Omio News Blog

iPhone iOS 4 Update: What’s New, And How To Get It

Last night Apple released their iOS 4 update, bringing over 100 new features to the iPhone 3G, 3GS and late-model iPod touch devices.

Whilst some changes are immediately apparent, here’s a run-down of a few new additions that this software upgrade gives to the world’s hottest handset.

Multi-tasking

The big one for iPhone critics and devotees alike, multitasking is finally here. Switching between applications and features of the iPhone is swift and seamless, as the device is now able to run multiple functions concurrently.

It has apparently taken this long to implement due to the concerns that multitasking places a huge strain on battery life, but Apple insists that this is not the case with iOS 4.

Now the need is for current applications to take advantage of this new update, with streaming solutions like Spotify to see a new lease of life by being able to run in the background.

Folders

In an effort to curb the sprawl of icons that most iPhone users’ home screens have become, iOS 4 enables folders to be created, allowing you to organise all of your apps in a far more appealing fashion. Folders also give plenty more space to place all of those impulse purchases than ever before, now with room for a whopping 2160 apps.

Unified Inbox

Access multiple e-mail accounts from a single location on your iPhone, thanks to iOS 4. No longer switching between inboxes to view new messages makes life a lot easier for those textaholics using their mobile as a mobile office.

Improved Camera – digital zoom, touch focus

One of the less well-known additions that iOS 4 has delivered is to the camera. Whilst you can’t up the megapixels with a software update, it brings a 5x digital zoom to the iPhone, as well as a quicker shutter speed and manual touch-to-focus functionality for video recording.

iBooks

Time to mothball that Kindle, Apple’s iBooks brings both an eBook reader (with support for PDF documents) and a digital book store to the iPhone, offering easy access to hundreds of magazines, tomes and periodicals.

Home screen wallpaper

It’s taken three years and four iterations, but finally Apple have allowed us a little bit of customisation to their beloved smartphone by giving an option to change the home screen background.

Spellchecker

iOS 4 has enhanced predictive text when writing messages and e-mails to offer a selection of words, rather than the single suggestion offered by the original.

Image tagging, custom playlists and the ability to ‘gift’ apps to other iDevice owners are some of the smaller changes brought by iOS 4, all coming together to give the iPhone a much needed shot in the arm.

Whilst the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 enjoy the benefits of iOS 4, we should also take a moment to mourn the original iPhone 2G which does not support this update, and the iPhone 3G, for whom multi-tasking is one step too far for the device.

How do I get iOS 4?

If you are thinking about getting an iPhone 3GS 8GB or iPhone 4, good news! Your device will be already by packing iOS 4, straight out of the box.

If you have an iPhone 2G (with the metal rear), or an older iPod touch, bad news! They aren’t supported by the new iOS 4 update.

All the rest of you:

1. Connect your device to your computer.

2. Fire up iTunes (ensuring you are on the latest version – 9.2) and click on the ‘check for update’ button once your device appears on the screen.

3. Whilst we suggest backing up your data before jumping in with iOS 4, the update denotes that all of the important stuff on your handset – including apps, contacts and messages – will be stored before bringing your iPhone up to date.

4. Be patient, but after around 45 minutes your iPhone will be enjoying the multi-tasking joys of iOS 4!

Do you love it, or do you miss the simpler joys of the original iPhone? Do let us know in the comments section below!

End Of The Line For Apple iPhone 2G Support? So Types Steve Jobs…

Whilst the world went mental with excitement over advancements like custom wallpapers and multitasking at Apple’s announcement of OS 4.0, one point that was duly noted was the absence of support for the original iPhone 2G.

Whilst Apple admitted that the plucky iPhone 3G and original iPod touch will not be up to the task of certain features like multitasking, the question of whether the original iPhone was to be taken round to the back of the barn was answered in a succinct fashion, in reply to an email from a customer named ‘Niko’:

Hey Steve!
Is Apple supporting/updating the iPhone 2G in the Future?

Cheers Niko

Sent from my iPhone

The reply came soon enough, directly from Jobs himself atop Mount Infinite Loop:

Sorry, no.

Sent from my iPhone

Well, it seems like the ride is finally over for the metallic-backed beauty, with Apple leaving it by the wayside as the 2010 model comes around the corner…call it a heavy incentive to upgrade. As Jobs stated at the OS 4.0 launch, “…there was no decision to make as far as multitasking. Some of the earlier hardware can’t support multitasking at all.”

We’re sure that the necessity to upgrade to the shiny new iPhone is a happy side effect of OS 4.0′s impending awesomeness…roll on Summer.

Source: TechCrunch

iPhone On Vodafone: Release Date and Pricing Revealed

Everyone expecting Vodafone to be throwing free iPhone 3Gs from the rooftops can calm down…

The fourth network to garner rights to sell the iPhone has just announced a release date, with Vodafone to start selling the handset from 14th January 2010, albeit at some pretty familiar prices.

The original iPhone 3G is available for free from £35 on a 24-month plan (and £40 on an 18 month deal), whilst the 16GB 3GS’ pricing is the usual affair of being free on a 24-month £45 tariff, and gratis if you shell out £50 on an 18 month offering.

