The website of Alex Kinch, live from London
Posts tagged Apple
iPhone OS 3.1 – what’s new and improved
Sep 10th
You can’t have failed to hear that Apple had a little get-together last night – unless, of course, you don’t use Twitter, don’t watch the news or have spent the past 14 hours or so with a tin foil hat on your head.
New iPods – and the second coming of Jesus first public appearance of Steve Jobs in months aside, the event also saw the official launch of iPhone OS 3.1. So what’s new, and is it worth an upgrade?
The main featured additions seem to involve Apple’s clever ‘Genius’ recommendation system. Already a feature in later versions of iTunes, Genius on iPhone OS 3.1 will recommend you apps based on your appstore purchase/download history and, in conjunction with iTunes 9, turn your music library into mixes.
Also on the list for 3.1 is ringtones – and lots of them – over 30,000 in fact. Priced at $1.29 a pop, you can browse, preview and download them on a new ‘Ringtones’ section of iTunes 9.
Meanwhile there’s a whole heap of bug fixes and little changes over OS 3.0. Apple claim 3.1 brings improved syncing for iTunes and iPhoto content, better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when you’ve got Bluetooth switched on, anti-phishing warnings in Safari, improved Exchange calendar syncing, Bluetooth headset voice control for the 3Gs, and a few other bits and bobs along the way.
OS 3.1 is available now, and more details are on the Apple site here.
This article first appeared on Mobile Industry Review.
Apple to announce four new iPhones today
Jun 8th
Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicks off today in San Francisco – with four new iPhones rumoured to be today’s big announcement.
The most consistent recurring rumours seem to throw light on four different models – possibly of a smaller form factor than the existing handset. There’ll be two 16GB models and two 32GB models – available in either black or white finish.
How about price? There’s been talk of a new $99 ‘iPhone Lite’, but most sources seem to think these models will merely replace the existing version at the same price point. It appears O2 will keep their exclusive deal, and bring the handsets to here in mid-July.
And who’ll be making this announcement? The money seems to be on Steve Jobs – previously ‘semi-retired’ on health grounds – and a return to the media spotlight that’d give most religious figures resurrections a run for their money.
More on this news as it happens..
Optus drop iPhone price in Australia
May 11th
cnet Australia are reporting Australian mobile network Optus have dropped the price of the iPhone – fuelling speculation of a stock clear-out ahead of a possible announcement of a new jesus phone range at WWDC.
The new offer means the 8GB device is now free on a AUS$49 (about £24.75) per month contract, with handset repayment costs in the plan cut from $7 (£3.50) per month on a 24-month contract and $40 (£20) per month on a 12-month deal.
No word as yet on a price drop for the 16GB model, nor surprisingly enough no confirmation from Optus as to a potential new product launch after Apple’s WWDC 2009 conference in July.
Mobile phone sales plummet in 2009, but Apple bucks the trend
Apr 30th
With the recent gloomy financial results from Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Motorola, the news that phone sales have plummeted by 13% in the first quarter of 2009 was to be expected. However, Apple has continued to buck the trend with strong sales of it’s iPhone handset.
Research firm Strategy Analytics have reported all five of the biggest mobile phone manufacturers had seen drops in sales, with the number of phones shipped worldwide in the first three months of this year dropping to 245 million units.
The only positive gain in the sector was unsurprisingly the iPhone, with Apple gaining 123% rise in sales. That compared to Nokia sales dropping 19%, Sony Ericsson 40%, and Motorola a whopping 46%.
Motorola’s sales fell 46% to 14.7 million units, and Sony Ericsson shipped 14.5 million handsets, down 40% from the first quarter of 2008. Samsung and LG faired a little better, with sales falling 1% and 7% respectively.
Next gen iPhone and iPod to get camera boost
Apr 8th
DigiTimes is reporting the next iteration of the Apple jesusphone and it’s sibling the iPod Touch will be getting a camera upgrade – in the form of a 3.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor from OmniVision.
