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iPhone Proximity Sensor & Other Features in iOS 4.1 Update?

Guest Author ∙ August 21, 2010

Earlier this Month the 3rd round of Beta was handed out to developers and the list of fixes doesn't technically include some of the biggest issues people have had with the iPhone's operating system. The proximity sensor or Bluetooth Connectivity don't make the list, but I have beliefs that Apple is working on them secretly to keep the issues asleep.

Neil Hughes from Apple Insider mentions increased performance in both of these important areas and points out a few obscure fixes as well. Steve Jobs said in July that the proximity sensor issue would be dealt with in an update but hasn't said a word about the topic since. Again I say to keep the issue quiet.

Why Would Apple Want to Remotely Access Your iPhone?

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

As usual Apple has been patent happy. Just as usual is the breakdown of what sometimes may be considered by outsiders as minimal or trivial. This isn't one of those times.

If you're the paranoid type, you just might want to check your peep-hole twice tonight. Mac Life has the entry and it reads:

What Would a Non-Exclusive iPhone Cost?

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

As iDB covers the possibility of a Verizon iPhone, most everyone thinks having a choice of carriers would be good for the consumers. However it's that very exclusivity that makes the awesome device more affordable than other smartphones in its class, says 9 to 5 Mac. They have a point.

AT&T's position as sole carrier in the U.S. doesn't come without a hefty price. By being lone wolf they have to fork over subsidies that make the iPhone cost just $200-$300. In fact the mobile provider pays out more in subsidies for the iPhone than any other phone they offer. Don't feel too bad for them because in reality it has been AT&T's personal cash cow.

Prototype Physical Keyboard Accessory For Your iPhone 4

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Do you remember last year when Mobile Mechatronics released a physical keyboard that attached to the iPhone 3G and 3GS called the iTwinge? It turns out that it was a big enough hit for another company to put the click button feel to the iPhone 4.

A designer by the name of Altamash Jiwani has created a prototype that is a bit more complex than the previous accessories. The design resembles the Apple Bumper with the keyboard on rails that make the home button clearable with a slide. It would disable the functionality of the keyboard by way of its dock connect-ability. Not stopping there, the bottom would serve as a female dock port which would allow syncing without removing the keyboard.

Behind the Places That Facebook’s iPhone App Goes [Rant]

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Continuing in my short lived residency here at iDB is my Friday rant that is usually based off a particular story in the week that rubbed me the wrong way. When we reported about Facebook adding GPS check in capabilities I knew my topic had been sealed. I will preface my outburst by informing you all that I am one of the few individuals I know who doesn't have a profile in the world's biggest social platform. I had one for less than a month and every lousy expectation I envisioned came to life.

I have no bones to pick with users who have Facebook accounts. If I did I would have almost no one to talk to. My beef comes from the irresponsible undertones involved with the new Places feature embedded within the iPhone app. I have yet to hear a responsible or even reasonable explanation for desiring to participate in sharing your location with your "friends". The whole memories still not being captured song and dance that Facebook cites as motivation is as corny as a field in Iowa.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs Can Finally Bring The House Down

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Poor Steve. All he's wanted to do since 2004 is tear down his old mansion in Woodside, California. The Jackling House as it's called has been owned by Jobs since 1984 and apparently has historical significance that local preservationists wanted to keep around. I say that in past tense because as it seems is the case with everything Steve wants, Steve gets.

The house was designed and manufactured in 1925 for copper mining magnate Daniel Cowan Jackling. The architect behind the mastery was drafted by a celebrated Californian named George Washington Smith. Apparently that means something to a certain amount of someones.

9 to 5 Mac reports that back in '04, Jobs was given permission to tear down and renovate the structure but a group called Uphold Our Heritage sued the city and the Apple CEO. The courts finally backed down if no appeal against the demolishing permit was filed. The dedicated members of Uphold Our Heritage dropped their last appeal on July 19th after Steve tactfully didn't move on the tear down requested by a couple of local residents.

I say tactfully because now that appeal against such procedure has been abandoned, his lawyer Howard Ellman states "we're going forward". Not without an inventory though. A Quote from the Almanac News Report reads:

The town has hired architectural historian Michael R. Corbett to conduct an inventory of historically significant parts of the house. Preserving these items for posterity is a key condition of the demolition permit issued by the town in 2009.

All this seems insane really. I'm typically not for the destruction of historical landmarks but since this is technically a man's house, he should be able to paint it bright magenta and put a Richard Simmons statue in his bathroom. It would be different if he was trying to buy an already marked landmark. Do you think the Jobs should have just left this alone and allowed the house to be used for historical reasons? Let us know in the never to be demolished comment box below.

Can I Buy A No Commitment iPhone 4? Apple Says No

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

This is odd. Like nearly every phone available, when the iPhone 4 was released you had the option of purchasing the device without any commitment to upgrade your AT&T contract. 9 to 5 Mac shows us a section from Apple's FAQ's that has them saying you the device requires a 2-year wireless contract. Take a look at what it says.

Originally the contract free iPhone 4's were sold for $599-$699 without the AT&T subsidy. Apparently AT&T is saying that nothing on their end has changed, which has left some (including myself) wondering if this is because of the recent jailbreaking allowance granted by the U.S. Senate.

Have any of you recently bought a contract free iPhone 4? Or is this Apple's passive aggressive nature coming out in hopes to kill off buyers who jailbreak/unlock an iPhone and resell it for higher profits?

iPhone 4 Production Finally Catching up With Demand

Guest Author ∙ August 19, 2010

Rodman and Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar tells GigaOm that waiting for an iPhone 4 will become noticeably easier by the end of September. If the production of devices finally gets on par with their demand, Kumar says the iPhone 4 should sell 14 million units in the 3rd quarter and 15 million in the 4th. What's unbelievable is that those predictions are actually feasible and not ridiculous.

