Android based G1: A Winner or..?

When 33 firms joined hands with Google on 5th November, 2007 to form Open Handset Alliance (OHA), it was apparent, that this alliance will change the course of handheld device industry. In a press statement issued on that day, Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt remarked, "This partnership will help unleash the potential of mobile technology for billions of users around the world. A fresh approach to fostering innovation in the mobile industry will help shape a new computing environment that will change the way people access and share information in the future." On this fateful day, OHA also unveiled Android, an open source mobile phone platform based on the Linux operating system.

T-Mobile G1’s launch is round the corner. Technology experts, bloggers around the world have scrutinized every single detail for this much hyped “Google Phone”. Even the controversies are cropping out from nowhere , G1 still stands apart from iPhone in various aspects.

T-Mobile on 23 September became the first provider around the world to launch the first Android phone G1 (aka HTC Dream). The consumers are still short of getting the hands-on experience of G1 as there are still 4 days left for the market launch. In these 24 days, geeks world over have dissected every single chip of G1 and have come up with individual assessments.
From the debut of Android, there have been talks, rumors and gossips on the existence of HTC dream. It stirred up as much anticipation and hype as the Apple iPhone, not only because it would be the first smartphone to run Google's mobile platform but also because of the potential to overtake Apple's darling. Although G1 is good individually but when we compare it with iPhone, it lacks the charisma of iPhone.
G1 features a full QWERTY keyboard, 3G support, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. The Google Android operating system offers good integration with Google applications as well as access to the Amazon MP3 Store and YouTube, while G1 doesn't include a standard headphone jack and lacks stereo Bluetooth and Microsoft Exchange support.
There is huge potential for the G1 (and any Android devices after it) to become powerful minicomputers as developers create more applications for the open platform. Android has also been criticized for not being all open-source software despite what was announced by Google. Parts of the Software Development Kit are proprietary and closed source and some believe this is so that Google can control the platform. In the Android Market terms of service, Google expressly says that it might remotely remove an application from a user's phone. "Google may discover a product that violates the developer distribution agreement ... in such an instance, Google retains the right to remotely remove those applications from your device at its sole discretion," the terms, linked to from the phone, read.
Despite the deficiencies, the most powerful component of G1 is definitely Android operating system. Obviously, there's enough curiosity about Google Android to attract buyers; and in fact, according to reports preorders for the G1 have already sold out.

Source:android-blog.blogspot.com

Box.net iPhone application for FREE on AppStore

Well that sure was fast. Just the other day I sat down with Sean from Box.net to discuss the online data storage service’s plans for the mobile space. In talking about how Box.net was gunning to cover the mobile, desktop, and web-based sides of the equation, we chatted about the Box.net iPhone application that was in the pipeline.

Turns out, the Box.net iPhone application went live last night!

The Box.net iPhone application offers cloud-storage fans unfettered access to their Box.net account, with some cool perks. In addition to being able to easily scroll through and view all your Microsoft Office, PDF, photo, audio and video files, the Box.net iPhone app integrates with your iPhone’s camera and contact list. That means you can share any files in your Box.net account with anyone in your iPhone contact list. You can also directly upload photos from your iPhone to your Box.net account.

The application monitors updates to your Box.net account, such as files or folders added by you and people that are collaborating and contributing to your Box.net account. And, the Box.net iPhone application automatically logs you into your account everytime you fire it up, so you get quick access to all your files in the “cloud.”

Source:intomobile.com

Will Apple Sell A $99 iPhone Next Year? Yes (AAPL)

Apple's (AAPL) Sept. quarter iPhone sales -- 6.9 million -- were very impressive. But if Steve Jobs wants to catch the likes of no. 2 Samsung -- 51.8 million phones last quarter -- he's going to have to start selling iPhones for less than $199.

What pricing strategy makes the most sense? An iPod-like family of iPhones, starting at, say, $99, and going up to $299.

How will Apple get there? We think the company will lower the price of the current iPhones by $100 each by the middle of next year. We also think they'll introduce a new premium model at $299 with more color choices -- pink, blue, purple, green, etc.; at least 32 gigabytes of storage; and potentially more features.

This idea isn't new, of course. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster has been talking about a family of iPhones for months -- it's baked into his forecast of 45 million iPhones shipped in 2009 -- and he reiterated his thoughts this week: "Apple could lower the price by removing features like 3G and GPS, and alternatively could make a premium [phone] with a sleeker design or higher-end materials."

This makes sense, but we do not think Apple will accomplish this by removing features like 3G or GPS. Why not? Because they're not very expensive components, especially relative to their utility. When Munster asked Jobs about his "big picture" roadmap for the iPhone on the Apple earnings call, Jobs said: "Well, I think we have to be the best and I think we have to not leave a price umbrella underneath us..."

An iPhone without 3G or GPS would not be "the best."  It would be a two-year-old phone, like Apple's first iPhone. The iPhone's 3G network access, for example, provides more than just a faster Internet connection -- it lets you get a phone call when you're using the Internet, which the old iPhone didn't. Just as important, it allows AT&T to charge an extra $10 a month for Internet access, which is key to their willingness to subsidize phones by several hundred dollars up front.

More generally, we don't think Apple would ever sell a less sophisticated phone than today's iPhone, eliminating features like the big, multi-touch screen, large-capacity hard drive, mobile Internet access, or access to Apple's App Store for an "iPhone nano." Those just wouldn't be iPhones -- they'd be disappointments.

So the only option would be to cut prices on the current iPhone and keep it as a base model.

The good news: That might not hurt Apple's financial performance as much as previously thought. Citi's Richard Gardner estimates that Q3 iPhone average sales prices were $50-$75 higher than he previously expected, and margins "several percentage points above our previous estimate."

