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>> Postings for September 2010

Jonny Evans - What will Apple's TV look like?

Thu, 30 Sep 2010

I've been thinking about Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster's belief that Apple may launch an all-in-one Apple Television in the next 2-4 years. This is an interesting notion Munster has speculated on before, he even thinks Apple could make billions of dollars with such a product. It makes sense as a business concept and as a continuation of Apple's (AAPL) current strategy, but what would Apple's TV look like? 

NPD today released a report exploring the opportunity inherent in the connected home, in which executive director of industry analysis, Ross Rubin, said, "The advent of the connected device is the most significant step in the evolution of consumer electronics and content since the digital revolution that began three decades ago."

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Opinion: Fate of iPad 2.0 sits with app developers

Tue, 28 Sep 2010

All reports now suggest Apple will introduce its second-generation iPad in the second quarter of 2011. We can expect this to host a much faster processor, a camera and to be thinner and lighter than the current edition, but it enters a far more challenging market.

This is because competitors are not sitting still as they attempt to do their best to ensure that -- when it comes to relative tablet market sales -- 2011 won't be like 2010.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - 5 wishes for the Apple iPhone 5

Tue, 28 Sep 2010

There's only a few months to go until the rumor mill begins to speculate that the next-generation iPhone may be on its way/late/set for 2012, but what follows are five dream features for the iPhone 5, whenever it actually does 'turn real'.

1. You talking to me?
There's such a long way to go before speech recognition becomes absolutely perfect, but continued improvements within MacSpeech (now Dragon Dictate for Mac) show that these things are ever so possible. Apple already offers Voice Controls which let you initiate contact calling (full list here), but what about:

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - What would a shape-shifting iPhone do?

Mon, 27 Sep 2010

In July I wrote about an Apple patent which described ways in which iPhones and other devices could change shape and function depending on what's going on around them. At the time I visualized this only in the sense of the user interface, but how much further can these ideas go?

This week I came across this illuminating TED talk in which Fabian Hemmert talked about one future of the mobile phone, as a shape-shifting and weight-shifting handset that "displays" information nonvisually.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Verizon CEO hints no iPhone for 2011

Thu, 23 Sep 2010

I feel for the plight of my US readers who face a stark choice between an iPhone on patchy old AT&T or some breed of hopefully upgradeable Android-powered phone, or some boring old Blackberry, or some other phone-that-isn't-an-iPhone. (Fine, if you don't want an iPhone).

We've been reading the reports for what feels like forever now.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - iPhone escapes AT&T, has sales growth slowed?

Wed, 22 Sep 2010

As I expected, Apple's on track to deliver the iPhone on US carriers other than AT&T early next year, the latest reports claim -- meanwhile AT&T ain't worried at losing up to 1.5 million users to another network, because it has its users "trapped" into long-term deals.

iPhone for Verizon?

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Simon Jary - Apple's A1 Aqua alphabet

Wed, 22 Sep 2010

We’ll start with Apple, for obvious though un-alphabetical reasons. Why name a computer company after a fruit? Was it to be at the start of all computer lists in the same way that business directories start with swathes of names such as of AAA111 Cabs and the not-so-smart AAA112 Taxis? Apparently not, and Acorn would have jumped in ahead of it anyway. 

One story has it that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs used to pick apples at a commune and chose this loose connection as inspiration. Another story is that Fab Four fan Jobs took the name from The Beatles’ Apple Records – a decision that would involve it in endless legal wrangles when it released iTunes. Other names thrown in the ring for the fresh computer company included the mouse-swallowingly bad Executek and Matrix Electronics. Whatever the story, Apple was a great name for the new startup. As Michael Malone writes in his Apple history Infinite Loop the name was “smart, funny, anti-establishment, unforgettable, friendly but hip.” It wasn’t just a name “it was the culmination of the Age of Aquarius”.

Simon Jary | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Join the dots on six future Apple technologies

Tue, 21 Sep 2010

There's been lots of news lately detailing various Apple technology purchases, patent filings and other little leaks which help us weave a tapestry of partial understanding of what Apple's future might look like.

These six choices show us that science fiction isn't science fiction any more -- science fiction is here:

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Apple iPad turning media upside down

Mon, 20 Sep 2010

Why is the iPad so alluring to music, media and movie moguls? After all, it's only an iTunes-powered device with a big screen, so just why do people like Rupert Murdoch think it will save the publishing industry, and why does a band like Radiohead think it has a chance to bring artists closer to audiences?

