Thanks to the 1.1.1 update, tv out on the iPhone is a reality--you can even preview what you are watching on the iPhone itself. Unfortunately, the cables won't work with your dock (although this should be corrected with the new Unversal Dock) and if you have a hacked iPhone you may be out of luck--but I'm sure you already knew that.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Apple Component Cable Works With iPhone...For Realz
Thanks to the 1.1.1 update, tv out on the iPhone is a reality--you can even preview what you are watching on the iPhone itself. Unfortunately, the cables won't work with your dock (although this should be corrected with the new Unversal Dock) and if you have a hacked iPhone you may be out of luck--but I'm sure you already knew that.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
iPhone coming to Canadian retailer Holt Renfrew?
According to wild rumors (and we do mean wild), Canadian "luxury retailer" Holt Renfrew -- the Barney's of the Great White North -- will begin carrying a Canuck version of the beloved iPhone in about two weeks, for the deliciously low price of $799. The rumor apparently emanates from an "insider source" at the company, though the store's reps won't confirm the news. If you believe the leaker, the retailer will carry an 8GB, GSM version of the phone (obviously, as no other version exists), and it will arrive on store shelves in mid-October. Sure, this sounds enticing, but why would a department store which specializes in high-end goods be the first the carry the iPhone, and where is the announcement (or even rumblings of an announcement) from a carrier in Canada? All intriguing questions which we'll be sussing out answers to... by force. Just kidding.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
iPhone getting offline Safari storage, but still no 3rd party apps yet
An Apple source has informed Ars that the iPhone's Safari is getting offline storage capabilities, a la Google Gears, which could be used to cache apps and data.
There's also talk of possible icons on the home page that open up Safari-driven apps. But no third party development kit is planned for native programs.
Ars also quotes their source, showing internal conflict of interest at Apple, regarding the limitations of AJAX and web-based apps: "You can't write [bleep]ing [bleep] in that."
There's also talk of possible icons on the home page that open up Safari-driven apps. But no third party development kit is planned for native programs.
Ars also quotes their source, showing internal conflict of interest at Apple, regarding the limitations of AJAX and web-based apps: "You can't write [bleep]ing [bleep] in that."
Apple's Not 'Bricking' Hacked IPhones for Revenge
Many people seem to think Apple is deliberately "bricking" hacked iPhones with a software update as payback for users having the temerity to hack the devices.
Some observers blame the iPhone-bricking on Apple CEO Steve Jobs' perfectionism. Jobs can't stand users wrecking his perfectly crafted products with filthy, hacked software, or so the thinking goes.
Hacking the iPhone is "an assault on the integrity of (Jobs') artifact," writes pundit Nicholas Carr.
But, beautiful as it is, the iPhone isn't finished -- its OS is a hack, rushed out to meet Jobs' demanding product deadlines. Last week's update brought the iPhone closer to perfection, but it still isn't fully baked.
Citing perfectionism as one of Jobs' prime motivations goes back to 1984 and the first Mac, which shipped with no expansion slots -- a rarity in the early days of computers, and typically sold to hobbyists who actively wanted to expand their machines.
But it's a little-reported fact that Jobs and the Mac-development team nixed expansion slots to maintain the computer's stability. They wanted to sell the Mac to ordinary consumers, not bearded hackers, and expansion slots were a well-known cause of system freezes, lockups and reboots. The decision had nothing to do with preventing users from messing with the integrity of the artifact.
The same is true of the iPhone, according to Jobs. "You don't want your phone to be like a PC," Jobs told The New York Times in January. "The last thing you want is to have loaded three apps on your phone and then you go to make a call and it doesn't work anymore. These are more like iPods than they are like computers."
The iPhone bricking problem has been a PR disaster for Apple, making the company look punitive and obsessed with control. But Erica Sadun, a technical writer and blogger at TUAW.com who contributed to an iPhone unlocking application, said Apple's update wasn't designed to disable hacked devices. Just the opposite: Sadun thinks Apple worked hard not to brick iPhones -- even hacked ones.
"It wasn't intentional at all," she said. "If they wanted to brick hacked iPhones, they could have done a much better job of it."
Sadun said the software update disabled some hacked phones because it was a "troublesome update" -- it even caused problems with iPhones that hadn't been touched. "They messed up," she said.
The new iPhone software appears to be a ground-up rewrite, unrecognizable under the hood to the older version, which Sadun said was "very unfinished" and, in some places, "a complete hack."
