iOS 4.1, check out these great walkthroughs
by Justin Horn on Sep 6th, 2010 @ 2:55 pmGreat overview of all the fixes and new stuff, from our friends Rene Richie (TiPb) and Mark Gurman (9to5Mac).
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Verizon Skype app does not use 3G data or WI-FI for voice calls
by Justin Horn on Sep 2nd, 2010 @ 2:25 pmSkype announced today that you can now use the Verizon Skype app on your Andriod phone without disabling WI-FI. AndroidCentral jumped on the news assuming that you could now make calls using WI-FI. They later updated this, stating that you could now leave WI-FI enabled while using Skype, but not actually place calls via WI-FI.
It was obvious to me that there is no way they would allow WI-FI calling. Remember, Skype doesn’t just have an app out on the Andriod market like it is on Apple’s app store. The app is only available to Andriod phones (and BlackBerry) that are on the Verizon network. This is all part of a very shady deal between Skype and Verizon, which I highlighted back in March. It’s basically an exclusivity deal that would tempt Skype users to pick Verizon over a different carrier. Even better for Verizon, your Skype calls to domestic phones use up your regular Verizon voice plan minutes. Skype to Skype calls are free and international calls are billed by Skype, but I still beleive they connect through Verizon’s regular voice network. I’m really not sure what’s in it for Skype.
What AndriodCenteral and others missed, is the fact that Skype calls don’t even use your 3G data connection. Brian Klug brought this to my attention in a tweet about a month ago:
@justin_horn @gruber even worse, the skype app on android doesn’t even do real VoIP – it places calls. Doesn’t use data.
This explains why Skype-to-phone calls come out of your Verizon minutes, but then what’s the point of using Skype at all? Your Skype address book?
I confrimed Brian’s hunch today with Skype’s main PR guy, Peter Parkes, on Twitter:
Me: @PeteratSkype Does Skype Verizon on Andriod work on 3G data, or just call into VZ mothership via normal CDMA phone connection and then out? (Original Tweet)
Peter: @justin_horn it uses the data connection for IM, contact list, etc and the voice network for calls – hope that helps (Original Tweet)
So if Skype were to allow WI-FI calling with this update, they would obviously be in breach of their contract with Verizon.
Compare this to un-open iOS Skype app which allows you to make calls on 3G and WI-FI. These calls are placed just like they would be from a laptop with a 3G card or WI-FI connection. All usage is billed to your Skype account alone. You can even make WI-FI calls from the iPod touch.
(via Daring Fireball)
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iTunes 10 is now available for download
by Justin Horn on Sep 1st, 2010 @ 10:23 pmIt’s been “coming soon” all day since the announcement at the iPod event, but now it’s finally available…go get it!
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
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iOS 4.1 HDR camera walk through
by Justin Horn on Sep 1st, 2010 @ 4:39 pm
When HDR is on, flash is forced to off mode. If you switch the flash to on or auto, then HDR will automatically go into off mode.
By default, after taking a photo it saves both the regular picture and the HDR version. It takes an extra 10 seconds or so before you can snap your next photo while it creates the HDR photo on the fly.
The first picture you take will give you an alert letting you know you can disable the saving of the non HDR version in the photo settings.
When viewing your camera roll on the menu overlay screen, HDR photos are noted with an HDR watermark. Non HDR photos look the same as they do now.
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iOS 4.1 Golden Master released to developers
by Justin Horn on Sep 1st, 2010 @ 3:29 pmHey Devs, go download it! https://developer.apple.com/iphone/index.action
We’ll check it out and let you know if there are any other surprises!
iOS 4.1 HDR camera walk through
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Microsoft officially announces its “magic mouse”, the Arc Touch
by Justin Horn on Sep 1st, 2010 @ 12:02 pm
Debbie Uttecht from Microsoft Hardware Blog:
After much anticipation, we are excited to announce the Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse! You might have seen the teases we shared on Twitter –we were trying to get you thinking about things that were flat and when you see this mouse you’ll know why. Some of the creative responses we got surprised us!
You’ll remember just a couple weeks ago we reported on the rumored new device, which Neowin correctly guessed was a new Arc Touch mouse. Also, arctouchmouse.com now takes you to the product website instead of a Bing search. Pre-orders are open today for a release sometime in December.
The big difference, compared to Apple’s touch mouse, is only the silver strip is “touchable”. Also, the gestures are pretty basic when compared to Apple’s multi-touch capabilities. The rest of the mouse just works like a regular mouse. Microsoft’s selling point is that you can flatten the mouse for easy transport and then arc it for more traditional comfort. I can see a market for this, but if they try to get more than $30 for it, I think it’s going to be a hard sell.
UPDATE Here’s the link to the announcement on the main website: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2010/sep10/09-1ArcTouchPR.mspx
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Apple vs ?, Microsoft
