Continuing with a string of recent arrivals on US regional carriers, the iPhone has arrived to two news that cover northwest Oklahoma and Puerto Rico, respectively. Open Mobile, the Puerto Rico carrier, may be the first exclusively no-contract carrier in the US to offer iPhones. Oklahoma-based Pioneer Cellular is carrying only the iPhone 4S, while Open Mobile has both the 4 and 4S at various capacities.
FreedomPop is now taking pre-orders for its embedded WiMax and LTE iPhone 4/4S case, which first appeared in March. The company is the latest brainchild of Skype founder Niklas Zennstrom and aims to offer users ‘free wireless broadband’ using a freemium service model. Users who put down $99 for a case will get up to 500MB of free data per month in an iPhone accessory that offers users the ability to access 4G speeds, FaceTime video calls, as well as the ability to act as an external battery charger.
Yesterday, RadioShack's Twitter feed carried word of a new discount on the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S. The retailer will, for a limited time, let customers save $50 instantly on the two most recent models of iPhone. The discount follows a similar move by Target. Earlier this week, Target announced it would discount the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S by $50 with a two-year contract.
Three more regional US carriers will begin carrying the iPhone on May 18th, according to separate announcements. These include Kentucky's Bluegrass Cellular, California's Golden State Cellular, and finally Kansas' Nex-Tech Wireless. Following in the footsteps of other regionals, the companies will be offering iPhones at discounted prices; this includes $149, $249, and $349 tiers for the 16, 32, and 64GB iPhone 4S, and a $49 pricetag for the 8GB iPhone 4.
Target, which just recently announced it would expand its Apple Store-Within-A-Store (SWAS) program, is now discounting new iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S unite by $50 with a two-year contract, reports 9to5Mac. The new prices in-store offer the iPhone 4 8GB at $50 and the 4S 16GB at $150 with either AT&T or Verizon.
The Genius Bars at Apple Stores are now in some cases replacing black iPhone 4 models with equivalent iPhone 4S models, 9to5Mac claims. Recently it was said that Geniuses were replacing broken white, GSM 16GB iPhone 4 units with 4S models instead, owing to shortages of the former. As of earlier this week though, Apple is said to have "almost" caught up with demand for white 16GB iPhone 4 units, but developed new constraints involving black 16 and 32GB iPhone 4 models.
(Updated with Walmart statement) The reported Walmart discounts on iPhones aren't in effect across the entire Walmart chain, reports observe. The Verge notes that it managed to find a Walmart in Austin with the same bargain, but four other US outlets had regular prices. 9to5Mac says it called 17 Walmarts around the US, none of which were offering discounts. Separate of these, though, one out of two Austin Walmarts was offering the deal, as well as one out of two stores in Edmond, though the Frontage Road location said the iPhone 4S was "$114 this morning, for a little while."
At least one Walmart store has slashed prices on its AT&T iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S prices without prior associate notice. The 8GB iPhone 4 now sells for $34 with a two-year contract, down from Walmart's already-discounted $88 price. The 16GB iPhone 4S, in either white or black, is now offered with the same contract for $114, down from the $188 original store price. The Verizon iPhone models are not affected by the price cut, reports Cult of Mac, and its not yet clear if the sale is fully nationwide.
Following up on a report from earlier this week, iOS hacker pod2g announced on Twitter late yesterday that he had succeeded in getting his iPhone 4 running under iOS 5.1 with an untethered jailbreak. While no tool for other users has yet been announced, the breakthrough means that those wanting to run the latest version of iOS and unofficial apps should be able to do so in the near future. There is no word yet on whether the exploit is limited to A5 devices like the iPhone 4 or not.
Apple's iPhone 4 class action settlement has now gone live on its official page. Americans who do or have owned an iPhone 4 before February 17 of this year, and who turned down a free bumper case from Apple, can make a claim for $15. The site helps speed up the process by letting owners scan a completed claim form and upload it directly along with the claim number.
Yesterday in the MacNN forums dedicated MacNNer ClaraT started a thread asking if there was any downside to updating to iOS 5.1 on an iPhone 4S, click here to read more. Today the conversation continues in the thread titled "two sleeping questions" where members discuss the sleep function in OS X Lion.
More details have emerged about Skype founder Niklas Zennstrom’s latest project FreedomPop. It’s stated goal has been to bring ‘free wireless broadband’ to consumers by using a WiMax-based freemium service. While details had been sketchy, a ‘high-level’ source has revealed that the service will be offered integrated as a Wi-Fi hotspot in an iPhone 4/4S case.
