The first reviews of the Verizon iPhone 4 are starting to appear and we’re rounding them up for you. Here’s a look at the early impressions: More »
The most popular phone in the United States is finally landing on Verizon, and the moment of truth has come: Will it handle the iPhone better than AT&T? Wired.com’s initial batch of testing suggests the iPhone is a better phone on Verizon, but not a superior media-consumption device in terms of bandwidth speed.
(Read Wired.com’s review of the Verizon iPhone 4 for our complete verdict on the device.)
We ran a series of bandwidth and phone tests on both the Verizon iPhone 4 and AT&T iPhone 4 in 16 locations throughout San Francisco, where 3G bandwidth is known to be as diverse as the residential population.
The results found that Verizon overall has better coverage, but AT&T download rates are 62 percent faster than Verizon, and AT&T upload rates are 38 percent faster than Verizon.
For phone calls, Verizon passed every test, whereas AT&T failed two. The AT&T iPhone also occasionally switched to the slower EDGE in some locations while trying to place a call, but the Verizon iPhone was able to pull a 3G signal to place a call at every location — even in “dead spots” where it seems impossible to get an AT&T signal.
The difference in bandwidth is substantial, and it corroborates earlier independent tests that found AT&T does indeed have a faster network, but Verizon has more coverage.
To perform the speed test, we ran a bandwidth test three times on both devices at each location with the third-party iPhone app Speed Test. (If an iPhone scored “0″ for any of the speed tests, it failed that test.) Then we took the average of the three download speed results and the three upload speed results. Finally, we averaged all these results to determine the general performance of the Verizon iPhone and the AT&T iPhone in San Francisco.
For phone tests, at each location we placed three phone calls. If the iPhone was able to successfully place at least two phone calls, it passed the test. If it could not place at least two phone calls, it failed.
To make this all easier to digest, we plotted the results in the interactive ZeeMap above.
The Verizon iPhone 4 is an interesting product for Engadget to review. Firstly, it’s not exactly a new device (not in any outwardly noticeable way). From design, down to its CPU, RAM, and even cost, this iPhone is the same as the AT&T model… save for that one small but really important thing: it’s got a CDMA radio inside. The device is also somewhat tricky to review based on its software, since we’ve all been using (and even took a deep look at) iOS 4.2 for quite some time. So for us the task is to make clear the differences between these two devices and their networks. Now that’s a little easier, because we’re sure you have the same questions as us. What are calls like? How are the data rates? Is service notably improved or different than AT&T’s? Most importantly, if you’re currently a frustrated iPhone 4 owner, does it make sense to make the switch? We’re going to answer all those queries (and more), so read on for a full review of the Verizon iPhone 4!
Gallery: Verizon iPhone review photos
Continue reading Verizon iPhone review
Verizon iPhone review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Unless you’ve been away from the Internet over the last few days, you would’ve no doubt heard about Woz’s special appearance at the Engadget Show on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, a few websites ran with some quotes that they pulled from our interview — specifically, the highlight was Woz “confirming” that the white iPhone 4 was indeed delayed due to camera issues. Well, I don’t think this is the case at all. In fact, I’m sure there are plenty of other good reasons for why Apple’s been delaying the much anticipated flavor of its flagship smartphone, but the camera just isn’t one of them. Head right past the break and all will be explained.
Update: Our man Woz has just responded in the comments:
I said plenty to make it clear that I know nothing of Apple’s reasons for rejecting anything ever. I told how when I got my white iPhone 4 assembled I tested the flash photos and they did indeed have problems. I spoke of testing flash photos versus non-flash ones and comparing flash photos between my white and black iPhones. I don’t recall saying that it was a ‘reason’ Apple rejected the parts although I had read that.
For the last part, we were referring to 0:55 in the interview video after the break, but now that Woz has spoken, it could’ve been a joke at the time that got misinterpreted by some websites. They tend to do that with Woz. Read on!
Why the camera isn’t the culprit for the white iPhone 4’s delay (update: Woz responds) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California — Google is tired of Apple luring all the mobile developers away.
To fight back, the company is trying to make it easier for customers to purchase and install Android apps.
At company headquarters here this morning, Google unveiled its Android Market web store, a web portal that lets users browse and purchase apps from the Android Market without requiring a smartphone.
Google announced the new web site in an on-campus event showcasing the new Android version 3.0, aka Honeycomb, which is yet to be released.
Previously only accessible by using an Android smartphone, you can now access the Android Market site through a web browser on other devices, such as desktop computers, laptops, netbooks or — as we saw today on the Honeycomb-fueled Motorola Xoom — tablet. After accessing the site and signing in to your Google account, you can search the 200,000-plus apps featured on the official Android Market, and make app purchases on your browser.
