"It's yet another in a long series of diversions in an attempt to avoid responsibility." - Chris Knight
Archive for the ‘Apple’ Category
Will Google Android Be Windows To Apple’s iPhone?
November 14th, 2007 by iDunzo
Everyone is complaining that Google’s Android looks an a lot like the iPhone.
Well, what if that is Google’s point? What if Google hopes to do to the iPhone what Microsoft did to Apple’s first user experience breakthrough, the Mac?
Here is the Google video again, just to remind you what Android looks like:
Let’s return to the to the Android, Windows analogy.
Think about it: Apple spent a lot of time building the Mac. They proved the concept of the GUI on the desktop, but Apple never captured the desktop.
Why? Because all Microsoft had to do was step in with a lower-cost alternative that ripped off Apple’s UI and did most, but certainly not all, of the things the Mac did.
Windows has never equaled the Mac in terms of aesthetics or usability, but it never had to. It just had to be good enough.
The other reason Windows beat the Mac in the 1980s was because it was, gasp, more open than the Mac.
While Windows is far from an open platform, it is more open than Mac and Microsoft has always courted developers. As a result, Windows is the global ecosystem of applications and developers.
Google is intentionally making Android more open than its closed rival, the iPhone. Google is courting lots of developers with lots of money. Doesn’t this all seem a little familiar?
Let’s push the analogy further.
What does Google Android promise? It promises easier-to-use mobile applications on a lot of cell phones.
Doesn’t that promise sound a lot like Microsoft’s promise with Windows? Easier-to-use PCs for the mainstream?
I am sure Google doesn’t want to be compared to Microsoft, but at first glance Android sure looks like a movie we’ve seen before.
What do you think? Do you think Google plans to use Android to give the Microsoft Windows treatment to the iPhone?
Posted in Apple + Google + Microsoft + Technology + Wireless | 
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Apple iPhone Firmware Update 1.1.2 On The Way
November 5th, 2007 by iDunzo
In what is sure to ignite another outcry against Apple, the latest firmware update for the iPhone will – you guessed it – wipe out access to third-party applications and wireless networks other than AT&T’s. Again.
The firmware update, to 1.1.2, is said to be coming this week in conjunction with the iPhone’s launch in the U.K.
iPhones will be available in Great Britain starting on Friday, and will come preloaded with 1.1.2.
Since iTunes 7.5 is also rumored to be released this week, it isn’t a big stretch to surmise that Apple will make the 1.1.2 firmware update available to the general public as well.
There are some positives in the update. The iPhone will support more languages, notably Cantonese.
There is also full support for French and German, with different keyboard configurations to provide access to special characters used in those languages.
No real surprises there, as the iPhone is going to be hitting European shores later this month.
The bad news is, according to those who’ve seen the 1.1.2 firmware, it will again lock out access to third-party applications by fixing the loophole that currently lets users unlock their iPhones.
According to MacRumors, one third-party application in particular is being targeted by Apple this time around: iToner.
iToner allows users to create their own custom ringtones from their iTunes library and install them on the iPhone.
Since this prevents Apple from earning some extra cash, it’s no real surprise that it would take action to stop this application.
The update will also break access to unlocking the SIM card so iPhones can be used on other networks.
Not much else has been leaked about the firmware update, and it is unknown if it will provide any new features or functionality to the iPhone.
Undoubtedly, the ever-diligent hacking community will likely come up with yet more ways to circumvent the iPhone’s locking software and open it back up.
All we can do is sit back and wait for it all to happen. Again.
Posted in Apple + Software + Technology + Wireless | Comments Off on Apple iPhone Firmware Update 1.1.2 On The Way
Steve Wozniak: Apple Should Unlock The iPhone
November 1st, 2007 by iDunzo
Steve Jobs got a suggestion the other day from an old friend and business partner — a guy named Steve Wozniak.
Unlock the Apple iPhone, Woz said:
I am really for the unlockers, the rebels trying to make it free. I’d really like it to be open to new applications.
