Uncle Miltie's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/22792/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/177865-the-google-phone-unlocked-confirmed-and-more-details?source=feed#comment-803622 803622
I do agree that if Google were to roll out it's own network, even as a MVNO, that it could make the game very interesting...]]> Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:15:31 -0500
I do agree that if Google were to roll out it's own network, even as a MVNO, that it could make the game very interesting...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/175457-what-if-steve-jobs-hadnt-returned-to-apple-in-1997?source=feed#comment-779915 779915
But the key feature of the iPhone was and still is USABILITY.

Other devices had the same features, more of them, and better features than the original iPhone (and still do today). But just try to actually use those features. What good is a feature if only an Engineer can use it? How much value does a built-in GPS have if a new user can't find it without the help of an instruction manual? What good is a camera with a flash if you can't figure out how to actually use the shutter button for it? How good is a web browser on your phone when it can't access the real web? These were the monumental changes that the iPhone ushered in - all usability features. And here's the kicker - it's still by far the easiest to use, most intuitive interface on a phone, bar none. It's been almost 3 years since the iPhone was announced, and no one has caught up to their interface yet.

In a world which is dominated by non-tech types, that simple reality explains why Apple has been so successful. It isn't marketing. It's usability.

Oh, BTW - you may not be able to run your engineering apps on the Mac, but I can run my engineering apps - I just recompile the UNIX code for the OS-X kernel and I'm good to go. There's an advantage to OS-X being a UNIX shell.


On Nov 27 12:45 PM Davis Gentry wrote:

> come on - what single capability on the iPhone was unique when the
> started selling them? I had a touchscreen phone (with full keyboard)
> from HTC running Windows Mobile at least two years before the iPhone
> came out. It had voice recognition (how long did it take Apple to
> realize the ideal interface to a phone was, well, voice?), web browsing,
> was tied to my email, and I could and did buy lots of apps for it.
> The iPhone browsing experience was better to start with, but I prefer
> my Blackberry Bold for browsing over the iPhone today. Their touch
> interface was innovative, and did forward the state of the art. But
> if you did (or do, for that matter) use a PC as a primary interface
> to the rest of the world, Apple in general has severe limitations.
> You cannot buy MAC versions of a great deal of engineering software,
> so engineers HAVE to have something with a Windows operating system
> (not a complaint, mind you - I LIKE Windows - and as an operating
> system OSX has some advantages, too). My latest computer is a MacBook
> Pro with Fusion and Windows. I originally planned to not use MS Office,
> and just run engineering stuff and Visual Studio on the Windows side.
> The iWork package is so bad (try comparing a Word doc with embedded
> spreadsheet to the same thing with iWork) that I bought a copy of
> Office and installed it on the Windows side. And Apple has nothing
> that compares to Outlook. And my old HTC was fully integrated with
> all of it. My desktop Inbox stayed integrated with my phone one (iPhone
> still cannot do that, last I heard). I ran pdfs, spreadsheets, and
> documents on the phone. What Apple is great at is the same thing
> that Microsoft was great at twenty years ago - marketing.]]> Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:04:23 -0500
But the key feature of the iPhone was and still is USABILITY.

Other devices had the same features, more of them, and better features than the original iPhone (and still do today). But just try to actually use those features. What good is a feature if only an Engineer can use it? How much value does a built-in GPS have if a new user can't find it without the help of an instruction manual? What good is a camera with a flash if you can't figure out how to actually use the shutter button for it? How good is a web browser on your phone when it can't access the real web? These were the monumental changes that the iPhone ushered in - all usability features. And here's the kicker - it's still by far the easiest to use, most intuitive interface on a phone, bar none. It's been almost 3 years since the iPhone was announced, and no one has caught up to their interface yet.

In a world which is dominated by non-tech types, that simple reality explains why Apple has been so successful. It isn't marketing. It's usability.

Oh, BTW - you may not be able to run your engineering apps on the Mac, but I can run my engineering apps - I just recompile the UNIX code for the OS-X kernel and I'm good to go. There's an advantage to OS-X being a UNIX shell.