In addition, there’s also reports of a 5-megapixel Apple product in the works, as yet unnamed but rumoured to be launched later in the year.
via iPhone & iPod to get 3.2Mp camera upgrade News – PC Advisor.
Canadians won’t get Skype iPhone love
Mar 31st
Just in case you hadn’t got the message by now, Skype have launched their long-awaited app for the Apple iPhone. So far, so good. But if you’re in Canada, it’s not so good – Skype won’t be launching it there.
According to Skype PR Chaim Haas, there’s “patent-licence restrictions” in play that’s stopping them offering the application on Apple’s iTunes Store in Canada.
Chaim Haas, a public relations representative acting on behalf of Skype, said the application is available in every country in which the iPhone is on sale and in which Apple has an iTunes Store — with the exception of Canada. There’s been no elaboration on what exactly this issue is, except that it’s related to Skype, not Apple.
Skype don’t appear to be very loved in Canada. According to CBC, the forthcoming BlackBerry Skype app will only support incoming calls from Skype users and IM – and not outgoing calls to either the regular phone network (Skype Out) or other Skype users. In addition, Skype In isn’t supported in Canada because local telecoms regulator restrictions require enhanced 911, which Skype doesn’t support. Ironic really, considering Research In Motion, the company behind BlackBerry, are head-quartered in the country.
via Skype app for iPhone to launch Tuesday, but not in Canada.
Official Skype iPhone client could be here within days
Mar 27th
Skype for iPhone to Be Released as Early as Next Week.
Om Malik claims he has information from ‘a tipster – a reliable one’ that Skype are about to announce an official client for the iPhone. It could come as early as next week – perhaps at CTIA in Las Vegas, that starts on Wednesday.
My old friends at Truphone already support Skype, amongst other IM services – and Fring has had Skype support for what seems like ages.
Of course there’s many questions: Will Skype push out the third party players? Will the carriers try to block it? The only true ‘Skype-friendly’ carrier in the UK at the moment seems to be 3 – although they don’t offer the iPhone as O2 already has that gig (and will do for a while to come – exclusivity and all that). Also, will they wait until iPhone software v3.0 to support incoming calls (via the new push functionality) or dip a toe in the water with outgoing only?
It’ll be interesting to see how this one pans out.
Orange and Apple will offer unlocked iPhones in France
Oct 18th
Link: Orange’s Apple deal to bear unlocked iPhones | Reg Hardware
It appears that a rumble is brewing in France, and Apple will indeed be going ahead with Orange to offer unlocked iPhones (as per French law requirements).
However, there’s lots of questions. Perhaps Apple will insist that you are a French resident/citizen to buy an unlocked phone? How much will it cost to get an unlocked handset? How will the warranty work (Apple are currently insisting that you have to have a valid AT&T contract in the US to get your phone repaired).
Move over Calais booze cruise, here comes the cross-channel iPhone shopping trip..
France may say ‘non’ to iPhone deal
Oct 8th
Link: French saying ‘non’ to Orange iPhone deal? – News – Tech.co.uk
Remember the recent announcement that France Telecom mobile unit Orange had got the exclusive deal for the iPhone in France? Things might not be as rosy as they seem – with the possibility that the iPhone won’t be launching there anytime soon.
It all boils down to the requirement that Apple have for network exclusivity and revenue sharing. French law states that mobile phones should be sold both with or without a contract – something that Apple aren’t too pleased about. According to reports Steve Jobs was already pretty peeved off with Orange’s unplanned announcements that they’d got the deal – but now this legal sticking point could completely kill off any hopes of the iPhone launching in France.
On the flip side, if Apple does proceed in France – and offers an unlocked contract-free iPhone – it could mean that the country becomes the hub for grey imports of the device.
DIY sound enhancement for your iPhone
Oct 8th
Link: Flickr find: Homemade iPhone Amplifier – The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
Fed up with the tinny rattly sound quality of your beloved iPhone? You can now get ‘vastly improved’ sound quality for just a few pence, courtesy of a quick trip to the loo.
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