Video of the Day – Shanghai via iPhone

by Stephen Greenwood on

Photographer Chase Jarvis has gained a notable amount of internet fame for coining the phrase “the best camera is the one that’s with you”. For anyone that travels extensively, this couldn’t be more true.

If you love shooting video, then there’s a good chance that you’ve already bought a professional DSLR or HDV camcorder. But what if you don’t want to lug your expensive investment to a new country? Then follow art director/designer Andrew Kimmell’s lead and reach for your phone.

With the help of some Photojojo lenses, Kimmell documented his trip to Shanghai entirely on an iPhone 4. I’ll venture a guess that some color correction with Magic Bullet Colorista II (in Final Cut Pro) also assisted in polishing it up. But I think it proves that with a little post-production love, anyone can shoot beautiful HD footage on the go.

So what are you waiting for? Grab your phone, capture your best travel moments and share it with us in the comment section below. It could be our next Photo / Video of the Day.

The Apple iPhone 4 on Verizon Wireless is here – what it means for travelers

by Scott Carmichael on

Well, it finally happened – the largest mobile carrier in the United States is getting the Apple iPhone. Ever since the original iPhone was announced back in 2007, gadget sites have been speculating about a magical “can you hear me now” version of the phone.

But now it is here – the news isn’t really as spectacular as it could have been. A mere week after companies like Samsung, HTC and Motorola announced 4G versions of their handsets, the Verizon iPhone brings little new to the table. On the inside, it is exactly the same as the AT&T iPhone, albeit with a different radio system (for the Verizon CDMA network).

And that CDMA network is a major problem for people who plan to travel with their Verizon iPhone 4 abroad. With the AT&T (GSM) version of the iPhone, you can take it to Europe, Asia and most other countries and get access to a GSM network. CDMA users have never been that lucky – the list of CDMA countries is tiny when compared with GSM (44 CDMA networks compared to 255 GSM networks).

In other words – take your new Verizon iPhone 4 to Canada or Mexico, and it’ll work just fine. But take it to France or Australia, and you’ll only be able to use it when you find a Wi-Fi hotspot. Of course, with roaming rates as expensive as $5/min, sticking to Wi-Fi isn’t that bad a plan.

And unlike some of the newer Android devices on Verizon, their iPhone does not do dual mode CDMA/GSM. This limitation is of course not that important if your travels don’t take you outside the limited CDMA lineup, but if you are regularly in Europe, you may want to think twice about this investment. And finally, because this new iPhone uses CDMA, you will not be able to do simultaneous voice and data connections.

Tekkeon myPower for iPhone 4 offers swappable batteries – up to 50 hours extra usage

by Scott Carmichael on

Tekkeon just unveiled their newest iPhone power solution. Their myPower for iPhone 4 combines a slim rechargeable battery pack inside a case – offering power and protection in a single product.

Now, iPhone charge cases are not really a new innovation, but the Tekkeon case is unlike anything else on the market – its battery pack is swappable, thanks to their eSwap technology. eSwap allows you to exchange the battery pack in the case for a fresh module. Packs are available in 1200mAh and 2200mAh.

These high capacity batteries can provide between 7 and 12 hours of extra video playback, up to 50 hours of audio or up 18 hours of talk time. The battery packs don’t actually charge the iPhone – they merely power it, which reduces wear on the internal iPhone battery pack. When plugged in, the charger cord charges your iPhone and the myPower at the same time.

The MyPower for the iPhone 4G retails for $79.95, and additional battery packs are $39.95 (1200mAh) and $49.95 (2200 mAh). The new myPower is available directly from Tekkeon.

Daily Pampering: The $8 million iPhone

by Melanie Nayer on

With every new iPhone there is another option for bling. Now that the iPhone 4 is stocked on Apple’s shelves, it’s time for the designers to make their mark.

Enter: Stuart Hughes, the London-based luxury designers who turns everyday items into works of (pricey) art. His latest masterpiece: the world’s most expensive phone.

The iPhone 4 32GB Diamond Rose Edition cost a total of £5 million (almost $8 million) to construct. The bezel is handmade from rose with approximately 500 individual flawless diamonds for a total weight of over 100 ct. The rear section was created using rose gold and, as an added touch, kept the Apple logo in rose gold with the slight embellishment of 53 diamonds. The phone’s main navigation is made from platinum and holds a single cut 7.4 ct pink diamond. If pink isn’t your color, you can ask to have a rare 8 ct single cut flawless diamond put in its place.

Not just any iPhone case will do. This work of art sits in a chest made from a single block of Granite in Imperial Pink. The inside is with Nubuck top grain leather and weighs massive 7kg (approximately 15 pounds).

Intrigued? You should be. There are only two of these in the world.

Want more? Get your dose of daily pampering right here.

MoGo announces world’s first iPhone 4 Bluetooth headset/case

by Scott Carmichael on

Earlier this year, we took a look at the MoGo Talk Bluetooth headset/case for the iPhone 3G/3GS. Since then, Apple introduced their newest iPhone, so MoGo went back to the drawing board to develop a new version of this fantastic little case.

The new MoGo Talk XD builds off the design of the original MoGo Talk, with a case designed for the iPhone 4. Of course, the added bonus of a slim case for the iPhone 4 is that it can help prevent dropped calls for those few users that suffer from the iPhone death grip.

The MoGo Talk XD will start shipping September 1st, and costs $99.99. Owners of the original MoGo Talk can upgrade by ordering the Slim MoGo Grip case for just $19.99. The headset and its cases are available at Mogostore.com.