Virgin Mobile USA officially launching iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on June 29

Today, Virgin Mobile USA has confirmed that it's going to sell Apple's iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. It will do it starting June 29, hence a bit earlier than initially rumored. Virgin Mobile will become the second US pre-paid carrier to offer the iPhone, after Cricket Wireless, which is going to launch it on June 22.

Unfortunately for Virgin customers, iPhone prices will be significantly higher than on Cricket: $649 (iPhone 4S 16GB), and $549 (iPhone 4 8GB). You'll be able to choose plans starting at $30 per month.

Virgin Mobile lets you register for further details on its iPhones here.

Another smartphones that's reportedly going to be released by Virgin this month is the HTC One V. This runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and will be way cheaper than the iPhone: just $200.

Apple's iPhone 4 and 4S to be available from Virgin Mobile on June 29th

Virgin Mobile on Thursday formally announced the future availability of Apple's iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S smartphones. The 8GB iPhone 4 will retail for $549, while the newer 16GB Phone 4S will cost $649 with no contract. Both handsets will be eligible for Virgin Mobile's unlimited data and messaging plans that start as low as $30 per month. “This month marks Virgin Mobile USA's tenth birthday," said Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. "And what better way to thank our fans for ten years of loyalty than by giving them exactly what they want: the perfect plan for the perfect phone. That is the essence of 'A Higher Calling.' " The two iPhone models will be available online and through RadioShack, Best Buy and select local retailers on June 29th. Virgin Mobile's press release follows below. Virgin Mobile USA to Offer iPhone on June 29 Plans as Low as $30 Per Month WARREN, N.J. - June 7, 2012 – Virgin Mobile USA announced today it will offer iPhone to its prepaid customers beginning Friday, June 29. Virgin Mobile will offer iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S with its Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plans as low as $30 per-month on the Sprint® Nationwide Network. iPhone will be available without a contract and with no fees for activation or roaming. New and existing customers can purchase iPhone at www.virginmobileusa.com, RadioShack, Best Buy and select local retailers. iPhone 4S is the most amazing iPhone yet, packed with incredible features including Apple's dual-core A5 chip for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics; an all-new camera with advanced optics; full 1080p HD resolution video recording; and Siri, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking. iPhone 4S comes with iOS 5.1, the world's most advanced mobile operating system, and iCloud, a breakthrough set of free cloud services that work with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices. Virgin Mobile's Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plans for iPhone start at $35 per month for access to Sprint's Nationwide Network, and customers can receive a $5 per-month plan discount when they register for automatic monthly payments with a credit card, debit card or PayPal account, making iPhone available for as low as $30 per month. Customers can also use their iPhone as a mobile hotspot through Virgin Mobile for an additional $15 per month. "This month marks Virgin Mobile USA's tenth birthday," said Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group. "And what better way to thank our fans for ten years of loyalty than by giving them exactly what they want: the perfect plan for the perfect phone. That is the essence of 'A Higher Calling.'"

