New iPhone uses MicroSIM

Wow the new iPhone looks amazing! According to O2's website it uses the MicroSIM so I wonder if like the iPad this spells the end of the APN which bypasses image optimisation (compression)?

The microsim is just a cut down sim, with less plastic. You can make a microsim out of a sim with a sharp pair of side cutters. I can't see that this spells any fundamental shift in the way the service is provided.

What *is* this image compression bypass you keep banging on about, anyway?

Also wonder what bit-rate any new music purchased via iTunes will be.

For example:

iP3g - 128kbps (same as CD) - 16Gig memory = x amount of songs.

iP3gs - 256kbps (hi end hi-fi) - 32Gig memory = 1/2 x amount of songs.

Don't get me wrong, I'm getting one, just hoping that it doesn't go up.

Cut off all the card surround on existing SIM and use that.

The settings are changeable are they not?

I'm liking the new phone, really glad I stuck with my 3G instead of going for a 3GS in feb. I see there's plenty of people who aren't impressed, usual Android apologists. They can keep their Java software (probably why the power management sucks so much) and their ugly hardware.

With this update they seemed to have answered a lot of the criticisms used against the now old iphones.

Alan, O2 have 2 types of connection one which goes via proxy and another without. The proxy server does it's usual cache thing but also reduces the quality of images passing through it - they call it image optimisation. The result affects everything from web browsing, iTunes store, App store, anything server side but also anything passing through it such as uploading photos to a blog. Imagine saving a jpeg in Photoshop and setting the quality to 30% - that's how it will look to the end user with O2's proxy. The proxy is bypassed by changing the default APN and username. The iPad microSIM is not provisioned with this APN so it doesn't have the ability to avoid connecting via the proxy. I wonder if O2 will do the same on the iPhone - a beautful new display will not prevent O2 making images look low res at source.

Giles I think the new phone is incredible and cleverly retains a distinction from the iPad. Before this I had been considering switching my phone back to a cheap, regular non smartphone handset now that the iPad is here. This update changes everything.

a colleague has a business contract iPhone and says that she get's automatic upgrades so you wouldn't have to wait til you've saved your pennies to get a new one.

A

I'll be getting the new iPhone 4.0 as soon as possible - it's a massive step in the right direction, and was going the right way in the first place.

But on what network and monthly contract or PAYG??

MacUser did a price comparison a few issues ago and PAYG seemed the cheapest.

Is probably what I'm going to do...

The only decision now is whether I am generous and go for matching his and hers!!?!

A

http://blog.o2.co.uk/home/2010/06/offering-fair-and-...

Whilst Ronan Dunne is offering the chance to reply on the blog I thought it would be a good opportunity to bring up the question of image optimisation. If the new pricing structure is fairer for both sides, shouldn't it be possible to choose how we use our data allowance? My post was removed in seconds. My account on O2 customer forums has also been disabled. I guess this is one question O2 doesn't want to answer.

In reply to a post by nonymouse:

But on what network and monthly contract or PAYG??

MacUser did a price comparison a few issues ago and PAYG seemed the cheapest.

Is probably what I'm going to do...

O2 on PAYG for me, I don't want (or need) a contract.

I'll put my [like new] iPhone 3GS 32GB up for sale in the next few days. and just get any credit (and number) switched over to the new [Micro]-SIM.

O2 switched my credit and number over to the 3GS SIM last year, and will maybe do the same this year, if there's anything on it.

Device type doesn't affect bitrate of purchases.

There's an option in iTunes to re-encode media to 128Kb/s for iPhone.

If you are talking about iTunes Plus, forget it - I won't be paying again for music that I've already paid for.

Thanks though.

The supplement gets a much better bitrate in return.

Your decision to buy music encoded at a low bitrate has nothing to do with the device.

I'm on Simplicity, £20 a month with the unlimited data bolt on (probably 500MB a month now).

If I have to go up to £35 a month for £18 months, then if the PAYG phone is more than £470 I'm better off on a contract.

Of course PAYG is not SIM free, so it would have to stay on O2,

I like how Apple lag behind a little bit, it means they want to get things right and not pump out 5 bad handsets.

Other companies release too many phones. HTC must release about 5 a year, they don't get time to optimise the OS get the best out of the hardware.

In reply to a post by Zadeks:

Device type doesn't affect bitrate of purchases.

There's an option in iTunes to re-encode media to 128Kb/s for iPhone.

Excuse my ignorance , but may I ask how I set the re-emcoded media for the iPhones bit-rate to 128kbps?

