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Lightning is being phased out.

Source: "Report: Apple actively seeking to phase out Lightning connector on future iPhones" by Jesse Hollington

USB micro-B is most common. USB C is the future.

But how long until those converge?

The source of much waste is the excess numbers of cables and chargers, not the type.

The last time standardization on micro-B was studied a few years ago, the intent was that reducing the types would end up reducing the number. If a manufacturer can assume that the user is far more likely than not to already have an appropriate cable, the manufacturer can leave the cable out of the bundle. Otherwise, manufacturers still conclude "We need to include a micro-B cable in case the user only has C" or "We need to include a C cable in case the user only has micro-B".

http://hackaday.com/2010/03/31...

http://hackaday.com/2013/03/14...

http://hackaday.com/2013/03/18...

http://www.extremetech.com/com...

https://www.avforums.com/threa...

Most any WiFi firmware artificially limits the radio -> http://www.qsl.net/kb9mwr/proj...

http://www.ilounge.com/index.p...

Whoa, your car has hidden features? https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Extra cores on your CPU? No way! http://www.bit-tech.net/hardwa...

Cripple phone features? Oh noes! https://www.techdirt.com/artic... https://www.techdirt.com/artic...

More than one HAM radio have been found to be subject to software tweaking for improvements in scan speed and frequencies covered.-> https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

Got a RAID card? Some of them can be crossflashed to gain features BTW. Or you can pay thousands to the manufacturer for some features (*cough*PERC*cough*) http://www.servethehome.com/ib...

Gains can be had by flashing custom firmware to your DVD\BD RW drives but I didn't feel like spending any time past a cursory search to find this. http://binflash.cdfreaks.com/ http://www.rpc1.org/viewtopic.... http://dvrflash.rpc1.org/

Firmware being used in external HDD has also been found to be crippled vs a standard drive, this didn't used to always be the case....

Here's one that's just an upgrade with features the manufacturer didn't include (see also ANY Jailbreaking post ever)

http://lifehacker.com/find-out...
http://lifehacker.com/5942229/...
http://www.digitaltrends.com/p...

Oh look, your camera now supports RAW? Thought that was only for pro cameras not P&S pocket models...

I could go on and on with examples but suffice it to say yeah it DOES happen and it happens fairly often. It happens most often with system that have a full OS, often Linux, where a firmware flash can give you all sorts of features (OpenWRT or Tomato anyone?) but it also happens in cameras, lab bench tools, TVs, stereos, and just about anything else that is driven by software. Want more turbo boost in your car? Software baby! Want that printer to register an empty toner cartridge sooner? No problem!

Tired now, think I've made my point?

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/eu-micro-usb-charging-standard-allows-iphone-adapter/

Well, I had to take some WAGs, but based on this image: http://assets.ilounge.com/images/uploads/ipadminifr2.jpg and the stated technical dimensions of the ipad mini of 7.8 x 5.3 x .28 inches, I'm guesstimating a packaging dimension of 8 x 5.5 x 1.25 inches. Assuming an ISO 40 x 48 inch pallet, and a stack height of 48 inches (and without running the math for an optimal stacking solution), I make it as each layer being 5 (40/8) x 8 (48/5.5) = 40 units, with 38 layers, for a total of 1520 units per pallet.

Assuming that every one of them was the base model at $329, that would be just over a million dollars (1,000,160) for the two pallets, for the top of the line at $659, that's just over two million dollars (2,003,360).

It's probably a mix of models, and obviously my WAGs are going to be off some, but really, 1.5 million for 2 pallets isn't a wholly unreasonable number.

Seriously? Is this the kind of deeply technical questions that the diversified and experienced /. community is supposed to answer? Is this becoming Yahoo Answers?

And to the poster (because the first paragraph was to the editors), just take some time to type something into google and head over to:

• ilounge
• engadget:
  http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/26/ask-engadget-best-over-the-ear-headphones/
  http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/04/ask-engadget-best-passive-noise-cancelling-headphones/
  http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/ask-engadget-best-usb-headset-for-skype-calls-and-podcasting/
  http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/11/ask-engadget-best-non-gaming-wireless-headphones/
  http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/ask-engadget-best-non-ugly-noise-cancelling-bluetooth-headset/
  http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/01/ask-engadget-best-earbuds-for-outdoor-fitness-use/
• any audio forum

At least you will get more detailed answers and consistent comparisons. And I won't have to do the google typing for you.

