iOS Devices

Who got the new MacBook Pro and Time Capsule?  Anyone?  Please let the billionth app be iFart.  Big ups Apple.

Update: From Apple’s PR:  The one billionth app, Bump created by Bump Technologies, was downloaded by Connor Mulcahey, age 13, of Weston, CT. As the grand prize winner of Apple’s one billion app countdown contest, Connor will receive a $10,000 iTunes® gift card, an iPod® touch, a Time Capsule® and a MacBook® Pro.

Tim Cook was pretty harsh on the Netbook world yesterday with his comments:

“When I look at what is being sold in the notebook space today, I see cramped keyboards, terrible software, junky hardware, very small screens — just not a consumer experience, not something we would put the Mac brand on, it’s a segment we don’t play in….I think it’s a stretch to call it a personal computer.”

But we know Apple likes to harsh on a market it is about to dive into (See Steve Jobs’ comments on video iPods) and destroy.  Perhaps Cook, and Jobs before him, are laying the groundwork for the differentiating factors in their entry into the Netbook world?

So, what do Cook’s statements mean for a prospective Tablet/Netbook?

Cramped keyboard – This means one of two things:  Apple will have either a full sized keyboard or no physical keyboard.  A full sized keyboard would be a great addition but unless it is an IBM Butterfly model (remember those?) it will stretch out the size of the device to near MacBook Air proportions.  Technically, you need 11.5 inches diagonally to include a full sized keyboard.   That would put it very close to the MacBook Air’s 13-inch display.

Apple also has a fantastic full-sized, yet portable Bluetooth keyboard already.  Incorporating that Bluetooth keyboard into a tablet would be the best of both worlds.  See more on an Apple Netbook keyboard here.

Terrible software = Windows XP.  XP is now on 90% of Netbooks after Linux had originally been the default OS (Microsoft lowered its prices to $15)   It is a 7 year old OS and has been plagued for years with security holes and virus issues.  It also wasn’t designed for a netbook – though ironically, most of the displays back in 2002 were about the same resolution as Netbook screens – they were just 17 inch CRTs.  – or like the 17 inch display that Lauren picked.

Intrestingly, Microsoft is toying with the idea of putting a three application limit on Windows 7 as well.

Junky hardware – not much to be said here.  What can be expected for $300?  Apple will come in with some indestructible design that could double as a piece of art…but at what cost?  Apple could even the playing field a bit by using a cheaper, in-house ARM/PA Semi processor/mobo and allowing the extra money to be spent on design/materials/build. 

All of that being said, we are perfectly happy with the hardware on the ASUS Eee 1000HE.  Some Netbooks aren’t really that bad.

Small screen – This is interesting because the top end of the netbook world is sitting on some solid 10.2 inch LCD screens.  Apple is either implying that it will go with a bigger screen or it is pointing the finger at the smaller Netbook screens which are in the 8-9 inch range.  Apple has, on many reports, been ordering up some 10 inch touch displays.  We are thinking that resolution independence will allow you to do more with less.  Frankly, we’d love to see a 720P screen like the new Dell Mini 10 sports.  That would really be a good tie in with iTunes/differentiator to the rest of the market.  Then there is OLED.

All of that being said, Apple could just introduce something like we showed you last month and many of us would be very happy.

Today’s earnings call beat most analyst expectations.  With the exception of snapping over five years of Mac growth with a 3% downturn, you’d have to rate Apple’s performance as exceptional. Some notes:

