The | Apple iPhone | Thread

SRASC · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 6:15 pm Post subject:

With Apple’s influence hanging over the Mobile World Congress event this week, the Royal Bank of Canada has released a comprehensive comparison chart of eight contenders that threaten to steal some of the iPhone’s customers.

Though the firm still sees the iPhone as solidly superior to its competition, analyst Mike Abramsky told clients he’s still concerned about the risk posed to Apple with the crop of newcomers.

“Some — notably Google, Palm, Microsoft, HTC — appears to offer ‘good enough’ functional alternatives, including PC-like internet browsing, consumer UI/navigation, touch manipulation, messaging, applications/services, carrier functionality — with alternative hardware form factors (e.g. keyboards, sliders, etc) that may appeal to some potential iPhone customers,” he wrote.

Abramsky believes multiple launches on North American and European carriers, expected in the second half of this year, could force Apple’s hand on pricing and marketing as the newcomers compete for mindshare and carrier shelf space. The analyst said that any new iPhone models – referring to his research note from earlier this month – could enter a “more competitive landscape” than the previous versions of Apple’s popular smartphone.

“We see possible revaluation…on revised growth/margin expectations, lowered visibility, and renewed uncertainty re leadership,” he concluded.

Abramsky isn’t the first Wall Street analyst to suggest that Apple may alter its iPhone pricing structure when a third-generation model hits the market sometime this year. Earlier this month, both Kaufman Bros’ Shaw Wu and Bernstein’s Toni Sacconaghi issued similar comments. Wu cited sources who said Apple and AT&T were discussing the possibility of offering customers more data plan options, including some restrictive but more affordable plans, while Sacconaghi simply cited comments from a one-on-one meeting with Apple’s acting chief executive Tim Cook that suggest the company is looking into “different pricing/price points” for the hardware itself.

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SRASC · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:16 pm Post subject:

Not content with totally pwning the PlayStation 3, Solid Snake is aiming for your iPhone. Metal Gear Solid Touch will soon be available at the iPhone's App Store.

According to the just updated site, the shooter allows you to "Experience Metal Gear Solid 4's story as you fight through each action-packed stage. Fierce battles and familiar faces await you around every corner." MGS Touch will take full advantage of the iPhone's finger-sensitive display. The game features "touch-based shooting" where you move your target around with your finger, zoom in and out with a pinch, and squeeze off shots with a quick tap. As you complete levels, the game rewards you with "Drebin Points," redeemable for over 40 Metal Gear wallpapers.

No word yet on a release date or price, but according to the site, the game will come out in two parts: An "advance release" edition that consists of the first part of the game, and the full game. A trailer is coming out soon too.

Screenshot:

SRASC · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:51 pm Post subject:

iPhone Developer, KennyTM has released another jailbreak app on Cydia for jailbroken iPhone users which adds another row (a 5th row) to iPhone's virtual keyboard.

The jailbreak app is aptly called 5-Row QWERTY Keyboard.

KennyTM is the developer of one of our favorite jailbreak app hClipboard, which in our opinion is the best "Copy and Paste" solution for the iPhone.

KennyTM's 5-Row QWERTY Keyboard adds another row of keys to iPhone's virtual keyboard.

As you can see from the screenshot below, it adds a row of numbers to iPhone's Qwerty keyboard like you have on the computer keyboard.

Tapping on the arrow button in the second row (which is used to turn caps lock on) gives you access to the symbols (such as !, @ etc) which are again arranged in the same order as those on the computer keyboard.

After you have installed 5-Row QWERTY Keyboard on your jailbroken iPhone using Cydia. You can enable the 5th row by going to Settings -> General -> Keyboard -> International Keyboards and swiping your finger to turn On 5 Row QWERTY keyboard (I observed that it was enabled by default).

Once it is enabled, you can switch to the 5 Row Qwerty keyboard by tapping on the Globe button.

This is a cool hack but the keys are adjusted to fit the additional row in the available space so the keys are quite cramped if you compare the spacing available in the original keyboard. So it might not be convenient for folks with thick fingers.

SRASC · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject:

A new Blackberry ad takes a literal shot at an Apple while introducing the first touch screen Blackberry device.

Duane 3NE 2NR · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:04 pm Post subject:

SRASC · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 8:30 pm Post subject:

That's what I thought

Wolfie · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject:

Thats not a Storm ad?

SRASC · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:09 pm Post subject:

I'd guess so, but it never said so, but Blackberry doesn't have any other touchscreens at last check

ryan99tt · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject:

so new fone comin den?

