Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Steve Jobs Passed...

Apple's page on Steve Jobs...

Which iPhone 4S Is Best For You?

Let's face it.  The iPhone 3GS is there at "free" because Apple wants to cover all basis from free and up.  It's why the iPhone 4 with 8 GB is at $99 and the iPhone 4S from $199 to $399.  But I'm telling you.  Get the iPhone 4S.  And if there is Sprint in your neighborhood, go with Sprint.

Apparently, this Cult of Mac (who I'm upset with right now because they have been so wrong with the information they've been pushing about the iPhone 5) post thinks you should get a 16 or 32 GB white 4S through Sprint.  I'm gonna leave the color and size up to you.  However, they did make a very good case with iCloud:  cloud storage could alleviate some storage issues.  

So, it has me thinking about whether I need a 32 GB model anymore.  However, I still have to see just how well iCloud services me first.  

See, I don't just take a lot of pics. I also take a lot of videos to the chagrin of my family and friends.  And they're all such pretty people too.  It's a damn shame.  

And with iPhone 4S capable of 1040p video capture versus 720p on the iPhone 4, I think I might need more storage than the 16 GB I've got on my iPhone now.  My hope is that I can find a way to offload some of that to a third party storage of my iCloud storage.  If I can do that, that would go a long long way in help me figure out just how to manage with 16 GB.  

you might think 16 GB is a lot for video.  True.  But as you know, 16 GB on the iPhone is shared with other data like iOS, music, apps, docs, and books.  So, we'll see just how well iCloud works for users who need more than 16 GB. After all, iCloud is suppose to help with the issue of space.

Otherwise, 32 GB iPhone 4S is probably the safest way to go.  

As for the 64 GB model, well, it's probably an overkill for a majority of iPhone users.  And that might be something to consider if you also carry with you a lot of video and games that you get from iTunes.  In that case, 64 GB might not be enough.



Microsoft's Line-Up For XBox Video

Here's a list of participating providers and studios that will be offer their services and contents for the Xbox.  All of this is from a deal Microsoft announced earlier today.

I'm like ESPN, HBO, Manga, and BBC.  

There are a few like AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon that are participating. I'm not sure what they are bring to the table.  Their channels?  That would be good.  Perhaps, this is why Dish Network offered its Blockbuster streaming a week or so ago.  

And then you've got the old ones like Hulu and Netflix.  Now, this is competition.

I am trying to see just how Apple and Google will try to counter this.  I see Google offer similar services for Google TV.  Apple?  Maybe these individual services can be persuaded to write apps and stream their video on iOS devices including Apple TV.

I Love Apple Rumors And Will Continue To Read Them But They Owe Readers Explanations For Each Piece Of Info That Did Not Pan Out


Some on Wall Street are afraid that Apple’s iPhone 4S has given a window of opportunity to other mobile platforms.  And they could be right.  But it is also Wall Street who starting on this window of opportunity with their wild predictions that looked like they’re reading the same rumor sites we all are, talks about supply chain checks that never panned out, and information from questionable sources who probably have their own agendas.

Take the WSJ and BGR combo that said the iPhone 5 will be a Sprint exclusive.  Yeah, not only was there no iPhone 5, the only exclusive that remains is the iPhone 3GS that AT&T is selling.

Here’s a list of rumors that Gawker put together of. All are major FAILs.

So far, this morning, few sites if any issued retractions or apologies for disappointing their readers.  After all, a few of them even offered up their information as “exclusives” like Boy Genius Report.  Okay, BGR I get but WSJ, Bloomberg, and NYT?

Journalism is lead.  Long live rumor blogging.

Microsoft Considers Courting Yahoo Once Again

I'm not sure why Microsoft wants Yahoo this badly.  After all, they've got a search and ad seal with them already. 

Maybe it has to do with the international reach of the Yahoo properties or some kind of hidden value.  The question for Yahoo's board is if they make a deal this time around or not.  Since Microsoft's last offer, Yahoo has lost billions in market cap and with its CEO firing debacle, things don't look to get better any time soon.

What's interesting is that Microsoft is looking at a partner to go after Yahoo.  As cash rich as Redmond is, putting down $25 to $30 billion is still a large chunk of dinero.  

Money and valuation aside, core Yahoo guys need to know that if they sell, they have a buyer who can allow Yahoo to flourish and bring benefits to the new company.

So, who would this partner be?  A domestic company?  An international one with better reach like Alibaba?  

It'll be interesting to see where this goes and how it affects mobile.  I know this.  Perhaps, it's time for Jerry Yang to sell out and put his time and energy into something new.  

Source:  Reuters.

Interest In iPhone 4S At One British Chain Surpassed iPhone 4 A Year Ago

Phone4u, a large British phone store said interest in the iPhone 4S has already surpassed those of the iPhone 4 from a year ago.  In fact, it's double that of the iPhone 4.

Not bad for a disappointment.

Source: Electronista.

Microsoft Moves Leaps And Bounds Forward With Digital Content Deal That Includes HBO, Comcast, BBC, AT&T, Verizon, And More


Microsoft just announced a deal with a variety of media companies and providers to push content on the Xbox Live.  So, yeah, once I get a TV, I could be looking at buying an Xbox as well.

It's like Gigaom said, companies are realizing that they need to provide content and access in ways that they haven't been used to.  And provide means for users to view those content wherever they are.

And even if you're not an Xbox or Microsoft fan, you have to get excited about this.  This really socks the likes of Apple, Google, and Netflix where it hurt.  And to fight back, anyone else competing with Microsoft has to make similar deals or find other ways to compete.

We're looking at BBC, HBO, WB, Fox, Bravo, and Syfy to name a few. There are even other international channels as well.

I'm sure this is just the start and we all look forward to a more open access to content, not to mention, more cord cutting if Microsoft brings all this to Windows Phone.

iOS Needs A Desktop Environment When Plugged Into A Monitor

It is time for Apple to give us a much needed features that I think many users are not aware they need: for them to plug their iPhone into a...