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- both Nokias have the "standard Nokia" thin connector that doesn't comply to ANY reasonable electric standard so you can't just connect it directly to USB or any power supply of any reasonable parameters. Specifications here: http://www.forum.nokia.com/info/sw.nokia.com/id/3378ff2b-4016-42b9-9118-d59e4313a521/Nokia_2-mm_DC_Charging_Interface_Specification_v1_2_en.pdf.html

http://www.walrus.com/~raphael/html/usb_charge.html Still shitty, but not quite as bad as you make it sound. I really disliked the fact that my last Nokia (6300, otherwise a fine phone) had a standard mini-usb (good!) but wouldn't charge over it (bad!)

Anyway, Nokia h as been pretty good so far because they only have two standards, even if they aren't a standard outside of Nokia's phones. Every charger fitted every phone, up until recently. The newer small plugs have a different size but are still the same charger. I've always thought that makes perfect sense, both for the customer and for Nokia.

Anyway, glad to see Europe's pushing this standard. I do hear it's only for data phones though:

The chargers will be usable only for data-enabled phones, which have more capability than just standard calls and SMS texts. Data-enabled phones are expected to account for almost half of all new mobile handset purchases in 2010.

The Commission hopes that as people discard their old handsets, within three to four years all data-enabled phones in Europe will be using standardized chargers.

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/06/29/apple-to-adopt-micro-usb-connectors-for-iphone-charging-in-europe/

Let me share with you a special URL:

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Before you buy anything from Apple, check this URL. It will save you much heartache.

New to buying Apple products? Consult: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Old Apple consumer getting ready to buy a new Apple product? Consult: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Analyst/Gypsy Fortune Teller (their almost the same thing) guessing what products Apple is likely to release soon? Consult: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

New to buying Apple products? Consult: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Old Apple consumer getting ready to buy a new Apple product? Consult: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Analyst/Gypsy Fortune Teller (their almost the same thing) guessing what products Apple is likely to release soon? Consult: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

New to buying Apple products? Consult: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Old Apple consumer getting ready to buy a new Apple product? Consult: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

Analyst/Gypsy Fortune Teller (their almost the same thing) guessing what products Apple is likely to release soon? Consult: http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

I agree, of course Apple won't buy Twitter, what would be the point of that? (Admittedly, I'm biased because I don't know what Twitter is beyond some new internet fad and something about a crippled IRC).

... But while we're speculating wildly out of our asses, why not something fun? MacRumors is reporting that Apple might buy Electronic Arts. That at least might provide me as a mac user some decent fucking games. Good thing too, I'm getting really tired of NWN, Warcraft III and Myth II. Maybe then I could finally dump that windows partition for a hacked OS X partition.

Maybe here?
Or here?

Maybe here?
Or here?

Some more links on MacRumors:
"T-Mobile in Germany, however, threatened that it may take action to prevent its customers from using Skype on the iPhone. [...] Skype has proven to be massively popular on the iPhone and iPod Touch reaching over one million downloads in the first two days of availability."

Some more links on MacRumors:
"T-Mobile in Germany, however, threatened that it may take action to prevent its customers from using Skype on the iPhone. [...] Skype has proven to be massively popular on the iPhone and iPod Touch reaching over one million downloads in the first two days of availability."

Some more links on MacRumors:
"T-Mobile in Germany, however, threatened that it may take action to prevent its customers from using Skype on the iPhone. [...] Skype has proven to be massively popular on the iPhone and iPod Touch reaching over one million downloads in the first two days of availability."

Except not: http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/31/adobe-and-apple-working-on-flash-for-iphone/

May I recommend then, this page?

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

They've been fairly accurate in predicting when the next refresh happens. Plus you can read what the mac-heads think about the HW in the Discussion boards. (hint: it not all wine and roses.)

markets.

Man are the fanbois belly aching on many of the bigger sites. What shocked most is that prices for the new machines went up and in some cases a lot. An example comparing old aussie prices to new http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=7199753&postcount=164

What is missing is...

LED screens on the iMacs
Blu-Ray (of course no one really expects it)
Quad Cores

Mac Mini got its update but the price is absurd as well.

For those of us who are still upgrading (I have an older 2.13c2d white model) some selected upgrades push ship times out four to six weeks (like buying an ati 4850 chipset)

Amazing that what Apple considers affordable is getting more extreme. Consumer level goods are professional level pricing.