Just how large Sprint's "bet the company" move in agreeing to carry the iPhone at a high subsidy cost has been revealed in the company's 2011 10-K filing with the FTC. The carrier agreed to a minimum order of $15.5 billion in iPhones over the course of four years, and is projecting a deficit in 2012 in part due to the high subsidy it offers on each new model, up to $450 off the $850 full cost of a 64GB iPhone 4S.
Apple has begun selling Brazilian-made 8GB iPhone 4s in that country, reports say. Previously all iPhone 4 models were made in China, but units are now rolling off of Foxconn's Brazilian assembly lines. The switchover is actually believed to have happened several weeks ago, but gone largely unnoticed. At Apple's regional online store, the Brazilian-made black and white models are listed as MD128BR/A and MD198BR/A, respectively. Earlier Chinese-made equivalents for the area bore MD128BZ/A and MD198BZ/A identifiers.
In North America, iOS' share of mobile ad impressions grew a full 12.1 points between October and January, according to mobile advertiser InMobi. Traffic from iOS devices hit 35.3 percent in January, as compared to 32.7 percent for Android, and 11.6 percent for BlackBerry. Android in fact slipped 3.2 points between October and January, allowing iOS to seize leadership.
Apple finished the week by agreeing to a settlement (active in the next few weeks) over the iPhone 4's antenna issues. US customers who were unhappy with the antenna performance of the smartphone will have the option of getting either a free bumper case or $15. Owners will have up to 120 days to make a claim, starting from April 30, and will be both e-mailed in advance as well as given notices in Macworld and USA Today to make sure they can take advantage of the compensation.
Today's deals from DealNN include price breaks on iPhones, HDTVs, and more. Cowboom.com has recently lowered the cost of the refurbished 16GB iPhone 4, complete with HD video recording and editing capabilities, multitasking support, and a 5MP camera with LED flash. Currently featured at DealNN, this iPhone has now dropped to only $259.99 in price and offers savings of up to $340.
Some RadioShack outlets may still be stocking the 16GB version of the iPhone 4, a new training document suggests. The document states that both 8 and 16GB models are available for $100 with a two year contract, and that the offer is "good for AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon." No 16GB iPhone was ever built for Sprint however; only the 8GB option is available with that carrier.
Accessory makers Cirago and CaseInity have separately unveiled several new accessories for iOS devices. Cirago has produced three, chief among these being the Aluminum Bluetooth Keyboard Case for the iPad 2. Brushed aluminum is combined with padding at the corners to cushion an iPad; to use the keyboard, a person must pull the tablet from the case and sit it in a built-in stand either vertically or horizontally. The case costs $90.
Today in the MacNN forums Grizzled Veteran sdilley14 started a thread looking for possible scratch removal products for the iPhone 4. Today Mac Enthusiast mkral was looking for a way to move notes from iPhone to iCloud, a solution has yet to be found.
Apple is suing Samsung over cases for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 as well as an assortment of cellphones, Bloomberg reports. At a court hearing in Sydney, Australia, Apple said it has issued a notice of infringement to Samsung, and will file a statement of claim. Samsung is accused of violating patents and registered designs; a lawyer for the company, Katrina Howard, elaborated that the cases are accused of infringing at least 10 patents.
In what might be seen as a portent of worldwide sales, figures from a British research firm obtained by the Financial Times indicates that the iPhone 4S is dominating the market for smartphones in the UK, making up 25 percent of all smartphone sales in the four weeks leading up to December 9th. Combined with the other iPhone models, Apple's phones made up 37 percent of all smartphone sales.
A sting operation involving undercover New York Police Department officers resulted in 141 arrests last week, according to an announcement. The NYPD say that having identified a number businesses throughout New York City -- including some thought to have received stolen goods before -- the undercover officers went out to sell iPhone 4s and iPad 2s with the claim that they were stolen. Devices were offered at prices between $50 and $200.
As shopping season gets into full swing, a number of accessory makers are still turning out new cases and accessories for the iPhone 4 and 4S. Krona Cases offers a combination of a small wallet with an iPhone case, while SwitchEasy has announced two new iPhone cases, including one that is available in holiday colors for a limited time. Meanwhile, Killspencer has launched what they call iPhone "veils," adhesive wooden veneers.
An updated Windows utility, iFaith, promises to let iPhone owners to downgrade to earlier versions of iOS 5, according to famous iOS hacker iH8snow. With the advent of iOS 5, Apple changed the code in such as a way as to prevent normal downgrading methods. iH8snow says he has discovered a way around the obstacle, enabling dumped iOS 5 SHSH blobs to accept unsigned restores.
