iPhone

Suck on that Lenin!

After waiting for 26 hours to get his phone Hun Jin-suck was the first to get the iPhone in South Korea.  They had a giant celebration to release the phone and Hun was greeted by crowds, a light show and booming music as he got his.  He was the first among 850 to get the phone at the giant celebration thrown by Apple and KT corp., Apple’s local telecom partner.

KT and Apple reported that there have been more than 50,000 preorders for the phone, which is far more than any estimate experts originally had.  Many experts were thrown off by a lack luster Chinese launch that saw only 5,000 phones sold the first week and assumed that the South Korean launch may be similar.  South Korea is known for having tech savvy customers and very high penetrations of broadband and cell phone use.  It is also home to cell phone makers Samsung and LG so the domestic competition is very tough.

Yet there are many differences in the Chinese and South Korean launches.  While, yes, there many cell phone users in South Korea there is not a lot of smart phones.  Samsung and LG have limited smart phone options and other companies like Black Berry have just begun to break in.  Second, in China the local company, China Unicom, did not offer a straight up Apple iPhone.  Due to government interference they offered a version with no broadband and at a huge cost.  A mainland Chinese customer would end up paying over $1000 to get an iPhone that was not as good as one available around the world.  Between gray markets and Hong Kong distributors many Chinese opted to not go through Unicom to get their phone.

The South Korean iPhone comes in at a variety of prices but tops off at $350 depending on the phone you get and the plan you sign up with at KT corp.  Originally it was thought that both major telecom companies in the country would carry the iPhone but then only KT, the second largest, got them.  Apple had to jump through a series of regulatory nightmares to be allowed to sell their devices in the country because they have the ability to located you and pass that location on to the network.  That required a special license from the government and KT helped Apple get it.

So now that KT has the iPhone its larger rival, SK Telecom, is partnering with Samsung to offer some sort of smart phone alternative and stem the tide of an “iPhone invasion”.  SK and Samsung have kicked up subsidies for new and renewing users on the Samsung T-Omnia II, which is stacked with options but at nearly $800 was too expensive for many users.

It looks like Samsung and SK aren’t going to cede dominance in the market easily but it’s hard for many people to resist the lure of the almighty iPhone.  Only time will tell how it all shakes out, but with so many people looking to upgrade to smart phones the fight is far from over in South Korea.

Photo Credits: William Hook

Originally posted 2009-12-10 03:19:03.

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iPod Touch

I personally hate shopping and I loathe shopping during the holiday season.  I’d rather be buried up to my head next to an ant hill and have honey dumped on me than stand in line outside of a Wal-Mart to bust through the doors to save $20 bucks on a TV.  Like most things in my life I find procrastination helps a bit.  By waiting until about a week before Christmas, or sooner (my personal best was December 23^rd), I find that most of the bargain hunters and uber-shoppers are done.

This year I am prepared though.  Not only am I going to implement my standard shopping procrastination strategy but I am going to harness the awesome power of my iPhone to help me navigate this potential mine field.  While part of me doesn’t want to share with you my iPhone shopping secrets at the end of the day I’m a good person, and I need something to write about.  So here you go; the best holiday shopping iPhone apps:

1. Discounts Galore: Everyone and their brother is offering Black Friday, Cyber Monday and discounts throughout the shopping season.  In order to find the best check out apps like TGI Black Friday and Fat Wallet.  They will pipe the latest coupons and deals right to your phone.
2. Nearest: While this isn’t exactly shopping orientated it will help you locate needed essentials while shopping.  Helpful if you’re in a strange town visiting relatives and need to find the nearest coffee shop, bookstore or pharmacy because you’re little nephew decided to show off his tee ball skills on your groin (true story).
3. Park n Find: This app is killer if you’re shopping in a huge mega mall and easily get turned around while inside.  My sister is notorious for this as large shopping complexes make her lose all sense of direction.  With this app you use GPS to mark your parking spot and then can follow the map back.
4. $ Checkout: I can see why some people might need this app but simple arithmetic has never boggled my mind before so I don’t see the point.  It allows you to calculate your total bill with taxes and discounts included.  No matter how I feel though this one is pretty popular.
5. Shop Savvy: This is one is all kinds of sweet if you have some time to invest during your shopping.  In my opinion shopping should be quick and dirty, like sex.  But if you’re absolutely obsessed with finding the best deal then use this app to take a picture of an item’s bar code and it will search online retailers for the best deal.  It might end up saving you some cash on big ticket items, or at least give you something to do while your girl friend is punishing you with an hour long trip to the candle store.  Did you know they make candles that smell like the beach?  I do now!
6. Mall Maps: For the most part I am anti-paying for apps but this one is well worth the $2.99.  The Mall Maps app feeds you over 1,000 detailed floor plans of shopping centers all around the country.  I used this during a recent trip to a California Bay Area mega mall near my sister’s house.  I was able to see where the stores I was looking for were located before I even got there.  I parked accordingly and was in and out before I knew it.  I was like a shopping Ninja, a shopping Ninja with an Orange Julius in his happy hands!

