A second video has emerged with what is believed to be a part of the next iPhone; this time it's the back cover.
The video, which was posted on YouTube Wednesday by ETrade Supply, appears to confirm various rumored changes expected to be coming to next iPhone, which many have dubbed the iPhone 5.
The part shown in the video is apparently the back cover of the phone as well as the device's metallic antenna. It looks like a variation of the cover used for the iPhone 4 and 4S: It is no longer plain black or white but features what looks like brushed metal over the bulk of it.
ETrade Supply notes what it says are various changes to the phone in the video, including the fact that it is longer than previous iPhones and looks to fit a 4-inch screen diagonally. However, though the phone is not wider, it is thinner, which is a change that was not previously expected.
What may be the next iPhone also appears to have a new and much smaller dock connector along its bottom side. It also has redesigned speaker grills, and its headphone jack is located along the bottom.
The video also shows what looks like a microphone located between the phone's camera and flash, which had also previously been rumored. The phone's SIM card is a smaller size, which could mean the next iPhone will use a small SIM card.
Currently, most people believe that the next iPhone won't arrive until October, but some reports have said the phone is ahead of schedule. And with so many parts and rumors beginning to leak, you have to wonder if the next iPhone might not launch earlier than previously expected.
RELATED:
All signs point to Facebook iPhone integration on iOS 6
Steve Jobs played key role in developing the next iPhone
Next iPhone may be out before October; video of new part emerges
The iPhone Gives 'Sonic the Hedgehog' a Second Chance - Wall Street Journal
By IAN SHERR
![[0606oldgamejpg]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vAyiTKpKflewOcoLh9PSpKHrKglFiFjAOOrlvbQb8XXrmFPR3LeZ22jl-bg3kvIiBxkCm4Lm5eCCcm-4bsPWuF59K6rmTgo619UmOn7Hs85EWinjQE72z9E_RqAT67_NX4MOcPr6fCT0fFcRi5N61-QQ=s0-d)
Bloomberg Playing a videogame on an iPhone
LOS ANGELES—Old is the new cool in videogames.
Videogame titles that once gathered dust on collectors' shelves have found a new life on mobile devices such as Apple Inc.'s iPhone, giving companies a cheap way to make money while also helping to promote new software.
It is what Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. did when it was preparing to release the third installment in a popular film-noire series called "Max Payne." About a month before the new title went on sale, the company released "Max Payne Mobile"—the first game in the series released 11 years ago, reworked to run on smartphones and tablet computers rather than videogame consoles and personal computers.
"It used to be people were skeptical there was any library value at all [to these old games]," said Strauss Zelnick, Take-Two's chief executive, in an interview at this week's Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, trade show here.
The company also has released the decade-old "Grand Theft Auto III" for mobile devices, and "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars." Reselling older games both on mobile devices and traditional videogame consoles and personal computers has become a big business for Take-Two, representing as much as almost a third of the company's revenue in some quarters.
"If they're beloved and highly regarded and at the right price, they might be appealing," Mr. Zelnick said.
At the E3 Conference
Take-Two's efforts came as customers are flocking to mobile applications or apps. Prime examples include Zynga Inc.'s "Words With Friends" and Rovio Entertainment Ltd.'s "Angry Birds," which are played on a variety of devices as well as on the Internet.
The recycled products fetch a fraction of the price of the original videogames, which often cost about $60. Many mobile versions, such as "Max Payne Mobile," are priced at $2.99.
Yet bringing old games to mobile platforms still brings in revenue at little extra expense for software companies.
"They're dumb if they don't take existing games and remonetize them," said Lewis Ward, an analyst at industry research firm IDC.
Offering older titles that were big sellers when they were released also helps to strengthen a company's brand, Mr. Ward said, and serves as a form of advertising for coming titles, such as what Take-Two did with the "Max Payne" franchise. "You can remonetize those older-generation games and you advertise the heck out of the new one," he said.
Take-Two isn't alone in adopting the strategy. Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. has started dusting off old games such as "Sonic the Hedgehog," "Streets of Rage" and "Virtua Fighter," bringing them to mobile devices with much fanfare from fans of these series.
