NEWS: Mystery IPhone Book Apps Disappear From Store

Meanwhile, at the alt.internet.wireless Job Justification Hearings, nospam
chose the tried and tested strategy of:

> (*) javascript is just one test. now try it again with flash installed.
> pocketnow showed that the nexus one browser went from fastest to
> slowest when flash was installed.

Bet it still renders Flash faster than the iPhone's browser, though.

--
<http://ale.cx/> (AIM:troffasky) ((E-Mail Removed))
21:56:45 up 12 days, 9:25, 6 users, load average: 2.46, 1.21, 0.68
Qua illic est accuso, illic est a vindicatum

Consumer Reports has confirmed what we already knew about iPhone 4 --
touching its external antenna produces noticeable reception problems --
but with that finding offered a damning conclusion: This phone is not
recommended.

Ouch!

The verdict is a slap in the face to Apple, which earlier this month
tried casting the iPhone 4 problem as an optical illusion, caused by the
way the phone displays signal bars. Previously, Apple said that holding
the iPhone 4 in certain ways can affect signal strength, but has also
insisted that overall the phone gets better reception than any previous
model. For unsatisfied customers, Apple recommends holding the phone
differently or buying a bumper case.

That's not good enough for Consumer Reports, which tested three iPhone
4s in its radio frequency isolation room. Using a base-station emulator
to simulate cell tower signals, lab testers found significant reception
problems when holding the phone over its lower-left corner, especially
when the signal was weak to begin with.

Phones with internal antennas, such as the Palm Pre and iPhone 3GS,
didn't have the same reception issues. That's important, because Apple
has claimed that signal loss when covering the antenna is "a fact of
life for every wireless phone."

Consumer Reports confirmed that covering the iPhone 4's antenna with
thick, non-conductive material, such as duct tape, fies the problem, and
the group believes bumper cases will do the same. But despite loving
everything else about the phone, including its sharp display and 720p
video camera, Consumer Reports recommended downgrading to an iPhone 3GS
or another brand.

If you've been following the iPhone 4 antenna debacle, there should be
nothing shocking about Consumer Reports' findings. Experts and
journalists have learned basically the same things in their field
testing. Specifically, the phone gets better service most of the time,
but when held over its lower-left corner, it risks dropped calls or lost
reception in areas with low signal strength.

Still, the lab testing by Consumer Reports was conducted in a controlled
environment, lending more credibility to the real-world evidence we've
already seen. It's an embarrassment for Apple after the company's
attempts to downplay the issue. I'm sure this report will come up in the
class action lawsuits Apple faces, especially when the authority on what
consumer products to buy says the iPhone 4 doesn't deserve your money.

MORE:
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/200924/consumer_reports_throws_iphone_4_under_the_bus.htm l>

Threads on the Apple support forum about the iPhone 4 are mysteriously
disappearing. Perhaps it has just a little to do with the fact that
Consumer Reports made it clear in their July 12 report that "Apple needs
to come up with a permanent—and free—fix for the antenna problem before
we can recommend the iPhone 4."

Is Apple doing the right thing here if they are wiping the forums clean
when it comes to talk about Consumer Reports not so favorable review?

A negative news story and Apple starts removing comments instead of
addressing them? That's bad business for already frustrated iPhone
owners.

If you tried to access the forums, it's clear that moderators took the
posts down. You'll get a clear message if you try: "Error: you do not
have permission to view the requested forum or category."

This is not a glitch ... this is Apple controlling what they want you to
read.

MORE:
<http://www.examiner.com/x-22397-Providence-Business-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m7d13-Apple-takes-down-forum-threads-about-negative-Consumer-Reports-iPhone-4-review>

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, John Navas
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Consumer Reports has confirmed what we already knew about iPhone 4 --
> touching its external antenna produces noticeable reception problems --
> but with that finding offered a damning conclusion: This phone is not
> recommended.

except that the phone has the highest ratings of all smartphones, quite
a contradiction.

<http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/2...ts-by-the-way-
the-iphone-4-is-also-the-best-smartphone-on-the-market/>

It looks like the iPhone 4 "death grip" drama is coming to a head: News
broke this afternoon that Apple will be holding a press conference this
Friday to discuss the iPhone 4.

In typical Apple fashion, the company didn't give too much detail about
what would be discussed at Friday's press conference, except that it
would be about Apple's flagship smartphone, but given the press coverage
surrounding the so-called "death grip," there's more than a good chance
that Apple will be tackling this issue head-on.

Needless to say, it's hard to tell as yet what will come out of this
press conference. Earlier this week, Consumer Reports said that it
couldn't recommend the iPhone, despite the fact that it took the top
spot in its rankings. Some see a recall as "inevitable, while others
have suggested that Apple should give away free Bumper cases to iPhone 4
owners instead. Meanwhile, others have experienced glitches with the
iPhone 4 proximity sensor.

MORE:
<http://www.pcworld.com/article/201158/apple_calls_iphone_4_press_conference_for_this_fri day.html>

Apple Inc.’s senior antenna expert voiced concern to Chief Executive
Officer Steve Jobs in the early design phase of the iPhone 4 that the
antenna design could lead to dropped calls, a person familiar with the
matter said.

Last year, Ruben Caballero, a senior engineer and antenna expert,
informed Apple’s management the device’s design may hurt reception, said
the person, who is not authorized to speak on Apple’s behalf and asked
not to be identified. A carrier partner also raised concerns about the
antenna before the device’s June 24 release, according to another person
familiar with the situation.

....

Steve Dowling, a spokesman for Apple, declined to comment and said he
wouldn’t make Caballero available for an interview. Caballero didn’t
respond to a call and an e-mail seeking comment.

MORE:
<http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-15/apple-engineer-said-to-have-told-jobs-last-year-about-iphone-antenna-flaw.html>

And sure enough, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is on its way to AT&T. ...
The 4-inch phone is bringing its custom Android experience to the U.S.
on Aug. 15, complete with 8-megapixel camera, LED flash, 8GB of on-board
memory, 2GB microSD card, and the Timescape and Mediascape UIs.

The X10 will cost $149.99 after two-year contract and rebate.
Off-contract pricing wasn't initially announced.

Also not announced was what version of Android will be on board at
launch, though we have to assume it'll be the same Android 1.6 that
we've previously seen, and hope that it'll be upgraded later this year.
....

MORE:
<http://www.androidcentral.com/sony-ericsson-att-announce-x10-available-aug-15>

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, John Navas
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> And sure enough, the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is on its way to AT&T. ...
> The 4-inch phone is bringing its custom Android experience to the U.S.
> on Aug. 15, complete with 8-megapixel camera, LED flash, 8GB of on-board
> memory, 2GB microSD card, and the Timescape and Mediascape UIs.
>
> The X10 will cost $149.99 after two-year contract and rebate.
> Off-contract pricing wasn't initially announced.
>
> Also not announced was what version of Android will be on board at
> launch, though we have to assume it'll be the same Android 1.6 that
> we've previously seen, and hope that it'll be upgraded later this year.

hah, a new phone ships with a year old version of android? wtf are they
thinking? why the hell isn't it 2.2?