The iPod may become a rarity in the U.S. Image: strollers/Flickr/CC BY-SA

Court disputes over intellectual property continue between Korean-based Samsung and Apple, Inc. The disputes are surrounding patents for the iPod, iPad and iPhone devices. The suits could have a far-reaching affect on American consumers.

Samsung petitions ITC

Samsung, the world’s largest maker of computer memory chips, filed a suit yesterday in the High Court in London to block iPhones, iPads and iPods — manufactured in the U.K. — from being imported into the U.S. On June 28, the Korean firm also asked the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to block importation of the devices. Samsung asserts that the Apple products contain components which violate their patents.

Apple has a suit of their own

Two months ago Apple filed a suit of their own against Samsung in a California federal court. Apple claims that Samsung slavishly copied the look, feel and design of their iPhone, iPad and iPod devices. Apple further claimed harassment by the Korean firm, which is allegedly demanding to see prototypes of the new iPad 3 and iPhone 5.

An ironic dispute

This is the most recent round in an ongoing dispute between the two electronics giants. Samsung has previously sued Apple in Seoul, San Francisco, Tokyo  and Mannheim, Germany. The ongoing spat is ironic, since the companies rely so heavily upon one another. Samsung is Apple’s chief supplier of memory chips.

Both court battles could take several months to settle. Should Samsung succeed, the iPod could become a rare and much-sought-after collector’s item in the U.S.

Disputes are nothing new

Disputes of this kind are nothing new. In 2006, the American wireless firm Qualcomm petitioned the ITC to block the import of products from Finnish corporation Nokia over patent infringements. The ITC disapproved the request, but Nokia was concerned enough to pay Qualcomm a settlement in 2008 to avoid a lawsuit over the same issues.

Apple also asked the ITC to block the U.S. importation of Nokia phones last year. Yet just last month, Apple decided to pay Nokia around $1 billion for the rights to use its patents.

Importation has been blocked in the past

The ITC did agree to block the importation of a phone containing Qualcomm chips in 2007. California-based Broadcom petitioned the block, claiming patent violations. A federal court eventually overturned the decision. Verizon Wireless, whose phones use Qualcomm chips, feared the decision would greatly harm their business at the time.

Sources

Daily Finance
Bloomberg

Visa wants to make mobile payments your payment method of choice. (Photo Credit: CC BY/MoneyBlogNewz/Flickr)

Paying with cash, check or credit is almost completely passé now, if you believe the hoards of iPhone and Android supporters. Yet the move toward a cashless society may be closer than we think, thanks to Visa. Wired reports that the credit card company will debut Visa Digital Wallet via smartphone for retail electronic point-of-sale locations by Fall 2011.

Near Field Communication technology is the key

Visa’s Digital Wallet announcement will no doubt bring additional urgency to the mobile payments race. Credit card companies, retail businesses and consumers have looked forward to the day that a convenient wave of a phone could complete a transaction. With secure Near Field technology short-range communication, that day is almost upon us.

“The widespread adoption of Internet and mobile technology is changing the way people connect and transact across the globe,” said Visa chairman and CEO Joseph Saunders in a statement. “We’re focused on delivering locally tailored payments products and services.”

Visa Digital Wallet: Driving consumer behavior

Experts predict that not only will NFC technology make mobile payments the preferred method of transaction, but other technology that Visa and others are developing will streamline the one-click shopping experience online and allow consumers to consolidate accounts from multiple financial institutions in one place.

In this and other ways, Visa is becoming more of a commerce-focused technology company than ever before.

“When you think about what’s impacting commerce, you have one overarching trend: the continued adoption of electronic forms of payments,” said Visa executive Jennifer Schulz to Wired. “People are migrating away from cash and check and using electronic capabilities. … We’ve seen the use of and ubiquity of mobile devices really driving consumer behavior.”

Google is in hot pursuit

According to MocoNews.net, Google plans to launch its own mobile payments service within the next few months. Retailers that use cash registers developed by VeriFone Systems in New York and San Francisco will benefit from the NFC-backbone system. Increasing numbers of Android smartphones will begin to support the NFC standard, as will either the iPhone 5 or future rendition of the iPad, per reports.

Banks lining up to partner with Visa Digital Wallet

U.S. Bank, Royal Bank of Canada and PNC Bank are just a few of the big-name financial institutions that will be throwing their hats into the ring with Visa on the Digital Wallet project, says Schulz. More partners are expected to be announced before the fall launch.

Sources

MocoNews.net

Visa Media Center

Wired

‘What would the ideal payment experience look like?’

Salt Lake City, Utah, is going to be installing payment systems throughout the city that can take payment from customers using their smartphones. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Salt Lake City, Utah, will soon begin experimenting with a wireless payment system in conjunction with three wireless networks. The system, called Isis, is set to debut in 2012 and will use cellular phones to wire payments from a person’s credit or debit line with a bank.

Cell phone credit card technology takes another step forward

Several months ago, the iPhone was equipped with near field communication (NFC) technology to be used as a wireless payment system. A computer chip is installed in an iPhone that can be picked up by a reader system. The bank account or credit card account connected to the chip’s owner is then charged by merchants. One merely needs to wave their iPhone with the NFC chip, and a deduction is made from the appropriate account. Many believe this will be a great leap forward in financial technology. Because so many phones have internet access, people can already use a smartphone to do banking transfers, balance their checkbook or get online personal loans.

