Apple today announced on its iphone 4 Case Program page (via The Loop) that it will be discontinuing the program as of the previously-stated September 30th end date. The company is also ending its no-restocking-fee, 30-day return policy for the iphone 4, returning to its standard return policy that requires a 10% restocking fee on opened merchandise and returns within 14 days of purchase.

Apple is, however, leaving open the possibility of providing cases to customers who demonstrate a distinct problem with antenna issues on their devices. At the company’s July press conference to address the issue, Steve Jobs had stated that Apple would re-evaluate the program as the September 30th deadline approached.

We now know that the iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue is even smaller than we originally thought. A small percentage of iPhone 4 users need a case, and we want to continue providing them a Bumper case for free. For everyone else, we are discontinuing the free case program on all iPhone 4s sold after September 30, 2010. We are also returning to our normal returns policy for all iPhone 4s sold after September 30. Users experiencing antenna issues should call AppleCare to request a free Bumper case.

An executive with Mexican iPhone carrier Telcel late last month claimed that Apple would be introducing revised iPhone 4 hardware by the end of September to address the antenna issue, but Apple has made no announcements regarding changes to its hardware or manufacturing process.

Now I have said this once, and I will say it again. Apple really do know how to keep their customers happy.

Until next time, This is Adiman423 on behalf of iPhone Tutorial Videos signing out.

With the news that Apple has eased restrictions on third-party development tools, a very excited-sounding Adobe has announced it will resume working on its Flash-to-iphone compiler, Packager for iphone.

Soon after the news leaked in April that Apple was restricting third-party tools, a very publicly angry Adobe announced that its fledgling Packager app, part of Flash Professional CS5, wouldn’t be receiving future support after Apple’s restrictions effectively rendered the program useless.

Times have certainly changed now. “We’re hearing from our developer community that Packager apps are already being approved for the App Store,” Adobe says. Support for Adobe’s Flash Player plug-in, however, is still excluded from iOS.

Adobe has every reason to be excited about this, as do Flash developers, who will now have a relatively easy way to recompile their Flash apps for sale on the App Store. Whether that will also translate into high-quality apps is something we users will learn for ourselves as they show up on the App Store over the coming days and weeks.

Well, after hearing the news about apple changing their mind about what people can use to develop their iOS apps, I knew that soon enough, Adobe would continue work with their iPhone packager. So that means in theory that many of these companies that make some of these awesome flash games that are playable in your web browser could soon be coming to all iOS devices. Miniclip are an example of this. Some of their well known flash games have made their way onto the iPhone.

However, now that this has happened it will also mean that developers can now use a PC to develop their apps as well as a mac. Even though Adobe have resumed work on their iPhone packager, Apple are still doing all they can to kill off flash as a web technology.

Until next time, This is Adiman423 on behalf of iPhone Tutorial Videos and iPad Tutorial Videos signing out.

Performance is a top priority for any device and Apple has proven it beats many when it comes to the smartphone arena with its iphone. I hate to say it being an Android fan but that’s the truth in many cases. Both the hardware and the software play an equally important role when it comes to the overall performance of the device. Apple released the iOS 4.1 with promises from Steve Jobs that the latest version would resolve many issues, primarily for the iphone 3G users running on the iOS4.

Putting the software part to test, Lifehacker [thanks] shared a video on performance of the the iPhone 3G on the iOS 4 and the iOS 4.1 comparison. The video doesn’t really show a massive difference in performance but it some cases the difference is significant, especially when loading the maps. On others, like Photos, browsing on Safari, the speed difference is marginal and not really that great to make you drool over update. The winning feature with the iOS 4.1 is definitely going to be the fixes for other issues that many iPhone 3G users have complained about.

Anyways let’s get to what we really wanted to share here. The Speed Test video of the iPhone 3G running the iOS 4 and the iOS 4.1:

So there you have it. It goes to prove that if many people get together to fix a problem, it can be done. I know for certain that once iOS 4.1 gets jailbroken, then I will definitely be upgrading to it on my iOS device. Of course that video which I have left for you all to see above clearly shows that iOS 4.1 really does fix the performance issues on the iPhone 3G. However, I can confirm that there will be no multitasking on the iPhone 3G with 4.1.

