An Apple Tablet perhaps!

Rumors are rife that Apple may be on the verge of releasing an Apple Tablet soon, and it all started with a report by the Financial Times claiming that it has inside news that the Apple tablet is ready to be launched.

One set of rumors say that it will be released as early as September and the others say in early 2010.

It is speculated to be 3G enabled, have a 10-inch touch screen and high computing power, providing users the ability to even watch movies. It is said to be more like a large iPod rather than an iPhone, complete with the ability to download media through iTunes. It may also give users the ability to read books, rivaling the Amazon Kindle. Financial Times quoted as revealing that, “It’s a portable entertainment device. It’s going to be fabulous for watching movies.” It sounds like this device is going to be an iPod Touch with the processing power and memory of a netbook. Steve Jobs is said to be the brain behind this. If this is so, then the product is certainly going to be solid.

There have been no rumors on the carrier this 3G device will be on. Amidst all the assumptions, we can also assume that it would be AT&T. But Apple may also deal with someone else, as there had been problems with AT&T and Apple has been communicating with Verizon too.

There have been expectations for some time that Apple would come out with a device slightly below the netbook and above the iPhone or iPod. Although, Apple has not denied these rumors, it did say that they would not offer a $500 piece of junk. Does that mean that if they are bringing out a tablet, it is going to cost more than $500? Analysts say that this “Applepad” may cost anywhere between $600 to $1000, placing it between an iPod and the MacBook.

As September approaches, the sources claiming to know what’s happening with Apple are increasing. A music industry source says that they have been informed by Apple about plans of holding a keynote on September 7, 2009. An analyst revealed that the 10-inch device will have a touch screen and is specifically designed for gaming.

This does not come as a surprise and could very well be true, as Apple has always been secretive about its products.

Months ago, Reuters reported that Apple ordered 10-inch touch screens from Wintek, which is a Taiwan-based manufacturer that makes touch screens used in the iPod Touch and iPhone. The kindle-clone rumors are also based on the news that Apple has been receiving paper-bound books in huge numbers at its Cupertino headquarters. As unlikely as this may sound, it is said that Apple may be scanning all these books to create a library of electronic titles for an e-book section on the iTunes Store, perhaps with the launch of a new Tablet Apple seems to be cooking up. However, when asked, CEO, Steve Jobs dismissed this idea last year, saying, “people don’t read anymore.” But Steve Jobs is notorious for denying anything and everything about a new product until the day the product is actually ready to be shipped.

Apple has kept a close watch on the netbook market closely, and it sure sees that people are interested in some sort of a middle device, that can take its place between the smartphone and a laptop. If Apple is really planning on producing a tablet that is a combination of a gaming machine and an e-book reader, even if it is priced slightly higher, it may do well.

These rumors have had such a great impact on computer manufacturers that many have slowed production of similar devices, just to wait and see what Apple has under the covers.

Apple has the history of bringing out new iPod devices at events during September or October, to leverage on the holiday season sales.

Is it time to start saving some money for this new gadget from Apple? We may know for sure towards the end of the year, when Apple will probably start its advertising campaign.

Apple recently listed its top 20 free apps and top 20 paid apps for the iPhone, based solely on the popularity, which means the number of downloads from their App Store.

Take a look at the top 20 free apps in the exact order as ranked by Apple:

Facebook

This one is for social networking fans and is #1 in free apps. Facebook app can be downloaded at the iTunes app store for free. You have the chat facility, friend requests, check your friends photos, upload photos, full news feeds, notifications, news feed commends, your entire inbox etc.

Google Earth

Compatible with iPhone (2.0 software update) and iPod Touch, this app enables users to view the exact aerial imagery similar to the one available for the desktop version. You can view photos from around the world, search for businesses, cities and places, view mountainous terrain with just a tilt of the phone, geo-located Wikipedia articles and many more.