It's a checkbox in iTunes when the phone is plugged in (summary page when the device is selected).

Many thanks for that - I have never ever noticed that before!!

That is going to make things a LOT easier - if my PC ever detects the iPhone again. :?

It worked a treat with the MBP though. and that's the main thing.

Cheers for the excellent advice >everyone!<

<whispers>
I did actually have to connect my phone to check</whispers>

I really wasn't sure and had to try it as soon as possible - it was sooo annoying when the _PC_ was determined not to see the iPhone in iTunes.

Having the Mac just made it all ok. It worked flawlessly, and was a pleasure watching it do what it does.

Mac's are beautiful as well. Definitely no complaints what-so-ever.

A helpful note on the O2 website.

Edited by deleted (Sat 12-Jun-10 07:40:21)

Thanks Yves, are you receiving the daily tibits too? The one with the scruffy chap pulling a face, Guru James? Very a-la Apple Store, lol. I'm waiting impatiently for the next instalment.

Yes, I'm getting them. I would like them to send me a micro SIM as I wish to upgrade by purchasing a Pay & Go handset.

Snap. This time it will be more expensive though because I'll have to replace both phones in the house to try out this FaceTime, lol.

I am quite surprised by Apple's introduction of FaceTime as, in a previous keynote speech, Apple showed a close association with Skype. Personally I would prefer to continue to use Skype as my friends are on there.

In reply to a post by Yves:

I am quite surprised by Apple's introduction of FaceTime as, in a previous keynote speech, Apple showed a close association with Skype. Personally I would prefer to continue to use Skype as my friends are on there.

Agreed there.

Facetime may be the future Skype..

I was surprised to see FaceTime instead of iChat - perhaps disappointed at first - but now I think we could be looking at the future iChat. It doesn't make sense to keep them apart. In this house we use iChat quite extensively to keep in touch with family & friends and over time our dependency on Skype has diminished - everyone got Macs. My cheap calls are now done via iSoftphone and sipgate.

Just tried to figure out what:

>My cheap calls are now done via iSoftphone and sipgate

meant.

Wheels in my mind ticking over slowly, but thinking of making cheap calls from abroad on holiday Bosie!
Am I right in thinking that isoftphone is software to make your Mac work as a telephone handset and sipgate are the people who route the call to either normal phones or computers?
Again am I right in thinking that isoftphone is a one off cost and then everytime you make a call there is a small charge to sipgate?

You are correct Nahum. I'm not saying Sipgate are cheapest - I didn't shop around - but it works, it's easy and the call quality is good. I also registered for a free PSTN number local to my home so I can be reached via a regular PSTN telephone as well as the SIP address of my account.

Edited by deleted (Wed 16-Jun-10 10:53:53)

Not often I get the right end of the stick
Thanks for the info Bosie, I will add this to my holiday list.
Beats mobile roaming call charges!
Cheers,
Ian

In reply to a post by bosie:

but also anything passing through it such as uploading photos to a blog.

No, it cannot affect uploads. There is no software on your phone or which is capable of re-compressing images. That function would have to be built into the browser.

In reply to a post by bosie:

Imagine saving a jpeg in Photoshop and setting the quality to 30% - that's how it will look to the end user with O2's proxy.

Only if they're browsing on 2G. On HDSPA connections the compression is minimal. In fact I can't even see a difference and I'm on the default APN on my iPhone 3G.

In reply to a post by bosie:

I'm not saying Sipgate are cheapest - I didn't shop around - but it works, it's easy and the call quality is good.

Just so you know, Skype offers this too via SkypeOut. It works like a dream! You can call most places in teh world for hardly any money and get a real phone number to associate with your Skype connection. I've personally found this to be much more reliable than trying to use the various SIP/ VOIP solutions. Plus you can just call people on skype if they've got it (with video too)

I'm afraid that is not correct - unless you know something about a change in policy Mr. Anonymous. I have been using O2 mobile services for a couple of years and have witnessed first hand the results of image alteration - it certainly has affected uploads, to a blog, a photo gallery even an email attachment. I am also in a HSDPA/HSUPA area.

O2 SIM swap details are out, maybe it will be possible to bypass the proxy, the APN is there!

http://shop.o2.co.uk/update/datasettings.html

For Pay Monthly customers. Tap APN and change idata.o2.co.uk and enter mobile.o2.co.uk (Please note that "o2" needs to be written with a letter "o" and not a zero)