On Nov 27 12:45 PM Davis Gentry wrote:

> come on - what single capability on the iPhone was unique when the
> started selling them? I had a touchscreen phone (with full keyboard)
> from HTC running Windows Mobile at least two years before the iPhone
> came out. It had voice recognition (how long did it take Apple to
> realize the ideal interface to a phone was, well, voice?), web browsing,
> was tied to my email, and I could and did buy lots of apps for it.
> The iPhone browsing experience was better to start with, but I prefer
> my Blackberry Bold for browsing over the iPhone today. Their touch
> interface was innovative, and did forward the state of the art. But
> if you did (or do, for that matter) use a PC as a primary interface
> to the rest of the world, Apple in general has severe limitations.
> You cannot buy MAC versions of a great deal of engineering software,
> so engineers HAVE to have something with a Windows operating system
> (not a complaint, mind you - I LIKE Windows - and as an operating
> system OSX has some advantages, too). My latest computer is a MacBook
> Pro with Fusion and Windows. I originally planned to not use MS Office,
> and just run engineering stuff and Visual Studio on the Windows side.
> The iWork package is so bad (try comparing a Word doc with embedded
> spreadsheet to the same thing with iWork) that I bought a copy of
> Office and installed it on the Windows side. And Apple has nothing
> that compares to Outlook. And my old HTC was fully integrated with
> all of it. My desktop Inbox stayed integrated with my phone one (iPhone
> still cannot do that, last I heard). I ran pdfs, spreadsheets, and
> documents on the phone. What Apple is great at is the same thing
> that Microsoft was great at twenty years ago - marketing.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/174237-apple-s-tablet-consumers-will-buy-but-what-about-businesses?source=feed#comment-767091 767091 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:19:05 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/172765-while-rivals-jockey-for-market-share-apple-bathes-in-profits?source=feed#comment-756968 756968

On Nov 11 01:11 PM Shaftsinker wrote:

> It's just brilliant marketing really.

Not really. It's providing a end-to-end ecosystem that makes it dramatically easier for the end user to do what they want instead of fighting to get the technology to do what it should do. This is the point that so many missed in the iPod story - and it sounds like you still don't understand it.


> The iPod is another example of something sleek and
> elegant that provided no advantages over existing products (actually
> provided a disadvantage due to the proprietary nature of iTunes)
> despite a vastly superior price. But nobody had dominated that industry
> yet and cultureally penetrated it... and so people buying iPods had
> never even heard of MP3 players.

The iPod was easier to use and easier to manage your music on. iTunes was easier to manage your music on your computer on. And iTunes Music Store was a brand new concept that again worked seamlessly with your iPod. It was a vastly superior ecosystem that allowed Apple to dominate the MP3 player market - one that none of their competitors has yet to approach 8 years later.

Ease of use is a significantly important feature. It completely explains the Flip Video phenomenon - low tech, but ultra easy to use. When you see hundreds of YouTube videos of 2 year olds using an iPhone because it is that easy and intuitive to use, it's a HUGE competitive advantage.


> Nothing goes through an Apple product without Apple
> getting a cut. But nobody complains because they don't want Apple
> to have competition.

Wrong. A) there are people who complain all the time (mostly tech geeks and journalists). B) most Apple users WANT Apple to have competition so that it keeps them from getting stagnant with their product. But Apple users are also so satisfied with their products that they would rarely consider moving away from them.


> A lot of you guys here focus on quality quality quality of the product
> to explain these margins but it's really not that simple. Maybe the
> adult Apple usebase is different, but being removed from college
> I got to watch this Apple culture exploded amongst my age group first
> hand over the past several years.

It's ease of use. It's lack of frustration. It's technology that doesn't interfere with you doing what you want to do. This is what sets Apple apart, far more than quality.]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:44:07 -0500

On Nov 11 01:11 PM Shaftsinker wrote:

> It's just brilliant marketing really.

Not really. It's providing a end-to-end ecosystem that makes it dramatically easier for the end user to do what they want instead of fighting to get the technology to do what it should do. This is the point that so many missed in the iPod story - and it sounds like you still don't understand it.


> The iPod is another example of something sleek and
> elegant that provided no advantages over existing products (actually
> provided a disadvantage due to the proprietary nature of iTunes)
> despite a vastly superior price. But nobody had dominated that industry
> yet and cultureally penetrated it... and so people buying iPods had
> never even heard of MP3 players.

The iPod was easier to use and easier to manage your music on. iTunes was easier to manage your music on your computer on. And iTunes Music Store was a brand new concept that again worked seamlessly with your iPod. It was a vastly superior ecosystem that allowed Apple to dominate the MP3 player market - one that none of their competitors has yet to approach 8 years later.

Ease of use is a significantly important feature. It completely explains the Flip Video phenomenon - low tech, but ultra easy to use. When you see hundreds of YouTube videos of 2 year olds using an iPhone because it is that easy and intuitive to use, it's a HUGE competitive advantage.


> Nothing goes through an Apple product without Apple
> getting a cut. But nobody complains because they don't want Apple
> to have competition.

Wrong. A) there are people who complain all the time (mostly tech geeks and journalists). B) most Apple users WANT Apple to have competition so that it keeps them from getting stagnant with their product. But Apple users are also so satisfied with their products that they would rarely consider moving away from them.


