Tickle the Woogie 2, and the characters laugh; shake it and they get dizzy. It can also repeat words and phrases – with the option to turn that feature off, if you’re getting sick of the parroting – and if you leave it alone the characters fall asleep.

As before, the soft-stuffed furry legs make the iPhone easy to prop up for a child to tap at, and a clear plastic window gives the touchscreen some protection while still including headphone socket access. You can download the Woogie app free here [iTunes link].

The original Woogie was a fond favorite of Avi Greengart, appearing in two successive last-minute holiday gift guides. The new Woogie 2 is available for order now, in blue or pink, priced at $19.99.

The Home Control Switch allows you to plug in a lamp or other mains gizmo and then turn it on both remotely, via the app, or locally, via a button on the box itself. Alternatively, you can have it trigger automatically, when the Motion Sensor spots movement, either turning lights or other devices on when you walk into range, or off when you leave the room.

Belkin only has these two devices so far, but promises that a remote garage door opener, door lock, lighting controls and a baby monitor – with streaming audio – are in the pipeline. The company has also done a deal with electric lock company Kwikset, whose Home Connect security locks will also gain WeMo support: users will be able to lock or unlock remotely, as well as see the current security status on-screen.

The Belkin Home Control Switch and Motion Sensor will go on sale this coming summer, priced at $49.99 for the switch and $99.99 for both devices in a bundle. The control app will be a free download when it arrives in the App Store.

The exact cause of the problem is still unclear, with Apple yet to comment publicly on the issue. However, what’s important for owners is that they’ll be able to take advantage of the various holiday promotions generally launched just prior to the App Store team locking down the top ten charts.

Speculation had grown that Apple might be quietly adding pressure to those running older devices to upgrade to newer versions of iOS, or even to newer iPhone and iPod touch models altogether. That now seems not to be the case, however.

[via Engadget]

Real-time availability updates are given, as well as single-touch Lync conference call participation to avoid having to punch in lengthy passcodes. There’s also transport layer security (TLS) and perimeter/internal network protection, neither of which demand a VPN, for increased data security.

Although of little interest to non-enterprise customers, the new smartphone and tablet apps are a sign that Microsoft’s software teams are taking Apple’s iPhone and iPad market penetration seriously. The company obviously has its own tablet strategy in the pipeline, with Windows 8 expected to show up on models from ASUS and Dell in the latter half of 2012, but that doesn’t stop Microsoft from spreading its reach to those who call on its Cupertino rivals instead.

Earlier this month, Microsoft released a version of its Kinectimals game for iPhone and iPad, until that point only available on Windows Phone. The software push does also give the company’s engineers some practice making tablet apps, something we’re hoping gives them a head-start when it comes to Metro UI apps on Windows 8 tablets next year.

[via Twitter]

Complaints seemingly began after a December 16 update, leaving owners able to update the apps they currently have installed but not acquire any new ones.

The timing of the issue could well prove frustrating to owners and developers, with Apple’s holiday “lock-down” fast approaching. App Store staff take an eight day break from Thursday this week, during which point no new apps are added and the various charts are frozen.

That can mean big rewards for any developers lucky enough to get their software in those charts in time, which often means cut-price downloads in the preceding days. EA, for instance, has promised over thirty cheap games prior to the lock-down, something iOS 3.1.3 users won’t be able to take advantage of on their device (though they will, of course, be able to buy them on iTunes and then sync them across).

Apple is yet to officially acknowledge the issue, or indeed give any indication that a fix might be incoming.

[via Engadget; Image credit mwiesner]

That bond – which is designed to cover Apple’s losses should the patent case be subsequently overturned while an injunction was imposed – is considerably less than the €2bn the Cupertino company’s legal team demanded. If Motorola Mobility pushes ahead, Apple is almost certain to request a stay on the injunction while it files an appeal. The original iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad WiFi + 3G and iPad 2 WiFi + 3G are all named in Motorola’s case, though the iPhone 4S is also likely to be impacted.

Apple could attempt to modify its products to work around Motorola’s patent, though it’s unclear how feasible such an endeavor might be. Alternatively, under European law, Apple could seek to license the patent; the company has already attempted to license it under FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) terms, but Motorola managed to convince the court that the damages involved should Apple be found to have infringed would exceed FRAND rates. Motorola could agree to a license covering future products, but not applying retrospectively, and insist on damages for Apple’s past infringement.

The general opinion is that Apple will seek to convince an appeals court that Motorola should grant a compulsory FRAND license, with minimal penalties for past actions. There’s no word on when the appeal might be heard.

Update: Motorola has issued the following statement, though it has not confirmed outright whether or not it will be pursuing the injunction:

“We are pleased with the court’s ruling. Today’s decision validates Motorola Mobility’s efforts to enforce its patents against Apple’s infringement. Motorola Mobility has worked hard over the years to build an industry-leading intellectual property portfolio that is respected by the telecommunications industry, and we are proud to leverage this portfolio to create differentiated innovations that enhance the user experience. We will continue to take all necessary steps to protect our intellectual property, as the Company’s patent portfolio and licensing agreements with companies both in the U.S. and around the world are critical to our business. We have been negotiating with Apple and offering them reasonable licensing terms and conditions since 2007, and will continue our efforts to resolve our global patent dispute as soon as practicable” Scott Offer, senior vice president and general counsel of Motorola Mobility

According to The Verge‘s “extremely reliable source” the three official Googlephones – the Nexus One, Nexus S and the most recent Galaxy Nexus - are free of Carrier IQ software. The original XOOM tablet is also tipped to be clean of Carrier IQ code, despite it not being an official “Nexus” device; Motorola worked with Google to make the XOOM the first example of a Honeycomb tablet on the market.

