jueves, 13 de septiembre de 2012

iPad By Davis: “Apple makes iPhone 5 event available as a video podcast in iTunes” plus 19 more

iPad By Davis: “Apple makes iPhone 5 event available as a video podcast in iTunes” plus 19 more

Apple makes iPhone 5 event available as a video podcast in iTunes

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 01:57 AM PDT

Apple makes iPhone 5 event available as a video podcast in iTunesApple has released the complete iPhone 5 event video from yesterday on its Podcast channel which you can find within iTunes. The video can be downloaded from Apple's channel for viewing at your convenience but be warned, it is a high quality video; the complete download is around 1.34GB. If you don't want to wait for it to download, you can also watch a stream of the event over at apple.com.

Free Download Now

Still no sign of the keynote hitting YouTube, we will let you know when it does!

Sprint won't be supporting HD Voice on the iPhone 5

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 08:30 PM PDT

Sprint won't be supporting HD Voice on the iPhone 5

A brief chunk of today's iPhone 5 event was dedicated to the new smartphone's support for "wideband audio" phone calls. What wideband audio offers is phone calls with audio that's been less compressed than your typical cell phone call. The average cell phone emphasizes the mid-range where most of your voice pitch resides, and heavily compresses and thus distorts the higher and lower ranges. Wideband audio still applies some compression, but it's not as harsh on the upper and lower frequencies, offering a wider range of pitch and thus more lifelike sound. For those of us with deep gravely voices or the pitch of a small child, wideband audio will make phone calls less frustrating.

Unless you're on Sprint, which apparently won't support wideband audio on the iPhone 5. According to a statement given to Phone Scoop by Sprint, the Now Network won't be offering their HD Voice service (the marketing name for wideband audio voice) on the iPhone 5.

No specific reasoning was given why Sprint won't be one of the claimed twenty carriers globally that will be supporting wideband audio on the iPhone 5, but if we had to guess, it's thanks to Sprint's implementation of the standard. On carriers that currently support wideband audio, they do it over a speedy HSPA network. Sprint, meanwhile, is doing HD Voice over their CDMA 1x Advanced network, which while faster than their current EVDO 3G offerings, isn't quite up to snuff with what HSPA can offer. Sprint does offer HD Voice on the Android-powered HTC Evo 4G LTE, though like Sprint's LTE network, only select markets will have HD Voice support by the end of the year.

We don't know what other carriers might offer support for wideband audio on the iPhone 5, but considering the dozens and dozens of carriers that will offer the device, it's disappointing to only hear the number twenty. Verizon's own HD Voice tinkering has been done with an EVDO 1x Advanced network not unlike Sprint's, so you can probably count them out too. AT&T hasn't tinkered with HD Voice at all, and given how stingy they tend to be about traffic on their network, we wouldn't expect them to either, unless they can find a way to charge for it. Sure, we don't make phone calls as often as we used to, but when we do we'd love for them to be sounding better than they currently do.

Source: Phone Scoop

iPhone 5 splits into two models, one for US GSM+LTE, another for CDMA+LTE and everybody else

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 04:45 PM PDT

iPhone 5 splits into two models, one for US GSM+LTE, another for CDMA+LTE and everybody else

During today's iPhone 5 press event, they made a point of paying special attention to the new radio chip at use in the new smartphone. Like iPhones before it, the iPhone 5 uses a single chip to manage all of the various radios and bands it has to address in order to be used on networks around the globe. Problem is, throwing LTE into the mix makes things a little more complicated. LTE actually adds seven - yes, seven - new bands into the mix, nearly doubling the number of bands needed to be supported between the 4G standard, HSPA, GSM, and CDMA.

Unlike GSM and HSPA networks, which with the exception of the US have all managed to settled on a common and interoperable set of frequencies across international borders, LTE networks around the globe are all on different bands, making building a device that will work on all a pain and a half. Case in point, in the US alone, AT&T's LTE is on bands 4 and 17, while Sprint is on 25 and Verizon takes up band 13. Internationally there's even more frequency flavor, with bands 3 and 7 getting a lot of traffic around the globe, band 4 getting picked up by Bell and Telus in Canada (to maintain compatibility with AT&T LTE devices), and a smattering of other bands.

So how does the iPhone 5 fit into this LTE banding mess? With two different models, one for US GSM+LTE (A1428), and another for CDMA+LTE and global GSM+LTE (A1429). Both support the full range of GSM and HSPA frequencies, but for LTE the GSM version runs on bands 4 and 17 (good for AT&T, Bell, and Rogers - and technically T-Mobile USA, if not for want of an actual LTE network and GSM compatibility), while the CDMA version supports LTE bands 1, 3, 5, 13, and 25. That's band 1 NTT DOCOMO in Japan, 3 for over thirty networks around the globe, 5 for South Korea's SK Telecom, 13 for Verizon in the USA, and 25 for Sprint in the USA. The global GSM+LTE version drops support for the US-specific LTE bands 13 and 25, though for all intents and purposes it's the same device as the CDMA+LTE version (hence the identical model numbers)

To break that down into something easier to understand… the GSM+LTE A1248 iPhone 5 is good for GSM networks in North America, namely AT&T, Bell, and Telus. The CDMA+LTE/global GSM+LTE A1249 iPhone is good for Sprint and Verizon in the US and a large majority of other LTE networks around the globe. If you live in the US and travel to Canada and want LTE while you're there, go with the AT&T version. If you're in the US and travel often to the rest of the world, go with Sprint or Verizon for international LTE coverage. If you happen to travel between Canada and the rest of the world and want LTE, sorry.

