Jun 06
Filed under: Wireless
Jun 06
Filed under: Cellphones
We have it from a reliable source that a version of the 3G iPhone's firmware has been released -- possibly for carrier partners currently field-testing the device -- and has since been dissected. While nothing is ever guaranteed, we think we got more than enough information the low-level hardware and drivers that run the device to make some informed conclusions about what we can expect: quad-band GSM support (as we currently have), A-GPS (as we'd already gotten from another source), and tri-band UMTS / HSDPA -- which would make the new iPhone(s) 3G-capable in just about every market in the world. Hardware details after the break. We're through the looking-glass, people!
Continue reading 3G iPhone firmware leaked: tri-band HSDPA and GPS are go
Permalink | Email this | CommentsJun 06
Engadget has an unnamed source who claims the firmware of iPhone 2.0 confirms 3G and GPS will be present. The HSDPA will be tri-band, meaning it will work pretty much anywhere. The source backs up this claim by listing components that will be in the phone, including Sony antennas, 3G processors, transceivers and amplifiers, Arm 11 CPU and an UMTS on/off switch for power saving. Seems like there's less and less to doubt about iPhone 2.0. [Engadget]
Jun 06
Anything can happen at this year's WWDC, but chances are most of the Apple faithful out there are interested in either a new Macbook, OS X 10.6 or the 3G iPhone. Again, we don't know for sure what will be unveiled, but given a choice, which one of these products do you want the most?
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Jun 06
Filed under: Cellphones
It looks like Hop-On isn't resting on its laurels after letting is $10 "anti-iPhone" loose last month, with the budget-minded company now also set to release no less than six new handsets in its 1800 series, all of which will come in under $125. At the top end of that lot is the HOP1801 smartphone, which the company says will be the lowest cost smartphone on the market, although it unfortunately doesn't seem to be ready to provide any more details than that just yet. That'll be joined by the HOP1803 "Ultra Low Price" GSM tri-band phone, the HOP1805 model for emerging markets, and the HOP1810 GSM dual-band cameraphone, all of which are equally light on specifics at the moment. Boasting a few more details are the HOP1808 cameraphone, which will boast support for dual SIM cards and optional Bluetooth, and the HOP1809 3G cameraphone, which will apparently come with Bluetooth as standard and boast Java support. No indication of a release date for any of 'em just yet though, nor is there any word as to exactly how each will fall in that $10 to $125 bracket.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Jun 06
With the WWDC kickoff only days away and the launch of the 3G iPhone imminent, many hardcore geeks will brave the elements outside of their local Apple store in an attempt to be among the first to score a shiny new phone. If you happen to be one of those geeks, the following tips and gadgets will help you survive the crowds and emerge victorious.
•Tip #1: Stay informed. Waiting in lines for hours on end to purchase gadgets is borderline crazy. Waiting for gadgets that may not actually show up to the party is full-on crazy.
•Tip #2: Make sure things are cool at work. The iPhone is great and everything, but it is not worth losing your job over. Make sure you have the vacation time and / or you come up with a great excuse to be out of work for a day or so.
•Tip #3: Get there early. It seems like common sense, but keep in mind that there are always people out there willing to go the extra mile.
•Tip #4: Dress appropriately. If it is hot, wear shorts. It is as simple as that. However, wearing an iPhone or Apple related shirt might earn you some respect from your fellow line nerds.
•Tip #5. Bring a friend. You will need someone to talk to (and hold you) when things get rough. Plus, who will watch your spot when you have to go to the bathroom? If you don't have any friends, try and make some in line with your irresistible charm, wit and good looks.
•Tip #6:Bribes can't hurt. Bring a box of donuts or soft drinks to distribute to your fellow campers. It will go a long way to help you make friends and acquire information. Cash always works too.
•Tip #7: Stock up on non-perishable foods like beef jerky and Twinkies. You will need the beefy, spicy sugary energy to stay alert.
•Tip #8. Entertainment is essential. Handheld game systems, portable DVD players, and portable web-enabled devices should do the trick. Just remember to bring backup batteries.
•Tip #9: Stand your ground. If you let people cut you in line a stampede is likely to breakout. Let those dorks know you are one geek that is not to be trifled with.
