Cody Fink

1547 posts on MacStories since January 2010

Former MacStories contributor.

[email protected]

Incipio Offers Apple Bumper Trade in Program

While Incipio isn’t giving anyone any freebies, they will give you five bucks towards one of their awesome cases. Macworld reports:

Incipio on Monday announced its “We Love Our Customers Too!” Bumper Trade-In Program. The short of the long is: you send Incipio your Apple iPhone 4 Bumper (which you presumably will obtain for free soon), and it will give you $5 off any Incipio product from its online store.

So get a rebate or a free bumper from Apple, turn yours into Incipio, get a $5 dollar coupon, and buy big baby.

[Incipio via Macworld]

Bumpers Belong on Cars, not iPhones

I hate to steal headlines, but this one from Fusion of Ideas was just too good. Listen guys, you can get an Apple bumper or any of the other cases Apple will have on sale. That’s cool. But for some, we don’t want to ruin the original form factor or pocket-ability of a sexy device. That’s why Fusion of Ideas is giving away their Steal Armor side pieces for free. You heard right.

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Digital Strategist: Apple Gets C for Response

Patrick Kerley from Levick Strategic Communications has decided that Apple’s on stage performance was good, but their PR was lacking the entire time. I would agree.

Computerworld reports:

“Apple got caught flat-footed,” said Kerley. “By waiting as long as they did, they created a vacuum of news, and others stepped in, like Consumer Reports, to fill that vacuum.”

While Apple quickly acknowledged that holding the iPhone 4 could diminish the signal, its initial advice — “avoid gripping it in the lower left corner” or “use one of the many available cases” — struck some customers as insulting. A week later, Apple muddied the water by admitting that the iPhone 4’s signal strength formula was flawed, a clear misstep, according to Kerley.

“Their message was different from one week to the next,” Kerley said.

He did note that not many companies can wait so long to issue a response, and that Apple is special in that arena. While Apple hasn’t fully smoothed over all their customers, at least each and every iPhone 4 owner has the option to do what the want with the phone: get a refund, or a bumper. For the full analysis, be sure to check out the source below.

[Computeworld excerpted via Macworld]

TextExpander touch for iPad, Review and Giveaway

Mac users are always inherently curious about a few pieces of Mac software that always tend to make waves in functionality that they have absolutely no use for. If we look at products like Transmit 4, Launchbar 5, and especially something like TextExpander 3, the average consumer will have questions about its design and they’ll read really great things about the software. But, they’ll have absolutely no use for such software unless they’re power users or have a specific need.

TextExpander is probably the app that garners tons of attention. It’s really powerful, especially to customers who need to constantly implement snippets of text. But TextExpander touch becomes even more curious, as it’s implemented with similar functionality, sans the ability to directly apply snippets into any text based app. In effect, TextExpander touch for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad seems rather counterproductive in design. But I’ve found that while there’s an extra tap here and there, it’s incredibly useful for email, especially on the iPad. If you’ve been on the fence about TouchExpander touch, I suggest read on to find out how it may be useful in your workflow.

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Magic Trackpad Approved by FCC

Remember that Magic Trackpad we saw a little while ago? The device has shown up in the FCC’s online database, which could only mean one thing: launch imminent. Or so we hope. It hasn’t positively been identified Engadget admits, but the signs are pretty clear.

A device known only by its model number A1339 is the culprit here, described as a “Bluetooth Device” used in conjunction with a MacBook without any associated filings for WiFi or WWAN networks. The ultra-rough label location diagram is definitely the right shape for the accessory, and what’s interesting is that the test report was completed way back in October of 2009. Has Apple seriously been sitting on this thing for the better part of a year?

That model number by the way matches what was previously leaked. It’s unofficially confirmed that Apple has a new accessory for us all to play with, but when will they launch it? And if it is a trackpad, why does Apple feel the need to separate it from a MacBook? Only time will tell, but this is bound to be one of the most interesting devices Apple will ship this year.

[Engadget via MacRumors]

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White iPhone 4 Delayed Upon Color Issues

My iPhone 4 speculation seems to have been correct; the white iPhone 4 is proving troublesome when it comes to its color. Engadget reported on it earlier this weekend:

Specifically, the factory’s still working out the perfect combination of paint thickness and opacity – the former to ensure the next sub-contractor has enough clearance for the digitizer overlay, and the latter for the absolute whiteness that Jony Ive and co. strive for. As we pointed out before, the prototype white covers we acquired appeared a touch darker than the iPhone 4 dock, so here’s hoping that we’ll see a better result when the official white phone comes out later this month.

We wish Apple would have had this figured out before launch, but at least those holding out for the white iPhone will rest easy knowing it’ll be available in limited quantities by the end of the month. And just imagine: it’ll be the perfect shade of white.

[Engadget via MacRumors]

Samsung in 2006: Do Not Obstruct Antenna

I keep switching back and forth on the antenna debate. Other phones have the issue, but are they as serious as the iPhone 4? As Apple has called out numerous manufacturers and popular phones, even John Gruber has been linking to preexisting issues which have received little press in light of the massive ‘popularity’ of the iPhone 4. With something as curious as an outside antenna, people want to touch it. With other phones, people don’t even think about antenna placement. So let’s take a trip back to 2006 before the iPhone even existed.

The Loop reports,

In fact, Samsung was putting warning labels on some of its phones as far back as 2006. The label, which was on the back of the phone, told customers they shouldn’t obstruct the bottom of the phone during a phone call.

I was able to find the label on two models of phones dating back to 2006, although it’s certainly possible that the labels could have been on earlier models.

The Samsung SYNC and the Samsung Blackjack both came with these labels on the back of the devices, according to reviews in 2006 on Phone Scoop and MSNBC respectively.

Perhaps the iPhone 4 should come with a sticker.

[via The Loop]