iPhone OS 3.1.3 now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Handhelds, Software

Apple has just released an iPhone firmware update in iPhone OS 3.1.3. It’s basically a big fix release, focusing on:

• Improving accuracy of reported battery level on iPhone 3GS
• Resolves issues where third-party apps would not launch
• Fixes bug that may cause an app to crash when using Japanese Kana keyboard

Doesn’t seem like a huge deal, but for those of you who like your iPhone to be fresh, there you have it.

• Tools:
• Share on Facebook
• Digg This
• Comments (2)
• Email this story

Analyst: iPhone will soon be available on all US wireless carriers

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Handhelds, Rumors

Gotta love those analysts, as they’re always good for stirring the rumor mill - this time it’s BusinessWeek reporting claims that Apple will likely be ending it’s exclusive relationship with AT&T in order to bring the iPhone to all major US carriers. According to Tim Horan, telecommunications analyst at Oppenheimer & Co., T-Mobile USA should have the iPhone available this summer (whatever the follow-up to the iPhone 3GS turns out to be,) with Verizon and Sprint getting the goods this fall. Even Clearwire will be able to get in on the action, as they are expected to get the iPhone sometime in 2011. Of course, AT&T has been the exclusive carrier of the iPhone since it launched in June 2007.

Of course, Apple has the perfect opportunity to announce changes like this if they’d like, as they’ve got what many are predicting to be a colossal Apple event on January 27th, just two days from now. We’ll keep you posted.

Read More | BusinessWeek

• Tools:
• Share on Facebook
• Digg This
• Comments (0)
• Email this story

How to fix the Nexus One 3G issue

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Handhelds, Wireless / WiFi

If you’re a Nexus One owner, you may be well aware of the 3G issue that the device has, where it won’t connect to (or stay connected to) 3G, constantly falling back to EDGE. We know not all have experienced this oddity, but it’s enough of a problem that we’ve been getting emails about it, asking if there was a fix. Luckily, Kevin Tofel over at jkOnTheRun seems to have figured out a fix, and it’s simple to do:

• Go into Settings
• Select “Wireless & Networks”
• Choose the “Mobile Networks” option near the bottom
• Go into the “Network Operators” section. The Nexus One will do a search for GSM networks around you.
• When the search is complete, tap the “Select Automatically” option. The phone should respond with “Registered on network.”

That should do it! According to Kevin, he hasn’t been able to get 3G access from his home in the 10 days that he’s had the device. After doing the above, he’s been speeding along on 3G non-stop, even after reboots. If you’re experiencing similar issues, give it a try, and let us know how it works for you!

Read More | jkOnTheRun

• Tools:
• Share on Facebook
• Digg This
• Comments (14)
• Email this story

iPhone OS 4.0 to arrive 1/27 with new interface, multitasking?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Handhelds, Rumors, Software

Our pals over at Boy Genius Report are saying they’ve received some inside information about the iPhone OS 4.0, which is heavily rumored to debut, and possibly even be released, at the Apple event on January 27th. Here’s what they are saying about iPhone OS 4.0:

• There will be multi-touch gestures OS-wide. (Would make sense for that as the rumored OS for the iTablet is close if not the same as the iPhone)
• “A few new ways” to run applications in the background—multitasking.
• Many graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient. We haven’t had this broken down, but we can only hope for improved notifications, a refreshed homescreen, etc.
• The update will supposedly be available for only the iPhone 3G and 3GS, but will “put them ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers” more than any other phone to date. Everyone is “really excited.”
• The last piece of information is the most vague, but apparently there will be some brand new syncing ability for the contacts and calendar applications.

As far as we’re concerned, we think that a graphical and UI interface refresh is definitely needed for the iPhone, which hasn’t really seen any major interface changes since it launched. Of course, we will be bringing you all the new on January 27th as it happens.

• Tools:
• Share on Facebook
• Digg This
• Comments (1)
• Email this story

Square’s iPhone credit card swiping device in action

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Cell Phones, Handhelds, Videos

Remember that awesome iPhone credit card processing device from Square that we told you about a few weeks ago? Well, Kevin Rose just put up a video showing the Square app and iPhone hardware in action. Give the video above a look, as it’s definitely pretty slick. However, we’d love to see them make that credit card dongle a bit more stable before launch. The product is still in beta, but we can’t wait to see this go mainstream.

Read More | Kevin Rose

• Tools:
• Share on Facebook
• Digg This
• Comments (0)
• Email this story

Top 10 Gear Live Videos of 2009

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Features, Handhelds, Music, PC / Laptop, Software, Video Games, Videos

2009 is just about over, and we are just in time with our annual top 10 list of the most-watched Gear Live video episodes. Over the past year, as expected, there was a bunch of Apple gear that made the list, but Microsoft gets the top two spots with our Xbox 360 dashboard tour, and the Zune HD hands-on preview. Also getting an honorable mention is the Motorola DROID and Elgato Turbo.264 transcoding device.

