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Introducing… the iPad Mini!

So far… I am not that impressed with the iPad.  For one… the name… really Apple?  We couldn’t come up with something a little more creative?  I doubt I’m not the only one who thinks this, but isn’t it just a overgrown iPod Touch at this point??

Here are my thoughts on some main points:

• Operating System & Processor: The iPad runs on the iPhone OS and based on the SDK that was released today, will start running on iPhone OS 3.2, which is not currently out to iPhone users.  The power behind the iPad is Apple’s hefty 1GHz A4 processor… the demos show it to be preforming pretty well… although in my opinion, the OS seems to be pretty… lacking.  I’m hoping that future releases will reveal more functionality and capitalize on the potential that this product has.
• No multitasking: Really Apple???  Now, this may just be because it’s an early preview/release of the device… also, I believe this may be because they don’t want to steal too much thunder from the iPhone OS 4.0 update which is expected to be announced in Apple’s March event.  The 1st Gen iPhone was missing a lot that we take for granted now and was complained about for months, even years for a few features: MMS, Copy/Paste, iTunes, App Store, Push Notifications… so I’d expect multitasking, as well as potentially Flash support (not holding my breath on that one), somewhere down the line.  New ways to run “background” apps was touched on in the leaked features of 4.0 last week so hopefully it’ll blow us away!
• Connectivity: Obviously, I expected Wi-Fi, and it makes perfect sense to offer a 3G Cellular model as well (allows them to compete with Integrated Laptops and Netbooks); but what I am surprised by is the plan pricing… $14.99/month for 250 MB, and $29.99/month for unlimited data.  This goes against AT&T’s 5GB cap on the existing DataConnect Plans.  Apple totes the iPhone, iPod Touch, and now the iPad’s ability to access the web and e-mail… over and over again, there is a huge focus on the Internet and e-mail.  These are the main drivers for the amount of data used on these devices… half the price of the current pricing and really unlimited?  I’m a little skeptical… but we’ll see.  With that being said… I have to boast a bit… all you cynics can suck it… Apple chose AT&T – AGAIN!  Get over your delusions of Verizon supporting an Apple product until LTE is in place… and even then, stable.  CDMA is an archaic technology and their network couldn’t support either of these products.  As for their LTE network… talk to me in 2 years when they actually have it working (and again, stable).
• Applications: I am curious to see how current and new applications for the iPhone/iPod Touch will be redesigned to take advantage of a full multi-touch screen.  While I expected Apple to release their iWork suite, iTunes, etc… it’s interesting to see how they adapt the application to focus almost completely on finger gestures with minimal input from a keyboard even.
• iBooks: This one I’m not completely sold on just yet.  One of the main reasons eBooks haven’t quite taken off yet on computers/laptops is due to the screen!  Staring at a monitor or laptop screen for hours is not really good for your eyes.  The Kindle uses electronic “paper” displays which actually uses ink just like books, but displays the ink particles electronically… no glare, sharp text and images… I don’t know how it works but all I know is it looks great and doesn’t hurt your eyes!  We’ll see how well Apple does on this one.
• Customization: I won’t lie… the first thing I noticed was the background image.  Please tell me this is a sign that Apple is finally cluing into our need to customize our iPhones beyond the lock screen wallpaper!
• The Name: Who thought of this… so not kidding… who thought “iPad” would be a good idea?  Don’t you guys bounce these things around the office?  Or better yet… GOOGLE IT?!  Immediately after they announced it, I couldn’t count how many links to MadTV’s iPad skit popped up on Twitter and Facebook.   I mean, I get it… Notepad… iPad… got it… but what about iTablet, or iSlate, or ANY of the other names floating around the Internet.  If anything… you couldn’t see “iTampon” coming from a mile away??? Advertising fail for sure.
• iPhone OS 3.2 SDK: Available today, the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK has been released and includes a few promising features.  Two that popped out at me were the iPad’s external display support via the Dock connector, and File Sharing.  Hopefully these two features will translate to the iPhone as well.  SDK documentation states 3.2 will not run on the iPhone though, so we may have to wait a little bit longer for some of these features (if any)… most likely in 4.0.

I think the iPad, despite the name, has great potential.  I’m excited to see what’s in store for future updates and generations.

Sources:

• MacRumors
• Engadget
• Gizmodo

Can’t wait for next Wednesday’s Apple Event!!!!

Here are some iPhone OS 4.0 features, according to our guy:

• There will be multi-touch gestures OS-wide. (Would make sense for that as the rumored OS for the iTablet is close if not the same as the iPhone)
• “A few new ways” to run applications in the background – multitasking.
• Many graphical and UI changes to make navigating through the OS easier and more efficient. We haven’t had this broken down, but we can only hope for improved notifications, a refreshed homescreen, etc.
• The update will supposedly be available for only the iPhone 3G and 3GS, but will “put them ahead in the smartphone market because it will make them more like full-fledged computers” more than any other phone to date. Everyone is “really excited.”
• The last piece of information is the most vague, but apparently there will be some brand new syncing ability for the contacts and calendar applications.

