• apple,  apple store,  ios 8,  iphone 6,  retail

    Happy iPhone 6 Day!

    September 19, 2014 /
    Hello!

    Today, September 19, Apple released the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to the cheering legions of Apple fanatics around the world!  Today, I was lucky to be one of them.

    I don’t think all of these people are here for L.L. Bean.

    The day started off with my arrival at the Danbury Fair Mall.  I didn’t think all of these cars were here for L.L. Bean.

    The mall opened it’s doors at 5:00am to accommodate the crowds.  I think being inside really helped keep people calm and comfortable with easy access to food, drink, and restrooms!

    At least this couple has breakfast.
    This is not the line you are looking for.

    Fortunately for me, I pre-ordered my iPhone last Friday in the 3:00am Internet shopping frenzy and this is the line that I got to stand in.  Sweet!

    iPhone 6 reservations line is much, much more manageable!

    There wasn’t as many lunatics who stayed up ’til 3:00am last Friday night to spend money on a phone smart people as I expected who pre-ordered their new iPhone.  After we saw the really long walk ins line, we were all pretty glad that we did pre-order last week.

    I arrived at the store with Dad at 7:00am.  Waiting wasn’t going to be hard with Amber keeping us informed and the Coca-Cola vending machines stocked chuck full of cold bottles of Diet Coke!

    Two knuckleheads in line.
    Amber kept everyone updated.
    Go figure, I was standing next to a case of Coca-Cola!

    Just before 8:00am local time, all of the Apple Store employees were called inside for a pre-sale briefing meeting.

    As you might have expected, the store staff came running out and counted down the final seconds until 8:00am!  While I was waiting to go in, I managed to get in a few selfies.

    As with all product launches, Apple put up new window signs.  This one was a metal spiral ring around the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.  You can see the first batch of people getting their iPhones inside the store.

    Once inside, you were paired up with an Apple specialist who helped you get your new iPhone, make sure you understand the new Apple Care rules (you now have 60 days to buy the additional coverage rather than last year’s 30 days), point out accessories if you needed them (I have my cases delivered to the house) and generally be there to answer any questions you may have.

    Because I was crazy enough to stay up until the middle of the night to order a new phone, I was able to get a new iPhone 6 on launch day.  If you didn’t get a chance to buy an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus today, you’ll be able to get one in the coming days and weeks.  The iPhone 6, as cool as it is, is still just a phone at the end of the day.

    And now, for your viewing pleasure, the unboxing photos.

    I’ll see you again next year.  Stay hungry, stay crazy!  Thank you, Steve.

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  • apple,  mac,  macbook pro

    Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update

    June 24, 2011 /

    Mac OS X 10.6.8 is available now for all Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard users.  Aside from the usual bug fixes and enhancements, Mac OS X 10.6.8 is a requirement for upgrading to Mac OS X 10.7 Lion next month.

    Use the Mac OS X Software Update control panel to download the update now.

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  • android,  apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  nook,  web os

    Rovio Releases Angry Birds Seasons – Summer Pignic

    June 22, 2011 /

    Just in time for the 4th of July holiday, Rovio arms us with another “eggciting” bird flinging adventure: Summer Pignic!

    Summer Pignic is the next installment for the popular Angry Birds Seasons game available now for iOS devices.  Rovio will also be releasing updates for Android, webOS, and the nook.

    Angry Birds Seasons – $0.99
    Angry Birds Seasons HD – $1.99

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  • apple,  iphone,  rumors

    Rumor: iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 – We Don’t Care, Just Give It To Us

    June 22, 2011 /

    Boy Genius Report is claiming to have received word that the next iPhone — the 4S or 5 — will be a major update to the current iPhone 4 models.

    “While Apple has indeed been giving some developers access to a device known as the iPhone 4S — an iPhone 4 with upgraded internals — BGR has independently confirmed that the next-generation iPhone will not merely be an upgraded iPhone 4 as had been previously rumored. We have been told by a reliable source to expect a radical new case design for the upcoming iPhone, though we have not been given any additional details surrounding the design of the new iPhone case. What about a release, then? The consensus is that Apple is going to announce the next-generation iPhone at the company’s annual September event, traditionally focused on iPods, but we have heard it’s quite possible Apple will break tradition. According to our source, Apple may hold an event in the beginning or middle of August to announce the new iPhone, with availability to follow in the last week of August. We’re not sure if that means the iPod event will be moved up slightly, or if this will be an iPhone-specific event. Thisismynext reported earlier that the upcoming iPhone 5 would feature a new teardrop-shaped case design.”

    At this point, I don’t care what Apple is going to call the new iPhone; I just want it to be released so I can purchase one.  My Palm Pre is looking forward to retirement and I’m looking for a phone that isn’t an underdog.

