Apple Mac HQ

Yesterday was the iPhone’s first birthday and I forgot to write about it! Well I didn’t forget, just didn’t have time…but that’s beside the point. On June 29th, 2008, the iPhone turned the big 01. It seems like so long ago that I was unboxing the iPhone that Friday night. The excitement I had that Friday night was something I don’t think I’ve ever experienced with a gadget before.

The iPhone has gone through a lot in its first year:

• It was Jailbroken
• It was Unlocked
• It dropped significantly in price
• Websites across the internet adopted special iPhone only views
• The Google Maps application became location aware
• It both shrank and got bigger (No more 4GB and a new 16GB)
• It traveled across the pond
• iTunes Wi-fi was delivered
• It became an iBrick for some
• It had “Compatibility and stability updates”
• It witnessed the announcement of a new family member

Happy late birthday iPhone!

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In case you missed it, Rogers has announced their 3G iPhone voice and data packages. And much to no ones surprise, the rates suck. When I wrote about Rogers getting the iPhone a few months ago, I noted that the most anticipated announcement regarding the iPhone in Canada was actually the rate plans. While the data plans have improved over what they were prior to the iPhone, our northern brothers aren’t exactly getting a fair deal.

And what do people do when they feel they have been wronged? No, I’m not talking about a lawsuit (though it’s early to rule that out). Online petitions. Yes, there is an online petition for folks who think Rogers is bending them over a chair with their iPhone rates. If you live and Canada and want to tell Rogers where to stick that iPhone box, visit the website to sign the petition. There is also an R rated version of the URL for the petition website. If I was a Canadian I’d sign it.

[Via Daring Fireball]

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A quick search in my RSS reader tells me that at least one other person has mentioned this, but I thought it was too funny not to bring up again. I was on vacation when this video was released, so it’s news to me today. As Gruber put it, “hard to believe this isn’t a joke”. Just watch the less than three minute video below for a good laugh.

Lets break down what the “senior technology correspondent” had to say a few days before the iPhone 3G announcement. The comments by Gary relate to what Apple needs to do to the make the iPhone relevant in the enterprise. My commentary will be directly below his words.

Gary: “He’s got to get Blackberry on there, or Windows Mobile on there. It’s the entire answer”.

Are you sure it’s the entire answer Gary? Ever hear of ActiveSync?

Gary: “He’d (reference to Steve Jobs) rather get a lot of people going to an Apple system. I don’t think that’s gonna happen”.

I think the 35% of Fortune 500 companies that signed up for the iPhone Software 2.0 beta might disagree with you Gary.

Gary: “For Apple to tap into that, they’re gonna have to bite bullet. They’re going to have to make some sort of agreement. And you know what agreement means, they have to pay for the rights. And I don’t think they want to pay for the rights.”

How astute of you Gary. I’m willing to bet you didn’t catch that March 6th Apple iPhone event did you? The one where Apple announced they were going to license ActiveSync from Microsoft. And you know what license means Gary? It means they had to pay for the rights.

Gary: “Everything is compared to the iPhone.”

You finally got something right Gary.

Gary: “At some point soon, he’s (again, he’s referencing Steve as Apple) going to have to go after the business market.”

As in next month…say July 11th perhaps?

No matter how many times I watch this video, it still makes me laugh.

[Via GeekBrief # 372]

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How cool would it be use your iPhone and never have to hook it up to a phone charger? According to a Forbes article, that might very well be within the realm of possibility. Apple has filed a patent to place solar cells on portable devices.

The iPhone could have photovoltaic cells placed underneath the LCD multi-touch screen, maximizing the surface area for the cells to gather sunlight. The patent filing said the LCD could display the solar cells performance alongside the battery information.

While some patents never make the light of day, this would be a welcomed addition to the iPhone in my opinion. The only downside is that you would have to leave your iPhone on a table or window seal to take advantage of the solar cells. That small detail could leave many iPhone toting users to accidentally leave their phone behind. Sound off in the comments your thoughts on this idea!

