Aussie Machead

Top 10 Touchscreen Devices: iPhone Drives 159% Growth

I realised yesterday how far the iPhone has taken us into new territory. My partner is a dinosaur and has a Motorola for which we got a 3G SIM card to replace the old SIM. I activated it with the Telco and they didn't remind me to transfer data first and had of course forgotten to transfer his minimalist addressbook to the phone. Also as a dinosaur he would not want the huge directory of addresses from my Mac Address Book. So step two try and get the data from his old SIM card into his phone.... Scrolling through screen upon screen I couldn't find where to transfer his old SIM info.. Also when I did try to put the old card back it wouldn't accept the SIM password. So I went through the laborious process of re-entering the individual phone nos of the people I knew he would want. What a process and how I realised how much I hate the numeric keypad entry method.. This is NOT simple.. Added to my disdain was how FILTHY the inside of the phone was when I had to remove the battery to get to the SIM card. YUK.. I know someone who might find a brand new iPhone in his Christmas stocking.. The experience with an iPhone is JUST so different and lets face it most of the other smart phones are just tinsle on an artificial Christmas Tree but the iPhone is a live and growing Apple Tree..

Why Amazon Isn't Worried About iPhone's Kindle

Personally love the e-book on the iPhone - only I prefer to use Stanza to Kindle. Like the page flip and drag finger to light or darken and full font size choices of Stanza (with Fictionwise Books on Board, Gutenberg library). Now Kindle machines are being sold in Australia - but surprised they haven't got the iPhone app available in Australia. Trialed Kindle app on a US account iPhone. Also very limited choice of books internationally as publishers tie up in the same way they do print books which countries are permitted to buy.
One BIG plus of iPhone Stanza over a Kindle machine, is reading in bed with the light out - no longer having to negotiate when to put a book down. Certainly read for more than 20-30 minutes - usually an hour or so in bed.. I've read about 12 books so far and find its availability on the phone when waiting in queues etc - just great.

J.D. Powers: Apple Best Among Consumer & Business Smartphones

What other phone includes handset features such as the new EYETV - lie in bed or even in the bathroom - you can watch the EYETV shows delivered over WIFI from EyeTV on the computer. By the time I have read books on Stanza, watched live TV or EyeTV recordings!!!, done my dieting (better than Weighwatchers and 10% of the price), mapped a series of facility locations linking an email with addresses to the inbuilt GPS Google Maps, edited a few Word Documents, added genealogy material to the computer based Reunion when visiting relatives, skyped friends and colleagues around the world, used Tom Tom on the road, listened to radio from anywhere in the world, made postcards to email on the run, found the time of the next Tram or train... The other phones just don't know what features are.. The iPhone and inventiveness of the thousands of developers is just amazing. NO WONDER THIS IS NUMERO UNO

The End of Exclusive: How Apple Plans to Grow Market Share

I guess we are lucky in Australia as iPhones are available from several carriers, Telstra (the largest), Optus, Vodaphone, Three - maybe that is why some of the cheapest plans by world comparisons are here - starting at $30 per mth including data. The only strange thing is Telstra only sells iPhones on Consumer Plans not Business Plans.. and they still promote Blackberries on the Business Plans. So business groups overcome it by having all except one phone on a consumer plan and choose a business plan for the one phone - then people buy one iPhone outright and put their business SIM into the iPhone. Sometimes I think the carriers are the irrational ones the world over

Apple: Set to Double Again

After all the doom of the last year and gloom when good companies lost share price just because all the others were down. Apple now is returning to true value and the future looks really bright with 90% of the "over $1000" computer market - this is no also ran but an outstanding leader and not short on ideas and a blueprint for the future. Just listen to the young people where Apples are used in schools - they love Apple and they are the future buyers.. The boring Blue Blue MS biased IT managers will be confined to the scrap heap come the 2010s and 2020s... Go $250 by Christmas

Back to School on the Cheap: Another Round of Mac vs. PC

Running VM Ware WIndows on my Mac - just to see how websites I design are working. The experience is horrible. The anti-virus software dominates - like its shouting and you can't hear yourself think - so you turn it off and then worry about what viruses have crept into your computer.. How good it VM Ware on the Mac as you do the tests of the websites and then just TURN THE CLOCK BACK and go to a previously saved state. If people are stupid enough to "invest" in PCs - they just deserve what they get. In the meantime I get on with my work with such great free programs as iWeb webdesign where you don't have to tussle with html - all the Mobileme links to the iPhone and Photo Galleries to kill for - just happening smoothly in the background. Very reasonably priced iWork. Anyone who thinks Windows is good, get a Mac and find out what good computing is all about..

