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mobile
March 8, 2011
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Korea’s SK Telecom announces availability of iPhone 4 [Update]

By on March 8, 2011 at 2:23 PM.

Korea’s SK Telecom announces availability of iPhone 4 [Update]

Earlier today, Korea’s largest mobile operator, SK Telecom, announced the availability of Apple’s iPhone. Pre-registration for the smartphone begins on March 9th at 7:00AM via online and retail sales channels — the device will go on sale March 16th. “SK Telecom is proud to offer iPhone 4 on the nation’s top network,” said the company’s co-CEO, So Jin-Woo. “Our customers will benefit from flexible tariff plans tailored to their unique usage needs along with a high level of customer care.” The company plans to announce full pricing details “soon.” Hit the jump for the full press release.
More →

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Breaking
March 3, 2011
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Apple seeds iOS 4.3 Gold Master to developers

By on March 3, 2011 at 2:14 PM.

Apple seeds iOS 4.3 Gold Master to developers

Just one day after its official unveiling, Apple has made iOS 4.3 Gold Master, build 8F190 (called it!) available to developers. The code adds support for mobile hotspot creation, third-party AirPlay access, along with a host of other improvements. The update is available to those with Apple Developer accounts and supports iPad, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and the 3rd and 4th generation iPod touch models. Those of you with developer accounts, enjoy!

Thanks, @CDeeRON!

11 Comments
mobile
February 14, 2011
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Texas Instrument pushing for a more engaging ‘smart device’ experience

By on February 14, 2011 at 4:23 PM.

Texas Instrument pushing for a more engaging ‘smart device’ experience

Today at Mobile World Congress, mobile processor juggernaut Texas Instrument held a press event to offer some additional details about its OMAP 4 and 5 processor lines. Greg Delagi, the company’s senior vice president and general manager, gave the keynote — which took place right on the showroom floor. He emphatically talked about the need to push the capabilities of “smart devices” forward while being mindful of the constraints battery technology puts on the industry. Both RIM and LG were brought on stage — the PlayBook and Optimus 3D both use the OMAP 4 platform — and they too heralded the headway TI is making with its system on a chip (SoC) OMAP processors. The company even has technology in place that will bring cost effective, power efficient gesture recognition and Pico DLP technology to a wider array of smartphones and smart devices; it works just like the Kinect. We have some video of the motion-based gesture recognition, in action running on prototype hardware after the break, along with some of Mr. Delagi’s thoughts on why OMAP is such an effective mobile processor. More →

4 Comments
mobile
February 10, 2011
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Verizon iPhone 4 hits store shelves today

By on February 10, 2011 at 8:28 AM.

Verizon iPhone 4 hits store shelves today

Just a friendly reminder to all those looking to pick up an iPhone from Verizon Wireless: the device officially hits store shelves today. Those coveting a CDMA iPhone can hit up Apple Stores, Best Buys, Walmarts, and, of course, Verizon Wireless retail locations with credit card in hand. Good luck and happy hunting.

166 Comments
General
January 13, 2011
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Developers target end of February for Firefox 4 release

By on January 13, 2011 at 4:26 AM.

Developers target end of February for Firefox 4 release

In a note to fellow developers, Mozilla team member Damon has declared the end of February as the target ship-date for Firefox version 4.0.0. The post reads:

Over the past several days, component leads have again reduced their blockers by identifying hard blockers and those we can live without.  We’ve around 160 hard blockers remaining, and historically it has taken us six weeks to reach RC once we have 100 blockers left.  We must press hard now.

Damon goes on to write that the first release candidate of Firefox 4 should be out by the beginning of February with a final version shipped before the month’s close. Anyone out there anxiously awaiting the release of FF4? More →

17 Comments
mobile
January 11, 2011
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Hands-on with the Verizon iPhone’s personal hotspot feature

By on January 11, 2011 at 12:46 PM.

