Filed under: Feature, TECHNOLOGY, WIRELESS | Tags: 3G, Apple, Exchange, GPS, Handhelds, iPhone, Microsoft, Microsoft Exchange, News and Media, Smartphones, Steve Jobs, Worldwide Developers Conference, WWDC, WWDC08
WWDC 2008: TIS’ 3 TO THE G
Let introduce myself. My name is:
And here’s a run down of my newest gleaming attributes (in Marauder’s priority order):
3G
- 3G speed allows for 2.4x faster downloading speeds while browsing the internet. That’s 2.4X faster you can prove to someone else that you were right.
Less Expensive
- 6 million iPhones have been sold so far but the barrier still seems to be price. 56% of consumers say that the iPhone is too expensive. –> Price decrease (Woot!)
Longer Battery Life
- I’d like to personally send this one out to my friend Ryan who I can never reach because his iPhone battery is continuously dead (i.e. the man talks on his phone so frequently that he can never get the phone fully charged.)
- 2G talk time –> 8 hours (iPhone 1.0) to 10 hours
- 3G talk time -> 5 hours as compared to 3.5 average on 3G phones
- Browsing –> 5 – 6 hours
- Video –> 7 hours
- Audio –> 24 hours
- Standby Time –> 300 hours
Business-Friendly E-Mail
- Push e-mail from Microsoft exchange servers
GPS-Enabled Maps
- Maps with GPS (in addition to data from cell phone towers and wi-fi locations)
Flush Headphone Jack
- So you don’t have to buy a ridiculous attachment for your Bose noise canceling headphones. Hott.
Application Store
- Access to the new application store so you can pimp your ride (cough, cough] I mean phone.
Accessorize Me
- The 16GB version also comes in white.
Release Date
- Many thought the release date would fall on the 1-year anniversary of the 1st generation release (June 27th) but it looks like we’ll have to wait just a wee bit longer.
Also read:
Apple should have the full presentation online by tomorrow but for now, Techcrunch has some interesting cell phone video of the main features.
Filed under: Feature, TECHNOLOGY, WIRELESS | Tags: Apple, Blackberry, Handhelds, iPhone, iPod Touch, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Exchange Server, Smartphones
ALREADY HAVE AN IPHONE?: IPHONE 2.0
If you already have an iPhone, here are some savory morsels you will be able to enjoy when the upgrade software is released:
- Get push email, calendar, and contacts from your Microsoft Exchange server at work. And Application store access.
- Mass e-mail move and delete. I probably am MORE excited about this than anything else. This was a major obstacle to me in the choice of BlackBerry vs. iPhone in any business situation.
- Contact search (with Microsoft exchange if available) à Search for a contact rather than spinning the wheel mercilessly
- E-mail Attachment Support to open a Powerpoint right on the iPhone
Release Date
Early July
Price
Free for iPhone users and $9.99 for iPod Touch users
Filed under: BROADCAST/CABLE | Tags: Arts, Jack Lord, Los Angeles, Pancreatic cancer, Patrick Swayze, Retro Television Network, Television, The Beast
A&E has announced that it will proceed with a summertime production schedule for an upcoming drama series called “The Beast” despite the fact that its star, Patrick Swayze, has pancreatic cancer. Swayze, who is 55, has given assurances to the network and the producers that he has recovered enough to star in the show, which focuses on an FBI agent with a troubled past. (The New York Times 6/7)
Patrick Swayze at a basketball game last month in Los Angeles.
Digital-video-compression technologies have allowed cable networks to create a slew of subchannels that — not coincidentally — attract niche audiences that advertisers crave. The Retro Television Network, for instance, can customize its digital video streams for its more than 70 affiliates, which can then add local content and share in ad revenue. (The New York Times 6/9)
“Hawaii Five-O,” with Jack Lord, is one of the shows on the Retro Television Network.
