According to a 9to5Mac tipster, iOS 5 in Japan will include notifications from Japan’s earthquake early warning system. It ties into iOS 5′s Notification Center, and can be enabled and disabled just like any Notification Center section in Settings. Because it stays connected to Japan’s nationwide online monitoring network, it will most likely lower battery life slightly, but given the importance of the system, that’s likely a tradeoff anyone enabling it will be more than willing to make.

No word yet on whether any other earthquake-prone, or natural disaster-prone areas with early warning systems of their own will be able to likewise tie into Notification Center, though App Store apps can fill that gap where and as needed.

[9to5Mac]

Apple is now offering free service and repairs to iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Mac computers that were damaged during the recent Japan earthquake and tsunami. The details were revealed in a Support and Information Service note on Apples Japanese website.

It confirms that Apple will offer free repairs of any Macs, Cinema Displays, iPhones, iPads or iPod touches damaged in the disaster. The offer only applies to those directly affected and who live primarily in the municipalities covered in the Disaster Relief Act of 2011.

Softbank, the Japanese service provider, already announced a similar scheme to repair iPhones for free; as well as offer orphaned children free phones and service until they reach eighteen years old.

[Apple via TUAW]

It looks like iPad 2, previously delayed due to the earthquake, will finally debut in Japan this week, as well as Hong Kong, India, Israel, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and UAE.

The Wi-Fi only version will also hit China on May 6.

So who’s getting one?

[Apple PR]

Following the awful earthquakes and devastating tsunami that hit Japan, it is good to hear that Japanese carrier Softbank are offering assistance to children that were left orphaned by the recent disaster, including free replacements for any damaged iPhones.

Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son has announced via twitter that all earthquake orphans will receive free phones with all calling costs waived until they reach 18 years old. This offer is even extended to those on other networks such as DoCoMo.

We say well done Softbank and in particular Mr Son!

[Engadget]

Apple has announced they will delay the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan in light of the disastrous earthquake and tsunami that hit the island last week, devastating large parts of the country.

“We are delaying the launch of the iPad 2 in Japan while the country and our teams focus on recovering from the recent disaster,” said Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris.

Apple had originally planned to include Japan in the iPad 2 international rollout on March 25th and have yet to announce a rescheduled Japanese launch. This comes after iTunes began accepting relief donations and Apple Retail Japan provided shelter for victims of the tragedy.

[Reuters]

Looks like the CDMA variant of Apple’s iPhone might eventually make its way to carriers in China, Korea, and Japan. According to the not always reliable Digitimes, Apple suppliers currently expect around 7 million CDMA iPhones to be sold in the first quarter of 2011. That’s a lot of iPhones, no matter how you look at it.

Apple’s two main suppliers, Foxconn and Pegatron are also slated to turn a large profit this year due to the release of a CDMA variant. Foxconn started shipping the CDMA variant of the iPhone 4 back in December 2010, while Pegatron has started shipping this month. Digitimes maintains that Foxconn will ship solely to the United States while Pegatron will ship to other countries such as China, Japan, and Korea. The Verizon iPhone is set to double the number of iPhone users in the market alone. With these other countries added to the CDMA list, the iPhone will be available to a whole new array of customers as well.

I’d say with the GSM and CDMA variants set to be available on even more carriers and in more countries, Apple is in for a year of record numbers. It’s also great that customers in the US now have a choice. And if you’re in the US and not sure which to pick, take a look at our Verizon vs AT&T iPhone comparison.

[Digitimes]

Apple has announced not one, but two huge products set to launch in Japan — iTunes movies and iAds. Movies first. To start, there will be over 1,000 movies available for purchase and download. Movies will be available in standard definition and high definition. As usual, all rentals and purchases will require a valid credit card on file with iTunes, nothing new there.

HD rental prices start at ¥300 while new release rentals will run ¥500. SD rental prices are ¥200 and ¥400 respectively. Purchases prices range from ¥1,000 to ¥2,500 depending, of course, upon whether they are HD or SD and whether they are an older title or a new release. For those keeping track, ¥2,500 is about $30 USD. This seems pretty pricey to me. Right now, titles like Toy Story 3 in HD are only $19.99 on the US version of the iTunes store. Do these prices for Japan seem high to anyone else?

Aside from movie purchases and rentals, Apple is also extending their highly successful iAd service to Japan as well. The Dentsu Group in Japan will be responsible for selling and executing iAd while Apple will deliver the ad content to customers. The Dentsu Group is one of the most successful brand agencies not only in Japan, but in the world.

