Infinity and Beyond

ExtremeTech’s got a great post by Lance Ulanoff (The T-Mobile G1 [Google Android] is No iPhone) of PCMag doing essentially a nice, clean, side-by-side comparison of Google/T-Mobile’s G1 versus the Apple/AT&T iPhone.  He took the lenghty articles and boiled them down into a nice bulleted list comparing the features of each phone–what they both have, and where they differ.

 

G1 vs iPhone

What jumped out at me was the fact that the G1, while sporting a 3 megapixel camera, doesn’t capture video.  This has been a built-in feature on HTC for a really long time, so I don’t have any idea why they wouldn’t include video with the G1, which is very much a sought-after feature missing on the iPhone.  Also interesting is that the built-in browser on the G1 is based on WebKit–which is also what Chrome is built on top of, and has it’s roots in Apple’s Safari browser.  But that aside…no video??  Does anyone have any idea why they would cut this feature?  I thought AT&T was the stingy one when it came to cutting features from phones (i.e. my 8525 was supposed to have a camera on the front for video conferencing…which is supported everywhere else in the world…but AT&T cut it out).

And Lance’s ultimate conclusion was that, while he loves the G1, it simply lacks the sex appeal of the iPhone.  Hence my image…Which I think I did a pretty good job on, if I do say so myself.  And, I do.

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Today Google announced the first phone running on the Android platform.  It’s the G1, made by HTC (makers of many popular Windows Mobile devices).  The G1 will be available exclusively from T-Mobile stores in U.S. cities where they’ve depolyed their 3G data network.  You’ll be able to order the phone online and it will work in the non-3G areas, but at slower speeds (or you can switch to the built-in WiFi).  

The phone has drawn many comparisons to Apple’s iPhone.  At first glance, it’s pretty similar, with large and bright touch screen (full features, and more detailed features from Fortune).  But unlike the iPhone, the G1 features a full QWERTY keyboard beneath the screen.  It will also have a cheaper data plan than AT&T’s iPhone plan.  The phone itself can be had for $179 which is $20 less than the cheapest iPhone.  

 

 

 

That being said, the G1 doesn’t yet support Exchange push, which the iPhone does with the release of the iPhone 2.0 software.   There will be an applications store where users can download new apps.  G1 users will be able to download music from a special Amazon.com store–directly to the device and DRM-free.

That’s all good, but it appears to only come with a 1GB memory card–I wasn’t able to find the specs on the built-in memory.  While it may be $20 cheaper than an iPhone, but they come in 8GB and 16GB versions, so you’re going to spend a lot more than that buying 7GB worth of memory cards to store the other part of your music library.  While their website says “With the 1GB memory card, youll never be without your favorite tunes,” I’m willing to bet many will feel differently.  Also, is it me, or do all the home screen flick interactions seem very iPhone-esque?

Either way, I’m sure there will be a lot of people who will be eager to get their hands on the device.  It will be interesting to see if and when lines start forming.

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Apple (AAPL) blocked another application [via MacRumors.com] from the App Store because it duplicated functionality of their built-in apps.  But again it sounds like it’s more the case that the developer’s app was better than what Apple has released.  Specifically this guy’s application, MailWrangler, allows you to more easily check multiple Gmail accounts and also do things like use the stars, Google contacts, and what I’d love to have–threaded email.  I love how Gmail on the web–even the mobile web version–conveniently threads your messages.  Hopefully they’ll either integrate this functionality in themselves or let this application through.

I’m starting to consider looking into jailbreaking my iPhone 3G.  This practice of blocking applications that improve on built-in apps seems very Microsoftesque, and is kind of crappy.

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If you bought your iPhone 3G in the US, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and several Latin American countries, you need to exchange your ultracompact USB power adapter for a new one.  Apple (AAPL) said they’ve had reports of the prongs coming out and getting stuck in sockets, which can cause a showck if you try an dremove them.

 

The full details can be found here:

http://www.apple.com/support/usbadapter/exchangeprogram/

There’s no cost to you–simply order a replacement via the web or exchange in-store at your local Apple Retail Store starting on October 10th.  You will need to bring in your old adapter in order to receive a new one(s).  This applies to both the adapter included in the box with the phone as well as any additional ones you may have purchased.

