The Preferred Toronto Apple Reseller of MacMedics:
The Preferred iPod and iPhone repair shop in Toronto of MacMedics:
A Safe Way To Dispose Of Your eWaste – And Get A Tax Receipt Too!
My Preferred Canadian-Based ISP
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Jul
30
This Week In Appleland
Filed Under Apple News, Apple Updates, iPhone | Leave a Comment
What a week it’s been (follow the links for details). New iMacs, MacPro’s, a new 27″ Cinema Display, a new Magic TrackPad offering, a strange Apple battery charger product and of course, the Canadian release of the iPhone 4! Whew! Given the recent drama of Antennagate and the poo pooing of the iPhone’s reception issues it’s interesting to note two recent thumbs up reviews (caveat: the Aussie recommendations make specific mention of and suggestions to use an approved ‘bumper’ case) from Australia and Norway’s largest newspaper. The Norwegian review actually states that it feels the antenna issue is a US specific problem as it’s testing did not find the same issues:
The paper suggested poor mobile networks may be the cause of the US reports of iPhone 4 antenna problems. It cited Amobil, a Norwegian mobile phone news site, as having ‘tested the iPhone 4 thoroughly, without finding any evidence that it is improperly constructed. All modern mobile phones have integrated antennas, and it is normal that they are affected by how the phone is held,’ VG said.
I’ve suspected this for a while as many people report awful cellular reception when visiting major US cities. Canadian carriers announced their data plans with Rogers/Fido and Bell both offering iPad 3G data plan sharing for an extra monthly fee. Of all the new products Apple released this week the one that caught my attention wasn’t the fancy new machines or even the Magic TrackPad (as cool as that may be). It was actually the new battery charger. This is a great add-on for most users as all Desktop Macs (sans the MacMini) come with the battery-powered bluetooth mouse and keyboard. The charger comes with 6 rechargeable batteries and an intelligent charging unit – a nice environmental touch and weird and unexpected new addition to the lineup.
I’m not sure I will be running out to get the new iPhone 4 just yet – partly because I think I want a white model this time and their release is delayed due to manufacturing issues – and partly because I don’t really need a new phone. My nephew will be getting his tomorrow so I fear subscribers to this blog will be subjected to another un-boxing video as he is keen to keep this new tradition alive (and it’s fun). Perhaps after I see his new shiny device my desire level will rise and the risk of succumbing to it’s purchase will overcome me. We’ll see.
Jul
19
Fall Out
Filed Under Apple News, Tech News, Views, iPhone | Leave a Comment
I’ve been asked to comment further by a number of readers on Apple’s response to the iPhone 4 antenna issue. This is a device that is currently unavailable in Canada and I’ve yet to actually see or hold one to test out the problem causing all hoopla. However, my feeling is that Apple, like Google with it’s street view project privacy issues, would have loved for this to have gone under the radar. They totally underestimated their client base and felt the pressure to respond. The idea of a recall was already partially addressed with the extension of a return policy – a kind of voluntary recall. They’re going to give away free bumpers/cases to anyone who bought an iPhone and is going to buy one until September 30th. I suspect a slight redesign after that. They also tried to dilute and deflect the issue by pointing out signal weaknesses in their competitors devices. Perhaps valid, but I somehow expected a higher road to be taken. The press conference began with the video song below – quite catchy and fun – about the iPhone 4. The chorus of the song goes:
If you don’t want an iPhone 4 don’t buy it
If you bought one and you don’t like it bring it back
(but you won’t)
This is the jist of Apple’s response. For some this will strike as arrogance. Others may see this as Apple poking fun at itself. I tend to side with the former. For Apple I think this is still a non-issue that has gotten totally blown out of proportion. As they tried to point out – most of the 3 million people using the phone aren’t experiencing this as a problem in day to day usage. The return rate is much lower than was the case following the release of the iPhone 3GS. I think the Consumers Report recommendation retraction really hit the folks behind the Apple veil. Throughout the Friday event it seemed to me that Steve Jobs was irritated – Apple hasn’t gotten bad press like this in a while and this device is another one of his babies. I’m not concerned about the lack of a recall as the problem can be worked around and from reports in the field even if it is held in the ‘death grip’ position calls are not dropped per se unless one is in a very weak cellular zone. They have been forced to address this, admit it and will probably fix the design. The important issue here is transparency. Apple got called out and is responding because the information got out. People wrote about their experiences.The press broadcasted it to the world and change is coming.
