• apple,  iphone

    Has the iPhone Become “Boring?”

    March 13, 2013 /

    With Apple’s hardware design relatively unchanged since 2010, do people see the iPhone as “boring?”

    In a piece on iMore.com, Rene Ritchie, seems to think that Apple is facing a challenge of keeping the iPhone fresh – and by extension – interested in the fruit themed smartphone.

    “Thanks to Apple’s tick-tock product cycle, where a new design is introduced one year, and that design is iteratively updated with new internals the next year, both of those problems — consumer presumption and competitive counter-programming — become amplified. 

    When the impression is that Apple will “only” release an S-class phone in any given year, consumers might be more interested in seeing what else is out there. They might be interested in seeing something different.”

    I happen to like the iPhone 4/4S/5 form factor to that of the iPhone 3G/3GS.  (The original iPhone is sort of a compromise design that I could live with, but I’m not excited about.)  I’ve also said that if you read technology blogs like Smartphone Fanatics, we’re not the target market for Apple.  Or Samsung for that matter.

    I have a lot of respect for Rene’s work and I recommend that you read his ‘The “iPhone 5S” Problem’ article on iMore.

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  • apple,  iphone,  rumors

    Rumor: New iPhone Models Coming In August

    March 2, 2013 /
    It seems that rumors and hushed whispers are always going on these days about future Apple products and I’ve become more skeptical of them as time goes on.
    That said, I do catch myself getting a little excited about news of the next iPhone, rumored to be the ‘iPhone 5S’.
    The latest rumor de jure is that the iPhone 5S will be going on sale in August, 2013.  That is not as late in the year as October, when my iPhone 4S went on sale, and later than June when older models went on sale.  It’s also later than some of the rumors that put the launch date in late May or early June.
    As with most of these rumors, they come from somewhere deep in Apple’s supply chain and come to us via websites that we can’t read without running it through Google’s translators, so take all of this with a grain of salt.
    In addition to the iPhone 5S, the rumor also goes on to say that the often rumored in expensive iPhone designed for ’emerging markets’ will also begin shipping with a body made out of polycarbonate – the same material Apple’s retired white MacBooks were made out of.
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  • apple,  apps,  google,  ios,  iphone,  jailbreak

    Third-Party App Invasion

    March 2, 2013 /

    I’m a stock iOS guy.  I don’t jailbreak my iPhone.  (Go #TeamPure!) I don’t tweak it.  I do install apps, games, and utilities.  But my every day go to apps have always been the stock Apple apps: Mail, Safari, Calendar, and Siri.  Until today.

    Starting today, I’m going to try out some third-party applications as my every day go to apps.  Why? you might ask?  Well, I’ve been reading a lot about how Apple is being ‘out Appled’ by Google.  In other words, Google is getting much better at hardware design faster than Apple is getting better at software and services.  That doesn’t really mean much to us common folk, but it has inspired me to try out and use new software and that is a good thing.

    On my iPhone and iPad 3, Mail has been replaced by Gmail, Calendar by Fantastical, Safari by Chrome, and Siri by Google Search.  I also installed Google Maps in addition to Apple Maps, but honestly, I don’t use either maps app on my iPhone very often for it to make a difference.

    I though about using Pandora, Spotify, Amazon Cloud Player or Rdio to replace iTunes but I didn’t want to switch to a streaming service because I don’t want to run my iPhone’s battery down any faster than it already does.

    I’ll run my experiment for 2-4 weeks and then post my thoughts about things here.

    If you have a favorite app that replaces a stock Apple app, let us know and post it in the comments section below.

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  • apple,  apple tv,  ipad,  iphone,  ipod touch

    Staples Begins Selling Apple Products (Again)

    February 27, 2013 /

    Today Apple accessories are now being sold on the Staples website.  It is also believed that Apple’s products will soon be on sale in brick and mortar locations.

    When you visit Staples.com you can choose products from iPad Accessories, Mac Accessories, iPod accessories, and of course, iPhone accessories.  The Apple TV is also available from Staples.

    This will be a return to selling Apple products, for the office supply chain.  Back in the 90’s I can remember my local Staples selling the consumer Macintosh line and classic Mac OS upgrade kits.

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  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  ipad mini,  iphone,  ipod touch,  upgrade

    Apple Releases iOS 6.1.2

    February 20, 2013 /

    Yesterday, Apple rolled out iOS 6.1.2.  This updated is intended to address the Microsoft Exchange bug that has been well documented.

    Unlike previous iOS 6.1.x updates, iOS 6.1.2 is available for current model iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, and iPod touch models.

    I’ve read conflicting reports on whether or not iOS 6.1.2 addresses the lock screen bypass bug. I’ll have to test to see if the issue was resolved after applying iOS 6.1.2.

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  • apple,  exchange server,  ios,  iphone,  microsoft

    iOS 6.1.2 Rumored To Be Released Next Week

    February 16, 2013 /

    Apple has been scrambling to address issues with iOS 6.  The next security and maintenance release for iDevices is reportedly scheduled for release next week.

    From MacRumors.com:

    “German site iPhone-Ticker reports [Google translation] that Apple is planning to release iOS 6.1.2 early next week to address both the Exchange bug and lock screen passcode issue affecting iOS 6.1 users. According to the report, iOS 6.1.2 is likely to arrive before Wednesday, February 20.”

