Year: 2012

An iPhone 5 upgrade for on-contract AT&T customers might be really expensive

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated November 12, 2018

So, you want to upgrade your current phone to the iPhone 5? The first step you need to take, is to see whether or not you qualify for a fully subsidized upgrade with no penalty.

AT&T makes this process particularly easy, all you have to do is dial *NEW# (*639#), and you will receive a text message laying out your eligibility. For Verizon users, Big Red has provided a website that you can go to to verify your upgradability, or you can dial #874.

In the past, AT&T has let users who are only partially through an existing contract to upgrade without any penalties. Whether or not they plan on doing this with the iPhone 5 remains to be seen, but from what I've seen thus far, it's not looking entirely promising.

New iPod touch to feature 1136×640 display and new A5 chip

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Apple is widely expected to unveil new iPods alongside its new smartphone tomorrow. But while we think we know almost everything about the new iPhone, the new iPods remain a bit of a mystery.

Until today, that is. According to some new information, the new line of iPod touches are likely going to feature a 4-inch display with a resolution of 1136 x 640, and a more powerful A5 processor...

iPhone 5 preorders to start on September 14th?

Cody Lee ∙ September 11, 2012

As we all know, Apple is set to unveil its new iPhone tomorrow. Thanks to insider reports, we've known that since July. But those early reports also predicted that iPhone 5 preorders would start tomorrow as well.

And that doesn't seem to be the case, at least, according to new information. The word is that Apple is now in the process of beefing up its staff in preparation for September 14th preorders, which is this Friday...

How AT&T unlocked my under-contract iPhone 4S in two days

Sébastien Page ∙ September 11, 2012

Last week we reported that AT&T was reportedly starting to unlock iPhones that were still under contract. Though they had been a few reports of this, we hadn't been able to verify the information ourselves.

I decided to take the matter in my own hands and submitted a request to unlock my under-contract iPhone 4S via AT&T's handy online form. I was a bit doubtful because I had previously asked AT&T if they could unlock this device for me, and at the time, they kindly declined, saying that they couldn't because I was still under contract.

A couple days after filling out the request form, I received the following confirmation email from AT&T...

New YouTube app insights

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 11, 2012

The new official YouTube app hit the App Store a few hours ago, and we've taken it for a test drive. It's obvious that this isn't an app that Google hastily threw together in a matter of weeks — it's probably been sitting on the back burner for quite some time now.

Since Apple and Google's contract terms were up with regard to the stock YouTube app developed in-house by Apple, it became appropriate for Google to unleash their own YouTube app.

How does it compare with the app it replaces? Check inside for the full scoop...

Check out this blow-away concept of next-gen iPod touch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 11, 2018

With just one day left until Apple's massive iPhone 5 introduction tomorrow, it's a mockups day today. This morning already saw us post a few nice dummies and mockups, from the iPhone 5 dummy with high-quality closeups of the handset's controversial two-tone design to a concept video showing off its possible features to this nicely done mockup of a mini iPad in hand.

With some people expecting new colorful iPods at tomorrow's event, designer Guilherme Schasiepen went about rendering half a dozen stunning mockups of what a fifth-generation iPod touch might look like. The renderings and more food for thought follow right below...

Nicely done mini iPad dummy in hand

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 11, 2012

As an avid reader of this blog, you must have read all there is about purported iPad mini cases, the device's rumored shrunken down shell and other leaked parts. You've also seen mockups depicting its skinner side bezels and thin design and marveled at the nicely done interactive three-dimensional model.

All of the above, of course, is based on what the rumor-mill thinks it knows so far about Apple's purportedly inexpensive, smaller iPad. It was only a matter of time before someone envisioned what an iPad mini held in your hand would look like, right as we're approaching its rumored October launch...

Crisp shots of the two-tone iPhone 5 design surface

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

The most visible design change concerning the next iPhone, which is due for the official announcement tomorrow, is its metallic backplate with two glass stripes at the top and bottom for cellular and WiFi antenna. It's perhaps the most controversial feature of the next iPhone. Matter of fact, our own little poll tells us you guys are pretty torn over the two-tone thing.

Making matter even more interesting is a last-minute leak by the increasingly reliable Rene Ritchie, who obtained a pair of high-quality photos of the iPhone 5 dummy depicting the two-tone thing in detail greater than ever before. In addition, the photos show a nice closeup of the handset's bottom with its smaller dock connector and relocated headphone jack...

Vodafone too has Nano SIMs in stock ahead of tomorrow’s iPhone 5 launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 11, 2012

Right on time, Vodafone in Germany appears to be stockpiling the new 40 percent smaller Nano SIM cards, a German publication reveals. The carrier is one of Apple's major iPhone distributors throughout Europe and in the United States, where UK's multinational mobile network operator has a joint venture with the US telco Verizon Communications, called Verizon Wireless (Vodafone has a 45 percent ownership of the joint venture). Apple's next iPhone is expected to file as the first phone to feature the recently ratified Nano SIM standard which allows for the creation of thinner and smaller mobile devices...

Samsung prepares for iPhone 5 launch with new anti-Apple ad

Cody Lee ∙ September 11, 2012

You have to feel for Samsung, it's had a rough month. First, it was found guilty of being a blatant copycat and forced to pay more than a billion dollars in damages. And then, its manufacturing arm took a business hit.

But then you hear stories like this, and all of that empathy turns into...well, something else. It appears that, like everyone else, Samsung is gearing up for the iPhone 5 launch, with a new anti-Apple TV commercial...

Photo shows iPad mini and iPhone 5 cases compared to an iPhone 4S

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Just one more day to go until Apple's highly-anticpated iPhone event, and surprise surprise, we have more purported case leaks. This time, it's a photo of an iPad mini and iPhone 5 case, among a 4S and others.

The purpose of the image is to give us an idea of how the unannounced devices measure up to their predecessors. And it's actually really interesting to see how the iPad mini compares to the third-gen iPad...

Wannabat Season turns fast-paced baseball into iOS eye-candy

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Vitusoft’s new 3D, one-on-one baseball app Wannabat Season gives the sport a new, stylish attitude and it’s fast-paced game design is perfect for those with an action addiction.

Wannabat brings baseball to a gritty urban environment, and foregoes the stadium for the street. Instead of famous names and jerseys, players can expect to face off against a slew of opponents who ooze style, while players design their own character to compete — both in terms of fashion and field domination.