It’s not so clean-cut for iPhone users, however. iOS modder chpwn has discovered evidence of Carrier IQ software in iOS 3, iOS 4 and iOS 5, though the extent to which it collects data appears to be less comprehensive than on some Android devices. He discovered that the iPhone only sends information collected if the “Diagnostics and Usage” setting is enabled, and that only certain aspects of telephony and location are gathered.

He also says that how Carrier IQ software reports is very much tied to individual carrier settings: it’s up to them as to whether the phone reports or not, as well as whether it can use 3G, WiFi or both to do so. In his investigations, “it does not appear the daemon has any access or communication with the UI layer, where text entry is done” and as such is “reasonably sure it has no access to typed text, web history, passwords, browsing history, or text messages, and as such is not sending any of this data remotely.”

chpwn adds devices running Windows Phone 7 to the “safe” list, with no evidence of Carrier IQ software in the Microsoft platform. We’re yet to hear comprehensive comments from individual carriers, beyond Verizon Wireless, about their use of the technology.

Out of 68.6m postpaid subscribers, 52.6-percent now have smartphones; that’s up from 39.1-percent in the same period twelve months ago. Higher average monthly spend from such users has seen AT&T’s operating income climb to $6.2bn, though consolidated revenues dropped year-on-year by $103m, to $31.5bn.

Overall subscribers has passed 100m, thanks to 2.1m new additions in Q3, with over 500,000 of those being subscribers with tablets, mobile hotspots, data cards and modems, data-only plans and tethering packages. Net income was $3.6bn.

AT&T’s figures obviously do not include sales of the iPhone 4S, which was released after Q3 2011 ended.

Various features and apps were tested across all four devices with the iPhone 3G unsurprisingly lagging behind most of the time. But it’s pretty close between the two iPhone 4 devices, depending on which feature or app was being launched. Generally, when it came to accessing the iPhone’s settings, Safari, search results, email, camera, and weather app, iOS 5 came out ahead.

But the results weren’t as certain when it came to launching games. For instance, starting Angry Birds was slightly faster on iOS 4.3.5 as was launching Fruit Ninja. And with the game Cut the Rope, the iPhone 3GS running iOS 4.3 was by far faster than both iPhone 4 devices. If you’re still deciding whether to upgrade to the iOS 5 for your current iPhone 4, check out the video below as well as our iOS 5 review. And if you’re thinking about completely upgrading to the latest Apple handset, make sure to read our full iPhone 4S review.

That may explain why it’s not on sale – at least at the moment – in the US Apple Store, though European stores do have it listed. In the UK the adapter dongle is £8 ($13) while it’s €9 in Europe, hooking up to the proprietary Apple sync port and offering a basic microUSB port.

It’s a welcome addition, but it’s unclear whether Apple will be including the adapter in the box with the iPhone 4S and other handsets for European buyers. So far the UK product page for the iPhone 4S would suggest that won’t be the case, listing only the regular Dock Connector to USB cable and USB power adapter.

[via Engadget]

Meanwhile, Webwereld‘s Andreas Udo de Haes reports, both Samsung and Apple have agreed not to seek any ex parte injunctions ahead of the October 14 hearing. Apple is pushing for the judge to reject injunction demands, based on the fact that there is no urgency to the case; it claims it has only ever used Intel’s 3G chips – or, more accurately, Infineon’s chips, after the company was bought by Intel - rather than Qualcomm’s. A deal with Apple was explicitly outside the licensing agreement Qualcomm and Samsung agreed, it’s believed.

Samsung, however, alleges that Infineon never arranged for 3G licensing, and so up until the Intel acquisition earlier this year Apple was not covered. The company’s legal team told the court that Apple “never bothered to ask about licenses” prior to selling the original iPhone 3G, the Associated Press reports. As for Apple’s suggestions that it misled matters during the 3G standardization process, Samsung says those standards were finalized well ahead of Apple’s entry into the smartphone market.

Most ominous for Samsung, perhaps, Apple reckons the Korean company’s actions have reached antitrust levels, and there’s the possibility that the company could file an official complaint as such with the European Commission. In the meantime, Samsung is pushing ahead trying to have the iPhone 5 banned in Europe and Korea, as well as existing 3G-enabled Apple devices including the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 WiFi + 3G.

Samsung’s legal team made reference to their legal counterpart’s photo fiddling in court last week, with Simmons and Simmons lawyer Bas Berghuis claiming that the Cupertino company was “manipulating visual evidence, making Samsung’s devices appear more similar to Apple’s.” However, he did not illustrate his claims with any evidence, either of the Galaxy Tab 10.1 or the Galaxy S.

Discrepancies in the images Apple had used of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 in comparison to the iPad were identified earlier this month, with the proportions of the Android tablet modified so that it would look more akin to the iOS slate. In its text describing the Galaxy S, Apple does acknowledge that the phone possesses “some non-identical elements, such as the slightly larger dimensions,” but the images it uses to illustrate do not reflect such differences.

Legal experts differ in their interpretation of how serious Apple’s manipulations are to the ongoing case, with some playing down the tweaks and others arguing that it casts doubts over the company’s behavior in and out of the courtroom. Apple is now seeking an EU-wide injunction on all Samsung’s smartphones and tablets, after its preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 was downgraded to cover only Germany. Neither company has commented on the image issue.

