The 404 542: Where the babysitter's on fire (podcast)
A lot of critics accuse The 404 of resorting to juvenile humor for cheap laughs, and even if that's absolutely true, we've never had an actual 14 year old call us out on it...until this morning, when young Daniel showed up at the CNET office! Dedicated 404 listeners will remember Daniel as the kid who got robbed for hisiPhone, so he joins us on today's episode as a junior podcaster to tell his story. And don't worry--his mother is fully aware of his location.Daniel is visibly excited about the first topic of discussion, a silly list of women who are hot for no reason other than the fact that they're wearing big headphones, riding old-fashioned bicycles, or (in our minds), simply glancing in our general direction.We're all quickly learning that teenagers today have so much more to worry about than we did in the '90s. For example, a lot of young people are developing carpal tunnel syndrome from too much text messaging! Sixteen-year-old Annie Levitz from Illinois recently developed CP in her hands from sending up to 4,000 text messages a month and now must wear two protective braces on her wrists to prevent further injury. Thankfully, she told ABC News, she's slowly weening herself off the addiction. Last month, she cut the number of texts down to 2,000.Thanks again to Daniel for making us feel super old! Just kidding, buddy--hope you had fun, good luck with the Palm Pre Plus, and we'll let you know when we scrounge up enough change to hire an intern. ;)EPISODE 542PodcastYour browser does not support the audio element. Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) |Subscribe in RSS Audio |Subscribe in RSS Video This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.PlayFollow us on Twitter!The 404Jeff BakalarJustin YuWilson TangAdd us on Facebook!The 404 Fan PageThe 404 GroupJustin YuJeff BakalarWilson Tang
Music start-ups- Think of listeners first
Music start-ups: Think of listeners first
MySpace Music has apparently moved to fix a lot of these problems, and when I checked the site today for the new Neil Young album "Fork in the Road"--available there as an exclusive until April 7--I found it to be fine for the task at hand. Then again, why couldn't Neil have posted these songs on his own Web site? If it weren't an exclusive, I'm not sure I'd think to check MySpace first, or at all, to hear these songs.I think a similar problem hampered Microsoft's September 2006 launch of the first Zune player. Its most interesting differentiating factor from the market-leading iPod was its built in Wi-Fi connection. But the only thing users could do with it was transfer songs to one another, and those songs could only be played three times or for three days before they expired. In other words, Microsoft gave up too much control over its one differentiating feature to content owners. Better to go back to the drawing board and launch stronger with things like Wi-Fi connectivity to the Marketplace than to draw the ire of customers and scorn of reviewers and end up stuck with a tainted brand for the next few years. (The latest Zune software and service are pretty cool, but nobody knows it--just check out the comments every time I post about Zune.)Like I told an entrepreneur I met at South by Southwest who was asking me for guidelines for the next big music start-up: concentrate on helping music listeners solve a problem, or do something they couldn't do before. Frame your company around listeners, not artists, not venues, not managers, not promoters, not labels. Listeners. iPod: lets you carry thousands of songs with you. iTunes: makes it easy to get songs from CDs onto your computer and iPod. Pandora: gives you the "surprise" element of radio, but tuned more to your taste. Shazam: figures out what song's playing right now. Yes, it's possible to build a viable business catering to artists, particularly the emerging "middle class" who would be happy to to sell tens of thousands instead of tens of millions of albums. But there are a lot more listeners than artists, and they're willing to spend money--or at least look at advertisements--if you help them do something they couldn't do before.Follow Matt on Twitter
MySpace Music has apparently moved to fix a lot of these problems, and when I checked the site today for the new Neil Young album "Fork in the Road"--available there as an exclusive until April 7--I found it to be fine for the task at hand. Then again, why couldn't Neil have posted these songs on his own Web site? If it weren't an exclusive, I'm not sure I'd think to check MySpace first, or at all, to hear these songs.I think a similar problem hampered Microsoft's September 2006 launch of the first Zune player. Its most interesting differentiating factor from the market-leading iPod was its built in Wi-Fi connection. But the only thing users could do with it was transfer songs to one another, and those songs could only be played three times or for three days before they expired. In other