iPhone 4G, The Next Generation Hands-On Live Pictures

From Gizmodo:

"You are looking at Apple's next iPhone. It was found lost in a bar in Redwood City, camouflaged to look like an iPhone 3GS."

What's new:
• Front-facing video chat camera
• Improved regular back-camera (the lens is quite noticeably larger than the iPhone 3GS)
• Camera flash
• Micro-SIM instead of standard SIM (like the iPad)
• Improved display. It's unclear if it's the 960x640 display thrown around before—it certainly looks like it, with the "Connect to iTunes" screen displaying much higher resolution than on a 3GS.
• What looks to be a secondary mic for noise cancellation, at the top, next to the headphone jack
• Split buttons for volume
• Power, mute, and volume buttons are all metallic

What's changed
• The back is entirely flat, made of either glass (more likely) or ceramic or shiny plastic in order for the cell signal to poke through. Tapping on the back makes a more hollow and higher pitched sound compared to tapping on the glass on the front/screen, but that could just be the orientation of components inside making for a different sound
• An aluminum border going completely around the outside
• Slightly smaller screen than the 3GS (but seemingly higher resolution)
• Everything is more squared off
• 3 grams heavier
• 16% Larger battery
• Internals components are shrunken, miniaturized and reduced to make room for the larger battery

More at Gizmodo


Related Posts:

iPhone 4g Hands-On Live Video
iPhone 4G Launch Confirmed? AT&T Employees: No Vacations this June

iPhone 4G Launch Confirmed? AT&T Employees: No Vacations this June

From BGR:


"Same story as last year and the year before, but we’ve confirmed with multiple AT&T sources that the carrier has now put a block on employees taking vacations in June. The only time AT&T does a straight block like this is for iPhone launches. What’s interesting is, if AT&T is blocking June, perhaps the iPhone will launch a little earlier than July this year".

Iphone 4.0 OS Hands-On Live Video Preview

Engadget has been trying out the new iPhone 4.0 and these are their observations:

• It's pretty stable, especially compared to other developer editions of the iPhone OS we've messed around with. We haven't had any crashes so far, and things seem mostly to be working. Find My iPhone doesn't work, and iTunes 9.1 doesn't know about folders and will delete any you've set up, but nothing major is broken, at least as far as we can tell.
• The multitasking system works as described, but without any apps that support it it's hard to test -- we'll see if we can cajole a copy of Pandora or TomTom to play with. Steve might say task managers are a sign of failure, but you can certainly delete icons from the switcher -- just long press on them and a minus arrow pops up.
• Bluetooth keyboards are going to be the next great iPhone accessory gold rush. Been jonesing for a million-dollar idea? Here you go: slider keyboard case with built-in extended battery. We prefer our royalties in cash, please.
• We couldn't get threaded messages to work in Mail, but we're sure we're doing something wrong -- we've never really gotten along with iPhone Mail.
• The zoom control on the camera is pretty slick, and there's okayish macro. Tap-to-focus in the video mode is also a nice addition.
• Spell check works just like the iPad, as do cut/copy/paste hardware keyboard shortcuts. Still no way to bring up the soft keyboard from the device when it's paired, though, which is annoying if you walk away -- you have to remember to turn off Bluetooth, which will undoubtedly confuse someone.
• Faces and Events in Photos are just like the iPad -- they're just fancy folders. The actual face-detection happens on your machine, and things are just sorted on the phone.
• Setting up a Gmail account also prompts you to sync calendars and notes -- hallelujah!
• Game Center is a barren wasteland right now, since no apps support it -- we managed to log in and discover that we have no friends and no one has requested to be our friend. Suitably humbled, we logged out.
• We didn't have any major problems running our OS 3.0 apps, and we didn't see any new ads or anything.
• And thats it, really -- without third party app support a lot of these features won't come into play just yet. Without them, it's just a nice iteration of the iPhone OS.

source

Apple Shares Surge Due to Verizon Iphone Report

A story in the Wall Street Journal sends shares up nearly 2.5% in after-hours trading

Rumors that Apple is developing an iPhone for Verizon, which have been circulating for nearly two years, peaked again in the last week. One source has been telling any reporter who would listen that Verizon tech support is already being trained to support the new device.

But it took a story in the Wall Street Journal, posted online after the market closed Monday, for the Street to take the rumors seriously.

The stock, which closed at yet another all-time high of $232.39, jumped as much as 5.72 points (2.46%) in after-hours trading.