“Apple is not harvesting this data from your device” Levinson insists, stating that “through my research in this field and all traffic analysis I have performed, not once have I seen this data traverse a network.” Instead, he claims the file has always been present, used as “a log generated by the various radios and sensors”, but was simply moved when iOS 4.0 was released and then “rediscovered” by the other researchers.

The fact that the data is stored on the user’s own machine and not accessed by Apple is one of Andy Ihnatko‘s key themes as well, suggesting that “the logfile’s purpose is to track the performance of the phone and the network, and not the movements of the user.” Nonetheless, he still describes it as “a nervous can of worms”:

“This is an open, unlocked file in a known location in a standard database format that anybody can read. If someone has physical access to your Mac — or remote access to your user account — it’s a simple matter of copying a file and opening it. And while the logfile can’t tell someone that you were at a specific house, it can obviously tell your boss that you went to the Cape on the day you called in sick.” Andy Ihnatko

Daring Fireball‘s John Gruber claims his insider-sources suggest that the database is a cache for location data and that historical data should, in fact, be being deleted as time goes on. That such a process isn’t happening is said to be most likely an oversight, and he’s predicting it’s addressed in the next iOS update.

However, that will be too late for those iPhone users who have already seen the database potentially used against them. Levinson told GigaOm that the location data is already being used by law enforcement agencies, and that while he wouldn’t name specifics, they include “multiple state and federal agencies both in the U.S. and internationally.” The fact that the data is – by default, though an option is available in iTunes – unencrypted means that physical access to a user’s machine is likely all that’s necessary to gain access to the location information.

Apple is still yet to comment on the story.

What’s a Jailbreak and why should I be interested?

Basically, it’s a way of modifying the software running on an Apple phone so that you can do things with it that Apple either didn’t envisage or isn’t keen on allowing. The most common reason to jailbreak your iPhone is to run apps that otherwise you couldn’t get. Apple is reasonably strict about what third-party software it lets into the App Store, and many developers have fallen foul of its rules.

An iPhone which has been jailbroken, however, can access unofficial app stores, the best known of which is Cydia. That works very much like the official App Store, with a range of free and paid applications, but it doesn’t have the same restrictions for inclusion. Apps range from themes that change the appearance of the iPhone’s icons and menus, to tools that allow you to wirelessly synchronize with iTunes or replace Apple’s standard apps with different versions.

Does it mean I can use my iPhone on something other than AT&T?

No, there’s a difference between jailbreaking your iPhone and unlocking it. A jailbreak is a way to modify the iPhone software to gain more flexibility in what you can do with apps, broadly speaking. Unlocking, however, is a way to use your iPhone on a network other than the one you bought it with. In the US, that might mean using the iPhone 4 which AT&T sold you on T-Mobile USA’s network. We’ll cover unlocking in a future SlashGear 101.

Is it legal or will Apple take its revenge on me somehow?

It’s legal, but Apple doesn’t like it. A court ruling last year found that jailbreaking your iPhone was considered to be “fair use” and not something Apple could prosecute you for. However, Apple responded by highlighting that it would void owners’ warranties should they require a repair. Basically, if your iPhone ended up a non-functioning brick in the process, Apple’s Genius Bar wouldn’t be interested.

Meanwhile, Apple has been working hard to close off each potential jailbreak hole as quickly as the hackers can discover them. Each iOS update generally shuts down one or more routes, though some are harder to block than others.

Okay, so how do I do it?

If you’re willing to take the risk, there are a few different methods to jailbreak an iPhone or other iOS-based device. Best known for their work are the iPhone Dev Team, an unofficial group of programmers who collaborate on modifications for Apple phones, tablets and other gadgets. Some of their jailbreak software is “tethered” but the preferred methods are “untethered.” With the former, every time you restart your iPhone you’ll need to have it plugged in via USB to your computer, or you’ll lose the jailbreak. An untethered jailbreak doesn’t suffer the same limitation. Usually it’s just a case of plugging in your phone, running an app and then restarting your freshly jailbroken iPhone.

We’ll cover the mechanics of jailbreaking in a future SlashGear 101.

The offer is available at the Target Mobile centers located in 846 Target stores nationwide. Bring in your iPhone 3G or 3GS and sign a new two-year contract with AT&T to take advantage of the program. You can get up to $100 credit for an iPhone 3G 16GB and up to $200 credit for an iPhone 3GS 32GB towards a new iPhone 4 16GB at $199 or an iPhone 4 32GB at $299.

The iPhone trade-in is a limited time promotion through Target’s exclusive Electronics Trade-In service that encourages consumers to be eco-friendly by trading in their old devices for store credit. Other mobile devices accepted through the program include iPods and even video games.

[Via Target]

Meanwhile there’s the usual companion software in the App Store which turns your iOS device into a learning remote. You can either program it by choosing your kit from a list of preconfigured manufacturers and hardware, or by teaching the UnityRemote emitter itself using the existing remote control.

There’s macro support, so you can have your TV, cable box and surround sound amp turn on simultaneously with a single button-tap, and programmable gestures to change things like volume and channel. It’s available now, at $99 from Gear4 direct or from Amazon.

Press Release:

GEAR4 Takes Control With New UnityRemote™

Now available for U.S. purchase, UnityRemote device gives iPhone/iPod/iPad
users universal control

El Segundo, CA (Dec. 22, 2010) – GEAR4 (www.GEAR4.com), a UK iPod and iPhone audio brand and case manufacturer with an emphasis on design, today announces the U.S. availability of UnityRemote. Now available through Amazon, the UnityRemote device turns any iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into a universal remote control

Designed to make controlling multi-media devices simple, the universal UnityRemote from GEAR4 enables users to control everything from TVs to Hi-Fis, Blu-Ray players to digital TV boxes – anything that has an infrared receiver – using one single device.

