Now, it’s easy to use your iPhone 4 with a mini SIM rather than a Micro SIM. This works  by  using an extension adapter that converts the SIM from internal to external.  Couple this with a case that’s designed to keep everything together and now you have added functionality as well as convenience.  As you can see, it also features a kick stand for landscape viewing and also gives you full access to the camera as well as the dock connector and buttons.

The  SIM extender comes in a variety of colors and costs only $31.99 directly from USBfever.

It is fascinating to see why people pirate software.  ZDNet had an article about just why younger people tend to pirate stuff.  Reasons include financial, the thrill, and just because it’s out there.  The article goes on to talk about how many legal options are not as readily available or is not consistent enough to access.  For example, a game is launched in Japan first, but users in the U.S.A. want to play too…as it’s not legally available, they’ll make there way to obtain it via illegal means.  Malware whether we like it or not is coming heavily towards Mac users.  Read on past the jump to find out why!

Read More …

Verizon Wireless is about to put a dent in AT&T ‘s profits.  AT&T is no longer the sole network provider for the iPhone.  Beginning February 3, 2011 some of Verizon’s customers can begin pre-ordering.  With the official launch date being available on February 10, the new iPhones will sell for $199.99 for a 16GB model while the 32GB model will go for $299.99 (both models at this price is with a 2 year agreement).  Getting stuff later gives Verizon a larger edge – seeing all the mistakes of AT&T and properly setting up their network for a potential doubling of their customer base.  The Verizon models of the iPhone will also have the ability to setup a personal hotspot allowing it to be a mobile router for up to 5 additional devices.  All in all, great things for Apple.  They make the iPhone and provide it to both carriers…so even though it’s a battle of the carriers, either way, Apple will profit.  For us consumers, it will mean more choice and better service with this new healthy competition.

Will we see the iPhone on Verizon..?

I know some of you that have been following my iPhone chronicles either here or at Gear Diary are likely wondering if I’ve lost my mind.  I mean, wasn’t it me who has been saying over and over again that a Verizon iPhone was never going to happen..?  Well, the answer is yes and no.

In my last note about this, I said that Verizon getting the iPhone was unlikely as long as the current version device stuck with its current radio.  Verizon uses a QUALCOMM designed CDMA-based chipset for its radio. There are very few countries that have carriers that use this type of radio – the US (Verizon), very small parts of Asia, and (I think) Indonesia/Australia, and that’s about it.  The rest of the world is on GSM.  So, until a "universal" chipset or network (like LTE) became available AND until Apple made use of that universal chipset, there would be no iPhone on ANY CDMA network, Verizon or otherwise.  This has more to do with the costs associated to reengineering and redesigning the entire device and Apple having to support two different devices than anything else.  Stevie J. just doesn’t do that. 

One phone to rule them all… and that kind of thing.

My good friend, Matt Miller has come out with a bit of a dissenting piece on this, given all the rumor mongering, and its worth a read. His point – Verizon has an awesome network (and they do; but  I think they’re expensive) and regardless of whether or not VzW has LTE, any kind of 4G, the VzW iPhone is white or not, whether you can surf and talk at the same time or not or even if they ARE very expensive, they are still going to sell a lot of iPhones.

Matt is dead on right about that.  They WOULD sell a lot of iPhones.  The question is whether the millions of iPhones they would sell would offset the costs associated with the redesign, retooling, extra manufacturing lines, support costs, etc. and generate enough profit for Apple to do it BEFORE LTE hits in wide distribution on Verizon.  My point has NEVER been that there will NEVER be an iPhone on Verizon, but that there wouldn’t be as long as Apple has to maintain more than one version. 

Tomorrow’s announcement should be interesting. I, for one, will be keeping close to the internets tomorrow, waiting for the news to hit. Like Matt, I am interested in answers to the following questions (I’ve paraphrased/modified the first two a bit.  The other two are Matt’s, simply quoted here):

• How many iPhones [does] Verizon [think they will really] sell?
• How many AT&T iPhone users [does] Verizon [think  will switch to their] iPhone?
• How well can Verizon’s network handle the iPhone [with/without LTE]?
• How much will a customer have to pay monthly for a Verizon iPhone?

Keep your peepers pinned people!  Tomorrow is going to be an INTERESTING day!

I’ve been impressed with the iPhone 4G after seeing how quickly it can take photos.  Now, what if we could give that camera a little more oomph with a lens upgrade?  Well, obviously I wasn’t the first to think of it as such products do exist and USBFever brings it to the table!  A few days ago, USBFever launched it’s 12x Telescope with Hard Case for the iPhone 4G.  This tripod/lens add-on is a telescope with manual focus.  Available in black for $39.99 and white for a dollar more.  If you’d like to have a combo pack where it also has a 180° fish eye lens as well as a wide angle lens with macro, then you can get the whole combo in black for $74.99 or get it in white for only a dollar more.