> A lot of you guys here focus on quality quality quality of the product
> to explain these margins but it's really not that simple. Maybe the
> adult Apple usebase is different, but being removed from college
> I got to watch this Apple culture exploded amongst my age group first
> hand over the past several years.

It's ease of use. It's lack of frustration. It's technology that doesn't interfere with you doing what you want to do. This is what sets Apple apart, far more than quality.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/168545-motorola-droid-a-promising-iphone-challenger?source=feed#comment-728168 728168
If the device is crippled, it becomes another blah iPhone wannabe.

If the device is not crippled, Verizon loses several potential revenue streams (tv, gps, ringtones, etc.).

Until I see proof otherwise, I'm betting that Verizon will not give up those secondary revenue streams, relegating Droid to also-ran status. ]]> Sat, 24 Oct 2009 09:01:40 -0400
If the device is crippled, it becomes another blah iPhone wannabe.

If the device is not crippled, Verizon loses several potential revenue streams (tv, gps, ringtones, etc.).

Until I see proof otherwise, I'm betting that Verizon will not give up those secondary revenue streams, relegating Droid to also-ran status. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/167673-with-apple-there-s-a-fine-line-between-paying-a-premium-and-being-a-sucker?source=feed#comment-723313 723313
Call me a sucker all you want. I want a Magic Mouse.]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:32:05 -0400
Call me a sucker all you want. I want a Magic Mouse.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/165150-at-t-oks-voip-for-the-iphone-too-bad-google-voice-isn-t-voip?source=feed#comment-706634 706634
Second item - 99.9% of the US public has no idea what Google Voice is, and even fewer actually have it. Quit acting like this is the worlds greatest tragedy because Michael Arrington can't get a Google Voice app on his iPhone.

Since TechCrunch is soon to be releasing their own device (which will undoubtedly receive nothing but praise in TechCrunch), I would suggest that they get dropped from Seeking Alpha as they will no longer be an independent blogger, but will now actually be a manufacturer with a dog in the fight. And I'd hazard a guess that they have some tie-in with Google on it...]]> Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:15:00 -0400
Second item - 99.9% of the US public has no idea what Google Voice is, and even fewer actually have it. Quit acting like this is the worlds greatest tragedy because Michael Arrington can't get a Google Voice app on his iPhone.

Since TechCrunch is soon to be releasing their own device (which will undoubtedly receive nothing but praise in TechCrunch), I would suggest that they get dropped from Seeking Alpha as they will no longer be an independent blogger, but will now actually be a manufacturer with a dog in the fight. And I'd hazard a guess that they have some tie-in with Google on it...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/165204-why-apple-should-start-wooing-verizon-like-google?source=feed#comment-706605 706605 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:02:35 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/165004-adobe-blinks-first-in-flash-battle-with-apple?source=feed#comment-704850 704850
Flash is horribly written and processor hungry. Keep it off my iPhone until Adobe fixes it.]]> Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:13:32 -0400
Flash is horribly written and processor hungry. Keep it off my iPhone until Adobe fixes it.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/163793-is-there-room-for-all-smartphone-makers?source=feed#comment-695217 695217
Also, don't count out RIM for people who primarily use their device for e-mail and text messaging. For those people - and there are a lot of them - the BB is still much easier to type on than an iPhone.

There is in my opinion room for both companies products, and both products have significant owner loyalty and satisfaction. They don't call them Crackberries for nothing. As much as you'd have to pry my iPhone out of my cold, dead fingers, you would have to do the same to my wife's blackberry.


On Sep 28 07:14 PM JamesApple wrote:


> Rim has its root as a pager maker. The blackberrys and BES are just
> pagers and paging devices and services with eMail attached. blackberrys,
> blackberry OS and BES are dumb products with severe limitations and
> restrictions which are extremely hardwired and mechanical. It is
> impossible for anything Rim to become smart.
>
> Rim is going to go bankrupt no later than year 2012.]]> Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:38:49 -0400
Also, don't count out RIM for people who primarily use their device for e-mail and text messaging. For those people - and there are a lot of them - the BB is still much easier to type on than an iPhone.

There is in my opinion room for both companies products, and both products have significant owner loyalty and satisfaction. They don't call them Crackberries for nothing. As much as you'd have to pry my iPhone out of my cold, dead fingers, you would have to do the same to my wife's blackberry.


