Slash Lane / AppleInsider:
Apple developing always-on iPhone status indicators — Apple has conceptualized a means of displaying icon-like status indicators on the iPhone's displays even when the handset is locked and the backlight turned off, a new company filing shows. — The Cupertino-based electronics maker notes …
Walter S. Mossberg / Personal Technology:
BlackBerry's Storm Presses Into the Touch-Phone Fray — To its fiercest devotees, one of the best things about the BlackBerry is its carefully designed physical keyboard, which the skilled BlackBerry addict can play like a violin. These folks scorn Apple's popular iPhone …
Filed under: Software Update, Apple TV
Apple has just released software update 2.3 for the Apple TV. Right now, we don't have the change log, but we'll update the post as soon as we get more information.
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Apple_TV_Update_2_3_removes_Boxee_Hack; It is important to know that as with all other Apple TV firmware updates, running the update WILL remove any non-Apple TV software. So if you have installed the USB boxee hack you might want to wait on running the update.
Apple TV will eventually prompt you to run the automatic update, so boxee or XBMC users might want to check out the XBMC.org forums for information on disabling automatic updates.
If you are not using any additional software and would like to download this new update, you can do so by visiting Settings > General > Software Update from the main Apple TV menu. If you notice any new features, be sure to let us know in the comments.
Update: Apple has now posted a change log on their website. According to the knowledge base article, the following aspects of Apple TV have been updated:
Thanks for the tip, Jeff.
TUAWApple TV update 2.3 released originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
NTT DoCoMo is developing an Android-based smartphone with an aim to launch it next year, a spokesperson with the Japanese operator confirmed to AFP via Business Standard. The phone could help the carrier compete with its smaller rival Softbank, which has been growing customers at a faster rate since launching the iPhone in July.
An earlier report from Japanese financial newspaper the Nikkei picked up by Reuters, said that the phone would be co-developed by DoCoMo's Korean partner KT Freetel. DoCoMo owns a 10 percent stake in the Korean carrier, and in the past the two have procured handsets together to get better prices. But the company's spokesperson said that they hadn't yet decided on any partners, nor was it confirmed if the handsets would sell in Korea.
The handset will be the first Android phone to be launched in Japan, where mobile devices are already among the most sophisticated in the world. DoCoMo lost out on the iPhone after months of talks with Apple (NSDQ: AAPL), which reportedly broke down after the Japanese carrier balked over the high revenue sharing terms that Apple was demanding to let it sell the handset exclusively.
But an Android-based phone may actually prove to be a better bet for DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM). Though Apple has helped lure subscribers to Softbank, it hasn't sold spectacularly in Japan, where users apparently still want features particular to the local market?including mobile payments and digital broadcast TV. It's been reported that Japanese consumers who have bought the iPhone also tote around a second phone that give them access to these features--which could be potentially included in an Android-based phone. DoCoMo and Google (NSDQ: GOOG), meanwhile, already have an "alliance" in place, when early this year DoCoMo agreed to integrate its search and email into its content service i-Mode.
The Nikkei also reported that DoCoMo would price the Android-based phone at about 20 percent lower than existing smartphones, since it would save costs on software development as Android is free.
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Filed under: Video, iTunes, Bad Apple, Macbook Pro, MacBook
Yesterday, our buddy David Chartier at Ars and Sam Oliver at AppleInsider both publicized an issue that's been burning up the support boards for a while now: iTunes video rentals and purchases in HD are flagged for HDCP control, and in cooperation with the new Mini DisplayPort connector on the MacBook and MacBook Pro unibody models, those movies and TV shows are refusing to play back on non-compliant external displays.
In this case, 'compliant' means HDMI or recent-vintage DVI, but even monitors or TVs that support HDCP may not properly negotiate with the DisplayPort connector to give iTunes and QuickTime the all-clear signal (if so, quitting and relaunching iTunes once the display is hooked up may clear the playback hold). Equally annoying: HDCP is only supposed to apply to 'high-value' digital streams, meaning standard-def purchases and rentals on the iTunes store should be out of scope... but some reports indicate that both the HD and SD instances are flagged, blocking playback on anything but the laptop's internal display or a straight-thru HDMI connection. Argh!