The Journal story, reported by Yukari Iwatani Kane, Ting-I Tsai and Niraj Sheth, cites unnamed "people briefed on the matter" and offers several new details. Among them:


The new model would be built around the CDMA cellular protocol that Verizon uses, rather than the GSM technology used in today's iPhones or the 4G (Long Term Evolution) network Verizon has said it is building.
It would be manufactured by Pegatron Technology Corp., the contract manufacturing subsidiary of Taiwan's ASUSTeK Computer Inc., rather than Hon Hai, Apple's regular iPhone contractor.
Mass production is set to begin in September, although the Journal is not clear when Apple might make it available for sale.

It's been widely reported that Apple is preparing a second new iPhone — a successor to the iPhone 3GS — and the Journal's sources say this phone should be ready for release this summer.

via

iPhone MMS Now Finally Available at AT&T!

Finally, iPhone users will now get the chance to send and receive thru AT&T's network...

Go on to Apple's support page for the instructions to download the update using iTunes.

via

Nokia N97 vs iPhone 3G S Unboxing

source

Live Streaming of Apple's WWDC 09

Watch it here! http://www.ustream.tv/channel/apple-wwdc-09

iPhone 3GS Announced Today With Video Recording, 3MP Autofocus Camera, Voice Control - Same Exterior Only Faster

Here's the content of Apple's WWDC Keynote (iPhone info only):

Note: Scroll down to the bottom for the start

12:02 pm	A robot camera thinks the iPhone is the same as before, but then the new features are briefly highlighted (mainly video capture). Keynote Ends.
12:02 pm	Showing a new ad.
12:01 pm	In the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, UK. A week later, 6 more countries. Many more to come this summer
12:01 pm	The iPhone 3GS will be available on June 19th.
12:01 pm	The iPhone 3G 8GB will be available for $99 today.
12:00 pm	Apple wants the iPhone to be more affordable. The existing 8GB iPhone 3G will remain -- for $99.
12:00 pm	Those are AT&T prices for new and qualifying customers; may vary elsewhere. Comes in black and white, as before.
11:59 am	$199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB.
11:59 am	Ships with iPhone OS 3.0 for $199.
11:58 am	Most eco-friendly iPhone yet -- arsenic-free glass, BRF-free, mercury-free LCD, etc.
11:58 am	Improved battery life. Now up to 9 hours of internet surfing, 10 hours of video, 30 hours of audio, 12 hours of 2g talk-time, 5 hours of 3g talk-time.
11:57 am	Instant remote wipe, encrypted iTunes backups.
11:57 am	Something business have asked for -- data encryption, which iPhone 3GS supports.
11:56 am	Support for Nike+
11:56 am	New accessibility options -- VoiceOver for content and controls, zooming, color inversion, mono audio, etc.
11:55 am	New compass app shows your orientation, integration with Maps -- if you double click, the map will reorientate itself.
11:55 am	Also -- a digital compass.
11:55 am	You can also ask "what's playing now?" and it will tell you. Or say "play more songs like this" and a genius playlist will be built.
11:54 am	With the iPhone 3GS, you hold down the home button for a second and a voice control interface is brought up. Simply say things like "Call Scott Forstall" -- if there are more than one entries, it will ask which one you wanted (i.e. home, office, etc) -- or "play The Killers"
11:53 am	There is an API for video too, which allows developers to integrate video capture into their apps. Next -- voice control.
11:52 am	The videos live alongside photos in the same application. You can scrub a video and edit it too. You can share the video right from your iPhone 3GS to YouTube, MobileMe, MMS, and email.
11:51 am	The camera application has a switch that lets you swap between still photo and video mode. 30FPS, VGA with audio, auto-focus, auto-white balance, auto-exposure.
11:50 am	Developers can take advantage of the camera too. But the best thing is -- it also captures video.
11:50 am	Also features tap-to-focus. Tap on the part of the photo you want to focus, and it automatically does so. Automatically handles exposure and white balance. Better low-light sensitivity as well. Also, auto-macro -- as close as 10cm away.
11:49 am	Vastly more pictures on Flickr from iPhones than any other phone. Now featuers 3MP auto-focus camera.
11:48 am	Also has amazing features -- brand new camera.
11:48 am	Supports OpenGL|ES 2.0 -- great for games. Supports 7.2Mbps HSPDA.
11:47 am	2.1x faster to launch Messages, 2.4x to load SimCity, 3.6x faster to load an Excel attachment, 2.9x faster to load a large website.
11:47 am	No front-facing video camera. The insides are entirely new, but the outside appears the same.
11:46 am	He's now ready to tell us about a new version of the iPhone -- iPhone 3GS. S stands for speed.
11:46 am	50,000 apps on iPhone, 4,900 for Android, 1,088 for Nokia (total), Blackberry (1,030), Palm (18). He makes a joke about not being able to see the last company name (Palm).
11:45 am	Reviewing how successful the iPhone has been -- iPhone makes up of 65% of all mobile web usage.
11:44 am	That is iPhone OS 3.0. Phil Schiller has retaken the stage.
11:43 am	Urging developers to re-test their apps and set parental ratings.
11:43 am	For all paid developers, the GM seed is available today.
11:42 am	Scott Forstall back on stage. "Our job is to make developers successful." iPhone OS 3.0 will be available for free to all iPhone users (3G and original). $9.99 for iTouch users. Available worldwide on June 17th.
11:41 am	Can adjust guitar tuning without actually physically changing anything -- nothing can be demoed however, as the hardware accessory isn't communicating with the iPhone.
11:39 am	More demo technical difficulties -- trying to show how easy it is to switch between settings on an amp and guitar.

