Do you need to know these top iPhone’s secret silicon?

The precise specifications for many iPhone chips are murky. Should Apple be more open about its secret ingredients?

We know the precise dimensions of the outside of the iPhone–but what’s inside?

(Credit: Apple)Granted, many people don’t care about the silicon inside their iPhone. They just want it to work. That said, I think more than a few people would like to see the specifications for the iPhone’s core silicon posted on Apple’s Web site.

By comparison, take your typical laptop. Prospective buyers are able to see the exact specifications and make an informed buying decision. Though the iPhone isn’t offered in different processor SKUs (models) like a laptop, the iPhone comes close to a PC in its capabilities and demands more disclosure.

Nikkei’s TechOn Web site takes a stab at what the iPhone’s main chip might be–generically referred to as an application(s) processor: “An LSI (large-scale integrated circuit) printed with Apple Inc.’s logo (”339S0036 ARM K4X1G163PC-DGC3″) was embedded on the center right of the board. It was assumed to be an application processor with an ARM core. Because it included a letter string beginning with ‘K,’ it seemed to be manufactured by Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. of Korea.”

Semiconductor Insights is a little more specific, saying it’s a “Samsung ARM11-based design.”

Here’s my point: Am I getting a smartphone with a Samsung, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, Freescale, Nvidia or Intel processor? As high-end smartphones proliferate (such as those based on Intel’s upcoming “Moorestown” processor), it would be useful to know up front who makes the applications processor and other core silicon and what the rated performance-per-watt of that chip is. And right now, the iPhone is the most prominent high-end smartphone.

Don’t think smartphone makers should go down the same path as laptops, which are plastered with Intel, AMD, ATI, Nvidia, and Microsoft stickers? Maybe not. But more about what makes the device tick could only be helpful.

Would anybody else like to know?

(Via Cnet)

Lounge brings a rich Twitter client to iPhone and Mac OS X

Recently, Apple has unveiled the iPhone OS 3.0. However, iPhone’s current Internet connections are really slow and this has been a major drawback for Apple, although the smartphone has become the best selling phone in the US. According to some rumors, the next generation iPhone will come with a hardware upgrade that would provide better Internet access. Everybody knows that the iPhone is based on performance-limited hardware which supports only 3.6Mbps 3G, while 7.2Mbps 3G remains only a dream for users.

For the moment we don’t know if the iPhone will actually come with faster 3G or with faster Wi-Fi as the current 802.11 b/g supports 25Mbps therefore the latest Broadcom 802.11n chipsets will provide 50Mbps. Both are plausible, but 3G has an advantage considering the fact that Infineon is readying an improved 3G chipset which also improves battery life. Also, remember the fact that AT&T started trialing the 7.2Mbps 3G as of late-2008 and they will probably “release” the service later this year.

On the other side, better 3G would actually mean that better Wi-Fi. Why? Because 7.2Mbps is a must for the next-gen iPhone, and if users will get faster 3G speeds, then why wouldn’t Apple provide faster Wi-Fi?

We can say that we are almost sure that the next-gen iPhone will not support 4G because the LTE equipment will be completed in one or two years, however, what if Apple decides to release a new smartphone in one or two years? This remains to be seen, but it is more likely that the iPhone will come with faster 3G access.

Metal Gear Solid Touch: Released for the iPhone and iPod Touch

Metal Gear Solid:Touch will be released today and can be bought at iTune App Store for $7.99.
The game covers the events of Metal Gear Solid 4, with gamers resuming their role as Solid Snake. The players can tap the screen to shoot enemies, slide your fingers to move the screen around, and use pinch gestures-two fingers sliding apart or close on the screen to zoom in and out.

The game features 20 levels with 45 minute of cut-scenes. In order to win each level, you must meet specific objectives in order to clear the stage. Along the way you earn “Drebin Points” which you can cash in for access to exclusive items -- 15 wallpapers you can decorate your iPhone with.

The numbers of the iPhone firmware followup

Confirmed: if you’re a developer who’s only compiling for the latest iPhone firmware, you are locking potential customers out from your App Store products. Ars looks at a one-week and 90-day breakdown of iPhone use by firmware platform.

Which SDK should you compile for? 2.2.1? 2.2? Choosing an active SDK version can affect both your target audience and possible App Store sales. We recently wrote about SDK choices, noting that building for 2.2.1 (the latest version, as of this writing) might cut out users who had yet to upgrade from the 2.2 firmware.

Ars readers responded both in comments and e-mail, asking whether delaying the firmware upgrades were typical of iPhone users or whether they indicated the relatively small audience of jailbreakers, who purposefully held off on upgrades. To answer this question, we turned to a few experts on the subject.

Michael Burford of Headlight Software has created more than a dozen App Store products. Headlight, which uses its own internal advertising solutions, is able to capture firmware specs from the platforms it publishes to. Burford was kind enough to share with us a one-week snapshot for approximately 20,000 unique IP addresses. These addresses represent about half (49.75 ercent) of iPhone units, with the remaining units being iPod touches of various vintages. The numbers he collected offer a short-term look at which platforms are using which firmware releases.

