Category: iPhone

Verizon Tiered Data Starting in July, Prices Revealed?

Verizon has been up front with its plans to eventually move from a flat charge for unlimited data to a tiered system. It looks like those plans have been revealed. Droid-Life obtained some documentation allegedly sent by company executives that outlines the new data fees.

On top of monthly voice charges, Verizon’s new data plans will cost $30 a month for 2GB, $50 a month for 5GB, and $80 a month for 10GB. Additional data will cost $10 per GB. The pricing is the same for 3G and 4G (LTE) devices. Customers that wish to tether will be charged an additional $20 per month. The current charge for unlimited data is $29.99. The new plans allegedly roll out on July 7, 2011.

It’s kind of a bummer that data pricing continues to escalate even though the cost per GB has actually gone down. I realize that Verizon still needs to recoup the costs of its expensive LTE network, but the pricing seems excessive. Thankfully existing customers will be able to keep their current rate plans, but who knows what will happen when it’s time to renew.

Whether you’re a current Verizon customer, a prospective customer, or a spectator, please let me know how you feel about these new rate plans.

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Coffee Talk #365: The Angle of the Dangle

I’m reexamining my position on viewing angles and I’d love to have your input. I was talking to a few friends that review phones and they were dinging the HTC Sensation for its viewing angles. I just don’t…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the emergence of Rory McIlroy, Floyd Mayweather not showing up to court, or RIM’s declining fortunes, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’m reexamining my position on viewing angles and I’d love to have your input. I was talking to a few friends that review phones and they were dinging the HTC Sensation for its viewing angles. I just don’t understand why they’re a big deal on phones. Mobile phones are generally used by one person looking at the device head-on. Certainly I can’t think of a case where my mobile phone experience was lessened by poor viewing angles.

My friends said that I was being contradictory for criticizing the Nintendo 3DS for its viewing angles. If you haven’t tried one, the 3D aspect of the handheld system is very sensitive to viewing angles. The 3D effect breaks if you view it from slightly off-center angles. In this case, one of the 3DS’ primary functions — 3D gaming — can be ruined due to the device’s viewing angles. I don’t think it’s the same deal as on a phone.

My reviewer friends weren’t able to change my mind, but perhaps you will. Please let me know how you feel about viewing angles on phones, portable consoles, televisions, etc.

Unlocked iPhone 4 Available Through Apple USA

Imagine The Rock saying, “Finally…the iPhone 4 is available unlocked…in America!!!” It’s true! American consumers that want an iPhone 4 but don’t want to be shackled with a two-year contract can pick up an officially unlocked iPhone 4 from The Apple Store. The 16GB model costs $649, while the 32GB model costs $749.

Apple Stores in most countries have been offering unlocked iPhones since launch, but America is an unusual market where the carriers have too much stroke. Buying the phone unlocked in America comes at a premium and there’s only one major carrier that supports the unlocked model’s 3G bands (AT&T). However, it’s still a godsend for customers that want an iPhone that can be used in other countries without jailbreaking.

That said, $649 for a phone with year-old tech is a questionable value. Sure, the iPhone 4 still enjoys the best software ecosystem in the world and the screen is absolutely gorgeous, but the screen size is small and the processor is old. For a little bit less money, consumers can purchase an unlocked Android phone with a bigger screen and a dual-core processor. Plus, a new iPhone model is expected in autumn.

Will people pay top dollar for an unlocked iPhone 4? Will future iPhone models launch with an unlocked version? We shall see. For now, kindly put on your analyst hat and let me know what you think this development means.

AT&T CEO Unsure If You Can Buy Unlocked iPhone

At the D9 conference, AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega claimed that AT&T customers could buy an iPhone at full price and get it unlocked. He later backtracked on that statement and said he needed to verify it. Here’s a clip from Engadget’s live blog:

Ralph just said he “needed to verify” that you couldn’t buy an unlocked GSM iPhone from AT&T. He so clearly has no concept of this — the entire audience confirmed for him that even a full-price iPhone is locked to AT&T, making it useless to those who travel overseas and want to use a pre-paid SIM in whatever nation they land in. Pretty sad, actually.

Being able to unlock an iPhone without jailbreaking it would be tremendously useful to AT&T customers that frequently work and play in other countries. AT&T does not allow this and it’s completely laughable that its CEO is ignorant of this fact. Moron. It would be awesome if AT&T changed its policy so that its CEO didn’t look like a total ignoramus.

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iOS Cheapies = Big Fun for 99 Cents, Less Console Sales

I bought a bunch of 99-cent games for my iPad 2 last weekend. They were all on sale for a limited time, so I figured, “What the hell.” I’ve played all but one and I’m floored by their value. Sure, they’re not as deep as their PlayStation Portable and Nintendo DS equivalents, but they’re close. And besides, similar games for those platforms cost 30 times as much. Here’s what I picked up:

Let’s Golf 2 — It’s like Mario Golf lite. The control options aren’t as extensive, but I’m still having loads of fun with this game.

Baseball Superstars Pro 2011 — It’s like Mario Baseball lite. This game blends arcade baseball with RPG mechanics.

Eternal Legacy — This is a Final Fantasy-like RPG. Out of the games I picked up, this had the most depth. It’s on par or deeper than several RPGs I’ve played on the DS and PSP. It doesn’t have as much polish as most Square Enix games, but it’s also much cheaper than most Square Enix iOS titles.

Death Rally — I haven’t gotten around to playing this vehicular combat game, but I’ve been hearing great things from friends. It’s made by Remedy (Max Payne, Alan Wake) and I was curious to see what a traditional game developer would do on the iPad.

