It seems every day there is talk of "the iPhone killer" coming soon. Today's entry in the iPhone Killer sweepstakes is the Verizon Voyager. The Voyager, made by LG, sells for $299 and has a touch screen and a flip open keyboard and tries to copy the iPhone's UI. Here's a review (conclusion: not an iPhone Killer), and another (conclusion: best Verizon phone). There's also talk that the RIM 9000 series, coming next year (pic?), is out to kill the iPhone. And of course, there was the much rumored Google Phone that then failed to live up to the hype. The supposed iPhone killer list goes on: there's a linux contender, handset maker HTC's entry, samsung's entry, Nokia's got one too. But nobody seems to be asking the right questions - if the iPhone can be "killed" how can it be done?
It seems strange to me that there even needs to be an "iPhone Killer". I mean, my guesstimate based on Apple's latest iPhone sales numbers is that there have been about 2 to 2.5 million iPhones sold to date (based on Apple's released numbers and a guess factoring in approximate daily sales and the European release of the iPhone). That's a drop in the bucket compared to the total number of cell phones sold (38 million in the U.S. last quarter alone) since the iPhone was released. Even if you only compare the iPhone to other high end "smart" phones, the iPhone has 27% of the smart phone market but its not yet in a dominant position based on sales. So why would you need to have an iPhone killer? two words: mind share. The iPhone has simply come in and transformed the consumer mind share about what a smart phone should be.
Now, without disclosing details regarding my "day job", I get to spend a lot of time playing with many models of smart phones - including some of the "iPhone Killers" mentioned above, some that are not even available in the U.S., and a few that are not available anywhere yet. Some are very cool. But when you compare them to the iPhone in my pocket, they pretty much all suck. Most are like small bricks - they are heavy, boxy and clunky - nothing with the sleek lines and minimalist feel of the iPhone. Even if they have a nice design, they are generally running an operating system that just kills the user experience - Linux, Symbian, RIM or Microsoft (Microsoft is the worst of the bunch. It takes several "clicks" to get even the most basic things done. Don't even get me started about RIM - an OS only a network administrator could love).
That is the first, most basic, reason there will not be an iPhone Killer anytime soon. The other Mobile OS and UI designs are just not ready to compete. Apple's OS X base is several light years ahead of everything else and the IPhone "noun" UI is just perfect for the touch interface. Of course, the iPhone has its flaws too - it desperately needs voice dialing and/or a better way for hands free use on the phone side, the iPod "scrubber" needs a better UI, it needs "disc mode" like all the other iPods have - just to mention a few of my pet peeves. But here's the thing - all of those things can be fixed with a software update when Apple works them out or by 3rd party developers when they get the SDK in February 2008. If you have a crappy OS, then no amount of tinkering is going to be able to fix that.
That's the beauty of the OS X base - Apple has its own experience on the desktop side to draw from as well as all of its 3rd party developers. The iPhone is just an extension of the Mac ecosystem - a reservoir that Symbian or RIM can't tap into. Microsoft can't, to a large extent, make this claim either, given its specialized - and sometimes incompatible - flavor of windows for smart phones and PDAs. Linux, well, is Linux - theoretically I suppose its part of the "Linux ecosystem" - if one even exists - but Linux is just not a player yet as there are very few Linux smart phones right now. Despite my dismissal of Android, Google has the right idea to go after the mobile OS market instead of releasing an actual phone because that's the key advantage the iPhone has.
The other major advantage Apple has is that it is "Apple, the brand" and all that entails. If Motorola introduced a phone with the exact same feature set as the iPhone a year ago, they would not have gotten the same amount and quality of attention that Apple did. I don't see how the maker of any "iPhone Killer" can get around that anytime soon.
The final major advantage is the iPod. There's no doubt that Apple is a monopoly in the digital music business and is not going to be caught there anytime soon. Apple's video business is also up and coming. Until someone can kills iTunes, they are probably not going to "kill" the iPhone. That's why I have to laugh every time a supposed "iPhone killer" comes up with a phone tied to some minor "music store" or to the cell carriers ridiculously expensive "media store". Please stop (and I am looking at you Verizon) the madness - iTunes has won.
Everything else is just features - screen size, touch screen, wifi, bluetooth, the webkit based safari web browser (and don't underestimate the iPhone's advantage here even though other manufactures can and do use webkit. The web browsing experience on the iPhone is better that everything, and I mean everything, else right now). The iPhone killers keep focusing on features and fail to realize that to "kill" the iPhone, features are the least important thing to concentrate on. To paraphrase James Carville - its the OS stupid. Until somebody can come up with an OS that rivals OS X, there will not be an iPhone killer anytime soon.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
The iPhone Killer
It seems every day there is talk of "the iPhone killer" coming soon. Today's entry in the iPhone Killer sweepstakes is the Verizon Voyager. The Voyager, made by LG, sells for $299 and has a touch screen and a flip open keyboard and tries to copy the iPhone's UI. Here's a review (conclusion: not an iPhone Killer), and another (conclusion: best Verizon phone). There's also talk that the RIM 9000 series, coming next year (pic?), is out to kill the iPhone. And of course, there was the much rumored Google Phone that then failed to live up to the hype. The supposed iPhone killer list goes on: there's a linux contender, handset maker HTC's entry, samsung's entry, Nokia's got one too. But nobody seems to be asking the right questions - if the iPhone can be "killed" how can it be done?
It seems strange to me that there even needs to be an "iPhone Killer". I mean, my guesstimate based on Apple's latest iPhone sales numbers is that there have been about 2 to 2.5 million iPhones sold to date (based on Apple's released numbers and a guess factoring in approximate daily sales and the European release of the iPhone). That's a drop in the bucket compared to the total number of cell phones sold (38 million in the U.S. last quarter alone) since the iPhone was released. Even if you only compare the iPhone to other high end "smart" phones, the iPhone has 27% of the smart phone market but its not yet in a dominant position based on sales. So why would you need to have an iPhone killer? two words: mind share. The iPhone has simply come in and transformed the consumer mind share about what a smart phone should be.
Now, without disclosing details regarding my "day job", I get to spend a lot of time playing with many models of smart phones - including some of the "iPhone Killers" mentioned above, some that are not even available in the U.S., and a few that are not available anywhere yet. Some are very cool. But when you compare them to the iPhone in my pocket, they pretty much all suck. Most are like small bricks - they are heavy, boxy and clunky - nothing with the sleek lines and minimalist feel of the iPhone. Even if they have a nice design, they are generally running an operating system that just kills the user experience - Linux, Symbian, RIM or Microsoft (Microsoft is the worst of the bunch. It takes several "clicks" to get even the most basic things done. Don't even get me started about RIM - an OS only a network administrator could love).
That is the first, most basic, reason there will not be an iPhone Killer anytime soon. The other Mobile OS and UI designs are just not ready to compete. Apple's OS X base is several light years ahead of everything else and the IPhone "noun" UI is just perfect for the touch interface. Of course, the iPhone has its flaws too - it desperately needs voice dialing and/or a better way for hands free use on the phone side, the iPod "scrubber" needs a better UI, it needs "disc mode" like all the other iPods have - just to mention a few of my pet peeves. But here's the thing - all of those things can be fixed with a software update when Apple works them out or by 3rd party developers when they get the SDK in February 2008. If you have a crappy OS, then no amount of tinkering is going to be able to fix that.
That's the beauty of the OS X base - Apple has its own experience on the desktop side to draw from as well as all of its 3rd party developers. The iPhone is just an extension of the Mac ecosystem - a reservoir that Symbian or RIM can't tap into. Microsoft can't, to a large extent, make this claim either, given its specialized - and sometimes incompatible - flavor of windows for smart phones and PDAs. Linux, well, is Linux - theoretically I suppose its part of the "Linux ecosystem" - if one even exists - but Linux is just not a player yet as there are very few Linux smart phones right now. Despite my dismissal of Android, Google has the right idea to go after the mobile OS market instead of releasing an actual phone because that's the key advantage the iPhone has.
The other major advantage Apple has is that it is "Apple, the brand" and all that entails. If Motorola introduced a phone with the exact same feature set as the iPhone a year ago, they would not have gotten the same amount and quality of attention that Apple did. I don't see how the maker of any "iPhone Killer" can get around that anytime soon.
The final major advantage is the iPod. There's no doubt that Apple is a monopoly in the digital music business and is not going to be caught there anytime soon. Apple's video business is also up and coming. Until someone can kills iTunes, they are probably not going to "kill" the iPhone. That's why I have to laugh every time a supposed "iPhone killer" comes up with a phone tied to some minor "music store" or to the cell carriers ridiculously expensive "media store". Please stop (and I am looking at you Verizon) the madness - iTunes has won.
Everything else is just features - screen size, touch screen, wifi, bluetooth, the webkit based safari web browser (and don't underestimate the iPhone's advantage here even though other manufactures can and do use webkit. The web browsing experience on the iPhone is better that everything, and I mean everything, else right now). The iPhone killers keep focusing on features and fail to realize that to "kill" the iPhone, features are the least important thing to concentrate on. To paraphrase James Carville - its the OS stupid. Until somebody can come up with an OS that rivals OS X, there will not be an iPhone killer anytime soon.