Firmware	Percentage
2.0	0.37%
2.0.1	0.19%
2.0.2	0.49%
2.1	3.93%
2.1.1	2.90%
2.2	26.61%
2.2.1	65.49%

Admittedly this data is a little skewed in that it shows per-use, not per-platform information. At the same time, it provides valuable insights about the distribution of firmware. Take a look at these numbers: by compiling to 2.2 (approximately 92.10 percent of use) rather than 2.2.1 (65.49 percent of use), you may increase your potential sales by nearly 50 percent above the expected 2.2.1 installations. That’s staggering.

To get another view of the information, I contacted Eric Litman of Medialets. Medialets is an analytics and ad platform that provides solutions for native mobile applications, working with over 700 iPhone developers to provide analytics, and in some cases rich media ads, into their apps. Litman was kind enough to task one of his engineers to find out how the firmware installations broke down over a longer time frame. Bill Hatch assembled a 60 day overview, representing over 12 million devices, offering a firmware-specific report.

Firmware	Percentage
2.0	2%
2.0.1	2%
2.0.2	5%
2.1	35%
2.1.1	7%
2.2	39%
2.2.1	9%

Looking at this 60-day snapshot offers valuable information that augments the one-week picture. Recall that firmware 2.2 was released on November 21, 2008 and that 2.2.1 debuted on January 27, 2009—approximately 45 days ago. All the numbers you see in this table reflect data that was collected from a month and a half after the iPhone had already moved into 2.2 firmware.

You cannot look at these numbers and not realize that adoption delays will affect the way you sell applications. During January and February of 2009, a third of iPhone and iPod users continued using firmware 2.1. Software compiled for and deployed solely to 2.2 or later, let alone 2.2.1, could not be installed on these units until the user upgraded.

What can we conclude from these numbers? I think it’s obvious that user-delayed upgrades are a real phenomenon that affects the entire user base, and not just a niche phenomenon of the jailbreak community. As with any consumer device, users are not going to automatically upgrade their units even though iTunes offers one of the cleanest and easiest upgrade solutions for users. So, here are a couple of suggestions to take away with you:

First, after doing as much bug evaluation and testing as possible, consider compiling for as much backward-compatibility as possible without sacrificing stability in order to maximize your potential customer base. The lower the firmware release number you compile for, the greater the chances you’ll be able to run on any given iPhone or iPod touch.

Second, make any minimum firmware requirements clear in your App Store marketing materials. Don’t let users buy your application and then be aggravated when they cannot install it on their device. Recent purchasers of Ego and Oregon Trail have been surprised, and not in a good way, by discovering that these applications are 2.2.1-only releases.

Yes, there are certainly trade-offs when choosing a distribution SDK. Our earlier  talked about bug issues and stability. However, there’s also something to be said for increasing compatibility, especially with numbers as compelling as the ones shown here.

Found Footage: Swing yer iPhone ’round and ’round with Danglet

For those of you who have been anxiously awaiting a way to hang your iPhone or iPod touch from your neck or wrist, your wishes have been answered! There’s a new accessory called the Danglet that plugs into the dock connector port on the bottom of your favorite device, then clips onto a wrist or neck strap. The neck strap in particular would be an excellent accessory for anyone who needs to have both hands free, yet have immediate access to their iPhone (geocaching, anyone?).

Towards the end of the video above, you can see the obviously unpaid actors swinging their iPhones around by the straps. Personally, I kept expecting to see one of the phones flying off into the trees or pavement. Much to my relief, the Danglet mechanism appears to be well-designed and kept the devices from becoming projectiles.

The Danglet retails for $14.99 and includes both a hand strap and neck strap. Do not use your Danglet to turn your iPhone into martial arts weaponry. Thank you.

3G iPhone over a common Mobile Phone

What is so good about a 3G Phone, you would ask? You are a small businessman or woman, don’t have much in terms of assets and are quite happy with the performance of your mobile phone than why should you take a flashy phone – just to flaunt??

Well, apart from the sleek look and attractive features, there are a number of things which adds to the utility of 3G iPhone. Just take a look – by using HSDPA – High Speed Downlink Packet Access, a 3G iPhone gives faster access to internet which solves the E- mailing problem, especially where internet is required urgently. With the 3G iPhone you can simply talk and browse, move anywhere (the 3G iPhone has the advantage of giving connectivity via GSM for calls and EDGE for data in case there is no 3G network. The good thing about iPhone 3G is that you can surf the web, download e-mal, get directions and watch video, even while you are on call. That sounds good for your business, doesn’t it? And yes, you don’t need to be a computer geek to play with the key pad of a 3G iPhone.

