Why the iPhone 4S is Better, Faster on AT&T

The new iPhone that Apple announced yesterday impressed some and disappointed others. Though not everyone was satisfied, the new iPhone 4S will hit the streets with a number of impressive, exclusive features. While the list of new features is long, those most touted by Apple are the new iPhone's speed improvements, hence the "S" moniker, for speed. What many customers don't realize is that a one of the main speed improvements in the iPhone 4S won't apply to Verizon and Sprint customers.

As Apple informed us at yesterday's keynote, 3G data download speeds on the iPhone 4S are up to twice as fast as the iPhone 4. This is a result of the fact that the iPhone 4S is capable of HSPA+ download speeds up to 14.4Mbps, while the iPhone 4 has a max of 7.2Mbps. The important thing to note here is that Verizon and Sprint are not HSPA+ networks. The iPhone 4S will run on CDMA on Sprint and Verizon, not HSPA+, and thus will have the same download speed capability as the iPhone 4.

So the new boost in download speeds will come only to AT&T, but maybe you don't care. After all, 7.2Mbps is adequate for most data users, and the fact remains that AT&T's network likely won't deliver those max theoretical speeds in many locations.

Even if you don't care about or dismiss the speed capability differences of the iPhone 4S on AT&T vs. Sprint and Verizon, the iPhone is still better on AT&T, a fact that has been true with the iPhone 4 and will continue to be true with the iPhone 4S. Why, you ask?

Like the iPhone 4, the iPhone 4S will not be able to simultaneously do voice and data on Verizon (or Sprint). This means no sitting on conference calls while browsing the web or playing Words with Friends. No talking to your wife on the phone while looking up the name of a high-brow restaurant you can take her to last minute since you forgot your anniversary and boy won't simultaneous voice and data get you out of that jam which is a big relief since you're such a typical "guy". The reality is that AT&T customers have been living with this ability for years, since before the iPhone existed, and the idea that CDMA customers continue to tolerate the alternative is pretty hard to believe.

Faster, more capable. The iPhone 4S, like its predecessor, is simply a better phone on AT&T. Sorry, Verizon and Sprint customers.

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Apple to Release New iPhones in October

According to a report on iphone5release,  Apple is set to launch new iPhones in October.

The site has reported recently that Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States and current Apple board member stated that new Apple iPhones will be released next month. This was said during a speech he gave at the Discovery Invest Leadership Summit. It's not known whether he was referring to one new iPhone model on multiple carriers, or two new iPhone models. Either way this is more good news that further backs up the October iPhone 5 release rumors.

It further adds, "Apple is expecting to hold an event on Tuesday, October 4th to announce the next generation iPhone. Sales are expected to start shortly after the phone is announced, with the most likely date being Friday, October 14th."

 Custom iPhone/ iPad Application Development

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"In the absence yet of Official news from Apple, nobody knows exactly what they are planning. There are too many rumors and reports contradicting each other, but as of now we aren’t expecting the iPhone 5 to have much more then an upgraded camera and A5 chip. We are still completely in the dark in reference to its physical appearance, but we think it’s very unlikely they will keep it the same as the iPhone 4," said the report.

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Flash Video on iPad & iPhone!

Adobe announces media publishers can now stream Flash-based video to iPhones and iPads

September 10, 2011

ZDNet UK reports that Adobe has finally released Flash Media Server 4.5, supporting Apple iOS. Broadcasters can now stream Flash-based video content in HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), an Apple-derived format.

Photo credit: James Martin/CNET News

Apple's iPhone and other mobile devices are well known for not supporting Flash, so in April Adobe said it had come up with a workaround.

Flash Media Server usually packages video streams using MPEG4 fragments, in the F4F file format. However, the new version adds support for a different protocol, HLS, which Apple created for QuickTime and iOS.

Read the full version here.

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Building Apps for the iPhone 4’s Retina Display

Apple Uses Double Resolution for iPhone 4; Ahead-of-Time Resolution Independence

Aug. 22, 2011

Building apps for the iPhone 4’s Retina display involves creating two sets of images—one at 163ppi and another at 326ppi. After slugging our way through an app build or two, we feel confident that we have a decent workflow for attacking future Retina display app designs. Hopefully this information is of use to other designers.

When it comes to building UI elements that scale easily in Photoshop, bitmaps are your enemy, because they pixelate or become blurry when scaled. The solution is to create solid color, pattern or gradient layers with vector masks (just make sure you have snap to pixel turned on, where possible). While a little awkward at times, switching to all vectors does have significant advantages.

