Category: News

Time Inc. Magazine Apps Clash With Apple Subscription Terms?

The updated versions of the Sports Illustrated, Time, and Fortune iPad apps now allow print subscribers to access digital versions of the issues inside the apps at no extra cost. The 3 magazines join Time’s People magazine in offering free access.

It’s unclear if Time’s move means that Apple has altered its previously stated terms for subscriptions, which the company announced just a few months ago. In the press release announcing App Store subscriptions, Steve Jobs outlined those terms:

Our philosophy is simple—when Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent share; when the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100 percent and Apple earns nothing,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “All we require is that, if a publisher is making a subscription offer outside of the app, the same (or better) offer be made inside the app, so that customers can easily subscribe with one-click right in the app.

Time’s offering free access without selling subscriptions in the App Store seems to clash with those terms.

Apple has given publishers until June 30, 2011, to comply with subscription terms.

An article by the Wall Street Journal today seems to support that Time Inc’s move does not quite mean there has been a new agreement between publishers and Apple:

Time Inc. and other major publishers have yet to agree with Apple on terms for selling subscriptions to their iPad editions, the next step beyond making them available to existing print subscribers. Talks are hung up on Apple’s resistance to sharing information with publishers about their iPad customers, which publishers say is critical to applying the “TV everywhere” model to magazines.

Apple has yet to comment.

Apple Confirms Elusive White iPhone Available Tomorrow

Apple today officially announced the white iPhone will go on sale tomorrow (Thursday, April 28), available on their online store (Apple.com) as well as their retail stores, AT&T and Verizon stores, and authorized resellers. The white iPhone 4 arrives after a 10-month delay from its June 2010 announcement. In a press release, Apple VP Phil Schiller thanked customers for their patience:

The white iPhone 4 has finally arrived and it’s beautiful. We appreciate everyone who has waited patiently while we’ve worked to get every detail right.

The reason for the white version’s delay is still unknown. Apple published two press releases in 2010 claiming the device had “proven more challenging to manufacture than expected,” twice pushing back the release. Finally, in October 2010, Apple told Reuters they were pushing back the release date for a third and final time until spring 2011.

The white iPhone 4 costs $199 for the 16GB model and $299 for the 32GB model along with a new two-year contract.

Side-by-side Speed Comparison of iPad 2 vs Original iPad

We know the iPad 2 is faster than the orignal, but just how much faster? Nothing like a little visual comparison for some perspective. The video below shows the iPad 2 and original side-by-side, booting up, then launching various apps at the same time. The video was done by the same people who compared all 4 generations of the iPhone in a similar manner. In one surprise, the original iPad beats the iPad 2 time to shut down. It turns off a full 14 seconds faster.

A few numbers from the video:

iPad 2 Original ipad
Cold boot up 25.3s 28.6s
Infinity Blade 10.6s 26s
Google Earth 17s 20.3s
Garageband 3s 6s
Angry Birds 8s 10.5s
Shut down 26s 12s

Review: Ballistic SG Case for iPhone 4

The Ballistic SG ($20) is a thick, protection-focused case for the iPhone 4 that combines hard-plastic and silicone rubber in a bulky profile. With its dual-layers and extra-padded corners, it goes farther than most iPhone cases in providing shock absorption for your iPhone. We found it a well-designed case and one of the better overall choices available for iPhone 4—that is, if you don’t mind a little extra bulk. The Ballistic SG is currently only available for AT&T iPhones, but a Verizon version will be available soon.

The Ballistic SG is a composed of two sections of material that you wrap around the iPhone, one by one, to form the case. The first layer to go on is a silicone rubber sleeve that wraps snugly around the iPhone. Over that goes a hard-plastic exterior that provides rigidity, strength, and shape. By themselves, the layers are not very thick, but together they create a form bulkier than the average case and thus with excellent protective qualities. The four corners of the case are heavily padded with silicone and protrude out from the rest of the case. These corners create impact areas designed to take on the brunt of the force from accidental drops. All things considered, the Ballistic SG offers premium protection for your iPhone 4.
Continue reading…

Review: Scosche Kickback Case for iPhone 4

The Scosche Kickback case for the iPhone 4 ($25) is a combination hard-plastic and silicone-rubber case with a built-in stand capable of holding up the iPhone in landscape orientation. While not the thickest dual-layer case we’ve seen (the silicone rubber layer is very thin), the Kickstand still manages to offer above average protection in a slim, pocketable shape. Overall, the Kickback is a well-designed, functional case, with our only complaint being the single angle provided by the stand. The case is compatible with both the Verizon (CDMA) and AT&T (GSM) iPhone 4.

