Mobility Site » Apple

It’s An Apple Thing

Zealot — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:39:40 +0000

A few days ago I reported that beta builds of the new Mac OS X 10.6.2 could no longer be installed on netbooks running Atom processors, effectively spiking the popular Hackintosh builds. Well, reports came out that a new beta build DID support Atom chips again, so bloggers reported that it must have all been a development error, no worries.

Well, in the newest beta build, Atom support is broken again as the video below using an MSi Wind, that most hackintoshable of netbooks, verifies. It looks like we will be seeing Atom support coming and going from OS X beta builds from now on. Some bloggers are asking, since the Atom situation is beginning to mirror the game Apple has been playing with the iPhone Dev Team and Palm, if Cupertino just enjoys this sort of cat and mouse thing?

Well, they sure don’t hate it….

(...) Read the rest of It’s An Apple Thing (484 words)

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A Whole Crop of Apple Updates

Zealot — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:13:27 +0000

The Apple site is back up, with a whole bunch of solid if not overly exciting updates to existing products. Apple is taking the opportunity to do a few long rumored refreshes on products like the Airport and Time Machine as well as standardize more of theire line of MacBooks and MacBook Pros around their one piece look.

Most interesting of the updates was the Magic Mouse which replaces their old and not pretty dated Mighty Mouse. It is an optical bluetooth mouse that doesn’t have a scrollwheel since the entire top surface is multitouch Just gesture along the surface to scroll. .It seems to me that such a mouse would be hard to get used to, but once you did, it would be pretty cool if not terribly precise. The fact that it ~~is optical rather than laser and~~ (ERRATA: The Magic Mouse IS laser…mea culpa) uses Bluetooth, with all it’s failings, is one point against it for me as far as being an elite level mouse.

Of course the most interesting elements of this whole situation are both the timing and the way it was handled. After the massive wave of well deserved accolades yesterday due to Apple’s financial numbers, releasing so many minor products immediately after that sort of tour de force ensures that Apple will still get more than it’s share of headlines during Microsoft’s big release of Windows 7. Having shiny new MacBooks released right now also gives a little more bounce to Apple’s campaign to convince XP users to switch to Mac rather than upgrade. All in all, a well played marketing gambit by Apple while cleaning the deck of a lot of small releases.

I also feel that Steve Jobs learned a lesson at the last iPod event. Apple has reached the point that lackluster announcements actually hurt them. They have primed their faithful and the tech press to expect homeruns at every event. A bunch of singles or doubles just brings disappointment and criticism. There was no way that Apple was going to put up a press conference, let alone bring Steve Jobs out to announce new bodies for MacBooks and a Server version of the Mac Mini.

I am quite sure the next time we see El Jobso on stage will be when he has an Apple Tablet in hand, or a seriously major iPod or iPhone release. Until then, the new MacBooks look nice, so enjoy your Magic Mice, Apple fans.

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iPhone LTE Edition In Testing

Mic W. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:27:00 +0000

Word has it that Verizon and Apple are testing a version of the iPhone on Verizon’s upcoming 4G LTE network.

4G is essentially the next-generation of cellular networks, designed to carry data and increase the speed and capacity of mobile networks. Although the rumor is unconfirmed, it would make a lot of sense for Apple to hold out for the LTE deployment in order to get more mileage out of the R&D dollars it needs to spend to make a version of the iPhone compatible with Verizon’s network.(...) Read the rest of iPhone LTE Edition In Testing (210 words)

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“The seductive angel of death for computing…”

Zealot — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:19:10 +0000

David Weinberger, at his always interesting JoHo the Blog wrote about the Motorola Droid today, noting it probably will not be as pretty or have as many apps as the iPhone, but he would be switching to it from his Blackberry 8830 as soon as possible,

His key reason why he would switch to the Droid after resisting the iPhone for all this time is a perfect and concise statement of everything I have always feared about the App Store and Apple in the silent depths of my soul but have never been able to express well enough to put into writing…

Most of all, though, there won’t be an AppStore. The AppStore is the seductive angel of death for computing. It enables Apple to keep quality up and, more important, to keep support costs down. But a computer that can’t be programmed except by its manufacturer (or with the permission of its manufacturer) isn’t a real computer. The success of the AppStore is a gloomy, scary harbinger. From controlling the apps that can go on its mobile phone, it’s a short step for Apple to decide to control the apps that can go on its rumored slate/netbook device. And since so much of the future of computing will occur on mobiles and netbooks, this portends a serious de-generation of computing, as predicted by Jonathan Zittrain in The Future of the Internet and How to Stop It.