Wireless payment network to debut in Salt Lake

Salt Lake City, Utah, will be equipped with an NFC system, according to NPR. The public transportation system will have NFC readers and fares can be paid by waving a phone by the NFC reader. Three major wireless carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless — are forming a partnership venture with the city using Isis, the NFC system that those carriers are using.  Those carriers still have to come out with NFC equipped phones besides the iPhone. Sprint, according to BusinessWeek, is still developing its own NFC technology.

Tech not widespread enough

Critics have observed that NFC technology is not widespread enough to turn Salt Lake into the “place where you can leave your wallet at home,” as the ad campaign on the Isis company website contends. However, smartphones are beginning to become far cheaper to buy and payment technology is moving toward wireless systems.

Sources

NPR

BusinessWeek

Isis corporate site

Rupert Murdoch shakes his fist at news ninjas who avoid his paywall. (Photo Credit: CC BY-ND/Jason Wilson/New Matilda)

If you’re an online news addict with limited funds, the move toward news paywalls could be horrible news. Without information, you could end up choking in the digital dust. Thankfully, there are some tricks you can use to circumvent digital news paywalls and continue to enjoy your daily information fix.

Google News: A news aggregator escape from the paywall

Google News links to news websites across the Web. It’s a great place to get your daily news fix. As it is arranged in a clear, easy-to-digest format with top news, local news and news categories, it’s easy to take care of your digital news jones.

Newspapers app: An iOS portal to publications across the US

For $1.99 in the Apple Apps store, Newspapers is an app that provides users with a directory of links to literally every online newspaper website in the country. Read articles on your iPod, iPhone or iPad in Safari. If you prefer to download a story for later, send it to an app like Instapaper.

Reeder: A smarter RSS reader

RSS feeds are a great way to keep up with the news that’s important to you, and Reeder does it the clean and easy way. It has a newspaper-style interface, and the iOS app cuts the ads and reformats the page for optimal reading pleasure. Get it for your Apple device for only $2.99.

The Zite-geist of iPad news

The free iPad app Zite acts as a kind of “personalized magazine,” says Business Insider. It recommends news you may like, via connections to your Twitter and Google Reader accounts. However, simply picking articles to read from within the app can also drive your customization experience.

Free Associated Press and CNN apps

Mobile apps by the Associated Press and CNN are great iOS and Android options for world, national and local news. Users of the AP app can even choose their favorite local and national broadcasters and follow their stories in print and video. CNN’s app presents streaming video in a polished fashion, and allows users to submit their own photos of news events via the iReport feature.

Jobbing the system: How to obtain free access to NYT and The Daily

Twitter users have been able to create a list of each NYT Twitter feed. Clicking the links via Twitter or blog postings don’t count toward the 20 articles per month limit the Times has imposed, so this amounts to free access. A similar process work with The Daily, which is indexed by the blog The Daily: Indexed.

Peter Kafka of MediaMemo reports that the NYT will limit free referrals via Google to five per day, although using other search engines like Bing may not have the same restrictions – for now.

Why did the Times put up a speed bump for Google? Because users could simply Google an article headline and get into the article without going through the front door, so to speak.

Sources

AP Mobile app
Business Insider
CNN Mobile app (iPhone)
The Daily: Indexed

What to expect with the NYT paywall

Android has finally overtaken Research in Motion and the Blackberry as the dominant platform of smartphones. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

In the war for supremacy in the market for smartphones, the Android operating system has finally toppled Research in Motion and the Blackberry line. Google’s popular Android line has spread quickly, overtaking Apple and Microsoft products within months of the the first launch of an Android phone. More than types of 170 devices use the Android system.

Blackberry loses some juice among consumers

The Blackberry line of phones made by Research in Motion has held the the top spot for sales of smartphones for a long time, but the company has finally been dethroned, according to CNN. The Google based Android platform has surpassed RIM in sales after steadily outpacing all other domestic competition and safely pulling into the lead with more than 31 percent of sales. The first phone using the Android operating system was the HTC G1, which was released in November 2009 and carried exclusively by T-Mobile. In early 2010, Android had only a 7 percent share of the smartphone market, but the platform has enjoyed constant growth since its introduction. An Android OS is now the base of more than 170 types of phones and tablet computers across numerous carriers.

Other phones have their jobs cut out for them

Of the four popular smartphone platforms in the U.S., the only one that has constantly grown market share is Android. Research in Motion at one point sold 42 percent of all smartphones, but RIM sales have dwindled to 30.4 percent between February of 2010 and the end of January of 2011. Windows phones have been constantly on the decline, and now make up less than 10 percent of the smartphone market. Apple, with its flagship product the iPhone, has held fairly constant. An estimated 350,000 new Android devices are activated daily. The Symbian OS offered by Nokia held a larger share of the market than Android until late 2010, when Symbian sales finally were eclipsed by Android.

Android Nokia phone not likely

Just about every phone company makes an Android phone, as Google licenses it for free, and adapting it is fairly easy for any developer, but Nokia isn’t having it, according to the Los Angeles Times. It was recently announced that Nokia is planning to revamp its offerings by partnering with Microsoft and installing Windows Mobile on Nokia phones. Microsoft is reportedly going to pay Nokia $1 billion for the rights to put Windows Phone 7 on Nokia devices, which could be a net benefit for both companies if it is successful.