We’ve reviewed several iPhone cases with built-in stands, and the added functionality of a stand can come in handy more than you think. But it’s important that the stand offer a variety of angles for a variety of situations (see the ZeroChroma Teatro as a good example). Unfortunately, the Kickback’s stand only offers one viewing angle, which is in landscape. Attempts to use the stand in portrait caused the iPhone to wobble and fall over. One positive characteristic of the stand is that it lays flat and out of the way when not in use.

Cases that combine hard-plastic with silicone rubber are designed to mine the best qualities of both materials. We wouldn’t consider the Kickback a true combo case, as it’s almost all hard plastic. The case has only the thinnest layer of silicone rubber lining inside. The rubber keeps the case from scratching up the iPhone, but the small quantity means the Kickback is not as strong as we’d like in the area of shock absorption. But that’s not to say the case lacks any protection—we rate it as above average. It’s just not on par with protection-focused cases like those from Otterbox.

The exterior of the case is a high-quality, glossy hard-plastic. Our Kickback was white trimmed with gray, but it’s also available in black and gray versions. Aesthetically, we found the glossy exterior to be modern and attractive, providing a surface similar to the previous generation iPhones (the 3G and 3GS) while maintaining the iPhone 4′s new contours.

To help provide better grip, the Kickback has four triangular strips of silicone near the four corners of the case. When held in one hand, the rubber comes in contact with your fingers and helps prevent the otherwise slick plastic from slipping in sweaty hands. It’s not the most comfortable case we’ve reviewed, but it is generally pleasant to hold.

The case does a good job of staying out of the way of using the iPhone. There is a single wide cutout area for the iPhone’s ringer mute switch and volume buttons. This wide area makes the case compatible with both CDMA and GSM versions of the iPhone 4 (Verizon and AT&T iPhones in the US). For the iPhone’s sleep button, the case covers it with a raised area of silicone rubber that simulates a button. The button works accurately when pressed, but doesn’t feel quite as tactile as the normal button.

Conclusion

The Scosche Kickback ($25) is a good-looking dual-layer case with a built-in stand. Well-designed and offering above-average protection, the case has few faults. Our only complaint is the single angle provided by the stand. We rate the case an 8.0 out of 10, highly recommended.

Review: XtremeMac TuffWrap Case for iPhone 4

The XtremeMac TuffWrap for iPhone 4 ($10) is a cookie-cutter silicone rubber case of the type that anyone with a contact in the world of Chinese manufacturing and a few thousand dollars in capital can have made. We’ve seen a million of this molded rubber cases (and a billion thin hard-plastic cases), and the XtremeMac does little to distinguish itself from the pack. The case is made from the type of silicone rubber that attracts and won’t let go of dust and lint. A loose fit allows the case to accidentally slip off the iPhone much too easily. Otherwise, the TuffWrap is an unobtrusive if average case that doesn’t get in the way of using the iPhone. And it’s available for cheap, only $10 on Amazon (GSM/AT&T iPhone 4 only).

The TuffWrap is a thin case made out of matte-black silicone rubber. The rubber is much too thin to offer good shock absorption for the iPhone. While it’s better in the area of protection than hard-plastic cases of similar thickness, we can’t recommend the TuffWrap as a protective solution, especially with so many better options out there.

One area the TuffWrap performs well in is accessibility. With the case on, the iPhone’s headphone and docking ports are fully accessible for their respective plugs. The case covers up the iPhone’s sleep and volume buttons with raised pieces of silicone rubber that simulate buttons, which work properly when pressed.

One common annoyance with silicone rubber is that some versions of the material create a magnetic attraction to lint and dirt. Place one of these rubber cases in your pocket, and out will come a lint-covered mess. The TuffWrap is one of these cases. Even a quick swipe with a sweaty palm or a rub against your jeans is not enough to remove the grime. The case requires a bit of maintenance to keep clean.

Another disappointing aspect of the case is a loose fit. With the iPhone 4 being available for over 8 months now, there’s simply no excuse for a case to not fit right. Yet the TuffWrap will slip off the iPhone with the slightest tug. This can cause many annoying moments when, removing the iPhone from a pocket, the case will slip off a corner of the iPhone.