11:37 am	Final demo -- Line6 and Planet Waves. Together they are working on a solution to control your guitar and amp from your iPhone.
11:36 am	Once at the lot to pickup your car, you can tap the horn icon and the actual car horn will honk so you can easily find it. The car can be unlocked this way too.
11:35 am	The Zipcar app lets you immediately find and reserve a nearby Zipcar. With the iPhone OS 3.0 MapKit, the app embeds a user-friendly Google map.
11:33 am	Zipcar is the leading car sharing services with over 300,000 members and cars all over the US and UK.
11:33 am	Available in the App store this fall. Next up, Zipcar.
11:32 am	The app charts the sensor data in real-time. The demo didn't work though -- nothing was sensed. Playing a pre-recorded demo.
11:31 am	Using hardware accessory support in iPhone OS 3.0, users can hook up sensors to the app to perform experiments.
11:30 am	Next, Pasco -- formed 45 years ago, now focuses on teaching sciences to children.
11:29 am	Also adding "Plus Network" -- head-to-head play anytime, anywhere. The game is launching today for $5.99; 3.0 features available around when iPhone 3.0 OS is released.
11:28 am	Demoing their new game, Star Defense. An amazing tower defense game, 3D with multi-touch support, expansions sold through in-app purchases.
11:26 am	Next up, ngmoco:) -- founded exclusively to bring games to the iPhone.
11:26 am	Available this summer. Will be released with national and international maps.
11:26 am	Thanks to the iPhone 3.0 accessory framework, it provides more accurate GPS, speakerphone, plays iPhone media on car stereo, and even charges it.
11:25 am	Delivers all expected TomTom features in an iPhone interface. Includes text-to-speech to announce directions. They will sell an optional accessory that safely attaches an iPhone to a car.
11:23 am	Next up -- TomTom. Showing turn-by-turn directions app.
11:22 am	Great for students -- bringing a large number of textbooks to the store. Coming to the App Store soon.
11:22 am	The book downloads directly through the app. Lets users copy a part of the book and email it without ever leaving the app.
11:21 am	Uses in-app purchases to let customers buy books directly through the app. Made deals to bring 50 magazines, 70 newspapers, 1 million books. Showing in-app purchase.
11:20 am	Next demo, ScrollMotion -- creates digital books for the App Store.
11:18 am	App supports custom Push notifications based on parameters you define. Shows a live monitor of the patient's vitals from anywhere.
11:17 am	Airstrip lets medical professionals monitor patient medical data. The medical community is flocking to the iPhone because of apps like this. Showing their next app, Critical Care.
11:16 am	Mark Hickey from Gameloft is unveiling a new game, Asphalt 5, which he claims will be the best racing game on iPhone. Lets you play music from your library while you drive, advanced lighting and graphics -- fully pushing the hardware, Peer to Peer multiplayer over Bluetooth, worldwide multiplayer over wifi in-game voicechat, content packs for sale (1 racktrack and 3 new cars for 99 cents). Next demo, Airstrip.
11:13 am	Bringing up several developers to show what they've been able to accomplish with iPhone OS 3.0. First, Gameloft.
11:13 am	Push notifications can include pop-up alerts, sounds, and App icon badges.
11:12 am	Developers can embed Google Maps easily into their applications (including custom annotations, geocoding, etc). Turn-by-turn direction apps supported. Next, Push notifications.
11:11 am	Accessories can work through the Dock connector or Bluetooth. Can use standard protocols or build custom protocols. Next, Maps.
11:10 am	Those are only a few of the 100+ features of iPhone OS 3.0. It is a great developer release too -- 100+ new APIs: in-app purchases (same business terms as app sales), Peer to Peer connectivity (easy multiplayer gaming -- Bluetooth, not Wifi), opening up support for hardware accessories that can talk to the software.
11:08 am	If your phone really is lost or stolen, you can send it a remote wipe command that will delete all of your data (mail, contacts, etc). If you do find the phone, it will be restored from a backup.
11:07 am	Lets you send your phone a message -- a special alert sound will play, regardless if your phone is on silent or not.
11:06 am	Showing a 30 Rock clip of Liz losing her phone. Find My iPhone is available to MobileMe customers -- it's a service. You can login to MobileMe on any browser and see where your phone is on a Google Map.
11:05 am	HTML5 support as well -- Apple has been pushing the standard. Now, Languages -- even more languages (Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, Korean, Thai) -- users can easily switch between languages thanks to the software-based keyboard. All supported on both portrait and landscape keyboard layouts. Now talking about "Find My iPhone"
11:03 am	Now, Safari on iPhone. JavaScript benchmark performed on current iPhone OS in 126 seconds. 3X on iPhone OS 3. Support for HTTP streaming audio and video -- automatically determines best quality for your connection. Auto-fill support for usernames, passwords, and contact information (contact info comes from Address Book).
11:02 am	Tethering is a seamless experience -- once it's on, you don't have to run any additional software. Requires carrier support -- 22 supported carriers when launched -- AT&T was not included.
11:01 am	iTunes U is now supported in the iTMS on iPhone as well. Parental controls -- especially fine-grain over movies -- even over apps from the App Store. Internet tethering -- can use your phone's internet connection on your computer (Mac or PC) using USB or Bluetooth.
10:59 am	Enhancements to iTunes -- rent and purchase movies right from your phone. Can also purchase TV shows, music, and audiobooks.
10:59 am	Cut/copy/paste/undo (works across all apps), landscape mode in Mail/Notes/Messages, MMS support (send and receive photos/contacts/audio files/locations) in Messages app (29 carriers in 76 countries will support MMS at launch -- AT&T not until later this summer), search (mail -- even on server, calendars, media, notes), spotlight (search everything in one place -- first page of the home screen).
10:56 am	Now talking about iPhone OS 3.0. Major update -- 100 new features.
10:55 am	Switching between lots of customers quickly naming their favorite app. The video has ended.
10:53 am	Developers (Airstrip, EA, Igloo Games, MLB.com, etc) talking about how the iPhone / App Store has changed their businesses and lives.
10:50 am	Playing a video of developers telling their story.
10:49 am	It has been an incredible year for the iPhone -- 1,000,000 SDK downloads, 50,000 Apps on the App Store, 40M iPhones/iPod Touches sold, 1B+ apps downloaded.