Andy Miller, Vice President of iAd had this to say about the rollout -

“After an incredibly successful launch in the US where we’ve already doubled the number of brands on the network, we’re excited to bring iAd to Japan,”…“Dentsu is one of the world’s most prestigious advertising agencies, making them an ideal partner for iAds in Japan.”

It’s good to see Apple is extending more of the more sought after services to other parts of the globe. Any of our readers in Japan have any thoughts? What do you think about the iTunes Store pricing for movies?

[Apple iAd Press Release, Apple iTunes Press Release]

Facebook Places has gone live in the UK. It lit up in Japan a few days ago as well. No love for Canada or many other countries yet. Still, even in locations where Facebook places has launched, it doesn’t seem to have slowed down FourSquare or Gowalla at all.

Is Facebook Places available where you are? Are you using it? If so, let us know how it’s been working for you, if not, tell us what’s kept you away.

[Thanks English Mike!]

Even before Apple announced the iPhone 4 was coming to the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan on June 24, AT&T announced new, tiered and capped data plans and aggressive upgrade options for the new handset. Internationally…? Cricket chirps.

So here’s where the power of the TiPb nation comes in. We’ve put as much as we could find below, but if you know more about carrier plans and upgrade options in the UK, France, Germany, or Japan, drop it in the comments and we’ll update the post.

UK iPhone 4 pricing

O2 UK

Monthly plans begin at 100 minutes and 500 MB of data priced at £25 for a 24-month contract and £30 for an 18-month contract and ramp up to unlimited calling and 1 GB of data priced at £60/£65. A footnote to O2′s pricing matrix indicates, however, that the carrier will continue running a “promotion” offering unlimited data for all smartphones until October, at which time the company will offer additional data in 500 MB (£5) and 1 GB (£10) buckets.

For £20 a month you can buy off your existing contract to become eligible for upgrade faster. [MacRumors]

Vodafone UK

Leaked [Engadget]

France iPhone 4 pricing

Pending…

Germany iPhone 4 pricing

Pending…

Japan iPhone 4 pricing

Softbank

Black only (no info on white), pre-orders begin June 15, 5pm online and in store. Proof of identity required.

• 57,600 yen ($624) for the 32GB model
• 46,080 yen ($500) for the 16GB model
• COD or 24 payments of 2,400 yen/1,920 yen.
• Value plan Unlimited Data for 4,410 yen per month
• Basic plan starts at 1,029 yen a month, tops out at 4,410 for unlimited
• Value plan subsidizes 1,920 yen a month for 24 months.
• Basic plan subsidizes 1,440 yen a month for 24 months.

A two year commitment for a 32GB iPhone 4 will cost you 57,600 yen but return 46,080 yen in discounts bringing a total difference of 11,530 yen or around $125 USD. A 16GB iPhone 4 will cost 46,080 yen with 46,080 yen discount or a whopping 0 yen!

[Mobile Japan via 9to5Mac]

Keep it coming!

Apple’s just-announced iPhone 4 will be available in black and white, in $199 for 16GB, $299/32GB, and will hit the US, France, Germany, UK, and Japan on June 24. Pre-orders start June 15.

Other countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada (!), Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland will get it in July, and 88 countries total will be online by September.

Sounds off and let us know if you’re getting it, if you’re pre-ordering or lining up, or if you’re bummed it’s not coming to your country sooner…

Apple has announced that the first international iPad sales would start May 28 in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, and our eagle eyed commenters have been tracking down the various pricing schemes. Round-up after the break!

Australian iPad pricing

iPad is available in Australia for a recommended retail price of AUS$629 inc GST for 16GB, AUS$759 inc GST for 32GB, AUS$879 inc GST for 64GB for Wi-Fi models and AUS$799 inc GST for 16GB, AUS$928 inc GST for 32GB and AUS$1049 inc GST for 64GB for Wi-Fi + 3G models.

Canadian iPad pricing

iPad is available in Canada for a suggested retail price of $549 (CAN) for 16GB, $649 (CAN) for 32GB, $749 (CAN) for 64GB for Wi-Fi models and $679 (CAN) for 16GB, $779 (CAN) for 32GB and $879 (CAN) for 64GB for Wi-Fi + 3G models.

France iPad pricing

iPad est disponible en France au prix de vente conseillé de 499 € pour le modèle 16 Go, 599 € pour le modèle 32 Go, 699 € pour le modèle 64 Go en version Wi-Fi, et au prix de vente conseillé de 599 € pour le modèle 16 Go, 699 € pour le modèle 32 Go, 799 € pour le modèle 64 Go en version Wi-Fi + 3G.

