Hot on the heels of the startling revelation that iPhone users are browsing more webpages than Windows Mobile, Symbian, Blackberry and Palm users combined, some major enterprise players are lining up behind the hit Apple device…Read the rest at Computerworld…
So CNBC said a bunch of stuff. Let’s break it down.
1. Apple is making more iPods Touch for Christmas. Huge surprise, they rock. Make more.
2. iPhones are coming in May/June. No kidding. Jobs said it at the O2 iPhone launching. AT&T’s CEO said it...and of course we called it in early October. Mostly…
3. Relatively inexpensive ultra-slim laptop coming out at Macworld. No movable drive mechanisms?
Where’s the news?
For the French, there is no bigger technology event than next week’s LeWeb. Last year’s was kind of a bust because the Wifi didn’t work (tech conference? hello?) and the local politicians turned it into a political rally.
Since the elections are over and the Wifi is now flowing, you might want to consider dropping in if you are in the neighborhood. More on what leWeb is all about and full Apple flyer after the jump…
OK, we know we can’t get over it. Yes, the numbers from Net Applications. It is truly amazing (and hard to comprehend!) that in 5 short months, the iPhone not only matched, but opened up a huge lead on Microsoft, Symbian and Palm COMBINED. These are platforms that have been around for up to a decade…when the net was first catching on in the mobile space.
Then Apple releases their little device and it’s all over. The Wall Street Journal hypothesizes why:
Companies have been making mobile devices that run Windows since 1996, according to Computer World [ed – it is Computerworld!!! – everything has gone to pot since Rupert moved in], and three million of the devices were shipped in the first quarter of 2007 alone, according to research company Gartner. Here’s some more perspective: There are approximately 1.25 billion Internet users worldwide. IPhone owners are the first people with a mobile phone to view Web pages at the same rate at people using a PC.
It’s obvious that people have a need for Web access even when they aren’t at their desks or at home or wherever else they have a PC. We think that businesses could make their employees more productive by making sure that the mobile devices they give them have a full-fledged browser. We’re not saying companies should go out and buy everyone an iPhone – although if you do we’d love to hear about it. But presumably, it’s just a matter of time until an iPhone-like browser is a standard feature on mobile devices.
Yes, it is the browser. It is like a PC. IF you don’t own one, you don’t understand. Mobile Safari has changed everything. Good thing we called it back in May.
Sanyo Xacti HD700 7MP MPEG-4 High Definition 720p Camcorder with 5x Optical Zoom (Silver)
(edit – too good to be true – wentback up to $519 – hope you got one early! We’ve linked to the Brown one which can still be had for a very reasonable $349)
Reatil Price: $600
Other stores: $530-600
BTW- we should be able to provide a review on oh about December 26th…
Manufacturer Description
Shoot high-definition today with this elegant state-of-the-art true 720p high-definition camcorder that doubles as a 7-megapixel digital camera. Encased in a stunning enclosure, the HD700 features a 5x optical lens and a large 2.7-inch widescreen display making the HD700 as convenient as it is useful. And, a HDMI port on the docking station allows you to simply connect to the latest high-definition TVs and recorders to view and share your footage. Also, the HD700 records to the latest MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 global standard, delivering exceptional video clarity and detail while maintaining the smallest file size possible.
Xacti HD700 Highlights
5x optical zoom The HD700 digital media camera features a 5x all-glass optical zoom lens with a bright maximum aperture of f/3.5. Consisting of nine groups and twelve total lenses (3 aspheric elements, 5 aspheric surfaces), the HD700’s lens provides a fantastic field-of-view with a 38-190 mm range (35 mm equivalent). Combined with the 12x digital zoom, the HD700 provides up to 60x zooming capability.
Large, 2.7-inch widescreen display The Xacti HD700 features a large 2.7 inch widescreen Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The display flips out from the camera and rotates up to 285 degrees on an axis that allows you to take great video or still images from otherwise-difficult-to-view positions, especially useful when shooting in large crowds or in small rooms.
Convenient SD/SDHC memory card slot The Sanyo Xacti HD700 records high-definition and photos directly to a standard SD or SDHC memory card. In fact, the HD700 is capable of recording up to 2 hour and 46 minutes of 720p high-definition video on a single 8GB card (sold separately).