source

New Iphone 3rd Gen Live Leaked Pictures?

With a front-facing camera and a matte pure black casing and no chrome border, iPhone OS 3.0. Is this the 3rd Generation iPhone?

Or a clever photoshop version?

source

Third Generation iPhone Available July 17, With OLED Screen, 32GB, Video Recording and 3.2 MP Camera?

Here's a report from appleiphoneapps.com:

Recently we were approached by a source who is closely connected to Apple’s hardware development team. The source was willing to provide detailed information on the specs and release date of the next generation iPhone.

We have checked the source’s credentials to the best of our ability and at this point deem the source as reputable. Of course we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the source’s claims since Apple will neither confirm nor deny any future product releases, including if a new phone will even be released! Many of the specifics proposed by our source have been discussed in recent weeks, but many intriguing details revealed by the source have yet to be reported. Here are the specifics:

* 32GB and 16GB to replace current capacities
* $199 and $299 price-points to be maintained
* 3.2 Megapixel camera
* Video recording & editing capabilities
* Ability to send a picture & video via MMS
* Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device
* OLED screen
* 1.5X The battery life
* Double the RAM and processing power
* Built-in FM transmitter
* Apple logo on the back to light up
* Rubber-tread backing
* Sleeker design
* Built-in compass
* Revolutionary combination of the camera, GPS, compass, and Google maps to identify photo and inform about photo locations.
* Turn by turn directions
* July 17th, 2009 release date

Let’s examine the feasibility of these features in the next iPhone.