Pandora Radio

Stream music on your iPhone using this app! You can just use the name of the artist or the song and Pandora will instantly create a station to play that music. You can create stations based on the genre, read artist bios, store recently played songs and play song samples.

Tap Tap Revenge

Games continue to be extremely popular on iPhone. Tap Tap Revenge is a touch-based music game that has a guitar-hero like interface and this app is so popular that it is used by about 32% of users.

Shazam

When you hear a song and wonder what that song is, you turn to Shazam. It is a lovely app, where you just hold your iPhone to the music and Shazam gets back to you with the track name and the artist within seconds.

PAC-MAN Lite

If you’re tired of playing puzzle games on your iPhone, this handheld version of the classic arcade game allows you to navigate through mazes, chomp through fruits and dots and gobbling scary ghosts. This free version gives you the first stage of the game.

Backgrounds

You can customize your iPhone background with this app. You can choose between backgrounds that are recent, popular and by category. You can view previews of cool backgrounds for your iPhone and choose the one you like.

Touch Hockey FS5

Enjoy air hockey on your iPhone now and the beautiful animations of this game make it a great experience. If you had a cool play and want to view it all again, you can do that with the instant replay feature. The Wi-Fi mode allows you to play with your friends too.

Labyrinth Lite Edition

This is a “must” download as it is nothing like other maze games. It has ten levels of play and you just have to tilt the iPhone in different directions to control the ball. The controls are excellent and make it easy to place the ball on the screen. This fun game is perfect to keep yourself or your kids occupied.

Flashlight

This app transforms your phone into a flashlight. If you’re traveling at night and need to find something in your car, this can come very handy. There are several color options too.

Urbanspoon

This app can prove to be very useful during road travel. It can help you find good restaurants in the area, wherever you are, based on your cravings.

Movies

Enter your zip code and look up movies in the local area by movie name or theater and more. Once you select a movie; the running time, show time, rating and genre will be displayed. The beauty of this app is that you can view the trailer, buy tickets and even ask for a map to the theater.

iBowl

Imagine being able to enjoy Wii style bowling using your iPhone. With the help of the built in accelerometer, the iPhone can now be used to bowl.

Lightsaber Unleashed

Lightsaber Unleashed is an iPhone app that was around earlier and was extremely popular. Then it had to be taken down. But it’s back now in a far better form; with multiple characters to choose from, music and better sound effects. You also have a choice in colors as well as the type of Lightsaber. It’s probably one of the most fun applications for your iPhone.

Sol Free Solitaire

Sol Free is developed by the software company Smallware. While the paid version has 40 card games, the free version comes with 6. One of the best features is the ability to review statistics, take mental notes and attempt to beat your previous stats. If you are obsessed with winning, you also have the option to restart the game.

MySpace Mobile

Access your entire MySpace account using your iPhone or iPod Touch. You can search the network and add friends, compose mail, delete mail and send bulletin blasts to all friends. You can upload and share pictures too.

Virtual Zippo Lighter

It may not actually provide much real life use, but it’s a fun app. As the name suggests, you have access to a virtual Zippo lighter. Just flick your wrist to open the Zippo and turn your thumb to get the flame started. If you sway your iPhone, you can see the windproof flame react accordingly. The best part is being able to blow it out.

The Weather Channel

Weather changes in a minute and you need to be prepared. Although, there is a standard weather application in iPhone; the Weather Channel will provide with the weather conditions, radar maps and long-term forecasts of the exact location you are in.

Bubble Wrap

If you are addicted to popping bubble wraps from packages, then you will love this game. All you have to do with this is pop bubbles as fast as you can, before the time runs out. Well, some of the bubbles may also re-inflate, so be careful. This free app has won the 2008 iPhone excellence award and also Apple iTunes 2008 favorite picks.

Remote

This app turns your iPhone or iPod Touch into remote controls, where you can control iTunes on your computer or Apple TV. Do everything from your iPhone or iPod Touch, as if you were in front of your computer. It works with your Wi-Fi network.

