Analysts see iPhone remaining exclusive to AT&T, spurring sales of anti-depressants

Filed under: iPhone

Those among you hoping for an impending dissolution of AT&T's exclusive hold (or testicular constriction, if you will) on the iPhone may want to sit down before reading the following words. According to AppleInsider, two separate analysts are making similar predictions that the iPhone will remain shackled to AT&T's network, offering the iPad-AT&T partnership as evidence. It's ok, I wept too.

Vijay Jayant, of Barclays Capital, was quoted as saying "(The) launch of Apple's iPad on AT&T's network is a vote of confidence in AT&T's network by the equipment maker." I don't know which part of that statement I find more shocking and disturbing. The possibility of his prediction being accurate, or the notion that someone has confidence in AT&T's network? That's infreakingsane! Jayant, however, sees this pact lasting only through the remainder of 2010, as do the folks at Credit Suisse who echoed similar projections last week. I suppose we can hold out hope for another 10 months.

Personally, I'm going to deny this rumor exists in hopes of preventing its materialization. I cast thee out, demon, and unhear your blasphemy!

Analysts see iPhone remaining exclusive to AT&T, spurring sales of anti-depressants originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analysts see iPhone remaining exclusive to AT&T, spurring sales of anti-depressants originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple is the third largest smartphone maker

Filed under: iPhone

Apple is now the world's third largest smartphone producer, coming in behind Nokia and Research in Motion. IDC's latest report from its Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker cites continued interest in the iPhone and Apple starting to offer the device in China as major driving forces behind the growing dominance in the smartphone world.

Apple shipped 25.1 million iPhone units in 2009, 8.7 million of those in the fourth quarter. By comparison, Nokia shipped 67.7 million device units throughout the year with 20.8 million in the fourth quarter alone. Manufacturers Motorola and HTC round out the top five smartphone makers. It's worth noting that while Apple still trails RIM and Nokia by unit sales, by some estimates the company already surpassed Nokia in Q3 of 2009 by generating more profit from handset sales than any other manufacturer.

A similar report released by AdMob at the end of January also shows the increasing use of the iPhone around the world. The amazing thing is that Nokia, RIM, Motorola and HTC all produce multiple devices while Apple has leapfrogged over into its position with just a single flagship phone, the 3GS. Motorola, which had fallen off the top five list in the past year, scrambled back onto it with the introduction of the Droid. Google's now entering the market, and Symbian is still very strong in Africa and Asia. It'll be interesting to see how Apple fares against these smartphone competitors in the next year.

[Via Wired]

Apple is the third largest smartphone maker originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple is the third largest smartphone maker originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone OS 3.2 Beta 2 Released to Developers

Report says Apple gained U.S. smartphone market share

According to a ComScore report, Apple's U.S. market share grew by over one percent in December.

AT&T updates Navigator app for the 5th time

Filed under: Software, iPhone

Hot on the heels of the Navigon update, AT&T is adding more features to its subscription based Navigator app for iPhone [iTunes link]. This update includes 'shake-to-go,' which allows users to shake their iPhone at any time while in an AT&T Navigator menu screen; the phone will automatically initiate a route to a pre-designated "home" address the user has set. This doesn't work while in navigation mode, so there's no worry about a pothole or bumpy road initiating a new route during a trip.

Other updated features include:

• Speed Limit Display & Alerts: Navigation screen includes speed limit information and provides visual alerts if the limit is exceeded
• Last Trip Origin: Once a trip is completed, users can easily return to the origin of their last trip by accessing the "Recent Places" menu
• Nighttime Maps: The brightness levels of map screens are adjusted for nighttime driving for easier viewing
• Improved Route Avoidance Options: Drivers may now choose to avoid routes that make use of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes or choose to avoid routes that include toll roads
• Improved Pedestrian Mode: Users will be able to clearly identify when they are navigating in pedestrian mode with the introduction of a new pedestrian icon on the map screen

All current subscribers will get the new features free of charge. The app, which was developed for AT&T by TeleNav, costs US$9.99 per month, or $69 a year. The maps on this app are not present on the iPhone, so to use it you will have to have a good cellular signal and the maps will be downloaded as needed.