There's one more wrinkle: LTE band 7, which isn't supported by either version of the iPhone. That becomes an issue if your preferred carrier is somebody like O2 in the UK, Yota in Russia, or any of the other 20-odd LTE networks that only operate on band 7. In fact, whole countries like Austria, Brazil, Columbia, Denmark, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland that already have operational LTE networks are completely cut out of getting LTE from the iPhone 5 thanks to their choice to rely entirely on Band 7. That could be fixed with the next iPhone, or when a network running on one of the iPhone 5's many supported bands is launched. Regardless, they all have 3G networks that the iPhone 5 will work on just fine, and get better battery life to boot.

Why did this happen? Because LTE is hard. The bands on which LTE operates vary from country to country due to political and economic reasons. For example, in the USA, LTE band 25 is in the 1900 MHz range, and is shared with HSPA+, while Verizon's 700 MHz Band 13 was won at auction from the United States government and was formerly dedicated to broadcasting UHF channels 52-69 on analog television. AT&T's band 17 fits into that same 700MHz auction block, but band 4 operates in the 1700MHz and 2100MHz frequency ranges - both common to UMTS AWS, i.e. the frequencies used by T-Mobile's HSPA+ network. The spread of LTE bands means less interference and more bandwidth in those frequencies (not that that's been a problem when networks do occupy the same frequency bands, as in all of Europe), but also mean that getting all of that into a single chip is an exercise in radio magic.

Thus, there are two iPhone 5 smartphones. There's the A1248 for AT&T and Canada, and the A1249 for Sprint, Verizon, and almost everybody else. In the end, unless you're a globetrotter who travels between the United States and Canada or the United States and Europe, you probably won't care or notice which iPhone 5 you get, it'll just be the one assigned to your network or the unlocked one you picked up to work on not-AT&T/Canada. Only US-based international travelers need worry about the LTE bands of their selected iPhone, and even then that's going to be determined by the carrier you choose for your service at home. Chances are the two iPhone 5 models are actually the same device and carry the same chip inside, but due to the capabilities of that chip and the phone's radios they have different firmware to deal with the multitude of LTE bands it must process.

We do have to admit, though, it's odd to be recommending a Sprint or Verizon device for people who want comprehensive international coverage instead of AT&T. It wasn't that long ago that things were the other way around.

Source: Apple; Via: The Verge

iPhone 5 will be available at Bell, TELUS, Rogers, Fido, Koodo and Virgin Mobile in Canada

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 03:59 PM PDT

iPhone 5

For Canadians looking to get their hands on a new iPhone 5, there will be no shortage of carriers to choose from. Along with the big three, a lot of their subsidiary providers will be on board as well for the launch.

Bell, TELUS, Rogers, Fido, Koodo and Virgin Mobile in Canada will be kicking off their preorder events starting on September 14th with the iPhone 5 officially shipping on September 21st. When it comes to pricing, the iPhone 5 will take over the previous generations iPhone 4S price points, assuming you're not making use of any special upgrade offers from the carriers:

  • $199 for 16GB
  • $299 for 32GB
  • $399 for 64GB

If you're looking to go unlocked directly from Apple, you'll need to pay out a quite a bit more. $699 for the 16GB, $799 for the 32GB and $899 for the 64GB respectively. It's also important to note that there could be other carriers lined up as well, as the above listed are the ones offering LTE.

The iPhone 5 destined for Canada is actually the A1428 model meaning it will work on other carriers who but it not have LTE available to it unless they LTE service and offer the band used by the iPhone 5.

Rogers customers will be able to use the Rogers reservation system to get their hands on the iPhone 5 while Bell customers will be able to order online and in-stores. TELUS at this time hasn't laid out their plans as of yet, but that info should be along shortly and we'll update accordingly.

The iPhone 5's camera features panorama photos, simultaneous stills and video, and more

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 06:41 PM PDT

The recently announced iPhone 5 is going to sport new and improved cameras that allow you to take Panorama images be simply panning across a scene, 40% faster photo capture, better low-light performance, improved noise reduction, enhanced 1080p HD video recording, a front-facing camera that can record 720p HD video, and more.