Photo Credits: Mac Users Guide

Originally posted 2009-12-14 03:47:16.

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New iMac Released October 2009

If you’re looking for innovation in the tech world the first place you need to look is your local Apple store and check out the new iMac.  Ever since Apple came out with the iMac in 1998 they have been revolutionizing the way we look at desktop computers.  While the mindless legions have come to accept the standard configuration of the PC through years of indoctrination Apple strived to focus on a combination of style and performance.

The iMac has been redone again for October of 2009 and released with much fanfare.  With product offerings like this it’s no wonder Apple gains new converts every day, continues to blow away sales estimates and has a stock price that just won’t come back to Earth.  The new incarnation of the iMac is better looking, more powerful, and surprisingly better for the environment than past versions and definitely any PC out there.

Let’s break it down; shall we?

Looks

The iMac is famous for it’s all in one design.  That’s right: no cords, wires or anything between you and your computer.  The hard drive, graphics cards, processor and everything else you need to make a computer do what it does is all included in the back of the screen.

While the iMac looks killer there is always functionality behind the fashion.   The wireless keyboard and mouse are not only sleek and smooth looking but also super practical.  You don’t have to worry about being close to the computer all the time.  If you work better kicking back and relaxing then go for it.  Unlike PC wireless keyboards and mice there are no wired bases to plug in.

When it comes to looks the first you thing you will notice is the screen resolution on this bad boy!  The screen comes in either 21.5 or 27-inch versions with edge to edge viewing areas.  The 16:9 wide screen is perfect for watching HD movies and shows with crazy high resolution.  The 21-inch version offers 1920 by 1080 and the 27 inch version comes with an unheard of 2560 by 1440 resolution.  Basically you’re going to be set for HD for next couple of years.

Power

The new iMac isn’t just eye candy either; it’s got some serious power under that screen.  The iMac comes available with quad core Intel Core i5 or i7 “Nehalem”.  With less distance for info having to travel between the cores the speed and performance is super enhanced on this desktop.  Combined with the new Snow Leopard and insane graphics cards this power will allow you fly through movies, games and applications with no hiccups.

Green

I don’t usually consider the environmental impact of the computers I buy; I guess that puts me on Al Gore’s hit list or something.  The new iMac would make our Nobel prize winning ex-Vice President happy though with it’s slew of features that minimize the impact on the environment.  The Apple desktop offers efficient power supply with state of the art power management.  Basically, when you don’t need the extra juice it shuts it off.  The low power needs of the iMac even give it an Energy Star 5.0 qualification.

The entire system is designed around keeping the amount of toxic materials to a minimum.  Harmful BFRs and PVCs have been eliminated from the iMac’s construction while mercury has been removed from the back lighting and arsenic from monitor.  The iMac’s glass display and aluminum casing can be recycled as well.  Apple will also recycle your old computer when you purchase their new all in one iMac.

So if you’re in the market for a new desktop computer the iMac offers a whole lot.  It’s the perfect combo of looks and performance and is even good for the environment.  The 21.5 inch version starts at $1199 and the 27 inch one starts at $1699.  While you’re going to pay more than a standard desktop PC you definitely get a lot more.  If you care about performance, looks and simplicity then it’s worth the extra cash.

Go and check one out at the Apple store, online or at your buddy’s house or I’ll sic Al Gore and his granola goons on you!

Originally posted 2010-01-12 03:20:08.

