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Why is AT&T Still Apple’s Only U.S. Carrier?

site editor — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:34:09 +0000

What’s going on with AT&T? First there’s the security breach relating to iPad customers, then there’s the crashed pre-order site for the iPhone 4. Not to mention, the decision to retract the all-you-can-eat data plan for the iPad 3G, going to an option that’ll cost power users even more money — apparently because almost no one was using their 5GB/month caps.

Wait, there’s more. Today there’s word of a breach with the iPhone 4 pre-order site showing the wrong addresses and credit card info to some people, right near the end of the pre-order process. Some people managed to catch the problem but who knows how many people didn’t? If you get a free iPhone 4 in the mail between now and July 14th, you’ll know why. (Just to be clear: it’s probably illegal if you keep the phone.) Not enough for you? AT&T has been canceling some completed iPhone 4 pre-orders, but they told Electronista it was because some customers ordered twice, having not received confirmation of the first completed order.

Wow, Apple. And you still want to have just one carrier in the USA? I mean sure there were 10 times the preorders of iPhone 4 than for 3GS last year, but what about all the security breaches in the matter of just a few weeks? The iPad breach goes beyond the release of contact info for 114,000 customers (including highly-placed politicians), and some experts say it might be worse than first thought, possibly allowing hackers to track the physical location of the devices.

If Apple has all the muscle it does, I’m surprised that CEO Steve Jobs has not met with AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson – the man who claims that his company will be number one in mobile broadband by 2015. Does that mean they’re not number one now? If not, they why have Apple partnered with them?

Options for Trading in Your Old Apple iPhone

site editor — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:00:58 +0000

Considering getting one of the hot new iPhone 4 models with tons of great features, not to mention open-standard video calling? Having grown up watching The Jetsons TV cartoon, I’d buy two iPhone 4s for the video calling feature alone (and intend to), but there’s the question of what to do with an existing iPhone. As a mobile developer, I intend to keep my 3GS model, but if you’re inclined to upgrade come Jun 24th (for the USA and eight other countries), you can get cash on your iPhone. Yahoo! News has a writeup about five of the more popular trade-in sites that’ll pay cash for an older iPhone — as much as $320. (There’s also a tip on how to wipe your personal data before selling the phone.)

Now, considering that the newer iPhone 3GS 8GB model (available soon in select countries) is only $99, why would anyone want to buy an older iPhone? Lots of reasons. Some countries don’t have locked carriers like in the USA with AT&T. There might also be buyers who want to jailbreak the phone, or simply use it just like an iPod Touch. In fact, a 3G or 3GS has more features than an iPod Touch, so interested buyers are motivated.

Avatron link: Air Display.

Avatron Air Display App: Your iPad as External Screen [Updated]

site editor — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:45:46 +0000

Not everyone needs multiple computers and screens like my setup, above, but if you do and also own an iPad, there’s a quick-fix option.

Despite my 5 screens (3 laptops, 1 Dell Zino mini-desktop), iPhone and iPad, my work sometimes has me wishing I had yet one more screen. That productivity is extremely high when you use multiple screens is an established fact — according to my own experience and to various studies I’ve not bothered to to get references for. If you doubt me, try it yourself. Two screens is better than one, three better than two, and so on. If there’s an upper limit where too many screens become a distraction, I haven’t reached it yet. But adding extra screens gets costly, and when you’re a bootstrapping mobile startup, that matters.

Fortunately, if you already own an iPad, there’s an inexpensive option that might do in a pinch: your iPad. Yes, you CAN use your iPad as an external screen to your computer. I have tried using VNC software, but that’s a remote desktop app, and not really what we need here. The answer? Avatron’s Air Display, which currently only supports Mac computers but will have a Windows solution in the future. Using a combo of an iPad and a server app on your laptop/ desktop, the iPad can be used as an external screen. (Expensive option, yes, unless you already own an iPad and don’t want/ are not ready for another external monitor.) [Update: Installation of the equivalent server application on your Mac requires that you have to restart your computer .]

