Mr_Ed
Nov 22, 10:23 AM
...
Apple could change the way phones are made as well, but only if they rethink the device from the ground up. Most phones have too many features that it takes too long to figure out how to use, don't have enough battery life, and are too painful to get hooked up to your computer so you can transfer photos and songs back and forth. Apple has the synchronization stuff down. If you can sync it like an iPod - and charge it in the process, its already leaps above most phones out there. But they cannot miss the interface.
If they want a camera on it (optional in my opinion) they have to make it dirt simple to use (scroll wheel to zoom, middle button to snap) and to get the photos taken on it into iPhoto. Otherwise, skip it altogether. And please don't make me fumble around to find the right button to hit to answer a call. Open it to answer the call, close it to hang up. And if you aren't going to put the number buttons in a tranditional layout - don't put them on there at all. I don't have the time or energy to learn some idiotic circular arrangement. I'd rather you put the numbers up on a touch screen and let me smudge up my phone than deal with a non-standard button arrangement. It also has to be hearty - I don't have time for a phone that stops working if I drop it 3 feet onto a carpeted floor.
...
I couldn't agree more. I still think a cell phone should be, first and foremost, a decent telephone! If it stops working after I drop it on carpet, or the person at the other end sounds like they are taking through a "tin can", or if the reception "goes down more frequently than a five dollar hooker" and it drops calls, I don't really give a rat's ass about a built in camera, video, music player, fancy ringers, or any of the other "bells and whistles" that seem to be a marketing priority these days. Then there's the whole battery life issue. I don't want to caught off guard with a dead phone late one night because I happened to be in the mood for music that day and used the phone as a music player all day. Give me a good telephone, and decent features that enhance that function (BT hands free, sync, etc.) first. Then worry about the other gimmicks.
Apple could change the way phones are made as well, but only if they rethink the device from the ground up. Most phones have too many features that it takes too long to figure out how to use, don't have enough battery life, and are too painful to get hooked up to your computer so you can transfer photos and songs back and forth. Apple has the synchronization stuff down. If you can sync it like an iPod - and charge it in the process, its already leaps above most phones out there. But they cannot miss the interface.
If they want a camera on it (optional in my opinion) they have to make it dirt simple to use (scroll wheel to zoom, middle button to snap) and to get the photos taken on it into iPhoto. Otherwise, skip it altogether. And please don't make me fumble around to find the right button to hit to answer a call. Open it to answer the call, close it to hang up. And if you aren't going to put the number buttons in a tranditional layout - don't put them on there at all. I don't have the time or energy to learn some idiotic circular arrangement. I'd rather you put the numbers up on a touch screen and let me smudge up my phone than deal with a non-standard button arrangement. It also has to be hearty - I don't have time for a phone that stops working if I drop it 3 feet onto a carpeted floor.
...
I couldn't agree more. I still think a cell phone should be, first and foremost, a decent telephone! If it stops working after I drop it on carpet, or the person at the other end sounds like they are taking through a "tin can", or if the reception "goes down more frequently than a five dollar hooker" and it drops calls, I don't really give a rat's ass about a built in camera, video, music player, fancy ringers, or any of the other "bells and whistles" that seem to be a marketing priority these days. Then there's the whole battery life issue. I don't want to caught off guard with a dead phone late one night because I happened to be in the mood for music that day and used the phone as a music player all day. Give me a good telephone, and decent features that enhance that function (BT hands free, sync, etc.) first. Then worry about the other gimmicks.
peharri
Nov 26, 05:57 AM
Now, here's a larger picture thought to ponder...
If Apple goes to market with the iPhone, then this is going to open up (to some extent) the viability of a F/OSS community cell phone. And this is a really good thing as well because it represents a non-commercial, enthusiast entrance into what up until now has been a totally proprietary, locked-down OS-based product world. It has the potential to do to cell phones what Linux has inspired in Mac OS X.
There are already GNU/Linux based cellphones. And what about the iPhone implies that it would be open in a way that, say, an average Nokia isn't? I appreciate they ported GNU/Linux to the iPod, but for the most part the reason similar things haven't happened on more regular cellphones has been an issue of the amount of work involved, with it being somewhat harder to write a GSM stack from scratch and port a kernel than it is to simply port an off-the-shelf kernel. (And I guess there's the additional issue that there are six zillion cellphones using about one quillion completely incompatible hardware platforms, whereas there are only a handful of MP3 players and only one that's achieved marketshare heaven.)
