WebObjects sliced from 10.6—but prognosis of death premature

Apple will no longer include a default WebObjects deployment in the upcoming Mac OS X 10.6 Server, even though it has been included by default since 10.4 launched over four years ago. However, developers argue that it's actually a good thing for the Java-based Web application framework—not a death knell.

WebObjects is a Cocoa-like framework for building Web applications deployed using Java, originally developed by NeXT in the mid-90s. Apple inherited the technology when it bought NeXT in 1997, and originally sold licenses for a whopping $50,000—though it later dropped the price to $699 with the release of Mac OS X. Ever since Tiger, it has synced new releases of the WebObjects frameworks with OS releases and new versions of the Xcode development tools, and also included a default deployment of the frameworks and necessary server infrastructure on server versions of Mac OS X.

Though nothing official has yet been announced, AppleInsider cites inside sources that say Apple is dropping "deployment support" in Snow Leopard. Apple isn't dropping support so much as decoupling WebObjects from OS releases and Xcode, though. "This is a good thing, as it frees the WebObjects release cycle from Apple's marketing cycle," Chuck Hill, VP of Development for Global Village Consulting, told Ars.

"It also means that server updates will no longer step on WebObjects deployment installations that often vary from what is the latest [Mac OS X] server version," he explained. "Thus using the Software Update function will be much safer," for those deploying on Mac OS X Server.

Further, Mac OS X Server isn't the only deployment environment for WebObjects, since any server capable of serving Java (pretty much all of them) can be used for serving WebObjects applications. "Most of us deploy on OS X, but a good number of developers also deploy on Windows or Linux," said Pascal Robert, owner of the Montreal-based MacTI and member of the WebObjects Community Association Steering Committee.

"Right now, [developers] have to wait for new releases of Xcode and OS X Server to get updates for WebObjects," Robert told Ars. "And let's just say that Xcode releases are not done too often."

Apple itself heavily relies on WebObjects to run its online Apple Store as well as the iTunes Store, the App Store, and its Apple Developers Connection website. It was used to build .Mac, though its replacement, MobileMe, is built heavily on the SproutCore Web application framework. WebObjects still handles authentication for signing in to MobileMe, or anywhere else on Apple's website that relies on your AppleID.

Outside of Apple, though, WebObjects is used for a few high-profile websites, such as Toyota Canada, the Philadelphia Bar Association, and LiveScribe's online store. The reason the framework doesn't get much attention outside of the developer community, though, is that it is used mainly for internal enterprise applications. "I would say 90 percent of usage is for internal apps," said Robert, who conducts an annual survey of WebObjects developers.

"The main problem that WebObjects faces today is the lack of new developers learning WebObjects," Hill told Ars. Though he co-authored a book on intermediate WebObjects development concepts, Hill noted with irony that he is too busy with client projects to finish a book he started writing for beginners.

The recently announced WOWODC East conference is one attempt by the WebObjects Community Association to address this issue. The WOrldwide WebObjects Developers Conference has coincided with WWDC in San Francisco the last couple of years, but the new WOWODC East—happening in Montreal in August—has a track geared specifically towards those new to WebObjects.
Apple's decision to drop a default install of WebOjects is not a sign that the technology is going away, even with its adoption of SproutCore for MobileMe or the popularity of other Web app frameworks like Cappuccino, Django, or Ruby on Rails. "WebObjects is not dying inside or outside of Apple," insisted Hill.
"Apple is actively recruiting new WO developers and hiring Java developers and training them in WebObjects. And my company remains focused on WebObjects development and deployment." Ultimately, Apple's decision to remove the ties between WebObjects on Mac OS X should lead to more frequent updates of the frameworks, and wider deployments on Linux and other platforms.



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Mac Quicken '09 still missing in action

All references to Quicken for the Mac 2009 have disappeared from Intuit's website, leaving users wondering when—if ever—the software will launch. The software, meant to be a "complete rewrite" of Quicken for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, was showcased at the Macworld Expo 2008 and originally expected to ship that year. However, after at least one delay, the software now appears to be MIA more than a year and a half after it was introduced.

Intuit first showed off its plans for Quicken Financial Life for Mac (the then working title) in January of 2008, hailing it as a complete rewrite of Quicken 2007 for Mac with new and better features. Users could track their cash flow, download info from banks, track taxes, and even create budgets, and was expected to launch as a beta by the fall of 2008. In September, however, Intuit said that the software had "required significant engineering and quality testing" and the company needed "some extra time to get it right." The ship date was moved to the winter of 2008.

Well, unless you live in another hemisphere, winter has come and gone. We are now in the throes of Summer 2009, and it appears as if Intuit has decided to celebrate the arrival of warm weather by removing all references to Quicken for Mac 2009 (which were previously found all over the company's website). This seems like a curious move for a company that has spent "significant" resources on developing its software.

The popular view here at the Orbiting HQ was that Intuit has decided to scrap the desktop version of Quicken in favor of its web client. This theory is compounded by the fact that Microsoft discontinued its desktop money management software, Microsoft Money, mere days ago. Microsoft's excuse was that banks and other websites now provide "a range of options for managing personal finances" and that consumer demand for Money was no longer at the level it once was. Assuming this is true, then the same likely applies to Quicken.

Before ringing alarm bells, however, we attempted to get an answer from Intuit on the issue. Intuit spokesperson Chelsea Marti reassured us that Quicken for Mac was "still in progress," and that the company was painstakingly listening to feedback from its "passionate" beta testers.

"As a result, getting a finalized Quicken for Mac product on the shelves is taking a bit longer, but rest assured, we're hard at work applying that feedback and getting it ready for prime time," Marti told us. "Quicken's perspective is that taking a bit more time than anticipated is a worthy trade-off for a great product our customers told us they wanted to see a certain way."

This still does not explain Quicken's mysterious disappearance from Intuit's website—a change that we remain suspicious of—but the company insists that the software is still in development and has not been scrapped. In the meantime, no new ship date was given, so if you're a Quicken fan, you'd better sit back and get ready for the long haul.


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More evidence supports earlier iPod camera rumors

New evidence has turned up recently that supports the notion that Apple will add camera functionality to the iPod touch in the near future, possibly even the iPod nano. Given the sources of the evidence, though—which include some Chinese case designs and a rumor from TechCrunch—it still remains merely plausible conjecture. 

MacRumors has dug up several references to case designs for both an iPod touch and iPod nano that have cutouts where a camera lens could be expected. Case designs helped to out the iPhone 3G and the fourth-gen iPod nano before official announcements from Apple, but the mere existence of a case design hasn't made the oft-rumored "iPhone nano" magically appear. We think this evidence alone isn't convincing.

Independently, TechCrunch is reporting on a source in Asia that said that Apple has placed a huge order for camera modules—an order so huge that it can't be just for producing new iPhones. In fact, the order is so huge that it might lend credence to rumors that Apple will also add a camera to the iPod nano. "Everything but the Shuffle may have a camera in it soon," this unnamed source told TechCrunch.

