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Poll: Have you noticed battery improvements after updating to iOS 5.0.1?

Ahmet — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:56:00 +0000

Yesterday, Apple pushed out iOS 5.0.1, just about four weeks after releasing iOS 5 to the masses. Among the reported fixes: battery life improvements, following a confirmed bug in the initial release. We’re hearing reports that battery life remains an issue for some iPhone 4S owners, however, and that it’s been reduced even further for others. We want to hear about your experience, though, so let us know what’s up in the poll below, and jump past the break to join other iPhone owners in the comments.

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Poll: Have you noticed battery improvements after updating to iOS 5.0.1? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports finds iPhone 4S to have worthwhile antennae, says newer iPhone 4 is still problematic

Ahmet — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:59:00 +0000

“Consumer Reports recommends the iPhone 4S.” It’s only half a dozen words, but to the engineers (and marketers) at Apple, it spells “relief.” After being profusely impacted by Consumer Reports’ decision to recommend against buying the iPhone 4 due to those Antennagate issues, the entity has allowed all in Cupertino to breath a sigh of relief by effectively declaring the reception issue dead on the newest edition. To quote:

“Apple’s newest smart phone performed very well in our tests, and while it closely resembles the iPhone 4 in appearance, it doesn’t suffer the reception problem we found in its predecessor in special tests in our labs. In special reception tests of the iPhone 4S that duplicated those we did on the iPhone 4, the newer phone did not display the same reception flaw, which involves a loss of signal strength when you touch a spot on the phone’s lower left side while you’re in an area with a weak signal. (The iPhone 4, which is still available, continues to exhibit that problem, we confirmed in tests of new samples of the phone. Because of the flaw, we continue to omit the iPhone 4 from our list of recommended models, despite its otherwise fine performance.)”

In other words, even the newer samples of the iPhone 4 (perhaps even that one for Sprint?) continue to have antenna quirks, but at least the latest and greatest seems to have addressed ‘em. Hit the source link for the full report.

Consumer Reports finds iPhone 4S to have worthwhile antennae, says newer iPhone 4 is still problematic originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consumer Reports finds iPhone 4S to have worthwhile antennas, says newer iPhone 4 is still problematic

Ahmet — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:59:00 +0000

“Apple’s newest smart phone performed very well in our tests, and while it closely resembles the iPhone 4 in appearance, it doesn’t suffer the reception problem we found in its predecessor in special tests in our labs. In special reception tests of the iPhone 4S that duplicated those we did on the iPhone 4, the newer phone did not display the same reception flaw, which involves a loss of signal strength when you touch a spot on the phone’s lower left side while you’re in an area with a weak signal. (The iPhone 4, which is still available, continues to exhibit that problem, we confirmed in tests of new samples of the phone. Because of the flaw, we continue to omit the iPhone 4 from our list of recommended models, despite its otherwise fine performance.)”

Consumer Reports finds iPhone 4S to have worthwhile antennas, says newer iPhone 4 is still problematic originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Republic Wireless goes live, brings unlimited data, text and calls to LG Optimus users

Ahmet — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 07:29:00 +0000

Well, that didn’t take too long. As promised, Republic Wireless flipped the switch on its new unlimited everything plan today, offering a smorgasbord of wireless talk, text and data for the flat fee of $19 per month. The trick, of course, is Republic’s dependence upon the UMA wireless technology, also employed by T-Mobile. You won’t have to open a dedicated app to use the service (currently in beta), though you will need a home connection speed of 80kbps both ways in order to actually hold a call. You’ll also need a “Hybrid Calling”-enabled LG Optimus handset (bundled under the company’s $199 startup fee), though the provider plans to add more devices in the near future. For more details, hit up the source link below.

Republic Wireless goes live, brings unlimited data, text and calls to LG Optimus users originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: What’s broken (or working) for you in iOS 5?

Ahmet — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:11:00 +0000

If you haven’t updated to iOS 5 by now, let’s face it: you never will. It’s cool. We get it. Some of us are still using Netscape, too. For the rest of the iOS universe, though, iOS 5 has almost certainly been installed, and now that you’ve had a few weeks to tinker with it, we’re interested in seeing what quirks are being found. We’ve received a number of reports surrounding call connection issues (on both Verizon Wireless and AT&T), “invalid SIM” warnings, a bug that shows an inbox as being full (when it clearly isn’t) and iCloud refusing to load email altogether. Oh, and then there’s that pesky Siri pincode bypass — tsk, tsk! Toss your vote in below, and converse amongst yourselves in comments. Sharing is caring!