•Tip #10: Last but not least, make sure you are properly equipped to handle everything that mother nature can throw at you while you are waiting in line. The following gadgets can offer some assistance in your iPhone quest:
Tents are not always necessary, but If you plan on hunkering down for a long time, this Woods solar-powered E-Z Tent with interior LEDs is the way to go. Four to six hours of sunlight on the solar panels will yield 2 to 4 hours of light in the tent. You can even use the panels independently to charge up your gadgets. Available for $100-120 (4-6 person tents). [Camping Outlet]
Earlier I mentioned that it is a great idea to bring a friend so that you can take care-free bathroom breaks. But with this Coleman portable flush toilet you could pinch a loaf right there in line. Although, I recommend that you do so inside a tent or away from prying eyes. Dropping a deuce in public is generally frowned upon and will not go over well with both your fellow line nerds and the authorities. Available for $74.95. [Sunny Sports]
Staying clean is crucial. It boosts morale and your clean fresh scent will be intoxicating to those around you. Thanks to this pocket shower, you can enjoy a good seven minutes of washing up using 10-liters of water. Plus, the black casing absorbs heat from the sun, so your shower will be nice and warm. Again, think of the people around you when using this. Public nudity is a no-no. Available for $24.95. [REI]
In order to survive, you are going to need food. As mentioned earlier, non-perishable items are key when line camping, but if it is a hot meal you crave this portable solar cooker can get the job done. All you need is a black pot to cook things like fish, poultry and red meats, stews, casseroles, eggs, veggies, grains, bread, cakes and desserts. It can even help you purify water should you be forced to drink your own urine. Available for $24.90. [Safety Central]
Finally, you are going to need some sort of cooler to keep drinks and other items cold. If you are going to be in line for an extended period of time, this solar power refrigeration unit can keep your beverages frosty using the power of the sun. Unfortunately, the privilege is going to cost you somewhere in the neighborhood of $1000 for 5-8 cubic feet of fridge or freezer space. [Parts on Sale]
Naturally, this advice would work for any big product launch line camping scenario—but over the years I have learned that waiting in an endless line for a gadget is more trouble than it's worth. If you have some patience, it is a good idea to make friends with store employees or ask questions about when shipments arrive. If you know when product comes in, you stand a much better chance of being there first when it is restocked. Using this technique, I managed to score a Wii at a Toys R' Us only a week after launch.
Jun 06
A Year of Tortured Patience: Holding Out for the Second-Gen iPhone [The Waiting Is The Hardest Part]
When the first iPhone was announced, I thought it looked cool. Very cool. But I just couldn't bring myself to plunk down a whopping $600 on a phone that lacked some pretty important features: video recording, picture-messaging, tons of storage, and, most importantly, a 3G connection that would make the awesome mobile Safari browser worthwhile. I assumed that if I just held out for the next generation, I'd — at the very least — get the higher bandwidth, and probably pay less up front for it. Let me tell you, it's been a hell of a long wait.
As the year has progressed, I've kept having situations where I just wished I had a little device that would allow me to surf the web with ease: trying to settle a debate at a bar with friends, checking reader comments of a post while in a cab, that sort of thing. I used the Helio Ocean for a time, then, when its fatness in my pocket just got on my nerves, I switched to the Helio Fin. It's thin, but its browser leaves a lot to be desired. Most websites came up garbled and difficult to navigate, and the arrow keys are a lousy way to move around. Yes, I know it's not fair to compare a flip phone to a pseudo-smartphone, but having a flip phone and seeing everyone else daintily rubbing their iPhones just made it that much more painful.
Adding to my lack of patience is the fact that I traveled more this year than maybe in any other year in my life combined. I flew to Tokyo, to LA, to Portland, to South Carolina, to Vegas, to New Hampshire. And guess what? Living in NYC means that you've got maybe an 85% chance of having your flight delayed when leaving or coming back. All those hours I spent in airports waiting for delayed planes — if I had an iPhone I would've been able to check Giz easily! I could read Tumblr! I could just surf around on the web and kill time!
Although the impulse to cave grew and grew, it made increasingly less sense to buy one. After all, I was being mature and waiting. I'm not some impulsive person who can't control their own spending! Hell, I'm one of only two Giz editors who uses a PC — I'm no Apple fanboy! Also, I talked a lot of shit to my co-workers who did buy one, so if I gave in before the next version came out, I'd end up looking like a real asshole.
With every new rumor about the iPhone 3G that came out, it made me want one more, but it also strengthened my resolve to wait. To the folks who already had theirs it was just a countdown to an upgrade, but for me it was when I could get my first taste of iPhone ownership.