The best thing about App Store is that there are not too many barriers to enter and download all the free apps you may need. There are so many great apps to choose from, that your iPhone or iPod Touch will never be the same again.

It’s no surprise that all the big cats are now vying with each other to get their hands on this golden bird. Rumor goes that Google wanted it but was turned down. Facebook offered cash and stock worth $500 million, but it is believed Twitter investors were not quite sure that Facebook’s stock was worth as much as they claimed. The price has been going up as fast and furious as the Twitter users themselves.

Now, fresh rumors that have been circulating talk about Apply eying this social networking giant. According to sources, the purchase price it offered is $700 million – in cash and negotiations are on full swing. Oh yes! Apple has plenty of that (27 billion) and can pay cash. Gossip mongers even go to the extent of saying that the acquisition will be announced in June at the World Wide Developer’s Conference (WWDC) in San Jose.

Twitter is receiving “tweet” nothings from everyone that matters – Google, Microsoft, News Corp., and now Apple too; although this is being discarded by many as yet another rumor. Putting two and two together, observers remark that it was only a couple of weeks ago that Apple profiled the site.

Although, it is considered ridiculous because Twitter and Apple are poles apart; getting a stake in the hottest internet product could catapult Apple ahead of both Yahoo and Microsoft in terms of internet foothold.

People in the know are questioning Apple’s logic behind buying Twitter – why would Apple need Twitter? Twitter would provide Apple a solid marketing and sales platform for the distribution of their products.

Here are ten interesting ways Apple could work Twitter into its products, according to CNN:

• Bring Twitter support into Apple’s messaging app, iChat.
• Use Twitter for RSS-like feeds, such as iTunes songs, TV shows, movies, iPhone apps, movie trailers etc.
• Tweet photos and may be videos from iPhone, auto-uploaded to TwitPic, YouTube etc.
• Tweet photos from iPhoto on Mac, auto-tagging Twitter contacts.
• Twitter contacts in phonebook on iPhone and Mac.
• Read tweets while watching a video on Apple TV.
• Twitter search option in Safari.
• Tweet songs you listen to in iTunes on the iPhone, giving a link for download from iTunes.
• Suggested iTunes playlists/purchases based on the most tweeted songs.
• Incorporating Twitter sign-in into iPhone and iPod touch so that all apps can access it via one API.

An analyst at Gabriel Consulting Group, Dan Olds, said that if Apple acquired Twitter, it could make for an interesting combination. He stated, “Apple has the right ‘attitude’ to run something like Twitter, plus the ability to monetize it with advertising. I can see where Twitter might fit quite nicely into the Apple empire. It would give Apple a strong entry into the social networking market and also a very solid advertising vehicle.”

However, all this is just a lot of speculation, and no one knows the real reason behind this madness; i.e. if Apple happens to be interested in Twitter at all. This is a big IF!

Amongst all this, what has Twitter got to say? Twitter has for long, been sending strong signals that it is not on the market. Recently, Biz Stone, one of the co-founders of Twitter also denied all rumors and said that it is not for sale, adding that right now, Twitter is focusing on developing new features and on remaining independent.

Despite all the denials and both parties crying hoarse that there is nothing to these rumors, those who believe that there cannot be smoke without fire are keeping their eyes wide open for any new developments on the Apple-Twitter front. I know the “rumor” is slowly dying down for now, but when it involves two giants, everything leads to a discussion. Would love to know what you have to say about this whole thing.

This killer is being used in many areas in various forms:

A “dad man’s switch” stops vehicles and machines, in case the operator has problems and loses control. A kill switch at pumping stations is used for gasoline pumps and other devices that pump flammable or explosive chemicals. Even treadmills have a “safety key” that comes into action when a person trips or falls.

In IT language, a kill switch is a security measure used to shut off a device or a program. Where software is concerned, the software is rendered useless to users if it is pirated and not obtained in the right way.