On Sep 28 07:14 PM JamesApple wrote:


> Rim has its root as a pager maker. The blackberrys and BES are just
> pagers and paging devices and services with eMail attached. blackberrys,
> blackberry OS and BES are dumb products with severe limitations and
> restrictions which are extremely hardwired and mechanical. It is
> impossible for anything Rim to become smart.
>
> Rim is going to go bankrupt no later than year 2012.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/161332-motorola-looks-far-better-than-other-mobile-internet-players?source=feed#comment-676236 676236
> "It is completely and utterly foolish to whine about Nokia being clueless and then say that Motorola at least knows what they're doing when Motorola is trying to do EXACTLY the same that Nokia has been doing for years"

Try changing the name from Motorola to Palm and going back to January and stating the same thing. Motorola unveiled their new Android platform, and basically everyone who saw it agreed that Moto might have finally "gotten it", similar to the same kind of sentiment with Palm when they unveiled WebOS. That was the driving element of the article and analysis.]]> Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:36:09 -0400
> "It is completely and utterly foolish to whine about Nokia being clueless and then say that Motorola at least knows what they're doing when Motorola is trying to do EXACTLY the same that Nokia has been doing for years"

Try changing the name from Motorola to Palm and going back to January and stating the same thing. Motorola unveiled their new Android platform, and basically everyone who saw it agreed that Moto might have finally "gotten it", similar to the same kind of sentiment with Palm when they unveiled WebOS. That was the driving element of the article and analysis.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/161332-motorola-looks-far-better-than-other-mobile-internet-players?source=feed#comment-676185 676185 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:27:57 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/158764-has-nokia-developed-an-iphone-contender?source=feed#comment-650525 650525 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:18:34 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/155015-blackberrys-26-advantages-over-iphone?source=feed#comment-623779 623779

On Aug 10 02:05 PM Wireless Wiz wrote:

> To be fair, this is an untrue statement. For instance, the Bold
> has a side door slot, the Storm does not require removing the battery,
> and most , if not all, new Blackberries I have seen have this same
> feature - either a side loading slot or a slot that all you have
> to do is to remove the battery cover and you can hot-swap the memory
> card. ]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:41:20 -0400

On Aug 10 02:05 PM Wireless Wiz wrote:

> To be fair, this is an untrue statement. For instance, the Bold
> has a side door slot, the Storm does not require removing the battery,
> and most , if not all, new Blackberries I have seen have this same
> feature - either a side loading slot or a slot that all you have
> to do is to remove the battery cover and you can hot-swap the memory
> card. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/155015-blackberrys-26-advantages-over-iphone?source=feed#comment-623542 623542
>1. Blackberry can be used on almost every carrier in the world (over 475 of them). In the US, the iPhone is available on AT&T (T) only.

True that iPhone is AT&T only in the US, but it's also offered in over 80 countries on over 100 carriers. Including T-Mobile in Germany. Exclusivity is a regionally determined item, and is undertaken by nearly every carrier in nearly every market - even for several of BB's devices.

>3. Most Blackberries have keyboards ..... Helps while driving, walking, carrying something in your other hand – all the time.

Good luck with that. I've yet to see anyone successfully text with one hand any faster on a BB than on an iPhone. And any texting while in motion is a DISADVANTAGE.

>4. Blackberry uses standardized (=inexpensive and available everywhere in the world) MicroUSB connector for synchronization/charging. iPhone has a much larger proprietary 30-pin connector.

Blackberries are notoriously finicky about their MicroUSB connections - they don't work with every MicroUSB cable and can be a pain to get one that they like. And the iPod / iPhone dock connectors is as close to being universal as you can get.

>5. Some carriers such as Verizon (VZ) and Sprint (S) offer unlimited international Blackberry data roaming for $40/month or less.

Go ahead and try to use your CDMA VZ or S device outside the US and see how incredibly useful that unlimited data roaming really is - not so much when there are no CDMA towers outside of the US and Japan.

>7. Blackberry has expandable memory. iPhone is fixed and sold at 8, 16 or 32 gig only.

BB has to be expandable, because with a stock 128MB of on-board memory, there is no storage space for anything of note. To change the card on our BB's requires removing the battery - hardly a convenient thing to do with any regularity. I have over 2000 songs, 6 full length movies, 70 apps, and 2000 photos on my 32GB iPhone, and have 15 GB free. No need for another card when you have that kind of storage space.

>11. Blackberry allows communicating peer-to-peer via PIN identifier, circumventing the email system. No such iPhone equivalent.

Peer-to-peer communicating is only useful if your company doesn't lock out that service - and many do (my wife's, for example). However, there are hundreds of IM clients available for both devices and SMS on both devices that also bypass the e-mail system.

>12. Skype (EBAY) on the Blackberry? Yes, from anywhere to anywhere. Skype on iPhone? Only if you’re on WiFi.
>
>13. Sling on the Blackberry? Yes, it’s free. Sling on iPhone? $30.
>
>14. Google (GOOG) Voice on the Blackberry? Yes, it’s free. Google Voice on iPhone? Verboten.