Take better photos with the iPhone 5

Although the iPhone 5's camera did not receive a bump in megapixels over the iPhone 4S, the new camera does have improved HDR capabilities that will produce better color and tone and reduce motion blur. Apple also claims that the quality of photographs taken in low light have improved -- but I'll believe that when I see it.

Shoot panorama photos automagically with the iPhone 5

One of the huge new additions to the iPhone 5 camera is the new panorama feature that lets you capture up to 240 degrees of scenery. The gyroscope, new A6 chip, and Camera app all work together to seamlessly create a single shot with a resolution of up to 38 megapixels.

Record better video with the iPhone 5

Just like the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5 is equipped with the ability to shoot 1080p HD video, but Apple boasts that the iPhone 5 camera will let in more light, creating brighter videos. The auto white balance and noise reduction have also been improved, and image stabilization is still included, of course.

Take photos while recording video with the iPhone 5

One of the great new features of the Camera app that is exclusive to the iPhone 5 is the ability to take still images while simultaneously recording 1080p HD video. I'm personally very excited about this because I often choose not to record video because I don't want to miss the opportunity for a good photo.

Better video compression with the iPhone 5

With the iPhone 5, you'll be able to record the same high-quality 1080p HD video as with the iPhone 4S, but the iPhone 5 is equipped with better compression algorithms making the file sizes 20% smaller. This means it'll be faster to email or send via MMS.

Built from Sapphire Crystal

The surface of the iPhone 5's iSight camera is made out of sapphire crystal making it, well, crystal clear. But in addition to clarity, sapphire crystal offer a hardness level that is second only to diamond on the scale of transparent materials. What does this mean for you? The lens is much less likely to scratch.

iPhone 5 features a FaceTime HD camera

It wasn't only the rear-facing iSight camera on the iPhone 5 that got a boost -- the front-facing FaceTime camera is now finally capable of 720 HD video recording. I've always avoided using the front-facing camera like the plague, but hopefully it won't be too bad, now. Additionally, FaceTime Video calls are also possible over a cellular connection without WiFi, but availability is up to the carriers.

Your thoughts on the iPhone 5's new camera?

So there's a quick recap of the new features of the iPhone 5's camera. What do you think? What are you most excited about? Personally, the ability to automagically take panoramic photos is very exciting to me, but even more exciting is the ability to take photos while recording video.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

iPhone 5: What we didn't get!

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 02:27 PM PDT

iPhone 5: What we didn't get!

That's it. The September 12 Apple event is over. The iPhone 5 It's like on your birthday when you sneak a peak at your presidents but secretly hope your mom or dad managed to keep just one small surprise for you. Or when you read the spoilers but still somehow hope there'll be a killer twist at the end.

So it was with Apple's 2012 iPhone event. Anyone who's read anything over the last few days and months new pretty much what to expect, even as they desperately wanted the unexpected. That's on us. Not Apple. But still, there are things Apple didn't do this time that rumors suggested they might, and things they're not doing that the competition are. Here are 10 examples.

  1. Totally new design. I told you the leaks were it. Some of you didn't want to believe -- or rather wanted to believe in something else. Not this year.
  2. Colors: iPod touches come in colors now. So will the Nokia Lumia 920. Not the iPhone 5 though. That's still as black and white as Bond's tuxedo.
  3. PureView-class camera. Nokia raised the bar to the stratosphere with OIS (optical image stabilization) that "floats" the camera so it can stay open longer and collect more light. It also oversamples. The iPhone 5 camera is better than before, but not that much better.
  4. Wireless charging. The Palm Pre had it. The Samsung Galaxy S3 has it. The Nokia Lumia 920 has it. Apple doesn't seem interested.
  5. NFC. If the iPhone 5 has Near-Field Communications hardware, Apple didn't talk about it today. Nor did they talk about mobile payments, check ins, or any typical NFC features.
  6. No Wi-Fi direct. No non-network, AirPlay to Apple TV. No device-to-device data transmission. No iPod nano watch.
  7. No super-sensitive touch. Nokia says you can use the Lumia 920 with gloves on. No such luck with the iPhone 5.
  8. Predictive, localized Siri. Unlike Google Now, Siri didn't get on-device text parsing. It also didn't get better contextual awareness. So even though it knows where you are and all your information, it can only do what you tell it. Unlike Google Now, it can't anticipate.
  9. New iOS 6 features. No widgets, no actionable notifications, no nothing that wasn't shown off already, besides panorama photography.
  10. New iCloud features. Sure, Notes and Reminders are coming, but iCloud didn't any major updates we didn't already know about.

Anything else? Any features you really, really wanted to see that Apple didn't give you?

iPhone 5 event post-game podcast! LIVE!

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 05:30 PM PDT

The iMore Show returns LIVE tonight and we'll be doing a full post-game, post-event, post-iPhone 5 analysis of everything you need to know. Joining yours truly and Georgia will be App Cubby's own David Barnard. Seriously, you don't want to miss this!

Plus, we'll be answering your questions so leave them in the comments below, #imoreshow them on Twitter, or email them to podcast@imore.com.