Oh, and if you wanna be sure to get our new video episodes as they come out in 2010, be sure to subscribe to us in iTunes, on YouTube, or in your RSS reader!

Click to continue reading Top 10 Gear Live Videos of 2009

• Tools:
• Share on Facebook
• Digg This
• Comments (0)
• Email this story

8GB iPhone 3GS on the way?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Handhelds, Rumors

It looks like Apple is getting ready to replace the aging 8GB iPhone 3G that currently sells for $99 with a newer iPhone 3GS model, if their packaging is to be believed. A user on the German apfetalk discussion forum posted the image above, which is the label on the iPhone 3G 8GB box, and while he did receive a regular iPhone 3G, the box clearly says “iPhone 3GS v2.2 8GB” and has us thinking that Apple is finally ready to have the entire product line fall under the 3GS brand. Heck, the 8GB iPhone 3GS is a year-and-a-half old now, and we all know that Apple is set to release an all new iPhone model this summer, so it all makes sense to us.

• Tools:
• Share on Facebook
• Digg This
• Comments (0)
• Email this story

Is Verizon encouraging AT&T users to partake in Operation Chokehold?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi

My pal Matt Hickey from over at Crave has seemingly connected a few dots as it pertains to the battle between AT&T and Verizon, and this whole Fake Steve Jobs “Operation Chokehold” stunt aimed at taking down the AT&T Wireless data network this Friday afternoon. In case you are unfamiliar, Fake Steve proposed that AT&T customers load up bandwidth-intensive apps on Friday at noon, all at the same time, to saturate the AT&T network to a point of failure as a way of expressing they they are fed up with the horrible performance of the network. Thing is, one of my other pals, John Czwartacki, who just happens to be a contributor to the Verizon Policy Blog and a prolific Verizon personality on Twitter, linked to the movement via a tweet. Some are seeing this as a Verizon official condoning, or possibly even encouraging, the whole “Operation Chokehold” act.

Personally? We think that this is more of a finger pointing statement. It’s John saying “Haha - look at AT&T - their users are so fed up that they want to crush the service that they pay for! Tee hee! Verizon customers wouldn’t do that to us!” What do you think? Was John, and thusly Verizon, out of line here? Either way, we can stomach the rivalry that is happening in the television commercials…but let’s keep the battle outside of our Twitter streams, okay guys?

Edit: John Czwartacki just hit me with an email, pointing out that he certainly doesn’t condone this behavior at all, and even said as much in a few tweets that followed. He was simply linking to industry news, as he normally does. He thinks that if customers are fed up with AT&T, they should vote with their wallets. We agree.

Read More | Crave

• Tools:
• Share on Facebook
• Digg This
• Comments (2)
• Email this story

AT&T boosts Seattle-area 3G coverage with 850 MHz spectrum

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Cell Phones, Wireless / WiFi

This morning AT&T announced that they’ve done a “substantial upgrade” of its 3G coverage in the Seattle area, having deployed additional wireless spectrum using the 850 MHz band. According to AT&T, the upgrade should mean that customers in Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Renton, Auburn, and King County should all have better 3G connectivity, performance, and the signal should be much stronger when indoors as well. The move should also increase overall network capacity, which AT&T is hoping will support subscriber growth.

Since Gear Live HQ is located smack-dab in the middle of the enhanced coverage area, we’ll be giving things a try, and we will let you know if the use of 850 MHz spectrum truly helps the dire situation that is AT&T coverage. Seattle iPhone 3GS and 3G users, give it your best!

Read More | AT&T News Room

• Tools:
• Share on Facebook
• Digg This
• Comments (0)
• Email this story

Black Friday 2009: Office Depot ad

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Cameras, Cell Phones, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Hot Deals, Movies, PC / Laptop, Portable Audio / Video, Wireless / WiFi

Alright, we are scrounging together all of the Black Friday 2009 ads and deals that we can find, and bringing them to you one-by-one in order to help you make your shopping decisions, and we are starting with Office Depot, which actually has a few surprising items that are fairly attractive, if you ask us. Go ahead and check out the list after the break. Also check out our Newegg posts, for items you can buy from the warmth of your chair, as opposed to lining up outside in the cold. Hey, to each their own.

Click to continue reading Black Friday 2009: Office Depot ad

Read More | Black Friday Info

• Tools:
• Share on Facebook
• Digg This
• Comments (0)
• Email this story