Sources

CNN

Los Angeles Times

Reports have come out that a man was sent to the ER because his Droid cell phone exploded. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

There have been occasional reports around the world of a cell phone that explodes, injuring the user or worse. Recently, a man in Cedar Hill, Tex., suffered facial lacerations when his Motorola Droid exploded. Explosion is not a standard Droid feature.

Cell phone explodes in Texas

Recently, Aron Embry was using his Motorola Droid, one of the most popular brands of smartphones, when he heard a popping sound, according to KHOU 11 of Houston, Tex. He said he heard the noise after completing a phone call, and noticed the screen had fragmented. He felt liquid coursing down his face, and he realized it was blood. He was immediately rushed to the emergency room at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas for treatment as the wound began gushing. He did not suffer any hearing loss and only required four stitches to repair the wound to his ear. Reports of a Droid that exploded began circulating soon after. The phone was still functional, and the screen appears only to have cracked. Embry had purchased the phone only a few days before the incident.

Not unheard of

There have been reports of cellular phones exploding or catching fire for years. According to AOL News, incidents of exploding cellular phones have been recorded since at least 2005, when a young boy suffered burns when his cellular phone caught fire in his pocket. In 2007, a 22-year-old Chinese man was killed when his cellular phone expl0ded in his shirt pocket after being freshly charged. Apple Inc. has not escaped reports of burning cell phones either, as the screen of an iPhone reportedly exploded in France, and an iPhone 4 was reported as having caught fire earlier this year.

Motorola intends on reaching out

After the reports of Embry’s injury surfaced, Motorola released a statement, announcing that it intended on reaching out to the man and his family. The company said it intends to fully investigate and that safety is a high priority. There is no word on whether Embry wants to switch to an iPhone instead of an Android.

Sources

KHOU

AOL

The iPad update is delayed, so Apple devotees will just have to console themselves. Image: GlennFleishman/Flickr/CC-BY

The next version of iOS has been delayed, and Apple zealots will have to wait for an iPad update. The pending version of iOS, or iOS 4.2, has been delayed because of a software problem that interrupts Wi-Fi connections. The release from Apple is now rumored to hit on Thanksgiving.

No iPad update until Thanksgiving

The iOS 4.2 release is being delayed until Nov. 24, according to The Telegraph, so an iPad update isn’t likely until then. Apple has not made an official statement about the reason for the delay, but the going rumor concerns software bugs. The supposed problem is with the connection program, where a defect interferes with Wi-Fi connections. The expected release date was Nov. 12, but the company had not scheduled the release for that date. A release date was never absolutely set down by Apple, except that the new version was due to be released in November.

New iTunes released

Though iOS 4.2 is being delayed, Apple fanatics can console themselves with a new version of iTunes. The new version, iTunes 10.1, will work with iOS 4.1, but many features of the iTunes update will likely require iOS 4.2 to work to full effect. Part of the operating system update, and the iTunes update, are new features AirPrint and AirPlay. Both programs enhance connection between Apple products. AirPrint will allow owners to use their iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Mac computers to send documents to their home printer over Wi-Fi. AirPlay will enable users to send streaming video from iOS devices to AppleTV boxes.

Multitasking the central feature

One of the central features of iOS 4.2 is supposed to be an enhancement of multitasking features in Apple devices, especially thanks to improved networking capabilities between Apple devices over wireless connections. Still, the iOS update will be out, barring disaster, just before Black Friday 2010, which should be perfect timing for holiday shoppers.

Sources

The Telegraph

CNET

The newly patented anti-sexting technology could monitor more than just sexually explicit messages. Image: Joi / Flickr / CC-BY

Tuesday morning, Apple, Inc. was awarded a patent on its new anti-sexting technology. Intended as a filter to control kids’ and teen’s text-messaging, the program goes beyond just sexting. Apple’s “anti-sexting technology” is built to regulate and control a full range of mobile communications.

Anti-sexting technology patent

Apple computers has been awarded a U.S. Patent on what the company is calling “anti-sexting” programming. The program is written in such a way that it “reads” and takes action based on the “content and intent” of a message, rather than on particular words or phrases used. Apple claims that this will work better than current tools available, because it is flexible enough to address multiple criteria. The technology is only intended for text messages and does not address images sent through the phone. The newly patented technology has not yet been integrated with any Apple products.

Anti-sexting programming goes beyond sexting

The patent application for this Apple anti-sexting product cited several examples of how the product could go beyond controlling sexting. The program could also be used to require a certain number of a certain kind of texts to be sent. It could also block messages with grammar and spelling errors from being sent. In short, any kind of text message criteria could be set and required on just about any Apple device that carries this product.

Current text message control products

There are dozens, if not hundreds of current applications and programs intended to help limit or control text messaging. TigerText deletes text messages to keep them private. One application turns off texting functionality if the GPS if the device indicates it is going more than a certain number of miles per hour. There are also programs that can limit text messaging to a certain pre-set list of people or phone numbers.

Sexting as a personal right

The anti-sexting technology patented by Apple leaves a larger question open, however. At what point are rights being invaded? Some would say that children and teenagers need controls and limits on their communication and use of mobile technology. Adults, however, may find their communication recorded, monitored and even cut off depending on use of their own devices.