Random access Each video is recorded as an individual MPEG-4 and each still as a JPEG so you can have true random access allowing you to review a specific image or video quickly and easily, without waiting for tape rewinding or fast forwarding.
Ergonomic design The Xacti series has become known for the small size and ergonomic design. The HD700 features a comfortable angle designed to easily fit in the palm of the hand. The HD700’s adapts the new 105-degree angle design that is research proven to be less tiring to hold and shoot than typical camcorders. Easy to hold and easy to shoot with, the HD700 raises the bar in compact camcorder design.
Mac OS compatible Got a Mac? The new HD700 was designed to work with Apple’s full complement of video editing applications including the new iMovie ’08. Easily edit your movies and add them to your website or YouTube for sharing or create versions for iPod, iPhone or the Apple TV. It’s easy!
Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 included For Windows Customers, the Sanyo Xacti HD700 includes the powerful award-winning Adobe Premiere Elements 3.0 video editing software. Adobe Premieree Elements 3.0 software makes creating and sharing impressive home videos a snap. Burn your footage to DVD in two simple steps, complete with a DVD menu and scene index, or easily assemble your movie by rearranging clips with drag-and-drop simplicity. And share your movies on DVD, the web, mobile phones, and virtually anywhere else.
Other Great Features
Product Description
Shoot high-definition today with this elegant state-of-the-art true 720p high-definition camcorder that doubles as a 7 megapixel digital camera. Encased in a stunning enclosure, the HD700 features a 5x optical lens and a large 2.7-inch widescreen display making the Sanyo HD700 as convenient as it is useful. And, a HDMI port on the docking station allows you to simply connect to the latest high-definition TVs and recorders to view and share your footage. Also, the HD700 records to the latest MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 global standard, delivering exceptional video clarity and detail while maintaining the smallest file size possible. Playback directly onto a HD or standard TV screen. Easy connection to VCR or DVD recorder. Remote Control Included 5x all-glass optical zoom with a bright maximum aperture of f/3.5. Consisting of nine groups and twelve total lenses (3 aspheric elements, 5 aspheric surfaces), the HD700’s lens provides a fantastic field-of-view with a 38-190 mm range (35 mm equivalent). Combined with the 12x digital zoom, the HD700 provides up to 60x zooming capability Each video is recorded as an individual MPEG-4 and each still as a JPEG Records and plays from optional SD and SDHC memory cards; accepts up to 8GB capacity ? The new HD700 was designed to work with Apple’s full complement of video editing applications including the new iMovie 08. Easily edit your movies and add them to your website or YouTube for sharing or create versions for iPod, iPhone or the Apple TV NTSC / PAL (interfacing via included docking station or connecting adaptor) 720p 1280×720 video HDTV resolution capability Unit Dimensions 2.9 x 1.4 x 4.3 inches (W x D x H); Weight 6.7 oz. approx. (main unit only), 7.5 oz. approx. (including battery and a standard SD card) Includes SANYO Software Pack, Docking station, Dedicated AV interface cable, Dedicated Component interface cable, Dedicated USB cable, Cable adaptor, Lith
It looks like the iPod/iPhone 1.1.2 upgrade did more for the platform that close security holes and add some international features. iPhone Atlas is reporting that the iPhone got a modest upgrade in speed as well. While the 3% upgrade in speed is modest, it does indicate that Apple has the ability to upgrade the speed of the device based on what applications are being used. For instance, if Apple needed some more horsepower for a video chat application in the future, it could crank the iPhone’s CPU up to 500Mhz. Reportedly, the Samsung ARM Chip inside the iPhone can be safely brought up to 624Mhz.
The downside to raising the speed of the chip is raising the operating temperature of the iPhone as well as sacrificing battery life. While most people haven’t noticed anythign different about their iPhones, a few people have complained about the heat – especially when talking on the phone.
Few people have complained about the battery life – which might have been the green light for Apple in giving the iPhone a modest speedbump. Perhaps a hacker may find a way to do this as well?
