Cloud Computing
We’re right in the middle of the best stretch of weather for the summer, yet the forecast online is for clouds – and this is a good thing.
Cloud computing is what the digerati have been on about for a while, and with the introduction of Apple’s Mobile Me application this month, the notion of cloud computing is about to go mainstream.
..Click play above to listen to the whole episode..
iPhone 3G Apps: Shazam
I’m going to do some video demos over the next little bit each time I find a cool application for the iPhone.
Here’s my current roster (I have the mandatory apps I dont use on a 3rd screen):
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If you want to screen cap your iPhone, press the home button and then the power button. Let go and the screen will flash white for a second and a screen cap will show up in your camera roll.
My fave new app that performs great party tricks, and is free, is Shazam.
Head in the Clouds
 This article originally appeared in 24hrs Vancouver on July 23, 2008. |
It’s going to be another gorgeous day. We’re right in the middle of the best stretch of weather for the summer, yet the forecast online is for clouds – and this is a good thing.
Cloud computing is what the digerati have been on about for a while, and with the introduction of Apple’s Mobile Me application this month, the notion of cloud computing is about to go mainstream.
Apple sells 1M iPhones, 10M Apps on Opening Weekend
Here are the big press releases from the Apple side as iPhone 3G powers through opening weekend.
CUPERTINO, California—July 14, 2008—Apple® today announced it sold its one millionth iPhone™ 3G on Sunday, just three days after its launch on Friday, July 11. iPhone 3G is now available in 21 countries—Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US—and will go on sale in France on July 17.
“iPhone 3G had a stunning opening weekend,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “It took 74 days to sell the first one million original iPhones, so the new iPhone 3G is clearly off to a great start around the world.”
CUPERTINO, California—July 14, 2008—Apple® today announced that iPhone™ and iPod® touch users have already downloaded more than 10 million applications from its groundbreaking new App Store since its launch late last week. Developers have created a wide array of innovative mobile applications ranging from games to location-based social networking to medical applications to enterprise productivity tools. Users can wirelessly download applications directly onto their iPhone or iPod touch* and start using them immediately. More than 800 native applications are now available on the App Store, with more than 200 offered for free and more than 90 percent priced at less than $10.
“The App Store is a grand slam, with a staggering 10 million applications downloaded in just three days,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Developers have created some extraordinary applications, and the App Store can wirelessly deliver them to every iPhone and iPod touch user instantly.”
Many of these amazing new applications take advantage of iPhone’s large display, Multi-Touch™ user interface, fast hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, built-in accelerometer and location-based technology to bring far more powerful applications to the mobile arena than ever before.
Rogers Responds to iPhone FAIL
There are problems across the country this morning as fan boys who lined up to buy the new iPhone 3G are being turned away.
They came for breakfast and iPhones, and all they got was granola bars.
Hundreds of people lined up at the Rogers store at Yonge and Dundas in Toronto, starting in the early hours of the morning, through pouring rain, only to learn the cellphone company’s flagship outlet had just 100 of the eagerly awaited iPhones in stock.
At 9 a.m., an hour after the store opened, the 300 or so damp people waiting in a line that stretched around the block still hadn’t been told they would not be able to buy this year’s hottest gadget — at least not from the main store. [CBC]
In Vancouver, iPhoneinCanada.ca is reporting activations are taking over an hour and people are leaving, sans iPhone.
So the doors open at 8am, slight cheer…but that was the end of the happiness for the day. The first 5 people in line ran into some problems. Turns out the Rogers network is down, or something is not working and activations DID NOT HAPPEN! At 9am, the same people were in the store. I was not going to wait 1 hour for 3 activations…I’d be there all day and then some more! I had to leave due to prior engagements so I left 10 mins ago! [iPhoneinCanada.ca]
Here’s what Rogers’ spokesperson, Elizabeth Hamilton says on the issue:
Hi Buzz,
Clearly we are having an unprecedent day at Rogers Wireless.