“Excitement for UnityRemote has been building and we’re looking forward to having consumers start using it in their homes,” said Tom Dudderidge, CEO of GEAR4. “People are already so comfortable and familiar with their iDevices, it will be a huge convenience to use it as a remote as well.”

UnityRemote works with two parts – an app, which is downloaded for free from the Apple App Store, and a small device that can be placed anywhere in the room. The UnityRemote device receives a Bluetooth® signal from the Apple device, and then sends an infrared command in 360 degrees via five infrared transmitters to the device to be controlled.

After launching the app, users simply select the device to be controlled from a long list of manufacturers – many that you’ve heard of, and even some you haven’t. If, for some reason, the device to control is not listed, UnityRemote can easily ‘learn’ how to control the device.

Users can also set up ‘actions’ for UnityRemote to control multiple devices simultaneously. With one touch, users can turn on their TV, DVD player, digital TV box and their home cinema sound system. The remote layout can also be adjusted so that one remote layout has the buttons for multiple devices on the same screen, like ‘play’ from the DVD player and volumes for the surround system. There’s nothing to plug in to the iPhone and nothing to search for with UnityRemote. Simply enter the room and begin using your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad as a remote control.

UnityRemote is compatible with iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4; iPod touch 2G, 3G and iPad. It is available now through Amazon.com for $99. To learn more, visit www.GEAR4.com.

About GEAR4
Disruptive Ltd. is the owner and manufacturer of the GEAR4 brand, the UK’s leading iPod, iPhone and iPad audio brand. Founded in 2004, the company is privately owned and operated, with its head office in High Wycombe, UK.

The two components are designed by Yves Behar, who was responsible for the Jawbone Bluetooth headset. The Peel Fruit will apparently last for up to nine months on a single battery, which is impressive enough.

As for the software, rather than just giving you buttons and a programming grid, Peel reckons their app will learn what shows you enjoy watching and then suggest appropriate alternatives when you’re desperately seeking entertainment. It’s available to download free from iTunes [iTunes link] though is US-only, and you can use it for suggested shows even if you don’t have a Peel Fruit.

[via Gizmodo]

For a start, it will definitely impact your Apple warranty. Unlike other hack methods, which are reversible, this new redsn0w system leaves no route to backtrack from the 06.15 baseband. That means Apple technical support will definitely be able to see that you’ve modified your iPhone.

It also means that there’s no way to return to either an official firmware or an official baseband, leaving unlockers at the mercy of third-party custom IPSWs in future. Still, if you’re not especially bothered about Apple support – or, indeed, are out of warranty anyway – then this is certainly a straightforward way to use any carrier with an iOS 4.2.1 iPhone 3G/3GS.

The display adjusts its backlighting according to the ambient conditions, and it’ll obviously recharge your iPhone (or, indeed, your iPod touch) while it’s docked.  There’s also an SD card slot and support for Panasonic’s LUMIX Scene Mode Playback which, if you’re shooting with a compatible camera from the company, can automatically pull together photos shot in the various different camera modes (e.g. nighttime, sports, etc.).

You can also choose to show a clock, calendar or other screensavers; in fact the only thing really missing is WiFi and/or 3G, and it’s a shame you can’t tether the phone and use its connection like with the Transgear model we wrote about back in 2009.  The Panasonic MW-20 will go on sale in late November 2010, priced at $249.95.

Press Release:

PANASONIC ANNOUNCES DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME – COMPLETE WITH STEREO SOUND SYSTEM FOR PLAYING PHOTOS MUSIC AND VIDEOS WITH EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY

New Panasonic MW-20 is a Versatile and Stylish Multimedia System,
Compatible with iPod Touch® and iPhone® for Convenient Playback

SECAUCUS, NJ (October 4, 2010) – Panasonic today announced the MW-20, a digital photo frame that doubles as a stereo sound system, complete with iPod Touch® and iPhone® compatibility – using the supplied cradle to display photos and play music stored on the popular mobile devices is easy and convenient. The MW-20, a slim multimedia system, also charges the iPod Touch/iPhone while it is connected to the cradle.

The Panasonic MW-20 can play back videos and photos on its large, high-resolution 9-inch screen, while incorporating advanced audio technology to provide superb sound quality.
Below the screen, there is a 5.6-mm Super Slim Semi Dome Speaker and a diffuser that optimizes the sound. In addition, the built-in DSP (Digital Signal Processor) adjusts the audio signal to suit the audio characteristics of this speaker system.

“The Panasonic MW-20 has a stylish and slim design that will complement any home décor and given its versatility to display photos, videos, play music and even charge an iPhone – we think this will be a welcomed addition this holiday season,” said David Fisher, Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Beyond its design and versatility, the MW-20 is also a powerful gadget – with exceptional sound quality to listen to music and a large nine-inch screen to view digital photos and videos.”

The MW-20 has an Adjustable Angle Display1 system that allows the angle to be changed to suit the viewing direction. With the supplied fixture, the MW-20 can be positioned in landscape orientation or hung on a wall. The MW-20 can display photos shot with a digital still camera by inserting an SD Memory Card into its slot. The MW-20 has 2GB of built-in memory for additional storage. The MW-20 features the LUMIX Scene Mode Playback function, which enables users to play back selected groups of photos shot with a Panasonic LUMIX digital camera using the iA Intelligent Scene Selector mode (Night Scenery, Portrait, Scenery, etc.). The MW-20 features 15 different display patterns to show a calendar, clock, photo – whichever combination the user prefers.

