3G or not 3G: WHERE is the question

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Wireless, iPhone

With all of the excitement about the 3G iPhone, one question you should ask yourself is “Am I actually in an area with AT&T HSDPA 3G service?” After all, a 3G iPhone will only poke along at EDGE (or even, God forbid, GPRS) speeds unless it is in a 3G service area.

Fortunately, AT&T Wireless has a list of the major markets that have HSDPA service. Unfortunately, you have to go through the list by state and city name before you can actually click on a map and see if your house or office is in a zone of 3G love. My house, which has sucky AT&T service at this time, is allegedly in a 3G-happy area (blue on the screenshot). That’s the good news. The bad news is that I’m right near the border of one of those orange zones, which indicate no 3G service.

My sister currently enjoys EDGE service in her home town of Richland, WA, but is anxious to get her iPhone connected with 3G service. I hate to tell her that she’s not on the list.

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Telstra Exec’s 42Mbps iPhone Claims Are All But Impossible

A Telstra—iPhone’s carrier in Australia—senior executive, has declared that “by Xmas (the iPhone) will be capable of 42Mbps, which will make it faster than a lot of broadband offerings and the fastest iPhone on any network in the world.” While Telstra’s network may reach that speed in 2009, his claim seems nothing but hot air and kangaroo dung, for a long list of reasons, starting with the iPhone’s alleged baseband chip—the Infineon’s S-GOLD3, which tops at 7.2Mbps.

There are no 14.4Mbps baseband chips commercially available in the market now—much less back when the new 3G iPhone development started
• In fact, there are no HDSPA-based mobile devices of any kind supporting more than 7.2Mbps at this point, and even those are still not common.
• Any 14.4Mbps mobile devices won’t hit the market until 2009.
• 24 and 42Mbps mobile devices are, at this point, nothing but a hot fantasy that won’t materialize until the next decade.

The 3G baseband chip most likely to be in the iPhone 3G is the Infineon S-Gold 3.
• The iPhone beta firmware code specifically mentions the Infineon S-GOLD 3.
• There have been multiple press and analysts’ reports about Infineon getting the contract for the next version, continuing its relationship with Apple—right now the iPhone uses the Infineon S-GOLD 2 as its baseband chip.

The S-GOLD 3 tops at 7.2Mbps.

S-GOLD 3 Multimode - HSDPA, WCDMA, E-GPRS Baseband IC with embedded multimedia functions; launch in the market Q3 2007 HSDPA 7.2Mbps, WCDMA 384kbps class UL/DL & EDGE multislot class 12, including SAIC/DARP support

So yes, the Telstra network may support 14.4mbps devices, but most likely—and unless there were five million supersecret 42Mbps baseband chips that nobody knows about, hidden in an subaquatic lair in the Pacific—the iPhone 3G, already well into production ahead of its June 9 launch, will not support those speeds for a very long time to come.

Maybe the unnamed Telstra senior executive is implying that, next Xmas, Apple will introduce an iPhone with a radically redesigned motherboard using that supersecret baseband chip that nobody knows about right now. Or maybe he’s just a clown.

I’ll take Kangaroo dung for $500. [Channel News]

Apple Receives 188 Mysterious Cargo Containers: 3G iPhones, New MacBooks or the Finest Colombian Snow?

I think that the obsessive drive to be omnisciently aware of everything Apple is plotting has officially gone from a little crazy to completely silly. People are tracking their bowel movements cargo shipments, and apparently the latest batch has 188 containers from Asian supplier Hon Hai and Quanta Computers, mysteriously marked “electric computers,” a label that they’ve never used before. Ack! Combined with the fact that “desktop computer” labeled shipments haven’t dropped, ImportGenius, the dudes who monitor this stuff, are therefore convinced it’s the 3G iPhone.

Or new MacBooks. The first shipment came in on March 27, which seems a bit early, unless they’re really, really stockpiling to meet demand. Or it could just be a whole bunch of blow and June 9 will be the biggest party ever. [ImportGenius via Fortune]

Vegas Hearts
The card game of hearts, for your iPhone or iPod touch.http://www.tictacwhoa.com/hearts.html

iPhone Cases Go Head to Head in Battlemodo Arena

Personally, I have never been big into phone cases. They can be bulky, flimsy, and having one clipped to your belt makes most people look like a tool. I prefer to let them hang out naked and free—as nature intended. Still, iPhones don’t come cheap, and if you dropped all that cash on one you are certainly justified in wanting to protect it from the elements. That is why I have put four major iPhone cases (the Case-mate leather collection, the Otterbox Defender Series, the Ivyskin Xylo T2 Touch-Thru Case and the iShield Mirror) to the test in an effort to determine whether or not they will truly fit your needs.