Join us LIVE at 6pm PT, 9pm ET, 2am BST. Set an alarm. Bookmark this page. Be here.

Want to go full screen? Head to iMore.com/live. Want to watch via iPhone or iPad? Grab the Ustream app and search for "mobilenations"!

How to sell your old iPhone before upgrading to the iPhone 5

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 03:47 PM PDT

How to sell your old iPhone before upgrading to the iPhone 5

If you're itching to buy a brand new iPhone 5 the minute it hits store shelves but already have an iPhone, selling it can help offset some, if not all of the cost, especially if you're not yet eligible for an upgrade and have to pay a premium. Odds are you've already decided which capacity and color you'll be getting when the iPhone 5 drops so you have some idea of how much money you need to get out of your current iPhone to cover the purchase.

So if you don't fancy handing it down for free to a family member or using it as a backup phone, we can guide you in the right direction when it comes to selling your old iPhone and getting top dollar for it.

Getting top dollar for your iPhone

sell iphone accessories included

Many people who buy their iPhones second hand are most likely planning on using it with a pre-paid service or on a carrier that doesn't currently carry the iPhone, such as T-Mobile. Here are some things you can do to make sure your iPhone will fetch top dollar.

Jailbreak and/or unlock your iPhone

If you've got an iPhone that's on a firmware version that is currently unlockable, your phone will most likely sell a lot quicker than other iPhones that aren't unlockable. AT&T and some other carriers will unlock out of contract iPhones so if you're out of contract you may be able to just call your carrier and request an unlock. This will most likely work for most people with an iPhone 4 or older generation iPhone as most will be out of contract by now.

If you aren't out of contract, you may still be able to unlock it through jailbreaking it and using a tool like ultrasn0w. This will depend on which model iPhone you have and what firmware you're running so make sure your iPhone can be unlocked before attempting it.

Even if you can't unlock your iPhone, jailbroken iPhones and ones that can be jailbroken tend to fetch a higher dollar amount than ones that can't. So be ready to answer that question if a seller asks if the iPhone can be jailbroken. Check out the following links for more information and help with jailbreaking and unlocking.

Condition and pictures

iPhones hold their value rather well as long as you take care of them. If you've taken excellent care of your iPhone you can probably get a little more for it than someone else who is trying to sell off their banged up iPhone. The key to making a quick sale is to make sure you're honest and open about the condition of your iPhone.

To make sure you are representing your product, take high quality pictures of the actual iPhone and avoid stock images at all costs. Many buyers will skip over listings that have stock images in them and only buy from sellers that include pictures of the actual iPhone. If there are any minor scratches or nicks, photograph those too. Buyers like honest sellers and it helps build trust.

Include accessories and original cables

If you've got the original cables and accessories that came with your iPhone, that's a great selling point. If you have the original box it came in, that's even better. For an even quicker sale, you can include some accessories or cases you've purchased for it over time. If you're upgrading from an older generation iPhone to the iPhone 5, cases won't be compatible due to the size difference. So throw them in to sweeten the deal and sell your iPhone faster.

Putting your iPhone up for sale

sell old iphone craigslist

Now that you've got all the information collected about your iPhone and what accessories you want to include in the sale, it's time to actually list it sell it. There are many places online that you can utilize as well as listing sites that allow you to meet up with buyers locally. We'll cover the ones we recommend and you can decide which one is best for you personally.

We'll go over some options first that'll get you cash or credit quickly and then we'll take a look at services like Craigslist and eBay that may fetch you more for your old iPhone but will require a little more patience and maybe some haggling with an actual seller.

Apple Reuse and Recycling Program

Apple will gladly buy back your old iPhone and either reuse it as a refurbished unit or recycle it on your behalf through their Reuse and Recycling Program. You'll be asked a series of questions regarding the condition, capacity, and color of your iPhone. It's important that you're honest because Apple will of course check that what you told them matches the actual condition once they receive the iPhone.

After Apple certifies that the iPhone is in working condition they'll issue you an Apple Store gift card that you can use towards any purchase. For most of you, that'll be towards your new iPhone.

Apple's program is currently offering up to $345 for a mint condition 64GB iPhone 4S. While it's an easy way to get some quick Apple cash, other services can probably fetch you far more for your old iPhone. Unless you are only interested in quick cash and enough of it to cover a new iPhone, continue reading for more options.

Amazon Trade-In Store

Amazon, like Apple, will buy back your old iPhone as well through the Amazon Trade-In Store. The only hitch here is that you'll be given payment in the form of an Amazon gift card. If you're looking for hard cash to put towards a new iPhone purchase and you don't want to wait for Amazon to have it in stock, it may not be the best option.

If you're okay with Amazon credit though, it's a pretty painless process. You'll choose the model, capacity, and color of your current iPhone and add it to your trade-in. You'll then be given a shipping label and instructions. Once Amazon receives your old iPhone, they'll issue you an Amazon gift card for the trade-in value. Amazon is currently offering around $400 for a mint condition 16GB iPhone 4S which isn't a bad deal at all considering that's higher than what Apple is offering for a 64GB iPhone 4S.