If it seems as if high-quality programming on broadcast TV is drying up as the mercury rises, the author of this article has a suggestion for you: Check out what’s on cable TV. That’s where, according to this analysis, you’ll find the most intelligent series and the most enticing characters. (The New York Times 6/9)
VH1 has ordered eight hour-long episodes of a new reality series this fall called “Scream Queens.” The competition will pit 10 undiscovered actresses against one another as they vie for a role in an upcoming horror movie by Lionsgate Films. (The Hollywood Reporter 6/9)
Comedy Central has given the green light to a pilot featuring comedian and “MadTV” veteran Bobby Lee. The show is not yet titled, but will apparently revolve around Lee’s unique take on living in a multicultural world. (The Hollywood Reporter 6/9)
The youth-oriented CW says it has sold nearly $375 million in prime-time advertising for next season — about 40% less than it did last year. CW, a 2-year-old joint venture between CBS and Warner Bros., says its ratings plunged 23% from last year during the just-concluded TV season. (Iwantmedia 6/9, http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cw7-2008jun07,0,5167961.story 6/7)
Weather Channel owner Landmark Communications is in direct talks Time Warner and a rival group made up of NBC Universal, Blackstone Group and Bain Capital to sell the cable network. No more formal bids are expected. The various sides are said to be negotiating for the best price. (Iwantmedia 6/9, http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSBNG28234920080606 6/6)
The NCTA’s board has voted to officially consolidate all the industry’s major events around one spring and one fall window. Washington will play host to the spring events in 2009, which begin April 2, and Denver will be the site of the fall events, beginning Oct. 25. (TVWeek.com 6/6)
Comcast officials cut the ribbon late last week on the company’s new corporate headquarters building in downtown Philadelphia. The 1.25-million-square-foot tower is 975 feet tall, making it the largest skyscraper between New York and Chicago. (York Daily Record (Pa.)/Associated Press 6/8)
Verizon Communications has started to overbuild AT&T in the Dallas suburbs, according to this article. The move, which includes the area north of Plano, Texas, involves about 60,000 homes, mainly in the communities of Frisco and Allen. The move is expected to spur more competition in these markets for video incumbent Time Warner Cable. (OneTRAK 6/9)
Filed under: ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA | Tags: Amazon.com, Google, Search Engines, Searching, United States, us, World Wide Web, YouTube
ONLINE SERVICES/INTERACTIVE MEDIA
If more people are searching on Google for “Obama” than “McCain” does that mean he is more likely to win the election? Not every voter in the U.S. uses Google, or even uses the Internet, for that matter. But enough of the population does use Google that its search patterns cannot be ignored by either candidate, the press, or anyone interested in the outcome of the election. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/07/can-google-trends-predict-the-election 6/7)
YouTube is launching a “Reporter” channel, featuring news-related videos submitted by both amateurs to professionals, in time for presidential race. Also: The Google-owned video site is teaming with the GOP for a contest to send an amateur videographer to the Republican convention. (Iwantmedia 6/9, http://venturebeat.com/2008/06/06/youtube-launches-reporter-channel-in-time-for-presidential-race 6/6, http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6568233.html 6/9)
Google, which has struggled to find the best way to monetize YouTube, is now allowing content creators to sell advertising on their YouTube channels. The revenue is split between the content creator and YouTube, just as it would be if YouTube sold the ads. (Iwantmedia 6/9, http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=127619 6/9)
Amazon.com’s Web site experienced problems in North America for more than two hours on Friday due to system issues. Amazon’s systems are “very complex” and “on rare occasions” may experience problems, says a spokesman. The impact on sales is not yet known. (Iwantmedia 6/9, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080606/ap_on_hi_te/amazon_down 6/6)
MySpace’s recent move to allow software developers to make money from their viral creations is beginning to pay off. About 1,000 new applications created for MySpace in the last two months have helped keep the site’s 117 million users online longer, which could boost advertising. (Iwantmedia 6/9, http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-myspace-facebook-faceoffjun09,0,1364023.story 6/9)
(Below) I tried out a search with Weezer’s new video “Pork & Beans” which is number 2 on Viral Video Chart’s list. I tried Weezer and alternatively Pork & Beans with no relevant search results. Maybe this is considered user-generated (even though it’s not)? Additionally, along the left nav bar under sources, I couldn’t find any source related to blogs, social networking sites, etc. I understand Hulu’s desire to index video becoming the first stop for video search. I just don’t know how wise this will be when mucking up the results with blogs and social networking sites.