A lengthy weekend report speculated that in future Apple will apply a little focus on a hitherto hush-hush feature which lets you stream video from a device running iOS 4.2 to an Apple TV, or music to an AirPlay device. (A feature I felt iPad should have had since day one).

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Apple invents iPad 2.0 while iPad 1 invades China

Fri, 17 Sep 2010

Apple's iPad landed in China this morning. And in the usual way, Apple Store staff cheered and high-fived shoppers as they entered the stores, queues formed overnight and sales seemed brisk. Meanwhile the results are in -- iPad isn't just killing the netbook market, it's grabbing half of the PC laptop market, too, at least according to Best Buy. And Apple is already assembling components for the iPad 2, set to debut early next year.

In Beijing, 100 people braved the rain to be at the Apple Store when it opened, including one man who had queued for two days to buy one.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - iPhone-killing Android reports are 'exaggerated'

Thu, 16 Sep 2010

A deluge of recent reports claim that Apple's iPhone is losing ground to Android, which makes some sense given that Google's OS is the new smartphone kid on the block, but let's face facts here people, some of this reportage is just some form of wish fulfillment.

Canalsys and the NPD Group both recently claimed Android devices have overtaken Apple's iPhone in US market share, also noting RIM and Microsoft are sacrificing numbers to the Google OS. Now even Comscore has jumped into the fray, telling us that Apple's iPhone 4 marketshare fell in the three months up to and including July, according to the research firm's most recent data.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Why iPad sales may be reaching 36m/year

Wed, 15 Sep 2010

The iPad is going to save publishing, adapt education, change corporations and offer newspaper subscriptions soon -- not bad for a product introduced only this year. And all this from a once-declared-dead company where a reluctant Ninja (no he isn't) sits as CEO. Are you sitting comfortably? I'll make this brief.

You telling me the iPad's going to save publishing?

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Andy Ihnatko - The book collector

Wed, 15 Sep 2010

Apple recently updated its Pages app to support ePub files. Support? No, no. That word implies that the app can do an Export… on your document and spit out a copy that can be read in iBooks or any other ebook reader or app.

Actually, the update turns Pages into a credible ePub authoring and publishing tool. Pages can now spit out an ebook with polished, professional formatting and a fully indexed navigation system. It works whether the document in question is a 17-page report that would be handy to have on your iPhone, or your 383-page novel that you believe could be a commercial hit, despite rejections from 19 agents and 17 publishers, plus a court order prohibiting you from writing anything else that implies David Tennant would have sex with any of the other former Dr Whos.

Andy Ihnatko | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Amazon, Nokia play Apple-hate own-goals

Tue, 14 Sep 2010

Apple is in the ascendant, even while the Phandroid folk talk a twisted form of openness. Now Amazon and Nokia have got in on the act, and both companies have already lost the ideological war -- they've referenced the competition in a negative light, rather than reference their own offerings in a positive one.

This might appear to be hair-splitting, but if you think about schoolyard politics you'll know that noting other people's inadequacies just enhances their reputation.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - FaceTime shows Apple's network future

Tue, 14 Sep 2010

Way back before it introduced the iPhone and many times since, multiple reports have earnestly explained that the future for Apple in the mobile space involves it becoming what's known as a "Mobile Virtual Network Operator" (MVNO).

Apple's steadily emerging video calling technology, FaceTime, shows the company has a vision beyond even this. Apple understands that the future of disruptive innovation extends as far as ownership of the network itself.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Fighting hard, Apple ends bumper scheme

Sat, 11 Sep 2010

Yet more proof we live in interesting times on news Apple will discontinue its free bumper case scheme on September 30, even while opening up to non-Apple development tools, prompting a critically-guarded but positive response from Adobe.

Apple's website states:

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Interview: Apple's AirPlay is a big, big business

Sat, 11 Sep 2010

Perhaps you didn't see it, but Apple last week helped create a brand-new $15 billion business when it introduced its new AirPlay music streaming system, which it is licensing to third party developers.

AirPlay will mean anyone with an iPod, iPhone or iPad will be able to send their music to receivers made by Denon, iHome, JBL, Bowers & Wilkens and many more audio equipment manufacturers.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Pamela Wegner - the iPhone spelling bee

Fri, 10 Sep 2010

Dear iPhone, 

Why oh why do you never guess my text right? How often can one use 'nit' instead of 'not,' nor prefer my word over 'shot'? Does 'duck' really have precedence?