In other iPhone upgrade news, is this the 32GB iPhone?
Digitimes is reporting that Apple just bought 90,000 (more expensive) 13.3 inch LED displays. We have no idea what Apple is going to use those things for.
Expect some more surprises in the coming weeks as Apple’s partners ramp up production of their new hybrid laptop/tablet device.
Oh, and don’t expect Digitimes to find an OEM that is making a trackpad for this thing btw ;-)
(Fake – and not at all realistic – image provided by Fake Steve).
When we read the news that iPhone has surpassed Windows Mobile in web market share we did a double- take. Could this be possible? According to our web stats (which are violently skewed toward Apple/iPhone for this site) over the past 2 weeks, the iPhone/iPod platform is BLOWING up. Screenshot:
To even things out, let’s just compare Apples to Apples…
Macintosh: 300,000 visits
iPhone: 11,000 visits
iPod touch: 2500 visits
Stats:
iPhone is about 3-4% of Apple traffic
iPhone/iPod together almost 5% of Apple traffic
Christmas and Macworld are both coming up soon. This certainly is going to be interesting.
PC World Benchmark turns into Apple Ad.
http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac/apple_getamac_misprint_480x360.mov
Actually, this one is kinda funny and still makes a valid point. Nice work.
Hard to argue with these numbers. WOW
We’ve been using Skype on our Leopard MacBook since – oh about mid-October with very few problems – but there have been many cited on the Internets – mostly in relation to Apple’s redesigned firewall.
Well, for those with problems, Skype has answers – in the form of a 2.7Beta release (at your own risk). Skype betas have treated us relatively well over the years so we’ll be downloading and testing this shortly.
From Skype:
New in this version
Leopard compatible – if you have the latest Mac OS X 10.5 then you can use Skype with confidence.
Better video resolution – your video conversations are now set at a whopping 640 x 480 pixels by default with up to 25 frames per second. If your webcam can handle this resolution you’ll soon be appearing in an improved and bigger format on friends screens.
Our Canadian friend, Chris24, points us to the the fine print on the AT&T/ iPhone service agreement which states that "Charges for international messages sent from the U.S. are 20¢ for Text Messages and 50¢ for Picture/Video Messages.".
Oh REALLY? We didn’t know the iPhone had picture and video text messages. Heck, legit (unhacked) iPhones can’t even do video as far as anyone outside of Cupertino knows.
This might be a typo on AT&T’s part – some sloppy cutting and pasting perhaps. Check out the full screen here.
However, Boingboing has more. This could also be an AT&T blanket coverage thing that iPhones are unwittingly getting. We haven’t gotten any such texts.
Oh, and $.50? That is kinda pricey if you ask us – especially when email is free and it is using the same network. Kinda like charging you to make a ringtone out of a song you already own. And, as many people have pointed out, this isn’t new technology – other phones have had this capability for years.
Props: Chris24
Update: Apple has removed said statement. Maybe it was just a typo ;-)
AT&T’s CEO stated the obvious yesterday – that there is going to be a 3G iPhone "sometime next year". No kidding!?
Everyone has known about this for months. Steve Jobs has even stated this on numerous occasions – he even stated this during the UK iPhone release party! It is a known, known – as Donald Rumsfeld would say. Still though. It is all over the news:
AT&T chief lets slip plan for faster iPhone
AT&T CEO outs 3G iPhone: "You’ll have it next year" (dugg?!?!)
AT&T chief confirms 3G iPhone on the way
Apple to Unveil Faster IPhone, AT&T’s Stephenson Says
AT&T CEO: Expect A 3G iPhone In 2008
We know it was a slow newsday but its hard to believe the people reporting this didn’t know it wasn’t really news. It would have perhaps been news if he said the 1st quarter or even 1st half of next year would see the 3G iPhone. Or if he gave some other specs like improved memory.
Some notes:
AT&T’s CEO is an idiot for announcing anything – it will just keep more people holding off from buying the iPhone – it is basically just a reminder to wait for the 3G version.
Apple will likely release the 3G version surprisingly early as more and more people will hold off because they are waiting for the 3G version as time goes on. We expect May-ish at this point.
