Will the iPhone 4 blend? Of course it does!
Sébastien Page
Sebastien is the Founder and Editor in Chief of iDB. Once a BlackBerry user, Sebastien instantly fell in love with the iPhone when it was first announced in 2007. Shortly after, he decided to start sharing his knowledge of the iPhone and its nascent ecosystem, which led to the creation of this blog. Sebastien currently owns 14 iPhones, 4 iPads, a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, a MacBook Air, 2 Apple Watches, 3 Apple TVs, countless HomePods and AirTags as well as a few pairs of AirPods.App Store Now Features an iOS 4 Category
Up until now it wasn't convenient finding those apps that are optimized for iOS 4, which is why Apple created a new category in the App Store called iOS 4.0.
This category includes all apps than can work in the background and/or apps whose graphics have been improved for the new iPhone 4 Retina Display.
You can access the new iOS 4.0 category in the App Store from here.
[Thanks Justin for the tip]
FaceTime: Apple Lets You Try It With Them
If you just got an iPhone 4 and non of your friends did, you probably couldn't try the new FaceTime feature. Apple thought about you and now lets you try FaceTime with a few Apple reps.
Although I had tried FaceTime before, I wanted to give Apple a call and have some FaceTime with a random employee for a few minutes.
This is what you need to do if you want to try FaceTime with an Apple rep:
1. Call 1-888-32238463 from your iPhone
2. An Apple rep will pickup the phone and ask you a few questions about your iPhone setup (FaceTime ON, wifi ON, and caller ID ON)
3. The rep will transfer the call to his iPhone to start FaceTime and will go with you over the few features of FaceTime
The whole experience took about 5 minutes. I FaceTimed with a very fun and friendly girl. I asked her if she had already had some awkward ChatRoulette-style moments today and she confirmed that no one had showed her his penis yet... I guess it's just a matter of time.
FaceTime works great. It takes a few seconds to connect but once you're on, the sound is crystal clear and the video is of a very good quality.
Try it on!
Infographics: The Real Cost of iPhone 4 Ownership Compared to Other Smartphones
Are you curious to see how much the iPhone 4 stacks up against the other major smartphones in term of cost of ownership?
This nice infographics created by Bill Shrink puts the iPhone 4 side by side 3 Android phones and compares the cost of ownership over a 2 year period.
This shows that the iPhone is doing ok on the unlimited data plan, and it's actually the cheapest of them all in the Minimum Plan Total Cost category. It's worth noting that AT&T's minimum data plan will cap you at 200MB while other carriers still offer unlimited data plans.
Isn’t This The Most Original iPhone Skin Ever?
If this isn't the most original custom iPhone skin ever, then I don't know what it is. I found this by accident on Twitter and I assume it was made using Unique Skins.
What do you think?
7 Reasons the iPhone 4 Sucks
Every time Apple comes with a new iPhone, I try to write a post about why their latest device sucks. It's stronger than me. I like to be the devil's advocate. Just like I wrote an article about why the iPad sucks a few months ago, I wanted to write an article about why the iPhone 4 sucks.
This time though it was slightly different because I don't really think the iPhone 4 sux. Sure it has a few issues, but does it make it a sucky device? Absolutely not. I guess this article will cater to all the iPhone haters out there.
It has screen problemsIf you've read just a little bit about the new iPhone 4, you probably came across articles mentioning the yellow spots on the screen. My iPhone 4 screen is completely yellowish, which is pretty annoying for a $742.69 device... Apparently, this is just a temporary issue though.
The screen breaks easilyThere has been videos going around the web showing how the iPhone 4 screen, supposedly 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic, can be easily scratched or even broken. So much for the NASA technology that was used to build these screens...
The battery sucksEvery year Apple claims the battery is better than the previous iPhone's. Every year I find the same crappy battery life on my iPhone. My iPhone 4 battery sucks! It died after just about 24 hours of normal usage: no gaming, no video, just some light internet browsing and tweeting.
The antenna sucksI haven't had this issue but apparently the iPhone 4 antenna loses signal when then antenna band is touched. This is an isolated issue that has been reported by a few people. That's still pretty inconvenient for a new device...
The carrier sucksUnlike every iPhone blogger out there, I don't have anything against AT&T. The coverage in my hometown (Encinitas, CA) is excellent, except on the beach where no carrier has coverage anyway. However, it sucks that we are locked to only one carrier in the US. I am pro-choice. I don't care who gets the iPhone next, I just want to have the option to choose my carrier.
Apple's multitasking sucksApple's "fake multitasking" sucks for 2 reasons. For one, it's not real multitasking because not all apps can take advantage of it. Sure you can argue that multitasking drains the battery, but that's not the point here. Second reason why multitasking on the iPhone 4 sucks is because it quickly gets ugly in your app switching dock since Apple doesn't kill apps until the OS deems it necessary. At any time I have between 10 and 20 apps in my app switcher, making it very busy.
Storage limitation sucksOne of the big let downs of iPhone 4 is the storage limitation. Although Apple could have put 64GB of storage in there, they claim they didn't have the room for it. I think they just want to sell you a 64GB iPhone next year. That sucks because marketing is taking over customer needs.
Do you think the iPhone 4 sucks? Why? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
Breaking News: The iPhone 4 is Not Unbreakable
After yesterday's report that the iPhone 4 is indeed not as scratch resistant as Apple would like you to believe, here is a new proof that the iPhone 4 screen can break.
Well, duh! Of course the screen can break if you deliberately drop it 4 times in a row. Does it really take a genius to figure this one out?
This doesn't really prove anything to me. Like any other cellphone, the iPhone screen is subject to scratches and shattering.