words, Microsoft gave up too much control over its one differentiating feature to content owners. Better to go back to the drawing board and launch stronger with things like Wi-Fi connectivity to the Marketplace than to draw the ire of customers and scorn of reviewers and end up stuck with a tainted brand for the next few years. (The latest Zune software and service are pretty cool, but nobody knows it--just check out the comments every time I post about Zune.)Like I told an entrepreneur I met at South by Southwest who was asking me for guidelines for the next big music start-up: concentrate on helping music listeners solve a problem, or do something they couldn't do before. Frame your company around listeners, not artists, not venues, not managers, not promoters, not labels. Listeners. iPod: lets you carry thousands of songs with you. iTunes: makes it easy to get songs from CDs onto your computer and iPod. Pandora: gives you the "surprise" element of radio, but tuned more to your taste. Shazam: figures out what song's playing right now. Yes, it's possible to build a viable business catering to artists, particularly the emerging "middle class" who would be happy to to sell tens of thousands instead of tens of millions of albums. But there are a lot more listeners than artists, and they're willing to spend money--or at least look at advertisements--if you help them do something they couldn't do before.Follow Matt on Twitter
iPhone 5 tweeted about more than Galaxy S4 -- at launch
iPhone 5 tweeted about more than Galaxy S4 -- at launch
A recent analysis of Twitter activity during the debut of Apple and Samsung's latest smartphones shows a wide difference in how much both products were mentioned.That study, done by Investing Analytics, showed that the iPhone 5 was mentioned in more than five times the number of tweets than the Galaxy S4 on the day of and the day after their respective unveilings. "We believe a Twitter analysis of tweets about the iPhone 5 launch compared to the Galaxy S4 launch demonstrates that the iPhone continues to hold more mass appeal with consumers," said Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster in a note about the data set. "We believe this demonstrates that while interest in the Galaxy S4 is growing, Apple continues to hold a meaningful lead as the smartphone with the broadest consumer appeal," he added.Related storiesSamsung unveils the Galaxy S4T-Mobile finally gets the iPhoneHands-on with Samsung's Galaxy S4 (pictures)The actual tally during that time period was about 2.4 million tweets about the iPhone 5, whereas Samsung's Galaxy S4 racked up around 440,000. Even so, Munster says the majority of the tweets about Samsung's product (81 percent) were positive, up from the iPhone 5's 73 percent.Of course, whether all this is a precursor to the strength of Samsung's S4 sales is totally unclear. Apple took the wraps off the iPhone 5 last September, whereas Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S4 at an event in New York earlier this month. Samsung's device, which is a follow-up to the popular Galaxy S3, sports a higher-resolution 5-inch display, faster processor, and better cameras and battery than its predecessor. The device goes on sale in the U.K. next month, with other markets to follow.
A recent analysis of Twitter activity during the debut of Apple and Samsung's latest smartphones shows a wide difference in how much both products were mentioned.That study, done by Investing Analytics, showed that the iPhone 5 was mentioned in more than five times the number of tweets than the Galaxy S4 on the day of and the day after their respective unveilings. "We believe a Twitter analysis of tweets about the iPhone 5 launch compared to the Galaxy S4 launch demonstrates that the iPhone continues to hold more mass appeal with consumers," said Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster in a note about the data set. "We believe this demonstrates that while interest in the Galaxy S4 is growing, Apple continues to hold a meaningful lead as the smartphone with the broadest consumer appeal," he added.Related storiesSamsung unveils the Galaxy S4T-Mobile finally gets the iPhoneHands-on with Samsung's Galaxy S4 (pictures)The actual tally during that time period was about 2.4 million tweets about the iPhone 5, whereas Samsung's Galaxy S4 racked up around 440,000. Even so, Munster says the majority of the tweets about Samsung's product (81 percent) were positive, up from the iPhone 5's 73 percent.Of course, whether all this is a precursor to the strength of Samsung's S4 sales is totally unclear. Apple took the wraps off the iPhone 5 last September, whereas Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S4 at an event in New York earlier this month. Samsung's device, which is a follow-up to the popular Galaxy S3, sports a higher-resolution 5-inch display, faster processor, and better cameras and battery than its predecessor. The device goes on sale in the U.K. next month, with other markets to follow.
