AI, Mobile, and Eveything Around the Cloud

This is huge news if Bloomberg's sources are true.  HTC and Samsung are considering a bid on InterDigital's patents.  Intel too.  We can assuming that just about everyone who were at the Nortel party will be there. Here's the shocker. More at Clouding Around .

The title said it all.  And we've known for weeks that Sprint will be carry the iPhone.  All that remains is whether T-Mobile will be joining the party or not.  And it's kind of late in the game to not hear anything about that. Sprint also will not be getting rid of their unlimited data plans just because the iPhones will soon be taxing its wireless system.  There is no one else who will be able to offer the same deal as Sprint in this respect. I think they'll begin to turn things around. Source:   MacDailyNews .

There was some action in the blog world on Apple’s estimate ship time for it’s products.  Instead of saying how many hours, days, or weeks it takes to ship something, it just says “in stock”.  We don’t know yet what it’ll say if something isn’t in stock, like the forthcoming iPhone. I reckon this is due to competition.  Apple does not want to let it be known how behind they are.  It will allow its competitors to estimate just how well Apple’s products are selling.  By being able to see what the estimates are and with some clever checks of supply lines, competitors can probably come close to knowing about the sell-through level of its products. This change comes at a time when the iPhone 5 is about to launch.  On top of that, Macbook Air competitors, the ultrabooks Intel is pushing, are also due to flood the market, just as soon as they can figure out how to come close to Apple’s Macbook Air prices. Furthermore, "in stock" means just what it means "in...

Retailer businesses using some kind of a handheld to let their employees complete transactions with customers is nothing new.  It's been happening for years.  However, it's Apple's use if iPod touches in their own stores that really got the attention of everyone.  I know, it's unfair but it's Apple.  Everything that they do, even if others have done it before, gets more attention these days. Now, Lowes has joined the mobile revolution and doing it in a big big way.  According to Bloomberg, Lowe's, the second biggest home improvement retailer, will try to use this new coolness to catch up to Home Depot, better serve its customers, and increase efficiency among its workforce.

Why would iPhone 4 sales continue to be strong even as the iPhone 5 is only weeks ago?  This is based on some check from a Wall Street firm.  The answer is simple. I was at the Apple store last weekend trying to get my iPod touch screen fixed.  And it was packed.  Like crazy packed.  the air conditioner was on but folks were everywhere sucking up all the cool air.  The women's store next door was much cooler when you walked by their door. While I was waiting for my Genius appointment, I saw many exchange of money, well, credit cards.  I was trying to see what they were buying.  I saw a few Macbooks flying out of the back.  And strangely, I also saw a section of the store where folks were being helped by their Apple guys with their iPhones. And as waited and walked around the store, I continued to see folks buying iPhones.  Obviously, I was happy for them.  Why not.  At 18 months old, it is still the best mobile device in the wo...

There's chatter this morning, and the good kind that you want to wake up to that Sprint will be be getting rid of the unlimited data plan just because it'll be getting the iPhone as a part of its arsenal against its bigger rivals.  This is very good news.  It shows that for those carriers who have gotten rid of their unlimited data plan, this was about a land grab to for users to pay extra over any data usage and to avoid making sure it has capacity to support its users. I think Sprint's brilliant move to do nothing will help it generate good will and I'll do everything I can to help push folks towards in them in fall - whether they are getting iPhone, Androids, or Windows Phone devices.   After all, what more important to a mobile warrior than unfettered data use.  Over all, this is fantastic news for Android, Blackberry, and Windows Phone users as well.  This fall, we'll see new devices like the Galaxy S II and Mango-based Windows Phones coming out. Note: I kn...

This is my first post from Google's first iOS Blogger app. It is basic. Does pretty much what most bloggers can ask for. I quickly noticed that certain rich text functions are not included nor the ability to include links. Those omissions are very disappointing. Also note in the title that there are some extraneous text. No. I didn't put that there. The blogger app did it all on its own. Regardless, I am glad it is finally here and Google should improve on it in short order. Would be nice if it included social integrations to Twitter, Facebook, and, especially, Google+.