It seems strange to me that there even needs to be an "iPhone Killer". I mean, my guesstimate based on Apple's latest iPhone sales numbers is that there have been about 2 to 2.5 million iPhones sold to date (based on Apple's released numbers and a guess factoring in approximate daily sales and the European release of the iPhone). That's a drop in the bucket compared to the total number of cell phones sold (38 million in the U.S. last quarter alone) since the iPhone was released. Even if you only compare the iPhone to other high end "smart" phones, the iPhone has 27% of the smart phone market but its not yet in a dominant position based on sales. So why would you need to have an iPhone killer? two words: mind share. The iPhone has simply come in and transformed the consumer mind share about what a smart phone should be.
Now, without disclosing details regarding my "day job", I get to spend a lot of time playing with many models of smart phones - including some of the "iPhone Killers" mentioned above, some that are not even available in the U.S., and a few that are not available anywhere yet. Some are very cool. But when you compare them to the iPhone in my pocket, they pretty much all suck. Most are like small bricks - they are heavy, boxy and clunky - nothing with the sleek lines and minimalist feel of the iPhone. Even if they have a nice design, they are generally running an operating system that just kills the user experience - Linux, Symbian, RIM or Microsoft (Microsoft is the worst of the bunch. It takes several "clicks" to get even the most basic things done. Don't even get me started about RIM - an OS only a network administrator could love).
That is the first, most basic, reason there will not be an iPhone Killer anytime soon. The other Mobile OS and UI designs are just not ready to compete. Apple's OS X base is several light years ahead of everything else and the IPhone "noun" UI is just perfect for the touch interface. Of course, the iPhone has its flaws too - it desperately needs voice dialing and/or a better way for hands free use on the phone side, the iPod "scrubber" needs a better UI, it needs "disc mode" like all the other iPods have - just to mention a few of my pet peeves. But here's the thing - all of those things can be fixed with a software update when Apple works them out or by 3rd party developers when they get the SDK in February 2008. If you have a crappy OS, then no amount of tinkering is going to be able to fix that.
That's the beauty of the OS X base - Apple has its own experience on the desktop side to draw from as well as all of its 3rd party developers. The iPhone is just an extension of the Mac ecosystem - a reservoir that Symbian or RIM can't tap into. Microsoft can't, to a large extent, make this claim either, given its specialized - and sometimes incompatible - flavor of windows for smart phones and PDAs. Linux, well, is Linux - theoretically I suppose its part of the "Linux ecosystem" - if one even exists - but Linux is just not a player yet as there are very few Linux smart phones right now. Despite my dismissal of Android, Google has the right idea to go after the mobile OS market instead of releasing an actual phone because that's the key advantage the iPhone has.
The other major advantage Apple has is that it is "Apple, the brand" and all that entails. If Motorola introduced a phone with the exact same feature set as the iPhone a year ago, they would not have gotten the same amount and quality of attention that Apple did. I don't see how the maker of any "iPhone Killer" can get around that anytime soon.
The final major advantage is the iPod. There's no doubt that Apple is a monopoly in the digital music business and is not going to be caught there anytime soon. Apple's video business is also up and coming. Until someone can kills iTunes, they are probably not going to "kill" the iPhone. That's why I have to laugh every time a supposed "iPhone killer" comes up with a phone tied to some minor "music store" or to the cell carriers ridiculously expensive "media store". Please stop (and I am looking at you Verizon) the madness - iTunes has won.
Everything else is just features - screen size, touch screen, wifi, bluetooth, the webkit based safari web browser (and don't underestimate the iPhone's advantage here even though other manufactures can and do use webkit. The web browsing experience on the iPhone is better that everything, and I mean everything, else right now). The iPhone killers keep focusing on features and fail to realize that to "kill" the iPhone, features are the least important thing to concentrate on. To paraphrase James Carville - its the OS stupid. Until somebody can come up with an OS that rivals OS X, there will not be an iPhone killer anytime soon.
Can Amazon Fire Up eBooks by Kindling?
Amazon debuted the kindle on Monday. Engadget has a good photo gallery of the device.
The kindle will let users read books ($9.99), Magazines ($1.99/month), Newspapers (varies from $5.99-$14.99/month), Blogs ($0.99-$1.99), your own files ($0.10 each), RSS feeds ($1 per feed). Not withstanding the potential monthly fee nightmare, The Kindle is a tempting little device. But how tempting can it be at $399? That's a lot of money for the device and then you have to buy the books, newspapers, blogs.
Plus, it looks like the Kindle got hit with the ugly stick. I get the fact that they wanted it to "feel" like a paperback in your hand but, ugh!, the white-beige color scheme is 1980's retro - but in a bad way.
Now, I read a ton of books in a year. And, in the past, I had eBooks on my Palm Pilot and enjoyed the fact that I could carry several books in my pocket that were available to me whenever I had a spare moment. But, when I ditched the Palm, I did not feel some great loss because I didn't have my eBooks anymore. Its not as if you can read and walk at the same time or read and drive like you can with music. And that's the problem I think the Kindle has got. There just isn't a longing to have books available on demand. Not to mention the fact that the paper book is pretty well perfected after about 600 years.
So, although I like the idea, I don't think Amazon has got "it" with the Kindle. The high cost of the device, the "nickel and dime" monthly costs, the fact that there just isn't a clamor for eBooks and the fact that the alternative is damn near perfect tells me that Kindle is a dud. I think the best that Amazon can hope for is to start changing the environment for eBooks by getting people to want them. If they can do that then maybe Kindle version 2 or version 3 will take off. Until then, I just don't see it.
The kindle will let users read books ($9.99), Magazines ($1.99/month), Newspapers (varies from $5.99-$14.99/month), Blogs ($0.99-$1.99), your own files ($0.10 each), RSS feeds ($1 per feed). Not withstanding the potential monthly fee nightmare, The Kindle is a tempting little device. But how tempting can it be at $399? That's a lot of money for the device and then you have to buy the books, newspapers, blogs.
Plus, it looks like the Kindle got hit with the ugly stick. I get the fact that they wanted it to "feel" like a paperback in your hand but, ugh!, the white-beige color scheme is 1980's retro - but in a bad way.
Now, I read a ton of books in a year. And, in the past, I had eBooks on my Palm Pilot and enjoyed the fact that I could carry several books in my pocket that were available to me whenever I had a spare moment. But, when I ditched the Palm, I did not feel some great loss because I didn't have my eBooks anymore. Its not as if you can read and walk at the same time or read and drive like you can with music. And that's the problem I think the Kindle has got. There just isn't a longing to have books available on demand. Not to mention the fact that the paper book is pretty well perfected after about 600 years.
So, although I like the idea, I don't think Amazon has got "it" with the Kindle. The high cost of the device, the "nickel and dime" monthly costs, the fact that there just isn't a clamor for eBooks and the fact that the alternative is damn near perfect tells me that Kindle is a dud. I think the best that Amazon can hope for is to start changing the environment for eBooks by getting people to want them. If they can do that then maybe Kindle version 2 or version 3 will take off. Until then, I just don't see it.
iPhone News Beat: November 21, 2007
Ok. So I'm a day late. Yesterday was a slow news day anyway.
Take off the tin foil, cool the jets, stop the hate, the iPhone doesn't send IMEI information.
German Court says iPhone has to be sold without a contract in Germany.
Is the German Court's ruling a good thing?
In the Duh department - Apple has a way to unlock the iPhone.
No real news here but an interesting read: iPhone/iPod accessory makers have to be quick to react.
Most unlocked iPhones end up in China.
Kindle needs to be the iPhone of Books, not the iPod of Books.
More iTunes Movie Rental evidence.
Finally, don't forget that Amazon's got some Black Friday Deals. Save yourself an early wake-up and shop from home this Friday.
German Court says iPhone has to be sold without a contract in Germany.
Is the German Court's ruling a good thing?
In the Duh department - Apple has a way to unlock the iPhone.
No real news here but an interesting read: iPhone/iPod accessory makers have to be quick to react.
Most unlocked iPhones end up in China.
Kindle needs to be the iPhone of Books, not the iPod of Books.
More iTunes Movie Rental evidence.
Finally, don't forget that Amazon's got some Black Friday Deals. Save yourself an early wake-up and shop from home this Friday.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
iPhone News Beat: Nov. 19, 2007
Its snowing in Princeton, New Jersey so, here's the wintery mix edition iPhone News:
Looks like I was right about Apple's no cash policy for iPhones. At least Michael Flynn agrees (with more research).
Kindle eBook Reader vs. iPhone.
Is the Kindle the last shot for eBooks?
Kindle vs. iPhone again.
Today must be the eBook/eReader day. Zinio has released free magazines on the iPhone -Macworld, GQ, Mens Health, Playboy (no pictorials), Popular Mechanics to name a few. Here's the iPhone Link.
Good review of Twitter iPhone Clients.
What to do if you loose your iPhone.
Is Apple tracking iPhone IMEI Numbers?
Alternative iTunes video viewing.
Don't forget that Amazon's got some Black Friday Deals. Save yourself an early wake-up and shop from home this Friday.
Looks like I was right about Apple's no cash policy for iPhones. At least Michael Flynn agrees (with more research).
Kindle eBook Reader vs. iPhone.
Is the Kindle the last shot for eBooks?
Kindle vs. iPhone again.
Today must be the eBook/eReader day. Zinio has released free magazines on the iPhone -Macworld, GQ, Mens Health, Playboy (no pictorials), Popular Mechanics to name a few. Here's the iPhone Link.
Good review of Twitter iPhone Clients.
What to do if you loose your iPhone.
Is Apple tracking iPhone IMEI Numbers?
Alternative iTunes video viewing.
Don't forget that Amazon's got some Black Friday Deals. Save yourself an early wake-up and shop from home this Friday.
