeper into your purse or jeans,” said Iain Grant, managing director of consulting firm The SeaBoard Group.

“Most Canadians have actually shown they are more interested in saving the upfront cost than actually paying the real cost for the phone and having the option of moving around.”

On Monday, Apple released pricing for the unlocked phone. The 16GB iPhone 4 will cost $659, with the 32GB model costing $779. The stores also sell an iPhone 3GS 8GB model without a contract for $549.

[via Toronto Star]

Get a Free iPhone 4! Yes, that is correct! Why pay for one when CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news sites have proven this system LEGIT. Get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Not interested? Then maybe get a Free PS3!

Top Apple iPhone 4 Press Conference Predictions

Is there really a problem with the iPhone 4 antenna? Apple is about to answer this question Friday, at a hastily announced press conference at its Cupertino campus. Meanwhile, millions of iPhone 4 customers (and tech pundits) are playing the guessing game running up to Friday's event. What does Apple have to say about the antenna issue and what will it do - if anything?

First off, a quick recap: evidence to date is not helping Apple. From users, to tech media, and the independent Consumer Reports said that something is wrong. Some iPhone 4 owners have complained of being stuck in iPhone 4 hell saddled with multiple iPhone 4 problems. Steve Jobs is now being directly implicated in iPhone 4 antenna-gate and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) has penned a letter asking Jobs to personally solve the problem. Schumer is calling Apple's current software fix "insufficient."

So what could Apple do to solve the problem? Here are some educated guesses tech pundits have put forward ahead of tomorrow's event:

The iPhone Is Selling Very Well

The first thing we are going to hear tomorrow is probably how well the iPhone 4 is selling. 1.7 million devices in the first three days, so expect at least two million iPhone 4s sold to date.

Acknowledge The Problem

"Apple will undoubtedly acknowledge that holding the iPhone 4 does affect the signal. But they'll note once again that this is true of all cellphones," predicts TechCrunch's MG Siegler. Apple said all smartphones experience signal drops when held in a certain way (some call it the 'death grip'), and reports say that many now have better reception with the iPhone 4 than they did with previous iterations of the device.

Bumper Cases Won't Make The Cut

If Apple's solution to the iPhone 4 antenna woes will be to give away $29-worth bumper cases to all customers, it would cost the company over $51 million just to cover the initial batch of 1.7 million iPhone 4's sold in the first three days of availability (figure at market value, as Bumper Cases are said to cost Apple $1).

The iPhone 4, when used with one of Apple's bumper cases (which surround the sides of the phone) fixes the antenna issue, Consumer Reports confirmed. However, MacObserver notes that the bumper cases would be incompatible with the iPhone 4 dock, and also won't fit in third-party cases, thus not an ideal solution.

iOS 4.1 Is Just Software Fix

Another road Apple could take is to flaunt the iOS 4.0.1, which addresses the way signal bars are displayed in the top-left corner of all iPhones. Those pinning their hopes that the OS update would fix the antenna issue will be disappointed to hear that the first reports indicate iOS 4.0.1 does not fix the 'death grip'.

A Recall Would Be Too Costly

Apple would lose even more money if it will have to recall all iPhone 4s sold to date. One analyst estimated that this would cost the company around $1.5 billion, a sum that would increase by $200 million per each ongoing week of sales. Another analyst quoted by Reuters said she expects Apple to quickly move past this issue, as a recall is not on the table.

Non-conductive Coating Over Antenna

One of the most probable scenarios is that Apple is already rolling off the assembly lines in China a new iPhone 4 batch that has a special non-conductive coating over the metal band around the phone, which in theory would solve the ‘death grip' issues.

Steve Cheneyis over at TechCrunch argues that Apple and its suppliers have the skills to make quick modification to apply the extra coating layer. MacObserver also notes that Apple could set up a free exchange program for those who wish to swap their device with an iPhone 4 with the new coating.