iPhone 5 to debut Oct. 4, ATD says
iPhone 5 to debut Oct. 4, ATD says
Apple will debut its iPhone 5 on October 4, with new Chief Executive Tim Cook leading the show, All Things Digital reported today.The report, citing unnamed sources close to the situation, said the new iPhone itself would go on sale "within a few weeks" of the announcement.Rumors have swirled for months about when exactly the new iPhone would arrive, with October looking increasingly likely.The iPhone 5 carries tremendous significance for Apple. The company faces mounting pressure from the Android realm, with a confusing array of budget-minded and high-end models, but Apple chooses to put many its eggs in many fewer baskets. That's worked out well for the iPhone 4, though, which has attained mainstream success.The iPhone 4 has held up well under the competitive pressure. But with the breakneck pace of the smartphone market bringing higher-speed LTE networks, larger displays, NFC payments, and other features, Apple's flagship phone is starting to look a bit long in the tooth.The iPhone is important for many other companies besides Apple. Manufacturer Foxconn is said to be making 150,000 iPhone 5 models a day. Accessory makers, too, are champing at the bit, as exhibited by Case-Mate's premature publication of apparent iPhone 5 cases.Purported cases for the iPhone show a possible tapered back compared to the blockier iPhone 4 design.Case-Mate/BGRUpdated at 4:36 a.m. PT to add further background and to correct the launch date in the headline..
Apple will debut its iPhone 5 on October 4, with new Chief Executive Tim Cook leading the show, All Things Digital reported today.The report, citing unnamed sources close to the situation, said the new iPhone itself would go on sale "within a few weeks" of the announcement.Rumors have swirled for months about when exactly the new iPhone would arrive, with October looking increasingly likely.The iPhone 5 carries tremendous significance for Apple. The company faces mounting pressure from the Android realm, with a confusing array of budget-minded and high-end models, but Apple chooses to put many its eggs in many fewer baskets. That's worked out well for the iPhone 4, though, which has attained mainstream success.The iPhone 4 has held up well under the competitive pressure. But with the breakneck pace of the smartphone market bringing higher-speed LTE networks, larger displays, NFC payments, and other features, Apple's flagship phone is starting to look a bit long in the tooth.The iPhone is important for many other companies besides Apple. Manufacturer Foxconn is said to be making 150,000 iPhone 5 models a day. Accessory makers, too, are champing at the bit, as exhibited by Case-Mate's premature publication of apparent iPhone 5 cases.Purported cases for the iPhone show a possible tapered back compared to the blockier iPhone 4 design.Case-Mate/BGRUpdated at 4:36 a.m. PT to add further background and to correct the launch date in the headline..
iPhone 5 slated for September or October-
iPhone 5 slated for September or October?
Dueling rumors about the iPhone 5 now point to a new edition of Apple's flagship as launching either in late September or in October, take your pick.Rumor No. 1 is calling for the iPhone's debut in late September, according to Gizmodo, which cited an e-mail allegedly from an AT&T employee.In the e-mail, the employee said that AT&T is denying any vacations requested during the last two weeks of September "due to an event blackout." The person claims that the only time this is done is during an iPhone release.The folks at Gizmodo say this time frame jibes with previous rumors, but as with all such rumors, people should take them with huge spoonfuls of salt.Rumor No. 2 instead is pointing to an October launch date.In a story meant to squash the AT&T employee e-mail report, AllThingsD quoted its own source who said "I don't know why AT&T's calling for all hands on deck those weeks, but it's not for an iPhone launch." The source "with knowledge of the plans" offered no other details beyond pegging October for the iPhone's unveiling.As the next-generation iPhone gears up for its expected launch, the rumor mill has been heating up even more intensely. A story last week from China Times claimed that Apple is prepping to release the phone in the second week of September. At the same time, another story said that Apple and AT&T were both gearing up their employees for a possible September iPhone launch.Though it seems likely that a new iPhone will debut this fall, exactly when it will appear is still anybody's guess. Those of you curious about the ongoing timeline of iPhone rumors can check out CNET's iPhone rumor roundup.
