Brazilian Manufactured iPhones Now On The Market - How Did that Happen?

News now that iPhones made in Brazil are on the market. With the statements made that jobs like manufacturing consumer electronics not coming back to the US, specifically attributed Steve Jobs to President Obama, we have to wonder how is Brazil about to get Apple and Foxconn to invest in a local manufacturing plant?

Now, let me put this out: can Apple do something like this in Mexico? Or maybe the US? We can forget about blue states like California but how about red states like Texas?

Foxconn likely received a large incentive from the national and local government to do this. At the same time, we have to wonder just how they can achieve the infrastructure to do this.

Labor issues aside, I like to see government officials look into seeing how this was achieved and how feasible is this go duplicated in the US.

My guess is that even with the technology and logistics solved, special interests like labor is going to make things very difficult to convince Apple or others to invest in an infrastructure to build iOS devices here.




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Apple IIc Running OS X - Sorta

We have an old Apple IIc in the garage. Last I checked, it still booted up. Also, last I checked, it was still running BASIC. And yet, someone found a way to get OS X to run on it. HOW?!

There is a G4 Mac Mini in there. Not sure why they didn't fit the newer and slimmer Mac mini in there if they're going to go through all this trouble. Anyway, this has me thinking about dusting off the old IIc and fire it up and relive my childhood.

More at Mental Hygiene.

 

Friday Movie: Avengers!!!

It's been a while sense we added a Friday movie.  This week, it's none other than the Avengers, 2nd Trailer!

If you've not seen the first one, go duckduckgo it your self.  Okay.  I'll post it for ya.  This is the first must see 3D movie, since, well, Avatar really.  One that I will eagerly pay whatever the amount they'll be charge us this summer.

Enjoy!

The Avengers - Official Trailer 2 by DailymotionTrailers

Here's the first trailer!

The Avengers by teasertrailer 

 Have a great weekend!!!

Note:  sorry about the ads at the beginning of the video. I think it's kinda dumb...what can you do?

Throttling Might Not Be Bad If It's 3G Speed

Let me be very clear.  Unlimited in my world, presumably yours as well, means just that:  unlimited.  However, in the wireless industry, especially for our esteemed GSM carriers, AT&T and T-Mobile (they deserve each other by the way - not in a merger but when you wish them ill) has a very different definition of unlimited.  However, if users are throttled from 4G down to 3G, will you be pissed?

I read this GiGaom post on the possibility that AT&T might sunset EDGE.  So, if that happens, does it mean that users who get the nasty text from AT&T are forced to go at a slower 3G speed when EDGE goes away?

T-Mobile is doing something similar as it attempts to move from its current 3G (not buying the 4G nonsense) to LTE by 2014 - there were reports in late 2011 that some users were getting 3G speed on the T-Mobile network when they ought to be getting EDGE only.

Time will tell just how this plays out.  I'm more interested in how the unlimited data plan users will be impacted by this.

Google's Nexus Tablet To Be Called "Play"?

Is this Google's Nexus tablet?  Probably not but we all know it's coming.  There are rumors abound.  I reckon it's something that we will be paying a lot of attention to.  So far, Android tablets have had their collective butts handed to them by Apple's iPad.

It was only Amazon's Kindle Fire that has found some success in blunting Apple's dominance in the tablet market by finding a sweet spot, $200 to be exactly, that many consumers found palpable.  There is talk that Google is looking to enter that portion of the market with its own 7" Nexus tablet rather than go head-on with Apple's 10" iPad.

Android Community is asserting that Google could possibly call the tablet "Nexus Play".  I wonder how RIM will feel about that. I look for Play to come out by summer to fall.  However, keep in mind that many other tablet players, including Android competitors to the Play will likely be unveiling their own 7-8" tablets around that time.

To complicate things in a great manner, Windows 8 tablets should be out around fall.  Even better, I predict that Apple will also be joying the sub-10" tablet market with an 8-9" screen.  The iPad 3 will be out in a week or two and it will certainly be interesting how Google's competitors (including other Android participants) respond to the Play.