Boom! One More Thing

"Sounds crazy, I know, but I think something big, or at least biggish, is going down tomorrow," writes Darin Fireball's John Gruber. He has a hunch that Apple will come up with something special in addition to a resolution to the iPhone 4 antenna problem.

How do you think Apple will solve the iPhone 4 antenna issue? Sound off with your predictions in the comments.

[via PC World]

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iPhone case fixes reception problem - Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports said on Wednesday its tests confirmed that putting Apple Inc's new iPhone into a case fixes the reception problems that some users have experienced.The influential publication said using a Bumper -- a $29 frame-like cover sold by Apple -- prevents a drop in signal strength that occurs when the iPhone 4 is held in a certain way.The finding confirmed what bloggers and others said about using a case with the iPhone, which went on sale last month and became Apple's fastest-selling product ever."The Bumper solves the signal-strength problem," Paul Reynolds of Consumer Reports said in a blog posting."So does a piece of duct tape, as we reported earlier, or just being careful how you hold the phone. But these options all put the onus on consumers to solve or pay for a fix. We're still calling on Apple to provide an acceptable free solution to the iPhone 4's signal-loss problem."Consumer Reports generated headlines on Monday when it said it could not recommend the iPhone 4 to buyers due to reception issues.

[via Reuters]

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Free Angelina Jolie iPhone Wallpaper

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Apple iPhone 4 Reception Issues Mocked By Nokia

Nokia has a little bit of fun with Apple's iPhone 4

Apple may have sold over 1.7 million iPhone 4's during its initial launch, but that doesn't mean everyone is satisfied. Over the past week, there have been numerous reports popping up regarding reception problems with the iPhone 4 when held left-handed.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs boldly proclaimed "Just avoid holding it that way" in an email when a new iPhone 4 customer inquired about how to resolve the problem.

Nokia is now getting in on the action with a posting on its official blog, Nokia Conversations. Nokia points out that its users have a number of ways of holding their phones, and points out four of the most popular: Thumb and Finger, The Cup, The Balance, and The Four-edge Grip.

The Cup is the method that has been nicknamed the "Death Grip" by owners of the iPhone 4 which is the root of the reception problems. Nokia describes that it is "Popular with smaller devices, and typically comfortable for longer phone calls, the cup basically enables you to cup the phone with your whole hand.

"This might result in much of the phone’s edges being covered and the back of the device sitting snugly in the palm of your hand – but don’t be concerned about this, it won’t impact the device’s performance."

Nokia goes on to stay that these four methods of holding a phone result in no signal degradation, and that "The key function on any Nokia device is its ability to make phone calls. After all, that’s why we know them universally as mobile phones."

Now all of this may seem silly in the grand scheme of things, but Nokia is looking to pour a little gasoline on the iPhone 4 “reception” fire. With Nokia finding itself on the losing end of the high-end smartphone market, it probably needs all the help it can get.

[via Daily Tech]

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No Fix in Sight for iPhone 4 Antenna Woes

"Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong." -- Apple

The iPhone 4's launch went well for Apple in terms of sales -- moving 1.7 million units -- but not so well in terms of publicity. Just before the official launch, news of Apple's scheme to track users' whereabouts and use it to target ads at them was aired. And then the launch itself was marred by some ugly reception issues.

Apple has at last formally responded to those issues, curiously claiming, in essence, that there is no issue at all. It writes in a press release:

Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.

To fix this, we are adopting AT&T's recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone's bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.

We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.

We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same— the iPhone 4's wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused.

So in essence the long awaited firmware "fix" from Apple is apparently to change the way bars are represented on the phone to reassure disgruntled customers.

[via Daily Tech]

Get a Free iPhone 4! Yes, that is correct! Why pay for one when CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news sites have proven this system LEGIT. Get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Not interested? Then maybe get a Free PS3!

IPhone 4 ‘Holding’ Problem Finally Fixed

Get a Free iPhone 4! Yes, that is correct! Why pay for one when CNN, BBC, NBC, and other news sites have proven this system LEGIT. Get it the simple way .... straight to your doorstep! Not interested? Then maybe get a Free PS3!