Wozniak said in an interview with Laptop magazine:
From a business point of view, Apple owns what they have done. They have a right to lock it. But I’d really like it to be open to new applications. I’d like to install some nice games. Why in the world can I not install a ringtone that I’ve made? How would that hurt AT&T’s network?
He added:
Here is Steve Jobs sending letters to the record companies saying they should provide music that’s unprotected, but here he is taking the opposite approach with the iPhone.
The magazine covered a lot of ground in its interview. Highlights:
- He’s switching to Leopard “the first day it comes out.”
- He’s skeptical of Linux’s potential. “I don’t think it’s going to make a big mark.”
- “No, I haven’t tried Vista. I bought Parallels, but I didn’t install it. I don’t have any desire to try out Vista and haven’t seen the need to yet.”
To find out more, be sure to check out the complete interview with Steve Wozniak.
Posted in Apple + Technology + Toys & Gadgets + Wireless | Comments Off on Steve Wozniak: Apple Should Unlock The iPhone
Apple Pushes Out First Leopard Updates
October 29th, 2007 by iDunzo
Well that didn’t take long. Apple has already pushed out some Leopard-related upgrades that reportedly fix issues with Keychain passwords, Wi-Fi support, Aperture and Backup.
The most significant upgrade, and the only one that applies to all Leopard users, is the Login & Keychain Update 1.0.
The update addresses a rather obscure Keychain issue that affects accounts originally created in OS X 10.1, but also includes fixes for those having trouble “connecting to some 802.11b/g wireless networks.”
A couple of commenters on our Leopard first look story and other posts I’ve seen around the web reveal that the Wi-Fi troubles have plagued a fair number of users. Hopefully this update will fix the problem.
The other Leopard-related update released today is Aperture 1.5.6 which improves reliability when recovering Aperture libraries from a Vault (Aperture’s backup files) on Leopard, as well as a few other small fixes.
The updates are available through Software Update or directly from the Apple site using the links above.
Posted in Apple + Security Patches + Software + Technology | Comments Off on Apple Pushes Out First Leopard Updates
Apple Updates iLife Suite For Leopard
October 26th, 2007 by iDunzo
Apple has rolled out a set of updates for its iLife suite. Some are intended to improve compatibility with today’s launch of the new OS X 10.5 Leopard, but others are aimed at Tiger users as well.
Apple’s release notes offer little hint of what’s changed beyond the usual vague statements about stability enhancements, compatibility improvements and “other minor issues.”
Suffice to say these are not major upgrades unless you’re moving to Leopard.
I can tell you that the GarageBand 3.0.5 is solely for Leopard and didn’t even show up in Software Update on my Tiger install.
iDVD 6.0.4, however, seems to be intended for all users and reportedly “improves overall stability” in addition to providing Leopard compatibility.
The iLife support app has also been updated for Leopard and “improves overall stability, addresses a number of other minor issues, and supports general compatibility issues.”
Of course Apple recommends this update for all iLife ’08 users.
Since I plan to do a clean install of Leopard this afternoon, I’ve skipped the iLife updates for the time being, but I haven’t seen any reports of problems from those who have upgraded.
As always, YMMV and make sure you have a backup before diving in.
Posted in Apple + Software + Technology | Comments Off on Apple Updates iLife Suite For Leopard
Quarter Of A Million Apple iPhones Unlocked
October 23rd, 2007 by iDunzo
According to Apple’s quarterly results, fully 17% of all iPhones sold are unlocked and roaming on networks other than AT&T’s.
Apple’s recently reported third-quarter results were full of interesting figures.
Perhaps the most interesting is that of the 1.4 million iPhones sold, 250,000 (or 17%) of them have been unlocked.
They believe this because they’ve subtracted the number of iPhones activated on AT&T’s network from the total number of iPhones sold.
Um. That figure is pretty danged high.
Not only that, the iPhone Dev Team is reporting that there have been 500,000 downloads of its AnySIM 1.0 unlocker program.
That means more than one-third of everyone who bought an iPhone has decided that they might hack it.
Posted in Apple + Technology + Toys & Gadgets + Wireless | Comments Off on Quarter Of A Million Apple iPhones Unlocked
