New Antenna

The first major change is the Antenna. The Verizon iPhone 4, unlike existing iPhone 4 devices, features four antenna breaks in the casing instead of three. The placement has also changed.

The new antenna design makes the following moves (when facing the display):

• GSM iPhone 4 bottom left and bottom right antennas are the same as on the Verizon iPhone 4.
• New antenna breaks on the top left and right of the Verizon iPhone 4.
• No antenna break at the top of the Verizon iPhone 4, unlike the GSM iPhone 4

These antenna changes have also caused a downward shift of the silent switch, making many cases, including Apple’s own Bumper, incompatible with the Verizon iPhone 4.

Personal Hotspot

The next major difference is the included “Personal Hotspot”. This turns the iPhone 4 into a router that is able to connect to and provide Internet access to up to five devices. The feature is built right into the Settings app.

For those that have ever used the jailbreak app MyWi, or have heard or used Bell Mobility’s MiFi devices, you will be instantly familiar with Personal Hotspot.

It is unknown if this will be exclusive to Verizon, or if Personal Hotspot will be available with a future software update. And speaking of software updates…

iOS 4.2.5

Aside from antenna changes and the Personal Hotspot, the Verizon iPhone 4 also launched with iOS 4.2.5. We are all running the latest firmware, iOS 4.2.1.

This software update undoubtedly brought the Personal Hotspot feature, but will this be released to all iPhones devices?

Will we see this iOS update in February, alongside the Verizon iPhone 4 launch or will everything merge with iOS 4.3?

Verizon iPhone 4 Launches With Redesigned Antenna, Personal Hotspot, iOS 4.2.5 is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

Related posts:

1. Apple Launches Smartphone Antenna Page
2. WSJ: CDMA iPhone Coming to Verizon; Redesign for Next iPhone
3. Chuck Norris Can Fix iPhone 4 Antenna Issues [video]

Bell and Telus have both the 16/32GB models available online. So get them while they last because I’m sure they’re going to disappear! As for Rogers iPhone 4 stock…nobody knows the status of their stock.

[Bell, Telus]

iPhone 4 Stock Available Online from Bell and Telus is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

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People really enjoyed getting free invisibleSHIELDs for their iPhone 4s and iPads! We had lots to giveaway and we even got some of the footage on camera. Thanks to @anothersamchan and @acwinwong for filming and editing the video.

Check it out below:

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD iPhone 4 GIVEAWAY!

We can’t forget the folks on the blog, so leave a comment below to win a free full body invisibleSHIELD for your iPhone 4. Don’t forget to read our full iPhone 4 review here!

Contest ends in 48 hours, winners will be announced on twitter and on this post. Canadian mailing addresses only, one entry per address. GOOD LUCK!

Get a part of iPhone 4 History, Buy your iPhoneinCanada.ca “I was there 4 it!” Tshirt!

Thanks to the help of Joshua from ThinkWebStrategy, Pierre Tabbiner Design, Tim from Kwik Kopy Calgary, and Tejpal from 1234pens.com, we got some amazing tshirts made for launch day.

The front reads the famous line from Steve Jobs, “Just don’t hold it that way.” Below, is a line that says “I was there 4 it!”. It’s a pretty awesome tshirt and if you waited in line on iPhone 4 launch day, you’re going to want this tshirt.

You can now buy it from the iPhoneinCanada.ca Cafepress Store. Own a piece of history today!

ZAGG invisibleSHIELD iPhone 4 Launch in Canada Giveaway is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

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Here we go again. More iPhone 4 pricing rumours, however this time around it’s embedded in the Fido website source code. Here’s what Adam discovered from his digging (Chantelle Joy also found some goodies before too) from this page: http://www.fido.ca/web/Fido.portal?_…eting-_-iphone

function checkEligibility() {
var Eligibility_urlStr =
“/web/com/fido/portlets/handset/iphoneRequest/upgradeEligibility.jsp”;
var ctn = jQuery.trim($(“#LightphNo1″).val()) +
jQuery.trim($(“#LightphNo2″).val()) + jQuery.trim($(“#LightphNo3″).val());
var postalCode = jQuery.trim($(“#LightphNo4″).val());
Eligibility_urlStr = Eligibility_urlStr + “?ctn=” + ctn + “&postalCode=” +
postalCode;