On a similar note, I think it's wrong that Apple is making so much advertising off of iPhone apps. If a particular app in a commercial sells the iPhone, shouldn't they get some of the profits? And have you seen the walls of an Apple Store?

Actually, it's probably closer to quid-pro-quo. Apple sells more iPhones/iPod Touches, and the app featured in the ad (which was probably wholly developed and paid for by Apple) gets free marketing and they actually do sell significantly more.

I'm sure the app authors have right of first refusal to have their app show up in an Apple ad, but it appears to go both ways - Apple sells more, and the app's developer sells more. There's probably a huge queue now for people who want their app featured in an Apple ad. And all the developer had to do was pay Apple $100. Given the amount of flotsam and jetsam in the iTunes store, anything that gets your app out helps...

I'm not even just referring to emails and text messages. You can't even answer a phone call on an iphone with gloves on. The way their touch system works it only picks up your touch when your bare skin touches the surface. So normally accessible buttons like Send and End actually become impossible to press without first taking your gloves off. (Or buying an expensive pair of ridiculous looking iphone gloves. Example)

Aside from the mac mini ,Apple refreshes their hardware every six months or so, maybe not at the rate most people would like, but they are still focused on hardware.

fixed it for you

With the number of patents Apple has and files for, I think it's more likely that this is a 'concept art' kind of patent, on an idea that they might pursue, or might not.

Eh, there's prior art, anyway, if we're just being conceptual.

As a virus requires user interaction such as double clicking a email attachment and worms require no user interaction and auto install due to unpatched vulnerabilities in the OS, I would think worms are worse. The last time a major worm hit over 9 million Windows users was Jan 20th 2009. http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Windows_Virus_Infects_9_Million/551-98002-582.html Back on topic, Macrumors reports that the trojan is already receiving instructions and participating in Denial of Service attacks. They also have manual removal instructions. http://www.macrumors.com/2009/01/22/iwork-09-torrent-carrying-os-x-trojan/

MacRumour's Buyers Guide. It tries to predict new releases of existing products based upon age and rumours. It's not always right but it does seem better than randomly guessing...

I was really really hoping for a mid-line system that didn't have a freaking built-in monitor! I've already got a 27" flatpanel which I'm not about to throw away for an iMac.

A second monitor can be hooked up to an iMac, check out MacRumors: Forums. Here's Apple's support page on Connecting an external monitor to your iMac's VGA monitor port. You may want to use another connection, like DVI, but I found those with a quick search.

Falcon

I've had an intermittent graphics card problem with an '06 MacBookPro for a while now... it leads to occasional system freeze, maybe once a day, sometimes recently a lot more. One warning that a freeze may be imminent is the appearance of thin horizontal light blue lines during what appear to be block-copys of graphics (like scrolling a browser page) - freezes often come during intense operations like a Genie style minimize, but even turning all these off, the freezes still come. There are scattered reports of similar problems, mostly when new, and my experience tracks with these (more frequent when external monitor is connected, etc.)

Bottom line - I didn't pay the 15% AppleCare tax, so I'm SOL in terms of support from Apple, they haven't admitted to anything systemic, though it obviously is at least somewhat reproduceable. What I'd really like them to do is publish a kind of tech bulletin telling how to correct the problem if you have it, but I suppose that might take business away from their Genius bars (nearest one being 2 hours drive from here.)

If they wanted a reputation as a truly awesome company, they would develop and release that kind of info instead of suppressing it to affect the (false, and repugnant) air of perfection.

Is it too late for Psytar to file for an exemption? ~

I apologize for incorrect information - apparently, they've got rid of the per-user application folder in Tiger. That is, in a clean install, you won't get it; if you upgrade an old installation, you still have it.

Of course, there's absolutely nothing magical about it, and you can (and people do) create a folder named "Applications" (or anything else) in their home dir and install applications into it via drag&drop, as usual.

Oh, good grief; not you, too?

Neither iPhone model has stereo speakers. It's not a dead speaker, it's the fricking MICROPHONE.

