Verizon iPhone Now. Or iPhone 5 Later?
Updated: More rumors on Apple’s A5 chip. The new generation is rumored to be 4X better than the current model. Click here to read the article at Engadget.
One of the biggest problems with buying the Verizon iPhone now is the impending new iPhone release this summer that’s likely to occur. With a 20 month contract now the standard for Verizon, it may be wise to pause.
First details about possible iPhone 5 specs were just release over at MacRumors. If they’re anywhere close to accurate on the redesign and major processor upgrade, the decision just got a bit harder.
“The iPhone 5 is said to be “completely redesigned” with an expected launch in the summer. One major upgrade will be a Cortex A9-based multicore processor (to be dubbed the Apple A5). The current Apple A4 processor is a single-core Cortex A8 processor. This faster processor will also make its way into the next generation Apple TV.” - Macrumors
Hit the jump for complete details (including iPad 2 article)
Did Google Android Just KO Apple’s iPhone?
Based on the iPhone 4.0 sneak preview and yesterday’s Google Android 2.2 demo, I for the first time want to have a full cover on my iPhone to not let people know I don’t have a Droid. Time will tell if this stands, but right now it’s looking like Android 1, iPhone 0.
It boggles my mind since the iPhone came out first, controls its own hardware, and has such a large and vocal user base. Android sputtered out of the gate, and has to deal with wildly different hardware specs and had a lot of catching up to do.
Is it the iPhone’s Kryptonite?
So exactly why should you be looking at Droid phones when the iPhone 4.0 is just around the corner? From Gizmodo on yesterday’s announcement (excerpts). It’s all about the Android 2.2 software, also known as Froyo.
- Froyo lets you turn your phone into a hotspot—which means it can be your wireless internet for your wi-fi devices, including friends around you, your iPad, or even your laptop.
- 5X faster processing than the previous version of Android (2.1..what’s on phones now) and the fastest mobile web browser in existence. iPhone is lucky to double their speed with each new release.
- it runs Flash. Whether or not it runs it well is TBD (supposedly pretty decent) but Apple has decided the internet will be filled with little question mark boxes. (as Google put it “We discovered something cool: It’s called the internet.”)
- Downloading music or apps on your computer, then synching with a cable. Nope. Over the Air (OTA) synching to your phone. Want long time.
- A variety of other tweaks and fixes meshing your browser and other native apps (like camera) and more usability settings, etc.
- If you have a Droid phone (at least most newer ones) you’ll just upgrade and get all these features in a few weeks or a few months.
- full details at Gizmodo. also check out Google is Leapfrogging Apple
Hey, iPhone’s got multitasking, wallpaper, and folders coming. Oh wait, those were in Google’s last version already.
Sigh. We’ll see. I hope all those new features brick everyone’s phone 
iPhone’s Great Challenger Will Be…Windows Mobile??
Microsoft, bless them, is always late to the game, but always seems to show up fashionably late with something decent eventually. Take Windows 7 or XBox 360.
When it comes to cell phones, Windows Mobile is usually the case study in what not to do for mobile technology. That may have all changed today with the announcement of Windows Phone 7 (aka the Zune phone). As the iPhone wowed the world 3 years ago, the many latecomers have addressed the stranglehold that Apple has on their software and features, and if they don’t make some improvements, Microsoft (yes, not a typo) may be in the dominant position to challenge.
I didn’t think I’d ever say it, but I’m definitely interested. iPhone users have done without some pretty basic features because the benefits outweight those costs, but soon you may not have to make that sacrifice.
Check out some of the coverage from today’s announcement and decide for yourself.
I’m sorry, Cupertino, but Microsoft has nailed it. Windows Phone 7 feels like an iPhone from the future. The UI has the simplicity and elegance of Apple’s industrial design, while the iPhone’s UI still feels like a colorized Palm Pilot. – Gizmodo’s Microsoft Has Out-Appled Apple
Windows Phone 7 is connected in the same sense as Palm’s webOS and Android, with live, real-time data seamlessly integrated, though it’s even smoother and more natural. Live tiles on the Start screen are updated dynamically with fresh content, like weather, or if you’ve pinned a person to your Start screen, their latest status updates and photos. – Gizmodo’s Windows 7 Series – Everything is Different Now
The OS is also heavily focused on social networking, providing integrated contact pages which show status updates from multiple services and allow fast jumps to richer cloud content (such as photo galleries). The Xbox integration will include LIVE games, avatars, and profiles, while the Zune end of things appears to be a carbon copy of the standalone device’s features (including FM radio). – Engadget Microsoft is Playing to Win
Watch the features promo video below.