YES…what he said.

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Mac OS X is not much better than W7

ctitanic — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:16:00 +0000

I’m not the one saying it, he is Walt Mossberg, the man behind the Personal Technology Column of The Wall Street Journal. And here is exactly what he said:

(...) Read the rest of Mac OS X is not much better than W7 (190 words)

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85% of Mac users own a PC

ctitanic — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:14:00 +0000

The statistics come from the research firm NPD Group and they were published recently at The Inquirer page.

This means that 85 per cent of Mac users have a pragmatic approach to their machines and use the best tool for the job at hand, whatever they want when they want it.

The study also revealed what I always suspected, the average household income of those with Macs was around $100,000 and having a Mac was a status symbol. That probably explain why 85% of them also have a PC, Symbols sometime are not enough to live in current modern world controlled by PCs.

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“There’s a Map for That…”

Zealot — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:04:51 +0000

Verizon has fired back at Apple’s “There’s an App for that” ads, and aimed right at poor old Barney Fife…yep, AT&T and their limited coverage get it in the ole’ deputy. Cute ad, though this YouTube copy is a bit fuzzy.

Some pundits are dismissing the ad as a cheap shot, lots of tweets and talkbacks mainly consist of “DUDE!!! LAME!!!! IPHONE RULZZ ONEONEONE111 LMFAO!!!!!” which means it hit a fanboi nerve…but I think the point is well made. You want a phone to “just work”…more and more, for whatever reason, that is becoming an issue for iPhones.

Also, nice Samsung handset..which model is that?

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Palm and Apple Still At It

Zealot — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 23:58:56 +0000

To quote the often lamented Lucas Buck, “Why can’t we all just get along?”

Remember when I said the the USB-IF’s ruling in support of Apple meant that Palm would need to drop it’s battle to preserve the ability to sync the Palm Pre’s media mode via iTunes? Well, I was wrong.

In the recent WebOS 1.2.1 update, not only has Palm restored the ability to sync your music on the Pre using iTunes, but you can ALSO now sync pictures using Cupertino’s little cash cow. How does the Pre do it? Well by spitting directly in the giant glowing eye of the USB-IF of course. The Palm Pre, when in Media Sync mode, tells iTunes not only that it is actually an iPod, it also now carries apples Manufacturer codes as well…ignoring the USB-IF’s ruling not once, but TWICE. Mui Macho!

No word yet on how Apple or the USB-IF will respond to this newest outrage. Likely the next iTunes update will break the sync ability yet again (which Palm will then certainly restore) and the USB-IF will start making sanctions noises, which despite my original impression, are unlikely to be more dire then removing the USB logo from Pre boxes. Pfft. Bring it.

Of course, when you consider that besides iTunes, the Palm Pre can sync music using Windows Media Player, DoubleTwist, MediaMonkey, good old fashioned “drag and drop” and likely many other apps…is any of this REALLY necessary? Why not just let the whole matter go?

Personally, I think that Palm CEO and former iPod honcho Jon Rubinstein is viewing this as a grudge match directly against his former boss Steve Jobs, and the Jobso views it that way too. The whole thing has come down to pride and bragging rights, and I doubt either one of them are going to concede this fight considering their personalities. Hubris much, guys?

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AT&T is Apple’s Barney Fife

Zealot — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:32 +0000

Any of you ever watch The Andy Griffith Show ~~Mayberry RFD~~ when you were a kid? I bet you can whistle the theme, at least. Well I have been giving a lot of thought lately to the situation between AT&T and Apple, especially in the greater New York area, and it occurred to me, like a bolt from the blue….in the mobile world, AT&T is Barney Fife to the iPhone’s Sherriff Andy Taylor.

