iPhone on Sprint? Let the rumors begin!

An interesting tidbit from today's Verizon iPhone announcement, at a Q&A after the announcement, Apple  COO Tim Cook was asked if the CDMA version of the iPhone was exclusive to Verizon, to which he stated it was a multi-year deal with Verizon, but it was not exclusive. This means Apple could easily bring the iPhone to Sprint. Right? We'll see, since Apple hasn't exactly made the GSM version available on
T-Mobile, but now that it's clear AT&T's exclusivity agreement is over, anything's possible. Could our dream of the iPhone on every major carrier finally come true? Finger's crossed.

Apple delays white iPhone 4 again...again

According to Reuters, Apple has again delayed the release of it's white iPhone 4, this time until spring 2011. An explanation wasn't given, but it's most likely the same manufacturing problems Apple has had from the start. Oh white iPhone 4, will we ever get to meet in person? Please at least come out before the iPhone 6, okay?

[Reuters]

Netflix brings streaming video app to iPhone and iPod touch

Just as promised, Netflix just upgraded their streaming video app to add iPhone and iPod touch support. Users will be able to see recommended movies, browse by genre and search, plus (most importantly) watch movies directly on the device. You can also view your instant queue, but at the moment you can't edit it, only add a movie to it, but you can move new movies to the top of the queue.

In testing the app, it works seamlessly on 3G, and even better when you're on Wi-Fi, movies loaded fast, in our testing they started playing even faster than videos in the YouTube app. The app works like the iPad version too, after exiting the app, you can start your movie right where you left off, and other movies that you've started to watch but haven't finished will show how much is left and you can pick up from where you left off as well. All in all, we personally love it.


Netflix iPhone App Video from Netflix on Vimeo.

Multifl0w for iPhone does multitasking prettier than Apple

Usually with jailbreaking, someone will hack a way to do something on an iPhone, then later down the road Apple creates a better and prettier way to do said thing. Well this time, the reverse is actually true. In iOS 4.0, Apple finally added the long-requested multitasking feature, and did so in a unique and good looking way. But this time, instead of Apple's solution being the final word, someone out there has actually improved upon it. Multifl0w handles multitasking on the iPhone similar to Exposé. When you activate it, it will bring up all the open apps with thumbnails that you can move around or close with the familiar red button. In a video demonstrating it, everything looks smooth, with no lag. Another nice thing about Multifl0w is that you can choose how to want to activate it, by pressing and holding on the home button, shaking the phone, you can even activate it through a headset.

As you probably suspected, your iPhone has to be jailbroken to get Multifl0w, which is a $4.99 app in the Cydia store. Check out Multifl0w in action with a techno-plagued video below.



[Multifl0w]

Sony takes shot at iPhone gaming; says PSP built for "big boy games"

Taking a shot at iPhone gaming, Sony showed a phone very similar looking to the iPhone and said that it's not built for "big boy games" like the PSP is. The spot is an attempt to push the PSP's new Favorites, which are basically best-sellers that are discounted to $9.99.

The problem with Sony's logic is that iPhone games, especially some headed for the iPhone 4, look as good, if not better, than some PSP games. Plus, the cheapest ones are $10 a pop. The biggest reason that gaming on the iPhone has exploded has been a combination of making games very convenient to purchase and making them cheap as well, which is a formula Sony hasn't yet been able to figure out. Maybe they should go ahead and make a PSP phone.

An iPhone game that looks as good as (or better) than Playstation 2, Xbox game

Well, the day has finally arrived, the day when an iPhone game comes out that looks like a console game. The game is called Rage, and will be available this year. John Carmack, of id fame, showed off a quick demo of the game, and what was shown looks very impressive.

The demo was shown on an iPhone 4, but but Carmack said it'll run on a 3GS, and looked best on an iPad. There's no arguing from this write that the game looks great, maybe even a little better than a Playstation 2 or original Xbox game. Check out video after the break.