Before anyone mentions it, I’m not suggesting any of the methods are new—I bet most icon designers have been working this way for years. I’ve been using vector shapes for ages too, but the Retina display has changed me from using them when I could be bothered, to building entire designs with vector shapes exclusively.

I usually draw simple elements directly in Photoshop using the rectangle or rounded rectangle tool. Circles are drawn using the rounded rectangle tool with a large corner radius, because the ellipse tool can’t snap to pixel. Layer groups can have vector masks too, which is handy for complex compositing (option-drag a mask from another layer to create a group mask).

More complex objects get drawn in Illustrator to the exact pixel size, then pasted into Photoshop as a shape layer. Be careful when pasting into Photoshop as the result doesn’t always align as it should—it’s often half a pixel out on the x axis, y axis or both. The workaround is to zoom in and scroll around the document with the hand tool and paste again. Repeat until everything aligns. Yes, it’s maddening, but works after a few attempts. Another option is to zoom to 200%, select the path with the direct selection tool and nudge once, which will move everything exactly 0.5px.

Even more complex objects, that require multiple colours, get drawn in Illustrator to the exact pixel size, then pasted into Photoshop as a smart object. It is a last resort though—gradients aren’t dithered and editing later is more difficult.

If you need to use a bitmap for a texture, there are three options: Use a pattern layer, a pattern layer style or build a bitmap layer at the 2× size, then turn it into a smart object. I prefer to use pattern layer styles in most cases, but be warned, patterns get scaled using bicubic interpolation when you scale the entire document (so they become softer when scaled). The solution is to create two versions of each pattern and manually change pattern layer styles to the correct pattern after scaling. A little tedious, but totally doable, just don’t forget.

Scaling up
At this point, your document should be able to scale to exactly double the size without a hitch.

I have a Photoshop Action set up that takes a history snapshot then scales to 200%. That means previewing at the Retina display’s resolution is only a click away. If you’re feeling confident you’ve built everything well, you should be able to scale up, edit, then scale down and continue editing without degradation. If you run into trouble, a snapshot is there to take you back. Using one document for both resolutions means not having to keep two documents in sync. It’s a huge advantage.

A word of warning: Layer styles can only contain integer values. If you edit a drop shadow offset to be 1px with the document at the 2× size, then scaled it down, the value will end up as 1px, because it can’t be 0.5px (a non-integer value). If you do require specific changes to the 2× version of the Photoshop document, then you’ll have to save it as a separate file.

Exporting, exporting, exporting

Now for some bad news. Exporting all the images to build an app can be extremely tedious, and I don’t have much advice to assist you. As my documents act as full screen mockups, they’re not set up in a way that Photoshop’s slice feature is any use. Layer comps don’t help either—I already have folders for each app state or screen, so switching things off and on is easy.

The best export method seems to be: Enable the layers you’d like visible, make a marquee selection of the element, copy merged, new document, ok, paste. Not much fun when you have hundreds of images to export.

The problem is amplified when saving for Retina, where there are twice as many images, and the 1× images must match the 2× images precisely.

The best solution I’ve come up with so far is:

• Build your design at 1×.
• Use copy merged to save all the 1× images.
• Duplicate the entire folder containing the 1× images.
• Use Automator to add @2x to all the filenames.
• Open each @2x image and run the Scale by 200% Photoshop action. This gives you a file with the correct filename and size, but upscaled content.
• Scale your main Photoshop design document by 200%.
• Use copy merged to paste the higher quality elements into each @2x document, turn off the lower quality layer, then save for web, overwriting the file.

Exporting layers

In some cases Photoshop’s Export Layers To Files script can help. It’s especially helpful if you need to export lots of icons or images that are the same size and can be set up on individual layers in a separate document. The script can be found under the File menu.

Actions and Workflows

All the Actions and Workflows I use myself can be downloaded below. The Automator Workflows can be placed in your Finder Toolbar, for quick access from any Finder windows without taking up any space in your Dock.

Download zip: Bjango Actions and Workflows

 

Kudos to Apple for choosing exactly double the resolution for the iPhone 4, and for using ahead-of-time resolution independence. As complex as the process is now, things would have been far worse if they chose a fractional scale for the display.

Adapted from: Designing for Retina Display, bjango

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