Ars Technica already has a fairly lengthy review of Air Display, so I’m not going to review it too. I purchased the iPad-specific app from the Apple App Store on the basis of the review and like it for the most part. The only caveat I’ll mention has to do with the iPad WiFi-only model’s wireless connection quirkiness and its lack of connection persistence, if you haven’t used the device for several minutes, or if your wireless setup has fluctuations (my AT&T U-Verse setup does). When the wireless connection temporarily ceases, the app has to be reset all over again (from the Mac toolbar). This is irritating because any windows you have open in the iPad’s screen area gets shunted over to one of your other screens. You have to move them all back when you reset Air Display settings. Not exactly productive.

If not for this situation, Air Display is a killer app. I’m guessing that if you’re one of those rare people with two (or more) iPads, you could connect all of them and have quite the temporary display setup. Hopefully either Apple will hurry up the software fix for the connection problem or Avatron will upgrade the app to save state so that the problem is minimized. Ultimately, if you need something more permanent, you’re better off purchasing a real monitor. For suggestions on setup, read my detailed post at Performancing on multi-screen, multi-computer configuration options.

Need consultation on mobile apps, the mobile platform or mobile marketing? Need an iPhone, iPad or Palm webOS developed and marketed? Have a mobile device, platform, application, service, accessory or related news or tips you want to share? Contact us at callstyleblog at gmail.com.

Big News: Palm Finds a Buyer in HP

site editor — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:26:24 +0000

It happened a lot faster than maybe many of us thought but Palm has found a buyer in unexpected quarters: HP. At least, I’m surprised, because who’s really thinking HP would be a Palm suitor? Speculation fell to Lenovo, HTC, Dell, and even RIM. But HP could be exactly what Palm needs.

The purchase price, in cash, is based on $5.70, which is an approximately 23% premium on the common stock share price of $4.64, listed at end of day Wed, Apr 28, 2010. Total purchase price is ~US$1.2B. Both companies boards of directors have approved the sale. Palm CEO Jon Rubenstein is expected to stay on. Elevation Partners (who have rock star Bono of U2 as an investor) is said to have taken a hit on the sale, which should close by Jul 31, 2010 — HP’s fiscal Q3 end.

The official statement from HP does not say if the Palm brand name will be retained, but it appears that at least webOS is something they want. In fact, MobileBeat suggested something that I was also speculating on: webOS for a tablet computing device. That’s definitely something I would buy, as I love webOS’ multitasking and card system. Speculation by Wired Gadget Lab is that webOS devices might gain enterprise use. While I initially thought that, would companies choose webOS over MS Windows devices, which HP currently has for their tablet computers? Regardless, HP is bound to benefit if they can leverage the 1,500+ patents owned by Palm.

If you own a Palm webOS phone, however, you might have to talk to your carrier as HP is likely to have to renegotiate plans in that regard. I’m crossing my fingers that my Mobile Hotspot option through Verizon isn’t taken away, as that’s what’s powering my Apple iPad WiFi device when I’m on the go.

T-Mobile Allowing Unlimited Mobile Broadband

site editor — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:33:32 +0000

T-Mobile is to trying to promote it’s super-fast HSPA+ mobile broadband network by changing the pricing on overages for their two cellular data plans. According to GigaOm, T-Mobile customers with the 200Mb/month plan will have overage fees cut in half. Those who have the 5GB/month plan will no longer pay overage charges, though download speeds will apparently slow after exceeding 5GB in a given month.

Recently, Verizon dropped the cost of the Mobile Hotspot option available for the Palm Pre Plus and Pixi phones, which allows for the tethering of up to 5 WiFi-enabled devices. The cost went from $40/month to free. The move was timed just before the debut of the Apple iPad WiFi-only edition, so it’s possible that Verizon intended to capture that market.