Jason Unger

3G iPhone News Galore

Posted by junger - 03/28/08 at 12:03:33 pm

Everyone's got news about the 3G iPhone today — here's the quick rundown.

3G iPhone launch seen in 2nd quarter

Apple (AAPL.O) is expected to launch a high-speed wireless version of iPhone in the second quarter and to produce as many as 8 million of the devices in the third quarter, according to Bank of America.

Gartner Clarifies 3G iPhone Reports

Technology research firm Gartner on Thursday tried to clear up reports that it had said Apple might be buying 10 million iPhones capable of connecting to much faster data networks.

The iPod Observer reported this week that Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney said Apple may have ordered 10 million iPhones that support 3G networks, based on rumors in Asia. That report later got circulated on the Web, where the comments were misinterpreted as a Gartner prediction, said Bob Hafner, Dulaney's boss.

Gartner doesn't know whether Apple has actually placed an order for 3G iPhones, but the researcher does believe the next version of the touch-screen smartphone will have those high-speed capabilities. "If Apple was to place an order, then 10 million would be a reasonable number," Hafner said. "And we absolutely believe that in the next-generation iPhone, 3G will be there."

Apple picks trusted supplier to assemble 3G iPhone

It should be no surprise that Apple has turned to Foxconn, the trade name for Hon Hai Precision Industries, to build the next generation iPhone.

China’s Commercial Times reported early Friday that Foxconn was competing for the business, and the Dow Jones newswire, citing “a person familiar with the situation,” now reports that Apple (AAPL) has awarded the Taiwan-based firm the exclusive contract.

As long as it doesn't look like this stupid clamshell mockup, I'm psyched.

We Got An iPhone: w00t

Posted by junger - 03/26/08 at 10:03:23 am

I've been wanting to post about this for awhile, but now I actually can: Debbie got an iPhone for her birthday on Tuesday.

Last week when I was in Boston, AT&T starting selling refurb 8GB iPhones online … for $249.

Her cellphone contract with Sprint is up, but we had pretty much decided to wait until the 3G version came out (in June, so says Kevin Rose). But at $350 less than when it first came out … it was a no-brainer.

So now, she has an iPhone. It's sweet, obviously.

As she was playing around with it, she commented on how the novelty of it won't wear off. She's absolutely right, but it's not the novelty … it's the practicality. We always find ourselves wanting to find directions or stores or a piece of info when we're on the road; now, we can.

The Wii is a novel gadget — fun to play, but gets old after awhile. Using the iPhone won't. (Plus, she can check facebook from anywhere.)

We're heading out to California for a week-long vacation in May, and having fingertip access to the Internet while on the road is going to be huge. That alone is worth the investment.

Since it looks like AT&T is no longer selling the units online, I'd say it was a pretty sweet deal. If we decide to upgrade her to 3G in the future, we'll figure it out then … but I'm just trying to find a way to get out of my Sprint contract (one year left … anyone?) without paying up the wazoo.

PS – with the new SDK, it would be HUGE to have a Vonage app for the iPhone. That way we could make calls using our home number on the iPhone — it wouldn't waste minutes and be a great option if AT&T service is as bad as Sprint's in our place (we don't get any Sprint reception). VoIP is coming — Vonage, please get in on it.

Veronica Mars, Leaving Me Hanging

Posted by junger - 03/24/08 at 10:03:02 am

Debbie and I finished the third and final season of Veronica Mars last night and SPOILER ALERT we were obviously disappointed.

We've watched all three seasons over the past few months (thanks, writer's strike) and really enjoyed it. But the haphazard ending, thanks to its cancellation left us unfulfilled.

When I tell people about the show, I compare it to a high-school version of Scooby-Doo (minus the talking dog). Veronica, the way overachieving high schooler, solves mysteries as a private investigator, and seems to run in to scandal and murder wherever she goes.

The show wasn't that realistic (seriously, can one person have so much death in their life and still crack jokes on a regular basis?), but it was well-written, and it spoke to a generation. The characters were mostly well-developed, and the plotlines were engaging.

It's too bad that the series finale left so much unanswered — and didn't get Veronica and Logan back together — but at least we get more Kristen Bell in Heroes.

If you have some time and enjoy serialized, California shows (24, anyone?), give Veronica Mars a chance.

David Richards Bullshits and Bullshits Some More

Posted by junger - 03/20/08 at 02:03:16 pm

David Richards, the mass plagiarist with the worst excuse ever, has posted an update to his "security" problem with utter bullshit.

SmartHouse is set to call in a Sydney based security Company who specialise in detecting the IP address of hackers. The move follows the detection of changes to code and the accessing of a proprietary 4Square Media content engine by unknown individuals. We have also identified one of the journalists who gave information to Media Watch in an effort to discredit SmartHouse.

Honestly, everything he says in this piece is complete nonsense.

To be accused of plagiarising stories in the way that Media Watch outlined is akin to robbing a store, and then with a huge name plaque standing outside that store for the police to arrive.

What a joke. As I've been covering this story, I've received a number of emails and comments from people who worked for Richards, all of which say he's a scumbag. (No surprise, there.)

One email gives a specific example to a rumor I'd heard about — that Richards basically extorted Hitachi, making them advertise with his company or face bad press.

It's really pathetic.

On the Media Watch message boards, once poster brings up a glaring hole in Richards' story:

Those items were also put in the Smarthouse daily newsletters, which I imagine are compiled and edited each issue. For two years no-one noticed that stories were being spliced into the content engine, or had bylines changed?

As I've pointed out, I have correspondence from Richards that proves he knew about the plagiarized stories before the February date he says he found out. Big fat lie right there.

Toshiba Lost Money in HD DVD? No Way!

Posted by junger - 03/19/08 at 11:03:21 am

Man, do I love stupid headlines.

Toshiba losing money in HD DVD business – Associated Press

I can remember when I was up late enough to actually watch Jay Leno … "Headlines" was my favorite segment.

Look for more stupid tech headlines soon.