Kill Switch in Apple and Google

Coming to the mobile phone segment, kill switch has been incorporated by Apple in the iPhone. Through these switches, the company has the capability of uninstalling or deleting any application that they think should not be on your phone.

This was not something Apple made a whole lot of noise about and preferred to let silence rule – until people discovered it for themselves and the world was up in arms.

The iPhone quietly connects to Apple’s servers to check an application blacklist, and disable any apps that should not be there.

Now, Google also seems to be following Apple’s lead and has made a similar inclusion in its open-source Android platform. This leader of Web search, with the help of cookies already keeps tabs on the searches that are done from your PC. It is almost like someone peeking into your screen while you are surfing the Web, and now the kill switch in the Android phone.

Google mentions it in the terms and conditions or the license agreement, which says, “Google may discover a product that violates the developer distribution agreement. In such an instance, Google retains the right to remotely remove those applications from your device at its sole discretion.”

Difference between the two

However, there is a difference between the two switches. With Apple, only Apple’s applications can make their way into the mobiles; however, Google has made it clear that it is not going to control whose applications are used, but has the switch only to ensure malicious applications that are potentially harmful to the user’s personal information and to the phone are not used.

Google and Apple have explained the reasons behind having the switches.

Google says that an open-source application makes the phone prone to attacks, and this switch is in the best interests of the users.

Steve Jobs stated that Apple needs this capability, in case it allows a malicious program inadvertently – something that stole personal data of the user. He said, “Hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull.”

Breach of Freedom?

The lever that Steve Jobs talked about seems to be pulling a whole lot more than Apple bargained for, in the form of criticism from users.

This move by Apple and Google is perceived by many as a breach of freedom, as it means letting vendors break into the users’ private life and compromise on privacy. Some users have even gone to the extent of saying that Apple wants draconian control over their devices. Subscribers not only use the mobile phone to store music, contact lists, photos but also to surf the Web and check e-mail. They believe this feature can also be abused by hackers to spy on people. They do not like the idea that Apple and Google are playing self-proclaimed cops by saying they are doing this for the protection of the users.

People, who look at the whole issue of the kill switch with different eyes, say that collection of data is not new and several companies collect user data. For example, Handango, knows all about the phone models used and applications bought by their users. Even Nokia and Microsoft are said to have their own “kill switch” tools; although they are limited in scope when compared to Apple.

Through the whole thing, Apple did not respond to any of the requests to comment, but they have put up a disclaimer on their website, that says, “We collect information regarding customer activities. This helps us to determine how best to provide useful information to customers and to understand which parts of our websites, products, and Internet services are of most interest to them.”

Apple can also track the quality of wireless networks used by its devices and this is done by checking on the download speeds. Experts believe this is an admirable feat as no one else had been able to do anything like that before. This is the reason Apple is able to be super-responsive to glitches.

Since this is certainly not the last we have heard of the kill switch, which way is it going to go? Will the other manufacturers follow suit?

Recent sales numbers of the iPhone and the BlackBerry have surprised people in the know. The reason for the surprise is that BlackBerry has always been considered to be synonymous with a business phone, but now the iPhone sold more.

Earlier, Steve Jobs announced that the iPhone would support Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, which will enable users to synchronize their calendar and contacts along with receiving push mail on their iPhones. This announcement had many critics remarking that Apple is attempting to just grab a small slice of one of the most lucrative markets – the enterprise phone segment and nothing more will come out of it. Of course, diehard Apple fans are never deterred by these comments and have always counted on the iPhone to make a difference in this market, where enterprise phone segment is the arena of players such as the BlackBerry and the Nokia E-series.

The sales reports of smartphones reveal that Nokia still ruled, followed by Apple and then BlackBerry. This is a great achievement for Apple, considering that the iPhone does not have as many models as the other two. Another fact is that the competition has released high-profile devices recently too, such as Nokia’s E71 and RIM’s Bold. However, a device that has not been considered to be a suitable choice for enterprise use until now has won hands down.