Start saving up, folks!

To Punish Apple's Copycat Competitors Like Samsung, Apple Should Pre-Announce An Unknown and This is Now

It’s hard not to get into the he said/she said battle going on between Apple and its competitors in the smartphone and tablet market.  Above all, I’m a mobile tech fan.  I’m not an Apple or a Google can do no wrong kind of fan.  They can and they do all the time and I try to point it out when possible.  Still, you have to be skewed to not think Apple’s iPhone and iPad has not given birth to some copycat devices.  As for the copying part, I'm with Apple on this one.

Yeah, Samsung quickly comes to mind.  In fact, I have to say that Microsoft’s Windows Phone and upcoming Windows 8 is as different from the iPhone, iPad, and iOS as they come.  So, I’ve got a plan that could really put a hurt on Apple’s copycat competitors.

On March 7th when Apple unveils the next iPad, there is a chance that Apple will unveil the next upgrade to its Steve Jobs’ hobby, Apple TV.  Go one step further.  Announce it’s forth coming iTV, Apple own HDTV, if all the rumors about it is true.

My thinking is that Apple’s own HDTV probably isn’t ready yet.  We’re maybe 6-9 months away from seeing if unless Apple really has done a great job keeping it under wraps.  Let’s assume that I’m write about the timetable and that there is actually a revolutionary HDTV that Apple has been working on.

By announcing it months ahead, Apple could really freeze the television market.  Anyone who sells a TV, from the manufacturers to retailers, and accessories like set-top boxes from cable or sat companies to Roku devices, will take a huge hit during those two or three quarters.

You want to know the kind of weight a half trillion dollar company with $100 billion in cash can throw around on the economy, this is it.  HDTV sales from Samsung, Sony, Sharp, LG, Toshiba, or anyone else Apple’s iTV will be competing with will just plummet.  And Apple’s own sales won’t be affected at all except for its hobby, which managed to sell only two million units in 2011.

Tim Cook only has to go on stage and say that the iTV is coming, it’s revolutionary, and it’ll be very competitive.  And watch the hurt begin for Apple’s competitors begin. That'll teach them to try and copy Apple.

Benefits Of An iTV Pre-Announcement.  Let's forget about Tim Cook sticking it to Google, Samsung, or anyone else for a moment.  There could be some halo effect to letting the consumer electronic market know that the iTV is coming.

I reckon iTV will run a variant of the iOS like the current Apple TV.  With that said, there is likely going to be a lot of integration between the various iOS devices with the HDTV like the iPhone and iPad.  If you're a potential tablet buyer who is choosing between an iPad or a competing tablet like the Tab or Playbook, knowing that you'll get more mileage out of the iPad because of the Apple TV and iTV integration could sway you towards Apple's products.

And as if an updated iPad isn't enough, such a move will allow Apple to market its ecosystem to new customers and future iTV buyers.

Apple's Cash: No Dividends, No Stock Buybacks, Or Acquisitions Just Because Apple Can

“There will be a special guest…” is the only thing that is mentioned on the invitation for Apple’s 2025 special event.  And on the day of the keynote, Tim Cook goes on stage and tells everyone just how Apple just added another $30 billion in cash just in the last quarter.  He makes a joke about how a Starbucks grande latte now costs $15 and money ain’t what it used to be and receive a chuckle from the audience.

Then he said that Apple has been working on something really special and it would change just about every industry and market in the world – military, labor, and even education.  Audience is quiet, on the edge of their seat, all waiting in anticipation.  They expect Tim Cook to bring on Phil Schiller to unveil this next Apple product.  But he doesn’t. Tim goes on to talk about the industrial revolution and the automobile and then it’s about the telephone and personal computer.  He spoke fondly about the old iOS devices – iPhones and iPads.  And he finally touched on the revolution that wearable gadgets that Apple ushered in and bring new meaning to the “roaring 20s”.