If Apple goes to market with the iPhone, then this is going to open up (to some extent) the viability of a F/OSS community cell phone. And this is a really good thing as well because it represents a non-commercial, enthusiast entrance into what up until now has been a totally proprietary, locked-down OS-based product world. It has the potential to do to cell phones what Linux has inspired in Mac OS X.
There are already GNU/Linux based cellphones. And what about the iPhone implies that it would be open in a way that, say, an average Nokia isn't? I appreciate they ported GNU/Linux to the iPod, but for the most part the reason similar things haven't happened on more regular cellphones has been an issue of the amount of work involved, with it being somewhat harder to write a GSM stack from scratch and port a kernel than it is to simply port an off-the-shelf kernel. (And I guess there's the additional issue that there are six zillion cellphones using about one quillion completely incompatible hardware platforms, whereas there are only a handful of MP3 players and only one that's achieved marketshare heaven.)
puckhead193
Apr 23, 05:02 PM
lets hope new monitors along with new MPs
McGiord
May 6, 10:48 AM
They do actually call them Quarter Pounder's in Australia. And they insist on calling the chips 'fries' too! :rolleyes:
Come to think of it� isn't it a bit odd that Americans attribute 'fries' to the French, but refuse to adopt their metric system? Go figure.
Well they are not really french:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries
Come to think of it� isn't it a bit odd that Americans attribute 'fries' to the French, but refuse to adopt their metric system? Go figure.
Well they are not really french:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fries
D4F
Apr 26, 02:16 PM
What a shocker... :rolleyes:
DeathChill
Apr 20, 08:50 AM
You and I are thinking alike.
Sobering stuff when Apple fails to impress.
Right or wrong the glass iphone will be forever associated with Antennagate.
I'm too much of an Apple enthusiast to keep an albatross like that.
Now I will celebrate a change of brand while Jobs and company hunts for answers. :)
I am extremely impressed with your ability to be disappointed with a product that hasn't been announced and we know nothing about.
Also, hasn't the iPhone 4 been the best selling iPhone ever?
Sobering stuff when Apple fails to impress.
Right or wrong the glass iphone will be forever associated with Antennagate.
I'm too much of an Apple enthusiast to keep an albatross like that.
Now I will celebrate a change of brand while Jobs and company hunts for answers. :)
I am extremely impressed with your ability to be disappointed with a product that hasn't been announced and we know nothing about.
Also, hasn't the iPhone 4 been the best selling iPhone ever?
ChickenSwartz
Aug 11, 09:41 AM
Mac Pro and Xserve have the Xeon (Woodcrest).
MacBook Pro, MacBook, and iMac will be upgraded to the Core 2 Duo (Merom).
Mac Mini will probably keep the Core Duo (Yonah).
I agree except I think they will put Conroe in the iMac.
MacBook Pro, MacBook, and iMac will be upgraded to the Core 2 Duo (Merom).
Mac Mini will probably keep the Core Duo (Yonah).
I agree except I think they will put Conroe in the iMac.
Purdin
May 7, 12:03 PM
I personally love MobileMe and use it to sync between my iPhone, iPad, iMac, and MacBook. Now if they would only get it to sync with a PC running Exchange, it would save me also having to pay for and use Plaxo's Premium service to keep my Windows PC updated.
Has anyone figured out a work-around for the Exchange issue? I still haven't found a reason why they don't allow calendar and contact sync'ing when using Outlook with Exchange.
Has anyone figured out a work-around for the Exchange issue? I still haven't found a reason why they don't allow calendar and contact sync'ing when using Outlook with Exchange.
macenforcer
Aug 7, 08:37 PM
Anyone have their shipment notification yet? When I ordered my mighty mouse it shipped the same day at 8pm and the ship time was the same as the MacPro so I am hoping. I opted for overnight shipping. I was dreaming of getting this tomorrow but at latest they said I will get it Friday.
Fingers Crossed.
Fingers Crossed.
ehoui
May 5, 07:41 PM
Which is why, of course, US News reports that 6 out of the top 10 universities for engineering and IT are not in the US? Once upon a time the US owned that list.
Fine, but prove to me it's because of the metric system.
Fine, but prove to me it's because of the metric system.
wclyffe
Jan 6, 11:10 AM
So I've played with the TomTom iPhone Car Kit for a couple of days and here's my initial observations.
* It mounted to my dash really well and the adhesive worked better than I thought it would. I like how the phone pops in and out of the mount with one hand.
* The internal chip definitely adds speed and connectivity in more difficult areas. In LA, I get a lock on my directions in about 5 seconds most of the time.
