Steve Jobs Pitches Cupertino City Council Re: New Apple Campus

Here's a video shot yesterday (6/7/11) of Steve Jobs making a pitch to the City of Cupertino regarding Apple's desire / plans to build a new Apple Campus. The campus would occupy 150 acres and house 12,000 - 13,000 people in a single round building.

The Mothership has Landed

French Security Firm Warns Of Apple IOS / PDF Vulnerability

French security firm Vupen has reported a vulnerability targeted at Apple products running IOS, namely the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, that could allow hackers to take control of your device. The scam is an old one, lure users to a malicious website planted with an infected PDF document. It's been done before on PCs but this is the latest in a string of attacks aimed at Apple's popular mobile devices. It would seem as though Apple is feeling the pain long suffered by Microsoft, it's tough being at the top!

Apple is looking into the claim.

Credit: The Globe and Mail

Apple Calls Surprise Press Conference 15/07/2010

While they won't say what the topic will be, Apple has called a surprise press conference for today and much speculation is they'll be addressing the iPhone 4 antenna issue. Maybe Steve Jobs will give a personal "how to hold the iPhone 4" demonstration or perhaps they'll simply introduce the illusive white version :)

In any case the public is getting their "knickers in a knot" over this, deservedly or not, and Apple has to do some damage control. Some industry analysts however believe that this is the chink in Apple's armor that competitors have been waiting for and the hype is being inflated in an attempt to discredit the Apple name. 

"Apple is probably one of the most important brands of the last 50 years," said Olivier Blanchard, president of Brand Builder Marketing.

"They are rock stars in that sense and I believe that this fiasco with the iPhone 4 is an excuse to attack a company that is becoming such a giant. Five years ago when they were the underdog this would have been a non issue," Mr Blanchard told BBC News. (I suspect he was wearing his "I <3 Steve" boxers at the time.)

Consumer Reports Says No To iPhone 4

Influential publication, Consumer Reports, says that it can't give the iPhone 4 a recommendation because of the faulty antenna issue. "When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone's lower left side — an easy thing, especially for lefties — the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you're in an area with a weak signal. Due to this problem, we can't recommend the iPhone 4."

Consumer Reports says that it consistently reproduced the issue on 3 separate iPhone 4 test devices and that it had also tried unsuccessfully to replicate the issue on older iPhone models, the Palm Pre, and other AT&T devices.

"Our findings call into question the recent claim by Apple that the iPhone 4's signal-strength issues were largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software that 'mistakenly displays two more bars than it should for a given signal strength,'" the site said. "The tests also indicate that AT&T's network might not be the primary suspect in the iPhone 4's much-reported signal woes."

Hmmmm! So much for the "all phones suffer from this" defense! Maybe Apple is not perfect after all?

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/07/12/consumer-reports-apple-iphone.html?ref=rss#ixzz0tYgereYk

Really Mr. Jobs? REALLY???

I'm sure you've heard the joke that goes something like this:

Patient: Doc, it really hurts when I do this. Can you help me?

Doctor: Don't do that!

Steve Jobs and the Apple minions seem to be taking that approach to customer complaints about the new iPhone 4 and it's signal reception issues. When the iPhone 4 was announced, Mr. Jobs described the integrated antenna as "really cool engineering", but it seems that customers are experiencing severe signal degradation when they hold the phone... yup, you read that right! It seems as though the phone works great if it's not in your hand but if you hold it, particularly in the lower left-hand corner the signal reception drops significantly. I find it really inexcusable to tell a customer who has just paid several hundreds of dollars for your product, and is likely to spend much more over the next several years through their contract and the purchase of apps, that their only option to remedy the issue is to "not hold your phone that way" or to drop more money on a case to insulate the phone from your hand. I also find it interesting that a company known for it's design and quality would not have noticed this through testing. Not a stellar start to the release of this one! Add to it the fact that pre-orders where a total mess and that white iPhone 4's are more difficult to manufacture?

See this BBC article or do a simple google search for more info.

