Valleywag questions why a Canadian tabloid would be the one to break this news—as do we—but it sounds reasonable.
On the other hand (this is just wishful thinking), how cool would it be if Apple got their FCC clearance all done and actually announced that the iPhone was available at the Superbowl? Eh? Eh?
http://www.torontosun.com/Entertainment/Music/2007/01/17/3393906-sun.html [Toronto Sun via Valleywag]
During the holiday season, Apple further cemented its dominance in the estimated $6 billion digital media player market, and brushed aside a new entry from Microsoft (MSFT), the Zune.
Sales of the much-hyped Zune have flagged after an initial flurry in mid-November, when it was unveiled, according to market researchers.
"Zune was a non-event this holiday season," says Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray. It called 40 retail stores - including Best Buy, CompUSA and Circuit City Stores - during the first week of December, and found that 70% of the stores recommended iPod to customers, compared with only 10% for Zune.
Zune was fourth among mobile media players with 1.9% market share in November, compared with 62% for Apple, according to researcher NPD Group. SanDisk and Creative Labs were second and third in market share, respectively.
Visits to the iTunes website on Christmas Day outnumbered those to Zune.net by 30-to-1, market researcher Hitwise says.
The fates of iPod and Zune underscore Apple's supremacy, and Microsoft's attempts to establish itself as the No. 2 player in the market. "Nobody, including Microsoft, expected Zune to compete with the iPod this holiday season," says Matt Rosoff, lead consumer analyst for Directions on Microsoft.
Despite its standing in the market, Microsoft has a long-term commitment to the digital-music player market, and there is plenty of room for more than one company to prosper, Microsoft says. Microsoft expects to meet its goal of selling 1 million units by June 30.
"With billions in the bank, Microsoft can subsidize weak Zune sales for years to come - as it did with Xbox." says Charles King, principal analyst at market researcher Pund-IT.Microsoft is likely to release lower-priced Zune models early this year, NPD analyst Ross Rubin says.
Apple declined comment on its Macworld plans.
Speculation is that it could unveil an iPod with cellphone-like features; a model with a larger screen and higher resolution; or a cheaper iPod with greater capacity, says Joe Wilcox, editor of news blog Microsoft-Watch.com. He also expects news on Leopard, code name for Apple's latest operating system. Microsoft's Windows Vista OS becomes available to consumers in late January.
The emerging MP3 cellphone market could be lucrative for Apple, says King at Pund-IT. Despite an increasing number of phones that incorporate MP3 players, none is considered a must-have gadget, he says.
The buildup to Macworld comes days after Apple said an internal investigation of improper stock-option grants cleared CEO Jobs Steve nd other current executives of any wrongdoing. On Friday, Apple said it will restate its earnings by $84 million after taxes because of improper grants made from 1997 to 2002. Apple says it is cooperating with the Securites and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Northern California.The PlayStation 3 is finally available for sale--in theory, anyway. Those fortunate few who were lucky enough to get their hands on Sony's bleeding-edge console will find that it's chock full of features, but there are some choice accessories you'll want to pick up to maximize the PS3 experience.
Extra controllers: The PS3 supports up to seven wireless controllers, but two to four is still the standard for most multiplayer games. Since the console ships with just a single controller, you'll need to pick up at least one more if you want to go head-to-head on launch titles like Resistance: Fall of Man, Madden NFL 07, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, or NBA 07. The old PS2 controllers won't work on your PlayStation 3, so your choices are limited. You can opt for another Sony SIXAXIS wireless controller ($50, identical to the one included with the console) or go for the Logitech ChillStream ($40), a PS3-ified version of the accessory giant's fan-cooled PC gamepad. It'll keep your palms sweat-free, but--unlike the SIXAXIS--it's not wireless.
HDMI cable: Sony has touted the PS3's high-definition pedigree at every turn, so it's rather ironic that the company ships both versions of the PS3 with just a composite A/V cable--which can't deliver any high-def resolutions, let alone the vaunted best-in-class 1080p. To see the games and Blu-ray movies in HD (and we're assuming you have a compatible HDTV), your best bet is to get an HDMI cable, which provides an all-digital audio and video connection from the PS3 to your HDTV (or A/V receiver) on a single wire. A lot of people are under the impression that HDMI cables can't be had for under $80--and, to be sure, you'll pay $100 or more for premium brand names such as tk prod Monster and Belkin PureAV. But we've had good luck with "generic" brands, which can be obtained for as little as $20--if not less.
Home router (wired or wireless): With the PS3, Sony will be debuting a massive online infrastructure that will allow users to play games head-to-head, download demos, access exclusive multimedia content, and communicate with fellow gamers. And unlike Microsoft's Xbox Live, Sony is pledging that basic online game play will be free of charge (Title-specific subscriptions, upgrades and special offers will cost money, of course). The PS3 even includes a built-in Web browser. To access all that online content, of course, you'll need a broadband connection. Both versions of the PS3 include an Ethernet port (and an Ethernet cable), and the 60GB "deluxe" version offers built-in Wi-Fi to boot. Just make sure you have a router in the vicinity.
PS2 memory card adaptor: Despite reports of some incompatibilities, the PlayStation 3 is designed to play nearly all of the past PS2 and even original PlayStation games right out of the box. And unlike the Nintendo Wii, you won't need your old controllers or memory cards--the PS3 controller will work fine with the old games, and you can save your progress to the internal hard drive. But for those die-hards who've started a game of God of War or Final Fantasy XII on the PS2, and have their progress saved on the old console's proprietary memory cards, Sony's got a workaround. Just plug in the memory card adaptor ($15) to one of the PS3's USB ports, and you can copy all your saved games onto the new system. So, unlike Xbox owners who were forced to exile all their old saved games when upgrading to a 360, you won't have to start those games from scratch.
