Steve Jobs is answering e-mails to customers, again, this time answering about a user concern about iOS 4 poor performance on iPhone 3G. Jobs said that Apple is already working on it and there’ll be an update soon.
We’ve seen earlier how Steve Jobs took a little time to elaborate short responses about, sometimes, important issues. This time, the problem is regarding about iOS 4 which had a big presentation with iPhone 4; but apparently Apple didn’t realized that this OS has several and important performance issues on 3G devices.
Fortunately for those 3G owners and using the words of Jobs “update coming soon”.
The user said:
“I’ve waited patiently through 4.0.1 and 4.0.2, looking for a fix that will make my phone work again. I’ve read the forums that advise me to jailbreak my phone or use some other method so I can downgrade back to a version of iPhone 3, however I’m not prepared to use a method that is not supported by Apple.”
Jobs’ answer:
“Software update coming soon.
Sent from my iPhone”
In case you were wondering about Steve Jobs email, here it is: sjobs@apple.com. Although this mailbox does not go directly to him, it goes to a team of assistants and then gets forwarded to him if it’s important.
The release of the iPhone 4 has not been without it’s fair share of criticism. Like any product launch the pros and cons are quickly established and shared in review after review after review. Still cons for any device should never be something that should have been addressed during production. This was the case with the iPhone 4 reception when holding it with your left hand. Due to the positon of the hand and the placement of the antenna, reception quickly worsened to one or no bars left on the device. This quickly created frustration and prompted an email to Steve Jobs where he essentially stated “just dont’ hold it like that.”
The callous remark seemed to many to be the official “screw you all” from the company that created the very device that everyone has been waiting with much anticipation for. In all seriousness the matter is not just about how you hold the phone, it has to do with left handed persons the world over not being able to adequately interface with their mobile devices.
Recently it seems as if Apple’s tone on the issue might be changing as it was recently reported by AppleInsider that Apple has posted five NEW positions, all dealing with antenna projects. Could this be the apparently elusive answer for Apple to set things straight. What seemed so apparent to us (just fix the damn thing) is now being taken seriously with the current posting.
“The listings, including three positions for an “Antenna Engineer – iPad/iPhone” and two for an “iPhone OTA Wireless Systems Engineer,” join nine other open positions related to antenna design and testing for iOS devices, with the oldest dating back to last summer.” – AppleInsider
Now officially Apple is not saying there is any product defect. As a matter of fact customers calling into the AppleCare hotline are being told that “gripping almost any mobile phone in certain areas will reduce its reception. This is true of the iPhone 4, the iPhone 3GS, and many other phones we have tested. It is a fact of life in the wireless world.”
Shifty responses to the public outcry or honest response with regards to the world of mobile devices. A case could be made either way, perhaps the cusp of this issue was in how it was handled initially from Steve Jobs himself. Would his handling of the situation made any difference in how this story is playing out?
Within a day after the release of the new iPhone operating system, people already found the way to jailbreak it. Not only that, the hackers involved in this said that it was a simple procedure.
There’s a video already showing the operating system working like this, take a look:
This new operating system release will be included by default in the “other” big Apple announcement of the year, iPhone 4G. But this OS will be available for iPhone models 3G and 3GS. The 3GS will include the multi-tasking feature with the iOS 4.
The people in charge of hacking this new operating system already published the tool bundles to execute this (NOT RECOMMENDED BY CRENK).
The iPad is hot, that’s no question. Stores in the U.S are still sold out, and internationally the device is making waves as well. With a device as easy to carry with you to all your destinations it’s important to protect your investment. As with any laptop, chances are you’d buy a case in order to carry it, something stylish and protective. But what if the case was also functional in the use of the device. In the case with the iPad, with all the choices of cases to keep your technology safe, how many of them are actually functional in the use? Probably not many.
The DODOcase for the iPad, both 3G and Wi-Fi, provides a sleek looking design to give your iPad some style when you carry it around, but also provides a functional laptop stand for when you need to update your Twitter or type out a message on Facebook. By simply taking the opening flap and pushing it all the way to the back of the device you create a gentle but comfortable slant that tilts the iPad towards your hands when you’re sitting down, preventing typos from typing on the flat surface.
The case is designed with faux leather, much like the Moleskine design, and binded by traditional book binding techniques. How much like the Moleskine? Well it comes with an attached elastic band to keep your iPad steady when sitting down to type. The interior is fashioned out of eco-friendly bamboo strong enough and flexible enough to create a protective environment for your device.
Coming in at only $49.95, this could be a serious contender as a carrying case if you’re one of those Moleskine fans!
AT&T service has gotten a bad reputation. So much so, that for major events like SXSW in Austin, TX, which I just recently attended, before the $%it hit the fan, they were already mobilizing trucks
3G MicroCell from AT&T
into the area as a preemptive to what was sure to be a strain on their network. In 2009 AT&T suffered scathing remarks from thousands upon thousands of technophiles for their inability to provide coverage, leaving phones and laptops dependent on their 3G service dead in the water. This year they planned on making a difference, and in the end, the service was amazing.
But not everyday is SXSW, and not every city is the site of a conference like SXSW, so what do you do when your 3G service is constantly dropping? Perhaps you could leave and go to another carrier, but bye-bye iPhone, because it’s not easy to take that thing where you want. Another alternative is to put up a mini-tower for AT&T cell service in your home with the 3G MicroCell.
The 3G MicroCell offers a strong, uninterrupted signal in your home that ensures that your calls and internet surfing remains fast and reliable. The mini-tower allows up to four devices to connect to it, providing a range of users inside the home the ability to interact as much as they want on a localized signal.