12 month and pay-as-you-go iPhone deals are currently off the menu, but the side orders of 1GB of mobile internet, unlimited wi-fi and unlimited Vodafone-to-Vodafone calls are still pretty appetising. With Orange offering a fair usage limit of 750MB, Vodafone come off as almost generous.

Pre-orders are open now on the Vodafone site, and compare pretty favorably with deals currently available from Orange and O2. Check back on our iPhone deals page very soon to compare Apple offerings from all the big networks!

Perhaps the iPhone arriving on Tesco Mobile might finally throw the price point cat amongst the pigeons… Oh. It didn’t.

Princeton Japan Unveils iZoom: 8x Manual Zoom Lens For iPhone

Whilst some accessories can be classed as useless, others fulfill a need that we are sure was never there in the first place.

Princeton Japan have introduced a lens that turns your humble iPhone into a fully fledged, paparazzi-grade snapper with an 8x optical zoom.

Not only that, but a custom tripod, case and dirty, weather-beaten overcoat (perhaps not that last one) are also available for the iZoom, turning your iPhone 3G/3GS into a 3 megapixel camera with tons of pointless yet pretty equipment bolted onto it.

The worst part? Akihabara News insists that this product already exists, which means someone had this alarming idea before…

The iZoom will be available from December from all good opportunists. How much? They haven’t said, but you can rest assured that it’s too much.

iPhone On Orange – Deals Now Available On Omio!

If you weren’t quite ready to take the plunge with Apple’s much-loved device, we are pleased to now be able to offer a selection of the latest iPhone deals on our new dedicated page!

Go here to choose your ideal iPhone!

Our new deals page allows you to compare features by putting the iPhone 3G and the slick new iPhone 3GS side-by-side, browse deals from all of the networks and retailers (Vodafone coming soon!), as well as get an insight into what makes the iPhone tick with our selection of tips to get the most from your new phone!

Compare prices between networks and retailers (we now stock the Orange iPhone!), check out the latest Apple news and find out our choice of must-have apps on the new-look iPhone page!

This is one-stop resource for everything you need to know about the best Apple iPhone deals, be sure to stop by and have a look!

Orange iPhone: ‘Unlimited’ Data Package Explored

Just how much does 750MB of mobile data get you?

Well, that’s the question that prospective Orange iPhone customers have to ask, with the network offering an unlimited data package with the iconic handset that has a fair usage limit of 750MB of data per month.

Pocket-Lint has put up a briliant post examining just how much one can get with 750MB, using Orange’s own data calculator…and the results are pretty surprising.

Now, bear in mind that Orange will permit users to stream to their heart’s content from sites like YouTube and Spotify, just not the usual raft of e-mail reading and web browsing on Apple’s smart phone.

Check out if you are likely to stray outside the lines of Orange’s fair usage policy on your shiny new iPhone 3GS…which seems pretty likely for those power users!

Also, be sure to browse our new iPhone deals page, engineered to help you find the cream of iPhone 3G and 3GS offers on O2, Orange and Vodafone when they arrive!

BREAKING NEWS: iTunes 9.0.2 Update Disables Palm Pre Sync…Again.

In a shocking twist to this seemingly endless game of cat-and-mouse, the latest update to Apple’s iTunes software (9.0.2) disables the ability of the Palm Pre to sync music and movies using the platform.

Whilst this latest update is said to offer all sorts of whizzy new features to iTunes 9 and improved support for Apple TV, an unfortunate side effect (if you are Palm) is that it has severed their connection once again…

Despite the diminutive handset having basic synching software of its own, Palm’s device has piggybacked off the popular iTunes service since launch, even making it a selling point to convince customers to defect from iPhone 3G and the House of Jobs.

At every turn Apple has attempted to thwart this, claiming that the Pre’s method of masquerading as an iPod to gain access was a violation of the use of the USB format.

Almost every iTunes update since has locked out the Pre from their digital download party, only for Palm to find a new way in with their own ‘Web OS’ software upgrades.

It is very likely that Palm will yet again try to restore the popular feature, as Apple’s big 9.0 update took their elite squad of ninjas mere hours to unravel.

Alternative apps for Pre synching do exist, but the robust nature and ease of use that iTunes offers for purchasing and transferring media is something even the most staunch Pre supporters find it tough to deny.

The strange dance continues…

iPhone On 3 UK In Attempt To Retain Customers?

Mobile Entertainment reports that T-Mobile aren’t the only network to offer the coveted handset on the sly, as 3 UK are rumoured to be wafting the iPhone 3G (not the faster 3GS) handset in front of those thinking of defecting to rival providers.

As we reported in August,  T-Mobile UK employed a similar exercise, getting a small number of units of the iPhone 3G and enticing a select few pay monthly spenders with an unofficial upgrade.

Apparently 3 UK are doing the same, in the hope of retaining customers not content with similar handsets on their strong roster.

3 UK are much more about offering that full data experience, and apparently the lack of customisation and bespoke tailoring that the iPhone offers makes the device undesirable to them in a full launch capacity.