SRASC · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject:

Actually this wasn't an ad from RIM. Its from CrackBerry.com a pro-Blackberry site.

xtech · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:29 pm Post subject:

if you look at nvidia's site they say phones using the tegra chip are expected to ship mid 2009. they even cite the fact that apple didnt go far enough with the iphone showing that they arent following the same marketing plan as apple (come out with something cool for wow factor and then something slightly better every 6 months

Duane 3NE 2NR · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject:

SRASC · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject:

According to AllTechnoBlog Austrian jeweler Peter Aloisson has designed the world’s most expensive phone, the Apple iPhone 3G Kings Button.

The Apple iPhone 3G Kings Button’s main operating button is integrated with high quality 6.6 carat diamonds, this impression itself of the phone is very attractive. This exquisite phone is made of solid 18-carat yellow gold, white gold and rose gold. It e flaunts a white gold line encrusted with a total of 138 brilliant cut diamonds of the best quality.

The Apple iPhone 3G ‘Kings Button’ costs approximately 1,636,000 ($2,517,345).

RASC · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:57 pm Post subject:

Yeah saw the ad this morning...pretty cool...but Alas, the BB Storm is S#E!T anyway Laughing

Anyway guys sold the N82 this afternoon Crying or Very sad

But no fears, my second Nokia device sold in a year and both to (former)iPhone users Laughing

Needless to say a job well done by yours truly #Fade in

SRASC · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:19 pm Post subject:

The three children of Bill and Melinda Gates may not be allowed to have a product from a certain Cupertino-based rival in their home, but that doesn't mean Mrs. Gates doesn't wish for an Apple gadget every once in a while.

Melinda Gates told Vogue in a recent interview that the couple's three children try to have "as regular a childhood as possible,", but that doesn't include Apple's ubiquitous iPod digital music and video player or its cellular companion, the iPhone.

"There are very few things that are on the banned list in our household," she said. "But iPods and iPhones are two things we don't get for our kids."

Gates' husband Bill, of course, founded Microsoft, which sells its own line of digital media players under the Zune brand name. So when it comes to the market-leading iPod, it's look-but-don't-touch for the Gates family, including the three children (aged 12, 9, and 6), and even Melinda herself.

"Every now and then I look at my friends and say, 'Ooh, I wouldn't mind having that iPhone,'" she said.

Melinda Gates, who was hired by Microsoft at the age of 22 and worked on products like Encarta, Expedia, and Microsoft Bob, went on to marry the founder of the company. Vogue describes her as possibly the "most ambitious woman on Earth."

Together, Bill and Melinda Gates run their eponymous charity organization that enjoys assets of around $35 billion.

The two say they still plan to give all of their fortune away. The interview didn't mention whether the three Gates children, aged 12, 9, and 6, use Zunes, but it does detail some of the charitable causes, from the American high school system to global public health, to which the couple has devoted itself.

Amit · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject:

i fine my audio is very soft, what can i do

ryan99tt · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:10 pm Post subject:

there is a volume boost app, search for it in cydia...

SRASC · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 1:25 pm Post subject:

Two snowboarders got lost in the Alps yesterday, one was able to use his iPhone GPS to aid his rescue, the other tragically died.

According to the Evening Standard, Rob Williams, founder of online music equipment retailer Dolphin Music, went missing with friend Jason Tavaria while on a holiday with Michelle Dewberry, the winner of the second series of TV's The Apprentice.

The two both 29 got lost in the midst of terrible blizzard which grounded helicopters and other rescue operations.

Mr. Tavaria managed to get the co-ordinates of his location using the iPhone's GPS and relay it to rescuers. He was found in good health six hours later.

In an attempt to located Mr. Williams messages were posted on Twitter asking for his mobile phone number.

Michelle Dewberry posted saying: “2 of our ski party been missing since 4pm. Conditions terrible. 1 guy found but trapped. 20 man team searching for other.”

Another entrepreneur, Alex Hoye, wrote: “Urgent: If anyone has or knows Rob Williams of Dolphin Music's mobile, please send. Mtn rescue in progress.”

Successfully receiving Mr. Williams mobile number, Alex Hoye wrote, “Rob's number rec'd via Twitter; Jason now found using GPS / Google maps & phone (@joshmarch org'd); still working on finding Rob.”

Tragically, Mr Williams's body was discovered by search teams late last night shortly after they found his mobile phone. Local police confirmed that he had fallen 66 feet onto a bed of rocks.

Wolfie · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:20 pm Post subject:

Wow, first life saved by the iPhone Mr. Green

ryan99tt · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 5:27 pm Post subject:

any new apps?