* I'm using an FM transmitter to broadcast my music through my speakers...seems to work pretty good, but the input is a little strong so I have to back my volume down on the iphone.
* I do not like the bluetooth speaker phone built-in for phone calls. It is far inferior to my BluAnt, but luckily it seems I can have both connected and easily switch back and forth.
* Lastly, this is the thing that may make me return it...it rattles, as it is not built very well!! Where the car kit spins to landscape, it is just a little too loose of a setup. Does everyone else have this problem or do I have a defective unit? Would love to know if its worth bothering to exchange it. Thanks!
* It mounted to my dash really well and the adhesive worked better than I thought it would. I like how the phone pops in and out of the mount with one hand.
* The internal chip definitely adds speed and connectivity in more difficult areas. In LA, I get a lock on my directions in about 5 seconds most of the time.
* I'm using an FM transmitter to broadcast my music through my speakers...seems to work pretty good, but the input is a little strong so I have to back my volume down on the iphone.
* I do not like the bluetooth speaker phone built-in for phone calls. It is far inferior to my BluAnt, but luckily it seems I can have both connected and easily switch back and forth.
* Lastly, this is the thing that may make me return it...it rattles, as it is not built very well!! Where the car kit spins to landscape, it is just a little too loose of a setup. Does everyone else have this problem or do I have a defective unit? Would love to know if its worth bothering to exchange it. Thanks!
fowler.
Aug 4, 01:06 PM
I don't get the point of this article. I mean, isn't it common knowledge that Apple is going to use the Merom processors in it's computers?
rwilliams
Apr 26, 04:16 PM
Big deal. I use two platforms (Mac OS X and iOS) that aren't dominating the market, yet I feel that both have the superior user experience and the superior software. As long as both keep providing those two things, I'll be a happy customer.
miamijim
Nov 11, 01:02 AM
I have installed this and am running it now but I do have 1.75 TB of data on my drives to go through, I will update this when the scan is complete.
It all looks nice and simple anyway so far.
:)
5 hours of scanning 2.4 million files ......
1 virus.
And what was it...... An old rar file back up of a piece of windows software.
All cleaned up now......
It all looks nice and simple anyway so far.
:)
5 hours of scanning 2.4 million files ......
1 virus.
And what was it...... An old rar file back up of a piece of windows software.
All cleaned up now......
Xian Zhu Xuande
Apr 5, 03:00 PM
I'm surprised at how much misunderstanding there is as I skim this discussion.
Why is Apple stopping this? Because it provides publicity to jailbreaking. They may have other reasons for it, but I'll wager more than any other, drawing attention to jailbreaking is the main reason why this bothers them.
Why is Apple bothered by jailbreaking? Why does Apple oppose jailbreaking? Again, as a company which tightly controls the user experience of their devices and doesn't like news such as security flaws, I'm sure there are many things which bother them about jailbreaking, but again there is probably one primary cause: software piracy. Jailbreaking enables software piracy and there's not a whole lot that even the jailbreaking community can do about that.
And then there's a few more nails in the coffin: a jailbreak must take advantage of a security flaw in Apple devices or software in order to be performed, and Apple must patch these flaws in order to maintain their device security. Even if Apple didn't care about jailbreaking so much they should continue patching the flaws, thus the cat and mouse game. So why doesn't Apple just allow it by default? See the earlier points, especially piracy. Apple is going to oppose jailbreaking to the end and they have legitimate reasons to do so. I like to jailbreak my devices from time to time, but I see where they're coming from.
Why is Apple stopping this? Because it provides publicity to jailbreaking. They may have other reasons for it, but I'll wager more than any other, drawing attention to jailbreaking is the main reason why this bothers them.
Why is Apple bothered by jailbreaking? Why does Apple oppose jailbreaking? Again, as a company which tightly controls the user experience of their devices and doesn't like news such as security flaws, I'm sure there are many things which bother them about jailbreaking, but again there is probably one primary cause: software piracy. Jailbreaking enables software piracy and there's not a whole lot that even the jailbreaking community can do about that.
And then there's a few more nails in the coffin: a jailbreak must take advantage of a security flaw in Apple devices or software in order to be performed, and Apple must patch these flaws in order to maintain their device security. Even if Apple didn't care about jailbreaking so much they should continue patching the flaws, thus the cat and mouse game. So why doesn't Apple just allow it by default? See the earlier points, especially piracy. Apple is going to oppose jailbreaking to the end and they have legitimate reasons to do so. I like to jailbreak my devices from time to time, but I see where they're coming from.
thisisahughes
Mar 29, 09:25 AM
Dang... I feel like $80 a month is a LOT of money for 1TB of space. Especially when you can pay $70 ONCE and get your own 1TB drive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822324041&cm_re=1tb-_-22-324-041-_-Product
Of course there are many benefits of having your data "in the cloud," but I think their prices are way too high.