Apple Inc. stock is shooting through the roof. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

Steve Jobs and other shareholders in Apple, Inc. may be cracking open champagne. The Apple company stock has just hit a record high point. For the first time ever, a share of Apple stock is now going for more than $300. The technology giant has been having a banner year. The iPad and continued success of the iPhone and iPod assure that Apple is going to be a heavyweight for a long time to come.

Apple Inc. hits a new high

It was announced that stock for Apple Inc. has hit a new high point in premarket trading for Oct. 13, according to the New York Times. Apple Inc. stock hit a high point of $301.50 and is holding at higher than $300. It is the highest ever trade price for Apple company stock. Brokerage houses have been raising prices for acquiring Apple stock accordingly. Bank of America is selling shares at $400 per. Oppenheimer raised its price for shares of Apple to $345. The company is having a great year. The iPad has been the first successful tablet computer, despite several previous attempts by other companies. The iPhone 4.0 and the iPod continue to sell. The company is due to release a fourth quarter report soon.

Verizon iPhone rumors will not die

Rumors of the iPhone moving to another network have been persisting for some time. The fabled Verizon iPhone causes a great stir almost once a month. However, neither Verizon nor Apple have confirmed it officially yet. The problem in a Verizon iPhone, according to the Wall Street Journal, is that Verizon uses CDMA technology. The Verizon iPhone will have to be retooled for CDMA use before it can be released. That said, Android has been edging on the iPhone for some time among owners of smartphones.

Apple of the markets’ eye

Apple Inc. has had an incredible year so far. It appears that the company won’t be letting up. The company has hit a record high stock price for good reason.

Sources

Wall Street Journal

New York Times

Apple wants to be able to lock down your jailbroken iPhone, even though it's legal for you to do so. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Dylan Parker/Flickr)

Jailbreaking your iPhone is currently legal according to U.S. copyright officials, but that doesn’t mean that Apple is happy to sit back while users break free of their proprietary corporate mold and utilize the full potential of the handheld device. The Register reports that the technology giant has applied for a patent “covering an elaborate series of measures” that will “protect iPhone owners from thieves” and other non-authorized users. That patent, entitled “Systems and Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of an Electronic Device,” would protect Apple liability in jailbreaking exploits, but it would also allegedly lock down a user’s phone.

Jailbroken iPhones can offer up data to prying eyes

Jailbreaking your iPhone makes your personal data available to identity thieves; that’s Apple’s story, and the company is sticking to it when it comes to the iPhone and jailbreaking. Apple’s proposed patent identifies numerous ways that unauthorized users could activate a jailbroken iPhone’s camera remotely, or track geotagging info and other private data. If the patent is approved, Apple would be able to tag and lock down any jailbroken iPhone it detects – and the company says it’s for the user’s own good.

Big Apple is watching you

If a user’s iPhone suddenly shows an increase in memory usage, The Register suggests, then Apple could identify the phone as having been jailbroken, as such activity is, in Apple’s estimation, consistent with hacking programs. Unlocking an iPhone (opening it up so that it can be used on cellular networks other than AT&T) would also be detectable if Apple’s patent is approved. The Register reports that Apple would also be able to detect “fraudulent use” by tapping into the iPhone’s accelerometer to determine whether the device is being carried by “thieves in transit.” Thus, the company believes that such new security measures as required voice-print identification is necessary, although technical experts and consumer rights groups are having a field day with that idea.

Who can active your iPhone camera with this patent?

Apple will be able to activate your iPhone camera if the patent is approved. Imagine yourself in a world where Steve Jobs can see what you’re doing at any time. Regardless of how much you like the style and convenience of Apple devices, do you want Apple to be able to turn on your camera at any time it chooses? Perhaps Steve Jobs won’t approve of what you’re doing.

Sources:

The Register

Apple says iPhone 4G problems are basically "all your fault." Image from Flickr.

The iPhone 4G seems to attract problems. First, the phone was leaked long before Apple wanted it to be. Then, the iPhone 4G problems came in pre-ordering and delivery. Next, white iPhone 4G problems abounded. Now, the final straw – iPhone 4G reception is proving problematic.

iPhone 4G problems: Reception

Though the design of the iPhone 4G is geared toward actually improving the reception of the phone, many users have been discovering a quirk. The steel-band antenna around the iPhone 4G quickly kills all reception if a user touches the bottom-left corner of the phone. Apple’s solution to this problem is simply “just don’t hold the phone that way.” You could also spend money above and beyond the phone, iPhone apps, your data plan and your voice plan to get a case. Either way, the iPhone 4G reception problems appear to be an Apple-admitted design flaw. Perhaps duct tape would fix it?

iPhone 4G problems: Colors

Sure, there isn’t any difference in the technology behind the iPhone 4G black and iPhone 4G white, but there are “manufacturing issues.” The promised iPhone 4G white will not be available for at least a few more weeks, if not months.

iPhone 4G problems: Ordering and delivery

Though the problems with the iPhone 4G ordering and delivery are slowly working themselves out, it has been a long time coming. The promised delivery date for the iPhone 4G was changed several times. First, the online AT&T store crashed. Then, the Apple store shut down orders. Next, the delivery date was pushed back. Even still, some customers were told they had successfully pre-ordered a phone when they hadn’t, and visa versa. Finally, FedEx appeared to have iPhone 4G problems of its own — with delivery happening only sometimes.

iPhone 4G problems to come?