Suicides Prompt Taiwanese Company To Double Pay Of Chinese Employees

There has been a fair amount of press lately about Foxconn a Taiwan based company with manufacturing facilities in mainland China. The company manufactures much of the hot consumer electronics products that are coveted world wide, including the Apple iPhone and iPad. The BBC is reporting "Ten people have killed themselves at its plant in Shenzhen, in southern China, which employs about 400,000 people. Three more apparently tried to take their own lives." It's unbelievable that people are pushed to these tragic endings, however as others have reported 10 in 400,000 is well below the national average in China. In my humble opinion it's highly likely that the reaction by Foxconn to increase wages is more the result of pressure from Apple and other companies who use their service, than out of concern for the employees. To qualify for the pay rise, workers will first have to pass a performance test lasting three months (the old carrot and stick again). The company has also hired psychiatrists and installed safety nets on buildings, seriously!

Google's Location Based Vision

Here is a TechCrunch interview with Google's Vic Gundotra regarding Google's I/O Conference announcements and Apple vs. Google... interesting!

Police Seize Gizmodo Editor's Computers

Gizmodo editor, Jason Chen, who blogged about the mysterious nextgen iPhone found in a bar has had his computers seized by a technology related police task force. The investigating officers as well as the San Mateo County’s chief deputy district attorney, Stephen Wagstaffe, have declined to comment on the matter. 

I would say it's looking less likely that this was an Apple publicity stunt... authorities acting on a court order apparently entered Chen's home and removed four computers and two servers. 

More at the NYTimes Bits Blog.

Adobe Will No Longer Support iPhone Development Tool

It would appear as though Adobe has given up it's fight with Apple over developer tools ,after Apple updated the terms and conditions of the license that software developers must sign to create and sell apps for the iPhone and iPad shortly before Adobe's release of Creative Suite 5 earlier this month. CS5 was Adobe's tool that would open up the path to iPhone and iPad for Flash developers, Apple however wants full control over it's platform and is playing rough.

Mike Chambers, Adobe's principal product manager for developer relations has written on his blog "...as developers for the iPhone have learned, if you want to develop for the iPhone you have to be prepared for Apple to reject or restrict your development at any time." 

It's as if Apple has a burly bouncer at the door to an exclusive club, and that's why I love my android powered phone! 

Sorce: BBC

Gizmodo Asked To Return Nextgen iPhone Prototype To Apple

Whether they found the device as they claim, or they paid $5,000 for it as has been reported, Apple just want's their prototype next generation iPhone returned to them by Gizmodo. The popular tech blog had earlier posted photos and video of the device that some speculated was a knock off, but it would appear by Apple's reaction that it is the real deal. Gizmodo shared a letter received from Apple lawyers stating in part that "This letter constitutes a formal request that you return the device to Apple," to which Jason Chen of Gizmodo writes "Now that we definitely know it's not some knockoff, and it really is Apple's, I'm happy to see it returned to its rightful owner,"

Perhaps a third scenario exists where this is a new tactic by Apple to generate hype about the new product!

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/04/20/tech-iphone-4-gizmodo.html?ref=rss#ixzz0ljNiNsqf

iPad Not Ready For Higher Education?

It seems that the iPad is attracting the wrong kind of attention from a number of high profile universities for reported issues with connectivity and degradation of the school's networks when a number of the devices are connected. The Wall Street Journal is reporting "The tablet, lauded by many as the next wave in education technology, is having difficulty being accepted at George Washington University and Princeton University because of network stability issues. Cornell University also says it is seeing connectivity problems with the device and is concerned about bandwidth overload."

In addition to the networking woes, some educators are also complaining about a lack educational content available via the iBookstore application. Regardless, I am sure that Apple will be working hard to solve the hardware issues and attract more content. Not to mention, too many consumers Apple products are simply irresistible!

Google's Schmidt Tells Party Goers That Google Will Challenge The iPad

The NYTimes is reporting that Eric Schmidt of Google fame has eluded to a Google Android based tablet to rival the iPad. This probably shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone but the interesting talk that revolves around the Google slate is that it is rumored to support Adobe Flash, something that Apple has refused to do and that will have many developers heaving deep sighs of relief.

Eric E. Schmidt, chief executive of Google, told friends at a recent party in Los Angeles about the new device, which would exclusively run the Android operating system. People with direct knowledge of the project — who did not want to be named because they said they were unauthorized to speak publicly about the device — said the company had been experimenting in “stealth mode” with a few publishers to explore delivery of books, magazines and other content on a tablet.

 I, for one, am likely to want to give the iPad a try but will definitely be waiting to see what Google's offering is! I truly do love my HTC Dream and would not trade it for an iPhone, ever!

Is iAds Apples New Revenue Stream Or A Developer Support System?

