PSP Phone on the horizon?

The recent patent filed by Sony-Ericsson on a phone with a gaming function sure grabs attention of PSP followers. There were also news of a google phone but no patents were found. It was reported that google is working with Taiwanese company who made the HTC Touch phone. Stay tuned.

Dow Jones: Apple Profit Surges 73% On Strong Mac, IPod Sales

Wall Street Journal: "SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones) -- Apple Inc. on Wednesday reported a fiscal third- quarter profit that rose 73% from a year ago, spurred on by strong sales of its flagship Macintosh computers and iPod digital media players, as well as shipments of 270,000 of its new iPhones.

Apple (AAPL) said it earned $818 million, or 92 cents a share, compared to $ 472 million, or 54 cents a share during the same period a year ago. Revenue rose almost 24% to $5.41 billion from last year's $4.37 billion.

Gross margins climbed to 36.9% from 30.3% a year ago.

The results topped the estimates of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, who forecast Apple to earn 72 cents a share on $5.29 billion in sales.

Investors were pleased with Apple's results, sending the company's shares up $ 12.89, or more than 9%, to $150.15 in after-hours trading. "

iPhone Hacked Like a Computer

Newsfactor.com: A group of U.S. security researchers claims to have discovered an iPhone flaw that can open the door for malicious hackers to take control of the smartphone remotely. "Within two weeks of part time work, we had successfully discovered a vulnerability ... and created a proof-of-concept exploit capable of delivering files from the user's iPhone to a remote attacker," the researchers wrote.

iPhone headset adaptor included in iPod shuffle Sport Case

It has been reported that the small (4.75") headphone port extender cable which comes with the iPod Shuffle sports case works perfectly with the new iPhone.Hmm..

AT & T's numbers are in..

AT&T said Tuesday that it activated 146,000 iPhones during the first two days of its premiere, far less than the estimated 500,000 -700,000 iPhones sold. This piece of news sent shares of Apple Inc. down more than 6 percent, or $8.81 per share, to $134.89. Looking beyond this number, I believe many have bought the phone but hated AT&T's expensive and poor network. According to SanFrancisco Chronicle:

"Because AT&T's figure only factors in activated iPhones, Apple's number will likely be higher. Some iPhone customers reported that they initially had trouble signing up for AT&T's service, for instance. Others bought two and either gave or sold the second one to someone else, which meant that they were probably activated later. And still other customers ordered the iPhone online, which meant they could not activate the phone until they received it."

Next in line, Apple's report of their quarter 3 results:

Apple’s conference call webcast discussing Q3 - 2007 financial results will begin at 2pm PT/5pm ET on Wednesday, July 25, 2007.

Wifi connection testing so far

So far, I have tried the Starhub's connection in Coffee Bean. Speed is not up to par at all. Youtube slowed down to a crawling pace. Web surfing is slow and email upload will take you months! Personally, the Singnet ones are much faster. At most Starbucks the speed is pretty acceptable. It is available virtually everywhere in Takashimaya and parts of Wisma Atria. McDonald's are fine so as Mos Burger joints. Paragon's connection is pretty strong too. Not tried Delifrance and maybe I should. Too bad the food sucks there..

Apple's wireless headset

Costing USD129, it has a neat looking charger as shown above.

Potraits of an iPhone

Found my solution!

Found that my Bang & Olufsen headphone works just perfect with the recessed iPhone jack! I simply push the rubber piece back from the plug and bingo!

iPhone headset

Most headphones would not work with iPhone. To this, Apple has this to say:

"iPhone has a standard 3.5-mm headphone jack, so it is compatible with most portable stereo headphones. Some stereo headphones may require an adapter (sold separately) to ensure proper fit."

Some people have resort to disfiguring their headphone jack, shaving off part of the plug. It will work but that’s just not me. I love my Bose Triport In-Ear too much to cause this much destruction. Goes the same with my Shure E3c which I have spent 300 bucks on it. Apparently it is for aesthetic reasons that the jack is made recessed. The iPhone would be thicker with the usual without this design. Using the adaptor would be the most rational step to take. Belkin has one available for about US$11, so has Shure. I personally like the Griffin adaptor best.

Sweeeet !

Managed to get everything working except the calling function. Load Safari with WiFi connection at places like Mc and Starbucks. Not the fastest but so far, no mobile phone has even come close with the great interface. Once the phone sync with itunes, bookmarks and mail settings are automatically created in the phone. Best ipod so far with cover flow and speakers. Everyone I showed it to would like to buy one immediately.

Jul 20, 2007 : FedEx vehicle for delivery

5 best words I have ever seen: On FedEx vehicle for delivery.

To my dearest iPhone, I have only this to say....

Destroying the iPhone

There are lots of idiots out there. Just two examples here:

Counting down here, 2 hrs 30 mins more..

Meanwhile, a picture on engagdet on the possibly how an iPhone Nano could look. Hmm..food for thought.

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Got the best piece of news from Fedex this morning. Customs are clearing my iPhone after getting my email and support documents. Did we learn something from this experience? Hell yeah. Ladies and gentlemen, this proved that writing to a government agency works. It helps if you put your augments in a succinct manner. These people love paperwork, they eat and live support documents.

Feels as if I have won the lottery and hit the jackpot!! By 5pm today they say. Hey wait a minute here, it’s still a far 6 hours away. Oh come on! Why can’t they release it now? I mean N O W!