Check the bottom of your adapater though–if it has a green dot (pictured below) you’ve already got the redesigned adapter and do not need to replace it.  Also note:

 

We’ll need to collect your iPhone 3G’s serial number as part of the exchange process.

If you apply via the web, you will also need to provide your name and address so that we can send you a new adapter along with a shipment box so that you can return the affected adapter to Apple.  

If you visit an Apple Retail Store, you need to bring your affected adapter(s) and your iPhone 3G(s) with you to complete the exchange process.       

I hope they’ll give me a replacement for the adapter I’ve still got from my first iPhone 3G that got stolen.  I’ve got the serial number…maybe I’ll have to order that one online.

 

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Via Engadget, Google along with T-Mobile, will unveil the first “Googlephone”–a phone running on Google’s Android platform.  This will pit Google/T-Mobile in direct competition with AT&T and Apple.  I wonder if Google will remain the default browser in Safari 4…

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Apple’s iPhone/iPod Touch App Store continues to draw some heavy criticism this week. It appears that some applications which could be considered to compete with Apple’s own apps are being rejected because they duplicate functionality. Seeking Alpha reports that the a developer created a program called Podcaster because it “duplicates the functionality of the Podcast section in iTunes.” Turns out Podcaster actually offers some features above and beyond what Apple currently offers–thusly making it an arguably better app.

The blogosphere is going crazy with cries of anti-competitive practices being used by Apple.  Then again…it’s Apple’s product, Apple’s phone, and Apple’s App Store…so, it seems to me that by right they can pretty much do whatever they want.  While they are doing themselves a favor by providing devs the ability to create and deploy apps via the App Store, Apple could easily give everyone a giant middle finger and pull the plug.  That being said, it does seem like a pretty lame thing to do.

This follows on the heels of reports of applications getting rejected based on “limited utility,” such as the ill-fated Pull My Finger app.  You can watch the video here or below.  A more detailed explanation of the rejection is here.  Many people are wondering what’s up with “limited utility.”  And why should this matter with regards to free applications?  Why is Koi Pond not considered to have “limited ability”?  Does the fact that Koi Pond is supposed to be soothing allow it to pass, while Pull My Finger is only humorous to some?  Or what about the More Cowbell application?  Its seems that part of the fun of having applications on your Smartphone is so that, for every useful application you’ve got, you can download at least three more which are stupid but fun…

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The grim reality is, there really isn’t anything you can do it seems.  I’ve spent countless hours getting bounced back and forth between AT&T and Apple phone representatives and in-store people.  AT&T will tell you that you need to contact Apple in order to track your stolen phone.  Apple will inform you that they can only do this if someone else registers the phone on iTunes, and that’s if they were lucky enough to have correctly registered your phone in the first place.  Apple will tell you to call AT&T and pursue it there.

AT&T will feed you tons of BS about how they can’t track phones.  If you really pressure them, they can look to see if the IMEI number is registered to another phone.  Maybe.  Sometimes.  ”Well, we can’t really tell.”  It all depends on what agent you’re talking to.  I escallated all the way up to a floor manager in their call center and had completely different answers with each person I talked to.  Here’s the general concensus that I got however:

• AT&T can but will not track or locate your device for you
• Apple cannot track your device other than through multiple iTunes accounts linked to the same serial number
• AT&T stores cannot track the location of your phone, despite what AT&T may tell you on the phone
• AT&T phone reps cannot track the location of your phone, despite what AT&T in-store personnel might tell you

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From MacRumors via Gizmodo, AT&T and Apple are apparently in discussions regarding an official tethering option for the iPhone.  Rumors say it’ll be an additional $30/month.

Here’s my opinion on the matter, should they actually charge $30/month for this:  complete bullshit.  

I’m sorry for the profanity, but it is, in fact, complete bullshit to charge even more for the tethering service.  First off, as many MacRumors readers noted, we’re already paying for “unlimited” 3G data coverage.  Furthermore, as other readers noted, tethering was free and built-in on my Windows Mobile 6 powered AT&T 8525.  FREE.  

