The iPhone Podcast

The Latest Apple Scuttlebutt

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:50:45 -0400

And regarding that system-wide UI overhaul, I hear the same thing as Rene Ritchie: “Ive’s work is apparently making many people really happy, but will also apparently make rich-texture-loving designers sad.”

Now, this is exciting.

Apple's iOS lineup accounts for 84% of in-flight Wi-Fi traffic from mobile devices

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:50:00 -0500

Apple's iOS lineup accounts for 84% of in-flight Wi-Fi traffic from mobile devices:

According to Gogo, an in-flight Wi-Fi provider operating on 1,800 aircraft across ten carriers, including United, Delta and American Airlines, some 84 percent of all mobile devices connecting to its service have been identified as running Apple’s iOS. Products using rival operating system Android account for the remaining 16 percent.

To paraphrase Tim Cook, what are all these Android users doing with their devices?

iPhone 5S In August, New iPads In April

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:50:28 -0500

iPhone 5S In August, New iPads In April:

parislemon:

So says Rene Ritchie of iMore, who tends to be very accurate when it comes to such information.

Sounds about right. The third generation iPad was released last March, and the fourth generation was a very minor revision, so we are due for a new iPad.

It will be interesting to see if Apple releases a new iPad Mini at the same time.

"If pseudoscience gobbledygook were toxic, we’d all be dead having gazed upon this chart."

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 10:50:42 -0500

“If pseudoscience gobbledygook were toxic, we’d all be dead having gazed upon this chart.”

- Daring Fireball: Open and Shut

iTunes U Content Tops One Billion Downloads

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:50:31 -0500

iTunes U Content Tops One Billion Downloads:

Apple announced that iTunes U has reached a new milestone — over one billion content downloads. iTunes U features the world’s largest online catalog of free educational content from top schools and prominent libraries, museums, and organizations.

This is the future of education.

Don't worry about Apple's business, worry about its products

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:50:43 -0500

Don't worry about Apple's business, worry about its products:

Apple’s business was our business—not because we had some stake in the company, but because we’d grown to love Apple products, and if Apple went away, so would our Macs. Nobody liked the idea and everybody worried about it. That experience left an imprint on us as a community.

Smart piece.

Google Reportedly Planning Retail Stores

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:50:51 -0500

Google Reportedly Planning Retail Stores:

An extremely reliable source has confirmed to us that Google is in the process of building stand-alone retail stores in the U.S. and hopes to have the first flagship Google Stores open for the holidays in major metropolitan areas.

I want to get on the record early. If Google opens stores, they will fail.

Google’s obsession with Apple is getting ridiculous and it will be their undoing, if they keep it up.

Mailbox: Back in the Saddle: Week 1 in Review

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 02:30:50 -0500

Mailbox: Back in the Saddle: Week 1 in Review:

Finally, this week has been mind-bending in terms of numbers, so we thought we’d share some of those too. While we’ve been fixing bugs, optimizing our back-end to handle massive amounts of data, and sharing high-fiving kittens on Twitter, you all have been swiping and emailing at an eye-popping pace.

I’m really impressed with Mailbox. We’ll be talking a lot about email when the podcast returns.

Apple Takes 3 Of Top 5 Spots In U.S. Mobile Phone Sales For Q4 2012, Says NPD

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 10:50:39 -0500

Apple Takes 3 Of Top 5 Spots In U.S. Mobile Phone Sales For Q4 2012, Says NPD:

Apple has managed to nab three of the top 5 spots for the top-selling mobile phones in the U.S. during Q4 2012 according to the NPD Group, with the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 ranking first, third and fourth, respectively. Apple also retained the crown for best-selling overall smartphone maker, accounting for 39 percent of smartphone sales in Q4 2012, compared to Samsung’s 30 percent.

Despite the never-ending stream of “Android is winning” reports, the iPhone continues to be the top selling phone in the U.S.

Netbot Is Free For Now

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:29:14 -0500

Netbot Is Free For Now:

Netbot is an App.net client by Tapbots (one of my favorite developers) and they have just made it free for an “unspecified” amount of time.

Even if you don’t currently use App.net, it’s probably a good idea to download the app. There are some big things happening and I suspect there will be free accounts in the near future.

Download for iPhone | iPad

Is this the back of Apple’s redesigned fifth-generation iPad?