Are First Run Films iTunes Next Act?
If you've been reading this blog with any regularity, you know that I am a major advocate of iTunes movie rentals. While we'll have to wait for movie rentals, there is an interesting experiment going on in the movie section of the iTunes Store. Apple has started to go after the short films market and, beginning tomorrow, will offer the first-run full-length feature film, Purple Violets, for download.
Purple Violets is a film by Ed Burns, who's first film, The Brothers McMullen, went from indie acclaim to commercial success (you may often catch it running on the various cable movie channels). Purple Violets has been called Burns' best film since The Brothers McMullen, so it is kind of surprising that Burns is willing to take an unorthodox route in releasing first on iTunes (exclusively for 1 month) instead of going through a major studio for distribution in theaters. According to Burns, the iTunes release experiment is worth the gamble:
we were talking with several distributors and had an offer from a company that I had worked at before and it was the same model--the platform release, New York, LA, let’s wait for the reviews [and] our per-screen averages that first weekend, and we’ll go to the next eight markets, the next 12 markets and we’ll roll out that way. That has been my career for 12 years, but I would say for the last seven years that hasn’t worked for my films...So myself and my two producers, Aaron Lubin and Pam Murphy, were brainstorming and the idea came up, ‘What about approaching iTunes?’ They had never premiered a film before… We thought this is where it seems to be going, so why not be on the cutting-edge of this technology-- and we can’t do any worse than the last three films of mine have done theatrically, so maybe we can do better.
The strange thing is, at least up until now, Apple does not seem to be hyping this up too much. There's no prominent mention of the film on the iTunes store yet (although that may change tomorrow), just a buried entry for it in the "coming soon" section of the movie store. What makes Apple's lack of hype even more puzzling is the fact that Hollywood seems to be looking at how successful Apple, the de facto only game in town, can make Purple Violets:
"They're obviously the leader, by a long way," says Jamie Chvotkin, president at CD Baby and Film Baby, two services that help musicians and filmmakers offer their work in digital form. "Their share in movies is probably similar to what it is in music, somewhere in the 80% range."
...
"Purple Violets," which stars director Ed Burns, Debra Messing, and Selma Blair and was made on a $4 million budget, will be a crucial test for iTunes, the first movie it'll have before it is available anywhere else.
Properly marketed, "Purple Violets" or another indie exclusive could turn into the kind of breakout hit that could nudge digital downloading into the mainstream -- something that hasn't happened yet.
It is no secret that the movie studios have been reluctant to deal with Apple on movie downloads:
Privately, studio execs have expressed hope that iTunes won't turn into the single dominant retailer of digital movies -- with all the accompanying negotiating leverage -- that it has become for music. They don't want to be in business with a partner that dictates terms to them, rather than the other way around..."It's not that those studios don't want more distribution, it's that they're not willing to sell movies at a price lower (than the DVD wholesale price) to Apple," says CinemaNow's Marvis. "Someone is going to have to blink."
Given the fact that the major studios have, until now, been reluctant to deal with Apple on downloads (rentals may be another story), you would thing Apple would be going all out on this release. So far, besides the promotion Burns is doing himself, Apple has not made a big splash - even though Purple Violets could jump start the stalemate between Apple and the studios:
"Properly marketed, 'Purple Violets' or another indie exclusive could turn into the kind of breakout hit that could nudge digital downloading into the mainstream -- something that hasn't happened yet."
So, keep an eye on iTunes over the next couple of weeks to see how successful Purple Violets is. You can order the film (I believe for $12.99 today and then I think for $14.99 tomorrow) on iTunes. Here's the link (which will open in iTunes):
Sunday, November 18, 2007
iPhone News Beat: Weekend Edition - November 18, 2007
Slow news weekend, but here's the round up:
Seems HiJacking your iPhone has consequences.
Why Google's Android is wrong.
What Android means for Apple.
The iPhone Java fantasy continues...
I'll second this wish for iPhone WiFi podcast downloads.
Of course, the big news this weekend was the impending Monday morning launch of the Amazon Kindle eBook reader. Newsweek has the cover story (oddly without pictures but Engadget has some).
Finally, we are 4 days until black friday. If your in the market for Apple products, set you alarm clocks early friday and get down to the nearest Apple Store as they have historically had some good deals. For everything else, and to save yourself a trip out after eating all that turkey, check out Amazon's Black Friday Deals Page.
Friday, November 16, 2007
2008: iTunes Movie Rentals?
I've been saying for some time that Apple needs to offer iTunes Movie Rentals. I am not the only one.
Recently, a college student noticed that with the release of iTunes 7.5, there are clues burried in the code that movie rentals may be coming soon.
Related to this is the ongoing struggle with TV content and digital distribution. Yet, despite the fears of the TV networks, viewing TV content online or via iPods and iPhones through iTunes, is not the cause of the decrease in TV viewership.
There has been some hope that Movie Rentals would come before the holidays.
While I would love to see movie rentals before the holidays, I don't
think will happen until January 2008 at the Macworld conference. With the holiday shopping season due to kick off next week and the iPhone launch in France on November 29th, Apple will probably be quite content to sit on Movie Rentals until MacWorld.
Of course, I could be wrong. In just the past two weeks we've had a MacBook update without a press release and a significant upgrade to Final Cut Express with a simple press release. Anyone who has been following Apple for some time knows that back in 2001 to early 2003 both of these would have been fuel for at least an "Apple Special Event". But, ever since the "MacWorld NY controversy", Apple has announced products on its own time table and in a tiered manner - "low key" announcements (press release - generally speed bumps to existing products), "medium key" announcements (special events - usually at the Apple Town Hall or at industry functions), and "high visibility" (macworld, wwdc, any special event held at Moscone).
So, why does this matter? Well because Movie Rentals would have to fall into at least the "medium" category. That would require at least an Apple Special Event which means that invitations would need to go out to the press. In the past, Apple has given at least 2 weeks notice as to when these events would occur (sometimes more, and I believe, on one occasion, 1 week notice - but I could be wrong on that one). But, I would argue that a Movie Rental announcement would be "high visibility". With the holidays approaching any Apple Event would need to happen the first week in December (since, due to the Thanksgiving holiday, next week is out and Apple would not want to steal the thunder of the iPhone France launch on the 29th).
But, the next "high visibility" event is already on the calendar and only 8 weeks away - MWSF on January 15th. So what's on tap for MWSF? Well, the scuttlebutt says some sort of portable tablet. And that's about it right now. We know there'll be no OS X announcement since Leopard was just released. Ditto for iLife and iWork. The iPod line was just completely refreshed so that's probably a zero (with an outside chance of a storage bump/price cut).
So what does that leave in Apple's product line to announce? New displays? Maybe, but that's been anticipated for a while (and still hasn't happened). New iMacs? They were refreshed recently too. MacPros? Ok, well they are due for a refresh but, they are not really "consumer" machines and Apple likes to target Macworld with consumer products. So, other than the ultra-portable and laptop line, the only thing that is due for a needed redesign is Apple TV. How much sense would it make to announce Movie Rentals along with a new Apple TV with say, an integrated DVD player and maybe DVR capabilities? (Yes, I know there's the iPhone, but I've gone on record already as saying iPhone 2 is not happening the first half of 2008). A lot of sense I think.
So, despite the speculation, I don't think we will see iTunes Movie Rentals until MWSF. I expect that the iTunes portion of the keynote will include both Movie Rentals and the Beatles. Until then, keep that Netflix subscription going.
Recently, a college student noticed that with the release of iTunes 7.5, there are clues burried in the code that movie rentals may be coming soon.
Related to this is the ongoing struggle with TV content and digital distribution. Yet, despite the fears of the TV networks, viewing TV content online or via iPods and iPhones through iTunes, is not the cause of the decrease in TV viewership.
There has been some hope that Movie Rentals would come before the holidays.
While I would love to see movie rentals before the holidays, I don't
think will happen until January 2008 at the Macworld conference. With the holiday shopping season due to kick off next week and the iPhone launch in France on November 29th, Apple will probably be quite content to sit on Movie Rentals until MacWorld.
Of course, I could be wrong. In just the past two weeks we've had a MacBook update without a press release and a significant upgrade to Final Cut Express with a simple press release. Anyone who has been following Apple for some time knows that back in 2001 to early 2003 both of these would have been fuel for at least an "Apple Special Event". But, ever since the "MacWorld NY controversy", Apple has announced products on its own time table and in a tiered manner - "low key" announcements (press release - generally speed bumps to existing products), "medium key" announcements (special events - usually at the Apple Town Hall or at industry functions), and "high visibility" (macworld, wwdc, any special event held at Moscone).
So, why does this matter? Well because Movie Rentals would have to fall into at least the "medium" category. That would require at least an Apple Special Event which means that invitations would need to go out to the press. In the past, Apple has given at least 2 weeks notice as to when these events would occur (sometimes more, and I believe, on one occasion, 1 week notice - but I could be wrong on that one). But, I would argue that a Movie Rental announcement would be "high visibility". With the holidays approaching any Apple Event would need to happen the first week in December (since, due to the Thanksgiving holiday, next week is out and Apple would not want to steal the thunder of the iPhone France launch on the 29th).
But, the next "high visibility" event is already on the calendar and only 8 weeks away - MWSF on January 15th. So what's on tap for MWSF? Well, the scuttlebutt says some sort of portable tablet. And that's about it right now. We know there'll be no OS X announcement since Leopard was just released. Ditto for iLife and iWork. The iPod line was just completely refreshed so that's probably a zero (with an outside chance of a storage bump/price cut).