For me I’m disappointed with Apple’s handling of the whole affair and in a way they’re not really admitting to anything. I’ve written it before – not everything Apple does is good. They’re a company, a corporation, with shareholders to please. They’re not the underdogs anymore. They don’t operate out of a garage. They are an industry leader and as a leader I hope for more. The good news is this is a company that can evolve. I hope lessons are being learned.
Jul
17
The Wizard Of Oz
Filed Under Apple News, Tech News, iPhone | 1 Comment
For those of you wanting to see and hear the Steve Jobs distortion field conference:
and judge for yourself. Apple has also created a special iPhone 4 antenna page which goes over antenna issues in general, comparisons with other smart phones etc…
iPhone Antenna Performance Page
Meanwhile, RIM was none too happy being drawn into Apple’s antenna issue and issued the following statement:
“Apple’s attempt to draw RIM into Apple’s self-made debacle is unacceptable. Apple’s claims about RIM products appear to be deliberate attempts to distort the public’s understanding of an antenna design issue and to deflect attention from Apple’s difficult situation. RIM is a global leader in antenna design and has been successfully designing industry-leading wireless data products with efficient and effective radio performance for over 20 years. During that time, RIM has avoided designs like the one Apple used in the iPhone 4 and instead has used innovative designs which reduce the risk for dropped calls, especially in areas of lower coverage. One thing is for certain, RIM’s customers don’t need to use a case for their BlackBerry smartphone to maintain proper connectivity. Apple clearly made certain design decisions and it should take responsibility for these decisions rather than trying to draw RIM and others into a situation that relates specifically to Apple.” - Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie
Oh my! The free bumpers/cases offer that Apple is initiating will end September 30th. Does that mean there will be a slight design change in the next round of manufacturing?
Jul
15
Apple’s Waterloo?
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Some are suggesting the recent antenna issues with the iPhone 4 – you know, the Steve Jobs described non-issue where if a user holds the new phone in a certain way the signal dies, calls are dropped, but just get a case for it problem – is Apple’s Vista. You remember Vista – Microsoft’s flop of an operating system release:
“It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I’m okay with that,” said Kevin Turner, Microsoft’s chief operating officer, in a keynote speech at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC)… Earlier in his talk, Turner poked fun at the reception problems that have dogged Apple’s iPhone 4 since its June 24 launch. “One of the things I want to make sure you know today is that you’re going to be able to use a Windows Phone 7 and not have to worry about how you’re holding it to make a phone call,” Turner said, referring to the Microsoft mobile operating system set to debut on smartphones this fall.
Apple isn’t helping matters either:
Apple appears to be panicking in its reaction to the widely-reported antenna issue plaguing most iPhone 4s — in its latest maneuver to attempt to ‘unthink’ the problem, company moderators appeared to delete threads which referred to yesterday’s Consumer Reports findings — only to change their mind and open these discussions again a few hours later.
This is referring to the Consumer Reports recent bombshell, which initially recommended the iPhone 4 as THE PHONE to get, but has since temporarily removed it’s recommendation until the antenna issue is addressed:
It’s official. Consumer Reports’ engineers have just completed testing the iPhone 4, and have confirmed that there is a problem with its reception. When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone’s lower left side—an easy thing, especially for lefties—the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you’re in an area with a weak signal. Due to this problem, we can’t recommend the iPhone 4.
Well, it appears Apple is finally going to address the issue, maybe, as it has just announced that it is hosting a press conference this Friday exclusively related to the iPhone 4:
Apple on Wednesday invited select press to a special press conference to be held this Friday in California. Apple would only say that the press conference would be regarding the iPhone 4.
Recall? Free bumper cases? More Explanations? The weird thing about this issue is that’s it’s not universal. It is reproducible, but not everyone is experiencing it to the same degree as it seems very dependent on the reliability of the network where one is using it. In any event, it should be an interesting moment.