-32GB and 16GB to replace current capacities

This upgrade in storage is very plausible and is almost expected. Last year, the iPhone 3G was introduced with capacities that were double that of its predecessor. It stands to reason this would occur again with the natural progression of the technology. This increase in storage has also been reported by several news outlets.

-Current subsidized price-points to be maintained

There has been a lot of speculation that Apple may attempt to reduce the price of the iPhone in an attempt to gain market share or battle the upcoming Palm Pre. With these new features, including an OLED screen, it seems unlikely they can lower the price points. At the same time when the iPhone 3G was introduced at the subsidized price, it sold in record numbers. To increase the price now would not likely be in Apple’s best interest from a sales-volume perspective. All things considered it seems likely that the prices won’t come up or down. Given Apple’s track record of upgrading products without raising prices, it is safe to assume that prices of the iPhone will more than likely remain the same.

-3.2 Megapixel camera

According to our source, the new iPhone will take much better and clearer pictures. This will likely be achieved by offering the ability to focus the lens as a new feature. This has also been reported by multiple sources, and therefor seems very credible.

-Video recording & editing capabilities

The iPhone finally having the ability to record video seems possible given the strong demand. But the ability to edit the videos you record on the iPhone itself? This feature has been in multiple rumor reports, however it seems highly questionable. If the ability to edit pictures was already present it would lend credence to this rumor. All of this considered, our source says video editing on the device will be implemented.

-Ability to send a picture & video via MMS

Sending MMS messages is one of the most anticipated features expected in the upcoming revision. This ability was officially announced alongside the iPhone OS 3.0 roadmap. With the capability of sending pictures via MMS it would make sense that you could also send video. It was already announced that voice memos will be able to be sent, so video is a natural extension. The size limitations of videos in MMS was not available to our source.

-Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device

This detail is of little concern, but it may suggest significant design changes.

-OLED screen

An OLED display would be a welcome change from the LCD screen the current iPhone utilizes. The main benefit of using an OLED screen used on the iPhone is a possible increase in battery life. Its difficult to judge the accuracy of this rumor; it would certainly be an excellent choice for the display, however OLED screens are relatively expensive at this time and my prove difficult to transition to while lowering or even maintaining the iPhone’s current price point. The source did not detail if the new OLED screen would come with a 640 x 960 resolution. (note: this resolution is what would be expected to maintain backwards compatibility with applications currently deployed)

-1.5X The battery life

Improved battery, possibly as a result of the OLED display; this may also be due to improved battery technologies. We always hope for battery improvements in a new model and with the new features it is likely to expect better battery performance.

-Double the RAM and processing power

According to our source, the next generation iPhone will have “roughly double the RAM and processing power.” He elaborated by explaining that the increase in processing power would be partially achieved through over-clocking.

-Built-in FM transmitter

It’s unclear why Apple would ultimately introduce this into the iPhone. Currently, none of Apple’s products include an activated FM transmitter. This feature has been rumored by other news outlets. We just don’t understand why - we didn’t buy a Zune for a reason.

-Apple logo on the back to light up

Our source described this feature as being similar to the illuminated Apple logo on the back of the notebook line. The light will be white and always on while the phone is powered on. There have been no reports of this to date, and it seems to be an odd cosmetic choice. Frankly, if iPhone users had a choice between an Apple logo light and increased battery performance, it’s an easy guess as to what users would choose. Due to the battery considerations this seems hard to believe.

-Rubber-tread backing

Another significant design change, our source described this as being “similar to the back of a blackberry.” It would be similar to a blackberry in that instead of smooth plastic back, the new iPhone would have a treaded rubber-type back. This would certainly provide a better grip, as well as may devastate the third party iPhone case market.

-Sleeker design

Our source was not able to be more specific. He mentioned this in passing while describing the cosmetic changes regarding the metal band and rubber back.

-Built-in compass

A digital compass is a new feature to be added as well. Naturally, the purpose of a compass is to show you what direction you are facing. This certainly seems like a reasonable add-on and has been reported previously.