What are the reasons for iPhone’s success in the Smartphone segment? Experts are of the belief that the iPhone does not need a huge learning curve as it comes with an intuitive interface. It has fewer buttons and users do not need to access any menus. If someone wants to access a software, it can be done with simple scrolling and tapping. The screen also responds extremely quickly to the touch. MS Office and PDF file attachments can be opened faster by the email client than any PC can. These are things users look for – ease of operation and convenience of use.

Even the most simple things like the display on the iPhone is the largest available. People can comfortably watch videos on it or read long reports with ease. There are plenty of very useful and attractive multimedia features too, one of which includes the option of downloading several hundreds of applications to the device.

These are just some of the factors that seem to be attracting people to the iPhone. People now understand that there is no longer the need to own two devices; one for their personal use and one for business use. Now they can get everything they need in a single phone and they cannot be any happier.

The main attraction that iPhone is bringing to smartphones and enterprise devices is that phones used by businessmen and professionals now look not only at providing functionality but entertainment as well. Previously, the general thinking was that an enterprise phone has to be all about being functional, catering to the needs of synchronizing contacts and calendars, push mail, MS Office file viewers etc., which are usually the functions needed in any business phone owned by a professional. Many of the enterprise devices did not come with cameras as it was earlier felt that security of the business data would be compromised with the addition of such features.

Now people and manufacturers are beginning to think differently and because of this, BlackBerry Bold has a better interface and display than before. Samsung has come out with Omnia and the eight megapixel mobile phone Innov8 that come with both multimedia features and enterprise features.

There no longer exists the line that divided entertainment from enterprise and the major credit for this goes to the success of the iPhone. No longer do people need to weigh their pockets down, with two phones. Now traveling with two phones is looked at as inconvenient and meaningless. We are in an era of fast and easy devices and professionals can entertain themselves on the same phone they use for conducting their business, without any fear of compromising on security. Apple is going all out to make sure that it is seen not only as a competitor in the enterprise segment but more as a leader.

There is not a free moment at the Apple headquarters and they know how to keep the “rumors alive,” to satisfy the insatiable appetite of the technology freaks.

Apple is planning on closing the year with a few new product introductions.

iPhone Nano

This time, it is the “Nano fairy” all ready to sprinkle its dust on the Apple product line.

According to a source quoted in a British newspaper, the iPhone Nano is expected to be unveiled soon – perhaps a Christmas gift?

The reason for this is believed to be the fact that the EDGE and 3G iPhone models are expensive and it would be easier on the light-pocketed customer to have a smaller sized phone that is similar to iPod Nano.

The iPhone Nano could be a “iPhone Lite” device without full internet access, with a rear-facing iPod style touch wheel for inputting the numbers and a display screen that is front facing.

Meanwhile, the iPhone is expanding its wings into new territories.

Russia Calling

It was in July this year that Apple spread the sales of the 3G iPhone in more than 20 countries; however Apple iPhones are not yet being sold in Russia, in spite of the Russian market being the fastest growing in the world. Of course, it has to be noted that the iPhone has already found other unauthorized ways of getting in.

There are three top mobile carries in Russia; MTS, MegaFon and Vimplecom, who have all been trying to finalize the deal with Apple. The problem with sealing the deal was that these operators were not keen on sharing their iPhone revenue with Apple, in order to get exclusive rights.

However, this is going to change, with Apple getting into a deal with Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), which is the largest mobile phone operator in Russia, for the sale of iPhones in Russia.

According to Steve Jobs, the sales may begin by the end of the year and sources say that it could be as soon as October. Estimated sales by the end of 2008 are said to be in the range of 700,000.

There are a few other new and interesting products being released before this year ends.