I'm waiting for this. http://www.lacie.com/us/technologies/technology.htm?id=10039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822324041&cm_re=1tb-_-22-324-041-_-Product
Of course there are many benefits of having your data "in the cloud," but I think their prices are way too high.
I'm waiting for this. http://www.lacie.com/us/technologies/technology.htm?id=10039
kre62
Apr 18, 04:13 PM
Call me crazy, but I think this might lend creedence to the thought that iPhone 5 will come out this summer...
How are these connected?
Well I've been thinking that Apple really wants to show the world, investors, etc, that it can still keep secrets after the i4 debacle last year. I think its possible they have changed suppliers in an atempt to stop the leaks. They might also be fueling the disinformation campaign that puts the 5 in October.
The fact that they are now suing Samsung, and waited this long, might give validity to this theory, as they did not want to sue them while Sammy was still a key supplier for them.
Something to think about.
How are these connected?
Well I've been thinking that Apple really wants to show the world, investors, etc, that it can still keep secrets after the i4 debacle last year. I think its possible they have changed suppliers in an atempt to stop the leaks. They might also be fueling the disinformation campaign that puts the 5 in October.
The fact that they are now suing Samsung, and waited this long, might give validity to this theory, as they did not want to sue them while Sammy was still a key supplier for them.
Something to think about.
Piggie
Apr 23, 06:29 PM
What was the point in bringing retina display to the iPhone? :)
Same thing I guess...
For one I want it, it is very kind on the eyes...
Yes, because the iPhone was low res for a device you hold up to your nose and a typical consumer, which is what Apple design for, could easily see the pixels.
I am wondering how many typical consumers, when viewing at the distance you would view, say a 24" monitor, can make out individual pixels.
I do know Apple's font smoothing is a little, ummmm, shall we say, different to what Microsoft do, so perhaps typefaces do look more jaggy on a Mac than they do on a PC ?
Same thing I guess...
For one I want it, it is very kind on the eyes...
Yes, because the iPhone was low res for a device you hold up to your nose and a typical consumer, which is what Apple design for, could easily see the pixels.
I am wondering how many typical consumers, when viewing at the distance you would view, say a 24" monitor, can make out individual pixels.
I do know Apple's font smoothing is a little, ummmm, shall we say, different to what Microsoft do, so perhaps typefaces do look more jaggy on a Mac than they do on a PC ?
Rdclark
Mar 31, 02:28 PM
You get 20 gigs if you buy an album on Amazon. Here's an album for a dollar:
http://www.amazon.com/Neroli/dp/B001LK0HVU/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_3
You do the math.
Only for a year. Fill up that 20 Gigs and a year later you can either empty it down to the free 5, or pony up.
http://www.amazon.com/Neroli/dp/B001LK0HVU/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_3
You do the math.
Only for a year. Fill up that 20 Gigs and a year later you can either empty it down to the free 5, or pony up.
Eidorian
Aug 7, 02:44 PM
The baseline is actually somewhere around $2100, you can lower some of the options when configuring.$1962 for US Education. w/2 GHz and 160 GB hard drive.
Jape
Nov 4, 06:25 PM
Gave it a brief test around town this afternoon. MotionX GPS lite status screen reported an accuracy (radius?) of between 30 feet to 50 feet, whereas without the TomTom mount it ranged from about 75 ft to 256 ft or worse. So, yeah, it improves GPS accuracy, and I did notice the difference when using the TomTom app.
The thing is well built and elegant, the nicest carphone mount design I've ever seen. You have to be gentle sticking the iPhone into the mount, but you can do it with one hand. You have to think about where to install the mount in your car -- window, dash, left or right of the wheel etc. -- and you can't leave the iPhone in a case (OK for me, might not be for others). The power and audio cables stick out of the side, which is a bit awkward, especially when you rotate it; I'm thinking of picking up some adhesive-backed clips at RadioShack to keep the wires out of the way as they wind their way down to the power and aux jacks. I've made only one phone call so far, which worked fine, but the phone uses the mount's speaker even when you're plugged into the car stereo (music and/or Tomtom app voice stops in the car speakers, and then the phone call comes out of the mount speaker). I could hear the phone call fine driving around town, but I'm a little worried about how well I'll be able to hear phone calls at freeway speeds in my noisy little car (a Honda Fit).