The iPhone 4G problems stem, partially, from the extreme demand for the device. However, there are structural problems that the iPhone 4G has which simply are not being fixed. IPhone 4G reception being killed by how most people hold the phone is a design “feature” that has existed since the last incarnation. Not having reception may be a good thing though — because AT&T’s new data plans are structured in a way that you will be able to download maybe 2 TV episodes before you go over data allowances for the month.

Are you having iPhone 4G problems? How have you fixed them?

Providing your e-mail address to activate your iPad 3G may have turned out to be a very bad idea, thanks to an iPad e-mail leak. Image from Flickr.

An iPad e-mail leak has revealed every single one of more than 114,000 early-adopter iPad e-mail addresses. These e-mail addresses were required for 3G iPad owners to activate their devices. This iPad e-mail leak has compromised not only the e-mail addresses of people like your tech-savvy neighbor down the street but White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. This information leak not only exposes hundreds of thousands of AT&T customers to security concerns, it raises questions about the exclusive contract between Apple and AT&T.

iPad e-mail leak affects all iPad 3G users

The iPad e-mail leak has, as far as most sources can tell, affected all owners of the iPad 3G. AT&T requires an e-mail address to activate the wireless data capabilities of the $800+ device. On the market for only two months, the iPad 3G has been purchased and activated by more than 114,000 users. Each one of these e-mail addresses is associated with an ICC-ID, an integrated circuit card identifier — essentially, proof of identity of the device. With the ICC-ID and e-mail address, hackers could easily launch a mass attack to gain access to the information contained on the iPad.

Big names affected by the iPad e-mail leak

The iPad e-mail leak affects many people, but there are serious concerns about some of the biggest names. The list of leaked iPad 3G e-mail addresses include William Eldridge, commander of a strategic bomber group in the air force. Hundreds of U.S. Department of Justice, NASA, FCC and Army addresses are included on the list. Federal court system employees, House and Senate staffers, FAA, National Institutes of Health, Citigroup, Microsoft and Dow Jones corporate e-mail addresses were also found. It is certain that some of these companies and agencies have used developers to create extra layers of security; but unlike Android devices, the notoriously closed-loop Apple systems can be difficult to upgrade the security on.

Exposing the iPad e-mail leak

The iPad e-mail leak is based on a vulnerability within the AT&T network that was released by Goatse Security. This security group has revealed security holes in Amazon, Firefox, and Safari in the past. According to Goatse, they used only data and scripts that were publicly available to find the security hole that the iPad e-mail leak exploited. Before going public with the iPad e-mail leak, Goatse notified AT&T, who closed the security hole. AT&T has not yet notified owners of the iPad 3G whose e-mail addresses may have been compromised, two days after they were informed of the security hole.

Questions about the AT&T/Apple Contract

The iPad e-mail leak is just the latest in problems that Apple device users have encountered with AT&T. The carrier, more than anything, has become known for slow networks and dropped calls on the iPhone and iPad. The problems with AT&T’s network have gotten so bad that even Steve Jobs couldn’t get the new iPhone to work during his WWDC presentation. Apple has announced that AT&T has an exclusive contract for their devices for at least a few more years. Given security breaches like this, slow networks and a lack of customer communication, one has to wonder if that contract will be honored.

AT&T's new data plan's success will hinge on the reaction of other carriers. Image from Flickr.

AT&T has announced new data plan pricing for smartphones and tablets that will go into effect on Monday. This new AT&T data plan pricing is intended to help reduce network usage while providing more transparency in the billing process. The real question, though, is whether other wireless carriers will follow suit.

AT&T data plans will eliminate ‘unlimited’

When the iPhone was first introduced on the AT&T network, the one-size-fits-all data plan was a $29.99 a month “unlimited” plan. The definition of “unlimited” however, was sometimes brought into question. Some AT&T customers got huge data-use bills that seemed to indicate there was a limit to network usage that they were not aware of. Some customers have claimed that they had to get no fax payday loans just to pay their bills. Heavy use of the data network has also led to dropped calls and slow data speeds that have been a tough sticking point between the carrier and customers.

The new AT&T data plans

The new data plans revealed by AT&T will have three “levels” of data use. The first will be a $15 plan that will allow 200 mb of data per month. A $25 plan will allow 2 gb of data per month. Tethering, or connecting a laptop to the internet through an iPhone, will be an additional $20 per month. These new AT&T data plans will send a free text message to users when they are approaching their data limit. These data limits will not apply when the smartphone or tablet is being used at a WiFi hotspot – only the 3G network. Users that already have a contract with AT&T will be allowed to keep their “unlimited” plans and pricing, even when renewing their contracts.

Effects of the AT&T data plans

While the new AT&T data plans will reduce cost for light data users, heavy data users will feel the strongest effects. Many wireless carriers and app developers have been working to move streaming video and data-intense applications onto smartphones and tablets. By limiting data use so heavily, AT&T will be limiting the available applications on its 3G or 4G network. The chairman of the FCC has expressed repeated concern over the “bandwidth crisis” that smartphones have created. If other wireless carriers do not follow the AT&T data plan model and limit their data usage, then heavy users will probably just switch carriers. Though demand for wireless data services has increased dramatically in the last few years, capacity is growing at a much slower rate.