PureGear PureTek Roll-On Screen Shield Kit for iPhone 4x4S Review

We all know that a screen protector will help keep your iPhone's display as pristine as the day you bought it. But installing one can be a huge pain in the butt. First you have to make sure the screen is clean so you don't install the protector over dust particles. That's actually the easy part. The difficult part is getting it lined up correctly and bubble free. There are many screen protector brands on the market. Some require water to install and some are dry apply. But none of them are as easy to apply as the PureGear PureTek Roll-On Screen Shield Kit for iPhone 4x4S. Their install method is pure genius. Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view. First of all, this is how my iPhone 4S looked before I installed the PureGear PureTek Roll-On Screen Shield. You will notice that I have a screen protector installed (I don't recall the brand – it probably came with a case I reviewed), but there are bubbles. Those dreaded bubbles. Argh… No matter how careful you are it's almost impossible to avoid them. With the PureGear protector, bubbles are a thing of the past. The packaging is actually a fixture that has been designed to align your iPhone and the screen protector for perfect installation. Just tear the paper tab on the back and pull off the outer cover / instructions. What you're left with is a plastic tray that has the screen protector attached to it. Also included is a microfiber cloth to polish the phone's screen and a special roller. The protector lifts up to reveal a tray that holds an iPhone 4x4S. PureGear also offers versions of this kit for the Motorola Droid 4 and Motorola Droid Razr. Included with the kit is a dual roller that you use to install the protector. If you've ever installed other screen protectors, you have probably used a credit card to smooth out the protector. I like this roller a lot better. With the iPhone's screen wiped off with the microfiber cloth and firmly seated in the holder, the protector can flop back over the phone as shown above. Then all you have to do is place the special roller between the “rails” and roll it down the length of the phone. As you guide the roller, it separates the top layer as it sticks the protector to the phone. The trick is to roll it slowly without stopping. I know this because I screwed up 2 protectors in the process of writing this review. With my first try, I didn't roll it without stopping. I rolled it a few inches, snapped some pictures for the review, rolled it a bit further, took some more pictures, etc. I ended up with a protector that had several bubbles that would not go away. I knew the problem was completely my fault, so I pulled off the protector and installed a 2nd one that PureGear sent me. This time I rolled it in one continuous motion. I thought it had installed perfectly till I looked closely and noticed that t was not lined up correctly with the home button. Darn it! I emailed PureGear to tell them about my experiences and they agreed to send me another one. That is a concern that you only get one shot to get the protector installed correctly. You won't be able to peel it up and reseat it. As they say, 3rd time is the charm. My last try was a complete success. When you're done, you're left with a piece of plastic that you have to peel off. You might notice that the dual roller looks different in this picture when compared to the earlier pictures. I think the new design may be based on the fact that people were having some issues with the protector not lining up correctly like I did on my 2nd try. This 3rd time it lined up just fine though. Here is the finished product. No bubbles and perfectly lined up with the home button and the speaker at the top.The protector is slightly smaller than the display, meaning that it should work great with bummer cases. If you click the image to zoom in, you might notice a couple spots along the very top edge. They disappeared after 24hrs leaving me with a perfectly protected display. The protector is made of an industrial strength film that has self healing technology. It feels smooth and looks clear. Installing the PureGear PureTek Roll-On Screen Shield is easier and faster than any protector I've ever installed. As long as you pay attention to what you're doing and don't go too fast, you should end up with great results.

Camera-free iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now on sale in Singapore

Singapore-based wireless carrier M1 began offering camera-free iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S handsets on Friday. The Singaporean government does not allow its soldiers to carry phones equipped with cameras, but requires that all men serve two years in the military. M1 no doubt wanted to address those potential customers who wanted iPhones but could not carry one with a camera. The camera-free iPhone 4 starts at $449 while the high-end iPhone 4S is priced at $974. According to CNET Asia, Singtel and StarHub are also planning to offer camera-less iPhones, although it's unclear when the device will be launched on those carriers. It is unclear if or when camera-free versions of the iPhone will become available outside Singapore.

Give Your iPhone 4x4S a New Look with MetalliCover

If you're tired of a plain black or white iPhone 4 or 4S but don't want a plastic skin, give a look to MetalliCover‘s metal skins. You'll cover both the front and back of the phone with these stainless-steel plates;  they'll add only 0.2″ thickness and 0.7 ounces to your phone.  The plates are laser etched with geometric, floral, or even animal print designs, and they are available with an optional gold plating.  A professional-grade 3M backing adhesive holds the plates securely to your phone, but they remove easily with the edge of your fingernail without leaving sticky residue behind.  You'll also receive a matching wallpaper for your iPhone with purchase of a MetalliCover.  Stainless steel designs are $25.95; gold-plated versions are $89.95.