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Mac OS X

While Pystar had only been able to sell 728 of these computers Apple came down like a ton of bricks to stop them dead in their tracks and make an example of them.  Just in case you think about bogarting Apple’s technology you might want to consider the legal costs and $2.1 million payment Pystar is going to have to dish out for the “damage” they did to the Apple brand.

Apple is notorious for keeping Stalin-like control over its patents and proprietary technology.  They develop their own hardware and software in house and only allow third party developers the honor of cranking out products after closely monitored review processes.

This has most recently reared its ugly head with iPhone app developers either walking away from projects or voicing their displeasure with the Apple approval process.  While Apple dominates the smart phone market with its iPhone and over 100,000 plus apps up and coming platforms like Google’s Android and the business go-to Black Berry are luring developers away.  Fearing a mass exodus Apple has offered some clarity into their review process, however many developers scoff at progress updates as significant progress.

While getting pissed off that your brand new fart sound-making app is being delayed by Apple is one thing, jacking their hardware and software technology is something completely different.  Pystar’s computers are basically bad knockoffs of Macs and Macbooks that come preloaded with Apple’s operating systems.  They use a lot of fancy technological footwork to install the operating systems and circumvent copyright laws and Apple’s own defense mechanisms.

In reaction to the California lawsuit Pystar filed their own lawsuit in Florida over the Snow Leopard issue.  Apple has struck back by saying that the second lawsuit should be dismissed or rolled into the first.  Apple’s stance is that they “should not be required to file a new lawsuit to stop Pystar from infringing Apple’s intellectual property each time Apple releases a new version of Mac OS X.”

What is most shocking about all of this is that this company only sold 728 machines in all of 2009.  While they projected to sell 470,000 this year and as many as 12 million in 2011 their sales fell drastically short of that.  While I do think Apple has every right to stop people from stealing their technology it seems like a huge reaction to a company that took a year to sell as many computers that they sell in 40 minutes!

Apple does need to defend their technology but at some point if they want to become as ubiquitous as PCs they need to open up hardware and software development to more third party developers.  If this means loosening the reigns and accepting less control over the process then that’s what they may have to do.

For the time being though don’t expect any big changes coming from Apple.  They are kings of the mountain and aren’t going to give anyone a shot at the crown any time soon.

Photo Credits: DeclanTM

Originally posted 2009-12-31 03:52:13.

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Black Friday at the Mall

Rumors had leaked awhile back about steep Apple Black Friday discounts which just didn’t seem to materialize. While we didn’t see the Apple mother ship stores offer the discounts we all hoped for it looks like large resellers of Apple products are stepping in to drum up sales for the tech giant.

Black Friday is usually a time where lovers of pure capitalism gear up for ridiculous sales and early morning door busters. Nothing that can beat waking up at 2 in the morning to be in line at 3. Use that time to plan your attack and visualize how you’re going to fight off some blue haired grandma with well-thrown elbows or strategic tripping! I jest but seriously a Wal-Mart worker was killed last year because when they opened the doors a stampede erupted and the dude was trampled.

Obviously us Americans are consumer obsessed, materialistic beings. Our entire economy runs on it and for better or worse it’s how this country works. Apple is more than just a juggernaut in the technology world, they are vital to retail as well. Not only do stores like Best Buy and other electronics retailers depend on them for sales but online retailers like Amazon also get a big up tick from reselling Apple gear.

And let’s not forget about the hundreds of Apple stores around the world. They have become Mecca for the Apple loyal to come and play with the latest gear, get their Apple stuff fixed and pump money into this lagging economy. Each Apple retail store is responsible for about $26 million dollars of sales a year. It’s no wonder that Apple is building more when everyone else is canceling expansion plans. The new $40 million dollar New York flagship store is perfect evidence of Apple’s plan.

Apparently, Apple’s retail stores aren’t getting into the holiday spirit as much as we all thought. They offered 8% discount to the Mac Book Pro and iMac lines for Black Friday only. The bad thing about their discounting is that it is a flat $101 off all lines. So while that is great for the cheaper Mac Book Pro the $101 discount off of the iMac is only a 5% discount.

The crazy thing is that Apple is allowing, either directly or indirectly, their resellers to beat their prices. Amazon.com is selling the 13-inch Mac Book Pro for $1050, a 13% discount. And these sales aren’t just confined to retail stores or Black Friday. MacConnection.com is beating both Apple and Amazon with their deals. They have 15 inch Mac Book Pros for $200 to $300 off MSRP, the 27-inch iMac for $180 off and the MacBook for a whopping $150 off.

