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Posts tagged with "iPhone"

Verizon iPhone Announcement on Tuesday, Jobs To Join On Stage

Earlier today, Verizon sent out invitations for a special event the carrier will hold on Tuesday, January 11 in New York City. As the invitations went out and media outlets started reporting about it, speculation immediately arose about the event being focused on a very special announcement: the long-awaited Verizon iPhone. By making a few guesses basing on the invitation list ( Jim Dalrymple of The Loop, MG Siegler of TechCrunch and Andy Ihnatko were invited – they’re all Apple reporters / bloggers) and through some rumors heard earlier today about Apple imposing a vacation freeze on its employees in the first week of February, many are reporting the speculation is real, and the Verizon iPhone will be announced on Tuesday.

The Wall Street Journal weighed in to confirm the carrier managed to close a deal with Apple and will be able to sell a CDMA version of Apple’s phone. Daring Fireball’s John Gruber says it’s going to be about the Verizon iPhone as well. On a side note, tech blog Gizmodo wasn’t invited to the event – they say it’s because Apple isn’t inviting them to events anymore after the iPhone 4 leak last Spring.

All Things Digital is now reporting Apple CEO Steve Jobs will join Verizon’s President and COO Lowell McAdam on stage for the announcement.

While the appearance isn’t 100 percent assured, sources in position to know tell me that, barring any unforseen circumstances, Jobs will likely join McAdam onstage in New York when he announces the addition of the iPhone to its handset line-up.

For Verizon customers waiting for the iPhone and current users willing to switch on Big Red’s networks, it looks like the wait will be finally over on Tuesday with the iPhone on Verizon announcement.

Trimensional - An iPhone App That Does 3D Scanning

Rank this one under the ‘how the eff did they do that’ apps, right up there with Word Lens. Trimensional, from Grant Schindler, is a 3D scanner for your iPhone 4 or iPod Touch (requires front-facing camera). It detects patterns of light reflected off your face to build a true 3D model. Here’s how - it models images in 3D simply by turning down the lights, turning up your iPhone screen’s brightness and holding close to an object, like your own face.

When you’re done with your 3D image, you can view a 3D slideshow, email or save tehm to your camera roll. Trimensional averages 4 out of 5 stars in the App Store and was released January 5, 2011.

Video after the break. Read more

Rovio Releases Angry Birds Free with 12 Exclusive Levels

While we were all waiting for the OS X 10.6.6 and the Mac App Store to show up in Software Update, Rovio released a new version of Angry Birds in the App Store, for free. The app is called “Angry Birds Free” and must not be confused with “Angry Birds Lite”, which wasn’t updated since last April. This new version of the popular iOS (and now Mac, too) game contains 12 exclusive levels specifically built for users who want to try a free version before a paid upgrade.

But Angry Birds Free doesn’t stop at new levels not accessible in the paid counterparts. It’s also got Game Center integration with leaderboards and achievements, plus 4 new mini episodes that should keep you entertained before considering going paid. Two weeks ago, Rovio added 15 new levels, Game Center support and the Mighty Eagle to Angry Birds HD for iPad.

Angry Birds Free is available here, well, for free.

Verizon iPhone To Launch February 3rd?

The Boy Genius Report suspects that an impending vacation freeze at Apple from February 3rd to the 6th indicates an important first four day weekend to focus on sales of a new handset. Coinciding with last year’s similar June 24th through June 27th, also a Thursday through Friday, and Verizon’s typical Thursday launch days, the rumored release of a Verizon iPhone during this period is plausible.

In addition, Verizon Wireless typically launches new devices on Thursdays. WhileBGR has not yet confirmed that the Verizon iPhone is the device we’ll see debut on the 3rd, the timing lines up very well with previous reports; no other Apple products have been rumored to be launching in this time frame.

I’m of two thoughts when it comes to a Verizon iPhone selling before the AT&T phone, but this is my main issue: Would Apple launch an iPhone 4 now only to release a new one on AT&T in a few months?

[via BGR]

Update: Verizon just sent out invitations for a special event they will hold on January 11. Maybe the Verizon iPhone is really happening this time.

iPhone 3GS To Drop Price, $49 Tomorrow At AT&T

Will the iPhone drop price to compete with Android? Well maybe not for those reasons, but the last generation iPhone 3GS will be on the shelves for $49 tomorrow on contract. The last generation iPhone is still an excellent choice if you’re looking to save a buck: you still get all the fancy features of the latest iOS sans only the best smartphone camera around. The new price applies to both new customers and those looking to upgrade from their previous phone – I find this to be especially appealing to teenagers and college students wanting to get a head start on a good smartphone at an affordable price.

[via MobileCrunch]

Native Union Is Perfect For Cranky CEOs, Moms Who Want A Wireless House Phone

Remember those wireless house phones? Me neither. Native Union thinks you’ll want to take calls with the familiar shape and feel of a household handset through the power of bluetooth. Coming out of the 90s, we might fondly remember the angry clack of the phone as your mother hung up on your step-dad, or the times we spent talking to the girl down the street until the batteries went dead. Well you can relive those moments and charge your iPhone at the same time, and possibly power some wicked desktop speakers thanks to the 3.5mm output jack. Even more badass is your color choice of black or white, but unfortunately for Native Union, that white model might not sell until a matching white iPhone makes an appearance. This plastic block is $150, which I think is way overpriced for what you get. I’m calling it: “dead on arrival.”

[via Engadget]

To The Future! Apple Granted Liquid Metal Patent For Fuel Cell Casing→

To The Future! Apple Granted Liquid Metal Patent For Fuel Cell Casing

Apple’s new patent describes “amorphous alloy” collector plates for fuel cells, an electrochemical battery that uses hydrogen to generate electricity. Although the patent doesn’t reference the Liquidmetal trademark, the material is an amorphous alloy or “ metallic glass.”

Last year, Apple signed an exclusive agreement to use the Liquidmetal Technologies’ IP in consumer electronic products. But of course, the ever-secretive company hasn’t hinted at its plans for the material. The possibilites are endless. Liquidmetal is a super lightweight, high-strength, scratch-proof metal that NASA says is “poised to redefine materials science as we know it in the 21st century.”

I don’t think we’ll see anything like this our next iPhone, but the prospect of having a fuel cell iPhone is intriguing. If you thought battery life was excellent now, just imagine not having to charge your iPhone for an entire month. The collector plates enable the chemical reaction that generates power - liquid metal is preferred because of it’s strong qualities as being durable and anti-corrosive.

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