My Apple MD

Contrary to earlier reports this week that the iPhone 5 would be a mere upgrade, the New York Times claims an Apple worker confirmed the existence of the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5.  NYT also claims the new iPhone would have an eight-megapixel camera and faster A5 dual-core processor.

9to5Mac.com claims that even though the iPhone 4S is moving forward, the iPhone 5 is experiencing some production delays.  They do speculate that means there will be some shortages, but are hoping for only slight delays.  I think that if they delay the launch of the iPhone 5 anymore, the tech world just might explode.

Case Mate Leaked iPhone 5 Cases

Leaked case designs from earlier this week would suggest that the iPhone 5 will also be slightly wider than the iPhone 4, but thinner as well.  CaseMate has since removed the cases, but it gained some publicity nonetheless.

TechCrunch reported yesterday that Stephane Richard, CEO of France Telecom, claimed the iPhone 5 release date would be October 15.  Granted, that could be just for France, but the iPhone 4 did launch simultaneously in most markets in the US and Europe.  Others are estimating the dates to be October 7, so a good guess would be within that week period.

Apple is notorious for keeping secrets, so as we come up on these reported release dates, it will be interesting to see how many of the rumors turn out to be true.

Related articles

• Apple iPhone 5 to be Released October 15 (crenk.com)
• iPhone 5 rumours cluster around October release date and new design (mobile-ent.biz)
• The Best iPhone 5 Rumors We’ve Heard (So Far Today) (techland.time.com)

Late August, news broke that Sprint would start carrying the iPhone, and the entire tech world just assumed they would get the iPhone 5 when it debuted on AT&T and Verizon.  That looks like it may not be the case.

TUAW is reporting that a Sprint Nextel associate talked to them, and the unnamed associate claims that Sprint employees have been briefed on an iPhone 4 launch sometime in October, but have been told they would not get the iPhone 5 until early spring.  This varies from initial reports that suggested Sprint would get to launch the iPhone 5 with Verizon and AT&T.

There have been a lot of rumors suggesting some kind of small upgrade to the iPhone 4, dubbed iPhone 4S in the media.  Perhaps Sprint will launch that instead, because offering a phone that was released in June 2010 does not really give Sprint much of an advantage.  To existing customers, yes, but the older launch would deter new customers until they could get their hands on the iPhone 5.

What do you think?  Great that Sprint gets the iPhone, but does it seem weird they would have to wait until 2012 to debut the 5?

Before the iPhone, I didn’t really care about Apple’s new products because they were just computers.  Another thing to debate the validity of, but nothing to spend hours on the internet looking for rumors.  Sure, the iMac line was quite cool and definitely unique, but nothing got the public involved quite like the iPhone.

Apple has definitely learned to keep their products secret in order to increase the hype, and it’s definitely working when it comes to the iPhone 5.  Tech blogs cannot agree on leaked specs, nerds have been up in arms arguing about whether it will be a complete redesign or simply an iPhone 4S (the latest rumor is that it will not be very different from the 4).  There are a wide variety of speculations, including one interesting YouTube video that would have some really cool, futuristic features.  Watch below:

While no one really expects the iPhone 5 to have the holographic display or the laser keyboard, it is interesting that one little device can create so much hype.  So much, that people are envisioning every little thing they would want to see on the next iteration of the iPhone.  Tech blogs will grab at every little piece of intel, whether it be leaked parts or simply case designs.  We will jump at tips from anywhere, including the cell phone carriers and their holiday blackouts.    The iPhone launch does not just involve the nerds and the gadget geeks, but the regular consumers as well.

How does Apple do it?  After all, it is a device, a phone.  We don’t get this same level of excitement over the newest HTC phone.  Sure, Apple has one phone, whereas the other mobile phone companies are releasing several different models.  But, when it comes down to it, Apple has just become a master at keeping consumers on the edge of their seats.  We all want to know what they are doing with the iPhone and now with the iPad.  Because Apple is so secretive and do not release any specs or features before the debut, Joe Consumer has to invent his own ideas and speculate with everyone else.   Just to make everything more intriguing, we have events like the lost iPhone 5 prototype and its search that just fuels the fire.