So what does that leave in Apple's product line to announce? New displays? Maybe, but that's been anticipated for a while (and still hasn't happened). New iMacs? They were refreshed recently too. MacPros? Ok, well they are due for a refresh but, they are not really "consumer" machines and Apple likes to target Macworld with consumer products. So, other than the ultra-portable and laptop line, the only thing that is due for a needed redesign is Apple TV. How much sense would it make to announce Movie Rentals along with a new Apple TV with say, an integrated DVD player and maybe DVR capabilities? (Yes, I know there's the iPhone, but I've gone on record already as saying iPhone 2 is not happening the first half of 2008). A lot of sense I think.
So, despite the speculation, I don't think we will see iTunes Movie Rentals until MWSF. I expect that the iTunes portion of the keynote will include both Movie Rentals and the Beatles. Until then, keep that Netflix subscription going.
iPhone News Beat: Nov. 16, 2007
With 1 week until Black Friday and 9 weeks until MWSF, here's the iPhone news for November 16, 2007:
Canada's finally getting some lower mobile data fees, thanks to iPhone.
Fortune gets in on the iPhone bashing for website hits game. Nothing to see here. Move along.
An Amazon eReader? (and it looks like it got hit with the ugly stick).
Plans to hack Java onto the iPhone.
Maya: Temple of Secrets launched for iPhone (here's the iPhone link).
Id Software and Steve Jobs battle over iPhone games.
Is Apple worried about hackers rather than new features?
A proposed alternative to the iPhone scrubber.
Best Buy to sell iPhones on Black Friday?
Canada's finally getting some lower mobile data fees, thanks to iPhone.
Fortune gets in on the iPhone bashing for website hits game. Nothing to see here. Move along.
An Amazon eReader? (and it looks like it got hit with the ugly stick).
Plans to hack Java onto the iPhone.
Maya: Temple of Secrets launched for iPhone (here's the iPhone link).
Id Software and Steve Jobs battle over iPhone games.
Is Apple worried about hackers rather than new features?
A proposed alternative to the iPhone scrubber.
Best Buy to sell iPhones on Black Friday?
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
iPhone News Beat: Nov. 15, 2007
iPhone news roundup for November 15, 2007:
Security Expert says 80-90% of iPhone malware in the future.
iPod Touch is an iPhone killer.
iPhone better in Europe.
iPhone and rain may not mix.
iPhone and iPod Touch Enhance Video Podcasts
If you are looking for new and interesting content for your iPhone or iPod Touch, then let me recommend that you check out the Podcast section of the iTunes Store.
I had dabbled in audio podcasts in the past with my iPod. Unfortunately, I found that I had neither the time nor the inclination to keep up with many of the podcasts I was interested in. As a result, I had not checked out the podcast section of the iTunes store in some time. Since then, how things have changed. While I was aware at how popular podcasting had become, I was not aware of the extent of content available. IThere are a plethera of not only audio but video podcasts - some of the quite good.
With there large screens and video resolutions, the iPhone and iPod Touch just scream out for video content. But, you can only buy so many TV episodes and movies from the iTunes store. Apple's YouTube application tries to help fill that void, but I find YouTube so full of junk that its near worthless (not to mention the fact that much of the video available on YouTube looks horrible). Enter the Video PodCast. There are some real gems available with excellent production and content. The best part - most are free.
In the past week, I've looked at cooking podcasts (something that really shines in a video as you can watch the recipe being made), the Philadelphia Eagles week in review (26 minutes of video reviewing the Eagles week and there are similar podcasts for each NFL team), National Geographic Video Shorts (sharks, nature, history), The Discovery Channel Video PodCast (additional content from the Discovery Channel Shows) and many others ( network news shows, comedy podcasts network TV shows, newspapers, tech magazines and websites - just a large variety of content is available).
To give you an idea of what's available, check out these links:
VideoPodCast.tv Directory
PodCast Alley - Video PodCast Section
PodCasting News - Video PodCasts
Podfeed - Video PodCast Reviews
and, of course, the PodCast section of the iTunes store. It is well worth the visit.
The BBC I think shows the potential future of podcasting. Up until now, you had to download a podcast to your computer and sync it up with your iPod. With the iPhone and iPod Touch, that's not a requirement any longer. The BBC Podcast directory allows you to use Safari to select a BBC podcast and stream it right from WiFi or the Edge network. While the BBC podcasts are audio only, I expect we will see many video podcasts go this route (as could TV shows and even movies - given enough bandwidth).
I had dabbled in audio podcasts in the past with my iPod. Unfortunately, I found that I had neither the time nor the inclination to keep up with many of the podcasts I was interested in. As a result, I had not checked out the podcast section of the iTunes store in some time. Since then, how things have changed. While I was aware at how popular podcasting had become, I was not aware of the extent of content available. IThere are a plethera of not only audio but video podcasts - some of the quite good.
With there large screens and video resolutions, the iPhone and iPod Touch just scream out for video content. But, you can only buy so many TV episodes and movies from the iTunes store. Apple's YouTube application tries to help fill that void, but I find YouTube so full of junk that its near worthless (not to mention the fact that much of the video available on YouTube looks horrible). Enter the Video PodCast. There are some real gems available with excellent production and content. The best part - most are free.
In the past week, I've looked at cooking podcasts (something that really shines in a video as you can watch the recipe being made), the Philadelphia Eagles week in review (26 minutes of video reviewing the Eagles week and there are similar podcasts for each NFL team), National Geographic Video Shorts (sharks, nature, history), The Discovery Channel Video PodCast (additional content from the Discovery Channel Shows) and many others ( network news shows, comedy podcasts network TV shows, newspapers, tech magazines and websites - just a large variety of content is available).
To give you an idea of what's available, check out these links:
VideoPodCast.tv Directory
PodCast Alley - Video PodCast Section
PodCasting News - Video PodCasts
Podfeed - Video PodCast Reviews
and, of course, the PodCast section of the iTunes store. It is well worth the visit.
The BBC I think shows the potential future of podcasting. Up until now, you had to download a podcast to your computer and sync it up with your iPod. With the iPhone and iPod Touch, that's not a requirement any longer. The BBC Podcast directory allows you to use Safari to select a BBC podcast and stream it right from WiFi or the Edge network. While the BBC podcasts are audio only, I expect we will see many video podcasts go this route (as could TV shows and even movies - given enough bandwidth).
iPhone News Beat: Nov. 14, 2007
Here's today's iPhone News Beat for November 14, 2007:
iPhone is Wrong
Access your Mac from your iPhone with iGet Mobile.
Re-thinking Android.
How to write an iPhone Application.
iPhone as Gameboy (warning needs Jailbreak).
Usability Study says iPhone Keyboard error prone.
RIM CEO: iPhone not up to par.
iPhone is Wrong
Access your Mac from your iPhone with iGet Mobile.
Re-thinking Android.
How to write an iPhone Application.
iPhone as Gameboy (warning needs Jailbreak).
Usability Study says iPhone Keyboard error prone.
RIM CEO: iPhone not up to par.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
iPhone vs. Android: The New Platform Wars?
Paul Murphy over at ZDnet has an interesting take on the Mac OS X Leopard reviews making the rounds on the web. Murphy (rightly I think) points out some inconsistencies of the reviewers in failing to note certain aspects of Leopard but, more importantly, he says:
So, what we have is Apple's more or less "closed" platform vs. Android's open one. Not to mention the fact that Microsoft and Symbian will want to join this battle.
This is not unlike the Mac vs. Windows war of the late 1980's and early 1990's. Who "wins" this war will depend on what Apple learned from its battles with Microsoft and, in no small part, to what degree the Android platform finds users.
But if you ignore the partisan reviewers and ask what the real bottom line on “Leopard” is, the answer turns out to be the iPhone - because the current Mactels are this generation’s Apple IIIs.
What’s going on is that 10.5 is a mixed bag reflecting both short and long term agendas. In the short term it cleans up some x86 issues and offers some new user features raising the bar for Microsoft’s next effort -particularly with respect to time machine because this will be hard for Microsoft to duplicate while Apple’s adoption of ZFS means that all of the compexity here will disappear in the next release.
In the long term, however, what 10.5 is about is positioning Apple’s application developers to jump to the integrated server/playphone world of the future - that’s why there’s so much Solaris and Java development stuff there.
I think he's got it right. The important thing about Leopard is that it is the iPhone OS. I believe that Apple has determined that the future of computing (or at least where there is money to be made) is in these smaller devices - iPods, iPhones and smaller laptop/tablet form factors. The Mac OS X technology stack - Cocoa libraries (especially the "Core" libraries), H.264, Webkit - and the "noun" interface (which includes the Gesture input methods) is Apple's future. To this stack, Apple has bolted on some complementary technology (for e.g. ZFS).
Add it all up and you have a very good OS stack for small devices like iPhones, iPods (and it is clear that the iPods future is the iPod touch and not the iPod classic), "Tablets" and event set top boxes. The missing piece of this puzzle is the iPhone SDK.
Which brings us to Android, Google's new phone OS. There has been some speculation that Apple will use Android as its SDK. After all, Android uses the webkit rendering engine, which is the basis of Apple's Safari. And, there does seem to be an "Apple" like influence to Android's UI. But, I don't see it happening.
