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iPhone Users on China Mobile Aren't Using 2G Data Speeds, They're Using Wi-Fi [Report]

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An interesting report from Bloomberg takes a look at 5 million iPhone users on the largest and most valuable carrier in the world, China Mobile. What's surprising about China Mobile's iPhone user base is the fact that Apple's smartphone isn't officially offered on the carrier.

Millions of Chinese Apple lovers are using their iPhones on a network that can't even offer 3G data speeds for the device due to frequency incompatibilities. If that's the case, then why are so many people content to use the iPhone on China Mobile? The answer: Wi-Fi.

When examining an iPhone user base on an unofficial carrier, such as T-Mobile in the US, the aspect of Wi-Fi connectivity is often overlooked. As Wi-Fi connectivity becomes more widespread—even in nations like China—people are becoming increasingly comfortable with using the iPhone on a network that doesn't even offer high-speed data access for the device.

In the case of China Mobile, the iPhone is touted with ads and promotions on the Beijing subway and shops. Interestingly, China Mobile offers Wi-Fi coverage in Beijing for customers that would like to buy the iPhone 4 from one if its five partner retailers.

Some retailers offer 2,800 yuan ($441) gift cards to customers that prepay for Wi-Fi coverage from China Mobile in Beijing. 5 million customers have payed for the iPhone or used these gift cards without the carrier subsidy from China Mobile. That's pretty amazing.

It's important to note that there's an incredible gap between the amount of 3G and 2G customers on China Mobile. The carrier boasts 952 million mobile-phone users, and only 11% have made the jump to a 3G device. While China Mobile continues to add more 3G customers every month, the carrier only has 43.2 million 3G users right now.

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Chinese customers don't mind buying the iPhone to use on Wi-Fi and China Mobile's 2G network:

"I don't think 3G is really necessary to enjoy it," Lang, 22, said. "If I need to use the Internet, there is Wi-Fi. If I want to download an app, I do it on my MacBook at home and sync it to the phone."

Analysts reaffirm the growing trend in China, thanks to China Mobile's efforts:

"They realize this is working," said Paul Wuh, an analyst at Samsung Securities Co. in Hong Kong. "They have 10 million people who were willing to buy an iPhone without any subsidy and use it on the 2G network, so now they are just encouraging that by offering this Wi-Fi package."

China Unicom is the only current iPhone partner for the nation. The carrier uses the international WCDMA standard to let iPhone customers use 3G in China on its network.

While T-Mobile doesn't offer a Wi-Fi coverage plan for the iPhone on its network, it's safe to say that many use Wi-Fi often when running an unlocked iPhone on T-Mobile. 2G is enough for voice and SMS. The heavy data activity can be done on a home or public Wi-Fi network. It's very difficult to visit a public place, such as a mall, shopping center, office complex, etc. and not find an open Wi-Fi network in the US.

What do you think about using an iPhone on a carrier like China Mobile or T-Mobile with only 2G speeds and Wi-Fi coverage? If you didn't have the option of 3G, would it be enough?

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Published on November 01, 2011 16:51

Camtasia: Screencasting on the Mac with Style [Review]

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One of the apps available in The Fall 2011 Mac SuperBundle offered on the Cult of Mac Deals page is Camtasia by TechSmith ($149 regularly/$99 introductory pricing, in the Mac App Store. Camtasia is a screen recording application for the Mac that has generated a lot of buzz over the years on the Windows platform, and has started to make some noise on the Mac front as well.

Camtasia is laden with features like simultaneous webcam and screen recording, contains a wide selection of effects and filters, and offers online video tutorials to help you through the process of putting together a great screencast. If you've ever wanted to put together a screencast, Camtasia is an incredibly simple — and yet powerful — tool to get the job done. But it's not without its flaws.

The Good: The recording process is easy. When you open it up, a menu shows up that provides you several recording options. You can use your native iSight camera in conjunction with the screen area you're working with, or just keep the camera off. Audio settings are easily accessible, and you can select the size of your video recording from presets or customize them as you see fit. Then hit the red "REC" button and go.

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There are a lot of editing options once you're done recording your screencast. You can import media from your computer, as well as choose from a variety of transitions, filters and actions to apply to your work. One of the more compelling features is called SmartFocus, which keeps track of what you're doing as you record, allowing for you Camtasia to automatically zoom in and focus on specific parts of your finished screencast. This feature is unique to Camtasia; I've not seen anything like this available on another screencasting app. I ran into a couple of hiccups with it a few times, but when it worked (as it did most of the time), it was…"magical".

The export options in Camtasia are vast and easy to wrap your head around as well.