MacConnections.com is offering these deals through December 2nd but they require sending in massive rebates. In the end though these are the best deals you’re going to find on Apple computers leading up to Christmas.

Apple and others might offer better deals depending on how the holiday shopping season is shaping up. If Black Friday numbers seem off they may drop prices to encourage buyers to come in. Judging from the past performance of Apple though I wouldn’t count on it.

If you need a computer this a great time to pick one up!

Photo Credits: Lars Plougmann

Originally posted 2009-12-09 03:00:54.

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Screenshot: Apple Home

This can be attributed to many aspects of the current computer market.  First, Windows based PCs are made by so many different competitors that prices are extremely low.  One manufacturer can’t afford to break ranks and charge a higher price than the others.  PCs like this have become more of a commodity in the market place and while prices are low the very nature of this arrangement makes them flawed when compared to Apple.

Apple keeps, and always has kept, a close eye on it’s software and hardware technology.  Back in the early days of PCs they refused to open up their platforms to many outside developers while IBM type PCs did.  Software and hardware developers flocked to the Windows based PCs because they were easily allowed to make software for it.  Apple on the other hand makes their own hardware and software in house.  The MacOS X system is developed and produced by Apple.  As opposed to a company like HP or Dell that puts together the hardware and then buys the software from Microsoft Apple does it all.

This, combined with lower overall market share, has kept Apple computers from being the main targets of viruses, worms and other malware.  Since windows based PCs represent a wider swath of the market and their systems are more open they are more easily attacked.  Apple has developed a well earned reputation for reliability and resistance to viruses based on this that they have turned into one of their biggest selling points.

Yes, you’re going to pay more for an Apple computer than a Windows based PC.  The Apple iMac series starts at $1199 while you can get a comparable PC for around $500.  This helps explains why Apple gets such a huge chunk of computer sales revenue.  There is just a lot more money there and combined with growing popularity this means Apple’s slice of the pie is getting bigger.

But it’s like anything else in life; you get what you pay for.  Yes, a Lexus costs more than a Hyundai and for good reason.  Personally speaking I’d rather put a little more money in up front for a quality product than have to pay later for fixing my computer, upgrading the operating system and protecting myself from viruses.

Now with the explosion in iPod and iPhone sales Apple is getting a record number of new customers.  They are finally realizing that Apple products are the best when it comes to combining technology, style and performance.

So here’s to Apple.  I hope Bill Gates and Steve Balmer choke on this one a little bit!

Originally posted 2009-12-29 03:45:59.

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Someone loves Windows 7

Apple users, that is those using Mac OS X, only account for 5% of people online according to Net Applications so when Windows 7 users spiked up over the 5% mark last week the new operating system overtook Apple.  Now I know that PCs dominate the market but I was personally shocked that so few people actually run Apple’s stuff.

Back in the day PC makers opened their platforms up to third party developers while Apple kept a tight control over theirs.  While this allows for Apple to keep tabs on what is going on with their systems it turns a lot of developers off or completely shuts them out.  Why not take the easier path of making software for the PC?

Microsoft is king of PC software makers, that’s no secret.  But with a series of high profile flops the last couple of years they have lost some of their luster.  Windows Vista, the supposed savior of their company turned out to completely worthless.  It was so bad that Microsoft went on a guerilla marketing campaign and tricked people into using it calling it “Project Mojave”.  I never had a lot of exposure to Vista, so I can’t say whether or not it was the second coming but from what I hear and have seen it was riddled with holes.

These kinds of missteps combined with the growing popularity of Apple computers on college laptops has led to more people checking out Apple computers.  Now that almost everyone has an Apple iPod or iPhone it seems people are coming around to using Apple computers more and more.

Unfortunately, the market is flooded with PCs and PC users.  They have been indoctrinated by years at work and schools that PCs were the only way to go.  These same people that complain about viruses and their computers constantly breaking down won’t take the leap to Apple.  Some cite higher prices as their reasons for not buying Apple computers but in the end you end up paying more with fixes and software to block all the nasty stuff out there designed to infect PCs.