Dueling rumors about the iPhone 5 now point to a new edition of Apple's flagship as launching either in late September or in October, take your pick.Rumor No. 1 is calling for the iPhone's debut in late September, according to Gizmodo, which cited an e-mail allegedly from an AT&T employee.In the e-mail, the employee said that AT&T is denying any vacations requested during the last two weeks of September "due to an event blackout." The person claims that the only time this is done is during an iPhone release.The folks at Gizmodo say this time frame jibes with previous rumors, but as with all such rumors, people should take them with huge spoonfuls of salt.Rumor No. 2 instead is pointing to an October launch date.In a story meant to squash the AT&T employee e-mail report, AllThingsD quoted its own source who said "I don't know why AT&T's calling for all hands on deck those weeks, but it's not for an iPhone launch." The source "with knowledge of the plans" offered no other details beyond pegging October for the iPhone's unveiling.As the next-generation iPhone gears up for its expected launch, the rumor mill has been heating up even more intensely. A story last week from China Times claimed that Apple is prepping to release the phone in the second week of September. At the same time, another story said that Apple and AT&T were both gearing up their employees for a possible September iPhone launch.Though it seems likely that a new iPhone will debut this fall, exactly when it will appear is still anybody's guess. Those of you curious about the ongoing timeline of iPhone rumors can check out CNET's iPhone rumor roundup.
iPhone 5 ship times shorten for first time
iPhone 5 ship times shorten for first time
The wait for iPhone 5 purchases to ship has shortened by a full week today, nearly two months after the product's initial release.New buyers from Apple's online store now face a two- to three-week wait before their phones ship, down from the three to four weeks that began stacking up in the days after pre-orders for the device began in mid-September, MacRumors notes. The iPhone 5 launched in nine countries, including the U.S. and Europe, on September 21, and a week later in an additional 22 countries. During Apple's quarterly earnings call last month, the company noted that it was "working very hard" to replenish its supply of the devices, and that it had "significantly" improved its output of what CEO Tim Cook described as "the largest volume ramp in Apple's history." The improvement in shipping times is still considerably longer than what consumers face when purchasing the iPhone from one of Apple's carrier partners. A report last week from research firm BTIG showed that new buyers can expect about a week's delay before devices ship.Perhaps of note, the wait time remains longer than the wait for Apple's iPad Mini, which was released at the beginning of the month, and maintains a two-week ship time. Apple sold about two-thirds as many iPads (including the iPad Mini, the fourth-generation iPad, and the iPad 2) in the trio's opening weekend as it did iPhone 5s in September. MacRumors points out that today's decrease also happened a full month sooner than it did for ship times for last year's iPhone 4S.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
The wait for iPhone 5 purchases to ship has shortened by a full week today, nearly two months after the product's initial release.New buyers from Apple's online store now face a two- to three-week wait before their phones ship, down from the three to four weeks that began stacking up in the days after pre-orders for the device began in mid-September, MacRumors notes. The iPhone 5 launched in nine countries, including the U.S. and Europe, on September 21, and a week later in an additional 22 countries. During Apple's quarterly earnings call last month, the company noted that it was "working very hard" to replenish its supply of the devices, and that it had "significantly" improved its output of what CEO Tim Cook described as "the largest volume ramp in Apple's history." The improvement in shipping times is still considerably longer than what consumers face when purchasing the iPhone from one of Apple's carrier partners. A report last week from research firm BTIG showed that new buyers can expect about a week's delay before devices ship.Perhaps of note, the wait time remains longer than the wait for Apple's iPad Mini, which was released at the beginning of the month, and maintains a two-week ship time. Apple sold about two-thirds as many iPads (including the iPad Mini, the fourth-generation iPad, and the iPad 2) in the trio's opening weekend as it did iPhone 5s in September. MacRumors points out that today's decrease also happened a full month sooner than it did for ship times for last year's iPhone 4S.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
iPhone 5 ship time drops to two weeks
iPhone 5 ship time drops to two weeks