The acid test will be a substantial trip that includes some skyscraper canyons in a big city.
Last I checked it looked like BLT had sold out and was awaiting more shipments.
Thanks a ton for for your review, I am now going to buy the kit from BLT. They are on backorder with the product and will be recieving a shipment in on the 11 of nov, but for this low price I believe it is worth the wait ( about %30 off). Thanks again.
The thing is well built and elegant, the nicest carphone mount design I've ever seen. You have to be gentle sticking the iPhone into the mount, but you can do it with one hand. You have to think about where to install the mount in your car -- window, dash, left or right of the wheel etc. -- and you can't leave the iPhone in a case (OK for me, might not be for others). The power and audio cables stick out of the side, which is a bit awkward, especially when you rotate it; I'm thinking of picking up some adhesive-backed clips at RadioShack to keep the wires out of the way as they wind their way down to the power and aux jacks. I've made only one phone call so far, which worked fine, but the phone uses the mount's speaker even when you're plugged into the car stereo (music and/or Tomtom app voice stops in the car speakers, and then the phone call comes out of the mount speaker). I could hear the phone call fine driving around town, but I'm a little worried about how well I'll be able to hear phone calls at freeway speeds in my noisy little car (a Honda Fit).
The acid test will be a substantial trip that includes some skyscraper canyons in a big city.
Last I checked it looked like BLT had sold out and was awaiting more shipments.
Thanks a ton for for your review, I am now going to buy the kit from BLT. They are on backorder with the product and will be recieving a shipment in on the 11 of nov, but for this low price I believe it is worth the wait ( about %30 off). Thanks again.
wclyffe
Jan 22, 03:02 PM
Let me know how loud the volume is during a call conversation. If it is significantly louder than the TomTom, I may jump ship and get the Megellan unit.
So hear's my initial sense of the Magellan kit. I like it better than the TomTom kit for two simple reasons..first, it is rock solid when I drive around no matter how bumpy the road is. Instead of the tiny clicks on the TT, it has simple detents at 12-3-6-9 and it locks in solid. Second, is the fact that I can just put my iPhone in with the case on makes it far more convenient. I didn't think this would be such a big deal, but in fact I'm in and out of the car a lot so its a significant benefit. The speaker is loud and clear, but I don't think its louder than the TomTom...about the same.
I'll let you know more as I use it for awhile!
I just ran into this review today so I thought I'd add it in for anyone interested...
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/22/review-on-the-road-with-the-magellan-premium-car-kit/
So hear's my initial sense of the Magellan kit. I like it better than the TomTom kit for two simple reasons..first, it is rock solid when I drive around no matter how bumpy the road is. Instead of the tiny clicks on the TT, it has simple detents at 12-3-6-9 and it locks in solid. Second, is the fact that I can just put my iPhone in with the case on makes it far more convenient. I didn't think this would be such a big deal, but in fact I'm in and out of the car a lot so its a significant benefit. The speaker is loud and clear, but I don't think its louder than the TomTom...about the same.
I'll let you know more as I use it for awhile!
I just ran into this review today so I thought I'd add it in for anyone interested...
http://www.tuaw.com/2010/01/22/review-on-the-road-with-the-magellan-premium-car-kit/
MistaBungle
Mar 30, 05:48 PM
Excellent. Downloading and cannot wait to load.
MacsRgr8
Sep 15, 06:19 PM
GeekLaw: A) That phrase above shall be banned for a period of at least 2 years, at whence time it shall be deemed cool and retro when used in reference to overdue product announcements. B) The phrase shall only refer to products which have not been refreshed for over 1 year. (Servers excluded).
LOL.
I absolutely love the phrase: "PowerBook G5 next Tuesday".
It will certainly become a classic remark to us MacRumor's folk. Like Cold Fusion, or Time Travel, it will stand for "the unreachable, the unproducable, never to be achieved by mankind". :D
So, let's not ban this phrase, it should be imprinted in a tombstone with golden letters. We know Apple tried... but they couldn't achieve it... now that is something not often heard.
LOL.
I absolutely love the phrase: "PowerBook G5 next Tuesday".
It will certainly become a classic remark to us MacRumor's folk. Like Cold Fusion, or Time Travel, it will stand for "the unreachable, the unproducable, never to be achieved by mankind". :D
So, let's not ban this phrase, it should be imprinted in a tombstone with golden letters. We know Apple tried... but they couldn't achieve it... now that is something not often heard.
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