Zero Chroma Teatro-S for iPhone 4x4S Review

I reviewed an iPad 2 case from Zero Chroma yesterday, and here's a companion case for your iPhone.  The Teatro-S for iPhone 4x4S case incorporates the rotating theater stand used in the Vario-SC case for the iPad 2. How does it stack up against its big brother? The Teatro-S is designed for iPhone 4 or 4S and fits models from AT&T or Verizon.  It's made of a hard plastic, and it's available in black, white, or pink.  The case is a hard shell that snaps over the back.  The corners of the iPhone are covered to protect against damage.  The interior is lined with felt to prevent scratches on the iPhone's back. The case is 4.5″ X 2.25″ X 0.45″ thick.  It weighs 0.85 ounce.  It doesn't add much bulk to the iPhone, and it doesn't change how the iPhone feels in hand very much.  I usually use the Bumper case, so the iPhone 4 feels a bit smaller and a bit slipperier to me in the Teatro-S case than in the Bumper. You'll notice two holes at the bottom of the case (left side of photo).  These holes allow you to attach a wrist strap.  The Zero Chroma website says a wrist strap is included with web orders, but I didn't receive one. The shiny, circular area is the rotating theater stand. The edges of the case wrap to the front of the iPhone.  This will lift the front glass off the table if you lay your phone facedown, but it doesn't interfere with the touchscreen operation.  It leaves the front camera, the ambient light and proximity sensors, and the home button completely open. The headphone jack, top microphone, and sleep/wake button are completely open.  I had no trouble using them. The mute and volume buttons are easy to use.  Note that there's a slight hump added to the back of the iPhone to make room for the rotating theater stand.  It's about 1x16″ thicker than the area at the top of the case. The speaker, bottom microphone, and docking connector are all completely exposed.  I had no trouble charging my phone while it was in the case. The back camera and flash have a very large opening.  The Teatro-S caused no problems when taking pictures. This picture also gives you a good view of the rotating theater stand in the closed position. These two views show the stand pulled out and ready for use.  The stand ratchets open, and Zero Chroma says there are 14 angles you can achieve with the stand.  It also rotates 360 degrees, with stops at 12-3-6-9.  The foot has an anti-slip rubber strip to prevent the iPhone from sliding around on the table. Here are examples of both portrait and landscape orientations.  Both were very stable.  No matter your height or the height of the table, you should be able to select an angle that's comfortable for watching videos or hands-free reading. Zero Chroma says this low angle is good for gaming, but I think it would also work for typing in the landscape orientation. I like the Zero Chroma Teatro-S case for my iPhone 4.  It doesn't feel much different in my hand than the caseless iPhone 4.  It offers protection without obscuring any of the ports or controls, and it gives me a stand that works for almost any position I could imagine without having to lug around a separate stand.  That sounds like a bargain to me.

Porting Siri to iPhone 4 now legal following iOS 5.0.1 update

IPhone 4 owners looking to take advantage of Apple's Siri software from the iPhone 4S now have one less barrier standing in their way. Sure, plenty of tricks have been available in the past that allow users to hack Siri onto an iPhone 4, but until now they were illegal. Apple's recent iOS 5.0.1 update, however, has a decrypted ramdisk, which means users can legally port files to the iPhone 4 that were previously encrypted and protected by Apple's public distribution policies. Apple may re-encrypt the files in iOS 5.1, which is expected to launch in the near future, so move quick if you want to take advantage of this loophole. 

Spy on nearby keyboards with your iPhone 4's accelerometer

Ever plopped your cellular down next to your laptop? According Georgia Tech researchers, that common scenario could let hackers record almost every sentence you type, all thanks to your smartphone's accelerometer. They've achieved the feat with an impressive 80 percent accuracy using an iPhone 4, and are dubbing the program they've developed, spiPhone. (Although the group initially had fledgling trials with an iPhone 3GS, they discovered the 4′s gyroscope aided in data reading.)

If the software gets installed onto a mobile device it can use the accelerometer to sense vibrations within three-inches, in degrees of “near or far and left or right,” allowing it to statistically guess the words being written — so long as they have three or more letters. It does this by recording pairs of keystrokes, putting them against dictionaries with nearly 58,000 words to come up with the most likely results.

The group has also done the same with the phone's mics (which they say samples data at a whopping 44,000 times per second vs. the accelerometer's 100), but note that it's a less likely option given the usual need for some form of user permission. Furthermore, they explained that the accelerometer data rate is already mighty slow, and if phone makers reduced it a bit more, spiPhone would have a hard time doin' its thing.