One of the better properties of silicone rubber is an inherent improvement in grip. The TuffWrap will give you a more secure hold on the iPhone. Its sides are lined with a textured surface that adds even additional non-slip grip.

In terms of looks, the TuffWrap is about as generic as they come. The one positive in this area is that it follows the contours of the iPhone 4, so those with discerning eyes will be able to tell that it’s a 4 and not a 3GS you’re holding. But the matte black coloring is plain and the case has little adornment. If flash and gloss is your thing, you should look elsewhere.

Conclusion

The XtremeMac TuffWrap ($10) is a generic-looking silicone rubber case for the iPhone with an annoyingly loose fit and a penchant for attracting (and holding on to) lint and dirt. It’s not a complete disaster—it generally stays out of the way of using the iPhone. And, it’s inexpensive. But in the world of cookie-cutter silicone cases, there are better choices out there, just check out our reviews for the Case-Mate Vroom ($10) or the Cellet Jelly ($8). We rate the TuffWrap a 6.0 out of 10, average.

Apple Announces iPad Event for March 2

  • News
  • February 23, 2011
  • 0

Apple today sent out invitations to select media for an event to be held Wednesday, March 2, at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. The Yerba Center is the same site where the original iPad was introduced last year. The invitations included a graphic of the iOS calendar app icon that is peeling away to reveal an iPad underneath, which all but confirms Apple will be introducing the iPad 2. A tagline cheekily reads, “Come see what 2011 will be the year of,” a reference to the recent popularity of tablet computers. The event will start at 10:00 am.

The iPad 2 is widely expected to get some rather obvious upgrades in speed and memory and to introduce a new CDMA (Verizon-compatible) model. Other more uncertain rumors are listed below.

  • Dual-core A5 processor (featuring an ARM Cortex-A9 running at 1.2GHz)
  • 512MB of RAM
  • Imagination SGX543 dual-core graphics chip
  • Front-facing camera for FaceTime
  • Rear camera
  • USB port
  • Light Peak port
  • Anti-reflective display to better compete with Kindle
  • Higher resolution screen, maybe even a Retina Display (this is a highly debunked rumor)
  • Sim card slot
  • 35% thinner profile
  • Lightweight high-strength carbon fiber body
  • Improved speakers

Review: iChair iPhone 4 Case

The iChair for the iPhone 4 ($30) is a slim, hard-plastic slider case that comes with a built-in, flip-out stand capable of holding up the iPhone in both portrait and landscape orientations. The iChair offers surprisingly good protection for a slim case and is a highly functional case with only a few minor flaws. It’s compatible with the CDMA (Verizon) and GSM (AT&T) iPhone 4.

The manufacturer describes the iChair as a dual-layer case—it has an inner TPU layer (polyurethane) and an outer polycarbonate layer. But for our purposes, we wouldn’t describe it as a true dual-layer. The two layers feel like just like every other hard plastic case we’ve reviewed, and we see little benefit from the combination. More useful are dual-layer cases that combine hard plastic with silicone rubber to offer the best of both worlds.



The iChair is composed of two sections that slide together over the iPhone. In a unique twist, there are two top halves included in the packaging—one in black and one in white (or blue, if you choose). The extra top half is purely for aesthetics, and we didn’t the look of the mismatched halves, but each to his own.

The case comes with a built-in integrated stand that, thanks to it triangular-shaped tip, can hold the iPhone up in both landscape and portrait. When not in use, the stand lays perfectly flat inside the back of the case, so the iPhone won’t wobble when resting on tables (a problem with seen with other case/stand combos). The stand works well, holding the iPhone up firmly so you can tap away with worry of tipping. But we do have one gripe. The iChair only supports 1 angle for both portrait and landscape orientations (see our review for the ZeroChroma Teatro case for an example of a case/stand that supports several angles). This can limit the utility of the stand somewhat.

The iChair offers excellent protection, something rare in slim hard-plastic cases. The plastic is thickest in the corners and around the sides where the iPhone’s impact points are located. The case also has a nice high rim around the screen in case you accidentally drop it on that side. While its shock absorption is still not quite on par with rubber or dual-layer cases, the protection is nevertheless better than the majority of hard-plastic cases out there. And the iChair will protect against the regular everyday wear-and-tear from sliding around in bags and rubbing against keys in pockets.

