Author Archives: Steve
Where will you be buying your iPad tomorrow?
With less than 24 hours until the New Zealand launch of arguably the most highly anticipated piece of gadgetry since the iPhone, we still have no sign of any retailers putting their hands up and actually confirming that they’ll be stocking it and how many they’ve got. Which leaves those dying to get their hands on one with a bit of dilema: where to queue and where to avoid?…
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Posted in All, iPad, Other News
Are these Vodafone’s new data plans? UPDATE: They’re iPad Plans
One of our most active users, Camtab, has spotted some possible new Vodafone data plans while using the site today. Camtab says he was in the ‘my add on’ section of the site and saw two new plans which were both greyed out. Luckily, he managed to screen grab them and send them our way! Hit the ‘read more’ for the details and the screenshot
UPDATE: We can confirm that the new plans are in fact data plans for the iPad and they are available from Friday 23rd. Full press release after the break.…
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Posted in All, iPad, iPhone, Other News, Vodafone
Vodafone: “Nobody else has got a network that Apple trusts enough to run an iPhone on” (UPDATED)
In a Computerworld article published yesterday confirming the New Zealand release of the iPhone 4, Vodafone spokesman Paul Brislen took a pretty cheap swipe at the competition with a quote that will no doubt raise a few eyebrows: “Nobody else has got a network that Apple trusts enough to run an iPhone on.”…
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Posted in All, iPhone, Other News
iTunes 9.2.1 available now
Yes, we’re a bit late with this one but iTunes 9.2.1 is ready to download now. It addresses a whole bunch of fixes as well as a hand-full of new features including the ability to create / organise your home-screen folders from within iTunes as well as import PDFs as books to sync to iBooks. Hit the ‘read more’ link for the full change-log, but chances are you already have it by now!…
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Posted in All, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Other News
Orcon launches mobile service, sharpens scissors
According to an article in the New Zealand Herald, Orcon have launched their mobile service (a Vodafone-powered MVNO) and will be shipping MicroSIMs shortly, however in the meantime they’re happy to cut their existing SIMs down to size for you, negating the need for an expensive SIM-cutter or the risk involved with DIY methods. Speaking of which, stay tuned to the site for our new SIM-cutting service which will be launched shortly. Until then, hit the ‘read more’ for the link and discussion.…
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Posted in All, iPad, iPhone, Other News
Apple subliminally tell you your non-Apple smartphone is dull, miserable
We couldn’t help but notice that in Apple’s new antenna information / support page, every photo of the hand holding an iPhone is bathed in a background of golden, glowing colours that evoke warmth and comfort… and every photo of the hand holding a non-Apple phone has a grey, drab, miserable background that will have you reaching for the Prozac. Uncanny coincidence or carefully staged subliminal marketing? You do the math! Pics after the break.…
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Posted in All, iPhone, Other News
iTunes security investigated the Fair Go way
In case you missed tonight’s episode of Fair Go, TV One’s consumer watchdog programme has been investigating allegations of security issues with iTunes accounts and the result is somewhat inconclusive to say the least. The story revolves around a chap whose iTunes account was apparently ‘hacked’ to the tune of $800 in a month. No actual evidence of hackery was offered, above and beyond the victim saying he didn’t make the purchases that appeared on his credit card bill, and while I totally feel for him, I can’t help but think that this could simply be a case of his password being shared with or overseen by the wrong person rather than an endemic case of iTunes security flaws. Read on for more details, and the link to watch the piece.…
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Posted in All, Other News
Vodafone NZ announce iPad plans without actually announcing them
Shortest and most vague press-release ever? Maybe. Vodafone have announced today that they will be launching iPad-specific data plans, but don’t actually spill the beans on any specifics. Hit the ‘read now’ for the ‘full’ press release that contains only marginally more information than our headline.…
Read MoreDoing the maths: Calculating the price of the iPhone 4 for New Zealand
There’s been a lot of speculation about how much the iPhone 4 might cost in New Zealand: will it be the more, the same, or less than previous models? Well, we’ve been doing some maths and we reckon we know where the iPhone 4 is going to sit.…
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Posted in All, iPhone, Other News
Apple discover ‘simple and surprising’ cause of iPhone antenna issues; Software fix ‘within a few weeks’
Apple have issued a press release over-night in which they address the antenna issue reported by many iPhone 4 owners. The root cause, they say, is both ‘simple and surprising’: according to Apple, the phenomena of reduced signal strength when the device is being held is not new, has happened on past iPhones and other non-Apple devices, and the real problem is that Apple got the formula on which they calculate the number of bars to represent the signal strength ‘totally wrong’.