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Poll: What’s broken (or working) for you in iOS 5? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Poll: What’s broken (or working) for you in iOS 5?

Ahmet — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:11:00 +0000

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Poll: What’s broken (or working) for you in iOS 5? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Voice pulled from App Store following iOS 5 crash

Ahmet — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:33:00 +0000

What once was there now is gone. Earlier today, Google Voice was just two clicks away in the iOS App Store. Now, all that remains is a page cache (at the source link below) and versions of the app that were already installed on iPhones and iPod touches. Vincent Paquet, Senior Product Manager for Google Voice confirmed that the app had been pulled, explaining “our last update of this week had a bug that caused the app to crash at sign in. We removed it so it did not affect additional users until the fix gets published.” We’ve been using the most recent version — 1.3.0.1771 — on an iPhone 4 running iOS 5 without issue, but recent reviews cite the reported crashing, so it’s definitely affecting at least some users. We don’t have an ETA for when you can expect the app to return, so if you don’t already have it installed, you’ll need to hang tight for the time being. The service should function normally otherwise, assuming your phone number has already been registered, though you won’t be able to begin new text threads or make outgoing calls using your Google Voice number.

Google Voice pulled from App Store following iOS 5 crash originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ITT unveils GhostRider encryption device capable of securing US Army smartphones

Ahmet — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:22:00 +0000

That may look like a Motorola Atrix, but it’s actually something known as the GhostRider — a new encryption device that could go a long way toward securing the Army’s smartphones. Developed by defense company ITT, this revamped handset would allow military personnel to transmit secure text messages and phone calls over the Army’s network, even if they’re out on the battlefield. All they’d have to do is place their personal phones next to the GhostRider, tap and hold its touchscreen to activate the security features and begin texting away. When another GhostRider user receives an SMS, he or she would have to enter a pass code before reading it. The phone’s security mechanisms, meanwhile, have been certified by the cryptographers at the NSA, which would certainly help justify its $1,500 price tag. The handset’s display, meanwhile, looks awfully similar to the Army’s Nett Warrior platform — an Android-based OS that features a host of mapping functions designed explicitly for war zones. Officials unveiled the latest incarnation of Nett Warrior at the recent Association of the US Army gala in DC, though the platform’s creators are still looking for the appropriate commercial device to host it — unless, of course, GhostRider’s software replaces it altogether. “We think Nett Warrior should be something like this,” ITT vice president Richard Takahashi told Wired. “This can be the smart device.” March past the break for more information, in ITT’s jargon-laced PR.

Continue reading ITT unveils GhostRider encryption device capable of securing US Army smartphones

ITT unveils GhostRider encryption device capable of securing US Army smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Voice enters internal testing across Europe, international launch on the horizon?

Ahmet — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:24:00 +0000

Lather up your vocal cords, Europe, because it looks like Google Voice is on its way over. That’s according to the company’s European Director of Business Development, Jens Redmer, who told The Next Web yesterday that Google is taking “concrete action” to expand the service to the Old World. Redmer later confirmed that he’s currently conducting internal tests with Voice, adding that its voicemail transcription feature has performed particularly well within Europe. He stopped short, however, of offering a precise launch date, saying only that the service’s release would hinge upon legal and regulatory issues, rather than any technical obstacles. Now that the train has rolled into the testing phase, though, it may only be a matter of time before it arrives at the station.

Google Voice enters internal testing across Europe, international launch on the horizon? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tango video calling demoed on Mango-based HTC Titan (video)

Ahmet — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:28:00 +0000

Looks like Mango’s got yet another trick up its sleeve — at least, a trick that’ll be noticeable on HTC’s looming Titan. Windows Phone Director Aaron Woodman — the same Aaron that stopped by our own Engadget Show a few months back — recently paused to show off a Tango video calling application on the aforementioned handset. We knew good and well that the front-facing Titan camera would be put to use by something, and now you know. ‘Course, the “demo” looks pretty well scripted — don’t expect an accurate representation of video quality over a crowded 3G network — but it sure serves to make the wait that much harder. Have a peek yourself just after the break.

[Thanks, Stephen]

Continue reading Tango video calling demoed on Mango-based HTC Titan (video)

Tango video calling demoed on Mango-based HTC Titan (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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