Are we nuts?
hrmpf caused quite a stir in the rumor community back in February when it reported on Apple’s inductive charging patent filing. Well, according to the Mossberg Solution at wsj.com, it looks like a company called WildCharge Inc. beat Apple to the punch on their popular portable devices.
They haven’t done inductive charging (like Braun-Oral B does with their toothbrushes for instance) but they have made small adapters that have connection points to the flat surface – which should give similar results. (thx commenter)
We think it’d be a great convenience to charge our iPhones like this, but it would be really be off the hook (pun?) if Apple would work in a WiFi sync to go along with it (ahem – Macworld Expo), so we can free up a USB port.
So what do you all think? Ready to shell out an extra hundred bucks for the privelege not to charge your iPhone/iPod touch with the cradle? Or are we all waiting for iPhone2 with 3G and built-in inductive charging? And maybe you are worried about electrocuting your cat and/or wasting too much precious energy with the inefficiencies of this device? Do tell…
EDIT: IT looks likt the real cost of the iPhone is around $950
399€ if you get a 2 year plan with OrangeThere are 4 new "formulas": 49 € for 2 hours talk time, 59€ for 3 hours, 79€ for 5 hours, 119 € for 8 hours (FYI – you don’t get charged on incoming calls in France)
(France24 is providing the details)
Interesting. Some observations:
749€ – not bad for an unlocked iPhone. Compared to what now appear to be Deutchbag T-Mobile’s €999 fee, it is a bargain. Expect to see Germans coming over the Maginot line like ’40 to buy unlocked iPhones in France.
649€ Seems to be the REAL price of the iPhone – unless that is articifically mandated by French law. You figure that is Orange’s break even point. You can stroll into an Orange Store and pick up an iPhone – no contract – at that price. Obviously, it is advantageous for Orange to sell them locked to their network- so they are probably able to sell at-cost knowing that they will reap data and phone monthly fees down the road. For an additional 100 euros, Orange makes a healthy profit on the iPhone – which they are basically giving to other carriers.
Keep in mind – people who have some time left on their Orange contract will be able to buy the iPhone on Orange for 6 months. After 6 months, French carriers are forced to open their phones up to any and all comers.
Ahh, to live where the currency is 1.5 times as valuable and the telecommunications industry can’t lobby consumers rights away. Walt Mossberg would be proud.
|
|
Well, by now is seems pretty obvious that Apple isn’t releasing anything huge before Christmas. From what we’ve heard, just about everything in the Macintosh lineup is scheduled to get a hit at Macworld (more on this to come soon). iPods are staying put for awhile and the iPhone won’t see revision 2 until around May – in time to ship in Asia.
That leaves the AppleTV line – Apple’s "hobby". What could have been a huge product this Christmas is turning into a dud. Why? The technology is there. We’ve all seen the hidden tidbits inside iTunes that allude to movie rentals. It is ready to roll. The infrastructure is also in place. People downloading Purple Violets (>1GB) reported it came in at under 15 minutes – much faster than the average trip to Blockbuster and with no winter clothing to put on or car fuel to burn.
The roadblock is that the studios aren’t budging. Perhaps wary of what is happening in the Music Industry or perhaps burdened with the writer’s strike, they haven’t made the deals to get on iTunes like Apple had hoped. Additionally, the entertainment industry is this time hoping to roll their own movie rental services – or at least have a few more players out there so as not to give Apple as much power as it has in the Music business. TV shows from NBC also aren’t running on iTunes anymore. Will other networks follow? Not likely but they could. Should all of this be cause for concern? Perhaps.
Over the past few weeks, the studio bosses have been reversing course and praising apple again. Warner Chief, Edgar Bronfman recently got caught praising Apple’s iPhone and iPod lines. Jon Gruber at Daring Fireball reports on Doug Morris‘ admission that the Entertainment industry had/has no idea what they are doing technology-wise. In fact they were so stupid that they couldn’t even know who was smart enough to hire to figure it out. That is Calculus Integral stupid – and it seems about right. Quote:
"There’s no one in the record industry that’s a technologist," Morris explains. "That’s a misconception writers make all the time, that the record industry missed this. They didn’t. They just didn’t know what to do. It’s like if you were suddenly asked to operate on your dog to remove his kidney. What would you do?"
