Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Cult of Mac, iPhone
Heffernan's criticisms of the iPhone swing between the rational (the challenge of adapting to the on-screen keyboard, AT&T's mediocre coverage) and the surreal (dislike of the device's "tarty little face" and how it "kept aloof from the animal warmth of my leather wallet"). In fairness, she does admit that she's not thinking particularly clearly. In the end, she returns to the AT&T store where the sales rep seemed to know that she was a troublesome case, and swapped out her iPhone for a Blackberry.
It may be heretical to admit it here, but it's true: the iPhone is not for everyone... excuse me, they've come to take away my fanboy badge, this will take just a second. There, all done; I'm back.
Yes, if you're looking for a high-speed texting and email platform because you live your life in text messaging, the iPhone's keyboard will frustrate you; if you don't care about the incredible universe of apps, the first-rate media player and the best mobile browser, you'd be better off with a Blackberry and a permanent keyboard.
Yes, the iPhone's phone is probably its weakest offering, and the AT&T network has bigger dead zones than Anthony Michael Hall; if you can't tolerate the intermittent dropped call or fuzzy audio (or my personal top annoyance, the "I'm on 3G and my phone just doesn't ring" issue), and you want to focus on the phone, get a free RAZR or shiny Samsung.
In my personal transition from the Blackberry to the iPhone, I found plenty of gotchas and things that took adjustment (#1 is not being able to keep an IM application running in the background, #2 is having to cycle through the home screen to switch apps, and #3 is not being able to easily copy URLs or phone numbers for use elsewhere), but I'm still finding new and enjoyable things about the iPhone every day; my Blackberry was staid and predictable, a useful tool but not a spark of innovation or a way for me to accomplish things I never could do before.
I know there are thousands of unhappy iPhone users, and thousands more who haven't upgraded to the 2.x firmware, visited the App Store or explored one-tenth of the capabilities of their mobile computing platforms. When I saw a family friend a few weeks ago, a lady of a certain age, she was surprised and puzzled when I asked her where she synced her not-that-new iPhone ("I don't understand. If I want to put music or apps on it, I have to connect it to a computer? I have my grandchildren put photos on the phone for me!"). The iPhone isn't for everyone, and there's no judgement in that; you aren't obligated to love it, want it or find it useful. Forgive us, still, if we think that many of you (NY Times columnists excepted) will love it once you try it.
[Hat tip to Apple 2.0]
TUAWNY Times op-ed on the hate that dare not text its name: iPhone rejection originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
VLC 0.9.9 for Mac Intel
Videolan offers an update for VLC, now available in version 0.9.9. It is currently only available for Mac Intel, the PPC version remains in version 0.ç.8 for the moment. This update fixes some bugs, improves playback performance on Mac Intel et add an experimental player for REal videos in version 3.0 and 4.0.
To download it: http://www.videolan.org/
Rumor: iPhone OS 3.0 to include video editing tools
Filed under: Rumors, Beta Beat, iPhone, SDK
Even though there are jailbreak apps now that leverage the iPhone's camera for video use (ustream and Qik, in particular), Apple hasn't yet shown its hand on video directions in 3.0. Giving users the ability to edit their video on-device before uploading, emailing or MMS-ing would be a spectacular feature, and there's a lot to like about the idea of a pinch/stretch UI for managing a video timeline. iPhone, meet iMovie? Still, if you planned to do a lot of video work on your phone, a 32 GB model with a faster processor and better camera would be ideal...
Thanks, Ben
TUAWRumor: iPhone OS 3.0 to include video editing tools originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Microsoft Releases Second 'Laptop Hunters' Commercial
Microsoft has released a second commercial in their new "Laptop Hunters" ad campaign targeting Mac prices. In the new commercial, "Giampaolo" is given a budget of $1500 with which to find to a laptop with his desired features of portability, battery...
Apple orders 3.2 and 5 Megapixel camera sensors for iPhone
Apple recently ordered 3.2 Megapixel camera sensors for the iPhone, in addition to 5 Megapixel camera sensors for a product reported to launch late this year.
New Palm Pre apps underscore Apple's iPhone limitations
While third-party apps are being trumpeted as the iPhone's strength, key Palm Pre demos this week were designed to highlight their restrictions by taking advantage of those precise things that Apple won't allow.
iPhone 3.0 beta caught hiding video editing graphics?
The founder of Austrian site Benm.at claims to have found multiple unused graphical controls that relate directly to video editing. Among the controls are grab points that would let users define the start and end of clips as well as repeating, tile graphics and references to an 'edit bar.'
New Palm Pre apps underscore Apple's iPhone limitations
While third-party apps are being trumpeted as the iPhone's strength, key Palm Pre demos this week were designed to highlight their restrictions by taking advantage of those precise things that Apple won't allow.
Next Gen iPhone: 802.11n and Video Editing?
Since the iPhone 3.0 beta release, developers have been digging through the firmware looking for evidence of future iPhones and capabilities. An early finding revealed that a number of unknown iPhone model numbers already appear in the beta firmware...
AT&T says sorry
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Well, that was quite an uproar. Now it seems to be over, at least for the moment. AT&T now says:"The language added on March 30 to AT&T's wireless data service Terms and Conditions was done in error. It was brought to our attention and we have since removed it. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."
Hmmm. Now everyone can go back to being mad at Sling for dropping iPhone support for the old hardware. Ah, the power of the internet.
Have a nice weekend folks.
Thanks to our sister site Engadget for ferreting this one out.