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The Bad: Camtasia's price is a stumbling block for many users, especially considering how frequent many will find the need to screencast enough to validate the cost. At $149 once the introductory pricing lapses, it is more than its main rival ScreenFlow and the price difference doesn't really add up. SmartFocus isn't enough to convince me that Camtasia is an app worth that much more than ScreenFlow.

Verdict

Camtasia is a solid screen casting app. If you've yet to pick up ScreenFlow and want to take advantage of the introductory pricing while it lasts, then it is a great choice. But once that price goes up, it makes for a much tougher sell.

Rating: ★★★¾☆

Right now you can get Camtasia as part of the The Fall 2011 Mac Super Bundle. It's only $49 for this app plus 9 other great Mac apps. This deal won't last long, and with a savings of 86% you should pick it up while you still can!

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Published on November 01, 2011 15:57

Apple's "Temporary" Store in SoHo Looks Better Than Most Retail Spaces [Photos]

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Apple has closed its original store in New York City to perform some renovations. The SoHo store on Prince Street is closed for a limited time, and Apple has opened a temporary store on Greene Street.

Described as "raw and "rustic," Apple's temporary SoHo store is bustling with activity and features all of the aspects that customers would expect from an Apple Store. Apple sure knows how to throw a store together.

Racked has several photos and a description of the SoHo space:

"This temporary space covers three floors, classically Soho with columns down the middle. The main floor is awash in 27″ screens and plug-ins of all sorts. Brick and black steel abound. But rather than the ubiquitous glass stairways to heaven, here big wooden treads go up and down. In the cellar, visible through bridged cut-outs at the rear, folks looking for the answer to all their woes huddle around the Genius Bar. There they wait, silently expectant.

Upstairs on the second floor is AppleCare central. Beyond the teaching tables, way at the back, is the single bathroom, and a line extended along the wall."

We wonder how many people walk into this "temporary" Apple Store and think, "Wow, it looks like Apple decided to throw something together while the other store is closed." Apple always goes above and beyond when it comes to customer experience, and even its temporary locations are a testament to Ron Johnson's vision and the rest of the Apple retail team's incredible talent.

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Are you in the SoHo area? Head over to the Apple Store on 72 Greene Street and let us know what you think!

(via MacRumors)

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Published on November 01, 2011 15:40

Tim Cook is Already Leaving His Mark on Apple

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A recent report from The Wall Street Journal gives an inside look at Tim Cook's influence as Apple's new CEO during the past couple of weeks. Cook has been known as the mastermind behind Apple's incredibly efficient operations for years.

In the wake of Steve Jobs' death, Cook has already begun to do things differently than Jobs, and he is proving to be a very different type of Apple CEO.

"But the low-key Mr. Cook has already put his operational mark on Apple in ways that suggest the company won't be entirely the same as under its intense and tempestuous co-founder.

In recent weeks, Mr. Cook has tended to administrative matters that never interested Mr. Jobs, such as promotions and corporate reporting structures, according to people familiar with the matter. The new chief executive, 50 years old, has also been more communicative with employees than his predecessor, sending a variety of company-wide emails while addressing Apple employees as "Team," people close to the company said.

Mr. Cook has also displayed some different corporate philosophies from Mr. Jobs. The new CEO recently announced a charitable matching program promising Apple would match employee donations to non-profits of up to $10,000 a year, starting in the U.S. In contrast, Mr. Jobs said at a company off-site last year that he was opposed to giving money away, according to a person who attended."

While Steve Jobs was known for being the epitome of a visionary, Cook is known for his hands-on management style. Cook is a man of discipline and passion. Since he became chief operating officer in 2005, he has streamlined Apple's operations overseas in such a way that Apple now has the upper hand when manufacturing products and negotiating supply costs. He also ran Apple as temporary CEO during Steve Jobs' multiple medical leaves of absence.

One of the first things Cook inplemented as CEO was Apple's new charitable donations program. The company will match employee donations to non-profits of up to $10,000 per year. Steve Jobs never publicly gave money away or promoted charity.

Right after accepting his new position as CEO, Cook responded personally to fan and employee emails alike, and that mindset seems to have continued internally with regards to the way Cook relates to employees on a daily basis.

Cook, however, is not soft when it comes to managing his company. He is known as a strong and authoritative presence inside Apple, and he is surrounded by the rest of Apple's formidable executive team. Apple will rely on Cook, Phil Schiller, Jony Ive, Scott Forstall, Eddy Cue, the rest of the execs, and board members to guide Apple towards the future.

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Published on November 01, 2011 15:15

Wired Launches App Guide Magazine With 400 App Store Reviews

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WIRED magazine has collaborated with Gizmodo to release the "Wired App Guide" iPad application in the App Store. The app provides 400 detailed reviews of "essential tools for every type of smartphone user."