Sony Corp. is one of the largest companies to embrace this trend. The company, which makes the PlayStation 3 videogame console, has been releasing older console games through its PlayStation Network, as well as targeting some mobile devices powered by Google Inc.'s Android operating system.
Andrew House, head of Sony's videogame business, said the company was surprised when customers began signing up for its PlayStation Network's premium Internet service, called PlayStation Plus, because it offered free access to the company's decades-old games.
"There is that nostalgia factor," Mr. House said. "We're learning about the length of life this content has and how it can be repurposed for new audiences."
Remarketing old software isn't the only way companies are exploiting earlier titles. Another approach, pioneered by Nintendo Co., is to take characters from old titles and use them in a new one. Sony has taken that approach in a videogame, "PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale," that pits popular characters from the action-fighting series "God of War" and the car-fighting game "Twisted Metal" against one another. Reaction from industry insiders has been positive so far, and Sony said its fans are excited.
Write to Ian Sherr at ian.sherr@dowjones.com
A version of this article appeared June 7, 2012, on page B4 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: 'Sonic' Gets a Second Chance.
Next iPhone and iPad models to get September unveiling - v3.co.uk
Apple is reportedly planning to unveil the next versions of its iPad and iPhone mobile devices at a company event in September.
According to Brian White, an analyst with Topeka Capital Markets, unidentified manufacturing industry sources have reported Apple is set to hold an Autumn event that will introduce the next iPhone model and a new iPad "mini" tablet device.
A September release date would put Apple slightly ahead of last year's October iPhone unveiling. Previous reports have indicated that Apple was targeting an Autumn time frame for the handset's introduction.
The release could position Apple for another strong holiday shopping season. Last year, the company logged its best quarter ever over the final three months of the calendar, due in part to unprecedented iPhone sales numbers.
Early reports from manufacturers and analysts suggest that in addition to processor and capacity upgrades, the new iPhone will sport a larger screen and a slimmer case design.
Apple is set to provide information on the next version of the iOS platform for both the iPad and the iPhone next week at its Worldwide Developer Conference. The company has also said it will be detailing the next version of the OS X platform.
UPDATE: Sprint to Offer Prepaid iPhone With Cheaper Data Plans - NASDAQ
--Sprint confirms plans to offer prepaid iPhone through Virgin Mobile unit
--Phone available June 29 with no subsidy but cheaper data plans
--Opens new sales route to meet volume commitment with Apple
(Updates throughout with details, analyst comment and stock price.)
By Thomas Gryta
Sprint Nextel Corp (S), in unveiling its plans to offer the Apple Inc. (AAPL) iPhone through one of its pay-as-you-go businesses, announced a pricing structure that may change how users buy and pay to use the popular smartphone.
Beginning June 29, Sprint's Virgin Mobile USA unit will sell a 16-gigabyte version of the latest iPhone for $649, the same price as in Apple's stores, but will offer unlimited data plans--without the consumer needing to agree to a two- year contract--at nearly one-third the price of plans from rival postpaid carriers.
The move gives Sprint, Overland Park, Kan., another route to sell the popular device in order to meet a $15.5 billion four-year purchase commitment to Apple. It also begins a nationwide experiment to see if customers are willing to pay a large upfront price for a sophisticated phone in exchange for lower monthly service costs.
Major postpaid carriers like AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Wireless offer the iPhone for hundreds of dollars less than its retail price but make up the money--and then some--by locking the customer into two-year data plans. The carriers have been looking for ways to end or reduce the subsidies they pay smartphone makers.
Last week, Leap Wireless International Inc. (LEAP) said it would start selling the device with prepaid service on its Cricket Wireless network, but that would only make it available to about 20% of Americans. The Virgin iPhone will be available nationwide at RadioShack Corp (RSH), Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY) and online.
"While we still question how many of these customers will be able to afford the device at the point of sale, we believe Sprint has structured the price points of this plan in a way which significantly reduces the risk" of material margin degradation, Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche said in a note to clients. "We see this trade-off as a very good thing."
Sprint said offering the Virgin iPhone shouldn't impact its 2012 adjusted cash flow. Shares of Sprint were recently up 7 cents or 2.6% to $2.79. Leap rose 5 cents, or 1% to $5.19, while Apple is up $3.54, or 0.6% to $575.