The new iPhone software closely resembles the software on the iPod touch. But it's hard to know what it looks like in detail because it's very secure. "Everything is certified, everything is encrypted, everything requires a checksum," Sadun said. "Apple wants no one else on the platform. It's a pretty strong statement of that."
But Apple has said it is neutral about hacking. Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of hardware product marketing, told PC Magazine that Apple wasn't hostile to hackers, but wouldn't support them either.
"Apple takes a neutral stance," wrote the magazine's Gearlog blog, paraphrasing Joswiak. "They're not going to stop anyone from writing apps, and they're not going to maliciously design software updates to break the native apps, but they're not going to care if their software updates accidentally break the native apps either. He very carefully left the door open to a further change in this policy, too, saying that Apple is always re-examining its perspective on these sorts of things."
At the launch of the iPhone in London a couple weeks ago, Jobs said Apple is playing a "cat-and-mouse game" with hackers. "People will try to break in, and it's our job to stop them breaking in," he said.
It seems possible that these comments were not aimed at hackers, but were made to comfort his new European partners, who are facing a thriving gray market for unlocked iPhones from the United States thanks to the weak dollar and easy-to-use unlocking apps.
Some observers blame the iPhone-bricking on Apple CEO Steve Jobs' perfectionism. Jobs can't stand users wrecking his perfectly crafted products with filthy, hacked software, or so the thinking goes.
Hacking the iPhone is "an assault on the integrity of (Jobs') artifact," writes pundit Nicholas Carr.
But, beautiful as it is, the iPhone isn't finished -- its OS is a hack, rushed out to meet Jobs' demanding product deadlines. Last week's update brought the iPhone closer to perfection, but it still isn't fully baked.
Citing perfectionism as one of Jobs' prime motivations goes back to 1984 and the first Mac, which shipped with no expansion slots -- a rarity in the early days of computers, and typically sold to hobbyists who actively wanted to expand their machines.
But it's a little-reported fact that Jobs and the Mac-development team nixed expansion slots to maintain the computer's stability. They wanted to sell the Mac to ordinary consumers, not bearded hackers, and expansion slots were a well-known cause of system freezes, lockups and reboots. The decision had nothing to do with preventing users from messing with the integrity of the artifact.
The same is true of the iPhone, according to Jobs. "You don't want your phone to be like a PC," Jobs told The New York Times in January. "The last thing you want is to have loaded three apps on your phone and then you go to make a call and it doesn't work anymore. These are more like iPods than they are like computers."
The iPhone bricking problem has been a PR disaster for Apple, making the company look punitive and obsessed with control. But Erica Sadun, a technical writer and blogger at TUAW.com who contributed to an iPhone unlocking application, said Apple's update wasn't designed to disable hacked devices. Just the opposite: Sadun thinks Apple worked hard not to brick iPhones -- even hacked ones.
"It wasn't intentional at all," she said. "If they wanted to brick hacked iPhones, they could have done a much better job of it."
Sadun said the software update disabled some hacked phones because it was a "troublesome update" -- it even caused problems with iPhones that hadn't been touched. "They messed up," she said.
The new iPhone software appears to be a ground-up rewrite, unrecognizable under the hood to the older version, which Sadun said was "very unfinished" and, in some places, "a complete hack."
The new iPhone software closely resembles the software on the iPod touch. But it's hard to know what it looks like in detail because it's very secure. "Everything is certified, everything is encrypted, everything requires a checksum," Sadun said. "Apple wants no one else on the platform. It's a pretty strong statement of that."
But Apple has said it is neutral about hacking. Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of hardware product marketing, told PC Magazine that Apple wasn't hostile to hackers, but wouldn't support them either.
"Apple takes a neutral stance," wrote the magazine's Gearlog blog, paraphrasing Joswiak. "They're not going to stop anyone from writing apps, and they're not going to maliciously design software updates to break the native apps, but they're not going to care if their software updates accidentally break the native apps either. He very carefully left the door open to a further change in this policy, too, saying that Apple is always re-examining its perspective on these sorts of things."
At the launch of the iPhone in London a couple weeks ago, Jobs said Apple is playing a "cat-and-mouse game" with hackers. "People will try to break in, and it's our job to stop them breaking in," he said.