These are limitations of AT&T, not the iPhone itself. If you're criticizing Apple's selection of AT&T, fine. Then ask why Verizon wouldn't step up to the place when Apple originally offered the iPhone to them first.

>24. Price: Unlimited iPhone voice/data service, including unlimited SMS, is $150/month. Blackberry can be had for much less. For example, unlimited Blackberry service is offered on Sprint for $100/month, T-Mobile USA $125/month, MetroPCS $50/month, although AT&T/Verizon match the iPhone at $150/month.

Again, you're comparing carriers - not the devices. The iPhone data plan is $30 a month for unlimited data on AT&T. It's actually cheaper than most BB data plans on other carriers.


Nearly every point listed is debatable, skewed and subjective. Hardly an investing article.]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:22:56 -0400
>1. Blackberry can be used on almost every carrier in the world (over 475 of them). In the US, the iPhone is available on AT&T (T) only.

True that iPhone is AT&T only in the US, but it's also offered in over 80 countries on over 100 carriers. Including T-Mobile in Germany. Exclusivity is a regionally determined item, and is undertaken by nearly every carrier in nearly every market - even for several of BB's devices.

>3. Most Blackberries have keyboards ..... Helps while driving, walking, carrying something in your other hand – all the time.

Good luck with that. I've yet to see anyone successfully text with one hand any faster on a BB than on an iPhone. And any texting while in motion is a DISADVANTAGE.

>4. Blackberry uses standardized (=inexpensive and available everywhere in the world) MicroUSB connector for synchronization/charging. iPhone has a much larger proprietary 30-pin connector.

Blackberries are notoriously finicky about their MicroUSB connections - they don't work with every MicroUSB cable and can be a pain to get one that they like. And the iPod / iPhone dock connectors is as close to being universal as you can get.

>5. Some carriers such as Verizon (VZ) and Sprint (S) offer unlimited international Blackberry data roaming for $40/month or less.

Go ahead and try to use your CDMA VZ or S device outside the US and see how incredibly useful that unlimited data roaming really is - not so much when there are no CDMA towers outside of the US and Japan.

>7. Blackberry has expandable memory. iPhone is fixed and sold at 8, 16 or 32 gig only.

BB has to be expandable, because with a stock 128MB of on-board memory, there is no storage space for anything of note. To change the card on our BB's requires removing the battery - hardly a convenient thing to do with any regularity. I have over 2000 songs, 6 full length movies, 70 apps, and 2000 photos on my 32GB iPhone, and have 15 GB free. No need for another card when you have that kind of storage space.

>11. Blackberry allows communicating peer-to-peer via PIN identifier, circumventing the email system. No such iPhone equivalent.

Peer-to-peer communicating is only useful if your company doesn't lock out that service - and many do (my wife's, for example). However, there are hundreds of IM clients available for both devices and SMS on both devices that also bypass the e-mail system.

>12. Skype (EBAY) on the Blackberry? Yes, from anywhere to anywhere. Skype on iPhone? Only if you’re on WiFi.
>
>13. Sling on the Blackberry? Yes, it’s free. Sling on iPhone? $30.
>
>14. Google (GOOG) Voice on the Blackberry? Yes, it’s free. Google Voice on iPhone? Verboten.

These are limitations of AT&T, not the iPhone itself. If you're criticizing Apple's selection of AT&T, fine. Then ask why Verizon wouldn't step up to the place when Apple originally offered the iPhone to them first.

>24. Price: Unlimited iPhone voice/data service, including unlimited SMS, is $150/month. Blackberry can be had for much less. For example, unlimited Blackberry service is offered on Sprint for $100/month, T-Mobile USA $125/month, MetroPCS $50/month, although AT&T/Verizon match the iPhone at $150/month.

Again, you're comparing carriers - not the devices. The iPhone data plan is $30 a month for unlimited data on AT&T. It's actually cheaper than most BB data plans on other carriers.


Nearly every point listed is debatable, skewed and subjective. Hardly an investing article.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/153637-apple-the-microsoft-of-smartphones?source=feed#comment-615964 615964

On Aug 04 06:12 PM Frank Castle wrote:

> Once they stop getting the sub from at&t what will their profit
> margin be per iPhone? I'd really like to hear some sales on the
> 3G and what margin that is getting them.
>
> Once they leave at&t (which I doubt before mid 2010 if not later)
> they will have the same slim margin all other cell phone makers deal
> with.]]> Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:53:52 -0400

On Aug 04 06:12 PM Frank Castle wrote:

> Once they stop getting the sub from at&t what will their profit
> margin be per iPhone? I'd really like to hear some sales on the
> 3G and what margin that is getting them.
>
> Once they leave at&t (which I doubt before mid 2010 if not later)
> they will have the same slim margin all other cell phone makers deal
> with.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/149235-apple-asks-microsoft-to-quit-running-those-laptop-hunters-ads?source=feed#comment-591686 591686
Does anyone actually believe that Apple would call Microsoft and ask them to stop running the ads? If there was any call - which is debateable - it would have likely been the legal department threatening some legal action due to MS calling them by name in a derrogatory manner in their commercial.