Tablet Mac

The much awaited multi-touch tablet Mac may just be around the corner or so it seems. With rumors being floated around for many years, finally the year 2008 may see the release of the tablet Mac or the mini-tablet Mac.

According to reports, the tablet may come with a 12 or 13 inch touch screen, full Mac OS X, an iPhone type GPS chip, a slot loading Superdrive and perhaps the Intel Atom processor. Experts expect the sales to be good if it is released during the end of the year, depending on the price tag Apple puts on it.

Everyone would want to see how great the touch screen interface is going to be and we can only imagine the thrill of getting our fingers on the virtual keyboard on the screen. We just have to wait and see what Apple does with the tablet.

This has nothing to do with their product range, but something we felt the need to talk about.

Spooky Incident

Must have shocked Steve Jobs to see his own obituary, as it has spooked the Apple investors.

A Bloomberg News reporter, while making some updates, accidentally sent the obituary of Apple founder Steve Jobs to thousands of their corporate clients through an external wire system. This obit was only to be released when necessary, but was sent erroneously.

In the text, a blank was left in place of the cause of death and the age. Along with it came a complete list of people Bloomberg reporters should contact in case Steve Jobs passes away.

An excerpt from this obit read that Steve Jobs “helped make personal computers as easy to use as telephones, changed the way animated films are made, persuaded consumers to tune into digital music and refashioned the mobile phone.”

In spite of the talk that Steve Jobs’ pancreatic cancer has returned, it must have been hard to digest to see that his obit was kept ready. After this, Steve Jobs did clarify that his cancer has not returned and all is well.

Whispers about Apple are aplenty and they surround refreshed iMacs, new ipods, overhauled notebooks, where tweaks are being implemented to the MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops and many more.

According to Apple’s chief executive, Steve Jobs, the new iPhone 3G is off to a great start all around the world, when compared to their original iPhone that had taken 74 days to sell the first 1 million handsets.

However, the huge demand caused unexpected technical difficulties across the U.S. and Europe. Some of the buyers in the U.S. were unable to use their new handsets for many hours after purchasing them, due to the iTunes store grinding to a halt under the burden of the huge number of requests.

These problems are attributed to the unprecedented demand that was not anticipated.

Analysts at RBC Capital Markets are of the opinion that the low price and the demand, along with the distribution across 22 countries and 28 mobile operators may be the cause of issues that caused frustration to buyers, due to limited stock.

They also feel that the target of selling 5.1 million iPhone 3Gs throughout the world, during the third quarter of 2008 will be met by Apple. They are confident that Apple is highly likely to meet its long-term target of launching the 3G handsets in 70 countries and selling about 14 million iPhones in the next year.

As has been mentioned in our previous pre-release article, the iPhone 3G comes in two forms, 8GB and 16GB, with either white or black back. The front is black for both. The 16GB model is available in both these colors, while the 8GB is available only in black and it appears as if most people appear to like the black much more.

The iPhone 3G, bearing a slightly tweaked design, is almost identical to the old iPhone, except may be for a slight difference in the thickness. The old one was 0.46 inches thick, while the new 3G is 0.48 inches; however this is not a visible difference because Apple has slightly refined the shape at the back. The backside seems thinner than the old iPhone when held in hand, in spite of being slightly thicker. The metal back is now in plastic making it look better, less slippery, provides better signal strength and reduces the weight of the iPhone by 2g too without making it feel cheap or shallow. The Wi-Fi reception also seems to be a bit better.

People had issues with the old iPhone and there were many complaints of not being able to hear any notifications; however, with the iPhone 3G, that problem has been taken care of and email notifications can be heard easily even across a big room. The external speaker volume is significantly higher when compared to the old iPhone and the quality seems to be better as well. The speaker is also much louder when playing music. However, now the complaint against the speaker is that it gets covered when holding it in the hand or when playing games. If one finger goes over the speaker, it is almost as if there is no speaker at all.