We apologize to our customers that have experienced any wait times or delays in their purchase. Yes, our system has had a temporarily outage and it is up and running.
There’s definitely unprecedented consumer demand and we are pulling out all the stops to best serve our customers - we want them all to have one of these amazing devices in their hands today and in the days and weeks ahead.
I’m hearing we sold out of the early opening Halifax store within one hour of opening. We have sold out in the same early opening store in Ottawa. We are selling out in stores across the country, and we want to thank all our customers and future customers for their patience and enthusiasm.
Liz
Dude, you totally should have gone to Halifax to get that iPhone.
Rogers Feels Heat on iPhone - Puts on Flip Flops
Earlier this week, Rogers’ spokesperson for the iPhone, Elizabeth Hamilton, released this statement:
We are pleased to offer our customers a variety of choices and a variety of value-bundled plans which they can find in the iPhone 3G pricing release of June 27, or view our website for in market voice and data smartphone plans from which to choose (for example, our $30 for 300 MB plan or our flex rate data plans). These plans are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of consumers.
This morning Rogers released this press release:
Effective July 11, and as a limited time promotional offer for customers who activate until August 31, 2008 on a three year contract, a data-only offering of 6GB of data for $30 per month is being made available that can be added to any in-market voice plan.
New Canadian iPhone 3G customers will also have the choice to select from Fido’s existing voice and smartphone data plans and/or additional features to best suit their needs or from Fido’s specific value bundled iPhone 3G plans. Existing Fido customers can also keep their current voice service plan and
select a separate smartphone data plan to meet their needs or choose from other plans after checking their individual upgrade eligibility.
While it’s good news for consumers that the plans are changing, the constant flip flopping and adjusting of service plans on the fly is further adding to the already confusing iPhone pricing structure.
Rogers needs to pick a plan, promote the hell out of it and be done with it.
This is a good start, but is it the end of the story?
Consumers Fume over iPhone
| This article originally appeared in 24hrs Vancouver on July 9, 2008. |
The line started in Manhattan last Friday.
There are 10 people camped outside an Apple Store waiting to buy the iPhone 3G when it is finally released at 8am this Friday.
Friday is also the day the iPhone will also be officially available to Canadians, but a line of a different sort is forming here. People aren’t waiting outside Rogers Wireless stores to be the first to buy this pop culture icon; they’re heading to the web and signing petitions of protest, or planning boycotts of the product altogether.
24hrs Blogosphere Buzz: 07.09.08
| This article originally appeared in 24hrs Vancouver on July 9, 2008. |
Here’s a sampling of what bloggers are writing about the upcoming iPhone release and the drama surrounding the Rogers plans.
“We’re the early adopters of technology- we’re supposed to be a slam dunk to buy an iPhone and then evangelize until the whole world has one. At least, that’s likely what Steve Jobs would have hoped. Trouble is, without any unlimited plan to speak of, the iPhone will remain a luxury toy and not the useful, widely-adopted communications device it’s meant to be.”– JordanBehan.com
“Rogers has unveiled its pricing structure for the iPhone 3G in Canada, and it can be summarized in one syllable. Unfortunately, this is a family-oriented website, so I’ll have to use a different syllable: Ouch. By all appearances, the Rogers iPhone 3G plans are optimized for complexity and designed to milk the consumer dry. Way to go Rogers, you’ve exceeded my expectations, but not in a good way.” – BrendonWilson.com
“There’s really only one way to play this in my mind — Roger’s needs to cave before Friday. The negative press is just going to get worse before then. If Rogers doesn’t cave, and the sales end up being dismal, I think it will be a huge blow against Rogers management and the public perception of the company.” – DuaneStorey.com
“Canada is in a wireless crisis and Rogers will naturally leverage its position as the sole GSM provider to mandate the longest contracts of any provider anywhere in the world and offer less for more. This is a product of a Canadian market that is among the least competitive in the world. Sadly, petitions won’t change this dynamic either.” – Michael Geist.ca
“Here’s a way for Rogers to get out of its iPhone PR pickle: unveil a $130/month plan with unlimited data and, say, 1,000 voice day-time (non-weekend) minutes:
Play the mea culpa card: “Canadians, we goofed by not realizing how much you wanted to use the iPhone to access the Web. Our bad. Here’s how we’re going to make it up to you”…or something like that.” – MarkEvansTech.com
No Unlimited Plan Planned for Rogers iPhone
I have just received an email from Elizabeth Hamilton, the Rogers PR rep responsible for the iPhone.
