Apple recalling iPhone 3G power adapters http://tinyurl.com/45btwx

iPhone 2.0.2 Kills 3G Calling For Some Users

We're not having any problems, but Ars has found many people complaining about the iPhone 2.0.2 update killing their ability to actually make calls over 3G. Among the people who suffer from no-calling-itis is one guy who took his phone to AT&T and had them swap out the SIM, which somehow fixed the problem. If you're getting "call failed" on 3G, try switching back to 2G in Settings -> General -> Network and making the call again. [Ars Technica]

credit - http://gizmodo.com/5039069/iphone-202-kills-3g-calling-for-some-users

If you're having problems with dropped calls on your new 3G Apple iPhone, you're not alone.

From New York to Stockholm, 3G iPhone owners are complaining loudly about connection failures - sometimes repeatedly - during calls.

The problem typically occurs when the device attempts to move from 3G to another network.

RELATED: Static continues for Apple's iPhone debut

According to people familiar with the matter, the culprit appears to be the 3G chipset provided by Infineon Technologies, a German chipmaker. Sources declined to be identified because they are not authorized to talk about the problem publicly.

According to these sources, AT&T and Apple are working on a software fix. The fix, which will be available remotely via iTunes, could be ready as early as next week, they said.

Infineon "chipsets" - a group of chips designed to work together - allow the iPhone to jump from one network to another. The handoff is supposed to be seamless.

The dropped-call problem is global, says Roger Entner, senior vice president at Nielsen IAG.

"Apple has had the same problem in every market where the (3G) iPhone is sold," he says.

Translation: AT&T's 3G network isn't to blame.

"It's probably the device," Entner says.

The iPhone is sold in more than 20 countries, including Italy, France and Finland. New markets are added constantly.

Apple declined to comment.

Infineon did not respond to e-mail and phone inquiries seeking comment.

AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel declined to say whether the chipset was a problem, saying only that the 3G device "overall is working great."

Siegel says AT&T, as a matter of routine, urges iPhone users to sync often to ensure that they have the latest software.

Francis Sideco, a senior wireless chip analyst at semiconductor researcher iSuppli, says the problem could be in the Infineon chip or it could be something else.

Given the complexity of the iPhone - it's basically a miniature computer - the possibilities are endless. "It could be something as simple as a solder joint," he says.

Cellphones use many components to turn a person's voice into a digital computer signal and transmit it over a network.

These components are typically manufactured by different suppliers, then cobbled together on a circuit board in a factory.

Chipsets are usually subjected to rigorous testing prior to shipping. But Sideco says chips can get damaged in the manufacturing process or in transit.

The good news, he says, is that big carriers such as AT&T have testing equipment that can identify dropped calls and pinpoint the manufacturer of the failed part.

The bad news: If a simple software fix isn't feasible, Apple could be forced to issue a worldwide recall. Such a step would be costly and time-consuming.

It would also leave Apple, inevitably, with a prominent black eye, Entner says.

That said, Entner doesn't think it will come to that.

"In all likelihood, they won't have to do a product recall," he says, adding, "It depends how big the problem is."

credit - http://news.yahoo.com/story/usatoday/20080815/tc_usatoday/droppedcallsplagueiphone3gandnotjustinus

Qik Enables Live Video Streaming From 3G iPhone

Jason Kincaid

31 comments »

Qik, the startup that allows users to stream live mobile video from their cell phones, has released an application that allows users to use the service from their 3G iPhones. Unfortunately, the application isn’t available through Apple’s sanctioned App Store, so users will need to jailbreak (hack) their iPhones to use it. And because Apple has yet to enable video capture on the iPhone, we probably won’t be seeing a “legit” application any time soon.

Last week Qik released support for iPhones running the old (1.1.4) firmware, which was made obsolete by the 2.0 software that was released in July and gives users access to Apple’s App Store. This new release also supports the older iPhone, but users won’t be able to stream over the slow EDGE network.