In short

I found a cheaper solution to charging my iPhone by solar. I use two solar arrays, very similar to those found here for $23 each: http://www.batteryjunction.com/12vsopabachs.html They deliver 150 mA max, but I've found they can easily deliver 175 mA each, and not even when angled directly at the sun. I use this with a simple car power inverter that has a USB charger port on it, but you can always make your own 12V to 5V regulator with a 5V regulator from Radio Shack, see here: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062599 I've used this with my iPhone a couple times and found that it is able to charge my iPhone. There is one trick though, the iPhone is picky about its power supply, and so you need to trick it by making a simple circuit with two resistors. See the post below for instructions (you need to scroll down a bit in the post to get to what I'm talking about, it involves making a voltage divider on the data channels): http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=5447947&posted=1#post5447947 Also, it charges the iPhone even while playing music. The first time I tested these was in my car, and I had the panels directed in the windshield. After driving for 3 hours it charged my iPhone from about 60% to 90%; and this was with the panels not angled towards the sun. I haven't taken account of how it charges since, but know it does. Also, if ever the power goes out for several days, you can always pull the battery out of your car when needed (or buy another car battery specifically for this use), and use the power inverter (if it has a USB port) or the 5V regulator to charge your USB electronics. You can then keep the car battery charged with these solar cells, so you don't need to waste gas running the car to charge the battery back up.

- angry over confusion
- angry over video card
- angry over southpark
- angry over upgrades
- angry over waiting in line

A MacRumors article has a response from Steve about the lack of Firewire, with his only explanation being that, "All the new HD camcorders have been using USB for the last two years."

Sigh, I'm probably picking up a MBP, but I know plenty of folks that use firewire for things other than camcorders (particularly good external HDs)

I bought the last one three weeks ago, at full price...

Bummer. Maybe this will help next time: Mac Rumours Buyers Guide

No only are Macs 500$ more expensive than comparable PCs, but you're also at the mercy of the manufacturer when it comes to resale value.

For what it's worth, Macs seem to hold resale value pretty well. Obviously, this week is not the best week to try to sell, I'm talking long term...

I thought I should mention MacRumors, a long-established site for Mac-related rumors and news, since it looks like Taco wasn't aware there are already sites that do this sort of thing.

Mythbusters dispelled it! http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=432956

Apparently after 400 recharges the battery is down to 80% of its life (I don't know how they've tested this). http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=327614

Given I've had to charge the battery twice a day on occasions and if you attach to a computer for itunes then that counts as a recharge, you can see how this would run out quicker than a normal battery.

Then again, you replace your phone every 18 months, why would you want a new battery when you're going to get rid of it soon?

developers do not have to sign NDAs.

If that's the case, can you explain why when Apple rejects an app from their app store, even their rejection letter is protected by an NDA?

So if you've told people your developing an app, you then can't tell them why it has been rejected or even that it has been rejected. Access to the SDK requires you to agree to an NDA.

See my other comments later in this thread. However, you might also want to check out this thread on the Macrumors forums.

Do you honestly think that this pathetic commercial is more important to report on than...

- Apple banning a 'pull my finger' app on grounds that it would be 'of little use' to iPhone/iPod Touch users
http://www.macrumors.com/iphone/2008/09/04/apple-rejecting-applications-based-on-limited-utility/

( as opposed to the Koi Pond, or the plurality of 'Flashlight' apps )

okay, yeah, it probably is.

Pressing the emergency call button at the unlock screen, followed by two taps on the home button, takes you to the iPhone's private 'favorites' page without the need to enter the unlock code

Not quite - it takes you to Favorites or iPod depending on your double-tap shortcut setting. If it's set to the home screen then you are just prompted for the passcode. See here

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/18/iphone-3g-connectivity-affecting-2-of-customers-software-fix-soon/

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/18/iphone-3g-connectivity-a ffecting-2-of-customers-software-fix-soon/

NPD doesn't publicly list their numbers, and yet people quote them all the time. They're supposed to be the industry standard for actual machines out.

The numbers you quoted were one source I've never heard of, and and only list new PC sales for the quarter. I'm not sure if those PC sales include laptops or not. Some people list laptop sales seperately, and that is where Apple is making the largest strides right now.

Browser usage shows the number of PCs connected to the internet, and reflects real-world usage, as opposed to quarterly sales. Global browser usage shows Apple with a close to 8% market share, which mimics the claims I've seen from multiple sources that Apple has a 7% share of the global market right now.

In the US, Apple had 14% of the US market share for new PCs in February. Everyone in the industry is noting their rapid ascent, and Microsoft's plummeting market share.