Personally, I would hire a vet. But to Morris, even that wasn’t an option. "We didn’t know who to hire," he says, becoming more agitated. "I wouldn’t be able to recognize a good technology person — anyone with a good bullshit story would have gotten past me."
The movie industry might be a bit smarter (no one can be this dumb can they? – I mean they could have enrolled in some classes at NYU?) and has had some more time to watch things unfold. Rather than give up such an important part of the value chain right away, they are willing to hold out longer. But is this actually smarter? People aren’t really into waiting for technology when better means exist – even if its legality is, shall we say, questionable.
While the movie studios wait on Internet movie rentals, more and more people are becoming familiar with the BitTorrent clients – some are even going mainstream like Vuze. They are buying multi-terabyte mediacenter hard drives that can hold thousands of regular definition moves and hundreds of high definition movies. People are getting higher speed fiber to the home and 100mb cable is being rolled out in limited areas.
Movies are getting to the Bittorrent sites faster. Most movies hit Bittorrent before they hit the rental shelves. sometimes they are even out before they are in theaters. While a lot of times these are poor quality camcorder or Oscar voter-type copies, if you wait long enough, most movies come out in DVD quality. Some you may even see in HD.
Of course people have alternatives. They can go to Blockbuster or send away to Netflix and get their movies slower, more costly way. But given the opportunity to do it better, more and more people are turning into pirates. Just like the music industry did when Napster went mainstream.
So maybe the movie studios ARE dumber than the record labels? At least the record labels didn’t have a precedent to follow. Apple, of course isn’t hedging its bets on AppleTV. It is, after all, just a hobby. But how long will Apple leave this device out there dangling when it could be making mega huge hard drive media centers that can store thousands of movies? Maybe we’ll find out at Macworld.
The window of opportunity is closing on AppleTV – but more importantly, it is closing on the movie studios who obviously don’t get technology or its implications on their business.
Erica Sadun points us to Ipod Touch Fans forum when an enterprising hacker got the iPod touch Audio input working. For the finer details head over to the iPodlinux Wiki where they’ve dissected the dock connector to its core.
We don’t have to tell you (but we are obviously anyway) how important this is for applications going forward. What it means is that if some company like Fring gets off of their asses and creates a Skype or Vonage application for the iPod, we’ll be able (with a cheap dock – headset adapter) to use iPod touches to make and recieve calls.
Its also cool for apps like voice recorder and perhaps even some low powered voice recognition stuff in the future.
Apple, will probably fight this kind of development tooth and nail to keep the iPod touch from cannibalizing the iPhone sales. How much would you pay to have Skype on your iPod or iPhone?
News is starting to trickle in. You can now officially buy an unlocked iPhone for yes, €999. Is this the actual price of the iPhone. Is this what Apple would charge if it wasn’t taking $10-$20 bucks a month of your Mobile bill? Perhaps it isn’t that easy to build an operationg system from the ground up for a phone that works as well as the iPhones?
I guess we know what price those unlocked iPhones are going to go for in France. The question is, are they different from a hardware perspective? Or can people who want carrier choice just buy a $399 iPhone at the Apple store and upload the new unlocked firmware?
Also, according to fortnighttv, tmobile users that have already purchased the iPhone can have theirs unlocked for free.
We’ll bring you more reports as they develop…
It actually looks pretty good. We love NY:D More importantly, it is making history as the first feature length film being directly released to iTunes. Will this model be a hit and this be a milestone or will this be a failed experiment? Find out for yourself by downloading it for just $12.99 (iTunes link) from the iTunes VIDEO Store.