Without a "big" delay in supply Kumar believes that Apple can lynch off the flow of supply enough to stay well ahead of their expectations. I would say he's right given the record numbers thus far.

It's worth mentioning that the mentioned analyst cites that LG is pumping out more 9.7 displays for the iPad's production as well. His predictions are that the popular handheld should be able to achieve 5 to 6 million units this quarter. Not bad for being a big iPod Touch.

What has your experience been lately? Have any of you tried waltzing into an Apple (or other retailer) and been able to walk out with an iPhone 4? Let us know how your luck has been in obtaining the new iDevice in the comment section.

Facebook “Places” An Update in Their iPhone App

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Late Wednesday evening, Facebook added a location check-in feature to their hugely popular iPhone app. "Places" is the official title, and the social media kingpin is expected to be the eventual champion of such (GPS) location based utilities.

Similar applications allow you to publicly announce your whereabouts, with Gowalla and Foursquare among the most popular. At least they were.

The Washington Post is among the seemingly endless sources that report once a user "Checks In", their location is broadcasted on both their personal and public feed. Security adjustments can be made within your profile to change just how known your want your movements to be.

This seems certain to be a dagger to Foursquare and company, but Facebook's approach doesn't have the add-ons that other apps have. In Foursquare, you're awarded various badges and even mayorships based on the frequency and uniqueness of your visits.

Places seems to simply announce your position to your friends, and shows your profile picture on a GPS map. Facebook allows you to 'tag' those you're with (like with their photos) so others can follow where they are as well, though they need to authorize you to do such beforehand.

On the surface it all seems like an inevitability merely coming to fruition. My opinion is that this addition to the application spells trouble, and not the type related to the new-found competition of existing services. From my experience, many people are "friends" with individuals they barely know or have just met. For instance someone meets you at a party, and after talking for 10 minutes asks "Are you on Facebook"? And just like you're mutually privy to each others profiles.

So will this kill Foursquare type apps? Or will the competition from the 500 million potential participants on Facebook just make them step their game up? Will you be participating or do you plan to keep your Places to yourself? We at iDB would love your opinion in the comment box on this important addition to the world's largest social network.

CEO Says the iPhone App Store is Crashing

Guest Author ∙ Updated February 16, 2018

This week at Europe's GDC (Game Developer Conference) Bigpoint CEO Heiko Hubertz claimed the iPhone App Store is headed downhill. He states that the profits boasted by Steve Jobs aren't put into perspective. However, according to TUAW, Hubertz also acknowledged Apple as a flagship of mobile space. So which is it? A bit of each can be true.

Perhaps you have noticed that the average price of apps (especially games) has trended downward. Why you ask? The reasons for the decline are probably more intricate to explain in just a simple article so we'll leave that alone. However I think that the CEO is generally off-base in his declaration. With record number of iPhone owners, there has never been a better time to cash out in iPhone development. More people equals more potential revenue.

The very nature of the App Store wasn't to support huge pre-existing gaming corporations. Quite the opposite is true. Allowing every Mac owner the opportunity to help create apps for the product they use was the point, and in that respect the App Store has surpassed these owners expectations. Every time we hear of a kid creating applications, Apple looks like the hero.

There are plenty of platforms for big corporations to thrive in gaming. iPhone developing can be another but that isn't the purpose of it. Do you agree with Heiko Hubertz? Has the App Store maximized itself, or have we only seen the beginning of the App Store's capabilities? Let us know in the comment box.

Justin “I’m a Mac” Long Has a Jailbroken iPhone

Guest Author ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

In what might be the biggest exposure Cydia has ever gotten, Justin Long showed off his jailbroken iPhone on Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday night. Long appeared before in a series of Apple commercials where he played "Mac" in the Mac vs. PC ads running from 2006 to 2009. The jailbroken app featured was TVOutTuner (available in the Cydia Store) which allows a user to display the content on their iPhone screen to their TV.

While no mention of Cydia (however at the end you can see the icon clearly) exists in the clip, the ability to display your phone's screen is not permitted by any of Apple's approved applications.

The once Apple spokesman showcased a series of text messages that were sent by an obvious teenager who had the wrong number. Justin played along with the youngster (apparently for months) by replying with assorted responses where he imitated the mangling of language. The clip goes on for 7 minutes but is a hilarious watch. Aside from good material, viewing the video will make a non-jailbreaker think twice about their stock device. Trust me.

Like many of your probably know, The U.S. Liberty of Congress declared you can legally jailbreak your iDevices. However the hacking and downloading of applications not approved by Apple could result in voiding your warranty. At least that's what Apple says.

NES Games Sneak Back Into the App Store

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

We've been here before. It seems as if a variety of Nintendo NES games have sneaked their way back into the App Store. 8 bit Gamepack and 8 bit Gamepack LITE are direct off-shoots of Ice Climber and Wild Gunman, both exclusive Nintendo titles. A more popular game called Duck Hunt needs no explanation of its thievery.

The legality of this will probably send the entertaining games into oblivion, but if you get the chance go and get them as I was able to get Duck Hunt. Nintendo games have came and quickly left in the past. However a closer look at Duck Hunt shows that the game has been in the store since June 18th of this year. If these apps are pulled, it once again shows Apple's shortsightedness in allowing illegal applications into the App Store. Then again the store's director has been busy lately.