iPhone 5 fall release date signaled by iOS 5 concurrent hint

iPhone 5 release date watchers should be out partying, not setting home fretting. Apple has unveiled iOS 5 in broad strokes and declared that it’ll be delivered in the fall of 2011. That means, in nearly certain terms, that the iPhone 5 will arrive in the fall along with it. In fact, Apple’s proclivity for tying each new iPhone release to the release of the concurrent new operating system means that iOS 5 and the iPhone 5 can be counted on to arrive in the same week. So why all this talk of the iPhone 5 not arriving until 2012, or some nonsensical “iPhone 4S” in between? Because, it seems, some observers can’t count to five – or, at least, they can’t connect the dots which show that the iPhone 5 will be here in the fall. But, then, what exactly does “fall” mean?

The textbook definition of the autumn, the annual season, is from late September to late December. But scratch that latter part, as a major December hardware release would spell disaster from a retail, distribution, inventory, turnover, and even marketing standpoint. In fact iPhone 5 will undoubtedly be in place well before the beginning of the holiday shopping season, which kicks off Thanksgiving week. Backing up even further, Apple’s own history reveals that over the past five years it has always introduced new hardware no later on the calendar than early September, and shipped it no later than late September.

That dovetails nicely with the fact that the fall season just happens to begin in late September. So there’s your answer as to the iPhone 5 release date, more or less. iPhone 5 developer beta testing could end up taking longer than hoped, which could push the iOS 5 launch (and the iPhone 5 launch with it) into perhaps October – but that’s the latest we’d expect to see it under almost any circumstances. If anything, it’s more likely to show up earlier – say, August – as no one ever complains about a product arriving early. Except, of course, for those who just bought a Verizon iPhone 4 or a white iPhone 4 the month prior. But then again, some folks just aren’t paying attention to the signals Apple has been sending regarding the iPhone 5 release date.

Beatweek

Fun video apps for iPhone

It doesn't seem that long ago when we would have to lug around a VHS camera to capture video of family events, vacations, and other memories we could relive later by inserting the VHS tape and hitting the play button on our VCRs. While it was a workable solution for capturing memories in motion, lugging around a video camera everywhere we went wasn't exactly practical.

Fortunately these days, there is no longer the need for fresh VHS tapes or making sure to pack the digital video camera because we have the ability to shoot reasonably good video right on our smartphones. With the iPhone 4's front- and rear-facing cameras, we have even more options for shooting videos, and with hundreds of cool video apps in the App Store, we have tons of interesting (and sometimes strange) options.

This week's collection of apps gives you some options for shooting good-looking videos. The first app lets you film the action from before you hit the record button, the second makes retro-looking videos using effects you control, and the last app gives you some professional options for shooting more-serious movies.

Mogo Video (99 cents) lets you shoot videos on your iPhone, but offers a unique twist. With Mogo Video, you can actually record action that happened before you hit record. As long as the app is on, Mogo is recording, but not saving what you see through your iPhone camera. So, maybe you think your child might take his first steps, for example. With Mogo Video turned on you can point your iPhone at your son, and when he does successfully walk on his own, you can hit the record button to capture what happened a designated number of seconds before you hit record.

Mogo seems like it might come in handy for many things beyond the above example and you get a few options to make it work better for the action at hand. Say you're watching a basketball game, as another example. You can set Mogo Video to record 10 seconds in the past so you can capture the play that leads up to a rip-roaring dunk. No longer will you need to be lucky to capture an amazing moment because the app doesn't limit the amount of time it will record in the past. But, obviously, the app won't be able to record what happened before launching the app. Along with the ability to edit the amount of time, you also can turn the flash on and off on the iPhone 4 and you can switch between the front- and rear-facing cameras.

Overall, Mogo video is an interesting concept that will come in handy in specific action-oriented situations. If you want to catch the big play, or witness a first moment with your kids without having to endlessly record the action, Mogo is a fun and effective way to capture life's exciting moments.

The 8mm Vintage Camera ($1.99) app lets you make old-timey videos with some cool feature variations and effects. Right when we launched this app we were reminded of popular camera app Hipstamatic, because 8mm Vintage Camera offers a vaguely similar feature set, but is instead used for making stylized videos.