Gazelle

Gazelle offers a service that lets you easily turn most electronic devices into cash. Simply send in your iPhone and Gazelle will send you money after confirming the item condition. The first thing you'll need to do is tell Gazelle what you're selling and what condition the item is in. You can choose from poor, fair, good or excellent condition, and it's important to be honest when rating the condition so there's no hiccups or snags along the way. It also helps if you have the box and original documentation and cables with your item. Also make sure you check for any water damage, as Gazelle will too once they receive the iPhone.

Currently, a 16GB iPhone 4S in normal condition will fetch you around $277 while one in mint condition will get you $290. Again, always be honest about the condition. While Gazelle is a quick way to get money for your old iPhone, you can probably get quite a bit more on services like Craigslist and eBay if you can be a bit more patient with the actual selling process.

SellYourMac.com

SellYourMac.com offers a similar service to Gazelle by letting you send in your old iPhone for payment with little to no hassle involved. They'll not only buy your old iPhone, but any Apple gear you have laying around. This is a good option if you have other Apple products you're willing to sell besides an old iPhone.

You'll be required to provide pictures along with a serial number next to your item description and condition. Once SellYourMac.com receives your iPhone they clean it, inspect it and verify that it's in working condition before they turn around and sell it on eBay. Users can receive payment via Paypal if they choose as well. SellYourMac's quotes are a little higher than other competing services such as Gazelle. A 16GB iPhone 4S in mint condition is currently worth $305 on SellYourMac.

eBay

Selling your iPhone on eBay is a pretty simple process. If you've ever used eBay for selling things in the past then you know the selling process isn't all that tricky, however there are still some things to keep in mind when using eBay to sell your iPhone. For instance, eBay charges fees for each auction based on the item you're selling and how much it sells for, among other things, so here are five quick tips to help you get the most out of your auction:

  1. Only ship to the buyer's confirmed Paypal address if using Paypal.
  2. Price competitively, especially if you're using Buy It Now as an option.
  3. Make sure the pictures you use follow your description and are good quality - post pictures of any physical blemishes on the iPhone and be up-front in your description.
  4. Use a fast shipping service and make sure you include that in your item description. People are impatient by nature so sellers that offer fast shipping tend to sell items quicker.
  5. Use keywords in your title and in your item description to attract more potential buyers.
  6. You may also want to consider insuring your item in case anything goes wrong during shipping. Watch out for low-feedback buyers and also keep in mind that Paypal charges processing fees as well.

Craigslist

Craigslist allows you to list items for sale in your area so you can perform the transaction locally and face-to-face. This is a quick way to get some cash for your iPhone on the spot and also an easy way to let the buyer check out the iPhone in person before committing to the purchase. As long as you were honest about the condition and specifications, you should have no issue in completing a painless transaction with a buyer.

  1. Don't ever put your personal or home address in an ad. Ever!
  2. Price your iPhone competitively. A good way to do this is to find existing ads on Craigslist in your area for iPhones that are the same model, capacity, and condition as yours and price accordingly. If your iPhone shows up next to someone else's and yours is grossly overpriced, it won't sell.
  3. Some buyers prefer being able to text or call you immediately about an item and it may increase the likelihood of a quick sale. Having a phone number that they can reach you at is ideal. Only do this if you're comfortable with putting your phone number on the internet. This is a good time to use a Google Voice number or other forwarding number if you have one.
  4. Meet in a public place, preferably in the daytime. A coffee place like Starbucks is a good idea. It's also never a bad idea to bring a friend or relative with you. While most buyers are perfectly friendly, there are shady people out there. If the person doesn't want to meet in a public place, pass on them and wait for someone who doesn't have an issue with that.
  5. Watch out for email scams, something Craigslist is notorious for. Anyone offering to pay you a great deal more than the list price or who asks you to ship the item to a foreign country is a scammer. Delete their e-mails and correspondence immediately and wait for a legitimate buyer to come along.

Sell your iPhone to a friend or family member

Even you aren't willing to part with your old iPhone for free it doesn't mean friends or family members aren't interested in buying it from you. Perhaps they don't have an iPhone or aren't eligible for an upgrade and don't care about having the newest model available. Using this method you ensure that your old iPhone finds a good home and you know the buyer isn't a scam artist.

Ask around and offer a reasonable price and you may be surprised how many of your friends or family members could be willing to snag your old iPhone. Throwing in accessories such as cases can help sweeten the deal as well.

Get more help selling your old iPhone

Whether you just aren't sure which method to use, need advice on what condition you should list your iPhone as, or what you should price it at, we're here to help. You can leave any questions you have about selling your old iPhone in the comments below or better yet, in our iMore forums where lots of our members have years of experience selling and trading gadgets of all kinds.