And when I was on the contract for my 8525 I was paying less money in monthly data charges than I am with the iPhone.  In theory, a tethered 8525 could use just as much data on the network as a tethered or untethered iPhone.  Perhaps all along I was supposed to have paid more for this kind of usage on my 8525, but AT&T’s own support tutorials showed me how to do this and they never mentioned an increased fee, nor was I ever charged one.

What gets my goat about this is that because of Apple’s lock down on development for the device, AT&T and Apple could in theory enforce the tethering fee by restricting access to a tethering app/service to subscribed customers (perhaps via an iTunes-only update?).  This is enough make me want to jailbreak my iPhone the next iPhone I get to replace my stolen un-findable iPhone.  Or go through the hassle (which I’ve done already a number of times) of popping out my SIM card, putting it into my 8525, using the 8525 just as a modem for my computer, popping out the SIM, and putting it back in the iPhone.  Annoying, but it works.

So in short, $30 for tethering is LAME LAME LAME.

PS-> Look at me using strikethrough like a real blogger!!

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Sigh. I don’t know why, but I’m still loyal to Apple. Ohh that’s right–Apple makes sweet products. Via AP/CNN–despite flaws and issues with devices, Apple still has an untarnished reputation. Fans still line up for hours and even days in some cases to get the hottest new Apple products. Despite reports of problems with spotty 3G coverage and other issues with the iPhone 3G, demand remains very strong for the device. Apple fans say that despite the flaws and issues, they’ll still stick with the brand as Apple products across the board are just better than teh competition.

I’m inclined to agree–even with dropped calls and poor battery life, I’ll likely replace my stolen iPhone 3G. Having gone back to my clunky AT&T (HTC) 8525, the device just can’t hold a candle to the sleek and stylish features of the iPhone. I’ve also noticed that despite the iPhone sometimes being sluggish, my 8525 feels downright slow. And the fact that I can hardly open a single page at a time with the latest Opera beta without an “out of memory” error, and Opera 8.65 being pretty crappy (not even worth talking about Pocket IE), it’s a killer to not be able to really surf the web like I could with my iPhone. And what about that lack of Enterprise compatibility? Try getting on my corporate network with a Windows Mobile 6 device…good luck. iPhone connectivity? No problem.

So, it’s time to go re-buy a sweet iPhone and hopefully retire the 8525 once and for all. Now if only I could teather the iPhone…

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So, say you just got a shiny new iPhone 3G.  Say it’s an awesome 16GB version.  Yeah, you’re the cool guy now.

Say you then leave your iPhone in the restroom at a concert, and 3 minutes later its gone for good.

Sad panda.  Sad panda, indeed.

You think to yourself…”No worries!  My phone has GPS–they can track that shiz!”  This is a very logical assumption for you to make.  But, sadly, without a 3rd party app installed, you’re out of luck.  Here’s some info so you don’t waste your time:

• AT&T phone support cannot/will not locate your phone for you
• AT&T in-store representatives, despite what the phone support might tell you, cannot/will not locate your phone for you
• Calling Apple’s iPhone support line at +1 (800) 694-7466 will not, sadly, tell you any more information about the whereabouts of your phone.

However, there is some marginal amount of hope for you.  Not that I was one of those folks who douchebaggedly left their phone in the bathroom at a rock concert.  But if I were one of those folks, I would have found out that Apple supposedly has a team of people who work on this with local authorities.  Here’s what you need to do (so far as I was told someone told me):

1. File a theft report with your local police
2. The police have a special phone number (or they can call the number above) which is an internal stolen goods team at Apple
3. That team can compare flag your serial number in their system, and watch to see if someone else registers the phone
   • If whomever stole your phone (or the poor soul who buys the stolen phone) decides to actually use the phone, they’ll need to have a valid SIM (unless of course they unlock or jailbreak it)
   • In order to use the iPhone they’ll also have to register the phone again in iTunes
   • This will send all the information about that person to Apple and the authorities

If all goes as planned, the police would actually be able to recover your stolen phone.  Maybe.  I’m somewhat skeptical that they will actually take the time to go get your phone.  But I’m hopeful The person I spoke to is hopeful.

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