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If you have been reading Apple Mac HQ lately you’ve probably noticed the irregular posting schedule I’ve kept for the last month or so. I’ve been traveling a TON for work and just haven’t had the time to post. I’ve been all over the Southeast (GA, TN, KY, VA, WV, NC, SC, AL, and PA) in the last month or so and it will finally come to an end this week. I’m off to Europe at the beginning of June, but once I’m back you’ll see my regular posting schedule return.

Traveling this week in Western West Virginia, I noticed something with my iPhone. My iPhone became an iBrick for about a day and a half. For about 1.5 days I had no cell signal, much less an EDGE connection. I’ve been without EDGE before (Wyoming), but to have no cell signal for so long is unusual. We weren’t in National Forests or Wilderness, where having a cell signal is quite unusual, we were simply driving down a state HWY.

I’m currently in Bluefield, WV with a great cell and EDGE connection. But if you live in the hills of Western West Virginia, you might want to think twice about getting an iPhone. Based on my experience, I wouldn’t recommend it.

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Our northern brothers are finally getting the iPhone. According to a statement released by Rogers Communications Inc. on Tuesday, it has reached an agreement to bring the iPhone to Canada. “We’re thrilled to announce that we have a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Canada later this year,” Rogers CEO Ted Rogers said via the statement. “We can’t tell you any more about it right now, but stay tuned.”

The iPhone carrier announcement is only one half of the anticipated release of the iPhone in Canada. Perhaps the most anticipated announcement will come when Rogers releases their rate plans. Currently, Rogers charges an arm and a leg for data plans (25 MB for $60 CDN). How will Rogers alter their data charges for the iPhone?

[Via MacRumors]

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Why waste your time reading 5 or more blog posts or one really long post when you can read one that gets right to the point? Here’s a blow by blow recap on what went on today at the iPhone SDK/Enterprise press event. My notes are between the ().

Stats

• iPhone took 28% market share in Q4 2007 for smartphones
• Mobile Safari: 71% of US mobile browser usage

Enterprise

• The following will be available for enterprise customers:
  • Push email
  • Push calendar
  • Push contacts
  • Global address list
  • Cisco IPsec VPN
  • Certificates and Identities
  • WPA2/802.1x
  • Enforced security policies
  • Device configuration
  • Remote wipe

• Apple has licensed ActiveSync from Microsoft to play nice with Exchange

SDK

• Using the same SDK that Apple uses
• Cocoa Touch - application framework for interacting with the accelerometer and touches/swipes
• With Core Location you can create location-aware applications
• Xcode will be used to develop iPhone apps
• Xcode will feature remote debugging from your iPhone running the app live
• Interface Builder will help you build your application interface
• iPhone Simulator will simulate the entire API stack on your computer.
• SDK available now for free
• $99 to join the iPhone developers program. This gets you a digital certificate for your applications so you can distribute them

Demo Time

• Demos by Apple, EA, Salesforce.com, AOL (yes, IM on the iPhone), Epocrates (no clue what they do), and Sega
• From Sega: “if anything, we underestimated what the iPhone was able to do from the start, we had to fly in another artist to scale up the art to match what the iPhone could actually output.”

App Store

• App Store, is a new application for iPhone/iPod touch that will be the distribution point for applications
• Find applications via featured, just added, staff favorites, browse by categories, and search
• Applications can be downloaded via Edge or Wifi
• Application can be “sideloaded” from iTunes as well
• Sparkle like update for iPhone apps
• Revenue from App Store sales: 70% Developers, 30% Apple (similar to Music sales)
• No CC fees, hosting fees, or marketing fees
• Developer has full pricing felxibility
• Developer payments are made monthly
• No charge for free applications
• Some “limiations” on what is available from the App Store; e.g. Unlocking, illegal, adult, etc

iPhone 2.0 Software Update

• SDK and enterprise functionality included
• Beta release today
• Full release sometime in June
• 2.0 is free for iPhone users and a small charge for iPod touch users

iFund

• A $100M VC fund from KPCB “for the iPhone platform”

Q&A

• Each application will have a digital certificate to identify who wrote the application
• VOIP apps are possible, but only over Wifi (sounds reasonable to me)
• Mums the word on the iPod touch software update price
• Special application for dealing with internal enterprise applications; still being worked on
• Parental controls added to iPhone 2.0 software

[Information via Engadget]

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