The good news? Considering the strict circumstances needed, these researchers think there's a slim chance that this kind of malware could go into action easily. Looks like our iPhone and MacBook can still be close friends…

Studio Neat Glif iPhone 4x4S Tripod Mount and Stand Review

The Glif from Studio Neat is a handy little gadget for iPhone 4x4S owners that are aspiring photographers and videographers. It allows you to attach your iPhone to any standard tripod and also doubles as an easily adjustable stand. Let me show you how it works.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

The Glif is made of semi flexible recyclable rubberized plastic that has been molded specifically for the iPhone 4x4S.

There's a trough to hold the iPhone securely.

And a 1x4″-­20 threaded socket so that you can attach it to a tripod.

Your caseless iPhone is held in place in either portrait…

or landscape orientation as seen here. I have a protector on both sides of my iPhone and it still works with the Glif.

Here we see the Glif attached to the top of a tripod.

It's very handy to be able to use a tripod with your iPhone. I have been using my phone to take short product demo videos and have found the Glif to be the perfect thing to allow me to shoot video easier when it's attached to a tripod.

When you're not using the Glif with a tripod, it doubles as a stand that can be used in portrait orientation as long as you keep the Glif as low as possible. Placing it higher up on the iPhone's side will cause it to tip over to one side.

The stand works best with the phone in landscape orientation as seen above.

The Glif is a simple product that is very useful. It's made well enough that it should last longer than you'll probably own your iPhone. It's handy to keep in your gear bag to use as a stand and for those times when a tripod will help you get that perfect shot or capture video.

Siri Made To Work On iPhone 4, Still Needs Some Polish!

The feature is new in iOS 5 and if you had noticed, it was designed particularly for the iPhone 4S that sports a faster dual-core processor with an enhanced graphics GPU, making all your affairs with Siri possible. Smoothly.

Even as the (now old) iPhone 4 supports the new iOS, it will not be able to run Siri officially (that's putting it nicely). While that has upset many of us, 9to5Mac in collaboration with developer Troughton-Smith has worked to get Siri to work on iPhone 4. It's working now. Head past the break to catch it in action.

At first, the Siri for iPhone 4 wasn't working as smooth as expected. It was rather sluggish, in performance which, by 9to5Mac, is due to the absence of a special graphic driver that's present in iPhone 4S and missing in the iPhone 4.

According to 9to5Mac:

The iPhone 4 hardware can support the Siri artificial intelligence system, as the A4 processor is said to be powerful enough. We are not entirely sure why Apple is making Siri an iPhone 4S exclusive but it could be due to special microphone support, or because the A5 may allow it to run slightly quicker.

However, hard work yielded and Siri was later reported to work almost perfectly fine. Sad, there's no tutorial of how that's done. Nevertheless, we now know that running Siri on iPhone 4 is possible albeit unofficially.

According to a report, Siri for iPad 2 is already in the pipeline. It should render as good performance as the iPhone 4S since both the devices have the same A5 dual-core chipset under the hood.

In the meantime, we are going back to chat with Siri. It's really fun to use and amazing. If you too have been using Siri on your new iPhone, share your experiences or any witty questions that you've asked Siri. We'd love to hear from you, as always.


You may follow the author of this story by clicking here.

Siri ported to an iPhone 4, old phone learns a new trick

Apple's iPhone 4 may not have the fancy dual core CPU of its successor, but thanks to the efforts of developer Steven Troughton-Smith and the folks at 9to5 Mac, it may soon have Siri. The port of the sultry voice assistant was accomplished by using the 4S Siri and Springboard files, and some serious elbow grease, no doubt. As you can see in the video below, it's far from perfect, but it can recognize spoken commands without issue. Currently, the hack is missing an iPhone 4 GPU driver that keeps things running buttery smooth on the elder phone, and Cupertino won't authenticate Siri's commands coming from it either. So, it isn't quite ready for primetime, but it should only be a matter of time before all you iPhone 4 owners can tell Siri what to do, too.