Well given that this whole article is just an advertisement, how about we consider a fact people really need to know?
iPad market share fell by 7 percent last quarter. It would seem that in spite of a carefully crafted perception to the contrary, Apple's tablets are headed in the same direction as Apple's phones: absolute numbers shipped up, market share down. Apple's response will be to cut margins to slow the decline. This will not show up as a revenue slip for a while. So for now, Apple's share price will continue to tread air. But the writing is on the wall.

A similar story made the rounds last April. CBS claimed copyright infringement on the "DiagnosticPADD" app for the iPad. Specifically, CBS claimed

“the Application uses the ‘PADD’ trademark and the interface is substantially similar to CBSS’ copyrighted LCARS interface. Your use of the Series’ Properties improperly trades on the goodwill and reputation of CBSS and the Series and is likely to cause confusion among consumers that the Application is affiliated with or licensed by CBSS and/or the Series. CBSS has concluded that such use constitutes trademark infringement, dilution, passing off and misappropriation under the Lanham Act and applicable state laws, as well as copyright infringement under applicable U.S. copyright law and counterpart laws around the world.”

What's confusing to me is they seem to flip back and forth between copyright and trademark infringement. I'm not sure how either would apply here anyway.

Why TNG will never happen :(

I read this patent and did I discover a really new thing ? No. We can imagine all sorts of patents of this kind. Furthermore touch screens exist for a long time, so the methods to use a touch screen should not be patented. I agree than some very new types of touch screens may be patented, but only the touch screens themselves and the technologies used to build them, but no more, and limiting the patents only to a very narrow field.

Software patents should not be issued.

Keep in mind that when Apple filed for this patent, they were still smarting from Creative Labs suing them for having the audacity (no pun) to organize the iPod's data into Artists, Albums and Songs (which was, IMHO the absolute embodiment of an "obvious invention), and there was someone else that sued them for the "click wheel".

I remember when Jobs did the Keynote introducing the iPhone. He went through the various gestures, said "We worked long and hard on this interface, and boy have we patented the heck out of it!"

Well, this is that patent. And Apple deserves every single year of their protection.

Competence differences are the real problem.

Every time I have to deal with products using Indian call centers for "customer service", I come away aggravated. They can't imagine any problem that isn't on their fucking script, they have no idea what to do when the problem isn't on the script, and when you ask to speak to their supervisor they either lie and put the guy from the next folding-table over on the line "yes this is supervisor" or else they just fucking hang up on you. Trying to get something advance RMA'ed? Good fucking luck hoping they ever write your address down correctly even after you spell it out letter by letter.

Chinese or Korean-manufactured? Might as well hang a sign on it saying "expect it to fucking break and not work properly after the first month, and good luck getting the company to ever bother honoring their fucking warranty." And yes that includes Apple, who dicked me around for 3 months trying to claim my ipod "got wet" (it didn't, Apple just deliberately uses hypersensitive moisture strips that trigger on their own if you live anywhere that the humidity gets above 50% with any regularity).

Oh, and you nice wonderful left-wing fucktards who love the "no borders, one world government" movement? Remember, those nice cheapy products come on the backs of slave labor, tiny wages, zero worker safety protection laws, and zero environmental protection laws.

"Free trade" is a tool of the robber barons, nothing more.

Here's the original article Tekgoblin refers to... http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/iphone-4-survives-1000-foot-tumble-from-plane/

They negotiated a levy on all blank CDs long ago, for this same reason.

This is double-dipping.

Better idea - why not make it a levy on iPods and other music players. Why should I have to pay a royalty when I don't download music?

They also negotiated a levy on iPods and other music players long ago. Then got rid of it in 2004-5, and some are trying to bring it back now.*
The same counter argument applies. Just as blank CD-Rs can hold not-music, audio players can play not-music. My mother's iPod puts public library branches to shame with its collection of purchased audiobooks and spoken word podcasts.

I got in on the refunds after buying my iPod Mini. And even that tax didn't stop them from double dipping. Unless the government mandates the removal of a preexisting levy, no way in hell is the industry going to give one up. "That's okay, we're getting enough money over here now." Ain't gonna happen.

