3gs

Want to get a crack at that iOS4 goodness that Steve Jobs graced us with just yesterday, but don’t have the developer account that you need? We have good news, you can get your hands dirty now thanks to the powers of the internet.

The only problem is this, you need a Mac to pull off what we are about to describe. If you do have a OS X machine, read on. Why the Mac component? iTunes 9.2 is required, and as it stands that iTunes build is Mac only. Sorry Windows users, step aside.

You do not need your UDID to execute the installation, which means that Apple should not (no promises) be able to nail you against the wall for doing what we are about to walk you through.

Guide:

1. To commence, download and install iTunes 9.2 (Mac only, download links here, here, or here).

2. Now you need to download the right gold master for your device and save it on your desktop:

• If you have an iPhone 3GS, download this.
• If you have an iPhone 3G, this one is for you.
• iPod Touch 3G, get yours here.
• And finally if you have the iPod Touch 2G, download this.

3. Now let’s actually install iOS4:

• Plug in your iOS device, and then tab over to iTunes.
• In iTunes, alt+click on the ‘restore’ button, and then when promoted to locate the file select the IPSW file we just moved to your desktop.
• Wait for between 10 and 15 minutes for the new OS to be moved over.

All Done. How cool is that?

A few warnings, this is a hack, so if something goes wrong do not come crying to us about it. If Apple gets mad at you, we warned you. Finally, have fun. The real version of iOS4 is scheduled to drop for the public on June 21st, but who wants to wait that long?

A special thanks to GumballTech for doing all the legwork.

Original title and link for this post: How to install iOS4 NOW. [Mac Only]

So, since I haven’t carried an iPhone around with me for more than a week and I got an up and close look at the iPhone 4 today here’s my list of the pros and cons of iPhone 4 vs. the Sprint EVO or Verizon’s Incredible (the two best Android-based phones out there).

1. Screen quality. iPhone wins, but only slightly over the EVO.
2. Multitasking. All of them do it, but Apple’s system is a LOT easier to figure out and manage. That said, AT&T’s new data plan pricing has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I’m going to have to use the iPhone 4 for a month to see how much data I actually end up using now that I can do things like use Waze for traffic at the same time as playing music on Pandora, or watching live streaming videos from Ustream, etc. The iPhone should be miles ahead here, because of its superior OS, but is only slightly ahead because AT&T is dragging down the experience for me.
3. Battery life. HUGE win for the iPhone 4, which gives up to 40% longer talk times than the 3GS, which is already giving me at least 40% better battery life than the EVO.
4. Application choice and quality. A slight win for iPhone 4. Overall I like apps on the iPhone better and there definitely are more to choose from. 225,000 according to Steve Jobs today. But there are some apps on Android that are better. Google Voice and Google Maps are two of them, which are pretty dramatic. I keep getting complaints from developers about the Apple approval process, too.
5. Feel in pocket. iPhone 4 wins here. It’s thinner and since it’s glass on both sides more pocket compatible.
6. Voice quality. The EVO is a LOT better than the iPhone 3GS, but I wasn’t able to try it out today for a phone call, so we’ll need to wait until June 24th for that.
7. Sexiness. The iPhone 4 wins here big time.
8. Carriers. The iPhone 4 LOSES here big time. AT&T has dead zones where none exist on my routes around the San Francisco Bay Area on Sprint or Verizon.
9. Video and camera. The iPhone wins here by quite a bit. The focusing on the iPhone is better. The quality seems like it is better, but I’ll need to do a head-to-head after June 24th to really know that for sure. The video features are FAR superior on the iPhone, especially the new editing features. I will buy the iPhone for these features alone, so for a video geek like me these are a huge deal. My wife, though, uses the iPhone camera a lot more than I do (I have a pro camera, she doesn’t and she takes a lot of pictures of the kids), so it’ll be interesting to see what she does with this.
10. Video games. The iPhone is already ahead here by a long shot and with its new gyroscope we should see even more apps for the iPhone that are cool and now that Zynga is bringing its games to the iPhone Apple has widened its lead. Yeah, yeah, I’m sure all the haters will remind me it doesn’t play Flash games but, sorry, that train has left the station and isn’t coming back.
11. Tethering. The EVO lets you share your phone as a wifi hotspot and lets other devices use its data plan to get on the Internet. This is wildly cool and how I get my family’s iPads on the Internet when driving in the car. Apple didn’t say a thing about tethering today and I’m hearing rumors that the iPad won’t tether with the new iPhone. So, this is a major feature in the EVO camp. Plus, AT&T’s new data plan restrictions really bug me.
12. Synch and services. Here Android kicks Apple’s ass. The iPhone has to be physically plugged into a computer and connected to iPhone to synch it. With the EVO I never have connected it physically to a computer. I just entered my Gmail address and password and all my contacts, all of my calendar items, all of my email, and all of my applications just showed up. This is a MAJOR advantage to the Android system.

So, will I start using an iPhone again? Yes, but I have the luxury of being able to afford two devices and I’m definitely keeping the EVO if just for the tethering. If I could only afford one? I’d go with iPhone 4 over the EVO. Mostly because the OS is nicer to use (hard to explain all the ways this is so in a short post, so you’ll have to wait for a longer post after I get mine), the video features, and the battery life is dramatically better. But I totally understand why many of you will ignore those advantages because AT&T sucks so much. If voice quality is more important to you than all the toys, the nicer OS, or the video chat, then definitely go for the Sprint or the Verizon.

To the second part of this question. Does Nokia, MIcrosoft, or RIM have a chance to get into the game?

Well, let’s look at the strength’s of each company.

1. Nokia has a ton of market share in low-end markets. That still gives it a powerful voice brand to build off of. Will it matter in the high end game? I don’t think it will, but I’m sure I’ll have lots of Nokia employees telling me why it does.
2. Microsoft has the Xbox and their new phone is coming from the same team. Wired also explained how Microsoft’s Kin and a bunch of services give it a leg into the game. I don’t buy that horseradish, but I can see how many of you will.
3. RIM has the best keyboards and best integration with Microsoft Exchange (still). Corporate IT folks care about both of these. Even Mark Zuckerberg carries a Blackberry to do email on. Until Android matches the keyboard quality RIM is safe. The first Motorola Droid has a dreadful keyboard. Will the next one have a good enough keyboard to let RIM’ers switch? We’ll have to see.

Anyway, Apple is still on top of the mind share mountain and that’s a powerful place, indeed, to be. Look for Apple’s sales and profits to continue to go up. I’m buying three (one for Patrick, one for Maryam, and one for myself).

What do you think?

Apple had a demo area for the media after the keynote, so I got to spend some time hands-on with the iPhone 4. The resolution of the “retina display” is as impressive as Apple boasts. Text renders like high quality print. One thing that Apple didn’t mention in the keynote, though, is that the LCD pixels are much closer to the surface of the touchscreen. On existing iPhones (and iPods, and iPads), there is not a lot of distance between the glass surface and the LCD, but there is some. There’s also a very narrow amount of air between the touchscreen glass and the underlying LCD. If you’ve ever got a bit dust under your display, that dust is in the air between the glass and LCD.

It’s mentioned briefly in Apple’s promotional video about the design of the iPhone 4, but they’re using a new production process that effectively fuses the LCD and touchscreen — there is no longer any air between the two. One result of this is that the iPhone 4 should be impervious to this dust-under-the-glass issue. More importantly, though, is that it looks better. The effect is that the pixels appear to be painted on the surface of the phone; instead of looking at pixels under glass, it like looking at pixels on glass. Combined with the incredibly high pixel density, the overall effect is like “live print”.

It also improved the field of view for the display — you can view the display from an oblique angle and it looks great. Again, like print. It’s like a glossy magazine come to life.

