UPDATE: As pointed out in comments, Android honcho Andy Rubin responds on the Google blog:
Here are the facts, clear and simple: While the first generation of our Android software did not support full-featured VoIP applications due to technology limitations, we have worked through those limitations in subsequent versions of Android, and developers are now able to build and upload VoIP services.
Rubin claims USA Today was made aware of this, but also says “individual operators can request that certain applications be filtered if they violate their terms of service”, which basically means AT&T’s no SlingPlayer, or conceivably any networks no-VoIP policy, would still affect Android, so — okay. Let’s get to it Skype and we’ll see what T-Mo really thinks.
However, Rubin does dream, like all of us (likely even Apple, in public, if asked) of the day when “dumb pipes” are a reality.
Read the rest of this entry »
Numerous press reports are claiming that iPhones and iPods are “exploding” — well, three isolated devices, at least so far. Apple is said to be investigating these reports and have no answers as of now.
“These are isolated incidents and… there is not a general problem, For the cases which have been reported in the media, Apple [is] trying to get more information on the details of the incidents and will do tests as necessary to investigate the possible cause.”
It was last August that we reported on the iPod fires that were taking place. Three recent claims in the past few months have sparked this new investigation:
Thankfully no one was injured in any of the above incidents. With the millions of iPods and iPhones sold to date and only a very few being proven “faulty” this is nothing you should be too concerned about. In fact US Consumer Product Safety Commission claims that a total of 15 Apple devices since 2001 have been recorded as faulty, while none included any serious injury.
[Via Ars Technica]
According to market research company Gfk and their recent survey, it seems like Japan has fallen in love with the iPhone 3GS. So much so that in the month of July, the good people there have made Apple’s 32GB iPhone 3GS the most popular cell phone in all of Japan.
Here is how the rest of the top 10 shakes out.
- Apple iPhone 3GS 32 GB
- Sharp SH-06A
- Panasonic 830P
- Sharp SH-05A
- NEC N-08A
- Sony Ericsson Walkman Phone Premier3
- Sharp SH-02A
- Casio W63CA
- Apple iPhone 3GS 16 GB
- Sharp SH001
It must be those Emoji icons…
[Via MobileCrunch]
Welcome to From the Forums. If you are curious as to what all of the hot topics are on the TiPb forums, this is the place to be. In order to create any new threads of your own or reply to any of the following threads, you must be a registered member. Becoming a member is a simple process that will only take a few minutes out of your day, so if you haven’t already, head on over and register now.
The first thread for today was created by anjo and he wants to know – will Apple release a new iPhone in 2010? Now while some of us may already know the answer to this question, this thread has turned into a very detailed account on what exactly what you the consumers are looking for in the next generation of iPhone. Apple are you listening?
Next we have an excellent new poll thread that was just started by our very own forum reviewer, cjvitek – Do you use a bluetooth headset? Swing by this thread and let Chris know how you feel about bluetooth headsets in general and if you do use them, share with everyone which headset you prefer and why.
Here we have a thread from iPheuria and he poses the question regarding your data usage and do you really need carrier supplied data on your iPhone? Most of us here at TiPb feel that a good data connection is necessary to get the full potential out of Apple’s iPhone but what do you think?
So you are having an issue with your iPhone and need some help? Perhaps you have some time to kill and feel like helping others with their iPhone issues? If you answered yes to either of these questions then please stop by and visit our dedicated iPhone Help forum.
See you on the forums!
The research firm Gartner reports that, for the second quarter of 2009, the iPhone continues to increase its market share on a world-wide level. In fact, it leads the way with the highest increase of market share, as sales increased by 10.5% from one year ago.
This increase of market share can be accounted for due to a few separate reasons. For starters, the early June price drop of the iPhone 3G to $99 was clearly a great way to move inventory while boosting sales. Apple’s product release timing is also plays a large role in their success. While releasing iPhone 3GS to the market at the very end of the second quarter of 2009 all of the initial sales were included in this report.