*Don't feel like inline linking, so here:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/apple-canada-begins-claims-process-for-ipod-levy-refunds/
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/03/canadas-75-ipod-levy-returns.ars

With no disrespect to Dell, it's not clear from your post how Dell was the better support simply because they sent out a technician. You said Apple had to replace your iMac's motherboard and videocard for two weeks. iMacs are built like laptops in that they're cramped and require specialized hardware and complicated methods of access and repair, so yes, it's going to take longer than just sending out a technician to unscrew a power supply and motherboard in a standard tower PC. It ended up that the repair experience with Dell was better because it was an easy fix to do.

Apple is known for being really good at customer support. Just one story found using Google.

Apple decided to allow devices to use serial over the dock connector in February 2010. Why does the summary list it as a "little known secret"? It's hardly a secret that the dock connector which uses USB communicates via a serial connector. That's what the S stands for in USB, btw.

Here's an article telling about the serial port OK from Apple last February:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/apple-approves-serial-port-to-dock-connector-design/

Sometimes it's a month, or more! I've heard 8 days is typical, but it's easily longer. http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/apple-approves-spotify-app-after-month-delay/
Zynga has 41 apps, 6 of them are real apps, 35 are points. The term "lite" delivers pages and pages of apps (free does too, but that list is less likely to follow the same idea).

'There are two different markets, ergo two different products.'

More like overlapping (and rapidly converging) markets currently artificially divided by pricing of the hardware and/or phone contracts. How many people would really prefer to do without the ability to make calls or use the net outside wifi range on a phone-sized device, for reasons other than cost? If a basic unlocked, modestly priced iPhone were available in the US, just how popular would the Touch be? Why do you suppose there are so many Android phones competing with the iPhone (with a brace of tablets in development to compete with the iPad), and lots of small mp3 players competing with the Nano/Shuffle, but very few phone-sized wifi-enabled app-running media players competing directly with the Touch? Could it be because a device of this type really only makes sense if you have Apple's user base and brand image, and want to sell devices, apps and tunes to the masses without endangering your very comfortable margins on an 'aspirationally priced' market-leading smartphone?

'If Apple didn't already have the iPod before they had the iPhone, your rant might actually sound clever.'

Certainly there was a device called an 'iPod' before the iPhone was launched, but the Touch has very little in common with any earlier iPod apart from the branding and iTunes compatibility. The Touch does, however, closely resemble the iPhone, for obvious reasons. If you'd like a bit of history, here's Apple fan site iLounge on the original Touch back in 2007 (most of this is true of the current version):

'Feels less like a flagship iPod than an intentionally stripped down iPhone, with diminished cosmetics, interface and features...Unfortunately, by the past standards of a company that has proudly released products disruptive enough to threaten cannibalization or premature discontinuation of their recent predecessors, the iPod touch is not a truly great new device. In fact, iPod touch feels as if it was designed quite specifically not to threaten Apple's recent cell phone initiative, putting the future of the 110-million-selling iPod family at the mercy of the 1-million-selling iPhone...iPod touch is a stripped-down iPhone, with a similar (but not identical) display and icon-heavy touchscreen interface, one wireless antenna, and some of iPhone's applications.'

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/apple-ipod-touch-8gb-16gb/

"Australian iPad buyers have been forced to buy all manner of unnecessary add-ons including screen protectors, docking stations, covers,"

in March Apple banned the sale of screen portectors in both the online and retail stores here in the states.
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/apple-bans-protective-screen-film-from-apple-store/

so if this was an "apple" policy why would they force you to buy something from a 3rd party they don't want you to buy at one of their own stores (and take their cut of that sale directly).

it's like blaming Sony because the BestBuy monkeys try to sell you a protection plan with a tv.

there were rumors of this kinds of shit at ATT for the frist phone. turned out it did happen in some stores - to boost sales of high margin items.

Sure, apple TV sales have gone up 35%. But they're still pretty bad. Apple even refers to it in the press as "a hobby." Maybe someday it will take off, but with verified 1st month sales of 100k (vs 1 million for the ipad), it's no hit.

They also discontinued several formats of the Shuffle, after many attempts at making it a hit.

The Air is seeming a bit creaky. Have you seen sales numbers, or Mac Event pushes? According to this analysis, the air is looking to be around 8% of Apple's total laptop sales.

Also, the cube was not the mini. The mini is a well-designed, compact machine with sufficient power and a low price. The cube was a beast of a thing, with grossly insufficient cooling, a weak processor, and a huge price. Similar philosophy maybe, but no striking it from Apple's list of products that failed to rock the world.

Also, you could buy an eMac almost anywhere: it wasn't just a school machine. But nobody did. It was a legitimate failure.

