July 24, 2009 • 3:44 PM 0
On July 21, I moved my blog to a new server. So www.davaomacuser.com no longer points to davaomacuser.wordpress.com.
I’ve already got a few new posts over there so please, come over to www.davaomacuser.com.
I hope you’ll join me there. Thanks!
Filed under: Apple, Inc.
July 16, 2009 • 8:06 AM 0
Apple has seeded beta 2 of iPhone OS 3.1 to developers. One of the new features include being able to connect to a system through Wi-Fi, according to AppleInsider. This potentially could allow syncing without the use of a USB cable though Apple has warned that physical tethering is still the preferred method for its speed and lesser power consumption.
Voice Control via Bluetooth headset is now possible, eliminating the need to rely on a wired headset or the iPhone’s built-in mic for voice commands. Users have the option of saving original copies of videos that were trimmed using the built-in video editing feature.
A new build of the Mac OS X 10.6 (build 10A411) has also been released to developers. This comes less than a week after the release of build 10A402a. This new build is considerably smaller in size (730MB) than the previous one (1.3GB).
Filed under: Apple, Inc., iPhone OS, OS X
July 12, 2009 • 3:31 PM 0
Jonathan Ive has an advice for executives who are trying to copy Apple’s success. Don’t.
Ive said forcefully and repeatedly, companies need to define their own clear, high-minded raison d’être. That should drive the actions and decisions of every employee, from the C-suite down.
BusinessWeek’s Helen Walters was at the Royal Geographical Society where Ive had an hour long conversation with Sir Christopher Frayling, rector of the Royal College of Art.
In his own words:
Apple’s goal isn’t to make money. Our goal is to design and develop and bring to market good products. We trust as a consequence of that, people will like them, and as another consequence we’ll make some money. But we’re really clear about what our goals are.
We try not to bring out another product that’s just different. ‘Different’ and ‘new’ is relatively easy. Doing something that’s genuinely better is very hard.
Filed under: Apple, Inc., design, Jonathan Ive
July 6, 2009 • 4:16 PM 6
Globe Telecom, Apple’s official carrier of the iPhone in the Philippines, has announced in their website that the iPhone 3GS will hit the shores on July 31. The previous model iPhone, the iPhone 3G, was launched here on August 22, 2008.
Plans
The iPhone 3GS can be availed through a postpaid plan or a prepaid kit. For postpaid plans, a customer may choose between the regular postpaid plans (under GPlan or GFlex) or an iPhone plan.
The main difference between the iPhone plan and the regular postpaid plan is the inclusion of free mobile internet in the iPhone plan. Though regular postpaid plan subscribers can use Globe’s cellular network to access the internet via EDGE, 3G or 3.5G, the cost of access will be added on top of the monthly subscription fee under GPlan or deducted accordingly under GFlex.
Globe’s iPhone plan offers between 20 to 100 hours (or between 100 to 600MB) of free mobile internet access per month. The number of allocated hours or megabytes depends on the monthly service fee. The included data access under this plan comes at a price: the number of free call minutes or SMS is lesser as compared to regular postpaid plans. The customer, by the way, can choose between time-based or kilobyte-based charging.
iPhone plan subscribers also has access to Globe’s Wi-Fi network, Globe WIZ, but it depends on which iPhone plan the customer is subscribed to.
iPhone plans and postpaid plans require a 2-year contract.
Costs
Globe’s iPhone plan starts at ₱399 (~$8) per month and requires a cash-out of ₱30,650 (~$640) for the 16GB iPhone 3GS and ₱36,250 (~$750) for the 32GB iPhone 3GS. The 8GB iPhone 3G is available under this plan for ₱25,050 (~$520).
For those interested in getting the iPhone 3GS for ‘free’ they have to pay ₱3299 (~$68) per month for the 16GB version, and ₱3999 (~$83) per month for the 32GB version. To get the 8GB iPhone 3G for ‘free’, a customer must pay ₱2199 (~$46) per month.
Visit Globe’s website for more details on their iPhone plans or regular postpaid plans for the iPhone 3GS.
Prepaid Kit
A prepaid iPhone 3GS kit is also available for those not interested in subscribing to a plan. The cost is ₱38,850 (~$800) for the 16GB model and ₱42,250 (~$880) for the 32GB model. No details yet on what’s included in the prepaid kit.
The iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS are sim-locked to Globe. To date I have no idea if Globe does unlocking of units under certain conditions like some other carriers abroad do.
Reservations accepted
Globe will start accepting reservations for the iPhone 3GS on July 15, either by calling their hotline or by visiting any of their Globe Business Centers.
If I do go ahead and get myself the 16GB iPhone 3GS, I might go with the plan 899. My brother pointed out to me that plan 899 is the sweet spot based on the free number of call minutes, SMS and mobile internet hours per month. The plan above that costs too much.
I did a comparison among the different postpaid plans (including prepaid) and plan 899 offers the best bang for the buck. Based on my usage, that is.
I’m still on the fence; I’m not sure if I’m going to get the iPhone 3GS when it comes out July 31.
We’ll just have to wait and see.
Filed under: Apple, Inc., iPhone 3GS, Globe, launch, Philippines
July 1, 2009 • 9:12 AM 1
Apple’s has released iPhoto 8.0.4 “addresses a rarely encountered issue involving photos imported into a previous version that could affect overall stability, and corrects references to a few points of interest and location names that were labelled incorrectly” and this update is recommended to all iPhoto ’09 users.