Everyone knows the iPhone took mind share early on, and there’s little doubt left they own profit share as well. It will be interesting to see where market share ultimately ends up…
[via MacRumors]
According to Times Online, It now seems as if Sony, Warner, Universal and EMI are putting the finishing touches on their new album format, CMX, and are ready to do battle against Apple’s rumored “Cocktail” enhanced album format.
It was just last month we reported about Cocktail, which would feature new interactive booklets, sleeve notes and other features alongside music downloads in an attempt to lure consumers into making more full album purchases. Now, while it looks like “Cocktail” does exist, it seems that none of the record labels had any hand in creating it. According to this story, record labels first approached Apple 18 months ago to see if they wanted in on this new CMX format and Apple politely refused. Apple then created “Cocktail” in order to compete with Sony, Warner, Universal and EMI.
One senior record label insider said: “Apple at first told us that they were not interested, but now they have decided to do their own, in case ours catches on.
While most of us here at TiPb have no major quarrels purchasing our music digitally, there are a lot of people out there who feel when purchasing digital albums over the internet you are not getting the full album experience. Would this new format make purchasing digital albums any less painful for you? And would you rather go with Apple’s “Cocktail” or the music industry’s CMX?
Apple has finally gotten around to posting a support article based upon the dangers of hacking your iPhone via the process of jailbreaking. The list of possible side effects are indeed accurate, lets take a look at what is listed:
- Device and application instability
- Unreliable voice and data
- Disruption of services
- Compromised security
- Shortened battery life
- Inability to apply future software updates
The article is then ended with the warning that if you do jailbreak you run the risk of Apple denying you any type of service to your device if needed.
It is also important to note that unauthorized modification of the iPhone OS is a violation of the iPhone end-user license agreement and because of this, Apple may deny service for an iPhone or iPod touch that has installed any unauthorized software.
So everything mentioned here is 100% legitimate based upon what TiPb has seen with many users in our forums. On the flip side, many users have zero issues, including myself.
In the end, if you are considering jailbreaking your device or already have – you should be well aware of the possible negative side effects this process may cause.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Speaking at Fortune’s Brainstorm tech conference, AT&T CEO, Randall Stephenson, discussed the iPhone and it’s exclusivity with AT&T.
“There will be a day when you are not exclusive with the iPhone.”
Nothing was discussed regarding any negotiations that may be taking place at this time between the two companies but be assured that AT&T will do everything and anything in it’s power to keep Apple’s device under lock and key for as long as it possibly can.
All good things must come to an end, however. With that being said, AT&T’s exclusitivity deal with Apple’s iPhone is no different. It will eventually end. Sure there are those of you out there that can’t wait until Apple breaks free of it’s chains from AT&T, just don’t count on that happening anytime in the near future.
[Via Engadget Mobile]
Apple has stealthily updated their premium in-ear headset with remote and mic. What exactly did they update? Well nothing major but it’s an update regardless – they replaced the soft rubber 3.5 mm headphone plug casing with a hard plastic one. So now instead of the soft rubber falling off we will now start to see the hard plastic replacement crack. 
All joking aside, Apple really got these headphones almost perfect. And as a bonus they are now fully compatible with iPhone 3GS. Sorry first generation and 3G owners, you are still missing out on the control features.
Be sure to check out Rene’s full review from this past January.
[Via AppleInsider]
We’re not surprised. Obviously. Apple plays the product cycle and media hype engines to perfection. Still, it’s interesting to see Electronista’s take, based on ChangeWave data:
A mid-June study from the research group has 14.4 percent of those tracked looking to buy some kind of smartphone within the next 90 days, a record high and a large jump from 11.2 percent in March. Of these, a full 44 percent now plan to buy an iPhone compared to 30 percent just three months earlier.
As the above graph shows, Palm went from 4% to 8%, BlackBerry from 37% to 23%. Android, Nokia, and Windows Mobile weren’t shown
Other device makers likely know this, explaining why we’re seeing so many iPhone-style devices hitting the market. TiPb still thinks it’s more than a set of features, however. Sure, iPod halo and Apple brand help, but in the end the iPhone is all about usability and user experience for the consumer market, and that’s not as easy a task to duplicate.