And now I have written a blog about it.  Apple wins.

Related articles

• Another iPhone 5 Case Leak Hints At A Major Redesign (AAPL) (businessinsider.com)
• More alleged iPhone 5 cases show flat back, curved edges (electronista.com)
• Leaked Sprint Memo Hints At iPhone 5 In First Half Of October (pocketnow.com)

If you haven’t heard, Apple lost an iPhone 5 prototype in a bar about a month ago.  It has raised a lot of suspicion as to whether all of this is a publicity stunt (the iPhone 4 prototype was lost in a similar situation), because the story just gets weirder and weirder.  A few days ago, a man claimed that the San Francisco police and Apple employees searched his home, believing that he had taken the prototype from the bar.  They didn’t find it, but the story itself raised a lot of eyebrows, particularly on how Apple conducts business.

Conan O’Brien got a hold of the most recent part of the story, and decided to do something with it.  The resultant video is pretty hilarious.

Even if you have sympathy for Apple’s troubles, it does seem a bit extreme to send workers out with the police and search someone’s home, instead of just letting the police do their job.  What do you think?  Did Apple overstep some bounds, or is it all just a little corporate intrigue?

Related articles

• Conan O’Brien parodies iPhone 5 “loss” (tuaw.com)
• Apple Employees Join Police in Search of Stolen iPhone 5 (REPORT) (chats-blog.com)

While we constantly worry about keeping our iPhones in pristine condition, we sometimes forget to do more than slap a cover on it and try to keep from dropping it in water.  But we can do more to keep our iPhones working smoothly.

I’m not going to tell you to try and take your phone apart.  All of these tips are easy and should do no damage to your phone as long as you do not deviate from the instructions. 

• Ear Speaker:  Dust this with a soft nylon brush, even the free toothbrush that you get from the dentist would work.  Try to get all the dust out of the speaker.  Your sound will improve and keeping it clean will keep your speaker functioning properly.
• USB Port:  Use the same toothbrush (not the one you use to brush your teeth) and dust out the USB/Charging port.  It’s really important to keep the charging port clean, because dust can keep your phone from connecting properly.
• Headphone Jack:  If you are getting static sounds when you plug in your headphones, try taking a Q-tip dipped in a little rubbing alcohol and rubbing it in the headphone jack.  That should clean out all the dust and restore your sound.
• Screen:  Make sure you use a screen protector!  These will keep your phone screen from getting scratched.  I just had to replace my own screen protector because it got scratched, but it saved the phone from the damage.  Repair Labs techs recommended Wrapsol protectors, because they provide a slightly thicker plastic for better protection.

These are all pretty simple things that you can do yourself.  Some of these simple maintenance tips can keep your iPhone from having major problems later, which of course, we all know we enjoy.

Related articles

• How to put on a screen protector on a smartphone (vodafone.com.au)

While we all wait for the iPhone 5 to be announced, we need something to distract us.  MacRumors and Apple Insider are doing just that, with renewed reports that the newest version of the iPod Touch will include 3G capabilities.  Being described as a mini-iPad, the iPod Touch would remain data-only.  Of course, if you added voice, then you would just call it an iPhone anyway.

Though the source reporting to Mac Rumors claims that the 3G capability should be ready by fall, there is still some speculation as to whether or not the device will be unveiled along with the iPhone 5.  If the iPod Touch 4G were to move to a 3G-capable model, then it would most likely have access to the same type of coverage currently offered by providers for the iPad 3G.

For those of you who may be wondering what the point of 3G on an iPod would be, Apple has the obvious answer.  With iCloud, the iPod would be at a disadvantage to being just WiFi.  After all, it would be hard to connect to your personal files on the go without some kind of data connection.  But, with a 3G data plan, suddenly that hurdle would be gone, and your iPod would fully answer to your whims.

What do you think?  Does the iPod Touch 3G answer a need, or should those people looking for such connectivity simply make the switch to an iPhone?

It’s happened to you before.  You’ve accidentally gotten your iPhone wet, whether in a pool, the ocean, washing machine, or dropping it in the toilet, the end result is always the same.  Water + iPhone = :’(  But never fear! The internet can provide you with a multitude of solutions!

