In what seems like a desperate move to one-up Apple,Nokia unveiled plans to bring a touch-less gesture device to the mobile phone market. Nokia, along with just about every other mobile phone company has felt their sales weaken as Apple’s iPhone has the market in a triangle choke. The new Nokia device under research will recognize gestures. In a move to match and improve, we predict Apple will start development of the next iPhone capable of recognizing thought patterns. No word yet on when (or even if) this Nokia device will hit the market. My personal predictions says this will not be able to beat out Apple.
-Derek
[Source:Engadget]
Today, Apple has released the next version of Safari, properly dubbed Safari 3.2. For Mac users, it can be automatically updated through the Mac OS X Software Update. Safari 3.2 comes with improved security and it also comes with anti-phishing protection. Safar 3.2 comes in versions for Windows, Mac OS X Tiger, and Mac OS X Leopard. Apple released the following statement regarding Safari 3.2:
This update is recommended for all Safari users and features protection from fraudulent phishing websites and better identification of online businesses. This update also includes the latest security updates.
This is a bad time for business in general, the economic slump means people don’t have the money to be spending on expensive luxuries. Apple and RIM (Research In Motion, the company behind the Blackberry) have both seen falling stocks over 50%. Analysts however tend to be more optimistic about Apple than the competition. A key issue with RIM is the cannibalism of their own sales through their many many products. Essentially, a buyer can walk into an Apple or AT&T store and pick up one one single iPhone where as the same buyer would be bombarded with choices walking into a Verizon store. All the money being put into research and development for Blackberries is basically money that is going towards trying to generate repeated sales to the same customers. The fundamental flaw in that philosophy is the fact that most people will not buy a new smart phone with every iteration. The iPhone on the other hand, is doing surprisingly well despite offering only one choice. It is a lot like when Henry Ford offered the Model T, “you can have it any color you like as long as it is black”. That philosophy worked out pretty well for Ford and it is working out pretty well for Apple.
-Derek
Mark Papermaster, the expert in computer chips and servers formerly from I.B.M was ordered by a court to cease work for Apple Inc immediately. A little while back, Apple managed to convince the former I.B.M excecutive to leave his position for “a once in a lifetime opportunity”. Since then, I.B.M has sued Papermaster upon grounds that he is subject to a non-compete agreement. The agreement would prevent Papermaster from working for Apple for at least one year. I.B.M is fearful that due to his intimate knowledge of I.B.M, Papermaster would disclose proprietary information to Apple. Apple has released a statement that they still intend to hire Papermaster after the one year injunction.
Remember those Southwest Airlines commercials in which they put different people in various awkward situations. If we were any of those characters in those type of situations, I am pretty sure we would all try to find a way to bail ourselves out. Take for example Sarah Palin in her interviews about foreign policy. I am pretty sure if she had a “Get out of Jail” free card, she would most definitely use it. Well a company named Magic Tap has developed a new application for the iPhone aptly called “Fake Call”. What the application does is it programs the phone to produce a fake ringtone and a display a fake phone call to you. You would be able to program any name such as “Mom” or “John McCain” or whatever you want to be displayed as the person who is calling. Unfortunately, there is nobody on the other line. With this application, we now have a way to get out of horrible dates, out of the house, or whatever the situation calls for. The application is available at the Apple App Store and it should cost you under a buck to get.
According to its latest report, Apple added over 8000 new full-time employees in fiscal year 2008. That represents a jump in over 35% of Apple’s total employee pool. Most of the additions were to the retail sector of Apple which accounts for more than 6.3 of the 32.4 billion dollars in net sales for the computer giant. None can deny that Apple’s growth has been spurned by the success of the iPhone in recent months. The number of Apple Stores correlates to that growth with its own addition of 50 new locations opening up bringing the current total to 247 stores across the nation. Buying a Macbook is now easier than ever.
Many market watchers, video game fans and analysts are beginning to take more and more notice of the Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch lumbering towards the mainstream video game scene. Apple has many advantages that should have Sony and Nintendo join Microsoft in concern. For one thing, games on the iPhone are downloaded which eliminate the need for distribution mediums and shipping costs. This greatly reduces the price of games to about 5-10 dollars for the more expensive ones (which is a huge step down from the 20-40 dollar cost of Nintendo and PSP games respectively). The iPhone has already been shown to be an excellent mobile platform on such titles as Force Unleashed and Spore as well. Combine that with Apple’s established customer base growing daily and there just might be a new sheriff in town…
Remember back in the day during high school, the number one game that teenagers loved to play was Dope Wars on their TI-83+ Scientific Calculator. Well apparently, the game is now coming to the iPhone with a new GPS-enabled feature. The game is entitled Drug Lords and with the GPS system, the game allows iPhone users to locate other “Drug Lords” in the area and to calibrate their drug prices according to the local market. WOW! Check this video out:
What makes the ultimate Apple fanboy? A collection of 6 iPods through all the generations? Maybe an iPhone and a Macbook on top of all that? In the quest to become the ultimate fanboy, one must never forget to mimic Apple’s CEO. Halloween provides an excellent opportunity to showcase your fanatical devotion to the company. Of course, wearing the outfit above will probably only garner a few chuckles from some serious technophiles, you should be glad to know that the “costume” can be worn throughout the year. For additional effect, buy a silver Mercedez Benz and unscrew the license plates. While most people will be puzzled by your actions, you can have the self satisfaction of knowing that such exclusive knowledge can only come from a true Apple fan…
What is better than two things we really love put together. In this case, we all know here at Inspiretech, we love Apple products and cars. The only problem with these pictures is that the car is a Hyundai. But oh well, still pretty sweet.
