After a week "off" (read: no blog) I feel a bit better. When I reviewed my last two weeks' worth of tweets I found a lot of stuff relating to the iPhone, so I thought I'd share my thoughts about what's happening. After all, the iPhone continues to dominate everyone's thoughts - it is my duty to provide alternate viewpoints or news on alternatives in order for you to be able to make informed decisions...right?
Right. You'd still buy an iPhone, wouldn't you?
Maybe not. According to a recent article in InfoWorld, the quality (or lack thereof) of AT&T's network is starting to have an impact on iPhone sales. Of course, the article goes on to describe the underlying survey's implication for Verizon since, of course, everyone assumes that the elimination of the exclusivity contract would mean that Verizon would be the first carrier to...uh...carry it. The article does note that the survey respondents probably didn't consider that current users would have to buy a new phone if they wanted to switch from AT&T since they are a GSM provider while Verizon is CDMA.
I still claim that Apple's contract with AT&T is going to run its course fully before any switch occurs. This is counter to all 5 million articles that have been written that swear up and down that an iPhone running on Verizon's network is due out "any day now." (One of these articles may be found in PC World, but it's funny that the second word in the article is "mythical.")
In the meantime, if you really want an iPhone on a network other than AT&T, you can try this nifty gadget. It is a "docking station" for your iTouch that turns it into a phone. All you need is a SIM card (which means you're stuck on GSM so Verizon is still out of luck since CDMA doesn't use SIM cards). More details on this device may be found on CNN. (Note that my tweet on this device incorrectly noted that you'd be able to use your iTouch on Verizon.)
The only thing I don't like about this: I didn't think of it first. Where was that lightbulb when I needed it? If this isn't a money press then I don't know what is. In fact, since Apple is so hung up on sticking with AT&T, then this gadget may be the only thing that truly stops (at least in the short- to mid-term) the onslaught of Android phones. Don't believe me when I say that Android is worth a look? Watch this video on the Motorola Droid 2 (with Android 2.2 pre-installed) to see what I mean.
In the "I like Mobile Phone Applications" department, it was ironic how Apple is constantly berated for refusing to allow certain applications (formal guidelines yet to be determined since Apple isn't providing any specifics on what they will allow and won't) yet the head of their App Store himself has several applications for sale - written after he joined Apple - that have the same "features" of other applications that have been rejected. How's that for hypocrisy? (Worse, the applications are still for sale after that article busted him on it, but he tried to hide his affiliation with Apple. Ah, the inability for one to escape their past on the Internet is such a good thing no?)
If you do have an iPhone or iTouch you've probably played Angry Birds. It's a fun game - not terribly difficult - but now it wants to be the next Buzz Lightyear. Personally, I'm ambivalent about the concept, but from a practicality standpoint I don't think anyone can unseat Woody et al from the store shelves.
Right. You'd still buy an iPhone, wouldn't you?
Maybe not. According to a recent article in InfoWorld, the quality (or lack thereof) of AT&T's network is starting to have an impact on iPhone sales. Of course, the article goes on to describe the underlying survey's implication for Verizon since, of course, everyone assumes that the elimination of the exclusivity contract would mean that Verizon would be the first carrier to...uh...carry it. The article does note that the survey respondents probably didn't consider that current users would have to buy a new phone if they wanted to switch from AT&T since they are a GSM provider while Verizon is CDMA.
I still claim that Apple's contract with AT&T is going to run its course fully before any switch occurs. This is counter to all 5 million articles that have been written that swear up and down that an iPhone running on Verizon's network is due out "any day now." (One of these articles may be found in PC World, but it's funny that the second word in the article is "mythical.")
In the meantime, if you really want an iPhone on a network other than AT&T, you can try this nifty gadget. It is a "docking station" for your iTouch that turns it into a phone. All you need is a SIM card (which means you're stuck on GSM so Verizon is still out of luck since CDMA doesn't use SIM cards). More details on this device may be found on CNN. (Note that my tweet on this device incorrectly noted that you'd be able to use your iTouch on Verizon.)
The only thing I don't like about this: I didn't think of it first. Where was that lightbulb when I needed it? If this isn't a money press then I don't know what is. In fact, since Apple is so hung up on sticking with AT&T, then this gadget may be the only thing that truly stops (at least in the short- to mid-term) the onslaught of Android phones. Don't believe me when I say that Android is worth a look? Watch this video on the Motorola Droid 2 (with Android 2.2 pre-installed) to see what I mean.
In the "I like Mobile Phone Applications" department, it was ironic how Apple is constantly berated for refusing to allow certain applications (formal guidelines yet to be determined since Apple isn't providing any specifics on what they will allow and won't) yet the head of their App Store himself has several applications for sale - written after he joined Apple - that have the same "features" of other applications that have been rejected. How's that for hypocrisy? (Worse, the applications are still for sale after that article busted him on it, but he tried to hide his affiliation with Apple. Ah, the inability for one to escape their past on the Internet is such a good thing no?)
If you do have an iPhone or iTouch you've probably played Angry Birds. It's a fun game - not terribly difficult - but now it wants to be the next Buzz Lightyear. Personally, I'm ambivalent about the concept, but from a practicality standpoint I don't think anyone can unseat Woody et al from the store shelves.