After purchasing, apps will install directly to the specified smartphone device of your choosing via Wi-Fi or 3G connectivity.
In other words, you still need an Android device to run the apps, but you can “push” them to your device, using a browser.
Google also announced improved payment options as a supplement to the web-store launch. Credit card numbers and other personal payment information is stored in your individual Google account. After choosing an app, you can make a payment using a one-click purchase system.
Google is also giving developers more control on the backend. In the developer console, Android app developers will now be able to set the price of an app in different currencies specifically supported by the Android Market. So what may cost an American user $5, a developer can also specify the cost of the app to a European user paying with the euro.
Finally, in-app payments will soon be coming to the Android Market, letting users purchase things like virtual currency, additional levels or in-game consumables without leaving the app environment. The developer documentation for in-app payments is being released today. Google expects in-app payments to be available to Android users before the end of spring.
It’s a long overdue move by Google, as Apple has had app-store-directory access available to customers by browser since 2007. And Android Market users have complained about payment systems.
Apple’s app store contains 400,000-plus applications, over twice that of Android’s.
“I think Android has a history of performing well despite having a late start,” user interface director Matias Duarte told Wired.com in an interview. “We’re pretty excited about it.”
Although Google showed all the new Android Market developments on its new new Honeycomb Android update, the company gave no details as to when the update will be launched.
Photo: Andy Rubin, Google VP of Engineering (Mike Isaac/Wired.com)
See Also:
There’s plenty going on in the world of technology right now. At the top of the list–and rightfully so–is the fact that, according to a new traffic analysis, Egypt recently restored Internet access after last week’s post-protest blackout.
There’s also Google’s big Honeycomb unveiling today–something that’s sure to make a huge impact on the consumer electronics world as we know it. Microsoft is battling with Google, some iPad hardware may have leaked out, and oh, NASA found a bunch of planets outside of our solar system. Neat.
Somehow, though, every news outlet can’t stop talking about The Daily–Rupert Muroch’s attempt to single-handedly save traditional print media. The iPad app launches today for $0.99, plus a $39.99 yearly subscription fee.
Rupert Murdoch’s iPad-only magazine The Daily, once described as “The New York Post Goes to College,” is now a go. Launched at a New York event this morning, it pledges to offer “the best of traditional journalism” with “the best of contemporary technology” like 360 degree photos and, naturally, lots of fancy multimedia content that is all pushed directly to the iPad every day. It’s priced at $.99 per week or $39.99 annually and launches today, unsurprisingly with Egypt taking the “cover” image. The team behind the new-age zine showed off plenty of that technology, including a magazine-like reading interface, letting you flip through pages, and a “carousel,” that gives you a higher-level view of the pages for easier browsing.
The Daily also includes audio versions, with professional voiceover so you won’t have to worry about GPS voice, plus video overviews of all the content if you just don’t have time for reading or listening. You can share stuff you like on Twitter or Facebook and others will be able to read those stories for free via the web — but not all the content, naturally. The site will offer app reviews and features with links right to the App Store. Sports fans get full schedules and news updates for the teams they like. Again, The Daily launches today, and we’re told that the first two weeks will be courtesy of Verizon. Good on ya, VZW!
Update: It’s now available in the App Store.
Continue reading The Daily iPad ‘newspaper’ launches, $.99 weekly or $39.99 per year
The Daily iPad ‘newspaper’ launches, $.99 weekly or $39.99 per year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Is the future of media an iPad-exclusive daily newspaper that’s delivered automatically overnight using a new subscription service? We’re here at the Guggenheim Museum in New York for the launch of News Corp’s The Daily to find out — and Apple’s VP of internet services Eddy Cue is scheduled to join Rupert Murdoch on stage, so things could get interesting. Join us, won’t you?
Continue reading Live from The Daily launch event, with Apple’s Eddy Cue
Live from The Daily launch event, with Apple’s Eddy Cue originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 10:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Hey, it’s the iPad 2 screen. So says 9 to 5 Mac. The site claims to have gotten its hands on the screen–just the screen–courtesy of an iPhone repair site called iFixYouri. Not a heck of a lot to say about it yet. The screen appears to be roughly the same size, but there really isn’t a way to know for certain whether the thing will be higher res.
It is, however, apparently thinner, lighter, and “higher quality, in terms of its build.” Also, the frame around the thing is thinner, for whatever that’s worth. If you’re interested in seeing a lot more close of up shots of it sitting next to an older iPad screen, by all means, check out the post.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