• iPhone sales blew everyone away.  Although Apple reported iPhone sales of 3.8 Million (Called it!), they measured only until March 17th, the date of the 3.0 Beta release.  That means the rest of the quarter’s sales haven’t been tabulated and won’t be until 3.0 is released this summer.
• Apple’s Mac Sales were down 3% largely due to 11% decline in educational sales.  However last year they had just released the MacBook Air which generated extraordinary amounts of sales.  Also the PC industry in general saw double digit losses on mostly low margin netbooks.
• Music sales were up 3% – even in this economy
• iPod marketshare – over 70% in the US and growing overseas
• NetBook?  Same answer. We can’t build a product that they’d be proud of.  "For us it’s about doing great products. When I’m looking at what’s sold in the Netbook market, I see cramped keyboards, junky hardware, very small screen, bad software. Not a consumer experience that we would put the Mac brand on."  "We offer the touch and iPhone" "If we find a way to deliver an innovative product that really makes a contribution, we’ll do that. We have some interesting ideas. The product pipeline is fantastic for the Mac."- Tim Cook
• Steve Jobs’ return? Status Quo – end of June (misses WWDC)
• Why stay with AT&T?  CDMA is dead and Apple wanted one phone for the world.
• China?  Apple hope to have an iPhone there within a year.

These things are never pretty.  PreCentral (via BGR) dug up an internal AT&T document detailing the limitations of the Palm Pre – as should be explained to customers considering both.  It just shows to go ya, AT&T is taking the Pre seriously.

Update: It has been taken down

We really don’t have words to describe this one.  Apple, can you please, please hire some competent people to man your App Store approval process?  Maybe pay above minimum wage and enforce some sort of drug testing (not that any type of drug would make you this stupid).  As new parents, we have to say in all seriousness, this has gone beyond abhorrant.

 I can’t wait to take this down after Apple pulls it.

AT&T reported today that they had 1.6 million iPhone activations domestically in the March quarter.  Last quarter they activated 1.9 million iPhones and Apple ended up with 4.4 Million iPhones sold.  Piper’s Gene Munster showed off his algebra chops  by running this formula: 4.4/1.9=x/1.6.   x=equaling the number of global iPhone sales for the March quarter, which in this case equals 3.7 million iPhones total.  That is assuming nothing has changed in the last 3 months. 

We tend to think this could go higher because of things like unlocked iPhones being sold(out) in the US and international adoption rates increasing faster than the US.   Apple’s stock price seems to be doing pretty OK on the news.

For the record, Shannon Cross, of Cross Research, notes that the 44% ratio of AT&T iPhone activations/Apple iPhone units sold in the latest quarter followed a 35% ratio in Q3. She splits the difference, assumes AT&T activated 38% of total Apple phones sold, and comes up with a forecast of 4.2 million units.
Tavis McCourt, of Morgan Keegan, contends the 1.6 million is consistent with his more conservative forecast of 2.9 million iPhones sold, with sell-through of 3-4 million units.

Tune in here later today to find out the rest of today’s earnings numbers.

The Register is today reporting (and also Smarthouse) that an LG insider spilled the news that Apple will soon be updating its MacBook Pro line to include an OLED option.

"An LG staffer has made the very bold claim that 15in Apple notebooks equipped with OLED displays will appear within months… the mole added that once Apple’s unveiled its 15in OLED notebook, LG will then launch its own standalone 15in OLED panels later in the year."

This would make the price of the OLED option MacBook get pretty steep, according to the Register who quote a £2000 ($2700) starting price.  That doesn’t seem that hefty to a high end MacBook Pro buyer.  It would also – theoretically – make the MacBook Pro thinner and lighter.  And tastier.

The Register went on to say that they expected some larger screen OLED displays for televisions (And perhaps Apple Monitors?).  One interesting thing about OLED displays is that not only are they extraodinarily thin, they can also be curved slightly.

Could this be the minor upgrade our tipster was speaking of?  We can only hope!

We just got a call in from our favorite Apple source who says that Apple is going to have a minor update at WWDC for MacBooks and MacBook Pros.  He said he wasn’t sure what the minor upgrade was but there was speculation that there might be some sort of 3G hardware built-in and/or speed bumps.  Perhaps even non-removable batteries on the smaller sized laptops.  Again, that part is just speculation at this time.

