AT T to AT&T Double 3G Speeds, Preps For New iPhone Launch

AT&T, the second-largest U.S. carrier, plans to double download speeds of its 3G network just before the expected launch of Apple's new iPhone device.

The Dallas, Texas-based company said the new speeds, once implemented, would take its capacity to 7.2 Mbps -- double the current maximum speed.

Called HSPA+, its upgraded network is currently being tested in two markets and will roll out across the country later this year.

Apple is already testing iPhone devices on HSPA+ and the faster AT&T service could arrive as soon as May 31 -- just in time for Apple to launch its widely expected new iPhone device.

News of the increased speeds comes as reports emerged that the carrier was trying to extend its exclusive relationship with Apple until 2011.

iPhone OS 3.0 hides a promise of video recording on iPhone 2009

The iPhone inabilities have been a matter of discussion at least as much as its virtues. Unfortunately, video recording (or better yet the lack of it) has often been a subject of criticism. But that will surely become a thing of the past since the developer's beta of iPhone OS 3.0 is supposedly sprinkled with clues that video recording will definitely be coming to the upcoming iPhone 2009.

It's this time of the year again, and with Apple's next announcement in June nearing, not a day goes by without some new iPhone rumors surfacing. Rumors are always to be taken with a pinch of salt, but this one seems as solid as a rock.

The iPhone 2009 is rumored to have a better 3.2 megapixel camera in store for us but no matter the megapixel count, it will almost certainly support video recording as the following camera screenshot reveals. Video recording has never been a part of the originally announced iPhone OS 3.0 new features, so it's highly possible that iPhone 2G and 3G will most probably be left out in the cold.

Screenshot of the updated camera application by MacRumors.com

Boy Genius Report have also gotten their hands on quite a few screenshots of the developer's beta OS, and one of their shots confirms video recording as well.

There are other yet undocumented 3.0 features as well - voice dialing (or perhaps even full-on voice commands), a digital compass (the most reasonable translation of "magnetometer"), as well as some changes to the UI, including an accessibility menu and OpenGL ES getting bumped to version 2.0 (it's the 3D library used by the iPhone SDK).

iPhone OS 3.0 Beta screenshots from Boy Genius Report

Unfortunately, there's no info on the captured video specs. Thanks to some unofficial third-party applications, the iPhones have already been able to record video in CIF resolution at 15-20fps. We really hope that the iPhone 2009 will do better than that.

We've already covered the most notable new features of the iPhone OS 3.0 version and only time will tell if these newfound capabilities will remain in rumor-land or they will make it to the new iPhone 2009 along with (hopefully) the old ones.

iPhone OS 3.0 is knocking on the door, launch set for 17 March

A word is out that Apple is now officially inviting representatives of the press to attend their next big announcement event on 17 March. The event will be dedicated to the upcoming iPhone OS 3.0. There's no word of an upcoming mobile phone, but our hopes are high as always.

Engadget.com report to have received an invitation by Apple for an upcoming event with its main theme set on iPhone OS 3.0.

Apple will display an "advance preview of what they're building", meaning that you probably won't see any working full-fledged iPhone OS 3.0 there (or iPhone 3 anyway). We really hope that at least some of the stuff on our wishlist will be answered - and maybe we will even be surprised by some new features.

NTT Brings Push Info to Your iPhone

Cocotan (koko = here, and tan = search) is NTT Communication's latest free push service for iPhone. Once connected to one of the 4000 nationwide NTT Communication APs (hotspots) you can receive push information on near by restaurants, stores and so on, and get discount tickets and special offers for use at these businesses (about 100 in a 1km radius).

If so far there's nothing special about Cocotan, its how information is gathered that's worth the whole damn thing. Thanks to a clever computer analysis tweak, NTT gathers data and info from consumer generated content sites, popular blogs, and Web reviews all across Japan instead getting it from professionals marketing stuff.

A nice little touch to Cocotan is its traditional Japanese stamp rally function for collecting unique stamps only available for a limited of time. This comes from an old Japanese tradition where pilgrims collected stamps from each temple they visited.

Bottom line, thanks to its CGC Cocotan is a clever idea that provides good real time suggestions and deals. However, limiting this service to a paid network of hotspot APs will definitely keep many users away since in Japan unlimited iPhone 3G is virtually scary cheap…

Another problem I saw is the old-fashioned the design of the app, it looks like NTT Communications isn't targeting the appropriate consumers… Cocotan looks perfect for the 50+ set (design, stamp, various other stuff…), but I'm not sure if there are many iPhone users in this age group.