The MW-20 features an environmentally-conscious power-saving feature, with a luminance sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen according to the room lighting. For instance, when a room is dark, the MW-20 automatically shuts off. The Panasonic MW-20 will be available in late-November 2010 with a suggested retail price of $249.95. For more information, visit www.panasonic.com.

In fact, the Apple handset scored 800 out of 1,000 across J.D. Power’s five different categories, with particularly strong scores in ease of operation, operating system, features and physical design (the final category is battery function, suggesting people are still not entirely happy with how long their smartphones last).  Nipping at their heels are Motorola, who scored 791 and took second place, and HTC with 781.

The research also found that subscribers are holding onto their handsets for longer periods, with the average length of time now up to 20.5 months on average (a 17-percent increase on 2009).  Early-termination fees, potentially higher subscription costs and the general economic downturn are all blamed for the increase.

Press Release:

J.D. Power and Associates Reports:
Average Length of Time Wireless Customers Keep Their Mobile Phones Increases Notably

Apple Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Smartphone Manufacturers,
While LG Ranks Highest among Traditional Mobile Phone Manufacturers

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 23 September 2010 — The average reported length of time customers keep their traditional wireless cell phone has increased by 17 percent from 2009, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction Study—Volume 2 and the 2010 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction StudySM—Volume 2 released today.

The study finds that customers are keeping their traditional mobile devices for an average of 20.5 months, which marks the longest period of time since the study’s inception in 1999, when the average was 17.3 months. The current level of ownership tenure does differ by manufacturer brand, with the highest reported ownership tenure at an average of 27.8 months, and the lowest at 17.5 months.

“One possible reason for the significant increase in the length of mobile phone ownership is that more customers are delaying an upgrade purchase due to the general economic downturn, in which the expense of purchasing a new device could outweigh the added benefit of owning it,” said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. “Typically, when upgrading to a new cell phone, there’s the added expense of either subscribing to a more expensive service plan and/or incurring termination fees when switching service providers. Today, consumers are really watching their wallets, and any added discretionary expenses are being considered more thoughtfully than in the past.”

Contributing to this economic sensitivity are higher customer-reported monthly bill amounts, which have increased steadily during the past several years. The study finds the average reported monthly wireless bill is $78 in 2010, including federal and industry service taxes and fees, compared with $69 just three years ago. The increase is mainly due to the addition of data-related services, increases in usage activity such as text messaging, and added fees and taxes.

“It’s clear that there has been an increase in new service offerings during the past several years and that customers are using these services with greater regularity,” said Parsons. “The fact remains that in today’s economic climate, wireless providers and device manufacturers need to be sensitive to the mindsets of customers and provide added value where possible in order to drive future business and loyalty.”

These two studies measure customer satisfaction with traditional wireless handsets and smartphones across several key factors among owners who have used their current mobile phone for less than two years. In order of importance, the key factors of overall satisfaction with traditional wireless handsets are: operation (30%); physical design (30%); features (20%); and battery function (20%). For smartphones, the key factors are: ease of operation (26%); operating system (24%); physical design (23%); features (19%); and battery function (8%).

For a fourth consecutive time, Apple ranks highest in customer satisfaction among manufacturers of smartphones with a score of 800 on a 1,000-point scale, and performs particularly well in ease of operation, operating system, features and physical design. Motorola (791) and HTC (781) follow Apple in the rankings.

LG ranks highest in overall wireless customer satisfaction with traditional handsets for a fourth consecutive time with a score of 731. LG performs well in all four factors, particularly physical design, features and operation. Sanyo (712) and Samsung (709) follow LG in the rankings.

The studies also find the following key wireless handset usage patterns:

The average price of a traditional wireless mobile phone has declined to $76 in 2010 from an average of $81 at the beginning of 2009. The decline is primarily due to discounts given by handset providers and wireless service carriers to incentivize sales. Currently, 42 percent of customers report having received a free mobile phone when subscribing to a wireless service.
Mobile applications continue to enhance the smartphone user experience. More than two-thirds of users say they download third-party games, while 54 percent say they download travel software, such as maps and weather applications. Forty-one percent say they download utility applications, while 36 percent say they download business-specific programs. This indicates that smartphone owners are continuing to integrate their device usage into both their business and personal lives.
The study also examines operating systems commonly used in wireless smartphones. Among operating systems measured, the Android operating platform (supported by Google); the Apple operating system used in iPhone devices; and Palm’s Web OS platform perform particularly well.
The 2010 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction Study—Volume 2 and the 2010 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Evaluation Study—Volume 2 are based on experiences reported by 11,803 traditional mobile phone and 6,821 smartphone owners. The studies were fielded between January and June 2010.

It’s all Apple certified, so there shouldn’t be any annoying “this accessory isn’t supported” pop-ups, and it’ll work with a broad range of the company’s hardware: the iPod touch (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation), iPod classic, iPod nano (3rd, 4th, and 5th generation), and iPhone (original, 3G, 3GS and 4).  Sadly no iPad support, since the cradle is the wrong shape.

You’ll obviously need a whole Sonos system in order to use it – the wireless standard the company uses is proprietary, so you can’t just stream music from your iPhone 4 to a nearby netbook, for example – so budget that in too.  The new Sonos Wireless Dock WD100 will be available by the end of October, priced at $119.

