Well well well. Look who’s firmware update is spreading mass murder among unboxed iPhones. Reports are coming in from everywhere, and everyone but my Aunt Helen, that FW 1.1.1 is bricking factory fresh iPhones upon updating. So, even customers with iPhones that still have that new car smell are in the same sack of onions that we naughty unlockers are stuck in. Hmm. I’m going out on a limb and say that Apple rolled this update out a bit prematurely.
Apple support forums are filling up with angry posts from frustrated new iPhone owners pleading for help to revive their now otherwise paperweighted phones. And numerous readers have sent me stories about having to return their “new” iPhone thanks installing the update. Ruh Roh!
[Clarification] I want to clarify that my colorful use of the term “Brick” is used in general terms of otherwise fudging your iPhone. While I have read more than one or two cases of iPhones being rendered completely inaccessible, the problems resulting from the firmware update does no permanent damage to your iPhone…just renders it immobilized until help arrives.
Oh Steve, when will you learn? Your tight fisted control over iPhone’s software platform continues to effuse dissent among users. Now even your very own partners are lining up outside your door with torches and pitchforks. This time you’ve managed to piss off the folks at Sun Microsystems for excluding Java support in iPhone.
Java, for those of you who don’t know, is an application development environment that runs compatibly (in theory) across any platform. It’s creator, Sun, once boasted the platform’s promise of “Write once, run anywhere” applications that can be made to run on any runtime environment capable of supporting Java Virtual Machines. Though it never quite took off on the desktop, Java has come into its own in recent years on Mobile devices. Cell phones in particular.
The really insulting part is that Java runs on even the lowest common denominator phones on the market today. Even the Motorola RAZR can run Java apps. So it’s somewhat embarrassing, and damaging, that iPhone can’t.
Maybe I should refer Sun to my new “Feature Wish List” page? No, I don’t want to get myself in hot water. Ha! Get it, hot water? Coffee…water…hot? Ah forget it.
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Bad news, kiddies. Steve thinks we’re having too much fun with his expensive toy, and henceforth has abolished the practice of iPhone unlocking. Stop it. Just stop. You know it’s wrong, and puts wrinkles in Steve’s mock turtlenecks. This bombshell was just dropped from the belly of the mothership…
Apple has discovered that many of the unauthorized iPhone unlocking programs available on the Internet cause irreparable damage to the iPhone’s software, which will likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed. Apple plans to release the next iPhone software update, containing many new features including the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store (www.itunes.com), later this week. Apple strongly discourages users from installing unauthorized unlocking programs on their iPhones. Users who make unauthorized modifications to the software on their iPhone violate their iPhone software license agreement and void their warranty. The permanent inability to use an iPhone due to installing unlocking software is not covered under the iPhone’s warranty.
So there you have it, folks. Unlock your iPhone, void your warranty. This is absurd, and I half wonder if it’s merely a deliberate effort by Apple to back out of their warranty obligations.
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As if Nokia, Motorola, et. al., didn’t already have reason to shit themselves. Today’s news from The Street will have CEOs at every major handset maker pouring glasses of Pepto-Bismol and reading motivational posters. Senior Writer Scott Moritz reports that Apple will boost iPhone production for the fourth quarter to 2.7 Million units, nearly double original projections. Apparently Apple anticipates some kind of spike in demand in Q4.
Hey, you don’t suppose the recent price drop had something to do with this, do you? Nah, purely coincidental.
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Posted on Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 by admin
File Under:Uncategorized; Tags: iPhone, News
Oh to be an analyst. I swear if I could have any job in the world that would surely be it – lounge around in a cushy office all day long, putting golf balls into an empty scotch glass, stare out the window, and occassionally publish insanely self evident studies about market directions and product trends.
Take this latest piece of work by ABI Research, for example. These jokers have determined that iPhone offers a glimpse of things to come for mobile internet devices. They see portable devices one day being used for such things as web browsing, text messaging, music playback, even capturing photos and video. My God, it’s like they have a crystal ball or something!
Anyway, read the study, have a laugh, then go back to your futuristic iPhone. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to leave for work in my flying car.
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T-Mobile customers in Germany are waltzing in the streets today. Earlier this morning Steve Jobs announced an exclusive partnership with Deutsch Telekom (T-Mobile), bringing iPhone to Germany starting November 9. Pricing is set at €399, but one of my readers in Germany, Jonathan Marcialis, sent news (with photo) that several shops in Germany are already advertising iPhone now for €899 ($1,200). Mein Gott!
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Bloody hell! Steve Jobs took the stage early this morning, I mean REAL early for those living on this side of the international dateline. As expected he finally pulled back the kimono on the Eurorpean iPhone model. The big surprise? It’s not 3G! EDGE only. Didn’t see that coming, especially when considering the fact that 3G is far more ubiquitous in the UK and European markets. In fact, less than one quarter of O2 customers are on EDGE. Blimey!
Other news to come out of this event; the UK iPhone will land on November 9. Apple will launch it’s iTunes WiFi store later this month and preload the software on iPhone shortly thereafter. Realy quite a non-event, what? Quite.
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Reuters reports that German mobile operator Deutsche Telekom has signed an exclusive agreement with Apple, bringing iPhone to the land of bier and lederhosen. The terms of the deal remain undisclosed, but according to one source an announcement from both sides will come as early as next week.
Neither company is offering comments at this time, but when asked by reporters whether a partnership had been reached, a press agent for T-Mobile clicked his heals together, raised one arm in solute, and shouted “Jawohl!”.
So there you have it. Willkommen zur Partei, Deutschland!
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Hello, Wellington? Are you there, it’s Hawkins. Ah good. Say, listen old bean…I was just watching the telly and apparently Apple is staging some kind of press event next Tuesday. They’ve sent us an invitation. Could have something to do with that silly iPhone thing those bloody Americans keep going on about, I expect. Yes, his lordship, Sir Jobs is on full form at these events so I’m told. Should be good for a laugh I suppose. Do lets attend. Excellent, I’ll see you there.
Cheerio, Governor, pip pip and all that rot.
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From the Department of Duh comes word that Apple’s recent $200 price drop on the popular 8GB iPhone has led to a sharp increase in sales. Now I know that news will knock my readers over like bowling pins, but do try and steady yourselves.
Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster conducted a 50 hour survey of Apple Stores (I assume the poor guy took a break sometime) compiling concurrent sales data – cause that’s what bean counters do. He came away with less than surprising results; iPhone sales are up, w00t! He reckons that Apple sold 27,000 units per day within a five day period in order to arrive at its ballyhooed 1 million unit milestone. Not bad sales performance, what.
So, yes…iPhone is selling well. The sky is blue. Birds are singing. People are hanging out in Central Park, joining hands in harmonious celebration. Whatever.
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