iPhone 5 buyers now face a wait of just two weeks when ordering the new phone via Apple's online store.This latest estimate follows a drop to two to three weeks around November 12. Prior to that, buyers had been looking at a ship time of three to four weeks since preorders for the new iPhone kicked off in mid-September.The declining wait time shows that the supply of the iPhone 5 is slowly starting to catch up with demand, despite manufacturing challenges.An official with iPhone supplier Foxconn told The Wall Street Journal last month that making the new phone light and thin is "very complicated." Referring to the iPhone 5 as the "most difficult device that Foxconn has ever assembled," the official said at the time that factory workers were still learning how to build it. But he did add that employees were starting to get better at making the phone.Related storiesiPhone 5 reviewiPhone 5 ship times shorten for first timeWhy the iPhone 5 is in short supplyiPhone 5 reservation system goes liveOf course, people who want the new iPhone sooner than two weeks have other options beyond Apple's Web-based store.The company offers an online reservation system in which you can preorder the phone between 10 p.m and 4 a.m. each night and then pick it from your local Apple Store the following day.Buyers may also find a shorter wait time by purchasing through another retail outlet or one of the iPhone's three U.S. carriers. In September, I ordered the iPhone 5 through Verizon Wireless and was given an estimated ship time of one month. Instead, the new phone arrived in about a week and a half.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
iPhone 5 buyers now face a wait of just two weeks when ordering the new phone via Apple's online store.This latest estimate follows a drop to two to three weeks around November 12. Prior to that, buyers had been looking at a ship time of three to four weeks since preorders for the new iPhone kicked off in mid-September.The declining wait time shows that the supply of the iPhone 5 is slowly starting to catch up with demand, despite manufacturing challenges.An official with iPhone supplier Foxconn told The Wall Street Journal last month that making the new phone light and thin is "very complicated." Referring to the iPhone 5 as the "most difficult device that Foxconn has ever assembled," the official said at the time that factory workers were still learning how to build it. But he did add that employees were starting to get better at making the phone.Related storiesiPhone 5 reviewiPhone 5 ship times shorten for first timeWhy the iPhone 5 is in short supplyiPhone 5 reservation system goes liveOf course, people who want the new iPhone sooner than two weeks have other options beyond Apple's Web-based store.The company offers an online reservation system in which you can preorder the phone between 10 p.m and 4 a.m. each night and then pick it from your local Apple Store the following day.Buyers may also find a shorter wait time by purchasing through another retail outlet or one of the iPhone's three U.S. carriers. In September, I ordered the iPhone 5 through Verizon Wireless and was given an estimated ship time of one month. Instead, the new phone arrived in about a week and a half.This content is rated TV-MA, and is for viewers 18 years or older. Are you of age?YesNoSorry, you are not old enough to view this content.Play
iPhone 4S- Available in-store 'by reservation only'
iPhone 4S: Available in-store 'by reservation only'
The iPhone 4S is now available to retail-store customers "by reservation only," an indication that the hot-selling phone is likely in short supply. Apple has asked would-be buyers to use a reservation system to request a unit the night before before heading to the company's retail stores.The new system, picked up by MacRumors earlier today, lets buyers pick out one of Apple's 18 iPhone 4S variants, then request that the company holds the unit so they can come in to complete the purchase. The system doesn't open up each day until 9 p.m. Pacific time, with in-store pickup available the following day. Apple employed a reservation system from the get go with last year's iPhone 4 and iPad launches. In the iPhone 4's case, that it resulted in a launch with multiple lines, whereas with the 4S launch last Friday, there was just one line and no reservations offered. With this year's iPad 2 launch, Apple moved to a similar reservation system shortly after units became scarce, suggesting the same thing's now going on with the company's new phone.The iPhone 4S has been the Apple's fastest selling product to date. Earlier today, the company announced it hassold more than 4 million units in three days since launch, more than twice the number of handsets as last year's iPhone 4 release. Customers can still buy it through Apple's online store, but there's a wait time of "1-2 weeks" in the U.S. for all models on all carriers, giving those who wish to buy it in-store a potential leg up on waiting. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on if the new policy keeps walk-in buyers from purchasing a device without a reservation.