Hands-on with the Verizon iPhone’s personal hotspot feature

We just spent some more time with the Verizon iPhone’s one added feature — a feature that is sure to make GSM iPhone owners jealous — the personal hotspot. The mobile hotspot implementation on the CDMA iPhone is, like all things Apple, pretty simple and takes little effort to get up and running. There’s a blue notification bar that appears on the top of the device’s screen that shows you how many clients are connected and a simple interface to toggle the hotspot on and off and set the password. Mobile hotspot functionality will be available on the Verizon iPhone at launch for an extra monthly fee — likely $20 to line up with other similar services.

Has the addition of the mobile hotspot pushed any of you current iPhone owners over the edge? Ready to switch?

We’ve taken a few more candids for you to take a look at.

54 Comments
Breaking
January 11, 2011
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Verizon announces addition of Apple’s iPhone 4 to handset lineup; available February 10th

By on January 11, 2011 at 11:10 AM.

Verizon announces addition of Apple’s iPhone 4 to handset lineup; available February 10th

At a planned media event today, the nation’s largest wireless carrier — Verizon Wireless — announced the addition of Apple’s iPhone 4 to its smartphone handset lineup. Lowell McAdam, Verizon Wireless’ president and CEO, saying “if the press writes about something for long enough and hard enough, eventually it comes true,” introduced the oft-fabled device.

The iPhone 4 will remain largely unchanged and carry the same feature-set as its GSM counterpart — with the addition of a “CDMA optimized” antenna and mobile hotspot capabilities. The device will be available for the same price points — $199 for 16GB and $299 for 32GB — and will be available to the general public on February 10th with pre-orders starting on the 3rd (sound familiar?).

The day has come. The iPhone has been announced on a second U.S. carrier. Now, who’s picking one up and who’s making the switch? Full press release is after the break. More →

91 Comments
mobile
January 7, 2011
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Wall Street Journal: Verizon announcing iPhone on the 11th

By on January 7, 2011 at 5:44 PM.

Wall Street Journal: Verizon announcing iPhone on the 11th

Perhaps you’re one of those people who prefer a second opinion on things. Be it where you’re eating dinner, what movie you’re going to see, or what cell phone Verizon is going to announce on January 11th, you like validation from a third party. The Wall Street Journal has just published a report — citing “a person familiar with the matter” — that states Verizon will indeed pull the curtain on the fabled Verizon iPhone. There you have it, reaffirmation from an additional media outlet. Any skeptics still out there? More →

117 Comments
Retail
December 28, 2010
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RadioShack continues $50 iPhone discount; additional incentives for iPhone trade-ins

By on December 28, 2010 at 5:48 PM.

RadioShack continues $50 iPhone discount; additional incentives for iPhone trade-ins

RadioShack’s $50 iPhone discount promotion was, according to the company, wildly successful. How successful you ask? The Shack’s PR team hit us up to boast that a “record setting number of phones” were sold earlier in the month. And what better way to stave off the holiday sales hangover than to keep the discounts coming, no? “Starting Wednesday, December 29, RadioShack will offer $50 off every iPhone 4 16G and iPhone 3G S for new and eligible upgrade customers while supplies last,” reads an email sent to BGR. If you happen to be upgrading from an iPhone 3G or 3GS, The Shack is offering additional savings to those willing to trade in your old iDevice. “Qualifying iPhone 3G and 3G S handsets will have a guaranteed trade-in credit of $75 and $125, respectively.” To qualify your device has to “power on, cannot be PIN locked and must be in fully functional, working condition without any broken components.” iPhone 3GS upgraders would be able to acquire a 16GB iPhone 4 for a measly $24 after the $50 instant discount and $125 trade-in credit. Not too shabby. The deal does not have a set end-date, but RadioShack does note that interested parties should call their local store to check product availability.

13 Comments
Accessories
November 24, 2010
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Mophie case keeps your iPhone charged without impeding on your style

By on November 24, 2010 at 7:27 AM.