While Apple TV users with unconventional output setups have been dealing with this aggravation since the beginning of the year, MacBook and MBP owners have largely steered clear, even as the HD content on iTunes became available for playback on the laptops. Now that the hardware and software have come into sync on the unibody models, Apple's compliance with HDCP -- a necessary but appalling condition of the content companies that deliver the HD movies and TV shows -- is beginning to close out the 'analog hole' and cause real aggravation for laptop owners with legitimate use cases. Talk about a bag of hurt.
TUAWMacBook Pro users getting bitten by HDCP originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Last year, the Give Good Food to Your Mac promo offered discounts on apps exclusively from Indie developers in Europe. This year the promo is back, and they've opened the doors to developers from around the world. There are some 60 apps available, and the deal is this: buy 3 apps and get a 20% discount on the total price, buy more apps and the discount increases up to 50% for 5 apps or more. Last year you could get a 70% discount at 10 apps or more, but that doesn't look like it's on the cutting board any more. The application lineup, however, is impressive. All of those Indie apps you were interested in but knew they would be part of a bundle sooner or later ... you'll probably find them here.
The lineup includes apps from Aquafadas, Houdah Software, Devon Technologies and many more. Some of my favorite software is included, such as Reinvented Software's Together (recently mentioned) and ShareTool (a recent Friday Favorite). The Hydra Aperture plugin, which we've also covered before, Cheetah 3D, Voice Candy ... it's quite a list. Stop by the Give Good Food to your Mac page and see if there's not something there to whet your appetite. The promo is running now and goes until December 1st.
TUAWGive Good Food to your Mac, now with international cuisine originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Greg Sandoval / CNET News:
Sources: Apple, music labels talk DRM-free songs — A year after iTunes began offering music without copy protection software from EMI, Apple is in discussions with the other three top recording companies about acquiring DRM-free songs, according to two music industry sources.
For weeks now there have been rumors of Wal-Mart eventually carrying Apple?s iPhone 3G. Now it has been confirmed that starting December 28th, select Wal-Mart locations as well as a few Sam?s Club stores will be carrying the AT&T exclusive handset.
The iPhone 3G will be on select Wal-Mart store shelves in 2,500 locations. Sam?s Club will only be getting the iPhone 3G in 69 stores in the US. There is still no word on suspected pricing due to the fact that many would wait till after Christmas to pick up the phone at a cheaper price. AT&T is going to be supporting Wal-Mart as far as activations go. Sam?s Club kiosks that are managed by Radio Shack however will not be getting the iPhone 3G. Here is the execution timeline for the launch of the iPhone 3G.
* 12/2 ? 12/5: AT&T / Wal-Mart MEM Classroom Training for Store Leads
* 12/3 ? 12/19: AT&T In-Store Training
* 12/26 ? 12/27: AT&T In-Store Refresher Training
* 12/28: Nationwide Launch
* 12/28 ? 12/30: Wal-Mart and AT&T War Room Support
[Via iPhoneBuzz]
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Hardware, Portables, Apple, Macbook Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air
Talk about being slightly touched. Arik Hesseldahl's BusinessWeek article, published today, says "...as of Nov. 19, Hewlett-Packard has beaten Apple to the punch, announcing the first multi-touch-enabled notebook PC, the tx2. I can't help but wonder whether Apple just lost an important race."
Not only did Apple not lose an important race, the tx2 isn't the first multi-touch notebook. Engadget points out that the Dell Latitude XT, which offered multi-touch technology, came on the scene back in July of '08. But even that wasn't first, because the MacBook Air was introduced on January 15th of 2008 with a multi-touch trackpad.
"Well," you say, "there's a difference between a touchable trackpad and a touchable display." You're right: one's meant to be touched and one isn't. The reason the trackpad on the MacBook Pro and he MacBook has gotten larger, smoother and glassier is because Apple is (and will continue to) inviting you to do more with it than tap and click. Multi-touch gestures on a notebook ought to be delivered via the surface that's made to be touched, not the surface made to be viewed. On the iPhone those surfaces are one & the same because there's no other option.