What do you think?
iMovie for iPhone 4 Now Available for Download
iMovie, Apple's own video editing app for iPhone 4 is now available for download in the App Store. With the new iPhone 4 bringing HD recording in our hands, iMovie for iPhone becomes a must-have.
iMovie lets you create video postcards, movies, and more right from your iPhone. The app also lets you use preset themes and you can even add music from your iTunes library. After creating your movie, you can decide to share on YouTube, via email, MMS, or simply sync it with your computer.
The downside? iMovie is only available for iPhone 4. You can download iMovie from the App Store for $4.99.
Three Very Annoying Things on My iPhone 4
I've had my iPhone 4 for almost 24 hours now and passed the euphoria of the first few minutes with the device, I've actually noticed 3 very annoying details.
The yellowish screenRemember two years ago when the iPhone 3G came out and there were many reports of screens being yellowish? It seems me and many others are having the same issue once again.
Most people are reporting yellow spots or lines on their screen. My screen is just yellowish overall. It's not preventing me from doing anything but it's annoying.
I took a screenshot of the yellow screen but when I look at it on the computer, it just looks perfect, which is a proof that the problem is not from the software, but it comes from the hardware.
The loose home buttonAnother annoying issue I have is with the home button that feels a little loose. See, I can put my finger on it and move the button left and right. I can even feel the looseness of the button every time I hit it.
The weird noise insideI don't know exactly how I found this one but there is a strange noise going on inside the phone when I shake it. It's like there is a loose part in there. I had the exact same issue with my iPhone 3G two years ago.
What's next?Well, today is the official launch day so I'm not even going to go near an Apple Store but I think I'll make an appointment with a "Genius" maybe for Monday. I know for a fact that Apple has replacement iPhones available and I'm sure they'll give me a new 4 as soon as they get the phone in their hands.
If you've received your iPhone 4, have you experienced any of these issues?
Apple & AT&T May Prevent iPhone Jailbreak With OTA Updates
Ok people, take this one with a huge grain of salt but there is a rumor going around that says Apple and AT&T might be preventing iPhone jailbreaks on iOS 4 via OTA updates sent to your iPhone. Does that sound wacky? If not, read this "tip" that was sent to some unknown blog called Addictive Tips from a so-called Apple insider.
How it works is every 7 to 14 days We (Apple) and AT&T send a message to your iPhone that gathers some data from your iPhone without you knowing and we see what is running, baseband and firmware. We then send a following message. “There are optional updates for your iPhone, Would you like to install them now?” two options “Yes” or “Later”. Those are what would would call “OPTIONAL UPDATES”
Now there are things called “MANDATORY UPDATES”. They tend to work the same way, grab data from the iPhones sends it to AT&T and us then back to your iPhone with the message, “Your iPhone (name of iphone) must be updated to the current AT&T standards to run”, your only option is to “Accept” Now you can try to work your way around it until you get the second mandatory message again “You must plug iPhone into iTunes and update”
If you don’t do this you will then receive no Signal from the network anymore and your iPhone will potentially lock up with no signs of use until you update your iPhone via iTunes. You all agreed to this terms and condition when you installed iTunes 9.2 and then again once you updated to iOS4. With that being Said go ahead Try to unlock the iPhone it will only last 14 days max…
I think it's complete BS from a blog that wants its 5 minutes of fame but I thought it was still worth mentioning on the blog and see what you guys think about that.
But wait, that's not over. There is more controversy contained in this "leak". According to Addictive Tips:
AT&T shipped some iPhone 4 early to verify their OTA update system. Apple stealing user information via FaceTime, which lacks encryption. Some Apple employees who are aware of this situation are not updating to iOS 4.Does it sound wacky now? Of course it does! If it's true though, Apple and AT&T might have a lot of explaining to do...
What do you think? Do you buy into this?
[via TNW]
Apple Says White iPhone 4 Won’t Be Available Until Mid July
Those of you who are waiting for the White iPhone 4 shouldn't hold their breath. Apple just released a short statement in which it says the White iPhone won't be available until mid July.
White models of Apple’s new iPhone 4 have proven more challenging to manufacture than expected, and as a result they will not be available until the second half of July. The availability of the more popular iPhone 4 black models is not affected.
Now why is it harder to make an iPhone in white? I have no idea but it seems to me the color is not the issue here and that Apple is facing other challenges they'd rather not disclose.
At any rates, now you know that if you want a White iPhone 4, you're going to have to wait another month. Is that another "fail" to add to the list of this iPhone 4 launch?
iPhone 4 Reviews
Surprisingly, Apple didn't send me an iPhone 4 to review this year. I had to wait for the one I had pre-ordered, which I just received a few minutes ago. It seems I'm not the only tech blogger not having received a review version of the iPhone 4. The big loser at this game: Gizmodo, which let me remind you, had leaked all the details of the new iPhone 4 and was thus left out of receiving an iPhone 4 to review a few days ago.
A few other tech blogs and newspapers did receive their iPhone 4 review unit, and you know what? Most of the iPhone 4 reviews are pretty positive. I guess if Apple deemed me important enough to send me a free iPhone to review days before the rest of the world can get it, I might feel compelled to giving a somewhat positive review to the device as well.
Sarcasm apart, there has been 6 official reviews of the iPhone 4 published since yesterday, and yes, they're all pretty good. My favorite might be Engadget's review which I think was the most comprehensive.
I won't be doing a formal review of the iPhone 4. I will however give you my impressions in a few days, once I have played with it enough to make informed comments and remarks.
Here are 6 iPhone 4 reviews worth a look:
Engadget BGR Boing Boing Wall Street Journal NY Times USA TodayDon't read these reviews if you're still waiting for your iPhone 4. They'll make you want it even more!