Some state that the iPhone is also not quite the licence to print money that we often assume.

With their peerless 3G service offering free Skype and Windows Messenger and great phones like the forthcoming INQ Chat 3G to take advantage of that, you’d think that the much hyped smart phone wouldn’t be enough to cause 3 customers to stray.

O2′s grip on the popular gadget might have loosened with Orange set to offer the handset at any moment and Vodafone to follow in 2010, but it seems like everyone still wants a piece of Apple and the iPhone.

iPhone on Orange: What It Means For Consumers

It’s been a long time coming, we’ve heard hushed tones, rumours and unofficial confirmations, but finally the iPhone on Orange has become a reality!

Aside from the obvious fact that it’ll mean more of Apple’s slick mobiles will end up in consumer’s hands by breaking up O2′s two year love affair, there are plenty of other side effects of the iPhone getting together with what is soon to be the UK’s largest mobile provider…

1. Price War!

Orange may not have divulged a price or release date for the 3G and 3GS (in a surprise move, they have also secured Apple’s latest model of the iPhone), but it is fair to say that the entrance of a new challenger into the ring could spell curtains for O2′s premium price point.

A bloody high street battle is bound to ensue, with a new-found choice of provider driving iPhone prices down and resulting in a turf war between the two networks for the attention (and signatures) of cash-conscious shoppers.

Prepare to see shorter contracts, sweetened upgrade deals and cheaper handset costs for the coveted smart phone from both O2 and Orange, as they vie for supremacy over a cash-strapped public.

All signs point to Orange releasing the handset this side of Xmas, which could lead to the iPhone becoming this year’s must have present…if the price is right.

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2. Better 3G coverage.

One thing that O2 has been in the media a lot about in recent months is their patchy 3G coverage. Many consumers found that their shiny new iPhone 3G was a lot less impressive at surfing the web, as high speed data signals remained elusive.

Earlier in the year, Ofcom released UK coverage maps, highlighting the degree of 3G reception across the country for the major networks. The maps spoke for themselves, as well as explaining the reason for some people’s reception issues…

O2 coverage:

Orange coverage:

Exactly. Now that the iPhone will made be available on another network which can claim further reaching 3G reception, it might force O2′s hand to improve network coverage as well as service…if Ofcom being on their case about it wasn’t enough.

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3. Stronger competition from exclusive handsets.

Nothing stimulates innovation like a bit of healthy competition, and the iPhone no longer being an exclusive might force networks to drive consumer interest in other handsets on their respective rosters…

The Motorola DEXT is Orange’s latest acquisition, a socially-savvy communicator that links up to Twitter, Facebook and all manner of sites, and will definitely be priced to scoop up those teens not quite ready for the iPhone.

O2 are already directing attention to the forthcoming ‘iPhone killer’, the Palm Pre, and a response on their blog to Orange’s announcement makes them sound proud of the million-odd new sign ups that the iPhone has brought, but still determined to forge ahead with exclusive devices.

Without a monopoly on the world’s most hyped handset, people who aren’t swayed by the iPhone will still need to get the next best thing. It is up to the carriers to convince of what that is, and rest assured they will be spending a lot of money on advertising in the coming months letting us know.

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4. Network-specific apps.

Without the shackles of a single network, even more people will be making impulse purchases on the App Store, but also networks can develop applications that allow customers to get more from their mobile.

The My O2 iPhone app currently enables users to check their remaining minutes, texts and charges, whilst also allowing them to see their current Bolt-Ons and view recent bills. All very useful, and a great piece of optional functionality that the iPhone can bring specifically to users for a particular network.

Does this mean that Orange World functionality can finally arrive as an app as opposed to being hard-coded into the handset? We maintain our candlelight vigil in hope…

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5. iPhone on T-Mobile?

Well, it’s no secret that just last month Orange and T-Mobile inked a deal seeing the two merge and become the nation’s biggest mobile network, with over 28.4 million customers.

As this merger is in the early stages, the two networks are still maintaining distinct branding and retail outlets at present.

However, how much overlap might there be in the future, and will we see the iPhone available on T-Mobile as well as Orange as a consequence?

When the join between these two providers is a little difficult to distinguish, it is not a huge leap of the imagination to see cross-promotion of the iPhone 3G/3GS in T-Mobile stores, or sign-ups to a network with can boast better 3G coverage than even Orange.

Time will tell, but now that the bubble of iPhone exclusivity has burst, all bets are off on which network will be next to sell this generation’s hottest mobile phone.

Palm Pre vs. iPhone 3GS vs. iPhone 3G: Three Way Video Showdown!

We’ve already let know know what we think about the new Nokia N97 vs. Apple’s iPhone 3G S, but America has already seen the launch of what many believe to be the closest competitor yet – The Palm Pre.

In this video, CNet pits the Pre up against the swift iPhone 3G S and the iPhone 3G (henceforth to be known as ‘the old one’) in a number of tasks, including browsing the web and uploading a photo. The results prove surprising!

The 3G S has certainly earned its new ‘speedy’ monicker, wow!

Source: CNet via IntoMobile