Stop looking at me like that, I mean it.

If you stop and really consider the strange sort of dance that is currently going on between the iPhone’s skyrocketing popularity and the constant vilification of the AT&T network it runs on, you will see the Barney/Andy analogy makes perfect sense. Here, just set yourself down on the davenport with a slice of Aunt Bea’s Rhubarb Apple Pie and let me explain after the jump.

(...) Read the rest of AT&T is Apple’s Barney Fife (672 words)

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Palm Faults in USB-IF Showdown

Zealot — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:25:10 +0000

Palm recently brought their ongoing dispute with Apple over iTunes syncing to a higher authority, namely into the court of the USB-IF, the standards board that regulates USB usage and certification…however, they didn’t get the result they were expecting.

Part of the USB standard, the VID (Vendor ID) that helps identify a device when you plug it into a USB port, is the key bit of information that governs if iTunes reads your Pre as an Apple product that can sync with iTunes, or as a nasty WebOS interloper.

The influential and powerful USB-IF stated that they disagreed with Palm’s opening serve that making iTunes require Apple’s VID in order to sync was misusing the standard. They then went a good deal farther as the game continued…John Paczkowski at Digital Daily has seen the confidential letter USB-IF sent to both Palm and Apple, and it ain’t pretty for the Boys from Sunnyvale.

(...) Read the rest of Palm Faults in USB-IF Showdown (310 words)

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So Apple DID kill Google Voice!

Adam Wyss — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:48:57 +0000

Today, the Google Policy Blog announced that due to several Freedom of Information Act requests they worked with the FCC to simply release the entire contents of their response letter to “Google Voice-gate”. Here is the PDF of the full release if you wish to read it for yourself or you can see the juicy part below, which was question #2.

What explanation was given (if any) for Apple’s rejection of the Google Voice application (and for any other Google applications for iPhone that have been rejected, such as Google Latitude)? Please describe any communications between Google and AT&T or Apple on this topic and a summary of any meetings or discussion.

a.     Apple’s Explanation for Rejection of the Google Voice Application
Apple’s representatives informed Google that the Google Voice application was rejected because Apple believed the application duplicated the core functionality of the iPhone. The Apple representatives indicated that the company did not want applications that could potentially replace such functionality.

b.     Apple’s explanation for Rejection of the Google Latitude Application
Apple’s representatives informed Google that the Google Latitude application was rejected because Apple believed the application had the potential to: (i) replace the preloaded maps application, (ii) create user confusion since the preloaded maps application on the iPhone is a version of Google Maps, and (iii) offer new features not present in the preloaded maps application (which might contribute to the user confusion referenced above). The Apple representatives indicated that the company did not want such applications that could potentially replace such functionality and potentially create user confusion.

c.     Communications between Google and AT&T on this Topic
None

d.     Communications between Google and Apple on this Topic
A series of in-person meetings, phone calls, and emails between July 5 and July 28, 2009, Apple and Google representatives discussed the approval status of the Google Voice application that was submitted on June 2, 2009. The primary points of contact between the two companies were Alan Eustace, Google Senior Vice President of Engineering & Research, and Phil Schiller, Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing. On July 7, Mr. Eustace and Mr. Schiller spoke over the phone. It was during this call that Mr. Schiller informed Mr. Eustace that Apple was rejecting the Google Voice application for the reasons described above in 2(a)

In a series of in-person meetings, phone calls, and emails between March 5 and April 10, 2009, Apple and Google representatives discussed the approval status of the Google Latitude application that was submitted on February 27, 2009. The primary points of contact between the two companies were again Mr. Eustace and Mr. Schiller. On April 10, Mr. Eustace met with Mr. Schiller in person at Apple’s offices. It was at this meeting that Mr. Schiller informed Mr. Eustace that Apple was rejecting the Latitude application for the reasons described above in 2(b).

So what I want to know is who is committing perjury here? Apple or Google? Maybe a way around the Latitude problem would be for Google to just work with Apple to use Latitude as a replacement for the stock Maps application. As far as Google Voice goes, hoping for iPhone OS integration may be a bit much but it sure would solve “user confusion”. I think though that if you go through the trouble to find, download, and install Google Voice, you probably won’t be confused by GV and the stock Phone app.