Start your project by flicking the wheel in the bottom right of the screen to choose from five different video effects like the black-and-white 1920s setting or the grainy '70s setting. Then, you can swipe the viewfinder in the upper right to choose from film effects like a shaky border (like old films) or a burning effect that makes the outer edges of the film seem to melt as you shoot. Different lens and film combinations give you several options for how your video will turn out.

Unlike Hipstamatic, 8mm Vintage Camera lets you adjust all your settings on one main screen. In addition to the film and lens choices, you have the option to use the iPhone 4 flash for brighter scenes; there's a button that gives your film a frame jitter effect; and you can switch between the iPhone 4's front- or rear-facing cameras.

When you're finished, you can hit the My Reels button to browse through your shot videos, and touching a specific project gives you options for saving your video to your photo library, sending via e-mail, or uploading directly to YouTube.

Overall, 8mm Vintage Camera is one of the best apps I've found for making old-timey movies in the iTunes App Store, with just enough lens and film variations to give you plenty to experiment with. Anyone who likes old 8mm films should definitely check out this app.

Filmic Pro ($2.99) gives your iPhone camera a new front-end for shooting higher-quality video, with professional tools for controlling exposure, focal point, and more. As we know, the hardware and HD capabilities behind the iPhone's video camera are impressive on their own--but its built-in controls for shooting video are frustratingly primitive for more-experienced filmmakers, and the iPhone isn't always smart about handling factors like exposure and white balance.

Filmic Pro offers an interface that is clean and simple, and all of its controls run along the bottom of screen, making it perfect for keeping a steady thumb grip on your camera. On the left side of the screen, you have buttons for locking and unlocking focus, exposure, and white balance, and turning on your LED torch. On the top, in the main window, you have two reticles (or optionally one, for run-and-gun scenarios) which you can drag around to set focus, exposure, and white balance wherever you want in the shot. On the right side, you have a record button, clip library, info (a quick-start guide to the interface), and settings, which includes a ton of extras such as controls for resolution, variable frames per second, color bars, and a customizable slate with automatic advancing for each take.

Overall, Filmic Pro is a great value and worthwhile download whether you're a budding cinematographer or a filmmaking vet. This app can vastly increase the quality of your videos, letting you get much more out of your iPhone camera without adding any extra gear.

Cnet

iPhone 4S back supposedly turns up

Chinese outfit WeiBusi on Tuesday posted a photo of what's purported to be the back of the next iPhone, which many are tentatively referring to as the iPhone 4S. The white shell matches up with that of a very early case design and, in keeping with recently mentioned parts, points to a moved camera flash that sits opposite the camera itself. The design superficially resembles that of an iPhone 4, although that couldn't be verified without the rest of the body.

The backing isn't necessarily accurate and could have been visually edited. Apple isn't believed to be starting production until July and might at most have part samples rather than full components.

Debates still persist over what the next iPhone will look like. While some have been arguing for a conservative update that mostly focuses on upgrading the inside, France Telecom's CEO understood it would be smaller and thinner and noticeably different. Other rumors have pointed to a substantial redesign.

Electronista

Rumor: New "iPhone 4S" Launching on T-Mobile and Sprint, Too?

Apple rumormongering: Go! A new research note from Jefferies & Co analyst Peter Misek suggests that Apple isn't going to be performing a significant upgrade to the connection capabilities of its new, to-be-released iPhone—namely, no 4G LTE support.

Whenever the next version of Apple's smartphone hits the market—we're already nearing the one-year anniversary of the iPhone 4's launch with no hint of a new product in sight—Misek suggests that the device will only have incremental upgrades compared to the iPhone 4's specifications. Heck, it's practically keeping the same name.

"We believe the likelihood of the iPhone 5 launch in September including LTE [Long-Term Evolution] is now remote," wrote Misek in a research note on May 13. "According to our industry checks, the device should be called iPhone 4S and include minor cosmetic changes, better cameras, A5 dual-core processor, and HSPA+ [EvolvedHigh-Speed Packet Access] support."

The bigger news on Apple's side is Misek's suggestion that the company will be pursuing an expanded carrier lineup for its iPhones. His "industry checks" indicate that Apple will be launching the iPhone on both Sprint and T-Mobile in time for the holidays—remember, although the latter is in the process of being purchased by AT&T, T-Mobile currently remains a separate company from the larger carrier. In other words, no iPhone… yet.