Virgin Mobile's 16-gigabyte iPhone 4S will be about $450 more than the major carriers when signing a contract, and $ 150 more than the same models from Leap. Virgin will offer the older 8-gigabyte iPhone 4 at $549.
Virgin Mobile has prepaid plans that begin at $35 a month, including unlimited data and messaging with 300 minutes for phone calls. Data speeds will be throttled after the user consumes 2.5 gigabytes a month. An unlimited voice plan is available for $50 a month. The company offers a $5 a month discount to users that register for automatic monthly payments.
Customers can also pay an additional $15 a month to use their iPhone as a mobile hotspot.
In comparison, Leap is charging $55 for unlimited talk, text and data, with a similar limit on full-speed data. Plans with other wireless carriers are frequently $100 or more, and users are locked into two-year contracts.
Sprint offers a postpaid plan--which locks in the customer for two years and includes a subsidy for the phone--for $ 79.99 a month and includes unlimited data and messaging with 450 minutes of talk time. Sprint has said its postpaid plans don't throttle on data usage.
The potential $50 monthly cost savings from using the Virgin phone would pay for the extra $450 cost of the device in just nine months.
The addition of a prepaid iPhone allows Sprint to sell the device to a new type of customer. This widening of the potential market should help satisfy the commitment to Apple, which also benefits by getting its brand into new hands. Aside from having no contract or activation fees, there are no credit checks for prepaid customers.
Sprint began offering the iPhone in October and has sold 3.3 million units over the past two quarters.
Sprint's pay-as-you-go brands, which include Boost Mobile, have been a source of growth as contract customers have moved on. Sprint added 489,000 prepay customers in the first quarter and lost 192,000 contract customers, which are considered more profitable.
The addition of the iPhone to Virgin Mobile also leaves Deutsche Telekom AG's (DTE.XE) T-Mobile USA at a greater disadvantage. It is the last of the largest carriers without the device, which Chief Executive Philipp Humm has said is a major reason it lost 1.7 million contract customers last year.
Write to Thomas Gryta at thomas.gryta@dowjones.com
--Greg Bensinger contributed to this article.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires 06-07-121148ET Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
iOS 5.1.1 Untethered Jailbreak: How to Unlock iPhone 4/3GS Using Ultrasn0w 1.2.7 [TUTORIAL] - ibtimes.co.uk
Like us on Facebook
Here is the complete step-by-step procedure to unlock your iPhone using the latest version of Ultrasn0w 1.2.7.
How to Unlock iOS 5.1.1 on iPhone 4/3GS Using Ultrasn0w 1.2.7 (Older basebands only)
Step 1: You must first tether or untether jailbreak the device running iOS 5.1.1, with the older baseband preserved. This is accomplished by creating a custom firmware using one of three jailbreak tools - Redsn0w/PwnageTool or Sn0wbreeze.
Step 2: Once the device is successfully jailbroken, you will see the Cydia icon on the home screen. Now, launch the Cydia app from the springboard and wait until all the data is reloaded from the default repositories.
Step 3: Note that the Ultrasn0w tool is available on one of the default repositories that is pre-installed with Cydia. Hence, no additional repository needs to be added. Select Search from bottom navigation bar and enter Ultrasn0w. Now, tap the Search button.
Step 4: In case some package is not found on the default repository and you want to manually add the repository then click Manage followed by Sources button and finally select Add in the top left hand corner. In the ensuing pop-up box on the screen, type: http://www.repo666.ultrasn0w.com and tap Add Source.
Step 5: Wait as Cydia refreshes and adds packages to its repository. Once that is done, select Ultrasnow package and tap the Install button.
Step 6: Provide confirmation to proceed with the installation of the package and wait for the install process to complete.
Step 7: After the package is fully installed, you will get the prompt for Restart/Reboot. Proceed with the restart. Once the device has successfully rebooted to the home screen, your iPhone should be unlocked for use with the cellular network of your choice.
[Source: Redmond Pie]
To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail:
To contact the editor, e-mail:
New iPhone 5 Parts Suggest Larger Screen, Smaller Dock Connector and Nano SIM [VIDEO] - ibtimes.co.uk
Like us on Facebook
If genuine, then it is no surprise to see Apple develop a larger iPhone, with the 4.8in Samsung Galaxy S3 and 4.7in HTC One X towering above the 3.5in iPhone 4S, a larger screen for the next generation Apple smartphone is badly needed.