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 10:50:50 -0500

While we cannot confirm that the above image is legitimate, it does provide a solid representation of what Apple’s next iPad will likely look like. We were told this is a prototype back piece for the fifth-generation iPad with a 9.7-inch display. We were also told that the casing is almost as thin as the iPad mini’s back (pictured to the right).

I can’t imagine the next iPad not looking like the iPad Mini. A full size iPad that is almost as thin and light as the iPad Mini is what I’m looking forward to most this year.

Apple announces 128GB iPad with Retina display will be available on February 5th

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:00:14 -0500

Apple announces 128GB iPad with Retina display will be available on February 5th:

Just as the rumors foretold, Apple has just anounced a 128GB version of its fourth-generation iPad with Retina display — the Wi-Fi model costs $799, while the Wi-Fi plus LTE model costs a whopping $929.

I was hoping Apple would discontinue the 16 gig model and just double all the current storage and charge the same prices. I bet that happens when they release the new iPad next fall.

Apple Slashes iPhone 5 Part Orders Due to Weak Demand

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:50:00 -0500

Apple Slashes iPhone 5 Part Orders Due to Weak Demand:

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has slashed component orders for the iPhone 5 this quarter, responding to weaker-than-expected demand.

Bullshit.

iPhone 5 coming to Walmart's Straight Talk prepaid plans January 11th

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:38:34 -0500

iPhone 5 coming to Walmart's Straight Talk prepaid plans January 11th:

Starting on January 11, 2013 in more than 2,000 Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com, customers now have access to the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4 on Straight Talk’s $45 no contract unlimited talk, text and data plan. To make this offer even more affordable, Walmart will be offering customers who purchase the phone in the store, a no interest fixed-monthly payments special financing offer for only $25 a month with a Walmart Credit Card.

This is big news.

Open Road Films to Distribute jOBS, Starring Ashton Kutcher

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 10:50:46 -0500

Open Road Films to Distribute jOBS, Starring Ashton Kutcher:

As previously announced, jOBS will premiere as the closing night film at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The film will be released in April 2013. The announcement was made today by Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films and Mark Hulme of Five Star Feature Films.

I can’t believe they are sticking with this terrible title, but I’ll still be there opening night.

Google Chairman Says Android Winning Mobile War With Apple: Tech - Businessweek

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:50:36 -0500

Google Chairman Says Android Winning Mobile War With Apple: Tech - Businessweek:

“This is a huge platform change; this is of the scale of 20 years ago — Microsoft versus Apple,” he said. “We’re winning that war pretty clearly now.”

Eric Schmidt is crazy. Android has a debatable lead in market share, and is losing in every other important metric.

Google Maps for iOS: '10 million downloads in less than 48 hours'

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:50:47 -0500

Google Maps for iOS: '10 million downloads in less than 48 hours':

More than 10 million downloads in less than 48 hours after release! We’re excited for the positive reception of Google Maps for iPhone around the world. Congratulations to the Maps Team on the recognition for the passion and hard work they poured into it, for this release and over the last 7+ years.

This is exactly why Google has to stop screwing around and fully support iOS.

iPhone 5 First Weekend Sales in China Top Two Million

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:50:25 -0500

iPhone 5 First Weekend Sales in China Top Two Million:

Apple® today announced it has sold over two million of its new iPhone® 5 in China, just three days after its launch on December 14. iPhone 5 will be available in more than 100 countries by the end of December, making it the fastest iPhone rollout ever. “Customer response to iPhone 5 in China has been incredible, setting a new record with the best first weekend sales ever in China,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “China is a very important market for us and customers there cannot wait to get their hands on Apple products.”

Can you imagine what the numbers would be if Apple could make enough of them?

Apple Tests Designs for TV

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:50:00 -0500

Apple Tests Designs for TV:

Two people said Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. which assembles the iPhone and iPad, has been collaborating with Japan’s Sharp Corp on the design of the new television. “It isn’t a formal project yet. It is still in the early stage of testing,” said one of the people.

This will not go away.

The iPhone 5S Is Coming Next June In 6-8 Colors, Says Jefferies

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 10:50:54 -0500

The iPhone 5S Is Coming Next June In 6-8 Colors, Says Jefferies:

Misek is predicting the iPhone 5S has a new “super HD camera/screen, a better battery, and NFC,” and “possible updates include an IGZO screen for Retina+, 128GB storage.” He’s also predicting it comes in 6-8 colors, presumably similar to the iPod Touch which comes in a bunch of colors.

How is this news? Any one could predict this stuff, this is the same guy who said the Apple television set was in production and would be released this year.