As for when the new iPhone is expected to actually hit the market—looking cosmetically similar to the iPhone 4, as indicated by current rumors—that's anyone's guess. While anonymous sources speaking to Reuters in an April 2011 article suggest that the iPhone 5 (or iPhone 4S) is expected to drop in September of this year, other rumors peg the next version of Apple's smartphone to ship just in time for the holidays.

So why new carriers, but not LTE support for the new iPhone-whatever? In actuality, Apple was allegedly planning to support full-fledged LTE in the iPhone via a Qualcomm chipset, but Misek says that chip yields just haven't been strong enough for Apple to be able bring LTE support into the picture just yet. While not explicitly stated by Misek, the iPhone 4S seems like it was Apple's "backup plan" in case a full LTE-enhanced iPhone couldn't come to pass.

PCmag

IPhone 5G Sighting Shows Edge-to-Edge Screen

What's purported to be an "iPhone 5G" case with an edge-to-edge screen has surfaced at Asian trading site AliBaba.com, Electronista reported Saturday.

The listing on Guangdong, China-based Kulcase's trading site shows the front and back of what it claims to be the "Newest design crystal case for apple iPhone 5g." The unconfirmed case mockup is colored teal—we're guessing that odd choice doesn't make Apple's final cut for the iPhone 5—and has the flash component moved away from the rear camera, which would be a change from earlier versions of the iPhone.

The steady drumbeat of rumors about Apple's plans for the iPhone 5 seem to have fallen off in the past few weeks. But in March and April, speculative stories about delays, a faster processor and the like were flying off the shelves.

One thing that lends some credence to the AliBaba.com sighting is that Apple has already had trouble keeping its case designs for new products under wraps, notes AppleInsider.

Three employees of Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn Electronics were reportedly charged in March with leaking the iPad 2's case design to third-party accessory suppliers.

The workers, employed at Foxconn's Shenzen, China plant, were arrested by Chinese authorities on Dec. 26, 2010 and officially charged with violating company trade secret regulations on March 23, according to reports.

Foxconn, a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry, assembles iPads, iPhones and iPods for Apple.

Images of iPad 2 cases featuring a rear-facing camera and a thinner profile than the first-generation media tablet from Apple began to surface last December. At the time, Foxconn reported its suspicions that the design had been leaked by its own employees, according to reports.

PCmag

iPhone '5G' case shows edge-to-edge screen, moved flash

A very early instance of a 2011 iPhone case has shown up in a listing at Asian trading site AliBaba. Guangdong-based Kulcase is selling what it claims is a crystal case for an "iPhone 5G." The construction and the placeholder inside it suggest not only a larger, edge-to-edge screen but that the flash has moved from directly next to the rear camera to the corner on the other side, presumably to improve its performance.

Whether or not the case is accurate is difficult to determine. Some rumors have pointed to a radical overhaul of the iPhone for this year that would support the existence of an edge-to-edge screen and possibly other changes. Others have pointed to just a modest iPhone 4 respin, although at least one of these has referenced an edge-to-edge display.

A side glance isn't available and would help determine the plans, since the argument for a major redesign has pointed to a tapered shape.

Small Chinese companies have, in the past, regularly and illegally obtained Apple design blueprints in advance and started manufacturing cases even when it turned out the design changed slightly before launch. The problem was finally acknowledged this year when Foxconn had employees arrested for passing on iPad 2 information months in advance. A company from Guangdong in the mainland would be an unusual choice given its distance from Foxconn's usual factories, although the cases themselves would ship out of the port of Shenzhen, Foxconn's core manufacturing base.

The new iPhone, regardless of design, isn't anticipated until September but would start manufacturing in July and might give time for early schematics to show.

 Electronista

Analyst claims iPhone 4S due with HSPA+ 3G, Sprint version

Jefferies analyst Peter Misek claimed in a research note Friday that claimed to know details of the next iPhone. Saying that the phone was now called the iPhone 4S, he referred to "industry checks" that supported what had been rumored so far but also mentioned HSPA+ 3G support on GSM networks, implying 21Mbps. He was also told network support would expand to carriers that had been actively seeking it, including Sprint's CDMA network, T-Mobile's uncommon HSPA+ bands, and China Mobile's unique TD-SCDMA.

Most else of what he mentioned was mentioned in the past, such as better cameras, the dual-core A5 processor, and a design that could be just a minor revision of the iPhone 4. Apple wanted to include an LTE chipset, according to Misek, but wasn't ready.