Game Center won't be available for older iPhones

Were you looking for another reason to upgrade from your older iPhone or iPod touch to the iPhone 4? Well Apple is happy to oblige you. In the latest beta of Game Center, Apple confirms that Game Center is no longer supported on the 3G and 2nd generation iPod touch. Guess that'll at least keep the other gaming networks, such as OpenFeint and Plus+ around for a while.

Android tops RIM and iOS in sales

For Q2 2010 and for the first time ever, Android phones were the top selling phones coming all the way from third to snatch the lead. RIM falls to second, and Apple falls to third. This is the first time since Q4 2007 that RIM has not held the top spot, when Apple briefly overtook the position. Android's sales have certainly been helped by a number of hot new handsets on a variety of different carriers. It'll be interesting to see how long the little green robot can hang on to the lead.

[Engadget]

Clear's iSpot brings 4G to iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad

Wouldn't dare to pair up your iDevice with something as un-Apple as Sprint's Overdrive 4G Mobile Hotspot? Well now you've finally got an option for 4G speeds. Today Clear introduced the iSpot, a 4G mobile hostpot specifically designed for Apple's little moneymakers. The device itself is about the size of an iPhone, and Clear claims you can squeeze up to four hours of continuous use from it.

The iSpot is available right away, and normally retails for $99.99, but is on sale for $29, with unlimited data plans set at $25 a month.

[Clear]

Jailbreaking a go for iPhone 4; Make FaceTime calls over 3G

Jailbreaking your iPhone has never been easier thanks to developer comex. If you've ever jailbreak your iDevice, you know that it's a process that requires you to get your phone hooked up to the old computer, but not so anymore. Now all you have to do is point Safari on the device to www.jailbreakme.com, and you're set to go, no cords required.

One big reason to jailbreak right now is to free FaceTime calls from the current Wi-Fi only restriction, so that you can make calls anywhere you have at least 3G coverage. After jailbreaking, you can download an app that removes the Wi-Fi restriction, one you can use that's free to try is called My3G. After installing the app and setting it up, you're all set to do some awkward video calling out in public.

Jailbreakme.com will work with iDevices all the way back to the iPhone 3G, but it should be noted that while jailbreaking is legal, it may still void your warranty.

Best Buy giving away Side Shield for iPhone 4

There are a few (small) stipulations, but if you have an iPhone 4 or you're getting one from Best Buy, they'll give and install a Side Shield by Zagg for free. To get the goods, you have to be a Best Buy Rewards Zone member (which is free) or have already purchased or are going to be purchasing your phone from Best Buy. If you want full-bodied protection, Best Buy will also be taking 20% off of iPhone 4 cases through August 7, so if you don't want a Bumper case, you've got another option now.


[BusinessWire]

iPhone vs. iPhone showdown

We're four generations into the iPhone era now, and sometimes it's easy to forget how far it's come since it's introduction in three years ago, seemingly light years ago. Vimeo user Mike Hellers has posted a video pitting all four generations of Apple's little moneymaker in a side-by-side speed test. The results may not be too surprising, but it does give us a reminder of what life was like in 2007, or as I like to call it, the olden days.

Windows phone 7 vs. iPhone browser speed test

Windows Phone 7 is in the works, and based on what we've seen so far, it's taking a slightly different approach to the smartphone OS than the other major players have been taking. One area where they've done this is in their browser. Most modern smartphone browsers are WebKit based, but Microsoft has chosen to use a version of Internet Explorer for their phones. Hearing that will make some people happy, but also annoy a lot of people, but we haven't really seen it in action yet against any competition. Well Redmond Pie just posted a video pitting the Windows Phone 7 browser against Safari on an iPhone 3GS running iOS 4. Judging by the video, the Windows Phone 7 browser renders pretty good, but is a little on the slow side.



It should be noted that the Windows Phone 7 browser is running on pre release hardware, and the phones are on different 3G networks, however, they are both on 3G, and on the first couple of pages tested the Windows Phone 7 looked painfully slow. But hey, Microsoft does have some time before launch to pep things up a bit. And if they want their new OS to compete, they're gonna need to.