Now, finally, God willing, my nightmare is ending and I'll finally get a 3G iPhone. And it will all have been worth it. Because I won't have an old iPhone to try to get rid of and I'll probably spend less than those early adopters had to. Plus, my first experience with the iPhone will be better. While everyone else had to suffer through pokey EDGE connections and annoying missing features, I'll be hopping on board right when the iPhone hits its stride. I'll have not only the internet at the airport, but games and all kinds of other stuff!
See? It was worth waiting. I'm smart! It was worth going through an entire year without the phone I really wanted. I'm the most sensible editor at Gizmodo! Right guys? Right? Please, tell me I'm right.
Jun 06
You may recognize Hop-On from their wide array of cheap-o disposable cellphones and budget-friendly mobile devices. The company is looking to build on this reputation by unveiling six new phones including the $125 HOP 1801 smartphone and the HOP1809 which they claim will be one of the cheapest 3G capable phones you can buy. It will also feature a camera, Bluetooth, and support for MPEG-4 media playback.
The company is also looking to build on its lineup of GSM phones with the tri-band HOP1803 and the dual-band HOP1810. Another notable release comes in the form of the HOP1808, which will feature dual SIM card slots for frequent travelers. Apparently, it will be similar to the HOP 1809, but it will lack 3G and add an FM radio tuner. Details are scarce at this point, but we do know that all the phones will be available in North and South America when released.
Press Release:
Hop-on Launches Six New GSM and 3G Phones Into the Market
The 'Anti iPhone' has brothers and sisters
IRVINE, Calif., June 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Hop-on, Inc.
(Pink Sheets: HPNN) announced today that it will introduce 6 new phones for distribution worldwide. Hop-on's new HOP1800 Series phones will range from a $125 PDA phone to the world's lowest cost phone for $10 in the US. These phones are built using high quality standards of components and manufacturing.
Peter Michaels, President and CEO of Hop-on stated, "Our new series of 1800 phones will debut into all markets worldwide. We will have market presence throughout the globe with our high-end technology PDA phone to our low end phone that is, well, that is really just a phone. Since the announcement of our $10USD 'Anti iPhone', we have had inquiries from distributors and carriers from over 30 countries."
Hop-on's new series includes the HOP1801 Smart Phone. This particular phone will be the lowest cost Smart Phone on the market. The HOP1803 is an Ultra Low Price GSM Tri band phone, and the HOP1805 is an Ultra Low Price cell phone for emerging markets. And the HOP1810 GSM Dual Band Camera Phone. All four phones will be available for distribution in North and South America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, supporting English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and more upon request. Available in North and South America are the HOP1808 Dual Sim Mobile Phone with Camera, Supported MP4/SMS/MMS/GPRS/WAP/FM Stereo with Bluetooth optional. The HOP1809 3G mobile phone with Camera, supported MP4 /MMS/ STK/ JAVA/ BREW/ SMS and Bluetooth. And finally the HOP1800, the Lowest Cost mobile phone in the world. This simple phone is a GSM Dual band with no display that features a Braille keypad.
Michaels further stated, "Since Apple is launching their new 3G iPhone next Monday, maybe I can talk to Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple and see if he'll buy our $10 phone and include it as a give away in their packaging. This way, if you drop your 3G iPhone in the water, you can use the backup to call Apple for anther $500 phone. They can call it the Back-up iPhone! Seriously, the launch of our new phones is an exciting time for Hop-on; we will penetrate the market worldwide in all price points. We look forward to this next phase of our new innovative phones."
[Hop-on]
Jun 06
Forbes spotted an interesting pile of unmarked brown boxes at Quanta Computer in Fremont, CA, the company that handles West Coast distribution of Apple's gear (along with that of plenty of other companies' stuff). But what's so interesting is that the boxes right were spotted right beside iMac freight (those white boxes), and they look to be about the same size and shape. So what could be inside? Take a look at more shots to decide for yourself:
Funny side note: Forbes straight up labeled these pictures "iPhone" in the file names.
And here's a mega shot of our own. Those trucks have been busy. Seeing as the boxes are the same size and shape as iMacs, who knows if they're iPhones—one of many rumors we went through earlier today. [Forbes and Alley Insider]
Jun 06
Qik's been doing live video streaming (think live YouTube) from Nokia S60 cellphones for a few months now, but Mobilecrunch has the scoop that they're expanding to Windows Mobile phones shortly. The support and partnership will be officially announced next week at Tech-Ed, which will give WM users the ability to stream stuff like concerts and their wives giving birth (it's happened) direct from their handhelds. Qik's also thinking about the new iPhone, of course, but that's pending whatever features get announced next week. [Mobile Crunch via Crunchgear]