Press Release:

SONOS INTRODUCES THE SONOS WIRELESS DOCK

New Sonos iPod accessory will be available by the end of October

SANTA BARBARA, CA – September 23, 2010 – Sonos, the leading developer of wireless multi-room music systems for the home, today introduced the Sonos Wireless Dock (WD100), an accessory to the award-winning Sonos Multi-Room Music System. With the Sonos Wireless Dock you can now play all of the music from an iPod or iPhone in every room of the house. The Sonos Wireless Dock will be available for $119 beginning by the end of October.

“The Sonos Wireless Dock is the perfect accessory for our music loving customers who own an iPod or iPhone and want to enjoy the music stored on them in any or every room of the home,” said Phil Abram, President, Sonos, Inc. “This new dock reinforces our mission to provide our customers with access to all of the music on the planet, including everything available on an iPod and iPhone in the home.”

The Sonos Wireless Dock accesses all of the music stored or playing on an iPhone or iPod and sends it wirelessly to Sonos ZonePlayers all throughout your home – before converting the music to analog – guaranteeing the best possible audio quality.

The Sonos Wireless Dock is compatible with the following devices: iPod touch (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation), iPod classic, iPod nano (3rd, 4th, and 5th generation), iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and iPhone, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards.

For more information about Sonos or to locate an authorized Sonos dealer in your area, please visit www.sonos.com.

HDR in iOS 4.1 takes three photos rather than a single frame, one purposefully over-exposed and another under-exposed, and then combines them to produce an image that has detail from all three.  Apple has officially limited the new functionality to the 5-megapixel iPhone 4, but while the iPhone 3G/3GS camera is lower resolution users will still likely see some improvement in their photography.

[via RedmondPie]

Download the app, and you can switch between the SFQ01′s sources – an iPod docked in the speaker itself, the iPad streamed via Bluetooth, an FM radio or an aux-in source – together with remotely controlling the docked PMP or choosing from the iPad’s own audio files.  Alternatively, you can pipe through music, soundtracks or game audio from the iPad, if you’re unhappy with the quality from the Apple tablet’s own speaker.

On the crowded ShowStoppers floor, the SFQ01 certainly sounded loud enough, though we’ll need to spend some proper one-on-one time with it to see if it lives up to the sales pitch.  We’re also cautious about audiophile-style claims, whenever regular Bluetooth A2DP is involved, since the format generally involves plenty of compression along the way.

The SFQ01 will land first in the UK, priced at £199.99.  In the US, the Sound Freaq SFQ01 will launch arrive in mid-October, in time for a November sales promotion in Target.  There it will be priced $199.99.

Video demo after the cut

You can also resume watching content that you’ve started on another Netflix-enabled device, handy if you’ve begun viewing a film at home and then have to head off to work.  Netflix subscriptions are required, obviously, and kick off at $8.99 per month.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/14437382[/vimeo]

Update: More photos and availability information after the cut

Even better news is that the iControlPad should be iPhone 4 compatible, handy considering the fourth-gen Apple smartphone was released in the intervening period since we first saw the controller.

Last we heard, there would be two versions of the pad: one with just the basic gaming controls – a D-pad plus two analog joysticks, four control buttons and two function keys (Start and Select) – and another that squeezes in a battery for longer gameplay.  Still no word on pricing or specific release dates, but with the components seemingly on hand we can’t imagine it will be long now.

Update: Craig says the first batch of 3,000 units will be sold soon, the announcement made on his Twitter feed.  The control unit has a battery that doubles the runtime of the iPhone, and you’ll eventually be able to buy different grip sections and use the same controls with non-iPhone devices.

iControlPad for iPhone prototype demo:

“I’ve waited patiently through 4.0.1 and 4.0.2, looking for a fix that will make my phone work again. I’ve read the forums that advise me to jailbreak my phone or use some other method so I can downgrade back to a version of iPhone 3, however I’m not prepared to use a method that is not supported by Apple.” Original email

As you might expect, Jobs’ response is brief:

“Software update coming soon.

Sent from my iPhone” Steve Jobs’ reply

However, it also falls short of specifying what exactly Apple plan on doing for frustrated iPhone 3G owners.  Many would prefer to simply downgrade back to iOS 3.1.3, but Apple could be readying an alternative iOS 4 install that will hopefully perform better on the older handset.

The update itself will remove your jailbreak, if you are currently jailbroken. And, if you used the site jailbreakme.com, you should expect that not to work anymore, either. We know that Apple’s removal of jailbroken software from their iPhones/iPods/iPads isn’t new, especially with software updates, and we should all expect the jailbreakers out there to take care of the situation on their side in no time. So, if you want to keep your jailbroken iDevice the way it is, go right ahead and don’t download this. But, if you want to patch up that huge security hole, and can wait to get jailbroken again, then you probably want to get to downloading.

There’s also no cover art support, nor file caching.  However, it’s expected that Apple will tighten up the user experience before too long, presuming this is the direction the Cupertino company plans to take their media service.

What also remains to be seen is how the music labels themselves respond to Apple’s quiet step into streaming, given users’ MP3 and AAC files will likely only have been licensed for local playback rather than for streamed distribution.  UMG, for instance, specifically requires different licensing for streamed audio, versus cloud-stored files.  Robertson suggests that this play is Apple “testing the waters” so as to see exactly what they can get away with.

[via ReadWriteWeb]

According to RedmondPie, the process for restoring FaceTime and MMS functionality is relatively simple: an app called iPhoneDelivery, available through Cydia, will automatically fix it.  The good news is that JailbreakMe has since been updated to take into account these tweaks, and so anyone using the webpage to hack their iOS device shouldn’t now encounter any problems.  It’s worth remembering that jailbreaking your handset, while legitimate under the DMCA, will void your Apple warranty, though you can restore a factory build through iTunes.