-Revolutionary combination of the camera, GPS, compass, orientation sensor, and Google maps

The camera will work with the GPS, compass, orientation sensor and Google maps to identify what building or location you have taken a picture of. We at first had difficulties believing this ability. However, such a “feature” is technically possible. If the next generation iPhone was to contain a compass then all of the components necessary to determine the actually plane in space for an image taken. The GPS would be used to determine the physical location of the device. The compass would be used to determine the direction the camera was facing. And the orientation sensor would be used to determine the orientation of the camera relative to the gravity. Additionally the focal length and focus of the camera could even assist is determining the distance of any focused objects in the picture. In other words, not only would the device know where you are, but it could determine how you are tilting it and hence it would know EXACTLY where in space your picture was composed. According to our source, Apple will use this information to introduce several groundbreaking features. For example, if you were to take a picture of the Staples Center in Los Angeles, you will be provided with a prompt directing you to information about the building, address, and/or area. This information will include sources such as wikipedia. This seems like quite an amazing service; and a little hard to believe, however while the complexity of such a service may be unrealistic, such is actually feasible with the sensors onboard the next generation iPhone.

-Turn by turn directions

Although a hot topic since iPhone 2.0, this has yet to be officially introduced to Apple’s Maps app. Previous reports have specified that Google maps could not be utilized due to licensing issues, however our source claims that these issues have recently been overcome and will be available in the OS 3.0 software. While this would be an exciting leap for the iPhone, its very questionable that this would be completely true.

-July 17th release date

Our source says the new version of the iPhone is expected to be available for purchase July 17th of this year. This is believable considering the previous iPhone releases have been on Fridays as well.

It is important to remember that, while this source appears credible, this information could prove incorrect. Apple may have produced several prototypes to either test various functions or simply minimize the dissemination of product knowledge before the official announcement. However if this information proves to be accurate, the new iPhone will certainly be second to none.

Related Posts:

iPhone 3GS Announced Today With Video Recording, 3MP Autofocus Camera, Voice Control - Same Exterior, Only Faster

Hack an iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, or Windows Mobile Phone ,Win $10,000 !

Hackers, start planning your exploits.

TippingPoint's DVLabs on Thursday announced the rules for its third annual Pwn2Own contest, to be held at the CanSecWest Security Conference, which runs from March 16 through 20 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The focus this year is on two technologies: Web browsers and mobile devices.

The first hacker to crack a mobile device -- an Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Symbian, or Windows Mobile phone -- without accessing it physically will win $10,000 and will get to keep the device, with a paid one-year contract. Subsequent successful mobile device hacks also pay $10,000 but do not include a device or contract.

Hackers also have the option of trying to execute a successful exploit against a Web browser. Potential targets include Chrome, Firefox, and IE8 on a Sony Vaio running Windows 7 or Firefox and Safari installed on a MacBook running Mac OS X. Opera is not included, however, an omission criticized in several blog comments. Browser bugs are worth $5,000 a piece.

Research published by Kaspersky Lab in 2006 suggests that information about a Windows bug sold for $4,000 in Russia.

"Winning entries against the browsers include exploits which require no user interaction outside of a single click on a malicious link," explains Terri Forslof, TippingPoint's manager of security response, in a blog post. "Winning scenarios against the mobile devices include attacks that can be exploited via e-mail, SMS text, Web site browsing, and other general actions a normal user would take while using the device."

Contest participants can try to attack both mobile devices and Web browsers, but cannot win both prizes using only a single exploit.

Last year at CanSecWest, a team of researchers from Independent Security Evaluators hacked a MacBook Air in two minutes using a previously unknown vulnerability in Apple's Safari 3.1 Web browser. They took the MacBook Air home as the prize, along with $10,000 in cash.

TippingPoint's goal is to use the prize money to purchase whatever zero-day exploits are revealed and to disclose them to the affected companies in a responsible manner.

source

Blackberry Bullet Takes a Shot at Apple's iPhone

Iphone Patent Reveals Video Recording & Video Calling

Recent stories on Apple's iPhone patent have focused on Cupertino's threatened legal action against Palm, which is launching the iPhone-like Pre smartphone. But a closer examination of the Apple patent yields much more interesting news. Namely, Apple is considering adding a video record feature to the iPhone -- an omission users have long complained about -- and it may soon become a handheld videophone platform, with support for mobile video-conferencing calls.