A game: Unlike the Wii, the PS3 ships without a game in the box (though initial shipments of the console include the Will Ferrell movie Talladega Nights on Blu-ray). As mentioned above, most of your old PS2 games should work just fine, but to see the new console pumping pixels at its full potential, you'll want to get at least one of the new games available. Resistance: Fall of Man--a PS3 exclusive--is an early favorite.
Only five accessories? That's it? For starters, yes. Once we get a taste of the PS3's online features (activated only hours ago), we'll update the list to include other add-ons (Bluetooth headsets, anyone?). Of course, the PS3 will really shine when integrated into a top-notch home theater--with a large HDTV and a full-on surround sound audio system--but calling either of those an "accessory" would be a stretch.
A juicy Apple rumor is always sure to get bloggers salivating, and this one is no exception: reports began trickling out of Taiwan this week that contract manufacturer Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, has received an order to produce 12 million Apple iPhones.
Hon Hai produces iPods for Apple and makes mobile phone components. Taiwan's Commercial Times first reported the rumor, citing unidentified industry sources, and both Apple and Hon Hai have refused to comment.
The iPhone has long been a dream of Apple fans, and the latest incarnation of the rumor has the devices being announced at MacWorld in January.
Despite the lack of any solid details about a phone, bloggers had no problems voicing their opinion about the product's technology, advertising and business strategy.
Blog community response:
"Apple will face difficulties. Carriers are the ultimate power-players in this game, and they will exert control over revenue splits and pricing. Apple may be viewed as a competitor, and that could affect its inclusion in subsidized hardware plans. Regardless, millions already pay hefty price tags for their iPods, and that willingness will likely extend into the mobile phone realm."
--Digital Music News
"One of the rather interesting marketing aspects I've read about is the idea that the iPhone won't be tied to any specific carrier. Instead, it will be sold 'unlocked,' requiring you to insert a GSM subscriber identity (SIM) card. The downside: Apple won't get any subsidies or special deals from working with the likes of Cingular or T-Mobile. The upside: such an approach opens up most of the world as the target market instead of just the US."
--Blackfriars Marketing
"Apple already knows computers. I've noticed more and more cell phones have computer-like functionality, like email, web browsing, playing music, and showing movies. Apple already knows how to do all of this stuff simply, and more."
--Webomatica
"The introduction of the unlocked iPhone will do two things - it would basically get US buyers savvy to the idea of buying full priced unlocked phones. Secondly, it is going to cause a behavior change - of buying phones instead of freebies. It won't be a mass-market phenomenon in the early stages, but eventually (as shown by iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle), Apple will bring the iPhone prices down to a mass-market price point."
--Om Malik
You really like the music/picture sharing: Zune. It's a feature not found on the iPod, but will have limited use unless your friends all buy Zunes. Chicken & Egg problem, where you don't want to buy one until other people have it, which means it'll take a while to get up to speed.
You want a bigger screen: Zune.
You need an all-you-can-eat subscription service: Zune.
You want a store with a larger music library: iPod.
You want a movie and TV store: iPod.
You want contacts, calendar, notes, stopwatch, and iPod Games: iPod.
You want to be different/want something new: Zune.
Xbox 360 owners who purchase music and want streaming: Zune.
Xbox 360 owners who purchase music and don't want streaming: iPod.
You want a scratch resistant player: Zune.
You want a built-in FM tuner: Zune.
You want a touch-sensitive scroll wheel: iPod.
For most people,I am going to recommend you get an iPod. It's got more support, plus it's backed by iTunes, which works well and gives you a lot more choice in music, TV, and movie purchases.
Of course if you want a subscription service, or a bigger screen, or a built-in FM tuner, then there's the Zune. But if you're borderline between the Zune and the iPod, I'd play it safe and get the iPod, then wait for the 2nd generation Zune and see what's going on.
Zune Product Page [Amazon]
iPod Product Page [Amazon]
CUPERTINO, California—November 14, 2006—Apple® today announced it is teaming up with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United to deliver the first seamless integration between iPod® and in-flight entertainment systems. These six airlines will begin offering their passengers iPod seat connections which power and charge their iPods during flight and allow the video content on their iPods to be viewed on the their seat back displays.
“There is no better traveling companion than an iPod, and now travelers can power their iPods during flight and even watch their iPod movies and TV shows on their seat back displays,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “We’re excited to work with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United to offer iPod users an even better in-flight experience.”
In-flight iPod connectivity will be available to Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United passengers beginning in mid 2007. Additionally, Apple is working with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring even more leading airlines in-flight iPod connectivity in the future.
The iPod ecosystem continues to flourish with more than 3,000 accessories made specifically for iPod that range from fashionable cases to speaker systems, and more than 70 percent of 2007-model US automobiles currently offer iPod connectivity.
iPod and iTunes® are leading the digital music revolution, providing the best way to listen to music on the go, at home, in the car and now on an airplane. With nearly 70 million iPods sold, the iPod is the world’s most popular digital music and portable video player and the iTunes Store is the number one online music store with over 1.5 billion songs purchased and downloaded worldwide. The iTunes Store (www.itunes.com) features over 3.5 million songs, 65,000 podcasts, 20,000 audiobooks, 5,000 music videos, 250 television shows and over 100 movies from Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online store.
with the "Buy" buttons forwarding users on to Zune or Rhapsody.