According to the press release, users who experience this signal loss when applying the so-called ‘death grip’ are actually in areas of weak coverage at the time, but they’re unaware of this because Apple’s flawed signal-strength formula displays much better reception than they are actually receiving. Apple claim this issue was also present in the iPhone 3G and 3GS and that a software update in which they will adjust their formula to match AT&T’s recommendations will fix this in the ‘within a few weeks’.
So, Apple are effectively claiming that the issue is one of perception of signal strength rather than an actual design flaw. Do you buy this? Head past the ‘read now’ to read the full press display and to give us your thoughts.…
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Posted in All, iPhone, Other News
Not getting an iPhone 4? Last chance to extend your iPhone 3GS warranty coverage by another year
If you bought your iPhone 3GS on or close-to the launch of the device in New Zealand (July 11th 2009), then your twelve-month manufacturer warranty is about to expire. If you’re not planning on buying an iPhone 4, then you may be interested to know that you can extend the original warranty to cover your purchase by a further year by purchasing an iPhone Applecare package at any time up to the last day of your original warranty. ‘Read on’ for more.…
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Posted in All, iPhone, Other News
Sella.co.nz app is now live
Just a quick post to let you know that Sella (previewed here) is now live on the App Store. Go get it by clicking here and then be sure to hit the ‘read more’ and share your thoughts.…
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Posted in All, iPhone, iPod touch, Other News
Confirmed: Apple still on-course for July launch of iPhone 4 in NZ
Not sure how this escaped our attention until now but in a press release entitled “iPhone 4 Sales Top 1.7 Million”, Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 4 will still launch in New Zealand by the end of July. There had been speculation that stock shortages which have plagued would-be iPhone 4 owners in the US and other territories would have a knock-on effect on the availability of the device here, much like the situation with the iPad and while it’s not unthinkable that delays could still happen, it does seem very unlikely given that this press release was issued only today with the stock shortages in full-swing and July just around the corner. Hit ‘read more’ for the full press release. Oh yeah and Apple has sold 1.7M units.…
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Posted in All, iPhone, Other News
The iPhone 4 antenna problem: round-up and what you can do about it
If you’ve been cruising the interwebs over the past couple of days, you can’t have missed the plethora of stories, some factual and some not-so-much, about the problem with the iPhone 4′s antenna. In a nutshell: the stainless-steel rim of the iPhone 4 is actually two antennae. The two antennae are separated via notches in the rim, one of which (on the lower-left of the phone) is positioned where many people (particularly lefties) ‘bridge’ the notch with their fingers or palm. This ‘flesh-bridge’, if you’ll forgive the term, connects the two antennae and causes loss of signal. So what can be done about it? Read on.
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Posted in All, iPhone, Other News
iBooks vs Whitcoulls: FIGHT!
So, here we are: e/iBook heaven, spoilt for choice with not one but two book stores. But which one is best? The local retail heavyweight or the international and ‘official’ option? We’re going to put both apps to the test in both their iPhone and iPad incarnations so head past the ‘read more’ and let’s get ready to RUMBLE!…
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Posted in All, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Reviews
EA Games on sale at $1.29 for 48 hours
If you’re looking to load up your iOS Device with some quality games, now’s the time to grab a bargain with some crazy prices on some of the best titles in the App Store, including the superb Need For Speed series. EA Games have slashed the price of all of their games to just $1.29 for the next 48 hours. Head past the ‘read more’ button for details of the included titles and direct links.…
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Posted in All, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
iBooks for iPhone now available
Well, after a false start and a gap that was filled by our own Whitcoulls for a while, iBooks is now available for iPhone and iPod touch. Strangely, it doesn’t seem to want to install via the App Store on your iPhone and wants to make its grand debut by being downloaded to your Mac or PC and synced across via iTunes (Seems to download fine now). Anyway, make sure you’ve installed iOS 4, then hit the App Store to grab iBooks (it’s a free download) and claim your free copy of Winnie the Pooh.
[UPDATE] – Sadly, there it nothing but free classics in the online iBookstore right now. Hopefully this will change over the next few days. The Three Musketeers, anyone?…
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Posted in All, iPhone, iPod touch
