Apple

Issues with Latest iPod Update

Hi everyone! So I have a bit of a rant. It’s regarding the latest iPod update. I love my iPod, it’s so easy to use in my car. My car has steering wheel controls built in to control the iPod without me having to pick up the iPod while driving.

Unfortunately, Apple has decided to release an update which has completely clobbered 3rd party support of controlling iPods remotely such as my vehicle. The latest 3.1.1 update has completely played havoc with this control. I can no longer choose playlists on my nav screen and select songs. I found out if I click the name of the playlist a few times it finally starts working. I also noticed that scrolling through the playlists or songs takes longer. It seems the iPod is less responsive with the new update.

So I went to go downgrade my firmware in iTunes just like I upgraded the firmware, that way I could go back to the previous version that I knew worked. Well apparently it’s just not that easy. Also if you search on the Internet you can find a lot of ways to downgrade your firmware, but it’s quite complicated for the everyday user. I myself would have no problem doing this, but why can’t Apple just make it easier? They should just have a downgrade button in iTunes. That way you can revert back to the last firmware upgrade and all would be well. For a company that is a proponent of ease of use for their customers, this certainly seems really backwards!

-RP

Apple fixes vulnerability

So unless you’ve been under a rock lately, you’ve probably heard about all the hullaballoo surrounding the vulnerability in the iPhone. It was announced at a recent BlackHat conference.

This vulnerability had the ability for a hacker to use SMS message to compromise an iPhone! This was a big blow to Apple, as traditionally Microsoft OS’ have been the target of hackers. But now with the rising popularity of the iPhone it was only a matter of time before something like this happened.

Fortunately for all those iPhone users out there, Apple rode in to the rescue and has issued a patch that is available from them that fixes the vulnerability. Apple also announced that they hadn’t heard of anyone that was actually compromised by this attack.

This however has me thinking. If this one vulnerability is there, how many more are they going to find?

-RP

RIM doing well despite the iPhone

Hi folks, so recently RIM has been claiming more market share due to their BlackBerry phones. Recent reports have pegged RIM at having 55 percent of the smart phone market share in the industry.

This is more than any of the competing companies going against RIM. Even Apple! So despite the poor showing with the new BlackBerry App World store, how is RIM doing it? I suspect they’re doing it with the inherent usability of the BlackBerry devices.

RIM has always made great smartphones, and now by expanding their offerings by including the Storm and the Javelin, it’s easy to choose RIM. I love the iPhone as a personal use device, but not for business. I still personally prefer the BlackBerry. I carry around an iPod Touch for other functionality I need that my BlackBerry doesn’t provide. It will be interesting to see how this competition turns out.

For more information see this article here.

-RP

How’s BlackBerry App World doing?

Hi folks, I’d thought I’d take a moment to speak about App World again. Now that it has been out there for a while I thought I’d offer up my opinion on what I think of it.  For those of you that don’t know, App World is the application store for BlackBerry devices. This is RIM’s answer to Apple’s app store for their iPhones and iPods.

Now the strategy to come up with their own app store was a good idea on RIM’s part. I’ve always said that software is a huge determining factor when choosing a platform. After all, if a device doesn’t have the apps you want, you’re not left with much of a reason to buy it.

Well I have to say that App World is easy to use and very cool. It’s very easy to navigate through, read reviews and download my favourite apps. Also now that I’ve had it for awhile it also notifies me when my current apps need upgrading and it makes that process fairly simple too. So what’s the downside on all of this?

The apps themselves. There are only a few really good apps for the BlackBerry. Even after the AppWorld launch I’ve found that I don’t have nearly the selection that my friends do on their iPhones. I have to say I’m quite dissapointed in the app turnout. Let’s hope that this changes soon because right now, Apple has nothing to worry about on the app front.

-RP

Rant about iPods…

Hi folks, i’d just like to take a moment to rant about iPods. I use my iPod all the time, in my house, in my car, and at work. I buy all my music off of iTunes and love using it.

My rant comes down to the memory. I think it is the biggest cash grab by Apple not to allow removable memory. I have now maxed out my iPod and I have to buy a new one just to get more music on it. Now this is a good business plan I suppose if people really want to spend the money to get a new iPod but I really have better things to do with my money than buy a new iPod everytime I need more music than it can hold.

I bought the largest iPod touch I could find when it first came out and now there are larger ones and I’ll have to buy one again. This is just so annoying and I think they should seriously rethink how they do this. If they really wanted to lock people in they could have come up with some proprietary expandable storage like Sony did and then they would still make money off of it.  Anyways, that’s my 2 cents.

-RP

BlackBerry Storm Sells out on First Day

Hi folks, so rumour has it that the new BlackBerry Storm sold extremely well on it’s first day. In cell phone stores all across the USA the Storm was sold out. In some places stores sold out of the Storm in less than an hour.

I hope Apple picks it’s head up and takes note of this. This means that for the first time the iPhone has a real threat on the horizon. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think the Storm is the iPhone killer or anything like that as people including myself have been saying previously. But it is going to force Apple to make sure that their product is as perfect as can be.

Like I always say, competition in any segment is always good for the consumer. Whether it’s virtualization or smart phones!

 There’s a great review of the BlackBerry Storm here.

 -RP

There’s a storm brewing…..the BlackBerry Storm!

So RIM has announced the coming arrival of the BlackBerry Storm exclusively from Verizon. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock you should know that it’s supposed to be the next iPhone killer. A touch screen BlackBerry with no thumb wheel and no trackball.

This is great news to challenge the juggernaut that is Apple. Don’t get me wrong, I love the iPhone, it’s a great device. But I think what cellular companies are doing to lock you into a contract just to own one is ridiculous. I’m hoping a little friendly competition from RIM will make these companies loosen their hold on consumers.

The new BlackBerry Storm is touch screen like I said before, and also has a 3.2 MP camera, removable memory, removable battery, and picture messaging. It also has a “click” touch screen so you can feel when you touch the screen. This type of tactile feedback should make it much easier to use than traditional touch screens.

You can signup for BlackBerry Storm alerts at the Verizon Wireless web site here. You can also read a bit more about it here.

-RP