This suggests that, with greater scale, Apple could afford to cut its current iPhone prices by $100, sell a lot more phones, and still make impressive profit margins (volume will help, as will software sales from the increased number of units).

One caveat: Cutting the price of the iPhone won't reduce the iPhone's high monthly service bill -- $70/month mininum in the U.S., which is about 40% more than what people spend, on average, for cellphone service. Note that T-Mobile is charging $25/month -- $5 less -- for Internet service on its Google-powered G1 phone. This difference is probably not enough to stop someone from buying an iPhone, but it's still worth keeping an eye on as iPhone competitors improve.  (Watch what Verizon Wireless charges per month for RIM (RIMM) BlackBerry Storm service, for example).

Meanwhile, we don't see carriers budging on smartphone subscription fees much, especially the ones with exclusive deals to distribute the iPhone.  So service cost will continue to limit iPhone sales no matter how much the devices cost.

Source: alleyinsider.com

Apple kills the iPhone NDA

Apple has always been a secretive company, and their iPhone developer’s terms were no different: basically, any information that Apple provided about the SDK was confidential. Not only did this prevent most Open Source groups from working on iPhone apps, but it created a lot of bad publicity when Apple revealed that those who had applications rejected for inclusion in the iTunes store were forbidden from talking about that.

Earlier this month, Apple stated it would release developers from the NDA and post new, less restrictive guidelines. 

Read more: appletell.com

Loan Shark iPhone app

A big thank you to kottke.org's first RSS feed sponsor, FoggyNoggin Software, makers of the Loan Shark iPhone App (check it out in the iTunes Store). Loan Shark is a tricked out loan calculator for your iPhone or iPod Touch. Here are a few capabilities from the web site:

One-tap Extra Payment
Making an extra payment on your loan each year can dramatically reduce the cost of your loan. With Loan Shark, you can easily see what that extra payment will save you over time.

Compare Loans
Want to compare loans to see which is best? Loan Shark lets you compare up to 9 loans side-by-side.

Nearby Banks
Using the iPhone or iPod Touch's built-in location sensor, Loan Shark can retrieve a list of nearby banks, making shopping for a loan that much easier.

Loan Shark also helps you calculate how long it will take to pay off credit cards...almost a necessity in today's slumping economy. Loan Shark is $4.99 at the App Store, an amount that would no doubt be offset by how much it saves you in future interest payments.

Source:kottke.org

Service 2.0 at the iPhone hotel

Forget filling in room service forms or hanging do not disturbs signs on the door - hotels in the US are communicating with guests using iPods and iPhones, a practice that could soon spread to Australia.

Guests at the Malibu Beach Inn and the Sky Hotel, both in California, can order food, drinks, wake-up calls, spa treatments, concierge services and transportation, all from a special application on their iPhone or iPod Touch.

If they don't have either of the devices at check-in, guests are provided with a 16GB iPod Touch that has the "Hotel Evolution" application already loaded.

The application also allows guests - after logging in with their room number and security code - to look up information on shopping, nightlife and local restaurants, as well as check their messages.

There is an option to request DO NOT DISTURB, room cleaning, or additional linens, towels and toiletries.

Hotel Evolution's developer, Runtriz, said the system was also being installed in several hotels in Las Vegas, Orange County, Miami and New Jersey, but further details have yet to be announced.

"We would love to expand outside of the states to luxury properties in Australia but as of yet are not in discussion with any properties there," a spokeswoman said.

Hotels reportedly pay Runtriz $US10 per room for using the service but it is unclear whether this cost is passed on to guests.

This week Apple announced it was the third biggest mobile phone manufacturer in the world in terms of revenue, with the iPhone outselling BlackBerry handsets in the most recent quarter.

Its iPhone revenues of $US4.6 billion for the quarter place it behind Nokia ($US12.7 billion) and Samsung ($US5.9 billion) but ahead of Sony Ericsson ($US4.2 billion), LG ($US3.4 billion), Motorola ($US3.2 billion) and BlackBerry-maker RIM ($US2.1 billion).

In Apple's earnings call chief executive Steve Jobs hailed the result as a "milestone" for the company.

"RIM is a company that makes good products, and it's surprising after only 15 months in the market we could outsell them in any quarters," he said.

"If this isn't stunning, I don't know what is."

Source:smh.com.au

Intel Repudiates Executives' Criticism of the IPhone

Intel distanced itself from criticism of Apple's iPhone made by executives at the company's Intel Developer Forum conference in Taipei, saying the comments were not appropriate. The chip maker also acknowledged its own products weren't yet suitable for such a product.

Earlier this week, Intel executives Shane Wall and Pankaj Kedia described the iPhone as slow and said the popular handset wasn't able to run the "full Internet" because it uses an Arm processor, instead of an Intel chip. The executives comments -- which neglected to note that Intel doesn't make a low-power processor capable of powering a handset like the iPhone -- were reported by ZDNet Australia, causing consternation within Intel's PR ranks.

"Apple's iPhone offering is an extremely innovative product that enables new and exciting market opportunities. The statements made in Taiwan were inappropriate, and Intel representatives should not have been commenting on specific customer designs," the company said in a statement posted on its Chip Shots Web site.

Intel also admitted its own chips are not yet capable of running a device like the iPhone.

"Intel's low-power Atom processor does not yet match the battery life characteristics of the Arm processor in a phone form factor; and, that while Intel does have plans on the books to get us to be competitive in the ultra low power domain -- we are not there as yet," the statement said.

The comments by Wall and Kedia are at odds with other statements by Intel executives, who generally lavish praise on the iPhone for its design and success in giving users easy access to the Internet. The remarks may have also put Intel in a difficult spot with Apple, since Intel is widely believed to be hopeful that Apple will use its low-power processors in future products.