Jun
25
At Apple’s Core
Filed Under Fun, Views, iPhone | Leave a Comment
So what is going on? In 1997 Apple was on the verge of collapse, it’s loyal followers were bemoaning it’s end. A deal had been made with the Microsoft devil to prop it up – the end was indeed nigh. Here we are, June 2010 and Apple is now the largest tech company in the US ahead of Microsoft itself. It releases hit after hit – the iPhone, iTunes, the App Store, beautifully designed laptops and desktops, the iPad, the iPhone (again!). People line up for their product releases days in advance, camping out, similar to how we line up for rock concerts.
They sell millions of devices in a matter of days. The release of the iPhone 4 yesterday is their biggest launch yet – with between 1 to 1.5 million of these things sold on the FIRST DAY!. Now there have been bumps and blunders along the way. I don’t like everything Apple does or the way they do it. The news surrounding yellowish screens, reverse button placement and an antennae design flaw on the new iPhone 4 are breaking out all over the web (Toyota anyone?) causing some consternation among customers and glee from its competitors. The government is investigating them for issues ranging from Privacy complaints to anti-competitive behaviour. Somehow Apple will weather these storms.
But how has this success come to be? I came across a interesting article today from Fast Company that tries to delve into just what makes Apple tick. It’s a long piece, but worth the time. The top ten ingredients explored are summarized below:
{1} Go Into Your Cave
{2} It’s Okay to Be King
{3} Transcend Orthodoxy
{4} Just Say No
{5} Serve Your Customer. No, Really
{6} Everything Is Marketing
{7} Kill the Past
{8} Turn Feedback Into Inspiration
{9} Don’t Invent, Reinvent
{10} Play by Your Own Clock
To get the details behind each of these check out Farhead Manjoo’s article on the Fast Company Website.
Jun
21
iOS 4 Had Landed
Filed Under Apple News, Apple Updates, iPhone | Leave a Comment
If you haven’t heard or noticed or attached your iPhone or iPod Touch to your Mac or PC today Apple’s latest and greatest mobile operating system is in the wild. Once you do you’ll be greeted with an opportunity from iTunes to upgrade your iPhone to version 4.0. Important Note:
OS 4.0 isn’t compatible with the original iPhone or the iPod touch. iPhone 3G and second-gen iPhone touch devices will get the update, but key features will be missing.
The 2009 iPhone 3GS and current generation iPod touch will gain all the new features, including multitasking, folders, wallpapers, unified inbox, multiple Exchange accounts and more
The iPad will get its turn in the fall. I’ve gone over some of what’s new in a previous post and there is lots of info all over the net and on Apple’s website. It is very important that you upgrade to iTunes 9.2 – either through Apple’s Software Update under the Apple Menu or through this link as it is required for organizing the new folders structure in the new OS. Below is an excellent 10 minute summary of all that’s in store after the update is complete:
Jun
15
(Sim) Free At Last!
Filed Under Apple News, Apple Updates, iPhone | Leave a Comment
Another big day of announcements…
I don’t know about you dear readers, but I’m pretty excited about the just released news that the new iPhone 4 (and perhaps 3GS it seems) will be sold by Apple UNLOCKED!
The Apple iPhone is Sim Free - iPhone 4 FAQ
Canadian iPhone 4 News on Unlocked devices
Apple calls this the commitment-free iPhone. If you travel this is HUGE. You’ll be able to purchase a micro sim card in a country you’re travelling to and utilize a local phone/data (your phone number will change with each card so just keep that in mind – but you can always forward it…). This is another boon for people who don’t want to sign a contract with a carrier. It means you can buy a new phone and sign up and change a carrier without penalty because there won’t be a contract! The customer will finally have leverage – the fear of paying some exorbitant penalty for terminating an account over poor service, weak plans etc… is gone. I really dislike contracts. I’ve spoken with service reps from my current carrier many times to be told I can leave if I want to if I’m unhappy – but I’ll have to pay $500 or more to do so – no more!