Common sense, people. This was uttered at a MS convention. If you believe this at face value, then I have some oceanfront property in Arizona for sale... ]]> Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:44:19 -0400
Does anyone actually believe that Apple would call Microsoft and ask them to stop running the ads? If there was any call - which is debateable - it would have likely been the legal department threatening some legal action due to MS calling them by name in a derrogatory manner in their commercial.

Common sense, people. This was uttered at a MS convention. If you believe this at face value, then I have some oceanfront property in Arizona for sale... ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/143319-new-iphone-set-to-continue-apples-quest-for-dominance?source=feed#comment-550137 550137
Unlocking is the process of freeing the phone from the shackles of a particular wireless provider. It involves modifying the baseband (radio) on the phone to allow it to work on another wireless carrier.

Jailbreaking is the process of opening up the operating system to allow you to run unauthorized software. it involves modifying the OS.

ultrasn0w will only unlock your iPhone, not jailbreak it. The Dev team even states that they haven't hacked it enough to jailbreak the device yet.

As for unlocking BlackBerries, it's regularly done. Heck, here's a quick link to a YouTube video that shows the process...
www.youtube.com/watch?...

Found that in less than 10 seconds with a google search for "unlcok blackberry"

@Frank Castle

> So much for the improved security
> tonight in a video presentation they unveiled ultrasn0w, which should let you unlock any iPhone on the market, running any version of the firmware from 3.0 on down. ]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:35:36 -0400
Unlocking is the process of freeing the phone from the shackles of a particular wireless provider. It involves modifying the baseband (radio) on the phone to allow it to work on another wireless carrier.

Jailbreaking is the process of opening up the operating system to allow you to run unauthorized software. it involves modifying the OS.

ultrasn0w will only unlock your iPhone, not jailbreak it. The Dev team even states that they haven't hacked it enough to jailbreak the device yet.

As for unlocking BlackBerries, it's regularly done. Heck, here's a quick link to a YouTube video that shows the process...
www.youtube.com/watch?...

Found that in less than 10 seconds with a google search for "unlcok blackberry"

@Frank Castle

> So much for the improved security
> tonight in a video presentation they unveiled ultrasn0w, which should let you unlock any iPhone on the market, running any version of the firmware from 3.0 on down. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/142601-will-the-new-iphone-be-enough-to-hold-off-the-competition?source=feed#comment-542100 542100
At $100, the equation changes dramatically. Again, polling the 8 teens in the immediate vicinity of my home produced 1 who already had an iPhone, and 7 who want one. Probing further, 5 of the 7 were optimistic that they could convince Mom and Dad to spring for a $99 iPhone, while the other two already had cash saved up from their part-time jobs.

Think that the $99 price is a mistake or an accident? Think again. I expect to see absolute sales blowouts come Christmas time, if not sooner...]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:32:28 -0400
At $100, the equation changes dramatically. Again, polling the 8 teens in the immediate vicinity of my home produced 1 who already had an iPhone, and 7 who want one. Probing further, 5 of the 7 were optimistic that they could convince Mom and Dad to spring for a $99 iPhone, while the other two already had cash saved up from their part-time jobs.

Think that the $99 price is a mistake or an accident? Think again. I expect to see absolute sales blowouts come Christmas time, if not sooner...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/140155-the-new-palm-is-gonna-bomb?source=feed#comment-522821 522821
Why the Pre won't be the Next iPhone
www.fool.com/community...]]> Fri, 29 May 2009 10:36:02 -0400
Why the Pre won't be the Next iPhone
www.fool.com/community...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/133481-jobs-integrity-a-reason-to-buy-apple?source=feed#comment-480627 480627

On Apr 28 06:41 AM Roger Knights wrote:

> "23X EPS is a little rich right now"
>
> I'm fuzzy on the details, but I have the impression that the EPS
> figure doesn't include the deferred earnings from the iPhone, and
> isn't adjusted for the huge portion of the share price that is based
> on Apple's $30 billion cash hoard. With those two adjustments made,
> and in light of Apple's new products in the pipeline, a price of
> $150 wouldn't be excessive.]]> Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:47:57 -0400

On Apr 28 06:41 AM Roger Knights wrote:

> "23X EPS is a little rich right now"
>
> I'm fuzzy on the details, but I have the impression that the EPS
> figure doesn't include the deferred earnings from the iPhone, and
> isn't adjusted for the huge portion of the share price that is based
> on Apple's $30 billion cash hoard. With those two adjustments made,
> and in light of Apple's new products in the pipeline, a price of
> $150 wouldn't be excessive.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/126476-iphone-3-0-five-key-takeaway-items?source=feed#comment-430418 430418
www.duracellpower.com/...