MacBook Air SMC Firmware Update 1.2 has also been released which according to AppleInsider delivers compatibility for a new series of internal MacBook Air replacement batteries. AppleInsider also notes that firmware update requires Mac OS X 10.5.7 and will make modifications to the MacBook Air’s micro-controller on the logic board.
Both updates can be downloaded by using the Software Update utility or from Apple’s Support page:
iPhoto 8.0.4 (102.3 MB)
MacBook Air SMC Firmware Update 1.2 (623 KB)
AppleInsider also reported that Apple has just posted a beta upgrade to their iPhone SDK as well as their iPhone OS . Coming on the heels of the just released iPhone OS 3.0, iPhone OS 3.1 beta and iPhone SDK 3.1 beta is said to include new extensions for the OpenGL ES Graphics which can be used to improve graphics on the iPhone 3GS. The beta also lets developers choose their preferred video recording quality.
Update:
MacDailyNews has noted that aside from the above mentioned features, iPhone OS 3.1 beta might also have non-destructive video editing, vibrates when moving home screen icons, faster boot time, and Voice Control over Bluetooth.
Oh, MMS support is back for AT&T customers. Yay.
Filed under: Apple, Inc., iLife, iPhone, iPhone SDK, iPhoto, update
June 23, 2009 • 10:21 AM 0
Apple announced in a press release yesterday that over one million iPhone 3GS units have been sold over the weekend. Billed as the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet, customers lined up outside Apple Stores as early as June 18, a day ahead of the official launch, in order to be one of the first to get the iPhone 3G S.
The lines were not as long as when the iPhone 3G was launched but this might have been in part due to the fact that some customers already have pre-ordered the iPhone 3GS online. These customers had their iPhones delivered right on their doorstep.
Though the iPhone 3G also sold one million units over the same time period last year, this milestone is made remarkable by the fact that the iPhone 3GS for now is just being sold in eight countries. In contrast, the iPhone 3G was made available in over 20 countries when it was released on July 11, 2008.
In the same announcement, Apple also said that the new iPhone OS 3.0 have been downloaded six million times over a five day period. The iPhone OS 3.0, released on June 17, is a free update for all iPhone users. However, iPod touch users must pay $9.99 to get the latest iPhone operating system.
The iPhone 3GS is scheduled to be released in 30 more countries by July and will be in more than 80 countries by August. Japanese customers have already lined up to pre-order the iPhone 3GS last week and they will get the new iPhone by June 26.
Filed under: Apple, Inc., iPhone, iPhone 3G S, milestone
June 5, 2009 • 8:47 AM 0
This week on The Macalope Weekly:
Apple must, I repeat, MUST deliver the goods (i.e. the über, super duper 3G iPhone video v3) else they’ll end up in the poor house. Meanwhile, Uncle Munster says prepare to be underwhelmed come Monday.
What?!? No kitchen sink?
MS’s GMAPDM says “It’s not a netbook, stupid. It’s a “loco”.
Oh, last week on The Macalope Weekly:
The iTablet? Et tu, Macalope?
The Eucalyptus kerfuffle, WTF Apple?!? You can’t tell me not to read Kama Sutra.
The $99 iPhone. Meh.
Clicky on the linkies to check out the antlers.
Filed under: Apple, Inc., iPhone, iTablet, kerfuffle, Macalope, Microsoft, netbooks, WWDC
May 23, 2009 • 10:34 AM 0
Apple just opened Apple Store #256 in Australia. IT Wire reported that even if this is Australia’s fifth Apple Store (second in Melbourne) is still drew a crowd of about 300 people who lined up for the opening this morning. The new Apple Store, located in the Westfield Doncaster shopping center, had customer’s lining up as early as 8PM Friday which line grew to a hundred by 8AM today. Below is a photo taken by aagius during the opening of the Doncaster Apple Store. More photos at his Flickr page.
Photo by aagius
Prior to today’s opening in Australia, Apple also opened a new Apple Store in Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich Thursday. This is Switzerland’s third Apple Store. More info and photos at ifo Apple Store and Macprime.
Filed under: Apple, Inc., Apple Store
May 16, 2009 • 1:44 PM 0
This week on The Macalope Weekly:
Microsoft’s $30,000 b*llsh*t. Redmond is getting desperate.
Apple fans know the June 8 is NOT “late June”. Munster don’t see an iPhone or a Jobs on WWDC day. (Gruber has something to say about that.)
The netbook’s shine is fading. Really? Fer sure?
Check out what the horned out has to say.
Filed under: Apple, Inc., Macalope, Microsoft, netbooks, WWDC
May 13, 2009 • 10:28 PM 0
According to AppleInsider, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, Phil Schiller, will be delivering this year’s keynote on June 8 for the Worldwide Developer Conference to be held at the Moscone West conference center in San Francisco from June 8 to 12, 2009.
WWDC 09 is expected to showcase more Apple talent among of which is Bertrand Serlet, senior vice president of Software Engineering. He is expected to bring developers up to date on the latest Mac OS, Snow Leopard. Serlet said:
“Last June, we gave developers an early look at the powerful new technologies that form the underpinnings of Mac OS X Snow Leopard. At WWDC, we will be giving our developers a final Developer Preview release so they can see the incredible progress we’ve made on Snow Leopard and work with us as we move toward its final release.”
The new iPhone OS 3.0 is also expected to be showcased with technical sessions to help developers get the most out of the iPhone 3.0 SDK and the more than 1,000 APIs available for iPhone OS 3.0.
Filed under: Apple, Inc., iPhone, OS X, Schiller, WWDC
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