$.ajax({
url: Eligibility_urlStr,
cache: false,
type: “POST”,
dataType: “html”,
timeout: 300000,
success: function(data, textStatus){
data = jQuery.trim(data);
if(data == ‘H’) {
$(‘#checkContent’).css(‘display’,'none’);
$(‘#eligibleContent’).css(‘display’,'block’);
$(‘#eligibleMsg’).html(‘You are eligible to upgrade to an iPhone4 at the special
price of $199 for 16GB or $299 for 32GB, with a 3 year Fido Agreement.
FidoDollars applicable. Certain conditions apply.’);
}
else if(data == ‘M’) {
$(‘#checkContent’).css(‘display’,'none’);
$(‘#eligibleContent’).css(‘display’,'block’);
$(‘#eligibleMsg’).html(‘You are eligible to upgrade to an iPhone4 at $699 for
16GB or $799 for 32GB, with a 3 year Fido Agreement. FidoDollars applicable. In
addition, you will receive a $250 Fido Rewards bonus. Certain conditions
apply.’);
}
else if(data == ‘S’) {
$(‘#checkContent’).css(‘display’,'none’);
$(‘#eligibleContent’).css(‘display’,'block’);
$(‘#eligibleMsg’).html(‘You are eligible to upgrade to an iPhone4 at $699 for
16GB or $799 for 32GB, with a 3 year Fido Agreement. FidoDollars applicable. In
addition, you will receive a $450 Fido Rewards bonus. Certain conditions
apply.’);
}
else if(data == ‘null’) {
$(‘#checkContent’).css(‘display’,'none’);
$(‘#eligibleContent’).css(‘display’,'block’);
$(‘#eligibleMsg’).html(‘You are eligible to upgrade to an iPhone4 at $699 for
16GB or $799 for 32GB, with a 3 year Fido Agreement. FidoDollars applicable. In
addition, you will receive a $450 Fido Rewards bonus. Certain conditions
apply.’);
}
},
error: function(xhrRequest, textStatus, errorThrown){
//onError(xhrRequest, textStatus, errorThrown)
}
});
return false;
}

So, if this source code is correct once again, we get the following prices:

3 year contract pricing
iPhone 4 16GB: $199
iPhone 4 32GB: $299

Contract free pricing:
iPhone 4 16GB: $699
iPhone 4 32GB: $799

These unlocked prices differ from our unlocked iPhone 4 predictions and CBC’s reported pricing. The only price we have yet to confirm is the unlocked iPhone 4 pricing from the Apple Store. The 699/799 price point is the same as outright iPhone 3GS units during last year’s launch.

Fido Website Source Code Reveals iPhone 4 Pricing? is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

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3. Rogers/Fido iPhone 3GS Contract Free Pricing Revealed?

One of the first phones in the antenna attenuation demo was RIM’s Blackberry Bold 9700. Here’s the video below:

Well, of course RIM didn’t take this lightly. They’ve had their own launch issues with their smartphones that were intended to be “iPhone killers” (*cough* Blackberry Storm *cough*). A chance to shoot back at Jobs was what they did. Here’s what the CEOs had to say:

“Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.”

- Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie

Strong words, straight to the point. What I question is the sentence where they explain RIM’s use of “innovative designs”. The last time I checked, Blackberry models have remained with the same form factor since–forever. Trackball, 2 inch screen, tiny keyboard, and a half-baked “browser”.

If you don’t like the iPhone 4 and this isolated issue, don’t buy the phone just yet. Lots of people haven’t had problems with the phone. I still think the advantages of the iPhone 4 outweigh this issue with the antenna’s “soft spot”.

We haven’t even had a chance to play with it in Canada. It’ll be interesting to see how the iPhone 4 performs in Canada, as our networks will surely respond differently versus the overstrained AT&T networks in the US.

[Crackberry.com]

RIM Responds To Apple’s Press Conference is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

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Just as reported earlier in the month, the iPhone 3GS (and the iPhone 4) will be unlocked when purchased at full price from the Apple Canada Online Store. The 8GB is a new capacity for the iPhone 3GS, previously featuring 16GB and 32GB. The 8GB capacity will also only come in black.

Your new iPhone. Direct from Apple and ready to use.

When you purchase your iPhone from the Apple Online Store, you’ll get it commitment-free. So you can sign up for service with the carrier of your choice and change your carrier at any time.

At this time, it seems that the 8GB iPhone 3GS will not be available at Apple Retail Stores and instead, Apple Stores will continue to offer the 16GB/32GB iPhone 3GS in black and white locked to a Canadian carrier. This will likely change next month with the launch of the iPhone 4.

The 8GB iPhone 3GS has free shipping and a shipping time of 1 – 3 days after orders are placed through the Apple Canada Online Store. The device will ship with iOS4, will be unlocked (visit your local carrier or Apple Store for a SIM card), and is available for $549.00 (add your province tax rate).

[Apple]

Unlocked 8GB iPhone 3GS Now Available From Apple is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

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Benefits of Purchasing an Unlocked iPhone and Going Contract-Free

For starters, when you travel you’ll be able to pop in a SIM card from your travel destination and talk for dirt cheap, at a fraction of what it would cost to roam internationally. Have you seen what Rogers, Telus, and Bell charge when you’re overseas or out of the country? Just call them and ask.

Also, a factory unlocked iPhone will retain a higher resale value versus a phone locked to a specific carrier. So when it comes time to upgrade to the iPhone 5 (or whatever it will be called), just put your phone up on eBay and you’ll make top dollar. Don’t believe me? Just check eBay listing for factory unlocked iPhones originating from Hong Kong or Italy. There’s a massive, thriving aftermarket for your factory unlocked phone.

Another benefit is you get to avoid re-signing the dreaded 3 year contracts from Rogers, Telus, and Bell. Sure, you won’t get the subsidized pricing up front, but the freedom of not being tied down is priceless.

