iPhoneNewsLIVE!

There are two sides to this coin, the way we see it. On the one hand, the handful of pictures that have just popped over on UMPC Fever demo many of the features we're expecting to see in new iPhone hardware this summer -- magnetic compass, autofocus camera, video recording capability, and a battery percentage meter in the status bar. On the other hand, having a good feel for those rumored features makes it that much easier to mock up ridiculously blurry shots of 'em in action. The compass seems a little overdone, but then again, it's not necessarily out of place considering the direction Apple has taken its voice recorder app in 3.0, so we're going to play the cautiously optimistic diplomat here and say these could very well be real.

Update: We've swapped the top pic and added some larger, clearer looks after the break. It's possible that we might be looking at two new variants of iPhone hardware here. Note the difference in styling between the phone on the right and the phone on the left? Well, if we're to believe what we've heard about the future of the line, these could be the first photos of what Apple has in store for WWDC. The model on the right might easily be that matte version we've heard about... but that thing on the left? We have no idea, though it would be an insane move on a counterfeiter's part to fake something so bizarre. What we mean is: it's almost too weird to be fake.

[Via The iPhone Blog]

Continue reading Mr. Blurrycam takes new iPhone's features for a test drive? (updated)

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Mr. Blurrycam takes new iPhone's features for a test drive? (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 May 2009 20:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Heard any good iPhone 3.0 rumors lately? No? That's because they're all here in this tidy little roundup. The latest (pictured above) is a purported top-facing bezel frame for the "Apple iPhone 3Gen 2009." Besides being black unlike the chrome edge of the iPhone 3G, iLounge and others have noticed a repositioned ear speaker, tucked high against the top-edge that could be making way for a front-facing camera or additional sensor(s). iLounge also created a render (pictured after the break) of a 5th gen iPod nano based on information provided by a source who "has a perfect track record for accuracy." In addition to a slightly larger screen with 1.5:1 aspect, there's now a camera on the back; a redesign that dovetails nicely with rumors about Apple to getting serious with integrated video and digital cameras. iLounge also claims that there will be three new models (3G, enhanced 3G, and mainland China version lacking WiFi we suspect) of iPhones with matte plastic bodies less prone to scratching. Importantly, countries will get the phone appropriate to their telco's capabilities -- iLounge says users won't have to choose between a fast and slow iPhone, they'll get what their carriers can support. Each will ship in a choice of two capacity options with 32GB being the top-end rumored. Oh, and iPhone 3.0 will also get into the Nike+ game without requiring an adapter (like the iPod touch). These rumors ride a wave of reports that inventories of the iPhone 3G are running low and component makers are now shipping parts for the next generation iPhone. So Steve Jobs or not, we're still expecting the hardware to be announced at WWDC with possible July 17 launch.

Read -- iPhone 3.0 bezel (via iFun.de)
Read -- iPod nano with camera renders, three versions of iPhone 3.0
Read -- PCB makers begin shipments for new iPhone
Read -- Nike+
Read -- 16GB iPhone 3G listed as End of Life
Read -- 32GB iPhone 3G

Continue reading Apple iPhone 3.0 rumor roundup

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Apple iPhone 3.0 rumor roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff or companies stop sending things. Today we've got two of mophie's Juice Pack Air units, which promise to provide lots of extra iPhone 3G runtime while doubling as a case. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff!

Major thanks to mophie for providing the gear!

The rules:

• Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
  
• You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
• If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
  
• Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
  
• Winner will be chosen randomly. Two winners will receive one (1) mophie Juice Pack Air iPhone 3G case / battery extender in Black. Approximate retail value is $79.95.
  
• If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
• Entries can be submitted until Wednesday, May 27th, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
• Full rules can be found here.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

Engadget's recession antidote: win a mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 3G! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 May 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Cellphones

iPhone-generated artwork featured on cover of The New Yorker originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 May 2009 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

You might recall that this happened right about this time last year when we were all patiently waiting for the iPhone 3G to be announced, and once again, it's been discovered that the latest beta of the iPhone SDK has icons for an unreleased version of Cupertino's finest. We've been able to verify that two icons tucked away in a deep folder refer to black and white versions of the "iPhone2,1" (black is pictured above), which is one of the internal model codes we've been hearing get thrown around for a while now. Thing is, the icon is identical to the one being used for iPhone1,2 -- better known as the iPhone 3G -- so Apple's either smartly using a placeholder until the final SDK build, or the latest and greatest model is a dead ringer for the old. We're betting on the former.

[Thanks, Matthew]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

iPhone SDK contains icon for unreleased model -- again originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 May 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading iPhone movie and TV show downloads revealed in rogue ad?

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Video

iPhone movie and TV show downloads revealed in rogue ad? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 May 2009 01:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

See folks, this is the kind of mess you end up with after you gleefully do a deal with the devil. According to a roundup of reports over at Unwired View, three of Russia's major mobile operators could be looking at massive (we're talking hundreds of millions of bucks) fines if they can't sell through their iPhone allotments, and unless a significant market shift happens within the next few months, that situation seems remarkably unlikely. We're told that Vimpelcom pledged to sell 1.5 million iPhones within two years, while Megafon committed to 1 million and MTS the same. Today, just 900,000 iPhones have been imported to Russia, with over half entering the country via grey market channels; we'll let you figure out the math there, but it ain't pretty for Russia's carriers. Of course, we're not shocked in the least -- after getting burnt by a bootable-but-not-usable iPhone over there, are you seriously going to give Apple another chance to win you over?

Filed under: Cellphones

Sluggish iPhone sales could lead to stiff fines for Russian operators originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 May 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

[Via Digg]

Filed under: Cellphones

Japanese college giving away free iPhones, using them to track students' attendance originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 May 2009 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Take it for what it's worth (which may be nothing, quite honestly), but a bona fide "iPhone 32GB" placeholder has appeared in the 'Coming Soon' section on T-Mobile Austria's website. Generally speaking, we wouldn't give this kind of slip too much credence, but considering that a similar slip at T-Mobile Germany was accurately foretelling two years ago, we're cautiously optimistic that all those rumors of a more capacious iPhone are legitimate. We hate to remind you that loads of smoke generally leads to fire, but hey, June 8th ain't too far off anyway. Larger screen cap (of the translated-to-English site) is just past the break.

[Via AreaMobile]

Update: Seems the admin yanked the 32GB iPhone from the page -- oopsie!

Update 2: Looks like Vodafone Australia has sent out a notice that the 16GB iPhone has been deemed "End of Life" by Brightpoint, who supplies its iPhones. Are you thinking what we're thinking?

Continue reading 32GB iPhone placeholder appears at T-Mobile Austria

Filed under: Cellphones

32GB iPhone placeholder appears at T-Mobile Austria originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 May 2009 05:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

John Gruber over at Daring Fireball has a pretty good track record when it comes to Apple rumors -- remember his spot-on predictions for the unibody MacBook Pro? -- so when he's got a thing or two to say about all the next-gen iPhone chatter, we listen. While not making any promises, he does say he'd wager quite a bit on a new model coming to WWDC, with about twice the CPU horsepower (and possibly twice the RAM, too) as the current model. He also adds some credence to all that talk of video recording, but makes no mention of potential background apps and plays down any surprise tablet or "iPhone mini" cameos. He goes on to add release date would be sometime in July in 16GB and 32GB varieties. We can't say we're willing to bet against him, but that doesn't mean we'll take his word as gospel. We can safely say, however, that we're anxiously waiting to see what kind of shenanigans Schiller has in store for next month.

Filed under: Cellphones

More next-gen iPhone whispers: video recording, faster CPU, July release? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 May 2009 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments