9 to 5 Mac - Apple Intelligence

Roll up, roll up, roll up - the return of the iPhone nano rumour

Jonny Evans — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:54:15 +0000

Here’s the situation. Despite only effectively offering one model of iPhone Apple’s already made it into the top three handset makers on a global basis, despite competition from multiple products from other manufacturers (there’s more than one BlackBerry, after all). So, what’s a company going to do to maximise its reach? Diversify its product line, that’s what - just as with the slow extension of its iPod family.

Here’s the news: Overnight reports are claiming the company is developing a smaller, CDMA-compatible device for Verizon (and other CDMA networks), a device it intends releasing in Q3, 2010.

This rumoured device would host a Qualcomm hybrid CDMA/WCDMA chip and have a smaller 2.8-inch screen.

It’s by no means the first time Apple’s been rumoured to hold plans for a smaller device. The Dally Mail made such claims last year, speculating (incorrectly) that this would ship then.

We ourselves saw signs of this way back in April 2008, when we reported claims Apple has a smaller device in development.

Despite wide resistance to these notions in 2008, 2010 will see Apple’s competitors intensify in their attempts to take on the iPhone, and diversification of the product line is just one potential response available to company management.

NB: Image used here is of an old edition iPod nano, and purely for illustrative purposes, it is not purported to be an image of this rumoured iPhone nano device.

Toys 1 Day sale: Sony Bravia 32" HDTV for $399

9to5toys — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:53:38 +0000

Amazon's deal of the day is a Sony Bravia 32" 720P Monitor for $399+Free shipping. That's 20% off. Specs below, Saturday only.

Product Features

Enjoy a 32-inch flatscreen with vibrant 720p resolution from any HD source, including movies, sports, and HD television programming
Advanced Contrast Enhancer with Dynamic Backlight Control Dynamic Backlight Control creates a dynamic contrast ratio of 13,000:1
Three HDMI inputs (up to 1080/60p input capable) , two Component YPbPr (1080/60i capable), and one PC input (HD-15 pin)
Expand your HDTV's capabilities with BRAVIA Link modules, such as BRAVIA DVD Link, BRAVIA Wireless Link, and BRAVIA Input Link (sold separately)
BRAVIA Sync gives you one-touch access and control of all your compatible home theatre devices, as well as select Sony Handycam camcorders

Technical Details

Brand Name: Sony
Model: KDL-32L5000
Display Technology: TFT active matrix
Display Size: 32 inches
Image Aspect Ratio: 16:9
HDTV Compatible: Y
Speakers Included: 2 speakers
Height: 22.0 inches
Width: 31.8 inches
Depth: 3.7 inches
Weight: 28.0 pounds

iTunes and the Nazi blunders

Jonny Evans — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:28:25 +0000

We won’t labour this point, but we think Apple’s latest App Store approval blunder calls some of its core philosophies into question.

We know the App Store won’t sell overt erotica - even eBooks carrying the ancient love manual, the Kama Sutra, have been banned from the store - so we’re really, really keen to know how come the company approved a Spanish App containing Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf, complete with a swastika logo.

We can agree that Mein Kampf is a book that’s actually sold in the shops, but then again, so’s the Kama Sutra, and the latter title has seen eBook readers banned for including it.

You can take a look at nine more banned apps here. However, that the Mein Kampf app complete with Nazi swastika has been included on the Spanish version of the App Store while Kama Sutra hasn’t says that just being a book isn’t enough. Do take a look at TechCrunch’s angry opinion on this here.

Adding a little more grist to this mill, a wander through iTunes is all it takes for a savvy user to find all manner of white supremacist music offered for sale. We’re not going to name any of the bands here - we don’t want to encourage them - but we know it’s there, and also know this music isn’t stocked at high street music retailers, so why is it at Apple?

Now, you could argue that this is “just music”, but Apple will ban homophobic songs by reggae artists, but is prepared to accept racist titles by white supremacists.

We feel that in both these cases, Apple needs to get its philosophical approach sorted out.

(Image also courtesy TechCrunch)

Chorus makes App discovery simple and social

Jonny Evans — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:09:46 +0000

The great thing about offering a hugely-popular development environment for a successful mobile device is just how quickly 1000,000 apps can reach your App Store, but Apple’s developers complain app discovery is flawed, leaving many earning less for their work than they think they should. However, the other great thing about a popular developer environment is that problems are solutions waiting to happen, and socially-connected app discovery is the iPhone developer response.

One of the first of what we predict will be a wave of these solutions is Chorus for the iPhone and iPod touch. Developed by envIO, the app helps us find whuch applications our friends are using.

You can connect with your friends to see the apps they're using, which apps they rate highly, and to stay up-to-date on new apps as they come through.

Chorus features real-time feeds from your designated friends, displaying the apps they are downloading, and what they are saying about them.

"Chorus makes the whole process of app discovery much more fun and engaging. Chorus helps users connect with trusted friends from social networks like Facebook and Twitter," said Manish Jha, President and CEO of envIO networks, the company behind Chorus.

"iPhone users already ask friends and colleagues about cool, new apps. Chorus makes it simple," said Linda Barrabee, advisor to envIO networks.