The Steve Jobs/Flash war of words intensified Thursday when Jobs published his thoughts on Flash at apple.com. Flickr photo.

The Steve Jobs vs. Flash confrontation over Apple’s decision not to support Adobe’s software heated up on Thursday. In a letter available to the public on Apple’s site, Jobs called flash unreliable, “100 percent proprietary,” a battery hog and ultimately a “closed system” that “falls short.” In the letter Jobs rebuts Adobe claims that Apple’s no-Flash policy on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is “primarily business-driven,” and says Flash is the number one reason Macs crash.

The Steve Jobs flash fight intensifies

The Steve Jobs/Flash fight is has higher stakes than a pay day loan, especially after Adobe accused Apple of running a closed shop because of its App Store policies. Adobe’s argument stems from Apple’s complete control over what it accepts or rejects from iPhone developers. In the letter, Jobs counters that “Symantec recently highlighted Flash for having one of the worst security records in 2009, and that the video on almost all Flash sites relies not on hardware decoding but on software, which uses too much power.” According to Jobs, Flash is dead because even if Flash-powered Web interfaces could technically be made to work on iPhones and iPads, most would have to be rewritten because mouse-over gestures — common on Flash sites — aren’t possible on a touch interface.

Steve Jobs: Flash is wrong

Jobs is particularly bothered by the issue of whether Apple or Adobe is more open. “Adobe claims that we are a closed system, and that Flash is open, but in fact the opposite is true,” he says in the letter. “Flash products are 100 percent proprietary. They are only available from Adobe, and Adobe has sole authority as to their future enhancement, pricing, etc.” Jobs qualifies that Apple’s iPhone and iPad are proprietary, but he goes on to say “all standards pertaining to the Web should be open.”

Steve Jobs: Flash is dead

According to Steve Jobs, Flash is dead. The Steve Jobs/Flash standoff has been getting ugly as Apple has been criticized for refusing to add Flash support to the iPhone and iPad, while Adobe sets up its new Flash player for the latest Androids and Blackberries. Jobs calls Flash a relic of the “PC era” that “falls short” when it comes to the needs of mobile devices.

Palm became best-known for Personal Digital Assistants, but the transition to smartphones did not go smoothly. Image from Flickr.

Despite grandfathering the concept of smartphones with personal digital assistants, Palm hasn’t been doing so well lately – so the Palm HP buyout that has been announced this week couldn’t come at a better time. This $1.2 billion pay day purchase of Palm, HP is acquiring the Palm operating system, intellectual property, and phone handset designs.

HP Palm purchase saves Palm

The HP Palm purchase could not have come at a better time for Palm. Despite receiving standing ovations and great reviews for its new operating system and web browser, Palm has been struggling. The technology behind Palm smartphones has been well-reviewed, but a combination of slow sales and frustrating design have meant that Palm’s revenues have been falling to dangerous levels. In its latest filing with the SEC, Palm even outlined this problem as “slow sales of the company’s products, which has resulted in low order volumes.”

HP Palm plans

The HP Palm purchase has been questioned by some Wall Street investors. The $1.2 billion price tag seems overvalued for a company whose stock was trading at about $1 in 2008. However, Hewlett Packard has plans for the Palm operating system. In the HP Palm purchase announcement, HP outlines its strategy as “creating a mobile ecosystem” that “leverages HP’s channel and enterprise connections.” Translation – HP may be distancing itself from being a Windows-only manufacturer and entering the phone, tablet, and mobile markets.

HP Slate to run on Palm OS?

Though HP has been a strategic partner with Microsoft for a very long time, HP may very well be using the HP Palm partnership to get a new operating system. There are doubts that Windows 7 will be “lightweight” enough for the HP Streak. The HP Streak is rumored to be released as a smartphone, slate computer, and more – so the polished Palm OS would be the perfect match. This would also release HP from Window’s regulations and release delays. It could be a very powerful partnership that has a chance to challenge Apple’s dominance.

HP Palm to merge in July

The HP Palm purchase is not yet approved by all regulatory agencies. While both boards of directors have approved the purchase, Palm stockholders and regulatory agencies still need to approve the purchase. If the HP Palm merger is approved, HP will become complete owner of Palm around July 2010.

Sources:

HP Press Release
Palm SEC filings
ZD Net

Steve Jobs demonstrating the iPhone: yet another Apple product that doesn't use Flash. (Photo: Flickr)

Steve Jobs says Abode Flash and Apple products like the iPod, iPhone and iPad will never be seen together, according to Fox News. Many tech fans had wondered if Jobs would eventually cave to the pressure, as Flash videos are still widely used on many websites. However, Steve Jobs’ “Thoughts on Flash” letter should mean less cash today for Adobe, as the Apple CEO gives six well-reasoned arguments for why Flash video won’t mix with the iCrowd. Jobs has serious philosophical and technical concerns about Adobe Flash, chief among them the fact that Flash videos frequently cause OS crashes.

Steve Jobs Flash call draws Adobe’s ire

Fox News reports that Adobe Flash evangelist Lee Brimelow didn’t mince words regarding Steve Jobs and his Flash stance: “Speaking purely for myself, I would like to make it clear what is going through my mind at the moment. Go screw yourself, Apple.”