A few other tidbits I noticed during my hands-on time with the phone today:

• In addition to being thinner than the 3GS, the iPhone 4 is narrower. The display span almost the entire width of the device, and it feels smaller in your hand.

• The build quality is incredible. It feels dense and extremely rigid.

• iMovie for iPhone is impressive as hell.

• The flat metal edge makes it feel much more like a camera when you’re using it as a camera.

• Speaking of the camera, the 4 has a wider angle lens than the 3GS camera. This is a good thing, in my book. It’s not a lot wider, but it’s noticeable.

• After using so much aluminum in recent hardware designs, it’s interesting that they’re using stainless steel for the iPhone 4.

• iBooks for iPhone adds Georgia as a font choice. I presume that will come to the iPad version, too.

• Renaming the OS from iPhone OS to iOS is welcome.

• Google remains the default search engine in iOS 4, but on all the demo phones in the hands-on area for the media, the search engine was set to Bing.

We've just gotten some face time (ha ha!) with the new iPhone 4, and let's just say this: it's incredibly sexy. We'll hand it to Apple, the phone is so thin it's kind of mind-boggling. The 3GS by comparison looks bloated. Feast your eyes on the pics below, and check out the FaceTime video demo after the break! Oh, and special thanks to hand models Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg.

Some takeaways about the device:

• As we said, it's shockingly thin.
• The screen is truly outrageous -- you basically cannot see pixels on it. We're not being hyperbolic when we say it's easily the best looking mobile phone screen we've ever laid eyes on.
• The build quality is really solid. The home button feels much snappier, and on the whole it just feel like a tightly-packed device, but it's not heavy.
• The side buttons are really nice and clicky.
• iOS 4 is very familiar -- there's not a lot added to fit and finish.

Update: More pics! We've also thrown in a video demo of the iPhone 4 running its FaceTime video chat app. Check it out at the usual location.

Continue reading iPhone 4 first hands-on! (update: FaceTime video demo)

iPhone 4 first hands-on! (update: FaceTime video demo) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This morning at Moscone Center in San Francisco, Apple is expected to introduce its newest member of the iPhone family as Steve Jobs is set to deliver another carefully crafted keynote address at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). As per usual, the highly-anticipated event has sent the rumor mills spinning as Apple has remained tight-lipped about what to expect from today's announcement (with the exception of a leak or two). So just what should we expect from Apple today at WWDC? For starters, here's an infographic breaking down previous iPhone events that should give you a picture of what's to come.

Sponsor

A New iPhone, Right On Schedule

The majority of evidence uncovered so far has lead most to believe that a new iPhone is undoubtedly landing today at WWDC. That last two iPhones were announced in early June and each time saw doubled storage capacity at identical $199 and $299 price points. This year's model will likely follow this trend, reaching as high as 64 GB of storage for the larger iPhone sibling. Additionally, 2009's keynote saw the 2008 model drop in price to $99, and many expect a similar price cut this year for the 3GS.

How soon will we see the new iPhone? It could be as soon as today, some have guessed. Last year's phone was available less than two weeks after its announcement, and the 3G iPhone launched just 2 days after Jobs' keynote that year. Due to leaked images of what is likely to be the next iPhone, Apple may be attempting to shuffle this next device out the door quickly, but we can't be sure. Other evidence pointing to a quick release is AT&T's new data and insurance plans which will launch today.

In the past, an updated OS has also been made available roughly around the same time as the new phone, so expect OS 4.0 to be available soon, if not right away. With the OS update comes much-awaited multi-tasking functionality, as well as many small changes to upgrade the user experience. Keeping with history, Apple will also still likely charge iPod Touch users $10 to upgrade their OS.

Rumors and Speculation

Apple also has a history of making secondary announcements when introducing a new iPhone. In the past years, these products and services has included Apple TV, MobileME and Snow Leopard - so what will the other topic of discussion be today? Some have suggested an updated Apple TV to counter Google TV could make an appearance, or perhaps the next version of Safari could be previewed.

Mostly likely among "one more thing" announcements is a Bluetooth enabled multi-touch trackpad for use with desktop Macs. Late last night, Engadget editor Josh Topolsky posted what look like pretty solid pictures of what Apple could be calling the "Magic Trackpad," if recent patent filings are any hint. The device could make the entire Apple line touch-friendly, which is a logical next step.

The leaked photographs also suggested that the latest iPhone will feature a forward-facing camera, perhaps for mobile video chat. Will we see a Skype executive up on stage with Steve walking the audience through video chat capabilities, or will this new feature be limited to an in-house iChat app placed on the phone? What could a forward-facing camera do for other fields of technology, like augmented reality? Today's keynote may answer some of these questions.

The other long-debated announcement we could see today is the iPhone's departure from AT&T exclusivity - specifically to Verizon's stronger network. Rumors of a "Verizon iPhone" have existed ever since AT&T customers began complaining about their service, but they've reached a fever pitch approaching today's event. But why stop at Verizon? Though less likely, some have suggested that Jobs could announce partnerships with several leading carriers today.

Stay Tuned!

We will be following the announcement closely this morning, so make sure to stick around for breaking news and analysis from WWDC as it happens.

Photo by Tom Coates on Flickr.