| http://movies.apple.com/movies/independent/purple_violets/purple_violets-h.ref.mov |
Set in lower Manhattan, PURPLE VIOLETS is a relationship comedy about four friends from college ready for change. PATTI PETERSON (Selma Blair) is a promising writer, but her marriage and conventional job keep her from her dream. She longs to return to her writing, especially after running into her first love BRIAN CAHILL (Patrick Wilson), a successful crime novelist. KATE (Debra Messing) is Patti’s best friend since college. She’s a tough-talking schoolteacher who plays therapist to all Patti’s problems, while she’s got a few of her own. Despite Brian Cahill’s gorgeous Tribeca loft and perfect house in the Hamptons, he longs to write works of greater literary value. MURPHY (Ed Burns), his lawyer and best friend from college still carries a flame for his former girlfriend Kate, even though their relationship ended badly years ago, and she still holds a major grudge. When Patti sells Murphy a new apartment, and Brian publishes his personal novel, these old friends reconnect in unexpected ways with surprising results. PURPLE VIOLETS is a funny, yet touching story of four friends finding what they need to change their lives.
Amazon announced their highly- anticipated Ebook reader dubbed "Kindle" today. Coming in at $399, it has some really good functionality, including:
Even with all of that it looks to us like it is going to be a really hard to justify this thing. Why? Because most of this functionality already exists in a product already out in the marketplace called the iPod touch. The iPhone features add even more to this. The books metaphors aren’t enough to switch us. The E-ink technology is the only redeeming technology and it looks to be something exciting for people outdoors or with little access to power. Overall though, we aren’t looking for another device to add to the man-purse.
When you compare the hardware, its not even close. The iPod is thinner and about 1/3 the area but with more than 2/3rds of the screen – and more importantly it is something you can put in your pocket. The screen is really easy to read (although the Kindle has a low voltage high contrast screen that will stay legible longer). The Kindle’s ability to resize fonts won’t impress anyone who has pinched and panned on an iPod. More importantly, the iPhone allows you to do many other functions – without carrying ten devices around with you. While the Kindle is going to have an underpowered browser, the iPhone has a full Webkit Safari.
When you start getting into Youtube and Photos and Email it isn’t even fair. Its like putting together the best high schoolers from around the nation and playing them against the New England Patriots.
Those who have hacked their iPods and iPhones know there is a REALLY good Ebook reader aptly called "Books". In hacked form it offers most of the features that Amazon’s Kindle offers.
The iPod comes in at less than the Kindle with much more RAM at $299, the iPhone and 16gb iPod match the Kindle’s $399 pricetag.
What still could be a winner for Amazon is the software and backend system they use to distribute the millions of books they have in their library (88,000) at launch. While music and video content markets are quickly being cornered, the Ebook sales industry is still in its infancy. Hopefully, Kindle turns into a service and hits all of the other hundreds of devices out there. We love Amazon and wish them the best, but its hard to justify this type of device when a better one already exists and does much much more.
Jeff Bezos sums it up best: "This isn’t a device, it’s a service."
Man, it looks kinda like Phil Schiller (we love the guy – but wow!) short circuited when "Monopoly" was mentioned. Head-spin and the secret eye signals were in full effect. BTW for those of you who think that is Coffee and not Sulfuric acid in those cups, we would recommend NOT asking for an interview with an Apple employee. EDIT: Phillip Elmer-DeWitt from Apple2.0 thinks so much like us it is scary!
Again Fake Steve Sums it up best:
Regarding that previous post with the video of the horrible TV reporter — Katie has asked me to point out that most media people aren’t as awful as that British guy. She doesn’t want to create the impression that we dislike the media. Because we don’t. In fact most of the media, especially guys like Goatberg and Pogue and the entire press corps here in the Valley, are consummate professionals who behave with a really high degree of integrity.
These folks have strong relationships with Apple. They know and obey the rules we’ve established with them for our interactions. Basically, it’s very simple. When you get us on camera or sit down in a room with us, you’re going to ask us a list of questions that we’ve vetted, and we’re going to give you a set of answers that we’ve prepared in advance, and no matter how pointless or irrelevant or meaningless those answers might be, you will nod appreciatively and move on.
Now, when you’re working with real media professionals, they totally appreciate this kind of efficiency. These are busy people. They’re working on deadline. They’re trying to fill space, either on air or on a page. They need information, fast. Doesn’t matter what that information is, but it really, really helps for it to be in complete sentences that are grammatically correct and only a few seconds long.