Not all products have to rock the world. If you're afraid of failing, you'll make bland crap that has no chance of succeeding. Apple is no different. Their products don't succeed because Apple's fanboys will buy anything. Clearly, there are certain things nobody will buy. But Apple does take enough creative risks in major ways, and spend the time polishing them well, that sometimes they catch on with the mass market.

Yes, because of course web/IM/email are the *ONLY THREE THINGS* done on any PC in an average home...

You win the unintentionally hilarious award for the day. The iPad actually supports or will support every single thing you mentioned!

1. Printing support may come as a part of the iPhone OS 4.0 SDK. If not, Google's Cloud Print Service could fill the gap.
2. The iPad is such a good 3D game platform that Nintendo declared Apple the enemy of the future.
3. The iPad itself is a solid media player, but you can also hook it up to your TV with Component or VGA cables.
4. Apple sells a Camera Connector Kit for the iPad. You can upload photos from an SD stick, and edit them in an App on your iPad.
5. iPhone OS 4.0 supports background tasks and multi-tasking, to the extent that you would even want to do that on a 10" screen.

The only thing you can't do on an iPad is rip movies and music, but that's kinda what the iTunes store is for. I'm not saying that the way you do it on the iPad is for everyone, and you specifically are certainly better off with a PC. My mom, on the other hand, finds the iPad a much eaiser way to achieve every item you mentioned.

Silly question I know, but reading your post just makes its title look all the more ironic.

Hardware and legacy-OS "fragmentation" exists today in the iPhone ecosystem - nearly half of iPod Touches are running older systems, and there are already iPhone owners who will never be able to upgrade to OS 4 (even the beta). It's obviously greater in Android due to the larger choice of hardware and more rapid OS releases. Some may prefer a slower-moving target, but the monolithic, our-way-or-the-highway approach that's required to achieve this has too many well-documented disadvantages to be suitable for everyone.

[Backwards compatibility] sounds like an unlikely situation in the android world

That's just plain uninformed. No APIs have been revoked or broken; the only 1.0 apps that don't work today are the ones that did naughty, undocumented things - like any other platform. In fact, Android's VM model, excellent API version management and Marketplace manifest model make it easy to allow apps to run on any version of Android they can manage, or to target the app at whatever specific set of hardware features are required, making forward compatibility far less of an issue that for e.g. Linux or Windows (can't speak for iPhone OS personally). And Rubin points this out.

Yes, but Apple has iPhone-using snipers.

Not all new advanced features are going to be available on phones with more limited hardware. Time and technology marches on, and you can't expect the OS writer to simply code to the least common denominator. This is true in Android, and even in iPhone and iPod Touch:

"MMS is not supported on first-generation iPhone. Video MMS is not supported on first-generation iPhone 3G."

From the iPhone OS 3.1 Software Update page at http://www.apple.com/iphone/softwareupdate/

"The new iPod touch is the second Apple pocket device to include hardware support for OpenGL ES 2.0, a newer graphics technology that debuted in the iPhone 3GS. OpenGL ES 2.0 gives developers the ability to use programmable “shaders” to create more impressive and realistic looking visual effects than the first two iPod touch and first two iPhone models were capable of generating. The upside of this new feature is that future games will look better on the new iPod touch and iPhone 3GS than on earlier models; the downside is that only a handful of games, and then mostly mediocre ones, have been released with support for the new graphics feature."

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/apple-inc.-ipod-touch-third-generation

In other words, some advanced games won't even install on first generation iPhones. Exactly like on Android. Why should phone manufacturers provide an Android 2.0 or 2.1 OS update for the G1, when the hardware clearly can't handle it?

I do understand getting NO updates to your phone ever - my HTC WinMo 6 phone never got any updates and it was frustrating. But Google has shown that it will release updates to Android as long as the hardware will support it with reasonable performance. And if you are not satisfied with that state of affairs, Android makes it fairly easy to root your phone and install whatever custom ROM you want. You do have to be technically proficient to do so, but at least Google does nothing to stop you.

So what else is new? Did anyone expect different?

This is the default position of Microsofts old guard to any competitor product.