Source:pcworld.com

Moblyng Launches iPhone Slideshow Application

             REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct 23, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Moblyng, the leader in mobile social media, announced today the launch of its slideshow application for the Apple iPhone. This marks the first iPhone slideshow application that allows users to create and share slideshows for display on iPhones, other smartphones and social media sites. The cross-platform application will allow consumers to:

-- Create a slideshow using the photos on their iPhone (Photo Library or Camera Roll)

-- Enhance slideshows with animated effects and transitions

-- Share slideshows to other iPhones or any web-enabled, video-supporting phone or smartphone

-- Post slideshows as a Flash Embed to social media sites like MySpace

-- Post slideshows to m.moblyng.com for future sharing with friends and family

"With superior graphics and a large screen, the iPhone is an ideal device for creating and sharing social media," said Stewart Putney, founder and CEO, Moblyng. "We have already had tremendous success with people using Moblyng on the web to create slide shows. Our new slideshow application for the iPhone makes it even easier for people to truly create and share anywhere. With Moblyng's slideshow app, all iPhones can be used to easily create and share compelling slideshows to almost any media platform."

Moblyng also announced today that it received more than 1 million monthly unique visitors to its mobile site, m.moblyng.com, in September. Since launch in August of this year, the site has experienced rapid growth, with millions of consumers creating, viewing and sharing social media such as photo albums, slideshows and videos on their mobile phones.         

Source: marketwatch.com 

iPhone vs. T-Mobile (Android) G1 Speed Test

 Our sister site News.com has posted a speed test that pits the iPhone 3G against T-Mobiles new Google Android-based T1.

Bonnie Cha writes:

“In this quick Prizefight, CNET TV’s Brian Tong and I pit the two against each other in a 3G speed test, clocking the time it takes for each device to load CNET News from start to finish. Now, there are a couple of things to remember. Both smartphones use different Web browsers, and there are a number of factors that might affect 3G speeds, such as the area you live in and how many people are on the network at one time. However, in the spirit of friendly competition and out of pure curiosity, we decided to go for it.”

See the video embedded below or visit the full article. 

Feeling up the G1 Android phone

Late yesterday I took up an invitation from the processor architecture firm ARM to go hands-on with the HTC Dream / T-Mobile G1 / first-bloody-Android-phone-out-the-gates.

I won't bore you with photos, since you've seen a demo already, but I will offer my opinion on the thing. First off, it's fast. Maybe a bit slower than the iPhone, but not by much. Having an iPhone-esque capacitor touchscreen helps - this is not your standard, relatively draggy HTC screen. The phone dialer works responsively - a small point perhaps, but rather important in a phone (hey Microsoft, you listening?).

The app store is somewhat underpopulated right now, but it looks to be a seamless affair. The preinstalled Google apps (calendar etc) look nicely done, but that would need more hands-on experience for a proper, comparative opinion.

The UI is intuitive, and everything seems to work quickly and well. The iPhone is clearly a template for some of the menu systems, and why not I say. The nice thing about it is that the menus have the consistency of iPhone menus, while having the granularity of Windows Mobile menus (those of you who've played with recent, multiple-UI WinMob handsets will know how inconsistent and confusing they can be).

There are three input methods: trackball, screen and keyboard. All are good. Although the keys on the keyboard are a little too flush to the surface for my liking, they are nicely sized and spaced out. A surfeit of input methods can be a sign of weakness (jack of all trades etc), but in this case - and given that the G1 is a first try at a whole new ballgame - I think it's justified.

The build quality is pretty darn good. It may be a plastic phone, but it feels fairly solid for it. My only caveat in this department would be applicable to any handset with a sliding keyboard - that the sliding keyboard can make it feel just that little bit less sturdy. Nonetheless, the thing slides well.

That said, the curvature of the handset towards its base does seem rather odd. Idiosyncratic as it may be, it will probably be a turn-off for some, who may find it makes the phone feel needlessly thicker. Ergonomically, in landscape mode, it may make sense though - I'd need more time with it to decide.

The G1 is not perfect (the camera sucks, for instance), but it is a genuinely exciting phone. It's the closest I've seen anyone come to replicating the ease of use and common sense of the iPhone and its UI, it's well built and it will prove an excellent first step and testing ground for Android. And, if it's priced decently in the UK, it would be a no-brainer to pick up as both a decent handset and a piece of history.

Source: zdnet.co.uk

MacBook Nano or iPhone Slate Caught Online, Says NYT

John Markoff at the New York Times has updated his article on a potential Apple netbook—following Steve Jobs' comments—with an interesting piece of news that reminds me of the first days of the JesusPhone, when an unidentified Apple device was detected for the first time in the traffic logs of some web sites. Markoff even provides vague specifics about this potential MacBook nano/MacBook touch/iPhone slate which was spotted in the logs of an unnamed "search engine company":

UPDATED: That would seem to confirm findings that a search engine company shared with me on condition that I not reveal its name: The company spotted Web visits from an unannounced Apple product with a display somewhere between an iPhone and a MacBook. Is it the iPhone 3.0 or the NetMac 1.0?

Like with the original iPhone—which was spotted online in web traffic blogs—I won't be surprised if this was real. Other Apple computers were detected online first as well, although some of them—like multiprocessor Macs running SETI or other distributed computing tasks—were never released. Unlike Markoff, however, I believe that Steve was completely honest when he said "we don’t know how to build a sub-$500 computer that is not a piece of junk", arguing that the company mission was to give more at the same price points, not less features for less money.

So out of pure instinct, I think we can rule out a MacBook nano netbook. Instead, if this is indeed a new unannounced Apple product, here in Gizmodo we are thinking about an iPhone HD with an updated 800 x 480 pixel display, probably coming in 2009. That resolution is something between the iPhone's 480 x 320 pixels and MacBook's 1280 x 800 pixels, which is completely reasonable: Other phones—like the HTC Touch HD—already have these ultra-sharp screens.