Discuss

Social Media Updates for 2010-06-06 —

Social Media Updates for 2010-06-06 is a post from Chris Pirillo

• What is a "blog?" An Internet destination that can be set up in a minute and largely ignored for years at a time. #
• Seeking input for a vintage computer site: http://lgno.me/9uH4P3 #
• Should texting or talking on a cell phone and driving be legal? http://lgno.me/bJmt6c #
• How many USB Devices do you own? http://lgno.me/9nCav3 #
• Would you buy a Chrome OS Tablet? http://lgno.me/dsG5M8 #
• Normal Computing vs. Cloud Computing: http://lgno.me/aihpFI #
• People who can solve Rubik's Cubes are ________? http://lgno.me/cbcDsk #
• Echo… http://youtu.be/mHmbdZby_qY #mutethestream #
• Will you upgrade to USB 3.0? http://j.mp/bNMBuS #
• The Greek pita food – is it pronounced hee-roh, jy-roh, or gee-roh? #
• I was denied membership into Club Soda. #
• How to Win an Optimus Maximus keyboard: http://youtu.be/-mv1mZgEs-s #
• Geek met Chic: http://twitpic.com/1toukx #
• Should Microsoft make its own line of PCs? http://j.mp/dzANob #
• Tasting French wine today with @bin41wine in West #Seattle. Wish I had some bleu cheese with me! #
• Is Speed of Thought Faster than the Speed of Light http://lgno.me/benwx2 #
• Sprint HTC EVO vs. iPhone 3GS? http://lgno.me/bFws9T #
• UFO News: Strange, glowing object found in #Seattle eastern sky, moving slowly westward. Vitamin D overdose reports on the rise. #
• Have you attended (or plan to attend) Star Wars in Concert? http://lgno.me/btgkb8 #
• Are you going green? http://j.mp/be5PUj #
• Scramble Your Email Address to Avoid Spam – http://lgno.me/aBWOUw #
• About to board VX748 (track me). Should I pay for Internet or a movie on-demand? #
• Does NASA make space seem boring? http://j.mp/cRmQnf #
• How do you protect yourself from being clickjacked? http://lgno.me/chBBOw #
• How long have you been online? http://j.mp/b06UPR #
• I decided law was the exact opposite of sex; even when it was good, it was lousy. [Mort Zuckerman] #
• Facebook: The Movie coming to a theater near you! http://lgno.me/bHySqz #
• As always, a huge demand for product causes the quality of the product to thin out. [Wendy Pini] #
• Did you know that you can try Google Docs now without an account? http://lgno.me/afqY5C #
• But for the silly chaps, we would still be living in the Stone Age. [Christopher Cockerell] #
• Is tinypay.me some sort of Hobbit mafia loan shark operation? http://lgno.me/aVA5m7 #
• When food contains no food, that is certainly time for action. [Gaylord Nelson] #
• Is it the end of the LAN party for DFI? http://lgno.me/9RCViV #
• If you could choose to work for any company (or person) in the tech/social media sector, where would you go? http://lgno.me/91aAG1 #
• Should Mark Zuckerberg Throw in the Towel? – http://lgno.me/arRbMh #
• A traitor is everyone who does not agree with me. [George III] #
• Shel Israel is calling for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to resign. Do you agree with his reasoning? http://lgno.me/9wOsHh #
• Will HP be in the smartphone business, after all? http://lgno.me/bP4Eok #
• TGIF! The weekend is going to be gorgeous across much of the nation. What are your plans? http://lgno.me/8XYrYW #
• Congratulations to community member @goretsky for this fantastic interview with @lenovosocial – well done, Aryeh! http://lgno.me/bIozRd #
• Death to PST files! http://lgno.me/9r5F22 #
• Our way is not soft grass, it's a mountain path with lots of rocks. But it goes upwards, forward, toward the sun. [Ruth Westheimer] #
• What one piece of technology could you give up for a week if you had to? http://lgno.me/afIoRz #
• Since we're told there's already a fix for the storage glitch on Evo 4G's launch day, would you buy one? http://lgno.me/aCFnyI #
• Loudness or Quality? http://bit.ly/9mKYbZ #
• If we don't get exactly what we want, we assume someone must be violating our rights. [Susan Jacoby] #
• iPad portrait of my eyes painted at @chicmeetsgeek: http://bit.ly/bUhLtt – Thank you, @dnsf. Thank you, @caroltran. #
• Is Mac OS X becoming a viable gaming platform? http://bit.ly/9mUuqE #
• When would you consider buying a hybrid or full-electric car? http://bit.ly/aaTYzV #
• Desktop or Laptop? http://bit.ly/d2iOTi #
• Just came from a spectacular @chicmeetsgeek event in SF (Pier 38). Everyone there is a star! Will you squeeze in, too? #
• If the Internet teaches us anything, it is that great value comes from leaving core resources in a commons… [Lawrence Lessig] #
• Chocolate moo juice is good for post-exercise recovery? Who'd've thunk it? http://lgno.me/ag8voj #
• Neither current events nor history show that the majority rule, or ever did rule. [Jefferson Davis] #
• Could we see the iPad being used on Verizon soon? http://lgno.me/bid6O8 #
• I think writers, by nature, are more observers instead of participators. [Ian Hunter] #
• Do you believe in the Post-PC era? http://bit.ly/cFnkoW #
• Would you resist a cease and desist request? http://lgno.me/cxRnJy #
• All the laws you can lay down are only so many props to be cast aside when the hour of creation arrives. [Raoul Dufy] #
• Have you used Google's results today for mobile applications? http://lgno.me/dmAo67 #
• Nothing says "Welcome back to San Francisco" like a fresh cup of Peet's coffee with heavy cream. #
• The weight of the world is love. Under the burden of solitude, under the burden of dissatisfaction. [Allen Ginsberg] #
• Is there something fishy about the death of Gary Coleman? http://lgno.me/a4dfVD #
• I'm a fanboi of any device that only loses 10% battery life after 2 hours of heavy Internet usage. #
• Maybe the words that I say is just another way to pray. [Curtis Mayfield] #
• The biggest problem with the iPad is that most geeks can't let go of last century's idea of what personal computing is. *ahem* #
• Damn. The iPad is a better computer than most computers. #
• Time for Apple to open up the iPhone: http://bit.ly/9aWh3y #
• Having Internet at 30,000 feet is better than being in First Class. On my way to SF for an AMD event at the Russian Consulate. #
• I wasn't really naked. I simply didn't have any clothes on. [Josephine Baker] #
• If you were to tell the story of your life, which actor (or actress) would play you in the movie? http://lgno.me/dh7tX8 #
• Data Center Physical Infrastructure – Optimizing Business Value: http://lgno.me/dc72BD #
• "The guy in that Operation game gets free health care, but all of his doctors are six-year-olds." [@JerryThomas] #
• That which is hard to do is best done bitterly. [John Hodgman @hodgman] #
• iRadeo, uRadeo, we all scream for… well, you know. http://lgno.me/dB0t8l #
• "Sarah Palin blaming environmentalists for the BP oil spill is like me blaming PETA for the bacon I just ate." [@RexHuppke] #
• Hudson is doing a #DecaSports2 giveaway: http://spn.tw/teO2J #ad [20 random people will win.] #
• Science fiction encourages us to explore… all the futures, good and bad, that the human mind can envision. [Marion Zimmer Bradley] #
• How aware is Delaware? http://lgno.me/9IjoJG #
• Cocoa Pebbles vs Fruity Pebbles – http://lgno.me/bo1d0G #
• If you could move to any city in the world right now, where would you settle down? http://lgno.me/a7×4bv #
• Customize Your Google Home Page with Pictures – http://lgno.me/9TYBZM #
• Apparently, I need to find a Windows PC. Suggestions? #
• Giving away an "Optimus Maximus" keyboard for the first user who reaches 100,000 Karma points on http://lockergnome.net/ #
• Share Your Gravatar Public Profile – http://lgno.me/akN1CK #
• Recording videos for YouTube at http://live.pirillo.com/ [and taking live calls via 1-888-PIRILLO] #
• How to Gain Weight Fast – http://lgno.me/9NbTFi #
• Okay, everyone – start building your Q&A Karma: http://lockergnome.net/ has officially relaunched! #
• New Twitter Feature to Reveal Relationships – http://lgno.me/a0ZBps #
• When Do You Power Down Your Laptop? – http://lgno.me/bb7FJL #
• Photo proof that I need to lose more weight: http://lgno.me/bRAozx #
• Rock and roll has probably given more than it's taken. [Charlie Watts] #
• If you got an email from your future self, what would you do? http://lgno.me/bROwpN #
• Is Wayne Brady gonna have to choke a bitch? [@WayneBrady] #
• Fear is the mother of foresight. [Thomas Hardy] #
• 10 cool upcoming features in OpenOffice: http://bit.ly/aCuddm [via @jasonhiner] #
• What would you do for a Klondike bar? http://lgno.me/cvgaGD #
• Of course it's all right for librarians to smell of drink. [Barbara Pym] #
• I'm a very sympathetic person, but that doesn't always come across in my work because I'm too busy being mad at everything. [Lydia Lunch] #
• Study Finds Supplements Contain Contaminants: http://lgno.me/cezlT1 [via @skepchicks] #