Analyst claims of inside knowledge are frequently mixed and can be inaccurate. Most of what was said in the Jefferies note, however, matches with more concrete claims. HSPA+ 3G is now a common feature on HTC and Samsung phones and was already coming to phones from RIM and others. An iPhone 4-like prototype was already seen (above) running on T-Mobile USA's 3G, and talk has repeatedly surfaced of a deal with China Mobile.

Sprint is less certain, but it's technically capable of using CDMA. The company has been elusive on the subject but has always alluded to there being talks. Verizon has emphasized that it doesn't have an exclusive and may have just had the advantage of an early deal.

Electronista

iPhone 4 sets Guinness records for game handheld sales

Guinness World Records upturned expectations late Thursday by giving Apple three records for gaming. The iPhone 4 was now the fastest-selling handheld game system ever, having reached an estimated 1.5 million devices on its first day. Officials noted that just 200,000 Sony PSPs moved on its launch day, and the DS took a full week to hit 500,000.

The 3DS hit 400,000 in one day but quickly tapered off in the following days.

Apple also clinched a record for the largest downloadable game store. Even as of September 2010, the App Store had 37,362 games. Nintendo's Virtual Console store for classic games hit just 576 titles, while Steam had about 1,100 games at the time and Xbox Live Arcade's indie section had 1,300.

The App Store belatedly claimed a third title, for the largest launch lineup of any game platform. Although the total App Store only had 500 titles, 145 of those were games. Most consoles just ship with one to two dozen titles at best.

Guinness' records could bring criticism from gamers and companies, many of whom have argued that the iPhone and Android aren't offering substantial games. Guinness' gaming lead Gaz Deaves disagreed and argued that Apple had simply carved out a "gigantic new space" and helped establish casual gaming.

Game system designers have increasingly felt the impact in spite of initial attempts to deny an effect. Nintendo's profit dropped 66 percent, partly after it could no longer count on constantly rising DS sales.

For Apple, the trio of records may be a form of retaliation against Microsoft's fastest-selling device record from March.

Electronista

White iPhone 4 Launch Turns Violent at Beijing Store

In China, it appears Apple fanboys are so eager to snap up the new Apple products that some of them will resort to violence. Multiple sources are reporting that the launch of the white iPhone 4 caused a skirmish outside the China's flagship store in the Sanlitun neighborhood of Beijing.

According to a CNN report, after a man believed to be a scalper tried to jump the line to buy the white iPhone, three Apple security members tried to escort the man away, and a fight broke out. A "shoving match" between an Apple staffer and a relative of the alleged scalper resulted as he was removed from the line. The fight caused Apple security to close and lock the entrance of the store. Zealous customers rushed the glass door, and as they tried to shake it open, it shattered.

Two men and two women reportedly suffered minor injuries in the scuffle. Apple closed the store for the rest of the afternoon.

"The Apple store in Sanlitun closed for several hours on Saturday after a group outside the store became unruly," Carolyn Wu, a Beijing-based Apple spokesperson told CNN. "The store team acted to protect themselves and our customers by closing the doors and preventing the group from entering. The safety of our customers and our employees is our top priority."

As of Sunday, customers in Beijing that want a white iPhone 4 must first make a reservation online, the Wall Street Journal is reporting. No reservation is necessary to snag a black iPhone 4.

It seems that white iPhone-related violence isn't an isolated situation. The launch of the iPad 2 reportedly caused a brawl to break out as well. There have also been problems with scalpers hawking Apple products in the country in the past.

Demand for Apple products has grown massively in China since the country's first store opened nearly three years ago. Chinese Apple stores are some of the busiest in the world. The AP reports that on average, Chinese locations have both the highest traffic and highest revenue among all Apple stores. When Apple reported its Q1 earnings last month, it said that quarterly revenue from China quadrupled, soaring to $2.6 billion, or about 10 percent of the company's total revenue.

PCmag

review: Photojojo Telephoto Lens for iPhone 4 camera (and 3G/3GS)

It’s a well-known fact that the digital zoom on the iPhone, even with the higher megapixel of the iPhone 4, is terrible if you use it to fully zoom in on an image. That’s why sometimes we end up taking a picture from far away, with a bit of zoom, and then perhaps crop it out later in a photo editing app.