One of our members may even be interested in taking your old iPhone off your hands so be sure to check out our Marketplace forum as well!

AT&T vs Verizon vs Sprint: Which iPhone 5 should you get?

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 01:44 PM PDT

AT&T vs Verizon vs Sprint: Which iPhone 5 should you get?

The iPhone 5 has been officially announced and the decision to buy one was easy. If you're in the U.S. it's probably not so easy is deciding between AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. Price is always a huge factor to consider when choosing a carrier, but coverage should be just as, if not more, important when making a decision. Since the iPhone 5 supports LTE cellular technology, you're going to want to take a close look at which carriers offer the best LTE coverage in your area.

First, let's take a look at prices.

AT&T vs Verizon vs Sprint shared plans

Verizon and AT&T are the easiest carriers to compare because the offer very similar plans. Their "share everything" plans include unlimited minutes and the price is determined how much data you want. Sprint has has a different approach to their shared plans and includes unlimited data so that price is determined by minutes. Let's first take a look at Verizon and AT&T.

Verizon shared data versus AT&T shared data

Here's a pricing comparison chart for Verizon and AT&T. Both carriers charge a base fee, labeled as the "monthly price", then charge an additional price for each smartphone included in the plan. For Verizon, the smartphone fee is a straightforward $40 per phone, but AT&T has a tiered pricing that decreases as the amount of data goes up. Both AT&T and Verizon charge $10 for each tablet added to the plan.

Now, although the above chart gives an accurate depiction of the prices on each carrier, the first thing you have to do is add up the appropriate numbers to figure out what your family's plan would cost. But let's just do that for you! Here's a chart that compares the prices on Verizon and AT&T for one, two, three, and four smartphones.

Keep in mind that if you want to add a tablet to any of the above plans, you must add an additional $10.

Sprint shared plans

As previously mentioned, Sprint takes a different approach to their pricing scheme and includes unlimited data for all plans. The price of your plan is determined by the number of minutes you use. The breakdown of Sprint's prices is shown in the chart to the right.

To summarize, Sprint's cheapest shared plan is $150 for two phones and includes 1500 minutes and unlimited minutes. For the same price, Verizon and AT&T offer unlimited minutes and 4 GB of data. But when you jump up to four phones, Sprint's 1500 minute plan is $210, but Verizon only includes 1 GB of data for that price, and AT&T doesn't offer anything at that price for four phones (1 GB will run you $220).

So the bottom line is that when deciding if Sprint is a good option for your family, you need to decide which is more important: unlimited minutes or unlimited data. If you family eats up minutes, then you may want to cross Sprint off your list, but if your family uses a lot of data, then Sprint may be the way to go -- providing they offer good coverage in your area (what good is unlimited data if you can't use it?)

AT&T vs Sprint individual plans

You may have noticed that Sprint's chart did not include options for just one phone. That's because for individuals, you are restricted to 450, 900, or unlimited minutes. AT&T offers similar individual plans as well; however, Verizon has combined all options for any number of phones in their "Share Everything" plans shown above.

Sprint's plans are very straightforward. They all include unlimited data and text giving you only three options. On the other hand, AT&T's plans do not include unlimited data or text. Both data and text must be added on as additional services. Unlimited texting is $20 and for data, 300 MB is $20, 3 GB is $30, and 5 GB (with personal hotspot) is $50. The following chart breaks it down for you.

It's important to note that all of Verizon's plans include personal hotspot at no additional cost, but AT&T's do not.

LTE availability

In addition to price, you must also consider where each carrier offers coverage and if you're within that area. When it comes to coverage, the first thing you want to consider is LTE availability.

Clearly, the above maps are not a good enough indication of LTE coverage in your area. So make sure you look at each of carriers' maps very closely as they all offer an interactive tool that lets you zoom into your specific area and learn exactly which areas of your city get coverage.

If LTE is not available to you on either network, the next thing to look at is 3G (or "4G" -- ugh!) coverage. In general, AT&T's HSPA data is much, much faster, but also less reliable than Verizon and Sprint's CDMA networks -- and Verizon is typically faster than Sprint. Because of 3G/4G data speeds, I am inclined to recommend AT&T over Verizon and Sprint providing that they offer solid coverage in your area.

It really does come down to who offers the best coverage. If price is deal breaker for you, you may have to compromise on coverage and stability and choose Sprint, but if you're willing to pay extra for a better network, take a close hard look at the coverage that AT&T and Verizon offer. Don't only look at maps, either. Talk to your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers who use AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint to learn how satisfied they are with their carrier's network.

Making the choice

So which carrier are you going to choose? Personally, I'm torn between Verizon and AT&T. I'm already an AT&T subscriber whose grandfathered into an unlimited data plan, but Verizon's share everything plan is very tempting to get for my husband and I. I am not a huge data user since I am almost always around WiFi, so I'm not too concerned about losing my unlimited data plan. Where I live, AT&T's LTE is not yet available, whereas Verizon's LTE network is fairly stable. I currently have an iPad on Verizon's network, so I could save money getting a shared plan and adding my iPad for just $10 a month (I'm currently paying $30). However, this would come at the expense of early termination fees with AT&T, and that's a hard pill to swallow.