Read more here :gizmodo.com

Apple iPhone apps

Since getting my iPhone I have downloaded a lot of applications. Here are the ones I find I use regularly:


Stitcher Radio - This streams radio and podcasts straight to your phone, no need to download it in iTunes. The downside is that in order to comply with copyright the controls available to you are restricted. Still, it's nice to have when you've listened to everything in your iPod, and it's an easy way to get the NPR top of the hour news updates.

Pandora - I don't listen to a lot of music and as a result when I do want to find some I'm overwhelmed. Pandora lets you plug in an artist (or artists) you like and it will play songs by that person and similar artists that other Pandora listeners liked. You can vote songs up or down as you go along. Like Stitcher, in order to comply with copyright the controls are limited and occasionally a song will just stop playing, but for somebody like me who just doesn't have all that much mental space to devote to music it's perfectly great.

Stanza - A nice ebook reader. The controls are simple and the free library is huge. Right now I'm reading Grimm's Fairytales. I have to remember to load more books next time I find myself without a signal, rare but it happens.

Twitterrific - Easy to use Twitter thingy. Free and paid version.

Instapaper - Installing this on the iPhone was a little tricky, but the developer was a charming mixture of apologetic/exasperated/detailed. Simply, when you find an article in Safari you'd like to save for later you hit the Instapaper bookmark and it saves it in a text format which you download to the Instapaper app. It's not perfect, but it is a space to keep things I want to read later on without filling up my Safari bookmarks. Also, it's fun to rediscover that thing I wanted to read.

Jott - It takes recorded messages and sends them back to you as text. Easy way to save that thought you want to remember without having to type. Good for when you're walking.

Toy Bot Diaries - This is an adorable little game and, like the reviews state, was the first time I played a game and forgot I was holding an iPhone. This is the first episode, $3.99, also has a free version.

TentsManiak Lite - A basic deduction game that I was glad to have while sitting in a waiting room where I couldn't get a signal. Free version.

Cubicman Lite - It plays like Bloxorz. Free version.

Labyrinth LE - This is a metal ball in a wooden maze but the controls are superb, you get the illusion of real weight. Free version.


The two sites I use to keep up with iPhone news are iSmashPhone and Touch Arcade.

Source:notmartha.com

Your congressman wants an iPhone

TheHill.com is reporting that members of the U.S. House of Representatives could be getting iPhones when they return to Washington, D.C. after the elections.

The Chief Administrative Office (CAO) oversees all communications systems for the House and has been testing a small number of iPhones to see how they meet the needs of congressmen and their staffs.

House members and their staffs currently use RIM BlackBerry devices, with nearly 8,200 installed. The CAO delivers all emails to the BlackBerrys using a BlackBerry Enterprise Server. A new server would be required for the iPhones, so the CAO wants to test the devices and email delivery prior to making a decision to approve use of iPhones.

The CAO is testing iPhones simply because a number of people had requested them as an option. If the CAO does approve the iPhone and lawmakers decide to switch, they'll pay for the devices out of their Member's Representational Allowance (i.e., taxpayers will be paying for them).

Adoption of the iPhone by the U.S. Congress could be another blow to RIM, which is now behind Apple in terms of sales and revenues. Apple CEO Steve Jobs gleefully reported that "Apple beat RIM" during yesterday's Q4 Earnings Call.

Source: tuaw.com

Is RIM's Bold Too Late to iPhone Party?

After months of delays, Research In Motion on Wednesday finally announced a November 4 launch date in the United States for the BlackBerry Bold smartphone.

Nearly four months behind schedule, the Canadian smartphone maker might have lost momentum. The result is that many customers tired of waiting may have instead opted for the  popular iPhone.

“Hopes for Bold are fading given time-to-market,” wrote Cowen & Co. analyst Matthew Hoffmann in a note to clients.

RIM had first announced the launch of the 3G phone with built-in GPS, its answer to Apple's iPhone, in July. That came  around the time Apple was releasing the iPhone 3G. But the launch was postponed until August because of battery life issues and overheating problems, and then it was postponed again.

RIM tries to justify the delay with mentions of the detailed attention given to the product.

“The development of the BlackBerry Bold smartphone was an ambitious undertaking, and we focused intensely on the things that are most important to mobile customers,” said Mike Lazaridis, RIM’s president and co-CEO, in a statement.

Wall Street took notice of the delay, and its concerns have reflected on the company’s shares, which have plunged in recent months--the stock lost nearly half its value in October.

Investors appeared displeased Wednesday by the news. In midday trading,  shares plunged $3.49, or 6.9 percent, at $47.04.

While the Waterloo, Ontario-based company was intensely focusing on things "important" to mobile customers, Apple hurried and stole the show.

Apple sold 6.9 million units of its 3G touch-screen phone compared with 1.1 million in the year-ago quarter, the company said on Tuesday, when it announced its fourth-quarter financial results.

RIM sold 6.1 million BlackBerry devices during the same period.

“We sold more phones than RIM,” Steve Jobs, rubbing salt in the wound, said on the conference call.

Apple’s financial report also confirmed analyst predictions that the Bold would struggle against the iPhone.

“Apple’s report looks like a body blow to RIMM,” wrote Mr. Hoffmann. “Apple’s dominance of high-end 3G in North America comes as Bold struggles to find traction in markets where it has launched.”

Some of the markets where the Blackberry Bold was released but failed to impress include Canada, Australia, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Source: redherring.com

Hauntingsounds.com Has Announced That Their First iPhone Application, a Haunted Halloween, is Now Available at the iTunes App Store

HauntingSounds.com has announced that their first iPhone Application, A Haunted Halloween, is now available at the iTunes App Store.