The latest version is 1.5i and current owners should be able to download the latest build from the iTunes store.

AT&T updates Navigator app for the 5th time originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AT&T updates Navigator app for the 5th time originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 2 Now Live

All iPad/iPhone developers out there will be happy to know that if you head over to the Apple Developer site you’ll notice that the iPhone 3.2 SDK beta 2 is now available for your downloading pleasure. The servers are still getting flooded at the moment but you might as well try to get your download on.

Of course this SDK is under a NDA so if you want to know about all of the changes from the previous beta, you’ll have to check it out for yourself. And feel free to share your finding with us in the comments below!

[Via TUAW]

iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 2 Now Live is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Apple Releases iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 2 (for iPad)

Apple has released to developers the iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 2 for iPad. The 3.2 SDK was first released in January so developers could begin adapting their iPhone applications for the iPad.

The SDK supports the 1024x768 screen s...

iPhone SDK 3.2 beta 2 busts loose

You've got to be one of the cool kids that shelled out a Benjamin to get into the iPhone Developer Program to get access, but if you're already a card-carrying member, it looks like you've now got a green light to download beta 2 of the iPhone SDK for OS 3.2. We don't know what's new, changed, or removed, but presumably, most of the updates would center around the sundry changes Apple has made to support the iPad in the latest version of its mobile platform -- so drop us a line and let us know what you find, alright?

iPhone SDK 3.2 beta 2 busts loose originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZoomIt Allows iPhone Users to Access Content From an SD Card [iPhone Accessory]

Ludicrous speed: 56 WPM on the iPhone

Filed under: Humor, Odds and ends, iPhone

I can type fairly quickly on my iPhone, at least in landscape mode -- I average about 30 - 35 words per minute compared to around 77 WPM on a standard keyboard -- but the guy in the video above has gone to plaid with his typing speed. Using an app called iTextSpeed [US$0.99, iTunes Link], this anonymous texting speed demon reaches an incredible 56 words per minute on his iPhone in portrait mode. I have no idea how he does it, particularly in portrait mode; I make an average of one mistake every other word unless I'm in landscape, but the guy in the video, whose thumbs look even bigger than mine, only screws up one word during the entire timed sequence.

A few people grouse about the iPhone's lack of a physical keyboard, but the cyborg-thumbed guy in this video proves that for some of us, it's not an issue whatsoever.

[Via Macenstein]

Ludicrous speed: 56 WPM on the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ludicrous speed: 56 WPM on the iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: iPhone Valentine’s Day apps

It may be easier to find your true love than it is to find a compelling Valentine’s Day-themed app on the App Store.

Most smartphones now have touchscreens, research finds

Several market research outfits have released a bevy of interesting smartphone data this week, highlighted by the Canalys research group's finding that a majority of smartphones being shipped now have touchscreens.

Apple’s iPhone Market Share Still Growing, iPhone 3GS #2 US Best-Seller

PreCentral.net points us to comScore’s latest stats showing Apple’s iPhone market share is still on the way up, going from 24.1% to 25.3%, a 1.2% increase.

Google’s Android, with its Droid on Verizon splash jumped 2.7% (to reach 5.2). Everyone else was in the negative, with RIM down 1% (though still huge at 41.6%), Microsoft down 1% (to 18%), and Palm down 2.2% (to 2.7%).

It’s also important for TiPb to once again point out that Apple’s high margins means that market share likely translates into a higher profit share than most as well. That means, for example, when we see CrackBerry.com boasting about being #1 Q4 IDC results for best selling smartphones, the iPhone 3GS coming in at #2 and the iPhone 3G coming in at #4 (with the Droid at #3 and the Pearl rounding things out at #5), Apple’s bankers are likely much happier, and their R&D department working on iPhone gen 4 and gen 5, much better funded.