Android:
http://www.neowin.net/news/main/08/11/06/microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-pokers-fun-at-google-android
Chrome:
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/07/14/steve_ballmer_laughs_off_googles_chrome_os_threat.html
iPhone:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/microsoft-ceo-claims-new-zune-market-share-laughs-at-iphone/

Gates playing down iPhone:
http://www.iphoneworld.ca/news/2007/02/03/bill-gates-wont-buy-an-apple-iphone/

Just for your own information...

sync issues:

http://mashable.com/2009/11/09/iphone-windows-7-sync/
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10330485-263.html
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/intel-responds-on-iphone-sync-issues/
http://www.mac-forums.com/forums/ipod-iphone-software-apps/139937-i-have-mind-boggling-iphone-3g-sync-problem.html
http://www.iphonefaq.org/archives/97665

Random shutdowns/decreased battery life:

http://www.iphonehacks.com/2009/09/iphone-os-31-problems-random-shutdown-poor-battery-life-bricked-iphone-slow-performance.html
http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2009/09/16/iphone-31-bugs-random-freeze-shut/
http://iphone-chat.org/31-random-shutdown-and-battery-death-iphone-3g-65401/
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/iphone-therefore-iblog/2009/09/iphone-shutdown.html

As far as overheating/burning/asploading, it isn't a widespread problem...but...well...I'll just let the 103 million results speek for themselves:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS354US354&q=iphone+fire

After getting modded -1, Troll, I'm going to repost this again and keep reposting until you guys notice it.

An authentication chip is indeed present in the ipod headphones. It's not a troll. It's not an attempt to smear apple by claiming it's DRM... Although since only headphones with the chip can work with the new ipod shuffle because it has inline controls, it sure looks and smells like DRM. Well, have at it fanboys. I've got karma to burn.

Well, the iPod touch does have a short battery life when using WiFi actively. But if you listen to music from the iPod library, then you can expect the battery to last 8-10 times longer.

Yes, I know, I know. There's a reason why you use Pandora: so that you can listen to music that you don't currently have. But still, if your library isn't too small, maybe you can use the iPod again as you wanted.

What is apple doing to stifle mp3 player manufacturers? What is apple doing to stifle online music stores?

There are tons of other players out there, and tons of other online music stores. Apple designed a wildly successful product with supporting software and services. Amazon mp3's work on iPods, and the itunes-plus music (which is most of the catalog) will play on any player that supports AAC. I only buy the Plus stuff already because it's higher quality, but I get most of my music from amazon.

Here is a partial list of devices that support AAC:
PS3
PSP
sony walkman and sony phones from ericsson
nseries phones from nokia
Android-based phones
Wii
Nintendo DSi

Here is a partial list of online music vendors that are compatible with ipods:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/free-music-for-your-ipod
rhapsody
amazon
lala.com

Wii controllers don't work with PS3s. Garmin gps units don't work with tomtom software. canon printer software won't run epson printers. Do I need to go on?

People seem to conflate "trying to make a buck" with anti-competitive practices. We have to draw the line somewhere. The ITMS/iPod franchise is not in itself anti-competitive any more than an auto dealership is- you can buy more than one make of car from one and you can have your car worked on by other mechanics.

-b

Oh, I get it, this is APPLE.slashdot.org, clearly I must be wrong then. Score one for all the critical thinking classes you all took in college, good job.

Here's a great post with comments about how people are complaining that AC is a $10 game, LOL. That right there is yet another reason, ya cheap bastards:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/gameloft-releases-assassins-creed-for-iphone-ipod-touch/

Never gonna happen, Apple-fanboys, give it up.

If you could replace it yourself you could buy a third party battery. Since you have a choice it seems likely you'd pay less than $179

As the register put it
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/14/17_inch_macbook_battery/

If you assume that the costs of a replaceable battery's case, contacts, latches, and other hardware might cancel out the labor cost of the MacBook Pro's battery replacement, the Apple laptop battery isn't inexpensive when compared with batteries for other 17-inch laptops. The battery for the HP Pavilion dv7t series is $139, for example, and the battery for the Toshiba Satellite P300-ST3712 runs $149.99. Of the laptops we looked at, only the battery for the Dell XPS M1730 is more expensive, at $189.99.

Furthermore, the 17-inch MacBook Pro's integrated battery makes it impossible for the frugal MacBooker to pick up a third-party replacement (or spare), such as the $129 battery from MacConnection.com for the previous 17-inch MacBook Pro.

We're willing to bet, however, that when the first 17-inch MacBook Pro batteries need replacement in three to five years, enterprising shops such as TechRestore will offer less-expensive alternatives.

