The Four-eyed Journal » iPhone

Could HTC Make a Better iOS Handset?

jhay — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:55:36 +0000

HTC was never a handset make in the limelight until Android made its debut. Suddenly, they were one of the most popular handset manufacturers on the market, with models like the Wildfire and Desire HD flying off store shelves and receiving great reviews from the press.

The iPhone, while lauded as the world’s best smartphone by many a user, has also been plagued by a recent poor design choice for the iPhone 4′s casing, resulting in the phone losing signal when held in a normal, right-handed manner. Their solution? Pay more for a rubber case to go around the sleek metallic edges of the handset.

It’s arguable that this wouldn’t have happened with HTC, or indeed any other manufacturer, and iPhone sales are rising despite this hiccup. But perhaps one of the reasons Apple are reluctant to give iOS to handset devs isn’t because it’s theirs and theirs alone – perhaps it’s because there’s a chance a company like HTC could do a better job.

Keeping their operating systems exclusive to their own platforms has always been Apple’s modus operandi, and whether you’d like to use OSX or iOS to work or play Party Poker, it’s certain you’ll be paying through the nose for an Apple device unless you’re IT-savvy enough to get a Hackintosh set-up running.

There have been hoaxes, where individuals have created mock-ups of iOS running on a non-Apple device, but thus far, no one’s cracked it yet. This is primarily because Apple ensure that their operating systems work alongside specific hardware, which makes it harder for other devices to emulate the OS to a high standard.

Would we use a HTC iOS device? Probably – there’s no reason not to, and this goes for a wide range of makes, from Samsung to Nokia. But Apple’s OSX and iOS are their golden geese, so for now we’ll just have to wait, or splash out on a device fresh from the Steve Jobs production line.

BitDefender Warns iPhone Jailbreakers About Security - Be careful about the apps you on your iPhone

jhay — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:09 +0000

Now that jailbreaking iPhones is completely legal, fans are raving about jailbreaking their devices. Who wouldn’t be? Even if I don’t own an iPhone, the prospect of seeing what other folks would and could do to their devices is enough to get me hyped up.

However, this would open the floodgates of potential security risks for iPhone and iPad users. I received an email from BitDefender warning against a new malware threat that has taken advantage of the jailbreaking craze:

BitDefender has identified a malware distribution campaign in which users receive an email where they find out they could receive a new application for iPhone jailbreaking. All the email recipient has to do is click a link that will take them to the webpage where the desired software awaits.

As the email recipient goes further into this labyrinth and clicks the link, an exe file attempts to download to their computer. But once saved and run, the executable opens the way for a Trojan.

Identified by BitDefender as Trojan.Generic.3010833, this piece of malware is a keylogger that transmits everything the user writes on the computer to a specific email address, in this particular case to directory[REMOVED]@hotmail.com.

This allows the malware creators to intercept the victim’s visited sites, usernames, passwords, and bank accounts information – such as pin number, bank account numbers, passwords, etc.

Common sense would be a good first line of defense. If you’re going to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad, be very careful about any third-party app you’re going to install because it might just be loaded with malware. Do some background check on it first, like asking the developer or users who have already used the app.

Stay safe and have fun with jailbreaking your iPhones and iPads!

Skype for iPhone banned by US & European carriers, would Philippine telcos do the same?

jhay — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 05:56:53 +0000

There has been much hype, talk and excitement about Skype for iPhone. Imagine all the free calls you could do with it thanks to VoIP, the iPhone and Skype.

However, carriers in the US and Europe have made moves to limit the use of Skype for iPhone only to WiFi hot spots. The ban has sparked outrage and legal moves from net neutrality and consumer rights groups from both continents. IntoMobile has more info:

In the US, AT&T (NYSE: T) has reportedly restricted the use of the Skype iPhone application from being used on the carrier’s 3G network. The move would keep Skype for iPhone relegated to WiFi hotspots. The UK’s O2 (NYSE: TEF) has likewise restricted the use of Skype’s mobile application to WiFi hotspots. T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) Germany, on the other hand has taken things a bit further and banned Skype from their network altogether.

In response to the ban, The Free Press, a Net Neutrality group in the US, has filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), asking the regulatory body to investigate whether AT&T is violating the Internet Policy Statement. European Net Neutrality advocate group Voice On the Net (VON) has asked that European lawmakers enact policies that ensure wireless customers can access whatever services they choose. They argue that consumers’ choice is being limited by carriers.