If the ‘Big 3′ decide to make changes to your plan while you’re on contract, you will have no choice but to accept them. But when you’re contract free with an unlocked iPhone–you will be able to jump to whatever carrier/plan you wish–without paying a penalty (assuming you’re on a month to month plan, and not on contract). Need to move suddenly out of the country?–no problem! No cancellation fees here, folks!

Unlocked iPhone 4 Price Predictions for Canada

We haven’t heard what the outright unlocked prices will be for Canadians. To put unlocked prices in perspective, let’s take a look at what people are paying in France and the UK (prices reflect their VAT?) before we make our educated guess:

France:
16GB iPhone 4: 629 € = $795 CDN
32GB iPhone 4: 739 € = $934 CDN

UK:
16GB iPhone 4: £499 = $758 CDN
32GB iPhone 4: £599 = $910 CDN

Unlocked iPhone 4 pricing in Canada:

How did we come up with this? We analyzed the historical prices of iPhones in Canada (our prediction for iPad pricing in Canada was pretty much spot on).

2009 prices of outright iPhones in Canada:
8GB iPhone 3G: $599
16GB iPhone 3GS: $699
32GB iPhone 3GS: $799

2010 prices of outright iPhones in Canada:
8GB iPhone 3GS: $549 (-$50 price drop)…this latest price drop should also apply to the new iPhone 4 leaving us with the following outright, unlocked prices:

So really, in 2010 we will be paying $50 less for an outright iPhone from Apple–but this time around, the darn things are factory unlocked! Now that’s what you call ‘the cherry on top’. All we need now is the iPhone 4′s date of arrival in Canada. Here’s to crossing our fingers for July 23rd/30th (or earlier!) and no delays like down South!

Unlocked iPhone 4 Price Predictions for Canada: $649/$749 is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

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1. Poll: You Going to Buy an Unlocked iPhone 4 in Canada?
2. Canada Apple Store iPhones Will Be Sold Unlocked
3. 3G iPhone Predictions from the WWDC

The video primarily features the iPhone 4 within the context of the user experience and provides several choice words from Apple executives. The video was shown earlier this morning at the conclusion of the WWDC keynote presentation held by Steve Jobs.

The video features the same sort of theme as the product video shown at the end of Apple’s January media event for the iPad and even going further back to Fall 2009 with the introduction of the new iMacs.

Apple Posts iPhone 4 Feature Video is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

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Just posted on their Redboard, they had this to say:

Rogers intends to launch iPhone 4, the thinnest smartphone in the world with the highest resolution display ever built into a phone, in Canada in the coming weeks.

As this is a brand new device – just announced today – we’re not ready to talk about release date or pricing just yet. We’ll announce the details here at the same time as our dealers and Care reps get them, so check back on RedBoard to learn more.

Upgrading Nightmares Soon to Come for iPhone 4

The problem with the wireless industry in Canada is the dreaded 3 year contract (akin to a life sentence to your cell carrier). For those who previously purchased an iPhone 3GS on a 3 year contract, what will be your eligibility options to upgrade to the iPhone 4 can real sticky. For that reason alone, I will be forgoing a renewal to my 3 year contract and buy the iPhone 4 outright. It’s a small price to pay for the sweet taste of freedom.

New Laws Could Enable Our Communication Companies Access to Foreign Capital

Could we be looking at improvements to our wireless network and services in Canada? From Business Week, regarding the lightening of foreign-investor rules:

“Having it as closed as it is now is starting to impede the ability of the players to compete, to innovate, to sustain the capital investment that is required for a modern, digital economy,” Industry Minister Tony Clement said in an interview at the Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto today.

Canada’s mobile-phone penetration trails the U.S. as well as poorer countries like Algeria, according to the International Telecommunication Union, and the government wants to change that. Canada had 66 wireless subscribers for every 100 people in 2008, compared with 93 in Algeria and 87 in the U.S.

The only issue is when we will find out the exact iPhone 4 launch dates in July. The iPhone 3GS was launched on June 19th last year, a Friday. The iPhone 3G launched on July 11th, 2008. If history repeats itself, my guess is Saturday, July 10th for the iPhone 4 launch in Canada.

Rogers, Bell, Telus & Fido Confirm Launch of iPhone 4 in July is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

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The Bumpers look like a thick silicone case that wrap around the perimeter of the iPhone 4, protecting all the sides and corners. The case does however leave the front display and back part of the iPhone 4 exposed.

The Bumper case further features cut-outs for the camera, volume controls, silent switch, dock connetor, and speaker/mic. The iPhone 4 Bumper case comes in six colors for $29USD:

• Black
• Pink
• White
• Green
• Blue
• Orange

The Bumper case for iPhone 4 will be available on June 24, 2010 alongside the release of the iPhone 4 in the USA, UK, Japan, France, and Germany.

Apple Announces iPhone 4 “Bumper” Case is a post from: iPhone in Canada Blog - Canada's #1 iPhone Resource

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