Meanwhile, the iPhone Dev Team are still promising an unlock for the iPhone 4, but they say that if you want to unlock your iPhone 3G/3GS you can still use ultrasn0w.  The iPhone 4 version is currently in testing and will be released shortly.

Doing so is as easy as visiting http://jailbreakme.com/ on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and sliding the appropriate control.  Right now the site is up and down as eager users attempt to access it, so you may be better off waiting a while.

Of course it’s also worth remembering that, while the DMCA says it’s okay, Apple says jailbreaking your device will nonetheless invalidate your warranty.  As with any hack, attempt it at your own risk!

“Apple’s goal has always been to insure that our customers have a great experience with their iPhone and we know that jailbreaking can severely degrade the experience. As we’ve said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably.” Apple statement

Cult of Mac also asked what Apple’s legal stance was toward companies or individuals that “publish or market jailbreaking software”.  The answer was relatively vague; the representative would only say that “in the past” they’ve not prosecuted anyone for doing that, but would make no comment about future intentions.

One prediction is that the hitherto underground jailbreaking community – and the app developers who populate the unofficial Cydia app store – will take a more public profile, choosing to bypass Apple’s official App Store and instead market directly to users with hacked devices.

The version number is 2.1, first of all. And, obviously one of the biggest features is that it’s going to let you run the software in the background, no matter what else you find yourself doing. What that means, is that you’ll be able to get updated to your Instant Messages, as well as receive calls even if you’re not running the app, or you find yourself playing some Plants vs Zombies. Additionally, Skype will keep working even when the phone is locked.

Furthermore, you will be able to stay on your call, even if you find that you need to look at something else other than your contact’s calling card picture. However, a word of caution: multitasking is obviously only available on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. So, you iPhone 3G owners out there (we know you’re still out there), no Skype multitasking for you (at least, not officially). We’re still hoping video chat makes an appearance at some point, but we won’t hold our breath for too long. Calls are still free, too, by the way, and so is the app itself. So, go get to downloading and let us know what you think of the changes in the comments.

[via iTunes]

As for the software update, that now allows owners to remotely control their iPod or iPhone from a new web browser interface, rather than having to go over to the PMP itself and peck away at the display.  It’s a free download for existing owners, too.  If you haven’t got an iPod then you can still stream audio from a PC, Mac or cellphone via Bluetooth or WiFi, or use the analog RCA input.

Unsurprisingly, the pricing hasn’t gotten any easier to stomach, each set comes with 2 speakers that communicate wirelessly with one another so that they can be positioned anywhere in the room for $1,600.  Heady stuff, considering the sort of multi-room Sonos system you could start building for that.

Press Release:

Parrot Zikmu ‘in Color’ by Philippe Starck

Famous wireless speakers now available in 4 stylish colors and reinvent the magic of Zikmu sound

DETROIT, July 19 /PRNewswire/ — Parrot, global leader in wireless devices for mobile phones, announces a new colored range of its stereo speakers Zikmu by Philippe Starck – White Arctic, Grey Pearl and Lime Sorbet – in addition to a new Web interface and software update.

The state-of-the-art technology and the pure sound of the Zikmu take another dimension with the new, color collection: the elegance of Black, the purity of White, the sobriety of Grey and the fancy of Yellow, magnified by the smart and aerial design from Philippe Starck.

“With Zikmu, we created a beautiful and a unique object for listening to music with today’s digital devices,” explains Henri Seydoux, founder of Parrot. “With the Zikmu ‘in Color’ collection, we pursue the idea of a high-tech product which is part of everyday life, similar to a piece of furniture or a decorative object. You choose it because you like it, because you will live well with it.”

In addition to new colors, Parrot’s software update includes a new Web interface with browsing mode to select music in the iPod. Also, an equalizer offers pre-settings according to the chosen music themes. With every Parrot product, including Zikmu, the company offers free software updates at www.parrot.com to improve customer experience.

Parrot Zikmu by Starck offers a 360 degree immersive sound and crystal clear sound image, thanks to the NXT technology and control of all electrodynamic elements via a system of DSP processing and amplifiers.

With Parrot Zikmu, listeners can enjoy music from today’s digital devices:

– iPod®/iPhone(TM) via a dedicated docking station
– PC, with audio streaming via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
– Mac computers and Bluetooth mobile phones, with audio streaming via
Bluetooth® Stereo (A2DP)

Furthermore, an RCA line-in enables Parrot Zikmu to be connected to a television for home theater entertainment.

Zikmu ‘in Color’ is available at select Design Within Reach retail locations across the United States and online at www.dwr.com.

For further information about Parrot Zikmu ‘in Color’ by Starck wireless speakers, visit www.parrot.com/zikmu / www.starck.com.

According to the Apple support document, some users may have been finding Exchange sync to be sluggish or downright impossible, making transferring calendar, contacts and mail information between the iPhone and the remote server a headache.  The workaround solution – for those who cannot or are unwilling to update to iOS4 – involves increasing the timeout period for waiting for server replies, though it’s unclear if the changes in iOS 4.0.1 do the same thing.

The chassis is a 1.1lb solid piece of anodized billet aluminum with dual handle-grips and a tripod mount; up front is a Canon EF lens adapter, which Jeremy hopes to extend to support SLR lenses from other manufacturers.  It’ll actually work with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G, though of course the latter two don’t pack as many megapixels or the iMovie app for on-the-fly video editing.