The report adds that the move made because carriers didn’t want to become nothing more than “data pipes” for consumers.

Here in the Philippines, the iPhone is officially distributed by Globe and so far it has developed a dedicated group of followers among techies, Apple fanboys and the elite.

Local iPhone users have also been excited about Skype for iPhone and it is now available from the iPhone App store for free. However, it remains to be seen whether local telcos, would follow their US and European counterparts in banning or restricting the use of Skype for iPhone on their networks.

Unlocked Apple iPhones being sold in Hong Kong

jhay — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:48:01 +0000

This is perfectly legit, Apple itself, is now selling unlocked iPhones in Hong Kong according to reports from big tech news sites. I got wind of this via afterdawn.com

Apple has begun selling unlocked iPhones in Hong Kong today, marking one of the few times the company has allowed the phone to sell in such a fashion. An unlocked phone can be used on any GSM carrier and is not tied down to any specific carrier.

Until now in Hong Kong, only users of Hutchison Telecom could use the iPhone but now the phone will be available to anyone using a GSM carrier.

The unlocked iPhone will sell for a high premium however, $695 USD for the 8GB model and $795 USD for the larger capacity 16GB model.

$695 USD roughly converts to Php 32487.775 (P46.745 = USD1.00) for the 8GB model.
$795 USD converts to Php 37162.275 for the 16GB model.

Anyone interested? Get in touch with your relatives or friends in Hong Kong if you’re too paranoid to have your iPhone unlocked for a hefty price in Greenhills.

Globe will sell iPhone in the Philippines: Mixed reactions

jhay — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:40:40 +0000

You must have already heard by now that Globe Telecom will be the official mobile carrier to offer the iPhone here in the Philippines.

Got wind of this news via Yuga and already most of the bloggers in my reading list have also blogged about it. It all started when this official statement from Globe Telecom’s corporate site was published:

Globe, SingTel, Bharti Airtel and Optus to bring iPhone to the region

Manila, 12 May 2008 – Globe, SingTel, Bharti Airtel and Optus today announced that they have signed an agreement with Apple to bring the iPhone to the Philippines, Singapore, India, and Australia later this year.

More information will be released at a later date.

This has already been met with mixed reactions. Those wishing for an iPhone and get it the ‘legitimate’ way were happy that finally a local mobile carrier has been chosen by Apple to offer its iPhone in the country. However, the excitement was dampened a bit by some who expressed their reservations about Globe Telecom bagging the deal and not Smart Communications.

Kastor commented on Yuga’s blog:

at bakit kaya Globe ang nakakuha sa deal? dahil sa singtel? sayang! mas maganda sana kung smart. lalo na sa 3G services. globe sucks big time pagdating sa 3G. i bet na yung 3G iphone ang ilalako sa pilipinas.

Mark Tesch shares the same views on Max Limpag’s blog:

Surprising that Globe was chosen over Smart seeing as Globe has some of the worst coverage and most outrageous plans in the Philippines:p Guess Apple has to start somewhere and then learn from their mistakes, I guess:p

On the other hand, BigBird takes the opposite side on his comment back on Yuga’s post:

As experienced with both 3G lines and similar phone models. I say that Globe 3G is much faster compared to my SMART 3G thats for sure! I Test it side by side in almost any location I can be. SMART shows strong in the Forth Area in Taguig. Rather the less I say Globe 3G is much faster than SMART 3G prang WAP. I even swap sims. But unfortunately Globe billing suchs! SMART improved its billing lately as I haved noticed but have system downtime in the early 4-7 am everyday. nagtitipid!!!!! Di mo sya magagamit at this times promise… Always online lang kasi ako!

I never tried Globe’s 3G services before so I really can’t say anything about it. Is Smart’s 3G services much better than Globe’s? Nonetheless, it seems that the iPhone hype would not be revived here in the Philippines or in the region as well thanks to these mixed reactions and to the so-called ‘grey’ iPhone users. Still more questions arise, will Smart also land an iPhone deal? Will Globe have a huge success with the iPhone?

What do you guys think? Was it really a good move for Apple to link up with Globe or it should have picked Smart instead?