Germany iPad pricing

16GB iPad (WiFi-only): € 514, 32GB iPad (WiFi-only): € 614, 64GB iPad (WiFi-only): € 714, 16GB iPad (WiFi+3G): € 614, 32GB iPad (WiFi+3G): € 714, 64GB iPad (WiFi+3G): € 814 [Schimanke]

Italy iPad pricing

iPad è disponibile in Italia ad un prezzo consigliato di €499 per 16GB, €599 per 32GB, €699 per 64GB per i modelli Wi-Fi e €599 per 16GB, €699 per 32GB e €799 per 64GB per i modelli Wi-Fi + 3G.

Japan pricing

Carrier Softbank has announced device and plan pricing. It’s a little more confusing because they’re offering up-front and installment plans, and a form of subsidy. Basic device pricing. Wi-Fi: 16GB: 48,960, 32GB: 59,040, and 64GB 68,880, Wi-Fi + 3G: 16GB: 61,920, 32GB: 72,000, and 64GB 81,840. For more details see Mobile in Japan.

Spain iPad pricing

El iPad estará disponible en España al precio recomendado (IVA incluído) de 479 euros el modelo de 16GB, 579 euros el de 32GB y 679 euros el de 64GB, en el caso de los modelos Wi-Fi; y al precio recomendado (IVA incluído) de 579 euros el de 16GB, 679 euros el de 32GB y 779 euros el de 64GB, para modelos del iPad con Wi-Fi + 3G.

Switzerland iPad pricing

iPad Wi-Fi 16GB: 649, 32GB: 779, 64GB: 899. iPad Wi-Fi + 3G: 16GB: 799, 32GB: 929, 64GB: 1049 [Ars Technica]

UK iPad pricing

Pad is available in the UK for a suggested retail price of £429 (inc. VAT) for 16GB, £499 (inc. VAT) for 32GB, £599 (inc. VAT) for 64GB for Wi-Fi models and £529 (inc. VAT) for 16GB, £599 (inc. VAT) for 32GB and £699 (inc. VAT) for 64GB for Wi-Fi + 3G models.

More

Apple has 9 more countries ramping up in July, including Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore, so there’s more to come.

In the meantime, what do you think of the prices in your neck of the woods? Fair or fowl?

Apple has announced that the iPad will go on sale in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK on Friday, May 28. Online pre-orders, as previously announced, begin May 10.

Pricing:

• iPad is available in the UK for a suggested retail price of £429 (inc. VAT) for 16GB, £499 (inc. VAT) for 32GB, £599 (inc. VAT) for 64GB for Wi-Fi models and £529 (inc. VAT) for 16GB, £599 (inc. VAT) for 32GB and £699 (inc. VAT) for 64GB for Wi-Fi + 3G models.

• iPad is available in Canada for a suggested retail price of $549 (CAN) for 16GB, $649 (CAN) for 32GB, $749 (CAN) for 64GB for Wi-Fi models and $679 (CAN) for 16GB, $779 (CAN) for 32GB and $879 (CAN) for 64GB for Wi-Fi + 3G models.

Orange, Vodafone, and O2 in the UK and Rogers in Canada have also announced they’ll be providing data plans for iPad Wi-Fi + 3G, but likewise haven’t offered any pricing details yet.

If you’re in one of those countries, let us know your plan. Already bought a US iPad? Going to pre-order on the 10th? Line up at an Apple store on the 28th? Or still making up your mind?

[Apple]

UDPATE: Engadget initially updated their story on the iPhone G4 (not iPhone 4G!) to include the information below, then removed the update, their editor-in-chief stating on Twitter that a “major update is coming”. So, we’ll file this under “developing” for now…

ORIGINAL: Those pictures we linked to last night of an iPhone 4G/iPhone HD turn out to be what most of our readers claimed it to be in the comments – just a knock-off.

According to Applesfera, the phone in the pictures never came from Apple or Cupertino at all, but is simply a cheap Chinese clone. One of their readers posted a picture (above) of the same identical phone that they recently purchased in Japan.

So whether you were excited or not so excited, move along as there is nothing to see here.

[Via Macrumors via Applefera]

MobileCrunch brings word that, according to Impress R&D [Japanese language]:

[The iPhone 3G is] commanding 24.6% [of the domestic smartphone market], while the [iPhone 3GS] contributes another 21.5%. The 3G was introduced in Japan in summer 2008 (the 3GS followed earlier this year). Sources in Japan say that the iPhone user base in Japan now stands at 3 million, which is an impressive 10% of the global userbase.