The case-mate leather collection:

The leather collection from Case-mate comes in both a variety of styles and colors that include line leather, croc-embossed leather and carbon fiber leather versions (the Black Croc-Embossed Leather iPhone Case/Holster Combo is pictured here). They are branded as luxury models with prices to match (line leather $49.99, croc-leather $59.99 and carbon fiber $69.99 for combo versions). All of the cases include a holster, screen protecting film and a design that features leather wrapped around an impact-resistant plastic shell—which makes them basically the same in terms of shape and protection. So, if you dig this style of case, the decision is going to come down to the leather used.

I found that all of the versions lived up to their luxury status in terms of materials and craftsmanship. Protection is going to be good but not great considering that the top is completely exposed and the screen is protected by nothing more than a simple scratch resistant film, but it should do the job for normal wear and tear. That holster is a friggin’ beast though, so if you don’t need to clip this to your belt you are better off saving a little cash and purchasing case-only. Case-mate’s Naked Case was also tapped for this review, but units are hard to come by. Look for a stand-alone review soon.

Otterbox Defender Series:

Out of all the cases reviewed, the Otterbox is going to offer the highest degree of impact, dust, scratch and water resistance. It features multiple layers of protection with a hard-shell case that covers the body of the phone, a thin plastic membrane that covers the screen, camera and Apple logo, and a rubber jacket. It allows access to all of the iPhone’s controls (except the silence switch) and if you lead an active, rugged lifestyle, the Otterbox should stand up to punishment—just don’t expect this thing to be completely waterproof. While the rubber layer does fold into the iPhone’s open ports and there is a mesh over the speakers and microphone, it is not designed to be submerged in water.

Naturally, with the plastic case covering the screen itself, you are going to have to deal with the occasional air pocket, touchscreen command error and blurry photograph—but these issues do not represent much of a problem. However, I did manage to rip the rubber outer casing inside the first day of using it, so I have my doubts about the long-term durability of that layer. It is also very bulky, but that is to be expected with a case that offers this type of protection. All in all I would say that the Otterbox’s $50 price tag is a little steep—if only for that issue with the rubber outer layer. Also available in a yellow version.

Ivyskin Xylo T2 Touch-Thru Case:

Ivyskin is heavily touting their Surface Xylo Wave (SXW) technology as a “breakthrough” given the fact that it allows for normal touchscreen operation through a hard-shell case. But, to be honest, I found that the Otterbox, the Xylo and the iShield mirror are all basically the same in this respect. The plastic covering the skin on all three cases is extremely thin and offers protection that will hold up to scratches and light impacts. I would say that the screen on the Xylo is the thickest of the bunch, but I doubt that it will offer a substantial increase in protection over the other two devices. They also deliver the same amount of accuracy with the touchscreen—that is to say you will occasionally find yourself double-tapping to type or open up a link, but it does not represent much of a problem. When it comes right down to it, the technology works well.

As for the case itself, the Xylo T2 is made of a basic polycarbonate, which is like wrapping the phone in a form-fitting jewel-box. It will provide adequate protection against minor damage, but don’t expect it to withstand a jarring impact. However, if you are looking for full protection against everyday wear and tear it will do the job with a design that does not add a ton of thickness to the phone itself. Not bad for $34.99. Also available in a variety of colors.

iShield Mirror:

Finally, the iShield Mirror is basically the same case as the Xylo T2 but the plastic covering the touchscreen is thinner, and it offers a gimmicky film on the surface that allows it to function as a mirror when the phone is not in use. To be honest, the images in the mirror end up being too distorted to make it functional, and the film renders the screen image fuzzy in low light and nearly invisible in the sunlight. So, if you are looking for a case of this type, I suggest getting over yourself and ditching the mirror functionality for the Xylo T2—especially since it will only cost you $5 more.

Conclusion:

With the exception of the iShield Mirror, I can confidently recommend all of these cases. I found myself using the Xylo T2 the most in everyday situations because of its small form factor and complete screen coverage and the Otterbox while I was out mountain biking on the trails. But the Case-mate leather collection was the most physically attractive option by far. In the end, it will really boil down to the lifestyle you lead, how much you are willing to spend and your personal preferences. [case-mate and Ivyskin Xylo T2 and Otterbox and iShield Mirror]

Multitouch, multiscreen iPod touch Pong

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Software, iPhone

On first glance, it looks like the game is even checking orientation of the iPods, but if you watch it a little further, when things go faster, you can see that it’s actually just pushing the ball from screen to screen as it leaves. Still, if nothing else, a quick demo like this shows that multiple Touches (via a certain website, or on the same WiFi network, maybe, or — hopefully — just in close proximity to one another through Bluetooth or another protocol) can easily be made to connect multiplayer gamers.