Basically what we’re doing is working to understand exactly what these busy professionals need in order to do their jobs well, and then we’re making life easier for them. The smart ones, the real pros, totally appreciate this. I can’t tell you how many cards and letters and emails we get from people who totally thank us for having such a first-rate public relations department.
Moreover, the Valley press corp is appalled when one of their so-called "fellow journalists" like this guy in England goes all rogue on us. It’s embarrassing and totally hurts the credibility of everyone in their profession. Why, Walt himself just called to apologize for what that guy in England did to Phil. He’s like, "Steve, Katie, even though I had nothing to do with it, I really feel bad about what that guy did, and I’m really sorry, and I hope you won’t hold it against us."
Of course we told Walt that we appreciated his candor and that we would all move on and be professional, as always. The message I hope you’ll take away from this encounter is simply this: Apple is the best. We’re open and honest. We’re the company you can trust. Sure, we might be a monopoly. Kind of, but not really, or maybe. But the stuff about us being a monopoly wasn’t on the question list, was it? That’s not something we agreed to discuss or were prepared to discuss.
And even if we are a monopoly, which we’re not, but if we are, we’re the good kind, the kind that is open and honest with you, not the bad, secretive, hostile kind that would shut down cameras and stifle communication. We’re not some dictatorship in Ukraine or someplace like that where the government controls the media. And to all members of the obedient press corps everywhere, let me say this: Namaste. I honor the place where our spin and your stories become one.
Edit: Now there is a conflicting story saying that IMEI information is NOT being sent.
It looks like Apple is tracking iPhone users data i
ncluding IMEI number, IP address and stock quote preferences (amongst other things) through a hidden string in the Weather.app and Stocks.app iPhone applications. This information is sent to "http://iphone-wu.apple.com/dgw?imei=%@&apptype=finance" (IP resolved "17.254.32.16"). See screenshot below for details.
From this information, Apple could build a profile on users. Where they travel, where they spend their free time, where they work, where they invest their money, what they browse, etc etc. Obviously most users would like to be able to control who has access to this information. If they connect this data with the credit card that you used to purchase the iPhone (remember, you can’t use cash anymore), they could build an even bigger profile on you.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like you can doanything about it – though hackers are working on it now. According to Uneasysilence.com, if you use an iPhone, you’ve already forfeited this right to privacy (from the Apple Terms of service):
When you interact with Apple, we may collect personal information relevant to the situation, such as your name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and contact preferences; your credit card information and information about the Apple products you own, such as their serial numbers and date of purchase; and information relating to a support or service issue.
Whether or not the backlash from this will cause Apple to change its policy remains to be seen. However, there are alreadly lots of people deleting the Stocks.app and Weather.apps from their iPhones and donning their tinfoil hats.
EDIT: IT looks like some Leopard applications behave in this manner as well. A digg commenter found:
This is interesting to hear — and I noticed something similar in OS 10.5 (Leopard):
For those of you who don’t know what Little Snitch is, it tracks connections that any software makes to the internet (i.e. to "phone home") and allows you to block those connections. Imagine my surprise when I opened Calculator.app the other day and Little Snitch popped up asking if I wanted to block a connection that Calculator.app was attempting to make to "wu-calculator.apple.com". After looking through Calculator.app’s source code, I figured out that it shares a little bit of code with the iPhone stuff… I’m seeing:
http://wu-calculator.apple.com/dgw?imei=APPLE&appt …
Does anyone else notice the word IMEI in there? Yeah. That’s what I thought. This could have bad implications — but I believe that wu.apple.com may not be tracking us; I think that it may be providing support to applications needing dynamic conversion with changing ratios. Right below that IMEI line I found:
X-Client-ID%iApplication SupportCalculatorFinancialRates.xmlUpdate of currency conversion rates failed: %@
Which makes it look like apple is using it to do conversion stuff. But the fact that they use an IMEI is strange… unless they use it to determine where your phone is registered to give you the default conversion in your currency… Eh, or they could just be evil.
http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/769469373 Frankly there isn’t much here you can’t do with normal tools but its cool to see the old timers getting in on the act. Notice he doesn’t say he’s using 1.1.2. Likely he’s using the older software with known exploits.