I do have to tip my hat to Microsoft though.  It does seem as though they have a decent operating system going on there.  I still would take Mac OS X any day of the week and twice on Sundays over it but Windows 7 addresses a lot of problems that people had with the older systems.  The sales have done well for Microsoft as well; Steve Balmer claims that they have sold more Windows 7 operating systems than any other in the same time frame.  While this may be linked to more computers being out there it is still a good sign for Microsoft.

Bill Gates could show up at my house with a pizza, a 12 pack and strippers and I still wouldn’t swap out my Apple for a PC!

Photo Credits: russeℓℓ

Originally posted 2009-12-16 03:51:34.

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iPad vs Amazon

According to the New York Times, Apple has made a deal with Perseus Books, and reportedly 4-5 other publishers from other sources, in order to stock their virtual shelves on their proprietary iBookstore. Perseus Books is one of the nations leading publishers, creating books for both commercial and academic purposes. Some of their smaller prints include the Zagat survey (for restauranteurs and Epicureans alike) as well as the Harvard Business School Press.

The deal will involve a business model that veers far from the Amazon relationship with it’s publishers. A relationship which at one point sparked a controversial battle against publishing giant MacMillian, who has significantly more control over pricing with Apple. Some of MacMillian’s physical books were removed from Amazon’s online store and was received with a lash of outrage from the writing community.

Apple’s business model is based on the App Store model, where they give the publishers complete control over their own pricing, subject to very limited regulatory practices. Apple would then take a 30% cut of the profits in the form of commissions. This would in turn create a much more competitive market both internally, creating price points that would suit the individual consumer. Eventually, the technology may extend to academic prints that would normally cost a student anywhere between $50-$300 a book, and cut it down to half that price.

Regardless of where this battle takes either company, it will mean a significant relief to consumers as Amazon’s current 90% market share of the e-book market will be significantly changed. Consequently, a battle of both innovation and consumer economics will continue. Apple doesn’t seem to be afraid to lock horns with any major company, and has recently gone head to head in a legal battle against Google’s Nexus One in the smartphone market.

Photo Credits: Rego - twitter.com/w3bdesign

Originally posted 2010-03-30 03:31:14.

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iPad

The iPad, slated to come out on April 3^rd and already ready to be pre-ordered, has been one of the most anticipated and widely rumored Apple devices next to the iPhone. At a price-point of $499, it is on par to compete with Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes and Noble's Nook.

Some seem to have looked past the hype and looked at the details surrounding this fabled device, scrutinizing it’s every feature. Here are some of the key features that were indicated in Apple’s keynote in late January.

The iPad, like it’s younger cousin the iPhone, is a multi-touch device. Again like the iPhone, it has a completely backlit LCD screen unlike the Kindle and Nook. It supposedly runs on the iPhone OS, therefore making Safari, Mail, Photos, Videos, YouTube, iTunes, iPod, the App Store, Maps, and the whole plethora of native iPhone software, native on the iPad as well.

One of it’s main selling points however is a new application called iBooks, where you get a literal bookshelf GUI, with all the books you either own or have rented, as well as any magazine subscriptions you have, and you can browse through it similar to the way you would browse through a real life bookshelf. Logically, the books themselves are NOT buyable on the Appstore or iTunes, but on it’s own application iBookstore.

One of the big leaps outside of the iPhone OS ring, is the integration of the iWork suite, similar to what a Mac or Macbook would have. It then becomes quite versatile, especially in conjunction with mail, allowing you to access all your files on the go without having to open up a laptop.

With a 9.7-inch screen, viewing any of the apps is a breeze, allowing for a 1024x768 pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi). You can buy it in 16, 32, or 64 GB flash memory, making it much roomier than any of its counterparts.

One of the main points of contention ever since it was announced at the keynote was it’s battery life. Comparatively, the Kindle has up to seven days battery life with the wireless turned on (with it’s most recent update), versus the iPad’s measly 10 hours. Steve Jobs quickly shot down the remark in an interview post-keynote commenting that not very many people would use the device for 10 hours a day.

Aside from the battery life, and the display; the form and function of the iPad seems to be much better than it’s e-book reader counterparts. All we can do now is wait until reviews of the actual device come up.

Photo Credits: nDevilTV

Originally posted 2010-03-29 03:25:56.

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