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Apple tries to get some love during Zune Launch Day!

Chris Leckness — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:20:44 +0000

Earlier this evening, I made a tweet just joking around. I asked "Wonder what plans Apple has lined up in an attempt to run the day?”. I didn’t really think they would do anything really… Was just messing around. Well, look what hit my box 20 minutes before the Zune Launch…

Coincidence? I think not. Pretty funny really.

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iPod Touch 3G Hardware Gives Hints of the Future

Zealot — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:34:05 +0000

AppleInsider is reporting on the inevitable teardowns of the new iPod Touch and is discovering some very interesting hints as to what we may see in version 4 of the devices.

First and foremost they are saying that there is a 6mm x 6mm x 3mm empty space at the top center of the device which seems designed to take the same video camera as was installed in the new Nanos. The position is consistent with the rumors and the iPod Touch cases that were taken as proof of the coming camera. While that space would fit the video only camera of the Nano, it would not fit the larger autofocusing video and stills camera found in the iPhone which is unlikely to please the faithful but may be viewed as better than nothing. The lack of still photography (and therefore the inability to use most of the best iPhone camera apps) may be enough to preserve the iPhone’s edge over the Touch that Apple demands to avoid cannibalization.

However, while there is space for the camera in the iPod Touch casing, there are no headers on the circuit board for a camera to connect to. Could the rumored hardware problem that was delaying iPod Touch cameras be due to circuit board connector problems and not the cams themselves? Either way, I think it is a very fair bet that the next generation of the iPod Touch will include the same cam as the Nanos, especially after Apple has gotten so slapped around over the issue.

Secondly, the WiFi chip in the new Touchs is the Broadcom BCM4329, which supports not only 802.11a/b/g, but also the high speed 802.11n. The current Phone/Touch software does not support 802.11n, but since the hardware could handle it this could be a similar situation to Apple building Bluetooth into the Touch 2G and then not supporting it with the software for nearly a year. There is no question that the internet browsing via WiFi on the Touch would be far more appealing at the 600Mbps rates of 802.11n.

So can we expect video cameras and faster WiFi on the NEXT generation of the Touch? At this point, I would say yes…but time will tell.

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No Cams in iPod Touch, Zune Still Cheaper

Zealot — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:28:18 +0000

Wow….a lot of Apple fans must be cheezed off about now.

The 8GB Touch is now $199 but uses the old processors. The 16GB is gone. The 32GB and new 64GB run a cool new processor will cost $299 and $399 and are being positioned as game machines. No cams in any of them.

Cams are in the Nanos, now being positioned to take on Flip style video cams.

The Classics got bigger, the Shuffles got more colorful….big whoop.

Hardware wise, this seems to me to be a MAJOR disappointment, Steve on stage or no.

WOW…I admit, I am shocked. Am I alone in thinking that Apple really blew this one? Bring on the Zune HD.

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iPod Camera Not Ready for it’s Close-up?

Zealot — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:34:31 +0000

AppleInsider is reporting the following rumor about the widely anticipated new camera-equipped iPods, expected to be announced in two days…

A person with a strong track record in predicting Apple’s upcoming product launches said that the iPod maker experienced technical problems with the cameras months ago. The person said that it was uncertain whether the new hardware, which has been widely expected to debut at Wednesday’s "Only rock and roll" media-centric event, would make the cut for early September.

I label this rumor as highly doubtful since if this problem came up months ago, Apple could have been expected to have either found a way around it or done something about the heavy buzz surrounding this announcement, which they only confirmed the date and existence of a couple weeks ago. Apple has always been nearly flawless at both building and controlling expectations.I can’t see them setting themselves up for the black eye of either not coming through with an announcement about the cameras on the 9th, or worse, announcing them and then not being able to deliver the devices for a couple months.

Also, if the camera works fine in the iPhone, what possible problem could have arisen in the iPod Touch?

Still, it is possible….and there is no way to know until the 9th.

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