WWDC 2008
The WWDC 2008 keynote has come and gone, and much like the Macworld Keynote of 2007, it was all about the iPhone. “Snow Leopard” was referenced, but not discussed in the keynote, instead being covered in the NDA bound Mac OS X State of the Union later in the day.
By now you’ve read the coverage of the iPhone 3G, Mobile Me, and iPhone 2.0 Firmware. Here’s my thoughts on the news.
First, the iPhone 3G is going to become the new gold standard for mobile devices. About the only thing missing from the new iPhone that I was hoping for is a better camera. I guess they needed to save something for the next iteration. With a speedy network to ride on, the best mobile browsing experience just got better. The new additions to the iPhone 2.0 firmware look great. Of course, as always, there’s things to nitpick over. So here’s the nitpick list.
Although you get Exchange support in iPhone 2.0 if you subscribe to a business plan, which (you guessed it) will cost you $45/month for unlimited data (versus $30 for the new unlimited 3G data plan, a $10 increase over the 2G price). While I’d like to fault AT&T for this one, I suspect the extra $15 also helps Apple defer the cost of the Exchange license they pay Microsoft.
Next (and more distressing) is the requirement that all iPhones must be activated in store. This one is a bit more murky, as AT&T says in their press release that iTunes activation for the iPhone 3G is not possible. However, in another release, it is stated that you will be able to activate your phone when you get home if you like through iTunes if you buy from the Apple Store. This was one of the most pleasant aspects of purchasing an iPhone. I bought my iPhone on the day it debuted, and I literally walked in to an Apple Store at 11:30PM, and walked out with my iPhone at 11:34. The transaction took less than 4 minutes, and I was extremely pleased. I’m hoping I’ll still have the option of at home activation, because the last thing I want to do is hang out longer in the Apple Store twiddling my thumbs while my phone is activated. While I can fully appreciate the fact that there are some people who are just too stupid technologically challenged to handle at-home activation, I believe the ability was pulled due to iPhone hacking and not in an attempt to “simplify” the experience. Oh well. A subsidized iPhone purchase means that AT&T gets more of a say in how the device is setup.
One of the biggest things I was happy about was that the iPhone 3G has GPS. I was in the market for an in-car GPS device. I can now bypass that purchase and put that money towards the iPhone 3G. The bad news is that while the GPS technology is in the phone, you don’t gain turn-by-turn directions in iPhone 2.0 firmware. Google Maps becomes more accurate, and you can use their turn by turn directions, but you don’t get voice prompts or the 3D street view. Enter Tom Tom. They have already stated they will have a GPS app avaialble for the iPhone after the AppStore launches. What remains to be seen is how much it will cost. Anything above $20 will probably not seem worth it, since Google Maps handles about 60% of what I’d need from a GPS device.
MobileMe
A little background: I had been a .Mac subscriber since it’s inception as iTools. I dropped .Mac back in October of last year. I could no longer justify $99/year (well, actually about $75/year, the average price for renewal through Amazon) for email, iDisk and synching. With free alternatives like Gmail, DropBox, Box.net and a little Automator magic, I’ve been content since I left .Mac behind. The one feature I missed above all others though, was syncing. When I dropped .Mac, I lameneted that the one feature that could have brought me back was push email/calenders/contacts. Well, essentially that is what MobileMe is: Push email/calendars/contacts married with .Mac, and a new web based interface for all of the services features. I’m not sure if the general public will see this as enough to erase the bad memory of .Mac, but in my eyes it was. I purchased a .Mac family pack yesterday ($129 at Amazon) and look forward to it’s conversion to MobileMe in early July.
Third Party Apps
The third party apps demo ran for nearly half the entire keynote yesterday. Personally, I would have rather Apple debuted some new hardware, but it’s a testament to Apple’s belief in their developers (and this is a developers conference, right?) that they gave them nearly 60 minutes of keynote time to showcase their wares. It’s amazing to see what the developers have cooked up with just 3 months of time. The young Brit who demoed his app “Band” is about to become a millionaire. If he doesn’t walk away from WWDC with iFund money, I’d be shocked.
I believe in 6 months time the developer community will have cemented the iPhone as the third largest computing platform, right behind Windows and the Mac. I believe in 18 months time you will see the iPhone pass the Mac for a larger installed base, and essentially become the first new successful computing platform of the 21st century.
Back in 1996, before he rejoined Apple, Steve Jobs was asked if he were running Apple, what would he do to fix it. His answer: milk the Mac for all it’s worth, and get busy on the next big thing. Clearly, the iPhone as a computing platform is the next big thing. I don’t think the Mac is going away any time soon, but it’s pretty clear to see that the iPhone is Apple’s current darling.
