iphone

Can't afford one of those flashy new iPhones in the window? Try a refurbished version of the device, now being offered by Apple Inc. itself for $100 less than retail. The service has been available since last Monday, when Apple began displaying the ... popular iPhone (4GB edition) for just $399. Those customers interested in a bit more space can also save $100, with the 8GB version knocked down to $499. It's not a new business practice for Apple, which typically sells its wares second-hand for discounted prices. Most, such as the iPod, Apple TV, and its computer hardware come with a one-year ... (view more)

A usability study by consulting firm User Centric has found that average cell phone users are more efficient when using a QWERTY keypad than Apple's new iPhone design. The study involved 20 participants who said they sent text messages at least 15 ... times per week. Half of these participants owned a QWERTY keypad, and the other half owned a phone with a numeric keypad. None of them had ever used an iPhone. All participants were asked to copy 12 standard messages that had been created for the study using their own phones. Then the participants were asked to copy the same messages with an iPhone ... (view more)

Given the somewhat surprising popularity of the iPhone (come on, that price is rich), it's less-than-surprising that a host of third party options are headed towards the device. First up may be eBooks and even old-school text games, both taking ... advantage of a generally reliable service, awesome resolution, and long-time projected growth. For those of us who rarely leave the nauseating glow of the computer screen, eBooks have become a popular alternative to the rainforest-ruining fare of yesterday. Granted, sometimes there's just no replacement for the feel of a good, physical book, but for ... (view more)

Although we've all been entranced with the beauty and sheer media power of the Apple iPhone, it's hard to imagine all that innovation could have come from just one tech company. Well, it might just be too good to be true, according to a recent suit ... alleging that the phone's maker lifted its whimsical keyboard design. SP Technologies argues that it has held the patent rights to the iPhone's keyboard since the year 2000. The popular touch-screen feature, which has been responsible for much of the materialistic fanfare behind the device, was apparently developed seven years ago. That's clear in ... (view more)

Now that it's been a while since the iPhone's release, it seems an appropriate time to discuss the device's impact on the "smartphone". ABI Research weighed in on the debate after revealing its forecast that the smartphone market segment will ... increase from 218 million units in 2007 to 426 million units in 2012. Stuart Carlaw, wireless research director at ABI Research, says that although the iPhone will have a considerable impact, it will not have the ground-breaking effect that many had initially expected. "The iPhone will not revolutionize the smartphone market," said Carlaw, "but ... (view more)

iPhone users have flooded the Apple support site, as well as numerous other sites, complaining about problematic iPhone screens. Consumers are angry that the screens labelled as LCD panel ID "7" display a faint grid of dots and are dimmer than those ... with a panel ID of 5. (Source: realtechnews.com ) Entering *3001#12345#* (including the asterisks) on an iPhone and hitting the Call button puts the phone into Field Test Mode. From this mode, users can view information about the iPhone's hardware, such as the firmware versions and the LCD panel ID number. The panel IDs that start with a 7 are ... (view more)

There are two types of people in tech: those who craft it, and those who hack it. Apple and its loyal customers (who braved long lines to get their hands on the device) have had weeks to enjoy the rosy glow emitted by the iPhone. Now, it's the ... mischievous hacker's turn to enjoy the media spotlight, as word comes that a hole exists in the defenses of Apple's communicator. Luckily, many hackers have abandoned their basement apartments for white collar jobs in software security companies. In fact, it was a security expert team at ISE (Independent Security Evaluators) that discovered a glitch ... (view more)

Just what is the cost of wireless service exclusivity on the iPhone? Last Wednesday marked the first day in the hearing of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, where representatives called for a more open wireless system. ... Both Democrats and Republicans spoke out against the hostage-type contracts, in what's been dubbed the "iPhone hearing." Being discussed is the fact that the iPhone will only work on AT ... (view more)

There's been much hoopla over the Apple iPhone. To some, that's a surprise. The device itself costs a whopping $599, excruciatingly expensive compared to the average cell phone, which is free with a two or three year plan. Of course, the iPhone ... boasts far greater features, including video, a massive touch screen, and wireless support (WiFi). But, that price! Some have compared the iPhone release with that of Sony's PlayStation 3 video game console. They both retail for the same price, they both offer more technical features than their competition, and they're both really, very cool. However, ... (view more)

While the recent hype over the much anticipated Apple iPhone would have potential buyers believing that the product is flawless, industry analysts are just now realizing that the gadget lacks an obvious feature: a mechanical keyboard. As it stands, ... the iPhone sports only one mechanical button, and is only used to return users to the home screen. The lack of more than one button seemingly echoes a statement made by Apple CEO Steven Jobs over two decades ago. Back then, Jobs discouraged the implementation of more than one mechanical button for any computer mouse so that users would never have ... (view more)