First off, Android uses Java, which Apple has shown some distain for. Apple is seems to be firmly committed to Objective C. But more importantly, the Android platform is meant to run on handsets from any manufactuer. Anyone who knows anything about Apple and Steve Jobs knows that controlling the whole widget is important:
“We define everything that is on the phone,” he said. “You don’t want your phone to be like a PC. The last thing you want is to have loaded three apps on your phone and then you go to make a call and it doesn’t work anymore. These are more like iPods than they are like computers.”
The iPhone, he insisted, would not look like the rest of the wireless industry.
“These are devices that need to work, and you can’t do that if you load any software on them,” he said. “That doesn’t mean there’s not going to be software to buy that you can load on them coming from us. It doesn’t mean we have to write it all, but it means it has to be more of a controlled environment.”
So, what we have is Apple's more or less "closed" platform vs. Android's open one. Not to mention the fact that Microsoft and Symbian will want to join this battle.
This is not unlike the Mac vs. Windows war of the late 1980's and early 1990's. Who "wins" this war will depend on what Apple learned from its battles with Microsoft and, in no small part, to what degree the Android platform finds users.
iPhone News Beat
Today's iPhone News:
UK iPhone Launch: sales in "tens of thousands."
O2 having problems meeting iPhone iPhone activation requests.
Way found to make custom ringtones using iTunes 7.5 and iPhone 1.1.2 software.
iPhone going to China?
Two-thirds of UK iPhone buyers switching to O2 from rivals.
iPhone to get spotlight search function next year.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Google's Android: Java and a lot of Money
As promiosed, Google released the Android SDK today. The big news - Android is Java based. The really, really big news - Google is offering up a ton of money ($10 Million) to developers to program applications for Android.
First, a run down (and don't take this as definitive, I'm still slogging through the documentation)
The bigger news is that Google is willing to put its money where its mouth is. It's going to give 50 application $25,000 in its design contest. Twenty of those will then get $275,000 or $100,000 to bring the application to market.
As I noted before, this is not an iPhone killer. But, it is clearly something that may work. The fact that Google is willing to subsidize application development for this platform is a good sign. But, until we actually see a phone that this works on, the success of this effort is still in doubt.
First, a run down (and don't take this as definitive, I'm still slogging through the documentation)
- Android will run on windows, linux and mac
- Develop in Java on Eclipse
- There's an emulator to test applications right now
- The UI elements are available, but may not be the final version
The bigger news is that Google is willing to put its money where its mouth is. It's going to give 50 application $25,000 in its design contest. Twenty of those will then get $275,000 or $100,000 to bring the application to market.
As I noted before, this is not an iPhone killer. But, it is clearly something that may work. The fact that Google is willing to subsidize application development for this platform is a good sign. But, until we actually see a phone that this works on, the success of this effort is still in doubt.
iPhone Due for more features
Apple has some more features for the iPhone on tap. According to the website Pocket-lint, a spokesman for Apple stated that:
Now, given Apple's tight lipped policy regarding announcements of new products or features, I can of find it hard to believe that an anonymous Apple spokesman actually said this. But, the premise of the article is correct, the iPhone, because it is based on OS X, Apple can easily add features and, Apple has made it known that it intends to add more functionality to the iPhone over time.
That being said, I think you have to lend some credence to this report, simply because adding features to the iPhone is an easy way to keep the iPhone relevant and gain more profits for Apple.
All the complaints and feature requests we've had can be fixed and added by software upgradesFeatures referenced in the article include recording video and streaming data and music via Bluetooth 2.0.
Now, given Apple's tight lipped policy regarding announcements of new products or features, I can of find it hard to believe that an anonymous Apple spokesman actually said this. But, the premise of the article is correct, the iPhone, because it is based on OS X, Apple can easily add features and, Apple has made it known that it intends to add more functionality to the iPhone over time.
That being said, I think you have to lend some credence to this report, simply because adding features to the iPhone is an easy way to keep the iPhone relevant and gain more profits for Apple.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
iPhone Java: Not Gonna Happen
There's been some speculation that the Open-Sourcing of Java might eventually lead to Java coming to the iPhone. I'll be blunt: I don't see it happening. Despite the hopes and wishes of the Java community, Java on the iPhone is a pipe dream.
iPhone News Beat
Welcome to another Monday! Only 9 Days until Thanksgiving. Here's today's iPhone News, trying to make it until the four day weekend edition:
Although I don't recommend it, Jailbreak 1.1.2 has been released. Have fun hacking your iPhone.
The first iPhone HiFi dock?
A Doctor who makes house calls, thanks to his iPhone.
Is the iPhone (and its competitors) the grim reaper for PDAs?
O2 says hundreds of thousands of iPhones sold.
iPhone O2's fastest selling device ever.
iPhone disrupted cell phone market.
O2 says hundreds of thousands of iPhones sold.
iPhone O2's fastest selling device ever.
iPhone disrupted cell phone market.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
iPhone Beat: Weekend Edition
Now that the iPhone UK and German launches are complete, here's a look at the weekend's iPhone news. Oddly enough, the iPhone Software update is available, but not through iTunes yet. Very curious.....
So the iPhone has brought some iPhone Joy.
Yet another call to Set the iPhone free.
iPhones sell at 4.2 per second in Scotland.
iPhones European Launch "Failure".
iPhone still scaring CIOs.
O2: UK iPhone Sales exceeding expectations.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Essential iPhone Apps
Welcome new iPhoners!
After you are done playing with the iPhone's installed applications, you may be want to expand your horizons with new iPhone Applications. You may be tempted to Jailbreak the iPhone to install applications. Just hold that thought for a moment. You may have heard that Apple really really does not like you to do this. But there is a way to expand your iPhone horizons - iPhone Web Apps.
Now, Apple's contention that iPhone Web Apps is a great way to expand the iPhone's functionality has gotten some Bad Press. But, there are some very cool Web Apps out there. So let's take a look at a few you may want to try out (all of the links below will go right to the iPhone enabled web app).
First up is, of course, Bejeweled, the classic and addictive game. Just use your finger to point the way and you'll be zapping gems without end.
Want to see a movie? Check out its reviews at the Tomato Meter. Then, find movie times and buy tickets at Fandango.
Want a good meal and to avoid food poisoning? Check out Zagat for a restaurant then Find It (and for our UK friends there's Yell.com.)
Be Productive - access your Docs and Spreadsheets at Google Docs.
Translate and Speak other languages at Ultralingua.
Keep up-to-date on the news and your web feeds at Google Reader and digg.
Socialize at Facebook and Blog about your life at TypePad.
Be a Bookworm: Harper Collins has a nifty little web app to let you browse inside some of their titles and links to buy at them at Amazon.com.
Check out more web apps at Apple's Web App Page and iLounge.com's iPhone Software Page.
So, there's lots to do and explore before you hijack that iPhone and perhaps void your warranty. And don't fret, the iPhone SDK is coming soon so you'll get to have those "real" iPhone Apps shortly.
After you are done playing with the iPhone's installed applications, you may be want to expand your horizons with new iPhone Applications. You may be tempted to Jailbreak the iPhone to install applications. Just hold that thought for a moment. You may have heard that Apple really really does not like you to do this. But there is a way to expand your iPhone horizons - iPhone Web Apps.
Now, Apple's contention that iPhone Web Apps is a great way to expand the iPhone's functionality has gotten some Bad Press. But, there are some very cool Web Apps out there. So let's take a look at a few you may want to try out (all of the links below will go right to the iPhone enabled web app).
First up is, of course, Bejeweled, the classic and addictive game. Just use your finger to point the way and you'll be zapping gems without end.
Want to see a movie? Check out its reviews at the Tomato Meter. Then, find movie times and buy tickets at Fandango.
Want a good meal and to avoid food poisoning? Check out Zagat for a restaurant then Find It (and for our UK friends there's Yell.com.)
Be Productive - access your Docs and Spreadsheets at Google Docs.
Translate and Speak other languages at Ultralingua.
Keep up-to-date on the news and your web feeds at Google Reader and digg.
Socialize at Facebook and Blog about your life at TypePad.
Be a Bookworm: Harper Collins has a nifty little web app to let you browse inside some of their titles and links to buy at them at Amazon.com.
Check out more web apps at Apple's Web App Page and iLounge.com's iPhone Software Page.
So, there's lots to do and explore before you hijack that iPhone and perhaps void your warranty. And don't fret, the iPhone SDK is coming soon so you'll get to have those "real" iPhone Apps shortly.
iPhone News Beat
With a little over two hours to go until the UK iPhone launch, here's a look at today's iPhone News...
As noted early this morning, iPhone and iPod Touch Software update has been posted by Apple.
The Burst.com lawsuit against Apple has been narrowed a bit. Apple didn't get the complete dismissal it wanted but 14 of Burst's claims has been dismissed. If you have not been following this story, Burst contends that Apple is violating its patents for compressing, storing and sharing media over a network.
Google has updated its Goggle Reader for iPhone.
A look at the current iPhone killers (or clones depending on what your perspective is).
The Register has Six Months of iPhone on one handy page.
Analysts remember Apple's iPhone Accounting of course, they could have just listened the first time this was announced.
Still Loving the iPhone.
British Invasion.
Preview Harper Collins Books on the iPhone. Here's the link to point your iPhone to: harpercollins mobile.
Times Online: iPhone: Expensive but Exceptional.
As noted early this morning, iPhone and iPod Touch Software update has been posted by Apple.