But really, the notion that Apple "lost an important race" by not being first is the biggest error here. Apple wasn't the first to release jukebox software, a portable music player or a mobile phone. Yet, iTunes, the iPod and the iPhone are the most successful examples of each. Apple's greatest strength is patience.
The designers and developers at Apple know you want a fully touch-enabled laptop. So do the folks at HP. The difference is that Apple's staff are patient and careful enough to execute it in exactly the right way, not just the most obvious way.
[Via MacDailyNews]
TUAWBusinessWeek: HP "out-touches" Apple originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
¡Café apureño! “En Sono Video Riky nos sentimos orgullosos de ser parte importante en estos momentos, de la historia de las telecomunicaciones de Venezuela, al ser el primer agente integral en ofrecer a los apureños los tres primeros iPhone 3G“ dijo a con-cafe.com el Sr. José Carballo, Gerente General de Sono Vídeo Ricky, quien junto a Llanocel, son los dos únicos agentes integrales en ofrecer este dispositivo de Apple en San Fernando de Apure.
Desde el sábado tres sanfernandinos pagaron sus iPhone 3G y ayer martes se lo entregaron. Fotos tomadas con un BlackBerry 8130.
El primer agente autorizado en la capital de Apure y en Calabozo fue LlanoCel, de Gerardo y Antonieta de Milano pero hoy Sono Video Riky le gana en la carrera del Apple iPhone 3G Movistar.
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Rumors, iMac, Apple
It's not even December, yet Macworld rumors are starting to fly. Digital Times is reporting that Apple is among the vendors ready to use Intel's new 65W low-power desktop CPUs, specifically designed for all-in-one computers. The lower heat output makes these great little chips for the iMac.
Additionally, these chips would come with a faster bus, and even run a bit cheaper than the dual core chips Apple is currently using - the 2.33GHz, 2.66GHz and 2.83GHz chips cost $245, $320 and $369, respectively, according to Digital Times.
The iMac has been the star of many Macworld keynote speeches, and we expect the same this year. See you in January!
[Via Electronista]
TUAWRumor: Quad-core iMacs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: iPhone
Walmart will be taking a pass for most of the holiday shopping season with one particular item: the iPhone. It will begin selling the handset December 28, according to Jamie Townsend, of research firm JRPG.
Boy Genius Report also notes that the phone will be sold in some Sam's Club stores as well. The blog broke the news about Walmart's talks with Apple, but originally said the smartphone would hit shelves last Saturday.
Walmart seems to be capitalizing on post-holiday shopping fervor, with BGR's Zach Epstein speculating, "Won't people be happy when they find out Apple's handsets popped up at discount prices three short days after Christmas?" It depends on how meager Christmas is, I suppose.
The handsets will apparently be activated in-store. No pricing details were released.
TUAWWalmart will sell iPhones starting Dec. 28 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
AFP - Japan’s top carrier NTT DoCoMo Inc. aims to launch next year a cellphone developed with Internet search giant Google, an official said Wednesday, a move that could counter Apple’s iconic iPhone.
Original post by AFP
Admob just published their October metrics report. First, I should say - congratulations to Admob. They are at nearly SIX BILLION (5.8 billion to be exact) ad requests per month. That's a huge number compared to where they were a year ago. And, they don't represent the entire market.
There's a lot more mobile web browsing going on than they see. And what is crazy - or not so crazy - is that the majority of it is still on your basic feature phone. An astonishing four percent IS on iPhones. You have to go down to #10 on the list to get to another mid-sized device with a larger than average screen. The RAZR ranks #2. This creates an interesting development dilemma for content providers, but more on that later.
Page three of the report is dedicated to the impact of the iPhone on the market. It's definitely worth a read. I won't steal their thunder by listing all the highlights here. Topline - they had nearly 150 million requests from iPhones in the US alone. The requests about doubled between end of September and end of October. (Can't wait to see Apple/AT&T's Q4 earnings ... how many of these devices are you guys selling?)