    Apple has been trying to squash bugs related to battery performance on with the iPhone 4S, recurring meeting invitations being sent from users of Microsoft Exchange Server, and a particularly worrisome lock screen bypass bug.

    [Via MacRumors.com…]

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  • apple,  ios,  iphone

    Annoying Bugs Continue with Apple iOS 6.1

    February 15, 2013 /

    One step forward, two steps back might be how some iOS 6 users feel right now.  In addition to the previously reported bugs in iOS 6 effecting battery life and Microsoft’s Exchange Server, add lock screen by pass ‘trick’ to the list of Apple headaches.

    “Reached for comment, Apple said it is hard at work on a fix. “Apple takes user security very seriously” spokeswoman Trudy Muller told AllThingsD. “We are aware of this issue, and will deliver a fix in a future software update.””

    Apple is working developing a fix for the by pass bug (which has happened before with iOS 4.1) as well as the bug with recurring meeting invitations sent from users of Microsoft’s Exchange Server.

    [Via AllThingsD.com…]

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  • apple,  att,  ios,  iphone,  sprint,  verizon

    Apple Releases iOS 6.1.1 for iPhone 4S

    February 11, 2013 /

    Surprise!  Earlier today, Apple released iOS 6.1.1 specifically targeted at the iPhone 4S.

    Over the weekend and as late as this afternoon, I was blogging about the first developer release of iOS 6.1.1 with regard to improving Apple’s Maps app, addressing an Exchange Server bug bedeviling corporate customers, and poor battery performance.

    This evening, Apple rolled out a very narrowly targeted version of iOS 6.1.1 specifically to address that last problem – poor battery performance with the iPhone 4S.

    “This update fixes an issue that could impact cellular performance and reliability for the iPhone 4S.”

    The 23MB over-the-air (OTA) update was available on my Sprint and Verizon iPhone 4S handsets.

    There is no word on whether or not Apple will release an iOS 6.1.1 for all other current model iDevices or if Apple will just move on to the next version number such as 6.1.2 or 6.2.  We also don’t know when we might expect a fix to the bug in Microsoft’s Exchange Server messaging platform that causes devices running iOS 6.1 to get stuck in a loop when trying to accept an invitation to recurring meetings.

    There was no word on when an update to Apple’s Maps application would be made available either.

    The iOS 6.1.1 OTA update took about 15-20 minutes start to finish on my iPhone 4S units.  The update is also available as a wired update via iTunes for Mac OS X and Windows PCs.

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  • apple,  exchange server,  ios,  iphone,  microsoft,  vodafone

    3G Battery Performance May Also Be Contributing to iOS 6.1.1 Being Fast Tracked [Updated]

    February 11, 2013 /

    Following up on the Apple iOS 6.1.1 beta release to developers story from yesterday, Ars Technica has some more information about potential iOS 6.1 battery life issues.

    From Ars Technica:

    “Things heated up on Friday when Vodafone issued a warning to its UK subscribers saying not to download iOS 6.1 to their devices. The company sent a text message to subscribers and posted a notice on its forums (hat tip to MacRumors) saying iOS 6.1 “impacts performance on 3G” for Vodafone’s iPhone 4S users.” 

    “Some customers may occasionally experience difficulty in connecting to the network to make or receive calls or texts or to connect to the Internet. Apple is working on a solution to their software issue. These connection problems are intermittent,” the company wrote. “While Apple’s investigations continue, we would recommend that anyone who has not yet installed iOS 6.1 on their iPhone 4s should delay doing so until Apple has confirmed that their problem has been fixed.”

    Stay tuned. I would say that if we see the a release before the end of March and/or with four or less beta builds, iOS 6.1.1 was an emergency release to address a recurring meeting bug with Microsoft Exchange Server, something that will be a big problem for Apple customers who rely on Microsoft’s corporate email, calendaring, and messaging platform and 3G battery life issues the Vodafone mentioned.

    Update

    Apple has released iOS 6.1.1 specifically for the iPhone 4S to address “cellular performance”.

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  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  ipad mini,  iphone,  ipod touch

    Apple Releases iOS 6.1.1 Beta to Developers

    February 6, 2013 /

    It seems like it was just 10 days ago that Apple released iOS 6.1 and here we are getting word that the first beta of iOS 6.1.1 has gone out to developers.

    Unlike the iOS 6.1 maintenance update, iOS 6.1.1 seems to targeted at enhancing Apple’s Maps application.

    In a note to developers accommodating the release, Apple said iOS 6.1.1 beta 1 includes the following improvements to Maps for Japan:

    • Improved pronunciation of roads during turn-by-turn navigation
    • Optimized directions to more strongly prefer highways over narrower roads
    • Now indicates upcoming toll roads during turn-by-turn navigation
    • Added labels for junctions, interchanges, on-ramps, off-ramps, and intersections
    • Added indicators for transit station buildings, subway lines, and traffic lights
    • Updated freeway color to green
    • Updated icons for some location categories including fire stations, hospitals, and post offices Added 3D buildings including Tokyo Station, Japan Imperial Palace, and Tokyo Tower

    The iOS 6.1.1 beta is said to work with the iPhone 3GS and later, the iPad 2 and later, and the iPod touch fourth generation and later.

    [Via AppleInsider.com…]

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