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iPhone 4

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iPhone 4 pre-order in Taiwan in coming months

It is reported that three major carriers in Taiwan have made agreement with Apple to put iPhone 4 into country's market. The three carriers -- assuming are Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and FarEasTone, which already became Apple partner for previous iPhone product -- haven't revealed any information related with when and what price will the iPhone 4 be launched there.

Currently there are near 30 million cellular subscribers in Taiwan where those top 3 carriers mentioned hold around 70% of market pie. Taiwan is also the headquarter of FoxConn, the company in-charge for manufacturing the iPhone.  

Filed under  //  Chunghwa Telecom   FarEasTone   iPhone   iPhone 4   Taiwan   Taiwan Mobile  
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Posted
by Amir Karimuddin 
 

iPhone 4 to be available in Asia this Friday with dazzling prices

As announced, Apple extends the availability of iPhone 4 to another 17 countries this Friday on July 30, among them are Asia Pacific countries, like Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. The phone will be available both through online store and standard retail stores. The suggested retail price is surprisingly affordable, if compared to previous iPhone 3GS prices.

It is stated that the suggested price for 16GB variant is SG$888 (US$651), while SG$1048 (US$768) is the price for 32GB. Those are unlocked and contract-free scheme with no pre-order required. The list is completed with iPhone 3GS 8GB that offered at SG$748 (US$548). Maybe we'll be getting contract-bound prices in coming days. iPhone is offered by all operators in Singapore -- SingTel, StarHub, and M1. 

In Hong Kong, the price is somewhat similar. We obtain information that the 16GB variant will be sold at HK$4988 (US$642), while the 32GB price is still unknown. iPhone 4 is the next edition iPhone, brought several new features including video call via Wi-Fi with FaceTime, crystal bright Retina Display, 5 megapixels camera, and latest iOS4 with multitasking.

Filed under  //  Asia   Asia Pacific   australia   Hong Kong   iphone   iPhone 4   New Zealand   price   Singapore  
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Posted
by Amir Karimuddin 
 

iPhone 4 Update: Case Program app and delay on White model

The following action of event last week has been made. As part of Case Program, Apple has created Case Program app, can be downloaded from App Store, for those in need for free bumper. Consumers who have purchased iPhone 4 before July 23 is required to submit their claim within 30 days of the purchase, or as late as August 22. 

The Case Program will be continued until September 30. I assume Oct 1 is the date where Apple will launch patch (iOS 4.1?) that ultimately overcome problem related with attenuation. The term and condition itself refers exclusively to USA condition, as the country where attenuation problem hit critically -- well, not that many eventually, according to Jobs.
 
In the contrary, bad news for those dreaming of having white version of iPhone 4. The white model will not be available in near future and now promised to be delivered later this year due to inability of manufacturers to produce as schedule. Ars Technica and Engadget have made speculation over what happen behind the closed door, but we could only guessing. The black model, however, will not be affected. 

Filed under  //  Case Program   Case Program app   delay   iPhone   iPhone 4   white model  
Comment (1)
Posted
by Amir Karimuddin 
 

Malaysia's Maxis and DiGi open "interest form" for iPhone 4

Both Malaysian operators, Maxis and DiGi, open "interest form" for iPhone 4, letting consumer know when the iPhone 4 is finally available. The list won't be considered as pre-order, so when the time is due consumers need to re-register. Malaysia is not yet listed in upcoming listed countries of iPhone 4, but according to previous experience with 3G and 3GS, it won' take long after Singapore's release. No pricing scheme is revealed. 

The iPhone 4 is scheduled to be unveiled in Singapore this July, along with its sibling, iPad. The iPhone 4 features include video call via Wi-Fi using FaceTime, crystal bright retina display, HD video recording, and multitasking. 

With two operators join bandwagon to sell iPhone, only Celcom that has not. There's speculation that Celcom will eventually follow its competitors. We'll see.

[via]

   
Click here to download:
Malaysias_Maxis_and_DiGi_open_.zip (71 KB)

Filed under  //  DiGi   iPhone   iPhone 4   Malaysia   Maxis  
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Posted
by Amir Karimuddin 
 

Free iPhone 4 bumpers as temporary fix

Apple CEO Steve Jobs took to the stage earlier today to talk about the hotly debated issue surrounding iPhone 4's antenna reception. He noted several things that may surprise not only those in attendance but also executives of other smart phone manufacturers. He showed in videos how other phones such as the BlackBerry Bold 9700, HTC's Droid Eris and the Samsung Omnia 2 also show the same signal attenuation issue when their respective antennas are being covered by hand or gripped tightly. RIM and Nokia were quick to respond to the statements made by Jobs at the press conference.

In tackling the problem, Apple's temporary solution is to give away iPhone 4 bumpers and 3rd party cases to iPhone 4 owners. Those who have bought an iPhone 4 are eligible for a free bumper or case and those who have bought a bumper will have their money refunded in full. Anyone else who buys an iPhone 4 between now and September 30 is also entitled to a free bumper or case.

The third party cases are included in the offer because Jobs claimed that Apple can't make the bumpers fast enough to meet the demand. If you have bought a third party case for your iPhone 4 you are not eligible for a refund but you are still entitled to a free bumper from Apple. No doubt in a few days, there's very likely going to be more iPhone 4 bumpers on eBay from those who are looking to make a quick buck.

If you go to the Apple Online Store, you'll find that the bumpers are no longer available for sale but Apple will provide details on how to claim your free bumper soon.

After September 30 Apple will evaluate the situation and see whether they have managed to provide a more permanent solution.

