Sure, Apple alleges to have flipped over a million iPhone 3Gs at this point, but what does that mean? The devil's in the details, as always; yes, true, the first one took 74 days to reach that same milestone, but it was available in less than one-twentieth the number of countries and an even smaller fraction of carriers. Hell, the very definition of "sale" is under scrutiny here, with some suggesting that Apple's making reference to the number of phones it's sold to its carrier partners, not end users -- a metric that would make sense from Cupertino's perspective since Apple's payday technically ends there.

Here's where it gets interesting -- Engadget has obtained a handful of stats regarding number ports in and out of T-Mobile USA handled by a national wholesaler. Specifically, we have data surrounding the launch of the first-gen iPhone and the iPhone 3G, and get this: of more than 1,000 ports in total, ports to AT&T represented under 40 percent of the firm's total outflow in the days surrounding the 3G's launch, versus nearly 70 percent the last time around. Furthermore, they took roughly the same number of inbound ports from AT&T during the same period, meaning that T-Mobile effectively lost no net ground due to the 3G's launch. Granted, the porting stats from a single wholesaler represent just a microcosm of the big picture, but even accounting for some loss of precision when you extrapolate that data, you're looking at a pretty significant downturn in interest from T-Mobile subscribers. We still think Apple's probably laughing all the way to the bank either way -- and iPhone 3Gs are sold out virtually everywhere right now -- but you've got to wonder if AT&T's not freaking out a little bit at the number of new subscribers it managed to entice, and whether its competitors are all breathing cautious sighs of relief at some surprisingly reasonably churn rates.

via engadgetmobile 

The iPhone 3G in Japan has a special feature unique to that country: The camera always makes a conspicuous “shutter” sound when a picture is taken, even when the phone is set to “silent” mode.

The loud shutter sound is supposed to deter voyeurs from taking sneaky pictures up women’s’ skirts — or down their tops.

In Japan, upskirt and downblouse shots have become increasingly popular with the advent of high-resolution camera phones.

As a result, all cell phones sold in Japan make a conspicuous shutter sound, or say the word “cheese” when a snap is taken, according to Nobuyuki Hayashi, a tech reporter based in Tokyo. On almost all new cell phones, the camera shutter sound can not be muted, Hayashi says.

“Some manufacturers have even put louder shutter sound,” he reports.

The shutter on the first iPhone sold in Japan could be muted in silent mode; an anomaly that many wondered whether Apple would correct in the iPhone 3G, Hayashi says.

Apple did: The shutter sound cannot be turned off, even in silent mode, Hayashi says.

Apple has introduced a new iPhone 3G dock to the Apple Store. Like the previous version, it features a scooped-out front section so you can reach the home button, and it has a couple of grill-covered audio conduits to route the sound from the speakers and enable speakerphone calls. Also, like the original model, there is no remote control support, so the $30 accessory is strictly for charging and syncing (and, of course, for holding the iPhone at a jaunty angle). The new dock will not work with your old first generation iPhone.

But, we ask, why bother? It's likely that, when the next iPhone is released, this dock will be as useless as its predecessor is now. Better, then, to just spring for the new $9 iPhone 3G insert for the Universal Dock, of which you probably have one or two lying around. Sure, you lose the speaker conduits, but you gain an infrared eye.

Interestingly, right now the Universal Dock is not listed as compatible with the iPhone 3G. That will surely be remedied soon enough. Worse is the fact that there is no plastic dock adapter in the box with the iPhone 3G. That really smacks of nickel and diming.

If you do opt to buy these model-specific docks, we suggest you keep the old and useless ones, along with your old iPhones, in the back of the closet. When you have kids, you'll be able to save money on those fit-the-plastic-shape-in-the-hole toys and just let the kids try to do the same thing with the iPhones.

via blog.wired 

3G iPhone case molds leaked in pre-WWDC hysteria

In the breathless runup to the presumed WWDC 3G iPhone launch the spy shots just get weirder and weirder. In fact, this is the first time we can recall seeing case molds -- in this instance, from Griffin -- leaked prior to an announcement. Nevertheless, that's exactly what iDeals China Insider claims they possess. While consistent with the XSKN case, specs, and other leaks we've already seen, it's proof of nothing except a lot of self-perpetuating nonsense. Check the 3D images purportedly used to make the silicon molds after the break...

via engadget 

 3G iPhone case molds leaked in pre-WWDC hysteria,3g iphone, 3gIphone, griffin, leak, mold, rumor, spy,Cellphones

Orange une reprise de l'iPhone contre le nouveau modèle

Plusieurs de nos lecteurs nous ont avertis qu’Orange téléphone actuellement à certains clients pour leur proposer une offre relative à l’iPhone 2. Ce dernier n’est concrètement qu’une facilité de langage, mais on parle bien ici du modèle qui devrait être lancé par Steve Jobs dans deux semaines, lors de la keynote de la WWDC.

Deux possibilités sont offertes aux possesseurs d’iPhone :

• La reprise du modèle actuel, qui permettrait l’obtention du nouveau moyennant un surcoût de 50 euros
• L’obtention du nouveau modèle à un tarif avantageux (subvention « généreuse »)

Ces informations restent toujours à confirmer. Nous avons contacté Orange à ce sujet, mais la société n’était pas encore prête à répondre. Nous aurons bientôt de plus amples informations.

via pcinpac 

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