The following instructions are included in the company’s blog post:

You can get Qikking with the iPhone 3G (and earlier models running iPhone OS 2.0!) by doing the following:

1. If you have not already, you’ll need to sign up at http://qik.com/sign_up and receive an SMS from us to activate the application.
2. Launch Cydia.
3. Go to the “Sections” tab at the bottom and scroll down to “Multimedia.”
4. Under Multimedia, you will find Qik. Tap on it then select “Install” at the top right, then in the same spot tap “Confirm.”
5. Now you will see Qik get installed. You may hit the “Return to Cydia” button at the bottom or just quit Cydia when it is done installing.
6. You’ll now notice a “Qik” icon on your home screen - Go ahead and launch it.
7. As long as your initial signup SMS/text message is still in your inbox for the first launch, your account will be linked to your device.
8. Make sure you have 3G service or are on WiFi (edge is not sufficient enough to stream video) before you begin broadcasting.
9. Hit record and enjoy Qik!

International iPhone Carriers Start the Apple Pile-On Over Sub-Par 3G

After news of possible 3G driver/chipset shortcomings, many international iPhone carriers are bringing out the innocent, puppy-dog-eyed shoulder shrug regarding customer gripes with the iPhone's 3G performance. Both T-Mobile Netherlands and Vodafone Australia are the latest to go public with their passive-aggressiveness, much to Apple's delight.

Posting on its official blog [translated] , T-Mobile Netherlands says "the 3G coverage of T-Mobile is as good as the competition, there can therefore not lie. We suspect that it is a hardware / software specific issue of the iPhone itself." CNET sees that "can not lie" bit as web babel-talk for a Dutch expression meaning "so that should not be the issue."

And in a Sydney Morning Herald story, Vodafone Australia also blamed Apple hardware for sucky 3G, saying “We are aware of the issues on the iPhone 3G and we’re working with Apple to provide a solution." Another anonymous source mentions the carriers had no time for device testing prior to launch, since they received handsets just one day before they were to go onsale.

It makes sense. International customers have been enjoying 3G for a lot longer than AT&T folks here in the U.S., so they're more likely to gripe if things don't meet standards set by other phones in the last few years. [CNET, T-Mobile Netherlands [translated], Sydney Morning Herald via iLounge]

credit - http://gizmodo.com/5036514/international-iphone-carriers-start-the-apple-pile+on-over-sub+par-3g

VoIP comes to iPhone, gingerly

Soon enough, you will be able to voice chat using instant messenger on an iPhone.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET Networks)

Global IP Solutions (GIPS), a company well recognized for its media-processing expertise in IP communications, announced on Monday, August 11, its SDK, which enables Voice over IP (VoIP) applications to be made for Apple's iPhone. This means that developers can now use GIPS' VoiceEngine Mobile, to create real-time VoIP applications, such as games, social networking applications, and, of course, applications for making calls to regular phone lines over the Internet. Soon enough, you will be able to use instant messenger to voice chat with friends on the iPhone, just like you've been doing on your computer for ages now.

Though this is exciting, indeed, GIPS VoiceEngine Mobile will only work with iPhone's Wi-Fi connection and will not take advantage of the new iPhone's 3G connection. This is because Apple has always blocked the use of VoIP on the carriers' data connection; and AT&T, understandably, wouldn't be too happy about supporting something that potentially costs them long distance phone business. We can only hope this will change in the future. For now, in my experience, AT&T's 3G coverage is still too patchy and unreliable to be a platform for VoIP calls, anyway.

Being the inventors of the popular iLBC codec standard (which got approved by IETF in late 2004 and is currently implemented in the iPhone), GIPS' decision today seems a natural move, considering the popularity of the iPhone. According to Apple, more than one million iPhone 3Gs were purchased over the launch weekend; and exactly one month later--today--you can still find people waiting in line outside some Apple stores for the device.

So far, GIPS claims that its voice engines have been downloaded and used more widely than any other voice engine worldwide. GIPS' voice engines enable consumers and businesses to enjoy affordable, high-quality, IP-based communications, even under adverse network conditions.