Until next time, This is Adiman423 on behalf of iPhone Tutorial Videos signing out.

When iOS 4.1 is released by Apple next week, it will have a number of new bells and whistles enhancing the iphone and iPod Touch experience. Whether or not the highly-anticipated update will finally fix the proximity sensor issue plaguing iphone 4 users, though, is still uncertain.

When Steve Jobs presented iOS 4.1 he focused on the new features being introduced. Applying the iOS update will add the new iTunes Ping feature, the ability to rent TV shows via iTunes, HD video uploads via W-Fi, HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, and the Xbox Live-like Game Center for social gaming. Jobs also mentioned in passing that iOS 4.1 will fix nagging issues with Bluetooth, 3G performance, and the notorious proximity sensor issue.

Cries of “hallelujah” (or maybe “finally”, or “it’s about time”) arose from iPhone 4 users haunted by putting calls on speakerphone, or hanging up on customers or co-workers with their cheek thanks to the flaky proximity sensor failing to disable the touchscreen display while engaged in a call. Some developers, however, suggest it may be premature to celebrate just yet.

One developer who has had an opportunity to work with and test the beta releases and the Gold Master (GM)–the official release–of iOS 4.1 has identified that the proximity sensor still has issues. Ryan Thomas Bell has even taken the time to compile and post YouTube videos demonstrating the continuing problem with the proximity sensor.

Bell, who goes by the alias “mistabell” on the Apple Forums, posted “I hate to be the naysayer (i love you apple!) but I don’t think the GM that went out today with the announcement fixes the problem all the way. At least not for everyone under every condition. (I played with it for about an hour today.) My last posts got deleted because I mentioned a pre-release, so I won’t post the technical reasoning. I’m going to move my discussion over to the private developer forums. Good luck, guys.”

Another post on the Apple Forums from dbk9999 says “it isn’t just about the sensor activating at a certain distance, but it changes according to how you use it. It has to be software making these “decisions”. So it could be possible that software could fix it. It could be that a hardware problem is too much for the software to compensate for.”

This may be a case like the iPhone 4 antenna “death grip” issue that is possible to mitigate or minimize, but not entirely fix via software. Perhaps the rumors that Apple is developing a re-engineered iPhone 4 with a hardware fix for the antenna problem will also include a hardware engineering solution to fully resolve the proximity sensor issue.

Of course, for all of you with Jailbroken iOS devices, you know the drill. Don’t upgrade to 4.1 until the iPhone Dev Team releases their tools that will jailbreak iOS 4.1. However, if you are on the normal iOS, then feel free to go ahead and have at iOS 4.1. Until next time, this is Adiman423 on behalf of iPhone Tutorial Videos signing out.

Well, it has come and gone. Apple’s september media event has finished. For those of you who were watching the whole live feed right here, you would have seen some awesome hardware and software as well.

Steve Jobs on stage, points out “partner in crime” Steve Wozniak in the audience. Thanks audience for coming. “Really cool stuff” to show you.
- Apple retail update: Showing off new stores in Paris, Shanghai, Covent Garden (London). Now 300 stores in ten countries with Spain coming soon. Some days see over 1 million visitors to retail stores. 80,000 One to One classes per week. Over half of Mac purchasers in retail stores are new to Mac.

- iOS update: Have now shipped 120 million iOS devices. Activating 230,000 new iOS devices per day. We think some of our friends are counting upgrades in their numbers, but we think strictly new activations is a better metric. Over 6.5 billion app downloads, 200 per second. 250,000 apps in App Store – 25,000 for iPad.

- Introducing iOS 4.1: Fixes bugs (proximity, Bluetooth, iphone 3G performance), Adds High Dynamic Range (HDR) photos, HD video upload over Wi-Fi, TV show rentals, Game Center

- Showing off HDR photo quality. Both regular and HDR photos saved on device…choose which you prefer. Showing examples of how HDR can pull out details that are typically washed out.

- Game Center: Standalone app, as well as APIs for developers. For multi-player games, allows you to challenge friends. Showing off screenshots.