• I'm (fifty-five) years old, but I read at the (fifty-nine)-year-old level. [Dana Carvey] #
• George W. Bush Has Joined Facebook: http://bit.ly/9QXeXD #endtimes [via @marshallk] #
• True Thin Provisioning: http://lgno.me/aFfjgt #
• Do you think AT&T will reduce data consumption by raising their rates? http://lgno.me/a4uPqI #
• Contest Pits Nerds against Bras: http://lgno.me/aAKFvD #
• It is not my mode of thought that has caused my misfortunes, but the mode of thought of others. [Marquis de Sade] #
• How do you know more about who you know? http://lgno.me/ahF64I #
• Why would ANYBODY buy this? http://lgno.me/cT58pT #aff #
• LEGO printer that uses felt-tip markers: http://bit.ly/bWb740 [via @laughingsquid] #
• 500 days in a simulated spacecraft to reach Mars: http://bit.ly/9SgWUo [via @Stammy] #
• I am not Spock. But I am Spock. All at the same time. [@ZacharyQuinto] #
• Buy Your Toy Story 3 Tickets on Facebook – http://lgno.me/cAq4jw #
• Berry Sweet Taste – http://lgno.me/9aDVKZ #
• Morning vs Afternoon – http://test.lockergnome.net/questions/3751/mornings-vs-afternoons #
• 2012: Truth or Conspiracy? http://lgno.me/cVt2Ah #
• How the Facebook Likejacking Worm Tricks People: http://j.mp/buQrcB [via @Twitter_Tips, @zaibatsu] #
• Seattle Lunch 2.0 is now TechCafe! http://www.npost.com/techcafe/ #
• "How is education supposed to make me feel smarter?" [Homer Simpson] #
• What is Your Favorite Video Game? – http://lgno.me/bquqP2 #
• There must be a word for when you send an instant message (or text) to the wrong person. #
• I'm a mashup between these two sources: http://lgno.me/a3eG3i [@kk] #
• Has Memorial Day regained its meaning? http://lgno.me/bYNqTS #
• #Seattle Flasher Captured: http://lgno.me/bnV0WW #
• The Ultimate GeekDad Giveaway: http://www.thinkgeek.com/geekdad2010/ #
• I Like LEGO – http://lgno.me/9UkBn6 #
• Why this geek isn't buying an iPad: http://lgno.me/9clUnK #
• Tips for building a new computer: http://lgno.me/c98oAL #
• Is Facebook dying? http://lgno.me/aLfYRA #
• There aren't a lot of scripts for a man my age… it's just unusual to get a script where I don't die in the end. [Andy Griffith] #
• Is tap water better than bottled water? http://lgno.me/ay2yiX #
• The model of ownership, in a society organized round mass consumption, is addiction. [Christopher Lasch] #
• Dogs never bite me. Just humans. [Marilyn Monroe] #
• What movie clips can you mix and match to make your own mashup? http://lgno.me/d7jB5x #
• Good patriots carry on a lover's quarrel with their country. [William Sloane Coffin, Jr.] #
• Touch Windows and Linux: http://youtu.be/_LsoOkrXN4w #
• What five breakfast cereals made for kids creep you out the most? http://lgno.me/c5vL3J [I've never been a fan of Charles Manson Berries.] #
• I want to walk through life instead of being dragged through it. [Alanis Morissette] #
• USB displays – who needs 'em? http://lgno.me/9wHFKC #
• How many BPs does it take to ruin the environment? http://lgno.me/bynIoS #
• HELP @montanamonica: "Our daughter is missing & in the #Seattle Metro area." http://bit.ly/cpisX0 #
• Amazon now has a Wireless Store Beta: http://go.tagjag.com/amazonwireless #aff #
• Success is the brand on the brow of a man who has aimed too low. [John Masefield] #
• Even with their changes, @ning remains completely INEFFECTIVE for combatting spam. #fail #
• Looking for other bits of "Everyday Tech" here: http://chris.pirillo.com/everyday-tech/ #sponsor #
• If you had an iPad, would you still read books, magazines, and newspapers? http://lgno.me/bQmPcz #
• Five Ways to Lower SAN Administration to Three Hours a Week: http://lgno.me/bnejEU #
• Flip Video Slide HD recommendations? http://lgno.me/9Vrox2 #
• Yes, @briansolis has been confirmed as the keynote for @gnomedex. ;) #
• Every Jobs needs a Wozniak: http://lgno.me/a6Y6kI #
• You don't make solo albums to have hits. [Ron Wood] #
• How much RAM is "too much?" http://lgno.me/dD6nvw #
• As an exception to the rule, is Soluto anti-frustration software actually the real deal? http://lgno.me/cDJ46i #
• If you're an actor, you're an actor. Doing it is not the hard part. The hard part is getting to do it. [Morgan Freeman] #
• Did you take part in "Quit Facebook Day?" http://lgno.me/cOlptd [If you see this on Facebook, I guess you've already answered the question!] #
• iPad Death Star Announcement – http://lgno.me/cM07ND #
• Pixel Qi Screens Work Outdoors – http://lgno.me/crGdjE #
• Should We Use YouTube Moderation? – http://lgno.me/9MrwWo #
• Xbox Fail – http://lgno.me/aalXeB #
• This is Better Than That – http://lgno.me/951IAB #
• Everyday Tech – http://lgno.me/99vM91 #
• Wanna tickle your tech-sickles tonight? Totally: http://live.pirillo.com/ with your calls through 1-888-PIRILLO. #
• My mustache finally has a sponsor. Thanks, Gillette! #
• OH: "I have a Harry Potter in my pants." #
• ! @Trent_Reznor's new band's debut EP comes out tomorrow – get it #FREE: http://howtodestroyangels.com [via @zaibatsu, @Jason_Pollock] #
• Do computers help or hurt education for kids in lower grade levels? http://lgno.me/aj67Ok #
• Google is phasing out Windows PCs internally. I didn't realize they had phasers! #stunned #
• This tweet was plagiarized. #
• http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/features.html #
• Lamborghini or Ferrari? http://lgno.me/bmUA4x #
• What could we see at Apple's WWDC? http://lgno.me/cPAfu9 #
• Plagiarism Online – http://lgno.me/cRI2UX #
• Could The Tesla Electric Car Be The Next DeLorean? http://bit.ly/bPauvi #
• I have a very strict gun control policy: if there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it. [Clint Eastwood] #
• Damn paper delivery kids keep tossing my copy of the @IssaquahPress into a saturated puddle of a driveway. #
• Is the iPhone getting… boring? http://lgno.me/czX7SU #
• You're wasting your time with @widgetbox; their customer service and relationship management is beyond horrendous. #
• Is it better to leave your computer on all the time? http://lgno.me/bnSykZ #
• It was an eight-hour profanity demon hellride without music. [Wesley Willis] #
• I'm a fibervore. #
• Apple TV, Google TV, Or Boxee? http://lgno.me/9yp1gK #
• What happened to personal responsibility?! I nominate this idiot for a Darwin Award: http://lgno.me/cI928f [via @JakeWarner] #
• Are you backing up your precious memories in easily transferable formats? http://lgno.me/999bhn [Like floppy disks and Edison cylinders?] #
• Do you still buy CDs? http://lgno.me/dfwPZb #
• @JonnyPaula – What I'd like most from YouTube is a site-wide reputation system to minimize the number of idiots I have to deal with daily. in reply to JonnyPaula #
• Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you. [Walt Whitman] #
• Truth? @KillerBreadMan bakes killer bread, man: http://youtu.be/8y4QfPZFK7g [HT @HipsForHire] #
• I'm not so sure about the new YouTube Moderation feature: http://youtu.be/-_Ycdvp512M #
• Who are the doctors who'll do your diagnosis via webcam? http://lgno.me/couMnB #
• The next generation Amiga needs a real-time JPEG converter and 24-bit graphics to stay ahead. [Jay Miner] #
• How could a security system provider go about not keeping a customer? http://lgno.me/d68aOH #
• I'm not particularly happy with my bust size, but I'm extremely proud of my childbearing hips. [Chris Elliott] #
• How much would you pay for a 3D PC? http://lgno.me/bECvd6 [Yeah, the PCs themselves are already 3D, but you know what I mean, smart alecs!] #
• What you missed at the Northwest Folklife festival the other night: http://youtu.be/wxL4YQz5UUY #
• What is it about the iPhone, anyway? http://lgno.me/aGJDCn #
• BBQ Tech: http://seanalexander.com/2010/05/31/AddictedToBBQAndGrillingTech.aspx #
• http://compute-ability.com/chris-pirillo-interview #
• You don't necessarily have to be in misery to be talented. [Brooke Shields] #
• Just discovered http://www.impsandmonsters.com/ today – wow. WOW! #
• Introduction to Web Applications Development: http://lgno.me/bN4CCg [Hi! I don't think you've met!] #
• The closest thing I have to a nutritionist is the Carlsberg Beer Company. [Colin Farrell] #
• Are kids mean? http://lgno.me/bqFWhl #
• What methods, if any, can be economically used to store and employ the sun's energy for power or heating? [Charles Greeley Abbot] #
• The IRS has its hand out again. http://lgno.me/cq2IC7 [Is it reaching out for taxes from your eBay and Craigslist sales?] #
• Zagg Coupons – http://lgno.me/cIgqBA #
• Good places to visit in #Seattle? Your answers: http://lgno.me/cTouhF #
• Do hogs give "snout outs" to their friends? #
• The Northwest Folklife Festival here at Seattle Center is a #WIN. AT&T coverage here is nothing but a #FAIL. #
• Social Media Updates for 2010-05-30 – http://lgno.me/aGhkAs #