It seems possible that these comments were not aimed at hackers, but were made to comfort his new European partners, who are facing a thriving gray market for unlocked iPhones from the United States thanks to the weak dollar and easy-to-use unlocking apps.
Apple considering Intel chip for future iPhone?
Apple may eventually abandon its custom-designed Samsung system on chip (SoC) found at the heart of the iPhone for one developed by Intel, according to a new report.
Citing OEM channel sources, DigiTimes claims that Apple has been looking closely at Intel's Moorestown mobile Internet device (MID) platform processor introduced at the Intel Developer Forum last month.
Although not expected until 2009, Moorestown chips will be based on Intel's 45-nanometer manufacturing process and therefore promise to be ten times more power-efficent than today's embedded mobile chips, enabling longer battery life in smaller form factors.
Similar to the Samsung SoC that Apple uses in its existing iPhone design, Moorestown will combine the CPU, graphics, video and memory controller onto a single chip. Based on Intel's "Menlow" MID design due out a year earlier, it will also incorporate wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, 3G and WiMAX.
Some Taiwanese channel vendors believe if Apple adopts the new Intel platform in its iPhone, it will reposition the MID market place and influence the future designs of not only mobile handsets, but also notebook systems.
For Apple, a move to the Intel architecture and away from the ARM-based Samsung chips would also present the opportunity for the Cupertino-based company to narrow the gap in the software code base of its handheld products -- like the iPhone and iPod touch -- with that of its Mac personal computer line.
Citing OEM channel sources, DigiTimes claims that Apple has been looking closely at Intel's Moorestown mobile Internet device (MID) platform processor introduced at the Intel Developer Forum last month.
Although not expected until 2009, Moorestown chips will be based on Intel's 45-nanometer manufacturing process and therefore promise to be ten times more power-efficent than today's embedded mobile chips, enabling longer battery life in smaller form factors.
Similar to the Samsung SoC that Apple uses in its existing iPhone design, Moorestown will combine the CPU, graphics, video and memory controller onto a single chip. Based on Intel's "Menlow" MID design due out a year earlier, it will also incorporate wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, 3G and WiMAX.
Some Taiwanese channel vendors believe if Apple adopts the new Intel platform in its iPhone, it will reposition the MID market place and influence the future designs of not only mobile handsets, but also notebook systems.
For Apple, a move to the Intel architecture and away from the ARM-based Samsung chips would also present the opportunity for the Cupertino-based company to narrow the gap in the software code base of its handheld products -- like the iPhone and iPod touch -- with that of its Mac personal computer line.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Apple, Dell and Sony named to Bluetooth patent suit
other technology companies were recently added to a lawsuit over Bluetooth patents, threatening the use of the wireless communication standard in millions of devices, Bloomberg is reporting.
According to the financial news network, Washington Research Foundation is accusing the companies of infringing on four patents covering technology that lets users exchange data among mobile phones, personal computers and other devices without using cables.
The non-profit foundation, which originally sued Matsushita, Samsung, and Nokia in a Seattle federal court back in December, tacked on the PC manufacturers earlier this month. At the same time, Logitech, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, and Plantronics were also named to the suit.
WRF's complaint is said to specifically target products that contain chips made by CSR Plc., which is reported to be using the Bluetooth technology without permission. Chipmakers such as Broadcom, which hold licenses from the foundation, will not be named in the suit, Bloomberg said.
In a statement released January, Cambridge, England-based CSR said the suit was without merit and vowed to defend its products rigorously.
Both Apple and Dell built Bluetooth into their personal computer systems several years ago as a way to link wireless devices and cut the chord on peripherals through Bluetooth wireless keyboards and mice. Meanwhile, Bloomberg cites the Washington-based Bluetooth Special Interest Group, which says more than 1 billion devices worldwide are equipped with Bluetooth technology.
With its suit, WRF is reportedly seeking monetary damages and a court order barring the sale of products that use its patented technology. CSR in January countersued the foundation, court papers show.
According to the financial news network, Washington Research Foundation is accusing the companies of infringing on four patents covering technology that lets users exchange data among mobile phones, personal computers and other devices without using cables.
The non-profit foundation, which originally sued Matsushita, Samsung, and Nokia in a Seattle federal court back in December, tacked on the PC manufacturers earlier this month. At the same time, Logitech, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Toshiba, and Plantronics were also named to the suit.
