A long-distance call on an Apple phone

my first post had too be cool so well here it goes....

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

Zune OR iPod ...Microsoft or Apple??

Now it comes down to the final question: should you buy the iPod or the Zune? After 72 hours of deliberating, I'll tell you what I would do. Since I've got an iPod, I'm sticking with the iPod. I don't want to have to buy all my music again, give up smart playlists, and basically learn to use both a new player and the corresponding software. Then there are all the accessories I don't want to purchase again. Plus, since there's no OS X support, Mac users have their choice made up for them. Say you're not using the iPod, or are ready to try something different. Now, you've got a lot more options...

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]

Apple has done IT....

Apple Computer has filed for a trademark on the term iPhone, suggesting the company plans to use the moniker, recently popularized amongst the analyst and blogging communities, as the official name for its highly-anticipated iPod cell phone.

The filing, made last month with a Far Eastern trademark office, is the latest in a long list of incontrovertible evidence to suggest the Cupertino, Calif.-based iPod maker is in the final developmental stages of the project, which is expected to merge traditional cellular capabilities with an iPod digital music player.

In the September 15th filing, Apple describes iPhone as "handheld and mobile digital electronic devices for the sending and receiving of telephone calls, faxes, electronic mail, and other digital data; MP3 and other digital format audio players."

Under the primary but broad classification, Apple said iPhone may also consist of "electronic handheld units for the wireless receipt and/or transmission of data that enable the user to keep track of or manage personal information."

Similarly, it may include "software for the redirection of messages, Internet e-mail, and/or other data to one or more electronic handheld devices from a data store on or associated with a personal computer or a server; and software for the synchronization of data between a remote station or device and a fixed or remote station or device."

Of particular interest is a secondary classification of iPhone listed in the filing which pertains to a "stand alone video game machine," implying that the device may be compatible with the handful of arcade games recently introduced for Apple's fifth-generation video iPod players. The games are available for purchase and download from the company's iTunes Store for $4.99 a piece.

According to the filing, which remains under examination, Apple originally sought the iPhone trademark back in March, when it filed a similar request with a trademark office in a nation off the coast of South America.

Analysts and journalists have frequently use the term iPhone in reference to the company's cell phone initiative because of a December 16, 1999 domain registry by the iPod maker for iPhone.org. To this date, iPhone.org redirects to Apple's homepage at Apple.com.

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, who has been known to blab to cronies about his company's upcoming cell phone device, is believed to have commissioned the release of prototypes to at least two potential OEM manufacturing partners earlier this year.

People familiar with the project have told AppleInsider that Apple is designing the initial handsets to conform with its integrated model in such a way that they will leverage the company's tightly-knit digital media franchises.

Shaw Wu, an analyst with American Technology Research, has also been high in his convictions that Apple will soon introduce an iPhone based on an iPod nano-like candy bar form factor. He said checks indicate the device will be available in three colors.

"Our research indicates that an Apple-designed smart phone has moved from concept to prototype and recently has progressed to near completion as a production unit," the analyst wrote in a note to Apple investors last month. "We believe this smart phone has been in development for over 12 months and has overcome substantial challenges including design, interference, battery life and other technical glitches."

Should Apple gain a 1 percent share in the billion unit worldwide cell phone market, it could generate an addition $2 billion in yearly revenue, according to Wu, who based the assumption on yearly sales of 10 million units at an average selling price of $200 per unit.

From
THE APPLE INSIDER

Apple touch screen iPods was a TYPO!

A reference to an iPod digital music player with a "touch-screen" interface that turned up in a recently revised Apple Computer iPod developer document is causing some excitement amongst the Apple enthusiast community this week.

The solitary reference in an otherwise irrelevant and lengthy tutorial posted Apple plz stop
pdf document on interfacing with the iPod's text-based "Notes" feature is more than likely a misprint than a company slip-up, but is garnering widespread attention amongst the blogging community nonetheless.

"Linking to photos and videos is supported only for 5th generation iPods running iPod Software version 1.2 or later," a technical writer for Apple wrote on page 10 of the 47-page tutorial. "All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models with display screens, beginning with the touch-screen models."

Based on the preceding information in the document, it's believed the citation is no more than a mistyped reference to the company's third-generation iPods which sport a touch-sensitive click-wheel interface.

Still, recent patent filings have made it abundantly clear the Cupertino, Calif.-based iPod maker is hard at work on a next-generation hard disk drive iPod that will likely sport some form of touch-screen control. The latest and most extensive filing that turn up last month referenced several touch-based iPod designs, including some with touch-screens and others with touch-sensitive enclosures.

Traditionally a tight-lipped company, Apple's divulgence in the latest series of filings emphasizes its willingness to tip its hand in order gain exclusive patent rights to vital next-generation media player technologies.

Apple has already been late to bat at least once in filing for crucial digital media player patents, which cost it dearly via an out-of-court settlement. In August, it payed rival Creative Technologies $100 million for a license to use its software interface patent, which covers most aspects of a digital music player's software interface, including the one featured on display-based iPods.

Apple, which filed for its own patent on the iPod's software interface, was turned down by the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a result of the earlier filing by Creative.

Update: As presumed, the touch-screen mention was a typo. The developer document has now been corrected to read: "All other Notes feature capabilities described in this document are supported for iPod models beginning with third-generation iPod (dock connector) models with touch wheel."

Sony Vaio G1: Sub 2-Pounder, Carbon Fiber Goodness

From GiZmoDo

Sony's smashed the 2-pound barrier with its Sony Vaio G1, a 1.98-pound carbon fiber laptop that the company calls "the lightest fully usable notebook ever produced." Despite that feather weight, it still has a 12.1-inch display, 1.5GB of RAM and an 80GB hard drive.

Unfortunately, its 1.2GHz Intel Core Solo processor isn't going to set any speed records, but we'll forgive this slim little jewel for that, which still is just 2.46 pounds light even with its DVD-RW drive inserted and a double-capacity 12 hour battery inside. Available in Japan in the first week of December at around $2000, you can pre-order it now for US delivery from cool-tech importer Dynamism.

This one stirs our techno-lust, especially since we find a 12.1-inch screen particularly useful for airborne computing while crammed into munchkin-sized airplane seats. – Charlie White

See a slew of gorgeous pics, after the jump!