iPhone 3G

I bet all of you already know that Apple announced that they signed exclusive iPhone deals with more countries around the World. Here in my motherland, Globe Telecom announced on their website that they are the exclusive network for the iPhone 3G. 8GB Models come in Black and has a USD 199 tag. Hmm.. That looks like that the iPhone will cost less than PHP 10,000 here. 16 GB Models come in White or Black and a USD 299 tag (about PHP 16,000).  Can I convince the folks here to buy me an 8GB one? My school performance MUST be good before they buy anything. Actually I want a replacement for my good old Nokia N70. An iPhone is a good buy for me. Although I wrote about pitting it against a Windows Mobile-based phones. A good plus of the iPhone 3G is it’s support for push email. That means email junkies can never let their iPhone off their hands. Actually the real reason for us to buy it is it’s support for 3G HSDPA networks. Meaning mobile DSL speeds!

13″ Black MacBook

I am also considering a 13 inch Black MacBook. Here are the specs:

-Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo 2 x (2.4 Ghz / 3 MB L2 Cache) sequence

-2 GB RAM (2 x 1GB)

-Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator(TM) X3100 with 144 Mb of DDR2 VRAM

-8x SuperDrive (DVD dual layer)

-1 FireWire 400

-2 USB 2.0

-Built-in iSight cam

-Mini DVI

-Combined optical digital input audio line in and out

-Stereo speakers

-Gigabit Ethernet

-Built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11 a/b/g/n)

-Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

-250 GB HDD partitioned into two (170 GB for the Mac OS X, 80 GB for Win XP Pro)

-Alcohol 120% (XP Pro)

MacBook Pro 15″

I wrote about my laptop PC broken. I decided that I won’t fix that software problem. I’m just waiting for the time that we can buy that MacBook Pro 15″

MBP Specs

-Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo 2 x (2.5 Ghz / 6 MB L2 Cache) sequence

-2 GB RAM (2 x 1GB)

-NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT 512MB GDDR3

-8x SuperDrive (DVD dual layer)

-1 FireWire 400

-1 FireWire 800

-2 USB 2.0

-ExpressCard/34 slot

-Built-in iSight cam

-DVI (DVI to VGA adapter included)

-Combined optical digital input audio line in and out

-Stereo speakers

-Microphone

-Gigabit Ethernet

-Built-in AirPort Extreme (802.11 a/b/g/n)

-Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

-250 GB HDD partitioned into two (170 GB for the Mac OS X, 80 GB for Win XP Pro)

-Alcohol 120% (XP Pro)

iPod Classic woes

A few weeks before, I published an article about my new iPod Classic. Although it was mainly positive, I recenly had woes with it. I will provide you my full text on my Apple Support forums topic.

I’ve been using my iPod Classic for weeks and did encounter problems until recently, I connected my iPod to my Computer to sync a Photo. iTunes displayed ‘The iPod |********| cannot be synced. An unknown error occurred (-50)’. I think I need to restore it BUT I enabled disk use and use it to back up some of my important data (I sometimes need some of my data when I’m travelling). Although I still have the original copies, the photos I took during my vacation was stored there (I used the computer from the internet cafe to transfer it to the iPod’s disk use feature). Restoring it would remove ALL of the data stored in my iPod. Also, after disconnecting it, it would be stuck to the ‘OK to disconnect’ message. This was for a few seconds before but now it hangs on that message. I really hate my devices hanging. Tried reseting (holding the Menu button and the middle button for 6 seconds ) it but it would hang on the Apple logo on screen. It will show me the Main Menu after reseting it twice. It hangs on the videos menu also! These events led me to the conclusion that I need to reset it. I tried the suggestions on the Apple Support and the sites that were returned after I Googled my iPod problem. Please help me. I’m really out of my luck.

EDIT (6/3/08): Power Mac Center folks said that the iPod’s Hard Drive is broken, currently they are trying to fix it OR if my iPod is PERMANENTLY broken, they will replace it for free because it is still under warranty, anyway thank you for all the helpful emails that I receieved.

Apple iPhone vs. Windows Mobile-powered phones

What’s better, an Apple iPhone or a Windows Mobile powered PDA? Well before we could jump to conclusion, we should check them via these qualifications:

-Combatibility to different computer platforms

-Multimedia

-Trendiness and stylishness

-Price

-Connectivity

-Software Flexibility (e.g. Installing software/games)

-Network Compatibility

-Data storage

Point one – compatibility to different computer platforms

The Apple iPhone could be accessed by any computer platform provided that you have necessary software to control/manage the device. It is detected as a flash drive on any platform. On Windows, iTunes controls the device, of course there are alternative software available on the internet that offers more/less functionalities. On Mac OS X, iTunes also control/manage the device. Maybe there are some alternatives also. However, on Linux, you must get other software such as gtkpod (maybe) to control/manange the device.

Windows Mobile-powered phones connectivity to computer platforms may depend on the manufacturer. I think Windows Mobile can be only accessed by Windows OS.