• Social Media Updates for 2010-05-30
• Social Media Updates for 2010-05-23
• How To Introduce a Child to Social Media
• Social Media Updates for 2010-05-16
• Social Media Updates for 2010-05-09
• Why Do You Need Social Media?
• Social Media Updates for 2010-05-02
• Social Media Updates for 2010-04-25
• Will Yahoo be the Next Twitter?
• Social Media Updates for 2010-04-18

Poll: Who’s Buying an iPhone or iPad Before AT&T’s New Rate Plan Kicks In? —

Perhaps the most polarizing news in these parts of late is around AT&T’s new smartphone data plan changes, which the carrier unveiled yesterday. Some customers are happy that they’ll be saving up to $15 a month with reduced plan pricing, while others aren’t thrilled to hear that unlimited data is going away in favor of 200 MB or 2 GB buckets with overage charges. Those in the latter camp might appreciate the facetious tweet of Rahul Sood, founder of VoodooPC: “Look on the bright side AT&T customers, your data is STILL unlimited, it’s your bill that was uncapped.”

But the new rate plans don’t take effect until June 7, so there’s still a wee bit of time for new customers to nab an iPhone or iPad under the current unlimited plan offerings. Considering the expectation of a possible front-facing video camera that’s sure to gobble up data on AT&T’s network, it just might make sense to buy a current iPhone 3GS to gain the unlimited data contract and hope you can return the old model for a new one next week. The newest iPhone hardware is widely expected to launch at Apple’s WWDC event next Monday, the same day the new AT&T tiered pricing plans kick in.

View This Poll survey software

Meanwhile iPad owners, which watch three times more video on their Apple device than on others, seem the most miffed, and with good reason. Apple announced an innovative, unlimited AT&T data plan specific to the iPad when it introduced the device in January, which goes by the wayside with this new data plan.

So who’s buying an iPhone or iPad between now and Monday?

Related GigaOM Pro content (sub req’d):

Will Metered Mobile Data Slow the App Markets Growth?

Massive iPhone Security Issue Could Endanger Enterprise Adoption —

Content stored on an iPhone 3GS with passcode protection can be accessed without the passcode simply by attaching the device to a PC or Mac. This flaw was discovered by Bernd Marienfeld, an information security professional and blogger, last week. Recently, the enterprise has seen a steep increase in the adoption of the iPhone and iPad. But Apple will need to aggressively address security concerns such as these in order to gain and hold market share.

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Typically, an iPhone attached to a Windows, OSX, or pre-10.04 Ubuntu system grants access to the DCIM folder only. However, by connecting a powered-off iPhone to a computer running Ubuntu 10.04 ("Lucid Lynx") and powering the iPhone back on, Marienfeldt was able to gain read-write access to the complete contents of four different non-jailbroken iPhone 3GS phones. Each phone ran a different version of the iPhone operating system, had passcode-protection enabled immediately, and had never been connected to a PC before.

Marienfeldt could access photos, videos, audio, and the Google safe-browsing database, all without leaving any evidence that he had accessed the phone at all. He points out that write-access could also make the phones vulnerable to a buffer overflow attack.

The vulnerability is not a flaw in Ubuntu, but a problem with the way the iPhone handles authentication when attached to a computer. The tech blog Sukimashita reported Windows or OSX systems using applications such as iPhone Explorer could also access protected iPhone 3GS data if the device was powered off when first attached.

According to Marienfeldt, Apple has reproduced the issue but has not issued a statement as to when the vulnerability will be patched.

As we have reported, security experts criticize Apple's lack of emphasis on security for its mobile devices. Yet 4 of 10 iPhones are sold to enterprise users. Corporate users likely expect their data to be secure and encrypted. According to Apple's own iPhone in Business Security Overview document:

iPhone can securely access corporate services and protect data on the device. It provides strong encryption for data in transmission, proven authentication methods for access to corporate services, and for iPhone 3GS, hardware encryption for all data stored on the device. iPhone also provides secure protection through the use of passcode policies that can be enforced and delivered over-the-air.

Trust Digital, which was acquired by McAfee last week, offers a third-party security solution for iPhone OS, Android, Web OS, Windows Mobile, and Symbian mobile operating systems.

iPhone passcode image via Apple; Ubuntu screenshot via Bernd Marienfeld.

Discuss

Skype has just released software version 2.0.0 for Apple’s iPhone via an App Store update. Improvements listed for the new version include:

• Call using your 3G connection. Skype-to-Skype calls on 3G are free until at least end of August 2010, after which there will be a small monthly fee (operator charges for data will still apply).
• Near CD-quality sound for Skype-to-Skype calls using wideband audio (SILK codec) on iPhone 3GS and 2nd generation iPhone touch.
• Enhanced call quality indicator.
• Improved start-up time.
• Fast access to the dial pad from iPhone home screen.

We’re a little confused as to what the “small monthly fee” for Skype-to-Skype 3G calls is all about but there you have it.

Read – iTunes Link

Win a Free iPad Skin! —

Win a Free iPad Skin! is a post from Chris Pirillo

GelaSkins recently released their new new line of protective and customizable skins for the iPad. Gelaskins for the iPad are available in all current designs and the customizable Do-It-Yourself online service. The new line of GelaSkins for the iPad cover non-screen portions of the front and back of the device, wrapping the iPad with both style and premium scratch protection, and include matching wallpapers.

Gelaskins sent us a Cable Cranes Gelaskins iPad skin ($29.95 value) to give away. All you have to do is make a comment below and answer these three questions:

1. In what city was Chris born?
2. Where was the first Gnomedex held?
3. What city is known as the Hartford of the West?

…and we’ll pick a winner at random.

I’ve had an Underworld Gelaskin on my iPhone 3GS for the past few months. It keeps the back of my iPhone in perfect condition and it looks damn good. Combine it with an Invisible Shield and your iPhone/iPad will stay scratch-free.

Here are the current coupons for GelaSkins:

FirstRSS ERROR: "http://coupons.lockergnome.com/cgi-bin/feed/rss-custom-feed.pl?swap_ids=1&search_method=stores&stores=1220842411&category=&search_string=&date=0&all_coupons_per_store=1" NOT FOUND!

• GelaSkins Coupons
• Twitter (Tweetie) on the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
• Make a Backup of Your iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad Apps List
• Which iPad Should I Buy?
• Should You Wait to Buy an iPad?
• Apple and Adobe: Where is the Common Ground?
• iPad Fingerprints
• How Does iTunes Work on the iPad?
• Still Think the iPad Sucks?
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iPhone Dropped in Toilet? There's an App for That —

Starting June 6th, iPhone purchasers will be able to insure their precious devices through AT&T for just $13.99 a month, according to documents leaked to Boy Genius Report today. The insurance, which is purchased through the AppStore, intends to counter-act the pain and suffering caused by those "whoopsie", butterfingers-induced moments that send iPhones to an early grave on hard pavement or, even worse, in a toilet. The documents, which are either real or extremely high quality fabrications, also back up the assumption that Steve Jobs will be introducing the fourth generation iPhone June 7th at the WWDC keynote.