There are still questions – when they’re not berating him for his choice of name, commenters are asking about the difference in image circle between what size sensor an SLR lens is designed to work with and the sensor in the iPhone 4 – and Jeremy is yet to show any sample shots from the rig, but as we saw with similar systems for earlier iPhones, people just seem to love to make complicated mounts for relatively mainstream cameraphones.

Firefox Home pulls over the past pages history from the desktop from the last 24hrs, up to 2,000 items, with data re-synced every time the app is restarted.  As for actually showing pages, it uses Apple’s own iPhone browser system (or you can open pages in Mobile Safari); Mozilla insist they have no plans to port Firefox to iOS because of the limits Apple place on the platform.

You can download Firefox Home for iOS here [iTunes link].  Full instructions on how to set up the app – including linking it with Firefox Sync and your desktop browser – are here.

Apple’s solution for that remains to be seen; the company has arranged a press conference tomorrow morning at 10am PT – which we’ll be liveblogging at http://live.slashgear.com/ – to discuss the iPhone 4, but given no hint as to what exactly they’ll be covering.  At least two analysts have suggested a hardware fix may be in the works.

[via BGR]

However the judge also dismissed claims that Apple had bricked devices in the process of issuing software updates.  The class-action lawsuit is looking for an injunction against locked iPhone sales in the US together with more flexibility as to which apps owners can install to their handsets.  In Europe, meanwhile, Apple has already switched to offering unlocked iPhones, selling contract-free, unsubsidized units through their own online stores while various carrier partners offer their own versions under contract.

Full Apple iPhone 4 reception letter after the cut

“Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don’t know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.”

Apple reckon they were “stunned” to discover the anomaly, and that they will be pushing out a new firmware update within a few weeks time that will address the falsely-displaying bars, not only on the iPhone 4 but on the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.  That will adopt AT&T’s “recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength”: as Apple say, the signal itself will remain the same, but the way it’s displayed will change.

The Cupertino company also plans to make the one, two and three signal bars on the iPhone “a bit taller so they will be easier to see.”  Apple maintain the iPhone 4 offers the best wireless performance to-date.

Press Release:

Letter from Apple Regarding iPhone 4

CUPERTINO, Calif., July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Dear iPhone 4 Users,

The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple’s history. It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them. Here is what we have learned.

To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design.

At the same time, we continue to read articles and receive hundreds of emails from users saying that iPhone 4 reception is better than the iPhone 3GS. They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this?

We have discovered the cause of this dramatic drop in bars, and it is both simple and surprising.

Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don’t know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.

To fix this, we are adopting AT&T’s recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone’s bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see.

We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G.

We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same– the iPhone 4′s wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused.

As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.

We hope you love the iPhone 4 as much as we do.

Thank you for your patience and support.

Apple

There’s also a 1,840mAh battery in there too, which Magellan reckon is sufficient to double your iPhone’s runtimes, while the SiRFstar III GPS chipset is accurate down to three meters.  It’s not just usable with the company’s own RoadMate software, either; just about any GPS app in the App Store should get the positioning boost.

You can’t exactly call the ToughCase slick or minimal, but there’s full access to all the regular iPhone/iPod touch controls together with indicators showing its own battery status.  A mounting clip on the back lets it be easily used with Magellan’s various in-car, bike and other mounts.  It’ll work with the iPhone 3G and 3GS (though not the iPhone 4) together with the iPod touch 2nd- and 3rd-generation, and is available now priced at $199.99.

Press Release:

Magellan GPS Launches Rugged, Waterproof ToughCase for iPhone and iPod touch

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (June 29, 2010) – Magellan GPS today launched the ToughCase, a refined yet rugged protective case, giving iPhone and iPod touch waterproof capabilities, ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and outdoor professionals.

Available worldwide, featuring built-in GPS, ToughCase enhances the accuracy of location-based and GPS applications for iPhone 3G and iPod touch, while protecting the device and providing unmatched accessibility to all iPhone and iPod touch features.

“The ToughCase is the ideal solution for all outdoor users. From kayakers to golfers, mountain bikers to construction workers, it provides a level of protection and performance previously unavailable in other cases,” said Justin Doucette, Director of Product Marketing for Magellan GPS. “The ToughCase protects against harmful elements such as dust, rain, mud, water and snow.”

The unique case design allows 100 percent access to Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface, allowing users to receive and place calls while the device is protected. The ToughCase meets IPX-7 waterproof standards, enabling the device to be submerged at a depth of 1-meter for up to 30 minutes. The integrated 1840 mAh battery will double the life of the device based on normal usage and the built-in high sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS chipset delivers up to 3 meters of accuracy.

The ToughCase is compatible with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (second and third generation). The ToughCase will be available at MagellanGPS.com and Apple Stores at www.apple.com. The ToughCase retails at an MSRP of USD $199.99.

ToughCase extends Magellan’s comprehensive solutions for iPhone and iPod touch, which include the Magellan RoadMate turn-by-turn navigation app and the Magellan Premium Car Kit – an innovative 3-in-1 vehicle mount for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and second and third generation iPod touch enhancing their performance as a hands-free navigation solution.

The Magellan RoadMate turn-by-turn navigation app is available for $49.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

About MiTAC Digital Corporation

MiTAC Digital Corp. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International Corporation and promotes and sells products and services under the Magellan brand name. Magellan assists people to travel, work and play with leading portable navigation and positioning solutions across multiple consumer markets. Recognized as an industry innovator, the company is the producer of the award-winning Magellan RoadMate series of portable car navigation, outdoor and mobile navigation devices. MiTAC Digital Corp. is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. For more information on Magellan, visit http://www.magellangps.com.