These kinds of games are indicative of a major shift in the gaming business. Some analysts are predicting doom and gloom for traditional consoles. I wouldn’t go that far, but I definitely see more and more people spending more and more money on Android and iOS games. Most people think before dropping $30 to $60 on a console game that will entertainment them for a dozen hours or more. Buying a dozen hours of entertainment for a $1 is a no-brainer.

Additionally, most people need phones to keep in touch with family, friends, and work. Playing games on something you already have is a bonus. Compare that to a gaming console, which is a pure luxury purchase.

What do you guys and dolls think? Will cheap gaming on phones and tablets cut into the console market?

Infinity Blade: Arena Adds Multiplayer and More

One of the most impressive iOS games is taking it to a new level on May 19th. Epic Games and Chair Entertainment have released details on the Infinity Blade: Arena content pack. Here’s the list of features included in the free update:

  • Enter the Arena: Assuming the role of Titan or Knight, Infinity Blade fans can now challenge their friends to multiplayer matches online via Game Center!
  • Survivor Mode: Players face off against a legion of Titans to see how far they can go!
  • New Holiday Helms! A new helm for every season, ready to be played and mastered!
  • More than two dozen new magic rings, swords, shields, and helmets for players to collect and master.New Facebook integration allows fans to view their character on their profile and take a screen grab to share with friends.
  • Much more! New Achievements, additional Leaderboards, and some new surprises!

I’m psyched for this update. Infinity Blade is a sterling example of what mobile games can be. I’m looking forward to swinging my sword (get your mind out of the gutter!) in multiplayer. Any of you down to play with me?

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iPhone “4S” Coming to All Four Major American Carriers?

The latest rumor on the next iPhone has Apple’s upcoming handset named the iPhone 4S. More importantly, it might be available on all four major American carriers. That’s the word according to Jefferies & Co. analyst Peter Misek. Here are more details from Forbes:

“According to our industry checks, the device should be called iPhone 4S and include minor cosmetic changes, better cameras, A5 dual-core processor, and HSPA+ support,” he writes in a research note.

He also says that “industry checks indicate Apple will likely announce Sprint, T-Mobile, and China Mobile as new carriers.”

The iPhone on all four majors would be huge for Apple. It’s already killing the competition on two carriers. Being available on all four would only extend its dominance.

Are you considering the iPhone 4S? Which carrier would you want it on?

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Manny Pacquiao Videogame Coming to Android, iOS, and PC

Fresh off his drubbing of “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao is set to star in a videogame called Manny Pacquiao: Pound For Pound coming to Android, iOS, and Facebook. Set for a Summer 2011 release, the game is being developed and published by Karkadann Games. Here’s a snippet from the press release:

Created for a casual gaming audience, and developed for PC, mobile, iPad, iPhone and Facebook, “Pound for Pound” Volume 1 takes gamers through narrative arcs, intense action and addictive game play, as Manny the martial arts action hero battles through the underground world of heinous villains on a mission of justice. Gamers not only wield Manny’s legendary combination of pummelling punches, with his lightning fast hands, but also a full arsenal of kicks and martial arts weaponry. Additionally, players will be able to customize and develop Manny into the ultimate mixed martial arts defender to fight hundreds of the most infamous enemies on a high-stakes fight.

I’ve never heard of the developer, but I’m excited for the game as a Pacquiao fan, an iPad 2 owner, and a Filipino-American. Even if the quality isn’t great, I’m sure I’m going to play the hell out of it simply because of Pinoy pride. Plus, it’s Manny Pacquiao fighting like Bruce Lee accompanied by a pet wolf! Next to Final Fantasy Tactics, this is the iPad game I want the most. I’ll try to get more info from the publisher. Until then, you can follow the game’s Facebook page.

Say Hello to the White iPhone 4

Please please please check out this flippant video of the white iPhone 4. It’s certainly a gorgeous piece of consumer electronics — I almost want to make out with it. For size comparison, I filmed it next to the HTC Thunderbolt and the LG G2X. While the white iPhone 4 is certainly prettier than those phones, it doesn’t offer the Thunderbolt’s awesome LTE speeds or the G2X’s incredible Tegra 2 performance.

Android Gets Google Talk Video Chat

Google has announced that Android version 2.3.4 will have video chat capabilities through Google Talk. The official word on the roll out is, “Google Talk with video and voice chat will gradually roll out to Nexus S devices in the next few weeks as part of the Android 2.3.4 over-the-air update and will launch on other Android 2.3+ devices in the future.”

Android users will be able to see their friends on other Android phones or PCs that have Google Talk. While phones with front-facing cameras have been fairly common since the end of 2010, the software hasn’t been the best. Apple’s FaceTime is easy to use and has great image quality, but it’s limited to iOS (WiFi only) and Mac OS devices. I’ve been mostly unimpressed with newer services like Fring, Qik, and Tango. I expected Skype to own this segment, but the company has been pathetically slow in expanding its mobile video-chat efforts (currently only available in iOS devices on WiFi).

Google has a huge opportunity to dominate the mobile video-chat market. Google Talk is available to anyone that uses Gmail. Android phones are more popular than ever. The numbers are certainly there (though I wonder if Apple would approve an official Google Talk app with video chat). Will Google be able to take advantage of this opportunity? Will it force Skype to get off its lazy ass and Apple to expand FaceTime to other platforms? As a VoIP junkie, I can’t wait to find out.

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