Filed under  //  apple   iphone   iphone 4   signal  
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Posted
by Aulia Masna 
 

3 million iPhone 4s sold, 86 countries by September, down from 88?

 

During the press conference held earlier this morning, Apple CEO Steve Jobs took the opportunity to reveal some numbers regarding the iPhone 4. Since June 24 when it went on sale in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan, Apple has sold over three million iPhone 4s, that's 22 days. As previously announced, 1.7 million of which were sold in the first three days. iPhone 4 is Apple's most popular and fastest selling product to date.

By the numbers
Apple received around 5 calls in every thousand calls to AppleCare asking about antenna issue, thats roughly 15,000 calls. Out of more than three million iPhone 4 customers. So far only 1.7 percent of iPhone 4s were returned to AT&T in the US, much lower than 6 percent return rate for iPhone 3GS when it was released last year.

Countries
While initially Apple was planning to release the iPhone 4 in 18 more countries by the end of this month, Jobs said South Korea has been removed from the list due to government approval taking longer than expected. The rest of the 17 countries will start selling iPhone 4 on July 30. The countries are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
  
In addition, 24 more countries will get the phone in August (possibly 25 if South Korea gets pushed to August) and 40 in September which makes 86 countries by the end of September. Previously Apple claimed 88 countries will be selling iPhone 4s within that time period but the calculation only showed 87. Somebody made a mistake in either adding up the numbers or they forgot to include another country in there. Regardless, full distribution of iPhone 4 should be completed by September.

White iPhone 4
At the end of July Apple will also start selling white iPhone 4s in limited quanitities. It seems to be having manufacturing issues up to now but Apple is going to ramp up production as soon as possible.

The 30 minute presentation can be viewed online from Apple's newly published Antenna page. It's not yet available as a podcast from Apple's keynote feed in iTunes Store and there's no word on whether it will even be a podcast

Filed under  //  apple   iphone   iphone 4  
Comment (1)
Posted
by Aulia Masna 
 

iPhone 4 signal test in Jakarta

Can't seem to reproduce the problem at all.

Filed under  //  iphone 4   signal   video  
Comments (0)
Posted
by Aulia Masna 
 

iPhone 4 reception in Australia. Spoiler: It's awesome

Ed Dale has an iPhone 4 shipped from the UK to Australia. He lives in Beechworth in country Victoria, which as far as I'm concerned is middle of nowhere (sorry Ed) and I lived for almost ten years in Melbourne.

He had a chance at using the iPhone 4 at two very different locations, one at home and another at far north Queensland, a place where apparently phone signals go to die. Here's what he had to say about it:

I actually received my iPhone when I was having a break in Far North Queensland. We go up each year and being an iPhone tragic – know that once I get up in to the World Heritage Dainetree Rain Forrest – the cell coverage goes south…

Just for laughs, I pulled out my iPhone 4 at Thorton’s Beach (google it – it’s miles from anywhere)- and it had signal! My wife's iPhone 3gs – NADA.

As I’m sure scared out of their wits iPhone 4 owners the world over do as soon as they are faced with one or two bars signal – I immediately applied the death grip….

Did the call drop, did my twitter access die – NO!

This to me is the crux of the issue – the iPhone 4 has better day to day real world reception than the iPhone 3gs -

There you go.

Filed under  //  apple   australia   iphone 4   signal  
Comment (1)
Posted
by Aulia Masna 
 

Engadget crosses the continent and the Atlantic to test the iPhone 4

From the beginning I have been a sceptic over this whole antenna issue that the iPhone 4 seems to be having. iPhone 4 is the first massively popular phone that has the antennas located on the outside that I know of. As far as I can remember, there hasn't been a single mobile phone since the 90s that has this sort of design decision. 

Sure, there used to be phones with the antenna sticking out but they were encased in plastic or rubber. Not this time. iPhone 4's antennas are exposed to the elements and while it makes it more sensitive to signal reception (AnandTech proved that it actually boosted the reception), it also makes it prone to physical interference.

Some say it's the worst phone ever made, others say it's the most amazing phone ever produced. Numerous people have chimed in saying they have a hard time replicating the issue no matter how specific they try to follow the instruction. There are those who claim that the signal does drop when you place a finger over the black strip, and even more say while the signal does disappear when you do that, it really depends on where you're located, if your area has strong signal reception, you won't experience the problem.

Thankfuly Engadget has stepped up to the plate and done some more testing on this by crossing the continent and Atlantic ocean.

Across the United States, the problem exists mostly in areas with spotty AT&T coverage although it also happens indoors in areas with good coverage. In England, London to be precise, the problem only occurs in certain areas and even then there's little effect from the loss of signal bars.

Filed under  //  antenna   apple   engadget   iphone 4  
Comment (1)
Posted
by Aulia Masna 
 

Apple addresses iPhone signal problem, will release a fix

Amid all the pressure and complaints from many iPhone 4 owners, Apple has issued a press release regarding the concern over lack of signal strength in iPhone 4. There are numerous blog posts and videos talking about this seeming oversight from Apple and there's even a lawsuit filed against Apple for producing what they deem as an unusable phone.

AnandTech actually went ahead and investigated the issue in their full review. Right after the introduction, they went straight to discussing about the antenna and what they found was that the iPhone 4 antenna actually is more sensitive and has much better reception compared to previous iPhones. In places where one bar would drop a call using an iPhone 3GS, their iPhone 4 calls remain connected. So where is the problem and why so many people are experiencing signal degradations?

Apple attempts to explain the problem in their press release issued a short while ago.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  apple   iphone   iphone 4  
Comments (0)
Posted
by Aulia Masna