See from Apple's point of view the integrated battery is much better. They get $179 instead of MacConnection.com getting $129. From the user's point of view they are $50 down on the deal. In fact I'm surprised they don't add some authentication to the battery to stop TechRestore taking their money.

They could use one of these chips
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/apple-locks-tv-out-in-new-ipods-breaks-video-add-ons/

Presently, the only apparent way to turn this feature on is if you connect your iPod to a device with an Apple authentication chip built in. Authentication chips are only available in Apple products, and in a handful of products made by Apple-licensed third-party developers. The chips are not available to unlicensed developers, and add additional costs to the prices of iPod accessories. Upcoming Apple video cables that will work with the new iPods will sell for a staggering $49.

They irritated me by stopping my iPod touch from charging from a 5V adapter with a USB socket. Official Apple chargers put non standard voltages on D+ and D- to authenticate themselves.

http://forums.ilounge.com/archive/index.php/t-166847.html

There's no user benefit to this feature, it's just an attempt to get people to buy official Apple chargers

If you could replace it yourself you could buy a third party battery. Since you have a choice it seems likely you'd pay less than $179

As the register put it
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/14/17_inch_macbook_battery/

If you assume that the costs of a replaceable battery's case, contacts, latches, and other hardware might cancel out the labor cost of the MacBook Pro's battery replacement, the Apple laptop battery isn't inexpensive when compared with batteries for other 17-inch laptops. The battery for the HP Pavilion dv7t series is $139, for example, and the battery for the Toshiba Satellite P300-ST3712 runs $149.99. Of the laptops we looked at, only the battery for the Dell XPS M1730 is more expensive, at $189.99.

Furthermore, the 17-inch MacBook Pro's integrated battery makes it impossible for the frugal MacBooker to pick up a third-party replacement (or spare), such as the $129 battery from MacConnection.com for the previous 17-inch MacBook Pro.

We're willing to bet, however, that when the first 17-inch MacBook Pro batteries need replacement in three to five years, enterprising shops such as TechRestore will offer less-expensive alternatives.

See from Apple's point of view the integrated battery is much better. They get $179 instead of MacConnection.com getting $129. From the user's point of view they are $50 down on the deal. In fact I'm surprised they don't add some authentication to the battery to stop TechRestore taking their money.

They could use one of these chips
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/apple-locks-tv-out-in-new-ipods-breaks-video-add-ons/

Presently, the only apparent way to turn this feature on is if you connect your iPod to a device with an Apple authentication chip built in. Authentication chips are only available in Apple products, and in a handful of products made by Apple-licensed third-party developers. The chips are not available to unlicensed developers, and add additional costs to the prices of iPod accessories. Upcoming Apple video cables that will work with the new iPods will sell for a staggering $49.

They irritated me by stopping my iPod touch from charging from a 5V adapter with a USB socket. Official Apple chargers put non standard voltages on D+ and D- to authenticate themselves.

http://forums.ilounge.com/archive/index.php/t-166847.html

There's no user benefit to this feature, it's just an attempt to get people to buy official Apple chargers

This and this are examples of the genre.

I've yet to see much in the way of technical breakdown of the issue; but it is unequivocally the case that they, deliberately, added proprietary secret sauce to the iPod video out process, in order to capture a larger percentage of accessory revenue.

This article is also worth a look. I doubt that they are doing anything illegal; but Apple is anything but a fuzzy friend of standards with respect to the dock connector.

These guys have something on the subject

It's out there becaus that's what Apple said.

Specificly

Update 2: Another Apple representative has added details on the Sarbanes situation: it's about accounting. Because of the Act, the company believes that if it sells a product, then later adds a feature to that product, it can be held liable for improper accounting if it recognizes revenue from the product at the time of sale, given that it hasn't finished delivering the product at that point. Ridiculous.

Update 3: Apple has confirmed today to CNet that it will be selling 802.11n unlock software for its Core 2 Duo Macs, and indeed cited accounting concerns as the reason for selling the feature rather than giving it away. If you're not buying the new 802.11n AirPort Extreme, the good news is that the software will be available for $1.99 through its web site - a truly token price for an improvement of this caliber - and in light of the comments below, I'll clarify two major points on this whole situation.

The problem is that none of those solve the issue I described, son.

I don't recall ever referencing that section of your post or saying any of them did. Why should they? iTunes can handle shared library storage quite nicely already.