    [Via BGR.com…]

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  • games,  ipad,  iphone,  lifestyle,  touch

    Firemint Real Racing, Real Racing 2 On Sale This Weekend

    June 18, 2011 /

    Firemint, recently acquired by Electronic Arts, has put their popular Real Racing series of games on sale for Father’s Day weekend!

    The “Manly-Man” sale reduces the prices for Real Racing, Real Racing HD, Real Racing 2, and Real Racing 2 HD.  Use the links below to get your race on!

    Real Racing $0.99
    Real Racing 2 $4.99
    Real Racing HD $1.99
    Real Racing 2 HD $6.99

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  • blackberry,  rim

    Oh, Snap! O2 Takes a Pass on the BlackBerry PlayBook

    June 17, 2011 /

    BGR.com is reporting today that UK-based wireless carrier O2 is going to sit this round out for the BlackBerry PlayBook.

    “Citing issues with the user experience, O2 UK announced on Thursday that it “will not be selling” the BlackBerry PlayBook. The wireless carrier began notifying customers who had signed up for more information about its change of heart on Thursday. The carrier officially stated: “unfortunately there are some issues with the end to end customer experience,” but didn’t delve further into its reasons for the decision.”

    I guess it’s better to not let an unfinished product out the door then to have it ship and then be a headache for your customers downstream.

    [Via BGR.com…]

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  • blackberry,  blackberry os,  rim

    RIM Announces Layoffs, Fights for Relevance

    June 17, 2011 /

    RIM released their quarterly earnings report today, and while the news appears upbeat, the BlackBerry maker also announced that layoffs are on the way.

    Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 was $4.9 billion, down 12% from $5.6 billion in the previous quarter and up 16% from $4.2 billion in the same quarter of last year. The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 78% for hardware revenue, 20% for service and 2% for software and other revenue. During the quarter, RIM shipped approximately 13.2 million BlackBerry handheld devices and approximately 500,000 BlackBerry Playbook tablets.

    “Fiscal 2012 has gotten off to a challenging start. The slowdown we saw in the first quarter is continuing into Q2, and delays in new product introductions into the very late part of August is leading to a lower than expected outlook in the second quarter.” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “RIM’s business is profitable and remains solid overall with growing market share in numerous markets around the world and a strong balance sheet with almost $3 billion in cash. We believe that with the new products scheduled for launch in the next few months and realigning our cost structure, RIM will see strong profit growth in the latter part of fiscal 2012.”

    Additionally, RIM “will begin a program to streamline operations across the organization, which will include a headcount reduction. This realignment will be focused on taking out redundancies and a reallocation of resources to allow us to focus on the areas that offer the highest growth opportunities and align with RIM strategic objectives, such as accelerating new product introductions.”

    I can’t help but thinking that RIM is now the new “Palm.”  RIM is still a long way from dropping down into single digit market share territory, they seem to be having all of the same problems that Palm did in the mid to late 2000’s.  With Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS platforms grabbing huge segments of the market, you have to wonder if anyone really cares about the BlackBerry brand anymore.

    You can read the full press release on the RIM website.

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  • hp,  touchpad,  web os

    HP TouchPad Goes On Sale July 1

    June 11, 2011 /

    HP has announced that the Wi-Fi version of HP TouchPad will be available in the United States on July 1.

    HP’s first webOS tablet will be available in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Germany a few days later and in Canada in mid-July, with availability scheduled to follow later this year in Italy and Spain, as well as in Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore.

    HP TouchPad will be available from U.S. retailers, commercial resellers and direct from HP with the option of either 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage for $499.99 and $599.99, respectively. Preorders in North America and Europe will begin June 19.

    “What makes HP TouchPad a compelling alternative to competing products is webOS,” said Jon Rubinstein, senior vice president and general manager, Palm Global Business Unit, HP. “The platform’s unmatched features and flexibility will continue to differentiate HP products from the rest of the market for both personal and professional use. This is only the beginning of what HP’s scale can do with webOS.”

    With webOS, HP TouchPad users have a next-level multitasking experience, access to the web, premium audio playback with stereo speakers and Beats Audio™ technology, the ability to find information on the device or in the cloud using the Just Type feature, integrated access to their information with HP Synergy, and HP’s exclusive Touch to Share capability for sharing web addresses between HP TouchPad and compatible webOS phones.

    You can read the full press release on the HP website.

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  • apple,  iphone,  rumors,  sprint

    Rumor: Sprint iPhone Being Tested

    June 10, 2011 /

    From 9to5Mac.com:

    “Sources tell 9to5Mac that a version of the iPhone for Sprint’s network is currently in advanced testing. The physical design of this device is akin to the iPhone 4 of today, so this might be the iPhone 4S device with support for all carriers that we have been dreaming up and hearing whispers about. Apple is said to have ordered Sprint-compatible cell towers for use on their campus – for testing – in late 2010. Apple similarly tested the Verizon iPhone against Verizon cell towers on their campus months before the product’s release.”

    Keep reading…

    [Via 9to5Mac.com…]

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