- Mike Capps of Epic Games on stage to show off Game Center on new iOS RPG game codenamed “Project Sword”. Showing off 3D virtual world in high detail. Showing Game Center-mediated multi-player action.

- iOS 4.1 due next week for iphone and iPod touch

- Sneak peek at iOS 4.2 – “all about iPad“. Brings everything to iPad….multitasking, folders, Game Center, HDR photos, wireless printing, AirPlay

- Showing off wireless printing in Pages. “Print Center” app now shows up in multi-tasking tray to manage jobs.

- AirPlay: Formerly known as AirTunes, now allows streaming of audio, video, and photos.

- Demoing iOS 4.2 on iPad with multitasking, folders

- iOS 4.2 set for November release. Free for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

- iPods: “Our entree” for the day. We’ve sold 275 million iPods. All-new designs for every model of iPod this year. Biggest change ever.

- iPod shuffle: Highlighting history of the device. New model now has buttons, VoiceOver, and playlists, rear clip. 15 hours of music, five different colors, $49 for 2 GB.

- iPod nano: Multi-touch screen, clip, 46% smaller, 42% lighter, volume buttons, Nike+, pedometer, 24 hours of audio. Now demoing controls.

- iOS-like interface with four icons on home screen, multiple home screens with ability to reorganize icons. Album art, photos, etc. Rotatable home screen using pinch gesture.
- Same colors as shuffle, plus graphite and Product RED. $149 for 8 GB, $179 for 16 GB.

- iPod touch: In the last year, has become most popular iPod. “iPhone without the phone, and the contract”. #1 portable game player…outsells Nintendo and Sony combined.

- New iPod touch is even thinner, Retina display, A4 chip, gyroscope, iOS 4.1, front-facing camera with FaceTime, rear-facing camera with HD video recording.

- Can run iMovie on iPod touch, can FaceTime between iPod touches and iPhone 4s.

- Three models: 8 GB $229, 32 GB $299, 64 GB $399

- All iPod models (shuffle, nano, touch) available for pre-order today, shipping next week.

- Now showing new iPod nano and iPod touch ads

- iTunes: 11.7 billion songs downloaded, 450 million TV episodes, 100 million movies, 35 million books, 160 million accounts with credit cards. #1 online media store in the world.

- iTunes 10. With iTunes set to surpass physical CD sales next year, so new icon with no CD.

- New “hybrid” view. With albums of at least five songs, now shows album art right in list view.

- Social features: New feature called Ping. Facebook and Twitter meet iTunes…social network for music. Follow favorite artists and friends, find out what they’re listening to and talking about. Customized top-ten songs and albums lists based on the people you follow. Showing off artist page for Lady Gaga with posts, favorite songs, concerts, etc.

- Discussing how to be followed: can allow anyone to follow, can have approved followers, create “circle of friends”…as private or public as you want.

- Demo of Ping

- Ping available in iTunes and on iPhone, iPod touch…new button in iTunes Store app.

- iTunes 10 available today…free download at apple.com

- One more thing…no, one more hobby.

- Apple TV: Never been a huge hit, but no one has made a hit in this sector. Users love the Apple TV though, so what have we learned?

- Users want Hollywood movies and TV shows whenever they want them, everything in HD, lower prices, no computer on the TV. Don’t want to manage storage or deal with syncing. Want hardware to be silent, cool, and small.

- New Apple TV…one-fourth the size of the previous model. Back has power cord, one HDMI connector, optical audio out, and Ethernet. Wi-Fi 802.11n built-in.

- Movies, TV show, and music, all HD when available. All rentals, no purchases, so no storage management. Can stream from computers, no syncing required. Photo slideshows.

- Can rent first-run HD movies for $4.99. Prices drop over time. HD TV show rentals at $0.99…commercial-free. Big step for the studios, so ABC and Fox at first. Rest of them will see the light and follow along.

- Netflix streaming included for subscribers. YouTube integration, including HD content, photos from Flickr, video and photos from MobileMe, stream from Mac or PC.

- Apple TV interface similar to existing, but simplified somewhat.

- Demoing browsing and rental process…showing off “Iron Man 2″.