The iPhone 4S is now available to retail-store customers "by reservation only," an indication that the hot-selling phone is likely in short supply. Apple has asked would-be buyers to use a reservation system to request a unit the night before before heading to the company's retail stores.The new system, picked up by MacRumors earlier today, lets buyers pick out one of Apple's 18 iPhone 4S variants, then request that the company holds the unit so they can come in to complete the purchase. The system doesn't open up each day until 9 p.m. Pacific time, with in-store pickup available the following day. Apple employed a reservation system from the get go with last year's iPhone 4 and iPad launches. In the iPhone 4's case, that it resulted in a launch with multiple lines, whereas with the 4S launch last Friday, there was just one line and no reservations offered. With this year's iPad 2 launch, Apple moved to a similar reservation system shortly after units became scarce, suggesting the same thing's now going on with the company's new phone.The iPhone 4S has been the Apple's fastest selling product to date. Earlier today, the company announced it hassold more than 4 million units in three days since launch, more than twice the number of handsets as last year's iPhone 4 release. Customers can still buy it through Apple's online store, but there's a wait time of "1-2 weeks" in the U.S. for all models on all carriers, giving those who wish to buy it in-store a potential leg up on waiting. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on if the new policy keeps walk-in buyers from purchasing a device without a reservation.
iPhone 4 teardown reveals $188 cost to build
iPhone 4 teardown reveals $188 cost to build
The parts used to construct the iPhone 4 cost about $187.51, according to a teardown analysis conducted by research firm iSuppli.iSuppli dissected a 16GB iPhone 4, which went on sale Thursday, and estimated the cost of each component based on the manufacturer and volume. iSuppli's analysis is only an estimate because Apple is able to negotiate costs with each manufacturer. It also does not include how much Apple spent on shipping and labor to build the phone, or advertising, software development, and patent licensing."Over the years, the iPhone has generally tended to hover in the $170-$180 cost range because Apple seems to be trying to hit some kind of budget," iSuppli's Kevin Keller told BusinessWeek.The iPhone 3GS teardown a year ago revealed a build cost of $178.96. The Nexus One, built by HTC, was estimated in January to have cost $174.15.The higher costs for the iPhone 4 are because of two specific parts new to this year's model. The "retina display," which Steve Jobs called the most important component of the phone, is also the most expensive. iSuppli says each display, likely built by LG, costs $28.50.The new gyroscope chip, thought to be supplied by STMicroelectronics, costs $2.60 each. The phone's Apple-designed A4 processor, which was built by Samsung, costs $10.75 each. The retail price of the 16GB phone without a wireless contract is $599. AT&T subsidizes much of that cost to the consumer when he or she signs a two-year contract and the price drops to $199. AT&T is also thought to pay Apple for each phone as part of its exclusive agreement, though neither company has disclosed the amount.
The parts used to construct the iPhone 4 cost about $187.51, according to a teardown analysis conducted by research firm iSuppli.iSuppli dissected a 16GB iPhone 4, which went on sale Thursday, and estimated the cost of each component based on the manufacturer and volume. iSuppli's analysis is only an estimate because Apple is able to negotiate costs with each manufacturer. It also does not include how much Apple spent on shipping and labor to build the phone, or advertising, software development, and patent licensing."Over the years, the iPhone has generally tended to hover in the $170-$180 cost range because Apple seems to be trying to hit some kind of budget," iSuppli's Kevin Keller told BusinessWeek.The iPhone 3GS teardown a year ago revealed a build cost of $178.96. The Nexus One, built by HTC, was estimated in January to have cost $174.15.The higher costs for the iPhone 4 are because of two specific parts new to this year's model. The "retina display," which Steve Jobs called the most important component of the phone, is also the most expensive. iSuppli says each display, likely built by LG, costs $28.50.The new gyroscope chip, thought to be supplied by STMicroelectronics, costs $2.60 each. The phone's Apple-designed A4 processor, which was built by Samsung, costs $10.75 each. The retail price of the 16GB phone without a wireless contract is $599. AT&T subsidizes much of that cost to the consumer when he or she signs a two-year contract and the price drops to $199. AT&T is also thought to pay Apple for each phone as part of its exclusive agreement, though neither company has disclosed the amount.
