Silly, iPhone loving celebrities

Ever heard of David Ferrer? He’s a Tennis Player, a very good, Spanish Tennis player to be more accurate. He’s playing in a tournament at the moment – the Mutua Madrid Open Tournament- that is being sponsored by Samsung.

Last Tuesday, David Ferrer sent out a tweet telling the world just how much he loved the Samsung and in particular, their GalaxyS4 product.

It translated thus: “I’m so happy with my new #GalaxyS4, setting up S Health on my new #GalaxyS4 to help me with training.”

Sounds pretty normal right? Yeah, except it was sent via TWITTER FOR IPHONE! Ha, suck eggs, David Ferrer.

To be fair, the tweet was deleted soon after,but not before some of his followers caught on. D’oh.

Seems he’s not alone in this faux pas though- back in february Samsung Brand Ambassador  Alicia Keys made the same mistake- by saying she was “breaking up” with her iPhone, only to tweet from it after the event.

Oprah also, is a member of this group- last year she sent out tweets endorsing the new tablet from Microsoft. From her iPad.

Silly, Apple loving celebrities.

Photo courtesy of  Apple Insider.

iOS 7 is coming!

Apple are looking to introduce and preview their new iOS Software update- iOS 7 at WWDC 2013 ( Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, June 10-14), with a view of releasing it in September this year.

The tech world is abuzz with rumours that this iOS update ( code named Innsbruck) will be significantly different- and improved – under the direction of new Human Interface Software team director Jonathon Ive.

Ive is also the Senior Vice President of Industrial Design for Apple and has been primarily responsible for Hardware Design since 1997, but since Scott Forstall, the previous Software interface Director for Apple, was fired in October last year Jony Ive is in charge of both Hardware and Software design. Interesting.

Scott Forstall was a lover of what is called Skeuomorphic Design- basically icons and apps that replicate the look of real life items.

In relation to Apple, that means examples like the faux leather stitching on the Notepad App, grainy wood in the Newstand App, and the Casino resemblance of the Games App. Steve Jobs was said to be similarly smitten by this design choice.

Jony Ive is not.

See? So not smitten.

Sources are coming out of the woodwork almost every day now with leaked information on exactly what Jony Ive has planned, and here’s the gist of what we’ll most likely be looking at :

*Very flat, sleek design, with completely new look icons, tabs and toolbars, whilst still retaining the intuitiveness Apple is acclaimed for.

*More ‘at glance’ information with possible pull across screens similar to the pull down notification center.

*Apple Maps and Siri car integration, where you can use Apple Maps and Siri through your vehicles built in display.

*The high possibility of gesture control

Ive has been encouraging collaboration between the hardware and software teams, where previously the two worked independently, and, after last years Maps PR debacle, he is making sure that each and every change is reviewed extensively.

This means, according to most sources, (and the folks over at d’uh town), that everyone over there at Apple are working overtime to get the software ready for previewing at WWDC June 10-14. These sources have also claimed that engineers for OS X 10.9 have been pulled to help in preparation for iOS 7.

This all sounds pretty impressive and exciting- changes that will improve the way we use and interact with our iPhones forever- but there is bound to be more updates and improvements that have been so far kept under wraps.

There have been claims that the iOS 7 testers are using their devices with films over the screens that prevent anyone else around them from seeing the screen.

So, we’re expecting big things Mr Ive! ( No Pressure. … Well, a little bit of pressure… 😉 )

Walmart expanding Scan & Go iPhone shopping technology

Walmart are expanding their Scan & Go self checkout to a further 200 stores from the 70 they have currently. This means 12 more cities  (See below) will be getting the new technology that allows you to scan your items with your iPhone and pay for them at self-checkout counters.

This expansion to 200 stores is a sure sign of positive customer feedback, especially as the program has only been up and running since late 2012, starting in its home office in Bentonville, Arkansas.

If the payment option continues to give customers a positive shopping experience, the roll out to more markets will continue, confirmed Gibu Thomas, senior vice president of mobile and digital at Walmart Global eCommerce.

The new cities that will now use the Scan & Go technology are:

Denver, Phoenix, Omaha, Dallas and Austin, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Wyoming, Bozeman, Seattle, San Jose and Portland.

Happy shopping!

The Great Smart Watch Battle of 2013

With reports from the Financial times that Google is making a smart watch, and Bloomberg reports that Samsung has confirmed that they are making a smart watch, it looks like there will be a battle ahead between the three giants, Samsung, Google and Apple.

Although all three are believed to be set for release later this year, no real particulars have been given yet by any of the three companies regarding price, features or a specific release date.

Sources have said that one hundred product designers are working on the Apple version of the smart watch, which will reportedly have curved glass, mapping functionality and will run a full version of iOS.

On the other hand, Google’s smartphone will reportedly be an extension of a smartphone using the android system.

This will actually be Samsung’s third attempt at a smart watch, with the first two being devices being stand alone, which begs the question, what about this third attempt?

Although there are already some companies such as Sony and Pebble selling smart watches, we are especially eagerly anticipating the release of a version from Samsung, Google and Apple.

And our bet is on Apple to win the great smart watch battle of 2013! ( D’uh)

iPhone 5s Rumors

There are rumors abounding the Internet right now reinforcing what has been previously said about the new iPhone being released in Late June or July of this year.

According to sources, the components for the new iPhone will be shipped at the end of May, just in time, we’re figuring, for a release after it’s official announcement by Apple at the World Wide Developers Conference.

These sources also say that following on from what they have seen and heard, they predict that the new phone will not be an iPhone 6 or hugely enhanced in any kind of surprising way, rather an iPhone 5S with a higher end processer, better camera and the possibility of a fingerprint sensor.