- TV shows: Can list favorite shows, with icons showing how many unwatched episodes from the current season there are. Showing off “Glee”.

- Netflix: Showing Instant Queue…”by far the best implementation of Netflix”.

- Demoing streaming photos from a networked Mac.

- AirPlay coming to iOS 4.2 in November. Can stream content from an iOS device to an Apple TV. Demoing streaming Pixar’s “Up” from iPad to Apple TV…audio is quickly and easily pushed to the Apple TV.

- New Apple TV priced at $99. Available in 4 weeks, pre-order today.

- Recapping today’s topics: iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod touch, iTunes 10 with Ping, iOS 4.2, Apple TV

- Talking about philosophy of music focus. A lot of people at Apple love music, and we like to remind ourselves of why we do this. Special guest: Chris Martin of Coldplay. 50 million albums sold, 7 Grammy Awards. On stage to play a song. “We’ll keep goin’ until you feel like lunch.”

Please excuse me for this being a long blog post. Anyway, it seems that apple have warmed to the idea of live streaming their events. Who knows, possibly we will see apple doing this more often in the future. So in brief, iOS 4.1 is coming out september 8th. If you are jailbroken then stay away from it until further notice. Otherwise, you can go ahead and have at it on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. iOS 4.2 is coming out sometime in november and it is free for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

iTunes 10 is available today as well, but at the time of writing this apple has not made it available for download yet.

Of course, there is a new iPod Touch on the way, which will come pre-loaded with iOS 4.1 so no jailbreak for that until further notice. With that aside, that is one crazily thin iPod Touch and it has an A4 processor and a retina display which makes it an iPhone 4 without the phone part. On top of that, you have the iPod shuffle which has not changed at all, and the iPod nano which has a multi-touch interface like the iOS devices. And these devices will be out on the same day as iOS 4.1.

Until next time, This is Adiman423 on behalf of iPhone Tutorial Videos and iPad tutorial videos signing out.

Are you an iOS developer who’s been pained by the threshold at which Apple decides to send payment out for your hard-earned app sales? Well, Apple has a bit of good news for you on that front.

Along with a new reporting module within iTunes Connect, Apple has decreased the amount developers must accumulate from sales before payment is issued, along with an increase in the frequency at which those payments are made. Not only will this decrease the amount spent on bank fees for developers, but the reports will give them a better understanding of how sales are doing.

Right now there’s no word on what the pay threshold and frequency have been changed to, but the quicker earnings make their way to developers’ pockets, the better. Are you a developer, and have you been hoping for such a change?

Put simply, this looks like good news all round for all you iOS device app developers. However, how much better will be up to Mr Jobs and Co.

Until next time, This is Adiman423 on behalf of iphone Tutorial Videos signing out.

Apple Media Event Scheduled for September 1st

Wednesday August 25, 2010 02:08 PM EST
Written by Eric Slivka

Image from Apple’s September 1st media event invitation
Engadget reports that Apple has issued media invitations for a special event to be held on Wednesday, September 1st in San Francisco. The event is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM Pacific Time and be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the traditional location for Apple’s fall media events.Apple is expected to introduce updates to its iPod lines, including a FaceTime-enabled iPod touch. The company is also rumored to be introducing a significantly redesigned $99 Apple TV device, possibly renamed “iTV”, as well as 99-cent TV show rentals.

Just yesterday, Bloomberg had claimed that the event would be on Tuesday, September 7th.

If this event will also see Apple refreshing the iPod Touch, I should mention that in the latest iOS 4.1 beta, Apple has left one of its internal designations for its iPod Touch models. In particular, the reference we have seen is”iPod4,1″. This could be a reference to the fourth generation iPod Touch.

We may also be seeing a release of iOS version 4.1, which is going to be a smaller release in terms of features. Hopefully, this may also be the release iphone 3G users have been waiting for, as steve jobs has said that a software update would be coming soon. Amongst this, the invitation shows a picture of a guitar implying that it is a music event, meaning that apple will also be refreshing their iPod products. The people over at TWiT(this week in technology) normally cover Apple media events, so I may be able to put up their live video stream as well at the time of the event.

Until next time, This is Adiman423 on behalf of iphone Tutorial Videos signing out.