The Burst.com lawsuit against Apple has been narrowed a bit. Apple didn't get the complete dismissal it wanted but 14 of Burst's claims has been dismissed. If you have not been following this story, Burst contends that Apple is violating its patents for compressing, storing and sharing media over a network.
Google has updated its Goggle Reader for iPhone.
A look at the current iPhone killers (or clones depending on what your perspective is).
The Register has Six Months of iPhone on one handy page.
Analysts remember Apple's iPhone Accounting of course, they could have just listened the first time this was announced.
Still Loving the iPhone.
British Invasion.
Preview Harper Collins Books on the iPhone. Here's the link to point your iPhone to: harpercollins mobile.
Times Online: iPhone: Expensive but Exceptional.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
iPhone/iPod Update Out (kind of)
Late Night quick post:
Looks like Apple has posted the iPhone/iPod Touch Software update 1.1.2 to its download url. iTunes doesn't seem to know about it yet though. While its probably best to wait until iTunes prompts you, Engadget has the details and direct download link here:
No big surprises - iPhone hacks are broke again (and apparently quickly on the way to being hijacked again). Well actually one surprise, apparently the iPod Touch calendar application will let you enter calender items on the Touch. Yippie. Nice to see Apple respond to all of those complaints (why they thought that people would not want the Touch to enter calendar entries is beyond me).
Meanwhile, folks in the UK are waiting through the night for their iPhones. And it looks like a fun Midnight Madness release in Germany.
The iPhone News Beat
A new feature of the Blog, daily iPhone news....
CEO of ARM says iPhone's ARM11 processor elderly technology.
Starting to Line Up in the UK for the iPhone.
iPhone software update tomorrow.
RIM CEO says iPhone keyboard difficult to use an iPhone not a threat to Blackberry.
UK Police to iPhone customers: hide you iPhone or get mugged.
Apple vs. the iHackers.
MacWorld UK; should you buy an iPhone or iPod Touch?
iPhone Review: Beautiful.
Blackberry is a Ford, iPhone is a Ferrari
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Eisner says Blame Apple. He's Wrong.
Leave it to Michael Eisner to prove exactly what's wrong with the studio mindset regarding video digital distribution:
First of all, the studios haven't seriously taken a shot yet at digital distribution. Apple's only got around 1000 videos for sale on the iTunes store. Moreover, I am convinced that video sales of films are just not what people want - rentals are where the volume (and money) is (and I am not the only one who thinks this).
More importantly, the movie and TV studios are just irrationally wedded to an advertising model. They think that ads will make them money, the same way it makes them money on TV. But it will not work in the digital world. They have to offer their products digitally in a manner that is convenient, simple to use and, can be accessed anywhere. For many reasons, an ad based model doesn't fit that bill (not to mention the fact that it is very easy to eliminate ads in digital distribution - and that absolutely drives the studios nuts). And they have to offer the content at a price that is reasonable ($9.99 for a movie download - without the DVD extras - and $1.99 a TV episode is pushing the upper limits here. And yet, they want higher prices!). And of course, they continue to insist on restrictive DRM.
Not only is Eisner an idiot for his Apple comment, he's just plain wrong on the writer's strike:
So, after all this BS, where does Eisner think the of video distribution future is? Yup, you got it - the internet. Thats where is putting his own money. What a clown.
The studios "make deals with Steve Jobs, who takes them to the cleaners.Ugh. As I have noted before the mindset that Apple is to blame for the supposed lack of profits on video digital distribution is simply hog wash.
They make all these kinds of things, and who's making money? Apple!
They should get a piece of Apple. If I was a union, I'd be striking up
wherever he is."
First of all, the studios haven't seriously taken a shot yet at digital distribution. Apple's only got around 1000 videos for sale on the iTunes store. Moreover, I am convinced that video sales of films are just not what people want - rentals are where the volume (and money) is (and I am not the only one who thinks this).
More importantly, the movie and TV studios are just irrationally wedded to an advertising model. They think that ads will make them money, the same way it makes them money on TV. But it will not work in the digital world. They have to offer their products digitally in a manner that is convenient, simple to use and, can be accessed anywhere. For many reasons, an ad based model doesn't fit that bill (not to mention the fact that it is very easy to eliminate ads in digital distribution - and that absolutely drives the studios nuts). And they have to offer the content at a price that is reasonable ($9.99 for a movie download - without the DVD extras - and $1.99 a TV episode is pushing the upper limits here. And yet, they want higher prices!). And of course, they continue to insist on restrictive DRM.
Not only is Eisner an idiot for his Apple comment, he's just plain wrong on the writer's strike:
Now, I admit I don't know all the details about the writer's strike, but I do know that the whole reason there is a strike is because the writer's forgot to deal for DVD's the last time. Seems reasonable to me that the writers don't want to let several years of digital revenue pass without them having a deal to getting a share of it.
For a writer to give up today's money for a nonexistent piece of
the future -- they should do it in three years, shouldn't be doing
it now -- they are misguided they should not have gone on the
strike. I've seen stupid strikes, I've seen less stupid strikes,
and this strike is just a stupid strike.
So, after all this BS, where does Eisner think the of video distribution future is? Yup, you got it - the internet. Thats where is putting his own money. What a clown.
Waiting for iPhone...
It's two days until the UK and German iPhone launch which means that its time for some more iPhone Reviews. The Guardian publishes the Part III of its iPhone review (Part I, Part II, Part III). The BBC takes a different approach discussing how competitors have responded to the iPhone with the now typical comments from phone makers that they are not too worried about the iPhone (and I have this land in Florida I'd like to sell you...).
Elsewhere, we've got a plea for Apple to enable the ability to turn off the phone but keep the WiFi on. And a ponder about how long AT&T will continue to prominently promote the iPhone. On a related note it appears there's a touch screen shortage.
Finally, there's this column about how Apple should allow 3rd party application support and not kill them off with the anticipated iPhone software update.
Now, I am of two minds on this. I don't think Apple should worry about killing off iPhone hacks. I know first hand how difficult it is sometimes to support a product. If you tacitly allow folks to use you product in a way it was not intended to be used or, in a way you specifically told them you would not support its use, then, to be honest, they get what they deserve. No complaining.
On the other hand, not allowing development on the iPhone on day 1 was a big mistake on Apple's part. The iPhone was released with fan fair and hype as the next big thing and positioned as a big part of the future of Apple. By not including its developers in this it not sent the wrong message, but the "use webkit and build web apps" was a BS attempt by Apple to make it look like Apple was responding to developer concerns.
Of course, Apple says it will rectify things in February with the release of the iPhone SDK, but it has got to be a tough decision on Apple's part - do they kill all hacks or do they allow iPhone/iPod Touch 3rd party application hacks but just kill SIM card unlock hacks?
Right now, I guess the answer is kill all hacks. I suspect that Apple will have to worry about this for one more software update cycle. After that, Apple will kill all SIM card hacks and the SDK will take care of everything else. Now, what exactly the SDK will allow and how it will allow it is another story...
Elsewhere, we've got a plea for Apple to enable the ability to turn off the phone but keep the WiFi on. And a ponder about how long AT&T will continue to prominently promote the iPhone. On a related note it appears there's a touch screen shortage.
Finally, there's this column about how Apple should allow 3rd party application support and not kill them off with the anticipated iPhone software update.
Now, I am of two minds on this. I don't think Apple should worry about killing off iPhone hacks. I know first hand how difficult it is sometimes to support a product. If you tacitly allow folks to use you product in a way it was not intended to be used or, in a way you specifically told them you would not support its use, then, to be honest, they get what they deserve. No complaining.
On the other hand, not allowing development on the iPhone on day 1 was a big mistake on Apple's part. The iPhone was released with fan fair and hype as the next big thing and positioned as a big part of the future of Apple. By not including its developers in this it not sent the wrong message, but the "use webkit and build web apps" was a BS attempt by Apple to make it look like Apple was responding to developer concerns.
Of course, Apple says it will rectify things in February with the release of the iPhone SDK, but it has got to be a tough decision on Apple's part - do they kill all hacks or do they allow iPhone/iPod Touch 3rd party application hacks but just kill SIM card unlock hacks?
Right now, I guess the answer is kill all hacks. I suspect that Apple will have to worry about this for one more software update cycle. After that, Apple will kill all SIM card hacks and the SDK will take care of everything else. Now, what exactly the SDK will allow and how it will allow it is another story...
Odds & Ends: Today's Interesting Reads
Around the Mac Web for November 7, 2007, superior technology edition:
Computer World: Leopard Beats Vista
Macs Cheaper than PC's
OS X 10.5.1 Nearing Release
Apple Better than Microsoft to Make Tablet
Computer World: Leopard Beats Vista
Macs Cheaper than PC's
OS X 10.5.1 Nearing Release
Apple Better than Microsoft to Make Tablet
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Odds & Ends: Today's Interesting Reads
Around the Mac Web for November 6, 2007, comments activated edition:
iPhone's Success = Copy Cats
Fake Steve on Refrigerators and the Google Vapor Phone
Hell Still a Bit Chilly
Incredible Shrinking Microsoft
iPhone Version 2 and Apple Tablet
CNet UK is reporting that the much rumored Apple Tablet is a real product and Apple is working with Asus to manufacture it. Not too surprising as many people have been predicting/hoping that Apple would develop such a product. However, if the Apple Tablet (iTablet) is real, how does that affect the iPhone?