With categorized app reviews and an index of the hottest apps in the App Store, WIRED's new App Guide is a must-download for any Apple enthusiast.

"From Angry Birds to Zite, mobile apps are redefining how we experience the world, whether we're at work or play. But with hundreds of thousands of apps available, choosing the right software is becoming increasingly complicated. That's where we come in. Our experts braved the app stores to search, download, test, crash, complain, and update—all so you don't have to. Organized into seven categories—social, games, lifestyle, news, arts & entertainment, photography, and productivity—these are the apps worth knowing about."

The app includes the WIRED essentials bundle, which includes 18 "must-have" apps for any new iOS device user. There's also Editor's Picks, and specialized apps for physicists, entrepreneurs, celebrities, etc. There's also some editorial content that's definitely worth checking out.

The Wired App Guide is beautifully designed for the iPad. It's like perusing an interactive magazine full of awesome app reviews. The app takes advantage of iOS gestures and lets you launch the App Store from inside the app when you find something you want to buy.

There's a ton of great apps in the Wired App Guide. Whether you're an Apple aficionado or someone totally new to the App Store, the Wired App Guide is a recommended download. This app would also be a great thing to gift a friend that's looking for some cool apps to download.

Get it now in the App Store for $5.99.

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Published on November 01, 2011 13:39

The iPhone 4S Will Go On Sale At Its 4th American Wireless Carrier Next Friday

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Alongside the fifteen new countries that will get the iPhone 4S on November 11th, Apple's latest and greatest handset will also come to its fourth US carrier: the little known regional carrier C-Spire Wireless. And for subscribers on a budget, the iPhone 4 will be coming to C-Spire too.

The iPhone 4S will be available to C-Spire customers for the same prices as the other networks: $199 for the 17GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB and $399 for the 64GB.

Where C-Spire is trying to beat out Sprint, Verizon and AT&T is the low-cost market, offering less expensive voice and data plans including a $50 unlimited data plan option with 500 minutes of talk. But that plan is pretty deceiving: the so-called "unlimited" data excludes streaming, and the plan may even violate FCC net neurality rules.

Who is C-Spire? They are a regional carrier in the south who service 875,000 customers in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, George and Florida. Strictly small potatos, but it was easy enough for Apple to bring the iPhone 4S to the network because it uses the same CDMA tech as Verizon and Sprint. Meanwhile, T-Mobile is the odd man out of the iPhone game thanks to a wonky implementation of GSM.

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Published on November 01, 2011 12:58

Why Bill Gates Killed The Tablet That Could Have Saved Microsoft From iPad

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Do you remember Microsoft's top secret Couriet tablet project? It was a dual screen, book-like tablet first leaked well before Apple unveiled the iPad, created by J. Allard, the mind behind Microsoft's fantastic Xbox console.

It's a concept that has aged well, mostly because it's one of the only tablet designs around that isn't just trying to rip off Apple's idea of what a tablet should be wholesale. It's still, in fact, brought up as an example of how Microsoft could have competed with Apple in the tablet market from the get go.

So what happened to the Courier? Why wasn't it released? It all came down to the fact that Bill Gates had an "allergic reaction" to the project because it didn't run Outlook.

Cnet's got a great story on what ended up killing the Courier:

At one point during that meeting in early 2010 at Gates' waterfront offices in Kirkland, Wash., Gates asked Allard how users get e-mail. Allard, Microsoft's executive hipster charged with keeping tabs on computing trends, told Gates his team wasn't trying to build another e-mail experience. He reasoned that everyone who had a Courier would also have a smartphone for quick e-mail writing and retrieval and a PC for more detailed exchanges. Courier users could get e-mail from the Web, Allard said, according to sources familiar with the meeting.

But the device wasn't intended to be a computer replacement; it was meant to complement PCs.
Courier users wouldn't want or need a feature-rich e-mail application such as Microsoft's Outlook that lets them switch to conversation views in their inbox or support offline e-mail reading and writing. The key to Courier, Allard's team argued, was its focus on content creation. Courier was for the creative set, a gadget on which architects might begin to sketch building plans, or writers might begin to draft documents.

"This is where Bill had an allergic reaction," said one Courier worker who talked with an attendee of the meeting.

What's fascinating here is that while it's easy to say "no email" is madness on a tablet (after all, that's what sunk the BlackBerry PlayBook), Allard at least had a cohesive vision for the Courier: it wasn't about being a laptop or smartphone replacement, it was about being a device for media consumption and creation.

