Fortune caught up with the Boy Genius (Jonathan Geller) and got some interesting details out of the Mobile phone leak king. Here’s a breakdown:
Boy Genius talks to Fortune
Author
Founder, Publisher and Editorial Director of the 9to5/Electrek/DroneDJ sites.
Seth Weintraub is an award-winning journalist and blogger who won back to back Neal Awards during his three plus years covering Apple and Google at IDG’s Computerworld from 2007–2010. Weintraub next covered all things Google for Fortune Magazine from 2010-2011 amassing a thick rolodex of Google contacts and love for Silicon Valley tech culture.
It turns out that his hobby 9to5Mac blog was always his favorite and in 2011 he went full time adding his Fortune Google followers to 9to5Google and adding the style and commerce component 9to5Toys gear and deals site. In 2013, Weintraub bought one of the Tesla’s first Model S EVs off the assembly line and so began his love affair with the Electric Vehicle and green energy which in 2014 turned into electrek.
In 2018, DroneDJ was born to cover the burgeoning world of drones and UAV’s led by China’s DJI.
From 1997-2007, Weintraub was a Global IT director and Web Developer for a number of companies with stints at multimedia and branding agencies in Paris, Los Angeles, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, Madrid and London before becoming a publisher/blogger.
Seth received a bachelors degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California with a minor in Multimedia and Creative Technology in 1997. In 2004, he received a Masters from NYU’s Tisch School of the Art’s ITP program.
Hobbies: Weintraub is a licensed single engine private pilot, certified open water scuba diver and spent over a year traveling to 60 cities in 23 countries. Whatever free time exists is now guaranteed to his lovely wife and two amazing sons.
More at About.me. BI 2014 profile.
Tips: seth@9to5mac.com, or llsethj on Wickr/Skype or link at top of page.
Apple as religion?
Foxnews this morning has a doozy:
In a research paper published this month by two professors at Texas A&M University, the authors argue that the only way to understand the slavish adoration and over-the top financial success of Apple and its “Jesus Phone” (the iPhone) is to understand its minimalist, white-walled stores as the new churches of the tech generation.
um. yeah?
Has nothing to do with the products actually working really well? Is making good products that hard to understand?
Obama demonstrates healthcare.gov on his Mac
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x1.swf
If we can somehow avoid politics and just observe that the President of the US is using a MacBook Pro with a presidential seal over the Apple Logo, we’ll be in pretty good shape. Oh, and people with Flash issues, you know where to send complaints? Great!
Update: Flash-challenged version.
Mossberg reviews iPhone 4 voice calls, still better than iPhone 3GS
The Wall Street Journal’s, Walt Mossberg, has put the iPhone 4 through six-weeks of testing and has determined that its voice call capabilities are not the best, but still better than its predecessor’s. His final note puts it all in perspective:
“So that
Meet new $139 Amazon Kindle
Amazon has just announced their brand new Kindle, and it’s just called the Kindle. It’s 21% smaller, 15% lighter, 20% faster and still boasts that black and white e-ink display we all know and love. Amazon’s getting really colorful here adding a graphite-colored model to the mix; the classic white from past generations still stands strong.
The new eBook reading device maxes out at 4 GB of storage, and keeps the 6 inch display. The Kindle comes in two configurations, a WiFi-only model for $139 and version for $189 that rocks AT&T’s 3G network. The most incredible part is the insane battery life which provides a month of usage sans and 10 days with the wireless.
The new Kindle also is getting an “experimental” web browser. Now you can browse on that 6 inch e-ink display; take that Apple! The controls and keyboard are also reportedly improved and hey… it’s a physical keyboard.
via Engadget
Speed up your iOS 4 iPhone 3G and iPod touch 2G?
The (Pay)Wall Street Journal reports that iOS 4 kills the speed of some older iOS devices such as the iPhone 3G and 2nd generation iPod touch. The video below shows a neat trick that puts the speed back in your device. Let us know in the comments if it helped you out. (Update: Commenters say that this doesn’t do much, if anything)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acsq0TpVO9w&w=640&h=385]
Microsoft posts Office 2011 for Mac video
in 3….2…..1…. Here’s the video! By the way, was it ‘bring your kid to work and show off a new product’ day at Microsoft? These guys look like teenage bloggers!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s62kJjdJVFI&w=640&h=385]
Has Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg ditched Apple's iPhone for Google's Android?
Update!: Not to worry Apple Brethren: Gawker has been tailing Faceberg for the last week and have him using iPhone like it is going out of style.
We’re still waiting for Facebook to pull its finger out and deliver a decent version of its app for the iPhone and iPad, now it seems Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, may have ditched his iPhone for an Android thing.