Taken together with previous rumors, it certainly makes the idea seem plausible. Even the camera module's low cost—rumored to be about $10—makes it seem like adding a camera to iPods is a foregone conclusion. But the module's price alone doesn't account for all the necessary changes needed to add support for a camera. The iPod nano, in particular, would need additional retooling for the case and extra software to handle its operation.

The iPod touch seems the most logical place to add camera functionality. Software support already exists in iPhone OS 3.0, and a new iPod touch will most certainly be based on the new iPhone 3GS hardware. However, there's still nearly a $400 difference in price between a 16GB iPhone 3GS and a 16GB iPod touch—I sincerely doubt that a camera, GPS chip, and cell radio can account for all the difference in price. Adding a camera or other hardware could result in a significant price increase.

You can count us among the hopeful that Apple will add a camera to the iPod touch—it would certainly add more unity to Apple's mobile platform. You can also count us among the ambivalent about adding a camera to the iPod nano—it just seems to add needless complexity to the svelte device. But count us out of the group of folks that are convinced that all this camera talk is a sure thing.

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Thousands crowd iPhone launch in Singapore

Steve Jobs is not the only one who knows a thing or two about event marketing. Check out Damian Koh’s photos of the launch of the new iPhone 3GS in Singapore Friday night.

By 8 p.m., according to SingTel, Apple’s (AAPL) exclusive local carrier, between 1,500 and 2,000 eager customers had gathered outside company headquarters for the festivities, with many more expected over next two days.

“On average,” executive vice president Yuen Kuan Moon told Channel NewsAsia, “a customer during the peak period will queue between anywhere for three to four hours.”

 

Some people waited a lot longer than that. Jackson Low, 29, a medical test subject recruiter, was second in line for the iPhone 3G last year. Just to be sure, he arrived 11 hours early this year and was both first in line and first to walk out of SingTel headquarters with a new iPhone 3GS. (See photo, left.)
To help build excitement — and swell the crowd — SingTel staged fireworks and a confetti drop worthy of a Republican National Convention. Waiting customers were ushered through three “experience zones” to keep them entertained.

 

But the biggest draw — besides the iPhone itself — may have been the presence of television actress Felicia Chin (right) one of Singapore’s top 10 most popular “female artistes” for three years, according to Star Awards, and winner of two of 2008’s top 8 most likeable female characters (Lin Fei in The Golden Path and Tao Haitong in Love Blossoms).

Koh caught Chin in a quiet moment with a new iPhone 3GS for which we suspect she didn’t have to wait in line. Or, for that matter, pay for.
Thanks to iPhone Asia’s Dan Butterfield for the tip.

Photos courtesy of Damian Koh.

UPDATE: It turns out the photos don’t quite do justice to the magnitude of the event. For a video shot by one of the first customers in line, see 3GS insanity in Singapore.


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Learn to save lives with useful iPhone app

You're obviously incredibly fortunate if you are helped in a life-or-death situation, but being on the giving end of such emergencies is very satisfying, too. Now, with Pocket First Aid & CPR, you can make sure to be ready the next time you are called upon to save someone.

(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)

 

Pocket First Aid & CPR was created by the American Heart Association in collaboration with Jive Media.

It's is a 65MB application (so make sure you install it via iTunes or a Wi-Fi connection) that features hundreds of pages of text and illustrations, with topics ranging from CPR and choking to bites, bruises, burns, seizures, and diabetic emergencies.

The app also features detailed and high-quality video demonstrations showing how to respond in critical first-aid situations. These include instructions for taking care of someone who is choking, giving CPR, responding to seizures, and treating cuts and wounds.

I personally like the section about choking and breathing problems, as those are common emergencies that require immediate assistance.

It's important to note that the application is not designed to be used in an emergency, but rather is something for you to study during idle time. Unlike the Human Atlas app that requires an active Internet connection to use, Pocket First Aid & CPR works completely offline, thus making it a useful time-killer during a long flight.

The app also comes with a section in which you can enter personal medical information, such as emergency contacts, allergies, current medications, and insurance information, for quick access in an emergency. The information is stored on your individual phone only and is deleted if the application is removed from the phone.

Pocket First Aid & CPR works with iPhones and iPod Touches and is available at Apple's App Store for $3.99. That price will be entirely justified the first time you are able to take the lessons in this app and successfully apply them. Saving a life: priceless.


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Create photo presentations and race 4x4s off road: iPhone apps of the week

Last week I mentioned how long it took to sync my iPhone to iTunes and it seems I'm not alone. I think almost all Mac users reported that syncing only took a few minutes, but a lot of Windows users (with some exceptions) were having the same experience as me. Is Windows doing something to muck up the process or is syncing different across platforms? Hopefully, this is something Apple will look into in future updates.

Following your advice, and the advice of other iPhone forums, I restored my iPhone and then used my latest backup to get my information back. Unfortunately, I lost almost all of my apps...it seems Transfer Purchases to iTunes doesn't mean what I think it means. While I redownload all of my favorite apps check out this week's picks.

This week's iPhone apps include a program that lets you create unique presentations with your images and a free-form off-road racer that's surprisingly fun.

Follow the onscreen instructions to create pan and zoom presentations (Ken Burns style)

(Credit: CNET)

 

Pix Remix ($2.99) lets you take photos with your iPhone camera and present them in three unique ways. You can create a slideshow, a collage, or a slow pan/zoom type of thing (Ken Burns style) which you can then share with your friends via e-mail or post to Facebook or Twitter. Pix Remix is very easy to use, with a fairly straightforward interface, and also gives you onscreen instructions to create each type of presentation.

To start, just pick which type of "show" you want to create. The slideshow is pretty straightforward--just pick all the pictures you want to include, add captions, reorder as desired, and you're done. With the collage option you can pick whatever images you want, and then you're given the opportunity to drag and arrange them how you want on screen. The pan and zoom option might be the most dramatic because you can write captions for each stage, turning one image into a complete story. Pix Remix also utilizes iPhone specific features letting you shake your iPhone to rearrange photos and plenty of touch screen interaction with the interface. If you want a new way to send your images to friends or post on the Web, this app is a fun and unique choice.

Use any path necessary to get to the gates before your opponents do

(Credit: CNET)

 

4x4 Jam ($3.99) is an off-road racer that lets you drive wherever you want--an ongoing and changing landscape continues in every direction. Steer by turning your iPhone left and right and you have several options for control sets depending on how much control (over gas and brakes) you want. You can choose between a VW bug-like off-road racer or a 4x4 truck, with four skin options for each. You can participate in a couple of different race types with computer controlled players including an Off Road Race (try to beat your opponents to each gate) or a Jam (collect points by passing through more gates than your opponents. Sadly there is no career mode, so there is little to keep you interested if you don't like the race types offered. But there are three difficulty levels to keep things somewhat interesting.