The internet lies.

We all know this, right? I mean, you’ve probably been taught since the internet became public that it was easy for people to put whatever they wanted to out there, since it’s a free-for-all type of thing (and for those of you younger than me who can’t remember or weren’t yet born when Email was brand new, I feel really old about now.  I mean, I was young, but I remember.)  Just remember your grade school teachers telling you that citing things from the internet was a bad idea because people can lie with no check and balances to catch them.  Unless it’s a comment board.  And then all of them lie.  Fun little game we’re playing, right?

Anyway, I decided to ask the wonderful techs at Repair Labs to tell me which of the water-damage tips I gleaned today were myths or not.  Some are obvious; others are supposedly tried and true, but don’t actually work.  Without further ado, the Top 10 iPhone Water Damage Myths:

1. Oven – I am serious, people recommend this.  The idea is that the heat draws out the water.  The problem is no one tells them that anything over 130° F will fry their phone, damaging it far worse than it was before.
2. Microwave – I am not sure why anyone would think this was a good idea.  Metal parts. Microwave.  Have you ever put a CD or fork in a microwave?  Just do that with a device that cost $400! Always a good idea. (Sarcasm)
3. Hair Dryer – Heat is the common thread here, and while people are sort of on the right track, there is one problem.  With a hair dryer you can’t regulate just how hot it will get, and get too close, the heat intensifies.
4. Heat Lamp – Again, heat is good, but too much heat and you can do some serious damage to your phone.  Best to avoid anything really hot all together.
5. Freezer/Fridge – Opposite end of the spectrum here, and I never really saw any justification as to how this would help your phone.  While the cold itself would probably not damage your phone, frozen water melts eventually.
6. Salt – Salt dries things out since it absorbs moisture.  The problem is that it can corrode your phone’s parts.  Corrosion will happen with extensive water damage, and you don’t want to speed that process along.
7. Open up & Wind Dry – While the techs say that this theoretically works, the problem is you have to get into the phone first.  The iPhone 3G has 12 screws to get into the back, and the battery is hidden behind other components.  While the iPhone 4 only has 3, you still run the risk of breaking bits and pieces of your phone.
8. Dry with Towel – Same thing again, it works, but you have to get it open first.  Of course, with a towel you run the risk of getting fuzzies and other undesirable things into the inner workings of your phone.
9. Silica Gel Packets – While this works on light water damage, it will not work well if you’ve accidentally submersed your phone.  The gel packets will only draw out the water they can touch.
10. Rice – This is the favorite internet tip.  The techs told me they get a lot of water-damaged phones in baggies full of rice.  So while uncooked rice can work on small spills, it will not on something that’s been more heavily damaged.  Like the gel packets, rice has to make contact with the water, and taking your phone to that many pieces puts you at risk to break something else.  (One of the techs joked that you should put your iPhone in a bowl of uncooked rice and then stick it in the oven.  Oh guys.)

So, what do you do when you soak your phone?  Honestly, the best answer is to send it to a certified technician, because they can take your phone apart and make sure that everything is dried out properly.  If you miss just one drop, it can continually corrode your phone and the components.  And if you try to take your phone apart, you can end up breaking the glass, housing, any number of things really.

The guys do recommend that if you feel confident, taking your battery out is key.  But don’t try to take it apart more than that.

And don’t ship it to a repairs place in a ziplock baggie.  That will actually seal the moisture in with the phone and can cause further damage.  Breathable bubble wrap is always best.

Although they do ask that you send them your phone in some rice.  The guys do get hungry from time to time.

Chalk this up to the news that made you go “What?” today. Bloomberg reports that the US Justice Department is suing to block the AT&T takeover of T-Mobile. Basically, the idea is that the merger would make AT&T too large of a company, dwarfing competitor Sprint especially. This, in turn, would block competition and cause job loss for the companies who simply could not keep up.
ZDNet is reporting that Sprint almost single-handedly brought the case to the DOJ’s notice and has been lobbying against the merger from the beginning. They have every reason to, as their own company could take a major hit, along with the many smaller wireless companies across the country.
If you’re having trouble understanding why anyone would be against the merger, consider it this way. If Apple and Microsoft merged, there would be little ability left to compete because the company would simply be too big. Google could make a go of it, as they continue to diversify what they do, but few companies would be able to really compete. That would mean the mega-corporation (let’s call it Micrapple) would be able to set whatever prices they want, without need to lower them in order to match others’ prices.