The first hack to bring all the features of Siri to other devices has been released on Cydia, the distribution network for jailbroken iOS software, reports say. The 100MB software is called H1Siri, and available via two Cydia repositories, Cydia.be and iphone3gsystem.fr/cydia. Currently the code works on both GSM and CDMA iPhone 4 models, as well as the fourth-generation iPod touch.
For Black Friday many online retailers have begun offering special deals a few days early. At id America chose from a wide selection of iPhone 4 and 4S accessories and from 11/23/11 through 12/1/11 save up to 20% off your purchase when you enter coupon code 'BLKFRI20OFF' at checkout. Until Sunday 11/27/11 save 40% on Mariner Software's document management app called Paperless, which is available for Mac or Windows now for only $29.95, down from $49.95.
Extended Access has released the Exo Flak Jacket, a new case for the iPhone 4 and 4S. The accessory uses aircraft-grade aluminum, with an anodized coating for extra protection. It ships in the form of front and back plates, which must be manually fastened together using screws and a screwdriver, both of which are included.
Accessory maker SwitchEasy has launched its Avant-garde series, which consists of four new textured cases for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, using sculptural design to add tactile and grip sensation in a stylish design. The case also includes a reinforced frame protector made of polycarbonate to protect impact points, and includes headphone jack and connector protectors.
A test conducted by Adrian Kingley-Hughes at ZDNet appears to prove that the battery-draining issue that is affecting some iPhone 4 and 4S owners doesn't have it's root in hardware. Using a pair of identical, purchased-on-the-same-day iPhone 4S handsets, Hughes and his developer tester were able to make the battery issue "jump" from a handset that had the problem to one that didn't by swapping backups.
The iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS held on as the US' bestselling smartphones during the third quarter of 2011, according to new NPD Group data. Following behind in the top five were two Android-based phones -- the HTC EVO 4G and the Motorola Droid 3 -- as well as the Samsung Intensity II, which NPD classifies as a smartphone even though the device is more basic than most. The updated top phone list is almost identical to one for Q2, the only difference being the Droid 3 replacing the HTC Inspire 4G.
Both AT&T and Verizon have given up US iPhone share to Sprint with the advent of the iPhone 4S, according to data from Localytics. Whereas 60 percent of iPhone 4 owners are on AT&T, and 40 percent are on Verizon, AT&T's lead is just 56 percent for the iPhone 4S. Verizon appears to be suffering the most with the new phone, sitting at 32 percent; in all Sprint currently has 12 percent of 4S subscribers.
The company behind a number of cases that have added or enhanced iPhone and iPod abilities -- including one that turned an iPod Touch into a full-blown phone -- are testing a new device called the Vooma Peel PG92 that works with a jailbroken iPhone 4 or 4S and offers the ability to use two SIM cards simultaneously, using an unofficial app to control them. The case, which also provides a battery pack, could be ideal for users who move between two countries frequently.
Despite rumors that Apple was testing its voice-activated search and task managing feature Siri to make it available for the iPhone 4, a user who filed a "bug report" suggesting that Apple offer Siri on older iOS devices for a fee got a reply back from the company stating that "we currently have no plans to support older devices," reports Cult of Mac contributor Michael Steeber.
Apple has finally discontinued 16 and 32GB models of the iPhone 4 for China Unicom, and the latter company is accelerating efforts to launch an 8GB version by the end of the month, sources close to the carrier claim. The company's general manager, Lu Yumin, has publicly stated that it is pushing to sell the iPhone 4S as soon as possible. Local reports suggest that while the 4S is still waiting for regulatory approval, it could ship by the end of 2011, preceded by an 8GB iPhone 4 as in the US.
SwitchEasy has announced another new case for the iPhone 4 and 4S, the Lanyard. As its name implies, the accessory's main feature is a loop which can be used to attach string or decorations. No string is included with the case by default, however.
Accessory maker Mophie has launched a new case bundle, the Juice Pack Plus Outdoor Edition. Included is a one-year subscription for the Mophie Outdoor GPS app, which covers the continental US and Hawaii. In parallel buyers get a year-long subscription to the Mophie Outdoor Edition website, which allows desktop viewing and planning. After that duration site access will cost $20 a year.
Both Sprint and Verizon are seeing strong iPhone sales, says Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu, citing checks. Sprint has allegedly begun reversing a tide of subscriber loss to AT&T and Verizon, which was caused by simply not having the iPhone as an option until October 14th. The carrier may also be attracting people thanks to offering the only unlimited iPhone data plans in the US.