[Redmond Pie]

White iPhone 4 delayed again

Oh how time flies. It seems like only a week ago that Steve was promising that the white iPhone 4 would be available by the end of July. Oops. In a press release by Apple this morning, they stated that the white iPhone has been "more challenging to manufacture" than they had expected, so the release date has been pushed back to later this year. And to think, this all could have been fixed with a simple phone call to Sherwin-Williams.

[Apple]

Apple begins iPhone 4 case program

It's case time! Apple's case program went live on their website today. Here's how it works. If you bought an iPhone 4 but not a case yet, Apple has created an app to download on your iPhone that you'll use to pick out which case you want. If you bought your phone before today, you'll have until August 22 to apply, if you buy your phone today or after today, you'll need to apply within 30 days.

If you bought a bumper case, there are a few different ways you might get your refund, depending on where you bought it and how you paid for it. If you bought it from Apple with a credit card, good news, Apple will automatically refund it to your card, and you can enter your receipt number or credit card number to check the status of it. If you paid at an Apple store with cash, check, or gift card, bring your receipt to a store sometime before September 30 to get your refund. If you paid with a gift card online at Apple, they'll automatically mail you a new gift card for the refund amount. And lastly, if you bought the phone from an AT&T store, you'll have to fill out and mail in a rebate coupon by September 30.

How to: Make free inbound and outbound calls with Fring for iPhone.

Recently I relocated to an area that doesn't have any AT&T service at all. This was a pretty big deal, as I was job hunting and expecting calls from potential employers, so I had to be reachable by phone, and I couldn't afford a landline, but I did have Wi-Fi that was always available at my house. So I found a solution that uses a combination of the free Fring app, Google Voice, and a free VOIP service called Sipgate. Here's how to get the same setup.

Skype for iPhone updated for multitasking

Skype just updated their iPhone app to allow for background calling. Apple demonstrated this during it's keynote for iOS 4, but we're just getting the update today. It'll work pretty much like the iPhone's built in app, it'll pop up a notification when you get a call, when the phone's locked and you get a call you can unlock to go straight to the call, and you can also use other apps while on a call. One thing that was not added was video calling, which will most likely come further down the road. At least there's another good option for making calls on the iPhone now.

No phone maker is safe from Apple's wrath

If you're a smartphone maker, you should probably prepare to have your phone on Apple's website pretty soon. Apple has seemed pretty perturbed about this whole "anntenagate" thing, and if they're going down, it looks like their gonna take everybody else with them. Nokia is the latest brand to have one of it's phones disgraced on Apple's website, specifically their N97 mini smartphone. The N97 joins phones by Blackberry, HTC, and Samsung that have been filmed suffering the same antenna issues that the iPhone 4 has suffered. At this rate, Apple won't stop until they've got every phone maker on their website. Look out Huawei.

[Apple]

Apple pushes out iBooks update

Today Apple updated their iBooks application to version 1.1, which added audio and video support and better PDF handling, among other features. The best part about it is you can read the book and watch the movie all in the same app now! That should make reading a little more bearable.

Zagg offers solution to iPhone 4 reception problems

If you have an iPhone 4, you might have heard about those reception issues everyone's been talking about lately. The problem happens when you touch the little black strip on the lower left side of the phone, the signal diminishes. Apple says this can be alleviated using a case, and Consumer Reports recommended another option, using duct tape to cover the strip. If you're someone who doesn't want to disfigure your new phone, but you also want to make calls on it, Zagg offers up the invisibleSHIELD.  The invisibleSHIELD is a transparent strip that covers the side of the phone, and will help ease those reception issues. There are a variety of different coverage options available, one that covers just the side of the phone for $9.99, or you can get a covering for the whole phone for $24.99.  Here's a video Zagg posted that demonstrates how it helps reception.