Coming in at approximately $150, the mini-tower offers the following:
Enhanced coverage indoors – supports both voice and data up to 5000 square feet
Available unlimited minute plans – individual or FamilyTalk plans.
3G handset compatible – works with any AT&T 3G phone.
Supports up to four voice or data users at once.
Device is secure – cannot be accessed by unauthorized users, easy and secure online management of device settings
Seamless call hand-over – start calls on your 3G MicroCell and continue without interruption, even if you leave the building.
(courtesy of AT&T website)
Now you will also need an existing AT&T broad band internet service (DSL or Cable) to connect this device to, but if you’re tired of those dropped calls even inside your home, this might be what you’re looking for if you’re willing to invest in another piece of technology in your home.
As for the signal when you step out of the house and travel to your favorite spots around town, they can’t help you with that. You’re at the mercy of the overworked, already strained systems for your service, and that’s not even including the use of the 3G capable iPads yet. Joy!
Since the iPad was officially unveiled over a week ago now, everyone been praising some of its aspects and slamming others. I know quite a few people who aren’t too pleased with paying hundreds of dollars for an “oversized iPad”. Regardless of what you think of the price, it won’t really matter for Austrians.
3, the popular mobile network, will be offering a 333 Euro ($455) discount on the iPad once you take out a data plan at thirty euro a month. We’re not too such exactly what the European price will be for the iPad, but judging from US prices, this discount means you could hand over fifty Euro on the day of purchase and then pay thirty Euro a month for the next two years. But that thirty Euro ain’t for nothing. You’ll be getting a portable broadband modem which will create a WiFi hotspot around you. Thus you can surf the net on your WiFi iPad wherever you are!
This deal isn’t too bad, particularly in the short run. However, as a warning to all our Austrian readers, I’d think long and hard about how much you really need an iPad both now and two years down the line, because once you’re in, you’re in.
It’s important to carry around protection. We’ve heard this time and time again. Carrying around protection gives you the edge you need to ensure you keep yourself safe from the varying harmful effects that can overcome a person without it. If you’re thinking of radiation, then you’re right. Radiation from our mobile devices seems to be a hot topic for those looking for ways to protect themselves. Just like they tell you not to stand in front of a microwave, it’s harder not to put a mobile phone to your ear to hear.
The new Pong Anti-Radiation iPhone Case will keep the radiation from your day to day calls from melting your face….okay, perhaps not that severe, but tests have proven that the amount of radiation emanating from your device is greatly reduced by carrying around this handy protective case. It’s currently designed for the iPhone 3G and 3GS models and “features an integrated Pong-developed Gold PCB module to redirect cellular radiation away from your head, while the silicone case protects your phone and ensures maximum signal strength thanks to its special silicone blend.”
The site is pretty extensive with tests and sample videos of how the radiation is redirected and sent out, away from your head. While that may be how the protective case works, I’m not so sure about maximizing signal strength. If it can do that, I’m sure a great number of iPhone users will run out and get it only because of how many dropped calls they are experiencing on the network.
Sprint in partnership with Clear have taken the 4G world by storm. Unfortunately 4G is not everywhere, nor is it that reliable. It has nothing to do with the companies in question, but mostly due to the lack of towers, which are going up as quickly as they possibly can. While service might be spotty, when you are able to access 4G you definitely know you’re in the fast lane.
But what if you can’t keep a constant 4G connection? No worries, the Sprint Overdrive is here to ensure that you can connect to 4G and should your connection drop it transitions to 3G no problem. This instant transition ensures that your web experience is not interrupted and will probably happen without notice.
The Sprint Overdrive 4G/3G Mobile Hotspot device can share it’s connection with up to five devices via Wi-fi. The internal battery is another bonus for those long trips if you’re looking to keep your laptop, or any other mobile device online at all times.
The device retails for $100 and reminds me of the Verizon Mi-Fi 2200. While the Mi-Fi 2200 is the size of a credit card, the Overdrive is bigger. The Mi-Fi also does not offer 4G connections, so this added edge (when you can get it and keep it) is worthwhile.
So 3G is what we’re all looking for in terms of surfing the web, checking e-mails and streaming video. It’s modern, cool and new – not to mention useful. It’s only starting to take off now since the release of the first touch screen smart-phones that give you HTML browsing – not like 2007 when all you could do was see mobile web slightly faster.
Now a Japanese company by the name of NTT DoCoMo (the company that first introduced 3G back in 2001, but the world failed to adopt it for years) now say that they will introduce 4G in 2010 and that they are confident that the world will get behind them this time.
“We went first and when we looked behind us there was nobody there.” Said the company’s president when asked about the 2001 launch of 3G.
However, even though the future certainly lies with 4G, I can’t see it catching on so quickly. 3G is at its height now and
basic business strategy is that you don’t stop selling until the product does. Then you move on. I admire DoCoMo’s enthusiasm but even though it’s been over eight years since they introduced 3G, it’s only been three or four for the rest of the world.
They are really starting to push what 4G can do in the hope of winning over big companies into adopting the service. They claim that it will be able to stream movies and live TV anywhere where there is a hint of service at speeds approaching 300Mbs. In summary, I would say it will be a few years until we start seeing 4G around these parts.
We’ve seen earlier how Steve Jobs took a little time to elaborate short responses about, sometimes, important issues. This time, the problem is regarding about iOS 4 which had a big presentation with iPhone 4; but apparently Apple didn’t realized that this OS has several and important performance issues on 3G devices.