Hornettek Vader Aluminum iPhone 4 Case Review

Hornettek's Vader aluminum case is third in a string of iPhone 4 case reviews that I am in the process of doing. After a near catastrophic mishap my iPhone had a few months ago, I decided it was time to raise the bar on protecting my smartphone. Before that close call, I had been using my iPhone sans any sort of case/protection (other than a Zagg invisibleSHIELD screen protector). The Vader by Hornettek is a finely machined, aluminum case form fitted for all variants of the iPhone 4 and worth a look.

Package Contents:

• Vader case
• Vader Tool Kit: (Hexagon Screws x 4;  Hexagon Screw Driver x 1)

The Vader has an interesting and somewhat unusual shape. While the sides run tight to the side of the iPhone, the edges bulge out a fair amount to give more grip-ability and strength to the case. Which is good due to the aircraft aluminum the Vader is made of is just as slick as the iPhone itself.

As you can see, the Vader case is very form fitted to the iPhone 4. It is built from a single piece of solid aircraft grade aluminum alloy with an accuracy of 1x2000 inch.

Compared to many other aluminum cases, Hornettek is very minimalistic in their use of padding. In my use of the Vader that design choice did not seem to be an issue. That padding is there to keep the iPhone from being marred by the case itself and it accomplishes its designed function.

Specifications: Compatibility:

Fits all iPhone 4 models for both AT&T and Verizon.

Colors: I like the silver and titanium color scheme I received. The two colors look very nice together. Although, it would nice to have the option to order the Vader in solid colors or even mix and match colors as well.

The top of the Vader has a push through button to actuate the power button and cutout for the earphone plug. The thickness of the case does prevent many of my high-end earphones from working. The L-shaped plugs of my Etymotic Research ER·4PT, Ultimate Ears 7 Pros, and JHAudio JH|5 Pros, cannot be inserted far enough to work properly. Earbuds that have a straight and narrow plug work just fine. Like the Case-Mate Jett Metal iPhone case I reviewed last, this design choice is definitely a design/engineering negative for me. In addition, the Vader does not allow my iPhone to work with any of my dock-enabled stereo systems either.

The left side has cutouts for the volume buttons and mute switch. Because of the enhanced/strengthened corners, the Vader does a great job of protecting the iPhone's sides and edges.

The bottom of the case has a cutout for the iPhone's speakers and sync/dock port.

The right side of the case has nothing to note. Although, you can see how precisely machined the case is; how perfectly the two sides come together.

The Hornettek Vader iPhone case has a nice feel, adding little bulk or weight to the iPhone 4. As I said earlier, even though the aircraft aluminum it's constructed of is as slick as the iPhone itself; it has decent grip-ability because of the pronounced corners.

Another, and yet very significant, issue I have with this case, is the degradation of cell reception it causes. I have a half dozen locations I test iPhone cases I am reviewing to have a semi-objective and systematic way to see how much the case impacts reception. In downtown Seattle and other places with a strong signal, my iPhone looses a bar or two but continues to send and receive calls and data with little impact to quality or speed. However, in locations that have marginal signal strength, my ability to send and receive calls goes to zero; all incoming calls get kick to voicemail and I am unable to call out or hit the internet. This is definitely a deal killer for me.

Being priced at $80 does not help the Hornettek Vader case either. In an overcrowded market, that price tag seems too high considering its competition and bang for the buck…. The Vader is a nicely made/constructed aluminum case, but it has too many negatives working against it for me to recommend it to anyone. They are many alternatives that provide just as much protection and better reception for less money.

All iPhone models (4S, 4 and 3GS) will be available at Best Buy

Best Buy has announced that it's going to sell "all models of Apple's iPhone." Needless to say, this includes the new iPhone 4S, which will be available at Best Buy with contracts from AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint (yes, T-Mobile is missing from the list, because Apple didn't consider the carrier is important enough to have an iPhone of its own).

The iPhone 4S can be already pre-ordered at Best Buy, and will be launched on October 14 (as you probably already know).

Prices (on contract) for the 4S will start at $199 for the 16GB edition, going up to $399 for the 64GB edition.

After the iPhone 4S is launched, the iPhone 4 8GB will be offered for $99 on contract, and the iPhone 3GS for free (also on contract - available only with AT&T service). Customers can check out all iPhone models here at Best Buy.