Not anymore!

Photojojo has developed an actual telephoto lens for the iPhone 4 (as well as the iPhone 3G/3GS and Verizon model iPhone 4) that can attach itself to a protective case.

The case itself is a thin, plastic shell that covers the iPhone from the sides. On my iPhone 4, the top and the bottom are not protected. However, there is a space on the side for full access to the volume and ringer buttons. The back will have a precise cutout for the camera and flash, but there is also a round bulge that allows the telephoto lens to connect to your iPhone.

The 8X telephoto lens itself is fairly small, being no taller than your thumb. It’s about an inch or so wide, so you can carry it around pretty easily without it being noticeable.

When the lens is on, you can launch a camera app on your phone and adjust the focus of the lens by twisting the focal ring. But it seems that no matter how much you focus the lens, there is a kind of tilt-shift effect, where the edges are slightly blurred with a sharper focus to the middle. If this is not the preferred look, the included tripod can be used for more stability and sharper overall focus.

The ball-and-socket joint of the tripod allows you to adjust your iPhone at any angle for your photographs. It’s stable and handy to have, but definitely not for candid snapshots. The tripod also does not stand by itself when the iPhone is in portrait mode – you must use the phone in landscape mode for the tripod to stand freely. Another option is to simply hold the iPhone in portrait mode while it’s in the tripod.

If you’ve ever needed to take close-up shots from afar, or even just want to get more creative with your iPhone photography, then the Telephoto Lens from Photojojo is a great fit for your iPhone.

Photojojo’s 8X Telephoto Lens for iPhone includes the case, lens, tripod, cleaning cloth, and a carrying pouch to store everything. This lens case is available for iPhone 3G/3GS and iPhone 4 (AT&T and Verizon compatible) for $35 from the Photojojo Store.

Beatweeks

Mophie juice pack 4 plus for iPhone review

Getting Started:
Mophie juice Pack 4 Plus is an iPhone power pack, which has impressed us with its capacity, but adds battery life, has managed to keep the thickness at the level of the previous Mophie juice Pack air product, and it deserves a tag price of $ 100? You know the answer to the first question from the get-go-juice Pack Plus is almost as large as already fairly thick air 0,30 cm of iggla. Make your iPhone 4 resembles the worked only profess to travel an astonishing muscle mass 2.5 ounces. Obese — is bigger and stronger, with 2000mAh battery dwarfing 1420mAh on iPhone 4 and air capacity 1500mAh Mophie juice Pack. In short, the Mophie juice Pack minute plus ruins completely profile of your iPhone, but on the other hand, is converted to a well-armored soldier. An almost Fit in your pocket, but.

Design:
But let us start from scratch, i.e., how to fit your phone in case. In order to do that just take away from the top and push the iPhone in for a case Fit specified by clicking a phoney. Mophie has cut out holes for camera and muting audio jack 3,5 mm, while rocker and key locking is available via silver plastic buttons on the case. The only minor problem, we have seen is that people with large hands may be a hard time to reach for the mute button is pressed. Overall, juice Pack-only with a soft touch rubber coating on the back and Matt plastic inside. I tested a black juice pack, but also be able to order it in yellow, pink and blue.

In front, audio redirection through two holes, and you may notice a slight improvement, as is the case itself acts as a speaker for better Acoustics and better overall sound. At the bottom, you have an LED status as "close" button is enabled and shows how much you have left the juice. Mophie battery pack comes with a USB cable microUSB for charging device and is connected to the port forwarding right down. Finally complying with the left hand a small switch, turn off the juice pack, enable and disable.

There are two holes, as we would like to see in this product: a kind of protective screen and stands ...

View the original article here

First iPad, iPhone 3GS Outselling Newer Android-Based Products

Sales of older generation Apple products are outpacing more current Android-based devices, new research reveals.

A survey from Canaccord Genuity originally reported by AppleInsider shows that while the iPhone 4 is "by far" the best-selling device at both AT&T and Verizon stores, products like the first-generation iPad and the iPhone 3GS are still selling quite well.

"Interestingly, our April checks indicated continued strong demand for the iPhone 3GS at AT&T and iPad 1 at Verizon, as these older generation products with reduced prices often outsold new Android products," Canaccord analyst Michael Walkley said in a note to investors. "We believe this highlights Apple's significant competitive advantage, and these older products help Apple offer a tiered pricing strategy at key channels."