WRF's complaint is said to specifically target products that contain chips made by CSR Plc., which is reported to be using the Bluetooth technology without permission. Chipmakers such as Broadcom, which hold licenses from the foundation, will not be named in the suit, Bloomberg said.
In a statement released January, Cambridge, England-based CSR said the suit was without merit and vowed to defend its products rigorously.
Both Apple and Dell built Bluetooth into their personal computer systems several years ago as a way to link wireless devices and cut the chord on peripherals through Bluetooth wireless keyboards and mice. Meanwhile, Bloomberg cites the Washington-based Bluetooth Special Interest Group, which says more than 1 billion devices worldwide are equipped with Bluetooth technology.
With its suit, WRF is reportedly seeking monetary damages and a court order barring the sale of products that use its patented technology. CSR in January countersued the foundation, court papers show.
Suit claims Nike, Apple stole idea for Nike+ iPod Sport Ki
A little-known athletic company from Utah has filed a lawsuit that names both Nike and Apple, claiming that Nike knowingly stole its decade-old idea for the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit.
Brothers Greg and Kenny Anderson of Leaper Footwear, LLC say they invented in 1995 and successfully patented in 1998 a unique breed of footwear which -- like the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit co-developed by Nike and Apple -- measures locomotive performance parameters such as a user’s walking or running speed and/or distance traveled.
According to their complaint, filed Monday in the United States District Court for The District of Utah Central Division, Leaper’s counsel sent a letter to Nike in 2000 suggesting that the shoe maker take a license to the Anderson's patent (#5720200) and incorporate their invention into Nike shoes.
Nike reportedly wrote back two weeks later, stating that it had "no interest" in pursuing the idea.
"Six years later," the suit continues, "in May 2006, acting on Leaper’s suggestion but without contacting or seeking permission from Leaper to use the patent, Nike and Apple jointly announced their partnership to launch Leaper’s invention through the 'Nike + iPod Sport Kit'."
The "Nike + iPod Sport Kit" allows Nike+ footwear to communicate with Apple's iPod nano music player. It includes a sensor that fits into a pocket in the inner sole of Nike+ footwear, and a receiver that plugs into the bottom of an iPod nano. Information about time, distance, calories burned and pace is displayed on the iPod screen and audio feedback is announced to the user through the iPod’s earbud headphones.
In their 8-page suit, the Andersons claim that Apple and Nike have achieved "huge success" through unauthorized use of their patent. They recall comments made by Nike chief executive Mark Parker during a conference call last December in which he widely touted the sport kits, stating that users had already logged more than 3 million miles on the devices and that over 3-million Nike+ shoes had shipped.
"We expect that number to double by the year end," Parker added during the call. "Clearly our confidence in this concept has proven to be accurate."
Brothers Greg and Kenny Anderson of Leaper Footwear, LLC say they invented in 1995 and successfully patented in 1998 a unique breed of footwear which -- like the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit co-developed by Nike and Apple -- measures locomotive performance parameters such as a user’s walking or running speed and/or distance traveled.
According to their complaint, filed Monday in the United States District Court for The District of Utah Central Division, Leaper’s counsel sent a letter to Nike in 2000 suggesting that the shoe maker take a license to the Anderson's patent (#5720200) and incorporate their invention into Nike shoes.
Nike reportedly wrote back two weeks later, stating that it had "no interest" in pursuing the idea.
"Six years later," the suit continues, "in May 2006, acting on Leaper’s suggestion but without contacting or seeking permission from Leaper to use the patent, Nike and Apple jointly announced their partnership to launch Leaper’s invention through the 'Nike + iPod Sport Kit'."
The "Nike + iPod Sport Kit" allows Nike+ footwear to communicate with Apple's iPod nano music player. It includes a sensor that fits into a pocket in the inner sole of Nike+ footwear, and a receiver that plugs into the bottom of an iPod nano. Information about time, distance, calories burned and pace is displayed on the iPod screen and audio feedback is announced to the user through the iPod’s earbud headphones.
In their 8-page suit, the Andersons claim that Apple and Nike have achieved "huge success" through unauthorized use of their patent. They recall comments made by Nike chief executive Mark Parker during a conference call last December in which he widely touted the sport kits, stating that users had already logged more than 3 million miles on the devices and that over 3-million Nike+ shoes had shipped.
"We expect that number to double by the year end," Parker added during the call. "Clearly our confidence in this concept has proven to be accurate."
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