Well, this is based on one piece of Facebook activity on Zuckerberg’s blog: “Mark installed the Facebook for Android application to his phone”.
Interestingly, Redmond Pie notes that the Facebook app for Android needs improving even to catch up with the crappy iPhone version. Pretty poor, huh, Facebook?
iPhone 4FIX invisible shields now free at Best Buy
These things must be so cheap to make that they’re worth giving away ($9.99 retail) to bring in iPhone 4 customers. via Engadget
Google building Game Center Rival?
Sources familier with the matter have informed the Wall Street Journal that Google is in talks with several game development companies, in a process of developing a social-network based gaming community. This online gaming platform’s first competitor is Facebook as it is the home to thousands of popular online games which are played via the social network’s already-existing community. Google seems very serious about this as they’ve reportedly been in serious talks with Zynga, makers of Farmville and Zynga Poker, and Electronic Art’s subsidiary, PlayFish. They also may own $100-200million dollars worth of Zynga’s shares.
Google CEO, Eric Schmidt denied that a potential social network of theirs would resemble Facebook with his statement, “the world doesn’t need a copy of the same thing.” This upcoming social gaming network, already dubbed Google Games, would be a Game Center competitor as it will most likely make a push to the mobile space, as Zynga and Electronic Arts games have already. Game Center will bring together the games available on the App Store into a community similar to offerings from full-on game consoles such as Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. There will be trophies and awards for those who score the highest in multiplayer games, as well as leaderboards and even virtual prizes along the way for fulfilling achievements.
Additionally, we have already seen the inclusion of a friends list in Game Center, and this is a standard characteristic of any social networking environment. It is unknown if Google intended to compete with Apple’s imminent entry into the social gaming space, but if history repeats itself, Google really likes following Apple’s trends.
Magic Trackpad needs non-magical update
If you purchased a Magic trackpad today, you’ll need to do a good old fashioned Software Update to get the software working on it properly. You’ll also need 10.6.4 to get inertial scrolling and the three-finger drag gesturing working properly as well. More info including manual update here.
Oh, and if you have a MacBook/Pro, you get inertial scrolling and the three-finger drag gesturing as well.
Apple is now cheaper than Dell (kinda)
Back in the olden days Dell had a much bigger market share than Apple and offered products at prices Apple couldn’t match — those days are gone. Today, Apple announced it will be offering a superbly specced 27-inch LED display for just $999 — and that’s cheaper than the Dell dude, dude.
See, Dell offers its own UltraSharp U2711 27-inch monitor. It costs $1,099. It’s a good display (if you don’t like curves) and it has the same LG hardware inside, but doesn’t offer what Apple does in its new monitor — which costs $100 less!
Apple gives you:
2,560-x-1,440 res screen
A powered USB hub (Dell haz this)
iSight camera and mic
MagSafe connector
Integrated speakers
“With its massive 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, the new 27-inch LED Cinema Display is a perfect fit with our powerful new Mac Pro, and it gives iMac users an easy way to double their screen real estate,” said Philip Schiller, Apple
Apple responds to 'jailbreaking being legal', says it still may void warranties
Cult of Mac reports on an official response they received from an Apple spokesperson in regards to jailbreaking officially becoming legal in the US today. The message is a a bit vague due to the surrounding legalities but does state that jailbreaking can still void user’s warranties.
Here’s Apple’s statement:
“Apple
Tivo on AppleTV?
Both Briefing.com and TheFlyOnTheWall.com have made notes that Tivo may be in a deal with Apple to bundle the former’s software in a forthcoming AppleTV according to Barron’s (not-terribly-reliable) Eric Savitz. The deal would have the next version of the AppleTV fitted with Tivo software to record Live TV to the AppleTV disk.
The move would help fight off Google’s forthcoming GoogleTV efforts. We’re not so sure El Jobso wouldn’t want to do this himself.
ABC's Anne Sweeny talks about their 'Steve Jobs Moment'
New iMacs, Cinema Display, Mac Pro tomorrow + bonus stand-alone trackpad?
Daring Fireball is saying that some new kit is on the way to your local Apple Store tomorrow in the form of a new Mac Pro, a new iMacs and even a Cinema Display with the same physical display as the 27-inch iMac. He also says that stand-alone trackpad is a likely addition.
We
'Jobs lied, didn't he?' South Korea angry on iPhone 4 delay
http://s.marketwatch.com/media/swf/main.swf
Pity those poor souls in Seoul, South Korea. They
Google's iTunes 'killer' one step closer to launch
Google’s attempt to build an iTunes-killer is gaining momentum with the search giant now speaking to publishing companies after successful discussions with record labels.
Led by Android chap, Andy Rubin, talks between Google and the Byzantine world of music rights are accelerating, with at least one report speculating the search results-linked service may open for business by Christmas.
