Tuesday, August 28, 2007

iPhone Round-Up

"A man always has two reasons for what he does--a good one and the real one."

John Pierpont Morgan

That seems a wise statement worth remembering... in all times not just these.

It's been almost two months since the unveiling of the Next Great Thing.... Lots of words have been written. Here are a few bits you may have missed....

Businessweek Why Apple Can't Stop iPhone Hackers

AT&T and Apple may face an uphill battle prosecuting hackers who untether the iPhone from the AT&T wireless network.

Apple (AAPL) and AT&T (T), the sole authorized supplier of the iPhone in the U.S., are doing what they can to make sure that legal clearance never comes. The two companies have put their lawyers on the case, applying pressure on hackers involved in unlocking iPhones to try to get them to stop. Much is at stake. AT&T has been hoping that as the exclusive provider of the iPhone, it will see a surge in new customers and monthly service charges of at least $60 from each one. Apple is supposed to get a cut of the revenues. If iPhones are unlocked, they can be used on the wireless networks of rivals like T-Mobile USA—and AT&T gets zippo. AT&T wouldn't comment for this story, while Apple didn't return a request for comment.

Fuzzy Laws

So will Apple and AT&T's legal action deter hackers? Hardly. Individual users are already allowed to unlock their own phones under an exemption to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that the U.S. Copyright Office issued last November. The exemption, in force for three years, applies to "computer programs…that enable wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telephone communication network, when circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network."

What's less clear is whether companies and hackers can legally unlock the phones and then sell them to others, or sell unlocking software. "The law here is unclear," says Jonathan Kramer, founder of Kramer Telecom Law Firm in Los Angeles. "There just isn't any case law in this area for us to figure out how it plays out."

Experts believe that AT&T and Apple will point to the DMCA's section 1201, stating that "no person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title." They will claim that a phone lock is just such a technological measure that protects copyrighted work: namely, cell-phone software.

Frustration over locked iPhones is showing up in the courts as well. A class-action lawsuit filed on Aug. 27 in the Supreme Court of the State of New York tells of an iPhone buyer who racked up $2,000 in charges because he couldn't use a different carrier's network while he was on a trip to Mexico. Filed against Apple, the suit claims the plaintiff didn't know that iPhone was tethered to the AT&T network.

Many hope that the legal wrangling will, eventually, result in major shifts in how the U.S. wireless industry operates. For one, a case could pave the way to making all wireless networks more open to unlocked phones. In the next five years, 10% to 15% of U.S. wireless users could move to unlocked phones, figures Andrei Jezierski, founder of venture consultancy i2 Partners in New York (see BusinessWeek.com, 12/4/06, "Motorola, Nokia Set Cell Phones Free").


WSJ- Catering to Couch Potatoes at the Ballpark
To grab the attention of multi-tasking, gadget-addled Americans, sports teams are rolling out devices that allow ticketholders to watch live action or play trivia. But some diehard baseball fans struggle to understand the appeal.


GIZMODO -iPhone Gets Hebrew Support

unlocking-stoning-2.jpg

Yes, this post is about the iPhone but don't worry, it's not about yet another unlocking so put down those stones slowly. This morning's false alarm by a Israeli newspaper only had one nugget of truth: The hackers were able to enable Hebrew support, but not on the interface, just on Safari and Mail. You can check the screenshots after the jump


Apple Demands High Price From European Carriers To Offer iPhone

Apple is said to be asking for 10% of the revenue from iPhone voice and data usage in Europe, a deal that would make other handset providers green with envy. By W. David Gardner InformationWeek August 24, 2007

Investment analysts have estimated that Apple cleans up financially with its exclusive contract with AT&T, reportedly making $3 a month for each iPhone subscriber and $8 for each new subscriber, according to analyst estimates. Apple may do even better than that with the European cellular networks that are negotiating to offer its iPhone.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is keeping the European wireless world on edge as he lets the suspense build as to which service providers will get exclusive rights in their respective countries to market the hot phone. Apple is said to be asking for 10% of the revenue from iPhone voice and data usage in Europe, a deal that would make other handset providers green with envy.


WSJ $500-iPhone, $1,100 Case
By YING WU
August 4, 2007; Page P3
[iPhone Gear]
(Top to bottom) Louis Vuitton alligator leather, $1,120; monogram, $225; Orbino crocodile case, $319; Incase neoprene sports case, $34.95.

First came the hype. Then came the phone. Now, everyone from big designers to tech-gear makers are selling cases to cradle Apple's iPhone.

At the high end, Italian maker Orbino has one made of caiman crocodile for $319, while Louis Vuitton will stock $1,120 alligator cases in its stores in October.

For those feeling more frugal after plunking down $500 for a cellphone, other cases cost about $30. In addition to leather versions, sports models have armbands and some have UV protection.



GIZMODO-No Good Cheating Girlfriends iPhone For Sale
According to Paul, he bought his girlfriend an 8GB iPhone because she wanted one. He then found out she was cheating on him with a guy from church and now he is selling her iPhone. If the advertisement up on Craig's list is true to fact, our man is quite at a loss. In my books any boyfriend willing to buy their other half an 8GB iPhone, no less, needs some sort of 'Best Boyfriend In The World' award. What he does not need is to be cheated on at any point and salt in the wound; losing his once beloved to a guy from church! (NSFW)

Man, I hope God was existing and watching the whole affair; a fellow from his own abode causing such heartache is out of order and the pair should have to pay. We think he just might have to, too. That demanding ho of a girlfriend of his is going to want a new iPhone before she succumbs to spiritual perdition. (He could possibly negotiate a price with Paul). Fortunately for the sinning pair, reception is good in hell, as that is where AT&T is based. Now ladies, hit the link, call Paul and secure a date; if he bought his last girlfriend an 8GB iPhone, imagine what he will get you on the rebound (NOTE: being originally a posting on Craig's List a grain of salt should be taken with this tale)


GIZMODO- iPod and iPhone Media Download Kiosks Coming January 2008

digitaldiner9.jpgAlthough the "upcoming" Zune music kiosk download feature seems obvious thanks to the player's Wi-Fi capabilities, being able to download music onto your iPod or iPhone on the go seems less obvious. However, 22Moo has just announced a date for their iPod- and iPhone-compatible internet kiosk station that lets you download movies, videos, games and music onto your player when you're on the go. The launch is planned for January '08 at CES and MacWorld. (Where will YOU be in January? CES or Macworld? Or Both? )


WSJ-Analysts Ponder iPhone Sales Forecasts

Apple’s announcement last week that it sold 270,000 iPhones in the product’s first 30 hours of availability popped the bubble of several excessively exuberant analyst reports. Many publications (including the Journal) reported that Wall Street was disappointed because analysts had expected sales as high as 700,000.

People get emotionally involved in the product and start thinking it’s going to be a bigger number than it actually is,” said Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray. Mr. Munster initially projected sales of 200,000 over the first two days. But after he and colleagues measured sales rates at flagship Apple Stores in Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco, he raised his estimate for first-weekend sales to 500,000 — with 355,000 of those expected in the two-day period that Apple would be reporting as part of its quarterly results.

“We definitely overshot,” Mr. Munster said, adding: “The part we’re definitely guilty of is building an estimate from three people visiting three stores over a three-day period.” He projected those sales to hundreds of other Apple stores and nearly 2,000 stores for AT&T, the only carrier to offer the iPhone.



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