Surprisingly, Bluetooth is still left out, so for those looking for wireless music enjoyment, this proves to be a great disappointment. There is also no video recording.

The screen retains its sharpness and brightness just as the old iPhone and is impressive. However, many people have noticed a yellow tinge on the screen. This is hardly noticeable, unless the old and the new iPhones are kept side by side and compared, and cannot be considered a negative trait. In fact, Apple’s explanation is that this is done by design to give a more natural feel for the iPhone.

The iPhone’s built-in camera has not changed much; although, the size is 1mm bigger than the old iPhone. It’s still placed on the top left corner and not the front and has two megapixels resolution. A higher resolution and a front camera would have been preferred. The problems that still exist are lack of auto focus functionality and the problem with dim lighting.

This iPhone comes with a whole load of new features, such as GPS, access to 3G wireless network that is much faster, MicrosoftExchange server email, and a whole lot of third-party software from the iPhone App Store.

The iPhone 3G has Assisted GPS that is supplemented by satellites, which has a better capability of pinpointing the location. It tracks the signals well and provides live tracking for users to track their own progress as they drive or even walk. The use of Google Maps provides point-to-point directions but not turn-by-turn real time directions.

The Apple Applications store is a new feature that is being appreciated by the web development community, for the simple interface for selling games, message features and location tools. This proves the success of the amalgamation of the iPod with iTunes. To be able to download from the appstore, the iPhone has to be paired with an iTunes account.

The general consensus is that nobody likes the trouble of having to follow a tedious signup process, which involves walking into an Apple retail store or an AT&T store and signing a contract to get the iPhone activated immediately. However, Apple seems to think it is fair enough to protect the device from being unlocked, what with it being so cheap.

Another sore point is the battery life, and the early reviews reveal that it is considerably less. The battery is also non-replaceable. Users that spend a lot of time traveling will find the inability to replace the battery, a problem. Although, there have been several reviews that expressed concern over the battery life of the iPhone 3G, market analysts claimed that the phone still outperforms handsets that are comparable, such as the LG Voyager and HTC Tilt.

Although, the iPhone 3G is being marketed as not only a faster device but a business device as well, first set of buyers say that it is good as a consumer device and not worthy enough to be considered an enterprise device. In fact, Blackberry users may find it frustrating to use, due to lack of efficient Enterprise support.

The iPhone 2.0 software update provides Exchange server support without any added cost. AT&T says that using the Exchange server support will require a business data plan, costing much more.

The iPhone 3G does come with a few disappointments. The dock is no longer there as Apple looks at cutting costs. The web browser comes with no Flash support and the absence of 3D mapping is felt. Apple left out multimedia messaging, video recording and Bluetooth. The battery life is said to be not as good as expected and the battery is also non-replaceable. Other disappointing factors include, in-store activation; requirement of a two-year contract with AT&T in the U.S. and other operators in different countries, where the contract period may differ.

Looking at the good aspects of the iPhone 3G, the data speeds are much faster, external speaker louder and clearer, includes third party applications and has an unscratchable screen. There are several new features, such as the remote wipe for the enterprise, which erases data in case of losing the phone or the phone being stolen. It also has the ability to take screen shots with ease and they are stored in the photo gallery.

Price may remain a big concern. Although, the cost of the iPhone 3G, 8GB model is only $199 and $299 for the 16 GB model; either way, the monthly payments to AT&T over a period of two years will add up.

The iPhone 3G experience will depend on many factors, such as the 3G coverage in the area, the pages one is trying to access and understandably busier pages will be slow in loading. While it is AT&T in the U.S., the iPhone’s tri-band support will deliver 3G coverage throughout the world. Remember to switch off the iPhone when not in use, as 3G is a monster that seems to love sucking juice from the iPhone.

Overall, this will make a good buy for people who have never owned an iPhone and for those that may already own an iPhone but are looking for a faster network.

