AT&T to let content providers pick up bandwidth tab with new 'sponsored data' service

AT&T envisions companies sponsoring new app downloads, movie trailer streams, video-based healthcare programs, and e-commerce sessions as well as more utilitarian applications like bifurcation of business and personal data usage for businesses implementing bring-your-own-device policies. The Dallas, TX company says the product is designed to be transparent for users, who simply need to look out for content marked with a Sponsored Data badge.

 Bits are bits, this is absolutely disgusting. Double dipping because you're still going to pay the same amount of money for your pool of data and now AT&T gets money from the company paying for the video.

This is stupid.

AT&T, meanwhile, has taken its ongoing battle against rival GSM carrier T-Mobile to a new level. Beginning today and continuing for a limited time, Dallas, TX-based AT&T will give switchers up to $450 in service and device credit.

This is a perfect example of why Sprint and should not purchase T-Mobile. T-Mobile may not have that many subscribers, but they are the cause of huge changes in the mobile market as a whole. T-Mobile is crazy enough to try new things and push prices down and AT&T has to follow right behind to stay competitive. When AT&T changes Verizon will usually follow or the other way around. T-Mobile is extremely important to the industry as a whole.

Source: AppleInsider

First introduced in mid–2013 at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, iBeacons are low-energy transmitters designed to interact with iOS devices that support Bluetooth LE. Physical beacons are able to send notifications to iPhones and iPads when within 100 feet of a device, offering up an array of location-based information like product details, maps, and more. 

I've talked a bit on the podcast about Apple using iBeacon in its stores and my experience. I was not impressed. It took too much set up to just get a single push notification about iPhone cases.

However, I really think this is going to be our wallet and "passbook" inside stores, and the rest of the world. Once Apple and other companies get their apps installed on your phone and some of the early kinks worked out it is going to unlock a world of great digital content in the real world.

NFC eat your heart out!

78% of devices are using iOS 7.

Well done Apple. Love it or hate it, that is an insane number. Well done Apple.

Source: Apple Developer Portal

The increase of 2.3 times was compared with the number of iDevice activations placed on an average day in December

These are not actual numbers just yet on what devices were sold. But as the article says, it was actually kindle that had an larger increase on Christmas day. Maybe because they were basically giving kindles away on the days leading up to Christmas?

Either way, I really think we're going to see Apple come out as a real winner from this holiday season. 

Source: AppAdvice

Digitimes is not always the most credible of sources, but it is today suggesting that the 12.9-inch iPad will be manufactured by Quanta Computer, launched in October and targeted at the education market, citing its usual anonymous “supply chain sources” …

This just seems like total crap. I can't see anyone wanting a 12-inch tablet. If you don't have good sources, don't report on it.

What do you guys think?

Welcome, as you can see things look different here. 

Well, the short of it is that I was sick of having to manage and build a website and also try to post content to that place as well. So I turned to squarespace to create something quick, simple, and pretty. Yup, I said pretty.

So here it is. There is not much to look at or read at this point. I've made the decision to treat this as a relaunch. Everything we've done in the past is exactly that, in the past. Lets move forward with some great Apple content. 

The only old content I'll be posting back soon are the past episode of The Mac Gist Podcast. You'll be able to find those at the top of the page soon!

Check back early and often for updates on the latest Apple News!