The application allows users to create custom spooky soundscapes for their Halloween events by touching onscreen buttons in order to play back a variety of high quality, Halloween-themed, stereophonic sounds. Approximately half of the available sounds are loops that repeat seemlessly (a rainstorm, howling wind, tolling bell, etc.) while the remainder are non-looping sounds (thunder, wailing ghosts, a howling wolf, etc.) that can be triggered as needed.

Leveraging years of sound design experience targetted at theme parks and museums, the designers have built A Haunted Halloween so that all of the professionally produced sounds blend and complement each other in order to allow for a wide variety of unique combinations. The application can be thought of as an iPhone-based audio show control application.

A Haunted Halloween is a 28MB download and is available now at the iTunes App Store for $2.99 USD.

Source: pr.com

Social networking for iPhone: Fliq your friends

Longtime Mac developer Mark/Space, Inc. has just announced their first app for iPhone, and it's free.

Fliq (click opens iTunes) runs on the iPhone and iPod touch and is billed as a "real-time social networking app between friends in close proximity." If you and your friends are on the same Wi-Fi network, and if the free Fliq app is running on all of your iPhone or iPod touch devices, you can send contacts and photos to each other.

Upon launching Fliq, a list of nearby devices also running Fliq is displayed (see screenshot). After selecting who to Fliq information to, a screen prompts you to send your pre-selected "business card", another contact, or a photo to the other iPhone.

In practice, Fliq works very well. My wife and I were able to send photos and contact information back and forth with no issues. I'd like to see Bluetooth transfer capabilities built in for those situations where there's no nearby Wi-Fi network.

Source: tuaw.com

Apple (AAPL) soars on iPhone sales

Tech giant Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) put up some impressive numbers for its fiscal fourth quarter this afternoon as the company saw huge shipments of its iPhone and Macintosh products (wsj subscription required), but did forecast that its first quarter was going to be challenging.

Going into this afternoon's earnings announcement, analysts had been expecting the company to earn $1.11 a share, but the company shattered that estimate with a reported $1.26 per share, accompanied with a revenue jump of 27% to $7.9 billion.

Most of the attention that Apple has received over the past six months has surrounded its upgraded iPhone, the iPhone 3G. During the quarter, iPhone shipments shot through the roof, rising six times to 6.9 million units.

But the iPhone is not the only product that is shining for Apple. Macintosh sales were up 21%, and iPod sales were also on the rise, with revenues up 8%.

Apple computers have definitely been gaining market share, and according to the company's Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook, during the quarter, Apple's share of the U.S. retail market rose to 18%.

Looking ahead, Apple issued a weaker-than-expected forecast for its fiscal first quarter, stating that it expects to see earnings during the quarter of $1.06 to $1.35 per share, much lower than the $1.65 that analysts had been expecting. While the forecast is well below what analysts were hoping to see, the company is known for issuing weak forecasts and then blowing them away, as it did once again this period.

Despite the weaker-than-expected forecast, shares of Apple stock are moving sharply higher in after-hours trading, up over 13% to $103.83.

Source:bloggingstocks.com

The App Test: Rating Programs for Google’s G1

Today, people interested in seeing the first Google-branded consumer-hardware product will get to satisfy their curiosity as the company, joining with T-Mobile, unveils its $179 G1 handheld computer. This touch-screen device will compete with Apple’s iPhone, and it includes a key feature missing in the iPhone: a physical keyboard.

The G1 is built around a model of openness, enabling developers to create applications — software programs, called “apps” for short — that will succeed or fail according to the feedback from the online community. Naturally, these community-contributed programs need a marketplace where G1 users can find them, and the Android Market provides just that.

BreadCrumbz makes maps.

This week, I installed various applications from the Android Market on a G1 and tested them out. Google says it will launch with around 40 to 50 applications in this virtual store, and these and all other apps will be available free of charge from now until at least the start of next year.

I found these apps to be useful, entertaining and mostly straightforward. There were a few that I felt tried to jam too much into one application, such as BreadCrumbz, an app that asks users to add pictures, instructional arrows and labels to maps that they make for friends. Other apps kept it short and sweet, like Wi-Fi Toggle — a one-touch button that turns wireless capability on or off to save battery power.

The G1’s apps are more utilitarian than most apps I’ve tested for Apple’s iPhone — and not quite as visually pleasing. I even compared one G1 program, Plusmo College Football, directly with the same app running on the iPhone, and I missed the artsy touches of the Apple version — like menus that flipped 180 degrees when selected rather than simply opening.

One downside: Only a measly 70 megabytes of internal flash memory are reserved on the G1 for storing these third-party applications. Once you fill that limited internal storage space, you have to delete some of your apps to add more. You can’t currently store apps on the phone’s roomier removable memory card. (A one-gigabyte microSD comes with the G1.) The iPhone doesn’t set such an arbitrary limit on application-storage space, beyond the physical size of the memory itself. The Android Market, like Apple’s iTunes, keeps a record of each user’s installed apps so they can be easily downloaded again later at no extra charge (if they carried a fee). But, unlike the iPhone, the G1 can’t back up your apps to a PC or Mac.

The G1’s open model means extra setup steps during app installation. For example, if an application will access certain information — such as a user’s Internet connection, location data (as identified by GPS) or other personal information (calendar, contacts, etc.) — warnings appear during installation, and the user must grant permission. In addition, many apps come with license agreements that must be okayed before users can continue. If something goes wrong with an app, people can post complaints on community boards or email developers, whose email addresses appear during installation.

To offer a general idea of what’s available, I’ve highlighted a handful of apps that I like. I broke the applications into three groups: Functional, Fun (if occasionally kitschy) and Frills.

Functional

Wi-Fi Toggle: This does what it says. Once installed, it adds an icon to the G1’s desktop that provides a quick way to turn Wi-Fi on and off without digging into the settings menu.