Won’t be available until Christmas 2010, so Microsoft made the first move. How will Apple respond? Hopefully the iPad wasn’t their response.
iPad vs. Stone
The guy who did the smarmy iPhone vs. Stone is back, and finds — again — that in the battle between a stone and Apple’s latest technology feature to feature, it’s a draw.
The iPad Bust?
After months (technically almost a decade) of rumors and hype, Steve Jobs revealed Apple’s latest creation…the somewhat poorly named iPad.
If you’re interested in the full tech specs and details, click over to Gizmodo’s full rundown.
While some were just interested, I was keenly watching as I approach the purchase of a new laptop. With Netbooks, smartphones, and the quickly disappearing desktop, I thought this may be just the ticket for something portable to do media, non-work stuff wherever. Even if it wasn’t a full laptop, a few key features would have had me being a “first adopter ” of a product for the first time in my life. Even though with Apple that’s a notoriously bad idea.
After the curtains went down on Steve Jobs presentation, the somewhat tepid applause of the crowd echoed my own thoughts. “Man, what a dumb name.” Just kidding, but the iPhone-like enthusiasm was gone. Not a evolution or a revolution, but more of a “rebel-lution” with Steve Jobs once again trying to buck the trends and kill the Kindle, desktops, newspapers, portable stereos, and even laptops in one swing. Just because he can.
The Good, the Bad, and the Huh?
If you use a regular phone, don’t have a Kindle, and don’t do much on your laptop, this might be the perfect coffee house partner or in-flight movie machine. It’s everything that’s great about the iPhone with a new, speedy Apple 1GHz “A4″ chip that gives 10 hours a battery life (with apparently super speed), greatly enhanced standard apps, and a new world of iPad apps (while still playing your iPhone/iPod apps).
But that’s the problem, really. It’s just a big, fast iPhone with cooler apps. Unfortunately, being a mammoth size but using the same concept, it loses some of what’s best about the iPhone. Pocket-sized, and a touch keyboard isn’t so bad when you can hold both sides of it and still reach the keys.
At a surprisingly entry-level price on par with netbooks, Apple may have barked up the wrong tree. I’d gladly pay the rumored $1,000 price if it had a front-facing camera, HDMI output for watching movies from the internet, and Flash support for all those webpages it says are so amazing.
Which brings me back to the iPhone. The iPhone is lacking in a few key areas, and the iPad has the same weaknesses. In addition, though, the iPad isn’t supposed to be a pocket gadget. The iPhone would never try to replace your regular computer, but the iPad is just as far away.
No multi-tasking? I hate it on the iPhone and it would kill my enjoyment of an iPad. Want to do Facebook chat and work in the new iWork applications announced today? No can do. Maybe stream some Pandora too? Might want to have an iPhone and an iPad handy.
In addition, such a robust device for multimedia doesn’t come with any standard outputs? You have to buy a line of accessories and there’s only one output aside from headphones.
And speaking of accessories, I’m generally not an accessory guy, but to use the apparently bulky and cumbersome touch screen, I’d have to have the docking station/keyboard accessory. I’d also have the whole set of previously mentioned adapters, so I hope they’re adding an iSatchel soon. That $500 price tag is quickly going to be $650.
Aside from being the size of a frisbee, the unibody construction is beautiful. But if I want that, multi-tasking, full media capabilties, a keyboard, and a better operating system than the iPhone 3.2 software, I already found it on sale at Best Buy.
And I’m not quite understanding the 3G version. If I’m sitting around somewhere, I probably have Wi-Fi. If you’re driving or walking around, you’ll probably stand out with your ginormous iPad. Google Maps looks great. I’m sure your friends will think you’re pretty awesome when you whip that out in the car as everyone awkwardly gets directions on their iPhones. Bonus – it’s still AT&T 3G. Joy.
I’m enjoying my iPhone, and I’ll be starting my MacBook Pro shopping right away.