Here is the text of President Barack Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress on the American Jobs Act of 2011. This is lifted from  NYT's page  - the text was provided by the White House prior to the speech.  As usually, the President was eloquent and clear in what he wants to convey.  Now, it's up to Congress to do the right thing. and I'm talking about both parties. Now, the question is whether this will be enough to get us back on the right path. There's even a bit in there for mobile folks about pending patent reform. More at Clouding Around .

I was looking at this Appleinsider post about supposedly cases that point to prove that the iPhone 5 will have a redesigned body. From the looks of things, it appears that the new iPhone will have a bigger screen.  How much bigger?  Not by much, I'm afraid.  Furthermore, the don't expect that a bigger screen, no matter the size, will mean more icons displayed per row or column.  If anything, the icons become bigger and more detailed. What I really like to know is if Apple maintains the Retina Display claim.  And if so, will it happen through the reality distortion field or actually increase the resolution accordingly.  The current iPhone 4 and iPod touch has 326 dpi (dots per inch). Let me tell you.  It makes a big difference.  You'll need to compare a regular iPhone screen, anything before the iPhone 4, and with the Retina Display.  You don't want anything less after that. These questions will be answered in due time, obviously. ...

Interesting post about today's move by Apple to match charitable donations given by employees.  We already talked about that today. What's interest as 9to5Mac pointed out is that Apple's PR confirmed the legitimacy of the information to a blog site.   If this is Tim Cook's new Apple, I like it.  Stil, Tim, don't make it too easy for us either.

DigiTimes is a tech tabloid in Asia that many bloggers love to link to because they get clicks.  But here's where we're somewhat different  We never source directly from DT.  Nor will we link to other blogs unless what they get from DT makes a whole lot of sense ot ourselves There's a post going around about just how much iPhone 5s is making for Apple.  We already know that they're ramping up as quickly as they can.  And despite that, we are going to run into shortages upon launch. My guess is that Foxconn and whoever else Apple might have contracted to make the new iPhones have been doing just this for quite a while now.  And Apple, with Tim Cook as CEO, will probably be pretty bold in make sure that there is ample supply of iPhones since they are selling them so late in the year.   I'm not going to link to any of those blogs with specific number of iPhones that are being produced every day.  They never jive with Apple's on sell-through numb...

We always knew this was going to happen but it looks like Apple thinks now is the right time for this.  An iPod touch 3G is probably going to make its way into our hands.  At least, that's the indication from another source. Apple 'N' Apps is reporting that not only will Apple refresh the iPod touch this fall along side the new iPhone, Apple will be updating the touch with a 3G modem inside.  I figure this would work just like what we now see with the iPad.  3G data only plan without having to sign away our next two-years of mobile need to a carrier.  It'll be a month-to-month deal if you want 3G wireless Internet with the new touch. The big reason for this is because of iCloud and Apple figure by releasing a touch with 3G, iCloud will play an even bigger role than ever.  Most folks who have bought iPod touches in the past, like myself, have tried to avoid the high rates that Verizon and AT&T charges.  It remains to be seen just who Apple will be t...

Facebook gave iPhone users a major update to the app with better sharing settings.  And this would not have happened had it not been for Google+.  G+, while usage growth was not what it was in the first month, continues to grow and I predict it could have some effects on Facebook's iPO plans in 2012. Right now, Facebook is facing some growing pains as it recently did away with its location-based function and deal services.   What the iPhone app is doing is catching up to G+ and allowing users to have access to what we've always wanted.   However, there is still their practice of using our information to augment their revenue.  I'm hoping that Google+ will continue to grow and really hit Facebook where it hurts.  In the end, it isn't about killing Facebook but killing off its privacy violating practices. Source:   Macworld .