Apple didn’t feel it was necessary to respond to such a well-constructed missive. Jobs is more interested in pointing out that Flash is proprietary product, and that he is against closed products that “stifle innovation.” He is more in favor of HTML5 as an open standards platform. That most Apple products are also proprietary didn’t seem to enter into Jobs’ argument, but he was just getting started. He continued by reminding readers that Flash is an old technology that could be replaced with “more modern formats” like H.264 that don’t cause as many crashes.

Flash, Flash, crash

What’s the real problem here? Steve Jobs explains that Flash tends to get in the way. As he states in his “Thoughts on Flash,”

“We know from painful experience that letting a third-party layer of software come between the platform and the developer ultimately results in sub-standard apps and hinders the enhancement and progress of the platform. We cannot be at the mercy of a third party deciding if and when they will make our enhancements available to our developers.”

How did Adobe feel about being called a balding third wheel? Aside from such eloquent statements as Brimelow’s, all is quiet on the Adobe front. There is a definite sense among the media that Flash is dying as a platform, something that most developers would second – and then some. Lance Ulanoff of PC Magazine called the Steve Jobs Flash bash “an incredible attack on Flash, (one that) could shake its very foundations.”

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sour_patch/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

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The newest Blackberry Bold 9650 - without the trackball - is set for a May 23 release. Image from Flickr.

The second-most popular smartphone maker, Blackberry, has announced that the Blackberry Bold 9650 and Blackberry Pearl 3G will both be hitting the market soon. Both the Blackberry Bold 9650 and Pearl 3G are improvements on existing Blackberry models and will include upgrades such as Wi-Fi. The Bold 9650 is set to be released on May 23 for $299.99 – so now is the time to get guaranteed payday loans if you would like the newest Blackberry.

The Blackberry Bold 9650

Set to be released on the Sprint Network on May 23, the Blackberry Bold 9650 is built on the same technical chassis as the Blackberry Tour. The Bold 9650 looks very similar to the Tour. However, the sticky and often replaced trackball has been swapped out for an optical touchpad. Bold 9650 will also include Wi-Fi capability. The Bold 9650 include multi-national phone suppoprt, GPS, Bluetooth, a 3.2 megapixel camera, and a 2.44 inch screen, just like the Blackberry Tour did. For jetsetting payday loan lenders and businesspeople the Blackberry Bold will easily cross national boundaries.

The Blackberry Pearl 3G

The Blackberry Pearl was the first Blackberry phone that got a market share for a wider audience than smartphone users – and the Blackberry Pearl 3G is set to continue that tradition. The first U.S. phone that has 802.11n Wi-Fi, the Pearl 3G is designed to connect with 3G HSPA networks or available Wi-Fi connections. The zippy processor, 3.2 megapixel camera, GPS and Bluetooth mesh with RIM’s Blackberry O.S. to give the Pearl 3G full-featured smartphone support. At the same time, the Pearl 3G is said to be available in 2 models – the 9100 with a 20-button keypad and the 9105 with a “traditional” 14-key pad. This will be the first Blackberry that will use a phone keypad – an attempt to ease the transition for first-time smart phone users.

Blackberry Pearl 3G release delayed

While the Blackberry Pearl 3G has been announced, the release of the phone is sure to be a while. The Wi-Fi alliance has yet to certify the Pearl 3G, so RIM has some testing and technical approvals to be completed before the Pearl 3G can hit shelves. AT&T and T-Mobile are set to debut the Pearl 3G, though neither carrier has provided a release date or price for the Pearl 3G.

RIM Blackberry vs. iPhone vs. Android

Research in Motion – the makers of the Blackberry – and Apple – the makers of the iPhone – have been locked in a cell network battle for years. While Blackberry first created smartphones for general use, iPhone was able to bring app development and “fun” smartphones to the general public. The Blackberry Pearl 3G and Bold 9650 are sure to prove popular, but with so many new entrants into the smartphone market, one has to wonder who will come out on top. What do you think?

This is not what the Apple earnings report looked like.

Since the iPod renaissance that followed a reclusive streak in the 1990s, Apple has been a growing empire, and the Apple earnings for the most recent quarter have blossomed.  The company has been shipping huge volumes of the iPhone, and with the iPhone 4.0 and iPad beginning to take off, Apple is set to never need payroll loans again.  Even though recessions mean that fewer people buy toys, Apple posted impressive gains for the first quarter of this year.

Apple earnings from iPhone up over 100 percent

From this recent post on Marketwatch, the first quarter Apple earnings were substantial.  The iPhone drove sales through the roof, selling over eight million iPhones when they were expecting to only sell seven million.  Apple enjoyed a 130 percent sales increase on the iPhone from a year ago.  Since so many people are willing to plunk down money now on one of the most popular technological phenomenons of the last decade, it’s no wonder that Apple should be raking in the cash.  They have become a true success story not once, but twice, as apparently they make some vastly superior products.

They sold some Macs too

The report of Apple earnings also included some heavy sales for Mac computers as well.  Nearly three million Macs were purchased over the quarter, showing a sales increase for their computer brand of about 40 percent.  Apple managed to also sell over 10 million iPods, though the sales for the ubiquitous portable media player were actually slightly down. However, the decrease was in units, rather than revenue (iPod sales revenue was actually up about 12 percent.) The iPod touch has been quite the popular item as well.