Hulu rolled out a new video search function indexing not only its 50+ content providers but also videos embedded on blogs, social networking sites and a host of other online video outlets. Search results appear within the Hulu video interface, so you don’t have to leave the site to hunt for something Hulu doesn’t have. (Cynopsis 6/9)
After shutting down its online music store Wal-Mart is trying to insure there is still demand for its CDs. The chain signed an deal with AC/DC to become the exclusive CD retailer for its next album this fall, similar to agreements struck with The Eagles and Journey, according to the WSJ. The company also says it plans to reduce its inventory of CDs to focus more on blockbuster titles. (Cynopsis 6/9)
After engaging in high-profile spats with Wikipedia over the accuracy, the Encyclopedia Britannica says it plans to experiment with user-contributed content. Britannica emphasizes that its staff will continue to police content: “We are not abdicating our responsibility.” (Iwantmedia 6/9, http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080609-britannica-to-cautiously-try-harnessing-users-for-content.html 6/9)
That said, TV Guide wants to make sure you can easily access its video content if you prefer to spend most of your time in a social networking environment. TV Guile Online officially launched its Video Guide widget as an embeddable extension of its popular online video guide. (Cynopsis 6/9)
FanFare, SanDisk’s free, ad-supported content portal, has been shuttered along with their ill-fated TakeTV video solution. TakeTV was a little device that you plugged into your computer, filled up with media, and then carried to your TV. FanFare was supposed to supply exciting, free content for the player. Anyone who knows anything about the average consumer would tell you that making someone use SneakerNet to watch Iron Man bootlegs on their TV is a losing proposition. (http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/06/07/sandisk-takes-fanfare-taketv-to-the-deadpool 6/7)
Disney Family.com plans to roll out a new parent-oriented social networking platform that will provide users with the ability to create profiles for their entire family. The new community will be different from typical social networks, which emphasize individual profiles. (Iwantmedia 6/9, http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/digital-downloads/broadband/e3i32a6c4ade2dd7b234f0417152699006a 6/9)
Nielsen Online is preparing a platform to monitor the number of downloaded media served through Apple iTunes and other systems. While Nielsen and others track the views of streaming video, third party monitoring of downloaded video are understood to not currently exist. (Iwantmedia 6/9, http://www.beet.tv/2008/06/scoop-nielsen-r.html 6/7)
Filed under: WIRELESS | Tags: Business, MediaFLO, Mobile TV, NBC Sports, Qualcomm, Telecommunications, Verizon Wireless, WIRELESS
MediaFLO‘s FLO TV service will provide 30+ hours of US Open video coverage from Torrey Pines this week sourced from ESPN and NBC Sports. The service is available to AT&T Mobile TV and Verizon Wireless V Cast customers. (Cynopsis 6/9)
Filed under: GAMING | Tags: Business, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, The Walt Disney Company, Time Warner, Viacom, Warner Bros.
Disney, Viacom and Time Warner and other media companies are devoting more than $1 billion on developing casual games and “virtual worlds” for youngsters. But children’s advocacy groups are concerned about media projects aimed at kids that are “interactive and very personal.” (Iwantmedia 6/9, http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117987042.html?categoryid=1019&cs=1 6/6)
Filed under: TECHNOLOGY | Tags: Beaumont, Cable modem, HBO, Motorola, Road Runner, Streaming media, Time Warner, Time Warner Cable
Motorola is developing a system that will allow users to stream video and photos from the Internet directly to their TVs. The so-called “Internet end run” is very similar to the “wireless cable modem” system Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt said his company would deploy in a year or two, according to this report. (OneTRAK 6/7)
