phones

The iPhone hasn't even launched yet and there are already dozens--if not hundreds--of iPhone accessories ready to be purchased. Sure, most of them are universal dock iPod accessories that happen to be iPhone-compatible, but there are also quite a few that were made with the iPhone in mind. From Apple's own Bluetooth headset and iPhone dock to a plethora of cases and headphone adapters, it looks like new iPhone owners will be spoiled for choice when it comes to the right accessory for their brand-new cell phone. Here are just a few that have caught our eyes recently. … Read more

While half a dozen people smolder in the near 90 degree heat waiting in front of Apple's store on Fifth Avenue for the much anticipated iPhone, no one is camping out yet at the AT&T store in Times Square.

So far all seems quiet in Times Square. A salesman said the store would be getting those steel barricades the NYPD uses to control crowds on Thursday just to make sure that the line, when it forms, will be orderly. But as of Wednesday, the AT&T store looked like a promising option for people who must … Read more

The BBC's iPlayer will be making it's official, public beta debut July 27 to U.K. residents who are legal TV license holders--a yearly taxation system that pays for TV ownership and usage. The small desktop software client allows users to download and view episodes or entire series of BBC television programming on their PCs.

In addition to launching the Windows client, the BBC will also be rolling out integration of the iPlayer to the BBC's U.K. site, and later to YouTube. The team behind it is also working on versions of the iPlayer client … Read more

There are so many products announced at the January Consumer Electronics Show, a few of them always manage to slip off your radar. For me, one such product was the new line of GE-branded cordless phones from Thomson. I know what you're thinking--"Thomson" and "GE" are yawner brands that have no place among your carefully groomed hipster-approved gadget lineup. Well, think again: I was able to spend some quality time with the new GE phones last night, and each of them offered at least one compelling leg up on competing products. Each model is a DECT 6.0 product (Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology), meaning it operates on the 1900Mhz wireless band that's free of the interference issues that can occur on the more-crowded 2.4Ghz band (which competes with everything from microwave ovens to Wi-Fi to wireless speakers). A quick roundup of the key models follows: … Read more

Since the iPhone is available only with AT&T, we have little doubt that some eager buyers will be switching carriers just to buy it. If you're one of those people, there are a few points you should consider before making that big purchase on Friday. Remember, you'll be shelling out $500 or more for that shiny new gadget, so you want to make sure you're spending your money wisely.

AT&T coverage Without a doubt, you better make sure that AT&T has adequate coverage in your area. That would include your home, … Read more

It's time for the third installment in the Apple miniseries: How To Use Your iPhone. In today's episode, we learn how to use the touch-screen keyboard.

The video with the now-familiar man in the black shirt (does this guy have an agent yet?) takes us through typing on the touch-screen keyboard. The effectiveness of the keyboard has been one of the main questions about the iPhone, although three out of four hand-selected reviewers didn't find it that difficult after some practice.

Apple briefly covered the keyboard in the overview video it released last week, but this episode … Read more

A couple of small--but I think somewhat serious--issues regarding the audio output of the iPhone have been percolating on the Web for the last week or so. The issues involve the iPhone's headphone/headset jack and the phone's ability to output stereo sound via Bluetooth.

Let's start with the headphone jack. In Walt Mossberg and Katherine Boehret's iPhone review for the Wall Street Journal, they state, "The headphone jack, which supports both stereo music and phone calls, is deeply recessed, so you may need an adapter for existing headphones." Why the port would be … Read more

The New York Times:

The iPhone Matches Most of Its Hype.

The Wall Street Journal:

Our verdict is that, despite some flaws and feature omissions, the iPhone is, on balance, a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer.

Newsweek:

And there it is: one of the most hyped consumer products ever comes pretty close to justifying the bombast.

USA Today:

Apple's iPhone isn't perfect, but it's worthy of the hype.

Jane's Defence Weekly:

While it doesn't kill people (despite what you might have heard), the Apple iPhone should be an integral part of any strategic urban assault … Read more

In case you temporarily lost consciousness yesterday, or missed our coverage of the fast-approaching iPhone release day, here's a roundup of Tuesday's Crave-ing of Apple's newest gadget.

• Both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times' gadget gurus unveiled their reviews of the smart phone.

• Details surrounding the available data plans from AT&T are now available.

iPhone features--some we knew about, others we didn't.

• A new iPhone video demos some new features.

• Apple Stores will host iPhone premieres from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight on the night … Read more