Filed under: SDK Dan Wineman, a developer with Rogue Amoeba, has posted an interesting article on the company blog . I’m a big fan of developers who can explain things clearly to non-developers without sounding condescending, and Dan does a great job covering how the limited version of multitasking available in iOS 4 poses a problem for Airfoil Speakers Touch . For those who aren’t familiar with Airfoil , it is Rogue Amoeba’s program for Windows and Mac which allows you to send audio to AirPort Express units, Apple TVs, and iOS devices. Previously it was of limited use for iPhone and iPod touch owners because you had to keep the app running in the foreground for the audio to play. While Dan said that adding background audio was easy, there were deeper issues involving how iOS 4 manages background processes, especially due to how Airfoil works on the network. It’s a good read . Even as a non-programmer, I’m fascinated by the attention to detail that good programmers go into to make sure their applications work, especially when dealing with limited “resources” like you’d find in mobile devices.
Kellog’s [sic] Recalled Products is a new Android app. It lets you scan the barcodes on Kellogg’s items, with the results compared against a recalled products database—so you know what’s edible and what may contain traces of glass/metal/human skin. More
Core 77 has posted a lengthy interview with Apple’s Senior Vice President of Design Jonathan Ive, focused on the design of the iPhone 4. “A big part of the experience of a physical object has to do with the materials,” Ive said, discussing the design process behind Apple’s latest handset. “Whatever people’s feelings are about the actual design of the product is of course subjective. But objectively I can say that…
Filed under: iPhone I have been having problems making calls on my iPhone 4. Whether at home or on the road, my signal strength is simply awful. The only place that I seem to get five bars is the Apple Store itself. I visited the Genius Bar there tonight after Mike urged me to report my signal issues. So, I did. I called 1-800-SOS-APPL, and I was repeatedly and strongly urged to purchase a Bumper .
In an email exchange with an iPhone 4 customer seen and verified by iLounge, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has denied that the iPhone 4 has any actual reception problems. The iLounge reader in question, who has requested to remain anonymous, wrote Jobs, saying, “Steve, I love the phone. But no one, [not] even your Apple Store has answers for my phone with the left side reception and the proximity sensor acting up.” Jobs issued a one-line response,…
A number of users are reporting problems getting their iPhones and iPod touches to work with previously-compatible car stereo head units. Owners of Pioneer, JVC, Alpine, and Kenwood receivers have reported problems with their units reading and recognizing the iPhone or iPod, as well as problems playing music back should the device be recognized. The issues also appear to affect users of some iPod- and iPhone-compatible factory stereos; it is unknown…
So Droid Life — which has earned itself a solid record in the rumor game as of late — is reporting that Verizon Wireless will be dropping the “Wireless” portion of its name this weekend and announcing that it won’t be carrying the iPhone 4 , instead concentrating on its high-end line of Android devices that it’s done an admirable job of building up lately. We can’t speak to the validity of the iPhone stuff, but we’re starting to believe the rest now that we’ve been independently tipped on a new branding campaign that’ll focus on the tagline “Rule the Air.” Interestingly, it would seem that changing the name to Verizon risks confusing the company with one of its two corporate parents — Verizon Communications — which leads us to wonder whether this is a sign that Vodafone could be getting close to relinquishing control of its sizable minority share after years of speculation . That, however, is pure speculation — but regardless, it looks like the bright red theme ain’t going anywhere. More on this as it develops. [Thanks, The Geek] Verizon Wireless changing to Verizon this Sunday, massive new branding campaign planned? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds .
Be it because you have no friends, or simply no friends with an iPhone 4 , Apple’s got your back if you’re looking for a chum to test that curiously intriguing FaceTime feature . Just dial up 1-888-FACETIME (after cleaning yourself up a bit, of course) and hang tight, as a dapper Apple employee will be there in a moment to “show you the basics and a few advanced tips.” And don’t even try any of those late night shenanigans — the help line’s only open from 8AM to 8PM CDT. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] No one to test FaceTime with? Call Apple. originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:59:00 EDT
In response to a customer email asking, “Do you think you will ever allow syncing iPhone to Mac over Wi-Fi?,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs reportedly said, “Yep, someday.” Mashable notes that several iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad applications already sync data between the Mac (or PC) over Wi-Fi, but most require specialized desktop software to be running in order for the feature to work. Pioneer Electronics has introduced a new line…
The term of Apple and AT&T’s iPhone exclusivity deal has long been a mystery — although USA Today reported a five-year arrangement when the original iPhone came out in 2007, that number has never been independently confirmed, and it’s been looking suspect in recent weeks as Verizon iPhone chatter has gotten louder . But we’ve been doing some digging and we can now confirm that Apple and AT&T entered into a five-year iPhone exclusive in 2007, based on court documents filed by Apple in California. Read on! Continue reading Confirmed: Apple and AT&T signed five-year iPhone exclusivity deal — but is it still valid? Confirmed: Apple and AT&T signed five-year iPhone exclusivity deal — but is it still valid? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 17:04:00 EST.
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