iPhone News Updated

Next-Gen iPhone May Be A Major Upgrade

Rumors are percolating about the next-generation iPhone, particularly after Apple offered a sneak preview recently of its upcoming iPhone 3.0 software.

If the reports are true, the upcoming iPhone may prove to be a major upgrade of the current model and will likely launch this summer, a timetable that’s rapidly becoming an iPhone tradition.

The latest gossipy tidbits come from The Boy Genius Report, which attributes its speculations to a source “pretty high up in AT&T’s food chain.” The iPhone will be faster, the report states, although it’s unclear if that means speedier Internet access. AT&T has said that its 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless broadband probably won’t appear before 2011, so we shouldn’t expect an iPhone 4G in June. However, a “faster” iPhone with an upgraded 7.2Mbit chipset could indeed provide a speedier 3G experience. And since AT&T is upgrading its 3G network, this rumor sounds reasonable.

The new iPhone will reportedly add automation tools that allow AT&T U-verse users to control their home DVRs remotely. (U-verse is AT&T’s version of Verizon FiOS, a fiber-optic service that bring high-speed data, video, and voice services to the home.) The iPhone/U-verse connection makes a lot of sense, particularly since AT&T officials have talked up the marriage of the two technologies before. If the iPhone’s DVR tools are real, they’ll likely be just the start of a series of U-verse-enabled goodies, including a variety of home automation features.

Meanwhile, Apple Insider believes the next iPhone will finally offer video recording, a prediction that seems reasonable considering that competing smart phones have had video capture feature for some time.

[Thanks: http://www.pcworld.ca]

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iPhone OS 3.0 allows Skype over 3G

While an official Skype client for the iPhone was a welcome announcement, the news that carriers’ and Apple’s Terms of Service prevented VoIP calls being made over 3G connections put a dampener on things.

Now it seems that Skype running on handsets using iPhone OS 3.0 is able to use a 3G link for voice calls, in addition to WiFi.

Video demo after the cut

As standard, only WiFi connections should be available for Skype calls.  It’s unclear what in OS 3.0 is confusing the software, but right now people aren’t complaining.

Skype for iPhone is available to download now through the Apple App Store.  It’s a free app, although calls from Skype to landlines will require loading some credit first.

[Thanks: http://www.slashgear.com]

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