Canaccord found that the iPhone 3GS, which is competitively priced at $49, outsells Android-based smartphones like the HTC Inspire or the Motorola Atrix. Unsurprisingly, Walkley also said the iPad is the best-selling tablet on the market. By contrast, other tablets have had "modest sales," such as RIM's BlackBerry PlayBook, the Motorola Xoom, or the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

It seems other tablet makers are faced with an uphill battle when it comes to competing with Apple. In fact, a recent DigiTimes report said that in light of lackluster sales of non-Apple tablets, many companies have to deal with the issue of excess inventory of their devices. Apparently, the market has a limited demand of just 20 million units, while there is only demand for 20 million tablets this year.

In spite of a decline in Apple sales in the first quarter down to 4.69 million units from the previous number of 7.33 units, Walkley also noted that both the 16GB and 32GB first-gen iPads sold out within two weeks after the launch of the iPad 2.

However, Android still has a strong foothold on the smartphone market. The most recent numbers from comScore showed Google's mobile platform to be the most popular OS in the country, with 31.2 percent of the market. RIM sits in the second spot with 30.4 percent of the space, and Apple holds steady with about a quarter (24.7 percent) of the mobile market.

For now, it appears Apple has benefited from discounting older-generation models of its popular products.

PCmag

review: Photojojo Telephoto Lens for iPhone 4 camera (and 3G/3GS)

It’s a well-known fact that the digital zoom on the iPhone, even with the higher megapixel of the iPhone 4, is terrible if you use it to fully zoom in on an image. That’s why sometimes we end up taking a picture from far away, with a bit of zoom, and then perhaps crop it out later in a photo editing app.

Not anymore!

Photojojo has developed an actual telephoto lens for the iPhone 4 (as well as the iPhone 3G/3GS and Verizon model iPhone 4) that can attach itself to a protective case.

The case itself is a thin, plastic shell that covers the iPhone from the sides. On my iPhone 4, the top and the bottom are not protected. However, there is a space on the side for full access to the volume and ringer buttons. The back will have a precise cutout for the camera and flash, but there is also a round bulge that allows the telephoto lens to connect to your iPhone.

The 8X telephoto lens itself is fairly small, being no taller than your thumb. It’s about an inch or so wide, so you can carry it around pretty easily without it being noticeable.

When the lens is on, you can launch a camera app on your phone and adjust the focus of the lens by twisting the focal ring. But it seems that no matter how much you focus the lens, there is a kind of tilt-shift effect, where the edges are slightly blurred with a sharper focus to the middle. If this is not the preferred look, the included tripod can be used for more stability and sharper overall focus.

The ball-and-socket joint of the tripod allows you to adjust your iPhone at any angle for your photographs. It’s stable and handy to have, but definitely not for candid snapshots. The tripod also does not stand by itself when the iPhone is in portrait mode – you must use the phone in landscape mode for the tripod to stand freely. Another option is to simply hold the iPhone in portrait mode while it’s in the tripod.

If you’ve ever needed to take close-up shots from afar, or even just want to get more creative with your iPhone photography, then the Telephoto Lens from Photojojo is a great fit for your iPhone.

Photojojo’s 8X Telephoto Lens for iPhone includes the case, lens, tripod, cleaning cloth, and a carrying pouch to store everything. This lens case is available for iPhone 3G/3GS and iPhone 4 (AT&T and Verizon compatible) for $35 from the Photojojo Store.

Beatweeks

Review: Photojojo Telephoto Lens for iPhone 4 camera (and 3G/3GS)

It’s a well-known fact that the digital zoom on the iPhone, even with the higher megapixel of the iPhone 4, is terrible if you use it to fully zoom in on an image. That’s why sometimes we end up taking a picture from far away, with a bit of zoom, and then perhaps crop it out later in a photo editing app.

Not anymore!

Photojojo has developed an actual telephoto lens for the iPhone 4 (as well as the iPhone 3G/3GS and Verizon model iPhone 4) that can attach itself to a protective case.

The case itself is a thin, plastic shell that covers the iPhone from the sides. On my iPhone 4, the top and the bottom are not protected. However, there is a space on the side for full access to the volume and ringer buttons. The back will have a precise cutout for the camera and flash, but there is also a round bulge that allows the telephoto lens to connect to your iPhone.