They credit carrier SoftBank’s aggressive TV and print advertising, and the lack of similar pushes for BlackBerry and Android, as key factors in the iPhone’s success. (Android comes in at #10 with 2.3% and the BlackBerry Bold at #11 with 1.2%)

This follows similar enthusiasm in Korea, and a tepid response from China — at least for the official, non-gray market models…

UPDATE: Engadget Mobile points out the smartphone market as a whole is really teeny tiny in Japan (lumped in under “others” at 22%).

[Impress R&D via MobileCrunch via MacRumors]

According to market research company Gfk and their recent survey, it seems like Japan has fallen in love with the iPhone 3GS. So much so that in the month of July, the good people there have made Apple’s 32GB iPhone 3GS the most popular cell phone in all of Japan.

Here is how the rest of the top 10 shakes out.

• Apple iPhone 3GS 32 GB
• Sharp SH-06A
• Panasonic 830P
• Sharp SH-05A
• NEC N-08A
• Sony Ericsson Walkman Phone Premier3
• Sharp SH-02A
• Casio W63CA
• Apple iPhone 3GS 16 GB
• Sharp SH001

It must be those Emoji icons…

[Via MobileCrunch]

Would you pay $1000 for a hand-craft, culturally symbolic iPhone case?

Crunchgear says they’re intended “to show how Japanese warlords from the Sengoku period would probably use their iPhones if they lived today”:

The so-called JAPAN TEXTURE [JP] series consists of a total of five cases with different designs. Created under the supervision of a historian, SoftBank says each case is covered with special lacquer and gold dust. It takes three to four weeks to make one, which kind of explains the price.

Given the prices for lacquer bowls, tea sets, and other object d’art, maybe $1000 is no barrier? What say you?

[Picture credit - Nobi]

And we thought $99 rumors at Walmart sounded cheap! According to Apple Insider, if you live in Japan and don’t mind signing a 2-year deal with official carrier SoftBank, you can take home an 8GB iPhone 3G for FREE!

No matter the exchange rate, zero is zero, so if you’ve been holding out for an iPhone of your very own, is this finally enough the sway you? And most importantly, what Emoji will you use to express your free iPhone feelings?

(For our non-Japanese readers think AT&T, Rogers, or any other carrier will match this deal any time soon..?

Counting down to its July 11 multi-national debut, Japan’s Softbank has announced (in Japanese, ‘natch) their official iPhone 3G prices and plans. The hardware itself will cost ¥23,040 for 8GB and ¥34,560 for 16GB, a roughly 7% premium over Steve Jobs’ US$199 maximum, amortized over the length of the pre-requisite 2 year contract.

Plans will be color coded, primarily in white, but rumor has it also in orange and blue. Based on the linked-to details, this color system is impenetrable enough I can’t believe North American carriers haven’t rushed to adopt it!

Any Japanese readers who can shed further light on how these charges will shake out on a data-hungry iPhone-class device, please let us know in the comments!

Read Via

From the land of the rising sun, and the trend of mono-sentence-ic press statements, Softbank has announced that they will be carrying the iPhone in Japan with — wait for it — details to follow later!

Unofficial beginning of June scorecard:

Launched: Austria (T-Mobile), France (Orange), Germany (T-Mobile), Ireland (O2), UK (O2), USA (AT&T)

Announced: Africa (Orange), Argentina (America Movil), Australia (Vodafone / SingTel), Austria (Orange), Belgium (Orange), Brazil (America Movil), Canada (Rogers), Chile (America Movil), Columbia (America Movil), the Czech Republic (Vodafone), Denmark (TeliaSonera), Dominican Republic (America Movil/ Orange), Ecuador (America Movil), Egypt (Vodafone / Orange), El Salvador (America Movil), Estonia (TeliaSonera), Finland (TeliaSonera), Greece (Vodafone), Guatamala (America Movil), Honduras (America Movil), Hong Kong SAR (Hutchison) India (Vodafone / SingTel), Italy (Vodafone / Telecom Italia), Jamaica (America Movil), Japan (Softbank), Jordan (Orange), Latvia (TeliaSonera), Lithuania (TeliaSonera), Macao (Hutchison), Mexico (America Movil), New Zealand (Vodafone), Nicaragua (America Movil), Norway (TeliaSonera), Paraguay (America Movil), Peru (America Movil), Philippines (SingTel), Poland (Orange), Portugal (Vodafone / Orange), Puerto Rico (America Movil), Romania (Orange), Singapore (SingTel), Slovakia (Orange), Spain (Movistar), South Africa (Vodafone), Switzerland (Swisscom / Orange), Turkey (Vodafone), Uruguay (America Movil)

Rumored: Netherlands (?),

Note: Extent of America Movil and Orange Africa deployment not yet fully detailed.

Still burning a hole in your direction, China! Only a few days to go…

Read