Apple’s iPhone Market Share Still Growing, iPhone 3GS #2 US Best-Seller is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Shocking! Repetitive! Higher iTunes Music Prices Slowed Sales

When iTunes Music went DRM-free and “hits” jumped from $0.99 to $1.29 stories soon followed that the higher price point was leading to slower sales… and now that iBooks and publishers aim to increase eBook sales from $9.99 to up to $14.99, MediaMemo is telling them to “beware!”:

Warner Music Group (WMG) said this morning that it has seen unit sales growth at Apple’s (AAPL) iTunes decelerate since the price increase: Industrywide, year-over-year “digital track equivalent album unit growth” was at five percent in the December quarter, down sequentially from 10 percent in the September quarter and 11 percent in the June quarter.

If people have to spend more they’ll buy less? And if they think the price is unreasonably high they’ll buy less still? Shocked. Shocked are we!

The thing is this — under the new 70/30 agency model, publishers can charge what they like. If nobody buys a new bestseller at $14.99 but they do at $12.99, publishers can set that price on iBooks and still get their 70%. They can go back to $9.99 if they want to. Same with music.

Way back when iTunes Store launched, Steve Jobs made it a point to say their competition wasn’t physical media — it was free pirated media. There’s a price point where users will feel it’s cheap enough they don’t even want to bother with the steps involved in pirating eBooks or MP3s, they’ll just click the Buy Now button and thank Apple for the convenience.

That’s the real model.

Shocking! Repetitive! Higher iTunes Music Prices Slowed Sales is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Google Announces Buzz; or Will Social Networking Blend?

Our sibling site Android Central let us know that Google has shoved every social media form you can imagine, from Facebook to Twitter to Foursquare, to — dunno, Friendserjaiku? — into something called Buzz.

After Google Wave, which came off as WikiChat to us, we’re not sure about all this Google-mash, but Phil gives us a pretty good intro:

For starters, go to buzz.google.com, and you’ll be taken to a Web app that lets you see and create Buzz messages. You can see messages from people you “follow” or interact with often, or you can see messages from people nearby.

Personally, I needed one more platform to push my Twitter feed to anyway… What do you think? Want? Will use? Yeahbuwhy?

Videos after the break!

Google Announces Buzz; or Will Social Networking Blend? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

First Look: Brothers in Arms II for the iPhone

Chris Holt sits down with Gameloft's Evan Glee for a first look at the upcoming iPhone version of Brothers in Arms II, a World War II-era combat simulator.

Box.net upgrades iPhone app, announces new API

The cloud-based collaboration and file-sharing company unveiled a new version of its iPhone app, new integrations with partners, and more.

iBlueNova (iBluetooth 2) Will Allow iPhone Users to Transfer Files Via Bluetooth

Not All Major Publishers Reportedly On Board With Agency Model for eBook Pricing

TBI Research reports that not all major book publishers are enamored with the "agency model" being pushed by a number of publishers inspired by Apple's forthcoming iPad tablet device and iBookstore online store to assert more control over their conte...

SD card reader for iPhone might help bridge the photo gap

Filed under: Macworld, Accessories, Hardware, iPhone

It's cool that Apple is getting all cozy with SD cards for the iPad; it helps to sell the idea that the iPad is closer to a MacBook than an iPhone. As useful as an SD card reader is for the iPad, there is one minor hiccup: it probably won't work with the iPhone.

ZoomMediaPlus aims to fill that gap with the ZoomIt SD card reader/application for the iPhone. The ZoomIt is a dongle that plugs in to the iPhone's dock connector and (with the use of Zoom's app) allows you to view and share content stored on an SD card.

According to ZoomMediaPlus, the card reader works in conjunction with its application that can be installed on either an iPhone or iPod touch. The app has a file browser that lets you browse files by group such as documents, pictures, or videos. It's also possible to copy files of any type from an SD card to your iPhone's internal storage.

The ZoomIt iPhone app also has the ability to quickly and easily send photos and documents from the SD card via email. Further, photos on an SD card can be sent via MMS or simply added to the internal photo library.

The ZoomIt SD card reader is available now for pre-order for $49.95US -- which is a savings of over 15% off the final retail price ($59.95US). According to ZoomMediaPlus, pre-orders will begin shipping in April of this year. Of course, by that time, Apple's own SD card reader could be available and surprising us all with iPhone compatibility.

[via Engadget]

SD card reader for iPhone might help bridge the photo gap originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SD card reader for iPhone might help bridge the photo gap originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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