Here's a little comparison between Bluray, AppleTV, Video on Demand, and DVD

Maybe they all look fine to you-- but the purpose of Bluray is to look spectacular--and unfortunately, that goal eats up bandwidth. In most of the comparisons, the video-on demand offering fares poorly. But the bandwidth cap cuts off alternatives.

Still most 50 GB bluray discs are bloated with features,games, and (in the opinion of some) lossless audio. A bluray movie might only be 26-27 gigabytes.

I've changed phones many times in the last year, my company keeps swapping them out on me. All three of the phones they've given me in the past year, an older Motorola Q, a Blackberry Curve, and now the older model iPhone all use USB to charge. For the iPhone I actually bought an alarm clock to handle charging that.

They may all use USB to charge, but for the Motorola, at least, you have to have a Motorola charger. Try plugging it into any other devices USB charger, and it complains about it being an invalid charger and doesn't charge. Even if they use the exact same current for charging. This, IMHO, is the biggest failure of USB as a power source currently. Everyone trying to nickle and dime you by forcing you to use their chargers.

It's all fine and dandy to say that they all charge the same way and have the same power connectors, but when you still need a separate charger for each device, the 'standard' is broken.

I get USB chargable devices.

First of all I try to get things that will charge via USB.

For instance your Nintendo DS IS USB chargeable. I don't have a DS, but I do have the GBA equivalent to this nice Pelican charger kit. I use the cigarette lighter to USB adapter to charge other low wattage devices, like my iRiver when I'm in the car, not just my GBA SP and GBA Micro (it wasn't powerful enough for any of my previous phones though).

I bought a PSP a few days ago, I know it's also USB chargeable, I just haven't picked up an adapter yet.

My Jabra JX10 doesn't take much wattage to charge, neither does my Skype phone I use the USB ports on the back of my KVM to charge those. The KVM is powered, so thats 1 power port for 3 devices.

I've changed phones many times in the last year, my company keeps swapping them out on me. All three of the phones they've given me in the past year, an older Motorola Q, a Blackberry Curve, and now the older model iPhone all use USB to charge. For the iPhone I actually bought an alarm clock to handle charging that.

I used to think the idea of using USB to power things was ludicrous, mostly because the first things I saw utilizing USB power were fans, lights, and mini vacs, just stupid little power suckers. Now that I've actually been utilizing it I've been freeing up the power strip. Things like this and this actually seem worth buying.

iPhone Shuffle. Makes random calls. No display. Think indifferent

iPod Touches are the same. A PC without the driver won't charge. Specifically the Touch won't charge until the PC driver sends a USB configuration is set to a non standard value and a vendor specific command is sent.

http://matt.colyer.name/projects/iphone-module/

A generic USB charger won't charge an iPod either, unless it supplies 2.5V on D+ and D-, not just 5V and ground. This is totally non standard of course and the Touch only requires it so you can't use a generic USB charger.

http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=166847

I have a Win2k machine at work. New iTunes refuses to install on it and old iTunes doesn't have iPod Touch support. So because of all these obstacles Apple have strewn in my path I need to buy a charger to charge my Touch at work. As a point of principle I got a non Apple one. Some of the third party USB charger companies have learned the 2.5V trick and advertise themselves as "iPod Touch/iPhone compatible"

Actually the Touch annoys me so much I've gone back to using Winamp and a 2.5" hard disk in a USB case.

Six hours of wifi surfing sounds pretty good. That's better than some users get. Like this report of 3 hours total.

http://forums.ilounge.com/showthread.php?t=215227

Couple this efficient processor with this new video can communications processor that is rumored to debut in Australia;
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/backstage/comments/what-s-gold3-could-really-mean-for-the-next-iphone/

The pertinent paragraph;
Enhanced Data Networks and Rates: Arguably the most important new features of S-GOLD3H are also semi-obvious ones. The new chip supports the 3G network standards picked by leading domestic and foreign mobile phone companies, including HSDPA category 8 (7.2Mbit/second) data transfers, as well as WCDMA with 384kbit/second simultaneous upload and downloads, or 640kbit/second independent uploading or downloading. It also adds support for third-generation GRPS, versus the second-generation GPRS in the current iPhone. Together, these standards could allow the new iPhone to work in virtually any country on the planet, and deliver tremendous improvements in web page, e-mail, and other data delivery: four to eight times faster with WCDMA, and potentially ten times that with the right HSDPA network. Real world speeds are likely to fall short of the theoretical maximums, but they'll still be a lot better, and iPhone will be more compatible, too.