Locale: Like Wi-Fi Toggle on steroids, this app allows a user to set up a G1 so it dynamically changes its settings in specific conditions. The settings can respond to calls from certain people or changes in the phone’s battery power, calendar, the user’s location or the time. For instance, the Wi-Fi can automatically turn off, ringer volume can go up or down, desktop wallpaper can change or a post can be sent. Just think of all the churchgoers who could ensure their cellphone ringers are turned off on Sunday mornings or when the church’s location is sensed.

Ringdroid: Make ringtones from your own songs by adjusting bars to mark the start and end of each ringtone. Hitting Save automatically keeps the ringtone, labeled with the song’s name by default, for use on the phone.

Video Player: The G1 doesn’t have a built-in way to play videos, and this app does the trick in a clear-cut, reliable way.

Fun

Movie ShowTimes: This lets people use a finger to flick across the G1’s touch screen to page through movie poster images, titles and brief descriptions. Below each movie description, an on-screen button labeled “Showtimes Near You” uses GPS to generate lists of nearby movie times.

Pac-Man: The classic arcade game never gets old. You can move Pac-Man through his maze with one of three methods: tilting the G1 so its accelerometer moves the Pac-Man, swiping with a finger to point Pac-Man in the right direction or using the trackball to move him around the screen. I preferred the trackball.

Read more:allthingsd.com

Qik For iPhone Coming Soon, says Rose

Yes, we know you can get Qik for your jailbroken iPhones now, but this is the App Store version and Mr. Rose, personal hero of mine, gets a look at it before all of us. Jealous? Didn't think so. Anyway, Rose pontificates that the version he has is near final and that it should be coming soon for free. Would you want your Qik followers to know exactly where you're streaming from?

Also, you better order that Mophie Juice Pack now because this is going to suck the life out of your iPhone 3G faster than a paparrazo's shutter when Lohan slips a nip.

[Update]: We've been informed that the folks at Qik had yet to submit this app to Apple as of last week, so this may not be "coming soon" as Rose says. It would be the first video application to appear on the App Store.
Source: washingtonpost.com

The iPhone Hotel

Fashionfunky writes up The Malibu Beach inn which is iPhone-friendly. Guests can check in with their own iPhone or iPod, if not the hotel obliges by equipping them with a 16 gig iPod touch with a pre-installed an app called Hotel Evolution.

Guests punch in room number plus security code for access to hotel services: order room service, set a wake up call, request dry cleaning, extra blankets or replace forgotten toothbrushes, check your messages or set your room to do Not Disturb.

Shopping, eating and cavorting info for the area is on tap, too. Cost to the hotel is about $10 per room.

Source: textually.org

Selling the Apple iPhone is AT&T's problem

The Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone was supposed to help AT&T (NYSE: T) get wireless market share from its competition. That may be working, but AT&T is paying a price. As other carriers introduce new handsets of their own, AT&T has to keep significant subsidies for the Steve Jobs product.

According to Reuters, "The derivative effect is lower profitability in wireless for all the carriers," said UBS analyst John Hodulik, adding that the iPhone is selling faster than he expected, which is actually bad for AT&T's profitability in the short term.

Counter-intuitive but true. The iPhone was supposed to be a big financial help to AT&T but no one seemed to think about margins. The question is whether the financial strain of marketing the handset will hurt is sales longer term. If it becomes too much of a burden on AT&T and overseas carriers who market the new 3G version, some might make the decision to go to competing products which are more profitable.

Apple's business philosophy, which has worked until now, is it introduce extraordinarily good products and charge a significant premium for them. Let the customer demand Apple's products and let the middle man whether that is the retailer or cell carrier bear the burden. Jobs ends up keeping what may be more than his fair share.

Pushing for most of the profit may work in an expanding economy, but if Apple wants to push that model in tough times, the company may find it has fewer friends.

Source: bloggingstocks.com

Fonix iSpeak(TM) for the Apple iPhone(TM) Accurate, Productive and Safe

SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Oct 21, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Fonix Speech, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fonix(R) Corporation (FNIX:

fonix corp del com new

News, chart, profile, more

 Last: 0.000.000.00%
10:00am 10/21/2008
Delayed quote data

Add to portfolio
Analyst
Create alert

Insider
Discuss
Financials

Sponsored by:

FNIX 0.00, 0.00, 0.0%) specializing in embedded speech interfaces for mobile devices, handheld electronic products, video game systems and processors, sells Fonix iSpeak(TM) for the Apple iPhone(TM). Fonix iSpeak is gaining user acceptability as a productive, safe, hands free voice interface to the iPhone. Many states and countries require hands free use of mobile devices -- Fonix iSpeak makes compliance much more safe and easy. Used with the Apple ear buds, Fonix iSpeak allows hands free use in the noisy environment of the car.

Fonix iSpeak users recently reported:

--  "Voice prompts make this the only voice dial app that is useful in the     car. It imports your contacts once, the first time you use it, so it opens     more quickly on subsequent uses -- even if you have a lot of contacts. The     voice recognition is great..."  --  "I've been anxiously awaiting the release of this application. When I     first heard about it I was a little skeptical, but all of my skepticism has     been laid to rest. I've purposely tried getting it messed up by using it in     my car, walking around outside with other people around, etc, but it's been     100% accurate, even with some pretty complicated last names..."    

Fonix iSpeak can be purchased for US$14.99 through the Apple iTunes App Store(TM) in the Productivity and/or Utilities category. Fonix iSpeak is available in English for both the original and 3G models with iPhone OS 2.0 or later

"We are pleased with the initial user acceptance. Fonix iSpeak is gaining market acceptance and becoming the voice interface of choice for the iPhone," says Steve Jones, Fonix senior sales executive. "Accuracy is essential as well as ease of use, especially in a hands free environment. iSpeak purchase and download through the App Store is easy and quick, follow the instructions and iSpeak delivers."