Originally posted at Crave

credit - http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10011986-2.html

iphone,

3g,

voice,

note,

application,

over ip,

VoIP,

GIPS

August 11, 2008 — 07:43 AM PDT — by Don Reisinger —

Apple announced today that its users have already downloaded 60 million applications from the company’s App store and have enjoyed about $30 million sales in just the first month of availability.  And while Apple is obviously excited about the future of its App store, it’s quickly becoming apparent that moving forward, it’s the single most important element of iPhone sales.

When the iPhone was first released, it appealed to the early adopters who wanted 3G and some basic GPS Global Positioning System functionality instead of the junky EDGE we became accustomed to.  And although the applications were still an important piece of the iPhone-buying puzzle, it wasn’t the main reason most of us wanted Apple’s latest.

But now that most of those who wanted the iPhone already have it and the luster and hype has worn off, it’s the App store that will sell more iPhones and it’s that App store that will ensure that people continue to use Apple’s devices through future generations.

Unlike anything on the iPhone, which as a device, is nominally better than the BlackBerry research-in-motion-4q-profit-soars Apr-3-2008 , the App store gives users the ability to extend the iPhone experience and create a greater value proposition for those that are looking for it to do more.

The iPhone, by itself, is a somewhat dull device after you get over touching the screen of a cell phone.  Sure, it’s a fine device, but it’s just another cell phone with a unique way of interacting with it before applications are added.  But once applications are added to the device, it becomes a far more compelling product with a series of great applications that easily make it the best cell phone on the market for both consumers and the enterprise, alike.

The App store is the key to more iPhone 3G sales.  For all those that are willing to wait and see if they want an iPhone 3G, the applications are the main reason they would want to pick one up.  Looking for some productivity tools or good games on your cell phone?  The App store can provide it.

Beyond that, it’s the App store applications that most people will show off to non-iPhone users and the one element that will help Apple sell more iPhones.  Sure, it may go beyond the applications, but we can’t forget that most people have already seen the run-of-the-mill Apple apps, but few have experienced the breadth and quality of countless applications from skilled developers.

The App store is the key to the iPhone’s success going forward.  And although 3G and location-based GPS is an important element in the success of the iPhone’s enterprise business, we can’t forget that the App store provides a whole new level of interactivity and usefulness that will bring more people to Apple’s side and will create a value proposition that should see the iPhone rise to a new level of success.

credit - http://mashable.com/2008/08/11/app-store-is-the-key-to-iphones-success/

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Posted on Friday, Aug 1, 2008 by Brian Hart

File Under:Tips and How-To;   Tags: 3g iphone, backup, iTunes, Tip o' the Week

4 Responses to “Tip o’ the Week: Backup Blues Begone!”

1. Jenny Says:
   August 1st, 2008 at 9:51 am

   Ummm… I may be doing this wrong, but all I’ve been doing when I’m in a rush and don’t want to wait for the backup, is press the little grey ‘x’ that appears right next to where it tells you it’s backing up your phone.

   This will skip the backup and go right on to syncing. That way, I let the phone back-up when I have time, or I skip it when I just want a quick sync.

2. Zyber Joe Says:
   August 1st, 2008 at 10:37 am

   I do the same thing with the grey “x”

3. thekevinmonster Says:
   August 1st, 2008 at 11:00 am

   Why does it take 20 minutes to back up about 20MB of data? I can copy an entire CD’s worth of music to my iPhone in about a minute or two. That’s what USB 2.0 is for. 480mbps and it creeps along at modem speed?

4. Dieter Bohn Says:
   August 1st, 2008 at 11:10 am

   It’s VERY odd that it’s so slow!

   @Jenny and @Zyber Joe -

   That works for me sometimes, but I’ve found that iTunes gets a little crashy and loses its connection to the iPhone about half the time I try it.

5. credit - http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/08/01/tip-o-the-week-backup-blues-begone/