As a demo, very nice (and it seems fun as a game as well). Can’t wait to see a full-featured game that takes advantage of all of the iPhone’s connectivity options.

[Via Waxy]

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More Job Hunting at Apple: RF Engineer With WiMax, Mobile TV and 3G Experience

Another intriguing job opportunity at Cupertino today is for a senior RF System Engineer. Unlike the GPS one, it’s not iPhone specific. Here are the chops you need: “Knowledge about Bluetooth, 3G, UWB, WiMAX, GPS, Mobile TV and similar wireless technologies and/or experience with wireless module integration into PC system or consumer products is a strong plus.” Man, I bet all that would be swell in an iPhone or notebook or mini-tablet. [Apple via MacNN]

iPhone 2 Advertisement Being Shot Today?

I’ve got it on good authority that an iPhone ad is being shot today by a big name director. It’s probably Apple’s traditional ad agency, and the only thing that my source and I can’t confirm is whether this is for iPhone 2 or the first gen. I’m guessing it’s for the second generation given the scope of the ad’s resources and the timing.

iPhoneDevCamp 2 now open for registration
Attention all iPhone developers, and would-be iPhone developers: registration for the second iPhoneDevCamp is now online. This three day not-for-profit gathering takes place August 1-3 at Adobe Systems in San Francisco. Over at the mothership, Jim Dalrymple has more on the conference, including input from one of its founders….

Wired Editor Drops, Destroys RAZR on Live TV

Wired Senior Editor Nick Thompson was on the Today Show this morning talking about why the N95 and iPhone are the best high-end phones and the RAZR is the best cheap phone. OK, fair enough. Unfortunately for Nick, when he dropped the RAZR to the floor to demonstrate its durability, it ended up getting destroyed in the process. It’s a sound and sight I’m sure many of you former RAZR owners are familiar with. Well, I guess it proved your point, Nick: the RAZR is cheap. Very cheap. [Boing Boing Gadgets]

iPhone vs. BlackBerry Bold: The Side-by-Side Photos and Video

The 3G iPhone and the BlackBerry Bold are two of the most buzzed-about phones due out this year. And while we don’t have any shots of the new iPhone, it’s a safe assumption that it won’t look all that much different than the current model. With that in mind, the folks from The iPhone Blog have taken a bunch of comparison shots and some video of the Bold and the iPhone together, showing us just how the two compare. Hey, I didn’t realize the BlackBerry had a keyboard and the iPhone didn’t! You learn something new every day. Hit the jump for the unsurprisingly-biased yet in-depth video and follow the source link at the bottom for the large gallery.

[The iPhone Blog]

Hope Everybody Likes Touchscreens…

This year, 341 million touchscreens will ship worldwide. But according to research firm iSuppli, we ain’t seen nothing yet. Because by 2012, they claim that these shipments will double (682 million units) with the people of 2013 loving touchscreens even more (833 million units for a market of $6.4 billion). If you’re one of those people who hates touchscreen technology, it might be a good time to exit the planet. Sorry. [PCWorld]

Ownersite Mobile
Ownersite is a web-based tool that simplifies the logging and sharing of vehicle maintenance, fuel usage and expenses. It features: - Track fuel usage and fuel economy details - Compare fuel economy to EPA estimates and other Ownersite users - Increase resale value by documenting and sharing vehicle maintenance history and receipts - Receive recall notifications when they are […]

Apple Files Patent To Put Solar Cells on Portable Devices

Is Apple planning on giving their MacBooks, iPods and possibly the iPhone a solar powered boost of energy? Doubtful—but we know they have thought about it thanks to a recently published patent for “solar cells on portable devices.” According to the patent, Apple would completely cover a device in a thin layer of solar cells—including the display to maximize the amount of power that the device could harness from the sun.

Motorola has already toyed with an idea involving infusing their LCDs with solar panels, and to be honest, most if not all of the major companies out there have at least investigated the possibilities. However, given the limitations of solar power, it seems unlikely that a major manufacturer would go this route in the near future. [Patent Filing Forbes and MacRumors via Inhabitat]

MailCoaster
MailCoaster is a fast and easy email application for iPhone and iPod Touch. - Login to your regular mail account - Scroll through and read your latest messages - View attachments - Compose, forward, or reply to messages - and more … MailCoaster works with regular POP/POP3 and IMAP accounts as well as popular Webmail systems from Hotmail, MSN, AOL, Gmail, […]