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For just under $170 a year, iPhone users can save themselves the trouble of paying several hundred dollars to replace their phone if they irrevocably damage it. However, the insurance plan also comes with a deductible that ranges from $99 to $199 depending on which iPhone you have. So if you buy a 32GB 3GS and break it a year later, the cost of a new one would be roughly $370, which is far better than the full price of $699, but still expensive.

The insurance plan apparently only applies to new purchases after June 6th, and must be activated within 30 days of purchase. To make the process simple, the insurance can be purchased through the phone via the AppStore, which will bill the credit card on file with Apple. AT&T was careful not to spill the beans on the upcoming fourth generation iPhone, and left out what the cost of the insurance plan might be for a new device.

So why is AT&T insuring the iPhone all of a sudden? According to the leaked documents, 16% of low scores from customer feed back are "attributable to customer dissatisfaction with insurance/warranty replacement options." While they certainly want to fight back against unsatisfied customers, AT&T is also likely offering this plan to help maintain customers in their ecosystem.

By making it cheaper to replace an iPhone, it's more likely that bereaved users will buy another iPhone, and more importantly, stay with AT&T. Just last week, AT&T hiked up their early termination fees for all smartphones all the way up to $325 dollars. Break your iPhone and think it's a great opportunity to leave the network at join Team Android on another network? Either pay AT&T $325 plus the costs of a new phone and contact elsewhere to leave, or slightly less (depending on how long you've had your phone) to replace your iPhone thanks to the new insurance policy.

What do you think of AT&T's new iPhone insurance? Will you buy it with your next iPhone purchase? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Photo by Flickr user magerleagues.

Discuss

AT&T to offer iPhone insurance for $13.99/mo « Boy Genius Report — AT&T to offer iPhone insurance for $13.99/mo « Boy Genius Report:

So, over the life of your 2-year contract, this would cost you $335.76. Or, more than the iPhone itself. Even the expensive model. 

Oh, and you’ll still have to pay a deductible if you do lose the thing ($199 for a 32GB iPhone 3GS).

God I hate AT&T.

Digitimes has a monster of a story looking at the iPhone today, including a series of tasty nuggets, at least one factual inaccuracy and some pure speculation, for example:

The story reveals Apple to have two iPhones in development, one the Gizmodo phone, the other a less updated device in case the more compelling product hit production snags.

“Apple actually has another product codenamed N91 for the project, which offers less change from previous iPhones compared with the N90. It's a parallel product to back up the N90 in case there are major delays due to significant modifications in casing, display resolution, digital camera support and so forth.”

The N90 is the code-name for the iPhone identified by Gizmodo (which does make us wonder if the N91 is actually the more upgraded model, in which case we’re gonna be surprised, despite Digitimes report).

Apple initiated the iPhone 4G project at the end of 2008, the report reveals, before making some incorrect claims re resolution. (When you read that section take the information that iPad resolution is 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi) with you).

“Apple had spoken with Samsung Mobile Display (SMD) about the possibility for AMOLED panels since the development of the iPhone 3GS, but production capacity remains a big issue. SMD only has the capability to fulfill 50-60% of iPhone orders at the moment even if it dedicated all AMOLED capacity to Apple.”

Cost and other factors also meant this technology wasn’t ideal for Apple at this point.

On the processor, Digitimes reveals the A4 processor was developed between Apple, Samsung and Intrinsity, which has since been acquired by Apple. “Our sources said that the majority of the technology actually came from Samsung.”

Samsung has a Cortex A9 multi-core processor in development, launch of which is estimated for year's end,  meaning the A4 chip is the likely processor for the future iPhone, the report states. The device may have 512MB of RAM.

The kicker? “Apple has been planning the iPhone 4G since the end of 2008, so it wouldn't surprise me if the company already has more modifications or more advanced products planned for 2012 and beyond.”

We wonder if Google boss Eric Schmidt knows the ins and outs of the phone roadmap, considering the 2008 planning phase?

iPhone 3GS to Sell for $97 at WalMart —

iPhone 3GS to Sell for $97 at WalMart is a post from Chris Pirillo

If you still haven’t bought the iPhone 16GB 3GS, now is your chance. Walmart will begin selling the device in its stores for only $97.00 beginning Tuesday, June 1st. The offer is only good when purchased in conjunction with a new two-year AT&T contract, but it’s still one hell of a deal. The handset has been selling for about a hundred dollars more than that until now. Most people speculate that the reason for the price cut is – of course – due to the upcoming release of the new iPhone.

“It is our commitment to always lead on price,” Mehrdad Akbar, Walmart’s senior category director for wireless, said in a prepared statement about the price change. Although it might seem that the timing is unexpected, it’s really not. When Apple introduced the iPhone 3GS last June, they immediately slashed prices of the previous model. It’s a known fact that when a new model of any (popular) phone is introduced sales of the current model decline sharply. Additionally, Apple has already claimed that Gizmodo’s leak of the prototype iPhone a few weeks ago was “seriously damaging” to sales of the existing handset. Perhaps this move will help bolster sales back to where they hope to be at this point in time.

Another possible theory for the reduced price happening now comes from the rampant rumors floating around regarding the iPhone coming to other providers – such as Verizon or Sprint – later this year. As stated in the first paragraph, this deal is only valid when purchased in conjunction with a new two year AT&T contract. If you’ve been holding out on buying an iPhone because you’re hoping for another carrier to come along, you’re still going to be waiting a little while longer.

If you don’t already own an iPhone, will this price cut convince you to grab one for yourself?

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Wal-Mart Dropping iPhone to $97 —

On Tuesday, retailer Wal-Mart plans to cut the price of the popular iPhone 16GB 3GS to $97. Currently this iPhone model is selling for $199. The $97 deal requires a two-year service contract with AT&T.

The dip in price could represent a hope to clear inventory and preserve sales in the lead up to the debut of the newest iPhone next month.

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The reduction could also be a reaction to the April AdMob report that had Google's Android phone edging out the Apple iPhone in mobile ad traffic. That report indicated that the Android had garnered more of the ad dollars spent on mobile platforms than the iPhone had, with Google at 46% to Apple's 32%.

Apple sold around 50 million iPhones last year. Figures for the last quarter indicated a doubling in sales from the previous year.

Last month, a version of Apple's new 4G iPhone was passed off to tech blog Gizmodo, which wrote about it. An Apple attorney, George Riley, later called this "immensely damaging" to the company.

Discuss

Shared by Bud
I'd say Gruber is spot on here. The cloud is really what it's all about. If the UI is adequate, then your ability to connect is paramount. Two days ago, Gundotra remarked that the browser was the third most accessed app on smartphones. Exactly!

Post-Google I/O, there’s not much room left to see iPhone-vs.-Android as anything other than an all-out war. What we’ve got here is a good old-fashioned epic rivalry.

It’s exciting, vicious, fun to watch, and ultimately should prove to be excellent news for consumers. Competition drives innovation and innovation raises the bar for everyone. And the bar, for smartphones, is rising quickly.

Like any great rivalry, there are striking differences between the two competitors. Apple and Google are jostling to shift the comparison between the two platforms to their very different strengths. Apple’s strengths: user experience, design, consistency. Google’s strengths: the cloud, variety, permissiveness.

The most interesting upcoming Android feature that Google demoed at I/O is a “cloud-to-device” messaging API. Examples of how they’re going to use it:

• Buy an app (or song, or anything) from the Android Marketplace using a PC web browser, select one of your Android devices, and the item you just purchased will be pushed directly to that device over the air.