Sound familiar? Allard had identified the core tablet idea that Apple ended up embracing for the iPad… and Microsoft axed the project, even though if Allard had been allowed to continue, Microsoft and Apple might have reached market with similarly exciting devices at the exact same time. It's this sort of institutional short-sightedness that is at the core of Microsoft's problems these days, and sadly, with Windows 8 still another year away, that doesn't look like it's going to change anytime soon.

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Published on November 01, 2011 11:59

GarageBand Is Now Available On The iPhone and iPod touch

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GarageBand is one of the best apps you can show off on your iPad 2 to convince even the most ornery skeptic, and it just got even better: with the 1.1 update, GarageBand is now a $4.99 universal app, and can run on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

Additional updates include custom chords for Smart Instruments, 3/4 and 6/8 time signatures, additional quantization options for recordings, adjustable velocity settings for Touch Instruments and many other enhancements.

Apple's press release below:

Apple today announced that GarageBand®, its breakthrough music creation app, is now available for iPhone® and iPod touch® users. Introduced earlier this year on iPad®, GarageBand uses Apple's revolutionary Multi-Touch™ interface to make it easy for anyone to create and record their own songs, even if they've never played an instrument before.

"GarageBand on iPad has been a big hit and we think customers will love using it on their iPhone or iPod touch"

"GarageBand on iPad has been a big hit and we think customers will love using it on their iPhone or iPod touch," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "The innovative Multi-Touch interface combined with Smart Instruments makes it easy to create great sounding music, even if you've never studied music or played an instrument before."

GarageBand features a collection of fun Touch Instruments that sound great and make it easy for beginners or experienced musicians to play and record keyboards, guitars, drums and basses in a wide variety of styles. Smart Instruments now allow you to choose from an extensive new library of custom chords so you can play and strum along with your favorite songs.

You can plug your electric guitar into iPad, iPhone or iPod touch to play and record through classic amps and stompbox effects, or record your voice or any acoustic sound using the built-in microphone. GarageBand allows you to record and mix up to eight tracks and then share your finished song with friends or send it to your Mac® to keep working on it in GarageBand or Logic® Pro.

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Published on November 01, 2011 09:47

The iPhone 4S Will Launch In 15 More Countries Next Week, Including Hong Kong, New Zealand and South Korea

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Apple's Hong Kong Store (credit: wZa HK)

Today Apple announced that it will begin selling the iPhone 4S in 15 more countries starting on November 11th, including Hong Kong and South Korea. The news is part of an aggressive roll-out by the tech giant, which hopes to have the iconic smartphone in 70 countries by the end of December.

The tech giant said it will begin selling the iPhone 4S starting next Friday, with pre-sales beginning November 4, in the following countries: Hong Kong, South Korea, Greece, Portugal, Armenia, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Poland and Romania. These nations are in addition to the 22 countries the Cupertino, Calif. firm announced last week.

First launched mid-October in four countries, including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., France Germany and Japan, the handset's introduction has surpassed Apple CEO Tim Cook's "wildest dreams."

"We couldn't have gotten off to a better start than we did with the iPhone 4S," Cook said.

During its recent earnings conference call, Cook said he was "confident" that iPhone sales for the current three-month financial period would set another record.

The news that the iPhone 4S will be arriving next week in South Korea is particularly intriguing, given the continuing legal battle between Apple and Samsung. Earlier today, we reported the South Korean-based Samsung is demanding a court force Apple to turn over the iPhone 4S source code, as well as subsidy agreements between the iPhone maker and Australian carriers.

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Published on November 01, 2011 09:33

It's November 1st. Where The Hell Is iTunes Match?

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Apple has seemingly missed its iTunes Match launch date after promising at its 'Let's Talk iPhone' event early last month that the new service would be up and running in the United States at the "end of October." Developers who have been testing the service in beta are discovering today that the iTunes 10.5.1 beta has now ended, with no replacement in sight.

iTunes Match originally became available to developers with a beta release of iTunes 10.5, but with its launch date delayed, the service was taken out of the public release and put into another beta, iTunes 10.5.1.

Now that we have entered November, iTunes Match has missed its expected release, and Apple is yet to comment on the delay. However, it is expected to launch imminently, according to reports, with Apple retail staff having already been prepared for the cloud-based music matching service. Many developers, in fact, expect iTunes Match to officially launched today.

The Cupertino company company has also performed a number of wipes for users' iTunes Match libraries, with the most recent taking place last Wednesday, in preparation for its public debut. But for developers who have continued to use the service, they may now be stuck without a working copy of iTunes.

The iTunes 10.5.1 beta ended today, and Apple is yet to issue an update, which will mean that those with this version of iTunes will be unable to open the application today.

[via MacRumors]

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Published on November 01, 2011 09:28

Leander Kahney's Blog, page 1509

November 1, 2011