For more information go to www.fonixspeech.com or call (801) 553-6600 and say "iSpeak support," or "sales" for demos, availability and pricing.

About Fonix

Fonix Corporation (FNIX:

fonix corp del com new

News, chart, profile, more

 Last: 0.000.000.00%
10:00am 10/21/2008
Delayed quote data

Add to portfolio
Analyst
Create alert

Insider
Discuss
Financials

FNIX 0.00, 0.00, 0.0%) , based in Salt Lake City, Utah, currently operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Fonix Speech, Inc., an innovative speech recognition and text-to-speech technology company. Fonix Speech embeds its voice solutions primarily in mobile/wireless devices and interactive video games, providing a platform for natural human interaction. Fonix Speech enables developers and manufacturers to speech-enable their devices and systems. In addition to aggressively driving the organic growth of its business, Fonix intends to continue its strategic acquisition initiative. Visit www.fonix.com for more information, or call (801) 553-6600 and say "Sales."

Statements released by Fonix that are not purely historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the Company's expectations, hopes, intentions and strategies for the future. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business prospects and performance. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risk factors include general economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors as discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. The Company does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release.          

Source: marketwatch.com

Motorola: Our Android Phone Will Be Cheaper, Better, Funnerer

More specs of the Android-based phone from Motorola have hit the Webosphere and the news is looking good. The phone will have a large touch screen, a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, and will undercut the HTC G1 by $30.

We already know that Motorola is working on an Android phone. Recently, we learned that the phone will provide access to social networking services. BusinessWeek has confirmed this, and that the phone will have a touch screen similar to the iPhone and also a QWERTY keyboard for easier text input. According to the BW report, insiders say the device will bear similar design language as the recently announced Motorola Krave ZN4.

Word is that the phone will have a higher-end look when compared with the HTC G1, which goes on sale starting this week. While the G1 will sell for about $180 after rebates with a new contract, the as-yet unnamed Motorola Android phone will be priced at the $150 level.

What we don't know is what network technology the Motorola Android phone will use. The HTC G1 uses the GSM system, and is compatible with networks worldwide. Given the large number of European companies involved in the Open Handset Alliance, it would make sense for Motorola to choose GSM-based networking technologies for its device, as opposed to the CDMA-based technology used by Sprint and Verizon Wireless.

The bad news is that the phone won't be ready until sometime in the second quarter of 2009, which could easily put it as much as six months behind the G1's launch. We don't know if this is because Motorola started developing later for the Anroid than HTC did or simply because Motorola is taking its time to make sure things turn out as good as possible.

Between now and the end of 2Q '09, more Android-based devices are sure to be announced and launched. We have to assume that HTC is already working on the successor to the G1, and other handset OEMs are working on their own Android handsets. Hopefully Motorola's late arrival will be offset by a solid device.

 Source:informationweek.com

Lala Unveils iPhone App, Unusual 10-Cent Song Sales

When we last checked in with Lala, the music service promised us access to our local collections from anywhere over the web. Using a unique combination of uploading and matching their collection to yours, you can sync your various libraries and listen to them any place where internet is available. Now they are back with some brand new features, including a vastly expanded catalog, an iPhone app and the unheard of 10-cent song.

So how do they get away with it? Well, Lala assumes that you're doing most of your listening over the web—as a result, the songs that cost a dime are only playable through a browser, like Rhapsody in the olden days. If you want the DRM-free MP3 for your portable player (or whatever), you're looking at a more typical 89 to 99-cent sticker price. All songs in the 6 million+ track catalog can be sampled once for free before you commit to purchasing them, and the 10 cents for a web purchase can be credited toward your MP3 purchase, so it's not money lost.

If you listen to most of your music sitting at the computer, and have qualms about stealing it, Lala may very well be a good way to go. It's like a soup made up of the best components of other online music services such as iTunes, Rhapsody, Pandora, and Last.fm. The site is appealing, the music recommendation engine is good, and there's some value in there. If you're the type of person who would add just one or two new songs per day to your personal playlist, this kind of a la carte pay system is a lot cheaper and more practical than Rhapsody. You can build up a nice collection for a few dollars a month, and you don't keep paying after you've amassed all the music you need.

Read More here: gizmodo.com

New iPhone ring-ins will make your hip pocket happy

If the iPhone's price tag puts it too far out of your reach, two other serious contenders are waiting in the wings - and neither has anything to do with Microsoft.

The first phone, based on Google's Android platform, goes on sale in the US on Wednesday and Australian carriers are examining the device with interest following rave reviews from critics.

As well, Hutchison subsidiary Three is working on its own brand of smart phone called INQ, which will compete with the iPhone, Android and handsets from Nokia and Motorola.

Three's local spokeswoman Sarah Virtue said the company planned to launch INQ in Australia "prior to Christmas". She added that Google's Android was "an excellent platform" and that Three would be "keeping a close eye on it".

Optus declined to comment on its Android plans. Telstra said it was considering "how an Android phone might fit into our range" and Vodafone said it was following Android developments "with keen interest".

BusinessWeek reported that Hutchison's goal with INQ was to slash the price of phones that let people surf the net. The handsets were expected to cost consumers $US50 ($72) or less.

People buying an iPhone would pay carriers that amount or more every month over a two-year contract.

The move makes sense for Three because the more people there are who can afford phones capable of surfing the net, the more the company will make from the mobile plans and data bundles it sells to consumers.

"I need to hit the 90 per cent that don't buy [higher-priced phones]," Hutchison executive Frank Meehan told BusinessWeek.

The popularity of smartphones such as the iPhone, Android, INQ and BlackBerry handsets is growing rapidly in Australia.