iPhone 4 production reportedly resurrected for 3 markets
iPhone 4 production reportedly resurrected for 3 markets
Apple has reportedly resumed production of the discontinued iPhone 4, but only for three countries.The smartphone, which was retired last September, has gone back into production for customers in India, Indonesia, and Brazil, according to an Economic Times report. Citing three unidentified senior executives, the report said the move is aimed at recouping market share lost to Samsung in countries where Apple did not have budget-conscious handsets.Recent iPhone 4 shipments in India bear December manufacture dates, according to the report, which noted that this is the first time that Apple has resurrected production of a discontinued handset. CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.The iPhone 4 was discontinued with the release of the iPhone 5S and 5C last year. However, the 5S starts at the high price of 53,500 rupees ($870), and Apple offers no phone in the sub-30,000 rupee category, according to The Times. The iPhone 5C, which starts at nearly 37,000 rupees, has failed to generate much demand.The Economic Times reported last month that Apple was getting ready to relaunch the 8GB iPhone 4 in India for 15,000 rupees, down from its original price of 26,500 rupees. The move highlights the importance of the India market, where Apple has lost market share to Samsung.Samsung dominates the India smartphone market, capturing 33 percent in the third quarter of 2013, according to researcher IDC. Apple's portion of the market didn't crack IDC's list of top 5 vendors, the lowest of which came in at 4.7 percent, IDC reported.
Apple has reportedly resumed production of the discontinued iPhone 4, but only for three countries.The smartphone, which was retired last September, has gone back into production for customers in India, Indonesia, and Brazil, according to an Economic Times report. Citing three unidentified senior executives, the report said the move is aimed at recouping market share lost to Samsung in countries where Apple did not have budget-conscious handsets.Recent iPhone 4 shipments in India bear December manufacture dates, according to the report, which noted that this is the first time that Apple has resurrected production of a discontinued handset. CNET has contacted Apple for comment and will update this report when we learn more.The iPhone 4 was discontinued with the release of the iPhone 5S and 5C last year. However, the 5S starts at the high price of 53,500 rupees ($870), and Apple offers no phone in the sub-30,000 rupee category, according to The Times. The iPhone 5C, which starts at nearly 37,000 rupees, has failed to generate much demand.The Economic Times reported last month that Apple was getting ready to relaunch the 8GB iPhone 4 in India for 15,000 rupees, down from its original price of 26,500 rupees. The move highlights the importance of the India market, where Apple has lost market share to Samsung.Samsung dominates the India smartphone market, capturing 33 percent in the third quarter of 2013, according to researcher IDC. Apple's portion of the market didn't crack IDC's list of top 5 vendors, the lowest of which came in at 4.7 percent, IDC reported.