We’ll keep you up to date with all the rumors and predictions from tech analysts and secret sources as soon as we hear of them- the momentum is building!

Apple has hired a new dude!

Apple has hired a new dude to be Vice President of Technologies.

Kevin Lynch, previously Chief Technology Officer of Adobe, has created quite a buzz in his new position- primarily because, in his role at Adobe, he clashed quite publically with Apple and specifically Steve Jobs over his product, Adobe Flash, with Jobs writing a whole essay about it in 2010 criticizing almost every part of its performance.

Kevin Lynch fought back, defending flash, even going as far as to accuse Apple of having a philosophy counter to the web.

And then, well, Flash didn’t do so well, in particular in comparison to Apple’s iOS. And now, only three years later, Apple has lured Lynch away in a move that has left many puzzled.

It was, of course, part of his job to defend his product, especially publically, and he does have a tech history that is somewhat intertwined with Apple, and proves that he has a good, solid employment history and work ethic.

So, time will only tell if Apple has chosen well in this latest hire- and despite the criticisms out there, we here at iPhone Antidote only wish the best for the match

New Apple Patent published!

Interesting news!
Apple has lodged a new patent with the US Patent and Technology office, which was published by them on March 21, 2013. This new patent reveals a range of new protective mechanisms they have invented in order to prevent any of their iDevices cracking or breaking when dropped.

The range of unprecedented measures include a protective mechanism that uses a sensor to detect when the device is in free fall and changes the device’s position in the air by changing the center of mass- so that a less vital part of the phone will hit the ground first.

Also included is an automatic battery ejection to change the angle of the device mid-fall to minimize damage and gripping members that expand during free-fall to hold on to headphones or power cords, and even slow down the fall.

These are only a few of the many mechanisms patented by Apple to protect their device’s and it is still early stages but it is news that will be welcomed by many a poor Apple user whose heart has been broken by a cracked or broken iDevice!

Until that comes around, if you are one of the heartbroken, send it in to us! We’ll pay you some cold hard cash for that stinky broken iDevice so you can go buy another one and cure that broken heart!

Big news for T-Mobile!

T-Mobile, the fourth biggest mobile phone carrier, will soon be selling Apple products and as part of it’s new ‘Uncarrier’ model, will soon be the only carrier in the US to not offer contracts.

This means that T-mobile will be scrapping the device subsidy 2 year contract deal that all the other carriers offer and as an existing customer you can come off your contract as it expires, or even apparently end your contract without being subjected to early termination fees.

As a new customer you have the option to buy your chosen device ( iPhone of course ) out right or use an installment plan, essentially separating the cost of the device from the cost of a plan.

Whilst we here at iPhone Antidote believe this is excellent news, and a great way for T-Mobile to distinguish itself from the other carriers, we are also thinking about the possible effect this move might have on the future of phone Carriers in the US.

 
Other countries have both on and off contract plans available and it has often times driven the competition within the phone industry to previously unseen levels. It also gives customers more freedom of choice and of what exactly they are paying for.

Will T-mobiles unprecedented move into no contracts be the beginning of a new chapter within the US phone carrier market? Time will tell, and until then, yay for another carrier selling Apple!

Progress on the campaign against the ban on unlocking phones

Some good news today-

The ‘We the People’ protest campaign against the banning of unlocking phones has been somewhat successful, in that it has garnered the amount of signatures required in order to receive an official response from the Whitehouse. The response, as with all official responses to ‘We The People’ campaigns will come in a ‘timely fashion’, so until then, we wait.

Or do we? Even better than the recognition  and hope that comes with an official response – the campaign has caught the attention of the Chairman of the FCC- the Federal Communications Commission.

Although the Chairman, Julius Genachowski, is not wholly aware of what authority he has in the matter, he is very concerned that the ban ‘ raises competition concerns, raises innovation concerns’ and will be looking into reversing the ban if possible.

This is an ongoing issue that we will keep you up to date on!!

What you need to know about the unlocking stuff

Back in October 2012, some people decided on a new law that may have some impact on your future mobile use. The people were the Librarian of congress, who is the office in charge of setting the rules to execute the recently updated Digital Millenium Copyright Act.

They decided that smartphone users would only have 90 days to buy a new phone and still have the ability to unlock it. As of January 26th this year, it is illegal to unlock a new smartphone without the permission of the carrier.

Previously, you could unlock your phone to use it with another carrier or multiple carriers, or to use it with international sim cards to lower roaming fees when travelling overseas.
There are a lot of people unhappy with this move, as it seems pretty blatant that not only will it reduce competition, it is the government and the carriers deciding what you can do with your own property. There has even been a petition to the White house to revoke this new law, but more on that later.

It’s not all bad, as it is still legal to unlock all smartphones purchased before January 26th, and it also possible to purchase unlocked phones off contract from carriers. Verizon still sell their iPhone 5 unlocked, Sprint have announced that they will unlock their iPhones for international use after three months, and AT & T will unlock an iPhone once it is off contract, with a few caveats ( see http://www.att.com/esupport/article.jsp?sid=KB414532&cv=820#fbid=jBHQIEAKsA7)

The new law seems to be targeting third-party online unlocking services, but it also has the ability to affect everyday smartphone owners and users, and law-breakers face a fine of up to $500,000 and/or 5 years in jail.

As of today, a petition on the White House “We the people’ website asking to revoke this law has 61,395 signatures. It needs 38,605 signatures before February 23rd to reach it’s goal of 100,000.

So, be aware of what you can do with your carrier now regarding unlocking- and go to https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-unlocking-cell-phones-legal/1g9KhZG7 to sign the petition if you think it could negatively affect you in the future!