There has been an assumption that Apple will release an updated version of iPhone next year. Many assume that the iPhone 2 will include a significant bump in the iPhone's hardware specs with the addition of 3G network support, perhaps a video camera and/or internal GPS Unit. However, if you look at the history of Apple's product upgrades since Steve Jobs returned to the company and factor in the short history of the iPhone itself, expecting this kind of iPhone update anytime soon is not realistic.
Apple's typical product refresh cycle has run about 10-18 months depending on the specific product and what else Apple has been working on (for example, in hindsight, we can see that there was a longer delay in hardware while OS X was being worked on and a similar delay in iPod refresh while the iPhone and iPod Touch were being developed). Macrumors.com has a handy page that tracks these things. So, right off the bat, I think we can be fairly confident that Macworld January 2008 (MWSF) will not be bringing us a totally revamped iPhone 2. After all, it will have been only six months since the U.S. launch of iPhone and not even 3 since the UK, France, and German launches.
Moreover, I think Apple will want to give the current version of the iPhone some time to develop - figuratively and literally, with the announced introduction of the iPhone SDK due in February.
Additionally, given the backlash Apple got for its significant price cuts on the iPhone, I doubt that it wants to go down that path again anytime soon. Can you imagine what kind of reaction Apple would get from current iPhone owners if it introduces a significantly enhanced iPhone at MWSF?
So, I suspect that we will not see a major hardware refresh on the iPhone. Thats not to say Apple would not up the memory on the iPhone (say for example adding a 16 GB iPhone to the iPhone product line). Plus, Apple probably will introduce new iPhone Applications at MWSF.
Remember that in addition to being a hardware device, the iPhone is a platform. Apple is already spreading the profits from that platform out over the 2 year life of each iPhone's AT&T contract. It has a vested interest in keeping that platform fresh. So, upgrading the hardware anytime soon, as I see it, detracts from this philosophy. The easy way to keep the platform fresh is via software updates and not new hardware.
For these reasons, the logical time for the next major iPhone refresh is next fall. Such a major iPhone refresh not only would allow Apple to have a new product for the holiday season, but it also to get current iPhone owners to re-up their contracts with AT&T (and thus extend these contracts from their intial two years to three. This could be done as a trade-in program).
If indeed MWSF 2008 is too soon for an iPhone refresh, then the release of the iTablet at MWSF, based on the iPhone touch technology and the Apple "noun" interface makes sense. Such a product is a logical extension of the iPhone/iPod Touch product line and a nice merge of the iMac/iPhone products. Although tablet computers have not sold too well in the past, an Apple "iTablet" based on the iPhone and OS X technology stacks will probably sell like hot cakes. So save those pennies for January...
There has been an assumption that Apple will release an updated version of iPhone next year. Many assume that the iPhone 2 will include a significant bump in the iPhone's hardware specs with the addition of 3G network support, perhaps a video camera and/or internal GPS Unit. However, if you look at the history of Apple's product upgrades since Steve Jobs returned to the company and factor in the short history of the iPhone itself, expecting this kind of iPhone update anytime soon is not realistic.
Apple's typical product refresh cycle has run about 10-18 months depending on the specific product and what else Apple has been working on (for example, in hindsight, we can see that there was a longer delay in hardware while OS X was being worked on and a similar delay in iPod refresh while the iPhone and iPod Touch were being developed). Macrumors.com has a handy page that tracks these things. So, right off the bat, I think we can be fairly confident that Macworld January 2008 (MWSF) will not be bringing us a totally revamped iPhone 2. After all, it will have been only six months since the U.S. launch of iPhone and not even 3 since the UK, France, and German launches.
Moreover, I think Apple will want to give the current version of the iPhone some time to develop - figuratively and literally, with the announced introduction of the iPhone SDK due in February.
Additionally, given the backlash Apple got for its significant price cuts on the iPhone, I doubt that it wants to go down that path again anytime soon. Can you imagine what kind of reaction Apple would get from current iPhone owners if it introduces a significantly enhanced iPhone at MWSF?
So, I suspect that we will not see a major hardware refresh on the iPhone. Thats not to say Apple would not up the memory on the iPhone (say for example adding a 16 GB iPhone to the iPhone product line). Plus, Apple probably will introduce new iPhone Applications at MWSF.
Remember that in addition to being a hardware device, the iPhone is a platform. Apple is already spreading the profits from that platform out over the 2 year life of each iPhone's AT&T contract. It has a vested interest in keeping that platform fresh. So, upgrading the hardware anytime soon, as I see it, detracts from this philosophy. The easy way to keep the platform fresh is via software updates and not new hardware.
For these reasons, the logical time for the next major iPhone refresh is next fall. Such a major iPhone refresh not only would allow Apple to have a new product for the holiday season, but it also to get current iPhone owners to re-up their contracts with AT&T (and thus extend these contracts from their intial two years to three. This could be done as a trade-in program).
If indeed MWSF 2008 is too soon for an iPhone refresh, then the release of the iTablet at MWSF, based on the iPhone touch technology and the Apple "noun" interface makes sense. Such a product is a logical extension of the iPhone/iPod Touch product line and a nice merge of the iMac/iPhone products. Although tablet computers have not sold too well in the past, an Apple "iTablet" based on the iPhone and OS X technology stacks will probably sell like hot cakes. So save those pennies for January...
Monday, November 5, 2007
Google Phone no iPhone Killer (yet)
Google announced the Open Handset Alliance today:
The alliance has developed Android:
Some details about Android:
Well, clearly not the iPhone killer. At least not yet anyway.
There are very few actual details at the Android web site (although there is a video of the Android engineers. how sweet). Until we actually see something this is nothing more than some high minded statement of what the perfect open source phone OS is.
Additionally, many of these industry alliances have a difficult time producing a usable product. Assuming this is really Google's baby and they are driving it, the likelihood of actually producing something increases.
So until November 12 when we'll get a look at the SDK, there's not much here. After that, there has to be an actual phone developed with this platform.
"Building a better mobile phone would enrich the lives of countlessThe Alliance is a collection of Mobile Operators, Handset makers, Semiconductor Companies and Software Companies. Obviously Google is part of the Alliance. The other big names include Sprint, T-Mobile, NTT DoCoMo, Telefónica, HTC, Motorola, LG, Samsung, Intel, Qualcomm. There are several others. Here's the list.
people across the globe. The Open Handset Alliance™ is a group of
mobile and technology leaders who share this vision for changing the
mobile experience for consumers."
The alliance has developed Android:
"the first complete, open, and free mobile platform. We are committed toGoogle will provide the first look at Android on November 12 when the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) will be released.
commercially deploy handsets and services using the Android Platform in
the second half of 2008."
Some details about Android:
- Android is built on the open Linux Kernel.
- Uses a
custom virtual machine in order to optimize memory and
hardware resources. - Open
source.
Well, clearly not the iPhone killer. At least not yet anyway.
There are very few actual details at the Android web site (although there is a video of the Android engineers. how sweet). Until we actually see something this is nothing more than some high minded statement of what the perfect open source phone OS is.
Additionally, many of these industry alliances have a difficult time producing a usable product. Assuming this is really Google's baby and they are driving it, the likelihood of actually producing something increases.
So until November 12 when we'll get a look at the SDK, there's not much here. After that, there has to be an actual phone developed with this platform.
Odds & Ends: Today's Interesting Reads
Around the Mac Web for November 5, 2007:
Mac Sales becoming big for Apple
Google Phone Platform: Announcement 11 am Today
[Update...]
Google has an Andriod (After all the hype Google announces the Open Handset Alliance)
Mac Sales becoming big for Apple
Google Phone Platform: Announcement 11 am Today
[Update...]
Google has an Andriod (After all the hype Google announces the Open Handset Alliance)
iPhone Software Update Imminent (and Beyond...)
T3 magazine has gotten a look at the uk edition of the iPhone and there are a couple of interesting items as a result.
The big news out of the UK preview is that we can expect an iPhone firmware update on November 9 to support the launch. U.S. iPhone users will probably not see anything more than some security and minor bug fixes. One thing not yet known is whether Apple will brick iPhones that have been hacked. My money is on yes (and that's a completely different post).
Another interesting tidbit can be found in Apples responses to T3's questions. With regard to MMS messages Apple had an interesting response - essentially said they are not going to support anything but high definition picture sharing. Sounds like a new iPhone feature coming soon.
Apple also addressed the fact that you can not SMS with multiple people. Apple's response was that they don't comment on future enhancements. This is, of course, Apple's position on just about everything speculative. However, recently, I've noticed that Apple only drags out this old chestnut only when there is something coming down the pike that will address the issue. What this means is probably the rumored version of iChat for the iphone will be released soon.
As I see it, it looks like there's going to be at least one software update for the iPhone before the holidays. That would make sense. I suspect the priority at Apple for the remained of 2007 is to (1) Roll out Mac OS X Leopard (check); (2) Get the worldwide iPhone rollout done (in progress) with as little hassle as possible (i.e. one maybe 2 minor iPhone software updates; (3) Focus on a bang-up holiday season with Leopard, iPhone and the revamped iPod line (don't forget the Mac!) and finally, (4) Prepare for Macworld in January.
Obviously its Apple's annual Christmas in January is coming soon. So what can we expect come MWSF. I am sure that this will become THE hot topic on the Mac web in a few weeks so let me just kick off some speculation, directed at iPhone.
I think we will see three types of iPhone updates at MWSF. The first will be those that folks have been clamoring for and I classify as items that are needed to flush out the iPhone as a platform. These include things like the landscape keypad available in all applications, copy and past or some facsimile therof and other such UI niceties.