Mophie case keeps your iPhone charged without impeding on your style

The gang over at mophie, a company that makes a variety of power products for mobile devices, was kind enough to loan us a juice pack air for the iPhone 4. For those unfamiliar, the juice pack is a slide-on case that packs an extra 1500mAh battery for those times when power is at a premium. Although the case does add a fair amount of weight and depth to your iPhone, it also nearly doubles the battery life. We took the case with us when traveling to several events — where we were using our jailbroken iPhone 4 to tether via Wi-Fi — and the amount of time the juice air pack allowed us to use our handset without the need for a wall outlet was truly impressive. When the case is fully charged, activating its battery can almost completely replenish the battery of your iPhone 4. This allows you to use your device until the iPhone 4′s original charge is spent and for two hours while the case recharges the iPhone. Once the case is out of juice, your iPhone is left with somewhere between 80% and 90% of its reserve and you’re ready to rock and roll again.

Yesterday, mophie announced that the juice pack air will be available in two new colors — red and white (insert white iPhone 4 joke here) — and the case retails for $79.95. The company also makes several non-case, universal juice packs with a standard USB connection for other power-hungry devices. If you’re looking for a gift for a gadget-geek this holiday season, you might want to consider a mophie power pack. More →

28 Comments
Software
November 22, 2010
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Google begins to roll out Gmail call recording to some users

By on November 22, 2010 at 9:00 PM.

Google begins to roll out Gmail call recording to some users

It looks like search giant Google has started to roll out a new feature to its Gmail users that also utilize Google Voice. The new functionality allows Google Voice users, receiving a call from within Gmail, to record the voice conversation. Blog TechCrunch is reporting that some users have begun to see a new “record” button show up in Gmail’s call window. The feature has been available to Google Voice users for quite some time by hitting the number “4″ on your phone’s dial-pad after receiving an inbound call. After activating call recording, both parties are notified that the conversation is being recorded with a verbal queue. Google has yet to publish a press release announcing the feature or detailing when it will be rolled out to all users. Anyone have the new feature in Gmail yet? More →

7 Comments
Breaking
November 18, 2010
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Apple seeds iOS 4.2.1 Gold Master candidate to developers

By on November 18, 2010 at 3:20 PM.

Apple seeds iOS 4.2.1 Gold Master candidate to developers

Probably not the iOS 4.2 announcement you were hoping for, but it is an announcement nonetheless. Moments ago, Apple seeded another gold master candidate of iOS 4.2 — 4.2.1 — to developers via its iOS Dev Center. Presumably, the new code fixes several bugs that have been reported in the first 4.2 GM candidate; including a fairly nasty Wi-Fi bug affecting iPads. If you’re a member of Apple’s developer network, you know what to do. Everyone else… the waiting continues.

16 Comments
Accessories
November 3, 2010
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BGR Giveaway: Bioserie iPhone 4 cases

By on November 3, 2010 at 5:19 PM.

BGR Giveaway: Bioserie iPhone 4 cases

Apple has officially ended their iPhone 4 Case Program, but we know some of you still want — nay need — a case for your shiny, attenuating, iDevice. The folks at bioserie were kind enough to send us four, bioplastic, iPhone 4 cases to give away to you, our beloved readers. The skinny on the eco-friendly case is this: it’s made from plants, not petrochemicals, it’s light, weighing in at only 12 grams, and it will help cover that “sweet spot” on your iPhone 4 that makes your signal meter jump around like a Jack Russell terrier when touched. How do I win one of the cases you ask? It’s simple:

1. Follow us on Twitter and give our Facebook page a “like” (yes, both).
2. Leave a comment on this post (make sure you register your comment with your actual email address as this is how we’ll contact you).
3. That’s it!

The contest will run until Friday, November 5 at 11:59PM ET. Multiple entries will disqualify you and we’ll contact the winners via email on Monday November 8th. We have cases in red, light green, dark green, and orange; be sure to leave a color preference in your comment if you have one. Good luck!

UPDATE: Congrats to Adam, Kemal, Omar, and Ricky… our bioserie case winners!

115 Comments