The iPhone is missing!
I was thoroughly convinced an iPhone update would be coming at WWDC. However, with iPhone supply drying up in the UK, and now here in the US, I’m not so sure that Apple won’t drop the 3G iPhone before WWDC. It seems crazy for Apple to go 2-3 weeks with no iPhone inventory to sell in it’s biggest market, doesn’t it?
Posted: May 12, 2008 / Category: iPhone
Apple posts updated iPhone SDK
Apple has posted an updated version of their iPhone SDK for developers. Version 9A2151 includes iPhone support in Interface Builder. The 1.36GB download is available for registered developers at the Apple Developer Connection website.
Posted: March 27, 2008 / Category: Developers, iPhone
Apple upps capacity on iPhone and iPod Touch
Apple today released updated versions of the iPhone and iPod Touch. The iPhone is now available in a 16GB version for $100 more ($499), and the iPod Touch is available in a 32GB version for $499. The previous 8GB iPhone ($399), and 8GB ($299) and 16GB ($399) iPod Touch models are still available.
Enough with the Newton predictions
People, this is getting out of hand. There will be no Newton revival at Apple. Sit back, take a deep breath, and repeat after me. The Newton is dead. The Newton is dead. Now, let’s review why there will never be another “Newton” product at Apple.
First, the Newton was the pet project for then CEO John Sculley. In case you’re not up on your Apple history, John Sculley is the CEO that fired Steve Jobs back in 1985. Steve Jobs hates John Sculley.
Second, the Newton as a product is irrelevant. Apple currently has a hand held device that usurps the Newton in every feature. It’s called the iPhone. Maybe you’ve heard of it.
Finally, I think it is safe to say that “iPhone” has much better name recognition now than “Newton”. Most people know about the iPhone, and most people associate iPhone with hip, cool, sleek and sexy. I don’t know about you, but when I hear “Newton”, I think of dark grey plastic, green monochrome screens, and terrible hand-writing recognition software (OK, it got better towards the end of the product). Why would Apple want to introduce a new product with that kiind of stigma attached to it?
They wouldn’t.
So please. Let it die already.
iPhone $100 Store Credit
Apple has posted the information and form necessary for iPhone owners to get the $100 credit as detailed by Steve Jobs last week.
Of note:
- You must have bought your phone before August 22, 2007
- You must submit your request for the credit before November 30, 2007
- Your phone must be activated before you submit your claim (no rebate for you, hackers!)
Once you submit the form, you will receive a SMS message on your phone with a code that you enter in to the form, which will then complete the rebate process.
I’ve already spent mine. A copy of Aperture is heading my way!
iPhone: .RTF, WTF?
So, iPhone can handle .DOC, .PDF, and .XLS files for viewing, but it can’t view a measley .RTF file? Are you kidding me? Can you say “oversight”? If this omission was intentional, it must have something to with needing to save space. I guess if you are aiming to hit the bigger audience, and you could only choose one - .DOC or .RTF, the Marketing guys would probably push for .DOC.
Still, it left me speechless that my $600 $400 smartphone couldn’t handle a simple .RTF file for viewing.
Posted: September 10, 2007 / Category: iPhone
Apple sells 1 millionth iPhone
We knew it was coming, but yesterday it happened. From the press release:
Apple Sells One Millionth iPhone
CUPERTINO, Calif., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today announced it sold its one millionth iPhone(TM) yesterday, just 74 days after its introduction on June 29. iPhone combines three devices into one-a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod(R), and the best mobile Internet device ever-all based on Apple’s revolutionary multi-touch interface and pioneering software that allows users to control iPhone with just a tap, flick or pinch of their fingers.
“One million iPhones in 74 days-it took almost two years to achieve this milestone with iPod,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We can’t wait to get this revolutionary product into the hands of even more customers this holiday season.”
To all iPhone Customers…
Steve has taken the bull by the horns and issued a statement to all iPhone customers. Bottom line, if you bought iPhone before the price break, you’re getting a $100 Apple Retail/Online credit.
Steve rocks.
Posted: September 6, 2007 / Category: iPhone
iPhone price drop…
Apple just went and killed the 4GB iPhone, and dropped the price of the 8GB model to $399. Two and a half months, and a $200 price drop. Wow.
Thanks Steve. By the way, the wife says I no longer can buy new Apple products the day they come out. I’ll have to wait 2-3 months first. Sorry.
UPDATE: Double ouch. Even the refurbs have dropped. For $349, you can now get a refurbished 8GB iPhone.
Posted: / Category: iPhone