Also, he said there would be a big Pro apps update.  Final Cut Pro, Aperture, Logic, Shake should all see significant updates.  

We are still waiting on news of the 10-inch netbook/tablet device.  We don’t have any specifics or timeframes yet because this project is being kept under lock and key.  We hope to have something better in the coming weeks. 

Update: Whoa! could we be looking at OLED Display updates?!

That’s all … for now.

Ars points out that the new iPhone OS has some special speech-related references with a codename Jibbler.  It looks to provide voice synthesis and also rudimentary voice recognition for functions like voice calling and possibly more advance featres like voice navigation of Springboard, the Finder of the iPhone.

Our sources turned up references to classes and methods named VSSpeechSynthesizer, VSRecognitionSession, SBVoiceControlDisableHandlerActions, SBSensitiveJibblerEnabled, and SBVoiceControlSoundCompletion. SB refers to SpringBoard, and VS likely refers to Voice Services. The separate Voice Services classes leave open the possibility that Apple may eventually allow access to these services via the official SDK. There’s no indication whether these voice features will be tied to newer hardware expected this summer or if the features will be compatible with existing iPhone hardware.

Finally, these functions could help out with assisted services for disabled users and help in their ability to interact with the iPhone and the iPod touch.

Apps like Google Mobile and Vlingo have used voice recognition on the iPhone but the means to do so has never been built into the Core OS..until now.

It really is interesting to see this web of companies all entering into each others territory.  Google is building an OS to compete with Microsoft and Apple.  Microsoft is making an iPod touch-like Zzzune. 

Adobe today is announcing their foray into the home television market space (AppleTV and many others) with Flash for TV.  Adobe said it expects the first available products with the new Flash runtime will likely be televisions shipped later this year.

Hardware and chip partners for the project include Broadcom, Intel, NXP Semiconductors, Sigma Designs and STMicroelectronics. Distribution partners include Comcast, Disney Interactive, Netflix, New York Times Co. and Atlantic Records.

Phonenews has posted some welcome (if true – we’re not so sure how legit this one is) information on upcoming iPod and iPhone AV cables.  Until now, Apple has made its users buy expensive, specially-chipped cables if they wanted iPods and iPhones to connect to TVs.  Because of this complication and cost, the cables haven’t sold very well. We also hear that the new Zune will have HD out.

Phonenews thinks that is about to change:

Apple will remedy this with a cable, which is known simply as the Apple AV Cable. The cable will function similar to the Xbox 360 Component AV Cable. The consolidated cable will support both component and composite output, allowing users to plug in to both HDTV and SDTV displays without the need for multiple cables.

The reason that Apple is doing this has been confirmed by PhoneNews.com. The next generation of iPhone and iPod touch will make broad and sweeping changes to HD display capacity on the devices. First, Apple will likely offer at least one version of the iPhone and one version of iPod touch with an even higher resolution screen, targeting both Microsoft’s Zune HD, as well as HTC’s Touch HD and Touch Pro2.

Currently the iPhone and iPod touch do not exceed 480i and 480p (respectively) in terms of video resolution. However, the next iPhone and iPod touch will enable full HD playback, with 720p and 1080i output modes.

Multiple options will be given to users to get HD video onto their TV, via iPhone and iPod. First, consumers will be able to store HD shows on their devices directly. However, considering the limits of flash storage, this is a time consuming process. Enter Bonjour. Apple will also provide the ability for users to plug their iPhone into their HDTV, and gateway onto a user’s Wi-Fi network, and access their entire iTunes library on their HDTV.

The end result is that a user can sit at their HDTV, using an Apple AV Dock and an Apple Remote, controlling their iPhone much as they do an Apple TV today. This ensures that a new iPhone owner will be able to purchase, for under $100, all the equipment needed to access (via the iPhone) all of their computer-stored HD content, on their HDTV.

A welcome and timely upgrade if true.  We aren’t so sure how well HD Video will stream over Wifi to the new iPhones.  They’ll also have to have some serious video muscle in them.  We’ll believe it when we see it.