• Take the current URL from your PC web browser and push it to your device, over the air. If it’s a web page, it’ll open in the Android web browser; if it’s a Google Maps URL, it’ll open in the Android Maps app.

One area where the iPhone has been far ahead of Android is in terms of backing up and restoring data. Buy a new iPhone, or install a major OS update, and when you re-sync with iTunes on your desktop, all your apps and data are re-installed. (After upgrading my 3GS to the iPhone OS 4 developer betas recently, I noticed that even the web pages I’d left open in MobileSafari were restored.)

Android doesn’t have that. Upgrade to a new Android device, and there is no way to transfer your data from the old device to the new one. Google is upping the ante on the iPhone here, though, by adding cloud-based data backup for Android applications. The way it should work: get a new Android device, log in with your Google account, and your apps and data are restored to the device, over the air.

Android has nothing today that competes with the iPad. But we all know Android-based iPad-like tablets are surely coming.¹ As I noted in my iPad review, the oddest part of the iPad experience is what happens when you first take it out of the box:

One thing that is very iPhone-like about iPad is that when you first take it out of the box, it wants to be plugged into your Mac or PC via USB and sync with iTunes. In some ways, that’s understandable. USB syncing is how you load your iPad with music and videos and transfer over stuff like your email accounts, and, if you’re not using MobileMe, your contacts and calendars. But, on the whole, it feels retrograde. It creates an impression that the iPad does not stand on its own. It’s a child that still needs a parent. But it’s not a young child. It’s more like a teenager. It’s close. So close that it feels like it ought to be able to stand on its own.

It’s obvious that iPhone OS and Android devices are paving the way to a post-PC future, where by “PC” I mean both Mac and Windows machines. The simplicity of these mobile devices is their core strength, but it also means that they can’t do everything a PC can. iPhone OS devices rely upon a PC, iTunes, and USB syncing to manage this gap. Android devices rely upon servers in the cloud.

Relying upon a PC is ipso facto not “post-PC”, and the challenge for Apple is that they’ve never demonstrated the sort of expertise need to do this via the cloud. Over-the-air syncing, backup, and system updates need to be something that “just happens”.

‘No Chance’

The big loser this week, though, was Microsoft. They’re simply not even part of the game. RIM looms large, as BlackBerrys continue to reign as the best-selling smartphones in the U.S. But Microsoft? They’ve got nothing. No interesting devices, weak sales, and a shrinking user base. Microsoft’s irrelevance is taken for granted.

Google’s competitive focus on the iPhone at I/O was intense and scathing. But it’s Microsoft’s lunch they’re eating. Apple’s and RIM’s game is selling the integrated whole — their own devices, running their own software. Google is playing Microsoft’s game — licensing a platform to many device makers.

The big problem for Microsoft is not that there isn’t, in theory, room for more than one licensed mobile platform, but rather that Microsoft’s model hinges upon monopoly-sized market share. Apple could positively thrive with a long-term mobile market share of, say, 20-25 percent. In the PC industry, Apple generates an outsized share of the profits despite selling only 5 percent of the total units worldwide, because all of Apple’s PCs are in the middle and high price range of the market. In the phone industry today — all mobile phones, not just smartphones — Nokia sells more than 10 times as many units as Apple, but Apple generates more profit.

Microsoft can’t afford for its mobile platform to account for just a sliver of the industry’s unit sales. Their licensing model is all about volume — low per-unit profits multiplied by an enormous number of units. They’re not selling $400-600 phones, they’re selling $8-15 licenses for an OS.

But Google lets carriers and handset makers license Android for free. And not only has Google cut the bottom out of the market price-wise, by the time Windows Phone 7 phones actually come to market, Android will have two complete years of momentum and market share behind it.

Three years ago, just before the original iPhone shipped, here’s what Steve Ballmer said in an interview with USA Today’s David Lieberman:

“There’s no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance. It’s a $500 subsidized item. They may make a lot of money. But if you actually take a look at the 1.3 billion phones that get sold, I’d prefer to have our software in 60 percent or 70 percent or 80 percent of them, than I would to have 2 percent or 3 percent, which is what Apple might get.”

Not only was he wrong about the iPhone, but he was even more wrong about Windows Mobile. Three years ago Ballmer was talking about 60, 70, 80 percent market share. This week, Gartner reported that Windows Mobile has dropped to 6.8 percent market share in worldwide smartphone sales, down dramatically from 10.2 percent a year ago. (The same report puts iPhone OS at 15.2 percent, and Android at 9.6.)

Microsoft can’t undercut Android on price, and it seems increasingly unlikely that they can beat Android in terms of features or experience. They didn’t warrant even a passing reference from Google at I/O. No chance, indeed.

iPhone Case Stand —

iPhone Case Stand is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

I can’t stand my iPhone – literally! It won’t stand up on its own. It’s impossible to watch any type of videos on the phone unless I hold it at a particular angle. Who wants to do that all of the time? Don’t even get me started on the fact that the sound is directed outwards instead of towards my ear. Why can’t I just have some type of case for the iPhone that will protect it, AND turn into a stand… AND direct the sound where it needs to go?

OH… what have we here? It’s the Projeto from ZeroChroma, which they kindly sent along for me to review. Snap it onto your iPhone and you’ll see how sturdy it is. It will protect the back perfectly. But wait… what’s this? Pop the little piece out in the back and it turns into a stand with eighteen different positions! There’s also a “Sound Scoop” to redirect the sounds right towards your ears.

The Projeto is definitely an excellent multifunctional iPhone case, and I WILL be using it from now on. It’s no more expensive than plain cases at about $35.00. It comes in four colors: white, black, pink and grey metallic. HELLO! Why didn’t they send me the hot pink one? I’m just sayin’…

• Kickstand Stand Adjustable Handheld Electronics Holder for Apple Ipad, Iphone and other laptop computer below 12″
• Kickstand Stand Adjustable Handheld Electronics Holder for Apple Ipad, Iphone and other laptop computer below 12″(white)
• IN YOUR FACE viewbase flexible holder for iPhone
• iANGLE – iPhone / iPod touch Stand and Earbud holder
• KONNET iCrado Stylish Metal Stand / Dock for iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPod (Black)
• elago S3 Case for iPhone 3G/3GS (High Glossy)-Black + Universal Dock Adapter + S2 Stand included
• elago S3 Case for iPhone 3G/3GS (High Glossy)-Sport Yellow + Universal Dock Adapter + S2 Stand included

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By Sunday afternoon, most Apple Stores had run out of Wi-Fi-only iPads as well

Piper Jaffray's Gene Munster, one of the few Apple (AAPL) analysts who attends product launches and counts heads, estimates that Apple sold 300,000 iPad 3Gs over the three-day launch weekend, including units pre-ordered online for Friday delivery. That's the same number of units Apple sold in one day when the Wi-Fi-only model launched.

The lines at the stores Munster and his crew monitored — Apple's Fifth Ave. store in New York City and a mall store outside Minneapolis — were shorter than those for the initial iPad launch on April 3 (329 vs. 730 and 119 vs. 132, respectively).

But given that customers had two and a half days to buy iPad 3Gs (versus one for the Wi-Fi model) and nearly twice as long to put in pre-orders, Munster figures 300,000 sounds about right.

Adding those 300,000 units to the 500,000 iPads Apple sold the first week, plus the unknown number purchased in the intervening three weeks, Munster comes up with a total of more than a million iPads sold so far.

In a note to clients issued Sunday, Munster described his current sales estimate of 1.3 million iPads by the end of June — nearly two months from now — as "conservative."

That's an understatement, especially given that Apple is scheduled to begin selling the iPad overseas before the end of May.

But Munster may be forgiven for erring on the side of caution. In early April he published a first-day sales estimate of 600,000 to 700,000 only hours before Apple announced that it had sold only 300,000 iPads that day.