I'm not sure how you are trying to deny that.

http://www.macrumors.com/2008/03/17/apples-pc-marketshare-up-to-14-percent-for-february-2008/

http://www.macrumors.com/c.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdaringfireball.net%2F2008%2F08%2Fcore_location_blacklist&t=1218475803

DaringFireball.net clarifies that the published blacklist url likely only blocks malicious apps from accessing the iPhone's Core Location functions. Core Location allows applications to detect the user's location through GPS and Wi-Fi triangulation.

An informed source at Apple confirmed to me that the âoeclblâ in the URL stands for âoeCore Location Blacklistâ, and that it does just that. It is not a blacklist for disabling apps completely, but rather specifically for preventing any listed apps from accessing Core Location â" an API which, for obvious privacy reasons, is covered by very strict rules in the iPhone SDK guidelines.

http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;625432195;pp;2;fp;;fpid;

You could also just convert the PowerPoint file into a movie file, then use an iPhone to play it, pausing on each frame. Looks liek that;s exactly what this guy did:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=366966

Apple captured a lot more than 5%

Now that he's back, they've gone from about 5% to nearly 20% in less than a decade.

Actually, Apple has less than 4.3% global marketshare and 6.6% United States marketshare in Q1 2008 (6.1% in Q4 2007).

As for the overall market. I admit that I overreached with 20%, but How about pretty close to 10%, which is twice as much as the first AC troll claimed?

Are you an idiot? Your own source says Apple had 6.6% of the U.S. market (not global) for Q1 2008 and 6.1% in Q4 2007. How is this "pretty close to 10%" and "twice as much" as what the first AC troll claimed (5%, not specific to U.S.)

Also, the AC troll didn't specify "U.S." marketshare, so it's reasonable to assume he/she meant "global" marketshare. Your source says Apple had less than 4.5% global marketshare.

As for the overall market. I admit that I overreached with 20%, but How about pretty close to 10%, which is twice as much as the first AC troll claimed?

Are you an idiot? Your own source says Apple had 6.6% of the U.S. market (not global) for Q1 2008 and 6.1% in Q4 2007. How is this "pretty close to 10%" and "twice as much" as what the first AC troll claimed (5%, not specific to U.S.)

Also, the AC troll didn't specify "U.S." marketshare, so it's reasonable to assume he/she meant "global" marketshare. Your source says Apple had less than 4.5% global marketshare.

Apple isn't even close to 20% of any computing market

I agree. 66% isn't even close to 20%.

As for the overall market. I admit that I overreached with 20%, but How about pretty close to 10%, which is twice as much as the first AC troll claimed?

Agreed - comparing revenue per employee is meaningless since it doesn't equate to profits, market share, or employee salary (there are those things like costs).

Revenue for 4th Quarter 2007:

Apple: $904m ( http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/10/22results.html )

HP: $1.7b ( http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-150322.html )

And for 1st Quarter 2008:

Apple: $1.58b ( http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/22/apple-1q-2008-results-record-1-58-billion-profit/ )

HP: $2.13b ( http://www.news8.net/news/stories/0208/497320.html )

But I'm sure some Apple fan will make up some arbitrary calculation to somehow make Apple come out better...

Using my Nokia N73 we watched quite a few youtube videos(asshole mario is fun when you're drunk, even if the screen is smallish). Since there was no TV we also watched the latest news broadcast from the web with my phone. So Flash videos do work. All you need is an decent phone, though I suppose since you Americans are hailing the iPhone as the second coming of Jesus you lack such things..

You DO know that the iPhone has built-in YouTube app and can view most YouTube videos, right? YouTube has been putting a lot of its videos in the H.264 format which the iPhone can use just fine.

Honestly, I hardly miss Flash on my iPhone. Most sites that matter have put up JavaScript and AJAX interfaces which the iPhone works with beautifully. A lot more sites are going this way every day and I personally am cheering the fact that all the PITA Flash junk out there is finally getting thrown out.

The taxes will probably be comparable to sales tax--a few bucks on a $40 plan, e.g. With a more expensive (e.g. data) plan it will of course be more, but if you're willing to shell out $60 or whatever for a data plan you should also be prepared to shell out $8 or whatever in taxes.

To get an approximation just google "XYZ plan taxes fees forum" and see what people say. For example:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?s=bace4f039998a970fb0736cb9659d8b2&p=4412192&postcount=11

Peace out.

Of the 500 or so apps, 130+ are free (as in $0).