Accessory maker SwitchEasy has announced a new case for the iPhone 4 and 4S, the CapsuleRebelX. Designwise the case is similar to the basic CapsuleRebel, but with the usual spine-shaped frame replaced by a new "Crossbones" arrangement. In both instances the frame snaps into place on top of a softer inner layer, which wraps around the back and sides of an iPhone while still providing access to buttons, switches and ports.
Hackers, who have been busy trying to get the Siri system interface to work on non-iPhone 4S devices, have found some degree of success with almost all members of the current iOS family now that an enterprising pair have grafted Siri onto a current-generation iPod touch, reports Engadget. As with the other hacked versions, however, the trick is only partly successful -- the modified versions can't work with Apple's servers, leaving the program mostly "brainless."
The iPhone 4S has landed in stores and Electronista has its hands on a white 64GB model. As most readers will be aware of by now, the phone looks almost identical to the iPhone 4. However, the internals have largely been given a once over with major upgrades in processing power and graphics performance. Our first impressions are that the changes really shine and are good enough that even iPhone 4 owners may want to seriously consider an upgrade.
MacWorld Senior Editor Jason Snell is reporting that Sprint plans to offer the iPhone 4S with its micro-SIM slot unlocked, and that Verizon will remove the carrier lock from any iPhone 4S if the customer has been with them for 60 days or more in good standing (and requests an "international unlock"). Apple itself sells the iPhone 4 and 4S (along with 3G iPad) with the micro-SIM "factory" unlocked, but U.S. carriers generally put a "carrier" lock on them to ensure customers don't switch networks easily.
Analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray believes a cavalcade of current iPhone 3GS users, who skipped the iPhone 4 for a variety of reasons, will move to the iPhone 4S by the millions over the next year, accounting for up to 18 percent of Apple's iPhone sales, AppleInsider reports. Munster believes that 18.8 million 3GS users, based on an estimated 27.6M total iPhone 3GS sales, are still available for upgrading and will likely take advantage of the new model.
Brian Hogan, the man who obtained a lost iPhone 4 prototype and later admitted he "regretted" not returning it to Apple, was sentenced to one year of probation, 40 hours of community service and will pay Apple $250 in restitution, CNet reports. A friend of Hogan's named Sage Wallower, who allegedly helped Hogan "shop" the prototype to media outlets, also received the same sentence. The pair were found guilty of misdemeanor theft earlier today after originally pleading not guilty.
While the processor inside the iPhone 4S has already been shown to have given the new phone a significant speed boost for web browsing and JavaScript benchmarks, tests on other models reveals that iOS 5 may play a significant role as well -- allowing the iPhone 4, iPod Touch and iPhone 3GS to gain a noticeable performance boost when it is released on Wednesday. In the case of the iPhone 4, initial testing has shown it catching back up to its latest rivals.
Sales of the iPhone 4 and 3GS are still doing well, even with the impending of launch of the iPhone 4S later this week, says Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley. Although non-specific, the claim is said to stem from checks with US cellphone carriers. Walkely adds that preorders of the iPhone 4S appear to be doing well, something Apple itself has validated by announcing that over 1 million preorders were made in the space of a day. By comparison, just 600,000 iPhone 4s were preordered in a similar timeframe last year.
Accessory maker Belkin has introduced additional cases for the iPhone 4S (and iPhone 4) along with models for the current-design iPod Touch in addition to the models announced yesterday, and ZAGG is now selling a version of its popular Invisible Shield clear film for the iPhone 4S and 4. Belkin's cases offer protection and durability in a wide array of designs and colors, while the Invisible Shield film provides strong scratch protection in a micro-thin coating that preserves the look of the iPhone.
Verizon in confirming its iPhone 4S plans said it was clearing out existing iPhone 4 models. Its 16GB and 32GB models have been slashed to $150 and $200 on contract respectively. Verizon hasn't said how long it expects the older phones to stay in stock.
Former Gizmodo editor and now Wirecutter founder Brian Lam revealed Wednesday evening that the late Steve Jobs had been kind even at the height of the incident surrounding the escaped iPhone 4 prototype. Recalling the conversation after the initial story, he noted that Steve just said he "really want[ed] my phone back" and emphasized that he wasn't mad at the news outlet. While he clearly got upset after the site refused to give the iPhone back without a formal letter, Jobs delicately ended a following call, telling Lam "you're just doing your job."
Because Apple's latest iPhone model, the iPhone 4S introduced yesterday, is approximately the same exterior dimensions (with the same button and camera placements) as the iPhone 4, existing cases also fit the new model. Consequently, vendors have had no issues in making "iPhone 4S" cases immediately available, even though the new phone isn't actually out yet. Below are some of the newest cases from a variety of makers, compatible with both iPhone 4 models.