The first thing I noticed apart from the free form racing was the well implemented physics. As you make turns you really notice the centrifugal force and stopping to turn on a dime is pretty much impossible. This only adds to the fun as you and your opponents jockey for position and you even have opportunities to force them away from gates to get an advantage. Overall, 4x4 Jam is an excellent concept with fun and challenging racing action, but the lack of a career mode might be enough of a reason to wait for future updates before spending the money.

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Apple iPhone 3GS vs. Palm Pre: In Real Life

My Palm Pre dialed 911 without my knowing it. "How did you find out," you ask? The dispatcher called me back to make sure I was all right. You don't see that in many product reviews, do you?

Well, forget about being first--I'm perfectly happy to write the last few words on the iPhone 3GS and the Palm Pre. I spent two weeks with each, using them as a normal human would--not as a reviewer sprinting to get first-posting bragging rights would. Which smartphone is really better (for me, anyway)? I'll tell you. But first, let me explain where I'm coming from.

By the day the Palm Pre launched, I counted no fewer than four reviews already up. Same story when Apple released the 3GS a couple of weeks later. We poor editorial saps maybe clock a few hours--one or two days, if we're lucky--using each phone at a breakneck pace before penning reviews. And you know what? I'm guilty of that with laptops.

That's the curse of journalism in this instant-gratification, feed-the-beast, Internutty world in which we live. People want a review yesterday! Well, Internet, today I'm pushing back. I needed a new smartphone, and I couldn't decide between the Pre and the iPhone. Reviews from the usual suspects (you always read our cell phone reviews, right?) hit all the major features--but in some cases, focused on finding new and exciting ways to be snarky. (Hint number one: If you're slicing cheese with a phone or slathering BBQ sauce all over a phone, you're not coming to my next party!)

So I put my money on the line and loaded up my dork holster with an iPhone 3GS and a Palm Pre (Nokia's N97 and the Android-loving G1 were not options, sorry). My plan: Spend a full two weeks using both phones simultaneously. The winner brandishes my personal number and stays in my pocket (if you call that winning). The other gets put on hold. The following are some of the knuckleheaded notes and observations that I made to myself--and on Twitter--in stream-of-consciousness order.

"Nerd rage: Double-fisting the Pre and 3GS ( http://twitpic.com/7u0zz )."
Outside the Apple store, my adventure began. Surprisingly, I didn't get mugged by the long line of folks waiting for the 3GS.

"It's nice to have a real, physical keyboard again. Didn't realize how much I missed it. (Sorry, 3GS.)" 

The Pre's keyboard is one of the biggest things in Palm's favor right now. The 3GS's speed makes typing on the screen a whole lot quicker and easier than it has been on past iPhones, but my thumbs need more physical feedback.

Here's what really surprised me: I'm always complaining about how I hate small laptop keyboards, which would make the Pre's tiny pad seem like a prime hate target--but there I was, banging out texts and e-mail a whole lot faster than I could on screen with an iPhone. It took me a couple days to get used to daintily using the pad of my thumbs, but it worked. And I have goony sausage stumps for fingers.

While I'm on the subject, I found a bunch of neat little shortcuts for the Pre to keep your digits dancing.

"The 'S' is for speed? Try 'spensive!"

Have you looked at the data rates for AT&T's iPhone lately? It would cost me $50 for unlimited texting and data alone. And that's assuming I don't make any actual phone calls on my phone. Total max cost: $150 a month. Sprint's Pre plan--including voice and data--tops out at $100.

But since we're talking speeds, yes, the 3GS is faster than the Pre. The most painful example was when I tried to get some unoptimized Web sites to load on the Pre. (I typed 'www.msn.com' into both, and the iPhone popped up the mobile page. The Pre, on the other hand, opened the full MSN home page, a few seconds later.) The second biggest slowdown occurred when I tried opening the Pre's calendar. Was it because the Pre was looking to the WebOS cloud for my Google info syncing? Whatever the case, I needed to make an appointment just to see my appointments.

The iPhone booted my beefy 1500-plus-person contact list a second quicker than the Pre. Not a huge difference. Then came the Google Maps test (since both have an app for it), in which it loaded 2 seconds faster on the 3GS during my few on-the-street trials. I guess that's good if I'm sprinting down the street in a hurry, but that leads me to another point...

"Well I'll be--the 3GS compass feature is handy. Now I can get dropped off in SF's Hunter's Point and see if I can find my way out. Alive." 



At first I thought that the 3GS compass was incredibly goofy--and it is--but when I got all turned around looking for a train station recently, it was a huge help. I opened Google Maps and then clicked the locate button in the corner for the map to reorient to the way I was facing. Only problem: The iPhone kept thinking I was a couple blocks from where I was actually standing (not so helpful). That wasn't a one-off problem at a single location, either. Meanwhile, the Palm Pre consistently located me within a half-block of where I was--in other words, it may be slower, but at least it's accurate. Guess it's a good thing I didn't try that little Hunter's Point experiment, after all.

"I'm digging Amazon MP3 integration on the Pre."

No way around it: If you're using a phone for tunage, the iPhone just sounds better. Whether it's the ear-blasting volume or the ability to set a simple equalizer, it beats the Pre's basic functions. Still, as much as I love the iPhone's iPod heritage, I hate the DRM lockdown on these things. It's authorized to plug into only certain computers. You need a written permission slip from the RIAA if you want to transfer songs. I want full control over my music. If I download a paid-for song onto my phone, I want to be able to transfer it wherever I please, with no strings attached. I want to plug the phone into any PC and grab my files.

Thanks to the Amazon.com hookup on the Pre, I can do that. The Pre reads as a hard drive--no jailbreaking required. (Okay, sticklers, I know that iPhone users can download WiFi HD Free as a workaround, but I'm still gonna run into the same music-extraction issues.) Now if only Palm could do something about the measly 8GB of storage space--would a MicroSD card slot have killed you guys?

Oh, and for all the multimedia fiends who need to take their video to go, check out the Leawo Free MP4 Converter for creating watchable, iPod-friendly or Pre-friendly videos. The default (and only) setting is perfect, considering its free status.

"Am I the only one annoyed by the Pre's USB port?"

Because the Pre has moving parts, a replaceable battery, and a flap to open, it feels flimsier than the unibody iPhone. Oh, and a note to Palm: Real smart move putting the data (and charging) port on the side underneath a dangling plastic cap. Like that's not going to be the first thing to get accidentally ripped out when someone's using it.

"Here's what matters: Which screen makes my face sweat less?"

Walking around outdoors, I found the Pre's screen a little easier to make out, while with the iPhone I occasionally had to slip into a shadowy doorway. Indoors, though, it was a little harder to decide. Obviously the iPhone's screen is bigger and pretty crisp--but the tightly packed pixels on the Pre's small screen are pretty appealing. Side by side, YouTube video playback loaded a hair faster and looked a little better to me on the Pre.

