No LTE For iPhone Until 2011

Assuming that Apple keeps the iPhone exclusively on ATT through 2012 as some have predicted, we are not looking at the iPhone gaining LTE wireless service (next generation wireless) until 2011. 

Cult of Mac reports that ATT has said trials will begin in 2010 but no rollout until 2011.  So, what is an iPhone user to do?  Wait?  Upgrade now?  

Actually now is the best time since a two-year contract will take  you through 2011.  Sure, it's mid-Feb now so you'll want to wait until June for the next iPhone revision.  Although, I did get my 16GB iPhone last Feb and loved every bit about it.

Personally, 3G is quite good and I'm more interested in what new apps and features Apple is likely to impress us with than extra speed we get.  3G over Edge is already pretty good for now. 

It's always the UI, OS, features, and designs that has put the iPhone head, should, and body above everything else on the market.  

Via Cult of Mac

Dataviz Taking Sign-ins For Documents-To-Go For iPhone

MacNN is reporting that Dataviz is readying its flagship product, Documents-To-Go, for the iPhone.  For folks who don't know about Dataviz, DTG is an application that a lot of Palm users are familiar with.  It's compatible with Microsoft Office data formats and allows users to create and edit documents on the go.

Since the iPhone came out, there has been no office suite app for the iPhone.  We have different spreadsheet editors and word processors but nothing as unifying as DTG.  Perhaps one of the main reason is the lack of copy-and-paste function.  And yes, DTG for the iPhone will have copy-and-paste.

Just last week, Google enabled spreadsheet editing for Google Docs for Webkit browsers.  So, for iPhone mobile warriors who need (want) to work on the go, the time is near.

Please visit the following links for more details and pics.  Personally, I had hoped that iWork for iPhone would be available but from what I see, DTG is pretty cool and badly needed.

• MacNN
• MacCityNet

You can sign in for notification here.  There's no word if this is for the beta or when it's finally in the app store.

Note:  You can bet this app won't be $0.99.  

Apple Should Buy Game Studies

With almost $30 billion in the back, this is what I would recommend ot Apple:  buy Sega.  What do you think?

Yesterday, Cook was quoted as saying Apple has $16 billion more than they really need to run Apple effectively.  So, why not get into the gaming business with $3 billion cash?  It's about a quarter of work given the cash flow that Apple was able to put in the bank last quarter. 

With exclusives from Sega for Apple TV, the iPhone platforms, and Macs, it stands to reason that Apple has a much better chance to really rock with gamers.  Outside of Nintendo, Sega, a former gaming hardware powerhouse, has been know to a great innovator in games and hardware.  Before Nintendo came out with the Wii, a lot of folks thought Apple should go in take Nintendo off the market.  I think the same can be said of Sega.

Plus, Sega has a brand that is known throughout the world.  Sure, Sega can still develop for other platforms but with Sega games in its profolio, it stands to reason that this will give gamers a reason to think that Apple is serious about their needs. 

And with Apple, Sega truly has someone with deep pockets, established platforms, and the management to really grow and innovate.  Who wouldn't want to see a Sega-powered Apple TV?  And is anyone really naive to believe that Apple's hobby won't one day include gaming?  With Sega gaming out of the block, it'll really bring Macs and Apple TV up another level.

And have anyone noticed that Apple has only a couple of apps for the iPhone?  One is the remote and another is a Keynote app.  No games.  Sega can correctly that easily.

Here are a few properties that Sega will bring to the iPhone and Mac:

• Sonic and buddies - obviously - with this, you've got the classic games.  And how about creating a reality world?  Parents, kids, and big kids (like myself) will love that!
• Total War series
• RPGs and MMOs -Phantasy Star series
• Sega Rally
• Sports games
• Ecco - live to see the little guy back on the iPhone. 

And while Sega has a lot to offer Apple, don't think Apple doesn't have a thing or two to teach Sega.  I think this can work to be beneficial for both companies.  Plus, geographically, this will offer Apple an in with the Japanese market as far as marketing Apple consumer gears to Sega's home market.  Once you start putting Sega in Apple stores in Japan, you can potentially attract a lot of folks who normally have no need to visit Apple stores. 

There are other studioes that Apple can potential pick up without breaking a sweat.  EA, Take-Out, Konami just to name a few but Sega is the big one.  Maybe with the other studios, Apple can throw some money out there and get gaming development going for the Mac and iPhone.  From the look of things, they eventually will do that (and have) but it stands that Apple can nudge things along to speed up the process.

Note: Right now, it's looks pretty pathetic that Sega has only one game for the iPhone considering how heavily Apple promoted Sega's role and iPhone gaming.

