Apple new product rumours and general news

[editor]

I, unlike you, have researched this properly instead of frantically Googling for any detracting statements without ever having used one or seen one.

That was the only review I could find and it's from a reputable source. What reviews have you seen please?

But if you think that lugging around a large flap stuck on your phone and having to keep it out of your pocket in the hope of catching a nano-slither of power from the winter sun is an elegant solution, you go right ahead. I hope no one nicks your phone while it's left out though.

Call me crazy, but I generally prefer to carry my phone in my pocket.

You know, for someone who sets themselves up as a gadget reviewer, and indeed is occasionally paid to do so, you are awfully ignorant about the equipment that you claim to be the authority on.

The battery in the iPhone 3G is not soldered as it is in the original iPhone, which makes replacing the battery comparatively simple.

You're joking right? You reckon you'll manage this 20-step process on the train?
http://www.rapidrepair.com/guides/iphone3g/iphone3grepairguide.html

Heck, you'll only need a small Phillips Screw Driver, a small Flathead or exacto razor, a safe Open Tool and a third party Repair Toolkit! What could be simpler!

And if you haven't fucked up your phone or lost some bits on the way, you can rest easy knowing that you've just kissed goodbye to your warranty too.

The iPhone has some truly great features but trying to defend or downplay Apple's refusal to fit a user-replaceable battery is the sole preserve of deluded fanboys. It's a terrible omission.

 

[pk]

Not on the go it's not.
Although I can't personally remember the last time I actually used the spare battery I have for my phone.

I've had no reason to use my spare battery on the Nokia either - which gives very similar battery life to the iPhone by the way - and this solar thing gives me a good charge when I'm between chargers.

I also often carry another solar kit for other devices, which can be used in addition to the solar case, so I'm not overly worried.

Rest assured, if I have trouble I'll be bitching about it here without question, but I'll be bitching objectively as an iPhone owner and daily user - not as an amateur reviewer who has only ever played with an iPhone once or twice and who actively seeks negative reviews to shore up his anti-Mac bias!

 

[Kid_Eternity]

not as an amateur reviewer who has only ever played with an iPhone once or twice and who actively seeks negative reviews to shore up his anti-Mac bias!

Oh dear, that's not a comment destined to go down well...

 

[exleper]

Do you think we could move away from the childish fanboy-vs-anti-fanboy bickering and get back on topic, perhaps? or is that too much to ask...

Google have announced they will be launching a beta version of Picasa for Mac at the convention, which I think is good news. I do like iPhoto but it can be infuriating at times, it has a very strange way of storing and categorising files. Picasa is easily the best free photo album software so it'll be interesting to see how it stands up on Mac.

http://googlemac.blogspot.com/2009/01/picasas-macworld-debut.html

Also, there's talk of iLife '09 being partly, or entirely, web-based. Which is...interesting. Not sure what to make of this rumour, although if it means any improvement at all on the dreadful iMovie 08 then that can only be a good thing. I'm still using iMovie 5 on my PowerPC Mac Mini and have been put off upgrading until something worth buying comes along, so I'm very hopeful for good news this afternoon.

http://blogs.computerworld.com/rumor_apples_imovie_to_recieve_significant_update_at_macworld

The Macworld fun kicks off at about 5pm this afternoon UK time and I will probably have half an eye on http://www.macrumorslive.com/ or similar to see "what occurin' ".

 

[Crispy]

Oooooh Picasa! I'm interested now It's definitely a better app than iphoto.
(isn't the linux version simply the windows one in a WINE wrapper? - Suspect this'll be the same...)

 

[pk]

That was the only review I could find and it's from a reputable source. What reviews have you seen please?

Well, your Googling skills clearly need some honing:

http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/rich-tehrani/apple/solar-iphone-case-is-handy-and-useful.html

http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/blog/mobile-accessories/solar-powered-case-for-iphone-3g.htm

But if you think that lugging around a large flap stuck on your phone and having to keep it out of your pocket in the hope of catching a nano-slither of power from the winter sun is an elegant solution, you go right ahead. I hope no one nicks your phone while it's left out though.

I always, without fail, but a leather case for all my phones - my N95 had one, even my laptop has one, it keeps them scratch free and they're less likely to slip out of my pocket into the nearest puddle/toilet/cup of coffee.
So getting one with the solar panel built in was a no-brainer.
And since most of the use mine gets is whilst travelling (an average of 3 hours a day), it will be out of my pocket and facing the nearest window anyway.
As for it getting nicked - I'd relish some cunt trying, but anyone with a smartphone on the train runs the same risk.

Call me crazy, but I generally prefer to carry my phone in my pocket.

Even when you're browsing Urban75?
Fuck me, that's one clever phone - does it run on telepathy??

You're joking right? You reckon you'll manage this 20-step process on the train?
http://www.rapidrepair.com/guides/iphone3g/iphone3grepairguide.html

Heck, you'll only need a small Phillips Screw Driver, a small Flathead or exacto razor, a safe Open Tool and a third party Repair Toolkit! What could be simpler!

And if you haven't fucked up your phone or lost some bits on the way, you can rest easy knowing that you've just kissed goodbye to your warranty too.