Chorus uses envIO's proprietary Social Genome technology to match favorite apps against those your friends use, building a personalized and relevant list of recommended apps.

Here’s some of its features:

Check out what your friends are downloading, find out what they think before you buy or download.
Share opinions with your friends, rate apps and post your own reviews.
Get customized recommendations based on what your friends are doing.
Learn about the hottest new apps.

It’s a free App and you can go grab it right here.

NB: We've written to the developers requesting info on the international launch of this App, no response received as yet.

Radio Shack to carry iPhone, Target to follow?

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:42:13 +0000

The Wall St. Journal is reporting that Radio Shack will begin selling the iPhone for the holidays in New York City and Dallas-Ft. Worth and will roll it out to all of its stores in 2010. Seperately, Radio Shack will be operating Target's wireless phone business or "store-within a store" so it is conceivable that they'll sell the iPhones at Target as well

"The Shack" has been rumored to carry the iPhone for over a year.

Apple debuts 'Reserve and Pick-up' for the holiday season

Chauncey Dupree — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:09:22 +0000

Apple Stores get a little nuts during the holidays. Apple is helping those who want to get in and out with "Reserve and Pick Up". It is what you'd think: You buy something online and pick it up at the nearest store. Also a good way to make sure they have the product you are looking for in stock (and no aiting for adding memory or upgrading hard drives). They'll even wrap it for you, you lazy bastard.

iPhone developers still stealing phone numbers

Seth Weintraub — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:57:13 +0000

If you have any of the iPhone games above, iPhone developer Storm 8 might have collected your iPhone number according to a lawsuit investigated by Boing Boing.

...the suit claims that the practice is not authorized by Apple and involves the execution of "malicious software code". Storm8 has written the software for all its games in such a way that it automatically accesses, collects, and transmits the wireless telephone number of each iPhone user who downloads any Storm8 game," the suit alleges. " ... Storm8, though, has no reason whatsoever to access the wireless phone numbers of the iPhones on which its games are installed."...The number farming was not disclosed to players until an acknowledgement in August that described it as a "bug." The lawsuit claims that only "very specific and specialized software code" could do so, however, and seeks injunctive relief and damages.

This follows news earlier this year that Mogo, a Swiss developer was stealing numbers, and calling their free customers to update to their paid app.

iTunes Extras/LP material ready for Apple TV - re-download now!

Jonny Evans — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:15:43 +0000

Who remembers the days of summer when we spent quality time speculating that iTunes LP content would fit snugly onto Apple TVs for playback on your big TV sets?

Well, as we know this exact feature took its place inside Apple TV 3.0, but owners of iTunes LP content were advised they’d have to redownload the material - and today the great rush to Apple TV begins, with Apple notifying purchasers of its iTunes LP content that updated versions of these which are compatible with Apple TV 3.0 are available now. (Thanks to MacRumors).

Apple introduced Apple TV 3.0 last week, featuring a redesigned main menu that makes navigating your favorite content simpler and faster - and no longer makes you navigate to the bottom of a list to find the content you already own.

The software also lets you “enjoy iTunes Extras and iTunes LP in stunning fullscreen with your Apple TV, as well as listen to Genius Mixes and Internet radio through your home theater system,” the company said.

Apple TV users can listen to Genius Mixes through their system and listen to up to 12 endless mixes of songs that go great together, automatically generated from their iTunes library.

Anyway, in case you have any iTunes Extra/LP content, now’s the time to redownload it and watch/listen to it over the weekend.

67th and Broadwy Apple Store opens Nov. 14th

Seth Weintraub — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:13:00 +0000

Media invitations went out today for the grand opening of Apple's 4th Manhattan Store, on 67th and Broadway. The date is set from a week from tomorrow on Saturday the 14th of November. By many accounts, this store is thought to be even more spectacular than the other Manhattan Apple Stores, including the iconic square cube venue on 5th Avenue.

While the store will miss today's Yankees ticker tape parade, it will be along the route of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade which heralds in the Holiday Shopping Season. It might make sense for Apple to use its location during the parade for publicity. Maybe we'll see a giant iPod floating down Broadway?

Pogue on "App Phone" Droid: Toss up vs. iPhone

Seth Weintraub — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:33:44 +0000

A couple of points to note:

AT&T's poor network is really killing the iPhone's popularity and Pogue points this out. As someone frequently in NYC, the iPhone is useless as a phone here. I know many people who have an iPhone and still need to use a Verizon phone for phone calls. The Droid will be tempting to them. I've had similar experiences in SF.
The Droid OS/apps are way less polished than the iPhone's. While it isn't getting a lot of airtime, I think this is akin to Windows vs. Mac. To many people, this won't matter. The Droid is definitely a techie phone. Everything from the name to the feature-set is for techies. Most people who've played with it so far are techie/journalists (like Pogue). It will be interesting to see what everyday smartphone users think.
Those docks are pretty cool but not a technology breakthrough. Apple should allow docks to communicate with the OS so that Belkin can create a $20 car dock and nightstand dock. OS 3.2?
Not a fan of "App Phone"

Jim Goldman, below, is much more in favor of the iPhone.