Year: 2012

How to “steal” an upgrade from someone else on your wireless plan

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 18, 2012

Many of you have likely ran into this conundrum: Someone on your wireless plan is eligible for an upgrade, but couldn't care less about upgrading their phone. With this in mind, you'd like to use their upgrade to upgrade your phone.

I actually encountered this issue myself, but I wasn't quite sure how to proceed with it. If I upgraded my wife's phone, but planned to take her upgrade to use for myself, how would I get a Nano SIM card containing my information, and not hers?

This wouldn't be much of an issue if the iPhone 5 used the same Micro SIM as the iPhone 4S, otherwise, I'd just swap out my Micro SIM into the iPhone 5. But since the iPhone 5 uses a brand new SIM card, this obviously presents a problem.

How do you go about handling the issue? As it turns out, if you're an AT&T customer, it's probably a lot easier than you might have expected...

Net neutrality complaint over AT&T FaceTime blocking looms

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 18, 2012

AT&T's initial decision to charge for FaceTime video calls made over its cellular network and the subsequently tweaked rules mandating that FaceTime over cellular users sign up for AT&T's Mobile Share plans both provoked a public outrage which almost snowballed into a PR catastrophe.

Deciding someone should take the nation's biggest carrier to task for taking advantage of its unsuspecting customers, advocacy group Public Knowledge (PG) figured that AT&T's policy violates net neutrality rules by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The group is mulling an investigation into AT&T's practices as Public Knowledge, Free Press and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute all plan to file a complaint with the FCC for AT&T's violation of network neutrality rules...

Apple said to be building an enormous super data center in Hong Kong

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Apple's already building another 500,000 square foot data center and a smaller tactical data center, both adjacent to its existing $1 billion iCloud facility in Maiden, North Carolina (which almost didn't get built). In addition, the company operates a data center in Newark, California and has revealed plans to build another 500,000 square feet data center in Prineville, Oregon and an additional $1 billion facility in Reno, Nevada. And if that wasn't enough, a report out this morning has it that another massive data center will crop up in Hong Kong SAR, China...

People to Samsung: we want the iPhone 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Perhaps Samsung was overly confident in nice numbers its flagship Galaxy SIII handset's been putting or maybe its silly anti-iPhone newspaper ad has backfired, but the South Korean conglomerate appears to have found itself on the receiving end this time around.

A trivial question posted on Samsung Mobile's official Facebook page has produced a ton of unexpected answers favoring Apple's new iPhone 5. Rubbing salt into wound, an unrelated survey has also revealed that nearly a whopping two-thirds of polled users in Australia are considering to jump ship because they are lusting after the iPhone 5...

Judge denies Samsung’s motion to dissolve Galaxy Tab ban

Cody Lee ∙ September 18, 2012

US District Court Judge Lucy Koh denied Samsung's motion to lift the injunction on its Galaxy Tab 10.1 last night. The decision comes in response to Samsung's August 27 request to dissolve the sales ban against its tablet.

Back in June, Koh granted Apple a preliminary injunction against the Tab due to patent infringement. But after the jury in last month's trial found that the tablet didn't infringe on Apple's IP, Samsung wanted the decision overturned..

ITC to investigate Google’s complaint against Apple

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 18, 2012

Even though Motorola Mobility filed a complaint against Apple on August 17, the handset maker is now a Google-owned entity so this really reads as the Google v. Apple complaint. Unsurprisingly, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today announced that it will be instituting a formal investigation of this complaint.

Within 45 days after institution of the investigation, the ITC will set a target date for completing the investigation and a panel of six administrative law judges will schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing pertaining to Motorola's (excuse me, Google's) complaint...

Netflix app gets a facelift, new features

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

If you get your entertainment via Netflix, you will love an updated version of the company's streaming app for iPhones, iPods and iPads that was just released for a "more immersive experience". What that means is a crisper, less packed interface which combines your previously watched content, recommendations and latest titles into a single view, with search available throughout the program. Here's your video...

Twitter for iPad gets Facebook-style header photos, in-line content, revamped UI

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 18, 2012

Twitter today finally pushed out an update to its aging iPad app, sporting a major user interface overhaul focused around the newly redesigned profile pages with Facebook-style cover photo, expandable tweets with in-line photos, videos and web pages, full-screen mode and more. Gone are the sliding panels and photo streams are now displayed right below most recent tweets in both mobile apps and on the web. More tidbits right below...

Photos of alleged iPad mini dummy unit

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 8, 2016

Now that the iPhone 5 announcement has come and gone, the rumor mill has turned its sights back to the iPad mini. Yesterday, we heard the tablet is already in mass production. And today, this.

There's a new set of photos floating around the web this morning of a purported iPad mini dummy unit. And the non-working model is believed to be indicative of what the tablet will look like...

Apple’s Ive commissioned to design limited-edition Leica M camera?

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 18, 2012

A new report asserts that Apple's SVP of Industrial Design Jonathan Ive will help design a one-of-a-kind Leica M camera for charity. The new Leicas were announced at the Photokina event in Germany yesterday. the Leica M model features a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor, Live View and 1080p HD video recording, a Gorilla Glass three-inch LCD screen with 920K pixels and more.

It will set you back a cool $6,950, or $5,450 if you go for the more affordable Leica E model. Ive, who won numerous industry awards for his work at Apple, will reportedly design a limited-edition Leica M camera which will be auctioned off for charity. Only one unit of the camera will be produced...

Dropbox updated with AirPrint support and more sharing options

Cody Lee ∙ September 18, 2012

Dropbox, the popular cloud-based storage service, updated its iOS app last night, bringing the software to version 1.5.5. The update includes AirPrint support and some new in-app sharing options.

While the change log isn't long for 1.5.5, it's fairly significant. Now, users have the ability to wirelessly print from directly within the app, as well as share their content on Facebook and Twitter...

Fail: Fox 5 News reports the iPhone 5 has laser keyboard

Cody Lee ∙ September 18, 2012

If you've ever seen your local news station report about Apple products, or other tech-related topics, you know it isn't always the best coverage. Let's just say, technology isn't really their strength.

That was once again confirmed last night, as Fox 5 News in New York inaccurately reported on the iPhone 5 and its features, claiming Apple's new handset has a "laser keyboard and holographic images..."