WINNER: Apple iPhone. It’s inter-compatibility may be one of it’s good features

Point two – Multimedia

The Apple iPhone has a built-in iPod which supports the popular media formats. The Music could be synched from your computer to the device. Photos and Videos are also synched. Same goes for your contacts. It has a loudspeaker also. It’s 2 Megapixel camera is enough for you to capture photos and videos with ease.

A Windows Mobile-powered phones supports some media formats and it is also a good video player. Depending on the brand, these devices may come or not with a camera and/or loudspeaker. Some brands that offer Windows Mobile-powered phones are offering a better camera quality than Apple iPhone 2MP camera.

WINNER: Tie. The phones support the popular media formats and it’s good cameras could make dispose your digicam.

Point three – Trendiness and Stylishness

Apple iPhone maybe the trendiest smartphone in the market today. It’s looks may even make some people drool over it (like me ). It is very stylish for the average style-concious people. I read somewhere that a man liked it’s looks and would not like to use it, for it not to get a scratch!

Windows Mobile-powered phones may or may not be stylish. The HTC Touch and LG’s newest smartphone(I forgot the model) can be stylish as the iPhone.

WINNER: Tie. Both the phones can be stylish as the other.

Point four – Price

The Apple iPhone is around 20K here in the Philippines or US$399. I still do not know what is the price of the iPhone in Europe since the price is not yet announced.

Depending on the brand a Windows Mobile-powered phone could be cheaper or more expensive than the iPhone

WINNER: Windows Mobile-powered phones. Although some are more expensive, some brands offfer their devices at a cheaper price than the iPhone

Point five – Connectivity

The Apple iPhone only have Bluetooth and WiFi (802.11b/g). Also, the lack Bluetooth device pairing maybe a deal braker. It is not compatible with enterprise-level secure networks and services (e.g. Blackberry, Windows Exchange Server). It is connected to a computer via USB.

Depending on the brand a Windows Mobile-powered phones may offer a wide range of connectivity options. Some have WiFi, Bluetooth (with pairing), and Infrared. It can be compatible with Blackberry provided that you have a software extention or software in your device. Connected to the computer via USB.

WINNER: Windows Mobile-powered phones. Their wide range of connectivity options is an edge over the iPhone

Point six – software flexibility

The Apple iPhone is a closed-platform (i.e. Software installation is not allowed) device. Applications are only available via the Safari Web Browser.

Software and/or games can be installed on the Windows Mobile-powered phones.

WINNER: Windows Mobile-powered phones.

Point seven – network compatibility

The Apple iPhone is only compatible on all GSM networks, provided that you unlocked it. Yes, it does not support 3G.

A Windows Mobile-powered phone could be compatible to 3G networks and does not need cracking for it to be compatible to all networks.

WINNER: Windows Mobile-powered phones.

Point eight – Data storage

The Apple iPhone has an 8 GB storage. It cannot be expanded

A Windows Mobile-powered phone’s capacity data storage may depend on the manufacturer. Generally, the data storage could be expanded on major brands.

WINNER: Tie.

OVERALL WINNER: WINDOWS MOBILE-POWERED PHONES [4-6 (iPhone-Windows Mobile)]

Is Apple’s iPhone okay to buy?

I am sure that some of you know or heard of Apple’s new device, the iPhone smartphone. If you already seen it, you might say that it’s looks are cool and quite intimidating. Some of it’s features are the ff.

[1] 2 MP Camera

[2] Touchscreen

[3] 802.11b/g WLAN

[4] Built-in iPod

[5] 8Gb capacity

With the features, I am sure that some of you are already drooling over it’s features and/or looks. But before you act now, you might want to consider these following limitations:

-No 3G

-You can only use it on AT&T

-No Bluetooth device pairing

The problems might be a deal-braker to some of you. However, one of these limitaions could be solved. Just consult the internet and you might be able to find solution/s. These are examples of solutions to the AT&T network-only problem some of these are:

-Cracking the iPhone physically (which mean opening the phone and manipulating a few parts)

-Cracking the iPhone via software (you need to attach the iPhone to the PC or Mac to this and a program will be opened in your Mac or PC to start the process)

If you are planning to crack the iPhone (btw, you can only crack it if it’s Firmware is 1.0.2 or earlier.) and insert a non-AT&T SIM on it, then it is worth your every penny (assuming that you will not upgrade it’s Firmware to 1.1.1 or later). Recently Apple announced it’s Firmware update to the iPhone that disables cracked handsets that some users did to their iPhones for them to run it on non-AT&T networks. If you are planning to buy it from AT&T, then it will not worth your penny. You will be locked in for 24 months. Also, you need to sign-up for an AT&T plan, this is where you will be locked in. I read somewhere that a lawyer filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, after the company announced it’s new firmware update. I hope that the case will not be dismissed by the court in California. For me, the iPhone is not worth my money, because of it’s limitations. I’ll just wait for Apple to release it here in Asia. If you want to get an iPhone right now, I advise that you consider the Nokia N95 8Gb, it almost has the same features of the iPhone except the touchscreen and it has 3G and Bluetooth Device Pairing! This will be the end of this article.