Sprint confirms unlimited data plan for the iPhone 4S, opens iPhone 4 pre-orders

Confirming earlier reports, Sprint has revealed that its customers will be able to purchase Apple's iPhone 4S with Sprint's unlimited data plans, which start at $69.99 per month. Sprint's 3G mobile hotspot cap will remain at 5GB, however. Additionally, customers can pre-order the iPhone 4 now or wait until Friday, October 7th to pre-order the new iPhone 4S, which will launch on October 14th. Apple announced the iPhone 4S on Tuesday. It is equipped with a more powerful dual-core Apple A5 processor, an 8-megapixel camera capable of recording 1080p video, and the new Siri voice command system. Read on for the full press release from Sprint.

SPRINT OFFERS THE ONLY UNLIMITED DATA PLANS ON iPHONE 4 and iPHONE 4S!

Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced unlimited data pricing plans for iPhone®on the Sprint network beginning on Friday, October 14. New and existing customers can pre-order iPhone 4S beginning on Friday, October 7 at 12:01 AM PST. Beginning today, iPhone 4 with iOS 5 is available for just $99.99 through sprint.com/iphone.

iPhone 4S is the most amazing iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including Apple's dual-core A5 chip for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics; an all new camera with advanced optics; full 1080p HD resolution video recording; and Siri, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking. With the launch of iPhone 4S also comes the launch of iOS 5, the world's most advanced mobile operating system with over 200 new features; and iCloud, a breakthrough set of free cloud services that work with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content in iCloud and push it to all your devices.

iPhone 4S will be available from Sprint starting at $199.99 for the 16GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB model and $399.99 for the 64GB model. iPhone 4 will cost just $99.99 for the 8GB model and is available beginning today. These prices require a new-line activation or eligible upgrade and two-year agreement.

iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 require activation on one of the Sprint Everything plans with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM, including unlimited data, texting and calling to and from any mobile phone in America while on the Sprint Network. With Sprint's unlimited data plans, customers don't have to worry about throttling or surprises on their monthly bill due to data overage charges like they might with tiered data plans from other carriers.

Plans start at just $69.99 per month plus the required $10 Premium Data add-on charge. Sprint's Simply Everything Plan is the only plan from a national carrier to offer truly unlimited calling, data and text for just $99.99 per month plus the required $10 Premium Data add-on charge (all while on the Sprint network). The Mobile Hotspot option will be available for an additional $29.99 per month supporting up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously. (Pricing excludes taxes and surcharges.)

Individual Plans

Anytime Minutes

Everything Data plans with Any Mobile, Anytime

Unlimited calling to and from any mobile in America, regardless of carrier, plus unlimited text, picture and video messaging, and unlimited data including email, Web browsing, social networking and GPS Navigation (all while on the Sprint network)

450 $69.99 plus $10 Premium Data add-on

900 $89.99 plus $10 Premium Data add-on

Unlimited (Simply Everything)

$99.99 plus $10 Premium Data add-on

Why Sprint for iPhone 4S? That's Simple!

·         UNLIMITED DATA: With Sprint's unlimited data plans, customers don't have to worry about throttling or surprises on their monthly bill due to data overage charges like they might with tiered data plans from Verizon or AT&T. Keep your wireless bill simple with Sprint's unlimited data plans.

·         READY NOW CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: iPhone customers will have access to Sprint's Ready Now service where trained retail associates will work one-on-one with customers to personalize their iPhone and set up features like e-mail, web and apps before leaving the store.

·         COMMITTED TO SERVICE: Sprint was unbeaten among major wireless carriers for customer satisfaction according to results from the 2011 American Customer Satisfaction Index. Sprint leads all national competitors in both call satisfaction and first call resolution, two key metrics in the overall quality of customer service.

8GB iPhone 4, iPhone 4S 16x32x64 GB Show Up On Vodafone Germany's Listings!

Shocked? We too are. But, let's take on the story in further detail. On its website, Vodafone Germany has listed iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 as the only models available on the list for some of its iPhone accessories.

The listing includes iPhone 4S in three storage variants 16GB, 32GB and 64GB while iPhone 4 has three models - 8GB (yes, 8GB!), 16GB and 32GB.  Both these devices will support the existing accessories, which means design and physical aesthetics mostly remain the same.

