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>> Postings for September 2007

15 suggestions for iPhone 2.0

Thu, 27 Sep 2007

The iPhone will likely go down as the most successful launch of any technology product in history. It's a truly revolutionary product and deserves much of the praise it has received - but that doesn't mean it's perfect.

In the spirit of constructive criticism, we're offering up 15 big things that Apple can do in the next generation of iPhones to make using an iPhone even better. Apple hasn't said when the next-gen devices will make their appearance, but some Apple watchers have speculated early 2008.

Ryan Faas, Computerworld (US online) | Read more...


Thoughts from Apple Expo Paris

Wed, 26 Sep 2007

Thoughts from Apple Expo Paris

I've just got back from my final interview at Apple Expo. Actually my final interview wasn't at the Expo itself, but rather over at Adobe's offices here in Paris. That's interesting in itself because the reason I met Adobe marketing director Robert Raiola in the Paris office is because Adobe doesn't actually have a stand at Apple Expo this year.

Read more...


A word in your ear

Wed, 26 Sep 2007

People often say that Apple fans are obsessive. But they’re nothing compared to the narrow-minded, sheer outright devotion that Microsoft garners. You think I’m kidding, right? Microsoft? The company everybody loves to hate…

Okay, try this. Ask somebody what word processor they use, and I bet you the answer is Microsoft Word. Doesn’t matter whether they’re using a Mac, or a PC; it’ll be Word. Try suggesting that they use something else for a change and watch the horror spread across their face. Nothing can convince people to ditch Word.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


TV downloads gather steam

Tue, 25 Sep 2007

Online downloads are gaining momentum, at a time when individual media and content creation conglomerates are looking to strike out on their own and get audiences to download content directly from their own sites.

In a not-entirely-unexpected move, NBC Universal is jumping into the content download fray. In late summer, NBC Universal withdrew from its arrangement with Apple's iTunes Music Store. Now, the network says it will offer limited free downloads, dubbed NBC Direct, starting in November (NBC will be testing the service next month).

Melissa J. Perenson, PC World (US) | Read more...


Photos: Unboxing the iPod touch

Thu, 20 Sep 2007

Thinking of getting an iPod touch? Apple's packaging is the stuff of legend. Here's what you'll find inside the box.

We'll now give it a thorough testing and give you a full report later. That final shot reminds us that it's time for a well-earned drink – more tomorrow.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


iPod touch just landed in the office

Thu, 20 Sep 2007

Look what just fell on to our desk. It's one of the first iPod touch units to leave Apple.

First thing we'll notice that Apple is continuing to shrink it's packaging, like the recent nano and iPod models, the touch comes in a compact box. A full unboxing, and switching on, installing is set to commence. First impressions to follow.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


iPhone event video: Steve Jobs discusses the US iPhone price cut

Thu, 20 Sep 2007

The $200 price cut of the iPhone in the US caused an absolute ruckus across the pond. Steve Jobs explained in depth the reasons behind the decision in his open letter.

During the launch of the iPhone, Steve Jobs refused to rule out any future price cuts. Although he did say it was unlikely, and that, at the moment, they couldn't make it any lower without becoming a "total philanthropy", which I'm sure we can all agree isn't really the Apple we know and love.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


iPhone event video: Steve Jobs on 'dating' o2

Thu, 20 Sep 2007

Reports that Apple played a lot of the UK carriers against each other seem to be true. Steve Jobs confirmed that they'd talked to a lot of different people, but that O2 was "the best cultural fit".

Something about this doesn't quite ring true. If O2 was such a good cultural fit then why not O2 across Europe? Or is T-Mobile, for example, a good fit in France but not the UK? The question was put to Steve Jobs at the event, but he dodged it with a traditional: "you know what, we're not here to talk about that today".

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


Some thoughts on video editing

Wed, 19 Sep 2007

As you'll undoubtedly have noticed, Macworld UK has started posting video clips via YouTube of late. This is something we've been mulling over for a while, but with the rumour that Steve Jobs would be attending the Apple Store event it seemed a good idea to do a test.

A test was all it was supposed to be, we thought we take a camcorder along, film a few bits and bobs and use it mess around with iMovie ’08 and perhaps YouTube on a private setting.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


iPhone event video: Steve jobs on UK vs. US price difference

Wed, 19 Sep 2007

Steve Jobs discussed the difference in price between the US iPhone ($399) and the UK (£269). Straight pound to dollar conversions results in a UK price of $537, which leads to many a headline screaming: "RIP-OFF BRITAIN".