The sleep button is hard to press in the case.

The case offers excellent accessibility to the iPhone’s ports and buttons with the exception of the sleep button. The cutout area around the sleep button is not quite wide enough for thicker fingers to access easily. It’s not quite as bad as we’ve seen in some cases, but still annoying nonetheless. The case uses a single large cutout for the iPhone’s volume buttons and ringer switch, making them easily accessible as well as compatible with both the Verizon and AT&T iPhone 4. While you can’t use the iPhone in a dock while the case is on, you can slide off the bottom half, then dock it, although we found that the iChair’s design does not make this process quite as easy as with other slider cases.

Included with the iChair are two clear plastic screen protectors with a squegee board for application, a small dust cloth, and the extra white top.

Conclusion

The iChair for iPhone 4 ($30) is an all-around well-designed, functional, and attractive case. It does have a few minor flaws in the form of a hard-to-press sleep button and limited angles for the stand, but overall, we enjoyed using the iChair in our week-long testing, and assign it a rating of 8.0 out of 10, highly recommended.

WSJ: Apple Working on Inexpensive iPhone With Edge-to-Edge Screen

  • News
  • February 14, 2011
  • 3

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple is working on a more affordable version of the iPhone with an “edge-to-edge” screen and a smaller size. The new phone could be as cheap as $200 without subsidized pricing or requiring a contract. The WSJ article corroborates with an earlier report by Bloomberg that Apple was working on a “cheaper and smaller” iPhone.

An inexpensive iPhone could be a strategic maneuver by Apple to expand ownership of the iPhone by lowering the cost barrier to better compete with not only Google’s popular Android smartphone handsets but cheaper “dumb phone” products by Nokia. Currently, a subsidized iPhone requires a 2-year commitment that, with monthly fees, brings the true cost of owning an iPhone close to $2000 based on the cheapest available plans from Verizon and AT&T.

According to the WSJ, the new iPhone would be “significantly lighter” than the current iPhone and would expand upon the iPhone’s limited voice controls, presumably to allow users to more quickly navigate the phone without using touch controls. The WSJ also says Apple has been working on a new cloud service that will let users store their media online. Users will be able access their media anywhere they have an Internet connection and an iPhone, iPad, or other Apple product. The iTunes cloud service would presumably allow Apple to include less memory in the new iPhone and therefore lower manufacturing costs. In a previous report, Bloomberg reported that the “prototype was about one-third smaller than the iPhone 4, and it had no ‘home’ button,” said a person who saw it in person last year.

The smaller form factor and cheaper cost of the new iPhone would presumably mean sacrifices in hardware. According to iSuppli, the most expensive parts of the current iPhone, which costs around $171 per phone to manufacture, are the memory and LCD screen, costing $40.40 and $37.80 each, respectively. Apple would be unlikely to shrink the size of the screen from it’s current 3.5-inch size, as the iPhone relies heavily on a touchscreen keyboard to input text. In addition to offering less memory to lower costs, the company could use a cheaper, non-Retina Display LCD screen. One area Apple presumably wouldn’t have to sacrifice in is the CPU, as Apple’s A4 CPU chip is one of the cheaper parts of the phone, costing only $8.46 to manufacture. Using the A4 would mean the new device could run Apple’s current iOS firmware and the latest apps.

To lower cost barriers for popular products and expand market share in the past, Apple has employed a manufacturing strategy of economy of scale. For example, Apple branched its popular iPod into a family of cheaper iterations like the Mini, Nano and Shuffle. Blog Cult of Mac has a good rundown of Apple’s product family strategy over the years that includes more hardware and software examples.

According to Bloomberg, a part of Apple’s strategy to lower the iPhone’s ownership cost could involve a new technology called a universal SIM, which would forgo the need to purchase and insert SIM cards into GSM phones, and instead allow users to buy cell service through iTunes. iPhone owners could easily switch carriers without traveling to a local cellular store to pick up a new sim. Not only would this be convenient for international travelers, who would save hundreds of dollars on international roaming rates by buying temporary local service, the universal sim could also expedite a bidding-war system Apple has been working on a system where users could, via iTunes, shop for the cheapest cell service in their area. Smaller regional carriers like Cricket and MetroPCS are examples of companies that provide cheaper local cell and data services in the US.