Those are the inferences you can make if you believe that the claims Apple has put into its patent relates to stuff it intends to turn into products. The video-call feature is the boldest one; a potential market game changer, which could knock competitors like Palm's Pre or Dell planned smartphone back off the front pages. (The other feature, video record, is just a natural extension of the current still camera, and is probably something it could do now, if Apple so chose.)

I've scoured the iPhone patent and have come up with the verbiage and images which indicate Apple's video intentions. Interestingly, Apple's United States patent, which is number 7,479,949, has the rather grasping title of "Touch screen device, method, and graphic user interface for determining commands by applying heuristics." I guess that's intended to lock up a whole heap of intellectual property and prevent any competitors -- like Pre-maker Palm -- from doing a touch-screen phone unless they can figure out how to launch calls via the user's brain-wave commands.

Let me give you the summary first, before I get to the details which prove my point. Namely, what's interesting is not that there are mentions of video recording peppered throughout the patent (though there are). What's really significant is that when you take all the video mentions as a whole, it's clear that Apple intends to seriously beef up the iPhone's video recording capabilities.

Even more boldly, I believe Apple intends to go well beyond the simple video clip recording that every still camera today has anyway. It intends to turn the iPhone into a handheld video conferencing device! That'd make the iPhone even more powerful than it is today. So rather than shooting its whole wad at one time -- like with the intro of the 3G iPhone -- I'm guessing Apple is waiting until there's both a sag in demand and a more robust build-out of nationwide 3G network capabilities. (Currently, many major metro areas have 3G, but one can't really say 3G is fully deployed throughout the country.)

At that point, they'll debut the new, conferencing-capable handset and launch another round of iPhone fanaticism.

With some powerful plan seemingly in the wings, it makes one wonder why Apple hasn't even dropped hints, the better to address the complaints of current users who've been lamenting the lack of a video recording function. (Of course, the answer to that one is easy. A mum Apple is simply Apple being Apple, in the Jobs era, anyway.)

OK, so the proof is in the patent. Check out the reference to "digital video camera" in this paragraph from the patent's "Description of Embodiments" (aka, what's in the invention being patented) section:

"The device supports a variety of applications, such as one or more of the following: a telephone application, a video conferencing application, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, a blogging application, a photo management application, a digital camera application, a digital video camera application, a Web browsing application, a digital music player application, and/or a digital video player application."

Here's a reference to video conferencing, buried amid a laundry list of features.

"In some embodiments, the functions may include telephoning, video conferencing, e-mailing, instant messaging, blogging, digital photographing, digital videoing, Web browsing, digital music playing, and/or digital video playing. Instructions for performing these functions may be included in a computer-readable storage medium or other computer program product configured for execution by one or more processors."

But wait; it gets even better. Apple has given some thought to camera angles. (Must be the Pixar influence.) At first I thought this was Apple answering the common complaint that users have trouble taking their own pictures, because the camera is on the back of the phone. I quickly realized that Apple probably doesn't care about that. What it does care about is that, for video conferencing to work, you need a forward-facing lens. Thus there's this in the patent:

"In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the back of the device, opposite the touch screen display on the front of the device, so that the touch screen display may be used as a viewfinder for either still and/or video image acquisition. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the front of the device so that the user's image may be obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other video conference participants on the touch screen display. In some embodiments, the position of the optical sensor can be changed by the user (e.g., by rotating the lens and the sensor in the device housing) so that a single optical sensor may be used along with the touch screen display for both video conferencing and still and/or video image acquisition."

OK, so there you have it, proof in the patent that Apple's thought through what it needs to do to make the iPhone video-recording and –conferencing capable. I believe we will see these features in the third-generation iPhone. Finally, I don't know enough about patent law to know what would happen if some other vendor -- for example, a Google phone maker -- attempted to launch these features before Apple did. I'm guessing, though, that we’d see a lawsuit.

Note:
First diagram above shows Video conference module (no.139)
Second diagram above shows video record button

source

Element Case Review and Unboxing For The iPhone 3G

source

Incase iPhone Power Slider Case Review

source

Ivyskin Quattro T4 Case Review for The iPhone 3G

source

Where to Buy a $99 iPhone? Wal-Mart!?

Apple's red-hot iPhone will soon be available at what might seem an unlikely place: your local Wal-Mart. And you might see it there at one of the store's legendary "Everyday low prices''— $99.

Bay Area Wal-Mart stores will have the iPhone in stock by the last week of December, and maybe before Christmas, said managers and employees at several stores.