Lost iPhone

It hurts when  you read the title of this post, doesn't it?  Well, I had to hear it directly from an acquaitance.  To make the story short, it was really his fault for putting himself in that situation.  I won't get into that.

He called me up and asked what I know about lost iPhones.  Well, there were a few cases like this on the Web so we kind of have something to go on.  The guy lives in Taiwan so I'm not sure how the subscriber-provider-Apple relation is like.  To my knowledge, they don't even have an Apple store.

I'll keep you updated on developments.  I've asked him to make sure he did in fact register with Apple or his provider and give them a call and provide them with the IMEI number and serial number.  The hope is that someone will log on with it and they'll be able to track the thief down.

Any tip will be appreciate by the iPhone mobile warrior community at large.

iPod Classic - Just How Classic?

Over the Holidays, I had a $100 coupon for signing up with Audible.com and some leftover credits on Amazon from a while back. So I figure since I'm going to give my jailbroken iPhone away, I'm gonna need a new iDevice.

I was torn between the Classic and the iPod Touch. I ended up with an iPod Touch (8GB - it's a downgrade from the 16GB in my iPhone) because I felt the 2nd generation iPod Touch had a lot of offer expecially with the built-in features - Nike+ and voice recording. And let's not fool ourselves. Apple is prepping for the iPod Touch and the iPhone platform in general for much more than music and games.

Now, 8GB verus 120GB in the Classic. I only considered the Classic because I felt Apple may not continue making it beyond this year. iPod Touch stands at 32GB. We can potentially see a 64GB model in late 2009. Apple might just say "okay, it's got enough storage for 95% of the users and we want to move everyone to the new iPhone/Touch platform".

And it's definitely a possibility considering it's Apple we're talking about. It'll force a wholesale upgrade.

And by then, the Classics, what's left of it, may see its value increase on Amazon or Ebay as a result. Plus, for folks who lamented the fact that Apple didn't increase the storage for the late-2008 Classics, there are now 240GB microdrives that'll fit in these iPods perfectly. Gizmodo has more info for you if you're interested.

Lots an awful lot of music, pictures, and movies. Thirty-six hours of audio and 6 hours (7 hours by some reviewers), it's any audiphile's dreams.

The iPod Touch is awesome but with the Classic's storage and upgradability, it's a music player in its own class. I just hope Apple won't truly turn it into a classic.

Note: You can still get the Apple iPod touch 16 GB or Apple iPod classic 120 GB Black (6th Generation) (Amazon purchased Audible las year). All you need to do is to sign up for Audible for one year and they'll give you a coupon for $100 off an iPod (or other Audible compatible player).

iPhone Game Thoughts: Duck Hunt and Footbal

Macworld reports that Apple pulled Duck Hunt from the app store at Nintendo's request.  Frankly, I'm very surprised by how long it took for Nintendo to make this request.

However, the developer will provide an updated version without infringing on Nintendo's copyright - meaning removing the graphics and music.

Now, sports games.  Today, Macworld wrote an article about football games for the iPhone and iPod Touch.  I thought "wow, how could I have missed those games completely".  I have been complaining about the lack of sports games.

Well, it turned out it's not real football like what we see on the DS or PSP.  No Madden.  Still, it's a great post that I recommend readers head over to read.  Instead of real football, it's finger football or paper football.  Basically, you flick something between a graphical pair of hands set up to look like the goal post to see if you can make the "field goal".

There's a game called "X's And O's" but I hesitate to call it a real football game.

So far, Real Soccer 2009 is the only sports game that is true to being what the specific sport is about.  But for developers out there looking to get into the app store where there isn't a lot of competition, sports games like football, baseball, hockey, and basketball are nonexistent and will millions of iPhone users who are also sports fans, you can probably charge a pretty dollar to get us to purchase and download the games.

Think about it.  We're waiting.

Weekend Updates

Nothing major here but I just want to share my addiction to blogs and updates on all things Apple.

Typically, we get our regular updates.  I'm not going to mention sites I visit here and now because I'll inevitably leave some out and that's unfair.  Suffice to say, I go through a lot of them as I've got them in my Google Reader.

But come weekends, I start to sweat, shake, feeling something's not quite right.  I've provided some posts here but I ended up having a very busy weekend.

On Apple will start writing more weekend posts to carry everyone through until Monday.  Meanwhile, I've updated daily headlines on general mobile issues as well as Apple specific posts that I think you would also be interested in reading about. 

So, visit Mobile Digerati.  I've also started a section on mobile gaming that I know is going to be huge in 2009.