Apple CEO Steve Jobs says the companies new ad platform for mobile devices, namely the iPhone, iPad, and iPod, is not a get rich quick scheme for his company but a support system for application developers by which they will be able to keep the cost of apps down, increasing the likely hood of continued interest in app development. The iAds program offers developers a platform onto which they can "build complex interactive ads into apps..." according to the NYTimes. Apples plan is to keep 40% of the revenues with 60% going to the apps creator, following a similar model as the iTunes App Store. “This is us helping our developers make money so they can survive and keep the prices of their apps reasonable.” said Jobs. When comparing his iAds network to Google's Adsense Jobs said “Search is not where it’s at” on phones, he said. “People are not searching on a mobile device like they are on the desktop.” I tend to agree with the observation but I have a hard time believing it's all about helping the developers...

The iPad Unboxed - bow chicka wow wow

The folks at Revision 3 decided to poke fun at Apple's iPad with an unusual unboxing, in a video segment reminiscent of a 70's style porn movie... not that I would know what they looked like.

A Dual View Of The iPad

This morning I read David Pogue's NY Times review of the Apple iPad with great interest, amusement, and to be quite honest, joy! What a refreshing take on a product review! David looks at the device from two perspectives and highlights the features and detractors from both points of view. You see, to many consumers this is a wondrous device that is going to change computing forever, but to the hardcore techie it's not that at all. So rather than attempting to reach out to either camp and offend the other, David has written a review for each. This might be viewed by some as a cop out, but to me it makes perfect sense. The way that I might want to use such a device, or the opinion that I might form of it after having it for a time, is quite likely vastly different than say, my wife's view. We are after all on opposite ends of the techie scale.

You be the judge... refreshing or the Switzerland of tech reviews?

New iPhone Rumoured For This Summer

According to this article in the Globe and Mail, the Wall Street Journal is citing unnamed sources as responsible for rumors surrounding an upcoming new iPhone from Apple and in particular a version designed specifically for the Verizon network. Currently AT&T is the only authorized carrier of the iPhone in the U.S.

Both Apple and Verizon are refusing to comment.

iPad Turns Out To Have Superbowl Like Advertising Appeal

It looks as though the big advertisers are lining up for ad space in iPad apps and the platforms launch is drawing Superbowl like numbers! The New York Times is reporting that:

"iPad advertisements on print publishers’ applications cost $75,000 to $300,000 for a few months with some exclusivity, said Phuc Truong, managing director of Mobext U.S., a mobile-marketing unit at Havas Digital."

All the while developers are trying to figure out how to make the most of the opportunity and the hype. It's interesting that it has taken Apple to make this happen, I guess the advertisers are counting on the larger format of the iPad and the magic of Apple to make tablets / e-readers a mainstream consumer product and the publishers are doing a good job selling the launch.

iPad Delayed Slightly In US, 9 Other Countries Will Get Theirs In Late April

The Wi-Fi version of the iPad will be released in the U.S. on April 3rd with the 3G version coming later in the month according Apple. "Both versions will be available in late April in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the U.K., Apple said in a statement. The device will be available in other countries later this year, the company said."

The device ranges from $499 to $829 U.S. depending on the model chosen but outside of the U.S. prices will be announced in April closer to the launch dates.

"The tablet can run all iPhone apps and boasts up to 10 hours of video battery life. Apple also announced Friday that the iPad will include 12 new apps designed for the device's larger screen."

Source: CBC

Apple Sues HTC Over Smartphone Related Patents

It seems as though the competition is heating up in the smartphone market in more ways than one! Apple has decided to confront HTC in the courts with claims of patent infringement on more than 20 of it's patents related to user interface and hardware.

“We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in a statement. “We’ve decided to do something about it.” 

For it's part HTC spokeswoman Linda Mills said “HTC values patent rights and their enforcement but is also committed to defending its own technology innovations,”

It was bound to happen sooner or later, HTC and Android based phones are starting to make a dent in the market place...

 

Source: Globe and Mail

Google's Schmidt Reacts To iPad

Silicon Alley Insider's Nicholas Carlson has a few words from Eric Schmidt on the release of the iPad, very few words but the reaction is interesting... is Schmidt taking a Steve Jobs approach to new product discussion?

Quote: Today, a reporter asked Eric what he thinks of Apple's (AAPL) new iPad. His answer: "You might want to tell me the difference between a large phone and a tablet."
Source: Business Insider