But it's not that straight-forward. As Steve points out the US price doesn't include Sales Tax, known as VAT (Value Added Tax) in the UK. VAT (Sales Tax) is set at a hefty 17.5 per cent in the UK. In the US, Sales Tax varies by State (and even by County) so it is impractical to include it in the price.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


Some musings on the iPhone price

Wed, 19 Sep 2007

Okay, here’s the thing. Six months ago I looked into getting a BlackBerry because I wanted email on the move. No matter what deal I went for it generally cost £45 per month. Although for that price I got the phone thrown in.

I’ve also used a variety of internet phones, most recently the HTC Touch (don’t ask, okay… “terrible”) and Nokia N73. I haven’t used the Nokia N95 but will get one in to test out against the iPhone as this, by all accounts, is ‘the competition’.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


iPhone event video: Steve Jobs outlines plan for UK

Tue, 18 Sep 2007

In this video from the today's event at the Apple Store (Regent St, London) Steve Jobs outlines the plan for the iPhone in the UK.

Apple is set to reveal plans for the rest of Europe later today and tomorrow.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


iPhone event video: iPhone UK TV Ad

Tue, 18 Sep 2007

Apple screened a couple of new iPhone TV ads that will air in the UK later this year. They are the same adverts as shown in the US, only with a British accent.

Is the iPhone classier with a British voice? We think so...

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


iPhone event video: Why there's no 3G support

Tue, 18 Sep 2007

We filmed Steve Jobs at the press event this morning. In this short video clip Steve explains the lack of 3G support in the iPhone, and why it’s a good thing.

So if you ever wondered why Edge was a good thing - and 3G not so good - well now you know.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


Is the iPhone price right?

Tue, 18 Sep 2007

When I heard that Apple had dropped the price of the iPhone in the US by $200 I smugly thought that Apple had dropped the price from $599 (£300) to $399 (£200) in order to pave the way for a more reasonably priced iPhone in the UK.

Our mobile networks often swallow the whole cost of the handset, giving UK customers a free phone when they sign up to a contract. For example, the HTC Touch handset is available on Orange through the Carphonewarehouse for free to users who pay £35 a month for 18 months. I thought maybe the price drop might have been to make the phone a more attractive proposition to our mobile networks, and hoped that it meant that the phone price would be subsidised or even free.

Karen Haslam | Read more...


Analysis: iPhone UK launch

Tue, 18 Sep 2007

So, Apple has finally announced the details for the iPhone launch in the UK.

In a nutshell it’s £269 (as predicted by myself on 5 September), with a £35, £45 or £55 per-month contract, unlimited internet* is included on all service plans – which means that the differentiating factor will be inclusive text and call time.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


Mine's a pint...

Mon, 17 Sep 2007

There's more than one use for an old Mac - you can turn it into a media library, a LAN server, an aquarium - even a beer dispenser...

I've dug this one out from the archives, it raised eyebrows (and a few glasses, probably) when this picture first emerged in 2005.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Photographers reject iLife 08

Fri, 14 Sep 2007

Amateur and semi-pro photographers are looking for life beyond iWeb '08 - furious that the application forces them to include a download button on their precious image collection when published through .Mac.

While most users already understand that images published online can easily be downloaded without their permission using a range of technologies, they are incensed that they have no way of removing the download button when publishing images through iWeb.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Lord of the iRings?

Thu, 13 Sep 2007

So, you remember the Lord of the Rings, right? And that place where the evil overlord, Sauron, lived? Mordor. Well, word on the street is that that name means something completely different to Apple's technical staff.

You see, scurrilous weekly gossip publication, Popbitch, today has included an Apple story. After all, why not? Everybody seems to do that these days.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Guitar Hero III for Mac

Wed, 12 Sep 2007

If you’re not familiar with the Guitar Hero franchise, then I’m afraid we’re going to have a little chat. You’re going to need to stop surfing the web; run to your nearest game store and pick up a copy of any Guitar Hero game you can get your hands on. I’m not jok… do I look like I’m joking, son?

What, no video game console? Well, it just might be your lucky day. Aspyr’s announced that they’ll be porting the forthcoming Guitar Hero III to the Mac, the first game from the series to make the leap. Aspyr will also be doing a PC version of the game, and there’ll be cross-platform multiplayer for the game’s “battle mode.”

Dan Moren | Read more...


Adobe's DNA is part of Apple

Wed, 12 Sep 2007

Long before Microsoft Office, there was the Macintosh Office, which was Apple's 1985 attempt to increase the nascent Mac's marketability as a business machine (and which was kicked off by the much-hated Lemmings commercial).