With freedom comes a higher price tag. Commitment-free phones will cost a lot more because the carriers (Telus, Bell, Rogers, Fido) won’t be subsidizing it. However, for many people this may be worth the price of admission to a contract-free cellular experience. It also means that unlike last year, the carriers won’t/can’t turn down those users whose contracts don’t allow them to purchase the new iPhone (can you believe they even do that?). We can just buy them from the Apple Store. The iPhone is available for pre-order today (June 15th) in the US – Black models only (seems there’s a short supply of the White models). In Canada the pre-order date will be late June/early July. At the moment there is just a ‘Notify Me’ button on it’s Canada store page.
One More Thing…
Oh yeah, Apple also released a NEW MAC MINI. It just keeps coming. The new Mac Mini has been redesigned – it’s slimmer, sports an internal power supply that sips energy (10 watts in sleep mode), 4 USB ports, a Firewire 800 port and two new ports: an SD card slot for picture cards and even better – an HDMI port. This one is important as it will allow owners to attach the MacMini directly to their HD TV’s (if you have one). The processor speeds have come up as well the hard drive capacities. The price has gone up as well which won’t please a lot of people. Granted it has more features than it’s predecessors – the higher cost flies in the face of the trend for more affordable computers. Perhaps its price will fall in the next few months. For a full run down check out the links below.
First Impressions (care of 9to5mac.com)
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POST SCRIPT (5pm): My oh my – It looks like Mac OS 10.6.4 was released. This is a free incremental update for 10.6 users. As with any system update BACK UP YOUR DATA first! Also, remember, you don’t have to update.
Jun
9
Instant Keynote
Filed Under iPhone | Leave a Comment
If you don’t have time to sit through the almost 2 hour keynote speech given by Steve Jobs yesterday at the Apple World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco below is a 5 minute synopsis. Now, you won’t get to see the FaceTime demo go a bit awry due to poor WiFi network issues…For those who want to view the full keynote head to Apple’s link here:
Tech specs as well as other information on the new iPhone are on Apple’s site.
Jun
8
Back To The Future
Filed Under Apple News, Very Very Cool, iPhone | Leave a Comment
Apple just keeps on keeping on. The new iPhone 4 was announced today at the Apple World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC). It’s design was leaked weeks ago by Gizmodo (whose legal woes following this breach are in progress). For many, Star Trek’s Tricorder has arrived. What can’t this device do? Multi-task, video chat, shoot HD video and edit it (goodbye Flip?), manage multiple Exchange accounts with a unified InBox (hello more business users!), an A4 processor – the same snappy one found in the iPad so you know this device is going to perform well. The marketing machine has started – check out this ad for the new FaceTime which pulls at all heart strings:
The full on video of the iPhone’s new features can be found here starring all the usual suspects:
Also announced was Safari 5, Apple’s next iteration of their web browser with better performance features, a new Reader tool for sites that support it, the inclusion of Microsoft’s Bing search engine in addition to Google and Yahoo! and more. Quite a day all in all. This is an iPhone worth waiting for. Rogers has announced it’s support, but no plan information as of yet – just a notification page that users can sign up with. Apple has their own Notify Me page as well. Official release of the new iPhone and the new iOS 4 is slated for mid-June so it looks like yet another summer of new iPhones. As usual, some of the features are not new to mobile devices, but their implementation is elegant as only Apple’s engineers and User Interface designers can deliver. I can’t wait!
Apr
11
My First Week With The iPad
Filed Under Fun, Very Very Cool, Views, iPad, iPhone | 1 Comment
So, it’s been a full week since I’ve had this coveted device. There are people selling them to those outside the U.S for thousands of dollars – I kid you not. The following are my early impressions of this new category of computing device and yes, I’m writing this post on the iPad.
First off, this is a beautiful piece of technology. The screen is gorgeous – although it is a finger print magnet (easily wiped away with a soft cloth – not included) – very clear and bright. The scrolling is extremely easy and responsive and text and images look marvelous. The virtual keyboard is simple to use and very precise especially in landscape mode. It’s not a full width keyboard, but it’s close and the auto-correct feature is very accurate.
Although I have a great laptop and an iMac as a server I’m finding myself turning to the iPad for my day to day Internet use – email, web browsing, news and research. I can even support my clients remotely using some very useful tools already upgraded and available for the new platform. This is what Apple was thinking – a device between a smart phone and a laptop. Some of my pet peeves will be addressed by the new iPhone 4.0 software just announced and presented by Steve himself – yes, this was indeed a huge week for Apple followers. Multi-tasking, app organization, a unified email inbox, multiple Exchange Accounts, business services and much more coming to the iPhone in the summer – although we won’t see these features coming to the iPad until the Fall!