Apart from the larger size, the video also highlights a new construction which unifies the rear case and chassis into one - presumably aluminium - piece, whereas the glass rear cover and aluminium chassis of the iPhone 4S are two pieces screwed together.
The YouTube video, which has been uploaded by ETrade Supply, a Chinese supplier of phone components, also shows a new, smaller dock connector which will presumably see Apple ditch the aging 30-pin connection in favour of a smaller, bespoke solution or the industry standard microUSB - though this latter scenario is unlikely given Apple's penchanct for doing its own thing.
The smaller connection port is flanked by a different design of speaker grill and on the left there is a headphone jack, which has until now always appeared on the iPhone's top edge.
Other changes found on this part include a smaller SIM card tray - possibly using the nano SIM design that Apple has developed and recently had approved for use by the European Telecommunication Standards Institute.
The iPhone 5 has been speculated about for a year now and even after the iPhone 4S was revealed in October 2011 the Apple faithful still demanded the mythical fifth generation smartphone.
With Apple's WWDC event just around the corner and expectations of seeing an all-new iOS 6 making its public debut, the increase in leaks such as this video point towards a new iPhone sooner than the October/November windows introduced with the 4S.
To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail:
To contact the editor, e-mail:
New Video Claims to Show Details of Next iPhone Case Design - PC Magazine
It looks like Apple's suppliers in China may be guilty of having loose lips. Video evidence has surfaced that suggests the next iPhone will indeed offer significant changes.
The first images of what is thought to be the next version of the iPhone showed up last month on several sites displaying different images of the same phone aluminum alloy casing. Now a new video (below) discovered by 9to5Mac (via CydiaBlog) and posted by Chinese parts retailer ETrade Supply shows the same iPhone backing in greater detail as the narrator compares the new backing to the current iPhone 4S.
Not only does the video show off the aesthetic differences of the new iPhone casing, but it goes on to use the current iPhone 4S to show us that the new iPhone has a new headphone positioned at the bottom of the phone, a differently sized SIM card slot, brand-new speaker grills, and most importantly, a completely redesigned docking port. And, when placed side-by-side, the new iPhone case is taller and slightly thinner than the iPhone 4S. These size specifications line up perfectly with the rumors that have been circulating about the next iPhone for months.
We've seen a number of clever Apple product Photoshop fakes over the years, so when the images of the supposed new iPhone backing surfaced last month, there were many skeptics doubting the authenticity of the images. But this new video is pretty hard to refute. The detail and engineering required to manufacture such a well-crafted piece would seem to point to the piece's authenticity. However, China has been known to come up with rather convincing bootleg versions of Apple products before, so even with this close-up video, we won't truly know what Apple has in store for the next iPhone until its official release.
From AT&T to Virgin: How iPhone availability grows - AP - msnbc.com
Since Verizon Wireless broke AT&T's exclusive grip on the iPhone last year, several other phone carriers now offer Apple's popular smartphone. Here's a look at how iPhone availability has expanded in the U.S.:
— COMING TO NO. 1: AT&T Inc. was the only U.S. carrier offering the iPhone when the first model came out in 2007. It lost its exclusive status in February 2011 when Verizon Wireless, the nation's top wireless carrier, started selling the iPhone.
— ANOTHER NATIONAL CARRIER: Sprint Nextel Corp., the No. 3 carrier, also got the iPhone, starting in October with Apple Inc.'s introduction of the iPhone 4S. It also sells the iPhone 4 with AT&T and Verizon Wireless.
— REGIONAL OFFERING: C Spire Wireless, a small company that provides service in Mississippi and surrounding states, started selling the iPhone late last year. It bypassed larger carriers including T-Mobile USA and U.S. Cellular in getting the right to sell it. U.S. Cellular Corp. says it turned down the chance to sell the phone because it didn't want to spend a few hundred dollars per phone, as other carriers do, so customers can buy it at Apple's listed, subsidized price.
