Dan Poarch

Apple Confirms: No Online iPhone 3G Sales, In-Store Activation Only

Unlocking was to work around the fact that the iPhone wasn't available in other countries, to use it as a wi-fi iPod, and to use it on other carriers. Most of these issues have been resolved, with the exception of using it on another carrier. I see nothing wrong with Apple/ATT making you pay them through the nose to use their device in a manner that they don't intend or support.

Not being able to buy the phone online is definitely a PIA. I doubt there's any primary interest in a halo effect, I think this partially ATT trying to get Apple traffic into their stores, with the other intention being an anti-unlocking maneuver. Hope ATT has hired a whole new retail staff... Because their store attendants are idiots at best.

Blockbuster CEO: I Wanna Be Like Apple

Circuit City did bring us the DIVX format... Not sure what else B-buster and Circuit City can do to face the tide. Perhaps they actually see this merger as necessary to be acquired by someone who really could push content, Microsoft maybe? Perhaps he wanted to attract Steve Jobs' attention with his cute little comment? I don't know... But do know that nobody will want these two until they get down to firesale prices, assuming that's their plan.

Apple Facing Serious Downside Risk - Morgan Keegan

Regardless of Morgen Keegan's reputation, none of the things mentioned here are bad news for just Apple, they are bad news for the whole industry. Apple still remains one of the very few growing companies in the sector, thus, AAPL would still be the place to put your money... No?

Buzz on the Second Coming of the iPhone

I wouldn't expect a terribly new iPhone. New battery, new screen, new camera, and 3G are all likely, but I'm doubting we'll see much more than that on this revision. Remember that the brilliance of the iPhone is in the software and the incredible hardware. It doesn't need much more in the way of gadgets, but it does need faster remote internet [3G].

Why do people persist in asking a camera in their phone? Does your car make coffee, even though you drink a lot of coffee in your car? No. Confusing a phone with a camera kills the phone. I for one am glad that Apple keeps the camera function tame. It's a gadgety distraction from making a good phone. Not saying I wouldn't enjoy 5MP and a flash, but I'd rather have all of the other features are top-notch first.

GPS? I do think that would be a great addition. Though, that may be another diversion from making a great phone, especially if it affects the form factor, battery life, etc.

The iPhone Is Ready For Business - Gartner

I love it... "iPhone, which previously had been stymied by a lack of basic business security and application functionality"

I'd say the same for Exchange server and Windows... ; )

Research in Motion: Unlike Apple, No Slowdown in Subscriber Growth

Todd never has data to support his speculation.

Maybe the Blackberry is the new RAZR? Look at Google statistics for web traffic and you see the iPhone blowing out any other device. So maybe everyone is getting Blackberries because they can afford them, not because they really want a full-featured web browser. There is a market for both.

Besides, no one has proven that Apple's cutbacks aren't correct. What if 6 months from now Blackberry is sitting on millions of items in inventory and Apple is on target?

MacBook Air: In a Word, Impressive

I'm at Macworld so let me clarify a few things:
- NO ONE WAS GROANING. I didn't hear one complaint about the keynote except for the fact that most of us couldn't get in because of a raft of VIPs. Again, I didn't hear one complaint.
- I used the Air and it's every bit as zippy as MacBook Pro on normal tasks. And yes, I was using the low-end version.
- Ethernet is supplied by a USB adapter, I would agree that wireless is unpredictable, but I wouldn't agree that it's unreliable. Once you find a connect, you're typically fine.
- You buy the battery, Apple covers the labor for replacement. So it's the same cost as buying a battery otherwise, you just have Apple do the work.
- Are you implying that Apple's behind on solid state drives? Apple's had a working modern OS for almost ten years. Does Dell?

This is not a laptop for everyone, but it will be fantastic for the people that want it. It's fast, light, great battery life, and it's a Mac. These will be selling like hot cakes come December.

Best Buy to Double Apple Presence in Stores

Can't say enough times that a recession is good news for Apple. Apple provides value, which is important in times of belt tightening. Cheap PCs are cheap PCs and a consumer knows that.

Forrester's 10 Reasons Why iPhone Is Not Ready for Enterprise Use

None of these are truly overwhelming for a lot of enterprise users. From my experience, all of the points they mention are thinly supported features that a lot of companies never use. I've never seen a mobile get wiped remotely or use encrypted file protections. I'm sure these things get used, but I can't see them as common.

Price? I just don't see it. It's clearly holds value. We already know that it's worth 1.5x its current price. I doubt anyone is commodity shopping if they are really interested in bringing an iPhone into the Enterprise. Sure, the price will keep it out of a certain amount of shops, but Apple might not ever win those shops, nor should it.

3G: Myth. It's not the cure all that everyone wants. I have a 3G phone and unless you're in the middle of a large city it ain't there.

AT&T: You got me there. It's getting better, but it's still a lackluster network.

Larry: Good to see you coming around on AAPL. ; )

Eight Predictions for MacWorld 2008

Your friend might confusing a revised Mac Mini with a completely new AppleTV device with a DVD player.

iPhone Browsing Market Share Shows Importance of Usability

Agreed. NM, you miss the point. SAP picked the better web platform, not the larger installed base. Basing their decision making on where the experience is better, to better enhance their own product. A smart decision, time will tell how wise.

Apple Joins Microsoft in Fear Factor; Look to Lenovo

Ill conceived post. Anyone living in fear of iTunes or an iPhone shouldn't be around technology at all.

AT&T CEO Promises 3G iPhone Soon - Will it Freeze Demand?

Look, the iPhone is so good that most people live happily knowing that is EDGE is all that's wrong with it that it's not the end of the world. As well, every iPhone owner I know plans to upgrade their iPhone the moment a 3G iPhone drops. That's $800-$1000 in one year's time, on a cell phone. Sounds crazy right? But that's how much people love the iPhone.

There's a lot of expensive tech out there that just doesn't deliver. People love the iPhone because it delivers.

Slowly. Over. The. ... ED---GE. Network.

A Look Back at Zune - From the Future

Nice try, but Apple has never been pathetic. Even at it's worst, it's always been a strong player, just not very wise with marketing and controlling their target markets. They lost market share because of corporate IT purchasing and consumers buying computers because they were cheap. When a computer isn't the center of your life, you will spend as little money as possible on it. When computers become your everyday, you're more willing to spend money on a reliable system that brings value into your life.

Apple has never been the number one player, and probably won't be. You see, 6% market share is their strength. Whereas with Microsoft, the top player in the PC OS market should be able to do better than 6% in a sub-market like MP3 players.

In 2010, there will be a Zune after market in paperweights.

Google's Open Source Targets Windows Mobile and RIMM, Not Apple

Google announced everything and nothing today. This will go down as one of the most misunderstood announcements in recent history, at least in the tech sector. What they announced is huge, but it's huge for the $100 handset market, not the hi-end market. As well, it will play out to mimic the platform wars of the 80's in one entirely ugly way: Google has no control over the hardware, and will be asking a disparate group of developers to conform to broad standards [read: incompatibility]. Thus Apple's target market of people seeking a finely tuned hardware/software combination is completely untouched.

Once again, doubting Apple here won't work out for you. iPhones will continue to grow in the consumer market, Macs will continue to outpace PCs in sales growth, and Apple will continue to provide innovative tools for the consumer to experience the benefits of technology in their everyday lives. Who in the gPhoneosphere has the ability, history, cash, or brand leverage to promise the same?

I have all the respect in the world for Google and their aims with this phone platform, but this announcement means total market confusion for the next two years.