10 posts tagged “apple”
In an effort to thwart hackers and resellers, Apple has announced that it will no longer accept cash for iPhones and that there will be a limit of two per customer. Previously the limit had been set at five iPhones per customer.
Some people have already acquired an iPhone so that they can "unlock" it so it can be used with other carriers besides AT&T, Apple has stated. A full 250,000, out of the 1.4 million iPhones sold so far, have been unlocked, according to Apple. Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris said: "Customer response to the iPhone has been off the charts and limiting iPhone sales to two per customer helps us ensure that there are enough iPhones for people who are shopping for themselves or buying a gift."
The internet auction site eBay is currently the site of a brisk trade in unlocked iPhones, which sell for an average of $600.
Many Americans say that its capability to access the Internet will be the overriding factor in which cell phone they buy next, according to research from The Kelsey Group and ConStat.
A full 44.7 percent of those surveyed said that internet access via their new cell phone was important to them, though only 26 percent of cell phone subscribers currently have a plan that includes internet access. Accessing maps and searching for local amenities are the main activities that most surveyed are interested in accessing.
Matt Booth, senior vice president and program director, interactive local media, The Kelsey Group, said: "The combination of unlimited data plans and next-generation internet-enabled mobile devices, like Apple's iPhone, suggests mobile Web access will grow to become ubiquitous."
A "breakthrough year" for mobile advertising is ahead because of the increased efficiency of mobile internet, added Mr Booth. The Kelsey Group is a research, data and analysis firm. For information on other digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
Security issues with Apple's Safari browser and the OS X operating system have come under fire by security expert Charles Miller.
Speaking last week, Mr Miller said he had remained quiet about flaws in Apple's security as he was concerned someone would be able to exploit the flaw. However, now that a patch has been issued to correct the problem, he states the firm had been "negligent" as problems with its security had made its iPhone product vulnerable to attack, reports CMP United Business Media.
Nevertheless, Mr Millar did state that Apple's proactive attitude in relation to potential security flaws raises it above its competitors. "One thing that Apple does do that Microsoft doesn't, is they proactively fix vulnerabilities that they find," he told the website. "Microsoft, only in rare cases will issue a security update for bugs they find internally until someone else finds it and reports it."
Mr Miller also concluded that, although the Mac OS X system is behind Microsoft in terms of development, he "still loves his iPhone". Apple expected to sell more iPhones than it actually did during the first month following the product's launch. for information on other digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
Apple's much-touted new iPhone has been hacked into by a team of security experts in Maryland.
Independent Security Evaluators (ISE) has claimed that it has found a flaw in the iPhone which could let hackers access private data kept on the phone. A cyber criminal could gain entry to the phone either through a wireless access point or a website, according to ISE. Since its release earlier this month hackers all over the world have been trying to find a weakness in iPhone, however this is the first successful attempt.
ISE explained that the iPhone connects to wireless internet networks by name, so an attacker could conceivably make up a network with the same name as one already used by the phone. Then instead of accessing a web page, the phone would access exploit code, allowing a hacker to control the phone. A spokesperson from Apple told the New York Times: "Apple takes security very seriously and has a great track record of addressing potential vulnerabilities before they can affect users."
For information on other digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
The impact of the Internet is expected to be a major factor in current talks between Hollywood screen writers and studio executives.
How much screenwriters should get paid when their work is broadcast over the Internet is potentially an issue that could result in strikes. Executives have argued that screenwriters should wait up to three years to see whether trends in Internet viewing either change or look to be set.
The business model of broadcasting content over the Internet, iPods and cell phones is still unproven, they argue. David Young, the chief negotiator for the Screenwriters Guild, recently told an audience of screenwriters at the Beverly Wilshire hotel: "Their pie has been growing and growing, while our share has been slowly shrinking. We cannot let that continue. "Clearly, this is a seminal and critical negotiation for us."
The last time that screenwriters went on strike was in 1988. The strike lasted 22 days and cost the industry an estimated $500 million. For information on digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
New "thank you" web site launched
As social networking sites become increasingly popular, internet users will soon be able to post messages of gratitude and share their experiences on a new web site.
Unveiled this week, Thanks-o-meter.com provides a total of the number of "thank you" messages posted by visitors, as well as offering statistics showing which categories are the most selected. George Garner, creator of the site, said: "I'd like it to become a catalyst for bringing attention to the positive things happening in our communities."
Visitors are also able to write their own stories and attach private messages to their postings. The growth in popularity of social networking sites was recently illustrated by figures published by comScore which showed that in May the number of people in the U.S. using Facebook.com reached 26.6 million. According to the company, this figure represented an 89 per cent increase on the number of unique visitors recorded during the corresponding month last year.
For information on other digital products and services visit www.dsldance.com
Communication giant AT&T has offered its wireless and broadband Internet customers a year free access to the Napster To Go service.
From April 1st broadband subscribers that add wireless phone service, or vice versa, will be able to use the Napster service, which offers over three million songs. Currently AT&T's wireless unit, Cingular, is America's largest cell carrier, boasting in excess of 60 million subscribers.
Rick Welday, chief marketing officer of AT&T Consumer, said: "By tying Napster To Go to AT&T's robust communications network, we're turning up the volume nationwide on both consumer value and added convenience." By joining communication with entertainment, AT&T is showing that it is committed to delivering content at home and "on the go", added Mr. Welday.
AT&T has also announced that residents of Kansas City will now be able to its U-verse services. U-verse features AT&T's fiber-rich network with television and high-speed Internet services available on demand.
"Napster concludes their fiscal year 2007 with over 830,000 paid subscribers, which many believe makes them the largest on-demand music service in the industry," states Mark Weibel, EVP of Marketing for Broadband National Inc. who operates the industries leading comparative website. "This would make Napster larger than Rhapsody, and larger than all of the other remaining competitors combined."
For more information on broadband and other digital related products and services visit www.broadbandnatinal.com
Multimedia providers have been advised to consider testing out the Internet television download market.
Adams Media Research estimated that annual consumer spending on video
downloads via the Internet would reach $4.1 billion dollars by 2011.
Last year, the Internet TV download market generated revenues totaling
$111 million. Tom Adams, president of Adams Media Research, commented:
"The internet is going to revolutionize the distribution of video."
The firm believes that the release of new products from names such as
Wal-Mart, Apple and Amazon could result in a dramatic increase in
consumer spending on downloads. These companies already offer consumers
the chance to download premium movie and TV content.
Adams Media Research stated that new devices to download and view
high-definition content will also play a part in boosting the sector,
as many consumers will want to be able to purchase the latest gadgets.
"Most likely you'll see the growth spurred by the introduction and sale of hardware devices that can convert videos downloaded from the Internet into signals that can be played on high definition television sets," states Mark Weibel EVP of Marketing for Broadband National, who operates the industries leading comparative shopping website.
For more information on wireless networks and other digital products and services visit www.broadbandnational.com