What I didn't like about the Pre is that it gave me face sweats. You might know what I'm talking about: You hold a phone next to your noggin for too long, and it can get uncomfortably damp. It was a hot day, the phone heated up--whatever--my Pre was forming puddles. Thanks to its new coating, the iPhone 3GS wasn't nearly as gooey after extended gab sessions. Then again, maybe I should just invest in a Bluetooth headset.

"Who needs apps when I've got NASCAR?!?"

If the Pre had come out earlier, this call would be a lot closer. After all, the iPhone's App Store is only a year old and here we are, a bajillion apps later, with the Pre lagging behind in sheer quantity. You know, like an iFart app. I will give Palm this: It is coming out of the gate with a few incredibly handy little programs already. It has a couple Twitter apps (they need better ones), LinkedIn, movie information, flight tracking, Pandora, eBooks, AP News. And here's where I'm loving the Pre--try listening to Pandora while using a Twitter app. And surfing the Web. You get the idea.

But then there's the NASCAR app permanently burned into the Pre. Really? Thanks, Sprint, you not only stick me with this dopey bloatware, but you also won't let me remove it? It may be time for me to do things the hard way. I'm ready to run the risk of bricking my phone just to ditch this app. If you're feeling equally foolhardy, follow the steps at the Pre Dev Wiki.

"I like how the 3GS's cut and paste is a 'feature' as opposed to what should've been there all along."

I've always complained that the iPhone's lack of cut and paste was a dealbreaker. Thanks for killing one of my main arguments, Apple.

"I took the Pre off its charger 2 hours ago. I haven't done anything crazy with it yet the battery is now at 80 percent. Is that normal?"

I always knew that the iPhone burned through juice, but I was surprised to see how quickly the Pre crapped out. Halfway through my day, and I had less than 50 percent power. It's not as if I hammered the Web with the thing. I did the occasional e-mail, read the news on the bus, and listened to some music. That's when it dawned on me: The Pre has a GPS feature. 'Improves accuracy but can impact battery life,' says the label by the toggle. Understatement of the year! Turning off GPS bought me a full day's worth of normal use. (And, by the way, with the GPS off, the Pre was still more accurate than the iPhone's locator.)


 
"When smartphones get too smart: Apparently, my Pre dialed 911 without my knowing. 911 then called me back. They know something I don't?"

I wasn't joking when I mentioned this at the beginning. Let me explain it a little better, though. I always PIN-lock my cell phones. When you do that, the phone offers a quick-dial button for emergencies. In the case of the panicky Pre, you're potentially just two button clicks away from calling 911. As I did. It was late at night, and an alarm was going off. In my sleep, I tried slapping my phone to turn it off. What I didn't realize is that my motions had hit the Emergency Call button and then grazed the call button. A couple of seconds later, the 911 dispatcher was hearing my snores. Or maybe the Pre was worried I'd go with the 3GS, and the Pre decided to call for help.

(The iPhone requires you to physically type 911. Emergency dispatchers all over can breathe a sigh of relief.)

"Caught in NYC storm & some drops got in my dork holster/phone pocket. 3GS shook it off, but the Pre...ruh-roh. Praying 2 tech gods now."

You've probably heard a lot of electronics wives' tales about what to do when your devices get soaked. While I was on the road, buckets of rain dropped and doused my phones--I was screwed, right? Actually, no--you just need to act quickly and intelligently.

I ducked into a drug store and bought Ziploc bags and a small box of dry rice. What kind of goofy MacGyver trick was this? Well, dry rice absorbs moisture. So I found a dry spot, turned off the phones, dabbed both to clean the spills off the surfaces, and put each one in a bag with some rice. I was back in business with two working phones a little later that day.

"Voice control? I don't need no stinkin' voice control..."

Congrats, Apple, on adding a neato feature that can cut through my faux Lawnguyland accent and thick Brooklynese. But honestly, how many people actually use voice-command features? Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't mind the extra 2 seconds to sift through my music manually.

And the Winner Is...

Okay, so Apple's iPhone 3GS is faster and more refined, has more apps and games, functions better as an MP3 player, and apparently walks on water. So of course that means I'm going with...the Pre? Yep, I'm stubbornly sticking with the Pre, for a handful of reasons. First, I like the physical keyboard. Second, I need my phone to plug into any PC and read as a normal hard drive so that I can drag and drop anything I want (even though it has only a lousy 8GB). Third, AT&T's monthly rates would kill me.

Don't think I'm ditching the dork holster just yet, though. I'm actually considering getting an iPod Touch just for the apps (Rolando 2!). Besides, that holster makes me look like a nebbishy Starsky (or) Hutch.


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T-Mobile Looks To Android In Battle With iPhone

The carrier has an early lead with its G1 and forthcoming myTouch 3G Android handsets and will take a stronger role in developing and preloading applications on its mobile devices. 

 

By Marin Perez
 
InformationWeek

July 10, 2009 04:50 PM

(click image for larger view)

T-Mobile's myTouch 3G

T-Mobile will look to the Google (NSDQ: GOOG)-backed Android platform to help it draw new subscribers and deflect attention away from devices like the iPhone, according to the company's CTO.

During a press event in San Francisco Friday, CTO Cole Brodman said the company will go "deeper, further, and faster" with the mobile operating system in order to stand out from the competition. In particular, Brodman sees the development environment and the Android Market as compelling factors that can help the fourth-largest U.S. carrier draw in new customers.

 

While T-Mobile has run a mobile content store for about eight years, Brodman said the carrier is taking a massively different approach to mobile apps. He concedes the cellular operator may have been an impediment to development in the past due to certification requirements and revenue-sharing agreements, but the company is working on being more open and leveraging partnerships with developers and companies such as Google.
"As a carrier, it's tough to be a differentiator in the mobile world," said Brodman. "Our biggest challenge is looking at the app world differently and seeing how it can scale."

While it has an early lead with the G1 and the upcoming myTouch 3G, T-Mobile won't be the only carrier with Android-powered devices.
Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) is a member of the Open Handset Alliance and is waiting for the platform to become "good enough" before it releases a device. Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless has said publicly it will have a smartphone with the Linux-based OS, and AT&T (NYSE: T) is also expected to eventually market an Android device.

Brodman said the carrier will play a stronger role in developing and preloading applications for its devices in order to differentiate itself. The myTouch 3G is an example of this strategy, as the touch-screen smartphone will come with the Sherpa app, which uses location information to provide subscribers with nearby banks, restaurants, movie theaters, and other venues with a few clicks.
The carrier has also seen success with its My Account Android app that helps customers pay their bills and manage minutes, and Brodman sees vast potential for future apps that provide stronger social-networking integration with the company's myFaves feature.

Much of the attention in the smartphone and mobile application world is focused on Apple's iPhone and the App Store. The touch-screen smartphone continues to sell millions of units, and the App Store is an attractive place for developers because they can potentially reach 40 million users who have downloaded over one billion programs in its first year.

"In the end, it's a numbers game, and history has shown that a single product has limitations on how much it can scale," said Andy Rubin, Google's director of mobile platforms, about the iPhone.