Google is in talks with the Harry Fox Agency to find out what deals and what rights it can get. The fact these conversations are taking place lends weight to the notion that negotiations are advanced.
The music industry is in a strange place.
On the one hand it feels some sense of gratitude that Apple was able to create a popular digital music service, on the other, labels feel Apple has far too much control over their business. As such they broadly support contenders including Google and Amazon.
Google Music is expected to offer some form of cloud-based music service for Android devices. Its recent recruitment of digital music rights lawyer, Elizabeth Moody, lends substance to this notion.
Moody previously worked at US legal firm Davis Shapiro Lewit & Hayes, where clients include Spotify, MySpace Music and MOG.
Music Week writes: “Rumours have been growing in the past few weeks about Google
Apple Taiwan Mac Mini price boo-boo makes a big brouhaha
Oops. Apple’s done a boo-boo in Taiwan last week, when the company’s online store accidentally listed the all-new Mac mini at a price one-third the usual.
Naturally, the deep discount (from NT$47,000 to an astonishingly good value NT$19,900) attracted plenty of attention, with numerous customers making orders (well, at that price?).
But Apple — or so it seems — is welshing on the deal, and is said to have, “unilaterally changed their orders back to the original price of NT$47,000.”
This is likely to lead the company into some trouble, with some customers muttering about launching lawsuits against the company to get the Mac they ordered at the offered price.
The action may even bear some fruit. The Consumer Foundation in Taiwan reportedly says the company should fulfil the contract and deliver the goods at the price paid once an order is paid for.
Apple hasn’t yet made any official comment on the matter. In 2009, Dell made errors in notebook prices and was eventually fined NT$1 million for failign to compensate consumers adequately.
What’s the most likely outcome in my opinion? An apology and a discount for most Mac mini customers affected by the error, I suspect.
Apple preps iPad engraving for Holiday gift season
What better way to show someone you care than by presenting them with a laser-engraved iPad?
Alright, there’s as many different ways to express care as there are humans standing underneath the sun, but now it seems Apple is preparing to unleash engraved iPad messages to contribute to that smorgasboard of choice. Just like those really rather popular engraved iPods, right?
This report emanates from tech blog Erictric, who claim their (anonymous) source is saying Apple intends offering personalization (engraving) on demand.
“From what I understand, Apple’s going to be offering customers the option to get their iPads engraved just before the Holidays roll around,” the site informs.
How much?
“Most likely free, especially since they’ll be trying to sell a ton more of the tablets during the holiday season,” the source is alleged to have said.
You may also impress them if you memorise some choice lines from this. After all, as Apple marketing almost certainly won’t say when attempting to convince you to invest in some engraved iPads this season, “They do not love that do not show their love.”
Some Bumpers shipping now, others in October
Some users are today reporting shipment notifications for their free Apple iPhone 4 bumper. That is good! Others, who’ve ordered third party bumpers, are reporting ship dates as late as October (below), which is after Apple is ending its free bumper giveaway. That’s not good.
via RazorianFly.
Google vs. Apple T-shirts
If you are looking for a way to display your love for the Google vs. Apple war, have a look at these Chis Bishop T-Shirts sent in by a faithful reader. They come in both mens and ladies T-Shirts or posters and sell for $19 plus a few more bucks for shipping.
Apple Antenna Test Labs shots?
Update: They are from this ABC News broadcast(US Viewers can view the Hulu below):
http://www.hulu.com/embed/5KXJFK38I7rMvnkQe4Tl0A/194/321
Here are some pics of the ‘Black Lab’ that Apple didn’t want us to see. You’ll see the magical black covering cloths, cat scan machines as well as their mobile testing vehicle.
Bunch more after the break...
Who needs flash? YouTube embeds now does HTML5
Hooray! Embedded YouTube videos are beginning to work without Flash. How? YouTube announced they are experimenting with new embed code that uses the iFrame interface to switch between Flash and HTML5 versions of the video. The code will sense the type of device you’re on so, as en example, if you’re on your PC and you want to play ‘double rainbow’ you’ll get the video in Flash. If you’ve enabled HTML5 in YouTube and using Safari, you’ll see the MP4 version below. If you are on a new version of Firefox and its available, it will kick in WebM video. Eventually. It is still in beta.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX0D4oZwCsA&w=640&h=385]
For instance, to embed the above video, you need to use this code:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX0D4oZwCsA&w=640&h=385]
Here are the downsides to this awesome innovation. Videos that are ad supported won’t work on HTML5, website managers will have to manually adjust the video code (don’t adjust the player size!), and YouTube HTML5 will need to be enabled on your iOS device. OK, fanboys, you can go back to hating on Google now.
via NewTeeVee.