Munster's team called 50 Apple Stores on Sunday and found that 49 of them had sold out of iPad 3Gs and most had run out of Wi-Fi-only models as well. But it's not clear whether that's because demand was high or supplies were low. Munster believes it was probably a bit of both.

"Near-term," he writes, "this may put downward pressure on launch day/weekend statistics, but long-term we see it as a positive, as consumers are definitely interested in the iPad as a new category."

See also:

• iPad 3G draws hundreds in New York
• New iPad launch-day estimate: 600,000-700,000 sold
• Predicting iPad sales: How close were the analysts?
• How many iPads will Apple sell?

[Follow Philip Elmer-DeWitt on Twitter @philiped]

Filed under: Apple 2.0

There’s no denying the power and popularity of the Google search engine, and in comparison to other similar search engines such as Bing, where results are based on page rankings and algorithms, they excel.

But there are other ways to search the web, using what are known as semantic search engines. Using a semantic search engine will ensure more relevant results based on the ability to understand the definition of the word or term that is being searched for, rather than on numbers. Semantic search engines are able to understand the context in which the words are being used, resulting in smart, relevant results.

This is a list of the top 7 search engines to get you started in the world of semantic searching.

Kngine

Kngine’s search results are divided into either web results, or image results. They are preceded by information about the search term, known as ‘Concepts.’ For example, searching for the iPhone 3GS will be preceded by the device’s specs. Searching for a film will be preceded by information about the film, links to trailers, reviews and quotes. Searching for a city will be preceded by information about the city, local attractions, events, weather and hotels.

Kngine currently contains more than 8 million Concepts, and that is where the site’s strength lies.

You can quickly share results from Kngine on Twitter, Facebook, Digg and Delicious and Kngine can be set as your default search engine if you are using Firefox, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer.

Hakia

Hakia’s search results are divided into Web, News, Blogs, Twitter, Image and Video, and can be re-listed according to relevance or date. Depending on the search term, results can also include an excerpt from its Wikipedia entry. They also have what are labeled ‘Credible’ results that come from trusted sources.

Each link is followed by a text excerpt, giving you an idea of what you would find in that search result.

Hakia can also be added to the list of search engines included in your browser’s quick search bar.

Kosmix

Kosmix has a start page which is more elaborate than the most of the other semantic search engines listed here – with popular content featured on its front page from Yahoo Buzz, Digg, YouTube, Fark, Flickr, and a ton of other sources, making it a hybrid aggregator and search engine, with results included from Google and Bing.

Despite this, it is still considered a semantic search engine because it uses semantics in an attempt to link data from all over the web, giving you relevant search results.

When it comes to the search results themselves, they are divided into Video, Web, News & Blogs, Images, Forums, Twitter, Amazon and Facebook. In the case of some results, such as searching for the iPhone 3GS, you will also find Fix-It and How-To Guides.

Kosmix is one of the few semantic search engines which does contain sponsored content, but that is a small price to pay for the wealth of information you can find all in one place.

DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo is a feature-rich semantic search engine, that gives you countless reasons to leave Google behind. Searches are divided into a classic search, information search, shopping and their own spin off from Google, “I’m feeling ducky.”

If you search for a term that has more than one meaning, it will give you the chance to choose what you were originally looking for, with its disambiguation results. For example, searching for the term Apple will give you a long list of the possible meanings – including the fruit, the computer company, the bank and many others.

You can also set DuckDuckGo as your default search engine, and still get results from other search engines without ever leaving the page using their !bang feature. You can search any major site such as Google, YouTube, Amazon and eBay by preceding the search term with “!youtube” or “!google” and so forth – and you will automatically be taken to a list of search results from that service. It also works with keywords such as weather, images, and lyrics.

A full list of the !bang keywords can be found here.

DuckDuckGo features ‘Zero-click info,’ where like with Kngine, information about the search topic precedes the search results.

Other features on DuckDuckGo include category pages, keyboard shortcuts, customisations, and it can detect calculations, WolframAlpha conversions, colour codes and much more.

Evri

Evri, like Kosmix, has an information rich landing page, with top news stories from around the web, which you can scroll through using the navigation at the top of the page.

Search results can be filtered into Articles, Quotes, Images and Tweets, and can also be shared on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. You can either share the entire page of results, or one specific item from the list.

Signing up for an account gives you the added benefit of following specific information streams on certain results. However, not all search results can be followed. So while searching for “Barack Obama” can result in a stream that can be followed, searching for “Obama” alone does not give users the same option.

Additional information about each search term will also be displayed on the page, but again, this is limited to certain results. Using the example of Barack Obama, additional information includes links to other world leaders, an excerpt from Wikipedia, and product results from Amazon.

If you don’t want to sign up for a new account, you can connect your Google, Twitter, Yahoo, Facebook, Windows Live or Blogger accounts in order to sign in.

Like DuckDuckGo, Evri has its own disambiguation results, in a sidebar, giving you the chance to choose a more specific and relevant term.

Evri has a toolbar which supports Firefox and Internet Explorer, allowing you to easily search for and share content. They also provide users with a slick, free iPhone app [iTunes link] which is divided into 3 main tabs – Recent popular news, a search tab, and collected items. Searching for any given term will result in the option to view recent news, images, a profile page, and related items.

It should be mentioned that if you want to use the follow feature on the iPhone app, you will have to create a new Evri account, as connecting to one of your existing accounts will not suffice.

Evri recently joined forces with Twine, so it will be interesting to see how these two services are brought together, in an attempt to provide even more relevant results.

Powerset

The Microsoft-acquired search engine Powerset focuses on doing only one thing – and doing it really well. All search results on Powerset come from Wikipedia, making it the ultimate way to search Wikipedia, using semantics.

Search terms can be formulated as questions, which will be answered, or as simple terms, and results will be aggregated from all the relevant pages on Wikipedia.

Truevert

Truevert presents an interesting twist on the semantic search engine, labelling itself as a ‘green search engine.’

All results are filtered and organized from one specific perspective – with the topic of environmental awareness in mind. Searching for any term will be put in the context of environmental concerns, so for example, searching for ‘meat,’ – the first page of results consists of meat in relation to climate change, organic options, and sustainable food.

Truevert’s front page features the latest news from popular environmental websites and blogs.

If you’re interested in semantic search engines, you should also take a look at Stefan’s article about Juice, a Firefox addon whose results are also based entirely on semantics.

Have you tried out a semantic search engine as an alternative to Google? Let us know what you thought of it in the comments.

Image credit: Chris Chidsey

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iPad Wi-Fi + 3G: tear down —

Bookending the iPad Wi-Fi + 3G unboxing from earlier today is the other classic staple of geekdom: the tear-down. As usual iFixit did the deed, and here’s what they uncovered:

• There are actually FIVE antennas in this iPad. Two antennas handle the cell reception — one is in the RF window on top, the other attaches to the LCD frame. A single GPS antenna is also housed in the RF window on top. Just like the iPad Wi-Fi, there are two antennas that handle Wi-Fi / Bluetooth connectivity, one in the Apple logo and another to the left of the dock connector.

• Apple looks to be using the entire LCD frame as an antenna!

• Apple uses the same 3G baseband processor in both the iPhone 3GS and the iPad 3G.

• The baseband processor in question is the Infineon 337S3754 PMB 8878 X-Gold IC. It was actually white-labeled on the production unit, but with enough sleuthing we were able to confirm its true identity.

• The iPad 3G has a Broadcom BCM4750UBG Single-Chip AGPS Solution, whereas the iPhone 3GS uses an Infineon Hammerhead II package. Big win for Broadcom!

Head on over if you want to see the whole, sordid strip-down…

[iFixit, thanks Gregg for the tip!]

iPad Wi-Fi + 3G: tear down is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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