The iPhone has some truly great features but trying to defend or downplay Apple's refusal to fit a user-replaceable battery is the sole preserve of deluded fanboys. It's a terrible omission.

Well, I don't think I'll need to replace the battery, certainly not for some time. You know as well as I do that batteries lose charge potential after a year or so, in which case I get the thing serviced or just upgrade again for free to the latest model - my phone contract means I get whatever phone I want every 12 months, so it's only got to do me a year's service.

I don't see it being any more troublesome than my Nokia N95 was.

Time will tell. I'm not trying to defend or downplay user-replaceable batteries in the thin iMac, but in a phone, I don't see it being a huge deal just yet, and the solar kit means it'll have a trickle charge to top it up.

I'm pretty impressed with the performance I have been getting from my Freeloader solar device over the past 2 years or so, and as a result I reckon my money is wisely spent - all £50 quid of it, for both phone AND case!

I'm quietly confident, both in the phone and in the knowledge that I have first hand experience of both devices.

It's a product that suits me, as both a Mac user and a commuter.

I'll let you know if anything disappoints.

 

[pk]

Oh dear, that's not a comment destined to go down well...

Truth hurts sometimes!

 

[Pie 1]

Shame you can't use a replaceable battery like every other phone, eh?

Let me count the number of times I've needed a spare battery on a phone, ever.......... Never.
I mean seriously, even the most jet setting, keyboard hammering, 3G using, uber "road warrior" sleeps somewhere each night, where unless it's a jungle hut in Borneo, there's a plug socket.

It maybe inconvinient ocassionally but it's not really the epic fail you keep banging on about either, is it? - y'know, like in the real world.

 

[editor]

Tom Keating[/URL] suggested I place the case under an indoor light for a few days to see what happens. Sadly, nothing.

So the writer had to go to the Cayman Islands to get it to work! Oh, my poor sides.

Well, your Googling skills clearly need some honing:
http://www.mobilefun.co.uk/blog/mobile-accessories/solar-powered-case-for-iphone-3g.htm

And that's not even a proper review - just anonymous user comments. Great Googling!

 

[Vintage Paw]

God this is pathetic. I'm cleverer than you. No, I'm cleverer than you.

*yawn*

Anyway, yes, I've heard that iLife will be web-based too - which sounds very interesting. And I've never tried Picasa, having always had a Mac since I started getting into photos, so I'll be interested to have a little play

 

[pk]

I'll say one thing that fucks me off already though - given the lack of ability to use iSync with my Nokia phones, and I've used only Nokia since... dunno, 1993 or thereabouts - I'm having to manually type in all my contacts from my old phone to the laptop, to load them into the iPhone.

Which is a fucker when you've got 1067 of the bastards to carefully type out.

I've got to "H" and I'm bored shitless.

 

[editor]

Truth hurts sometimes!

You're lying.
I've posted up tons of praise about the iPhone but you're too much up your iArse to even see it, so you try and try slag off my professional abilities instead. It's pathetic and underhand. Grow up.

Oooooh Picasa! I'm interested now It's definitely a better app than iphoto.
(isn't the linux version simply the windows one in a WINE wrapper? - Suspect this'll be the same...)

Picasa is excellent on XP although at times it tries to be a little too slick for its own good and it can all get a bit confusing.

 

[Vintage Paw]

I'll say one thing that fucks me off already though - given the lack of ability to use iSync with my Nokia phones, and I've used only Nokia since... dunno, 1993 or thereabouts - I'm having to manually type in all my contacts from my old phone to the laptop, to load them into the iPhone.

Which is a fucker when you've got 1067 of the bastards to carefully type out.

I've got to "H" and I'm bored shitless.

Now that's going to piss me off. I'm not as popular as you though PK, so it won't take as long

 

[Lazy Llama]

I'll say one thing that fucks me off already though - given the lack of ability to use iSync with my Nokia phones,

Which model is it?
I know that there have been a bunch of 3rd party add-ons, mostly free, which will made various 'unsupported' phones sync with iSync.

 

[tarannau]

I'll say one thing that fucks me off already though - given the lack of ability to use iSync with my Nokia phones, and I've used only Nokia since... dunno, 1993 or thereabouts - I'm having to manually type in all my contacts from my old phone to the laptop, to load them into the iPhone.

Which is a fucker when you've got 1067 of the bastards to carefully type out.

I've got to "H" and I'm bored shitless.

There are loads of free/shareware applications to link (unsupported) Nokia phones to Isync.


Go to versiontracker or the likes of Feisar and I'll almost guarantee they exist. A quick google shows a link to an official Nokia 'driver'
http://uberthings.com/2008/05/07/nokia-isync-plugin-for-your-n95-n95-8gb/

 

[pk]

Oh yes. Total win: So the writer had to go to the Cayman Islands to get it to work! Oh, my poor sides.

Selective editing being your speciality, Editor (not that I'd dream of attacking your professional credibility)... he actually goes on to say...

What worked best for me was to leave the case on the dashboard in the sun and plug in the iPhone when I was driving. The sun down here is strong and I found the case gains charge rapidly - even with indirect sunlight.