iPhone 4 owners can legally get Siri, know-how required
iPhone 4 owners can legally get Siri, know-how required
If you own an iPhone 4 and really want Siri on it, a new update has paved the way for you to get your wish.Apple yesterday launched a new version of its iOS 5.0.1 update that, according to well-known iPhone hacker MuscleNerd, leaves the platform's RAM disks unencrypted. Because of that, those with a little technical know-how can write a script to extract from the software update all the files needed to bring the virtual personal assistant to the iPhone 4.Apple's update can be automatically downloaded to devices that currently aren't running iOS 5.0.1. Those who are already running the software version will need to download the revised iOS 5.0.1 update from Apple's direct link. Related storiesSiri now flirting with older iPhones--for realDeveloper ports Siri to iPhone 3GSTweaked iOS 5.0.1 for iPhone 4S released; Apple TV 4.4.4 alsoThe new method for getting Siri onto the iPhone 4 stands in stark contrast to the other methods folks have used to run the software, including obtaining an iPhone 4S' unique identifier and so-called "validation tokens." Those methods have been viewed as potentially dangerous, since Apple likely wouldn't take kindly to users obtaining another device's files. This new method, on the other hand, uses the user's device files, leaving no doubt of its legality.Exactly why Apple left ramdisks unencrypted in its latest iOS update is unknown at this point, and it should be interesting to see if they're back to being encrypted in iOS 5.1. But until then, folks hoping to run Siri on the iPhone 4 can download the new iOS 5.0.1 update and get started.(Via Cult of Mac)
If you own an iPhone 4 and really want Siri on it, a new update has paved the way for you to get your wish.Apple yesterday launched a new version of its iOS 5.0.1 update that, according to well-known iPhone hacker MuscleNerd, leaves the platform's RAM disks unencrypted. Because of that, those with a little technical know-how can write a script to extract from the software update all the files needed to bring the virtual personal assistant to the iPhone 4.Apple's update can be automatically downloaded to devices that currently aren't running iOS 5.0.1. Those who are already running the software version will need to download the revised iOS 5.0.1 update from Apple's direct link. Related storiesSiri now flirting with older iPhones--for realDeveloper ports Siri to iPhone 3GSTweaked iOS 5.0.1 for iPhone 4S released; Apple TV 4.4.4 alsoThe new method for getting Siri onto the iPhone 4 stands in stark contrast to the other methods folks have used to run the software, including obtaining an iPhone 4S' unique identifier and so-called "validation tokens." Those methods have been viewed as potentially dangerous, since Apple likely wouldn't take kindly to users obtaining another device's files. This new method, on the other hand, uses the user's device files, leaving no doubt of its legality.Exactly why Apple left ramdisks unencrypted in its latest iOS update is unknown at this point, and it should be interesting to see if they're back to being encrypted in iOS 5.1. But until then, folks hoping to run Siri on the iPhone 4 can download the new iOS 5.0.1 update and get started.(Via Cult of Mac)
iPhone 4 signal bar software fix now out
iPhone 4 signal bar software fix now out
Apple made good on its promise of a software update for the iPhone 4. On Thursday the company released iOS 4.0.1, an update to the iPhone's operating system that was introduced just over three weeks ago.The update contains bug fixes and improvements for "the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display." iOS 4.0.1 is compatible only with the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4.This is the update that two weeks ago Apple said was coming. In an open letter at that time, Apple said that the problem some people are having with reception and bandwidth dropping off when gripping the iPhone 4 in a certain way is linked to software that incorrectly displays the phone's signal bars. The update was promised to make the signal bars display more accurately and more clearly. Apple released a beta version of iOS 4.1to developers only on Wednesday that also appeared to include the same restructured formula for displaying signal strength bars.It's not clear, however, that thesignal bar display has anything to do with the iPhone 4's much-discussed antenna "death grip" issue. The antenna problem appears to be hardware-related (the antenna is integrated into the metal strip running around the exterior of the phone), and whether the signal bars are displaying incorrectly wouldn't affect whether a call is actually dropped or a signal is lost.We'll know more on Friday, when Apple is planning to hold a press conference further addressing the iPhone 4.
Apple made good on its promise of a software update for the iPhone 4. On Thursday the company released iOS 4.0.1, an update to the iPhone's operating system that was introduced just over three weeks ago.The update contains bug fixes and improvements for "the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display." iOS 4.0.1 is compatible only with the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 4.This is the update that two weeks ago Apple said was coming. In an open letter at that time, Apple said that the problem some people are having with reception and bandwidth dropping off when gripping the iPhone 4 in a certain way is linked to software that incorrectly displays the phone's signal bars. The update was promised to make the signal bars display more accurately and more clearly. Apple released a beta version of iOS 4.1to developers only on Wednesday that also appeared to include the same restructured formula for displaying signal strength bars.It's not clear, however, that thesignal bar display has anything to do with the iPhone 4's much-discussed antenna "death grip" issue. The antenna problem appears to be hardware-related (the antenna is integrated into the metal strip running around the exterior of the phone), and whether the signal bars are displaying incorrectly wouldn't affect whether a call is actually dropped or a signal is lost.We'll know more on Friday, when Apple is planning to hold a press conference further addressing the iPhone 4.
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