Enough about my predicament, what carrier do you plan on going with? Will you be ditching one carrier for another or sticking with the one you already have? Sound off in the comments below!

Forums: Preordering the iPhone 5, Factory unlocks, Do you even care about NFC?

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 08:05 PM PDT

From the iMore Forums

Found an interesting article you want to share with iMore? Have a burning question about that feature you just can't figure out? There is ALWAYS more happening just a click away in the forums. You can always head over and join in the conversation, search for answers, or lend your expertise to other members of our community. You check out some of the threads below:

If you're not already a member of the iMore Forums, register now!

iPhone 5 in the UK - EE gets a hero phone for its 4G network

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 03:46 PM PDT

Apple's 90-plus minute iPhone 5 launch event was packed with details about the new device's hardware and software, but for viewers in the UK, the most important information was covered in just a few frames of video. As the camera panned over the map of iPhone 5 LTE carriers across the globe, Brits got their confirmation of what many had suspected -- the world's first 4G iPhone would work on their country's first 4G network.

It's a huge deal for the carrier in question, EE (formerly known as Everything Everywhere). EE is a new 4G-focused network formed by the merger of Orange and T-Mobile UK, and yesterday it announced the launch of the UK's first 4G LTE service, which will become available "within weeks." Coverage is expected to extend to some 20 million Brits in 16 major cities by the end of the year.

EE is re-farming some of its existing 2G spectrum for use with 4G, as the UK's 4G spectrum auction has been subject to endless delays caused by back-and-forth legal wrangling between competing carriers. Because EE's 4G runs on less-commonly-used 1800MHz radio frequencies, there'd been speculation that the iPhone 5 may have supported 4G, just not the right kind to work in the UK. Fortunately for EE, that wasn't the case.

So in the space of 36 hours, EE launched the UK's first 4G network, and got a killer hero device to go with it in the form of the iPhone 5. For at least the next twelve months, EE will be the only place to get hold of a 4G iPhone in the UK, and you can expect them to drive that advantage home at every opportunity. Advertisements will point out that EE's iPhone 5 is the only true iPhone 5, and that to use such a device on a lowly HSPA+ network is sacrilege. Competitors will split hairs and counter that their DC-HSPA+ networks offers comparable speeds at a lower battery cost.

Whatever the public-facing response, O2, Vodafone and Three will be far from thrilled about EE's effective monopoly over British 4G. In fact, O2 had made noises suggesting it might pursue legal action to block EE's network switch-on, though a settlement is now rumored to have been reached. If nothing else, the need to compete with EE may serve to hurry along the perpetually delayed auction of 800MHz and 2600MHz spectrum for 4G. This is currently scheduled to take place early next year.

Though EE's network hasn't officially launched yet, it'll start selling the iPhone 5 on Sept. 21 through its Orange and T-Mobile UK brands, just like everyone else. Orange and Tmo iPhone 5 customers will then be able to "move" to the new EE 4G network once it's up and running, so the other three networks won't even have the advantage of a head start over their 4G nemesis. There's no question that it's a big win for EE, and the potent mix of iPhone 5 and 4G speed is sure to tempt many a British phone buyer in the weeks ahead.

It's a situation that reminds us of the early iPhone days, when O2 had exclusivity over the original iPhone and iPhone 3G. It's been almost three years since the effect of an exclusive iPhone was felt in the UK smartphone market, and though competition is considerably fiercer in 2012, iPhone lust is still a force to be reckoned with.

So EE will likely experience a huge influx of customers off the back of the iPhone 5, and that's sure to test its fledgling LTE network. Mobile Nations had the chance to test EE's 4G service at yesterday's launch event, and we saw speeds of around 30Mbps down and 25Mbps up. However, that's on a test network, being carefully maintained for press demonstrations. The reality of a public 4G network burdened by hundreds of thousands of data-guzzling iPhone 5 users could be quite different.

EE's claims about the capabilities of its next-gen network will be put to a very public test, as will Apple's statements about its efficient new radio tech. If the perception emerges that 4G is a battery killer with few real-world benefits, it could be harmful to both EE and Apple.

But there's also the question of cost and data caps. Rival Three is certain offer the iPhone 5 with unlimited data on DC-HSPA+, as it does all its smartphones, and that could give it a way to compete with EE if the latter doesn't offer an unlimited 4G plan. EE will want to exploit its 4G iPhone advantage to the fullest, with more expensive price plans in exchange for that extra Gee of connectivity. The door could then be left open for other networks to offer really compelling, competitive 3G deals.

However things pan out, you can probably expect to pay a pretty penny if you want to enjoy that tantalizing combination of an iPhone 5, 4G connectivity and a high (or unlimited) data cap.