Rumors Solidify Around Apple Tablet

Only when they can copy Apple..


On Jul 26 08:15 PM NDinMSP wrote:

> How soon can we expect the Palm version?

Rumors Solidify Around Apple Tablet

This has to be the next logical move.. a stand and bluetooth keyboard added and you have the perfect computer for School's to use. In NSW Australia - there has been a roll out of computers for schools and Apple computers didn't qualify as the size limit was about 11 inches. A tablet with suitable ergonomic add-ons would be such a sensible move and imagine the size of the market worldwide. I'm sure the single body piece and strength of the glass multi touch screens will again make Apple the outstanding producer of this bit of technology equipment - the on-screen keyboard adapts to any alphabet set worldwide - a huge saving in costs.. Probably Netbook manufacturers are even trying to produce their own version of this tablet at this moment in time but Apple is streaks ahead with its stable OS and app store.

Then there is the move to downloadable text books and you have an Apple winner again of yet another market. AND no viruses - has to be such a plus for central IT in education and business.. no kidding Viruses cost a huge amount in IT support and school can't afford this..

RIM Is on a Quest to Remain Competitive

In Australia we are in a better position with 4 carriers and phone plans which don't integrate data so you can purchase and change data plans as and when needed. I feel sorry for my friend in Connecticut who would love to get an iPhone but is in a Verizon area and can't receive AT&T. Seems access is really restrictive in the USA. The sooner Apple in the US gets some other carriers the sooner we will see the market place working as it should. If four carriers in Australia can offer packages as low as $30 a month phone plan and if you add data its from $10 a month, how is the AT&T deal so attractive to Apple??

Reports: iPhone to Launch in China in July

China is a BIG market.. I agree $200

Apple's Next Releases Need to Live Up to Expectations

How many other Smartphone makers took developers on side in such a public way as Apple did with the early announcement of OS 3.0. Apple deserves its ever growing band of developers many of whom just enjoy the fun of it all just like the users. That is the whole thing about Apple - their products are totally enjoyable and have such a low frustration component. Can you say the say for Microsoft and those phones which need triple key presses to do an SMS and lurk in the bottom of handbags for days..

Three Strikes from Apple and Palm May Be Out

The also rans competing with the iPhone also miss the point that this isn't just a phone it is an integrated system with a powerful computer.. the ease with which the iPhone communicates with your computer via Mobileme. All the computer Safari Bookmarks are just there on the iPhone which means you have access to hundred of items - a link to what you do all day and every day whilst out and about. Copy and paste will be brilliant in iPhone OS 3.0 - but I think having MMS is a beat up by the phone companies. They charge per MMS when email can do everything much better and for free.

Apple’s iPhone App Refund Policies Unfair to Developers

If you buy an app which is a rip off or just doesn't work - surely the best way is to ask for a refund and Apple should be able to be reimbursed for its marketing costs. All publishers have an amount they need to run their store.. online or physical.
It shows developers the seriousness of selling an app.

Weight Watchers International: Time for the Company to Go on a Debt Diet?

Weightwatchers on line will be seen as a con.. Who will pay $24.95 a month for this "service" without the being able to attend meetings or $60 per month for "Unlimited" online and meetings - when you can get an easy to use application on the iPhone iShape for just total 99 cents. The trouble is community members think Weightwatchers is a benevolent community organisation when really it is owned by a small number of people (ie Artel Group) who are creaming off the profits.. This company will go down the gurgler soon..

Apple SEC Investigation: Rotten to Core

The SEC has neglected so many of its duties and then they paperchase after someone who is sick... The SEC are the ones who are really sick.. Maybe they should investigate themselves.. BTW - Those who are lucky enough to have and hold shares and are voting at the AGM - take the opportunity to wish Steve Jobs good health and a speedy return to his office. If voting on line you can "add a comment" and I think it would be really great for him to hear from as many shareholders as possible just how much we appreciate him and his vision.