How about 17 percent of ad requests coming out of Mexico coming from the iPhone? Can't remember which carrier Apple launched with there. T-Mobile won't tell me how much they are pricing iPhone data plans at in the US. (Kidding)
Admob and this industry are just getting started. Apple announced 200 million downloads a couple of weeks back. They haven't said what percentage are paid and what percentage are free. Let's assume the majority are free (I'll use myself and go with a sample size of n=1). There is a tremendous audience there that will likely be served ads in the future to support the free download model. Admob has some cool ad formats they've developed for the iPhone that we're just starting to see. Their report sites 400 iPhone apps and sites currently being served. I expect to see the traffic from iPhones continue to increase as more applications use their product.
The Safari browser on the iPhone is great, etc., but I only use it as a last resort if there isn't a widget or app that will get me what I need.
This is getting to be pretty exciting. Stay tuned.
Filed under: Macworld, Rumors, Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard could ship as early as January, according to comments made by the director of Apple's Unix Technology Group.
Jordan Hubbard said at the Large Installation System Administration conference last week that Mac OS X 10.6 will ship in the first quarter of 2009, according to MacNN.
This primes the Macworld Expo rumor pump: Scheduled for January 5, Steve could debut new quad-core iMacs in addition to showing off this new version of the operating system.
This is not to be confused with Mac OS X 10.5.6, a minor update, which could be available as soon as Friday.
TUAWMacNN: Snow Leopard could ship 1Q 2009 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, First Look
As a gadget hound and productivity freak, I've tried just about everything over the past 10+ years, both hardware and software. My gadgets have included a Palm IIIe, two Handspring Visors, a Newton 2100, a Newton eMate and a Palm Tungsten E2. They were all nice (some more than others), but each shared deficits of one type or another. Graffiti and easily-lost styluses were two biggies.Continue reading First Look: FrontPocket for iPhone and iPod touch
TUAWFirst Look: FrontPocket for iPhone and iPod touch originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Intel will launch the Core 2 Quad Q8200s (2.33GHz/4MB L2), Core 2 Quad Q9400s (2.66GHz/6MB...
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Hardware, Software, Odds and ends, Apple
TUAWNew MacBook Pro benchmarked within Boot Camp originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
¡Café monaguense! Trece iPhone en un día se vendieron ayer en Maturin, estado Monagas. así lo informa nuestro reportero Domenico Falzano.
Saludos, desde el dia de hoy a las 9.00 am, aproximadamente se dio la luz verde para la venta de la manzana de la discordia, el iPhone 3G debuto en Maturin y con muy buenas expectativas, el agente integral MONAGAS PHONE CLUB, sera el encargado de la venta de este equipo en todo el estado Monagas. Fotos tomadas con un Nokia N82.
Material POP del iPhone Movistar.
Ya desde muy temprano los clientes estaban esperando para comprar su iphone 3G en sus dos presentaciones 8gb y 16 gb en sus dos colores, mientras estuve alli pude ver a varias personas adquirir este equipo, muchos usuarios del Iphone en su version anterior venian a renovar, se llevaban hasta de dos equipos!!! que tal??
La MACBOOOK usada para facilitar la programación del iPhone por iTunes.
El amigo Luis Tomaselli, dueño de MONAGAS PHONE CLUB, esta muy contento por haber sido el seleccionado para la venta de este equipo, me pudo comentar que envio a dos de sus empleados para el curso de capacitacion que dicto la gente de Apple, para la venta de este equipo, tambien me dijo que no ha tenido problema alguno para la activacion de los equipos, “estamos activando con una MacBook, para que sea mas facil la activacion” me comento a con-cafe.
Otra vista del material POP del iPhone 3G.
Pude conocer de muy buena fuente, que en la region Guayana solamente seran 3 los Agentes que venderan el iPhone 3G, uno en Puerto Ordaz, uno en Ciudad Bolivar, y en el estado Monagas Phone Club en Maturin.
Dotación del iPhone 3G.