Android is still young, and it will continue to improve with its biannual software updates, Rubin said. While rival Research In Motion (NSDQ: RIMM)'s BlackBerry is known for mobile e-mail, and the iPhone is widely seen as the best mobile entertainment device, Rubin is not concerned that Android has yet to carve out a "killer app."

"I believe the killer app is important for market entry, but I look back at the Internet and think: What is the killer app on the Internet?" said Rubin. "The idea [of Android] is to enable thousands of killer apps."

The search giant is also working on broadening the ways customers can purchase apps from the Android Market, Rubin said. Users currently have to use Google Checkout to buy apps, but Rubin said the company is working on ways for carriers to use different payment systems with its over-the-air app store, and this is expected to include PayPal, credit cards, and carrier billing.


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America Movil To Launch IPhone 3GS In Six Nations By End Of July

MEXICO CITY (Dow Jones)--America Movil SAB (AMX), Latin America's largest mobile operator, said Friday it will launch Apple Inc.'s (APPL) iPhone 3GS in six countries in the region at the end of the month. 

In a press release, the company said starting July 31 the iPhone 3GS will be available in Mexico, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic. 

America Movil said the iPhone 3GS will be made available in the rest of the region at a later date. 

The Mexican wireless carrier launched an older version of the popular handset, the iPhone 3G, in July of last year. 

America Movil, which is controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, had 186.6 million wireless clients in 17 countries in the Americas at the end of March.

-By Ken Parks, Dow Jones Newswires; 52-55-5001-5723, ken.parks@dowjones.com 

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RunKeeper + iPhone: Better than Nike + iPod?

Can I gush? RunKeeper is the coolest freakin' iPhone application ever. OK, maybe not for everyone, but it's definitely the coolest for runners, hikers, bikers, and anyone else interesting in tracking their outdoor activities.

Let me explain. This summer the running bug bit me hard, and I'm now running farther and faster than in years past. Consequently, I've grown interested in determining my pace, distance, total run time, and so on.

My first thought was to get Apple's Nike + iPod, which is reasonable at $29--but incompatible with my iPhone 3G. Plus, I didn't want to have to buy a pair of Nike+ shoes or "hack" the Apple sensor to latch onto my own shoes.

Quite by accident, I discovered RunKeeper Free, which leverages the iPhone's built-in GPS to track duration, distance, pace, speed, and more.

All this happens in real-time as you run, but where it really gets cool is at the end: When you tap Save Run, RunKeeper quickly uploads that data to the eponymous Web site, where you can track all your runs and get very specific information about each (such as how fast you were going at any particular point along the way). You also get to see your exact route on a map. It's really, really cool.

You can, of course, play your music while RunKeeper is running, and the app recently added integration with Facebook and Twitter (for those who like to crow about their runs).

I wasn't sure I wanted to carry my relatively big, bulky iPhone with me when I was accustomed to something Shuffle-size. But it happened to fit just perfectly in an old Zune armband case, and obviously, it's great to have both a phone and a GPS with me in case of emergency.

I'm using ad-supported RunKeeper free, which suits me fine. There's a $9.99 Pro version that offers audio cues and support for custom workouts (based on time, distance, and so on)--closer to what you get from Nike+iPod.

If you're a runner, I can't recommend this application highly enough. 

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iPhone 3.0 users report Wi-Fi connectivity issues

Ever since upgrading to iPhone OS 3.0 on both my first generation iPhone and my brother’s current generation iPod touch, I’d been experiencing flaky Wi-Fi connectivity on both devices. I didn’t think much about it at first: Wi-Fi coverage has always been an issue in our three-story brick-and-mortar house, so I kept telling myself it was no worse than before.

However, upon reading complaints about Wi-Fi reception on iPhone 3.0 from hundreds of other disgruntled iPhone and iPod touch users on the Apple discussion boards, I cannot ignore it anymore—Wi-Fi coverage has definitely taken a turn for the worse in the Arya household ever since the introduction of iPhone OS 3.0. Through it all, my MacBook has been unaffected by the change and still joins the same Wi-Fi network at the same location in the house without any issues at all.

There are several threads on the Apple discussion boards dedicated to this problem, which seems to be affecting users of all models of the iPhone and iPod touch, and there isn’t any official solution or acknowledgment from Apple yet. It is almost definitely a software issue though, so I expect to see a fix for it in the upcoming iPhone OS 3.1 update (which will likely be free for all iPhone and iPod touch users).

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T-Mobile's strategy to combat Apple's iPhone with Android

To put a bigger dent in Apple's growing command of the US mobile phone market, T-Mobile USA will start to use weapons ranging from hardware diversity to "usability," improved customer service, and new software applications, according to Cole Brodman, CTO for the mobile carrier.

"IPhones are great, but Apple's vision isn't as wide," Brodman contended, during an interview with Betanews at a New York City press event on Thursday.

The HTC myTouch 3G -- the first of three Android phones eyed by T-Mobile for 2009 -- is a more "powerful device for the mobile Internet" than the iPhone, according to the CTO. In contrast to Apple's iPhone, Android devices will become available in a much larger variety of hardware form factors, he added.

China-based HTC, the maker of the myTouch, already produces several other Android phones, including T-Mobile's first entry into the Android space, the G1, plus the Magic and the new Hero, both of which are already distributed by overseas wireless carriers.

In a presentation at the event, Brodman foresaw a plethora of Android-based phones, netbooks, and CE devices from other manufacturers. But in comparison to other US mobile carriers now eyeing devices built on Google's Android platform, T-Mobile enjoys a "first mover advantage," he maintained.

As previously reported, Eric Lin, HTC's online community manager, told Betanews yesterday that HTC expects to deliver the Hero to the US later this year, but through a different provider than T-Mobile.

Among the four major US mobile carriers, that leaves Sprint and Verizon Wireless as the most likely candidates for the Hero, with AT&T Wireless still enmeshed in an exclusive US contract for the iPhone. Sprint, however, recently rolled out the Palm Pre, another competing smartphone.

Yet T-Mobile, at least, seems to see no problem with supporting smartphones built on rival platforms. "We will also continue to sell Windows Mobile phones, of course," Brodman said during the interview.

With the three new Android phones eyed for 2009, T-Mobile will hone in on the consumer space, rather than the corporate market where Microsoft just so happens to focus.

But T-Mobile's devices will also support some "crossover applications," according to Brodman. As an example, he pointed to a client application for Microsoft's own Exchange mail system. T-Mobile is adding the client to the myTouch to let consumers carry out their "work e-mail" from anywhere.

Moreover, to help T-Mobile broaden its reach against Apple and other players on the consumer side, the myTouch will be "less tech-centric" than the earlier G1," and "far more intuitive," according to Brodman. The myTouch will also be "holdable," more along the lines of the feature phones that consumers are already accustomed to toting around with them.

In a presentation at the event, Brodman and Denny Marie Post, T-Mobile USA's chief marketing officer, sketched out some new customer service policies the carrier will institute to boost the comfort levels of new Android phone users. For one thing, T-Mobile will make sure that every phone is working before it leaves the company's doors, the executives vowed. But if an Android phone does turn out to be a lemon, the consumer will be able to exchange it for a replacement directly at the phone store.