Macworld staff | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Apple's Ping has major label bias

Wed, 08 Sep 2010

Introduced last week it seems Apple has built a new class system presently favoring major label artists in its social network for music, Ping. Meanwhile if you're a music fan and want to contribute to the discussion, bad luck, you have no posting rights beyond comment as Apple's iTunes thought police do their best to keep control.

I admit this nanny-like need to stay in control seems to be becoming a theme of my AAPL discussions this week.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - iTunes 10 blunder raises the temperature

Tue, 07 Sep 2010

Apple is often accused of being too controlling, and sometimes I'm minded to agree. This time I'm looking at an iTunes 10 problem introduced on launch of the company's all-new music products last week. What has happened is that Apple has abandoned full support of an important streaming music standard, one relied on by many users and a healthy market of third party peripheral manufacturers. I really can't see a good reason for the move.

(That is, unless Apple wants to set the scene for third party makers to focus on the new AirPlay system, introduced last week). AirPlay will also offer new levels of support to iOS device users, a good move as Apple now sells 6 million iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch) each month.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Apple sells over 6 million iOS devices/month

Mon, 06 Sep 2010

There's so much hysterical coverage of the great Apple versus Android war it sure is easy to get confused by all the claims and counter-claims: is the iOS really six times more popular for Web browsing than Android, or is it really only twice as popular?

That's the trouble with statistics, they only give you a flavor of what's going on, a careless whisper, a reflection of a clue. What's really happening is that both platforms are growing incredibly fast - and that's a good thing.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Apple's Ping ain't no 'Facebook killer'

Thu, 02 Sep 2010

Following last night's first look at Apple's new iPods, I've spent some time playing with Apple's new social network for music, Ping, asking myself, "Has Apple laid down a threat to Facebook and MySpace with this?". The answer is that it has, but the threat is limited by key missing features, which I think need to be implemented or Ping will disappear from view with a pop.

You see, what limits Ping is its lack of personality -- at least, the version I'm using out here in the UK does.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - First look: Apple's new music products

Wed, 01 Sep 2010

I've taken my first few faltering moments with three of Apple's new products post-keynote: the iPod touch, iPod nano and Apple TV (I ran out to do this early -- I can only take so much of Coldplay's Chris Martin who closed the event, I'm more of a Tame Impala kind of person). I'll update this post later on once I've spent time with Apple's other newly-introduced devices. Don't expect too much in-depth detail at this point.

The iPod touch

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Apple event pre-show rumour round-up

Wed, 01 Sep 2010

While we wait until Apple's special event later today, here's the current rumor round-up. I'm hoping to bring you some first impressions of Apple's new products at some point after the event, (read this here). If you are interested in what’s happening during the show, then do take a look at the company’s live video stream. Hosted at www.apple.com, this begins at 10am PDT. You’ll need Safari or an iOS device to watch this stream, which many believe is itself a test of Apple’s server set-up in a live situation. To the round-up:

Apple TV (not iTV)

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Jonny Evans - Six great Apple failures

Wed, 01 Sep 2010

Time for a change of pace while we all reflect on Apple's introduction of a US-only 6-month trial of 99-cent TV show rentals from Disney and ABC alongside new model iPod touch and glimmerings at the Apple TV tomorrow. Here, just for my many Apple-hating readers, taken from the annals of Apple's great history are six products or events some say the company should never have been part of.

Jonny Evans | Read more...


Chris Holt - Is Apple TV the next great gaming console?

Wed, 01 Sep 2010

ime was, you could mention Apple and gaming in the same sentence and count on derisive laughter before you got to the period. Through the decades, the company has repeatedly proclaimed its commitment to the games market and repeatedly failed to deliver. Yet today’s Apple is not remotely the company that launched the ill-fated Pippin game console in the ’90s. The iOS is already a massively successful platform for handheld gaming, and if Wednesday brings an iOS-based Apple TV, Apple is poised to make some serious noise in the console gaming market as well

As Dan Frakes pointed out, for a company that keeps cranking out hit products, Apple’s set-top “hobby” sticks out. It’s outdated and lacks many features offered by competitors. But if the product gets a rethink, starting with basing it on the iOS rather than Mac OS X, watch out. Sure, such a device would presumably be a great media player for TV, movies, and music. But as an iOS device, it also opens up the possibility that all your favorite iPhone and iPad games may be shortly playing on your flatscreen HDTV.

Chris Holt | Read more...


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