Meet Jen-Hsun Huang, CEO of graphics company Nvidia, and he has some strong believes and a whole lot of confidence regarding its future in the mobile realm. First he believes Android tablets will own about 50% of the market while its chip revenue will grow to $20 billion, a ten times jump from today. On top of that, Huang also jabbed rival Intel a bit in this CNet post . He doesn't seem to think Intel is a threat at all with the power hungry Atom chip. Huang does have a lot to be proud of given how Nvidia has transformed from a graphics card provider to a supplier of mobile chips used in many high-end Android devices and most of the Android tablets. Only Apple has more chips because of the volume of iPads sold to date. However, his past boastful predictions have not always panned out. Personally, I am not sure I want to be poking a stick at Intel the way he's doing it now. Remember how AMD had the lead in the multiple-core lead? Well, we know where things are now. Still, I li...

It looks like something is up at T-Mobile.  According to sources, T-Mobile has called an all-day day for Saturday, September 24th.  Little details on this at this time but speculations will be rampant.  It could be about new Android devices or new plans that T-Mobile wants to ready for the Holidays.  Or, I repeat, or, it could be about the iPhone? Let's suppose that is the case here.  What it means is that if T-Mobile wants to chat about the iPhone with its employees, that would mean Apple will be making the announcement that week of, starting September 19th.  Apple typically make announcements on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning around 10 am PST.   Obviously, my speculations are just as valid/invalid as anyone else's at this time.  Things are tough there at T-Mobile and I hope this is the kind of good news that can right the ship over there.  iPhone announcement or not. Source:   TmoNews .

We're huge fans of long battery life.  All of us mobile folks.  That's one thing that we can never get enough of.  It just feels like every other of my posts are about battery life.  Well, it looks like Apple is going to go with thinner and lighter battery for the next iPads.  However, I have to ask this:  what about the battery life? Acorrding to Boy Genius Report via Macrumors , the new batteries will be thinner and lighter but also cost more.  However, the trade-off, these batteries are supposed to be more durable and reliable ( Appleinsider ). Currently, Macbook batteries can last about 1,000 charges before going down to 80% capacity.  While I think that's pretty good, I had always assumed the iOS batteries are equally as good.  And perhaps this new battery is more capable of handling the wear and tear of daily mobile uses.   I had hoped that we would hear from Apple that the systems will become more efficient and allow an...

It's official.  Last week, Sprint released a report debunking any and all of AT&T"s argument for its merger with T-Mobile. And now, Sprint has launched a suit against the deal. Obviously, Sprint is doing this to make sure it doesn't have deal with what is already a worse situation in mobile as far as it subscribers are concerned.  And don't believe for a second that Sprint wants to do the consumer a favor in the name of competition. This suit was inevitable.  Last week, the Department of Justice also filed a lawsuit against the merger. While most experts still believe that the deal will go through because AT&T will sell off assets to please regulators, it probably was going to have to do that anyway.  For AT&T, eliminating T-Mobile does remove a competitor that has been more innovative than the two top wireless providers, in terms of pricing and features.

Are you gaming on in your iOS devices?  I reckon that you are.  And it probably takes up a lot of the time you spend on your iPhone or iPad.  And millions have forsaken the traditional handheld gaming device and have gone with Apple's mobile gaming solution. And this is evident by Gamestop's move to stock up on Apple's iOS devices for this year's Holidays shoppings season.  It makes a lot of sense after all.  PSP are doing okay but not well and it's starting to show its page.  Sony's NGP is in flux – specs, costs.  No one really knows at this point. Furthermore, Nintendo's DSi has not caught on.  While I've appreciated the old games that I can buy and download on my 3DS, I've used it more often as a Netflix player when my iPad is charging.  I've yet to buy a $40 game. Why would I do that when I can get 40 99 cent games or 20 1.99 cent games.  Or…well, you get the picture. Don't be surprised if Gamestop gets into app downloads with its ow...