Research released by Telesyte today revealed Australia's annual smartphone shipments have grown by almost 40 times from five years ago and that nearly three in ten mobile phones sold this year will be smartphones.

In addition to being cheap, the INQ phones, which like Android have been built from the ground up with new software, have been designed to hook directly into Facebook, eBay and Skype, with users able to monitor their Facebook news feed from the home screen.

Last year, Three launched its first branded handset, the Skypephone, which allowed Skype users to call each other without running down their monthly mobile cap.

The first handset based on Google's Android platform, the G1, will be sold by T-Mobile for $US179 on a two-year contract, which is also significantly cheaper than the iPhone.

Early reviews suggest the G1 is the first worthy competitor to Apple's much-vaunted smartphone. More Android-based devices are expected to be launched in the coming months.

Some analysts expect Apple to respond to this new competition by pushing its iPhone prices down.

"In 2009 we'll get a lower-priced iPhone - iPhone Nano - which will bring it to the masses," Shannon Cross of Cross Research told The New York Times.

Like the iPhone, the G1 includes a touch-screen but there is also a pull-out keyboard and a trackball that can be used like a mouse. It is completely integrated with Google's suite of online applications such as search, maps, calendar, email and instant messaging.

The G1, based on the Linux operating system, has built-in WiFi for more cost-effective web browsing and can play both music and videos, but managing track libraries isn't as elegant as the iPhone, which seamlessly integrates with iTunes.

Like Apple's iTunes App Store, G1 owners will be able to expand the functionality of the device by buying third-party applications from the "Android market".

David Pogue's review of the G1 in The New York Times said the device's software was sleek and intuitive but criticised the lack of an iTunes equivalent for managing songs and buying music, TV shows and movies.

Pogue noted that, unlike the iPhone, the G1 includes a slide-out keyboard, removable battery, voice dialling, picture messaging, built-in audio recording and the ability to turn any song into a ring tone.

Engadget's review noted the G1's lack of a standard headphone jack. The software "is thoroughly modern and attractive, but its high-contrast, almost cartoonish look might be a turn-off for some".

The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg gave the G1 a good wrap but thought the keyboard and battery life could have been improved.

He said the tight integration with Google's services would be tedious for those who don't use them. The only way to get contacts and calendar items into the phone is to synchronise them with Google's online services and there is no way for it to synchronise with Microsoft Outlook.

"In my battery tests, the G1 lasted through the day, but I had to charge it every night," Mossberg wrote.

"That's better than the initial battery life on the current iPhone, though in fairness Apple has improved the iPhone's battery life through software updates, and I found them to be about the same for mixed use."

Source: smh.com.au

Sales War: T-Mobile G1 Android, BlackBerry Storm & Apple iPhone 3G

The three major phones on our mind are the T-Mobile G1 Android powered phone, the BlackBerry Storm 9500 and of course the one we are already using the awesome Apple iPhone 3G.

Now please do not think we are strong believers of the iPhone 3G and that this phone is better than the other two because we cannot judge, we cannot judge because we have not had the other to phones in our hands yet, so we are always open to options. We all want to know who will be the winners in the Mobile smartphone sales war. This is going to be a hard one and we mean really hard.

Right lets explain what we already know, the Apple iPhone 3G sold a staggering 1 million units within the launch weekend, yes these sales covered just over 20 countries, 500,000 to 700,000 were sold in the United States alone.

Now the BlackBerry Storm is a hard one as we have not heard anything as of yet about pre-orders, so we will have to wait and see on this one, personally we know they will sell like hotcakes.

Now we move onto the T-Mobile G1 Android-Powered smartphone, we have already published news reporting that 1.5 million of these handsets have been pre-ordered, but come on that does not mean that 1.5-million will sell, has far as we know this phone can only be pre-ordered by those in the United States and you have to be an existing T-Mobile customer. Now on an estimate 400,000 to 500,000 is for the 4th qtr, so does this mean that it is not the amount T-Mobile made available for its pre-order figures.

Even if and we mean “IF” all the 1.5 million sales went ahead for the T-Mobile G1 Android, we cannot see them being able to cope with demand, if Apple cannot cope then there is not a chance T-Mobile can, “Or can they?

So please answer this question “Who will win the sales war, T-Mobile G1 Android or BlackBerry Storm, or will Apple simply stay at the top?

Significant iPhone 3G unlock progress, no unlock yet

The iPhone Dev Team has announced “significant 3G progress” towards a 3G unlock, modifying iPhone 3G baseband and even running modified baseband code, but the unlock itself remains elusive.

The quest to unlock the iPhone 3G continues with the latest iPhone Dev Team announcement, and while no 3G unlock is yet possible, the Dev Team has made progress.

In a blog posting called “3G Update”, the Dev Team said: “We made some significant 3G progress this week.

On display is text on a screen, part of which says “PWNED PROFILE” above another called “STORED PROFILE”.

The Dev Team says it shows “a 3G iPhone whose baseband has been modified. And even though it’s modified — and fails the integrity check — it’s still running.”

They also ask: “Can you guess where the patch was made?”, although the answer to this isn’t clear.

The team continues: “Running modified baseband code is a very useful ability, but it’s still not possible to accurately estimate how close we are to the ultimate goal,” while a short video of the screen described above can be seen here, at the “homepage.mac.com” address of iPhone Dev Team member and blog forum moderator “MuscleNerd”.

So, while there is no non-Apple software 3G unlock yet, this is the first real sign of progress since the iPhone 3G was released and then jailbroken after a few days, although 2G iPhones have enjoy quick jailbreaks and unlocks soon after each new firmware version is released by Apple.

It’s worth remembering that the iPhone Dev Team is working on the 01.45.00 iPhone 3G baseband firmware, with newer basebands yet to be tackled.

Source: itwire.com