/via Gizmodo

Since the original iPhone was first launched on June 29, 2007. Since that day, iPhone owners have been waiting with baited breath to get MMS on the iPhone. It made sense that Apple pushed a few items to the side in order to make their launch date. The list of desired features and functionality for the iPhone is quite long; but MMS was always near, if not at, the top. Today, AT&T has finally launched MMS for the iPhone in the US after Apple announced the iPhone 3GS on June 8, 2009. Since then, AT&T has been working to make the experience the best possible and no doubt will have to continue to work hard to keep it up and running since wireless usage triples every year.  Regardless, it’s finally here!  This morning, a Carrier Update was made available via iTunes.  To enable MMS on your iPhone, simply connect to iTunes and click “Check for Update”.  A message will appear* advising you that an update is available and prompts you to install it:

The update will take only a few seconds.  Once completed, restart your iPhone and ta-da!, you’ve got MMS!

*Note: The MMS Update is only available to those running iPhone OS 3.1.

As a coworker said… Welcome to 2003!

I just got an e-mail bulletin (which is also available publicly) that announces MMS for the iPhone!  Now you all have a damn date and can stop complaining!  :-)  Here are the bullet points:

• Today, AT&T announced that it will offer MMS functionality for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS on September 25, 2009.
• At launch, Apple will support MMS for iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS through the iPhone 3.0 software update. MMS will not be supported on original iPhone. If customers desire more info they may contact Apple.
• The MMS functionality will be enabled with a software update on the launch date. Customers can obtain the update from iTunes, just like all other iPhone updates.
• While MMS cannot be provisioned until the launch date, AT&T and Apple will be prepared to help customers with any questions.

Below is the Public Announcement from AT&T:

AT&T’s Public Announcement: http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=1574

An Update on iPhone MMS for our Mobility Customers

We know many of our iPhone customers are eager for an update on our rollout schedule for Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS).  We’ve been working for the past several months to prepare our systems and network to ensure the best possible experience with MMS when it launches – and today we can announce that launch date: September 25 for iPhone 3G and 3GS customers.  MMS will be enabled through a software update on that day.

We know that iPhone users will embrace MMS.  The unique capabilities and high usage of the iPhone’s multimedia capabilities required us to work on our network MMS architecture to carry the expected record volumes of MMS traffic and ensure an excellent experience from Day One.  We appreciate your patience as we work toward that end.

We’re riding the leading edge of smartphone growth that’s resulted in an explosion of traffic over the AT&T network. Wireless use on our network has grown an average of 350 percent year-over-year for the past two years, and is projected to continue at a rapid pace in 2009 and beyond.  The volume of smartphone data traffic the AT&T network is handling is unmatched in the wireless industry.  We want you to know that we’re working relentlessly to innovate and invest in our network to anticipate this growth in usage and to stay ahead of the anticipated growth in data demand, new devices and applications for years to come.

We thank you for your business and look forward to keeping you updated on our initiatives.

Just posted! Go get it!

To be delivered by 8/28!

If you’re one of those that couldn’t wait and hacked the iPhone OS 3.0/3.1 Beta to get tethering on your iPhone, the latest Beta Release has fixed that… Beta 2 will disable any hacks that previously enabled tethering on AT&T iPhone devices.  AT&T does warn that tethering without the appropriate plan violates your Term of Service and can lead to termination of your service & Apple warns that jailbreaking your iPhone voids the warranty.

This latest Beta release spurs up old rumors of tethering offerings from AT&T, mostly surrounding the cost.  The ones I’ve heard are completely false… internally it hasn’t even been released what AT&T will charge for tethering (although not surprising since all Apple information has been kept secure until launch); however, since the existing iPhone Data plans closely mirror that of PDA & BlackBerry for both personal and enterprise customers, I would predict that an iPhone Tethering plan will be $60 added to whichever voice plan the subscriber has.  This $60 plan would REPLACE any existing data plan, not added to the existing data plan.  I’ll keep a list below of the rumors I hear and whether or not their true.  Stay tuned for the real story!

Rumor: iPhone Tethering Plan to cost $55 in addition to existing iPhone Data Plan [[FALSE]]

Apple just released the iPhone OS 3.1 Beta 2 (Build 7C106c) to their iPhone Dev Center.  This release is two weeks after the first, which keeps in time with the schedule of the 3.0 Beta Releases.  Model Firmware has been updated to 05.10.01 (Beta 1’s Model Firmware was 05.08.01) and the Carrier now reads AT&T 4.5.

So far no major changes since the last release… Standby for Updates…