Well still, I am glad this whole commotion has come to an end.

Thank God. The universe is in balance now.

Color of money

ColorWare Inc. has come up with a new range of products specifically targeting the iPhone. Just send in your iPhone and choose the colors you prefer and Viola, you have a one of a kind color customised product in your hand! Still, it's gonna set you back by $149.

The iPhone Nano by September?

Now this has been rumoured and getting everyone excited. According to AppleInsider:

"Extremely reputable sources have told AppleInsider in recent weeks that the company's iPhone roadmap for the 2007 calendar year includes not one but two distinct models, the second of which is set to turn up just months after the first.

According to one source, development of the second model has followed so closely on the heels of the inaugural iPhone that it was making its final pass through engineering around the same time that today's model hit the manufacturing lines back in May or early June.

Conceived as a scaled back, lower cost alternative to today's iPhone, the second iteration of the handset is presumed to marry iPod functionality with rudimentary cellular capabilities. More resource-heavy Internet browsing and e-mail capabilities are not expected of the device.

In providing the first visual descriptions of the handset, long-standing industry sources -- who've continually been in tune with Apple's future music directions -- have dubbed the device "an iPhone nano" because they say it best describes the the handset's overall form-factor and aesthetic.

Pricing of the new handset is expected to fall significantly below the $500+ asking cost of today's iPhone models, these sources say, but not so much so as to pinch sales of an upcoming revision to the iPod nano."

#$%*@!

Apparently, our customs love the iPhone so much that they have held mine for 2 days (and counting).#$%*@!

After half a dozen calls with rude Fedex customer service and I was finally "referred" to someone who knows about her work. Why is the delivery 2 days late? The delay was due to the iPhone being a controlled item. In fact, all cellphones are categorized by our friendly custom officers as under "Controlled". So what's next I asked. They have to refer to the IDA for approval. To expedite the process, I have to write them a mail giving them payment receipt and air way bill.#$%*@!

Buy Apple, period.

APPL has risen by over 50% in value over the last 3 months. On 16 April APPL stood at 91.43, its last close yesterday shows them at 138.91. Jobs really knows how to milk every cent out of his innovation. The cost of making an iPhone was reported at about 256 USD for a 8G Iphone retailing at 599 USD. That is a whopping 57% of profit for every phone sold. But the story does not end there, by locking and tying the phone to AT&T, Jobs make sure he gets a cut of the monthly $60 or so subscription a customer pays to AT&T. No wonder the hackers are frantically working to crack the phone. As of last, hackers can now activate the iPhone with the calling still locked. Going to the congress is perhaps the right route to take.

According to TheStreet.com:

"People close to the companies tell TheStreet.com that AT&T is paying Apple a bounty of between $150 and $200 per phone -- plus $9 a month per phone over the life of the typical two-year customer contract.

AT&T didn't comment, and Apple said it would have no comment. "

"Free the iPhone:" Congress Hearing

You had me at hello

iPhone ads

The iPhone musical

Henry Winkler introduces the iPhone

What can I say, the guy is funny as hell. Steve must have paid him tons under the table.

I have a dream..

I have this recurring dream that has haunted me the past few nights over receiving an iphony



Called Fedex this morning again and they say it’s still held it customs. Why? Why? Why? They have no answer to that. I bet they are curious about a product they have not seen. Come on guys, stop fiddling my iPhone! Set it free I say.

Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Obsessiveness is a disease

Everyone around me is obsessed about blogging. Much as I like to call these people obsessive compulsive, alas neither am I spared from it. That leads to why I am blogging.

I blog not because I want to, rather I need to. At this moment at least. I figure writing a blog is a far better option to going crazy waiting for the Fedex van to turn up. So here we go.

You see, I have been drooling over the ubiquitous Apple iPhone. By this time if you still don't know what's an iPhone is, you must be living in a hole. The Americans are excellent marketers, I have long conceded that no one on blue rock does a better job in marketing. If you still don't know what I mean, you should perhaps try watching the June 2006 MacWorld keynote address. Kudos to Steve, he is the best!! Anyway, I digress. My only problem is that this item is not available locally. The only way is to buy them from the US of A. So I hit the infamous ebay, fully aware that I might get swindled in the process. Two weeks after the 29th June official launch of the iPhone in the US, I set my eyes on one which was put up for auction. Patiently I waited until the 11th hour and placed my winning bid. Beginners luck you may say but who's complaining? The auctioneer is a great guy, though he gave me a fright when I did not get a reply for virtually 20 hours after paying him.

Saturday 14th July, the package was picked up from his home in Greenvale, New York. The Fedex tracking page tells me that it will arrive Singapore some 5 days later on 18th of July. Obsessive as I am, I found myself checking the tracking page a dozen time a day. Mind you, this was one of the toughest 5 days in my life, bar none. So you can imagine the elation when 18th finally arrived.

I woke up early this morning to find that the item has reached Singapore shore. Verbatim on the Fedex page: "At dest sort facility - SINGAPORE SG 6.16 am". I was overjoyed! But the joy was short-lived as I soon was overcome with rage, subsequently depression. You see, the package was no where to be seen at noon as promised in their tracking page. I duly called Fedex up only to be told that the item was held with custom clearing and delivery only possible by noon tomorrow. It doesn't help that the voice over the phone nonchalantly deny any possibility of an early release. Damn!

At last checked, all my fingers are crossed.