Cabe recordar que MONAGAS PHONE CLUB, esta ubicada en la calle Monagas, frente a la Plaza del Estudiante en la ciudad de Maturin, estado Monagas.
Asi que los que quieran comprar esa manzana ya saben donde ir…
Saludos…
Domenico Falzano
Gracias Domenico. Buen trabajo!
La caja de color negro es donde viene el iPhone de 8GB y la blanca el iPhone de 16 GB.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Gaming, Odds and ends, Freeware, iPhone
TUAWAdventure released for the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
After Apple began selling Macintosh systems based on Intel processors, a program called "Parallels Desktop" was released that let you run Windows in a window on a Mac. It instantly became the de facto standard for breaking down walls between operating systems on the Mac OS. Parallels uses a technique called "virtualization," which creates a virtual computer running within the physical, real computer. Called a "virtual machine," it can use different operating systems, allowing Mac users to simultaneously run, say, Windows or Linux. AFP - A Japanese professor on Wednesday launched what he said was the world’s first web-based psychotherapy sessions available via mobile phone, as the country grapples with a growing problem of depression.
Original post by AFP
Taking a page out of the Nintendo Wii?s playbook, the iFun app turns your iPhone/iPod Touch into a wireless controller used for game play. It?s specifically designed to work with iFun games and there are a reported four games available ? baseball, basketball, bowling and golf - however, only golf was accessible when I visited thee site.
The game itself is hosted on the internet and the app for the iPhone only enables it to become a wireless controller. Registration is required before you can play, but there is no need to worry about paying fees since both the iFun app and registration are free of charge.
I?ve tried it out myself and there’s a considerable delay when performing an action and seeing it replicated on the screen. This is understandable considering that all the data is fed through the internet. It should also be noted that the iPhone?s sleek form factor isn?t the most easy to handle especially if you’re swinging the device around like a golf club. Extra care should be exercised so as not to accidentally hit someone with a flying iPhone.
Nevertheless, this latest gaming app does show a lot of potential. If the developer could find a way to resolve the lag and come out with more games to support such an interface, I have no doubt that this will be a future best seller.
[source]
This is a post from Cell Phones Etc. entitled:
iFun app turns your iPhone into a Wii-like controller | Add your Comments
Each month, AdMob, a mobile advertising network, rounds up the data from over 6,000 mobile websites and applications, analyzes it all, and releases their findings in their Mobile Metrics Report. In the September report, AdMob determined that the iPhone had become the #4 handset worldwide by count of ads requested. In the October release, the iPhone has skyrocketed all the way to #1.
Note that these rankings are not directly representative of sales numbers; while AdMob’s ad network is wide enough that these numbers can provide an accurate picture of usage trends, they don’t necessarily prove that one handset is outselling another.
September vs October Worldwide handset rankings:
Within the Top 5, the only major change is the iPhones sudden surge. Below that however, notice the BlackBerry 8100s sudden disappearance from the list - it has shifted down to #11 (not shown in image), sitting just below the BlackBerry 8300. Why might this be? Well, the 8100 is a good half year older than the 8300 - chances are, more 8100s are reaching retirement.
September vs October US handset rankings:
In September, we were a bit surprised to see the iPhone sitting all the way down at #7 in the US while it managed to snag the #4 spot worldwide. In October, the iPhone’s rank seems a bit more well aligned with it’s worldwide status, coming in at #2. iPhone requests have more than doubled, allowing it to knock the KRZR down a notch. The rest of the list moves in relation, though as with the worldwide rankings, we see the BlackBerry 8300 climb as the 8100 sinks.
One thing to note with all of these statistics, however, is that the AdMob advertisements embedded into iPhone applications are counted alongside web site statistics. If these same advertisements are not embedded into applications on all of the other platforms, wouldn’t the numbers be skewed in favor of the iPhone? Even if they were given the same real estate across all platforms, third-party applications are a far more significant part of the iPhone than they are for the vast majority of devices; if you own an iPhone, chances are great that you’ve installed (and regularly use) a handful of applications. Can you really say the same about the KRZR, or the