On Mar 17 04:50 PM Hayweed wrote:

> If the battery issue bothers you get a battery extender which is
> small and light, fits in your pocket and can recharge the phone on
> the fly. Use one for trips and it works great and is only about $50.]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:43:25 -0400
www.duracellpower.com/...

On Mar 17 04:50 PM Hayweed wrote:

> If the battery issue bothers you get a battery extender which is
> small and light, fits in your pocket and can recharge the phone on
> the fly. Use one for trips and it works great and is only about $50.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/124954-5-things-apple-could-be-doing-with-their-new-touch-screens?source=feed#comment-420281 420281
> 2) a touchscreen netoook wouldn't be able to compete on price with
> the $350 netbooks from Acer and Asus.

Since when has Apple EVER wanted to compete on price? And why do analysts insist that they must compete on price?

Do analysts insist on BMW making a vehicle to compete with a Hyundai or Kia?

Apple makes a premium product. Period. They have extremely satisfied customers and own their market space making incredible margins. I just don't see any reason why Apple would deviate from that strategy. It would dilute the brand and jeopardize future earnings.]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:04:45 -0400
> 2) a touchscreen netoook wouldn't be able to compete on price with
> the $350 netbooks from Acer and Asus.

Since when has Apple EVER wanted to compete on price? And why do analysts insist that they must compete on price?

Do analysts insist on BMW making a vehicle to compete with a Hyundai or Kia?

Apple makes a premium product. Period. They have extremely satisfied customers and own their market space making incredible margins. I just don't see any reason why Apple would deviate from that strategy. It would dilute the brand and jeopardize future earnings.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/122050-snapshot-apple-s-cash-growth?source=feed#comment-399781 399781

On Feb 23 09:11 AM Techtrader10 wrote:

> Accumulated cash is two things, first none working capital, second
> a dwindling asset in bad economic times.

Actually, your points are both absolutely incorrect. Accumulated cash is absolutely working capital. And based on the amount of Apple's cash position, it's a moot point as they have far more cash on hand than is required to fund continuing operations.

Second, cash on hand in bad economic times - say a collapse in the market - is even more valuable than fixed assets. Apple sits in the envious position of being able to invest in any new technology that they choose. The can gain assets at fire sale prices, and their cash has already allowed them to negotiate sweet deals with suppliers who might not be weathering the econmoic downturn as well as Apple has.

As for your other points, Apple's recent results refute them all. "Best Quarter Ever" in the Christmas '08 quarter. E'nuff said.]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:30:36 -0500

On Feb 23 09:11 AM Techtrader10 wrote:

> Accumulated cash is two things, first none working capital, second
> a dwindling asset in bad economic times.

Actually, your points are both absolutely incorrect. Accumulated cash is absolutely working capital. And based on the amount of Apple's cash position, it's a moot point as they have far more cash on hand than is required to fund continuing operations.

Second, cash on hand in bad economic times - say a collapse in the market - is even more valuable than fixed assets. Apple sits in the envious position of being able to invest in any new technology that they choose. The can gain assets at fire sale prices, and their cash has already allowed them to negotiate sweet deals with suppliers who might not be weathering the econmoic downturn as well as Apple has.

As for your other points, Apple's recent results refute them all. "Best Quarter Ever" in the Christmas '08 quarter. E'nuff said.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/120660-why-apple-has-risen-from-a-technical-analysis-perspective?source=feed#comment-389064 389064 AAPL) had risen from its lows of 78 to over 100 in the past three weeks without any apparent news events to correlate with the move." - ZB


Hi Zach, one simple point you forgot in your opening line of your post - Apple announced Q1 earnings and Q2 projections after hours on Jan 21. The stock popped prior to the news on anticipation on the 21's (78.20 to 82.83 close on the 21st) and popped again following the fantastic earnings report (closed at 88.36 on the 22nd).

The initial premise of the discussion is flawed due to the fact that there was significant news that caused the price to rise over $10 per share related to the January earnings report. Take that out, and the movement mostly mirrors the rest of the market in that timeframe.]]> Sun, 15 Feb 2009 08:51:49 -0500 AAPL) had risen from its lows of 78 to over 100 in the past three weeks without any apparent news events to correlate with the move." - ZB


Hi Zach, one simple point you forgot in your opening line of your post - Apple announced Q1 earnings and Q2 projections after hours on Jan 21. The stock popped prior to the news on anticipation on the 21's (78.20 to 82.83 close on the 21st) and popped again following the fantastic earnings report (closed at 88.36 on the 22nd).

