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Thu, 6 October 2011
Rob,
The specs look great for the iPhone 4S.
I am getting one, but any specs on the front facing camera?
Regards,
Thomas
Tuscaloosa AL
Hi Thomas,
It does not look like the front camera changed.
From Apples site we find the following.
Front camera with VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 frames per second
Which is exactly the same as what they have listed for the iPhone 4 front facing camera.
So until iFixit or someone else rips one apart and says it is different than the old front facing camera - it looks like we will have to assume it is the same.
Regards,
Rob W
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 7:36pm EDT
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Wed, 5 October 2011
Hi Rob,
I'm leaving on a trip 10/15, and really want to try and get the 4S 10/14 before leaving (upgrading from 3GS).
2 questions:
1) any difference between getting it from Apple vs Verizon?
2) any suggestion as to whether I'm more likely to be successful pre-ordering with supposed mail delivery 10/14, or going to store (apple or verizon) morning of 10/14?
Thanks much!
Emory
Hi Emory,
I am in the same boat as you - I also leave for a trip on the 15th.
What I am doing and recommend you do is on the Morning of the 7th - Reserve your iPhone 4S to be picked up at a local Apple Store.
The key reason I recommend this vs the Verizon store - is there is no telling how many the Verizon stores will get. Yes - a reservation is supposed to mean it is reserved - There was a great Sienfeld episode on that. But if push comes to shove and there is a dearth of iPhone 4S's who do you think is getting short sheeted - the Apple Store or the Verizon store?
Definitely do not go with the delivery method - as nothing would be worse than it being delivered to your front step after you left on a trip. And even if they don't deliver it to your front step - do you really wanted it sitting in a warehouse somewhere while you are gone - it could get lost there - just seems like to much potential for something to go wrong.
Finally - One last reason to get your iPhone at the Apple store. Last year when the iPhone 4 came out - I ofcourse was one of the first ones to get it at the Apple store. When I went to my car and turned it on - I had an error / warning message about it being over heated. I took it back into the Apple store - they quickly swapped it out with a new one - as they had extras they could do that with. Others I heard from that had issues on the first day at AT&T had issues getting a replacement right away.
So figure Murphy will strike and go with the Apple store as our safest bet.
Good Luck.
Rob W
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 3:25pm EDT
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Tue, 27 September 2011
Well it is about Fracking time - Apple has finally sent out the invites for their next iPhone event - and it is October 4th and on the Cuppertino campus as had been rumored the past week or so.
But lets look at the artwork - for some subtle hints - that Apple likes to do with past invites.
The Phone icon has a 1 in the red circle - this may mean there will only be one new iPhone announced.
The Tag line however is really where it gets interesting. "Lets TALK iPhone" As in lets talk to the iPhone. As in this may go with those rumors / speculation that the iPhone 5 would have special speach recoginition features - ie from Siri and Nuance. That would also likley mean 1GB of RAM and of course the new A5 Processor.
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 11:30am EDT
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Mon, 19 September 2011
Hi Rob,
I heard AT&T is going to start throttling data for their highest users. I just jail broke my iPhone two months ago, and I'm tethering with PDA net. Any indications what a " highest user " would be? I'm averaging about 5 to 6 gigabytes a month?
Thanks
Lamer
Hi Lamer,
You would definitely be in their highest users group. AT&T has said in the past the majority of their users - use much less than 2GB a month and anyone over 2GB is in their top 5% of users. So I would imagine you are in their top 1%. Sorry.
There is always Sprint - Hopefully - that offers unlimitted and un-throttled bandwidth - for now. Well again hopefully as far as the iPhone goes that is.
Rob W
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 6:30pm EDT
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Mon, 12 September 2011
Dear Rob.
I remember some time ago you asked for suggestions on the ways to hold the iPhone on a plane (remember the barf bag stand, that never worked for me). Well I travel every week, NJ to CO and often hold it (arm hurts after a while) or lay it flat on the table (leaning over it make the back hurt) while I listen with my Bose headphones. Today it struck me! The Bose headphone case has two bumps for the earpieces that could serve and a nice back to rest the iPhone on for viewing. Viola, it fits and stays put in the case. If you have a set of these, the pocket for the extra connectors is attached with Velcro so you can move it to make sure it holds your iPhone in place. Sweet!!