According to Ben Lorica from O’Reilly, "Books as Apps" is the fastest growing segment of application developement in the App store.  Here’s what’s happening: Instead of just selling an eBook through Amazon and the other online distributors, Publishers (with help from developers like Scrollmotion) are creating their own app out of a book.  They can then sell the app with all of the freedom that Apple has allowed its other developers.   The "Books as Apps" category has grown 280% in the last three months alone and is threatening to overtake categories like Entertainment and Games.  Read more.

We told you last week about the PeaPod, a small electric powered "neighborhood vehicle" with green creds and anemic top speeds.  At the time, Peter E. Arnell, the man behind the name of the vehicle, rambled though the car’s use of an iPhone as the center of the navigation and entertainment system – which we thought was innovative.

He neglected to mention that the iPod or iPhone, with its special PeaPod application, could also function as the car’s ignition system.  We’re not sure exactly how the functionality would work (what if someone else jailbreaks and steals the app?  Or what if your iPhone breaks an you have to get a new one with new serial number?) but the worst case scenario, you are loosing a 25MPH vehicle.  You can always hop on a bike and chase down the perps to get your car back.

We know the story with Sling on the iPhone is turning into an ugly one. Still want to get quality TV on your iPhone?  Good news!

According to SAI, there is a Hulu app coming to the iPhone and it is "BAD ASS". 

Hulu is in the process of developing an app for Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone and iPod touch, we have learned from a plugged-in industry executive. The app is coming soon (within a few months) and is "badass" — as excellent as Hulu’s Web site. Video will work over both wi-fi and 3G[nice!], we’re told.

We absolutely love the sound of this and would even be happy to throw a few bucks toward the developers.  It will be interesting to see what AT&T thinks about streaming not Uverse video all day over their network.  Something tells us, it isn’t going to be as easy as it seems.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgZs3a74rX8&hl=en&fs=1]

BGR is reporting some interesting ZuneHD specs, some of which look pretty solid.  Notably, it would be the first mainstream device with NVIDIA’s Tegra ARM chips that are supposed to blaze.  Also, a large, touch OLED screen would be a first in a mainstream electronics device as well.  We’ll have to wait until August to see if Apple will match these so far imaginary specs.

•  ~3.6-inch OLED full toudchscreen [iPod=3.5 inch]
• NVIDIA Tegra powered [Damn!]
• 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB versions
• HDMI Connection to stream straight to your TV
• HD Radio
• Web browser
• Wi-Fi compatible, with wireless marketplace[O RLY?! is this thing going to run WINMOB?]
• Released, early fall
• International release of the Zune device itself
• Home AV packs, Car packs, Charge packs

Also, wtf is HD radio?

The Wall Street Journal iPhone App (iTunes link) just hit the iTunes Store.  We’ve downloaded and are looking through it as we type.  It isn’t full of content yet but we’re sure more will stream in as time goes on.  Even though the video section only has six videos, we were able to Walt Mossberg’s MobileMe re-review. 

While we generally like the NYTimes content better, the WSJ.app does a lot of things better than their iPhone app (which came out almost a year ago).  The ‘photo flipping’ of articles is great and the video works really well as well.  A very positive, polished first experience.

If you are a fan of the Journal, this app will make a great addition to your reading collection.  (and the articles are free!)

MacRumors today details a series of patent applications filed by Apple which deal with motion and the iPhone.  The first patent details movement as an input method.  The example they use is flicking the phone to step through contacts.  The iPhone already uses such an interface for "shake to shuffle" music as well as apps like Urban Spoon use this type of gesture to pick a random restaurant in the area.

Next, Apple details an idea of making the lettering/ GUI choices bigger while the iPhone detects it is in motion.  This would make the iPhone easier to use while jogging or (hopefully not) driving.  The example they cite is the contact list which enlarges as it detects motion (image below).