The next group of features are those I classify as new applications. In this category I put the much rumored iChat mobile and perhaps some other small widget like applications. I am sure we will see one or two of these at MWSF (an easy call given my last item below...).
Finally I think Apple will introduce something completely unexpected for the iPhone and tied into a larger Apple effort - video. I suspect that Apple is going to make a push in video next year (I would not be surprised if Steve works the phrase "year of Video into the Macworld Keynote). Its probably no big surprise that I, like many others, suspect that push is going to come in the form of movie rentals for iTunes and Apple TV (and an enhanced Apple TV at that). The iPhone will be a part of those plans. At a minimum you'll be able to watch your rentals on the iPhone after you download them in iTunes (duh. no brainer there). But even more exciting would be the ability to stream the rentals on the iPhone. If Apple goes in this direction it would be an iTunes WiFi-type enhancement (i.e. you can only stream with a WiFi connection).
Finally, I expect Apple will release the iPhone SDK, is some form, to developers at MWSF. Although it has not been promised until February, MWSF would be the logical time to get a preview the SDK release and get something into developers hands. That's why I think Apple will give out a couple of new apps to the iPhone at MWSF - to show the developers what can be done with the SDK. I expect Apple will follow up training days for developers in select cities like they did with the webkit iPhone development "kit".
Sunday, November 4, 2007
If you have not noticed, I am making the migration on this site from Wordpress to Movable Type. I spent nearly the entire weekend making the move (and I am still not convinced its the right thing to do).
As I result, I present a Weekend Wrap of Odds & Ends, around the Mac web for November 3 & 4, 2007:
Friday, November 2, 2007
Music Subscriptions...DOA (Again)
Well, Well, Well. Seems that Napster has figured out that there is no business in music subscriptions.
I'm not sure if Rubin is deluding himself or if he's just spouting off the Columbia Records corporate fantasy. Either way, like it or not, people want to own their music. Gee wonder where I heard that before....
Might want to let Rick Rubin know about that:
"You would subscribe to music," Rubin explained, as he settled on the velvet couch in his library. "You'd pay, say, $19.95 a month, and the music will come anywhere you'd like. In this new world, there will be a virtual library that will be accessible from your car, from your cellphone, from your computer, from your television. Anywhere. The iPod will be obsolete, but there would be a Walkman-like device you could plug into speakers at home. You'll say, 'Today I want to listen to ... Simon and Garfunkel,' and there they are. The service can have demos, bootlegs, concerts, whatever context the artist wants to put out. And once that model is put into place, the industry will grow 10 times the size it is now."
I'm not sure if Rubin is deluding himself or if he's just spouting off the Columbia Records corporate fantasy. Either way, like it or not, people want to own their music. Gee wonder where I heard that before....
Odds & Ends: Today's Interesting Reads
Around the Mac Web, Greatest Invention of the Year (TM) Edition:
Time: Invention of the Year
Invention of Year Embarrassment
Big UK iPhone Sales Expected
Apple's Having Problems with Dot Mac
EEK! A Virus!
Mossberg Hates Gateway (Surprise! Not!)
Must Read: Apple Needs a Nikon
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Odds & Ends: Today's Interesting Reads
Around the Mac web for November 1, 2007, Intel GMA X3100 graphics edition,
MacBook Stealth Update
Time Invention of the Year: iPhone
iPhone already has a Legacy
Leopard's Quality
Leopard Demolishes Vista
Someone Else noticed Apple's Cash Nest Egg
Strike!
Last, but certainly not least, iLounge has released the iLounge 2008 iPod & iPhone buyers guide. Really good stuff. I recommend it highly (and it comes in a really cool iPhone format too!).
The Java Controversy - Much Ado About Nothing
It seems like every day there's a new controversy on the Mac web. Today its Java (well, to be fair this controversy has been brewing for some time as we shall see). Specifically, Apple's support (or lack there of) for Java 6.
To summarize the controversy, Apple is very far behind porting Java 6 to Mac OS X. The Java Developers also have some gripes with some of the more advanced features of Java 5 on the Mac - specifically anything that has to to with Graphical User Interfaces (GUI's).
Now, in order to understand this controversy, you have to know a little bit about Java.
Java 6 is Sun's (the creators of Java) most recent release of the Java platform (and Java is alot more than just a programming language. A fact that adds to the confusion. A couple of years ago Sun, in an effort to capitalize on all the good buzz the Java programming language was getting, decided it would be good marketing to name just about anything Java or base just about anything released by Sun on Java. And don't even get me started on Javascript).
Java 6 is Sun's (the creators of Java) most recent release of the Java platform (and Java is alot more than just a programming language. A fact that adds to the confusion. A couple of years ago Sun, in an effort to capitalize on all the good buzz the Java programming language was getting, decided it would be good marketing to name just about anything Java or base just about anything released by Sun on Java. And don't even get me started on Javascript).
Java 6 was proceeded by Java 5, which makes sense but, Java 5 was proceeded by...Java 1.4. Oh, yes - Java 5 is alternatively known as Java 1.5 (and among the Java community you will sometimes hear Java 6 called Java 1.6, but I digress).
The Java on OS X Timeline spells out the details but, essentially, when Mac OS X added Java 1.4 support, Java developers sat up and took notice. By the time support for Java 1.5 came about, many Java developers were downright in love with Macs. Its not hard to see why, they could have their Java development environment with Unix tools and still be a good corporate citizen with Microsoft Office on the Mac. Plus, it was a Mac so things tended to just work (at the same time Java on Windows had issues).
The Java on OS X Timeline spells out the details but, essentially, when Mac OS X added Java 1.4 support, Java developers sat up and took notice. By the time support for Java 1.5 came about, many Java developers were downright in love with Macs. Its not hard to see why, they could have their Java development environment with Unix tools and still be a good corporate citizen with Microsoft Office on the Mac. Plus, it was a Mac so things tended to just work (at the same time Java on Windows had issues).
But, then things started to go wrong. I'll let the Java developers speak for themselves first:
Gosling Dumps OS X
Time for Java developers to Leave OS X
To summarize the controversy, Apple is very far behind porting Java 6 to Mac OS X. The Java Developers also have some gripes with some of the more advanced features of Java 5 on the Mac - specifically anything that has to to with Graphical User Interfaces (GUI's).
Of course, there are two sides to this story- first, Porting Java on OS X is hard and, Java 5 on OS X is Pretty Good.
So that's the issue and there is an all out revolt from all those Java developers who traded in their Windows boxes a few years ago for Macs.
So that's the issue and there is an all out revolt from all those Java developers who traded in their Windows boxes a few years ago for Macs.
My day job deals with Java so I might be considered to have a horse in this race - I'd love to see Apple support J2ME which is Java for smart phones and other small devices. But I don't think its ever going to happen as I'll explain below.
All of this "controversy" is much ado about nothing.
First, I think that this controversy over Java 6 is bogus since most companies don't run Java 6. In the corporate world folks tend to lag about one version behind. Consequently, nearly all of the (money making) Java programing being done is on Java 5 (nee, 1.5). Related to this is the fact that nearly all of this Java work is server side Java and so all the Java GUI madness does not apply.
First, I think that this controversy over Java 6 is bogus since most companies don't run Java 6. In the corporate world folks tend to lag about one version behind. Consequently, nearly all of the (money making) Java programing being done is on Java 5 (nee, 1.5). Related to this is the fact that nearly all of this Java work is server side Java and so all the Java GUI madness does not apply.
But more importantly, I think Apple could care less. Java support by Apple is just not a priority anymore.
I think Apple will be happy to say goodbye to all these complaining Java developers. Why? I think they have (maybe rightly) assumed that Java is a technology that has reached middle age and grown about as much as its going to grow. As a result, just doesn't make sense to support Java with all of Apple's weight anymore. A few years ago it looked like Java would become an important technology on the desktop. It has not. It is important on servers, but how many desktop applications are written in Java? I can think of maybe two that are worth anything (that comment will generate a ton of hate mail I'm sure).
I think Apple will be happy to say goodbye to all these complaining Java developers. Why? I think they have (maybe rightly) assumed that Java is a technology that has reached middle age and grown about as much as its going to grow. As a result, just doesn't make sense to support Java with all of Apple's weight anymore. A few years ago it looked like Java would become an important technology on the desktop. It has not. It is important on servers, but how many desktop applications are written in Java? I can think of maybe two that are worth anything (that comment will generate a ton of hate mail I'm sure).
More over, the imporant technology for Apple is Objective-C with Cocoa on the desktop (and soon to be on the iPhone & iPod) and a WebKit, JavaScript, Ajax and Quicktime H.264 on the internet. Consequently, Java (and Adobe's Flash) is a direct threat to Apple.
I think Apple is more than happy to support open standards (e.g. Ruby, Python) that compliment its technology stack. But I think that Apple has made the decision not to support its competitors or technology it does not see as complementary to Apple technology. Java is both a threat (J2ME) and is not complimentary (J2SE - i.e. desktop java).
I think Apple is more than happy to support open standards (e.g. Ruby, Python) that compliment its technology stack. But I think that Apple has made the decision not to support its competitors or technology it does not see as complementary to Apple technology. Java is both a threat (J2ME) and is not complimentary (J2SE - i.e. desktop java).
Will I be surprised if Apple finally releases support for Java 6? No. But I just don't think Apple is going to go out of its way to support Java nor have Java support drive its timelines or strategy. Apple has clearly decided that it can loose several thousand Java developers when it is picking up several thousand consumers every day.
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