The 8X telephoto lens itself is fairly small, being no taller than your thumb. It’s about an inch or so wide, so you can carry it around pretty easily without it being noticeable.

When the lens is on, you can launch a camera app on your phone and adjust the focus of the lens by twisting the focal ring. But it seems that no matter how much you focus the lens, there is a kind of tilt-shift effect, where the edges are slightly blurred with a sharper focus to the middle. If this is not the preferred look, the included tripod can be used for more stability and sharper overall focus.

The ball-and-socket joint of the tripod allows you to adjust your iPhone at any angle for your photographs. It’s stable and handy to have, but definitely not for candid snapshots. The tripod also does not stand by itself when the iPhone is in portrait mode – you must use the phone in landscape mode for the tripod to stand freely. Another option is to simply hold the iPhone in portrait mode while it’s in the tripod.

If you’ve ever needed to take close-up shots from afar, or even just want to get more creative with your iPhone photography, then the Telephoto Lens from Photojojo is a great fit for your iPhone.

Photojojo’s 8X Telephoto Lens for iPhone includes the case, lens, tripod, cleaning cloth, and a carrying pouch to store everything. This lens case is available for iPhone 3G/3GS and iPhone 4 (AT&T and Verizon compatible) for $35 from the Photojojo Store.

Beatweeks

Phil Schiller denies white iPhone 4 thicker than black

Observations that the white iPhone 4 was thicker than the black model were given an unusual challenge on Sunday by Apple's VP of worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller. In a direct message to Ernesto Barron, he insisted that the white model was the same size despite hands-on tests. "Don't believe all the junk you read," Schiller said.

It's unknown why Schiller would send a direct message. He has lately been active on Twitter but usually makes comments in public through mentions for questions on this scope.

Owners of the white iPhone have made side-by-side comparisons that clearly show a thicker design that has proven problematic for cases with very little tolerance, such as some silicone cases. Without an official answer for the difference, the reason for the difference hasn't been known. Speculation has raised the possibility that it needs a thicker layer to protect against UV damage or to look as good as illustrated in photos.

Electronista

Microsoft making it easier to port iPhone apps to Windows Phone

One of Microsoft’s problems in attracting people to write Windows Phone 7 applications is that the user base is much smaller than those of the iPhone or Android, so app developers tend to focus on those platforms. Now, Microsoft is trying to make it easier for people to take the apps they’ve developed for the iPhone and make them work on Windows Phone.

With the iPhone/iOS to Windows Phone 7 API (application programming interface) mapping tool, released on Friday, developers have a new online resource for doing this conversion.

Essentially, the API mapping tool works like a foreign-language dictionary, said Jean-Christophe Cimetiere, Microsoft senior technical evangelist for interoperability. Developers can go through the code of their iPhone app and find the equivalent API calls for a Windows Phone 7 app.

“For this first round we focused on identifying the one-to-one mapping when it exists,” Cimetiere wrote in a blog post. “In the following versions we’ll expand the scope and anytime the concepts are similar enough, we’ll do our best to provide the appropriate guidance.

“Of course, this is a work in progress, coverage will expand and more iOS APIs will be mapped soon.”

Seattle PI

iPhone Users to Receive Location Database Fix Soon

iPhone users will receive a free iOS 4.3.3 software upgrade within the next couple of weeks, which among other things will offer location database fixes.

The BGR reports that Apple will release iOS 4.3.3 within the next couple of weeks. This software upgrade will ensure that the iPhone will no longer back up the location database to iTunes, reduce the size of the location database, as well as make it possible to shut down the location database when Location Services are turned off.

Apple recently issued an official FAQ related to location services, where the company stated that the location database will also be encrypted in the next major release of iOS. The company is expected to unveil iOS 5 in June, but it's still unclear when that software upgrade will reach a public release.

The iPhone 5 is currently rumored to be released in late September or early October, and it's natural to believe that iOS 5 will make its debut around that time. A recent leak also revealed that the MobileMe service will go by the name iCloud in time for the iPhone 5 launch.

Infosync

Apple IPhone vs HTC Thunder 4

Getting Started:

Two of the newest smartphones to hit Verizon Wireless this year HTC Thunder and Apple iPhone 4. Both have a lot to offer its customers, such as Thunder is the first 4 G LTE smartphone, which also benefit from Android user definable nature and iPhone 4 contains a world quality apps and a deep grained software experience. We have used two units for a long time now, so we would like to show you how they are performing next to each other in certain key areas. So let us include it in!

