Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve got our delicate fingers on the iPhone 5, and we’ll be sharing our thoughts, joys, and concerns about Apple’s newest wonderphone all day. Let’s get started. More »

Apple has defended its contentious Maps app, arguing that it is “just getting started” with the iOS 6 replacement to Google Maps, and highlighting the fact that it can push out updates incredibly quickly. Excitement around iOS 6 quickly got hung up on how the new Maps app fell short, with users reporting missing locations, along with incorrectly labeled roads, points-of-interest, and even cities. “We launched this new map service knowing that it is a major initiative and we are just getting started with it” Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller told the NYTimes. “We are continuously improving it.”

Apple’s argument is that it can keep tweaking Maps on its servers, with users invisibly getting an improved experience as the service develops. ”As Maps is a cloud-based solution, the more people use it, the better it will get” Muller explains. “We’re also working with developers to integrate some of the amazing transit apps in the App Store into iOS Maps. We appreciate all of the customer feedback and are working hard to make the customer experience even better.”

Although iOS 6 Maps has met with praise for its bundled turn-by-turn navigation, something Google never enabled for Google Maps on iOS before, as well as the visually pleasing “flyover” 3D view option, it’s more fundamental issues that are causing headaches. Some of Apple’s data appears to be out-of-date, meaning businesses now closed or moved are incorrectly included, while satellite data lacks the close-up detail of Google’s service.

Potentially more dangerous are incorrect driving directions, which could lead drivers to attempt the wrong turns or even try to travel the wrong way down a one-way street. It’s possible to report an error in a point-of-interest on the map to Apple from within the Maps app itself.

Apple has not said when users can next expect a significant improvement to the service, though with the iPhone 5 freshly on sale in stores today, we’d guess the company is working fast to polish off the most obvious rough edges.

Apple: iOS 6 Maps is “just getting started” (so forgive the bad data) is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The iPhone 5 is now on sale in most launch markets starting today, and as daylight approaches on the U.S. west coast, the coveted device will be hitting that market as well. According to early reviews, it’s a great device, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right one for everybody. Even if you’re still a potential iPhone buyer, the lineup has never looked so good. The iPhone 4 and the 4S remain on the market, and they both have a lot to offer, too, at a considerable discount.

Here’s a handy guide to what you get with each device, created by TechCrunch. We’ve tried to distill it down to the most important factors, and when you combine this with our chart detailing what each model does and doesn’t get with the iOS 6 update, you should have an easier time deciding which one to pick up.

With most of the software features and a form factor some might actually prefer, the iPhone 4S at $99 is a mighty fine-looking deal. It’ll be interesting to see, once carrier data and Apple’s own quarterly results come in, how popular that remains as a second tent pole in Apple’s overall lineup.

Of course, one other important factor to consider might be availability. The iPhone 5 will likely be scarce today, with lineups around the world sizeable at Apple Stores this morning, if you’ve got your heart set on the iPhone 5 it’s probably worth waiting for.

The new iPhone 5 and its bigger screen is here. And to take advantage of all 4-inches of that taller screen, you need apps that are updated, optimized and ready to look bigger and better than ever. We got ’em all listed for you right here. More »

Good news: Cellcom is offering its first-ever LTE phone on September 21st, in what will no doubt be one of the carrier’s biggest phone launches of the year. Only it’s not what you think. While Cellcom is indeed picking up the iPhone 5 soon, its major device launch this week is the HTC Desire 4G LTE, its rebranding of Verizon’s Droid Incredible 4G LTE. Other than the lack of Big Red badging and apps, it’s a match for the mid-tier Android 4.0 handset on the larger (and shared) network. Buying one will even cost the same $150 on contract, or $420 at full price. Much to our relief, though, Cellcom isn’t leaving us with one 4G phone per platform. The provider should start selling a relabeled Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX, the $200 RAZR MAXX 4G LTE, at an unspecified point in the near future. Let’s hope for better timing with the second wave of releases.

Continue reading Cellcom carries HTC Desire 4G LTE as its first LTE phone September 21st, hopes you’ll notice

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Cellcom carries HTC Desire 4G LTE as its first LTE phone September 21st, hopes you’ll notice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 04:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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