Apple has applied for a patent for “provisioning” services on a mobile device based on a custom carrier profile:
Carrier provisioning profiles are distributed to computing devices via an activation service during the provisioning process. The carrier provisioning profiles specify access limitations to certain device resources which may otherwise be available to users of the device.
What this all means for the carriers is that Apple could essentially give them control of approved and unapproved features and applications that come on the iPhone at the point of purchase. So if Verizon (or China) were to carry the iPhone and they see fit to remove Wi-Fi, it can be done. Or say AT&T wants you to use their AT&T Navigation application and no other GPS applications — that too can be done. For Apple this means they free themselves from having to create various versions of firmware for each individual carrier.
Sadly for all of us, this could be a very bad sign of things to come. One of the main reasons we love the iPhone is the fact that Apple does not allow carriers to junk up the device with their own bloatware, common on other devices. Unfortunately that may all be coming to an end.
[Thanks for the tip Jeremiah! Via Arstechnica]
This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
Patent Watch: Apple Wants to Lock Down Your iPhone
The PSPgo is Sony’s answer to the iPhone in a post-App Store world, but unfortunately it looks like charging more for poorly ported games is the question. Gizmodo explains the obvious — to everyone but Sony — problem:
You see, PSP Minis can’t have any network or online features. Nor can they support camera peripherals (a major focus of DSiWare innovation) or DLC. Kotaku just reviewed iPhone port Hero of Sparta. On the PSP it costs triple what you’ll pay at the App Store. Their review? “Simplistic controls, muddled graphics and abysmal sounds turn what was a fantastic iPhone game into a oddly disjointed Playstation Portable experience.” Kotaku’s review of Tetris was much better. But you know what? Tetris costs twice as much on the PSP as it does the iPhone.
Just like ATRAC and rootkits (ouch, we know), we’re beginning to wonder if anyone at Sony will ever get this brave, new, post-iPhone world?
This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
iPhone Games Ported to PSPgo Play Worse, Cost More
The Woolworths department store chain in Australia is being taken to court by Apple due to their new logo… looking too much like Apple’s. Apple is required by law to defend their trademarks, lest they lose them, and they’re concerned Woolworth may sell computers (or smartphones?) under the new, Apple-esque logo.
If the stylized W in Woolworths’ logo didn’t have that little leaf on top, we’d think Apple was a little over-litigious. As it is, we’re not sure why the W needs a leaf, or if it looks more like an Apple than the “Great Pumpkin” from Charlie Brown (maybe Peanuts can sue as well?)
Take a look at the comparisons above and let us know how close you think the logos are.
[via AppleInsider]
This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
One of These Woolworths Looks Too Much Like an Apple?
You remember Vonage right? The trailblazing VoiP company is still around and appears at first glance to have instigated a bit of coup in the battle for VoiP calls over AT&T connections. Unfortunately they haven't, at least not yet. See, the free Vonage Mobile app just added to the iTunes App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch has been approved for making international calls over AT&T's cellular network (take
that Skype) in addition to WiFi. Unfortunately, we're not talking about SIP calls over EDGE/HSDPA data. Like the
rejected Google Voice app, if you're out of WiFi range but still have voice service then Vonage Mobile will redirect your international call (entered directly into the App or selected from your address book) to a local access number in the US -- you're then using your AT&T minutes while being charged Vonage Mobile's discounted worldwide calling rates. The app is strictly pay-as-you-go for the moment and will not give free global calling to those who subscribe to Vonage's $25 per month Vonage World plan -- Vonage says that will come before the end of the year. The Vonage Mobile app for BlackBerry only works over your carrier's voice network while the iPod touch app only works over WiFi, naturally. Also, BlackBerry users will revert to Vonage's lower rates anytime they make an international call whereas iPhone users must launch the Vonage application first.
[Thanks,
Ricky B.]
Vonage Mobile iPhone and BlackBerry apps available for download originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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