For a refresher, the listed devices include:

- iPhone 4 Black (8GB)

- iPhone 4 White (8GB)

- iPhone 4S White (16GB, 32GB, 64GB)

- iPhone 4S Black (16GB, 32GB, 64GB)

This also suggests that we are not likely to see a tear-drop shaped iPhone 5 which was expected to debut with Apple's new game changing features. Are you disappointed? We too are.

However, it is possible that the listing is just a placeholder that will be replaced by the actual models set to debut tomorrow. It could also be possible that Apple may release "iPhone 5" only on selected carriers (which may not include Vodafone) or it may altogether postpone the release of the device to next year.

Whatever would be the case, there's has been much speculation about what Apple's new CEO Tim Cook would be announcing this year. So far, it has been believed that iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 would launch with better hardware specifications such as a faster A5 processor, an improved 8MP camera, iOS 5 among other things.

Apple is also believed to release a cheaper version of iPhone, which if we go by Vodafone's site listings is none other than an 8GB iPhone 4. Nevertheless, it could be anything.

Apple will be announcing the next iPhone tomorrow at 10AM. We'll bring the best details of the event and the new iPhone(s) as soon as possible. Stay tuned!

Is this Apple's cheaper iPhone 4?

See that? That just might be the cheaper iPhone that Apple's rumored to formally unveil on Tuesday. Gizmodo Brazil managed to get a hold of a purported iPhone 4s from within a Brazilian Foxconn factory, and while the hardware itself looks just about identical to the iPhone 4 that exists today, there's a new SKU that's leading to understandable speculation. The N90A model number that popped up has certainly emerged before, but where things really get interesting is the "reprovado" ("disqualified") labeling. Is this batch an early set of prototypes that didn't quite pass QA? Will the eventual iPhone 4s even look anything like the iPhone 4 that's on shelves today? You can bet we'll be on hand in Cupertino to find out, and there's no time like the present to clear out your Tuesday morning / afternoon / evening schedule (depending on time zone, of course) to find out with us.

Case-Mate iPhone 4 Jett Metal Case Review

Over the next few months, I will be reviewing a half dozen or so iPhone 4 cases to better protect my smartphone. For a long time, I used my iPhone without a case….at least until a very scary tech-moment. I was in the gym working out on an ellipse machine, watching a show. When I finished working out, as I was getting off the machine my iPhone went flying across the gym (every AR tech-geeks worst nightmare). Thankfully before going to the gym I put on the Sena Sarach Leatherskin case I reviewed a few months ago which did a great job protecting my iPhone while skidding across floor. At that point, I decided that I needed rock-hard protection on my phone 24x7 but without too much added bulk or weight. Case-Mate's Jett Metal case for the iPhone 4 seemed like an ideal candidate to get the job done.

The Jett Metal case is machined from a single block of aircraft billet aluminum (T6061). It is tumbled and deburred with ceramic media for over three hours. It is then anodized which increases corrosion resistance and overall toughness and infuses the aluminum with color. Their laser etched logo completes the look. The case is form fitted for the iPhone 4, completely surrounding the corners and edges. The case is available in black, gray, red, hunter green, and blue.  It is compatible with both Verizon and AT&T iPhones.

Along with the Jett Metal case, Case-Mate includes screen protectors for the front and back of the iPhone, push-thru buttons for power, volume, and mute, two extra screws, and a tiny screwdriver.

There is a bit of assembly required but the case comes together very nicely, like a jigsaw puzzle.

In good Gadgeteer style, I attempted to install the Jett Metal case without consulting the instructions. It took me several tries but I figured it out on my own (thankfully without hurting anything in the process). Admittedly, taking a peek at the instructions would have been easier and faster .

The inside of the case has a soft micro liner in the corners and on the sides to keep the iPhone from rubbing against the case.

As you can see, the push-thru buttons are perfectly fitted and work just as designed.

The left side has the push-thru buttons for volume and slider switch for mute. This side and the top have a plastic seam that I assume is to allow better signal reception. The case's raised edge holds the front and back of the iPhone off of whatever surface it sits on.