The Mac Office was a concept, not a product, but it was built around a new plug-and-play networking architecture called AppleTalk, and a breakthrough product called the LaserWriter. This laser printer, which was unlike anything else on the market, could turn anyone into a publisher, all thanks to an embedded technology called PostScript, developed by a small company in California called Adobe Systems.

Rick LePage, Macworld.com | Read more...


Why drop the price of the iPhone?

Mon, 10 Sep 2007

There are a few theories about why Apple has dropped the price of the iPhone floating around the web.

a) Because Apple wasn’t selling enough iPhones at the higher price (except it sold almost 1 million of them…)
b) Because Apple thinks dropping the price will mean it sells more phones this Christmas (this is Apple’s official line)
c) Because if it was $200 more expensive than the iPod touch many potential iPhone customers would just settle for the iPod touch (well, I would)
d) Because Apple knew that there would be excited early-adopters prepared to pay the higher price (and there were, almost 1 million of them)

Read more...


Why the term iPod replaced Walkman

Mon, 10 Sep 2007

Remember when the generic term for a portable tape player was ‘Walkman?’ And now the generic term for an MP3 player (at least in many people’s mind) is ‘iPod.’ Ever wonder why?

Here’s what I think happened. Forget ATRAC or the Sony rootkit scandal. When Steve Jobs was busy getting Apple to make the iPhone, and consequently the iPod touch, this is what the Sony R&D team was dreaming up:

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


160GB of songs in your pocket (no spare change)

Wed, 05 Sep 2007

The 160GB iPod is the bees-knees for any busy iTunes user, and underlines the vital importance of digital to tomorrow's media landscape.

Now, I'm determined to pick up an iPhone (especially at Mark's predicted £269 price tag).

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Hands on with the new iPod touch, iPod nano

Wed, 05 Sep 2007

I'm at the Apple event and have just finished using the new iPods.

First impressions with the iPod touch are good. It's understandably just like using the iPhone, although with slightly fewer options on the screen.

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


iPhone to cost £269 in UK?

Wed, 05 Sep 2007

At Apple's recent press event no information regarding the European launch of the iPhone was forthcoming, other than Pascal Cagni, Apple Vice President of Europe, Middle East and Africa saying "it's coming".

However, the new US price of the iPod touch 16GB ($399) is the same as the iPhone 8GB ($399). The iPod touch 16GB is £269 in the UK. So is this going to be the price of the iPhone?

Mark Hattersley | Read more...


iPod touch is a cannibal

Wed, 05 Sep 2007

Why canibalise sales of the iPhone with the iPod touch?

I know that there had been rumours floating about that Apple would introduce a touch screen iPod but I never quite believed that the company would canibalise sales of the iPhone so soon after that product went on sale. And yet Apple's done exactly that.

Read more...


Deal with it

Wed, 05 Sep 2007

I'm glad Apple's dumped its logo from the new iMac keyboard - it was confusing anyway, and a little slice of branding that just went too far.

Apple's decision to abandon the Apple logo from its new keyboards has got some Mac users all hot under the collar. That's the effect of change, I suppose, but a little reflection is all it takes to realise, "it is just a keyboard, this is still a Mac".

Jonny Evans | Read more...


iPhone launch meets high hopes

Tue, 04 Sep 2007

Perhaps there's merit to the notion that all content should be free, but this item's nothing to do with that, it's simply a quick note recognising that Apple's iPhone has been the most succesful consumer electronics launch ever.

Eagle-eyed readers may recall the heady days of July when I reported a prediction the iPhone would be the most succesful product introduction of the 21st century.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


50p: Why musicians must dump the labels

Mon, 03 Sep 2007

Fabled record label boss Rick Rubin reckons subscription-based services will form the future of the music industry - but do artists need that kind of business?

Rubin - who launched Def Jam Recordings and has produced host of the music industry's biggest acts - is now head of Sony's famed imprint, Columbia Records

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Actually worthwhile lawsuit leveled against Apple Stores

Mon, 03 Sep 2007

We’re all too accustomed to frivolous lawsuits about iPhone batteries or people being blinded by MacBooks that are just too damn white, so it’s always a pleasant surprise to see the legal system carrying out the job it was intended to: righting wrongs.

Two customers of the San Francisco Apple Store on Stockton Street have launched a suit complaining that the store in question fails to comply with both the Americans with Disability Act and the California Health and Safety Code by not providing “full and equal” access for disabled patrons. Counters and tables which display products are located too high for wheelchair-bound customers to reach, and the height of the Genius Bar means that it’s difficult for them to observe when they bring a machine in for service. In addition, the several parts of the store, including the theater and the restrooms, were not wheelchair-friendly.

Dan Moren | Read more...