Verdict: It looks like a giant iPhone with more speed and better features, and all the weaknesses. The price tag is enticing if you don’t get the 3G version..but if you get the needed accessories and size upgrades, it quickly nears the price of a decent laptop, even a MacBook entry level.
I see what Steve Jobs was going for here…the ultimate chill media gadget that brings back size lost in an iPhone and bridges the gap to the cumbersome laptop. This isn’t it..but his dream will likely be realized with some tweaking.
Much like the first generation iPhone, in two years I think we’ll look back and see what a good idea this is. For now it’s probably as dumb as the name sounds.
* Available in 30 days for the WiFi version, 60 days for the 3G version. iPad no-contract plans $14.99 or $29.99 a month for unlimited data.
The most disappointing thing about today besides the lack of the iPad being a giant iPhone, was that the rumored iTunes unlimited TV streaming plans, new iLife software, or Verizon iPhone announcements were completely absent.
The Buzz
Official Apple iPad site page with new versions of calendar, photos, books, etc.
8 things that suck about the iPad at Gizmodo.
Hoping it would be a great portable blogging device. Probably not says HotAir.
First non-Apple iPad Accessories Announced at Gizmodo
Full iPad event video with Steve Jobs at engadget.com
Hands-on iPad video footage at engadget.
Customizable home screen wallpaper. Lucky me. Apple’s dirty little secret on why they leave out basic features on your device they could’ve easily put in. Not going to work this time…..well it would be nice to have a non-black background….
Apple Goes Lala All The Way to the Bizank
Though somewhat of an abrupt and seemingly normal announcement, Apple’s purchase of the genius online streaming service Lala will take us into the next generation of music (well the next generation of legal music) just as iTunes once did. (Note this is somewhat speculation on what Apple will do with Lala, but it’s pretty clear).
The iTunes model and software are quickly showing their age, and as Apple tends to do (iTunes was originally software from a company Apple up and bought the whole thing) they’re gearing up in advance for the next generation. By stealing the idea of some small dude who already thought of it.
For those of us in the age of Pandora..who no longer buy CDs but singles, who only use media to play our music about half the time (as opposed to streaming), this is a big announcement that I look forward to seeing how it plays out.
I first heard of LaLa just days before this announcement, and I was really interested in their model of looking at music in the cloud, and having a price structure that matches your use. What it will mean is much more music, much more options, less cost, and the bands should still be able to make some money. Far superior to filesharing (great for us, bad for bands), hard CDs, and iTunes as it exists now.
The future of music looks bright once again. Now I’m going to go download a 1.29 song that I will only listen to once.
Here’s what Lala’s all about (from Gizmodo)
It’s three things, really: A CD trading site (its original emphasis), a streaming site, where you can “upload” your own music and stream it anywhere (your collection is matched with what Lala’s got, and anything they don’t have is actually uploaded); and a streaming site that’ll let you stream a song once for free, or pay 10 cents to stream it an unlimited number of times. In other words, It’s a music service that’s all about streaming and the cloud, both for the music you already own, and for finding and playing new music.
Today’s Cool iPhone Stuff
Yes, the Droid has me a bit bummed I left Verizon. I was about 2 months too late waiting around for a decent smartphone, and voila. Now I have to be punished with AT&T for another year or so.
However, 3G has been expanded in my area, and the iPhone once again seems to be coming back to life. Don’t count it out just yet. To demonstrate, here are a couple of interesting things that popped up this week in iPhone news.
Access Your Computer from your iPhone.
57% of LogMeIn Ignition for iPhone users surveyed report leaving their laptops at home at least half of the time, and accessing work computers using iPhones. Link to complete article.
Sign Documents on Your iPhone with the Zosh App. Handier than you might think
Zosh iPhone application video demo from Joshua Kerr on Vimeo.
Enough said here. Can’t believe it took them so long to come up with it. These are the cases you were looking for.
For some reason, we now have an internet-fueled fascination with making fun of cats. The iPhone gets in on this game, and apparently the app is awesome. Gizmodo thinks it by itself justifies the app store’s existance.
And to wrap up, a neat overview of the history of Apple in Two minutes.
Apple Releases $999 Laptop
Big news for the holiday season..Apple releases affordable $999 laptop and new aluminum cased laptop. After using this piece of crap Windows Vista machine for a year, they really didn’t need to go through all the trouble…