The iBook app provides a very natural experience of reading. I found myself immersed in a book the other evening, turning the virtual pages and I almost forgot that I was using an electronic device. I honestly can’t see purchasing paper magazines and books unless it’s something very special. I have all my Apple technical manuals on my iPad in an easily accessible (and light!) device. I’m actually using Amazon’s iPad Kindle reader for those! Now, we’re not there yet. I downloaded the Time Magazine app an d although it was interesting to check out it’s navigation is a bit confusing and the price ($4.99) is really out of touch with what it should be. The only reason i bought it was because Steve Jobs was on the cover and for the novelty. Zinio is a magazine reader app, but its rendering engine is a bit slow.
That said, a great example of the possibilities for interactivity and creativity is the recently released Alice In Wonderland for iPad:
The battery life is remarkable. This is one of those rare times (I’m not sure it’s ever happened) where the claims have exceeded expectations. I’m noticing 12 plus hours of use without a problem.
Web browsing is a joy and the screen real estate really shines here. Video looks great and the built-in sound is very good.
I purchased Apple’s iWork suite for iPad (Pages, Keynote and Number) and the apps work as advertised. Very intuitive and written for the touch interface. And this is perhaps one of the important aspects of this new platform. This is above all a Touch Operating System. There is no traditional file system – files and folders- just apps, swipes, gestures etc… It’s refreshing and easy. I think this will be a real hit with young kids and older people who find using a mouse, saving files (finding them!) difficult to navigate.
And the apps. These will be what defines the iPad. Just as they did with the iPhone the App store and the legion of developers out there will make or break this fledgling platform. I’ve downloaded some hits and misses and it will be interesting to see what develops over the next 6 months. Non-optimized apps work fine on the iPad, but they don’t take advantage of its features and the 2x zoom renders them awkwardly. iPad native apps look great and if you’re into games there is some fun to be had.
When I first saw the previews of some of the interactive apps being planned for the iPad i couldn’t help thinking this was the return of the CD ROM – those interactive multi-media offerings of yester-year – except much slicker. Interactivity is he key here. I feel when i use the iPad I’m interacting with the device – touching it, reading, searching, flicking, swiping – it’s cliche, but this is an uber intuitive device.
There are a plethora of reviews out there and some links are provided below. If you’re using the iPad in Canada you need to have or create a US iTunes account – the Canadian app store does not yet support it – no iBook store, no iPad apps. It is possible to create a US account and a link to doing so is also provided below.
So, am i happy to be an early adoptee? Does it live up to the hype? The answers are yes and maybe. The iPad is a joy to use and it’s potential is still to be determined. However, I believe this will be a very influential device on a number of levels. The consensus is that you have to use one to really get a sense of what this is about and I agree. I am surprised how easily I’ve taken to it although I shouldn’t be – this is what Apple does best. Some critics have said that the iPad is a pure consuming device i.e. it’s not for creating content, but for consuming it. Now, it is definitely a very savvy consumer-driven device. However, I think there is plenty of room to be creative whether that be drawing, writing, image and video editing etc..It’s not a MacBook Pro by any stretch, but we humans are quite resourceful:
There will always be room for improvement and of course version 2 of the iPad will sport new features (a camera?) and when the new 4.0 OS arrives it will all get that much better. The iPad will be in Canada soon so don’t succumb to those crazy Craig’s List and eBay Pirates. All in good time.
Pro: Andy Ihnatko in the Chicago Times
Con: Slate’s “You Don’t Need An iPad”
Potential: Liberal Arts And The iPad – you have to scroll down a bit to get at this interesting article
Gushing: Stephen Fry’s Time Magazine Interview with Steve Jobs
iPhone 4.0: The Keynote by Steve Jobs and more info on the consumer and business features
And for those of you who have been asking: Setting up a US iTunes Account in Canada
P.S. I got some fun feedback on the un-boxing video – I know it was silly, but it was fun to produce with my nephew. He wants to do one for other new Apple releases so it may not be the last.