But hang on - we're talking about a £27 leather case (that you've never seen or heard of before I posted a link) that no doubt adds a little help to the perfectly adequate iPhone battery, which is a good thing for me, and a good thing I think to anyone else who owns an iPhone (which you do not).
I'm glad such a little thing has provided you with such mirth, though!

I'm a happy customer, and that's what is important.

 

[Lazy Llama]

In fact Nokia list which phones they support for iSync here - http://europe.nokia.com/support/products/isync/compatibility
N95 8GB is listed, if that's still your phone. Needs a plugin which you can download from that page

 

[pk]

There are loads of free/shareware applications to link (unsupported) Nokia phones to Isync.


Go to versiontracker or the likes of Feisar and I'll almost guarantee they exist. A quick google shows a link to an official Nokia 'driver'
http://uberthings.com/2008/05/07/nokia-isync-plugin-for-your-n95-n95-8gb/

I've been down this road, and unfortunately the plugins I've tried don't work with leopard 10.5.6 and isync 3... cheers though - I'll keep looking because this shit is tiresome!

 

[Crispy]

Sync it with a windows computer, export the contacts, import them into OSX address book?

 

[Lazy Llama]

I've been down this road, and unfortunately the plugins I've tried don't work with leopard 10.5.6 and isync 3... cheers though - I'll keep looking because this shit is tiresome!

Check that Nokia link -

Minimum requirements are Mac OS X 10.4.9 with iSync 2.4 to use the plug-in unless otherwise stated.

Worth another go, to save blunting the end of your fingers

 

[editor]

Selective editing being your speciality, Editor (not that I'd dream of attacking your professional credibility)... he actually goes on to say...

Yes. When he was driving around with it in the Cayman Islands! It didn't work in his office. That's why he had to fly off to a tropical island to get it working. Can't you read?

I'm getting fed up with all your bullshit about me being anti-Mac, so let's put it to the test. Look up the last 30 posts in other threads from me that mention the iPhone and you tell how many unfairly slag off the phone and how many praise it.

Are you big enough to do that? Or are you just going to keep on trolling away by repeating this bullshit?

 

[pk]

In fact Nokia list which phones they support for iSync here - http://europe.nokia.com/support/products/isync/compatibility
N95 8GB is listed, if that's still your phone. Needs a plugin which you can download from that page

Wow, you fuckin' genius!

I was looking for yonks for a suitable plugin, then I find one here!

Had a quick look at the date it was created - November 13th 2008 - so it's a new one, and all my searching was in the summer, so I don't feel too stupid... but thanks a million, you've saved hours of arsing about!

 

[pk]

Sync it with a windows computer, export the contacts, import them into OSX address book?

I don't own a Windows computer.
Six Macs, yes, but no windows computer, not even for comedy value.

 

[Structaural]

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary

 

[pk]

Yes. When he was driving around with it in the Cayman Islands! It didn't work in his office. That's why he had to fly off to a tropical island to get it working. Can't you read?

I'm getting fed up with all your bullshit about me being anti-Mac, so let's put it to the test. Look up the last 30 posts in other threads from me that mention the iPhone and you tell how many unfairly slag off the phone and how many praise it.

Are you big enough to do that? Or are you just going to keep on trolling away by repeating this bullshit?

Newsflash - that solar leather case isn't even made by Mac...

And I think it is you that needs to clean the old reading glasses... that article was quite clearly a pisstake ...

Next I had to explain to my coworkers that this assignment would have to be lengthy as we won't have appropriate sun for testing on the northeast coast of the US for about six months. My editors were easily convinced but the finance team may have slipped me a dirty look or two - I am not quite sure as I was out the door and on the flight so fast that heads spun.

Still, I feel this case requires more evaluation under strong equatorial sun and I expect to ensure the proper operation of this case in a manner with the quality you have come to expect in my blog

Now what is more likely - that he flew to the Cayman Islands for six months to test a $48 phone case, or that he was having a bit of fun on his blog while he spent Christmas away?

As for your anti-Mac rants - I'll leave that to the other Mac users who pull you up on it regularly to make their own minds up.
You've always been bizarrely dead set against all things Apple, and you know it. It's the only time you and I really ever argue, and like here, you create an argument when there really isn't one.

Fuck it, I hate Windows, so I'm not remotely fussed, but at least I know and accept that I have a sometimes irrational hatred of all things Microsoft.

 

[editor]

As for your anti-Mac rants - I'll leave that to the other Mac users who pull you up on it regularly to make their own minds up.

Back it up or shut it. It's that simple, because I'm bored with all your personal shit

 

[pk]

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary

 

[pk]

Back it up or shut it. It's that simple.

No time, I have phones to iSync.

Tell you what - you're happy to dredge up 7 month old posts of mine, why not try that search engine on yourself!

None of that naughty selective editing though, y'hear??

(and chill out for fucks sake)

 

[Lazy Llama]

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/apple_introduces_revolutionary

Mutter mutter ... http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=8558856&postcount=58

 

[editor]

No time, I have phones to iSync.

Wriggle on, squire.