Along with the plastic seam, the top has a push-thru button for the power and recessed cutout for the earbud port.

The only thing on the right side is the laser etched Case-Mate name and logo.

The bottom of the case as cutouts for the sync/power plug and speakers. Case-Mate also designed a hard-point into the case for attaching a lanyard to wear around your wrist.

Like the sync/power port, the earbud port is recessed 3-4 millimeters making it impossible to insert L-shaped plugs into the iPhone.

Straight shaped plugs, like the Sennheiser/Adidas MX 680i Sports earbuds you see here, work fine with this case. But sadly none of my high-end earbuds and monitors (all with L-shaped plugs) work with the Jett Metal case. A definite negative…..

…..another negative is that the case does not allow the iPhone to work with any of my dock-enabled sound systems. I know there are extender plugs and cables that solve these issues, but you have to acquire/buy them and then lug them around.

Since the case completely surrounds the iPhone edge, it does impact signal reception, not heinously so but noticeably. I tested reception at many locations. The case reduces signal reception by one full bar (maybe a bit more). There are several places where cell services is marginal and with this case on I can not receive calls, email, or dance the net.

The Jett Metal case does add weight (1.2 oz) and a bit of bulk to the iPhone (4.8 oz). Actually not that unreasonable considering the added protection the case gives the iPhone. The case has a nice look, feel, and (believe it or not) heft to it.

Even though the case's design/engineering has negatives in terms of accessories and signal strength, it is currently my case of choice….by far. The Jett Metal case is well made, feels nice to hold, great protection, and accentuates the iPhone's good looks. Pricing on form fitted aluminum iPhone cases, has definitely become more reasonable and at $50 the Jett Metal case is a worthy contender in a crowded market.
source:The Gadgeteer

Protect Your iPhone 4 with an iFrogz Case

No matter how careful you are, you're going to drop your phone at some point.  If you tend to not be so careful, or you have a job or hobbies that pose a risk for your phone, you need a protective case.  The iPhone 4 Bullfrogz Case from iFrogz will protect your device from the disastrous effects of gravity.  The Bullfrogz case has a polycarbonate core for strength, and the ribbed silicone exterior improves your grip and offers impact resistance.  Buttons and connectors are covered to keep out dust.  The cases are available in black/green, orange/black, and silver/black for $34.99.

source:The Gadgeteer

LifeProof iPhone 4 cases are waterproof, dirtproof, snowproof, and shockproof

If you're planning to keep your iPhone 4 safe and sound - at least until the next one arrives, you're probably going to need a case to keep it safe. How about investing in something that keeps your iPhone 4 safe especially if you live in a place with harsh weather conditions? LifeProof for the iPhone 4 is designed just to do that.

This new case is said to be the only iPhone case that is waterproof to a depth of 6.6 feet and it is tested to military specifications (MIL-STD-810F-516.5) for its drop protection up to a height of 6.6 feet onto concrete - so if you want to take your iPhone swimming with you or keep it in your pocket during your Parkour runs, let's just say you're well prepared.

The LifeProof iPhone 4 case is also dirtproof, snowproof and is sleek enough to keep in your pocket. The LifeProof case is available in black, pink and white and will set you back $69.95 each.
source: Ubergizmo

Hack turns your iPhone 4 into an NFC capable device

With Google rooting for NFC to be a standard to be used as payment services in the US, what with the launch of Google Wallet, it seems that certain Android devices (along with upcoming Blackberry devices) will be able to enjoy those services as they are NFC enabled, leaving iPhone users to watch their friends utilize NFC technology with envy.

If you're not opposed to ripping your iPhone open and putting an NFC enabled credit card (such as the Tap & Pay card from the Bank of America) between the battery and the casing, then perhaps this could very well be the hack that you would be required to perform if you wish to make your iPhone NFC capable.

It looks like a pretty cool hack although we're not sure if the majority of iPhone 4 users will be willing to mess around with their shiny new hardware, but if you're up for the challenge and you know what you're doing, Unplgged has the details of what you would be required to do in order to gain NFC function on your iPhone.
source: Ubergizmo