The iPhone may have been the first mainstream phone on the market with the high end combination of touchpad and media capabilities, but it will most certainly not be the last. Already concept phones from major manufacturers are making waves, and some are arriving on the market. With the holiday season fast approaching manufacturers are starting to push to get their newest concepts out for retail as quickly as possible.

Samsung F700
Samsung recently announced the F700 which puts the competition game into overdrive. This is Samsung’s first touch pad phone, and they have done an outstanding job. The phone features a 5 megapixel camera, download speeds up to 7.2 Mbps, the essential touch pad and a full slide out QWERTY keypad.

This keypad is the prime feature of competition as the iPhone does not have one and many iPhone users are annoyed with trying to use the touchpad keyboard. The QWERTY keyboard may be a welcome relief for those that like a little give when they type.

When closed the phone very closely resembles the iPhone making many call the F700 a rip-off. But it’s not. The phone has a powerful camera and for serious users, it can support High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA.) The color display is 2.78 inches and the phone is Bluetooth equipped. The touch screen is large and has drag and drop features. This is the first direct hit at Apple, and it’s a solid one.

OpenMoko Neo1973
The Neo 1973 has been nicknamed the iPhone killer. Not only does it already have awesome features including a large, touch-sensitive VGA display, Assisted GPS, GPRS data and Bluetooth technology, it is an open source project so anyone can add features to the phone.

The OpenMoko phone has a unique look. It is white and rounded with a bright band of color around the edges. It looks a bit like a toy phone, but with the features it includes, it is obvious that this is not for play – at least for children. The phone is still in development and anyone can contribute via the OpenMoko Wiki.

New products are always open to cloning and competition. While there are some clones of iPhone already in the market, these newer phones are introducing true competition. A cloned phone is essentially identical to the original using reverse engineering or reproduction. But the Samsung, OpenMoko and many others that are still in development or in the brainstorming phases will give Apple a good dose of competition.

The Components of the iPhone

From the inception of the iPhone, the market has been all a buzz awaiting its arrival. The Apple iPhone has many features that people have been longing for aside from just a normal cell phone. The iPhone has a touch screen key pad, which makes for easier calling and dialing. Its sleek and mainstream design creates a sense of great style. It is also internet compatible, so the users can check their e-mails. This makes for a much greater ease of use, especially for those on the go, and who need to constantly check up on their e-mails. The iPhone can also download iTunes songs, as well as play podcasts, which can eliminate the need for a PDA, in addition to an iPod. The convenience of having everything rolled into one is why many people seek the iPhone for their cell phone services.

A Hot Selling Market for the iPhone

The market for the iPhone is ripe with those that are interested in purchasing the newest and top-of-the-line piece of technology and cell phone history. The prices for the iPhone are known to be out of the price range for many people, but this does not detour a lot of the patrons that have already purchased the Apple iPhone. Just as many items that are usually popular will drop in price, so will the Apple iPhone over time. There is a great call for them on the market, so there are sure to be many more phones that are created and distributed throughout the United States and beyond.

Looking at the Downfalls of the iPhone Programming

Just as with any new program, there are those deviant individuals that are looking to hack into the Apple iPhone system. Just recently, those that represent the iPhone company have finally come forward and announced that there has indeed been hacking that has taken place within the iPhone system. Apple has also come forward with the claims that such hacking into the system can cause irreparable damage to the iPhone system itself. They followed this statement with the fact that they will be creating a blocking system that will be released, and when enacted, can stop the hackers from trying to unlock anyone’s iPhone.

The iPhone Exceeds Many Expectations

The benefits of owning an Apple iPhone far exceed the downfalls that the company may have received thus far. Aside from the high payments needed for the telephone, the Apple iPhone has far exceeded the limits of many imaginations, and has unlocked the possibilities for other companies to expand their horizons, too. The Apple iPhone has been going places in the consumer market, and continues to climb ever higher as there are more positive reviews released.