Perhaps most interestingly, however, a reader points out that Apple has a front facing camera on the patent application, meaning that we’ll hopefully see this feature for video chatting in an upcoming model, maybe even in June?  It is labeled "180" in the image below right above the earpiece.

Uggghhhh!!!

Boy Genius tipsters say that the Slingplayer for iPhone was rejected by Apple/AT&T today.  This whole Slingplayer saga has been a huge bust for us, and if true, the rejection would be a fitting end to this circus. 

First of all, it has been almost a year since the App Store opened. Sling is just getting around to submitting an iPhone App now. We had a Windows Mobile version working almost two years ago (and it still works today!).   It even works over EVDO on Sprint’s network. Another streaming video app, Joost was able to make an iPhone app in a matter of months. What took Sling so long? CBS and MLB also had no problems making applications that stream video over WiFi.

Next, Sling decided it wanted to get some extra upgrade revenue out of iPhone owners so they said it would need some extra horsepower to make smaller resolution, iPhone encoded videos (Never mind that Windows Mobile devices have worked for years).  If you didn’t have the latest hardware, you’d need to upgrade.    We’ll say it again, they needed more power to make smaller resolution videos.   They were selling upgrades to iPhone owners saying they wouldn’t be able to use their iPhones to watch Sling broadcasts.  How many iPhone owners paid money to upgrade and now aren’t going to get an app?

Next, if the rumor is true,  Apple would have no reason to reject such an app. This is clearly the work of AT&T (are you as sick of them as we are?).   How much AT&T horse54!t do iPhone owners have to take? The question that immediately comes up is: why can’t Sling make the app WiFi only?  Are they worried about Jailbreakers allowing Sling to work over AT&T’s network? 

And finally, and this really makes us ill, AT&T is rumored to have a video service of its own coming to the iPhone soon. This could easily be their way of cutting out any competition.

Sling,  if you are listening, how about we make a truce? Put your app in that Cydia  Jailbroken apps repository, and let all your Slingboxes work with the iPhone app. Then charge us a nominal fee of 10 or 20 bucks to use the application. We’ll be square.   That’s more money than you charge your Symbian and Windows mobile customers and you’ll sell a lot more boxes.

Cool?

Update: from publicknowledge.org from last week,

Quietly, last night, AT&T revised its wireless plans. In the latest changes to the service terms, it looks like AT&T is trying to exempt its own video services but prohibiting services like the Slingbox or other video web sites. See, this change (changes emphasized):

This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, customer initiated redirection of television or other video or audio signals via any technology from a fixed location to a mobile device, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices is prohibited.

Sling never had a chance to work over AT&T.  So why the rejection?

Update 2 :BGR says Sling says that they “have had no word from Apple.” Yay!

We are just going to pull a quote from a Beyond 3D forum that we find quite interesting and let you all draw your own conclusions. We’ve covered the iPhone 3 processor race in more detail here.

With regard to the [iPhone] processor, I see Samsung have rather QUIETLY released a Cortex A8 App Processor , the S5PC100. Doing a google returns a grand total of 10 hits. There has been no press release for the product that I can find, and none of the tech websites have discussed it. It is not listed AT ALL under the app processor section of their website:-
http://www.samsung.com/global/busine…Processor.html

However there is a brochure available:-
http://www.samsung.com/global/busine…ure_200902.pdf

Arm have started to use this processor as a comparision point for Moorestown:-
http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_…DevCon2008.pdf See page 24.

I hear also that there is another variant called the S5PC110, with gets a grand total of 1 hits when googled. Note that samsung never published ANY data on the MBX-ed processor used in the iphone. I think that if the processor in the next gen is samsung, this could be the likely candidate, a customised version with SGX graphics core. The one caveat is that there is no hint or information as to how long this processor has been available. The samsung brochure is dated Feb ’09, the ARM .PDF however is dated Oct ’08 which references chip size and both operational and standby power times.