The 4G transition period is going to be an interesting time for the UK mobile marketplace, and with a 4G iPhone thrown into the mix, things are going to get intensely competitive over the next few months. Keep watching iMore for more details of the iPhone 5 and LTE in the UK as they come to light.

Which iPhone 5 are you getting? [Poll]

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 02:52 PM PDT

So Apple has announced the iPhone 5 and while there's only one of them, like every year, there's still a lot of choices to be made. Which color? Which capacity? Which carrier? We'll have our usual, complete iPhone 5 buyers guide up for you before pre-orders start, but we just wanted a quick poll to see which way the iMore nations was leaning. You know what to do, fill out the polls below, and tell me why you're choosing the way you're choosing in the comments below.

Apple posts iPhone 5 event video

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 05:08 PM PDT

Apple has posted the streaming version of today's iPhone 5 event. Eventually we expect YouTube and iTunes Podcast versions as well, but for now, if you've simply got to see it immediately, hit up apple.com and start your streams.

Source: Apple.com

Highlights from Apple's iPhone 5 event

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 05:20 PM PDT

Highlights from Apple's iPhone 5 event Apple announced a new iPhone, iPod, and iOS at its event on September 12th. Take a look at the pictures.

Spotlight on the iPhone 5

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 05:00 PM PDT

Spotlight on the iPhone 5 Macworld's Jason Snell and Dan Moren join host Philip Michaels to discuss the many products announced by Apple at its September 12 event.

Apple's Ping to cease operation Sep. 30

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 04:32 PM PDT

Apple's Ping to cease operation Sep. 30 Apple's Ping music social network will close its virtual doors at the end of the month, according to a message posted on the service.

Summary: iPhone 5 highlights Apple product unveilings

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 01:00 PM PDT

Summary: iPhone 5 highlights Apple product unveilings The iPhone 5 made its debut Wednesday, as expected. But it wasn't the only hardware and software Apple showed off at a San Francisco press event.

91% of All Tablet Web Traffic & Other Crazy iPad Numbers at Today’s Apple Event

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 12:46 PM PDT

tablet web traffic share

Image Source: Gdgt

Today's big Apple event was all about the iPhone, iOS 6, a major refresh to the iPod lineup and more – but it also featured some big, crazy iPad numbers.

Here are some of the iPad related numbers that caught my eye:

– 17 million iPads sold last quarter – a new record. We already knew about this one but it's still very impressive.

– "We sold more iPads than any PC manufacturer sold in  their entire PC line." And Tim Cook pointed out how incredible this is when you consider that this category didn't exist just a few years ago.

– Last year the iPad had a 62% global market share – now it's at 68%.

– As you can see in the slideshow shot above, iPad accounts for a ridiculous 91% of all tablet web traffic.

And all these numbers should only be boosted again with the expected release of the iPad Mini next month.

© patrickj for iPad Insight, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy S3 vs HTC One X vs. BlackBerry 10 vs. Nokia Lumia 920: Spec Shootout!

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 12:44 PM PDT

Here it is, the brand new Apple iPhone 5 vs. the Samsung Galaxy S3 vs. the HTC One X vs. the BlacBerry 10 L-series vs. the Nokia Lumia 920.

So what do you think, in the spec battle -- never mind experience, interface, ecosystem, content, and supporting services right now! -- which device(s) are at the top right now? Which one would you rather take home?

iTunes 10.7 now available for download

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 12:49 PM PDT

iTunes 10.7 now available for download

If you fancy trying out the latest version of iTunes, you can now head on over to the Apple website and grab the download. If you prefer waiting for the update through the Mac App Store, it looks as though you may need to wait a little bit longer as it is not appearing there just yet.

This version has support included for IOS devices including iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models as well as, the latest iPod nano and iPod shuffle. You can jump below to view the full chnage log and required hardware.

Source: Apple

What's new in iTunes 10.7

iTunes 10.7 adds support for iOS 6 running on compatible iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models.  This update also adds support for the latest iPod nano and iPod shuffle models.

For information on the security content of this update, please visit: support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

iTunes 10.7 requirements

Hardware:
• Mac computer with an Intel Core processor and 512MB of RAM
• To play 720p HD video, an iTunes LP, or iTunes Extras, a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster processor and 1GB of RAM is required.
• To play 1080p HD video, a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster processor and 2GB of RAM is required.
• Screen resolution of 1024x768 or greater; 1280x800 or greater is required to play an iTunes LP or iTunes Extras
• Broadband Internet connection to use the iTunes Store
• Apple combo drive or SuperDrive to create audio, MP3, or back-up CDs; some non-Apple CD-RW recorders may also work
• Apple SuperDrive to back up your library to DVDs; some non-Apple DVD-RW drives may also work

Software:
• Mac OS X version 10.6.8 or later
• Safari 4.0.3 or later
• 350MB of available disk space
• iTunes in the Cloud and iTunes Match availability may vary by country.
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