The initial premise of the discussion is flawed due to the fact that there was significant news that caused the price to rise over $10 per share related to the January earnings report. Take that out, and the movement mostly mirrors the rest of the market in that timeframe.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/118761-apple-vs-dell-capturing-the-over-50-crowd?source=feed#comment-378614 378614
For reference, go to Apple.com, select the Mac tab, then watch the TV commercials. Basically every one of them details how much easier a Mac is to use than a PC...

On Feb 05 11:47 AM Motorcyclist wrote:

> Our negative experience with Vista has us considering Apple as our
> next potential PC purchase. Maybe this could be the marketing angle
> Apple should try?]]> Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:57:42 -0500
For reference, go to Apple.com, select the Mac tab, then watch the TV commercials. Basically every one of them details how much easier a Mac is to use than a PC...

On Feb 05 11:47 AM Motorcyclist wrote:

> Our negative experience with Vista has us considering Apple as our
> next potential PC purchase. Maybe this could be the marketing angle
> Apple should try?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/113325-apple-s-credibility-problem?source=feed#comment-347311 347311
That being said, Apple was likely completely correct when they stated that there was nothing wrong with Steve - that's what his doctors were telling him at the time.

And by the way, it is against federal law to release any personal medical records without consent of the individual. If Steve didn't want his records released, Apple could not release them. Period.

There is a credibility problem related to the reporting of Steve's health, but it's not from Steve or Apple...]]> Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:39:28 -0500
That being said, Apple was likely completely correct when they stated that there was nothing wrong with Steve - that's what his doctors were telling him at the time.

And by the way, it is against federal law to release any personal medical records without consent of the individual. If Steve didn't want his records released, Apple could not release them. Period.

There is a credibility problem related to the reporting of Steve's health, but it's not from Steve or Apple...]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106286-voice-search-a-new-age-has-dawned?source=feed#comment-307905 307905
> I use my phone mostly for calls and some texting,and occasionally,direction...
> or checking the market...and most people I know,of all ages,do the
> same.
>
> I wonder how this brave new world of phone apps can be properly monetized
> over the short term,in the face of hard economic times.Anyhow,how
> many questions do you want to ask your phone each day?
>
> Good article..

Having used an iPhone for 1.5 years, I can assure you that while I do use it for making phone calls, the killer app on the iPhone is the web browser. It can't be said enough - once you start using the web on the iPhone, you get hooked. The experience is significantly better than any other phone I've used or tested.

This will be a neat additional app, but the killer app is already on the iPhone.]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:55:24 -0500
> I use my phone mostly for calls and some texting,and occasionally,direction...
> or checking the market...and most people I know,of all ages,do the
> same.
>
> I wonder how this brave new world of phone apps can be properly monetized
> over the short term,in the face of hard economic times.Anyhow,how
> many questions do you want to ask your phone each day?
>
> Good article..

Having used an iPhone for 1.5 years, I can assure you that while I do use it for making phone calls, the killer app on the iPhone is the web browser. It can't be said enough - once you start using the web on the iPhone, you get hooked. The experience is significantly better than any other phone I've used or tested.

This will be a neat additional app, but the killer app is already on the iPhone.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/104236-lower-income-mobile-users-turn-to-iphone-as-web-browser?source=feed#comment-299315 299315
Bingo. That's the money quote in the entire article. For me, the iPhone replaced my iPod nano, a Moto RAZR, and a Palm device that I would carry around daily with a single device. Just that was a huge convenience. Add in the mobile internet actually being usable, the GPS functions, and the other software I have installed, and we really have the first convergence device that lives up to the name.]]> Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:53:05 -0500
Bingo. That's the money quote in the entire article. For me, the iPhone replaced my iPod nano, a Moto RAZR, and a Palm device that I would carry around daily with a single device. Just that was a huge convenience. Add in the mobile internet actually being usable, the GPS functions, and the other software I have installed, and we really have the first convergence device that lives up to the name.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/100679-apple-perplexed-by-ports?source=feed#comment-286316 286316
+ Legacy models - the white MacBook and the 17" MBP still have DVI / miniDVI. All new models are moving to mini Display Port.

+ Firewire will only be available on MBP's - it's a legacy device on the white MacBook.

Is that really too dificult to understand?]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:08:05 -0400
+ Legacy models - the white MacBook and the 17" MBP still have DVI / miniDVI. All new models are moving to mini Display Port.

+ Firewire will only be available on MBP's - it's a legacy device on the white MacBook.

Is that really too dificult to understand?]]>