Design:

On the overall design and appearance, HTC and Apple iPhone compare 4 lyn literally apples with pears. Lightning looks like a "big boy phone as it is to a large extent, as it is weight of 6.23 oz, even though it is made of plastic, it feels solid and stable overall. IPhone 4 is in the meantime, more compact and easier to maintain, and not feel so heavy, also. It also has a more sophisticated look, with solid piece back and forth and metal Trim on both sides. But what we want on Lightning use soft-touch coating on the back, which does not show fingerprints as glass behind the iPhone 4 – as this is a trade off. Between two non iPhone appearance better overall, but Thunder still good, as it is too large to fit in your hands.

Lightning is the main reason for a large part, because the beefier than I originally 4.3 480 x 800 pixel resolution touchscreen display, while the iPhone 4 uses a smaller display 3.5 ", but the pixel density is much higher due to 640 x 960 pixels. We love both … really. Larger screen on Thunder is quite good, images and text look sharp and great video also appear. When we show the same content for the iPhone 4 to be able to see a little clearer (due to higher number of pixels) and the colors seem more natural, but you are limited to a much smaller screen. One thing that we noticed when use telephones outside of a sunny day was there on the screen about Lightning appears almost blacked-out (even if we turned the brightness lighting all the way up), while the screen on the iPhone 4 can be seen more.
You probably already have the iPhone 4 only isolate one physical button on the front page, you return to the home screen while the Thunder has 4 touch-sensitive buttons at the bottom of the home, menu, back, and search. It is convenient, as you could in your e-mail Inbox, just click the Browse button and type in a search to run. However, the Lightning could buttons on the page have planned better, because the power button/Lock is rather small and is flush with the surrounding plastic and volume rocker is a track and you are sure, where you can press. For comparison, the iPhone has 4 separate volume buttons are nice and feels "click" when the button is pressed, as the supreme power/lock. Both devices come with a standard headphone jack 3,5 mm top, but for charging and PC connectivity, iPhone 4 uses Apple's proprietary 30-pin connector while the Thunder uses the most common microUSB connection, which is a plus.

Consumer Reports disputes claims white iPhone 4 is thicker

Consumer Reports on Monday disputed claims that the white iPhone 4 was thicker than its black counterpart. Using calipers, the buying advice magazine claimed both color iPhones were about 0.37 inches. It went so far as to try three cases and said all three fit properly.

The position was shared with Apple VP Phil Schiller but still runs up against contradictory evidence. Side-by-side looks have shown at least some examples visibly thicker and having problems in cases. Consumer Reports' own study made it difficult to check since the caliper contact point was inside the phone, and not at the slightly thicker lip.

Its view is still uncharacteristically supportive of the phone. Consumer Reports has refused to recommend the iPhone 4 in GSM or CDMA guise even though it consistently rates as one of the best phones in the US. All of its concern hinges on the antenna sensitivity issue and a belief that Apple should have either had a less susceptible antenna to start or continued offering free bumper cases.

Electronista

Analyst expects OmniVision still locked for iPhone 5 camera

Lazard Capital Markets analyst Daniel Amir on Tuesday told investors that he didn't expect Apple to turn to Sony for iPhone cameras. He still believed OmniVision, the long-time camera sensor maker for Apple, had a "significant" opportunity with its Apple deal. The firm was unique in scaling from the very low end to advanced cameras and still had one of the best backside-illuminated camera sensors in its BSI-2-based chips.

The research note didn't attempt to directly reconcile the view with Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer's own remarks. During a conversation discussing the impact of the northern Japanese earthquake, the executive had claimed Sony was giving its best cameras to Apple, even though no iPhone 4 model uses them. Sony's best mobile camera sensor an eight-megapixel unit that currently fits into the Xperia Arc, Xperia Neo, and other Sony Ericsson models.

OmniVision already has eight-megapixel sensors that would fit a future iPhone, but rumors have circulated of supply issues that would have forced Sony to either take up some of the slack or replace it entirely.

Amir was upbeat on OmniVision as a whole, mostly as he expected the CMOS camera sensor market to grow an average of 25 percent per year over the next few years.

Electronista