— CHEAPER IPHONES: Several small, regional cellphone companies began selling the iPhone at prices that undercut the big carriers. For instance, the cost for a basic 4S model through those carriers is $150, which is $49 less than what national carriers charge. Carriers making this cheaper offering include NTelos Wireless of Virginia; Appalachian Wireless of Kentucky; and Alaska Communications, Matanuska Telephone Association and GCI of Alaska.
— NO CONTRACTS: Leap Wireless International Inc., the parent of the Cricket cellphone service, will be the first mainland U.S. phone company to sell the latest iPhone models on a prepaid, no-contract basis, starting June 22. Open Mobile, which serves Puerto Rico, started selling no-contract, prepaid iPhones on May 18.
— MORE NOW, LESS LATER: Virgin Mobile USA, one of Sprint's brands for prepaid, no-contract phone service, will start selling the iPhone on June 29. It will cost $549 for a basic model, higher than the $100 charged for Sprint-branded service. However, service will cost $30 a month and won't require a contract. Sprint charges $80 per month and requires a two-year contract. The Virgin Mobile customer can save nearly $800 over two years.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
T-Mobile Prepares for 2012 Hurricane Season - TMCnet
T-Mobile Prepares for 2012 Hurricane Season
Jun 07, 2012 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- T-Mobile USA, Inc., said it is preparing for the 2012 hurricane season, which officially started June 1.In a release, the company said that it has implemented frequent engineering drills coupled with network fortification and crisis management coordination focused on the locations where hurricanes have the greatest propensity of making landfall, including the entire Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast areas of the United States.
"T-Mobile has a long history of moving swiftly in emergency situations to ensure our customers can stay connected when they need it most," said Bentley Alexander, VP, South Region Engineering, T-Mobile USA. "We have made significant investments in supplemental cell site backup generators, microwave technology equipment and cell-on-wheels (COWs), along with other tools and equipment to enhance the stability and, when necessary, the recovery of our network operations. At the same time, our engineers and our cross-functional crisis management teams - our people - play the most critical role for network and service continuity and recovery. We continue to focus on emergency response procedures and drills that will ensure we are ready for the 2012 Hurricane season." The company noted its National Engineering Response and Crisis Management teams constantly monitor weather patterns and potential storms. In advance of any major hurricane forecasted to make U.S. landfall, T-Mobile establishes an engineering Command Center near the area where the storm's impact is expected, creating a home base for engineers and rapid response teams, and a staging area for equipment and supplies that may be needed during the aftermath of the storm. As soon as it is safe, T-Mobile technicians and engineers are mobilized to support and assist any network restoration.
T-Mobile Network Operation Centers (NOCs) manage network traffic during any event, and the company has redundant support in place for each NOC, the company added.
T-Mobile said it takes the following additional steps to prepare the company's network for major weather-related events: -In the event of widespread power outages, T-Mobile has access to additional fuel to supply generators and company repair and transport vehicles, and for other emergency circumstances.
-Backup generators and fuel tanks for regional network switch operations are put in place and tested, and fuel is topped off for all generators in the potential path of a storm. T-Mobile recently purchased 1,000 additional small mobile generators to assist with backup power when needed. These units are now being delivered to local markets and regional depots.
-To further supplement fixed and portable backup generators, T-Mobile is prepared to place dozens more portable generators, ready to be transported to impacted areas.
-Microwave radio equipment is readied to be trucked into affected areas to facilitate back-haul or data communication from the cell sites to T-Mobile's network switches, as backup, in the event that fixed-line service fails.
-T-Mobile pre-stages COWs in neighboring markets to move in and provide additional wireless communications capacity in the hardest-hit areas.
-T-Mobile monitors evacuation efforts and routes, and takes steps to increase wireless capacity in those areas as customers move inland.
-The company also coordinates closely with the recovery efforts of local, state and federal agencies.
-T-Mobile has crisis plans in place for employees who may also be in the path of a storm, and responds quickly to help safeguard our employees and our facilities.
T-Mobile's Persistent Communications solution combines the company's Wi-Fi Calling for Business or Wi-Fi Calling for Government solutions with access to satellite services for back-haul connectivity.
T-Mobile USA is a U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG.
More information:
www.T-Mobile.com
((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))
No comments:
Post a Comment