What does this mean for you, as an Apple consumer? Well, it does cast a little doubt on whether or not T-Mobile will get the iPhone after all. After the Sprint rumors sprang up, there were a few sources stating that with the merger, T-Mobile would carry Apple’s signature product. Even if AT&T and T-Mobile cannot work out a deal with the DOJ, they could still have a sort of partnership. Of course, at the moment everything is speculation since the suit came down only this morning.

Do you have AT&T or T-Mobile? Were you looking forward to the merger, or dreading it as a consumer?

This afternoon I walked into a room where three techs were hard at work repairing iPhones, iPads, and other smartphones.  I asked them a pretty simple question – what are your favorite apps?

I didn’t really give them time to think, though they did keep coming at me with responses minutes later.  We narrowed it down to Apple-only apps, and I will list their favorites below.  I was surprised that not all of the apps were games.  When I asked about productivity apps, however, they did kind of laugh at me.  Oh well.

TiKL – A Touch to Talk app, TiKL allows you to communicate with your friends via its walkie-talkie function.  One of the techs said they used it at a camping trip a few weeks ago and it was great for that.

Pulse – This is one that I personally love, and was not surprised that the guys mentioned it.  An RSS/News reader, Pulse loads all your content into a mosaic, lets you save articles for reading later through Instapaper, and lets you share your favorite posts with Twitter and Facebook.

Flud – The guys also recommended this reader.  A lot like Pulse, but some people will find they prefer one over another.  It also syncs with Instapaper, Facebook, and Twitter, so you can save and share your favorite content.

Craigslist (Pro):  The guys were kind of split on whether to go Pro or not, but Pro does offer a few more features.  Plus, it’s only $0.99, so the spare change is worth the upgrade.  They liked that they could save searches, have full-screen photos, and reply to posters directly from the app.  Better than having to run and find your computer or try and copy and paste the address into your email.

Spotfiy:  This is relatively new in the States, as the program itself just came from across the Pond.  It does require a $10/month subscription, but we all love Spotify’s interface and the ability to choose the songs.  Pandora should learn from that.

LogMeIn:  This was the one “productive” app the guys gave me.  While it’s usually $30 (50% off at the moment!), the tech swears by it.  Get into your PC or Mac from your iPhone?  Yes, please!

Battery Doctor Pro:  An app that tracks your battery’s usage and lets you know how to use it more effectively.  It also tells you when to charge your iPhone, so you won’t run into the overcharging problem that many of us have.

Favorite Games:

Cut the Rope:  Get the monster his candy in this puzzle game.  All three guys perked up when one tech mentioned it.

Tiny Wings:  Help the bird fly by bouncing off hills.  Good jumps will get you to the next island.

So, what are your favorite apps?  Yes, games included.  Comment below.

The title pretty much sums it up.  Verizon beat out AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile to claim the prize of most reliable network.  J.D. Power and Associates based the award on many factors, including number of dropped calls, failed text messages, and data problems.  In every region of the States, Verizon was several numbers behind (fewer problems reported) than every other national carrier.  Verizon won for the fourteenth time in a row for the Northeast region.

Image courtesy of J.D. Power and Associates, 2011 Wireless Network Performance Study

What does this mean for you as a consumer of Apple products?  Frankly, it shows in numbers what many people involved in the social networking world already knew – AT&T is notorious for dropped calls and other problems.  A lot of people have told me over the years that they were only with the carrier because they had the iPhone, and yet, with Verizon having the device now, not a lot of my friends have made the switch.  Of course, a lot of it has to do with contract terms, local options, etc.  Since Sprint ranked higher or tied with AT&T in most every region, it provides some competition for the iPhone supplier. Especially if Sprint begins carrying the iPhone 5 in October as has been reported.

Since Verizon has done so well in the past and continues to do so, why aren’t all wireless users with the company?  Do you use Verizon, or are you going to stick it out with AT&T?