Edgar
Somewhere between Newark and Denver at 35,000 feet
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 6:30pm EDT
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Tue, 6 September 2011
Hi Rob,
With the new iPhone hopefully being released right around the corner what is ATT's policy towards purchasing if you still have until August 2012 before completing your contract?
Do they give you any help at all?
Regards,
Steve R
Hi Steve,
First thing you should do is check your status for an upgrade on your iPhone by calling *639# - (Which is *NEW#)
Once you hit call - you will see the following Message:
What is supposed to be a short time later (your results may vary) you will get a text message sent to you that will look something like this:
This message will let you know when you can upgrade to a new iPhone at no additional cost, along with what the cost would be now to upgrade. Above is the message I received when I checked on July 31st 2011. I just sent another request and once it comes in I will see if there is any difference and update.
Please note when you are able to upgrade is not just based on a fixed date for all customers - how much your monthly plan is will effect when you are eligilble to upgrade at no cost - so make sure you check from your phone.
Regards,
Rob W
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 6:30pm EDT
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Fri, 2 September 2011
I just posted up an interview I did with Mark Hearn from Sprintfeed.com
You can hear the interview in the player in the upper right of the site.
I will also put this up on Ep 189 when it goes live - but VIP members have access now to the interview.
Regards,
Rob W
Direct download: Tii_Int_SprintFeed.mp3
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 10:26am EDT
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Tue, 30 August 2011
I Received a text message (See Image) from AT&T offering up 1,000 free rollover minutes at no cost. All I needed to do is Text back "YES"
Not that I am the paranoid type - but I felt it was best to call AT&T and confirm it really was a text from them and not some Text spam - that when I sent "YES" back to them I would be charged $1,000 from someone in Albania.
AT&T was kind enough to confirm it is a real offer and only sent to certain customers. AT&T also said it was a "Me Too" offer - meaning if you did not get this offer but wanted it - you just need to contact AT&T and tell them you are aware of this offer and would like the 1,000 extra rollover minutes. See the Image for the exact wording of the offer. So if you did not get this and want the extra 1,000 rollover minutes give them a call from your iPhone to 800-331-0500.
UPDATE - AT&T customers can also just text "YES" to 11113020 - and that will get you the 1,000 - so no need to call AT&T if you have Text messaging turned on for your iPhone. Thanks to Bob and Ray for the heads on that.
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 4:24pm EDT
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Wed, 17 August 2011
Hi Rob,
I am currently paying way too much for my landline. My wife and I both have iPhones (one 4 and one 3GS).
I am planning to ratchet down my landline costs to the bare bones, so I can still have it available for 911 (e.g. if the teenager is home) and also in the rare case when power is out (since the copper wire phone service has its own power source).
Wondering what you think about the "Ulimate Irony: Use an Old Jailbroken iPhone" section of the following Gizmodo article: http://gizmodo.com/#!5654683/how-to-replace-your-landline-with-google-voice
I am considering using an unlocked/jailbroken 3G iphone I have sitting on the bookshelf gathering dust.
And any other thoughts, recommendations, articles you may have on this topic.
Thanks!
Del
Hi Del
If you are looking at replacing your land line with the jailbroken iPhone per the Gizmodo Article - you need to realize two issues - 1. No 911 calls 2. No calls when the power or just the cable goes out - as that method does require you to have a VOiP connection.
So in your case where you are looking to have a phone around for your daughter for emergencies - this will not be a good choice.
However for those just looking to replace their land line with an old jailbroken iPhone - it is a good article. Here is the meet of the article on how to set up the jailbroken iPhone
Attribution to Gizmodo per the link above:
Here's how: • First, jailbreak your iPhone. • Download GV Mobile+ and Acrobits Softphone from the App Store. • Get a Sipgate account and your free phone number • Have Google Voice forwards calls to the Sipgate number • Add your Sipgate credentials to Acrobits Softphone. It's not hard: you're basically just plugging in your number and user name. • In GV Mobile+, head to the Settings tab and change the 'Phone to Ring' from "No Phone" to your Sipgate number.