T-Mobile's new emphasis on "usability" will extend across Android software. The myTouch is based on the Hero, but it contains new software applications and features devised by T-Mobile. Like HTC's Hero, the myTouch will be user-customizable. In fact, there will be "boundless possibilities as to how to personalize," according to Post.

For its part, the Hero includes a feature called "scenes," which lets users create custom content profiles for "specific functions or times in your life."

But apparently, customization of the myTouch will be simpler, since it will revolve largely around the user's choice of software applications; "backgrounds," or wallpapers; and "skins," or exterior shells. Some of the shells will come with coordinating accessories such as wrist straps and ear buds.

Brodman cited the army of developers working on Google's Android platform as another tool in T-Mobile's arsenal against the iPod. With the launch of the myTouch, T-Mobile announced Sherpa as one new application that will soon land on Google's online Android Market.

With the "search-less search" application from third-party developer Geodelic, consumers won't even need to type anything into the search bar if they want to scope out the local area for restaurants and other points of interest (although a search bar is there as an option).

Users will be able to view the places pinpointed by Sherpa (and the new phone's GPS mechanism) in a choice of three ways: Google maps, a list, and a graphical "carousel," said representatives of Geodelic at a product showcase during the event. Sherpa is designed to not only know where you are, but to learn your preferences. The app also provides restaurant reviews and other linked information.

Also at the showcase, T-Mobile reps displayed the apps, backgrounds and skins that might be chosen by different categories of end users, such as athletes, musicians, and "news hounds," for instance.

To help undecided new Android users determine which apps they want to download from the Android Market, the myTouch will include a new recommendation engine dubbed the App Pack.

T-Mobile started taking pre-orders yesterday from existing customers for the myTouch, a phone priced at $199.99 with a two-year contract. The pre-ordered phones are slated to ship in late July.

To support its new competitive strategy for Android phones, T-Mobile is now devising a new ad campaign, Post said. The new ads will start in August, and the myTouch is scheduled to enter general availability that same month.

Features of T-Mobile's new Android phone include a 3.2-inch HVGA touch-screen display with enhanced video capabilities and a virtual keyboard; a 3.2-megapixel camera; a music player with a pre-installed 4 GB microSD memory card; built-in wireless communications through Wi-Fi and T-Mobile's 3G network; a Microsoft Exchange client; GoogleTalk, MMS, and Microsoft LiveTalk messaging; and one-click access to a number of different online apps, including Google Maps, YouTube, Picasa, and Yahoo.

Apple preps iPhone face recognition

The US Patent and Trademark Office published 33 new Apple patent applications on Thursday, bringing the total filed in July to 55 - and we're not even a third of the way through the month.

Today's cluster of creativity ranged from flexible cabling to scrolling lyrics, but the bulk of the filings described new powers for the ubiquitous iPhone and its little brother, the iPod touch - especially when the 'Pod is equipped with a camera, which it seems destined to be.

Two of the filings are directly camera-related. One focuses on object identification and the other on face recognition. The former is targeted specifically for handhelds, while the latter's reach extends both into your pocket and out to the entire universe of consumer electronics.

The object-identification filing describes a system in which a handheld's camera captures an image of an object either in visual light or infrared, then compares that image with information stored over a network. The network then asks the you what information about that object you'd like to download, then provides it.

The filing also describes the system using an RFID reader rather than a camera, but the detect-compare-download sequence remains the same.

Apple uses a museum visit to illustrate the utility of this technology: You could simply point your iPhone at a work of art and quickly be presented with info about its artist, genre, provenance, and the availability of T-shirts featuring that work in the museum store - which another of Thursday's filings, on online shopping, could help you buy.

Tapping into a handheld's GPS and digital compass could also enable the system to provide location-based resources - the filing suggests a "RESTAURANT mode" to help you find east in Vegas - and to support the captioned landscapes provided by augmented reality that are getting so much press lately.

Claude Monet at his most minimalist, captured and ID-ed by your iPhone

Finally, the filing includes a way for you to capture a log of all the identified objects, complete with downloaded multimedia content for creating a record of your peregrinations. Look for such a media-rich slideshow to appear in some student's "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" school assignment.

The face-recognition filing describes two different system: one that merely checks for a face - any face - and a second that matches what it sees with a database of whom it knows.

The system that doesn't care who you are is merely looking to see if anyone's using it - and if someone is, it won't time out, as would an iPhone, or fire up a screensaver, as would a PC. The system that knows you by your dashing good looks would also be aware of your privileges level, and allow access to its services based on that level.

Apple, as usual in its patent applications, isn't shy about the scope of this technology. It list 37 different devices that could incorporate it, from personal communications devices to vehicle operating systems to automatic teller machines. Then just in case it forgot anything, adds "any like computing device capable of interfacing with a person."

That should just about cover it.

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Apple Cult: The Cult of Unpopular Gadgets?

In the last few weeks numerous technology and mass media web-sites published hundreds of stories about Apple, its products, their availability or their issues. But does that enthusiasm towards the company have any correlation with Apple’s actual market share? It seems that not really.

Apple is a company that has been extensively covered by media, especially in the USA, for many years now without an obvious reason: apart from the iPod, all the products from Apple are hardly used by a lot of people around the globe. But the latest load of rush coverage about Apple on the Internet more resembles hysteria rather than a normal exposure of a popular topic.

The most recent wave of wide-ranging coverage of Apple began with the pending release of the iPhone 3GS: almost all the tech web-sites published rumoured specifications of the device, some were correct, some were wrong. Then, after the 3GS was finally launched and the press released a load of ecstatic articles on the matter despite of the fact that nobody has tried to use the device, the media rejoiced over the return of Steve Jobs, chief exec of Apple, to his position at the company. Virtually all tech and mass media web-sites decided to inform their readers that Mr. Jobs had liver transplant in April and was back in the office on time.

After the state of Mr. Jobs’ health was discussed completely, the press found numerous new topics to talk about: availability of iPhone 3GS, overheating of iPhone and iPod devices, the future of relationship between Apple and Nvidia, demand towards certain Macbook notebooks, the number of applications available for sale in Apple’s store, installation of cameras on next-gen iPod players, unlocking iPhone 3GS (some went as far as advising business users to hack iPhones and use them for business purposes) and numerous other topics.

But does the media coverage correlate to actual usage of Apple’s products? Or is it just a cult inside the heads of a certain group of people? Let’s see the numbers!

Apple Macintosh: 3.33% Global PC Market Share

According to Apple itself, it sold around 9.92 million of Apple Macintosh computers in calendar 2008 across the world. According to IDC market tracking company, worldwide PC shipments totaled 297.24 million units in 2008. Therefore, Apple supplied no more than 3.33% of personal computers last year, definitely not a significant number.