"It's going to be very soon," said Mark Blome, store manager of the Wal-Mart on Albrae St. in Fremont. "Originally they were going to release it before Christmas, but they can't them that fast to us."

Employees at different stores said the company had been holding special meetings with workers who will be selling the iPhone to give them details on the launch.

"I'm excited," said Lina, the manager of the wireless department at the Mountain View Wal-Mart, who attended one of the meetings. She declined to give her last name.

Wal-Mart will be the fourth major retailer in the United States to carry the iconic phone. Originally, consumers could only purchase it in Apple and AT&T stores. Best Buy began selling the device in September.

The iPhone currently comes in two versions: one with 8 gigabytes of memory that sells for $199 and one with 16 gigabytes of memory that sells for $299. Both phones are only sold with a two-year service plan that costs at least $70 per month.

Some online Web sites recently reported that Apple will offer a special 4-gigabyte version for $99 through Wal-Mart. Most Wal-Mart employees contacted Friday either didn't know about such a model or said that Wal-Mart would not be carrying one.

But Kim Nguyen, who is the department manager of the cell phone department at the Milpitas Wal-Mart, said she was told by an AT&T representative that her store would be getting a 4-gigabyte model. She also said the store was supposed to get some iPhones two days before Christmas.

"They're trying to push it before Christmas because they know how people will want it for Christmas," she said.

Media representatives at Wal-Mart's corporate office in Bentonville, Ark., declined to confirm the impending rollout of the iPhone in company stores.

"We have not made any official announcement," said Ashley Hardie, a company spokeswoman.

Representatives for Apple and AT&T, the iPhone's exclusive U.S. service provider, also declined to confirm the rollout.

The move would place one of the hottest tech devices on the shelves of the nation's largest retailer. Wal-Mart has some 4,000 discount, supercenter and Sam's Club stores in the United States, nearly all of which have a wireless sales department, said company spokesman Dan Fogleman.

It's unclear whether stores nationwide will be selling the iPhone. But at least two stores in upstate New York expect to have the device at about the same time as local stores, employees of those locations said.

Getting the iPhone into Wal-Mart should be a boon to Apple, industry and financial analysts said. By offering the gadget through the giant discount retailer, it will reach an audience that may not frequent the stores where the device is currently sold, they said.

"The upscale market has already been addressed," said Shiv Bakhshi, who covers the wireless industry for research firm IDC.

And the deal makes sense in the current economic environment, he said. Wal-Mart was one of the few retailers whose sales increased last month, a dismal one for retail business as a whole.

"Especially in a market that's headed for a recession, you want to go to the places where people are still shopping, where they're looking for deals," Bakhshi said.

But even if Wal-Mart does sell a $99 iPhone, the high service charges may cause shoppers to balk, said Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney.

"Unless they've done something with AT&T to get the monthly rate down, that's going be a real tough sell for lot those (Wal-Mart) shoppers," Dulaney said.

source

MySpace Launches Mobile Video Streaming Service, iPhone Not Supported Yet

MySpace is launching a mobile video streaming service that lets members of the global social-networking website watch favored snippets on the move.

News Corp-owned MySpace teamed with video coding specialty firm RipCode to create a way to let people use Internet-linked "smart phones" to watch videos they uploaded to MySpace profiles or mark as "favorites" at the website.

"Video is a natural next step for us in mobile," said Mobile for MySpace vice president John Faith.

"MySpace will continue to grow our video library as we increase delivery channels in order to keep pace with our users' accelerating desire for video consumption."

MySpace says its new video streaming service works with most popular handset models but has yet to be adapted to Apple's hot-selling iPhones.

Apple uses "progressive downloads" of video in iPhones, meaning digitized data must be downloaded to handsets before viewing can commence.

The free service, which is in a beta test phase, uses RipeCode technology to stream video in real time to individual mobile devices on-demand instead of calling on people to download files for storage in handset libraries.

"As the volume of video grows and the number of mobile devices supporting video continues to expand, companies have to find alternative solutions to deliver content to their customers across multiple screens," said RipeCode chief executive Brendon Mills.

MySpace Mobile at m.myspace.com boasts about 10 million monthly users.

source

BlackBerry Storm vs iPhone 3G, Part 2 - Messaging & Keyboard

source

BlackBerry Storm vs iPhone 3G, Part 1 - Form Factor & Phone

source