TUAWAT&T says sorry originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
NY Times op-ed on the hate that dare not text its name: iPhone rejection
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Cult of Mac, iPhone
Heffernan's criticisms of the iPhone swing between the rational (the challenge of adapting to the on-screen keyboard, AT&T's mediocre coverage) and the surreal (dislike of the device's "tarty little face" and how it "kept aloof from the animal warmth of my leather wallet"). In fairness, she does admit that she's not thinking particularly clearly. In the end, she returns to the AT&T store where the sales rep seemed to know that she was a troublesome case, and swapped out her iPhone for a Blackberry.
It may be heretical to admit it here, but it's true: the iPhone is not for everyone... excuse me, they've come to take away my fanboy badge, this will take just a second. There, all done; I'm back.
Yes, if you're looking for a high-speed texting and email platform because you live your life in text messaging, the iPhone's keyboard will frustrate you; if you don't care about the incredible universe of apps, the first-rate media player and the best mobile browser, you'd be better off with a Blackberry and a permanent keyboard.
Yes, the iPhone's phone is probably its weakest offering, and the AT&T network has bigger dead zones than Anthony Michael Hall; if you can't tolerate the intermittent dropped call or fuzzy audio (or my personal top annoyance, the "I'm on 3G and my phone just doesn't ring" issue), and you want to focus on the phone, get a free RAZR or shiny Samsung.
In my personal transition from the Blackberry to the iPhone, I found plenty of gotchas and things that took adjustment (#1 is not being able to keep an IM application running in the background, #2 is having to cycle through the home screen to switch apps, and #3 is not being able to easily copy URLs or phone numbers for use elsewhere), but I'm still finding new and enjoyable things about the iPhone every day; my Blackberry was staid and predictable, a useful tool but not a spark of innovation or a way for me to accomplish things I never could do before.
I know there are thousands of unhappy iPhone users, and thousands more who haven't upgraded to the 2.x firmware, visited the App Store or explored one-tenth of the capabilities of their mobile computing platforms. When I saw a family friend a few weeks ago, a lady of a certain age, she was surprised and puzzled when I asked her where she synced her not-that-new iPhone ("I don't understand. If I want to put music or apps on it, I have to connect it to a computer? I have my grandchildren put photos on the phone for me!"). The iPhone isn't for everyone, and there's no judgement in that; you aren't obligated to love it, want it or find it useful. Forgive us, still, if we think that many of you (NY Times columnists excepted) will love it once you try it.
[Hat tip to Apple 2.0]
TUAWNY Times op-ed on the hate that dare not text its name: iPhone rejection originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
VLC 0.9.9 for Mac Intel
Videolan offers an update for VLC, now available in version 0.9.9. It is currently only available for Mac Intel, the PPC version remains in version 0.ç.8 for the moment. This update fixes some bugs, improves playback performance on Mac Intel et add an experimental player for REal videos in version 3.0 and 4.0.
To download it: http://www.videolan.org/
Rumor: iPhone OS 3.0 to include video editing tools
Filed under: Rumors, Beta Beat, iPhone, SDK
Even though there are jailbreak apps now that leverage the iPhone's camera for video use (ustream and Qik, in particular), Apple hasn't yet shown its hand on video directions in 3.0. Giving users the ability to edit their video on-device before uploading, emailing or MMS-ing would be a spectacular feature, and there's a lot to like about the idea of a pinch/stretch UI for managing a video timeline. iPhone, meet iMovie? Still, if you planned to do a lot of video work on your phone, a 32 GB model with a faster processor and better camera would be ideal...
Thanks, Ben
TUAWRumor: iPhone OS 3.0 to include video editing tools originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Microsoft Releases Second 'Laptop Hunters' Commercial
Microsoft has released a second commercial in their new "Laptop Hunters" ad campaign targeting Mac prices. In the new commercial, "Giampaolo" is given a budget of $1500 with which to find to a laptop with his desired features of portability, battery...
Apple orders 3.2 and 5 Megapixel camera sensors for iPhone
Apple recently ordered 3.2 Megapixel camera sensors for the iPhone, in addition to 5 Megapixel camera sensors for a product reported to launch late this year.
New Palm Pre apps underscore Apple's iPhone limitations
While third-party apps are being trumpeted as the iPhone's strength, key Palm Pre demos this week were designed to highlight their restrictions by taking advantage of those precise things that Apple won't allow.
iPhone 3.0 beta caught hiding video editing graphics?
The founder of Austrian site Benm.at claims to have found multiple unused graphical controls that relate directly to video editing. Among the controls are grab points that would let users define the start and end of clips as well as repeating, tile graphics and references to an 'edit bar.'
New Palm Pre apps underscore Apple's iPhone limitations
While third-party apps are being trumpeted as the iPhone's strength, key Palm Pre demos this week were designed to highlight their restrictions by taking advantage of those precise things that Apple won't allow.
Next Gen iPhone: 802.11n and Video Editing?
Since the iPhone 3.0 beta release, developers have been digging through the firmware looking for evidence of future iPhones and capabilities. An early finding revealed that a number of unknown iPhone model numbers already appear in the beta firmware...
AT&T says sorry
Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Well, that was quite an uproar. Now it seems to be over, at least for the moment. AT&T now says:"The language added on March 30 to AT&T's wireless data service Terms and Conditions was done in error. It was brought to our attention and we have since removed it. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused."
Hmmm. Now everyone can go back to being mad at Sling for dropping iPhone support for the old hardware. Ah, the power of the internet.
Have a nice weekend folks.
Thanks to our sister site Engadget for ferreting this one out.
TUAWAT&T says sorry originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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