Some may argue that Apple is very popular in the U.S., which is why the enthusiasm towards Macs in the country is so high. Well, if truth be told, Apple was the fourth largest PC vendor in the USA in 2008; but it only had 7.7% market share and is behind Dell (29.5%), HP (24.9%) and Acer (9.1%).

It does not look like the Macintosh systems are truly popular globally. Moreover, they have a number of drawbacks too: notebook batteries that cannot be replaced, rather controversial keyboards, incompatibility with the vast majority of video games, insufficient amount of ports on some Macbook notebooks, inability to configure them in accordance with personal needs before purchase, etc. So, Macs are neither the best, nor the most popular on the market.

Apple iPhone: 1% Global Cell Phone Market Share

Apple iPhone is among the most demanded tech gadgets of our time along with Nintendo Wii and Apple iPod. Nevertheless, its actual popularity seems to be greatly exaggerated. Its actual market share is very low and that points to the fact that iPhone cannot suit everyone, either because of the functionality or because of usability or because of the price.

Apple itself said that it sold 13.675 million of iPhones in 2008. According to Gartner market research firm, Apple’s sold-through figures for the iPhone series were considerably lower: 11.4175 million units.

Total mobile phone sales reached 1.22224 billion units in 2008, claims Gartner. Therefore, depending on whose sales numbers to consider real, Apple’s cell phone market share is either 0.934% or 1.118%.

Since Apple iPhone is a smartphone, it makes sense to consider its potential on that market too. Gartner claims that Apple had rather high market share of 8.2%: of 139.287 million smartphones sold in 2008, 11.417 million were Apple iPhone or iPhone 3G. Still, 8.2% market share means that 91.8% of end-users around the globe preferred non-Apple mobile phones. Indeed, 43.7% acquired Nokia smartphone, 16.6% bought Research in Motion’s Blackberry. Many other preferred phones from companies like HTC (4.2%, Gartner only lists HTC’s own-brand devices under its name and considers HTC-made phones sold under operators’ brands separately) or Sharp (3.8%).

Perhaps, it is Mac OS operating system that attracts attention to the iPhone? Well, based on the research from Gartner, Apple’s Mac OS X with its 8.2% market share is considerably behind Symbian (52.4%), RIM Blackberry (16.6%) and Microsoft Windows Mobile (11.8%). In fact, Linux-based phones rival Mac OS X with 8.1% market share.

Maybe Apple iPhone is the best (smart)phone on the market right now? Well, it may be rather trendy, but there are devices like Nokia 8800-series that are, subjectively, more stylish and that attract much more attention. Apple iPhone also does not have long battery life: almost any business-oriented (smart)phone is a far cry from the iPhone when it comes to battery life. Moreover, maximum operating temperature of 35°C limitation practically cuts off the iPhone from hot countries and from people who travel to those destinations. Obviously, it is more comfortable to surf the Internet or watch videos on iPhone than on other (smart)phones thanks to large screen, but these are basically the only clear advantages the iPhone series has over rivals.

Apple iPod: Walkman of Our Days

The actual popularity of Macintosh computers and iPhone cell phones is clearly low. But Apple iPod family is definitely the Walkman of our time.

In calendar 2008 Apple sold 55.434 million iPod music players. Sales of iPhones are not driven by product launches: in Q1, Q2 and Q3 the company sold roughly 11 million devices per quarter, whereas in Q4 the number doubled to 22.727 million, probably because a lot of people acquired iPods as gifts for Christmas or New Year.

Unfortunately, there are no credible reports concerning the global market of portable digital media players (PDMP), hence, it is hard to estimate the actual market share of Apple iPod. Still, according to predictions from iSuppli back in 2007, total available market for PDMP would total about 240 million units in 2008. Therefore, Apple probably commanded about 23% of the PDMP market last year, a very high figure that may mean that the iPod is the most popular personal digital media player in the world.

The popularity does not automatically mean that those players are much better than the rivals: they are tied to iTunes software, their batteries cannot be replaced and some customers complain about firmware-related problems. Nevertheless, the iPod ignited the Apple cult in the computer and consumer electronics world.

Apple TV, Apple Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, Xserve: Gadgets Not from the Cult

Obviously, Macintosh, iPod and iPhone are not the only products offered by Apple. The company also offers TV set-top-box, external hard disk drive, a router and even a server! However, popularity of those products is rather low, which can be explained easily: they are not a part of the cult and do not have a chance to become as popular as the “headline devices”.

The Apple cult supposes devices that one can show in public to attract attention (Macbook, iPhone, iMac) or be like the others (iPod). Meanwhile, set-top-boxes, servers or external storage devices are not supposed to be demonstrated publicly since they are just made to provide certain functionality and not meant to be eye-candy. In fact, the lack of popularity of Mac Pro and Mac mini desktops points to the same conclusion since neither of those desktops are supposed to catch anyone’s attention.

The Passion, or a Simulation of a Cult?

To sum up, the only Apple product that seems to be truly popular on the market remains iPod. Of course, sales of iPhones, Macintosh systems and other products contribute to Apple’s revenue and profitability. But while they may be admired and discussed in the press, but they are rather rarely bought, as it can be seen in various market researches.

So, when it comes to the extensive coverage of Apple on the Internet, is it a passion for unpopular gadgets, or is it a type of a simulated cult created by rather vocal PR specialists, end-users and journalists?

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mocoNews - How Game Makers Are Coping With The Introduction Of The iPhone 3GS

One of the (many) groundbreaking features about the iPhone has been its singular hardware design-which has made it easy for mobile game developers to create one title that works across all iPhones.

But the launch of the 3GS, with its faster processor and higher speed chipset, has introduced a bit of fragmentation. With over a million of the new iPhone 3GS' already sold, companies now have to decide whether to start developing separate versions of each game for the different platforms, or whether to just release upgrades-as well as how to best allocate resources in the future.

Their choices carry long-term financial implications, since it doesn't make sense to spend money (especially for indie developers) to make games for a platform (3G) that may eventually have a much smaller user base.

But in the near-term, choosing one version over the other could cut into the variety of games that iPhone and iTouch owners will be able to choose from. IndustryGamers talked to a number of mobile gaming companies to find out their preliminary thoughts-and the consensus is that they're going to try to support both the 3G and the 3GS for the time being:
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-EA Mobile: The company plans to create new versions of existing games for the 3GS so that people can play "no matter which iPhone or iPod touch a consumer has," according to Travis Boatman, EA Mobile's VP of worldwide studios.

-Digital Chocolate: Founder Trip Hawkins sees the two devices as a boon: "The older models usually come down in price and more people can afford them. Also, often the same product, without changes, will just perform better on the new models because of faster data speeds or better memory management or a nicer sound system."

-Sega: Will continue to support both, though Paxton LaZar, Sega of America's director of digital content said that they'd create special versions of games that "take full advantage of the extra power afforded by the new 3GS."