What about the iPad?

No official sales figures were given by Marketwatch, but CNN reports that Steve Jobs had told a conference that Apple had sold around 450,000 units for the basic unit alone. The Cadillac model of iPad, set to come out soon, may have access to the AT&T 3G network, instead of the current model’s use of WiFi only.  That will probably send Apply stock through the roof, though they don’t really need the help – according to the Marketwatch piece, Apple stock was trading at almost $260 a share.

So what’s next for the Apple machine?

What is next for Apple is the iPhone OS 4.0, which was involved in the recent Gizmodo leak.  The prototype was returned. The new model iPhone will likely sell a lot of units, and since the iPhone OS 4.0 will also mark the rumored debut of the Verizon iPhone, it is foreseeable that Apple earnings will shoot to the moon by year’s end.

This could be your next keyboard, thanks to Skinput. Image from Flickr.

Your next cell phone may not have a built-in keyboard of any kind – you may just be able to use Skinput instead. Now in development at Microsoft, Skinput is slated to become the newest form of human-computer interface. Skinput is still a few years away from being offered commercially, though with enough same day payday loans you might be able to build your own Skinput system.

Skinput based on vibrations

Despite the visions of sci-fi writers across the world, the Skinput system does not rely on implants in your skin. Instead, an armband around your elbow records and transmits vibrations via a Bluetooth connection. Tapping your fingers together or in various places on your arm produces vibrations at different frequencies, which allows a virtual “keyboard” to exist on your skin.

Pairing Skinput with a projector

The original design of Skinput is an interface that goes only one direction. You can send commands to your cell phone or computer through your armband. However, to see fully interactive menus or to read anything, you would have to pull your phone out. A small pica-projector, however, could solve this problem. The prototype projector is mounted on a frame above the arm, but there are hopes of shrinking this projector significantly.

When can you get Skinput?

The Skinput system is still about two to seven years away from a commercial application. Currently, the Skinput system is only 96 percent accurate with a five-button system. A full keyboard and navigational system built on Skinput would need at least 30 keys and up to 99 percent accuracy. Even though it is a few years away, the Skinput system will most likely start out very expensive – perhaps as costly as car loans. As the technology improves and shrinks, though, the Skinput system will become much more affordable. Some software programming specialists are already considering the possibilities for this new user interface. Perhaps the Skinput system could be paired with a contact lens display for a fully “integrated” day-to-day cell phone.

See Skinput in action

No, the new iPhone prototype isn't this big. But Gizmodo says it has features that should please the fans. (Photo: Flickr)

So a tech blogger walks into a bar and finds the next iPhone prototype. Stop me if you’ve heard this one…

Seriously, Gizmodo may have gotten the serious scoop on the rest of the tech journalism universe with a fortuitous discovery of what appears to be a prototype of the next iPhone (iPhone 4G?). A Gizmodo reporter actually found it in a Redwood City bar. After checking with Apple-connected John Gruber of Daring Fireball, Gizmodo discovered that Apple had lost a prototype and was “very interested” in getting it back. Whether they were ready to use payday loans to sic Sherlock Holmes on the case is unclear.

An iPhone prototype in 3GS clothing

On the surface, the plastic case of the iPhone prototype looks more or less like an iPhone 3GS. However, there are numerous details that make this new iPhone something quite different:

• Front-facing video camera in addition to a back camera with a flash and larger lens
• Micro-SIM – more secure, more storage, more allowable connections. This would be the first use of this tech in a U.S. cell phone
• Higher-res display (exact numbers unclear so far)
• A second microphone port and second volume button
• Metal buttons
• A flatter, more squared-off design
• Higher-powered battery… 5.25 WHr (watt hours) at 3.7V, compared with 4.75 WHr in the iPhone 3GS

New iPhone or red herring?

Gizmodo believes this new iPhone is a real discovery for a number of reasons. First of all, it was running the iPhone 4.0 operating system before that OS was even announced. Second, the iPhone prototype was remotely killed before Gizmodo could dig any further into the OS. When connected to a Mac OS X system, the device was recognized as an iPhone in both Xcode and iTunes, but no firmware updates were available, which indicated to Gizmodo that this was an unreleased unit. According to Gizmodo, the fact that the Mac OS X System Profiler reported it as an iPhone in restore mode is consistent with the phone having been “remotely wiped.”

The proof is under the hood

The internal components are Apple-labeled and fit together well inside the case. If this were 3G or 3GS parts in some modified housing, Gizmodo claims the parts wouldn’t fit so well. Thus, they feel it was designed for that case. Speaking of the case, it’s thinner than the 3GS, but slightly heavier (perhaps because of the metal buttons). However, the design appeared to be somewhat less sleek than consumers are used to with Apple products. It’s boxier and kind of ugly (like tax debt), whereas previous iPhones have had more curves. This could be chalked up to this iPhone being a prototype, however.

What this could mean for consumers

This summer, the next-gen iPhone is going to be announced. If the iPhone prototype discovered by Gizmodo is any indication, people waiting to upgrade may want to take the plunge. Front video cam, a better back camera, better battery and a second microphone for better voice clarity address some of fans’ major concerns. Sexy up the case and Apple may just have a deal.

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwilkie/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

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