With the touch screen things become easier, you can simply scroll down your contact list and call the contact, you can listen to iTunes, just as you listen to them in your iPod. You can look out for specific locations in the maps with the help of GPS, you can add your precious memories in the form of photos or can add photos of the specific locations for your business, you can look out for weather, stocks, news but just clicking on the screen of the 3G iPhone. You can also read the newspaper even being in remote place. Its wider screen and font size changing features makes it easy to read the daily newspaper. With the 3G iPhone you can also talk while you surf or browse and that’s one of the best features of a 3G iPhone.

The faster accessibility, more added utility of mobile pricesand a range of applications make it easy for you handle your business wherever you are in the world. For all those people who work in this materialistic world and often run out of time, a 3G iPhone is one of the best solutions.

For some though, a 3G iPhone might be a costly affair, but if you are a businessman then its worth the cause!! Get one today!

AT&T rolling out MicroCell support update for iPhone users

In addition to the recent firmware update for the iPhone and iPod touch, another slightly more cryptic update has shown up. This latest is not another firmware update from Apple, but instead a carrier update that is coming from AT&T.

For users who have not hooked up their iPhone in the past few days, the message simply read “an update to the carrier settings for your iPhone is available. Would you like to download it now?”

All-in-all, the update seems to be harmless enough, I have not seen any reports of trouble coming as a result, and it will not affect any jailbroken status either.

So, just what does this carrier update do? Well, this is one time where it seems that AT&T is looking out for you, well, at least for users who have reception issues in their homes — this update enables support for AT&T’s MicroCell service which is able to blanket up to 5,000 square foot of home in AT&T GSM network coverage.

iPhone/China talks break down, and the iPhone may never make it to China

Will the iPhone ever officially make it to China? It’s beginning to look like it may never happen.

The wrangling between Apple and China Mobile, the country’s dominant network operator, to launch the iPhone in the world’s largest mobile market has been long reported. Now, we’re getting a little more detail as to what the sticking points are between the two companies. One word: control.

According to Interfax, which cites a source at the China Mobile Research Institute quoting the carrier’s president Wang Jianzhou, the 18-month old negotiations, which included Apple CEO Steve Jobs and COO Tim Cook, broke down three times.

In the latest and third round of talks, the two haggled over which company would sell iPhone applications directly to customers. As it does everywhere else, Apple wanted to sell directly to consumers through its App Store. China Mobile chiefs, however, balked at this. Wang apparently considered the notion of Apple interacting and directly collecting payment from Chinese consumers as a “threat” to the operator’s dominance over the country’s mobile internet market.

China Mobile has a 72 percent share of the market, or 634 million subscribers as of the end of November. In September last year, it reported it had 100 million registered users signed up to its instant messaging service, 80 million to its music service, and 40 million to its newspaper service.

It appears neither will back down for now, so the talks remain a stalemale, one that may not be broken until Jobs returns from his sick leave in June.

Google Books Now Optimized for the iPhone

 

Looks like the Google team is at it again with their non-stop “iPhone-optimized” web pages! Their hard work is good news for the rest of us. Just yesterday they announced an optimized page for Google Books. This essentially turns your iPhone into an eBook reader, and will allow you to search their extensive database of about 1.5 million texts!

All you have to do to get to Google Books is visit http://books.google.com/m on your iPhone. Once there, you can search away and start reading to your heart’s content.

 

So far the Google Team has released Google Reader, Gmail, Gmail Tasks, and previously iGoogle. I wonder what they’ll release next?

How about Google Latitude?

What I’m patiently waiting for is the release of Google Latitude, the official stalking tool for all your friends and family! Google Latitude will soon be released in the Google Mobile App on the iPhone with an update. Expect it shortly. Watch the following video to learn more!

 

2nd Generation iPod Touch Jailbreak Coming Soon

The iPhone Dev Team has just posted a hint at a jailbreak for the 2g iPod Touch. They will be calling this redsn0w(redsn0w.com) and ’should’ be released soon. Even the previous ‘hacking team’ that were expected to jailbreak the 2nd generation iPod Touch(Chronic Dev Team) confirms that redsn0w will be the first jailbreak available.

I assumed the iPhone Dev Team dropped the responsibility of releasing this just so they could concentrate on the unlock(and not get flooded with emails for the ipod jailbreak).

So far there is no ETA on when it will be released, but this announcement has to mean that they found a way in, and now they just need to package it up and do some beta testing.

Android Market offerings remain dwarfed by App Store

Although the Android Market has been open for just three months, the number of available apps still remains dwarfed by the plethora of titles offered by the App Store. iPhone owners can now choose from over 15,000 apps, a number that has leaped upward from 10,000 listings in December, while Google has yet to reach the 1,000 mark. Apple clearly has an advantage, starting the race an entire year earlier and distributing over 15 million handsets.
The Android platform still has an opportunity to establish itself, although it will have to compete against RIM and Palm in the fight to become the dominant underdog in the realm of handset apps.

Developers could be waiting until they can charge for apps before jumping into the Android Market, although Google appears ready to allow the option sometime in the near future. The adoption of Android by additional device manufacturers could also provide a competitive edge. Samsung is set to launch an Android-based phone sometime this spring.

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