 

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Nokia Exec: The N97 Will Beat The iPhone 3GS

Posted by Eric Zeman, Jul 9, 2009 03:20 PM

I love it when company executives talk smack. This time around, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) UK managing director Mark Loughran said that the iPhone 3GS is a disappointment to many, and the N97's superior camera will push it ahead of the iPhone. I have one question for Loughran, "Have you even used the N97?"
This is classic. There's nothing like an executive bad-mouthing a competitor's product. Here's what Loughran said:

The new iPhone is an evolution rather than a revolution and for people trying to decide whether to get a Nokia N97 or an iPhone, it comes down to a decision on performance and value for the money. The new iPhone seems to have the same design and color, upgrading from a sub-standard two-megapixel camera to a still low 3.2 megapixel camera, and is probably a disappointment for many people, given the high tariff and lifetime ownership costs.

Um, what? First off, Mr. Loughran is from the U.K. I am not familiar with the subsidized cost of the N97 nor the iPhone over in the U.K., nor what tariffs the respective wireless carriers are charging on a monthly basis for those two devices. I have a hard time believing that the sale price of the devices are all that different, however. In the U.S., the iPhone 3GS can be bought for as little as $200. The N97? Try $700. Leaving that cost argument aside (because we can't produce an apples-to-apples comparison), there are more holes we can poke in Mr. Loughran's statements.
It is true that the iPhone 3G's 2 megapixel was bordering on sub-par. The new 3.2 megapixel camera, in comparison, takes excellent pictures and beats the pants off of the 3.2 megapixel cameras I've tested in several Nokia phones (E71, 5800 XpressMusic). Furthermore, the 5 megapixel camera of the N97 performed just as bad as the iPhone 3Gs's camera in low-light situations -- even though it has a flash.
Loughran is right to point out that the iPhone 3GS is exactly the same shape and colors as the iPhone 3G. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. To whit, the iPhone has been imitated by just about every phone manufacturer on earth -- including Nokia!
Beyond all of that, however, is the usability of both devices. The N97 and its S60 5th Edition software are horrid across the board. It is extremely underpowered, slow to respond and the user interface is the worst, half-baked thing I've encountered in a long time. From a day-to-day usability standpoint, the iPhone 3GS is a clear winner.
According to the report in Symbian-Freak.com, the N97 is off to a solid start in the U.K. U.K.-based operator O2 has said that the iPhone 3GS is its best-selling iPhone model to date.
Which will win? We're going to have to wait for quarterly report from both Nokia and Apple to find out.

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AT&T: Exclusive iPhone Deal is Good for All

AT&T hit back at Sen. Herb Kohl Wednesday, denying that the wireless industry is anti-competitive and again insisting that its exclusivity arrangement with Apple for the iPhone has paved the way for other innovative smartphones, not served as a hindrance.

"The popularity of the iPhone and its innovative features and applications … has provoked an unprecedented competitive reaction," James Cicconi, senior vice president of external and legislative affairs, wrote in a letter to Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat.

Kohl, chairman of the Senate Judiciary antitrust subcommittee, wrote in a Monday letter to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski and Christine Varney, assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice, asking the two to investigate exclusive handset arrangements, as well as industry competitiveness and several other issues.

"Exclusive handsets have provided U.S. consumers the most advanced devices in the world at distinctly affordable rates," Cicconi said. "By allowing a carrier and a manufacturer to share the enormous risks and costs of bringing an inventive but unproven new device to market, exclusive arrangements both quicken the pace of technological advancement and incentivize the carrier to offer even greater handset subsidies to its customers."

AT&T made the same points last month when it appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee to discuss the state of the wireless industry.
Cicconi suggested that without an exclusive deal, the iPhone would have been more expensive and probably would have appeared in Europe, Japan, or China before it debuted in the United States.

"Prohibiting exclusive handset arrangements, then, would not engender competition, it would degrade it," he concluded.

The Rural Cellular Association (RCA) last year asked the FCC to examine these deals and their effect on competition, and new FCC chairman Julius Genachowski has promised to examine their complaint.

Cicconi also dismissed the idea that the industry is not competitive, pointing to the "nine independent carriers serving more than 4 million retail customers." He agreed that the FCC should make more spectrum available, but "respectfully disagree that spectrum rations or caps, like those suggested in your letter, are the appropriate tool to do so."

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Google's Chrome: Taking Aim at Microsoft — and the iPhone

No, Google's move into the operating-system space, long dominated by Microsoft, is not good news for Redmond, Wash. The last thing Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer needs is to compete against Google's (presumably) free operating system, which supposedly can drive anything from a netbook to a PC.

But here's a wacky thought: Maybe Microsoft is just collateral damage in this war. Maybe the real competitor to Google is Apple! Launching its Chrome OS in the second half of 2010 may be simply a bid by Google to keep the Web a viable, robust place — even as users (especially Apple users) are starting to be enticed away from it. (See Google Earth's historical photos.)

Google's interests are perfectly aligned with a free and open Web. That's its brilliance. Google dominates the Web platform. The more you use the Web, the more likely you are to use its hugely popular search products, and the more ads Google will sell, targeted at you. It doesn't really matter which browser you use to get there — Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google's house browser, Chrome — as long as you use Google Search, Maps and any of the other suite of fine, free Google products.

The first real threat Google faced was Facebook. That's because when people are on the popular social network, they aren't using Google Search. Even worse, instead of asking Google Search where they should eat tonight, they're asking their Facebook friends. And the more of their personal stuff (pictures, videos and so on) they put behind Facebook's closed doors, the worse it is for Google, which also owns YouTube. That's why Google has attempted (so far, with limited success) to get into the social-network business.(See the 50 best websites of 2008.)

But the Facebook threat pales beside the remarkable success of Apple's iPhone and the rise of a mobile computing platform that exists parallel to — but distinctly apart from — the Google-dominated Web. While it's true that the iPhone accounts for more Web browsing than any other smartphone, it's also true that browsing the Web on it is still a suboptimal experience. Anyone who uses an iPhone knows that native apps are infinitely better to use than the Web. The iPhone is all about apps — not browsing the Web. Virtually any site you can think of, from the New York Times to the Huffington Post, is exponentially better when viewed via a dedicated iPhone app than it is when visited via the iPhone's browser. (See the top iPhone applications.)

So we can assume that as apps get better and better, iPhone-driven Web use on those all-important content sites will taper off.

But you ain't seen nothing yet. Apple is expected to unveil its own table computer (think of an iPod Touch on steroids) by the end of the year. While a larger-screen device cannot run the 50,000-plus iPhone applications without some modification, we can assume that Apple's engineers have a fix in the works. So when it arrives, it'll be a game changer, complete with a library of software that provides 50,000-plus reasons not to go on the Web. The biggest part of the game it will change will be to dilute the Google-dominated Web. 

That's why it really makes sense for Google to come out with a free operating system. Google needs to keep the Web humming, and what better way than to ensure that there are plenty of supercheap Web tablets out there? It must be odd these days to be Eric Schmidt. Not only is he Google's CEO, but he's a board member of Apple.

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