Apple Going Solar?

Imagine having the ability to power your iPhone and iPod using the sun. Apple has apparently filed a patent for a technology that will stack solar cells beneath a touch sensitive screen. This will definitely solve the problem of needing room for the solar cells on the device after allowing for buttons and a screen. It will also allow iPhone and iPod users to charge up their devices without the external charger and could increase battery life. Solar powered calculators and watches have been available for years. Why not a solar powered iPhone and iPod?

Comparing Apples to Oranges

Reports are coming in from Les Echos, a French newspaper, which states Apple is currently pushing Orange to subsidize iPhone prices in order to move more units. So far the sales of French iPhones have been very low coming in at just 825 units each day. Of course since Europeans are typically not accustomed to paying such steep prices (€400 for the phone with a contract requirement) it comes as no surprise that sales are extremely low. If the plan is implemented then French iPhones will be as inexpensive as those in Britain and Germany (€100 with a €90 per month plan).

Much Ado About the iPhone

Rumors about the new 3G iPhone have been widespread since the first hint of the new technology being released. In the first week of April rumors revolved around a new company that will specialize in unlocking the current iPhone models that many assumed was part of a widespread April Fool’s joke. Other falsehoods included plans for Apple to license the iPhone OS to third-party manufacturers. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction where the new 3G is concerned. Newsworthy reports however, did make their way to the crowds including the pictures that developers were showing off at the end of the week claiming them to be the much anticipated 3G makeover pictures that consumers have been waiting anxiously to see.

iPhone Prices Lowered in Germany

This week a German telecommunications company reported that it plans to cut the prices of the Apple iPhones that they carry. The proposed price slash will bring prices down from $629 to just $156. The offer is planned to be implemented on April 7 and run until June 30 according to Deutsche Telekom AG. The offer will be available to T Mobile customers who subscribe to an XL service contract that runs about $140 per month. They also plan to offer a starter service of just $45 per month which will come with an iPhone at $393. Deutsche Telekom AG is one of few operators that are authorized by Apple to distribute the iPhone, and the only carrier in Germany.

Ad Infuse introduces personalized advertising for the iPhone

Ad Infuse, the advertising network best known for its services to integrate ads within video content, has launched a new service allowing advertisers to get their message across to viewers surfing the web on the iPhone’s Safari web browser. The company claims that it is able to optimise formatting depending on the device (iPhone or other handheld gadgets) being used to display the ad content. So if Ad Infuse can deliver all it claims to, it’s likely to be quite an attraction to advertisers – they can display their ads in the most appropriate format depending on the viewers browsing device, have them integrated within video content and keep an eye on which campaigns are most successful with the array of monitoring features Ad Infusion boasts. This is complemented by the fact that the iPhone has enjoyed strong sales since it’s release and a recent survey shows that 7.5% of web users now browse using Mac Operating Systems, including that of the iPhone. This is backed up by the fact that the iPhone was the second largest selling smart phone in the fourth quarter of 2007 second only to the Blackberry. It’s also worth noting that AT&T and O2, the iPhone carriers, have reported that iPhone users seem to be heavy data users – another incentive for advertisers to target to users of Apple’s smart new phone.

The Latest in Satellite Radio for Autos

Satellite radio listeners all hear the same broadcasts at the same time. Radio shows syndicated on terrestrial radio are frequently recorded before they are aired and they are played in different time zones at corresponding times. When satellite radio was first introduced it appeared in cars, trucks and other vehicles first. As time went on, subscribers began to request the ability to listen to satellite radio in other locations. While satellite radio providers researched different ways to adapt the XM antenna so that satellite radio could be enjoyed for home use they also began to introduce smaller portable electronics. Some users have experienced issues with their satellite radio accessories being broken. This can occur as a result of misuse, but electronics can easily become faulty over extended periods of use. Manufacturers have started selling XM replacement power adapters as well as other accessories so that consumers are not required to replace their entire radio systems. Because satellites that orbit the earth are used to transmit radio waves, drivers are free to travel the roads without losing reception. The only thing that effects satellite radio reception are clouds. Usually, subscribers are able to gain coverage once they travel into a different area, but even if they aren't able the music comes back on after a few moments. Satellite radio accessories are readily available, and most consumers are able to do their own installation. Since subscribers are able to buy equipment easily they can listen to satellite radio in multiple vehicles. When given the choice between AM/FM radio and satellite radio, drivers are more prone to choose the latter. This is because they aren't forced to change the dial when a commercial comes on. Since satellite antennas are not large or bulky they are rarely damaged during collisions. Car manufacturers are using new designs and some are working on new methods to hide satellite antennas altogether. For new drivers, satellite radio isn't an option at all. Sound system quality is improving and so are radio station choices. Portable satellite radio systems can be powered with batteries, which means that listeners do not need to miss a moment as they transition from their vehicles into their homes. On the web, satellite radio subscribers can listen to live streams, call into radio shows and find recordings of past shows. Given the massive progress that satellite radio providers have made thus far it is inevitable that satellite radio will continue to prosper.

Keeping up with the iPhone

There were two distinct trends that came out of the Mobile World Congress show for 2008, held in Barcelona. The first is an assurance that manufacturers are introducing touch screen devices like the iPhone carries. The other was simply that everyone in the world is very eager to see what the new Android phones will look like when they are released. While there were not many official phones that will offer the Google Android system platform, there are several chip manufacturers who showed up to boast their prototypes and show off their proof-of-concept phones in Barcelona. Among those were Freescale, Marvell, NEC Electronics, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments. These manufacturers had a variety of devices that showed what the Android phone is expected to look like when it is released later in the year. It should also be noted that what the models mostly proved is that the specifications for the Android phones can be built and deployed quickly. While the Apple iPhone roll-out has gone basically as expected, with only one vendor supplying specified numbers to a variety of networks, the Android roll-out is expected to be far more chaotic. This expectation comes from the fact that the Android phone is designed to work anywhere. It will work first on any GSM network and once users have toggled with it for a spell, it will work anywhere else. This fact will make it very difficult for operators to predict where the demand will come from and how significant demand may be. While Internet routing and fiber trunks are normally scaled far ahead of demand, mobile networks will be forced to route much more data both on and off the fiber for new clients. Equipment will need to be bought without the assurance of a quick return. However, because of the iPhone network operators will have no choice in the matter. In the United States, Verizon and Sprint are seeing their best customers heading over to AT&T because of the iPhone. In order to keep up with customer demand, these companies must learn to compete with the iPhone’s capabilities.

University jumps on even bigger bandwagon: free iPhones and MacBooks to students

Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops, Portable Audio, Portable Video Oklahoma Christian University? Sure as hell (woops) haven't heard of it either, but they must be the Cal to Abilene Christian University's Stanford (or sub your fav rivalry here) as they seem ready to pony up the cash necessary to fund the next ...

Working Class Heroes iPhone Case

Usually iPhone and the iPod Touch cases are shiny and sleek, typically more interested in function as well as fashion than anything else. However, the label Working Class Heroes is offering a refreshing alternative to the norm. (more…) Share This

Select AT&T stores selling refurbished iPhones?

Filed under: Cellphones Oh sure, Apple's been offering up a couple of refurbished iPhones on its own web store for some time now, but actually finding one in stock has proven to be quite a challenge. Nevertheless, a purported internal memo has explained that select AT&T stores in the New ...