If -- and this is a big "if", Telephone companies like AT&T support these higher bandwidth cellphone systems at a reasonable price, you can say good-bye to needing a phone at home, at work and an internet connection in both places. Your iPhone with a blue-tooth connection, could provide in most cases a faster connection. The only stumbling point would be the cost per minute. I expect all the greedy monopolies to charge dearly for these things, while places like Europe, Australia, Asia and Israel will have always-connected phones providing video and web services. Anyway, for the people lucky enough to be in countries with actual telecommunications competition, the next-gen iPhone could replace all the duplicate communications devices and media devices you own. That would be about $250 a month for me -- so even if there is a $150 per month charge on a phone like this, it would be worth it, if your company were savvy enough to support you using the phone, rather than setting up a network and phone system at your job.

Yes, this was discussed in an earlier Slashdot story, " RIAA Argues That MP3s From CDs Are Unauthorized", and in a bunch of other places:

* Boing Boing p2pnet reddit Heise Online (German) Truemors BlogRunner/Digital Rights Hugh Casey IDG (Polish) Geek News Central CE Pro Gizmodo TechDirt Read/Write Web Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection TDPRI WhatReallyHappened.com Slyck Root.cz (Czech) Craigslist Forums Hard OCP Wired.com Uneasy Silence Overclock.net Wake World SpaceBattles.com Hydrogen Audio BrickFilms.com Hockey Zombie iLounge Zune Scene AllmanBrothersBand.com Golem (German) PC Magazin (German) Tweakers (Dutch) Mackauf (German) Wake Space Kino-eye.com Digital Copyright Canada Northwest Progressive Institute Louisville Music News Frant

Yeah. They can just call the restaurant and ask for directions. Because that's what they do all day in rastaurants: wait for people to ask for directions from any little street in a x-mile radius to their location. They're all just taxi drivers doing their second job.

And that's assuming you have their number en route. What if you don't? What if the restaurant doesn't have someone that can spend the time to turn-by-turn guide your drive for the next twenty minutes?

Know what would be good? Having some sort of Google or Google Maps function on your hand-held doo-hickey that lets you request all the restaurants in the area, or by type, or whatever. Then you could map out driving directions to the one you want. Maybe even get real-time traffic information to plan your journey better on the way.

Nobody would ever want that. Just like you said. Of course, Goldman Sachs says they expect 14 million of these things to be sold by the end of 2008. That's a lot of nobodies. And that's just for the iPhone.

Opinions [REDACTED], everyone has one.

http://www.macintouch.com/readerreports/ipodclassic/
http://ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/ipod-classic-tests-reveal-audio-problems

and the best list is here:

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2007/pulpit_20070914_002928.html

Yes.

Also, I'm surprised that no one's brought up the open letter at iLounge: http://ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/an-open-letter-to-nbc-re-leaving-apples-itunes-store/

It's generally pretty good, although there is a paragraph or two near the end that may make you go, "wtf?".

Why do you think Applet should get a cut from *calls* made with an iPhone?

I pose the question why do shops like Universal think they should get a cut of the sales of the Zune (which was paid by MS) and the iPod (which was not paid by apple). Perhaps we should that Universal has also implied that Apple should pay them for (by Universal's estimation) "the typical iPod contains a significant amount of illegally downloaded material"

Not to mention that Universal-NBC wants consumer to pay significantly for downloads of shows that they could buy on dvd for less.

This all boils down to a the last throes of a failing business model.

That's what the headline should read! http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/app le-responds-to-nbc-wont-offer-upcoming-fall-season -shows/11321

This is an April Fool's Joke, and an old one too: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/dev eloping-quicktime-apps-for-ipod/

"Oh, and the iPhone isn't going to let you read/edit/email Word docs."

Edit? Not yet. Read? Different story.

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/iph one-guided-tour-part-2-word-excel-files-viewable-a nd-more/

"it's not aimed at" and "is not going to be successful in the business environment" are two entirely different things. And again, this is just the first version.

As such, I wouldn't be making blanket assertions about its ultimate success or failure. In any market.

The clickwheel is the sticking point. If Apple wants to make a larger-screen iPod without making the device itself larger, then there are two very simple choices. It could copy Archos, which moved from the iPod-shaped MMJB video player in 2002 (small screen, very annoying) to the current larger AV format (controls along the side). Or it could move the entire control interface to the reverse of the device, leaving one entire side for the clickwheel and controls, and perhaps a secondary small screen (but more cost).