Regards,
Rob W
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 7:30pm EDT
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Sun, 14 August 2011
Hello Rob,
I'm a recently retired Mac Sys Admin from Penn State, and now that I'm on a fixed income, I really can't justify spending almost $1,000.00 per year for a phone contract. So, I dropped my monthly AT&T plan, and converted to a Motorola RAZR with an AT&T goPhone plan ($2.00 per day, unlimited use, unlimited text). That serves me well since I rarely use the phone for voice or text and I'm almost always within reach of WiFi. But, when I go out and about, I very much hate carrying two phones around. I really want a way to use my iPhone as an AT&T goPhone.
So, I researched unlocking the iPhone, cutting down sim cards, etc. etc. But I never found a solution to using the iPhone as a goPhone that I was 100% comfortable with. But then, once Apple starting selling unlocked iPhones, I thought I should go to an AT&T store and request them to unlock my iPhone. I figured I'd grovel and beg and explain to them that I'd never ever pay a monthly contract, and wouldn't they like me to be a happier customer not weighed down by two phones? I knew there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell that AT&T would agree, but I figured I'd give it a go anyways.
In early June, I was visiting my sister in West Lafayette Indiana, and she happened to need something from her local AT&T store, so I tagged along, figuring this was a perfect chance to see if they would unlock my iPhone. I waited to speak with a service agent and I asked, "I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this question, but might you unlock my iPhone?" I explained my recent retirement, and how I couldn't justify spending close to a grand a year on an iPhone plan, and how I really, really, really wanted to use my iPhone as an AT&T goPhone. When I heard the guy let out a belly laugh, I knew I was pipe dreaming. He says, "No-o-o-o-o, I can't unlock your iPhone (more chuckling and laughing), but what I can do for you is to set up your iPhone up as an AT&T goPhone." I was in shock -- so much so, I gave serious consideration to firing up one of my iPhone survival apps! He asked the other clerk if that was now allowed, got confirmation that it was, and within minutes, my iPhone was configured as a goPhone! Smiling faces all around, especially mine! I've never been so happy to visit an AT&T store in my life.
I don't think I've heard or seen reports of this new AT&T policy. So, I thought you and your listeners would like to hear about it. If I missed the news, either in print, or on a show, my only out is that since I am recently retired, I must have been napping when word hit the street! Zzzz. Zzzz. Zzzz.
Again, thanks for providing such a superb podcast.
Cheers,
~~Kenster
Ken,Which iPhone did you have that they unlocked?How long had you had it? Did you get all the way through your initial 2 year contract with AT&T?RW
Hi Rob,
It's an iPhone 4. I got the phone in July of 2010. When I retired at the end of Feb 2011, I opted out of the contract and paid the early termination fee. I was 8 months into a 24 month commitment having purchased the iPhone 4 in July. I think the early termination fee was $255.00. I figured it was better to pay that rather than having to pay for an additional 16 months of service at $70.00 per month.
I've been an AT&T customer since about a year and a half prior to the release of the iPhone. But I was only 8 months into my most recent 2 year commitment, (having purchased the iPhone last July).
I should be clear, AT&T didn't unlock the phone, it's still tied to working only with AT&T as the carrier. But what they did do is set up the phone so it could be used as a goPhone -- which is AT&T's version of a prepaid wireless plan.
I opted for the $2.00 per day goPhone plan. That gives me unlimited voice and SMS for any day I choose to use the phone. But no data at all. If I'm out of range of WiFi, I can't do anything that requires data (like use the Map app, etc). It's probably not a great plan for everyone, but I like it. Especially when I think about having an extra $740.00 in my pocket at the end of a year. I'd rather use the money for a new iPad than gifting it to AT&T for cell service that I don't use all that often.
PS - I actually don't miss the Map app when I'm out and about. Instead I fire up G-Map which I purchased a while ago as a voice navigation app. It also has POIs so it's a descent replacement for google maps when I can't get WiFi. For hiking, I use Topo Maps, by Phillip Endicott. It's a great app that let's you pre-download USGS topographical maps. It's better than relying upon online maps especially in some of the wooded areas of Pennsylvania, where cell service can be somewhere between spotty and non-existent.
Cheerio,
~~Kenster
Category: vip_iPhone
-- posted at: 6:30pm EDT
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