For those who thought a unified voice of protest would lead to a back track, don’t hold your breath.
With respect to your general questions about iPhone 3G, Rogers is thrilled and proud to launch iPhone 3G on Canada’s fastest wireless network. We are eagerly preparing for launch day and after with our sales, service and support teams. The feedback from our customers is also excitement and sales demand, and there’s great anticipation for this device coming to Canada, so while I can’t possibly predict sales targets or inventory it’s our goal to put an iPhone 3G into the hands of every customer who wants one. I don’t have many details or logistics on activation at this time, although of course customer service will have all that at launch time.
With respect to inventory, rumours of changes are unfounded rumour - our inventory has remained the same throughout our announcements, and I believe that all carriers worldwide are anticipating high demand for the revolutionary iPhone 3G. Retail availability will be released shortly and Rebecca will keep you on a media list so that you receive our most up to date information.
With respect to online polls or petitions, we generally do not comment on those. We are pleased to offer our customers a variety of choices and a variety of value-bundled plans which they can find in the iPhone 3G pricing release of June 27, or view our website for in market voice and data smartphone plans from which to choose (for example, our $30 for 300 MB plan or our flex rate data plans). These plans are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of consumers.
If an existing customer, they can check their upgrade eligibility and keep their voice and smartphone data plan or sign up for another plan that suits their needs. We have flex rate data plans, a variety of voice plans and sms packs, as well as features that can be selected as a value pack or a la carte to suit our customers’ needs. I’ve attached some information on data we have just obtained that you may find useful - it’s from our current live testing of iPhone 3G on Rogers HSPA network and it shows the volume of select data activities you can do with each bundle’s data amount using the actual device.
You may have asked a question regarding unlimited data plans and while not all carriers of iPhone 3G are offering unlimited plans, I can’t speak to the business models or pricing strategies of other carriers or in other countries, but for Rogers, we believe that unlimited data plans could well charge our customers for more than they actually use.
In addition, with respect to contractual agreements, our business model - a wireless handset subsidy with a multi-year contract - is not unique in Canada. We purchase the handset at full price from the manufacturer and we offer it to Canadians at a heavily subsidized price, so that it’s accessible to as many of our customers as possible. In turn, our customers sign up for a service agreement on Canada’s fastest wireless network (and before you ask, I can’t speak to the details of our agreement, but this is heaviest subsidy we’ve ever carried on a device).
Once again, iPhone 3G is a revolutionary device and we’re very excited to bring it to Canada as the only carrier that chose to invest in building a 3G network.
I find this line to be very interesting.
we believe that unlimited data plans could well charge our customers for more than they actually use.
Rogers won’t offer you the unlimited plan, because you won’t use unlimited data. They’re protecting you from yourself.
Or, you know, keeping you in a limited data box so you go over your monthly allotment and are subjected to huge overage charges.
Rogers iPhone Rate Plan Revolt in Canada
Rogers released their rate plans for the iPhone in Canada last week, and the public is none too thrilled. Bloggers, facebooker, and webmasters are all up in arms.
Here are the headquarters where you can sign a petition and get contact information to make your protest voice heard to Rogers.
Will it matter? Probably not, until there is relevant competition in the Canadian marketplace, Ted Rogers can do whatever he damn well wants.
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About cyberbuzz
buzz bishop is the host and writer of cyberbuzz, a one minute daily radio feature, and a weekly column in 24hrs, about the internet and wired culture.
buzz takes a quick and youthful look at the online world from the perspective of someone who understands new trends, but still speaks your language.
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