Apple today released the 4th generation iPod nano. They doubled the memory capacity for the same price as the previous model and added a 16GB model. For a complete description of all the new technology added to the new nano, check out Apple’s nano site.
Apple also refreshed their iPod Classic and a new iPod touch. They also released some new iPod accessories and iTunes 8.0 with new Genius function.
I started my morning by plugging in my Verizon Wireless USB720 EVDO modem into my Cradlepoint WiFi/EVDO router. Booted up my MacBook Pro, plugged in my first gen iPhone and checked for updates. There it was. 2.0. I selected Download Only to make sure that step was verified. I downloaded the 213mb file in 27 minutes, averaging 45KB/sec and reaching 96 KB/sec.
Once the download finished, I took the plunge and started my upgrade. The main process of the upgrade finished in about 20 minutes which included backing up the iPhone data, verifying the backup, restoring the new firmware, verifying the firmware, and then restoring my data back to the iPhone. Then the time came to reboot the phone.
The iPhone reconnected back to iTunes and now came the activation process. This is were it all went down hill. Apple was having issues with the iTunes Store activation process. Apparently, too many people trying to do the same thing. So then, I had to wait and see when the iTunes Store would be back up to finish the activation.
iTunes store back online, activation processed immediately, now I am done. Upgraded and working well! All my content is back. Pretty smooth I would say.
Apple released an upgrade to iTunes in preparation for the launch of the iPhone 3G set to be available tomorrow morning at 8:00am. The new version of iTunes (v7.7) now sports the AppStore where you can download and purchase applications for the iPhone.
Moreover, at any moment, the updated firmware for first generation iPhones is set to be released (v2.0). Apple also today launched the new .Mac service renamed MobileMe. To visit any of these mentioned technologies, follow the hyperlinks.
Here are some blogs and live streams of where to monitor Apple’s WWDC 2008 announcements:
Ustream.TV feed with Cali Lewis
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/on-location-with-cali
Ustream.TV feed with iPhone Alley
http://www.iphonealley.com/news/wwdc-2008-keynote-live-audio-stream
Engadget’s Blog
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/09/steve-jobs-keynote-live-from-wwdc-2008/
Today Apple announced the availability of their iPhone SDK. Now anyone can develop applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. If you watch the iPhone Event, it will amaze you. The iPhone truely is a Macintosh just in mini form. The operating system and core libraries are those of OS X. The v2.0 firmware should be released to the public in late June at no cost to iPhone owners. For more details about this event, below are links to the Event, SDK download, and Enterprise Beta program:
March 6 Event
iPhone Developer Program (SDK)
iPhone Enterprise Beta Program
Woz is looking forward to using Leopard and likes the idea of third-party apps for the iPhone. Laptop Magazine has a long interview with Woz and he says, “I am really for the unlockers, the rebels trying to make it free. I’d really like it to be open to new applications. I’d like to install some nice games. Why in the world can I not install a ringtone that I’ve made?” We are with you Woz! Check out Laptop Magazine for the entire interview…
Steve Jobs today announced on the Apple Hot News site that they will make an SDK available in February 2008 for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This will be announced during Macworld 2008. You can see his full announcement on the Hot News site.
As you all have heard by now, the iPhone 8gb price has dropped by $200 just 60 days since its release. Many Apple customers are upset including myself. I was just about to contact my store and demand a credit. If that didn’t work, then you still can return the iPhone for up to 90 days from the date of purchase and pay the 10% restocking fee. Then you could purchase a new iPhone at the lower cost and still be ahead. Only problem there is having to possibly be without a phone for a short while.
Now, Steve Jobs released this statement on the Apple web site about offering a $100 credit to early adopters of the iPhone. I think its fair:
I have received hundreds of emails from iPhone customers who are upset about Apple dropping the price of iPhone by $200 two months after it went on sale. After reading every one of these emails, I have some observations and conclusions.
First, I am sure that we are making the correct decision to lower the price of the 8GB iPhone from $599 to $399, and that now is the right time to do it. iPhone is a breakthrough product, and we have the chance to ‘go for it’ this holiday season. iPhone is so far ahead of the competition, and now it will be affordable by even more customers. It benefits both Apple and every iPhone user to get as many new customers as possible in the iPhone ‘tent’. We strongly believe the $399 price will help us do just that this holiday season.
Second, being in technology for 30+ years I can attest to the fact that the technology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and there is always someone who bought a product before a particular cutoff date and misses the new price or the new operating system or the new whatever. This is life in the technology lane. If you always wait for the next price cut or to buy the new improved model, you’ll never buy any technology product because there is always something better and less expensive on the horizon. The good news is that if you buy products from companies that support them well, like Apple tries to do, you will receive years of useful and satisfying service from them even as newer models are introduced.
Third, even though we are making the right decision to lower the price of iPhone, and even though the technology road is bumpy, we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.
Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple’s website next week. Stay tuned.
We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.
Steve Jobs
Apple CEO
Today, Apple upgraded it’s entire iPod line from top to bottom. You now get many more features for much less than before along with new design points. The entry line of iPods, the shuffle, now comes in 5 new colors. The iPod nano now is smaller and a bit wider but supports video and games. The original iPod is now the iPod classic and is thinner along with capacities up to 160gb. That’s up to 40,000 songs in your pocket.
The hot new announcement today is the iPod touch. Its basically an iPhone in every way but without the phone functionality. And with capacities up to 16gb. It also supports WiFi access now and sports the Safari web browser, YouTube access, syncs with yout contacts and calendar, and more.
The iPhone, along with the iPod touch, now have a new feature, WiFi iTunes Store. You can now browse the iTunes Store, preview music, purchase, and download songs directly to your iPod touch and/or iPhone. The iPhone, via an upgraded version of iTunes software (being released tonight), now supports Ringtones and you can create your own ringtones as well from the purchased music downloads.
Apple is now partnering with Starbucks Coffee to offer free WiFi access to the iTunes Store from the Starbucks coffee shops. Now, when you enter a Starbucks, your iPod touch or iPhone will sense the Starbucks WiFi network, automatically login, and present you with a Starbucks icon on your iPod function. It will display the current playing song in the store and the previous 10 songs played. You can preview those songs and if you like it, you can purchase and download it directly from within Starbucks. Apple also surprised everyone by dropping the 4gb version of the iPhone and reducing the price of the 8gb iPhone from $599 to $399!
You can see all the lateset iPods and iPhone at the Apple iPod+iTunes site.
